Alex's Heart....

...is perfect. Yes, he has a murmur. But his heart is 100% normal. I asked if it was something he would outgrow and the Dr. said, "you can't outgrow normal!" Its been a stressful couple of days. I think Scotty was super duper worried and he was kissing all over Alex when we left. I am so proud of Alex -- despite putting up a good fight for the nurses who never good a good BP reading, he was really good with the Dr and during the ultrasound of his heart. So yes, he has a murmur but its not causing any problems with the function of his heart.

So now - a different kind of picture of Alex - one of his PERFECT heart!

18 Month Stats

First its hard to believe my 'baby' is 18 months TODAY! Where did the time go? Remember this guy?

He is now this guy!

Anyway - he is still 95% + on all his stats - 31+ lbs (wouldn't stay still on the scale), 35.5 inches long, 19.5 on the head circumference. All looks healthy.

However, he does have a heart murmur. They noticed it at 9 months and we were told he would grow out of it, and he hasn't yet. So -- we have an appt with a pediatric cardiologist on Thursday at 11am. The pediatrician didn't seem overly concerned, and said he would probably still outgrow it but since its been a year we should have a cardiologist look at it.

So...we will. I'm sure its fine, and cant wait to report back with good news.

Dad is going back to work! MIRACLE, huh? We thought it would be like 12 weeks and what - 5 weeks later he can go back to work. He has made some major strides and I'm so proud of him. Funny thing...he has an appt with HIS cardiologist on the same day as Alex in the same building at 11:45. So hopefully he will continue to get good news.

Happy New Year!

With the roller coaster of a year it has been, I welcome 2010 with open arms. I've watched far too many people hurt in 2009 and I think we all deserve a fresh start. I've got a feeling that 2010 is going to be great. We kissed 2009 goodbye last night with some great friends and Im waiting for pictures to be posted on her blog so I can add them to mine. But it was fun with friends, fireworks, games and some yummy food and drinks!

On my to do list for 2010:
1) Be a better wife/mom/daughter/friend - I know Im a good in all of these catagories, but I know I could be better. I need to make more time for all of these parts of my life and quit half a$$ing it so much.
2) Get healthy -- this isnt just for me - its for those around me. I know I need to eat better, I know I need to exercise more, so I just need to do it. I think Dad's heart problems were a wake up call. "Hello your genetics are calling....get your a$$ in gear or else!" You have to start somewhere.

So those are pretty big in my book. I think starting out with 2 is good. We will see how it goes!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Vacation

With plans up in the air after my Dads surgery, we decided to still go on vacation and Im so glad we did. We obviously missed family, but we invited some friends (although I think I called them strangers when drinking and while they may be strange - STEVE - they are far from strangers!). But we had a great time, relaxed by the fire, ate some good food, drank some brews, saw some trains, hunted for bears, played cornhole, watched football....and had fun. We have pictures to prove it. Im sure Amber will post hers on her blog too and she has a new killer camera so her pictures will be better than mine....so look over there as well.

Our second trip staying in this cabin -- we love it!




This view of it does not show how big it really is -- its a two story with a double decker gazebo with amazing views of the Great Smokies.


See what I mean?


Christmas Morning:








Loving the only bear we saw all weekend...its not for a lack of trying though.




Our great friends who came along for the ride. Thanks for the food, brews, and memories.



Ok...maybe not the Cornhole memories. I was told I need to work on my skills.







Hunting for bears....well looking for evidence of them at least.







Great Smokey Mtn Railroad Museum. Alex LOVED all the trains. For what you can do in there its semi pricey - but I'd go again because Alex liked it so much.




One last look off the gazebo.



Goodbye Lands Creek! See you again soon.

The Grizwolds of MY Family

My cousin goes all out for Christmas every year. I was so sad that Alex was sick and didnt get to go out there to see the lights. They live about an hour from us so its hard to make it out there and I always look forward to Christmas and getting the kids together. Watch this video to the end...its pretty stinking funny!

Melt.My.Heart.

I love this munchkin....

A Cluster Post

First off...DAD is HOME! He is doing ok. He was ready to get home - he saw Alex tonight for the first time since Thanksgiving and I think that perked him up a bit. I hope it did. We love you Dad...keep fighting!

Next -- I got the funniest email today with pictures from Scotty's 40th ShinDig....so without further ado...the debacle:

"This is why I'm hot"

"Or maybe its the company I keep that makes me hot."

"Ok, not alllll the company is hot."

"Is this thing on?"

"Good friends stay sober so they can produce blackmail."


"Chhhhhheeeeeeesssseeee!"

Now I just have to say that we saw Jon Reep (Comedian from Last Comic Standing) perform earlier in the night and he had the luck of running into his fans, his groupies, his followers, his drunk people at Rock Bottom and he was SO SO SO gracious to stop what he was doing and celebrate with us and take a few pictures. I am forever a Jon Reep fan!!!

"40 ROCKS! WOOO HOOO!"



"Party on Scotty!"

"Jon doing what he does best!"

Happy 40th Scotty! I love you even if you dont close your eyes....although it was probably a good thing you didnt...you would have either passed out or fallen backwards....just sayin....