the neverending fever. part I

I feel like I have told the story a million times, but in reality I have just gone through it a million times in my head. Every time, I think to myself, "really? seriously? this is crazy stuff". I think typing it out may make it more real. Solid. It helps turn the shock into a new normal. So, In order to share this with you I need to start from the beginning...let 's rewind 21 days.

My ever dramatic, hypochondriac husband woke up with a fever. He felt cruddy, but headed off to work. Within 24 hours, the toddler sprouted a fever followed by the 6 year old vomiting. Awesome. One week left of school and we get hit with a stomach virus. Owen missed two days of school. Elliott and I held out the longest, but that Sunday night it took Elliott by storm and she was up vomiting all night. Finally I woke up with the crud Monday. All the while Scott was still sporting a fever. Nothing else, just a fever. By Monday afternoon I felt fine. Elliott recovered quickly and the boys were back to their normal shenanigans. My mom arrived in town for a few days of end of year celebrations. All the while Scott is still running a fever and is 100% worn out. By Wednesday, I was starting get suspicious and agreed he needed to head to the dr. He headed off to urgent care. He was set up with fluids and told he has a bad virus. He was advised to rest for two day. No work, just rest. He listened. Thursday. Friday. All rest. Saturday we left the house and enjoyed a few farmers markets and a walk. That evening his fever shot up again and he started sweating though the sheets. Sunday morning we wanted to go back in and find some relief.

Our amazing friend were 100% willing to come and hang out with the kids. I headed in with Scott and thankfully the ER was super slow. We were brought back right away and started telling them the history. Fevers for two week, exhaustion, night sweats...they started running several blood tests. It was insane. I counted 7 viles of blood and two bottles. Yes, bottles. They look just like small Tabasco bottles.We sat and just waited. Then suddenly, I noticed something. The demeanor of our staff changed. When our nurse cam back in she was nervous, she told us not to be alarmed but our doctor was on the phone with the hematologist oncologist. I do not think I know one person that would not be alarmed. She left the room and we just started at each other. I can't remember exactly what was said next but something to the effect of "oncology means cancer doctor right?". Yep. it sure does. Shortly after that little bomb, the doctor returned. He explained that some of the blood work that was coming in was showing cancer type indicators.  He wanted to talk it through with the oncologist and told us basically they had done all the ER could do and that we needed to see the oncologist asap. We left with a stack of lab sheets and the card for Dr. Keefe, Hematologist Oncologist.

*I will return shortly. I am going to enjoy a morning stroll with my little girl and grab a coffee.*

...ok, so it is now 10:15 pm and I am exhausted! Guess there will be a part II coming soon!

Summer Bowling- Free for kids!!

KIDS BOWL FREE ALL SUMMER!

 

Summer fun is just around the corner, and so are we. Sign-up for Summer Unplugged and Summer Pass now! Free bowling for kids all summer long! Kids registered in the Summer Unplugged program can bowl two games per day, every day, all summer long! Sign up today! https://freebowling.amf.com/?source=USFAMILY

Celebrate Dad With Cyclelogical! {Giveaway} #FathersDay

Once again, I am thrilled to bring you a fantastic fathers day giveaway from one of my favorite shops, Cyclelogical! Not only do I get the privilege to hang out with a couple of the masterminds behind the operation, but I simply love their product line. They are continually looking for ways to be eco friendly and bring you the best gear made right here in the USA. 

Cyclelogical specializes in made and designed in the USA all weather bags for your commuting. Their bags blend style with purpose. They also offer a eco friendly line of unique Tee's. Each shirt delivers a unique design with a fun, quirky concept and the love of biking. 

Cyclelogical is a fusion of bicycling, fashion and a way of life. Simply put, Cyclelogical is more than just a brand it is a lifestyle.

For Fathers Day Cyclelogical will be giving one lucky winner two packs of spoke reflectors and one Tour De Outdoors tee shirt. This is a great gift for any cycling enthusiast in your life! Fill out the rafflecopter form below to win this great Fathers Day Giveaway! 

A ErgoBaby Photo Shoot!

I am thrilled to show you some fabulous pictures from my latest shoot for ErgoBaby! This was such a fun shoot. Being a huge baby wearing fan myself, it was so fun to incorporate it into my photography. I chose a fun setting to capture the uniqueness of Milwaukee. These were taken under the Holten Street bridge. There is a awesome foot bridge under the road. It is a great place to take little ones. you can look out over the river and watch the rowing teams go by! At the end of the bridge they have created this unique park full of swings! you can find a swing for all sizes.

A huge thank you to ErgoBaby for giving me this opportunity. It was fantastic! Plus coulod the {F} family be any cuter? They were full of fun and style! I had a blast meeting them, they were amazing. If you happen to be on Ergo's sight and see any of these images give it a like for me! I am so excited to have my images up there!

SoftBum's Calender Bum's June Giveaway! #giveaway #clothdiapers

It has been a while since I have been able to write about by love for cloth diapers! Although I am thrilled that Raichlen is potty trained, I do miss that fluffy bum. I am super glad that his old cloth diapers are living with a friend right now diapering her sweet baby and eventually will move to my other friend when her baby is born. In the mean time I get to share with you a fun giveaway from SoftBum's! SoftBums will be releasing a new print - yeowers! I love new prints. :)

I have always loved this fun diaper from SoftBums. What a perfect diaper to wake up in! Who knows what creative fun print they will come up with for June? I love boy prints and adore argyles. I would love to see something in a soft muted nature pallet. What do you want to see? Not only can you you enter to win a June Calender Bum shell here- you can run over to their facebook page and enter to 100$ of SoftBum Products?! I know I would have loved to win that! I adore SoftBum diapers- they are a fabulous fit and super absorbant. So hurry on over...and don't for get to let them know Simple City Life referred you.

Enter to win 100$ of SoftBum Products HERE!!

Stonyfield Farms YoKids sMOOthies {Giveaway}

We had the opportunity to try Stonyfields Farms new sMOOthies for kids. We have been big fans of Stonyfields for years and have never tried a product we did not like. That has remained true with their new YoKids sMOOthies. I must warn you though, you children will become obsessed with these if you have them in the fridge. I swear to you everytime I turned around someone was sneaking one! Especially, the toddler, or as we like to call him Naughty Nugget. The great thing is that they are loving these treats as well as getting healthy blend of fruits and vegetables. They will also be getting one-third of their recommended calcium in just one serving!

I found that these were great snacks for around the house, but were even better when we were on the go. Weather we were running the kids to TaeKwonDo, Dr. appointments or school functions, the YoSmoothies are a simple snack to bring along. The portions are just the right size for little bellies, just enough to fill them without spoiling their appetite. Of course, like I mentioned- if they can get to them for more, they will because they are super yummy!!

Rai enjoying his YoKids Smoothie on the porch. 

Owen likes to grab one to go on his way to school. 

I know most of you are busy families and could use a healthy snack that is great on the go! you can enter below to receive a YoKids Smoothie pack. Your pack will include coupons for 4 free packages of YoKids Smoothies and a deck of  "52 things to do in the car". All you have to do is enter below to win!

Happy Campers: Gluten Free Camp Scholarships from @Rudi's!

Being a gluten free kids is serious business. Having to stop at ask an adult if something is gluten free can kinda be a pain in the butt. Sitting on the side lines at birthday parties and picnics watching family and friends eat all the delicious cupcakes and breads can be a lot to handle. I have watched this first hand with Owen and I have to say being dedicated to a new way of life can be so challenging for these little people. Owen has the self control of a saint when it comes to these situations. He never gets upset and NEVER complains. It is simply amazing to me and a testament to his personality. I believe this also stems from the way he feels- he remembers being sick all the time. No matter what as a parent, even knowing how good he feels food allergies and something like celiac disease is stressful to handle daily.

Rudi's Gluten free is offering 10 scholarships to kids this summer! These camps are awesome because they are gluten free!! I can only dream of sending my Owen away and knowing that his diet is being controlled properly by someone else! What a stress relief. This may sound crazy, but until I started to write this post, I had no idea how much Owens diet consumes me. I have to research restaurants, talk to friends who invite us over, watch over the food tables at parties and pot lucks, bake alternative items for gatherings, bring separate snacks to school for him to enjoy...the list goes on. It is exhausting and overwhelming at times. Oh what a relief it would be to send him to a camp that was worry free! He would run around all day making friends and then eat with out worry at all the meals! Amazing!!

Now, Owen isn't old enough for these scholarships- but I bet you know someone who is! Please share this with them, because I know the mother in their life will be forever grateful! Just click the above image to enter or follow this link.

SweetTrio {Review, Promo Code and 25$ Giveaway} #MothersDay

Can you believe Mothers Day is upon us?! Once again this year is speeding by! If you are looking a great way to spoil you mom this year----you have to check out SweetTrio. I'm not one to treat myself to fancy chocolates, I may have my husband grab me a chocolate bar every once in a while, or a bag of skittles. But to really treat myself to rich, yummy chocolates, never. Even when Valentines Day comes around, I typically do not indulge in the chocolates. When I was contacted to try some amazing goodies from SweetTrio, I just had to say yes. I am pretty sure my children are happy that I did. Before I could blink a eye the kids dove in to the box of chocolates. I has to act fast and rescue the ones that I could! After all I hadn't even taken pictures. Once I saved a few untouched chocolates and photographed them, I decided to take my first bite. All I can say is these are not meant to be shared. These are 100% take them and run, hide and do not let the littles or your husband touch them.

I was so happy with my little treats and very excited to cut into our beautiful chocolate caramel apple. We waited a day to indulge some more. Then as a family, we sliced that beauty up and enjoyed every little bite. SweetTrio is local to me which is wonderful and yet very dangerous! Although, Chris and Nedra are located here in the greater Milwaukee area, they will ship all over the country and particularly the Mid West. SweetTrio is dedicated to providing you with affordable indulgences. So, this Mothers Day support this local shop instead of heading out to the department stores and give mom a truly indulgent treat!

Call SweetTrio and mention this blog, Simple City Life and receive 20% off anything on their website! you can reach SweetTrio at  ‪‪(877) 376-8746. Hurry though, this offer is only valid for two weeks!! You can also enter to win a 25$ gift certificate to SweetTrio. Just fill out the form below! 

GoGo Thomas tour is coming to Green Bay!

A Larger than Life Train for the Ride of Their Life.  The GO GO Thomas Tour 2013, visiting the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, WI on June 12-16, 2013. This fun-filled event offers little engineers and their families the opportunity to take a ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends series. Children will take a ride along with their favorite engine friend on his latest adventure and participate in Thomas-themed activities including:

* A 25-minute (approximate) ride with
Thomas the Tank Engine
* Meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway
* A Thomas & Friends Imagination Station; featuring stamps, temporary tattoos, hands-on arts & crafts, train tables, and coloring sheets
* Storytelling
* Video viewing and much more

The GO GO Thomas Tour 2013, visiting the National Railroad Museum on June 12-16, 2013. http://www.nationalrrmuseum.org/

Nine.

It just does not seem possible that I can have a nine year old! It feels like yesterday I was getting married and starting on this whole motherhood adventure. In a flash of light, I have a little girl who is half way to adulthood. I have to say though this has been the best nine years with her! She is to say the least a spitfire. Full of life with a amazing brain on her shoulder. She looks at life differently that most kids I know and truly has a desire to serve others. She is a challenge, pushing me beyond my breaking point at times, but it is a good kind of pushing. The push and stretch that make you see what is important in life. Elliott is a helper and compassionate. She takes care of her littlest brother like no ones business, needless to say she spoils him! He simply adores her. In the last few months she has stepped up around the house and will jump right in when things need to get done. And when she isn't being a big sister, she is a amazing at TaeKwonDo!

Tradition Birthday Pancakes

This was Elliott year for a Birthday Party! We rotate each year as a way to not go completely broke! Elliott chose a Rick Riordian themed party, her favorite author. He writes two series based on Greek and Egyptian Mythology. They are really fun and creative books. It still blows my mind that she reads so much! I hated reading as a kid and am pretty sure I never read a book over 100 pages till high school!  She flies through 400+ page books on a regular basis.

Egyptian Buried Treasure Cupcakes

A feast for the little goddesses. ;) 

 We had the girls do two fun toilet paper games, one Greek and one Egyptian. They had to partner together and wrap each other as mummies and then in a Greek toga. It was hilarious and the girls loved every moment! Who would have though toilet paper would be such a hit for a birthday party!

 After the wrapping was complete, the girls played "Freeze Like a Egyptian" freeze dance. These girls can dance and dance and dance some more! It was great!

 Elliott's biggest request was henna. She loves getting henna from our friend Liz. It was a hit with the girls! Having Liz here was the perfect addition for Elliott's Big party. The girls loved getting the henna.

 Of course, Elliott recieved a bunch of awesome presents! She has been in heaven! Books, crafts and some spending money. She saved her spending money and was able to purchase a Nook. She has been loving everything she received.

 Thanks to all the girls who came and made Elliott's day so special!