Baby #2 is on the way!!!

Just thought we'd share the news with all of our friends and family--Brady is going to be a BIG BROTHER in August!!! Yes...Baby #2 is on the way. We went to the doctor yesterday. Everything looked great! Our due date is August 5th, 2009. We are unbelievably excited and a little bit nervous about having 2 small children!! Life is really going to change and get busier for us now!!! Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Halloween 2008

As you can see Brady was Cookie Monster for Halloween. He actually loved his costume, which kept him very warm on the cool Halloween night. Jill, Michael, Ben, and Hannah came from Midway to go trick or treating with us. We all had a blast. Brady even got to carry his very on pumpkin!! Chris was in Effingham County at a football game and we missed him very much, but we had a ball without him. Our friend Dane came over and cooked hotdogs for all the adults, with the help of Michael, which we were all very greatful for!!! We got to see some very interesting costumes and some that weren't so interesting (or should I say...appropriate!!) We can't wait for next year.

PumpkinParty 10/26/2008

We went to the Kennedy's Annual Pumpkin Party and hung out with all of our friends. We all got to carve pumpkins, which Brady wasn't too sure about! He did stick his hand inside the pumpkin once or twice while Chris was cleaning out the "guts." He enjoyed handing us the tools needed to carve the pumpkin. But, his most favorite part of the day was riding the Georgia Bulldog that sits on their back porch. He also loved eating a sugar cookie with orange icing, which he managed to get all over him!! All in all, it was a wonderful day of food and fellowship with our friends!!!

Pumpkin Patch

Chris, Brady, and I went to the local pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin for the pumkpin party that we were invited to. Brady liked the pumpkins, however, didn't like to on the ground because he didn't have any shoes on. (He doesn't like to get his feet dirty!) We looked around for a while, took some pictures, and then settled on a pumpkin that we thought would be a great one to carve. We are looking forward to the pumpkin party tomorrow.

We took Brady this morning to the photographer to get his picture made in his halloween costume...cookie monster. I think they are going to be great. Once we get the picture back, if Tracy (our wonderful photographer) will let me, I'll post that picture on here for you all to see and enjoy!

Family Reunion

Sorry it has taken me so long to update, but we've been very busy!! I started my new job a few weeks ago and absolutely love it!! This is definitely where God wants me to be! I feel like a normal person on a normal schedule! Brady is still in daycare which he loves, except for the fact that one child still loves the way he tastes. Brady has been bitten 6 times in a month. What to do? Everyone keeps telling me to teach him how to bite back, but I don't want him to be the one getting in trouble!! He's been the "good" kid so far! Chris is still teaching and is talking on the radio on Friday nights for Glynn Academy football! He absolutely loves doing this!

We went to my family reunion yesterday in Cochran, GA and had a blast! I really couldn't believe how much everyone has seemed to change in the last year! I was wonderful to see all of our family and get updates on everyone. I took my camera with the intention of taking pictures of everyone, but I left it in the car. However I did manage to take pictures of Brady, Hannah Grace, and Ben on our trip to take Ben and Hannah back to Jill and Michael. We watched a couple of movies on the way home. Brady got tired of not being able to hear the movie so Hannah Grace shared her headphones with him! He had a ball playing with them.

I've also included one of my very favorite picture of Brady thus far! Hope you all enjoy these pictures. Once my mom sends the pictures from our reunion to me, I'll get them posted on here.

My work at home business

Hey guys! I recently have come across a home-based business opportunity with no large investment, no inventory and no risk. It is an Inc. 500 manufacturing company called Melaleuca. When I saw this presented to me, I became really interested. I'd really like to run the concept past you and get your feedback. I work from home with a company that manufactures products that we're already buying elsewhere, but they are better, safer & healthier. We just help set up customer accounts and the company pays us to do so. If anyone is interested in learning more, please contact me and either my website or email. If you know of anyone that might be interested, please give them my contact information!
www.workathomeunited.com/oquinnleigh
cbloquinn@yahoo.com

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!

Hawaiian Luau

Today, Brady's daycare class hosted a Hawaiian Luau Party! They had daycare made leis, paper hula girls hanging from the ceiling, and papermade grass skirts. The kids sang the bumble bee song and the wheels on the bus! All the kids seemed to have a blast, as well as most of the parents. The cleaning lady is going to have a time cleaning the carpet in that room! I've included some pictures from this party so you can see what fun Brady and the other children had!!!

Brady in the Bathtub

I just thought I'd share with you all just how much Brady loves to play in the bath tub! No matter how bad of a day I've had, watching him play in the tub seems to make the everything in the world right!! Hope you enjoy this little video!!

Chris let Brady play out in the backyard this afternoon and because he's isn't the best walker yet, he fell in the mud! Here are a few pics from that experience!

August 29, 2008

I haven't updated in a while, so I figured it was time to update everyone on our lives! Chris was given the opportunity to help commentate the Glynn Academy football games on the radio 105.9 FM. Tonight was his first time on the radio, ever I think, and he did a really good job. You could tell he was a little nervous at first, but became more confident as the game went on! Brady and I are very proud of him.



Brady has moved up to the 1 year old room at daycare and is learning to eat more table foods! Tonight he ate a grilled cheese sandwich from Crackerbarrel and loved it! His favorite things to eat are crackers, bread and freezer pops. We are working on getting him to love some vegetables, but what kid likes to eat his veggies? Anyway, he is growing like a weed. He and I went to the shoe store today and had his feet measured...his right foot measured a little over a size 5 and his left foot measured about a size 4 1/2. However, we got him a size 4 xx wide shoe, which fits him perfectly! He now has his first pair of walking shoes, which he seems to walk much better in than his Thomas the Train sneakers. Go Figure!! I had the opportunity to babysit for one of my friend's this summer while the teachers were doing pre-planning. Cara was 2 months old at the time and Brady just loved her. He wanted to bounce her in the bouncer and push her in the swing. He adored her and couldn't stay away from her! He didn't like it when she got upset. He would run over to where she was to check on her. It was so cute!!



Today Atlantic National Bank, our bank, celebrated their 10th Anniversary, so they has refreshments and goodies. Well, they also had a drawing for an Ipod. Well, Chris had already been entered into the drawing, so this afternoon when he went to the bank with his dad, he decided to enter my name into the drawing. I got a call from Chris as I was picking Brady up from daycare telling me that I had won the ipod! How cool is that! Guess today was my lucky day! Also, last week I got an offer to work with Dr. Bournigal and Dr. Boswell as their infusion nurse. The position is full time...Monday through Friday 8am to about 5:30pm. I have decided to accept the position. I am very excited to see how normal people live!! I am going to try and stay on at the hospital as a PRN nurse (which is an as needed nurse) if there is a position available that I am qualified for! My birthday was 8/19/08 which was a Tuesday this year. So, on Sunday night before my birthday, Chris decided he would prepare my favorite meal for me...a homemade Japanese Filet and Shrimp dinner. It was delicious. He had the griddle over by the table so he could cook in front of me. He made the rice, shrimp, filet, and even zucchini. He was a great chef that night, but has decided he couldn't do that every night!!! It was a lot of work!



Well, that's about all the news I have for now. Guess I'll have to update more later! I have included pictures of Brady and Cara, Chris cooking my birthday dinner, and Brady eating a freezer pop. Hope you all enjoy!!

July 19, 2008

Brady turned 1 year on July 16, 2008! We celebrated his birthday with a party on the 19th among family and friends! Brady ate his first hotdog, which he absolutely loved!!! As you can see from the 3rd picture that he got lots of toys that he has very much enjoyed playing with!! He aklso got lots of clothes!! He had his very own cake to dig into, but once he got icing on his hands, he had had enough! Brady is the type of child that doesn't like to have his hands dirty! Boy, are we gonna have to get him out of that! Boys are supposed to be dirty!!! Anyway, I just thought I'd share a few pictures with you! Hope you enjoy! Thanks to everyone who came to help us celebrate!

July 24, 2008

I went for my follow-up appointment yesterday after my wrist surgery. I was released to go back to work with the restriction that I cannot life anything heavier than 10 pounds for 3 weeks. I went to day to see the employee health nurse at work who said it would be okay with her if I came back with this restriction, but she had to discuss it with my boss. Well, my boss called me this afternoon to let me know that I cannot come back to work until I am released from this restriction. So...that means another 3 weeks out of work! Although I am really enjoying my time of, being able to spend lots of time with Chris and Brady, I really need to go back to work to help bring in money to pay the bills!!! Hopefully I can get something squared away with my short-term disability company tomorrow! Keep your fingers crossed!

My best friend's cousin had heart surgery today to have a valve replaced. I talked to her this evening and she said he came through the surgery just fine. He is in ICU at Eggleston Hospital in Atlanta. They are keeping him sedated tonight, and will hopefully let him wake up tomorrow! Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Pray that he has a full recovery!!

I found out the my memaw's dog has cancer in one of her toes. She is undergoing surgery tomorrow to hopefully remove all of the cancer! My memaw is a nervous wreck! Lucy, the dog, is her life! Please pray that Lucy makes it through the surgery and that she will be able to keep my memaw company for many more years!

Well, I'll update with more later! Hope everyone has a great day tomorrow and a wonderful weekend!!!

July 18, 2008

We had Bardy's 1 year pictures done the other day. If you would like to see them, go to the website http://www.momentsbytracy.net/. Click on the Your Life tab at the bottom of the page. The session ID is brady1yr_life. It is case sensitive. Hope you enjoy them!!

July 12, 2008

Well, I finally had surgery on my right wrist yesterday, only to find out that there was a lot of inflammation in the tissues. Dr. Dunn cleaned out all the inflammation while he was in there. I am at home now slowly recuperating with my right arm in a splint until my follow up appointment on July 23. The pain wasn't so bad yesterday, however, today I have had to take my pain medication around the clock. Well, I just wanted to update everyone on the status of my wrist! Will update with more later. It's very hard to type with one hand in a splint!!!

July 10, 2008

Well, I'm going under the knife tomorrow morning sometime after 0930. I have to be at the hospital tomorrow at 0930 and will go into surgery shortly after all the pre-op stuff is done. I am just hoping and praying the Dr. Dunn will find out what has been causing my wrist to be so painful! Please keep me in your prayers!
We took Brady to the doctor today because he was running fever and crying inconsolably today. Turns out he has a bad sinus infection on top of trying to cut his two front top teeth! Yikes!!! Today was not a fun day for Chris! He stayed home with him while I was at work. He was put on an antibiotic that we started tonight. I hope this works. I feel bad for the little fella!!!
Will update with more later!!

I have recently found out that my surgery on my wrist will be on Friday July 11, 2008 at the hospital. I am looking forward to getting this over with and hopefully finding out what has been causing me so much pain over the last few months!!

Brady is growing up so fast! He will be 1 year old next Wednesday! I can't believe how time flies! He is cruising around the house holding onto furniture. He hasn't quite gotten up the courage to walk without support, but I feel that it is coming very soon! He is cutting some new teeth, which isn't going to be fun for Chris and me! He has become very irritable over the last few days because of it. Also, we have begun to notice that he has a pretty good attitude when he doesn't get what he wants!!!

Right Wrist Surgery

Well, I've just spent the last four weeks in physical therapy for my wrist pain and it hasn't gotten any better. It actually got worse...especially my grip strength. It went from 62lbs to 50 lbs. So, I went for a follow up appointment with Dr. Dunn (the orthopaedic surgeon) today and since all treatments that we've tried thus far have failed, we are going to do an arthroscopy. It will be either 7/9/08 or 7/11/08 depending on where the surgery is going to be held. Dr. Dunn wants to have it at Premier surgery center because all of the equipment he needs for this surgery is there, but he is not sure if my insurance will cover having the surgery there. So, if my insurance won't cover the insurance at premier, I will be having surgery on the 11th at the hospital. He said if that's the case, he will just have to go and borrow the equipment since the hospital doesn't have all the equipment he needs. Apparently they don't perform too many wrist arthroscopies at the hospital. I'm kind of hesitant to have this procedure done because he says there is only a 70% chance that I will get better, and that is only if he finds something wrong when he gets in there! Let's all just hope that he figures out why my wrist has been hurting so badly since February and fixes it!!! I'm tired of being in pain!!!
Enough about me...This weekend is the last weekend of summer baseball!! Hallelujah!!!!! That means Brady and I will get to see more of Chris! We have missed him greatly over the last few months. Baseball has kept him very busy! He has been working at Skippers every Wednesday trying to bring a little cash! So far, he's been doing a great job and loves it!!
Brady is steadily trying to walk. He is getting better every day with his balance and will take a step or two here and there, but has yet to take off running! We think he is finally getting a few more teeth. We just hope and pray that it won't be too painful for any of us! We can hardly believe that in less that a month, Brady will be 1 year old. My, how time flies!!! He has changed so much since the day he was born!
Well, no other news from this way. Will keep everyone posted on surgery schedule as I know more!!

Family Vacation

We went on our first family vacation on Tuesday June 10, 2008. We went to Hilton Head Island with our friends Matt and Mandy. There was another couple there who were friends of Matt and Mandy's. They had 2 children. One was 7 and the other was a couple of months older than Brady. We all had a blast. I wasn't sure how Brady was going to like the beach and sand...but he loved it. I have nicknamed him "little sandbag" because he ate so much sand while there. He would just sit there and pick up handfuls of sand and eat it. He even at one point dug a spoon out of his stroller and began eating the sand with it. He loved it when the waves would hit him in the belly. I think we all are very much rested and relaxed after 4 days at the beach and away from the stressors of life! Now back to the real world.

Yesterday, Brady went to his friend Jack Darrin's 1st birthday party. He played in the little kiddie pool and even got in the big pool with Jack Darrin's papa! He seemed to have a lot of fun. He even got to eat some cake which he loved...the icing moreso that the cake, but he was willing to eat all of it!!

May 30, 2008

Well, I went back to the orthopaedic surgeon Tuesday May 27, 2008 because the pain in my wrist has been getting worse...not better...since the steroid injection. He seems to think that I just have a really bad tendonitis that hasn't yet responded to treatments. So...I am now on an oral steroid therapy treatment and begin physical therapy for my wrist on Tuesday June 3. I am supposed to have PT two to three days a week for about 4 weeks. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this works, because if it doesn't, the next step is arthroscopic surgery where he will go into my wrist with little cameras and look to see what the problem might be. He did tell me that MRIs move in 3 mm increments so it is possible that I could have a 3mm or smaller tear in one of my ligaments that will never show up on an MRI. How refreshing that news was!!

Brady is doing much better since he got tubes put in his ears and had his adenoids removed. We had a little bout with a sinus infection immediately after surgery, but that has since been fixed. Brady is like a new little boy! He is beginning to pull himself up using help from furniture, or whatever is in front of him, and taking steps. He has yet to take independent steps, but I have a feeling he will be "RUNNING" very soon!!! He is a busy little boy who doesn't want to miss a thing. I think he got that honest!! He will be 1 year old on July 16, 2008. Can you believe it!!! Time has flown by!!!

Chris begins summer league baseball this next week, so I'll be a single mom for the month of June. I believe he said they have games every Monday and Tuesday and have a tournament every weekend, the first of which is in Atlanta next weekend. At least it is just for the month of June.

We are going on our first family vacation June 10 to Hilton Head. This will be interesting since this will be Brady's first trip to the beach. I wonder how much sand he will try to ingest!!! We are looking forward to getting away from the stresses of life for a little while and just enjoying each other!!

May 14, 2008

Well, Brady had tubes put in his ears and his adenoids removed yesterday! We had to be at the hospital at 0730 which was kinda early but everyone seemed to be in good spirits. Even Brady, who hadn't eaten since about 5:00pm the night before. Chris was a little nervous. Me...not so much, because I knew the anesthesiologist and the CRNA who were taking care of Brady and putting him to sleep. The procedure lasted less than 30 minutes...very quick!!! When we were allowed to go back into the recovery room, Brady was crying hysterically. It almost made me cry, but I got him in my arms and gave him a bottle of apple juice and he seemed to be fine. A little uncomfortable, but fine. He was a little groggy for a while after but once we got home and he had a nap, he was back to about 75% of his natural self. Tuesday night wasn't very good for him. He was up and down a couple of times. Not sure it is was pain or what, but I just gave him tylenol and rocked him back to sleep! I've included a few pictures of our trip to the hospital!! Hope tonight is a better night for him!

May 12, 2008

Well, Brady had his appointment with the Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor today. He didn't have an ear infection today, however had fluid behind both ears. We are taking him tomorrow to have tubes placed in both ears and possibly have his adenoids removed. It is supposed to be a very quick procedure. We have to be there at 0730. The worst part is that Brady can't eat or drink anything after midnight tonight!! I hope that this helps prevent anymore ear infections. No other news from this way. Will update tomorrow or Wednesday on how Brady is recuperating!! Keep us in your prayers!!

May 10, 2008

Yesterday, Brady cut his second tooth!!! Yea! We're getting a little closer to "real people" food! However, this am he started running a fever of 103.5 so he hasn't been much fun today. We were supposed to go to Hinesville to celebrate mother's day with my mom today, but had to miss this because of Brady's illness! He has pretty much just slept all day. Poor little fella!!! Well, I went and took the basic skills part of the GACE Exam today. One step closer to obtaining my certification to teach. Should have my scores back in June. I'll keep you updated!!

May 6, 2008

Well, today I went to see Dr. Dunn, the orthopaedic surgeon, to find out the results of my MRI. Turns out I don't have a cyst in my wrist. He's really not sure of what is causing my wrist to hurt so badly. He said there may be a tear in my wrist the wasn't picked up on the MRI. He injected a steroid into my wrist today...very painful!!! He said that more often than not, this treatment takes care of the problem. However, if my wrist is still bothering me in 3 weeks, he wants me to come back for a follow up appointment and then we will discuss doing an arthroscopic procedure of wrist to take a look inside the joint. Please pray that the steroid injection works!!! I don't need to have yet another surgery!

May 5, 2008

Just thought I'd update today with a hilarious story. I was giving Brady a bath today and was talking to my dad on the phone at the same time. Well, all of a sudden I heard Brady poot and said to him, "you'd better not poop in the tub little man." Well about that time, here comes little clumps of poop floating out from under his rearend. I start screaming. Dad starting laughing. It was so disgusting!!! I didn't know what to do. Finally, after I calmed down, I took Brady out of the tub and cleaned it and then tried the bath thing again. All I can say is...eew!!!!!!!

May 4, 2008

Well, I haven't posted anything in a long time, because I still haven't quite figured out how to work this thing...but, I guess eventually I'll learn how to use this site. We have recently found out that Brady may have to get tubes put in his ears because of his recurrent ear infections with little response to oral antibiotics. With the last ear infection, the infection actually got worse while he was on antibiotics and had to receive 3 different shot of antibiotics. It was horrible!! We meet with the ENT doctor on May 12th at 8:30am to see what he has to say. So, please keep us in your prayers!
Chris is going to be confirmed in church next Sunday, May 11 and I am going to be received into the church, since I've already been confirmed when I was younger. We look forward to sharing this wonderful day (it's Mother's Day also) with our family and friends!! The Bishop is coming to our church next Sunday to perform the confirmations, receptions, and reaffirmations. How exciting! I will soon begin attending a Bible study group called Mama's and Papa's Bible Study and am very excite! I hope this will give me the opportunity to get to know more people in our church!
I have been having problems with my right wrist. The orthopaedic surgeon thinks I may have a ganglion cyst in this wrist. I've already had one surgically removed from my left wrist when Brady was just 1 months old. I had an MRI of my wrist Wednesday and follow-up with the orthopeadic surgeon on Tuesday to find out if I am going to need surgery to remove this one as well. I have a feeling that he is going to tell me that surgery is the way to go. I think this cyst is much deeper than the other that was in my left wrist because this one hurts much worse, with the pain shooting up into my hand! It hurts so badly sometimes that I have a hard time playing with Brady or even picking him up!
Speaking of Brady...he got his first tooth last Friday, April 25 and also drank from his sippy cup for the first time that night as well. I'm so proud of him! He is growing up so fast. He's learned to pull up on things. Still not sure of taking steps, but you can tell by watching him that he's contemplating walking!! I can only imagine how much my life is going to change when he actually learns to walk!!! YIKES!!
Well, that's all for now...I'll try to update a little more often so my blogs aren't so long! Hope everyone has a great week!!

Well, today is February 18, 2008. Brady is getting over his second ear infection. This one was much worse than the last. He had a fever off and on from Tuesday until Saturday. I ended up missing 3 days of work. His pediatrician put him on augmentin, an antibiotic for the ear infection which has now given him diarrhea!! Lucky for us!!! He is growing up so fast. He is already 7 months old. He laughs at everything! He is such a great mannered child. He definitely got his daddy's sense of humor. BUT...he got mommy's temper!! He sure lets you know when he's not happy. Chris is back to coaching baseball for Glynn Academy. I'm not sure he's enjoying it so much this year because it is taking him away from Brady. Once the games start and it warms up a little, Brady and I will be at as many of his home games as possible. Well, it's time for me to cook dinner...yes I said cook! I'll post more later to keep everyone updated!!