Don't Answer the Door! It's Child Protective Services!!

Bardolf is going to be the death of me. I know that he is a boy, but CRAP! Does he have to always fall on his head?? I mean it is a big head, but he only has one and his little brains are still developing. I blame his stuttering on all his head trauma. He must hit it at least once a day.

Getting back to my point. Bardolf almost had to be taken to the ER Thursday night, for hitting his head HARD, for the second time in the last 6 months. The kids were in the back yard eating fudge-cicles and I was popping in and out of the back yard and house trying to get a little housework done while they played (our backyard is fully fenced and I can see into it from several large windows while inside--so don't get all high and mighty on me for leaving them back there m'kay?). I grab the garbages from the bathrooms to empty them and then I hear it. THE cry. I rush outside, Bardolf and the wagon that I had put up on the outside toy bin so I could sweep the deck were both on the paved walk next to the deck. I asked Muirne what happened and being that she is 5 her description was vague at best. I rush him into the house and call Caspian to tell him that he may have to come home if I need to take Bardolf to the ER. I then call the Advice Nurse at the Juveniles' Ped's office and she gives me these guidelines:

1. If he passes out/goes unconscious take him to the ER



2. If he convulses or seizes take him to the ER



3. If he falls asleep and cannot be aroused take him to the ER



4. If he acts dizzy or can't walk take him to the ER

Okay maybe it is just me, but I WOULD FREAK THE HELL OUT if Bardolf did any of those things and call a freaking ambulance. Ummmm don't those things seem kinda like common sense that they are like SUPER BAD? She then asks me if any of those things happened....Yeah. I would NOT have called the Advice Nurse if any of that happened. There must be some real geniuses out there for them to have to spell out those symptoms as needing immediate help.
The last time he went to the ER was because he ran into the corner of our wall and had a lump the size of a large walnut popping out of his forehead within 30 seconds of the accident. That time we took him immediately to the ER calling the doctor on call just to let him know what we were doing. When we got there, we met plenty of judgemental glares and were grilled by EVERY MEMBER OF THE ER STAFF about what happened. I thought for sure CPS would be knocking on my door later that week. My description of the accident must have been good though because they never came...After this incident though, who knows!
Okay so after getting him calmed down and back into clothes (he wanted to be nekkid and I wasn't gonna fight him on it) he ate some dinner and went to sleep. This morning he said his head hurt, but other then that seems to be fine. Thank goodness! Just in case you were wondering the Mother of the Year award goes to me.

Here are some pictures of the brutality:

My Life Stopped for Six Minutes

Muirne's school just called. She was marked as absent. I dropped her off at 8am. The same routine every morning. Get in line in the turn around, pull up to the drop off area, give her a kiss goodbye, watch her walk in and pull away.

Today though, after I watched her walk in, she didn't go right to class. It is a short walk from the front door to the kindergarten wing and her class in the first in the hall. She was marked absent, which results in a phone call from the receptionist. Of course this call sent me into full panic.

My thoughts took over my mind. I tried to rationalize, telling myself she was fine, there must have been a mix-up, there are plenty of explanations. Then my emotions took over, I ran all kinds of scenarios through my head. What did I need to do. Who did I need to call. Oh my God my baby....

The receptionist said she would call me back as soon as she called down to Muirne's classroom. I am sure every mom has had a moment when they have lost track of their child at the playground, the wading pool, even your own yard and the few minutes they are missing feel like hours in which your mind and body reel with emotion and thought. I started feeling faint when the phone rang. It took 6 minutes. The longest six minutes ever.

She is in class. She was marked absent, then tardy. There was some miscommunication on the roster. I wash washed over with a sense of relief and confusion. School didn't start until 8:15 and I dropped her off at 8am. There is no reason she should have been late. The receptionist suggested I call her teacher after school. So I will.

I don't really care that she was late, but instead just happy that she is there. Of course I will be investigating and making sure she understands that if she wants to continue walking in alone she needs to go STRAIGHT to class. I am not sure I could take another scare.



**UPDATED** So she was in the cafeteria eating breakfast?? What the hell. I do actually feed my child before I send her to school believe it or not. She said she was still hungry so she went to eat. Oh and it was okay because one of her classmates ate breakfast at school and didn't ask her mom first if it was okay. I guess we will be having the "If all your friends jumped off a bridge would you too?" discussion sooner then I thought. Awesome.

SGRT: Road Trek Recap--Beware of KD in a Bikini

So as promised I am posting a recap of the SGRT 2008. This post will be in pictures and captions as to keep you somewhat entertained with visual stimulation as there is not much to report as far as shenanigans go. I know, I know, you were expecting a tirade about how much I hate road trips and how awful it was. Well other then the trip being over 1000 miles instead of the estimated 950, and Bardolf peeing in his car seat because Caspian didn't heed the pleas of a two-year-old, it was pretty uneventful. The scenery, however was breathtaking, and our marriage is safe...for now. Enjoy the onslaught of pictures and beware of KD boob-less-ness and cellulite in a bikini. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Muirne, Bardolf, Lizzard and Caspian pretty much looked like this the entire trip:





First stop (well second stop after the in-laws) Deception Pass:

There was a group of pastel artists sketching scenery, must have been about 15 of them. This artists rendering was my favorite:



Caspian and the juveniles posing on a log:



Bardolf and I feeling the pebbles between our toes (not much sand there):



Driving over the first pass on the way to Omak (Most of the scenery was this gorgeous):



Stopping in Omak Lake to swim. This lake is phenomenal and feels private because of the not being much to the park. It is on reservation land and there is a whole story as to how it became so quiet. It is over 7 miles long and fantastic:



Lizzard not wanting to swim and KD (here it comes, if you have a weak stomach turn away) in a bikini:



After Omak we headed to Wenatchee, also one of the most beautiful places in Washington State. Somehow the camera didn't make it out of the bag. If you saw one of my twitpics there was a little coffee shop called Naughty Monkey....heehee.


Our last stop before heading back to Squirrelly-ville was Kent, WA at the drag strip for the NHRA drag races. I had never been to pro-stock drag races and these cars made your chest actually vibrate--unreal:



I found my next Christmas present--well either this bike or boobs--you tell me which you think I need more:



Caspian and I posing for a quick snapshot. Yes dear readers all is still well after the SGRT. Only because he is getting me that bike or boobs:



XOXO

~KD

Right Now Is Never Better

"Your life is right now! It's not later! It's not in that time of retirement. It's not when the lover gets here. It's not when you've moved into the new house. It's not when you get the better job. Your life is right now. It will always be right now. You might as well decide to start enjoying your life right now, because it's not ever going to get better than right now--until it gets better right now!"

~Abraham-Hicks/Esther Hicks

That. That quote right there was what I needed today.

Today my mom and her husband took the juveniles for the day. Caspian was at work, so I was left to my own devices. I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself, so I decided to tackle the task of going through the kids toys in anticipation of Christmas and the most likely move we face in just a few short weeks. I ended up filling the entire interior of my mom's car and took it to the Goodwill. The kids rooms are now completely ready to be packed. Then I ran into the bank and thru McD's. I didn't have to share my fries. It was just what I needed at that moment.

Shortly after I went to the store, bought some flowers and went to an open house at my Aunts. She was showing off her new remodel where I sipped wine and mingled with many new faces. I rounded out my day picking up the Juveniles and meeting Caspian at home. I felt calm and focused. Exactly what I needed at that moment.

Tonight the juveniles are in bed. Caspian is watching a show about logging and nursing a tequila. Lizzard is asleep on the floor next to me as I type and reflect on all the changes and excitement coming our way. Mostly though I am enjoying this moment which is exactly what I need. This day. This time. It's getting better every moment and I better make sure to enjoy it!