Missing MY Kansas Christmas.

Well it's the day after Christmas and I am sad. But that's the usual for me. I am silly I know. I am a HUGE CHRISTMAS GOOBER. I think I wait all year for Christmas. I can't wait to watch all the cheezy lifetime movies and all the rest of my traditions. I think my problem comes from my family. My Christmas growing up was always a drawn out process. It would start with Santa coming early like on the 22 or 23rd. And then going to Kansas, Christmas eve at The church in Wellington(my favorite part always being silent night with candles in the dark) Christmas day at the Shore's then days following with various family members, Gram, aunts, uncles, cousins(cousin reunion at Dixie's), Having soooooo much fun. I guess I have always identified myself in that way. That that part of my family is who I am. I don't know if they know that or understand that. It is just such a huge part of who I am and how I feel. My love for them, their lives, that part of the country haunts me. yes haunts. because it is so close but so far away. I wish I could readily be apart of it but financially I can't. I can't wait for the day that I can just plan a trip and do it! Ugh so icky sad!!!!! Even Keelin gets it. She cried and said she wants to be in Kansas. Anyway, wish I was there, want to be there, will eventually be there. Love you all and miss you all.

I have gone Christmas Crazy!!!!!!!!

I love Christmas. I always have. This year Christmas time has been really great. Crazy as that is because of Shawn's layoff and all but it's been great. I think alot of it has to do with Shawn. He has fully thrown himself into Christmas for the first time. He is with me on all the cheezy stuff I want to do, all the cheezy Christmas movies I want to watch, driving around looking at people's Christmas lights, help me decorate the house WHILE watching cheezy movies, put Christmas lights all over the outside of the house and all of this with a fantastic cheery attitude! He said he realizes it's all about the kids and making really great family memories for them, yes he actually said that. And he actually said he is really enjoying it for the first time and can't figure out why he has been such a pain in the butt in the past. Woo hoo for me. I guess if I get a warm and fuzzy family in exchange for a layoff well I guess we will just figure it out and deal. It's funny usually when i am worried about money I am twisted in knots. For the most part I am happy!?!? Weird. Anyway since my husband is so on board with EVERYTHING I am getting more things done this year. Like I already said we have watched Christmas movies just about every night and we have driven around looking at people's lights, gone to Life's Nights of Lights, I have had the Christmas stuff up since the day after Thanksgiving(didn't happen last year), Listened to Christmas music every time we get in the car, actually let me take 20 or more pictures of us trying to get a somewhat normal one for Christmas cards and NO ONE complained!, me and Keelin made a gingerbread house, and tonight we baked cookies. Tomorrow we are making Christmas candy. I don't know guess I have gone Christmas crazy! but I like it!!!!!

Swap Gift

I got my swap gift today and I LOVE IT!!! so me! Natalie made mine and I love it. It is a Christmas pillow with a sewn on gift tag that says Merry McChristmas. Awesome. Now my mission for next year is to find some cool Merry McChristmas cards!!!!!!

fun fun

well i thought i would blog a smidge. I have to post these pictures of me and brenna. SOOOOO funny and we cannot be held accountable for our looks. We went to bed at like 2am and were at the flea market at 7am-it was like 1 1/2 hours from my house-also it was 20 degrees out and we had nowhere to go but outside. We were there till like 2pm so we looked a little rough. I had fun though and made like $75 selling my old clothes so wooohoo. Tonight shawn and i took the girls to the varsity for hot dogs then we went to life college for the christmas light thing and it was awesome sooooooooo much fun! Kinsey kept saying cute cute cute, we didnt tell keelin what we were doing so she was sooooooo excited!!!! ILOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Busy Busy

Well I have been busy lately....... I have been so icky sick I feel very crappy but anyway Monday night we had Keelin's Thanksgiving program at school and it was awesome. The kids were so great I almost cried it was so fantastic. The kids were so perfect and proud it was such a neat thing. Unfortunately my drama baby did something I don't know what at the reception after the program and we had to take her to the ER because she had pulled her elbow out of socket!!!!!! Tuesday night I had a presentation at school that I was nervous about and proceeded to have a coughing fit(thanks to my cold)in the middle of my presentation! oh well! Then today we went to the zoo with my grandmother. Tomorrow is turkey day so hopefully I will feel better!

TWERDS!!!!!

OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH LOOK AT MY TWILIGHT COUNTER!!!! OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH HOLY COW!!I AM SOOOOOOO EXCITED !!!!!

keelin's american girl 7th bday party

we had lots of fun for keelin's 7th birthday. We went to American Girl and Keelin got her bitty baby with lots of bitty gear. we went to pf changs for dinner then we stayed at the embassy suites for a slumber party. we also celebrated brenna's birthday. this morning we got up and had breakfast in our room then we all went swimming. Lots and lots of fun!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEELIN

Today November 14 is Keelin Kate McElreath's 7th birthday. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. She was so perfect and cute. She was 8lbs 2 oz. She was born at 6:41 pm at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md. I can not believe she is 7 today and she is in the 1st grade! Tonight we will be off for a night of birthday fun and we are going to make a stop at the American Girl store. She is very excited!

the sad thing about this picture is how much i have aged in 7 years. i look like i am 14!!!!!

My crazy cute silly baby

I had to post these pictures. Yesterday Keelin and I got home from the store and when we walked in Shawn was sound asleep sawing logs on the couch and Kinsey was passed out on the floor in front of the TV, like she was playing and just fell over. I have NEVER seen her do that.

Then today I was doing the daily "chores" and i was in the back of the house and Kinsey was all over the house but I had play with me sesame or whatever that's called on in the living room. So I come out there to check on her and I see her sitting quietly in front of the TV. I think oh how cute what a good girl! then she turns around. She had found a Halloween peppermint patty and had squished it till it melted and popped out of the wrapper. When she turned around I gasped and said Kinsey in the oh my gosh voice and she immediately gave me her squinched face smile that says "what? me? but I am sooo cute!" so I just laughed and took her picture then hosed her down. I love this crazy weird face she makes!

Happy Birthday

I wasn't going to do a post about this but i guess I changed my mind. 15 years ago today I had a baby. She was 7 lbs 4.9 oz. She was perfect. Her parents named her Erin. That was a very hard day for me and I guess still is. It's funny I don't even know I am cranky about it until I suddenly realize the date on the calendar. I mourned her adoption for about 2 years thinking back. I didn't really understand my feelings then but I get it now. I know it was the right decision but it is still sad. I wonder what she looks like now? The last pictures I have are from when she was 6 or 7. I would like to be a fly on the wall for a day! So anyway Happy Birthday Erin! I love you forever!

bella's halloween party

Bella had a Halloween party last night and we all had a fun time dressing up! Keelin was a clown and Kinsey was Little Red Riding Hood. I was Spiderella and Shawn was Pumpkin Head

more of me and shannon-cause i want to

Ok I am posting more pics of me and shannon cause i love them and i just want to, also it is such a momentous occasion that we FINALLY got to see each other I think it is worthy of at least 2 posts if not a million more!

TOGETHER AGAIN

It actually happened. finally. i got to see my bff. i already miss her.

NEW HAIR

WOO HOO FINALLY NEW HAIR DO-i know i know i look like erin

Sunday at the park

Today I decided to take the girls to the park. Shawn and Dad went to the Falcons game so I decided to take the girls and get happy meals then on to the park. there were so many people there I had to circle the parking lot 3 times. People were parking all along the street. People REALLY wanted to go to the park. I have to say it is a really cool park. It is huge. There are so many paths you can walk or ride bikes, scooters roller blade. There is a huge playground for big kids and a huge gated playground for little kids. They are also in the process of putting in a skate park. Right now they have a huge drop in ramp. I think it is neat they are putting in the big skate park. I don't think I have ever seen a public park with a skate park. It is a great idea. So the girls had a great time. Kinsey couldn't run fast enough. The only problem I had was it was soooooo stinking bright out. I felt like I could barely open my eyes and when I did I couldn't really see. Ugh I hate the stinky sun. I needed some kind of visor, bigger and darker sunglasses and then maybe it would be OK. Oh well. We stayed for almost 2 hours. I am now really tired. Kinsey is still not feeling good. She has good moments then she gets all cranky crazy. So I need some sleep. HA like that's gonna happen. I have a paper, a project and an oral test in front of the class all due this week!

my far away friend

I have not seen my best friend in 6 years. She lives so far away and we both have little kids. In some ways I feel like It was the other day I saw her and then others it seems like it has been forever. We try to talk several times a week. It seems crazy it has been this long! Shannon is the bestest friend ever. I sometimes say she is my other half. The more wild other half. I feel like I understand the things she feels even when other people don't get it and I definitely feel like she understands all my weirdness, quirkiness, strangeness and hypochondriacness. I have never met anyone that I feel that way about. No matter how far away or how long between visits I feel like she is and always be no matter what my best friend in the world. Sounds strange but I think I am very lucky to have found her. Alot of people never find their best friend soul mate. Sounds silly but what else would you call it? ANYWAY we might actually get to see each other soon. I am afraid to be excited. Afraid that it wont happen at the last minute. I guess I will have to wait and see. But I am hopeful. So here is to the countdown to see Shannon.

My 7th wedding anniversary

I meant to do a new post yesterday but lost track of time. Yesterday was me and Shawn's 7th wedding anniversary. We got married 7 years ago in Helen, Ga. I loved our wedding. It was very small but I loved it. I always say I would never change anything except for the dress. I always wanted the big dress. BUT being that I was 8 months pregnant that just wouldn't be appropriate! But it was very sweet. I still remember it clearly. On the way to Helen Shawn was following us in our car and it broke down half way there! I wish I had a scanner so I could post the picture of all of us on the side of the road. Very funny. I remember not being scared or really nervous just like I was a little nervous like I had to remember my lines for a play or something. Also my feet were killing me in my beautiful heels. I wasn't sure I would make it down the aisle and back. Also it was Oktoberfest and the town which is a German town in Georgia, had to hold off the bands till our wedding was over so when we came out of the Chapel there were tons of people outside in the lederhosen and all raised their steins to us. Funny Funny. then we went to dinner with everyone. It was great. we stayed in Helen that night and then we drove home-I drove home-to Baltimore-12 hours away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ugh I still remember! But It was awesome. Now 2 kids later we are still the same silly couple. I love him truly, madly and forever. The carpet is not messed up in this picture its the picture is messed up!

I forgot to say......................

I forgot to post this picture of Keelin and Brady. I think it is so funny I told them to say flamingo and I caught them both at the O! Also in my other post I said I was worried and that is why I have been wonky lately. I am sharing all this because I have been so ucky lately and I have been acting that way. Well I said I thought it was because of the news that Shawns company was doing a mandatory layoff of all employees. Shawn and I were also upset because we didnt understand why they were treating their employees this way. Shawn had never missed a day in 4 years and never been late not even once. Some employees have been there for over 20 years. Well today was the corporate meeting to discuss the layoff. I was a little scared. BUTTTTTTT Shawn came home and said they were very reassuring. They siad that it would probably be only about 1 week not 3 months. And it would be the week of Christmas and we can use any left over vacation days! Shawn still has 4 left. So we are pretty sure everything is going to be OK! Its kind of good actually that Shawn gets to take a break at Christmas. I have always hated that he has to work the day after Christmas. So I am very thankful and my prayers have been answered. Again. I think I need to go to Church. Anyway just thought I would share and so if I start to act rediculous again you can hit me and say "you dummie you have way too much to be thankful and greatful for so shut the * up!"

Today Kinsey brought me a pair of Shawn's socks and then lifted her feet for me to put them on her then she danced around in them for awhile!

Kinsey got new shoes yesterday and is very proud of them and danced around in them all day today, after she eventually took the socks off!

The Weekend

So my weekend was ok. Friday was very good. We went to the zoo (Keelin, Kinsey, Me, Mom, Brenna, Brady and Bowie) Every time we go to the zoo Kinsey loves it even more it is sooo fun to watch her with the animals. She loved the Gorillas, Pandas, Meercats, otters and the reptile house. She squealed in the reptile house. She kept pointing and saying see see see see. At the otters they were laying in a pile sleeping and Bowie pointed and said kitty! Mom asked him where are the kitties and he pointed at the pile of otters. So stinking cute. Keelin of course loved everything. at one of the exhibits that I had no idea what kind of animal it was(some sort of big bird) Keelin went on to tell us and everyone around all about the bird and its habit and all kinds of stuff. Someone said wow that's a lot of good information she should work here and keelin said it was on animal planet. Who said TV was bad??? anyway we had a picnic lunch and it was a very good day. Once we were home we all had the thought that maybe we should not have gone to the zoo considering that none of us can find gas but I don't really even care cause my babies had so much fun. Hopefully I can get Keelin to and from school Monday and Tuesday and i have enough to get to school and maybe I can find some in one of the little towns north of school. My theory is to go to less populated areas. we shall see. I think the Gov should have declared a 2 day school vacation for all schools and universities so we could conserve a little. I mean I saw a gas station today that had gas and the line was at least 150 cars long. Crazy. Anyway I think my problem feeling crappy is that I am worried right now. Not only about Kinsey cause we are still battling the rash UGH but also because Shawns works is saying they are going to temporarily lay everyone off. Maybe for 3 months maybe for 1 week a month for awhile. Either way not good. Not good at all. So That is probably my issue. Well I am trying to send out good thoughts good thoughts yes I am trying to be positive. The other will get me nowhere!!!

blech

well I got good grades on both tests so I am very happy. I am feeling so blech today. I dont know why I feel this way I have been trying to live more upbeat and positive and really kinda felt that way but right now I AM NOT FEELING IT! I feel all kinds of poopy. I need to shake it off. AHHHH. I know there is something off when i dont even want to talk to anyone on the phone and i am cranky with the kids and i feel like i am nervous about something but cant figure out what it would be........... ugh hopefully i will sort it out over the weekend!

2 tests

I have 2 tests today and to say I am not ready is an understatement. I have not felt like studying and Kinsey does not help with that situation. I have been so tired since last week. I tried to study over the weekend. Got a little sone but sassy pants thinks I have to be at her beck and call. I studied last night until 2 am and right now it is 7:20 am. I am tired. Hopefully I will get to study a little more before I go to school today!!!!!!!

GAS?????

so ummm tonight I needed to get gas in the car and I drove and drove and drove. I went to 12 gas stations and finally at the 13th they had some gas but for some reason the pumps were screwy and went really slow and some how was double charging everyone. The Indian people that run that gas station were claiming they don't know and its just fine. What? The guy next to me was flipping out he only got 10 gallons and it charged him for 22 gallons. I got 6 gallons and left. This is crazy. The news said don't panic everything will be back to normal in a few weeks What? weeks? I have to get Keelin to school, my self to school etc... 13 gas station!!!!!!!!! I was going to go to church in the morning but its 25 minutes away and I think I need to save my gas???? I don't know???

My miracle McBaby

well I am VERY happy to let you know that our news today was good news! Needless to say this week has totally wiped me out. After getting home from the DR today I crashed and slept for 3 hours. I don't do that. I do not take naps anymore so I was very drained. The Dr today said it was not Mastocytosis.

Today was a very strange day. This morning I got Keelin up and then got the baby and put her in the car and I took Keelin to school. When me and Kinsey got back she was just then waking up and that's when I noticed it. She had NO RASH. NONE. NOTHING. NOT ONE SPOT. She has not been like that in 2months. Her skin was perfect. Just like it was when she was a little baby. I swear it is a miracle. I did give her a small dose of the medication the er gave me early last night. But still, GONE? can you believe it? It has never, ever, ever disappeared. Even on the steroids it was never gone. all the prescription creams and benadryl. And today she is perfect. So that is why the Dr said no way mastocytosis. It never completely goes away. He thinks that it has something to do with her immunizations that she got at her 1 year check up. That is the day this all started. He said basically that she had a severe reaction to the vaccines and we never were able to fix it. The benadryl was just keeping it down and steroids doing kind of the same thing. Her system needs to be inundated with a heavy dose of antihistamines. We almost need to overwhelm her with it. Then slowly eventually we should be able to ease off of it. We might have to do the steroids again(I hope not baby roid rage is no fun!). But whatever. We are sooooooooo happy. My house was crazy happy this evening, we were giddy. Even Shawn, maybe especially Shawn. It was a great heart swelling night.

Thank you to everyone that sent prayers Kinsey's way. Shawn and I think that was the major part in this whole thing. I mean look at her today. Yes she had one small dose of the medication but so what? It couldn't have done this alone. The Dr even doubled the dosage for the rest of the time we are on it. So anyway I am so thankful for everyone that got busy yesterday praying for my little mcbaby.

Not to be debbie downer or anything but what do I do about her 15 month vaccinations?? I am very perplexed about this.

I am posting a picture of the little miracle rash baby so you can see the difference between what has been our everyday, which is the pictures I already posted and then what is today.








You can really only see the fading bruises and that is pretty much it! Even on our good days she had the rash somewhere and by evening it would be full blown horrible. But it has never looked like this!