Kennedy's turn....

So after Brady's bout with the stomach bug, it's now Kennedy's turn. She started throwing up in her bed at 3:00 a.m. Chris left for Orlando today and I'm just praying that I don't get it!

She heard me talking on the phone to her Aunt Susie and when I got off the phone she asked, "Mommy - is there really a bug in my tummy!??!" She sounded panicked. The idea of a bug being in her body was not settling at all.

I assured her that it wasn't really a bug... just a figure of speech. She gave me a blank stare and then climbed on the couch to watch a movie. That's how I know my child doesn't feel good... she feels too icky to ask more questions.

A mother's nightmare

After Thursday night, both of my children have officially been to the emergency room as infants. More on Kennedy's trip later, but first - Brady's trip Thursday night. He has always been a frequent spitter. He spits up quite a bit of his bottles, but I was slightly alarmed when he spewed so much and so far Thursday morning that it hit the back of the seat in my car. He started by just coughing, so I honestly thought he got a little choked and then gagged. The sounds scared me to death, so I pulled over, jumped out of the car, ran around to his side of the car, swung open the door to him soaking wet... but smiling. So I took him and Kennedy to school and asked his teachers at daycare to keep a closer eye on him. I never heard from school all day, but when I picked him up that afternoon - he'd been sleeping a lot more than usual and had skipped an entire bottle. Just 15 minutes later, he threw up in the car. So I decided it was time to call the pediatrician. I was told to give him Pedialite in small doses and if he couldn't keep that down, head to the ER because babies dehydrate much faster than adults.

You know where this is going. My mom (Nina) met us at the ER to help manage my sweet (but rambuntious) Kennedy. Chris was out of town, so I was flying solo on this journey. Nina stayed with me and Brady and then my dad (Papa) came to get Kennedy to take her to their house for a sleepover. We had no idea how long we would be at the ER.

It's funny how different doctors have different reactions. After two hours of being there, the doctor told us he wasn't dehydrated. He still had saliva in his mouth and was charming the doctor with his adorable smile. The doctor sent us home. It's better to be safe than sorry. And as a mother, the worse nightmare is having to rush a child to the emergency room for fear that he/she might be very sick.

When Kennedy was five months old, our ER experience was the complete opposite. She cried her eyes out while we waited FIVE hours in the middle of the night to see the doctor. They ran tests and came to no conclusion. They sent us home. The following night, after a healthy dose of Nyquil, my phone rang. It was the emergency room doctor saying our tests had come back positive for bacteria and to come to the hospital immediately so she could be admitted. Talk about being scared!

She stayed in the hospital for three nights... the longest three nights of our lives. She was hooked up to monitors, had an IV, had breathing treatments, nurse-administered suction treatments. It was a frightening experience and I sympathize for those parents who have chronically-ill children.

I thank God every night for my healthy children. They are truly gifts from above and if these two experiences in the ER are all we have to endure, I'll consider us the lucky ones.

Arrrrrgh!

Kennedy is already ready for Halloween! This year, she is going to be a pirate.... arrrrgh!

First boy birthday party

This afternoon, Kennedy attended her very first boy birthday party... and this isn't just any boy. This was Alex, the boy who Kennedy allegedly kissed - TWICE! She was excited about going and has been talking about it all week.

"When is Alex's birthday party?"

"When are we going to get his birthday present?"

"What are we going to get him?"

"Will there be other people there from my school?"

"Is it time to go to Alex's birthday party yet?"

The questions were fired at us ninety-to-nothing. One thing Kennedy definitely got from her mommy is her ability to talk... non-stop. I think Chris wishes she didn't have that trait of mine. Back to the birthday party: It was at a place in Bossier I'd never heard of called Planet Fun. Kennedy knew almost everyone there since all of her classmates were invited. In fact, I think little Alex might just be a little player. There were more girls at his party than boys!

Kennedy did a fantastic job of not telling him what she brought him through the whole party. We are teaching her that presents are supposed to be surprises. On quite a few occasions, she has announced to the whole party what was inside the giftbag she brought. But this time, she did great.... telling everyone that she couldn't tell what was wrapped inside her gift. But the minute Alex got the box in his hands.....

"Hey Alex, this is from me! It's a Ninja Turtle!"

Poor thing - she was so excited, she couldn't contain herself! The entire room errupted in laughter at her excitement. That's my girl! Always entertaining the crowd.

We miss daddy

Chris is on the road this week, in Orlando for business. I know he'd much rather be home with me and the kids, but it must be nice to have a small break from the normal (translation: hectic) routine. (He would NEVER admit that, though!) Deep down, I truly believe that he would much rather be lugging the kids to Bossier and back and having peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or frozen pizza for dinner - just to be with us. He always feels guilty when he leaves town and I always dread it when he leaves.

But the truth is, it's mostly a mental thing for me. I can get myself all psyched up for being alone with the kids all week, but it's really not that bad. Don't get me wrong, it's extremely hectic without him there taking one of the kids while I tend to the other. But if I tell myself to calm down and deal with one thing at the time, it's manageable! Dinner can wait a few minutes while I change Brady's diaper. Kennedy can get her own juice. I can bathe Kennedy while the Brady sits in the swing.

But there is nothing like having my hubby at home. Kennedy will ask for him everyday until he gets home. Thursday at 10:00 pm can't come soon enough!!

"Hang in there Mom!"

I must have had a distressed/exhausted/overwhelmed look on my face this morning when I walked into Cypress Run to drop off my sweet kiddos.... because another dad took one look at me and said, "Hang in there Mom." I smiled, chuckled and kept walking in.

Maybe he just saw that I was struggling to hold onto both kids. Since cars were passing us on the driveway, I was holding Kennedy's hand to make sure she stayed close by.. and then I was also carrying Brady in his car seat. Bless his little heart - he was sleeping. So I'm hoping that's what prompted his comment because I certainly don't want to be one of those people who always looks like she's scouring.

Sure - I am tired, overworked, fighting a cold and a single parent this week... but I am trying very hard to look at the upside of things:
We are getting ready to move into our brand new house.
I have two healthy and wonderful children.
My husband and I have good jobs.
We are preparing for a visit from the LaPierre family in a few weeks.

So, note to self: Smile (or at the very least, have a pleasant look on my face).

Brady at 3 months

Here is my favorite picture from Brady's 3-month picture session today...