Wordless Wednesday - Day at the Park

Hogs to the Sugar Bowl + 20 Weeks

Tonight is the BIG Game!! Arkansas Razorbacks will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana!
{Heard this joke today.. How do you make Buckeye Cookies? Put them in a SugarBowl and beat them w/ a Mallet!! Ha! Our Quarterback's name is Ryan Mallet}
We've never been to this bowl, so it's a big deal around here. The news coverage is 24-7 from the NOLA. I'm excited, but i'm also ready for it to be over with {shh! don't tell anyone from here or i'll be scalped} Guess who has to work on the night of the BIG Game? Yep, that'd be me!! Blah.. I know it's going to be so busy. Football fans are big time drinkers and messy!!

I will be 20 weeks pregnant on Thursday! Yay for half way!! I went ahead and took pictures today because I have on my Razorbacks shirt. WOO PIG SOOOOIEEEEE!!!! :)

CRCs Albinism and Eye Update

CRC waking up from her nap 1/3/2011

Notice her right eye{your left} still turning in.

Much better though, compared to the day of her surgery 3/17/2010

Miss CRC is 26months old now. Sometimes it doesn't seem like she's been here that long, other days I can't remember what it was like without her. She is such an entertaining, bright, easy going little girl. I'd have ten kids if it meant they were all exactly like her. You know, I think back to the weeks when we first brought her home and I wish I knew how smart she'd be today instead of worrying constantly about her eyes. I thought she was blind. I thought she'd never recognize me. I searched vigorously online to find a diagnosis for her symptoms, but came up short. I finally got that diagnosis when she was 4 months old. I still didn't know what to expect from my baby. Initially, I still believed she'd have learning disabilities because of her lack of vision, but I then learned that Albinism does not mean disability. It simply means lack of pigment. I finally realized my baby was just extra special!

We've been to Arkansas Children's Hospital every 6 months for the past two years. We will continue to go back until her Opthamologist says otherwise. She had surgery in March 2010 to correct her Strabismus, crossing of the eyes. It did work and she looked much  better. Her eyes were straight for a very long time. They still are when she wears her glasses, but not as much when she's not wearing her glasses{which is only when she sleeps and bathes} It started to become worrisome to me, but when we went back to ACH in November '10, her Dr. said that it is totally normal. He expects them to still turn in without her glasses because she is so far sighted, but he would only worry if they turn in with the glasses still on. That would indicate that the glasses are not strong enough. {I so hope this doesn't happen!} They are already so thick!

You'd think her lack of vision would impair so many aspects of her life, but it hasn't at all! She is so incredibly smart. It amazes me every single day. She can count to 15 without mistakes{even counted to 6 in Spanish yesterday!}, knows every single color and refers to objects by their color, knows the difference in boys and girls, and can talk in complete sentences. She speaks more clearly and more correctly at 26months than CDC does at 4.5years old! Strangers in public always ask how old she is because she speaks so well. Sometimes, I wonder if she speaks so well and remembers so many things because of her lack of vision, like maybe she depends on her other senses more since that one is lagging behind. Whatever the reason, she is such a blessing! I thought life would be so much more difficult with her when I learned of her diagnosis, but it has actually been the opposite. She makes life easier! I love my little Care Bear, Reesers, Reesy Peesy! :)

I've included pictures from the day of her surgery since I never did a blog post on it.

This was after the "loopy meds" She was so adorable!

 About to go back for surgery. She had the same surgery on both eyes. They had to perform the surgery because the left eye was in control. If he wouldn't have done the surgery, the right eye would have "died" so to speak. It would have just quit fighting to see and let the left eye take over and her right eye would never function again and be blind in that eye. She did have surgery in both eyes, though.The Dr explained it like a set of tires, you have to perform the surgery on both eyes like you have to balance both tires or it will be out of balance.

 Right after she got our of surgery. :( She had such a high fever!! The nurses told us it was probably from being bundled up in the blankets they had her in.

 The day after surgery. You can see how her eyes still look glossy.. We had to put drops in them for about a week to 10 days afterward. We could almost immediately tell a difference. So worth it!

The Owls Have My Heart

Oliver the Owl Crinkle Crackle Toy 

I've been thinking about the baby's nursery a lot lately. By this time I had already started on CRC's. I knew what I wanted and we got it done. This time was a little more difficult to make a decision. I knew I didn't want to buy a "Crib Bedding Set" because I hate bumpers!! I will never use one again. So I just don't need that whole set. I realized how much i'm in love with these modern looking Owls that you see everywhere. I thought, hey, I can do a nursery based around Owls. However, the only stuff i've been able to find is on Etsy and it is outrageously priced!! I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I should reconsider and do a different theme for the nursery.. My heart is totally set on Owls though. I love them!! I saved a few of the pictures I found on Etsy. My mom and I discussed trying to make our own stuff, such as the Owl Mobile and possibly a blanket and pillow. We'll see what happens.. I guess i should wait until Friday, Jan 14th to see whether i am in fact having a Boy. :)

Owls on a Vine Wall Decal

Owl with Minky Wings {just a cutesy stuffed Owl}

 Owl Mobile

haha! Just noticed my blog background is Owls! I love them, I tell ya!!

Happy New Year 2011!!

I've had one of the worst years {of my life} this passed year. I do realize I made my own choices and got myself to the point I was in, but it was terrible. I will never take my life or anything I have for granted ever again. I've learned so much this year. Not only about life, but also about myself. I'm so thankful for another year, another chance to get "it" right. Bring on 2011!!

I did not have an extravagant New Years Eve. Obviously, I wasn't going to go out because i'm almost 5 months pregnant. No drinking or partying for this girl. Unless, you consider my job a party. Ugh. That's right, I had to work on New Year's Eve. We had started decorating the bar about a week prior to the celebration. We sold out reserve seating for 85 people.. another 50+ showed up at the door. We had a great band playing to ring in the New Year. They're a certified party band. I really like them and they kept it fun and upbeat, playing everything from Carrie Underwood to Prince.

I went in to work at 4pm and didn't get home until 2:30am!! I.was.exhausted!! I think I had about 10 tables and sold around $1200 for the night. Not too shabby.. It was a good night. There was though, a giant fight that broke out. It was the biggest one i've ever seen since working there. I guess that is to be expected in a bar on Amateur night {NYE..those are the people that only go out once a year, I swear.. and they come to get hammered!}

Sounds a little exciting right? Ha! I guess it was a little. Don't get me wrong, I love my job.. just not while i'm pregnant. It's almost that time. The time when I have to throw in the towel for a little while.

Anyway, I had a decent New Year's Eve. I guess making money is better than sitting on my booty at home. New Year's Day was great though!! It started the New Year off right.
Happy New Year everyone!! Here's to 2011!!