My English major heart is so proud and full. Hannah and I have been reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone together each night and she has been loving it. We ran down to our wall of bookshelves in the basement tonight and grabbed my copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to start tomorrow night.
It't so much fun passing on a love of reading (and a love of Harry Potter) to my daughter. She amazes me with her quick understanding of the nuances and with the insightful questions she asks. It's been a really fun and special time each evening. I'm loving it. I'm already planning for what other books we'll share when Harry Potter is over.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Overheard
McKay: I just had the Phonics dream.
Hannah: No fair! I've been waiting my whole life for the Phonics dream!
Hannah: No fair! I've been waiting my whole life for the Phonics dream!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Update on McKay
He is doing REALLY well.
Once he started the Prednisone the blisters that were forming on his hand started to receede. As the days went by, the blisters never burst or opened into lesions. Instead it just became a kind of shrively bit of blister.
His hand has started to go down with swelling, and it was rather bruised-looking for awhile, but now it is looking good.
I have to think with the quick treatment (usually they don't start treatment until after the blisters have burst and caused lesions, since people generally don't worry a lot until then--and they don't figure it out until then), we've been really lucky.
Thank you all for the prayers and kind thoughts.
Once he started the Prednisone the blisters that were forming on his hand started to receede. As the days went by, the blisters never burst or opened into lesions. Instead it just became a kind of shrively bit of blister.
His hand has started to go down with swelling, and it was rather bruised-looking for awhile, but now it is looking good.
I have to think with the quick treatment (usually they don't start treatment until after the blisters have burst and caused lesions, since people generally don't worry a lot until then--and they don't figure it out until then), we've been really lucky.
Thank you all for the prayers and kind thoughts.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Lehi Folks, a word of caution
In the very late evening of Tuesday, McKay woke up in a lot of pain, with his hand rapidly and inexplicably swelling. Since we were unable to tell if it was affecting his breathing we called the paramedics. They were mystified. We took him to the ER, they too were unsure what it could be. There was really no mark, other than the huge swelling.
In the morning, we saw the small beginnings of a blister and we took McKay to the dr. for follow-up. The dr. felt fairly sure it was a spider bite, but was unsure if it was a black widow or brown recluse. Neither scenario fit perfectly, but it was more satisfactory than other answers, so we began treatment for that (oral prednisone.)
A friend who saw that this was the diagnosis on Facebook suggested looking at Hobo spider bites, as they were often improperly labeled as Brown Recluse bites. After a bit of Googling and identification, I was quickly and sickeningly aware that I have seen this spider MANY times around our yard. I have boldly cleaned up many a web, especially where the siding meets the foundation of the house. I have seen the funnel shaped webs in my rose bushes, at the base where the main branches make a V. I have seen them along the fence as I have watered my garden and picked vegetables. I thought nothing of it, as I am usually fine with the natural cycle of life.
However, I am now planning to be extra vigilant. I have set up hobo traps and we have (while wearing long pants, long shirts and gloves) sprayed all the funnel webs we could find--and there were many. I will be inspecting the children's playhouse and swingset, trampoline, climbers, the hammock and garden area, etc. MUCH more carefully and much more often now.
Hobo Spider
This is a link to a picture of a Hobo spider. I would feel pretty confident that you've probably seen them about.
Funnel Web
This is a link to a "funnel web" picture. Again, I am sure you've seen them around.
I was shocked (and kind of bizarrely facinated) when I was walking by a rose bush early this year to catch a show of a spider--that I know know was a hobo--jumping from it's web and attacking a wasp in mid-flight. They don't use sticky webs, so they are more agressive, as they are required to be to obtain food.
Anyway, please be aware of these spiders. I have seen them and I have honestly thought they were just a garden spider, and as such I was leaving them entirely alone to maintain the balance of the ecosphere of my yard, etc. No more. I will leave garden spiders alone, but war has been declared on hobos. My yard has entirely too many children playing in it to have these spiders out there. It has been scary and painful, to say the least.I just wanted to make all of my friends and neighbors in the same area aware that these spiders are out there and what the symptoms and signs of the bites are. Fast treatement is very important to a good, and less painful outcome. We're still in the midst of it, but I hope our fast actions and treatment will make healing much quicker and less painful/scarring, etc.
In the morning, we saw the small beginnings of a blister and we took McKay to the dr. for follow-up. The dr. felt fairly sure it was a spider bite, but was unsure if it was a black widow or brown recluse. Neither scenario fit perfectly, but it was more satisfactory than other answers, so we began treatment for that (oral prednisone.)
A friend who saw that this was the diagnosis on Facebook suggested looking at Hobo spider bites, as they were often improperly labeled as Brown Recluse bites. After a bit of Googling and identification, I was quickly and sickeningly aware that I have seen this spider MANY times around our yard. I have boldly cleaned up many a web, especially where the siding meets the foundation of the house. I have seen the funnel shaped webs in my rose bushes, at the base where the main branches make a V. I have seen them along the fence as I have watered my garden and picked vegetables. I thought nothing of it, as I am usually fine with the natural cycle of life.
However, I am now planning to be extra vigilant. I have set up hobo traps and we have (while wearing long pants, long shirts and gloves) sprayed all the funnel webs we could find--and there were many. I will be inspecting the children's playhouse and swingset, trampoline, climbers, the hammock and garden area, etc. MUCH more carefully and much more often now.
Hobo Spider
This is a link to a picture of a Hobo spider. I would feel pretty confident that you've probably seen them about.
Funnel Web
This is a link to a "funnel web" picture. Again, I am sure you've seen them around.
I was shocked (and kind of bizarrely facinated) when I was walking by a rose bush early this year to catch a show of a spider--that I know know was a hobo--jumping from it's web and attacking a wasp in mid-flight. They don't use sticky webs, so they are more agressive, as they are required to be to obtain food.
Anyway, please be aware of these spiders. I have seen them and I have honestly thought they were just a garden spider, and as such I was leaving them entirely alone to maintain the balance of the ecosphere of my yard, etc. No more. I will leave garden spiders alone, but war has been declared on hobos. My yard has entirely too many children playing in it to have these spiders out there. It has been scary and painful, to say the least.I just wanted to make all of my friends and neighbors in the same area aware that these spiders are out there and what the symptoms and signs of the bites are. Fast treatement is very important to a good, and less painful outcome. We're still in the midst of it, but I hope our fast actions and treatment will make healing much quicker and less painful/scarring, etc.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Random, random, random
Gosh, I've been bad about blogging. Probably because I've just been so busy doing stuff. Which seems kind of ironic. I mean, now I have stuff to blog, but not the time, and before I had the time, but not as much to blog.
But here is a vain attempt to catch up on everything.
1) The kids are back in school! Yay! *sniffle*
I love having them home...until they fight and make messes. Then I MOSTLY love them home. By the end of the summer, it was a lot of fighting and messes, so school seems like a good option. They are all excited to go back.
Michael and McKay have the same teacher this year. Mrs. Chirrick. She is truly a rockstar. I just love her. I foresee a great year this year. Yeah, we still miss Harris, but the boys are in awesome hands.
Hannah started first grade with Mrs. Templeton. I really am impressed with what I see. I think she will be super for Hannah. I just can't believe Hannah is old enough to be in school all day. I spent most of Thursday as a nervous wreck. I worried she would not figure out the cafeteria. I worried she would not find her class. I worried she would not get back on the bus for home. She proved me wrong in all of these areas and came home cool as a cucumber. Silly mommy.
Garrett is going to start preschool on Tuesday. He is beyond thrilled. He's actually just miffed he had to wait until next week. He's such a good boy, he'll do great. He wakes me up each morning with, "Wake up mom! You can't sleep! It's a wonder day!" Awwww.
Ella is going to be kind of bored on the days Garrett is gone especially. Just me and her. But I think it will be good for her. I think the hospital was one of the few times it was JUST her. She is usually part of the crowd.
2) Business is good. Busy, but winding down from the breakneck speed of the summer. We have jobs a few times a week, but it is just not the impossible schedule we were keeping before. Still, we're getting a really full website. So that's good.
3) Ella is doing a lot better. She's gaining back some of the weight she lost and is full of energy again. I am so glad. She was just not herself. She's back to smiles and giggles and happiness. Thank heavens.
I have a couple pictures, but I need to resize them. I'll make a post specifically for pictures in a bit.
But here is a vain attempt to catch up on everything.
1) The kids are back in school! Yay! *sniffle*
I love having them home...until they fight and make messes. Then I MOSTLY love them home. By the end of the summer, it was a lot of fighting and messes, so school seems like a good option. They are all excited to go back.
Michael and McKay have the same teacher this year. Mrs. Chirrick. She is truly a rockstar. I just love her. I foresee a great year this year. Yeah, we still miss Harris, but the boys are in awesome hands.
Hannah started first grade with Mrs. Templeton. I really am impressed with what I see. I think she will be super for Hannah. I just can't believe Hannah is old enough to be in school all day. I spent most of Thursday as a nervous wreck. I worried she would not figure out the cafeteria. I worried she would not find her class. I worried she would not get back on the bus for home. She proved me wrong in all of these areas and came home cool as a cucumber. Silly mommy.
Garrett is going to start preschool on Tuesday. He is beyond thrilled. He's actually just miffed he had to wait until next week. He's such a good boy, he'll do great. He wakes me up each morning with, "Wake up mom! You can't sleep! It's a wonder day!" Awwww.
Ella is going to be kind of bored on the days Garrett is gone especially. Just me and her. But I think it will be good for her. I think the hospital was one of the few times it was JUST her. She is usually part of the crowd.
2) Business is good. Busy, but winding down from the breakneck speed of the summer. We have jobs a few times a week, but it is just not the impossible schedule we were keeping before. Still, we're getting a really full website. So that's good.
3) Ella is doing a lot better. She's gaining back some of the weight she lost and is full of energy again. I am so glad. She was just not herself. She's back to smiles and giggles and happiness. Thank heavens.
I have a couple pictures, but I need to resize them. I'll make a post specifically for pictures in a bit.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sugar and spice and all things nice
Pink, frills, dolls, accessories, hair ribbons, and dresses. Six years ago, I got to indulge in these for the first time.
Hannah was our first girl after two sweet boys and we were SO excited. I put bows in her hair, dresses on her everyday, painted her toenails and made bracelets for her. She was certainly a good sport about this.
She's always been such a fun girl. On one hand, she loves to brush hair and play dolls, on the other hand she can tell you all about Power Rangers and fight with a lightsaber with amazing grace.
She is an interesting combination of sensitivity but strength. She knows what she wants and knows what she should do and doesn't back down, but on the other hand, she is careful and gentle and kind. She is wonderful friends with her siblings and we love her so much.
Today is six years since she joined our family and we have been very blessed to have her. Happy birthday baby girl!
Hannah was our first girl after two sweet boys and we were SO excited. I put bows in her hair, dresses on her everyday, painted her toenails and made bracelets for her. She was certainly a good sport about this.
She's always been such a fun girl. On one hand, she loves to brush hair and play dolls, on the other hand she can tell you all about Power Rangers and fight with a lightsaber with amazing grace.
She is an interesting combination of sensitivity but strength. She knows what she wants and knows what she should do and doesn't back down, but on the other hand, she is careful and gentle and kind. She is wonderful friends with her siblings and we love her so much.
Today is six years since she joined our family and we have been very blessed to have her. Happy birthday baby girl!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Awww, poor Ella
Poor Ella got sick.
She was throwing up and throwing up all night Sunday, into Monday. When it was light enough to tell what was going on, we saw that there was blood in her vomit. That was fairly alarming, so Darwin took her to the pediatrician. He was concerned she might have an ulcer and that it was bleeding. So, he sent us off to Primary Children's.
But he also warned us if she started vomiting bright red, we needed to get to ANY hospital along the way. So, I left with Ella, feeling a little scared after all of that.
She turned out to actually have rotavirus and probably a small tear in her esophogeus due to all of the violent vomiting. She was quite a trooper about it all. The first few days she was completely lethargic and slept most of the time, but by the time she got feeling a little better, she wanted to go home.
She put on her little dress, my shoes, packed her diapers in a bag, wiped down the hospital room with a wipe, and threw out all the papers she could find on the floor and started knocking on the door.
She's still not 100% yet. Still a little vomiting, but at least she's able to be home and is not completely listless.
Poor little monkey.
She was throwing up and throwing up all night Sunday, into Monday. When it was light enough to tell what was going on, we saw that there was blood in her vomit. That was fairly alarming, so Darwin took her to the pediatrician. He was concerned she might have an ulcer and that it was bleeding. So, he sent us off to Primary Children's.
But he also warned us if she started vomiting bright red, we needed to get to ANY hospital along the way. So, I left with Ella, feeling a little scared after all of that.
She turned out to actually have rotavirus and probably a small tear in her esophogeus due to all of the violent vomiting. She was quite a trooper about it all. The first few days she was completely lethargic and slept most of the time, but by the time she got feeling a little better, she wanted to go home.
She put on her little dress, my shoes, packed her diapers in a bag, wiped down the hospital room with a wipe, and threw out all the papers she could find on the floor and started knocking on the door.
She's still not 100% yet. Still a little vomiting, but at least she's able to be home and is not completely listless.
Poor little monkey.
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