A Tale of Small Town Service

Bryton and Avery have been battling coughs for about a week and a half, now. Their coughs have gone thru different stages...and finally on Monday, I decided they both needed to be seen by their Dr. On our way home from work/the sitter, I called our Dr.'s office expecting they wouldn't be able to get the kids in 'til the next day. To my surprise, they had an opening that same afternoon! I also expected to have to wait awhile in the waiting room, with it being an end of day appt., but was happily surprised to have the kids' names called shortly after we got there. The end result: double ear infections and pharyngitis for both kids. Their lungs sounded clear, though, which is always reassuring to a Mom. When we were finished w/ the Dr. and picked out our "good kid" treats, we headed to the drug store next door, to get the kids' prescriptions. After a short visit there w/ our friendly pharmacist, (who talked to the kids all about what they got from Santa :) we were headed home. I walked in the door to a ringing phone. It was our Dr., letting me know she'd prescribed the wrong medication for Avery. Avery is allergic to Augmenton (she gets hives from this), and her Dr. had prescibed another medication in this same family. Unfortunatly, I'd already given Avery a dosage :( So, I got out my Benadryl and gave her a dose of that to counteract it. The Dr. gave me her cell number to call, and also called in a different prescription for Avery at the drug store. 5 minutes later, the phone rang again. This time it was our friendly pharmacist, asking if I needed Benadryl to go along w/ the new medication. She also offered to drop the new medication off at our house, on her way home! Both the Dr. and the Pharmacist were VERY apologetic, and concerned about the situation, which made me feel better. When I picked the new medication up at the drug store, they did not charge me for it, which was even better!
Ahhh...life in a small town. Sometimes it makes the "bumps" in the road of life a little easier to deal with.

Rain, Rain...Go Away!

Or, maybe not...

Nana, Avery, Isaac, and Bryton had lots of fun w/ their umbrella's and splashing in the mud!

Rife Family Christmas

We celebrated "Christmas" w/ my Dad's entire side of the family, for the first time since my Grandpa passed away 9 yrs. ago. I have many great childhood memories of this annual Christmas party...and even though not everyone could make it this year, all of my Dad's brothers and sisters were there! It was quite a large group of us, and great fun! The first picture is of cousins and the 2nd picture is of my Dad and his siblings.

Merry Christmas to You!!!

Children's Mass, a Birthday Party for Jesus, Reindeer Dust, and Presents :) We hope your Christmas is a special one, too!!!

Christmas Eve Excitement

I have 2 very excited kids on my hands today. They woke up excited, saying "Merry Christmas!!!" When I reminded them that tomorrow is Christmas, Bryton replied, "Yes, but Santa comes tonight!!!" And guess what?! They've both been super good so far today...guess Santa is on their minds :)

Our Favorite Polar Express Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0__c8hu2PY

Bryton's First Day @ Teri's

Bryton is on Christmas break, and yesterday he got to go to Avery's babysitter's house for awhile w/ his sister. He was very excited about this, and told me yesterday morning that he was going to help with the "little kids." When we arrived, Teri welcomed him and asked him if he was ready to play. He said, "sure!" and he soon spotted her Christmas village she has set up. Bryton LOVES Christmas villages, and hers has a train in it...so as I was leaving he could barely break away to give me a hug. Avery, on the other hand, was off and running to the toy room w/ a "bye Mom!" as she went (but this I am used to by now!)
When I returned to get them, Bryton was grinning from ear to ear. On our way home...

"I liked my first day at Teri's, Mom."
"Great!" Did you help w/ the little kids?" (Jess)
"Well, there weren't lots of little kids there. So, I got to play all day w/ Libby (Teri's 5 yr. old daughter)!"

Hmmmm...my responsible son :) Guess he really did thing there were going to be lots of little kids there, and he'd have to help Teri out! I tried to tell him she doesn't have lots of kids at her house before we went yesterday morning. However, Bryton tends to have to see things for himself. Teri reported to me that Bryton ate like a horse at lunch time...she was truly puzzled as to where he put it all :)