Back Again!

We came back home from the lake for the New Year's Weekend.  Kamdyn and Karcie both had friends over to play.  They had such a great time!  Shortly after everyone left, Karcie laid down on the couch and fell right to sleep just after dinner.  Ugh!!  Her fever was back 4 days later.  Clearly she was having trouble fighting off this terrible virus that would. not. go. away.  

At 7:40 on Friday night, I looked up the closest Urgent Care.  It closed at 8:00.  The following day was New Year's Eve and I knew that would be a terrible day to be seen by a doctor.  Karcie was miserable and crying by the time that we got there at 7:55.  The doctor didn't see anything in her throat, ears, chest, etc.  It was a mysterious fever.  The doctor prescribed an antibiotic due to the history that I gave of this ridiculous virus that wouldn't end.  We started the antibiotic immediately.  Karcie was feeling a little bit better the following day.....thankfully!

Check Ups!

These two were overdue for their check-ups this year.  Luckily, I was able to take them at the same time.  I had prepared Karcie for the shots that I knew she would get.  And she took them like a champ!  You truly just never know what to expect with these kiddos.  Both girls are as healthy as can be and for that I am thankful!

Sweet Sisters!

Crazy face!

This is what I think about shots!!

Playing Golf One Day.....Sick the Next

I am WAY behind on this blog.  Somehow as I attempt to catch up, these posts are going to make me sad.  I will think of what my Daddy was doing as we were here carrying on with our lives.  I don't really have regrets because how could I have known what was to come?  But, I do wish I had packed everyone up to see him every second that I could have.  If only I had known.....

Karcie was playing outside with the neighbors one day.  She was having a ball hitting golf balls with Mr. Brian.

Within 24 hours she was running a fever without any other symptoms and watching out the window as her friends played outside.

Her fever started out as low grade and eventually creeped it's way up to 103 by 9:00 PM.

This was the last reading that I got under her arm....I've always heard to add a degree under the arm.  I started to panic.  I ran next door to my wonderful neighbors house to see what they thought I should do.  Richard was out-of-town.  They helped me find an after hours clinic that was open until 10:00 PM.  I loaded my baby up in to the car and Colleen and Brian offered to keep Kamdyn for me.  They are such awesome people, friends, and neighbors!  We found out that she had strep throat, but only after thinking that she had hand, foot, and mouth.  I was happier with the strep verdict.  We stopped by the drive through at Wal-Greens at 10:30 PM.  She got a dose of meds in her and was almost feeling up to her usual self by morning.

Hanging out in the bed with Mommy.

Doesn't everyone with strep throat hula hoop the morning after?

This girl was feeling better in no time which made this Mama happy.  I can't stand to see my babies sick.  It simply breaks my heart and I panic.  I am a worrier!  What can I say?

Yucky Pollen and Awful Colds!!

Luckily, we escaped the Winter months without the girls being sick.  As soon as Spring officially sprung, so did the pollen and colds.  Kamdyn started with a high fever and terrible cough.  After complaining of her chest hurting for a couple of hours, I made an appointment and took her to the doctor.  With Kamdyn's history of wheezing, the doctor was glad that I brought her in.  She said it was viral, but sent us home with an albuterol inhaler for when Kamdyn seems to wheeze or have a hard time breathing.  Lo and behold, a day later, little sister had a fever and the same old yucky cough.  BLAH!!  We dosed them up on Tylenol to get us through Easter.  The following week, Kamdyn had her 8-year-check-up. Her cough was still kind of yucky.  The doctor listed to her again and heard some weird noises.  She diagnosed Kamdyn with walking pneumonia and this time we left with an antibiotic to clear up her lungs.  Thankfully, the doctor listened to Karcie as a courtesy and said her lungs/breathing were fine.  I hope this is the last of our sickness for the Spring and Summer.  We have too many fun things to do to be stopped by some yucky virus!!  

The pollen on our front sidewalk.  YUCK!!

I. Love. This. Smile.

This was my attempt to keep the doctor's office in one piece while we were waiting for Kamdyn to be seen.

You can see the twinkle in her eye!!  It's always there.  She's forever looking for something to get in to!!

Poor Sick Kamdyn

Kamdyn has been coughing for over a week.  She didn't feel bad. We just thought it was seasonal allergy drainage.  WRONG!  She got worse.  Bring on the fever, nasty nose, the goopiest/runniest eyes I've ever seen and you have one sick little Kamdyn.  After Day #2 of fever and complaints of stopped up ears, I finally took her to the doctor.  Wouldn't you know all of that junk turned into an ear infection.  We are on Day #3 out of school.  She's watched more TV than one child should, but it's about all that she feels like doing.  Here's hoping that she gets to go back to school tomorrow!!  Go AWAY nasty cold!!  We hope this is our only sickness this Fall and Winter.  We can only hope.....

Loving Sissy at the doctor's office.

Poor Kamdyn couldn't even show a grin.  

Kamdyn's First Doctor's Visit in Apex

We loved our pediatrician in North Augusta.  Dr. Foushee was great!  We asked around about peds here and chose one that is in Apex.  Many travel to Raleigh, Cary, etc., but we wanted one that was close to home.  After researching the doctors and their credentials, I chose Dr. Johnson at Apex Peds.  She actually went to the Medical College of Georgia (now GRU) and lived in Augusta for a while.  

We were really pleased with her and the office in general.  We were seen very quickly.  Everyone was friendly and Dr. Johnson was super patient and nice.  She sat down with us, gave us plenty of attention, and actually listened to Kamdyn.  Turns out, she actually trained with Dr. Foushee when she was in Augusta.  Small World?  I think so!

Kamdyn was thrilled that she didn't have to get her fingered pricked, but shuttered when Dr. Johnson uttered the words "shot" for an additional Hepatitis A vaccine.  She said we could wait, but I chose to get it over with so I didn't have to listen to Kamdyn agonize over it for another year.  :)  She did fine after a few tears!

Kamdyn weighed 48 lbs which is 37% 

(She's still skinny as a rail and has always been around the 30th percentile for weight)

Her height was 48.5 inches which is 59% 

(This surprised me because she's always been in the 90th percentile for height and everyone always comments on how tall she is.)

Her BMI was 14.3 which is 23%

.....again, a skinny little thing and I PROMISE we feed her.  This girl LOVES some junk food!  :)

So pleased that our first visit went well.  Round 2 with Karcie is the day after her birthday, May 28. 

Karcie is FOUR months old!

Karcie had her four month check-up last Wednesday.  Our girl is healthy as can be.  In fact, the doctor was quick to tell us that she is the size of a six month old rather than a four month old.  She was impressed with head and neck control.  And she is happy with how strong Karcie is when she pulled her into a sitting position by only holding her arms.  Karcie is precious....that's all I can say!

Here are a few details about our little Karcie.

• Weight = 15 lbs, 15.8 oz. (95th %tile)
• Height = 26 1/2 inches (97th %tile)
• Size 2 diapers
• 3-6 month clothes but growing out of them very quickly.
• Takes a 6 ounce bottle about every three hours!
• Our baby that once slept through the night is now waking at least once a night to get a snack!  UGH!
• She "talks" and smiles at everyone.
• She loves to play under her jungle gym.
• She is holding objects and reaching for them (most of the time it's my hair!)
• She hasn't really seemed interested in rolling over anymore since she did it a few times.

Big sister entertained Karcie while we waited on Dr. Foushee

I LOVE to hear Karcie laugh out loud at Kamdyn!

Karcie is TWO MONTHS OLD!

Karcie turned two months old on Wednesday, July 27th!  It is so hard to believe!  Poor thing had a doctor's appointment that day and we finally got to see Dr. Foushee.  She had to get three shots and it broke Mommy's heart and sister's, too!  Karcie was a trooper though.  She cried right when she got the shots, but stopped as soon as I picked her up and gave her some love.

  Here are a few things about Karcie at TWO months!

• Weight - 13.2 pounds 90th %!  (she is a big girl!)
• Length - 23.5 inches 80th % 
• She still HAS to be swaddled tight at night in order for anyone to sleep!
• She is sleeping through the night for the most part....her longest to date is 8:00-6:45!  If she does wake up it is around 3:00 AM.
• She has rolled to her side a few times and rolled back to her back.
• She sleeps in her swing during the day for naps.
• She smiles and "talks" to us all of the time.
• She still enjoys her paci.
• She is still breastfed, but will take a bottle with formula.

Our sweet girl waiting on Dr. Foushee.

Big Sister stayed close by to keep a watch over her baby sister!

5 Year Check-Up

Kamdyn had her 5 year check up on Monday.  She was tickled that they didn't have to prick her finger.   She did have to be screened for hearing and vision in order to attend school in Georgia next year.  Both were perfect!  She is 44" tall (75th %tile) and weighs 38 lbs (45th %tile).  She continues to be REALLY tall and skinny!  Dr. Foushee was not the least bit concerned about her weight and neither am I!  She is a great eater and will try anything put in front of her at least once.  She had a wonderful conversation with Dr. Foushee.  Dr. Foushee continues to be impressed with her maturity; however, Dr. Foushee may have changed her mind after Kamdyn's reactions to the shots!  She had to get 3 shots and she screamed like someone was chopping both of her legs off.  It took a good 10-15 minutes for me to get her settled back down.  I told her that we couldn't leave until she stopped screaming and crying because she would scare all of the babies in the doctor's office.  That seemed to work!  She limped around for a little while, as only a drama queen would do, and she still has her same band-aids on three days later. Whatever!!  I am just thankful that she is hardly ever sick because I just don't know if she could handle everything that goes with being sick!  And, for that matter, I'm not sure how I would deal with my worrisome (borderline hypochondriac) child!  :)  I love EVERYTHING about you, Kamdyn Lucy, and I wouldn't change a thing!! 

Patiently waiting on Dr. Foushee!