Variations on a theme

A few weeks ago I wrote a really random post full of random things, that probably only my mom appreciated. In it I mentioned that Luke likes to line things up. And now one of my favorite parts of a day is a new "line-up" discovery, of which I sometimes remember to snap a picture.



Here's the original: The first time it became apparent that Luke has "a problem/addiction/compulsion", was when he lined up the paint bottles.



And from there,

Spring "Break", my booty

This past week was anything but a break. Not that we had any grand plans. I wasn't even expecting a break, because frankly, no preschool basically equals more work.

But Luke got croup! Again!

And then on Saturday Ava started showing signs of a UTI. We headed to the ER at 2:00 am.

Here's the breakdown:


-after an initial fever of 103, and uncharacteristically wetting the bed approximately 1 hour after she laid down, Ava continues to pee (or attempt) ever 20 minutes for the next 4 hours.

-She has the shakes and complains that her eyes are burning and obviously she has not gone to sleep.

-After 2 doses of ibuprofen and a call to the doctor, we head for the Emergency Room.

-Here we wait and wait and wait and wait. And pee and pee and pee and pee and pee. And still Ava does not sleep. The ER is packed.

-The ibuprofen hides her fever until it begins to wear off revealing a fiery beast.

-The night turns to day and finally at 6:00 am they get her in a bed. She is on fire. And still peeing and shaking.

-At 7:00 am a doctor arrives. A doctor who should feel so happy that he is still alive. He probably doesn't even know how close he was to not finishing his shift. He was small in stature but large in ego. He had the bedside manner of a thumbtack. He was small and I held my sick and sleep deprived self back from tossing him up against the wall.

-Ava was about as strung out as a 3 year old can get. She was well over 103, though we couldn't get an accurate temp. She flinched and shook like a little animal and she had not slept the entire night.

-And the dumb doctor kept saying in an accusatory tone, "What's wrong with her?!" "What's wrong with her?!" "Has she been traumatized?!" As he asked me, he grabbed and yanked at her. She pulled away from every touch.

-I tried to calmly remind him that we had been waiting here for over 5 hours, the majority of which was the middle of the night, she had not slept at all, she was very sick, and she was 3 years old. And she's kind of sensitive even under the best circumstances.

-Bladder infection.

-We got home a little after 8 am. She and I both went to bed.

-She is feeling better already.

-Dan saves everyone's life by doing everything, taking care of everybody, and keeping our heads above water.

-Thank you, Dan.

Times they are a changin' for me. Some changes I know for certain and others I just feel in my bones. I haven't been feeling well lately. I keep feeling like I am being acted upon instead of being the actor. I can't change any of it, and honestly I didn't have much of a say in the first place.

The feeling that I am not in control is disconcerting. Although if I really think about it, it is circumstances like these that illustrate how much Heavenly Father is the orchestrator of our lives. And really, I already know that He makes better plans for me, than I ever do. I just have to remember even though things are not going the way I wanted or planned, I can trust that God's hand is in it all.

Apron and Snaggle Tooth

So my mother in law received her present a few days ago so the coast is clear to post it's picture here.

I finished it late at night when the lighting was horrible.

I kept trying to take a picture myself while leaning awkwardly out of my own light.



Then I got brilliant and asked Dan to take one.




And here is a close up of the fabric from earlier in the day.


I think it turned out cute. There are a few things I would differently if I could. For now I will file them in my mental list of sewing lessons learned, hopefully not to be forgotten too soon.


This past Sunday, Luke continued on the path he has made his own. He was happily climbing up and over the couch, again, and again, and again.

Then glee turned to disaster when he fell with a crack. I ran and scooped him up hoping the sound was not his neck. Which, in thinking about it now, was probably not the best idea if it was his neck. But instinct had taken over.

He calmed down after a few minutes. And the next time he smiled I saw the reason for the noise.

Can you?

"Can you?" What a silly question! Of course you can! He looks like a 1 year old redneck.

I am so not on top of things at the moment. I have not gotten in touch with the pediatric dentist yet. I am thinking that it's probably not protocol to fix a baby tooth. But I am also thinking it's not humane to make him walk around like that for the next 5 years.

Oh Luke! It's always something!

I have found myself more head over heels in love with that boy everyday. Sometimes I go in to peek at him while he sleeps. He is so big! And so beautiful! I still remember his handsome little face the first time I saw it. Oh, he's a piece of heaven. Delicious, naughty, ragamuffin, heaven!

Well today

I can say "Mission Accomplished". My first priority today and my grandest desire for the past week has been to take a nap.

I grossly underestimated the amount of time it would take to finish my Mother in laws birthday present, considering I mailed it this morning and her birthday was Sunday! (Yeesh. So sorry, Linda). I have been working every spare moment and even prior to that I was suffering some major sleep debt.

So today, when I put the kids down, I walked directly to my bed and collapsed. And that is where I remained for one glorious hour of slumber.

Now I am awake, the kids are still asleep, and I am having daymares about the present. Things I cannot check or fix since it is already on it's way to Utah. So Linda, if you don't like it or it's not quite right, you can send it back and I'll fix it, or you can even just pretend to like it and only get it out when I'm in town.


We have seen some improvements with Ava lately. Not that she is 100% back to herself but I figure I better at least recognize the good if I am expecting more.

I had both of the kids blood drawn for allergy testing last week. It was terrible. And that day turned into The Day of Infamy. The day I cannot even write about therapeutically yet. The day that was supposed to be so fun because we were going to the "radio". The day that ended with me standing in our hallway sobbing in my underwear covered in my child's throw up. The day that ranks as one of the worst of my life thus far. The day that broke the camels back. Yeah, when I put it that way, things have definitely improved!

But at the lab, last week, the phlebotomist noticed that only 2 of the 3 tests were ordered for Luke. And his results came in first- no allergies for anything for which they tested but definite allergies to something because his Immunoglobin E's were elevated. So the doctor ordered that third test. He has to go back and get his blood drawn. (Making it the 3rd time, even though I requested all of this the 1st time)

And Ava's results came later-allergies to dust mites (just like Luke) and apparently, they did not have enough blood to do the last test even though it was ordered. She has to go back and get her blood drawn.

I wouldn't do any of it unless I suspected (which I do) that they both have allergies and they are suffering because of them.

I'm already teaching them valuable coping skills for life. I told them in the car after their traumatic ordeal, "Hey, Kids! Don't worry! You can fix any hurt or pain or worry with something sweet. Goodies always make us feel better. And I took them through the drivethru and got them each a milkshake.

They reveled



(and bathed and played)


in their shakes and were comforted.

I guess I should just look at this subsequent visit to the lab as an opportunity for a reinforcement lesson. And just pray it doesn't end like the last one.

Post, post edit:

The doctor called me last night to talk about the results of their allergy tests. Up to this point I had only heard through the nurses. She had some good news in that she was able to have Luke's 3rd test done at the lab with the blood they already had. The bad (not really bad, just not good) news is that everything came up negative, which should be good, but isn't because it does not explain his raised levels. Apparently anything under 93 is a normal level for the IG E's. He was at nearly 600. And the first time he was tested he was in the 2,000's. I guess it's gotten lower. But we are no nearer finding out what is causing his body to react this way. The blood test is not that accurate apparently. So she prescribed a nasal medicine to go along with his oral and we will see how that goes.

Also after talking with her I have decided to hold off on Ava's 3rd test as well. I will just continue with her medicine, knowing about the dust mites and doing what I can to keep them under control at our house.

Haircuts All Around

It seems like forever since we've seen my parents. We had been anxiously awaiting their visit this past weekend. And admittedly, one of the things we were looking forward to the most, was Mom's mobile haircutting ability.

Luke pretty much looks like a ragamuffin all the time. I remember seeing raggedy kids in the store with mismatched clothes and dirty faces. And I know I thought, "My kids will never..."

That was probably my first mistake.


He detests being picked at, wiped off, clipped, or groomed in any way. His hair grows at an alarming rate. He spills and drips on every outfit. He is so cute.

In any case, his hair has been out of control, so Grandma's visit was especially exciting.


He, like I said, hates this, can you tell?



And through all of this caterwauling, Ava remained firm in her stance to get a haircut of her own.

So after many, "Are you sure?"'s, we set to it.

She was just about as squirmy as Luke, though at least she wasn't crying.


Here's the before,

the during,


And the after,



She loves her new haircut, and we think she looks pretty cute. This her first haircut ever, so I am saving that long ponytail in her baby book.

And because Luke always seems to be getting ignored, I don't have a solo picture of Luke's "after".

Here's the best I've got and it's not even dry. He looks so much older with this short hair.


Ava had a really exciting day today. Her preschool class sang in their church's worship service this morning. Ava was very into the actions and the singing.

Here she is at home in her favorite "Sunday dress" before the big performance.




And then this afternoon she gave her very first talk in Primary.

I ran through a few scenarios of how that might play out, like complete refusal or even a fit, but I am happy to report that it was truly, "best case".

Even though I'm her mom, I think she did great, holding her pictures and speaking into the microphone.

Maybe there is hope for her yet!

Five

This fun little thing was on a friend's blog. And it will continue here on mine. Okay, it's a tag, but I think it's a tag with an exciting twist!

It goes a little somethin' like this,

The first five people to leave a comment on this post,

will receive something made by me.

1. There is no gaurantee you will like what I make you. (But I promise not to send you something I know you hate)

2. What I create will be just for you.

3. It will be done this year.

4. You have no clue what it will be. It could be anything from shoes to brownies.

5. I reserve the right to do something strange.

And the kicker...

If you choose to do this, you must post it on your blog and be ready and willing to make something for five people too.

When you receive your present from me, you must post a picture on your blog.

This is gonna be fun!

"Hold on a minute..."

The other night, while I was gone, Dan and the kids were having pizza for dinner. Little Cesar's $5 deal is our friend.

Ava came to Dan in the kitchen and asked if he would turn on the bathroom light for her, when she noticed what he was eating.

"What's dat, Dad?"


"It's a breadstick."

She asked if she could have one and he said she could but that she would have to go to the bathroom first. She went on to explain that she didn't have to go and he questioned her since she had just requested the light-turn-on seconds prior.

She said, "Hold on a minute, I'm gonna go ask my bum."

So she left the kitchen walked over near the couch and said to herself, "Bum, do you need to go potty?" She paused for the silent response.

Then continued, "Oh, you don't need to go potty? Okay!"

She came back to Dan, "Dad, Bum says he doesn't need to go. Can I have a breadstick now?"

He tried to hold in his laughter as he handed her a breadstick, which she happily ate on her way to the bathroom.