You busy girl.

Katie has a allergy.  Mommy Daddy eat something.  There's no soy in that, noooooooo.  Squirl eat nuts.  Katie eat nuts, no.

What's Joooey doing?

Katie went to the ospital!  Doctor gave you medicine.  You get ice fream too.  And Nemo too. All Katie's pals get medicine at Katie's house.  Thomas.  Rosie. Percy.  Billy.  All sick.  Sometimes everybody get ice fream too.  But, no Nemo.

Mr. Pettibone a kitten.  Mr. Pettibone is walking with us.  He likes to eat big red gooey fish.  Mr. Pettibone came in the car to preschool.  It smells like big red gooey fish in here.

Katie get up on chair in kitchen.  You do work on the pewter, like Daddy.  You typed on it.

Katie Mommy go to beach in kitchen.  Sit on blankit and cook marshmello.  It's dark in here. No ghosts come in to house to say hi, noooooooo.  Mommy say no ghosts.

Katie like punkins.  Punkins orange.  Punkins make jack-o-lantern.  Smiley face punkin. Punkins at Halloween!

Lightnin McQueen is chasing us.  Watch out!

Naked Baby go on slide with Katie.  One.....two.....free.....RACE!  Fall down into the seal poopies. Naked Baby slip on the seal poopie.  I got a Baby Whale.  Baby Whale is hungry.  He wants something to eat.

You want a cheese stick....one more time. 

You a Dancin Queen!  You a Dancin Tow Mater!  Put music on to dance in living room!  Look at Katie gooooooooo!  Get down, Katie! 

Bye-bye.

Fun With A Tape Measure

A Sickness Update

The doc gave us a thumbs up.  

We can now rejoin civilization.

Her lungs are clear, but she still needs to kick the cough and runny nose.  

Also, as a precaution we are going to continue the nebulizer treatments for another week.

Thomas will be happy.

We had uncharacteristically beautiful fall weather this weekend.  It was bright and sunny and the temps hovered at around 75 degrees (at least 10 degrees above normal). Not a rain cloud in sight.

Did we go hiking, camping, walking, swimming, or do ANYTHING outside?  No.  We spent the weekend in the hospital.  I'm pretty sure we missed what will be the last sunshine that we will see for the next 8 or 9 months.

Oh yeah.  I did say 'hospital', didn't I?

Katie came down with another cold on Wednesday.  Seemed like any other cold until she woke up early Saturday morning (4am early) wheezing with a rapid heartbeat.  She couldn't talk because she couldn't stop coughing.  This was NOT some plain old cold and I called for an appt. with her doctor.

We went in at 10:30.  They listened to her lungs and heard something rattling around in there, so they decided to do a chest x-ray.  It came out negative for fluid in her lungs.  No pneumonia. But, the oxygen level in her blood was down to 91.  Normal level is about 99.  It was decided that we should go to the emergency room at the local hospital.  Before we left, they gave her a nebulizer treatment - which consists of shooting a mist of albuterol (used to open her airways) into her face.  

The treatment helped to ease Katie's breathing and so after a quick stop home for supplies and lunch ('cause we all know how long you could be sitting in the ER) we headed off.

The wait at the ER wasn't to long and we were soon in a room.  The ER doc came in and told us he suspected something called, 'restrictive airway disease' and that this might or might not be a precursor to asthma.  I guess if she was to experience this shortness of breath a few more times down the line she would be diagnosed with asthma.  Such wonderful news.

We had to give her a huge dosage of prednisone (a steroid) to help relax the inflammation in her lungs and then an hour long nebulizer treatment.  After about 4 hours in the ER, her blood oxygen levels didn't recover as hoped.  We were admitted.

Up to the pediatric care ward we went.  Because they suspected that Katie's lung infection was viral, everyone that came into the room had to wear a surgical robe, mask and gloves.  If either Huzbend or I left the room, we had to wear masks.

The incremental nebulizer treatments began as well as a steroid treatment once a day. Katie was not impressed with all the poking and prodding.  Although she held it together more that I thought she would, she did throw a few big tantrums; screaming, crying, kicking, flinging arm type tantrums.    

Katie began to recover early Saturday night.  Her blood oxygen level while awake was slowly climbing and her breathing became less labored.  The problem was that after she fell asleep, her level would drop down to below 88 and set off an alarm.  When that happened I had to put an oxygen mask to her face.  The nurse tried to get Katie to let us put that oxygen tube thing up her nose, but Katie would not allow it.  She threw the biggest meanest tantrum that I have yet to see from her.  She soon fell asleep and I cried.  I was so tired of having to listen to her cry.

Sunday she was even better with her waking levels at 96.  But, when she took a nap her levels dropped back down to 88 and lower.  With those stats and a listen to her lungs (still not 100% clear) the doctor didn't feel comfortable sending her home.  So, it was one more night in the hospital.

Finally, on Monday her waking level got to 97.  Her napping level wasn't great, but the doctor said that her lungs sounded good and she didn't seem to be in any respiratory distress.  We were allowed to go home.

So, we've been doing the nebulizer at home every 4 hours.  Katie actually likes it now.  She'll sit on the floor and share her albuterol mist with Thomas or whoever else she has deemed 'sick'. Here is video of one of the first treatments we did at home.  She didn't like the medicine in her eyes. 

Katie is still coughing but her breathing is pretty normal, as far as I can tell.  It's hard to gauge when she won't stop running in circles.  The ER doctor told me to keep her home for a few days so that she could relax and not cough on other kids.

We go back for a follow-up with her primary doctor tomorrow.  I'm hoping that we get the green light to get back out into the world.

Wouldn't you know it, the forecast for tomorrow is rain.  Sigh.

Today was the first "full class" day at preschool.

This year preschool is two days a week.  One day I go to school with Katie (my "work day") and the other day I drop her off.  The same goes for all the other parents.

This means there are 18 or so kids vs. 8 or so parents.  Each parent has a "buddy child", a kid they are supposed to keep an extra eye on in case of difficulties.

My buddies are twin boys.  Their mom decided to leave them at preschool today.

Insanity ensued.  

One of them immediately had a complete and utter meltdown.  He was screaming as if someone had reached into his chest and ripped his heart out.  There were big raindrop tears falling down his cheeks and the boogies were a-flowin'.  This, in turn, got his brother going.  Now there were two out of control toddlers.  The teacher and another parent stepped in to help out.

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, could console them.

We waited 5 minutes (which felt like hours) and had to call the mom to come back.

Talk about stress.

Katie seemed to be okay with all this.  She didn't like it very much when I was carrying around one of the crying boys and demanded that I pick her up too, which I did.  But that ended quickly when he started screaming at the top of his lungs.  It seemed that she wanted to get as far away from him as possible.  

I only caught fleeting glances of her today at school.  I'm guessing she had a good time and I think she ate snack.  I did see that she held hands with one of her gal pals on the walk out to the playground.

We go to preschool again on Friday.  Friday is not my "work day" and so I have the option to drop Katie off and go away somewhere.  I don't think she'd have a problem with this.  It's ME that has the problem.

I don't know.  I'm not really worried that she'll have a reaction like the twins did today.  I guess it could happen, but I think she'd be totally okay.

It's just strange to think that I have spent these last two years sharing just about every experience with her.  And now, she's going to school and I'm going to have no idea what went on.  I'm going to have to ask her what she did at school and then wait to see if she's in the mood to answer.

Props to all of you out there who have to "let go" every day.  

You know you're having a bad day when you fall

asleep with a cheese stick in your hand.

You know you're having a horrible day when you wake up with

a cheese stick in your hair.

I've neglected my blog.....again.

Last week, Cuzzin' Joey came for a visit.  He brought along his MaMa, DaDa and Granma too.

We had a whirlwind week of touristy type day trips.  The Aquarium, The Market, The Farm, The Space Needle, The Fair, The "Other" Farm.  Phew.  It was crazy.  There's loads of pics over on Flickr for you to peruse.  

Ooooooo, fancy word that is.  Peruse.

This week has been filled with meetings.  We had orientation for preschool on Monday night.  I had to talk about my board position in front of 60+ parents.  My hands shook, which in turn made my voice shake.  Totally embarrassing.  After that, I had to talk to my class about Katie's allergies.

Then on Tuesday I had another meeting for another preschool organization.  I'm the treasurer for this group.  Sigh.  It's kinda like I'm doing office work now and not getting paid for it.  Who's bright idea was that?  Oh yeah.  Mine.

I am happy to report that Katie has poopied and pee-pee'd on the potty.  It's not as great as it sounds, she's done it one time each.  So, I think it's time to get serious about the potty training thing.  I went out and bought a book as I have no idea how to get a person to WANT to use a toilet.  As we all know, It's not the funnest thing in the world. You gotta sit there and wait.  Not one of Katie's finer skills.

I will leave you all with this.

After contemplating for two years, I have figured out why having a C-section delivery is totally awesome.  Hear me out.

Katie showed me her belly today.  She wanted to see my belly.  I obliged.  I had pulled my pants down far enough for my C-scar to show.  She pointed at it.  I told her, "That is where you came out of my belly when you were a baby!"  She replies, "Katie was in Mommy's belly.  When I was a baby!"

How about that?  I can SHOW her where she came out.  There is actual proof that she came from somewhere.

Gimme a break, alright.  It's a stretch, but I'll take it.

Katie:  Um, dude?  What's that smell?  

Joey:  I don't know.  Smells like poopy.

Katie:  Come on, man.  Fess up.  That was so totally you.

Joey:  Nuh-uh.  Whoever smelt it dealt it, kid.

"MY BRAIN HURTS"

P.S.: This is an obscure reference to Mr. Gumby of Monty Python Fame

Bideos

Katie go camping.  And Mommy.  And Daddy, too.

Eat marshmallows.  

Go to the beach.

Throw rocks in the water.

Sing Happy Birthday.

Eat cupcakes.

Open presents.

More.

Katie sing A, B, C's.

Silly.

Howdy

I have no idea what to talk about.  

You stop writing on these blog thingies and you kinda forget how to do it.  

Where do I come up with all the crap that fills these pages?  Man.  I have spewed a lot of crap onto these pages over the past two years.

Oh yeah.  My blog is two years old....and so is my daughter.  

Katie turned two on Friday.  We had a little birthday playdate at a local playground with all her pals.  Much fun was had.  There was sliding, swinging, sand shoveling, wagon riding and snack eating.  This was all topped off by a solid round of cupcake eating.  

Here's a shot showing Katie and two of her buddies munchin' some birthday snack.

These past two weeks have kinda been a blur.  We've taken over 400 pictures so far this month.  I've downloaded most of them to Flickr, in case you wanted to see them all.

Granma came for a visit two weeks ago.  We had a lot of fun dragging her to playgrounds, hiking to a rocky beach and visiting the zoo.  She was able to witness this Katie First:

"Ice cream fall on ground...."

Last week Huzbend had off from work.  We did an overnight camping trip at an awesome island campground.  It was really nice, except for the screaming toddler camped next door and his evil dog.  

Katie, being ever-friendly, decided that she had to go visit our neighbors.  The dog was hooked to a tree.  It wasn't big, just ugly.  It came up to about Katie's knees.  The owner warned me that the dog hadn't had a lot of exposure to kids.  Katie, of course, wanted to hug it.  She bypassed my block and the dog jumped up on her.  I put my arms out to block him and something scraped my arm and my purple "Katie" jelly bracelet (kinda like a Livestrong bracelet) fell to the ground.  The damn dog bit it in half.  Friggin' dog.  That was my FIRST EVER MOTHER'S DAY PRESENT.  Stupid dog is lucky to be alive.  If he had gotten Katie instead of my bracelet......

Annnnnnyways, we had to ride a ferry to get to the island.  Katie was so excited to be on a boat. 

Camping also means yummy all-you-can-eat pasta.

Followed by all-Mommy-can-eat marshmallows.

In total I think we toasted about a dozen marshmallows.  But, now that I think about it, if I added all her bites up Katie ate about one whole marshmallow.  Hmph.  I gotta get myself back on the treadmill.  Damn.

The rest of last week was spent relaxing.  We did a short bike ride to go eat some Indian food. Huzbend napped.  I baked cupcakes and made goodie bags for the birthday party.  

I wanted to send out thanks for the birthday gifts for Katie.  She loved them all.  Really.  That's not a lie.  She has played with every single one of them.  We ended up getting Katie play kitchen.  Here she is preparing one of her specialties.....

We did a lot more than that last week, but I just can't write about it all.

I will end with this statement: Having a two year old is awesome.  

Alright, not all the time.  Especially when she's answered "NO!" for the millionth time or when she's decided that hitting you is great fun.  Sigh.

What I mean is, she can have conversations now.  Her imagination is fantastic. She makes stuff up all the time.  She's even started making up her own songs (okay so the songs just repeat the same word over and over, but come on, it's still cool).  And, man, she does the most hilarious stuff sometimes.  Like this..... 

Yes, that IS a pillowcase and she was running just before I took this picture.

She also makes you see the world in a different way.  You get to experience the world "for the first time" right along with her.  Us grown-ups are so jaded and programmed.

A guy came to clean our furnace today.  I opened the door and the first thing he said was, "Good morning.  Well, you just don't see 'em THAT big everday," and he pointed off to the side of the door.

I was holding Katie and we leaned out to see what he was talking about......

This sucker was huge.  He could sit comfortably in my palm for cripes sake.

My gut reaction was, "Must kill it.  Will have heartattack if it moves."

Katie says, "Spider!  Spider wants to eat apple."

I think he was big enough that he might have been able to.  In, like, one bite.

Katie wanted to keep going outside to look at him.  So, I obliged.

I didn't want her to see me kill him.  She wouldn't understand.  Besides, I had no good purpose for killing him besides making myself feel better that he was no longer on the planet or the side of my house.  So, I left him alone in the hopes that if he was the spider that I think he was (I did some spider research online) he would eat the other giant spiders that were out there.

When we left for grocery shopping he was still sitting outside our front door.

When we came back, he was gone.

Gulp.