One sick puppy!

 Andy came home from work Thursday afternoon not feeling great.  However, he had a big meeting at work on Friday that he really needed to be at.  He went to bed early in hopes of sleeping it off.  Well Friday morning he woke up and could barely pick his head up off the pillow.  I took his temp which was 103.8.  There was NO way he was going to work.  Poor guy tried to get up to use the bathroom and started throwing up.  It was awful!  In the almost 20 years that we have been married, I am pretty sure this is the sickest he has ever been.  He slept ALL day Friday and Saturday, like literally ALL day and all night!  Sunday her got up for maybe 30 minutes 2 different times but was back in bed.  Thankfully his fever never got that high again but he was miserable-body aches and chest and nasal congestion.  The girls let him have our room and we shared the rest of the house.  Mags and I bunked together in her twin bed for 4 nights...thankfully tonight I'm heading back to my bed!  While Andy did stay home today he tried to get up a little more and even went with me to get Mags.  He was tired when he got home but was thankful for the time out of the house.  We aren't sure, but we think he had the flu.  His mom was diagnosed with the flu on Tuesday after he left her from dropping off some items she needed.  He was just too sick to go to the doctor Friday or Saturday.  And I can truly say, he was an easy patient!  He was so appreciative for ANYTHING I did!!  Now just praying that the girls and I dodged a bullet and remain healthy!!

Working on the Weekend!

 The weather this weekend has been absolutely gorgeous!!!!  It's my favorite.  I can wear shorts and a sweatshirt or sweats and barefeet.  Today I had some school work that I had to complete before school tomorrow.  I fired up the firepit and completed my work.  It was a wonderful afternoon outside!

Eudora Farms

Today we had a girls days at Eudora Farms in Salley, SC.  In the month of January, educators got in free on Saturday and Sunday.  Today was the only day that we had available.  Andy was scheduled to participate in an event for our Presbytery but he is SO SICK!  I asked Teresa, Tomi Jean and Joy if they wanted to join us and they did.  Y'all we LAUGHED till my belly hurt and I cried!  It was awesome!  The ostrich is my least favorite...beady eyes and a long neck!  He was rather nosey.  But the other animals were awesome!  The actual safari was gorgeous and you can tell the animals are very well taken care of.  I would love to go again and take Andy!!  

 

Forgetful Me...

The healthy me, who only bought fruits and veggies this week, is super thankful for the forgetful me, who forgot to put these in someone's stocking! 😆

Playdate with Emily

We've been working hard to encourage Maggie to read her books well and test only when ready.  So for every AR test that is an 80 or higher, she gets to have a special playdate with a friend of her choice.  This time, she chose her friend Emily.  The girls were in 4K together and I work with Emily's mom.  So are the last minute, we called to see if Emily could come over and she could!  The girls had an absolute blast together!  Never once did I hear them complain about anything!
 

Wise Ladies

 This morning I had brunch with two of my favorite ladies!!  We were all together my first year teaching at Calvary.  Slowly, one by one, they have moved on.  Sharon is back in the classroom and Robin is now retired.  These ladies have been instrumental in career at Calvary.  They have listened to many 'situations' and given me Godly wisdom and advice.  I am truly for their investment into my life!!

Final basketball game of the season

Basketball season went super quickly!!  Maggie LOVED having her daddy as her coach.  She did exactly what he told her...where to stand and to put her hands in the air to block any pass.  Even if the ball fell at her feet, she didn't leave her spot and didn't bring her hands out of the air!  It was awesome!  The coaches did a little party afterwards for the kids.  They had pizza and trophies.

 

Playing dress up!

Last Monday while we were home, the girls and I tackled our foyer closet.  The girls came across my wedding dress for the first time.  I asked if they wanted to try it on.  Caroline did.  And while I wish I was Caroline's size on my wedding day, it was rather large on her...it's gathered in the back.  Mags wasn't interested in trying it on but did want to try on my veil...we laughed a lot!  

I told the girls that I felt like a princess on my wedding day...I loved my dress and thought I looked so pretty.  Maggie said "Mommy, you don't need a wedding day to make you beautiful!  You are beautiful everyday!"  It made me smile...when I look in the mirror I see all my flaws...my sweet girl sees a beautiful mommy!!

 

Blog Book 2022 is HERE!

So thankful for another year of memories for our family!  I know my posts aren't as lengthy or as much from my heart, I am thankful for this record of day to day life!  Thankful for those that remind me to keep pushing forward!
 

Bring your daughter to work day...

 We had really hoped that Maggie would be feeling better today.  However, the wicked cough just wouldn't let up.   So even though she is on meds and taking treatments, we thought it would be best to keep her home today.  Since she wasn't contagious, I took her to work with me. Mercy, this kid hasn't changed much since she use to go with me to work...she is all up in my business!!!  She wanted to work right beside me!  She had a blast and I was so thankful to spend this time with her, even if it was a little crazy! 

Back to the doctor

We thought we were in the clear...sadly, yesterday Maggie started with a horrific cough.  I thought it was just drainage but as the day went on, it got deeper and harder for her to recover from each episode.  We bought a new cough syrup that our pediatrician recommended.  It did nothing...so today, her episodes were more frequent and really made me uneasy.  I videoed an episode and sent it to her pediatrician.  He asked me to bring her in so that he could listen to her lungs.  An hour later, he said he didn't like the crackling he heard in her lungs.  He sent us home with a prescription for a steriod, albuterol and azithromycin.  

It's been a really long time since we've had to give Mags breathing treatments.  That machine represents some of our longest, darkest and scariest seasons in her life.  Just pulling it out tonight made my stomach hurt and my anxiety hit a new level.  I believe is PTSD.  Immediately I was back in the season where we were up all hours of the night willing God to open her airways and give us all relief.  Watching your child gasp for their next breath is one of the scariest things I have experienced as a mother.  Tonight, as I felt my anxiety rising, I also heard a small voice said "Rita, no matter how long, how scary or dark the night was, the Lord never left your side...He saw you through every single episode!"  Yes, Lord he did!!

Tonight I'm praying for a family who is truly facing some of their darkest, scariest days with their precious 5 year old.  What started as an eye appointment for a lazy eye has turned into a tumor on her brain stem.  PLEASE if you are reading this, please pray for a little girl name Callie and her family.

Happy Birthday Nori!!!

 We are so very thankful that Maggie's fever broke Thursday night and she has been fever free almost 36 hours now.  Today the girls got to celebrate Nori's birthday at a paint studio!  Nori chose a wonderful painting and the teacher was amazing!!!  She walked them through each step and their paintings turned out wonderfully!!  Such a fun idea!  So thankful we could be there to celebrate!!

Soccer conditioning on Saturday

 Caroline is on week 2 of soccer conditioning.  Today they had practice!  On a Saturday!  Thankfully it wasn't until 11:30 but still...let the fun times begin!!

Still sick, thankful for pediatrician and school families

So here we are still not feeling well.  Mags temp is great during the day without fever reducing meds but it spikes back right before bedtime.  So just to be on the safe side, I took her in to get checked.  She truly had no other symptoms but the fever just wouldn't go away.  So thankfully she was negative for everything just viral.  So we came home and will wait it out.  Tonight, her temp was 103.8 so I am praying that it will break soon!!

While I should feel rested and relaxed after being home two days this week, I am exhausted!  Tonight I didn't feel like cooking dinner.  I was so thankful for an extremely generous gift from one of my school families to Chick Fil A.  Momma got off easy tonight and it was just what I needed!!!!

 

Sick little penguin

 Yesterday morning, a little after 2AM, this little cutie woke me up and said she didn't feel good.  She felt warm so I took her temperature.  Sure enough, she was running fever.  Last night it got as high as 103.2.  Today her temp is back to normal and honestly she hasn't felt bad at all but no school for us.  She had to get straight to take Caroline to school.  She put on her penguin cover up from Christmas and was as cozy as could be!   Praying her fever leaves quickly and she is back to her sweet self soon!

Short hair, still super cute!

 Caroline has filled my Pinterest with hair styles, hair ideas, hair products over the last year.  A few weeks ago she told me that she planned to do something new with her hair when she got it cut this time...more than just a trim.  I told her my only stipulation is that Mrs. Jennifer must approve it for her hair.  Well Mrs. Jennifer did and she is thrilled with it!  I think it is cute too!! :-)  But I am a wee bit sad that it makes my baby look a little too grown!

Swim Team MVP

 Today we attended Caroline's Fall Sports Banquet.  We were excited to hear her names MVP of her swim team.  Yes her team is small but they spoke of her amazing character and leadership on the team.  We are so proud of her!!! And as Coach Jan said, she still has 4 more years to swim!!

Game Night

 Tonight we had the most fun playing games with these kids before they start heading back to school tomorrow.  We had a few whole group games, some smaller group games and then back together for Farkle.  Hard to believe Jack, Grace and Ruth are Juniors in college and "baby" Helen is a freshman in college.  We shared some videos and pictures of when I use to babysit/hang out with Ruth and Helen and when the girls got to hang out with the big girls at the Club pool.  So much fun!!  We laughed so hard, ate some yummy food and made sweet memories!!  

Our favorite Thrift Store find

 Y'all times have changed.  In my day, wearing hand me downs and thrift store clothes were a sign of poverty!  Ok, maybe not poverty but the cool kids didn't do either...well now, teenagers love shopping at thrift stores!!  Before Christmas, Caroline asked to go to Goodwill.  While there, we found the PERFECT shirt for Mags!!  Fits her to a t!  Love this sweet girl!!

2022 Outside Hours

 While we didn't surpass our 2021 hours outside, we were close...only missed it by 6 hours.  We completed 626 hours in 2022!!  Here's to setting a goal of 650 hours for 2023!!

Annual New Years Trip

We are just returning home from an amazing few days at the beach with our friends for our Annual New Years trip.  We look forward to this trip every year.  Last year due to various reasons, we weren't able to make it.  But this year, we all made up for that.  The girls have certain things that they look forward to...shopping at the outlets, going to the dollar store for candy for New Years Eve, the polar plunge on New Years day...just to name a few.  Shopping at the outlets is so much more fun now that the girls all have their own money to spend. :-)  The 4 oldest girls have their own room while the two youngest share a room.  It works out perfectly!  You can tell we are in a totally different stage as we now get to sleep in because our kids sleep in.  The adults got to enjoy the sunrise with coffee this morning while the kids slept.  It was lovely!  I can truly say that we have all come home, relaxed and rejuvenated, ready to finish the second half of the school year!!!  Such a blessing!

 

Happy New Year!!!!

This years sunrise was at 7:20.  Being that we were 2 minutes from the ocean AND that we were getting up for church, I decided to start 2023 sitting on the beach watching the sunrise.  It was absolutely gorgeous!  Breathtaking actually!  I arrived on the beach around 6:45 and I was the only person there.  It was amazing!  I had a wonderful time of prayer and thanksgiving.  This year, as I celebrate 2023, I am excited for the things to come.  For some strange reason, I'm also anxious for the unknown...but I choose to trust the Lord and his goodness!  The God who created this amazing sunrise is the same God who loves me and holds me in the palm of his hand!  Here's to 2023!!!