VIRUS

I hate that word! I saw my doctor today because I was feeling worse and worse and to my complete shock my strep test came back negative. My throat has never felt so horrible, so I was convinced it was strep. But apparently this is a virus that just has to run it's course. I'm still doubtful that the diagnosis is correct. After all the doctor giving me the diagnosis also told me that my tonsils looks really enlarged and swollen. I told her to look again since as of 1999 I DON'T HAVE TONSILS! "oh yeah, I guess your throat is just really swollen."
So I'm feeling a little better at the moment thanks to 1000mg of Tylenol and 800mg of Motrin. Ryan's leftover Percocet is looking awfully tempting at the moment. I'm sure I would have taken some last night when I was in sheer agony except of the fact that I usually get sick to my stomach with any kind of narcotic medication (I have my mom to thank for that :)
Our little get away later this week is starting to look like it's not going to happen :( and that makes me even more miserable! But I keep reminding myself that this can't last forever! So that's the update for now! Maybe tomorrow the news will be a little more cheerful!! Let's HOPE!

From McKenna

Hi, It's me - McKenna! See me waving!

Look at all my teeth! I've even got molars!

I love to sit in mommy's desk chair and spin around.

I give my baby kisses all the time.

And reading books is one of my favorite things too!

Trains are pretty tasty! Mommy and Christian hate it when I do this!


I wish I could give you some of my big hugs like I give my baby!

Bye, bye! Come back and see me tomorrow!

LOVE, McKenna

From the mouth of Christian...

Today is my 31st birthday and since I've got strep throat it's been a very low key day. Not the day I had in mind, but we've decided to have a re-do later in the week! So we just ate dinner and here's what Christian had to say about my birthday.
"Mom, your birthday is not fun at all. I think it's boring. When are we going to do something fun? Let's play Candyland or something! I'll make you a new Mr. Potato Head for your birthday. Maybe Abby and Nate could come over for a party."
Personally I would prefer not to play Candyland, but we might do it anyway. I just can't get over the fact that I've been on an antibiotic for over 24 hours and I'm feeling worse instead of better. They gave me 500 mg of penicillin. I've never actually had straight penicillin before. Is it considered a "strong" antibiotic? I have no idea! I think I need something to really go after this infection and I'm not so sure that penicillin is getting the job done. It's perfectly fine with me to have a nothing sort of day because LOOK where we're going later in the week, if everyone is feeling good and as long as we get Emma's bus situation worked out for after school! Oh my kiddos had better be feeling good! Ryan was gone for 5 days last week for work and when he told me he had to travel again this week for three more days I just wanted to cry. Then he showed me where he had to go and I begged to go with him! So the kids and I will be hanging out at this awesome hotel while Ryan is trying to drum up business for his company! Bring it on! I'm ready to get outta here for awhile! We need a change of scenery!

Longing for the Good Old Days

I have finally succumbed to sickness! Somehow I made it through a winter of taking care of sick kids and I've hardly been sick. But now I've got strep throat. Christian spiked a fever tonight and he's got it too. I'm sure of it, even though we didn't see the doctor! Every time he's ever complained of a sore throat it's been strep. Thankfully the pediatrician called in a prescription for Christian and I've got one too! I hope we're feeling better by tomorrow. Christian slept all afternoon, so now he's wide awake and is watching Caillou. I can't handle one more minute of Caillou (have you ever noticed how whiny his voice is?), so that's why I'm blogging! Ryan just got home from a grocery store run. We can't run out of orange juice because that's the only way Christian will take medicine. So we're back to the ridiculous bribes to get him to take his medicine. Whatever it takes! Our little cousin Zavier spent the day in the hospital with breathing issues. He's home now, but still wheezing terribly. So pray for him, he's not even a year old yet! I hate it that this blog is turning into a journal of all our medical issues, but I guess that's just where we are in life right now. Sorry it's so depressing! Not to worry, pretty soon I'll be posting about sprinklers, bubbles, wading in the creek, lots of bare foot feet, days that don't require coats, bike riding adventures, swinging and a little girl toddling around the yard! Oh I can't wait! Here's a little flashback from the good 'ol days:

My New FAVORITE Thing

And she's off....
Shutting the door (her new favorite trick)!

One last peek at mommy!
Then she closes the door all the way and of course, she can't get it back open.
So she stands on the other side of the door and calls "Mama" in the cutest, sweet, most adorable voice you've ever heard.
So naturally I go to open the door, but she is ALWAYS standing right on the other side of it, thus making it impossible to open the door without knocking her down.
So I open it a crack and then her tiny little fingers wrap around the edge of the door and she opens it the rest of the way.
She could play this game all day long...
and so could I if it means I get to hear her call me "mama."
Melt my heart!

Sunshine!!

We headed to the park yesterday - FINALLY! And yes, that's Christian in a baby swing, but there were only so many swings!

This girl LOVES to swing! And that's about all I'll let her do. I really was fine with the fact that McKenna is choosing NOT to walk, but now that we're heading outside more I really want her to walk! I hate having her crawl around in the wet, muddy grass but she is not motivated at all. She walks with her walker and baby doll stroller. She walks holding our hands. She cruises and stand all the time, she just doesn't want to do it on her own ((sigh)). I guess it'll happen when she's ready!

Christian and his friends Bryson and Tanyon were so excited to see a train come by! All three of these boys are train fanatics! Bryson was the one who got it all started!

You cannot begin to imagine how happy I am to be able to get outside and have everyone burn off all their energy! It was so good to see the boys running and running! WooHoo!

Christian, McKenna, Addie, Tanyon and Bryson!

Addie thought she was big stuff, helping to hold McKenna!

And today it's cold and rainy! What a disappointment!

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Check out Heidi's blog! She's got more pictures!

Uh - oh!

I think I've got a fever! I found myself using my inhaler a lot today and I haven't had to do that in months. I really hope I'm not coming down with whatever McKenna's been dealing with. I think she's finally better! She cut a huge molar today and I know that's been part of her problem. Now all four are visible and working their way out! I hope that's it for teething for awhile. The teething has created a horrible cycle with her. Teething=runny nose= ear infection= chest congestion =respiratory issues=and so on and so on!
I've got great pictures to post from today, but it will have to wait for another time when I feel better! We really had a great day! Lots of time outside! Lots of special friends!
Well, I've gotta go put McKenna to bed. I know- it's 10pm - but this is what I do sometimes just to get her to sleep through the night. That girl just doesn't need much sleep. If I put her to bed at 8:00pm she would be up for the day at 5am. I just can't have that! I did that for too many years when I taught! I refuse to get up before 7:30 these days (and sometimes I don't even do that)! I am NOT a morning person, but I could stay up til midnight just lurking on blogs. Awful isn't it :)
Good night! I'll have pictures tomorrow!

Happy Monday :)

Christian's HAPPY that it's Monday!
Abby was so excited to get a letter from her Great Grammy Crawley this morning! Grammy, she may not see you that much but she knows exactly who you are and she knows you LOVE her!

McKenna must be feeling better! She discovered toilet paper this morning! It doesn't matter how many times I remind this crew to keep the bathroom door shut, it never happens and McKenna LOVES the bathroom :) At least the toilet seat was closed!

And this is an example of how we pass our germs around! There's a lot of love in this family!

And Nate's just excited that it's Movie Time Monday on the Disney Channel today. This boy is so easy! He loves his TV and his shirt like PopPop's!

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Happy Monday! Hope you have a good one!