Look what was in my mailbox today!

It was wrapped so beautifully...

I love it!

It looks so cute on...I did have a hard time photographing myself though.

I have admired these necklaces for a while and I LOVE this one because all the names are on one disk and very visible. And it is priced very reasonably.  I keep stopping to admire it in the mirror (which I don't often do these days;)

You can get one at Lauren Nicole Gifts.  Check her out.  She has adorable monogrammed and fun, preppy things!  This would be a great Mother's Day gift. Just show your hubby this post:)

She also hosts awesome giveaways on her blog...right now there is a giveaway for this adorable Lily Pulitzer tote (which I am really hoping to win)

and this adorable wax seal pendant...

Go here to enter either one by April 2nd.

Shopping finds

After being quarantined for a few weeks, I made my way to some shops this past weekend.  I found some goodies at Gap, Anthro, and Nordstrom  but I had to share some of my preppy bargains with y'all. 

I bought this dress  for Kate at a boutique in Hilton Head last summer.  It is made by Hartstrings.  But yesterday, I saw the same dress at Costo! Oh how I love that store.

They also had this one (which I had to buy).  It is reversible.

It reminds me of Lily and will be perfect for the beach.

And this one.  I have always loved pink seersucker.

Just so you know...they run a little small.  I bought Kate a 4 (and she is not even 3 yet).

Finally, I know all of my preppy friends will love these pajamas.  They are hot pink with polka dots and red lobsters. I found them at TJ Maxx!

Just trying to do my part to stimulate the economy!

Tell me, how are you "saving" money these days?

The end of the day...

Okay, y'all remember how my day started last Thursday?  Well, this is how it ended.....

I gave her playdough in her high chair so I could make a quick phone call.  Lesson learned.

On a more positive note, she is feeling much better and is regaining her appetite.

Oh and playdough comes right out with shampoo and water (I didn't know that at first~I googled it)!

Thankful it was just the sleepies

So, the other day, the doctor tells me that the biggest thing to worry about with mono is a ruptured spleen.  She says, don't let Kate play at the playground and no rough housing.  Be careful even picking her up certain ways.  When she returns to pre-school, someone needs to really keep an eye on her on the playground.  Even a small blow to the stomach could rupture her spleen. Okay, I understand.

Yesterday, Miss Kate is sitting in her booster seat eating.  The seat has a tray but it comes off easily. She is pushing it with her stomach and I tell her very firmly, "Kate, don't push on that or you might fall."  She looks me right in the eye and pushes on it with her stomach.  She falls forward onto the ground with the tray cutting into her abdomen and her head smacks right into the cabinets. Now, I am not one who cusses at all.  I just don't.  But let me tell you I was shaking and cussing and crying.  I was terrified that she for sure ruptured her spleen.  So, I called Dave at the office and said "quick...google ruptured spleen symptoms and treatments." After a good 10 minutes of crying,  Kate calms down and we decided she is okay.

This morning, I go in to wake her up and SHE WILL NOT WAKE UP!  I cannot get her to open her eyes.  I am carrying her around the house....shouting KATE WAKE UP!!! OPEN YOUR EYES!  She was a little responsive but she would not open her eyes. I could not wake her up for 45 minutes! I start panicking....Does she have a concussion? She did have 2 goose eggs from the fall! Is her spleen ruptured and she is bleeding internally? Am I overreacting?  Maybe she is just really tired from the mono? Again I call Dave at the office!

Luckily, my housekeeper was here to help me because I completely panic in these situations. She got cold towels and we rubbed them all over her to get her to wake up. We finally got her awake and went to the doctors office. Concussion? NO.  Ruptured Spleen? NO.  Tired little girl? YES!  Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Went to Target to stock up on things to keep us busy:)

And 2 years ago today, Kate was placed in my amazing husband's arms....

Kate and Big Brother Will

We celebrate Forever Family Day on the day they came home (April 4th) because that is when our whole family was finally together.  But this was an important day too.  For the best blog post ever on three peanuts...read here.  My husband wrote it the day he got Kate and it makes me cry every time I read it!

So, this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for my darling Kate and her health.  And my Husband, who is my rock:)

Answering questions and chugging along

Added for those who have asked: You can buy coconut water at Whole Foods  (Vita Coco has high vitamin C). Apparently, a lot of athletes drink it. Coconut water has amazing benefits...read more here --make sure you read to the end bullet points).  Off to add some to our lunchtime smoothie!

I have definitely seen some improvement in Kate...she is stealing my smoothie here (I was trying to get a photo for my 365 project).  We are drinking lots of fresh fruit smoothies with tons of vitamins and coconut water (excellent rehydrater--thanks T) and coconut milk for fat. Kate has lost weight as she has been sick for a month (between the pneumonia, upper respiratory infection and mono) Her throat hurts too much to eat so this is a good alternative for now. Her fever has broken but she is SO irritable.  I need patience.  I know she does not feel good but the major grumps get old fast.

I bought this little laptop at Target last week and was saving it for Easter or her birthday but I pulled it out yesterday.  She is even more bored than I am and keeps asking to go somewhere. We have tried playing games but she is a tad young and as I have said a million times before...Kate does not play with toys much at all.  So even though I am bored...I cannot accomplish anything at home.  I am mostly holding Kate or making something that she will not eat. Dave stopped home at lunch yesterday even though he had like 11 minutes to keep us company.  He is such a sweetie.

I am glad y'all liked the painted built-ins...now to answer some questions....

The Cape House asked

Here's a question, how do you keep your kids from destroying your lovely home? That beautiful china cabinet and all of those crisp white plates just make me cringe thinking of little boys running around crashing into things and throwing toys, etc. Or maybe my cousins are unusually active?

Well, I have a philosophy that if children are always exposed to nice (and breakable things) all of their life....they get used to them and learn to respect them.  My sofas  and chairs are from Quatrine and are machine washable slipcovers.  So, we have always had antiques and breakables out and our kids really have not broken any that I can recall.  Visiting children have broken a few minor things but such is life.  Also, our children have a playroom where they roughhouse (throw toys;), build legos etc.  This family room is more for watching television, reading, hanging out and playing board games.  Also, my boys are not really super hyper and rough and tumble.

The Callendar Family asked...

Now, are you going to leave the door brown or will you paint them white as well?  

Great question.  I thought that I probably would need to paint them but I am not.  The very knowledgeable Layla said I did not need to and I agree. The doors are actually a beautiful walnut and they anchor the room and tie in a lot of the dark wood touches both in that room and the adjoining rooms and staircase.  Our floors are hickory but they are the same walnut tone so it looks good with them too.  I think it will stick out less once the wood blinds (which will tie them into the room too) and drapes are up.  

Love Being a Nonny asked...

I have ALWAYS wanted to paint my fireplace brick but my husband has held me off, saying it's so permanent. What made you NOT paint your brick??

Another good question...Our home is new but the builder procured this antique Chicago brick salvaged from somewhere and he really liked it.  He used it in a few places around our house. So, at first, I just felt bad painting it.  However, now I love it the way it is.  It adds some texture and warmth to the room.  The colors are very soft and neutral. If it had been more red or brown or even that cream brick...I would definitely have painted it. But the shades (grays, creams and pinks) are lovely and they blend well with the room.

Thanks for all the great feedback and well wishes and prayers:)  Y'all are the best!

The painted built-ins (finally)

When I went private for the week, I received quite a few e-mails saying...."will you at least let us see how the built-ins turned out?"  I had to chuckle because I had kind of forgotten....

I did want to wait until the room was finished but that might take a few more weeks/months so I decided to take picture this morning while Kate was still sleeping.  I LOVE the paint!  It has lightened up not only this room but also our kitchen and breakfast room too!

Here are a few before photos....

And voila...the AFTER photos....

I need to have an electrician come and install floor outlets so I can plug those lamps in!

I took most of these on manual without flash and it is a rainy, overcast morning, so you can imagine how light and bright this room is in person!!! I do not like what is on the mantle.  I have collected mercury glass for about 15 years but these are new pieces and they are just not doing it for me.  I am on the lookout for just the right pieces (either from around my house or out and about).

Next, I am putting woven wood blinds on the windows (not the doors) and linen drapes).....below is what I have chosen...

Even though I asked y'all and I knew this was the right decision, I still needed a professional opinion. I knew that this was a long and expensive process (the way we had them done), so I e-mailed Layla and purchased the one question consult.  I told her exactly what I had planned (including buying the sofa table and the window treatments) and she gave me her opinion. Luckily, it was just what I wanted to hear. She agreed with all of my ideas and even added a few of her own!  I have recommended her to others (Denise used her for her kitchen remodel and got GREAT advice and suggestions!)  She is fast and reasonably priced too.  So, if you need any decorating tips or just want reinforcement like I did, go see Layla.  You will be very pleased! She goes above and beyond what you will expect.  Her blog is one of my favorites too.

Thank you for all the well wishes for Kate.  I am pretty sad that she has mono.  I am a worrier. I had it in graduate school and my heath has never really been the same since.  The Epstein Barr virus which causes mono is linked to some terrible conditions (MS, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and even a type of lymphoma). I have also read that it can cause fatigue and irritability for months! I am trying not to think of that stuff but seriously all we can do for a few weeks is sit around the house so my mind is wandering.  I am bored out of my mind so I loved all the comments yesterday...please keep them coming.  I am in isolation for a few weeks here so it is nice to have some cheerful thoughts:)  It is 9:30 and Kate is still sleeping...this is an all time record.  I should go check on her.

Mono

Thank you for your prayers and comments regarding Kate.  We were back at the doctor this morning because Kate is really sick and her fever will not break.  They did more blood work and she has mono. Her tonsils are so swollen she is having trouble breathing and eating or drinking anything (let alone the sore throat).  I feel SO bad for her. She is miserable and will not let me put her down (she is napping now).  I just pray no one else in the family gets it.  The boys would have to stop baseball and Judo for a month because of risk of the spleen rupturing.  I have to keep a close watch on Kate too.

As an aside, this morning as we were getting dressed for the doctor, Kate was so cute.  I put a skirt and a white tee on and she wanted to dress just like me...so we found a white tee in her drawer and a similar skirt and then she wanted "pearls like Mama." Obviously, my boys have never wanted to dress like me so this was a first mother-daughter moment.  I loved it.  I took two photos...they are awful because we were in a rush and she feels so terrible but here they are because I always want to remember this morning.  It made my heart jump....

She picked the shoes.....

My poor little angel....

I am back!

Thank you to all of you who e-mailed me last week to check on us, I tried to respond to as many as I could but I know I missed several of you. I am so sorry. With the all of the peanuts home and Kate sick, I did not have much time to be on the computer. Blogger even e-mailed me 3 times to see what was going on!!! Isn't that funny? I cannot explain here why I went private for a week but please know that I had a good reason and all is fine. While I love blogging, my children and their comfort will always come first. If I ever go private permanently, I will invite those of you that I have come to know (through comments and interactions) to the blog. Blogger only allows 100 invites which is why I have not gone private thus far. This was quite sudden and I apologize.

We started the week with pink eye and an upper respiratory infection (Kate). But we did manage to sneak in some fun over Spring Break (after a few days of antibiotics and eye drops~we did not want to spread the germs)....

We spent a day at the Rodeo!

Miss Katie Ru loved the pony rides....

I had been saving this Matilda Jane dress just for the rodeo! See the cow print on top?

The boys loved the bumper cars. I thought it was so cute that they rode together (I actually teared up with pride watching) but then they told me it was because Harry could not reach the pedals (LOL!). Nonetheless, they had so much fun together!

The boys also LOVED riding the mechanical bull!

Kate had her first taste of cotton candy!

The peanuts really liked me that day~ It is not often I let them eat that stuff!

The next day, we went to the aquarium.....

Then Kate got a fever and a virus and we stayed around home again.

I seem to recall her being very sick this time last year too. I hope she gets well soon...it breaks my heart to see her so sick for so long.

And just so y'all know that it is not all cotton candy and carousel rides around here (and I am a normal and flawed Mom)....at the end of this very long week....I raised my voice (yelled) at one of the peanuts in the produce section at Target! They were playing with the carts and Kate got hurt. She was sick and cranky and I had calmed her down from a 10 minute tantrum. I was at the end of my rope. I am not proud of it at all and I hope I never do it again. But I know that when I read that other Moms lose their patience or have bad days, it makes me feel more normal. So, there you have it...I never thought I would be that Mom...but I was. I immediately went home and started researching some fun summer camps because it will be a very long summer with three kids ages 3-12 all day every day. I am a Mom who need breaks.

And finally, 2 years ago today my sweet men Dave and Will took off to China to bring home our Kate Emerson....

If you did not follow the blog back then, you can read about their amazing journey in the archives. It is labeled China trip. Grab a cup of tea and box of tissues.

Quick Hello!

We have been having a pretty good Spring Break despite the fact that Kate has been quite sick (I know, again, still!).  In the past month, she has been sick with various illnesses 4-5 times.  She has been on 2 different antibiotics and contracted viruses on top of them.  She was back at the doctor this morning and they took blood and urine samples.  Please keep her in your prayers.

The boys had a Judo tournament this morning and they both earned 1st place in their weight divisions.  I am very proud of their determination.  In fact, one of our peanuts is ranked 2nd in the whole state in his weight and age class!

Sorry for the poor photos the light/distance in the dojos is awful and I do not have the proper equipment;)

A recipe, congrats, a break and prayer all in one post!

It is time for a break.  The peanuts are on Spring Break next week and I have a lot to catch up on around the house.  We have been running crazy and I have not had time to read blogs lately (which always makes me feel guilty). Please forgive me. I vowed to the kids a few weeks ago that I would not blog (read or post) while they are home and since we will be doing some fun day trips and hanging out at home for the next 10 days....there will be little time to come here. I am going to try to continue my photo a day 365 project here but I don't really write much on that blog---just photos.

I want to shout out congratulations to my blog buddy Gin and her husband, Doug. They have received a referral for a beautiful little girl.  Gin has always been such a sweet supportive blogger.  She has sent me quilt squares and little trinkets that the peanuts loved.  I am SO SO SO happy for them.  Go over to their blog to see their darling daughter and congratulate them:)

Also, please pray for my friend, Christi's Mom.  She is in the hospital and needs prayer. Christi has a great blog and is so sweet.  Let her know you are saying a prayer for her family. 

I will leave you with a recipe ....it doesn't have a name but it is one of my signature dishes.  Maybe you can name it for me?

1 bunch of cilantro leaves chopped (discard stems) Wes and Tracy--I use most of the leaves from the grocery store bunch but we like cilantro...most people would be happy with about 2 tablespoons chopped...you can use basil if you do not like cilantro but it will not be quite as good:)

1 box/bag of penne pasta

1  8 oz container of feta cheese (the herbed variety is good) 

1 jar of sundried tomatoes in oil (slice into small bits--but KEEP the oil)

2-3 chicken breasts.

Marinate the chicken breasts for a few hours in your favorite marinade.  I use Newman's Own Italian dressing.

Cook the pasta.  While pasta is cooking, grill the chicken (I have Dave do this). Combine the cilantro, feta cheese, sundried tomatoes and oil in a large pasta bowl. Stir to combine ingredients.  Add drained hot pasta and grilled chicken (cut into pieces). Stir to combine.  Serve. Oh this is so yummy!!!!  You are going to thank me.

This is SO good and it is even better the next day (hot or cold).  It is what I always bring people when they have babies or surgery and they LOVE it.

Hope you are all doing well.  Enjoy Spring and I will catch up with you in a week or two!

Kim

Sunday Morning...

I posted this on my photo blog but I wanted to post it here too because I think it is truly my favorite photo that I have ever taken.  I love it because it captures a spontaneous, pure and loving moment between two people that I love with all of my heart.

I woke Kate up this morning to adjust for the time change and brought her into our bed for a snuggle. When she snuggled up to Dave, I just had to run downstairs, grab my camera, open the drapes (for natural light) and get some shots. Kate calls Dave "my Daddy " (instead if simply Daddy).

I must admit that I am loving this 365 project. Even though somedays I feel totally uninspired, I realize that I will have a photo diary of our entire year. I plan to have a book made with one photo from everyday of our year. I would have never captured some of the simple yet precious everyday moments like the one above if it were not for this project.

A conversation with Will

Will asked me to take him shopping for new shorts.  He claims that his are too short now. Apparently, "shorts" for almost 12 year old boys border on capris these days;)

So, we went shopping and I liked what he chose (mostly preppy cargo shorts).  On the way home...

ME:  Will, I really like what you chose.  I am not sure about the mesh shorts and tank top but I understand why you wanted them. (I did let him get them too).

WILL: Mom, you just don't know what is in style anymore.

ME: LOUD GASP (in shock and horror)!

WILL:  What Mom?  Are you upset that you are out of touch?

(I just realized that this is the first time he and I have ever shopped together where HE picked out his clothes.  Times they are a changin.  He did pick madras shorts and plaid shorts that I LOVE).

And because I need a photo in my posts....Here are two little photos of my sweet Harry who still thinks his Mom has a sense of style...

You know how I got that sparkle in his eyes? I asked him about a girl he has a crush on! The photos before I asked looked totally different. Who needs photoshop when you can just ask the right questions.Oh my boys are growing up!

Playing Catch Up

I did not mean to be away from the blog world for 5 days.  That is a bit unlike me.  But we have been SO busy...so here is a bullet update:

~We have had gorgeous weather here so I am taking a lot of flower photos. Here are two that I took this week for my 365 project....

~ Kate and I have been going to the park a lot with friends....

~ A nutritionist has put Harry on a newer (and even more strict) diet so I have been shopping for specialty foods, ordering protein powders and supplements on-line and cooking a lot.  He is FAR below the lowest acceptable weight on the growth charts so I need make him a lot of high calorie healthy fat and healthy protein snacks and smoothies.  It has become a part time job.  But we are seeing some really positive results.  There is a whole lot more to this that I will post another time because it could be helpful to more people.

~Y'all are going to laugh at me..... but I discovered C*STCO!  I know it has been around for ages but I had never been there until last week and I LOVE it!  It is my new favorite store.  They have organic meats and produce, gluten free food, Lily Pulitzer and La Coste.  What more could a girl want?!  My everyday summer outfit is J Cr*w bermuda shorts and a La Coste polo so I was thrilled to see them there (in my size no less) for a fraction of what I usually pay.  I have been there twice in the last week.  Love it!

~ Little League has taken over my life.  Our Little League organization is one of the largest in the US.  It is incredible.  But the commitment is huge too.  Harry is loving it but we are at practice or games 3 or 4 nights a week.  It is only until the end of April but I cannot overstate how much time it consumes.  Every single parent must have a "volunteer position" and there is a carnival, auction fundraiser event, opening ceremonies, closing ceremonies etc.... I guess what I am trying to say is my blog time has been seriously eaten into by baseball...bear with me.

~My sweet Will is giving Kate art lessons and turns out that she is a natural...

Will had Kate draw a self  portrait and she drew the one below!!  I did not beleive that she drew it so he had her do it again in front of me.  She draws better at 2 and 1/2 than I do at 35;) LOL--I am not very good at math either;)

~I have become seriously addicted to photography.  The bug bit me a few years ago but I see the world through a lens now and I need help.  I think about everything in terms of photography. I dream of new lenses and software.  It is bad.  Help!

~Kate's pneumonia is better and Harry's toe is too. Thank you for all the well wishes. Hope y'all are doing well. I will catch up with your blogs as soon as things slow down a bit.