The "vacation" is over!

Yes, Kevin and Morgan are back at school today, and I'm fairly positive that the two of them couldn't be happier! But, a lot has been accomplished around the house...the snow finally melted right before vacation, so the Christmas lights were finally able to come down outside, basement and garage have been cleaned out and organized, baby clothes are washed, put away and ready for his arrival, and all the other little "to-do" tasks are done!

Morgan has been such a big help and so excited about "helping" Dad...which mostly meant that she got to play outside while he was in the basement and garage. But she was awesome, and even helped me clean out and organize everyone's clothes.

So, while it wasn't super exciting, we got a lot accomplished!! And I say "we" but mostly I mean Morgan and Kevin. Maddie continued to go to school every day. She seemed to be on the mend from a double ear infection when her cough got much worse. She was most recently on the z-pack, did one round with not much of a difference. So, we got her started on the second round of antibiotics and then, once again, she breaks out in hives. We have more pictures of them, but I will spare you. We gave her some benadryl took her to the doctor who really didn't want to believe (mostly because it's so rare) that she was allergic to it. But we discovered that she was wheezing while we were there.

So, on the albuterol nebulizer she goes, and she was supposed to continue with the z-pack. Thankfully we didn't give her the next dose because as soon as we got home, put her in for a nap and she woke up with more hives everywhere. So, a definite allergy for sure. Now, we're waiting to hear what the next step will be...allergy testing for antibiotics, what would we give her if she gets sick again, etc. Throughout all of this, what a trooper she has been!! Even all drugged up on the benadryl, she was happy and playing, and Morgan has been such a great big sister.

Meanwhile, the baby continues to cause contractions on a daily basis - some more painful than others. He's squirming around quite a bit and couldn't be bigger at this point! It's like I have giant basketball in my stomach. The ultrasound I had last week showed that his estimated weight is 9 lbs. 1 oz. He was still breech, but we went in for what they call a version, where they turn him, and it worked. I'm not sure if he continues to stay that way - he's moving all over the place - but I say at 9 lbs. he's ready to arrive!! Now, only if he thought so too!!

So, needless to say, it's been a bit busy and hectic over here, but hopefully we'll soon be posting picts of our new arrival!!

Ice Cream Cupcakes - need I say more?!

Maddie enjoys an ice cream cupcake. She starts with the whipped cream topping...

Then, she skips the ice cream in the middle, and goes for the "cake" at the bottom....

Treaure Hunt

In a desperate attempt to give Morgan some excitement over her 2 week vacation, and because she has been obsessed with pirates, treasure, and Pirates of Penzance, Kevin decided to put together a "treasure hunt!"

1st Clue: (not on video) A picture of a house. It reads "Grab your backpack. Fill it with water bottle, a snack, and a sweatshirt. Once you have your backpack packed and are dressed and ready, ask for your second clue.

2nd Clue:(also not on video) a picture of Southfield (Morgan's school). The clue said "Travel to the school pictured here. Make sure you give the school the black box (a speaker) in the back of Daddy's car. Once the box is in the office, you may have your next clue!" (A nice way to run errands too)!

3rd Clue: Morgan received this after they dropped off the "black box."

"Drive the the stop where you can board this (picture of a train). Travel onboard until you get to the BIG PARK in the middle of Boston. ONce you arrive at the park, you will receive your next clue!

4th Clue - Make Way for Ducklings

"Make Way for these Guys! How many babies are there? Find the statues in the park. Once you know the answer, you will receive your final clue."

**some videos of clues have no downloaded - too long. That's why some are missing!**

Last Clue - Octopus

"Travel on the subway to the home of this 8 legged sea creature. Once you arrive, find my friend who has been there for almost 40 years!!!" (The sea turtle - Myrtle!)

And there's the "40 year-old friend!"

And then there's the matter of the "treasure!"

Way to go, Dad!!! Great treasure hunt!!!

Crash!

Maddie practices her tackling techniques. She is saying "Again Mama" at the end of every fall.

This is what an allergy looks like...

We had an little bit of an eventful weekend...beginning with me going on bed rest. Contractions and a breech baby I guess don't really mix. So at least for the next 2 weeks until the baby can turn, I can be found here at home, in bed. After the news of bed rest hit, I picked up the girls and went home. I found it a little odd, but not particularly unusual for Maddie to have a little rash on her...randomly spread throughout her body - some on her stomach, a few on her legs/thighs and one enormous one on her wrist. I gave her some benadryl (with her antibiotic for her ear infections) just in case, and put the exhausted girl (s) to bed.

Here is Maddie's wrist. Yes, it looks awful, but rashes are something we are familiar with...or so I thought...

The next morning, we woke up and Maddie's rash was all over her body....(as you can see below)...

Maddie had hives underneath both eyes too - all swollen. My poor girl!!

So, the moral of the story... clearly the one time I should have panicked a little, I didn't. Kevin even called after winning the semi-finals of the bball game (they went on to win the championship this weekend!!!), but even when he called, I said, "Oh, Maddie has a rash - I gave her some benadryl but I'm sure she'll be fine!"

So, apparently after 8-9 days on an antibiotic, you can begin show signs of an allergic reaction. So, that's now 2 different medicines Maddie cannot have. And a BIG lesson learned for Mama!

Thankfully she's on the mend!!!