A mouth full

Ross who is 3 has always snored like a freight train...from day one. His pediatrician said it was normal and he would grow out of it. He has been to the doctor for regular check-ups and immunizations since birth. He has had 2 febrile seizures with complete follow-ups after each to try to determine their cause. He has also been seen for repeated sinus infections. My point is he has been seen by a doctor many times. Well he also had sleep apnea. He would snore, chirp, whistle, wheeze...he made all kinds of crazy sounds while sleeping. A few months ago he got a cold and the apnea got worse. He would stop breathing in his sleep. I could count to 20 or 25 before he would gasp for air. It was exhausting to watch him try to breathe while he slept...not to mention scary to see you child not breathing. He would mouth breathe ALL the time. I just happened to look into his throat one day...I was astonished at what I saw. His tonsils were so large they were touching his uvula (the little hangy down thing in the back of the throat). I immediately made an appointment with the pediatrician so she could give us a referral to the ear, nose, and throat specialist. Within a week we saw two doctors and Ross was scheduled for surgery. He went in on 12/15 for a tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy. The surgeon said Ross' adenoid tissue was so enlarged his nasal passages were nearly completely blocked...he was getting little to no air through his nose. His tonsils were enormous. On a scale of 1-4...they were a 4. The dr. said when they laid him down not only were his tonsils "gigantic" but, they fell into what little airway he had left to breathe through. This was without him being sick or having any swelling from infection. CRAZY!!! Ross came out of surgery just fine. We stayed overnight just for observation. Everything went great. Ross was so brave and did so good. There was a huge difference in his breathing almost immediately. Now I have to check on him to make sure he is still breathing because he is so quiet. It is amazing. Bless his heart...he is finally getting some REM sleep. I share this story because if your child has sleep apnea, snores loudly, recurring sore throats, ear infections or sinus infections...you might want to check their tonsils...because the pediatrician won't tell you if you don't ask. It never occurred to me his problems were related to his tonsils. I have small tonsils and so does Sammy. However, Sam had large tonsils and clearly Ross had "gigantic" tonsils. It is so funny. Ross' voice changed slightly...it is a little higher. He sounds like a little elf...so cute. He is doing great and almost fully recovered.

Ok, just a little update. I have not fallen off the planet just in case you're wondering. However, our graphics card on our desktop is dead... plus life has been kinda crazy with the holidays and everything. With that being said ... I have totally been slacking on our blog. My New Year's resolutions will include being more diligent in my blogging efforts. Not that everyone is all that interested in every little aspect of my family life...but it is therapeutic for me in a way. It is like my journal and I have been neglecting it.

Guess who's 3!!!

I can't believe my baby just turned 3. Where did the time go? Three years ago today I was going into the hospital for a scheduled c-section. After everything was said and done I had this precious 8lb. 9oz. "chunk of love."

"Before"

(Yes, I know I was pregasourous...and I'm still trying to loose that baby weight...but he's worth it....most of the time.)

"After"

"Now"

Please note: He is wearing his new Spiderman helmet and pads while playing his new "magic flute."

I realize we have a Halloween theme going on here. It really was not intentional. Ross asked for cupcakes...so I thought chocolate of course...then he asked for orange cupcakes. Luckily, Grammy was able to whip up some homemade buttercream frosting on the fly...thank goodness for food coloring. As for Ross' wardrobe choice of the day...he just happened to choose his Halloween t-shirt, which coordinate with his cupcakes perfectly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSS!!!!

We love you!

Earlier in the day we took a ride on the 4-wheeler over to the Jenne's horse farm so Ross could ride Grammy's horse, Mac.

Beautiful Day

My in-laws live in a 120yr old house that used to be a women's dormatory. They have a huge yard with lots of trees, plants and shrubs. When it is not too hot and humid and the bugs aren't biting, it is wonderful to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. Everything is so lush and green. I will take some pics to post later.

I love blowing bubbles.

It was so beautiful the other day. It was a little cooler. The sun was out and there was a gentle breeze. It was the perfect day for blowing bubbles.

Little Miss Lyla is about 10 weeks old now.

Isn't she cute?

I love the kool-aid smile.

August

Shortly after returning from Texas. Sam and I felt like we needed to move back to Alabama. So, reluctantly we packed again and made the long trip back home. Did I mention it was a long trip? Did I mention we loved where we were and didn't want to move? Anyway, in August we moved for the second time in two months, Sammy started 5th grade and he turned 10 all in the same week. Needless to say things have been a little hectic in my family for a while. We are finally adjusting and things are working out just fine. My wonderful in-laws have been gracious enough to rent us their entire upstairs. We are making ourselves at home and we all get along great.

Puppy Love

This is the newest addition to the Davis family. Her name is Lyla. She is a toy Australian shepherd and the sweetest thing ever. We are all totally in love with her. We have been caring for her since she was four days old.

Lyla was about 4 1/2 weeks old in these pics.

This and that

Just a few of the things we did while we were in Texas:

A day at the beach.

This is what happens after inhaling a blue raspberry snow cone.

The park

This is the entrance into the surf shop. Pretty cool!

I fed my kids to the shark....and he spat them out.

Sammy thought it was so cool to see his name on a banner. Honestly, so did I. "Vote Sammy."

Nonnie and the boys at the Texas State Aquarium

A day at the pool.

July

In July the boys and I took a road trip with our dear friends for a family visit. We rode with the the Atwood's as far as Austin then the boys and I rented a car and drove the rest of the way to my grandmother's. My grandmother was recovering from a stroke so we visited her almost daily with my mother at the nursing home.

Nonnie and G.G.

G.G. and the boys

Sammy couldn't resist giving Ross bunny ears.

June

At the beginning of June we moved out of our townhouse into an adorable little house on a ranch at the mouth of a canyon. It was beautiful and so peaceful. The owners were our fabulous new neighbors. They bred and raised horses and mini australian shepherds. Every day we were blessed with the view of the canyon and beautiful horses everywhere we looked.

This is Gary the guard goose ... aka "Scary Gary."

This was a view from my kitchen window. I sent alot of time looking up the canyon and watching the horses in their corrals from this vantage point.

The boys loved jumping on the trampoline.

Catch up

It has been a while, but here goes ... my attemp to update this blog. I've missed alot so I'll try to make it short and sweet.

I promise I will update soon.

Memorial Day

We had this bright idea to spend our Memorial Day doing something as a family.  So, we decided to go play golf.  Our day was not without some challenges....like the ominous weather and soggy fairways, but we had a great day.  

This is supposed to be a sand trap.

Cute driver.

Tee Time

"FORE!"

Suprisingly, Ross make a great caddy when he's not running off with your ball from the putting green.

A little father-son bonding

There's nothing like kicking back with a good book.  Aren't they cute?

Confessions of a self-proclaimed cheap skate

I Love to yard sale...it is honestly one of my favorite things to do...other than crafts and spending time with my family of course.  I love to plunder through other people's trash.  I had only been to one since I have been here...until this weekend.  I thought I would share some of my new found treasure.  I'm in the process of trying to pack up my house for a move.  Is it crazy to buy someone else's junk only to add to the never ending stacks of my own junk?  I think not.  Why you ask?  Because it is treasure.  Don't misunderstand me some of what you dig through is just rubbish, but if you look closely and keep an open mind you might find treasure.  Yard sales and thrift stores are treasure troves and the treasure hunt gives me a rush (I'm strange...I know.)  

I picked up these adorable lamps at a moving sale for $3 each.

Yes, you are looking at a potty seat.  Ross picked this out at a garage sale for $1.  We are trying to start potty training, but when the trainee has no interest that makes things a little difficult.  He is perfectly happy being the designated toilet flusher.  When he started calling this "Ross' potty" I got so excited.  I hope since he picked it out and it was his idea maybe he will actually use it soon.  Oh, by the way it was very clean and I thoroughly sanitized it when we got home.  I wish I would have been fast enough with the camera to get a pic of him sitting in (not on) the potty, fully clothed with the seat around his neck.  

Our next item of the day is a charming , rustic,  star wind chime being shown by my partner in crime.  Ross had fun checking out all the stuff.   I picked up this beauty for .50.  I haven't decided if I'm going to leave it the way it is, paint it, or maybe embellish it with beads.  So many options.  What do you think?

These are hen-and-chicks (I'm not sure why the pic posted like that...sorry.  Just tilt your head to the right and you'll be able to see it better.)  These are super easy to grow and very hard to kill.  I bought a bread bag full of starts for $1.50.  The lady said there were about 10 starts in each bag.  There are easily 20.  

Check out these beautiful tomato plants.  I got these for $1 each.  I thought I better get three and hopefully at least one of them will survive my tender loving care.  If you have read my earlier post you know I have had very little luck with seeds...hopefully I can keep these established plants alive and have some scrumptious tomatoes.   I can't wait for homemade salsa and fried green tomatoes.....yum.  I really hope I don't kill these.

I have killed many plants over the years, but I am getting better.  I actually have a few house plants that have survived for more than a year now....yay!  I think plants make a house feel so cozy and they add a wonderful energy to a loving home.  I bought both of these together for $5...I thought that was reasonable since the pots alone would cost at least twice that at the garden store.

I also found a twin bed with an oak head board for $15.  I'll post a pic of it later.  I took it to storage because my house is full of boxes.