Apple Picking at Barton's Orchards

Paul, Emme and I went to Barton's today to get some delicious apples and pumpkins. It was our first time to Barton's and I am glad we went early. When we were leaving there was a line about 200 people or more long! The traffic was out of control too! We picked some yummy apples even though there were not too many left and Emme picked out a bunch of pumpkins. It was a beautiful day too and the doughnuts were soooo yummy!

Emme's Hospital Stay

The IV was the worst part- still not sure if it was as bad for her as it was me watching and helping the 7 other people in our room putting the IV in Emme.

Emme likes this- her own big girl bed with a tv and snacks!

Emme woke up Saturday morning screaming which is quite unusual. She was breathing kind of heavy and had a runny nose but nothing that said run to the hospital. So we called the doctor and headed over, skipping Emme's favorite time of the week- music class. While on the phone with the doctor Emme was screaming still and the doctor was sure she must have an ear infection the way she was hollering. When we got there Emme was so upset still but was able to calm down for a few minutes when she saw the horses and her friend Arnold the pig. Emme's pediatrician is located on a horse farm. She listened to her, checked her ears, throat, and finally the dreaded strep test. Everything was perfect- no ear infection, throat was clear, no strep only a little bit of wheezing. So after a treatment we left with instructions to call in an hour with an update. We took a walk for some fresh air and all was good for awhile until it was time to eat when Emme started screaming again and refused to eat anything. I called the doctor again and I was instructed to check her from head to toe for anything out of the ordinary. Since I found nothing I took her back to the doctor where she heard a little crackle in her lungs and saw her drawing her skin in between her ribs a little as she was taking a breath. So we headed to the hospital for a chest x-ray to check for pneumonia.

We were taken immediately and spent three hours in the emergency room receiving breathing treatments and oral steroids when finally they agreed she had to be admitted since she was "desatting" terrible after every treatment. Normal oxygen sat levels are supposed to be around 100, Emme's ranged mid 80's. Emme was treated for asthma last winter with a nebulizer but was weaned off in April because she was doing so well and was not having any episodes while taking her maintenance med- pulmicort. Her asthma trigger is any kind of infection or cold. Doctors at the hospital could not find anything wrong with Emme other than a runny nose! This huge asthma episode was the result of something so minor which was so upsetting to me. Not that I wanted her to have something major like RSV or pneumonia but learning that a simple little viral infection could have such an awful effect on such a little kid. So after a three day stay at Northern Westchester Hospital where Emme was treated like a princess, and not just because she was the only kid on the peds floor, we were able to come home. We do have to follow a new course of action with the nebulizer similar to that of last year with pulmicort and then adding albuterol only when an episode occurs but now we are including the chewable singulair pill also which has shown to really help some kids tackle their asthma better. We will see how it goes. Emme is such a trooper. I have been told by many doctors that she is such a happy asthma kid that even when she is feeling awful she finds a way to smile through it.

Emme keeps herself busy at the Contact Agility Trial. Since she can't run a dog yet she spends her days on the playground at the trial site and also watches her favorite dogs run!

Auntie Lauren & I match! We coordinate our trial gear all the time.

Picture Day

Emme had her school pictures today but I couldn't resist taking a few before school. Yes it is dark out- we leave for school around 6:20 am so the sun wasn't quite up yet.

Emme's Going to Be a Big Sister!!!!!

We are expecting a baby in early February and are very excited. Emme knows all about the baby in my belly and when we went for our first ultrasound Emme told the doctor that there was a baby on the ultrasound monitor which completely threw her. She was stunned that Emme could know that since it only looked like a little bean. Now Emme looks forward to seeing "baby" when we go to the doctor. I hope she will like it as much when it is born and cries and has to share Emme's mommy and daddy!

As for my pregnancy so far I feel great. I managed traveling to Disney and dealt with the heat. My feet have not swelled up like with Emme although it is still early. I feel very similar to my pregnancy with Emme- no sickness and feeling good. I am still running the dogs in agility and that actually makes me feel more energetic that on other days when I just want to shut my eyes and sleep all day. We shall see how it goes. We haven't decided yet if we are going to find out if it is going to be a boy or a girl.

Big Girl Booster Seat

An awesome consignment shop opened up near my house a few months ago. I have made some great purchases there. They have tons of stuff all in really good condition. I just purchased Emme this booster seat, which you cannot see in the picture, that allows Emme to sit at our high top table with us instead of in her high chair. She loves it- and so do we. We can all eat at the table together.

Corn on the Cob

This kid loves her fruit and veggies.