Look at this cute face. Can you believe it had to spend the whole weekend in the hospital? Half of which his mom was 4 hours away at Girls Camp. He got mastoiditis. Poor guy.

You can't tell super well, but his ear is swollen and red. When I got there Saturday afternoon, I was told it had gone way down. He did so well in the hospital. He was probably the craziest and wildest of pediatric patients this hospital ever saw. At 10:00 pm when I couldn't get him to go to sleep (usually a frustrating chore), I was just so grateful that he was okay. I was completely spent after many sleepless nights at Girls Camp, but I was so happy to be with my little guy. He's home now, after two nights in the hospital, and enjoying some down time. He's on 3 different meds, which will be a miracle if I can remember to give him all 5 doses a day.

His favorite part of being in a hospital is the food service. He loves it and wants to share it with everyone. Sweet boy.

Matthew and Jacob came for a visit. I hadn't seen those two since I left for Girls Camp either. So I was so excited to see them. Unfortunately, Jacob isn't as big of a mama's boy as he was before I left. Broke my heart a little bit. Matthew and James ate their happy meals and watched G-Force. The brothers are very happy to all be together again. And I'm happy that our little family is back together at home.

I know our family was being watched over during this time and I am so grateful to our Father in Heaven for keeping my family safe while I was away. Everything seemed to work out the best way possible. Thank you to Martha, Ted and Amy for all that they did, which was A LOT! Tim was amazing and so patient with me and I love him so much! He's the best dad and our boys are so lucky. Thanks, babe! And thanks to everyone that has helped us during this time.

The unpredictability of kids...

This morning I decided that I'd take the boys to the zoo so they could run around and get some energy out.  Then we would head over to Tim's office and meet for lunch.  Well, just as I was taking the zoo exit, James decided that he didn't want to keep his breakfast down anymore.  His head was turned towards Matthew has he "throwed his bones" and the compassionate big brother said, "Eww, James, turn your head the other way.  I don't want to see that stuff."  Ah, brotherly love.  Anyway, since we were close to Tim's office I drove over there and cleaned James up in the parking lot.  Tim came outside to "help" but mostly just said, Oh, that's gross."  Hmm, maybe I know where Matthew gets it from.  But in fairness to Tim, I told him to just keep on eye on the clothing-less James (as he ran around the parking lot, so sick).  No need in both parents catching whatever bug this was.  But I was so excited to get some new shots of my boys at the zoo to post on here.  I haven't been around much, but decided to get back into it full swing.  Anyway, because I couldn't get any new pictures today, here's some from when Lindsey and her fam were in town.

Laney would put her face right up to a spout and then be shocked when water shot out of it.  She did this a million times until one got her really good.  

James pretty much stood on the edge, watching the other kids.  Every now and then he would run over to us and squeal.  I think he really thought he was playing in the water.

I really do feed this kid.

Traveling in luxury.  

She frowed her bones!

On our way home from the park, Matthew started complaining about his stomach.  After we had been home for a while, James threw up all over Tim.  Two minutes later, Matthew was throwing up all over my bathroom floor.  I chalk it up to mother's intuition in getting him into the bathroom on time.  While I was cleaning him up a bit in the sink, he said, "I can't believe I did that!  I throwed up, Mom."  Then I decided to start a bath for him.  Nobody wants to go to sleep stinky.  James heard the tub start, and wanted to take a bath, too.  Tim brought him into the bathroom, and James immediately "throwed his bones" (to quote my cousin McKell).  Now they are both asleep, and the house is disinfected.  Ah, what a delightful way to end FHE.  

Don't these look like the stairs from "Flight of the Navigator?"  Which was one of my favorite movies when I was younger, except I called it the "The Flying Alligator."  Man, I was a cute kid.

Side Note: For those of you that may not know, I throw up easily.  A little too easily, if you ask me.  When I was little and for no reason that I can remember, I threw up in the middle of a store.  I had eaten fries for lunch.  My cute little cousin McKell pointed to my mess and said, "Look!  She frowed her bones!"

Streptococcus... Whatacoccus?

Poor Matthew. He has strep throat. We went to the doctor to find out for sure and get a prescription. While at the doctor's office (2 hours), Matthew fell asleep on the bench in the exam room. I was trying my hardest to keep James happy, which normally is not too difficult. So we were playing with George the Banana. George has lots of squeaks and rattles, and makes a lot of noise. Matthew said, "Mom, do you know what really bugs me? When you make that banana squeak." Oops. I am often being scolded by my 3 year-old. I wish his cheeks had been rosy when I took this picture. Normally when he has a fever (he had 102) they are, and it is so cute. But I guess his medicine had already started to work. Hurry up and get better, Bud!

Warning! Graphic Material Below!

We have been attacked by the snot monster at our house. Yuck! These pictures do not give justice to the nastiness that has taken residence in my son's nostrils. It's like a scene out of X-Files or something. It is constantly flowing. Oozing may be more appropriate a term. For crying out loud, learn to sniff, child! James is getting 5, count 'em, 5 new teeth. Contrary to what doctors say about it being coincidence that kids have a runny nose with new teeth, my kids get a runny nose with every new tooth. That seems a little too coincidental. So, with 5 teeth coming in, of course James' runny nose has hit with a vengeance like no other.