Click here for the contest!!
We got home from Seaside yesterday….mmmmmmmm…a good time. A three plus hour drive to get there. Arrived at 10:30 pm. Slept. Ate breakfast. 15 minutes on the beach. 10 minutes at a very small aquarium. And a three plus hour drive home.
Who’s idea was that again??
Mine??
Oh right.
Like I said the trip was…mmmmmmmmm…a good time.
Maile seems to be doing better. Her doctor determined she does not have strep, but rather an “infection”. She prescribed antibiotics that Maile fights taking and I’m thinking about ditching them. She’s getting better and I felt like the doctor just threw me a medication more to ease MY mind and not necessarily to make Maile better. Just the feeling I got.
So today is Thanksgiving and normally we’d be joining the rest of my family in some giving of thanks, but Pat and I decided to just stay home with the kids. Even though Maile is getting better she’s not 100% and both Laina and Kainoa seem to be coming down with colds as well. We’re on lockdown. And can I say that I’m just a tad relieved. We’ve had a busy week and it’s kind of nice to just sit back and clean and do nothing.
The girls made some playdough and rice crispy treats and I get to play the fun game of cleaning up behind them all day long.
Still. It’s nice.
And if you happen to be bored at home then you might be interesting in reading this…I don’t know why we all don’t just eat pizza for Thanksgiving. It’s ethically sound AND tasty.
Archives for November 2008
I finished reading Twilight just in time to go watch the movie. The book was good. I hear 13 year olds across the country are going bananas over it. That’s all well and good…I didn’t love it. Bella and I had an on again/off again relationship. Sometimes she bugged the crap out of me…and sometimes she was cute. Edward was sweet…in a blood sucking “I want to eat you” kind of way, and I do see the draw towards a book where two people who shouldn’t be together fight the odds.
Buuuuut….eh.
It was alright.
It picked up at the very end and THAT’S when I couldn’t put it down. The last 75 pages or so. I give it a rating of a 7.8.
I probably won’t read the sequels…although I’m dying to know if Bella becomes a vampire and how.
Vampire lovers around the world are hating me right now…and guess what…suck it.
Next on the reading list is The Poisonwood Bible…wish me luck.
https://mamakatslosinit.com/2008/11/i-finished-reading-twilight-just-in/
The Naturopath
And we’re home from the naturopath.
Note To Self: Spending an hour and a half in a room with a cranky 17 month old is your own personal hell.
Check.
The dr. looked at Maile and Kainoa’s skin and mentioned what many of you suggested which was that she may have a food allergy. I told her Maile had been tested when she was Kainoa’s age and that everything came back in our favor.
She said the tests where they prick your back are not always as conclusive and talked to me about cutting out gluten from Maile’s diet.
Sigh.
I was prepared for that. I’ve been it because it sounds like a lot of work. Gluten is in pretty much everything and I don’t want my kids to grow up feeling like they have to eat “different” foods then everyone else. Not to mention what a pain it would be to cook gluten free meals for my kids and regular meals for the rest of the daycare…ugh. Not fun. And not to mention my kids are as picky as they come and will most likely hate every gluten free morsel I place in front of them.
No thank you.
But I’ll try it with my kids if it means a more comfortable life for them…I’ll try it.
Dr. said I could also do the blood draw allergy test which will tell me exactly what foods Maile is allergic to, including wheat and 90% of whatever else it is we eat.
I went with the blood draw. It just seems easier than one by one cutting out each of her foods in an attempt to figure out if one of them is causing a reaction in her skin. We’re supposed to get the results back in a couple of weeks.
I was a little disappointed that the dr. did not spend a little more time trying to figure out what was wrong with Maile and the little sickness she has right now. When she took her temperature it was over 102. She did check Maile’s throat and found nothing out of the ordinary and that was it. I guess I was kind of hoping for a diagnosis.
SO.
$25 for special shampoo/body wash
$30 copayment
$50 for natural ointments and creams
$10 for fish oil vitamins
$126 for allergy test
_____________________
$241 later I have a still sick daughter, a pissed off son, a headache, and a depleted bank account.
Let’s just hope it’s not all for not.
I called Maile’s pediatrician last night when her temperature hit 104. The Motrin seems to bring her back to normal, but it’s unsettling to see her temp. get so high. She has another appointment with THAT doctor in two hours. It will be interesting to see if her findings are any different then the naturopaths. All I want is a diagnosis and some drugs. And not crack. Maile’s too young for crack. I am a lot of things…and a responsible, loving mother is one. We will wait AT LEAST four years before giving Maile crack.
The Hair Affair
Damn
I’m taking all of next week off. ALL of it. It’s the longest break from the daycare I’ve had since…well for at least two years. A whole week.
I’ve been giddy all day. Today’s my last day!! A world of opportunities to do WHATEVER I want for a WHOLE week. The zoo, the aquarium, movies, the children’s museum…we were gonna have so much fun.
Tomorrow night is game night at Lolo’s. Husband/wife teams playing pictionary. SO much fun. (nerd alert. I know).
Another night Pat and I plan to take the kids to Seaside. SO much fun.
I have a girls night planned with my high school friends. SO much fun.
Until about 5 minutes ago.
I had a hunch…just a small little voice in my head that we can call “mother’s intuition”.
Mother’s Intuition: Hmmm. Maile looks a little pale today….wonder what’s up with that.
Me: Ahhhh…she needs to drink more water. I’m not giving her anymore milk, she’s probably dehydrated.
Mother’s Intuition: Yeah….but she’s lacking that extra bit spunk she normally has and she sure isn’t eating much.
Me: Well, she didn’t have much of a nap today she’s probably extra tired.
Mother’s Intuition: Kind of weird that she’s asking to go to bed so early though…especially with a friend over for the night. Normally she’d be yapping all night, refusing to sleep.
Me: HEY Mother’s Intuition!! I got big plans this week and Maile being sick is NOT going to sit well with me so SUCK it.
No sooner did I finish saying this to Mother’s Intuition did I go into Maile’s room to check on her.
Maile: Mom I getting sick.
Mom: (cringe) Why do you say that?
Maile: Cause my troat hurts right here….and when I get up it hurts.
Mom: Where does it hurt?
Maile: Dest…here (she brushes her hands up and down her whole body)
I feel her head. Damn it. One of those times when only a moron would need a thermometer to tell you this child is burning up.
And here’s the somewhat comical part of a very un-comical situation…I gave Maile a teaspoon of MOTRIN to make her feel better. That video was bad Karma. I’m SORRY Motrin!!!!
So it looks like baby girl is going to be sick. She said she feels like she could throw up and I am BEYOND bummed right now. We were gonna have so much fun. Now she’s gonna be sick…and Laina and Kainoa will probably get it…no game night. No Seaside trip. I’ll get it just in time to miss my girls night. And this just sucks.
I guess it could be worse though. She could be sick AND I could be running the daycare. I hate it when my kids get sick and I can’t sit with them and take care of them like I’d like to because the other kids are demanding my attention. So at least I can dote on her proper like.
I’m going to hold out hope that it’s just a little fever and it will be gone in the morning…keep your fingers crossed for NO throwing up!!!
It’s 9:40 and I’m headed to the store to pick up some anti-sick tools to make my girl better.
The Hugging State
A lot of you were curious as to how the trip to the Hugging State went. I had never been to Hawaii before and it was awesome. We flew in to Oahu and it was like staying in a very sunny version of Seattle. Nice. But busy.
Then we flew to Lanai and I loved it. WAY more laid back there and there’s so much history! Aside from the two giant resorts that are there now, Lanai is vastly untouched by tourists. Everyone knows each other, there’s not one stoplight on the whole island and it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. Hard to believe Pat ever wanted to leave.
His family refused to acknowledge any awkward vibes I was sending and embraced me with open arms. Hawaiian style. I did hesitate a couple times like…now??…wait, huuuuug now?? in a weird white girl sort of way, but they just come right at’ya. No stopping, no stuttering, no hesitations, they mover RIGHT in for the hug. And actually that’s the way I prefer it…I can’t have someone hesitating with me…then things just get really weird.
Honestly though, I have never felt more welcome somewhere. I was nervous about how they would receive their brother’s tall, young, white girlfriend, but if they were surprised by my appearance they didn’t let on.
They were extremely friendly and in true Kathy style I barely spoke and spent most of my time listening to them “talk story” and trying to figure out what they were saying.
In fact…it’s been six years and it’s still like that when we go. I just sit and smile and laugh. They’re hilarious. And they make fun of Pat constantly. And I like that. I think I talk a little more each time we go…but it’s not easy for me. I’m sarcastic and dry and I don’t think a lot of people “get that”. I’m afraid I’ll say something that no one will get and they’ll all just stop and stare and be like “who told the white girl she could talk??” Have I mentioned I’m ridiculously shy? It’s stupid.
But still. His family is wonderful and every time we leave I start planning our next trip…hugging and all.
ps Whenever I see these pre-baby pictures I think “man! I had it SO easy”. Even now when I’m not with my kids, they are a constant thought. They never leave my mind. But in these pictures…back then…they didn’t exist. What did I THINK about?? Just relaxing in the sun, having a good time with my boyfriend…kid-free = carefree. Now when we go on vacation my mind is in over drive. I pack for four people, my kids are always in need of something, constantly cleaning up after them…you can hardly call it a vacation. Boy if I knew then what I know now…I would have drank WAY more.
I Remember When Pat Took Me To Hawaii
I remember when Pat took me for my first ever trip to Hawaii.
In preparation for the trip Pat gave me the rundown on social interactions in Hawaii.
Pat: Everyone hugs there.
Me: Why??
Pat: Because we’re family…and you hug family…it’s just a way of greeting people.
Me: I don’t hug MY family.
Pat: Well you should. People are gonna hug you in Hawaii.
Me: But I don’t even know them.
Pat: It doesn’t matter. That’s just how it is.
Me: What if I’m not a hugger…I don’t even like to hug…it’s awkward.
Pat: It’s not a big deal.
Me: I mean…if I hug you when I meet you, and then see you again the next day…do I hug you again??
Pat: You’re over thinking it.
Me: Well I can see giving your brother and sister a hug…do I have to hug their kids?
Pat: Yes Kathy. They’re all family.
Me: What if one of their kids has a significant other with them, do I hug them too??
Pat: Are you kidding me right now?
Me: Well I think I should know!! I mean WHO ALL am I supposed to be hugging? Do I hug the pilot?? Where does the hugging end??
Pat: They’ll probably stop hugging YOU right away, cause your whack.
Me: If I hug you at dinner do I hug you again after dinner when I’m leaving??
Pat: Probably…
Me: Two hugs in one night??
Pat: Is that a problem?
Me: It’s just…I’m not a hugger…that’s a lot of awkwardness for me.
Pat: Well it’s the Hawaiian way so get used to it.
Me: You guys are weird.
Pat: Well I think you’re weird. Why can’t you hug people??
Me: I can hug people!! In…say…an emergency or something…I just don’t hug excessively. Hawaiians sound like excessive huggers.
Read about my experience in The Hugging State of Hawaii here.