A Day in the Life

I have been doing my daily blog reading and everyone has cracked me up today. So to you I say thanks because I needed a little laughter today. I needed to be reminded that I am not the only one who thinks one of these days I just might go crazy. I needed to know your kids are hilarious and destructive at the same time too.

Yesterday was one of those days for us. And honestly, sometimes when I look back I think, "How in the world did we just manage to survive the chaos of today?". And the Lord gently reminds me, "I AM." All of His many promises to sustain me, give me grace, peace and understanding, to not give me more than I can handle, that He works all things out for my good come back to my mind and I say, "Yes, that is how."

Grady does not seem to be adjusting as well to Elle going to school as the rest of the family is. And by that I mean his morning nap has been all messed up. You would think that moving it back by a mere 15 minutes wouldn't be that big of a deal. You would be wrong. Yesterday he was asleep before we even pulled out of the neighborhood to take Elle to school (around 8:40 AM). He was out the entire trip to school and back. We get home about 9:20 and I ever so gently transfer him from car seat to crib. Not happening. He was ready to go after his 30 minute nap. Once again all the big plans I had for that time while he was napping and Elle was at school flew right out the window.

We leave a little before noon so that we can get a few groceries before picking up Elle. After we pick her up, we head to a radio place to finally get the coins out of my CD player. It has been at least two months and I could not possibly sing the Wheels on the Bus or Old MacDonald one more time. Granted it is now nap time for both children, but Grady's 12 month check-up was at 2:20 PM and it would have been pointless for me to drive all the way home, spend 30 minutes and drive all the way back up to where I was. So, we go to the radio place--who I called earlier to make sure they would be able to do this in the 40 minute time frame I had and to tell them I would be there at 1:30--and the guy says, "Well, I'm not sure I have anybody that can do that right now." I think he saw the look on my face combined with me trying to corral my two very tired children and decided that he could find someone to do it. We leave there with a working CD player and radio and head to the doctor. Elle and Grady are so delirious that they are running around the little table in the waiting room falling down and laughing hysterically. Grady had to have two shots and another finger prick at the end. As I am holding him still and trying to console him while the torture is going on, Elle begins to cry because she doesn't like what the nurse is doing to Grady. It was really sweet to see Elle be that empathetic, but once again, both of them are screaming. We finally make it to the car to head home around 3:15 and within seconds of getting them buckled in, they are making the sweetest snoring symphony. Both with mouths wide open. Needless to say, Elle's only lasted for the 15 minute ride home, but Grady snoozed for a good while. The good news was that we got some things accomplished and Grady is doing wonderfully. He did have a pretty significant growth spurt, and I was encouraged to learn that not only did he put on the pounds (which I knew he was doing) but he also grew up too.


Height: 31 inches (75%)
Weight: 22 lbs 12 oz (50%)

Some great friends of ours are coming to stay with us for the weekend and I am really looking forward to seeing them and spending some good time with my dear friend. Today is my step-mom's birthday so Happy Birthday GiGi! Hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend.

**I justified the margins just for you, Steven!

Too Cool for School

Elle loved her first day of school today. And although I thought four hours would be enough for her, she still got upset when her teacher brought her to the car to go home. She didn't want to leave yet. I think it is safe to say she will thoroughly enjoy her first year of pre-school. And although I had such high hopes for what I might accomplish during those four hours, I think I managed to do less than what I get done when Elle is here. I did take a shower which could possibly be considered a minor accomplishment. Doesn't she look so grown up? I had gotten a few treats (pencils, markers, stickers, princess notebook--Steven saw the notebook and laughingly said, "what is she going to be taking notes?") and this outfit and filled her backpack with them this morning. She was so excited. Her favorite thing: "basketballs" for snack--that would be Yogos bits, those yogurt covered fruit chew things.

The old man is definitely snoring

We had such a fun, but busy people-filled weekend that I am still trying to recuperate. That combined with the three days of non-stop raining and pouring are enough to make anyone extremely tired. I did see the most gorgeous rainbow I've ever seen yesterday. It was a complete semi-circle (it even looked like I could see the end... no pot of gold though) and the colors were so incredibly bright. I'm glad I saw it because otherwise I might begin to think the Lord was flooding the earth again. Anyway, Friday morning I took the kids to the McWane Center. We met two other friends of mine with their kids and it was a blast! The kids had so much fun for THREE hours and we didn't even make it to one floor. They would have been asleep much sooner in the car had I not gotten lost trying to get back to the interstate from downtown Birmingham. I always do so well with directions to somewhere and then I just head out like I know where I'm going and end up doing u-turns and driving in places that I probably shouldn't be driving and going down one way streets away from where I need to be going. We did make it home eventually and we will definitely be going back there soon. It was well worth the time and effort!






That afternoon, some other friends were in the area and dropped by with their two boys. They ended up staying for dinner and the kids played hard. Elle was exhausted when she finally got in bed that night. After the kids were in bed, our neighbors came over and we played cards until about midnight. I hope you are getting tired just reading this. And then I slept in on Saturday. Yeah right! The kids were up and at 'em at 7 AM and Mommy had to be too. We had company again on Saturday night, one of the same friends who had gone to the McWane Center with us. Only this time, our husbands were with us. We did get some down time yesterday afternoon after church. I love being with people but it also drains me. So today we have been watching the weather (got to love how nuts we go over weather--constant TV coverage, schools closing, etc.) and hanging around the house, inside. Tomorrow is the big first day of school for Elle. That is, unless it's raining and school is cancelled.

Check this out

A friend of mine (and I say "friend" although I have never met her and only know her through her blog?! I did grow up with her husband, so it's not a total stalker situation. She is an inspiration regardless!) is making the cutest t-shirts and taking orders for a few more days. If anyone is interested, check them out here. I have ordered two of the Auburn ones for my little tigers.

Pictures and Pre-school

Here are a few more pictures from Grady's birthday party. Hope you all enjoy! We have been gearing up for Elle to start pre-school this week. Her first day is actually next Tuesday, but she had open house Monday morning where we got to meet her teacher and see her room. Then Tuesday morning was orientation. She stayed with her class for a little over an hour while the parents were in the sanctuary. And yes, I did tear up a little when they were talking about them saying the pledge of allegience in the mornings. Grady was in another nursery room (without a morning nap, mind you). I really like her teacher and think she will be great. Elle, as always, doesn't cry when I leave her, but when I come to pick her up because she doesn't want to leave. She opened the door to her classroom Tuesday morning and didn't take a second glance back at me?! I think it's safe to say she is ready for school, at least the two-days-a-week-half-a-day level. A fun highlight was running in to Melanie (a friend from Briarwood who I haven't seen in a couple of years who is also a nurse) and learning that her son is in Elle's class! Honestly, how old am I and how old are my kids already? Grady is one and Elle is starting school?! What?!

Happy Birthday Grady!

Grady turned one on Saturday. We had a small family party here at the house. Both Elle and Grady had a blast and I'm pretty sure the grandparents and aunts did too. He got a lot of new toys and clothes, although he hasn't gotten to play with his toys much. Elle is just making sure they get broken in right. Thanks to everybody who drove to spend the day with us. We are so thankful for Grady and his life. It is so hard to believe a year has passed. We pray God blesses him with many more years full of abundant life loving God and loving people. More pictures to come!

The gold for best stomach bug

Let me just say that Thursday night's events were just a small precursor to what was to come for the Salter household. Apparently, it was not the pain medicine, but a stomach bug that dear Grady picked up and over the course of a few days, spread it to Steven and Elle. He had the worst dirty diapers all weekend (I almost would take throw-up over these!). Late Sunday night, he woke crying. I went in and immediately knew there would be some diaper changing to do. As I am getting him cleaned up and putting the neosporin around his surgical site, he proceeds to pee all over everything. I get him all cleaned up, new pajamas, new diaper, new changing pad, settled back down and back to bed. Around 5 AM Monday morning, I awake to the deepest, loudest breathing coming from Steven. He says he is feeling nauseated. At about the same time, I feel the place under my nose on my upper lip beginning to explode in it's favorite stress-induced fever blister. Great. Thirty minutes later, Steven runs to the bathroom and starts his heaving-from-the-bottom-of-my-toes throwing up. Grady begins to cry. I am welcomed by the same smell as I enter his room. I get him cleaned up, change pajamas, and fix a bottle of Pedialyte to see if he will drink some. As I start to sit down in the rocker, I hear Elle start screaming. I run to her door, fling it open and she is lying on the floor at the door. "What it is Elle?" "I'm throwing up."

Seriously. Steven is puking in our bathroom. Grady just blew out his diaper and pajamas and is in my arms. Elle is lying on the floor in her room throwing up. My face is burning from the fever blister explosion. It is 5:30 AM Monday morning. I laugh.

Both Steven and Elle had about three more episodes that day. Steven did not get out of the bed (except to puke) until about 5:30 that night. Nobody slept at the same time. Elle threw up one time and I couldn't get her to the bathroom in time. The problem was that Grady was awake and I was trying to hold Elle over the toilet while somehow making sure that Grady was not in the hall playing in throw-up. Needless to say, the whole family was exhausted. Everyone is doing better now. Steven went to work on Tuesday, a little weak, but feeling better. Elle has been tired and had little appetite, of course. And Grady's bowels are getting back to normal. We are trying to gear up for Grady's birthday on Saturday and his first birthday party. Hopefully, I can get the house disinfected before all the family arrives. Sorry to disappoint, but there are no pictures this time.

Definitions by Elle

Getting in to the car after running a few errands yesterday, I ask, "Are you guys hot back there?" (As if I think Grady is going to respond too?!) To which Elle replies, "Yes!" Then she proceeds with this deep thought:

"Hot means when you want to be cold, and cold means when you want to be hot."

Hmmm... Profound, isn't it?

Two Kinds of Showers

Just a few months ago, I wrote about Elle being sick and throwing up on both of us. I think the Lord did not want Grady and Steven to miss out on the fun, so last night, Daddy took one for the team. Grady had no appetite all day yesterday which is incredibly strange for him, but I chalked it up to just feeling weird a couple days after surgery (Now, looking back, I should have known what was coming. This is the way Elle always does). He ate a cracker and a half for dinner last night and then pushed his bottle away after only a few ounces at bedtime. I put him down just a little after 7 PM. He was still making some noises about 45 minutes later when we were getting Elle ready for bed. Steven offered to go hold him for a little while since he got home after Grady was already in bed. I am in the bed with Elle reading and Steven knocks on the door, then flings it open and says, "Grady is throwing up." This is what Steven looked like. It's very graphic for those with weak stomachs, but we were so amazed that we had to take a picture.



After getting everybody cleaned up and wiping up the throw up all over the hallway, Grady seemed fine and went back to sleep. I did call the pediatric urologist and he said he thought it might be from the pain medicine since he was not running fever, his pp looked fine and it was two days since the procedure. I think that's probably what it was too, although I had only given the medicine to him at noon and at bedtime and only half of the dosage he could have. Needless to say, he will not be getting any more of the strong stuff. He hasn't thrown up again but has been a little out of sorts this morning (fussy, clingy and very sleepy). Hopefully, it will be an isolated incident and Grady will be back to normal soon.


Meanwhile, we have been letting Elle take showers in hopes of getting her used to her head and face being wet. This has been a huge barrier to her learning to swim and even being comfortable in the water, which is one reason we have only been to the pool twice this summer. Both times have been quite comical as I try to corral Grady, who will sit in his float for about 3 minutes and then wants to run around on the concrete, while trying to make sure Elle (who has on a life vest) doesn't drown after going in to hysterics because her face got a little water on it. It is more than one mom can bear.

Successful Surgery

Grady usually has his last bottle around 7 PM, goes to bed and sleeps until 6:30 or 7 in the morning. Last night we had to give him a bottle of formula at 11:30 and then a bottle of diluted juice at 4:30 AM since he couldn't eat or drink anything past 5 AM and so he wouldn't be dehydrated. He did great and went right back to sleep each time--although he had massively wet diapers and soaked pajama pants?! We headed to the outpatient clinic at 6:30 this morning. And we were home by 10:00. Grady did wonderfully and charmed all the nurses. He basically slept from the time they brought him back to me until lunch (they had given him Demerol!). It was kind of funny and weird at the same time to see him be "drugged-up". He had crazy, sleepy eyes. The doctor gave him a prescription for Lortab so he should be good to go. Hopefully, the next few days will be pain free (thanks to the Lortab) and he will heal quickly. We will go back in four weeks for his post-op check-up. Thank you to those who prayed for us. The Lord answered graciously as always.

My Sweet Boy

Grady is having outpatient surgery on Tuesday morning. I have hesitated to even share because of so many mixed emotions. And because it is of a sensitive nature, I will refer in code so as not to offend those of you who can't take using correct anatomical terms without blushing and just in case blogger thinks I am trying to post something crude in nature. He basically has to get re-circumcised. The skin adhered closer than where it should. I have felt guilty and embarrassed that it is all my fault ("I can't even take care of my son's pp. I knew I should have had just girls!"). I have felt angry and wanted to blame the pediatrician who did not examine him closely at 2, 4, or 6 months. Only when I changed doctors at 9 months did I learn there was even remotely a concern. I've also thought a little of the fault could rest with the OB (who I think the greatest of and used to work for) who did the original circumcision. Maybe he was too cautious and didn't quite trim away what he should? We had an appointment with a urologist at Children's Hospital a couple weeks ago and he scheduled us for surgery. I'm finally at the place where I realize that this was in the Lord's plan for Grady and the "what if's" and "if only's" and blaming don't help anything. I also have found out that this is somewhat common--there are four other procedures on Tuesday morning besides Grady--which makes me feel a little better too. The scary thing is that he will be intubated and under general anesthesia. They say that he has more risk of something happening in a car than with this. But even so, all the fears creep in. Steven is taking the day off to stay with Elle and to be here when we get home. The whole procedure should take between 20-30 minutes but I'm sure we will be there for at least half a day. Please pray for us, for my heart and mind, and for a quick recovery. Thanks friends.