Here's the Story ... So Far

Bradlee has been sick. Since last Tuesday (11/17). You know... typical flu stuff ... or so we thought.

Saturday she wasn't so bad. She ate a little. Sunday her stomach started hurting more and more so I took her to ER. (Kevin left for Albuquerque at 3:30 am after we got home from the ER with Carsten - but that's another story) Still thinking it was the flu she got some medicine for nausea and tests were ordered. Ten hours and many test later she was confirmed with a ruptured appendix. We checked into the hospital later that night.

Since her appendix "done blowed itself up" (exact quote from one doctor) no surgery was needed to remove the remains. Instead a drain was installed to drain the infection left over. Apparently this is a slow, slow, slow process. She will be in the hospital for several more days. When it stops draining there will be more scans to make sure everything is ok.

She still hurts tonight (thanksgiving) but is trying to eat and walk a bit. I'm sure she's going to be bored out of her skull before she gets released but for now its just sleeping mostly. I've been staying overnight with her.

OK, Carstens story ... not as exciting but with a funny ending.
Carsten woke up Saturday night with croup. All of our kids have had it a couple of times. We learned that you can baby them through the first night but then the second night is worse, or you can just take them to the ER the first night and sleep the 2nd. So at midnight Kevin & I packed him up and went to the ER for a breathing treatment.

Since we last took a kid in for croup they've added a few more test to the routine. So he got tested for H1N1, RSV and had a chest x-ray. The x-ray tech came out and asked if he had something stuck in his pjs because there was a spot on the film. We took the pjs off and tried again. Still a spot...from both angles. He had a dime in his tummy! Yes - it did pass.

Billy Elliot

I love the movie Billy Elliot (I know its rated "R" - don't bug me). I'd love to see the stage play also. However, I don't like the new music that they've written for the stage play as much as I like the music from the movie. After looking for the album from the movie (all I can find is the new stage soundtrack) I finally found a list of songs and just downloaded them one by one. Most are by T Rex. Didn't know that. Most of the new songs are by Elton John, who I normally love - but not so much this time. Anyway, I've added a play list for anyone who cares to listen. They are fun songs. At least Carsten thinks so.

Life has been busy

I wanted to get my halloween pictures up before thanksgiving so I didn't type anything to go with them. We had a fun trick or treating. Bradlee went and joined friends and looked super cute in her "Who" costume from Grinch. Her friend Alli was also a Who.

Micah wanted to be a ninja this year. She worked on making a sword and then just fancied up one from Target. She had to be something different at school because you couldn't bring weapons or masks so she would have just been the kid in a black sweater. She wore her Candy Bot 3000 costume from last year. She stored it on the top shelf in her room all last year. I guess that ended up being worth it.

Avarie wanted me to make her a Kyoshi Warrior (from Avatar) costume but I just didn't have the time. She decided to be a ninja also, and then the last day decided to be a vampire ala Twilight. You can't see her make up very well in the picture but her face was white and sparkly.

Carsten just went as a baby in a tie dye romper. He didn't get any candy. He did get a fun stroller ride tho.

Thanks Lauri, Eddy & Morgan for walking around with us. Its always more fun with friends.

IN OTHER NEWS:

I'm now homeschooling Avarie. I know. Because I had so much free time. It seems to be working out pretty well. She gets busy in the morning and gets most of her assignments done by noon. Then she gets to help me with the baby or wash the dishes. Fun for all. At least I can leave the house during nap time once and while now.

Kevin is traveling every week this month. He's in Wash DC this week. I almost decided to take the girls out of school and hang out with him for a week we but didn't have much notice. Also I think of lots of fun things to do and then I remember I have a 1 year old and my back hurts, and maybe it won't be as much fun as I think it will. Then I just go take a nap instead. I still haven't decided what to do for Christmas or Thanksgiving vacations either.

Bradlee is having fun in colorguard. They've had two competitions so far and perform at all the home football games.