After work today, we are heading up to see my Mom and Dad for the night. Andy is going to the Sigma Chi Initiation at Western Illinois University tomorrow morning, so we decided to take the opportunity to visit. Laura is very excited to see Grandma Marianne, Grandpa Ralph, and Cousin Thomas!
Swimming Lessons
Laura has been in swimming lessons since last summer at Macher Swim School. She really loved it during the summer and part of the fall. Things changed though for a while because the swim instructor wanted her to put her head under water. She would scream and cry and not want to go. She finally broke through that fear around November and hasn’t looked back. This morning I said, “Today is swim lesson day.” Laura started jumping up and down with excitement and she said, “I get to put my head under water! Yay! I can’t wait!” Oh, how far she’s come!
The Strep Throat Got Mom….
No Pluggie!
Since John was born he has used a “pluggie” (pacifier).
At times, we have made half-hearted attempts to take it away, but I’m a sap and it always seems to get back to him. Last night, Andy hid the rest of his pluggies and that was it. We told John we had lost the pluggies and put him to bed. Despite a bit of a rough patch going to sleep (it took John about 45 minutes to settle down), he made it through the night sans pluggie! This morning, John was begging for his pluggie, but I just kept hugging him and saying that he was a big boy for sleeping without it. I’m sure we’ll have a few more days of him asking relentlessly, but I think we are on the way to being completely pluggie free!
Strep Throat
Both kids were diagnosed with Strep Throat in the beginning of January. We got antibiotics, they took them, and seemed better. Last week, they both developed a snotty nose that we thought was just a cold. On Saturday, Laura woke up and sounded terrible. I checked her throat and it was very large. On that same day, John seemed to cough more, but he wasn’t really acting like it was bothering him. Yesterday, Laura did not improve so we decided it was back to the doctor today. This morning, we caught John drinking out of Laura’s cup. Andy made the call that I should just take both kids to the doctor to be checked. It was a good call on both of them. The first round of antibiotics did not get rid of the Strep. Both kids were really great at the doctor’s appointment. It really helped having Laura there to show John what to do because, normally, John sobs uncontrollably at the doctor’s office. Today, after an initial sobbing, he calmed down when Laura said, “Big sister is here Johnny and I’ll show you what to do.” Cutest. Thing. Ever! Anyway, both kids are now on a second round of antibiotics for 14 days. I really hope this gets it!
How to choose?
I was hoping to post about a Bears victory, but even if that *had* happened today, it wouldn’t have been the highlight of the day. There were actually two highlights today and I was trying to pick one. Then, it occurred to me that I don’t have to pick just one! I’m online! I can post two, so here we go!
#1 – Laura painting with the water colors that she got for Christmas. She was so excited to wear her art smock.
#2 – Laura and Daddy playing “Don’t Spill the Beans.” Laura won the first game and Daddy won the second.
On another note, Laura goes back to the doctor tomorrow. It appears that the strep throat she had at the beginning of the year did not go away even after a full course of antibiotics. 🙁
Beef Brisket
About once a month, Andy will make something on the smoker. We’ve had beef roast, pork roast, turkey breast, ham, and more. All very tasty. Today, he is making a Beef Brisket. The last one of these we had was fantastic! I’m very much looking forward to dinner! 🙂
