a whole lotta sickness goin' on

let me fill you in what the last week has been like for my poor little charlotte...

it all started last wed night (11.25.09-night before thanksgiving)... charlotte felt warm to me before she went to bed, but I never took her temp, so who knows what it was then...Thanksgiving came and we had about 30 people here loving on charlotte because she was noticeably not herself. She had a fever in the morning of 102.something, but I gave her some motrin...no biggie...until later that night with her fever spiked to 104.3! i tried not to panic so i put her in a cool bath and hoped that would help and it did until maybe an hour later and it was right back up there. I called her Dr. and she said over the phone that is sounded like she came down with the flu (H1N1) and so she called in a prescription of Tamiflu.

Overnight, I stayed with her in her room and held her and by 4am she was having a very hard time breathing and her fever spiked to 104.7 (in her ear)!!! Needless to say, I panicked and took her into the ER immediately...3 hours and a chest x-ray later, the ER doc diagnosed her with the flu (H1N1) and Croup and because they were both viral - no antibiotics, just one dose of a steroid for her croup...

4 days later, no sign of cha cha getting better. she STILL had a fever over 103 and was just miserable...and I mean miserable - she wasn't eating, refusing to drink anything, not sleeping, crying if we put her down (even on the couch) so I took her in to see her Dr. and she ended up giving her an antibiotic in hopes she'd at least break her fever. If not, the Dr. wanted to see her again on Wed. By the next morning, she was doing a whole lot better. Finally, her fever broke and she was acting like her old self again...

BUT

Wed. came and I noticed something that appeared to be a bite on her outer thigh, but it was hard and warm to touch so...back to the Dr. office...the first thing I hear out of the doc's mouth was, "WOW...wow...wow." As a mom, that's the last thing you want to hear from a DR...anyway, diagnosis: Cellulitis (staph infection)...yeah...in other scarier terms...flesh eating bacteria... She was prescribed ANOTHER antibiotic, bacterial wash and a bacterial ointment...

Oh yeah, the Dr. also mentioned that she probably had bronchitis also since the antibiotics were treating her illness so well...great.

It's now been 8 days since she came down with all she had and I can happily say, she is doing much better - finally eating, sleeping through the night in her bed, no fever, and her cellulitis has shrunk, a little...so all-in-all, today has been a good day.

just a little recap of what my little char has dealt with in the last week:

flu

croup

bronchitis

cellulitis

this was thanksgiving morning...fever was the only symptom at this moment

this is the abscess at day 2.

I outlined the redness when I first noticed it so I would know for sure if it had spread. if you look closely, you can see it has shrunk a bit.

a perfect thanksgiving

We hosted Thanksgiving this year since we are more than likely moving next Summer and I'm happy to say it was a perfect day...the sun was shining and it was a perfect 80 degrees so we decided to eat outside. Out of all the holidays we've all spent together (my side and dave's side) we've never sat all together...but this year was different and we managed it and it worked out perfectly! I roasted a 20lb'er, which I have to gloat...I won...it was a-mazing...dave deep fried a turkey and my mom made a ham...we had a ton of amazing food, amazing company and wonderful memories....

lets catch up...

11.11.09 (Veterans Day)

NO TRAINING WHEELS!! wooHoo

we took the girls to the high school track and were determined to teach themhow to ride their bike without training wheels...we've wanted for so long to take family bikes rides and with the training wheels, it just didn't work out...

so with just a little help, they DID IT! We are so proud of you girls!

Alyssa getting ready to tear it up!

Hannah ready to burn out...

11.14.09

Knotts Berry Farm celebrated Veterans Day by honoring each Veteran with free and discounted admission. So we took advantage and gathered up our girls, Ava and Trey and spent the day together! the kiddos had a blast and by the end of the day were exhausted but not too exhausted to have a sleepover...

yup, I'm proud to say I had a total of 5 kids with me all day and didn't go bonkers!

this ride was hilarious because there were no motors on the cars. the kids had to pump a lever to make it move...char was in the front and I was pleasantly surprised she was able to do it. I thought the big kids were going to have to push the little ones along...

all of us were able to go on the log ride!

look at those faces...little trouble makers...

I'm 2!

On October 3rd, my baby turned 2!

it's still amazes me how fast children really grow up...In just 2 short years, charlotte has become such an admiring little person.

with such a strong and yet delicate personality, she brightens up my days...I'm so glad you chose me as your mama...you make me proud baby girl!

reading her baby a book

birthday girls...my aunt liz & cha cha

didn't even hesitate.

ohhh soo yummy...

nothing like a bouncy house to keep 'em busy

char and cousin dreya


These pictures were taken at Dave's unit's Change of Command Ceremony

I just had to post them to show off my handsome husband in his uniform...

nothing beats a man in uniform!

**kindergarten**

09.10.09

.they started school this morning.
.and they seemed so very small.
.as I walked there beside them.
.in the Kindergarten hall.

.and as they took their place beside.
.the others in the class.
.i realized how all too soon.
.those first few years can pass.

.remembering, I saw them as.
.they first learned how to walk.
.the words that we alone made out.
.when they began to talk.

.these little girls so much absorbed.
.in learning how to write.
.it seems as though they must have grown.
.to girlhood overnight.

.my eyes were blurred by hastily.
.i brushed the tears away.
.lest by some word or sign of mine.
.i mar their first big day.

.oh how I longed to stay with them.
.and keep them by the hand.

to lead them through the places.
.that they couldn't understand.

.and something closely kin to fear.
.was mingled with my pride.
.i knew they would no longer be.
.babies by my side.

.but they must have their chance to live.
.to work their problems out.
.the privilege to grow and learn.
.what life is all about

.and I must share my little girls.
.with friends and work and play.
.they're not babies anymore --
.they're in Kindergarten today.

...to oregon and back...

we finally got up enough courage to take a road trip...and not a wimpy one - a LONG road trip to Oregon...and back! It was basically a make it or break it kind of trip depending on how the girls did in the car...I'm happy to report that we will definitely take ANOTHER road trip because the girls did stupendous!!!! Hallelujah!

We left our house around 8:30pm - missed all the LA traffic and the girls (and dave) were out by 10:30...I had the car to myself and I drove....and drove...and drove...all the way to Weed, CA (5:30AM). We decided to stop in Weed just so we could say, "we stopped in Weed" haha. By the afternoon, we arrived at my grampa's house. His house always brings back such wonderful memories and I'm so glad the girls were able to experience some of the things I use to experience when I was their age. I hope they will remember the happy times a great grampa's too.

Some of the things we did on our trip:

• spent the day at a swimmin' hole
• rode grampa's ATV
• met up with some friends that I've know since birth
• visited my dad's grave
• bbq'd with family
• watched some softball (oregon style...hehe)
• sea lion caves
• whale watching
• beach play
• crescent city aquarium
• hiking in the redwoods
• drove on the Ave of Giants
• drove over the Golden Gate Bridge

...and so many more memories. here are our pictures of our adventures

summer lovin'

This Summer has been one of the most exciting and unforgettable summers EVER! Some of our favs were...beach club, concerts in the park, 4th of July, road trip, beach, florida...and so many more! Whether is was making smores in our front yard or taking a week long road trip to Orgeon, we did it as a family!! Now that they have started school, I just don't know what I'll do with myself! haha...I'm sure I'll find something to do... anyways, here are some pictures of our adventures!

front yard campfire with SMORES!!! mmmmm.

concerts in the park

daddy's 32nd birthday