'Trunk'-or-Treat

Short hair

Jacob's hair was getting really long in the back and at least two people thought he was a girl within one week. 

So I put him in his highchair and got out my hair-cutting scissors.

It didn't end well. :-)

His hair is definitely shorter now though. No one will think he's a girl, for sure. I'm going to try to use Kevin's clippers to even out the cut tomorrow. Scissors are clearly not my forte. I figure I'll get better with practice but we'll see how that goes. Anyway, he's still handsome to me, even with a botched haircut. Gotta love this kid. :-)

Zoo Atlanta

Aunt Carie invited us to come to the Atlanta Zoo yesterday and it was pretty awesome. Alexander and Jacob had never been to a real zoo before (although Deana Rose is definitely fantabulous in it's own right). The weather was perfect for zoo going (at least in my opinion). Mid-50s and mostly sunny. So we had to wear jackets but no one really complained of being cold and all the animals were out and about instead of lying comatose in sweltering heat. Quite pleasant :-)

Alexander and the flamingos

African Elephant

Alexander wanting to climb in the pit with the African Elephant

Boys refusing to look at the camera instead of the parakeets

Meerkats :-)

Cousin T. with Willie B.

Gorilla

"Kanga and Little Roo"

I felt a migraine coming on about halfway through our visit (I REALLY need to see a doctor about those) but thankfully I had had a regular headache the night before and taken Excedrin for that. Having the medicine already in my system staved off the worst of it and I was able to function at a close to normal level. My blind spot went away in plenty of time to drive home so that was good, too. :-). Alexander and Jacob definitely enjoyed themselves so it was totally worth it.

Thanks for the invite Carie! I'm so glad we got to spend the afternoon together and the zoo was so fun!

Pumpkin Patch Saturday!

Kevin and I took the boys to Corn Dawgs Pumpkin Patch over the weekend. I mostly just wanted some pictures of Alexander and Jacob running around in a pumpkin patch so I picked one I thought sounded good. They actually have lots of "Fair/Carnival-like" activities and the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Here are just a few of the pictures we took.

Haybale Jump

Spider Webs

Free Wagon

Truck Box

Pumpkin Patch

  

Running!

Giant Corn Box

Little Farmer's Zip Line

Alexander had zero desire to exit the Giant Corn Box. It was way more fun than a sand box (I had no idea how cool it would be). We couldn't get him to look at us for any pictures because he was thoroughly engrossed with digging in the corn kernels. Interesting sensory experience. I may have to make him his own at home, he loved it so much. :-)

Picture day!

Here is Alexander's first ever school picture! Part of me wants to reach in and fix his hair. But then again I don't think I would actually change anything because that's pretty much what he looks like everyday. Kid sure knows how to smile for the camera!

Let's review what we've learned...

Scarlet fever (scarlatina)

Scarlet fever is simply strep throat with a rash. The throat infection is caused by a streptococcal bacteria. It is most commonly seen in school-aged children in the winter and early spring, but it can occur in individuals of any age and in any season. It is very contagious, and the risk of transmission can be decreased with good hand washing.

The rash is not serious, but serious complications can occur from the underlying infection, strep throat. The most worrisome of these is rheumatic fever, a serious disease that can damage the heart valves and cause long-term heart disease.

• Symptoms
  • The child's symptoms begin with sore throat (which can be mild), fever, headache, abdominal pain, and swollen glands in the neck.
  • After 1-2 days of these symptoms, the child develops a rash on the body that is red and has a sandpaper texture. After 7-14 days, the rash sloughs off.
  • The face may look very flushed, but the skin around the mouth appears normal.
• Treatment
• Streptococcal bacteria can be treated with antibiotics.
• Have your child seen by your doctor immediately if you suspect he or she has strep throat or scarlet fever.
• Your child will require a full course of antibiotics, which should be finished even if your child is better before completion.
• Your child may return to school in 24 hours if the fever has resolved and he or she is feeling better.

Picture of boy without rash

Jacob broke out in a pimply red rash yesterday so I "WebMD'd" (it's a verb, kinda like "googled") his symptoms and found this. If you look down a few results you will see Scarlet Fever. I clicked on that one and saw that kids can get this after a bout of strep throat, which both my boys had 3 weeks ago. Our pediatrician closes at 1 on Fridays so I dropped Alexander with Brenda and took Jacob to the urgent care clinic. The doctor looked in Jacob's throat and ears and felt his arms to see what texture the rash had. Sure enough, Scarlatina (Scarlet Fever). I talked to him about how Jacob fights taking medicine and he prescribed an antibiotic that we only have to give Jacob once a day (instead of twice). Luckily our insurance covered it and I only had to pay three bucks. 

Jacob's fever hasn't gone above 101, so that part hasn't been too worrisome. He did throw up after dinner last night but just that one time. 

So Jacob is on medicine and we're keeping an eye on Alexander to make sure we catch it if he gets it too. We're keeping them both home from church tomorrow, just in case. 

Sick boys

Alexander is in one of my shirts in this picture because wearing oversized clothing just seems like the thing to do when you're feeling pukey.

I swear, these boys have been fighting back to back germs for months! Couple months of coughing and runny noses. Then strep, more colds and now a 24 hour stomach bug. Alexander goes to preschool and practically brings home the plague - weekly. I'm kind of hoping that they've gotten everything that's going around now and they'll be immune for the rest of the year. Hey, I can dream can't I?