Zach's Allergy Appointment

Today, Zach had his allergy appointment in Topeka. We had the same dr that Logan saw in the spring. They have been wonderful and really spend a lot of time with us explaining and figuring out what's wrong. He had the tests done on his back:

For each mark there is a different allergen that they test for. Poor baby had been off his meds since Wednesday so he was MISERABLE!!!! His eyes were just puffy and RED!


We found out that he is VERY VERY allergic to ragweed which I guess is horrible this time of year. He is not as allergic to things as Logan was or not nearly as many things, such as pets, or as many trees. Logan was allergic to everything they tested him for, except for dogs. Zachary was mainly allergic to a few kinds of trees, weeds, grass, and especially ragweed. She wrote him about 5-6 prescriptions for a steriod for the next week or so, nasal spray, eye drops, a new inhaler, a nebulizer breathing treatment, and something else that I can't quite remember right now. He'll also be on the Singulair and Zyrtec each day! Already tonight he's starting to feel much better after having had his meds. We'll go back at the end of October for another check up and then he will more than likely start the weekly shots after that since we're hoping the ragweed will have calmed down by then.

As for an update on Grandad, we haven't really received one for awhile, so I'm assuming that no news is good news??? We're still continuing to pray that he builds his strength and gets better. I'm also hoping we can get healthy around here to be able to go see him or at least for Shawn to go see him again without worrying about taking germs with him!

Tarin's Baptism & Zach's Allergies

Today Tarin was baptized at church. He'll be 1 year old in exactly 1 month and so he's almost the same size as Malachi. Malachi had a 99 fever so we allowed him to go because well, he was up all night last night with drool/slobber and just pulling on his ears and mouth. His eye teeth are working their way in - thankfully both of them (lower ones) at the same time. So, it looks like we went from the flu (if that's what it was) to teething. How wonderful! :)

It was so fun to spend the day with family, but I feel like I got absolutely nothing done. I have so much homework and things to do at home that when I'm gone all day its frustrating for me. I come home and there's so much more work than when I left! UGH! So, tonight I'm trying to get ready to crash so we can pick up and go go go again this week!

We really weren't thinking much when we carpooled with my sister and brother to stay at the farm all day. Zach hasn't had his allergy medicines since Wednesday (besides a tad bit of cheating when I gave him a dose of benedryl on Friday). Almost immediately his eyes started watering, turning red and just itching so badly. He was MISERABLE and I felt so helpless! Thankfully, tomorrow is his allergist appointment so we will get him tested and he can get right back on his meds. I just feel so awful for him! Shawn and I haven't really had much allergies ourselves, but we figured Logan will be our spring allergy-sufferer and Zachary will more than likely be our fall allergy-sufferer! Wonder which one Malachi will be! UGH!

I wanted to get a good picture of his eyes tonight so you could see how very red and watery they were, but my camera and my patience were not working well, so I gave up! :)

We'll see what tomorrow brings! It'll be a Monday. . . . ah!

Boys & Bella

The boys are starting to feel much better today! Logan isn't quite as energetic as he had been, but that's still alright. His fever is ALMOST gone and Malachi's has been down to right around 100 degrees all day.

These are pictures from last night right after Logan told me (after a BIG yawn), "but mama, I NOT tired!"

This is his scrubs outfit with cowboy boots that he wore the other day:

SuzieQ has had company last night and today. Bella has been here to play with her. Its amazing how different the two puppies are. Bella is definitely more Boston and Suzie is more beagle.

Logan is WAY more partial to Bella and was constantly checking up on her and making sure she was entertained:







Malachi is still REALLY grouchy and clingy. I haven't gotten anything done today besides hold him. He will fall asleep in my arms and as soon as I go to lay him down, he'll squirm and wake up and be really grouchy again. He was up almost all last night too for the same reason, so I'm praying he'll sleep tonight.

As for Grandad, please continue to pray. Shawn really wanted to go up there this weekend, but many things kinda have gotten in the way, especially the thought of our boys being sick and Shawn possibly having the virus or whatever it is they're spreading. As of yesterday, they'd learned that Grandad had pnemonia. He did have surgery the other day for a pacemaker, and I guess he had a heart attack right there on the table, so he was lucky that he was where he was and around who he was so he lived!

Still sick

5 minutes after a big yawn and saying- but mama, I NOT tired! Here is Logan, still holding onto a 102 fever. Malachi is down to 103.2! Yeah! Slow progress. Its been a LONG day!

A Sick Day

What a GLORIOUS day it is outside!!!! Its such beautiful weather out. What a great day to be home and not have to work! :) Let me rephrase that just a tad- What a great day it would be if i did not have 2 very sick little boys and could be home and not have to work! :) Oh, I have a LOT of work to do that will get done later this evening when Shawn comes home to relieve me of these duties. Malachi started out the morning at 4:30am with a 104.5 degree fever (yes, we checked it TWICE) and 2 hours later, even after Motrin, it was still at 103.9. I took him into the dr. office as soon as they opened and it had come down to 102.5, but they thought something more serious that what Zachary had was wrong, so ordered some tests and we waited- he slept/drooled on me and I played on Facebook on my phone.

In the middle of waiting, the babysitter for Logan called and said, he hit bottom fast this morning- started off saying his head hurt and that he was tired. This was weird because when I dropped him off, he was spunky and funny. So, by the time I got there to pick him up, he was running a 101.5 fever and was wrapped up in blankets, just very cold (thinking he was cold- he was actually VERY hot to touch). So, I loaded him up and brought him home. I called Zach's school to see if he was okay and they said that so far he hadn't made an appearance in the office, so thought he was doing well.

When we arrived home, I carried 2 very hot lumps of weight into the house and plopped them onto the couch. Malachi had nothing of that. He wanted to be held, but Logan was okay resting. So, I started making Mac & Cheese for Logan which is what he had requested and while he was sitting at the table, he started throwing up. After about twice, he perked up, smiled, and exclaimed, "I just threw up my headache and now I feel MUCH better!" While I about puked cleaning it up, Malachi just had to cry for a little bit, and well, as you can see, he just collapsed on the chair and fell asleep.





As of Noon today- Logan 102.4 and Malachi at 103.6- and the race is one to see who can get to 98.6 the fastest! :) I certainly hope someone is enjoying this beautiful day outside! :)

Sick baby

We're fighting a fever that sticks around 104 and poor baby is miserable.
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Squiggly, Squirmy, Slimy Things

Zachary is starting to feel much better tonight. His fever went down last night (actually this morning at 4am) and he rested all day, so is feeling much more like himself. He's still very hoarse and complains of a very sore throat. And, his cough is atrocious as his asthma is terrible right now, but we can deal with that. Yesterday, he had 104 fever and was very lethargic and just awful feeling, so the fact that he's actually up and about is promising for us today. However. . . . that being said, we have to take him off of his allergy meds today since its 5 days away from his allergist appointment, so I'm not wanting to get my hopes up that the rest of the 2 days left this week could possibly be peaceful and restful. I would LOVE to catch up on sleep from the past few days, but I'm not even going to try to get my hopes up! :)


Logan continues to be un-potty trained, which is frustrated and heart-breaking! I am soooo at a loss of what in the world to do! I honestly think that he had so many enemas when we were starting to vicious fiber cycle that he might have lost sensation and just leaks now (yes, TMI probably, but trust me, not even as graphic as I could go!). I am pretty sure he can't tell when he goes but he does know after he's gone, but seems to be okay just sitting in it, which gives him awful diaper rash! We're trying to work with him to change himself, which he does, but seems to be very ashamed of it, so we've been trying to be as helpful and un-frustrated as possible. We still have 5 months until he turns 5 years old, so I'll hold out hope! :)


Malachi has been an awful meanie at daycare lately. I know exactly where he's getting it, but its hard to get through to an 18 month old that they aren't supposed to chuck cars, step on babies, pull hair, pinch, scratch, throw fits. . . (oh, the list goes on). He is a spoiled little brat and also the most loveable little baby. We are trying hard to nip it in the bud right away and teach him "nice touches" and saying sorry, but we are also starting time outs with him because he needs to understand that he can't be doing those hurtful things!

Here is Mr. Independent climbing the higher than normal baby gate that we put in the front door to prevent escapes!

And, I might add that he scales this in record speed!

Now, onto the slimy, squirmy, mushy, gushy things- Malachi found an earthworm the other day and boy did I feel sorry for that worm! I'm not sure if you are familiar with the book "Diary of a Worm" but it sure would have made for an interesting book after its experience with Malachi! I had to take soooo many pictures because, well. . . . his facial expressions were pretty interesting.

Here is Malachi holding the invisible end of the worm:

Actually, he was in the process of dropping and picking it up. That was a fun game to play with the poor worm! Can you see his anticipation as Zachary plays with the worm?

It looks like he just wants to munch on the slimy worm! :)

This is an unsure face wondering what the worm is doing and could it possibly be trying to wriggle free of this toddlers hands?

Here is the same look? Should I just give up and let the darn thing go?

It sure is an interesting worm!

Oh! Look! I think he's telling me something!

Yep! It told me he just pottyed on my hand! :)

Mr. Worm, we're gonna chat!

He kept laying the worm on the floor and then just staring at it!

Oh my! Mr. Worm, you amaze me! :)

Alright Mr. Worm, you're getting a bit old and boring!

Maybe its time to hand you over to mommy to let you live out the rest of your life in the wild outdoors!


Here Mommy! I just KNOW you love this slimy thing! (I'm backing away as I take this picture because in my opinion, worms are ICKY!!!!)


Haha! Mommy's scared of worms! :)



This poor little toad had no chance when he was spotted hopping around our yard Sunday morning! Malachi stalked him and carryed him around, even trying to put him in our van!

A funny for the day: On the way to school this morning, Logan said, "Mommy, your school is bestest than Zachary's." I asked why he thought that and he told me, "Well, its very very big and Zach's school is small." I said that the size wasn't what makes a school good. That's when Zach piped in and said, "Yeh, Logan, because our school is WAY better because we play more than they do at mommy's school!" :) I'm very glad to know that learning is fun for him. :)

Pictures by Grandma

This past year for Christmas, my mom got a digital camera and has been slowly learning how to use it. Well, she'd had pictures stored on there, since. . . . last Christmas and we finally got them onto a computer to do something with! So here are some pictures from at Grandma's house.

The cat and dog get along quite well:


The boys went to Taige's house to swim:


Naptime:



Zachary has gotten MUCH worse with his allergies. He's got a full-blown sinus infection and was feeling just awful today. Had a fever of 104 and seriously was just wanting to sleep. We took him to the doctor and got him started on some antibiotics, but the poor baby is miserable right now and there is really not a lot that we can do. We just have to monitor him and make sure his asthma doesn't get the best of him. Scary!

As for Grandad, I'm not sure what Shawn got for an update, but it still sounds like his restless legs are not letting him get the rest he really needs to recover from the surgery, so prayers are still very much appreciated!

I'm off to bed, just praying that I don't exhaust all my sick leave this year. . . . is that a bit too much to ask?????