Melton Hill park

We went to Melton Hill park while Aaron's parents were in town.

Grandma with her walking stick

Hiking around the park

Ryan showing off the treasure he found

Cute Samantha

The whole group (except grandpa).  Ryan's face is priceless!

Worlds Fair park

A few days after Christmas the temp was in the 60's so we took the kids bikes and went to World's Fair park in downtown Knoxville.  We figured if we didn't have any snow to play in, we had awesome weather to just hang out together in!

We went up into the sun sphere and looked out on the city.  That is something our family has never done.

We raced (the kids idea)

Erica vs. Ryan

Erica vs. Samantha

Dad vs. Ryan

Dad feeling very exhausted

Bike riding

Mom and Carter on the park stage

Samantha and grandma performing on the stage

Christmas fun

Aaron's parents came to visit for Christmas and we had a great time.  It has been a long time since we have had family around for Christmas, so it was really nice having them there.  

Christmas Eve we did our traditional act out the nativity scene.  Aaron was a shepherd, but he was taking the picture.

The kids (and dad) posing in their new pajamas on Christmas eve.

Looking at gifts

Ryan got two light sabers for Christmas so he and grandpa were trying them out.

Carter turns one!

We celebrated Carter's birthday yesterday.  Here are some pictures of the event!

He thought it was so funny when the wrapping paper would rip.  He would just crack up.

More laughing at ripped wrapping paper.

So how do you like the cake?  The kids wanted a teddy bear and this was the best I could do.  

Here he is beginning to "dig in"

And this is a picture of how he liked the cake.  He hated the frosting!  Every time we put some to his mouth he would whine and make this face.  It was really funny.

We found out that the cake is all he wanted.  I don't blame him.  I'm not a fan of frosting either.

Carter's hospital stay

This entry is long and somewhat detailed, but it's for my own records.  I can understand if you don't want to read the entire thing.

Starting with Ryan, we have had the GI bug move through all the kids, but Carter got it worse than anyone.  I took him in for a fever on saturday and they said he had an ear infection so he was sent home with antibiotics.  Then the throwing up started.  He couldn't keep down his bottles and that, of course, worried me.  Then the diarrhea started and that just didn't seem to stop.  We kept giving him pedialyte and on sunday the doctor told us to stop antibiotics and call if he doesn't pee.  Well, he did so we waited.  And by monday, he was refusing all liquids and the diarrhea was worse so I took him in.  And by the way, Samantha started to throw up sunday night so I was trying to help her and clean up thow up off the couch while all of this was going on.  The doctor decided to send us to the ER and he called and told them I was coming.  Well, when I got there, they told me it didn't matter that he called and I had to wait like everyone else.  They didn't even look at Carter.(and he looked bad)  So I waited and watched other children around me laughing and giggling and playing go before us while Carter moaned then threw up all over himself.  At that point, I was pretty upset so I went to the desk and told them that he really needs to be seen.  So five minutes later I was in traige.  He had 102 fever and they decided he was pretty sick so they would take him.  Well, back in the ER after three attempts at the IV they finally got one started.  At that point, I was starting to get sick myself so they gave me zofran for nausea.  Then Carter started having so much diarrhea that his bottom was raw and he was screaming! (enough to pull the IV loose)  So after three more tries, a new IV was put in and it was decided he would be admitted.  In the mean time, I had gotten too sick to take care of him and called Aaron to come take my place.  And poor Aaron was on call that night so he was taking calls and caring for Carter at the same time.  I felt so bad for Carter.  The next morning, I started to feel better and took Aaron's place.  He wouldn't let you put him down so we just sat in an uncomfortable chair all day and all night.  Well, in the end, they found out he had Clostridium Difficile (C diff), a bacterial infection, and started to treat him.  He spent two nights in the hospital and is now home and still getting back into eating and drinking more.   It is so hard to see your child so sick and there is nothing you can do to change it.  I'm glad he is back home making messes and blowing kisses to us again.  I believe I have done 100 loads of laundry in the past week, but the only thing that matters is that Carter is home and we are all on the mend.