Rough

As most of you know, I take care of a woman who is 109 years old.  She was pretty mobile, but recently she has become less mobile and has needed a lot of extra care.  I late November her son had a medical emergency and was admitted to the hospital, and between myself and another person we were providing around the clock care for Nannie.  In fact, the first day, I was working for 27 straight hours!  Most of the time it was 12 hour days everyday for about 3 weeks.  The decision was made that she was going to be placed in a Nursing home, but she never made it and died on the 18th of December.  109 YEARS OLD!  Can you believe that!?

Before Christmas break, we had a bit of a rough patch.  KK's throat started hurting (and he never complains about things like that!) and I called his school to tell them he was sick and took him to the doctor where he was diagnosed with Strep Throat and had to miss the next day of school, which he was upset about, but he needed time for the antibiotics to kick in.

The same day that I took KK to the doctor, after dinner my stomach hurt...I thought that I ate too much, and I went to take a bath.  I couldn't even get through the bath and I started throwing up.  I threw up about 10 different times that night.  I was sooo dehydrated and sick.  I couldn't even sip on water I would puke it back up, so I had to sip on ice cubes.  Mr H was so worried that he wanted to take me to the hospital...I knew all they would do is hook me up to an IV and push fluids.  I thought I would wait it out.  I don't think it helped that I was STILL nursing ET even though I was so sick!  Mr H tried to take care of ET, but he wasn't having it.  Mr H was up until almost 4am with him crying and screaming and only sleeping for 20 mins at a time.  I could tell Mr H was running thin so I took him and let him nurse and he was out for the rest of the night.  I was worried that I was going to get him sick, but prayed that he would be alright.  I was sick for about 5 days...I couldn't eat solids.  I tried once and I started puking again, it was TERRIBLE.

While I was trying to recover from being sick, I had noticed that ET was having trouble breathing and would wheeze at night.  He was very fussy during the day and it was very hard to handle when I was still feeling sooo sick.  So on Monday I took him to the doctor and he was tested for strep and RSV.  Strep was negative, but the RSV came back positive.  I panicked a little bit because all RSV babies that I have known they all have ended up in the hospital so I was worried.  I tried my hardest to make him comfortable during bedtime, propping him up on pillows, nursing him, holding him, rocking him, etc.  Eventually his wheezing concerned me and I took him back to the doctor and asked for a breathing treatment, which didn't really help, but I was told from the doctor that for an RSV baby he looked REALLY good and that I'm lucky that he's such a big baby, but it still didn't make me feel any better!

By Christmas we were all better, but for a couple weeks it was rough in our household.  I do want to give a little shout out to the wonderful friends I have...I was brought meals for 4 days so that I didn't have to worry about cooking!  I'm so grateful that I have close friends who love me enough to serve me when I needed it...and my family needed it too, cause we all know Mr H. would've made mac n cheese.

Our Trip to Michigan

In October, we took a small trip up to my stomping grounds in Michigan with the plane.  It was a blast to see old friends and visit places I hadn't been to for 20+ years.  A lot has changed in Battle Creek and driving down the street, I would spark a memory that I had forgotten.  It was a trip that I really needed just to just get away.

Once we hopped off the plane, got our rental car, ate some food, and checked into the hotel, we made our way to Binder Park Zoo for their annual "ZooBoo".  We were meeting a few people there...8 to be exact!  I can't remember the last time I went to the ZooBoo, but it sure has changed...and sadly, it's changed for the worse.  I was very disappointed in it, but we still had a great time.

This picture does not capture how bright red these trees are

Close to the entrance, a giant ant...KK pretending that its eating his hand 

Posing for a picture with Sugar Bear

On the trian.  I remember that I used to LOVE sitting in the back of the train because the seat faced backward, so the whole ride you were going backward

My Boys!

There are a TON of peacocks there...KK loved them and so did Mr H

Hanging out with Ori and Addy

THIS...THIS, my friends, is the house I spent 15 years of my life in.  THIS, little, 3 bedroom, 1 bath house is where my 5 younger siblings and parents lived!  SO MANY MEMORIES!

The Bridge we used to walk across after church most Sunday's

A couple of Swans

We went to Goguac Lake and saw this play area, which wasn't there when I lived here.  And of course KK wanted to play!  He would climb to the very top and told us that it was "Preach" time, that he was going to preach to us.  He makes me laugh.

He didn't want to leave

After going down the slide...lol

It made my hair sooo wild

The leaves on the trees were so vibrant

It was a bit chilly, but after running around, playing, he didn't want his sweater on

Love them!

I love these boys!

On our way home, ET loved the flight and slept most of the way.  He survived his first flight and seemed to really enjoy it

In the summer I would really like to go back up there and go to the World's Longest Breakfast table.  We also have other people we'd like to see that we weren't able to with this trip, so I'm sure we will get back up there sooner rather than later.