It Feels Like He's on a Trip....

Den has been working a proposal hard core since Thurs. (tonight being Sunday), basically getting home late each night, staying home in the morning long enough to get the kids breakfast and doing it again.

Tonight Eddie talked about daddy being on a trip and I corrected him saying that he was at work at that he would get home late. I'm sure this completely puzzled Eddie, that would be one string of crazy day trips to come and go daily.

Above the kids were playing with the blankets one morning, 'hiding' and having me pull the covers back to wild giggles. Twice in the last week I've been asked if Josie and Eddie are twins. They really do look quite similar and Josie is not all that much shorter than Eddie. Most recently I was asked while they were sitting in a grocery cart. The woman cracked me up by saying how affectionate they seemed with each other. I advised her to check back in a couple aisles. In general they really are sweet to each other. And then there are the times where Josie bites Eddie in the be-hind or Eddie pinches his sister for looking sideways at him.

Here Eddie is making a paper mache' volcano with Cookie. He now needs to paint it and I plan to save the 'explosion' project for Cookie on Tuesday.

Josie and daddy made this out of the squares and triangles (which by the way Xanterra DID ship to us--very impressive).

Eddie was very proud of his 'train' of cars--actually I wanted to see how he did it and he poudly showed off his method. Clever kid.

How to assemble a puzzle by Eddie

Eddie and Josie have a variety of puzzles, but there is one in particular that Eddie LOVES. He plays with it so much that he has literately memorized where all 48 of the pieces belong. It's an underwater ocean scene with sharks, fish and corral.

He wanted me to work on it with him today and as I sat down he says, 'lets take turns putting pieces on--and lets work on one row at a time'. This doesn't sound hard and it's not a particularly difficult puzzle, but as I wondered which piece to select for the row, an impatient Eddie would start to give me 'hints' as to where I could find an eligible piece, much as we do with Josie when helping her-- "it's next to a corner piece, it has a yellow fish on it".

When I selected a piece that didn't work, he would correct me saying, "that piece goes 'here'." As in, wrong row, mommy. About 1/2 way through he asked if next time could he please do the puzzle by himself.

I thought it an innventive way to put a puzzle together, even though I was at a distinct disadvantage. he has granted me exactly 5 minutes to write about our little game...back to playing.

More At the Fair

Josie took a spin on the 'larger' tractor, but couldn't reach the pedals (behind them is the dunk tank).

Eddie LOVED riding the pony. We'd bought Josie a ticket and she balked right at the last minute, so Eddie gladly took two rides. Den wasn't able to capture the ear to ear grin as he rode, but clearly this was something he enjoyed (he'd ridden a pony last year at the Fort Wayne zoo and been equally mezmerized).
One of the 'kid stops' was to try on a fireman's gear. It was quite heavy. Josie opted out.

Here they are on the hayride round the ballfield. I felt odd riding on a hayride around a ball field, but the kids enjoyed themselves, so it didn't matter.

The Last Week

Eddie and Josie love to help out around the house. I've decided to capitalize on this while I can. They do everything from helping unload the dishwasher to putting away their clean clothes to their favorite--setting the table. I'm not sure how long before they will not be this excited to help out.

Cookie made us her 'crepess' I'm not sure how to spell it, because she doesn't say 'crepes' as in the French, but adds an 'es' at the end. They are typically chicken filled and delicious. They are pictured here because for the first time (for her), she made the crepe/tortillas from scratch and they were fabulous! She was quite satisfied--I'd say it was about the most excited I've seen her.




It rained yesterday (Saturday). It rained so hard and so much that it felt like it had become a way of existence. Aside from an errand here and there, we basically hung out at home, listening to the thunder and laughing as the kids asked where the lightening was right after it flashed.

Today we went to a nearby fair. I thought it would be more of an agricultural fair, but it was more of a good ole country fair, complete with a pedal tractor pull contest. We got there about 30 minutes after it occured, but they let the kids ride the tractors around while they cleaned up. They had lots of great activities for the kids and we wore the kids out walking all over the place. They had a great playground, yarn spinning to quilt making to weaving watching to the beekeeper, hayride and my personal favorite, the dunk tank. Eddie used a tennis ball and on the third try, from about 5-7 feet away, Eddie nailed the target. Unfortunately the target was difficult to push, as Den found out when they told him to just push the target to make the poor guy sink (he'd been up there the WHOLE day). Eddie was extremely curious with how it worked and Josie started to cry, worried for the man in the blue water. I tried to assure her that the water was only up to his bellybutton.

We're exhausted, the kids are exhausted and we're thinking as part of health care reform, the US needs to switch to 3 day weekends.

Fun at the Pool

A couple years ago we joined a nearby pool as several of our neighbors seemed to really enjoy going. The kids are having a blast (and I think Den does too). hee hee.

We've gone almost daily since being back from vacation. It's finally warm enough (we've had some downright cool summer weather).

So I realized in my post about J's allergies that it's difficult to follow. The medium length synopsis is that there is no way to test for allergies to drugs. The doctor wants to rule out all other factors to see if we can't do whatever preventative measures possible to keep her from getting sick (eg, treat her for allergies so she doesn't get all gunked up and fluid in her ears). There are a couple other drugs we'll try next time she needs something to see what happens, but there are some illnesses for which she may need one of the drugs that she's reacted to. If she needs one of these drugs, the first dose will basically be administered by the allergist in her office in tiny amounts over the course of an ENTIRE day. If she does okay, we take her home and continue to administer the drug. We didn't discuss what we do if it does not go well.

I did ask about the swine flu vacinne, if that is something that it looks like we should pursue and she said we'd need to discuss later this fall when we get test results back regarding any other allergies (it apparently contains dairy, as do many common antibiotics).

Carry on.

Josie’s allergies: The Good, The Bad, and do we really have to drive an hour?

In short: We have some quality time ahead of us in an allergist’s office.

The very long: We took Josie to see an allergist today. About 6 weeks ago we had taken her to see one that was about 20 minutes away and really we should have left as soon as we walked in the waiting room. It was right out of the 1960s from the carpet down to the phones. While I have nothing against older stuff and certainly appreciate no need to replace what is not broken, I do have a problem with the nurse telling me she had to double check the panel of skin pricks she’d just done because one doctor does them in one order and the other doctor in the practice does them in a different order. Great, so which one is dairy? In short, we did not connect with the doctor. I’m sure he was very nice, but he basically thought environmental allergies had caused the problem and he wanted us to come back for more invasive tests at our next appointment.

In the meantime, I made an appointment with a doctor who came highly recommended and was in another state, an hour away. I then did a ton of research to confirm several things the first doctor told us and learn some new things: The penicillin test the pediatrician thought they could do is not reliable or desirable. Second doc said she won’t administer. So essentially there is no test that can say, ‘why yes, you *are* allergic to ‘x’ drug. I still don’t understand why they can’t take small doses and skin prick her with those--I asked, but I don't remember the answer--I think she said it just has to do with blood makeup. It is possible to be allergic to one drug in a family, but not others in the same family (but only in certain families of drugs is this the case). There are ‘challenge’ tests they can do to desensitize a patient so that they can indeed take the drug (something first doctor said needed to be performed in a hospital only if taking the medicine was urgent and something second doctor said would be performed in her office).

So today we drove an hour, waited an hour (despite being early for the apt) and after taking a history, the doctor order 12 skin prick tests and a control. Unlike doctor number 1, who had them performed on her back, doctor number 2 had them performed on her arm, which apparently is more sensitive in terms of producing a reaction. She tested for a whole slew of things from environmental to food including trees, nuts, shellfish, dairy, soy, etc. The only thing that showed a result was the control prick. Second doctor's nurse came in and measured the size of the welts and wrote all the notes on her arm in advance. Doctor number one brought these two comb-like devices in, rolled them across her back and walked out, then ran back quickly to draw with an ink pen a line down the middle of her back (see photo above). Josie did really well this second time (that’s not to say she happily sat there while getting each of the 13 pokes, but I upted the anti to promise not one, but 2 lollipops). They were cool multi-colored lollipops!

Then I told the doctor that with the other doctor she had shown slight reactions to a couple things and I mentioned Josie’s Aunt L, who apparently has had 2 rounds of skin pricks showing nothing, only to have things show up in a blood test. Poor Josie, she didn’t know what was coming and watched as the nurse tried (very hard) to find her vein in her arm, any arm, saying she was looking for the green line. Hearing her say that if she didn’t find something, she’d have the other nurse come in made me wish she would just cut our losses and get someone else. But she came through in the end on the very first poke and 2 viles (and not kiddie sized viles) of blood later and Josie will be tested for a whole battery of allergins. We get the results back in about 2 weeks and then the doctor will send us a letter containing all the results. If there are any allergies then we will apparently need to go back for more invasive tests to try and narrow things down.

The good news in all this is that the doctor thinks she may be outgrowing her dairy allergy since she showed no reaction. The bad news is that if she is outgrowing it, we will have to spend a day in the office doing a ‘challenge’ test of dairy before she is clear to have dairy.

Getting back to the drugs, that is the part where we are just plain out of luck. Doc 2 thought because 2 of the hive occurrences were in the spring that it might be related to allergies of some sort or some other unrelated issue and that she should potentially be treated for allergies--hence all the tests--basically they are looking for any indicator that could be controlled for to see if it is causing the reaction. She said we’re in a pickle because of Josie’s young age, and because each of the reactions were at the end of the course of treatment, there just isn’t a clear path. So, she is going to send a letter to our pediatrician with a cc to us that lists some drugs to try in lieu of those for which she has shown a potential reaction and that if the doctor feels it is medically necessary to give her one of the drugs she has had previously that we are to get it in powder form (before they add the water) and make an apt with her office to go in the next day and get essentially an all day challenge test starting at 7am where they will give her little bits of the medicine to test her reaction and that it will desensitize her for 5 to 10 days to complete to course of treatment. Of course if she develops a really bad reaction, then she can’t take the drug. This is where we wish there were a doctor closer. I am going to ask around and see if I can’t find someone who might be less than a one hour drive (in good traffic).

They can’t randomly desensitize or test because it’s good for only a certain number of days. So as she points out, if Josie gets sick while we are away, she can’t have the antibiotics she would need. So we would need to either return home, or hopefully try another drug that would have the needed results (she said sometimes these are the only drugs that will work).

So that dear readers (if you are still with me) is the scoop. I know there are parts of the nearly 3 hour apt. I left out and I am still left with plenty of questions, but once the blood results come back, we'll be able to figure out a path. Apparently when Josie gets older she'll be able t handle other drugs that she just apparently can't take at the moment.

Look Ma, No Noodle!

He swam today. All by himself. No floaties, no noodle (a long foam thing that he's been using as a crutch), just him and the water. I'd guess he went about 8-10 feet in a stretch. SO proud of him.

He'd taken 2 weeks of swimming lessons and just wasn't comfortable and was kind of rebelling against my encouragement (believe me the beginning of years of drama, I am sure between he and I), and just kept wanting the noodle. Thanks to one of his best friends being in the pool with him all the time swimming back and forth across the pool (she is 7 months older), he decided it was time.

So when I asked him today if he was going to swim to me today without the noodle, he pushed the noodle aside and now he is not only fearless, he is swimming! He kept wanting us to go longer distances away. Now to improve the stroke and learn how to breath!

Coincidently, his buddy Lizzie swam the whole long length of the pool today (instead of across the pool as she'd been doing all along).

This picture is from a rest stop in Idaho a couple weeks back on our way to Yellowstone. I love this photo of Ed (clearly I didn't have my phone with me at the pool). Yay Eddie!

We think it's a wolf spider...

Go ahead and zoom in and see what you think. I'm a little freaked. It was the snarkest looking spider I'd seen in a while and I am VERY allergic to spiders, this is one I do not wish to have in my home. Wish the guys who knocked it down would have killed the thing instead of letting it climb to the roof of our front porch.

Check it against this. Ewww.

http://www.termite.com/spider-identification.html#wolf

Here We Are: Why Did you do this?

As an update, Cookie came for the first time in 3 weeks and wondered if the kids remembered any Spanish--they did. She made them pancakes for breakfast and as I got ready in my room I heard Eddie instructing Cookie:

We need a cherry for the nose and blueberries. For the eyes! My mama does it like this (apparently food being arranged on the plate). We need a banana too. We do too have bananas. Brought me back to the post below, which I shared with Cookie.
Here We Are: Why Did you do this?

While You Were Away

Den is getting ready to leave for the airport in Japan. his flight doesn't leave for another 6 hours, but it will take that long to get to the airport and processed once there. Never a bad idea to show up a little early for your international flight--especially when he can hang out in the Crown Room.
These pictures are from my phone. I basically did everything I could to wear the kids out so they were good and tired each night. It worked some nights better than others.

Monday night I took the kids to the park Den always takes them on his run. I learned flip-flops are not a good shoe choice when pushing the double stroller up and down hills. I think it's a total of just over 2 miles. The kids had a great time.

Tuesday we went for a walk around the block and I completely spaced attending our neighborhood national night out, despite reminder emails all day. Guess they should have sent one at 4:30 or 5 :)

Wednesday the kids were so worn out (by the sitter, not me) that we didn't make it anywhere.

Then yesterday, I decided that we needed to visit the local grocery for J's speciality non-dairy foods. So we again took the double jog stroller out (which I feel like a poser pushing as anyone can look at my legs and see there is no running in my life, except to catch a kid), and hauled down the hill to one of their favorite parks and then on to the grocery where I caved and bought precooked, presliced, plain (somewhat dry) chicken breast to feed the kids. I got myself some sushi. I think what Den had in Japan was likely better...continued.

On the Go

This is still on the day of the park/Whole Foods trip. Josie is a walker and Eddie would push another kid out of the way to get the last seat if he thought he could get away with it. She was happy to get out of the stroller to walk up the hill on the way home. Eddie didn't want to until I created the game of follow the cracks in the road. It worked like a charm and I happily pushed an empty double stroller (still weighing in about 25+ pounds) up the hill chasing 2 kids who were chasing each other. Damm, I hate that hill.

Then today, the weather was FABULOUS. 80 degrees with very low humidity. Until we walked out the door at 1:30. Then it felt much hotter. I had the bright idea to go with a girlfriend and her two kids to ride the local trolley to the end of the line and back, stopping for a stroll at the end. She did not bring a stroller for her two boys, who are the same age (roughly) as Eddie and J. My kids were very nicely taking turns in the stroller, which surprised the heck out of me and hers were happily walking along. Next time, we are going to try and go sans stroller with them. She promises to help carry the kids (although I hope it doesn't come to that). I think it's because she doesn't want to deal with her boys begging for a ride.

She wisely brought cupcakes to bride the kids to hike the 50+ steps up the local hill. [as an aside when I was in college I walked 100+ steps several times/day to get to classes after having grown at the top of a hill and SWEARING I would never do this, I am at the top of a big hill].

The 4 and 5 yo RAN up the steps and then ran all around once they got to the top. Decided to carry the sroller to the stop. They struggled a bit with it, but it looked like two guys moving a piece of furniture up the steps--lady, stop trying to get us to look at the camera, can't you see we're focused?

Den gets home tmr night--right after bedtime :)

Why Did you do this?

I am not a good writer. i think I used to be. I took an English class in college that I really enjoyed and I think my writing improved greatly. Then I went to work for the Federal Govenment and in an effort to conform , I think I lost all writing ability.

So here I am, writing matter of fact posts that describe the pictures so that the kids and g'parents can enjoy one day.

Tonight, after going through several menu options, the kids and I settled on pancakes. While Special Agent Oso was playing and the medicene was flowing, I cooked pancakes. Quite proud of myself I thought I'd put a little IHOP spin on them. Originally the bananas made a mouth, but I decided they should become a tongue and eyebrows.

I know in advance that they would be critiqued to death, so I was prepard for "I don't like blueberries". Uttered by my blueberry fein. And, I don't want the bananas and why did you put a cherry in the middle? Well because of course I knew you'd hate it! I wasn't upset or offended by their reaction, amused is more like it. We don't commonly serve food that is prepared like this, so I think I caught them off guard.

I emailed these photos to Den whilst we spoke on the phone and he thought they looked like moose. I thought a dog and a cat, but regardless, Eddie was making animal requests for the next time I decided to go this route.

Ha, as if. Cookie is basically out the rest of the week. Her grandson is doing much better, but it really is quite serious. I am happy we can do this for her and equally happy that backup childcare is available.

Possibly Why We Don't Get More Visitors...

I'm always amazed at how fast time goes. I distinctly remember as a child being told to be careful about wishing I was a year older than I was because before long the time would pass more quickly than I wanted. I am there now. And have been for a while.

Den was gone the last week of June, the transition week of July, he was gone on a 1.5 day business trip and no sooner did he get home, then g'parents Ohio arrived for the weekend (previous post). They left on a Monday and by Sat. we had Den's cousins with us for 5 nights.

During their stay with us, we had them helping to build the playset that had been broken (see a July post), help us hang and re-arrange photos that have never seen the light of day and in general clean the house for a 10-person work-related dinner party. Pluck the flowers from the neighbor's yard and make beautiful flower arrangements for said dinner party, oh and make a desert for the party as well. I know I left something out, but they were machines. I don't usually let people do 'stuff' in my house, but I felt like I was on a home improvement episode where you give general directions, come home and the place is amazing! I didn't exactly leave, but lets just say there were a lot of opportunites for keeping busy. Plus, Den was working long days (and nights) with customers from out of town.

Needless to say, they were sure troopers.

They left on a Thurs. and then we left on vacation that Sunday, coming home on the 29th and bam it's August. I've got to find the pictures that the Cousins took, because they have some great ones, these are from Eddie's camera.

Gparents in July

It's well known that g'parents Ohio come out about once/month for a visit. Before this weekend's trip, they were out over July 4. G'ma wanted to see the local parade, and despite that we had told her it was hot, crowded and not 'all that', she wanted to go anyway. As I understand it, our outing took care of her need to attend this parade for at least a couple years. We all gamely wore some variation of red, white, and blue.



This below picture of Eddie was him nestled between 2 chairs in his stroller. He claims to have had a fine view.

This is what it is all about--popsicle treats after. Josie had the biggest popsicle and of course she polished it off. It was about as long as her forearm.

Waching the g'parents leave--it was raining. The kids love climbing on the couch and each opening a window shout out goodbyes.

Goofing Around

This top photo was taken on Friday, my 2nd straight day home with the kids. Den had 2 full 7:30-6 days when we returned from vacation, and the kids had trashed the family room. I know what Josie is pretending to be, but not sure about Eddie.

While Den was waiting for the plane to fill we were trading emails real time. I was also sending him a couple photos of the kids (the rest of the photos in the post), who were playing with g'parents Ohio. Thank heavens for g'parents, that's all I have to say. G'parents Ohio drove over on Saturday after just one day at home after their own 12 day driving tour and hung out all day Sunday and Monday morning before heading back home. I think they'll be home a week before they are off to Atlanta.

Watching the kids in g'parents convertible is pretty entertaining. They watch intently as the top goes up and like an amusement park ride, ask to do it again.

It was a good thing I got the break from the g'parents as our nanny's infant grandson is having emergency abdominal surgery tonight. Don't really know a whole lot, as it was a bit missed in translation from English to Spanish and back to English again, but something about a twisted/inverted or something intestine. I told her to take the time she needed and I'd figure something out.

Good thing our nanny is such good friends with the nanny across the street, who happens to have 2 teenaged girls who are free tmr and whom the kids know well. Whew. Follow that?