Tubes (and Not the Fun Kind You Use in the Snow)

An update on LD...after last week's nightmare of a virus and various DR's appointments, we learned on Monday that LD will need tubes put in her ears. It is a routine procedure where they make a small incision in the ear drum and drain the fluid out. After that the insert at small tube to help with future draining. The will all happen at the ripe hour of 6:30am next Tuesday. LD cannot eat or drink anything from midnight on - which will be really tough for us!! Those of you who have met LD know what I mean!! It should only take 20 mins, but she will have to put out for the procedure. This will be really hard for me, but from what I hear having these tubes will be the best thing for her. I just cannot imagine my little baby in a hospital gown and having surgery! I hoping that this will help prevent some of the many DR's trips, next winter!

Anyone out there have the same thing for their child - any advice??

Tag - I'm It

AmyBow tagged me with a meme (not sure what that is, but I'm up for it)...

Here are the instructions:
1. Pick up the nearest book ( of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag others & post a comment here once you post it to your blog, so I can come see.

"And his two-hundred-watt smile finally cracks through the shell. This kid is no murderer. Anyone should be able to see that, even the local police." - Beach Road by James Patterson & Peter de Jonge.

I haven't quite finished this book, but I did just finish Honeymoon by James Patterson & Howard Roughan. I would recommend it anyone who likes James Patterson books.

I don't have any others to tag, but feel free to pass this along!

Winter Stinks

So we all had a great time in upstate NY over President's weekend. The kids enjoyed being with their extended family as did JT and I. It was a rough ride up with LD tossing her cookies in the car. Thank goodness for Dunkin Donuts (not just because I am addicted to their iced coffee) because they were kind enough to let up clean up there and give us plastic bags to put the "haz-mat" in.

On Saturday LD, my MIL, SIL and I went shopping. LD had a blast being totally spoiled by Nana!! Sunday was spent relaxing and having a nice family dinner. We drove home in a nasty rain storm, which must have been an omen for what was to become of last week....

Tuesday the kids head back to daycare and all is well - besides the hard morning adjustment of back to school after a long weekend. Wednesday morning, RJ and I go off to the dentist and JT brings LD to school. All is well....at least I thought so.

I get to the school only to find out that LD has a fever. Not trusting the method with which the teacher took the temp (because she was fine when we left home) I had the asst. director take it with the proper covers. It read about 100. Figuring it is her ears again, I ask if I can bring LD back if the DR gives the OK - since ear infections are not contagious. They say OK as long as she does not need 1-on-1 attention. I say OK that sounds fair. Off we go to the DRs ----again!

By now LD's fever is up to 101.4 and no way she is going back to school. They give her Motrin and off we go to Walgreen's (again!!) to fill her 5th antibiotic since Dec. Next stop is Dunkin Donuts (mom really needs an iced coffee and breakfast and LD needs a bagel) - from there we are off to my office. I needed to check email and get some work to bring home.

All the girls at work love Lauren (who by the way is feeling much better after the Motrin kicked in). She runs all over the place and in fact I actually lost her at one point. No worries - we found her! Then back to Walgreen's to get the medicine and home for a nap. LD stays home with JT on Thursday because the fever has not broken despite Motrin and Tylenol treatments. She is not really eating or drinking and just not herself. She then wakes up early Friday morning (2:30am) with a 103.6 fever! What the heck - why can't it just go down!! She also hasn't wet her diaper in almost 24 hours.

That brings up to Friday and the big NE snow storm!! For sure the daycare will be closed. My girlfriend and I decided Friday morning that she will come over with her kids and watch RJ, S, and J until I get back from the DR's with Lauren (she needed to go again because still no wet diaper) and I would watch all 4 kids while she is at work. The DR says to keep and eye on LD and make sure she drinks, that she has sore throat, and to call back at 2:30 if no wet diaper. At 2:30 still no wet diaper - we call the DR again. She says, try getting her to drink for the next hour and then call back. Now 3:30 and no wet diaper - so my girlfriend (who bough LD all sorts of Elmo stuff to encourage her to drink) stays with RJ while we go to the emergency room because she is not getting dehyrdated and may need an IV.

Of course in the 3 hours that we were there, she drank, at a few snack, peed and pooped. I told the triage nurse that the wet her diaper and asked if we could leave - she said no that she was still dry. Long story short - the ER DR felt that Lauren was not great, but really didn't need and IV - it was our choice if we wanted to do it. We decided against it and went home. If it weren't for the snow storm I would have just taken her back to the DR's office instead of the ER - but I guess better to be safe than sorry.

Saturday LD was a little better, but still cranky and didn't really have an appetite. I went to work and JT stayed home. Sat into Sunday LD thought that being up from 10pm to 4am would be lots of fun (we didn't think so). JT stayed up with her most of the time and we finally put her in her room around 4 and let her pass out.

Sunday JT went to work and I took the kids sledding with S & J. We had a great time and then spent Sunday night at my in-laws celebrating my b-day (which is today!). Check out the pictures. We had a great time.

So, basically winter sucks except for the rare moments like the sledding. Winter went from ski trips on the weekends and playing in the snow to doctor's appts, antibiotics, fevers, school closures, etc. Thankfully my new job is VERY understanding about all this.

Change of Scenery

This weekend we are off to my in-laws house upstate. JT and I have a long weekend, so we are going for a little change of scenery along with my MIL, FIL, SIL, and BIL. It will be a really nice family weekend. The kids are really looking forward to going.

Last night I spent some time getting everything packed and organized - or I had hoped to at least. It was a little chaotic with trying to get dinner done and the kids bathed and to bed. JT fed the kids pizza while I gathered our bag and such. We ended up ordering Chinese food for us because there just wasn't time to cook. Between JT and I we managed to get most everything done.

I went home a lunch (a huge benefit of my new job - I am must closer to home) and got the laundry out, everything packed, the car loaded and the DVD player hooked up. It is just amazing how much crap we need for a 3 day trip. We even have the pack-n-play already up there and haven't packed food. I just packed the essentials and the car is still full.

I will be nice to get away though. RJ is really looking forward to being "Up the country..."

I am Too Young for This

Today was my annual checkup with the OB/GYN. It's not that it went badly, but I do have to go back for an ultrasound (and not the fun kind, like when I was pregnant), get a mamogram, and go for genetic counseling. My mother had breast cancer before age 45 and I am in a high risk group, so the doctor wants to get more info. It's not that I am paranoid that I have anything, I just don't want to face the stress of having to go through all these tests. Honestly, I didn't think that I would be doing this until I was at least 40!! I tend to be a bit of a worrier, so having to wait a week for the ultrasound will be tough.

The positive thing that came out of this visit, was a referral for a PCP. So ladies who need the name, just let me know. Also, it prompted me to get the kids physicals on the books before it is too late. Plus I remembered to book LD's re-check for her ears. Hopefully she will get the "all-clear" next week and we don't have to worry about the possibility of tubes.

Oh - and the OB/GYN said that it is not necessary for me to have a bone-density test that me old PCP suggested (remember "SUPERDOC" from my previous post "A Good Doctor is Hard to Find". What a dope!

It's a good thing that the "cookie fairy" left me cookies in LD's cubby at daycare - I will really need one when I get home!

The Wheels on the Bus (or Explorer)

This morning the daycare was on a 2-hour delay. We had snow last night that turned to icy rain, then to regular rain. So my girlfriend from daycare and I decided I would take all 4 kids today (she has 2 kids the same ages as RJ and LD) and she would do the next delay. It works out really well, plus the 4 year olds were ssoooooo excited to go to school together.

So, everyone arrived at our house this morning at 8:30am. The kids got right to playing - RJ, LD, and S decided that the empty diaper box would be the best thing to color on. So I opened up the box and they got the crayons and went to town on the dining room table, while J had a blast with RJ's train set in the living room. LD was so thrilled to be with the big kids - she even let her creative juices flow onto the table. (By the way - you can get crayon out of tile by using a srubby sponge and some Fantastic Oxy spray). Everyone then decided it was time to play with the trains - well everyone, but LD - she decided to dump all the crayons out on the floor and chair. I proceed to clean it all up whild LD helps (by throwing them into the bin and they bounce back out).

I decided that would get going a little early so we can go through the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru. So in goes RJ and S to the way back of the Explorer and LD and J into the middle and Mom up front. I know a mini-van would just be more practical - but c'mon - I am way toooo young!! (Plus JT just won't let me).

We make it through the drive-thru successfully and everyone is outfitted with a Munchkin (mom now has her coveted iced coffee). We make our way to school singing and having a good time. We get there and there are people standing out front waiting to be let in. There is a sign on the door that says "DOORS OPEN AT 10AM". Honestly, you all see a bunch of wet, cold people at 9:55am - just open the friggin door! Everyone is dropped off and happy - Mom is off to work - 1 1/2 hours late!! Thanks goodness my new company is really great and didn't mind the tardiness.

Althought a hectic morning, it was fun. I enjoying helping out friends and being with the kids. I find that at this point in my life it is really great to have friends who are at the same stage as you are. It really nice to know that I can help out my friend with the kids and that she is there for me.

Christmas in February

JT and I are having a little clear out of stuff that we don't need or use anymore. Actually, we are trying to make some room in the basement to eventually have it waterproofed and finished. For those that do not know me, I really like to clean and organize. In fact, we have been in our house for 5 years and we are on our 3rd Dumpster! Yes, I know it sounds silly, but there is something liberating about tossing stuff in there and clearing out your living space. I can't deal with having clutter everywhere.

Well, as part of the clean-up effort I have been bringing toys, books, etc. to RJ's and LD's daycare. This morning, despite the below freezing temp, I brought a bin full of toys to LD's room. It was the funniest thing ever...there was about five 18-24 month old children all huddled around the bin and taking stuff out. They were having a blast! LD did look at some of the stuff with a look that says "I know I have seen this before..." It much better that she play with them at school, then sit in the basement.

Watching all their little faces was like seeing my kids on Christmas morning. It was just so cute and everyone is happy -- I got to clear out the basement, the kids got new toys, and LD's teacher has a bunch of new books for the reading corner. Next to go is the baby swing and the floor kicker thing that are up the in attic...