Happy belated birthday, Old Man.

Dear Hubby,

I just realized I was so busy on your birthday I never wrote you the traditional letter. So here I am, 5 days later, doing it anyway.

Last year, I warned you of your oldness coming this year, at the big 3.0. But surprisingly, you're not in depends, you still have all your teeth and while you do snore, at least you can get yourself out of the bed without the aide of walker. I'm proud of you! ;oD

In all seriousness, I think our little weekend getaway to Mentone, Alabama was amazing. I wish we could have stayed there a week. Hiked more. Eaten more. Because for about 1.75 days, we had no responsibility and it kinda felt like we were dating again. I watched you laugh...I saw the real smile where I could see your dimple. I love that smile.

Since having our kids, we have a hard time connecting due to our chaotic lives but this weekend, we connected. And I'm still trying to digest the fact we didn't fight once!!! ;oD

I love you, Bryan. Every day, while it probably doesn't seem like it, I thank God for you and how my life has turned out. I thank God for the wonderful father you are to our children, the provider you are to us, and husband you are to me. Life has a knack for getting in the way and I don't tell you those things enough.

I love you, all of you. Thank you for picking me.

Stephanie

Why I need a vacation

One day, I'll have some time to breath

So...about a week and a half ago I was in the garage getting ready for a yard sale while the kids were playing in the driveway. I was focused on my task and not paying much attention to them other than to make sure they hadn't wondered off.

Then, I heard Punky's telltale scream of horror and pain. I look and her hand is dripping blood. I run over to her, prepared to bandage up whatever it is and tell her to shake it off and stop overreacting (I'm convinced she has a fear of blood...something that baffles me since no one but my father in law in our family possesses this fear. I have to calm her down a lot about it.

However, what I saw was nothing that would be bandaged up and shaken off. She definitely needed stitches. Off we went to the pediatric ER and she had two stitches (which she felt going in...stupid doc didn't even bother to give her a shot and opted instead for numbing "gel" that apparently numbs about as well as a piece of ice.

So we've been dealing with the bandage changing and such since then. Yesterday, she got her stitches out and is band-aid free now although she's still favoring it quite a bit. What an ordeal.

This morning I rolled out of bed at 4:15 to have Cupcake at the hospital for surgery on a clogged tear duct. Not a big deal and she's ok now (peacefully sleeping as a matter of fact) but it's hard to see your baby being carried away by a complete stranger with a hair net and atrociously colored scrubs. Everyone was so very nice and I held it together (miraculously). When I went to see her in recovery, she had just woken up.

I guess I expected to see her sitting up and playing. Instead she was laying on her back, looking around with her big blue eyes and had her thumb in her mouth. She was obviously feeling insecure about her surroundings. When she saw me, her eyes lit up, she smiled a big smile and reached for me. It was the sweetest moment to know that she recognized me and loved me that much.

Of course, she worked her charm on all the doctors and nurses and everyone was having a duck over her. One man even shook his head and said, "I can't believe you're old enough to have a baby, much less three!" I laughed and told him thank you for saying that, it always makes this almost 29 year old feel super special! With everything going on in this house right now, I certainly don't feel young!

Now? I'm exhausted. I went to the gym for the first time last night in two weeks. My feet hurt. My back hurts. I'm fat. I think I have another ear infection. I need a babysitter.

I just need a nap and a vacation. Oh, and maybe some liposuction.