Happy Holidays...?

Well we started out the "holiday season" sick and we sure did finish with quite the flourish of snot and coughing.

On Thanksgiving Eve, my little family arrived at Grandpa and Nana's.  Mom and Marisa took Samee to a ball game, I took Ben to Wal-Mart with me, and the guys parked themselves in recliners.  All was good. Samee had a blast at the basketball game.  Nana and Marisa taught her to say "Go Blue!".  It was pretty cute. They didn't get home until 9 or so.  A short while later, Samee said her tummy hurt.  It took a few tries to understand her and then I got it loud and clear.  She must have been in awful pain b/c she would slap at her tummy and say that it hurt.  So I took her to bed and tried to get her to sleep with the thought that maybe if she fell asleep she would "sleep it off".  ha!  No sooner would she fall asleep she would wake up crying that her tummy hurt.  At about 11:30 her tummy could take it no more and someone pressed the evacuation button (that's an Osmosis Jones movie reference there).  While I was ecstatic that hardly any of it came up her nose (THANK YOU SPEECH THERAPY) there was not much else to be "ecstatic" about.  This was the first time that she had ever puked.  She was 2 years, 8 months, and about 10 days old.  I would say we were doing pretty good.  I yelled for help b/c we were in a puddle of it.  Moving with out some help with the blankets was out of the question.  After getting that all situated, I went back to bed with her and then I started.   I had to go to Mom and Dad's bathroom b/c JM was in our bathroom (he started too).  Mom came into the bathroom and goes "oh Maaaaallory". lol oh yea.  This is happening mom.  The day before you are having one of the first big events in the "new" house, 3 of us are puking our guts out.  It wasn't too long of a night, considering really.  Samee puked several more times and got really good at using the bucket.  I never puked again but had the worst migraine of my life, and JM, well, he was hurting.  Marisa came home late from Nick's and no sooner was she in the door did she have to kiss the porcelain throne too.  I think she was cussing us at one point.  A little back story.  Just mere days ago, we all sat next to Grandma Keach at church.  That next day she was at the HOSPITAL b/c she had the pukeyness.  Seems it was a 4 day incubation period.

Mom called my dad's sisters who had came down for Thanksgiving and discussed options.  Thanksgiving was cancelled.  We were eating turkey for days.  Mom, Dad, and Baby Ben enjoyed a small Thanksgiving dinner that evening. I joined them for a little bit and ate a bite or too.  Samee had finally started holding down everything starting at noon that day but was in no shape to be eating much.

4 days later Dad started the sickness.  Mom never got it....what a loser.


Fast Forward to Christmas season.

Starting the Wednesday before Christmas....

Samee had that weird glassy-eyed look and Ben's cheeks were red.  They both had temperatures of 101.  With a regimen of acetaminophen and ibuprofen, they temps stayed at 100.5.  I sent them to Joy's the next day (the benefit of having family watch your children).  They didn't really act sick at all.  I had the first day of Finals at school and needed to run off my copies that morning.  I stayed in contact with Joy throughout the day.  She kept giving them medicine b/c their temps kept climbing up if she didn't.  After school (we got out at 2) I made a quick run over to Charleston to get my oil changed and then up to Tuscola to pick up a few candied apples from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.  If you ever go through Tuscola, go to the mall and get one.  It will change your life.  Anyways.... the snow started on my way up.  I made it to Joy's by 4:30 and then took the kids home.  The last 5 miles were treacherous.  I could barely see the side of the road and the wind threatened to blow you off of the road.  We made it.  I went to bed fully thinking and WANTING to go to school.  I wanted to finish finals and get a few things done in my room.  Just as I was getting ready to leave Friday morning, I checked my phone.  I had an alert that Shelley (our school secretary) had posted something so I looked.  Good thing!  School was cancelled!  The automated alert system must not have worked or something (the report our principal ran said it left a message...yea right).  Unfortunately I already had Ben awake and there was no going back.  However, Samee got to sleep in.

Ben was cranky and still had a temp and Samee too for that matter. I called the doctor's office and they said bring him in right away.  They had an appointment in an hour.   That's pushing it for us.  Its a good 45 minute drive over.  No one was dressed but Baby Ben. I ended up being 7 minutes late.  On the way over, I talked with the speech department to try to get Samee in so I wouldn't have to make two trips.  Someone had cancelled so we were in luck!  Ben ended up having an upper respiratory infection but that was caused by either RSV or influenza.  The doctor ruled out influenza b/c they didn't have some of the other symptoms that go with it.  The poor boy was just dripping snot like a faucet drips water.  YUCK! Samee wasn't any better however, her ears weren't red.  The doc said I could have her run tests to confirm the RSV for Ben but it didn't change the treatment.  No thanks! I don't need to pay for something that has no influence on what we do.  She agreed with not testing too.

We went to my mom and dad's that weekend.  Samee's worst day was Sunday evening.  She had that barkey cough and she just DID NOT feel good.  Whimpering and I think sick of being sick.  We headed out of there in a rush b/c she just couldn't take not being home any longer.  I expected to take her to the doctor on Monday but she woke up much better.  They've been snotty all week but slowly getting better.  All the drainage is clear so no more infection. We aren't blowing/wiping noses hardly at all any more.  Samee gladly blows her nose.  Ben starts screaming when he sees a Kleenex.  Some family found these awesome things called Boogie Wipes.  AWWWEESOME! I recommend them for any snotty kid.

This Saturday we have our last Christmas.  However, Marisa, the kids, and I will be going on our own b/c our parents ditched us for Florida.  Snow birds......     hehehe just kidding!