Ear Infections

On September 30th, just 3 days before Lola's first birthday, she came down with a cold and ultimately a double ear infection. She hadn't been sick since May. All summer we had no runny nose, no cough, no doctors appointments, and no medicine. 

Today is January 24th, and we're on our 53rd day of antibiotics since then. Yes, I'm counting. We tried a round of Amoxicillin, 4 rounds of Augmentin, and now a round of Cefdinir. Lola is so used to getting medicine, she literally gives it to herself now, and loves it. If you say "lets get your medicine" she looks excited, and will open her mouth. It may sound cute, considering the first couple rounds we gave her, you had to hold her down. But to me, it sucks giving her this much medicine.
We would go to the pediatrician, she would say she's got an ear infection, consult an ENT. We would go to the ENT, and he would say "ears look good." She might be okay for a week, or 2 weeks. Then back to the pediatrician, and ENT, and so on. But now, I'm over it. We are finally getting tubes in her ears on Friday. I didn't want it to come to this, but I can't keep putting medicine into her. I chalked all her colds and ear infections up to being in day care and winter, but enough is enough. I'm more than terrified to have her put to sleep, because I've been put to sleep so many times and I absolutely hate it. But I know, at least I hope, this means no more medicine!

The ENT doing the tubes removed my tonsils and a huge abscess in my throat when I was younger. I feel a little bit better about that. 

Long story short, and I don't do this very often, but I'm asking for positive thoughts and prayers for Friday morning, and for the rest of winter so that our sweet girl can just go about her day and play with her toys like a little toddler should. And to wish mommy luck not to have a nervous breakdown in the waiting room. Thankfully daddy (the strong one) will be with us the whole time.

Three Month Hiatus

Since I took a blogging hiatus (read: have been so busy I can't see straight) I thought I'd do one big round up of our fall, winter, and new year, so we can get back into blogging again. I've got A LOT of girlfriends pregnant with their first babies right now, and I'm way too excited for each of them. Hoping to keep this thing going as I organize a few things over here. I've got major goals for 2017 and can't wait to share the fun with you.

Lola's First Birthday. It was Pumpkins and Roses everywhere!
 We were operating under very sad circumstances, as we had just lost Chuck's dad that morning. But we had a crew of friends and family to help us! We are forever grateful to all of you for lifting us up on a day we really needed it.
Lola was fighting a cold (and a nap) that day, but still had fun putting cake into our mouths instead of her own. It truly was a beautiful day, and we know Chuck's dad was with us!

  
Halloween. Lola went as a witch to school that day, and we got to trick or treat in our home town up onto the square. She was the cutest little Dorothy ever and LOVED walking up to each house and taking more than one piece of candy each time! We had a little Halloween Brunch at our house with my girlfriends and their babies. Lola was the only girl this time and it was too cute.

Thanksgiving was a little chaotic as we have two places to eat dinner, 2 hours apart. But we watched the parade, feasted like kings, and enjoyed the company of both our families!

Christmas was wonderful with Lola this year. She's getting to the point of understanding that toys are hers. And she finally can play with all her older cousins! Our nephew had to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the hospital this year with HSP (google it, none of us even had a clue what it was) We felt so terrible for him and our brother and sister in law. But we still managed to have the family together as much as possible. Lola got her first helmet, which made daddy SO proud as he has been totally impatient in wanting to take her snowboarding. And her first sled that she had no idea what was happening.

New Years Eve we spent at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens and it was total sensory overload for Lola. She walked around in total awe. It was so cute. And then we hosted New Years Day dinner and celebrating my dads birthday at our house. Which was another red flag why we need a bigger house! 10 adults and 6 kids. Everyone always ends up in Lola's room because it's huge, and all the kids are wild throwing balls and toys everywhere. Thats what you get with two one year olds, 2 three year olds, an 8 and a 10 year old. Total chaos, yet so fun and heart warming to know they're all a part of us!

Thanks to all of you sticking around here, reading my posts. I truly appreciate it and hope to blog as much as possible, make everyone laugh, maybe inspire a few.