Meet Clyde!

Clyde is our new red-eared slider. He's pretty cool, but he's very skiddish. He's scared of me, although I'm the one who feeds him. Also, turtles are dirty! I have to clean his tank regularly. But he's too cute!!

Do You Kiss Your Momma with that Mouth?

As you know, 19 month-olds really like to babble. They are learning all sorts of interesting words and sounds! Well, Kami knows the word "sit" and she knows what it means. But when she says it, well, it sounds like a dirty word. I knew this would end up embarrassing me.

This weekend at church, we decided to not sit in the cry room and actually sit in the sanctuary.

Mistake.

We tried to get her to settle down and we told her to sit. Seconds later, Kamryn yelled "sh-t!!!!"

The congregation was completely silent because they were in prayer. But when Kami belted out that word, the chuckles emerged. My mom and I were laughing so hard, tears were streaming down our face!

Then, service started and the organ blared. Kami is scared of organ music. So she screamed! Needless to say, we made a bee-line to the cry room.

Summer Fun!

Despite Kami's eye drama, we've had a great summer! Kam loves the water. She's gotten her share of pool time at her Aunt Amy's and Canebrake country club. Enjoy the photos!

Cellulitis: A Cautionary Tale

Wow! So much has happened since my last post. I'm sorry, again, that it's been so long. We've been quite busy, oh, I'd say, this entire month! First, we had a wonderful Father's Day weekend. Kamryn got to celebrate with her daddy, her pops, and paw-paw. But that Saturday, we noticed something funny with her eye. It was red and swollen. We thought it must have been a bug bite, or something got in her eye, and we didn't think much more. Well, on Father's Day, her eye was swollen partially shut. We also noticed a bump underneath her eyelid.

Okay. This is the part where mommy really screws up. Seeing that I'm not a doctor, for some reason I felt qualified enough to diagnose Kami with a sty. There is nothing a doctor can do for a sty. So I decided not to take her to the doctor that Sunday.

Big mistake.

Monday morning, Kami was unable to open her eye. I found drops of blood in her crib that dripped from her eye. Her little eyelashes were clumped with puss and blood. She looked awful, and I was scared.

We took her to the doctor, and her pediatrician was mortified. She prescribed bactrim and eye drops and told us to come back first thing in the morning. Well, the next day, her eye looked even worse. We brought her back to the doctor, and doc decided immediately to admit her to the hospital. She was diagnosed with cellulitis, an infection of soft tissues around the eye. What makes this even scarier....the bacteria was staph.

I had a mini breakdown in the doctor's office. Thank God my mother was with me. I had to be strong for my girl!

The next two days at the hospital were long, to say the least. They put the IV in her hand. But the nurse got a needle that was too big. So, after butchering her hand for about five minutes, she decided to try a different needle on the other hand.

Now, you mommies know that toddlers love to explore. Every corner of a room, or building for that matter, is an adventure. Now, imagine your toddler being hooked up to an IV with about ten feet to spare. Believe me, it was hard keeping Kami from running around. But she's one tough cookie. I was so proud of her! She laughed and played in that hospital gown! Now, make no mistake about it. She didn't feel so hot, and she wouldn't touch her food. But I kept thinking, if an adult had an eye infection like that, he or she'd be much more dramatic. Kami acted like she didn't have a care in the world! Gosh, I love that kid!

After a day and a half in the hospital, her eye was well enough that she could be released. What a relief! The antibiotics really, really worked. Thank God for answering all of our prayers!

So, if I learned anything from this, it's that it's okay to be one of those mothers who always rushes her kid to the doctor with every ailment. That's what we do! We're mothers! Now, it's time to plan a beach trip :)

It's Been Way Too Long......

First off, I want to apologize for not blogging in so long! Life has been extremely busy...in a good way! We are chugging along here in Mobile, Alabama, and we have been very blessed along the way!

Kamryn has been moved up to an older classroom at daycare. I had very mixed emotions about this. There are no cribs in this class, just toddler cots. No bottles. No binkies. No high chairs. She sits at a little table, and eats in the cafeteria. Can you believe it? My little baby now eats in the cafeteria! I was a little misty-eyed when I dropped her off for her first day in her new class. Adjusting to this new schedule has been a little tough for Kamryn. She only gets one nap a day as opposed to two naps. So, when I pick her up, she is EXTREMELY cranky. She is sooooooo overwhelmingly tired. I try to put her down for a nap as soon as I can when I get home. She is getting more and more used to the routine. But today, she cried when I dropped her off, and that made me sad. She rarely does that. But when she does, it just tears me up. But her teacher assures me that Kamryn always stops crying in mere seconds after I leave.

Our family has wasted no time getting in the swing of summer. Last weekend, we celebrated my niece's six year birthday with a pool party! We have decided that Kamryn will easily be a water-baby. She loves the water! She even got her head wet, and loved it! Of course, being around a pool is scary. When I was a news reporter, I did stories on tragedy after tragedy of little toddlers finding their way to the pool and falling in. We would like Kamryn to learn how to swim as soon as she is physically able to. But I can tell you this...she loves the water! For now, she has no idea that bad things can happen.

This weekend, we celebrate father's day. We will once again head to Hattiesburg. I will spend Friday night with my dad and Saturday night with Josh's dad. Josh's dad hasn't been able to really spend a lot of time with Kami. So, I am excited about spending the day at Rowell Ranch. We are also blessed to spend the day with Josh's pa paw, who fought for his life last week. After prostate surgery, he had a stroke and kidney failure. (it's a long story that I won't get into in this blog). But pa paw is a tough cookie! He pulled through and he is back to his old self!

We are also praying for our friends Glyn and Ashley, whose twins are due in about four weeks. So far, things are looking good! I am excited about the impending birth. It also brings back memories of Kami. I remember being so happy the day I gave birth. I also remember struggling to adjust to motherhood. Indeed, life will be different for the Guidry's, especially with two babies. Can you imagine? I know twins are quite common, but it's hard for me to comprehend the thought of having TWO newborns at one time! I know my friends will be overwhelmed, but they will also be very blessed. I can't wait to meet the twins!

I will post Kami swimming pictures shortly. Much love! XOXOXOXOXOX!

Happy Mother's Day

Mothers are a gift from God! I thank Him every day for giving me a wonderful mom, and for allowing me to be a mommy to my little Kamryn.

More Than A Mother

When God set the world in place,when He hung the stars up in space,

when He made the land and the sea,then He made you and me.

He sat back and saw all that was good, He saw things to be as they should.

Just one more blessing He had in store; He created a mother, but whatever for?

He knew a mother would have a special place to shine His reflection on her child's face.

A mother will walk the extra mile just to see her children smile.

She'll work her fingers to the bone to make a house into a home.

A mother is there to teach and guide, a mother will stay right by your side.

She'll be there through your pain and strife, she'll stay constant in your life.

A mother will lend a helping hand until you have the strength to stand.

She'll pick you up when you are down,when you need a friend she'll stick around.

A mother is one who listens well,will keep her word; will never tell.

A mother never pokes or pries but stands quietly by your side,

giving you the strength you need, encouraging you to succeed.

A mother is one who can be strong when you need someone to lean on.

You're more than a mother to me; a reflection of Him in your face I see,

a love that knows no boundaries.

I'm glad that you chose to be all this and more to me.

You share a love that knows no end,you're more than my mother,you are my friend.

Kari Keshmiry

An Unwanted Present

When I became a mom, I knew I would have to become used to all things that are gross. Well, Kami has gotten into a habit of wanting to take off her diaper whenever she's wearing a dress. Last weekend, her granna put her to bed without putting any pants over her diaper. When Kami woke up, she left us a nice little present in the crib. Yes, she had taken her diaper off and dropped the bomb. We had to stick her in the bathtub and wash everything in her crib. Ahhhhhh, the joys of motherhood

!