End Of The Year.

Well, I guess I completely missed the month of April. Between TCAP tests, school, stress and other things, I chose not to blog. But today, well I decided that I was ready and I had time and all of that stuff. I was home today because Tripp has the flu. Yes, you read me right. He has the Type A Flu. In May. Who gets the flu in May? Lots of people apparently. We are several months behind on the outbreak. Now it will spread through my house. We only have eight days of school left. We are all trying to finish grades, reports, files... there are so many things that a teacher does to close out the year. People, appreciate the teachers. I had no idea. Prom is this weekend. Eli picked up his tux today and I got a preview. He sure is handsome. I can't wait to see him and his "friend" dressed up. She is a pretty girl and they are a pretty couple. I can't believe my baby is old enough to go to the prom. It makes me sick. Eli brought home his schedule for next year. Along with college classes, he is taking Honors Chemistry II, Calculus, Honors English 11, and Anatomy and Physiology. And playing football and soccer. How is that for a full load? I am hoping to get back in the swing of this blogging thing. I know I am going to be sad when I look back and have no stories to help my old brain remember. :)

Update.

It sure has been hot! School started last week. We all survived. But it has been so hot, that the moment you walk outside, it takes your breath away and you automatically start sweating. I think that this summer has matched last winter. While we had tons of snow for the last winter season, we seem to have had extra heat for this summer.

I looked at some football game pictures awhile ago - I could almost feel the crisp air, smell the scent of chimney smoke and taste the hot chocolate that we get at the games. While it has been nice to be warm, I am ready for some coolness. Not cold, but cooler.

We have had a lazy weekend. By Saturday at noon, we were all so hot and sweaty that we went to the pool. That only lasted a couple of hours. Then, we came home, and each child tried their best to find someone to take them for the evening. Aunt Jamie took one kid, one went with friends from church and the oldest went with friends to the fair. That only left me and Dave with the two little ones. It was a nice break - but it was so quiet.

Sunday was lazy too. After morning church, we rented movies... and I took a big nap. When I woke up, Tripp didn't look so healthy. In fact, he had a fever and was not feeling good at all. Then he started vomiting. And cat napping. And vomiting. This lasted until now. There has been no vomit for a few hours, but there was a 9 a.m. doctors visit that says he has Strep.

We have had one child with tonsillitis/possible strep last week. She is still on antibiotics. So I guess that possible strep was reality. Now we are on Kid #2. Who is next? Strep loves Eli. And Emma. I have never caught it. But I am starting to become paranoid.

With five kids, I am always in awe of how things can turn around in the drop of a hat.

Bad Mother of The Year!

Lemme share this with you- I am running on little sleep. I need some outside opinions and reassurances, so here goes.



Yesterday, Dave and I went to a funeral. The kids were at home playing. Everyone was jolly.



When I came home, Dave went to work, the kids were still playing, so I thought, "Well, this would be a great time to get a few things done. I have about 1 1/2 hours." So I went.



No biggie.



Nothing unusual.



When I come home, it is 5:15, no one has napped.



No biggie.



They have been taking no naps, or 30 min - 6 p.m. naps.



Following?



Ok, so Tripper was laying in the floor, by the heater, under his blanket.

I figure, he is just sleepy, this is not an unusual occurance.



I get him up, get him dressed for 6 p.m. church, and he tells me, "My eyebrows hurt. I am walking in circles. I can't see good."



Since he watches ICarley, HM, and all those dramatic shows, and he has been playing on the computer, and singing with Rock Band, I did not really think that he may be sick.



Just sleepy.



So we go to church. When I get him outta the van, he is still groggy. I think, "Hmmm, he will sleep through church. I will get to listen."



So we go in.



And he says the same thing about his dizziness, his eyes, his eyebrows.



I show Dave, we put him down, make him walk, Dave holds up fingers. He knows how to do all the stuff. So we go in, set down, and do church services.



About 10 minutes in, he is asleep. About 20 minutes in, I notice he is hot. Really Hot. HOT.



Dave agrees with my conclusion. We only have about a 50 minute service. So we wait. He wakes up about 10 minutes before it is over. He just lays still.



He is really sick. He never gets down to run. or play. and then he throws up.

I did something that I usually do not do. I ask if we can go to the ER.

We went. He was negative for H1N1 and Strep. He was diagnosed as a "virus."

That is OK. We spent the entire night listening to him vomit, talk to Emma about green balls (Emma was at Grandma's) and talk about opening Christmas gifts.

I think that I was so busy that I just did not pay attention to the "signs" - I rationalized that he could not be sick because we had not been around anyone; he likes to lay under his blanket and pretend to be a rock; it is not unusual for him to nap at 6 p.m. for about 30 minutes.

Anyways, my point being is that I got a couple of comments from someone and one look - "how could you NOT KNOW he was sick?

Anyone else ever miss "it"? Not catch that a kid is sick? My mother guilt is eating me alive. And I have a strong dislike for judgemental mommies. Especially one with only one kid :)

Sickness.

My little Tripp has the flu.

Just this Wednesday night, he got up and he was crying - It was somewhere around 1 a.m. I was tired and I vaguely remember. I let Dave "handle it." So, I was dozing, Tripp was crying, Dave was talking him down and the next thing I knew was there was a hot little body in between us. And Dave says, "Hey Mel. He just threw up. What can I give him? Pepto?"

No, silly goose. No Pepto for small children. It has aspirin-like stuff in it and that causes other diseases. No aspirin for kids.

So, to save Tripp from other diseases, I got up.

Crying, crying, crying. It was pitiful. When I asked him questions, he replied with "yes, please" and "no, thank you" and "yes, m'am."

I knew right then we had to get him to the doctor. Because if Tripp is using manners, there is something terribly wrong.

We finally got him calmed down. His temp was about 102. When the sun came up, and it was time to start our real day, he was still hot - following doses of Motrin and Tylenol. I made the decision not to send him to school. :) It was time to see Dr. Mark. So, we got ready.

Tripp told me he didn't feel like walking, putting clothes on, or buckling his car seat.

After an hour-long wait at the doctors office (which he slept through) we got in a room. They took his tempature and it was 104.5. Now, I will tell you, I am not panicked at this. I reserve my angst for temperatures over 105. For some reason, both Emma and Tripp run fevers that are high for simple things like ear infections.

They swabbed him for the flu and it came back positive.

Needless to say, it was a stressful day. He has slept on and off. We have started Tamiflu, and it is washed down with Motrin. All the other kids are on flu medicine also.

He slept with us last night. He is so sweet when he is sick. And although I love the fact that he cuddles me, holds my hand to his little chest, and uses such politeness....I want my mean boy back.

Two for One!

I'm BBAAAACCCKKK!

Twice in one day.. can you believe it?

Tripp's hiney problem started minimally last night... but came back this morning. So, off to the doctor's office we went. My poor boy. Now, we are scheduled to go back to Vanderbilt to a specialist - the super special regular doctor that we have is saying colonoscopy. UGH. Not, not, happy.

Kids are sleeping now. It is a late nap as they have been at Grandma's playing, and there is more important things to do than nap at Grandma's. Like playing in the rain. And playing with Mallie. And riding bikes.

Emma has a ball game tonight.

Here are some sayings of the week... some make me happy. One makes me terribly, horribly sad.

Saying #1
Scene: Tripp and Emma are fighting this morning. He is mimicking her.

Emma: "Tripp, stop copying me!"
Tripp: "Emma, that is what little brothers do!"

Saying #2
Scene: Tripp is a pervert at three.
There is a boy at VBS. His name is Brock.

Tripp: "Mom, his name is BRA-CK... see, Bra-ck! huh, huh, huh!!!"

Saying #3
Scene: Tripp is a pervert at three.
I am bending over in front of him, tying his shoe.

Tripp: "Mom, I s-eeee your braa!!!"

Saying #4
My sister came over on Monday. She and Emma played Barbies. Emma has a ton of Barbies cause I was a mother to an only boy for 7 1/2 years. She has never shown any interest in the dolls. They are really for me.

Emma: "Mom, can we play Barbies sometime?"
Me: "Sure, Emma, anytime. Why haven't you ever asked me before?"
Emma: "Cause you are always so busy."

Me: *thinking* I would like to throw up - RIGHT NOW.
Me: *actually saying* "I am never too busy for you. We will play whenever you want."

late at night. I can't sleep. again.

I love this picture too. March 2006.

Everyone in the house is sleeping.. yet, here I am, wide awake, with thoughts running away.

I had a busy day today.. but it was busy in a way where nothing seemed to get done. I went to work at the same time, yet I did not get alot accomplished. I left for a short time here and there (to visit Emma's track and field day and then to grab some lunch) so I ended up working to 5:30 tonight.

Emma had a softball game tonight also. She is not a ball player. She had to pee FIVE times during the game. It is going to be a long season.

I still haven't heard results from the genetic testing place... First, the gastroenterologist that ordered the test cancelled Tripp's appointment for Friday. So that meant that I would not get the results anytime soon. So I called the genetic place to see if they would just give me a hint. I just need a hint or something to that will tell me that it is OK. But no, they rudely gave me nothing. And then, the lady told me we may have to bring him back for another stick. We might have to do another blood draw. All the way in Knoxville. To a place that won't give me information about my own child. A place that has left me hanging all weekend. Umm, how about a "hell, no?"

So I called our super regular doctor and we are going somewhere else as soon as possible.. we are going to a cystic fibrosis accredited childrens hospital to start these tests over. Somewhere that will understand that I need to know what is going on with my baby. I am in such limbo. I analyze him. I constantly watch him.. I look at him playing, talking and sleeping. I need to know if something is going on in that sweet little body that I have no control over. I wonder if he is really OK. Absolutely, I am going nuts. UGH.

My boys. Feb 2007. I like this picture alot.

I cracked.

I made it thru the Fellowship meal at church with all that family reunion food... the desserts were plentiful, yet I held back. "No sugar for me," I boasted all afternoon.

"I am so powerful in my way of eating" I thought to myself.


UNTIL -

We had to take Tripp to the ER after church. We came home, he went to potty and Dave was going to wipe him. He had a rectal prolapse. Google it if you dare.

What 3 year old has this? My son.
After about 1 1/2 hours, it went back in. We came home.

And I ate Key Lime Pie.

A Sick Baby

Look at this face.. how sweet. I love this little boy so much. His personality is so funny. Even when he was very little, he made me laugh. He is quite the cuddler. He always asks if he can hold me. He even comes up and says, " I need a hug." But, the little guy has been battling ear infections for some time now. I noticed that he was not acting right on Saturday. So, it was no suprise on Saturday night that he didn't sleep well. He got up thru the night - several times. I asked him what was wrong. His reply - get this - was, "I want to take care of you."



He felt bad all day yesterday. Needed lots of extra hugs and kisses. Isn't it funny when they are sick you can see it in their eyes? Well, it was definantly there last night. He said his ears and his legs hurt. So, I tylenol/motrin-ed him. And, this morning, he is still sleeping in. No school today. We are probably off to the doctors again. More antibiotics. He just finished a round on Wednesday.

This is kind of a rambling post. Oh, well. My whole thought was - why is he still the baby? He will be FOUR in June. I can't believe my baby will be FOUR (!). I guess he will always be my baby.