March Madness!

First thing first, I'm feeling tons better! It's been a crazy few weeks here, but we're all doing well, except for the kids having stuffy noses...but that's what happens when it's spring (ish) in Michigan, right?

March has been kind of crazy already...I can't wait until it's over! Unfortunately, the next 2 weeks will probably be the busiest of the month! But first things first...we had some beautiful weather last week. So nice, that even though there was snow on the ground, I took the kids outside to play. We got out the sidewalk chalk and just played and played and I even took the kids for two walks!! Bradlee gave me a sneak peek of what this summer's going to be like with him. He had a BALL outside! Last summer, he wasn't even walking, so I think it's going to be a fun and exciting summer!

Playing with the sidewalk chalk (on the deck)!

Emma realized that the chalk could turn the snow the same color!

Checking on the "oof oof"s next door (he wasn't too fond of Boomer - a boxer, or Foster - a greyhound-mix --so he wanted to make sure they wouldn't sneak up on him!)!!

This past Thursday, Tony and I took Emma to (are you ready for this?) Kindergarten Round-Up...wow. I can hardly believe it! It seems like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant with her (on a side, and probably "too much information" note...we conceived Emma this coming weekend 6 years ago!). LOL Anyways, we went right after work, which I thought would put us in prime "kindergarten round-up" time, but we were the only ones in there! So the principal of Davisburg Elementary (where the nursery Bradlee goes, about 6 miles south of Holly High School), the office secretary, and one of the (3) kindergarten teachers was in there giving their undivided attention to us! Emma was quite shy, so I went with her and the teacher to the activity tables they had set up while Tony talked to the secretary about all the paperwork we had filled out. Emma drew a great picture of herself with Minnie Mouse for them to hang up and had a great time playing with some of the toys. She talked with the teachers and principal and really seemed to feel comfortable once we were there for a bit (and she realized that she wouldn't be starting kindergarten the next day!)!! Here's a picture of my BIG girl at Kindergarten Round-Up!!!

Some of the best news of the past week doesn't really involve me at all...but my best friend, Julie. She's been expecting a little girl (due March 17th)...and Scarlett Vivian arrived on Friday, March 12th at 7:49pm! She was 6lb 6oz and 20 inches long. She is a gorgeous little girl!! Here she is in the hospital! I was fortunate enough to be able to be there when she was born...It was one of the best things I think I have experienced in Julie's and my 25+ year friendship!!

This past Friday, Scarlett was a week old. Something Tony and I like to do for our friends who have babies is take them dinner. We had it done for us when Emma was born by some people at church and it was awesome, so it's a way for us to say congratulations! Friday was the day we were going to take dinner and dessert to Julie, Scott and Scarlett...Bradlee came down with a really stuffy/runny nose, so Tony decided to stay home with him and Emma and I headed down for pizza and peanut butter pie with our friends and their new addition. Emma drew and colored several pictures to help decorate Scarlett's room, and we had a great time just sitting and talking and visiting...something we haven't been able to do in quite a long time! Emma was excited to hold Scarlett as well...

We are so happy and excited for my "oldest" friend!!! (Julie, I know you just read that and went, "Oh my God!"....you know what I mean! LOL)

Some other great news is that my other friend, Lauren (whom I lived with my lst year at CMU), and her husband, Scott, found out that they will be having a boy in August!! What a great year of excitement we have!!

This coming week we have a lot going...I have jury duty Tuesday-Friday...the last time I had jury duty, I not only had to report, but I was seated on a jury! Unfortunately, the first day of the trial, I started having morning sickness (I was pregnant with Bradlee) and was excused! Bummer...this time, I'm actually hoping I don't have to report...even though it was a really cool experience! Thursday, Tony leaves for Lansing with his Dad and the High School Boy's basketball finals...something they have done for the last 26 years!! That leaves me and the kids! A few years ago (the first March Tony and I were married), his mom and sister and I decided that if the boys can go have fun, so can we! So now, the girls all go up to Frankenmuth to the Bavarian Inn Lodge and swim, shop and just hang out...usually watching the college basketball games!! This year, I am selling things at a Mom-2-Mom sale at our church, so I will be getting up early on Saturday morning, going to the sale, then back up to Frankenmuth for more swimming and dinner! Whew! What a week we have ahead of us! Plus, Tony and I joined a gym, so I'm really into getting in there and working out...I hope we make it to next Sunday! If you never hear from me again, you'll know why! LOL ;)

Long, sick week...

Wow, what a week it's been. It all started heading downhill last Friday when I started getting a headache right around the time I got home from work with the kids...then, by 3 hours later, I had a migraine like you wouldn't believe. I got Bradlee to bed and let Emma watch a few movies (short Looney Toones ones) before I got her to bed. Then I just went to bed, too. The three of us were in bed and asleep by 8:30am. We all slept until 8:30 or 9 the next morning! I think we were all wiped out! The best part, though, was that my migraine was gone!

Sunday, I went to the dress store with my sisters and mom to look at shoes for Kat's wedding. That night, I had a back ache and my legs ached...I assumed it was from the ridiculous amount of shoes Kat made us try on! LOL (Let's put it this way, Kat's a shoe person...I am NOT.) :) The next morning, my glands were swollen, my throat hurt like the Dickens, I was achy and I had a 101.6 temp! Tony took the kids to school and went to work. I got up and moved around a bit, tried to get into the doctor with no luck, and then just went home and slept. Tony came right home from school and took me to the clinic. I was congratulated with a temp and really, really bad strep throat...especially on the right side! So, I got my antibiotic and went home to sleep some more. Oh man, did it hurt...the kids ended up staying at Tony's parents' house the rest of the week...'cause by Wednesday, I had white patches on my tonsils (that weren't there on Monday) and still REALLY sore! We called my doctor at home and she scheduled me in for the next day. My mom took a half-day so she could take me in, and my throat was so swollen, that I got a 2-gram shot of some shot (it was HUGE), a new antibiotic, and sent to an ENT to make sure I didn't have an abscess in my throat. UGH. Over to the ENT we went (the same one I take Bradlee to!), and he LAUGHED when he saw my throat. Said it was pretty bad, but no hospitalization would be needed. Agreed with the new antibiotic and was actually kind of convinced that it was mono, not strep! So, my mom took blood and ran the mono test on it. Negative. Whew!

By the next day, I had a voice and was actually feeling so much better! I talked to Emma, finally, since I actually had a voice and she was so awesome and cute. She told me to feel better. I told her she could come home on Saturday and she got so excited that she dropped the phone and Bradlee caught it....that was entertaining!

I've always know and continually am grateful for all the family and friends I have in my life that help make my life that much easier. This time, I needed help, and I was able to get it for me, too! I am so grateful for my family, who was able to rearrange so many things to help me get better! I'm not 100% yet...so I'm now going to go to bed! :) Prayers are always welcomed, and much appreciated! :)