Wow! What a week!

We have had quite a week, well even past few weeks.  We are hoping we are on the road to recovery and we can relax, have some fun, and SLEEP.

About a week ago I noticed Reese becoming congested.  I watched for a fever and took his temperature quite often, but he never got one.  I assumed, like his mommy, daddy, and big brother, that he might be battling with allergies.  I kept an eye on him.  He was eating a bit less.  He was still smiley and happy though.  I asked Tracey what she thought and told her I was worried about him.  He was still congested and had a little bit of a cough.  When I went to pick him up last Wednesday Tracey agreed that he just didn't seem like himself.  By dinner time Wednesday we had called and talked to the Dr.  They gave us some "emergency sypmtoms" to watch for over night and made us an appointment for first thing Thursday morning.

Thursday morning was nasty, rainy out.  Dave was off so he headed to Missouri Baptist Hospital with BOTH boys.  Thank goodness for Aunt Katie.  Katie met Dave at the hospital and took Dane with her to work for a bit so Dave could concentrate on Reese at the Dr.  VERY GOOD IDEA!  Once the Dr saw Reese she ordered an RSV test, which was not enjoyable for the little guy.  Dave said that resulted in about a 5 minute screaming episode.  The RSV test came back positive.  The Dr. then wanted to do a breathing treatment on Reese.  They got the machine set up for Dave and Dave had to hold the mask on Reese during the treatment.  Another thing that he said was not at all enjoyable.  The breathing treatment did not work at all for the little guy.  He was so sick.  Once again the Dr. gave us some emergency symptoms to watch for.  RSV is awful because while it is so, so bad there is no medicine, besides over the counter medicine to get rid of it.  The Dr. gave us a list of "comfort meds" to use.  Poor Reese!

Anyone that teaches 3rd grade and up knows that this is the worst time of the year at school.  This is MAP Test time.  A high stress, crazy time of year.  I was staying up to date with all the happenings at the Dr's office via text messages (when I got to school Thursday I told my principal that Reese was sick and I needed to keep my phone on).  When I got the text that the RSV test was positive I was stressed.  I was worried about Reese.  I was also worried about the fact that he had to be out of daycare for one week.

Well you gotta do what you gotta do.  I got lots and lots of MAP review material ready for my class.  I stayed home on Friday and Monday.  Dave stayed home today and is staying home tomorrow and Thursday.

This illness has brought Reese sleepless nights and no appetite.  Here are a few pics of our days together.  I didn't take any pictures Friday and Saturday because those were Reese's worst days.  He was so, so sick and I was so, so exhausted.  By Sunday he was smiling and feeling much better.

I let Dane stay home Friday and Monday.  We had PJ day.  I immediately asked about Dane when they told us Reese had RSV.  First they said knowing Dane's history, he is generally pretty healthy, so they expected him to be fine.  They also said Dane is getting to the age where if he did get sick from Reese it would probably just be a slight cold and no where near what Reese had.  That was great news, because let me tell you it is not an easy task keeping this boy away from his baby brother.  He just loves him!

Reese is practicing sitting up.  I usually put him in front of me while I sit down, but Dane wanted to hold him

Reese practicing his new skill while playing the piano.

Dane wanted to join in.

Reese looks so big in this picture!

Dane may not be the BIG brother for long.

Cute brothers!

Dane loves to use his tools to "fix" my house. 

He was yelling at me in this picture because "it not fix yet!"

He finally said ok to letting me take a picture of him working hard.

One way I definitely knew this boy was sick was his eating.  Usually he will eat 8 oz of formula every 4 hours.  He got to the point that he was barely eating 3 oz.  He eats solids 2x a day right now and that didn't really seem to change much.  The biggest problem with that was usually in the middle of the feeding he would start coughing so much he would spit food all over me!

We are a VERY routine household.  We eat, bathe, sleep at the same time every day.  Reese was totally off schedule when he was sick.  It reminded me why I need a routine.  It seemed that both boys wanted to do different things that both needed my undivided attention at the EXACT SAME TIME ALL WEEKEND LONG.    Add that to a mom that was up all night with one baby and about 7:30 a.m. when he was too tired to fight his illness anymore and decided to go to sleep the two year old decided to get up and it is a bad combination.  Man, I was tired, tired, tired!!

By Monday afternoon things were looking up and this little man was starting to perk up!

Thank goodness we are now getting back on schedule here with happy, healthy boys!

My Big Boy!

I really can't believe how big Dane is getting.  He has little conversations with me on the way to and from daycare in the mornings.  He can tell me all about his day.  He helps with many jobs around the house.  I get a little sad everytime I get on the blog and see the age counter.  Hard to believe I will be planning a third birthday party in just a few months!

He can be so, so sweet.  Tonight Dave is working until 11:00 p.m.  :(  I am feeling pretty sick.  After I put Reese to bed I sat on the couch and Dane crawled on my lap.  He said, "Don't feel well Mommy?"  He then said he would take care of me.  He said this often as I tried to put him to bed as well.  He couldn't go to bed because he had to take care of mommy.  Once he was in bed and I was in my bedroom he could hear me coughing and he would yell, "You ok Mommy?"  Seriously, what a sweet, sweet boy.

I just love watching my two boys together.  They are such little buddies.  Reese watches Dane's every move and Dane loves on him so much.  He just can not wait until Reese is old enough to play with him.  He is always wanting to hold Reese, kiss Reese, read to Reese.  I just love it!  I think a baby brother is just what Dane needed!

This past Sunday we were hanging out at home.  We had been at Aunt Katie's and Uncle Tom's new house the day before and Dane saw Tom using tools to work on a few things.  As soon as Dane woke up on Sunday morning he had to gather all of his tools up.  I first walked in on him using his tools on Reese.

Reese didn't seem to mind a bit though!

We had a little talk and I put Reese in his exersaucer so I could see him from the kitchen while I made lunch.  Dane then went on fixing other things.  He spent quite a bit of time on his firetruck.  He kept telling me, "I am fixing my firetruck, just like Daddy." 

He is growing up way too fast!

Five Months Old

Reese turned 5 months old on Saturday, March 17th. 

I can't believe how fast the time is going.  We will go back to the Dr next month for his 6 month checkup, then the next time we go we will be in the midst of summer vacation, so I know that time will fly, and then 3 months later he will be a year old and another school year will have started!  I think being a teacher makes the years go by even faster than usual.

Reese is as happy as ever.  He smiles and laughs all the time.  I love picking him up from daycare because when he sees me he always flashes a big smile.  I am glad that he also flashes a big smile at Tracey when I drop him off in the morning!  All of the big kids (the 2 year olds) love him. 

He is playing with his toys more and more everyday.  He will grab and smile at his carseat toys.  He loves the cloth books, especially the ones that have crinkly pages.  He also loves to hold on to his Sophie.  I am sure he is teething because he always has it in his mouth.  He is moving around more and more.  If I put him on his back to play he immediately flips over to his stomach.  He still sleeps on his back all night though and hasn't rolled over in bed yet.

Dane and Reese are interacting more and more all the time.  Reese loves his big brother and Dane feels the same way.  I AM SO GLAD!!  Dane can always make Reese smile and laugh.  Dane tells me often, "Reese is my friend."  Last week when Dane was sick I told him he had to stay away from Reese and he sat on the couch with his arms out yelling, "I want Reese, mommy."  If I am doing something and Reese starts to cry all I have to ask is for Dane to sing and dance for him and he starts smiling and laughing.

Reese is eating cereal and veggies for dinner right now.  I have a bag of fruits and veggies packed to take to the sitter tomorrow.  The goal is to have him having three meals of baby food when we go back to the Dr at 6 months.  He is wearing 6-9 month clothes.  I just bought a pack of size 2 diapers and I am just hoping we can use them all before he outgrows them.  I also probably need to order a convertible carseat.  He is just getting so heavy to carry around.  Once he is sitting up we are done with the infant seat!

Reese is our happy little guy and we love him so much!  Can't believe he is already 5 months old!

Saturday

Saturday morning Dane, Reese, and I met Aunt Tammy, Aunt Kara, Trey, Claire, and Joe at Monkey Joes for some playtime.  We got there right when it opened.  The kids had a ball!  I had to feed Reese right when we got there, so Aunt Kara raced around after Dane and Claire.  Once I finished feeding Reese I tried to get some pictures, but Dane was moving so fast it was hard for me to get many.

I can't believe how big he is getting.

He climbed right up the bounce toys.

I tried to get him as he came down the slide, but this was the best I got!

Little Joe loving being bounced around.

Claire and Dane-Down the slide and racing to do it again.

Sweet Reese just hung out and watched everything.

Can you see how sweaty he was??

NON-STOP!!

Taking a break from the inflatables to play with Joe.

Big hugs with his cousin

When we left Monkey Joes it was starting to warm up quite a bit, so we decided to grab lunch and head to Aunt Katie's new house and the park.  Uncle Tom, Papa, and some of the guys were doing some work on the house before they move in next week.  Aunt Katie is out of town with her lacrosse team and the kids missed her.  We had lunch on their deck.

The kids ran and played in their BIG, FENCED IN backyard.  They LOVED it!  We then headed right through her backgate to a wonderful little park.  The kids kept calling it, "Aunt Katie's Park."  It was the perfect little park.  There were benches right near the playground, which was great since I was carrying Reese and he was sound asleep.  The playground was the perfect size for the kids.  They could climb and play without any problems at all!  I am sure Aunt Katie's and Uncle Tom's is going to be a favorite hangout place for the nieces and nephews!

Sweet Reese rested up so he will soon be able to run and play with his cousins!

Tuesday

     Yesterday I was home with the boys.  We tried to go outside, but it was so windy.  I was worried about Reese and Dane was actually kind of scared of the wind.  We had a fun day together though.

Reese had some tummy time and played with his little Learn and Drive toy.

Dane had cereal and milk and I turned around just in time to see him slurping his milk.

Reese is on the move.  He is all over the place in his crib.

 He hasn't rolled over in his crib yet, but I don't think it will be long.

Mayhem in March

Just a week ago I was looking at my calendar.  Friday was the last day of 3rd Quarter at school.  4th quarter started today and it usually flies by.  Many of us talk about "Mayhem in May" at school.  It is always quite the crazy month!  I remember thinking I didn't have much on the March calendar and it looked like a realitively "boring" month at the time.  I thought to myself, "Maybe I should just enjoy it because April and May already look quite busy!"

I spoke too soon.  Thursday was March 1st and it has been absolute MAYHEM here!  These two cute boys sure don't seem to mind the craziness.

Since last Thursday......

**** I "thought" Reese was sick, thankfully he wasn't.  He just wanted to spend some time in the middle of the night with his Mommy.  As much as we both enjoyed it we are back to normal for the most part.

****Dave, Dane, and I have been battling allergies like you wouldn't believe (maybe that is what was wrong with Reese as well????).  I had no voice and Dane wanted to know, "Why you so quiet Mommy?"

*****For some crazy reason I gave two tests at school that had to be graded and recorded in time to be included on 3rd quarter report cards.  Fell asleep 4 times trying to get them graded.

****We have dealt with a last minute schedule change for Dave at work.

****I had 3 days in this 4 day work week that I had to make something to take to work.  I had to resort to making brownies and break apart cookies!

****There have been 5 times, just since last Thursday, that I have needed a babysitter and haven't been able to find one.

These little men are doing just great however.

Reese played with a rattle during dinner today.

 It slipped around his hand and down onto his wrist and he just couldn't figure it out!

Our biggest little man just runs and plays all day....then he crashes.

Hoping the rest of the week works out as planned and there are no more surprises....it all else fails I can always tuck two little boys under my desk as I do Parent-Teacher Conferences for 7 hours on Thursday!

We are off school on Friday and we will enjoy it!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy, happy birthday to my mom!

Hope she had a great day today!  She definitely deserves it!

What a wondeful mom and fantastic grandma!

We are all so lucky to have her in our lives for all the guidance, advice, help, fun, and love she gives everyone everyday!

(We happened to be in Kirkwood today and Dane was so excited to say "Happy Birthday MaMa!"

We all gathered at my brother's house Saturday night to celebrate.  Thanks T.J. and Ashley for hosting the party! 

Joe and Reese playing before the party....you would never know there is eleven months difference between those two.

Trey always loving on the babies!

Dane and Reese enjoy their time with their buddies!

Reese loving his cousin.

We all got my mom a neat necklace from my dad, all of the kids, and the grandkids!

Blowing out her candles on the delicious cake my dad ordered from Clayton Bakery. 

A fun night celebrating with family!