Croup vs Asthma

My poor little Matthew.  For the past few days, I just thought he had croup.  He has had a really hard time breathing and had the yucky croup cough.  Several times in the night, I almost took him to the ER - but it never got quite that bad.  Then today, after having to sleep most of last night on the couch with him with the window open (and let me tell you it has gotten cold here - I had to turn the heater on last night) - I took him to the doctor.  At first this morning, I thought he was better but he started going downhill around 11 and fast.  When we finally got to the doctor, he was having as really hard time - while waiting for the doctor I almost went out and found the doctor a couple of times because he could barely breath.  When she came in, I told her what had been going on and she checked him out.  The first thing she said was that he had an ear infection.  What!  Not Matthew!  He is the only one that doesn't have ear problems (the rest have all had tubes).  Then she listened to his breathing.  She said it didn't really sound like croup (or look like croup from how he was breathing) but that it sounded like asthma - it was coming from his lungs and it was on the exhale and not inhale (croup is problems with the inhale and asthma the exhale).  So, they had him do a breathing treatment of albuterol (seen in the picture - luckily I had my cell phone).  After the treatment, when the doctor came and listened to him again, she said it really sounded like asthma now but she could hear some in his throat (croup like).  So, they gave him decadron (sp?) covered up by Hershey's syrup to help with the swelling in his throat (and lungs).  We are also going to start treating him for a croup like asthma (there is a name for it but I can't remember - it is croup that sounds like asthma) since he has been in 4 times already this year for croup - not normal.  We are going to give him Flovent every day through an inhaler and have albuterol for the flare ups.  We are going to see how he does with this through the winter and then re-evaluate.  Anyway, long story short - went in for croup, came out with an ear infection, asthma and 4 prescriptions.  I just hope this all helps the poor little guy - he is so miserable (but still - there are much much worse things).

White Chili Recipe

It has been cold and rainy here so when my friend Carol said she was making white chili for her family today, I had to make it too.  This recipe is a combo of my mom's chili blanco recipe and one Carol has (Carol did the combining, not me).  It is really yummy and so easy (to make it even easier - Carol uses a rotisserie chicken from Costco)!  Enjoy!

Scary Guys - According to Gavin

While Gavin was eating breakfast this morning, he said,

"I don't like them scary guys at the party store.  Them freak me out!"

I guess he thought of that because I was getting ready for Brecken's little birthday party tonight so he saw the Mickey Mouse decorations and thought of when we went to the party store and the workers were all dressed up as "scary guys".  I'm not sure where the "freak me out" came from - but it sure made me laugh!

Fun Fall Decorations

I love Fall (like most everyone else).  I love decorating for Fall and Halloween (but not scary Halloween).  Here are some of my favorite decorations I put up for the season - mostly from Rod Works (I LOVE that store)!!!!!  I love my new gourds too - some of them even light up!

Brecken's Turning 1!!!!!

Brecken's birthday isn't until Wednesday, October 8, but we are driving to California that day to go to Disneyland (hence the Mickey Mouse theme) - so we are celebrating a few days early.  If you are around on Sunday, and want some cake and ice cream - come on by - we would love to see you!

Brecken Standing Alone!!!!

He can finally stand by himself - not for long but Brecken can stand by himself for a second or two.  But no one is happier about it than he is!

Riding Bikes (no training wheels for Matthew)

I tried a few weeks ago to teach Matthew how to ride his bike without training wheels - but it didn't work.  But, as soon as Ed stood by Matthew, he was off and could ride without training wheels almost instantly.  It was so much fun to see how happy he was when he realized he could do it.  It was also fun to watch Gavin ride his little tri-cycle.  We tried the big bike with training wheels but it was just too hard for him to peddle.  He was so proud of himself!  He just wants to be big like Dallin & Matthew.

Gavin's Quote of the Day

Last night, while I was teaching and Ed had the boys, Gavin was pretending to be a robot so Ed asked him if he was Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. Then Gavin said,

"Robots don't have names. Just guns."

I have no idea where he got that - he is definitely all boy!

Peter B. Concert

For girls night out this month, we went to the Peter B. concert at Thanksgiving Point.  My friend that was in charge, actually is friends with Peter B. so she was able to get in early and save us a GREAT spot on the grass (thanks Brooke).  We try to go every year so some of us brought our husbands (since they like his music too).  I love Peter B.'s music but I also love going because it is a blast to my past.  My friends and I went all the time back in our single, college days.  I had more energy to dance back then but I still tried and had fun!

Bath Time for Brecken

I love this guy and luckily, he loves to take a bath - wherever I happen to give him one!

New & Fun Treats

Last night was mini-Enrichment and since I am on the mini-Enrichment committee, I took dessert (along with another one of my friends).  Well, lets just say I went a little overboard.  I have a bunch of recipes I have been wanting to try but didn't have a place to take them.  So, when I realized I had to take dessert to this, I jumped on it.  I tried 3 new recipes - all of which I got from the Picky Palate blog.  And if that wasn't enough, since it was my last mini-Enrichment in this ward (our ward boundaries are changing on Sunday) I also made my Chocolate Cake to make sure I took at least one really good dessert.  Anyway, from what everyone said, they were all really good.  I am on South Beach right now so I haven't tasted them - but they seemed to be a hit.  Apparently, you can't taste the Oreos or the brownies in the Brownie Swirled Peanut Butter Oreo Cookies - be careful to not over cook them (that makes them dry) - but they tasted good and look kind of fun.  Anyway, have fun with them!  When I made the Chocolate Chip Cookie Cup Treats, I made a full recipe of cookie dough (with 2 kinds of semi-sweet chips, a little bit of dark chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips) and only but the Rice Krispy treats on half.

Up Goes Brecken!

After being thrown up on yesterday and today by my sweet little Brecken, I thought I should make a page reminding me how cute he is and how much fun he is when he isn't throwing up.  For some reason, whenever his has an ear infection or his tubes are just plugged, he throws up (and wakes up in the night).  I thought there was something wrong a few weeks ago, so I took him to his ENT.  She had me put drops in his ears because one was plugged.  A day after putting drops in, he stopped throwing up.  After 6 days of drops, I stopped.  He was fine for a day or 2 and then started throwing up again (and waking up in the night).  So, I started the drops again but for some reason, after a few days, the throwing up started again.  Ugh!  I need to call the ENT again.  Oh well - there are much worse things.  He is a sweet little guy and is loving that he can pull himself up.  Soon, he will be walking (well, maybe not that soon).