Hospital Life

This is what a perfectly healthy George looks like the day before he enters the hospital for a very scary 8 days! As you can see, he was looking fine and doing great with his bumbo time. Who would have thought that the next day, he would be so very sick and that everyone would be so worried.
He was so alert and happy that nobody would have ever thought that the next day would be one of the scariest times of our family's lives! When we woke up the next morning, Daddy left for Cleveland (feeling under the weather) and Mama (also feeling under the weather) fed George and then got me dressed for school. When she got home, she noticed that George had been sleeping most of the morning and that is unusual for him. She took his temperature and it was 103! After a trip to the pediatrician's office, they were sent to Children's Hospital to the Emergency Department for a work-up. They tried several time to obtain some spinal fluid but were unsuccessful and so they admitted him for treatment of bacterial meningitis but we were quite sure that it was viral meningitis. I stayed at Mimi and Grandpa's some during George's hospital stay. I was unable to visit because we did not want me to get sick too so I spent my time playing and praying! I like to play with the magnet letters on the fridge using my hands and my feet. It made Mama and Daddy feel so good that I was in such good hands that they did not have to worry about me too.

After my bath I discovered these little metal chairs. I tried sitting in them, but found it to be more fun to arrange them in the foyer, then the living room, then the den, and starting over again.

Meanwhile, George was running such high fevers and they were unable to control it with just Tylenol so they had to wrap him with cool compresses to try to get the fever down. Daddy got back on Wednesday so that he could help with checking his temp and keeping him cool. Mama was so glad to have him home and he was too!

Visitors had to wear these yellow gowns to keep George safe. He was unable to wear clothes because they kept his body temperature up. At first, he had his IV in his hand and they had to put this brace on it to keep his wrist straight. He looked so pitiful.

The nurses at Children's were just wonderful and went beyond the call of duty to make sure that everyone was as comfortable as possible. They brought Mama candy bars when she had a sad day and they made this mobile for George so that he would not get bored in his bed.

The IV in his hand did not last very long because of all of the strong antibiotics so they moved it to his head. I know that it looks really bad but it was actually much better for George because it was out of the way.

Nana and Papa came in town and came to the hospital every day to give relief and to check on my brother for me since I could not go out there. They had all of there friends praying and their church in Tuscaloosa.

Then George had to get a PICC line on the other side of his head. It was less irritating than the IV. He had all of these red dots all over his body which is a part of meningitis. He felt so bad and we all felt so bad for him!

He wore the special onesie that Nana got for me to give him and I think that it made him feel a little better knowing that I love him so very much.

He was not sleeping very well his first few nights in the hospital so it was a relief to see him finally relaxed on his bed. Everyone was still waiting around for his fever to break though!

His fever finally broke on Sunday and it was such wonderful news! Our prayers were answered! On the other hand, his diaper rash got really bad because of the antibiotics so the nurses put an oxygen mask in his diaper to try to help it. They had lots of tricks! You can see the tube coming out of his diaper at the bottom. Daddy did a wonderful time entertaining him while he was stuck in bed!

Everyone was so glad when he was able to wear his gowns again. It was like he was truly getting better. This is one of Mama's favorites and a hand me down from my cousins and cousin in laws! They are so thankful that Betsy and Emily have let them borrow so many things for George!

Mimi and Grandpa were able to both get by to see George because I went home to try to get my life back to normal. Nana and Papa stayed with me there since Mama and Daddy were staying each night with George. Mimi and Grandpa were relieved to see that he was doing much better and were able to get a little loving from him. They also had all of their friends and church praying for him.

I know that the PICC line looks bad but it was actually much better on George than the IV. We were so glad that he was able to get one.

Tuesday, the doctors came by for a visit and gave us the good news that George was going to get to go home the next day. He celebrated with a little hyperberic diaper time and we all celebrated with a big thank you to God! Our church at St Stephens was so wonderful to us during the hospital stay. Each day, one of our priests came by to bless George and say a prayer. The prayers definitely worked!

We were so thankful to have him all better and could not wait to get him home. I especially missed him because I could not see him except in pictures. I gave his picture a kiss each night before bed though. I love my "Georgie!"

Wednesday, bright and early, he was able to come home and he was sporting a yellow neon band-aid. I was some a wonderful day and was such a relief!

Papa got him a balloon and who would have thought that it would be such a hit! He stared at it for hours and talked to it and smiled at it. When I got home, I showed him how a big girl plays with balloons.

When I saw him, I just went nuts! I was so happy to have my brother home and to have him healthy again! The next day, we packed up the car and went to Tuscaloosa for the weekend.

Sha Sha and Mr Frank came over to see us. They were so glad that everyone was back to normal. I really warmed up to them this time. I can tell that they really love me. Mr Frank kissed my Boo Boos. I am really into getting sympathy for Boo Boos now! I have milked the blister on my toe going on two weeks now!

Then Uncle Robert, Aunt Betsy, Rob and Matthew came in town so that we could celebrate Nana's 60th birthday. I got to follow Rob around, which is one of my favorite things to do. Everything that he does, I do right behind him.

Rob helped Nana blow out her birthday candles. It was past my bedtime so I was already asleep. It was a really good cake though. I had some the next day!

Nana and Papa set up a real pool in the backyard and Rob and I had more fun playing in it! We splashed and jumped and fell all in it! I love my really cute bathing suits! Mama forgot to pack the little swimmers so we tried to let me get in with a regular diaper. Big Mistake! It ended up weighing about 20 pounds and I could barely walk!
I thought that it was funny to wear the bowl as a hat. Of course, I got the idea from Rob and like I said, I copy everything that he does!
We have so much fun together and I love it when they come in town and we get to play!
Aunt Betsy was having fun introducing George to Matthew. They are only 5 months apart and will be in the same grade. I think that they are going to be best friends!
Rob and I are really good sharers and had fun having snack time together. Nana had a pink bowl for me and a blue bowl for Rob. Monday, everyone went home but before it was time to go, we shared a Popsicle on the back patio. I love going to Nana and Papa's!

Visitors, French Festival & Mother's Day

At school, it was wear your favorite t-shirt to school day so I wore my "I'm the big sister" shirt and pink shorts. Here I am putting on my sunscreen. Mama is teaching me the importance of wearing sunscreen since I have fair skin like her. I do not want to be all wrinkly when I get older.

Ole!! George is doing really well with his floor time. He gets really good exercise which is really important for his growth. He has started swatting at toys that we dangle in front of him. He is also getting really good at following objects and turning his head.

He has been doing bumbo time to help with his head control and is getting quite good at it. We are so proud of his progress and can't believe how big he is getting!

He is starting to vocalize as well. He has been cooing at us and I like to try to get him to talk to me. I have picked up the sound from Mama and Dada so I try to say it to him as well.

That weekend, we all went to Tuscaloosa because Mama's best friends all came in town. That never happens. I got to see my Tante who loves me very much. I showed them how cute I am and they had so much fun playing with me. I only get to see her every few months so she is just amazed at how much more I can do every time that I see her.

They all had a great time hanging out with George as well. Everyone took turns holding him and loving on him. They all think that it is hard to believe that Mama has two children. Miss Weldon and Miss Lee are George's Godmothers.

We all took this same picture when I was just 6 weeks old and so we decided to make it a tradition. I did not cooperate as much this time though. All of Mama's friends just love me and George. I can't wait until they bring me some playmates!

I have always loved trying on Mama and Daddy's shoes but now I am able to take some steps in them. I would much rather wear theirs than my own. I think that I am so funny when I put them on!

Like I said, George is getting really good with his head control and so Daddy started him on a little tummy time on his chest. He is starting to get the hang of it. George looks so much like Daddy and he is very proud of that. He is such a wonderful Daddy!

This is one of Mama's favorite pictures of George. You can see how much he has filled out in his first two months of life. He is getting better about looking at the camera now and I guess that he has just gotten used to the constant flashes!
I got a treat one night for dinner...french fries and chicken nuggets! I like to dip my food in sauces (I got that from Mama) and so this time it was ketchup. I decided that it was finger paint for my face and had so much fun wiping it all over my cheeks!

That weekend, we met Georgia Jayne and Miss Heather at the park. We shared some goldfish on the picnic blanket and had a few drinks...juice that is! We are both such good sharers!

That Saturday was the French Festival in English Village. Miss Heather, GJ, Mama and Me had a girls day. There were lots of people all dressed up in fun colorful costumes. They were happy to take pictures with us! We watched the parade and then ate at Billy's. It was a really fun day!

I had to strike a pose to show them how pretty I look in my monogrammed pink linen and lace outfit. I got this from Mr Warren and Miss Brandi when I was born and have just been itching to wear it. It looks so pretty on me and I think that I am going to wear it in my school pictures.

The guys were waiting on us when we got home and we were able to catch one of George's smiles on camera. He likes hanging out with Daddy!
Sunday was mother's day and so everyone came over to our house to celebrate! We gave Mama some really wonderful cards and a Blackberry Bold with all of the accessories! She was just thrilled!
We ate Brio for lunch but brought it back to the house since George was so young. We hate to get him out in public like that at such a busy time. It was delicious as usual!
George as been giving us some smiles but not really on cue but his special Mother's Day gift to Mama was smiling really big smiles for her! Everyone was so excited and so was I! Nana was playing Patty Cake with him and he just started open mouth smiling! Everyone loves him so very much! Then it was time for me to show off for a little bit. I showed everyone my Ride A Little Horsey skills. I can count..."Two, Two, Two!" (Instead of One, Two, Three)Then everyone opened their presents and cards and I helped! I am a really good helper wen it comes to eating sweets and opening presents. Then Mama played with me for a while!
Then George and I took a big family photo with all of our grandparents! I think that they are very lucky to have us as grandchildren. Mother's Day was so much better for them having us be a part of it. We make everything so much more exciting!

Then it was time for our family photo. Mama had such a wonderful day. She says that she feels like the luckiest person in the world having us in her lives. She is so thankful everyday for all of the blessing that God has given her and could not be happier to be a mother.