The Shark on Steroids

After hitting the publish button the other night on my last post, I heard that dreaded cough. The kind of cough that sounds like a barking seal. I knew immediately that croup hit our house. After a rough night of a tossing and turning toddler, labored breathing, a barking cough and steaming in the bathroom, a trip to the Saturday sick hours at our pediatricians office confirmed he has what is apparently going around -- croup.

You get frozen fruit bars if you are sick in my house

Quentin started sounding better just hours after his first dose of steroids, and is his old self again. Can you imagine though? The shark on steroids. 

The Shark

Sam and I have dubbed Quentin The Shark because he is in constant motion, and like a shark, it is possible that his very survival relies on this constant movement. 


Quentin usually spends about 10 seconds or less on my lap. 


Today was a different story. 

He easily spent 7 hours curled up on my lap, napping, coughing and otherwise being pitiful. 


Our poor little man has come down with something, we're not sure what yet. I take him to the doctor in the morning. 

 He is a beautiful child, even when he is sick, if I do say so myself.

We need to get him back in motion.

Don't be mad at me

I just love it when Sam starts his sentences out like that.


"Don't be made at me, but I think I may have left the camera outside..."


This, after I scoured the house looking for it, calling him in a panic. Where could it have gone? I even looked in the pan drawer under our oven. Now why in the world would it be in there? 


Fortunately it has not rained since he took it out. Lucky man.


Now I can share some recent photos of our littlest who has been getting into trouble lately for climbing onto furniture.

Mad at Mom for making him get off of the dinner table

He makes up for it in cuteness

Catching up

We were lucky enough to have our friends, Holly & Dan, visit us for a New Year's Eve "bash" at our place, which involved games, a way too big cheese ball & wine. 


The biggest hit of the weekend was a visit from their dog, Henry, who we all love dearly. Dan joked earlier in the day, while setting up Henry's dog crate/bed in our sun room, that Ada would also be sleeping there. He now realizes that our daughter takes things literally. 


Somehow we knew her plea, "Please, can I sleep in the dog bed?!?!", would not last long. She came in after about 30 minutes to her nice, warm, bed.

This was a better compromise anyway.

We spent the first day of 2012 on a stroll to Belle's Isle.

Also visiting us is our new friend, Flat Stanley, a classmate of our nephew, Travis, who is traveling the world and visiting all sorts of interesting places. We can't wait to send tales of his travels, along with photos to Travis' class in Tacoma, WA.  I wonder which state Flat Stanley will travel to this week? We promise to send him to a good family, Travis.

As usual, Belle Isle delivered. The weather was mild, and the hike was beautiful.

However, even with all of the beautiful scenery to take in, this was still my favorite...

 ...and this scenery was even better.

The new year has otherwise been the same old routine, which works for all of us.

Sam has been home on winter break from VCU, so he and Ada took Flat Stanley to Hollywood Cemetary.

This last weekend included a visit to the Science Museum of Virginia, which proved to be a hit with all of us.

We were pleasantly surprised that all of us had a good time, and learned some fun stuff while we were at it.

So far, 2012 is shaping up to be a good year.

I hope your year is too.

Naturalist or a Photographer?

I am not quite sure which of the two we have on our hands here, but maybe both. Thanks again to Aunt Sarabeth for her suggestion to pass along the "old" camera in our house to our budding preschooler. Ada and I went for a nature stroll yesterday, and she of course brought her new camera along. My favorite part of this, aside from her interest in the flowers and trees, is her "photographer stance" -- I can't stop laughing when I see it. Oh, and how she exclaims, "Yes! That's right!", as if the flora and fauna are posing just for her.

Try and wipe the grin off of my face.

Now for a look at her photos:

A "beautiful" flower

The Christmas lights are "sooo beautiful!"

A berry "for the birds"

The "most beautiful" Christmas tree in the neighborhood

Christmas Day

We went to church, had dinner, left out milk and cookies for Santa and went right to bed.

Easiest time I've ever had putting the kids to bed. Ada did not want to read books or leave the hall light on, "I just want to listen for Santa." Well OK then.

In the morning at the side of my bed, "Mom, I didn't hear Santa come."
Me, "Go look and see if he ate the cookies and milk you left, then you will know if he came last night."
A scurry down the hallway and back, with a long pause at the kitchen table to inspect the crumbs and thank you note left by Santa, "Mom! Mom! He ate the cookies and they are all gone!!"

"How does he know I like Minnie & Mickey Mouse?"

2 cookies and a lollipop -- that's all she wanted (thanks Aunt Stephanie for sending the lollipops).

Is this how you pose for pictures, Mom?

Oblivious but happy all the same.

"Wow, this was really nice of Santa."

Playing in the "band in a box" box.

That pose again, showing off her new jewels from Grandparents and friends.

Not sure what to play with first!

Ding! Ding!

Having fun with her new art supplies.