In transition

I jokingly Tweeted that I was living a scene from The Cable Guy, but Medieval Times was much more fun that I expected. I think watching my kids in awe of the performance truly added too the experience. From the moment they received their crowns, the boys were entranced.

My favorite picture though was Mark with “his blue knight.”

We took our time leaving and as we were walking to the car the gentleman who plays the king happened to be behind the building. Mark began talking to this nice man and we were the lucky recipients of an introduction to many of the horses in the show. I wish I could spell some of the moves the Andalusians performed, but as an adult they were they most impressive part of the evening. One of the horses performed a leap where he kicked to the rear while in the air. I can’t imagine how strong he must be.

This trip has been awesome and I really can’t thank the folks at Myrtlebeachhotels.com enough for the opportunity.

Mark and Aidan were arguing over some aspect of putt-putt when Mark shrieked, “I was born to play miniature golf.”

Last night, Ellie and I were watching television and there was a train. Like any mom I told her trains say, “Chugga chugga chugga chugga, choo choo.” 

She looked at me quizzically and replied, “Socky socky socky socky, shoe shoe?”

“Yes, baby, that’s exactly right.”

W

We’re still in Myrtle Beach having a blast thanks to MyrtleBeachHotels.com

I am stuffed to the gills, my feet are propped up, I’m editing photos and enoying the sound of waves crashing on the beach. 

I was lucky enough to get some promotional work for MyrtleBeachHotels.com. The kids and I are staying at the Caribbean Resort and playing tourist in Myrtle Beach. We are having a blast and Ripley’s Aquarium was the icing on the cake.

Enjoy some photos.

Seven kids, seven days. Tim’s cousins were in town and we were glad to have them. Even though the kids were good, that was exhausting. It’s the constant movement and the noise that wears me down. I’d like to crawl into bed for two days with some good books and bad TV, but I don’t think it’s an option.

Her boundaries are stretching every day. Her vocabulary is exploding and she’s racing to keep up with her brothers.

It started out like most other evenings where Tim is heading into nights. I try to get the kids settled a little early to make up for whatever else comes our way. With three little kids, it’s always something nightmares, growing pains, or just “I’m thirsty!” I plopped all three kids in the tub. Other than a little eye goo Ellie was fine. I was giving her 24 hours to get over it on her own before I pestered our doctor. Ellie happily sat in the tub playing with her big brothers and I started to clean up the kitchen and put away laundry, usual stuff. I wander in and out of the bathroom, they play and soak off most of the kid grime. 

Ellie started crying, so I picked her up and put her in the shower for a quick soap bubble rinse off. I admit it, I yelled at the boys from dripping water from one end of the bathroom to the other getting extra washcloths. (They pretend they are seals).  I started drying Ellie off when I noticed she was a strange color, kind of purplish, as though she were freezing cold even though I had just pulled her from a warm shower. I wrapped the towel around her and took her to her room where I sat down to rock her and warm her up before putting her clothes on.  She had stopped fussing and was nodding off. I don’t know how to explain that this just isn’t something my kids do. Even when exhausted by a long day of play they still look at books or play with toys for a long time before settling down for the night. They don’t nod off. Ever.

This is when I began to get scared. I put her diaper on and some warm pjs since she still seemed chilled. She wasn’t rousing and that’s when I paid attention to her breathing, it was shallow and she paused between breaths. I called my mom. I thought I might be overreacting, but she agreed with my desire to take her to the ER. I had begun to wonder if maybe she had been knocked over in the tub. I began to be scared she was drowning in front of me, even though her color was better. I called Tim while I finished getting everyone ready to head out the door.

I loaded all the kids and headed toward the Moncks Corner Trident. I don’t particularly care for that place, but sometimes you take the closest option.

She wouldn’t wake up. I drove with one hand behind me,, shaking and tickling her foot, “Ellie, Ellie, stay awake. Talk to mama. Please? Aidan, tell me if her eyes are open.”

Aidan, “They’re shut, Mama.”

Cue other child dramatics, Mark unlocks and opens one of the rear doors. Tim had taken one of the carseats on accident and frankly, I just wasn’t going to quibble over 2 inches when the baby couldn’t breathe. Ellie was in Mark’s seat and Mark was strapped in the booster which must give him more freedom than the standard seat.

Eventually we arrive, she’s still doing the shallow breaths with long pauses and doesn’t want to come around. Her eyes would open for a few seconds, not really focusing and then she’d fall back asleep. This ER has a security guard that helps out with admin. I thought filling out the form with trouble breathing, poor color, unusually sleepy might move things along. No.

I was sent to the waiting area where the boys pushed the limits, knowing I was distracted and while I’m sorry they were being obnoxious, I couldn’t really care at that moment. I was trying to get Ellie to stay awake, trying to get her to do anything other than lie limply in my arms. My mother arrived to help with the boys before I was called to fill out paperwork. I was waffling in that grey area, not knowing if I needed to cause a scene. Eventually we were called to the admin desk and as soon as they had the insurance information (which this order of events pisses me off) we were taken into triage.

The male nurse began to take Ellie’s vitals and he quickly became very concerned, as she didn’t want to rouse for him, either. Her temperature at that point was 99, which didn’t say much. I think we were both operating under the idea that something had to have happened in the tub, since I couldn’t officially rule it out. There was some discussion in the hallway that I could half hear, about where to put Ellie, my nurse won and we were headed for Room 1, where we would spend the next six hours. They took her temperature again and this time it was 103.5. I don’t think I have ever been reassured by a fever before

Blood draws, strep tests, flu tests, chest x-rays, urine cultures all followed in rapid succession and she only came around for the worst of each procedure. When the IV was put in I sent my keys with someone to give to my mom so she could take the boys out for ice cream rather than annoying the entire waiting room. Some tests and observations came back, no pneumonia, no UTI, but she did have strep and the doctor believes she also has the flu, but because everything happened so quickly she wasn’t carrying enough of a viral load to show up on the swab. They began to administer antibiotics via IV for the strep and Ellie and I settled in for the wait and the inevitable insurance argument. Cigna Health Insurance, if you are monitoring your Google Alerts, have your damn customer service line open for emergencies. To not have someone on is ridiculous and lead to unnecessary stress and frustration trying to convince the admin lady that we have an FSA and yes, you got poor reviews on the follow up survey.

Around 11 the doctor ordered another blood test to check her white count, which had risen. Even though Ellie had perked up some, the doctor wanted to perform a spinal tap to rule out meningitis. 

I sent my mom home with the boys.

I can handle needles and blood, but I chickened out of staying in the room for the spinal tap.  I stood in the hallway and prayed. The fluid looked clear and the preliminary tests showed no infection. At 2 am we were released to go home with antibiotic prescriptions and strict orders to follow up with our family doctor.

We still have no idea why she had trouble breathing. It’ll be a while before I’m comfortable leaving her, since it came on so fast. It’s Tuesday morning and she has the sparkle back in her eyes. She’s not up to full speed, but she’s on her way.

Just playing with the camera. If you’re wondering, Ellie is covered in strawberries and yogurt.

Just another one of those conversations that’s too amusing to keep private.

Tim: Hey, want a beer?
Me: Uh no, I gave up alcohol for Lent, remember?
Tim: Oh.

He’s quiet for a moment..

Tim: Does this mean we won’t be . . .
Me: That’s what you gave up for Lent.

I’m sorry Hominy Grill, but I think I may have found a new favorite shrimp and grits. To. die. for.

Many thanks go out to the fine staff at the Glass Onion for accomodating the Lowcountry Bloggers and Tweeters.

Dan, Terry

Jared, Heidi, Kath

Cheryl, Canaan

Jared, Ian, Terry, Dan, Don

George, Terry, Ian

The star of the evening: Shrimp and grits

Dan Tennant and I are forming a team of bloggers and tweeters for the i5k. We need two more for our official team of 6, Jared and Eugene have agreed to join in. If you are a real runner, you are more than welcome to keep up with Dan, otherwise you can shuffle along with me toward the back of the pack. There is a $25 registration fee, but there is an after party. I believe we may have t-shirts made. I’m picturing the state logo with a Twitter bird instead of a crescent. Jared suggested the text hint that we’re making up for all of our time sitting at the computer.

It’s my first 5k and I’ve been using a treadmill to train. I am being assured by various sources that I’ll be faster on the street, but time will tell.

I think I may be getting a little better at managing my time, either that or the kids are moving out of less needy phases and I’ve suddenly been able to get more done.

If I knew the right people to ask, I’d beg Libman to make a mop designed for people 6′ and taller. We have needs too. The bent handle design is awesome, except for the whole aching back part.

Provided I make it to the gym tomorrow, it’ll be the first time in several months I have managed to go consistently two weeks in a row. #15byjune That is the hashtag for a group I’ve joined that has committed to making small changes to lose 15lbs by June. I’m not looking for 15lbs on the scale, my goal is to gain better consistency in going to the gym.

Aidan’s reading is improving dramatically day by day. Each night before bed we read a chapter from a book and he begs for his turn to read a few paragraphs. Right now we’re tackling Beverly Cleary and the Ramona series and I love how she doesn’t dumb down the language just because she writes for children. He’s having to tackle difficult words and is doing very well and enjoying it.

This will be the first year I truly observe Lent. As a child I’d give up random items, in my young adulthood I had wandered away and gave the practice little, if any thought. I suppose I’ll need to organize my time well so I won’t be forced to write about food while hungry.

Now that I have photo editing software again, I need to get back in the habit of using my camera.