I know. I got skills.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Flying Feathers
Well, it has happened again. The Dimelers have had another Adventure, charting new territory. About a year ago, we had a big adventure when we had Charlie in the hospital. Strangely, our New Adventure brought us to... another hospital!
But let me back up... On Monday, I found myself sitting in a courtroom among some 30 or so other prospective jurors prepared to accept my fate, give up a week of my life and a small bundle of cash to a babysitter, when our gracious Heavenly Father miraculously freed me from my patriotic duty and I was "excused." The next day, I was able to take Charlie in for his one-year well-child checkup. I'm so glad I was able to do that! Our wise doctor noted that he looked a little pale, too pale, and suggested we do a blood test to see if he was anemic. So, I went straight to Gritman and Charlie got a poke (he didn't even cry!). The next day, our doctor called to tell me that Charlie was definitely anemic, in fact, he needed a blood transfusion and that he was referring me to a pediatric hematologist/oncologist in Spokane. Um... what? I thought anemia just meant low iron? Well, no. In fact, anemia is caused by about 100 factors; 90 of which are no big deal and 10 of which are, well, a big deal. Well, all right then. I packed a bag in a hurry and whisked Charlie up to Spokane, about an hour and a half away. Keith was able to come up the next day, and brought a lot of good cheer (along with some shampoo) and took over chats with the nurses and doctors, much to my relief. He also had fun playing Wii and chasing around other children in the ward. Let us hope they recover (from Keith AND their illness).
So, after a couple very long nights of pokes and prods and countless sleep interruptions, Charlie's levels are back up to normal and we are home again. His cheeks are rosy and his disposition matches. But we still don't know what caused his anemic state, so we are now playing the waiting game. At this point, the hematologist is leaning toward some of the less serious possibilites, and the scary ones (cancer-related) are off the radar screen (for now). Once a week we'll do a blood test (at our local hospital) to keep an eye on his levels as we pray and wait for test results. Praise God for good doctors who follow their hunches, for release from jury duty, for good traffic and weather for driving, for kind and attentive nurses, for coffee, for a son who was able to bounce back from a lot of invasive and uncomfortable procedures, and for being able to come home so quickly. We are grateful for our Father's profound and pervasive care of us and for our sweet Charlie.
But let me back up... On Monday, I found myself sitting in a courtroom among some 30 or so other prospective jurors prepared to accept my fate, give up a week of my life and a small bundle of cash to a babysitter, when our gracious Heavenly Father miraculously freed me from my patriotic duty and I was "excused." The next day, I was able to take Charlie in for his one-year well-child checkup. I'm so glad I was able to do that! Our wise doctor noted that he looked a little pale, too pale, and suggested we do a blood test to see if he was anemic. So, I went straight to Gritman and Charlie got a poke (he didn't even cry!). The next day, our doctor called to tell me that Charlie was definitely anemic, in fact, he needed a blood transfusion and that he was referring me to a pediatric hematologist/oncologist in Spokane. Um... what? I thought anemia just meant low iron? Well, no. In fact, anemia is caused by about 100 factors; 90 of which are no big deal and 10 of which are, well, a big deal. Well, all right then. I packed a bag in a hurry and whisked Charlie up to Spokane, about an hour and a half away. Keith was able to come up the next day, and brought a lot of good cheer (along with some shampoo) and took over chats with the nurses and doctors, much to my relief. He also had fun playing Wii and chasing around other children in the ward. Let us hope they recover (from Keith AND their illness).
So, after a couple very long nights of pokes and prods and countless sleep interruptions, Charlie's levels are back up to normal and we are home again. His cheeks are rosy and his disposition matches. But we still don't know what caused his anemic state, so we are now playing the waiting game. At this point, the hematologist is leaning toward some of the less serious possibilites, and the scary ones (cancer-related) are off the radar screen (for now). Once a week we'll do a blood test (at our local hospital) to keep an eye on his levels as we pray and wait for test results. Praise God for good doctors who follow their hunches, for release from jury duty, for good traffic and weather for driving, for kind and attentive nurses, for coffee, for a son who was able to bounce back from a lot of invasive and uncomfortable procedures, and for being able to come home so quickly. We are grateful for our Father's profound and pervasive care of us and for our sweet Charlie.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Monday, December 7, 2009
Ah Christmas!
We've been having a grand time at our house, doing all the Christmas fun stuff: posting Christmas cards, decorating, shop-shop-shopping, drinking hot buttered rum, listening to carols, wrapping presents, getting over our colds and learning to drink from a sippy-cup... wait. Well. Anyway, later this week we'll bake cookies and drink hot apple cider. Somewhere in there I might clean the house... We finally have our woodstove back, so its off with the space heaters (hooray!) and on with the cozy fires. Charlie will be learning the word "Hot!" this week along with "No fuss" and "That's enough whipped cream for you young man." Can you guess which one we think is most important?
Did you know that Safeway sells little green plant things that could pass for very small Christmas trees that come with their own little set of twinkle lights and lightweight ornaments? Well, they do and there's nary a pine needle in sight that little Master Charles could gum down. Yup.
Did you know that Safeway sells little green plant things that could pass for very small Christmas trees that come with their own little set of twinkle lights and lightweight ornaments? Well, they do and there's nary a pine needle in sight that little Master Charles could gum down. Yup.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Long time...
no post! Yesterday we went to our church's Harvest Festival for the first time. All the kiddies (and some adults) dressed up and acquired lots of candy. We even won a pie! I made Charlie a costume. Can you imagine? Me spending countless hours making my son a costume that he would only wear a relatively short time. I felt a little guilty as I'm sure it wasn't particularly comfortable and the gym was quite hot, but he was so cheerful, you'd never really know...
He went as the Phillie's mascot, the Philly Phanatic. Got quite a few laughs!
This is how Charlie and I spend a lot of our time these days: me doing housework and Charlie peering over my shoulder inspecting my work. (And also drooling so that I usually end up a little damp. Small price to pay for mopped floors I say.)
We also took him to his first Vandals game. He loved all the people and enjoyed helping "make noise" during "thirrrrrrrd downs!"
He went as the Phillie's mascot, the Philly Phanatic. Got quite a few laughs!
This is how Charlie and I spend a lot of our time these days: me doing housework and Charlie peering over my shoulder inspecting my work. (And also drooling so that I usually end up a little damp. Small price to pay for mopped floors I say.)
We also took him to his first Vandals game. He loved all the people and enjoyed helping "make noise" during "thirrrrrrrd downs!"Saturday, September 26, 2009
Whew.
Hiking. Enterprise, OR. Camping. Wedding out of town. Surprise guests. Fall Jolly. Charlie learns to crawl. Parents come to visit!!! Wedding out of town. Bachelor party-Rehearsal dinner-Wedding in town. Done.
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