Fun Day!

After two weeks of illness the kids were finally able to get out and do something.
This morning Nana took us to the mall for some fun! The kids went to Build A Bear for the first time.The twins really liked picking their animals but Gage could care less.Alex picked a purple ( go figure!) hippo , Austin a green dinosaur and I picked Gage the cheapest dog there was since he had no clue.
Austin put 2 hearts in his instead of one so he thinks his is better than the others!
Alex chose a purple cheer leading outfit , Austin a Spiderman shirt , a Texas Rangers flag and I held up shirt after shirt for Gage to pick.He ended up with a Jeep shirt , it was the only one that he did not say no to.
The whole thing was an experience to say the least. $80 later we were leaving! $80 for 3 stuffed animals!!!!
We had some pizza in the food court and then rode a carousel. The kids actually called it the carnival!
The mall had a wonderful play area that the kids enjoyed too.
It was a really fun outing for the kids .Thank you to Nana for taking them to have a little much needed and well deserved fun time!
When we got home the kids and I took advantage of the weather and we all washed my truck! The kids mostly played in the water while I washed and they had a good time.
For dinner Kevin took all of us to Chicken Reds for dinner.The kids had a blast on the playground.Turns out Gage is getting good at ladder climbing!
At the moment the kids are watching Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory and hopefully winding down for the night.I hope its bedtime soon because Shawn is playing poker tonight and im exhausted from all the fun they had today!

Another First For Gage!

What a mess! Gage has been toilet obsessed these days.Not in the good potty training way either.
He just likes to put stuff , including his hands, in the water.
I am constantly pulling him out of the bathroom.Well he finally clogged the toilet! Shawn was able to plunge it last night but today it was not happening.
After work he and Kyle had to actually remove the toilet!
We knew it had to be in the actual toilet when after removing the toilet from the ground there was still water in the bowl.
So Shawn lifted it up as much as possible while I grabbed everything out..After some nasty stuff, I wont go into (while Kyle was walking away threatning to throw up!),there it was,a little toy baby.
So for now all is clear but at least now Shawn knows how to detatch and unclog for future incidents.

Ladies Night!

On Saturday morning my Mom , our favorite cousin Sandy, and I headed to Shreveport for a much needed ladies night!
We had a blast together! We stayed at the very modern and beautiful Hilton in the convention center in downtown.The hotel was wonderful and shuttled us everywhere we wanted to go.
We gambled a few hours , long enough to loose atleast $60 each then we decided we were better off going shopping! They have a great outdoor mall there called the boardwalk so we killed a few hours there.After dropping our bags off at the hotel we headed to the Horseshoe to loose the rest of our money! Actually Sandy broke even so she did better than Mom and I.
We all had a few drinks and were feeling pretty good so after going back to the hotel we thought some Wing Stop sure sounded great!
Luckily the place was open till 12am so we rushed down there. It was the perfect end to a fun filled night!
On our way home we stopped and did a little outlet shopping.
I had a great time with my Mom and cousin and the overnight stay was much needed.
I may have lost some money but it was a small price to pay for a little time away!

Oh No!

Yes , you are looking at our first case of pink eye!
Last night Alex's right eye started turning red then before bed the discharge.This morning I awoke to her screaming"Mommy I can't open my eye!"Poor thing that eye was matted shut with dried goop!Now her left eye is starting to have some discharge too.The Dr. said it is more than likely the viral kind that comes during or after a cold.The nurse called us in some drops and told me if the eye is still swollen tomorrow to go ahead and bring her in.
The hard part is staying on top of her to wash her hands every time she touches her eyes.
I'm pretty positive one of us is next!
What a month already. Last week I was shut in with Gage and the croup now I am home bound with a very contagious case of pink eye! Life is great!HA

Making Some Changes...

This year Shawn and I have decided to be healthier.We both gave up cigars!Shawn is doing great I am really proud of him.I told him when he had a really bad craving to just think to himself that he is doing this for his kids and to be a better and healthier Dad.Of course I really did not think that would work but it did! After his first day I asked him if he smoked and he said no , so I then asked if bought a can of snuff,he did.I asked him if it was in his truck and he told me right after he bought it he felt so guilty and actually threw it away! If you know Shawn then you know that is big for him to spend money only to throw it away!
I actually printed out a side by side comparison picture of a smokers lung and a healthy lung , plus a picture of a smokers esophagus. If I ever think I want to smoke I go look at that and think ,nope so not worth it!
Aside from that I started working out again and it feels great.
We have both been eating healthier too.I actually have Shawn eating fish once a week now! Its not even fried!!
So all is very well here and we intend to keep up the hard work.FYI..Dont get offended if Shawn snaps at you! He is a little moody at the moment! HA

Surpise!

As soon as I walked in the door from the movies and saw Gage I knew I was on my way to E.R.
He had a slight dry cough when I left but nothing serious.5 hours later he had a severe barking cough,horrible wheezing , chills and a 104.1 fever.
I immediately called the Dr. and sure enough was sent o the E.R. I knew it before I called but I wanted the confirmation.
When I signed him in the nurse heard him breathing and took me to a room right away.I was so thankful not to be among the numerous waiting parents in the waiting room!
After seeing the Dr. it was confirmed that he had croup.They gave him tylenol , steroids and a breathing treatment.The breathing treatment was different though , it was epi not albuterol.Apparently albuterol will not do a thing for croup.The epi is a cardiac stimulant so it is not something they can send home with us.You have to be monitored for 2 hours after an epi treatment.He HATED it! The respiratory nurse held the mask while I literally was holding him down.
He was sent home with croup attack instructions and steroids.I'm happy to say he is much better this morning.
It dawned on me while I was waiting at the pharmacy that this was his first prescription.We have been very lucky with him.Almost 2 with never anything serious enough to require antibiotics.
We finally got home at 10:30pm and we were both glad to get in bed!

Pirate Movie!

Sunday afternoon we took the big kids to see the new Veggie Tales movie.Nana always takes the kids to see a new move! Grammy Gwen was able to join us this time as well.The kids had a great time eating popcorn , drinking soda and getting their Grandmas to buy them M&M's!Austin loved the movie.Alex told me she liked it too but when she heard Kyler say he did not then her story changed!

After the movie the kids played some arcade games.Before going home we stopped at the book store and let them pick a few books out too.They really had a special day for just them.It's nice to be able to take them to spend some one on one time together.Or should I say two on one!