Tennessee

Our annual January trip to Chattanooga was full of adventure this time! We knew that Greer had a cold before we left, but after everyone said it was okay to still come, we made it there late Thursday night. While the daddies played golf on Friday, we got all the kids together for a playdate.

Grant, Gehrig, Katelyn, Clay & Greer

All but one...Cole, Hudson, Caroline, Katelyn, Grant, Clay, Bo, Gehrig & Greer. Will was the smart one who opted out of climbing on the top bunk with nine bigger kids! :)

Around lunchtime, things started turning south for poor Greer. She felt a little warm and had really sad eyes, but still ate well and then went down easily for a nap.
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When she woke, we realized that she was not doing well. She threw up lunch (on Emily, sorry!) and registered a 105.9 temp! Maymay quickly helped us over the phone with ways to work to get the fever down quickly and we were able to get right in to see the Coopers' pediatrician. The doc found two ear infections and we came home with meds and a still burning up babygirl. She was so pitiful.

This doesn't happen.

It took several more hours to see any relief in her temp. Finally around 5am after giving her numerous baths and alternating doses of tylenol and ibuprofen, it backed down to 102.5 and we were able to sleep for a little while. Thank goodness for modern medicine. Though I am not quick to give antibiotics to my kids, I am so thankful for them when you really need them. The next morning, she was still running a 103 temp, but was starting to act a little more like herself.

Snuggling with Em.

Hanging out with Bo...she had to wear a red jacket because he was. :)

Praise the Lord, by lunchtime, her fever had broken and she was playing and doing well! We had not been sure about our plans for the evening, but felt good about leaving her with Em's great babysitter once the time came to leave for dinner.

Enter the sad part of being in Chatt... See all these folks around the table? They ALL live in Chattanooga now! It is so fun to have so many old friends in one place, but it makes it even harder to leave when the time comes. So much fun to be together like the old days!

On Sunday, we drove up to Nashville to see my brother and sis-in-law! It was great to have a day/night with them and see everything there. They took us to a super cool Aquarium restaurant for lunch.

My sweet BFF from Atlanta lives there now too and met us there. Always so so good to see and catch up with her!!

My favorite part of any trip is the downtime...the good visiting, talking, game-playing quality time with people we wish we saw more. We loved that time with Britt and Margaret. And they were so sweet with the kids, reading and playing with them. The Gs had a blast!

Love all you Tennesseans and can't wait until next time!!!