Monday, December 29, 2014

2014 - The Year that Was(n't Blogged)


Copyright: rasslava / 123RF Stock Photo

From 2006-2013, I averaged about 170 blog posts per year. This year? Only about 80 (as of the writing of this post). That's not even half the average! I hope to "go back" and blog a few things, but I honestly don't know how likely that is. Seems like I spent all year running behind. I have no idea if things will be better, worse, or about the same next year. I feel like it's pointless to even make a guess. I'm still here, and I'm still trying.

Thanks for hanging in there with me.
Currently feeling: exhausted

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Merry Christmas 2014


Click to biggify


In yet another symptom of not being able to keep up with the blog this year, I didn't even manage my annual posting of my favorite Christmas poem. We had a great Christmas nonetheless, full of family, fun, and food. Can't ask for more than that!


We went to my husband's annual office party on Christmas Eve, where Luke ate 5 Krispy Kreme donuts (yes, five! not a typo). We also enjoyed a "Boxing Day" dinner with my uncle and aunt.



And Luke spent the days after Christmas building things. Thanks Nana, Papa, and Grandmama!

Hope you all had a great holiday week! Wishing you all the best in the coming new year.

Currently feeling: holly jolly

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Marvel Universe Live


Luke made his first visit to Philips Arena today.


So we could see Marvel Universe Live! (I wish they'd had a better sign for you to take a picture with.)


We had great seats, five rows from the floor!


And we enjoyed Dippin' Dots before the show. Luke had had them before, but it had been so long he didn't really remember.

I realized I forgot my camera not long after we left the house, but I didn't bother to go back for it because I had figured (like most shows) they would not allow photography or video. Well, turns out, they do! Darn it. So I only have a couple of rather crummy cell phone photos to show for it.



I can't say it was the best show from an adult perspective. It definitely gives me a new appreciation for the quality of the two stunt shows at Disney. Again, this wasn't bad, and given that they are working "in the round" (as opposed to the audience facing just one side of the stage at Disney) complicates matters. The kids all loved it, though, including Luke, which is all that matters.

Currently feeling: super

Monday, December 15, 2014

We have the plague!



This is what a child who is too sick to play looks like. He was in the midst of "the plague" when I took that picture. At least, that's what I'm calling it. Come to find out, it is a distinct possibility that we all have/had the flu, but there is no way to prove that at this point.

It all started with Luke, who was shivering uncontrollably when he went to bed Saturday night (Dec 6). The thermometer said his temperature was normal when I put him to bed, but I was highly skeptical. Sure enough, by Sunday morning, his fever was 101.7 F (38.7 C). It continued to hover in the 101-102 range (38.3-38.8) even *after* giving him a fever reducer, which did not make this mama happy at all. Things were no better Monday morning, and the cough was dramatically worse, so off to the doctor he went. She basically glanced at him, listened to the symptoms, diagnosed him with "something viral," and sent him home with no tests or meds or anything, declaring that "if he isn't better by Thursday, then bring him back." That made me an even less happy mama. The fever was gone by Tuesday morning, but he was completely exhausted, so he stayed home another day. I finally sent him back to school on Wednesday, still coughing but allegedly meeting the requirements for returning to school.

By Thursday afternoon, my fever spiked up to 101. Now, this was not unexpected, given that I had shared some of my drink with Luke on Saturday, before he started showing symptoms. By Friday morning, I was showing a temperature of 102, and that was within 2 hours of taking *both* Advil and Tylenol. You know how you read in historical novels about the skin of someone with a fever feeling thin and papery? That's exactly what mine felt like all day Friday. Everything hurt, even on constant doses of pain relievers/fever reducers. You know the stud earrings that I wear All. The. Time. Yeah, I had to take those out, too, because they hurt and felt heavy. ??!!! It was awful. I spent most of Saturday with my fever yo-yo-ing from normal to well over 100 and back, and with the cough getting much worse, though still manageable on maximum strength Mucinex and a zillion gallons of water.

Sunday, I was feeling much better (in a relative sense; still quite sick), but DH started shivering in late morning. Really?! I was hoping I had mainly gotten it from unknowingly sharing a drink with Luke before we knew better, but we thought we had been pretty careful with DH. Upon describing our symptoms to my mom, she said that everyone she knew with our symptoms who had been tested had tested positive for flu. Great. So if the pediatrician had bothered to test Luke last Monday when we took him in with *classic* flu symptoms, we could have all been put on Tamiful and likely either avoided or lessened the severity of what we've all been through (or in DH's case, are currently going through). But at this point, Luke is over it (we hope), I'm too far past the 48 hour window for Tamiflu to do any good, and DH can't get to the doctor until Monday, when he too will be past the 48 hour window. Thanks for nothing, doc.

So the current status is: Luke is mostly over it, though his cough has gotten worse again. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping he hasn't developed a secondary infection as a result of this thing. I am mostly better, though the cough is still hanging on. I'm praying I can keep it from becoming bronchitis (as I am prone to doing with any type of respiratory thing). DH is currently down for the count in bed, and will be through at least Tuesday (and Wednesday, if I have my say about it). I can't believe we've only been at this for a week or so. Feels like a month already! I just want us all to be well by Christmas. Pretty please, Santa? That's all I really want!
Currently feeling: improved but still not well

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Who Is Chewing On the Tree?

Star says, ""What? I wasn't doing anything! I came back here to investigate why the tree is shaking and making those chewing noises." Uh-huh. Good thing she's cute. (She mostly just wants to rub on it, but I truly do not understand why she chews on it. Plastic and wire cannot be that tasty!)



Currently feeling: merry and bright