SOCIAL MEDIA

May 22, 2015

Life 'Round Here - Lilacs, Allergies & A Few New Gray Hairs

Hello!  It feels like it has been so long since I blogged.  I wasn't planning a break but life just seemed to get in the way.  I have been battling a terrible spring cold that I am still not quite over.  A spring or summer cold always seems more offensive than a winter cold to me.  In winter, it seems almost expected but when the weather is warm there are so many more things to be DONE!

I have been enjoying lilac season.  We planted one small lilac bush when we moved to this house 8 years ago and it has exploded.  If only the blooms lasted longer than a week!  I filled the house with lilacs and their smell was glorious.  And then ended up putting them outside due to the many allergy sufferers in our house.  Speaking of allergies, my middle guy (13)  has developed an allergy to the cold.  Yes, you read that right, he is actually allergic to cold temperatures.  Have any of you had any experience with that?  After jumping into our cold pool (70 degree water) for the first time this season, he broke out in hives all over his body.  Scary!!  Long story short, we now have an epi-pen in case a worse reaction occurs and my swimming loving boy now needs to take many precautions before he gets in the water :(
I celebrated a birthday and my mom gave me this beautiful lamp that she made for me herself.  
Last I blogged was Mother's Day, and I enjoyed a weekend away in the mountains with my guys.  We went to my favorite "junk" spot where I found two Fall paint by numbers, a vintage Pyrex bowl and a book filled with botanical prints.  Total cost was under $10.  It was my lucky day.
I also guilted them into taking a picture with me...
No fancy outfits or combed hair...just us.  I love it!  Speaking of my boys, my oldest turned 17 and got his driver's license.  Yikes!!!
This was him driving away to school for the first time.  All by himself.  I may have teared up because it felt like he was driving away to an independent life.  The good news is he has returned home every night since in time for dinner AND he has been helping me with picking up his brothers.  I think I probably developed a few gray hairs worrying though.  The dogs are so much easier to take care of than teenagers because they just stay home :)
   So that's what we have been up to.  No big house projects to share, unfortunately.  Just real life.  I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

There is still time to enter for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card!  Just stop by this post and leave  a quick comment telling me how you enjoy taking a moment to yourself.  Good luck!



21 comments :

  1. Love the photo of you and your boys, and the one with your dogs. I couldn't help thinking that one had his paw behind the head of the other one, you know the way one of my boys always has to do the bunny-ears thing! Love the lamp, lilacs and paintings too! x

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    1. Hi Katherine,

      Thank you!! That is so funny about the dogs looking like one paw is over the other dog’s head. It totally looks like that and that it definitely something those 2 would do to each other :)

      Have a great weekend,
      Courtney

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  2. Hope you are feeling better soon, Courtney. Sounds like lots of real life going on there! Sorry, too, to hear about your son's allergy...that must be scary.
    We have the same variety of lilacs you have in your photo...they will bloom in early June here...I can't bring them into the house because of how strongly scented they are. We just open a window!

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    1. Thanks Linda! I just love those lilacs and they are so easy to care for. And you are right, the smell is STRONG. We had to put the ones I cut back outside, but the entire yard smells lovely.

      Have a great weekend,
      Courtney

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  3. Feel better Courtney. Those spring and summer colds do seem worse....they seem to last just a bit longer! I have never heard of an allergy to cold. I know that had to be scary for you all. Glad they figured it out and have a plan for him. I sure miss our old house.....because it had a huge lilac bush.....the smell was so intoxicating! I miss that! Feel better and enjoy the warmer spring days!

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    1. Thanks Andrea. I had never heard of an allergy to cold temperatures either. The allergist said it is fairly uncommon. We are hopeful that he will outgrow it soon, but we have to be careful this summer (and next winter). I am feeling so much better thankfully. You should plant another lilac bush. I definitely don't have a green thumb, but they grow so well with minimal effort. Have a great weekend!

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  4. Oh gosh, Courtney, the driver's license. You have my sympathy and hugs on that milestone. I tried to put my kids off of getting their driver's licenses, but it's gonna happen anyway. Your lilacs look beautiful. I planted a bush out in front of our condo a few weeks ago. I doubt I'll get blooms this year, but at least I know I will get blooms at some point. I just love their scent.

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    1. Hi Kathy,

      Thanks! The driver’s license did feel like such a huge milestone and it definitely brings along so many worries.

      Good luck with your lilacs. They seem pretty easy to grow so I am sure you will have blooms before you know it. Their scent is the best.

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  5. Sounds like me. I've been blog-absent and need to check in desperately. Oh the driving, it's a blessing and a (worrywart) curse ;) The errand running is glorious though :) Hope you are feeling all better!!

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    1. Thanks Shannon! Sometimes life just gets so busy that throw pillows have to take a back seat for a while, right? Yes, the driving is both good and bad, but more good now that I am getting used to it :) Have a great weekend!
      Courtney

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  6. It is so hard to see your child become so free and independent. I know I went through it with all four of my kids. It's easier when their little. You boys are beautiful you are very blessed. Have a lovely weekend. Ji

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    1. Thank you! I totally agree. It is so much easier when they are little and you know they are safe! I hope you have a wonderful weekend too :)

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  7. I just wanted to say how much I love the photo of you and your boys. Our youngest graduated last year and we really had a hard time finding pictures of him with me for his photo board at his party. I was always the one taking the pictures so I'm glad to see you have such a nice photo to remember Mother's Day. You have such handsome sons. I can relate to the drivers license too. It's the first real step to their independence and that wasn't so easy for me at first either. Enjoy all three, our youngest just completed his freshman year in college. Time goes by so fast.

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    1. Hi Rebecca,

      Time sure does fly by too quickly. We, too, will be dealing with college soon enough. I am trying to make more of an effort to put myself in pictures (once in a while) so I can remember these days. Unfortunately, I didn’t when they were younger. Thanks so much for your comment and have a great weekend!

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  8. Courtney the pic of you and the boys is so sweet. Love it. Time flies with the kids. I still cannot believe I have a 5 year old granddaughter some days lol! Have a wonderful holiday week end. Enjoy.
    Kris

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    1. Thanks Kris. I think I may have to actually print out that picture and put it in a frame. It seems like all of my pictures just live in my computer these days ;) Time does just keep on flying by. You must enjoy your granddaughter so very much. Hope you are feeling well!

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  9. Spring/summer colds are the worst. I've been fighting allergies but my doctor recommended Flonase and Claritin (and yes---both!!). That seems to be helping. I know what your son is going through with the allergies with the cold. It just started to happen to me a few years ago. If it was very cold outside, I would come in with hives and itchy splotches on whatever part of my body wasn't covered (face and hands usually). There was some itching but mostly it felt numb. After I warmed up I was fine. I hope this isn't forever!

    Good luck having a teen driver. I was a mess! But yeah, they come in handy! ;-)

    Happy Birthday, love your finds on your trip and the picture of you and your sons is precious!

    Have a great holiday!

    Jane x

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    1. Hi Jane,

      Allergies have been terrible this year here too! My son also uses both Flonase and Zyrtec daily for his seasonal allergies and he still suffers with it. I am sorry to hear you have the allergy to cold as well, but at the same time it is good to know my Kyle isn’t the only one. His hives weren’t itchy, but they covered his entire body. They went away once he warmed up. The allergist said this allergy typically lasts a period of time and then just goes away. We hope it isn’t forever too.

      I am sure I will get used to having a teen driver, although I am certain I will never stop worrying ;) I guess that’s just being a mom.

      Have a great weekend!

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  10. My current time to myself is my late afternoon coffee with flavored creamer and the newspaper at the hotel. I am traveling for work and really appreciate a short time of home-like relaxation

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  11. I take moment to myself by playing with my dogs. They are my whole world and I can just sit there and watch them play when they go outside. They are young at heart, always devoted and brightens my day. They are my moments! KMillheim609@aol.com

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  12. Love that picture of you and the boys! So sorry to hear about the alllergies. Not fun. My older son has seasonal tree allergies and this year has been the worst. He uses Flonase, Zyrtec, eye drops and his inhaler when it gets real bad. It's been a tough spring. Hopefully your son's cold allergy won't last! Enjoy your weekend!
    Shelley

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