Sore Eye

When I went to bed last night, I did my nightly routine. When I removed my contacts, I thought I scratched my left eye. It kinda hurt, but not too bad. But when I got up this morning, it was still sore and I could barely drive because it was sensitive to the light. I asked my mother-in-law to take me to the eye doctor. I thought that maybe I had pink eye, and I didn't want to have to deal with it the whole weekend without treatment.

I was reminded of being in college and having pink eye in both eyes. My college roommate had to drive me to the eye doctor because my eyes were watering too much to drive on that sunny day, and we giggled the whole way there and the whole way back. She drove my car - a five speed - and she'd never driven one before. It's still funny when I think about it now.

Turns out today's trip to the eye doctor wasn't anything to laugh about. I have a corneal ulcer. Here's what WebMD has to say about corneal ulcers: A corneal ulcer is a true emergency. The ulcer can spread and you can become partially or fully blind in a very short period of time.

So, I have my eye doctor's home and cell phone numbers and I'm supposed to let him know if I don't see improvement. I'm using my antibiotic eye drops religiously. I'm scheduled for an appointment on Monday and another one on Friday. We'll see how this goes. Pun intended.

Those Darn All American Rejects

Those darn All American Rejects. Why did they have to create such a catchy tune? One that's so easy to sing along to that even a three year old can do it?

Yesterday, while me, Cooper, and Evan were shopping, Cooper kept singing their song, "When you see my face, hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell. When you walk my way, hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell." Over and over again. No matter how many times I told him that the song wasn't nice. And he was singing it really loud.

I told Blake when we got home. He thought it was hilarious. But then again, he wasn't walking around Kohl's with a singing, cussing toddler.

Why I Heart Photoshop Elements

This picture is well over a year old. Blake snapped it one evening long before I got my Canon, so the straight out of the camera shot isn't a great quality. Even low quality, Evan looks so gorgeous in it. But, there's always room for improvement, right? First thing, crop me out of it. Better already.

If you have Elements and you can download stuff off the internet, unzip and extract information from your download, then copy and paste it to the right place, you can go from this photo...


To this photo...



Isn't she perfect? I heart Photoshop Elements. I'm beginning to think that Elements might even be able to make me look good in a photo.

Big Girl Bed

I love our baby crib, it's beautiful. We bought it when I was pregnant with Cooper and it's in Evan's room now. But neither of my children slept in it - ever. So I had no problem selling it. No sentimental value. Sold it last week.

One of my friends says that her family is very European - she and her husband let their kids sleep with them. I guess we're very European too, in a way. Cooper and Blake sleep in Cooper's room and Evan sleeps with me in the master bedroom. It works for us. And Blake and I work out visitation. It's all good. Actually, did you know that the American culture is one of the few cultures that feels that families shouldn't sleep in a "family bed"? But I digress. I had a point here...

Over the last few weeks, Evan has started going to bed by herself in my bed. This new development, coupled with the fact that I sold her bed, signaled to me that it was time for a big girl bed.

So I went all out. She's getting a canopy bed. She is a princess, and what little princess sleeps in anything but a big canopy bed? It will be a transition from my bed to hers, but we'll take it slowly.

Friends and Basketball

Last night, I had a wonderful time with three girls I went to high school with. Three of us were best friends in high school, the other gal wasn't someone we were particulary close with until recent years.

The four of us played basketball together and eventually won the state championship. We decided we were going to go to a high school basketball game at our old school. When we walked in, I swear, some of the old timers who go to nearly every game got teary-eyed seeing half of the 1995 team back together! Being a part of that team was such a big moment in our lives, and it's awesome to know that so many people in our small town felt and still feel the same way.

The four of us probably spent more time chatting than watching basketball, and it was worth every minute. I don't know why we don't get together more! We left our kids with their dads last night, but we set a date to get together with our kids sometime in March. I couldn't be looking forward to it more.

By the way, both the boys and girls team won. Both teams are state ranked, too. I think the boys have a real shot at making it to the final four this year. And if they do, I can guarantee that the four of us will be in the stands chatting and cheering them on.

All About Cooper

I took last week off. And I was way more worn out than I ever am from going to work all week! I ran all over the world it seemed, doing errands I don't normally do. One thing I did was to take Cooper to the dentist for only the second time ever. The first time was about a year ago, and he was so wild, I didn't think I would ever take him back. But, he was a perfect angel while we were there and I was so proud of my big boy. And according to the dentist, he has wonderful teeth.

My big boy also has decided he's potty trained. Every one kept telling me that when he was ready, it would be done just like that. I never believed them. I just thought they were trying to make me feel better because their kids used the potty. But all the sudden, he decided he was going to use the potty, and he hasn't looked back.

He's also made a huge improvement with his speech therapy. In fact, I don't think we'll have to go back after the school year ends this spring.

Seems like only yesterday that I held him for the very first time. He's growing so fast. Better not blink - he'll be graduating from high school before I know it.

Rub A Dub Dub

Here's a couple of long overdue and updated pics of Cooper and Evan. Is there anything cuter than babies in a bathtub?

What's great with these particular photos? I finally figured out how to download Photoshop Element actions and use them! Check out the before and afters! The action I used on these pictures really makes the image sharper and gives them a little pop of color.

Cooper - Before

Cooper - After

Evan - Before

Evan - After

Let me give credit where credit is due - you can download actions for your own version of Photoshop Elements at http://www.coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com/. The action I used here is called Little Perk.

And Cooper's black eye? That's the product of falling from a bar stool and hitting another bar stool on the way down. It happened at the babysitter's house - she said he took it like a champ!

Mr. Ornothology

I married Mr. Ornothology. I knew that Blake was fascinated by birds when I married him, so I knew what I was getting. And after a while, some of his fascination has (reluctantly) rubbed off on me. I will never be able to identify species of ducks with a mere glance and I will never never never have a north American bird book and check birds off as I see them, but I know a bald eagle when I see one.

This little birdie was visiting when we had a lot of snow on the ground, and I think this picture is so neat - all the fog and the snow and a lone bird on a tree.