Just under three weeks after coming home from our Florida/Bahama vacation we turned around and headed to South Texas for a whirlwind trip for a family reunion over Christmas. 
And here we are, all 22 of us on my side of the family!
The last time my parents and the four of us kids got together was five years ago! We didn’t pay big bucks for photography, but were happy to get everyone together and all looking the same general direction!
We arrived in South Texas with two coughing little boys. They had been sick with a cold for several days so I had hoped that they would all be better by the time we got there. The first night both boys coughed all night long. I didn’t get much sleep. Since Little Jason had that acute respiratory airway disease about a year and a half ago I always worry when he gets a cough that it will go to his lungs again. Hearing him cough all night I wished that I had brought the nebulizer and prayed that he would keep breathing.
Bobby’s breathing was really crackly and by Christmas he was running a high fever. I really grew worried when his temperature was hardly going down after a dose of both Tylenol and Ibuprofen and two hours later. I ate Christmas dinner after everyone else had finished and hardly remember what I ate. I must have been more worried that I even realized. One of my sisters told me I yelled at her and I didn’t even know I did it. She was so surprised. She said I had never yelled at her before.
By evening Bobby’s temperature was going back up and his coughing was so bad I worried that he was having trouble breathing. Jason and I finally made the decision to take him to an urgent care clinic. I had given Bobby a dose of allergy medicine that really calmed his cough by the time the doctor saw him. Thankfully his lungs were clear, but he did have an ear infection. The doctor was more concerned with Little Jason’s cough. I left with a prescription for antibiotic and albuterol–just in case the coughing got worse. And that’s how I spent Christmas.
The day after Christmas is when we went to get the photo done. After antibiotics and Tylenol Bobby was still crankier than usual, but seemed to be doing better. This mom job is pretty tough when these precious little ones are not doing well. It is such a helpless feeling to have to watch them suffer and not know how to help them!
Both of my oldest boys had RAD. It is scary and I never knew what might set them off. The middle one really gave us a run for our money with it. He was allergic to the most odd things. Like cleaners with orange oil, but he can drink orange juice and not orange soda. Figure that one out! He is also highly allergic to Albuterol, it took them nearly killing him to realize it. When he was 2 1/2 he got chicken pox and went comatose. After a life flight to the nearest childrens hospital I had a run with the head of pediatric ICU who insisted on giving him albuterol, claiming he couldn’t be allergic. His choice put my son in a coma state and they were forced to hook him up to a ventilator he became so ill. Add to that chicken pox and RSV for extra fun and you had one mad momma bear hunting a doctor. Thankfully he pulled through but it was very touch and go for a long 2 weeks nearly. The odds of anyone being allergic, in the way my son is in that it closes his airways basically smothering him, is like 1 in every 300,000. Guess what his younger brother is also allergic and in the same way. Those odds I cannot even remember but astronomical. So I know exactly what it is like and am sending you huge hugs and lots of prayers.
I love seeing everyone. I have such good memories of your family, and it’s nice to see how it has grown. I don’t think any of y’all have changed a whole lot. Even your parents look much the same as I remember. Thanks for sharing. Sorry the boys were sick and glad that it wasn’t worse.
What great family photos! Such a precious time for all 22 of you to gather together ~ you’ll treasure those memories of the reunion and the photos.
So sorry to hear the boys were sick ~ it’s even harder when you’re away from home and your regular doctor. Hoping they’ve both recovered and are feeling well again!
We were all sick too over Christmas. 🙁 I came down with mastitis which left me exhausted and with a raging headache for days. My 3 year old had an ear infection. My husband developed pneumonia the day after Christmas and is still easily tired out and coughing at night. And my 8 month old got a sinus infection over New Years. Ugh! It is not fun to have sick little ones but over the holidays it is even LESS fun!
@Southern Angel, Oh my goodness. I can not imagine what you went through. No, I’ve never heard of anyone being allergic to Albuteral! I’m so glad that your boys made it through!
What a precious, PRECIOUS family photograph! You have a beautiful family and what’s best, you love and appreciate each other.
My mom told me about your family picture and I had to look up the post. Loved seeing all of y’all in the picture. Your parents haven’t changed a bit!