Alive - But Still Sick

Yep - I'm still sick. Last week was a blur. I felt extra horrible the whole week and couldn't figure out why. Friday night, I was back at the Urgent Care Center to find out that I did have strep after all. The first test didn't detect it for some reason. Lovely. A bad cold on top of strep throat and an ear infection. I was a hot mess. So I am on a Z Pack now. My throat feels much better, but I still have my ear infection. Hopefully the antibiotics will knock it out eventually too.

Poor Miss B has my cold now. I don't think this sickness will ever leave this house.

Not sure when I'll be back in blogland. It will be when everyone is finally better I guess.

Stick A Fork In Me - I'm Done

Sick - that is what I am. I am hopefully on the tail end of this, but I am so weak, I don't even really feel like typing this post.

I took an amazing online Photoshop class from my pal Lisa Thursday night and while I was online that night, my throat started to hurt. By Friday, my glands swelled up too. Went to the Urgent Care Center Saturday morning for a strep test which thank goodness came back negative. Saturday afternoon, I started to get congested in my head a little. By Saturday night, I looked in the mirror and realized I was getting Briana's pink eye to top everything off. Sunday morning, my left ear completely blocked up and started to ring and my head felt like a balloon. I still feel like a balloon head this morning and my energy is completely zapped. As I said before, "Stick a Fork in Me..."

Doug was so great over the weekend. He tended to me and took care of Bri all weekend while I stayed in bed. I haven't been able to do anything. Had to cancel all the plans I had. :(

I haven't been on the computer at all this weekend except to write a couple of e-mails. I haven't been able to look at blogs at all. I think this is a good time to take a short break from blogging and attempt get my health back. Hopefully I'll get back soon and I'll be feeling 100% again. Have a good week!

Black and White Wednesday

To see more black and white photos, please visit...

A Few More "Firsts"

We have had a few more "firsts" in the past few weeks. I love to see Briana experience things for the first time. Today, she had her very first dentist appointment. She was a total rock star! She sat right in the chair, let the hygienist clean her teeth and also allowed the dentist to count her teeth without any fuss. She made me so super proud today...



Look at that white smile when it was all over...

They took a picture of her when it was all done. Cheese!!!

Saturday night, Doug and I took Briana bowling for the first time. Cosmic bowling to be exact. She has been begging to go bowling for some reason for the longest time...

First bowling shoes...


Woo Hoo!!!!

Of course, she needed to play a little air hockey with daddy as well...

The Sunday before last, Bri went to see a musical version of "Mulan" for the first time with her friend Mary Lin. Bri was a little cranky at first because she woke up from a nap in the car...

But the girls really enjoyed the show and afterward, they got a little silly!!!


Briana has also been writing some of her favorite letters by herself. She loves to write the letters "o", "i", "e" and "b".

And lastly, a few weeks ago, Briana learned to play computer games on p.b.s kids all by herself. She can point and click like a champ...

Here she is playing a game. She's very excited...



I can't believe how grown up my girl is getting...

Flashback Friday

Just waking up from a nap on the bus in Chongqing...

Black and White Wednesday

A week ago, we had yet another snowfall. This time though, it was a very wet icy snow and it wasn't really good for playing in. But with a pair of rain boots and an umbrella, it can still be lots of fun!

For more great B&W photos, please visit Lisa's blog...

Perfect Princess Birthday Party

All I can say is "WOW." Briana attended her friend Emily Grace's 4th birthday party on Saturday afternoon and I swear it was like being at Disney World all over again. The party was held on the second floor of a small restaurant and Amy (Emily Grace's mom) had several of her students (she is a high school latin teacher) dress as princesses and visit the little girls. Oh my gosh. The look on their faces was priceless. Briana had the best time ever!!!

Here is my girl ready for the party...


Briana and Emily Grace (the birthday girl)...

Friends - Katie, Chani and Briana...

Look at the food the kids got! A dream on a plate!

The first princess arriving - look at their faces...

Snow White deemed all the little girls princesses...

The girls learned a dance with Belle...

Prince Charming danced with Cinderella then the birthday girl...

Cinderella and the girls...

You can see Emily Grace better in this one...

Briana's favorite princess was Princess Aurora. She danced and danced with her...

Lots of dancing was going on!


This was a party that no one will ever forget!!!

Flashback Friday

My sweet girl in October of 2007. She had been home with us for two months.

Black and White Wednesday

Doug, Bri and I had so much fun at the zoo on Sunday. I converted a few shots that I really liked to black and white. Hope you enjoy! (You can see color photos in the post before this!)















And to see more amazing black and white photos, please visit Lisa's blog!

First Trip to the Atl Zoo

As you can see above, Briana loved her first visit to the Atl Zoo on Sunday. We went to the Chongqing Zoo with her in China, but she slept through most of it and would never have remembered it anyway. So this was the first visit to a zoo that she was a full participant! The weather was chilly, but the sun was out to help warm us a little - not a cloud in the sky! It was a gorgeous afternoon. I'm sure in a few weeks when the temps get warmer, the zoo will be much more crowded than it was on Sunday. It was the perfect day to go.

Here we are entering the zoo...



Briana in front of the flamingos...



This is how we spent pretty much the whole visit - running after Bri. She didn't stay and observe the animals very long. She was always ready to move on to the next one...



Beautiful lion...



My funny gal...



The gorillas were amazing...



My favorite exhibit was the orangutan exhibit. They were so entertaining. Bri actually stuck around to watch them a while...







And of course the pandas. Briana asked to see the pandas from the minute we walked into the zoo until we were in front of the exhibit. Over and over and over, she asked to see the pandas. Well, we got to the exhibit and she saw them. 2.5 seconds later, she said she was hungry and wanted lunch. That's my 3.5 year old...





Pudding for dessert...



Sharing a bite with Daddy...



My two knuckleheads...



The petting zoo. Bri liked it for a few minutes and then she was done. I'm so glad because it stunk pretty badly...



Me and Bri on the carousel...



Riding the panda...



Daddy and Briana on the carousel...



We rode the little train at the zoo several times. Bri's favorite part was going through the dark tunnels. And we came home with a stuffed panda even though she has several at home already. But look at this face. How can you resist?