Emmy Writing Her Name

Emmy has been learning how to write her name.  With all of our spare time in the hospital last week, I tried to pass the time with her in the cafeteria & at home by practicing her name. 
She came home from daycare with a couple of art projects yesterday.  She wanted me to know that this should be placed on her bedroom door.  :)

Erin - RSV - Christmas

Well, it wouldn't be a normal holiday in our family without one of our family members getting sick.  Poor Erin got sick on Friday the 16th with what we thought was the flu.  She then came down with a bad cold.  She had a fever all weekend that spiked up to 103.1 and she wouldn't eat anything all weekend. 

Brad brought her into the clinic on Monday the 19th.  The doctor just said she had a bad cold & an ear infection.  She said her fever would go away and she should start feeling better by Wednesday and then they sent him home with a perscription.

We just knew there was something else going on.  She certainly wasn't acting herself and she remained lethargic all day.  She continued to have a fever and hadn't eaten a thing since Friday (the 16th).  We couldn't even get her to look at us.  She would just lay around and stare off into the distance.  We monitored her all night and then Brad brought her back into the clinic on Tuesday (I was at work). 

We thankfully got her regular pediatrician this time.  She checked Erin's oxygen levels & took x-rays of her chest.   Erin's oxygen levels were in the mid to low 80s (normal should be 100%)  and her chest x-ray came back showing pneumonia on her right side.  (about this time is when I arrived from work)  They continued to give her some nebulizer treatments & oxygen to see if her levels would come back up.  It helped a little bit, but her levels continued to dip back down afterwards. 

Her doctor thought it would be best to send her to Children's hospital, but she had to go by ambulance to receive oxygen during the ride there.

Brad rode along with her in the ambulance while Emmy and I followed in my car.  We sat in the Emergency Room for another couple of hours while Erin got treated/tested.  Her E.R. doctor was wonderful about explaining everything going on.  He did admit her into the hospital because of her oxygen levels alone, but Erin was also very dehydrated.  I also mentioned to the doctor that she was a preemie.  Preemies are more susceptible of getting respiratory infections.  They tested Erin for RSV, put in an IV and then admitted her into the hospital. 

During the hospital stay Erin had short bursts of energy that tended to wipe her out pretty quickly. She tested positive for RSV which doctors told us probably brought on the pneumonia.  She developed a rash and continued to be treated for her double ear infection.  Her fever remained all week until Friday.  She didn't eat anything until Thursday - almost a week from when she started getting sick. She got fluids and antibiotics through her IV.  

The doctors told us that she had to breathe on her own (without the help of oxygen) for 24 hrs AND have oxygen levels into the 90s before she would get discharged.  They tried weaning her off the oxygen a few times & also spaced out her neb treatments to every four hours but eventually had to go back to her previous routine. 

Erin became very irritable in the hospital.  By Friday she was starting to get sick of being in her room and stuck in her crib.  She didn't want me to look at her & she wasn't happy with the nurses that came into her room.
We eventually got approval to take Erin for a wagon ride around the 6th floor.  Erin really loved being out of her room and anytime we got close to her room she would freak out and point to go the other way. 

Daddy stayed with Erin in the hospital all week while I stayed home with Emmy and made several trips up to the hospital.  My mom came up to help watch Emmy too so that both Brad & I could be there with Erin. 
Erin was a daddy's girl before but now she's really attached at the hip with all their bonding this past week.  If you thought it was bad before how much Erin tugged on Brad's leg...it's way worse now!

Emmy was not allowed to go up to Erin's room.  The hospital had a strict policy about any kids under the age of five.  However, on Christmas Eve our nurse had told us if we could sneak Emmy past security, she could allow her up to Erin's room for a few minutes.  We ended up doing the same thing on Christmas Day. 

The doctor finally gave us approval to go home on Christmas Day!   I think the next holiday will be celebrated a little bit early in our family since we tend to get sick on those occasions.  Also, I think I will just have the ambulance follow us during the next holiday.  Just kidding. :)

These were both taken when she was starting to feel a little bit better.

Children's Choir

Emmy sang in the children's choir at church yesterday.  They sang three songs.  How precious!!  She did pretty good, but was a little shy I think.

She's right in front with the pink dress.

 

Santa

Santa had to hide around the corner and then the girls got comfortable playing with some toys that they brought out.  Erin was having a fit.  Santa snuck back in the picture without Erin knowing. 

I had been prepping Emmy for a few weeks before our appointment.  I told her that Santa was a nice man and that he brings presents to all the good girls and boys.  I told her that if she wanted to see her cousins Maya, Madi & Shelby, she would have to sit with Santa.  A little bribery doesn't hurt. 

Santa asked Emmy what she wanted for Christmas.  She said, "A toothbrush."  I think she remembers him from last year.  He handed out toothbrushes to all the kids. 

Weekend News

Our church has this great event called "Parent Night Out" once a month.  Parent Night Out is a great opportunity for us to get out while safe child care is provided for our children. It’s a great chance for our kids to strengthen their faith through awesome and exciting faith-based activities.


Brad and I decided to take advantage of it because we haven't really been on a date in a very long time.  I was amazed at how many parents take advantage of this event.  There must have been over 60 kids at the church.  The event is from 6:00 - 10:00 and the parents are free to do whatever they choose.  The church suggests $10 per child but you can donate whatever you would like. 
Erin spent her time in the nursery while Emmy got to make crafts and watch a movie with kids her age. 
Brad and I went to a movie at the cheap theater.  There wasn't really anything worth watching at the other theater down the street.  We actually spent less money for two tickets, popcorn and pop than it would have cost for one ticket at the more expensive theater down the street.  
We are both looking forward to doing this again next month!  The kids really loved it!

On Saturday we went shopping for a mattress and box spring for Emmy's room.  Her crib is a convertible and is currently set up as a toddler bed.  It converts to a full size bed.  We want to get her into a "Big Girl" bed and also in hopes that she will stop coming into our room at night. 
Looking back, I would have just converted from a crib to a full size bed now knowing how expensive the conversion kits cost, etc. 

After shopping at a few places, we decided to purchase from Sears.  They had the best deal...But, we can't pick it up until next Friday. 

We are slowly getting her room redecorated.  Brad painted her room last week.  We went from a pale yellow to a pale pink and have added a few pink accessories.  I will take pictures as soon as we get everything finished.

Emmy is excited about her new room.  She shows everyone that comes to the house.  We got her some new fuzzy sheets for her full size bed and we are trying them out on her toddler bed.  So far she has stayed in her bed two nights in a row.  Yesterday morning, she didn't want to get out of her bed.  She said, "Mommy, I'm warm in here.  I don't want to get out of bed." 

On Sunday we went to church.  Emmy's class is singing during the service next Sunday, so we are looking forward to watching that. 

We also did some Christmas shopping this weekend.  I've found some good deals on toys this year.  I haven't wrapped anything yet because I'm sure the girls will try to open them as soon as I put them under the tree. 

E...M...M...Y

Emmy:  "Mommy, Hadley's name starts with an 'H' and Nathan's name starts with an 'N.'"  (daycare friends)
Me:  "What does your name start with?"
Emmy:  "Mine starts with an E.     E...M...M...Y" (spelling her name)
Me:  "Wow Emmy, you spelled your name!!!  Good Job!  WooHoo!"
She's been starting to write her name now for a few months.  She can write the 'E' and 'Y' pretty good. 

She also knows all of her letters in the alphabet.  If I wear something that has letters on it, she will point to each letter and say them out loud.  The other day I had a Monte Mohawk t-shirt on so she spelled out M-o-h-a-w-k and then we shouted "Let's go Mohawks!"

She knows her left from her right and puts on her own shoes (on the right feet too).  :)
The other day she was trying to tie a pair of shoes. 

Talking

Erin is saying more words as each day comes and goes.  Just in the last few days she has added Santa, Emmy, Dog and Wow to her list of words.  She's trying hard every day!!  Woohoo! 

Hockel Christmas

We celebrated Christmas with grandma Bev in St. James this weekend.  It was also her birthday! 
In the afternoon the girls made personal bracelets while the men played cribbage.  We then had our annual prime rib dinner, which is always yummy, followed by gift opening.  

Grandma Bev gave all of her grand kids a special book called Heaven is for Real.  It's a true story of a four-year old boy of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room.  We will enjoy reading the book.  I've started reading it already.

It's always fun to get together with family.  We sure did miss grandpa Bernie, but I know he was with us in spirit.

The kids all had so much fun playing together.  It's just fun to sit back and watch them play and hear their giggles. 

I asked Emmy on the way home what her favorite part about the weekend was and she said, "Maya, Madi & Shelby." 

Our Family of Four.

 Deb & Jerry's family.

Grandma Hockel's Great Grand kids:

Shelby holding Elivia, Wyatt, Maya, Emmy, Madi, Erin, Max and Jayde-Alexis.