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| Headed to Grandma Linda & Grandpa Gary's house...aka Katie Dog's house |
Our original plans for Thanksgiving were for all of us to go to Ft. Wayne the Saturday before the holiday. I would come back home to run the shop Monday-Wednesday then rejoin the boys in Ft Wayne to celebrate the holiday with all the Stephens.
Pap Pap had gotten really sick and we knew that our Thanksgiving plans would be changing. Without knowing what else to do we headed to Ft Wayne to meet up with the Stephen's of the south (Tom & family), grandma & grandpa.
We got the call Sunday morning that Pap Pap had passed away. The Stephens of the north (Dave & family) came down to Ft. Wayne Sunday afternoon.
Before we left Ft. Wayne we got in some good cousin time!
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| Grandpa & Ellie |
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| Pretty intense ping pong battle! |
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| Savannah reading to Joshua |
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| Looks like Auntie Jennifer with his tongue out! |
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| Grandpa reading to Isaiah & Joshua |
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| This isn't a great picture, but you can see Uncle Tom is getting attacked Joshua, Isaiah, Savanna & Dixie! |
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| Isaiah & Joshua at church |
During the night Saturday into Sunday Joshua started throwing up. He seemed better when he got up, so we figured it was just a flu bug. He seemed fine and was playful and happy.
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| Checking out Grandpa's squirrel feeder |
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| Looking for Grandpa's bees |
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| Grandpa tagging our Christmas tree!! |
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| Savannah (5 1/2), Isaiah (3 1/2), Joshua (almost 3) & Ben (2 1/2) |
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| Getting ready to leave for Indiana, PA |
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| He slept most of the way to PA. Still was throwing up, but no fever or complaint besides his tummy hurt. |
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| Passing through Akron, OH. Home of the Blimp |
We made it to Indiana, PA Monday evening. We had planned on staying with Jim's cousins Matt & Allison & their daughter Morgan. Because we weren't sure what was going on with Joshua we decided it was best to get a hotel room and not spread germs through their house.
Pap Pap's visitation was on Tuesday. Joshua had gotten sick many times during the night. Gatorade & fishy crackers - nothing would stay down. We had talked to his pediatrician on the way to PA and she said just give him small sips of Gatorade every 15 mins. Once we started doing that he seemed to be doing better. We all got dressed and headed to the family visitation for Pap Pap. Joshua spent most of the visitation asleep on the floor. Once we got through the family visitation Jim took Joshua & I back to the hotel. He had started getting sick again. By later that evening, Joshua would throw up, then just pass out asleep. I could barely get him to sit up on his own. Jim came back to the hotel and we headed to the ER.
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| All he wanted was to sleep. And green bear. |
The doctor said it was a stomach virus and we'd just have to wait it out. The doctor gave him medicine for the nausea in hope to keep fluids in him & prevent him from getting dehydrated.
By this point the medicine seemed to be helping. He drank the whole apple juice & seemed happier then he'd been in days!
We slowly started adding more drinks back and a touch of food. He was still sleeping so much, but we knew his body needed that to heal.
The next day (Wednesday) was Pap Pap's funeral. Jcs seemed to have a made a great improvement overnight. He was keeping down Gatorade, yogurt and even a banana!
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| Joshua at Pap Pap's funeral |
By the time we got to the church for the dinner Joshua was just worn out. His checks are red, he never had a fever. He slept like this through most of the dinner.
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| Sophie & Ellie |
After the funeral we thought we were on a good path and Joshua seemed to be doing better. We packed up at the hotel & headed to Matt & Allison's house.
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| Joshua & Morgan |
We weren't at Matt & Allison's house 20 minuets before he threw up again. Ugh. I was ready to go home. I felt so bad for Joshua. I just couldn't do anything to make him feel better. He seemed to perk back up and played a little bit with Morgan.
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| No idea what they were up to, but they walked off hand in hand. Pretty cute! |
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| Matt & Jim attempt to blow up the air mattress without a pump. Hair dryer & Matt's hot air did the trick! |
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| Sword fighting with Morgan. |
We had finally made it to Thursday, Thanksgiving day. Allison (& Matt) had invited all the Stephens to their house for a Thanksgiving meal. We kept asking Allison if she was sure she wanted all of us there! ha!
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| Uncle Randy & Morgan playing around! |
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| Baby Ellie! So sweet & so cute! |
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| No one is crying!!! All are looking at the camera!! SUCCESS!!! |
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| All of the Stephens Family ~ Thanksgiving 2012 |
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| Hanging out before dinner |
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| Matt & Aaron carving the turkeys! |
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| Aunt Jackie & Uncle Dave |
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| ~LOVE~ this picture! |
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| Morgan ~ She ate that whole turkey leg!! |
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| A wonderful meal! Thanks so much!! |
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| Baby Sam ~ sleeping through dinner |
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| Fashion show time! |
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| 6 Wheeler time with Uncle Randy, Daddy, Joshua & Ben! |
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| Great weather to play outside and enjoy Matt & Allison's beautiful property! |
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| Aunt Carol & Daddy |
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| Aaron & Shanna |
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| Sweet Baby Ellie! Love that smile! |
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| Aunt Jackie, Allison, Shanna, Aunt Sue & Ellie & Mommy |
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| Dress up time - Pirate Isaiah! |
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| Princess Morgan (too quick for the camera) |
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| Princess Savannah (also too quick for the camera) |
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| All enjoying the fashion show/dress up time |
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| Pirate Ben |
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| Super Isaiah! |
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| Super baby Ellie! |
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| Knight Isaiah |
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| Savannah reading to Morgan. |
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| The view out the guest room from Matt & Allison's house Friday morning. How beautiful! |
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| Finally feeling better!! His smile is back!! |
We made it home Friday evening. I was so glad to be home & have a boy that was feeling better! That is sure to be a Thanksgiving we won't forget anytime soon.
Big thanks to Matt & Allison who opened their home not just to us (& our puking kiddo) but for the entire Stephen's family. It was so nice to spend Thanksgiving with so many loved ones!!
