Halloween Part 1

Since today is a holiday I thought I would post a couple different times because of all the excitement that is going on. This morning we "stole" Kennedy so her mom could have an hour to herself and we went to the park and then to the pumpkin patch. I don't recommend picking out pumpkins on Halloween- there are hardly any pumpkins to choose from!

Fortunately neither girl wanted to take a pumpkin home-- they really just played in the dirt and threw rocks.

It is quite cute to hear Kennedy yell, "HAPPY WEEN" over and over again.

Overall it was very fun, very successful, and it wore Ryann out for an early nap.
Can you find the nugget hidden in the pumpkins?

Sweet Tooth

Look closely and you will see that these are store brand lucky charms without the charms. Ryann ate all of the marshmallows for breakfast instead of the cereal bits. I guess I can't really blame her. Smart little sweet tooth.

Talking Frustration

As many of you know, Ryann does a lot of babbling but not much actual talking. She is normally okay with this.... you know, the parents not understanding anything she is saying. This has led her to become quite independent and she usually just does whatever she wants to do.

Well recently she was in her room and I heard her crying. Not hurt crying, not mad crying, but "mom I need help" crying. So I go into her room and she is partially under her crib, reaching for something. I start looking around- pulling things out as I find them.

Now she starts to get frustrated. This is one of the first times I realize she is upset that I am not helping her to find what she needs because I cannot understand her. So I grab a flashlight to look harder. We search and search and finally Ryann takes the flashlight and leaves the room.

She eventually got tired of my severe incompetence and thought the flashlight was better than the frustration. Leaving me baffled and looking at how messy it really is underneath her crib.

Nug's mother is not only incompetent in finding lost toys/silkies/books under the bed, but she obviously can't keep her child clothed or her hair neat... don't judge me :)

Splish Splash at the Zoo

So it has come to my attention that Phoenix is quite a bit warmer than the rest of the Nation. Because of this insane phenomena (91 degrees today), I took Ryann to the Zoo where they have a splash pad. She ran back and forth through the water, plugging holes, and stomping in puddles. She had a blast. She wouldn't stay still for many pictures though!

Please let me in to see the elephants!! PLEASE?!?!?The Goats are definately not as cool as elephants, but since you won't let me into the elephant cage... I will settle for petting the goats. Thanks Natalie and Kennedy for the fun day!!

Special Sunday

Today was a special sunday because Ryann was wearing her flower girl dress from Auntie Devyn's Wedding. While Ryann hasn't asked me yet, I am sure she is wondering (like cousin Ethan) "When is Devyn having another wedding?" because she had sooo much fun when she was there. We actually don't want another wedding right now... we would settle for some visitors!
Cute piggies and messy play room!

Shingles

This is my warning post... I have shingles! This is only a warning for those of you who have never had chicken pox or had the chicken pox vaccine. (and I wont be visiting Rebecca when she is in the hospital with Kate... so sad) Fortunately for Rich and Nugs--- they are safe. Ryann has all her vaccinations and Rich of course had chicken pox as a child. So... if you don't have your kids immunized or have never had chicken pox... let me know and we will definitely try to avoid one another!

Shingles is quite nasty. I have been complaining about a rash on my back for almost a week now. It is small, localized and it HURTS! I believe I have a high pain tolerance and I kept telling myself I was being weak- that it would go away- it was bug bites- dermatitis- maybe even some sort of staph infection- but once we figured out what it was I felt a lot better about being "weak". Cause from everything people tell me and what I hear... it hurts.

Here is a picture of shingles... not my shingles... but someones shingles.

Anyway, I am on antiviral medication now, which is safe in pregnancy... but any steroids, numbing medication and pain medications aren't recommended during pregnancy. The antivirals are most effective if started within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms (unfortunately I was trying to be tough so I waited 7 days!) so we will see if the medications help much.

Questions may be answered HERE, but I will answer a few below.

1. How did I get shingles?

Once people get chicken pox they have the potential for shingles. However, the majority of the time it lays dormant in your system and you body protects you from ever getting them. However, in periods of immunosuppresion (chemo, cancer, AIDS, steroid use, pregnancy) the virus can flare up. Or, occasionally in times of severe stress (DING DING DING) the shingles virus can manifest itself. I hardly ever get stressed out, but this whole comprehensive exam for school and not having a job and pregnancy really got to my system. So now I am trying to take it easy and hopefully that will help.

2. Does it hurt?

Haha, I already told you it does, but I thought I would remind you all that it is nerve pain- which means it burns and itches and aches and throbs and not much makes it feel better. One website thankfully reminded me that the pain should only last 3-5 weeks with treatment but may last longer than 6 months! So hopefully by the time I am in labor I won't have this nerve pain anymore. The website here explains more about pain and treatment.

3. How bad has the shingles spread?

on my body I only have shingles in the middle of my back in a cluster about 4 inches in diameter (i think). It is right along my spine and someone very helpful *sarcasm* told me that these are the closest to the nerve roots so that makes them more painful and take longer to go away? Not sure if this is true... but thanks a lot for telling me this great news

4. How am I going to deal with this?

I am having a pity party today. And today only. So tell me you feel bad and are sorry and blah blah blah... but by tomorrow I am done with complaining and if you hear me whining then slap me or pinch me somewhere else so I don't think about it anymore. Unless you are my mom or my husband... then I get to complain all I want because you both love me no matter what I do. :) I am also looking on the bright side. I am very young and healthy and I am sure that my body will fight this off fairly easy.

5. What kind of medication am I taking?
Since Shingles is a virus, I am taking an antiviral... this is the same as what you would take for Herpes, because this is also a virus. So... Valtrex here I come!

Depending on your computer screen- this is the actual size of the ginormous horse pill I have to swallow 3 times a day. Bigger than my prenatal vitamin by a long shot!

FlashBack Friday

Since I don't have any good pictures to post... I thought I would post Ryann at the pumpkin patch last year... I have to say the biggest change is the amount of HAIR! My cute little bald baby... now she is my cute little mullet baby...