A case of sickies

Happy Leap Day!

A few weeks ago I got a call from daycare late Monday afternoon that Grant was running fever. I went and picked him up and he wasn't feeling well at all. We came home and I went ahead and made him a doctor's appointment for the next morning.

I took him to the doctor the next morning and they said he he had a double ear infection.=( He had so many days where he was so congested and just yucky. I was glad we had a reason why. 

They called me Thursday afternoon saying he was running fever again. I called the pediatrician and they said since it hadn't been a full 3 days to wait and see how he was on Friday. Well, he woke up with no fever and seemed a little better. But Saturday was miserable. He was so unhappy. We decided later that evening we were going to take him to urgent care on Sunday. 

We woke up Sunday to Ava waking me up saying her ear hurt. She was really lethargic and you could tell she didn't full well. So after church, I took Ava, Grant and myself to urgent care. I'd been having sinus issues and ear pain as well off and on for a few weeks. Well, the doctor said mine was just sinus drainage and fluid on ears and didn't need any meds. He said Grant's ears didn't look too bad but were some red. But he didn't feel like he should change the antibiotic. Ava did have an ear infection so we got her some meds and were on our way.

That week on Wednesday, I picked Grant up and they said he had barely eaten all day. I took him home and he ate a bottle and ate dinner. Later that evening when I was nursing him, I went to switch sides and he threw up. We thought maybe his drainage made him sick, but he got sick a few more times in the next hour and a half. We weren't sure if he had a bug or if he still had infected ears.

He still wasn't himself Thursday. He didn't eat well and was constantly tugging at his ears. When he went to bed that night, this is what he looked like. 

I had called earlier in the evening and got him an appointment for Friday morning. We didn't get to see his pediatrician the first appointment but did this time. He still had a lot of fluid on his ears and his doctor said that could've been why he didn't feel like eating. So we got a new medicine and were hopeful it would help.

The next morning, he woke up around 6:00 and I got in his room and was changing him and Reed came up and said "I threw up". I was like "WHERE did you throw up?" And he pointed to the trash can. Indeed he had. He has major issues with sinus drainage and throws up fairly often so he knows when it's coming and how to get somewhere. But really. What four year old throws up on their own, in a place like a toilet or trash can, and doesn't even tell his parents!?!?! He was sick a few times that day so that kind of confirmed Grant had a bug.

The next morning I felt pretty gross for a while. The bug had been pretty mild for both boys and I think I may have had a touch of it. I laid down and took a nap around noon and woke up feeling much better. This past Tuesday, Ava came home from gymnastics and you could tell she wasn't feeling well. She said her stomach hurt at gymnastics and that it hurt when she stood up but not when she sat down, which is kind of how I felt on Sunday. So I guess we all had a touch of it.

Thankfully Grant seems to finally be feeling much better. It took about a week for his eating to return to normal. I'm hoping that will be the extent of our illnesses for a while!!!!

Grant is nine months old!

So, I realize I've been a little MIA. The platform I've used for blogging for years doesn't work anymore and I just can't adapt. I don't like how my posts look and I just haven't had the desire to pick up my computer. I'm going to attempt this again on my phone since all my photos are on my phone anyway.

So. Grant is nine months old and is growing and changing so fast!!  

Here is what he is up to: 

• You weigh about 19lbs after losing some weight from being sick.

• You wear mostly size 9 month clothes and size 3 diapers.

• You nurse in the morning and evening and have bottles during the day at school. You eat about 18oz on a typical day at school.

• You love solid foods. Your favorites are mac & cheese, carrots, and chicken & veggies. 

• You finally mastered crawling about a week ago! You are ALL over the house!

• You put everything in your mouth and you love cords!!!

• You babble all the time and in babbling say dada, but on 2/18, I went in to get you up and you said mama clear as day!

• You love bath time! 

• You like to clap.

• You go to bed around 7:00 and sleep until 6:30 during the week and until about 7:00 on the weekends. You take two good naps most days.

• You try to pull up but I haven't seen you do it. They say you like to practice at school. 

• You got another tooth this month, your top left one, bringing the total to three. 

• You are generally so happy and love almost everyone, but you definitely prefer your mama! 

• You try to pull up but I haven't seen you do it. They say you like to practice at school. 

• You got another tooth this month, your top left one, bringing the total to three. 

• You are generally so happy and love almost everyone, but you definitely prefer your mama! 

• Your brother and sister like to call you Bubba 😳

• You celebrated your first Valentine's Day and loved being kissed on! 

You are so very loved, Grant! We are so glad to have you!!! 

Grant is eight months old!

Grant, you are eight months old today! Another month has flown by. You are growing and learning so much each day and we just love you to pieces!

Here's what you are up to at eight months old:

• You are growing like a weed! You wear 9 month clothes and you are squeezing into your last few size 2 diapers. Size 3 really fit you much better but we hate to waste them!
• You probably weigh 18-20 lbs. You are still a LONG boy!
• You still only have two teeth. You seem to be working on a couple more but who knows when those will appear.
• You aren't crawling on all fours yet but you can get all over the room with your army crawling! You are so close to real crawling.  
   
  
• You LOVE playing with your toys. Your favorites are the light up laptop and your books. You also love anything that belongs to your brother and sister! 
  
• You are a great little eater. You eat three meals of solid food - typically oatmeal and fruit in the morning, veggies and some meat at lunch and whatever for dinner. You really like carrots and you are getting so good at picking up your food and getting it in your mouth!
• You still nurse at morning and night and have three bottles during the day while you are at school. 
• When you hear someone coming in your room, your little head pops up to peek over the crib or you pull the bumper down to peek through the crib slats. you get so excited and start bouncing when you see us! 
  
• When I'm nursing you, you've started rubbing your hand along my stomach.
• You sleep around 11 hours most nights. 
• You had your first bath in the big bathtub two nights ago. Reed was in the tub and I put you in just to get it done quickly. You LOVED it!
• You still suck your fingers but mainly only when you are hungry and tired - just another sign you are growing up!
• When working with you on picking up your food, I would say yay when you got one in your mouth. Eventually you started putting your hands up int he hair when I would say yay! It was precious!  
  
• You are still the happiest baby on the block.

You are SUCH a joy, Grant! You bring all of us so much happiness and we love you so much! We have so much fun with you and have so many people cheering you on when you try to do something new. You are so lucky to have a brother and sister who love you so much. Remember that as you grow up and know you will always be able to count on them. We love you, GT!

Off and running in 2016!

Well, we've jumped feet first in 2016! After a quiet couple of days around the new year, it was back to school and work for everyone. We're back in the mode of waking up early (not that that ever stopped), getting out the door, homework, and the crazy busy schedule. 

On the first day of the year, I took a picture of the kids to compare to last year. Big changes in the older two!

One day last weekend, I was going to get Grant out of his bed and boy was I surprised when I glanced into Ava's room and found her holding Grant. She had gotten him out of his bed all by herself. I asked her to show me how she did it and then we talked about not doing it again for safety reasons! Grant didn't seem to hate it though!

That same day the kids came to get me while I was cleaning and told me to come look at Grant. He had fallen asleep playing!

Zach's mom got Grant this adorable outfit with a bow tie! He looks ADORABLE! I think we're going to have to find him a bow tie for Easter and my sister's wedding!!!

The big kids were so ready to go back to school after having two weeks off. They were ready to see their friends and ready to get back to being out of the house!!

Reed was SO excited to wear his new sunglasses in that day!

Last week was a little hard adjusting back to the school schedule. The time off is always nice but getting back to the routine is as well. It was a long week but we made it. Thankfully this time of year is a little slower. It will pick back up as we get closer to the end of the year.

And in other exciting news, Zach and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary this year. We are hoping to take a trip just the two of us this summer and are looking at somewhere in the Caribbean. I'd love to hear your suggestions on places you've been and loved! Doesn't this look heavenly??!?!

Okay, friends. Things might be a little slow around here as we don't have much going on but I'll write when I can and when I have something good to write about! :) I hope you all have a great week!

Goodbye 2015

Here we were on the last day of 2014.

Looking back to a year ago, I could have NEVER imagined what the year would bring. I can honestly say that 2015 was the hardest year of my life. So many trials - my uncle's death, Leslie's illness, my dad's cancer diagnosis, and ultimately Leslie's death. I remember so vividly March 17th. Leslie was being transported to Kansas City and at that time we didn't know if she was going to make it, my dad got confirmation that he did have cancer, and I got news I failed my 3 hour glucose test. It felt like life couldn't possibly get any worse at that point.

While the year was overwhelmingly hard, there were some good moments. We found out we were having a sweet baby boy.

Zach finished his Masters degree in March and we got some exciting news at the end of March when received a new job! He has had half a year as the Dean of Academics and Admissions at his school and while it has been an adjustment for us all, I am SO SO proud of him and the job he does. 

We spent a nice Easter in Kansas City so we could all visit with Leslie while she was in the hospital.

Our lives changed for the better on May 20th when Grant was born. Through the heartache to follow, he was an amazing ray of light in a dark time. God knew what He was doing when He sent Grant at that time.

I spent the summer on maternity leave and we all continued to fall in love with this angel.

Just two days before she passed away, we spent the day in NWA with Stephen, Leslie and the girls. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that would be the last time I would see her. The guys took the big kids swimming and she and I stayed back with the babies and just caught up on life and talked the way we loved to do. I wish I could have that one more time. I will always be grateful we had that last day together. I miss her every day.

In the days following Leslie's death, we got to spend time with family that we don't see nearly enough!

In August, I went back to work after 12 weeks off and Grant started daycare. It was sad and I miss those days at home, but we have all adjusted well. 

Zach started his first day of his new job and Ava started 1st grade and Reed started preschool in August.

In September, Ava turned seven!!!

Grant was also baptized!

In October, Reed turned four!

We also spent a weekend at the lake and had a great time!

October was also when #rockstarreed was born!!!

We also celebrated Halloween with a mummy, Captain Jake, and an Olympic gymnast!

November was a quiet month with just a lot of cuteness from the kids!

Grant learned to sit up!

This may be one of the most favorite pictures of my three kids!

We got back our family photos and I was in love!!

December was filled with many of our family traditions, such as seeing Santa Claus and taking a ride on the Holiday Express at the park to look at the lights!

Grant had his surgery right before Christmas.

We celebrated Grant's first Christmas!!

So while 2015 was filled with great heartache, God was still in the midst and He was and STILL IS good. We still have happy memories that we will take from this year, though the hardness and sadness will be part of us forever. My kids have grown up a lot this year in regards to dealing with three deaths. That's produced A LOT of questions about death, dying, Jesus and Heaven. But I also think this year was the perfect example of the circle of life. God gave and God took away. And while I hope 2016 has much less heartache, we're ready for whatever comes, because it's our life and it's our story. 

Happy New Year! May 2016 be a year filled with happiness and blessings for each of you!