Superheroes Take Medicine...

Never without drama in the Nichols household. This time Leelah was bringing it.

So the child has had over 10 sinus infections since birth. She will be 3 in July. As our wonderful and fun pediatrician puts it "you've got one that makes too many boogers". Yes, we have Slimer. So today was Slimer's appointment with the allergist who tested her back for environmental allergies. Let me stop right here. My child STILL talks about her flu shot from October of last year. And I am by no means complaining, allergies are treatable and we are thankful to the Lord! It's just that show me a kid who likes shots? And that is what my sweet baby has to have: allergy shots.

I am reticent in over-medicating or even in medicating for that matter. However, when it comes to Leelah she is "special" as Dr. Lentsch puts it. Leelah is allergic to every antibiotic we've given her except one. And even that one has made her itchy. The others gave her a reaction known as Erythema Multiforme Minor- do me a favor - do NOT look this up. The lesions and swelling are horrifying. Thank the Lord that is treatable with Benadryl and steroid shots but scary!! So it's important we stop the allergies and sinus infections before she becomes allergic to that last medicine. Hence, the allergy shots and testing.

The back pricking determined today that she is allergic to dogs, cats and johnson grass. She'll have to have further injection testing in August (doc out of country) to rule out things that didn't show up today. We are happy she is not allergic to fish as she is getting one next month (already named "Cowgirl"). This is a joke, please laugh.

So my plan is simple: SUPERHERO! I've told Leelah that all of her allergy medicine: nasal spray, liquid and shots are her "superhero medicine" to fight the "mean ol' allergies". This is working well so far. She will wear a cape and mask to appts and to shots. We'll see how that goes. I also told her to be brave like David (who beat Goliath) and that helped too. But let me tell you- lollipops, portable dvd's, toys, and colors never hurt a kid either!! Thank you Kim for your advice!

Must go and stop typing. Eyes are tired. Yeah, my eyes are still on the fritz. I told you we are not drama-free! We're high maintenance! God bless John!

Tourin' Up Texas!

The Nichols went on vacation and did it big. Texas Sized!!!

A couple weeks ago we headed out on I-10 west, to a land filled with beef jerky, dolphins, penguins, German food, great shops and huge fun!

First stop was Buc-ee's!!!!!! We love this place. How many stalls does it have 30? I know it has 30 gas pumps. But the best part is the food. It's a gas station by the way and it really should have a hotel next to it because it is an attraction and it's always jam-packed with people and their flip flops. It's like Willy Wonka's Factory but with snacks. Picture if you will a vast assortment of jerky. Jerky of all kinds. Fudge of all kinds. Soda beverages (that was a stretch to say 'soda' y'all know I'm Texan and we say 'coke' regardless of the brand), popcorn, whosits, whatsits, Beaver Nuggets, pickled delights, candy- oh my goodness the candy, Icee's, etc. So a bevy of awesomeness is happening. So much so we bought Leelah a Buc-ee (it's a beaver) doll. I've written way too much about this place. Moving on...

We immediately get into San Antonio and hit Sea World. This time NO crowds! We went to the Lost Lagoon and it was a great place for little ones. A very nice water park in deed. I mean no Schlitterbahn, but it was great for Leelah who's almost 3.
For some reason I missed the pictures of the lagoon. But it was fun- lazy river, wave pool, splashpad- good times.


By the way, the only way we will haul Leelah around parks from now on is in a wagon. This thing was so SWEET! Leelah has fun and it's so easy to pull and jam a bunch of junk in. We got lots of comments "Well shoot- we shoulda done that!!" Thank you Annette for parting with it! Or Thanks Asher!

Then we got all gussied and went to one of my favorite spots- Gruene (pronounced 'green') just so we could eat at the famous Gristmill. This place is so yummy. John's first visit but not his last he loved it. Of course, Leelah was super hungry...




Next day back to Sea World. This time for the dolphin show and penguins. We tried the Pirate 3D - and Leelah wasn't having it.






That night we went to Fredericksburg. I know I talk a lot about food. Now here's more talk about food: The Auslander. The restaurant is a gem. The motto of the trip was: "SPATZEL, SCHNITZEL, STRUDEL!!" This was our 2nd time here- must see pics of Leelah's cheeks- this is a picture of her at 9-10 mos. when we came to this restaurant the first time.


an attempted reenactment..




We enjoy the jagerschnitzel, spatzel and apple streudel. A must!!!
Next day was a walk around Main St. in F'burg.
We enjoyed the Pacific War Museum (formerly known as the Nimitz Museum). The best part was the "show" of the pacific engagement complete with real artifacts from WWII, scenes such as a make-shift hospital, a beachhead with tanks, and a tour guide. It was really interesting and of course a necessary reminder of the cost of freedom and the lives lost to protect it.




Then we did some shopping and realized it was too hot to be out and after numerous foiled attempts at getting some Sweet Tea at McD's we left for Houston. Well, Buc-ee's then Houston. :)
Praise the Lord for this fun family time. After 2 very intense and painful summers, we are really seeing the light and enjoying life to the fullest.


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Happy Father's day!

Sweet John. As Jack Black says so beautifully in the feature film, Nacho Libre, "The Cheeeldren, they liiihke you. Choo are thay beehhst." Thankfully, that is an inside joke that we share so it's guaranteed to make you (John) laugh.

Thank you so much for your non-ceasing, non-complanatory, go-with-the-flow, mess-cleaning, toy-fixing, hand-holding, and prayer-leading daddy love to Leelah. As she says "you make my heart so happy". Leelah thanks God for you all day. And I'm thankful because I get to hear her gush on about her daddy all day. It has been nothing short of amazing (the real word amazing and not the word on the Bachelor) to watch you and Leelah become so tight. The joys of seeing you two play, giggle, and ROARRR at the dinner table have to be close to hanging out in Heaven.

You are the best daddy in the whole wide world, and here's the proof...

A wedding, some fish, and a bathroom conversation...

And now for our crazy weekend(s) photo footage!
First we went to a wedding of John's cousin Daniel and his beautiful bride Stacy. It was such a ball to go with the in-loves! Look at how precious my nephew Ryan is!?!!!





The weekend before that we went to fish at the glorious "Majopa" better known as Mary Jo Peckham Park. We caved and bought Leelah a princess fishing rod. The girl reeled in 2 fish!!! One more than her dad!! She was a whole mess of excitement.
We then blew that popstand after word and sight got out about a water moccasin. Y'all know I don't play when it comes to snakes. Horrifying.





And the smell of banana boat- get on the boat tha banana boat! Who's with me!?




Leelah at a classmate friend's splash party- little swimmers diapers unite!

Let's be honest. We have children so that we can laugh at what they say to us when we are in the bathroom stall with them. Am I right? You've got to agree that the funniest stuff you've ever heard has been in the kid-occupied stall next to you.
We're starting off low-brow, if you can't take the heat then get off this blog!:
Here's some of my faves:
"Are you gonna make a stink?"-- College Station Mall
"Ya shouldna sat in it is what ya shouldna did!"-- again with the College Station Mall
and today out of the mouth of Leelah at Target-
"MOM DID YOU GO!?" "WHAT KIND DID YOU DO?!!"
me: "Please don't tell all of our business!"
L: (in a whispered tone) "Oh okay. I love you mom."
She was cracking me up so much- even another lady said "Listening to her has made my day!" Kids. Love it. Don't love how she already calls me "mom" though.

A gift from God!

So my dream to become Ms. Peanut has finally been achieved. Anyone that knows me knows I dig monocles and strive to be in essence, classy, like Mr. Peanut. I'm talkin' the whole shabang- Top Hat, Cane, and the best and most essential part: the Monocle. That dream has finally been achieved today.

I've got cataracts and floaters a plenty. I've got squigglies and hazies galore. Want loose vitreous- I've got 20! But who cares, no big deal, God's got plans in stoooooore.... (The Little Mermaid? I know, I know I'm a dork).
I've been toying with some new low vision devices lately to help me see near and far. Here they are:
The magnifying page- big. So big I'm afraid to leave it anywhere outside or near a window for fear of starting a fire...
The red small magnifier- someone actually laughed out loud at this the other day and thought I was joking...
The monocular for far away- this comes in handy for when I park next to a street sign while trying to find my way around a new neighborhood so I don't have to drive back and forth until I can focus on it. But Leelah has already broken my lanyard (sp?).

All jovialness aside a sweet, sweet new friend from our Bible Study class named Emily and her uber-cute daughter Lilly, came by today to deliver a present she had for me. Little did she or I really know what an awesome God-appointed meeting this was. What a wonderful world God has given us to enjoy when you wake up not knowing the blessings you have yet to receive and in my case today the blessings were many! God knew I needed a life-picker upper at this point. And that is exactly what Emily did for me today- like a nice glass of sweet Iced Tea when you're parched. "An Anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."-Proverbs 12:25.

So here's the story... A crazy-fabulous friend/hero of mine Callie Smith (again I don't do hyperlinks- check out the The Smith blog on my list!) was talking with the Sweetawesomecoolness that is Emily B. about my eye sitch I guess. Which led Emily to a treasure her husband had given her from one of his business trips to Japan. I know right- I love Japan! So Emily bestows this most glorious present upon me today...

Pretty wrapping- I'm already over the moon with that alone. Then comes the opening...

"Do you know what it is?" me: "No- is it a locket?" E: "Open--"



It is a beautiful, Mikimoto pearl, bejeweled monocle/magnifying lens that she has kept for 4 years knowing she'd have some use for it someday. But God knew she'd be able to give it to someone who needed it and who needed a friend at that time.
I was immediately overcome with tears when I opened it up and discovered the treasure. Honestly, I'm a crier. I'll admit. But I like to keep it on the DL most times. Especially with a new friend. Way to spaz out Gillian! We shared some tears. Thank you God for this sweet moment and act of kindness and for this new gift of friendship. I'm so thankful for her and her family and so glad they are apart of our church family.

Here's me livin' the dream. Don't be jealous!!!!


I'm a choo-choo Charlie and a classs act!!