Christmas 2014 aka Flu Outbreak 2014

So the Monday before Christmas, Bentley started coughing. I remembered last year being at Urgent Care with him on Christmas Eve with RSV. So as soon as he started coughing, I went ahead and took him into the doctor before they closed for the holiday just to see what we were dealing with. A kid in his class had been diagnosed with RSV the week before, so I figured that is what it was. There are no meds for it, but I always take the first kid that gets sick into the doctor so that we know what we are dealing with when the rest of them get it. It is all over the news how bad the flu is in the US so the doctor's are testing everyone that comes in. Bentley wasn't even running a fever yet, but sure enough, he tested positive for the flu. It caught me so off guard. This is the Flu A strand, so the flu shot didn't do any good against it. He ended up spiking a fever that night around midnight and of course he needs the breathing treatments with his asthsma. My poor baby....

So, long story short, it ended up spreading to everyone! Kiley started showing signs on Christmas Eve, Mikey Christmas Morning, me Christmas Night, Grampy and Marmee both the Saturday after Christmas. We came home early from Marmee & Guy's house to give Marmee a break. Presley, Mycah and Grammy all got it on Sunday after Christmas. We felt so horrible for spreading it to our loved ones and it was a long and memorable Christmas Break.

Teacher & Therapists Gifts!!

I realized this year that between Teachers, Teacher Assistants, Special's Teachers, Therapists, Bus Drivers and Aides, we were going to be giving a lot of gifts! I think when I totaled it up, it ended up being 22 gifts. My friend Gretchen has been doing a lot of crafting lately and she inspired me to make these picture holders as gifts. They turned out pretty cute and we hope everyone loved them.

Both of Kiley's home health therapists are pregnant so I did ones for their nurseries. One was having a girl.

And the other was having a boy.

I made this one for Aunt Mycah.

This was the Texas Tech one for Uncle Trey.

This Aggie one was for Aunt Katie.

Presley loved this one because of the shoes, so the Elf actually took it one night and Presley ended up getting it from Santa with her class picture on it!

As for the rest of them, they all turned out cute and different and I couldn't choose who to give which ones to, so I just wrapped them all and then put names on them!

It was a lot of pressure to not only make all of the gifts but wrap them in time too. If I had to do it again, I absolutely would. They were so fun to make!

Trains & Girls Night!

One Saturday morning, we met Grammy over at some of her friend's house. They are really into trains and we knew the kids would love seeing them.

That evening, I went to celebrate Christmas with my besties! We got mani/pedis, had a wonderful dinner and opened presents and chatted all night. Always so special and so fun!

Uncle Matt came over to help with the kids. They sent me some selfies.

All was good until I got the phone call that Kiley and Bentley had flooded the upstairs bathroom and water was leaking through the light fixture in the kitchen. Fun times....

Daddie's Work Santa!

Our 3rd and final visit to Santa was at Daddie's work. We always take a picture in Daddie's work chair before we go in to see Santa. Always so candid.

Bentley finally didn't cry!! No smile, but no tears either!

I think I have explained this before, but the Santa at Mikey's work is also a little charity event for Children's Medical Center. Each of the kids get two presents from Santa. They get to keep one and then they give the other to a representative from the hospital to take to the sick kids. Presley started to understand the concept a little bit this year. She was ok with letting go of the other present when she realized they were the same. We are working on it! She's got her Santa pose down!

Kiley did pretty well too.

My little man in his tie....playing with his new toy!

Merry Christmas to all of our beloved Northwestern Mutual Family!!

Kiley's School Winter Party!

I was invited to both of Kiley's school parties. The first one was in her life skills classroom. We played some games and ate some snacks and then she opened her present from her teachers. She is sitting with her friend Will. They are so fun together.

Mrs. Armstrong sure knows what she likes!

Mrs. Armstrong was telling us that Kiley and Will love to play "Calendar". It is an activity they do each morning when they talk about the day and the weather. This picture is priceless.

After her life skills party, we went to her general education kindergarten classroom party. They had four different stations of activities and then we made our own trail mix to take home. All of the kids knew Kiley and I met a little girl that Kiley sits with in Art and she helps Kiley with her art projects. She was so sweet. The Para said that Kiley took direction from her friend very well. It was neat to see her interact with her classmates.

No school for two weeks!

Christmas with Aunt Katie and Uncle Trey!

Aunt Katie and Uncle Trey planned to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Trey's family this year, so we celebrated with them a little early before they left town. Katie and Trey got the kids some fun toys and Mikey and I gift cards to our favorite shopping places! We gave them one Texas A&M and one Texas Tech picture holder, our family picture, the kid's school pictures and gift cards so they can shop for things for their house! It was a Merry Christmas with Katie and Trey!

Daddie was styling Bentley's hair that night....

Especially Needed Santa, Mickey & Minnie

This was our 4th year to visit the Especially Needed Santa! Bentley would not sit in Santa's lap without crying, so I got in this picture with the kids.

Then we took a picture with the whole family!

Bentley wanted nothing to do with Mickey and Minnie either, so just the girls took a picture with them.

We are so blessed to be a part of this organization and have the opportunity to see Santa without waiting in long lines at the mall.