Gizmo

So, remember my dogs?  ------------>

Yeah, me niether. I still love them, but they haven't received as much as attention as they used to prior to me having a human baby.

My poor Gizmo, my first born, is in bad health. He has been for years. Really since we got Lily. I brushed it off as he's got doggy depression cause he can't compete with Lily. She's got 10 times more energy as him, is stronger than him. He doesn't have a chance when it comes to playing fetch. She'll beat him every time. Then he started getting fat. I didn't notice it right away, people would comment about his weight at the dog park. I would just say, "He's not fat, he just needs a haircut!" Then one day (after a grooming, I believe), I was like, "Damn, he is fat." The Groomers even call him "Tubby". :( So I fed him less, and the weight control food. I stopped feeding him human food. But along with the weight gain he was also very lethargic. He could BARELY even get around the block once. It was sad. I also noticed things like his once fluffy and soft fur was wirey and thin. He had dandruff, then he started getting these big scabs all over.

Then earlier this year he started having bladder problems. I noticed one day that he was peeing blood. Off to the vet we went. They took x-rays. He didn't have any kidney stones so that was good. They told me it was probably a UTI, gave us some antibiotics and after I emptied my savings, sent us on our way. I asked them about the other problems he was having (the weight issue, coat, scabs, etc), they shaved off the scabs and also gave me a spray. Told me they were probably wounds from scratching. I'm like, listen lady. He can't even reach his neck to scratch. I told them I thought he had a thyroid problem or something. To their defense I was supposed to come back the next day to take a urine and blood sample, but I didn't go back because, well, I couldn't afford to.

I didn't see any more blood in his urine, so thought that it was just a UTI after all. Then a few weeks later, he started peeing blood again. Then he starting losing control over his bladder completely. Having accident after accident in the house. I couldn't even get mad at him because I knew he wasn't doing it on purpose. Then I noticed that the pee was really sticky. Imagine making kool-aid and pouring it on the floor. Super sticky. My friend recommended me her vet who takes payments, so I took him in. They ran blood tests and as I thought, he was diagnosed with diabetes.

I started him on insulin that night. He really seemed to be getting better. He's losing weight, had more energy, was running, playing, and jumping. Then just within the last week, he went blind. They told me this would happen due to the cataracts. He's also started peeing again, and it's just so sad. He's bumping into walls, and can't find his way around. Can you imagine just going blind over night? I'm trying to help him with using my voice, and even putting my hand out and letting him smell and follow me. He's not doing well though. It makes me so sad. His overall health is deterierating again. We're going back to the vet in a few days. He's going to stay all day for glucose tests. I'm also going to have them run full blood work. He had some kind on infection going on the first time, but they weren't sure what. Possibly Valley Fever.

I've come to the conclusion that I don't think we have much more time with him. He's only six {human} years old people! So I'm going to spoil him and snuggle him as much as possible. Keep him in your thoughts that he gets better with this whole moving around blind thing. :(

Cataracts suck.

Christmas Wrap Up

Christmas started on Friday for us. We had Christmas with my mom and siblings at my house. I left a little early for work, and my mom came over to clean my house (that alone was worth it!). We had dinner and opened presents, and best of all, got to snuggle my new baby nephew.

Then Sunday my sister in law's sister in law (got that?) was in town, and we went to their church Christmas Service. And guess what? I did not burst into flames, nor did I sweat profusely. I actually really enjoyed it to be honest. What's not to like about live music, and Xmas music at that? Cailin loved it as well (she's just like her momma, a sucker for live music), and only got a little antsy towards the end. She did really well! Afterwards we went back to my SIL's house for dinner, smores and carolers. We didn't stay long enough for the carolers, it was getting late and Cailin started melting.

Monday I had to work, but only a half day. I woke up feeling like I was getting sick, but refused to admit it. After work I got a mani and pedi, came home and relaxed a bit since I felt like crap, and then we went to our annual Xmas Eve party  at Brian's Aunt's. We stayed later than we have in a few years. Opened presents and played Bingo. It was a great time.

 Getting sleepy.

 

 

Getting grumpy!

Then Tuesday (Christmas Day) we woke up early. And going to bed late plus waking up early the next day was not ok with Cailin. She was so grumpy. We checked to see what Santa had brought Cai, opened our presents here, and then were off to SIL's again to meet up with the in laws for breakfast and more presents.

 Santa brought Cailin a play kitchen!

 

 Told ya. Gump-a-lump!

 

After a big breakfast, and some time with the inlaws, we came home for a nap. We didn't have anywhere else to be until dinner time at my dad's, so we came home and relaxed for a bit. Cailin took a four hour nap! Over all we had a fantastic (and exhausting) Christmas! Between her bday and Christmas, Cailin now has more baby dolls and play food than we can handle. She loves her play kitchen, Baby Alive, and Peppa Pig dollhouse the best. I got a DVD player for the car, lots of gift cards, etc. It's funny, when you become a parent, you ask for things that are really for your kid, and you enjoy watching them get new things than getting presents yourself. I love seeing the excitement and joy in her face. Best present ever!

 

 

I hope everyone had a wonderfun Xmas and a happy and safe New Year as well. I'm now dealing with Strep Throat, and will have a laid back New Years, but that's okay, I prefer it that way (without being sick of course).

 

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! We are so grateful for everything we have. :)

 

 

E-card courtesy of the Red Stamp app. Download it.

 

 

 

Not so Wordless Wednesday: More Birthday Fun

I took Friday and Monday off of work to spend with my birthday princess. We started the weekend out at the mall. "Uncle D" (my brother) sent us a Build A Bear gift card, so we started there. Then we went on the little merry go round, played in the play area, and even rode the mall train. Spoiled I tell ya!

 

Build A Bear! Of course we got the Boston Terrier. She saw it and said "Wee Wee" (this is how she says Lily), so I knew we had to get it.

 

Choo Choo! She was so cute. We've been on this once before. She asked the train driver, "Ticket, pease?" 

And then she woke up Sunday two. OMG. I swear, she woke up the day she turned two and has been terrible since! This pretty much sums it up. We woke up and went to breakfast. She was a brat there... Then we had told her that we were going to play at a bouncy house. She kept asking for a bouncy castle, she was so excited. We went to Jumpstreet and she was not having it! She didn't want to jump on the trampolines, okay I get that. It could be a  bit scary, but she loves bouncy houses. Yet she would NOT go in! Grrrr. So we left.

We went home and opened presents from Mommy and Daddy. Her favorite is this Peppa Pig dollhouse. She loves it, go me!

Monday we ran some errands and played with her new toys.

Running around the house in her tent. Silly goose!

Snowman/Christmas Birthday Party

I had fun planning her second birthday party. I really like to go all out, even though it's exhausting and sometimes overwhelming. Her first birthday was supposed to be a princess theme, but this was right at the peak of my pukey anxiety episodes, so I ended up saying screw it. This year I'm happy to say that I didn't puke. Haha!

My original plan was to go with an ugly sweater type theme, but every time I mentioned that to someone they were like, "oh..." so I figured maybe it was only a good idea in my head and changed it to a Snowman/Christmasy theme. I think it turned out pretty good!

Silly birthday face.

 

Gingerbread man decorating station!

Who has to make their kid open presents?

 

Hot Chocolate Bar 

 

 

Homemade marshmallows for the hot chocolate bar.

Favors

 



TWO

So, yeah... my baby girl... not a baby anymore. Someone hold me! :(

Where do I even start? She's grown SO much these past few months. She's such a little lady! Girl all the way. She loves everything girl. From playing dress up and in Mommy's makeup, to baby dolls and high heels.

Talking. Oh my gosh, it never stops! She's such a chatterbox. She's talking in short sentances pretty much all the time now. Sometimes she gets stuck and can't find the words so will babble and stutter until she finds the right words. I'm trying to keep track. Her current favorite is "I don't yike it (or I don't like/want ____ fill in the blank)". She tells me what she's doing, like "Mommy, I climb the ladder." Or asks me for things. "Mommy? I have milk? Peeeeease?" or "I have vitamin? A red one?" She also loves to greet people. Saying hi of course, and "How are you?" and "What's up?" and also "See you later/next time!" When she's looking for something and can't find it she likes to say "I can't see it!" For example, here's a conversation we had last week:

 "Mommy! Mommy!"
 Me: "yeah baby?"
Cailin: "I can't find B"
Me: "No? I bet it's in here somewhere."
Cailin: "yeah."

Yesterday she told Gizmo to "Go to your room.... NOW!" haha!

Her imagination is running wild. She loves to play pretend. She likes to pretend to eat things, etc.

Tantrums. Oh my GOD! I swear she woke up yesterday and turned terrible! I swear if I hear "No, I don't like it" one more time I'm going to go insane. I know, I know, It's only going to get worse. Blech! This is the part of parenting that sucks. I am so not a good discipliner.

She's turning into such a beautiful, funny, smart and SASSY little girl. And with that, I leave you with a sneak peek of her two year photos, curtosey of LSoucy Photography.

 

 

six months, 1 year, two years.

WW: Work Children's Christmas Party

I am so lucky to work for such a great company that really care for their employees. Each year they throw a company Holiday party as well as a children's holiday party. I haven't been to the adult one yet, but I hear it's fancy.

 

We went last year as well, but this year was so much fun because she's older. We had a blast! There was Santa (and hello, I don't ever have to pay those ridiculous Santa prices at the mall. Can you say FREE?), bouncy houses, xmas crafts, snacks, some reptile exibit, face painting, and Mrs. B's Story Time.

 

We took our Santa pics, jumped in the bouncy house, ate cupcakes, and danced and sang with the lady and her puppets. She loved it.

 

 

 

 

WW: Elf on the Shelf

We started the Elf on the Shelf tradition this year! Cai doesn't understand fully about the reporting back to Santa thing, but she sure does love "Zoey". She gives her hugs and kisses, calls her by her name, carries her around and tucks her into bed. It's adorable.

I haven't had time to really do it consistently with rushing out of the house each morning, but I keep trying to remember to set her up after Cai goes to sleep so she can at least find her when we get home in the evening...

That Time I Lost B

Dudes, I messed up yesterday! I lost Cailin's B. Incase you don't remember "B" is her little(completely overpriced)  blankey who she is super attached to. She needs it to sleep, and brings it with us in the car everywhere, but we always leave it in the car once we get to our destination. I'm an idiot cause I never bought a back up.

Cai's been dealing with a runny nose the past couple weeks, but other than that, has been pretty happy. Due to the amount of slobber that has gone with it, I've blamed it on teething.  It just has not stopped running though, and then she started getting irritable and not sleeping well, so I took her to the doctor. I suspected an ear infection from all the drainage.

I packed B in my bag for the doctor visit incase she started getting upset since I knew she only slept 30 minutes that whole day. We had some time to kill before her doctor appointment, so I decided to stop by my Dad's karate studio on the way to say hi. He wasn't there, so we killed some time in the dollar store. During that trip, she started pulling stuff out of my bag, but didn't pull out B (that I noticed anyway). Once we got to the doctor and were waiting in the room, she started getting cranky so I went to get her B. Not there. I dug everything out of my bag. It HAD to be in there! Crap. Must be in the car. After her appointment (in which I was right, she does have an ear infection), I searched frantically in my car. There is NO way I lost this. Oh shit. Shit! Shit! Shit! This can't be happening. She's crying asking for B. And I'm about to have a panic attack (not really, but I was freaking out a bit), telling her that it's okay, and we'll get B later.

When I got home, I searched my bag and my car again. It was gone. :( How were we going to get through the night? Or the next few nights until we could get a new one? My MIL made her some blankies a while back when we first got B, and she likes them okay, but they're not B, ya know? We used that for the night, and they worked okay, but every once and a while (she was up all night not feeling well), she would start crying for B. One time she even cried, "B all gone!" I never (told her B went bye bye or was gone, just that we would get it later, but she's smart, and definitely picked up on the fact that it was lost.

So... after purchasing not one, but two more B's today, we got in the car, and guess what she grabbed as soon as I opened the car door? FREAKIN B. She was so happy to be reunited with that thing.  Apparently it fell out of my bag in the back seat??? I didn't look back there because I was sure it was in my bag which was in the front seat. ::face palm::: Oh well, now we'll have two backups.

WW: Just Like Mommy

Happy (late) Halloween!

So. Halloween didn't go all that great this year. :/ I'm pretty sure she's cutting a back molar and was just so grumpy Halloween evening. Missed her afternoon nap. First thing Aunt Jen said to me when we got there was, "Good luck, she's moody", and that she was. I was so excited for her first Halloween where she could actually trick or treat. She was going to be allowed to eat candy too! We've been practicing saying "trick or treat" and "candy please" all October. But yeah. She was NOT having it. I got her to say trick or treat (with a thank you) ONCE. She kept trying to run walk away, fighting with her BFF over her push buggy, and trying to walk into people's houses (seriously she's GOT to learn stranger danger)!

I didn't get one good picture either... So excuse my crappy, blury pics.

 

And to compare, here's last year's Halloween:

I miss my chubby little gnome.