ER Visit - 7/13/14

I knew that having 3 sons meant that we would have our fair share of bumps and bruises.  What I didn't count on was the fact that my most cautious child would have more trips to the doctor, more surgeries, and more ER visits than the other two combined.  Sheesh!  My Drew is so precious, but he has cost me a fortune in copays.  It's a good thing that he is so cute!  ;)

Wade was out of the country from July 5th - 15th.  When he is gone, I try to plan lots of activities.  I've learned that if we are busy, the time passes more quickly.  So, for this trip, Drew was at Grammie Camp for part of the time, Clayton was at Critter Camp for part of the time,  we had some really precious house guests for part of the time, we went to Holly Lake for part of the time, and we went to see my parents in Houston for part of the time.  It was a super fun, but super busy, 10 days!

On July 13th, we drove from East Texas to Houston.  I was so excited that my kids were going to see all 4 grandparents on the same day.  Such lucky boys!  As soon as we walked in my parents' front door, the boys were begging to go for a swim in their pool.  Within minutes they were in their suits and swimming.  About five minutes later, Drew attempted a front flip (I have no idea why my typically cautious kiddo tried such a thing!) and under rotated by a mile.  He came up clinching his neck and was inconsolably crying.  I wasn't sure where he hit, and I couldn't call Wade (because of the time difference).  My parents and I decided that I should probably take him to the ER to get checked out.

It was Sunday night and the ER was super busy.  We waited for 3 hours to be seen.  To my surprise, the doctor didn't do any X-rays or a CT.  He said that his neuro exam was fine and that we didn't need to take any further action.  The nurse in me wanted to see an image of that little noggin so that I could be certain that it was still in one piece.  But the weary Mama in me just wanted to get back to my parents house.  I decided to trust the doctor and just take my boy home.  He ended up being fine, praise the Lord!  I am sure that I lost a few years off of my life, but at least he was no worse for the wear.  ;)

Between a 36 hour NICU stay, reflux, ear infections, RSV, 2nd degree burns on his hands, two sets of tubes, adenoids removed, a nasal coblation, and this ER visit, my Drew has sure put us through the ringer!  I'm hoping that his future medical history is much less eventful than his past.  Bless his heart.  He is such a sweetheart!

Critter Camp 2014 - 7/7-7/10

Clayton was able to attend Critter Camp again this summer with his sweet gal pal, Maggie.  They had the best time - just as wonderful as their experience last summer.  I am so glad that we stumbled upon such a fun camp!  The Animal Sciences teacher that started the camp many years ago has retired.  Mr. Clapperton took over, and he ran it very much the same way.  The kids rotate through stations and get to interact with all kinds of animals - bearded dragons, blue tongue skink, geckos, Russian tortoise, Sulcata tortoise, chinchilla, hamsters, ferrets, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, African pigmy hedgehog, tarantulas, scorpions, Mexican king snake, albino California king snake, corn snakes, ground boa, ball pythons, bull snakes, and much more.  They learn about the animals' habitats, diet, etc.  At the end of the week, they get to take home an animal of their choice and care for them over the weekend.  It is a great educational experience for the kids!

From the very beginning of the week, Clayton was drawn to the ferrets.  He told me that he wanted to take home Toast for the weekend.  I wasn't thrilled about hosting a "weasel" in my house, but I was grateful that he chose something that didn't have scales.  Ha!

Drew was at Grammie Camp that week, but Owen got to go in the school and see all of the animals.  He was a big fan of the tortoise.  ;)

 Clayton filled out his own preference form.  I tried to steer him towards the sugar glider or the chinchilla, but he was dead set on Toast the Ferret.

 My sweet friend, Traci, and her little girl, Adelyn, happened to be visiting during the week of Critter Camp.  Clayton was so excited to show them the animals.  Traci isn't much of an animal person, so I was cracking up at her expressions.  ;)

 Bearded Dragon

 Gecko

 Albino Salamander

 Maggie with a Cockatiel

 Sugar Glider

 Scorpian

 I made the mistake of calling this guy a snake.  Our little animal scientists were quick to point out that it had a backbone, so it was, in fact, a legless lizard.  Ahhh... good to know!  ;)

 The littles got to hold the snake too (er, uh, legless lizard).  Ha!

 Another lizard of some kind...

At some point in the week, one of the sweet teenagers that helps with the camp was talking to Clayton.  She was kind to compliment Clayton on his handling of the animals and mentioned that he should work at the camp when he is a little older.  Well, my boy puffed up and asked if he could be a Jr. Helper now.  That sweet girl got him a name tag and declared him to be a Jr. Caretaker.  Ha!  Teenagers tend to get a bad rap, but I am learning that there are LOTS of great teens in the world.  So encouraging for this Mama!

Clayton got to bring Toast home, and enjoyed him.  He was pretty stinky and tended to tee-tee first thing every time that Clayton got him out of the cage (Clayton knew that was to be expected).  I certainly don't want to own a ferret, but it was just fine as a short term house guest.  ;)

 C was sad to see Toast go.  :(

It's hard to believe that Drew will be old enough to go to Critter Camp next year!  I guess that means that we will be hosting 2 animals...  Oy vey!

July 4th, 2014

I love celebrating the 4th of July!  It is seriously one of my favorite holidays!  This year we celebrated with family at the lake - sunshine, water, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, great grandparents, yummy food, and fireworks.  It was a wonderful weekend!

I'm crazy about dressing my boys in patriotic clothing.  I think they look so sharp in red, white, and blue!

Uncle Joe & Aunt Kim were so kind to host us all at their lake house.  It makes my heart so happy to know that my kids will have lots of childhood memories of being with family at the lake.  They are some blessed kiddos!  Thanks, Kimi & Joe for having us!

 Classic Drew - 2 thumbs up!  This kid loves life!  :)

Clayton was all about the jet skis this year.  Oh my, this boy and his lack of fear...  Ay-yi-yi...  My grey hairs are multiplying by the day.  ;)

 Sweet Owen just swam and swam right by the dock.  Sweet boy...

 Grandaddy attempted to fish off of the dock.  I am pretty sure that my little band of crazies drove all of the fish away.  Ha!

 Doug and Zack were so sweet to spend time with my boys.  They talked to the boys about what they wanted to be when they grew up.  Doug was sweet to encourage the boys to set their goals high to reach their maximum potential.  These boys love Doug, so I am sure that they took his advice to heart.  :)

 This poor child...  It's a shame that he has no personality.  I really wish that he would come out of his shell...  ;)

 My Hubs can slolam ski with the best of them.  What a stud!

 Love my little boating buddy.

 Clayton was a tubing fool!  It was mind over matter - he had a death grip on that tube and refused to let go!

 Happy, sunburned little lake rat

 Owen tried tubing for the first time!  He did great!  Joe pulled them super slow.  O started off nervous, but declared it to be "awesome" at the end of their ride.  :)

 Baby Jay is so fun!  (I still call him "Baby" even though he is married, has a full beard, and has a 2 year old daughter.  I can't help myself.  He was 10 when I met him.  ;) )  Clayton told Jay that he had never jumped off of a boat, so Jay was determined to remedy that situation.  Ha!

  My one shot of fireworks before my camera battery died.

Happy Birthday, America!