A new name...

When I started this blog a year and a half ago, I had no idea I would actually stick with it. Had I been thinking more clearly, I would have started with a name that would last a little longer. But, if I remember correctly, I created the thing at 4:30 one morning. So, I don't think I was thinking clearly. Why was I even on the computer at 4:30?

Anyway, I will only be the "mommy of three preschoolers" for a few more months! Thomas is going to kindergarten in the fall. So, I feel the need to change the name of my blog! I think I'll stick with the same address (maybe), but the name at the top will be different. I would like it to be creative. Any ideas? I was trying to think of famous things with three, but none of them seem appropriate:

Three Blind Mice
Three Little Pigs
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Rub-a-dub,dub...Three men in a a tub - YIKES!! Who came up with that one?
We Three Kings

I need some help. This is a big deal. I don't want to take it lightly. This has been a part of me for a long time now. I's kind of sad to sad goodbye and move on. I know it's silly, but it means by babies are growing up.

Anyway, let me know if you have any ideas!

Fire Ants

When Thomas was 3 years old, he got 88 fire ant bites all over his legs . We had to take him to the little hospital in Crossett, Arkansas, where we were visiting my grandparents and other family. It was very scary. The doctor told us an adult could have died from that many bites. They gave him a shot of cortisone to relieve the itching and sent us home.

As a result of that incident, Thomas is now HIGHLY allergic to fire ants. One bite on his foot swells his foot so much that he can't even wear a shoe. So, I finally got him in to see the Allergist. I had to lather his arms in Lidocaine this morning in preparation for several sticks (similar to TB tests). They didn't want him to feel much since they might have to do several to determine how severe his allergy is.

Anyhow, the first thing they did was a little prick test. He had such a severe reaction to the prick, that they never did anything else. They didn't even need the Lidocaine! The doctor said he had never seen anyone react to fire ants like that!

He broke out in a rash all over his body. His face started swelling and got very red. The doctor was concerned enough to check his throat to be sure it wasn't closing up. They brought in some Benadryl and then gave him an epinephrine shot on top of that. He quickly returned to his normal coloring, but I was scared for a few minutes. They brought in 2 doctors and 3 nurses just to check him out!

Thomas did great the whole time. He was so brave. He got to go to Starbucks with daddy after school for some chocolate milk.

Amazingly they are able to reverse the allergy to fire ants. Can you believe that? The only problem is that Thomas will have to go in to the doctor once a week for SEVEN MONTHS to get a shot, and then he'll have to go once a month for 2-3 years. They will give him a small amount of the venom at a time trying to build up his immunity!

It is so amazing what is available to us - not only at this time in history but also in this country! I am so thankful for the doctors who have helped us through this issue in particular!

The Wedding Planner

I am so excited to announce the launch of my new business -- Northwest Houston Weddings! I have been moving in this direction since planning my own wedding 10 years ago - wow!! I started a wedding business while we were in seminary but had to leave it behind when we moved back to Florida! I've been the Wedding Coordinator at our church in Houston since the week we moved here! So, this has almost fallen in my lap! I am so excited to be doing something I absolutely LOVE!! I love wedding day - especially the smell of wedding day!

I have been blessed with some great friends who have been helping me make everything look professional (i.e. the logo :))!! This has been a fun and very busy process!!

So, here I am - a Wedding Planner. Check out my website at www.nwhoustonweddings.com. You can also find me at www.perfectweddingguide.com. I have been online with them for only a week and have already generated three contacts!!

Just thought you might like to know...

Time for Church

Aren't they cute??

T-Ball

We started t-ball last night and had so much fun! It was just practice, but we had a blast!
This is Mary Frances hitting the ball! Hooray, Mary Frances!

Ray C. is the coach by default! No one else volunteered. So, he stepped up, but I think he is really excited about it! Although I did hear him jokingly say he was more nervous about coaching 4 and 5 year olds than high schoolers! I can't imagine why!?!
Coach Daddy, as he is lovingly called in our home, pumps up the team after a great first practice!
Go, Thomas!
As soon as Thomas got a hit, he took off running and threw down his helmet! It was hilarious! It looked as if he was shedding the extra weight to improve his speed!! :) I'm not sure that went through his mind, but that's what it looked like!
And he scores! Hooray, Thomas!
Coach Daddy with his little girl in her cute little PINK belt! Ray C, loves her playing, but he's determined she is going to look like a little girl, too! He's the one buying and insisting on the pink!!
Run, Mary Frances! Great hit!!!

Blackberries...Yummmy

We took the back way home yesterday and say blackberry bushes for miles!! So, we decided to take a little detour and pick some! We came home with a Chick-fil-a bag FULL of them!
Ray C. and I enjoyed some memories of picking them as little kids! What fun! I'm going to make my mom's delicious Blackberry Cobbler tomorrow night!!

Happy With Who We Are

As we were waiting for our food last night at Denny's, I asked the kids a question and thought you might like their responses:

Q: "Thomas, what is your favorite thing about being a boy?"
A: "Going to the men's restroom. I get to use cool potties in there!"

Q: "Mary Frances, what is your favorite thing about being a girl?"
A: "Wearing dresses."
Q: "Why?"
A: "Because they're girlish!"

Q: "Chase, what is your favorite thing about being a boy?"
A: "Cars!"

Call me Sentimental...

Today, Thomas lost his first tooth, and I really mean his first tooth! I remember the day it came in - 5 years and 20 days ago, exactly! (I did have help from the baby book on the date!) Of course, with your first child, all of the firsts are super exciting. So, we had been anxiously waiting for the first tooth to arrive after all that drooling and "teething". Ray C. had a study group over in Seminary, and I was putting Thomas to bed when I felt the tooth in his mouth! I remember running into the living room and announcing it to all the guys. Normally, a group of guys wouldn't care much, but this group of guys all had babies too. So, we all rejoiced in this first together!

So, today, we pulled it out, and I want to cry! I can't believe my little baby all bundled up in his warm blue onesie has grown into this 5 year old kid! I am so thankful that he has, but I just can't believe the time has passed so quickly!

The tooth has been wiggly for weeks, but it has been sitting crooked in his mouth for the last day or 2. So, he decided he would try eating an apple to get it out. It didn't take long for the apple to get a little bloody, but it still needed a little "push" from mommy and daddy!

Chase and Mary Frances thought it was pretty funny when they saw the missing tooth for the first time! I loved how Chase just pointed at Thomas' mouth!!
Thomas was so excited about losing it! He can't wait to show his friends at church tomorrow! I believe I saw the tooth fairy in his room earlier. I'm looking forward to seeing what he got, but I'll have to wait until he wakes up in the morning! He was so excited when he went to sleep with the tooth underneath his pillow. He said he would look underneath as soon as he wakes up! I can't wait!!

I am excited for him. It is another milestone we get to rejoice in together, but it still makes me sad to see him growing up so quickly!

Grandaddy's Name

I heard my mom telling this story this weekend and realized I never blogged it! So, this may have happened before I began my blog, but it is definitely worth recording! A few years ago, I was testing the kids to see if they knew everyone's real names! I asked Mary Frances was Grandaddy's name was, and she said, "Grandaddy." Then I said, "but what does Honey call Grandaddy." To that she replied, "For Heaven's Sake!"

Sound the Alarm..Here Comes Thomas

Today was a big day for the Hughes family! We registered Thomas for kindergarten! I expected the line to be outrageous, but there wasn't one when I was there! I found that very exciting news since I will be doing kindergarten registration for three consecutive years!

Anyway, it was pretty painless. Of course, I brought a phone bill instead of a utility bill as proof of residence. So, I had to take all 3 kids back home to get the right thing, but still, it was no big deal!

The kids did great during the registration. I was very nervous about how I was going to handle them all while doing it, but they sat at a table and colored and played with some other children!! We knew several other kids registering - neighbors and friends from preschool!

As I was preparing to leave, the lights went out. I knew immediately that one of my children was to blame. So, I saw Thomas messing with the light switch and told him to turn it back on. As soon as I got across the room to get the lights back on THE FIRE ALARM WENT OFF!!! Unfortunately for me, it was not a scheduled drill! The red switch had called Thomas' name, and he gave in! I honestly don't think he knew what it was because he would have never done it. He hates loud noises and is always concerned about our house alarm going off!

What seemed like 5 minutes was probably only about 20 seconds, but I was mortified! Luckily, no one had to be evacuated. Someone with a walkie turned it off and told the front office it was a mistake. We left as quickly as possible!

What a way to start your public school career. Watch out! Here we come....