Snow!

This has been a record-breaking snowstorm for Roanoke. We measured 14 inches on our front step. Who knows how long it will be around for, the highs this week are mid to upper 30's, getting down low at night. We should be getting more on Christmas Eve too! The main roads are cleared but our neighborhood hasn't been touched yet.

Our church was supposed to have our Christmas Program tonight, 2 tomorrow morning and again tomorrow night. Tonight and the early one tomorrow has been cancelled. Hopefully the other 2 performances can go on as planned! And hopefully all involved can get out of their neighborhoods!

Dustin was having a great time playing with Zoe in all the snow. The poor dog had a hard time figuring out how to find a place to relieve herself though!

"My ball has to be around here somewhere!"

Zoe made a path around the yard that she kept running around.

She had to prance to be able to make it around the yard.

It was time for Rachel's nap!

I don't think she understood why we were just standing outside in the cold!

I don't think the mail will run for a few days!

Dustin had to back his car up a little and the outline of the bumper stayed formed. (We didn't think about the weight of the snow on the awning and it's starting to pull down some. Dustin got most of the snow off now, but we were a little nervous about it falling on his car. The neighbor's did fall off, thankfully no damage to any vehicles or anything.

We are very thankful that no tree limbs have fallen.

The cars are under there somewhere. Dustin had already cleaned off the cars and the driveway once yesterday. Didn't do too much good!

More to come

This week has been just a little crazy! I had a doctor's appointment on Thursday and he said that everything looks good and Dustin no longer has to clean/pack the incision area! We are both happy about that! I'm feeling a lot better.

Today was the last day of school before Christmas break and they were calling for snow to start around noon. Schools dismissed 2 hours early (as if it wasn't crazy enough before then!) It started snowing at 2:15 and we are snowed in! Zoe is loving it. We'll take pictures/video tomorrow and post them!

Update

Where do I begin? I just had a doctor's appointment on Thursday with the surgeon. He said that Dustin was doing a great job cleaning and repacking my incision. I asked him how many more times we had to go through that... he just smiled at me and patted my shoulder-ugg. I hope it continues to heal quickly. It is not hurting me as bad now, it just feels weird as when he packs the gauze in.
After a lot of phone calls and persistence I got the lab results back from my regular doctor. Turns out I did have MRSA, but have been on antibiotics for long enough where I can go back to work on Monday. Don't worry, everyone else here is fine and has not been affected.

2 Months

What a cutie!

We had a little photo shoot for Rachel in her Christmas dress for her 2 month photo. She wasn't cooperating as much with her smiles that night, but she is still just as cute! No, she is not sitting up by herself. I am propping her up from behind while Dustin and his mom are jumping around and acting crazy trying to get her to smile!

Her 2 month check up went very well. The doctor is pleased with her weight gain and says she is looking great! The poor little thing had to have 2 shots though! She was not happy-neither was Mommy.

Here are her latest stats:

Weight: 9 lb 1 oz 13%

Head: 15 in 33%

Height: 21.5 in 21%

Complications

This has been an interesting week to say the least. (I apologize if this is too much information for anyone.) I came down with an infection from nursing last week. I was on antibiotics but it still turned into an abcess. Monday afternoon it began to drain-for a long time. I went to the doctor Tuesday morning and she sent me to a surgical clinic. The surgeon was talking to me asking questions, when all of the sudden he told the nurse to get out some needles... what? He ended up lancing and draining the rest of the abcess. Then he packed it with gauze. Supposedly he had numbed me before doing this-I can't imagine what it would have felt like if he hadn't!
I'm so glad that Dustin took half of the day off work when he heard I was going to see a surgeon so he was with me. Of course that meant that the doctor could show him how to clean and re-pack my wound. He is doing a great job and is really careful when he changes everything, but it's still no fun for me!
Tomorrow (Thursday) I have a follow-up appointment so hopefully I'll be released and we won't have to do this anymore.

The best kind of babysitter

Since I had to go back to work last week, we enlisted the help of the grandmas to come and watch Rachel for a week each.

Mom Nieter stayed after Thanksgiving and had a great time with her. She has started the brainwashing already-they went shopping with a stop at Chick-fil-a!

Mom McCollum is here this week and she has definitely been a help with all of us. (I'll explain that in another post)

It's Christmastime!

Rachel saw her first snow this past Saturday! It wasn't much, but she liked watching it. We weren't able to get out in it because it was a really wet snow that was mixed with rain and sleet. Next time we'll get out to build a snowman though!

Wow!

Rachel was excited to hang the first ornament on the tree this year. It was our family ornament with all of our names on it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great time for Thanksgiving this year. We decided not to travel, so everyone came to us! It was a crowd, but we all had a great time. Our neighbors were gracious and let us borrow a room so we didn't have to have anyone camp out in the back yard!

Here are just a few of the many pictures that were taken throughout the weekend.

Rachel in her "1st Thanksgiving" outfit looking as cute as ever!

Blake wanted to help Rachel feel better when she cried. He put her lovey on her and gave her a pacifier to help settle her down. He'll be a great big brother one day!

Here's Rachel with her great-great grandma Roberts! She was so excited to meet her.

Getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner. I don't know why Zoe stayed in the kitchen so much that day!

Grandma Roberts let Blake borrow her walker. He was content for the longest time just getting pushed around the house!

Poppy and Mimi with the grandkids. It was not the easiest task trying to get both kids content and awake at the same time!

Papa and Grandma McCollum getting in some time with Rachel.