Olive's Eyes: Test Results

Two weeks ago, we went back to Children's Hospital to have Olive's VEP done.

My cousin Sara was able to tag along, in case I had another meltdown. :)

Honestly though, the tests went really well. Olive wasn't fussy at all and just did what she needed to do to get out there and enjoy her Enfamil martini.

On Monday, I called to get a summary of the test results. Basically, the VEP confirmed the doctor's original assumption, that Olive has ocular albinism and nystagmus. Nothing we didn't already know.

The good news is that her vision, as far as seeing objects farther away, is better than we originally thought. The nystagmus is still a fly in my lemonade, but it will be OK.

At this point, we are asked to go back for some genetic testing. Maybe I'll air out some dirty family laundry and tell you my own prediction of where this gene is from originally. :) Although, we don't plan on having any more kids, nor care if they had this condition, it will be good information for Haven and Olive {and I'm thinking about my brother too, whenever he reproduces. Eww}.

Then in December, we go back when she is a year old to discuss surgery options. During the first year or two of life, children with ocular albinism tend to focus the best out of one corner of their eye. With surgery, they are able to move that focus to the front. So only good things from here on out.

I just need to find some old school Sally Jesse Raphael classes for my little lady. :)

Thanks again for all of the uplifting comments and emails. You know how to make a girl smile.

High School Reunions : Chubby Troll Lands the Quarterback

One of my high school friends on facebook had posted a question over the weekend about who was in charge of our 10 year reunion.

10 years?

I see everyone I like on my newsfeed every day. :)

Anyway, our 10 year reunion will be next year. In the meantime, Chris has his 10 year reunion this September.

From the time we met, I have told him about 5,678 times, that if we had ever gone to school together, he would have had zero interest in me. Even though Mr. Stanfield is quite the hipster these days, in high school he was The Quarterback. In addition, his grandma likes to remind me that he was also voted best dressed.

Holly in high school? Excuse me while I talk in third person. It is very necessary given the fact that I am cringing at even the thought of pressing publish on this post. I was chubby. I didn't wear makeup. I cut all of my hair off trying to get a pixie cut, thinking that it would make me look like Cameron Diaz. And I never dated. I wore collar shirts and acted obnoxious. I lived vicariously through my little sister, who was the Pocahontas of high school.

Anyway, I thought this post would be fun and more accurate with pictures.

Chris in high school.

Me in high school. Please hold the laughter. I didn't know any better. When you know better, you do better. :)

But in all reality, and laughs aside, I am really looking forward to my 10 year reunion. I get to bring back my trophy husband. :)

Now, I just have to lose 20lbs, lease a luxury car, and make up a story about how I invented post-its. :)

Nanny 911 and Attachment Parenting

My baby got into the baking soda.

This was worse than him getting into the fridge while I was in the shower and breaking eggs,one at a time, through hysterical laughter.

I need to be on Nanny 911.

Three is more challenging than two.

He is the boss and I am the victim of his little jokes and public escapes.

HELP. :)



With that being said, big changes are happening in our house. They are just has sad/difficult for me as they are for him.

First break... No more sleeping with Mommy. For the best year, we've shared our bed. We've been pinched until he falls asleep. We've taken sides on the edges of the bed, while he sleeps horizontal, with the good pillow.

When does attachment parenting end? I have a happy boy, but I'm a tired Mom.

Anyone been here before? I know it will get better, but this mama needs control of her castle again. :)

Happy Things

Being Mother of the Year, I forgot to schedule Olive's 6 month pictures.
She is pretty much the cutest little blonde of all time.

I started watching Dawson's Creek on Netflix. I needed a new Netflix series. Although, if I found something else, I wouldn't be upset because this isn't as good as I remember. Any suggestions? :)

I am back on my psycho diet. And trying to run. My run is the equivalent to a fat-girl-jog. Have you seen this kind of jog before? It's more like a slow motion skip, complete with a purple face and heavy panting.
I'm taking a vacation day on Friday and going with Haven's class on a field trip. My dreams of being a room mom are slowly coming to life.

Father's Day was awesome. Minus the 7 hour drive in the car with a toddler, a baby, a dog, and a husband with a sinus migraine. :) I ate breakfast and did yard work with my stepdad, had a flavored rum shot with my Grandpa, and then had a big lunch and pool party with my step sister's.

Now I'm just blubbering.... :)

Cheers to a Happy Tuesday! We're taking Subway to the park after work. :)

My 1st Vlog!

I'm linking up with Becky and Raven to talk about some of my favorite things.

Disclaimers:

1. My voice isn't as annoying in real life.
2. I know my teeth look like those of an English villager.
3. The fang tooth at the bottom wanted some face time.

Happy Tuesday!

Blog Friend Weekend & Randomness

Do you ever have a hard time explaining your relationships with your blog friends to your "real life" friends?

The first blog friend I ever met was April. We met at a local cafe and she drove me to Pioneer Woman in her silver Mercedes. She waited in line for almost three hours with me so that we could get our books signed.

So the bar has been set pretty high. :)

I met Tots on Friday. Rebecca is a St. Louis mom. We've been teasing each other for awhile about meeting up, but I either chicken out about how awkward I can be when I'm left to ramble or kid stuff has come up. She used to be on this local STL mom chat board with a username TwoTots. 90% of the moms on there posted about the most boring, mundane drama of their everyday life. Since I'm a nosey Nancy, I loved the chat board. Tots was the funny mom in the group. She always had an off the wall comment or story. I'd always read her responses back to those boring/mundane questions to Chris.
 
Anyway, we met at the library. Seemed safe. And she did not disappoint. I don't think there was a 5 second window of silence during our hour long conversation in the children's section of the library. In one hour, I told her all of my crazy family stories and a few of my own. Somewhere in that hour, we also realized that she is the neighbor of one of my best co-worker friends. I still can't wait until tomorrow when I tell my co-worker that I met my internet friend at the library for the first time and realized the two of them were neighbors. I'm sure she won't be concerned. :)

Then there is Emily. I heart Emily. I probably email her the most-- and anyone who gets emails from me knows they tend to be more like novels. :) She was in town with her husband and son, so we made plans to grab dinner.

Last night, we had dinner at Fitz's in St. Louis. Aside from Haven running away from the table and up to the second floor of the restaurant {twice!} and playing dead in front of the patio door while servers walked over him carrying tray fulls of chilled glass mugs, it was a great time. Her husband Tim is quite funny, too. They reminded me a lot of Jake and Amy in their personalities and mannerisms.

Now I just need to meet Megan... and Alexis... and Sarah... and Alison... and Allyce... and Erica... and Melinda... and MamaL!

WILW

Linking up with Jamie today!! So happy for her new house and new little boy on the way. :)

I am loving...

This Pioneer Woman party idea found HERE... How fun would it be to get all of your friends together, make a PW dish, and pig out?

I am loving...

That my friend Amy signed me up for a photography class. We went two Saturdays' ago before I left for vacation. She even tried to pay for me! Anyway, we had a great time and hopefully, I can put those skills to work. I'm just so attached to my iphone and picmonkey-- I'm photo lazy!

I am loving...

That we go back to Children's Hospital next week about Olive's eyes. We have noticed that she is seeing a lot more than what we originally thought. If we put a bottle in front of her, I guarantee that Holly Jr. can see her food. :)

I am loving...

My super smart husband. :) He is doing so well in his new career and he is always just blowing me away with what he handles during a neuro surgery. He saved a guy from being potentially paralyzed last week.

And that's all of the feel good stuff I have today. The emo kid in me is cringing at how mushy I am being already. :)

Swim Lessons = Parental Torture

Haven started swim lessons last night. This is a half hour class that goes Mon-Thur for two weeks. Have you ever seen a group of 10 three years olds sit on the sideline of a pool? Me either. It's torture for them not to jump in... and it's torture for the parents to prevent them from going rogue in the community pool. 



My child's middle name is Rogue.

I thought it was swimming lessons like learning to doggie paddle, float, jump off the diving board, swim the 400m, win Olympic gold, etc.

Anyway, as the class was taught by three girls between 16-18 years, all of the kids were to form a circle and sing "If You're Happy and You Know It, Splash Your Hands."

Haven took one look at what they were doing, then climbed out of the pool and grabbed a rubber turtle. He then proceeded to yell "TURTLE" while throwing into the middle of the pool and diving in after it.

When that didn't get the round of applause he was looking for, he decided to waddle to the middle of the pool, get over to the slide, and go down the slide, even though the water wasn't running.

All of the little kids watched in awe. Their parents sent over the silent stares of judgment. And Chris and I? We laughed. After all, I paid $65 for this class and if my baby wants to swim, he can swim. :)

A Vacation Carol

12 elevator rides a day
11 panic attacks
10 years until we can afford to go back
9 garbage bags full of trash when we left our villa
8 cuss words at every security screening
7 pounds gained
6 carryon's
5 adults
4 planes
3 children
2 drinks at Margaritaville
A tropical storm...And a partridge in a pear tree {drenched in sun block}

Ignore the fact that we are never looking in the same direction in the pictures. As you can tell by my hair, things didn't always go as planned.

In this case, we lucked out. Minus the fact that we had to wheel three children and a house through three different airports four times. Or the fact that a tropical storm blew through. Or the fact that I ate everything in sight like it was the only way to get into Heaven. Or the fact that I paid for an overpriced lunch with Disney Junior characters and my child hid under the table in fear during the entire lunch.

This picture here make it all worth it . Seriously. He snacked, swam, and shopped until he dropped. We met Mickey, Lightening McQueen, Mater, and Phienas and Ferb. He went to shows, on a safari, and got to ride a "rocket ship" a few times.

A big shout out to my real life blog friend, April! When she found out that we were going to Disney, she offered to let me borrow her double stroller and baby carrier. They were lifesavers. She is also a world traveler and travel agent, so visit her page if you want to plan an affordable vacation.

Olive was, without a doubt, the most cooperative Stanfield on the trip. Haven and I were probably the least. :)

Since the tropical storm came through, the weather was in the low 80's with overcast most of the days. I think the storm kept the crowds out because we never waited more than 15-20 minutes to do a ride or see a show.

We stayed at the Orange Lake Resort, right behind Animal Kingdom. It was an amazing resort. Honestly, the resort could have been a vacation in itself. There is a golf course, tons of swimming pools, and a lazy river. We rented a three bedroom/ three bathroom villa with a full kitchen. There was a Super Target and Publix right outside the entrance. It was seriously so affordable... like less than $200/night for a family of eight. And so nice and spacious. Everything has been updated and we had more than enough room.

Anyway, well worth all of the money. 3 1/2 is really a perfect age to go.... Everything was still magical and real to him. Heck, it was still magical at 27. I'm looking forward to going back in a few years and doing it all over again with my little lady.

Happy Monday!