valentines breakfast

For Valentine's Day I grew up having a big breakfast. Daddy would always buy something special for the girls and Mommy would always buy something special for my brother. That night my parents usually went out.

I would LOVE to carry this tradition on in our house so in similar fashion we began our own version of this tradition.

Here is what we did:

The milk was given a serving of pink food coloring :)

 

We made Red Velvet Pancakes and sprinkled them with yummy powdered sugar

Last year was a very simple breakfast!

We then exchanged our valentines and lovies we had purchased for each other. 

I hope to take more pictures this year and share some new things we are planning on.

Back to life

Recently Casey and I were driving around neighborhood in our part of town. We found this house with weeds 5 ft tall. It was a grand house, very southern and very classic.

It had been abandoned and just so happened to be open when we went to peek in the windows.

Here is what we saw when we walked through.

Why am I showing you all of this? Well long story short we thought we wanted to purchase this house and rehab it. The home was already under contract when we called to inquire about it;(

Either way, I want to show you what I had in mind. So dream with me for a few minutes.

The den

how great would a dark fireplace be in this room?

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Downstairs Halfbath

The bathroom tile has come back in style.

And how cool would this look in this space?

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If you look closely in this picture you can see the ceiling in the kitchen is caving in. (there was bad roof damage in the back of the home)

we went far enough in this home to go back and measure to see what we could do a complete kitchen overhaul on this space. We had two main layouts in mind.

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This one is my absolute all time most favorite.

Just breaks my heart someone would leave this home like this.

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This layout would have required us to rearrange some plumbing but would have been just as lovely.

This is the living room. Complete with lovely green carpeting!

It would make an awesome playroom.

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otherside of the living room

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I mean seriously?? How fun?

The entry with hunter green marble flooring.

on the left side this is what I would like to see when walking in the front door.

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We think someone ripped the carpet off the stairs

And a small bench and picture to welcome you into the home

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Cute gate leading to the courtyard

wish I could find the pic to the courtyard but it seems to be missing. it has the same layout as the one in the pinterest picture. soo amazing

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And the back door area.

oh how precious would it be dressed up with outdoor cabana curtains?

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how cute would this be at christmas time?

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And here is the dining room.

Assuming there was more damage to this room. This is the foundation for the flooring.

(thank you pinterest for making it sooo easy to pull inspiration pics together)

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I would even plant some boxwoods and hosta along the front walkway.

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Thanks for dreaming with me.

Valentines Ideas

Last year I SUPER slacked and I don't think I even blogged our valentine's day. So I wanted to share this year to give you some fun ideas of stuff to do!!

 

Here is everything clustered together before I was able to figure out what I wanted to do with it all!

First thing we did was buy a few fun accessories
We found the cupcakes at Pier 1.

Guess what ?? they brought them back this year!

click on image to go to their site!

Then I collected a few of the Round Top Collection hearts to put our valentines in.

I wanted to do something original for treats for our MDO friends.

Instead of paper that would be trashed and too sweet candy mommies may not let their little ones eat we did heart shaped marshmallows!!
 All of the children enjoyed getting something different!

A banner of love

Okay so...have a confession... I like to make things really really difficult on myself.

ie.. handmake a banner without a die cutting machine! TRUTH!!

Anyway, it turned out to be quite fun so here are the steps if you so choose to join me in making one.

Here is what I started with.

note: what you think you are starting with and what you acually may end up using tends to change!

Step one:

Use the circle tracer and make your circles for the background, the cut out circles.

 Step two:

Find a needle, thread and crepe paper. Use a weaving method to thread the paper and slowly gather. this will create a ruffled affect in the paper.

*glue the backsides of the ruffle medallion together with craft glue

Step three:

Glue the center of the medallion together and let sit for a few minutes, then glue the outside edges of the medallion and dip in glitter along the outside edge.

Step four:

hot glue on chip letters, hot glue medallion onto "backer" paper

(I used the remainder of the letters of a box from a christmas banner I made)

Step five:

this was the point where I realized I needed a second background so I dug in my stash of scrapbook paper and found this stripe. I used the outer edge of my tracer to scallop this paper and cut it out.

 then hotglue the background to the other pieces.

Step six:

punch holes into the corners of the backer paper and string letters together with either ribbon or twine.

Step seven:

Hang and enjoy!

Lovies

Valentine's Day is one of my most favorite holidays... but not for the suspect reason.

I feel this is a completely uncalled for holiday to shower everyone I love and let them know why I love them.

Like today, I made something for my mom I know she will really really like. Why? Because I love her and I am so thankful for all the little things she did for me when I was growing up.

This coming week I am going to share so fun things to do to get ready for Valentine's day. 

Some pertain to our special breakfast we do and others are fun crafts!!

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And can I just say Thankya Jesus for spring weather in February!!

This sunlight is just what I needed to put some spring in my step.

Despite the whole crazy heart issue/ undiagnosed by doctor-but diagnosed by me and my friends postpartum preeclampsia I am feeling great and ready to tackle whatever may come my way this spring.

And just because...

TGIF

Today I am switching all my maternity clothes back out for my regular wardrobe.



I can only hope to organize mine and Connor's closet this well!
( yes we are sharing and I can't wait to show y'all what I have come up with)
And.... I am bringing the sewing machine out again today!!



Have a short amount of time before I pick lil bit up from school!!

Just thankful it is Friday and we will have "daddy" home for a few days!!

3 year-isms

Pretty much since halloween Anna Caroline's speech has taken off! 

Being the only grandchild on both sides she has had complete and undivided attention from everyone. And with all that adult interaction.. she well... kinda talks like one! haha

In no particular order:

Recently went with my parents to cracker barrell, lil bit said:

"oh mommy, I loved that cracker beagle!"

The other night we had bad weather and we had to get in the closet. I didn't want to alarm her so I told her we were having a party in daddy's closet. We get in the closet and she says 

"oh no... momma we cant have a party without cake and presents!"


Any given day comments:
come here one quick minute.
Will you do me a favor.
Ugh,(usually when she is having a hard time with something) dis is weally fustewating me.




BTW: I am finally starting to feel like my life is coming back together. Keeping everything picked up has been the hardest part with 2 so far. but dishes, laundry, and beds made all at once make me one happy momma today!!

Pictures and a Prayer Request

Found a few more sweet pictures I thought I would share.

 

loading up in the car on the way home from the hospital!

 

 this crazy hair just kills me haha

 

sleeping away at our first dr. appointment.

In our almost 2 weeks with this little guy the one thing we have found is he REALLY likes to sleep. And fine by me:) At night we are going close to 5 hours at a time!! I find myself waking up to make sure he is okay!

 

In other news some of you may or may not know I have had a unique post-delivery experience to say the least.

The Story:

Labor was relatively quick, delivery even quicker and overall I was really hoping to be able to do a VBAC. Halfway through labor we did not think it would be possible because I was not progressing. I purposely waited to get an epidural as to not slow down labor any more than it was already. Once I got the epidural I went from 3 to 10 in an hour and a half!! Guess I just needed the medicine to relax a little. haha. 

So, day after baby is born we had lots of visitors. I knew I was swelling a little bit but didn't think much of it at first. 

We came home monday afternoon and by tuesday afternoon my feet were so swollen I could only wear my house shoes. I was also having a hard time breathing (felt as if my back between by shoulders and at my sternum were bruised.) On friday my face had begun to swell and I was not feeling like myself at all. Friday night around 9:30 we packed up and headed back to labor and delivery to see if they could determine what was wrong.

Originally all symptoms pointed to Eclampsia. They tested my blood pressure (usually low, 110/60) and it was 159/88. This typically isn't too high but high for me it was. My pulse was a different story; it was dangerously low, staying at a solid 38-40.(normally between 70-80) My Dr. was not on call and lab work all that came back elevated was my liver enzyme levels. They sent me home without any answers and said you are too close to borderline for us to administer the Magnesium. I literally laid on the couch all day sat and all day sunday. 

Monday I went to drop AC off at MDO I told a friend of mine there about my crazy weekend and she insisted after school I go by her house and have her husband (a paramedic) check my BP and HR. Again we got very similar ratings to what we found on friday night. My friend called a close friend of hers who happens to be a L&D nurse. She gave her the run down and the two of them decided I needed to head back to the hospital. On my way home I called my Dr.'s office, just so happened she was out of office that day and the nurse agreed with the friends I needed to go back to the hospital. 

I met casey at home and was NOT wanting to go. We ate our dinner and got AC headed over to a friends house. We spent the better part of the night going back and forth.

At first my nurse told me they would admit me for testing, then she said L&D was so full that people all around me were having to labor without epidurals in Triage because they didn't have room on the floor for these women. (broke my heart!) Then around 9:30 my Dr. came up to the hospital. My heart rate was staying around 39 and at some times dropping as low as 35. BP was still elevated. She ordered more labs, a CT Scan, and an EKG. After the EKG the Dr. seemed concerned and told me she would be consulting a cardiologist to read the test as well. Labs all came back normal and CT Scan came back normal. They did find a little big of fluid on my lungs and said that should be relieving as the swelling goes down.

Tuesday I met with the cardiologist (who I LOVE) she ordered another EKG and an Echo cardiogram. Both of those came out seemingly fine. Once I am released for physical activity I will do the stress test and she will put me on a heart monitor. 

Requests:

So... all of this to say everything I have been feeling and they have tested is one big mystery!!

If I could ask for specific requests they would be for the Dr. to find something in all the tests we have already run and see if something was missed or over looked. 

Also, in the coming weeks for the cardiologist to be able to explain the sudden drop in my heart rate and determine if medicine is necessary to help my levels return to normal.

Thank you for everyone who has already been praying and been so concerned. Such an incredible feeling to know you are being blanketed in prayer.

I am also happy to report most of my swelling has decreased to a manageable level so I can continue to rest and take care of my babies. 

Hope each of you are having a wonderful week.

Quick ?

I am slowly beginning to resurface after an interesting post-delivery (more on that later)

Wanted to stop in really quick and ask to see if anyone has seen this pin on pinterest??

Source: andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com via Jenny Beth on Pinterest

I am wanting to make these for us to send "love letters" either at home or in my classroom at school. Apparently you can buy these little mailboxes at Michael's.

Everytime I am there they are sold out. 

Anyone know where else I might be able to find them??

They are so stinkin' cute!!