1 down 3 to go!

We had our Stallone Christmas Eve Eve Strikes Back last night. Leah was in town from Chicago. She and I ran errands after dropping Claire off at preschool. Leah served as my chauffeur yesterday because I am still suffering from a viral eye infection that is distorting my vision and causing light sensitivity. So if you see me with sunglasses on inside or even at night - you'll know why. That's how I roll.

After preschool Leah and Claire took their nappy naps. Mike got the house ready and I wrapped for hours. Grandma and Grandpa Stallone, Dad and Pat, Dana, Denny, Brian and Tiffany and Aiden all came over and we stuffed ourselves silly with yummy appetizers and Grandpa Stallone's red sauce and meatballs recipe. I've been making it on Christmas Eve Eve for a few years now and I must say I'm getting pretty good at it!

Claire got tons of presents: princess tennis shoes that light up, a princess phone, tinkerbell car keys, snow boots, a really nice Raggedy Ann and Andy doll, Dr. Suess book, a piggy bank that makes noise when you 'feed' it money. Lots of cute clothes. It was a wrapping paper frenzy! Claire and Aiden played really well together and were so cute. It's so cool to watch them grow up together. They're buddies.

I was too busy to take pictures, so if you were there and you did - please email me some!

Sick of Being Sick

The Lowder House has just been full of sick, sicky, poo-faced, sick babies. It's been NO fun! It all started with Claire waking Aunt YaYa (that's Leah) up in the middle of the night at Nana and Pop's house the Friday night after Thanksgiving. She was writhing in pain because her tummy hurt and it freaked everyone out. After a call to her pediatrician's exchange, Mike, Nana and I packed up the car for the 20+ minute ride to the ER. I had to sit in the back with Claire because she was crawling out of her skin. It was horrible. After 5 or so hours in the pediatric ER, two x-rays and a CT scan later, appendicitis was ruled out. A viral gastrointenstinal infection was their best guess. She bounced back the next day playing with Jack and having fun. Sunday we drove home and she was still groovy. We decorated the tree and everything. Still smiling.

Monday she was a tired ballerina after her 2 1/2 hour long dance class. We rested. Tuesday I dropped her off at preschool. An hour later the nurse called and said she needed to be picked up because it appeared that she had pink eye. I had already scheduled her a follow up appointment with her pediatrician to check on her since the ER visit, so with Grammy's help she was picked up from school and sent to Dr. Terrill...where she was diagnosed with double pink-eye and a double ear infection. Two different antibiotics. I took the rest of the day off and we rested.

That was almost one week ago.

Since then she's been up almost every night with fevers of around 101 degrees. She wouldn't eat or drink until a couple of days ago. She finally requested macaroni and cheese on thursday night around 10:30 pm. And you know we made her some Macaroni and Cheese! Today her spirits were up and she was more like herself, thank god.

Meanwhile, I've been getting sicker and sicker. I called my doctor last tuesday for him to call in a prescription, it seemed as if i was getting a sinus infection. Felt horrible. During this sick den, Mike and I were still trying to work most of the week, but that was hard. This weekend I had a meltdown on the phone with my mom because we all had cabin fever in addition to actual fevers. I had to go to work but REALLY didn't want to because I was sick and exhausted and I knew Claire would probably give Mike a hard time. When I came back from work with my head absolutely pounding out of my skull - Mike told me that my parents had come to the house with some groceries! I almost cried. Sherbet, pasta and sauce, cereal, apple juice, etc. It was so thoughtful and appreciated! (But as Claire reports "no pizza"!)

I took her back to the pediatrician today. They think she's making slow and steady progress. On the drive there, I asked Claire if she hurt anywhere and she said "Moooom! You're not the doctor. You're just a mom." Hmph!

(Sound familiar Nana!?!?!?)

I am getting worse by the minute. I feel like I have Strep and am getting Claire's pinkeye. My glands are SO swollen I feel like I'm gonna die and my ears are killing me. I was running a low fever today and went back to my doctor. They switched my antiobiotic to a $50 version. So THIS one better be worth it!

I'm so exhausted. But I can't sleep. It makes no sense. I lay down dog tired and then I just toss and turn. When will this end? I have SO much to do this time of year. Selfishly - I'm bummed because we had to miss my work's holiday party and I had to cancel a potentially very cool Christmas Market show. I feel like everyone's sick of us being sick, but we're just not getting well fast enough. I'm supposed to work a full day tomorrow and can't even imagine running a support group at 6pm tomorrow night. ugh.

Please keep us in your prayers and feel sorry for us. Ok. I'm kidding about the last part.

And I better be well in time for my birthday!!! :)

Darndest Things

Mike told me this funny story about driving with Claire last night. "Claire thinks Tom Petty is singing 'Running Down A Drain'. I asked her what the song is about and she says 'Taking a bath and getting sucked down the drain'. Kids."

Our busy weekend

Fleur de Liz Designs did two craft shows this weekend. Friday night at the Incarnate Word Academy's "Girls Knight Out" event for Moms and Daughters. Saw Jeff's sister, Laurie there. Only sold one clock - but hey first clock sale. It was so cute. Sold it so fast I didn't get a chance to take a picture beforehand.

Saturday the family and I headed out to Boone Elementary in Wentzville. Didn't do very well in sales there either. Kinda discouraging. I can't tell if it's the economy, a poorly advertised craft show, or that my stuff just sucks. Should I go back to my day job?! Oh well, each show is a learning experience and I know what to do differently next time.

I'm starting to sell handpainted, personalized ornaments now. $8 each. I'll get pics up later.

Today I woke up and was supposed to have lunch with Tammy and Mary E. I was a bad niece/cousin and cancelled. I was just SO exhausted from this weekend. I looked outside and saw gloom, so I thought it would be fun to take Claire to see A Christmas Carol at the theater. We couldn't convince her to go - which is probably for the best. She's not fun to be around in a theater if she doesn't want to be there. But I was bummed. I LOVE going to the movies. So instead, we bought Mike some work clothes at Kohl's for his birthday. I also got Claire a cute Christmas jumper and a $5 Christmas song cd with artists like Death Cab for Cutie and Guster. Should be less nauseating than the typical Christmas music blasting the airwaves these days. Then we went to lunch at Red Robin - I do NOT recommend the turkey burger there. Disappointing. When we got home, we started a fire and it's been blazing all afternoon. Naps were taken, relaxing happened. Now Mike and Claire are starting a pot of mashed potatoes and I'm going to try a Martha Stewart recipe for Vinegar Glossed Chicken. Impressed yet?!

Spooky Preview

I took Claire (aka "Cheerleadow") to her school Halloween party last night. It served as a dry run for her costume that Uncle Mike and Aunt Tammy got her for her birthday. She had fun and can even do a cheer or two. The "pom pompts" were left at home in favor of the candy bag - you can tell where her priorities are! Candy!

Say what?!?

Claire and I were in the car the other morning getting ready to go to the library and rent a free movie. Part of our neighborhood is blocked off for tree cutting and I had to turn around and go the other way. Claire goes "We're taking a detour." Very matter-of-factly. I couldn't believe it! She told me she learned the word on Caillou. God I hate that show, but I love that it's serving as a thesaures!

Bugsy Eyes

This is Claire watching "Bedtime Stories" with Adam Sandler. For those of you that have caught this flick, it features a pet hamster (or guinea pig - i mean, what's the diff?!) with unusually gigantic, 'bugging' eyes = hence bugsy. Claire likes making this face upon request. Especially when she's trying to change the subject.