Spring Break

Spring break is really just a break from waking up to the alarm clock. We usually have a list a mile long of all the things that we want to get done before the break is over....most of them are spring cleaning based. Cleaning out the pantry, cleaning out the closets, cleaning out the refrigerator; it is clean as much as you can with a deadline looming near. I also prefer to get it all out of the way early so I can rest towards the end of the week and feel like waking up to an alarm clock again.
One thing is for sure this spring break though-Charlotte knows how to keep us laughing!



Carrying around Minnie Mouse that Grandma Monica and Grandpa Bill brought her back from Disney


"Holding" Lola



Insisting on wearing her sunglasses for Breakfast

Fun in the Sun

Oh, this gorgeous weather! I was driving home from work with my sunroof open, windows down, radio going and on a whim I pulled into McDonalds to get Charlotte a vanilla cone. She usually comes running into the kitchen when I pull in and gives my legs a big hug but as soon as she saw that cone in my hand she stopped short and got the most shy look on her face. She was so tickled with that ice cream cone that she gave me hug after hug once it was gone. I can't think of a more perfect way to end the day-sitting outside in the beautiful sunshine, watching my baby so happy and content.

More swim class

We missed swim class last weekend because of the stomach virus. Surprisingly Charlotte was the only one who showed up for swim class this week so we basically had a private lesson! I'd say that was money well spent! Charlotte did okay, much better last time, but she is definitely getting more comfortable with the water. We decided to do another session in April so that Bryce can come to the pool with us and she can get comfortable with him too. She acts very excited when we are getting our swimsuit on now, and couldn't wait to walk over to the pool but once we were in it was back to whining. I guess it's because we missed last week. Hopefully by the end of all this she'll be a water baby! If not, it's going to be a LONG, HOT summer!

Feeling better.....

Things are starting to get back to normal around here. Today is the first meal I ate where I felt like my stomach was settled and I got some nourishment. Those stomach viruses are no joke! Charlotte is back to her old self for the most part, but she is still not eating as good as she used to. We give her a huge variety so that she will eat something (which I'm sure we will regret later when she is so spoiled that I am making her a separate meal altogether) but she still just picks at her food. She is finally drinking her milk again though. That part bothered me the most because she has always been such a good milk drinker. She is also now addicted to juice and Popsicles and will stand at the freezer door and knock on it until she A.) gets what she wants or B.) throws a big tantrum because she didn't get what she wants. I was caving in all week because I didn't want her to get dehydrated again and she wasn't eating so I'm sure this will be a tough battle. Thank goodness spring break is on its way!

New favorite activity.....

Stomach Virus Part II

I'll spare you the details, but let's just say it isn't pretty. I've spent the whole night and all of today battling the stomach virus too. I definitely feel even more sorry for all Charlotte went through now that I know how it feels!

2 doctors in 2 days (warning, it is graphic!)

18 month check up:
We took Charlotte to her 18 month check up on Thursday where we confirmed she is a growing healthy girl. She was so good in the waiting room, let the doctor listen to her heart (and said "boom boom, boom boom when the stethoscope was on her heart), weighed in at 24 pounds 12 ounces, and with no vaccines needed we were on our way. She has met all of her milestones: says at least 10 words, can point to parts of her body, climbs on things, points to things, can follow a simple direction, and pretend plays. We left the doctor's office thinking that was our best trip ever and how lucky we are to have a smart and healthy little girl.

Day Two of the doctor:
Charlotte went off to Mrs. D's house on Friday like it was a normal day. I had a Gap coupon that was burning a hole in my pocket mixed with some serious spring fever so Bryce picked up Charlotte and was going to meet me at the store. I got a call when they got home to let the dogs out that Charlotte had just thrown up in the driveway. "Oh no", was all I really thought. Bryce said he thought she was too hot so he was going to change her clothes and let her cool down a bit with something to drink and then they would be on their way. I got another call 10 minutes later that she had thrown up again so I immediately raced home, calling Mrs. D and my Mom to try and trouble shoot while I was on my way. Mrs. D said she had a perfect day. She slept well, ate well, everything as usual. Even my Mom was thinking it was a fluke so I was totally unprepared for what I walked in to. As soon as I walked in the door Bryce was holding Charlotte and she reached out for me and we went to sit on the couch.....where she promptly threw up all over my lap. Now we've got the towels out on the floor for her to sit on, I go to change, and we get a towel to catch it if she throws up again. I called our doctor's after hours line and the operator said she would have someone call me right back. By the time the phone rang again we were on throw up number six in about two hours. The nurse on the line told me if she gets to throwing up 8 times in 8 hours that we needed to head to the urgent care. If her throw up turned dark yellow or green we needed to head to the emergency room. Seeing as we only had two throw ups to go before we had to go to a doctor I started packing the car up full of towels and changes of clothes.

In less than 30 minutes she had thrown up two more times so we were out the door. We went to Childrens Healthcare in Duluth where we waited an hour to be seen. I spent the hour over analyzing every child waiting ahead of us and getting more and more desperate because I felt like Charlotte was sicker than all the other kids who were ahead of us. The wait was worth it though because the doctor and nursing staff were wonderful. They gave Charlotte an anti-nausea tablet and drew her blood. She finally stopped throwing up so they allowed her some apple juice which she sucked down in one gulp and said "more please". Her lab results showed she was dehydrated (which I knew because she had not wet her diaper since 3:00 that afternoon) so we got strict instructions on how to care for her and were allowed to go home. Three juice boxes and a prescription later we were on our way. My Mom and Dad met us at Childrens and we split up so that Bryce and my Dad could go get the prescription and Mom could help me at home. I can't even explain how reassuring it was to have my Mom with a nurses background giving me some advice and helping take care of Charlotte. The night was not quite over yet though, when I went to pull her out of her carseat I got three juice boxes full of throw up down the front of me. Yuck.
So the results are in: she had a 24 hour virus. The doctor said she saw 8 other children with symptoms just like Charlotte that same night. Charlotte was still a little queasy today and didn't want to eat much but she would play hard and started to act like her normal self again. The doctor reassured me that the virus would be gone within 24 hours and that Charlotte would not be contagious any more but we are staying quarantined for the weekend just to be safe. Bryce's parents came up to check on her and she really started to come back out of her shell then. It was a really rough night so we are all ready to have our happy girl back!