Sickies

We've been battling some crud here at the end of summer.  Harper caught a really nasty virus that initially presented itself as Strep Throat.  She seemed fine when I picked her up on a regular Thursday after school.  But 30 minutes after we got home, she was flat on the couch saying she didn't feel well.  I took her temp and it was 103!  She had an upset tummy that night and the next morning, and the last time she spiked a fever like that and threw up, it was Strep.  I called the doctor first thing and got her in right away.  The initial in-office test was negative, but we decided to treat her for it anyway assuming it was too early to show up.  It was Friday and we didn't want her to have to go the whole weekend without trying something.  Last time she started antibiotics for strep, she was back to feeling great about 18 hours later.  I knew it was bad when she woke up Saturday morning and wasn't better.  

She felt terrible most of the weekend, being very content to stay in her room and watch Caillou on Netflix on endless repeat.  She was very proud to say she thought she had watched every single episode at least twice.  The only relief she got was when the time came back around to give her another dose of Motrin.  We took her back on Monday morning and she had clearly gotten worse.  She diagnosed her with a sinus infection, eye infection and double ear infections.  Oy!  We had to cancel her dentist appointment and Jon and I did a lot of juggling of work days.  We had a slew of medications to give her each day including eye and ear drops.  It took her until Wednesday for her eye to clear up and for her to go the entire day without a fever.  She returned to school on Thursday - one full week later!  

We took her back for an ear check yesterday and she still has tons of fluid behind her right ear.  We knew she hadn't been hearing us very well, so yet another antibiotic was prescribed to hopefully clear it up completely.  We have another follow up in 2 more weeks.  We are praying everything is all cleared up!  

We managed to keep Jasper healthy.  At least healthy enough to not catch what Harper had.  He is now battling a runny nose and cough...  what's new???  

I managed to develop bronchitis.  I can't remember ever having an upper respiratory infection before so I was in complete denial.  I had been feeling pretty run down and had a cough.  Finally when the tightening in my chest was getting worse and I had virtually no voice, I decided it was time to go get checked out.  The antibiotics are finally working and I'm feeling much better.  

Hopefully we are all on the mend now!!! 

Our sweet girl after her second Dr. appointment.  

Showing off her newly painted nails.  Her friend stopped by and brought a get well kit including some new pink nail polish!  

Here she is feeling a little bit better and being silly.  Her right eye was super red and gooey and her nose became so raw from blowing it so much.  

 Here she is enjoying her latest round of antibiotics.  It tastes terrible and per doctor's orders we needed to mix it with something sweet and tasty like frosting.  Frosting!! That's exactly what she said.  Frosting has proven to be a little too sweet so tonight we tried chocolate milk and that seemed to go down a little easier.  What a lucky girl!!

Getting her ear drops from Daddy.

Day 11 - Monday

He's home!!!!!

The kids and I had a great morning at home and we left to go pick up Daddy from the airport.  We were all very excited after having waited a whole extra day for him to get home.

I took lots of pictures and video of the reunion with he and the kids.  It was a very memorable moment. The kids were so thrilled to see him and he was very relieved to be back home.

Day 10 - Sunday

Well we got disappointing news late last night.  Daddy's flight was cancelled out of Brazil and we didn't know when he would be able to make it back home.  :(   We had been so looking forward to picking him up, but it was quick consolation to Harper that we would be going to church instead.  I love how much she loves Sunday school.  Jasper does too - he just can't vocalize it as well yet.  

I decided to keep ourselves busy to help distract from the fact that Jon wasn't going to be coming home today after all.  After church we went to lunch with some of our great friends with kids the same ages.  So fun! 

We came home for naps and we decided to go ahead and read the final card and open the presents.  Just like the first day, Jasper got a car and Harper got more bows!  They LOVED them!  

Afterwards we walked across the street to Baby Cora's 1st birthday party.  Nothing better than cupcakes, air hockey and helping open presents!  The kids both love Cora and had a great time celebrating her 1st year with her.  

After that we headed over to our dear friend's house.  Today is mine and Jon's 6th anniversary and I was really looking forward to having him back home!!  I gladly accepted the invitation to come over for dinner so I wouldn't have to be alone with just the kids.  The kids love visiting with them and we all had tons of fun.  It was a welcomed distraction!!!  We met up with more friends for ice cream and while there I got a call from Jon.  He is in Miami and should be flying home to DFW in the morning!!!  Woohoo!!!!!!!  

Day 9 - Saturday

We are so excited that Daddy comes home tomorrow!!!!  

Today we had to go get Jasper new shoes.  He grew out of his two main pair this week!!!  He's not allowed to grow that much, especially while Daddy is gone.  :)  We headed to Kohl's, and as usual, I found a million other things to buy.  We found the duplicate pair he already had in the bigger size which he was thrilled with since he loves those shoes.  I'll have to use my Kohl's cash to go back and find a pair of tennis shoes since they didn't have anymore in his size at that store. 

We hit up Sam's and came home for a nap.   The kids woke up and played for a while.  It was incredibly hot outside, so they did a good job entertaining themselves with games and activities.  First they played dress up.  I was doing laundry and they came and greeted me dressed up and ready to go shopping with their shopping carts.  Harper was wearing about 4 skirts, pink wings and pink bunny ears.  And her princes shoes of course.  Jasper had allowed her to put a skirt, wings and bunny ears on him as well, and the sight was too much!!!  By the time I had gotten the camera, I think he was embarrassed and had taken the skirt off.  But I managed to get this picture anyway.  Great blackmail for future years! 

They then proceeded to play this game which I found very amusing.  One would ride the rocking horse holding two baskets of puppies while the other would push them around the house.  They were very serious about it and had so much fun.  Jasper copies everything Harper says these days and once they made one pass, Harper would say "okay, other way!"  Soon Jasper started saying "other way!" too. His vocabulary has been exploding lately!!!  

Nana came over so I could go to book club tonight.  They enjoyed pizza together and watched Toy Story and had a great time of course.  We didn't read the final card or open presents.  We are saving them for tomorrow before we go pick Daddy up from the airport!!!  

Day 8 - Friday

This morning I was awakened by Jasper at my bed.  This is nothing unusual -- usually he wakes up at 5:30am every day to have me help him go potty.  However this morning he was whining more than usual and it was so dark (and I was so asleep), I couldn't figure out what was wrong.  He was saying "Shirt, Mommy! Shirt! Help please!"  I HAD to take a picture because 1 - I needed the flash to help me see and 2 - I knew I would want a picture of whatever had happened!  

I was right.  He managed to get his arm all tangled up in his sleeve.  He is hiding his face here because the flash was blinding him.  He was actually laughing about it. 

Harper has such a helpful, tender heart (most of the time) and has really been exhibiting some great mothering tendencies towards Jasper and kids younger than her.  When she's around babies, she just wants to hold, tickle and help them.  It's very sweet.  She has been trying to help Jasper do more things, but he is exerting much independence these days and hardly lets her.  For instance, she likes to try to help him put on his shoes, but he either thinks she's taking them from him or he wants to try to do it himself.  

This morning, however, he finally let her help him get dressed.  And Harper was so excited about it!  I only got a picture of the very end where she was helping adjust his shirt, but he let her help him put it over his head and help get his shorts on the right way and pulled up.  It was so sweet to see him let her to help.  He was willing to let her help with his shoes, but had a little trouble, so I finished the job.  

Friday is Show and Tell Day for Harper and over the summer, they can bring whatever they want (as opposed to the school year where they need to try to bring something related to the curriculum).  Harper was so excited to bring her superhero costume to show all her friends.  When she put hers on, of course Jasper had to wear his!!!  I felt very safe driving to school with two strong superheroes in the car with me!  

We read Daddy's letter after dinner and then opened tonight's present.  Jasper got a Spiderman activity book and Harper got a Princess coloring/activity book.  Jasper was not in the mood for pictures, but Harper was more than happy to show off her gift.  

Day 7 - Thursday

Today was a better day! 

The kids got 2 presents tonight to make up for the lack of gift last night.  We opened them both after dinner.   First we opened the presents from last night -- Harper got a really cute sticker book - stickers are her favorite!  Jasper got a fire truck which he immediately fell in love with.  He even took it to bed with him!!  

We then read Daddy's letter and then opened the gift for Thursday.  He got them superhero costumes!  They LOVED them and Harper practiced her pretend punches while Jasper enjoyed running with his cape flowing behind him.