4th of July Weekend in Pictures

Ben and I had a wonderful 4th of July at the lake! We spent Friday afternoon and all day Saturday outside enjoying the weather, water, and jetski. We enjoyed great food and fireworks as well. Ben was in heaven the whole time.


Cuteness himself...I love how this picture captured his true smile and sweetness...

Ready for the lake...
Ben riding in his 'doat' aka 'boat'...
First time wearing swimmies...
No need for mommy to worry. The boy might as well be a fish...
Trying his first rib ever..
Nap time on the lake...
'I love the USA'...mommy bought this outfit before she even had Ben's referral...
Mommy and Ben...

Sparkler fun...

Fireworks on the lake...

Finale...

God Bless America!!!

Happy 4th of July!

We hope everyone has a happy 4th of July! This 4th is especially meaningful to us. It is Ben's 1st 4th of July in the USA and his first as a US citizen! We have a lot of celebrating to do!!

21 Months

Today Ben is 21 months old! I really can't believe it!!

Here are his favorite things right now:
- Jack's Big Musi c Show
- Bob the Build~er
- Trains, cars, and tractors
- Music of any kind
- Reading books over and over and over!
- Singing 'Wheels on the Bus', 'If you're happy and you know it', 'Twinkle twinkle little star'
- Going through the alphabet and reciting letters (upper and lower case)
- Counting to 10
- Any water activity
- Nana and Papa

Only 3 months until he turns 2. The party is already planned and booked! He's having a big bash on Saturday September 26th....mark your calendars!

Here is a picture that completely sums up Ben right now at 21 months (Running from mommy):

Guess who is....

...one of the newest US citizens!!!!



Just in time for the Fourth of July!!

Update

We have finally turned the corner. No more fevers, no more throw up, no more staying home from school! Ben still has a bit of a cough but is otherwise back to his old, active self. Monday we went to the pediatrician because Ben's fever wouldn't go down. He was diagnosed with viral bronchitis and given antibiotics and an inhaler.

I have to admit that after being home for several days with a sick, clingy child, that I was happy to be back at work. I am still exhausted from worrying and lack of sleep. I made it through the day on autopilot.

Ben being really sick was the first time that I really struggled being a single mom. (I have not said anything up to this point about single parenthood, because I figured there are those of you out there who think I brought this on myself...and that is correct.) When Ben was up in the middle of the night running high fevers or crying or just generally miserable, that was all me. It's too bad when you are bone tired and just want to sleep in the next morning because there is no one to help you. You have to get up, suck it up, pump the caffeine, and hold down the fort. During this particular instance, I had to stay home with Ben. He couldn't go to school, and he needed his mommy home. The tricky part is that I am paid hourly during the summer. For two days I stayed home which means 2 days of no pay. That in itself is/was stressful.

On top of that, we have hit the terrible two's for sure. Ben's favorite and most frequent word is 'no'. I hear 'no' all the time about everything! If he doesn't get his way, he screams 'no' and then throws himself on the floor or hits whatever is in his way. It's so frustrating. I know it's a phase, but mommy is really tired of it. I hope it doesn't last too much longer!

I'm not complaining though. I love Ben and wouldn't want to go back to life without him. It's just not always roses, but nothing is always roses!!

Here is Mr. Trouble today playing with his new guitar:

Pathetic

That is the best way to describe Ben right now.


He is still running a fever but does have some reprieve from it thanks to Motrin. The poor thing is hungry and wants to eat. He has tried and thrown up (I think because he is coughing so hard.) He picks at his food and sadly tells me "All Done". He is still drinking well, so I am pushing as much liquid into him as I can.

We spent the morning with him laying on me while we watched his favorite shows (Jacks Big Music Show, Bob the Builder, and Sesame Street) over and over again. Then the poor thing fell asleep on me. Yesterday he took two naps when he usually only takes one.

He obviously feels terrible. You can see it in his sad eyes. We are still on the antibiotic. I just hope it starts working soon. I am home from work with him today. He can't go back to daycare until he's been fever free for 24 hours, so it's looking like I'll be home with him tomorrow as well.

Having a sick child is really horrible. It makes my heart go out even more to the families of the children I treat. These are parents whose children have to have multiple surgeries or are in and out of the hospital all the time because of illness. I don't know how they do it. One weekend of Ben being really sick has taken its toll on me. I can't imagine years of it!

Sickness

Ben has been so sick all night and all day. He is not himself at all. It is so painful to watch your baby and be so helpless to do anything about it! He has been sick before but never this sick and never so sick that I contemplated going to the hospital! He has a high fever, terrible cough, occasional vomiting, and horrible wheezing! He has gone through periods where all he wants to do is be in my arms crying.

On the bright side, he decided to get sick on the weekend that I went home. I had 3 doctors listening to him and helping treat him. (My dad, brother, and sister in law are all doctors and were all home today).

Thanks to them he has now had 2 breathing treatments, an antibiotic, and motrin. He fluctuates between playing and laying miserably in my arms or in "Pa's" arms. Right now he is having a small reprieve from his misery and is playing.

It is truly a miserable feeling to hold your baby who is hurting and sick and not be able to do anything to take away his pain. If I could, I would gladly be sick in his place. Instead I just have to watch and hope that this illness passes quickly!