Halloween

We started our Halloween morning by suiting up and heading across the street to the SouthPark Mall. They had a little celebration for the kids that included a jumpy, craft projects, pumpkin decorating, a costume parade, a goody bag (of course, a goody bag)....

Griffin was only interested in eating the candy from his goody bag.

A fun Halloween morning with the boys!

We spent Halloween night at an annual neighborhood Halloween party (thanks, Allison!). It was too hot for Mike to wear his gorilla costume, so he sported his wig/hat. It was hilarious. I wore a pink unicorn hat and then dressed in pink. I deemed myself a "pinkalicious unicorn" (after one of my niece Mason's favorite books, Pinkalicious). Griffin opted out of dressing up and instead sported a skeleton t-shirt that Grandma & Grandpa had given to Miles years ago (love the sentimental history in this hand-me-down).  He worked it.

Mike, Miles and Noah made this "Halloween Mobile" on Friday. They sculpted a huge box, decorated it with wrapping paper and Miles' drawings, created handles, and cut 2 holes in the bottom so they could "get in". The boys loved it. Miles has already ripped off the decorations so that he can give it a Thanksgiving feel.

The party was full of yummy treats. Noah looks like he's sizing up this cupcake. Believe me, he demolished it.

Meanwhile, Griffin looks like he's ready to cue the Hallelujah chorus here.

Some of my other favorite costumes ---

Loved Shawne's witch costume. She went all out.

Blake killed me in her Octomom/Nadya costume.

And check out this homemade Hungry Catapiller costume that Jack is wearing. Amazingly cute isn't it?

And, just one more shot of Mike. hahaha You can also catch a glimpse of Miles as a vampire --- he had his Bumblebee costume hidden underneath and did a quick change midway through the party. He came up with the idea himself and cracked himself up for pulling it off. :)

I love this picture. Miles documented our costumes at school on Monday. He's taught to spell things as they sound to him. He wrote: "on halloween night my dad was a fisherman and my mom was pinkalicious unicorn and I was bumblee and my brother Noah was batman and my baby Griffin just wore a skeleton shirt"

We only trick-or-treated at 2 houses, due to a torrential downpour, but the kids didn't care. It was great Halloween!

Hodges Stables

We had so much at Hodges Stables today! Its a working farm that's open to the public during October. They have an actual pumpkin patch (with wagons for the kids to use when they select their pumpkins - how cute!), bales of hay for climbing, a corn maze, animals (including goats, horse rides), tractor rides. We loved it. Its officially on our list of must-visit spots each fall.

You can see the more of our photos here.

The Sun is Shining!

The sun is shining at the Brown house! Miles and Noah went back to school today, Griffin continues on his Tamiflu, eager to play and have fun, and I am fever-free for the first time since Saturday! I've spent the majority of my day outside of my bedroom -- its been such a treat! Thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement. I think we've made it out of our dark sickness! Hallelujah!

I ♥ Faces: Halloween Dress-Up!

Miles is our rule follower.  This is his "Mom, are you A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y SURE that I'm allowed to wear my Incredibles costume to school?!" face.  It cracks me up.

Come see the other fun photos entered in this week's contest at iheartfaces.com.

Health Update

I'm thankful to report that our family's health is improving!  Thanks for so many calls, emails and prayers.  It means a lot to us!

Miles

Woke up fever-free, back to his old self, left with only a dry cough and a tiny bit of congestion.  From a fever perspective, he'd be ok to go to school tomorrow; but we're going to let him sleep in, see if he's still coughing, and decide then.  

Noah

Woke up fever-free, back to his old self.  Its amazing what heavy-duty antibiotic shots can do, isn't it?  Tomorrow morning he'll be 24 hours fever-free, so he should be fine to go to school.  Amazing how quickly he bounced back. 

Griffin

Back to his old self, with a fever.  He'll be out of school all week, regardless of his symptoms, just to be safe.  He's the only one of the boys that was diagnosed with the flu, so I want to be extra cautious with him -- but the good news is that he's not feeling horrible.  The Tamiflu and motrin must be working!

Brooke
Ugh.  I'm totally feeling my age -- assuming that it must be the reason that I am still bed-ridden.  :)  I woke up this morning without a fever, still feeling awful, but assuming that I was on the road to recovery.  I took a shower/changed my clothes for the first time in days (I know, gross...but its the reality of how I've been feeling).  Not so fast, the fever is back, my cough/sore throat is horrid, and my headache will not subside.  And, most of all, still heartbroken that I just closed my second day of not being able to hug, kiss, or play with the boys.  That part is awful.  Praying that tomorrow will be a better day.  

Mike

Still healthy and a total rockstar husband and dad.  He managed 3 rambunctious boys at home AND a sick wife AND worked AND bought a new toilet/had it installed, because ours started seriously leaking last night.   Seriously, this guy deserves a metal. 

That's today's update.  Hopefully tomorrow's includes pictures -- meaning I'm totally back to my old self.  :)

We Are Statistics

The last several have been a whirlwind - and heartbreaking. What is worse that a child that feels miserable? Here is the Brown family health timeline for the past 5 days.  Its almost unbelievable to me.
 
Wednesday
- Miles and Noah got FluMist.

Thursday 

- Miles came home from school with fever and headache.

Friday 

- Miles woke up with high fever feeling very lethargic. 

- Griffin continued to pull on his ears even though he just finished a round of antibiotics. 

- We headed to the pediatrician for a battery of tests, then to the radiologist for chest x-rays, then back to the md for 2 shots of rocephin for his diagnosed case of pneumonia. 

- Griffin was prescribed another round of antibiotics for his ear infection.

Saturday 

- Miles woke up with fever, feeling punky. 

- Noah woke up a high fever, feeling AWFUL. 

- Mike took the boys to the pediatrician while I stayed home with Griffin. 

- Miles got another rocephin shot. 

- Noah threw up everywhere in the doctor's office, headed to Urgent Care to get a check x-ray, then got a shot of rocephin for his pneumonia. 

- When the guys got back, I headed in to urgent care and tested positive for FluA (H1N1). By the grace of God I was prescribed Tamiflu (which I should not have been, since I'm not high risk. I think she pitied my sick kids at home and didn't want them to get the flu also). I arrived home and headed straight to my bedroom, where I've been ordered to remain until I'm fever-free (I'm hoping its before Wednesday!).

Sunday 

- Miles woke up feeling better. 

- Noah woke up with a high fever, feeling awful (the md said he would likely feel awful until tomorrow). 

- I feel awful. 

- Griffin woke up with a fever (101), but was acting completely normal. Then, he woke up from his nap with a 104 degree fever, so Mike rushed him to urgent care and they confirmed that he also has the flu. He's already started Tamiflu.

This flu is awful. The only time I feel remotely human is 90 minutes after I've taken advil. It lasts for a couple of hours and then I feel awful until my next cyle of "90 minutes after I've taken advil". I wish I could take advil every 90 minutes instead of every 6 hours.  I would not wish this on anyone, especially not a child. I feel so sad for the boys and it is literally killing me that I can't hug, comfort, and kiss them.  Its a sad, helpless feeling. Please pray that our bodies will fight these germs, that none of the other boys will get the flu, and that Mike will stay healthy. He has been running the Brown Family ship, doing an awesome job. We're blessed to have him. 



***
Here is a sweet get-well card that Ella made for Miles.  We've also received deliveries of ginger ale and saltines (thanks, Blake!) and lots of phone calls.  Thanks for everyone's support!

Lost Tooth Dance Party

Miles lost his 3rd tooth (another one on the bottom). Mike happened to call from Boston just after he lost it and Miles was excited to share the big news. Soon after, Miles lost the tooth (gross), so these two pictures are the only/best that I have. :)

Miles was so excited about his tooth that he said, "Mom...turn on the chipmunks...I want to DANCE!" He wanted me to video his moves. It was hilarious. Here's a peak at the fun (word of warning...its a few minutes long, likely quite boring for most -- although it keeps me giggling). We are going to love looking back on this!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Note

Yeah, mom....I had a great day at school!

Ah....what's this about a note?....



Ah, man....busted!

Add it to the list....

What's this?

It can't be true!

Mom, did you really forget about picture day and let me go to school in this old sweatshirt?

Mom, seriously, what am I going to do with you?

Amazing Maize

We had another great time at the Amazing Maize today with our fun neighbors Shawne, Evan and Sydney.  Its one of our favorite fall traditions (this was us last year).