Unofficial Zoo Flu

It's unofficial, because the doctor diagnosed it over the phone so I wouldn't have to schlep two sick kids up to her office, while I was still feeling poopy myself. Thus, no official test was run. But, cold or flu, it matters not. Viral bullies just get to run their course. But we are keeping a close eye on things since strep is going around also!

Tooter is having the worst time of it. We have graduated to the "sleep-wherever-they-may" plan, so as to give our arms a break during the day. Thus, this picture:

The Right Size

Our couch is just the right size for me to stretch out with one babe in my arms and another babe draped across my legs. I discovered that yesterday.

Jmk came down with a bad cold Wednesday night, and he was out from work Thursday and Friday. He actually slept most of the day on Thursday, and he usually can't close his eyes during the day. Even though we tried to be good about steering clear, it's virtually impossible to keep from every little germ, and by Friday, Tooter was sick, and by Saturday night, Poodle and I were sick. Blugh.

I'll be grateful for this season to pass and to get into real spring and summer. I know we'll have the typical allergy things to deal with, but benedryl is easy breezy. These colds are just the pits. I think what I hate the worst is the lack of energy. The shaky-muscle-dizzy-head lack of energy. It's annoying.

We had such a busy week (for us) last week, and I want to share! But, it's time to go sit back down in Daddy's chair and rejoin the coughing chorus that is at the top of our playlist right now.

Blugh again.

15 Month Checkup

Tooter had his 15 month checkup today, and everything was good! Height, weight, head circumference are all on target. His eczema is in the middle of a flare-up due to the recent virus, but the Doc understood. He got a few vaccinations, and he has been cleared from any more well-baby visits until his 2 year checkup!

The sad part of the visit was that it was the last one with this doctor that we love so much. Unfortunately for US, she's retiring to go home and be a full-time mom!!! Fortunately for her and her kids, she'll be thru with the yucky business side of being a doctor and will be able to be at all the track meets and everything else her kids are into. And, she will have more time to get her hands dirty in her gardens.
She's a young doctor (maybe early 40's?), so this decision couldn't have been an easy one. BUT, I do know that we were blessed to have gotten her as first-time parents. She has been a dream. (Thanks, Eli, for the recommendation!)

So, anyway, Poodle was just chatting away, and happened to mention that "Tooter doesn't really have any words yet". To which Dr. Ray responded "that's okay honey, you can teach him some words. I don't think there's a word that you don't know".

::grin:: See - she's got our number. We're going to miss her!

The Bug That Ate Zootown

You know, technically, that's not true. Jmk and I, by God's mercy, haven't gotten sick. I'm not saying we won't, because I really don't know for sure what the gestation period is for this virus. But, so far, we've remained healthy.

This has been the strangest virus though. Tooter came down with it on Wednesday last week. Vomiting and diarrhea. Then on Thursday, after the vomiting stopped, he spent the day with a fever around 102. (Tylenol would bring it down, but not get rid of it completely). After about 24 hours of the fever, that passed. (Still weird to me that the fever doesn't start till the 2nd day). The diarrhea hangs on for awhile - last night, I finally started giving him a bit of Immodium to get a handle on it. (I prefer to let their bodies work things out as they are supposed to - to a degree. But when his little popo is apple red, then it's time to medicate!)

Poodle started the process on Friday. Except that her vomiting was much more serious, and lasted all day. We finally got enough phenergan in her by late evening on Friday, and she was able to sleep without throwing up. Her fever period, though, didn't start until later on Saturday, and didn't fully break until sometime during the night last night. Her diarrhea is much worse also. I'm not going to wait as long to start her on Immodium. Actually, I tried to get her to take some last night, and met up with a brick wall, so I'll try again today. As I told Jmk this morning, "she's taking it, come heck or high water". Her other main problem now is lethargy from days of not eating. She has been drinking though, so at least we don't have to deal with dehydration.

I think Toot had an easier time because he was able to nurse thru all this. I still nurse him down at night, so that option was available for us. Poor Poodle had to wait until she had gotten past the nausea stage, and by then, she wasn't much interested in food.

::exhale:: I won't lie to you - Jmk and I are pooped. I recently read a blog where at least 4 out of the 6 kids in the family all came down with the flu. At the same time. (Maybe all 6 - I can't remember now). Now THAT is exhausting. I need to quit complaining.

But it's a new day. The sun is shining. I'm hoping the worst has passed and that I can figure out non-stressful ways to keep them both happy and calm today. And able to distract them from their remaining tummy troubles.

Enough - time to get positive!!!

Whew.

Taking a quick break from the digestive fireworks we've been experiencing around here for the past couple of days. Hopefully it will all be finished soon!

If you think about us, say a quick prayer for some tummy healing. ::smile::

Missing Storytime

Unfortunately, due to some sick monkeys, Tooter in particular, we're going to have to miss storytime at the library today. Poodle, who has only been a few times, has come to just love it. (Stacey and Amy, we sing the "shake your sillies out" song around here all the time now. Joy! ha!)

Anyway, due to our impending absence from the frivolities of stories about teeth today, I feel it necessary to share some pictures from storytime a couple of weeks ago. It was "hair stories" day, and everyone was to come with crazy hair. Here was Poodle's contribution!







I got to complete a couple of twists and braids, and aided in securing a few bows that wanted to go astray. But, mostly, this was Poodle's creation.

Viva la crazy hair!

Alanis missed this one.

We have Simply Orange containers (the company whose commercials tout the fact that their oranges never, EVER have to worry about being concentrated) that we use to hold our O.J. made from concentrate.

Hmm.

Is it animal, vegetable, or mineral?

me to Poodle:
Is a strawberry a fruit or a vegetable?

Poodle:
It's a fruit!

me:
Good. Hmmm.... are YOU a fruit or a vegetable?

Poodle:
::scrunched face:: I'm a princess!

Granny's 99!

As of Feb. 29, that is. Ahhhh - she has no birthday this year! Can't tick another year onto her counter! :-)


Some family shots.

A few of the place, and the wonderful church folks who came to celebrate.

We had a lovely, just lovely, birthday party for her after church yesterday. A lot of families from church came and joined us, and we all met at the Cellular South Cafe' at Trustmark Park (where the Mississippi Braves play). Those folks there did a bang up job - they let us take over the place practically, and were SO attentive and kind. Bent over backwards, and the food was fantastic.

Plus, the kids got to run around the seats of the ballfield while the boring adults were running their mouths. ::grin:: The weather was perfect - sunny, and cool, but not too chilly!

I know that I speak for the family when I say how glad we were to have so many wonderful people from church come and take part in celebrating. Granny may sleep all day today, but she had an amazing time yesterday!

You saw a few picture collages from the day, and the rest, including of the birthday girl herself, can be seen from the link at the family website.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make Granny's 99th birthday so memorable and, well, lovely!!!

Awwwww.

Through the house what busy joy,
Just because the infant boy
Has a tiny tooth to show!
I have got a double row,
All as white, and all as small;
Yet no one cares for mine at all.
He can say but half a word,
Yet that single sound's preferred
To all the words that I can say
In the longest summer day.
He cannot walk, yet if he put
With mimic motion out his foot,
As if he thought he were advancing,
It's prized more than my best dancing.

Charles and Mary Lamb
Poetry for Children, 1809

Website Update

Open invitation to see pictures for January! Address up at the top of the blog page - although if you're reading this and don't know our last name, but know us from "around the way", just leave me a comment with your email addy and I'll send the address to you!

For SueSue & PopPop

As the story goes, Jmk spent some time in his younger years as a puppy dog. This picture proves that the imagination apple falleth not far from the proverbial tree.

Although, technically, Poodle is actually being a kitty cat. I had to put some sunflower seeds in the bowl to be her "kitty food"!

Um. Just go see it.

First - hat tip to The Beehive for this one.

Betcha it gets stuck in your head too! Frodo lives!

Back!!!

Wow, does it feel good to have Junior Miss finished for this year! At least, the show part, anyway. Everything went well, we have our new Junior Miss in place, and I am really proud of all the girls. The group of young ladies that we worked with this year really made me feel good about the kids that are up and coming in the world. Maybe it was just my small group experience, but these were some lovely girls. I'm so proud of them.

But, now, I'm left with that sense of confusion that always follows an intensely focused period. I'm not sure what needs the most attention, because everything piles up. My In Box is overflowing with unanswered emails, the laundry has piled up, the house definitely isn't clean.
BUT, at least my kids don't have to hear the phrase "not right now, honey. Mommy's working on Junior Miss". I felt sure that by the end of last week, their heads were going to spin right off if they had to hear it one more time.

Now. Back to "real" life. And as soon as I figure out where to start, I'll be sure to let you know. ha!!!

Next fun event, though, will be Granny's birthday - she's going to be 99!!! We'll be celebrating after church with as many as can come from church as well as lots of family, of course. Technically, she's not really 99, as her birthday is actually on Feb. 29. BUT, people are such sticklers about counting the years that don't have that leap day. ::grin::

Funny Poodle tidbit. At some point last week, she pulled a bag of mini marshmellows out of the pantry, hoping to talk me into letting her have some. As I was incredibly distracted and busy, I was letting them get away with more than usual, and said yes. So, as I'm opening the bag, she asks me, "Can I have 4 or 30?"

lol.....

Bad Dress........

...Good show!!! You know your electrical engineer father has truly been paying attention all those many many years of ballet performances when he pulls that saying up from out of the blue as you are driving down the road talking to him on the cell phone.

Way to go Dad!!!

We'll return to Blog World soon - Junior Miss dress rehearsal is tonite, (tech was last nite), and show is tomorrow. Woohooo!!! Almost finished!

Some Pictures

It was Saturday, we were outside, it was sun-shiny and chilly, and I just wanted to take pictures. That's pretty much the caption for each picture!

(Sorry for the yucky out-of-focus'ness here. I just had to include the I'm-a-Stinker grin.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPOP!!!

We love you so much and we hope you have a wonderful day today!!! As Poodle would say - here's a big squeezy hug and a big smoochy kiss for you!

Happy Anniversary!!!

To my love, my best friend, my joy, and my laughter. To the music of my heart and the dance in my toes. I love you so much, and these past five years have been a dream come true.

Thank you for being the good, kind, Christian, loving person who fills his family with happiness.

I love you scooper lobster!!!

Oh my stars. I'm not going to make it.

He's not even 2 yet. Heck, he's not even 15 months old yet. He's such an unassuming little tyke. At least with Poodle, we knew she was fearless almost from day one. Tooter, however, didn't strike me as quite so gung-ho'esque.

Hmmph. Apparently, I have a lot to learn about my dear boy.

Or maybe I just have a lot to learn about boys, period.

So, we're outside yesterday afternoon, taking advantage of the briefly warmer weather. The kids are running around willy nilly and I'm pooper scooper'ing the yard. (tmi? sorry.) Anyway, I spot check Tooter, and he's engaged in investigating a pine cone. I scoop, and turn back around barely 10 seconds later, and he's halfway up the stairs that lead to the decking at the top of the slide part of the swing set.

Oh good heavens.

So I go running to the swing set and spot him the rest of the way up, and help him slide down. We do this at least a million times and he finally gets interested in something else.

He comes back for a few more sliding sessions, and then he takes off for one of the palm trees. I take advantage of the moment, and sit down at the laptop that I brought outside an hour earlier, to get some work done on the Junior Miss script.

I swear - I think he must have Star-Trek-transported himself back to the swingset, because I really was paying attention. Or at least I thought I was.

I look up, and the boy has climbed all the way up the stairs and is sitting in the upper deck-thing of the swingset, trying to position himself to slide down the slide. Oh. My. Gravy.

The blasted thing is, what, 4 1/2 something feet off the ground?

I won't tell you what all went through my mind. Praise the Lord nothing happened to him - although I'm not entirely sure my heart has gone back into rhythm yet.

Playtime outside this summer is sure to be an adventure. I think I'll need Prozac!

STOP. Step Away From the Chainsaw.

Please. For the sake of pete. If you haven't already committed annual crepe murder, then please please, read THIS. There is also a good article in the most recent Southern Living magazine (which is actually the link I was trying to find), if you get that publication. Or, you can go HERE and get a downloadable PDF file on proper pruning. Come on folks. We can reverse this trend! Let's all stand together! No more crepe murder!!!

And, no, I don't care if all your neighbors have already done it. To quote SL - "if the neighbors start keeping Nile crocodiles in their pools, you'll be on the next plane to Africa?"

If you have already unwittingly committed a crime against crepes, then take heart. All your saw sins shall be forgiven. Here's to a new start next year!