2012 Marathon

Dear Kate,

For the last couple years, Mommy has been doing the Nashville 1/2 Marathon.  You may even remember doing it last year WITH Mommy, meaning you were in my belly.  This year, Mimi decided to do it with Mommy and Aunt Ash-ash, so we made a big weekend out of it!  

Mimi, Ash-ash, Clara Lee and Emily came up on Thursday and as soon as they stepped in Franklin, the excited started.  They didn't even have to be at our house for the craziness to begin - just be in Franklin!!  See, they were almost here and about that time I noticed the weather was a little sketchy.  I turned the TV on, just to make sure all was good, and low and behold, all was NOT good.  There were tornado warnings going off and the weatherman stressed anyone near downtown Franklin to get in their safe spot immediately!  Daddy wasn't home and Mimi was driving pretty darn close to downtown Franklin, so I was a little unsure what exactly to do, but I decided to play it safe and get in our tornado shelter (that your daddy insisted on and that Mommy thought was a little silly but am now admitting that I MAY have been wrong, may...) Anyway, I grabbed you and your sister and a couple flashlights and headed there.   It was time for your bottle so I debated back and forth for a couple seconds on whether to make you a bottle then head down there but the weatherman kept screaming at me to take shelter now, so we did what he said!  You guys had already had your bath, too, and of course got concerned that you'd get all dirty again, but then I thought "well, that's better than a tornado attacking us, huh?!"  So here we are, hanging out in the shelter...

You did fantastic for being in a tiny place and didn't request your bottle once.  Sis did pretty good too, until she heard me tell Daddy I was concerned about a rat walking across my legs (the shelter is under the house...)  Good news, we made it and with no rats.  A tornado did touch down not too far from our house, so I guess I made the right decision, huh!  Within minutes of emerging from the shelter, Mimi and the girls arrived, a little shaken up as well, but we were relaxed within minutes and Mimi and Ash-ash fought over who got to hold you first!  (Mimi, of course, won!)  Everyone was thrilled to see your new teeth, but you didn't get a chance to show them how you crawl because they all wanted to hold you!!
On Friday, we headed downtown to register for the race and what an adventure that was.  It took us a solid 45 minutes at least to find a parking spot!  It was crazy, but once in, we were out of there in no time.  After registering, we headed home for a bit, and then we took the kiddos to the local carnival.  This is where the trouble started with you... See, you were sleeping off and on all day Friday, and I assumed it was just because we were in the car and it was just a crazy day.  You had a good long rest that afternoon, and when we were at the carnival you were still super sleepy looking, where normally you'd be ready to be held or jumping around or something...

Well, we did the carnival for about an hour then headed to meet the Daddy's (Daddy, Uncle Jay and Pic-pic) at Mellow Mushroom.  While we waited F-O-R-E-V-E-R there, Mommy noticed you were still so sleepy like.  And then Mimi brought to my attention how warm you felt.  And you did.  And when Daddy was holding you that's the first thing he said, how warm you felt... Oh no is right.  Mommy and Mimi decided we'd leave since we STILL had not gotten a table, much less food, and head home to take your temp.  And, it was a temp all right.  102.5.  I felt awful.  You were so sleepy, too.  We gave you some tylenol and a bottle and off to bed you went.  You didn't have a terrible night that night, but maybe woke up once or twice.  That next morning though was when Mimi, Ash-ash and Mommy were heading to the race.  Daddy got up with you and checked it and said it wasn't high anymore, like maybe 99.  He tested it several times and gave you more tylenol and said that you seemed to be doing better.  We just chalked it up as 'teething' but still thought it was a little weird.  Well, Saturday you went to Sister's soccer game and then you guys met us downtown at Joe's Crab Shack, because we finished the race!!!!!

And were starving!!!!!  

You did good at Joe's and weren't too warm at all, so we thought it was just a fluke that you got a fever.  Well, we headed to our annual after marathon party at Robert's with Miss Auburn and all her friends and family.  We run the race in honor of Miss Auburn's Daddy, Mr. Rodney, and him conquering his battle with brain cancer!!  And we always celebrate at Robert's!  So off we went, with a baby, to a bar :)
Well, you slept for a little bit, but then woke up.  You can see here you looked a little warm, but we all were a little warm, so again, we didn't immediately think much of it.

Well, within a couple minutes of getting you out of the carseat, it was pretty obvious you weren't feeling too good.  We decided to head back to the house and get you some meds and get you some sleep, too.  Sure enough, you had a fever again... And you were feeling it, too.  You were by far the grumpiest I have ever seen you and needed to be held, walking around, the entire time... Thank goodness Mimi was here.  Or should I say Pic-pic...

Mimi wasn't too far behind!  She did just do a half marathon you know!!

And Mommy was happy to hold you, too.  For the most part.  :)

And you DID have a little fun.  It wasn't all grumpiness.  You do love to swing!!

Well, Saturday night wasn't the best night for you.  You woke up several times including waking up early, and not happy.  More tylenol came your way and I decided we'd for sure head to the doc on Monday morning.  Well, we go, and sure enough, poor sweet Kate, you were sick.  It was not 'teething'.  You had what's called herpangina, or something like that.  It's a viral infection and causes fever, but worse, ulcers in the back of your throat.  No wonder you didn't want to eat ANYTHING and just cried a lot.  I cry when I get an ulcer in my mouth and I'm a mommy and it's just one!  I felt terrible and unfortunately they only thing to do was load you up on Motrin.  Which we did.  It helped a little, but it has been a terrible last couple of days.  Sunday night you woke up 12 times.  TWELVE TIMES. Yowza.  And Monday and Tuesday nights weren't too far behind that number.  By Wednesday the fever was long gone, but the crankiness was still around a little bit, and you still weren't thrilled with eating.  By Thursday though, you were getting back to your old self, getting back on your nap schedule and your eating schedule and Thursday night you slept all night!! Woo-hoo!! Friday (today), you and Mommy had a nice, relaxed day.   You were a perfect angel at lunch and we walked all around downtown Franklin and you were just perfect.  Back to normal - hooray!!!  You'd have never thought just a week ago you had yucky ulcers in your mouth.  And were at a bar.  With a fever.  No Mommy of the Year award coming this way anytime soon!!!  Sorry baby girl.  Good news is you fought through it and survived!!! Makes you stronger, for tougher things in life, right?? :)
Love you baby girl, herpangina or not!