The GA Guinn Trips

Well, we've been hit and hit hard with a MONTH of sickness! 

It began with three little girls getting an ear infection, which brought with it a lovely round of antibotics!  Well, after the antibotics we had two days of happiness and then came the lovely relapse!  Alyssa missed school the entire week of the 9th-13th!  She ran high fevers, did not eat or sleep, so the dr prescribed another round of antibotics and a steriod!  The steriod MADE HER CRAZY!!!  She was HUNGRY ALL THE TIME!  She was CRANKY!  She was so miserable! 

Then on the 13th, Makenna spiked a 104 fever, so Saturday morning we headed to the DR with her!  Another round of antibotics for her, and before I got out of the DR, Nana was on the phone because Issy's fever was around 103! 

I sent this pic via my phone titled MISERY!!!

Loves Company!  She is smiling, but she sick here!

So on Wednesday, I had had enough, so I called and told them we were coming back in to do something! 

When we got there, Makenna has a 105 fever! 

She could barely hold her head up!  All she wanted to do was lay her head on the table!

Nana was good entertainment through out the experience for Alyssa and Issy!

So the Drs decided that each girl needed at least two rounds of injectible antibotics!  It was rough!  Their poor little legs hurt so bad! 

On Thursday, Aunt Sandra and Nana took the girls back, so I did not have to miss class.  The girls started crying as soon as they got inside the DR's office.  And they had a right to cry because they each got another shot! 

On Friday, we went back again!  They did not even make it into the building; they dissolved into tears as soon mom pulled into the parking lot!

Here's Issy hiding under the table!

Makenna and Issy each got one more shot (Issy's ear that wasn't infected before friday was RED and YUCKY on Friday!)  Who knows what is going on!  Alyssa was all clear, so she got out of another shot!

Luckily they are starting to feel better!  I am hoping they will be completely well by Tuesday! 

In other news, Poppa has arrived!  ALL the girls were SO Happy to see him!  Nana and Poppa went to North GA this weekend!  I am sure hoping they are having a great time! 

I have a few things weighing on my mind and would love some prayers and postive thoughts. 

One Alyssa is sick again with her second double ear infection in a month...She is starting her third week of Antibotics.  Because of this, we can't get her the Flu shot, and now she is on an oral steriod which weakens her immune system.  We are keeping her home from school (which is heartbreaking) and isolating her as much as possible until she is done with these meds. 

Aunt Ginger and Aunt Suzy are both having health issues that need prayers. We love you both and we pray daily for you girls to get better very SOON!

My Aunt Teal is doing better after her heart attack, but she is still in rehab and wants to get home soon! 

Frank's Aunt Marcella is battling cancer and needs prayers for healing. 

I have been given until Jan to complete my comps and make them better.  It is heartbreaking to have to do this, but I know I need the time.  I am really depressed about it, but I will make it through.  School has always been easy for me and I am finally to a point that its NOT easy.  Its SO HARD!  I just don't know if I am smart enough to do this!  I've got to get my mojo going on and do this.  I've got to ask for help!

Finally, Frank takes his practicals for his paramedic on Saturday.  He is a nervous wreck, but I know he will do great!  And at least he can learn from me and if he doesn't make it the first time, you just keep going!   

Why is such a little word.  It's one of the first questions that children learn to ask.  Why is the sky blue?  Why do fish live in water? 

Eventually, the why begins to change.  Why do I have to do my homework?  Why can't I go out with my friend?  Why can't I get a tattoo? 

It's part of growing up.  And yet there is one why that people should never learn.  And that WHY is the hardest one to learn!  Why do children have to die? 

Tonight, Brody, my sister's student, went to walk in heaven with God.  He is a little boy who was a fighter.  At two, he was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease.  He had to have a transplant, but with his rare blood type, that made a transplant very unlikely.  I only got to know Brody through my sister.  I attended the fundraiser with the triplets for Brody.  He was so full of spunk!  And the stories, my sister would bring home of Brody always put a smile on my face.  His mom, Kristi, was amazing and kept everyone up to date on Brody through his carepage. She was a single mom, who managed to keep everything together for Brody's brothers and manage Brody's care.  And she ALWAYS had HOPE!  HOPE for Brody to have something better!

Sandra and Brody

I HATE this WHY?  I hate knowing that a family is grieving because a little one was taken too soon!  

It is HORRIBLE that children have to die!  I have seen way too many in the last few years!  I grieve for these parents and PRAY I am never in their position!  Why did Brody have to die?  Why did Zoe Rose have to go before him?  Why did Jaxon, Courtney, and Collin all have to leave their mom's arms? 

These whys will never be answered on earth.  I can just hug my girls closer tonight and remember everyday that we are not promised one moment more on this earth than we have lived.  We can find a strength that we never knew existed to go forward and use these struggles to motivate change. 

If Kiera did not lose Zoe would she have founded the Zoe Rose Memorial Foundation?  Not likely

Would Rachel have started Triplet Butterfly Wings and make the amazing burial wraps that she does, without the loss of her butterflies?  Again no! 

(Even though, I know they would trade all the amazing work they have done for one more millisecond with their babies!)

But the hard work of these brave women and their families stems for their need to know that their little ones are remembered and to see something wonderful come out of something so tragic! 

And we do remember! 

Every time I see a ladybug, I think of Zoe.  I remember her mother, her sisters, her father!  The video of Zoe learning to chew still makes my heart melt!  When I find a ladybug inside my house, I will take it outside, point it north and tell the little bug, "Go visit Keira or Lily, or Avery.  They need to see you!"

Every time a butterfly lands near me, my heart remembers Jaxon, Courtney, and Collin!  I remember the beautiful pictures Rachel shared with the world as her little ones fought to live. I can't see a butterfly without thinking of them. 

And now, sadly I must remember Brody!  Red Power Rangers were his thing!  He loved them.  So when I see a red power ranger (or heck any red ninja (because, forgive me Brody, I'm not that good with power rangers!)  I will remember Brody!  I will lift up his family in prayers!  I will remember! 

I will REMEMBER all the things their families have shared through their web pages, stories, and emails!  Whether I am friends with the family, whether I am just an acquaintance, or whether I have only ever followed them on the Internet!  I WILL REMEMBER! 

Why is it when I have something big coming up where I need to focus on something, my girls get sick?  We made it through the beach trip without any sickness (unlike last year), but as SOON as we got home.  Isabelle starting getting stuffy.  I quickly followed.  Then Makenna, Alyssa, Frank, and Finally, NANA!!!!  We are a bunch of little sickies, and I HAVE to clean my house, because Grandma Carolyn and Grandpa Poley are coming on Saturday, and Vicki and Matt are stopping overnight on Monday!  I need to get the house clean, so that I can relax and enjoy them instead of freaking out about the house!  Oh well, I guess it will be what it will be!

And here are a few of the pics I have gotten edited of the girls!

Got about 500 more to get through!

The girls, Frank, and I want to tell our Aunt Suzy to GET WELL SOON!!!! We know you will be feeling a ton better after you have your surgery!  We love you, so much!  PS:  You need to be completely well by the end of July so you can come to the beach with us!

Also, If you are a praying person, please keep my Aunt Judy in your prayers.  She just had a cancerous tumor removed from her colon.  It is really big and she now has to go and get chemo. 

Issy also had a little trip to the DR today.  Turns out her 102.9 fever is because of a viral infection and a bit of bacteria in her urine that they are sending off to see if it will grow.  So we are just rotating they Motrin and tylenol, and hoping that she gets better by monday, when we start swimming lessons.

Poppa arrived today and Nana and the little girls went to pick him up from the airport!  On the way home, Nana suggest that Poppa get an empty tub for Alyssa and cover her with a towel.  Can you guess why???

Sickness is abounding.  Well as soon as Poppa gets Alyssa covered.  Isabelle proceeds to puke all over herself.  Alyssa then follows.  Makenna is so far so good (but I doubt it will last for long!) 

They are pucking and pooping a ton.  Alyssa started last night, and I am proud to say that after she got sick in her bed, I was able to change then entire bed without waking the other kiddos in the room!  One more step up the SuperMom ladder of success.

I also came to a realization today.  We have had our share of sickies, pneumonia, RSV, fevers, chest infections, etc, etc, but this is our First Really Truly Stomach Virus.  I have survived Isabelle puking and managed to hold my own cookies (which I wasn't sure I could do).  I have changes some of the vilest smelling diapers ever! 

And in the end, I now know the biggest perk of me working.  Not having to hang out 24/7 with sick kiddos.  Is that horrible to say?  I just don't deal well with sickness.  When I'm sick, I want to curl up in a room and be left alone, so I don't understand the clinginess that triples with every little bit of fever.  I can't handle blood, puke, and poop.  But I am surviving this and hopefully the girlies will get better really soon.