Today, we were visited by a swarm of unwelcome guests who entered the kitchen via the hole they made in the wall by the frame of the built in shelving. I took a picture of them, but it was gross, so I'll not post it. A termite man is coming at 10am tomorrow.
WOW! This is my 100th post! And I had to pull a picture from our pre-sick days to find one where he was awake!
He seemed to be feeling MUCH better today!!! Tonight during bedtime prayers, we thanked God that David was better - and for all the people who were praying for him! Thank you!!!
Today, we went to get an oil change in the Saturn. Our oil change place is fun! They have a play area with lots of cars to play with, a popcorn machine and a soda fountain inside. And the wall on one side is lined with windows into the service bay, while the wall on the other side is lined with windows into the automated car wash (which is free with oil change)! While I was sitting there watching David play with a bulldozer and later watching the cars go through the car wash, I was kicking myself for not having my camera!
During naptime today, I finished my vegetable garden! Though the box isn't beautiful, it's what's on the inside that counts! (got the wood on freecycle, so I'm not complaining) It's approximately 8'x3'. And I built it myself! Here's what's growing (and yes, I'm aware that I probably planted too close together): 1-yellow bell pepper, 1-green bell pepper, 1-beefmaster tomato, 1-yellow pear tomato, 4-anaheim pepper, 4-celebrity tomato, red onions, poblano pepper seeds, lettuce seeds, carrot seeds, and yellow squash seeds (only 2!).
My herb container is waiting for rolly-polly bugs to die via DT Earth before I plant there: mint, oregano, basil, and I'm starting come cilantro seeds. Also have these 2 alyssum to go somewhere. I wonder how they would look in a strawberry pot? Maybe I could put the mint there too? The package of DT Earth said it would also kill ants, so I sprinkled some around my box where ants were making little hills. Later today, there were new hills on top of the DT Earth. What's up with that? They've got 48 hours...
Monday Dad got ABLS certified. Tuesday he got 4 CE hours at a seminar called, "All Stressed Up... And No Place to Go." hehehe.... Today and tomorrow, he's taking a class to get PALS certified (Pediatric Advanced Life Support). Friday, he will help set up for a Trauma Symposium and Saturday he will help register attendees and then get to attend himself! Then we're taking a vacation! At least he's home in the evening every night this week!
David is better, to some extent today. He had 4 d's and slept a lot. When he was awake he was fussy and clingy. He drank a little more, but the total was only about 12 oz. I don't know how to make him drink when he won't. I've tried all kinds of different drinks including Pedialite (which I really wish he would drink!) and popsicles with no luck. Anybody got tips, please leave them!!! I'm not sure if the bad day was him still not feeling good or if it was pain from yesterday's shots.
We went to Lubbock Sunday afternoon for Dad to take an Advanced Burn Life Support class at University Medical Center in Lubbock. Mom pulled out the stroller to take on the trip because Mom & David were going to go to the mall while Dad attended his class. David's ready to go!
If you're family, you already got the full report on the trip, but here are the pictures.
As the trip began, David took his afternoon nap in the car.
A true father-son moment! Dad was excited to show David his first up-close view of a train going full blast ahead! Most engineers will blow a little "toot" when they see kids near the tracks. This guy let blast a full strength, long horn. David jumped, but enjoyed it all!
Several people have asked how we're feeling today, so here's a quick update. I think David is feeling better. His medicine seems to be effectively killing the bacteria causing the infection. I can tell because it's leaving his body! He's not 100% yet, though. He did stick his finger in his ear several times today, so it must still be bothering him some, and of course, he's still clingy and needy of his plug. I have a new sympathy for a baby with an ear infection. How awful it must be to feel like this & not be able to communicate what the problem is! I'm still feeling bad and one medicine makes me sleepy during the day, one makes me awake at night.
Anybody remember the Kit Cat in the church nursery back in the day?
This afternoon, David sat on my lap at my desk. He had his head resting on my chest, watching the Kit Cat Clock's eyes & tail move. Then he leaned back and made the sign for CAT! I was so proud!!!
Here it is: Like drawing the whiskers of a cat. David does it one handed, not necessarily on his face, but the intent is still clear. I found this picture at Lesson Tutor.
When I took that picture, he was still looking at the clock, but we also had Tabi in our lap! You can see her ear.
Aunt Sissy helped us via cell phones with tonight's meal & we promised to put up pictures, so here you go!
Dad closely examines our creation: chicken breast chunks, red & green bell peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, red onions, bok choy, baby corn, peas, bean sprouts, and water chestnut. Served over a bed of rice. I completely forgot the carrots and edamame!
David doesn't look like he wants to try it! He's still not eating & drinking much, so we're happy with whatever he gets down! And tonight it was not stir-fry!
Here's the finished presentation (I think it might have looked better on a different color plate, but oh well). And it was really good! I was planning what I was going to pick out while I was cooking it, but I didn't pick anything out! We both agreed it was successful and will do it again! Thanks, Aunt Sissy for the pointers!
UPDATE #1: Mom has an upper respiratory infection, fluid in her ears (the beginning of an ear infection), and 4 prescriptions! (z-pack for infection, 1 for coughing, 1 for congestion, and flonaze)
UPDATE #2: Dad saw Patrick at training on Monday & got an updated total from the benefit 2 weeks ago - $19,000!
Finally, I got my pictures to load! These are from yesterday. (He's showing you his snotty nose at left!) We were going to work on building a raised vegetable garden yesterday, but turned out to be too cold & windy to take David outside for that. He's still coughing, congested & snotty. But he was wearing a dirt brown shirt & overalls for gardening.
As of this morning (Thursday), he was coughing really bad, so I called the nurse again. On Monday she'd said to give him the OTC meds & wait it out. Well it's been 5 days & I'm not waiting until the weekend! They got us in at 9:30. Dr. S said he had wax building up in his ears & proceeded to remove a small pea-size ball of wax from each ear! I didn't know he had that much space in there! Anyway, his right ear looked ok, but his left ear is infected. David's first ever ear infection! (unless he's had them & we didn't know it) They always ask if he's running fever or pulling at his ears - nope. Dr. S said without those things, there's no way I would have known about the infection. So now, he's on an antibiotic, and Dr. S said to keep using the Triamenic & Tylenol, too.
Here is Tabi about to attack one of David's balls. Isn't she cute? : )
While the medicine is working, David is in pretty good spirits! Maybe if we're better & the weather is warm this weekend we'll make it back to the yard. I'm going to see the doctor this afternoon, too, for pretty much the same symptoms.
Mom took no pictures today. I tried adding an old picture, but Blogger wouldn't let me do it anyway... It was a busy day of housework and snuggling (David still isn't feeling well - bad cough, runny nose). He didn't eat much all day, drank only a few sips of juice (and believe me, I tried to get him to drink all kinds of stuff!!!), and pinched his hand on Dad's keychain. The bathroom plumbing backed up again & David took it personally when I yelled, STOP just as he was stepping into the mess.
On the up side... we watched a movie showing us some new signs, one of which was "apple." Then about 2 hours later, David signed "apple." It took me a while to realize what he was doing, since he'd never done that one & his version is slightly different, but we went into the kitchen & got some applesauce, which he happily ate! I am so proud of his budding vocabulary, even if it's signs & I'm the only one who recognizes it!
I failed to mention that David & Mom took a little road trip last Tuesday. Aunt Sissy & Uncle Glenn were driving through TX on I-10, so we met them in Sonora for a late lunch at DQ. They were bringing UG's mom's furniture & dog back to her. David enjoyed meeting Buddy. Too bad the girls weren't traveling with them!
Mom just might have gone mad this week if MawMaw and Aunt Erin hadn't come for a visit! Dad has worked at the FD for 3 24-hour shifts and at the hospital for 3 12-hour shifts (helping cover so that "normal people" can take spring break vacations). Mom really enjoyed a little time off (I actually went to the bathroom by myself!!!) and having someone to go shopping with!!!
Before leaving today, Aunt Erin read Jack & the Bean Stalk to David. He enjoyed it & fell asleep during the story.
I think having company was tiring on the little man, but I know he really enjoyed having them here, too! When he woke up, I think he was looking for them, too.
"Mom's language school" was on the back burner while company was here. It was really good for David to have other people talking to him all day. Now that we're alone again, I put these window clings up on David's window (ignore the ugly, peeling house next door!) and labeled each picture for David several times, with both words and signs. He liked them. When I asked him, "Where's the bird?" he would look at the bird and followed suit with the others. Later, I was in the kitchen when I heard him saying, "cat" over & over from his room. When I peeked in, he was sitting there, looking at the stickers on the window. I pointed at the cat & he got excited. I pointed to one of his stuffed cats & he got up to give it a great big hug! So, I don't think language recognition is a problem.
Spring break brought MawMaw and Aunt Erin in for a visit! They've never been to see Dad's fire station & since he was on duty today, they got the full tour. Here they are visiting afterwards.
We are hours from our kinfolk family, but we're also surrounded by family. Dad has felt the "family" for a while now. Mom felt the family today.
I already told about the benefit lunch. (gray shirt & cowboy hat in the photo is the firefighter whose family the benefit was for) Well this afternoon, we dropped David off with some of the family. Another firefighter's family who wasn't able to go to the benefit kept David so that we could go. I'm not sure how well he did... but either he did ok, or they didn't tell us everything. He was fussy, screamed during their church service, and I heard him screaming when I got to the door to pick him up! It's probably good for Mom & David both to get a break from each other, though. We haven't really been apart in a while.
When we first arrived back at the Pub, it was not my cup of tea. I just don't see the attraction of going to a very small building that is over crowded with people spilling beer and blowing smoke in your face. The music when we got there was OK, but between the music and all the people - and it was packed! - you couldn't hear each other talk with out screaming into the other's ear. Maybe you wonder why I went in the first place. Because it was family.
Not sure which band was playing when we arrived. When their set ended, the cake auction began. It felt a lot like the FFFF back home. There were probably at least 50 cakes, and they all sold for at least $25 each. Several sold for over $200 each! This is when the feeling of family started creeping in. Nobody in their right mind wants to eat a $200 cake, but this wasn't about eating cake. Many of the cakes that were sold were donated back. Dad helped a group of FF haul cakes over to the Salvation Army after the auction.
In the next set of music, a band whose members are FF played - The Strays. (photo left) They were pretty good, too! We finally relocated to a better spot by the front door - much cooler with a draft coming in the door, which also helped blow the smoke away from us. And actually, there's weren't too many people smoking. From this point on, I really enjoyed the evening!
When they were done, there was another auction for some goods that had been donated - stone crosses, artwork and metal art. Again, Dad helped by holding up a very heavy metal artwork while the bidding took place. The largest metal piece sold for $750!
The next set included another FF band, Clearwater. (photo left) They were awesome! Steel guitar, electric fiddle (that guy was AMAZING) - they played a little swing, some Bob Wills, some Texas country, Great Balls of Fire, and a few other styles. Very, very talented musicians - and they tore it up on their finale!!! Next up was a pair of college students who regularly play at the Pub, then a guy from Mineral Wells who regulars as well.
At this point, Mom had to go pick up David. We got Dad something to eat & brought it to him. It was too loud, too smoky and too rowdy to take David inside at that point, so Dad met us outside. The stage is just inside the door, so we stood outside where David could see Gary P. Nunn playing his guitar. While standing outside, Pub workers moved the cones directly in front and a large bus carrying Charlie Robison pulled up out front. He's married to one of the Dixie Chicks & we wondered if she might be inside, too! In a few minutes, Johnny Bush & his wife pulled up in his mini-van.
Well, Mom took David home and Dad got to stay for the rest of the concert, so here's his report: Gary P. Nunn was followed by Johnny Bush, who sang Green Snakes on the Ceiling. Charlie Robison concluded the evening with El Cerrito Place, New Years on the Border, My Hometown, and Lights of Loving County. (photo left) The other FF (from all 3 shifts, but mostly B-shift) were horsing around with each other having a good time. This is the first time I've gotten to socialize with most of them off-duty. A few staff from the ER and AirMed1 were also present.
Mom again: I met firefighters & their wives, saw some I knew already, met hospital staff that Dad also works with (mostly ER people) and met some retired firemen. It was the first time someone wanted to shake my hand because I was married to a firefighter. While it was cool to have the big acts show up, it wasn't about them - the house was packed to show support for a fireman's family. And I felt like these people would have come out if it had been us who needed the help.
UPDATE: Dad reports that over $10,000 was raised for the family!
David's teachers put a note in his bag each time he goes to church. It tells us what he ate for snack, diaper changes and has a place for comments. This morning's note said, "David has improved so much since his first day! We love watching him." I was so proud!
After church, David had another first. We went to a "pub" for lunch. It was a fish fry benefit to help a fellow B-shift firefighter (and his teacher wife) with medical bills due to his infant daughter's rare blood disease. She will be starting chemo soon and I don't believe that is available in this town. David enjoyed the neon lights, pool balls and liked the catfish even more than the french fries!!! (after it cooled off)
The food was so hot when it came, I was breaking stuff up & blowing on it while David was frantically signing that he wanted more to eat. I'd blow & blow, dip it in ketchup, give it to him. He'd pop it in his mouth & you could tell it was still hot as he chewed with his mouth open really wide, (reminded me of Grandmama eating hot food), all the while signing "more, more". We finally got him full after everything cooled!
There were tons of firemen families there. Fire trucks & ambulances pulled up to pick up lunches to take back to the stations. And there were lots of other people there, too. I was pleased to notice from all the dressed up folk that the location did not deter the church crowd from coming out to support the family. I think it would have where we used to live. I heard an older lady say this was the first time she'd ever been in a bar. Well, I can't say as I remember ever going to a bar, either!
We're back home for naptime, now. Mom & Dad go back for the benefit concert later this afternoon. David is going to stay with an A-shift firefighter & his wife and their 3 year old son.
Tonight, David attended his second wedding - Michael & Sandra. (David's first wedding was when he was about 2 months old.) Michael was in Dad's rookie class at the FD. Unfortunately, I didn't get any good pictures of them. Here's their first dance.
David did really well. He ate almost an entire McDonald's cheeseburger before we arrived!!! He enjoyed running around during the reception. He was especially drawn to the dance floor, with it's bright flashing lights, and he really loved the mints... the blue ones, green ones and pink ones. He wouldn't eat the white and yellow ones (which looked almost white). Alan said the white ones were a little bit stronger flavored, so I guess David knew what he was doing!
This is Casey (another one from their class & who we lived with for a while) and Jerica. They also sat at our table. They're getting married in September.
What fireman's wedding wouldn't be complete without a fire truck? Well, this one wasn't planned! Well into the reception, the fire alarms started going off. This was in a hotel - all the alarms in the hotel were going off! Michael looked to Dad & Casey. They all just kinda threw their hands up in the air! (They've never had this happen while they were off-duty!) The hotel was evacuated & it was a false alarm, but Engine 5 made the call to check it out. Dad did help with the evacuation. He propped exits open, then walked through the main part of the hotel to look for any visible sign of fire. David got excited when he saw the fire truck coming. It was dark outside, so the lights were really eye-catching. He waved real big as the truck pulled in. By this time it was about 9:30, so we just came on home. What excitement! Plus it was a different ceremony anyway - Mormon/Catholic.
Here's David doing a little touch & feel reading, while looking so handsome in another adorable outfit from Aunt Jana!
And enjoying his Alpha-Bits...
In case anyone doubted my previous comment, I took the following picture, comparing actual Alpha-Bits to those on the box!
Finally back on to post more pictures!
We've been staying busy the last few days. We've decorated the porch with sidewalk chalk, played outside, and Mom is trying to become a speech therapist, so we've done lots of practice on that, too! It's very tiring work, by the way, for an introvert.
David has this thing about Alpha-Bits... He loves them more than Cheerios, BUT he prefers the whole letters. I don't know if you've seen Alpha-Bits lately, but they're not the cute little ABC's you see on the commercial!!! They're deformed with lots of broken pieces. Sometimes you can tell what the letter is supposed to be. And David prefers those.
At this point, when my big boy was trying to help himself to more, he still had a plateful of broken pieces!
Here's an update on the flower that was opening earlier this week. It is so magnificently fragrant!!!
Here is David entertaining himself while getting a poopy diaper changed. My normal comment: Isn't he adorable????
Can you believe that? (from July 29, 2004) I wish more of the changing table was showing, so you could see a bigger difference. David has always enjoyed the time he spends on the changing table. Now, he's almost too long to fit on it anymore!
This outfit Aunt Jana gave him for Christmas is absolutely adorable! I love the shirts with monkeys on them. When I told him "monkey" and pointed to his shirt, he patted it & pulled it out so he could see it better while grinning ear to ear! It was so cute!
Does it seem confusing to tell a toddler that 15 different flowers are all called "flower" when they don't look anything alike?!?! Anyway, this one is now opening up in the front flower bed. Luckily, it was out of David's reach. I think this is a regular hyacinth just starting to open.
While David was napping, I snuck out into the back yard to see if the vinca was blooming more. I still think these little blooms are pretty.
Fluff patiently waited for me to fill his water bowl. Someone had turned it upside down yesterday! Isn't he a handsome cat?
Aunt Wee, you were right... can you see the aphids in the photo? There's also a ladybug, who was acting really excited, too! I hope he's got some more family & friends around somewhere! We'll have really fat ladybugs!
