Less than 168 hours away!

In less than one week, we will have completed our first ultrasound with this pregnancy. It is really a kind of bizarre phenomenon. For just a few minutes we will get a glimpse of our little baby, and then just like that, he or she will go back into hiding for the next several months! I can't wait to meet this little person! I know he or she will be the perfect addition to our little family! We have quite enjoyed watching the poll ticker. It is funny to me how some people are just so sure of themselves when we ask them what they think! If I were going to venture a guess, I would say this baby is going to be a BOY! No real reason I feel that way other than this pregnancy has been so similar to my last one. Ryan and I are really just praying for a healthy report and will be sure to post an update once we get home!

Boy or Girl???

Well, it's that time again. Can you guess the sex of baby #2? We are having an ultrasound on July 7th, so hopefully we will know then, but we thought it might be fun to take a poll in the meantime to see what everyone else thinks. Just cast your vote on our blog poll and we will see who is right! If it's any help... Mommy feels almost exactly the same this time around as she did with Matthew... slightly less nausea, but overall, the same! Can't wait to see who is right!

My Favorite Things

Here are a few of Matthew's favorite activities as of late: Helping Mommy clean out the pantry. I was allowing Matthew to do this the other night when we were trying to get supper ready and Ryan said, "Are you really going to let him do that." My answer, "Absolutely." Whatever keeps the little guy entertained for 3 minutes works for me!

The other day I was sweeping and Matthew thought he could be a big helper. After checking out the entire sweeper, he decided to crawl on top of it for ride. BIG HELP!

Introducing Caleb Byrom English (we're a little behind). Matthew is quite intrigued by him and thinks he is large and in charge when Caleb comes around! Can't wait to see how he responds to his new brother or sister in a few months!

Dance Party

This is one of Matthew's favorite things to do now! We could watch him dance all day! By the way, we're starting him early on TobyMac!!!

Thankful Thursdays!

I know you're not going to believe it, but I am going to do Thankful Thursdays on a Thursday for a change! GASP!

Today, I am thankful for...

1. CAC. This will be the first year for quite some time that I have not taken part in camp, but I am so grateful that Ryan can go and be a part of the awesome week that always takes place! I can't wait to hear all the awesome stories of how God showed up at camp!

2. Matthew is healed (at least I think). He had a 2nd antibiotic and he seems to be back to original self. His rash has even healed and he looks like a normal baby again!

3. Senior High SS. Ryan and I are teaching Sr. High SS at our church again and are enjoying every minute. We even started a Bible study at our house on Sunday evenings for the kids and have been having a great time getting to know the kids! There's something about investing in the life of young people that is just so energizing!

4. Drew and Sara. My cousin, Drew, is getting married on Miami Beach this weekend! We are not able to attend the ceremony, but look forward to seeing the pictures and participating in the reception back here at home in July!

5. Father's Day! This is the time of year when we thank our dads for all they have done for us! I just want to give a shout out to all dads everywhere who have invested in the lives of their kids! I have a great dad and I hope others have been blessed as I have! Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Flyin' High!

Mama and Papa got Matthew and Jacob new swingsets!!! Ryan and I put ours together in 9 hours and then helped Abby and Jared with theirs and improved our time to 4.5 hours!!!! The boys love them as you can tell from Matthew's face!

Matthew after one of his first trips down the slide... he's thinking, "Yeah, I know I'm cool!"

Playing peek-a-boo in the fort!

The finished product! I am sure we will get tons of use out of our new addition to the backyard! Thanks Papa and Mama!

Doctor Dilemmas

Well, where should I start in this somewhat long story...

To make it somewhat shorter, I will just put up a timeline for the beginning drama:

Sunday: Matthew woke up with temp 100.1. Gave him Tylenol and stayed home from church. Figured he was just getting a tooth or something.
Monday: Matthew woke up with temp 102. Gave him Tylenol and called the doctor for appt as we know it is no longer his tooth.
Monday late morning: Get in to see Dr. Sauer and told Matthew has double ear infections. Antibiotic Amoxicillin prescribed.
Tuesday: Matthew has slight rash while at grandma's but it is gone by the time Mommy gets home from work.
Wednesday morning 6 AM: Daddy changes Matthew's diaper... no rash.
Wednesday morning 7 AM: Mommy gives antibiotic.
Wednesday morning 8 AM: Matthew has rash all over trunk, neck, and face.
Wednesday morning 9 AM: Call doctor to inform that I suspect he might have had an allergic reaction to medication. Asked to describe rash and I told her it looked like a drug reaction rash (she, of course, doesn't know at this point that I am a nurse). After multiple questions regarding the rash, I am asked whether my child was having any trouble breathing. WHAT????? If my child were having trouble breathing, don't you think that should have been the first question? Told by nurse to hold medication for 24 hours and call back to report whether rash is gone or not. Was told that by that information they would be able to determine whether or not it was an allergic reaction.
Thursday morning: Rash still here. Call doctor to inform and was told by nurse that they definitely needed to change medication (so, I am assuming at this point if I would have said the rash is gone, they would have told me to try the medication again). Told she will call me back after speaking with on-call physician as Dr. Sauer is out of office on Thursdays.
Thursday late morning: Nurse calls back and says, "I am sorry if I misled you earlier, but according to on-call physician, the rash should be gone if it is an allergic reaction and she would prefer if you give your child another dose of the same medication as a challenge and see if it is a true reaction. This doctor does things a little different than Dr. Sauer."
I say, "What would Dr. Sauer do?"
Her response, "He would change the medication."
At this point, I am a bit upset and inform the nurse that I am really not comfortable challenging my 10-month old who cannot tell me how he is feeling or if his throat is closing up! I also ask her why, if Matthew's doctor would prescribe something different, than why is the on-call physcian not mirroring what his doctor would do? I can tell she wants to get me off the phone, so she says, "I will check with on-call physician again and see if she will change the medicine."
Thursday later morning: Nurse calls back and says, "On-call physician will not change medicine and recommends that you give your son Benadryl and try the medicine again."
I say, "How am I supposed to tell if something else is wrong?"
She says, "It's going to be hard to tell since he still has the rash, but if he has any trouble breathing definitely call us back." Are you kidding me?
Thursday afternoon: I give Matthew Amoxil and Benadryl at same time in tears hoping I am not making a big mistake. He takes a 3+ hour nap that I have to wake him from because of the Benadryl. When he gets up the rash is no worse.
Thursday evening: Give medication again. Rash reappears.
Friday morning 6AM: Rash almost completely gone. Think maybe he is okay and it wasn't an allergic reaction after all. Give Amoxil without Benadryl.
Friday morning 7 AM: Rash back. Ryan gives Benadryl.
Friday morning 9 AM: Call doctor to inform of rash reappearing with each dose of Amoxil and requiring Benadryl with each dose. Also tell her I am not really interested in medicating my son with Benadryl every dose for the next 2 weeks. She says, "Well, that confirms it. We will mark Penicillin allergy on his chart."
I say, "I am not opposed to trying the Amoxil again at some point down the road to see if it is a true allergy."
She says, "Oh we will, but we never give it again for at least 2-3 years following a rash." HELLO???? Why did I give it to him yesterday then? I am still awaiting a phone call back from them as to what I am supposed to do now. Pray for me to be Jesus to these lovely people.

Matthew is without fever and back to his normal self, so after all the hoopla, at least our little guy is doing better. He just looks a little like a clown!

It's a Zoo Out There!

Mama and Papa got Matthew a zoo pass this year. We have been there twice so far and Matthew has enjoyed it both times. I think Mommy and Daddy have as much fun as Matthew at this point. We added a guest to the pass, so if anyone ever wants to tag along, they can get in free.

Matthew and Daddy petting the goats. Mommy was laughing hysterically outside the pen when one of the goats came up behind Ryan and started eating his shirt without him even knowing it. I wasn't fast enough to get a picture.

Riding the carousel with Daddy. Ryan told him to give the tiger a hug when the ride was over, so Matthew bent forward to give him a hug and hit is head on the brass pole. Oops!

Checking out the bronze gorilla. This is the statue Ryan told me I looked like when we were dating. It's amazing we have made it this far!