A "Breath" of Fresh Air!

I am playing catch up, just so that I can get behind again...the story of my life these days. Oh well, good thing we are having fun, most of the time. I have blogged a couple of highlights from the last two weeks below and this if my final update of today. WE had a very nice Memorial Day weekend which we spent at the lake with Grandma and Grandpa "G" and Leigh, Spencer, and little Spence. The weather was actually pretty crummy, but we were able to spend some time outdoors. The kids played in the hot tub a bunch and we did pull out the jet skis a couple of times. Tuesday of last week was supposed to be my catch up day from the weekend and the last week, but Trey woke up with a cough and not feeling well. All morning we battled his cough and him throwing up...I tried breathing treatments 2 different times and have ZERO results. He COULD NOT breathe. It was the saddest little thing...there is nothing worse than not being able to help your child when they feel crummy. I decided to take him into the doctor to find out what was going on...as soon as we got there we were immediately seen by the doctor. He was in respiratory distress and immediately given a steroid shot and a double dose of breathing treatments. After that did not work, the pediatrician said that he would most likely be admitted to the hospital if he didn't improve in the next couple of minutes. In the meantime they administered another breathing treatment, which also appeared not to work. The doctor asked if I would like to have him admitted, to which I responded if we could get to a point where he was comfortable sending us home I would much rather that option. He said he would try one more time with a breathing treatment and after that we would make a decision. Four treatment's and a shot later, he finally started to improve. Sent home with strict instructions to closely monitor him we finally headed home. After not eating all day we were just happy to see that he could keep dinner down that night. Jeff was kind enough to spend the night on the floor next to Trey while he slept and the next morning we headed back to the doctor's office for a follow-up visit. The doctor's and nurses couldn't believe that it was the same kid. His energy was back, he was breathing normally and he was smiling! As this was the third time in the last 6 months that Trey has had issues with breathing, the doctor decided to run an allergy test on him. Friday we got the results back...he is allergic to just about everything outside as well as cats, dogs, and the common indoor allergens. The doctor was totally perplexed that Trey has not had more allergic responses given the results of the test and also that Trey does not have any hay-fever symptoms, but only asthmatic symptoms when he has a reaction. Trey is now on a daily breathing treatment and we will see if this helps. In the meantime, we will just watch him closely and hopefully keep those airways clear!
Trey's respiratory distress was obviously the big "event" of the week, if you could call it that, but we also had a couple of other fun things that went on. Bayley's last day of second grade was Thursday...she was excited, but she really does LOVE school. We are looking forward to a short action-packed summer. Yesterday Kendal had her last T-ball game and then her team party. She enjoyed t-ball, but I'm not sure that it was as fast-paced as our little rocket would have liked. We'll see if she wants to sign up next year.
Jeff and I have been looking forward to this upcoming week for the last couple of months. We are headed to St. Martin on a reward trip from Jeff's work performance last year. It should be a lot of fun. Fortunately we have great family who are willing to watch our kiddos while we are away so that we can enjoy the time away knowing our kids are in good hands. Jeff was very blessed this year at work and now we get to enjoy the fruits of his labors! I'm sure we will be blogging a play-by-play!

DeSoto Caverns Fieldtrip

A week and a half ago I was able to accompany Bayley on her class field trip to DeSoto Caverns. DeSoto Caverns in a cave about 45 minutes from our house. Bayley was thrilled that I would be able to come...thanks to a good friend who was willing to watch my other two kiddos. We had a very good time. The cave was nice, but kind of puny compared to some of the other caves I have been to like Timpanogas and Carlsbad Caverns, but nice for around here. Not only did they get to walk through the cave but they were also able to pan for jewels...I think that was the highlight of Bayley's trip. It was a fun day with my Fun seven year old!

Dora Live

Dora Look-a-Likes
Two weeks ago there was a Dora look-a-like contest at our local Chick-fil-A. Once I told Kendal about it, she was determined to enter and WIN. In fact in the days leading up to the contest that seemed to be all we talked about. That Tuesday night Jeff had a dinner for work, so I packed up the kids, including Kendal dressed as Dora and Trey as Diego and headed to Chick-fil-A. Not only did they have the contest, but they had coloring and other small activities for the kids....and as an added bonus they had free kids meals with an adult meal purchase. For the first little while Kendal and Trey were the only 2 kids dressed up so it looked like they would be the winners automatically (mind you at this point we had no idea what the prizes would be and really didn't care, it was all about the experience). However, as the time for the contest drew nearer little girls dressed up like Dora started coming in. All of the girls had the exact same costume (Kendal got hers a couple of Halloweens ago from Grandma G), and the others had black wigs. As they pretty much all looked exactly alike it was impossible for the judges to fairly pick a winner. So with the blessing of all the contestants and their parents, they put all the of dressed-up kid's names in a hat and picked for the winner. KENDAL WON! She was so excited! And boy were we even more excited when we saw the prize pack...she was 4 fourth row tickets to the Dora Live Show in Birmingham, a car wash, and of course some free Chick-fil-A food! It was a fun night and I came home with 3 very happy kids. Thanks Chick-fil-A!!!!

T-ball games, Dance Recitals, Etc.

My DANCING QUEENS

Want to know what we have been up to lately...a lot of t-ball, a lot of dance, and life in general.
Dancing took the center stage this weekend. The girls were excited to show off what they had been working on the last couple of months. Kendal performed a very nice slow dance and looked very beautiful in her costume. I think she is going to take a break from dancing and give some other activities a try. She likes to dance, but I can't say that she loves it like her sister Bayley does. Bayley did a great job this recital. She is in a class with girls a couple of years older than her and has very little problems keeping up. Of course, she is as tall as the other girls and looks just as old, but it says a lot that she has been willing to challenge herself with the older girls. She definitely has a dancers body...long and slender. I am very proud of both of my girls.

Grandma "G" and Bayley (notice the beautiful roses...the girls loved them)

The last couple of weeks Kendal has had a couple of t-ball games a week. She has enjoyed her t-ball experience and has improved as the year has progressed. She proved to be the most attentive girl on the team...the rest of the girls were usually in the outfield picking grass or talking, while Kendal usually at least knew where the ball had been hit. Now that the season is over or almost over, depending on if they decide to make up any of the cancelled games, the most exciting part of the season remains...the team party where Kendal will receive her trophy. (after the first game this year, she asked me, so now do I get my trophy??)

Kendal at the plate!

And of course, life has continued to be filled with lots of other stuff. The weather goes from being very nice to very rainy, so we have had the chance to enjoy our pool here and there. The kids are itching for a week where they can swim every day. Church callings continue to keep Jeff and I, mostly Jeff extremely busy. He is gone most evenings, however, makes a point to spend quality time with the kids when he is home. He really is a good dad and husband. Other than that, we are looking forward to the end of another school year in 8 days...but who is counting. This week I am headed on a field trip with Bayley's class. It should be a lot of fun to spend that time with her. And of course, the end of the school year means the start of school for Kendal is just around the corner....not a day goes by that she doesn't ask how many more days until she starts school. I love that she is so excited!!

It's A Girl!

Yes, we found out today that we are going to have another little girl. We are very excited! I am due September 27th and looking forward to a long hot summer. The kids are more than thrilled to be adding to our family. I will have lots of helpers! Sorry about the pictures, but I didn't have a chance to scan the ultrasound pictures.