Hurricane Brynne

As you may have noticed (more likely not), there was another week-long absence on this blog last week. That is all well and thanks to what I like to think of lately as my little "Hurricane Brynne." Around mid-week last week while Tropical Storm Karen was dumping about 8 inches of rain on Central PA, a fever presented itself in my poor little sweetie, and it raged for nearly 5 days. An ear infection was diagnosed, and just when we thought we had the situation figured out, the fever broke and the beautiful rash of roseola showed up. So, perhaps she did have an ear infection as well, but apparently her main cause for misery was roseola. Brady had it also as an infant, so it was nothing new for us (and this time I didn't panic when the rash began to spread), but it was no pleasant week and weekend anyway (except for that AHHHHMAZING Penn State victory over Michigan on Saturday, of course!).

Thus, poor little Hurricane Brynnie has been sick, miserable, and sleepless for many days now. And when my little diva is sick, miserable and sleepless, guess who is also miserable and sleepless? If you guessed Brynne's mommy and daddy, you guessed right! The "Sleepless Fall" continues, it appears!

Here are some pics from the weekend. I did manage to coax a few adorable smiles out of my sick baby...

Allowed outside but bundled up. She hates to miss out on fun!

Watching Big Bro play in the yard.

A leaf to chew on. The doctor said she is also teething. Sick AND teething? We hit the wrong kind of jackpot, I think!

Some evidence of the rash on her little forehead...

Brady and a leaf pile. He LOVED that!

Smiling for Mommy at bath time.

They're nothing alike, are they?

These are the only kind of "selfies" I take.

Yes, I'm smiling because she finally fell asleep. I admit it!

 

Today it seems everyone is finally healthy at the same time (shocking, I know), so here's hoping this is a better week!

Sweet dreams to all of you out there who sleep at night. :)

End of Summer Stuff

So, during the past month or two that I've been quiet on this blog because of childcare-induced exhaustion, some things did happen. In spite of Brady's spat of ear infections (which now seem to finally be OVER, yay!), we went to Hershey Park with Grandma and Pappy Wheeler in September. We also watched some Penn State football, and played outside with Grandma Wheeler, Uncle Garrett and "Puh-Puh" Lewis. Because of the aforementioned exhaustion, there aren't many pics, and the ones there are aren't the greatest, but they'll have to do. It's hard when you're tired and have 2 kids to wrangle at the same time, but I'll try to do better in the future, I promise! This is a big photo share. Enjoy!

Hanging out in the backyard with Papa Lewis...

just chewin' on a rope and looking pretty!

Yay! A wagon ride from Uncle "Gee".

Two of his favorite things at Aunt Courtney's house--running sprints and Grandma Wheeler!

Getting ready to say "Go Penn State!"

Little Miss was having fun!

I had to add this picture because I found it hilarious. Sorry Jason.

Hershey Park happy? He wasn't loving this part but it was amusing for us. Lol.

Getting ready to go on his first ride with Daddy....

Little Miss watched from the stroller...

with Grandma and Pappy.

A little uncertain...

but he had a great time!

"That was fun!"

Not too sure about the Carousel though. Little Miss didn't mind it riding with Mommy in the carrier!

Another smile for the rocket ride.

The fire "ruck" ride was fun too!

So that's it, some of the few pictures I took during the grueling marathon of the sleepless month known as September, 2013. Here's to an easier fall with less sleepless nights! Wish us luck!!

TGIF!

#TBT - Semester Abroad - Fall 2004

This week's Throwback Thursday is to a defining time in my life--my semester abroad in Florence, Italy in the fall of 2004. To that point, I had never been out of North America, so it was a huge deal for me. I chose a study abroad program with the American Institute for Foreign Study, Florence, Italy campus. We spent the first 3 days in London, followed by a stop at a beach resort in Lido di Camaiore (off the coast near Pisa) for the first 3 weeks to learn Italian (I had already taken Italian in college so it was advanced). Then we travelled to Florence. Our "campus" was inside a medieval Florentine castle, and the apartment I lived in was in the center of the historic district of Florence, just steps away from the Ponte Vecchio, which I crossed every day several times to get to classes. It was nothing short of AMAZING. I took classes in advanced Italian, Renaissance literature and art, and modern Italian art. There was only internet access at the school, Facebook had not yet been invented, and I had to "rent" a very old-school cell phone to use while I was there (it did not get text messages!). While many others traveled with friends, I knew nobody else when I enrolled. I ended up learning fluent Italian, making lifelong friends, and coming home much more aware of the world. I visited endless museums, medieval buildings and churches, and cities all over Italy (as well as Paris and London). I ate amazing food but lost a lot of weight on that trip (due to an emotional upheaval involving an ex-boyfriend, don't ask) and returned to the USA a different person in only 4 short months! Someday, perhaps I will tell you what the personal changes that occurred on this trip turned into. Some of you reading this already know, of course!

Here a few pictures for your viewing pleasure. I can't believe it was almost 10 years ago!! So much has changed since then, I barely recognize the "Brooke" in these photos.

Wow.

Cheesy, but necessary in Pisa. Wish that dude wasn't in the background, but what can you do? Late August.

Me with my roommates in front of the Ponte Vecchio on our first day in Florence. They were amazing girls who became very good friends! I loved each of them.

The breathtaking "citta di Firenze." Early September.



Il Vaticano in late September (?). Pope John Paull II was still presiding. How old do you (I) feel now?

My first trip to Paris with my roommate Erika in October. A typical Parisian fall--it was wet, windy and cold. However, the city of Paris was still love at first sight for me!



Spanish Steps, second trip to Rome. Early November (?).

Il Colosseo with a 14 year old Garrett Lewis, third trip to Rome in late November. My family came to visit for a week!

Visiting Pompeii with my family. November.



Throwing a coin into La Fontana di Trevi in Roma. This was in December during my dad's visit right before I went home. I did indeed return to Rome as the legend said! Incidentally, the baggy jeans from this pic were the snug ones from the Pisa picture.



Brynne's 2nd Memory Book - 3 to 6 Months

Click here to view this photo book larger

I've been working on this photo book for 4 months now and it's finally complete. My beautiful Baby Brynne from 3 to 6 months. I can't believe she's almost 8 months old now! Where is the time going? Enjoy!