For the Love.....of a lot of things: Allison

This week has been quite busy! First I must brag and say that I got a new car! I am so excited- it is my first ever new to myself car! We bought a 2013 Sorento- I love it- it has a champagne colored exterior with a black and tan interior. It is so roomy and has a great cargo space and the best feature is the Sirius XM radio :) Mary Eloise also likes it and really likes the dark tinted windows in the back so the sun doesn't get in her eyes.

On Monday, we spent the morning at Children's Hospital. This morning made me really count my blessings and say many prayers for the others we were around. Back in May, Mary Eloise had a urinary tract infection with a high fever. Our pediatrician, whom we adore, is very thorough and followed up with an ultrasound. It showed some areas of concern that she may have a condition called kidney reflux. So we went to Children's to follow up with a series of x-rays to confirm the condition and an appointment with the urologist. The exam, called a VCUG, confirmed that she does indeed have kidney reflux, but we had read up on the signs, symptoms, and treatment ahead of time, so we weren't in the dark or surprised. It is a very treatable condition that requires monitoring and follow up visits and a daily antibiotic. We were really dreading the antibiotic issue because it has really been a challenge for us to get Mary Eloise to take her antibiotic for her ear infection. Dr. Joseph told us she would take the powder from inside a capsule, so we were very excited that we can put it in her milk or in food. Kidney reflux is also a condition that most babies/children grow out of, usually around the age of 5. We are just so thankful that she is healthy, happy, and thriving, and we pray for the families with sick children that have to visit Children's often. They were super amazing and accomodating and the radiology nurse gave Mary Eloise a little owl beanie baby that she loves and says "Hoo hoo".

This week has also been interesting with a Wednesday 4th of July. Wednesdays are my off days anyways, but it was welcoming to have Jason home. ME and I went to the 4th of July celebration at Our Lady of Sorrows and met Allison, Viv, Chris, and Gamma (www.rollingwiththeroneys.blogspot.com) and Aunt Kiki (www.alwaysinstilettos.blogspot.com). They won cakes, but with all the birthday celebrations, we still had cupcakes leftover. They also won Mary Eloise a doll. (At the bazaar, there are carnival style games, a room to win a cake, a car racing room, and a room to win a doll.) Allison and Laura picked ME this cute Alabama cheerleader doll, but she saw a basket of babies and wanted one of those, so she was able to exchange. Coincidentally, Vivian had picked the same baby earlier. Both girls are such little mothers. Mary Eloise is into her babies at home, strolling one in the stroller, one in her grocery cart, and carrying her newest baby around with her. She talks about the babies often. She really likes her newest baby because its eyes open and close, which is very fascinating to her.

We are so thankful for many things, but this week most especially, we are thankful for our health and our freedom.