In the Spirit of Thankfulness . . .

I LOVE this time of year!!!!! Fall . . . .a little quiet before the craziness of the holidays sets in.

God has been teaching me to be more thankful...honest, raw gratitude for the many ways He has blessed me.

My goal is to create a Thankful Thursday list each week this month. Here is Week 1 . . .

This week, I am thankful for . . .

1. Serena Shurtz and Ian Johnson - two freelance photographers who have blessed my heart by taking beautiful pictures of my family. They each did an awesome job of capturing the girls' spirits and personalities. You are both blessed with incredible talent. Thank you! (If anyone wants their contact information, let me know!)

2. My parents. They are awesome. They took care of the girls all of last week while I traveled to California with Joey for his annual sales meeting and a little vacation. They managed all of the schedules and events without missing a beat. I'm sure it wasn't easy. Thank you mom and dad!

3. My husband. He took me to the SPA in Palm Springs for my birthday!!!!!! The frugal me told him I just wanted a manicure and pedicure. But, he pushed me to get a facial and massage too! I will not lie - it was glorious! Thank you Joey for spoiling me.

4. My girls. I never dreamed I would be so in love with the two of them. Molly started walking before our trip. I forgot what a cool thing that is to watch and be a part of. . . how much they learn and change in those first few years is incredible. And Bailey . . . her spirit and zest for life makes me smile. She's keeping me honest, that's for sure. I called daddy a "turkey" yesterday and she replied very sternly "Mommy, we don't say that about people. How would you feel if someone called you a turkey?"

5. Our home. As many of you know . . . we are weekend (and weeknight) warriors with home improvement projects. There's always something . . . but I am so thankful I have a home to come home to every day - not just a house, but a home. . . . even if the master bathroom is still floral and VERY pink:)

I hope you take some time this month to reflect on what you are thankful for. It really helps me keep my pride in check.

More next week. For now, I'll leave you with a few pics of the girls:)

Cammy

Molly is ONE!

I know this is very cliche, but where does the time go?

Molly, you are one today.

One year ago today, I was recovering from your birth. For those that don't know, I got to the hospital a little late and you were in a BIG hurry to get out...in such a big hurry mommy didn't have time for an epidural. Yikes!

Someone asked me the other day if you are a good baby. I replied "yes." Daddy and I were pretty sure we were done having kids when you were born, but you make me want to have two more . . . two more just like you.

At one year . . .

• You love to smile and get other people's attention. Today at Walmart, I think we made at least five new friends. Random strangers who just had to come and talk to you and marvel in your cuteness.
• You save your biggest smiles for Daddy. When you see him, you clap your feet together and get so excited.
  
• You REALLY like to eat. You love milk, meat, and any kind of fruit. You used to love vegetables, but in the last few weeks you've been a little stubborn about eating them. Last night, you threw a green bean in Daddy's face. He wasn't too pleased.
  
• You are an absolutely fabulous sleeper. You've been sleeping through the night (8 hrs or more) since you were about 8 weeks old. This morning you slept until after 9:00 AM! You still really need two naps during the day - about an hour or so in the morning and almost 3 hours in the afternoon.
• You love to be around your big sister. You are constantly watching and learning from her.
  
• You aren't walking yet. You walk around everything, stand by yourself, and walk with help, but whenever we let go, you just sit down and crawl.
  
• You love to play with balls, Little People, and puzzles. You can already throw the ball - you really amazed your Aunt Beth last week with this skill!
  
• You have grown very attached to your paci. So attached, I usually find you sleeping with one in your mouth and at least one more in your hand.
  
• When I came in your room this morning and sang Happy Birthday to you, you just giggled and laughed for about 3 minutes - it made me a little self-conscious about my singing!
  

I love you Molly Sue! We can't wait to see what year number two has in store for you!

Mommy

Do-Overs, Diagnosis, and Darn Good Pictures . . .

Warning: If you want to see the darling pics of Miss Molly, you'll have to scroll through the following mess first:)

Yesterday I posted on Facebook:

"Wishing I could have a 'do-over' today with a different outcome:("

Have you ever had a day like that? Yesterday was it for me. I normally wouldn't share this on a blog, but here's what's going on.

Yesterday morning around 10:00, I got a bit of a surprising phone call at work from my doctor's office (after a routine physical on Wednesday of last week)

The nurse said "Dr. G got your blood work back and you have been diagnosed with pronounced hypothyroidism."

Huh? What did she say? I was pre-med at Friends so I knew exactly what she said and what it meant, but was so shocked to hear it, for a moment I didn't think she was talking to me.

For my non-science-geek friends out there, my thyroid is not producing enough hormone - not near enough. It's a feedback loop that's a little tricky to explain, but think of it this way (way over-simplified, but trying to make a point): There is one hormone (TSH - thyroid stimulating hormone) that your body produces to tell your thyroid to produce another homone (T3). If your body doesn't make enough T3, it produces more TSH to tell your body to "step it up" and make more. The higher your TSH, the worse the problem. Basically my thyroid isn't listening at all to the TSH and making enough T3, so my body is making more TSH, but my body still isn't listening.

To give you a point of reference, a normal range of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is 0.5-2.5 and mine measured at a 60!!. This basically means that my thyroid is being super stimulated to produce the necessary hormones and it's not producing what it needs.

I was surprised and completely freaked out to say the least. My MIL (a nurse) sent me a paper that listed the symptoms of hypothyroidism: feeling cold all the time, dry, itchy skin, paleness, weight gain, constipation, loss of energy, exhaustion, hair loss, muscle aches, blurred vision, sleepiness, mood swings, puffy skin around the eyes.

Really didn't have any symptoms beyond the fact I've been having a horrible time losing the last 5-8 pregnancy pounds even with running almost 15 miles a week. In all honesty, I thought I was just getting old and my metabolism was slowing and I tended to hang on to a little weight with Bailey until I stopped nursing. But, my doctor even told me on Wednesday that my weight is well within a healthy range for my height.

Have had about 24 hours now to let it all sink in and am feeling a little better about it today. I was written a prescription for thyroid hormone replacement and started taking it this morning - probably will have to take it the rest of my life. Will go in 6 weeks to have bloodwork done again, levels adjusted if necessary, and then may be referred to a good endocrinologist if needed.

Questions abound . . . How did this happen? Does it always come on suddenly like this? I had the same physical last year and nothing. I've heard horror stories about people gaining 100+ pounds with this condition and taking years to regulate their medication. Apparently, it is not all that uncommon and can definitely happen all of a sudden, especially after pregnancy.

Absolutely hate the thought of being on medication the rest of my life, but the other end of the spectrum could be worse. Your body depends so much on thyroid hormone for nearly everything - from metabolism to healthy hair, teeth, and nails, to mental state and memory.

Unexpectedly, someone here at my new job put it into a little better perspective to me today (her husband has the same issue). . . it's not really medication, it's a synthetic hormone supplement - if I was anemic, I would take an iron supplement right? This helped calm me down a bit.

So anyway, that's the story of my last 24 hours. Yes, it could be worse. No, I'm not dying. Yes, I wish I could "do-over" yesterday and not get that phone call.

On a completely separate note . . . Got some preview collages back of Molly's first year pictures that we had taken on Saturday. To say they are "darn good" in my opinion would be a huge understatement. I LOVE THEM! Isn't she beautiful, even if her mommy is a diagnosed, do-over desiring mess! I sure think so.

Cammy

September Craziness

September at the Todd house tiptoed in, but this week is looking more like a freight train!
A brief look at our crazy week . . .

Tuesday - Mommy works (busy inservice day for USD 259), Bailey at WEE Care, Molly has to be picked up early from daycare due to provider's daughter's tennis match, Bailey birthday party for a friend at 5:00, Cammy's first night of BLT (Tuesday evening Bible Study).

Wednesday - Mommy works, Bailey at WEE Care, Bailey meet your teacher at Kids Day Inn (10:45 - noon - who sets these times anyway?), Dr. Appointment, Bailey's first night of Awana

Thursday - Bailey's first day of Kids Day Inn, Molly 1-year pictures, Clean, Clean, Clean, and Home Team

Friday - Clean, clean, clean to host Bunco at our house!

Yikes! Not sure I'm ready for this crazy schedue, but ready or not, here it comes! So thankful that Joey's job is flexible enough to allow him to pick up Molly today and take Bailey to "Meet Your Teacher" tomorrow.

On another note, Bailey fed horses at her Aunt and Uncle's house for the first time over the weekend. It was fun making this memory with her. A few pictures . . .

The Loot . . .

All Ready

Learning to hold my hand flat.

Bailey loved it so much, she begged me to climb the tree to get more apples!

On the way to WEE Care this morning, Bailey said some funny things. It's crazy how their little minds work . . . amazing actually that they are constantly thinking and learning.

"Mom, why isn't the sun awake yet? (it was cloudy) There's a seven on my clock and it's supposed to be awake. I better bring my sun dudes (sunglasses) to Miss Leslie's just in case it decides to wake up."

"Hey mom, I just thought of something. Mud and blood rhyme." Yes, Bailey, they do. Not sure that would be most kids' first thoughts for rhyming words, but you are right.

It's things like this that help me survive the craziness.

Have a great week everyone!!

Cammy

A few pics . . . and thoughts

I know I promised pics last week, so here are a few from this summer's adventures . . .

Bailey's First Experience with VBS

Some Fun Outdoor Pics of Molly
(I love all of her expressions!)

Fun Day at the Zoo

I got a little sappy today. I was driving to a school for a training and turned on the radio. Here is what was playing ("Blink" by Revive)

Teach me to number my days
And count every moment before it slips away
Taking all the colors before they fade to gray
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this

It happens in a blink
It happens in a flash
It happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink (x4)

Slow down, slow down
Before today becomes our yesterday
Slow down, slow down
Before you turn around and it's too late

It happens in a blink
it happens in a flash
it happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

My girls are growing up before my eyes. Molly is going to be ONE in less than a month. There is not an ounce of toddler left in Bailey. She has become a little girl.

The summer flew by. It's going to be September in less than 36 hours.

God is teaching me a lot these days . . .

...I need to slow down
...The necessity of "no"
...That gratitude is a powerful emotion.

I thank God everyday for my beautiful family and that God has entrusted Joey and I with the care of those precious girls. For a husband who works hard everyday for us, but is never too tired for hugs and "smooches." For the opportunity to be home with my girls several days a week.

What are you thankful for today?

Cammy

We're still here . . .

My poor neglected little blog - I am so sorry.

There will be more coming in the next couple of days. There has been so much going on around here. But, you'll have to accept a bulleted list for a few days until I can get pictures uploaded and details written.

• Bailey started a new preschool/daycare on Monday - Wee Care. She absolutely loves it! I love hearing about her day and new friends. Every night when I put her to bed she asks what she is going to do at "school" tomorrow. So sweet. She's also going to start AWANA cubbies on Wednesday nights. I'm sure she will love it.
• Molly is 10 months old . . . almost 11 months. She is a super fast crawler and into everything. She is also pulling up on everything, including mommy's legs, the refrigerator, the cabinets. Still as sweet as can be. Daddy can make her smile bigger than anyone else. It melts my heart.
• Joey is done with junior golf for the season at Rolling Hills. No more super early mornings or Sunday evenings teaching Pee Wee (5-7 year olds). Yippee!
• Mommy got a new toy. It's bright and shiny and "caMi" spelled backwards. No more excuses for my photo, video, or blogging projects. Can't wait to start using it. Joey just got it hooked up and is setting it up this evening.

Will write more soon. I promised myself a good night's sleep tonight.

Cammy

I was wrong . . .

So, I was wrong. Joey does read the blog. I guess it is bookmarked as a favorite at work. Another instance where I underestimated my husband.

So, there goes the surprise for Father's Day. Oh well. ..

I was so proud of Bailey for keeping "our secret." It was mommy who screwed up.

Cammy

P.S. - He still doesn't have a Facebook account so I'm safe there:)

Molly is 8 months!

Sweet Molly - you are 8 months old today. We love you so much! You are full of smiles and love to be around your mommy, daddy, and sister (and brother Holmes too!) You took your first trip to the zoo yesterday and stayed awake over 3 1/2 hours - a record! You loved watching all of the animals. You like to sit and play with your toys . . . as long as someone else is in the room, you will play for almost an hour! You love walks in the stroller and swinging at the park. You like to be on your belly much more than your sister did and you've started getting up on all fours. But . . . I think we still have a month or so before you start crawling. Mommy's OK with that - she's not ready yet!

In the past few days, you've started to perfect your pincer grasp - you can get the puffs to your mouth all by yourself now! And you have one tooth and are working hard on the second. Your favorite baby foods are oatmeal, peas with brown rice, and pears and mangoes.

You sleep about 11 hours at night and 4 or 5 hours during the day...you like your sleep just like your daddy and big sister.

You are growing up so fast. Mommy and Daddy can't wait to see what God has in store for you. We love you so much!

Mommy

(P.S. Mommy made good on her promise to get your pictures taken this week, but don't tell daddy - it's a surprise! Good thing he never reads facebook or this blog). Here's a preview for your friends.)

Sweet Molly Sue . . .

Look who finally made the top of the blog!

I've been feeling a lot of mommy guilt these past few weeks about Molly. Here's why . . .

1. I haven't added her name to the answering machine at home.
2. I hadn't changed the picture at the top of our blog to include her.
3. I haven't had her pictures professionally taken yet.
4. I didn't have a huge party after her dedication at church like I did with Bailey.

The list could go on and on. I need to do better. At least I have #2 taken care of now.

It's not due to a lack of caring or love. I think it's just part of having more than one child. Molly is one of the sweetest babies you will ever meet (OK, maybe I'm a little biased). She is incredibly laid back, an excellent sleeper, and is rarely cranky unless she is really hungry or really tired. Her smile melts my heart. While I was pregnant with her, I was pretty sure I was done having kids. But, she makes me want to have another one . . . another one just like her.

Right now, she is 7 months old. She loves me the most and lights up whenever I come into the room. I love how she claps her feet together when she is excited. She LOVES to blow raspberries - while eating, to get your attention . . . pretty much all of the time. She also LOVES to be outside. She would sit on a blanket playing with her toys and watching the cars go by for hours if I let her. And this weekend, we discovered that she LOVES swings. Here are a few pictures from the park on Saturday.


We love you so much, sweet Molly Sue. And, I'm going to schedule pictures this week. . . I promise!

Cammy

Papa Joe

As many of you know by now, we had to unexpectedly say goodbye to Joey's dad last week. He died in his sleep early in the morning Tuesday, March 16th.

With Molly's RSV and planning for the funeral, I haven't had much time to process and reflect on Joe's death. I thought blogging might provide me the opportunity to do so.

I loved Joe from the moment I met him. My first encounter with him was in the Sluggers parking lot. Joey and I had just started dating and I had brought some dinner up to Joey while he was working there. In the short 3 minutes that I was in the facility, someone broke into my car in the parking lot and stole my purse. Not ten minutes later Joe was there with a vacuum and supplies to help me clean up my car. The next day, he helped take me to the glass shop to get a new window. This was just the kind of guy Joe was - always putting other's needs before his own. I can honestly say that I never met someone that didn't like Joe in the past seven years.

Papa Joe was absolutely in love with my girls. He taught Bailey how to throw a ball and "what a rooster says." He laughed at her and with her. Every time we went over to their house, he commanded me to take Molly out of her carrier immediately so he could hold her. He held her for six hours straight on Christmas Eve. He was a wonderful grandpa.

Joey got so many of his wonderful qualities from his dad.. . his servant's heart, overwhelming generosity, and overall likability. Please pray for Joey in the upcoming weeks and months. His dad meant the world to him.

I love you Joe. I'm so glad Joey had you for a father and my girls got to know their Papa Joe, even if for a short time. You will be missed so much!

Cammy

Loving the Sun . . .

Isn't the sun absolutely wonderful? I forgot how much I need the sun.

The sun has allowed me to play outside with Bailey while Molly takes her late afternoon nap after I get home for work. This, in turn, makes Bailey very happy. It also wears Bailey out and helps her sleep better and longer at night. This, in turn, makes our morning routine a little easier. You get the picture. I love the sun!

It also does wonders for my mood. I've been really tired lately. Exhausted is more the word. After I get both kids to bed and finish a few things around the house by 8:30, all I want to do is go to sleep. I've been pretty grumpy with Joey. Poor guy. But, the sun has changed that this week. I instantly have more energy. I even stayed up and watched "a show" from the DVR with Joey after the girls went to bed last night. And, I feel just fine today.

I love the sun! Here's to many more sunny days this spring!

Cammy

5 Things I HATE about Pumping . . . And How I Make it Through

I don't consider myself to be a complainer. I really do try to look for the good in things. I do this for my own sanity. Perspective is a powerful thing.

But, I HATE pumping!

You may be thinking, "HATE" is a strong word. There are very few people or things that I would use that word for. Pumping is definitely one of them. But, to put things in perspective, there are thoughts, people, and products that help me make it through.

So . . . here is my list of the 5 things I hate about pumping and how I make it through.

1. The noise the dumb machine makes – enough said. There’s nothing quite like it. It's annoying and grating and so many other things. My friend MaryBeth has an awesome impression of a pump – she has the noise down perfect. So, when that awful noise starts getting to me, I just imagine MaryBeth making her pumping noise and it just cracks me up.

2. The time it takes. I have to do it at least 4 times a day on the days that I work. Once in the morning before I leave and three times while I’m there. That’s at least 45 minutes to an hour I spend hooked up to a machine. My lunch is always short because I have to pump. I have to step out of meetings because I have to pump. The good news, I can catch up on Facebook and practice my Sudoku! I've mastered the easy and medium and moved up to the hard:)

3. All the sterilization – I spend at least 20 minutes every day I work cleaning and sterilizing pump parts. The tubes, the containers, the horns. How do I manage? Those Medela bags that you put in the microwave are awesome!!!

4. It requires privacy, which I don’t have. My desk is in a cubicle. I’m out at schools a lot. I constantly have to ask my boss or the department next door or someone at a school if I can use an office with a door. I have to put chairs in front of the door so no one comes in! The good thing . . . I’ve realized there are a LOT of people out there who are incredibly supportive of breastfeeding – more than I could ever imagine. The secretary at the data center even brought a small table and rolling chair into the bathroom so I would be more comfortable:)

5. It hurts! I know they say it’s not supposed to, but the truth is it sometimes does. I’ve experienced it all, from cracks to blood. I know – gross! How do I survive? I use a lot of Lanolin and think of my beautiful baby Molly smiling up at me and the joy that she already brings all of us!

So, I'll keep on keeping on. My goal is to make it at least one more month without introducing formula. Then, I may do what I did with Bailey after 7 months - nurse morning and evening and offer 1/2 formula and 1/2 breastmilk bottles during the day. This means I only have to pump once in the morning and once at work to keep up. I just want to do the best thing for this beautiful face!

Better run . . . time to pump!

Cammy

Funny

Bailey is at a funny age. She says the craziest things.

Everything in the past is "last night," as in "I put on my Cinderella dress and we went trick-or-treating last night. Sorry kid, that was over 3 months ago. Everything in the future is tomorrow, as in "We're going to play ski ball at the pizza place when I wake up from my nap tomorrow." Sorry kid, not going back to Chuck E Cheese for a while.

We were over at Joey's parents house on Friday night. Bailey was playing with her Papa Joe with one of those cars that you pull back and let go. Papa didn't pull back far enough so the car didn't make it all of the way to Bailey. She says, "Come on Papa, you can do better than that." We all cracked up.

At Dillons picking out candy to make valentines for Kids Day Inn - I asked Bailey if she thought her friends would like Kit-Kats. She replies, "Of course mom, they'll like it, it's chocolate."

Tuesday night I get home from work and Bailey asks what we're going to have for dinner. I tell her "baked spaghetti." She says "OK - I'll eat all my spaghetti and then we'll get in the car and go to Target and then stop and get some ice cream. Does that sound like a good plan mom?"

Where does she come up with this stuff? I don't know, but it makes me laugh.

Speaking of laughing . . . Molly has started . . . belly laughing that is. It's pretty darn cute. Here are a couple pictures of my beautiful, funny, smiling girls.

Finding the Balance

There have been some tears this week at the Todd household...and not just from the baby. Mommy is having a hard time finding the balance after returning to work on January 5th. It's just darn hard some days.

Molly had a rough day at daycare on Tuesday, even woke Bailey up from her nap early with all the screaming (this is not like her at all!). So, I come home from work with two grumpy kids. I have to clean bottles, sterilize pump parts, and get dinner started. It's already 5:15. I start to worry that something's wrong with Molly or that my "good" baby is becoming "not so good." Then, I get a call from Joey that he isn't coming home from work until after 7 - still in Hutch working on a project. I just lost it. I felt much better after crying.

I do enjoy my job, but I love being a mom more. I wish that I could be there during the day to help Molly work through whatever is bothering her. I wish that I didn't have to worry about preschool next year for Bailey and how we're going to get her there and back to daycare (although I've already had an offer to help - thanks BW!). I wish I didn't feel like I was doing a "half-$#%" job of being both a good mom and a good employee. I wish I didn't have to go to a room three times a day and pump:) I wish I had more people in my life that understood what I was going through (my sisters and most of my friends are stay-at-home moms).

But . . . God is good - all of the time. He will help me through this. And, like I wrote in an earlier post, there are many blessings to me working. It is a season that I'm sure will pass way too quickly. And, I'll learn many things - about myself and my gracious Savior.

Boy am I glad today is the end of the work week for me. Bring on the snow and time at home with my beautiful family!

Cammy

Lenora

My friend Lenora is one of the good ones. We have shared a lot over the past 4 1/2 years that we've known each other . . . .

• The joy of our first pregnancies and welcoming our little princesses into the world (Bailey and Makenna are only one month apart).
• Many firsts for our girls - swimming lessons, gymnastics, birthday parties . . .
• The stresses of taking away the pacifier and potty training
• The guilt and difficulty of balancing a part time career with being a mom . . . even tears sometimes.
• Growing our home team (including splitting several times).
• Much, much more!

Lenora always amazes me. She never misses a birithday or anniversary. The card is always in the mailbox on the day of (or before) the special event. She is the first to organize showers, meals for new moms, and more. She is an amazing friend. She constantly encourages me, even if she feels discouraged herself.

Today, Lenora will welcome her second princess into the world. I can't wait to meet her. The newest baby Biggs will only be 3 months younger than Molly and in the same class at school. I'm so blessed that our girls will get to grow up together.

I love you Lenora and pray that everything goes smoothly for you today.

Cammy

Jonah

My nephew Jonah is 3, almost 4. He is a cute, amazing kid. Every time I see him, he surprises me. Like at my cousin's wedding in November he wanted to sit on Joey's lap. He's always been a bit skeptical of Joey, but he wanted to sit on his lap - totally out of the blue and surprising. A cute, amazing kid. But, he is a handful. He wears my sister out, especially since she is 9 months pregnant with baby #2 due any day now. And, turns out, he's in danger of wearing himself out. He has been diagnosed with a heart condition . . . tachycardia something . . . his heart rate randomly speeds up to nearly double speed. It has to be slowed down, or his body could shut down.

So, cute amazing Jonah has to have heart surgery on February 8th in St. Louis. Please pray for him and his mom Jennifer and dad John. It's been a rough go for them lately in more ways than one. But even so, with a newborn, they will travel to St. Louis in early February with their cute, amazing 3 year old to experience the unknown. I'm sure they are scared and overwhelmed.

Here is a graphic of Jonah I created for a Photoshop class I teach. The pictures are old, but I think it captures his spirit.

We love you Jonah so much!!

Cammy