It's been forever!

As many of you may know, A LOT has happened since I made our last post at the start of December. UGH...what a fast, busy, crazy, wild, stressful and happy 3 months! Let's begin!

As just a quick insert, I found this great picture of my dad face to face with the wild beast that lives at our house. The elusive Maggie, who has been a long enemy of my father, reached out for forgiveness. Several years ago now, while staying with my parents, Maggie-da-bandit jumped up on the counter, submerged her paw in the fish tank, skewered my dad's favorite fish, ate the back end of it and left it in front of his door to find in the morning. I never thought he would forgive her, but after seeing this....there may be hope!

The month of December was full of fun and family! For starters, we attended our first family Christmas Parade! The city of Florence hosts a wonderful and surprisingly long parade each year down one of the main streets leading to downtown. Despite it being a bit chilly (in the 50's probably), we really enjoyed it and Elijah was practically speechless once all the dancers, animals and even the Shriners went past.

We also spent a lot of time doing some of our new favorite things, like stickers, drawing and just being silly!

Elijah has finally gotten into the morning groove of getting up, ready and off to school at All Saints PMO program. Matt has even taken to driving E a few mornings a month, which has been a very special treat for Elijah. (secretly, I think Matt has really enjoyed it as well!)

Elijah's very excited smile as he's riding to school with Daddy

Our handsome guy shoveling Kashi waffle into his mouth before school

Anyhow, with Christmas approaching, we weren't sure what we were going to be doing with the family, but our our joyous surprise, it all came together at the last minute! Not only did Nonna and Grandpa make it out to our new home for Christmas, but so did Uncle Justin and Aunt Trink!!!!! And in the meantime, we played, went on suitcase rides, danced and just had fun!

Soooo much fun!

Watching Shrek together....note the odd similarity between head size and orbital pull....err I mean orientation

And as an early Christmas surprise, Matt took my Dad into Nucor to see THE TRAINS!!!!!!!!! I think my dad really enjoyed himself. And I know that we've all had some great laughs at the video of his train ride since!

Christmas morning finally came and Santa really brought us some wonderful gifts!!! Elijah and all the rest of us must have been very good this year!

Elijah got an awesome truck from Nonna and Grandpa!

Elijah also got a camera from Santa

Elijah also had a Thomas the Train stomp around the family room

And Aunt Trink fell asleep :)

Elijah has gotten more outgoing with slides, stairs and even athletics. He doesn't just walk, he runs...EVERYWHERE! And as he gets busier, mommy gets bigger and slower, with baby brother growing everyday.

Finally, after all the December excitement, we made it to January and Grandma and Grandpa Bowerman arrived!!!

Showing Grandpa how you work this thing

Elijah and Grandma. The sun was in their eyes, so it's not the best picture, but cute nonetheless. 

Elijah getting his first block of instruction on golf technique

Sadly, after Grandma and Grandpa left, we began our month long struggle of illnesses :( Elijah had a night of inconsolable crying, which resulted in a 3am drive with daddy and 3 Bowermans that were running on zero sleep.

Alas, everything seemed to improve....for a week or so. Then come a fateful Wednesday evening, Matt and I woke to Elijah stirring in his crib. It looked like drool all over his sheets (silly me), it wasn't. Elijah had his first GI bug. After about 6 hrs of throwing up, at least 5 changes in jammies, he eventually passed out in our bed.

Two days later, Matt had the bug and by Sunday evening, it was my turn. That same night, Elijah came into the ER (where I was working) with RSV vs. Pneumonia and was placed on anti-biotics and referred for an appointment in the morning. Despite feeling HORRIBLE, I went to work and shared the bug with my colleagues and on the way home, call my mom to fly into the rescue. She did and it was a lifesaver!  Nonna to the rescue to deliver nebulizer treatments, help with Elijah while Mommy was on the mend and cover me while I was at work and Matt was out of town.

Sadly, within 48hrs of Nonna's exposure to me and my household of virulent GI germs, Nonna was sick. And for the record, Nonna has not been "sick" in at least 10 years. It was bad. And to top the night of Nonna begin sick, Elijah developed a 104 temp, due to a wonderful ear infection that brewed in less than 4 days! UGH.

The entire experience pretty well summed up the entire month and has resulted in finally meeting up with the ENT doctor for Elijah to get tubes. It's about time! Come April, we're going in for tubes and hopefully that will end this run of ear infections.

Anyhow, Elijah is finally better, along with Matt, Nonna, Sara Elise, Ms. Carol and me. Whoa. We're grateful to have survived and as a result of missing work and other things, I am now part-time, allowing much more flexibility in my schedule. It has allowed us to accomplish a great deal of tasks and projects at the house and we're all happier for it.

Elijah helping me clean up all the GI bugs in the house

Bringing us up to date, today we had a great time enjoying our first bit of sunshine in over 4 days. The temps got into the upper 60's and Elijah and Daddy has some quality running-around-time. As I'm now 23 weeks and getting bigger by the day, I do a bit more of the picture taking and such, but it was great being a spectator.

Hope the updates are enjoyable. I can say I'll be better at updating from now on, but no promises. Baby #2 is coming in June....let the countdown begin for our last 17 weeks as a family of three.