I am Thankful for a New Post

SORRY!
What is it they say about the road paved with good intentions? Oh never mind. It has been a month since the chronicles of Jack have been documented on the world wide web. I understand I got a few family members hooked on Jack's happenings and then abruptly caused some (who will go unmentioned) to go through withdrawals. I hear chocolate cake helps with those nasty withdrawal side effects :) My intent was not to avoid any permanent record of the month of November as it was a FANTASTIC month for Jack and family. I just couldn't fathom a new update until I got the Disney pictures and musings organized. Well clearly I still have to finish that but decided what the heck...let's just jump into current events ( I promise to soon post about Disney and the big 03 birthday!)


Gobble Gobble
Flexibility anyone? Tuesday afternoon Jack's school called asking us to come pick Jack up--he had a fever. Oh, he didn't look well when I arrived. By late afternoon we had a diagnosis of pneumonia and my mom was busy finding people to take turkey off her hands as she ordered a 19 pounder expecting Gary for dinner (HAHAHAHAHA!!!)

Determined that we would not spend Thanksgiving in the hospital Jack routinely yelled at his chest, "Pneumonia go away...you are not welcome for Turkey Day!" Okay, so I coached him a bit on this little poem ...but you never know the powers of self-healing. At the very least it was entertaining.



We pulled off a very nice last minute, stay-at-home holiday. Jack enjoyed the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and did a rendition of the Rockettes with mom. He is a very high kicker, FYI. We saw all the grandparents via Skype and Jack even gobbled up a turkey leg. Well, licked it a few times is more accurate...but he had pneumonia for Pete's sake.

The Day After

I know, he doesn't look sick. But as the shoppers were sipping their Starbucks Eggnog Venti Lattes searching for sales at Macy's, Jack and I had the first appointment at the pediatrician's office as a follow up. While his fever is gone and he has more energy for sure the doctor heard the pneumonia in both lungs this time around. No x-ray needed. Treatment stays the same. A little double pneumonia didn't stop him from getting his jingle on. In between productive naps Jack helped Mommy and Daddy decorate for Christmas. He loves the tree and remembered the "one finger touch" rule created last year and used it ad nauseum as he touched each ornament multiple times...but always with one finger. Good grief. Fa la la la la...

Walt Disney World...Most Magical or Contagious

Happy Halloween

Ghosts and goblins and spooks, oh my. Astronauts and Spider man and the Postman, oh my! Jack went to our neighbor's Halloween party last night. They had the ever-popular bouncy house and Jack showed off his jumping skills winning the award for last man standing. Only the promise of a hot dog could lure him out of the red jumperoo. Here he is with his neighbors...spidey and the postman. Can you believe he still has the hat on? The rain moved us all into the garage. Jack enjoyed his hot dog and fruit kabobs!
The real fun was bobbing for donuts. The tasty pastries were hanging by a thread (literally) and the costumed creatures competed to see who could gobble up the sugar treat first. Of course the catch was"hands behind your back". Jack was what we call...determined...not to win, just to devour the donut. That he finally did with a bit of help! Tonight he happily wore his space suit again. Whew...I wondered if we weren't going to be hunting down a fireman jacket at the last minute. While posing for a pic by the pumpkin he uttered "Buzz Aldridge is a silly astronaut." (scratching head) He joined some neighbors and we learned for the first time just how hilly our neighborhood really is. After a dozen or so houses which equated to 300 some stairs (small exaggeration) he returned happy with his loot. On his way to bed the door bell rang. As I went to hand out candy Jack told his father "Sorry Dad I have to stop to watch the kids at the door." My favorite thing about Halloween too! Like mother like son. Happy Halloween (insert spooky music).

Monster Mash

Jack got a head start on Halloween last night. Check out his Monster Mash Montage.

Isn't Greed One of the Seven Sins?

Connect the Dots (and Popsicle greed)
Sunday we noticed Jack's eyebrow was red and swollen. Monday morning his cheeks matched. The doctor suspected the Tamiflu from last week. Benedryl and cold compresses are keeping him comfortable. We went back at 8am this morning for a flu shot and follow-up. The lead doctor came to see Jack and is not happy that Jack is now suspected to be allergic to three different meds. He said the rash looked Scarlet Fever like and did a strep test. The test came back negative and they are now doing the 48-hour one to be sure. He wanted it to be strep versus a medicine allergy. Pooh. Looks like allergy testing is in Jack's very near future. On the bright side our little boy showed great negotiating skills at the doc's today.

Jack to Doc: Maybe Jack can have a blue Popsicle? Please.

Doc: I think the nurse just gave you one, right?

Jack to Doc: That was for the strep test. Maybe now I can have one for the flu shot.

He did get it...and it was blue, too. He also took his shot and strep culture like a pro.


Daddy's Little Boy (and money hungry)
Jack is going through a very pronounced Daddy stage. It is doing wonders for mom's self-esteem. Every morning Jack wakes wanting his Daddy and upset that he is at work already. This week he has come up with some interesting alternatives to explain Daddy's whereabouts:

• Daddy isn't at work. He went to the bank to get Jack more money.
• Daddy isn't at work. He is at Giggles getting Jack a lot of new toys.
• Daddy isn't at work. He went to get Jack some more paint for my arty arty craft day.

Hmm...does anyone see a theme?

The Great Pumpkin Rises Again

For the second year in a row we attended the Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival. It was a very chilly day, but fun was had by all. They were playing Ghost Busters when we first entered the park..Jack's new favorite song. We made quite an entrance with Jack screaming "Who you gonna call...GHOST BUSTERS!" Here's Jack with his backup singers. Jack and Daddy painted a pint-sized pumpkin. We learned that green paint mixed with purple paint equals ugly paint...sorry to the children following us as we didn't discover the water to clean the brush in between paint dips until too late. Oops. Jack enjoyed storytime at the gingerbread house. When we discussed the story again at dinner the part Jack remembered most was where ice cream was dished up with the apple pie. HA!

We took a ride, albeit a very slow ride on a train around the base of Stone Mountain. Jack learned a bit of physics...if the base of the train is 5 miles around and we are only going 5 miles an hour how LONG is this train ride of us staring at a block of stone going to last??? Joking aside Jack enjoyed riding a Diesel, even if he called it Thomas most of the time.

We ended the evening with hot chocolate and the laser/fireworks show. Grandpa would be pleased to know Jack bellowed "KABOOM" with every firework. Happy Autumn to all!

Where Art Thou Sleep?

I have heard stories all my life about my own love for sleep. About how I would fall asleep right at the dinner table...using the marinara sauce as my personal night cream. I remember when I first dated Gary 16 years ago how he would miss our 12pm Chinese Politics class because he overslept. So where did Jack's hatred of sleep come from? Which one of you who share our blood caused this? Fess up! HA! He has not been to sleep before 10:30 pm once this week! And to add insult to injury the other night during his nighttime ramblings I heard him declare...

"Maybe mommy could be pretty and wear a dress."

So as Jack says..."Good night. Sleep tight. Don't let the dump trucks bite."

Jack Feels Good

All Better?
Either Tamiflu is a miracle drug or Jack had a more mild virus than the flu...as he was fever free all day yesterday and through the night. He is off to school this morning. Thanks for all the well wishes (and invite to Hawaii!!)

101 Uses for Chopsticks
And we wonder why Jack is on the slim side...perhaps because dinner time is more frequently known as silly time around here. This is a re-enactment...as the original was not on film and included lots of impressive chopstick letters. HA!

Sick Jack

Jack came down with a fever last night at dinner. By the time we were putting him to bed it was 103 degrees. He typically runs a bit high, though. He slept long but restlessly. He asked to see one of his doctors (Dr Carol) around 3am in the morning. That is when I knew he was really sick. He also screamed out "Where is Minni and Poppop?" and calmed only when he learned they were with Grandma and Grandpa in Charlotte. At one point he told me that cupcakes do not have chicken bones but drumsticks and muffins do (I think we might have gone over 103 degrees at that point). We did see the doctor today and because of his high fever and his high risk as a preemie, recent pneumonia, and pint-size she prescribed Tamiflu. It is suppose to shorten the life of the flu and speed recovery dramatically. He has taken two doses thus far and was quite active around dinner time tonight. So much so that I am calling this the silly flu versus the swine flu. I am not sure if the Tamiflu can work that fast...but I am sure hoping so! He is in bed now with a fever hovering only around 100 degrees. Here's praying he has a good night!

Dr Suess Would Be So Proud...

or maybe not. Jack made a rhyme today. I had him re-enact it for the camera. He now delights in repeating this phrase in public....of course.

The Gym

Jack continued his love of Dr Seuss on the way to the gym. Oh yea...we signed him up for gymnastics since karate will have to wait another season :) We thought it a great idea to help him build more strength since he is no longer doing physical therapy. He attended the class a few weeks back as a trial. Oh boy...was it interesting. As you know Jack can become a bit over-stimulated in new environments with his desire to explore every nook and cranny. His Director at his school says it is a sign of intelligence...Jack must be a genius then because by the end of the gym class there was only one person huffing and puffing...ME...from chasing him all over the gym. Well, this time things were much different. I brought Daddy along for help :) Actually we have been saying "At gym you have to stay with the group" as a mantra for the last two weeks. It worked. Jack took off a few times but once we uttered that phrase he came back willingly. Phew. I was amazed at how in three weeks he has actually built some strength...the first time around he could not do a wheelbarrow. He just could not support his body weight with his arms. This time I walked him several feet in wheelbarrow mode. Last time he could hang from the rings for a second. This time he not only hung from the rings but pulled his knees up towards his chest and it lasted...well, three seconds! We have nine sessions to finish the year. So, what about the Dr Seuss comment??? The whole way to the gym Jack kept saying "I have a wocket in my pocket!" which considering the gymnastics class is made up of 100% girls (just this class by fluke)...I was growing a bit nervous with his comment. hee-hee. All was well. He is a preschooler after all.