My poor little girl

Ava has been sick now since Friday night. Originally it was just a little cranky and eventually turned into 103 fever. She got blisters on her bottom, and one became infected, and she couldn't sit on it at all. If I touched it (you know, when I pick her up, put her down, put her in her carseat or her high chair) she screamed bloody murder. I took her to the doctor, and it turned out she had hand, foot, mouth disease. (Which is not at all related to hoof and mouth disease!) She had blisters in her mouth, but not on her hands and feet, but on her bottom, and that was what was causing her fever. The fever is reduced now, but so far, the antibiotics haven't completely taken care of the infection on her bottom. She's adapting well, figuring out how to crawl with it, stand up, and then go back to her knees instead of her backside. And I'm adjusting too... This is how I fed her lunch on Monday...

My poor little baby girl!

Happy heart

Yesterday I got email from Abby's second grade teacher (her teacher last year). About four months ago, I wrote about how heartbroken I was for her. Her email yesterday announced a new member of the family, a baby boy who was born on July 6! While parental rights haven't been terminated yet, it is scheduled. She got to be the first to hold him, got to stay in the hospital with him, has been amazed by him. Her only lack of judgement? They named him Maxwell. Ooooh. Abby's eyes got real wide when I told her. We're sure the craziness we see in Max is a complete link to the name. I just hope Mrs. Herman knows what she's in for! In addition to this great news, she also found out she's expecting! Oh my goodness... Her Max will be 6 months old, and a new infant will come along. I don't see a lot of sleep in her future. But I do see many blessings!

Wet animals

We saw a lot of wet animals at the zoo yesterday, but the cutest by far were the drowned rats you see below!

I gotta admit, not the best day for the zoo. But Abby and my nephew Chad had zoo class, so off we went. While Abby and Chad were in class, my (very pregnant) sister and her two youngest, my dad, and me and the three littlest walked around the zoo (class is from 9:30-3:00). The morning was wet and we spent lots of time in various animal buildings. With the help of umbrellas and the beautiful ponchos you see above, we were able to keep clothes mostly dry, and we didn't have to battle many people! We actually saw more animals in the buildings than we usually do, which was nice. And I think the kids had fun anyway--at least no one complained! So overall it was a win. I just wish my feet would unwrinkle from walking in all those puddles!

Hot Hot Hot

Ok, here's my final catch-up post. It's hot. Uncomfortable hot. Humid hot. So hot that even I won't turn the air conditioning off. But, I shouldn't complain. Last year I felt like we couldn't do any fun water things during summer. This year, every day seems to involve water. Once I get out there and see the kids frollicking (really!), even I start to have fun. And Ava shares her baby pool with me sometimes.

The park by us just put in a new splash pad. Lot's of fun!

Champions

Abby's softball team took first place for the season in the league, and then turned around and won the championship tournament. They played awesome, really. They all fielded great, made great plays at first, and my gosh these girls can hit the ball. Abby caught a line drive as she played pitcher, and made great catches at first base. They only played 5 innings instead of the usual 7 because they were too far ahead. You can only get 6 runs in any inning, and the Dodgers were uncatchable. Abby was pretty even keeled about it all. I was nervous, and Dave may say he wasn't but his actions say otherwise. How many more years of this are there, times four? I may have a nervous breakdown by then!