Get Caught Up

Things have been pretty hectic around the Nunley front these days.  To bring you up to speed...

• Davis is doing a million times better.  He's right back to his normal self again, which has been such a relief to us.  A big thanks to all of our wonderful family and friends for showing such concern for our precious Wooder.
• I've been filling a lot of fairly large knitting orders...crib mobile, football hats, stuffed giraffe...

• Justin's turning 30 in a couple weeks and I've been working my tail off on some really special things for him.  He hasn't been allowed in the basement for about a month and that's all the details I'm giving away for now.
• We had a fun cookout at Cooper's Furnace in Cartersville yesterday with some other families.  It was nice to enjoy the beautiful weather while watch the kiddos run around together.  And something super special happened while we were there.  See bottom of post to find out... 



• We went to a wedding on Saturday night.  They had a really cute photo booth set up with really fun props.  I thought it was a super cute idea.

• My 29th birthday celebrations started at Bahama Breeze with family.  Booger was extremely fussy and the food was shot out, but my mom gave me the 'R' to go along with my 'D'...

I love getting her all dressed up for special occasions...

My actual birthday started with homemade breakfast, thanks to Justin and Davis.  He woke him up really early, got him ready for the day, and took him to school for me.  Then, he watched Boogs for 3 hours while I took Davis to Cartersville for therapy.  This was, seriously, the best gift ever!  Three whole hours of wandering around an antique store (my new addiction) with no kids = Paradise. 

Friday night, we met up with friends at Henry's Upstairs where we danced and listened to a really great band.

Last night, Justin took Davis to Wal-Mart, where he filled the cart with 'goodies' for me...yarn, headbands, shampoo, etc.  It was really random, but Davis was SO STINKIN' EXCITED to pick out birthday gifts for me, scan them himself, wrap it all, and give it to me.  It was a really cute gesture.  And I had a great, week-long birthday. 

• We've been preparing for Halloween, also. Cookie Monster and Iron Man are looking very forward to trick-or-treating next week.

And now for the big reveal!!!  Enjoy!

The Four-One-One

It all started about 3 weeks ago. 

Everyday, we'd notice Davis' walking patterns changing.  It was such a slow progression, that we didn't really think too much of it. 

One day at school, a teacher would say, "He's been a little wobbly today."

One day, he tripped over his left foot.  And that hasn't happened in months.

One day, he had a really hard time getting down a short hill.

We thought that maybe his AFO's needed to be adjusted because we noticed some small sores on his feet.  The orthotist added some padding and sent us on our way.  His walking got so much worse after that appointment.  This was last Tuesday.

The next day, at therapy, we all sat around the PT room trying to figure out what was wrong with him.  He was turning his left foot in.  Scissoring.  Dragging his toes, Swinging his hips. 

Maybe a growth spurt?  Maybe the orthotist added too much padding?

We went back to the clinic on Thursday to have the orthotist, her assistant, and Davis' PT stare at him for another hour and a half.  She did some adjusting to his AFO's, but we came to the conclusion that his problems were starting much higher, around his hips.

By this past Sunday, Davis could barely walk.  He was falling all over the place.  Panic immediately sets in and I start thinking the worst.  What if there was some glitch from the surgery and he's losing control of his legs, slowly.  What if this is permanent?  It was so devastating to watch him struggle to walk when we've spent SO MUCH time, energy, effort to get him walking so well.  Not to mention, that he had all of a sudden become so unsafe.  There was no way I could send him to school. 

On Monday, I was ready to take him to the emergency room.  His physical therapist and a nurse at the neurosurgeon's office talked me off that ledge, though.  He couldn't even stand up.  Now, he was finally complaining of pain in his left groin area.  I'd try to physically straighten up his body and he'd immediately collapse.  He crawled to get around the house.  It was so sad.  I couldn't stop freaking out. 

So, we went to Scottish Rite to see his neurosurgeon on Thursday.  He had been out of school all week, but was actually slowly getting better every day.  By Thursday, he could walk but it was still really wobbly.  And he didn't want to stand up straight and put pressure on that left leg.  The doctor didn't seem too concerned.  He shot down my urging for an MRI and told me he'd be 'fine'.  He did some simple testing to make sure there was feeling in his legs and assured me that, if there's was something neurological going on, he'd be showing many other signs.  He still wants us to come in next Wednesday and see his whole team in the Spasticity Clinic. 

So, at this point, we still don't know what's going on.  Maybe he pulled his groin?  Maybe he just went through a growth spurt?  Maybe he wants to see what I look like with wrinkles and bald spots on my head?

The Sh*t He Says

"Momma.  I think we should call you the greatest Momma in our house because you are uh uh uh uh uh uh (to the beat of a song) uh uh uh uh genius.  You are such a genius."

What prompted this comment, you ask? 

Well, I had Curious George fruit snacks waiting for him in the car after school yesterday.  Men.  They're so easy to please. 

Happy Birthday, My Big Boogs!

Today, our big girl turns one!  I can't believe how fast time is flying.  I can vividly remember this day, one year ago.  I remember feeling so much overwhelming joy and love.  I hope to never lose that memory.  To have this perfect, healthy baby in our arms was something we longed for, more than words can express. 

Boogs, you've completed our family (You hear that, friends?  COMPLETED!) and filled our hearts to the tippy top.  I love...your sweet, sweet smile...the bond you and your big brother already share...how content and happy you are...it when you bury your face next to mine when you're tired or being shy...how much you and your Dadda love each other...your dance moves...how you'll eat ANYTHING...playing dress-up with you...how you HATE playing dress-up with me...how you pull on your eyelashes while I rock you before bed...your big ol' belly...how you discover a new screeching sound and repeat it over and over again.  Every single thing about you is perfect to me. 

And I can't wait to see how the coming years shape and mold you. 

Happy Birthday, Reese!!! 



The Zee Double-O

On a whim, we hit up the Atlanta Zoo today.

The first thing you see when you walk in...

We were nervous because Davis was TERRIFIED of the flamingos at Sea World, but he was cool with these light pink, non-threatening guys.

The birds were so pretty. Especially the teal ones and the white ones. There were some 'hoodlums' trying to grab them while we were in the cage so they put on quite a fun 'flying all around' show for us.

The wart hogs were the one thing Davis didn't want any part of.  Can you blame him?  Look at this train wreck of an animal...

I was bummed that we never got a really good look at the elephants.

This was just too funny not to share...

Probably my favorite animal of the day.  They're so HUGE and pretty.

These are the scariest things on the planet.  I felt like, at any moment, they were going to get crazy enough to break the glass separating us and claw my face off.

It's fascinating to watch gorillas.  They, seriously, have so many of the same mannerisms as we do.  Here, the mom just sat back while her two kids wrestled with each other.  It reminded me of Davis and Reese playing in the living room.  At one point, the baby almost fell off the rock and she instinctively reached down and grabbed it before it hit the ground. 

These boys were mad at each other.  Probably the most action we saw all day. 

Holy tongue.

Sleeping panda.

And sleeping kangaroo.

Yucky aligator.

Time to go home!

The Sh*t He Says

"Momma, my belly button has never been this clean."

So random.  Especially since this was said at 9 o'clock in the morning.  And he hadn't bathed since the prior evening.

Weekend Review WITH REVISION

We played outside A TON.  Lovin' this beautiful weather...

Doc is getting so old and lazy.  :(

Justin and Matt fished in their big tournament on Friday and Saturday night.  Check out the HUGE catfish that Matt caught...IN LAKE ALLATOONA, people!  Yucky.



While he was bonding with his boyfriend, I knitted my life away...

Top left: fingerless mitts.  Below that: cowl.  To the right of those: scarf.  In the middle of it: coffee mug koozie.  On the far right: earwarmer/headband thingy.

...had dinner with Uncle Bro (found this hilarious pic on his fb page)...

And watched Hall Pass.  They're in Johnny's Hideaway during one of the scenes!  It was crazy to be, like, "Wow!  I've stood in that very same spot before!"

Justin and Davis ran errands together on Saturday afternoon and brought these home for me...

Boogs had her first slice of pizza...

Played my first tennis match in over 2 years with this best pal of mine on Sunday.  (Another funny pic I snagged from fb.)

Hope everyone else had a great weekend!

Davis Walking 8 Months Post-Op

I'm just amazed at how much progress he's made, and continues to make.  That surgery and all the intensive therapy has been the best thing we could have done for him! 

See for yourself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAD00O2pmCs

Time Away

Our wonderful trip...

Friday:  After dropping the kids off with my parents, we headed south for Pensacola.  Sat in traffic for about 45 minutes.  Got to P'cola around 2:00 p.m.  Filled the cooler and headed to the beach until about 6:00 p.m.  Then rode Mom and Jay's bicycles 2 miles for dinner and drinks and live music at Peg Leg Pete's.  The bike riding was quite a sight.  Justin looked hilarious and one of the petals fell off mine.  I hate that I don't have any pics.  We were in bed by 10:00 p.m.

Saturday:  Woke up around 7:00 a.m. (Seriously.  I'll never learn how to sleep in.)  Set off the fire alarm with some burnt bagels.  Hopped back on the bicycles and headed to the Native Cafe for a delicious eggs benedict dish and bloody mary.  Bought cute t-shirts for the kiddos.  Diagnosed myself with shingles (with help from my bestie general physician, Danielle).  I never knew this, but if you've ever had the chicken pox, then you have the dormant shingles virus in your body.  It'll flare up when you're under stress or have a weakened immune system.  Luckily, my case is mild because it can get really painful.  Made an emergency plea to my real doctor back home to call in a prescription.  Went parasailing.  And it.  Was.  Amazing.  Totally recommend it. 

We, obviously kept the SLR on the boat so I don't have any in-the-air shots, but we were SO HIGH UP.  The best view was of thousands of jellyfish caught in this current line.  It was crazy to see.  Justin and I started splashing each other at the end and I guess that was cue for the 'captain' to start doing tricks...

Lunch in the condo.  Back on the beach around 1:00 p.m.  Lots and lots of boozing, music, and giggling.  Paddle surfed.  Again, no pics, but it was really fun funny.  Definitely put on a show for the beach crowd.  It's hard work on those things! Threw the football.  Dodged jellyfish. 

Headed to the pool for more boozing and music and giggling.  Dinner and the 4th Quarter of the Georgia game at Hooter's.  Bar hopping and live music and dancing until about 1:00 a.m.  We met this really cool couple early in the night and hung out with them the whole time.  He's a Canadian hockey player (shocker) who plays minor league down there.  They were crazy and hilarious.  Hope to meet up with them when we go back. 

Gotta love the horrible, late night phone pics...

Sunday:  Again, up at 7:00 a.m.  Headed home.

We had such a blast.  And took full advantage of our freedom!  Knowing the kids are in such good hands makes leaving them so much easier.  Davis and Reese are so blessed to have such INVOLVED and HELPFUL grandparents.

A Boy Being A Boy

Average monthly water bill at the Hunt Rd Residence: $15

We don't have irrigation, the garden uses the shop's water line, and I shower, on average, once every 2 days. There's so many more things I'd rather do with my 'the baby's sleeping' time.

A couple weeks ago, we all headed out for the night to stay at my mom and Jay's house. Justin and I went out with some friends while my parents watched the kids. Before leaving, though, Davis snuck around to the side of our house, turned on the water hose, splased around in the mud for a moment, and headed back to greet us at the car. We were in a hurry and didn't think much of it.

Fast forward to the next day...

I'm standing in the bathroom and can hear water running through the pipes in the walls. That's weird. We JUST got home. No one's doing anything that requires water. I look out the kitchen window to find a lake running through our yard. Davis left the water hose on. We had water running outside, continuously, for about 14 hours.

Water bill for this month: $44

Do the math, folks. That's almost 3 months worth of usage.

Five year olds don't pay bills. What do they care???