Happy Easter!!!!

When I got home last night from work, Emery looked much better. Although not anywhere near being rash free. Her face looked much better. The right side was the worst. But the blotchy patches of rash moved to her cheeks and all else was clear. However the rash on the rest of her body looks worse (to me) and extended down to her feet. But I suspect that will begin to clear today. It came on head to toe and will go away head to toe (I'm guessing). But through all of this she seemed pretty unaffected. I think the Benadryl every 6 hours has helped and has also helped to dry her runny nose up as well. In fact, she slept ALL through the night last night, not waking up once, for the first time in a week!!!! This is one happy mommy!

We had a wonderful time with her uncle Brett and auntie Mattie and her cousins, Owen and McKenna saturday night. Despite looking really bad and having a constant cough (to the point of gagging), she played hard with her cousins. She even pushed 3 year old McKenna around the room on her pirate ship car!!! It was hilarious! None of us could believe she could push her all by herself. lol She was putting her whole body into it! (I'll try to upload the video) We had a good time celebrating her uncle's birthday. I've missed these times of hanging out with them. Mattie texted me with the same sentiment after we left. Been having some great times with them lately. These are long overdue. :)

I have to admit, the rash threw me for a loop. I don't know rashes and they make me nervous (even at work). But it is Sean that I worried about as we went into his 2 day run taking care of her all alone. But I think these times make us stronger and better parents.... not afraid of anything. Sean is an amazing daddy. We have our complaints of each other's differences in parenting, but at the end of the day, I think we balance each other beautifully and are a great team! (I love you babe!!! You're awesome!!)

I had to work Easter this year. So Sean took Emery to his brother's again for breakfast. Unfortunately the kids naps were opposite each other, so they didn't get to hunt Easter eggs together. But Sean gave Emery an egg hunt when they got home. He said she "Rocked it!". I thought she wouldn't really get it this year, so I was kind of sad that I missed it. But I know its part of my job that I will miss holidays and these moments. Its okay. He told me I should do it with her tomorrow. I will!!! :)

Sean's Easter Egg Hunt!!

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter! Although I missed church, I did walk the Way of the Cross at church on Friday. I will have to blog about that next, because it really was awesome! Had a good hour and a half with my Lord Jesus. I believe there was a work and healing done in me. Thank you Lord for always being faithful and near to us. I am so grateful for your work on the Cross for little ol' me! There IS power in the Cross and in your blood that was spilled out for me!!! Hallelujah!

Rash?? eek!

Emery woke up this morning with a huge rash on her face, neck and chest.  EEK!!!  Her first official rash.  :(  I immediately called a doctor friend of mine and gave him the run down.  Here's the course of events over the past 6 weeks.

Week 1 - Really bad cold with horrible wet, productive cough

Week 2-4 - better but cough turned dry and consistent, clear runny nose

Week 5 - mild cold again! cough still dry... finally took her to doctor who found the start of a mild ear infection in the left ear.  Started Amoxicillin. Bought a hepa air filter and cough finally stopped!!  yippee!!  still runny nose

Week 6 - still constant runny nose.  In the middle of the week, she had a fever of 100.8 ax but was cutting a tooth.  Tylenol and it was better the next day.  After the air filter, she finally slept through the night for 4 nights, but has been up every night, multiple times the last 3 nights.  Been giving teething tablets, Tylenol, honey elixir and finally Benadryl, along with cold mist humidifier and now hepa filter.

Today (end of week 6) - She wakes up with a rash :(

So after I talked with my friend, I gave her benadryl and she went down for a nap.  When she woke up 3 hours later, the rash was worse!  Its slowly working its way down her back, abdomen, arms and hands.  I finally decided to take her to urgent care and have someone look at her... her ears, throat, lymph nodes....  Luckily we got right in and the NP confirmed everything my friend told me.  There are two possibilities... 1) she is having an allergic reaction to the Amoxicillin.  Apparently, an anaphylactic rxn would happen within hours.  But a mild rxn, such as a rash, occurs 6-10 days after start of med.  Well its day 7!  However, itchiness is a sign of allergic rxn which I haven't noticed her scratching more than usual with the mild excema.  So... 2) its a viral rxn to the cold.  Basically he said the rash is the by-product of the virus and the body colliding.  So, we treat the symptoms.  Benadryl around the clock until it clears up.  And for the first time, this NP said she has allergies.  Every other doctor tells you children this age don't get allergies.  Yah right!  Not in this central valley!  So after the benadryl is done, I can use Zyrtec or Claritan for the allergies.  After 6 days of finally no cough, she started coughing again yesterday.  She coughs herself into gagging!  I slept on the floor of her room last night simply because it was easier than getting all comfy in bed only to have to get up again.  She was coughing and then gagging half the night!  Poor baby. :(   But all in all, doctor said its not contagious.  Not any more than a typical cold already is.  (so for all my playdate girls yesterday.... no worries :)

 This was first thing this morning.

 This was after her nap :(

Well she is back to nap again after another dose of benadryl.  Although this freaked me out a little, I learned a lot.  And I feel fine now.  I just feel for her.  She looks so much worse than she really is.  She was smiling real big at a woman in the urgent care... right through that face of horrible rash! lol   This is why I love being a pediatric nurse.  They are super duper little troopers!!!!

A relaxing Sunday with Emery....

Emery and I have had a great 3 days together.  From playdate on Friday to a doctor's appt (she has a mild left ear infection) to a baby shower on saturday with my OR friends to church, family and the park today!  We've been busy.  With all the busi-ness, I have to say that, thanks to our wonderful friend Heidi, Sean and I managed to get out a on real, live date saturday night!!!  Yep!  He took me to see The Hunger Games and then we went to Vino and Friends for food and drink.  We had a fabulous time!  You see, Sean long ago stopped going to "night" movies.  Not even for a date night.  The last movie he took me to was in the afternoon, matinee.  He hates spending the money.  I can't blame him.  But I am a hopeless romantic.  So when he said he was taking me out for dinner AND a movie!!  .... well, I could have cried.  :)  ... but I didn't.  I was overjoyed though!  We even had popcorn and soda!! lol  And of course, I snuck in licorice and junior mints (a movie must!!).

Well today, I have to give kudos to little Miss Emery!  Sundays are a bit of a challenge because at the time she would normally be going down for her morning nap, we are packing her up to go to church.  She is never sad about this once she is there and playing with her friends.  But after church, it is lunch and then immediately off to bed.  Except today, I needed to get her out of the house so Sean could run our open house.  So we had lunch then I packed her back up and headed for my brother's house.  She was out the minute the car started rolling.  But did she sleep once I got her into her pack-n-play?  Nooooo.....  So I finally got her up and let her play awhile.  Then I put her back down about an hour and a half later.  But did she sleep then?  Noooooooo.......  Did she sleep after an hour of trying to get her to sleep?  NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!  So finally I got her up and let her play more.  It was hopeless at this point.  My niece Jenna finally suggested going to the park.  So the three of us headed off on foot (well, Emery in the stroller) to the park.  It was a beautiful day although VERY windy which made it a bit chilly.  My sister-in-law met us there.  We had a fun time.  The girls swung in the swings (ok... I just said schwung in the schwings as I typed that... lol... silly side note).  I took Emery down the slide for the first time and walked her across the hanging bridge.  We finally headed home around 4:30.  I fed her at 5, bath at 6, bottle at 6:30 and to bed at 7!  I'm just praying she's not too exhausted that she can't sleep tonight. I mean, logic would say she'll sleep like a log, right?  Well....

We'll see.

All in all, she was awesome despite the fact that she literally slept about 25 min for the entire day!  She IS a super trooper!  Never fussed.  She was just too excited to be at her Uncle T and Auntie Nae Nae's and with her cousins!  I'm always sad after a few days with her, to have to go to work tomorrow.  But it is only one day.  I'm so grateful for each and every day! :)

The outfit she is wearing below is from my cousin Lisa.  I have been anxiously waiting for her to fit into it.  I keep taking it out thinking it is still too big.  Today I finally got to have her wear it!  And it was a perfect day for it.  The top and pants are thin cotton, but the vest is very warm (and furry, as you can see).  So a cool spring day was the perfect day!  She was the fashionista of the day!!!  She turned everyone's head at church today.  hehe

 struttin' my stuff!

 I LOVE to walk!!!  Cousin Jenna says I'm walking the runway!

 Look how confident she looks walking!  I'm so proud!

 Spring chick!

 Hangin' with Auntie Nae nae and stealing her hat

 We made it across the hanging bridge... laughing all the way!

 She loved her cousin Jenna swinging her!

 Happy girl!!

 Jenna got in the other baby swing... lol

*These are from the other day.  I just had to share them too!*

 Check out my 60's doo!

Emery taking part in Maddie's lunch!

Wedding day... gettin all dressed up!

So, yes, I'm catching up on all my blog posts from the weekend. lol  (3 in one day!)  So, on Saturday, we went to a family wedding.  My step-dad's wife's son got married!  So to put it simply, my step-brother.  I met Milena on the day of Emery's dedication as she came with Sherril to church.  I instantly liked her!  She is great!  Outgoing, fun, talkative and so sweet. So this past weekend we had the honor of attending their wedding.  It was waaaaaaay out in the country off of 180 and Dickenson at a private home!  It was beautiful!  And despite the wind, it was a beautiful day!  However, the wind made it very cold especially once the sun starting going down.  But Emery was a trooper!  The service was a bit long, but Emery stayed quietly on my lap the entire time.  I had my brother on one side of me and my nephews on the other, both keeping her occupied!  She was awesome!  

The reception, on the other hand, was a different story.  lol  She would NOT stay on my lap for anything!  That little girl wanted to walk walk walk!!!  So she would hang out on the grass between me and my sister-in-law, or on the other side between me and my brother.  I would take her out of the tent occasionally and let her walk on the open grass.  But she was having so much fun.  However, mommy, was getting worn out. :)  Sherril would take her for awhile, then Auntie Nae Nae.  Papa even played with her for awhile (they had a little game going on where he would drop this large piece of confetti and she would pick it up and hand it back to him.  No matter where he dropped it, she would walk over, pick it up, walk back and hand it over!)  By the end of the night (3 1/2 hours later)

 mommy was exhausted!  

On the style side of things.... Emery got to wear her beautiful little dress again!  I bought this for her last summer for a wedding in August at the coast.  I suppose it was a little big on her then, but it still fits!!!!.... 7 months later!  I guess there are definite benefits for a slowing growing, petite little girl.  It was awesome seeing her walking around in that little dress and her new shoes (she DID grow out of the old shoes!)  We had a wonderful time with my whole (well, local) family!  

 hanging out between us at the table!

By the time the sun was on the horizon, it was getting colder.  Emery didn't seem to mind, but I decided to change her into her pajamas anyway.  This only posed a new problem because I didn't want her crawling around on the grass in them.  I knew she would fall asleep on the way home, so the plan was to put her straight to bed.  We made it work! :)

 Already tipping the champagne glass!

Auntie Nae Nae giving her whaaaat????... ok so it's just sparkling cider :)

Happy Wedding Day Brandon and Milena!!!  

We are so happy for you!!!

Gettin' my project on!!! Canvas Wrap!

So I attempted to create a canvas wrap at home!  And I have to say I am pleased with the finished product.  There is definitely room for improvement, but I hope to get better at it!  So much fun!!  And so much cheaper! :)  This one is a 16 X 20.

Life size Emery, hanging beautifully on my staircase wall! 

Moments with mom....

I knew I should have written this on Friday when it was all still fresh in my mind.  I don't think I can do the day justice now.  But I will try any way (its now Sunday).  Emery and I had a great day on Friday.  She is so much fun right now (although difficult at times as well... and very tiring... hehe)  Now I don't remember all the details of that day.  But this one thing I do.... we drove over to my step-dad's house for a visit.  However when we got there, he didn't answer the door nor did he answer his phone.  I called his wife thinking he might be with her at her son's rehearsal dinner.  She called me back to tell me he would probably be home soon but was supposed to meet her shortly.  Well instead of leaving, I decided to stay awhile.  I had wanted to take Emery to the park, but after 3 errands, we were running out of time before she needed to nap.  So as I looked around the front yard of my childhood home, I thought how it felt like a park and felt so comfortable.  So I got Emery out of the car and we hung out on the grass for a little while.  With me laying on my tummy and her walking around me and giggling, we had a wonderful time.  I told her "this is where your mommy grew up.  That her grandma would hang out here all the time during the beautiful spring days.  "In fact, if she were here", I told her, "she would be sitting here with us, probably pulling weeds with her cats tip toeing around the yard with us.  And we would be drinking our lattes and mochas.  I don't believe in peoples spirits hanging around us.  So what I'm going to say is not that!  But I felt her.  Maybe watching us from heaven, I don't know.  But I felt so much peace and warmth there in my yard.  A peace that I have not felt in a long time.  I could have stayed there all day with Emery.  I could almost see my mom sitting in her lawn chair, with her legs crossed, drinking iced tea and chatting away about the latest book she read or lifetime movie she watched (in grave detail, I might add...lol).   It felt so good.  I am grateful for these moments.  That my mom can become so real to me again.  Its a horrible thought, but after 5 years, I don't remember a lot about her.  You know, the day to day stuff.  It feels like 50 years.  These are the details of her life that I don't remember as I go about my hay.  I know the Lord gives us these moments so that her memory stays alive for us and for our children who never had the privilege of knowing her.   And my step-dad did end up being home after all!  He was in the shower.  Thank you Lord for not allowing me to leave, but to bless me with that time I had, sitting in my front yard, with my daughter.

My childhood home... spent many hours out here with my mom!!!

      The tree I always climbed in growing up!!        mommy and daughter... sweet moments

new shoes on mommy's grass!

hmmmm... should I take the new car for a test drive???

Runny noses, long nights and anniversaries

Well.... Emery is sick again, or still.  It's been 4 weeks.  The first week was the worst with her having her first real yucky cough.  We would steam shower her 3x a day, give her honey elixir and honey/lemon water.  We got through it.  But then her cough turned to a dry one and lasted 2 weeks.  It seemed to be just getting better and then this weekend it was all back again.  ugh!  I've never experienced so much sick.  Sean and I get sick, maybe, once a year.  But it seems between Emery and all her friends, someone is always sick.  Someone is always having to miss our playdates due to little sickies.  :(  This weekend we were supposed to go to stay with some friends while the storm came and dumped 3 feet of snow.  Sean was nervous about taking her up there.  It was a good thing, because if she needed anything more than we could give her, we would have been stuck.  Our friends were still snowed in today, 2 days later, and couldn't get to school/work.  I guess this time, daddy knew best.  But I was so bummed.  This is the hardest part for me... giving up something for myself.  That sounds so selfish, and it is, but I'm just being honest.  After 38 years of, practically, doing what I want, the reality is its a hard adjustment.  A good one, yes, but hard.  I'm sure 'no one else' has ever felt that way before, right???  haha   But I still feel bad for seeming so selfish.  But I'm glad we didn't take her.  We will do it again, snow or not.  Last night was not so fun.  She was up 3 times with the third time mommy taking her to the steam shower.  I was a bit tired today.  Two lattes by lunch! (2nd one compliments of a friend, how could I resist?)  Today she threw up her lunch for daddy and then again tonight for me.  But I don't think its a stomach thing.  It seems she coughs and then gets all that phlegm in the back of her throat and then gags on it bringing everything back up.  And then, she doesn't want to eat.  So off to bed she went after a bottle of whole milk.  I just hope God holds her through nutritionally on these days.  Daddy was very tired when mommy got home.  And rightly so.
    Ok, I'm just rambling... venting really, about miss sickie pie.  But on a positive note...  she is walking walking walking!!!!  She loves to mimmick everything we do.  She knows her ears, her yes and no, and has starting telling us she's hungry through sign (points to her mouth) even without me prompting her.  She's been signing 'all done' for awhile, but has now signed 'more' a couple of times.  Still working on that one, along with 'thank you'. She laughs at everything and loves to run (or crawl, its faster) from us while she screams and laughs.  And she's gotten more cuddly.  Its awesome... our favorite part of the day!  Sean admitted to me it kills him every time. :)  Lately I've been playing the piano for her and when I get to the end of the song, she claps and smiles real big!  Oh how that melts my heart!  What an amazing little girl!
    And then..... there are her tantrums.... like when we don't let her do something or touch something.  Or when she can't open the cupboard (because we're unknowingly holding it shut) or when she pushes her train and it stops on a wall or other object and she can't get it to go again.  So we are in teaching and discipline mode.  And especially now that she's walking, she wants to walk all the time.  So I'm trying to be in teaching mode in public as well, getting her to sit on my lap until I say she can get down.  I want her to know that her whining will not get her anywhere.  I'm working on using more words to communicate to her vs just saying 'no' which I believe will encourage her to communicate with me back and will increase her vocabulary.  Or at least that what the experts say.  We're both learning, actually.  For the rest of my life, I'll be learning.  lol  But for now, she is sleeping beauty and mommy needs to soak in a bubble bath until daddy gets home.
...... oh yah, it's our 18th Anniversary.... daddy's working.... it's come and gone.... and so goes our life with a baby.  :)...................  and we're loving it!

Good night.

Walking for daddy!  (I love this one as she delights in herself!)

 Playdate with the boys... Evan was sleeping, so Ryan got some one-on-one 'cheeky' time!