This week was difficult, to say the least! A week ago was the Sheppard Family Christmas Party, held at the Menan Community Center. We had a fun time exchanging gifts, and Lance and I surprisingly ended up with exactly what we wanted: a plush throw blanket, The Dark Knight, and a Costco-size bag of Swedish fish - Lance's other love. Andy came away with a Melissa and Doug puzzle to add to his collection. We brought Andy's scooter so he wouldn't feel left out, (not being able to keep up with his cousins any other way,) and he was having fun for awhile. But by the time the gift exchange was over, Andy was in monster-mode and ready for bed. I took him home while Lance stayed at the party for the 3-on-3 tournament, (which he claims to have tied for first place??) When Andy and I got home I noticed he kept holding his cheek when he cried; then came red drool! I looked in his mouth and his gums were bleeding where one of his molars had broken though. It was so, so sad. I felt awful for keeping him at the party as long as we did. I gave him some Tylenol and he went right to sleep, but the next couple days were tough while that tooth kept coming in.
On Sunday Lance stayed home with Andy while I went to church because he was coughing and seemed stuffed up. That night (or, Monday morning at 2:00AM) we were at the doctor because Andy had woken up with what sounded like an asthma attack. He was sucking so hard for air, and wasn't getting it. It was my first [very] scary mom moment...though I think Lance was suffering the most. After trying a couple different breathing treatments on him, they diagnosed him with Croup - a viral infection that causes inflammation in the upper airways. One of the breathing treatments helped, but the doctor couldn't get his airways to completely open up. They gave him a shot and said it would take about 5 days for him to get over it. Andy cried through both breathing treatments while Lance held him. When we were driving home I said to Lance, "you looked like you were about to lose it in there; thanks for holding it together." He replied, "I won't tell you how close I was to breaking down in tears." Lance and I balance each other out well; it's just opposite of most couples where I'm the one who can stay strong in scary situations!
On Tuesday morning I clocked Andy's temperature at 102. Thank goodness for Tylenol, which we gave him back to back for the next 2 days to keep his fever down. With the fever came cold/flu-like symptoms, (though he's already had his flu shots this year...?) So being congested kept him (and us) up through those next few nights, but luckily his barking Croup cough eased up by about Wednesday.
On Thursday I could tell he was beginning to feel a little better because he began to walk more, and he wasn't falling asleep on the living room floor anymore while trying to play with his toys. That afternoon we taped waxed paper to the counter and let him finger-paint! He liked it, but I think I had the most fun. That night he slept through the night - whew! Friday was the first day ever that he started walking everywhere instead of crawling; and he'd get right back up when he fell rather than resort back to crawling! He's still very wobbly, but he's doing a really good job. At 16 months old, Andy is definitely a late walker; while I'm proud of him for using all that strength to take those steps, I'm a little sad too. Where has my baby gone??
Andy loves having people over to play with him
Trina, his nursery leader (if she's lucky...)
Mallary and Chase 
Walking around!
Brady and Jolynn 
Andy with his pre-arranged girlfriend, Addisyn 
Leah in her angel costume 
Kari and me, then me and Jolynn (below) 
Last night was our ward's Christmas party. Lance was working late, so Andy and I picked up Leah to have her come spend the night with us, and we all went to the party. They had put together a Nativity play and asked Leah to be an angel. I love how Dana's girls are always up for anything! After she gobbled down as much food as she had time for, (then asked for a box to put the rest in!) they gave Leah her costume and she got all ready for her part. Andy was a tired child, so I walked around with him on my hip while taking pictures to send to the Venema's. All was going well until Trina reminded me (again!) about Andy coming into nursery in less than two months! Then Amy felt the need to also remind me! Sheesh, I'm thinking they'll be lucky to get him out of our hands before he's ten!
