How we ended our summer

The plan was to do some really fun things with our last few days, like join my friends at the beach today, and to collect all the school supplies together to make sure we have everything.

Instead, we spent two days in the hospital with Parker.

It started this weekend when his seasonal allergies were really bothering him and because we had an appointment with the allergist, we couldn't give him anything to get it under control. It then triggered the upper respiratory stuff that we love so much and we were back on the nebulizar by Sunday evening. After lots of breathing treatments and a really rough night, we headed to the doctor to see if it was something more. Once she listened to his lungs and after an additional treatment in her office, she said that was the tightest he had ever sounded. She sent us to the ER.

Seven hours in the ER, 3 more breathing treatments, 2 continuous hour long treatments, and a chest x-ray later...he was admitted and put in the pediatric ICU. They continued his treatments and added some more medication. He and Jamie had a sleepover in the hospital that he was not very excited about. He just kept saying, "I wanna go home". It broke my heart every time.

The nurses and staff all loved him and thought he was so cute. He was very good about taking his medicine and putting up with the whole ordeal. When all was said and done he was officially diagnosed with asthma. One more piece to his complicated little puzzle. I'm just glad he is home and we know what we are dealing with and have a plan in place.

Thank you Chelsea for everything you did for the kids and the house, (you don't really need to go back to school, right?) and thank you to the friends and family that were praying for us.

So not quite like I envisioned summer ending, but I certainly won't forget it anytime soon.

Our trip back east ... there are a lot of pictures!

We spent about 10 days back east at the end of July/beginning of August. As always, we had a great time and saw lots of family.

We started in Virginia for a few days with Jamie's parents and brother and family. Then we headed to Pennsylvania to my brother's to take part in my newest nephew's blessing. We then went to my sister's beach house and then back to Virginia for a couple more days before heading home.

This is my nephew Max holding Emma.

Here is Elliot James, the man of the hour. He looks like an adult baby, not an old man, just an adult. He was so cute and little. He was a very good boy for his blessing.

Jacob and Parker playing with their cousin Isaac. It was really nice to see my brother, Doug, and his adorable family. I didn't get pictures of my brother or his girls, but trust me, they were there and it was fun.

This is the Virginia part of the trip.
Jamie's brother, Nate, held Emma and even got her to fall asleep. I thought they both looked quite comfortable, it was pretty cute.

We visited the Udvar-Hazy National Air and Space Museum with Nate, Denys, and the kids. There were lots of cool planes, a space shuttle, even the Enola Gay.

Nate has a fancy camera that he does cool stuff with, including tricked out light saber photography. You can only imagine how much Jacob enjoyed that.

Of course Parker got in on the action too.

The group shot with Jamie's family after church.

Emma and I enjoying their neighborhood pool. We went there just about everyday and loved it.

This is the time spent at my sister Lauren's beach house. It happened to be my birthday so of course there was cake involved. It was a Parker friendly cake and you can see how excited he was that he was going to be able to take part.

We had some gorgeous beach days. My parents were there too which was very fun to get to see both sets of grandparents on the same trip. Lots of hanging out with cousins, digging in the sand, delicious food, with a little outlet shopping on the side. I do love Bethany Beach, DE!

Emma napping in her own beach tent.

Jamie sculpted Jacob into a Lego brick.

The older boys "built" a fire pit behind the house for roasting marshmallows for our s'mores. They were the biggest marshmallows EVER and oh so tasty!

The kids did a pretty good job despite the fact that they didn't go to bed before 10 every night and were up with the sun each morning. There was a fair bit of driving too. We visited 3 states but drove through many more, and they took it all in stride.

Parker had the toughest time. He got a peanut butter cracker, an ear infection, upper respiratory stuff that required breathing treatments (we now own 2 nebulizars) , and his seasonal/dust mite allergy hit him pretty hard too. A trip to the ER, an urgent care clinic, multiple drug stores, and lots of medication later, I was happy to get him home. But, despite Parker's best efforts, we had a really nice visit.

Jacob and Emma watching a little Star Wars on the flight home, Jacob put the headphones on Emma so she wouldn't miss anything. Always the thoughtful big brother.

I Like Friday the 13th

But mostly because that was the day we were married ... 11 years ago.

Happy Aniversary Jamie -- you still make me laugh!

It's been awhile

She is the reason why.

Everything certainly does take a little longer with 3, especially since I feel like I'm stopping every 20 minutes because she needs to eat again. Emma is such a good baby and none of us can get enough of her.

Thanks to Chelsea and Josie for the darling pictures.

It makes taking a bite of an apple a little more difficult.

To the fathers in my life

Thank you.

Does anyone know where May went?

Sorry for my lack of posting, let the re-cap begin!

Most importantly, we blessed Emma. Thank you to everyone that came to celebrate with us. Along with the friends that were there, we had both sets of grandparents and the boys were in heaven.

Jamie gave a beautiful blessing about Emma being thoughtful and having faith. He also mentioned her following the example of the strong, righteous woman in her life, namely her mother and her grandmothers. He always does a great job. They are a cute pair.

Our new family. Maybe one day I'll get a picture with everyone looking at the camera and smiling, but I'm not holding my breath.

Seriously, how cute is this baby?

The dress that Grandma B bought and added a little lace to because, "it just needed a little something more".
Thanks Mom.

It was such a nice day.
I feel so blessed to have Emma in my life and to have so many friends and family that are excited about her too.