Blog Challenge, day 13: Croup

Has your baby ever had Croup? I hope not. Carter got it when he was four months old.  Croup was a horrible thing to experience as a parent and required a trip to the Children's Hospital ER around 4:00 a.m., one day back in May. 

Carter had just gotten over the stomach flu the week before. Daycare sent him home one day with it and I kept him home the rest of the week to ensure he wouldn't pass it to anyone else. Although we kept anyone else from daycare catching the stomach flu, I caught it just in time for the weekend. Awesome.

The next week started, we were both better and life went back to normal. Carter went back to daycare for a day and I to work. Then, the next morning (around 2:00 a.m.), I heard him coughing on his monitor. After checking in on him with his cough which was nothing at the time, I woke up around 3:30 to him barking like a seal. That is what his cough changed to in an hour and a half. Poor guy was having the hardest time breathing. Kept trying to cry but couldn't due to the breathing issue and continual barking cough. I kept holding and talking to him, trying to calm him down while we called his on call doctor.  After listening to him over the phone, she said we MUST get him to Children's Hospital right away. 

Once there, without any delay they checked him in and hooked him all up to start monitoring his breathing and other vitals. Without much delay they decided he needed some steroids which they were hoping would open up his throat and help his breathing return to normal.  Unfortunately that didn't work so they next sent in a breathing specialist and we had to do a breathing treatment. They kept us there for 3 hours after his breathing treatment and continued to monitor his breathing. Finally he was on the up & up and we were released. Between Jeff and I, one of us pretty much held him the rest of that day once we were home from the hospital. Jeff and I were exhausted but glad our little guy was better and on the mend. He was checked out Thursday of that week by our Pediatrician and his oxygen levels were fine and all was good. Of course I was not going to take any chances with taking him back to daycare and he and I continued to stay home the remainder of the week.

Here is a picture of little man's foot while we were in the hospital. They monitored his oxygen levels from his big toe.  I had a picture of him with the breathing mask on but deleted it that same week. It was too sad of a picture and nothing I wanted to look back on and remember. This is enough to remember that horrible and scary day.

Blog Challenge, day 12: Sparkling water and crystal light

I love water. I think it is delicious and refreshing but sometimes I just want something more. Sure I could spice up normal water with some fruit but I have something better. Do you ever enjoy a little sparkling water? It is such a refreshing and different way to drink water and also get hydrated. It tastes great on its own, with sliced fruit such as lemon, lime or orange or even some fresh sliced berries. Of course my favorite way to enjoy sparkling water if want a little treat is to add a packet of Crystal Light to my glass, stir and enjoy. Such a delightful, flavorful, yummy and guilt free way to hydrate. Sparkling water and crystal light is one of my favorites and I like to enjoy a glass (or more) a couple times a week. If you have never paired the two before, give it a try.

Blog Challenge, day 11: Halloween 2011

This Halloween was Carter's first. Although he is too young to really understand all the fun that is Halloween, it was still great to experience it all with a little kiddo. We know that every year it will be that much better to experience Halloween fun with Carter as he starts to figure it all out.

There were three things we did to celebrate Halloween this year:

1) Attended a pumpkin carving party with friends and lots of other kiddos. We did not get around to carving our pumpkins at the party as we were busy hanging with Carter and some other young kiddos around his age. Getting all the kids in costumes and trying to stay in one spot long enough to get photos of them all together was task enough. He took a liking to twin girls (5 months old) and we all hung out together the majority of the time at the party.

2) Carved two pumpkins at home a couple days before Halloween. Next year, we decided we will wait to carve pumpkins until the day/night before Halloween. This will help keep them fresh looking longer since it is so dry here. They tend to curl in after a couple nights....we found out the hard way. Do you keep or throw out your pumpkin seeds after carving? I decided to roast our this year and coated them with splenda and cinnamon. Delish!

3) Handed out candy to all the Trick-or-Treaters that came by on Halloween. This was our first Halloween ever together handing out candy, not only as a family of three but for Jeff and I as well. Years prior we were always at parties or out to dinner, and that was because we didn't get many trick-or-treaters where we lived all the years before. This year Carter was dressed in his costume all night and was included in greeting all Trick-or-Treaters and passing out candy. Great to see all the various costumes and have another memory for Jeff and I with our little guy!

Here our pictures from our various Halloween events:

Da-da, Ma-ma & Carter the Giraffe at the Pumpkin Carving Party

Just me and my Giraffe - love him!!

Carter with the twins, Molly & Ellie

I don't remember if this is Ellie or Molly but she DID NOT LIKE her costume! 

She kept crying. Carter was curious what the crying was about trying to cheer her up by poking her cheek. It didn't help. :)

Pumpkin carved by Meghan

Pumpkin carved by Jeff

Our little pumpkin (Carter's Halloween PJ's) and our two carved pumpkins

Splenda & Cinnamon roasted pumpkin seeds

Blog Challenge, day 10: Please excuse me, I'm EXHAUSTED

Please excuse me, I'm EXHAUSTED. This holiday weekend was fun, memorable and beyond busy. So busy that it is just a little after 9:00 p.m. and everyone is in bed. I am on my way to bed as well. I've already fallen asleep on the couch for a few minutes while I was thinking of all the things I need to get done this week. Therefore, with so much accomplished and taken care of and experienced this weekend, and all that is to come this week. I'm off to bed.

Here is a picture from this past week of Carter sleeping....love how he sticks his little bottom in the air when sleeping on his tummy and tucks his hands under his body so they stay warm. Too cute.

Carter passed out on Meg last night while she was babysitting him. 

Precious! He is such a snuggle bug.

Wishing you sweet dreams and a good nights sleep. xoxo

Blog Challenge, day 9: Date Night

Tonight's post is going to be a short one. Why? We are having a date night. Sans our little man!!!!!! Thanks to a dear and great friend of mine, Megan. We have been friends since we were six. She lives in Denver. She's a sweetie. She has offered many times to watch him but we feel bad asking. Then two weeks ago we got together for lunch, it came up (babysitting) and I said sure. Called and asked her last week and here we are on our way to date night. Meg is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G with Carter and he adores her. Hoping he behaves for her tonight. Thanks Meg for babysitting and giving us a REAL date night without our precious little boy. We appreciate tonight more than words can tell you. See you two in a few hours. Until then, mom & dad are going out on the town. Yippee!!!!


P.S. This post, just as last nights, is courtesy of the "blogger" app on my iPhone. Although I need to go on our computer and tweak last nights a bit, I love this application. I completed this post while in the car (Jeff is driving) on our way to dinner. More on iPhone and favorite apps in a future post.

Blog Challenge day 8: At night

There are a few things I cannot do without every night, well most nights. Let me share:
1) Checking in on my guy, Carter. Even though most every night I put him to bed, I still have to check in on him EVERY night before going to bed. IT.IS.A.MUST for me!
2) Carter's sound bear being on. It keeps him peacefully sleeping even while I am down stairs quite possibly being my normal, loud, klutzy self each night.
3) My pink, warm, fuzzy, cute UGG slippers. I need a new pair but they don't make this style any longer so I am going to keep them for a little while longer. Love that they are not only comfortable and my favorite color but also keep my feet warm!
4) Water next to my bedside. It is dry here. Very dry. Water helps keep that dry tickle in my throat more controlled during the night when it prayers me thank goodness!
5) Sudoko! I unfortunately am too tired some nights but many nights I try to complete at least one puzzle in my book. I also date, sign and write a little note significant to the day finished the puzzle in the book. Makes it that much more special when looking back at all the puzzles I have completed thus far. If it isn't Sudoko then it is either a book or tv. If it isn't either of those, then it is straight to be because I am simply too tired for any of it.
6) Saying goodnight and giving a kiss goodnight to Jeff. I truly believe the saying, "Always kiss me goodnight" and try to follow it.
7) Saying a prayer. Either just the one say with Carter every night and hopefully most nights saying my own.

That is all. I am off to Soduko, say my prayers, take off my slippers, take a sip of water and off to bed. Sweet Dreams.

xoxo

Blog Challenge, day 7: Thanksgiving 2011

Today is Thanksgiving. It isn't just any Thanksgiving though, it is Carter's 1st Thanksgiving. It made this year that much more special and amazing. We spent the day with some of my extended family. Thankful we have such amazing family here to spend the holidays with. Thank you to my Grandma & Grandpa Moose (full real name left out for online purposes) for hosting Thanksgiving and having us over. Love when we get to see and spend time with family but really love when Carter gets to. I know he is young now and won't remember these first moments but everyone else will, pictures captured will help and things like this blog post will help too.

Here are a few of the pictures captured today:

Carter sleeping in his running stroller after this mornings run - we brought him & the jogging stroller into the house as to not disturb him and he slept for 2 hours just as you see in this picture. I had to wake him up for his bath and bottle so we could move on to be with the family

Carter playing with his Great-Grandma & Great-Grandpa's doggies; Alex & Condoleezza

(the dogs are such good sports with Carter - he chased them around the house - under the table, everywhere he could get on his own - he had a blast and they are so good with him - I have possibly 30 pictures of him chasing the dogs)

Carter & Da-da

Some of the boys in the loft watching basketball

Carter waiving hi to ma-ma and the rest of us talking at the table

Carter loving Great-Grandma & Great-Grandpa's stairs - climbing them with da-da

Good job buddy, keep climbing

(thanks da-da for making sure I don't go "boom")

Carter snuggling with his Great-Grandma and admiring her necklace

Great-Grandma playing "this little piggy" with Carter's toes

Five minutes later - little man is fast asleep 

(thanks for Snuggling with me, Great-Grandma)

He wore himself out

Thankful he can fall asleep and stay asleep for a good nap while we all hang out around him & keep enjoying each others company

Carter - the people you spent your first Thanksgiving with:
Great- Grandma & Great-Grandpa Moose, Great-Uncle Johnny, Great-Aunt Lori, 2nd Cousins Marshall & Isaac and family friend, Dave.  Not to be left out...Alex and Condoleezza.

There are so many things I am thankful for and that we are thankful for. Love that there were multiple moments today where we took time to talk about and give thanks for all that we are thankful for this year. Hope you and yours had an amazing Thanksgiving and gave thanks for all that is great in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!!

(picture courtesy photobucket)