Thatcher's Story

Thatcher's Story
I didn't want this to get lost in my list of posts, so I am creating a place so that everyone can easily access this link. Please read this touching story about baby Thatcher, our friends son who was born with a rare liver disease and is in need of a liver transplant. Jessie has worked closely with Brad for over 4 years and I became friends with her while working at WSA until I left last spring. Thatcher was born a month before Braden and this story really hits home for me. When I look at Braden I think about how incredibly lucky I am. This could just as easily be our him going through this. Jessie will most likely be the living donor for Thatcher and they are in need of our prayers! I promise you will be touched by reading this story. Thanks!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Day Family Reunion

After the Alzheimer's Walk (see post below) we headed to Fort Loudoun State Park for the "Day Family Reunion". I had never been there before and I was blown away by this park. Everything was so pretty. The trees were all starting to change to their beautiful colors and the landscape
surrounded by the lake made it even more beautiful. We had a great time just walking around and seeing what they had to offer. We took a self guided tour around the fort, and Connor loved it! Then we headed to the pavilion where the reunion was being held. It was a pot luck so of course all of the food was wonderful! We enjoyed visiting with family, and many of those who we don't get to see very often. The adults enjoyed playing several games of corn hole, and the kids had a chalk drawing contest. As you will see from one of the pictures, Connor was covered in chalk! I was a little worried that we would have a set back with the potty training since we weren't really near a public restroom. We took the potty chair along for the trip and thank goodness for that! We didn't have one single accident and made several trips to the car. The problem I am having now is how to get out of giving a "special treat" every time Connor goes to the bathroom. I think sometimes he will go just to see what he can get next! Any advice will be greatly appreciated on this one!!

Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: Day Family Reunion
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Alzheimer's Memory Walk

Saturday was the Alzheimer's Memory Walk and I am happy to say that our team raised $1070.00 and we aren't finished yet! There is still money coming in, and I am unsure what the final number will be, but we definitely met our goal as a team! The weather cooperated, there was no rain but it was a little chilly. We walked at Maryville College and I must say that I fell in love with the campus. It was beautiful! It was fun to walk as a family in memory of Brad's Grannie, and I also walked in honor of my grandmother who is also battling the disease. We raised a lot of money for this cause and I know that Grannie is smiling down on us!


"Team Grannie"
The guys...
The girls...(FYI- we wore the lavender bandanna's because it was Grannie's favorite color!)


Friday, October 23, 2009

We are potty trained!

I am so pleased to say that we are potty trained at the Thompson house! About a month ago I asked Lacy for her advice on how she potty trained Kiley and she told me about the "3 Day Potty Training" ebook that helped her. I thought we would give it a shot, although I will tell you I was skeptical. I thought it was going to be a lot harder since we have a boy (from what I have heard from my friends) and that Connor is pretty stubborn in general. Connor likes to be in control and doesnt want any help with anything. At 18 months Connor started showing an interest, so we encouraged him but didn't push. However this was short lived and Connor eventually got to the point that he would tell me he didn't want to go on the potty and would cry. So I stopped pushing him, not wanting to frustrate him and make it worse. Well, here we are at 34 months and I thought it was about time that we start figuring this thing out. He was telling me when he needed a diaper change, etc. I knew he was ready, but I had to find the time to actually do the training.

Last weekend Brad was out of town and I was at home with no plans, so I was brave and decided to tackle this all by myself. You might say that Brad got off easy and my answer to this is definitely YES! However, I knew it was a good time so I put on my happy face and went to it. Her advice is not to leave the house for 3 days (not for one single thing!) and that is exactly what we did. I definitely had cabin fever with Brad being out of town and not even going outside until the end of the third day. We went to the store on Thursday night and didnt leave again until Monday morning. It was pretty cold and since she advises to just put them in underwear (no pants) and a shirt so we had to crank the heat up and stay indoors. I hate to say that it was easy...it wasn't, but compared to how hard I thought it would be, it was a breeze! At the end of the 1st day, Connor started to get the idea. He would tell me every time he needed to go. By the second day, we only had accidents at nap time and bedtime. She tells you not to use pull ups at all, but I was tired of washing and changing the sheets so we use those when we go down for night or nap and they are our "nighttime underwear". I don't want Connor to think they are even related to diapers because he helped me throw them away and knows that they are no more in this house. He is so happy to be a big boy and is loving all of the "special treats" he is getting! You give them all the control during the 3 days of training and this tactic definitely worked for Connor. He eventually realized that if he didnt tell me when he needed to go, it wasnt going to be pleasant! We have only had 3 accidents since last weekend and I am so proud and amazed that he got this so fast! I would totally recommend this book to anyone! Thanks Lacy...you are my lifesaver!

Connor, I am so proud of you! You are truly my big boy now!

This picture was taken right after he went potty, he was not interested in picture taking. He was ready for his treat of course! This is his Cars potty seat that we got for downstairs.
This picture was taken a few days ago of him on his potty chair that we keep upstairs. I have been trying so hard to get some good potty pictures for his baby book but he is only giving me cheesy smiles or no smile at all. Guess this will have to do. Oh, and he had to have his Trick or Treat pumpkin in the picture too. Don't ask me why it is full of shoes...I quit trying to figure these things out.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

My day

So here is pretty much how it went.

7:30- I wake up (it was nice to sleep in) to call the doctor because Connor has a horrible cough and running a fever since last night.

8:00- Connor wakes up crying, cant talk.

10:30- Start getting ready to get to our 11:15 doctors appointment.

11:00- ready to walk out the door and Connor has an accident in his underwear (we are potty training) Lets just say it wasnt the wet kind. Throw the undies away (cant salvage those!), clean him up, change his clothes. Put all of the toilet paper and wipes I used in the toilet, go to flush and it overflows into my bathroom floor! Did I mention that we are late for our appointment by this time? Throw some towels on the floor and leave to get to the doc.

12:30- Leave the doctor with a positive strep test and go to fill the antibiotics. At least Publix gives free amoxicillin! I am just glad it wasnt H1N1. I had myself convinced last night.

1:15- Get home to find our Mickey Halloween decoration stuck in our neighbors yard. Must have been some kids around with nothing to do. Smashed pumpkins at the end of the road... Connor was upset so we walked over to retrieve it. Talked to the neighbors and unloaded the groceries I bought at Publix.

1:30- Starving but Connor wont come in from outside. Poor guy, he just wanted to play. It was beautiful outside.

1:45- My throat starts feeling very sore and is red. Call the doctor to get in before Brad leaves town at 4:00.

2:00- Eat my lunch finally and mop the bathroom floor.

2:30- Go to doctor. I have a negative strep test, but get a prescription in case I need it. He said I could still have it.

3:50- Get home and Brad is walking out the door to meet me before he leaves for a few days.

4:00- Put Connor down for a late nap and did a little running on the treadmill. I really wanted to be running outside. It was so beautiful. I had to settle for opening the windows!

Please tell me that everyone else has days like this. When Connor got sick last night I thought it would be a quick trip to the doc and come home. Boy was I wrong!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

I have raised my goal!

UPDATE: I have raised my goal for the Alzheimer's Memory Walk. Because of a very generous donation by just one person, I reached my goal quickly! Thanks Lou! Your awesome!!!

Lou emailed me and was concerned that since I had reached my goal, that I might not get any other donations and I certainly don't want that to stop anyone who wishes to donate...SO I have raised my goal to $350! Lets keep raising money for this wonderful cause!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

3 Year Pictures

Last week I took Connor to have his 3 year pictures made. I know it is a little early since he wont officially be three until December, but last year we decided that since he has a winter birthday we would have pictures made during a different season every year since I like the outside pictures and it isnt really possible to do those in December. We picked fall this year and will probably have spring or summer pics made next time. We havent had pictures made in a year and I really thought that Connor would be a little more cooperative than he was. When Connor goes to a strange place or is around people he doesnt know he will be very quiet and stay in his shell until he feels comfortable. Usually this process takes about 30 minutes or so. Next time I think I will be arriving early and let him get more adjusted to his surroundings before starting a photo shoot! With this said, I was very pleased with the pictures we did get and I love the serious faces because it gives him that model look (kind of like the magazine ads).









Tractor

I was really surprised when Connor wanted nothing to do with the tractor. I thought he would be so excited and we would get all kinds of good shots. These came out ok, but again...it was Mr. Serious.

Country Boy

I love these pictures of my Mr. Serious. After trying to get Connor to smile for about 20 minutes or so I finally convinced myself to be satisfied with the serious faces and this is what you will get with Connor most of the time. He can be silly too, but does not really like to smile for the camera. He looks so relaxed in these. I don't know how I will choose, I love them all!










Our little Vol!

These are the last of the pictures from our photo session.
Our sweet little volunteer!




Gentry's Farm

We went to Gentry's Farm again this year, however this year we went with friends which made it all the more fun! The kids really enjoyed themselves and Connor LOVED going to the pumpkin patch! Anything that involves a garden and picking vegetables gets him super excited! That is the Neal bloodline coming out in him for sure. The weather was also better this year. It was perfect! Amazing how it can be 54 and cloudy one day and then 68 and sunny the next!

We got to pick out our pumpkin in the pumpkin patch, go on a hayride, walk through the corn maze and hay maze, as well as a few other activities they had for the kids. We had a great time and enjoyed spending the day with friends! Cant wait to do it again next year...a> Uuuuugggghhh...this pumpkin is heavy!
Helping Mommy pick out the perfect one!

So many to choose from!

We took a few tumbles too! Those pumpkin vines are good at tripping those little feet.



The hayride or (payride) as Connor calls it...hey where is the hay?











Connor and Lily
Connor, Noah, and Lily
It was impossible to get all of them to get in the picture and smile. Noah was having a meltdown so he didnt make it and this is the best shot I could come up with!
Lily, Caly, Emma, and Connor
Corn Maze...Connor was leading our group of course!