Wondering where we were?

Just a few random pics, Julia came home from school last Thursday, had friends over for just a bit and after they left she fell asleep on her little couch in the playroom. Not terribly unusual as she often is nodding off in the van after school for short little power naps, but a bit odd... yep, she woke up with a fever, that would not go away. Today is the first day that she has been fever free since then. Monday found us at the Dr's with both girls running a temperature (Devyn's started on Sunday) and starting to cough. Our pediatrician (who I have to say has an EXCELLENT memory, we aren't at the Drs often and she remembered Julia and what she had been there for at this time last year! Wow! even if she had gotten it from her chart, though she didn't act like she had because she wasn't certain, I'm impressed she took the time to look either way!) anyway, she felt that Bronchitis may be settling in, and checked for Strep as well, the initial test was negative for strep but she didn't seem entirely convinced. Either way they came home with antibiotics and cold medicine. Yesterday Devyn had already started to bounce back, though by 4 pm she was absolutely miserable tired and was doing her level best to make sure we were too. Today was better. No fever for either of them, coughs are a little better and Julia was up for soccer practice tonight. Whew. What a way to spend Spring break huh???

Our plan is tomorrow, as long as they are both still well, is to meet my friend and her kids at the Gulfarium for a bit of fun. Then coming home I have the sitter set up for tomorrow evening so that I can get a bit of a break, maybe (hopefully) see a movie and go pick up a few things for the Easter Bunny. I have to admit to really needing just a few hours this week. Neither of the girls was very sick this week but both of them just not feeling well, all of us cooped up together, well, let's just say I've had better times.

On a happier note, even with Devyn not feeling well, and the antibiotics having the usual effect on her, she has made it to the potty every single time. So proud of her (and hugely relieved!! ;) on that front. On the not so good, she has started trying the temper tantrums again, an almost instant reaction when she doesn't get her way right now is to throw herself on the floor and start to scream. She used to do this shortly after coming home last year but this past few months it seemed like we had made some headway and she was learning they didn't get her anything and had become more and more infrequent. Now I feel like we are starting from scratch again. I should mention she has a piercing scream. With all of us not feeling well this week (no I'm not sick but definitely suffering from exhaustion) it became increasingly important that in this small space we each take a short break from each other. As I mentioned earlier, 4 o'clock saw Devyn starting to get seriously whiney, trying to torment her sister and be tormented back in return, so that as I prepared dinner I told each of the girls to take a break from each other and play in their separate rooms. Neither was thrilled but Julia went understanding it wasn't a punishment just a much needed break (how could it punishment with the things they have in their rooms??) Devyn went, screaming, I went in behind her, pointed to her "toy corner" and told her she wasn't in trouble but that she and sissy needed a break from each other while Mama cooked dinner. She glanced at her toys and seemed okay with it I went back out, not five feet away from her room she was screaming at the top of her lungs again (honestly the neighbors have to be wondering what is going on over here!) when Julia and I went back in to check, she was literally face down on the floor, screeching at the top of her lungs, and kicking and pounding the floor with her fists?!?!! This was extreme, even for her, as I said she has not pulled this stuff in months. What could we do? we left her to work it out, she did. By the time I had dinner on the table she had calmed herself down, and before dinner apologized to both Julia and I. After dinner was a dip and dunk and you betcha she was in bed EARLY last night. Thankfully, she has been feeling better today, did take a nap and over all a bit better day. Let's just say that on the whole while I don't want to see either of my kids not feeling well, I would rather it was Julia any time. She just handles it better. Not to say she hasn't been moody this week as well, but just over all she is not as dramatic as Dev is. Devyn, God love her (and I know He does), lives life out loud. Very loud. This has been a huge adjustment for me, and not really an easy one, but I am beginning to appreciate the way she lives her life more and more. I never worry that Devyn won't speak up if someone is hurting her, or that she will be pushed around. I just don't see that as even a remote possibility at the moment. As rough as this makes being her Mom at two almost three years old, I know that as she grows she will live life on HER terms and no one else's. So someday I know that determination and stubbornness will serve her well. I just wish she had a tad bit less of it right this moment. LOL.

We are on the countdown to end of this deployment! Daddy will be home by Devyn's birthday, Papa and Nai-Nai are coming to visit and celebrate Dev's b-day with us and the week after we will be headed to Disney!! Speaking of, I guess that is what I will get back to tonight.. making some reservations for the extra fun stuff we want to do while there! Always on the go, that's us.

As you can see from the pics, it was a beautiful day today and the girls were feeling well enough to enjoy it fully! Hopefully Friday is just as nice and we can go hit the beach for a bit. I miss the beach, sometimes you would never know it was just 3 short miles away. Crazy huh??