Yesterday…
Today…
So, we did what every other Seattleite does when we see sun – we rush outside and stay there until every last bit of sun is gone!
Our vitamin D was soaked up in West Seattle with Kris and Grady.
bike riding
rock throwing
fort building
and park hopping (4 different parks – serious energy burn)
Jack and Owen really wanted to go bike riding today. So, despite the rain, we went to Jack’s school’s parking lot which is big, level, and empty of cars (for the most part).
When we got there, Owen was already tired (he isn’t exactly sick anymore, but is still not eating and is super sensitive to everything. I am really hoping it is just that this week of sickness has been hard on his body!)
Jack got on his bike and I held the seat – and he was off. He balanced from the first few pedals today. After his first go around, he fell over away from me after his bike was stopped. I tried to reach him (and got three smashed fingers and three ripped nails – very short) He was scared, but got back on. After that it was smooth sailing. Check him out!!
The really funny thing is that he has the balance part down pat, but not the steering or speed control. Whichever way he leans to keep is balance is the direction that he heads in. You can see that he mostly leans to the right, so he goes in a clockwise circle. I wasn’t sure if he was going to hit the van that he was heading for…
Before Jack got this bike for Christmas, he had a balance bike (a bike with no pedals, where you just run and then put your feet up when you get going.) So he learned the balance from that, but he couldn’t really go far enough to have to steer much around here. I think that is why he can balance so well, but needs to practice steering.
Owen learned on a typical bike with training wheels, so he started out focusing on steering and control. When Owen got good at those two things, then we added in the balance.
It is really interesting to see the order reversed. I thought I would really like the order that Jack learned, but now I am not so sure. He wants to go fast, but isn’t really ready yet. It seems like he is more likely to get hurt. Of course, that might not be due to the order of learning. It could be due to his little personality that tries first and fixes the mistakes as he goes.
I suppose if Jack does not end up in the ER in the next few weeks needing an ultrasound and an MRI and a new bike helmet( because of a collision with a tree) then he will be ahead of Owen at this age…
Daddy had to work today and Owen spent the day with Mamau, so Jack and I had a day to ourselves.
It was rainy, so we went to a few stores. We needed a birthday present for Katie and Sarah so we went to our favorite toy store. They had just reorganized their store and were having a big event to show off their new products. Jack was in heaven trying out all of their display models. He rode bikes, tried lots of toys, and did a few art projects. He had a great time there.
At another store Jack saw this bed and really wanted it. I was looking it over to see how we could do something like that ourselves. (I can just imagine Eric rolling his eyes right now imagining me actually trying to pull it off…don’t worry honey!)
We were by THE taco truck so we HAD to stop.
We ate in the car since it was raining, and Jack though that was the best thing ever.
We were heading home and I remembered the 25 cent rides that they still have a Crossroads Mall. So we stopped, and dug through the car and my purse to find as many quarters as we could.
We spent the next hour or two in the Half-Price Book store and read and read. We scored a few French word books and Jack picked out a dinosaur book.
Jack fell asleep on the way home and took a long nap after I transferred him to our bed. Poor little monkey has been cooped up in the house since Owen has been sick and we haven’t gone anywhere. It was good to tire him out.
Owen has had a fever for five days now. He is a little tired and not too hungry, and not quite himself. But he still plays and reads and laughs so I haven’t been too worried about him. He does not complain of any pain (unless I ask him to bring his toys upstairs…)
Whenever I call the nurse-line for our pediatrician's office, they always remind me to check the website for the clinic. The website has a “pediatric advisor” which has a large database of information on medical topics for kids. You find your topic and it gives you an overview of how you should treat the symptoms that your monkey has, and whether or not you should see a doctor.
So, when Owen’s fever didn’t disappear quickly, like it usually does, I went to the pediatric advisor. For fever, it suggests that you bring in a child who has had a fever for longer than 3 days. As Owen’s fever had been going down on the third and forth day, I thought he would be fine, so I waited. But, when he still had a fever today, I felt a little nervous and made an appointment for him.
At the office, Owen saw a doctor that we had never met before. He asked what my concerns were and I got a vibe that he thought I was wasting his time. I explained Owen’s fever pattern. I said that I was wondering if Owen was contagious and… “Yes.” he stated, and stared at me with a smile. “Well,” I stammered, “I checked the website and it suggested that we see a doctor for a fever that lasts longer than three days. So, the fever has been there five days so I just…” His smile did not wane as he stated (something to the effect of ), “The site says ‘three days’ to cover very rare chances of something much more serious, but common sense tells you that this kind of case is not that. Next time you don’t need to come in for something like this.” He went on to explain much more about fevers, but I can’t say that I heard much of it.
This is the kind of thing that makes me hope that the doctors say something is wrong with me (or my kids) when I go in for a visit. It is a terrible thing to hope – it is not that I wish sickness on us, or that taking medicine makes me feel better - I just hate to feel like such an idiot.
I want to say something really mean to that doctor about common sense, but I can’t think of anything really good to say. And I don’t plan to have an appointment with him again anyway. So there!
Owen and Jack were cuddled together on the couch this afternoon.
Owen: Jack, I wouldn’t trade you for a big box of Legos.
Mama: You are great brothers, aren’t you?
Jack: I want a big box of Legos.
Owen: No. What that means is, if someone said that they would give me a box of Legos and take you away, then I would say no. I wouldn’t trade you.
Jack: Oh. We’re great brothers!
First I was too tired. Then Jack got sick. Then I had too much to do. Now Owen has a crazy fever and I am sick too – and there I go with another excuse… but a blog is here nonetheless.
Owen is in heaven staying home sick. He really hated hearing that Jack stayed home from school last week and spent more time with me alone. Owen beamed on Sunday night when I told him he had a fever and and wasn’t going to school on Monday. I gave him Tylenol at about 10Pm because his fever was 104 and I was worried. It was a dumb idea to wake a sleeping kid for that and he just threw-up the medicine anyway. He didn’t seem to mind at all. He just put a smile on his red-cheeked face and went back to bed. He had asked me to sleep on his floor “just like you do for Jack” so I did. But my little trooper didn’t bother to wake me up the few times he got up to be sick. I woke up when I heard him get out of bed, and figured he was just going to the bathroom. He would be sick, but not call me for help. I came in anyway and took care of him, of course. My Owen is so matter-of-fact about life sometimes. Today he kept telling me he loves me and ‘thank-you’ for letting him stay home from school.
His fever has been going down all day, but it is a long way down from so high up. When I told him that he is staying home from school again on Tuesday, he was very concerned for Jack and that Jack make it to school. I am keeping Jack home too – it is just easier to stay home with them both rather than drive Jack to school with Owen since I have to walk Jack into the building. Owen tried to assure me that he was too sick to go to his school, but that he could walk in to drop off and pick up Jack. He finally admitted, “I just want to have you to myself!” My sweet boy.
Another reason why a plastic fish is the pet to have…
This is Jack giving our fish a bath.
He is also helpfully “cleaning” the “fishtank.”
