Breakfast with Santa

Tucker, Brad, and Paxton

Paxton reaching for Tucker

Bryce

Paxton and Bryce

Paxton, Bryce, and Tonia

We went to Covington for Breakfast with Santa at Mimi and Papa's church. This was Paxton's first time seeing Santa, and he did really well. He didn't give us too many smiles, because he was very intrigued.

After breakfast, we headed to Mimi and Papa's house to make cookies. This is a first annual tradition that we started, and we had lots of fun. Paxton took a nap while we baked this year, but he'll be helping next year.

While we were there, Paxton had a couple play dates. Our friends Pamela and Cory, brought their baby, Tucker, over to play with Paxton. He is 15 months old, and walking all over the place. He was so good with Paxton-he just sat there and let him touch him and reach for him.

Tonia (Brad's cousin) and Tony also came over with their little one, Bryce, to play. Bryce is 10 months old and crawling so quickly. It was funny to watch Paxton as Bryce crawled past him. Pax was trying to keep up with him, but had a hard time on the slippery hardwood floor. It's amazing how fast all these boys have grown up, as well as seeing the different stages they are all in. I am excited that Paxton will have some friends over at Mimi and Papa's house, too!

Go Thrashers!

Pax, Grandma, and Pops

Go Thrashers!

Look at those eyes!!

Tonight, Brad and I had my work Christmas party, so Grandma and Pops got to babysit Pax. Grandma had won tickets to the Thrasher's game, and they were brave and decided to take him with them to the game. Uncle Adam and his friend also went with them. He seemed to have a good time and enjoyed taking it all in. We had a nice dinner ourselves, and even enjoyed ice cream afterwards.

Pix of Pax at Mrs. Tracey's

These are pictures that Mrs. Tracey has taken on her phone of the kids during the day. We have such an ideal situation with child care. We are lucky to have her and Pax really loves her. It sure does help that she lives right up the street from us! :-)

Pax and Samuel (most days these are the only 2 kids)

Paxton and Hayden (Can you believe that she's about 3 months older?)

Pax and Alex

What is he doing??

the most recent one

Early Christmas Gift

Brad and I received our Christmas gift from his parents on Monday night so that we could use it during the holiday season. They got us a new camera--a NICE one! I'm so excited because I haven't ever had one like this. Brad really enjoyed playing with it last night, and these are just some of the pictures he took. It's amazing the difference in the quality of the pictures. Thank you, Mimi and Papa for this awesome gift!!!

Christmas card photo shoot

Today we went to Suzie's house to take pictures for our first annual Christmas card. She is an excellent photographer, and almost all the pictures we have of Paxton were taken by his aunt Suzie! These are some of the pictures that were really cute, but didn't get on the card. I have to save those for the card or I'd ruin the surprise. There were a TON of great ones to chose from!

I would also like to celebrate a great night's sleep last night! We went to Aunt Sarah's last night, and Pax fell asleep on the way home. We took him out of his seat and moved him to the bed and he didn't wake up until 8 :30 this morning! This is so exciting, because, for the past 2 weeks or so, he has been waking up to eat in the middle of the night. Yeah, Pax! Now, we'll see if he can do it again.

Sarah's Housewarming Party

Pax and Aunt Sarah

Pax and Daddy

Trying to play together

Santa's Little Helper

Pax and his Aunts

waving????

We went to Sarah's for her housewarming party. Her place is beautiful and decorated so well (Christmas and everyday). These are all pictures that Aunt Suzie took of the evening. I borrowed them from her album, and most of these are on her blog, too. Thank you, Suzie, for the great pictures; and thanks, Sarah, for opening your house to us! Love you both!

One Tough Cookie

This story starts back on Sunday, and explains why I haven't blogged all week, and also why this one is so lengthy. Disclaimer: if you have a weak stomach, you may want to skip this blog!

The day was business as usual, until Paxton became a little fussy and clingy in the evening. Normal was thrown out the window at 1:30 Monday morning when Pax woke up screaming. Brad and I both tried to calm him down, but he was even more clingy and wouldn't even let Brad hold him. After trying everything we could think of, I finally decided to go ahead and feed him in order to get him to calm down. Then I put him in bed with us. At about 2:30, he woke up and had what I thought was projectile spit up. By the third time, and the third spot in the bed, I was worried, and figured that it wasn't spit up any more. (Duh!) But, Paxton wasn't upset and even managed to fall back asleep before I could even get a cloth to clean up his face.

Then, the morning got even worse. I was holding him, and he started gagging and threw up all over me, himself, and the area around us. Brad and I both started freaking out, because he couldn't stop throwing up. Pax and I headed to the bath tub to minimize the clean up, and Brad headed to get the phone to call the doctor. At this point, it's 3:45, and I needed my Mom. So, she headed over to help out. Hey--no one was sleeping at this point! Thanks, Mom!!

We then put him in the bath tub, and waited for the nurse to call back. After talking with her and answering a lot of questions, she told us to take him to the Emergency Room. What??? The ER??? We didn't think that was the answer!! We hurried and got all our stuff and took Pax on his first visit to the hospital.

We had to wait for about an hour and a half before we got into a room. Now it's 6:00, Brad and I aren't going to work, and school, we're waiting to see a doctor, my dad has joined us, and Pax has now thrown up (or tried) about 12 times so far! Poor Baby!!!

The doctor gave him some medicine and then we had to get some fluids in him. We were a little zealous and rushed the whole thing, and up it came again. We thought he was going to have to get IV's, but we slowed down with the Pedialyte, and he was able to keep it down. YEAH!!!! He was discharged from the ER at 9:30, and was sleeping soundly!!

However, the story is just beginning! I had a bump on my hand so I thought I'd get it checked out while we were there. The doctor said it is cellulitis, which is a viral infection caused from a scratch that can lead to a staph infection!! I had no clue!! So, he gave me medicine for my hand, and a prescription for the same thing that Pax had to stop his nausea and vomitting. (a hint of foreshadowing here)

The rest of the day we rested and took care of our little man. Grandma and Pops came over that evening for dinner and to check on Pax. These pictures were taken when got to feeling better again! What a difference from 12 hours earlier!!

Now, I get to the reason for the title of this blog. Almost 24 hours after Paxton first threw up, I felt nauseous, and headed to the bathroom. Yup, I came down with the same virus he had. I continued this for about 6 hours, called in sick to work for the second day, and waited on my wonderful parents to come over. Mom took care of Paxton because I felt TERRIBLE, and Dad went and filled my prescription. I stayed in bed practically all day, and my body just ached all over. At this point, I know exactly what Pax went through, and that made me feel even worse! I never would have thought it was THIS bad!! He was such a tough cookie!!!

To make matters worse, Brad had to leave work early Tuesday, because HE inevitably came down with it also. He was out of work yesterday. And, yes, Grandma and Pops came down with it too, but a milder version (if that's possible) because they took the medicine at the first sign of feeling nauseous.

Our family still isn't at 100%, but we're getting there. It's pretty much just getting our appetites back. I hope that no one has to experience this, because there are not words to describe how horrible it makes you feel. But, at least now you know the stages of the sickness!