On a roll...

I'm not really on a roll, I guess it just sounds like a good title. Perhaps a roller coaster is more appropriate. It dawned on me today (while I was feeling particularly frazzled) that the start of an academic year is always hectic. Then I thought back to a year ago. I was home for the first 'frenzied' weeks of the term and when I did return I was working only three days/week. Well now, that does make a difference! Trav and I are both feeling the crunch and treasure our time with the kiddos in the evenings and on weekends. We're very fortunate as Trav is teaching on Tuesdays and Thursdays this fall. Granted, they are VERY long days as he has four classes plus office hours each day. But, then he is home with Grace and to get Carson off to and from school each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. That is very precious.

Grace has continued to help Daddy in the garden. She loves helping Daddy in the garden. We have tons and tons and tons of tomatoes and green onions in particular. More tomato goods on the way!

Both kids have enjoyed playing in the playhouse - they are having a ball. It varies from being a playhouse to a clubhouse to a schoolhouse. So far, both boys and girls are allowed in. :)

Our big 'excitement' of the week is that Grace has impetigo again. Yep, saw one spot along with 3 very tiny ones on Saturday evening. I nearly lost it. Off Grace and I went to Urgent Care (Carson was nearly ready for bed, so the boys stayed home). I almost went 'postal' with the triage nurse and told him that if I didn't get a doctor who know what they were talking about they would see "Bi*&$y Mommy" unleashed. This certain form of 'Mommy' only comes out when the safety and well-being of my children are in concern and I don't think a particular person is doing quite enough to mange the situation. This same condition can be seen in Travis too, but is the Daddy version.

Just ask a radiologist at Innovis Hospital.

Sidebar - Carson was just a few years old, probably about three - he needed stat CT's to check for cancer (PTLD) in his lymph nodes since some of his EBV levels and LFT's (liver function tests) were high. The radiology team wanted Carson to drink a TON of oral contrast. It was enough that it would have made Trav or I glow for three days. Carson hardly downed any. The nurse said the CT would have to be rescheduled. We had done these same CT's in Minneapolis at Fairview multiple times with just IV contrast. They wouldn't listen to that. We went round and round. I finally called our transplant coordinator. She laughed and said they can't get adults to drink the stuff. Transplant wanted the CT's without the oral contrast. When I told the radiologist we'd had these before without oral contrast, he snottily asked if I was sure he had had this type of CT before. Well, BM (no, not 'Bowel Movement') was unleashed. I told him that due to Carson's elevated LFTs and his positive EVB we needed CT's to check for PTLD ASAP.

He didn't have any further questions.

Lesson: Don't mess with BM.

The CT's were done that day with just IV contrast.

And yes, I know that next to Carson's allergies there is a sticker warning medical professionals of his Mother's tendencies.

Now Grace likely has a matching sticker. And that is A-O-K.

Anyway, the triage nurse encouraged me to keep pressing the doc since this is the fourth time since July that she has had impetigo. (Yeah - permission for B.M.!!!) We requested a specific Urgent Care doc and he was great.

He looked Grace over and we talked about an oral antibiotic. As he could see I was at wits end (we have cleaned, cleaned, cleaned) he mentioned that staph bacteria can be harbored in the nose too. So now Grace has ointment put in her nose twice a day (for, as Grace says "owie nose". The Urgent Care doc encouraged us to work with an Infectious Disease doc if this doesn't do the trick. I was relieved and pleased leaving the hospital. It wasn't the same plan as the previous three visits. And on a very positive note, Grace and I got to see a medical helicopter land just outside the hospital door. Very cool.

Our other big excitement (and this really is exciting) is that we have been testing out some dairy products with Carson. He has eaten melted cheese twice this week. When Carson was weaned from breastmilk when he was a few years old we already knew he couldn't tolerate dairy. Raw dairy has been the biggest culprit over the years. Since he pukes and heaves for hours, we've been very hesitant to try anything out. Off and on this summer we've tried a few things. Carson is so excited. We're not ready to try anything raw yet, but these recent steps are HUGE!!!

On a very sad note, a Professor and member of my doctoral committee passed away last week. He had a stroke on Monday while having lunch with others on campus. Despite quick medical response, he lost his fight on Thursday evening. Mark was only 54 years old. Typical of Mark, he was an organ donor. He touched many through education and now he will touch many through his gift of life. I still can't believe that he is gone.

That's about it from here. We're getting into the groove of third grade. Carson loves school and has great teachers. Grace loves playgroup and wants to go to 'school' every day. :) We're thrilled both of our kids have a love of learning.