Pain. What Pain?

After a rocky start to the day with spitting instead of swallowing and choosing not to talk the rest of Hailey's day was really no different than any other day. I don't know if was pain management, the new Cool Temp Laser surgery that is supposed to result in less pain or perhaps Hailey is really just a strong cookie!

She said when she ate pudding the first couple bites hurt then it was easy eat (each time) she is loving "snow" from the snow cone machine and Gatorade - but she also ate Macaroni and cheese, a half a bagel, a slice of toast (with Jelly), rice and a Hershey kiss.

The most amazing part was the nap she took in my car (on our way to get Lauren from school). In months past people I was on the phone with could hear Hailey snore. Today - SILENCE. I am not kidding. It was so quiet I almost cried (again).

From what I read the "worst" could still be coming for her, but I am glad she had a good day - and I am glad we did the surgery because I can tell it is going to make a difference in her life.

Thanks again to everyone for all your kind words and well wishes!

Be sure to take a minute to check out Justin's Blog as you can win a free book just by sending him your address by Friday noon...AND he extended the contest deadline so please please please enter (he has some hints on his blog...check them out)

Before, Durring and After

It's over, sort of. Hailey did fantastic. I bawled my way out of the room surgery room. The Doctors and nurses were all in shock at what an amazing patient she is. The Anesthesiologist actually said she should be in medical movies because she is so calm. Kind of a weird thing but sure makes a mom proud! This was Hailey this morning BEFORE we left the house. She had just opened a new puppy Grandma sent for her to take with her

She named her Puppy - "Puppy Joe" and I don't know why but I just love that name.

Here was Hailey after the surgery. After fighting to wake up as fast she could - (I knew she would) she succumbed to rest when they placed her my arms. Only to wake once and ask "did he take my tonsils out" I told her yes and that she did great and she drifted off to dream land again.

And here she is at home. When we first arrived home she threw up all over this couch, me, her and the floor. and not just any throw up either - but I will spare you... Then she proceeded to eat and drink any and every thing we would let her have!

When Grams and Gramps brought Lauren home from school, Hailey was a bit giddy, she even got up and did a JUMPING SOMERSAULT - We all freaked and scared the crud out of her...she cried and then we felt so bad.

Grandma Mary sent these wonderful balloons and flowers and Hailey felt so special. She walked over to them many times, wanted to talk about the flowers and the colors! What a nice thing!

At 6:00 Hailey asked if she could "go upstairs and brush her teeth and go to bed" we haven't heard from her since. But I have the monitor on and I plan to check in on her soon. She really was a great patient...from what I understand the worst is yet to come for her - but thankfully her memories of today are good ones!

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and support! It means a lot!

Today is the day

What I learned this week is hosted by JoLynn over at Musings of a Housewife - Stop by and check out all the great posts! I really have enjoyed this week after week and am glad she started it.

Today Hailey is having her tonsils and adenoids removed. By the time you read this she may be done. Surgery is scheduled for 9:30 (MST) and we had to be there at 8:00 this morning. We will be at the Hospital for a minimum of 6 hours and the surgery is expected to take one hour.

I am not a wimpy mom, a sappy one yes, but wimpy no - however this has been tough for me. Lauren had anesthesia once when she had to have some teeth pulled. She is very fearful at Dr's offices and the safest course of action was to put her under. I cried when they put the mask on her face, I cried as I left the room and I cried in the waiting room. But the worst part was actually watching her wake up. Lauren is a very serious, black and white kind of gal. When she was up "enough" she said "What happened? Where did the time go?" she knew - she knew she had been "gone" and that broke my heart.

I don't expect the same from Hailey, in fact I expect to POP up rather than then waking real slow - I expect her to be in more pain though and that breaks my heart too. I have cried a few times just thinking about it. I know it is certainly in her best interest that we do this today - but I have to say it also flat out sucks.

What have I learned?

That sometimes being a mom flat out sucks.

I will try to post tonight with all the final outcome details - In the meantime - Lindsay's adorable 2 year old son is going in for surgery tomorrow (Wed) - he needs tubes and I am sure Lindsay is feeling about as fabulous as I am so please take a minute to drop by and give her and Sammy a little love.

Tonsils, Adenoids and Surgery Oh My

Yes, we finally had our long awaited appointment with the Pediatric ENT. His office was part of a Children's Hospital Clinic and it was fantastic. The nurses, the receptionist they were all wonderful. After answering about a bazillion questions for the Nurse the Dr. came in to examine Hailey. She had a little fluid in one ear, probably from the latest round of sick, then he had her open her mouth and his first reaction was "woah - has Dr.(name withheld for privacy) talked to you about these?". I smiled and said - "A litle bit and that is why we are here." He said he had to see her adenoids and took us down the hall for an Xray.

Hailey was a champ, she sat perfectly still for the Xray - I didn't know she was capable of sitting perfectly still for longer than 5 seconds! Then the nurse walked us back to a room. The Dr. came in about 2 minutes later and said "HUGE" as he walked in. I asked to see the Xray and he was so kind - he pulled it up on the computer screen and explained exactly what I was looking at.

How could this child breathe I wondered? Her airway was so small because in one area it was obstructed by her tonsils and about a half an inch later her adenoids were pushing in on it from the other side.

Dr. Said that after surgery Hailey's voice would change - he said her whole life she has talked as if she "had a cold" this made me sad. I can't believe how long this poor girl has probably been totally suffering and can only hope that she will feel so much better after she recovers from the surgery!

Of all the people we know who have kids who had their tonsils and adenoids removed only one was given the "voice change" observation...I will be curious to see how that goes and if it breaks my heart.

Anyway, Hailey's surgery is scheduled for May 26th and well, I am trying not to think about it too much yet because when I do I totally wimp out and get all teary eyed.

Don't forget about the contest below, happy Thursday to you!

Liquid, Solid, Liquid and Visa Versa

These two sisters are sharing again. Just not the kind of sharing we like to see.

Lauren shared her runny nose, her sneezes, her cough and her fever with Hailey.

Now, you tell me, how sweet is that? Hmph.

So I had both girls home today...a whole week without a single hour alone in my house. A preview to summer?

So today we did some Liquid to solid and back to liquid then some solid to liquid and back to solid...

We started with Ice Boats - I have to admit these were WAY FUN!












Then we moved on to Chocolate Circles. These were fun for the girls - and yummy too!











So here's hoping everyone goes to school next week! With my luck our school will get a case of the "today's name flu" and close for a week!

Gettin Crafty With it

First...Let me remind everyone that today(Thursday) is the LAST day of Usborne April over at Tales from the Nightstand.

It has been a fun month for me because I love children's books! Paige has been a wonderful sponsor to work with and the new people I have "met" have been amazing. Take a minute and read the last couple posts as we close out a super month!

Second - if you follow little ole me on twitter you know I had the girls at the Dr. today.

This morning "HE" asked Lauren how she was feeling her answer was:

"Not as good as I felt the day before yesterday"

I am happy to report we do NOT have the influenza (swine, bird, Asian, hong kong or housepet). Lauren does have an upper respiratory infection and confined to home until the fever breaks and the pandemic passes parents say it is ok to go back!

So, I have posted a lot about Hailey being a trooper, amazing at the Dr. etc. Lauren, NOT SO MUCH. Today when they went to swab her for Influenza (thanks to CDC guidelines) she screamed and hid in the corner, so much that our beloved Dr. looked at me and said "I'm handing this one off to the nurses" - Hey thanks doc - I love it when my 8 year old embarrasses me in front of multiple medical personnel. At which point little Hailey says

"Lauren, Lauren, Listen to me Lauren - I will hold your hand!"

My heart melted.

Lauren got swabbed and I got ready to leave - but "NO wait - you can't leave till we get this tested!" and the nurse left and shut the door and suddenly I was TOTALLY CREEPED OUT. Reality hit, if that little red testy thing says INFLUENZA then they will pry send us out of here in masks and call it a SUSPECTED Case and send it off to the WHO for further testing and that would just be crappy in so many ways.

But it wasn't and they didn't and we are home trying to pass some long, unexpected days. So this afternoon we got Crafty With It! Yes we did. I got one of my Favorite Usborne Books (the Book of Know How - reviewed today on Tales...) and a crafting we went:

We were learning about Centrifugal force and made these lovely spinners

(you can almost SEE her fever in the above shot)

Please don't forget to check out, participate and enter the giveaway in the post below...

What's in your potty?

So we did go to the Dr. on Monday and we did come home with very little information. He is not real sure what the rash came from but - hey - hang in there! Now don't get me wrong, our Dr. is AWESOME - Hailey is just a baffling little booger with some odd issues!

Yesterday Hailey "informed" me that her nose spray "isn't working because I still have the sneezes and the snifflers and I don't sleep good". She is probably 100% right since it just drips out of her nose when we try to do it.

Then...the kicker -

After she went to bed last night she came out to tell me she had to poop. Then, she came back a couple minutes later with this announcement

"Mom, I have different Poop"

Up I go- to inspect the toilet. Why do we do that? but yup - she has different poop alright. I am thinking it is the chocolate bunny she ate? or the flonaise that is NOT going up her nose or maybe she is simply sick again. Good Grief!

By the way -"he" does not understand why on earth anyone would want to hear about my child's poop - so I am sorry if it was TMI but this is my blog, she is one of my kids and she poops.

What is that thing on her face?

So, Hailey. Poor little Hailey. I have felt so bad for her from just about birth. She has so many issues (minor) - and yet she is the worlds most amazing patient! We had to have blood drawn when she was 2 and she just sat quietly and watched. It was amazing. She doesn't gag when the nurse shoves cotton swabs down her throat for strep cultures and she pretty much takes a licken and keeps on ticken if you know what I mean.

As we all know, we are anxiously awaiting our follow up with the Pediatrician and our May 12 appt with the ENT of choice - in the meantime the Dr. asked us to give her Flonaise until we see the ENT.

Ok, that presents a couple of problems.

1. she is three

2. she is three

3. she is three -

I know that is just one problem in triplicate. Can you get nasal spray succesfuly in your 3 year old? Hold one nostril, squeeze trigger while sniffing deep but not too deep...Hmmmm - you do the math.

We did get it done, kind of - but later in the day this showed up

and while I tried and tried to get a good picture - I could not - so here it is...a blurry picture of a wicked weird rashy spot on the cheek of my sweet adorable Hailey and there is nothing I can do about it.

Though we will be back at the Dr again today - I am starting to sound a bit like a psycho mom with the Dr visits eh? Oh well. Take me as I am.

Key Ring Thing

What I learned this week is brought to you by Musing of a Housewife -


This week it is also brought to you by MY MOM!

My mom, who called me today just to tell me about Keyringthing.com - you might remember when she told me about the Hide em and Find em Eggs and the wild goose chase that ensued...

Well I am happy to report that this is no wild goose chase and I am thrilled to have learned about Key ring thing.

You know all those cards in your wallet or on your keyring? The one for your grocery store, the hardware store, the drugstore, hallmark, DSW and whatever other loyalty programs you may belong too...well Keyringthing.com helps you consolidate YES put them all in ONE place! Holy cow are you kidding? NOPE. I told you I was excited. And to top it all off they are FREE, FREE, FREE!

All you have to do is login, register your cards and they send 1 count them ONE card that you carry and swipe at all those places! I registered mine tonight before I typed my post and I will let you know when I get it!

ON THE HOME FRONT:

I also learned that when you go to the Dr. to talk about your daughters ailments...you might walk out even more empty handed than you thought you would.

Yes I got the name of the ENT or Otolaryngolist whichever you prefer...Yes I called and made an appointment for a consultation but guess for when?

MAY 12th.

Are you kidding? How long does this poor girl have to suffer? Plus after the consultation it takes 3 to 4 weeks before surgery. ARGH. How come these people don't work on my schedule? Don't they know I will be waiting and worrying and waiting and worrying until I get more information? Darn them.

SIDE NOTE: The first giveaway is ending tonight over Tales from the Nightstand...stop by and enter, new one starts tomorrow so subscribe while your their so you don't missout!

Her Tonsils are MAMMOTH

That can't be good...

Nope, Hailey has Strep. Who is next? Anyone, Anyone, Bueler? MY GOODNESS. I have two friends with pending surgeries, my moms crummy, crummy week and now Strep to boot.

And since I LOVE rainbows, and I wish I was sitting under one now...I leave you with this.

What I learned this week

Hosted by Musings of a Housewife

What I learned this week…

I had whole bunch of things that I wanted to talk about like Lauren’s science test, the feeding habits of wild animals when a deceased elk is on the mountain behind the house your staying in, the ins and outs of The Drug From Hell and so much more…

But after a very long Monday that included 2 trips to the dr. Boogers in places I never realized they could release from and 1 LONG trip to Walgreens I give you this:

Who knew this lovely little girl could go from this:

To this:


In just 36 hours.

NOW I KNOW.

Banished I say, Banished

Banished, DOWN WITH SUDAFED. You may remember this post when I gave sweet little Hailey the drug that she actually wasn’t allowed to take. After an hour on the phone with the makers of Sudafed the drug from hell, I found that in fact Hailey was TOO young, the retailers had not pulled the drug from the shelves and I should not give it to her anymore (oh and they sent me 2 coupons for $1.00 off Sudafed, because the 3 bottles I had and the fact that only one of my children could take it for the next 3 years, they figured I should really buy more.

Fast forward a couple months to today, well the last 10 days really. The plague has been going through the fourth grade, strep, pink eye, fevers, ear infections, flu…one day they were down to 4 kids in class. The teacher, bless her heart, has been on a disinfecting mission – hands, desks all that can be seen.

I picked Lauren up from school today and we headed for the mountains (Grandpa road with us too, but that is a whole nother Oprah.) The entire way up we were in sniffle hell…Hailey had a fever 100.1, sniffles and coughs, Lauren was so sniffly she was driving us nuts and I was asking her to BLOW for god’s sake BLOW.

We arrived and shortly their after I broke out the drug from hell, Sudafed nasal decongestant to give Lauren a head start on a better night’s sleep. The whole time thinking to myself here we go again…we are in the mountains, again, and I have 2 sick kids, again, and I Think I will have to make that big fat snowman all by myself darn it. Oh and we are here to see Annie tomorrow night for crying out loud.

Off to bed Lauren went at 8:30 – at 9:15 she comes out of her room in hysterics, “I am itching all over and I can’t stop – something is happening to me – I am panicking.”

Lauren can be quite the drama queen so I calmly tell her let’s get you some lotion I bet your skin is just dry.

She says “NO something is happening to me."

She is breathing fast, panicking and sure enough covered from SHOULDER to TOE with hives, and I mean covered. (one step ahead of me again?)

We calm her down, lotion her up, dress her in one of daddies t-shirts, get her some water, take her pulse, check drug from hell, Sudafed bottle, discuss laundry detergents (we are NO strangers to hives and all detergents are FREE of everything).

We want to give her Benadryl for the hives but are nervous of drug interactions so off to Google I go. Only to soon find out that a severe allergic reaction to drug from hell, Sudafed is Hives, increased heart rate, rash, swelling of lips or mouth. CALL DR IMMEDIATELY it says. SO I DO.

And yes, Lauren is having a severe allergic reaction to Sudafed the drug from hell.

SO now I get to stay awake for 6 hours and watch her for signs of anaphylactic shock, I get to give her Benadryl round the clock till the hives are gone for 12 hours, I get to dump all the drug from hell Sudafed I own down the disposal, I get to shred the coupons they sent me after they interrogated me about their mistake, I get to call our regular Dr tomorrow and say “what the eff can I give my poor kids when they are so congested they can hardly breathe”, I get to read messages from my husband that say "way to go mom", and I get to write this scathing email about the drug from hell Sudafed.

Nough Said.

Friday, Lovely Friday.

Just as we came home and Lauren knew she was in fact sick even though she tried to ignore it all day this is what she said:

“can I have a wet wipe for my hands and then my computer”

A wet wipe first huh, guess I am always a bit OCD when it comes to someone being sick in my house. I am at my worst when someone is throwing up. I have been known to literally walk around the house with Clorox wipes in both hands so everything I touch gets wiped and I touch nothing.

My poor daughter will be scarred for life – thinking that germs are the death of a house, computer, door handle, flusher, light switch, remote control, telephone, and the list goes on. I am Terra and I have OCD tendencies…just not in all the right places.

The bright side is she is all better already. It seemed to be a 24 hour dizzy/fever bug. There were only 4 kids in her class when I went to pick up her work today so it really took out the class. But they should all be hopping healthy on Monday ready to make up science tests, spelling tests and give I have a dream speeches!

Thanks for all your kind words!

A little of this and that

Hodgepodge post...lots of little things on my mind and nothing to really say...so I am going to just put it all out there:

First poor Lauren came home from school (at the end of the day) sick. She said to me in the halls "I have been cold and dizzy all day" when I asked her why she didn't call me she said "because I don't want to be sick" that girl has some will. She cried when I told her she was going to have to miss tomorrow and has been asleep on the couch ever since.

Second I read an amazing thing on this site, where a family is dealing with some very hard things, and I had to share this paragraph because I think we all need remember this no matter what side of the coin we find ourselves on:

"I am coming to a place in my life that I realize people WANT to do. My mom has told me that if I do not let people DO for me, I rob them of the joy they receive from DOING. So, I am learning to accept help. I am learning that I can ease my burden when I allow others to enter my life and do something that makes them feel good."

And lastly I wanted to share a few of my favorite LOCAL sites with all my friends in bloggy land. These sites belong to friends or friends of friends right here in Colorado. I visit them each once a day no matter what and I love what they have to say. I hope you will enjoy them too.

The Campbell Family

The Krape Family

Simply Persnickety

Life According to Bec

The Adams Family

The Casual Perfectionist

Black Friday = Sick Friday

Oh my goodness. What a treat. We never go shopping on Black Friday, I am not sure there will ever be a sale so good that would get me out into that madness. We got up and prepared to take Hailey in to see the new Dr. Young to get that ear checked. When Lauren got up she laid on the couch like a lazy bum, refused breakfast and in general just seemed way off. I took her temperature but it was normal. So I sent her off to the shower and took Hailey to the Dr. Hailey's ear infection had in fact returned - a quick chat with Dr. Young, a prescription for the pink stuff, a brief mention that I might be back with my oldest daughter and we were off to Walgreens for the drugs.

In the meantime daddy sent me a message letting me know that Lauren had just been dozing in and out of sleep since her shower but that she claims to be fine, just tired. Now, I knew that just wasn't right and was starting to plan a course of action for her as well. Hailey and I got home and we chatted with Lauren who's temperature was still normal but looked like a ghost. We decided to trust Lauren and move on with our day - it was time to get ready to go to Build a Bear with Grandma.

Shoes on, Coats on, Everybody ready? Lauren? "I think I'm gonna throw up". So three head out the door for Build a Bear and two take the shoes off, the coats off and settle in with a bucket. She was sick but it was not stomach flu sick it was major nasal congestion sick...Called the Dr., took her in at 12:30 to find out that she too has a double ear infection, major congestion and all this time her temperature was rising and was now settling in at 102.5 - Oh my goodness. Another quick chat with the Dr., another trip to Walgreens for more Pink Medicine - you know the stuff. and we were home for the day!

Daddy, Grandma and Hailey brought Lauren home the moose she wanted from Build a Bear that was VERY Nice. We spent the afternoon checking on Lauren, putting up Christmas decorations and watching movies (Fred Clause and Wall-E). Lauren was up ALL night doing her classic "Ghost Walking" and Hailey has apparently slept all night.

We did have a WONDERFUL surprise though when at about 7pm, contrary to the DRY forecast, it started snowing, and not just a little either. We probably racked up a good 2 or 3 inches and it was beautiful with the Christmas lights on! The sad thing is the girls are going to want to run and jump and play in it but with 4 infected ears the answer is going to have to be no.

So, to recap -

2 Trips to see Dr. Young (who I have decided is probably not too bad but I still prefer my regular doc)

4 Infected Ears

2 Trips to see the nice people at Walgreens Pharmacy

4 Bottles of Pink, must be refrigerated, Medication

3 People went to Build a Bear

2 movies were watched

3 inches of snow to make me smile

Don't know what today will bring but it is sure to be better than yesterday!

Weekend Update

Don't you just hate it when you hit caplock instead of shift when you are typing? Maybe you don't, but I do it all the time and it always leaves me wondering why caplock is just above shift in the first place. Argh.

Nothing great to talk about today, Lauren came home sick from school on Friday. It was a strange, sudden yuck. We were standing in line waiting for our Turkey lunch that the dads prepare every year when she got real pale, said she had to go home, was dizzy and couldn't walk - off to the office we go to find a 100.00 temperature. Pack it up, call it a day, drive through McDonald's and we are home. Sick child and all. She was better as of last night, had to miss rehearsals yesterday but wants to go today! Glad it was a short lived virus!

He who would rather not be named hung some more lights on the house yesterday. Winter is taking its sweet old time arriving this year and while that is driving me CRAZY it sure made for good Christmas Light hanging this year! We will turn them on next weekend! The girls are excited! We also decorate the house next weekend and I can't wait. The house takes on a whole new feeling once the garland goes up!

Grandma Mary comes on Wednesday! YAHOO. Everyone is very excited and we are ready! With the exception of the food of course! I can't remember when Zoo Lights starts at the Zoo - maybe we can all go? Better go google it!

Have a lovely Sunday!

Is it Friday Yet?

So, you know I have been looking forward to 3:00 Friday since, well since Sunday when it was decided the girls were going to get to Grams house for a night of DU Hockey, Grandma, Grandpa and loads of fun...as you also know the plans were almost axed as early as Monday when Hailey got a fever. I felt so bad for myself because I was not getting a night off for Hailey because she wasn't feeling well and was so looking forward to going to Grandmas. Well, she quickly overcame her fever and moved about the week in deeply hiding an impending ear infection and bronchial trauma perfect health!! We were all very glad the girls were getting their night out and mom and dad were getting to enjoy a quiet house and perhaps an opportunity to get some things done for Christmas! Yes, Christmas...I am anal, psychotic and more when it comes to figuring out Christmas...what comes from who (if you know what I mean) how many, how much etc. etc. etc. so I couldn't wait to get a chance to assess the situation and plan out a clear path of progression for the next six and a half weeks!

Friday came...and boy did it come! Friday started out very early and very sad...at approximately 5am I started trading emails with my friend Becky and quickly ended up throwing on some clothes and rushing of to the Vet ER to support a friend in her time of need.

After returning home I had to have a quick conversation with Daddy about whether or not Hailey should attend school even though she seems to have Laryngitis and most likely we will find out she has croup if we take her to the Dr. We decided, "no fever, healthy appetite" might as well head off to school, so I rounded up the troops to rush off to the SUPER QUICK shower, dry the hair, throw on the clothes and rush off to school. After dropping Hailey off we got to
make a slick U-turn and head back home for Lauren's D@^^n retainer!

On my way home from school #2 (insert mommy guilt here) I called the Dr. to grab an appointment so Hailey could get checked before she goes to Grandmas house...after 10 minutes on the phone with the nurse that rubs me the wrong way and finding out that all the "good" Dr's are out today and I was going to have to face the "new" one...after telling Nurse Rub Wrong that I was not happy about that and I could not believe she could not offer me a Dr. that already knew my children and listening to Nurse Rub Wrong say "Oh, Mrs. Emerson I remember you"
ha ha ha ...no seriously she hates me, anyway I got an appointment for 20 minutes after preschool lets out.

At 11:30 I picked up Hailey and headed to the Dr's office to face Nurse Rub Wrong and New Doesn't know my child Dr...waited in the waiting room for 30 minutes (D@^^m) with a hungry, voiceless, tired child (insert more mommy guilt here). Finally we got to see the New Dr. Her name? Dr. YOUNG. That is SUPER encouraging! Well, NEW Dr. Young looks in right ear, says it is PERFECT, looks in left ear and says "Oh she is quite infected" (Mommy guilt mounting) - listens, looks, pokes, prods...Prescribes Antibiotic for Ear Infection and Steroid for Bronchial trauma. OMG. I keep telling you that mommy of the year award will never be mine. Do you believe me yet?

Quick, call Grandma and beg her to still take the girls for the night, ask her kindly and give her plenty of opportunity to back out. Feed Hailey at McDonalds the picture of HEALTH FOOD for my sick child, drop into Walgreen's where the fantastic pharmacists know us by name and pick up DRUGS!

Once home, it took both mom and dad to give Hailey 1 1/2 pills that have to be crushed and mixed in yummy food to get down...Hailey can not be tricked she knew what was coming and it was more like restraining a horse than a 3 year old. Not sure how much of that steroid she got (probably ok though since GRANDMA OF THE YEAR said the girls could still come!)

Now comes the GOOD part...I picked Lauren up from school (Hailey slept the whole way) dropped two VERY happy, excited and barely looking or acting sick children off at Grandmas where GRANDMA OF THE YEAR had the most amazing snack plates on the table for them and I headed home, alone, in the car, listening to MY station...(not very much mommy guilt here)

I arrived home to box on my porch from my dear friend Becky...and in it: A beautiful tower of goodies from Harry and David. and the best part. I am Home Alone and I don't have to share, nah nah nah nah! YUMMY! Please go meet Becky if you have time, she is new to the blogging world and embracing it with open arms!

And now you know more about why Becky is one of my favorite friends and if you know me at all I have VERY few friends and they are all favorites because I am sort of picky, a little...maybe a lot.

Daddy and I headed off to dinner at Outback (THANKS GRANDMA MARY!!) for a quick dinner (sans children) and we did NOT get seated at a table close to screaming toddlers...we did get to sit very close to Lauren's second grade teacher though!

Home (still not very much mommy guilt) tackle the craziness of Christmas in the basement, jump on computer and type this post...my only interruption came from Grandma of the Year when she sent this LOVELY photo from her blackberry. I think she was so proud, I can just hear here saying "let me send mommy a photo so she can see you guys are fine and having fun". Well Mom (Grandma) next time you might want to look at the picture before you send it!

So now, Friday night is almost over, The girls got to go Grams, I got some quiet time and I will head off to bed (insert mommy guilt again) thinking about my girls, my evening and pondering this fantastic thought:

"When did quiet time at home trump going out and having a blast with your husband?"

Thanks for listening (reading) if you made it this far!

Now go back and hit all those hyperlinks they aren't to be missed!

Kleenex, Mucinex and Plan-ex

We are heading off into yet another round of "Hailey has a cold". Why? You might ask. Well it is simple. We made plans for the girls to spend the night with Grams and Gramps this weekend, that is why. So someone was bound to get sick, will likely pass it on like a hot potatoe and totally blow our plans.

Hailey went to school just fine this morning, got in the car at 11:30 sounding a bit sniffly and a little hoarse, I crossed my fingers chalked it up to allergies and continued with our day...my hopes for "just allergies" decreasing with each passing moment, as her eyes glossed over, her nose started that steady drip we are all too familiar with, her attitude slid down hill and her temperature ran up hill.

Off to bed she went at 5:15, 100.6 fever, crying and otherwise on her way to "coldville" too bad Dr. Seuss never wrote a story about that, or did he? I don't know but it could have gone a little bit like this:

MY CONDOLENCES!!

Today is NOT your day
Your stuck at home
keeping snot at bay

Oh the places you won't go
when your toddler has the sniffles

It's germy in there
in that house of yours
The sneezing the snotting
Are you sure somethings not rotting?

get the Lysol
get the Clorox
Get it on the sofa
get it in a box
I don't care how you get it just get it

OH! THE PLACES YOU WON'T GO!
OH! The things you won't do...

With child on your hip
and whines in your ears
Kleenex in your pocket and

oh what I wouldn't do for a wocket instead!

Sisters sharing, How Sweet!

A quote from perhaps my favorite friend after I told her Lauren was starting to run a fever and her teacher was going to think I was liar (more in a minute) Becky says "Sisters sharing - how sweet!" this because Hailey was Sick all weekend...started with a fever. Sharing. HA! Thanks Beck, I needed that big smile that rolled across my aging face!

So anyway...this afternoon I made a fairly strong case for wanting to pull Lauren out of school a little early tomorrow so we could get up to the mountains before dark! Now, when (if) I call her in sick in the morning, her teacher is going to be thinking "yeah right, mom just wanted to get to the mountains before breakfast" ARGH. Thank goodness for Queen Becky who will relay the message in its entirety and let dear teacher know that mom is not a total flakey, irresponsible parent...just has really crappy luck when it comes to trips to the mountains (one of the children ALWAYS gets sick and I mean ALWAYS) Urgent Care in Avon has more of our money than their pediatrician does. It is nuts.

Lauren will cry if she can't go to school in the morning and that will be a big drag too...who cries when they can't go to school? Lauren. That’s who. We are going to wait and see how the night goes - the fever is just at 100.2 and well...it could just go away right?

Hmpf. I will update in the morning!

UPDATE:
She is fever free! All Morning...Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to school we go! Usually I follow the 24 hour rule but I think in this case it is best to just let her go...

Belly Aches, Nutcrackers and Sunshine

Hailey, Hailey, Hailey...Poor little thing. She hasn't been feeling well since Friday. Hailey does not succumb to being sick very easily. She plugs right along as if all were fine until she hits a wall (usually when her fever gets high) - this little bug she has thrown her for a loop though. She continues to want to play and have fun but she keeps getting pains in her tum tum and occasionally complains that her eye hurts (the left one). Her symptoms are really just fever and congestion...but if she keeps complaining about these other two ailments we will have to see the Dr. tomorrow. She is sleeping well so I am sure she is fine! Yesterday while complaining of eye pain Lauren says "I wonder what is wrong with her eye? She doesn't have a black eye and I don't know what pink eye looks like but..." to which Hailey replies - "I don't have pink eye my eyes are blue" - I thought that was very cute!!!

Lauren got to try on one of her Nutcracker Costumes yesterday (and dance in it briefly) Of course this Mother of the year did not have her camera with her - thank goodness for my Blackberry! Poor Lauren though...she just can't ever get kids out of her space...she had up to 3 girls at any given moment trying to help her get her costume on after we got home she says "Chloe tried to help me get my pants on, my pants mom" "I told her I could do it but..." I don't know what it is about Lauren but kids just can't stay out of her space!


Six little Bon Bons and 1 costume lady!


Hmm...this looks interesting


Chloe lends a hand?


Looks good from the rear, Lauren turn around please!


Thank you! I wanted a front picture!

SO, maybe I need to wear my camera around my neck like a tourist and show up to each practice armed with a device that will actually capture a decent photo of my daughter gearing up for the nutcracker!! I don't know...maybe at dress rehearsals!

Anyway, when I went to remove these very blurry photos from the phone I stumbled upon some photos from our last trip to Beaver Creek that I forgot I took. The first two feature a little baby deer...cute!





And finally...I love this scenic shot...makes you wonder though...why when taking pictures with the phone do the ones of the good things like the deer and of course my daughter have to turn out so grainy and gross and yet this one is ready for a frame? Couldn't be operator error could it? Nahhhh.



Have a wonderful Sunday! Ours will be full of football, Basement organizing, Laundry and Spelling homework (oh and probably tummy aches and fevers too)