Natalie

On Saturday when Natalie woke up she said that her neck hurt. Joe and I thought she had just slept weird and so off to gymnastics she went. Later that day we went to an Earth Day Festival downtown and Nat started to complain about her legs hurting... I carried her to the car and she took a nap when we got home. When she woke up she was saying her neck hurt worse as did her throat hurt she also had a fever of 101.5.. I was sure she had strep throat so I took her to a Med Check. Nope her rapid test came back normal so I just thought she had some drainage and slept wrong. With a little Motrin she was doing great.

At 2am she was saying crying in her sleep about her neck and running a 102.7 fever. I called the childrens nurses line becuase I have always heard that meningitis starts with a stiff neck. The nurses line said to take her in. In the ER they did a chest x-ray as well as a CAT scan with contrast on her neck. It came back that she had a pretty bad infection in her neck between her esophagus and her spine called retropharyngeal cellulitis. They admitted her to the hospital and she was not released until Tuesday, yesterday. Today she is saying that her ear/jaw area hurt really bad and her fever is back. Joe is taking her to the doctor in about an hour. I will let you know if she goes back in.

Riley is 3 month and Natlie is 4!!!

Riley is now 3 months old… and getting big! He is 25.25 inches long and 14.5 pounds. He looks just like Joe, see below! Natalie is 4!!! She is 46 inches tall and 43 pounds. She loves her brother so much and tells him everyday. He is smiling more and more. Now for what you all come for… pictures…

Natalie's birthday cake, made by our friend Chrissy's mom. It was the best cake ever!

Natalie after her party

Riley hanging out at work

Riley outside for his first of many bonfires in the court.

View from our deck on vacation in NC, day 1

View from the deck the last day, check out the snow!

View from the front of the cabin

Family picture on vacation at the Nantahala Nature Center

Riley spent most of vacation sleeping….


Natalie hiking

Beautiful waterfall on our hike.