More camping pictures

Camping

Last weekend Michael took Elliot camping along with several other boys and their dads. They played basketball, fought with fighting sticks, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, slept in tents, and in general got dirty and did boy things. I'm pretty sure it was the highlight of Elliot's month.

More pictures of the new fort

Before and after on a Saturday

Many months ago, Michael promised Elliot a tree house. Yesterday, it happened. It started with Michael picking up some in the back yard. Then he found some of the scrap lumber behind the shed. One thing led to another, as one thing often very quickly leads to another with Michael. And before I knew it, a tree house was taking shape. At one point the kids were sitting about 5 yards back, just watching their papa like an audience as he worked. By the end of the afternoon, it was done. They were SO excited. The tree house was quickly named "Fort Gordon Perdita". Perdita is, of course, the mama in the 101 Dalmatian story. That was Elsie's contribution. Many, many things have already made it into the fort. Food, pets, toys, even Ezra and me. I may hide there when I don't want anyone to find me.

Redneck slip and slide

So because Michael is from rural Georgia and because he is AWESOME, he decided it would be fun to pull out the big black tarp he had, cover it with Dawn dish detergent and water, and tell the kids to walk, run and slide on it. Then he told Elliot to bounce on his moon bouncer on the tarp. That was brilliant, on his part. I wish I had a video of it. I don't. But you can see the launch that happened in one of these pictures. And by the way, it was 85 degrees here yesterday.

Kiss me

Talking to my toys

Here is Ezra hanging out under his play gym. He seems to really like it. For the most part, he's happy under there until he gets sleepy and needs to take a nap. Elsie often gets under his gym with him and talks to him - and I mean TALKS to him. Ezra will definitely never be lonely.

Sweet big brother

Click here to see Elliot trying to make Ezra smile.

More baths

Somehow baths in the sink have become normative for Bug. It is somewhat convenient, as I can do the dishes as she washes herself. I can rinse her with the sprayer. But she's not going to fit in there for long.

Things are slowly getting back to normal here - whatever "normal" is. I still don't know what normal looks like with three children. Ezra took several naps today, was up for awhile, ate, cried, pooped. He feels like a real baby now instead of a small doll. He is heavier, more substantial. He is looking at us when we look at him. I fully expect him to smile back at me some time soon.

Elliot started his spring soccer season last week. Yesterday was practice number two - a complete success. The coaches are wonderful, playing soccer versions of sharks and minnows and all kinds of games. I think at some point we'll be playing games on Saturdays.

Ezra is snoring as I type since he does, of course, sleep in the living room. I guess this is what normal looks like!

Nurse Andri to the rescue

We are ALL very thankful that Aunt Andri came to help us. Here you see her giving breathing treatments to BOTH of our boys who had some gunk in their lungs. She also took the night shift, entertained Elsie, stayed with Ezra at the hospital, and countless other things. We miss you Aunt Andri!

One week ago today

This was Ezra in the ER last Thursday. The poor guy, as many of you know, had gone downhill very fast. It started with him being a little bit snuffly. It moved to a lot of congestion. Soon I couldn't rouse him for his 6 o'clock bottle and by 8:30 I was worried enough that I took him to the ER. After waiting about an hour, a nurse took his oxygen level at around 65. Normal is 93 to 100. That moved us ahead of a lot of people.

After 2 spinal taps, several X rays, a CT scan, blood cultures, a urinalysis, and some other blood tests, we ended up in the pediatric ICU of a DIFFERENT hospital, transported by ambulance. He was in the ICU for 4 days, where he steadily improved and was moved to the regular pediatric floor. There his breathing improved for 2 more days until we were released on Tuesday. He is still receiving breathing treatments at home until he completely clears up.

This morning at the doctor he weighed 7 pounds! He even gained weight through that whole ordeal. People from church and friends have been FABULOUS, helping us with meals, babysitting, rides, and all kinds of things. Finally, my sister, Andri flew down at my emergency request when we learned that on the regular floor of the hospital, someone had to be present in the room AT ALL TIMES. Try that with two other kids and no family in town! She has been an INCREDIBLE help.

We are so thankful to be home, all of us under one roof again. And hopefully that's the last we'll see of the hospital for a long time!