March

March was ca-raaaa-zzyyy. I think it rivaled December. Spring break and Easter were busy enough to get their own posts, so here's all the other stuff....

Dr. Suess's birthday was a hit. If this preschool were any cuter. ;)

Unfortunately, I think Weston missed a whole week of preschool because of the flu. Let's back up. When Travis picked me up from the airport, when I got home from Dallas, Weston was in the backseat looking as sick as I'd ever seen him. I guess he had started a fever on Saturday but Travis didn't tell me so I wouldn't worry. My dad and Travis gave him a blessing that night and I had him sleep next to me so that I could be right next to him, checking on him. Neither of us really slept though. He'd moan and I'd give him a drink of water, rub his back and worry. He was restless and seemed to be in so much pain.  I kept checking his temperature as it slowly increased, despite medicine. At 4am it hit 105.8 and he had bloodshot eyes and was shaking. I quickly scooped him up and told Trav that I was taking him to the ER. I had no idea where to go, but ended up in an isolated ER on Gilbert and Germaine. I was so scared for him. I honestly felt like he was dying. It was the sickest I'd ever seen him. Luckily, the ER was completely empty and we got all the attention. They gave him more medicine and a steroid. The doctor was quick to call it flu because they had seen so much of it, but I asked him to do a test to be sure. And it was. H1N1. They did a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia. It showed bronchiolitis. The doctor also said his ears looked a little red and prescribed an antibiotic for that. After a couple of hours, the medicine seemed to be helping and he looked a little better. The doctor prescribed Tamiflu but it was $262 with our insurance and by Monday afternoon, he was doing remarkably better. The fever came back on Tuesday for a little bit and he started a bad cough on Thursday, but for the most part seemed over it. It's a good thing too, because Thursday night I didn't sleep at all. My body ached and my head was pounding. When Travis was getting ready to leave on Friday morning, I knew there was no way I could take care of the kids. So Travis dropped Olive off at my mom's and Weston probably watched 8 hours of TV while I died a slow death. There is absolutely nothing I could compare those next 3 days to. It was absolute hell. I was in so much pain...EVERYWHERE. There wasn't a part of my body that didn't kill. I had a fever and would be sweating, then the next minute I had chills and was freezing. I couldn't even watch TV. I couldn't sleep. I had no appetite. Medicine didn't help. I watched the minutes tick by on the clock as Friday became the longest day of my life. Travis gave me a blessing that night. I didn't sleep again. I felt so bad as Travis had to take care of the kids all by himself for the second weekend in a row. I was completely useless. Then the second day I started coughing. OH THE COUGHING!!!! You know when you cough so much that your stomach hurts? Times that by a million. There are no words to describe the pain that racked my chest and stomach when I coughed. It was unreal. I know I sound so dramatic but really, I didn't know how it wasn't killing me. And it was incessant. I started to think I had whooping cough. I wanted to cry but I think I was too dehydrated. Or just didn't have the strength to cry.  By Saturday afternoon I knew I needed to eat something, so in a strange moment of positive thinking, I dragged myself to the car. (Travis had been gone all day with the kids.) I made it two miles away to the Kneaders to get some soup and the whole time I was driving, I kept thinking.. this isn't safe. Why am I doing this? I feel like I could pass out at any second. It was like I was driving on drugs but I had no drugs in me. Besides almost throwing up on myself in the drive through, I made it back OK. That chicken noodle soup was manna from heaven. Shelley was throwing a cousins, favorite's party that night and I had to miss it. I was SO bummed. I dreaded the nights. Not being able to sleep, then finally falling asleep only to wake up to excruciating coughing. My anxiety about anyone else catching it didn't help. I was soooo stressed about it. Every time Travis brought me something, I'd harass him to wash his hands. I wouldn't let the kids come in my room. It worried me so much. I honestly didn't know how Olive's little body could handle it. I truly believed that Weston's blessing saved his life. I cried thinking about anyone else going through the pain I was feeling. Sunday morning I was desperate. I couldn't go on like this. I was googling every medicine possible. (If you're wondering why I didn't go to the doctor it's because we have a really high deductible on our health insurance and I was already dreading the possibly thousands of dollars in bills from taking Weston in.) I sent Travis to Fry's and Walgreens to get different cough drops and ginger for tea and zinc tablets. It might have helped a bit with the coughing but that day started the running to the bathroom problem. I tell ya, it was a heck of a week. I stayed in bed all day Sunday. By Monday, Travis had to go back to work. Somehow I drove the carpool to school. Then I laid on the couch, half aware of what was going on. Travis came home on his lunch break and took Olive with him to his mom's house. Each day got slightly better until I felt mostly OK on Thursday. A solid week of misery. My gosh, I wouldn't wish it on my WORST enemy. Travis is my hero. There is no way on earth I would have made it through that without him. He slept on the couch for almost a week (remember my paranoia that he'd catch it), made me tea, got me meds, took care of the kids, did laundry, cleaned, was constantly checking on me and getting me water or food. That man. I am beyond grateful. I'd also like to thank Fuller House and Gilmore Girls for offering some sort of distraction when I needed it most. I will forevermore be referring to that week as the time that the flu tried to kill me. I hate you, H1N1.

On to happier things!!

I'm addicted to the acai bowls at Nekter. Then, I found out you can buy acai packets at Costco! Toss those in a food processor with apple juice, some frozen strawberries, blueberries and a scoop of almond butter and waa-laa! I top it with homemade granola (thank you, visiting teachers) and fresh fruit and it's yum-my!

Grandma Dog gives socks for every holiday under the sun. The boys appreciate them. Happy St. Patrick's Day. This was the extent of our celebrating. ;)

Collin had a field trip to the Phoenix Science Center. Shelley watched my kids so I could meet him there. Oi! It was FAR! Overall, I spent more time driving that day than I did with him there. Oh well. He is always asking for more "alone" time with me, so it was worth it. He seemed really happy that I was there and stuck to my side like glue. 

This picture is of a screen that showed whoever was in front of a hidden camera. Those little animated robots at the bottom would interact with you. 

We got to watch a show inside the planetarium. 

 The joy!! He had just thrown that ball in the whirlpool.

Our ward is awesome and had a bunco night for an Enrichment activity. It was Easter week so I almost didn't go, but I'm glad I did. It was a lot of fun and laughing and sugar. I took this selfie because it makes me laugh when I'm hanging out with my mom's friends. The lady on the left is Kathy Grey... a girl who grew up in 9th ward with my parents. Her mom was my mom's favorite YW's leader. 

We met some friends at Krazy Air one morning! Weston and Olive didn't stop jumping for 2 hours. And how about this cute shirt?! Old Navy has some good marketing in a Mormon community. ;)

We are hiding. 

Some days we just do that. 

She has fun giggling and pulling the covers over our head to escape the "monsters".

My monster was my really dumb back that wouldn't work that day.

Some friends from Gallup were in town for their spring break and had a wedding to go to, so we watched their kids. They have 6, so we went to the park and let the wild rumpus proceed! Travis was great to keep tabs on all of them while I sat on my blanket and ate the cookies they brought us while watching the baby. :) It's a rough life.

My dad goes to the 5:30am session at the Mesa temple every Saturday. And his birthday was coming up. So Marcie had the idea of all of us surprising him and showing up at the 5:30am session on his birthday. Then we found out the temple would be closed on his actual birthday, so we did it the Saturday before. Shelley couldn't make it because her husband works then. My mom opted out. David said he'd come, but then slept in. SO. Marcie and I went! Craig and Jefferson aren't endowed and Christopher lives in Utah, so I suppose 2 out of 7 kids isn't awful, haha. It would have been nice if more could have come, but oh well. It was fun to be in the temple with him. I think we surprised him pretty good. 

More showed up for breakfast. ;) 

You just can't beat Cracker's and Co. Heaven is made in that kitchen.

The Haws were in town for their spring break also, so we had them over for lunch one Saturday. We ate Cafe Rio and played Headbandz. It's so fun to see old friends and catch up! The boys both came down with strep throat the night before or we would have gone swimming afterward. (We could not catch a break in March!!)

Texts like this make my day!! Sweetest Scarlett all wrapped up in the bath towel I made her! 

My mom's birthday is March 30, so we arranged to take her to lunch! It fell on a Wednesday which was perfect... only had to bring Olive. ;) She chose Joyride Tacos and I must say... it was muy bueno!! I didn't realize it would be so fancy! I always thought Joyride was comparable to Backyard Taco. I stand corrected!

We ate outside so the girlies got to dance around and sing to their heart's content! The weather was perfect. Afterward we walked over to Liberty Market for some dessert. They had some bomb Salt River bars (that we called Saguaro Lake bars), buttermilk pie and a donette that we all shared and gobbled up. 

Yummy birthday, Mom!!!  

Whose hair is longerrrr?!!

It was career month at Weston's preschool so the teacher asked if any parents wouldn't mind coming in and sharing their profession with the kids. 

Lucky Trav.. I volunteered him. :)

He talked to the kids about brushing and going to the dentist and let them practice on a fake set of teeth. Then he gave them all masks and gloves to try on. It was really fun watching him. And Olive was the most adorable assistant ever. And everyone went home with a goody bag complete with a refrigerator magnet that has the office's number on it. Go tell your friends, kids!