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!

It's Darken Out!

As Luke was putting Kaden to bed tonight he followed the same routine as always. Get his "jammas" on, last drinks, goodnight hugs, and finally turning off the light and singing to him (err...with him). Tonight after they were done singing Kaden said to Luke "It's darken in here, Daddy! I can't see my eyes!"

No Kaden. You can't see your eyes. But we knew what you meant.

Speaking of his bedtime routine. He knows the words to Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves the Little Children (AKA "All the World"), and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. However, he is incredibly off on the tune. Messes me up big time. Luke seems to do okay with it! His words to Hush Little Baby are "Mommas gonna buy you a mockin' bird" over and over and over.

Also. He loves to tell us when it's "darken out" and we can't convince him it's just DARK. This year, though, he believes us that the ornaments on the tree really are ornaments-not balls.

As he gets older, he gets more frustrating. A LOT more frustrating. But-he does get funnier too. (I was gonna say cuter, but I'm not sure that's possible...he's always been pretty cute!)

He's my favorite little boy ever. EVER.

Thankful!

A-The Antonichs-ALL of them ♥
B-My Kaden Boy
C-my Cricut -and Christmas-and coffee.
D-My Dad and my dishwasher
E-Eating Out
F-Family, Friends, and mostly Forgiveness
G-my Katelyn Girl and my Grandparents-the Gehmans
H-My Handsome Husband and my Home
I-Internet, Insurance and Ice water
J-Jesus Christ, my Savior
K-my 2 K's-they deserve to be mentioned twice!
L-true Love, Luke, and Laughing til i Cry
M-My Mom
N-Neverending Grace and Mercy of God (also, netflix and naptimes)
O- olives! (they add so much to subway sandwhiches)
P-PCA (and Pizza..for sure)(also, pickles, which are also amazing for those subway sandwhiches)
Q-Quiet moments
R-Relaxing
S-Subway. Sleep. Soda
T-Trees (it is Christmastime afterall)
U- being Understood
V- vacation time! (and Verizon;s free minutes)
W-Warm baths and WBC
X-"X marks the spot" especially on huge maps (or in the mall when I'm looking for a bathroom)
Y- every Year with Luke and my kids
Z- the Zoo?

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.

Boot Shopping

I took Kaden boot shopping today.

Just me, Kaden, and Kate. Oh...and that's a "me-without-my-coffee" version of me. Let's just say that's the last time we go boot shopping without a back-up adult.

Also, I didn't even KNOW that Walmart workers knew how to offer help...until today. THEY WOULDN"T STOP. I mean, seriously, Lady...my kid is running through your store and you are talking my ear off trying to convince me to buy him a $30 pair of boots? Since when did you work on commission? First. I would like to catch my kid. Second. I'm sweating like a crazy mama cuz I wore my (apparently very WARM) snowboots and a coat (Why didn't I realize boot shopping requires shorts and tennis shoes, even on the coldest of days?) Third. You realizing my kid ran off and then trying to WOO him back is only making matters worse-he thinks it's a hilarious scene. Fourth. I AM NOT PAYING $30 TO WALMART FOR BOOTS FOR A 2 YEAR OLD!!!! If I wanted to pay that much I'd go to Payless and at least get a second pair half price just to make myself feel better.

Moving On. Dear Kmart. Your store associates were slightly better. At least they tried to convince my 2 year old BOY to want a BOY pair of boots. Unfortunately, your store training needs improvement in that area. I think it may have actually convinced him that the Tinkerbell boots were the only ones allowed to touch his toes. At least they are blue Tinkerbells. Also, your associate may be the only stranger EVER to actually calm down my screaming Kate. For that, I am forever thankful. Lastly, I'd have appreciated it if the boots could have been on sale the TEENIEST bit. I mean your winter coats were 40% off. Was that just to make me feel bad that the boots were NOT. If the boots go on sale this Sunday I swear....

All in all, I learned some very important lessons. 1. NEVER EVER FORGET YOU COFFEE ON A MONDAY MORNING. 2. Boot shopping for a 2 year old is never a good idea alone. 3. Boot shopping with a 2 year old and no coffee is nearly fatal. 4. Just stay home on Mondays. Just stay home.

I know you are all dying to see his new boots. Luke says they're "gross." I don't know if I've ever heard Luke use that word before. So, here they are. They aren't as bad as they could be-let's all just keep that in mind.


Since we are on the subject of boots- I was told once that if you go boot shopping with a guy, you are destined for marriage. That was about 3 weeks before Luke asked me to go shopping for boots with him. I knew we were meant to be. (Thankfully, I knew that before, so I will never question it..but still.) Whatever girl is destined to boot shop with my boy---I pray for patience and lots of love.

Snowdirt

It snowed the other day. Kaden calls it snowdirt. That's just what it is. Don't argue with him!

Well, the other day he was sitting eating his breakfast and he suddenly says "OH NO!" I said "What's wrong?" and he pointed at the park out our backyard and said "Park dirty!"

No, Kaden. It's snow.

Today he played in the snow for 45 minutes before I had to make him come into to let his ankles/feet warm up. Poor kid doesn't have boots. Guess what we will be looking for tomorrow? The first thing he did was plop down in the middle of the snow and say "I CAN EAT IT!" Why does that not surprise me?