Oh, Tuesday

This week went a little crazy as some of you know via facebook. I guess technically it probably started Monday but I wasnt on top of my game so it wasnt truly discovered until Tuesday. Anyway, Tuesday morning I was a little concerned about Parker. his breathing seemed a little fast but he had struck a fever the night before. He was having coughing fits Monday night too but the fever is was got me worried. Wasnt even super high, 100.7. So I did some looking online and I was starting to think maybe he had pneumonia. I called the pediatrician to see if he could get in. sure enough, in like an hour. I cancelled my appointment with my VTs because I didnt think wed be back in time. So we head to the doctor. P is warm and breathing a little quick but mostly acting normal. So I wasnt too concerned. After they listened to his breathing, did a pulse oxygen thing and some blood work, the Doctor basically said I'm a bad mother. "This is an emergency! He's in respiratory distress! you should have taken him to the ER!" Well I didnt know. he was breathing harder yes, but this kid as allergies. he gets congested. its hard to breathe with lots of snot! so again, didnt think too much of it. After they gave him a breathing treatment, which he protested but later fell asleep during it, and listened to his breathing again, the Dr said she was worried his oxygen would drop again and wanted us to go straight to the Kosair childrens hospital ER. okay sure. no problem. To give you some stats, P's breaths per minute were at 70, they are supposed to be at 30. His blood oxygen levels were about 91. they are supposed to be like 99-100. His blood cell count was fine. Tested positive for RSV. Oh and he had a fever 100.7 and the Dr said he had an ear infection too. sweet. After the breathing treatment though it brought him down to 60 bpm and his blood ox to 93.

so off to the ER we went. P was acting even more like himself by this point. He ate some applesauce and was just jabbering away in the backseat. We got signed in and pretty much had enough time to run to the bathroom and then they were ready for us.

He looks so sad and pathetic here. you can definitely see hes a little rosy.

when we got back to the room there was like 3-4 different people doing different things to him. Had someone hooking of the blood oxygen monitor on his toe then taking a bum temp, 102.2. Someone getting his gown on. someone checking his ears and listening to his breathing. Someone prepping for a nasal cleaning (dont know the technical name) that was the worse for me though. oh, ER Dr veto'd the ear infection. but back to the nasal congesting. they had to stick a tiny suction tube down his nose. his arms had to be pinned above his head. they suctioned the back of his throat too. that was the worst! it made him gag and that previously spoken of applesauce resurfaced. not going to lie, I teared up doing this this. he just hated it so much. but it did help open him up and able to breath better. They gave him some meds for his fever and just kind of let him chill. They were so good to him though. The second he was on the bed they had cars playing on the tv for him. After they were done with the nasal thing they even brought him in some toys to entertain him.

They decided to go ahead and give him another breathing treatment to see how itd go. It did help. they just kind of let us chill some more to see if he calmed down and things started clearing up. Every time someone came in to listen to his breathing he would cry. he didnt want them touching him. obviously that makes it hard to accurately listen to his normal breathing.

listening to cars through the remote. he kind of enjoyed  that.

it was amazing how much he perked up even after the medicine kicked him. he was smiling at the RT and the nurse. he was totally back to normal, personality wise. after his breathing calmed the Dr ordered a chest xray for a little rumbling in his lungs. He did okay with that until they moved the pillow thing he was on, i think it just scared him plus those ladies' hands were freezing!! shortly after that we were told he did have pneumonia and would get a script for that. the RT came in and taught me how to use the breathing machine and signed some papers then we were good to go. not without playing on the truck agian though of course.

Poor P missed his nap time and just crashed when we started yo gabba.

So we had to do treatments every 4 hours all night! it was hard on me. P did okay even though it ended up waking him up every time. what a champ. This is the treatment, Bubbles the Fish. Hes not wearing it even though it looks like it, I'm just holding it.

The next day we had a follow up with the pediatrician. This is the main dr at the practice, the one previously in a new addition. This lady could tell just by looking at him that he was doing WAY better. stats were 28 bpm, 97 blood ox, and 98.6 temp. completely normal. its like nothing ever happened. she still has us doing breathing treatments a couple times a day and as needed. He has about a week left on his antibiotics for the pneumonia.

waiting to see the dr on follow up day. looks pretty normal huh.

but P knows how to use the machine for breathing treatments. wednesday after we finished up and figured out how to turn on the machine. once he did that he held it up to his mouth and sat there. haha no meds were in it though.

don't report me to cps, he climbed in himself, I wasnt even in the room. but proof this kid is feeling better.

just in case you didnt notice from before, you can tell a health difference just by looking at his belly. left: in the ER, right: dr follow up.

honestly I cant believe any of this happened. I still feel horrible that I probably could have prevented all of this. well, alot of it anyway had I gone with my gut on monday that something was off. but I didnt know what I was looking for. I was in contact with my brother (er resident) and he helped me feel a little better. he said 100% of kids will have RSV by the time  they are 3. no matter what. 100%. But P was a total BOSS through all of this. he bounced back like a champ too. Hes starting to fit the breathing treatments now, I think he finds them unnecessary because he feels so much better.

Christmas time '12

this year was our year to have christmas in Arizona. Phoenix is one of the few destinations out of Louisville Airport that has a direct flight through southwest! So we got super lucky and even the times were pretty awesome this trip! We did have to wake Parker up a little early but he was great! Poor kid was in the process of getting a cold too so he coughed alot on the plane

Loved watching the planes drive by and of course point out EVERY truck!

After landing and getting our bags, we went with Drews parents to In-n-out and met up with Clint there.  Drew was in heaven. said it was even better than he remembers it. I couldnt even finish mine. it doesnt do it for me. then the trek down to Coolidge. The first two days were a little hard just because Parker was kind of sick, only wanted Drews mom but didnt like how she did things so he threw a lot of fits, but he didnt want me or to listen to me. so it was a little stressful but we did get in a groove and all went okay.

As you know, Parker loves cars and trucks. Pretty much anything that moves. They found some old tractor and dump truck that Drew used to play with and he was in heaven! This little car he thought he could get into. haha. It was just funny to watch him keep trying to get his foot in there.

Maybe Thursday of the trip, a couple of Drews cousins came down to chill and have dinner! I knew them from Oklahoma before I even met Drew, so it was like hanging out with old friends.

(Ruth Ann:Drews mom, Lauren: cousin, Courtney: cousin taylors wifes, and me)

On Friday we drove up to Mesa to meet up with some friends. Sadly, pretty much everything fell through so we just hung out with my aunt and uncles family, The binghams. which we didnt mind, they were basically my stand-in parents when we lived in Mesa.

My aunt Karen who is now Grandma Karen to Parker, drove him around on this awesome tractor

Saturday Drew and I actually went back up to Mesa for a few  things. Remember that scholarship Drew got last year? It was the University of Louisville Alumni Assc Arizona Chapter that awarded him with this scholarship, which they extended into this year as well. Anyway, they wanted to have a get together to meet Drew since they hadnt actually met him. Plus meet up with some other folks as well. One of which had to be Drews friend (as I like to call him, boyfriend) JT for lunch at one of our favorite mexican restaurants, Mattas. which sadly, disappointed me on taste. we can talk more on that later. Just look at this kid, he was soo excited to see his buddy. 

Lets back up though, we ended up getting to Mesa a little early and needed to pick up a gift for a family party later so we hit up Walmart and Bass Pro. BUT before we went in, Drew surprised me with an early christmas present. He had booked a massage for me before we even left Kentucky! HUUUUGE husband points. So after lunch, we met up with the Alumni which happened to be next door, but I had to excuse myself for my massage. Sad to say the therapist struggled, but since it was at the place I used to work, the owner hooked it up and got me in for another massage the following week. Still, HUUUUGE points for Drew for makin it happen.

Later that night was the Solomon Christmas Party. I was a little worried about staying too long because of the time difference (I kept P on Louisville time the whole trip) and still having to drive back to Drews parents house. We did take a pack-n-play just in case.

He was sooo good at the party! Parker loved aunt Carolines dog. He was just this little lapdog and Parker was always concerned with where he was. Samson (the dog) was right at the perfect level to steal food from Parker. P would offer him food then put it in his own mouth. Samson wasnt following Parker around, Parker was following Samson. the whole night! sadly I didnt get a picture of it.

spinning the train ornament on the tree

There is always a cousin gift exchange and this year there was a  dirty santa/white elephant as well. there was an extra present so Parker was able to pick a gift. and since he was last to pick, he stood in the middle of the circle and everyone held up their gifts for him to see. He looked around and decided on a yellow screwdriver (of all things) I said something like he's a real man and we laughed at his choice. He turned towards everyone and held his yellow screwdriver up in the air (in the motion of a fist pump) and said YEAHHHH!!! sooo hilarious!

On Christmas Eve, drews mom had to work and the boys decided to all get together and go shooting.

Here's the gang that went, minus courtney who was taking the picture. they love their guns

So that left me, P, and Drew's youngest sis Laura at home. We just played and decided to walk to the park down the street since it was like 64 degrees outside. I think this picture is so funny. P wanted his shoes and socks on before hed let me put his pants on

He stole some kids football and just loved holding it while swinging

P and Lolly

Christmas morning:

Parker prefers to eat cereal from the box. I even tried putting it straight from the box and putting it on the table and he still preferred eating it from the box.

We got WAY too much for christmas! Parker didnt do so great with wanting to open presents, but the second he could tell what it was, he wanted it right then! He lacked a little patience with having to get things from the box.

loving his new train!

That afternoon we got together with the Williams side of the family (drews moms side) for their tradition mexican christmas dinner. tamales, tostadas, burritos, posole. Alot of people in a very small house. Remember, these are the guys who LOVE guns, so there were lots being packed around. haha. it just makes me laugh. Parker wasnt diggin sitting down to eat so he and I spent a lot of time outside in the backyard or playing in the van being anti-social. 

Had to grab a picture with Taylor and Courtney before they headed to the airport to head home. look at P's face. haha

Had to get one with Clint and Alexis before they headed home too. P.S. she had her baby! but sadly after we came back to Louisville.

and of course, had to finish off the family with Lauren and Tanner.

On the 26th, Drew and I went back up to Mesa. Had to go back for my make up massage, which was MUCH better by the way. After we went back by the Binghams because my Grandpa Harris was in town from Idaho.

After we met up with some friends at one of my favorites, Oreganos. Again, super disappointed. Who would have thought the day after christmas would be soooo busy! It took forever to get in and get our food. I think we had been there 2 hours by the time we actually were able to eat. 

Bobbie and Sam! 

Clint and Alexis came too!!

Meanwhile, back in Coolidge

These were Drews boots when he was little that apparently he was obsessed it!

the next day we headed home. Stood in line at curbside check for over and hour! luckily Phx airport has a family security line and no one was ahead of us. So pretty much by the time we got to the gate it was time to board. Again, we had another straight through flight. P was so great again the plane! He just loved to sit on Drews lap and watch movies. 

Less then 24 hours after getting back to Louisville, we repacked into a smaller bag and headed to my parents. We did christmas with them when we got there. P seemed more interested this time with actually opening his gifts. but he was still lacking patience once he got it open. he wanted to play with it that second!

It was a pretty chill visit. Lots of relaxing. Drew of course went shooting a couple times. My mom spoiled up with lots of homemade goods. Including these lovelies! 

P's big gift from my parents this year was a toybox that my dad made. Its pretty fancy! It has a rolling shelf in it for P since he is too little still to reach the bottom. Parker really likes to play inside of it. 

calling da-yee.

Christmas Break was great! We were lucky to miss all of the snow that hit louisville. the first time we were in Arizona. The next time it snowed we were at my parents and they didnt get any. I missed alot of things that happened and little details here and there. but that is the bulk of the break. I failed and getting pictures of P with his solomon grandparents and his great grandparents! I really need to get better at that! sorry for the novel!

Glasses

Parker loves glasses. He always points them out when I'm wearing them (which is usually everyday we're hanging around the house). He'll take them off me and puts them on himself. You should hear him say glasses, it's adorable and actually pretty clearly said. He has some cheap sunglasses that he popped a lens out so those are now his "glasses" since I'm pretty sure he'd break mine. And he can't afford to replace them.

Zoo take 2

So Monday was amazzzzzing weather here in good 'ole Kentucky! Like 70. not too shabby for December. So clearly we had to take advantage of that so P and I headed to the zoo. I decided to try and go in the morning before the nap this time. It worked pretty darn good. It wasnt too hot yet, low-mid 60s. A few of the exhibits were being cleaned so some of the animals werent out but we still had fun.

might be hard to tell, thats a baby giraffe on the left. 

back to the hippie van. still loved it

The inside exhibit was being cleaned so there were like 5 huge gorillas outside and pretty active. They kept coming up to the window. We even saw one clap for a trainer. Super cute!

so over by the bear exhibit there is a truck. the cab is outside and the bed of the truck is in the exhibit.

While Parker was "Driving" the polar bear came out from nowhere and climbed into the back of the truck! (looking for hidden fish I think) I stood Parker up so he could look out the back window and he started screaming. Like excited screaming.

this was the Polar Bear's face at parker for screaming! I thought the whole thing was pretty cool!

He even got to play at the playground this time! After that it was naptime so we were outta there.

 Hopefully we'll get some more warmer days to be able to go back! 

Beloved car

I don't know why, but this child LOVES to play in the car! I mean LOVES! while we were at my parents, if Parker wasnt asking to go see the tractor he wanted to go 'buh bye'. And you couldnt fool that kid by giving him some random keys. Oh he knew which keys would start grandma's car. He spent a LOT of time in the garage playing in the car.

He now even has to "drive" the car before we leave the YMCA to come home.

one thing he likes to do is turn the music up super loud, like too loud for even adult ears, and dance

(rockin out to daddy aka city knights)

then its always a good time when we get the whole family to play in the car.

kind of a longer video with not tons of excitement, but its pretty much like this everytime we get in the car