NYC

My mom and I went to NYC this past weekend. It was so nice to get away for a few days. It was even better to go with my mom. I really enjoyed our time together without other people to interrupt. We arrived Thursday night at 6pm but it took 2 hours to get to our hotel because of traffic. It was worth the wait because our hotel was fabulous!! We stayed at the Marriott Marquis in Time Square. We had a great view and we were very close to a lot of fun places. My Uncle Jim came to our hotel and we were all able to have a wonderful supper. We even got dessert...YUMMY!! After supper we walked around and took everything in. NYC is an amazing place. I couldn't get over how busy it was in Time Square at 11pm at night. We walked around for a long time and then headed back to the hotel to go to bed. We were getting up early to stand in line for GMA.

Mom and I got up early, 5am, and waited in line for a few hours. Come to find out you need to have a reservation to actually get in the studio for GMA. We did not know this. There was still an opportunity to get in if there was enough room in the studio after everyone else got in. Unfortunately we weren't able to get into the studio but we were given the opportunity to wait outside for Sam Champion to come out and do the weather. Mom and I of course waited. Sam Champion is the person mom was most excited to meet. When he came out we were both star struck but I was able to get some great pictures! After Sam went back inside mom and I started our venture for the day. It was 8:15am and starting to get chilly outside. We didn't care. We started walking and kept walking all over town. We made it to the Empire State Building and then all the way to Union Square. I had a map but it wasn't clearly marked. The way it looked it seemed that we could walk to China Town from our hotel and it wouldn't take that long to get there. Boy was I mistaken. We kept walking and walking and walking but weren't getting any closer. It was almost 12pm and we were meeting Uncle Jim for lunch so we decided to forgo China Town until after lunch. After lunch we decided to take a nap instead. We were trying to cram everything we could into one day. It was exhausting!! After naps we had clearer heads and decided to accomplish a few things that evening. Uncle Jim took us to Soho and Little Italy. What a fabulous part of town. We found a baby shop, Bundle, tucked away on a side street in Soho. I was in heaven and bought Charlie the most handsome outfit ever! The owner was telling us that Jude Law had been in her shop the day before. DANG IT...I would have loved to meet him ;) We had a fabulous supper in Little Italy and then walked around some more. Mom and I were exhausted and our feet were done for the day. We had to get back so we could rest for China Town the next day.

Saturday we walked some more. It was so much fun to see everything that we could. We stayed by Central Park during the morning. We even had drinks at the Tavern on the Green. It was a fabulous place and what a treat to be able to stop in and check it out. China Town was in the afternoon and what an adventure that was. I don't think I ever need to go back there again. Every two feet I heard....'hand bag, hand bag, purses, purses'....ANNOYING!! Uncle Jim did warn us but we still wanted to check it out. We all made it out of there alive and with some great stories!! Mom and I did both get a purse so I guess they annoyed us right into a purchase! After our adventure to China Town we went back to the hotel to rest and get ready for the evening. We made it to Serendipity for dessert after supper and that was so amazing to me. After watching the movie I have always wanted to go there. It was worth the wait but the $45 t-shirt stayed at the restaurant. We ended our trip with drinks at the hotel on the 48th floor. The floor rotated around the hotel so we got a 360 degree view of NYC. It was amazing and a great way to end the trip!

I had so much fun with my mom and uncle! I can't wait to go back! I just hope to next time I don't have to sit next to the guy with B.O. on the airplane! The best part was when he dropped his cocaine on the seat! What a trip but it was so much fun!!

Wordless Wednesday

HOME!!

We are finally home from the hospital. C was able to be without any oxygen last night so they sent us home this morning. It was really close though. At 1am they came in to put the oxygen on him but he woke up. I got him up and we wheeled around the halls for an hour. When I put him back to bed he was able to keep his saturation at 96 the rest of the night! WAHOO!! I am so happy to be back home and out of the hospital. I can't wait to see B and E later today. My mom is going to keep them for awhile so C and I can get a good nap in first. Thanks to everyone for all your prayers. We hope that this is his last major illness!

Good Saturation Vibes Needed!!

C had a great day yesterday. He didn't have a fever and only needed one neb treatment all day. He was such a happy boy and flirted with all the nurses. He was sleepy and took a few naps. Some were short because random people would barge in our room. I finally asked the nurse to put a sign on the door. Now everyone has to check in at the nurses desk before coming in. That helped a lot! Nick took the day off to spend with C and I in the hospital. It was so great to have him here to help. The days get long with just me trying to entertain C. We spend a lot of time walking the halls and pulling C in a wagon. He ate grapes and a few bites of hospital pizza last night. We were so hoping that this was going to be our last night in the hospital. At 10pm things went down hill. His saturation while awake was at 91. The doctor wants to see it at 90 or above while sleeping before we can go home. When C fell asleep his saturation slipped to 86 and needed to be placed on oxygen. He was on oxygen until 3am. He woke up at 3am because the oxygen tubing got all tangled up in his legs. I took him for a walk and when we got back the nurse decided to try no oxygen. He has been able to keep his saturation at 95 while sleeping. The doctor said that he has to have a full night without oxygen before we can go home. I am thinking we will be here until Friday now. Please say some prayers that he can keep his saturation good today. We would love to go home! We miss B and E terribly!! B and E are sick so they are not able to come up to visit. It has been a long week for our family and I am ready for it to be over. My parents have been great help and we really appreciate it. Nick has to work today so my mom is going to come visit with C and I. I know C will love seeing Nana. Papa comes to check on him a couple times during the day and he lights up as soon as he walks in the room. I am hopeful that today he will finally start to eat and this will help turn everythind around!

Please send some good vibes our way. Yesterday, on top of everything else, Nick got a flat tire. He noticed it when he was going to leave to take B to school. When it rains it pours at the Otto house. Of course they couldn't fix the tire so he had to buy a new one! We don't need anything else to go wrong. We need healthy kids, working vehicles and houses that don't have things that break!

Still in the hospital...

C is still in the hospital and has to stay overnight. He has to go a whole night without any oxygen before he can go home. He is starting to get his appetite back a little. He ate grapes today and just had a few bites of hospital pizza for supper. He continues to drink a lot of milk so he doesn't need an IV. We have had a pretty good day. C wasn't able to nap much today because he keeps getting interrupted. We finally asked the nurses to put a sign on the door so he is left alone. Please say some prayers that we make it through the night without oxygen. We would all love to go home! I miss B & E. I picked B up from school today so that I could spend a little time with him. I dropped him off at my mom's and was able to see E too. It was great to give them hugs!

Almost morning time...

It is 5am and I can't sleep. I have too many things running through my head right now. C is sleeping so peacefully right now. He has gotten a few good stretches of sleep tonight. At about 2am he needed another breathing treatment. Then at 4am he had to be put on oxygen because his saturations kept dropping. He is also starting to spike another fever. Right now it is low grade so the nurse is just monitoring it. He has had so much medicine but has been a trooper through all of this. Tonight when he needed his treatment he was pointing to the mask and signing please. Broke my heart!! He knows that it makes him feel better and he does such a great job sitting through it. I am hopeful that he will improve some today. It would be great to go home and be in the comfort of home. The pediatrician will come in this morning to check on him and we will find out more at that time. Say some prayers!

Hospitalized :(

C had to be hospitalized last night. He was doing so well early on in the evening. He then woke up, got sick and spiked a high temp. I took him to the ER at 9pm. We stayed in the ER until midnight when we finally were brought upstairs to a room. He has had several neb. treatments and needs oxygen while he sleeps. His saturation is down in the low 80s while he sleeps and walks around. Poor baby! They tested him for RSV and Influenza and both came back negative. He spiked a new fever this afternoon and with him needing oxygen we were told we were staying another night at least. Long days and nights for us ahead! He didn't sleep last night, neither did I. He hasn't slept more than an hour at a time today. He wakes up and can't breathe. He won't eat and only drinks milk. It has been a long day but the nurses have been great. Nick just got here and he is so excited to see his dad! I am so excited to have 10 minutes of a break. I am hopeful that this will pass and we can get home soon.

WHAT A WEEK!!

We had quite the week last week and it seems that this week is going to be just as exciting! Last weekend C was sick and clingy all weekend. I took the day off on Monday so I could bring him to the doctor. He had Pneumonia! Poor kid! He had croup a month ago and now Pneumonia. He can't catch a break. He was put on an antibiotic and we were to wait it out. He seemed to get better as the week went on.

Thursday B had his Open House at school. He was so excited to show us around. We were able to meet his teacher, see his classroom and see all the fun things he does through out his day. I am so glad that he is enjoying 1st grade. He tells me quite often that 1st grade is awesome! He never said that about Kindergarten.

Then Friday came and E broke out in a head to toe rash. DOES IT EVER END? No it doesn't! I brought E to the doctor Friday afternoon. My father-in-law so graciously came and sat with the daycare kids so I could bring her in. The doctor said that she was fine and it was just a virus that had to run its course. Phew...nothing serious. Friday night B had soccer so Nick took him so I could keep the sick kids inside!!

Sunday C started coughing and getting clingy again. Here we go again! He was clearly not feeling well. He still slept well and took good naps. He was eating and didn't have a fever. We assumed it was just a new cold and this too shall pass. B had his last soccer game and it was freezing outside. Nick took him again so that I could keep E and C inside where it was warm!

This morning C was worse. He started have strider breathing again and I called the clinic. Nick took him in and they gave him breathing treatments. He is on a new antibiotic and hopefully the breathing will be better too. We are to give him treatments if needed. This is so stressful! I worry so much about him and hope that this will pass quickly. Poor little boy needs to get healthy so he can play with his toys!!

Classic B Moment

Last night B was standing in the pantry. Our pantry is over the basement steps so it has a a big step up into it. I was decorating cookies and Nick was standing by B. B says.."Daddy I have a great idea. Let me slide down you like a fireman's pole." Nick and I got the giggles and B said to turn to the side daddy. Nick turned to the side and B slid down him. I was laughing so hard! I wish I would've turned on the video camera. B thought it was so fun and Nick said it was upidstay!!

Busy Otto's

We are constantly on the go lately with sports, dance and running errands! It seems that we aren't home in the evenings as much as I thought we would be once school started. The cutest moment of the week is a phone call to Auntie Alli! My kids ask about her every day and miss her so much. C just lights up when we call her on skype and he can see her. He grins from ear to ear and wants to crawl through the computer. This week C has been battling another cold. He was so crabby yesterday. Auntie Alli called on my cell and he wanted to say hi to her. Instead of talking he waved at the phone. I decided to call her on skype so he could see her. He sat at the kitchen table like a big boy and waved, smiled and tried to crawl into the computer. It was the happiest he had been all day! Thanks Auntie Alli!!

I am hoping to have a quiet weekend but we shall see. It starts that way and something always comes up. Here are some recent pictures of the kids.

Look at that face! Can you tell he loves ice cream cones?

E all ready for dance

B's soccer picture