A very long week by David

Last weekend we left the girls to stay a week with both grandmas and cousins in SLC.  That was a success. They have truly had the times of their lives.  Back in California things have not been quite so good.  On Tuesday Kiley had a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).  Unfortunately, it was unsuccessful after 3 tries.  The Dr. said he didn't puncture the spinal fluid so go home and we would try again later with the help of an x ray.  By Thursday Kiley was ready to die.  Total spinal head ache.  Basically the spinal fluid leaks out the needle hole and  so your brain stops floating and when it touches bottom look out.  So after a 14 hour stay at the ER. we came home. (while there Kiley had a successful second attempt at a lumbar puncture with the help of x-ray and ended up getting a blood patch to fill the leaking holes).  The boys ended up sleeping at a friends house.  What fun.  So Saturday rolls around and Kiley is ready to die again.  So off to the ER we go.  This time just more drugs.  Apparently this could easily last up to a week.  Meanwhile the girls are "stuck" in Utah and we are not sure when they are coming home because who knows when Kiley will be able to travel.  As a sidenoteI have been down the hill everyday this week (that is where all the appointments have been) and have gone to 2 doctors appointments, 2 dental appointments (no cavities hooray) and 2 ER trips.  I guess I am ready for school to start after all.

Hoping for a better week --David

What's going on?

We have been unexpectedly busy, busy this summer. I have lots of pictures and two incredibly funny videos I want to post, but I simply have not had the time or energy to work on them. Some things that have kept us busy....

• Some of my family came to visit for a few days

• I spent three days with the other moms in our homeschool group planning our year (which I am sooooo excited about!)

• We drove halfway to Grandma's house spent a few days with family then returned home with only the boys. The girls are partying with their cousins for a week!

• And of course we have spent too much time at doctor's offices. Hematologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon, and more to come. This week we have three appointments. Kaiser has yet to disappoint.

I hope to be able to post some pics later this week and I hope you are all having a wonderful summer.

Happy Birthday

6 years ago we said hello and goodbye to Davie. Last year his birthday was a tough one, but this year we have been so busy with life that it kind-of snuk up on us. Not sure if that's a good thing or not. Anyhow, happy birthday little one! We look forward to being with you again someday!

Hopefully I will have a chance to post some pictures later.

2 more points for Kaiser

Okay, I admit, I am way impressed, even in awe, with Kaiser right now. I took Anna and Robert in for check-ups on Wednesday. We only waited 10 minutes before their appointment and before we left Anna had x-rays done on her foot/ankle (it has bothered her ever since she hurt it over 2 years ago) and a referral for a specialist and Robert had referrals for his eyes, back and legs. He already has an apt with the neurosurgeon next week and the pediatric ophthalmologist next month.

And....I had lab work done yesterday. I started getting e-mails with my results yesterday, yes that's not a typo, it was the same day.

This is such an improvement over our HMO that I am giddy about it. It's like Christmas!

There's a new doc in town

Well, he's not new, just new to me and I'm thinking he's a huge improvement over the last one.

Our insurance changed on the first and today I was able to meet our new doctor. He thinks I am quite the medical mystery, but other than that he was very nice (and for those that keep wondering if it's lyme disease...I'll get the test done tomorrow.)  The best part is, I already have an appointment with a new neurologist on the 16th. Just like that. I didn't have to jump through any hoops or beg and plead to get it. It was wonderful. If today is an indicator of things to come, I think I will be very happy that we decided to make the switch to Kaiser!

Happy Birthday America!

I LOVE the 4th of July. Even though we didn't have any grand plans for this year, we still had a great time! We grilled, hung out together in the backyard and then headed over to the Costco parking lot to watch the cities fireworks....and I have to say Victorville did not disappoint this year. They were great! The boys were especially mesmorized!

To top it all of ...I got some great pics!

I love this kid!

One minute he's wildly digging a hole in some sand, 

the next he's calmly lying in the grass splashing in a puddle.

One thing is for sure though, he is NEVER boring!

Climbing high

Summer time = project time at the Petersen home.

Among the list for this summer was painting the entry way. David left the ladder up over night and instead of trying to tell the boys to stay off the ladder he took a different approach.

After one supervised trip up (or partly up, in William's case) they never touched it again. Not once. If you know boys, you know that is a small miracle.

Other things on our list this summer: 

turn loft into Lahna's bedroom-check!

change window treatment in entryway-check!

redo mirror in master bath-check!

refinish playroom floor-um....still a work in progress.

...and who knows what will be added to the list between now and the end of summer.