No need to get cocky

It's amazing how even after 19 months with countless colds, stomach viruses, rashes and fevers (we really love daycare) we can still feel helpless when presented with new illnesses.  This past weekend was a big one for our family (more on that later) and we were practically busy from sun-up to sun-down Friday and Saturday.  She missed a nap and definitely didn't eat her normal meals and certainly came way off her normal schedule.  So when Josie started having issues late Saturday night, we just assumed it was from over exhausted (no nap and lots of play time).  We quickly came to understand that whatever was going on wasn't just being tired.  She was uncomfortable.  Brandon was scared she was in a lot of pain.  I didn't know what to think, but she was screaming.  And most of the time she was screaming for me, while I was holding her.  This really broke my heart (and kind of freaked me out).  I won't lie....I considered taking her to the hospital.  We didn't know what else to do.  We had never experienced this with her before.  Almost as quickly as we got her settled down and back to sleep, she was up having another episode.  This went on all night long.  The screaming/crying episodes were accompanied with thrashing of her arms and legs.  It was awful.  And really scary. 

Brandon noticed her little feet had a red rash and he wondered if she had gotten a virus.  I had determined she must be suffering with gas after having eaten terrible that day and no major BM.  I probably shouldn't quit my day job to become a doctor. So much for mother's intuition. 

By morning Josie had blisters all over her little mouth, hands and feet.  She also had a diaper rash to rival most others she has experienced.  I spent most of the morning texting family and friends who had spent the two previous days loving on our baby.  There is nothing quite like an early morning wake up call "Hey...the kid is sick.  Hope yours don't get it".  We spent all day Sunday lounging around and trying to stay as low-key as possible.  I have watched enough Barney to satisfy several lifetimes. 

This morning we headed off to the doctor to confirm that, indeed, the little peanut has Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease.  This fun filled virus has a 3-6 day incubation period.  She likely caught it from someone at daycare last week and had it for several days before showing signs.  I called daycare this morning to give them the head's up and they told me they had already sent 2 kids home with the same symptoms.

All it takes is one virus to remind you that you don't have it figured out.  When Jo was a little baby and we experienced sicknesses and illnesses for the first time I was always so scared.  Are we doing things right?  Did we give her the right medicine? But, after a while,  you get used to these things and you don't question your actions.  Just when we thought we had it all under control.......she threw us a curve ball.  Babies are good like that...always keeping us on our toes.  It will take a few days, but she will get better.  And we will build our confidence up again.  And once again, she will remind us that we don't know all the answers. 





Summer has landed.

Oh man....this is bad.  I haven't blogged a single word in quite a while.  I got on this blog today and realized I started a draft back on May 28th.  Just a draft.  The first line read "Summer is quickly approaching".  This is so bad that I can't even use this draft as a starting point.  At this point, Summer has approached.  It's here.  In fact, it's so the middle of Summer already that when I went Hobby Lobby this week, they already had their fall/Christmas shelves stocked.  It's so Summer, it's almost Christmas (according to Hobby Lobby). 

So, I apologize.  Summer life has taken over.  Babies stay up later and later.  Dinners get pushed back.  Mommies get tired earlier.  Feel free to insert whatever excuse makes you comfortable with my laziness.  I assure you, it will likely apply! 

We spent a glorious week at the beach with my family.  Josie LOVED every minute of it, as did we.  There was a point this past year that we were not 100% convinced my amazing Grandma, or GG as she is known by the little ones, would be here for our annual trip.  My Grandma is 93 years old.  She was born in 1920.  Take a second to let that sink in.  1920.  Oh, the things she has seen in her lifetime.  She's truly an amazing woman for so many, many things.  This past year she suffered from two strokes.  At the age of 92.  It scared us all.  She has been a healthy woman all her life and the thought of her being ill or physically disabled or even mentally interrupted nearly brought our family to our knees.  But....by the Grace of God, at 93 beautiful years old, she is well.  She uses a cane, but only occasionally, to get around now.  Other than that, GG is as healthy as she should be.  She's remarkable.  It's just that simple.

Here is GG (great grandma) with 4 of her 9 Great Grandchildren.  That's my little Jojo on the far right.

We keep pictures on our fridge.  Just a random assortment of people who have given us pictures or ones that we are particularly fond of.  There is a picture of GG on our fridge.  Prior to going to the beach we would talk about all the people in the pictures.  When asked who she was, Josie learned that's "GG".  When we arrived at the beach, she knew immediately who this woman was!  It warmed my heart. 

All the family had a blast at the beach.  Josie spent most of her mornings covered from head to toe in sand.  She ate sand by the shovel full.  Had the sand contained any nutritional value what so ever, I would have bagged it and brought it home.  At least that way she would be eating something she actually WANTED to eat (ahh...the life of a newly picky eater).  I am not sure I have ever seen any one child so interested in consuming sand.  She loved everything about it!  She wanted to dig and fill buckets and eat!  She was content!  And so were we!

Since the arrival of Summer our lives seem to have doubled in busy.  I feel like it's my mission to be going.  All the time.  I want to be doing something.  Outside.  All.  The.  Time.  Our weekends stay booked and it makes me happy!  I love to feel like we are constantly moving.  It makes those random lazy Saturdays or Sundays so much more special.  And as most Summers do, this Summer has brought it's inevitable heat!  Usually mid-July becomes a time where people try to stay indoors as much as possible.  So far we have not experienced the sweltering heat, but I am sure it is due to arrive any day.  What do you do with a toddler who only wants to be outside in 90+ degree temperatures?  Sprinklers? 

This summer has brought on some fun new changes for us, also.  Our little lady is no longer sleeping in her crib, but instead in the crib converted to a toddler bed.  It's a pretty big deal, so if you didn't already go "OHhhhhh", feel free to do so now.  I'll wait.  We are also inching ever so close to being potty trained.  She goes on the potty 2-3 times at school each day and usually once for us at home.  Again...it's a big deal (at least in our worlds)! 

Later this month we will celebrate my Mom's 65th Birthday!  We are planning a big party and I cannot wait for us to all come together to celebrate this amazing woman!  I will do a post all about the party later!  It's going to be so much fun!  These days I am living for our Summer nights and weekends!  Some where in between I will try to find more time to blog!  Like during work hours.  Ha!



I am throwing in this last picture because I just adore it!