Porter's favorite thing to do is "help" in the kitchen! He wants to cook, do dishes, wipe down counters, etc. ALL OF THE TIME! I cannot go in the kitchen without him running to grab "his helping chair"! I think he likes to eat scrambled eggs {with cheese} so much because I let him do it :)
Here he is after his Dr. visit this morning for what I call "brunch" (he had an appt at 9:15, and I had to wake him up to go, so we didn't get breakfast until we got back around 10:30 :))
as you can see it was a rush from bed, getting dresses and getting to our appt on time...he's still sporting his "bed head"
"one smile, mama...then let me get back to cooking!"
Porter had his repeat check up this morning to do another CBC, and we got GREAT results back! His count that was so low is back up and in the normal range, so it looks like it was just low from his two back to back illnesses last week!
I wish I would have had a picture from his Dr. visit this morning, he was bouncing off the walls ;)
We had talked about that he was going to have his finger pricked again, and it might hurt so he knew what was going to happen going in! He was a very big boy and did not cry when he had to have it done, but immediately asked the nurse if she was going to give him a surprise this time {they get small toys when they have bad things like shots}. So apparently even in his high-fever induced delusional state from Friday, he very well remembered getting his "dolphin" toy!
He got a dinosaur this time and as soon as we got in the car, he asked "when are we coming back to see the dr. mama??"
This morning, Porter came in my sewing room while Ryan was taking a shower, and told me, "put this scarf on me, so I can be just like daddy...I want to show him when he gets out of the bathroom!"
and Ryan has to wear a tie to "work" about twice a year!
By the way, as you can see Porter is feeling MUCH better :)
what have I been doing this weekend...SEWING...pretty much non stop...Porter being sick last week had me a little behind, but after it seems like 48 hours of non stop sewing, I'm caught up!! At least for the day!
Ryan came in and took this picture :)
I SAID I was not going to sew/work anymore on the weekends, and after this weekend I mean it! I'm taking Saturday and Sunday off from now on!
Friday afternoon--pick up early from school but still feels fine, cough is worse
Friday night-Saturday afternoon--cough BETTER but starts running high fever
Sunday--feels GREAT!
Monday--cough returns, but still no more fever and feels fine
Tuesday-Dr. visit in morning (early case of bronchitis, ears look GREAT), get meds...seems to start feeling worse that night??
Wednesday--GREAT
Thursday--GREAT
Thursday night--wakes up with a 102.6 fever at 11 pm :(
WHICH brings us to this morning, and I call the pediatrician's office first thing and get Porter another appointment for this afternoon. Meanwhile, Porter wakes up feeling not so great but no fever, and proceeds to be back to his old self by 10am! Emilia can attest to this fact since I was on the phone with her when Porter was bouncing off the walls playing (literally).
So I leave him watching TV with NO FEVER at 12:30...by 1:30 when we're leaving he's fallen asleep on the couch and I can tell he no longer feels good...
waiting in the ped's office:
Then we finally get back to the room, and I tell the nurse he hasn't been running fever since last night, but that he's just started feeling bad...
THEN she takes his temp--103.6!!
I felt like the worst mom ever!! I had not given him any tylenol/motrin since the middle of the night and he had not been running fever all day!
Meanwhile, she leaves the room to rush and get him some Motrin (he is literally panting like a dog at this point because of the high fever) and he pretty much passes out :(
Dr. comes in quickly (I guess you don't have to wait nearly as long when you have that high of a fever) and takes a look and he has two very very bad ear infections!
Porter has never had an ear infection before (and besides a case of strep throat last fall and some hives when he was 17months he's never been sick enough to go to the Dr.) so I was shocked that he went from great ears Tuesday afternoon, to full blown infections in both ears today. But apparently the antibiotic he's on for the mild bronchitis doesn't help ear infections!
He also had to have a blood work up because of the high fever and how fast the ear infections hit, and he's also SEVERELY ANEMIC :(
SO after a shot, some more antibiotics, numbing drops for his ears (which he's yet to complain about), some vitamins w/ iron, we have to go back first thing Monday morning to have his blood checked again and make sure his blood count goes up and he's not so anemic! AND then back in 10 days to keep checking that the ears/chest is clearing and we don't develop pnumonia??!!
His Dr. seemed to think that the sickness/fever could have a little to do with his iron level, but they were still very low even with all of that---so hopefully the vitamins will help, his levels will go up, and he won't have to have any more invasive tests!
Porter has only been to the Pediatrician for two "sick" visits before this week, and now it looks like we're going to make it 3 in one week!!
Let's hope we're "on the mend" for good now!
**he is feeling much better and is currently NOT running fever :)
It's finally draft day and we pick last in tonight's first round! Whooo hooo!
Though, now that the first round is in "prime time" I do not believe I'll be awake at midnight when we finally pick! Ryan can just tell me about it tomorrow morning ;)
just a picture to remember the superbowl and why we're picking last :)
And while I will say, I'm excited about the draft tonight, I am even more excited because it mean's Ryan is almost finished with his "spring"! Just a couple more weeks, then we'll be off to the beach followed by more than 2 straight months of being "off" at home! Only to have him to back to work the week before I'm DUE with baby girl!!!! At least now training camp is close by {& not in Jackson} if I do happen to go in to labor while he's at work!
Last night, Porter has his big end of the year art show at school! Even though he wasn't feeling the best, we went for a little while to see all of his art on display! Daddy got home just in time from being gone for 2.5 weeks to attend with us!!
showing daddy all of his "art work"
They had the entire foyer set up like an art gallery :)
My favorite
all of their art was from books they've read/studied and they used different painting/art technique's for each piece:
Porter was on some serious prescription cough syrup that had him in a BAD mood!
The cheese and cupcakes helped a little...
But I think this picture best sums up our {brief} experience at the art show:
He did finally cooperate for a picture next to his masterpieces!
I can't wait to get his art framed!!
After sleeping 14 hours (apparently cough medicine with codine helps!!) he is feeling much better! I am also thankful for a cough free night--I don't think either one of us had gotten 3 hours of sleep in a row since this past weekend!!
Porter has been a pitiful little boy the last few days :(
He ran a high fever Friday afternoon and Saturday, but by Sunday NO FEVER and he was feeling great! So I was thinking it was just a 24 hour thing, and I sent him to school Monday.
They didn't call me to get him, but by the time I picked him up, he looked awful :(
A quick Dr. visit Tuesday morning, and some meds, and I think he's on the mend....it probably helps that Daddy is back home!
He did a lot of this for a few days:
He was still sneezing/coughing in his bath :(
but a bubble bath did cheer him up...
....until bath time was over and he was back to his pitiful sick self!
If you know Porter, you KNOW how obsessed he is with his "green blanket"! We do not go anywhere without and he has to have it to sleep! He's still sick :( and woke up with a 103 degree fever this morning, so I knew we should probably wash his sheets/blanket. Usually I have to sneak it away to wash it, but he was rather lethargic, so he didn't put up too much of a fight when I told him I was washing it...It helped a little that when I woke him up last night to give him some more tylenol, a little spilled on the blanket, so he just assumed that since it was sticky it had to be washed!
After I put the clothes on to wash, I went back to our room. When I came back out I didn't see Porter, but could hear the water running in the washing machine, and sure enough, when I went to the kitchen this is what I found:
(you'll also notice the THREE containers of oxi clean...I believe I could definitely keep oxi clean and clorox bleach pens in business with Porter)
He eventually gave up his "staredown", but in the time it took to wash and dry it, he asked about it at least 50 times!!
My poor baby is sick :( Porter is soooo pitiful when he's sick!
I had to pick him up early from school, and he's been laying around ever since then! When he got up from his nap, he seemed ok, but about 30 minutes he came in my sewing room very whiney and he was BURNING UP! We didn't have any tylenol, motrin, or a thermometer, so we loaded up and headed to the store. Poor thing had a 102.5 fever when we got home! I asked him what hurt, and he said "everything"...poor baby! He's already starting to perk up, so hopefully he'll be good to go tomorrow (fingers crossed!!)!
I have lots more sewing to catch up on this weekend, and did A LOT this week...but I did manage to squeeze in something for baby girl hollern! It's the first thing I've sewn for her, and I can already tell that sewing for girls is going to be a lot more time consuming! The bloomers took me about twice as long as a pair of shorts--which still isn't long, but I do NOT have much time these days and I'm thinking when she finally gets here I'll have even less time! It literally took all day, but I was doing it while the embroidery machine was going, so I think the next pair will go quicker! I loved how they turned out, and I think next time I'll make several pair (it seems quicker and easier when you make several at one time??!) BUT they are for next spring/summer so I don't want to get to ahead of myself and make tons of bloomers that won't fit!
I was just going to make the bloomers, but I figured I had one of these shirts left in a 12m so I might as well go ahead and do her a shirt to match! And I wanted to sew out this crab anyway...I decided at the last minute to add her monogram :)
I got the pattern AND the fabric at wal-m@rt! I was surprised at how cute it turned out!
**sorry the pics are so bad...they're from my phone--I've somehow misplaced my camera card (that has ALL new sewing samples on it!! ugh!)...hopefully it'll turn up, or my camera will be my phone for a while!
A few weeks ago a small (and I mean SMALL--5 tables) Japanese restaurant opened about a mile from our house. I have been driving by it daily, and last week I noticed they had a huge sign that said their entire menu was 50% off!! I had never heard of a restaurant having a 50% off sale! ha!
So a few days ago, Porter and I went to lunch there, and it was surprisingly good AND cheap (especially when it's all half off!)
We went back today, and Porter decided he must eat with his chopsticks :)
In his own words: "this is sooooo cool, I love it mama!"
"I love it mama" is his new phrase--it comes after everything he likes!
After he finished off all his steak, I about died when he asked if he could eat my broccoli!
And I couldn't believe when he ate it ALL :)
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In other news, I've been VERY BUSY sewing this week ( at last count I think I've done over 100 items in the past week and a half!)...so there's lots of new stuff listed HERE!
I also finally updated the website and got the "fall" stuff off the home page!
I've definitely been feeling more tired with this pregnancy than with Porter! By 9:00 I don't think I can handle anymore "work" and am usually in bed! Which means I'm doing more during the day, but I have to say Porter has been a champ, and been very good at occupying himself and playing in his room while I sew!
I still try to get him out of the house at least once a day for some "play time" (even if it is just a trip to target ;))
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I'm also excited that I have another delivery tomorrow to the bakery where I got the petifor's yesterday :) When the girl called and asked if I could squeeze in an alligator dress by Friday evening, I gladly said "YES...AND I'll deliver tomorrow morning!"
I had my 23 week appointment today and everything is looking good with baby girl hollern!
Though my Dr. would rather talk about the upcoming NFL draft, and what's going to happen with Jammall Brown (will he get traded or not???!). He even told me I could text him if I found out anything :) I hated to tell him I had no clue who he was even talking about! I called Ryan (who is out of town) after my appointment, and told him he might not be coming to any more appointments with me unless he wants to get the 3rd degree from my Doctor! I will say though I LOVE my doctor, and the fact that he's a HUGE Saints fan just makes him even better :)
I also had not gained nearly as much weight as I though, but I told the nurse she better do my blood pressure first, because it might go through the roof if I had gained 10 pounds or more since my last visit (which was ONLY 3 weeks ago!)
I still think their scales might be a little off (in a good way!) though.
After my appointment I had to deliver an order for some shirts to a BAKERY of all places!! I, of course, rewarded myself with 4 petifor's since I didn't gain 10 pounds (then also rewarded myself to ANOTHER roast beef po boy for lunch--I already had one last night)! I already want to go back tomorrow for some more...I had them all eaten before I even made it home!
I also picked up the bedding to be monogrammed!
I am having it made by a local fabric store, and they don't offer monogramming, but let me pick up a piece so I could do it myself before it's put together...and let me just say I have NEVER been more nervous monogramming anything in my LIFE! Not that I was afraid I would mess up, but they had JUST ENOUGH fabric that I wanted for the bumper and NO EXTRA, so IF I messed up, we were just out of luck!
That was the longest hour ever. And yes, it took ONE HOUR to monogram! It actually only took 30min (I about died when I transferred the monogram, and it popped up that it was a 30 min stitch out!)...but I did a test run first!
But I LOVE the way it turned out! At first, I immediately thought I should have done it "bigger" but I went by their recommendation and when I measured it against how big the bumper will actually be, it's the perfect size! I'm glad they told me!
This will be the back center of her bumper. All four sides (inside and out) will be out of this quilted cream fabric, with the bed skirt, ties, and ruffle on bumper (or cording, I can't decide?!) out of the light pink silk. It looks a lot darker in the picture, and it's actually more of a light light pink! I'm hoping there's enough remnants left for me to make a small monogrammed pillow and blanket.
We got a different crib that we used with Porter, and it's very simple and I am probably going to paint it light green...It's the lightest shade of pink right now (looks almost white), but I got it at a consignment store, and it needs a new paint job, so I am going to try green first! We'll see how it goes--now knowing me, it may NEVER get painted ;)
OH, and someone (who has a GREAT memory by the way ;)) has already guessed the name! :) I though we were safe and that no one would even have a clue! ha!
In Porter news, he is finally back to taking naps!! whooo hooo!! He hasn't taken one for a while, and he was just getting B.A.D....there is just no other word to describe it! So this week, I've made him get up early (by 7:45 at least), eat his snacks, and take a NAP! And go to bed about an hour earlier. It has made a WORLD of difference in him! I was about ready to pull my hair out last week or lock myself in the closet...and besides a rough patch today when I picked him up from school {at which he didn't nap--they had it in BIG letters on his "report" home that he was NOT sleepy :( } things have been great!
When he finally got in a better mood, I was asking him what he did at school. He was so cute and went into a 10minute reenactment of the story of Zacchaeus climbing up the tree to see Jesus! It was so cute!! I already knew they were doing that story this week, but it was cute seeing Porter act it out SO dramatically! I'm going to try and get it on video and post it :)
Ever since Porter became potty trained, he started to wake up in the middle of the night. I just assumed it was because he had to go to the bathroom, but no, every time I would ask him he didn't have to go! Now if you don't know Porter, he is an EXCELLENT sleeper and will ONLY sleep in his bed! Which is great (until we need his bed for guests ;))! A few weeks ago, Porter would wake up in the middle of the night and come into our room, tell us "hi", then ask to watch a show!! As soon as I would tell him that it was bedtime, he would gladly go get back in his bed and go back to sleep!
About a week ago, I woke up to Porter staring at me about 12:30--after I recovered from being scared half to death--he just told me he wanted to cuddle :) Then after about 30 seconds in our bed, he asked to go get back in the "little bed" (his bed). About 3 hours later, here he comes again--I put him back in his bed, with strict orders that as long as it was dark outside, he could NOT come back in Mommy & Daddy's room...
Apparently he took my words to heart, because when I got up around 7:30, this is what I found in the living room:
He slept like this for a good 30 minutes, before I finally woke him up :)
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In other news, there is only about one good thing that comes from your husband spending almost half the nights out of the year in a hotel: HOTEL POINTS!
Another good thing: when he's gone for 2.5 weeks at a time, and you're at home about to pull your hair out with a whiney AND destructive almost 3 year old BY YOURSELF WITH NO HELP, he feels for you AND gladly will take you on a weekend trip without said 3 year old with those points :)
So in just a little under a month, I will be here...
i.can't.wait
**and THANKS nana for keeping Porter :)
In baby news, I am a little over 23 weeks already! It's hard to believe she'll be here in less than 4 months!
time is flying!
I also finally monogrammed something for her, so no going back on the name!!
I am picking up the fabric for her bumper and monogramming it tomorrow, so I thought I might as well do something else! We picked out the name about a month or so ago, and I've gotten used to it and LOVE it, so I know we won't be having any change of heart's!
This will probably be her "going home" outfit...Porter went home in this same outfit (only in blue of course and with his monogram)!
Up close of the monogram (any guesses on her NAME??!)
I feel confident that no one will guess her name :)
I also go back tomorrow to the Dr., and I feel sure I've gained at least 10 pounds in the last 3 weeks! Maybe I'm just telling myself that so if I'm a tad under the 10 lb mark, I'll feel a little better!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...
Happy Easter from the Hollern's!
Look who stopped by our house?!
**I would like to point out that not all of this was from the Easter Bunny (or mom & dad)! We got a large package yesterday from Uncle Matt & Aunt Liz too :)
We went to the zoo this afternoon, and had a great time!
Here are some of the pictures I took:
It rained (really just "misted") for the first hour or so we were there...we got a little wet, but we still had a great time!
Brycen, Logan, & Lindsey came down to join us!
Brycen LOVED the monkeys :)
Making "monkey sounds":
The oragatan's (however you spell it--by the way what happened to Blogger's spell check??? Mine is gone!) were so cute...it wasn't even raining hard, but they both had cardboard boxes over their heads so they wouldn't get wet!
Porter, pointing to the "baby monkey"
After getting rained on for the first 90 minutes, I believe I was telling Ryan, "NO pictures"
He obviously didn't listen :)
Baby girl Hollern (I know I'm going to slip up and type her name...I've already done it twice before I caught myself!) is definitely making her presence known--as you can SEE!! I literally went to bed one day last week looking just "wide", and woke up looking "wide and very pregnant" :)
"look, it's just like my shirt"
Brycen happily poses for any picture :)
Including sitting on the very real (& scary) looking gator!
Porter wasn't so sure about it...
You can tell how much Brycen loved the zoo:
All 3 1/2 of us...excuse how rough we I look (I blame the rain)
I have NO idea how we got them both to sit still for this picture...a split second after this was taken they were out of there!
Highlight of the day was definitely the carousel ride:
All day Porter talked about seeing the lions; when we FINALLY got to the Lions, he wasn't so sure:
BUT, he was sure about the Elephants--they were the last (and Porter's FAVORITE) of the day:
