{embrace the camera}

I love love love this picture.

I took it walking to the car on the way out of church on Father's Day.

The only Father's Day picture taken...and with my phone. Oh, the shame.

These 2 really do make my day.

That is, when they aren't making up stories about WoolyBooger, Viney Do, Lenoard & CornBread.

But really, that makes me smile too.

Because it's them. Their thing.

 

But then, the fever came.

I was called by school Monday afternoon.

Easton had a fever of 101.

By the time we got home and I had a chance to take it myself it was 103.

I knew what it was.

The dreaded Hand, Foot, Mouth.

Sure enough, Tuesday morning brought on the mouth sores. 

He kept asking for a 'new ra ra' {passi} because his 'was dirty'.

But with some motrin, tylenol and 2 days of one on one tlc from mommy & daddy

 he's almost as good as new now.

Here's to a healthy weekend and lots of energy!

The big move is this weekend.

I might be feeling a little weepy if I take time to think about it.

Our first home. 

Moving from our first home.

But, I'm hoping being so busy lessens the tears.

Fingers crossed.

Happy Thursday!

It's safe to say...

After another long night...

I think it's safe to say, we've turned the REAL corner.

I'm pretty sure he just wanted to sleep with me last night.

So, at 12:30 The Boy got in the bed.

And I rocked.  Rocked my toddler just like I used to when he was a baby. 

In the dark.  It was quiet.  Lance had moved to the couch. 

And I took those few moments in the middle of the night to do something I rarely get to do.

And yes.  I documented it.  So what. 

The boys spent the day together today while I got some me time with Honey & Jamey.

We did us a little thrifting and a yummy lunch.

I feel rejuvinated.

But definitely praying for sleep. 

Turning the corner

I think we may have turned the corner back to health. At least headed in that direction. The last two nights have gotten better than the first and I'm feeling good about tonight's chance of a full nights sleep.

Yesterday his temp reached 103.7 at its highest. I felt completely out of control. All I could do was keep Motrin around the clock and lots of ice water. Luckily he did eat fairly well so I didn't have to worry about dehydration. Thank the Lord. Thats a whole issue on its own. Per the nurse 103.7 (really 102.7) is a mild or low fever and is good for the body to fight off infection. So. Fight we did. He slept for the most part and woke up fever free.

He was fever free all day but had a little jump tonight though he is happy as a lark and you'd never know. I'm saying it was a bad read. Hey. A mom can hope right. No harm in positive thinking.

I am so tired I can't see straight but I have a renewed peace and patience in my heart. There was a recent local tragedy where an infant died. It consumes my mind.  It's a shame it takes things like that to make you treasure the small things. Even a sick child. Because really. He's healthy. Just a minor sickness that will pass. So. For that I'm thankful. Thrilled even. He's in the next room humming himself to sleep and I couldn't be more content. More peaceful. More thankful. May we always choose to live in this state of thankfulness.

Sleepless Night

Last night we decided to put Easton in the bed with us.

He's had a bad cough for almost a week now, getting a little worse each day. 
Happy otherwise, but a miserable cough.

We got a note from school yesterday saying a child in his class has RSV.
I'm thankful for those notes, but I immediately diagnose Easton with whatever illness has been posted.

And...most of the times I'm right.

We all piled in the bed around 8.  Lance built a fort around the bed so Easton wouldn't roll off.  Thus the kitchen chair in the picture.  I sent Lance to the couch around 9.  No sense in us both being awake.  Easton slept like a log until 10.  He would cough about every 10 minutes.  Sometimes he'd stay asleep, others he'd wake up.  His head would pop up and he'd say 'hi mommy'.  From about 10-12 I patted, rocked, held, rubbed, loved, etc.  About 12 we got up and got some water and I put him on the couch with Lance.  I slept from 12-1.  Rather...I tried to sleep.  Sometime around 2 I gave him Motrin to either a) ease whatever pains he might have had and/or b) knock him out so we could all get some sleep.  It did both.  He slept pretty good till about 8. 

I put a call in to the dr and they seem to think its just a bad cough since he has no other symptoms that would be associated with RSV.  With a stop at Walgreens for some Delsym and another dose of Motrin he was on his way.

But as I was laying there wide awake last night listening to the ins and outs of his breath, watching the rise and fall of his chest, my worry lessened.  For whatever reason I felt a peace.  And the urge to pray.  Probably where the peace came from.  I prayed For Easton.  And for the little child that does have RSV.  And for others.  For blogs I read where people are sick.  For those who don't have babies to care for.  For my family.  For my friends.  I really had no desire to go to sleep, but just to pray.  It was an overwhelming comfort knowing that he was in bigger hands than mine.  More capable hands for sure. 

At some point in my sleepless nigth I also thought about how less than 2 years ago I was up every 3-4 hours with a newborn.  How he was so tiny and his very being depended on me.  And how I second guessed everything I did for him.  I wondered if what I was doing was right.  And last night, we were back in that same boat.  He needed me.  And I was ok with that.  But, last nigth, I had confidence.  I knew I was doing all I could for him.  And I knew I was doing the right thing for him. 

Now, as he was flopping around and throwing Charlie back and forth and calling out for 'meeeuuulT' (his most country version of the word milk) every 5 minutes, I did get aggrivated, but I just reminded myself 'he's little, he can't help it, he feels worse than I do.' 

So I just snugged him a little closer and rubbed him a little longer.  It's not often I get to do those things with my rambunctious toddler. 

And look, we all survived.  On little to no sleep.  I'd prefer that we don't do that again tonight, but if we do...I'll be right there. 

PW's Meat Balls are on the menu for tonight- they're a crowd pleaser for sure! 

Here's hoping tonight we have a quiet, cough free night!

Stomach Bug

Well...at least it waited until after Christmas.

I went to the Y last night, ran for the 2nd time since I started exercising again.

But that good feeling didn't last long.

7pm- it hit. 

The Panda Flu.

{That's what we named it in our house- aka stomach bug- aka death}

12 SOLID hours of HELL on earth.

It was awful.

But, thank goodness for a warmer than normal day.

After some expired phenergan, a big nap and lunch {thanks mom} I turned the corner back to living.

I opened the windows.

I washed the sheets.

Cleaned the bathrooms.

Lysoled EVERYTHING.

Washed all the clothes.

And thankfully my boys seem to be safe from the bug.  

Again, thankful that it came on a random day.

I wouldn't wish that on ANYONE! 

Glad to be back among the living.

Divine Opportunity

Since Easton was acting fine, but had a small temp the night before and his rash was still fairly visable, we opted for another day at home for healing.  But cabin fever was setting in and we had to get out.

We made the most of our last sick day.
We headed out to the park and met Aunt Kathy, Paige & Bret for some play time!

Thanks for the pix Aunt Kathy!

It was a beautiful cool morning with the sun shining down on us. 
Perfect for time outside. 
Fresh air and Sunshine are good for the soul. 

After the park we were headed home for lunch and a nap but Nana called and asked us to meet her and Grandaddy Baker for lunch.  You know me and The Schedule, and it was already pushing 11:30.  This would NEVER work.  We'd go, he'd be fussy because he was hungry and tired, he'd fall asleep in the car on the way home and wouldn't get a long nap...but screw it.  We turned around.  It's not every day we get the opportunity to have lunch with great and great-great!  And, as Nana called it...it was a divine opportunity. It was good for everyone.  Easton ate as much rice and broccoli as we could fork over and we all enjoyed each other's company.  It was Senior Day at the Captain D's so everyone knew "Brother Baker & Ms. Ann".  We were delighted to meet so many friends. 

And just as if it's what he was supposed to do, he stayed awake and happy all the way home and we took a big nap together when we got home.  Yep.  I'd say it was Divine Opportunity too.   

Sometimes things work out just perfectly.  It's days like yesterday when I long to be a stay at home mom.  Days like yesterday are days I'd LOVE...I know not every day would be like that, but it sure was sweet.  I'll cherish that time forever. 

Hand Foot & Mouth

Bless my poor baby.  Friday night he came down with a fever, 102.2 at the highest.  Saturday we had an appointement for a well visit for his 18 month check up (25 lbs, 32 1/2 inches long).  After a good once over and a close inspection of some random bumps, a good look in his mouth, it was determined he had the dreaded Hand, Foot & Mouth.  It's a virus, so there's nothing you can do about it, other than keep him comfortable and hydrated as much as possible.  {Riddle me this: chicken pox is a virus also but we have a vaccine, so why in the world do we not have a vaccine for this?}

Saturday was tolerable.  Little fussy in the afternoon.  But Sunday, Sunday was AWFUL.  Poor appetite.  Fussy.  Mouth was very painful.  Lots of bumps.  On top of the usual eczema this makes for an itchy mess. 

We've had 2 days home and looks like we have a few more on the books.  Improving each day but still needs to be home.  The sores in his mouth aren't yet gone all the way and until they are we have to stay home.  SHUX!  I'm enjoying this time with my boy. 

His spots are improving today, however, his fever went back up to 100.3 this afternoon.  There are a few patches that look pretty bad so we'll stay home just to make sure we don't infect anyone else and that we get back to 100%.

Considering how he looks, he's acting just like his chipper self. 

I'll spare you the picture of his hiney.  It's awful.  But, good news is, it's clearing up nicely.  The eczema spots got the worst of the bumps for some reason but those too are clearing up.

I don't know if this helped, but we had a prescription cortizone cream (2 1/2%) and I lathered that on last night after his bath. I have also been using a prescription antibiotic ointment on those eczema spots to help heal those.  And vasoline on the hiney.  So, we're managing.

It's awful, but we're surviving!