Wow! Christmas is Over

Allison and I were talking the other day and she said "I don't want Christmas to be over. I think that was Friday before Christmas on Tuesday. Well, like it or not, Christmas is over. For a few weeks prior to Christmas I said on several occasions that I couldn't wait for it all to be over. We were not looking forward to traveling all over and being rushed at each place we went. That could not have been farther from the truth.

Christmas was really good, and me, Allison, and Cooper all had a great time. We went to my aunt Neecie's house Christmas Eve and followed that with a trip to Allison's grandparent's house, Munna and Ninny. Then on Christmas Day we didn't leave the house. That is the first time we have ever been able to do that. The gathering for my dad's family was postponed until this weekend and Allison's mom's family comes to our house on Christmas day, so we were at home all day. I deep fried two turkeys and Allison got things ready inside. Overall it was a great day.

Cooper and Mommy opening presents from Grand Mammie, Pappy, Jared, and Charis

Climbing on the box of the gift from Uncle Danny

Cooper at Munna's

This weekend some of our friends from Lexington are coming down for their annual New Years Eve visit. So we are looking forward to another fun weekend. Hope everyone had a great Christmas. Check out our website and Allison's blog for more recent pictures of Cooper and more Christmas pics.

UPDATE - I started this post on 12/28 and sort of forgot about it but wanted to give my take on Christmas.

Christmas Cheer

As many of you know, Allison has a "matching tree." All of the ornaments are red, white, or silver. Many times I have been told no when trying to purchase an ornament that didn't match. This year is an exception. I didn't get to buy the "Ralphie in a Bunny Suit" onament from Kohls that I wanted, but there is one ornament that I put there.

I am proud to say that the blue ornament has been hanging since the day we put up the tree. It has had different homes on the tree, mostly because Allison found its first spot (right in front of the door) and moved it to the back. It then had a home on the other side sort of facing the living room. As a side note, all of Allison's gifts from me or Cooper are wrapped in paper that doesn't match either. Yeah that's right, our wrapping paper also matches the tree. I just wanted to share my small story of the Christmas ornament and wrapping paper. I hope any of you reading this have a Merry Christmas and thanks Alli for being a good sport and at least acting like you thought it was funny. Until next time...

We Have a Climber

My mom says that I was not a big climber as a child but that Jared was. Where ever he got it, we think Cooper is going to be a climber. Just see for yourself...

...and no, I did not stand him up there, even though I think it is very funny an Allison doesn't. He also will climb the stairs if you turn your back long enough. Until next time...

Doesn't this sound appealing?

This morning, bright and early, I took Cooper for the third of three doctor visits and shots this week. Today we saw a different doctor that his normal doctor. She looked at his left ear (supposedly the "good" ear) and said "is this supposed to be his good ear?" I knew then that things were not looking any better. She said that both ears are still infected. She told me that apparently the germs he has picked up very resistant to the three oral antibiotics as well as the shots he has gotten. She gave us another prescription and said it is very cheap and generally works because it tastes really bad and no kids will typically take it. When the nurse checked to see if Cooper had a reaction to the shot she handed me the prescription with an odd look on her face. She said "This stuff tastes really bad. My eight year old had an infection and this is what they gave him. He said 'I can't mommy, I can't, I might throw up. I will just stay sick.' It tastes very fishy." Then I get to the pharmacy and give them the prescription and ask to get it flavored. The pharmacy tech says, "yeah, you want to get this stuff flavored. It smells like hot rotting garbage." Now isn't that just the thing you want to be giving your 13 month old? Until next time...

Ear Infections are the Pits...

We went back to the doctor on Tuesday with the intention of getting Cooper's ears checked and the hope that they were no longer infected. We got them check alright. After about 5 minutes of the doctor trying to see in Cooper's ears as he screamed she looked up at me with a look of disappointment on her face. She said she could be talked out of the fact that Cooper's left ear is infected, but the right one was definitely infected. She said the next step, since Cooper had essentially kept an ear infection for the last month, was to have antibiotics by way of shots. He got a shot on Tuesday. We then went back yesterday for another shot and we go back in the morning for the third of three. We also had to make an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat doctor. That appointment is on January 14.

The shots that Cooper has been getting are apparently very painful. So painful, that they mix the medication with Lidocaine. After the shot we have to wait for 20 minutes to ensure that he does not have reaction to it. In waiting I was talking to the nurse and she was telling me about mixing it with Lidocaine. She said she used to work in a family practice and had a guy who was allergic to Novacaine and all its derivatives. Because of this she had to mix it with water. She said when she gave the guy the shot he started crying. So that gives you a little idea of what our little buddy has been going through this week.

Until next time...

One Found Shoe...

...a few weeks ago I told the story about losing one of Cooper's shoes. Well the shoe has found its way home. Actually it never really left home, it was just overlooked for a while. While in the frenzy of sitting on 10th Ave. looking for the shoe that was lost I am certain that I looked under the seat just below Cooper's car seat. However, the shoe was thought to be lost and was not really searched for anymore (unless you count the trip I made the next day recounting my steps down 10th Ave. and all around the entrance to LifeWay. One day last week, while looking for Allison's keys I looked under the back seat or our Highlander, there sitting in the same place it has been for the last several weeks, was Cooper's missing blue shoe. Too bad it is now way too small and therefore can no longer be worn. Oh well, good thing we don't buy the baby shoes that are really expensive. Until next time...

"You surprised Clark?..."

"...Surprised Eddie. If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now." That is probably my favorite line from my favorite Christmas movie. I bet over the years I have seen it at least 50 times and that is not an exaggeration. Two years ago I watched it 7 times between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Allison and I spent Saturday night decorating our enormous Christmas tree and watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, twice. I was back and forth to K-Mart for tree lights so I didn't get to see it the first time so Alli graciously offered to watch it again.

Most of Saturday we were at my Mom's Mom's family for the annual Christmas gettogether. It was a lot of fun and we think Cooper had a good time. He watched everyone open gifts and then he watched all of the other kids play football in the front yard. It was so interesting seeing him watch them play.


Monday night we went to LifeWay's annual Christmas show at the Ryman Auditorium. It was really good. A lot of hard work goes into it and Joey's dad got called on stage to participate. It was hilarious. Along with me and Alli, my mom and dad, Neecie, Tony, Amy, and her friend Larkin went to the show. Everyone seemed to have a good time.

Tonight we went to eat at BlueCoast Burrito with Nick. Kristin went to see Point of Grace at FBC Smyrna so Nick was bachin' it. We had a good time as always. However, I think we as well as Nick have come to the realization that we are going to be busy from now until the end of time. Sometimes I just want to sit back and not do anything for a bit, even if it is just a little bit. Anyway, that is enough rambling for one night. For the three readers that I have, thanks and sorry for the "all over the place" post. Until next time...

Back in the Saddle

This is my first post in almost two weeks. I just really haven't had anything to say. So for the 3 people that read this, hopefully this will fill a portion of your day with a little of what is about to occur in my world...

...back to studying for the CPA exam. As you know from an earlier post I failed BEC, again. For some reason I have had a much harder time with that section than the others. Each time I have actually taken the time to study the amount that is necessary to pass the exam I have passed, except for BEC. Hopefully this time will be different. I started today at lunch and will study for about 6 weeks and then take the section. I will then study for another 4 to 6 weeks and take AUD. Hopefully then it will be the take home ethics portion and certified at last. So for the next 10 to 12 weeks I will put away the guitar, the books will get put on hold, and I will be staying up really late again. Hopefully I can find the time to keep any of you reading informed on what's happening around here.

Until next time...