Ice cream Time

We are finally starting to get little glimpses of spring weather so we had to do something summery like getting ice cream. This was Emerson's first experience with ice cream and she LOVES it! Once she got a taste of her ice cream cone she wasn't going to give it up.

Last summer I was avoiding all dairy so that I could keep nursing this little cheese and now this

year she is chowing down her own ice cream cone.

Yum!

Sisters

The boys

When we went to leave I tried to take her cone away and she screamed like she was being killed. Needless to say I had to clean our one sticky car seat when we got home!

First zoo Trip

Last year was the first year in many that we didn't buy a Lincoln Children's Zoo pass. I knew that we wouldn't get many opportunities to go with an infant and the big kids think they are a little too big but I missed not having it. This year I decided to get one so we could take Emerson. After school one day we headed to the zoo.

Even if Bryce, Caleb and Abby thought they were a little too old for zoo, they had a great time. We all enjoyed seeing Emerson's reactions to the animals. It was so cute! She would point and yell WOW at every animal that she saw.

We got the biggest kick out of the goats. They appeared to be starving. Emmy would try to pet them and they kept trying to get her snack cup.

Emerson has the best big brothers and sister ever! They all made sure that she saw all the animals and they kept her stocked with a constant supply of goat food.

All my cuties!

What is a zoo trip without a little ice cream.

Basketball

Bryce and Caleb played YMCA basketball again this year. Robb coached their team and they all really enjoyed it. Robb got to almost hand pick his team of kids because he had coached last year those boys requested him and the 2 new boys were friends of our and also requested him. They played great but he did not pick on playing ability! It was just really nice to know most of the parents. It made coordinating practice easier.

Bryce really started to develop some skills as far as moving the ball and getting to the basket. Caleb was a scrappy player and was always willing to sacrifice his body to dive for a ball sometimes his basketball guarding was more of body checking but he really got good at guarding this year. They all played very well together. Robb had a lot of fun coaching.

Emmy and Abby got drug to most of the games. Abby's best friend Morgan had a brother on the team so they would bring things to play with. Emmy would clap when we clapped but most of the time I had to keep her busy with snacks.

House of Sickies

Poor baby had a run of sickness that made her and us miserable! Her nose had been runny and she had been stuffed up for weeks. We didn't go in because I just figured it was something

viral and it would eventually go away. She started running high fevers and just wasn't herself for almost and entire week. I finally decided to take her in and the new doctor that we had to see was snotty and said it might be a sinus infection but since she was too young to have sinuses he doubted it. What?? Anyway we left with a scrip for an antibiotic. We are at the stage where she is completely horrible to give medicine to. She coughs, spits and fights until she has either successfully got all 3cc on us or throws up. We did this for 3 days but the fevers persisted. I had used up all of the sick days that I could take from work so Robb had to stay home with her. She was still miserable and we were at our wits end. He took her back to the doctor and this time we got to see our favorite PA Becky. She has always been wonderful to our kids and believes parents when they say something is wrong.

Robb explained her symptoms to Becky and she agreed that something just wasn't right. She didn't like the fact that she was still having fevers while on antibiotics so the poor baby had to have a bunch of tests to rule everything out. They did a respiratory viral panel (which I thought was going to show influenza, lab work, a cath urine and an xray. I kept getting calls at work from Robb about all of the tests they were running. I felt awful that I wasn't there to hold my sweet girl. This was one of those times that I was really sad to be a working mommy and have to be away when my kids needed me. Don't get me wrong, Robb is perfectly capable of handling any kid situation but I just wanted to hug her too. The verdict after all the test came back was pneumonia. I guess it pays to be persistent parent and go to a doctor that you trust.

We got another round of antibiotics and felt horrible for Emmy but were glad to have an answer of why she hasn't been herself for so long.

I wish she felt better but I do love days on the couch snuggling with her.

Emmy started to feel better after a couple days of antibiotics but on to the next sicky in the house. Caleb started to have respiratory issues and it almost seemed like he had full blown asthma. I think we let his allergies get out of control and it really hit him hard. It usually happens in the spring when we aren't in the routine of giving him his 3 allergy meds every night. I guess this just proves how much he really needs them. He had to do Albuterol nebulizers every 4 hours for 2 days and then he was feeling better. Emerson thought the nebulizer was the coolest thing ever!

She didn't need respiratory treatments but I guess we know if she ever does it won't be a fight. She loved trying this on.

Easter

Happy Easter. We are so blessed! In the mist of Easter baskets, egg hunts, candy and dyed eggs let us remember what today is really about. Celebrating the promise of eternal life because of Jesus. 

As Steve said in his sermon, when we experience great sorrow we will know even greater joy. It always strikes something in my heart to look at our entire family in a picture. Nine years ago I never would have dreamed that is would be our life today. Even if we feel like we are just trying to keep our heads above water most of the time, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Emerson in her adorable Easter dress Grandma made holding a car.

The boys might hate dressing up but they look pretty handsome when they do. Abby looking adorable in her skirt that Grandma made her.

 

A picture of al the kids together was impossible. Every time I had one of the kids try to hold her she turned into a limp noodle and squirmed out their arms crying. What a little turkey!

 

Emmy's Daycare Easter Egg Hunt

The Friday before Easter Emmy had her daycare Easter Egg Hunt. I was home that day so she didn't go to daycare for the day but we went for the egg hunt. Bryce, Caleb and Abby were off of school that day so they were really excited to come and help Emmy with the egg hunt.

 

All Emerson's daycare friends.

Emmy wasn't real sure what to think of the whole thing.

Not sure what this face is for but this is her little buddy Beau. She picks on him a lot from what we hear from Andera.

Finding Eggs.

The Easter Bunny popped in and surprised everyone! It was hilarious, everytime the Easter bunny got anywhere close to Emmy she would scream like she was being killed and hide her head in my neck. She didn't ever cry she would just scream really loud. Everyone got a kick out of it and the Easter Bunny would walk close to her occasionally just to see her reaction.

The big kids thought they were too cool for a picture with the Easter Bunny but I made them take one anyway.

Easter Baskets

The kids were excited to find their Easter baskets! The boys are getting so old. No toys for them they wanted clothes and name brand socks. It seems like it was just yesterday they were playing with trucks and super heroes. They are growing up so fast.

My little Frozen lover was excited about her new water bottle, dress and sun glasses.

Even Emmy was excited to get in on the action. She loved her princess ball and she got her very own sunglasses so she could stop stealing Abby's.

Time to Dye Eggs

This has become a much easier task now that the kids are older. Still slightly messy but nothing compared to dying eggs with 2 and 3 year olds. They were quite artistic this year, making new colors and making eggs that are striped.

Emerson thought that the eggs were pretty fun to play with!