We'll miss you Rajah!!!

It's taken me a few days to be able to write this post. We had to put our sweet Rajah down on Friday. She had a cancerous mass on her thyroid and was going downhill fast. The last couple of months she has just not been the same dog...snapping at Zackary, just laying around and not eating much. When I found out what was causing these changes I knew I did not want her to suffer anymore. She wouldn't want to hurt her best friend, Zackary and I wanted him to have the best memories of her. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do!

Rajah was the BEST dog, super super hyper but the BEST dog. Ampy always said that he got a package deal with Rajah and I. She was very protective of me and made sure Ampy knew that the second we started dating. She was my first baby and for years she slept right next to me. I always felt safe with her around. She loved to run around and chase balls, play in the sprinkler, and sunggle. Her protectiveness carried to Zackary when he was born. When he started sleeping in his bedroom Rajah would move her bed right in front of his door and sleep there. As Zackary got older Rajah allowed him to do anything to her. He would sit on her head, pull at her face, steal her dog food (Rajah would step aside and let Zackary take her food), and attack her with any toy he could find. Zackary would laugh so hard when he played with her and just thought she was the best! Our house is much quieter and a part of our family is missing but we know we'll see her again and take comfort in knowing she is no longer in any pain and running around -- probably driving my grandparents nuts :)

We love you Rajah!!!!!!

Where have I been?

Busy enjoying my boys!

Here (finally) are pictures of Andrew Allen who joined our family on June 12th at 4:21pm. He weighed in at 6 lbs 12 oz and was 20 inches long.

A little blurry but one of his first smiles!

There is so much more to catch up on but I should have been in bed hours ago. I was determined to get some pictures posted so enjoy and stay tuned for more pictures and stories!

Easter Time

I had these big plans for Easter this year and then Zackary was sick the week before and I got sick the day before, so Easter was this...Ampy ran to Walmart late Saturday night to pick something up for Zackary's basket and some plastic eggs to hide. We filled the eggs with candy we already had at the house and called it good. Of course Zackary had no clue he missed out on coloring eggs but I was bummed. I felt better when I saw the smile on his face as he found his new bubble mower and hunted for eggs. He didn't care on bit and enjoyed what he did have :)

Please excuse Zackary's lovely outfit he had on while hunting for eggs. I had something else on him and then he fell and landed in Rajah's water bowl...this is what Ampy put on him :)

Do I have 2 dogs???

About a week ago we all ran to Walmart and Zackary was so good Ampy decided to let him pick out a toy. Surprise, surprise (not) he picked out a nerf football. Shortly after we got home it was naptime and Zackary was so obessed with this football that he wanted to take it to bed with him. This is not something I usually do and Zackary never asks to take toys to bed but I thought oh well and let him have the football. After about 20 minutes of listening to him talk (and rethinking my idea) I went in and found chunks of the ball chewed up all over the floor.


For a split second I was thinking, wait a minute Rajah's been out here. That passed and I realized that my son had chewed a huge piece of the ball up. Now what makes me think that I could possibly have 2 dogs is...Zackary LOVES to eat dog food. Of course I don't give it to him but he will go and take pieces out while Rajah is eating (let me just say that Rajah is perfectly okay with this and steps aside...what dog do you know actually allows you to take food from her??). Zackary also LOVES to get on his hands and knees and drink out of Rajah's water bowl (I think this is absolutely disgusting along with the dog food). He also went through a phase where he would dump whatever snack he had on the floor and eat it on his hands and knees like a dog. AND he started a new thing where he licks everthing. What is going on??? I would really like to go back to having ONE dog!!!

Proper Punishment Would Be...

I'm behind in blogging and have been meaning to write these really sweet posts about my husband because his birthday was February 21st and our 5 year anniversary was March 6th, but I no longer feel guilty for not getting those up. Here was our conversation tonight before he left for work...

Me: "Staci and I took the boys and walked to the park, which I know isn't too far from her house but to a pregnant woman it's far enough. As we were coming back and walking up her driveway I said, "anyone who is pregnant and exercises is crazy!" I was so wiped out from that walk and felt so out of shape. I know I'm pregnant but come on."

Ampy: "I know you are. Just look at you."

Now, let me say that if you know Ampy and I, you know we joke around and tease each other all the time. I KNOW he was not serious but I'm thinking that I can't let this wonderful (not) comment go unpunished. So, foot rubs and someone to clean my house for a whole year sounds good to me. What are your thoughts?

This week started with...

NO HEAT!!!

Monday morning we woke up and our house was 56 degrees! Thankfully we have a gas fireplace that kept the back of the house pretty warm but our bedrooms were so cold. Of course the part that broke was no where to be found in Lexington so it had to be ordered and arrived today. We now have heat, so this disaster didn't last long, but it still messed my plans up. Does anyone ever feel like things get completely out of control when just one day doesn't go as planned?

Counting Down!!!

The week is almost over! Zackary is doing much better and has his appetite back! Ampy comes home in 3 1/2 hours and then he has the ENTIRE weekend off--no working at the hospital or Plumbers!!! And we get to go on a date tomorrow night for Ampy's birthday, dinner at Ruth's Chris in Louisville!! Can you tell I'm excited!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is this week over yet?

WARNING: Not for readers with weak stomachs :)

My week started Monday morning when Zackary woke up and I had just gotten out of the shower. He sounded happy so I quickly got dressed and made a quick phone call. About 15 minutes later I went to get him and was greeted to the smell of puke. I looked in his crib and it was EVERYWHERE and all over him (do I get mother of the year for letting him hang out for an extra 15 minutes-who knows when he actually got sick). I proceeded to put him in the tub and then clean up his crib. I had to use clorox wipes--love these--on his crib because it was all over the rails. As I was starting to wash his bumper pads (1st load) I ran out of laundry detergent. We are down to one car so I called Ampy and begged/told him he had to go to the store and get laundry detergent for me. This of course was after he proceeded to throw up again - on me. I spent the rest of the day washing laundry with puke on it or changing some rather NASTY diapers! By Monday night my little guy who can't sit still for longer than 3 minutes was laying around miserable, telling me his "belly hurts," and running a fever. Tuesday was better in that the puking and dirty diapers were no longer but he still had a fever. We had our second day of laying around watching Wiggles or Marney (Barney), reading books, and occasionally rolling a ball. By the time Ampy got home from work he seemed to be doing better. He had more energy and was being silly and making us laugh. Thought we were on the downhill side and things would get easier. Wednesday began with a very CRANKY child! No fever but the nasty diapers were back and were occuring every half hour. I put him to bed for an early nap after I had changed his diaper. Note...he did not have pants on...can you guess what I found?


Yes, that is his nasty diaper on the floor and do you see the smile! He of course had it on his hands and proceeded to touch the crib rails. Off to the bath tub again and clorox wipes to the crib! I'm scared to know what tomorrow and Friday brings!?!

My thoughtful hubby

When Ampy and I first started dating he would call me whenever there was bad weather (raining, snowing, anything) and tell me to be very careful on the roads or would tell me that there's no reason for me to get out because the weather is bad. The first few times he told me this I would just laugh at him and give him some smart remark like, "I've been driving for over 10 years, I think I can handle the weather." My laughing and comments never stopped him from giving me these little warnings. So now I just smile and say, "I'll be careful and I love you too."

Yesterday we had some really strong winds (windows rattling and loud winds). As I was sitting at my computer Ampy called and said just this, "You have some very strong winds coming your way. Stay away from the windows. Gotta go, love you bye." So during his brief phone call, I just listened, smiled and said I love you too!

Once again...only in Kentucky

I've had several friends tell me their "only in Kentucky would you see/do that" stories and I have another to share. We were driving home from my parents house when I looked up and saw this sign...


Yes, that is a White Castle sign saying "Reserve your table for Valentines." I'll be honest I just had to call the number to check it out. Well the offices were closed but that is the number for the White Castle headquarters in Louisville! I'm sorry but anyone who goes there for Valentines does not deserve to be "gettin' lucky in Kentucky!"

Yes, we're alive!!!

So it's been three months since I've posted and those months are a blur! I feel like time has been FLYING by and I have no idea what's going on. Craziness! I'm not going to go into great detail about what's been going on but I'll say two words "I'm pregnant." Most everyone knows that but I'm using that as my excuse for falling behind. Here's the list of things that have been going on since the last time I posted...

1) Zackary had a great halloween dressed as Mickey Mouse for our church Trunk or Treat and as a lion for trick or treating (with Brannon as the scarecrow, Victoria as Dorothy, and Brynn as the cow in the tornado). He loved running up to each house to collect his "dee" (translation - candy).

Yes, that's me dressed up as a clown :)

2) My mom was able to come and visit over Halloween and enjoyed watching Zackary trick or treat. Zackary LOVED all the attention he received. I, of course, loved the break (obviously I loved having her visit too).


3) November...I have no idea what happened to that month. I was gone for 14 out of the 30 days (Time Out for Women, kept some friends children for them, and went to my Grandma's for Thanksgiving). That sums up the month!

4) December...another month that passed by so quickly. Was very tired this month but managed to do some fun Christmas things but didn't get our tree up until the weekend BEFORE Christmas (I know, so pathetic)!





Zackary had a great Christmas and really got into opening his gifts. Of course he had to play with each one before he could open another.

5) Spent a great week after Christmas visiting with my brothers and the Smiths.

Hanging out with Derek watching the Wiggles.

6) Took Zackary to the doctor where I found out he had Croup and was put on steroids (ended up taking two rounds of steroids to clear it up). He was so miserable at one point that he would wake up every hour and a half. I then realized that I'm really nervous for those nights when Ampy is working and I'm home with a toddler and newborn (those nights...what am I saying, I mean MOST nights).

7) January came and went with yet again a busy month but nothing too exciting until...my brother Richard came home from his mission! Zackary was born exactly 2 weeks after he left so I was very excited to have him meet his nephew. I am so proud of him and the wonderful example he has set for Zackary!

It was naptime when Richard arrived so Zackary was a little hesitant but it took him about 3 minutes to realize he had a buddy to play with when we got home.

8) Zackary turned 2 on the 31st! I can't believe he's 2. Where has the time gone? He had lots of fun at his "Wiggles" themed birthday party. I was so excited to have 4 of my 6 brothers there (missed you Derek and Ryan). Zackary was in HEAVEN with his Uncles!!! Pictures will come soon. I didn't take one with my camera because I was so busy but between my dad and Staci, I'm covered. Just have to get the pics.


9) Last but not least, yesterday we found out that Zackary will have a little BROTHER in June! Ampy is on cloud 9 knowing he has two sons and I am super excited to have a little boy on the way. I'll be honest and say still a little nervous about having 2 Ampy juniors running around :)

A blury pic but I don't know how to use my scanner (I know, silly) so this is a pic of the ultrasound.

That pretty much sums up our adventures for the last three months. Hopefully I'll do better in keeping my blog updated. I'm not promising anything because I can feel the "nesting" stage beginning to set in or it could just be the fact that I'm tired of living in a disaster of a house (I kept up with everything the last few months EXCEPT for housework and blogging).