Sweets for our sweets!

We love sharing the love around here and Valentine's was just the holiday to do that.

Asbell Valentine's Day family photo

First, we worked on Valentine's for our friends at school. Last year, Evan just had to write his name. This year, he wrote his classmates names and signed his name. He was up to the task and did it all in one sitting. We took a 'kiss' break halfway through and ate a couple kisses. :)

For Evan's Valentine's, every child got a little baggie with a bouncy ball and a couple of kisses. The card on the top said, "Valentine - you make my heart bounce!" Total Pinterest steal.  Luke gave play-doh. There are several kids with allergies in his class and I thought I was keeping it safe. Apparently play-doh has wheat!!! Total mommy fail.

We then made heart shaped cupcakes for our teachers. I found this mold for $2 at target and couldn't pass it up. Evan, my little chef, loved helping! And as any good mom should do, I let him lick the beaters after we were all done. :)

I finished the cupcakes up late Sunday night after the boys went to bed. Aren't the cute!!

Valentine's cards arrived in the mail from family this week. Evan loved opening and studying the cards.  Luke, well....it's going to take some time to appreciate them. :)

It is INSANE to me to think that John and I have spent SEVENTEEN Valentine's Days together. 10 as married people, but seventeen total. And he has made every single one of them special. I received roses at school on Tuesday, yes, a little early. John is thoughtful that way. He wanted me to be able to enjoy them at work for longer than a day and a half. It really made a difference in my office this week and was a total surprise. 

I surprised him with a dinner out on Saturday. The entire date was supposed to be a surprise, BUT I had to clue him in about 3 weeks in advance because he was planning something for Valentine's weekend. I had already made the reservations and secured the babysitter! So, I had to tell him we had a date, but the location was a surprise. 

We ate at Ruth Chris Steak House. In our 17 years together we have only been there once and I knew they were known for their steaks, one of John's favorite foods that he doesn't treat himself to very often. It took him 3 or 4 clues to guess where were going. 

1. It is in East Memphis.

2. They specialize in one of your favorite foods.

3. We haven't been there since we've had kids and possibly since we've been married.

4. The name of the restaurant is two words.

We were about 2 minutes from the restaurant before he guessed it! Thank goodness, because he was driving! 

I love sharing love! I hope my kids grow up knowing that giving love on this day is just as, if not, more important than receiving. 

Choose Kind

This post is going to be short because I'm using every ounce of energy I have to type this out. Actually I'm not even typing this out. I'm using Siri to write it for me so please excuse all the typos.

I came home on Tuesday afternoon with a fever around 100°. I promptly changed into PJs and crawled into bed. I was the second one in my family to go down with illness and I definitely didn't want the other two to get it. While I was lying there in my fever induced state I heard the pitter patter pitter patter of bare feet on the hardwood floor followed by the swoosh of pant legs. The sound came to an abrupt stop so I pried open one eye. I was lying facing the door. As I checked out who the two little feet belonged to I saw eight fingers gripping the door jam and one pumpkin head leaning into the room. There was Evan. With that cowlick in the center of his forehead that will never lay down and those dimples that go all the way in his cheeks standing there giving me the sweetest smile I've seen all day. It was completely dark in my room so I'm not sure if he saw me open my eyes. He literally tiptoed into the room and over to the bed. He gently climbed on trying his hardest not to disturb me. He sat on the other end of the bed on his knees waiting patiently. He used to hands to scoot as close as he could to me. I was laying on my side, and he was kneeling right beside my hips. He gently started to rub my arm. I then turned my head just so he would know that I was smiling too and appreciated his kindness. When he noticed I was awake he looked straight into my eyes and said, "I hate that you're sick mommy." No one told him to come in and check on me. No one told him to come make me feel better. No one offered a cookie or treat for "taking care" of momma. He choose those actions...those words.

My boy. His heart is so big for his little body. I am so impressed when, at four, he can choose kindness. It fills my heart to know his sweet little soul is looking out after others, including the people who are supposed to look out for him.

My sweet boy, always choose kind.

(If you haven't read Wonder yet, please do so. It will change you.)

Type A

Flu, that is. Evan was diagnosed with Type A Flu. This is by far the sickest he has ever been in his 4 short years. It started Wednesday night with a pesky cough that kept him (and us) up from 2am-5am. We didn't think much of it because he was acting normal. Thursday aftercare called me and said he just wasn't acting himself. If you know Evan, you know he has one mode - GO! You can pretty much just look at him and know when he isn't feeling good.

John and I tag teamed Friday. He slept most of the morning, but his fever went down. By late afternoon his fever spiked again. Most viruses, I just let run their course, but I had been warned the flu was rampant this year, specifically by my mother via text. Gotta love technology.
Anyway, I made Evan an appt. He threw up right before we left. On our way, Evan got a very 'lights are on but nobody is home' expression on his face. I started talking to him but he wouldn't talk back. He'd shake his head yes or no, but wouldn't talk. He had complained of a sore throat, so I didn't find this too weird.

When we got to the dr office he went and sat down and was expressionless. I asked him some questions and he just shook his head. By this point I was a little concerned. I asked him his name - Evan. I asked him who I was - he mouthed mama. I pulled up a picture of John on my phone and asked him who that was and he shook his head no. I asked him two or three more times. I found another picture of John on my phone and he still couldn't tell me. I squatted down in front of him and said, "Buddy look. I know you throat hurts and you don't have to talk, but you need to shake your head yes or no. Do you know who that is?" Evan shook his head no. I did the same thing with Luke's pictures. Still a no. I called John and calmly told him I was freaking out. I explained exactly what I showed him and what he said. I knew by the sound of John's voice he'd be there in 10 minutes.

We got back to the room and the nurse also witness his confusion before she did the flu and strep test. John walked in moments later and I asked E, "Who is that?" He took one look at John, looked back and me and shrugged his shoulders. Dr. Hayes walked and we filled him in on what was going on. He had to step out of the room. John got very seriously with Evan and Evan finally said he was daddy and could identify Luke. It was a very scary 15 minutes. I just think he was just very exhausted and didn't want to talk. But I swear if he ever does that again!

Evan threw up 3 or 4 more times so we knew forcing meds down him were futile, but we went ahead and got him the Tamiflu. Luke got a scrip also that we have been giving him. Evan wouldn't take Tylenol, liquid or chewable/meltaways, so he has just felt terrible since this started. Last night he told me "My hair hurts." Oh how I wish I could take it all away.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep a 2.5 year old away from his brother? Impossible. Everything hurts Evan, and we have been trying to keep him quarantined, but over a weekend it is just impossible to separate the two especially since we don't have a TV in E's room. On Saturday morning, Luke was getting a little stir crazy, so I took him to the park. It was 39 degrees....and there were birds. You know I love my kids when I volunteer to get out in almost freezing weather with BIRDS!

 

Update Sunday - He has eaten two meals today!! This is huge since he hadn't really eaten anything since Thursday at lunch. He also had several conversations with us. He still cries out in pain, but I think we are on the upswing.

You know, the whole time this has been going on, I just can't help but think about all the mothers in this world who have to see their children suffer from illness everyday. I could not imagine being in their shoes. I praise God in this time of sickness for my family because I know it is temporary. My child will get better. God, bring peace and comfort to the moms who's children won't. 

So we are banishing all germs from the house. I arm myself every night with a can of lysol and clorox wipes. No surface is safe. Be gone germs!!!