Are we there yet…

We’re headed southbound for a weekend of fun in Fernandina Beach, Florida. And although my bathing suit is a lot bigger than it used to be, I couldn’t be any more excited if I were arriving in a size 4 bikini. Looking forward to great seafood, lots of beach time, and a weekend away with G and sweet MR.

The old sewing machine has been busy preparing for our long weekend way. I wanted MR to have a few new outfits for the beach. Wish I could take credit for the dress with the red ric rac. I found it at out local goodwill and covered up the monogram with a blue whale and initials.

I also made a monogram top and madras ruffle shorts for MR.

We’re hoping some good salt air will help MR to feel better. She’s spent most of the week recovering from the croup.

Worse than the stomach bug was spending 3 and a half days away from sweet MR. Our little girl brings me so much joy and laughter! As I lay sick in bed on Tuesday with my face burried in a garbage bag, MR replied, “Mama, what you lookin’ for in dere. Did you lose somefin?”

**Poor Gran C is the latest victim to the stomach bug. Please say a prayer that she recovers quickly!**

My sweet friend Kristi celebrated her birthday this past Thursday. To honor her special day, we invited her family over for a Mexican fiesta. G made his infamous guacamole and fired up the grill for marinated steak tacos. Kristi made a delicious Mexican salad and I baked up a two layer brownie cake with whipped icing and strawberries. The kids played beautifully together, allowing the grown ups a chance to relax, laugh, and reminisce.

The night couldn’t have been more perfect, or so we thought. About half way through dinner, I started feeling nauseous. Never one to pass up a meal, I chalked it up to pregnancy and proceeded with dessert. By the time our guests left, I knew I was in trouble. From 10 pm to 2 am, I hugged the toilet while G desperately tried to get in touch with the on-call OBGYN and line up a sitter for sweet MR. By 2:30 am, we were on our way to the hospital. We left MR in the care of Aunt and Uncle B, who were kind enough to make the 30 minute drive to our house in the middle of the night.

What we thought would be an hour long visit to labor and delivery ended in a 3 and a half day stay, eight bags of IV fluid, three sonograms, and over 24 hours of NPO (no food or drink) . Pancreatitis was the initial diagnosis, but a nasty bug seems to be the more likely culprit. Since my discharge on Monday evening, both G and Julie have come down with similar symptoms (Julie spent several hours today at the same hospital).

This bug is sure enough a nasty one; as of yesterday (day 5) I was still making frequent trips to the bathroom. We are praying that the end is in sight and so thankful that it has not had an effect on Baby Hutson and my sweet niece-to-be, Anna Bea.

Browinie Delight- 1 box of brownie mix (follow directions on box); strawberries for center of cake; combine a container of cool whip and a box of instant vanilla pudding for the icing; chill and serve with vanilla ice cream and cut up strawberries.

26.5 weeks pregnant and back home with my #1 girl!

Im tyring to adopt this new motto as I enter into my 25 week of pregnancy. Unfortunately, Im all to aware that Publix has buy one get one free bags of Doritos and m&m’s this week.

We have officially been in our house for over a week now and are having a ball getting settled. A big thanks to Papa Joe and Bill for helping us with the move and Gran C and Big Daddy for graciously offering to take care of the girls so that we could get things in order.

We feel so blessed to call this house our home. It has everything we want and more; MR continues to love her playroom and G and I are loving the extra space and storage.

Here’s a recap in pictures over the last week and a half…

Our final neighborhood gathering was an Easter egg hunt in a neighbors yard

Getting ready for moving day

MR openend an Easter basket from Papa Joe and Meme on her first morning in the new house

Easter morning at the new house

Sweet Mary Reese