Come on I can't take this anymore

On Monday around bed time Ashley started to run a fever. We gave her some Tylenol and put her to bed. About an hour later she woke up covered head to toe in hives. I felt so bad for her. She had a pretty ruff night that night because we weren't sure how much Benedryl she could have. In the morning she wasn't complaining of anything but her eye was all red and goopy. I got on the phone with the doctor right away. It was very hard on her waiting till we saw the doctor but she made it. This picture was taken right before we left for the doctor. She was so puffy and miserable. While we were waiting for Dr. Ally, Ashley looked at me and said "Come on I can't take this anymore." I don't know where she gets the stuff that she says. She is one brave strong little girl because she was diagnosed with pink eye, a bad ear infection and strep throat. The hives are a side effect of strep throat. She complained once that her ear hurt last Friday but never said anymore. I feel so bad that I didn't pick up on things but she was acting normal. Kevin was so surprised when I called him to let him know what was going on. Since she had so much going on Dr. Ally didn't give her the normal yummy pink medicine(amoxacillan). She gave her augmenten. The first dose I started to have flash back of her spitting it in my face. If she does not like something she will spit it out and there is no convincing her to try it. I was so nervous but I bribed her with M&M's and she actually took it. She gags every time I give it to her but she takes it. I am so grateful that I don't have to fight with her twice a day over this.
She is doing much better today. The hives have stopped and her eyes aren't goopy anymore. She is one strong little girl.

It still hurts after 20 years

It has been 20 years today since my little brother passed away, I don't know why but today has brought up alot of feelings that haven't surfaced in a while. He was such a wonderful little brother. In the 3 1/2 short years he was alive he brought so much happiness to my family. He brought joy to anyone that he met. I watch my sweet Ashley at times and think of how much she reminds me of him. It pains me that my girls never got to know him here on earth but I look forward to the day that they get to meet him on the other side. As a parent I don't know how my parents did what they did. It is unimaginable to me to lose a child. I love my mom and dad that they were able to carry on raise the rest of us. They are the best parents that anyone could ask for.I needed a day like today so I could evaluate things in my life. My goal is to live with my little brother again. This was our last family picture taken 2 months before he passed away.

Mother Daughter Activity

Tonight I went to a Mother Daughter activity with Madison and Allison. We had alot of fun. The girls dressed up the moms using all sorts of different things. The girls really had alot of fun dressing me up and since I had two little girls they got alot done in a short amount of time. Yes that is a Seran wrap dress. Very flattering I know. Madison and Allison had a great time and I love their creativity. The girls wanted me to wear it home so Kevin could see it but I couldn't get in the car with my new dress. I did leave my head dress and top on so Ashley and Kevin could see. Kevin thought it was great and Ashley wanted to wear it all. She was a little bummed when I took it off and put it in the trash. She will live but I did let her keep the head dress for a little while.

It was a great evening and we had alot of laughs. I love the time that I get to spend with my girls.

All-Stars

When Madison's basketball season ended the girls on her team got to vote for teammates that would go to the all-star tournament. On Tuesday night we found out who everyone voted on. There were five slots and Madison got picked for the 60 second shoot out. She was so excited and touched that her teammates picked her. The all star tournament was this last Friday. We had went up to the church on Thursday so Madison could practice and she really felt ready for the shoot out.

On Friday we first watched her other teammates compete and then the last event was Madison's. If she was nervous she didn't show it.

She did a great job and got 15 points. Basketball this year has been great for Madison. She has grown so much as a player. I look forward to the many years we have to watch her. Here is the video of her 60 second shoot out.

Madison All Point Shootout from Kevin Scharnhorst on Vimeo.

Where did February go?

Life has been really crazy around here. I have so much on my plate and not near enough time to do it all. Thankfully I have been able to get all of my commitments done but unfortunately my chores around the house have suffered. I finally came the conclusion that this new crazy is what my life as become and I need to find a way to get it all in. I don't see things changing anytime soon so I just have to find a way to fit it all in. I am not sure how but it is going to happen.

So what have we been up to? Madison has just finished her basketball season. She did an awesome job and really grew as a player. Kevin and I really enjoyed watching her play. She is a shy timid girl by nature so she struggles with getting aggressive on the court but boy when she does get aggressive nothing is stops her. One time in practice when they were scrimmaging, Madison went up to get a rebound and another girl was right there too. Madison fought so hard for the ball she pulled the other girl off the floor. It is always fun to watch her and I look forward to the many years that we have to watch her play. Madison also got to go skiing for the first time with her fifth grade class. I was very nervous to send her but I knew she was in great hands. She was excited to ski but really didn't know what to expect. Her two best friends were there and that made all the difference. She had a great time but isn't sure that she will go again. I told her that I didn't blame her. I really wanted to go us so I could get better pictures but life just did not allow for it. Oh well I did get a picture of Madison and some snow. I guess she is on her skies but we just can't see it.

Allison still has one more week of basketball and then hers will be over. 2nd grade basketball is just great. They are old enough that understand but coordination is still developing. Allison has done a great job and is really developing into a good ball player. Allison is the one in the red shorts stealing the ball.

Ashley has been just being Ashley. A few months ago she told me that I needed a new car and a new house. I ask her why and she said that our car needed a DVD player and we need a house with stairs. Well part of Ashley's wish has come true. We found a really great deal on a newer suburban then the one that we already had so we thought we should jump on it. Ashley now has her car with a DVD player. I really hope that her other wish comes true. The suburban was down in California by LA. Kevin and Allison flew down and brought the car back. Allison loved the adventure and couldn't believe all the cool places that she got to see. They had a layover in San Fransisco and LA before reaching there final destination of Inoykern, California. Allison got to see the Hollywood sign from the air and the Golden Gate Bridge. On the way home they drove through Las Vegas and Kevin took a detour down the strip so Allison could see all the lights and buildings.
They really had a great time and thankfully made it home safely.

This last week Kevin and I got to switch our roles for a few days. I got picked to be on a jury so I left every morning while Kevin was home sick with pneumonia getting the kids off to school. We both came to the conclusion that we like what we do and we don't need to switch. He goes crazy being stuck in the house all day and I just wished that I could stay home where I belong. I am OK never leaving the house.

We have really had a full month of February, I think March will be a little slower but who knows. The girls are really looking forward to there 3 week break that is coming up. I guess I am too. We get so much done on these breaks.

A lazy Sunday afternoon

I love Sunday's especially now that we have early church. I love having a day set aside to relax and enjoy my family. With Valentines around the corner the girls worked on the Valentine boxes and Valentines. It kept them busy all afternoon and they had a great time doing it.
Ashley was really excited because she gets to write her name on her Valentines for school. In this last month she has really got interested in writing her own name. One day she was just able to write the first three letters of her name so I started working with her on the rest of it. I wasn't sure where she had learned it but then I found out Capri(a family friend and Ashley's babysitter every Friday morning)had been helping her out with her name. She worked very hard on her Valentines and did a great job. I think she does a wonderful job on writing her name and she is so excited that she can do it. It is a work in progress but it sure is cute the way she writes it. I love watching her grow and progress.

Basketball Season is in full swing

I don't know if there is a term for a Basketball mom but boy there should be. Life at our house is crazy on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The only reason that I am not pulling my hair out is because I have Kevin. I know that I would not survive much of anything without his help. The girls practices on Tuesday overlap and then some of their games are at the same time also. It has been a juggling act but we have managed.

Allison is having a blast with her team. Two of her best friends are on the team and one of their dads is her coach so she is very comfortable. Kevin and I really enjoyed her first game. She had already sat through two of Madison's games so she was all geared up to play. She was all over the court and stealing the ball like crazy. It was really great to watch. This season for Madison is more serious then past years. Madison decided to try out for the AAU team instead of play non competitive YMCA. We were very excited when she made it because she tried out a week in a half after she got her appendix out. She was very bummed to find out that her best friend didn't make it but I think that it has helped Madison to learn to play with people that she doesn't know. Madison has two practices a week and then two games on Saturday. The second week of practice she had a little break down and informed me that he life was hectic and she just needed to relax. I felt bad that that is how she felt but now that she is used to her schedule she is doing better. She has had played four games so far and they have been pretty intense. Things are definitely different from last season but this is good for her since she loves playing and wants to keep this up.