Randomness

• The leaves are really starting to change here.  The sumac is blazing red and there are goldeny-orange-green trees, along with the occasional bright red maple.  We're planning on taking a day trip up north to see the forests in their autumn glory (yes, I just said that) on Wednesday, providing everyone's healthy enough.  Of course I'll take pictures and post them for your enjoyment!

• Colds.  First Henry; now, as of last night, Holly.  I keep thinking I'm coming down with something and it hasn't happened yet.  You know that feeling?  The weird, dry throat, kind of spacey feeling, tired.  It's been going on since Friday and I wish that if I am going to get sick it would just happen already.  Not that I want to.  Obviously I want to avoid it!

• Also if I'm not sick tomorrow, I get to go with some other homeschooling moms to the Minnesota Historical Society's Educator Preview of their new exhibit--CHOCOLATE.  (Please don't get sick, please, please, please...)  I get a goodie bag if I go!!  A goodie bag!

• The kids did their first nature study drawings for this year.  They blew me away.  I should scan them and show them off.  Every week they'll choose something in nature that interests them and try to draw it as accurately as they can.  Then they find out exactly what it is and write the name on the drawing.  Sometimes we'll add quotes to it if we find something we like.  We generally look up what we're studying in the good ol' Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock.  (LOVE this book by the way.  What an amazing resource.  No wonder so many people talk about it--and it's 100 years old--with revisions--next year!)  

• I canNOT believe that October is a few days away.  What happened?

• I recently found out that my brother, Ryan, doesn't like Nutella.  I'm thinking he may be adopted and it's been kept a secret.

• Seriously, Nutella?

• No, that's not chocolate around my mouth.  It's my...new lipstick.  Yeah.  Lipstick.  It's brown.

Hope you're enjoying autumn where you are.  We sure are!

Doctor Visit

Holly had another one of her checkups today.  It went well.  She's grown another inch and gained two more pounds since July.  She's gaining weight really well, but the doctor's still a little concerned about her height.  If she hasn't grown appropriately (percentiles and all that) in proportion to her weight by the next time we see him (March), we'll have to go to the endocrinologist to make sure there are no growth hormone problems or something of that nature.  I'm hoping we get to avoid that.  Of course.  The doctor also noted some clubbing of her fingernails--something I hadn't heard of.  It has to do with malabsorption in her case, and should go away soon.  It means her fingernails are shaped differently and they're thin, among other things.

She had some bloodwork drawn today; we'll find out soon what her results are for iron, D, liver enzymes (they were elevated last time), and a couple other things, along with her antibody levels.  The antibodies are the marker for celiac disease and damage.  She should have very low to no antibodies in this test by now--we have our fingers crossed.  If there are antibodies, it means damage is still being done to her body, she's still not absorbing nutrients, and still at a very elevated risk for things like cancer and nerve damage, among other nasty things. 

We are optimistic that her labs will be markedly better than last time.  I mean, last time she was severely anemic and had huge amounts of antibodies, along with other pretty severe deficiencies and elevated liver enzyme levels (which, of course, are things you just don't want to hear about your child).  She's finally got pink cheeks again and as far as I know, her heart murmur is gone (it was from the anemia).

A side note, the clinic we're going to--Maple Grove Fairview Children's Specialty Clinic (for pediatric gastroenterology)--is amazing.  They have a special nurse to hang out with Holly while she's sitting on my lap for her blood draws.  They give her numbing cream on her arms so she won't feel the needle, they read books to her and let her push the buttons on the book (one of those noisy ones, it was even My Little Pony), she got to pick out a book and a small toy...it's pretty amazing. 

Afterward, we went to lunch at PF Changs (mmm...Shanghai Street Noodles...) (oh, and mmmm...chocolate layer dessert...), which has become a favorite of ours.  There are other restaurants around that area that have good gluten-free menus and training that we need to check out soon.  Today Holly wanted Chinese, though, so that's where we ended up!

I'm very proud of my brave little girl--she went through it all a little nervous, but was a little champ!  And Henry, too.  He was such a good guy sitting patiently and quietly.  I'm such a lucky mom!

Taylors Falls boat tour

Last Monday, Harry came over to spend some time with the grandkids (and us, too).  For those who don't know, Harry is Brad's dad.

We headed over to the St. Croix river and took an 80-minute tour on the paddlewheel boats that go through the Interstate park system and downstream.  It was a beautiful day, a beautiful trip, and we even had some yummy snacks (they were only Skittles, M&Ms, and almonds, but they were yummy on the boat).

 

Afterward, we took Grandpa through Interstate State Park (where the ever-popular potholes are--the kids LOVE that little park) and showed him the interesting geology and stunning views.

We headed home for some play time and then dinner on the grill and a spice cake (thanks Mom!) with cream cheese frosting.  It was a great day.

Thanks, Harry!  We had a great time!

First day of school! First day of school!

We started on Wednesday morning...

P.S.  Name the movie the title is from and you'll be a winner.  You won't exactly win anything, but hey, you'll KNOW you're a winner.
P.P.S.  Don't mind the big gaping hole in the wall behind the whiteboard.  It's not really there.  Okay, it is.  It's embarrassing, but true.  We have a giant hole in the wall so we could fix the plumbing in the shower.  IT WAS MADE IN THE SPRING.  Ugh.
P.P.P.S.  See my lovely paper organizers in the shelves, Mom?  See 'em?  Huh?  Aren't they the coolest?!