Laurie EOY Health Update

Would you believe that Laurie made it 6 weeks between doctor visits?  And then it was only for a follow up with Dr. T.  She made it 9 whole weeks between sick visits.  Just before Thanksgiving, Laurie had to visit Dr. D's office for a head cold with a wicked cough.  Unfortunately, Dr. D was out and her sub Dr. was not great.  He did not think her cold warranted much attention even with her history.  Because I had leftover Xopenex for the nebulizer, I started her on breathing treatments.  It didn't do much good because we were back 8 days later to see Dr. D. Laurie's cold had gotten worse and now her chest was tight.  She was given an antibiotic and more Xopenex, every 4 hours.  

After another 10 days, on Ashley's birthday, Laurie was back to see Dr. D, this time with wheezing in her chest.  She sent us off to the hospital for a chest x-ray and blood work.  We were thankful that it showed no pneumonia, but a viral infection in her lungs.  A little good news.  It appeared the pneumonia vaccine she was given back in August was working.  More antibiotics, steroids and breathing treatments.  Birdie missed a great deal of preschool in the month of December, but did go to her Christmas party, or at least 30 minutes of it.  It has been another rough few weeks for her.  Dr. D. is hopeful that she will outgrow her respiratory issues.  I told her my goal is to make it through cold & flu season without another trip to the emergency room or a hospital stay.

Merry Christmas!

The week of Christmas Laurie was finally off the antibiotics, but back at Dr. D.  Her chest was finally clear, but her congestion and cold appeared to be back.  Another round of antibiotics and breathing treatments were ordered.  On a positive note, Laurie is finally back up to 39 lbs, what she weighed before she started this journey of sickness in May.

At the end of the year, she is once again done with her meds and appears to be doing great.  Let's pray that 2011 finds Laurie in better health than 2010.  

Still has Fifths...

Ashley's Fifth's made a slight reappearance while we were at the Ranch this week.  She came into the house screaming because she fell down and cut her chin.  We quickly noticed her hands looked swollen and rashy.  We weren't sure if she had gotten into something and the hands were an allergic reaction or if it was more Fifths.  

The decision was to give her some Benadryl to see if the rash went away, if it didn't it was probably Fifths.  The only problem was, the only Benadryl we had, was in the form of pills.  So, Ashley would have to learn to swallow a pill.  My oldest child can have a bit of anxiety about new things, especially when she is already upset about something else (falling down).  

It took a couple different methods and Brian taking over for a frustrated me, but she eventually swallowed the pill of Benadryl.  And it changed nothing, so in the end, it turned out to still be Fifths.  

Christmas Morning 2010

After a busy Christmas Eve celebrating with GrandMommy & GrandDaddy and Ashley & Daniel singing at Children's Mass, no one fought their bedtime.  When they woke up early, they were very eager to discover the treasure waiting for them under the tree.

Kids on stairs waiting to run downstairs

Santa had no trouble eating all the cookies left for him.  

A note left for the kids from our Elf "Fred"!

Santa left some goodies next to the tree

The kids were thrilled that Santa brought them each their own fishing pole and a tackle box.  Daniel received a few spy toys and Laurie was given a new Barbie.  Yeah!  Ashley's gift from Santa was an 18 foot long fashion runway in red and gold sparkle.

You can see a little more of the fashion runway

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

The stockings this year held a plethora of treasure.  Everyone marveled that Santa brought all five of us new gum, toothpaste and toothbrushes.  We joked that there must be a message in there somewhere.  Daddy received a new DVD, the girls received nail polish and Daniel some new legos.

Ashley loved all the new books

A wreath of Birdie hands - the perfect gift!

Merry Christmas from The5Jones Kids

Merry Christmas!

Santa's Cookies

Daddy saved the day today by coming home early to make cookies with the kids for Santa.  Yeah Daddy!!  They each custom decorated a couple of cookies for Santa.  Brian joked that Daniel was trying to send Santa into a diabetic coma with his liberal use of frosting and M&Ms on the cookies. Let's just say they were a little over the top. They even let me get into the act and decorate 3 cookies after I was done with a little stress induced Christmas freak out.  (Come on, we all knew my new stress free Christmas holiday plan wouldn't really last forever.  But I did make it all the way till Christmas Eve morning before completely losing it.)

Tonight, each kid chose their favorite cookie to put on the plate for Santa with his mug of milk.  It was raining, so we didn't get to put out the reindeer food this year.  Laurie was very cute, telling the other kids to let her sleep late tomorrow because she is so tired. Does that mean they might sleep in until 6:30?

As of 9 p.m. they were all in Ashley's bed together and on their way to dreamland with visions of sugar plums....   While Brian and I wait for Santa to make his appearance.

Christmas Pictures 2010

In December my family gets together to take the Henley Family Christmas picture.  Over the years we have realized that it is easier to set the timer and tell the kids to watch the blinking light.  It's crazy, but it works.  Even the little ones want to look at that blinking light.  

Henley Family 2010

Nana & Papa with their Eight Grandchildren

  

Brian and I

After the group shot is over, we usually have Dad take our individual family pictures.  The5Jones photo shoot typically devolves into sharp words, angry people and a frustrated picture taker.  We, as a family, are not the best people to take pictures of, especially in the middle of chaos.

This year, with my awesome new camera, I decided to try to take our picture at home with the timer.  After a few trials to find the best spot, I was ready for the family.  

The kids and I setting up the shot while waiting for Brian

It was amazing, it only took 6 pictures and we got the one!  Don't worry if you haven't received a Christmas card from us yet, they will go in the mail in a few days.

Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread House

I bought a gingerbread house kit for the kids again this year, but we couldn't seem to find the time to decorate it.  Last night I told the kids, while trying to get them off to bed, that they could decorate it the next morning.

Don't you know, when I came out of my bedroom about 7:30 a.m. today, this is what I found.  A completed gingerbread house.  Evidently, the three of them worked on it as soon as they woke up.  Since I never heard any yelling or fighting, I will assume it they cooperated quite well with each other.  Though there was a little tattle-taling on certain little people who ate more candy than they put on the house.

They are very proud of their gingerbread house.  I think it looks GREAT!

Fifth's Disease

Guess who woke up with a rash from Fifth's Disease yesterday morning? 

If you guessed Ashley - you're Right!  We didn't even realize she wasn't feeling good or sick in the slightest bit.  Guess she had a mild case since the rash isn't very bad.  It has progressed from her face to her entire body, but still doesn't look near as bad as Daniel's did.

I'm sure it will be gone in a few days.  It is really funny that Ashley has Fifth's for Christmas and Daniel had it for Thanksgiving.  Does that mean Birdie will have it for Easter?

Ashley is upset she will have a rash on her arms in her Christmas dress, but I found her a sweater with sequins to wear to cover it up.  She will be beautiful no matter what.  

2 kids down with Fifth's, 1 more to go.....

Visit with Santa 2010

After a doctor appointment for Birdie, we headed straight over to the mall to see Santa Claus.  We had a nice hour wait, by ourselves for most of the time, and were first in line when Santa arrived.

The kids were thrilled to tell Santa what they would like to see under the tree this year.  Ashley would like another red carpet/runway fashion show.  Laurie would like a Barbie.  And Daniel went on and on telling Santa how he wants a remote control helicopter.

A friend of mine told me I had to write down the story about Daniel & Laurie's clothing choices.  Daniel chose to dress sort of like an elf.  Not sure if he was going for the elf look or just Christmas colors, but he even has on green argyle socks.  And the red shirt - is a sweatshirt!  The boy LOVES his sweatshirts.  Laurie is going through a phase where she does NOT want to match.  Poor child, she has me for a mother.  It grates on me every time she wants to leave the house with mismatched patterns.  Being the mean mommy I am, I convinced her that she was mismatched.  Her red socks were a different color red from her shirt.  It clashed horribly.  It's wrong, I know.  But we were running late and I just wanted her to get ready without drama. I let her do her thing most of the time - yesterday she wore a red Christmas shirt with purple leggings and the day before, another red shirt with her favorite aqua skort.  

Merry Christmas!!

Fred the Elf!

Guess who showed up at our house this morning?

Fred the Elf!

Daniel has been noticing that many of his friends and family have an Elf that reports back to Santa at night and begun asking why we didn't have one.  So, I requested one from Santa and here he appeared this morning sitting on our apples.   Fred arrived with a book that explains how he watches us all day and reports back to Santa at night while we are sleeping.  Every day he will sit somewhere different in the house to keep an eye on us.  The most important is that kids may not touch our Elf.  The book tells us Santa will take Fred home on Christmas Eve till next year at Christmas.

Our elf did not show up with a name, so the kids threw out suggestions.  For some reason, they chose Fred.  That's ok, because he kind of looks like a Fred.

Daniel is excited, Birdie giggles at him, and Ashley wants to know why he is always looking out the corner of his eye.  They all agree they need to be on their best behavior since Fred is here watching for Santa.  Yeah for Fred!

Happy 9th Birthday Ashley

We woke Ashley on her Birthday to her favorite thing - breakfast in bed.  She was served pancakes with whipped cream, chocolate and strawberry syrup and raspberries.  Hot green tea and strawberry milk.

After school, she chose her favorite restaurant for dinner - Japenairo's.  She still won't eat sushi, but she loves their "Baby Roll."  It is a chicken nugget rolled in rice and cut like a sushi roll.  The problem we run into is that since it is on the kids menu she could eat two servings.  So, we make sure to order appetizers she enjoys to help fill her up.

For dessert, we ordered two servings of fried Oreos.  Yummy!   Ashley ordered this huge fried ice cream for herself.  

She looks so happy with her birthday candle

Happy 9th Birthday Ashley!!

3rd Annual Girls Christmas Brunch

For the 3rd year, three generations of Henley girls had a lovely Christmas brunch together at Sweetwater Country Club.  It has become a tradition that we all look forward to every December.  And next year we will have one more girl to add to our luncheon, Baby Paige.

Me and my girls

The three big girls

"Maggie Beth" as Papa would say...

Sisters

Laurie getting lipgloss from her Cousin

Brenna with her LipGloss

Shelly, Lisa, Mom & Leah

Birdie and Mommy

Shelly with her girls

Leah with Megan & Baby Paige

Cameron & Ashley

Megan with her Pout 

Ashley playing Photographer & Laurie helping

Ashley's picture of Megan & Cameron

After brunch, we always head over to visit Granny to include her in the generational girl fun.

Our best attempt of Granny, Nana and the girls - 3 generations

Daughter & Mother

Joke Loving Boy

Last Saturday at Daniel's Cub Scout Pack meeting, it was his Den's turn to tell jokes.  This is right up Daniel's alley.  He couldn't seem to find his joke book (I probably "accidentally" left it at the ranch after hearing constant jokes), so we went online to find one for him.

Just a little background - When another Den told their jokes at the last Pack meeting, Daniel had his hand up every time ready to answer the jokes.  Even jumping up and down saying, "ooh, ooh, I know!" He was called on several times, but never quite had the right answer even though he was very confident in his response.  He LOVES jokes.

So after going through what seemed like a hundred jokes, he chose one and Brian worked with him on how to say it clearly.  When it was time for his Den, don't you know Daniel was the first volunteer.  I almost didn't get the camera ready in time.

Here he is...






Oh, and that's a decorated Christmas sugar cookie all over his hands and mouth in case you were wondering.

A Great Birthday Present

Daniel got an awesome birthday present from Grandmommy & Granddaddy - JENGA.  The kids brought it with us to SBR after Thanksgiving and Daniel and Daddy spent a lot of time playing each other with "help" from Papa.  

Watching the two of them play was quite entertaining for the rest of us.

Daddy choosing his block while Daniel tries to blow it over

Papa giving Daniel advice

Brian sure was surprised he got that block out

Papa and Daniel played a game before breakfast the next morning

Did I mention that Papa was not above shaking the table to win?

Jenga was a great game.  A perfect Birthday present!

Daniel has Fifth's Disease

Daniel woke up the morning of his birthday party looking like this!

We weren't sure what it was, but it looked like some sort of allergic reaction so we gave him an antihistamine.  The swelling seemed to go down, so we continued with his birthday party.  As the kids were all leaving, one of moms told me it looked like he had Fifth's Disease.  I wasn't really sure what that was, so I hit the internet to check it out.  Says it starts with generic cold/flu like symptoms and then ends with a lace like red rash beginning on the face and spreading over their boy.  I kept him home from school the next day and visited the Dr. office.  Dr. D was on vacation for Thanksgiving, but her sub took one look at him and said it was Fifth's.  

He headed back to school Tuesday proudly showing his rash to everyone.  It was everywhere.  Back of his neck, arms, chest, legs...  His teacher said it was one of the worst she'd seen. Eating lunch at school for Daniel's birthday that day I noticed many of the kids at the table with the same rash.  Evidently it hit the 1st grade hard.  That's easy to believe since they are contagious until the rash breaks out, but before that point, you don't even know they have it.  

Thankfully, you are only supposed to get it once and his rash went away quickly.  I'm not sure the girls have ever had it, but so far no rash for them.