Poor little boy

Jack was prescribed amoxicillin for his ear infection. He took his last dose Wednesday morning.  When I put him in the bath Wednesday night, he had a bunch of weird spots all over his belly, legs, arms, and armpits.  They looked like chicken pox. I called the on-call doctor from our pediatricians office, sent her a picture, and she called us back suggesting that it was probably the same virus that caused the ear infection (and goopy eyes) that was now manifesting itself as a rash.  She said it would probably be ok, but to follow up with the doctor the next day if it got any worse.

Here is his belly on the night of Day #1.

I checked on him several times throughout the night and kept looking at his skin with a flashlight.  It seemed like they were about the same, if not better, so I decided to go ahead and go to school.

The flashlight must have lied, though, because when he actually woke up, they had spread.  We drugged him up and took him to school anyway.  Luckily it was the day I actually had a prep period, so I taught one class and then went to check on him.  It seemed to be spreading like crazy and had changed forms quite a bit from the night before.  I called the doctor's office, talked to a nurse, and then made an appointment to bring him in.  I rushed to put some sub plans together and find someone to cover my classes, then got Jack and headed to the doctor.  Our regular pediatrician doesn't work on Thursdays so we met with Dr. Barr, who actually checked Jack out in the hospital when he was born.

She said it was quite the case of hives and that it was most likely a reaction to the amoxicillan which could come on during any point while taking it or even after.  She also checked his ears and found that his left ear was still infected.  Great!  She prescribed a new antibiotic and then just told us to keep him on Benadryl and ibuprofen.

Here is his belly on the afternoon of Day #2.

Once we got everything we needed (including a coke and fries from Wendy's a half hour detour sitting in the shade of Sugarhouse Park while Jack took a nap), we headed back to get Molly and go home.  He seemed fine.  He played around as usual with Molly and was pretty much his normal self.  We gave him a bath and then headed to the grocery store because we needed a few things.

He totally melted at the store.  We realized that picking him up and moving him from home to car seat to store, etc.  was making him miserable.  He didn't want you touching his belly or lifting him up by his armpits.  James ended up taking him back to the car, while Molly and I finished getting the things we needed.  

The doctor said he was fine.  James said he was fine.  We just needed to keep the drugs in him.  We decided to try school again (mainly because the mother - who has extreme guilty mom syndrome about now - has missed 4 days in the last 3 weeks).  The ladies at school are so wonderful and were totally fine to take care of him.  In fact, one lady said it would be nice to have him in his benadryl-induced zombie state because he wouldn't be running around crazy as usual.  

I went to check on him during my lunch (because I didn't have a prep period today) and he had had a pretty good morning, but after lunch was pretty uncomfortable.  They had re-drugged him, but he just wouldn't sleep in his bed or relax without someone holding him.  I sat with him for about 20 minutes and then had to leave both of them (Molly, of course, needed attention too) whimpering at me to go back to one more class (as if the guilty mom syndrome had not been bad enough).

Anyway, after school he was still struggling and was walking kind of funny.  We stopped for Frosty's on the way home to try and help us all be better, which they did.  Then, I decided that maybe a coolish bath would help.  Jack sat in the bath for a good 45 minutes and played.  He seemed pretty comfortable in there, though I did get the full extent of his hives, inlcuding his now swollen and purple ankles and wrists that look like someone took a baseball bat to them.  Sad boy.

In the bathtub, Day #3  

We sent Molly and James to get a pizza with my parents and Annie's family and Jack and I just hung out the rest of the night.  I've never seen this kid hold still for such a long stretch of time.  He has realized that when he moves, he hurts, so as long as I kept him relatively entertained, he just sat on the couch most of the night until he fell asleep.

It seems to have stopped spreading around and they seem to be either fading or turning purple (which I guess leads to fading).  Hopefully tomorrow brings a little bit less discomfort than today for this little squirt.  

Anniversary #7

Part One

by 

James

True Love, Happy Anniversary to Us. A lot has happened in the 7 seven years. Here is just a sample. Haley thanks for sticking with me through the good and the bad. I am glad your dad gave permission after waiting 2 1/2 hours to ask him at the yard. It would have taken even longer for me to gather the courage had I needed to ask your Mom.Then you said yes, even after my special plan for a proposal was spoiled. That was a rough day. Out of trials such as these, there have been many good memories. We are on to many more years and memories. I am thankful for a beautiful and loving wife. A good family on both sides, along with two cute and funny children. Who would have though I would be this blessed.  Haley, thank you for all your support these last 7 years, and two beautiful children. I love you Haley, more each day. You are truly one of a kind. Happy Anniversary!

Super heroes don't feel well

This week at school the kids are learning about fairy tales, fables, and nursery rhymes. Today was a dress up day and the kids were supposed to be super heroes, princesses, or anything else they wanted to be.  Molly was "Belle with a Dentist Cape" and Jack was Superman.

I got a call from Miss Sarah after school got out to say that Molly had woken up from her nap and couldn't open her eyes. They were goobery and pink.  Great!  

I called and got her an appointment with the doctor and on the way she kept saying her ear hurt, too.  Great!

As it turns out, she has an ear infection and infected eyes.  The doctor didn't say conclusively that it was pink eye, but just that it was an infection in both her eyes and ears.

She perked up quite a bit in the evening and with plenty of antibiotics and other drugs in her, she seemed fine and would be ok to go to school the next day. Unfortunately, Jack woke up in the middle of the night with the same goobery eyes.  Great!  (not to mention that he was at Kids Care on Sunday night with an ear infection, also).

On top of that, I have felt super crappy for about a week or more and haven't been able to kick the crud I've had.  So today we took a sick day.  Both kids seem to be doing better as long as I keep the drugs pumped in them.  They are both (all three of us, actually) super grouchy so it has been a long morning.  

We needed to get out of the house after lunch and both munchkins fell asleep so now I am just trying to stay awake and get some work done.  Let's hope everyone feels a little better tomorrow.

Mission report

Elder William Karl Petersen was called clear back in September to serve in the Baltic States Mission, assigned to Lithuania.  He finally had his opportunity to go. 

On Sunday, February 23rd, he gave his farewell talk to an huge crowd at the Hunter 1st Ward.  He gave and excellent talk that showed he was a little nervous, a little bit of a boob, and a little bit of a dork, but a well-prepared young man, ready to serve.  His talk was about faith, hope, and charity and also included some kind of basketball analogy (which honestly lost me, but that's ok).  Embarrassingly, my Jack walked up on the stand during the talk.  He's not usually permitted to wander during church, but had been going back and forth between us, Grandma & Grandpa Binggeli, and Annie's family.  I thought he was with Annie when we realized he was on the stand.  Sorry - bad parenting moment.

One of the best parts of the meeting was to see a whole group of Willie's non-member friends attend the meeting. They looked pretty sharp in white shirts and ties.  Also, I didn't see them, but there were a couple of inactive families in the ward who decided to come for the occasion and that was pretty cool, too.  Don't forget Allen and Chunky, also non-members and Willie's neighborhood friends since we moved into that neighborhood. They came too, all dressed up, and sat with my mom.  It was a great experience.

Most of the packed church house descended on my parents house afterwards.  I have never seen so much food consumed in such a short amount of time.  The Petersen's and the Huber's both know how to throw parties with plenty and we thought we were ready, but I don't think we could have ever prepared for the crowd that there was.  The food was gone pretty quickly.  My mom began emptying out her pantry with bags of chips and chips & salsa, we found some apples and an extra cantaloupe that we cut up.  It was just crazy.

Saturday night preparations

Sunday morning, before the masses descended 

On Monday night we had a final family farewell feast at Crown Burgers. It was delicious, of course.

On Tuesday night, Willie was set apart as a missionary by President Hunt, his stake president.  He gave a very nice blessing to Willie, even though my kids (tired and sensing everyone's emotions) were not very well-behaved.  It was a good experience and there were a few tears shed, but the saddest part was poor Elliott.  Once the setting apart was finished, he was just inconsolable with tears.  I think the reality of his favorite Uncle Willie leaving had set in and he just didn't know what to do with all the emotion.  He was ok, though.  We went back to my mom's after for a quick donut before saying our goodbyes.

On Wednesday morning, I got the kids to school and then headed to my parents around 9:00 to hang out with them and Willie at their house until it was time to drop him off at the MTC.  

The bags were packed.

We played UNO and Willie played a few more songs on his ukulele.

Last photo in front of the house.

We made a quick pit stop at Annie's house to say final goodbyes toe the boys and Annie, there.  

And then we were off to Provo.  Once we got out of Orem and into Provo, Willie said he started to itch.  Oh well.  I guess he'll just have to itch for 6 weeks.  We made a last stop to Wendy's for french fries and a fruit punch.  Mother Judy made us stop and another building so Willie could go to the bathroom (just in case there wasn't a bathroom in the MTC).  

Itching

Waiting for french fries.

We still had some time to spare so we stopped in front of the Provo Temple for another photo shoot.  There were only 8000 other missionary families with the same idea.  We were just counting down the minutes until it was time for the drop off.  Mother Judy wanted to yell to everyone in the parking lot that her son was going on a mission, but she resisted since they probably all had missionaries out, too.

Finally it was time.  He was ready.  We drove to the gate of the MTC, they told us what direction to go.  We parked.  My dad got the suitcases out of the car.  We met Elder Sonik (who leaves next week for Brazil) who was going to be Willie's registration escort.  We took one final picture and then that was it.  He was gone.  He had a huge grin on his face and we got in the car (sad) and drove away.

Until we meet again in 2 years . . . 

Things Molly says

Handing Jack pretend food, "you're gonna love it - it's perfect"

At the natural history museum grabbing the map, "mom, I got a nap. "

"Mom, the piscetti string!" When driving towards the spaghetti bowl at 2100 south and I-15.

"Dad, I love planets!" After a quick trip to the planetarium.

Banging on the door frantically while I was in the shower, molly yelled, "moooooooooom, Jesse on the radio!!" Jesse's girl was on the radio.

Holding her broom in the air, "look at my Olympic porch."

Driving behind the Rings of an audi, "an Olympic car!"