The real "ER"

We had to take Brandon to the ER on Thursday night.  He has typical 'cold-like' symptoms (stuffy/runny nose, cough, low-grade fever, irritable)...but with a baby who has a history of lung disease, it can go to much worse very quickly.  So, for peace of mind if nothing else, we went.  We were there for 3 hours :/  However, it turned out to be well worth the trip.  Brandon is fine (just a cold).  The ER doc ordered him a nebulizer, so I'm sure that will help with his wheezing.  The doc also gave us many names of pediatricians and child psychiatrists for Kaitlynne (she has been discharged from her current care and I'm having a hard time finding people who take her insurance and kids her age).  The referrals are in the next town over, but we actually live a tad closer to that town anyway, so it works.  Monday morning I'll be on the phone, that's for sure!  He was very nice and sympathetic to our situation.  He also didn't treat us badly for bringing in a baby with a mild cold...says it was the best thing we could have done (I told him I'm not super comfortable with the kids' current pediatrician and in the midst of finding a new one).  Seems as tho Daddy and I have caught his cold, too!  He handles it better, tho (Brandon)...he's been so pleasant, considering he doesn't feel well.  He and I went to a friend's house to have a yard sale, and he sat out there with us for hours in his stroller/bouncy seat.  He played, ate, talked to his squeaky fish (88 cents for 3 of these things and he LOVES them...lol)...he's just such a joy.

I've started a new computer-based chore/reward program with Kaitlynne.  She earns points towards prizes (cash, trip to her favorite restaurant, go to see a movie, etc...).  She's been doing it a week now and it seems to be helping some!  I can notice the improvement!  Hopefully we're on the right track to something, for once.

Same ole' same ole' at Alex's work.  After all the drama with he and his father, his father told him in a roundabout way that he (Alex) was right about this youngest brother...and he agrees with having him work the desk as little as possible.  It's about time, is all I say.  However, he should have gone with Alex on this from the beginning instead of what he did...no big surprise on that part, tho.  I think the stress of knowing how things are there for Alex, along with a few other big things going on right now...a bit overwhelming for me.  I've been "out of sorts" the last few days, and I can't pinpoint it on any one thing...so I'm guessing that's it.  I did have a small "breakdown" the on Thursday night.  Alex and I were getting things packed in the car to sell at the yard sale, and I asked him to grab the bassinette we had bought for Marissa that we never used.  I was all gung-ho about selling it (need the space, and we kept the other bassinette for future kids), but as soon as we got it out into the car, I just lost it.  I could remember every single little detail of the day we went to buy it.  I was 34 weeks pregnant and nervous that she had nothing to sleep in when she came home...I had been harassing Alex for a couple of weeks for us to go get something, so we went to this cute consignment shop and got this Noah's Ark bassinette.  I set it in the corner of her nursery with a cute pink sheet, cute pink blanket, with a wall hanging of Pooh and Friends over it.  It might as well have been the day before, it felt like it had just happened.  Alex and I had a small cry together, looked at the little boy coo'ing up at us, and remembered that she brought him to us safely.  Such a big price to pay for a beautiful little boy...

Added a few pics from last night.  I had Brandon in his exersaucer next to me, and he was laughing everytime I popped over with 'peek-a-boo'.  Daddy and I are having a date night (chaperoned by Brandon) tonight.  Kaitlynne got her *prize* for the week by getting Chuck E Cheese on Friday with our friends...and she asked if she could stay over with my mom tonight, so we'll be taking full advantage :)