Superstitious

Apparently our eldest is the superstitious sort. And the addingsoundeffectstoyourmathhomework sort.

MIri's second trip to the ER

Miri wins the award as the child needing the most medical attention. Sure, Ana outdid her older sister by ripping open her forehead and needing stitches. But Miri now has two ER visits chalked up next to her name.

The first one involved a post-op fever and infection. The second one involved a viral infection and fever.

Last Wednesday, Miri woke up with a fever. We gave her Tylenol and ibuprofen as needed. I kept an eye on her. I even called the nurse at our pediatrician's office and asked if I should bring her in because, even though it was her first day of the fever, her cousin who I baby-sit had been diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, and I thought it might be a good idea to get her on antibiotics. But the nurse said to wait.

So I waited ... until that afternoon. Her fever shot up to 104.9, and I called the office again. This time the nurse said to bring her in. We saw the pediatrician who said she might have the flu (turns out she didn't, which we found out after the lab technician swabbed her nose ... but I swear she shoved that Q-tip up high enough to perform a frontal lobotomy), pneumonia or an infection. He prescribed amoxicillin and a steroid to help her crackling lungs, and told us to give her albuterol treatments and keep giving her Tylenol and ibuprofen.

After spending a horrible hour at Wal-mart (And why didn't you tell me you didn't have my new insurance information the FIRST TIME I spoke to you, huh?), we came home with plenty-0-medicine.

Miri doing one of her albuterol treatments. It's happy and sad at the same time that she'll sit still for these: happy because I don't have to set her in my lap and hold her hands the entire time so she won't rip the mask off her head. Sad because she's had to do it enough to know not to rip the mask off her head. She also tells you "all done" when the medicine's gone.

The next day, she seemed to do better. Her fever only got up to 102.

And then we had Friday morning. Early Friday morning.

Miri woke up at 5 a.m. Her fever was over 106. We gave her Tylenol and stripped her down for a lukewarm bath. We decided to take her in.

I was scheduled to teach FAME all day Friday. Seth had the day off for "non-denominational spring holiday" (aka Easter or Good Friday), so he took her to the ER while I waited at home and got ready for the day.

Gratefully, the fever had gone down by the time he got there. They did a chest x-ray and determined that Miri had a viral infection in her lungs and possibly a kidney infection. The doctor told Seth to keep doing what we were doing and sent them both home.

Seth got to spend his glorious day off supervising medication and "Elmo's World" consumption. I spent the day trying not to botch my playing of "Für Elise" in front of 300 students and worrying about my little girl.

Saturday her fever was slight in the morning and disappeared in the afternoon. She's still got a lingering cough and snotty nose and we're still finishing off the amoxicillin, but I hope we can safely say that this one is behind us.

Miri's first real haircut

Miriam's always been obsessed with her hair. When she was old enough to grasp, she'd reach up to her tender little head and yank out chunks of hair. I thought she had grown out of that phase long ago. ... Unfortunately, the habit has just evolved.

Now, instead of merely pulling out hair, Miriam likes to twist it around her left index finger and tie it in knots. Sometimes when she pulls her finger out, she still takes some of the hair with her. (At least she's old enough to say, "Uh-oh" and hand me the hair so I can throw it away.)

I decided to put a stop to the hair habit once and for all. So I cut her hair.

The morning of the haircut. Not only is her hair a giant mess from sleeping on it all night, but it also has a huge knot on the left side from her twisting it.

One of many knots I've had to extricate from the messy nest of hair.

Seth had given me clearance to cut it above her chin, so a few chops later, this is the 'do our 2-year-old was sporting.

Nice and short for summer. Hope the back of her neck doesn't burn too easily.

Then the little stinker proceeded to yank out the elastic from the top of her head (another annoying habit of hers). So then I cut her some bangs she she can wear her hair down and not have it in her eyes.

My life in B&W

Seth ripped this from the comics the other day and handed it to me. I didn't need any words to know what he was thinking. ... "This is the story of my life," his eyes stated. No wonder I use medication to help me sleep.

Miriam is 2!

Because you can never have too much birthday, we celebrated Miriam's second on two separate dates. First we had a combined cousin party at Grandma and Grandpa Scott's house on Sunday. Bennet and Miriam's birthdays are only two weeks apart, so we exchanged presents on that side of the family then. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera. Miri got the cutest little singing tea set and a book from Grandma and Grandpa Scott, and a baby and outfit from Aunt McKall and Uncle T.

Then on her big day, we had a party with the Grover grandparents at our house. Grandma and Grandpa gave her a doll and a bunch of books. We gave her a couple of books (you can never have too many) and a laptop. Miri would always sneak into the big girls' room and steal their laptops, so now she has her own age-appropriate one to mess around with.

Behold!

Unwrapping a book from Mom and Dad.

Bekah gathering up her homemade confetti. She and Ana knew that a party needs decorations, so they spent the afternoon coloring pictures of Elmo and taping them up all over the living room and kitchen. They also cut up crepe paper and hung it up on the fridge, ceiling, walls, mirror, doorknob and kitchen chairs.

Blowing out the candles on her Elmo cake.

The cute 2-year-old sporting cake crumbs.

Getting help from Ana while playing "Pin the Head on Elmo."

To see more, click here.

Ana's belly button

One day, Analee reported that she has an upside-down grandma in her belly button.

I know, I know. This comment certainly topped our "oddest things ever uttered in our house" list. So we asked her what she meant.

"See?" she said. "I have an upside-down grandma in my belly button. Her eyes are closed. You can see her hair, eyes, cheeks, nose and mouth."

So we took a look. This is what we saw:


We still weren't exactly sure what she meant, so Seth came up with the idea of taking a closeup of the kid's midsection, printing it out and letting her draw the grandma on there. Here are the results:

(The picture has been flipped so you can see the grandma right-side-up.)

And in case you're still having trouble seeing it, here is a diagram:

I don't know whether to be amazed at her imagination or worried that she spends so much time analyzing her umbilical cord stump. Either way, she's a cutie.

The Cone Comb at state (and our trip to Boise)

After Rebekah's wins at the school and regional Tournament of Innovation, we thought the state Tournament of Innovation in Boise was a good excuse to go on a little family trip and visit my brother and his family. Unfortunately, the thought of spending time with the Grovers strikes fear into the hearts of our kin, so my lovely brother, sister-in-law and nieces decided they'd vacate their house that weekend and visit a "friend" from "dental school" in "Logan."

All right ... so they already had the trip planned when we found out that Bekah qualified for the state competition. We were sad that we didn't get to spend more time with them, but they allowed us to squat (definition #3 ... numbers 1 & 2 would just be weird) in their home while they were away.

Friday after our long drive, Seth tried in vain to put Miri down for a nap (her cousin's crib was WAY too different/exciting/weird for her to close her eyes for very long) while I made two attempts to find the Discovery Center where the tournament was being held to drop off The Cone Comb (curse you, Google Maps, for telling me the wrong exit). After that, we ate dinner and took the girls for a walk around the neighborhood. Gratefully, we were able to find our way back to the Hotel Scott. Miri tripped on the asphalt and scraped up her nose pretty well. (I mention this now so that in subsequent pictures you don't think, "What happened to that kid?")

Saturday morning we had some time to burn before driving to the Discovery Center, so the girls played outside for a while.

Miriam and Rebekah "doing an Indy walk" (Bekah's explanation) while swinging in the backyard. Yes, the wind was chilly, but if it's above freezing, the girls believe it's downright balmy outside.

Then they played inside for a while.

Analee during the pop gun battle we waged in the living room/kitchen.

It was epic. Seth had some pretty incredible moves.

Then we herded everyone into the van to check out the Discovery Center while we waited for the award ceremony.

Miriam trying to touch the spring that appears to be right in front of her. It was actually located below the opening, but a series of mirrors "moved" it.

Rebekah lying on a bed of nails.

And using the shot of air of blow her face instead of the ball.

Andrea and Miriam in the green screen room. We made it look like our heads were floating next to a shark's mouth.

After lunch and a trip to the park, we came back to the Center to hear if Rebekah's invention won anything.

How Analee looked while waiting for them to announce the winners in the non-working invention category.

How Rebekah looked while waiting for them to announce the winner in her age division.

How Miriam looked. See the injured nose?

The tension mounted as they announced the third and second place winners in Bekah's age division and category, but she was relieved when they announced her as the first place winner.

Getting her ribbon from this dude.

Celebrating with Seth.

Needless to say, we're glad we drove the 300 miles so Rebekah could participate.

Sunday was a day of relaxation, church, packing up and traveling home. Oh, yeah ... and another one of these:

Beware the pop guns!

The Cone Comb at regionals

Because Rebekah placed first in her school's Tournament of Innovation, she got to compete at regionals. We dropped off her invention at the Museum of Idaho annex on Friday (Feb. 24) and went back Saturday morning to see if she won anything.

Rebekah with her poster, inventor's log and invention at the Museum of Idaho Annex. She pinned her school's 1st place to her shirt before we left the house. Miri with her ponytail in the foreground.

Her score sheet indicated that she would receive something at the awards ceremony, so we stuck around for a while and looked at the other projects.

Ana checking out some glasses with windshield wipers.

Miri being a goof. I guess we can safely say that her eyes are green. Or are they hazel?

What Miriam does when she's in a crowded room with people who are five times as tall as her.

In her age group (K-2) and division (non-working invention), Rebekah received second place. The family is going to Boise this weekend to see how her project fares against others in the state.

Rebekah posing for the museum's photographer and her mom in front of the Tournament of Innovation banner.

It's a good thing she brought an extra safety pin. ... She brought it "just in case" she received another ribbon.

New mattress

Because Seth's back had been hurting and we received our tax return early, we decided to buy a new mattress (like, a month ago ... but I'm slow in reporting it on the blog). The sales guy told us we'd have to walk around on it to help break it in. This is how Ana helped:


And then Miri woke up from her nap feeling forlorn, so she needed some quality snuggle time on the new mattress.

Miri-ism #3

While reading this book:

When we get to this page:

Miri: Ana!

When we get to this page:

Miri: Ana!

When we get to this page:

Miri: Daddy!

Ana-ism #18

Today while reading Curious George Goes to the Hospital, talking about George's doctor ...

Ana: Is the doctor a doctor and also a chef?
Andrea: I don't think so. Why?
Ana: Because his name is Dr. Baker.

The Cone Comb

Written by Rebekah:

"I invented: The Cone Comb. It picks up pine cones. I push The Cone Comb on the ground and the bristles pick up the pine cones and put them in the box. I got first place! I get to enter it into a museum for the regional contest."

Rebekah with her invention prototype, poster board, inventor's log and ribbon at the school.

Wardrobe malfunction

I'm told all the time that before I know it, my kids will be all grown up. I don't think anyone had this in mind, though:

What's that new addition to your outfit, Miri?

Not one, but two bras! Back in my day, we didn't start wearing those until we were at least two years old ...

Project: Mack's birthday

The girls have been invited to Cousin Mack's Harry Potter birthday. I tried in vain to find some Harry Potter Lego sets; apparently the stores decided to get rid of all of them after Christmas. (Since when did Harry Potter go out of style?) So along with the toy purchase we settled on, we made him a custom Harry Potter T-shirt using the same bleaching method as before. The best part: we bought the shirt for $1 on clearance at a secondhand store.

This project involved a bunch of detailed Exacto-knifing, but it actually turned out better than I expected. Now I'm wondering if a 29-year-old mother of three can get away wearing a bigger version.

Behold! Perfect for a 7-year-old HP fan, right?

FHE treats

How do the members of the Grover family eat their Family Home Evening treats?

Miri likes to eat from the bottom of the cone up.

Ana likes hers au natural.

Bekah likes to eat them quickly so that she's finished by the time the camera comes out.

Seth likes to supervise while looking dashing.