On the Mend

Last night I was very worried that Alex wasn't getting any better and that I would need to take him back to the Dr. today. However, this morning he has started to shed some of the retained water and his fluids are back to normal! This is just in time for his birthday celebrations. Thank you for all the prayers and concern shown for our little boy.

Infection

I took Alex to the ER Saturday morning. He had been complaining of headaches the last week and then he started having a swollen face and the final straw was stomache Fri night/Sat morning. I took him over to Banner. We didn't have to wait long and the nurses were great.
Turns out our little boy has strep and a kidney infection. The PA said he was a very sick little boy. He never had a fever. His throat doesn't hurt. So strange. He wieghs 47 pounds with all the extra water he has retained. I'm guessing he'll lose five pounds once it comes off. It is strange to see him filled out in his checks and tummy.
He is on antibiotics. I haven't seen much improvement other than we have gotten him hydrated and he is in less discomfort. I take him in to see his regular doctor in a little while. Don't worry, Alex isn't moping around. He gets to stay home and play video games and watch TV. He feels well enough to run around the house and to fight taking a nap. I'll keep you posted on his progress.

Pinewood Derby

Photos by Julie Harrison. As some of you may know, I am a Cub Scout Den Leader. Ann Boblett and I are over the Wolves (8yrs old). No, Alex is not a scout yet. We have another year to go, but I was asked at church to be a Scout volunteer and I said yes. I really enjoy working with the boys and I do look forward to sharing this time with my two boys in a few years. These are pictures from our Pinewood Derby. It was a huge success thanks to the many hands that helped. Here is our Pack, Den Leaders and Cubmaster (in the hat!).
Here is our Wolf Den.
My job was to get the boys into the correct racing lanes.

Laughing

Macey is a serious young lady. She readily gives out smiles, but laughs are hard to come by. Well, not if you are a 2 year old girl. She laughs for them. Or Alex. She just loves Alex. Dan and I are constantly begging for giggles. This first video I was the winner!

This is the boys throwing a pillow up and dropping it. She was cracking up over it.

I didn't get this on video, but last night her tickle-bugs were turned on. Oh man, she couldn't stop giggling when her daddy was tickling her all over. We love our Macey-Mace (or just Mace as Ryan calls her)!

Weekend

Our friends the Phillips came into town last week. We got a chance to play with them up at Estrella Mountain Ranch. We met up at the park. The boys played in the sand and played football. After a while the boathouse opened up so we went down to check out what was available.
Our boys got the two seater.

The Phillips got a four seater. They had more leg power, but Dan had way less weight!

Alex wasn't exactly excited to go on the paddle boat. Same old thing.

Dan did manage to get him out for a while.

A wave for the camera.

Ryan is an outdoors man. He enjoyed this kayak. This will be the guy off rock climbing for the weekend while Alex is competing in a triathlon!

Now, many of you may have been around Alex and know how smart he is. Truly, he is going places with his brain! Some of you may have written off Ryan as the class clown. More on the average intellect and making up for it with humor. I believe otherwise. He built this tower on his own. We got Blik Blok for Christmas he loves building the designs and can FOLLOW the orthographic directions. That is a spatially talented 4 year old. He and Alex could do wonders together: one the thinker the other the manipulator; one the planner the other the doer!

Slide show

Here are some pictures from around here. Macey moved up to the duck tub. Ryan went to the firehouse with his preschool. We have had some illnesses here. Different ones coming and going. Hopefully we'll be healthy soon. I'll post something more substantial soon...

Finding a good book

I am a book worm. Since a youngster I have had a handful of books I love (starting with Little House on the Prairie). I will brag here, because it is a fun fact and maybe it isn't that big of a deal because you have done it too, but I aced (that's right, perfect score) the reading comprehension section on the ACT. I read a lot and have no compunctions with putting an unfinished book back in the library book drop. I get asked a lot, what are you reading? or how do you pick your books? So here I list of how I find a good book.

1. New Release shelf. Honestly, I look at the titles and covers. A good cover draws me in. That's what the designers are paid for and it works.
2. Reading Group Choices This is a great index of books that many book groups love.
3. Goodreads.com This is so fabulous because you can see what your friends are reading. Also, I have made cyber friends that have given me good recommendations.
4. Books referenced within a book. I missed a lot of classics somewhere along the way. Usually the 'characters' I like have good taste.
5. Book Group. We have had greats and duds. Whatever the outcome of the meeting someone has read a good book in the last month and that is worth learning.
6. Airports, waiting rooms, and hotel libraries. Our apartment in Rome had a stack of books that old residents had contributed to over the years. In fact, that is when I started reading for fun again. That is where I 'met' Harry Potter.

I do take relatively long breaks from reading. My house, kids and hubby need more attention at times. The only draw back is that when I get 'off the couch' that I get a stack of 5-10 books and drown in happy reading. Good luck to you in search of a good read!