Our night in the ER

Payton has been sick the last couple of days with a cough and a low grade fever. I have not thought much of it because she has been playing and eating very well (as you can see from my last few posts). This morning at about 1am Payton was sleeping in my arms and woke herself up with a bad cough. When you she woke up she was crying and gasping for air. We thought she might be having an asthma attach since Jonathon had it so bad as a child.

We took her to Waterman’s ER and when we got there she acted fine and even clapped and smiled for the nurses, so it was kind of hard to express my extreme panic and worry. The nurses looked at Payton and found that her temperature was at 101.8 so they gave her some suppositories to reduce her fever. Then we sat in the waiting room for about an hour just waiting until Payton fell back asleep and woke up shortly after with another breathing attack, which made it very easy for the nurses and doctors to see why Jonathon and I were in such a panic. They got us straight to a room and got her on a breathing treatment.

After 5 hours of x-rays, a shot of steroids, more suppositories, waiting and a very sleepy and scared baby the doctor diagnosed her with croup, which is a blockage in the airway to the lungs. The doctor also said there might be a little bronchitis in her lungs. It must be something that is going around because a girl I know said that her sister’s baby boy went to the ER yesterday as well and was diagnosed with croup. Payton seems to be doing fine right now… but she does fool me when she is sick. The ER sure is not a fun place!

Bath Time!

Here is Payton messy and happy after a big dinner.

Sisterly Love

Cali and Payton are starting to interact a little more now. Cali has been very jealous of Payton but is starting to like her a little better since Payton drops food to her from the dinner table. It is so nice to have Cali as my personal maid in the house to clean the floors after Payton’s meals because it can get very messy!

Deceptively Delicious

Those who know me well know that I love sweets and have a PH. D. in Oprah and because of these two facts I am so excited! Oprah recently had Jessica Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld) on her show and Jessica came up with healthy recipes to trick her three children into eating their veggies. Jessica’s trick is vegetable purees which she adds to the foods she is preparing. Some examples of her recipes include pizza, donuts, Mac n cheese, pizza, brownies, chocolate cake and cookies. The secret ingredients is where it gets interesting… in her Mac n cheese she adds cauliflower puree and in the brownies she adds carrots and spinach. I know…YUCK… right? But after watching the audience’s positive response and about 20 first and second graders bagging for more I thought I’d give it a chance because Jonathon and I sure could use the vegetables and it would be great for when Payton starts fighting me on eating her greens. Because I had to do a cooking class with the Young Women I thought I’d test two of the recipes out tonight.

Test One Mac n Cheese with Cauliflower Puree
This was a huge success and I don’t think I would ever prepare Mac n cheese again without the puree. I could not tell a difference by looking at the food and could hardly tell a difference in taste except for it tasted better than normal in my opinion. A child would definitely know no different. Payton of course loved it but I have actually not found one food that she will not eat (knock on wood ;).

Test Two: Brownies with Spinach and Carrot Purees
This recipe was a little tricky because the Beehives and I prepared the batter and it was all from scratch (first time for me with brownies) and looked so disgusting with adding chocolate, carrots and spinach together. Also, the recipe calls for a long cooling time (so you would not be able to taste the purees) and we had to eat them warm because of time. The result of this test was 50/50. Some of the girls liked them but others did not. I personally thought they were good and when Jonathon got home he said they tasted like normal brownies to him. I think they would be better if they were made from a Betty Crocker’s box mix instead of making the batter from scratch.
I don’t think a child would know any difference in the brownies and especially if you did not tell them what was in it. The mind can be a powerful persuader. If anyone wants to get the recipe book it is called “Deceptively Delicious” by Jessica Seinfeld.

I had a great time with the girls and cooking this interesting treat. I am looking forward to many more fun nights with the Beehives… they are so awesome and are such a blessing to work with.

Jonathon's Pin Ceremony...almost there!

Yesterday was Jonathon’s Pin Ceremony which is an initiation for the Palmer students to be able to start working on outpatients. It was so exciting! Jonathon got his new clinic jacket and looked so cute in it. I was the only one with a child at the ceremony and Payton was not happy about it because she had fell asleep right as I pulled into the parking lot and was woken right up. When Jonathon was called on stage I had my camera ready and she started screaming so I did not get many good action shots. I was so proud of Jonathon and finally am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Next year at this time he will be Dr. Jonathon Wise…well that is if he gets his 300 adjustments in so if anyone is having problems with their back please let me know;)

Jonathon and his class mates.

My sleepy baby!

This is one of my favorite video clips. Payton was about 6 months old and actually was sick with a cold... can you tell? I got Payton out of the bath and was trying to put lotion on her, but I was running low. I took the bottle and was trying to squeeze out the last little bit of her belly and she just started laughing hysterically. While Payton was laughing I had time to call Jonathon, Linda and get the camera out. But of course I tried it again the next day and she did not find it to be that funny.

Payton's Walking

Everyday since Payton was 11 months and two weeks (when she took her first few steps) she has been trying very hard to walk. It seems as each day goes by she gets a little more brave and today she was walking all over the house.

She can take about 10 steps...

...without falling.

My little cheerleader

I took Payton to story time for the first time last week with Ashlea, Gavin and Grace. After Payton heard all of the other children clapping their hands, she came home and started clapping for everything... when she took a few steps, daddy came home, when she got my attention to get her out of her playpen and everything else that she found to be exciting. I feel like I have a little cheerleader in the house... I just love it!

Happy 1st Birthday!

Payton turned 1 year old on September 14,2007. When had a birthday party for her and she had a blast! She ate most of her cake that Paula and I made for her and was even kind enough to share some with me, Jonathon and Natalie. This past year has gone by so fast... and Payton sure has made it an amazing year. I just love that little girl so much! Happy 1st Birthday Payton!

New Blogger!

I am finally going to start blogging! So I will start by telling a little about myself and the most important thing in my life... my family.
I'm a very happy person and love my life! I married the love of my life on December 18, 2004. Jonathon is my best friend and I could not ask for a better husband and father for my children. I was blessed with a beautiful daughter, Payton Nevaeh, who I can’t express in words how much I love her. Payton has brought so much joy into my life… she truly is a gift from heaven. Much of my blogging will revolve around Payton and all the bitter and sweet things she does. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, my dog Cali Emma, learning new things, church, walking and the beach. I work part-time which has been a true blessing because I love to work and I also get to spend lots of time being a mommy to Payton and a wife to Jonathon.

11 month old August 2007

Here is Payton at 11 months old. August 2007. She is very close to walking as she is pulling her self up onto everything! She is so full of life and loves exploring everything. I just love this little angel so much!