Spring is in the Air

The trees are budding.  Note to self: plant tulip bulbs.  My peonies are popping out of the ground.  Oh good, they survived.  Oh, what a track off we had; a visit to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Planetarium, Taekwondo testing & tournament, t-ball, a road trip to Minnesota, an Emergency Room visit and a few Spring snow storms to mix things up.  Madison received her Camo belt so now she's ready to spar.  The trip to Minnesota was uneventful until we headed home.  It was great to see my friends and family don'tcha know and have tator tot hot dish.   I love going back home but I really put on the pounds. The dinner tables are full and the homes are always welcoming.  I scored a Kuchen recipe so I can't wait to make my favorite; apricot & prune. Lance would rather go during harvest time so he can be of some help to John.  They weren't set to plant for another week or two.  Heading home was an adventure. Not even 3 hours out of town, in Sioux City, IA, we had stopped for lunch at Red Robin. Within 30 minutes Madison broke out in hives and had trouble breathing.  After giving her a shot of Benadryl and observed for 4 hours in the E.R. we were back on the road heading to our hotel in Kearney, NE. We're not sure what caused her reaction and she had another episode at school this week but without the hives. We are on a waiting list to see an Allergist at Children's Hospital and we gave the school nurse an Epi-Pen just in case.  A snow storm was slotted to hit Colorado during our drive but we pushed forward hoping we would miss it.  We drove through rain most of the way and hit blizzard conditions 2 exits from home. Lance and Ethan had Mammoth tickets for that night so off they went.  No thank you; after 6 hours on the road I was staying home.  The next morning we had to get up early and take Madison to her Taekwondo tournament across town.  The snow hadn't stopped but we prayed and arrived safely. Madison won 3rd place in her 1-Steps and met Grand Master Lee; the big kuhana of the American Taekwondo Association.  It was an exhausting but rewarding day.

Lance was recognized for his volunteer work at Dakota Valley Elementary.  He spends an hour every Tuesday & Wednesday working with the 2nd Grade reading groups. The kids just love him and he is definiately making a difference.  He was given the Wendy DeBell Exceptional Volunteer award along with volunteers from each school in the Cherry Creek School District.  They threw a fancy schmancy banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.  It was truly an honor.  He was humbled because some of those volunteers do so much more than him.

It's a Musical!

The 2nd & 3rd graders put on a musical last week for all of us to enjoy and if you weren't able to attend I thought I would show you a 4 minute snip-it of what you missed. They practiced every day.  It was actually pretty cute.  I wasn't informed by her teacher about anything so Madison told us she had to wear white or black.  As we arrived it was clearly a white shirt and black pants were the uniform of choice. Well, at least we can pick her out of the crowd.

The kids are off-track and they made their lists of what they want to do.  It looks like we're going to be pretty busy.

I have been hookin' up with friends on Facebook; high school, even elementary school, cousins, old friends I haven't talk to in years, and current friends who I talk to daily.  Lance is on it but mostly for playing Mafia Wars.  I'm not much for computer games.  Facebook is addicting so I'm trying to limit my time on it.  So far that idea hasn't worked but I'll keep trying. 

Please mute the playlist below before viewing this video:

Changes

I've been busy getting nothing done. Madison is doing good. It was simple diet changes that we made and now there is no more every day tantrums (just the 8-year old girl stuff) and no more responding in anger when I simple ask her to brush her teeth. She's developing a sense of humor and talking to other adults more often using some eye contact. Her nightmares are back though. I don't know why she seems to have them so often. She's always being chased by something. Last night it was dogs. Her oral excessiveness has increased. She's constantly biting or sucking on her fingers & hands. Poor thing...her hands are raw. I bought her a chew toy to help her at school and when she's at home. As soon as she's idle her hands go in the mouth. All-in-all we are very happy with her progress.

Odd-n-Ends

Okay, Facebook is addicting and I don't even have that many friends.  I had to dig out my yearbook just to remind myself what we all used to look like.

Madison is really doing great.  After coming off a 4-day cupcake sugar high a few weeks ago we finally got her back on track.  She knows that Dr. Tim has really helped her.  The other day she told me that if she knows anyone that has nightmares that Dr. Tim can help them.  She's sleeping through the night, no more nightmares, limited arguments; she's just doing really great.  The kids give their stuffed animals "adjustments".  It's so funny to watch.  On one adjustment she said, "Now for the butt squeeze".  I told her that Dr. Tim doesn't do butt squeezes.  She said, "Yes, he does." so today she had to show him which one it was.  Well, she's got such a tiny butt that when he does this one adjustment on her low low back that his hands cover her butt - hence, the butt squeeze.  She was pretty funny.

Ethan starts t-ball in a few weeks.  Lance is coaching again and we have 2 kids coming back from the team last summer.  Go Sharks!

OMG!

I just told her to brush her hair. Lance took Ethan to Rocky Mountain Urgent Care and I was running around getting both of us ready to meet them. Ethan came down with a sore throat, fever and then he was having trouble breathing. Every time he would go to sleep he would wake up in a panic because he couldn't breathe. He's okay. The doctor said he has laryngitis and inflammation in his nasal cavity. His lungs are fine, his oxygen level was good but at five years old he can't figure out how to breathe through his mouth. He finally figured it out. I thought he learned that in the NICU - suck, swallow, breathe. I guess he'll be one of those kids who as soon as he learns something out the brain it goes. Anyway, back to, I just told her to brush her hair. Gobs of hair came out of her head and I had to cut out the rest.

Ki-Hap!

Madison earned her yellow belt in Taekwondo. Yeah for her!

Tony the Tiger G-R-E-A-T!

I have to say since I last blogged on Monday morning Madison is doing so good. She hasn't yelled at me or anyone this week, she's getting up for school in the mornings with no problem and happy too, no more tantrums and she was able to get 2 stripes on her belt on Tuesday night for a total of 4 stripes to show that she’s ready for testing to get her yellow karate belt next Friday night. No more stomachaches or nightmares either. It's a miracle! What a testimonial Dr. Tim Cummins @ Infinity Wellness Center will get from us.