OBX Trip Report Card

Claire's grades for the trip:

• DFW to ORF/OBX trip: A-


• Sleeping at Corolla Beachhouse: C-


• Behavior: A (not counting the weird separation anxiety moments)


• Eating: A- (she really is a good eater even though it pains me how much formula we throw away)


• Sleeping at Nags Head Beachhouse: B (if you don't count the throw-up incident)


• ORF to DFW flight: C


• Cuteness: A+!

We had a fabulous time in North Carolina. It was wonderful to see all of the Pee family which we just don't do often enough, and going to bless a wedding between two awesome people made it even that much more special. Daphne's such an incredible person with a huge heart, strong convictions, and palpable loyalty ... oh, and killer calves ... hehe. She's totally someone I would want to be friends with even if I weren't related to her by marriage. And for her to find someone like Drew-(Pee) who is unmatchable in wit and random trivia and oozes love and affection for his new bride, I know there are many years of happiness and laughter ahead.

I may have said this before, but it's interesting that - since I've had Claire - when I see weddings, I think less of myself and more of what it will be to see my little girl all growed up and getting married off to someone else. Weird, right? So when I see a Daddy/Daughter dance, I may recollect my own with my Daddy, but tears will spring when I think about James dancing with Claire like that one day. Cheesey.

A special "Yay!" for people who do destination weddings (and invite us to attend!). Besides my own, we've gone to Syndee/Danny's (cruise/Mexico), Tim/Tenny's (California), Nina/Giang's (Costa Rica), and now Daphne/Drew's (Outer Banks) destination weddings together, and what I've discovered is that the weddings are even more enjoyable because you're relaxed on vacation and not worried about having to hurry back to anything immediately. It's just you, them, and tons of new memories. So, big time hint to you folks who have yet to tie the knot ... hint, hint, hint!

And I leave you with a little something that I provided to Daphne for her wedding. She had solicited words of wisdom from her guests on "what is love" and "what is marriage" to share during the ceremony. While mine may not be wisdom, per se, they're at least words (and some were even used!):

"Love is..." –

• undeniable


• taking each day to discover what more you can give rather than what else you can get … and being happy to do it


• willingly changing your last name to “Pee” because you want to share everything with the one you love :)


• a fire that must constantly be fed by supporting words, frequent hugs and kisses, and memories created together

"Marriage is..." –

• a commitment to actively show one another how much you love each other


• a union with your favorite travel companion, heat pump on cold nights, dinner date, partner in crime, and best friend


• entering the toughest and darkest of times arm-in-arm and emerging possibly charred, scarred, battered, and broken but clasping tightly hand-in-hand


• how you get your parents to stop worrying that you’re living in sin with a boy!

Snotty-nosed Mom!

It's official. Claire's cooties are way stronger than my antibodies. Whatever she had on Friday - that I'm glad I had her stay home for - decided to latch on to me. On Saturday, my throat hurt, I had a low-grade fever, and I was just generally miserable. Yesterday, I had the body aches, hot flashes, shivers, couldn't sleep, swollen glands, the works! I even felt like I was suffocating when I was lying down because my throat was so constricted.

On Sunday, since Claire sounded so badly and we weren't sure whether to take her to daycare (worried about contagious-ness; see? look how considerate we are!), we decided to take her to the Acute Kids Urgent Care -- after the Cowboys game, of course. The doctor put her on another round of antibiotics, the same as last time but stronger. Something about a wider spectrum. When the doctor asked whether there was anything else I wanted, I asked if he could take a look at my throat. He took a peek and said, "yours looks more red than Claire's! You should see a doctor."

So I did. And I have strep throat. Blech. I asked the doctor when I would be better, and he said that I should be better within the next couple of days. When I asked about the contagious-ness, he said that it's 24-hours (but I forgot to ask from when!?). Of course, I also asked about whether I was going to get Claire and James sick. He asked what antibiotics Claire was taking, I told him, and he said that it was actually the same one he just prescribed me, so she should be fine. I told him that James will probably be in tomorrow, and that was that!

I'm probably headed back to work tomorrow; too much to do. I haven't had a fever since about noon, so I think I should be okay to go to work ... I'll just try not to breathe on anyone.

Kind of funny ... my baby and I are taking the same meds. Unfortunately, I ended up with the horse pill; why couldn't I get the yummy liquid stuff?! Man, those baby germs.

Snotty-nosed Daycare Baby

Well, Claire was 100% healthy ... for about a week. She was all better early last week and finished off her antibiotics (which she enjoyed taking - I think it had to do with the novelty of the dropper) this past Saturday. Then, yesterday morning, I noticed a little drip ... just a small run of clear snot coming down. By nighttime, it was the snotty breathing and a low-grade fever. This morning when I went to get her - after she slept in until 8:30 which is completely unheard of - her face was covered in dried snot. Poor baby!

So today I have a distinguished visitor with me as I attempt to work from home. I'm sure that could have taken her into daycare, but there's no sense in me just giving back to the kids what she got from them in the first place. It's actually not too bad now that she can entertain herself pretty well with her room of toys, but it does remind me how badly we need to get those baby gates up! I used to poo-poo at people with snotty-nosed daycare babies ... now I AM that person with the snotty-nosed daycare baby!

In other fabulous parenting news, Claire's pretty much out of diapers, but since I haven't made it back to Babies R US (or Target or wherever) yet, we're scrounging for whatever diapers we have around the house. There's one emergency one in her emergency diaper bag left that I refuse to use, but I did stoop as low as taking some back from the daycare yesterday. :) There is diaper-buying on my list of to-dos for the day. Maybe I'll check out that online diaper site where they deliver to your door! Hmmm ...

And one fun item to leave you with ... Dwo's picture was on the UT sports page! Now, you're probably thinking - as I did - that it means one of the pictures that he took. Not so much, but pretty cool nonetheless. :)

Hook 'em horns!