Daddy is home!

I picked Lou up from the hospital yesterday morning. We went right to an appointment at an oncologist from there. The doc said nothing set any red flags off in his mind when he loked at Lou's cat scans and x-rays. So he's going to do bloodwork in one month and another cat scan in two months to make sure everything looks normal. So, I have hubby back and Hannah is so very happy to see her Dada again!

If anyone is looking for a new horse, I have several for sale or have info on several that other trainers have as well. I have two verycheap geldings and one freebie....and looked at several nice horses the other day.

Sealy is on a short break. I was not able to do anything with her while Hubby was gone. Sharon was down in SC and Big Lou was just too busy to watch the baby. I also was waiting for a bit to come in the mail that Michelle is lending me. So she's going to go back to work hopefully tomorrow. Blake is doing unbelieveably well. He's going cross country like a pro and packing around anyone who wants a fun ride. He's got several buyers lined up in the next week with two who just tried him and live a bit away so they are planning second trips to see him again. I'm hoping something works out for him. He's such a good boy!

So Hannah turned 8 months old yesterday. She is such a ham. She keeps me smiling everyday. SHe started saying "bah bah bah bah" the other day. It's her new favorite thing. So freakin cute. Here are some pics I took. I can hardly ever get her to smile while I hold up the camera. But I set it down and she's all smiles!

Almost...

Lou almost came home today. If he hadn't had a bad night last night after eating a somewhat normal dinner. *sigh* I guess it was too soon. He had soup for lunch and soup for dinner and so far is doing well. He should be able to come home tomorrow. If so, he'll take his scans and x-rays to an oncologist on wednesday. They want to be sure that the two lymph nodes they found in his stomach are not abnormal (oh please let them be normal).
I visited with Lou for two hours today. He seemed like he felt pretty good. He was just so ready to come home.
Hannah has been doing well. She started babbling "babababababababa" today. It's her new favorite thing now. I think probably because this is the first sound she's made that involves closing her lips. She thinks it's pretty cool and readily repeats it if you do it. She never did say, "Dada" again. I'm hoping "baba" turns into "Mama."
Nighttime has been a little rough. She is a little congested and wakes herself up when she can no longer breathe out of her mouth. I'm guessing she's scaring herself because I've never heard her cry the way she did friday night. So far it's been pretty consistent....about and hour after going down. Then it takes almost an hour to get her back down. Then she's up every three hours. I long for the day when she gets back on schedule and sleeps through the night.
This came at a bad time too with the worry and stress of having Lou gone. I'm corssing my fingers things turn around and are back to normal tomorrow.

All plugged in...

Our power came back on sunday afternoon. So we've been catching up on cleaning and refilling the fridge. Lou started getting sick on monday. Now he's in the hosptial. He has a return of pancreatitis that he's had several times in the past. They also found spots on his liver. Noone seems to know what's going on with him. The doctors have pretty much been non existant. So we know nothing. At least Lou is comfortable. They drugged him up and he's getting some sleep. I hate worrying and waiting. Sharon is down in SC cleaning up their property. So we are just a tad short handed. Aunt June is still out of town so no babysitter.

I took Hannah to a fr4iend's house yesterday and left her there for two hours so I could take Lou some clothes and visit for a little while. I think that was one of the hardest things I've ever done leaving her there. Unfamiliar place, unfamiliar people with another baby who was an aggressive 10 month old. Hannah was moritified. I was a wreck yesterday. Things seem better today even without an update. I hope he calls soon.

So...how about a funny or two?

Hmmmmm....what will they think of next?

Oops.....busted!

Lights out!

So....we've had no power since last sunday. We had a pretty bad windstorm (thanks a lot Ike) and have been "in the dark" ever since. Sorry for the lack in posts....I'm just starting to catch up on emails and bulletin boards I'm a member of. Hannah and I have been staying at Aunt June's hourse all week. We go home during the day but stay here at night because she has power (and internet yay!!!!). The temps have been in the lower 40's at night so a furnace that actually runs is definitely a must. The electric company is telling us we MIGHT have power back by monday. We emptied out our freezers and took everything to the in-laws. They have two chest freezers that are hooked up to a generator. We have a pig and a cow in there so we didn't want to lose any of that meat. Everything in the fridge was pretty much lost. Sharon told me to make a list of everything that spoiled because we can claim it on our insurance. I didn't realize just how much was in there until I cleaned it all out! Wow!
Lou was carting water from the creek across the road to the barn (using buckets to fill a tank) so our horses had water to drink. We do have the other generator hooked up for the lights and for the walking machine but just recently had soemone rewire a few things to get the water running in there.
In horsey news we've had some nice races recently, winning a few and tonight we had a second and a fourth. Blake cut his back leg and had a few days off....then yesterday came in with a big gash under his chin. If there is a way to get hurt he finds it. He'll be fine though. Michelle took the noseband off his bridle and he's doing well despite the bump.
Sealy is doing spectacular. She's only been back in work for two weeks but each day she's been doing better and better. She's definitely grown up a lot over the last year. I'm tickled with her progress so far. She is proving to be very intent on trying her hardest to learn. She's very trusting and seems to enjoy the work.
Mom is at the tail end of her visit up in the NE. She'll be heading home from Maine tomorrow. Sounds like she's had a great time.
Hannah is just a joy as always. She keeps me laughing....and exhausted too. She hasn't decided to crawl yet but she's mumbling lots of gibberish that I hope one day soon will turn into "Mama."

Anniversary

Today is our two year anniversary. I can't believe it's been that long already! It seems like this last year has flown by. Lou definitely did good this year. He bought me a spa package at Casal's Salon. This is where I get my hair cut and I LOVE it there. The package includes a massage, mani, pedi, facial, hair styling and make up. I'm not sure when I'll go do it though. I can't wait for it though!! I bought Lou and money clip from Leroy's Jewelers. It has this cool, flat blue stone in the middle that has swirls in it when you look at it in the light. Hopefully he'll use it!
We went to "O'Charley's" for dinner and Hannah came along. She's so very good when we go out to eat. She flirts with people and plays with her toys.
I also rode Sealy today for the first time since April. I started working her in the round pen last Friday and today was the day. She was wonderful. She did inherit some of her mother's good qualities! One being that you can just pick up where you left off, even if it's been 5 months....and she does great. I think she was missing the attention because her ground manners have been great!

Kids and horses

First I wanted to share a shot I took tonight of Hannah. She's sneaky and doesn't stay in this position for long. She has figured it's easier to roll onto her back really quick than to prop herself up like this. I don't think she'll ever crawl. I think she's going to skip it and go right to walking.

This is Hannah petting Blake when we visited him in VA. Michelle is holding Hannah (she is Blake's trainer and a close friend of mine). Blake LOVES kids!

Here is Blake on his SECOND cross country school. Michelle says he's kick along quiet and jumps anything you point him at. Sounds like a fun ride.

And last but not least here is a video from the same day:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v44/FlyACK/Doug/?action=view&current=Blakecrosscountry_0001.flv

I put Sealy back into training last Friday. She's happy to have the attention again. Although I have to admit she looks like she could possibly foal any day now! I love having an easy keeper! I may get back on her tomorrow. I've just been lunging her the past few days. I'm just worried my hips will hurt for days after getting off her!

A note from Hannah

Hi to all my mommy's friends and to my family! I just wanted to show all of you just how cool I am. Mommy and I went shopping today and I found the best pair of sunglasses. How do I look? Unfortunately Mommy didn't buy them for me because I thought they were rather tasty and she said that isn't what I am supposed to do with them....so maybe when I'm more grown up I can sport a pair of my own.

Home Sweet Home

We made it home today around 5pm. It only took 8 hours with three stops. Why does coming home always take longer? Anyway, I'm stoked to sleep in my own bed again. Mom's magnetic bed has my neck all kinked up.
I unloaded the car and put the new stroller together. For any of you who don't know, Mom's friend gave me one of those cool three wheeled jogging strollers. They actually have some type of shock system for a smoother ride and huge wheels like a mountain bike (only a little smaller). Hannah seems to love her new ride. The other stroller will be kept for indoor use (shopping!). She used to get jolted around in the old one over our gravel driveway....but never seemed to mind.
So we took the new stroller out and walked around Sealy's pasture....oh heavens why did I do that? Yes, I want to get back into shape but these ideas seem like good ideas until I get halfway up that hill and my calves and hamstrings are burning!! We did make it to the top and had a nice, brisk walk down. Hannah "sings" on bumpy rides but was pretty quiet tonight. No bumps! Woohoo!
I hope I can stick to this routine. I have 15 more pregnancy pounds to lose and I'm trying to stay motivated.
Our visit was really nice. Hannah was such a joy. She seemed to like everyone who held her and was an angel when we went out to eat.I couldn't ask for anything better!
It's always hard to leave Mom's house. So many memories and I don't like to leave her alone down there. I hope she gets up here in a week or two before heading to Maine on vacation. (hint hint....I know you read this Mom!).