Atlanta

Thankfully, our ordeal with strep and a facial injury occurred a week prior to our trip to Atlanta!  Taking a 1350 road trip (round trip total) with four kids on my own was only going to happen if they were healthy and thankfully they were!

We left Thursday after work/school.  It's about 650 miles from our house to Feifei's.  I was able to make it 400 miles the first night with only one stop and minimal complaining!  We ended up just west of Charlotte, only a few miles from the US National Whitewater Center.   I'd heard of this place because my friends brother had his wedding there.   The kids and I spent about four hours there Friday morning.  I first took them on a three mile hike, then rewarded their efforts with a ropes course.  The kids could have spent all day there, but we were on a mission to get to Atlanta.

We drove the final 250 miles that afternoon - again only one stop!  After getting to Feifei's apartment, we explored her complex/grounds, then headed to Emory's campus.  We walked around for about 30 minutes then stopped for dinner.  And then it was time for bed! 

Feifei has a one bedroom apartment, which she let us stay in while we were there.  (She stayed with her "friend" Scott.)  

Saturday we got up and headed downtown to the Atlanta Aquarium.  We spent a few hours there.  It was very neat but also VERY crowded.   After that we went to eat lunch, walked around Centennial Park, then headed to Lego Land. 

It was nap time for Kyle, so Feifei and Scott took Erik, Lainey, and Carson to Lego Land while I pushed Kyle around in the stroller.  Lego Land in Atlanta is located in a mall, so I did all my spring shopping for Lainey and Erik while Kyle slept. :)

After Lego Land we ate a quick dinner, then headed to a Karoke "bar."  This was quite fun!  The "bar" has about 10 Karoke rooms that you rent and then your group has private Karoke.  Lainey, scott, Feifei, and I had a lot of fun singing.  The boys were more interested in the large number of buttons on the remotes.  Ha!

After Karoke, we stopped for a quick dessert, then headed back to Feifei's to sleep.

Sunday morning we got up and headed to Stone Mountain.  I had been there with Daron, when I visited him in Atlanta, in 2004.  It was much different that I remembered.   We all loved it!  The first thing we did was take a tram up to the top of the mountain.  You can hike up/down it, but it isn't stroller ascessible.  Knowing I'd have to carry Kyle for a majority of any hike, I deciding hiking down was probably smartest (about a 2 mile hike only but steep and slippery at times).   The big kids are great hikers!  They weren't super excited I tricked them into another hike, but they did great once we got started.

Feifei was there by the time we got down.  We spent the rest of the day exploring the park, which is essentially a small amusement park.  We all had fun and I was very thankful to have Feifei there to help me wrangle the troops.

Feifei had a very early morning at the hospital the next day and needed her space back so the kids and I headed back home after leaving Stone Mountain.

I drove about 200 miles that night (it started to rain and I was tired).   The next day we got up and drove again.  I didn't really have a plan in place but my friend Karen has made a number of suggestions for fun things to do in North Carolina as her parents live there.  One of them was the Greensboro Science Center.  We got to Greensboro around 11 AM, ate an early lunch, then headed to the Science Center.

As we pulled in, we saw a gigantic ropes course!  My kids LOVE these so they were SO excited!  Unfortunately, you have to be 8 years old and be accompanied by an adult.  Erik didn't fuss when I told him I didn't want to pay for a guide plus his ticket(since I couldn't leave the other three unattended).  I suggested if he wanted to go, he could help pay for the guides ticket.  He thought about it and decided it was worth $20 out of his savings.

I couldn't agree more!  This ropes course was amazing!  He spent 2 hours up in the trees - made it through 6 of the 7 courses (2 hour time limit).  He has no fear and very bravely goes through these very high obstacles!  

Lainey, Carson, and I were all able to participate in 1-2 ropes courses during this trip.  I'd never been on one until a year ago.  If you knew me as a child, you'd be floored that I have conquered my massive fear of heights!  I'm not sure I would have made it through the big one Erik went on, but at least I can keep up with Lainey and Carson still!

We stayed at the Science Center until 5 PM, stopped for a quick dinner, then drove the last 5 hours home.  

We left Scout at a Puppy Daycare.  He did just fine, but boy were we happy to pick him up when we got back!

I'm so thankful for the oppurtunity to do fun things with my kids.  They are really at a fun stage of life!  I really enjoy them (most days).

 Greensboro Science Center

Erik up in the trees

 Lego Land

 The top of Stone Mountain

 Riding on a train - Kyle was VERY excited!

 Free range chicken and baby monkey (gibbon?) at

Greensboro Science Center/Zoo

 PEtting a dog that is 3/4 wolf

Kids at the US National Kayaking Center

 Carson and Erik on the first ropes course of our trip

 Pretty brave and awesome kids!

A very LONG week

Last week was one for the record books.   Kyle has a fever, cough, snotty nose, pink eye starting on Sunday.  Monday Erik came home from school with a fever and headache.  Carson also spiked a fever Monday evening.   Erik seemed to recover fairly quickly although intermittently was complaining of a headache and sore throat.   Kyle's fever broke but then he broke out into hives for three days.   Carson continued to spike fevers for four days.  When I checked his ear on Thursday, it was clear he had puss fill ears and needed to be seen.

In addition to all that sickness, Lainey got hit with a golf club on the face Wednesday evening.  A neighbor boy accidentally hit her.  I was inside going to the bathroom, when Noah ran in yelling that Lainey was bleeding.  As soon as I realized what had happened, I found a neighbor and rushed her to the ER.

Poor little Lainey cried for an hour after it happened, then fell asleep in my arms.  The ER was busier than I've ever seen it, but they did move us through pretty efficiently.  A CT scan of her face was done which showed she has a fractured maxilla (cheek bone).  She was started on augmentin for a week, put on restricted activity for 2-3 weeks, and a pureed diet for 2 weeks.  My girl has been amazing!  She hasn't complained at all about the pureed diet.  I have been so impressed!  To support her, I've also been eating a pureed diet.  I've been making lots and lots of soups, so it hasn't been too bad.  (I am SO thankful, the club hit her cheek.  If it had been off an inch in any direction, her injuries would have been much worse.)

Anyway, back to the boys.  Friday I had 15 patients scheduled, but I knew I needed to take Carson in to be seen.  I was able to make a 2 PM appointment, only had to cancel 3-4 of my patients, and my rockstar babysitter met me at our doctor's office (50 minutes away from my office). 

The pediatrician agreed with the double infection.  I asked her to check him for strep since the other boys were sick too.  She did and his rapid test immediately turned positive.  Ugh!  Thankfully, she called in meds for all the boys and Lainey was already on antibiotics.

Within 24 hours of starting meds, the boys were 95% better.

Poor Carson turned 5 on Friday - the day he was diagnosed with a double infection and strep throat.  Ha! 

My mother-in-law came for a quick visit on Saturday.  Just in time to rescue me!  I snuck away Saturday evening and went to a local hotel to sleep (for 9.5 hours).  I am happy to say we are all feeling much better today.  Phew!