Go Big or Go Home.

Well, us Harrell's like to do things big. We didn't get just 1 puppy, but 2. We didn't have just 1 baby, but 2. Brody didn't just have an ear infection, but a double ear infection and then he got dehydrated and was admitted to the hospital. Todd told the nurse, "We Harrell's always go big. Go big or go home." Cracked me up...because it is so true!

To make a long story short, Brody seemed to be getting worse instead of better and basically quit drinking and slept and slept and slept. So on Wednesday, I brought him back to the Dr. and we decided to admit him for borderline dehydration. His pain was so bad, that he was not able to drink or eat without being in pain. The dehydration was causing him to be lethargic. The Tamiflu that they had him on for the flu, which he did not end up having, was causing lots of vomiting. So after 24 hours of being in the hospital and getting pumped up with tons of IV fluids and IV antibiotics, we are all home! I am so thankful for having healthy children. This is our first illness, and Brody did it in true Harrell fashion. He went big.

Here are some pics from our hospital stay. Some of the pics are poor quality because they were taken with my cell.

Check out his crib! We called this the jail cell crib. It even has a hard plastic top on it!

He actually slept very well in it...

But we spent the majority of the time in the big boy bed...

he actually felt ok for about an hour while we were there and played...

And did lots of snuggling and visiting and reading books...

But the majority of the time was spent just being really tender and listless and pulling on Mommy and Daddy's heart strings...Look how sick he was!

And while we were nursing Brody, Wade was having a blast at school! He has gone all week long, by himself and his teachers say that he is adjusting perfectly. He actually falls asleep within 3 minutes for nap time on that little mat thing. Still amazes me!!!You know, people always ask me if it is hard raising twins, and while it is difficult at times, this was the absolute hardest. Brody needed so much attention and I felt as though Wade was kind of neglected, just a little bit, anyways. It has to be too weird for him to still be adjusting to a new school all week without Brody and then come home Wednesday night and not have his Mom or Brother there. Todd said he was out of sorts. After Brody was discharged yesterday afternoon, I went to pick up Wade at school and he ran across the play yard and gave me the biggest hug he has ever given me!

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"Before I Was A Mom"

Before I was a Mom I made and ate hot meals.I had unstained clothing. I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom I slept as late as I wanted. And never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was Mom I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies.

Before I was a Mom I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, peed on, or pinched by tiny fingers.

Before I was a Mom I had complete control of my mind, my thoughts, my body and all my feelings. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was OK. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much............before I was a Mom....

Author Unknown