Fourth of July drama and a visit with cousins

I'm beginning to think we can write a book about our everyday lives and it would be a best seller. There is surely no lack of drama. I've decided I have to blog about it so the kids will believe me when we relive these moments several years from now.

Our Fourth of July weekend started off with doctor visits for both Jackson and I. I had been fighting a virus since my birthday which left me with a terribly sore throat, no voice and then a horrible cough. I finally had to make my second trip to the dr. to get it under control. Jackson had been fighting a sinus infection and double ear infection. When he woke up Friday morning I noticed green gunk coming from his ear and decided that's not normal. The dr. diagnosed him with a perforated eardrum and said both ears still looked pretty bad. So he gave him a different medicine, one he had been on prior. Fast forward to 5:30 and were getting ready to leave for Ft. Worth for the weekend.. When I got home from work he was fussy but we thought we was just hungry. I noticed a mosquito bite on his arm and proceeded to lift up his shirt to see he was breaking out in hives. I called the dr. office, which is closed by now, and got the after hours line. A nurse finally returns the call and said take him to the ER. We thought that was a little dramatic as he was not having any problems breathing so we ended up at a minor emergency clinic down the road with an 80 year old dr. Long story short, it was hives and he gave us a new med for his ear infection and told us Benadryl for the hives. We decided to wait for the morning to leave on our trip which devastated Haley. She had been looking forward to seeing her friend Kourtney for weeks! The kids finally went to bed and I decided to take my good cough medicine the dr. gave me so I can finally get a good nights sleep too without coughing at all hours of the night. That was a great plan until 3am when Haley comes down to our room covered in puke. Matt took care of her while I cleaned the sheets, carpet and all the other lucky places she deposited her dinner on. I finally got her to sleep in the chair with me for a couple of hours before we had to leave to make the birthday party in Ft. Worth.

Did the drama stop there? Oh no, that would be too easy. We had fun at the birthday party (pics below) and went to get Jackson's prescription filled. Well, turns out the quack dr. forgot to put what medicine strength so the pharmacy wouldn't fill it since they could not get a hold of him. By this time Jackson's face is covered in hives, his ears hurt and we have no meds. We ended up taking him to an urgent care facility in Ft. Worth to see if they would give him a steroid shot to stop the hives and get some correct meds for his ears. Well, they told us to give him Benadryl, which isn't working, and put him back on the original meds he had 2 weeks ago that didn't clear the infection the first time. Uggg! On top of that one of the scripts they wrote was incorrect too. Really? Two dr. in two days wrote bad scripts for a toddler. And to add to the drama both of these dr. had their iphones out googling stuff in front of us. Wow, gave us lots of confidence. Luckily Jackson was relatively good through the entire ordeal. The Benadryl didn't stop the hives but it stopped the itch. We also learned that Benadryl makes Jackson hyper instead of sleepy. Of course it would! That's our son for you. The majority of the hives finally subsided on Monday evening although he is still having a minor flare ups. He saw his normal pediatrician today who is sending us to an allergist to determine if he has an allergy to penicillin. If he does that will severely limit what drugs he can be on in the future.

Other then that, it's the same old fun at our house. A crazy life with wild and crazy kids that we wouldn't trade for a million dollars :) Here's a few highlights of the past couple weeks.

My cousin's twin girls, Sarah and Abby, came to stay with my mom for a few days. Haley and Jackson had lots of fun playing with them.

Abby, Jackson, Sarah and Haley posing for a picture

1,2,3 jump

Confirming that Jackson has no fear.

And he loves to fly off Daddy

Haley was doing some flying of her own!

Having fun at Kourtney's 4th birthday party

There's Jackson

The birthday girl about to blow out her candles

Haley was still getting over her stomach bug so Jackson took care of her cake for her. He sat there patiently finishing every last bit of cake while everyone was watching Kourtney open presents

Haley and Kourtney

Having lots of fun on Kourtney's new slip n slide.

The girls making Chef Jackson whip something up for them

The kids had lots of fun playing together. Haley was trying to play hopscotch but a crazy toddler with sunglasses and bowling pins got in her way.

Haley swinging baby Kinley.

Sweet Kinley

Jackson trying to be cool

Sunday we went to Lake Weatherford and enjoyed some fun in the sun. The lake was really low due to the drought which allowed the kids to play in the sand.

Haley enjoyed swimming in the water more

The girls then played with the ball

And did flips over it

While Jackson preferred to play with the bucket on his head...

Or the big Uncle Sam hat...

Or why not both, at the same time of course...

We had so much fun and can't wait to get the kids together again. We were not even 10 minutes down the road on the car ride home when Haley asked when we can go visit Kourtney again.

After we got home the kids snuggled on the couch and read a book. It was so sweet. Haley put her arm around Jackson and read him his favorite book.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all you Dad's out there and especially the best one I know, my husband. Haley and Jackson are blessed to have such a hands on Daddy who loves his kids more then anyone could imagine. Thanks Matt for being such a great Dad!!! I love you.

We spent our morning going to church and hearing a great message. We then stopped by a few stores and decided it is way too hot outside so the kids and Matt went swimming.

First the kids each gave Daddy their cards and gifts.

Haley's was a footprint and poem in an outline of Daddy's shoe

Jackson's was a coloring of Daddy's pants. Still trying to figure out exactly the meaning behind it but Daddy likes it anyways!

Off to the pool to cool down. Happy Father's Day Daddy from your little buddy

Haley was busy chasing the fish in the pool. She can now dive down to the bottom!!

Then she gave me her best Mic Jagger impression

Time to jump off the board. Oh wait, my pants are falling down.

Jackson's ready, get set...

Go!

Haley's turn. She's trying to dive over the pool noodle.

Check out that form. She's a natural. She's almost able to do an official dive.

Jackson's busy working on his swimming. He knows to put his head in the water and kick kick kick if he wants to go anywhere

Jackson's turn to fly. Ready.....

Set....

GO.....

Weeeeeeee.....

And coming in for the landing....

Whoa, that was fun.

Summer fun and a special trip

Still catching up over the last three weeks. Haley went on a very special trip with Grandma Jean to Bandera, TX for an entire week. This was the longest she has ever been away and did great. She was able to ride ponies, play at the water park, go on hay rides and sing songs by the campfire. Grandma and Haley had great bonding time. While Matt and I missed her terribly, we were able to give Jackson some much needed one on one time.

Jackson was so cute trying to figure out where his "Sissy" went. Since Grandma had picked Haley up from school Jackson was a little confused when he got home that day. He immediately asked for Sissy and went straight upstairs saying, "Sissy night night". He checked her bed then lifted his arms saying "Where Sissy"? He was very sad but we explained Haley was with Grandma and he was able to talk to her on the phone a couple of times. We had a great time spoiling Jackson but were ready for Haley to come home!!

When she finally made it home Jackson went running to her and Grandma and she was equally happy to see Jackson (and us). Our family was complete again. Jackson then proceeded to climb in Grandma's car as if to say, my turn. Haley told us all about her trip and I don't think she stopped talking for 2 days. What a fun time she had.

Jackson had fun playing in the shower while she was gone. What a big boy taking a shower all by himself.

Looking more like a toddler and less like a baby.

We are really liking the fact we bought a house with a pool especially since this summer has been so hot. Haley, Jackson and Matt are FISH! They would swim every hour of every day if I let them. Haley is a very good swimmer. Jackson is quickly learning how to swim too. I'm guessing he will be swimming by next summer, similar to how quick Haley learned.

Haley and Daddy having a father daughter moment :)

Jackson taking a breather

Haley was busting a move to the music

He He He

Still dancing

Sharing the float one evening after school.

Here is Haley doing her jump then flip. She wants to flip off the board but we're not letting her yet!

Here is how we wear Jackson out before bedtime. He will do this over and over again. He has even ventured out a little farther and swam back. He hasn't figure out how to take a breath then swim more so we have to make sure he isn't under the water too long.