Back to our routine. (All caught up...FINALLY!)

Because of the germ monsters that invaded Cub Central last week, we are now trying to reestablish our routine. The cubs were only able to attend Preschool on Monday and all other events were cancelled for the week, so we were basically having to start over and reintroduce the cubs to school and therapy.

Monday and Tuesday went as expected. Emily did well, but Zach fussed terribly at both Preschool and therapy. At school he attached himself to my leg and screamed. I felt so badly because all of the other children were quietly drawing and Zach was creating mass hysteria. I finally just gave him a kiss, handed him to the teacher (while apologizing profusely) and left. It is what the school recommends. The longer I stay, the longer he'll continue to cry. I knew he'd calm down, but it didn't make leaving any easier. Tuesday was more of the same. We went in with the Clinician and I had to leave him there while screaming. Heart wrenching. After a few minutes he calmed down there too. It's just hard leaving him when he's screaming after me.

Wednesday was BEAUTIFUL! Emily and Zach both went into their preschool classroom happily. They didn't even say goodbye to me, and I left (a little sad) before they could notice. I was so relieved that there wasn't any screaming. Wednesday also happened to be picture day. It was also the first time Steve received a phone call from school. I certainly would have freaked out if they called me, so I'm glad they called him. Thankfully it wasn't an emergency, however, it turns out our little camera hog refused (REFUSED!!!!) to have her picture taken. Turns out our normally shy little man was quite the opposite. His teacher told us how cute he was posing for the camera. I am a little sad that Emily's first preschool photo is non-existent. I guess in their scrapbook next to Zach's first school photo, I'll have to draw in a stick-figure of Emily or perhaps put one of those little gray silhouettes where her picture should be. Little fussbucket.

Therapy went just as well on Thursday. No fussing. Zach took his Clinician's hand and they walked right in the room together. A break-through. I was so proud of him and so relieved that he didn't attach himself to my leg again. Emily is quite the opposite, she never had an issue about going with her Clinician. From the first day Emily walked up to her and took her hand. I think teaching her about "Stranger Danger" may be a bit difficult. She trusts everyone.

Now with Friday and the weekend in between, I am hoping that next week we can continue the non-screaming trend!!

The following week (Sept 13-19)

The following Monday after Grandma Shirley and Grandpa John left, Emily came down with a horrible ear infection/pharyngitis/upper respiratory infection. Her high fever came on so suddenly that it was too late in the day to get a Doctor's appointment so we were referred to Cook's Hospital Urgent Care. Poor little thing was downright miserable.

Then on Tuesday I noticed Zach coming down with similar symptoms. I made him an appointment that morning but everything checked out ok. Ears good, throat good, lungs good. By that afternoon he was choking on drainage that had pooled in his chest while he was napping. Horrible. I was alternating the Motrin and Tylenol to control his fever, but at 10pm his fever had shot up to 104.8. I literally threw him in a lukewarm bath and tried to give him some more Motrin, but he was so upset and angry at me that he could only manage to throw it all up while he was screaming in the bathtub. So Steve loaded him up and took him to the Emergency Room. WHAT a horrible night. I had to hold Emily most of the night because every time I would put her in bed she would start choking. Plus I had to wait by the phone for any word from Steve. I was a nervous wreck. Four hours later (and three xrays later) little man was back home with the same diagnosis Emily had. The night didn't improve much. Emily and Zach only slept about 20 minutes at a time and Steve and I spent the night sleeping on the floors in their rooms or rocking them in the recliner. Wednesday was more of the same. Thank goodness that Steve was able to stay home with me to help comfort the cubs. They both wanted to be held constantly, but neither wanted to share my lap. On a good day I can hold them both, on a bad day you can forget about it. Also, it was so difficult getting them to drink anything since their throats hurt...for a while I was having to force Pedialyte down with a medicine dropper. Not to mention trying to keep track of medicine schedules on the little to no sleep I had the night before. What a horrible couple of days (and nights). We were pretty much in zombie mode. We finally started to see an improvement by Friday (THANK GOODNESS!!). The cubs were able to sleep and the fever was gone. The antibiotics did their magic.

So now you know why I am so behind on my blog posting. It wasn't because I was having fun doing other fun things. I was at home being mommy and nurse to our sick little cubbies. This was by far the worst illness they have ever had. I think even Daddy would have to agree. Neither of us wish to repeat this experience ever again. We pray for healthy days ahead!

Farewell pictures

Grandma Shirley and Grandpa John left on Saturday (Sept 12). We are so glad that they were able to come visit us and hope that they can come again soon. Since we obviously have a picture fanatic in the family, we even have pictures taken at the airport as they were leaving.

More fun pictures

Here are some more fun pictures we took during Grandma Shirley and Grandpa John's stay with us.

Puzzle time:

Taking a refreshment break:

My runner wearing a running shoe.:

If you're happy and you know it, shout hooray!

"Grandma, this is a sock."

Emily and Grandpa:

A little outdoor time:

Sand and sea:

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Flying high

There were a lot of acrobatics performed during Grandpa John's visit.

Woo Hoo!!!

Zach's turn:

Look at that smile!!:

Emily loved flying high too!:

Coming in for a landing:

Grandpa even had an accomplice:

Going Bonkers

On Friday (Sept 11) we went to Going Bonkers. It was the perfect time to go now that school is back in session. It wasn't crowded but two sets of hands are still required for chasing down our cubs. They really do go bonkers at this place.

The cubs complained that the 0-3 year toddler area was way to amateurish for them, so they tackled (and conquered) the BIG ONE:

And they're off:

They even dragged Grandma Shirley with them:

They loved the slide:

Look at that smile!!:

Even Grandma got in on the slide action:

A nine kind of day.

On 09/09/2009, Steve and I celebrated our 9th anniversary. How do you like that? Grandma Shirley and Grandpa John cubsat for us while Steve and I had a wonderful dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. They even surprised us with a wonderful chocolate dessert. YUMMY! We then went to Main Event and played video games. I know, not very romantic, but it was what I wanted to do. We are both very competitive and it was a lot of fun to get out without the cubs even though, as always, Steve beat me at air hockey.