Mystery Hives

Two weeks ago I notices a few red, itchy bumps on my arm and neck.  I though it was just mosquito bites and didn't think much of it.

a few days past and about Tuesday I noticed a few more bites.  I thought that was odd.

It wasn't until Wednesday when Cedric woke up with similar marks on his arm and my "bites" were changing that I started to worry!

I called the dermatologist, but couldn't get in, so we went to the instacare instead.  They weren't much help, but guessed poison ivy.  I didn't think we had been anywhere that had poison ivy, but we did start taking allergy medicine for the itching and applying a medium steroid cream to help.

My arms kept getting worse!  Now they were giant itchy splotches.  I called and scheduled an appointment with the dermatologist, but couldn't get in until the following Tuesday (by now it was Thursday).

Cedric's arm changed overnight.  and looked like this the next two days.

And he woke up with it on his face!

It was so itchy I'd wake myself up scratching at nights.  It was embarrassing too.  I wore long sleeves as much as a could, especially around the preschoolers.  The fact that Cedric had it made me worried it could be contagious despite what the doctor said (It was definitely not poison ivy).

By Saturday, Cedric's arm looked almost all better!  His face had cleared up too, but my rash was just spreading and getting worse.

Lily also got some itchy bumps on her hand too.

Tuesday finally came and I went into the dermatologist.  They were already starting to look better by then, but he instantly knew they were hives.  We still do not know what from.

They gave me an allergy shot which helped so much with the itching and a topical spray, plus more allergy medicine.

The next few days, the hives looked more like this. 

Two weeks later, I no longer itch (well, hardly) and the hives are just dry, dead skin.  It's still too embarrassing to wear short sleeves again, but luckily the weather's been cool.

I am grateful to be almost at the end of this terrible infirmity.  

The Utah State Fair

Last Monday we met up with Tom after work and went to the State Fair.  We have gone every year since Lily was one year old.  The weather was good, just slightly warm, but not too hot.

 

We learned last year to always go to the fishing pond first, it’s one of our kids favorites!  They actually teach the kids how to cast and real and then they get to really fish!

Cedric caught his fish first.

 

Then Jeff.

  

And finally Lily caught her big fish.

 

Sophie liked running around and kept saying “cheese” for the camera, so I took a picture of her too.

 

 

Next we headed over to the Little Hands on the Farm display (we only do the “free” activities and this one is a tradition).  The line was super long because Monday was free kids night at the fair and adults were the kids price.  But it moved quickly and the kids had fun.  Lily was good to help Sophie.  She felt a little too old doing it this year. 

 

Monday night they featured an all-you-can-eat ice cream tent.  for $10 we got our whole family in and ate all different brands, types and flavors of ice cream from different Utah venders.  I was seriously sick when we got home, but the kids loved it!

 

We met up with Tom’s brother, Bryce and his family and his sister, Maren and her family.  The kids had fun with their cousins dancing and eating.

  

 

Then we went to see the animals.  Sophie LOVED the animals and was not afraid to pet them.

 

 

 

It was getting late and the kids had school the next day, so we finished up at the ‘bee building’.  They love to watch the honey bee display and touching the giant pumpkins.

 

It was a very fun night at the fair and a fun tradition we look forward to every September.

Two Years

 With Grandma Sherri in 2011

Lily

Jeff

Cedric

Sophie (I was six month pregnant)

September 11, 2011

The Funeral

Last night was the two year anniversary of Mom's death.  Aimee and I went and visited her grave.

 Then we went to my dad's house to listen to the funeral, watch the funeral video and to look at the funeral book.

 For the most part I was good all day, not too emotional.  I felt like while we were at my Dad's house I had just enough grieving, I didn't cry too much, but enough.

When I got home I watched this video my cousins made.  That's when I lost it!

 I miss Mom, but life continues on and luckily I feel she is still a part of my life even though she's not physically here.  It's weird to reflect back on the events of two years ago.  It feels like forever ago.  Love you, Mom!