Croupy Week

We had a LONG week around here.  I mentioned last week Cate had been fussy, probably cutting teeth and having low grade fevers, well that was all true, but it grew to be so much more than cutting teeth.

Cate saw our pediatrician on Tuesday, we were told she likely had croup and to keep up with our antipyretics and to try some zyrtec for allergy symptoms.  Fast forward several hours, Cate wakes up from her nap (we had to wake her, it was close to bed time) and she's got a fever of 104.4, knowing that high fevers can lead to seizures for some kids, we panicked just a bit.  We get her in the bath, give her meds and call Laura Beth (Lanny's friend from school who's doing her peds residency here in Dallas), because we thought we were headed to the ER.

Cate's fever came down and she started acting more like herself within the hour, so we stayed home to watch Cate, since there wasn't much else to be done for her and she was eating and drinking ok.  The following four days were spent with high fevers, cranky baby, and tired parents.  Thankfully grandma Peggy was able to come for a few days to help out and allow me to go to work and to get a little sleep (thank you, thank you mom!).  We went back to our pediatrician Friday, just to make sure we were ok before the weekend, and Cate got started on a steroid for a short time.  Saturday we woke up fever free and acting a little more like ourselves.

She did a lot of sleeping like this.

Nap with daddy when he got home from his call day.

 

Just not herself

Yesterday....still snotty (sorry for the visual), but fever free and feeling better!

Cate's never been sick like this before, so it was an education for mom and dad as well.  Thankfully the week is over and life seems to be getting back to normal around here!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

We did celebrate St. Patrick's Day around here, we've just been under the weather since (more to come on that shortly)

special jammies for the occasion

our "Lucky Charms" shirt at school on St. Patrick's Day

(thanks Aunt Betsy!)

Date with Daddy

A couple weeks ago, Lanny picked Cate up from school on his day off.....

they had quite the afternoon....a little ice cream and a trip to the park.

Now, who do you think Cate would prefer to pick her up?  All she gets is an apple when mom picks her up!

Night, Night Baby

Cate's current obsession....putting her babies to bed. all. the. time.

Babies move from the living room to the kitchen, each time being laid on a blanket (previously a dish towel), placed face down, and covered by another blanket (again, previously a dish towel).  Cate then proceeds to pat (beat) their backs, and then says "shhhh" with her finger to her mouth.  Before I pulled a few of her receiving blankets out, Cate went through ALL my dish towels each day, but she much prefers the blankets now, thankfully.

At first we just watched in amazement, and then we realized this is the process they go through at nap time at school each day, though I'm sure the teachers actually pat the children's backs a bit more gently than Cate does.  Speaking of school, Cate is doing great now!  She had two days this week she didn't even flinch when I left, just kissed and said bye bye.  She also puts the babies to bed at school (the whole class loves baby dolls right now, even the little boys).  We had one little incident a couple weeks ago, Cate was a little bully-pulling hair and biting (one time), got put in time out and hasn't done it again.  Of course who did she pick on, one of the smallest children in the classroom.....but her teacher says she always listens to her (glad she listens to her, because she doesn't listen to me all the time).  Cate has started eating better too, so all in all, we're happy people!

Cate's other obsession is her mouth, she's cutting ALL four of her incisors right now, the top two started first and weren't a big deal, but this weekend the bottom two have started and she was miserable all weekend, up most of the night Saturday, barely napped and cried all day Sunday.  Luckily she slept last night (from utter exhaustion I think), seems a little better today, the drooling has slowed to a small leak from the fountain it was yesterday.  Hopefully this will pass quickly and we can start having some fun again!

Growing with Friends

I was going through some photos this weekend, and I thought it was fun to see how much Cate and Eloise have grown over the past months....as seen through lunches/dinners with friends!

Just after we moved to Texas....still getting to know each other

In November, still not sure about each other

Last month....we're happy girls now!

Lunch with the Ladies

A couple weeks ago, the Bonjour family was in Texas for a wedding, so the girls got together for lunch to meet baby Camden and to catch up with Michelle, who by the way amazes me....3 young kiddos and she looked well rested and calm, seriously Michelle, you're my hero!

Only photo I could get of Parker, who's in a "no-photo" phase....but he loves his Aunt Trudy and cousin Charlotte!

Eloise and Trudy

Trudy with Camden and Michelle with Charlotte
the little ones are just two weeks apart!

The Group
thanks for getting a group photo Michelle!

I always love getting to see these girls and playing with the little ones!

Going to "School"....

Cate at drop off, thanks for the photo Grandma-she's such a big girl!

Well, it finally happened.  I went back to work, which means Cate has started "school".  I started about two weeks ago in the Heart Failure Clinic at Parkland, which is going to be great, but that means we have to start taking Cate to daycare....aka-school.  And who's having the harder time with it?....no shock here, mom and dad.

Cate and I went and played the week before she started, had lunch with the other kiddos and got to know her teachers (who are great).  The "school" is close to the hospital, which means Cate and I get some quality time in the mornings and either Lanny or I can pick her up quickly after work.

My mom came in for a few days when I started because Lanny was still in a super busy rotation and I had several early mornings that I didn't want to take Cate in at 6:45am.  So Grandma did the first drop off (which the thought of doing was killing me) and then together we went to get Cate when I got off work.  Cate pretty much saw us, waved hi and went back to playing on the playground.....again, harder on mom and dad than Cate.

Where Cate was playing when we arrived for pick up

Mama-I see you!

Happy Girl

back to the playground, we can go home later....

Babysitter Brian

Since we've been back in Dallas, Brian and Rosie have been so great about watching Cate when we need a sitter....so a few weeks ago when I had to take a math test (yes, a math test) at the hospital before I could start my job, Brian readily agreed to watch Cate for a few hours.

Cate insisted on Brian sitting with her on the floor by the goal

She pretty much said hi to me when I got home, and went right back to playing with Uncle Bri

A favorite past time...getting adults to sit with her at her table.

She's finally agreeing to pig-tails more often (though not daily)

Thanks for your help Uncle Brian!