poor Chlo-Chlo

Our baby has the flu.  She's been so sad and tired and pitiful all week.  Sunday evening we had friends over spaghetti and just a few mins before they arrived, she said she wasn't feeling great.  But on with the dinner we went, you just never really know.  And then Sunday night after everyone was gone, and we had settled in for the night, she threw up.  And again once more Monday morning.  But that was it, totally fine Monday.  Woke up Tuesday with a low fever and crying from a headache.  She was pretty good again Tuesday afternoon after a long morning nap.  Wednesday morning I thought for sure I'd be taking her to the doctor.  But she woke up at her normal time, ate breakfast, cried because I wouldn't let her go to school, helped me wrap presents.  So I eventually checked her in tardy at 10:30.  I did a few things, went out to a quick lunch all by myself, and then helped in her classroom from 1-2:00.  When she got off the bus at 2:30, she just wasn't quite herself.  She sat at the table and tried to catch up on some of the work she had brought home from school, but she just looked so tired.  I asked her if she wanted to lay on the couch, and she was pretty much immediately asleep.  Thursday morning, I carried her out of bed, put her in the car so I could drive Ryan to academic bowl and then drop Abby off at school, and then returned her to my bed where she continued sleeping.  Coleson was out of town all day Wednesday and Thursday.  Academic bowl drop off is 7am, which means if there's only one of us, the elementary schoolers have to be dropped off too since they miss the bus pickup.  But it works out well and morning carline isn't bad at all.

So anyways, I finally make Chloe a sick visit appt for 10:30 on Thursday morning.  I had to wake her up at 9:30.  That's how you know our early bird is sick; Saturday morning she woke Abby up at 5:50 to tell her about the watch that she was planning to ask Santa for.  I managed to get her showered and teeth-brushed and out the door we went.  I was kinda hoping for an easy fix and some antibiotics.  Strep negative, ears & lungs good, so the nurse came back to swab her nose for flu.  It's strain B, the rarer one apparently, and she hasn't been crazy sick, so I guess that's because she had the shot?  She hasn't had a fever over 101 and threw up only those two times.  It's been so weird how she's sick and then totally fine and then sick again.  But now we know why it keeps lingering, the flu takes a week.  We discussed tamiflu, but decided it really wasn't worth it.  Either way she wouldn't be able to go back to school today, Friday, and then it is the weekend.  Hopefully it'll move on on it's own in the next few days.  But at least we know what it is, and we knew to plan on no school today.  And we have doctor's orders to watch all the Christmas specials we can?!!

Her biggest symptom has just been sleep, she's been doing a ton of it.  I love the cuddles though.  And there's just something about watching your babies sleep.  She's still sleeping at 9:40 this morning.  Coleson came home late last night and had his Macedonia Mornings with Dad this morning.  I'm sooo proud of him for stepping up and doing this for the school and for Abs & Chlo!!  The all-pro dads program had died out, but it's actually a franchise type deal, so he couldn't continue it, he doesn't have the rights.  So he's doing this all on his own - with help from an awesome committee including Zach, David, Seth, Jim.  Anyways, Chloe couldn't go to the meeting this morning obviously and I couldn't leave her home alone [or with a sleeping brother!], so for the second day in a row, I rolled her straight into the car and she rode along to pick up 225 chickfila biscuits and deliver them to the guys at school.  From there, she got into my bed and fell right back asleep - I'm really grateful for that, she needs it apparently!

This poor girlie catches everything and hangs on to it forever.  I suppose we can go all the way back to being hospitalized for three days for rsv at ten weeks old?  I can remember the year that Ryan's den was in charge of the Cub Scout banquet and between Den Leader Daddy and party planner Mommy, we all had to be there, so we sat a very sick Chloe in a stroller in the corner!  And then this April when she was sick all of spring break with pneumonia, a double ear infection, and a stomach virus to boot.  Mom of the year over here thought it was allergies and didn't take her in until halfway through the week.

Here's hoping this flu has almost finished running its course!  And that nobody else comes down with it.  And here's one of many super sweet, sleeping Chloe pictures that I've taken this week...  Maya is truly the best friend a person could ever ask for!  I love you my sweet Chloe!!!  Feel better soon!!!

December fun

I have to say, I think I'm doing pretty well this December!!  Last year was probably the craziest one yet, and I've been determined not to let that happen again this year!  I was filling in for the lunch room this time last year - Thanksgiving to Christmas - worse time of all to work in there!  I was solo room mom times two for party planning.  I made a day trip to Florida and back to hug my sick sister.  Christmas was here before I knew it and was totally rushed.

This year, esp with Thanksgiving being on the latest day it possibly could, I knew I had to be on top of it.  It was December when we came back from break!  I'm trying to remember that less is more and to be more intentional with the time we have.  And not having the lunch room or party-planning has been huge!  We've picked out a few favorite things we'd like to do.  I did a ton of shopping super early.  In fact, I did my personalized Shutterfly gifts before Thanksgiving.  It's really been going well.  I just checked Chloe in tardy today after missing the first two days of the week.  But even so, it's all worked out, and I haven't been worried about getting behind!

Nana came last week for a few nights which was really nice and fun!  Wednesday night we brought crockpot bbq chicken to our neighbors after Kathy's surgery.  I doubled it, and we had dinner with Nana!  Yumm.  And Thursday afternoon was the BEST!  Ryan was off playing with the neighbors as usual, but they got in a little tuft and Zach sent everybody home.  Chloe was playing in the backyard with neighbor Emmaline, which left Ryan and Abby and I in the driveway playing knockout.  It was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon, and I had the best time playing with them.  And I won!!!  [once out of probably 15 games.  But I still won!].  My Big Two are quite the competitors and they have some serious knockout/ basketball skills.  When Nana and Daddy got home Thursday night, it was date night!!  Coleson and I walked the Avalon and took in Christmas lights and did some window-shopping and ate a wonderful dinner at The El Felix.  Nana and the kiddos had Las Palmas.

Friday was fun too!  Barbara and I went down to Apple Annie's craft show.  I got sooo many great Christmas gifts.  We had a lot of fun browsing.  Barbara left from there for home, and I did a few errands and treated myself to Chicken Salad Chick for lunch since I was out and about and had left the county and all.  Friday after school, Ryan and I picked up our race packets for the Reindeer Run.  We've run this at least the past two years, and it's always fun.  Last year was CRAZY rainy and everything was flooded [it is at a river park after all].  It was like high marching to get through the streams of water covering over the sidewalks.  I've run a handful of half marathons, but I still think last year's reindeer run was the hardest race I've done :)  But we did it and we had fun and now we have a story!!  This year we found out we couldn't run on Saturday because of an academic bowl tournament, so we picked up our packets Friday night and ran three miles ourselves - DIY Reindeer Run 2019.  Ryan wanted to do six laps instead of an out and back over the bridge which worked out well since it was dark by the time we finished.  He ran ahead of me the first three, but he was having some cramps, so he waited on me and we slowed quite a bit for the second half.  It was really fun actually running together and chit-chatting.  From there we met Daddy and the girls in downtown Canton for a Christmas festival.  There wasn't a ton of stuff to do [at least without long lines that the kids didn't want to wait in any more then we wanted to either], but honestly it was really nice just walking around and being together.  The kiddos got hot chocolate, and then we ate a late dinner at the new Panera bread.  It was simple and fun.  The girls rode in my car home - Chloe fell asleep and Abby must have told me a dozen times what a nice evening it was, awwwww.

Saturday morning the guys went to academic bowl, and I took the girls to see Santa at church.  It was a really well done event and Santa was great!  We enjoyed seeing friends, especially the Khodabakhshs.  I took a couple pictures, but they had a photographer there, so hopefully in a few days I'll have some great Santa pictures of my girlies!  Oh, and the shoes!  So we're going from there to Abby's basketball game.  Which meant changing clothes.  And despite all my reminders, Abby didn't bring any basketball shoes, and she's in her cowboy boots.  So she and Parker swap shoes in the parking lot since he came from a basketball game.  Soo much fun watching Parker line-dance all around the parking lot in Abby's boots.  He's such a fun kid!!  We took Taylor with us to Abby's game.  It was the first game of the season, so it took awhile for both teams to warm up.  It was 2-2 forever!!  The second half went better and Abby scored eight points - three baskets and both of her free throws.  She fouled out with five minutes to go!  She's the point guard and leader of the team for sure, so it kinda fell apart without her and they lost 18-13.  But it was fun, and it's great to be back in basketball season!!  Ryan's academic bowl tournament wasn't going well and there was some tension, so they ended up leaving to go to Ryan's game.  He fouled out too, way to go?!?!  [Coaches like to see that aggressiveness at this age, esp on Abby's girl teams].  They lost as well, but Coleson said Ryan looked really good.  From basketball, I took my three girls right down the road to Soho bagel; we used to love going there when we were at Watermarke church.  The bagel sandwiches were soo good and a hit with all the girls.  And the staff was super friendly, esp considering I had three kiddos [and myself!] randomly ordering piecemeal, personalized sandwiches :)  From there, we played at our neighborhood playground until Taylor left.  It was another beautiful and sunny day, so you gotta enjoy them when you can!  Ryan spent Saturday evening at Tripp's house while we all watched the Dawgs lose painfully in the SEC championship game.

Sunday was church and the grocery store and FINALLY decorating the tree that we had put up the weekend before!  We had the Esterlings [minus Jessi], the Khodabakhshs [plus one!], and David Niles over for a fun evening and a spaghetti dinner.  I'm so glad it worked out!  This whole less-is-more approach in December and hosting a dinner made our short list :)  I think the kiddos had a blast playing, and I know I had a wonderful time visiting with friends.

And then Chloe threw up Sunday night and again first thing Monday morning.  Fortunately, Coleson was able to work from home Monday, but only until 10:30 as he had an 11:00 meeting.  I was able to make my yearly lady appt [which I'd already rescheduled once] and do a bunch of errands - the dollar store, Michaels, the bank, the post office, and Hallmark.  And I made it back at 10:25, pheww!!  I must say, I felt pretty accomplished.  I should also note, after Chloe threw up she was totally fine the rest of Monday.  Tuesday morning she woke up crying with a headache and had a low fever, about 100*.  She went back to sleep until about 9:30 and was fine again most of Tuesday.  So when Coleson came home a little early yesterday - although he went straight into his office on phone calls until 6:30 - I handed the tv remote to Chloe and I was outta here.  I had a couple things I had to get at Kroger and drop off for school, and then I got in a nice run.  Chloe had a headache again last night and I thought for sure we'd be at the doctor's this morning.  It's been tough the way whatever this is just keeps lingering.  She'll be fine for hours and then have a headache and then be okay again.  Let's either kick this or get an antibiotic, you know?!  But she woke up totally fine today, ate breakfast, helped me wrap some presents, and even cried at one point because school is "awesome" and she wanted to be there.  I eventually checked her in.  It's not been a full 24 hours since the headache/ low fever last evening, but we've always said if we keep Chloe home every time we thought she might be sick, she'd never go to school.  So here's hoping she's truly better and not getting anyone sick!  And it's book cook day!  I'll be up there too in a couple hours helping the class make pancakes.  Second grade with Mrs. Shakespeare is the best!!!!  On a side note, I feel sooo bad for Abs this year.  Fourth grade is big kid, and they don't get to do the Grinch days and watch the Polar Express and wear pjs and have a class elf.  I don't remember this transition phasing Ryan, but she's been so sad which makes me so sad!!  But at least she's got a class party coming up?!  We keep reminding her of that, because sixth grade really is big time.  Not even a party for Ryan, in fact he's got five midterms next week, one each day.  Bummer.  The real world isn't all it is cracked up to be.  I keep suggesting to them that they should just stay little and stop growing up so fast.  To which cute and sweet Chloe says, I can't help it I have to grow!  Okay, fair enough...

So anyways, Happy December and Merry Christmas season from this rambler!!

Thanksgiving Break 2019

I love to plan trips and type it all out in one spot.  Throw back to the days of planning trips before smart phones I suppose.  I was actually explaining to Ryan about how we used to have to print out mapquest directions too before we would leave.  Times have certainly changed in just a few short years!  I do love me some google maps and rerouting and avoiding accidents :)  Here's the cut and pasted version of the word document that I used to organize ideas for our break last week.  We had so much fun!  I LOVED the Great Wolf Lodge, highly recommend it.  We did the tubes over and over and over [boing].  The Hornets game was fun too, even though they're terrible!  And the best part was out hotel was literally across the street.  Like maybe 20 yards tops.  Perfect planning on Daddy's part booking that hotel.  Abby loved the Kings Mountain National Battlefield and all the history.  Fourth grade studies the Revolutionary War in depth.  I didn't realize how far south the battles were fought and what a turning point the battles in the Carolinas were.  Thanksgiving and Black Friday were with Nana and Auntie Sarah and the rest of the Greenville family.  Lots of fun, playtime, good food, ugly sweaters, beautiful weather.  We met Blossom, the Zerings' new sweet pup.  She and Maya played well!  It was a wonderful, wonderful week.  But also really nice to be home and sleeping in our own beds!

THANKSGIVING BREAK 2019  - THREE VACATION DAYS  [TWO HOLIDAYS ON THURS AND FRI]

Friday 11.22.19  - drive to Barbara’s sometime after school/ work.  Spend night there, leave Maya

Saturday, 11.23  - wake up in Greenville,  Ryan and Amy – 5k fun run with Zerings at 8:30 - 

Cancelled because of rain?!  Bummer!

Saturday at 10am – hang out with Tyler, Nichole, Kenley - won’t see Tyler’s crew at end of week

Leave around 2pm.  Drive two hours to Charlotte.  Eat before game?  Within walking distance is Vida Mexican, Fuel Pizza, Rooster’s Wood-fired Kitchen, Mert’s Heart and Soul [ma&pop southern], etc  **Went to Fuel for pizza and wings - yummy!!**

               Hornets [NBA] game vs. Bulls at 7pm.  Spend night in Charlotte –

SpringHill Suites Charlotte Uptown  311 East 5^th St

                        Confirmation Number: 98266733  check in 3pm, checkout Sunday 11am

Sunday, 11.24  - explore Charlotte some – Walked Clarks Creek Greenway and ate lunch at Tijuana Flats [where we eat in Florida with Grandma & Grandpa a lot!] 

check in to Great Wolf Lodge at 4:00pm, about 20 mins from Charlotte/hotel 

Room check-in does not begin until 4:00 p.m. or as your room becomes available. However, you can arrive as early as 1:00 p.m. to begin using the water park. There are changing rooms, lockers and showers available for you.

               Our room was ready when we got there at 1:00, yay!!!  Water park followed by showers and dinner at Freddy's - burgers, fries, an amazing strawberry milkshake

Monday – GWL                    Reservation Number: 27823654

Bagels in the hotel room, waterpark with a pizza for lunch, Coleson and I took turns running, gift shop, showers, dinner at PDQ [chicken]

Tuesday 11.26 – check out at 11am [add $55 to stay until 2pm] Dunkin Donuts room service for breakfast!

somewhere fun for lunch in Charlotte?  Tacos 4  Life - I loved this lunch spot.  Perfect kids' meals - two tacos, cheese dip, and a drink.

Slowly work our way back to Barbara’s, explore someplace on the way?

Kings Mountain National Military Park?  Free with 4^th grade pass?!  Abby LOVED this spot!

Back to Barbara’s in time to spend the night

Wednesday –  in Greenville - hung out at Auntie Sarah's some - crafts and games, dinner at Barbara's

Thursday, Thanksgiving!  - in Greenville.  Auntie Sarah hosted, Ryan spent the night.

Friday, Black Friday – in Greenville.  Amy, Barbara, Sarah shopping and ugly sweater pictures

             Coleson took girls to Big Air.  Ryan still with Uncle Christian and cousins, they went to Frankie's.

Disney on Ice at 5pm, Mommy/Chloe/Nana/ Auntie Sarah – tickets purchased!

Left for home about 7:30pm.  Zero traffic and no stops, we were home by 10:00.

Saturday, 11.30 – home, watch football [uga vs gt at noon], Christmas decorating, recover 😊

Sunday – around the house, home!  Abby- Taylor’s bday party

                    After church, we went to Cheeseburger Bobby's for lunch, Target to purchase gifts for the Christmas tree at church, and to the super fanyc Christmas tree farm in the Lowe's parking lot to pick out our tree.

Costs:

GWL would be about $700 for two nights with bunkbed rooms – not including dining package [so glad we did not bother with dining package!  nothing special for food there and a TON of good options right outside the hotel]

 Total: $610.16   $305.08 charged when booked, second $305.08 due at checkin

Didn’t add any packages – bring breakfast food and snacks to keep in the room

a few random meals  - hotel in Charlotte Saturday night $150+parking – Hornets tickets $138 – Disney on Ice $36

Kings Mountain National Military Park is about halfway between Greenville and Charlotte.  **Get free fourth grade pass.  Revolutionary War which Abby is studying in depth this year!  Never did figure out how to get the pass, link appears to have been broken for months.  But there wasn't a charge to get in the park anyways!