A Visiting Seal

Yesterday Gerrit was wheezing periodically, especially when he was active. As the evening progressed, the wheezing was more pronounced. I was worried it was the start of croup so we discussed the plan of action for today - Adam would stay home if necessary because I had a meeting I needed to go to. This was day 3 for Adam being off work (but honestly, he could've used another day home to get rid of his cold). We were proactive in getting 2 humidifiers set up and giving Gerrit a hot steamy shower (I remembered these tips from Erika when Emmit had croup this summer). So we put him to bed and all seemed fine - no cough, no wheezing. Around 11 Adam woke me up, holding Gerrit in his arms and Gerrit could hardly breathe. I told him to start a hot steamy shower and sit with him. So there we were, the 3 of us in the bathroom, sitting on the floor breathing in the steam at 11 pm. Gerrit was a bit panicky because he couldn't breathe easily and Adam and I discussed a trip to the ER. I didn't want to go because I knew we'd sit there for 3+ hours before we'd be seen seeing we weren't bleeding etc. Adam was worried Gerrit would get worse as the evening progressed. I suggested calling our friend John who is a family doc at Mayo despite the late hour. He always told us to call him before going to the ER so we did. Luckily it did not sound like he was sleeping and he volunteered to come over. After checking him out, he gave Gerrit a steroid. It was a pill so we crushed it and put it in apple sauce which didn't seem to matter - Gerrit didn't want it. We got it down him and I felt relieved because I knew from Emmit's experience that this was the best thing for him and he'd make it through the night. John left and said he'd check on him in the morning as he had the day off.

It was now 11 30 and we bundled Gerrit up to go for a walk and let him breathe in the cool air. Adam took him and Gerrit was wide awake and asked which direction they were going to go and was pretty chatty for 11 30 at night! When they returned I tucked Gerrit into bed with me so we could keep an eye on him and we had a peaceful rest of the night. A few seal-like coughs but that was it!

Gerrit did ok staying home with Adam. He fought Adam for an hour about riding his bike! It was a beautiful day and Gerrit couldn't understand why he couldn't ride his bike. Adam reminded him that he hadn't ridden his bike either because he was sick with a cold. Together they rested and watched movies.

Gerrit sounds a bit better and a second dose of steroids today should be enough to get him over the hump. I will be staying home tomorrow just to make sure he lays low. I picked up a few movies from Luke and Paul and bought him a new Lego toy so we have something new to do. A few silly bands were a great pick me up when I got home too.

We are so thankful to have John nearby and I'm sure Erika is thankful too - saved her a call at midnight and not much she could do on the phone! I was tempted to call her just for reassurance! It is not fun being sick but I think it is worse when your child is sick.

(Gerrit is wanting a snack and sees that I'm typing - he wants to know who I'm texting! Amazing how perceptive this kid is!)

Homecoming

I forgot about homecoming this past weekend...Gerrit and I went to the game with Anne, Luke and Paul while Adam stayed home with Travis and watched Date Night. This was our first football game of the season and Gerrit had a blast. He wished we had taken a football to the game (which I thought about but purposely forgot). 

Gerrit watched the game a bit but wanted to hang out with Luke and Paul (who were too cool to watch the game and hung out with their friends). We couldn't find Luke but Paul had walked by and Gerrit wanted to go with them. Initially I didn't think Paul and his friend wanted a little 3 yr old following them - big 8th graders. Then I thought, they might want a CUTE 3 yr old with them to attract the ladies. I asked if they cared that he went with them for a bit and told Paul not to feel obligated to take him. Then I mentioned the lady factor and he smiled and his friend admitted to having the same thought as me! So they took the cute 3 yr old with them and as they were walking away, Paul's friend suggested Paul carry Gerrit for effect! I just laughed and went back to watching the game.

After getting a snack and hanging out with 8th graders, Gerrit found Luke and Maddie and disappeared with them for a while. I think he enjoyed hanging out with the big kids as well as watching the game up close (we sat on the sideline). I think he will be one of the few kids who starts school and has his own group of friends in high school!

We won the football game easily and Gerrit did great staying for the whole game.

Hokey Cow*

It's been a while since I last wrote. Day to day life seems to get the best of us sometimes. The basement is dry, but not much progress because Adam was under the weather this week (bad cold). Adam's dad and step mom came for the weekend and then Luke and Paul were with us during the week. We now are back to the 4 of us for another week and a half and then my parents come for a bit. One thing I did do a lot of was cook and I must say, I made some yummy meals! They were all new recipes and I think they turned out great! I made Spaghetti pie, grilled  balsamic chicken, a mexican dish, chocolate/caramel apple dessert, pumpkin tartletts, and french dip sandwiches (which were super easy). {I linked the recipes because I told my mom about them and this way she can access them easily- don't make too many mom because we will having them when you come!}

I don't think I took many pictures this last week either. Guess I need to work on that again. Maybe this week will be a bit slower and we can get back into the routine we are use to. (I can hope right?)

*Gerrit's way of saying "holy cow".

Almost Built an Ark

Yes, we are still alive and almost floating away. Last night we got 5" of rain and plenty more today. Adam didn't go into work, although he did do some work from home and checked a site near home. I did not go to work either. I manned the house and made sure the pump was working and did some pumping with the wet vac. At 6am Adam headed to Roch to buy a pump while I took the boys to daycare. The pump is small (although expensive) and isn't doing the trick fast enough. So, this afternoon Adam headed back to Roch to get another pump only to learn that he couldn't get to Roch - there was not a road that wasn't closed (that he could think of). So he turned around and headed to the cities. The bridge that was just opened last week in town is now closed as water is over the road near it, the detoured road is also closed due to water, and the next closest road is also closed! One school district closed early today due to the flooding! We are suppose to get more tonight and I hope the end is in site. We are very thankful the basement was empty and the new flooring is in (for the most part). It is drying nicely so I am happy we went with the tiles we did! Anne just stopped by and is picking up the boys for me so I don't have to leave the pump running as that makes me nervous. I think I'll be able to make it to work tomorrow if Adam is successful at getting to the cities and back. I'm not sure what he's going to do tomorrow, hopefully something will be open at that point (assuming it stops raining long enough). Who would've thought we'd get this much rain in the fall, about a month after the last major rain! Even though we are getting pretty good at cleaning up wet basements, we are not going to do it for a living! We have a plan how to remedy the situation and hope by spring we can take care of it all (again, assuming no more major rains before then!). We are sick of doing house projects and want to take a break before tackling the next one.

We are very thankful it wasn't worse as nearby towns are in real trouble with the Zumbro river rising! They are asking for volunteers to help sandbag in Pine Island and as much as we'd love to help them out, we could use some sandbags around our own house! (not really, we just need to finish getting the water out of the basement). 

Just thought I'd update you for all of those watching the weather and noticing it is pretty green around our area...

Gerrit-isms - Sept. 2010

Tonight when I was talking to Anne on the phone, Gerrit interrupted me demanding to talk to her (or whoever was on the phone). So he said hi to her and then wanted to talk to Luke/Paul. Next thing I know, Gerrit is asking if he can go over to their house tonight after 'lunch' (dinner). I learned quickly after talking to Paul, that Gerrit had invited himself over to their house. Lucky for him, it worked out that he could play there for a bit after dinner.

I picked him up and when we got in the house, Gerrit said to me: "you're weird". Guess I should expect comments like that when I let him hang out with older boys! He didn't really know what he was saying but thought the look on my face was funny.

Bedtime routine: Gerrit knows that at bedtime he needs to stay in his room which he usually does and plays with his toys. The thing I love is that we always know when he is settling down and going to sleep: he puts on his CD player and listens to one of his Go Fish cds.

Fat Tire Festival Weekend

Last weekend we headed to northern WI with most of Team Beat. Here is a snapshot of our weekend:

Starting at the top left and going clockwise: Emmit enjoying some mamma time, Paul finishing the short and fat race, Gerrit enjoying an apple and pulling down on the barrier so he could see the racers, Emmit and I walking up the hill that Gerrit had just rode his bike down and crashed at the bottom (pretty steep ski hill!), Dave finishing the long race, Adam assisting Gerrit early on in the day - Gerrit is walking his bike down, Paul helping Gerrit ride his bike up, Paul and Gerrit going for a ride at the cabin, Emmit and those 2 teeth (he's getting 4 more on top), the boys checking out the ducks on the dock at the cabin (very friendly ducks), Gerrit enjoying more food at the race, Gerrit and Luke riding down the hill (this time he made it down, still a pretty steep hill, Adam yelling 'break', I closed my eyes, and the crowd around us cheered loudly when he made it to the bottom!), Emmit in his 'cage' - my way of Emmit proofing the cabin, the cabin we stayed in.

It was great to get away and not think about the basement or the mess in the rest of the house for once! The weather was awesome and gave us a taste of fall. The mosquitoes loved Emmit during his nap in the stroller (poor kid looked like he had chicken pox!)

The next bike race we go to will be Adam's....

Another Big Step

We gave Emmit finger food Monday night. He was pretty excited to play with it and it kept him busy while we had dinner.

Once he finally found his mouth, he choked on it! (It melts so there was no need to worry)