Swingin' & Slidin'

Emma had the best time helping Scott assemble her new swing set. The slide and hideout were her favorites on the first day. The joy in her smile says it all!!

Asthma Attack

Emma had a cold in early May. Grandma Jill came to stay home with her one Friday. The night before Emma had been up most of the night coughing and complaining that her chest hurt. I thought the chest pain was a result of all of the coughing. We always debate taking her to see her pediatrician when she has cold symptoms because every time he says it's just some virus that she'll have to fight naturally. It lasts 1-2 weeks and she gradually gets better. But as the day progressed, Emma became more and more lethargic and wouldn't eat. She only wanted to be held by Grammy. When I called to check in on them, Grandma Jill was very concerned and had me listen to her odd breathing. I called for a doctor's appointment and Scott went home immediately after school. By the time he got there, her breathing was very labored. He rushed her in, carrying her like cradled baby. The nurse took her back right away, removing her doctor from his other appointment. (Meanwhile, I was stuck in the school parking lot. My car wouldn't let me shift out of park. Luckily, a teacher out on duty saved the day.) Back at the doctor's office, Emma was beginning a nebulizer treatment. Within seconds, she was back to her perky self, talking and laughing through the mask. I arrived just as they finished. We had to give her additional treatments every 4 hours throughout the weekend (even during the night) and tapered them off in the following days. At this point, it hasn't been diagnosed as asthma. Her pediatrician said that respiratory attacks can be triggered by a cold, smoke, perfume, etc. If she were to have another one, then she'd officially be diagnosed with asthma. For now we are crossing our fingers that it was just an isolated incident. Doesn't she look pitiful in her fishy mask in this picture! She did not like sitting for 10 minutes with the loud machine pumping smelly mist into her face multiple times a day.

Crazy Sock Day

Emma's babysitter had crazy sock day. Well, since we are basic sock people (solid colors, mostly white), I didn't have any unusual socks. When it's 10:00 P.M. and your two-year-old has a special event the next morning, you do what you've got to do. So, I snuck into her room (remember, it was 10:00 P.M.) and grabbed an old pink pair. Then I rummaged through my sewing kit and found several buttons and thread. I think I spent 45 minutes carefully adorning the socks with a variety of colorful baubles. I wasn't even sure if Emma would be willing to wear them the next day. Luckily, I hyped it up enough that she did put them on. And, guess what! The little kids all voted on the craziest socks, and Emma had the most votes!