Monday, August 29, 2011

The End to the Weekend

Maddie and Parker actually got 10x worse after my last post. On Saturday morning, about 4am Maddie woke up on FIRE. Her fever was 102 and just raging. She was also sounding very croupy.
Now, let's examine what croupy means. Croup is a condition where the air waves and the throat get swollen which in turn makes the person have a bark like cough. It is from having a sore throat, asthma, and sinus issues. It cannot be caught, however the other symptoms can (sore throat and sinus issues). It usually makes the person sound like they have laryngitis and they cough frequently to try to relieve the swelling they feel in their throats.
Because of the way she was sounding, I was going to give her a nebulizer treatment but I realized that A) She didn't have any major labored breathing so she was getting enough oxygen and B) I didn't have any albuterol to put in the nebulizer in the first place. Crap.
So, I called their Pediatrician's nurse after hours line which I had never done before, especially at 4am. The nurse sounded half asleep but she was very helpful. She listened to Maddie on the phone, recommended some things to help her croup, which we did but didn't help and when she realized that instructed us to go to the emergency room. During these phone calls Parker woke up briefly and sounded just like Maddie, all croupy.
So, we went back to sleep since Maddie and I were exhausted, Howard was leaving for work and Mackenzie and Parker were still asleep. At 10:30 we all woke up ready to do the whole ER thing. Parker was feverish when he woke up too, 101.6. I went and got my parents and took my Dad back to the house to stay with Mack and then My mom and I took the babies to Dell Children's Medical Center.
They absolutely loved the waiting room with the awesome fish tanks. They loved to run circles around it. Kind of weird seeing your sick kids run circles around anything. But even with 102.3 (Maddie) and 103.1 (Parker) fevers they still ran around like the insane children they are. It definitely took a while but eventually we got into a room where the kiddos had to change into hospital gowns and share a bed which was actually really cute.

They were brought bunches of books to read and play with, which I read multiple times until I realized that they weren't paying attention to me at all.
Then a nurse brought a TV remote and they watched Spongebob the rest of the stay.

They were cuddling constantly. Neither one of them liked when the other was messed with and got upset, so there was lots of hugs and cuddles.


They were so freakin sweet to each other the nurses asked if they could keep the curtain open (but door closed) so they could see them from the nurses station. Who am I to deny them my children's cuteness?


In the end, the fever had gone down a few degrees, they had strep tests done and a super steroid given to both of them resulting in large cups of apple juice from the nurses.

Isn't this cute? Waiting on their release papers to be finished. They crawled all over the floor of that ER. I practically bathed them in Clorox when we got home (I kid, I kid...kinda).

So they were on the fast track to getting better. We spent all day Sunday hanging around the house watching TV and relaxing. I made chocolate chip pancakes for brunch and hamburgers for dinner. Very low key, but just what we needed.

♥ Kristin

Thursday, August 25, 2011

They lasted 3 days

Before they were absent.

My girls didn't go to school today, Mackenzie has been really asthmatic the past few days and she was starting to get cranky about it on Wednesday night saying that she just wasn't feeling well. Also, last night Maddie had an accident which is really rare. I changed her sheets, washed her down and changed her PJ's and when I felt her forehead I thought my hand was going to burn off. She was registering at 102 degrees! I gave her some motrin and sent her back to bed. Mackenzie woke up before her alarm went off at 6 this morning and said she felt really terrible. Wouldn't you know it, face was on fire. 101.9 degrees! Yesterday Parker was messing with his ear, being cranky, coughing lightly and had a runny nose. He also woke up with 100 degree fever.

So, no school and off to the doctor we went. Not their regular pediatrician, but a partner in the same clinic.

Mackenzie: still had a few degrees of fever, lungs were clear but throat was red, sinus pressure. Z-pack given.
Maddie: Ears were clogged, cleaned out, fever just slightly above normal, throat was red from sinuses, lungs are clear. Doctor said to give her Motrin and Children's Mucinex. I was extremely annoyed by this, I truly believe she needs an antibiotic but the doctor would NOT write her a prescription for it.
Parker: lungs were clear, no fever, throat red and some sinus issues. Also said to treat with motrin, Children's Mucinex and Benedryl. Lovely.

I really hate when they can't see their own doctor.

Oh and Mackenzie's Z-Pack still isn't ready according to Walgreens they're not even sure they got the orders for the prescription. Waiting on a Pharmacist to call me back. Annoyed is such a small word for what I am feeling right now.

&hearts Kristin


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Easy Peasy

I am finally starting to feel better after getting a steroid shot in the behind and a z-pack to fix my severe sinus infection and bronchial infection. I finally was able to make an actual meal for my family, but I chose an easy one.

What we had was Casa Ole Green Sauce and Mexican Chicken Doritos Casserole.
Now, I got some weird reactions when I mentioned I was putting Doritos in a Casserole. And I'll admit I was pretty concerned but this recipe that I found from Jam Hands was one of the easiest and tastiest things I have ever eaten. The only alteration I did to the recipe was added more cheese. It was so amazingly simple and DELICIOUS! Make it, you WON'T regret it!

I realize that a lot of people won't know what Casa Ole is, much less their green sauce. Casa Ole is a restaurant that is only in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. It's a Tex Mex place that has some serious good food, but is rather commercial. Their Green Sauce has been a favorite of my family's for a long time and so I figured out how to recreate it. It's basically a creamy guacamole. Very simple, delicious and ADDICTING!


Kristin's version of Casa Ole Green Sauce
Ingredients:
  • 4 good size Avocados
  • 1 (16 oz.) container Sour Cream
  • 1 can Rotel tomatoes
  • 1 (4 oz.) can Green Chili Peppers
OR instead of 1 can Rotel and 1 can of Green chili peppers you can add just one can of HOT Rotel, works just the same. To make this more mild (it's not very spicy in the first place buttttt....) you can only use a half a container of the Green Chili Peppers
  • 1 Tbsp. Garlic Powder
  • 2 tsp. Salt
  • 1 tsp. Lemon juice
  • 3 oz. Cream Cheese
Put it all in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. You can serve it room temperature or cold.
Definitely one of the best dips you'll ever eat. If you make this, link me to it, I'd love to know what you thought about it. Enjoy!

&hearts Kristin



Tuesday, August 23, 2011

School Girls

On Monday, my girls started school.

Mackenzie had her first day of 5th grade. Her first day of her last year in Elementary School. Typing that made me dizzy. I cannot believe she is in fifth grade already. Her team of teachers are amazing and I think this is going to be a great year for her!


My pretty 5th grader

Her homeroom teacher is in Aggie, which makes me so beyond proud. Her Science and Social Studies teacher is one of her top picks for teachers so she was really excited about being in her class and her Math teacher is just awesome. It's amazing how you can spend a few minutes with someone and know that they are going to be great for your child.
She has a ton of her friends in her class, including one who was in her Kindergarten class. Start together, finish together. She let me walk her to class expressing that I would not be able to do this next year (I laughed through the tears through that one). She hugged and kissed me, her sister and her brother and took off into her room. I didn't cry when I left her, that's probably because I had to walk a mile with a lethargic Maddie and carrying a 40 pound Parker while barely being able to breathe. But, once I started driving home there may of been a few tears shed.

A few impatient hours later (by her, not me) Maddie started her first day of Pre K. She's in the afternoon class so she has school from 11:55-2:35.

My sweet, sweet Maddie Mo


Once we got to school, she was waiting in line and her Sissy showed up (she was at lunch) to say hello.

Just like Mackenzie, Maddie has never been to day care, or put in any situation other then family or Children's Church has ever watched her so I was a little concerned about how she will take being away from me.


And, just like Mackenzie, she took it like a pro...barely looked back.

Me, on the other hand, cried for an hour. They both had amazing first days. With the only hiccup being when Maddie was supposed to wait for her class to go through the lunch line (she brought her lunch the first day) she went outside with the Kindergartners and swung on a swing and gave her teacher a heart attack. The had amazing second days as well (with no issues). They both love school, their teachers and friends and are having a great year so far.

♥ Kristin

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Sick=Crafts?

So, I am officially sick. I have a lovely summer cold with a sinus and bronchial infection. Lovely, huh? My mom is here today helping me with my house and my kids and so while laying in bed I decide to do a ringlet scarf that I learned from the amazing blog of Kevin & Amanda.

Mine certainly isn't as cute as hers, but it's a start. It was really easy, and I think my girls would just have a blast doing this.

Here's my ringlets:
Excuse the background, it's my sheets. I have no photo finesse when sick. Also, excuse my foot.

And the final product:

Once again, excuse the background.
It turned out REALLY cute! I can't wait to use some less grungy tee's to do this with and in multiple colors. Of course, my girls little hands will help too.
Try to make one and link me to it! I would love to see yours!!

♥ Kristin

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Well...crap

Sometimes they are right. This conversation took place on twitter this morning.

KristinPartyof5: I don't have time to be sick (long cuss word entered here)

KristinPartyof5: Sore, itchy throat, clogged ears, runny nose, cough, glands super swollen and a low grade fever. Lovely.

HowardWest: @KristinPartyof5 I'm sorry u r sick

KristinPartyof5: @HowardWest Not your fault. I guess you are right and I do need to take care of myself lol. With everything going on, I haven't been.

HowardWest: @KristinPartyof5 u come first and then the kids and then me and then everything else. Lol

KristinPartyof5: @HowardWest Yeah...right.

HowardWest: @KristinPartyof5 See, I'm right sometimes!

KristinPartyof5: @HowardWest Yes you are and lucky for you, it's documented on twitter so you can remember this momentous occasion. LOL

HowardWest: @KristinPartyof5 LMAO

♥ Kristin