We're Back....

Well, after 5 1/2 hours of flying and a 3 1/2 hour layover in Houston, TX, Ryder and I are back home, safe and sound with daddy. While in Orlando, Ryder got a cold, and, as of yesterday, I have the same thing. I am trying to get over it with lots of vitamins and Emergen-C. If you feel like saying a quick little prayer for me, I would really appreciate it.
While visiting my family, some of Pat's family came and visited Ryder (and me). They also went to Disney, and I got to join them at Downtown Disney. Ryder was supposed to go with us but he was still recovering from his cold and was a little fussy so it didn't work out that way. But I really enjoyed going with them and seeing my niece transform into a PRINCESS at the Bippity Boppity Boutique and my nephew celebrate his birthday at the Rainforest Cafe with a HUGE chocolate volcano cake.
I got to see my friend, Cristina, and her precious new baby girl. I also started sewing on a blanket for Ryder, as well as baby Kailey....Yes, that's right...I can sew:)
I would love to post some pics (I took 453) of my trip, but my computer is not working for some reason, so I will have to do another post, later, that is only pictures.
It was so hard to say goodbye. Besides the fact that I was at the airport ay 4am, it was hard leaving my parents. It's nice to be taken care of every once in awhile. It was also hard to watch how sad my mom was. I wish I had the bank account to support trips to see her, but I don't. (If anyone would like to donate a roundtrip ticket, let me know haha). But we will see my side AND Pat's side of the family for the holidays and we are very excited about that.

A Thud and A Cry

Last night, Ryder rolled out of his swing...it was terrible. I heard a loud THUD as he hit the carpet and then he started wailing. O, how my heart hurt and how horrified I was. When I ran to him, he just raised his arms and clung to me. I think he was more scared than hurt, but it did knock the breath out of him for a few seconds.
Ryder has also been sick since Saturday. Poor baby bear. He was sniffling and tugging at his right ear and rubbing his right eye. We took him to the After Hours Clinic. They said his right ear was clear and he had a cold AND PINK EYE. We got a prescription for eye drops and went and got it filled right away.
Well...two days later, things weren't getting any better. I called my old pediatrician's office and made an appoinment (we met with his daughter who now practices with him). Ryder had been SCREAMING and pulling at his ears the night before. WELL, he had a DOUBLE EAR INFECTION. His nose had also gotten stuffier and he absolutely hates saline being sprayed in it and is terrified when I put the little bulb in his nose to suck all the boogies out. My doctor told me to use Children's Benadryl (1/2 teaspoon)  every 4 hours....It's been less than 24 hours and he can breathe again! And he's not pulling on his ears anymore.
My grandmother (Ryder's great-grandmother) is here from Nebraska and leaves tomorrow to go back. So, I'm letting her change his poopy diaper (a sacrifice I was more than willing to make) while I write and drink coffee and then go shower. There is a surprise coming today for my Aunt Jane. SOOOO excited for that and I hope to be able to get hands on some pictures to post of her when she sees this "surprise".
I'm off to shower and back to reality. Lots of fun coming up this week and can't wait to share them with you!

Here are a few pics as hints (GranJan took them when we were in Birmingham)

Safe and Sound in O-Town

Well, we made it safe and sound to my parent's house....The first thing my mom did was take my sweet baby boy from me haha. But I didn't expect anything different. She is really stuggling with the fact that we live so far away. But she is doing better and cherishing every moment she gets with Ryder (and, by default, me lol) We went and got Ryder some toys yesterday and a swing...He is so happy to have some "familiar" things to play with and I am happy to have a place I can set him down in haha. Baby Bear is still constipated(yes for the past month or so) --I've been giving him prunes and pears for his "meals" and two bottles of equal parts apple juice/water. Yesterday he had a great poo-poo and I'm hoping for an even better/easier one today...It strange that now I get excited over poo-poo, poots, and burps haha. But I LOVE IT!!!
The flight went AMAZING!!!! The first flight, I sat next to a woman who talked to Ryder and played with him and held him for me periodically and offered to go to the next gate and help me until my plane took off....AMAZING!!!! AND on the second flight, a flight attendant took Ryder and walked up and down the plane with him. She introduced him to the pilots AND they gave him 2 pairs of wings...I wish I would have given my phone to her to have her take pics of my baby bear with the pilots and other attendants...Maybe I'll think of it next time. Even though the flights went well, they were still VERY LONG. I love living in SoCal but the distance is a pain in the tooshie, that is for sure. Ryder and I were very tired when we got here and were ready for a bath (to get the nasty 'all day in a plane' feeling off of us) and bed.
At the airport, the gave Pat a pass to walk us to the gate so he was able to see us off. That meant so much to me. I think they did it because he was in uniform but that's ok. He risks his life for our freedom - he should get to walk to the gate to say good bye to his family for 20 DAYS! We missed him as soon as we started walking down the jetway. I so badly wish that he could travel with us. He hasn't seen his family since Ryder was born and it was for such a hectic/crazy time and he spent most of it in the hospital with me. AND most of my family hasn't even met him yet....CRAZY!
I'm talking to my SIL, Katie, about her and my othe rin-laws possibly being able to come down for a few days and maybe even going to Disney one day!!! SEND UP YOUR PRAYERS that it will work out!!!! Usually we are on the other side of the country, so it would be so nice to hook up with them for a few days!!!

Well, Ryder is falling asleep in his swing while watching the Mickey Mouse Club House - another reason I would LOVE to take him to Disney- so I am going to get off here and get some laundry done....

Peace, Love, and (hopefully) poo-poo...BAHAHA

Waiting patiently while mommy packs

Walking into the airport to head to see GRAMMY!!! What a big boy!

Called Out of Class

NEVER have I ever been pulled out of class before. Of course, I've never, really actually left Ryder anywhere. He has always been with me. Well, Pat and I joined the YMCA and I have been doing some classes there and leaving Ryder in the child care center-he needs some socialization with people other than me. He was doing great when I went with Pat in the evenings. When I have tried to go in the afternoon, he fights sleep and fusses and they have to come and get me. As soon as I put him in the car, he passes out haha.
I guess I'll have to work out in the morning or when Pat gets off work:)

PS-Ryder has started pulling up by himself...such a big boy

Have You Ever?

Have you ever had questions about where and how you go to where you are? Have you ever second guessed MAJOR decisions? Have you ever wondered why God has things happen the way they do? Have you ever just wanted to cry...a big cry? Have you wanted so badly to share something with someone, but you just can't open up. You just can't become vulnerable enough to speak. You're not sure you trust anyone enough to open up to. Has anyone ever betrayed you in a way that some think as trivial but is really a stab in your heart? Have you ever frozen up and can't tell anyone what is wrong?
That is where I am right now. That is some of what I am feeling....can you read between the lines?