Week from you know where!

Springtime is always super busy for everyone, I know, and it has definitely been no exception for our family this year.  Since Clay is pretty much a single parent during tax season, I decided to give him a few hours of peace and quiet and take Gavin with me to the 13th Annual Sporting Clay Shoot fundraiser for the CAC on the 25th.  I know this sounds insane but I felt like it was do able for 2 main reasons. 1. I already knew the sound of shotguns didn't bother Gavin because at our SS Christmas party the guys shot skeet and it didn't phase Gavin in the least.  2. I was assigned as a volunteer to the drink cart, which consists of riding around in a golf cart and asking the teams if they want any water or soft drinks.  When I found out the night before that my brother and his girlfriend, April would be there, I knew that would only add to Gavin's fun time.

So off we went after I got off work on Saturday to Southwind Sporting Clays.  Once I mentioned to Gavin that Uncle Dave would be there, he couldn't quit saying Dave, Dave, Dave the rest of the ride over there.  I did get a bit concerned when I got there and the volunteer coordinator told me I had been reassigned to sit at the table and sell raffle tickets.....Of course she had no idea when she did that, that I would be bringing my toddler and since she doesn't have young children I am sure she forgot how impossible getting them to stay in the vicinity of the raffle table when it is outside and there is a BOUNCE HOUSE just 20 yards away is.  After about 30 minutes of chasing Gavin around the Kids Zone and trying my best to get him to stay by me, I admitted defeat and went to beg her to change us back to the drink cart.  Thankfully she did and it was smooth sailing from then on.

Gavin taking a break from the strenuous job of slinging water bottles and diet coke to play with sticks.













Uncle Dave and April

Gavin had a slight runny nose while we were there, but nothing unusual.  After we returned home and he woke up from his nap I noticed that he felt hot and sure enough he had a fever.....  It got higher as the afternoon wore on but nothing dangerous and his runny nose got worse and was accompanied by a nasty cough.  We skipped church on Sunday to spare all the other attendees from our germiness and when he still had a fever Sunday night and his eye was getting all gooey, we knew it was off to the Walk in Clinic on Monday.  Sunday night was not a good night, normally when Gavin gets sick, he sleeps even better than usual.  Not this time, oh no, not this time.  I can't even remember how many times poor Clay got up with him and each time Gavin would be screaming, "EAT, EAT" but then wouldn't eat anything.  His appetite had been off for about a week or two but I just chalked it up to toddler pickiness that I am always reading about.  

Gavin's eye looked bad on Monday morning but not awful however on the ride to the doctor he all of the sudden started crying and saying, "eye, eye, eye".  When we get there and I open up the back door to get him out of his seat, both eyes are now looking disgusting and producing excessive amounts of matter.  So in we go to the walk in clinic to be surrounded by 20 other highly contagious children slinging snot and coughing everywhere for almost 3 hours!  Every time I go there I feel the need to bathe in disinfectant when I leave!  When our favorite PA finally got to us, he said Gavin had the worst looking eyes he could remember seeing! Of course then I feel like a TERRIBLE mother for not taking him to Urgent Care over the weekend. Anyway, we get loaded up with prescriptions and it is off to the house.  The PA says Gavin needs to stay home at least 1 more day and probably 2.  Normally it wouldn't be such a big deal, however 1. it is tax season, 2. Clay is beyond swamped at work, with things that can't be done at home, and 3. I had already asked to take off at least part of Thursday so that I could take my Dad to have a heart cath.  

So the next two days are spent with me and Clay trying to alternate being home with a unbelievably cranky, hungry (but won't eat), non-sleeping, screaming, crying.  Wednesday morning we both agree that Gavin is NOT better and back to the virus breeding center we go.  Thankfully Wednesdays are not nearly as busy so we got in and out in a little less than 2 hours.  Gavin had lost 1/2 lb since Monday so in addition to a shot he got some Pediasure as well.  And of course after I go to Winn-Dixie to purchase some of that incredibly expensive stuff, Gavin decides he no longer likes it!!!  PRAISE the LORD, the shot started working not long after we got home and we could tell a noticeable difference by that night.  Which was good because Gavin was due to make his ring bearer debut at a wedding on Saturday!!