April Rewind

April was another mostly fun and busy month!

We started the month off with my mom having a stroke and Brent's mom having hip replacement surgery...on the same day. To say I was a hot mess would be an understatement but they are both doing so great now. You wouldn't even know my mom had a stroke, and Brent's mom's hip is just about perfect!

We went to Two-Step for the 3rd year and also had out-of-town visitors come - Brent's cousin, Philip, and his wife, Kristi, and some friends {of Philip's and ours}, David and Carla. BUT the weather was terrible, and we bailed early on the first day and didn't even go the second day, ha!

Allena, Carla, and Kristi trying to not be popsicles

Got the kids in the bluebonnets, yay!

This wasn't the best year for our favorite flower, but they always make me smile.

The girls got to play in my mother-in-law's wedding dress! Cuties!

Drew had to have her last 4 baby teeth pulled. The permanent teeth were growing in and 2 of the baby teeth weren't budging! This was the last step before braces!

Feeling just a little woozy! And look at the roots on that 1 tooth, so gross.

Easter! The whole Swope clan.

Strep throat, nooooooo!

Girl Scouts do World Thinking Day!

I chaperoned a field trip for Paige. Love being able to do this.

And one step closer to catching up, yay.

COVID Had Me Like...

It was bound to happen, but here we are - Brent and I had COVID last week. I know people who have already had it at least twice, so I am very thankful it hasn't happened more but sheesh the last 9 days have not been the most fun of my life!

Tuesday, May 31 Day 0! I got a pretty bad headache starting in the afternoon but didn't think too much about it because I get a bad headache periodically - usually in hindsight it's from being dehydrated - so I just started upping my water intake and went about life as normal.

Wednesday, June 1 The headache continued into Wednesday {also not uncommon when I get a bad headache} but as the day went on I started to notice some sinus pressure and drainage. I wasn't worried about it until I just felt like I had fever and sure enough, I had just over 100 degree temperature. I was a little concerned but thought I might be getting a sinus infection - totally what it felt like.

Thursday, June 2 I woke and just knew I was pretty sick. My throat was on fire {in the long run, my worst symptom}, I had body aches, headache was still there, fever, runny nose, drainage. Brent was getting ready to go to work, so we decided I needed to take a COVID test. First off, just to be responsible, but secondly, there was no way I could take care of the kids that day. Sure enough, and not surprisingly, positive.

Not nearly as exciting as a positive pregnancy test! {grin}

Brent obviously stayed home, let his team know he wouldn't be in, I told the babysitter what was happening so she wouldn't come over, texted Brent's parents {who had kept the kids the day before}, friends, my parents, my work, etc. I took 2 work calls that were pretty important and then I went back to bed. Frankly, I was exhausted and felt like shit.

The next 2 days passed pretty much the same way - I felt pretty crummy, slept a lot, and was alone in our room. Brent slept on the couch and took care of the kids, the house, his work. Friday night he noticed a little tickle in his throat and some slight achiness...uh-oh.

I rewatched a lot of Downton Abbey. 

The Spanish Flu episode hit especially hard, ha.

Tea with the Dowager while watching the Dowager!

I lived off of tea with honey and cough drops with occasional tiny meals {think Goldfish, so not really 'meals'} because it just hurt my throat too much to eat.

Saturday, June 4 My fever broke and Brent started running fever, so while I should not have been taking care of the kids, Brent and I switched places. He went to the bed, and I went to the couch. The kids basically stayed on their side of the house, spent an insane amount of time on devices and would come as far as the entrance to the kitchen to ask for food. I'd get up, wash my hands, put on a mask, go make them food, and take it to the playroom {but they had to leave the playroom first}, and then they could come get the food after I left the room. The diffuser ran non-stop with germ-fighting oils! The girls were pretty pitiful and sad about not being able to snuggle or cuddle with me. So sad!

Sunday, June 5 We tested Brent and the kids for COVID. Obviously, we knew Brent had it, but he wanted to take a test - sure enough, that positive line formed instantly ha. But all 3 kids were negative yay! Brent's fever broke, and he was already feeling better - excellent news as my fever came back and I started going downhill -although my sore throat was gone after 3 days and didn't come back, yay. We switched again, and I went back to the bedroom.

Monday, June 6 My fever broke again, and I needed to work, so I worked a full day in the office. My congestion got terrible, and I realized I couldn't smell anything. I was messaging throughout the day with my doctor's office to talk about supplements, checking when we could come out of quarantine, when the kids were safe to be around people, all the things. I had a burst of energy late in the day and did some laundry and cleaned up the kitchen. Unfortunately, that energy left and my headache, body aches, and fever came back, boo!

Tuesday, June 7 After more messaging with my doctor's office, I scheduled a telemed appointment. I saw one of the nurse practitioners who said I definitely sounded like I had a secondary bacterial infection and she prescribed antibiotics and steroids for that, which I happily started Tuesday evening. No fever, my congestion cleared up, but I still couldn't smell.

Wednesday, June 8 I woke up fever free, felt 95% normal, and could smell! I was curious if the loss of smell was going to preclude a loss of taste, but that didn't seem to happen. We tested the kids again today - all negative still!

My favorite sight - 3 negative kiddos!

It seems like we might be in the clear, and even though I didn't feel great, I had what is still considered a mild case, so I'm very thankful it passed as quickly as it did, no one besides Brent got sick {and his case was super mild}, and we seem to be on the other side. I'm not excited to do this again anytime soon, but it sounds like that's going to be the normal going forward. Oh boy!

Life Lately

We've been back in school for just about a month and are rocking right along...mostly! I'm volunteering in 2 libraries {anyone surprised?}, wrangling kids for activities - Drew and Paige are dancing and Trent will start basketball soon!, and just managing life.

I'm sorry but she is so cute in her dance outfit!

A few weeks ago, one of my dearest friends lost her mother. My heart is so sad for her - she's been sick for a few years but her death was unexpected - she was such a fun and generous mother, and I know she leaves a hole in Kelly's heart. Well, we got together one Saturday to get her out of the house and went to the cutest local boutique and coffee shop! I got some really cute stuff and already have some ideas for Christmas.

Our loonies

THEY FOUND A SNAKE!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone remember last spring when Drew had strep 4 times in a row? And we went to the ENT and touched on her frequent nose bleeds? Well, we finally went back to have her nose looked at again. I kept telling Drew this appointment wouldn't hurt - reminder that she SCREAMED and pitched a huge fit over the throat culture - because I thought we'd leave with an appointment to have her nose cauterized. Welp, we were able to chemically cauterize her nose in the appointment, which was great news because no anesthesia or hospital co-pay, but also bad because it DID hurt my girl! 

Mad at her mama AGAIN leaving the ENT

We had book club last weekend and read The Alchemist. Kit and Heather were our lovely hosts always have themes relevant to our books - it always adds a little something extra.

Heather is co-owner of an amazing cookie-making company, Doughmestic Batches.

Not only were they so cute and on-point, they were delicious!

Keeping covered for a journey through the Middle East

I just thought the other day how we'd made it a month of school with no one being sick...and of course, I got a call yesterday for poor Paigey!

Big yawn from the tired girl whose ear hurts. :(

I'm finishing up my re-watch of Downton Abbey in anticipation of the movie - anyone else ready and excited?!?!

Life Lately

We've had a busy and fun {mostly, see below} last couple of weekends. I know things are really going to pick up in the next couple of weeks, and I'm SO looking forward to the holidays, but I also want to remember the little things too!

I went to a baby shower last weekend at Kristen's house. It was such a nice shower, and there's nothing better than time with my BFF and my beautiful Godchildren.

BUT...later that day...Paige started throwing up. We had a really rough 5 hours, and I felt really terrible for exposing everyone at the shower to her germs, but luckily, it was only Paige! She finally fell asleep on me at 11 PMand was just so pitiful.

I don't talk much about Brent's nephew, but he has a 23 year-old nephew who has lived in Maryland for a long time, moved back to Texas last year, and decided to move to Tennessee. We were supposed to go to a farewell dinner at Brent's parents' house on Sunday, but we stayed at home to keep Paige's germs away. We met him for dinner on Thursday instead, and he drove there Saturday night! 

Nana and Papa with 4 grands

Friday was Grandparents' Day at Paige's school. She was, of course, the star of the show with her grandparents, but she was also super excited that 2 of her cousins were there! My parents had Miles and Blair, so they also went to Grandparents' Day.

Friday night was our Book Club Annual Gift Exchange! We missed 2017, but we've now done this since 2013 and have so much fun.

Gifts galore!

Back at home Brent and Riley {another book club spouse} held down the fort.

Friends watching America's Funniest Videos!

7 years of reading books, drinking lots of wine, and having fun!

When your dessert drink arrives before you've finished your wine...

I drank too much and stayed out too late, but I rallied for A Christmas Affair the next morning with Kristen and her mother-in-law {who made our amazing barnwood wall}.

Shopping partners in crime

THEN Saturday night, we went to the UT football game with Brent's cousin. It was my first UT game, and while it was no A&M game, we still managed to have a little bit of fun.

View from our seats!

Band nerd for life...

They sell Chick-fil-A in the stadium!

Yes, more alcohol, ha!

If we hadn't been busy enough, I took the kiddos and we spent the night at my sister's on Sunday night. David was in Washington visiting family and had Mayer with him. We had a great time...minus Paige continuing her streak of being a terrible sleeper at other places and had a party from 12:30-4:00 that I did NOT want to be at with her, ha. We went shopping at Old Navy, made pizza, and introduced the kids {minus Paige} to The Princess Bride, and I had a blast getting some 1-on-1 time with my sis.

Helping make the dough {'I helping'}

Why are little girls shoes and clothes so cute?!?!

Who wants to borrow my sister?

Sleeping sweeties

{The boys were inside a fort so I couldn't get a pic}

Boys doing boy things

Pancake breakfast

We've started off our week of no school and work by decorating for Christmas - we are going to wrap the trees outside this year - I'm so excited! I'm ready for lots of yummy food on Thursday and my sister's kids are all spending the night with us Saturday so my sister can go out to eat with David because she turns 40 on Sunday, so crazy!

This time of year is THE BEST!

Drew's ENT Appointment

I'm sure everyone is dying to know how Drew's ENT appointment went. When I last wrote, she had 3 confirmed strep throat cases with 3 rounds of increasingly stronger antibiotics. 

She finished her 3rd round of antibiotics on June 2, and I had already scheduled an ENT appointment for June 7. Monday morning, June 4, Drew told me her throat hurt. ARE YOU SERIOUS? So back to the pediatrician we went for a 4th positive strep test. The pediatrician suggested we do a penicillin shot, and I agreed. If the strongest antibiotics they'd prescribed couldn't keep her clear of strep for even 48 hours, we needed to do something. Poor baby had a rough appointment - she hates the throat swab, so to have that AND a painful shot in the same appointment - NOT okay in her book. It took me and another nurse to hold her down for the shot, and she was so angry at me afterward, she wouldn't let me hold or snuggle her. She also got herself so worked up she gave herself 2 nosebleeds.

I promised her Starbucks AND a toy. We got Starbucks Tuesday morning and ordered an Aurora play-doh set from Amazon. #suckerforsickbabies

Yes, Drew's wearing the same clothes - we love summer!

Thursday we had her ENT appointment, and Dr. Connolly gave us a lot of good information! He said he's seen people have strep in a random cluster and then not again for a long time. He's also seen people be carriers of strep and test positive on an office rapid test {which just tests for the presence of the bacteria but can't distinguish having the bacteria with having an infection} when they don't truly have an active infection. His concern was that she was a carrier, and if so, we would need to react differently in the future when she had a sore throat besides just relying on the office rapid test. So that meant...ANOTHER throat culture so that he could do a longer test to determine if she is a strep carrier. I got the call yesterday morning, and her culture was NORMAL! So that means she's not a carrier and hopefully, the penicillin shot knocked the infection out. His rule of thumb for discussing a tonsillectomy is 6 infections in 1 year, 4 in 2 consecutive years, or 3 in 3 consecutive years, so we wait and watch.

I also talked to him about her nose bleeds. 

Brent and I both had frequent nosebleeds as kids {Brent had to have his nose cauterized and eventually something had to be done to his septum}, and Trent has them as well - his gene mutation test shows that he has several clotting mutations which I find fascinating.

Drew has been getting increasingly frequent nosebleeds, and Dr. Connolly noticed she has a blood vessel near the surface in both sides of her nose that would create frequent nosebleeds. He suggested us trying to keep her nose more moisturized, using something like Neosporin, and we can also put a cool mist humidifier in her room at night. If this doesn't help over the next few weeks, he suggested cauterizing as well, which we would likely do under anesthesia - and one nostril at a time - due to her age and anxiety-level.

So a very informative appointment overall! Now let's all cross our fingers for a) no more strep throat and b) a reduction of nosebleeds! 

Strep Throat - 3, Drew - 0

For the 3rd time since March 30, Drew tested positive for strep throat last week.

Poor sick little sweetie

For this slightly crunchy mama, 3 rounds of antibiotics in less than 2 months is KILLING me. {For the record, she had ONE dose in her first 5 years of life and now, BAM, 3 in a row. Boo.}

We're doing double probiotics, extra Vitamin C and D, ImmunoPRP spray, basically throwing the kitchen sink at her to boost her poor little immune system. 2018 has not been her friend! The flu and 3 rounds of strep, and it's barely June.

Our next step is a referral to an ENT. Our pediatrician's office told me that recurrent strep throat isn't reason enough to immediately schedule a tonsillectomy, so we need to discuss the options, pros, cons, etc. The nurse practitioner who examed Drew this last time did say her tonsils are enlarged, and she snores a little, so who knows what the ENT will suggest. I'm not sure which way I want this to go because surgery is never at the top of the list of things I want for my children - I just know I want my baby to stop getting sick! 

Easter 2018: The Strep Throat Edition

I mentioned briefly last week that we didn't really get to celebrate Easter as Drew was diagnosed with strep throat on Friday. We missed the big 2's first soccer games, an Easter celebration at my parents' house with all my cousins, aunts, and uncles, the Easter service at church, and Easter lunch at Brent's parents. I was initially really bummed, but Brent decided we should make the best of it and still try and do some fun things with the kiddos - he's a sweetie when it comes to our kiddos!

First up, no one had school on Good Friday, so I was super bummed when Drew woke me up at 4:00 AM saying her throat hurt, and she had a fever. She's never had strep throat, but I figured that's what it had to be. I called the doctor's office as soon as they opened, and yup, it was strep.

She's mothering Paige even sick - so cute.

We knew this would mean lots of home time, so we busted out a lot of outside toys for the kiddos.

Paige is LOVING Trent's old mowers

You know she's sick if she naps!

Some Motrin and antibiotics make everyone feel better, right?

Also, Paige's hair is my absolute favorite!

Saturday morning Montessori kid activities

We had a water gun fight Saturday night, and Trent was prepared for WAR.

Drew took forever to find a bathing suit she wanted to wear.

The difference between boys and girls, am I right?

Saturday, Brent had to take a table and chairs to my parents' house since we decided to not go {SO SAD}, but he brought home a lot of food and eggs for us to hide for the kids on Sunday morning. I love how much our families take care of us!!

Ready to hunt!

Hunting

No clue what is happening or why she has this basket

She brought me Drew's underwear to wear, so cute.

Paige completely did not understand hunting eggs,

but she enjoyed taking Drew's eggs and putting them into her basket!

Trying her first kolache - yum!

REALLY wanting to ride this - luckily T and D have taken her for a few spins!

My mother-in-law stopped by for a little bit Sunday and risked exposure to strep to bring us Easter dinner and a pinata for the kids. Because they obviously needed more candy, ha.

Again had no clue what was going on, and we didn't let her eat any candy,

but she certainly liked picking the pieces up!

And it only took me a week and a half, but that was our weird version of Easter. Here's hoping next year is back to normal!