The Keene Family

No photos... just an update. Jim went to the doctor this morning and he was told he has rotavirus. JT went to his doctor this afternoon and was diagnosed with rotavirus and pnuemonia. He started an antibiotic today. Both boys are very fatigued and spent most of today horizontal. Pray for recoveries and that Haley and I stay healthy! Update 12/31 - Haley has been sick with a fever (up to 103) and a congested cough since Saturday. I took her to Children's Urgent Care on Sunday and she has clear lungs, so that's good. If she's not cleared up by Wednesday I will take her to her pediatrician for another check. I feel a little run down (you think?) but am doing fine otherwise. Here's to a healthy 2013!

With the boys sick, I made the tough decision to leave them at home and take Haley to the family Christmas dinner at Jim's sister's house. It was really hard to leave, especially with JT saying, "Why are you leaving us when we're sick? Who will take care of me?" as I headed out the door. But Haley and I had a wonderful time at the family dinner and then rushed right back home to take care of our boys. Haley and Travis! Our hosts, Matt and Jen Grandma gets some baby lovin' We opened lots of gifts from family near and far after dinner.  Haley got her energy out with Grandpa Cole after eating two Christmas treats. When we got home, I found out that JT had started throwing up while I was gone. My face looked something like this. He threw up twice again in the night time and was very slow waking up the next morning. He did manage to rally enough to open some gifts and play with ones from Christmas morning. Jim was not bett...

If you read in the Christmas Eve post about Jim being sick, you might be wondering how Christmas morning went. JT woke up about 5:30 crying that his throat hurt to swallow. :( I tucked him back in bed and Jim, meanwhile, got up to throw up. He said he felt much better and then we woke up about eight, along with Haley, who was excited to open her stocking. Then I popped our blueberry french toast casserole in the oven and puttered around until JT got up, at about 9:30. We ate breakfast and then JT opened his stocking. Then that was enough for poor Jim. :( He just felt awful! But seriously, he did a great job trying to stay awake while the kids opened their presents from us. I got a new lens for my camera! And a camera sling pack, and a 4-hr photography workshop session. I'm so excited! To show you how amazing my new lens is, check this out. I just switched lenses... suddenly, my dark family room pictures are bright and light. I took these two exact sam...

It all started with the yummy pancake breakfast and leisurely morning I mentioned in my December 23 post. Then Jim got a call into work and left about 10 AM. The kids and I did some house chores and enjoyed laying low. He called around 1 PM to say that he had no idea when he would be home - bummer. We proceeded without him. The kids and I had a yummy pot roast, potatoes, mixed veggies, french bread, and fresh fruit cups dinner together around 3:30. Then we got dressed and ready to go to church. Our service was at 5 PM this year, and it's about a 45 minute trip, so this is about 4:15 PM. We were a little late to service but it was wonderful. We came home and the kids each had one Christmas cookie and milk before bed. At our house, it's not some fictitious home intruder who eats the cookies. :) Then the kids noticed something strange... their stockings had been filled with new pajamas to wear to bed on Christmas Eve. I hope to make this a new tradition! ...

December 23 we went to my parents' house to exchange gifts and see my grandma and my cousin who was visiting from out of town. The kids were so excited for their first gift opening of the season. JT's special gift was a Craftsman tool box full of real tools. And I mean FULL. He is looking forward to completing many projects with Dad and Grandpa using them. I told him that I don't know any other four-year-olds with a Craftsman tool set. Both kids got stick horses and they were a big hit. Correction: they are a big hit. They ride them all over the house! Haley enjoyed eating her dessert with Ma-Maw at Uncle David and Aunt Linda's house... and seeing Hosanna, her little cousin. JT enjoyed petting the dog, Cherry. We got back to my parents' house and put the kids in pajamas. Haley's pajamas have a special story: my mom made her two pairs of pajama pants out of fabric that she used to make me nightgowns over twenty-five years ag...