"Guess who you're lookin' at?"

That's how Marcus greeted me when I was getting out of the car yesterday. I thought I was lookin' at him, but figured it was something bigger and better so I asked for an explanation. He shouted "the B team quarterback."
Yes, that's right, my brainy little 80 pound boy is going to star as the Troy Middle School 7th grade B team quarterback. That is unless that big bully Center who is trying to "challenge his position" today doesn't take it away.
Photos to follow next Thursday after the big home opener- Battle of the Trojans, featuring the Troy Trojans vs. West Trojans. In case you aren't familiar, this is small town Texas and it doesn't get any bigger than football!!!! Carsyn even has a Trojans cheerleading outfit ready for the game!!!

Sick...again!!!
So here we are...week three of school and now Payton is sick. She hadn't slept for two nights, wasn't eating, and of course was "pulling on her ears." Went back to the doctor yesterday and she had double ear infections...again. The kind that when the doctor looked at her ears, he said "yuck, it's bubbly." And then told us we will start monitoring them very closely now. Are we going to join the tubes-in-ears club? Poor thing had to go off to day care today because she is not contagious and scott and i really needed to work.

When did Brenda become Amy?

No, this is not a riddle, it's a real life realization I had today. I spent 1 1/2 hours cleaning Carsyn's room because the lack of organization is killing me. I had to find places for everything. I couldn't take the clutter anymore! And people at work last week actually praised me for my organization and even called me obsessive!!! Is that something that comes with motherhood? Anything else I should be watching for?

The side pony-tail, blog 2

How much fun was that last response? I am in Marcus' room laughing aloud while he is playing video games. I didn't explain...he just wouldn't get it.
So here are some answers/responses to your questions/comments.

1. Yes, I blog at school. I am addicted to my laptop. I'll admit it.
2. Yes, I wore a side pony tail to school with a military jacket and heels- you don't have to dress like a teacher to be one.
3. Amy, Jenna has the perfect side pony-tail hair. Just smooth is over to one low side and secure it. I would throw in a headband with her too, if she'll wear it, too keep the frizzies down.
4. As amy said, Lori is too old for the Hills? Oh my, I am so ashamed. Jill and I always said we needed a support group for our closet addiction to boy bands- but add the teen reality shows to it? Bad!
5. Nan- Would LOVE to see that photo of you!!!
6. I will publish a photo next time I style... can't overuse the side pony!

The side pony-tail

I wish you could see a photo of me today. I am wearing a side ponytail! For real! I was watching "High School Musical" again last night and thought Gabriella looked so cute with hers. So I pulled out the latest edition of Cosmo magazine, which taught me how to pull it off. I am a combo today of two girls, each at least 14 years younger than me, that I wish to look like: Gabriella from High School Musical, and Lauren from The Hills and Laguna Beach. It have the side ponytail with the headband. So 80's! I had short hair in 5th grade when all the cool girls like Jenny Pacey wore one, so I am ready for round 2! Don't worry, I don't look like Deb, from Napoleon Dynamite. Isn't fashion fun???

Ok, here's my survey!!!

A is for age: 33
B is for beer of choice: Corona with a lime, preferrably on the beach in Cancun!
C is for career right now: High school special ed English teacher- 9th and 10th grade
D is for your dog's name?: Tito Ortiz (named after the UFC fighter!)
E is for essential item you use everyday: lip gloss and hair products
F is for favorite TV show at the moment: Supernova- making a rock star and Treasure Hunters
G is for favorite game: hmmm...don't really play games, but just got Carsyn the princess Memory game that we will try out when she wakes up from nap
H is for Home town: Troy, Texas. One four way stop, no lights and 3 cops
I is for instruments you play:Piano and clarinet, back in the day!
J is for favorite juice: cranberry, preferrably with Vodka in a Cosmo!
K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: Glenna (Marcus' so-called mother for those of you who don't know!)
L is for last food you ate: Honey Graham sticks dipped in Nutella- yummy!
M is for marriage: Yes - 4 years
N is for your full name:Brenda Kay (Davis) Elliott
O is for overnight hospital stays: Once when I was little and had thumb surgery, Two nights when I had Carsyn, Two nights when I had Payton, 5 nights including a small show in ICU last August for my heart plus 6 other day surgeries or hospital admittances (surgery on thumb, 3 surgeries on broken elbow in college, gall bladder attack, gall bladder removal). Do I win???
P is for people you've seen today: Scott, Carsyn, Payton, employees of Walmart and Sam's, including lots of sample ladies, and the pharmacist at Walgreens
Q is for quote:It's a tie between DR. Phil's "How's that working for you!" and "Holy Cow" which is a little dull but really funny when Carsyn said it today!
R is for Biggest Regret: No regrest- If I had done anything differently, I wouldn't have ended up where i am right now, which is perfect!
S is for status: married
T is for time you woke up today: 7:00 So much for my day at home!
U is for (no guide on this one so I made up my own) UFC, our family obsession. Next pay per view fight is next week!!!
V is for vegetable you love: Corn on the cob and french cut green beans
W is for worst habit: biting my nails
X is for x-rays you've had: Teeth, thumb, elbow, abdomen, heart
Y is for yummy food you ate today: graham crackers with nutella, spinach dip and triscuits
Z is for zodiac sign: Virgo

Thanks, Aunt Amy!

Aunt Amy sent Carsyn lots of art supplies for hre birthday. She got it just in time to be stuck at home for 4 days straight, so has already used it for hours!
On Wednesday I took her picture because I was so impressed. I drew a square and she really cut it out! I thought that was pretty impressive- maybe a budding young hairstylist or fashion designer?
But then on Thursday, while I was emailing my secretary lesson plans for today, she managed to paint her face dark blue with watercolors. Of course, first I took her picture. Then before I could say anything, she looked at me and said, "Oh, that was bad???"

When it Rains, it Pours!!!

So it is now day 4 of Carsyn's saga. It goes something like this:
Day 1: Tuesday, her birthday, she wakes up with a fever, no voice and complains of being "sick in her neck." Scott takes her to the doctor- not her pediatrician but another one. Her original throat culture for strep is negative. The doctor gives scott some paper about Croup and says she probably has that- no meds.

Day 2: Still running a fever. Wakes up at 5 am with a cough like a barking seal. Scott pulls the paperwork from the doctor out of his truck and we manage to diagnose her with Croup, seeing as how she fit everything on the page. It says it is highly contagious and she needs to stay home for 3 days. Since it is only my third day of school, Scott stays home and I plan to stay home Thursday.

Day3: After sleeping between us and scaring me all night because she was running a fever and breathing very loudly and shallow, I call the nurse who suggests I bring her back to the doctor, luckily her own this time. He in fact diagnoses her with Croup but actually medicates her. Yeah! By Thursday evening she seems to be feeling better after two doses of steroids. However, the doctor said she needs to stay home AGAIN because she's still contagious. Thanks to a good friend at school and a very helpful secretary, I am able to get a sub and plans ready without driving all the way in. AFter three years of NO sick days due to two pregnancies, a heart condition and a gall bladder removal surgery, I thought THIS would be my year to start banking. I am already down to 8 and we've only been in school 5 days!!!

Day 4: Carsyn wakes up FINALLY being able to talk and has some color in her face. She has been white for 3 days. Seems to be doing much better and throws herself on the floor crying because daddy is taking Payton to school, but not her. I decide for a special treat we will go to Walmart...that's her favorite store thanks to Grandma taking her there almost DAILY when she was staying with us last fall! Things seem to be finally looking up until the phone rings at 8:00...the nurse from Tuesday's doctor wants to let me know that my son (that's what I get for picking unisex names!) has strep. She wants me to pick up an antibiotic. So I call daycare and am the proud mother of the kid who is the reason for TWO signs to be posted outside the door. (for those of you non-daycare folks, they do that when someone in the class has something contagious. The sign always says "A Friends has...." Some friend, huh?)

When will it end?

Carsyn's UnHappy Birthday

Poor Carsyn. I woke her up on her birthday and sang to her. She didn't move. I tried the usual morning routine of carrying her to the couch, giving her a strong dose of a chewable vitamin and chocolate milk with her poop medicine in it (a whole other story for those of you who don't know!) and her favorite morning show, Little Einsteins. But she didn't want any of that- she just wanted to lay on the floor of my bedroom. Turns out she was hoarse, had a cough that sounded like a seal and had a fever. She didn't even get excited when she found out she got a new University of Texas cheerleading outfit complete with poms! So she got to go to school with me, since Scott had already left for an early meeting with the boss. Carsyn spent first period in high school. She was so excited to see a 6ft. 4 in. tall freshman in my class. She said "Mommy!! He's so big!!!" So Scott finally got to pick her up and take her to the doctor. Turns out she has Croup. It's kinda of a virus in your throat- mostly your vocal cords. But of course, she won't stop talking. She looks awful and sounds awful, but thinks she's fine, so was very sad to stay home today. She had some ice cream last night for her birthday. We're just glad she had so much fun at her party on Saturday so yesterday wasn't too much of a let down!!! So no birthday pictures!!!

Crazy Payton


We call her "crazy" because she is only nine months old and these are the stunts she pulls. She has been doing this for at least a month now. She stands up on her chair. She loves to look out the windows and see the cows, the puppy or her big brother and sister out there playing. Frightening when you consider she is so young and we have concrete floors. But she never falls. Sometimes she lifts up one hand and one leg into an arabesque position. When we call her name out, she looks at us, smiles, and steps down. Crazy Payt!!!

I'm a Brunette!

Ok, I ran out of room for photos on my last post. Here's Carsyn at 10:30 at night when the party was finally over. Sleeping Beauty!!!
Also, here's me and Payton last week and me and Carsyn this week- can you see my hair? It's not the best photo but a good compare/contrast!!!

Happy Birthday Carsyn!!!
Today is Carsyn's third birthday. It's been chaos so far, so we'll post more on that later! But Saturday was her big party. She had a blast with her castle cake, balloons, and lots of presents. I can't believe she is already three! Here are some photos of her. Oh by the way, I don't know if you can tell...but check out my hair. I am officially a brunette! I got it colored and highlighted on Saturday afternoon.

Our summer fun

Scott took the last week of July off. Even though we didn't go on a big vacation, we did do some fun things together. We took the kids to Inflatable Fun Land. We also went to Austin for a few days. We stayed at the Omni downtown, went to Austin's park and Pizza (the photos are from there) and went crazy with an all day spree at the San Marcos Outlet Mall.

No pictures today, just wanted everyone to know that we are still going strong! It is officially back to school for the Elliott's which means we are way too busy! Carsyn had her third birthday party on Saturday and had a blast. Her birthday is actually tomorrow so I will try to post some photos!

Happy Heart Day!!!

So, in case you didn't know...today is exactly one year since the WORST day of my life. August 3, 2005 was the day I went to the emergency room at 32 years old and 29 weeks pregnant, assuming that asthma was kicking my butt and making me miserable. Turned out I was having major heart problems- myocarditis (heart virus) resulting in cardiomyopathy (inflammation of the heart). Scary scary scary day.
I woke up this morning and as sappy as it sounds, was just truly so happy to be here! The sun was shining, my husband was sleeping next to me, Marcus was snoozing in his "cave", Carsyn was in princess dreamland, and most importantly, my perfect miracle baby Payton was in her crib playing and waiting for me. What a wonderful life!
I spend the day getting a pedicure, manicure, eyebrow wax, shopping at Hobby Lobby, a quick visit to Starbucks and then went up to Waco to eat lunch with Scott and raid the "PINK" girlie aisles of Toys R Us for Carsyn's birthday presents.
Now I am off to pick up the little angels after their first day back at school.
Once again, thanks to everyone, especially MOM, who got me through that horrible time.