Bad Dog Art Show

We participated in our first summer camp activity for the summer. James and Kate enjoyed a week-long art camp at the Bad Dog art studio downtown. The title of their camp was Fox in Sox and all of the projects stemmed from the Dr. Seuss book by the same title. They enjoyed the week and were especially excited to showcase their work at the art show the took place the last half-hour of camp. A few pictures from the show are below. (June 24, 2011)

sleeping arrangements

Robert moved to a big boy bed this weekend. He's very excited about it, although still comes to finish the night out in Mom and Dad's bed around 2:30 a.m. At least now he can walk himself to our room instead of yelling for one of us to come get him out of his crib. James continues to enjoy his tent bed and Kate remains content to sleep on the trundle. To the right of the photo, out of view, is the crib ready (lacking only a mattress) for the new baby. Four kids in one room. Remind me again, why did we move two years ago? Oh, right, more space. At least we do enjoy the extra space during our waking hours.

They think we're just fishin'

Ben has taken our kids fishing a few times. They love it and always ask when they can go fishing again. We went fishing with Grandma McAdams a week ago Saturday. The "catching fish" part was completely unsuccessful. Not even a bite. I'm sure it didn't help that we didn't show up until after 10:00 and it was a particularly hot day, but, we didn't really go to catch fish anyway, so the trip was definitely a success!

There's country song by Trace Adkins playing on the radio these days called "Just Fishin'" that I think has great lyrics, a terrific message, and fits the point of this post just perfectly. The lyrics are at the bottom of this post.

Just Fishin'
Trace Atkins

I’m lost in her there holdin’ that pink rod and reel
She’s doin’ almost everything but sittin’ still
Talkin’ ‘bout her ballet shoes and training wheels
And her kittens
And she thinks we’re just fishin’

I say, “Daddy loves you, baby” one more time
She says, “I know. I think I got a bite.”
And all this laughin’, cryin, smilin’ dyin’ here inside’s
What I call, livin’

And she thinks we’re just fishin’ on the riverside
Throwin’ back what we could fry
Drownin’ worms and killin’ time
Nothin’ too ambitious
She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout
What’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin’

She’s already pretty, like her mama is
Gonna drive the boys all crazy
Give her daddy fits
And I better do this every chance I get
‘Cause time is tickin’
(Yeah it is)

And she thinks we’re just fishin’ on the riverside
Throwin’ back what we could fry
Drownin’ worms and killin’ time
Nothin’ too ambitious
She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout
What’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin’

She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout
What’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin’
Yeah, aww, she thinks we’re just fishin’
We ain’t only fishin’
(This ain’t about fishin’)

Sunday - broken toes update

Sunday morning dialog:
Kate: Mom, have I had broken toes at church yet?
Mom: No.
Kate: I think I better wear my boot then.

Sunday evening:

Sunday night dialog:
Grandma: Kate, do you think you're done wearing your boot now?
Kate: No.
Grandma: When do you need it still?
Kate: Whenever I want it.

My interpretation of "Whenever I want it" is
"Whenever I want people to notice I'm injured and
I will be the recipient of attention and sympathy."

Unbelievable - Kate's turn in the ER

Does this look like a girl in pain?

Kate was hanging from a board in the roof of our play set Tuesday evening and lost her grip. She came down with her toes curled under on her left foot. She wailed and wailed and insisted she needed to go to the doctor. It had been a long day for the kids and I knew she was way past tired. She does seem to have a fairly high tolerance for pain, so her complaints bothered me some, but I let the "she's just tired" explanation prevail. She ate some dinner and went to sleep on my bed around 8:00 with a bag of frozen broccoli on her foot.

She woke up about 10:00 p.m., still in pain and still asking to go to the doctor. Really, a third ER visit within four weeks? Couldn't be possible. Ben had been out of town and his flight was landing shortly. I told Kate I would take her to the hospital when Ben got home. She fell back asleep just before he came home, so I didn't take her.

In the morning she was still complaining and refused to put weight on her foot. I decided we would start with the pediatrician. We went in at 8:00 a.m. during their morning walk-in hour. An x-ray confirmed that she'd broken her fourth and fifth toes. Really? Really? Come on! My sympathy meter was at zero. Anger was more what I was experiencing. The pediatrician sent us to the ER to get the toes set. We should have just started there and saved the co-pay to the pediatrician and the lab fees. Oh well.

Here's the crazy part of the whole thing. Kate was giddy! She was smiling and laughing. Yes, she was in pain if asked to put any weight on her foot and winced when her toes were touched, but she was also down right proud to be in need of a hospital visit and treatment for an injury. "Now I have been to the hospital twice. Once when I was born and today because I broke two toes." "I told you, Mom. I was right and you were wrong. I did need to go to the doctor. Why didn't you believe me?" Fine, you're right. But, seriously, 3 ER visits within four weeks (4 visits if we go back to mid-March when Robert got stitches). I guess a kid can get jealous over just about anything, including the attention one receives at the hospital and following an injury.

Kate did cry while getting numbing shots in her foot and winced a great deal while getting her toes yanked back into place. Otherwise, no fears or anxiety of any kind. She couldn't wait to get home and show her brothers her taped together toes and report about her status.

Okay, kids, Mom's had enough. Could we please be more careful?

For my part, I'm going to ramp up the calcium supplements and restrict all activity that requires exertion of any kind the rest of the summer. Well, maybe that second part is a little unrealistic. How about bubble wrap?

Stitches come out!

James got his stitches out last Friday. Ben and I both went with him this time and then took him to Jamba Juice to celebrate.

From Ben's facebook page: A happy kid who just got his stitches removed. The doctor needed a little pediatric training. A choice quote: Dr: "Are you brave?" J: "Yes." Dr: "Good, because I'm coming at you with scissors now!" Another one: Dr: "I hope you can hold still. If not, this could get *really* painful.

We'll find out the fate of the broken arm on tomorrow when we follow-up with the fracture clinic at the University Hospital . . .

After a shower

These two crack me up. They are good buddies and play together well.