Hellooo Empty Wallet...

I really REALLy like matching brother sister outfits. The only problem? It is hard to match an older boy with a younger girl without making the boy look to babyish. I match when I can and then I take pictures to remember how cute they are!

HOWEVER...I have very recently discovered how very very easy it is going to be to match a baby sister with a big sister. I mean everything comes in matching or coordinating...now I'll just have to search a little bit harder to find things to coordinate with big brother. Fun!!!

Also we may have a name. Again it is not set in stone but we both really like Ann Elizabeth. Ann is my middle name and my Mom's middle name and Elizabeth is my cousin's name...and we just like both of those names together. We would probably call her "Annie" for short when she is little also. I like the idea of calling her Ann Elizabeth but Daddy says it's too long. Noah does not like this name and Lilly doesn't care if we call her anything at all... so we'll see. Thought on the name? Be honest!!!

Sooner or Later...

Yes sooner or later I knew this would happen. I knew that I would get a comment from someone about the food allergy precautions that have to be taken for Noah that would make me want to either
a)cry
b)punch them in the mouth
c)both a and b

And so it happened and the answer is c. I was minding my own business in the Family Dollar of all places and I turn the corner with my little basket and get in line to pay for my stuff when I cannot help but overhear two women having a loud conversation just a couple of feet away from me as they bewail and complain the inconvenience of not being able to send chocolate and nut candy to school for the upcoming Easter festivities. The are really giving it down the road and one of them said, "People just go crazy over the peanut thing, people are crazy, it's just ridiculous." REALLY!?!

I'm sorry lady that it inconveniences you to have to make such events at school non-life threatening for my six year old who is just beginning to understand that 98% of the goodies and treats stocking the Easter candy aisle he will not be able to enjoy.

I seriously thought for a few minutes about getting out of the checkout line and marching over to them and informing them that I was the CRAZY woman who apparently made their life so hard and that they were welcome to accompany me next time I had to inject my son with epinephrine shots and then accompany us to the emergency room while he panicked and cried and was very very very sick. But I didn't. I'm sure the look on my face gave away my emotions and I knew if I tried to say anything at all I would just tear up and cry so I held my tongue. I also know that they had no idea that anyone was around whom this might offend and I know that they were speaking out of ignorance. So I let it go...I guess.

Instead I"m choosing to focus on all of the wonderful, fantastic, loving, people that the Good Lord has chosen to bring into my life that are 100% supportive and protective of Noah and his needs.
His teacher (Ms. Lesley) and his principal (Mr. Tyree) have been saving graces in my book and have went above and beyond the call of duty to keep him safe and to keep him included in everything a normal Kindergartner gets to do. My friends who have never once failed to make birthday parties safe and fun and he's never ever told me he felt left out at all!!!

So I know this post has been a downer but I've had that sort of day, and sometimes I just need to vent!

Where to Start?

There is so much to catch up on it makes me tired to think of where to start. So I'll start with the most important I suppose!

Dad was released from the hospital after having a PIC line inserted in his arm for permanent IV access. He goes back to the hospital every day to get his IV antibiotics. He will do this for another week. He meets again with a kidney specialist and an infection specialist next week to see what the status of all his tests are then. He is feeling some better, but is still weak. He is very glad that they decided he didn't have to remain the entire two weeks in the hospital! I'm still praying that all of this stuff resolved when the meds are finished.

I did end up testing positive for strep as did Travis. We finished our meds and I was relieved when the stomach virus hit poor Lilly full force. We were up all night earlier in the week and the poor little thing threw up probably 30 times in one night. It's been five days and she is still having some stomach issues but I'm hoping that runs it's course soon.

Travis left work Friday with the stomach bug having hit him. He was sick AGAIN all day Friday and still doesn't feel well today.

So I have spent the majority of my week washing sick laundry and lysoling things....

On to happier, non sick related things....we had an ultrasound on Monday and the tech informed us that we are expecting another baby GIRL! We are very shocked because we both thought this baby was a boy but we are very excited. Dr. Gass says that everything on the ultrasound looks exactly like it should and we are thrilled! The tech on Monday wouldn't give us a for sure answer that the baby was a girl because of the way she was laying. Soo...we made an appointment with the lady at Precious View to confirm. She saw the baby from several different angles and said that she felt 99.9 percent certain this baby is a girl. She also said that her cord was between her legs and there was a teensy chance it could be hiding something but from every other angle she felt confident it is a girl... I do have to have another ultrasound in April because there were a couple of other pictures from the ultrasound that they couldn't get because of baby's position so I guess we'll have a third opinion! After the ultrasound at Precious view i got to keep a dvd of the ultrasound and at one point you can see the baby yawning...it was very sweet! She also kept putting her little hands up by her face and eyes.

I am sure some other things happened this week but at the moment I am failing to recall what any of them are....

Oh yeah and we are gearing up for the UK game...see Lil's excitement. She's saying "Go Big Blue!"

Quick Update

For those of you who know, Dad was hospitilized yesterday with fluid surrounding his heart and his lung and a serious infection. We found out today that it is an infection in the sac surrounding his heart. He will be in the hospital for 2 weeks on very strong IV antibiotics.

Needless to say, I am very worried and but I am having faith that God will see us through this. I also am asking my friends to please remember him and mom in prayer.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I will try to update as I can.

Positive

Yep I tredged my sick self to the doctor this morning and after they gouged a rather large cotton swab down my throat it was confirmed that I do indeed have strep.

I got very little sleep last night because my dratted ear is hurting as bad as my throat. However, I took a mega dose of antibiotic today and am willing myself to be better by tomorrow. I am going to drink a half gallon of acai juice and green tea and see if I can't resemble a person tomorrow.

I apologize to all my poor clients I have had to reschedule but I promise you will thank me to keep your kiddos from getting this, it's no fun.

Travis is still looking like death warmed over... I suppose he'll be on the mend soon enough! Send some healthy thoughts are way and I'm pretty sure if the sun would pop out and the weather would warm up I would feel immensely better.

Just Great

The kids just got well from strep and ear infection. My dad had severe strep last week and was very nearly hospitalized and is still not well. Travis had to go to the doctor today and has strep and a very high fever. Lilly has now had diarrhea today and guess what else?

My throat is killing me and I've got chills. Fantastic....there is no time for mommy to be sick.

Curtains

Well I am on a kick to get some things done in this house before baby #3 arrives and on the list included curtains.

I got REALLY industrious not too long ago and made valances to go on my french doors and they actually turned out better than I expected. So...I researched how much the fabric and lining would cost me to make the bedroom curtains and I found some that were actually the same print and a little less expensive than buying all the stuff to make them (and they were lined too). I would have some lovely photographs to show you but I bought the wrong rods (they weren't heavy enough) so I'll try to get the correct rods sometime before this wild week is over and maybe I"ll manage a picture or two.

That's about as exciting as it gets around here today. I've had busy studio sessions all weekend and this evening and the rest of the week...but I'm trying to accomplish as much as possible while I still feel good.

On a baby note...baby 3# is moving around...alot!!! I can't wait for Monday to get another peek at him/or her. Just for fun, leave me a comment and tell me your boy/girl vote. On the name front...we actually have a few for boys and girls that we can both civilly agree to. (OK Noah doesn't agree to them but moving right along...)

Lilly's temper tantrums have actually g0tten a little better. I really think the sinus infection and all the meds she was having to take were contributing to them. She has been in a much better humor the last few days. She's still into everything but at least we're having not so many meltdowns.