7.30.2008

Posted July 30th, 2008 by Mom | Comments (0)

I’ll get back to the beach blog soon. I just wanted to post some other things for now.

1. C did really good yesterday for his EEG and MRI. He wasn’t able to go to sleep towards the end of the EEG, as was hoped (I guess to see his sleeping brainwaves). However, with the tech moving around the room, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep either!

For the MRI, C had to have an IV so he could be put to sleep for the test (so he would remain perfectly still for the entire test). The first time the nurse tried the flush the IV, the vein broke. However, the second IV was smaller and did fine. C just has a pretty ugly bruise from the first IV on his arm, though. It was horrible to hold him as he cried with the IVs. Fortunately the anesthesiologist got the sleep medicine in C quickly so the icky part didn’t last too long – I read him a book while we waited, as a distraction. As the medicine was going in the IV, I held C in my arms while standing and sang, “Oh, C” to him, the song I made up when he was a baby (I sing it often to him, as it is one of his favorite songs.) After less than 30 seconds, he went limp in my arms as he went to sleep (I must say that this was an awful feeling – the limpness. I hope I never feel that again. It wasn’t like the ordinary limp feeling of him drifting off to a regular sleep. It was a truly unconscious limpness.). C moved around a little/unconscious fidgeting as the medicine was being adjusted, but was calm for the test. He woke up easily but stayed groggy for the better part of an hour. As soon as C was conscious, he told B, “Mommy said I could have a Transformer toy.” (B and I had agreed that we wouldn’t get anymore toys until Christmas, but B certainly understood this exception and told C that getting a Transformer was a good idea.)

After we left the children’s hospital (we are fortunate to have an EXCELLENT children’s hospital here) I took C to Target (he sat in a shopping cart, as he was still wobbly from the anesthesia) and he picked out a Transformer that looks like a concrete mixer. He said it is a Decepticon. I don’t know much about Transformers, but am happy that C can talk to B about them lots.

I was glad to observe that C was very docile from the anesthesia. I remember having surgery as a child a LONG time ago and came out of the anesthesia acting very mean. I guess this shows the progress of medicines.

B and I will get the results of the EEG and MRI on Friday when we meet with the neurologist again. However I won’t be posting the results, as I don’t put medical information on the web. Just wanted you to know that C did fine yesterday.

2. I have made my first Christmas, 2008 card. There is a method to the madness of me starting on them in June/July. The original design wasn’t pleasing to me, so I ditched it and made some big revisions. I am now happy with the idea and with the production of the first card. I even have it initialed and numbered – 1 of 80.

3. Is it beach time again, yet?

4. B is doing so well on his bike rides. He is up to riding a 30 21 mile round trip! With his new bike bag, he can exercise, shop and save gas at the same time. You go, B! When are you going to do your first marathon?

5. I think that is all for now. I’ll post about our last day of vacation soon.

Beach Vacation, 2008 – Part 5

Posted July 28th, 2008 by Mom | Comments (0)

We had a really fun time on the Dolphin Cruise. The dolphins were in fine form jumping in the wake of the boat. C wasn’t feeling well, a side effect of his shortness of breath and strong cough, plus he was very tired from not taking a rest time. C contented himself listening to Nana’s story about dolphins. J on the other hand was enjoying watching the dolphins and showing the real dolphins his new stuff dolphin apply named “Big Dolphin.” (J had a stuffed dolphin awhile back, but we haven’t been able to locate it for a few months. I had told J that I would get him a new stuffed dolphin when we went to the beach. The hotel gift shop had a really pretty stuffed dolphin that I saw when we went to the pizzeria and I got it for J.) I told J that if the stuffed dolphin went overboard that I wasn’t going to get him another one. Pop or I ended up holding Big Dolphin for a big part of the trip. The other part of the trip, J had Big Dolphin stuffed between the railings of the boat.

After we had the boys confined to the boat for about an hour and a half, they were quite restless. It was around 6pm at this time and we were hungry for our dinner. However, on the way to the restaurant we passed an awesome park. Once we arrived at the restaurant, the restaurant was very crowded. I knew that the boys would have a hard time waiting patiently, so I talked to Nana and Pop and we went back to the park, knowing that having a later dinner would be better if the kids had some free play time.

This awesome park had a great tire swing. However, both boys passed it up for time on the regular swings with Pop pushing them. I even got on a swing and B got a good picture of me swinging high and almost turning upside down. It was lots of fun. C then attempted the tire swing. He laughed so hard and so loud that J had to have a turn as well. They took turns for the better part of a half hour. After they were dizzy and on to the monkey bars, I had to have a go at the tire swing – the boys made it irresistible! I heaved myself onto it, not expecting my dad to give me such a strong push – I held on for dear life, laughing all the time. It was great! I don’t think I have ever been that dizzy in all my life! But it was great fun! I think all the adults got a good laugh out of me making myself act so child-like.

After C had a little accident falling from the monkey bars, we realized that we were all very hot, tired, hungry, and in need of some calmness from all the afternoon activities. We went to the hotel for dinner. J was extremely tired and irritable, so B kept him in the hotel room while Pop, Nana, C, and I went downstairs to the hotel restaurant for a delicious dinner. This was the evening that the chef made the peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich for dinner and C got the ice cream with mini M&M’s on it for dessert. It was a good time for Pop and Nana to have some conversation time with C, as J is prone to monopolize any conversation, any situation, any room, etc.

Morning dawned and we all went downstairs for the delicious breakfast buffet and then changed into our beach attire for beach time. The waves were great! Of course, J didn’t want me to hold him in the water, but was content to hold my hand and direct me either towards or away from the water. He likes being in control. Pop and I decided that the best job for J, when he is a little bit older, is for him to be the dictator of a country. He would fit that role very well. Anyway back to the beach. While Nana and Pop were playing with the boys making sand castles, B was busy taking pictures and avoiding the sand – wow, I have never met a human that detested sand as much as he does! I, was enjoying wading in the water and feeling the push/pull of the waves. Oh, no – Here comes a huge wave and knocks me over. No worries, until the next huge wave knocks me over and carries my glasses away with it. Stupid me! I realize that I can’t see further than my hands, but didn’t even give it a second thought about my glasses getting lost. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!

We get back to the hotel and B finds a Lenscrafters in Pensacola. He set me up with an appointment with their independent eye doctor and we get showered from our time on the beach and got ready for my eye appointment. Now, this is not how I planned on spending my last day of vacation! J came with me and B and C went with Nana and Pop. J, B and I enjoyed lunch at Chili’s (J amazes me how he loves broccoli, so he got that and a plate of macaroni and cheese). I enjoyed the Southwestern Egg Rolls – my favorite, and for dessert J and I shared the chocolate shot and cinnamon shot desserts.

Before my eyes were dilated, B and I looked at the glass frames. I wasn’t impressed with the lady that was helping us and after the eye doctor (excellent doctor, I had – would go see her again, if she were near our hometown) game me my prescription, we walked down to EyeMasters and got my new glasses there. J was so tired by this time that he fell asleep in my lap while we waited for my glasses to be made. (Thanks Pop for paying for them – Pop said that they were a vacation expense, so he wanted to pay for them. He did ask me if I was going to go near the ocean with this pair on, though… )

Back at the hotel we are all hungry. While we waited for everybody to get ready, Nana and I enjoyed a drink on the balcony. I got a mudslide and Nana had a strawberry daiquiri. While this relaxed me some, I needed some alone time, so B, C, J, Nana and Pop went to the Pizzeria and I went to the cafe and ordered my dinner for me to take back to the room and enjoy by myself. I was still beating myself up for my stupidity and B wasn’t exactly pleased with me and the wasted afternoon.

While I waited for my food to be ready, I went to the piano bar and ordered a bushwhacker beverage. It is similar to a mudslide (both have kahlua, vodka, Bailey’s Irish Creme) but a bushwhacker also has a shot of rum on the top. Ooooh. Very good. However, after the mudslide and then the bushwhacker, I don’t think it really mattered if I ate my dinner or not. I was quite content with life. Dinner was delicious, though. I had fried shrimp, baked potato, steamed veggies and a slice of heaven, um, toll house pie for dessert. Bed, pillow, soft spot is all I need now…

The kids and grownups came back to the hotel rooms just as I was finishing my dinner, and only had 15 minutes of CSI: Las Vegas left (it was a repeat, so no worries… not like I cared about anything after the 2 drinks anyway…). Nana and Pop corralled the kids into bed and B and I sat up awhile and looked over the pictures from the week that he had taken. Then, blissful sleep.

Next post will cover the last day of our vacation/Friday. J’s roller, ferry boat and the Topless Bar.

I’m off to fold yet another load of laundry. C told me this evening as I was putting him in bed that he is out of underwear. No worries. I washed the kids’ laundry this afternoon and just haven’t put it away. I will put it away before I go to bed.

Beach Vacation, 2008 – Part 4

Posted July 28th, 2008 by Mom | Comments (0)

In looking at the pictures, I think I put the order of activities on the posts in the wrong order. Let me try to figure this out…

Tuesday -

• Met up with Nana and Pop in Perdido, and B and I had lunch by ourselves and then brought pizza for the boys to eat in the hotel.

• Then rest time for the boys and me after lunch and beach time after rest time.

• A late dinner and then crabbing on the beach followed by bedtime.

Wednesday -

• breakfast at the hotel

• B went to Pensacola to get bike fixed while boys played in the hotel pool.

• Cheese pizza for lunch and then rest time.

• While boys rested, B conquered the bridge on his bicycle.

• After rest time (had to wake up J), went on the dolphin cruise and then to the park.

• Dinner at the hotel with C (J and B still in hotel room for J’s dinner).

• Raining after dinner, played in hotel room until bedtime.

Thursday -

• Beach time before breakfast with big waves whereby I lost my glasses in the ocean.

• J, B and I went to the eye doctor in Pensacola for an exam for me and to get me new glasses. C went shopping with Nana and Pop.

• Met back up with Nana and Pop and B and the boys ate dinner with them and I had room service (my peaceful, relaxed dinner).

Friday -

• last walk on the beach, sandcastles, J’s roller (will tell this story in coming posts).

• Breakfast at the hotel buffet (Oh, I shall miss their buffet!).

• Ferry boat ride to Dauphin Island and then lunch at the Topless Bar (will tell this story as well…)

• Onward to our home.

Now that I have the order correct, I can continue with our stories…

Beach Vacation, 2008 – Part 3

Posted July 28th, 2008 by Mom | Comments (0)

Thanks B for taking such great pictures! Here is an assortment of our adventures…

If you click on the picture, it will enlarge and you will be able to see more of the original picture. The small pictures seen below are in a thumbnail format and are smaller than the real picture.

[The pictures accidentally got deleted when B did an update of WordPress. The pictures have been re-uploaded on the post entitled, "8.30.2008"]

Here are the pictures:

Yes, in the last picture, C’s shirt reads, “My Parents are Exhausted.” Thanks Grandma B for the shirts for both boys. Everyone that sees the boys wearing these shirts loves the saying. It is soooo true!

Beach Vacation, 2008 – Part 2

Posted July 27th, 2008 by Mom | Comments (0)

Tuesday evening after dinner – which was an event in and of itself – J wanted to try everyone’s dishes. J found out that he doesn’t like grilled mahi mahi (Nana’s dinner), but J LOVES crabcakes (part of Pop’s dinner).

Back at the hotel rooms after dinner, the boys got their flashlights, as did B and I and Nana and Pop. Nana and Pop had also brought nets with wooden handles and beach buckets with plastic shovels and plastic rakes for an adventure at catching crabs on the beach.

As it was late in the evening, around 8:30 and VERY dark on the beach, we weren’t sure if we would see any crabs. We nevertheless went down to the beach, after looking out the hotel balcony window to ensure that there were other people on the beach doing the same thing as we intended – there were.

It was very dark on the beach. I traded flashlights with the boys several times, as they were very impressed with my pink mini mag lite. Plus I was the designated bucket holder as the boys would scoop up sand and not find any crabs, run off to where Pop or Nana or B was looking with their flashlights and the kids would leave their sand buckets and tools in the dark. I would round up the buckets and tools and follow the youngsters. (I wonder how long it would have taken for the boys to miss me if I had taken all the buckets and tools back to the hotel room and stayed there having some peace and quiet…)

I don’t remember who it was that first found a crab scurrying on the beach, I think it was B. The crab was very small – maybe an inch across from one leg to the leg on the other side and the crab was completely white in color. It looked kind of like a dandelion flying across the sand, moving very quickly. I managed to scoop it up in one of the kids’ nets, only for it to be so small it climbed through the netting and fell out the other side onto the sand. The next time I captured it with the net and Pop helped me to flip it out, sand and all, into the blue sand bucket. C and J really enjoyed watching the baby crab moving around the bottom of the sand bucket, as the bucket was too slick for the crab to catch a hold of it and climb out. J wanted to, “smush it dead.” However I was able to persuade him otherwise and as the kids, Nana and Pop were ready to leave for the hotel rooms, J decided to let the crab go back to its Mommy, so Pop dumped the bucket out and away the crab went. B and I stayed on the beach awhile for some quiet time and returned to the room as Pop was telling J a story in bed and Nana was telling C a bedtime story.

B and I slept quite restfully all by ourselves, in the king size bed. Nice!

J woke me up the next morning (Wednesday) wanting to know where Pop and Nana were. I told him that I was sure that they went downstairs for their morning coffee. (Nana and Pop had gone for a walk on the beach and returned after C was awake, maybe 30 minutes later.)

We all got dressed and went downstairs for the breakfast buffet – scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, assortment of fresh fruit and cereals and pastries. It was delicious!

After breakfast, B left the boys in our capable hands and went for a bike ride. B really wanted to bike the big bridge that connected FL to Perdido. I wasn’t about to attempt that bridge. I knew that it would be fun riding down it, but I would be pushing my bike UP the bridge!

Nana and I went downstairs with the boys, as they wanted to swim awhile. A bit later, Pop came down and told us that B was heading back to Pensacola to a bike shop. When B tried to straighten the bike wheel spoke, it broke. He got the bike shop to fix the spoke and purchased the exact bicycle tote bag that he had been admiring online recently. Unfortunately the bike tote bag wasn’t sold by any shops in our home town. It worked out really well that B was able to get the tote bag in Pensacola. Every time he looked at the bag, made by Trek, B commented, “It is really great to see quality engineering that is made in Wisconsin!” I’m so glad that B was able to get this bag. He had purchased a bike rack/bag holder for his bike and had tried a lot of different bags, but this is the one he really wanted. I’m glad he has it now.

We had a cheese pizza at the hotel pizzeria after B returned from the bike shop in Pensacola. Then it was rest time for the boys, and me. After rest time – BEACH TIME! The kids woke up before I did and went on down to the beach with B, Nana and Pop. When I woke up I realized that the boys didn’t have their sand toys and took the toys to the boys. We all had a good time making sand castles.

J and I ventured into the water. The water was so warm. I held onto J’s hand to help him conquer the waves. At one big wave, J got knocked down and I didn’t have a good foothold and fell also. I came up from under the water screaming for J. Fortunately the water pushed him right up to Pop, who was near the edge of the water. J and I both got really scared. Later, J was willing to let B hold him while B stood in the water. At breakfast the next morning, J said, “Mommy let me fall in the water, but Daddy kept me dry.” I felt like dirt!

It was really funny watching C in the water. C would run out as the waves went out and then run to the beach as the waves came in. Once C got water in his mouth and he kept trying to spit the taste of the salt out of his mouth. Yes, the saltwater did have a REALLY strong taste!

J was very tired that evening, so B and J stayed in the hotel room for dinner (peanut butter crackers and teddy grahams for J, B had dinner later by himself). Pop, Nana, C and I had dinner downstairs in the Palm Cafe Restaurant. C liked having the grownups all to himself. The hotel even made a peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich just for C! The restaurant was SO accommodating! The chef didn’t have strawberry jelly, but used quite a few of the breakfast packets of strawberry jam to create the perfect sandwich for C. For dessert C had vanilla ice cream with mini M&M’s. (This is how accommodating the restaurant really was… There was, on the beach level of the hotel the pizzeria, at the pizzeria there was also an ice cream bar. C knew that there were ice cream toppings there and the cafe sent one of their crew down to the beach level to retrieve the mini M&M’s for C!) C put all of his mini M&M’s on top of his ice cream. As the ice cream melted, he couldn’t find the M&M’s. I helped him out by drinking the melted ice cream so he could see the M&M’s on the bottom of the bowl. C was overjoyed! Sugar boy!

After dinner C worked on his Star Wars lego ship that Nana had brought for him, while J played with his new cars that Nana brought for him. Then it was bed time. J again chose to sleep with Pop and C wanted to sleep with Nana. What?! Another night for me and B – ALONE?! Can it be? YEAH!!

Next posting will be about Thursday – awesomely huge waves (compliments of hurricane Dolly, that made landfall Wednesday morning in Texas), the dolphin cruise, kids playing at the park, and bushwhackers.

I have already washed and put away 8 loads of laundry. I’m off to do another couple of loads.

B asked me this afternoon, “What’s for lunch?” I told him, “Palm Cafe.” B replied, “We are out of lunch tickets.” Oh, well. It was great having the restaurants last week. I just wish we could have brought a few of the chefs home with us…

Beach Vacation, 2008 – Part 1

Posted July 26th, 2008 by Mom | Comments (0)

To begin, lets go back a few months. My parents (Nana and Pop) invited B, me, C and J for a beach vacation at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach Alabama. Nana and Pop were driving down to the beach on Monday and they were planning on having the evening and next morning to rest and relax and we were to meet up with them on Tuesday afternoon. We happily accepted their generous invitation.

Let’s go back a few weeks. J had to go to the doctor for a really bad viral bronchitis infection. He had to use his at-home nebulizer several times a day and was on steroids and antibiotics as the virus deteriorated and the infection advanced to a bacterial infection. A week later, I was really sick with the bronchial infection – this was a week before we were scheduled to leave for vacation. I was hesitant to leave home, as I expected B or C to get sick. (C did develop the fluid cough and an intermittent shortness of breath the third day of vacation, but didn’t show any other signs of illness – no high fever, etc. Hopefully his body can easily fight the virus, as he doesn’t have asthma like J and I do.)

On Sunday afternoon I packed the boys’ suitcases and sat on the couch with the boys as I unwrapped new DVD’s for the boys to watch in the car on the way to the beach. C was thrilled with the cartoon Fantastic 4 DVD and the Arthur season 10 DVDs. J was quite pleased with the new Diego DVDs and the new Clifford – the Big Red Dog – Fire Truck DVD. The boys take turns choosing DVDs in the car.

Sunday evening I sat out on our bedroom floor our clothes, etc. for me and B to pack on Monday morning after we got our showers, in addition to the toiletries I had set on the bathroom counter in the bathroom that we were to pack in our smaller travel suitcase. It was B’s intention for us to be on the road on Monday morning by 9 am. We were to drive to Pensacola, FL on Monday and spend the night. Tuesday morning the Blue Angel airplanes were to be putting on a show at the Pensacola Naval Base and we wanted to be there. We wanted to see them last summer when we were in Pensacola, but they didn’t have a show scheduled that worked with our time table. This was the year… YEAH!

Or not…

We got into the car – all packed by B, including my bicycle and B’s on the bike trailer on the back of B’s car, and we are ready to leave for the beach. I went back inside for one last check of the house and B requested that I move my car back into the garage, as he had put it in the driveway so he could back into the garage to pack the car. I went to move his car and when I put the key into the ignition and turned, all I heard was “click-click-click-click…” I tried again, with the same results. I went to tell B that his car wouldn’t start (he was getting a glass of water) and B tried it – same results for B. B was most unhappy as he had spent yesterday evening changing the air filter, cabin filter, vacuuming the car, etc. in preparation for our adventure.

I took the kids inside and went ahead and fed them breakfast – we were planning on stopping at McDonald’s on the way out of town, but I knew the kids were hungry now. B jumped his car off of mine and we quickly put my car in the garage and headed to a leading auto parts chain store for them to test the car battery.

The guy tests the car battery and tells us that it is fine (we are baffled, unsure about how to proceed, but take his advice and hope for the best). We drive on to get the car filled up with gas, get a McDonald’s bacon biscuit for me and a sausage biscuit for B and we are on our way. Not 2 miles down the road and J announces that he has to go potty. (Ugh! Traveling with two extra bladders can add hours onto a trip!) We find the next McDonald’s and I make BOTH boys go potty. This time we don’t stop until we get to a Sonic for lunch – eat in the car – and start to make some good driving time. Pensacola here we come!

For dinner, B chose a Cracker Barrel restaurant – just for me! I didn’t even have to request it. Yummy!!! Also this was a good time for a potty break for the boys and then we get back on the road.

We get to the hotel in Pensacola and I take my bicycle to the room and a load from the car and get the boys settled while B get the rest of the car unloaded. On one trip to the room from the car, B accidentally tripped and his bicycle fell over. B wasn’t hurt, but a spoke on his back bike tire broke and he rear derailleur bent.

Another unfortunately event was a little more problematic. We got the car all unloaded and we are in the hotel room assessing the evening activities. Oh, no, we realize that we forgot to pack B’s CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine that has the mask that B wears during the night as he sleeps. The air mask helps B as he sleeps so he rests better, as B has sleep apnea.

While I watched the boys swim/play in the indoor swimming pool, B calmed down from this yucky realization and came up with a plan. B contacted his parents. (Thanks, K – B’s dad, – for using FedEx to overnight the machine, etc. to us!) B didn’t sleep very well without his mask that evening. At this point in the evening, we are tired and frustrated with our situation and question if we should just head home as getting to FL has been quite complicated. Surely nothing else will go wrong.

[Note: We retrieved the FedEx box with the CPAP machine, etc. from the front desk on Tuesday afternoon at the hotel, where we met up with my parents. All resolved. Well, the important issue is resolved - we still had forgotten B's razor and shaving cream, but he wasn't broken hearted about not shaving for the week... ]

Tuesday morning we wake up in Pensacola, FL and get dressed and ready to go see the Blue Angels at the Pensacola NAS. We get into the car and “click-click-click-click.” Again. B is ready to scream. B is very tired after not sleeping well and is quite disappointed. Seeing the Blue Angels is all that B really wanted to do on this trip and now we will be late, or miss them in the entirety.

We got the he-she-it person from the front desk (B later told me that the person appeared to be in the transition to going from a man to a woman – as “it” had breasts, long fingernails and a full beard. Or, as B said, “It could have been a woman with a really bad facial hair problem.”) to jump B’s car and we drive off to locate a local location of that same auto parts store. Turns out that the guy yesterday tested the battery while the car was running – evidently a no-no. This guy in FL tells us that the battery is bad and we get a new battery for B’s car. At this time, we realize that it is too late to see the Blue Angels. (I’m sure that B will let the guy in our home town know about this unfortunate fact, in addition to seeing that this guy knows how to correctly test a battery…)

We returned to the hotel to pack up the car. Just as we were getting out of the car we hear a loud noise and look up – it is the Blue Angels flying in a diamond formation past us and going on to their final landing destination. Awesome! At least we got a glimpse of them. (Just enough to whet our appetites for the next time we can see their show.)

We went ahead to the Pensacola Navy Base and enjoyed the air conditioning as we browsed through the Navy Air Museum. I had J with me and B took care of C. I mainly just followed J around as he looked at the airplanes as he kept calling them “awesome!” We looked and never came across B or C. B finally called me on my cell phone and we hooked up with each other at the car.

Onward west to Perdido Beach!

We met my parents at the hotel and got settled into our room – it was their room last night, as it had a king size bed and my parents took the attached room (there was a door that could be opened between the rooms) that had 2 queen size beds since the kids wanted to sleep with Nana and Pop. Throughout the week, J called our room “the living room” and the room that he slept in “the bedroom.” Wow – C and J are certainly privileged children!

B and I ate lunch at the restaurant while Nana and Pop played with the kids. Then we got a pizza from the hotel pizzeria and fed the kids their lunch. The kids then had rest time and after rest time – Pool time followed by dinner at the hotel. I will pick up later on the next post about going crabbing that evening on the beach.

Thus ended the first and second day of our vacation. And it was good.