November...where did you go?

November sure did come and go in a flash! The month took a crazy turn when my 4 year old got sick and we spent 3 days in the Emergency Room at Children's hospital! They kept sending us home and we kept ending up back in there! The third time we were sent there from the dr's office in an AMBULANCE!!!

Look how sick my poor little guy was...This was day one in the ER

Thankfully....he's healthy now...turns out he had a severe kidney infection which caused a high (105 high) fever and he had a febrile seizure on Wednesday morning...around 5am....His fever went down with meds and they did a chest x-ray and ended up sending us home...Said he had an upper respitory infection of some kind?! He started throwing up in the car on the way home from the hospital and then could not keep anything down so we went back to the ER at 5am Thursday with a 104 fever! Tests....tests...and more tests ensued....They found a kidney infection while doing a Cat Scan on Thursday....urine tests were not showing it. Gave us antibiotics and sent us home...Friday morning follow up at the dr. and he had 103 fever and was super lethargic....Had a stiff neck and could barely move. We were sent back to Children's in an ambulance....I rode in the back with him and I got carsick! I almost threw up!!!

Long story short....he had a rare bacteria causing the infection and the antibiotics they gave him were not working so by Saturday we had him on the correct meds and he was starting to feel better....At the follow up appt on Monday, the dr discovered that he also had Coxsackie virus (aka-hand, foot, mouth)....So the stiff neck had been caused by blisters in the throat that were not visible! He was back to his normal self by Thursday of that week, but it was a good solid week of sickness! It was crazy for my hyper little monster to be so sick and just lay around for an entire week!

 

We did a lot of laying around waiting for tests and test results...I think they need bigger TV's in the ER! If I'm ever super rich...I'm donating them to the Rady Children's ER! 

What I love about Children's Hospital is that every time you have a procedure done they give you stickers! Not just one...but like 4 or 5! Cash came home with a TON of stickers!! He loved that part!

When you drive to the ER before sunrise 2 mornings in a row...You get to enjoy a magnificent sunrise from the parking garage!

Cash's buddy Ashlynn came to visit him when we got home. She missed him!

Finally got him to eat and drink...He downed a smoothie, but as you can tell...he is super skinny!

Chasey missed going to see the sold out Annie on Friday night because I was at the hospital with Cash...My friend's husband and son were kind enough to give up their tickets for the Sunday show so Chasey could see it! It was a junior theater production and it was Awesome!!!

So....as far as "being thankful" in November goes...I realized how truly blessed I am to have healthy children! I'm thankful everyday, but when you spend a few days at a Children's Hospital and see the families that are basically living there day in and day out you truly truly count your blessings!

~Mel

Grocery Store...UGH!!!!

There is really nothing I hate more than taking both kids to the grocery store alone!! One at a time is fine...but together, they are complete terrors!! The rule is that they have to both sit IN the cart.....but that doesn't always work out so well for me either!






(Right about now...I should be in Fantasyland with the munchkins....thank you "time stamp")

Going Back to "The Happiest Place on Earth"

Just waiting for the rain and hail to pass over and then we are headed to DISNEYLAND!!!

My brother, his wife and my niece came into town yesterday from Illinois (they brought the rain with them...I swear!)...as soon as Chasey gets out of school today, we are headed to the Magical land of Disney! I love LOVE having family come visit...even if they do always bring the cold weather and the rain...its ok...I just love getting to visit! I didn't tell the kids that their cousin was coming...I surprised them yesterday! Chasey was standing at the airport not having a CLUE who was going to come down the escalator! She had guessed it was her cousin Kylie...several times...but I kept telling her that it wasn't her! haha
Not only were they surprised with a visit from their cousin...but also they are going to Disneyland for 2 days!! YAY!!!

The kids had a chance to play yesterday before the rain came in....There is nothing better than the bond of cousins when you are a kid! I was lucky enough to have about 20 or so! Our entire family lives in Illinois....so for Chasey and Cash...this is a special treat!

Cash & Ash getting their groove on....

I just uploaded my pictures from the "Worlds Largest Sunflower" event. Cash and Ash were groovin' to the music...so cute!


a pic of our crew...

I learned to SEW!!!....

So...I learned how to sew!!! YIPPEEE!! I keep seeing cute tutorials online and borrowed a REALLY old sewing machine from my aunt...No instructions..no one to tell me how to even turn the thing on...Needless to say I got frustrated and put it away!

The next weekend my "ex" mother-in-law let me (long term) borrow one of hers! Newer...with instructions and she gave me a quick lesson on how the machine works! It took a few hours and definitely used my seam ripper a few times....but VOILA!
My FIRST skirt!!

And my SECOND skirt!!

The first one...I followed a tutorial...kind of! I thought I could do my own thing...It's best to LEARN how to sew before making your own patterns....It's still cute and it has a tie in the back (that's the part that I was "winging it" on).
The second skirt I actually FOLLOWED the directions and what do you know? It all worked! It has an elastic waist and it's WAY too long...but once again, still cute! I have the cutest little model so I really can't go wrong!

Stay tuned for many, many more sewing projects! :)

edited...to add link to tutorial that I used
Note-I did NOT use Moda pre-cut strips...I cut my own out of fabric that I liked and I made the stips a little wider (3") in the pink and black skirt.

Busy.

Birthdays.

Christmas.

Visits from Mom. (I'm so excited)

More Birthdays.


Oh man! This time of year just kills me! (and my wallet!)


Why is it that all of my friends have kids born in December?? Me included!! I always get the "what were all of you doing 9 months before December?" joke...but Chasey was due in February and she showed up as an early Christmas present!

I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. Today is Wednesday. We have a birthday party at Pump it Up tonight...Which is awesome...the kids can play and I don't have to cook dinner. Then Saturday, another party...then Saturday night, a Christmas party....then Sunday...a party at Chuck E Cheese.

Then....the stress really hits....Chasey's FIFTH birthday! Her party....not only does it cost a small fortune to throw her party, but her dad and his new girlfriend will be there....Need I say more... I don't mind being around my ex. We get along. I wouldn't say we are "friends" but we get along.
and then I kick myself for letting that bother me...You know what? Who cares about that? I'm a damn great mom! I am doing this party on my own...Just like I did last year! I have a wonderful boyfriend who helps me with anything and everything and even puts up with the fact that we are doing this whole party and STILL inviting her dad! Some opinions are that he shouldn't be invited if he doesn't help. My opinion....that only hurts Chasey!

Then....Christmas.....THEN....that wonderful boyfriend I mentioned....is turning FORTY!!! I don't think he reads this blog...(I showed it to him, but wouldn't give him the url)....but just in case he's sneaky and figured it out....I'll leave it at that. BUT...I'm busy!

So....the next few weeks are going to be crazy. I started this blog so I could have an outlet...somewhere to journal my daily life.....somewhere to be honest. I doubt any of the above mentioned parties will ever read this...but this is my life...these are my thoughts...THIS is why I blog. I would tell a stranger about my life if they seemed at all interested. I'm an open book....so be it!


My four....almost 5 year old Chasey...Mommy loves you and although I bitch and complain that your birthday is 6 days before Christmas....I am so thankful to have you and even more thankful that you are healthy and here with us today! You were a tiny Christmas Miracle!