John Ball Zoo

Since we have a membership to the local kids museum, this month we had free admission to the local zoo as well, John Ball Zoo. Ty has been taking advantage of the free admission and has taken the kids every weekend we've been home. One of the things the kids look forward to most is riding the train and the camel. Here are some of the highlights:

 

 

 

 

 

  

When it rains, it pours...

I will start off by saying, that I know things could be worse, but right now I'm having my own little pity party! EVERY single time we move, I know it's coming...the kids get sick. I don't know what it is about moving, maybe being in a new area, a new pool of germs, I'm not sure but it happens every time. Last Monday (8 days ago), I was changing Emmersyn's diaper (right after Riley got her stitches out--thanks, Kristin!), I noticed she had a nasty rash on her butt cheek. It wasn't diaper rash, it was more like red, blistery sores. Anyways, she had started to complain about her mouth hurting that same day. The next day, she came down with a fever. To make a long story short, I thought FOR SURE she had hand, foot, mouth disease because it can show up on a baby's bottom too. She had a fever for 4 days and she was SO FUSSY. On Wednesday, Lincoln started showing some symptoms of being sick also. Runny nose, complaining his throat hurt, but no fever...until Saturday when Ty took all of the kids to the zoo. They left and came back within 30 minutes because he said Riley and Lincoln kept complaining they didn't feel good. Come to find out, they both had fevers too! They had a fever all weekend and come Monday, I noticed that Emmersyn's rash seemed to be getting worse, so I ended up taking her into the Urgent Care to get checked out. Come to find out she had a yeast infection and strep throat. The other two also were treated for strep.

I think the hardest part for me is not being about to get out of the house. We literally didn't leave the house for 9 days STRAIGHT! In fact, today was the first day in those 9 days. I'm not one to stay home very often, we like to get out and stay busy! I also hate hearing Emmersyn cry but not being able to comfort her. Not only does it break my heart, but I can only listen to crying for so long before I feel like I'm going to lose my mind!

On top of all the sickness stuff, I've been trying to find a pediatrician for about 2 weeks. Not trying really hard but calling around every once in a while. Once Emmersyn got sick I knew I needed someone right away because I couldn't keep taking them to Urgent Care by myself and waiting for HOURS! Well, this proved to be A LOT more difficult than I anticipated. I had gotten recommendations for some great pediatricians, so I called and asked for them by name. I just called asking if they were taking new patients and if they took our insurance. No one was taking new patients. NO ONE. I ended up being on the phone for 3+ hours calling every.single.office. within 30-40 minutes of here and not one single pediatrician would take new patients. WHAT? I didn't know that was even possible. I called the hospital, my OB and our insurance company to see if they had any advice. They all told me the same thing: they're hearing that from a lot of parents. After 3 hours on the phone, I was so frustrated I started bawling like a baby to the poor receptionist on the other line telling her I had sick kids and no one would see them...yada yada yada. She said sorry, there was nothing she could do. UGH!!

However, 10 am the next morning I get a phone call from this same receptionist telling me that she explained my situation to one of the docs on staff at their office and she felt bad for me and that she'd take my kids as new patients!! RELIEF, I tell you! AND it was the doctor I called first because that's who I wanted! Ty tells me all the time not to worry or get upset because God has a plan and everything will work out...because it always does!  Why do I constantly need this reminder? Why, in these situations, do I get frustrated instead of praying? I am thankful for a God that provides and reminds me to trust him, always! So, the kids have a pediatrician now and I am thankful. If you know of anyone wanting to open a pediatrician's office tell them to come to Grand Rapids because, clearly, there is a shortage :)!

Finding a Balance

One things the past year or so I've really tried to do is cut out processed foods and eat only whole grains. However, I find that I literally LIVE in the kitchen. Thankfully, the kids love helping (even if it takes me 10x longer to make something) but I need to find a balance between eating healthy and making most everything from scratch and having play time with the kids and time for myself! I have gone from buying yogurt, granola bars, pop tarts, breads, bagels, tortilla shells, sandwhich bread, popsicles, granola, brownie mix, cake mixes, and so much more at the store to making it ALL from scratch. I know it's my responsibility to teach my kids healthy eating habits and what they are offered is what they eat, so how can I NOT be conscious of what's in the food they eat? Any suggestions on how to find that balance? Have any great recipes that you use at home that are easy and not too time consuming? At times I feel like I need to take a break, but making our own food is SO much healthier and so much cheaper!

Stitches

I know there's a first time for everything and unfortunately we made a first last night. I was in the dining room doing something when all of a sudden Riley comes running to me, screaming. All I see is blood literally dripping everywhere! I could even figure out where it was coming from, all I knew was that it wasn't good! Once Riley calmed down a bit I realized it was coming from her finger and she said she was trying to cut herself an apple. She had grabbed the biggest knife from the butcher block and tried to use that. I quickly gathered my things and headed to the closest Urgent Care because I knew she was going to need stitches. I just prayed it wasn't worse.


We got there and they got us right in because her finger was still gushing. The nurse checked her out and felt comfortable that no permanent damage had been done (no tendons were cut). We were sent back in the waiting room for what seemed like forever! After waiting at least an hour and a half they brought us back to the room. Riley was back to her normal, social self and wasn't scared at all. The doc came in and he was GREAT with her. He was a younger guy and really made her feel at ease. I had told them that R was going to FREAK out because I knew she would. She does NOT do well with doctors and shots. He told her he was going to wrap her up like a burrito (she didn't know, but it was so she wouldn't be able to move) but she thought it was so funny. We swaddled her, the doc got ready and hid the suringe behind his back so she couldn't see it. This is when all hell broke lose. She started FREAKING OUT! It literally took myself, the doc and two nurses to hold hold her down. The doc did say that the shot to numb her finger would really hurt really bad.

After at least 30 minutes of her screaming and saying she was going to die and telling the nurses she didn't like them, it was over with. We cuddled in the room for a bit then she was ready to go. By this time we had been there for almost 4 hours! It was a LONG evening and we hadn't had dinner (other than R's skittles from the vending machine). She wanted Wendy's and ice cream. I told her she could have anything she wanted, I felt so bad for her. She got a kids meal and Frosty and poor thing was so tired she didn't eat any of it! She fell asleep on the way home and requested to sleep with me that night.

I'm glad that she woke up this morning feeling good. I think she's more disappointed that she can't swim for the next two weeks! After Riley woke up, I was talking to her and Lincoln and said "You have to promise me you will not touch any more knives! They are dangerous and what Riley had to do last night was no fun!" Riley proceeded to say say "Well, mom, it was kind of fun because I got to go on a date with you!!!" She's so sweet and I'm so glad it wasn't so much worse.

 

*Update: Riley got her stitches out 10 days later and thank goodness for "Aunt" Kristin. She's a PA and one om best friends. She came over to our house, so I wouldn't have to take Riley back to the ER and took her stitches out. Kristin was a trooper because 1. she doesn't have kids and 2. the what should have been 2 minute "procedure" to get the stitches turned into an hour of begging and pleading Riley to sit still and let her get them out. BUT she did and I think only one tear was shed. I'm VERY confident that had I taken her back to the ER it would have been MUCH more traumatic!! Thanks, Aunt Kristin!!

 

Before getting stitches out:

 

After:

 

Frederick Meijer Garden!

One of the great things about living in GR is that it has so much to do with kids!! It was rated one of the top cities to raise a family and I believe it! We're so grateful to be living here! On Tuesday, I took the kids to Frederick Meijer Garden with two good friends from Kalamazoo. I met both Mandy and Stephanie when we lived in Kalamazoo when we lived there 3 years ago. When we moved to West Virginia, Mandy moved to Mexico a couple months later and Stephanie moved to Arkansas just months after that. It's awesome that only a few years later we all ended up back in Michigan and are fairly close in distance.

We hadn't been to the Garden's even though it's only 6 minutes from our house. We met Mandy, her 3 kids and Stephanie and her 4 kids there and spent the day. Afterwards we must have been feeling brave because we took all the kids out to Buffalo Wild Wings. Surprisingly, even with 3 of us and 10 kids under 8, things went really smoothly (other than losing a child for a little bit!! That was scary!)

Emmersyn's birthday party!

On Saturday, we celebrated Emmersyn's 2nd birthday with family at our house. We had a great time and it was so nice everyone could make it! I chose a rainbow theme and everything turned out pretty cute. E got lots of great gifts and we were thankful everyone made the trip.

 Fruit and dip

 Chocolate covered oreo pops (these were a big hit!)

 Balloon banner

 E turns 2!!

All of my sister!

 Rainbow cake!

 YUM!!

 Opening gifts!

 Riding on Papa's legs!

 R and R eating an oreo pop!

Baby Addie