Sickness subsided

To say that our week improved from my last blog vent about being sick, you are ca-raaazy town. Ryan was in bed from Monday until Sunday. He was so sick. We are positive he had an adult case of Hand Foot and Mouth. Apparently, these childhood diseases do not transfer over to adults the same way, and in fact, the doctor Ryan saw last Friday had never seen a case this bad. EVER. Basically, when you're contagious and sick, please do not go in public places. Isn't that kind of common sense??? Apparently not! 

He was taking hydrocodon for the pain. It was absolutely ridonkulous. Here are pictures of his hands. Times this by 500 MILLION when it came to his face. He has blisters from his eyebrows, down his nose, and on his upper lip. He was so miserable. He had blisters in his ears. On his toes. In his mouth. Down his throat. In his nose. It was awful. He kept himself busy with Prison Break on Instant Netflix and sleeping a LOT.

He went back to school yesterday and took a 5-hour energy drink. I was so happy to see him motivated and ready to get back into the swing of things. Besides a bit of discomfort still in his throat, Ry is much better. 

I was kind of mess all week. Tired. Cranky. Stressed I was going to get sick. Cleaned every inch of my house with Lysol. and being a non-stop, full-time mom. I had to answer to every call of Brinley's and that gets oooooooooold after 6 straight days. Man, it would have been nice to get a break if we had family around, but we definitely grow closer together as a family having to go through awful experiences! She woke up multiple times each night, but thankfully, we all slept in until 8 or 9am everyday. I am still completely exhausted but I am happy to be back into our routine. My husband is back in my bed (he was upstairs quarantined) but we still haven't smooched on the lips since Monday! Holy cow! I am terrified to get this virus so maybe a few more days just to be safe :-)

But look at this cute thing. Her eyes. Her cute lips and nose. I love her. We watched so many movies this weekend. but I tried to do one fun thing a day like painting or running outside to break up the monotony. 

We appreciate all those who prayed for us! I honestly didn't see a glimmer of light and hope until Sunday, so I am grateful to get my husband back. Health is something I will never ever take for granted.

We. Are. ALIVE!

Ohhhh my gosh.

It has been the week from hell. 

We were so busy last week I seriously could not even handle the drama. Between Ryan's constantly busy law school schedule and having weird unexpected things happen (Ryan's Grandpa's passing), and the sister missionaries coming over for dinner last minute, and I was totally cranky and tired and frustrated all week, and of course Brinley getting sick starting on Wednesday.

First, it started with a fever for 2 days, and then by Friday, she started complaining that her mouth hurt. Ryan took the day off to help me out with the chaos, thank goodness!! He was super dad this weekend. Ryan decided to take her into Urgent Care and they tested her for strep. It came back negative, but he still decided to give her the strep shot just to be sure because the test is only 85% effective.

Basically, when I thought Brinley was on the up and up, we took a dive down hill at max speed. We were up all night with her on Friday. She cried and cried and criiiied. We gave up around 10pm and let her just chill with us. We brought her into bed with us around 11pm, slept for an hour, and then she woke up and threw up all over Ryan. I kind of lost my mind for a bit, cleaned her up, and put her in HER crib and she passed right out. She ended up sleeping the rest of the night. I was so fired up and exhausted by this point. I am such a wimpy mom when it comes to sick kids.

By Saturday, it was the same thing with Brinley. She would cry every time she drank something. I started searching on-line and I pin pointed Hand Food and Mouth disease. She did have a couple red little blisters on her bum and elbow, but other than that, I'm still not 100% positive. The only thing I was worried about was that it is highly contagious. Don't even get me started where she may have gotten it and how ignorant some people are when their children are SICK and CONTAGIOUS why they don't think it is that big of a deal. I don't think Brinley will be attending nursery in awhile. AHhh. So bothered. She didn't go anywhere except Church over the weekend so that is the only place I can think of where she got it. Some parents just don't care I guess!

Thankfully, she has been sleeping better and eating better. Unfortunately, now Ryan has come down with a fever and chills. He is so over worked and stressed that I am not surprised at all. This past weekend was not fun at all. We were all stressed. And anxious. and worried. and don't even get me started about what I have been dealing with lately! Don't even get me started!!! I haven't cooked since...last Thursday and I couldn't care less. I probably should make something tonight but I have no energy and I don't think Ryan or Brinley will have an appetite! Oh the joys....

So basically, where have we been lately? 

I have been doing LOADS of laundry. 

and sanitizing up to my ears.

and watching lots of movies with my home girl, Brin.

Fenton Briggs

Yesterday, Ryan's Grandpa Briggs passed away. Which was an ironic date because four years ago, Ryan proposed to me on the dock of my parents house. February 16th has a new meaning for me now- my life as a Briggs was going to begin, and sweet Grandpa Briggs passed away. He was 89 years old and lived a full life. I met Grandpa when Ryan and I were engaged, and he was the sweetest man. I love that about Ryan's grandparents, they welcomed me into their family with open arms. Grandpa Briggs was a teaser, which explains why Ryan teases me sometimes relentlessly :-) it is all out of love! And Ryan's precious Grandmother, Elsie? I. Love. Her. She is such an amazing woman and I know she is already missing her sweetheart. I plan on naming one of our future babes in honor of her, and I know she would just love that.

One of the greatest memories I have with Grandpa Briggs was being able to be with him over Christmas 2009. Grandpa and Grandma Briggs drove to Rexburg from Pocatello for Ryan's graduation and only a few days later we all met up at the cabin in Driggs. They loved seeing Brinley and being able to cuddle with her. She was only 6ish weeks old and soooooo itty bitty. I love multiple generations being together because we could see so clearly how blessed our family is.

It was amazing to be together over that Christmas break and even though I didn't know Grandpa Briggs very well, or for very long, I know he was a good man and I loved the moments we spent together. I know he was a good man because my father-in-law Larry is one of the most wonderful man I have ever met. He is so genuinely wonderful and I love my Briggs family so much. And of course, my wonderful husband who loved, respected, and honored his grandfather. Ryan is so proud that his Grandpa served in the Army Air Corps flying planes. I have seen those metals, pictures, and model airplanes in Grandpa's study. He was a babe in those military pictures! Swoooon!

He battled many health problems towards the end of his life and I feel so blessed to have known him, and for him to have met Brinley.  We love you, Grandpa and you better tell our future children, no funny business next time trying to get to earth, okkkay??? Whip them into shape!


Grandpa Briggs
Larry my father-in-law
Ryan
and
Brinley.

Oh, how I am so grateful you blessed me with my rockstar husband and my sweetheart Brinley.

October 24, 1922 - February 16, 2012

Valentine's surprise! breakfast

Late Monday night before going to bed, Ryan was busy in the kitchen setting up my special Valentine's breakfast. All weekend, he kept coming home with a new bag from the grocery store with something for Valentine's day. We usually make a fancy dinner on Valentine's day, but this man has a special Friday night planned for just the two of us. We don't get a legit 17-year-old-babysitter very often, but Friday night we're doing it. It will be good for us! Dinner res, fancy clothes, possibly some red lipstick on me, and Blue Bell ice cream cones waiting for us when we get home.

Tuesday morning, Ryan served up waffles with raspberries, strawberries, cool whip, and syrup! He went ALL out. Brinley even woke up before he had to leave for school and enjoyed a whole waffle. She wasn't too sure about the raspberries, but gobbled up the strawberries! Granted, it was only 7:30am so we were all pretty tired and dazed during breakfast, but it was such a nice surprise! We love you, Daddy!  Thank you for making it such a special day for us!

pretty table setting!

my gifts and card

When Brinley saw her new puppy, she gave him a hug and said "Puppy! Stop licking me!" while giggling. This girl could not get any more cute I swear!!

Good mornin!

Daddy and his baby girl

Brinley was so excited!! 

Check out past years Valentine's Day.

2011

2010

2009