Everyone is okay

It 2:00pm and Audrey has pretty much been asleep since we got home at 9:00am. When she does wake up though, she is pretty cranky. I am hoping when she wakes up for good, she is happier.

The surgery went well. The doctor said her ears were filled with pus and such, basically still completely infected dispite being on antibiotics since December 1. So there is a ton of drainage from her ears.
Everyone at the surgery center was absolutely wonderful except for the very last nurse we saw in recovery. She informed Ray and I that Audrey had so many ear infections since she was in daycare. I attempted to tell her my older daughter was in daycare as well, and only had one ear infection, but she wasn't listening. I kept my cool since Audrey was crying and I was trying to get her to calm down. She did inform me later she has no kids (go figure) so who cares what she said.

What was very helpful was the drug they gave her about 20 minutes prior to taking her back. It pretty much made her calm and relaxed so that when they wheeled her away, she wasn't screaming. It was almost like she was drunk and it was very cute. We were in the waiting area for all of 10 minutes before the doctor came back out. Total time spent at the surgery center? Two hours.

Have a great weekend everyone...Ray and I are actually going out tomorrow night. We are having dinner at a restaurant that actually takes reservations and then seeing "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" at the Raleigh theater. It has received rave reviews, so it better be good because I do not like the movie as much as Ray does...

And the saga continues...

When I was home with Ashley on Wednesday, she was trying to use the bathroom. I told her just try to "get the poops out." At which she answered "Patience, Mommy, patience."

Patience is all we have left. Yesterday, Ray took Ashley to the doctor. On his way to the doctor's office, he called me and asked if I thought Ashley really needed to go. I told him it wouldn't hurt, and that she wasn't getting any better. Well, it's a good thing he took her, she has pneumonia. All along, we have been giving Ashley Tylenol and she takes it happily. "Bottoms up" Ray tells her and she will drink it. So Ray got her prescription filled thinking piece of cake. Nope, not really. He fought with her for three hours to try and take the medicine. And then I came home from work and fought with her, finally holding her down and using a syringe to squirt it in her mouth, all the while she is trying to spit it out. We tried bribes, we tried doing what she asked, we tried mixing it, we tried food coloring because she wanted it pink. Nothing worked. Ray and I are physically and emotionally drained. Good news though, this morning she started the fight again and I got the syringe, and then she took it without spitting it out. Hopefully tonight she will actually drink it on her own.

Remember how we took Audrey on Monday and she just had fluid on her ears? Well, I was up with her until midnight, Ray took her until 2:00 am, I took her until 4:00 am, and then my Mom got up with her. Yup, my Mom came down last night because I think she could hear the desperation in our voices and she wanted to help us out. I have no leave at work as I have to take vacation days for holidays (one of the "perks" of working for a hospital) and Ray has a settlement and client meetings today and tomorrow. So Ray is at the doctors office right now with Audrey. I will let you know what happens.... Update - Audrey has an ear infection and RSV. We have the green light to go to an ENT for tubes.

Onto a funnier note - yesterday my office mate was talking about the show Beauty and the Geek. I guess they asked one of the "beauties" the question "What is heavier? A pound of gold or a pound of feathers?". My office mate said she was watching the show with her sister and answered "Gold of course!". This is the same office mate that asked me if people could see out of glass eyes. Hmmmm. So she also works at a bar at night (she's young and has lots of energy) and she asked the question to another waitress who then asked, "Well, what kind of feathers?". Really? So our admin person comes in to our office at that point. I ask her the question. She said "Gold, right?". Where the heck did I move to???

Two Sick Kids

Yesterday, Ashley woke up around 4:00am with a fever to go along with her runny nose. And when Ashley gets a fever, she doesn't sleep. She was wide awake (anyone else with a kid like that?). So we gave her medicine and yes, let her come to bed with us. Ray and I dozed on and off until my alarm went off. Knowing one of us would have to stay home today and another possibly Tuesday, we began the discussion of whose day has more stuff going on in it. Now remember, Ashley is laying between us. Somehow the word "stupid" comes out of Ray's mouth, probably in reference to something I said.

"Daddy, that's not a nice word."
"You're right, Ashley, that's not a nice word."
"Freakin is not a nice word either."
"Right again, Ash."

Ahh, the language skills she is picking up from her mother.

Ray stayed home yesterday, rescheduled some client meetings, and I am staying home today. Ray did take Audrey to the doctor's office since we were for sure she had another ear infection. Just fluid for now.

On to a housekeeping note, scribbit won my contest for the tag line above (email me your address, and if you aren't a Starbucks drinker, let me know what you want!). She has an interesting post today with an interview with a fellow blogger and discusses blogrolls. I have recently updated my blogroll, and yes, I read all those blogs. Every.single.day. Except maybe not today since I am at home with a sick kid, but I will put forth my best effort! So keep posting!

And yes, in honor of Delurking Week, please leave a comment and let me know you are out there...somewhere. I promise, I don't bit. Audrey might though....

And Happy Belated Birthday Ed!

Sleep, sleep and more sleep

Last Wednesday night, Ashley had a nightmare in the middle of the night and came barrelling into our room. In the sleep stupor we were in, we told her to climb in bed with us and blissfully went back to sleep. For like ten minutes. Ashley is a very "active" sleeper and constantly tosses and turns. My alarm goes off at approximately 5:35am and I promptly turn it off as to not wake Ashley. Of course I fail to get out of bed and wake up again at 6:15am. Damn, have to completely rush to get out of the house. So Thursday night rolls around. Ashley cries out at some point in the night and Ray goes in to check on her. The next thing I know he is back in our room asking me if it was okay for Ashley to just come to bed with us. Sure, why not. And once again, a sleepless night. So Friday night (can you guess where this is going), same thing. Saturday Ray and I vow not to let her sleep with us, and we didn't. She didn't sleep too well in her room, but at least she was in her room.



And both girls have a cold now. Any bets on how long it will take Audrey to get another ear infection?

Christmas in Pictures

I hope I didn't lose anyone in my absence, these past couple of days just flew by. Don't worry, I didn't just forget you guys, I totally forgot to call my Grandmothers on Christmas Day. I know, totally horrible Granddaughter I am. But I called them the day after, does that count?

A special "Thank You" to CPA Mom (another Blogger who totally rocks) for the great gifts for me and my kids. The outfits have already been washed and are ready to wear! I will definitely take a picture of the kids in them.

Here are some updates in our lives over the Christmas holiday (which isn't really over since the kids' school is closed all week) (and don't get Ray started on that since we had to pay for that week even though it was closed).

Audrey:
Last Friday night was another sleepless night for us. So Saturday morning we took her back to the pediatrician and yes, she had an ear infection. She JUST finished the Zitromax she was on, so we are assuming the ear infection just never got better. Now she is finishing up Omnicef. Any wisdom on when I should start discussing tubes? This is three straight weeks she has been on an antibiotic.

She had a great Christmas. Her favorite presents included one of Ashley's, the Mustang my Mom and Stepdad gave her. She grinned from ear to ear the entire time she was in it. And anytime we even go near the garage, she throws a fit to get back in it. It takes off kind of fast, so we have to keep a blanket behind her head to prevent bumping her head. But she seriously could care less, she is in a cool car with her sister, what more could she ask for?

Audrey also found excitement in climbing our stairs. And we are having a hard time finding a gate to fit them so for now, we are just trying to deter her. She also likes to grab your fingers, says "Ga", and makes you walk her around for hours. This is getting really old and our backs hurt. So if you come to our house to visit, please sit on your hands to hide them. She gets pissed off if you don't comply to her demands.

Ashley:
Ashley had a equally cool Christmas. She received a ton of great gifts to include a digital camera and a MP3 player (thanks Fisher Price!). Her answer changes every time you ask which is her favorite.

A new addition to our foyer it seems is one of her favorites, a tent that "Santa" brought. Santa found this at Target for $19.99 and we could barely keep them out of it. I am thinking to try to get Ashley to nap in it...

Ray:
Ray received great gifts as well. I got him a bike, and I don't think he had any clue. Of course he was pretty mad that I spent that much money when we said we weren't, but I couldn't help myself. We have been saying we were going to buy bikes for years.

His parents always do great with gifts. This year, he got this so that we can enjoy our deck that much longer...

But my Stepdad takes the cake. Anyone want to play poker (and not poke-her)?
Doesn't it look great sitting next to the Little Mermaid vanity set?

More pics to come...I'm going to bed. I actually have to work tomorrow (blah).

E is for Earaches and Emergency Rooms

Last night, we attended a dinner party with Ray's team he works with. The kids were with us as this was a kid friendly party. The whole time, Audrey was a bear. She was fussing, nothing made her happy, and she seemed very tired even after a three hour nap earlier in the day.

On the ride home, she cried the entire time and continued to cry once we got home. Finally, close to 11:00pm, we decided we didn't know what was up with her after we tried giving her a bottle, numbing ear drops, tylenol, you name. So Ray took her to the emergency room. Lucky for him, he only had to wait about 45 minutes to see a doctor while others in the waiting room had been waiting for hours. We don't know if it was due to Audrey's continual crying or the fact that Ray reminded whoever he saw that I work for that hospital as well.

About a week ago, I took Audrey in for another ear infection. She had just finished that medication on Friday and lo and behold, she has another ear infection. And this one must be bad considering the amount of crying she did in an eight hour period. So I stayed home with her today, and we shall see how tonight goes. She's on stronger medication, so we are keeping our fingers crossed.