Thanks to Whoever Invented the Ear Tubes

OK, so there could be a lot of reasons why my sweet little toddler has been sleeping better and generally been more pleasant to be around. But, I'd like to credit his shiny, new ear tubes for the positive change. He's now had them for a little over a month - and besides the random cough and runny nose, he's been pretty healthy. Finally. So, he now gets to be just a plain 'ole 18-month old toddler. You know, whining when he doesn't get his way. Crying at the drop of a hat. But, at least I know this is all normal (I think) and his days are much more pleasant (minus some of his day care days!)

Reading the Sunday morning funnies

Driving at the grocery store

Wordless Wednesday

18 Months!

Well, Michael Dean's been 18 months for a week now and I've got his stats. I don't even remember the last time I reported these on here. I guess they aren't as exciting when you don't get them every month.

We saw his doctor Monday and he's still a growing, healthy (minus the constant head cold he always has) little boy. So, here they are:

> Height: 35 in. (top 97%)
> Weight: 28-ish lbs. (top 75%)
> Head: can't remember exactly (top 95%)

Our doctor said he should be saying at least 5 words now. Um, I think he's got that covered. Let's see, there's ball, truck, school bus, pumpkin, book, work, Mila, mommy, daddy, burger, mana (banana), Nana. OK, I'm probably boring you now. Anyway, he's developing great and is just so much dang fun! I truly miss him when I'm away from him and really want more time with him - but that's for another post, maybe.

And, of course, some pics:

Cheese!

Sick MD hanging out with mommy

Is it Bad of Me...

...to be excited that my company is shut down for 5 Mondays in a row due to the bad economy?

Even though we just went through 2 weeks of mandatory shut-downs at Christmas, we start these Monday shut-downs on Jan. 19. And even though I probably won't get paid for those days (unless I choose to use my hard-earned vacation time), I'm pretty excited. I work from home on Mondays AND I keep MD with me. Just so I can have a weekday with him. It's amazing how different from weekend-days those feel. So, my Mondays are pretty tough. And, the thought of getting 5 of them off, in a row...well, is pretty cool.

Sorry, boss, if you're reading this. But, you know how I feel. I do hope our business takes a turn for the better.

Camera #2

Well, Merry (late) Christmas! I know, it's like 2 weeks past Christmas and I'm just now posting photos. But, better late than never, right?!

Donnie's family. This was actually taken on Thanksgiving night. We had no idea that we had Icenhour grandbaby #7 in the picture with us until Christmas! Donnie's baby brother, Dwayne, and his wife, Tonia, are expecting their 3rd baby in July. (Tonia's the brownish-blonde on the far right)

My fam, taken Christmas day. Oh, and the guy you've probably not seen before, in the back next to Pop-Pop is Jonda's man, Joey. His son and family sent MD his favorite bouncy horse for Christmas in the next photo... And, my sister really does have eyes.

OK, so he really does love this thing. He was just pretty sick Christmas eve night. He barely made it through our church's Christmas eve service, Santa then tons of people invading his "personal" space at home. The poor thing was miserable.

Christmas morning was a little better for MD. He kinda got into opening gifts. The magic plug helped. Oh, and he loved(s) that NC State football he found in his stocking that morning. The kid's already got a pretty good throw.

And, his ultimate favorite. The McD's drive-thru play station. He's gotten pretty good at making hamburgers and McNuggets.

Camera #1

Hi there! I've been gone for a while. Simply because I had more fun things to do than blog. No offense. Nah, I do enjoy this thing. It's just not a priority for me when I have 2 weeks off with my son!

We really did have a great Christmas holiday. MD recovered beautifully from his ear tubes surgery and passed his hearing test yesterday with flying colors. But, he did end up with a nasty head cold, the day of his surgery, that lasted until the end of last week. He now has a cough that just won't go away. And, I have to say - it's pretty sad that we really can't do much for our ailing children under the age of 2. If I get told 1 more time to "get a cool-mist humidifier and use saline drops" I'm going to hit someone. Yes, those things are great. But, come one. They only do so much. My sweet one is still coughing up a lung almost every night. It's really sad. But, I'm believing God will heal him and he'll be ready to bring home his next disease from daycare any day now (since today's his 1st day back in a few weeks.) Yippee.

So, from all the Christmas parties, dinners, church services, shopping trips, doctors trips, play times, etc...I took a lot of pics. With both cameras, of course. And, the following photos are from my "portable" Nikon. So, the slightly better photos will come later - when I have time to get them off my "not-so-portable" Nikon.

Michael Dean just never got the hang of Santa this (last) year. Even though it was Fred Claus, here.

Most of the staff (and their families) from our church, Rocky River Community Church, at our Christmas Eve service.

The 2008 Icenhour Family Reunion (I'd love to run through all the names, but seriously? All the Icenhour siblings are seated on the bottom row. Donnie's dad, Ivey, is the first guy on the left in the black/brown plaid shirt.)

The only way we can get MD to "smile" at the camera is to ask him to show us his teeth!