Croup

We've been hit with the sick bug once again. Addie and Grant mentioned a sore throat and runny nose but nothing too rough. Quinn was the first to really feel knocked down. We noticed that she was teething and working on her molars so we knew that could be a big part of why she was particularly fussy. Then on Thursday the 3rd after Addie's Cinderella play we noticed that Rylee was starting to feel warm. We could see that she was starting to get her molars as well and figured she would be feeling the same as how Quinn has been feeling. We put both girls to bed and then went through our bedtime routine with the older three. After they were in bed we could see that Rylee was struggling in her bed and could not settle down. After a while of continually going in and out of her room to get both babies to sleep we figured we better pull Rylee out of her room to try again after a little bit. We took Rylee upstairs and noticed that by this time Rylee was feeling hot. The scary part came when she suddenly started gasping for air and couldn't get it. She was so congested and we knew she was having a really hard time breathing. She couldn't take her binky or bottle without losing oxygen because the second she tried sucking on either of those she wasn't able to breathe through her nose. We knew from our experience with Hudson as a baby that she'd need to be suctioned out so that she could breathe. I buckled her up and drove to the ER. As I was driving I could hear her taking gasps for air. It was kind of scary. I got her to the ER and she hated every second of it. She did not want to be there at all. Her first smile came when the nurse and doctor left the room. The nurse suctioned out her airways and the doctor gave me his personal number and said to just continue watching her from home. He said he was ruling out croup or RSV and sent us on our way. By this time it was super late and the whole time Danny was at home dealing with Quinn. We thought that by pulling Rylee out Quinn would be able to sleep but it was the exact opposite. Quinn didn't settle down until she knew that Rylee was back and in the same room as her. 

It was 2am by the time Rylee was back and asleep in her own crib. Once the girls were back together they both fell asleep. By this point I'm super exhausted and ready to sleep the rest of the night but at 3am Grant is waking both Danny and I up because he had a nightmare. We quickly helped him out and got back into bed when at 5am Quinn was up and struggling. We fell back asleep at 6am only to be up after 7am to get Addie up for school. It was a rough night. Both girls continued to struggle that day with non stop coughing and crying so we took them into see their pediatrician who was appalled that the ER would send us home so quickly without treating them for croup. She listened to the girls and officially diagnosed them with croup and said this was something that wasn't even hard to miss. She also noted their molars and said the girls are having a double whammy because teething is already hard for them and they have croup on top of that. They were both given steroids to help with their lungs and we thought we'd be on the up and up health wise in our home and then Friday hit us. 

Addie had a violin performance this week and I had to take the girls. This was poor Quinn's face. Her eyes were so red and puffy from all her coughing.

Hudson was acting off and by noon said he was going to take a nap. This kid has not taken a nap in years and I thought that he was kidding at first until five minutes after I went to check in on him and he was knocked out in his bed. He slept for a couple hours and was feeling better when he woke up but by night time was complaining of feeling sick again. He fell asleep before we were even done with saying prayers. The next morning he was supposed to go to his swim lessons followed by a haircut appointment but he was feeling very off. He could barely move from the couch so I told him he would stay home this morning and that I would reschedule his haircut for when he's feeling better. Hudson took another nap and when I tried to wake him up he was barely responsive. Eventually he got out of bed but by dinner time Hudson was feeling super hot and when we took his temperature it read 103 degrees. The on call nurse told us that if he was acting lethargic at all that he definitely needed to be seen. That's when Danny realized that Hudson hadn't peed since the day before and was super dehydrated. Hudson chose me to take him to urgent care. The doctor fell in love with Hudson. He was being the sweetest boy even though he felt like garbage. At the start of the visit they took his temperature and it read 102.7 but then before leaving the doctor asked if we could have his temperature taken again. She wanted to make sure that his temperature had gone down after taking Tylenol. Instead of going down it read 103.7 so she didn't like that. Hudson tested negative for strep, covid and RSV and they determined that just like his sisters he also has croup. Poor boy. He could barely keep his eyes open and was falling asleep the whole time we were there. He was given a steroid to help him and finally we were sent on our way. It's been a long week but now everyone is starting to feel more like themselves again. We stayed home this Mother's Day instead of visiting family in Mapleton just to make sure that no one else was effected by us but today Hudson was well enough to return to school and the babies are back to being cheery and happy with new teeth and less congestion. 

He was so out of it he couldn't even finish a little sucker or juice.

Asleep before lights were out.

Mother's Day 2022

I got sleep in this morning a little later than normal which is always a great start to Mother's Day. I was woken up by all five kids and Danny telling me breakfast was ready. After we ate I was given some gifts by them. Grant gave me a dinosaur toy of his. Hudson gave me his old turtle pillow and Addie gave me some school gifts plus an art craft she made last night. Danny fixed my necklace that I had gotten last year on Mother's Day. When asked what I had wanted I had told I just wanted that necklace fixed and he did it. My traditional Mother's Day videos came later in the day but first I went to church with Addie and Grant. Hudson has been really sick and the twins are getting over croup so they stayed home to nap. It was so nice because the three of us actually make it to church on time. It's been awhile since we've been there on time to partake the sacrament. The kids thought it was cool that we sat near the front on the soft benches. We usually sit in the very back. Addie and Grant got up and sang with the primary kids and youth and it was really cute to watch them. This was Grant's first time up there since joining primary as a sunbeam. He didn't really sing but he waved and sported a big cheesy smile up there. Addie knew all the words and when done she walked hand in hand with Grant back to our bench. I was missing the rest of my family but did also think "wow two kids would be so easy" haha.

After church we went home and Dad took all the kids one by one for their interview video. This is always one of my top favorite traditions. There was a moment where I wasn't sure it was going to happen because Addie got upset that Grant went first and Hudson wasn't feeling good and would barely move from the couch. We weren't even going to push him but when he saw that the others were outside doing it he grabbed a jacket and went outside. Although you can hear him in the background of one of the videos crying over something. I had told Danny not to even worry about it this year but he pulled everyone together and they all made it happen for me. I'm thankful they all did. I love these videos. It's not even about what they say that makes it the best. It's their little voices. We started doing this when Addie was three years old and I get to look back at how much she's changed and grown over these years. Sometimes their answers are spot on and sometimes they surprise me from left field and I love them all. I'm never sure what to expect but these videos always turn into personal gems for me. This year Danny interviewed the twins for the first time.The video of Rylee nodding her head was adorable and the part where Quinn is bouncing the chair that it almost tips is not surprising at all. I love their little faces. We all watched the videos as a family. I had no idea some of the chickens would be recorded but it was hilarious and the kids especially loved that part. The only chicken missing was Lucy. Apparently she was sun bathing in the garden dirt so they didn't disturb her.

We then had dinner made by Danny. I had requested wild rice and chicken soup. We have never made this before. We ate it for the first time a couple of weeks ago when I was sick and Danny came home that evening with soup. It was one of the best soups ever and I kept talking about it so Danny attempted to replicate it. It turned out really good. He says it didn't taste like the original one we had but we both really liked how it turned out. Danny also made macaroni and cheese for the kids who didn't want soup. 

If the kids had all been healthy we would have gone to Mapleton to see Danny's family. Everyone else was there and we had planned on surprising Donna with a date for family pictures. All the kids pitched in for the photographer and we were going to let Donna pick the color scheme she'd like us to use. The last time we did family pictures with them Addie was barely a year old. It's definitely been awhile and they could really use an updated picture before we move to Texas.

Speaking of Texas, I finally told my mom today that we would be moving. She seemed happy for us. It's the first time we've talked on the phone in awhile. I told her that we'd have to see her before the summer ends. She hasn't met three of my kids. Grant and the twins have never been there and she's never been down. Mother's Day is interesting because I absolutely love being a mom and it makes me feel sad for the life my own mom has and the strained relationships she has with her children. It does make me appreciate motherhood even more and I will happily choose it over and over again. My Dad and step mom are in Germany right now. They got there this weekend and will be there for three weeks. The next time I see them will be at our family vacation and I can't wait for that.

Today was an awesome day. I got to spend it with my six favorite people and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

Fresh Cuts

Addie and Grant both got haircuts and they look so grown. Hudson is a little sad he missed it but he's so sick he can barely move from the couch. Poor boy. He also missed swim lessons this morning which he was probably okay with. He did feel sad about the hair cuts though because he's been asking for a cut for awhile now. We were waiting until after Addie's Cinderella play because she also wanted to cut her hair but since we put her hair up in a bun for the show she needed it a little long until that was done. I'll have to make sure we can get Hudson in soon. I can't get over how different Addie looks and it's adorable.

Cinderella Redemption

I really wanted to watch Addie be Cinderella again and I told her that I would try to make it possible. I had her take her little Gabb watch so that we would have a way to communicate before the show because I didn't know what time it would be at. After she left for school I called the front office to ask if it would be open to the parents and the lady told me no that it would just be for the students and teachers today. I understood and I let Addie know that I couldn't be there. I felt good that I at least tried. I would have felt horrible if I hadn't even called. Two hours later and I got a call from the front office. The lady asked if I was the one who called earlier and then informed me that they decided to let some parents come since the mics didn't work for all of the kids on show night. I was so excited and happy that I could go. I dropped Hudson off at school and then I took Grant and the babies with me to Addie's school assembly. At this point she had no idea that plans changed and that I would be there. I decided not to tell her and to keep it a surprise. She did so good. Her mic worked and I was proud of her. All of the mics worked for the kids today. The only kid that I still couldn't hear very well was Pinnochio but I don't know if that's a mic problem or a swaying and speaking softly thing. Addie didn't see me until I walked up to her after the show. Her smile was everything. I was also so proud of how both the babies did and how good Grant was. He sat next to me the whole time and didn't get antsy which is awesome for a three year old. Quinn isn't feeling well but she did exceptionally well for being under the weather. I'm glad I was able to be there for her. I've always loved plays and the fact that I'm watching my own child makes it 100x better.

Grandpa Great?

 "Mom is this a picture of Grandpa Great?"

This boy made me laugh and I had to document it.

Grant got Accepted!

Grant got accepted at BYU preschool! That would have been three for three at getting into their preschool program. Unfortunately I had to turn it down since we won't be here this fall. I did ask what class it would have been out of curiosity and was told he would have had Mr. Brad in the afternoon class. Addie and Hudson both had Ms. Dorie's afternoon class so that would have been a new teacher for us. I didn't even tell Grant the news because it would have broken his heart. He has wanted to attend school like his older siblings for so long and to know that he could have and it's being denied would have crushed him. We signed him up for a preschool at Texas State University and he's currently on a wait list. I really hope he gets in or that we can at least find a different preschool for him if that doesn't become an option. It's nice to think about what could have been though if we had stayed another year here in Provo. Grant boy I love you and I promise that if we can't find a preschool for you that me and you will have the best year learning and exploring Texas together.