Hospital.

Last Sunday sort of out of nowhere Henry threw up. We didn't think much of it, cause he didn't really act like he was feeling bad. Then later that night he threw up again but still wasn't acting bothered by it. Then he woke up in the middle of the night and had a fever of 103. He threw up again, and didn't sleep much. The next day he was extremely lethargic and had zero energy. He nursed ok, but did throw up a couple more times. He had a fever all day. I knew he felt terrible, but since he was nursing every 3 hours I wasn't too worried about him.

When Blakely was sick, even when she felt bad, you couldn't get her to quit playing, and she certainly wouldn't take a nap. At first I thought it was just difference in personality, but now I think he was just REALLY sick. He slept on and off for the entire day, and didn't whine or fuss much, but had no interest in playing. He would only be awake for 30 minutes max before wanting to go back to sleep. The next day he still had a fever, and he was not responding well to Tylenol, and he was not nursing. He also wouldn't drink pedialite, water, juice, anything. Around 4 on Monday he threw up again, and eventually we decided to take him to the ER. He was very dehydrated and they said he needed an iv. They tried to get one in both of his feet, neither worked, and finally got on in his hand. It was terrible.

He ended up going over 12 hours without nursing and had a fever of 104. So they admitted us to the hospital for the night. They got his fever under control and the fluids gave him a little more energy but he was still nauseous and he threw up again. Also, a 9 month old with an iv strapped to his hand is no fun at all. When he did have energy (which was not much) it was spent fighting me from keeping him from yanking on his iv. They tested everything- urine, stools, blood, flu test, and everything came back negative. They took him off the iv and we waited a few hours to make sure he did ok. He was still nursing ok, and his fever didn't spike, so we got to go home around 5 yesterday. He was so glad to be home. He actually started smiling and wanting to play. He got ahead of himself though and ended up getting pretty wiped out. You can't keep a 9 month old from playing though.

He slept great last night and even had some oatmeal and peaches for brunch, which he has kept down. He is still very easily tired, and gets nauseous after he eats, but he's a million times better. It was a terrible few days, and I hope none of my babies ever have to go to the hospital, and especially none of them get ivs again! I know it could have been way worse, and I am so thankful God took care of my babe.

Stephen was Mr. Mom, which of course Blakely loved. She looooves getting to play all day with her daddy. We also got a couple of college girls to take her to the park and to panera so Stephen could be at the hospital for a little while with us. Blakely thought she was something special getting to swing and slide with two pretty college girls! Today she is at a friends house so I can focus on Henry and Stephen can work. I miss my girl though!

We also made the realization that since the day Blakely was born, everyone in our family has been to the ER twice, EXCEPT Blakely. She's never been. That's 6 ER visits for the Billings in two years. A little ridiculous if you ask me.

Ok so here is some SERIOUS picture overload. Ranging from Sunday to today. Hankies last 5 days in picture form.

Fear of the unknown...

I think anytime you have a change in your future, and you also have kids, you can't help but be stressed and anxious. Time seems to stand still with the anticipation (both good and bad), but time also flies and makes us feel like there is not enough time to get what is needed done.

We are moving to Fayetteville this summer and it is already March. My mind has shifted to living in Arkansas, and I just want to get there and be settled. Problem is, we have NO idea where we are living. Apartment? Town home? Rent house? East fayetteville? West fayetteville? Springdale? Near campus? I also don't know what our needs will be. This summer Blakely and Henry will be sharing a room. Could be a disaster. Could be awesome. So we might be fine with a two bedroom for a short time, or a 3 bedroom might be a non negotiable. Another problem is we are slammed this spring. Fayetteville has changed so much since we lived there 4 years ago, so we need to be there to even get started on figuring this out. But unfortunately we have something nearly every weekend this spring, and we don't want to travel on the off weekends. We leave in the beginning of May for Kaleo, and will not be back until the end of July- at which point we will pack up and move to Fayetteville. Hopefully into some sort of residence suitable for a family of 4. :)

To say that I'm slightly stressed would be an understatement. I don't have to have everything figured out, but I would just like to know that we have somewhere to live.

So we are on the hunt for a rental of some kind. Friends who live in fayetteville, have lived there, are renting or have rented or know someone who has....please tell me where we should live!

Here's my criteria: must have washer/dryer. Must be kid friendly (no bodies of water nearby, no major roads in darting distance, etc). Must be reasonably priced. We want to rent temporarily- so we want to save as much as we can. However. It must also be nice. Help. Anyone.