November

November was a maybe not so good month.  With all of us being sick, missing a lot of school, first big holiday not together as a family, it was HARD but we got through it and I really am thankful for what I have, the people that are in my life, all that we can do, and I am especially thankful for my two sweet kiddos.  Here are their school pictures.  Memphis 4th grade/Kayzee 2nd grade.

 I took this picture on November 6th! Yep.  The tree was up, shopping done, and presents wrapped and under the tree by November 6th!!!  I never put up my tree before Thanksgiving but everything was done and ready to go so we decided why not?!?!?!  My kids loved it.  It definitely helped me not be stressed about Christmas coming up and I got to really enjoy the holidays and relax.

 My kids got haircuts.  Kayzee just wanted a trim but the guy cutting her hair kept cutting it shorter and shorter and putting in layers and I wasn't paying attention.  Kayzee cried the whole way home.  She hated it.  But when we got home I styled it and the next day at school she got so many compliments from teachers and friends that she decided she liked it.  And I guess all her friends really liked it because 3 of them cut their hair short like hers.

 Memphis showed a picture of a haircut he really wanted but his haircut ended up nothing like the picture so he didn't like his either.  Maybe we need to start going somewhere else...

 Memphis drew this at school!  He is getting so good at art.  I was out doing recess duty and Memphis came running out to me in the middle of class because he had to show me.  Good job buddy!

 Memphis and Kayzee ended up going down to Blanding to stay with their grandma and grandpa Royer this year for Thanksgiving.  I knew we needed to have our own Thanksgiving before they left so we all took the day off of school on the Tuesday before and celebrated all day.  It was the best day ever.  Something I will always remember.  First we went to a park and played hide and seek.  I won every round!!!

 Next we went to the movies to see The Grinch.  Such a good movie!!!  Since it was $5 Tuesdays we decided to try out the D-Box seats...the seats that move and I am just glad my kids loved it and got to experience it because we are never doing it again!  I felt so nauseous the rest of the day I was kind of miserable.  Oh well, anything for my kids!  After the movie we went out to eat.  Best Thanksgiving Celebration ever, spending time with my kids.

 The Wednesday before Thanksgiving we got up and went to Funtopia because we still have some punches left on our punch card.  The slide was finally working yay!  Then my kids left for Blanding.

 This year for Thanksgiving I decided it was my Friendsgiving year.  My 3 best friends knew it would be hard for me to celebrate the Holiday alone so they each found ways to cheer me up.  Wednesday night after my kids left, Amy took me out and we went to the movies and out to eat.  It was a great night with lots of laughter and some tears.  On Thanksgiving in the morning I went up to Allison's house and took them one of my yummy chocolate pies.  We snacked and talked for awhile.  Then I went back home and went over to my neighbor's house to have Thanksgiving dinner with my friend Angela's family.  Yummy food!  I hate Black Friday shopping (probably because I had to work it for a few years) but since I didn't have my kids I decided to go try it out so later in the evening on Thanksgiving I went back out with my friend Allison.  I did find a few good deals so it was worth it.  Late night though and then I woke up early on Friday and went back out shopping with Angela.  Whew!  I was so tired after all that I went home and took a long nap!   I LOVE my friends.  They really helped me get through the holiday because it was really hard for me to not be with my kids.

All month long I had been suffering through a painful sinus infection.  I was putting off going into the doctor because I have had so many before and my experience in the past was they wouldn't give me an antibiotic unless it lasted longer than two weeks.  Well, the Saturday after Thanksgiving I woke up feeling fine but then around 11 I spiked a fever of 101.  It was so sudden and my throat was so painful  I knew I had strep.  Went to the doctor and I got diagnosed with a sinus infection, strep, AND a double ear infection.  UGH!  We tried to figure out where I got strep from and the doctor thinks from Black Friday shopping!  Maybe I shouldn't do that anymore...The doctor put me on two different antibiotics to treat the different infections.  I was still so miserable Sunday night so I got a sub for work and I actually ended up getting worse, my fever wouldn't break and the lymph nodes in my neck swelled up so much I couldn't sleep laying down it hurt so bad.  My doctor called in yet another antibiotic and this time he gave me a really strong dose and that finally kicked it.  I waited to go back to work till my fever broke and I could finally eat and get enough sleep to have enough energy so I missed a few days.  And the news for my future is...because I have had too many sinus infections and I have had strep too many times, I need to get my tonsils out and have a stent put in my sinus' to open them up.  It is a long recovery so I need to wait till summer so I don't miss 4-6 weeks of school so I really hope I am not sick all winter like all the past winters.  Lots of prayers!

 My kids came home from Blanding on that Saturday and they were so wonderful and took such good care of me while I was sick.  They were always checking on me and making sure to get me anything I needed.  I made them wash their hands a lot and tried to keep them out of my room as much as possible so they wouldn't get strep.  Luckily they didn't get it but they did get really bad colds and coughs so they didn't sleep well at night either so they missed a few days of school as well.  Memphis was so sweet and made Kayzee a get well card.

 So far we have all felt fine and haven't been sick since so we are so excited for Christmas!  It's going to be the best!  Just me and my kiddos celebrating a wonderful holiday together and keeping our traditions alive.  Happy Holidays everyone!