Busy Day- and Halloween!

Today was productive. I took care of a pukey sickie until he quit puking-then I turned movies on for him. At 10am I took Kate to her 18 month appointment... (She is 22lbs, 18th percentile, 32 inches 60th percentile). And after that I made LOTS of freezer meals.

Taco Soup
Tatertot Casserole
Lasagna
BBQ Meatballs
Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Noodle soup Base
Chicken Pot Pie Base
Spaghetti
Pizza Crusts (3)
and 2 loaves of bread

I learned some things.

-start with an empty dishwasher
-Make sure you have lots of pans, and plenty of dishsoap
-start with an empty garbage can
-don't bother trying to keep the floor clean
-a mix 'n chop will save your sanity
-make sure your kids/hubby have easy lunches so you don't have to quit! YOu'll never get restarted!!!!

I also made Cheesy Mostaccioli for dinner and it was a hit. Nice and easy too. I also finished in time to go with the family to the Trunk or Treat at Westside Baptist and to a few drive-through places. It was a fun night, and I'm so glad Kaden was feeling well enough to go!

Here are some pictures from Halloween, and one from raking leaves this weekend. Enjoy!

This 'n That

Lately my sleep habits have been awful. Absolutely awful. I sleep REALLY good for one night, and then the next 3-5 nights I can't sleep til well after the morning has arrived. Guess which night tonight is???

For those of you who might not stalk me on facebook. Or who do stalk me on facebook and just aren't very good at stalking... I have a lot of big things going on in life right now!

Last week I agreed to be the Gillette MOPS Co-Coordinator. Yes. Me. I'm the one who (should I post this on internet for all to see?) has always said I'm not even that IN to MOPS. But, when it ended abrubtly last year it troubled me greatly. I had even considered stepping up to coordinate when I knew the position was open, but really thought someone else would step up. Then when no one did it was shut down, to my surprise. All I heard from all my MOPS friends was shock, dissapointment, and sadness. So then all summer I prayed hard about starting a Women's Bible study or a Mom's group that was not MOPS at my church. Something that could start out small so I could start my leadership skills on a smaller scale...but I never felt peace.

Part of that is because I am already the nursery directer. I coordinate the baby showers at church (and just recently have HELP, thank goodness!!!), have my Pampered Chef cooking clubs and babysit a 3 month old 14ish hours a week. But really, I think it was just that it wasn't God's timing. In fact, I know it wasn't.

A couple weeks ago at a Bible Study I almost didn't join, at a church I don't go to, on an evening I was supposed to have cooking club, I met Stacey. Stacey moved from Cheyanne and has coordinated MOPS before. To make a long story short- here we are getting MOPS restarted and it's awesome. I am so excited. No, really, I AM! I found out that coordinating is something I just enjoy. But only if it's right. And only if I can bounce ideas off someone else. So, all in all, this week's been a busy one trying to get MOPS started in a month instead of months and months which is normal.

Speaking of babysitting. Did you all know I was doing that? (Oh, yes, all you facebook stalkers did, how 'bout the rest of you?) Anyway, I've been babysitting a (then 2 month old, now 3 month old) for a month. It's.been.awesome. I was nervous at first. But so far Katelyn and Kaden totally love her. And she sleeps 90% of the time and even then half the time I wake her up to feed her. And when she is awake she just adores watching my kids play. So far, so good. And the extra money is nice too! It keeps me home Tues-Thurs afternoons, but I always have at least an hour of ME time still. Does it get better than that?

Let's see...what else is new? Kate has been a teething monster baby. But just tonight we felt one bottom right tooth. If that's the only tooth that comes from this teething disaster I'm gonna be depressed. But at least there's one, right? Katelyn is getting bigger and smarter and cuter and sneakier as the days go by. She loves nothing more than to scream at brother for touching HER STUFF. (Which is really his stuff.) Also, she thinks his trains are an awesome way to get his attention. Mommy is about to go crazy with it.

Kaden has had a cold/allergies/something problem since Labor Day. I keep saying "If he's not better by Friday..." but really I just don't want him on antibiotics! I don't know if he's ever gotten over something without them! We've been feeding him allergy meds but wondering if he's going to need some asthma treatments. But I don't want to talk about it anymore. This week I changed all his clothes to 4T. I expected them to all be huge. Um, nope. They look great on him and this mommy's in denial. He cannot be growing up so fast. Speaking of growing up, he started Cubbies last week. He's been there twice and loves, loves, loves, LOVES it. And it's a nice break for us too. He was given his book, vest and bag last night and first thing this morning he was asking to look at his book. He's so quick at memorizing the verses, but won't say them to anyone but me. And even then only if no one else is around, or listening, or COULD BE around or listening. He suddenly thinks he's shy. Weird. Also, he's been testing my patience lately. My prayer is that I will be a mom like God wants me to be. Not yelling, or going crazy on him. Boy oh boy...it's been hard. But I sure do love that kid.

This weekend I have a Craft Day all day Saturday and a Baby Shower on Sunday. Crazy me decided it would be "FUN" to make cake pops for this baby shower. Which-it would be- if I were confident that I could make them, have them turn out, AND be cute. I did practice once...and learned what not to do. Needless to say, after a busy week of MOPS planning, Cooking Clubs, Awana, babysitting, etc...I'm worn out going into a crazy busy weekend. And coming out next week isn't looking any calmer! But I'm not complaining- I feel so blessed in all I have and do. My friends. My appointments. My leadership (which I've grown so much in!) and my kids. I love it all. (Oh and you too, Luke!! Even if I haven't seen you lately! Date soon?)

Yes, I did just ask my hubby for a date on my blog. And I bet it works too.

Right Here at Home

Nothing like watching some video coverage of a town torn apart by a tornado to put my problems in perspective!

Also seeing the pictures/videos of my hometown and the flood that is, and is coming.

It reminds me of that country song...I don't know the title. One of the main chorus lines is "I've got problems, right here at home." I think it fits. It seems that the weather is beating up all different areas and we all have our problems "right here at home."

I can't say Gillette has seen it's share yet, but I also wouldn't say I'm holding my breath against it!

But my problem "right here at home" is my sick baby girl. How many appointments, fevers, meds, etc...can this girl possibly have? It's certainly wearing on me. I'm praying for real answers...not just more meds.

But my perspective has changed. My problems are small compared to many.

On the Mend?

Poor Katelyn

She got her MMR and chickenpox vaccines last Monday and has been sick ever since. Firt she got a fever-which I attributed to her shots. Then it got worse. So we took her in to the doctor (pause, while I tell this story.)

The appointment was at 3:10pm. I had to go early to do a UTI test for Kate, so it was 2pm. Naptime for both kids. Kate was sick and grouchy (read: screaming her head off). I walk in and they hand me the stuff for the urine sample. Surprise! I get to put it on this time, instead of them. They have no baby changing station (at a pediatrician's office!)So we head outside to put it on in the car. Kate is NOT impressed. We go back in and Kaden runs to play on the playground in the waiting room. Kaden got pushed off the playground (and landed straight down on his head). So I give Kaden Kate's sippy (only way to calm him down) Kate didn't like that. Kaden guzzled it so then he had to pee. He won't pee with his shoes on and I wouldn't take his shoes off. (we are now working on that problem) So by the time we leave the bathroom, Kaden has NOT peed. Both kids are screaming bloody murder (and I'm pretty sure I've been reported to someone for some kind of abuse by the sounds coming from that bathroom!) So i take them and go for a drive (we were trying to get a urine sample so i didn't have to be in the waiting room-just had thought, THOUGHT, it would be easiest). Drive doesn't help. Not at all. Kate is screaming so hard I thought she was going to throw up, so we come back to the office and I rock kate in he parking lot and leave Kaden in the carseat and call daddy in for backup. After daddy got there he was able to convince Kaden to potty with his shoes and pants around his ankles, and Kate was happy to be away from MOM. We go into the dr at teh scheduled time (Luke had been there maybe 5 minutes...thank goodness he came!) and come to find out she has an ear infection so getting the dumb urine sample is pointless because she'll get antibiotics either way. SIGH.

back to the original story. So that whole dr visit was because her fever was up at 104.2 all night-even with meds. So we started her on antibiotics-fever still doesn't break, and 3 days later (and 7 days after the shots)she gets a rash. We can't tell if it is hives (allergy to amoxiccillan?) or rash (reaction to live vaccine)...sooooooooo back to the dr we went. No answers. We changed antibiotic in case (and Dr told me to try amoxiccillan again sometime when I can "watch for a reaction" umm. No thanks, I'll do the blood test.) Anyway, we got a new antibiotic which seems to finally have kicked in and her fever is gone. She finally took some good naps yesterday (good thing, cuz this momma was low on patience!)

She still has the rash and is itchy, but we're hoping that will be gone in a day or 2. needless to say, we won't be hanging around other kids for a few days!!

On a side note. It is kinda cute to watch a one year old rub her head and back on things to "itch" them-once you get past the feeling super sorry for them!

sick sick sick

My family is sick. It's so sad to see them all so sick and feverish. On top of that it's been a super busy weekend and week. I don't even feel like I can properly spoil them AND I'm super afraid I'm going to get it. Fortunately- after both Luke and Kaden being tested today- we know it is NOT strep or influenza. Just a good 'ole kickin' butt sort of a virus.

Good news: we have an appointment set up with the Ear Nose and Throat doctor for Kaden's tonsils. It's this Wednesday (as if we needed to add more to the week!!!) The longer it goes that Kaden is sick ALL THE TIME, the more comfortable I get with the idea of him having surgery. I just hate seeing my little boy so miserable. I'm ready to be done with antibiotics for the poor kid!

Here's what the week looks like:
Sunday:
Sunday School
Pass out nursery schedules
Deliver some PC orders
Bev and Adam leave
Dave Ramsey course at 6

Monday:
Laundry, deliver some Pampered Chef orders,pay bills due by the 15th, and clean the house for cooking club
Luke Dr appt at 1
Kaden dr. appt at 2 (lasted an HOUR!!!)
Book study at 4:30 (thankfully, it cancelled!)
Cooking club at 6-9ish

Tuesday:
clean the house again for cooking club, finish laundry,
make some meals for Luke to have while I'm gone
do Dave Ramsey homework (we won't even TRY to keep up with the Beth Moore...)
Cooking club at 6
Bible Study at 7 (which I will miss)

Wednesday:
Clean up from cooking club,
Bake coffee cakes for MOPS
Test Bridal shower recipe
Answer a BUNCH of emails
Kaden ENT Appt 2:15
Pack Pampered Chef items for Bridal Shower
Pack Kaden, Kate, and me for trip to MT

Thursday
Deposit Cooking club checks
MOPS (my group responsible for food)
leave right after for MT

Friday-
Prepare for bridal shower (takes more than you might expect!)

Saturday-
make food for bridal shower

Sunday
Bridal shower

THEN, and only then, I can get sick, still preferrably never. I'm tired. Exhausted really. I'm heading to bed now.

A day in the life...

How did it become March already? And not just March, but almost the MIDDLE of March!?
Kaden has been on antibiotics since the first of the month. I took him in for a red eyeball (that looked like he'd poked it) and he came out with a double ear infection, meds for his eye, and a referral to the ENT doctors. I was happy. I had decided there was only 1 doctor in that office that I am willing to see-and I told them I would only take an appointment with him. I've never been pushy enough to do that before. Boy did it pay off!! The other doctors won't even talk about the poor kid's tonsils. The antibiotics haven't helped the tonsils at all (they are still "kissing" as the doctor called it.) But I think it must have helped his ears because he seems to feel better. I am excited to be moving forward in getting Kaden's tonsil problems figured out. But as the realization comes that he will have to have surgery it really makes me sad for him.
Katelyn is little miss toothless still. She attempts to get them-fever, crabbiness, swollen gums, diahrea and all...but she will NOT chew on things. I keep telling her that I'm pretty sure if she'd chew on something it'd help that tooth pop through. Even if I try to put my finger on her gums she will just get mad and scream at me. And yes, I've tried them all. The cold icy ones, the soft squishy ones, the food ones, all of it. I figure-she'll have teeth by kindergarten, so I won't worry about it now. Sure wish the fevers would stop though. They always make me nervous that they are more than teething...like the UTI's or something.
Today Kaden was on his play phone talking and I tried to ask him something and he said to me "Mom, not now, I'm on the phone with someone." So I asked him who and he said "It's daddy" and then went on to tell daddy that "Mommy says hi." and all about what he wanted for lunch. It was great!
Katelyn has some new words. Ok, so only 2. She says "bye bye" (SOMETIMES) mostly she just waves hi and bye. And she claps her hand and says "Paaaaa-b" for Pattycake. Now aren't those just the most useful words? Her favorite game is definitely pattycake! Kaden is now into Rock-a-bye-Baby...only because we drop him at the end I think.
Well-the baby's crying and that's all I can think of to update. I'll try to have more funny stories next time!

A little bit of ♥

The last time I posted I remember it was a sick day...it's been a while, and yet, not much has changed! Fevers seem to be the theme of this year so far, but we're glad that so far, they don't seem to be signaling anything too horrible. Kaden's the last one to have a fever, and today seems to be doing MUCH better. Kate's fever seemed to be a result of teething-although-we still have no teeth to show for it. At this rate she's gonna be a hairless, toothless, one year old soon. Poor girl. *edit* I think this picture is how she's felt lately...with her teething, etc...



We celebrated Valentine's day a bit early in the Antonich world. Tradition is for me to make heart pizzas and have candlelit dinner as a family. Kaden loved his mini heart pizza and the "fires". I think Luke did too. He brought home some roses-which are STILL sitting beautifully on the table a week later. Kate got to have mac 'n cheese...she seemed thrilled until she realized she didn't have pizza on her tray. I'd post a picture but my camera has disspeared. Very frustrating. VERY.




*edited* The pictures are now uploaded. I'm thanking the camera elves for bringing it back to me so soon! Here are my other two Valentines! I'm a lucky girl!!!

Every year I just can't wait til next Valentine's Day!

Sick Day!

Katelyn started running a fever yesterday, then in the middle of the night threw up a little bit. This morning I thought she was doing better, but her fever spiked again around 9:30am. SO, here we are, down in our basement with netflix running and as comfy as possible! Kaden's loving the mom time and Katelyn is loving the movies! (Truth be told, Kaden's loving the movies just as much!) I did run out and get starbucks to help me through the day, and ran one errand. Other than that I'm just going to love on my kids and do my best to not have a TO-DO list today. Here's a picture of Kate-it's not the greatest because it's from my phone.

To bad I didn't realize we needed more baby advil. SIGH. Maybe I'll run out when Luke's home for lunch. I swear the Advil cuts the fever WAY better than Tylenol-but we're using both to keep on top of it.

A quick update

It's been a while since I last posted. It has been a really busy last couple weeks. I've been working on a secret scrapbook (which I will post pictures of when it is no longer a secret!), keeping up with the Holidays and getting ready for Christmas, and having one sickie after another. A few ER visits, more than our share of doctor visits, tylenol, antibiotics, and tests we are now 2 weeks from Christmas and feeling like we might survive-and maybe even survive well.

For Katelyn's first Thanksgiving she was on antibiotics that made her not feel very well. But we managed to celebrate with 3 other couples until one o'clock in the morning! Around 7pm that evening Katelyn came down with the stomach "flu" on top of all her other sicknesses/medicines...and I just felt so bad for my girl!

A couple days ago-finally of the antibiotics-we had a check up to make sure her UTI infection (and cause of 2 ER trips and numerous Dr visits) was gone. It WAS! But we were reccomended to go to Rapid City to have testing to make sure her kidneys and bladder were working properly. At first we were not going to do it, but then the very next day her fever came back AND I remembered that while I was pregnant, on ultrasound it showed something that made the doctors nervous then that her bladder had some blockage or some other problem. Eventually, after another ultrasound 10 weeks later, they decided it was probably okay, but told me to be aware of it. Between those 2 things we decided to take her to have the tests done. Why not? I mean, we almost met her deductible for a second time this year!!!

The first test was an ultrasound, which she thought was weird...and slightly irritating. The second test they put in a catheter and filled her bladder with fluid and dye and watched through a machine to see how her bladder/kidneys/etc responded. That test was a booger. It took an hour, 2 nurses, and 4 different catheters to get it in. All the while Kate screamed, and mommy wanted to! It was the worst thing I could think of doing to my little girl, and I kept praying that God would just let them get it in. I had decided that if the 4th try didn't work I would say we weren't going to try again. At one point it was as if Kate gave up and said "do what you will" and stopped fighting. I told her, NO you keep fighting baby girl! You never give up! It's heartbreaking to see your baby "give up" like that. She wasn't "down" long though before she started fighting again. At the end of the test the doctor said "well that's what we like to see!" and it was definitely a relief. We are very hopeful that the tests showed that she is fine!!! We will find out later this week.

Let's just say the last few weeks have been stressful and hard. But we have a lot to be thankful for- it could be MUCH worse than little sicknesses and good reports on all our tests in the last 2 months (MRI, EKG, etc for me!) Sometimes I wonder if I should have done the tests on Katelyn, but I constantly come back to the peace of mind we have, and that I couldn't live with myself if there was something wrong and we didn't check it out!

Katelyn

Well...Katelyn has had a fever since early Thursday. On Friday, since i'd been almost 48 hours of fever between 101.5-104 even with tylenol, we decided to try to get her in to see a doctor. Unfortunately, her pediatrician's office had no openings, so we had to go to the walk-in clinic. And wait. Finally, we saw the doctor and he ordered blood tests at the hospital. We went there, got her blood drawn, took Kaden to some friends (THANK YOU SHANNONS!!!!) and headed back to the clinic. We were there just a few minutes when they told us her white blood cell count was through the roof (meaning infection) and that we had to take her to the ER. We spent the next few hours at the ER getting tests and finally coming to the conclusion that it was mostly likely a UTI. (Not all of the tests have come back yet, including that one, but it's looking the most positive.) They gave her an antibiotic shot and we came home. (They wanted to keep her, but said we could try bringing her home.) This morning her fever was "gone" and she ate well, but around noon she started going downhill again. Her fever came back, and she's barely eaten a thing all afternoon. We did get 2 doses of antibiotic into her and her fever was gone again for a while. Until around 11pm...she's now on her way to the hospital to get IV antibiotics and fluids. At only 6 months old a UTI can turn fairly dangerous very quickly, especially if she gets dehydrated.

To top it all off, the rest of us are all feeling pretty lousy. Kaden was sick Monday night and hasn't seemed "well" since...and today was feeling worse. I woke up last night feeling crummy and haven't felt great all day. Luke started feeling it later this afternoon. Needless to say, we are feeling beat up on all sides. It's been a sleepless and stressful week, and this weekend has topped it off.

Luke will stay the night with Kate at the hospital, and I am going to try to get some sleep and then I'll go see her in the morning. We figured it'd be best this way since I am the only "bottle" she'll take during the day, so I need to be able to be around for her.

We appreciate your prayers!

Whew

It's hunting season. (translated: No such thing as a "Saturday" anymore.)
Luke's on 2 committees at church. (Translated: evenings away a lot, and even home a lot of time spent focused on that.)
Kids have been sick with both stomach bugs and some virus that causes fever, of course always on different days. (Translated: sleepless nights)
I have been sick and having tests done (translated: I get to find a lot of babysitters so I can do a lot of stressful tests.)

I'm worn out.

I am making a decision to have a good attitude and give thanks in every circumstance. I'm glad that attitude is a choice and not something that just happens to us. And I'm thankful that it at least SEEMS like these things have got to be coming to an end soon.

My Little Monster is Baaaaaaack!

Kaden's had a cough and runny nose for 9 weeks. I was just sure it was allergies, because he never had any other symptoms. He never complained of anything. He got more and more cuddly and laid back, but I figured anyone with allergies would feel more and more miserable the longer the season went. Finally he got to the point where I decided even if it is allergies I need to get him on some allergy meds to help him feel like a human being again.

(this is kaden "playing naptime" which he "played" a lot. Any excuse to lay down whithout actually going to bed, really.)

Instead the Dr. put him on antibiotics. And within 24 hours that child was back to running around our island, climbing on everything, using his voice excessively (I had forgotten how loud that boy is!) etc...

I feel like a bad mom. And I feel even worse as I think to myself (as he's climbing on Theresa's coffee table for the millionth time) "I think I liked him better sick."

Also, in the last 9 weeks he's been so laid back that I've hardly had to discipline him. I mean, you can't get them in trouble when they aren't doing it. So, I think he forgot the rules...which is why he was even climbing on the coffee table, putting the dog food in the water, etc...he forgot that rules aren't there just to be broken. Now I have to remind him. Unfortunately.

Theresa, thanks for putting up with him (and us!) today, and hopefully next time the coffee table will be more respected. OR i could bring a leash. Either way. I regress...

Now I know better than to wait 9 weeks. Maybe 3-4 is more reasonable. I don't want to be the mom who runs her kid to the doctor for every twitch, sneeze and itch. But, I don't want my kids to suffer longer than needed either. And Kaden is such a fun-loving little guy that he never complains!

I still think he may have some allergies, but am hoping this is really the cure.

Sucker Parties Abound!

Well, the kiddos are sick, but that hasn't stopped Kaden from his potty training madness!

The kid stayed DRY on our trip to Rapid City yesterday, and I didn't even remind him once. Also, he has pooped in the potty with 100% success the last 5 days and not had one accident even with company here this weekend.

Do I declare him potty trained? Or wait 28 days so I know it's a habit? I am really proud of the little man.

When he poops in the potty he gets to have a "poop on the potty sucker party" and pick out a new matchbox car. He is eating the last sucker as I type, then he will move on to get the last car! So, I either need to go to Walmart and restock, or declare him trained and hope he'll have no accidents without the motivation.

I think I'll go to Walmart.

Roseola

Well, my baby girl seems to have Roseola. Have you heard of it? It seems that it's easier to diagnose after the sickness has pretty much run it's course. I didn't know what Roseola was until she started getting little red rash looking dots alllll over her body. I didn't know if it was an allergic reaction, heat, or what! I quickly took some pictures and sent them to my might-as-well-have-been-a-doctor mom. I then called to implore her to please check her email as soon as she could. She, however, was not even in town and could not. I said "But! Katelyn has a rash!" (Like that can change whether mom has access to her email!) and mom replied "Is it on the trunk of her body, not hot, and not very raised?" Me, confused: "Um, yah pretty much." Mom: "It's Roseola." JUST.LIKE.THAT. No, "It's ok honey, your baby's gonna be fine it's just...." Nope. Just this is what it is. So, I asked "Is that...like...a good thing? A not good thing? A slightly OK thing? Or should I be hanging up and calling an ambulance?" (Fairly certain it wasn't that last option.) It turns out it's not really good, but definitely not bad...since the rash part means its over.

SO. For those of you unexperienced like me. Roseola starts with a (usually) high fever (102-105*) that lasts 3-5 days. It can be accompanied by runny nose, cough, and diahrea. Needless to say, this is why it is hard to diagnose! When the fever breaks the rash appears and can last from 1-3ish days. We all hope for the 1 day. That's when you know what it was. It is highly contagious as well, until 24 hours after the rash appears.

Thankfully, I cancelled all playdates this week, did not attend church, and did not attend MOPS on Thursday. I am glad I made that decision. So as of tomorrow morning we should be contagious free and on the upside! WHEW. I'm getting sick of having sickies.