Last we spoke, Sydney had pinkeye. I kept her home from school on Monday to let her have plenty of time on the eyedrops. On Tuesday she went to school, then spiked a fever of 103 that night. So I kept her home from school again on Wednesday. Thursday morning, her temperature looked good and she insisted she was fine, so we went back to school again. That evening her temperature hit 103 again, she complained that her ears hurt when she blinked, and she went to bed before 7:00. So she was out of school once again on Friday and off to the doctor. She had ear infections and strep. I started her on her antibiotics right away, and she up and at 'em the next morning.

Good thing too, since WE WENT TO THE CIRCUS!

That's right. Ringling Bros. were in town, and I took the girls. We had a great time. I had never been to the circus before. Tansy was so into it. She would just watch everything, absolutely enthralled, and then clap as hard as she could. She didn't mind the s'more on a stick either.

Unfortunately, things would not continue so well for Tansy. Monday morning she woke up with pinkeye. The doctor who had seen Sydney had given us two refills on her eye drops so that I wouldn't have to come back for more for Zack and Tansy. We got her started on her treatment for her eyes, but Tuesday morning, she spiked a fever. She didn't start complaining about any pain until Wednesday and was able to see the doctor Thursday morning. On Thursday, she was so sick she wouldn't eat and wouldn't go anywhere without her new comfort object. See below.Yes, that is a box of chocolate cake mix. She even took it to the clinic. We got quite a few chuckles when people saw a sad, sick two-year-old clutching cake mix everywhere she went. Whatever works. It turned out to be strep and we got more antibiotics. Just in time too because on Friday, DADDY CAME HOME!

Sydney had a whole party planned. They made a yellow Welcome Home sign. We also had chocolate cake with vanilla frosting, blue candles, and sprinkles as well as balloons. I found out about all of this when Sydney was asking Ben his preferences on colors. The best was when Ben got home and the party got underway. Sydney had turned off all of the lights and wanted everyone to sing. I asked her what we were singing, and she started in on "Happy Birthday." She didn't get far before she realized that it was nobody's birthday. Ben suggested "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home." That may be the first time someone had blown out candles on a cake after that song.

All of the kids are loving having their dad home. Even Zack likes to scoot after him and sit on his lap. We will definitely enjoy the next four weeks having our family back together.

Okay, this week I can actually remember some things that happened. Zack had his first physical therapy appointment a week and a half ago. He doesn't roll, crawl, pull up, or cruise. He just scoots around on his bum, so his doctor wanted to have him evaluated for the delay in his gross motor skills. This learning table is the fun part of therapy.
There are less fun things he has to do. Poor guy. He hates this thing so much. I tried using Dum Dums as a bribe to get him moving. Now he just cries at the sight of a Dum Dum. Maybe I should pull out all of the cookies and candy and scar him for life toward junk food. Hmmm....

It was Homecoming Week in Knob Noster, and Sydney's school is part of the Knob Noster School Districs. They got to dress up every day. The first day was pajama day, the day Sydney had been waiting for. I didn't know. When I picked up Sydney from school, she didn't run down the sidewalk like she usually does. I asked her what was wrong. She burst in to tears and said, "It was pajama day, and I didn't have any pajamas!" I explained that I didn't know, that I hadn't gotten a note. It turns out that Sydney had decided to go through her backpack by herself on Friday, took out the note, and left it on the floor in the office. I found it Tuesday night so she was able to dress up for the rest of the week.

This picture is from Wacky Wednesday.

This picture is from Panther Pride day on Friday. The colors are orange and black. Those are panther paws on her cheeks.

Things were all well and good, until PINKEYE!

We got a note from the nurse at the beginning of the week informing us that pinkeye was going around the school and that parents should not bring their children back to school the day after they have been sent home with pinkeye. I knew it was just a matter of time. Sydney woke up with one red eye yesterday. Since she has been struggling with allergies, I waited to see if it got worse. At about 1:30, I noticed that her eye was starting to get goopy.

I called the nurse triage line and was told that a nurse would call me back by 3:00. She called right at 3:00, asked a bunch of questions, and told us to go to Mediquik in Warrensburg. On a side note, I really hate have to wait around to ask permission to take my sick child to the doctor on the weekend. Anyway, I get the kids ready and loaded in the van and drive the 12 miles to the clinic only to be told that they don't take appointments after 3:30. It was 3:38. I was so frustrated, I just started crying. When I called the triage line again to see if there was another clinic I could go to, she said she could put me back in the system and a nurse would call in about an hour. I explained that I had already spoken with the nurse and just needed to find out about another clinic. She said I would just have to wait so I hung up.

I drove home with a very sad little girl who didn't understand why I hadn't been able to get her eyedrops. I called back when we got home and spoke to a very helpful guy who actually looked stuff up for me. He explained that was the only clinic and it was open until 6:00. I told him it was only open until 4:00 and not accepting patients after 3:30. He apologized and said he would try to get that information to the right people.

So we headed back out to Warrensburg this morning. The clinic opened at 10:00 so we were waiting outside the door at 9:54. Sydney got the first appointment. While we were waiting, a little boy from the class next door to Sydney's came in with pinkeye. When the doctor walked in our room, he looked at Sydney and said, "Uh oh." He also informed me her tonsils are huge. I told him it runs in my family and that I am planning on having everybody get their tonsils out for family reunion next summer. We finally got the eye drops. He even gave me two refills so that I could treat Tansy and Zack when they finally get it. I think the worst part for Sydney is the fact that she can't go to school tomorrow. Here's hoping that we're over this by next week!

I can't even remember what went on this week before Friday. That is because a few minutes before 7:00 that night, Ben walked in the door. It was a total surprise for us. I was in the office working on the computer when I heard the screen door open in the kitchen. I shouted down the hall, "What is going on out there?" When I got to the kitchen, Ben was standing there. I immediately burst into tears and just hugged him for a while. He hadn't told us about coming because the people in training did not get Friday off like most other people in the Air Force this weekend. However, his teacher got through the material as quickly as he could and dismissed class at 11:00. Ben drove straight here.

We have had a blast. On Saturday, we drove to Sedalia to have a yummy breakfast at Perkin's. Best pancakes ever. We hung out and played with the kids until that evening. My friend Roxanne had agreed at the last minute to take the kids so that Ben and I could go out to dinner. We finally found our yummy Mexican restaurant. So good!

I felt like the silliest person at church today because I just couldn't stop smiling and would get so excited any time someone who ask about Ben and how long he's here. Today is actually our seventh anniversary, so that makes it even better.

He has to head back to Texas Monday after lunch, but even having him for a couple of days is worth it. Best anniversary ever!