Visitors and Valentines

Cam's Mom and Dad came for a visit this week. They arrived on Monday evening and we had a fun night of Family Home Evening where Cam asked them to share stories about their baptisms and what it was like when they were kids. The kids were in charge of the activity and we did a dance party and board games.

Monday night after kids go to bed Cam and I love to catch up on the most recent episode of Downton Abbey. We watched it and right as we were going to bed at like eleven we heard coughing from the boys bedroom. I thought it was Dax since he already had a little cold but it was Kian. We went into give him some water but that only made it worse. I told Cam it sounded a little like croup (none of my kids have had croup before so I didn't really know for sure) and within a few minutes it quickly escalated to Kian crying because it hurt so bad to breathe. He was also making a horrible noise when he was breathing in. After a quick google search we confirmed it was croup and I told Cam to take him outside. Even though it was pretty cold it really didn't help at all. Cam woke up his Dad and they gave Kian a blessing. He calmed down and so did the high pitched breathing sound which was the most scary part. He was still in a little pain but after a while, he finally went to sleep again. Then next day he was his normal old self except for a hoarse voice.

A friend offered to let us borrow a nebulizer and we let him use it Tuesday night before bed since croup gets worse at night. He slept in our room again and didn't even wake up once in the night! He got better so fast.

Even though Kian got better fast, we thought we better lay low for a few days since he could still be contagious. Cam's Mom stayed busy sewing neck warmers for the kids and his Dad had fun helping with outside chores. We made a ton of progress on our latest outdoor project, the french drain. And  we got the wood cleaned up from our recent tree felling.

Thursday, Cam's Mom and Dad let us go out for a date for Valentines. We went to dinner and went shopping. Cam hasn't bought a new suit since his mission so we looked for a new one for him. We had so much being together and laughing so much.

On Friday morning Cam took Grandma and Grandpa Porter to the airport while I went to Cruz's class party.  That evening we went out on another date! Our date Thursday was a surprise so we had already arranged for a sitter for Friday!!! Best Valentines ever- and it wasn't even Valentines day yet :) Friday we just got dessert and looked at things at Lowes for our house (which is actually really fun for us, especially sans kids :) )

Today was the most beautiful sixty degree day- full of painting for me, trail hike and bike ride for kids and Cam, and some chatting with neighbors. Cruz wrote a few extra Valentines and put them in our neighbors mailboxes earlier in the week (his idea!). They all were grateful and spoiled the boys with valentines candy and coloring books on Valentines day. We feel so lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people.