Fancy Pants

The Greenie's spent a much-needed night out with the adults a week or so back when we attended the annual Albuquerque Mayor's Charity Ball. The Mayor's wife (I guess that would be the "First Lady" right?) hosts the Ball to support ~5 local charities. It's a really great cause and I'm always happy that my company supports it.

Carter stayed home with Hannah (co-worker's kid who is raising money to attend a vet program at Cornell this summer). We were only happy to help support her education and didn't mind that Carter was able to hang out with a young, blond gal (of which he talked about CONSTANTLY the day after...)!

Anywho, I tend to attend several of theses types of events each year with my work and I have a rule about NOT wearing black... Mainly because A) I already own 15 black dresses and B) it's easier to find me if I'm wearing something brightly colored (right Matt?).

So here's a shot of the gang in all of our fancy pants (click to enlarge) and me in my yellow dress:

L-R (back): Heidi, Steve, Laura, Tom
L-R (front): Eileen, Paul, Kerrie, Matt, Danita

Hope you have many opportunities to wear your fancy pants too!
~kerrie

Graduation Congratulations!

Just a short post to say...
to our nephew, Daniel, on his graduation from preschool! A few pictures of the happy graduate:
(And we weren't there, but I swiped these photos from Katrina...tee hee...thanks Katrina, great pics!)

Here's a pic with the proud grandparents (Grandma and Grandpa C):
Awwww....we're so proud of Daniel! Good luck in kindergarten in the fall!!!
~kerrie (& matt & carter)

Playin' with Chickens

With the recent warm weather, Carter has been a playground fiend. As in ALL he wants to do is play "outside"... (I often joke that toddlers are no different than dogs... "Want to go outside?!")

Anyway, I had Carter in this super-sweet outfit (he was telling me that he had his water):
...and ALL he wanted was to open the back door and run free:
Except the door was locked. And he was sad:
REALLY sad (this photo is simply priceless):
So I let him out to play (even though he was dressed all goofy...).

Later we had a little dinner and Carter selected the "chickens" napkin. I've been making cloth napkins (we don't use paper) and I chose some super-fun fabrics, most are kid-friendly. Napkins help with A) the mess... and B) teaching Carter a few new vocabulary words (for instance, he learned "stripes" by using the balloons napkin!).

Anywho, a few photos (and a fun little video) of Carter telling me about chickens and "what they say"...
[and in case you don't know what a chicken says, watch this short little video - it'll help you with sheep too...]




Thanks for the laughs, Carter!
~kerrie

The Sinus Infection Challenge

I mentioned a few blog posts back that I was on a really wacky diet to help pin-point the cause of my chronic sinus infections. Remember that one? Well, thought I'd finally tell the whole story here... And if you could care less, scroll down for some cute photos of Carter playing with his Thomas trains.

I'll start with the summary: the doctors have NO IDEA why I get chronic sinus infections.

Now the how-I-got-to-that-realization...

1.) After being on antibiotics pretty much every month between September and March (i.e., the cold months) for the last 2 years, I decided to complain to my doctor. And the only reason I complained was because the antibiotics were interfering with my wine drinking at Book Club (which is monthly). So yes, I'm very selfish. Oh, and every time I got a sinus infection, I shared it with Matt and/or Carter, so at any given time, one of us was sick. Guess I'm not TOO selfish then, eh? Spreading the love!

2.) Doc C sent me to see an ENT. We did scans of my head to see if I had anything wrong "structurally," and he put me on a super-powerful antibiotic for 30 days to [hopefully] kick out any remaining bugs. Results of the scan: nothing wrong. Results of the antibiotic: nothing - even got another sinus infection in the middle of the 30 days.

3.) Doc C then sent me to see an allergist (Doc K). We did a full-panel skin test (where they prick you with 90 known allergens - foods, plants, animals, etc. to see what you react too). We did some blood work to see if my immune system is compromised. We did some breathing tests to see if I'm asthmatic. Results of the skin test: nothing (I'm allergic to Japanese Cockroach - just like the other 99.99999% of the world and milk and eggs, which I already knew). Results of the blood work: nothing. Results of the breathing tests: nothing.

4.) Doc K then made the leap that since I had "hits" for the milk and eggs, I MUST be allergic to several other foods and THOSE foods are causing the chronic sinus infections. Excuse me?! So he put me on the world's worst diet for three weeks, which eliminated ALL known allergens (dairy, grains, sugars, citrus, nuts, alcohol, and pretty much everything else that tastes good). THREE WEEKS OF THIS! But I did it. I ate beans, potatoes, some vegetables, and some fruit for three weeks. I lost like 10 pounds (don't worry, I've gained it all back...).

5.) So I went back to the allergist to discuss the results of the diet and determine the next course of action. Basically I had no reactions to anything I ate, I was feeling fine (i.e., no sinus infection - but it IS warmer here), and I was ready to eat "normal" food again.

After being p*ssed off for having to eat next to nothing for three weeks, I was hoping this doctor could shed some light on my "condition." What's the first thing he says after the three weeks of H*ll?

"So, why did you decided to come see us?" EXCUSE ME?! IT WAS A FOLLOW-UP VISIT!!! I meekly told him so and maintained my cool.

Holding onto my bloodwork results, he then says, "Looks like we did some bloodwork, wonder why?" EXCUSE ME?!?! MAYBE BECAUSE I LOVE GETTING PRICKED WITH NEEDLES!?!? NOT!!!

I couldn't speak. I just sat there.

He flipped on the computer and proceeded to READ MY CHART TO ME OUT LOUD FOR 20 MINUTES! I was about *this* close to losing my cool.

This quack then explains that my immune system is fine. He flipped through the diet and said it was fine (although he had no idea or memory of telling me to DO the diet...). He then informs me that it MUST be another food causing these "sinus infections" as I called them (using air quotes).

OH MY LORD! I ALMOST WALKED OUT!!! Does he think I've made up my own misery?! Did I not really know what a sinus infection is/was?! I wanted to stab him (except I'm a pacifist and besides, I didn't have anything to stab with...).

I tuned him out while he quacked on, but he kept reminding me that it MUST be because of a food. We just had to "find out which one." So he put me on "challenge diets" for 8 weeks. For 8 weeks I was to basically over-indulge in a single food, one per week (milk, soy, wheat, etc.) and record how I felt. Thanks but no thanks.

When I asked WHY I should do this and explained that I was slightly puzzled how a food was causing my sinus infections, he proceeded to treat me like an idiot and slowly explain that the food or foods was/were aggravating my sinuses and prolonging the infections. I'd never be able to make them go away completely, but I might have ONE LESS per cold season if I eliminated the food (i.e., eggs) for the entire cold-weather season.

*eyeroll

So the gist of my saga - I'm blaming my toddler that is in daycare with zillions of other snot-nosed toddlers. He's building up his immunities by bringing home every ounce of crud that he is exposed to. Carter gets over it in 3 hours, I get over it in 3 weeks. Matt, he's just the innocent by-stander that is gonna get the crud too - most likely from me.

My pals tell me that when Carter is 6, 7, or 8, it will get better. Until then, I'll just suck it up. (And I'll take 1,000 mg of vitamin C twice a day and do sinus rinses/sprays when I need.)

And finally, the moral of my story: Allergists are complete and total quacks, especially Doc K. I'm canceling my second follow-up appointment and I'm NOT doing any stupid challenge diets. So there. Plbbbt. And it's not like he'd even remember me, why I was put on those diets, or whatever.

So let me end this post with some cute photos of Carter playing with his trains. He spends the entire time saying "Choo choo!" and it's absolutely adorable:
He's also just like his mom and sticks out his tongue when he's really, really concentrating:
Thanks for reading my rant. Now I have a doctor's appointment to cancel...

Stay healthy!
~kerrie

Off to the Races

With the Kentucky Derby coming up (this Saturday!), thought I'd get a post in about our own little jockey. Behold, Carter the Great riding on the super-fast, pure-bred, African-raised, "GIRAFFE EXPRESS"!!! (...thanks Grandma C!):
Such concentration required in a high-stakes race such as this(!):
Uh oh, traffic ahead, must lean a little to the right:
And it's a photo finish! Carter the Great for the WIN!
Good luck to all of the horses, jockeys, and bettors this weekend! And let's hope there's a Triple Crown this year!
~kerrie

Psycho Bunnies

I have lots and lots of photos and stories to tell from our recent trip to Kansas for Easter. As soon as I get a third arm, 10 more hours in the day, and an assistant, they'll get posted up here... I kid, I kid, but yes, we're that busy these days...

However, I couldn't resist sharing a tale of the "Psycho Bunnies," so I'm making the time RIGHT NOW to post these pics and the tale. Here goes...

You see, my favorite bread shop, House of Bread, advertised Easter Bunny Bread back in April. Since Matt and I were making the trek to Kansas, I felt that we should bring a little Albuquerque love with us. So, we did. It was in the form of a whole grain "white" and a whole grain "wheat" bunny...

Ta-da! Mr. Wheat (left) and Mr. White (right):
Let's see Mr. White up close, eh?
And Mr. Wheat?
Aren't those just fabulous?! So life-like, eh?

So why the "psycho" label for this post? Well, you see,

THEY ARE BOTH MISSING THEIR RIGHT "EYE BALL"!!!!!

AHHHHHH!

PSYCHO BUNNIES ON THE LOOSE!!!!!

Just being silly. Hope you had a Happy Easter! More to come, I promise!
~kerrie

PS For the record, the bunny bread was mighty tasty! Just had to overlook that one-eyed thing...

Congrats to Jeremy & Liz!

Just a quick little post for our good pals, Jeremy and Liz!

Starting with a big....
Their little girl, Natalie Lucille, arrived on Saturday! Can't wait to see lots of photos and meet the little gal! She came into the world healthy and perfect at 6 pounds, 5 ounces and 19.75 inches long (which is a teeny, tiny baby compared to our horse, Carter...)!

A big congrats to Jeremy and Liz and I especially can't wait to see photos of little Natalie laying about on the Parisian Kitty-Cat quilt I made for her back in March. They have a Parisian theme for the baby's room (how cute is that?!) complete with French kitties and chandeliers.

Few photos of the super-softy blanket below. The front:
Both sides:
A close-up of the kitties:
And here's a photo from Liz's Baby Shower:

And another photo from Jeremy's Baby Shower here at work (that's one of the two outfits I picked out for little Natalie...Jeremy thought it was totally cute...):
With that, a big, heartfelt congratulations from the Greenies to Jeremy and Liz! Here's to a few rest-filled nights!
~kerrie (& matt & carter)

Congrats to Steven & Sarah!

Just a quick little post for two of our favorite people: Lumpy and Puck, or Steven and Sarah as most people know them....

Starting with a big....
Their little boy, Tatum Evan, arrived yesterday! Can't wait to see lots of photos! And according to my sources, ahem, FaceBook, he's healthy - came into this world at 8 lb 2.5 oz!!

A big congrats to Steven and Sarah and I especially can't wait to see photos of little Tatum laying about on the Roswell Space Alien blanket I made for him earlier this month. Few photos of the super-softy below:

The front:
Close-up of the alien:

Both sides:
And while I'm on baby blankets, I also whipped up a couple charity blankets for Project Linus back in March. This is a wonderful, wonderful charity that provides blankets to children that are either seriously ill, traumatized, or just in need of a little blanket love while they're in the hospital.

My nephew Daniel received a Project Linus blanket when he was in the hospital as a newborn (he came into this world a tad earlier than planned...10.5 weeks early...and had quite a rough go at his first few months of life...happy to report that he's uber healthy now and a super duper little boy that's nearly ready for Kindergarten!).

Anyway, my sis-in-law (Katrina) makes a few blankets for them each year because Daniel's blanket is one of her most prized possessions. Plus, I'm always happy to help out a wonderful cause such as this and you should consider doing the same! Just think of all of the happiness you could share by just sending in a blanket! (So go to the link that takes you to their website and you can find your local chapter!)

I made a "boy" baby blanket (super soft flannel):

And I made a "girl" blanket:
And then I packaged them all up to donate at one of my favorite fabric shops:
Anywho, point of this post was actually to share our heartfelt congratulations from the Greenies to Lumpy and Puck! Here's to a few rest-filled nights!
~kerrie (& matt & carter)

Them's Good People, Those Oklahomans

(yes, I'm playing a little catch up with the blog tonight... this is my last post for the evening, but be sure to catch the other thirty-six I just posted...)

Our mostest favoritest people in the whole state of Oklahoma came to visit us last weekend and if you can believe it, I completely forgot to get out the camera! D'oh. Well, luckily we'll be back through OK this summer, so I'll take extra shots to make up for it. (And that link takes you back to a post from last summer when we visited them at their house.)

It was really, really great to see Renae and Chris and catch up (and eat New Mexican food! Yes, I broke my diet...). They did a whirlwind trip through the Land of Enchantment and then went back to OK to their real lives. While they were here Renae and I got to chat about everything and anything and Matt and Chris did whatever guys do...

So happy that Renae is all healed from her horrendous car wreck (not linking to my "best wishes" post because I don't want to think about the horror of it...). Chris is doing great too and I think collectively they've lost more weight that a 1-ton truck! They look AMAZING!

I know they made it back safely, but let me say it again, drive safe and be careful! They know how much we love them and they know we don't ever, ever, ever want to hear about car wrecks or injuries! Got it! Now thanks for stopping by and take care of yourselves and we already miss you! :)

Ok, let me move on...

After Chris and Renae left our place, we headed out to the mall for a little shopping. I was shopping for some school clothes for Carter, so Matt took him over to the little play area by the food court so I could take my time. He didn't really want to "ride" any of the machines (and we didn't have any quarters, so tough luck kid!), all he wanted to do was climb up, climb down.

Tried like heck to get at least one photo of him sitting at the wheel, but no such luck. This (below) is what I was able to capture:

There was also a couple cars, an ice cream wagon (which I think is where he's learned the phrase "cream," as in "ice cream"...), and a rocket ship. All he really cared about was the train. Good taste kid, already showing some love for engineering! Keep making that mama proud!
~kerrie