Dear Baby Birthday Party

Our first night at the hospital was a crazy.  Uncle Patrick, Aunt Tippy and our cousin Cameron came to visits.  During their visit, Meredith started talking about her baby's birthday party.  She told them that she was having a birthday party for her baby on Friday and asked then to come.  Her baby's name is "Darlin".  She is so imaginative and was so excited about this party.  Little did she know, Aunt Tippy took it and ran with it.  She planned a party just for her baby.  She was going to bring it to the hospital, but when she found out we were coming home she brought it all to our house.  She even called Meredith yesterday morning and asked her what the cake was going to say.  Meredith said, "I love you.  Happy Birthday, Dear Baby."  So, take a look at the cake...

Tiffany said the lady at the bakery said she wasn't sure she could fit all that on the cake.  Tiffany said she told her to make it work...she wanted exactly what Meredith wanted.    So, we had a little party last night for baby "Darlin". 

I am so thankful for my sister and the crazy things she will do for her niece.  It was so sweet of her to do everything she did for Meredith and "Darlin."  She is a fantastic Aunt. 



Meredith's Hospital Adventure

What a week!  When we got home Sunday night, Meredith was not feeling that great.  We thought maybe her allergies were bothering her because her face was broken out a little. 

We had no idea that things were about to get worse.  When I woke her up on Monday morning, this is what I found...

Horrified, I called the Pediatrician and took her in as soon as they opened.  We usually see Dr. Butler, but she was on vacation.  So, we saw her partner Dr. Emezie.  She took some cultures from her face, and told me to apply warm soaks to her face.  She also gave me a 4 prescriptions to have filled.  An antibiotic, a steroid, Atarax for itching, and Zofran for nausea.  When we got home, I gave her some Motrin for her fever and Atarax to try and stop the itching.  I asked her to eat something so I could give her the antibiotic.  She ate about two bites and then proceeded to throw everything up, including the medications.  After checking her temperature and finding that it was 103 I called the Pediatrician.  They asked me to bring her back in. When we arrived they told me the only way to get her fever down at this point was to put an IV in and give her IV fluids and antibiotics. 

She was so miserable, and I felt so helpless.  Grandaddy came by and sat with us for a few minutes.  By the time we left, we had been there for about 5 hours.  We headed home, and Granmommy stayed with her on Tuesday so that I could work.  On Wednesday morning, we went back to see Dr. Emezie.  She had Meredith lay down so she could soak her skin.

She did very well, and Dr. Emezie informed me that the test results had not come back yet.  She told me they would call when they had the results.  Unfortunately, after we returned home Meredith was sick again and her fever went back up.  She still didn't want to eat or drink and she wanted to just lay around.  I called Dr. Emezie to let her know what was going on, and the nurse asked me to bring her back in.  It was 5pm when we got there.  Dr. Emezie decided it would be best to admit her to the hospital so she could get IV fluids and antibiotics continuously.  She was admitted by 6pm.  Unfortunately, it took them 12 sticks to get an IV in.  They did get one in after about the 6th try, but after about 30 minutes she was crying and complaining of it hurting so bad.  I noticed her arm swellling.  When the nurse came in and took the tape off she said it was infiltrated.  That basically means that the IV was not in a vein and it was just letting the fluids and antibiotics out into her arm.  It was the size of a baseball by the time they took it out.  This picture is about two hours after they took it out.  The swelling had gone down quite a bit. 

After that they proceeded to stick her 6 more times before finally getting the IV in.  They also took blood and another culture.  She was such a brave little girl, and I was amazed at how well she did.  She was finally able to go to sleep around midnight after they got the IV in. 

The next day Dr. Emezie informed me that she had a staph infection.  She said that they didn't know exactly what strain it was yet and that it would take another day to get those results back.  She also said the blood culture had not come back and that would tell us if the staph infection was in her blood.  By the end of the day, I was informed that she also had a strep infection in the sores on her face as well.  I had never heard of such a thing. 

We had quite a few visitors, and she got lots of surprises.  She had balloons, flowers, coloring books, crayons and much more.  She was so excited about the balloons and goodies.  Everytime someone working at the hospital came in and made a comment about all of her balloons and goodies she would tell them, "These things are from all my friends and family...they are sending me their love."  She also told several nurses, "My church is praying for me."  She was so good, but she really wanted to go home. 

This picture was taken on Thursday.  Improvement from Monday.  On Friday afternoon, Dr. Emezie came in and informed us that the infection had not gotten into her blood stream.  We were so thankful.  Meredith had finally started eating more, and Dr. Emezie asked her to drink some juice while she was in the room.  Then she asked her if she wanted to go home.  Meredith of course said yes, and then promised Dr. Emezie that she would eat and drink at home, and that she would let me take care of her face and skin.  We only have about 4 different ointments to put on her face and eczema lotion for moisturizing.  It's a chore, and Meredith does not enjoy it.  Dr. Emezie let us go home at about 3pm yesterday afternoon.  I think we were both thrilled to be back at our house, and I know we both rested a lot better last night. 

That awful chair in this picture...that's what I slept in for two nights.  Not fun!  Why in the world, they can't come up with something better for exhausted and worried parents...I have no idea. 

Meredith is doing so much better today, and I am so thankful.  We will see Dr. Emezie on Monday morning.  She will check her out and let me know when Meredith can return to daycare.  She sure does miss her friends. 

This has been one scary, scary adventure for us.  I am so thankful for my wonderful family who was there to help me, especially when Creig was out of town.  I am also thankful for our church family and our friends who have prayed for us and offered their help and support.  And, Meredith says thank you to everyone who sent her balloons, flowers, stuffed animals, and special surprises.  She loves them all, and is still playing with her balloons. 

God is so good!

Easter Fun at the Beach

Meredith was very concerned that the Easter Bunny would not find us at the beach.  We reassured her that he would, and she was so excited when she woke up Easter morning to find her basket full of goodies. 

After checking out all of her Easter goodies, we all went to breakfast at the Cracker Barrel, our favorite place for breakfast.  Before we left we all enjoyed sitting in the rocking chairs on the porch and Meredith enjoyed playing a game of Checkers with her Granddaddy.

When we got back to the beach house, Meredith was ready to hunt eggs.  Granmommy and Aunt Tippy kept her inside while Daddy and I hid the eggs.

When she finished, her basket was overflowing.  We had to help her carry some of them.  She had a blast opening all the eggs to find prizes.  Most of them had candy and stickers inside.  She was super excited to find a few with money in them. 

 

While at the beach we took Meredith to the Coastal Grand Mall to have her picture taken with the Easter Bunny.  I have to say, that was the scariest looking Easter Bunny I have ever seen. 

 

It didn't seem to bother Meredith, but I was determined to find a better Easter Bunny.  So, we went to the mall at Murrells Inlet and I was a lot happier when I saw the Easter Bunny there.  Of course, we had to have another picture made.  Meredith didn't think a thing about them looking totally different.  She was just happy to have her picture made again. 

We had such a great time celebrating Easter at the beach.  I think we all would have liked to stay a few more days.  HAPPY EASTER!

Beach Fun - Part 2

It was so beautiful and warm at the beach on Saturday.  Mom and I made french toast, pancakes, sausage and turkey bacon for breakfast.  After breakfast, we dyed our Easter eggs. 

After dying our eggs, Meredith wanted to go out to the beach.  We got ready...sunscreen and all and headed out to the beach. 

We saw about five jellyfish on the beach in such a short distance.  We almost had a traumatic event on our hands when Meredith almost stepped right on one...luckily Grandmommy caught her right before she stepped on it. 

More to come...Easter at the Beach!

Beach Fun - Part 1

We went to the beach this past weekend.  I had Friday off of work, so Meredith and I went down with the rest of my family on Thursday night.  Creig came in on Friday after work.  Meredith was so excited!  We stayed in a house in Garden City.  The weather was nice for the most part.  It rained most of the day Friday, but the rest of the weekend was beautiful. 

Meredith thought it was so cool that we could see and hear the ocean from the house.  She wanted to be out on the front porch all the time.  She would continuously open the front door just to hear the ocean.  It rained most of the day Friday, so we decided to take a little trip to the mall.  As soon as Meredith saw all the kids lined up to jump with the bungee cords, she started begging to do it too.  Last year during our trip at the beach, she had jumped and she loved it.  So, off she went to get in line.  She was so excited!

Friday night after Creig arrived, we all went to dinner.  We drove up and down the road at Murrells Inlet looking for just the place, and we decided on Spud's at the Marina.  We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful water front view.  We got some great pictures as we walked around looking at the boats too!

After dinner, we all walked by the Marina and enjoyed the live music being played at the restaurant beside Spud's.  We all enjoyed watching Meredith dance with her Grandaddy too!

When we got back to the house, the guys decided to go to Walmart and do some walking around.  Mom and Dad had given Meredith a tea set earlier in the day and Meredith was wanting to have a tea party so bad.  So, the girls sat down for a special tea party. 

More to come...  Read Part 2

Muffins with Mom

This week is "Week of the Young Child".  At Meredith's daycare center they have planned something for each day this week and this morning parents were invited to have muffins with their child.  We usually don't get to school until after snack is over, but today we were up extra early so we could have a muffin together. Meredith was so excited!

They had a few muffins to choose from...Lemon, Banana Nut, and Blueberry.  Meredith had a lemon muffin and I had banana nut (my favorite). 

Ms. Jane took a picture of us together.  Such a sweet girl!  I so enjoyed my time with her this morning.

Ms. Jane & Ms. Irene made a job chart for their classroom.  Each child gets to pick a job for the day when they come in.  Every morning when I drop Meredith off she will put her things in her cubby and then think long and hard about which job she wants for the day. 

Today, she chose Table Cleaner.  Before I left, she was already helping Ms. Jane wipe the tables up from snack.  Big helper!   Tomorrow we get to read a book together and Thursday we get to decorate a cookie together.  Fun!  Fun! 

Spring Fling Fun

There was a Spring Fling for the kids at church this past Sunday.  Meredith was super excited about taking her Easter basket and hunting for eggs.  Daddy took pictures for me since I had to work and missed out on the fun!

They made crafts while the eggs were being hidden outside. 

Some of the eggs had goodies in them and some were empty.  Of course, Meredith really liked the eggs with goodies inside. 

She had a great time with her friends and can't wait to hunt more eggs for Easter!