The Devil's Grip

Last Monday and Tuesday little Mol had a virus. I took her to the Dr. and he confirmed. It was just a fever (high) and sore throat. It only took a couple of days for her to get over, then she was her good little selfiekins again. So Friday night, we're eating at Jason's Deli and all of a sudden, I had a fever. I had the virus. Matthew woke up with it the next morning. Still, no biggie, just a high fever and we slept alot. Although I did have this strange pain in my rib area (which was uncomfortable, but I ignored because it got better when I took Advil). Saturday, we slept, and then went to the Jonas Brother's Concert (which is a WHOLE other post that I will get to tomorrow). I did have to leave the concert early because I didn't feel well, but we stayed for most of it. Sunday (Father's day), mike let Matthew and I sleep in--what a father! And we woke up feeling lots better. We went to breakfast with David and Jessica. I still had the pain, but still ignored it. I thought we were pretty much over the virus and everything was a-ok.
Until Monday. Monday morning, I woke up, felt better, and tried to clean our messy house. But that pain was getting worse and worse. I still tried to ignore it, but I was hurting. By Monday at lunch, it was bad. BAD, y'all. Everytime I moved or took a breath, I was hurting. I knew I had to go the doctor. I did learn that you get into the doctor really quickly when you have pain with breathing, or any pain in the general chest area. I had Pleurisy (pleuritis, pleuridenia), which was caused by the virus and it had moved into the lining on my lungs. He gave me a steriod inhaler and anti-inflammatory and I couldn't wait to get the medicine in my body. I was hurting, hurting, hurting SO BAD. I can't even describe it. When I went to pick up my prescription, the pharmacy guy said it would be 15 more minutes and I started crying. Except it hurt too bad, so I couldn't even cry! I got my medicine, got in bed, and prepared for relief.
Until about an hour later. My parents were watching the kids and mom brought Matthew in to take a bath. They were going up the stairs and Matthew laid down and couldn't breathe. It was a terrible sound, my sweet boy trying to get a breath. My mom, who is a nurse, said "OK. Call 9-1-1." So I did. Logically, I thought he probably had what I had, but illogically, this was my child not able to get a breath. So here they came, the fire truck and ambulance and I was thrilled to see them! He was able to calm down and start breathing evenly and they did lots of tests and said he had stabilized. Happy me! But we took him to Acute Kids anyway and had lots of tests done, etc. They said it was OverActive Airway Disorder? Apparently common in kids, but I was unsure because it sounded exactly like what I had just been diagnosed with. They did give him an inhaler and I've been sleeping uptstairs with him for the past 3 nights so I could hear him breathe. We've only had to use the inhaler once. Yippee!
So, we had a follow up with our pediatrician today to have him all checked out. He's fine. Whoo hoo! AND--Dr. S. said he didn't think it was Overactive Blah Blah, but probably Pleuradenia, and in the words of the very wise and wonderful Dr. S. "They also call it THE DEVIL'S GRIP because the pain is so bad." Well, that makes total sense to ME! Holy cow, people, it was bad. And I am sooooo thankful the Grip is gone.

Well, poop.

As it got closer and closer to the time of Matthew's doctor's appointment, he got worse and worse. He was almost crying in the doctor's office. He has it...strep. ARGGGGG. But, at least with strep, the antibiotics work in 24 hours and Molly is already on antibiotics, so she should be safe. But seriously, my little love feels as bad as I think he ever has. I feel bad for getting on to him this morning. Again, no mother of the year award here this year!

It's a good thing our copay is only $20 . . .

or we wouldn't be eating, or paying bills, or, well, anything. Matthew woke up with a fever again, so we're off to the doctor in an hour. Seriously, can we just get through a month without someone being sick??? I swear people, we wash our hands, I give the kids vitamins, I clean the house and disinfect, wash the sheets (often, when we're sick), and these dang germies just keep getting us! I think it's probably preschool, but still!

Also accompanying Matthew's current sickness is a serious case of The Grumps. I mean it. It's bad y'all. He is so grumpy, and just downright mean to Molly sometimes. I am firm and consistant and tell him just because he's sick, he can't be mean to his sister. I swear, why is the sibling stuff so hard? I never had a brother/sister, so I don't get it. Why can't they just love each other and be nice and get along? Sometimes Molly will get all mad just because Matthew sat down beside her. Geeeeeez. Help??! Or should I just start saving now for their therapy?

Two Sickies, One Mugshot, A Car Race, and OH yes he DID!

Well, I've had two little sickies in the house this past week. First Molly had her ear infection and then Mr. Matthew got his own version. They are both on their way to a full recovery, and I am a happy Mama!

So yesterday, I was trying to get dinner made before Mike came home and I knew something was up. I just knew it. Molly was playing by herself and it was quiet. Eerily quiet. I knew I should have gone to check, but I didn't. I asked Matthew where Molly was and he said "sitting over there." I looked "over there" and I could see her little head bobbing back and forth behind her toys. I thought "wow! I can't believe she's sitting over there playing so nicely!" Well, that' because she wasn't. The little toot had gotten my purse down off the table and was hiding behind her toys. She found a bag of m&ms, opened them, and went to town. Then, she got into my lipstick and proceeded to make herself up. She tore out her hair bow to complete her glamorous look. I caught her red-handed. This is her mug shot.That picture cracks me up because it totally looks like those celebrity mugshots you see on tv and in magazines where the normally beautiful celeb looks trashy and dazed. That's my beautiful girl--looking dazed from way too many m&ms and lipstick in her nose. Hopefully this will be her only mugshot!

Fast forward to a much cleaner and cuter Little! (By the way--we call her Little alot. I don't know how it got started, but that's one of her nicknames that we use quite a bit. We also call her Mollypop, Molly wobbles, Mol, Miss Pants, and Sister).

This is Little in her first pig tails (or puppy dog ears)! She's getting so big!

This weekend, Mike and Matthew had their Adventure Guides Pinewood Derby Race. They built a car, painted it, and off we went to the Derby! Matthew got a badge and a medal and lots of memories with Daddy! Priceless.
And Finally . . . Oh Yes He Did. It was bound to happen. I did it myself several times as a child. Mike told me that he did it, too. It happened last weekend. He spent the night with my parents, went into their bathroom and said he needed "privacy" (HA!), got out my dad's clippers and trimmed his hair! This happened about 2 days after our $17 haircut. He trimmed right in the front, middle of his head. So funny! You can really see it better in the last picture.

Happy Wednesday! It's supposed to be 80 degrees here tomorrow! Woo hoo!

Things are lookin' mighty fine!

Ahhhh, a new day! I love a new day! We all slept all night last night (thanks to Pedia Care's aromatherapy ala Vicks Vapors), Matthew went to Pre-K, Molly went to the doctor (virus with added ear infection bonus), we have antibiotics, she's asleep, I'm about to take a really long shower, and I get to go out with some girlfriends tonight. Things are definitely looking up. All smiles ~

Oh y'all . . . I'm worn out

The other day, my mom asked me what it's like to be with my two children all day, every day. If you know them (especially the boy child), you know that they are very high energy. I was, as my mom puts it, "such an easy child" (Sara, if you're reading this, I know you're laughing). Anyway--Matthew and Molly are great, but every day is a new challenge for sure. That's basically what I told my mom. Most days are good and I have my sanity intact when both sweeties are tucked neatly in their beds. But a few days are just plain H A R D. And it's usually because I'm tired. Anyway--Missy started getting what I thought was a little cold yesterday--no fever, just a lot of nasal congestion. She really hadn't napped yesterday, we had a play date at the park, and the evening progressed as normal. (This is where I should insert Beethoven's 5th music "Dun, dun, dun, DUN"). She slept soundly until about 10:30 pm, and then started crying--the cry where I knew she would not put herself back to sleep. So I went up to rock her and when she saw me, she did this freak out thing. She's done it a few times in the past couple of weeks, and Mike and I thought it was night terrors (developmental, blah blah blah), but I think she just wanted her Daddy last night and decided to pitch a good, old-fashioned F. I. T. I'm talking screaming, crying, wrything around, throwing herself down, huge fit. And it went on, and on, and on. She finally woke Matthew up and Mike came upstairs. She calmed down a little, but still kept on with the fit. I got Matthew back in bed and Mike took Molly downstairs. I'll skip the details (let me just say that watching Barney in the middle of the night is not a pretty thing), but at 12:30 am, Mike finally put her in the car and drove her around for an hour. (Side note: what an amazing father. Sometimes I am in awe of him--he never complained, never lost his temper, just did what she needed him to do and then got up and went to work this morning. I so love that about him.) Finally, we get her in bed about 1:30 this morning. And then she's up again at 4:30. I went up, she tried the fit again, but I basically told her Daddy was asleep and she's stuck with me. I don't know if that worked, but she went back to sleep. She woke up this morning with nasal congestion and proceeded to chew on everything and drool like crazy. Um, hello, I must be mother of the year! She's getting her freaking two year molars! I kept her home from "play school" today and she was a major grumpy pants, but considering our lack of sleep, I think we were both pretty grumpy. It was just a long, long day. I'm exhausted, but also just emotionally drained. I fixed Cheerios for dinner. Poor Mike, Mr. Meat and Potatos. I think he's at Whataburger right now. Sorry, love, I promise a good dinner tomorrow night. I got Molly all fixed up with Motrin and a Vicks Vaporizer, so hopefully tonight will be better. Oh dear Lord, please let tonight be better. Love you!