Casa de Helwig

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Last weekend we spent time in Robert Lee with Audrey, Donnie, and his daughter’s (Amy and Lacy) and their families. Caleb got to open some gifts. He did a great job (and the paper tasted wonderful). Unfortunately we had a scare with Chad’s grandfather. He fell, was unable to talk, and was somewhat incoherent. Luckily it was just low blood sugar, and after going to the ER, getting the proper medication he was back to normal. We were very thankful he is okay.

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We headed back to work the next week, then headed back to Robert Lee on the 24th. We spent Wednesday through Saturday morning there with Audrey, Donnie, and Chad and Jodee this time. We had a fun time eating lots of yummy food and enjoying each other’s company. Unfortunately Chad had to go back to work on Friday, but Caleb and I got to stay.

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Caleb wasn’t feeling to well on Christmas (I should have known after his 3 hour nap that morning). That night he woke up at 11:45pm crying. He was burning up. His temperature was 101 degrees at 4am, and 102 at 11am. He was up all night, sleeping maybe 5-10 minutes here and there. Audrey was wonderful, staying up with us and helping. We took him to a walk in clinic in San Angelo Friday morning. After a chest x-ray, RSV test and 3 hours later they said he had an ear infection. We picked up some antiobiotics and we got back home at 2pm (we got to San Angelo at 9am). It was a long day with no sleep. He hasn’t sleep a full night since. He hasn’t had a fever today for the first time, but now he sounds congested making it difficult to drink. Hopefully we can get into the doctor tomorrow. I guess we should be thankful. This is the first time he has been sick.

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Caleb got another haircut (his 4th one so far) while we were in Robert Lee. He has some shaggy hair. It is much better now.

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Saturday evening we went to the Carter family Christmas in Midland. I thought this was a cute picture of Caleb and his Popo Gig (Chad’s dad).

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As of yet, we do not have any plans for New Year’s. We’ll see. Have a great week.

The sun rise on a pond in Robert Lee. Ignore our looks, Caleb woke up early that morning so we went for a drive so he wouldn’t wake everyone up. We were still in our pajamas (partly).

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A short, funny story.

Caleb usually wakes up around 6am, therefore I wake up around 6am. This leads to eating breakfast together, seeing Chad off to work, and getting ready in the morning along side each other. Usually Caleb plays on the bathroom floor while I get ready. When I brush my teeth, he always stops what he is doing and watches, usually crawling over so I can pick him up. I have been giving him a toothbrush of his own to brush his two teeth while I am brushing mine. Like usual, I finish brushing my teeth, spit out the toothpaste, rinse out my mouth and the toothbrush and continue on. This time, Caleb wanted to participate even more in the morning routine. As I put away my toothbrush Caleb proceeds to drop his toothbrush in the sink (don’t worry, I don’t do that), lean over the sink (I am holding him at this point) and then he spits several times, allowing drool to dribble down his chin and into the sink. I’d like to think he is a quick learner. It was hilarious. He was so proud. I sure do love him.

I had a birthday earlier this week. It was eventful to say the least. My day:

• Woke up at 6am (that is normal) to a crying baby wanting to eat. Feed Caleb, get ready, eat breakfast. Caleb did not want to eat anything, he kept spitting his food out.
• Drive Chad’s car to work because my brakes are not working well. Chad is going to take it to the mechanic this afternoon. Work 8:00-9:30am.
• Back at home, make a few phone calls for a new business venture after putting Caleb down for his nap. Calls finished, Caleb’s awake at 11:30, eat a quick lunch. Caleb is still refusing to eat the baby food concoction (he prefers whatever I am eating….not yucky baby food).
• Back at work at noon until 1:00.
• Head back home in time to make another call for the business, while Caleb is yelling in the background. That is his new thing. Everything is a scream, yell, “hey pay attention to me,” noise. Attempt to give Caleb yogurt (his favorite), his spits it out.
• Back to work at 3:00 (put Caleb down for a nap at work). Done working at 3:45, Caleb wakes up. We pack up to go. I locked my keys in my car. Call Chad. He will come get me after work (he does not have a car….because mine is in the shop, a co-worker will have to drop him off).
• Wait around until 6:00 for Chad to arrive. In the meantime I get to talk to Brittney, Amy, Beth on the phone while Caleb crawls around the gym pulling down weights, going up the stairs, playing with Jessica (she works in the office). Receive several call that my brakes are bad and will cost $700 to fix them. There goes our new computer we have been saving for.
• Chad gets off work and heads to the store to buy me something for my birthday. Oh yeah, it was my birthday. He forgot his wallet. His co-worker buys me a watch. Thanks Frank.
• Chad arrives, we order pizza. We head home. Eat, put Caleb to bed, talk to Audrey. Relax, watch Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, talk to my mom and my brother, Weylin.
• Take a shower, go to bed. I am exhausted. What a day.
• Two days later, Chad and I are both throwing up, Caleb is not sick (thankfully), plus I have an ear infection. AGGHHHH.
• We are a little better today.
• What a week.

Oh yeah, Happy Birthday to Amanda (we share a birthday).

Well, this weekend we were able to finally watch a Dawson football game. Brent’s team made it to the state championship game after defeating Kyle’s team the previous week. The game was in Lubbock so we decided to make the trip. After stopping by Jodee’s to say hi, grabbing a bite to eat at Jason’s Deli with Travis and Allison, we headed to the game. It was cold.

Caleb (before the game) showing his excitement about going to the game (and revealing his only 2 teeth).

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The game was good, Strawn led the whole time. 2 hours later Strawn defeated Follet (I think that is how you spell it) to win the state championship. Congratulations Brent. It was great seeing the Dawson family.

2 of the Dawson girls. They are beautiful.

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Kyle and Caleb.

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Chad and Caleb all bundled up. Chad and Caleb also assumed this pose many times at the beginning of Caleb’s life.

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Our family.

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The family (minus dad Dawson) after the exciting win.

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We headed back after the game. We did manage to stop at Sheridan’s for some frozen custard. I would never say that was the only reason I went to Lubbock, but it definitely played a part in the decision.

I have another update on the way.

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This post is a little late. They are always way after the fact. I think I take so long to post because it is so time consuming (it seems) to add pictures. You have to upload them to the computer, I have to resize each picture, then upload to the gallery, and finally put them in a post. Is it this taxing for everybody else? Either way, here is a post with some pictures.

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We went to Ruidoso, NM for Thanksgiving with Bill and Debi. We enjoyed a non-conventional Thanksgiving meal at one of the hotels. Non-conventional for me beacuse I have never eaten at a restaurant for Thanksgiving. The food was good though and we enjoyed time with Chad’s dad and Debi.

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For the rest of the weekend we watched football, read books, and finished a 1,000 piece puzzle. Chad started and finished Moneyball (a book about baseball) which kindled a new passion for baseball. I nearly finished a book I had started reading on 1 John (by Martyn Lloyd-Jones). I also had some help with this puzzle. Chad stayed up with me until midnight Saturday night so I could finish it. Wow, what a tediously slow process. Towards the end I had to organize all the pieces by their shape just to make progress. All the pieces were the same color (ie. sky pieces).

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No snow on the ground in Ruidoso, just up in the mountains (Saturday night). We saw plenty of deer right off the back deck. We are thankful for a safe, relaxing trip with family.

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We headed back Sunday and enjoyed some time at home before the work week began.

Oh yeah, the Sunday before Thankgiving Travis and Allison were in town. Caleb doesn’t naturally just crawl all over strangers, but he immediately took to Travis and Allison. We hope they will come visit us more often and go to church with us here in Midland. We definitely enjoy their company.

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Finals are this week (Chad has one in accounting), and I am sure Julie (Chad’s cousin) has some, as well as, Allison. Hope you all do well.

To end this post, Chad played in 2 basketball games (about a month ago) with the employees at his bank. They lost, but here are the some pictures. And yes, they each picked out a name for themselves.

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Have a great week.

I am currently sitting on my bed upstairs with the computer on my lap, Caleb is asleep down the hall, and there is a continual dread of going downstairs. Why, you ask? It is freezing down there (not literally). We have no heat downstairs. We have had no heat since Monday. It has been miserable down there. Cooking, eating, playing…miserable. The little space heater doesn’t cut it and with Caleb crawling around (and the way he has been obeying lately) it is far too dangerous.  It was 25 degrees outside when we headed out at 8:30 this morning.  Hopefully the part for the heater will come in soon.

We made our first fire in the fireplace last night. That didn’t help. I guess I get to skip out on ironing today. It is just too cold. And no, I cannot haul the ironing board and iron upstairs to complete the task in the warmth. Thankfully, our heater upstairs (where we sleep) is working.  It is nice and toasty up here. I think I will stay.

Have a great weekend.