Indiana part three: The dreaded F word

Hope is all about an open-mouthed sleep, clearly. But when she slept like this the ENTIRE way from Bowling Green to Indiana, maybe I should have suspected somethin' was a brewin'. 

We bolted from Nathan's party early, and headed to the nearest Immediate Care Center so I could have my suspicions confirmed, and hear the dreaded F word.

"Your daughter tested positive for the FLU"

Hope was out cold, and there was no waking her, so I just aimlessly drove around waiting for her Tamiflu to be filled.  One of our good friends is a pharmacist and he gave me a tip for a $10 coupon, so I was feeling all smug that I was going to save us some money.

However, when the lady behind the glass, (which btw, I'm thinking should be bullet-proof after what I was feeling) started to sheepishly speak into the phone, I should have known bad news was coming.

"Ma'am do you know how much this costs?"

"With my coupon you mean?"

"Yes, with the coupon"

"No, how much?"

"Ummm, it will be 197 dollars"

LIKE I SAID, BULLET-PROOF GLASS.

I'm sure all the color drained from my face, as I stammered and stuttered about my measly 10 dollar coupon.



So, in a state of shock I drove off with the liquid gold that had better cure my daughter.  Oh, and raise her IQ as well.

And my dear daughter?

In her 5 years on this earth, she's been sick on many occasions, but never-ever has she been this sick.

She has spent the majority of her days, just like this.

With brief periods of awake.

And the worst part?

No talking or smiling at all.

Isn't it strange how your kids can exhaust you will their incessant talking, but yet when they are sick it's the only thing you want.

Oh, and about that liquid gold?

Well, each time she took it within an hour she would vomit. Yeah. 

 After talking to her doctor it was determined that she should not take it.  So in my refrigerator sits 200 dollars worth of Tamiflu. Hit me up, if you want some! KIDDING. Maybe. 

After a fun vomit-filled drive home, I am starting to see slight improvements. 

Some expression has returned to her face. 

And she's even been asking to wear my earrings

And play games. 

Of course I obliged on both requests. 

But you guys, I miss my daughters smile, and I can't wait for her Tigger of a personality to return. 

*I actually wrote this post on Tuesday while Hope was sleeping, and I'm happy to report that as of today, her smile has returned. 

Indiana part two: Celebrating Nathan

Main purpose for out visit to Indiana?

To celebrate Nathan!

Nathan is now 14, so as with every member of our family, a party was in order. 

The table was set and we were ready to sit around it.

Because as we all know a meal cannot be eaten without this picture. (One day someone will find all of our pictures, and be like, OH MY GOSH, ALL THEY EVER DID WAS EAT!)

I vividly remember the day Nathan was born.

I was a hostess at Cracker Barrel, and I left "sick" so I could be there for his birth.

But as I left, I snuck out a piece of coca-cola cake for Jo.  Who's the best sister e-ver? 

And here he is, 14 years later, all big and stuff. Dumb.

 Not that he's dumb, but dumb that he's 14 and big, but yet good that he's a growing into a fine young man, but still dumb.  OH, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

But about that day of celebration, Hope woke up with a fever that morning so I  pumped her full of Tylenol, and she seemed to perk up.

But mainly she spent the day like this...

And then even with Tylenol in her system she was burning up, and I couldn't keep her awake.

I had a gut feeling what it was, but decided we had better visit an Urgent Care...

Conclusion tomorrow.

( Please tell me you like the dramatics of me dragging this thing out)

Indiana part one: It's all about the basketball

We have returned from up North, and the trip definitely didn't turn out as planned, but we at least had a good start. 

Event #1: Go watch Cody play.

And here he is, representing in the pink, along with everyone else in support of cancer. 

Of course I also wanted to see Nathan, but finding Nathan at the games is slightly more difficult.

He stands in a sea of kids, and I usually spend a good 10 minutes trying to spot him.  Next year Nathan won't be in the student section anymore, he will be on the floor like his brother.

And next year Cody won't be here either.

Senior year for 34.

So you understand I was all about capturing maybe one of last games I may ever see him play.

At least until I got distracted...

Okay, back to Cody.

You know, we take our basketball VERY serious in Indiana. 

Uh hello, Hoosiers.

There was a reason a movie was made after us. 

It's a passion that run deeps. 

And both of Jo's boys are very good at it.

So event #1, was officially a success.

 Seeing two of my favorite nephews. 

But see that pink shirt to the right of the picture? That was Hope acting peculiar as all get out, and little did I know the trouble that was brewing....

Illness with a side of video

I have a VERY sick little girl on my hands, so my blogging is taking a backseat until she improves, but I  did want to share this little video my dad made of Pierce. 

Pierce thinks it's awesome! And it is pretty darn cute. 

Please pray for our family. That Hope improves, and that this doesn't spread like the plague throughout my entire family.

Flashing back makes me want to eat my feelings.

Pierce, current day with his worried expression. 

Pierce, 4 years ago with same worried expression.

I went looking for pictures of him the last time he played basketball, or should I say biddy-ball, and well, what do you think these pictures did to a sentimental sap such as myself?

They make me want to hurl myself down a flight of stairs. 

We had such an awful camera back then, but hey, at least we were able to capture important things like biddy-ball with a favorite aunt as the coach.

And obviously the coach had a favorite.

And while I'm ready to throw myself down the stairs, check out how little my baby was.

So, if you need me today, I'll be at the kitchen sink eating brownies and crying.