What a difference a week makes!

So it has been another crazy week. Last Saturday (the 17th) it was a great day, so we borrowed Samuel's backpack carrier and went hiking up by the Huntington Museum trails. Sam loved it, for 10 minutes. The next 50 or so were spent crying and saying that she wanted out. Glad we did not buy our own carrier. Here are some early pictures.

It was a nice view, but a not as nice hike because of her complaining. She is usually so great, but she just was not having it.
We toured the museum afterwards. They have a cool atrium with a Chihuly that is in a pond with fish. Sam loved the fish and the nice security guard even fed them to get them moving around. He offered to let Sam do it, but I was not sure about that.

Here she is at Taco Bell afterwards. We let her chose and she likes tacos. She also loves to hang on their rail.
Then, my parents came last Sunday. We had a great night Sunday. I made dinner and we goofed off, all trying on a spiderman mask they had found. Sam is still a huge spiderman fan. I am the only one who did a web fling. It is hard to tell, but the mask lights up green around the eyes.

Then, on Monday at 6:45, I flew off to Pueblo. More accurately, I flew to Charlotte, then Denver, then Colorado Springs, and then was driven to Pueblo. I had a tour of the city and spent Tuesday in meetings, interviews, and gave 2 talks. It was crazy busy and I did not get home until 1150 pm Wednesday. On top of that, Sam got sick while I was gone. I felt like something was wrong, but I figured it was just leaving, stress and because I had just been on a trip with Sam. By afternoon, Sam had a 103 fever. I figured she must have strep, since I had just had that and she said her throat hurt, especially when she coughed. Nick called and the doctor said to wait and watch. But that evening she started wheezing and a barking cough, yep she had croup. It sounds like it was scary, with a fever around 105, but it may have not been that high. She had problems breathing and would only offer a small nod or shake of the head to questions. She had to have a breathing treatment and a steroid shot. Actually, it took 4 shots. They had to split it and one nurse took 3 times to get her part in. And they sent steroids home for us to give her. It was so hard to be away when she was so sick, but she was a trooper. I am so proud of her. What an amazing little girl. And I have never been so glad to make it back to Huntington or to be woken up in the morning, even if the voice was calling for Nana. I am so glad my parents were here. We owe them so much. Nick needed them here to be able to still teach, but with her illness, they were a godsend. They are the best grandparents ever. Thanks so much!

Here is a family shot since it has been awhile since we posted one.

Sam is much better now, with only really a cough and some sadness. We told her we were going to nana and papa's in a few weeks, but she keeps wanting to go now. She really misses them.

Wish us luck getting through packing up and storing our stuff, getting through the end of the semester and figuring out where we will be come August. Hugs to all!