A night to remember.

Every Monday we do our best to spend the night as a family.  We pray together, sing songs (even Mike although he tends to make up a lot of his own words), and teach our kids about God.  Then we have some sort of activity and a treat.  We do our best to put some thought into what we want to teach our kids.
This past Monday, I hadn't come up with anything.  Carter's kept me a tiny bit busy (understatement of the year).  So I asked Jaida if she would be in charge of the lesson.  Jaida was born to be in charge.  She is a leader, loves to be in control, thinks she is actually the mom around here, and has NO problem telling people what to do (including adults).  She was thrilled.
We cleaned up dinner and gathered in the front room.  Mya was in charge of the opening song.  She wanted to sing "your love is my drug" (not sure the official title of that song).  Hmmm...how about something about God or Jesus.  She then decided to sing an original song.  She included the word underwear as many times as she could.
We then moved to Jaida's lesson.  She had everything written down.  She asked 5 questions.  Why is it important to share?  Why do we go to school?  Why do we need to be kind?  Why do we need to shower? (I tried not to laugh when she read that one).  And why do we need to share?  (A repeat, but we didn't point that out).  While she was asking questions, Carter was stepping off the couch, landing on his stomach/face, laughing, and then climbing back up to do it again.  The kids is crazy.  Mya was bouncing a balloon up in the air running around trying not to let it touch the ground.  Mike and I were trying to focus on Jaida and answer her questions.  She insisted we raise our hands "I need to see hands please."
We ended with Jaida reading an entire chapter from the Book of Mormon about Lehi's escape from Jerusalem.  She read most of it without any help.
We ended with a resounding version of "Search, Ponder, and Pray" (a song about scriptures) and a closing prayer from Mya that included "having fun, eating treats, and no bad dreams".
We then played Mystery Bag.  Jaida got this from school.  We do a lot of new things around here that Jaida brings home from school.  This includes putting an object in a bag, writing 5 clues (it HAS to be 5 clues, Jaida insists) and then everyone else guesses.  It ended with Mya in tears because Jaida kept guessing before she could.  We had to do a special round just for Mya.
Then it was ice cream from Artic Circle.
A very successful family night if you ask me.  Family night with little kids is one thing I will definitely miss as my kids get older.  It's nothing short of entertaining every single week.

And the saga continues....

Updated to Add:  Took Carter to the doctor.  He has RSV and the ear infections weren't responding to the antibiotic.  They gave him an antibiotic shot.  Which has now given him horrible diarrhea and a diaper rash that makes me cringe and him cry.  We have to get his ears checked again tomorrow.  His cough/RSV seems to be subsiding, but he continues to throw up.  No answers on that one.

A booger.  Smeared across my cheek.  Only it's not my booger.  Just a little taste of the past 8 days around here.  (Mya was completely disgusted that I actually took time to take a picture of this rather than wiping it off immediately.  I thought it was hilarious)
Carter got a cold in his chest.  It traveled to his head.  And then he got a cough.  And then ear infections in both ears.  And now, he's been puking for 5 days.  Only the puking isn't the stomach flu.  He only pukes when he drinks something.  And then he'll puke anytime in the next hour.  Mike or I have been holding him for the past 4 days.  Day AND night.  He's miserable.  And hasn't eaten anything solid (or at least kept anything down) for 4ish days.  I've done more loads of laundry in the past week than I've done all year.  I think I've finally mastered catching the puke.  He drinks a bottle.  I hold him.  And wait.  With a towel.  He does a distinct cry which gives me a warning.  And then I catch.  As much as I can.  It usually ends up in the towel AND all over him AND all over me.  It's bizarre.  And unpredictable.  And the smell of milk puke is seared into my nostrils.
We're headed to the doctor in the morning for his 15 month well child appt.  Only he's not well.  :)
At first I thought it was related to the cough.  And that he was gagging which made him puke.  But now he's puking even when he's not coughing.
If someone solves this medical mystery, I'll bake you cookies every day for the rest of your life.  Promise.

Our photo shoot.

I started feeling pretty guilty we hadn't taken any pictures together as a family.  And knew we needed to.  Because it's important.  So important.  So I planned a little photo shoot, went shopping for outfits the night before, went to a spot within walking distance of our house, and figured Mike and I could do the shoot together (dragging a neighbor over to take the ones of the whole family).  It was chaotic.  Crazy.  And not something I plan on doing again.  I'm hiring out next time.  Being mom and photographer was nuts.
Here's some of my favorites.

Now to decide on which ones for the giant collage on the wall in my office.....

Mya turned 4.

I will catch up on this blog.  I will catch up on this blog.  I will......
Mya's birthday.  Last November.  She was insistent on a fairy party, NOT a Tinker bell party.  A fairy party.  Birthdays and Holidays are important to me.  I want them to be different.  To be memorable.  So I've been trying to make more effort.  Mya was pretty thrilled with the whole event.  She doesn't get nearly enough "center of attention" time.

First pics of her actual birthday, then pictures of her birthday party.

Diagnosis. And thank you's.

GI doc called Monday morning.  "Well, there's definitely something wrong......"  Um, yea.  I already know that, but thanks for the confirmation.  And thanks for the medical "back-up" that it's not behavioral.  The kid hurts.  And now I have medical proof.
Carter has mild inflammation in his esophagus, stomach, and small intestines.
"I'm pretty sure he has celiac" she said.
I don't think so, but I'm not a doctor.  I am a mom though.  And we have super powers.  Really, we do.
"You're gonna need to take him to get a blood test?"
I'm sorry, what?  You just did a scope.  How on earth could we need more tests.
Off to the hospital.  Again.
Carter started screaming before he ever got poked.  Because people were touching him.  Turns out he doesn't really like to be touched by anyone other than mom or dad.  True story.  Try to hold his hand.  He'll yell at you.
It took 3 of us to hold him down and keep him still.  I told the phlebotomist she better get him on the first poke and make sure she got enough blood because we weren't coming back.  I said it nicely.  :)
GI doc called back Wednesday.  No celiac.  Phew.  That would have been tragic in my book.  What is life without pizza, I mean really.
They tested him for several more allergies (milk, eggs, proteins, etc.)  Nothing.  He's not digesting lactose, but they think it's because of an underlying problem.
The explanation:  He basically has eczema all over, but it's inside instead of outside.  Ow.  Diagnosis:  non-specific allergies.  Cure:  Hope he outgrows it.
Awesome.
Truthfully, I'm okay with that.  Because it could have been something bad.  Something that didn't go away.
For now, we will hope with time, he'll get better.  I feel like he will.
I told Mike we may as well have another baby cause I'm up anyway.  I was kidding.  He didn't think it was funny.

Most importantly, I want to thank all of you.  For the calls, the e-mails, the texts, the facebook posts, the notes, the dinners, the babysitting, the "surprise I texted Mike to babysit because I knew you'd say no" babysitters (love you guys), the family rescuers, the naps, and those of you who have been very diligent about checking how we're doing (including a dear friend whose baby has a tumor--still took time to e-mail--you're amazing).
Thank you isn't adequate.  But it's all I have.  Please know it is sincere and grateful.  You know who you are.  Thank you.

We're doing good.  The future is bright.  Life is hard, but full of so many possiblities.  I'm so grateful for Carter just the way he is.  He has taught me more about life and myself in one short year than I could have learned any other way.
Sleep will come eventually.  But for now, we will be happy with what we have.  :)