Two Little Men

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Talking with Henry

It is amazing and fun to be able to talk with Henry about school. He can get the basics of his day across to us, and that is so much fun. For background purposes, Henry's Mother's Day Out has a little science classroom called Discovery Zone, and I got a note that they had carved pumpkins that day.

(outside at dinner on Tuesday night)
Todd: What did Henry do at school today?
Holly: I think they went to Discovery Zone today.
(Henry hears us and comes over)
Henry: Discovery Zone!
Holly: What did you do in Discovery Zone?
Henry: pumpkins
Holly: What did you do with the pumpkins?
Henry: Make jack-o-lantern. (pause) carve. (pause) scoop out seeds.

He loves music. We're going to get him some new CDs for his birthday. We listen to an old Hap Palmer in the car, and he wants to listen to "Sammy" and "The Circle Game" over and over and over. He can sing the words pretty well. He's also pretty good at singing his ABCs - I'll try to get a video soon.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Columbus Day Weekend

We have been sick around here for quite awhile. I'll try to give the Clifs Notes version. Just suffice it to say, I will hit the highlights - but you can assume that everyone else was just back in the Chorus Line during said highlights having their own drainage, congestion, aches, and pains... Oh, and you can just assume that no one has had a solid night's sleep in a month.

Leo started breathing treatments about three weeks ago for an asthma flare up. Henry started antibiotics last Saturday for a sinus infection. Then Leo started having "the mystery fever" in the evenings - high fever at night, fine during the day. Wednesday afternoon, he told me that his throat hurt. Thursday, he told me that his throat hurt. Friday, we went to the dr. for flu shots, and I asked the nurse prac to listen to his chest. She said he was in a bad way, and we needed to be way more aggressive with getting rid of the wheezing. She prescribed steroids, etc. She also thought his throat looked very raw, so we strep tested. The strep test was neg, so we assumed virus for that. No flu shot for Leo - Henry and I got ours.

Somewhere in that last blurry week, I helped set up for our neighborhood's National Night Out. It's a national program for getting to know your neighbors...a CrimeWatch kinda thing. I made these little candies for the dessert table:

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

So, this was a long weekend for us - Leo was out Fri and Mon, and Toddly was off work on Monday. On Fri, we did the flu shot thing and went to a playdate at the park. We also posted this pile of lumber on Craigslist and someone came and picked it up. This was left here by the previous owner, and I know the neighbors are glad that it is gone! I'm not kidding - several of them have mentioned that they would help us get rid of it. We're very glad that it's not against the fence, and Todd is infatuated with the magic of Craigslist.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Saturday, I did my seven miles in the morning - training for the White Rock again. Went to Plano and got my hair cut. Then we flew up to Flower Mound for a last minute photo session in the pumpkins. Our favorite photographer had a last minute opening, so we snatched it up. Stay tuned for fabulous fall pictures in the next few days. Then we came home and made chicken soft tacos and queso and chips. Saturday night, Leo sneezed and mentioned that his ear hurt when he sneezed.

We decided to go to the Fort Worth zoo on Sunday. Took the boys to IHOP, and Henry had a meltdown about a bib. I ended up with him in my lap, but we made it. When we got out of the car at the Zoo, Leo said that his ear hurt again. We went in the zoo - Henry wanted to walk and refused the stroller. That was ok except for lots of..."Come on, Henry" "This way Henry" "Stop climbing the enclosure, Henry." "Come on Henry."

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Leo just kept going downhill the whole time we were there. Rubbing his ear, etc. The one bright spot was feeding the birds. Oh, and by that time I had convinced Henry that my back was the place to be - much easier to see the animals from that height.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Now, to try to make a long story short...Leo went south really fast. We got in the car and hightailed it to Plano to the one after-hours clinic that we know of that takes our stupid insurance. If you're not from here - FW to Plano is a good hour+ drive. He screamed THE WHOLE WAY. Top of his lungs..."I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT CAN'T YOU GO ANY FASTER WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG" the WHOLE WAY. Listening to a screaming child makes your brain shut off! Anyway, we had to wait forever to see the stupid doctor, and then he just gave us an antibiotic - I wanted a pain shot for this screaming kid. Then I went in Kroger to get Motrin and set the alarm off - they made me find my receipt and I was pissed - it was not pretty. But anyway, he finally passed out and stopped screaming half the way back to Coppell. Then Henry spiked a 102 under his arm last night. I slept upstairs so I could listen for them, but it was a calm night. Only a few wake-ups.

This morning (Monday), I was in Allen to pick up contacts...waiting for coffee at Starbucks...my phone rings. It's the pediatrician. Leo's strep test has turned positive over the weekend. So, now we know where all the fever, crankiness, etc. has come from - he has had untreated strep since Wednesday. But the antibiotics we're on for the ear will kill that, too. Now we have to watch Henry. Oh, and his eardrum burst today, so we have infection drainage. Life is good. :)

We've been working on the house this weekend, too. Todd fixed the front doorknob! And we waxed the floors. Moved all the furniture, mopped, and then waxed. Henry woke up halfway through the process, so I got to mop with a Henry on my back! The floors look much better, though.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Friday, October 10, 2008

An example of "Why Holly must be proactive about keeping her sanity:"

Today...in the car...

Leo: Mommy, is it Chewable Motrin or Chewable Motion?
Me: It's "Chewable Motrin."
Leo: Oh, ok. Chewable Motrin.
(should have stopped here. But, noooooooo, I want to be SuperMommy.)
Me: Leo, do you know what motion means?
Leo: No.
Me: It's when something has movement. It's not standing still. (I demonstrate with my hand) When something moves, it is in motion.
Leo: OK. (thinks) Well, what stands still?
Me: Something like a statue. It never moves.
Leo: Well, why would you want to do that? (he's anxious now)
Me: (starting to regret it) I don't know. Sometimes you just need to be still.
Leo: Well, what medicine does that? Why would you want to take that? (very anxious)
Me: No, no. Chewable Motrin has nothing to do with motion. Motrin is medicine and motion is something that is moving.
Leo: Why would you want to be a statue? I don't want to be a statue.
Me: Ok, nevermind, let's talk about something else.
Leo: But I don't want to be a statue. Don't make me take that!!!
silence
Leo: DON'T MAKE ME TAKE IT EVER!
Me: OK, we won't take that medicine.
Long pause...
Leo: Do you take that medicine when you want to lie on the couch and watch tv.
Me: Yes, Leo, you do.
Leo: Or maybe at night in your bed.
Me: Yes, that's when you take that medicine.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Mr. Mike comes over for dinner!

We love it when Mr. Mike comes over for dinner! He is such a wonderful, fun guy. He just loves the boys and is great with them. He has recently started a new diet and exercise plan and lost over 20 lbs. We are so excited for him! Go Mr. Mike!

Just a small example of why the boys LOVE Mr. Mike...

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Open House at the Fire Station

Last Sunday, Leo and I went to the local firestation for an "Open House." The idea here is that people will become familiar with their firemen and other emergency services in a calm and non-emergency environment. We did this while Daddy stayed home with Henry for Naptime.

Just as we pulled up, a CareFlight Helicopter was circling. Leo loved watching it land! We were very close to it - it was really neat-o!