Well, the summer is here. And here I’d been counting down to summer because I thought it would be the time when we could be exempt from sickness.

We had Hudson’s 3-year-old well visit on Monday of last week. I joked when we were there that we’d be back by early the next week at the latest because we were all at VBS and it was inevitable that someone would get sick.

And sweet Hayes is sick. When I saw the 102.7 on the thermometer I was really scared. I took off his doc band and gave him some fever reducer to see if that could bring it down quickly. And it did, but he was just so fussy.

Our pediatrician did a strep test on Friday, and she said she was 90% sure Hayes had strep throat. And she told me she’d give me a prescription for an antibiotic for both boys, because if Hayes had it, Hudson would have it soon. She said Hudson’s throat looked bad, but not nearly as bad as Hayes’s.

She told us to go home and she’d call us with the results. (This is when both boys were really ready to go home and couldn’t possibly wait another 7 minutes for strep test results.)

She called back a few minutes after we got home and told me that the strep test was negative. There are certain times when you hope for an antibiotic, and this was one of them. But we didn’t get an antibiotic. She just assumed it was a bad sore throat and he just needed some time.

But then on Saturday morning, we saw it. The tiny little bumps on Hayes’s lips and on his hands. And then we saw them on his bottom.

Hand, foot and mouth disease strikes again.

It’s pretty much awful for a baby. I think it’s awful for anyone. But for little ones that can’t communicate much, it’s just awful.

But Hayes has been a trooper. He’s eating his Pedialyte pops and drinking lots of cold water and cold juice. He’ll cry out in pain every once in a while, but he’s trying so hard to be happy.

Hopefully just another couple of days and we’ll be good as new. And hopefully Hudson won’t actually get this!

We had a good Father’s Day. Todd and Hudson went to church and Hayes and I stayed home. Then Todd and his dad went to play golf in the afternoon and I stayed home and played with the boys.

I hope you all had a great weekend– and I hope that hand, foot, and mouth doesn’t find its way into your home! Yuck!

We’re laying low and just waiting for hand, foot and mouth to leave the building.

number one

I have a weird thing for laundry detergents. If I happen to use someone else’s detergent while visiting their house, I become obsessed with that scent and end up switching detergent when I get home. A couple of years ago, my parents were using Cheer and I loved it. So we switched to Cheer.

While we were on vacation, my mom brought some Tide with Downey fabric softener that smells like lavender. Now I’m obsessed with that scent and we’ve switched our detergent to this one. I have even been excited about doing laundry! Yummy. (*Not a paid endorsement.)

number two

The Gamecocks are back in Omaha! We went to the Super Regional game against Oklahoma on Sunday night. And then there was a rain delay. And then the rain really came and the whole game was just called off. And then we won the next night. I think a 3-peat would be pretty amazing. Go Gamecocks!

number three

I taught VBS this week. My friend Anna and I taught the 3 year old class. The first day was challenging as we figured it all out and learned how to budget our time to stretch out the activities. But it was so much fun! I already know that I want to do it again next year with the 3 year olds. Our theme this year was “Where in the World…” They learned about countries and we’ve done lots of fun crafts with hot air balloons. And they  learned all about God’s love and trusting God. Hudson and Hayes had a lot of fun in their classes, too.

number four

Even though Hayes had a lot of fun in his class, I could tell by Thursday that he really wasn’t feeling well. On Friday I made an appointment for him to see the doctor as soon as we left VBS. Our appointment took over an hour and Hayes ended up having a strep test, which really upset him. On the way home, I got pulled over for speeding. (I was going 32 in a 25.) With my kids in the car I am always really conscious of how fast I’m driving, but yesterday, Hudson and Hayes were both screaming crying because they were so tired after sitting at the doctor for so long. I just was so eager to get them both home and down for naps. And I got pulled over. And then I started crying, too. It was the first time I’d ever cried to a cop. I think he was scared because all three of us were crying. I’m so thankful that he let me off with just a warning. I know God was using him to tell me to slow down and to just take it easy.

number five

Hayes is still feeling really sick. Hudson was just a little under the weather, but he seems better now. I am hoping that by Tuesday Hayes is much better. We’ll be staying home all day until I know he’s back to his normal, happy self.

number six

I ordered some adorable outfits from my friend She She Made. I just love these outfits so much! I can’t wait to put Hudson and Hayes in their matching crab shirts. I was just really excited to get a few new things for Hayes since most of his clothes are hand-me-downs. And Hayes goes through about 3 outfits a day due to excessive drooling. But aren’t these outfits SO cute?

number seven

I’ve still been really wrapped up in reading Twilight. I’m almost finished with Eclipse. Bella gets on my nerves and I’m still on Team Edward. I love being able to read on my iPhone Kindle app, but it definitely sucks the life out of my phone.

number eight

A few weeks ago I posted about my breast feeding experience. That afternoon I got an email from Rita Rubin from msnbc.com asking me if we could chat about a story she was working on.

The story was posted on msnbc.com last Monday and I think it was very interesting and very informative. And I enjoyed reading so many of the comments there, too.

Rita did a great job telling my story and the only thing that wasn’t quite accurate was my age. I’m not 30 yet! hee hee

I hope you’re all having a great weekend. Happy Father’s Day and Go Gamecocks!

This summer has this really special theme to it already. The theme is simplicity. We’re getting back to basics, and we’re starting in our town. We are really fortunate to have access to some really amazing recreational family activities in Columbia, South Carolina.

One of our favorite things to do is to just get out in an open space and let Hudson, Hayes, and the dogs run around. We have the absolute best place to do this so close to our home. We love going to Finlay Park in downtown Columbia. It’s right in the middle of the city and has some really great views of our city’s skyline. To me, there’s something so great about being in the middle of your city and being able to really enjoy the outdoors and run free.

photo via Urban Planet

I was recently introduced to the wonderful America Is Your Park campaign. Coca-Cola is calling everyone out to vote in the third annual America Is Your Park campaign. Our parks provide a place for friends, neighbors, and families to be outside, be active, and enjoy being together. There were 13 million votes for favorite parks to win money for improvements in the America Is Your Park campaign. This year is no different. United States park-goers have the opportunity to vote for their favorite park to win $100,000 from the Coca-Cola Live Positively initiative and the prestigious title of “America’s Favorite Park.” You can vote for your favorite park by visiting LivePositively.com/parks and clicking on your park’s name.

While you’re on the site, you can learn how to earn more points for your park by “checking in” from the park and find more voting tools to help rally your community. You can vote for your favorite local, state, or national park until July 15, 2012. You can do all of this on the website and you can find more ways to encourage friends to vote, too! How amazing would it be do create a movement in your community to get people to the park and then help your park win $100,000? It’s really so simple and such a wonderful opportunity to be outside and be active! When Todd and I were dating, we used to bring Boudreaux to Finlay Park almost every Saturday. We’d let him run and run and run chasing the tennis ball. He loved running up to new people and he always wanted to try to jump into the little pond.

Then when Hudson was born and later Hayes was born, we have loved taking them to Finlay Park, as well. There are always children running around, families having a picnic, and you can always count on seeing an ultimate frisbee or flag football game while there. Finlay Park is also the host of Columbia’s Summer Concert Series. Every Saturday from May until August, local bands play at Finlay Park for a free concert. Families and friends are invited to come out with their picnics, lawn chairs, blankets, and dancing shoes, of course! Food and drink vendors are there and it’s really such a great time to have fun in the summer time and be outside. And for free! On June 23 our wedding band, The Root Doctors, are playing, so we’re planning to be there. I hope that you’ll all visit LivePositively.com/parks and vote for your favorite park, then get all of your friends and neighbors to do the same.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Only legal residents of the 50 U.S. (and D.C.) who are at least 13 years old and reside within the U.S. at the time of participation are eligible to vote for a Park. Participate on behalf of a Park by: July 15, 2012. The 3 most popular Parks will be offered a grant and there will be 1 Wild Card drawing at the end of the Contest to award an additional grant. To participate, for Official Rules, and complete details including grant descriptions, visit www.LivePositively.com/parks. Void where prohibited.