from PawPaw's

We've been having a pretty good day at PawPaw's. Ronny & I watched a little tv together this morning & before we knew it, both PawPaw & Little Man were asleep! They're resting good!

Ronny went out to check the corn he put out a few days ago. He's watching for deer, of course. He misses hunting so much. I'm planning to buy as much hunting gear as was taken from him... & give it to him next fall as an early Christmas gift. It's going to take several months, I know, but I've already started researching cheapest places to get everything. I'm not doing too bad so far!

We're in limbo this year, so chances are we won't be setting up a Christmas tree. I'm ready to move, so that we have a place of our own to do Christmas. It's just not the same when you're living with other people. I'm grateful that we've been taken in, but it's still just not the same.

Michael Grady is worn out, but he's sleeping so well! I managed to get a photo earlier! :-)

Playing at PawPaw's. Drawing a picture

for Mommy. Such a sweet baby boy!

Ginny is gone for the weekend. The Christmas Parade was last night, so she was able to go to that. I wanted to take Michael Grady, but Ronny & I couldn't get out. Hopefully, we can do it next year. I'm really looking forward to taking the kids to Natchitoches for the Christmas Lights & fireworks! I really want to do that this year!

Li'l Bit of It All

I haven't been able to blog in so long! Life gets busy & as we've moved (& moved) (& moved), we've given up a lot. Currently, we don't have internet at home & won't be getting it anytime soon. I hate that. It means I have to cram research, socializing, business, & online entertainment into one or two hours at a time (& usually only once every other week). I can't wait to have internet at home!
The kids are growing, as kids do. All three have had their birthdays now, so I have almost a year before I have to start planning anymore parties. The oldest was the only one to get a party this year. Next year, I'm hoping it's a bit different. We just have so much going on right now.
Christmas shopping is underway. We're doing good so far! I've bought some great things for my handsome hubby. I still have a good bit of shopping to do for the kids, though. I've gone into stores & seen things all year long, but now that I have to actually pick something out, I've hardly bought a thing for them! Maybe that'll get easier. If not, they can pick their own presents. lol
I need a night out. We've been so busy lately & ALWAYS have at least one of the kids with us. We haven't had a break in forever, it seems. Dinner & a movie would be nice, but we're currently in a position where we can't go out at night. So... I'm trying to think of a really special date night we can have sometime after the holidays. I'd love some input!

It's Been A Day!

  We're only half-way through today - & it's already been a day! The hubby & I have been working at a smoothie shop. We're paid tips. Yes, that's what I said. Tips. It's interesting.
  The funny thing about it - I get more enjoyment out of being up here, taking orders, making a ton of smoothies, visiting with customers when it's not too busy in here, than staying at home all day. Oh, I'm tired and wiped out when I get home, but I actually do okay.
  We're able to bring the youngest of our three kids with us when we're up here, so that's a big bonus. It's also a bonus that I probably would have a very hard time find elsewhere. However, making tips (as we have thus far) isn't enough to support our family on right now. We're pretty sure we'll have to move soon & I don't know where I'll find another job like this.
  There's a lot going on in our lives right now. I'm preparing to home-school my daughter, which I'm actually looking forward to doing. I just have to get a few things in order, get her registered, & then we go from there. I'm excited.

Alcohol & Mr. Brad Paisley

Gonna write my own lyrics to Brad Paisley's song "Alcohol"  (That text & lyric were texted to my hubby while he slept at 2:15 AM.)

>>Mr. Paisley, I hope you never see this, but if you do...please, enjoy. Love the song...but I think the lyrics could sometimes be a little more to the point. LOL<<

Alcohol can give you diarrhea
It can make you puke out your guts
and before you know it you start to show it
& yeah you feel like a putz
Alcohol can make you woozy
It can make you forgetful, too
And when you start drinkin
You stop a-thinkin
Someone's at home waitin for you...
Oh since the day it left Milwaukee, & other places, & somewhere in France
It makes people look rough
Makes the scrawny feel tough
& not feel like such a sissy pants!
Oh it will leave you with a headache
It'll make you think you can dance
But don't sing that tune
Cause you sound like a broom
Just got shoved right up your pants!
Alcohol!!!!!!!!

Party Planning Push

With my darling hubby's birthday just days away, I'm in a crunch! See... hubby didn't have many birthday parties growing up & I'm a HUGE fan of them. My belief: We are on this Earth for our allotted time & are BLESSED with every day & every year God grants us. WE SHOULD CELEBRATE & show how GRATEFUL we are to be alive. I'm all for a birthday party. Sooo.....several months ago I decided that hubby needs a birthday party this year. Of course, with a new baby in our lives, adjusting to our family changes, dealing with other relatives, AND moving during the past few weeks, my party planning had to hit the back-burner. By the time I was settled down enough to get back to party planning, I realized how close it is.

MY TIME IS SUPER LIMITED.

Here I am, struggling to think of cheap (because we just moved & are on a tight budget in order to save money to buy land, build a house, etc.), easy (because I'm a mom & my time is divided between my husband, kids, & housework), & even free-(because...well...duh)-decorations & other party preparations. He wants his Bud Light, hot wings, & poppers. I'm seeing a bigger picture. And...

Why the heck am I blogging right now? I don't have time for this!!! Bye! Gone to plan.

Anxiously Awaiting the Eleventh

Hi, my name is Kayla & I'm addicted to Pinterest.


I can't help it. I just find so much on there! Over the next several weeks, I plan to collect as many craft supplies as possible. I want to build my stockpile! I know I'll be stopping by a few flea markets in search of buttons, scarves, & a few other cheap items...

But right now I'm stuck on the food! We've moved & I don't currently have my own kitchen. I'm living with a bare minimum of kitchen supplies & it's driving me crazy! I haven't cooked in weeks & I'm really missed it. Soooo...my darling husband & I will be cooking next Saturday night, Feb 11 - the night before my birthday! I'm so looking forward to that!!!!!

First Post of 2012

Ahhh, it's been a while. So much going on!  Michael Grady is just over 11 weeks old & time is flying fast!!! We've been so busy over the last several weeks, but things are slowing down a bit...finally! The kids are enjoying school; I'm enjoying time with the baby; my handsome man is enjoying work (for now). All is well in the Harrell Household. Except...we're not in our own house. We dealt with mildew and mold, the baby got sick, and we spent a few nights in the hospital because of it. We moved out and into something temporary and are looking for a new place. Hope we find one soon!

Michael Grady is Here!

So, looking back on what I wrote last on facebook... if you were paying attention, you can tell I was doped up. lol Since then, I've learned that I am allergic to 1 medication generally used for pain after a c-section & I cannot take larger doses of Percocet without falling. Interesting day, but it went pretty well, despite the fact that I beat myself up. lol

  Michael Grady is doing great. He is currently passed out in his little plastic box that hospitals have deemed "the crib." I can't wait to get him home & into his bassinet for the first time. I'm hoping that he'll sleep deeper & much better shortly after. He does fine here. He wakes me up so that he can eat. Other than that, I only wake if he whimpers (which happens occasionally), laughs or mimicks his daddy's laugh, cries to be fed, or cries to be changed. Other than that, he's as quiet as a mouse & very content. Ronny & I are so proud of him. We are very blessed & pray that he remains such a well-behaved infant.

  It's still a little hard to believe that he's here & no longer kick-boxing the insides of my belly. So glad to have him here! More photos will be posted soon

Ready or Not

  Last Wednesday, our prenatal appointment went great. I was a little worried, because the doctor told me that I had gained several pounds too quickly & he was concerned about it. The thyroid medication that he had prescribed to me about 2 months ago was supposed to help me gain weight. Now that it's doing its job, I'm gaining too much. Interesting how some things work too well. Other than that, he said everything looked great & our little man was healthy. I love getting that report. It really makes me feel a lot better.

  Yesterday morning, I woke up & wandered into the living room with one thing on my mind. I walked into the living room & went straight to the pack & play to check on our baby boy. Then I realized he's not here yet! I'm still carrying him & we have about 2 weeks left before we'll get to hold him. I didn't tell Ronny about it right away. Instead, I started his bath water, woke him up, & pulled out his clothes. After I dressed, we ran through McDonald's for breakfast, then went for our prenatal appointment. We learned that I've dilated 2 centimeters!!! Then, yesterday at Ryan's, contractions started in the middle of lunch. I thought it was hilarious, but at the same time, I'm wondering if our little man will stay in there until the date we have set for c-section, November 11th. We have a day & 2 weeks to wait!

  I have had headaches for the past 3 days; today makes 4. My appetite has decreased, but I have to take "potty breaks" a lot more often. My breasts are tender & I have sharp pains in them. Other than that, things are pretty much the same. Nausea comes & goes, but that's not too bad. Michael pushes down really hard & stretches very often. There's more pain from his movements, but when he's moving a lot I know that he's doing okay. I got this, yo. Ha ha

  After waking Little Miss this morning & getting her off to school, I went back to bed for a little while. I dreamed I expelled my mucus plug & my water broke. I woke up slightly panicked, thinking I was having contractions. It was just Michael Grady kicking & moving his legs around, pushing against my sides & belly. Little Monkey. My dreams are exceedingly more vivid & more often about seeing him in person. Oh, I can't wait to hold him!

Sweetness In Starlight

  We finally did it. We now have everything turned in, insurance taken care of, & a few other things done. Now, all I have to do it get a driver's license again! Yay! It's way past time I do that, but there's just been so much going on that I haven't had the time to do it. I shouldn't have any problem getting it done in the next 2 weeks, though. I want to have it by the time the baby is born, in case of emergencies after he gets here.

  I've got a sick little girl at home today. She's really missing being in school, because she's confined to the over-sized chair in the living room & can't get up to play. I've had her wrapped in blankets, eating healthy foods, & watching only educational TV all day. The poor kid is so ready to go back to school! I hate that she isn't feeling well. She caught a super-contagious bug from one of her friends & I'm really not sure how long this is going to last. Her doctor informed me this morning that this mess is lasting, on average, about 4 days. Yippee.

  This baby boy has been moving all day. Ronny had to work today, but his son is apparently looking for him a lot. I miss him, too. I hate the long hours he works, but I know it's what has to be done. I'm so very grateful that his schedule works out so that he gets a few days at home, though. I love spending time with him, no matter what we're doing. We can sit at home & watch TV all day, spend hours in town just walking around, or head out to the woods for a few minutes. No matter what we're doing, when I'm with him, I'm having a good time.

  The Orionids should be visible tonight. (The Orionid meteors, that is.) I'm hoping to have supper cooked when Ronny gets home. The plan is to climb into the bed of his truck & keep each other warm while we spend some time chatting & dreaming together. And, of course... make a wish on a shooting star