Making Lemonade

So we didn’t get to go back on Saturday and tailgate.  We tried to make the most of it and enjoy ourselves around here.

I still got all dressed up in my Husker gear.  And since I had showered and blown out my hair the night before, so I wouldn’t have to do it in the morning.  I decided to go ahead and put on makeup for the day….who cares if no one would actually see me.

Not really sure why I included the picture above, mainly because I took it.  Jesse took advantage of being home and decided to fit in a run in the morning.  After trying to corral Oliver so he could get his pants changed before his morning nap.

Bella actually slept in till 10am or so.  We, or maybe it was just I, started on my first red beer at 11am.

We grilled out some brats I dug up from the freezer for lunch.  We even got the washer game out and attempted to play.  I say attempted to play because we didn’t even make it through one game.

We continued to have a few beers, watch football, and play with the kids.  But the problem with trying to “tailgate” and drink at home.  It really isn’t that much fun.  You still have to do all your parenting duties, you still have to cook and pick up around the house.  And even once we put the kids to bed we were just so exhausted we could hardly watch the Husker game, which was the main reason for our “tailgating” day.

So basically we gave it a shot.  We tried to make lemonade out of lemons.  But really if you are stuck at the house by yourselves with the kids….probably not worth getting tired and headache over a few beers.  But hey……..at the least the Husker game turned out great.

Football Saturdays

It’s time for football and tailgating.

I rounded up some new recipes to try for this weekend.  Here is what I came up with.

Drunken Gummy Bears

Potent little things (I may have test tasted to make sure it wasn’t too disgusting).  I think they will be a hit.  Although I wouldn’t make these if children were going to be anywhere near.

Cookies & Cream Popcorn

And here is where this blog post ends.  You see I started typing this last night (Friday night).  I got as far as you see above and Bella started crying.  Went into her room to see what was wrong, and she kept crying and was acting really weird.  Finally got her to fall asleep in bed with me, and 20 minutes later she was back up crying and starting to shake.  Sure enough she had a fever.  Gave her Tylenol and 30 minutes later she was sleeping.  At 1am she woke up again and was even warmer.  Took her temperature, 102, and gave her Advil.  Finally 30 minutes later she went back to sleep and is currently still sleeping this Saturday morning.

Except at this point Jesse and I were supposed to be halfway to Lincoln to tailgate for the Husker game. 

That isn’t happening.  I had a few choice words last night when all this was going down.  How is it that Jesse, Oliver and myself were sick last weekend, and it takes Bella all the way till late Friday night to get sick.  After we already had to get a backup sitter lined up for the kids and the dogs when our first plans fell through, after I had made a bunch of tailgating food, after we had bought a lot of beer to drink, after we had packed everything up, after I had already pre-dropped off a bunch of Bella’s equipment at the sitter’s so this morning we could just get up put our suitcases in the car and drop the kids off on our way out of town. 

And more importantly than missing out on today, which we are upset about, especially seeing all our Nebraska friends from college and high school that we had made plans with, I am just plan pissed that I am going to have to deal with a sick Bella for the next 2-3 weeks again.  Only 2 weeks after her last long ordeal, and in that 2 week break I was of course sick and was dealing with Oliver being sick (which is easier, but still dealing with sickness).  And let’s not forget about Bella herself, who was just beginning to get back to normal.  In fact this past Thursday was the first day I got a good report from school that she was finally in a better mood and starting to work again.

And just to finish up my original post.  I also made Ranch Oyster Crackers. 

So now Jesse and I have a bunch of food and beer to drink. We might just “tailgate” by ourselves here at home. Maybe it will take the sting out of staying home to take care of sick kids. If only we can get over being short with each other, since of course we both thought we were finally going to get a day away from the kids to have fun together and with friends.

Climbing

Someone has started climbing onto everything.

But then he can’t figure out how to get back down.

It’s not funny Mom.

Overwhelmed

This past month we battled Bella’s “unknown” sickness.  We turned the corner and life was just barely getting back to normal.  Friday I had a girls night out, and Jesse had some guys over for poker.  I mention this because we both did a pick up and clean of the house since people were coming over.

It’s now Tuesday and our house is a mess, not a small mess, it’s in complete disarray.

On Friday, Jesse and Oliver started coming down with a cold.  By Saturday night I was miserable and fighting the same cold.  Sunday and Monday we were all still feeling crappy.  It’s now Tuesday and Jesse is back at work.  I am feeling much better.  Oliver is still a mess of runny snot and coughing, but being sick hasn’t kept him from doing anything.  He is still full of energy and goes, goes, goes.  Problem was, not Jesse or I could keep up with him.  This equates to a wrecked house.

Let’s start in the actual kitchen.  Not too bad.  I had gotten out the recipe book and softened butter to make muffins on Saturday.  Then I got sick…..it’s still sitting there waiting for me.

Toys, shoes, pantry items.  You name it, it’s strewn everywhere.

Bella’s area isn’t too bad.  She’s the cleanest one of us all.

Oliver won’t let us wipe/clean his nose.  He prefers to wipe it on the couch.  I now have about 20 snot spots on the micro suede couch I am going to have to figure out how to clean.

Things that did get done, like laundry and running errands to buy supplies are only really half done, since nothing has been properly put away.

Even in Bella’s room it’s a mess from her brother.  And her father, who can never decide if something is clean or dirty so it gets piled up on her dresser until I do laundry and have to decide.

Jesse comes home from work and will look at this mess and get mad because I haven’t cleaned it up.  I just look at this mess and get overwhelmed at the monstrosity.  And the fact that once it gets cleaned up, all the mess is back in minutes once the terror named Oliver is up.

I keep telling myself I need to take a day and just clean….all day long.  Then maybe I would be caught up and things wouldn’t seem so daunting.  Except in order for that to happen, I would need the kids to be out of the house.  Which means they would be at the sitters and I should actually be working at my job, so that I can get paid in order to pay the sitter, not to mention I have deadlines.

Then I say.  Maybe when the kids go to bed I can clean a bunch of things that don’t require loud noises.  Yeah right.  At that point of the day, it doesn’t matter what state the house is in, or even the bed.  It all gets pushed onto the bench, and in the bed I go in utter exhaustion.

A new lamp

I have been wanting to recover a lamp forever.  I think there are so many cute things you can do with fabric and spray paint.

I bought this lamp at the salvation army for $7.

I kept telling myself to not pick out a striped fabric.  The stripes are so hard to get to look straight since the top and bottom of the lamp shade are not the same circumference.  I of course, didn’t listen to myself and picked one with a stripe.  It looks good from one angle, just don’t turn it around!

Now I really need to get started on the curtains for the room.  I think it would help bring everything together.  Only problem is, I ordered the fabric, and didn’t order enough.  I went to order more, and they keep letting me order it, but then a few days later cancel the order and say they don’t have the fabric in.  This has now happened twice, so I’m a little scared I won’t actually be able to order any more of the matching fabric, at which point I’m not sure what I will do.

Friday Photo Dump

Watching a Husker Game, or playing with balloons, I’ll let you decide which was more fun!

Casual Eating Gone Too Far

Just because I am finally eating doesn’t mean I’m ready for you to take my picture.

I move too fast now for the camera to capture me, but I sure do rock the backwards hat look!

Who really couldn’t hold this tiny specimen of poo in and had to unleash it in the house?

I’m guessing it’s the one who won’t look into the camera…Elle!!

My Yoga

I finally joined the world of Groupon.  I have purchased a few random things.  Dinning coupons, gift certificates for local boutiques, and most recently yoga studio memberships.

I try and get my workout done at home.  But lately that just hasn’t seemed to happen.  I have gone for some walks, but haven’t been up to doing anything strenuous.  No time & No energy.

So I saw a couple deals for yoga studios and thought I might try it out.  I recently started a months unlimited membership.  I joined with a friend, and we headed out to a beginners yoga class.  I actually enjoyed it a lot.  I think it might be a great way for me to get rid of my stress, and help my body become stronger.  Which will definitely come in handy when carrying Bella around.

Of course actually finding the time to sneak away for 2 hours so I can attend a class is not an easy task.  I have now managed to make it to 3 classes, and I have used up 2 weeks of my membership.  I still have guilt leaving everyone to go.

When I originally signed up I had wanted to attend what was called a “mixed flow” class.  I figured it would be a little more advanced than beginners yoga and hopefully get me to sweat a little bit.  I finally went last night, and was actually nervous 2 hours before I went.  I knew I was going to be completely out of my league when it came to strength and flexibility, and more importantly knowing the poses.

I was right.  I was out of my league.  Everyone around me was doing these:

And I.

I was seriously sweating.  I got a good workout, even if I couldn’t get my body into half the poses they asked.  And I still really enjoyed it.

I can’t really fathom paying the full prices for these classes.  But I’m interested to see if going 2 or 3 times a week would actually be enough of a workout for me.  I also think it would be a great thing for Jesse.  But I might recommend he stick with the beginner’s class!

Are we at normal yet?

No.

Do I find this odd and slightly depressing that when something happens it seems to take three times as long for us to get over things?

Yes.

Looking on the bright side. 

Bella is improving, and is finally back in school.  Although she doesn’t quite seem to want to work yet, and I’ve been getting reports that she is a little bit fussy there. 

Her sickness was still undetermined.  But to the best of our knowledge she seemed to be teething, while battling a bacterial infection, while battling a viral infection.  No fun for Bella, or us.

For fun I thought I would give you a taste of Jesse and I’s texts back and forth about this whole ordeal.  Warning this might be incredibly boring.  We are incredibly boring people!!

Sep 4; Kristen:  It’s so hard to balance one child who wants to sit and drink all day long with one that is running around getting into everything.  Bella is still super warm and seems uncomfortable.  Looks like another super crappy week for me.

Jesse:  I know… Sorry…Did u get the meds in her. 

Has she eaten yet?

Yes on meds, yes I got her to eat one bowl of her mixed veggies.

Hopefully the meds will start working…I will put in an 8 hr

day and come home.

Don’t worry about coming home till 4 or 4:30.  Everybody is currently sleeping so no need to rush home.  I can let you know when Oliver wakes up if that helps.

I will leave at 430.

Sep 5; Kristen:  I can’t take it anymore.  I should have just taken Oliver over to the sitters.

So do it.  So apparently she’s not doing any better?

Take everyone for a walk or something.

She is, Oliver is being a pain, I already took everyone out, that was a disaster.

I keep feeling like I’m getting sick.

Hopefully you’ll feel better by this weekend… 

Sep 6; Jesse:  What is the plan for this morning?

I just plan to have Bella with me.  If she gets to be a pain I will give you a call.  I think she’s tired, so hopefully she can make it till after lunch to nap.

Did she eat?  Fever?

She ate two bowls of food and no fever so far, but she is starting to feel warmer.  So I guess we will just wait and see.

Guess u can have me call if needed to get her in for another appt

Yep.

Sep 10, Jesse:  Fever of 101

More proof we need to take her in.  I emailed the school so they have been notified she won’t make it today.

Have to take Colby in for her allergy shot Sat at 9am

Just gave her (Bella) an antibiotic shot, have to wait 15 minutes to make sure there are no reactions and then we can leave.

I bet she is hungry….What is the diagnosis?

Can’t tell, had to draw blood to run a culture, have to come back tomorrow morning to get the results.

Nothing with urine?

She is sleeping, she has fallen asleep every chance she gets left alone for 5 min.  Stuff in urine, but not enough to give clear picture.

They couldn’t do the venza on Saturday for the recall…So it’s

745 Friday morning..U can have the truck if needed that day

BTW sitter is coming over tomorrow, so you won’t have to worry about coming to the drs appt.

Sep, 11, Kristen:  Bella seems a little better this morning, but she still won’t eat.

What is the scoop on Bella?

All tests came back negative, so she doesn’t have any kind of bacterial infection.

Next steps?  So we just stock up on Tylenol for Bella

and that’s all that can be done?  I had wanted to ask the

question if they could do something for her pain…stronger

meds?  Cut her gums?…etc

I have asked that questions before and have always been told no.  Dr Grossman sad her throat and ears were red and sore, so she most likely had something viral that is bothering her.  They gave her another round of antibiotic shots today and we are supposed to continue the stuff we have at home tonight if she will eat.  Otherwise we go back in for another  shot tomorrow.

Nice keep giving her shots till she eats

She seems better today than yesterday so maybe it’s helping.  What do you want them to do????

Sep 12, Jesse:  Please tell Bella happy bday from me…Let

me know how the appt goes. I would prefer she didn’t get

any additional shots on Friday for her 5 yr checkup…

She needs a break

I don’t think we will give her any vaccinations right now, we will have to go back in for them at some point.  She is still sleeping right now, I think she was up for awhile last night.

Hopefully she didn’t have a fever…What did she feel

like when u went in there.

She felt fine, she just seemed wide awake.  She woke up coughing a little which is why she cried.

How is it going?

Not good for Bella.  The blood is showing staph infection, but they want to take her blood again to double check since her white cell count didn’t show enough elevation to be a staph infection so the first blood taken may have been contaminated.  Regardless we are to pick up a new dose of antibiotic and start it today to treat the staph infection.  Bella did eat breakfast so she must be starting to feel better.

Hello? 

So staph infection of the blood doesn’t sound good…

But sounds like its treatable with antibiotics?  Is this very

serious?

 

Also known as blood poisoning?

 

How is Oliver today?

I don’t think it’s serious, she is cleared to go to school tomorrow if she feels like it.

He could get it with his open scrapes or via saliva?

So it’s not in her bloodstream cause they say it can be

deadly

(At this point I finally called him to explain that she didn’t have any blood poisoning or something deadly.  If anything it was normal staph infection, but they thought the blood sample was contaminated, so the results were a false positive).

Sep 14, Jesse:  Venza will be done by 1pm…how

did Bella’s appt go?

Let’s see:  Bella is still sick with a virus that just has to work its way gone, I have a headache, I picked up Oliver so I now have both kids, Bella is a fussy mess, but eating seems to be quieting her down for the moment.

Nice….sorry I won’t be coming home early either…Take

them for a walk without the dogs and let them fuss

The only positive thing is that my allergies seem to be under control.  Only took 3 medications a day and a steroid shot!!

Both kids are currently sleeping.

Yep that was basically our life for a few weeks.  Jesse working while I took Bella to a bunch of doctors appointments, trying to find someone to watch Oliver, while also trying to fit in normal life stuff at the same time.

I really hope this will be my last post on Bella’s sickness for a long time!

It’s actually someone’s birthday today

Bella turned 5 today.

She spent the morning with mom and then had to go back to the doctors office.  The blood work showed some staph infection, but it was small and they thought it was actually a contaminant.  So that meant she had to get her blood drawn again to rework the cultures.  We go back in on Friday to check the new results and do her 5 year check up.

Because the tests did show staph infection, they wanted to treat with a different antibiotic just to be safe, so Bella and I headed off to the pharmacy once more.  While we were waiting for her prescription to be filled, we headed to the toy aisle so Bella could pick out something for her birthday.  She chose a small little baby doll, which I’m happy to say she has been holding all evening.

Then this afternoon her and I relaxed on the couch as I thought she would want to nap again.  She did finally fall asleep for a little while.  Once dad made it home with our special ice cream dinner, we sang happy birthday.  Of course dad also surprised Bella with a couple of big balloons.

Tonight we headed over to the neighbors pool to take one last swim for the year.  Bella seemed to enjoy it okay, but you could tell she still isn’t feeling 100%.  We actually plan to really celebrate her birthday later this weekend and come up with some type of activity she will hopefully enjoy, roller skating with flashing lights is floating in my mind.  I usually go all out and through a big party.  This year we decided not to do that and instead did small parties with our families.  With her being so sick for this long, I’m really glad I didn’t have the added stress of trying to plan a party around her sickness.  I guess I have finally learned from the past few years that planning something around Bella never seems to work out.

The highlight of the day was Bella’s class calling this morning to sing her happy birthday.  Poor Bella hasn’t been to class in two weeks.  The kids said they missed her and sent kisses over the phone.  Bella was intently listening as they sang and talked to her.  Once they hung up she actually started to fuss a little.  I think she misses them too!!

Bella’s Sick Chronicles

We went back into the doctor this morning for a follow up appointment and to see if Bella’s blood culture was showing anything.

Bella was doing marginally better this morning, she still wouldn’t eat but seemed a little more alert and didn’t have a fever.

Her blood tests came back negative, and the doctor said she looked clinically better than she did the day before.  He suggested we do another round of antibiotic shots in her legs, since it seemed to have helped from the day before.  I agreed, and then we would have another follow up on Friday, since we already had her 5 year check up scheduled for that date.

Bella would still not eat lunch, but did manage to eat some ice cream that I had bought for her.  I figured if she made it through another hour plus long appointment with two needles being stuck in her, she deserved a treat.  After her little bit of ice cream she went to sleep (around noon) and continued to sleep until 4pm.

Around that time the doctors office called us to let us know that her blood cultures were actually starting to grow something that might be a bacterial infection.  They do not know anything yet as to what type, so we have to go back in again tomorrow morning to see what it is and make sure we are correctly treating it.

The good news for today though, is that after her 4 hour nap, she actually ate a bowl of food for dinner.  She seems to be doing better.  No fever today either.  So hopefully we are on the track to recovery.  And what we have already given her will be the correct treatment for whatever bacteria is growing.

Bella is still sick

This is what Bella has been doing all day long, every day for the past almost two weeks.  Sleeping.  This child normally doesn’t even sleep through the night, let alone all day long.

Everything started the week before Labor Day weekend with Bella coughing at night.  We assumed it was teething.  On that Friday, August 31st, she got her first fever.  We still thought it was teething.  That weekend we headed up to Nebraska for Jesse’s 15 year class reunion.

They both did pretty good on the ride up and down, but that weekend Bella continued to continuously battle fevers, and started skipping meals.

By the time we got back home, we figured it might be a little something more than teething.

On Tuesday Sept. 4th, we took Bella into the doctor for the first time.  They really didn’t seem to think anything was majorly wrong.  Maybe it was a flu virus and it might have turned into an ear infection, because it looked like there might be a little discharge in her ear.  So we started a round of antibiotics and were told if the fever didn’t go away in 24 hours we were to come back in.

Thursday she still felt warm, but wasn’t registering a temperature.  She still wasn’t really eating much besides breakfast, and was still sleeping all day long, but we did manage to venture out that evening for a work sponsored family event.  It was a bowling night with my company.  Bella seemed to be enjoying watching the bowling lanes, and impressively held her head up completely on her own for 45 minutes or so.

During some of this time period of her holding her head up, we were actually sitting behind her eating.

For the people there that didn’t know us, or Bella very well, they must have thought we were completely inconsiderate parents who just left their child facing away from them and ignoring her.  But since she was obviously entertained enough to keep her head up, there was no way we were going to turn her around!

On Friday morning she woke up and for the first time was cool to the touch.  We thought things must be finally improving.  We actually had her yearly IEP meeting, which I will talk about later, and although she was a little fussy, she made it through.  She then proceeded to sleep the rest of the day away once we got home and again wouldn’t eat anything more than half a bowl of food for breakfast.

Saturday marked the first day she started fussing and wouldn’t eat ANYTHING.  She would periodically cry and get upset.  When this was happening I felt inside her mouth, and that made her more upset, so we would put orajel on her teeth, and sure enough she would soon stop crying.  This made us question if it was only teething that was causing all this pain.  On one hand it would be good, meaning we hadn’t been letting her carryon with some major illness we couldn’t diagnose.  But it would also be very bad, because she has four more molars to come in, and if this happens every time her teeth move (her previous molars took over a year to come in, and caused lots of problems over that year), then we were in for a real treat.

Sunday the fevers came back again.  This would then be the 7th day she had fevers.  We began questioning if we shouldn’t take her back into the doctor and run her through some tests to make sure we hadn’t missed something.

This morning we took her back in.  She was running another fever while she was in the doctors office.  We carried her up to the office and poor Bella was crying as we were waiting.  I’m sure we worried a bunch of other parents in the office as they saw this “bigger” girl being listless and having to be carried as she cried and sounded hopeless.

Once we were taken back we explained everything that was going on and they decided to run a few tests.  The first was to catheter her so they could get a urine sample and see if she had a bladder infection.  That test came up inconclusive.  Next they pricked her finger to see if she had some type of bacterial infection.  That test came back with elevated levels, but not high enough they could get a clear picture.  So we had to get blood drawn so that they could run a culture.  As we were waiting around in the office, if people were gone for more than five minutes she would be asleep in my arms.  If they were there and messing with her, she would be crying.  When they came to take her blood, they had to try two different people and stick her two different times.  and of course each time they stuck her, they didn’t immediately find the vein, but had to move the needle around for minutes to try and get it.  I felt so horrible for her, and had to tightly clamp myself around her the whole time to try and keep her from moving.  Lastly they decided to give her an antibiotic by shots in her legs in case we were dealing with any of the above mentioned infections.

So after being in the office for more than two hours we were finally able to leave.  Once home Bella again proceeded to sleep the whole day, and again got a fever this evening.

We go back tomorrow to the office to see if the culture shows us anything.  Hopefully we can get something figured out soon.  Because this is horrible for her, and definitely taking its toll on the rest of us.  Okay everyone but this one!

Oliver’s favorite place to read books is curled up with one of the dogs.  And they are nice enough to let him lounge on them.  At least someone has time to pay attention to him.

Devil in the Sick Town

Bella has been sick……again.  She has been running a fever for 6 days now.  We took her in to the doctor and it doesn’t seem to be anything more than a persistent flu and maybe an ear infection.  So we have to give it another day and if the fevers don’t break permanently we will have to go back in for blood work.

So that is what I have been dealing with lately.  Trying to keep Bella content.  She just wants to sit and have someone give her drinks constantly.  And then try to keep Oliver from hurting himself as he tears the house down.

I on the other hand am still dealing with my allergies which is keeping me down.  Yesterday morning I thought I would be nice and take everyone for a walk in the morning.  I was miserable and try not to be outside much, but I figured everyone was going stir crazy inside the house, so I would sacrifice myself so everyone could have fun.

I get this feeling that the world is against me.  I think you already realize what a task it is to get everyone loaded up to do anything, especially when it’s just one person doing the work.  But yesterday, well yesterday was exceptionally bad.

Bella was laying inside, still wearing her pajamas.  I figured she could wear them for the walk, they are comfortable and no one would know.  I got the stroller out of the garage and had the dogs and Oliver outside with the stroller.  I was busy loading up anything I thought we might need on the walk (waters, snack, 20 Kleenexes, etc.).  I came back in to grab Bella so we could go, and Bella had proceeded to pee through her completely dry diaper soaking all her clothes, the blanket below, and the carpet below.  So while the rest of the crew is waiting outside, I had to grab new clothes for Bella and try and clean up the area.

So with a newly clothed Bella we go outside to load up.  I get the dogs on their leashes and we are about ready to head down the driveway when I get a whiff of poop.  Yep, sure enough Oliver has just pooped his pants.  So I quickly take him inside and get him all changed.  At this point I am completely regretting the idea to take a walk.

We get back outside and take off.  We have maybe gone 1/2 mile and Colby keeps pulling to the side like she needs to go to the bathroom.  I let her out and she proceeds to potty.  This happen 3 times.  And I am getting very frustrated with her, because we can’t make any forward progress on our walk.  Finally the fourth time she actually goes poop.  And it’s an incredibly runny two bag process to pick it up and incredibly smelly for the remainder of the walk.

We couldn’t do our full walk as Colby is getting old and slows way down with her tongue hanging out less than halfway on our route.  So I turned our fun caravan around and headed back home.

Elle not getting the message that Colby has slowed down, keeps wanting to walk fast and is constantly pulling the stroller.  Really wish I had been able to teach these dogs to heel.

So we make it back home and I get Oliver his cup of water.  His big thing is to dump every liquid out so he can play with it.  So he proceeds to dump a very full cup of water on himself and gets soaked.

He therefore proceeds to stay in his diaper and only his diaper for the rest of the day.  Which of course he doesn’t care one bit.

And he wasn’t done with just dumping water on himself.  Later he proceeded to do damage with his glass of milk.  He figured out he could shake the milk out….which he did and it got everywhere.

I could definitely use a break.  I think Oliver wore Jesse out in less than an hour, as he was getting into everything last night.

Welcome to my day….all day long.

He is trouble.

And she is sick and whiny.