Tiger Lilies!

My sister is hilarious! Many of you know this already but, if you haven't had a dose of Leanne-isms lately check out her blog. It's brand new and she started things off right. Her 1st post is about John Mayer - so how could she possibly go wrong? Again - freakin' hilarious.

Pigs in Blankets quandry

This was the discussion between me & E while she helped me roll up wienies in crescent rolls.
Emma: Mama, what are we having for dinner tonight?
Me: We are having Pigs in Blankets.
Emma: Pigs in blankets?! (Said in the same tone one might say, "You have cancer?" OR "There's no chocolate?")
Me: Yes, pigs in blankets.
E: Well,where are the pigs?
Me: The pigs are the hotdogs. (I felt it was too early to explain that hotdogs come from pigs.)
E: Where are the blankets?
Me: The bread is the blanket. See how we roll the hotdog up in the bread? We're rolling the "pig" up in the "blanket". Get it?
Emma: Right. We're rolling the pig in the blanket. So, where's the pillow?
Indeed.

Twilight Update

Take a look at the videos on this MTV website. They will really whet your appetite for the movie.
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1585900&vid=224215
Yeah! Make sure you watch all 4 videos. They have some really cool clips of shooting already.

S*&@! and Giggles and Snot

As the title implies, there was lots of all of that going on at our house last night. Including a wicked runny nose for me. BTW - Andy bought me the Puffs Plus with Vicks tissues. AH-MAZING, my friends. Also, a little bizarre feeling in the nose, but still - helps with the breathing, which I hear, is crucial.

Wanted to post the cutest picture of a baby boy I've ever seen. He was totally pumped about his first night in his own room. We moved the little man to his crib last night to see how long he would go between meals. After a discussion with the expert (my mom) we decided my mama-radar is too sensitive and I think I've been feeding the little guy too often. Turns out, my mama was right. J ate at 6:30 last night, fell asleep at 8:30 and didn't get up again until 1:30. Then he didn't get up again until 5:30. I can feel it - sleeping through the night is just around the corner. If I can get that 7 hour stretch to last from 11:00 to 6:00 - that would be fantastic! Here are some pics of the boy's room. Don't think I ever posted any. Hope you all have a great day! Notice the Arkansas basketball goal on the closet door. We're starting him out early. Go Hogs!Who can resist a picture of a sleeping baby? He's gorgeous, I think.

Happy Birthday baby girl.

Yesterday was Isabelle's birthday. She would have been 2. It seems incredible to me that it was 2 years ago. I never manage to post things on the day they actually happen but I was thinking about her all day. The good news is that my heart is healing. I think Jackson has helped with that a lot along with a lot of prayer. I still don't understand why we didn't get to keep her but God is working on me to accept it anyway. At least I know He's taking care of her and that yesterday the angels all had a huge blowout party in her honor. Thanks to all the family and friends who called and emailed to check on us.
The other thing that gives me strength is knowing that where she is, she's perfect. And that I'll get to see her again. Time is strange. I feel like that part of my life was a bad dream, almost as if it happened to someone else. But God is good and he comforts my broken heart and mends it a little each day with Emma's curiosity and Jackson's grin. And He has given me 2 beautiful, intelligent children - perfect children - to love and teach. And for all of that, including Isabelle's short life, I am grateful.
I Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

As requested, new pics!

Just loaded some new pics. Trying to figure out how to use Picasa. It's slow going when you are trying to get a 3 year old down for a nap and keep an infant from screaming so he won' t keep said 3 year old awake. We're using the new computer now so that helps. It's a lot faster even if I'm not. For instance, I started working on loading these pics at 1:30. It is now 3:00. Click here to see new pics loaded in our web albums. But I love this pic so much I had to load it here too!

Eye Twitch

I have an under-eye twitch. I've had it since about the end of 5th period, which is around...hmmm...1:30. It won't go away. Are eye twitches a sign of stress? Company coming? A change in fortune? A lack of sleep? ALL OF THE ABOVE???? Emma is still vomitous but now we have anti-nausea medication so we could be OK. She's still really listless but secretly, I kind of like it. She's never this still and she hardly every wants to cuddle and be held like she does when she's sick. Strangely, she wants Andy when she's sick rather than me (I was always a Mama's girl, myself) but that's OK. I just hope she feels better soon. Andy's been AH-Mazing. He completely rearranged his schedule to stay home with her today and tomorrow. He's got a presentation tonight and had to email his professor to move his presentation back until the end of class. Andy is my hero.

In other news, Jackson did great today at his first day at Lincoln High School! I was a wreck after I dropped him off. He was asleep and I had visions of him waking up and being terrified b/c he didnt recognize anyone around him. After a tearful 10 minute phone call to Mom, I was back under control and ready to face my classroom. I had nothing planned which my kids seemed to enjoy and they mostly seemed genuinely happy to have me back. I put a note on the board reading, "I don't want to hear anything about Mrs. Campbell. It's in the past - get over it." That seemed to curb the complaining. Pumping went well (as well as it can in a portable building with no running water) and overall it was a good day. I can't say I am happy to be back at work but it is tolerable. After all, it's only 8 weeks. Eeek.

Exciting "materialistic" news. I just received my early, early, early birthday present from my sister. It's this fantastic clutch/wallet from Abas. Take a look if you're interested. She had one when she was visiting in February and I fell in love with it. I'm not much of a purse girl anymore (kiddos will do that to you) so I've been carrying an over-the-shoulder (OVTS) purse to keep my hands free. Now that I've got this beautiful thing, I can throw it in the diaper bag or my school bag or back into the OVTS purse if I'm by myself (right, when would that happen?). Leanne gave me the full-frame clutch in red croc leather. It's to-die-for. They have lots of fun colors and other fun items besides wallets as well. Thanks a heap, Leanne. I love it!

Currently Under "Deluge Warning"

You know the expression "When it rains, it pours"? Well that's true in several ways at our house.
#1 - It is actually raining and has been raining since early Saturday morning around 3:00 AM. I know this b/c I was up - feeding the baby.
#2 - Andy is in the last 2 weeks of his school with 3 presentations, 2 papers, 1 take-home final, and about 23 books to read. I'm not joking, the stack of books is 2 1/2 feet tall.
#3 - I go back to work tomorrow for the 1st time in 8 weeks. (Sob.)
#4 - Our home could be declared a FEMA emergency zone. Dishes in the sink, goup in the bathrooms, detretis on the hardwood floors, 2 loads of unfolded laundry in the closet, all the beds are unmade, etc.
NOW, let's add in the fun stuff.
Emma is running 102+ fever (again) AND throwing up! It was sticky and blue-ish b/c she had a package of Nemo fruit-snacks at 7:30 this morning. Yippee.
Zoey joined the vomit-parade about 30 minutes ago with a gigantic hairball. Where? On top of the fridge, of course. Picture me perched atop a kitchen chair with Lysol wipes. Humorous? - Yes, in about 2 weeks.
Jackson is eating every 2 1/2 hours - baby growth spurt - but otherwise perfect in every way.
Max is tracking in exorbitant amounts of litter and depositing them on the KITCHEN TABLE b/c it is 96% humidity today and his brain is the size of a large peanut M&M and he can't get it that the table is not his bed.
So, if I can get everything ready to go back to work tomorrow - it will be a medium sized miracle. Stay tuned - I'm sure thatAndy & I will have contracted whatever vomit-inducing bug Emma is carrying by mid-week. The fun continues b/c I have no more sick-leave so I'll be heading to work with a 2 month old infant and trying not to puke on my sophomores. Although, now that I think about it, it might make them behave better if there's the imminent threat of being horked on if they tick me off. Hmmm.