Ear Update:

Aubrey's ear continues to drain. We called the ENT yesterday and he called in some antibiotic drops we have to put in three times a day for the next week. She's being a real trooper and hopefully this will clear up soon. She has an appointment next week to make sure the perforation has closed up.

I'm All Ears!

One of our family defects (yes, we have a few) is chronic, nasty ear infections. However, for almost one year exactly, we have been ear infection-free and proud of it!

Today Aubrey started to complain of her left ear hurting. This was not alarming at all as all the kids have had colds and Kyle was complaining a few days ago of his ears hurting which resolved. However, she could not go to sleep for her nap because of the pain. So I rocked her and she slept a whole 30 minutes before being awakened in intense pain. So for the next few hours she just wanted to be held and rocked. And then, (trumpets blaring) her ear drained. At first it was "normal" ear fluid and it has now turned into blood which means her ear drum burst!! =0 =0 =0 My poor little girl. Oddly enough, ever since it started draining, she has felt much better. Now the question is.....do we take her to the doctor or not?

Extended Vacation Week #3

Now what happened to weeks #1 and #2 you might ask? Well, they didn't get written but no better time to start than now.

As you know we are on extended vacation right now and can I say that is has been nice having a live-in mother's helper (aka Sage, daddy, etc). I don't feel like a single mom which sometimes those long days and nights made me wonder. This is just one of the bonuses.

Another bonus is that we are able to spend some time with Sage's parents. Last time we can to visit (pre-vacation) we couldn't stay very long so we are taking some extra time. It is such a welcomed break and the kids love Grammy and Papa. It has been snowy and cool but it is such beautiful country here.

We also brought with us a little something of home. An oddly familiar yet peculiar smell......smoke. Not the gas station/casino variety but the outdoorsy sort of smell. Last week (Extended Vacation Week #2) we had a small problem with the woodstove downstairs which sent billows of smoke parading through our house into every possible crevice. I didn't realize that every article of clothing not washed since aforementioned incident, would reak of said smell. Although I love a good camping experience and especially roasting marshmallows to deserve such a stench, none of that occured. Just plain old stinky wood smoke. Guess I can't get away from my laundering duties but at least we should smell like we are not from the back country.....even though some may wonder.