It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas

Happy Christmas season to you, my friends!

This is truly my most favorite time of year and I'm so happy that this year does not entail recovering from septorhinoplasty like last year did. In fact, I've got big plans for our family that include a trip to Grapevine, a ride on the Polar Express, attending Christmas on 5th, the ladies' Candlelight Christmas at church, a trip to BLORA, a Sunday School fellowship and both mine and Dave's Christmas parties. 

That doesn't even begin to cover Miss Taylor's church and school schedule but I am choosing to delight in this season. To that end, I've purchased all but two gifts on our list and, truthfully, I'm just waiting for the price to drop on those before I'm all finished. Our stockings have been hung by the chimney with care and I'm hoping the outside of the house will have minimal - but super cute - decorations this weekend.

Why, might you ask, am I trying to get everything done so stinkin' quickly?

So that we can spend time just enjoying the season. I usually don't do that. Instead I stress about making sure I have the prettiest packages and that my hair is just right in our family photo. 

Too much worry, not enough fun...but we're about to change that.

So if we're absent from the blog most of the month of December, know that hundreds of pictures are being taken so that we can document every minute. I know you'll be so excited :-)

Gobble 'til You Wobble

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

We've been MIA lately but it's only because life is getting much busier as we close in on the holidays. I pray you have an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and that you truly gobble 'til you wobble. And then take a nice, long nap.

The year 2009 has been one of ups and downs for our family but we truly have much for which to be thankful. Here's the short list:

• Our fabulous Disney vacation
• Our health
• Our jobs
• The Father
• The Son
• The Holy Spirit
• The fact that my daughter and my stepdad were baptized within a week of each other during the summer
• Our church family
• The opportunity to give back to our community through volunteer work
• A daughter who suffered a very unfortunate injury last month but who has amazed us with her courage and determination to get right back in the groove
• That our pets are still alive (they've truly acted horribly lately and I'm sure they're thanking God for their lives today as well :-)
• The chance to live in a free country
• Multiple Thanksgiving meals!
• Friends and family far and near who bless us richly, cry with us freely and support us no matter what

If you're reading this, know that I am thankful for you as well. And that we pray this entire holiday season will bring you nothing but joy.

The Power of Prayer

I don't have much to share today but did want to thank you for your prayers about Tay's arm. While it's still not perfect, she has made significant strides this week and I know that progress is directly attributed to prayer. 

If she pushes it, her elbow is almost (but not quite) straight so I'm hopeful (and remain prayerful) that she will regain full range of motion in the next couple of weeks.

In other news, I'm still totally bummed and, quite frankly, my attitude stinks. Tay is spending the weekend with my parents and this is Dave's weekend to work so my hope is that some alone time will be just what the doctor ordered.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

No Pain No Gain

Ok, friends, I come to you today a bit of a wreck. And I'm not even sure why. Well, I have some idea, but really can't go into detail about it at the present time. 

I hate it when people say that but it's actually true in this instance. I will, however, share something with you that is part of the cause of my cracking little heart.

My baby girl has been out of her sling for a week now, which means she has 3 more weeks to regain full range of motion in her elbow. While I originally had no worries about this (it's not like this is our first - or even second - rodeo), I must admit that I'm growing increasingly concerned.

You see, that little elbow is more stiff than I'd realized and my little one is having a hard time forcing herself to stretch it out. So, being the one over 30 in this relationship, I've taken to stretching it out myself each night.

And it makes her cry.

Real tears.

Which makes me cry.

And then we're in an endless cycle.

So if you wouldn't mind throwing out a few extra prayers for my baby, I would appreciate it. Because just typing this is making my eyes start to water. Those of you who know me well realize that usually only happens when I'm angry. But I'm not mad. I'm just sad. 

Are you grasping the severity of this situation?

If you have some extra prayers to spare, you wouldn't waste a prayer on this other situation I'm being very shady about either.

Please and thank you.

Homecoming Game

As promised, here are our pics from the 2009 Baylor Homecoming Game. There really aren't many but, if you keep up with BU football, you know there weren't many highlights during that game. 

Quite frankly, OSU didn't need much help defeating our freshman quarterback but the refs apparently thought they did because they provided as much help as possible. Of course, the same can be said for our game against UT this past weekend but the guys in stripes certainly didn't mind throwing flags for imaginary penalties that day either.

Bitter much, Casi?

Why, yes, I am. Thankyouverymuch for asking.

Actually, I'm not really bitter. I don't have a problem at all getting beat by a better team. I just happen to think we should ALL play by the same rules.

Stepping down from soapbox...

Our hero, who I hear was walking around quite well on Saturday - 2010 here we come!

Have I mentioned that he's Taylor's hero?

The terrible twosome - Tay and Logan

See the player standing sideways? That's #11 Phil Taylor. He is a beast. And I mean that in the kindest sense of the word. He's an amazing defensive player who's been struck by the dreaded turf toe. Bless his heart, though, I don't think he should be forced to wear such a light color from head to toe. If you know what I mean...

We shall now return to regularly scheduled programming. Not exactly sure what that means but I'm rather positive I still have a few more Halloween pics to share. Because, you know, I thought maybe you forgot what the cutest costume my child has ever owned looks like :-)

Baylor Homecoming Parade - Centennial Edition

Hola!

Bonjour!

Howdy!

Yes, I'm finally back in the land of the living (somewhat) after being sidelined and stuck in bed since Tuesday evening. What I thought was a simple respiratory infection threw me for a loop and, while I never actually thought I was dying, I must admit to thinking a couple of times that it might be the easier route.

My man (Mr. Healthcare) was rather appalled that I wasn't tested for the flu when I saw the NP (our doc was out of town) and he is leaning toward that being the actual diagnosis. Why? Well, the antibiotics really didn't seem to help at all and my fever didn't actually break until Thursday night. But it came right back and didn't break again until Friday at lunchtime. And then it came back again for a final hurrah that afternoon.

It was rough and I'm still weak but I'm SOOOOO much better than a few days ago!

But enough about me - let's move on to photos from the 100th Baylor Homecoming Parade. We've been so many and taken so many pics lately that I'm rather behind on getting this up but we had a great time.

See?

Kappa Delta Float

The game was, well, let me just reiterate that RG3 is on the sideline. We lost to OSU but the officiating was pretty awful (as it was again today with UT) and even the color announcers thought the refs were a joke. But, really, don't get me started on officials. Not today. ;-)

I have a few pics from the game to follow shortly. Or, you know, in a couple of weeks. The way our life is going these days you just never know what's going to happen that will take me off my blogging game.

Bright Spot

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today and, in fact, even broke down and went to the doctor this afternoon because my lower back has been killing me and I never, ever want to repeat the experience of pyelonephritis I had in 2005. Turns out it wasn't my kidneys at all but is, instead, a rather severe upper respiratory infection. All of my coughing has caused the back pain. At least it wasn't my kidneys, right?

Anyway, I also spent several hours at fracture clinic today for Tay's follow-up appointment. Thankfully, we saw her actual surgeon today so the experience was much better than last time. Even if it was incredibly LONG!

The outcome was fantastic, though, as Dr. Charlton said her x-rays look "perfect" and that he could not have asked for anything better. Thank you, Jesus! 

He gave Tay an exercise to do that will help her regain extension in her arm (flexion has returned almost completely) and said if she has full range of motion when he sees her in 4 weeks, she will be released with NO restrictions.

Can you believe it? 

Totally a God thing, if you ask me. Because it was a bad break. Like, really bad. Trust me.

Now please excuse me while I go pick up my daughter, my antibiotic and my pillow.

Goodnight.

Treat Night at Baylor

Last Tuesday evening Baylor hosted Family Treat Night, which is a storied tradition. The children and grandchildren of the faculty and staff are invited to trick or treat in the residence halls. Many go all out with decorations and themes and they hand out LOTS of candy so we certainly weren't going to miss this exciting evening.

One thing I've noticed is that I didn't take many pictures during my days as a student at good ol' Baylor. I've slowly been rectifying that situation by taking them of Tay when we're out and about on campus. I can't say that she's always a willing subject but we're working on it...

Before we left the house I managed to get some fairly decent shots of her in her costume. I truly think the Twister game is one of my favorite costumes of all time. It's right up there with the Red Crayon!

The Tower of Pat Neff Hall (Casi trivia: when I first began working at Baylor, my office was on the third floor of Pat Neff. While I enjoy the parking advantages afforded by now working in Robinson Tower, I must admit to missing the sound of the bells each afternoon as I left campus.)

Miss Tay all ready to score some candy - she's in front of Waco Hall

Waiting in line for one of the games inside Memorial's Drawing Room (that's a classic Casi look, by the way - she got it honest! :-)

A spooky version of Memory

The theme for Memorial this year was Scooby Doo - here's Miss Tay making a "Scooby Snack" on the roof of the residence hall. She thought it was very cool to be on the roof :-)

After getting lots of candy, we headed over to visit Judge Baylor. Tay had never visited the big guy before and, honestly, she thought the best part was that his coat actually falls over the back of the status as well...perhaps we should work on some Baylor history in our spare time...  :-)

Judge - in all his splendor

All tricked and treated out - time to head home!

Fall Carnival at School

One of Woodway Elementary's big events is the annual Fall Festival. Tay had been SO looking forward to this year's installment because she's a big 4th grader now and you know what the 4th graders' booth is? Why, it's the dunking booth!

She was the first one to turn in her permission slip at the end of September but, sadly, was unable to participate due to her broken elbow. In fact, that's one of the only things that made her cry while she was in the hospital. Yes, that's correct - surgery and broken bones and pain are nothing to this child but the inability to get dunked by her friends broke her heart. 

It was sad. Very. But, as you can see from the pictures below, she got over her sadness in time to enjoy the carnival anyway. 










Ah yes, it's certainly not fall until you've had a chance to wait in line for more than half an hour to get a hat made out of balloons. Said hat is still in our guest room. And will remain there until he no longer has any air in his little body. It was a LONG wait. 

But we had a great time while Dave was at home recovering from the swine flu. And, yes, there are still more Halloween/fall pics to come. We crammed a lot into a short amount of time! :-)