Happy 4th Birthday!

Happy Birthday Princess Caitlin!
(a photo from today will be forthcoming...)

Cocktails?

Just for fun this evening, we decided to make a frozen beverage for ourselves. I personally prefer sugar on the rim of my margarita glass instead of salt. But, well, we didn't have any white sugar. So, I used sugar in the raw, and Hubby used granular splenda. And, well, we didn't have any margarita glasses either, so we improvised with wine glasses. And, well, we didn't have any tequila or even rum, so we used vodka instead. Hmm, so what drink does that make it exactly?

Whatever it's called, it was tasty.

Snack Time

Now that she's gotten 2 teeth... joy for Mommy, we've begun to branch out into different snacks.

This is yellow delicious apple slices in a Baby Safe Feeder. Then we tried water in a soft spout sippy cup.





Look at my big girl.

Home and all is normal (well, normal for us)

I had a very nice weekend in West Virginia visiting Hubby's family. His aunt is so gracious; a true southern woman. Hospitality and kindness pours out of her. Along with the most amazing sweet tea I have ever tasted in my life. Cara and I attended the bridal shower, and we look forward to returning in May for the wedding. Cara did great on the 6 1/2 hour drives, although Monday she was a bit cranky. Probably re-adjusting to our routine again.

Today was a day from H E double hockey sticks. State licensing showed up at my job for a surprise inspection, which we did not do well on, and I've had a migraine since about 4pm (The combination of a weather front moving in, stress, and not eating all day). When I came home, I took two pills that contain caffeine, along with 2 different pain medications. I've had to cancel my neurologist appointments 3 times because I couldn't leave work, so all I have are pain meds, not anything to actually treat the cause. Cause the stupid neuro who probably had a drug rep in his office minutes before seeing me gave me an orally disintegrating medication that contains aspartame, one of my migraine triggers, and every time I take it I get a rebound headache. Yeah, that ticks me off for pills that cost $22 a piece. Thank goodness we have amazing insurance, or I'd be really mad. It's 12:45 am and after sleeping for 2 hours from 8:30 to 10:30 pm, I'm wide awake, despite the throbbing, though greatly reduced; thanks the forehead ice pack, neck/shoulder air activated instant warming patch, mint oil on my temples and neck pulse points, 2 hours sleep, and 2 tension headache pills. The combination of those things has taken the edge off the mini men driving ice picks into the side of my head and nausea. I'm praying I can go back to sleep and wake up tomorrow migraine free. Although I'm not holding my breath. An attack this back is usually 24-48 hours in duration. Good times I tell ya, good times.

Hubby mentioned in his guest post comments that Jackson had a MRSA infection. We're not sure where it came from. He had 4 itchy little bumps that looked like bug bites on his lower abdomen, and lower back. Of course, being 7, he scratched at them. Within days they became red, swollen, warm, and painful. I changed the band-aids twice daily along with antibiotic ointment. They didn't improve, finally after 4 days, and him barely able to walk, we went to the doctor. To defend myself, 2 of those days were weekend days, and I had to wait a day to get an appointment, lest you think I would leave him suffering. I felt a little silly when I first called, but by the time we actually got in, I knew it was the right decision. The doctor diagnosed a secondary staph infection, and took a culture to send away. He started an antibiotic. (BTW the worst smelling medication I have ever in my life encountered. Really, think fermented cat pee. That's what comes to mind when I open the bottle. How that little guy chokes that medication down is beyond me. Just the smell of it makes me want to vomit.) He slept for 2 hours Wednesday afternoon. Not like him at all. Over the course of the next 2 days (Weds and Thurs), the sores opened up and drained, or rather erupted. He bent over to let me replace the band-aid on his back, and green puss and blood spewed all over the shower wall. At least it was facing that direction, making it easier to clean. It was amazing, like a geyser. So, I washed down the bathroom with undiluted Lysol concentrate. I admit to helping the front sores drain, even though everything I read said not to. Once the back two did, they looked and felt better, it didn't make any sense to me to let the others keep festering. With very little pressure (although you'd have though I was amputating a limb or something with the way he was reacting) the front sores did the same thing. The next day, the swelling had gone down, and hard knots were improved, and he was feeling much better. Friday the culture came back, not just staph, but MRSA. GrrrREeeeeeAaaaaaT. The medication he was taking already was the correct one, so we were supposed to keep doing what we were doing, and return to the doctor Monday. I left Friday morning, leaving Hubby to disinfect every surface of the house. Including sheets and blankets. (Sorry, babe- well not really, but it seems like the right thing to say... I did actually seriously offer to come home when I was close to Akron, and Hubby declined.). The doctor was pleased with the improvements on Monday, but with a few hard slightly warm knots above 2 places, we are continuing another 10 days of antibiotics.

Ever feel like if it's not one thing, it's another? :sigh: Such is a life with children, eh?

On the Road...

From Hubby:

Amanda's on the road this weekend... and I'm home with 3 of the kids. She's been keeping in touch on the road through the magic of cell phones.

One of the perks of our particular cell phone plan is free picture mail. Amanda took a picture of an important milestone during her trip, here it is:

I'll see if I can find a way for her to post pictures to the blog directly from the cell phone.

Her car is fully "geekified", with a cell phone, iPod, and a borrow GPS (thanks Grandma!). So, she shouldn't get lost or board. Cara's gurgles and cooing should keep her company as well :).

Yes, our lives have devolved to sending each other pictures of the road at 70 MPH.

Now, any idea what this is a picture of? Just something to amuse the readers for the weekend, we'll tell where she is later.

Big Laughs

Who Am I?

One male child says it is him, the other says it is him.
Can you guess?

Better

I feel better today. I've eaten a blueberry bagel, some chicken noodle soup, Gatorade, iced tea, and I'm actually beginning to "feel" hungry.

I saw the doctor yesterday after getting so dehydrated Thursday, and ending up with a 101 degree fever 11pm Thursday night. I ended up loosing 4 pounds. Although I'd like to loose weight, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. On an evil side note, how girls can be bulimic is beyond me, cause I simply don't like throwing up that much.

He did some cultures, and "said" he would call today with the results. I almost laughed. RIIGHT you'll call me on a Saturday. He said Norovirus is going around. Fun. Yeah, don't Google it, it's gross. Although by an interesting tidbit, it's original name is Norwalk virus, named for the city Norwalk about 30 minutes west of here for elementary school children that were the first know sickened by it. I swear, I wash my hands a thousand times a day. But this little virus is not susceptible to alcohol or detergents. So, evidently I'm doing something wrong.

He also wanted to check some other functions, I assume to try to make sure that I don't have a blocked bile duct from my lack of gallbladder.

Guess what? The doctor didn't call. I'm not surprised. But, I am feeling better, I'm not so weak that I can't pick up Cara, although I still can't pick up Josh. I've done 3 loads of laundry. I've loaded and unloaded the dishwasher twice. Not to shabby for a woman who 2 days ago was unable to sit up without almost passing out.

I Wonder

This morning, a rare happening occurred. I woke up before the children. I watched my sleeping 5 month old. She smiled, and her eyes switched, and then she giggled.

I wonder what she was dreaming about.

This picture was not of her this morning, but I didn't want to chance loosing the rare opportunity of being the only one awake in the house.

ICK

I awoke at 3:30 am to stabbing stomach pains, and have been in "digestive distress" since. That's what the anti-nausea medication calls it.

I haven't been able to keep water or gatorade down until about 5pm. I am light headed when I sit up, and need help to stand or walk. I took a bath to get rid of the "digestive distress" smell. I needed help out of the tub. I came painfully close to passing out when Hubby helped me get out. Then I slept for 3 hours. I was able to take Emetrol and Immodium, so I am starting to feel a bit better now. Being upright is still a challenge.

Cara had her first bottle of formula since she was 4 days old. I was too dehydrated to feed her, and her latch was excruciating because there was simply no milk.


Hope beyond all hope with me that no one else in the house gets this stomach bug.

My New Favorite Item

I discovered Vera Bradley. I am LOVING this pattern; Botanica. Endless gift ideas... :)

I Love Profile Shots

Jackson

Caitlin

Joshua

Cara

Truthiness in self-portraiting

Because I've totally lost my mind, I've decided to participate in Sweetney's Truthiness in Self-Portraits. I challenge you to do the same.

All the Munchkins

Here they are, in all their Glory.

The boys have the same shirt, and the girls have shirts that say, "I'm the BIG sister." and "I'm the little sister."