Face plant

The rain finally stopped yesterday, so the girls were able to get outside and play - until Emma decided to face plant on the concrete driveway.

Cell phone pictures

I haven't been great with taking pictures over the last couple if months, so here are a few from my cell phone.

Valentine's Week

We celebrated Valentine's day all week this past week, including parties, cards, candy and even a trip to the doctor's office with yet another positive flu test in our family. It all started off Monday when Ellie began complaining of not feeling well and by Monday afternoon had a 102.2 fever.  I thought she had caught Worth's man cold that he had been whining about all weekend. I kept her home Tuesday. Wednesday was her school Valentine's party and she was NOT about to miss it! She woke up Wednesday morning, not really running a fever (99.0) so I let her go to school thinking the cold was on its way out. She was definitely not herself at school Wednesday, but seemed to enjoy the party. When we got back home, she was once again running a 102 fever. School was out for winter break for the rest of the week, so I didn't have to worry about keeping her out again. So, I loaded her up with Tylenol and fluids and let her watch more cartoons that she probably should have.

On Valentine's Day (Thursday) Ellie's fever was still up and she began to complain of severe stomach pain (like rolling all around on the floor and eating/drinking NOTHING). So, I took her in to the pediatricians office and flu was confirmed. I immediately realized that Worth's "man cold" that I had been rolling my eyes at for the last 3-4 days had also been the flu! (This would also explain why Emma and I never developed any symptoms - we both shared this flu at the beginning of December.) Since I'm a terrible mother and waited until Ellie had symptoms for 4 days to go to the peditricians office, she couldn't get the tamiflu. They gave her cough medicine and prednisone (because at this point the cough and chest congestion were horrid.)

For future reference to moms out there - when your child starts taking prednisone they become the devil spawned. Ellie has not been fun to live with this week and weekend. It doesn't help matters that we have her confined to our home away from other kids. She's asked 200 times if she can go to Bo's house or Anna Beth's house or to church. My heart aches for her, but her chest congestion is improving:/ She gets to go back to school Tuesday, and I will be rejoicing that day. Having a sick husband, a sick child, and deciding that this would be a good weekend to take "bappy" (pacifier) away from Emma (I bring this all on myself, I know!) I feel like I've hitched a ride on the crazy bus and can't seem to find my stop! I do have to admit that I'm very thankful that my morning sickness has completely subsided, and I didn't have that to deal with as well. Hopefully, next week will bring healthy family members and peace and calm over the Bowers household! Below are a few Valentine's week pictures.

Ellie's class lined up for singing they sang "Jesus Loves Me" and signed it as well

Notice the bright red cheeks, yes fever was beginning to kick it up a notch despite the smile on her face

Singing their hearts out

Ellie is always right in the middle of these boys - should this worry me?

Does this look like a little girl with the flu? This is why I can never tell when she's sick!

Little sister had to join in on the fun - really just the food was Emma's interest

My 2 sweethearts with their fake smiles. Ellie in her shirt made by my good friend Katie Wigton (their blog in column to the right)

Just a few of Ellie's boyfriends

This was actually pretty funny - Worth and I realized that we have been together way too long when we gave each other the same Valentine's day card, even with the almost same comment on the inside:)

The girls' Valentine's card spread

Sweet card Ellie made for Daddy

Freddie even got 1 extra food serving for Valentine's Day. Clearly his diet isn't working anyway.

35th Birthday and Cousin Love

I haven't been posting much over the last month because I've been nursing a little illness called morning sickness. Except, for me, morning sickness is all day and all night sickness. (All I can say is thank God for Zofran!) Having two children, working part time, shuffling Ellie around to ballet and gymnastics, and feeling like I'm going to vomit every few minutes has taken it's toll on me for the past 6 weeks. (I also have to say thank God for my husband! I would have not been able to survive without him!)

We found out we were expecting a couple of weeks before Christmas and decided to keep it under wraps until later. We agreed to wait for my birthday this past Friday to announce our little surprise with the family since we had made the announcement of my pregnancy with Ellie on my 30th birthday (5 years ago - YIKES!) I had the girls' shirts made on Etsy. We waited to tell Ellie when we told everyone else mainly because she is quite the blabber mouth now, and we didn't want her sharing our news early:) Once the craziness calmed down. I explained to Ellie what her shirt said and what it meant. She was really excited, but when she looked at the ultrasound pictures she told my mom and I, "But I don't feel a baby in my belly!" She was a little confused! Emma doesn't really have an opinion at this point. We cannot wait for her reaction once the baby arrives!

Worth and I are thrilled about our new little one. When we got engaged and discussed having children, we were both in agreement that 3 was the perfect number.  We are so excited to finally complete our family. I'm due August 21st, which puts me at 11 weeks 4 days as I'm making this post. Thankfully, Friday morning when I woke up, I was feeling much better. I've been Zofran free for 3 days now and hope it stays that way.

Friday night, Kate and Jay were able to come and bring baby Bo. He was not really impressed with our news, but our girls loved smooching all over him all night. Ellie kept wanting to hold him, and he wasn't a fan of that. He was so sweet, and I know pretty soon those cousins are going to be getting into all kinds of trouble together!

I put the shirts on the girls once everyone got here and had them run out for a "performance" Ellie was instructing everyone to read her shirt. As you can see, no one had actually read the shirts at this point

Now some reaction when they see what the shirts say

Ellie and Emma still not quite sure what's going on

Ellie looks like she's trying to pick Bo's nose in this picture. Poor Bo!

Emma actually loves Bo, which is a good thing considering how she normally acts around newcomers!

Mia and her 3 grandbabies

Posing in their shirts after it had been explained to them what they said and meant

Crazy girls

Ellie was obsessed with wanting to hold baby Bo

Emma's face in this picture is priceless. Bo is not happy about being in cousin Ellie's lap (it's probably too bony!)

Bo is OVER it!

Bo figured out Daddy wasn't too far away so he was ok with things

Sweet sisters to be!

Big Sisters

Ellie and Emma will be big sisters this August. Ashley is expecting our 3rd (and final) child August 21st.