Children's Resort and Spa

Jaden and I recently had the pleasure of an overnight stay at Children's Hospital (aka resort and spa). How can I possibly express to you the hatred I feel for that place. Some long-time readers of Kiddyland may recall our last visit to the resort and spa was less than ideal. You can read about it here.

This time it was the exact opposite. We went to the Emergency room at 10:00 am on Thursday because Jaden had a headached that he ranked an 8 out of 10 on the pain scale since the evening before. The only other time this had happened, it was a shunt malfunction. So, we took him in. They did the obligatory tests: another CT Scan (didn't a study just come out linking lots of CT scans to kidney cancer???), a series of xrays and a needle into the head to test for shunt flow. Everything looked fine. However, they wanted to run one more test and they wanted him to stay overnight for observation. At that point, I appreciated the cautiousness they were taking.

When we got to our room, I was so pleased to see that Jaden was the only patient in his room. Until 4 am. That's when they brought Damon in. Not pronounced (DAY-men) but pronounced (day-MON...like on). He was climbing a tree around midnight when he fell out and they thought he broke his neck. Luckily, no broken bones, but unfortunately, they found a growth in his rectum when they did the full-body MRI. How do I know this??? Well, because he was scoped right on his bed, right next to me at 4:30 in the morning. Actually, I felt quite bad for this family and ended up really liking them. But, not so much when they first came in.

The next morning, I learned the other test was called a shuntogram. My first thought was that a clown was going to come out, do a little dance, or recite a naughty poem and give Jaden some chocolates or flowers or something. Actually, he was going to get another needle in the head, get filled up with radioactive stuff and then get xrays taken. Since Jaden had been acting fine since about 4pm the previous evening, I wanted to talk to the Dr about not doing the test and going home. While I enjoy the thought of using Jaden for an alternative energy source once this whole "oil" thing runs out. I do try to avoid that radioactive stuff when I can. I asked at 8am, I got to speak to the Dr at 2. THis was only after I went into "winning friends and influencing people" mode. It's not pretty. Although I did keep a respectful tone to my voice which I think is pretty commendable.

In the end, after a consult from ENT, it turns out that Jaden simply had an inner ear infection...thus the headache, sore neck (lymph nodes) and dizziness. UNBELIEVABLY, the ENT wanted to order another CT Scan to get a more conclusive picture AND he wanted to keep him another night. I'm serious. But, thanks to Dale Carnegie I was able to make my escape.

It seriously took them from 10 am to 4 pm the mext day to diagnose an ear infection people. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Let's Go Pens!

It's only one game! Plus, they obviously set up some booby trap to trip our players on the way to the ice. Cheaters.


(Thanks to pensblog.blogspot.com for this one)

Whoa! Dude!

Whoa! Dude! When did it get to be the middle of May already?? In four weeks, 4 weeks, we will be on summer vacation. Whoa! Dude!

And, my baby is 10 months old. 10 months old And, on MOther's Day she twice took two little steps, so I guess we have a walker. Whoa! Dude!

Someone once told me that once your kids get into school the years just click by rapid fire. They weren't kidding.


Hayleigh loves to stare out the window and watch her siblings or birdies or whatever.



Isn't she cute????



Ryan at Flat Stanley day. Special thanks to Aunt A-Chelle, Uncle Don, and Poet for their help with this project.




Here are my graduating 4th graders before that party I was telling you all about. (Sniffle, sniffle)

Elementary School..Good Times, Good Times

For 5 years now, since the triplets started Kindergarten, I have been hearing about the 4th grade party. Mostly what I heard were arguings at PTA meetings about how $600 wasn't enough for this party and the fighting back and forth about this, that and other thing. Last night, I got to experience it, and it was soooo much fun. My kids had an absolute blast. And, as usual, I had a blast watching them have a blast.

I can't believe their time at [Community Elementary School] is nearing the end. They started at this place as barely more than preschoolers and they are leaving nearly teenagers. I was so worried on that first day about what kinds of friends they might make. Would they be teased? Would they have mean teachers? Would they do OK? Had I prepared them for everything they would need to know both academically and socially? Now I know the answers to all of those questions. They made great friends. They met great people. They have been teased from time to time, but they have always had friends around them to hang out with. They have had outstanding teachers. Teachers who really, really enjoyed teaching and who seemed to genuinely like my children. They've not only done OK. They've amazed me with how they have grown and all that they have achieved. And, miracles of miracles, I think that they were actually as well prepared as they could have been for the challenges they faced. I continue to be so proud of them.

Next year...a new school. New friends. New challenges. Same questions. Will they be OK? Will they be bullied? How am I going to handle their budding interest in the opposite sex? How am I going to handle puberty and everything that goes with it? Have I prepared them? DO they have the necessary life skills that they will need?

Jonathan was talking about some of the fun times he has had at [Community Elementary School] and while we were all laughing and remembering he said, "Elementary School....Good times! Good times!" Please, Lord, let him have the same perspective after Intermediate School too.