First Tea Party

Sarah was able to enjoy her first tea party during the 4th of July weekend with her cousins, grandma, aunt and I. Grandma Darlene (aka Gaga - Kirk's mom) and her sister Deree brought antique bone china tea cups and saucers, special cakes, white lacy gloves, hats and tea for the girls. Sarah drank her juice but we called it tea for fun. The little cakes were a hit and it took just about the entirety of the tea party for Sarah to warm up to wearing her hat. The gloves never made it on. We had a great time watching the girls be girls!

4th of July Weekend

We had a great time over the July 4th weekend. We spent 5 days with Kirk’s family in Delta, CO and attended the Cherry/Porterfield (Kirk’s mom’s side) family reunion. It was great visiting with everyone including those we haven’t seen since our wedding almost 11 years ago. Sarah had a blast with her cousins Ann Marie and Maura along with their doggies Sophie and Angel. She still talks about the doggies to this day. Kirk was able to get on the Gunnison with his dad and cousin for fishing too! It was a blast.

We were able to finally retrieve the Cessna after it being out of commission with the annual and prop refurbish. We got it just in time for our Vegas trip this weekend without the kiddo.

Kirk and the boys - cousins Matt and Chris.

Water fight! There were many squirt gun fights during the weekend with Ann Marie, Maura, daddy and cousin Chris.

Maura reading "Robert the Rose Horse" to Sarah. Sarah enjoying peas right out of the garden. Sarah was able to pick the first cherry tomato from Papa's garden. Playing with the doggies.

Sinus Upate

I went to an ENT/allergy doctor in Durango for a second opinion. His thoughts - no surgery. Instead, let's do allergy testing come late fall to determine what gets me in the spring. From that we can start allergy treatments. If I start to develop a cold or sinus problem, then it's steroid time along with a major saline flush with this Nalgene type bottle he gave me. That's going to be fun. Then if it gets worse, we will try an antibiotic flush. (never knew that existed) If allergies are the culprit the surgery won't do any good. So I think for now, the surgery option is being put on the shelf alongside my tuck and new boobs. :-)

Decisions...decisions

I had to post these pictures just because I think they are so neat. No, they are not pictures of a future Johnson but of my head. I went to a Ear Nose Throat doctor in May after getting sick of dealing with recurring sinus infections. After spraying stuff up my nose and then shoving a long scope up to my eyeballs (not fun by the way and totally not expected!), the doctor suggested I get a CT scan. So I did just that and went for my follow-up last week. I have a deviated septum which you can see in the pictures. I also have some mucus layer building up in my sinuses and the drain holes are blocked which explains why I get infections easy. So I have two options...1. spray steroid in my nose from now until ?? or 2. get sinus surgery. They would fix my septum, make the sinus drain holes larger and clean out the thick layer of mucus. The issue with the surgery is it's surgery. It requires that I go under for the hour long procedure. I freaked immediately and told the doctor I'd talk it over with Kirk. I have an appointment with another doctor in Durango after the July 4th holiday for a second opinion. You know, it makes me wonder that if I went under for a nose repair, why not make it worth the anesthesia and get a tuck, suck and my boobs back. ha!

Just Dance

I finally pulled some video off the camera and had to post this gem. This is Sarah pre-potty training rocking out to Lady Gaga while sitting at the computer. Too cute!

Happy Daddy's Day!

We had a nice daddy's day celebration. It started last week when a shipment of Alaskan halibut and salmon arrived from 10th and M Seafood in Anchorage. We were missing good fish so I ordered a box of treats. We enjoyed swimming at the Durango Rec Center followed by a great lunch at Steamworks Brewery yesterday. Kirk was able to go fishing on Saturday and enjoy the sunshine (along with the afternoon down pour). I was registered to run the Steamworks Half Marathon on Saturday in Durango but sold my slot Friday night to a person on the wait list since I was battling a head cold, smokers cough and laryngitis to boot. So, I'll have to shelf participating in a half marathon for a later date. But I did get out for a 5 mile run on Saturday morning regardless of the head/chest crud.

I'm happy to report that potty training is going really well both at home and at daycare. The trainer pants are nice and aren't too bulky so that helps while at daycare. She's had one accident in the past two weeks at daycare and a clean slate at home for quite a while. So, I think we have this one in the bag.

Slowly but surely

The potty training saga continues but we are slowly gaining on it. Sarah is doing tons better at home and also managed through a doctors visit without an accident. As expected, daycare poses a different challenge. Monday was difficult for the both of us. She wasn't too interested in seeing mama leave and had a couple of accidents during the day. I wasn't too keen on leaving her either after talking to the teachers and daycare director regarding their limitations with potty training. But the teachers are being helpful, one in particular. I think she is willing to help because she has little ones herself. Sarah is the only one in the room right now in big girl panties. The rest of the class consists of one girl and the remainder are boys. All are in diapers. But I did witness something neat when I picked her up today. After she finished going potty as I was coming in, a little boy then wanted to follow her and sit on the potty. That's great! She still has an accident on occasion but it's usually when she is outside playing and becomes distracted. Or she has a hard time getting her panties down before sitting on the potty and gets wet.

The main limitation of the daycare is they are required by state law to contain all human bodily fluids especially with not have anything in the common play areas. So, no accidents where the other kiddos can frolic. I found an item call PODs for potty training kids on the internet on Monday. It's basically a panty liner for potty training kids. After reading some of the reviews by moms about the product, the majority suggested to save your money and purchase regular women's panty liners. So, that is what Sarah has in her pants while at daycare. It helps contain any leaks but still lets her know she is wet. In the meantime, I've ordered trainer pants that are very close to regular undies. We will see how those work out for daycare and long car trips.

For my friends who read this blog and potty training your little one (who may also be in daycare) is still on the horizon, here is some advice.

1. Do try the 3-day program. I think if anything it reinforces that you as the parent need to be as nurturing as possible during the potty training process.

2. Talk to your daycare. After having discussions with friends both in Anchorage and Houston, it sounds like the BP daycare centers got it together. However, it doesn't hurt to get on the same page and also figure out what is needed to help the process for both kiddo and teacher.

3. Plan ahead. The thing I wish I did was get cotton trainer pants just in case. I did buy a pack of Pull-ups before we started mostly as a security blanket but they are still sealed and setting on the closet shelf. I don't think I'll ever use them. But perhaps the organic cotton trainers might work. We shall see.

4. Don't get discouraged. I've had many people talk me from the ledge this past week or so. Thank you!

There you have it. Other than potty training, life is good in the Johnson house. I have a half marathon next weekend in Durango which I haven't been hard core training for so we will see how that works out. Then we are off to Delta, CO for a family reunion the last week of June/4th of July.