weekend happenings

I know the picture is at the beginning...isn't it awesome?? I thought that the picture didn't download, so I downloaded it again...my bad

This past weekend, Ed had a show in Asheboro, so he and Becki came up for a visit. He impersonates Elvis. We lovingly refer to Ed as Edvis. His show went great! After his show, they drove up to Greensboro to see us. All of my children anxiously awaited Papa and Grammy's arrival. They had spent the previous night in Raleigh with Sam and Lauren (another brother of Clyde's) and they brought Kerstin along to visit us. Since, it was later on Saturday night that they arrived, our children didn't get to spend alot of time with them. The children weren't too upset with not seeing them for a long period of time, because they knew that Grammy & Papa were going to church with us. We enjoyed having them in Primary yesterday. Maylee also drove up from Charlotte to sleep over and go to church with us.

After church we ate lunch and then drove to show Ed and Becki the house that we are still under contract with. We are awaiting an appraisal. Rusty, another brother, and Lauren and their twins drove up to visit as well after church. So, we went as a family to see the house. We had fun playing in the back yard and again exploring the house. The more we go, the more attached I become, so I am hoping that this is a good thing.

We had a fun weekend with Papa, Grammy, Kerstin, Maylee, Rusty, Lauren, Chelsea, and Corey. We even decorated the Christmas tree before Grammy and Papa left to go home. We all had a fun, yet busy, family-filled weekend!!

family fun

Josh in a funny pose.
Kerstin.
Maylee stick fighting with the kids.
Just hanging out...

Grammy, Papa, & Wardlings

We all wanted a photo of Grammy and Papa with the children. Chelsea on cue began to cry once out of her mother's arms. I think that it makes a perfect picture!!
Erin and Corey.

Lauren and Chelsea.

Sunday afternoon

Just some stick fighting...again. Jacob won with a blow to Ed's knee.
Erin getting in on the fighting...
The kids enjoyed playing in the back yard.

wrestling

Clyde was asked to help out with a wrestling championship this past Saturday. He took the boys with him to boost their testosterone, if that is possible, and to spend some Daddy /son time together. Clyde is good about taking each of the children on dates. That includes Penny. We woke up Saturday morning at 6am, got them dressed, and they were out by 6:30. Jacob was upset because he didn't want to leave me. How sweet was that? It didn't last long though. He was all over Clyde and Josh for the rest of the day. Josh was way impressed with the tournament. He said that it looked like the championship @ the end of Karate Kid. There were kids there as young as four. Now, as a mother, my first thought was that the earlier the boys started, then the greater risk for cauliflower ear. All day the boys watched wrestling and so their testosterone couldn't be contained. Clyde said that they were wrestling each other at every moment they could. That hasn't stopped either by the way. For the past few days they have been all over each other. Josh has even picked Penny up, flipped her over, and pinned her. Penny was a good sport the first few times, but after that she has gotten mad. Wrestling!!

appointments

She is pointing to the sticker that say's "I had an X-ray."
Penny and her medicine mask.

So, Penny has been sick for awhile now. It started about a week or more before Thanksgiving. Her cough then went away for Thanksgiving day, but she then got the stomach flu and went through a pack of diapers in 24 hours. The Tuesday after Thanksgiving, she began to run a fever of 101*. So, I took her in to see one of her three Pediatricians, who wasn't Russian. She told us that her ears were fine, her chest was clear, but it was odd that she started running a fever after she had the stomach flu. Had she started running the fever prior her getting sick, then it wouldn't be so alarming. Her medical advice was to wait and see. Then Friday night, Clyde and I were gone to Columbia and then off to Myrtle Beach for the funeral of Jack Ward, Clyde's uncle, on Saturday. The funeral was beautiful. Ed sang and it was nice to meet some of the Ward's that I hadn't before. Meanwhile @ home, Penny threw up Friday night. I was glad that my Mom was here to take care of her. So, Saturday night, when Clyde and I got home, Penny woke up screaming. We grabbed her and she was coughing really bad. Penny and I hung out here Sunday morning while the other Wardlings went to church. The cough never went away. I again kept her home on Monday and Tuesday (yesterday) I took her back into her Pediatrician. He listened to her crackling lungs and wheeziness and did an albuterol treatment in the office. He also gave her a Rx for Zithromax and ordered a few chest x-rays. We went in this morning to have the x-rays, and yep, it showed a reacted airway disease...pneumonia. I just have to say that I hate this "just wait and see" crud.
We also took Josh in to see a G.I. Doctor yesterday. I wasn't too impressed. Poor Josh. The guy had big hands;the one thing that would be very uncomfortable. After we were finished with the appointment, the doctor sent us downstairs to Spectrum Lab to have bloodwork done. Josh was an absolute trooper throughout his appointments. I did pull a fast one on the boys yesterday. While we were waiting for the albuterol to kick in w/ Penny, I arranged for the nurse to give them their flu shots. They were not happy with me yesterday. Penny couldn't get hers, because she is so sick; Erin and Libby are next! ;)

Columbia, SC

Last Friday night, we were thrilled to go to the Columbia, SC temple with Maylee for her first time. We had a blast seeing her take this step. We are all very proud of her!
Here we are in front of the Temple. Front row: Ed, Maylee, Becki, and Vicky. Back Row: Joe, Clyde, and Ashley) Had to have one silly moment!
Becki, Maylee, and Ed Ward
Our pretty Maylee!!