Battling the Ickies.

I feel like I need to blog about this, so I won't ever forget the weekend where there was more poop and vomit, than I have ever experienced in my 28-soon to be 29 years of life. (This is even including the back in the day, drink yourself into a blackout days.)

That at least only involved one person. Myself.

I'm pretty sure there is some sick bug/flu going around. Some of my friends have already battled it, and we all know children are the carriers of all diseases. (Forget rats) So yeah, I think it started Wednesday? Or Thursday? I think Thursday. Andy came home from work on 24 hour quarters.

He's been feeling terrible all morning and on the toilet NON STOP.

At some point, I was like, "There can't possibly be any more."

Then Wilson started showing the signs. LEAKS EVERYWHERE. OH EM GEE.

At some point, Andy finally had exhausted himself and went upstairs to sleep.

I'm downstairs with the babies. Wilson throws up everywhere in the living room. He's covered in vomit. My carpet is orange. Callie is like, "Oh look something to play with!" And starts doing her army crawl over to the mess.

I grab both of them and head upstairs. My hands and arms are covered in puke. I'm trying not to gag. Because really, when there is throw up involved it just makes you want to throw up too.

Friday, we take Wilson to the Urgent Care. We wait for freaking like 3 hours. It was terrible. And they literally did nothing, so it was a HUGE waste of time.

Saturday, I start to feel icky too. Andy's feeling a little better and lets me try to rest. Callie seems okay.  I start to feel better later that evening. (Go awesome immune system. Thanks, Mom for giving me formula.)

Sunday, we were going to attempt to go to a farm and do some fun stuff but that very morning, Wilson starts puking again. Luckily, he was close to the kitchen so it was a little easier to clean up.

Monday, Andy is better goes back to work. We are all okay, except for Wilson, who is still having the bad poops.

Today, Bad poops from HELL. Like just nonstop diaper changes.

We actually bought a box of diapers because I was so tired of cloth diapering. Plus, Wilson was having MEGA explosions with them.

Normally, I would enjoy the whole no cloth diapers= no laundry bit. Except that I have been changing these diapers like crazy.

I'm pretty sure I changed 9 diapers in 3 hours one morning. On one child.  (Callie has been for the most part fine. She had a couple blowouts herself.)

 So yeah. It was a terrible 4 days. Even though I got a touch of it. It was more so terrible having to be the parent and do so much of the cleaning and care taking.

I can only hope this evilness, never happens again. The end.

Something for me.

All around my blogger world, I see posts from people who have signed up for different monthly subscriptions.

Birch box does different makeup beauty samples.

Citrus lane sends different toys/things specifically tailored for your child's age/development.

Wittlebee sends you a box of cute clothing for your kid.

I am just absolutely enthralled with them all. And if I could afford it I would sign up for every one I could.

But I can't. So when one of my blog friends blogged about loveclub.

I oohed and ahhed. I went to the website and looked around and saw that it was a bit more affordable for me.

I got the 6 month subscription for 60.00. So I'm only paying 10.00 per box!

I got my first box the other day and I loved it! Here are some pictures.

I'd blog with links and all that except I am blogging from my phone. =)

Toddle Along Tuesday: Wedding Memories

Here is the very 2nd blog post from my blog:
http://afkirklife.blogspot.com/2009/08/memories-from-our-wedding.html

While over 3 years ago may not seem like a very long time at all. It's crazy that it has come and gone.

Also thought I would share a couple more wedding pictures since I only posted 3 in the original post:

So yesterday Andy and I had our reception party and it was amazing! We feel so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. There was lots of good times yesterday and it was a great day! More on that later though.

I really wanted to talk about our wedding day on June 3, 2009. I will always remember it but I thought it would be nice to share some of the details from our special day. Seeing pictures just isnt enough and you get my (our) perspective of the day! Soo lets start with me constantly checking the weather like 3 weeks in advance. Of course that is way to far in advance to really know what the weather was going to look like but I was nervous about it so I kept checking everyday. About a week before the wedding the weather started to look like it was going to be bad. Every day I would check it would change from chance of rain to slight rain back to chance of rain to slight rain. Up until the day before I was still hoping it wasn't going to rain. Andy and I had originally planned an outdoor wedding at Tuhey Park in the small circular grass area.
as you can see in the picture this was back in april and andy and I wanted to take a look at the spot. A family is having a picnic on this beautiful spring day :) well as it turned out we wake up on Wednesday, June 3rd that is and look out the window and see that it is pretty much raining on our big day. We were disappointed but even rain couldn't stop our excitement. We first had to try to figure out what we were going to do as a backup. We had previously talked to Andy's parents and suggested maybe getting married at their house. So we were thinking we were going to do that.
We went along and started to get our things done, we first went and picked up our little wedding cake at Concannons and here is a funny story. So we go in wednesday morning. The morning rush is already over and we are literally the only people in the store. We walk up to the counter and tell them we have a cake pick up for Gregory (my previous surname) their pickup station is literally right behind them and I see about maybe 3 cakes on the shelves. Since its a wednesday it's not very busy. The lady goes to those first and looks at the names. She then checks them again and by this time has a very confused look on her face. She is then like "I'll go in the back and see if its back there."
By this time Andy and I are already like "What the heck?!?! Its the only wedding on a wednesday where is our cake?!?!" The lady then comes back out even more confused because there is no cake back there and we start to think we won't have a cake at all. I notice though that one of the cakes is in a bigger box and one smaller one and I start to think it is ours. I ask the lady if that is our cake and she goes over to it and says "Well it says Mike Robertson on the box, do either of you know him?" We look at each other and are both like "No." She then goes back to the baker and finds out that that name was written on the box instead of ours. So we were very relieved to find out our cake had been made it just had the wrong name on it, but it was definitely a freak out moment for us. We'll never forget the name Mike Robertson whoever he is.
After that we load the cake up and head to Dandelions to pick up our bouquet and boutineirre.
Luckily there were no problems for us in that area and were absolutely delighted with what we got.
One amazing thing about my bouquet was it smelled absolutely wonderful! I was literally smelling it all day. With our bouquet and cake in tow we then headed to Vera Mae's where we were having our dinner party at after the ceremony. When we got there we met with the head caterer Dave. He knew we had been planning an outdoor ceremony and suggest using the Boardroom. He led us downstairs to the private room and showed it to Andy and I and we immediately asked if it would be possible to move the ceremony down there as well as have the dinner. He was so helpful and said absolutely. So we were no longer worried about that and immediately started calling everyone to tell them to only go to Vera Mae's. I then had to get my makeup and hair done. So we went to the clinique counter and the lady there applied my make up for me. She did a wonderful job at least I think so. I never wear much makeup so I definitely felt done up.
Now the bad news. I hated my hair. The lady was a very nice lady but after all was said and done I just hated my hair. To describe it would be mean but if you can imagine there was lots of hair spray and my bangs were curled in an unflattering way. When we got home I told Andy I hated my hair and he being the gentleman he is said "It doesnt look that bad." Which in guy speak means it's pretty bad.
I started to try to just brush it out but it was so hairsprayed I was getting flakes in my hair. So finally I just stuck my head under the faucet and wash out the poor lady's hard work. We still had plenty of time so I wasn't too worried but I was worried about my make up so I was very careful washing my hair out. I had to shampoo it really good to get the hairspray gunk out of it.
So then I comb my hair out and proceeded to do it myself. I just did a simple half up half down and my bangs brushed to the side. I'm not the greatest with hair but I loved how simple it turned out, and it felt like my hair! No hairspray in it at all.
Finally it was time to head over to vera mae's so Andy and I got ready. We didn't do the not seeing each other thing before hand because we only had 1 car so we had to go together but I got ready in the bedroom and he got ready out in the living room. Him being a guy was ready before me so he waited until I was ready and then I announced I was coming out. I got a very good reaction :)
We then headed over to vera mae's where we met up with our photographer Lance, we immediately started snapping pictures everywhere around the restaurant. Since it was a wednesday and inbetween lunch and dinner there wasn't hardly anyone even at the restaurant.
If you have never been in vera mae's it is definitely a unique place. It's very reminiscent of a time long ago, with it being a pretty old building an all. We took pictures upstairs, by the fireplace, downstairs and outside the building as well. After a little while everyone started showing up. Our officiant started organizing where the ceremony would be held and put chairs together, and our wonderful friend sean started playing his guitar.
Pretty soon it was time to actually do the ceremony. So everyone sat down and Cheryl told me to go just out the door and we would begin once I walked in.
The ceremony itself was wonderful. Andy and I had picked every thing we wanted Cheryl to say as far as the ceremony goes and wrote our own special vows to each other. We inlcude this little excerpt into our ceremony.

Excerpt from
The Bridge Across Forever
~ Richard Bach ~
A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for who we're pretending to be. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we're safe in our own paradise. Our soulmate is someone who shares our deepest longings, our sense of direction. When we're two balloons, and together our direction is up, chances are we've found the right person. Our soulmate is the one who makes life come to life.

It was a heartfelt ceremony with Andy and I both trying our best not to cry. But soon enough it was over and we had exchanged our vows. We were now married.


From there we thanked Cheryl and took some more pictures and had a small cocktail hour with Meatballs and fruit and cheese kebabs. Andy and I took more pictures and then got ready for our dinner with our family and best friends. We decided to have everyone just be able to pick what they wanted off the menu instead of forcing them to get what we wanted. So everyone got a little different things. A couple people got a really yummy pork chop dinner, the pork chop was huge! Some got steak and Andy and I both picked Salmon. After dinner we all had a good time and talked and soon enough our big day was over. Finally now after everything was over it had finally stopped raining! It was one of the best days of our lives. There was so much love that day!
I hope that even though some of you might not have been able to be there that you can feel like you were! Next up the reception party!

Painting with a Twist!

So back in Indiana we have this business called Wine and Canvas.
It's a really cool idea. They post up different paintings you can paint and for 35-45 dollars you get to go to the class and essentially paint your own artwork!

I got to do one with my best friend when I went back home last September:

She's the one who originally told me about Wine and Canvas, and I saw her cute paintings and wanted one myself.

So moving down here to Louisiana, I happened upon Painting with a Twist!

Seriously, same exact idea! So I was super excited to go.

I can tell you that the WHOLE entire time I was painting I was thinking, "Oh my painting is going to turn out terrible. I've wasted my money."

But, by the time the paint was dry. Voila! A masterpiece before my eyes! I proudly showed off my painting. I even "impressed" family and friends. And can I tell you, I haven't picked up a paint brush since grade school. So yeah. If I can do it. Anyone can!

I hope to get to go to a couple more although I have no idea where I would have the room to hang all these masterpieces up, but they are so fun to do!
 

Can I tell you a sad story?

It happened late last evening.

I put Wilson to bed in his room. I came down stairs for some baby free internet wow playing time. I heard the stomping of feet overhead.

I shrugged.

"Okay, he's gone into our room."

Fine. Whatever. As long as he stays upstairs and goes to bed. I'll move him into his bed when I go upstairs to go to bed.

Quiet and peaceful.  I read my facebook, various articles, search for baby shower stuff. This goes on for maybe 15 or 20 minutes.

And then, I hear screaming and crying.

I run up the stairs. Go into our room.

There sitting in our bed is my 2 year old. Covered in body wash. That he had gotten all over the bed. And more importantly. In his eyes.

He was crying and trying to rub it out and of course it was only making it worse.

So I grab him and run to the sink. I start trying to wash it off, but he's fighting me.

I grab the wash cloth and try to wipe as much as I can off.

He is still crying. Poor guy.

I end up getting a lot of water on his jammies in the process of flushing his eyes. So then I have to strip him down and change him into different jammies.

I then carry him to his room and calm him down and lay him in his bed. It's like 10:00 at this point. I go back into our room to see the destruction.

It's all over my pillow case and sheet. Damn it all to hell.

I wanted to lay in my bed and read my kindle. But now I have to strip everything down and wash the body wash off.

CRANKY MOMMY ALERT.

I end up staying up past Midnight waiting for my sheets and comforter to wash and dry.

*sigh*

So sad story right? But for who? The baby monster or mommy? 

Slacking. Again.

Umm, I sure wish I could blog as often as I like but my toddler has now figured out how to play all the apps on Mommy's phone. And. Seriously. Some days, I'm like "Have at it."

Callie is now 10 months (almost 10.5 months) and is teething. She is very much a "You pay attention to me now." baby.

Wilson was far more easy going and willing to sit and play with his toys. She is crawling after everyone.

The minute I go from the living room to the kitchen? Guess who's right behind me?

She is a smily happy baby though. She just wants extra attention and has no problem voicing that.



The other day, I had Andy go up and get her from her naptime. And when he brought her down to me. I swear it was like all was right with the world and I was the ONLY person she wanted to see.

It melted my heart. So yeah. Two little ones are keeping me busy.

Also, I'm planning a baby shower! Hopefully I can find some time to blog about that because I am super excited about it!

Holiday Cards and it's only October!

So I snagged a deal today over on zulily.


Paperculture was featured on zulily, where you can get $50 for $20 bucks. Sounded like a great deal so I went ahead and bought it. I started to look around and saw the company itself seems really great and Eco-concious.

Here's what they have to say about themselves at Zulily.

Whether announcing Baby's arrival, inviting friends to a birthday bash or spreading season's greetings, Paper Culture makes sending keepsake cards simple and stylish! Every modern, design-minded card is made with ultra-premium paper and rounded corners. Plus, they're a CarbonFree® company that plants a tree in a US national forest with every order and uses only 100% post-consumer recycled paper for their cards and envelopes. With professional designers working on every order and two free digital proofs to guarantee complete satisfaction, being green has never been easier—or looked better!

Did you read that? They plant a tree with every order? They use recycled paper for their cards and envelopes?

Also not mentioned is that they will mail your cards that you make for you and all you have to pay is the price for the stamp.

I know other websites that offer this as well but they charge you a bit more than just the stamp. Which speaking of. I have none. Oops. So good to know for when I actually mail out my cards. Hehe.

Here's a couple cards that I like. Aren't they cute?