Better Together

There's nothing better than being married to your best friend. And I know these two are, best. friends. forever.

During the father of the bride's toast to the couple. He warned her friends that they would be taking the back seat. They would now be second to Alex. That those friends are still important, still loved, appreciated and needed. Alex is number one. Her dad said he loved that anything he does with any of his friends is better with his wife, because she's his best friend, that they laugh and love.

When we came home at 11:30 Sunday night to a flood in our new house, I couldn't help but be so thankful that my husband was my best friend, too. And even in the hard times, those husbands are still your best friends. The ones you want to weather anything with, good or bad. Thick, thin, funny, whatever.

Here Comes the TrekSter(s)!

I posted a status a few days ago on Facebook, something to the tune of riding bikes never gets boring. It really doesn't especially after my wreck. Maybe I should just get honest, it was a "fall over" not a wipe out of any sort. It was my First time EVER clipping in my mountain bike. The 82 miles rode the previous day might be part of the excuse, too. The location of the fall was almost to the top of where you would start your descent down what has been dubbed "suicide hill." I guess going up is just as suicidal!

But, as stated before, riding bikes for this PARTY OF 5 never, ever gets boring. And now that we have Morgann riding our evening route by herself completely on her trikester, there really isn't any complaining! It's summer, time to ride.

The truth is, with views like this and friends like these girls, Mountain Biking is for everyone!

Even after bruises, bumps, and separated somethings-- I can't wait to get back out there!

On Loving You and Hospitals

I remember walking through a Fred Meyer store with my mom and Mason when he was around one month old and saying to my mom- "I never knew how much you loved us." Referring to myself and Michelle. Because as a child you truly don't know the love a parent has for you. And how badly when that child is in pain you would give anything to take their place.

Last night was the first time I truly wanted to take Mason's place because he really has never had any significant problems or been in severe pain. And really he wasn't in severe pain. He just itched, which is one more reason why I am taking the side of the doctor from today.

A few days ago Mason had four "spots" appear on his right arm and right cheek. I thought oh great, he is getting chicken pox, here we go. Clearly it wasn't that. The next day those spots became bites to us, the docs that we are. So we went with that and put some anti-itch cream on them. Then there was last night....

DRAMA, let me tell you. The brown recluse, it had to be, because one bite was starting to open up in the center. After checking WebMD the conclusion was we should at least call the ER. That phone call lead me and Mason waiting, waiting and waiting for a doctor to check out the now infection that the nurse thought it might be. As I waited I told Michelle they thought it might be an infection, no big deal, right?

Michelle decided to call me back and tell me the severity of MRSA staph infection. Lets just say this is NOT GOOD! I told Michelle, ok, but the nurse just said that, he hasn't been seen yet. I started to get a little concerned.

My concern rose to total helplessness and hysteria when the ER doc walked in and just looked at Mason and said- MRSA staph, we need to treat this right now. Only to then walk out, not asking any history, to get an antibiotic. And off we went with strict orders to see the doctor daily until this goes away and keep him away from basically everyone and everything because this is highly contagious.

We arrived home at 1:30 and Mason finally fell asleep at 2:00. Only to be woken up by an antibiotic he couldn't keep done. So we gave him another dose by order of the hospital and slept on the couch the rest of the night (until 6AM when MJ woke up).

Frantically this morning we rushed MJ over to Gina's so she wouldn't get infected and made the doctor appointment for 9:10. While I waited for the appointment Michelle called me again to tell me that she just talked to a nurse at the Children's Hospital in Seattle. She gave me a long list of things to do and said if he does not get good care we need to bring him up there.

My nerves were jumping as we waited to see the pediatrician this morning. And as he walked in I could see in his eyes that everything was going to be ok. He said, looks like some spider bites there Mason. He knew that I was in total panic mode and recognized he couldn't convince me to relax. What he didn't know is that for the past six months we have been in limbo because our pediatrician left, nobody has been able to take Dr. Weber's place until now.

Dr. Hetrick is amazing. He actually drew circles around the bites and told me if the redness goes outside the circle I can call him anytime. I don't think I need to call. Looks like he'll be just fine.

Here is our proof:

A Runt?

You know, Runts candy. The bananas, oranges, strawberries. They're yummy says Mason.

A Runt, that is what scared me last night. It is the cause of our first trip to the ER for MaKenna. After arriving home from some friends last night MaKenna started having some weird breathing patterns. It was an overwhelming intuition that something was wrong. I called E in NC he said I am not there do what you must do. My Mom in WA said just take her up and have her checked out. Gina says, you have insurance get your baby to the ER if something does not seem right.

With all of their advice I called my in-laws to come and sit with Mason while I ran her to the ER. I told the DR maybe she swallowed a Runt, her breathing is weird all of a sudden and she puked three times. I was sitting right there with the kids that were eating Runts and am sure I would have seen it if she would have but I couldn't explain what else it might be.

Hmmm, she looks healthy, happy, beautiful and perfect. Why are you here again, says DR Page. You should watch her for the next 24 hours to make sure she has no temperature. If she gets a temperature bring her in, otherwise your good to go. 2 hours of waiting for that.

I am not a Neurotic Mom. That title does not fit me, right?