The End of June

We are always so busy during the summer months and last week was no different.  We did manage to squeeze in the last part of our 4 seasons art work :) Aylin said that doing the summer picture was not as fun as the others because "green is not her favorite color!"  I like how they turned out though, I just need to find a fun way to display them.  I want one of those old distressed window panes to put them in but they are pretty pricey, so we are going to have to find a cheaper way around it :)

The week started off with Hilton having a rash and us heading back to the doctor.  He was diagnosed with Roseola which explains the fever and the seizure he had the week before.  Roseola is one of those big childhood sicknesses that are known for causing febrile seizures. 

He also had his neurological appointment.  He passed the test and they said they see no reason to treat him any further, that his seizures are caused by a rapid onset of a high fever and we just need to be prepared for them.  He should grow out of them by the age of 5 or 6.  

Our story time was about an odd ball fish.  For the first time, the craft had coloring involved in it which Aylin despises; I can not get that girl to color, she just doesn't like it.  She did, however, like the fishing part :)

Our CHAOS(younger youth) group went to the $2 movies and then to Chik-fil-a for lunch.

We went to the annual Independence Day Bike Parade in Hernando with our church family.

And Hilton had his 1st BIRTHDAY PARTY!

the making of Hilton's smash cake:

the take homes:

 The kids all decorated cowboy hats and got bandanas and Hilton enjoyed his cake :)

We had horse races, a water gun shoot out, and played a game of horseshoes.

And we had a photo booth set up to take pictures of all the guests; here are the family members:

Aunt J, Uncle Richard, Cousins Payton and Macey Jo

the kids with Kiki (my mom)

and the kids with Nana and Daddy Jeff (Bobby's parents)

So I Was Feeling a Little Sentimental...

and looked back at photos from Aylin's 1st birthday party! AWE :)  So here are a few comparison shots of my kiddos:

(BIRTH)

Left: Aylin Jewel on the day we brought her home from the hospital, 3 days old.  She was 5 weeks early and weighed 5lbs14oz and went straight to the well baby nursery. 

Right: Hilton Isaiah on the day we brought him home from the hospital, 9 days old.  He was 3 weeks early, weighed 8lbs8oz, and had to send 9 days in the NICU.

(1st Birthday Invitation Pics)

Aylin weighed 19 lbs and 13 oz at her 12 month check-up.  She had 5 teeth and was crawling and pulling up, but not taking any steps.

Hilton currently weighs 24lbs and has 7 teeth.  He is crawling, but not pulling up just yet.

Tomorrow we go for his neurological appointment to discuss these seizures.  Prayers welcomed ;)

Hilton's 1st Birthday Week

My little guy has had a rough 1st birthday week :(  On Wednesday, the day before Hilton's birthday, we went down to Sardis Lake Christian Camp to visit daddy.  We were there for 1 hour when Hilton had his 2nd seizure.  His daddy was holding him this time when it happened and was able to get him into the nurses cabin.  At the time, I was with Aylin and some friends on the water slide when I was paged over the intercom.  I knew right away that Hilton had a seizure, one of those gut feelings.  Bobby had been sitting with some Southaven members when the seizure started and fortunately one of them was a nurse and knew to start timing without us asking.  When I got to them, Debra told me it had already been going on for a few minutes.  This seizure lasted for 7 1/2 minutes :(  His temperature after the seizure was 103 and we brought it down with ice packs.  It dropped to 100 when we left camp and headed back to Le Bonheur Children's hospital.  We had called 911 but since he quit seizing and was stable before they got there, we cancelled the call.  His temperature was back to 102 by the time we got to the hospital, but his blood work came back normal, so there was no infection.  His urine showed that he was borderline dehydrated, so they think the heat brought on this seizure.  This was unexpected and since this is the 2nd seizure in a month we were referred to a pediatric neurologist.  We have our first appointment with them next week.

Thankfully we were not alone this time and had lots of help.  Trey Bledsoe, Debra Gill, Shannon Rister, and Suzanne Wofford were right there with us making phone calls, providing the first aid help Hilton needed, and just being there for us.  I know countless others were praying and doing other things like watching over Aylin as well and we are so thankful for everyone.  Our ER doctor was actually the same one we had last time so it was nice having a familiar face at the hospital too.  We were there until almost midnight.  So Hilton's actual birthday started off with a trip home from the hospital.

 After a few hours of sleep we woke up and had birthday cake with our little birthday boy before daddy had to head back to camp.

 Then we had to take a trip to the pediatrician for a follow-up appointment.  Hilton loved watching the construction workers through the window :)  This appointment again showed no infection.

 Because it had been a rough couple of days, I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and he loved it!

While all the excitement was happening, Aylin got to have A LOT of fun :)  She stayed at camp until late Weds night and then went home with the Risters for a long awaited sleepover :)  Then on Thursday they rode the 4 wheeler, went to lunch, and went swimming!  I didn't think she would want to come home, but she was worn out and ready to relax.  Although, she is already planning her next sleepover with Griffin, Reed, Annalise, and Shannon!

Before the seizure, we were having a really good week.  Aylin and I made healthy cookies with oatmeal, bananas, choc chips, and honey.  She did not care for them, but Hilton and I liked them :)

 I had to share this pic of HI playing in Aylin's kitchen while she and I were cooking.  He dumps out the buckets of kitchen toys and puts them in the cabinets and or back into the different buckets :) Love my sweet little boy!

 I guess Aylin was a little jealous of all of Hilton's sleeping beauty pictures from last week, so she fell asleep during Sunday evening worship and slept all the way through, so afterwards I was able to take this picture of my sleeping princess :)

 We had a great time at the education store's story time with the Woffords and Risters and here is a picture of this week's craft:

 Last but not least, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to our favorite daddy!  You are awesome and we love you.  We are so proud of you and can't wait for you to come home from camp tomorrow! :)

A Week of Ups and Downs

BUTTERCUP 

8/12/2002-6/14/2013

The second week of June brought sadness with it as we had to say goodbye to our beloved Buttercup.  We bought Buttercup as a wedding present from a breeder in Chattanooga and knew she was a keeper from the very beginning.  She was so loving and brave, she just left her family and came right over to see us like she knew we were there to take her home.  She loved going for rides in our vehicles, although that first one was a little rough...she threw up all over the inside of Bobby's truck while we were coming around the mountains-lol.  Buttercup loved to eat and play, she was a master of the Boxer Burn, frisbee catcher, family protector, bed hog, giving kisses, and a giant lap dog.  She never wanted to be alone; always wishing to be with her family.  She stayed in the perfect health until we lost our Tessie to cancer back at Thanksgiving.  Buttercup truly lost her best friend and sister and never recovered from the devastation.  It reminds me of one of my favorite childhood books, Where the Red Fern Grows, when Little Ann mourns herself to death after Old Dan died.  When Tes first got sick, we knew our Dub wouldn't be far behind.  Aylin keeps talking about getting another dog, and I do want one, but I just don't know how long it will take me to move on.  I know you non-dog-lovers don't understand but she was our 1st baby and the best dog anyone could ever ask for.

There were plenty of good things that happened this week.  Everyone is healthy and happy, other than the loss of Buttercup.  

We had 3 SWIM DAYS this week :)  I wanted to share this pic of Aylin, it was actually taken the last day of her swim lessons.  Hilton LOVES the water :)  He likes to splash everyone and of course he loves to eat snacks after swimming ;) He went to town on this watermelon!

Hilton also had his 1st popsicle, and it was from the ice cream man!  At one of daddy's games this week it was SOOO incredibly hot so we splurged and bought ice cream off the ice cream man's van :)  The kids thought it was great!  I thought it was a HUGE mess, but oh well :)

I love sleeping babies :) I'm not sure why I took 2 shots of Hilton napping this week, but isn't he adorable :)

We went back to story time at the education store, and this time the Rister's surprised us :)  The kids made Father's day cards for their craft :)

Hilton finally went back to physical therapy this week and he is now 2 for 2!  After his 1st trip to PT he crawled for the 1st time.  1 day after his 2nd trip to PT he rolled over (from his back) and actually tried to pull-up.  He didn't get it, but it is a start and the first time he put these different actions together on his very own!