Valentine's Day 2013

Valentine's Day was supposed to be pretty fun around these parts. Only one kiddo had school because there were parent teacher conferences this day. Well, we ended up with a visit to the ER. Poor Brownie woke up with a fever. Not too high, but enough to make her want to lie on the couch and sleep. So I let her. At about 10:45, she woke up screaming in pain. She was doubled over grabbing the lower right quad of her belly. I asked her to try to go to the bathroom, all the while she is screaming and crying in pain. I immediately tell Matt I'm taking her to the ER because I'm just dead sure she is about to be poisoned by an exploded appendix. So he carries her to the car, and we're off.

 On our way there, the screaming has subsided which strikes me as odd, but I've never dealt with appendicitis before so I don't know what is normal. In the meantime I call my sister and the preschool to arrange for her to pick up Bug.

By the time we reach the hospital, she has little to no pain and I'm perplexed. We are taken immediately back to the triage room where they briefly take her vitals and discover a fever of over 103 degrees. We get a room and we begin to wait. And wait. By this time I'm thinking it's probably not her appendix, and that was soon (almost) confirmed by a PA (?). She said that Brownie would still be in pain, but regardless, they wanted to know why her fever was so high.

They ended up running several swabs, x-rays, and blood tests, and everything came back negative/normal. Well, almost everything. The doctor was very careful in her review of Brownie's history and discovered that when we had blood drawn six weeks before at that hospital (for a visit to a specialist), she was low on iron--like as low as one can be for "normal." And since that time, her count dropped a whole point. Since this was of concern, and we weren't quite sure if she had a bacterial infection or virus, the doctor sent us home with orders to retest her iron in a week and a Rx for an antibiotic.

I ended up filling the antibiotic to have "just in case" because her cough was really starting to develop. And we weren't able to get that blood test until two weeks later thanks to a ton of snow! And we're still waiting to hear back on that blood test.

By the time we got settled back in at home on V-day, everyone was worn out and too tired to celebrate. So we waited until Friday night to give the kids their gifts. They got some candy, a special red velvet cupcake treat, a cute little heart necklace and bracelet, and then one individual gift--skirts, a movie, a Minnie Mouse art pad,and miniature Disney books. Of course, Hunk didn't get candy, jewelry, a cupcake or any of that big kids stuff. Since he's growing so fast, he basically got clothes. And I didn't leave Daddy out--he received some special candy, and a cupcake!

And back before any of this happened, the older two girls had their parties at school the Tuesday before V-day. I got to see both of the parties, as did my sister (she helped me out since I was overbooked that day).

I made cookies for Peach's class, and Peach helped me decorate them. I think she did a smashing job!

 I also made each kiddo a shirt for the big day.

 Peach had hers on in the above pics, but she had a sweater on over it. And my poor Scrunchie never got her picture taken in her special shirt, but by golly I did make her one!

Hunk was the only one willing to sit for a spell while I captured him on V-day in his mommy-made shirt!

 This is Hunk's one true love, Sophie!

No bows this year (sad face). But I think the girls survived. I made it all better by including one of these in their gift set.

  I also gave one to each teacher--well, I take that back.

I had plans to give them to each teacher, but Bug's two teachers got left out. The day that I was rushing Brownie to the ER right before preschool pick up was the day and time I had planned to deliver the goodies. The next day there was no school. Then it was the weekend. Then Monday came and the two preschoolers had fevers. The next two days were their parent teacher conferences which we missed due to their fevers (and no daycare options). And the next two days were snow days. By the time that next Monday rolled around, it just seemed silly. So I figured I'd make up for it with their end of the year gift

Anyway, the Tuesday before V-day my MOPS group put on a MOPS and POPS night--a date night for us complete with Olive Garden food and homemade desserts. We played a version of The Newlywed Game and listened to Caroline's pastor and his wife talk about marriage. It was so much fun. I wish we cold have those nights more often!

So despite poor Brownie's illness, I still think our V-day festivities were pretty good. I know I enjoyed doing everything I did for my kids and husband. I love them so much, and I'm so glad I get to show them my love everyday.