Hell Week

WARNING: MAJOR VENTING AHEAD. DEBBIE-DOWNER MATERIAL. DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU.

Thanks to all my friends and family who have been supportive of us through this past week. It was the worst week ever. This is the last time Hell Week will be spoken of.

Sunday- Actually a good day. Hell Week had not yet begun.

Monday- Marc found out a close colleague of his has brain cancer. He is 39 years old. Odds of recovery are good, but he requires major brain surgery to remove the tumor.

Tuesday- Henry wakes up with a low-grade fever after a whopping 4 days of being well from his prior ear infection. I assume it's his molars coming in. Marc and I alternate taking care of him while handling work meetings between us.
As the day progresses, he still has fever but I'm controlling it with Tylenol (or think I am). Nighttime strikes and I give him his last dose of Tylenol at midnight (his sleep schedule is always off when he's not feeling well). I am sleeping in the guest room and Marc is sleeping with Henry in our bed. At 2am Marc comes running in the room saying Henry is having a seizure. Obviously, we are both freaking out and have no clue what's going on. I call 911 and the operator tells us to lay him down on his side so he doesn't choke on his saliva and just stay close to him and make sure he doesn't hurt himself. His seizure lasts 2 minutes, but feels like an eternity. My heart is pumping so hard I feel like it's going to burst out of my chest. The paramedics arrive and check all his vitals to make sure he's stable. Evil bitch paramedic woman endures the wrath of an enraged mama bear when she says, with attitude mind you, "Well......what do you want us to do?"

"Hmmmm...let's see lady, how bout you give me some advice on what the hell is going on?! Last time I checked, I'm not a paramedic and I have no formal training on why a 16 month old baby would have a seizure in the middle of the night."

EMT Bitch- "I cannot legally advise you what to do."

Me- "Um, then why are you here? Your bedside manner is just swell."

Thank goodness there was a sweet EMT guy there, probably a daddy himself, who explained to me that Henry had just had a seizure brought on by a high rise in temperature. He advised us that it would be best to get him to the hospital to have him checked out just in case. I would later learn at the ER that they are called Febrile Seizures and happen in 1 out of every 25 children. They are harmless and cause no permanent damage, but he has a 30% percent chance of having another in the future. He will outgrow them by age 6. The ER doc thinks that he probably still has a little bit of an ear infection and he prescribes an antibiotic. We still don't really know if that's what caused the fever. We're at the ER from 2:30am to 5am. I haven't cried yet.

Wednesday- I stay home with Henry. He still has fever and is now developing a red rash on his cheeks. He's walking like a drunken sailor. I take him to the doctor and they diagnose him with Roseola. Not to be confused with the actress Rosario Dawson. I told people for two days that Henry had Rosario. Roseola is a form of the herpes virus and is very common in children. Symptoms are a high fever for 1 to 3 days, followed by a red rash and general irrability and lethargy for 2-3 days. Sounds about right. The doctor said the seizure can mess with the nerves and muscles and his walking could be altered for a couple days.

Thursday- Henry's in a good mood in the morning and his fever is gone, so I decide to take him to the sitter for the afternoon so I can get some work done. I think things might be looking up and I keep my hair appointment for the evening. I don't know if the week's events have had an effect on me yet, but I make the rash decision of getting a lot of hair chopped off. But it feels good! Less hair, less stress. Although I do feel like I have a little Cleopatra thing going on with my bangs and bob.
Marc picks up Henry and poor thing did not do well at the sitter's. Kid can't catch a break.

Friday- Henry is still not feeling well and I hold him almost the whole day. I have finally lost all control on my emotions and the flood gates have opened. I start crying at 7am and don't stop till I pick up the wine glass at 2pm. The drinking helps....oh the mama juice, how you work miracles. My mind has traveled to the land of "What If's". This is dangerous territory.

- What if I can't get this baby well? January and February has been filled with Ringworm, Croup, Eczema, 2nd ear infection, and now Roseola. What if something else is wrong with him?

- My line review project for work is due on March 7th. I've lost almost a whole week of work. Marc leaves on Sunday for the Lowe's Sales Meeting in Vegas. If this baby's not well by Monday, what am I going to do? I have so much work to do....

I also find out a very good friend has had a miscarriage after a year of trying. This is devastating news.

Saturday- I find out one of my friend's from home that I've known since 7th grade has ovarian cancer. They found it at her routine ob-gyn visit. She had to have an emergency hysterectomy and starts chemo in 3 weeks. She is 30 years old.

Sunday- God bless you Sunday. I drop off Marc at the airport after a tough morning with Henry. I am praying for a miracle at this point. After some time shopping and spending time outside, his mood miraculously turns at around 1pm. My brave, beautiful boy is sitting in my lap, looks up at me with a big smile and plants a sloppy open-mouthed kiss on me.
And I knew everything was going to be ok.

Love,

Lyndsey

My Funny Valentine

Kenny Powers

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Krusty the Clown

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Henry's hair

Time for a haircut! We had snapped a little bit of it off after Christmas, but decided to chop a bit more off this time. Daddy manned the scissors. I was too scared!

Check him out! Looking even more like a big boy now. Stylin' and profilin'....

This picture is not the best, but he was so happy to open up his Valentines care package from Gee-maw and Grandpa! A new recordable story book, animal crackers, goldfish, and Reeses peanut butter hearts (those were for me). He got some special money to put in his piggy bank from Nana and Gramps and a card that he carries around with him everywhere. You see, it has a picture of a bulldozer AND a dump truck on it, so it's pretty much the best thing ever.

Here's his Valentine's gift from Mommy and Daddy. A bicycle to practice on!

Cheesing it up at his 15 month old appointment. This is his picture taking smile.


I figure he's old enough now to start contributing. I've started putting him to work in the yard.



Love,

Lyndsey, Marc, Henry, and Betsy

Saying No

Lately, I feel like I have been saying "No" a lot.

"No, don't throw your food."
"No, get out of Betsy's water bowl."
"No, don't touch the cable box."
"No, eating the tube of Cortaid you have become so fascinated with".

"No" gets old real fast. I think you are a true mom in those moments where, sometimes....you are just too tired to care. And you just have to laugh.

Taking all my folded laundry out of the laundry basket, why not? Rubbing my toothbrush on the bathroom floor, sure. Throwing all the plastic plates out of the dishwasher, couldn't hurt? Using blueberry yogurt as hair gel, go on ahead.

I'm trying to keep taking pictures, but he moves so fast. The picture is usually just a blurry blob running past me.

Here's some from this past week:

He's got a real dog, but instead likes to hug the puppy on the dog food bag.

Banging cups together while we play music in the kitchen.

Finally got some new tunes on my ipod! Bought me some Sia, Cee Lo, and Ray LaMontagne. Sia is so good! I can't believe she's not on the radio yet. She has a new video on VH1, but it's the only slow song on her latest CD. All the others are fast, poppy songs. There's even a remake of Madonna's "Oh Father" on there, so you know I like it! I will take an obvious Madonna cover, but I'm not feeling Lady Gaga's copycat look and sound lately. "Alejandro"= "La Isla Bonita". "Born This Way"= "Express Yourself". And her look at the Grammy's was pure Blonde Ambition tour, circa 1990. Palm tree ponytail and all. Losing faith in you Gaga.

Am I a gay man inside of a woman's body or what?!

Saturday morning chaos

Hey, first facial expression of somewhat happiness on the swings. I'll take it!

Does a bear shit in the woods? The answer is yes. Look at that face!

I love to mow. Please hire me to take care of your lawn. I will accept payment in goldfish and animal crackers.

Have a great week!

Love,

Lyndsey, Marc, Henry, & Betsy

A Laugh a Minute

Ok, I can officially say that 15 months is my favorite age! You can take that to the bank.

Marc and I laugh everyday with all the new things this boy is doing. He never fails to crack us up with his antics.

This boy cannot get enough of his books! I'll tell him to go bring me a book and he will go to his toy box and bring me one of his favorites. Lately, it's this book he got for Christmas called Trucks, Tractors, Diggers, and Dumpers. I have it memorized. He just grins from ear to ear after I turn every page. What is it about boys and construction vehicles?


We've had a few warmer days around here lately. By warmer, I mean 50 degrees. We've been taking advantage of it and running around the backyard.

Kisses! I just got my first kissy ever today. I know it's strange, but before that he only liked to kiss his Dad's shoe when he got home from work. He would do it like 3 times in a row like he was a royal servant or something.

Posing for the ladies. "You ladies come here often?"

Running around Mom's office. He is always moving these days!

Discovery Place for Kids at the water table. I think he's saying "Wow" here. One of his favorite words!

He's also saying:

- Dada

- Mama

- Go

- No

- Hi and Bye

- Si, short for Betsy

"Yo Gabba Gabba! Yo Gabba Gabba!" He loves the theme song to that show and starts dancing when it comes on. His dancing skills are off the chart lately. Any time a song comes on, he is moving. He is especially partial to the Ipad song and Jennifer Hudson's Weight Watchers anthem "Feelin' Good". He's got soul!

Getting ready for nite-nite with Dad!

Henry likes to fall asleep with things in his hands. This night was pretzels. Sometimes it's toothbrushes, pieces of fake food, or Ritz crackers. Do not try to hand him a stuffed animal or a blankie. He will throw it. He wants random objects.

Love,

Lyndsey, Marc, Henry, & Betsy

Bahama Mamas (& Papas)

What a wonderful vacation! After all the sickness we've had in our household, I couldn't wait to just get away and rest. And sure enough, right after we got there we both took a two hour nap. Much needed!

Soaking up the sun

View from our bed and breakfast's patio

Beach all to ourselves!

Jellyfish at the Atlantis aquarium.

Sunset from Paradise Island

Private beach we visited during the Segway tour

Segway tour! Total touristy thing to do, but it was so fun!

Sunset from the B&B's patio

Beautiful sunsets every night

Pier at a nearby resort. It was freezing! So glad I brought my sweater. I wore it almost every day.

Yay!

Dinner at Traveler's- Best restaurant in Nassau! Try the guava cake. And our clothes match the sunset.

Our room! So cozy. I felt like I was staying in an old Southern plantation...in a Pottery Barn kind of way.

I spent most of my time in this tub reading.

Beach combing

And while we had an AMAZING time, we missed Henry something fierce. This was our first time away just the two of us and I have to say, it took about a day to get out of a parent high alert mode. But what a great chance to re-connect and just hang out with each other with no worries in the world....well, maybe just where we were going to eat that night and what drink I was going to order.

Thanks to Geemaw and Grandpa for taking such good care of my boy! He loves y'all so much!

Love,

Lyndsey, Marc, Henry, and Betsy