Y'all Ain't Gonna Believe This...

What's the difference between a northern fairy tale and a southern fairy tale? A northern fairy tale starts out with "Once upon a time..." and a southern fairy tale with "Y'all ain't gonna believe this..." Okay, so this is not totally relevant, but Scott told me the other day and I thought it was a funny joke.

Ephraim has two more things to add to his sick list for 2009, nasty bilateral ear infections (that means both ears, folks) requiring two Rocephin shots and a 10 day course of oral antibiotics, and Rotavirus. For those of you who have never experienced Rotavirus, let me just say... oh...my...goodness! It starts out with vomiting and moves on to diarrhea - tons of diarrhea! I am sure that Ephraim has pooped an amount of diarrhea equal to his weight, or what he used to weigh. I'm sure he's lost some weight. The boy has been really sick for about a week. Bless his heart, he's finally recovering.

The medical marvel (that's Ellie) has also been somewhat sick, believe it or not. She had a fever and has had a couple of days of diarrhea. Could be Rotavirus, I guess. I read that is has much more mild symptoms in adults and older children. She loves the fact that she is sick! I guess since she never is and Ephraim seems to always be. But let me tell you, she has not acted sick for even one minute - the girl has been wild as ever.

I have been doing loads and loads of puke and poop infested items. It is good that I do not have a weak stomach (I think few moms do). Anyway, that's what is new with us and sadly it is the same old story - sickness! Oh, how I long for Spring, warmer weather, less illnesses (cross my fingers)!

Where the Wild Things Are

Oh, you thought it was a children's book? No, it is our house! And their names are Ellie and Ephraim.

I know you all thought the McGhee Family blog had seen its last days. We're still here! I have been meaning to update for so long (hint, hint... here come the excuses and they're pretty good).

We've had major computer problems and major internet problems. We got a new computer and have now switched internet services. And, I just got so behind that the thought of updating seemed overwhelming. I think I'm ready to give it my best shot...

Ephraim is into everything. His trademark move right now is finding something small he can push up against something big so that he can climb up on it. I told Scott I think he is going to be a mountain climber and/or a doctor. (He likes to walk around with the play stethoscope around his neck). Anyway, he loves to play with his big Sissy, dancing, and vacuuming (toy vacuum, of course). He says new words all the time but still likes to grunt and point a lot. He eats like his Momma (picky). This year he's already had an ear infection, stomach virus, and right now has a really bad cold, bless his heart. He recently had his first hair cut and was 17 months old on January 22. He is still an angel!

Ellie is still very into the Power Rangers, but also likes to play with whatever her brother is playing with. Sometimes she decides that she doesn't want to be the big sissy anymore. She is actually a really good big sissy though, and her "Brud" just adores her. She is doing well in preschool and will celebrate her 100th day of school on Friday. I am going to have lunch with her that day. We are still looking at schools for her for next year, but haven't made any decisions. We thought her imaginary friend was long gone, but he has revisited some lately. His name is Mekin Ha-ha and he has a lot of birthday parties. It is the running joke around here that Mekin must be about 100 years old as many birthday parties as he has. She usually insists that he is only 5 years old. Oh, and he has a friend named Sha-sha that comes over sometimes. We don't "see" her as much.

I am ready for Spring. It gets dark too early and it just makes me want to sleep... we all know I can't do that all the time! And I absolutely hate being cold. I think snow might be the only redeeming quality of Winter. Not much new with me. I have just been especially busy being Mommy lately.

Scott has been having fun with the new computer. He is on Facebook now, too. Hum, I guess he may be as boring as me. What can I say but that I guess our kids are our life right now. I don't think we'd have it any other way!

Hopefully, more to come soon!

I'm All Ears

I am planning a Disney World vacation for our family this coming spring. I'd love to hear from those of you who have gone there recently. I want any and all recommendations that you are willing to give me.

I know that Cinderella's Royal Table and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique are musts. I am going to reserve those as soon as I am permitted. I am working with a travel agent to book our room soon at Wilderness Lodge. Other than these things, I am still in the planning phase. We will stay for a week and have not decided if we will fly or not, but probably will.

Please post as much information as you want or email me if you prefer... I'm all ears!

Christmas Already?

Wow... I just did October in review on my blog and now it seems like Christmas is right around the corner. I know, I know... we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet. The truth of the matter is that everywhere you look there is already Christmas stuff everywhere. You can't help but feel the pressure to start your Christmas shopping, figure out when you are going to get the tree up, and start thinking about Christmas cards... which brings me to my next topic of discussion.

Last year I toyed with the idea of not sending out Christmas cards. No, I'm not trying to be a Scrooge! My friends at work talked me out of it. But this year, I don't think I can be swayed. Before you shake your head in disapproval and disappointment, let me explain. I send out a TON of Christmas cards. I will not tell you how many because no one can believe I know that many people - and I promise you it is not everyone I know, but actually a very whittled down list. Anyway, it takes a really long time to stuff, address, and stamp all those cards. This is valuable time that I could spend enjoying the holiday season with my family and friends, or getting sleep so my family and friends might actually enjoy ME during the holidays instead of me being a crab because I'm tired. I know this sounds like bad excuse, but let me go on...

Money is tight for everyone this year. Gas has cost lots more than usual in the last few months, food costs more, and we've probably all lost money in the stock market. I feel like this will be a hard holiday season for the many worthy charities out there. So this year I will take the few hundred (yes, not a typo) dollars that I usually spend buying and mailing Christmas cards and donate it to some of our favorite charities. I apologize in advance for anyone that likes to put my kids Christmas card picture on their refrigerator (this is the argument that my friends at work used last year to get me to send out cards). I will post a Christmas picture on my blog, so if you really feel the need, print it out and tape it up!

Let me mention that this is also very "green" because I know some people just end up throwing Christmas cards away eventually.

It used to be the only time some people saw our kids, but now with the fabulousness of blogging, our kids are but a click away! Nothing is lost.

So there it is, the decision has been made, it is final! The Christmas card tradition that I have practiced since college has been broken. As they say, change is good.

Let me leave you with a challenge... find something you can do without this Christmas and then instead use the money for a charitable cause. That is what Christmas is about anyway - the Love of Christ.

Some of our favorite charities...

Compassion International http://www.compassion.com/

Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree program www.angeltree.org/give

The Salvation Army

Children's Hope International's Help an Orphan program http://www.childrenshopeint.org/

And of course, local food banks

Ay, Matey!

Last week was Disney week at Ellie's Daycare. They did fun Disney themed things all week, ending with Pirate & Princess Day on Friday. It should come as no surprise that Ellie wanted to be a pirate, not a princess. She was the cutest pirate I've ever seen!

October in Review

OK, I know I did not write a single post the entire month of October. The McGhees were super busy! October was a fun month! I'll let my pictures tell you about it... they are from some of the most fun things we did... Burt's Pumpkin Farm, Monster Bash at the Creative Discovery Museum, Ellie's class field trip to Hilcrest Orchards, and Halloween - they were Tinkerbell and an Ohio State football player. Oh, there's also just a cute pic of Ephraim laughing stuck in the middle of everything! Enjoy! Maybe I'll do better this month!

Tagged!

I was just telling Scott earlier tonight how I had not blogged in so long and that I just didn't feel like I had anything to say. Ephraim has not had any reactions to any foods he's been eating and I am certainly enjoying being able to eat anything I want. However, in the last month Ephraim had a nasty stomach virus that Scott & I both got at the same time two days later (Ellie, always the medical marvel, never got it). And now Ephraim has had some major diarrhea for DAYS. And of concern to me, he eats like a bird. He won't try anything new. You have to trick him to get new foods into his mouth and then he just gags himself until he works the food out of his mouth. He will really only eat baby food consistently, and now he's starting to not really want that. People always say babies will eat when they get hungry, but quite frankly... I don't believe that! Ephraim must have his Daddy's... okay, his Mommy's stubbornness.

So, on a lighter note, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had been tagged. Now I have something to say!

Angela tagged me and so here you go:

The Five Tag

10 years ago I:
1. got engaged to Scott
2. bought my first home
3. became an Aunt
4. had been out of college for one year
5. had my first real full-time job

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. laundry (remember... DAYS of diarrhea)
2. read my Bible
3. pray
4. go to bed
5. sleep

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. hummus & pita chips
2. vanilla yogurt with mini dark chocolate chips
3. Thin Mints (Girl Scout cookies)
4. pumpkin anything
5. banana chips

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. pay off our house and van
2. hire all kinds of people to do all kinds of things for me... cook, maid, gardener, etc.
3. have a real artist paint a picture of my kids to hang over my piano
4. spend almost every minute of my life with my family
5. give generously!

5 places I have lived:
1. Dalton, GA
2. Athens, GA
3. Chapel Hill, NC
4. Chattanooga, TN
5. Ringgold, GA

5 jobs I have had:
1. Pharmacist
2. Pharmacy intern
3. research assistant
4. server in a restaurant
5. receptionist

I am tagging: Shana F, Tammy H, Tamara C, Terri R, and Chelle R! I'm not leaving you a comment on your blog... you'll just have to read mine to find out you've been tagged!

Rules: Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.