My precious baby girl....

I thought I knew what being a mom was all about, I thought I had "raised" enough kids in my lifetime that I could handle anything with my own child. Was I ever wrong....

Avery is sick, again. This time she acts perfectly fine but has been running a fever all day. I really havent been too over the top concerned until she woke up from her nap this evening sporting a temp of 103.1 under the arm, thus making it 104.1. I have never felt that kind of fear...not the kind where you freak out and go crazy, but just the kind of fear where you KNOW you have to keep your composure but you just want to throw up too. sigh.

We got her into a cold tub and I got on the phone w/ the nurse hotline for my insurance. Well, actually, first I got some clothes on and put avery in something presentable to go to the ER in. We were totally on our way but I thought I better call that nurse hotline first. She told me what I needed to do until morning, when I need to call the dr. She didnt tell me anything I didnt know, but I suppose she did make me feel a little better that maybe this doesnt warrant a trip to the Er. I dont want to be the mom that runs my kid there every 5 seconds, but I dont want my kid to have a 104 degree temp for no reason either. I am praying its just her teeth...but I really think her body is fighting some sort of infection stemming from her recent episode of tonsilits.

I guess we'll find out in the morning, if we make it through the night w/out a trip to Pittsburg.

I really have a newfound respect for all of you guys as moms. I am looking at her right now playing w/ her little pink horse w/ tears in my eyes. My baby HAS to be ok, she HAS to get better. Its so much easier when its someone elses baby to realize its no big deal, she'll be fine...but when its YOUR baby it IS a big deal and its really, really scary.

Say some prayers for us! This just hasnt been a good weekend. Bud is still sick...he's hanging in there day by day. JoeDels bird dog died yesterday so that was a rough day for us....he was really sad thinking about the dog and realizing he's going to be losing his dad soon too.

Julie

TO BE HOME!!!!!!

Well I am HOME. I came home a bit early actually....After I wrote my last blog, I overheard a coworker saying they were leaving that night and so I came home with him on Tuesday night after the Branson Belle. We didnt get in till 1:30, and then I drove on to Hepler, but I was still so glad to be with my family. I really missed little Avery...and I was just glad to be back HERE.

Bud is still not doing well...no surprise...but he is hanging in there day to day. He had a really good day on Tuesday I guess, but is not doing so well now.

Nothing new to report really from the fam. My thoughts and prayers are with Katie and Paul Pitts as they buried a good friend/cousin this week. He was 37 and died suddenly from a heart attack. We really don't know what our next breath brings do we?

This kind of seems like the beginning of the week since I'm just now back to work, but it is THURSDAY! Today, then tomorrow, and then THE WEEKEND! This weekend are the nascar races in KC and we had an opportunity yesterday to snag some tix...but with everything going on I think we will pass and just watch them on TV....unless we change our minds and find more tickets. :) GO CLINT BOWYER!!!!!!!!

Thats all for now

Ozark Adventure

Well here I am in Branson. This is day 3 of the managers meeting and I am very homesick.

JoeDel brought me up here on Sunday and went to the Dixie Stampede with us, then headed back first thing yesterday morning. Yesterday was ok, we had meetings till 2 then went on a "Ride the duck" ride which was HORRIBLE since we had a blowout on the side of an Ozark mountain. Argh. Not a good thing. I'm still here though. I did some shopping yesterday after that then we ate at shorty smalls which is always fun.

Last night was the first night I'd stayed COMPLETELY by myself since Avery has been born. Last week I was in KC one night, but Marla crashed with me...then Sunday night JoeDel was here. It wasnt as bad as I thought it would be, bu tit was pretty bad. I was all settled into my room and was so lonely...so I went upstairs to play cards with the guys until my eyes would not stay open any longer then went back to my room.

Today we have meetings ALL DAY then going on the Branson Belle tonight....then tomorrow is meetings till 2 and then i get to HEAD HOME.

JoeDels dad is very, very bad. I shoul be there with him right now but I am here and that is making it even harder. Based on all of the signs, we see that the end could be here at any given moment.

I sure hope little Avery remembers me. It seems like forever since I hugged her little body and saw that precious smile. This may make me sound like a HORRIBLE mom...but its almost easier to completely block her out of my mind right now than to think about her all day long. I know I'm blessed to be her mom and I am so thankful every day for her dont get me wrong, I miss her so much, but its just better to not think about her that much right now or I may break down.

updates

Well I have several things to update.

First of all, please say some prayers for Avery. She is sick, AGAIN, and of course I am scared to death. I'm going to try and get her in to see the doctor this afternoon. This recurring cold/cough/whatever it is is really starting to worry me. I just pray she is ok. Also, I"m supposed tobe going out of town for work Sunday-Wed and I am already dreading it, even moreso now that my baby girl is sick. I hate this job sometimes. I just want to stay home w/ her. It will probably never happen.

JoeDels dad is still really bad. Its a day to day thing but he is hanging in there and actually dont a lot better than he was at this time last week.

Thats really all I have. The big Girard/Colgan game is tonight and I am PUMPED...although it looks like I may be taking part in it via 100.7 and my living room if my baby girl is still sick. I'm sure not taking her out and I dont think I'll be able to leave her.

Thats it for now!
Julie

CMT

Go to this link and VOTE FOR GIRARD!!!!

Voting at homegrown.cmt.com starts this Thursday, September 6 and runs to Friday, September 21. Lance Smith will declare the winner on Top 20 Countdown on Thursday September 27. The videos are also going to be running on Loaded in the Homegrown tab starting Thursday. Top 20 will tape in the winning town in October or November (date to be confirmed).

To Vote for the Girard video go here:

http://www.cmt.com/asm/contests/cmt-homegrown/hometown/

I'm so proud of MARLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blogging, Blogging, Blogging!

Well nothing new to report, just checking in for my daily blog. Many of you know that we are planning on going on a family cruise next year with my stepmom Lynne and her family. It was going to be spring break but now has been pushed back to June....which is fine but now I'm stressing about hurricanes. What is my deal? God is in control, what will happen will happen. WHY IN THE WORLD AM I SUCH A FREAK ABOUT STORMS. Argh. I'm going to work really hard to try and overcome these fears.

We watched the world premier of the movie "Dale" last night. Of course I cried. I'm such a nascar freak these days anyway, but it was just SO SAD how Dale Jr. only wanted the love and acceptance of his father. They did end up developing a strong relationshp and then he was killed. IT was also sad seeing how his wife talked so fondly of him ... and knowing now how everything has blown up in their family and Theresa wont even release the number 8 to Junior. That was Dales dads number, then Dales number for awhile, then Juniors...now he has to start over with a new identity. Oh well.

Thats my rambling for today!

Back to work :(

Well the weekend is over ALREADY. Where does the time go? JoeDel, Avery and I headed to Riverton Friday evening for the Girard football game. It was pretty exciting, Girard returned the kickoff for a touchtown and the crowd went crazy, including me. Poor little Avery didnt know what to think. She was screaming and crying and scared to death!!!!

After the game (we won big time), we headed to the lake for a couple of nights. little Avery went on her first boat ride. i'll post some pictures soon. We headed home on Sun. and watched the race Sunday night. Then, we went to Joplin yesterday on a little adventure. It was a nice, calm, fun weekend with my family!