Mother's Day... Not as we planned

I have been a little hesitant to post about this, mostly because I am still a little bit traumatized... but I feel it is important to share because a dear friend shared her experience and it helped me so I hope by sharing I can help someone else... although I wouldn't wish this on anyone.  Basically our Mother's Day weekend wasn't picture perfect this year.   A few days before Mother's Day Leo started getting a fever.  His best friend had Roseola the  week before so we weren't too concerned because we were sure that is what we had.  If you know Leo, very little gets him down.  In fact we have a video of him dancing and being Leo even though he had a 102 temperature.  Though Saturday night, he was a little more clingy and we could tell he really didn't feel well.  We put him to bed.  About 30 minutes later, I heard him coughing and then  he started making choking sounds.  I rushed in to find him having a seizure in bed.  We were with some friends who acted fast.  Elisa called 911 and Allen and Jake gave Leo a blessing.  After the EMTs came, they suggested we go to the hospital.  We were at the hospital a few hours... enough time for them to run a few tests and get Leo's fever down.  We ended up getting home just a little before midnight.  Here is what we learned:  Leo had what is called a Febrile Seizure.   Please Read through this and this just to be prepared in case it ever happens to one of  your little ones... Basically we learned that between now and the time Leo is 5 he is genetically prone to have seizures related to fevers. Some people believe it is related to the height of the fever and other believe it is due to a spike in the fever.  They are relatively harmless, but very frightening to the parents and to the little ones.  I didn't know that after a seizure they would be paralyzed for an hour or two.  This was very scary for Leo and I.  We have had two friends within the last year have children that experienced a febrile seizure so while it was scary, Allen and I felt a little more prepared and Allen was able to stay calm because he was aware of what was happening.  

Leo after he finally was able to settle down and crash

This is when we knew he was okay.  He sat up and giggled and then made his sound effects for throwing a ball or doing ninja pose. 

So mother's day came, and we were all exhausted.  We needed to go to church because of a few things that were happening for both of us.  So we went to church and then crashed.  No fancy dinner, no breakfast in bed because we were all too tired.  But you know what... it was one of the most special mother's days I think I will ever have.  Although I wish this never happened, I am grateful I was able to be a mother on Mother's Day when Leo really needed me.  We spent most of the day cuddling and holding this little guy.  I am so grateful to be a mom.  I feel so inadequate, but so grateful the Lord has entrusted this Little One to me.  I am so grateful he is here today.  I have some very close friends who do not get to hold their little ones on Mother's Day.  My heart aches everyday for them.  I wish they could hold their babies.  I wish they could hold and cuddle all of their children on Mother's Day and every day.  Being a mother is such a noble calling.  I am so grateful I get to be a mom.  I am so grateful Leo is okay.  This Mother's Day I am grateful for all that Heavenly Father has blessed us with.    

On Sunday he was so tired he just wanted to lay on the stairs.  

Look at that sweet boy.  Of course he has his balls... his comfort.  In fact that green ball
is an extension of his body.  He always has it with him.  

I LOVE my job.  A little piece of Heaven.    

Starting to feel better... and of course he still has his ball.  

Birthdays at the Beach!

I love birthdays!  I love the beach.  So when our friend's Cammie and Chad invited us to go to the beach on my birthday I was quite excited.  This might have been my best birthday ever mostly because I got to spend the entire day with my boys.  

Leo wasn't too sure if he liked the sand.  He got used to it.  He wasn't too sure if he liked the water either, but he got used to it as long  as he had a tight grip on Mama or Dada.  

Cammie and Chad were the nicest!  They set up our tent and babysat Leo so Allen could take me out to eat.  

Allen made a cake that we could take camping with us.  I am all about traditions and it is a tradition to have cake on a birthday.
Although we didn't have candles, so we had to improvise... a stick that is lit.
Sadly my phone fell in some water and was ruined, so the one day of the year I would get texts and calls, I didn't see or hear them.
But it was a great day and I am excited about what my 28th year will bring.

Although you can't really tell, I really think he enjoyed his beach experience.  

It is fun to dress up...

 Sometimes it is fun to dress up.  I really like Sundays when I get to put on a dress and wear make-up and actually do my hair.  I love special events such as the ballet of the symphony and we wear more than jeans.  But a couple of weekends ago I really loved dressing up for a murder mystery dinner.  We had never been to one and it was just so much fun.  It was actually for the student branch, but our friends who are in the branch presidency said we could come and I was so glad.

The girls

The married couples

I was Marlene Dietrich: an 1920s Actress from Germany

Allen was Babe Ruth  

Did we look the part?  

That same weekend, our friend Charlsey had a "dirty thirty" party and everyone was supposed to wear a wig.  One more reason to dress up!   I loved it!  

Charlsey's daughter Claire is Leo's age.  One of his many girlfriends 

The blonde Sabeys

Allie and Leo looking very distinguished with their mustaches  

Best Friends

Leo is very blessed to have a best friend living 3 doors down.  I am very blessed to have a best friend living three doors down.  These pictures were just too cute to not share.  

Leo's Shiner

Leo has turned into a little climber.  He has no fear.  Usually I am with him and keeping an eye on him.  He was climbing onto a piano bench.  He had a pretty good handle on it, but it was a little too heavy and it fell back on him.  So   scary.  We took him to the pediatrician to make sure everything was okay.  Who gets a black eye at 17 months?    Poor little Guy  

At least he is still happy!  

Nursery

In our ward, our nursery is divided in to two groups.  The 18 mo - till the end of the year and the older nursery.  The first little boy was going to be going into nursery.  The leaders decided that they didn't want him to be alone, so anyone who was going to be turning 18 months in the next month could also go.  So we got Little Leo dressed up for his first day of nursery.  I was so excited for him.  I can't believe my baby is old enough to go to nursery.  

Looking very snazzy!  All Ready for Church!  

That first week was great!  He waved to us, walked in and was fine until the very end.  Unfortunately, the last few weeks haven't gone as great.  He knows what the room means... it means mom and dad are leaving me for two hours and there aren't even that great of toys in here.  He doesn't even like nursery at all.  In fact, he is a little bit scared of the church.  When I used to bring Leo to Young Women's on Wednesdays, he would go socialize with all the young women.  The other night though, he wouldn't leave my side.  He knew he was at the church and at the church there is the possibility of going into the dreaded room!  Oh help... if anyone has some suggestions of how to help our little boy like nursery we  would love to hear any of them.  Until then, I will love the fact that he loves me so much!

Easter Egg Hunt

 I love that Leo is getting a little bit older and we can take him to few more events.  This year for Easter we went to an Easter Egg Hunt at a  local church.  

This is Leo's best Friend Elsie  

I think the Balloon was his favorite part

Trip #4 - Atlanta to pick up OJHS

 I don't really consider Atlanta a big trip.  But Miss Belnap and Miss Kingman made a big trip from Provo UT to Auburn AL!  I still can't believe they actually came to visit me.  Ashley told me she was going to come over spring break.  She told me she was bring a surprise.  Camille Kingman was the Surprise.  I couldn't believe.  They caught me up on all the happenings of my old School Orem Junior and I taught them all about Southern Culture.  We had BBQ, I told them about football and tailgating,  we heard some accents and some yes ma'ams and yes sirs.

We toured campus  

We went to some historic sites including the first white house of the Confederacy  

 But I think what shocked them most of all was girls fashion.  Got to love the short running shorts and the baggy t-shirts.     Thanks so so much Camille and Ashley for coming.  I am so blessed to have such great friends.

Trip # 3: Memphis - twice

My sweet friend Katie was going to visit her sister and my friend Becki in Memphis.  Memphis is about 6  hours away.  I was quite excited to see my friends.  I had it on my calendar.  I was going to leave on Tuesday and come back on Thursday.  Tuesday came, I left, got there 6 hours later to find out I was a week early.  Yep!  Pretty embarrassing.  I hung out with Becki for a couple of hours, turned around and drove home so I could get some comfort from Allen.  I wasn't sure if Leo and I could face Memphis again, but I hadn't seen Katie in a year and a half and a lot had changed for her.  She was married and was expecting baby boy Braxton and well I needed to see my friend so happy and hear all about her life.  So Leo and I packed up again and drove to Memphis... again.  We had a fabulous time and it was worth both trips :)  

Leo and Aunt Katie 

Becki's youngest son is the same age as Leo.  They had a love hate relationship.  

Best Friends!  

Our little ones... Becki's two oldest were at school.  

We went to the Zoo in Memphis.  Leo loved the animals.  

Just as an update... this is Katie and her sweet husband  

And her new family!  I love her so much and I am so happy she is so happy.