Happy Birthday Pops!

My dad is probably one of THE coolest dads I know. He's hilarious and kind and I wouldn't trade him for anything. Kaylee loves her "Pa Pa" and always goes running towards him. Sunday we celebrated his birthday (and the Super Bowl) with the family. The food was yummy and the cake--chocolate cake, white icing, with chocolate shavings on top, per my dad's request--was scrumptious! HAPPY 58th BIRTHDAY POPS!

The birthday boy!

Meagan and Lindsay cracking up about the birthday card they got him. I love those faces they are pulling. It was pretty hilarious. Something about "giving you the sun and stars...but all we could find was the moon!" Oh too funny.

Ellie & Kaylee having a party of their own.

Blowing out the candles...and maybe posing a little for the camera.

Just 'cause she's cute.
16 months

Shoveling Snow @ Midnight & Sunshine

I know...another post about snow but when that's all it does...that's all you do. One night it started snowing and it was coming down so hard we knew we needed to shovel some that night so in the morning it wouldn't be horrendous. So at midnight, Brennen and I, and Callie and her hubby Brian shoveled. We shoveled about 4-5 inches that night and in the morning my Dad shoveled an additional 4-5 inches. Luckily it wasn't wet and heavy but powdery.

As quick as we would shovel, the snow was always quicker.

It's been a couple weeks since the snow storm and it's finally starting to melt! Hooray for sunshine. It's been nice and "warm" enough for walks (above 40 degrees so not bad) so Kaylee and I have taken advantage.

All bundled up and ready to go.

One day it was really bright outside so I put on some sunglasses. She LOVED them and didn't try to take them off once. I'll have to find some a bit more girlie and in her size.

Snowy Weather

What a snowy weekend it has been. With all the new snow, Brennen and I have done lots and lots of shoveling. It's actually been pretty fun, minus the really wet snowfall the first day, but I've enjoyed being outside and the exercise. Kaylee liked being bundled up and surprisingly didn't try to take off her hat and gloves; but then she fell a few times, got wet, and realized that it isn't fun being cold.

Cutest kids on the block.

Bundled up and ready to go.

15.5 months

Funny face (15.5 months)

Post fall--cold, wet, and mad.

The first of many snow shovels.

Tober avoiding the snow

"Snow is cold! Snow is wet! Snow is no fun!"

Shaking the snow off.

Sick Update

Last post we left off with the instacare doctor saying that more than likely the rash would spread head to toe, well the rash spread and looked painful, but we took many baking soda baths (Grandma Sherratt's suggestion and an awesome one at that. It helped SO MUCH), and the azythromycin has seemed to do the trick. We'll finish that up tomorrow and the rash is about gone. The rash left her face first, then spread to her arms and legs, then left the trunk of her body, worsened on her arms and legs but today it's about gone. The fevers have stopped and she's back to her happy go lucky self. It's awesome and I had forgotten what it was like to have my happy girl around.

RASH PICTURES taken over a few days:

The beginnings of her rash--basically spotty over the trunk of her body.
(Hard to really see in the picture, her white skin reflects the flash and whitens her skin even more.)

Her poor little face.

Ouch!

Baking Soda baths.

Her favorite (but random) bath toys.

Sick of being sick.

It's hard to tell in this picture but her rash went from spots her and there to her whole back being red.

Sick, sick, sick!

Snuggling with "gankie" and watching Backyardigans.
(Dear Backyardigans, Thank you for the endless hours of entertainment and the ONLY thing that would console her little sick heart these past few weeks.)

Things around this household have been from one symptom to the next and one doctor's office to the next. It's been terrible. Luckily it has only been one of us but unfortunately that one has been Kaylee. It started about a week and a half ago with low grade fevers. I thought she was teething and didn't think much of it. Well the low grade fevers got higher along with a junky cough. By Monday night she was so ornery and rubbing her ears we took her to a doctor that night. He prescribed an antibiotic for the beginnings of an ear infection and I thought that would be the end of it. Little did I know it was only the beginning. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday she continued to fever (in 100s) despite being on the antibiotic. I called the doctor and they said if she is still fever-ing by Monday to bring her in. Thursday night I give her some Motrin, and put her to bed. Friday morning around 5:00am she wakes up crying. When I got her she was burning up! I took her temperature and it was 104.4! I decided we needed to go to the hospital and figure out what was going on. Brennen and my dad gave her a blessing then we left for the ER. We were quickly admitted and they took her temp and it was only 99.7 and I said, "Seriously!? I gave her Motrin only 15 min ago. It couldn't have gone down that fast." So the nurse decided to take Kaylee's temp rectally. :( Ouch! Kaylee was a trooper and her temp was 103.7, going down but still high. The doc checked her over, ears looking better, lungs clear, but ordered the whole work up--chest xray, blood draw (poked twice), urine sample (catheter), and a shot of rocefin--Ouch, ouch, and ouch! Kaylee was great through it all. While we waited for test results she fell asleep in my arms. I felt so helpless and bad for her and her little body. Thankfully all the tests came back normal. The ER doctor said to follow up with Kaylee's pediatrician later that day. So that we did. He said about the same thing as the ER doctor and that it may be a virus, may be a bacteria, but something is definitely going on with her fevers, sore throat, and ears. He prescribed a stronger antibiotic (omnicef) and they also ran a viral screen to see if all this sickness was from a virus. So this morning, Saturday, Kaylee had no fevers and took the omnicef. I noticed a little rash on the back of her neck and assumed it was from a tag on her shirt. However, late this afternoon the rash was all over the trunk of her body and neck. Being the weekend, her doctor's office was closed so it was off to an instacare. The doctor at the instacare looked Kaylee over, was able to look up the viral screen results (which were normal) and said well it may still be a virus that isn't tested on the screen or it may be a bacteria or it may be a reaction to the omnicef. The kind of rash she has can come with any of those 3. So he suggested that we take her off the omnicef and try zythromyocin and if it is a virus that there isn't much to do but let it pass on it's own. He did say that it's a possibility that the rash could spread to her head down to her toes but only to worry if the rash develops any blisters, pustules, or hives. It's been a mess and hopefully the zythromyocin will do the trick but we'll start that tomorrow. As of now she hasn't had any more fevers since early Friday morning, still eating and drinking fairly well, a little picky, but eating, a little temperamental but has her good moments of happy go lucky Kaylee, and so far tonight sleeping soundly. Hopefully it lasts and whatever bug she's picked up will have run its course. Keeping my fingers crossed...

On a side note: All of the nurses and doctors have been WONDERFUL!!! I have loved them all. They were sweet, caring, fabulous bed side manner, and they didn't make me feel like I was a crazy mother for bringing her in. So here is a little shout out to everyone that has helped/cared for Kaylee this past week. I'm so grateful and appreciative and I know Kaylee appreciates it as well despite screaming and crying the second you walk into the room.

Bowling

The crew.

While most of the Christensen family was here (miss you Tyler, Suzanne, Josh, Dallin, & Spencer!) we went bowling. I forget how much I love bowling but I really do love it. I didn't have my best game but it was fun just watching the kids. They were hilarious and did really well having no bumpers.

Cute Linds-a-Roo

Me & my girl.

Tanner

Jamie just missing out on a STRIKE.

New Year's

Cooper * Izzie * Ryan * Luke * Tyler * Owen * James (in back)

We rang in the New Year with the Fullers. Because the family has grown so much we celebrated at the church gym. But how perfect is that!? We had an Iron Chef competition with the secret ingredient being FRUIT. We made fruit salsa with homemade tortilla cinnamon and sugar chips, but the winners were Lexi and Brinley with their Orange Julius.

After dinner we opened our family exchange presents from Christmas.

I was VERY excited for gift that DaNae gave me.
It's a MICHE bag with 3 covers. Love it!

Kaylee got some books and a cute outfit from Brinley.

My husband is such a ham.

Steve gave BJ a 'How I Met Your Mother' shirt.
"It's gonna be LEGEN wait for it DARY!"

Love Owen's face.

Kaylee gave Izzie a life-size doll.

Kenzee got some killer shades!

JeuneElle workin' it

Kaylee helped DaNae open her gift...and then had to have them on.
She likes shoes...just like her mommy.

Kaylee wearing DaNae's new shoes.

Papa got an Obama Chia pet from Dave.

After presents the kids ran around, the adults played games, puzzles, or talked. Kaylee and I had to skip out early because she had a little fever and a yucky cough. I came home, put her to bed, and then went back to the Fuller festivities while my mom listened for Kaylee.

Kaylee playing with one of her cousin's choo choo train. Thanks for sharing.

We had a talent show where everybody participated. Brennen and I did the Napoleon Dynamite dance, some did skits, many jokes were told, but the best was the break dancing at the end by all the kids.

Lexi & Carter on bottom, Brinley on top.
They did a New Year's cheer.

Break it down now!

Izzie had some sweet rhythm.

We rang in the new year with some sparkling cider, a kiss, and home to bed.

Random pictures:

Mr. Henry Fuller...seriously SO CUTE!

Can't get enough of that grin.

Mr. Cole Macbeth...love that smile with a super cute giggle.

Despite how it looks...Kaylee was NOT in trouble and getting a talking from Papa. Ha ha ha

See...best buds.

Cooper * Kaylee * Izzie * Luke