Birthday shout out!

Happy Birthday Clayboy!  Hope you had a GREAT day.  The girls send hugs and kisses and can't wait to see you soon.

Rally Tigers!

The rally paint is on. The girls are convinced this will help the Tigers tonight. I really hope so. Geaux Tigers!

Lessons Learned

      I am sure most of you found out about Little Man's trip to the hospital last week, but wanted to post the full report here. Little Man started wheezing Sunday evening. I gave him breathing treatments on Monday and Tuesday and by evening on both days he seemed to be fine. On Wednesday he woke up and was struggling so I took him to the pediatrician.  I also noticed at that time that his room seemed very hot and humid. We were sent home with enough steroids to last for five days. I put him down at 8:00, and he was back up by 11:00. Even after two more treatments, his breathing became worse; he began to grunt with every breath and scream out in pain. I woke both the girls and by 3:00 am we were in the emergency room. They rushed him back immediately and by 5:00, we were admitted to the PICU.  My wonderful friend took the girls to her house for a couple of hours until hubby's plane landed and we could trade off. So a night and a half in the PICU, and another night on the Pediatric Ward when he was able to get off oxygen and had enough doses of steroids administered in his IV to make the docs happy. The photos above are of him just before we were released. The children's hospital was wonderful and the playroom really helped him calm down once he was feeling better. 

          We are now back home and on some major meds. It has been determined that he will be on preventative care for the next two years, so hopefully we can avoid another severe attack. After checking the AC duct to his room we realized that it had become detached, and was probably the leading reason why he just wasn't getting better even after the doctor's visit. He has now been officially labeled as an Asthmatic, so now hubby and I are studying what this means for him and our family. So far this is what we have:

1. He will not be allowed in a home that has a cat. Doctor's orders.

2. Leave all of our shoes in the laundry room to keep the house cleaner.

3. Be the mom who "cleans and occasionally has fun" instead of the mom who "has fun and occasionally cleans." No strong chemicals- all natural and a lot of elbow grease.

4. Stay close to home this summer. We were going to spend the weekends exploring the state, but now we will settle for playing games and watching movies when the temperature gets too high.

5. Two treatments EVERY DAY for the next two years. 

We are just so thankful that God has his protecting hand on all of us during this time. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. I will be busy the next few days, but I'll post an update after our follow up visit. 

This is for you Louisiana Dad

Well, I took the paint out intending to just put a paw on all 3 children.Unfortunately while tending to child #3, child #1 and child #2 took matters into their own hands. For the next game, I may even let them paint my face. Geaux Tigers!

Belated Birthday Wishes

Feast your eyes on this birthday hunk. Happy belated birthday Brother-in-law. I know you can't retaliate because you have no blog or a facebook page, but blame your wife. She reminded me to post this:)  

   

  I kid because I love. Hope you had a great day!

First Swim Meet

Yep, she was last in two out of four events. She had no idea how to do the butterfly or the breaststroke. But she looked at her Dad after her first heat and said, "this is the best day ever!" I love you so much big girl. Your enthusiasm is contagious!   

Jeffrey

(Click on photo to view larger)
      Much to the girl's delight and the boys allergies, we have became good friends with the neighborhood cat. We don't know his name, but big Girl said he looks like a Jeffrey, so the name has stuck. I prefer dogs, but this little cat is so sweet and very dog like. He comes when the girls call and "heels" when they run around the backyard. Big girl is even trying to teach him tricks. He always comes into the backyard early morning or late in the day and stays near the woods unless he sees or hears us. I won't let the girls feed him, but he doesn't seem to mind. He just likes being around them. Poor little man has to watch the fun from inside. He will point to the cat and then look at me with those big eyes. But momma always has to say no. BTW, baby Girl takes a few frames before she "warms up" to taking pictures. This was the first one I snapped and of course this is the one she wanted me to post. She knew some of you out there would get a good laugh!