What A Birthday!

I know I know... it has been 6 days since the party and 4 days since the actual birthday and I am just now getting around to posting.  It has been an adventurous week as some of you already know and the rest of you will learn from below.

We invited friends and family over for some burgers, dogs, and Handy Manny cupcakes on Sunday.  While the Denver crew thought they were winning longest commute, Mimi and her 3 sisters made the trip from Kentucky for Spencer's big day.  Spencer had come home from daycare with a cold on Friday night so we gave warnings to those with children, but the party had to go on!

Friends and family enjoying my grilling prowess.  

Please notice my son doesn't look to be in the best of spirits.  Remember this for later.

MMMMM cupcakes!!!!!

The party was a good time and thank you to everyone who made the trip down and spoiled the snot out of the little man.  Even with all the toys he got, he still plays with string, remote controls, and phones most often.

With Ethel (Mimi), Gerri, Judy, and Wilma in town we wanted to make a trip to Garden of the Gods to share our everyday scenery with some out of towners.

You can't go to the visitor's center and not take a picture with the buffalo!

As mentioned earlier Spencer came home Friday with a cold.  On Sunday he started a low grade fever.  Come Monday morning his fever was spiking.  We were able to get an appointment with the doctor to get checked and hopefully some antibiotics.  What happened next is what made his birthday truly unforgettable.

That's right folks...daddy is in a hospital bed with his son who was suffering from pneumonia.

At the doctor's office we took chest x-rays and got an immediate booking into Penrose St. Francis, the same hospital Spencer was born in 11 months and 30 days prior.

The sickness couldn't hold him down.

1:51 am January 26th, 2010...exactly 1 year old!

We spent Monday night and hoped to be discharged Tuesday for his birthday, but that wasn't the case.  My mom brought Mimi and the Great Aunts by to see him on his birthday before they had to catch their flight out.  That night Nana, Mr. Townsend, and Auntie Kristen came by with some Baskin Robbins and balloons for a small hospital celebration.

Mommy spent her fair share of time in the crib with the birthday boy.

Come Wednesday we were discharged, but had to go home on oxygen.  Chrystal has taken the past two days off to stay at home with Spence while he has been on a concentrator.  I am taking off Monday to take him to the doctor and hopefully get the ok to stop oxygen and return to normal life.  

Spence was a true champ through all of this.  He has been a strong little bugger and really fought through this.  Nothing like a little scare sometime during the first year of life!  Thank You to everyone who has helped us and sent their prayers through this tough time.  We can honestly say it will be a birthday Chrystal and I will never forget!

Quickie

Ethel worked her magic and got a link to the Christmas broadcast by channel 11 news in Louisville staring guess who...

http://www.whas11.com/video?id=80926132&sec=553687

We'll be back in 10 days or so after the little man's b-day.

A Kentucky Christmas

For years Chrystal has talked about how great a Kentucky Christmas is.  This year Spencer and I got to experience it.  We got into Louisville on the 23rd and were greeted by the channel 11 news team.  They interviewed me and caught the moment when Alex and Mimi came running up to meet us (Alex had White Castle in hand for me!).  Our Christmas and Food Tour had begun!

That night we ate at O'Charley's, a must for any Kentucky trip as the baked potato soup is amazing.  It was a very low key evening spent watching movies and relaxing after the long day of traveling.

Christmas eve day rolled around and we started it off with a White Castle brunch!  We then headed from Corydon, IN down to Louisville to spend the afternoon with Poppa.  We were treated to a ham dinner and of course presents.  

Poppa and Spencer.  Spencer loved the dog naturally and also the trains.  We may be investing in one to go around the Christmas tree for future Christmases.

We headed back to Corydon and spent the night at Mimi's while watching multiple loops of A Christmas Story.

Christmas morning started around 8:00am (having a little one not adjusted to the eastern time zone was a blessing!).  We opened presents and got cleaned up (well some of us did) to head down to London, KY for the Crawford Family Christmas Party.

The Santa pjs still fit!  

We zipped down to London in a speedy 3 hours to arrive on-time.  I know I know.  I was able to get 3 women and a baby to a family function on time.  Please hold the applause until the end.

Family picture with the Coca-Cola Santa.

The Crawford Clan from left top to right bottom: Wilma, Judy, Ethel, Geri, Bobby, Jay, and Johnny.

The Crawford Kids from top left to bottom right: David, Nicholas, Carla, Alex, Katie, and Chrystal.

The Crawford Grandkids from left to right: Damon, Carlin, Cortland, and Spencer.

After the amazing food spread (there were left overs for weeks) and the family pictures, the presents began.  The wrapping paper flew as 29 family members opened presents.

There was no doubt who this present was for.

We stayed the night in London at the Hotel d' Johnny and Paula who have hosted us every trip down there.  We spent the evening eating more food, including the traditional Papa John's Christmas Pizza thanks to a craving from Alex and playing games.   

Spencer cruised around in Johnny's classic Chevy.

On the 26th, we cleaned up and headed up to Lexington, KY to see Robbie, Dana, and Hayden.  On the way we stopped by the mall to load up on UK gear and of course Gold Star Chili.  Hayden is about 5 months older than Spencer and the two of them got a long great while Robbie and I told Chrystal stories, including one from earlier that day involving the Great American Cookie Factory.

I promise this wasn't set up.  It just happened and we got it on camera.

After spending the afternoon with Robbie, Dana, and Hayden we packed up and headed back up to Corydon.  We made a call and met Mimi and Alex at our final Food Tour stop, Frisch's Big Boy.  Chrystal believes their ranch is the best in the world and no trip to Kentucky is complete with out it.

Mimi, you have to watch his sneakiness.  He is never out of reach of the Christmas tree.

After another low key evening we got up, packed and headed to Louisville to catch our flight.  Chrystal had hyped the Kentucky Christmas up a lot before the trip and it lived up to every bit of it.  A huge thank you to everyone for the hospitality, great food, and presents.  We all had a blast and look forward to making it out for another one.