A broken tooth and other stuff

Having fun at Hollywood Connection

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Titus escaping out the dog door - his favorite thing to do!

Having fun at the Park

Titus and Dad on the slide

Last Friday, I made breakfast for us and kind of burnt the toast...usually not a problem both me and Todd like our toast well done, but today it ended up causing me big problems. I bit down on the piece of toast, and immediately felt something crack, kept chewing a little, and then I could tell something was definitely wrong. I started to wriggle my tooth with my tongue and could feel it was loose, then went and looked in the mirror and saw a crack in the middle of it, but it was still hanging on. I had a root canal on this tooth a couple of months ago and the doctor told me to come back within 6 months or so to get a crown on it since the tooth was going to be weaker now. I know now I should have gone in sooner to get it done but just kept putting it off for other expenses that kept popping up. So I called the dentist and he was able to meet me at his office about a half hour later. He pulled the part of the tooth that broke loose (about a 1/3 of the tooth) and said it had broke almost to the bone. He said the remaining tooth looked strong enough still that he could put a crown on it and I wouldn't lose the whole tooth. So that was good news but it was of course all very painful. He patched the tooth up and scheduled me to come back on Tuesday to get the temporary crown put on. Kennedy and Kayden were supposed to come spend the night but I was in so much pain and out of it from the painkillers that I couldn't get them. Sunday I started to feel better and we went and got them that afternoon and went to Hollywood Connection. They have a great deal where you can get 5 wristbrands for $25 after 4pm on Sunday's. They have rides and roller skating, games, laser tag, miniature golf. We stopped at Training Table on our way and then had a great evening playing. Titus was very scared of the two rides he could go on, even the carousel scared him to death, we couldn't put him on an animal that moved, we just had to sit in the chair but even then he cried and wanted to get off. We especially loved roller skating (Todd and Titus sat that out) and I learned that I cannot keep up with Kennedy...she is way too fast.

Tuesday was St Patrick's Day and I went back to the dentist and it hurt worse this visit than when I broke the tooth and he pulled it. He had to get the tooth ready for the crown. I was planning on working the rest of the day, but came home in too much pain and took the rest of the day off. It has started warming up and later we went and took the dogs on a walk and stopped at a little playground on our way. Titus had a great time climbing and going down the slides and was so upset when we got ready to leave and screamed so loud. This being the first child for Todd he's still a little new on this parenting thing and what's normal and he wasn't sure what I had done to hurt him! I had to explain that Titus was ok, and simply having a temper tantrum because he didn't want to leave the playground. It was nice to have some time with the family, but I would have rather it been for another reason!

Never thought this day would come

You could say that I'm not much of a dog person...I know sounds terrible for you dog lovers but they were just not for me. I never had one growing up, and never wanted one. I hated the mess, the hair, the smell, the time, the extra work...all of it. Todd has had dogs all his life and couldn't live without one. We have Rocco and I love him because I love Todd, but I can't say that he really brought me that much joy, usually just stress! I never thought in a million years he could convince me to take on another dog. It would have thought it would have been easier to convince me to have another child than a dog. But he had this friend with a bulldog that he couldn't take care of and was basically neglected and Todd brought me to take a look at him. I couldn't believe what happened but it was love at first sight. I went over to him and he instantly started licking my face and it was like I knew he was my dog and he knew I was his new owner and there was no going back it was just instant attraction. And he was soooo CALM....not hyperactive like Rocco at all. We played with him in the yard for a bit and I didn't even have to say anything to Todd, and he didn't ask me if I wanted to take him...it was just sort of a silent agreement I guess to take him. He just said okay let's get him in the car and I couldn't make a single objection. His name is Clyde and I said "Come on Clyde, let's go bye-bye". He ran over to me and off we went. He's been with us 2 weeks now and he is just the sweetest, most patient, kindest, gentlest, loving calm dog I have ever been around. I knew nothing about English bulldogs before, but now after reading up on them on the internet their breed is known for all these things. Our vet tells us it's her favorite breed. He was very scared the first few days and just wanted to stay at the bottom of our steps and not move, but now he has become much more comfortable and sleeps downstairs at the end of our bed with Rocco. Him and Rocco are also making better friends and have started playing and running together outside. Titus of course just loves him and his favorite time of day now is when he gets to feed the dogs. He tells them to "Sit" and then him and his dad go fill up their bowls, and Titus sets their bowls exactly where he wants them. Sometimes he just likes to handfeed them, and he likes to move Rocco's bowl around while he eats. We would have never known how cool bulldogs were had we not been given this one. They range from $1500-$2500 to buy one. We love him so much already!

Titus - 16 months old

Titus taking a bath after getting covered head to toe with his eggs from breakfast. He loves *squinting* his eyes now for some reason it's so cute. He loves eggs - any way - fried, scrambled, boiled. Some of his other favorites right now are his Muscle Milk that he has every morning - banana is his new favorite flavor, and he loves bananas - he could eat two a day. He also loves sticky rice and noodles.

His hair is getting so long now! He has had one haircut about two months ago but only the front was cut, not the back. It only looks like this when wet though, when dry it gets all fluffy and curly in the back like his Dad's.

Cute little mohawk!

He loves Rocco and will spend a lot of his day playing with him and climbing all over him. He is always giving him loves like this. He loves to tell him "Sit!" Rocco is a good sport and puts up with it. He loves to get his blanket and lay down on the floor with him. He also likes getting a cracker or cookie and then tries to get Rocco to chase after him with it. He will laugh so hard!

Titus is very generous and loves to share his treats! Of course Rocco doesn't mind either. We are constantly telling him that's Titus' treat, not Rocco's, but he still won't give up. Here he is ready to give him one of his snacks.

Titus is such a happy, loving little boy. He is constantly giving hugs and kisses and is a great snuggler! Mom loves it so much. He loves to roll around on Rocco on Sox and he gives them hugs all day long. He loves his time in the evening when him and Dad "wrestle" on the bed. He really enjoys throwing his little footballs and then having you throw it back. He loves to stack things, and then of course throw them all down. But he is constantly stacking, sorting, and moving things around. He understands EVERYTHING we say, but he's not saying many words of his own yet. This frustrates him greatly when he cannot communicate what he wants. Now when he gets really frustrated, he has started "spitting" and blowing his lips. He does pretty good though in showing us what he wants. His favorite word is "See" (and then he points to where he wants you to take him - usually to the cupboard where the snacks are).

An Infamous Day in History

*Don't you think Kayden could play a great
young Barack Obama in the movie of his life?
I'm finally starting to catch up with things, my office is pretty much all put together, our basement is getting cleaned up nicely, the whole house is actually getting pretty clean, and now I finally have some time to sit and record my thoughts and feelings about the day that Barack Obama was Inaugurated as our new President of the United States on January 20,2009. I feel it was truly a special and magical day that changed and healed our nation. I first heard of then Senator Obama speak for the very first time at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. He was virtually unknown at that point but after listening to him speak I honestly said to myself that is the future President of our country. After hearing his story that he was of mixed race from a black father and a white mother, I instantly felt another connection to him having 3 kids of my own that are of mixed race. I started reading his book Dreams From My Father and was captured by him and his story. I also started following him and his career and was just so impressed by his smartness, nobility, honesty, wisdom, humbleness, leadership, and family values. I knew he had what it takes to be our next President. The day of the election was very exciting for me as I had never voted for a President before. I cried when I was in the voting booth and marked the spot for Obama. It was a very emotional day for me. I had the day off work and we got home from voting around 1:00 pm, and I never left the TV after that until Obama made his acceptance speech that night and I again cried as I watched him and his family take the stage. They looked so beautiful and I was just amazed actually that our country had voted him as our President. I felt so much hope that my children had a chance to live in a time where they won't experience racism and can aspire to be anything they want to be.

I was very excited to watch the Inauguration. On Sunday I watched a lot of CNN that day of coverage of the pre-events, and then HBO had a special on that night with the concert that they did on the mall that day. I was very much wanting to be in DC, and very jealous and my niece and nephew who were there! If I had the money, I would have taken all of the kids just to be there to experience that moment in history. Thinking back afterward, I wish I would have planned some sort of little breakfast party to watch the Inauguration to make it special, but it just ended up being me and Titus watching. I had traded the day off work for Friday just so I could watch everything and again I did not leave the TV all day. Todd was teasing me when I kept switching back and forth from CNN, to NBC to ABC.. anytime one would go to a commercial I would switch to another channel. And about 9:00 that night I think he was getting a little tired of it all and asking when it was going to be over. I told him he should keep quiet since he gets to watch football all day long every Sunday and he is lost in his games - this was one day that will go down in our history books and I wanted to take in every single second of it on the TV if I couldn't be there in person. I said if it was the Broncos at the Superbowl you would be the same way - he was quiet after that and let me finish watching!

It was just so fun and exciting watching the almost 2 million people fill the mall that morning. I have such a love for DC after living there myself for a couple of months when I was a senior in high school. I could practically feel their excitement, energy, and hope coming through the TV. When I saw the Obama daughters come out so poised and beautiful and smiling from ear to ear I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. These girls are going to be in the White House and are going to be the role models now for millions of children - they will be looked up to - other children will want to be like them - which only means great things for my children. When our new President came out with his wife I was just filled with so much pride for our country. Tears are welling up now thinking about it again. I cried again when he took the Oath of Office and was really just overcome with joy thinking of all the possibilites things brings for our whole country. I think the best part of the Inauguration though was when Sasha gave her dad the thumb's up! That was just classic.

A New Day really has come to our country. I feel like we really have overcome...or at least taken one step closer to overcoming hate, racism, prejudice and fear. I, like millions of others are filled with so much hope and optimism, and a renewed love and feeling of unity and brotherhood for family, friends, neighbors, the postman, strangers...ha ha ....but honestly things do feel different after 1/20/09 - the day that will go down in history.

Kayden and Kennedy came over on Sunday since they were out of school Monday. Titus had a great time eating chips and dip like a big boy! It was so cute he would watch the kids dip their chips in the salsa and then got the hang of it and started dipping his own. He loves it when the kids are here and hates it when they go. Also a picture of my new office.

January 18, 2009

It has been a busy couple of weeks for us with me getting back to work and then trying to finish our basement. Last weekend, Savanna and Kayden came and spent the night on Saturday and we celebrated their birthdays. They wanted to go eat at The Mayan which we are excited about since we had not been since they had switched owners and re-did the place. Our hopes were very high for a great experience, but it was terrible and I would tell everyone I know not to go there! When we got there, they told us it would be about a 60-75 minute wait. Of course the kids were set on going here so no big deal we said, we are 5 minutes away so we just went back home to wait, thank goodness none of us were too hungry at this point, but we still had a long night ahead! We went back an hour later, and waited about another 15 minutes to be seated. They brought us to the very top floor, behind a huge tree, and we could not see a thing. Todd went down to talk to someone to see if we could change (at this point we would have waited 5-10 minutes more for them to clean a table, we could see plenty of them that had just opened up that had a much better view!) But he had no luck with the manager. He basically told Todd they don't care if we never come back - they have plenty of business. They were just not customer service oriented at all and because of my line of work this just grates me to no end when I receive horrible customer service. So we stayed where we were, and waited almost half an hour to get drinks or chips or anything. We are all getting very hungry at this point, especially Titus. We waited another hour after that for our food to actually arrive. We were there for a total of 3 hours and that doesn't count the hour we spent at home waiting! Their service was horrible, the food was worse than it was before and WAY overpriced, and the entertainment really went downhill. They have divers, but that's it. The shows were much better before, plus they always had entertainers before going around to the tables and they have none of that now. So I felt bad that the kids did not have a great experience, but we did try to make the best of it and have a few laughs, especially when Titus was through eating and covered head to toe in beans - not so fun cleaning him up!

The time went very quick with them since they had to be back on Sunday morning. Titus started crying when we dropped them off and as they walked inside just kept pointing and saying "Ugh....ugh...ugh". He was sad to see them go as was I as usual. We came back home and Todd had a friend come over that helped us move our bed downstairs, and from there, we were able to get everything else pretty much moved before I started work Tuesday. We are still in the process of getting everything put away and cleaned up, but we are loving it so far and I absolutely LOVE my new office upstairs in our old bedroom.

January 6 2009

Titus in the bath with his jammies on!

His favorite rocking chair

Wow I can't believe it's already the 6th and vacation is over and I was back to work today. It was a little hard after having almost 3 weeks off but no other choice! Titus seems to be a little whiny today I could hear while I was working - he mayhave got a little too used to having me around a bit more. But he's also just still been a little off key since he got sick. Our perfect sleeping baby used to go to bed between 9-10pm and woke up between 9a-10a. He now goes to bed still between 9-10p, but he now wakes up between 6a-7a, and also wakes up crying at least once or twice during the night. So we are feeling a little more sleep deprived, and trying to adjust to his new schedule! Todd went to Circuit City last night and I gave Titus a bath while he was gone. I got him all lotioned and dressed and in his nighttime diaper when Todd called and I set Titus down to grab the phone. The little stinker ran to the bathroom (he somehow instinctively knows when the door is open) and jumped right back into his bath with all his clothes on! He had this look on this face like "Oh no - I probably shouldn't have done that what's mom going to do?" I said "Titus - what did you do?" He would not say a word as I got him out of his dripping wet pajamas and then while I was getting him dressed, he kept putting his mouth up to mine to give me kisses, and kept patting my back. It was so cute I couldn't be mad at him!

New Year's Eve we went to Todd's friend Jim's. His friend Don has 2 little girls that just love Titus - they even gave us a certificate for Christmas for one overnight stay for Titus - and they gave us the night off - nice. They were even fighting over who got to change him. It was great, they took him upstairs with all the kids and we got to party downstairs with the adults! We got instructed we could not go upstairs and had to stay out of sight so Titus would not get upset but he did great and went to sleep about 10:30 and we were able to lay him down. It was nice to have a night for just the two of us to have fun. It was a short night though as we didn't go to bed until almost 4am, and Titus was up right at 6:00am ready to play. Luckily, I was able to take a nap later that afternoon when he did. Over the weekend, we finished laying all the tiles in the basement in between all the college bowl games and NFL playoff games of course!

My oldest son Kayden turned 11 on Sunday January 4th, and Savanna, my oldest daughter turned 13 the next day on the 5th. Wow how time flies. They will be over this weekend to celebrate their birthdays with us.

While Todd was out running errands before New Year's, the battery in our car died. He was stuck but has a friend Mark who is a mechanic and runs his own shop from his home. He was able to call him and he came to Todd and jumped him and then took him to get the battery replaced. While he was checking the car, we found out the front brakes were completely gone, and the rear were very close. We were not expecting that expense, but luckily Mark gave us a good deal Todd and took the bug to him yesterday to get all the brakes fixed, and new spark plugs. He was gone most of the day though and me and Titus just hung out doing laundry and putting away all the Christmas decorations. When he came home, it was so cute because Todd came in with a lot to tell me about the car and his day and of course for those who know him, he can get very excited and animated and loud when he talks, but Titus was just as eager to tell his Dad about his day. Titus just started babbling away saying one thing after another that of course we couldn't understand, but he was very serious about it all, and just as animated and excited as his Dad! The louder Todd got, the louder that Titus would get. We both just started laughing at him.

We were sad to have our vacation end last night, but looking forward to a New Year with new opportunities and possibilities! I worked out yesterday for the first time in probably about 2 months. With Titus' early schedule, I had some time in my schedule to fit this in, and I put on about 8 pounds during the holidays that I would love to have off by Valentine's Day. There I said it, put it in writing, now the hope is I will be better at sticking to it! But I am paying for it today as I could hardly walk up and down our stairs my legs are so sore. I guess I should have taken it a little more slowly! I am determined to keep my body healthy this year.

Christmas 2008

Christmas for us was a little different this year. Todd and I wanted to have our own family Christmas and didn't want to have to travel, so we decided to stay here for Christmas. I knew there was no talking the older kids into staying with us, Grandma and Grandpa's is just too much fun for them, so we had an early Christmas with them the Sunday before Christmas. They were all pretty excited to open some early gifts, and said they had a hard time going to sleep the night before. Todd's mom, sister, and Cosette came over to spend the afternoon with us. The Bronco's were on so I knew we wouldn't get Todd's full attention until after the game was over! We played some games that afternoon, and then got ready to open their presents. It was so fun watching them get so excited - the house got so loud! Savanna started screaming when she opened her "Team Edward" T-shirt (she's in love with Edward from the Twilight Series), and a Carl Kover jersey from the Jazz (in love with him too!). Kennedy was the most excited, especially for her easy bake oven. Every gift she would open she would come and give me the most gigantic hug it was so cute. Kayden got Rock Bank for Wii and we all had fun playing that the rest of the evening.

We got up the next morning when Titus was running a fever of 102 and had to run him back to the dr for more X-Rays. My sisters picked up the kids while we were gone and they left for Idaho in a big snowstorn that afternoon. They got there ok though. We spent the next 3 days before Christmas taking care of sick little Titus. Christmas Day we woke up about 9:00 AM. Titus was a little better, and was able to be up for about half an hour and open a couple of presents. He was tired after that, and fell asleep on the couch with all his presents. Me and Todd then ate Breakfast casserole I made the night before (one of my favorite Christmas breakfasts!) and then opened all our presents. Titus slept most of the day, and would open a present every time he got up, and still had about 4 more to open the next day so he had fun for 2 days! He didn't have any energy at all to play with anything, but has really been enjoying all his new toys since he's been feeling better. It started snowing Christmas Eve and through Christmas Day. It was so pretty and so nice to have a white Christmas - although it was a lot of snow to shovel - we could really use a snow blower since Todd can't shovel with his broken back! I made cheesy potatoes the night before, and we made a turkey together that day, and I also made Todd's favorite - pecan tarts. It was a nice little dinner for just the 3 of us. We had a great day relaxing watching movies and just so happy to have our son well.

I have off work until January 6th so we are trying to use this time to get the basement cleaned out and new flooring down so we can move the master bedroom downstairs (our bedroom upstairs is sooo small), and we'll move my office upstairs where our bedroom is now. I don't think we'll be done before then (lots of football games on you know!), but we'll see. It's just nice to have time off to relax and to have been able to take care of Titus while he's been down sick.