SUMMER 2015

3 whole months to write about....I need to be better at keeping up!
Okay... quick run down.

We said see you later to the Mash's
Ethan finished T/Th preschool
SWCP relay in support Semper Fi Fund
Ethan got sick - in your spare time and when you want a good read, check out "HSP" or "Henoch Schonlein Purpura."
Kids and I flew to the east coast for 2 weeks.
Finished up by hanging out in beautiful San Clemente
Oh - and we found out that we will be moving to Nashville after school in 2016!!! Super proud of hubby!! Probably the only time in our lives that we'll have 10 months to plan a move!

1st day of Preschool

He definitely grew up in those short 10 months!!

She had some practice in June for her big début in September

 

Super excited to have Mrs. Harrison again this year!

 

 June 20, 2015 - Stroller Warriors Camp Pendleton relay to benefit the Semper Fi Fund! Thank you to all who donated to this amazing organization!

Listening to the kick off!

At the beginning in Oceanside!

Let's do this!!

Loved running with Mega-legs all day... and the rest of these lovelies!

Hitting up the trail from Pulgas.

 

Love this lady!
We're missing one :-(

 

Another successful and rewarding relay!
Well done, Stroller Warriors Camp Pendleton!

The Dream Team!

Four days of swim lessons, a trip to the beach down in Coronado and some pool action with our buddies. Helped pass the week.

Getting our kick on!



Totally serious now with our goggles!

Oh, just chilling'

A little dance action!

A little PB&J on the beach.
That hat and those shorts... too stinking' cute!

A little lounging around with our buddy!

A week after the relay, we headed down to San Diego to spend the day with Grandma & Grandpa. We even decided we were going to spend the night in the fancy-schnmancy hotel. Ethan and I head out for a walk along Seaport Village and a short 2 hours later, we're headed to Balboa's ER because he refused to walk. Lots of crying and laying on the ground.

I debated whether or not the put these on, but it's nothing but interesting! It still is so crazy to think about!

Enjoying a sweet treat at the beginning of our walk

After being checked in.... trying to keep his spirits up.

It's no fun not being able to put weight on your leg!

OH MY GOSH! WHAT ARE THESE!??!

We were lucky... we got to stay in the "Navy hotel" while Eleanor hung out with Grandma & Grandpa.
After clean x-rays and blood work, the NP on duty in the ER brought up the diagnosis of "HSP." Confirmed by the infectious disease doctor and the 2 pediatricians we saw. They initially were going to send us on our way with a steroid but the head ped doctor wanted him to stay the night.
Only treatment - pain management. OOOMPH!

Momma had to capture some of the spots.
HSP is an auto-immune disorder.... therefore not contagious. They believe it's a reaction to a virus. More common in boys. Swelling & pain in the joints (like arthritis) and leaking blood vessels.
Severe cases include intussusception and kidney problems.  

Swollen joints and spots!

Poor little dude!

His location for about 4 weeks!

My little buddy showing off his "red, white and blue" for July 4th

 

Enjoying some fun with our buddy, Elaine!

 

Eleanor sure loved the fireworks.
Ethan and Daddy missed them, as Ethan fell asleep on the couch while we all were outside enjoying a potluck!

So squishy!

LOTS of swelling!

They just kept getting worse.
Leaking blood vessels = not awesome!

Painful looking. Hot to the touch but it never seemed to bother him.
The swelling & pain in the joints on the other hand....HORRIBLE!

One turned into a huge blood blister



During all of this we (well El and I) enjoyed a breakfast with our buds. We celebrated Jack at Goofy's Kitchen. It was really a neat buffet. Loved seeing the characters!
Ethan was pretty miserable. Ate next to nothing but watermelon (which he got sick eating). If you really look at the photo you can see how bad he looks.

Love Minnie!

She takes the best photos!



MOM - no more photos!!

Sleeping anywhere was a part of his day!

At least he let me move him!



He hid under the blanket because he didn't want to eat and next thing I knew, he was asleep.


After a few doctor's appointments, we were told we were all cleared to travel. Okay, so I definitely made Ethan wear long sleeves and pants in the airport and on the plane. Just this year, a little girl was taken by CPS in Boston because she had the same thing.... except someone thought her parents were abusing her. How horrible!!!

Three seats = SO MUCH ROOM!

He slept for 2.5 hours!

We landed!

Fairfax Park choo-choo.
He looks miserable - can't believe I made him go!

Carousel action!

Trying his best to enjoy himself!

Eating was just no fun at all for Mr. E!
Eleanor definitely enjoyed her dinner!

They love "Green Hat, Blue Hat."

Life was pretty unbearable, so we took a trip to INova.
An IV line, x-rays and an ultrasound of the intestines. SUCH FUN!
Some protein in his urine... but probably because he was dehydrated!
Left with some steroids to help with his pain.

While Ethan was having a blast at the ER, Eleanor was living it up with Aunt Ally at the water park.
She loved it! And she sure loved all the attention... which she'd been missing since Ethan got sick.

Pizza making!
Nannette - I still need that crab pizza recipe!

Some slip 'n slide action in the backyard.

Catching up with some sweet friends!

Stroller Warrior minis

We love Laurie!!

Eleanor loved the water park in Fairfax.

Ethan just hung on the edges. He was finished after about 5 minutes.

Ahahahaha! The water just collapsed!

After a week with Nannette and PawPaw, we headed to the beach with Grandma, Grandpa, and our cousins! After a few days, Ethan finally perked up! I have ZERO photos from on the beach... they're on Aunt Wawa's camera! Hoping I can see some soon!

Enjoying some chow before the rest of the crew arrives!

Seriously.... he would sleep anywhere!

Hanging out with "big guy."
A little down time after some awesome beach time... for everyone but Ethan.

Bentley is probably talking about Ethan having to be "patient."

Cousins!

The young ones.

Snuggles with Caleb!

Before we headed back to Annapolis on Thursday, we had to stop and enjoy some go-karts!

Of course he chose the red one!

Grandma and Eleanor

The boys are ready!

We left the beach early so that we could visit with some of our friends who had to move away from SoCal.

Love the Copeland family!

Hugs for sweet Annabelle!

We miss this lovely lady and her family!

We were able to enjoy a Major League Lacrosse game.
The kids had to "find the orange ball" to keep their attention.

She sure does love Uncle Jeff!

EGG CUSTARD!

AHHHH-MAZING!!!

A little Herndon action after mass!

BOOM!

We were so lucky to have met up with the Kennedy's!

Miss these ladies!! So happy we could get together.

We headed back to Nannette and PawPaw's for the last couple days. We enjoyed the National Zoo and dinner with Aunt Ally, Uncle Brian and soon-to-be Aunt Casey!

Playing with Daddy's G.I. Joe's

Apes eating bubbles....YICK!

"Mommy... take my picture"

Perfect seat to see the pandas.

I'm thinking she had a great time!

Helping Nannette make PawPaw's snack mix!

Tossing some water balloons!

Too much cuteness!

Modified s'mores!

It's all good. We LOVE marshmallows.

One last game of Candyland before we head to the airport



These two!!

On the people movers at Dulles.

We are so happy to see this guy!!

We returned home on the 28th of July. Since then we've had lots of fun!! So happy E is feeling better!

SWCP Mini-miles final run.
Eleanor ran a 5K during the month of July....a quarter mile at a time.
Ethan had some make-up days he completed in August!

False start? Or great off the blocks?

Some serious & intense running!

Purple shirt twins!

"Good job, Buddy. High five!"

Eleanor's medal!

Ethan's medal!

Thank you Aunt Wawa for our new toys!

Enjoying a few minutes at the all-day lacrosse game benefiting the Semper Fi Fund.

Some days he still didn't feel well.

A running fool!

It's a rough life!

A Capo Beach night out! Free balloons and shave ice. Not too shabby!

Hanging' with the Weasley's!

Still not 100%....but almost there!

Jumping in the pool with some neighborhood big kids!

Rest time at the Hermosa Swim Center. Such a fun splash pad/play area!

A little inside play time.

Climbing the huge bounce wall with our buddy, Jackson!

Ethan's buddy, Ken, from Stroller Warriors!

So glad the Greco's stopped by!

Kids being kids during photos!

The bebes modeling the latest gear for SWCP!

Some play time with our friend, Tove!

No more crib/toddler bed! (*sniff*) Finally moved them into the same room.
Now I just need to find something to do with our new space!

Dr. Mike's office

She was so good!

Another "see-you-later" to the Cristales family.
No fun.... ever!

One last photo with our buddy, Juan.

People always ask if we had a good summer. I'm sure we did.... just seems like all we did was go to doctors and watch shows. Definitely one I'll never forget.