the great escape and v-day 2010

The Beasley family drove south Thursday night, frantically trying to outrun the winter weather. We’d had a couple’s weekend at the beach planned for many, many months and we were determined not to get stuck in Opelika.

Our original plan called for us to drive to Pensacola Friday morning, but we quickly revised that on Thursday afternoon and instead headed home Thursday night. It actually worked out quite well—little man slept the whole ride home. We hung out with Buck and Uncle J Friday morning, they also had snow days, and then we ate a quick lunch with Nonna.

Reese didn’t even blink an eye when we handed him off to Buck and Nonna. I, on the other hand, wept like I was going off to war. I’m slightly dramatic like that.

Lofton and I enjoyed lots of friend time with his high school buddies and their wives. We stayed out way too late Friday night and then the boys surprised us with a Valentine’s trip to the spa on Saturday. We were treated to facials and massages while the guys played putt-putt golf. Last night we wrapped up our trip with a yummy dinner and a rousing game of “Things.”

I woke up at the crack of dawn itching to get back to my little man. Lofton was dead to the world when I started sighing loudly and kicking my feet to “gently” wake him up this morning. As soon as his eyes cracked, I sprung out of bed and got us packed in record time.

Clearly my parents wore Reese out. He slept for two hours in the car and then napped again when we got home. We’ve had lots of cuddles and kisses this afternoon to make up for our time apart. Oh how I love my little cupid!

dinner theater

I present to you,

Reese-- Unplugged::

Reese, pondering the meaning of life.

Crazy excited for his green beans.

Fish face.

Pouty pants.

Sugary sweet.

changes

Sweet husband came home with some BIG news on Friday. He is transferring to the Columbus, Georgia, Builder’s First Source—effective next Monday.

We have prayed and prayed about what direction his career should move. Asking God for help never provides a quick or easy solution, and we have hit many a speed bump on what we thought was the “right” plan.

Little did we know what was in store for us! This job materialized late last week and Lofton turned in his notice this morning.

We leave the Auburn store with mixed emotions. Eight years is a long time to invest in one place--- Lofton has invested many hours into making the store successful and into riding out this downturn in the building industry. Unfortunately, our future at this location just didn’t seem as promising as we would have liked.

New opportunities await him in Columbus. He will be in a sales position, not a management position, but he is excited to learn about a new aspect of the company. Personally, I’m excited about the raise and the company truck! Columbus is only thirty minutes away so we won’t have to move and Lofton will even be home in the afternoons.

I’m not so excited about having to take Reese to school everyday, but I’m a big girl with big girl britches. At least that’s what Lofton tells me.

Can I tell you how proud I am of his husband of mine? So proud. Heart-bursting, eyes watering, dance around like a wild woman proud. He deserves this--- 100%.

mullet monday

We said a sad goodbye to Reese's mullet last week. It was hard, but it was time to let go. When wet, his little mullet would trail down his back like a tail. Gross.

I miss the curls but his little boy haircut is absolutely adorable.

What a stud muffin.

mended

Can I tell you what a relief it was to wake up this morning and start a new week? Last week was one for the record books. I am oh so glad it is over.

Reese is doing fantabulous. I am amazed at the amount of noise coming from his little mouth. His communication has increased dramatically since Thursday. In fact, on Friday my mom noticed that when a train rumbled by {yes, we live near the tracks} he actually stopped mid-play and looked around. Can you believe he had never heard the train before?

We have even started saying some words other than "Mama"--- Nonna {nuh-nuh}, please {pees}, and juice {juh}. I refuse to believe it is a coincidence that he started talking the day after having tubes.

Now that he is feeling spiffy, we are back to battling his strong will. This morning we were enjoying snuggling on the couch when he decided to pull my hair. When I let him know that hair pulling is not appropriate behavior, he spit in my face. Let's just say he probably won't be doing that again. I made it very clear that sweet boys do not spit in people's faces. Ever.

Sassy pants will return to school tomorrow for the first time in a week. I pray for his teachers. After an entire week of undivided grandparent/aunt/great grandparent attention, this little squirt has been loved rotten.

model patient

We are home.

Surgery was quick and relatively painless. We shed a few tears--- me most of all. But overall, the surgery was as simple as everyone promised it would be.

Reese has just woken up from a very long nap and is his usually bouncy-self. He was quite angry when he woke up from sedation. In fact, he was pummeling the nurse when we walked into the recovery room. Once we got home, he ate a little breakfast but just couldn't seem to understand what was making him feel so yucky.

The nap has cured him. I can hear him squealing with his Nonna as I type.

The plan is to finish up our antibiotics, use ear drops for the next week, and hopefully move on from all this ear drama. I am oh so thankful this long ordeal appears to be over.

well piss

Sorry. That is not a very blog appropriate… mother of a baby… third grade teacher… classy lady statement… BUT that is the nicest way to sum up my feelings right now.

Sucky. That is how I feel. And really, really, really - - - you get it.

Reese has an ear infection.

Lofton took him to the doctor this morning. I am truly amazed at how quickly these little devils pop up. No infection Thursday afternoon, severe infection Monday.

He woke up this morning blazing with fever {very unlike him—even with an ear infection}. We took his temperature the best we could, medical instruments are not his friends these days. Do you blame him? It registered a steamy 101.7 degrees.

Fabulous.

Here is the problem. We can have surgery with an ear infection, but we cannot have surgery with a fever. Fever can equal complications.

Well, piss. Every inch of my being is praying this fever goes away before Thursday.

We must have tubes. We must have tubes. We must have tubes.

I cannot take this agony anymore. Actually, I can take the agony; I just can’t watch my baby in agony anymore.

We have a call into the ENT to check the fever policy. And to beg and to plead and to offer Lofton’s kidney if they'll still do surgery. Whatever it takes. WHATEVER.IT.TAKES. Cause I've hit the wall with this, yall. Hit the wall.