Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change. ~Author Unknown

So right now I do not have any sick children. Normally I think nothing of it--even when they have a cough. But going to MN this weekend, I am 100% sure that Isaac will get a cough. If you remember him being in MN without the cough--Please let me know. Never had to worry about his stinkin cough before. Always treated it the way the Drs said to and he never had any other symptoms. But now I am about the prevention--prevention of never going back to Denver's PICU.

Mayo Clinic's definition of croup:Marked by a harsh, repetitive cough similar to the noise of a seal barking, can be scary for both children and thier parents. The harsh, barking cough of croup is the result of swelling around the vocal cords (larynx) and wind pipe (trachea). When the cough reflex forces air through the narrowed passage, the vocal cords vibrate a barking noise. Because children have small airways to begin with, those younger than the age of 5 are most susceptibe to symptoms of croup. Croup usually isn't serious. In fact most cases are treated at home. Sometimes, your child may need prescription medication.

This gives me no help. He is not younger than 5. He does not have an abnormally small airway. And sometimes you have to be airflighted to the pediatric intensive care unit. The internet says that to prevent it you do the same as you would to prevent a cold. Yup--I never told him to sneeze into his elbow as to not get croup. Been there done that. It also said to keep up on your childhood immunizations. Well he made it throught he first grade--pretty sure we got that covered too. I tried to read about homeopathic remedies that suggested a plant that I had never heard of -so I looked that up and the first site I went to said how poisionus it was so I am NOT going to use that. I still think that his cough is triggered by an allergy and when I asked the doc if I should bring anything with me--she suggested allergy medicine and make sure to give it to him before we go. So this week I am doing my darndest to strengthen his immune system and his histomine systems so they are hard at work when we go to MN. And if he seems a little out of it--don't be all THAT surprized. I am a bit nervous.

I brought children into this dark world because it needed the light that only a child can bring. ~Liz Armbruster, on robertbrault.com

Alright so it has been a busy month yet again!! I would LOVE to announce my newest niece AGAIN--Aspen Ann came in at 6lbs 2oz on April 6th. Once she realized that her cousin Piper had come she just didn't want to wait til Mother's Day to arrive. She is 5 days younger than Piper--maybe they will be a little competitive--ya think? Anyway, she is super sweet and doing fabulous for being a little early. I so totally cannot wait to go back to MN to visit them and give some extra cuddles. I am thinking about heading back for the babyshower, but of course it will be a quick whirl wind--leaving Friday after I pick up Ike from school and heading home Sunday as soon as I can manage to pry myself away. Babies, babies, babies!

So the day after she was born I left for Denver for some continuing education. It was really great!! The state of Wyoming has FINALLY gotten licensure which is very good for our profession. Its expensive, but good.

When I got back Zoey started soccer and her team did very well. Didn't win, but their team did not fight, or cry and played only on thier own field!! and all this while playing in horrible, cold, blow you over wind. She loves it and is a leader. Very fun to watch. Isaac started baseball. He is pretty excited as he knows a few of his teammates from school. They have only had one practice so far, but he always looks forward to baseball season. This is his time. Chris is coaching this year. He thought it might be fun IF it fit into his schedule, so they signed him up before they let him know what the baseball schedule was. So we'll see how everything fits. With Zoey in soccer, I couldn't be Isaac's team mom--we'll have about three games a week between the two of them.

Rugby still rocks!

and now here we are up to today. I think. And it seems that spring/summer is on the way. I didn't even wear a coat yesterday! So if anyone wants to come on over, we can sit on the new deck and just hang out--I love those days.

I had it all...but forgot where I put it

Wednesday afternoon I packed up and drove by myself down to Denver for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainer's Association Clinical and Symposium. I got a little lost trying to figure out how to get from my hotel to the symposium and back. Its great being with my likeminded peers!! I love it and it renews in me my pride for my profession as there is not a ton of that in Gillette. But I have gotten to meet other athletic trainers from Gillette/Wyoming as well as others in the district. I even met someone who has a business very similar to mine just on a much larger scale and that was good and inspirational to see. I have learned a ton. I went to a workshop for Spinal Reflex. If you tell some reflexes to stop you can alter many things. I told him my neck was sore cuz my traps were so tight. From that he fixed my leg length disgrepancy, eliminated my neck soreness and my sore throat and for good measure---I could touch my toes!!! But its cold in here just FREEZING. I sat for 3 hours today at a leadership workshop so I am getting a little edgy. I really miss my kids. Zoey has asked me for hugs and kisses and wants to know when I will home. They would love to stay at the hotel with me!I am ready to go home but not till tomorrow. And since the speaker for psychological interventions for use with Injured athletes during the three phases of rehabilitation has started I should stop blogging.

Angels are direct creations of God, each one a unique Master's piece. ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

My newest niece Piper Ann Bell arrived on April 1st. 8lbs 9oz and 20 3/4 inches. I can't wait for a Minnesota visit. Two babies to meet by the time we get to go back:) Sorry Amy--I just couldn't resist putting her pic on my blog!

Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness. ~Floyd W. Tomkins

Happy Easter! We have had a good weekend. My kids have been on Easter break so all week I just kept hearing "Can we paint 30 eggs NOW Mom?" I have not seen my kids so excited since I took Zoey to the Dentist. So Saturday we boiled some eggs. Ike was getting the pans and eggs out so I wouldn't forget. After that I took the kids to the water park for the afternoon and by the time we got home it was time to eat. So by the time we got around to coloring eggs it got a little late, but they turned out really good this year. No pictures, as I never like the way the colors turn out on the pictures. But everyone was happy. Isaac was so excited he just shook" Mom, I just can't wait!" I asked "Well, what is the best part? Do you like to color the eggs or find them?" " I LOVE the HUNT"

Chris had to work today of course. He wasn't all that excited, but people scheduled to have Dish put in so he was there. We woke up the kids and they had Easter eggs to HUNT and find. He said that the Easter Bunny didn't leave Chris and me very much stuff. But the Easter Bunny did well this year and got good reports. We went to Church (the late service), but I didn't drink from the community challis this time so maybe I do have a learning curve-even if its slow!! We stayed for some light brunch, Isaac all of a sudden looks at me kinda disappointed and asks if he has to go back to school tomorrow. Yes, you do and I was pretty happy about it so he wasn't real sure if I was joking or not, but he was not happy about his new realization:(

We visited friends for the afternoon and then came home to cook. Last week or so I really wanted ham so I grilled some up. So I didn't make any for Easter dinner. Nope-we went nontraditional. Ike made Deviled Eggs, and rolled some of the crescent rolls. I made kabobs with marinated shrimp and veggies. Zoey made the strawberry rhubarb cobbler (with supervision of course, but it was tastefully simple so she mostly just had to dump out the ingredients into the pan). It all turned out pretty yummy! and only a little cobbler was leftover. While we were cooking I did ask my kids if they listened to the pastor today and new why we celebrated Easter (other than the hunt) Luckily they knew. Yay!! Also today as we were leaving the church Zoey saw the pastor through the window and waved--When she told me who, she actually said--Pastor Tom. This was the first time that she referred to him as the Pastor instead of God, but it was so super cute every time she called him God.