Thanksgiving Week 2010

Ok, well from where I left off: Tuesday was an ok day. Aly had most of her sippy cup with Shannon (from the syringe but hey it was fluids). I picked her up and she had just woke up so she was pretty out of it. She was really lethargic the whole way home. When we got home she pretty much cried for about an hour straight. I laid her down at 6:30pm and she went to sleep till 7:15pm then fell asleep on JV until 8:00pm. At 8:00pm I put her to bed and she slept off and on till 6:40am when I woke her up. I was pretty worried because the lethargic attitude is a sign of dehydration. I took her to meet John on Wednesday morning and I had decided that if she wasn’t better by 10:00am I was going to call the hospital to take her have some fluids. By 9:00am I talked to Alice and she wasn’t much better, so I called the Pediatrician first to see what they said. They wanted to see her before we took her to hospital so we headed that way.

They said she didn’t look dehydrated and the sores were getting better so we were making progress. That was great news for me. I just didn’t feel like she was showing any signs of feeling better and going into the holiday I wanted to make sure she was ok. She went back to John and Alice’s and had an ok day. I was hoping and praying that we would have a miracle over night and she would be all better for Thanksgiving but that didn’t come completely true.

We went to Dad’s house about 12:00pm for lunch and she was ok. She had some good moments and some bad. Then we went to Melissa’s to have dessert with the Manderscheid’s and she was not happy. We put her down for a short nap and then headed home. It seems like a light switch went off on the way home because after about 15 mins in the car she was fine. All the sudden she was happy. She played that night for a bit before bed and had a little to drink. Friday morning she drank a little milk from her sippy cup (which was the first time since the Friday before) so we were ecstatic. We made a run to Sam’s club and while we were in the store she drank almost a whole cup of juice and water by her self ( JV and I high fived in the store we were so excited) I can’t eve begin to tell you what a weight lifted off our shoulders when she picked up that cup by her self. She had a great day on Friday. She slept most of the night in her bed but then I brought her in the bed with us about 6:00am because I was not ready to get up and she slept till about 8:30am.

Saturday was another good day and I could really see a difference in her attitude and appetite. Saturday night JV went to watch the GA game with some friends so it was just me and Aly. She went down about 8:00pm and about 11:30 she was up. I wasn’t in the mood to fight it so I put her in the bed with me. JV was pretty shocked when he came home but we made it work and the whole family got some much needed sleep.

We then decided that Sunday night we would start the sleep training again with her in her own bed. She didn’t wake up till 3:00am and then it took till 4:30am but we won!!!! Aly 0 mommy and daddy 1!!!!

I have to admit this was the hardest week that we have being parents. Even through the ear infections, colds and teething I have not been as worried as I was this week. And the feeling of helplessness was just overwhelming. I knew she was in so much pain and there was nothing I could do. I actually just sat there and cried with her one night because I didn’t know what else to do. But the good news is we made it through and are on the up hill.

JV took Aly this morning to the ENT to have her tubes checked and they both look good. I’m taking her in the morning to have her 2^nd round of the flu shot, so that won’t be fun but at least it will be over with.

We want to thank all of you for your support, thoughts and prayers this past week. All the calls and messages to check on her were very appreciated. We are all so lucky to have you all in our lives!!!

Our ER visit on Friday the 19th!

So Shannon texted me on Friday afternoon and told me Aly had fallen and got a scrape/rug burn on her chin, she just wanted to let me know since JV was picking her up that day. Well when I got home I realized that her lips were really swollen and she had a scrape on her tongue. I figured her tooth scraped her tongue when she fell and she had been sucking on her Passy a lot so I figured that was the cause of the swollen lips. Aly isn’t a big passy kid, only usually in the car and for sleeping so to have in in for several hours I thought maybe her mouth just wasn’t use to it. We gave her some Tylenol and Benadryl and put her to bed around 8:00pm. Well at 8:34 she woke up and crying and her lips were huge. JV and I decided we needed to take her to the ER because we were afraid of it being an allergic reaction. I put her in the car and noticed that she wasn’t breathing well and was being lethargic so we decided to go to the fire station first because it was a lot closer.

So we ran into the fire station (me with no shoes on and looking a mess) and they checked her over and said her tongue and lips were swollen and they figured it was an allergic reaction but because her lungs were clear and she was getting good oxygen they were going to let us take her to the ER, so we did. Well on the way the lady from the Egelston call center called me back (I had left a message about 20 mins before) and I told her what the firemen had said and she said to me “how close are you to the hospital?” I told her about 5 or 6 mins. “I think you should pull over and call 911!” Well as you can imagine that scared me pretty good. I felt that we could get there quicker then an ambulance could get to us and back to the hospital so I told JV to drive faster.

I was able to get Aly to give me high fives so she was responding pretty good and after running through 2 parking ticket booths and yelling at 1 attendant that didn’t understand “open the gate now, where is the ER?” we made it.

They took her back immediately and gave her an eppy pin shot and started looking at things. It was organized ciaos for a few mins with two different nurses, one doctor and us. After about 10 mins they put us in a room just to observe her for a bit. They gave her some pain medication and another liquid steroid to help with the lip swelling. She was pretty calm surprisingly but she was really tired. I think it was about 12:00 when they gave us some Maalox and Benadryl to put on her mouth and some applesauce to have her eat (we got there a little after 9:00pm). When she did eat they felt comfortable letting us go home but they still didn’t really know what was wrong at that point. They didn’t think it was an allergic reaction because the only symptom was the swollen lips. They decided that it was a trama from the fall earlier. They gave us a few prescriptions and sent us on our way. Being that we were at Gwinnett Medical they did all for her there that they could and if things got worse then we would have to go to a children’s hospital.

When we got home Aly slept pretty well. We put the pack N Play in our bed room so I could watch her and she slept till about 8:00am after all the meds. Sat went pretty good she had a lot of good moments and a few rough ones but we thought we were doing ok. She wasn’t drinking much because of the scrape on her tongue but was eating ok. Then Saturday night she started not feeling good again so I decided I would take her to the doctor in the morning if we made it through the night with out having to go to the emergency room. I did get her to drink a small glass of Gatorade out of the syringe so I felt better about that.

I went to Snellville peds on Sunday morning and as soon as Mrs. Joiner looked in her mouth she saw a lot of sores which meant Hand foot mouth diseases. It’s a lot of ulcer like sores all around the inside of her mouth, so its pretty painful and she has thrush (a yeast infection in the mouth). I asked the ER doctor specifically if that’s what it was when we were there but she said no its not. So it seemed to be in the beginning stages on Friday and fully developed on Saturday. How she got these we have no idea but they are pretty common in young children. Its a viral disease so there isn't a cure, it just has to heal and we can try and treat the symptoms. Sunday she did ok but still didn’t drink much. Monday morning she did ok and I decided to take her to Shannon’s for a bit so I could go to work for a few hours. In all honesty I needed a break (it was funny b/c she didn't cry when I left, so I think she was tried of me too LOL). She did really well and Shannon got her to drink so fluids so that was GREAT news.

As of today, Tuesday, I’m still really concerned about her fluids and really really hoping she starts drinking soon so we don’t have to go back to the hospital for IV fluids. She doesn’t want anything to do with her milk in the morning and night which is weird for her, she just turns her head and says “no” at the sight of it. Shannon has her today and John and Alice are going to keep her tomorrow so hopefully she will start feeling better soon and get back to her happy self. Last night she woke up a lot between 8:30pm and 1:00am so I brought her back into our room a little after 1:00am and she slept till 5:00, then from about 5:30 till 6:40am so that was good. Some much needed sleep for mommy and daddy too. I think she just doesn’t like being alone when she is sick, she feels better knowing we are right there.

So all in all we were lucky that it wasn’t an allergic reaction and wasn’t more serious then it was. It was so scary. I’m glad to know what it is so we can treat it and make it go away. And even more thankful that it was this weekend and not when we were in Las Vegas!!! Please keep us in your prayers and we hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

We love you!

Las Vegas

Aly with Austin and Maddy eating Rita's

Tempted with MiMi's Pumpkin

She looks so mad!

Outside at the Mandalay Bay beach

At Caesar's Palace

Inside the Bellaigo Hotel

Outside the Luxor Hotel (our Hotel)

JV and I returned last night from our trip to Vegas! Man what a city! It was pretty overwhelming. We Flew in Wednesday night (after a hard goodbye with Aly. We have never been away from her that long). I wasn't feeling well at all on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning and wasn't sure if I was going to make it but I did. It was a long flight but we finally made it to Vegas about 11:00pm local time (2:00am our time). We were so tired so we just went to bed and planned on getting an early start on Thursday morning. We stayed at the Luxor Hotel (the Pyramid shaped one). Our friends were staying at Mandalay bay which was connected to our hotel.

We hit the casino after breakfast on Thursday about 8:00am and played some slots and roulette while we were waiting for everyone else to get there. They arrived a little after 3:00pm and we had already learned by that time that slots were a waste of money!!! We all went to eat and watched the Falcon's game then gambled some more. I actually won $100.00! Whoo hoo! Friday was a full day of walking. We went to the Bellagio for lunch then walked through Caesar's palace. They were so incredible. We stopped in a casino called O'shea's and gambled for a little bit then we headed back to the hotel to get ready for date night.

JV and I ate at Mesa Grill at Caesar's palace. This is Bobby Flays restaurant and it did not disapoint. It was one of the best meals I have ever had!!! After dinner, JV and I walked down to the Venetian Hotel and did the indoor gondola ride. It was pretty cool. Then we went and saw the fountain show at the Bellagio Hotel. That was awsome. Saturday we watched the GA game and just walked around our hotels a little more then we went to Fremont street that evening. We walked through and gambled in the Golden Nugget and ate fried oreo's!

Then JV and I were up at 4:30am to catch our flight home! There were a few things on our list of things to do that we didn't. We didn't get to see the stratosphere hotel or New York New York but we will just have to save that for next time!!!

It was a short trip but long enough. We both missed Aly a lot but knew she was in great hands! We are so so grateful to have all the help with her! We meet John and Alice outside with her on Sunday and she was so happy to see us, thats such a great feeling. I felt bad leaving her this morning again but looking forward to playing tonight!

Oct/Nov. update! Lots of pictures!

Aly's Favorite thing to do, Slide!!!

On a mission coming through the corn maze!

She loved the goats!

This cracks me up, they are walking the exact same!

At Corndogs, Oct. 23rd

All the kido's

Aly and Daddy on the giant slide

Halloween 2010

Aly and Grammy

Aly Found My Glasses

Aly and Grandpa

Swinging at Grandpa's house

This is Me, not Aly! I know right!!! I'm guessing i'm a little over a year here!

This is my favorite family picture

Look at that face, too cute!

At the Dr. for her 15 month check up!

OHHH she was so mad!

Peek a boo!!!

Aly turned 16 months yesterday. I can't believe how big she is getting. Well in the past month things haven't changed much with Aly. She now has 5 teeth, she got another one on the top about 2 weeks ago, thats all for now. I'm certain she will pop a few more in the next few weeks. But she is still talking up a storm. We have changed Alice's name to MiMi because Aly won't say Grammy for some reason, it always comes out "Noooooo" but she says MiMi on cue every time.

Aly is obsessed with shoes. Any shoes that she finds around the house she puts on (well she tries, she gets really frustrated when she can't get it on by her self). She is learning to feed her self with a spoon. She still is eating pretty much the same things because of the lack of teeth I'm still limited on what she can eat. She is getting better with fruits and veggies and I think I might be done buying baby food now, Whooo Hoooo!!! Other then that there isn't much else going on. We do go back to the ENT on the 23rd of November to get her ears checked again from the tube surgery, so i'm curious to see what they tell me about that.

We went to a pumpkin patch called Corn Dogs on the 23rd of October for Paige's birthday, They had so much to do. We had lunch at our house then took the kids out there with Aunt Cheryl and Dad. With no naps for the little ones we were only there for about an hour and a half but that was enough, they were all exhausted. I think Aly would just run all day if you would let her, she loves, loves being outside.

In the middle of those pictures is one of me when I think I was a little over a year old. I didn't realize how much Aly looks like me until I saw this. I think if you put my hair on top of my head you would struggle to tell us apart!

Aly had a good Halloween. She did go trick or treating with us and the Davis and Munhall kids. She loved running around the street with no one telling her No. I think that was her favorite part. She did get really scared when one guy answered the door in a mask but other then that she did great! Mommy and Daddy are enjoying her candy!!! probably a little to much!

On another note, JV and I are going to Las Vegas next week. We are leaving on Wednesday night and coming home on Sunday. Its going to be so hard to be away for that long and be so far away but she will be in good hands. We are so grateful to all the help we will be getting from the family so we can go. This will probably be the last vacation JV and I get without kido's for a while. We are thinking about trying to have another baby next year so we wanted one last trip together. We are going with 3 other couples and we are so excited. Its something that we have both really wanted to do.

Well I think thats about all for now. Just lots of pictures to share!!! We hope you guys are all doing well and we Love you!!!

JV, Amy and Aly