Spring Is Here!

Tris with Mimi's birthday cake she helped bake & decorate

Jackson on his first horseback ride...he was amused, specifically enthralled with the helmet!

Daddy & Tris at preschool...

We have had a fun yet eventful past few months! After the circus we had several fun events like a birthday party where Tris and Jackson got to each ride a horse, twice! Both kids were fascinated by the idea of it all. They were also lucky enough to brush a mini-horse and donkey and decorate them both with dozens of hairbows. Of course Tris took that job very seriously =) There was also Dad's Day at Tris' preschool where Josh got to go in and create several crafts and eat donuts with Tris. They both had a nice time together, however Josh was going off of about 4 hours of sleep, showing his dedication as a father but getting up and going anyway. 

The first half of March was lots of fun, but the despite it all, we spent a lot of time in preparation for Tris' tonsillectomy, which was on March 19th. In the days leading up to the surgery Mommy was quite nervous about the whole ordeal. I had already rescheduled the surgery twice because of so. We did everything we could beforehand to prepare Tris and make sure she would be comfortable during her recovery time. The surgery went off without a hitch and Tris made an awesome recovery. During her last surgery Daddy went back into the OR to comfort her while she was being put under, so I only felt it was fair that I did it this go-round. That was hands down the worst experience I have EVER had in my entire life. She was absolutely terrified and so was I, but I tried to stay strong and calm. It wasn't until after I left her sight that it really hit me and the tears started flowing. Luckily I had my amazing husband waiting just a few feet away who was there to comfort me. We were all on edge the entire time she was away from us, but we did not have any reason to be. When she came back into the recovery room the first thing she asked for was her chapstick! We knew from then on out that everything was going to be fine, not even surgery could phase the love between a girl and her chapstick ;) The ENT said her tonsils were so big and deep, some of the biggest he has ever seen. The nurses told us it could take weeks for her to fully recover and quit snoring, but since that day she never has. Her voice changed quite significantly which was quite weird at first, but she still sounds like her cute self. Her sleeping habits have improved greatly, no more night sweating, snoring and dark circles under her eyes! I am so thankful to have gone through with the surgery and almost wish we would have done it a little earlier.

Shortly after Tris' surgery both kids came down with a cold which hung around for several days. Tris missed a few more days of school. I think she was out for an entire month when it was all said and done. The kids have not been staying very healthy recently. I do not understand why they are coming down with so many illnesses, but it is definitely the first time in a while that we have all been sick continously. About three weeks ago both kids came down with a weird illness where they were vomitting in the middle of the night, around 3-4am every single night. They would have upset stomach's during the day, but no vomitting. I spoke to the nurses at their Peds practice several times and even took them in once. They had nothing more to say than how bad they felt for me having to deal with it all. Needless to say, mommy was a wreck for about a week and a half. With the nighttime wakings and nightly changing of the sheets (sometimes two & three times!) I quickly got worn out. Luckily a great friend of the family offered her assistance and instructed us on how to naturally boost their immune systems...it worked like a charm and they got better with a day and a half! I am praying that this family does not experience anything remotely close to that experience for a very, very long time!

The weekend after the sickness finally ended, Josh and I both had bachelor/bachelorette weekends to attend for his brother who is getting married in two weeks. The boys went camping and to the Nascar race in Talladega and the ladies hit up Helen in a beautiful cabin for the weekend. I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed a weekend to myself, as it isn't often that I get to do things like that. We will be busy over the next two weeks tying up loose ends for the wedding. We are all very excited, as our entire family is participating! 

This was meant to be a hefty update, but due to whiny children who will not leave mommy alone...it must end for now =)