Our new look

Over the Easter week-weekend, we had hardwood floors put in the front entry and family room.  It has made a HUGE difference.  I am so pleased with how they turned out.  The guys that did the installation were excellent.    If you are in the market, I would HIGHLY recommend this company.  

Take a look!

A new blog to Follow

I have had the pleasure of meeting some great people since moving to Dallas almost 9 years ago. (Can you believe it has been that long?) One of those great people is Jessica. She is actually one of my brother's friends but I am happy to say she is one of mine too. Layne actually married Ben and Jessica almost 2 years ago. I am getting side tracked.

Jessica does the PR for Children's Hospital in Dallas. She has started a great blog from the hospital with fun and informational stories. I know many of you are parents, I thought that you would enjoy reading the blog and all the greatness that comes along with stalking a new blog. And since I have been awful about updating, you can now read it instead of mine. The great thing about her blog is that you don't have to be in the Dallas area to get great information from it.

So without more babbling...

http://childrensmedicalcenter.blogspot.com/

I'm adding it. You can add it too.

We're home

Sorry for the delayed post. Addison came home yesterday afternoon. Played a little and then took a nap. I crashed about 7:30-8 so sorry for no post. She is much, much, better. Thanks for checking in on us. I will update more later this week.

Quick Family Update from a Guest Blogger

Hey everyone. It's Mitzi and Layne. Christine and Chad have asked us to hop onto their account real quick and let you know what is going on with the family.

Last night, Christine and Chad took Addison to the ER at Children's Hospital in Plano. Addie had severe diarrhea all day, and they were worried about dehydration and cramps. They admitted Addison to the hospital last night. She has a stomach virus, and essentially has no good bacteria in her tummy. The doctors are going to keep her at the hospital until she has a solid bowl movement, which could be a few days.

Mrs. Carmen was in town this weekend to help out, and Sabrina is off on Monday and Tuesday of this week. You can reach Christine and Chad on their mobile phones since they will be out of the house most of the week. If you're reading this, you're a friend of the family, and should feel free to call and check in.

Love, Mitzi and Layne

I'm loosing an eye! - Part 2

About 2 years ago, Reece woke up after a night of fire works for the 4th of July with her eye swollen shut.  We didn't know what happened.  We made a quick trip to urgent care (because you know we only get really sick on the weekends).    Learned that she had a misquote bite on her eye lid.   Nice, right?  The one place hat you can't put bug spray and Reece gets bitten there.  

Fast-forward to that evening.  Eye is still very swollen and we get in the bathroom to brush teeth for the night. She takes one look at herself, and looses it.  "I'M MISSING AN EYE!  I'M MISSING AN EYE!"  She finally calms down enough to look in the mirror as we raise her eye lid to show her that her eye is still there but it a little closed off at this time.  While I felt bad that she reacted that way, I still giggle a little about her comments. 

Why tell you this old story?  Because this weekend was part 2.  

Chad and Addison had run to the Minute Clinic on Sunday because Chad felt terrible and Addie was still running a little fever here and there and I wanted them to check her ears.  Reece and I stayed at the house and went outside to start pulling weeds in the front yard before we mowed.  Reece played for a while then wanted to help.  I wasn't going to turn down the help.  And she can keep a conversation going.

About 15 minutes into helping, Reece starts screaming.  Not the "Oh my - there is a dog over there" scream.   I am talking the one you have never heard before.  Not even the same scream as when she broke her elbow.  The kind where your heart stops.  I look over and her hands are covered in fire ants.  I beat them off.  Look closer at her and realize they are on her legs too.  Strip her naked in the drive way and run her to the tub.  We wash (drown) what ants are still on her.  She is still screaming.  I know that they hurt.  I just try to keep her calm.  She gets out about 5 minutes later and we get dressed in new clothes and dry hair.

As I am drying her hair, I notice that her eyes are starting to get puffy.  She has been a little puffy just with regular seasonal allergies but this is different.  Her face quickly starts to swell as well as her eyes.  I know that we are in trouble.  Have I mentioned that Reece has had a sever reaction to Benadryl in the past?  She just hallucinated for about 4 hours.  No big deal, right?  So there is nothing at the house that I feel comfortable giving her.  I try to call Chad.  No answer.  Call mom.  She says go.  Call Chad again.  No answer.  Reece and I jump in the car.  We start heading to Acute Kids.  I call Lori - ER or Acute Kids.  She's not home.  Dustin says ER.  

  Reece is starting to cough on the drive there.  Then she starts falling asleep on me.  I scream at her to wake up.  She does.  Finally get a hold of Chad.  They are on there way.  We get to Centennial. Not in record time. Preston Road sucks.  I over think everything.  We should have just gone to Children's.  I should have taken the Tollway.  But we are finally there.  

The triage nurse looks at her and takes us back. Reece's eyes are almost completely closed.  It has been about 45 minutes since she was bitten by the ants.  She does a little paperwork.  The doc comes in slower than I wanted but Reece's oxygen levels were good.  She gets a little steroid in her.  Throws up.  We are waiting for the next round and they bring in Benadryl.  They give her half the recommended dosage.  She does well with it and a new steroid and the nausea medicine just to make sure it all stays down.  

She improve quickly and I am thankful.  All in all, not a horrible trip but not one I don't want to make ever again.  Chad has treated the ants.  Reece's has played outside.  The world is right again.  We are making a phone call the the pedi about an epi pen.  Who knows how she will react again.  

***I know that I have be complaining a ton lately about how sick everyone has been.  It has just been our lives that last month and a half.  I think the girls at work think I suffer from Munchhausen by proxy syndrome.  I will try and make my next couple of post light hearted.  The kids are still funny.  I'll remember to tell you something good. 

I wonder

I wonder if any of the guys are feeling bad after building the play set this past weekend in 30 degree weather. 

I wonder if I can get my act together and cook an actual meal for dinner tomorrow night.  That would take planning tonight...so we will see. 

I wonder if Reece really wears her glasses at school every day.  Side note - email Mrs. G about this. 

I wonder how long the girls will continue to sleep in the same room.

I wonder why we thought we needed a bigger house when all four of us are using the same bathroom, the girls share a room, and sometimes sleep in our bed.  I guess the guest room should be called the master bedroom overflow room.

I wonder how cold soccer will be Saturday morning. 

I wonder if 8:30 is too early to go to bed.

"I wonder" if this will catch you up

A couple of friends have started "I wonder Wednesdays" on their blogs.  Since I have been slacking, I am thinking about starting "Wonder Wednesdays" as a way to catch everyone up on what has been going on.  All we can do is try, so here we go. 

I wonder if Addie is going to sleep tonight because she slept 6 hours during the day today. 

I wonder why she doesn't run fever when she is sick and has a major sinus infection that comes out as drippy eyes and nose. 

I wonder why my pedi wanted to wait so long before putting her on strong allergy meds.  Oh wait, I didn't see him yesterday.  I saw his partner. 

I wonder if Reece will make it in soccer.  She is not aggressive at all. 

I wonder if  I will gain weight because I don't get up from my desk all day.  I think this is more of a fact than a thought.

I wonder how Chad puts up with me at times.  I can be difficult at best.

I wonder when I will be able to have a massage and a facial.

I wonder how long Addie will cry while trying to go to sleep tonight. 

I wonder if there is any cheesecake left over.  I need to go check that out.