Pictures from Mason's recovery

The week of Mason's surgery, we moved him into our room for the night. Grandma stayed in his room. Having him in our room, made it easier to check on him in the evenings and administer any pain medicine. Thankfully, we still had Mason's Cars toddler bed. Here are few pictures of Mason resting last week.

Ten on Tuesday

After a summer in Houston, we have been back in Bakersfield for a little over a month. With doctors appointments, pneumonia, and Mason's surgery, it feels like we haven't had any time to just relax. Hopefully this week, that will change. Maybe even my blogging will get back to normal and I will be able to do my regular weekly posts along with some new stuff. Since it's Tuesday, it's only natural that we do this weeks Ten on Tuesday questions.


1. Growing up, what was one favorite item that you had to have with you at all times?
When I was a child, I could not spend the night anywhere without my baby blanket. Now, I have passed down the blanket to Mason and he is the same way.

2. Being an adult, what is one favorite item that you have with you at all times, and what happens if you don't have it with you? Do you lose your sanity or just go back home to get it?
Chapstick. I can't stand dry lips and I'm constantly applying it all day. If I don't have it with me, that is really rare and I go insane. I have Chapstick in several different places around the house and one in the car as a backup.

3. Where is your favorite place to be to just hide away from everything and breathe for a moment?
If it's at my house, then I would say my bathroom. It's usually just a moment, because the kids follow me almost everywhere I go. If I can actually get away, then I would say my car. I love to go for drives and clear my head. It's extremely relaxing for me.

4. What is your favorite thing about your partner?
Just one? His compassionate heart.

5. What is your favorite thing about your job? (If you don't have a job, then what is your favorite thing to do during the day?)
I'm a stay at home mom and my favorite part of my job is knowing that I get to cherish and be a part of the moments that build who they are the first years of their lives. My favorite part of the day would be breakfast. The kids are so chatty and very affectionate in the morning.

6. What is your favorite lesson that your parents taught you growing up? Looking back, is it something that you want to use to teach your children when they reach that age?
To have a serving heart. If someone was in need, my parents always found a way for our family to help out. It's something I plan to instill in my children.

7. What is your favorite song, that will always bring a smile to your face and make you think of something happy?
Madonna's "Like a Prayer." It takes me back to High School and the fun summers I would spend with my friends Lindsey, Jessica, Megan, Valerie and Ashely.

8. What is your favorite thing about being an American?
Freedom of Religion.

9. What is your favorite meal that reminds you of being a child?
My mom's country fried steak and mashed potatoes.

10. Name 3 things that other people would say are their favorite thing about you?
I cheated and asked Adam and this is what he said - passion for my kids, loyalty, and optimistic. His first three answers I couldn't put on the blog, ha!

Kern County Fair

Last week while Grandma was in town, we decided to take a few hours and head out to the Kern County Fair. We knew seeing some animals and getting out of the house would do Mason some good. Mason was such a trooper and even though he didn't feel great, he still managed to have a good time.

Checking out the Cows

Grandma & Daddy with Mason & Taylor

We were front and center for the parade. Mason loved seeing all the old cars and firetrucks.

Checking out the baby goats.

We were VERY limited on what Mason could eat that night, so of course he asked for Ice Cream. (We loaded up on ice cream before the surgery and of course this was the only ice cream he ate all week)

Such a good big brother, sharing his ice cream with Taylor.

The Family

Random Saturday Thoughts

Why don't more people blog on the weekends? (myself included)

GAP had a really great sale on jeans today. I bought two new pairs. Is it sad that the last time I bought jeans were before I was pregnant with Mason?

I seriously love College Football.

Mason is sleeping in his room tonight for the first time in over a week.

Mason is in serious need of a haircut.

The last time we gave Mason a haircut, it took four people to hold him down just to buzz it.

Taylor doesn't like to share her food. She reminds me of Joey from Friends.

Since both kids are sound asleep, it's now time for me to spend some time with my husband.

Friday Favorites

5. Nutella.

A few weeks ago, one of the stores I shop at had Nutella on sale and I decided it was time for me to try it. I opened it up for the first time this week and oh my word, delicious. It's a good thing I didn't discover this when I was pregnant with Taylor, otherwise I would have gained way more weight with my sweet tooth cravings.

4. Extra help around the house.

I had two extra hands during the week to help out, Adam and his mom. Adam travels frequently, but due to Mason's surgery, he has been home this week helping with his recovery. Adam's mom, Nancy, arrived last Saturday and it's been great having her here with us. The kids love spending time with their grandma and when Mason just wants Mommy, it's nice having extra hands to help with Taylor and play with her, so she doesn't feel left out.

3. Fall Show Season Premieres.

This week, a lot of our shows had their season premieres. I'm thankful for DVR. It's nice being able to watch them on your own time. Remember the days of VHS tapes? I might still have a couple of VHS tapes of Dawson Creek episodes I recorded.

2. Mason's recovery.

I think I'm still in shock at how well Mason is recovering. He still has his rough spots and his throat is still raw, but he is so tough and is bouncing back quicker than we could have ever imagined.

1. Brother/Sister Love.

The other day the kids were in the stroller when Mason wanted ice cream. He really wanted to hold it, but we knew that Taylor would want some too. I decided to go ahead and let him hold it. He took one bite and then got another one ready on his spoon and said, "Here you go, Taylor." Every time he took a bite, he offered one to his sister without us having to ask. It's moments like that when I smile and thank God for such loving children.

Mason's Tonsil Surgery

Sorry I'm just now getting around to updating on Mason's surgery, but we have busy taking care of our sweet little boy. First, thank you for all of your prayers and support. We definitely felt them this week and they were much appreciated.

Monday morning, we woke up bright and early and left for the surgery center at 6am. Mason had no idea where we were going and didn't have a care in the world. As we walked into the waiting room, he didn't ask any questions and just sat and looked pictures on our phones.

The nurse called us back into the pre-op room and the only time he fussed happened when they tried to take his blood pressure. By the time they came to get him to take him back, the nurse grabbed his blanket and scooped him up in his arms before he realized what was happening. It wasn't until he realized we weren't following him that he started to get upset.

The surgery took about 40 minutes. As we sat and waited, I felt so calm and peaceful about everything. I knew he was in good hands and the outcome of the surgery was the key part to focus on.

By 8am, they took us back into the recovery room and he was still out of it. As soon as he started coming to, he was very upset and wanted his IV out. It took awhile for him to calm down, but after about an hour, he was able to leave.

We came home and immediately laid down to rest. He slept for about 2 hours, but he woke up in pain. Fortunately, the medicine they prescribed for him worked right away. The doctor told us he most likely won't want to drink anything that day, but encourage him to otherwise he would have to go back and get an IV in again on the second day to replenish his fluids.Over the course of the day, he just wanted to be held, eat popsicles, and sleep. We were amazed that he slept seven hours straight the first night. That is the most he has slept continually in months.

Yesterday, you could tell he was starting to feel a little better. He requested something to drink throughout the day and even asked for biscuits and yogurt. I was surprised to see him eating the biscuit so early on, but I'm not complaining. Last night he slept from 10pm to 7:30am this morning. Adam & I were both up before him, which hasn't happened in a year. I'm so thankful that he is starting to sleep better and that we are seeing the results of his surgery so quickly.

He still is in some pain, but we are able to manage it. Seeing him play with his toys, paint, or color is a good sign that he is on the path to recovery. Thank you again for your prayers.

Say a little prayer

If you have a chance this morning, please say a prayer for Mason as his surgery is today. I'll be sure to update later today or tomorrow. Thank you.

Friday Favorites

I would love to hear what your top 5 favorite moments of the week are or you can also do your top 5 current favorite things or mix. Feel free to join along.





5. Pumpkin Spice Latte.

The return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte brings a smile to my face. My typical coffee drink consists of coffee made at my house with one of my favorite Coffee Mate Creamers. So when I do on the rare case order something, this is it.

4. Organization.

It's no surprise that I'm a bit of a neat freak and like my stuff to be organized. This week I started my annual Fall Cleaning. It was time to organize, sort and purge things that I no longer use. There is something so refreshing about this.

3. Replacing pictures.

I hate to admit this, but we have only had professional portraits done of our family once. If I were given the chance, I would have them done all the time, especially of our kids. The pictures hanging on one of our walls in the living room were taken when I was 23 weeks pregnant with Taylor and Mason wasn't even a year and a half yet. We still haven't taken professional shots since then, but at least I updated the pictures.

Also, I'm not a fan of studio photographers. The only time we went as a family it was to a studio photographer and it was a stressful and unpleasant experience. Adam & I both are in agreement that next time we want more candid shots and someone we know to photograph our family

2. Fall Clothes.
I thought about posting pictures here, but there would be too many to post. I love Fall clothes. Sweaters, boots, scarves, I could go on.

1. Grandma's Visit.
It hasn't happened yet, but Adam's mom is arriving tomorrow and will be staying with us for a week. We asked if she would come in and help us out the week of Mason's surgery. Thankfully, she was able to get the time off of work and we couldn't be more excited. The kids are so excited about having her all to themselves and it will be her first visit out here to see us. Btw, Mason's surgery is scheduled for Monday morning. Please keep him in your prayers.

Ten on Tuesday

Thanks Chelsea for the Ten on Tuesday questions.
1. Favorite way to travel (plane, train, automobile, etc.)
Now that we have kids, it throws a whole new spin into everything. I love to travel, and it doesn't matter if I'm flying or driving, I'm a happy girl. It was much easier to fly before Mason turned 7 months. He would sleep on the plane and sit in my lap no problem. After 7 months, they are so curious and sitting still and being quiet is the last thing they want to do. Living in California and having family in Texas means we do most of our travel by plane. After a couple of experiences, I prefer not to travel alone with the kids, atleast until they are much older and can entertain themselves. It's too much for one person. Car trips are great if you don't mind crying babies. As a mom, I've learned to tune it out most of the time. This is harder for Adam.

2. Where's your favorite place to travel that you have been?
Lanikai, Hawaii. We had the luxury of spending our honeymoon in this gorgeous town and we recommend it to everyone looking for a peaceful tropical vacation.

3. Where's the place you want to go that you have never been?
Greece & London.

4. Do you deal with the traffic well?
I think so, as long as it doesn't make me late, otherwise I get anxious and mad.

5. Ever had an emergency while traveling?
Depends on what you consider an emergency. Taylor vomited all over herself and me 5 minutes before boarding a plane.

6. Do you have a passport? What countries have you been to?
No, but I need to get one ASAP. I've been to Akumal, Mexico.

7. Are you a light packer or do you pack everything but the kitchen sink?
I'm somewhere in between. Somehow when I pack the kids bags, stuff always ends up in my luggage.

8. Do you take the fastest route or the road less traveled?
Fastest, unless I'm just going for a drive in the country.

9. Do any activities on the road? (like road games, reading, sleeping, etc.)
Growing up, we always played the Alphabet game. I can never read in the car because it makes me sick. I used to fall asleep in the car the minute we started a road trip. I don't sleep in the car anymore because I think if you want to ride shotgun, it's just common courtesy to stay awake.

10. Use a paper map or GPS?
GPS.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Bakersfield has a ton of great parks. We are fortunate to have one right around the corner from our neighborhood. With fantastic cool weather in the mornings, it's a perfect way to get the kids energy out and capture some cute pictures at the same time.

We decided to pick up some donuts to take with us to the park. Can you tell they love each other?
I absolutely love their faces in this picture. We are so glad that they love each other and want to play with one another. It makes my heart happy to see those smiling faces.

Taylor's hair is finally starting to grow. It is still really thin and hard to style at this point. Wind in the hair and not a care in the world.

Mason has grown so much lately and my firstborn is losing the baby look and becoming all boy.

Because we all love pictures

Everyone knows that posts are much better if pictures are included. I have to admit that I haven't been up to taking pictures lately, especially since we returned home. However, I have captured a couple of special moments over the last month.

Haha, I love her attitude in this picture. We had a little bookworm on our hands.

Haha, Taylor wanted on Daddy's shoulders, but heaven forbid she let go of her baby doll.

Mason loves his fireman rain boots. I constantly find him in them. Here he is before bed and ready to play.

A boy after his Daddy's heart. Mason loves any sport, especially basketball. Shooting hoops in the back yard.

Like father, like son!

Mason's ENT Appointment

Sorry, no Ten on Tuesday this week. Why? Chelsea over at RootsandRings has her hands full with the arrival of Jansen. Be sure to stop on by and see adorable pictures of her little man. Congrats Chelsea.

After a nice long weekend of rest, medicine and college football, I'm finally starting to feel better. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. Many thanks to Adam for stepping up and taking such good care of me and the kiddos. It's too bad that one of us were sick on a holiday weekend, but despite that we had a good weekend.

Friday afternoon, we had Mason's appointment with his ENT. Even though I was sick, I wasn't about to miss it. I'm glad I didn't, because it was very informative. Mason hates going to the doctor and we tried to explain that the doctor just wanted to look in his mouth, but the minute we entered the examine room, he got scared and started to cry.

Adam had to hold down his arms and legs while Dr. Z examined him. The boy is strong and cried the entire visit. Dr. Z was very understanding and Adam & I were both pleased with him. He explained that Mason has extremely large tonsils and diagnosed him with Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Disorder and Sleep Apnea. He also took a look in his ears and did a test and noticed he had fluid in one ear and had a hard time seeing in the other ear. Dr. Z recommended removal of the tonsils and adenoids and suggested draining the fluid in his ear. We asked that if his ears looked bad when he did the surgery, if he would go ahead and put tubes in. It just made since to do it all at once, rather than going in twice for surgery.

His office is supposed to call this week to schedule his surgery. We believe it will be scheduled before the month is over. It will be about a weeks recovery time. I'm not looking forward to the prep before surgery, but I know once he has the surgery, I will breathe a big sigh of relief. It's nerve wracking knowing that he has problems breathing at night and even stops breathing at moments. The sooner we have the surgery, the better.

Sick

This weeks Friday Favorites is on hold. Why? Because I haven't had a favorite moment yet this week, unless you count Adam coming home to take care of me. I'm sick, really sick.

It started last Saturday when I woke up with a very raspy voice. Didn't think too much of it, because this happens occasionally and we just went from a huge change in temps. That night we went out and celebrated our friends birthday with dinner at PF Changs. We even got a babysitter and went on a date, just the two of us. I felt fine, except for my voice going in and out.

When Sunday morning rolled around, it had only gotten worse, but again I felt fine. We went to church and I hated the fact that I couldn't sing along to the worship music. By the time Sunday evening rolled around, it started to hit me.

Adam left to go out of town on Monday morning and I only got worse. I couldn't breathe out of my nose due to congestion, I developed a horrible cough and it hurt to take even shallow breaths. By Wednesday, I was desperate and broke down to go to the doctor.

After explaining my symptoms, with very little voice, they asked me to breathe into this contraption to tell my lung capacity. The doctor was shocked at my reading and immediately sent me to get a chest x-ray.

That confirmed what he was thinking and I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and a severe case of bronchitis borderline pneumonia. I was ordered to rest, given antibiotics, an inhaler, and told not to leave the house unless I'm wearing a mask and absolutely have to.

Thankfully, my husband has done a great job of taking care of me and the kids. He has never seen me this sick and I don't think I have ever been this sick. Mason keeps coming in the bedroom asking if he can hold me. It breaks his heart to see Mama feeling so bad. Taylor rejoices anytime I make an appearance outside of my room. It's the second best medicine, next to the antibiotics that will hopefully nip this in the butt. If I don't start to feel better in a few days, I have to go back for another chest x-ray. Here's to hoping I feel better soon.