Thanksgiving Tree

As I took down the few Halloween decorations we had, Savannah got very upset. She loves Halloween and even though I told her Christmas decorations were going to be up soon, it didn't seem to click. I told Savannah about Thanksgiving and that it was the next holiday so we could decorate for it. For the last 20 days we have colored turkey pictures, cut out apples, etc. My favorite project was our Thanksgiving tree. I am no artist, but I tried to draw a tree. Savannah helped me color it and then we cut it out and put it on the wall behind the toys. We bought leaves at Jo-anns and Target and stuck them on the tree. Savannah then told me it needed an owl. At some point there was a baby owl and turkey too, but I didn't get a photo of it complete.
As silly as this sounds, every time I looked at this tree I think of things I am thankful for. I have tried to really focus on one thing each day through the month. It has been a couple of hard weeks and healthy children, doctors, modern medicine and insurance are some of the things I am thanking God for every day.
Our tree is down now. We set up Christmas on Thursday night because Noah was heading back to Twin Falls Friday morning and I wanted it up before we come back from our Utah/Disneyland trip. Though our paper tree is down, I am still making sure to take time to think of things I am grateful for. I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving and remembers all the things to be be thankful for.

My week

I have had a week of pajamas, sweat pants and Dr visits. We venture to the store when we run out of tylenol and motrin (go through a lot when your giving 1 tsp every 3 hours). Went back to the Dr on Tuesday to hear keep giving him meds, but I knew something else was going on. All week I cuddled Jaxon and he never wanted down. Hardly eating, hardly drinking and sleeping a lot still did not bring down his fevers. I kept thinking maybe the antibiotics would start working but decided to call the pediatrician again on Saturday.

I went to the bathroom for maybe a minute and came out to find Jaxon covered with toys thanks to his sister. Poor guy felt so horrible he didn't even fight it.

I was told to watch him over night again and take him the urgent care on Sunday. I hate looking like a high maintenance mommy and I am pretty sure they thought I was paranoid, but when they took his temp of 104.4 they knew I wasn't. All the cool baths, wearing nothing but tee shirts and ice pack compresses weren't working and turns out I was right. Jaxon still was sick. His one ear infection on Monday was now in both ears and pretty bad. He also has Herpangina which causes sores and ulcers all over Jaxon's throat and really high fevers for about a week. He got a shot to help get rid of everything and Jaxon is still on all his same meds as before. We go back to the Dr today at 1. After seeing 4 different doctors in the past week, we will finally meet their new pediatrician. I bet she has a great impression of me so far!

The shot must have really helped. Jaxon was happy to do some coloring last night.

Noah comes home tonight after not seeing him since we got back from the hospital. I am hoping Jaxon will sleep in his bed tonight. He has been sleeping with me so I can monitor his temp through the night and make sure he doesn't have another febrile seizure. Disneyland trip is in less than 2 weeks and I am praying all sickness is done before then!

Thank You Dad

My dad has always been one of my heroes. He is a very strong man and determined. He has been through a lot in his life and still manages to take time to help others. He is hard working and always willing to serve whomever he can. My father served in the United States Air Force and retired in 1996 as a Lt Colonel.

There is no one that loves this country more than my dad. He taught me so much about the importance of service, love for history and patriotism. Not only is he an amazing dad, but a wonderful grandpa. My father is Savannah's favorite person. She always wants to call and visit her "Pampa." Thank you Pampa, Grandpa, Dad... whatever name you prefer. We love you so much. Happy Veteran's Day.

Jaxon's Scary Day

A year ago today Jaxon went to the hospital for a few nights because his fever shot up and he had some type of virus. It was the second Monday of November. Yesterday was the second Monday of November and we had another scary day. Jaxon has had a cold for a few days, but yesterday his fever spiked. At 10am it was 103 so I called the Dr. It's always weird going to a new Dr and of course the kids have well visits for shots next week so I didn't know where I was going. Found out it was an ear infection and while in line picking up his prescription I was told the Dr spelled his name wrong so we had to wait longer.

We walked around the store and while back in line Jaxon started to lean over really far, I started to hold his head, talk to him and then his eyes rolled back and he started shaking. I knew what was going on as I saw his eyes roll back so I called for help from the people behind me. Luckily there was a recently retired firefighter/emt that helped me. He got him out of the shopping cart, watched his airways and undressed him while I tried to stay calm, started crying and touch whatever part of Jaxon I could so he would know I was there. Most of the pharmacy employees rushed to help and very quickly walmart managers showed up. My little Jaxon's face turned blue and managers were telling employees to take thermometers and other things off the shelves to help. The man helping started asking about crash carts and defibrillators and that's when the tears started to really come. His fever was 104.7 right after the seizure ended. The paramedics showed up and got him hooked up on oxygen, strapped in the stretcher and we were headed to the ambulance where after a brief time in freezing weather his temp was now 105.1. After several hours of holding and calming my baby in the hospital and some meds kicked in, his fever finally went down.

We were released and had to wait for Noah to figure out some way to get the car with the car seats from Walmart to come get Jaxon and I. After 2 hours of sitting in the waiting room next to a homeless man chugging his Pepsi 2lt, belching and telling me far more about Paula Abdul than I wanted to know, we still had to go pick up his ear infection meds. 6 hours after the seizure there were still 3 employees there from earlier and the second they saw me I was brought to the front of the line and questioned by them all as to how my little guy was doing (I have a new love for my walmart). I even got a phone call this morning from the store manager asking how Jaxon was doing.

I am so grateful for my little boy and that he is ok. I hugged him all night last night and hardly slept as his fevers kept coming back. I know a febrile seizure has no known long term effects and are pretty common, but it was SO scary! I'm so grateful for a misspelled name so the seizure didn't happen in the car, that our insurance coverage started last week, knowledgeable people and for mother's intuition. We are doing a lot of hugging today. His fevers are still coming back 3 1/2 hours after every dose of Tylenol and ibuprofen, but I am keeping them down and watching close.

A Sweet Sister

This girl can be such a nice big sister! Today she and I left early to go get Toy Story 3 before Noah had to leave for work. When she was watching it with her brother she got him a blanket and crawled up next to him at some point during the movie. I love catching moments like this.

They gave me a smile

My handsome boy

You know it, I know it... this kid is adorable. This was Jaxon's get-up for church last Sunday and I think he is too cute!

Halloween Weekend

I hope everyone had a great Halloween! We had a great weekend. Friday night we went to our trunk-or-treat party at our church building. The kids had a lot of fun. We hardly saw Savannah because she sat with other kids during the pre dinner span of time. Jaxon let me put his costumes hat on for a very brief period of time.

Savannah passed out quickly after leaving.

Saturday we headed to Boise for Boo at the Zoo. We heard this annual event is usually crazy busy and being from theme park towns we decided it was best to go before opening time. It started at 10 and we got there at 9:20 (we were 3rd in line). There were hardly any people there so we decided to feed these geese in the park first. There were a lot of them! Savannah also got a kick out of this statue in the park.

Boo at the Zoo was a lot of fun. Savannah loved seeing the animals, trick or treating all over the zoo and she really loved some of the other activities. Jaxon liked the dentists that gave out toothbrushes.

Savannah and her favorite tiger.

Waiting to see something fun...

Petting and feeding the goats and sheep.

My favorite animal at this zoo. I want a wallaby.

The new baby giraffe.

Savannah wanted to do some of the extra activities like the bean bag toss and riding the carousel. I know she was a bit close, but she did get all 3 bean bags in and got 2 prizes.

My favorite part of the day was face painting. Savannah wanted to chat up life with the girl painting her face. She requested a cat on one side and a witch on the other cheek. Savannah was also very concerned that her artist only had one of her cheeks painted. I don't think this girl thought Savannah would take her up on the offer, but she said Savannah could paint her other cheek. You better believe the second Savannah's face was done she grabbed the paint brush and got a big blob of brown paint. She smeared it on this girl's cheek and it looked like a big poo smear. Savannah was very proud!

Cat

Witch

Sunday evening we watched Hocus Pocus and waited for trick or treaters. I was hoping they would come and Savannah would want to go out again, but no one came. Savannah and Jaxon passed out early so Noah and I watched tv together and ate candy... the way Halloween should end. :)