The Season of Sickness Has Arrived!

All three kids have been coughing and sneezing and wiping their slime on me for the past few weeks.  I had been expecting this season of our life...but that doesn't mean I'm ready to accept it!

We had Sassy's birthday party last Saturday and I was feeling a bit yucky.  I got up early Sunday to head to an annual tag sale that I refuse to miss...and then spent the rest of the day on the couch with chills and a fever.  Luckily that was it and I felt fine to head off to work all week.

Then Wednesday, the school nurse appeared at my classroom door with Tater.  Her asthma was acting up and we agreed to max out her inhaler dosage and see if she was breathing better.  It helped for about an hour.  So after we picked up Sassy from school, we headed to the doctor.  With Tater and her kidneys and her immunity issues, we (and the doctors) don't mess around.  Luckily the 12 puffs of inhaler medicine, her lungs were clear.  Unluckily, she had spiked a temperature and the doctor was worried about pneumonia.  So off we went for chest x-rays.  While we were waiting for the orders to take with us, Sassy managed to fall off the examine table and cut her tongue on both sides and gush blood for a bit.  Never a dull moment!

So I took all three kids to the hospital, took them in for the x-ray, sat in the hallway with the two littles while my big girl did her x-ray by herself, and walked out of the imaging center to see Daddy arrive to help.  Yeah. 

Luckily the lungs were clear.  So we headed home with yet another "virus."  And then the hives arrived.  Yes, hives.  All over her little body, head to toe!  It was a long night...but still just a "virus."

Daddy spent Thursday at home with Tater.  I luckily had Friday off for Veteran's Day.  Tater and I hung out and ran some errands while our amazing sitter took the littles to the zoo for the day.  They had a blast and Tater had a great day with Mommy.

Then Sassy woke up from her nap...with 101 temperature.  And the dreaded cough.  I almost cried!

This morning a hot little one crawled in my bed and snuggled in very sweetly.  We broke the news to Tater that she still had a fever and couldn't go to a birthday party she had been looking forward to.  There was some drama.  Okay, there was a LOT of drama. 

We regrouped and forced ourselves to bundle up and run a few necessary errands.  Then we came home to cuddle a bit more.  Daddy finished packing and headed off on his business trip.  I'm here with two sick girls and all of us are a bit stir-crazy.  Tomorrow may be a VERY long day...so long we have to venture out for a bit of a shopping adventure at some point. 

It looks like we are in this for the long haul...me and the kids...and Pop-Pop when he arrives on Monday!

We welcome all and any prayers that the grown ups survive!

On the Mend? (Knock-on-Wood!!!)

Bruiser seems a bit better today.  Yesterday we headed to the doctor because I just didn't know what to do anymore!  So in I walked carrying my 4-year-old, who refused to walk because his legs were too weak, and calling for my 2-year-old to follow me.  Sassy did great!  Well, until we were sitting in the waiting room and she decided it was her turn to be held and insisted (in a VERY loud voice) that I should put Bruiser down and pick her up.  I proceeded to tell her that it was Bruiser's turn to be sick and she would have to deal with it...and then I ignored the looks from all the new mothers with only one infant...who just don't get the multiple children needing you thing!

The doctor checked Bruiser over and determined that he was good and dehydrated.  She prescribed an anti-nausea medicine and gave orders that he had to have a wet diaper before 8pm (this was at about 3:30pm) or we were to head for the ER and IV fluids.  We got the meds, sipped ginger ale and Powerade, had a blue Popsicle, watched Top Gear with Daddy and curled up in bed for a long night's sleep...after peeing in our diaper at about 6:00pm!  What a good little patient!

Bruiser spend most of today in bed.  This morning Daddy found him sitting in the fridge eating yogurt and made him mad by telling him he couldn't do that.  So Bruiser retreated to him room and slept all morning!  He came down when I got home and helped Sassy with her speech therapy.  Then both Bruiser and Sassy headed up for naps...and are still sleeping now (@5:15!).  Given this take on his day today, I'm thinking no school again tomorrow...he's just so weak and tired and not really eating much at all.  Poor sick boy!

Sassy is back to normal and full of sass!  Tater is hanging on...but sniffing away with a cold.  Daddy is stopping for some medicine to make her more comfortable.  And Mommy and Daddy?  We are just tired and exhausted and done-in.  February was a LOOOOOOOOOONG month and we've had enough.  I have high hopes for March...I really do!

GERMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, we are still battling sickness!  I attempted to go to work this morning, only to receive a call from my sitter 15 minutes later that Bruiser had gotten sick all over my couch.  He had gone over 36 hours since his last episode...so now we head to the doctor.  He is too weak to walk and has no appetite.  His eyes are sunken in and he has a low-grade fever.  Whatever this bug is, it is kicking his little skinny bum!

I spent yesterday CLEANING!  I did about eight loads of laundry (both regular and puke-filled!) and scrubbed every surface I could think of.  I wiped down cabinet and drawer knobs, door handles, light switches, and appliance handles.  I Lysol-sprayed EVERYTHING.  I've washed my hands raw (they are actually bleeding on my knuckles!).  We've established new anti-germ procedures - hand washing every time we come in the house and before all meals, fresh kitchen and bath towels daily, laundry daily (until this ends), and no more crowded places!  I'm SO DONE with germs! 

It is so bad that I actually spent time yesterday researching ways to make my own laundry detergent, dishwasher soap, and all-purpose cleaner.  We are going to be germ-free if its the last thing I do!!!!

So, now I must go switch the latest load of laundry, was my hands, find a way to clean the couch, wash my hands, take Bruiser to the doctor, wash my hands...

Enjoy your night!

We Need Lots and Lots of Prayers (Or Maybe an Exorcist!)

Sassy's bug morphed and moved on to Bruiser.  He spent 18 hours vomiting and complaining of tummy pain.  I finally broke down and gave him anti-nausea medicine and he seemed to get some relief.  So far he is now keeping down juice, Power-aid, ginger ale, and applesauce...hopefully for good!  I gave him a bath this morning and he immediately got out and curled up in bed under three covers and has been there since 11:30 without a peep.  He may have been more pitiful than Sassy!

Sassy is still just laying on the couch and napping her days away...without an ounce of sass.  Now she is refusing to walk on the toes of her right foot.  I can only imagine what that means!

I am busy disinfecting EVERYTHING, doing zillions of loads of laundry, and trying to keep the little ones hydrated.  Oh, and praying like crazy that no one else gets these germs!!!!!!!!!!

Poor Sick Sassy!

Its the eyes that really get me!

Update from Yesterday

So Sassy proceeded to be sick all afternoon.  She was unable to keep down any fluids and then I realized she hadn't had any in her since dinner the night before.  She was crying with no tears, running a temp of 102, and had no wet diapers.  One guess where a call to the doctor sent us! 

That's right!  Sassy and I spent the night in the ER - for the third time in the last six months!!!  She was so sick!  Luckily by the time we got to the ER she was able to keep the Motrin down and then she got more medicine for her tummy.  She also enjoyed several Popsicles and nice cup of "wa-wa." 

Every time someone came in the room she screamed...no one was her friend!  During blood work, she screamed "No, Momma!" and when that didn't work, she switched to "No, Daddy!" - and he wasn't even there!

After much discussion with three different doctors, 3 exams, blood work, a catheter, and a five hour wait...it was determined that she had a horrendous ear infection in both ears...pus and blood included.  But if you ask Sassy if her ears hurt she says "no"! 

As for her iron issues, her iron levels are up, which is good.  On the other hand, red blood cell count is really low.  So they ran a Parvo titer and spoke to the on-call hematologist who is ordering repeat blood tests in two weeks.  They are leaning toward a virus and nothing too serious but there are still no answers.  They did suggest that all the iron issues are making her more likely to catch these crazy viruses, which may have led to us being in the ER last night.  Wonderful.

The little miss is still under-the-weather today.  She is still running the temp and just wants to lay and nap.  We have to make one run to pick up Tater and then we are spending the day snuggling at home.  We ALL need a restful, healing day!

Because we haven't had ENOUGH at the House of Sprout, Sassy woke up sick again this morning.  And because our life doesn't stop when someone is sick, we still had to take Bruiser to the dentist and then take Sassy for blood work.  Last night the doctor called...from his house...at 8:00 at night...because he was concerned about her previous blood work.  Her iron levels were low but not the levels of her stored iron.  If both were low then it could simply be a case of anemia and be resolved with supplements.  But in her case, one level was normal.  So then he rattled off a big name for some rare disorder and threw in the words "bone marrow" and I proceeded to freak out!  Luckily the concern is with her red blood cell and not the very scary white blood cells.  So, sick or not, we headed off to take care of the blood work and are now waiting (not very patiently) for the results tomorrow and how to proceed from here.  It may be a VERY long night (with possibly lots of wine to help!).  Just look at that sad sleepy face...Sassy HATES blood work and wears herself out crying "owie!"

All that said, we welcome all prayers and positive thoughts...and will keep you updated as we learn more!

Sickness Survival Kit (for the mother!)

So yesterday when Sassy was sick, I stopped by CVS on my way home from securing a substitute at work. As I walked up to the register, I had to laugh at my purchases...and I'm surprised the cashier didn't comment (but she was young...and probably didn't get it!). Here is what I bought:

• Gatorade
• Sprite
• Ritz crackers
• Lysol wipes
• Lysol all-purpose spray
• ...and a bag of CHOCOLATE!

Guess who the chocolate was for?

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Yesterday we attended our annual neighborhood Santa party! Tater was thrilled, Bruiser was angry, and Sassy was sad...so we covered all the emotions in one shot!

We had a fun afternoon with friends and the adults enjoyed some excellent chatting time while kids played contentedly.

If only the evening had ended better...Bruiser decided last night was the night to have a croup episode. He and I made a quick trip to the ER for some steroids and fever control...and now we are spending the day at home, resting.

...And Then the World Fell Apart!

And that is just what happens when Mommy gets sick!

Last weekend I had this annoying scratchy throat...and then it went away.

Then Tuesday morning I lost my voice...not the best thing for a mommy of three and a teacher of 23...during parent-teacher conference week!

Tuesday night I rested.

Wednesday I taught and had 15 parent-teacher conferences.

Thursday Daddy ordered me home from work and in bed all morning while our sitter watched the kids.

Friday I went back to work...because I felt better. Then I cleaned the laundry room, took Sassy to dance class and went to see the new Harry Potter movie with Daddy...and no longer felt better.

Friday night I spent 3 hours on the bathroom floor with a sick Bruiser.

Saturday morning I took Sassy to her therapy group and most likely infected all the parents in the observation room.

And the rest of Saturday...I lived on the couch and napped.

Wonder what tomorrow will bring? (Oh, and Daddy already told me I will be resting so that I can survive the short holiday week!)

And on a side note: Because I was sick, Daddy took Tater and did our holiday shopping so we have our turkey for Thanksgiving (which we earned for free because we spend so much on groceries!)...and I got to avoid that insane place! Yeah!

A Touch of Spring!

In spite of nasty head colds and crazy work schedules, we've been trying to take advantage of this rare taste of spring we've had the past few days. I was home from work today with a nasty sore throat and the sitter was home sick, too. So, to entertain the troops, we spent some time outside. This morning before lunch and school for Bruiser, we walked the block. Then the girls and I spent some time outside waiting for Bruiser's bus this afternoon...and expressing ourselves creatively with sidewalk chalk!

Tater's version of Bruiser's bus.

"A Tomato Sun"

Our neighbor's house.

Running off some energy...minus our coats!

Miss Wiggles giggling that she's climbing the steps by herself!

Drawing with chalk...

...and pausing for a chalk snack! Yuck!

Weekend Randomness

This has not been our typical weekend...although with our usual level of drama and stress, maybe it's not too far off!

Friday, Miss Wiggles and I headed to do our weekly shopping at Trader Joe's and to have lunch with our fabulous neighbors...a bit of a luxury before the weekend began! Then, since we were early to pick up Tater from preschool and I didn't want to go home and take the Wiggler out of her car seat for a mere ten minutes, we sat in the parking lot at preschool and finally figured out how to use my new camera. It only took me two months to find the time! Now let's see how long it takes me to figure out my newest investment...mt teeny, tiny iPod Shuffle...maybe by the time Miss Wiggles starts preschool!

Saturday dawned bright and early with Daddy heading off to work and Mommy getting three children ready for Tumble Tots. We made it there on time, Tater had a good time, Bruiser participated a bit, and Miss Wiggles had fun playing with me on the bleachers. It was a long 90 minutes, but it did burn a good part of the morning minus Daddy!

Daddy was home by 2:00 and Tater and I headed to her little friend's birthday party. She had fun playing and I had a nice time chatting with Mommy friends! They planted seeds and painted pots at the party...and how cute are the aprons!

Tater next to her friend, L, and the birthday girl, T.

Our smiley friend, M!

Posing for the camera!

Painting with pretty colors...but by the time she was done, the pot was completely pink!

What a creative mind!

After the party, we headed home to pick up Daddy and the other two so we could make our first trip to Secret Beach. The weather was amazing and we needed to run off some energy (and sugar!). Miss Wiggles was beyond excited because this was the first time we let her walk on the beach...and only because we forgot the backpack!

Too cute!

Look how tiny!

Tater's searching for shells...just like her great-grandmother.

And a family shot...so rare!

So, today I'm on my own again. Daddy headed out to work before 8:00 (and that's am!) and the kids were up REALLY early...like 7:00! We've had breakfast, watch some Disney shows, played a bit of doll house, and said a little prayer that I don't lose my voice before the day is over. Oh, yes, because we don't just have a weekend that Daddy is working, but we have a weekend that Daddy is working AND all of us have a nasty cold with stuffy noses, goop-y eyes, bad coughs, and sore throats. Lovely!

But the weather is supposed to be nice and I plan to spend sometime outside...maybe enjoying my new iPod...if I can get some music on it!

Last night I pulled out the bin of my Barbie dolls, so later I'm going to share them with Tater. She's going to love the handmade furniture and clothes (by my grandfather and Nana). Maybe she'll play while I relax with my Redbox movie, the re-make of Ice Castles - pure girl-y!

But first, there is laundry to do, kids to dress, clothing to swap out for a certain little girl who just can't fit in 6-12 month clothing anymore (and for no other reason than her legs are too long - she's such a peanut!), a shower for Mommy, beds to make and few sheets to be changed. And, of course, there is always food to be made, diapers to be changed, and things to be cleaned!

And, shame on me, but we decided to skip church because I'm not the crazy woman who tried to take her three children to church by herself...when no one feels good! Note to self - make time for a Bible story today!

On that final random note, I'm going to go clean up the kitchen island where my children were using medicine dropper to squirt milk into the empty wine bottle I left there last night instead of opening the door and tossing it into the recycling. Oh, and I'm going to take a look at that iPod...maybe!

Happy Sunday!

The Saddest Pictures Ever!

I took a few minutes to upload the birthday pictures from the weekend...and I could have cried at how sad and sick Tater looked! The poor thing! You turn 5 and you can't even enjoy it...see for yourself!

Decorating with Papa

Opening gifts...but not really wanting to!

So sick!

The anticipation of the others getting it...notice Bruiser?

Those eyes!

A bit more interest...good job with the gift, Daddy!

Notice the tell-tale bucket...

Someone will be traveling in style...I wonder if I can borrow it for my Mommy Weekend to Chicago?

This one really gets you!

Weekend Recap - Winter Weather Edition!

We had a busy weekend planned...some things went as we thought and many things didn't! Isn't that our life?!

Memaw and Pop-Pop were scheduled to arrive Friday night for a long weekend visit but we knew things weren't going to be as planned when their flight was cancelled Friday night due to the monster storm approaching the mid-Atlantic area. So we spent Thursday night and Friday comforting a few sad kiddos - especially since we weren't getting any snow and they couldn't understand why the grandparents weren't coming due to SNOW!

Then Saturday we bundled up against frigid temperatures and headed to Tumble Tots. Daddy even surprised us after with lunch at Friendly's! After a quick nap, we headed to church for a chilly family movie night. The kids really enjoyed watching "Evan Almighty"...in spite of the lack of heat in the building! We were home in time for bed and for Mommy to venture out to Whole Foods with a girlfriend for some shopping and some adult conversation over hot chocolate and a cookie!

Sunday morning, Tater and I headed out bright and early to meet Na-Na and her husband at the train station. They had flown into Boston the day before from Texas - over the massive snowstorm! We spent the morning at church and going out to lunch with them and then enjoyed a relaxing afternoon of naps and Wii.

Sunday night revolved around the Super Bowl...of course. Then we visited on Monday, until...the flu hit! That's right! But, luckily, it wasn't any of the Sprouts! Na-Na's husband, Nicholas, started feeling bad around dinnertime and was flat-out sick by 10pm. A visit to the walk-in clinic in the morning confirmed the flu! Oh, and it gets better! Their flight was cancelled due to the next approaching storm and they were forbidden to fly until Friday. So they packed up and headed to a hotel to spend a relaxing(?) week.

We never do anything easy here at the House of Sprout!

Playtime

"Hars!"

Someone wanted to wear her hat...inside!

Reading books!

Early birthday celebration with Na-Na and Nicholas

Na-Na!

Miss Wiggles standing on the ceiling!

Evidence of the sickness settling in!

Keeping Busy

In spite of the ick going through the house, we've been keeping busy! Here are few recent shots to appease the grandparents!

Tater has been practicing her letters, especially since she is now officially registered for kindergarten!
Love those letters!

A view of the sick in her favorite spot today...glued to Mama!

Tater doing a "project"!

And where was Bruiser? Since he was healthy, he was at school!