Random Sweetness (from my phone)

Got powdered sugar ?
Dragon Lady .....

" Mommy, this is the car I want. And I can drive on the road like you.

I know how. I really do. Trust me. "

First day of allergy shots - A veggie tale umbrella makes it all better.

A little old man ? Nope, that's Izzy.

Road tripping to San Antonio.

In style.....

Sarah's birthday at the ranch..... Ride Izzy Ride.

My sweet girl finally has her birthday present. Yes, it's taken seven weeks for Daddy to put it together the play set that Gran Mimi gave her. He's been so busy, but has worked on it every spare minute he could. She has been so patient. Oh, she was so excited to see it finished. Daddy made some brownie points today : )

Swine strikes again....

And I was so sure that I had escaped it. Wrong !!!! And yes it was terrible. But I survived The Swine Flu, although at times I thought that I wouldn't. Even my eye lids hurt. I didn't know your ear lobes could hurt. But yes, they can. So far we are two and two here at the Braniff household. Ryan and I have had it and Rob and Izzy are Swine free. Go figure. I'm so relieved though at which two had it. For starters, Izzy being sick would be awful. She's so compromised right now. Just getting over double ear infections and sinus infection, followed by another ear infection and sinus infection and on her second week of allergy shots. Still praying that she will stay well. And Thank You Jesus that Rob hasn't gotten it. I cannot handle one more child in the house. Yesterday, he "thought" he had a sore throat and laid down and took some Tylenol. Oh man if he gets sick I'm a goner. Thankfully, he rarely gets sick. And all of this because my hormonal son is sucking face (sorry) with his girlfriend. CAN'T YOU NOT KISS HER UNTIL SHE'S OVER THE SWINE FLU, FOR PETE'S SAKE? Again sorry. Today is the first day that I've felt like a normal person in over a week and I've been inundated by all the things that I couldn't do last week and I'm a little overwhelmed trying to get caught up. So, Ryan has come to mind a lot today....

Izzy didn't miss a beat. It didn't matter that I was laid out in the bed sick as a dog. She just brought everything to me. Instead of saying "Mommy, come see", she just carried it to my bed to show me. And her attempts to take care of me was very sweet, but overwhelming. Taking my temperature, cold wash clothes for my head, covering me up when I was cold, uncovering me when I was hot. All while I was trying to "stay away" from her so she wouldn't get sick. She is such a little Momma already. Poor Mari. I really believe Izzy will drive her nuts when she gets home. I was exhausted by her "bossy" manner of taking care of me. I was too tired though to tell her to stop being so bossy. Which is something I normally say about a hundred times a day. Honestly, I was so sick that I really appreciated it, bossiness and all. Jessi has been out of the house for a few years now and until Izzy it's just been me and the guys, so it's nice to have a girl around. A natural caretaker. At four, she is so intuitive. She knows when you just need to be loved on. Oh, how I love that girl. So, I'm alive and well again. Hopefully we are done with The Swine. And thank you my sweet Bella for taking such good care of your Momma.

Izzy's new playset

Achooooooo......

Well, it's been a crazy week around the Braniff house. Ryan had Swine Flu. Praise God we didn't get it. I panicked and got tested, but it turns out that I only have a sinus infection and bronchitis. Yeah !!! Never thought I would be excited about that. Rob is totally well. He never gets sick. Thank God for that too because he is the biggest baby when he's sick. Sorry honey, but you know that's true : ) And Izzy, well, Izzy is such a trooper. She has another ear infection and a sinus infection and you would never know it. She is always sick and never complains about it. The good news is we've finally gotten to the bottom of why she's been so sick. The poor child is allergic to everything. Just about. Eggs, milk, chocolate, peanuts, trees, grass, mold, dust, dogs, cats to name a few. Her allergist is awesome and he's been so patient with me. This allergy stuff is new to me. My other kids only had seasonal allergies. So my girl starts Immunotherapy on Tuesday. Once a week for nine months and then they go to two weeks, three weeks and so on for two to three years. O Lordy that's a long time. And she's allergic to so many things that they can't fit everything into one shot so she has to have two shots every week. My poor baby. At least it's a step in the right direction : ) So keep us in your prayers. Izzy is scared to death of shots. She was traumatized when she came home from China when we had to "catch up" her immunizations. So, two shots once a week for nine months is going to be rough.

There's a stranger in my house

Everyone told me that he would look different. And oh did he! He marched right by me at the graduation and I didn't recognize my own son. He has a jawbone ! No more baby cheeks. Twenty five lbs lighter. A twenty eight inch waist. He hasn't had that since sixth grade. I was shocked. He looked so grown up. So handsome, if I may say so myself : )

What no one told me was how different he would act. Only it's not an act. My son is a soldier. How did that happen in just eight weeks? It's so strange. The lazy boy that left here eight weeks ago is gone. I've spent the last three days kind of in mourning. Not really sure why. That lazy boy drove me crazy. But there's a man in my house now and that's weird. I thought he would come home the same person just looking differently. Don't get me wrong I love this "new" person. He's respectful beyond what he ever was. He's considerate all the time. He told me that he used to take me for granted and that he would never do that again. Huh??? His room is clean. His shirts are rolled up in a drawer. All of his dress clothes are on hangers. Not on the floor. He puts his dishes away. He says "Yes, Ma'am" to everything I say......... What??? It's like an alien is in him : ) He's giving his testimony in church on Sunday. Are you kidding me? The boy that I couldn't get out of bed before noon on Saturdays is up every day at 5:45 a.m. running with my husband. I LOVE THIS MAN !! He is awesome. Why would I be mourning the boy that left here?? I must be crazy. He's only here until he gets his orders and then he's gone again for awhile. I guess I better enjoy every minute of having this wonderful stranger in my house.