our spring break extravaganza!!!

Yeah, right. We've had a tummy bug going around. First Aleena felt icky on Wednesday. I felt icky on Thursday. Emma had to take it to the next level though and actually throw up a couple of times on Friday.

But Friday night is where it got interesting. Kelli was hitting Jack E so he kicked her and she fell off the couch, hitting her head on the side of the coffee table. Her ear lobe started to swell right away so we put ice on it. We also applied a little topical arnica to help with the swelling and pain but we didn't want her taking any pain meds orally so we held off on that.

At 7:45 I told Emma she could try to keep down a few more crackers. So Jack E and Kelli had a couple too. By 8:30 Kelli had thrown up twice so I called in to urgent care to see what they thought.

It was such a toss up as to whether the vomiting was from the head injury or the virus. But better safe than sorry, D and I took Kelli to urgent care at 9 that night. The pediatrician said her motor skills and all that looked fine, but she wanted to drain the bulging ear lobe. It is just as fun as it sounds!!! Then the doctor and nurse wrapped her head in gauze with a padding over the ear to try to keep pressure on it so it didn't fill with blood again. That dressing was supposed to stay on for 24 hours.

We were home after 11. Kelli slept for a while in our bed, but from 1-2 kept getting up every few minutes complaining that she might throw up. I finally got to sleep after that.

On Saturday morning I took our suburban in because the brakes were making that noise they make just before you spend more money on them that you'd like to. It was ugly. It was expensive.

Since Kelli's bandage thing fell off while she was sleeping, I called urgent care again while I was waiting for the truck to be fixed. They wanted me to bring her back in. (Thankfully, poverty brings really great state subsidized insurance so our copay is only $3 for these urgent visits. Otherwise, she may have wound up with cauliflower ear and long hair for the rest of her life!!!) So I took her back so they could check her ear. The pediatrician from the night before was my least favorite there. On Saturday morning we had a great doctor I love. Both the pediatrician and the PA decided to call the ENT on call to talk to him about it. The ped from the night before had also talked to him so he was well acquainted with the situation.

They all 3 decided to not do anything with the ear until Monday morning. I have an appointment with the ENT downtown at 8:30. Hopefully it will all be fine. She does still have a bulge on her earlobe that is a nice purple color, but it's firm not soft so they don't think it's blood but just the injured tissue.

It really is a good thing that Kelli started throwing up since if the ear hadn't been drained it could have led to deformity of the earlobe. We're just such wait and see kind of parents that we wouldn't have taken her in for a bruise to her ear like that. It's like when Emma broke her arm. Good thing I could actually see where it was broken or I probably would have given her an ice pack and put her on the couch with a movie.

So, after Kelli and the truck...we just wanted to have a quiet evening at home last night. D was doing some beer stuff with the neighbor down the street. They were kegging what they brewed last weekend and turning a turkey frying pot into a beer pot with the magic of solder and some inexpensive parts. And of course tasting what they brewed last weekend!!!

While he was gone, Jack E started throwing up. We were supposed to go to some friends' house this morning so D could help a couple of guys brew some beer. (which is why he needed to transform the turkey pot) I made a sour cherry cake to take. I made muffins for the kids' breakfast. I was getting ready to make a tossed salad when Jack E came running into the kitchen. I picked him up and he threw up in my face and all down the front of me.

So I am staying home today with Jack E and Emma who still has a little tummy ache.

And just a bit of advice: When a 2 year old has a tummy virus that very well may lead to diarrhea, it's important that the child has pants on over the diaper. Especially if that child is standing on a previously unstained section of the white living room carpet.

Yes, my day really is that exciting!!!

my name

I totally swiped this from another blog. It's pretty accurate on some things, but the traveling part? Yeah, D will tell you there is no place I would rather be than on my own couch!

What Noelle Kersten Means

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

avoiding the laundry...

...that seems to be how I get blog time. I haven't been reading as many or visiting mine much either because of that laundry pile. I think I have finally figured out that if I am out for an hour in the morning then run in the door, I can actually go down and fold a load and throw the next one in to be worked on in another few hours. I've always like to just do it all at once, but that is becoming less and less feasible as time goes on. The kids clothes are bigger...there are more of them (kids AND clothes)...and my time is crazy between working and mama stuff.

I really love to read about all my cyber folks, but then I get distracted and spend too much time online and not enough time doing my "work".

Last week I had sooo much running around. This week I have tried to slow down a little, but Easter is coming so I've had to go visit with the Easter Bunny. And then trying to find the right size clothes for everyone. Money is still really tight, but we haven't had new Easter clothes here for a few years so I thought this year was time. I still can't find something I like for me. And I need to find a shirt for D to match the 3 other boys. Maybe I'll get a pic of all the kids this weekend and get a current one posted.

Off to face the laundry. There are piles and piles of folded laundry to put in each of the kids' baskets so they can put them away, too. Plus the mountain that needs to be washed still!

I hate my dog

seriously. She was barking to go out at 4:15 this morning. So I let her out and then stumbled back upstairs to my cosy bed. Then at 5:30 she was barking like CRAZY to get back in. Yeah, the snow is cold DOG!

Then at 6:15 she wanted back out. I hate her.

making friends

I went to the park last Friday with my new friend. And this Friday I am going to hang out with another new friend.

How exciting! Mama has someone to play with. Amazing what companionship can do for your soul, huh?

I told D last week that I have made a new friend who likes to be in her kitchen as much as I do. Sometimes I feel like such a shallow person because so much of my life seems to revolve around my kitchen. Who am I kidding? I feel like a shallow person because I think I really am. Not that I'm super vain or anything like that. I'm only moderately vain! :~)

I just don't find it easy to think deep thoughts. Or maybe I have just allowed that part of my brain to atrophy. Maybe I just find it easier to cook and do laundry and bake and run to lessons and plan meals and pick up toys and unload the dishwasher and change diapers incessantly than to be profound.

Anyway. I have a play date for the second Friday in a row and I am so excited!