A week ago today....

What a week it has been for me and one I don't want to repeat anytime soon.  Last Tuesday, Blake was running a fever so I had called the doctor to see if he could get us in for a strep test (we had been exposed to strep and Blake gets it fairly often), he couldn't at the office but sent us to the hospital instead to do it.  So I hurried up and finished my lunch trying to rush us out the door to get the test done and be back before Lauren's bus came after school.  In my effort to quickly eat my lunch, I failed to chew my food adequately.  I knew when I swallowed it hurt but assumed it would go away in time if I kept drinking water. 

Well by late afternoon I was really feeling bad and my breathing was starting to get worse.  I got the kids to bed and finally called Bradley to come home from work.  He did and at 9:30pm we headed for the ER.  By 11:20 I was in surgery and we were back home a little after 1:00am.  Thank goodness for a non-crowded ER and our great local hospital and surgeon.  I was feeling much better by Wednesday morning.

I continued to have some pain in my chest area where the food was lodged the next few days but was finally able to eat regular meals by Friday night.  Saturday morning I woke up and was unable to move my neck and could not lift my arms above my head.  I had terrible pain directly behind where the food was lodged in my esophogus.  Something was terribly wrong.  I decided to call the chiropractor who got me in right away.  Luckily after some adjustments and therapy I got some relief.  By Monday I was feeling much better.  I still have some mobility problems but the pain is decreasing considerably.  The doc thought the muscular pains had transferred to my weak point (my back). 

So the lesson I learned, slow down and chew your food, just like I tell my kids to do!  Ahhh!!!!   And by the way, Blake did not end up having strep (thank goodness) it appeared just to be viral! 

Bowling

Lauren's 4H club went bowling on MLK day.  It was Blake's first time and he had so much fun.  Lauren is trying so hard to bowl correctly but lacks the arm strength to really do it yet.  Blake on the other hand just rolled it between his legs and scored a 105 on one of his games.  He's so funny!  Lauren can't understand why she does so good in bowling on the Wii but not as well at the bowling alley.  I wonder why......

Little Gym - fall/winter semester show day

Blake just wrapped up his first Funny Bugs class at Little Gym.  This class was a major milestone for him as I could no longer go in with him in the gym.  The first few sessions were rough with lots of crying.  However, he soon got onto the new class format and made new friends.  On show day (this past Wednesday) I got to go in the gym with him and take pictures, video, etc.  It just amazes me what the teachers can do with preschoolers!  He has really blossomed and benefited from the whole experience. 

Bartlow Christmas

We hosted Bartlow Christmas again this year.  Unfortunately we were not a complete celebration this year as Aaron and Brekin's family fell victim to a horrible stomach virus!  So we went on with Christmas, but it just wasn't the same.  Lauren was so disappointed that we did not get a single smile out of her until she opened her gifts. 

As usual though we had great food, enjoyed watching the kids play, and had lots of fun playing wii and just relaxing.  Grandma and Grandpa spoiled all of us! 

Santa came!!!

We awoke to on Sunday morning to Lauren in Blake's room saying, "Blake wake up!"  "Santa brought you a sand digger!"  Then they rushed into our room and woke us up as we pretended to sleep.  By 8 am they had opened every present and we're feverioushly playing with their new toys! 

Lauren's big items from Santa, a Nintendo DS, four DS games, a Taylor Swift t-shirt and concert DVD, a watch, Barbie ornament, various Barbie books, and some arts and craft kits.

Blake's big items from Santa were a sand digger, which became a block digger until it was moved out to the mulch pile, a track tractor, a forage wagon, a TJ tractor just like Grandpa's, puzzles (his new love), books, and some DVDs.

The kids gave each other pillow pets, Lauren a Zebra stripe one and Blake a Mater tow truck one.  From us the kids got DVDs, snow boots, snow pants (will they ever get to use them????), and some clothes. 

It was another wonderful Christmas!!!