Allergies, Cyclic Vomiting, and PT Oh, my!

It's official!  Our days of just normal, healthy kids who never go to the doctor are over.  Sigh.  I am exaggerating, but we need a break from co-pays and RX bills!  I am literally shocked that in the last 2 weeks we have discovered that Bennett is allergic to ants and wasp...so bad that we have to keep Epipens with us at all times and at school.  Henry had cyclic vomiting syndrome and Sarah Kathryn is still not walking at over 17 months old.  We've had a couple of stressful weeks.



I am most worried about Bennett.  I had no idea that these insect allergies were such a big deal.  



Bennett's hand from 2 ant bites...I just thought he needed a little Benadryl so that's what we did.


The next week he was stung by a wasp and his arm just kept getting bigger and bigger.  We went to Henry's soccer game and saw Sarah who suggested that we look into Epipens.  I couldn't believe it!  So, on our way home from soccer we took a detour to the pediatrician's office and she confirmed that both were allergic reactions.  She gave us prescriptions for a steroid, 4 Epipens, and OTC Benadryl to keep at school.  You have to have a Rx in order to take OTC meds to school.  She said we needed the Epipens because the reactions can get worse and worse.  The next time his airways could be constricted...you just never know.  Scary.

Sweet B with that huge arm.  It didn't go down for a couple days and it still feels a little tighter than the other arm.

Henry has had 3 different episodes over the last couple months where he just vomits a few times, lies around, and then is better soon after.  I have treated it like a bug each time, keeping him out of school, but no one else ever gets sick.  The last time I took him in and she diagnosed him with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.  Is this even a real thing?  Apparently it is.  It is just awful to watch him feel so bad.  The last time he threw up in our bed and I had everything off to wash and he said "why didn't you make your bed today?" Oh, Henry!!!

Missed his first day of school!

Our big girl started PT this week!  She is over 17 months old and is not walking.  We need you to walk, Sarah Kathryn! I feel that if we would have started therapy at 15 months when we went to see about it, she would be walking by now.  Can't live in the past.  So, I think this sweet girl will be walking before we know it!

I think she looks like a little girl in this dress and not a baby! :(

deliberately not locking her knees.  She is my strong-willed girl!



Pumpkin Heads Soccer

Henry is playing his first season of soccer with the YMCA.  I'm so glad that Chris offered to coach.  We have such a fun group of friends!  Our team is really big on team spirit.  One mom offered to make matching bows for the girls, one made a run-through sign, one brought all orange snacks, and one bought pumpkins to hang from the goal so we they would know which goal to use!  We even had a photo shoot at the pumpkin patch after our game yesterday.  I guess we aren't too big on winning games or even putting the ball in our goal...we like to help out the other team by scoring for them! :)  The kids are having fun and that's all that matters, right? 

Soccer practice for these cuties is something else. 

At one point they had their shirts over their heads.

Game 1!

Thanks to Margaret for creating this fabulous run-through sign!

ha!  Broken through!

Henry got out there and played for a little bit the first game.

Lots of tears during game 1.

We always have lots of great fans!

Someone needed a rest from all that playing.

orange snacks

It only took the kids 4 games to get warmed up to play.  It was so much fun!

hugs before kick-off.

Lennon, Henry, Caroline, Coach, Jake, Reid, and William

my sweet pumpkin head!

Lately

It seems like time if just flying so quickly that I keep looking up and weeks are over, summer is gone, and my babies are growing.  I love being able to keep a journal here to look back on in the weeks, months, and years to come.

 

We got to watch Joseph for a few hours one day while his parents went to work.

Bennett, our sweet Tiger Scout, sold popcorn at Twisted Root.  He was such a good salesboy!

Sister is starting to stand up!

Henry started playing soccer with our cute little Pumpkin Heads team.

Henry did his first homework assignment: An "all about me" pennant.  If this project was any indication of homework to come....No, just no.

SK got a new girl puzzle and it is so cute!  She has so much fun learning.

I tried to experiment with a ponytail. 

I am currently loving the Beaufort Bonnet Company.  They have the cutest stuff!!  I am going to build our fall family photos around this bonnet! :)

Neil and Andre took the kids to the camp for a work day.  They spent the night at the camp.  Neil said they were all filthy, but happy!

Sarah Kathryn tried on her sweet, little lamb costume! I think she loves it!

Henry picked out a shark costume this year! Bennett is going to be a ninja, but his costume isn't in yet. 

Johnny Appleseed Week

Bennett gets to do so many fun things at his school.  Frist grade has lots of parties and special things just for them!  I am so glad I get to attend and help!  They made apple tooth fairy pillows.  One of the mom's in his class sewed all of them, but left a small opening for the kids to be able to stuff them and stitch up the last little bit.  They turned out so cute!  Now, if he could just lose his first tooth!!! 

Sweet class!

Silly faces!

We made homemade applesauce in the classroom.  About 6 moms peeled and sliced around 50 apples and then the kids chopped them.  They got to smell the applesauce cooking all day long.  Bennett said it was delicious!

The next day we used some leftover applesauce to make apple turnovers in the cafeteria.  They had so much fun mashing their biscuit dough with flour.  We added applesauce and the kids folded them, crimped the edges, spread butter, and then added cinnamon and sugar.  There was flour everywhere!

Henry and his new school

We celebrated Henry's teacher's birthday by taking all the shining stars (class theme) in the class to chapel for her so she could relax in her classroom.  It was their turn to be the animals for Noah's ark.  Henry got to wear a little dog mask.  How cute!

Neil went to high school with the little girl's dad who is sitting next to him. Small world!

So cute!

He got to go on stage, but played with Clyde during the songs the whole time! :)

We got back to the classroom and gave his teacher her favorite cookies from Cheesecakes and More....in the shape of stars, or course.