TGFF (Thank God for family!)

Evie is becoming quite familiar with this "sick day" scene

I hate to sound like a broken record, but it's been another long week with a sick kid.  We had about a 2-day reprieve after last week's virus before Evie came down with another fever on Wednesday, and she's been pretty miserable since then.  I took her to the doctor on Friday (her first-ever sick visit...not bad that we made it 22 months without one!), but her pediatrician said he suspected that she got a second virus on the heels of the first and we'd have to ride it out.  Here are a few of the better moments during the week of illness:

Finger painting to keep busy during one of many sick days

The Crayola Mess Free finger paint is so cool!

 Evie decided to reverse roles and read books to "Sally Epellant"

If you've ever had a case of the Mondays, yesterday was among our worst.  We were up a couple times during the night, then woke to a feverish crying daughter who proceeded to vomit all over me all before 7am.  The day only got slightly better from there.  The saving grace was that Aunt Pea swooped in and took Evie for a couple of hours in the evening.  The exhaustion/frustration/worry must have been oozing from our pores and she knew we needed a break.  I spent my free time wisely and filled out my NCAA bracket (who else loves March Madness?!), watched a little TV, had a beer, then Matt and I cooked dinner together and ate without interruption.  Ahhh, it's amazing what a break can do for the soul.

We did have a little time for fun in between illnesses.  Our niece Carly had a concert at Essex High School, so we went and reminisced about our high school beginnings.  Matt and I were named "Most Musical" our senior year in high school, but we were not speaking at the time of the photo, making for the world's most awkward yearbook photo.  We did a re-do photo last week at Carly's concert...go ahead and laugh at the before and after pics!

Before and after - 14 years later!

Our St. Patty's Day celebration was low-key but delicious with homemade shamrock cookies and green beer.

And, I'll end with a sweet Irish blessing:

May your blessings outnumber

The Shamrocks that grow.

And may trouble avoid you

Wherever you go.