Back from camping

The weather for camping was simply wonderful! We couldn't have asked for better weather! In the mornings, the temperatures were a bit chilly, and it heated up throughout the day to warm temps, but not smoldering hot. I wish that Madelyn was not sick, though. Friday morning, she had a bit of a cough when she woke up, but I thought it was just from sleeping. Then, she had a late nap Friday (just before we left), and she woke up with a croup sounding cough. I asked Terry if we should just stay home. He said we should just go, and worst case, I take her home. I really probably should have stayed home (looking back). We got out the door at about 6 PM Friday night. We stopped at McDonald's for a quick supper, and fueled up. We drove an hour away to the campsite. It was a nice campground, but it really could use some updates. We had a nice spot, and there was great mature trees all around. We had a tent, slept 5 in it, and everyone around us had pop-ups or RV's. I really hope to own a pop-up someday. I think it would be so much easier with a pop-up, and you can pack all your camping gear in there. Also, IF it rains, you have a place to be where you won't get drenched on. Here is two pictures of Madelyn helping Dad with the tent set up.


Anyway, we had a nice time visiting around the campfire. We had s'more's and hobo pies (my favorite). Then, we went to bed. That is when Maddie had a hard time. She tossed and turned, cried, and coughed. For one thing, she likes sleeping in her crib, and she isn't used to sleeping with us anymore. But, she was getting a back cough~ to the point of not breathing well. I was thankful that we brought the nebulizer with. We ended up nebulizing her, which seemed to help. It was a night of waking up to her crying almost every 30-45 minutes, though. She wasn't running a temperature, so that was good. By morning, she was happy. She woke up happy and ready to go.
Saturday, we had a good and easy breakfast: donuts, cereal, bananas, milk, and juice. We like to keep it simple with camping and cooking. The less dishes, the better.

I was so tired from lack of sleep and being pregnant! I was a bit ornery, and I was trying my best to keep in good spirits. I think I did rather well. I know Terry wasn't having a great time, because it is a lot of work with little ones, a dog, and camping~ and he was needing a nap. So, by mid morning we went to town to get a swim suit for me, and 2 more camping chairs. We went to a Target and I found a "good deal" on a nice looking maternity suit. I also picked up some sunscreen and 2 chairs. I got a pink chair for me. I knew it was a good time for Terry to catch some shut-eye while Nathaniel and I went shopping. Caleb and Maddie got in a good snooze, too. Then, we were on our way back to the camp. By this time it was lunch time. I was telling Terry what I had planned for lunch. He decided it was easier to just go through Burger King, so that is what we did. I didn't mind...Burger King is yummy, and it saved on time for us.
When we got back to the site, Terry was great with letting me go lay down. I got in a good nap. Then, we all went swimming. Maddie was so tired at this time. She just laid her head against me. After swimming, in the very cold pool, we all showered up. Maddie didn't even make a peep when I was showering with her. She normally is chattering away and giggling~ but, she was super tired. Then, she got in her second nap.
We went back to our camp site, and we all got ready for supper. That night we had a potluck and made our own meat. It was really good! We had so much fun and great conversations. Nathaniel and L. went paddle boating, and Terry, Caleb, and Lena went paddle boating. They had a great time. L. took Nathaniel in the canoe, too. I really should have taken a picture of that, because that was Nathaniel's first time in the canoe. He said it was so much fun. Nathaniel spent most of his time down by the lake (it was pretty much a little pond). He loves looking for fish, snails, turtles...you name it. If we ever wondered where Nathaniel was, we looked down at the lake first.
I decided to take Maddie home that night. I am so glad I did! I left the camp at 9:00 PM and we got home about 10. She fell asleep about 10:30, after sleeping in the van most of the way home. I fell asleep about 11:00. She woke up at around 2:30 coughing really bad, so I nebulized her and gave her cough meds. Then, she was back to sleep. At 4:30, she woke up crying really bad, and she was burning up~ REAL HOT! I couldn't find our thermometer, but I knew she was really hot~ her arms were even red. Then, she threw up. It was mostly clear liquid, and didn't have an odor, so I knew it was because she was burning up. She guzzled some water, and I got some Motrin in her. Poor Baby! I sat up with her for about an hour while I held her upright as she slept. I wanted to make sure the Motrin was going to stay in, and keep an eye on her. She laid in the Boppy pillow on our bed next to me. It was a rough night. She had a fever most of the day on Sunday. She didn't eat very well for breakfast, and just wasn't happy at all. We went back to the campground to get the boys, and load up all our stuff. Just when we were getting ready to go, Terry and I were changing Maddie and Caleb's diapers. Maddie was climbing up on the picnic table, and she fell~ cutting her mouth. She was crying so hard, and blood dripped out of her mouth. If things weren't bad already, this topped off her morning. POOR SWEETY!
So, we went home, unloaded, did laundry, took naps, ate supper, and got to bed early. I am glad we are home. I hope next time we camp, everyone will be healthy. I am sorry I didn't get more pictures.
I really do love to go camping, but I do think it is a challenge when our kids are so little. Maybe it would be better with just our family, then we wouldn't be stressed out with our tots into other people's things, or touching things that aren't ours. Have any of you experienced more stress when you camp with friends...with your kids getting into other's things, or wanting to go in their campers all the time?

I am taking the weekend off from blogging

I am off to getting ready to go camping for the weekend. I hope you all have a super weekend, and I will be back next week with pictures from our trip.

I will have super product reviews, contests, and family experiences to post for next week!!

PS~ I have been really tired lately, so if you wonder why I am not on here as much, I just blame the baby. :)

Getting ready for the weekend

This weekend we will be off for camping. I am excited to camp, mostly. It will be interesting to camp with a 3 year old, and a 17 month old (she will be 17 months on Saturday). We haven't camped out this year yet, and we didn't go last year, because the time we planned to go, it was pouring out. We have a tent. I wish we had the luxury of a pop-up, but we don't. With little kids, I wish we had a pop-up, or a RV. So, I am really hoping it doesn't rain on us. Luckily, we aren't going too far away from home. I think it will be a really fun time, and I will have to take lots of pictures so I can show you all. My dear friend, Lisa, is going, too. As long as she doesn't get sick (or say she is sick). She doesn't like to camp or be outdoors, so she does like to try to get out of it all. I am praying for your health, Lisa!
I hope to have a swim suit that fits, because there is a pool there. I love swimming in pools, and my opportunities to swim are slim. I look forward to swimming with the kids, too. I think Maddie and Caleb will love it. I know Nathaniel loves it.
I don't look forward to the food preparation. Terry and I are all about keeping it simple, and easy. Any suggestions?

Past weekend of camping; etc.

We took our kids camping this weekend and it really didn't go that great. Terry asks me why we do camping when the kids are little. We came to the conclusion that we will probably just go to our destinations and do the motel thing while they are little. I think that is an easier way...even as much as I love to camp.
We did have a pop-up camper loaned to us for the trip, and I was thankful for that. It really doesn't get away from the feeling of sleeping on rocks, though, so if we ever owned one, I would supplement an air mattress. Terry and Caleb had fun cranking up the camper together, and that is the only picture I have from our whole trip! Oh well, can't win them all. Here are some things that started the camping excursion off to a bad start:

*Terry and I were snippy with each other, and I am still not sure why...

*I was trying to get Caleb to take a very much needed nap, and so he was super crabby...

*Caleb wouldn't let anyone help him with anything...he wanted Grandma (I love you C, but it was very frustrating)

*Maddie fell off the picnic table out of her car seat...It wasn't where I kept her, and I know that it was an accident, but it was awful! I was crying horribly and shaking like a bobble around toy!

*Caleb wouldn't take a nap for nothing!

*Caleb fell off the bed...

*Someone was very negative, and it is hard to shake once in the mode...you know?

*I was very emotional after all that, so I wasn't myself

Fortunately, after all this drama, we did have some fun. My brother- in- law and family came to the site, and it was great to see all of them. Caleb did FINALLY take a nap with Grandma's help. And...We had a great laugh that night!

Nathaniel loves to hunt for frogs, toads, salamanders, and anything that creeps the ground. Well, he had collected quite a few toads that day and had them in his habitat. He had them in his tent (he was going to sleep in his own tent, which is a small 1 person tent). Well, after he came back from the bathrooms, he went into his tent. Terry and I were in the camper right next to the tent, when all of a sudden we hear, "Oh Great!" Terry and I said, "What?" To which Nathaniel replied, "All of my toads got out and they are all over the place!" Well, we couldn't contain our giggles...and we told him to pick them all up, and put them back in the habitat. After a few minutes he said, "They got out again!" Terry then told him to let them all out. Then Nathaniel said, "Well, I am not sleeping in here." We asked him why, and he said, "Because, I am sure they peed all over my sleeping bag!" That just brought more giggles, as you can imagine. So, he brought his pillow in the camper and settled in on the bed. After a few minutes, he said, "Oh great! Another toad, and it's in my pillowcase!" This was so hilarious! It is really something you only see in a movie or on the Little Rascals! It was a hoot!
Earlier that evening, Maddie initiated playing peek-a-boo, too, and it was so cute! She was sitting on the bed and she put her head down to her feet and came back up. I said peek-a-boo, and she smiled and went back down. She did this over and over. It was precious! Then, that night after all the toad fiasco's she played peek-a-boo with Nathaniel again! Cutie!