I'd Rather Be

There are so many things that I could write about. So many things have been happening around here but I'd rather be sitting in front of my new fireplace that arrived yesterday from Santa. So if you're looking for me or Livi, make sure you check our living room. 'Cause this is where we will be today, tomorrow, and probably the days after that. Sitting, reading, laughing, and staying warm.

Livi Loo Loo

Meet me...

under the mistletoe. This year my momma decided to hang mistletoe up at their house. This may be a normal occurrence for most people but we have never had mistletoe hanging at our house. I don't know why she decided to do it this year. Whatever her reason is I think it is lovely and I know just who I will be meeting under there!

A Girl & Her Dog(s)

Livi loves Swiss and Chili. Swiss lets her crawl all over her and lay on her. Chili on the other hand will let her pet him as long as someone is there with him. She does like to chase him around though. Here is what Livi and Swiss did today.

I've been trying to get one with Livi and Chili but he is really camera shy and usually runs when I hold the camera up. Here's one I snapped of him all by his lonesome.

Handmade

Last year Aunt Chrissy made this one.


This year she made her two.

The funny thing about all these pictures is they were all taken in the house. Not because we keep the house cold. No, its because this kid loves wearing stocking caps around the house. I'll leave them laying on the couch for her and she will go over pick one out and try putting it on (sometimes successful) or she brings it to me or Jarad to put on her. We do this a lot throughout the day. Here are some pictures to prove it.

Just some pictures

Sitting in her books

She loves feeding the dogs.

Round and round they go.

Only stopping for a kiss.

Wearing Daddy's shirt.

The End.

103.8

Yesterday afternoon after the tree was put up, Livi woke from her nap. I noticed her cheeks were really red and she felt warm. I just figured it was because she just woke up from a nice warm and comfy nap.

An hour later, Jarad is asking me if I think she has fever.

My sister, Amber, had given us a really nice thermometer. A digital one you run across the baby's forehead. It's not that I mind checking her temp using a rectal thermometer, this is just easier and faster. So I used this one. 101.2.

I gave her Tylenol.

The thing with Livi is when she is sick you really don't know it. She doesn't cry or whine. She still wants to play. The only way I know she might not be feeling good is when she stops and wants to cuddle.

So she played and played some more. She ate a little but really didn't want to. Uncle Nick stopped by and she hadn't seen him in awhile so she was a little shy and just curled up with daddy. And he said he thought she felt warm still. It had been about an hour since I checked her temp and gave her Tylenol.

So I took it again with the digital thermometer. 101.8.

We decided to lay her back down. She was in her crib for another two hours but never really went to sleep. She would toss and turn and try to fall asleep but would just wake back up. I felt so bad for her. This was not my Little Livi Loo Loo.

At 9:45 I told Jarad I was going to check her temp again. This time I was going to check it rectal. 103.8.

I calmly lay her back down in her crib and tell her I'll be right back.

Walked into the living room and told Jarad to get dressed we are going to the ER.

We arrived at the ER around 10:30 and her temp was now 103.2. We were in a room by 11.

After a chest x-ray, blood work, and a strep test. She was given an antibiotic shot and we were sent home with two prescriptions. The time was 1:45 am and her temp was down to 100.6.

She seems to be doing better today. She didn't have a fever when she woke up and hasn't had one so far today. We will see what happens tonight!

Jarad took these on his phone last night.

She was saying, "Done." This was after her blood was drawn.

This was after getting the shot.

It was really sad seeing her get her blood drawn and the shot. I think the saddest part was, when the nurses would leave after sticking her with needles and taking a swab of her throat she would always stop crying to tell them bye and wave to them.

That's our Little Livi Loo Loo.

O Christmas Tree

I love putting up the tree. I grew up having a real tree in the house. When I was younger my dad along with me and my sisters would go cut one down. I have so many memories of going and cutting down the tree. We would all load up in my dad's truck and drive to a field somewhere. Dad would tell us stories, one favorite that we still talk about is the story of Ike, Spike, and Mike who lived in Spook Hollow. You would think he would be telling us Christmas stories, nope not my dad.

When us girls got older we started going to a lot to buy our tree. We would still all go together. Then Amber moved out of state and doesn't get to come home until right around Christmas so my dad and I will go find the perfect tree. This year I think Livi will go with us.

Here at the Giddens house though we use a fake tree. While Livi was napping on Saturday we put it up. I had so much fun getting out the ornaments and remembering where I got them, and then finding the perfect spot on the tree for them. Seeing Livi's first Christmas ornaments brought back so many memories of last year. How small she was. How she had no idea what was going on. How she loved looking at the tree.

Christmas 2007

This year we tried to limit the amount of ornaments on the bottom of the tree since they probably won't be staying on there very long. I'm hoping to get the rest of the house decorated tomorrow but here is a picture of The Giddens Christmas Tree 2008. Enjoy.

Big Day

We've been waiting and waiting. Wondering when the day would come. I can't help but blame myself for her not starting this earlier. I actually avoid the question when asked if she's walking yet. She crawled late and pulled up late so I knew deep down she would walk later than most kids. (Plus she is our daughter and if she's anything like us she will do things on her own time. Oh, I can't wait till the teenage years!) Now she has taken a few steps here and there and strolls around the living room behind her trusty lion but as far as standing up and going nope not yet.

Not until today.

She is up and moving. Sometimes too fast and falls but stands right back up and try's again. She is so proud of herself. And we are very proud of her too.

Here are a few pics I took this morning of our big girl (16 months) walking around.