Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
Poor Hudson has been sick for about a week. Once he started tugging at his ear, and had some eye crustiness, I knew it was time to head to the pediatrician. She said that although he has a lot of uncomfortable symptoms, they just add to a cold—a virus that can’t be treated with an antibiotic. She said he would start to feel better in five to seven more days. Sounds like an eternity to me!

I’ve been treating Hudson with pain reliever, small spoons of honey, warm baths and extra cuddles. He’s a fairly happy-go-lucky guy, but you can see his discomfort at night. He’ll pitifully plead with me “Nose. Nose.” I keep wiping, but it keeps coming. Often, he’s about to fall asleep just before he erupts into a fit of coughing. I wish I could do more to make him feel better or even explain what’s going on when he seems so very pitiful.

Warmer temperatures and fewer germs cannot get here soon enough. I may have to go online and purchase some sunblock, sunglasses, and beach toys. Perhaps I can will an early summer into existence!

Wishing you a week of health and fun.

This year, our biggest blessing was moving to Georgia, where we laid family roots and grew into our new home. The boys are comfortable with their new surroundings, and the sounds of neighbor kids playing out back is just what we were hoping for. Although at times it gets loud, it’s fun to watch Jack and Tate develop new friendships.

Many family and friends came to visit us this year. We also traveled and saw some extended family that we rarely get to see. I’m happy to have had the chance to spend quality time together, and look forward to more visits next year.

I’m thankful for the health of our family. We’ve been thinking and praying for our little friend, Ayden who went through many, many procedures, tests, and experiments to rid him of leukemia. Just last week we were informed the final option the doctors performed worked, and the latest tests revealed he was cancer free! We’re so happy for him and his family. He still has a long road ahead, but this was the best gift we could all ask for.

I hope this year provided you with many blessings, as well. I’m looking forward to the New Year and all it has in store. Happy New Year!

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, so the last thing anyone wants for Christmas is a virus. Our household started the season off miserable. The boys were both sick with a nasty cold that I eventually caught, too. I got it last, but I got the worst of it. My husband was out of town for several days, so I had to keep the household running, which was no easy task. Thankfully, the boys healed more quickly than I did.

I had many things to get done while the boys were in school, but getting some rest took priority. I missed events at school that I really wanted to attend, but I didn’t want to spread my germs. It was a bummer, but completely out of my control. Jack and Tate were very understanding, and I think they appreciated that I stayed home . Fortunately, I still have a few days to play catch up before Christmas.

The good news is we’re all on the mend and getting back into the holiday spirit with cookie baking, holiday lunch with friends, wrapping gifts, and caroling through the neighborhood. I’m thankful to be relatively healthy this holiday season and spending the remainder of the year with loved ones.

Happy Holidays to all!

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
Poor Hudson has been struggling with a virus for the last few days. The main symptom is a fever and lot of crankiness. As all parents in this situation do, I really feel for him. Not only is he feeling crummy, but he also doesn’t yet have the ability to tell me exactly what’s bothering him. As a result, it’s a constant guessing game to keep him comfortable and somewhat content.

He hasn’t slept well the last few days, and neither have I! It’s so tiring caring for a sick toddler, not to mention their attention-seeking older siblings. Haley alternates between being a helpful nurse and a crazy instigator. Sometimes, I’ve just gotten Hudson to calm down when Haley comes screeching in, provoking Hudson and throwing the scene into complete chaos.

So we’ve been a little pitiful lately, but we’re trying to keep our spirits up. Illness happens in childhood, and you just have to roll with the punches. The light at the end of the tunnel is Hudson’s second birthday this weekend. Hopefully by then we’ll have two healthy children more than ready to relax and have fun.

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
Being a parent is hard work—not only mentally, but physically as well! There’s a reason people think of moms as “running after their kids.” It’s literally a huge part of what we do. I’ve accepted that I’m going to feel tired more often than not. But what really irks me is the occasional physical injuries I get in the course of being a mother.

Right now, my upper back is burning. In one localized spot, it sometimes feels like fire. This happened because one night last week, Hudson was up in the middle of the night and inconsolable. I tried, in vain, to rock and bounce him back to sleep. This is why I believe in “Cry-It-Out!” I was trying to be easy on him, because we had just gotten back from travel and he was a little under the weather. Never again, I tell you.

The inescapable truth is, the older our kids get, the older we get too. I just haven’t bounced back from this injury as quickly as I used to. And that’s really annoying, because the demands of parenting haven’t eased up at all! I still have a 15 month old to pick up, wrangle into clothes, and stop from launching himself off of furniture. I’m attempting to rest whenever I can. Hopefully my back will be on the mend soon—at least before something else starts hurting.

From Friday Mom – Erin:
In celebration of her first birthday, Charlotte has brought home a stomach bug from daycare.  Two kids in her class came down with it mid day on Thursday, and by Thursday night our little girl was down for the count.  The timing could not possibly be worse.  We have a joint birthday party planned for both Rory and Charlotte on Saturday afternoon, and we have been diligently scrubbing, washing, and sanitizing everything in the house in blind hope that we can keep Rory from coming down with what is ailing Charlotte.  If we’re lucky, she’ll be feeling better by then.  But I’m not counting on it.

I’ll be calling the party venue in the morning to confirm my fear– that we are likely out the full cost of the party even if neither child can actually attend.  I suppose that will cause me to think twice about going all-out for young kid birthdays.

I am hoping that my pessimism is unfounded and that both kiddos are feeling well by Saturday.  Even if mommy and daddy are down for the count and we have to send them with the grandparents, I’d really like at least Rory to get to enjoy his party.  He’s been talking about it pretty much non-stop for the better part of the last month, and I know he will be absolutely devastated if he can’t attend.

As hard as the past day has been and the next 48-hours may be, I know these are truly minor problems in the grand scheme of things.  With the exception of the virus of the hour, our children are both happy and healthy.  They bring home their fair share of germs and the juggling act of caring for them when they get sick while managing two full time jobs can be quite a load to bear.  But the good far exceeds the bad, and I just try to remind myself of just how lucky we are.  Even if we are up to our elbows in dirty laundry.

From Friday Mom – Erin:
Our little girl has been sick this week.  She started running a fever on Monday morning as we were trying to get ready for the day and ended up staying home from school for four days straight.  Her demeanor has been fine, and her spirits have been high, which makes it all a little more tolerable.

My spirits, in contrast, have been quite low.  This week has been a roller coaster of stress and frustration.  My work load has managed to pick up to unbearable levels right as we head into what I had been hoping would be a quiet holiday season.  Between working from home to monitor the new baby sitter, taking Charlie in to see the doctor, and  keeping my previously scheduled teacher conference with Rory’s teacher, I have gotten much less that I would have liked from a work perspective.  That, in turn means that I have been working late and sleeping too little.  Even as I write this, I should probably be preparing for a meeting in the morning.  Unfortunately, my eyelids have gotten too heavy to bear.

At this point, all I want for Christmas is a good night’s rest and a healthy family.  Here’s hoping that a week from now I’ll get at least one of those things.

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Around the holidays, most people think about what they are thankful for. I really try to remember to give thanks all year long, but it’s easy to forget when life gets busy. This month, I’m doing a weekly “thankful” post highlighting something I’m thankful for.

To start the month off, I’m writing about an experience I had this summer that taught me to think about big picture and not let little things get to me. I’m very lucky to have been blessed with two healthy children.

This summer, the boys and I had a play date with my childhood friend and her children. Her son, Ayden, was diagnosed with Leukemia two years ago at the age of two. He woke up one morning with what his mom thought was pink eye, and after two hours at the doctors office he was rushed to the hospital for more testing. Upon learning the results, Ayden’s parents were completely heartbroken. They wondered how it was possible, what they had done “wrong,” and ordered more tests to be sure. In one day, their world was turned upside down.

Over the last two years, Ayden has battled many, many sessions of chemo and radiation, shots, transfusions, nights in the hospital/ER and numerous bouts of illnesses. He missed lots of playtime because he can’t be exposed to germs. His parents wake him up several times a night to give him medicine. Ayden has some weeks that are better than others. When his levels are where they should be, he can get out and enjoy the world. Ayden’s parents are strong people. They always see the bright side of things and hope that one day, Ayden be in remission. I commend them for their strength and positivity in this situation.

On the day of our play date, Ayden was like any other typical four year old. He did well, and all his levels were good. He was able to get out of the house and do things with other people. Ayden was laughing, playing ball, and teaching the big kids how to sail a pirate ship. I sat there and watched him. It was amazing that he didn’t let this cancer get him down. Seeing your child ill isn’t easy. I dread when my kids tell me their throat or stomach hurts. I feel terrible when my child coughs all night long. Ayden has put things in perspective for me. My children are both healthy kids and I’m SO thankful for that. I pray daily for Ayden to get better and I pray for his family to keep their strength through this whole battle. I’m hugging my kids extra tight and hoping tomorrow, and every day after, good health remains.

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
Thank you for your patience, those who regularly follow this blog, with my absence the last few weeks. I am so happy to be back sharing my recent journey with you, because it means the terrible experience that kept me away is finally over.

Hudson developed a cold on Christmas. We didn’t think much of it, but by the next day, it was bad. Since we were visiting with the grandparents, we took him to the pediatrician we used to go to when we lived there. She told us to go right to the hospital– that he had bronchiolitis, which causes inflammation in the airways and difficulty breathing–and that it was a very dangerous condition for a three month old with little lungs.

From Friday Mom – Erin:
Our first week at home with baby Charlotte has been an eventful one.  So far this week, Rory’s daycare has had two weather-related two-hour delayed openings, meaning that I’ve had to take him in because his dad was already at work.  I have been to the pediatrician once with each child, and Rory has stayed home twice from school with a mild fever and strong cough.  Rory’s daddy has been sleeping on the couch most nights to avoid waking the baby up with his piercing cough.  My mother, who has generously agreed to spend a few weeks with us to help out with the new baby, has been helping disinfect and run interference for germs.

We’ve been dividing and conquering to keep the kids as separate as possible in hopes of keeping Charlotte away from whatever delightful virus has stricken Rory and his father.  So far, Rory has been reasonably cooperative in staying away from his little sister.  We’ve had to tell him a little white lie– rather than explain that he is sick and can’t be close to her, we’ve told him that she is sick and that we don’t want him to catch her germs.

Having two kids born in January comes with a certain number of perils– namely: cold weather and lots of germs.  When Rory was born, it was pretty easy to keep him from most infection vectors.  We didn’t really allow anyone who wasn’t perfectly healthy into the house to visit, and we barely left the house for those first few months. Now that Rory is in daycare (and remaining there during the duration of my maternity leave), it is substantially harder to keep the germs from entering the house.  Plus, with an antsy toddler, it is a virtual certainty that we’ll be heading out into public far more often with Charlotte than we did with her brother.

All of this begs the question– is it truly possible to protect our young daughter from her brother’s germs?  Probably not.  Instead, we’ll work on doing the best we can and hope that we can at least defer her first cold for a few more weeks.  Fingers crossed.  Tightly.