Illness Update...Swine Flu

It was night number 4 in the swine flu epidemic at our home. Kaden & Kendall were both diagnosed w/ the illness yesterday morning at their pediatrician after days of high fevers & various other symptoms from them both and visits to the children's hospital and pediatrician. They both continue to run fevers anywhere from 100 to 103 and the tylenol and motrin and gatorade are flowing through them. The scariest moment of it all is when Kendall had a fever induced seizure or Febral Seizure monday afternoon. It is an image that has scarred my memory and one that I never want to see again. These babies are my life and I just wish I could make it all go away...I would take the illness and put it in my body in a heartbeat if I knew it would make them better.

We truly appreciate the care and concern that have come from so many of our friends and family and please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we make the road to recovery.

Fever strikes while out of town!

So I have a backlog of activities to write about, but I currently have two sicky babies. We traveled out of town this weekend to Louisville, Ky w/ Keith. On the way there I could tell Kaden was out of sorts and was starting to develop a cough on top of his constant runny nose. Long story short we ended up in the ER of Kosair Children's Hosptial in downtown Louisville at 6am on Sunday morning w/ 103.5 fever. Kaden started w/ a fever at about 6pm on Saturday evening and it would not break despite the luke warm bath, cold cloths, minimal clothing, alternating tylenol and motrin (all of the at home mom tricks were used). He has picked up a nasty viral infection and to make matters worse it looks like Kendall is starting to pick up his symtoms!
This has really got me thinking though...when traveling I'm so anxious to learn all about the fun activities to plan for the kids, but you never know when the unexpected can happen such as this. We just so happened to be only blocks from the best children's hospital in Kentucky. I had ruled out Urgent Care facilities when Kendall got sick in Charleston, SC last year. They don't feel comfortable diagnosing children, especially if it is not as easy as saying that its just an ear infection, so they refer you off to a children's hospital ER and then you are double billed. If you are not near your pediatrician, my advice after experiences, is find the nearest children's hospital!

Monster Mash-Up

I created two Happy Halloween dance videos today w/ my nieces and nephews pics and Kaden & Kendall. Check them out by following links below. Super easy to do and easy to connect to your facebook page; sponsered by Oriental Trading. Have fun making your own!
monstermashup.com/1795af

monstermashup.com/d0f0d6

Kiddie Day Parade Wash Out

Kendall & I joined her Kindermusic class for the annual Kiddie Day Parade & Costume Contest this morning and I invited two of my nieces and one of my nephews along for the fun as Kaden is out of town w/ his Daddy. We only got about 1/2 way through when the rain started to pour. Luckily my niece Kylee was in the red wagon w/ Kendall and held an umbrella over them to stay dry. My niece Saige and my nephew Ethan were also w/ me and unfortunately got a little soaked w/ me! We ditched the parade line and ran for shelter; Saige looked like a wet dog and replied..."Do I look Happy to you!"...out of the mouth of babes!

My Little Fireman

I had my friend Tara make this adorable shirt for Kaden's first field trip this year...can you say adorable! :)

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, SC

Kaden enjoys a custom sundae @ the Friday night Ice Cream Social.
Kendall & I at JB's Seafood on Shem Creek on the night we drove into Charleston. Keith even got my favorite children's boutique to open their doors for me after hours to shop...bonus points for the hubby!

Keith, Kaden & Kendall during a walk through the nature center and visit to the playground where Kaden of course made a new friend...my social butterfly.

Picture Perfect...my handsome man!

Kendall chases her shadow on the beach

Kaden @ the main pool

We are huge fans of Charleston, SC and travel there on average four times a year. We have tried about 5 or 6 of the hotels downtown as well as at neighboring beaches Isle of Palms & Folly Beach. This time we decided to venture towards one of the barrier islands, Kiawah Island, about 30 minutes outside of downtown Charleston. Through http://www.iprefer.com/ I stumbled on a deal at the Sanctuary Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort. I have read numerous articles about this beautiful island and needed to try it out myself. The experience was heavenly. No bright lights, fast food, or funky souvenir shops. It was like visiting paradise. The hotel is the type that learns your name before you arrive, opens the door before you get to it, puts a cold water in your hand at the pool before you ask for it, and my favorite has an evening turndown service where they dim the lights, put on soft music, cool off the room and put chocolates on your pillow :) The room we stayed in had a balcony overlooking the pool and unobstructed views of the Atlantic ocean & a huge soaking tub that the kids loved. We spent a lot of time at the main pool, one of three on the property, and enjoyed lunch & drinks poolside most afternoons. Kaden enjoyed camp on Friday & Saturday at the nearby Night Heron Park, where he was able to go on a treasure hunt on the beach! I even took the kids on a bike ride, which didn't quite turn out the way I pictured it would in my head, but fun nonetheless. We spotted an alligator walking through the park...yikes!!! Enjoyed the down home mac n chz at Jasmine's Porch and the Vanilla Bourbon French Toast at Brunch was divine and the creme brulee Keith ordered up from room service is still sneaking into my dreams! Nearby Freshfields Village (in the roundabout that connects Seabrook, John's and Kiawah Island's) offered a great array of shops, an old fashioned pharmacy w/ root beer floats and thick milkshakes, ice cream parlor, old time candy shop, and the King Street Grill w/ great burgers! Tip: the Sanctuary is best suited for a special romantic weekend or with your kids ages 3 and up, as that is the age requirement for day camp and most of the scheduled activities including kayaking, dolphin cruises, and alligator walks. Definitely pricey but you can find deals through IPrefer.com or sign up for alerts through the hotels website to find deals w/ breakfast included, resort credits or free upgrades. The island also has numerous villas you can rent for about half the price or houses through http://www.resortquest.com/. Although we had a wonderful time not sure we will be heading back too soon...the price is high and the kids, especially Kendall, are just too young to enjoy the numerous daily activities. However, I would like for Keith to play the famous Ocean Golf Course & I would like to eat at the Ocean Room...so I'm sure we will revisit eventually. We are city people and we love the convenience and charm of downtown Charleston & can't wait to go back.

Kendall & Kaden getting in some beach time while staying at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island, SC. One of the barrier islands outside of Charleston, SC. Kendall is not too happy about the sand, but enjoyed running around and of course Kaden loved every moment of it...especially chasing the birds and finding seashells.

Too much too soon?

My question of the moment is how much is too much when it comes to exposing your children to sports & extra curicular activities? Kaden has been involved w/ golf now since April, taking one lesson a month, putting w/ Keith @ random and he also did camp this summer & probably will every summer until he says otherwise. His main sport has just started this past week, which is soccer. It will be every Tuesday & Thursday evening w/ a 30 min practice and 30 min game (it is toooo cute by the way). And on Wednesday he goes to choir w/ all his little buddies from church. But now...he wants to pick up Tennis. The club is offering a clinic this Fall on Wednesday afternoons for one hour. He seems really enthusiastic about it, but I just don't want to overload him. I know he will be wanting to play Tball in the Spring and maybe football next Fall so do I let him try everything now and let him decide two or three to stick w/ later or do I limit him now to give each activity time to simmer....

Anyways, I took him out last week to show him some basics w/ tennis. Of course he was all over the place and didn't pay much attention, but I had fun teaching him about the sport that I enjoy so much. I have just started playing again once a week and have realized how nice it is to have a sport/hobby that excites you and that is all I want for each of my children.

Labor Day 2009

Kendall looking too cute in her Kate Mack Tutu swimsuit sporting her curly cues once she got out of the pool.

Kaden & Olivia looking dangerous w/ water guns & balloons :)

We started out our day at the Cartersville Country Club End of Summer Party w/ my friend Angela and her little girl Olivia (Kaden's schoolmate & soccer team buddy). We had a great time swimming as the weather was wonderful. Then it was off to another barbque at Jay & Veronica's to celebrate the holiday w/ friends. They had great food and a bouncy house for the kids. It was a great time I'm sure, but having had a sinus cold and headache all weekend and two snotty children it was time to call the long weekend to a close. I was just ready to shower and crawl into bed to snuggle my munchkins!

First & Last Carnival

Kaden, AJ & Kendall play at the sleepover.

Keith & Kaden on the swings at the carnival in which Keith almost lost his cookies when he got off!! :)

Kendall...my sleeping beauty was not bothered by the noise & got in a good nap.

Keith & Kaden enjoying the bumper cars.

Kaden on one of the rides...he loves anything where he thinks he is driving!

I think we may have found something else to rule out of our ever growing to do lists...carnivals. We attended the Pioneer Day Festival at Sam Smith Park on Sunday afternoon. About 30 minutes and $50 later with Kaden only having been on 6 different rides and playing one throw the dart at the balloons game we walked out of the carnival w/ one stuffed animal....that the kids will never play w/ again! Kendall slept through it all & I was starving to death, but when we went over to the food stands they were right in front of the porta potty' so I decided I could hold out for awhile...gross! Kaden on the other hand was thrilled that he made the 42" height requirement for most the rides, but I was busy looking on at the crew and nuts and bolts that were holding the makeshift rides together....paranoid freak I know!!!

After we headed to Beef O Bradys for a late lunch. As we waited an agonizing 45 minutes for our food I swore we would never come back as we have never had good service at this restaurant EVER. Then at the end of our meal, the cook gave us a gift card for free wings on our next visit in b/c of our long wait!...well I guess we will have to go back one more time :)

So once we finally got out of there it was off to a barbecue at our friends Allan & Natalies to celebrate her birthday.

As if there had not been enough activities for the kids in the last 48 hours I decided to let Kaden bring his friend AJ back home w/ us for a sleepover. It was actually just nice to have a companion here for Kaden to play with and they had a great time and were asleep by 10pm so not too bad :) Another fun day w/ lessons learned!

Love the Lake Festival & More

The Birthday Girl, Sophie!

Kendall rocks out to Hannah Montana!

Saige, Kaden & Ethan show off their new hairdos!

Love the Lake Festival: Family pic by the Lake. Kendall dances to the music. Kaden on the bouncing trampoline.

Yesterday we attended the Love the Lake Festival at Cauble Park in Downtown Acworth. The park sits right on the lake with a makeshift beach, playground and more. It was a fun afternoon of live music, boat & jet ski show/tricks on the water, bird show, dancing, arts and crafts, 'carni' food, and Kaden's favorite, plenty of bouncys! I loved it that I craved my sweet tooth and my lunch consisted of a funnel cake and chocolate dippin dots!!! It is still going on today or mark your calendars for next Labor Day weekend.

Then we headed home to change clothes and let Kendall nap before heading to my niece's Diva Birthday Party at a hair salon. The kids had a great time getting all done up...even Kaden got his hair spiked, which lasted for about 5 minutes and then he decided he didn't like it and messed it up :( As the party was coming to a close we turned the kids over to our wonderful sitter, Ms. Lindsay, and she took them to dinner and headed home as Keith and I had a wedding to attend.

My dear friend from high school, Shelly, got married last night at Roselawn Manor & Museum in Cartersville. She looked beautiful and her groom was smitten! For their first dance as a married couple they started w/ a very sweet love song and the music changed up to a series of dance songs in which they had made up routines or just broke it down...true Shelly fashion!!!...it was hillarious. I got to see a lot of old high school and college buddies so it was fun to catch up w/ everyone. A fun day for everyone!

The Generosity of a Stranger

It was never unusual for me growing up to have random people walk up and thank my parents. When I was little I never knew what this was about but as I grew older I gradually caught on. My Dad would randomly pay the bills of other diners in a restaurant or give the coat off his back to someone who looked like they needed it or give money to a family who would have gone w/out giving their children toys that Christmas. For that I will always be thankful... to have the memories of people so stunned & thankful by the generosity of what probably seemed like a saint from above, but was actually just my Dad, who knew what hard times were like and hated to see others in need.
The point of this story is that our dinner last night was paid for by a complete stranger. No explanation other than the waitress told us that he said we had a beautiful family. I don't think we look like a family in need, but he must have noticed us as Kendall almost choked on her pizza and we caught the attention of half the restaurant!!! Whatever the reason it gave me a renewed outlook at the kindness that can lie in people's hearts. A single act of kindness from someone unknown to us, not unnoticed, will certainly be passed on to another.

Labor Day weekend 2008...How time flies by!

It's crazy just how fast one year can go by. When I was a kid time seemed to drag on, but now w/ two little ones of my own I can't seem to get life to slow down. With a busy holiday weekend ahead of us, thankful that Keith is home to enjoy it w/ us, its nice to look back on this exact weekend last year when Kendall was only a few weeks old and Kaden seemed so much more like a toddler than a big boy!

Kaden at a cookout last year on this exact weekend...look at all that hair. Kendall w/ her adoring Daddy at a festival last year.

Peek-a-boo

Kendall's new favorite game. She cracks herself up...it is toooo cute!

The Ultimate Day Spa Experience

I have found a piece of heaven in Acworth, GA. at the Bella dia European Day Spa. I have been looking for a place to call home for eyebrow waxes, facials, manis/pedis, massages and more. Not that I get to indulge myself very often, but when I do I want it to be a luxurious experience and not a wham bam thank you mam and out the door. Well from the moment I walked into the door @ Bella Dia I could tell I was going to like it. The smells, lighting, sounds and ambiance are just perfectly relaxing & inviting. Another big bonus is the european toilets w/ the heated seats...awesome! I have signed up for a series of facials and microdermabrasions and I have just completed my second round and feel super refreshed! I have also had an eyebrow wax, pedicure (which I got two weeks ago and still looks perfect), soothing eye treatment and makeup consultation...all of which were amazing. Seriously, I can not sing their praises enough. And to top it all off you are handed a rose at the end of your treatments just so you can feel extra special.
Check them out at www.belladiaspa.com They have locations in Acworth as well as Austell, GA.
At the one in Acworth you are led into a quaint little waiting room and offered refreshments before your service, but don't forget to check out the bathroom :)
There are plenty of spa packages to choose from as well as some unique services such as eyelash extensions, photo rejuvenation, permanent makeup and laser hair removal. Up next for me...I would like to try the body wrap & polish and fire & ice signature facial....yummy for my body!!!
And yummy for my tummy, Fusco's Italian Eatery is right next door so after its nice to indulge in a good lunch and a glass of wine.

It's a Girl!!!

My youngest sister Jenna found out yesterday that she will be welcoming another girl into the world in January w/ her husband Ryan & 5 year old daughter Saige. With the three 'original' Oliver girls, each having their own daughters and 5 stepdaughters b/w Jenna & Lindsey....thats a lot of girls on the holidays....9 girls+3 young women+ 1 Lala (grandma)...can you say drama!!!!