Finally better...

I do believe we have overcome the "crud" that we all came down with. No more fevers. Coughs are nearly gone. And we are all back in our old routines! And Drake finally got to go back to Becky's and take cupcakes to celebrate his birthday with his daycare friends! He was pleasantly surprised with birthday presents from Becky, too! As was I! I cannot believe how genuinely wonderful she is to my kids! I think she actually missed ornery little Mr. Ants in the Pants! Probably so quiet and calm without him she didn't know what to do with herself! I'm just glad we are all back on track and hoping we won't get it again now that we've had it!

Oh no! He already wants to turn back the clock...

Drake has decided that he doesn't really like being 4. Being 4 means you are starting to be a big boy now, and he is figuring out that you don't get your way nearly as much! There's no more sippy cups or pull ups at bed. No more using his cute little 3 year old baby boy charm to just walk up and take a toy out of Gage's hand, or steal the pillow that Gage chose, or pick the cartoon of the morning every morning! So the other night he announced

"Four is just stupid! I don't want to be four anymore! I like 3!"

And there were literally tears!

Sorry buddy! Can't help ya there.

We're moving forward whether you like it or not!

And we have fever...

Drake.

100.7.

Low grade...but that is how it all begins!

Coughed so hard in the middle of the night he threw up on his favorite Scooby pillow.

Lots of mucus... but good he's getting it out.

Back-to-back Motrin/Tylenol.

Keeping an eye on his breathing.

Nebulizer treatments and Prednisone.

Red cheeks and droopy eyes.

Hangin out on daddy's lap watching football.

I've been summoned...

for jury duty on November 9th!

Just lovely!

Trick-or-treat...

We awoke on Halloween morning, and Gage had been fever free for nearly 36 hours! The plan was to take Drake to the H1N1 shot clinic, enjoy the rest of the day, and then go trick-or-treating. Except that Drake woke up to a barky cough! I called the Dr. and they said that he should not get the shot if he has a cold or is sick. Well, we haven't been out of this house literally for nearly 5 days other than to take Gage to the Dr. so my guess was that he was getting what Gage had or he picked something up at the Dr.'s office. Neither of which could be good. So no shot for Drake. I kept an eye on him the rest of the day, and he never came down with a fever. The cough was still there a bit but not bad, so we decided we would still go trick-or-treating. The boys deserved it! They have been cooped up for so long that they were just itching to get out of the house. Besides, they had some pretty cool Ninja costumes that they were dying to wear!! This year we decided to meet up with my sister and her boys in Wilton. We tooled around the town for the full 2 hours! Drake gave up on us about half way through, but luckily we had taken along the wagon and he got to just ride the rest of the way. The kids got so much candy even after Drake stopped collecting half way through! Gage was a real trooper! Never complained once, and felt like a million bucks! I do believe he is finally completely over his bug! Now if Drake's could just turn out to be a simple cold and nothing else! I'm not holding my breath! And Steve is staying home this time!! :)

On the down side...

Well, the H1N1 vaccination clinic failed us. Our Dr. and another Dr. at the clinic highly suggested that we get Drake to this clinic for his H1N1 nasal mist. Even told Drake that it would be so much easier than a shot. Steve got there about 15 minutes after it started and they were already down to only about 100 left out of 500, but he got there and thought he would wait a while but at least he would get him one! And then they told him that children with asthma can't get the nasal mist. They have to get the shot. So he explained to her that 2 different Dr.'s sent us there and were very aware that it was the nasal mist clinic, but she just would not go for it. Stuck to her guns and referred him to the next shot clinic that is being held Saturday morning at 9:00am. 9:00am! I'm guessing if you want to be one of the recipiants you had better be there by 8:00-ish! Lovely! So in the mean time I have been cleansing my entire house! First with a Clorox wipe and then with Lysol spray. I mean EVERYTHING! All bedding has been washed in HOT water. Blankets are fresh. Toilets, countertops, floors, railings, door knobs...all so clean you could eat off of them. And so far Drake has unbelievably dodged our Swine Flu visitor!! Go figure! Gage is finally beginning to seem on the down side of this flu! He has been fever free since yesterday afternoon, and he is beginning to eat a little more. Maybe, just maybe we will be trick-or-treating afterall!! We will still steer clear of all human contact, but he can just hold his bag open and keep his mouth closed!

Talk about bored...

I made Pumpkin Bars and Popcorn Balls!!

And nobody is going to want to share them from the Swine Flu house!!

We have a visitor...

And it's name is H1N1!!! Gage tested postive this morning at the Dr. He's still battling the fever. It was 103.7 today. We have strict orders not to send him back to school until he has been fever free for at least 24 hours, so it looks like we will have to be out this entire week. Not to mention that unless a miracle happens before Saturday evening...we will be missing trick-or-treating this year, too!! He is already pretty bummed that he is going to miss his class party tomorrow, and we don't want to risk taking Drake to the babysitter for her fun filled party day just incase he could pass it on to one of the others there! Unity is holding an H1N1 clinic at the Board Office this afternoon. 500 free nasal mists available! They highly recommended that we get Drake in there since he has asthma and is under the age of 5 and since he has been exposed to Gage, so Steve is going to undertake the grueling task of waiting in line with Mr. Antsy Pants!! Hopefully we can get it before he starts any symptoms, and maybe if we can he could at least enjoy Becky's party tomorrow!! I hate to have him miss out on everything, too, if he doesn't have it!! I am thankful that if we had to get it it was now and not at Holiday time!! Let's hope we can just get it over with and move on! As for now we are pushing the liquids and keeping his temp at bay with Ibuprofen! My poor little guy!!

Just not like him...

Gage had caught his dad's cold, but he seemed fine enough to go to school. Well yesterday the school called and I had to go get him around 11:30. He coughed and coughed all through the night! Nothing helps. Not water. Not Tylenol cold. Not anything. He just doesn't seem like his normal self. Says his stomach hurts sometimes, and he isn't eating much. It is now 10:30 and he is still asleep!! He never sleeps that late!! It's really just getting him down!! Poor guy!!

Friends and...