I'm Still Here...Very Sad but Still Here

I haven't felt like blogging for over a week. There are no words to describe the emptiness I feel in my heart. It just all happened so quick. I'm thankful that I made it to the hospital in time and that my Dad got to see me and the twins. I prayed for time and I was given 26 hours to be with my Dad. He got to see Tate walk and he was so tickled at how cute he is. I'm thankful for my cousin Stacy and Aunt Brenda who came to town on Thursday morning to help with my kids. I don't know what I would've done without their help. I could hardly take care of myself let alone my babies. I'm thankful for all my family who came to pay their respects to my Dad. I'm thankful for the flowers, cards and kind words from my friends. I'm thankful that Happy Mommy's good friend dropped everything to come and watch her kids. I'm thankful that our former pastor flew in from Memphis TN to preach my Dad's service and tell us wonderful things about him. Please pray for my mom..I feel so sorry for her. My sister Kristy is staying with her and taking care of her until things settle a bit. This will be a big adjustment for all of us. I dread the holidays....especially Friday, my birthday. This will be the first time in 44 years that my Dad won't wish me a Happy Birthday or sing to me. Not looking forward to it at all...
But now, it's back to normal but things just don't feel the same. I guess this is the new normal.

Ear Infection, Amoxicillin and a Rash

Well, I took Reese to the doctor on Monday and found out my baby girl has an ear infection in her left ear. That explains all the fevers since last Friday night. Her doctor prescribed amoxicillin for her. Off to CVS to drop off her script, then go to Lab Corp to get her blood drawn (this is required for her surgery on 7/8).

We get to Lab Corp and so happy that we are the only ones there so Reese is seen straight away. I had to hold her in my lap, hold her left wrist with my left hand and her upper arm with my right hand. The phlebotomist was great and got her vein the first time. Reese screamed bloody murder and sobbed afterwards..at least she got a Garfield band aid.

On Tuesday, Reese was still having fevers periodically. Her Aunt Jessica came for a visit and we took the babies to the pool. We all had a great time. Afterwards, we fed the babies, ordered this great salad from Uno's (Honey Crisp Chicken Salad), gave the babies a bath and Jess went to pick up our salads. They were great as always! Jess fed Reese her bottle as I fed Tate his bottle. Reese drank her milk so fast. Jessica asked "should I burp her?" , I said "no, she burps on her own now" , Jessica says "oh good - I was afraid she might spit up on me since she drank it so fast" to which I replied "oh, she NEVER throws up anymore". Not 2 seconds later, Reese lets out a loud burp and throws up all over herself, Jessica, the couch and the carpet. I was speechless.. for a moment. I felt so bad for Reese (Jessica too - no one likes getting thrown up on). HM called me right after and I told her what had happened and she asked if she had had her medicine yet and I said I gave it to her right before I gave her the bottle. I thought she just drank her milk too fast.

So, lets move on to Wednesday. A few fevers and amoxicillin later - about noon, I notice that Reese has a rash on her torso. I call her doctor and speak to a nurse I'm not familiar with who tells me to watch it and call back if it gets any worse. Around 2p, I decided to take the babies to the pool so they could take a nap in the shade and I could sit in the sun for a few hours...
About 330p, I notice that Reese now has red bumps on her arms, neck, cheeks and forehead. I call TBD and then the doctor. This time, I spoke with our favorite nurse and tell her the deal. She got upset when I told her that I called before and that I was told to call back. She says, "Reese is having an allergic reaction to the amoxicillin and to STOP giving it to her." She talks to our doctor, then called me back to say that they've called in a Z pack for Reese. Poor baby girl. From about noon until 4p, I called HM about 40 times on her cell and she never picked up.
She finally calls me back at 430p after she's seen all her missed calls and the first thing out of her mouth is "Reese is having an allergic reaction..that's why she threw up last night". See - if she would've just answered her phone, I would've known much sooner!

So today - Reese is a happy little girl with bumps all over her body.... all except her legs.

I guess these are the trials of being a first time mommy. I just don't always catch things right away because they've never happened to us before.

Please pray that my baby girl has no reaction to the Z pack!!
Any suggestions on how to make her rash go away??????

My little sleep fighter

Have I mentioned that Reese flights sleep? Well lately we've been having a hard time getting her to go to bed at night..not to mention taking a nap during the day. Tate on the other hand, is just like his mama...LOVES to sleep! She's also been waking up in the middle of the night and crying either until she falls back to sleep (which usually happens) or I go and get her and take her to bed with us for fear she'll wake up her brother. I've been trying very hard to let her cry it out when she does this. It's very hard for me not to just go pick her up to comfort her but this hasn't been the best thing for either of us. When I end up taking her back to my room to sleep, I usually wake up with my back all in knots from adjusting the way I lay to accomodate her.

Anyway, last night she started crying around 3am and I let her cry for 10 minutes- thinking she'll cry herself back to sleep. Well she was getting louder and more hysterical so I run in her room and there she is...standing up in her bed!! Now this was a first. For about a week, she's been pulling up on our coffee table, her new kitchen and new piano (Mrs. G, she's almost ready for lessons!). So as you can imagine, this was a sight for me...how can you not pick up a baby standing in her crib??

I melted and almost ran for the camera..I know, not the best time for a photo op so I decided not to do that. I nabbed her and she snuggled up to me and was asleep before I was back in my bedroom..we both had a really good sleep after that. I'm taking the camera upstairs with me tonight just in case she does this again (I'm sure she'll be doing this quite often now)..hopefully, it will be in the morning and she'll be her usual happy sweet baby self.

Again, just wanted to share this first with everyone. We're experiencing a lot of firsts lately and will continue to do so for the next several months ~ did I say months?? I think I meant years!