Professional family pictures

It has been YEARS since we have done professional pictures as a family, and this year, I pulled the plug and scheduled it. A wonderful photographer in our area was offering "mini sessions" for a reasonable price, so I snatched one up and I am SO GLAD I did. I will cherish these!

Fall fun (catch-up post!)

Phew, it's been a fun and busy fall so far. On October 20, Carter, McKenna, and Eli all had soccer games at the same park back to back, so we watched a lot of soccer and then went to Paulus Orchards for apple picking. It was chilly and windy but that didn't stop us! The kids played on the playground, we got some snacks to warm up, went on the hayride and picked apples. Then we went for pizza afterwards!

We also carved pumpkins with friends, which is something we actually hadn't done in a year or so. Both kids loved it! 

And, of course...trick-or-treating! Carter was a soldier and Addison was a snow queen. (Thank you, Target, for the last-minute costumes!) They got a ton of use out of their costumes. We did Hersheypark in the Dark, Street of Treats in downtown Mechanicsburg, and regular trick-or-treating in our town. Let's just say they were LOADED UP on candy!

Fall school pictures

First grade and third grade. I just love this year's pictures -- and these sweet kiddos!

Bacterial pneumonia for Carter

We had a health scare with Carter last week. Thankfully, we are on the upswing and he's doing great. He had been complaining of belly/chest (sort of in between) pain, back pain, and being tired for a few days. We actually took him to urgent care on Labor Day when he came down with a fever while at my parent's house for the day. He was so miserable and lethargic that day and kept falling asleep everywhere. Urgent care called it viral (in other words, they did nothing and gave us that as a diagnosis to send us on our way.) He missed school on Tuesday but went back on Wednesday. He seemed okay on Wednesday except still that occasional back pain comment. Then, on Thursday, I got a call from his after-school program that he was in severe pain and was laying on the floor, complaining about belly and back pain. Seth got there as fast as he could and I left work immediately.

As soon as I saw him, I knew he was sick. I took his temperature and it was only 99.5. But he was really crying and in pain. I called his pediatrician who clearly didn't feel the need to squeeze us in that night. They suggested that with the back pain, we "put a heat pad on it." I was livid at their lack of concern because, by that time, his fever was up to 101. Within 1.5 hours of getting home, his fever was 103.5 and I told Seth I was heading to the emergency room. He COULD NOT stay awake -- he fell asleep on the 10 minute drive to the hospital, and was out cold in the lobby of the ER. Thankfully, because he was pediatric and looked so pitiful they moved us through the registration and triage quickly. 

We pretty quickly got put into a room and the doctor came in within just a few minutes. I was immediately glad I decided to bring him to the ER because the doctor began ordering fluids, meds, tests, etc. We had actually suspected it was his appendix, but she requested chest x-rays and an abdominal ultrasound as well. He fell asleep so quickly when he got into the bed and got tons of blankets to keep warm. He was even so brave when they took blood and placed a pic line. But the poor boy was so miserable! 

We were there for about four hours, and for a section of about 1.5 hours, we did not see anyone or hear any results. He fell sound asleep once the meds kicked in and the fluid was pumping into him. But waking him up for a urine sample was interesting. He was in a full, deep sleep and he was hard to rouse. When I was able to rouse him, he flipped out and tried to rip out his IV and was screaming and delirious. The nurses were looking a little panicked and were discussing admitting us but I was able to convince them that this is just what happens with him when you try and wake him!! 

Welllll, once I got him awake, he got the FULL sillies. He was deliriously happy and out of it. He farted and laughed with tears running down his face for like 30 minutes (which then had me rolling with laughter, too). He said he was starving so I went and found a vending machine and got him a few snacks. It was so hilarious to watch him laugh at things. The doctor came in and said he had a clear case of bacterial pneumonia but his appendix was totally fine. So....I guess the good news is no surgery! Bad news is a brief break from soccer and some meds to take care of it. As of today, he is doing so much better already. 

A trip to the zoo!

This weekend, we headed to the Smithsonian Zoo in DC for an end-of-summer trip as a family. Gramma and Maw-maw came along, too! We also met our friends and their kids there as well. We love this zoo! First, free doesn't hurt, but the kids just love the variety of animals there. The highlight is ALWAYS the orangutans, which go across the entire zoo outside of any sort of enclosure on the "O-Line". So cool. 

It's hard to see here, but the mommy orangutan was at the glass tapping her finger with ours. I wanted to get a cute video but there was a huge line of people behind us waiting to see her, so I snapped my picture and got on my way. 

Seeing the panda bear was also so fun. We came to this zoo about two years ago but we did not get a chance to see any pandas. They weren't out the day we were there. Seeing them this close on this trip was really fun. 

Even though it was a pretty hot day, so many of the animals were out and visible, so that was nice and unexpected! 

We had so much fun and made it more hours than I thought we might in the hot weather! The kids didn't really sleep at all on the way home, which made two hours feel more like four. Thankfully, Gramma and Maw-maw were in the back with them! ;) 

No words needed.

First day of school

Wow, summer went FAST! Today was the first day of school for my babies (I can always call them that, right??). Addison is off to first grade and Carter is off to third...and in the SAME elementary school for the one single year. 

Praying they have a wonderful year!

A week at Roxbury!

For the first week of August, you know where you can find us: at Gram's cabin at Roxbury. Seth was away on a missions trip in Alaska so I had to be off work anyway to be with the kids. So, we did what we always do...we headed over to camp. Michelle and the kids were there, too, so the kids had plenty to do with all the cousins! Addison slept with me in the bed and Carter wanted a bed on the floor, so that worked out well in our tiny bedroom. 

The kids filled their days with kids church, fishing, bike riding, going to the snack shop (over and over and over), taking walks, and doing allll sorts of outdoor things. It's the best part of camp: no internet or signal and they are fully content to play outside from sunrise to dark (just like when I was a kid!). 

On one of the days, they set up this huge waterslide and the little kids get to use it. Our kids LOVED it. They also do a kids' carnival one day, which is so fun for them. I didn't grab any pictures because they are old enough to go on their own! 

We had so much fun at camp but we were so glad to see Seth when he got back from Alaska. Kids + away from home + missing the dog and husband + constantly dirty kids = nice to see your house at the end of the week. See ya next year, Roxbury!