Not Much Going On

There's not much going on this week which is just fine with me. Ben had an appointment yesterday morning with the pulmonologist at his doctor's request, and his test for asthma came back normal so there's no asthma which is a good thing (and no real surprise). He's going Monday for a sweat test and to an appointment with the endocrinologist to check his growth. None of this is that big of a deal. He's perfectly healthy and doing just fine. He did get a flu shot yesterday as well as had his blood drawn. Let's just say that Ben does NOT like "pokes" as he calls shots and needles. The poor thing was just devastated by all of the needles. The bandaid from the blood draw fell off at school, but the bandaid from the flu shot will undoubtedly remain on his arm for many, many weeks like (just like the bandaid from his shots did this summer at his 4 year old check up). I don't have the heart to tell him that he's probably going to have more blood drawn on Monday for tests by the endocrinologist. I went to Wal-Mart this morning after I took him to school to buy my big brave boy a few little rewards. I bought him a Diego game for his Leapster for yesterday's bravery, and I got a couple more small goodies to give him on Monday after his long day.

Other than that there's really not much to report. My dad (or Ga as Ben calls him) comes back from Europe tonight. Tomorrow is Halloween. Ben is still planning on being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle although last night he told me he didn't want to go trick or treating so we'll see if he really meant that or not. This weekend are also the two final soccer games of the season so that should be fun. The kids are all so cute out there on the field and the sidelines!

Halloween Sneak Preview

Ben tried on his Halloween costume today to make sure that it fits. I had actually bought it last year after Halloween for half price for dress up. He's had a hard time deciding this year between Batman, Teenage Mutatnt Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers (we happen to own all three costumes right now JUST IN CASE). Here's what I *think* he's sticking with - Leonardo the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle:

Today's Soccer Game

Today was the big soccer showdown between the two MICDS JK soccer teams! It was a great game, and even though we don't keep score, the Blue Sharks (Ben's team) kicked butt! The score - if one were to keep score - was 3 - 2, Blue Sharks leading the way. Anyway, it was a great game, and all of the kids did such a good job! They've really caught on to the game which is exciting to watch. Some of the kids are really great players too. After the game we got our team and individual pictures back, and the kids got their own trophies! Ben was so excited! He's been DYING for a trophy ever since he saw the huge trophy case at the J last spring. Mr. Wuertz (the JK-B teacher - Ben's teacher) even came to the game with his son. All of the kids were so excited to see him! It was very sweet of him to come out to support the,. Both JK classes do things together each day (recess, PE, etc.) so they're all very familiar with all of the JK teachers.

The two MICDS JK soccer teams - Ben's team is the Blue Team:

Ben with his trophy:

My Sweet Boy

This morning when Ben and I woke up he got into bed with me for a few minutes of snuggling before I had to get up to take a shower and get us both ready to head out to soccer. As soon as he got into bed he sang me "The Good Morning Song", a simple little song I made up when he was a baby and used to sing to him every single morning when I would go into his room (I still sing it to him most mornings when I'm trying futily to wake him up). At the appropriate times he said Mommy instead of Ben and sang it all perfectly. It was the first time he'd ever done that, and it was so sweet! My little boy is growing up!

Some Recent Pictures of Ben

Ben at the JK Pet Parade at MICDS:Ben with his pet at the JK Pet Parade at MICDS:Trying on hats at Wal-Mart:Ben with his balloon sword and balloon belt:

All Clear!

I took Ben to see Dr. Vermont yesterday after school, and he listened to his chest, back, lungs, etc. He seems to be in pretty good condition. Now we just have to keep him that way!

Monday, Monday

The rest of the weekend was VERY low key. We didn't do much of anything. The most exciting news is that we are now able to get 3 cars parked in our 3 car garage! YAY! I NEVER thought that day would come! And the best part is that I was able to unload a bunch of outside "baby toys" (as Ben calls them) by transporting them down the street to my 18 month old neighbor. I took two loads yesterday and plan on dragging more over to him later this week. Tomorrow afternoon I take Ben back to see Dr. Vermont so that he can listen to his lungs and chest. I'm pretty sure that the pneumonia is all cleared up by now, but I'm going to leave that to the professionals to determine. That's about it for now. I'll try to get some pictures posted soon.

Three Day Weekend

We are currently on Day Two of a three day weekend. There was no school yesterday so that the teachers could start their report writing for conferences which are in a few weeks. Since Ben is still recovering from his pneumonia we just took it very easy. The only time we left the house was to go to Target to buy Leapster #2 (he lost the first one when I was in Florida over Labor Day Weekend) and Batman Game #2 (it was in the Leapster that he lost) as well as something that Ben's been coveting forever - a Pancake Puff Pan. I'm sure you've seen the infomercial for it. If you haven't, just ask Ben. He recites parts of it verbatim for me. It's hysterical to hear some of the phrases come out of his mouth! Needless to say we had pancake puffs and sausage for dinner last night. They're super easy to make and really cute, but I need to work on my cooking times/technique. They were either dark on the outside and cooked on the inside, or they were beautifully golden brown on the outside and sort of mushy/partially cooked on the inside. I just need a little bit of practice to figure out how long to cook the things. Plus one recipe of pancake batter makes a TON of pancake puffs - way more than two of us could ever eat - so we were just fine.

This morning we had a soccer game. I know that we scored at least two goals. The kids all seem to have figured it out and seem to enjoy it. We had our full team there today for the first time in awhile so that was pretty cool too. Next week we play the other MICDS JK team so it should be a pretty interesting game.

We're going to hang out and rest for the rest of the weekend. Ben is feeling so much better than he was this time a week ago, but with pneumonia and the weather really cooling down I don't feel the need to push it. His energy level is still a bit lower than usual which leads to a crankier kid. There are plenty of weekends ahead of us in life where we can go nuts. This weekend is a good one to keep quiet. Plus now that Ben has a Leapster again he really has no interest in me anyway!

Last Weekend

Last weekend was pretty low key. We spent Friday night and all day Saturday at home resting once we got the pneumonia diagnosis. Ben's just a little more lethargic than usual so it can't hurt to get as much quiet time in as we can. Saturday afternoon Alex Johnson and her mom Liz (Ben's JK classmate from MICDS and also from Hope Montessori last year) came over, and we all headed to the Fox Theatre to see the Backyardigans Live. We had amazing front row center seats which made it even more fun! It turned out that another girl from their class was seated directly behind us with her little brother and parents, anda boy from the other JK class was there with his parents and little brother a few rows back and a section over. Anyway, the show was very cute, but unfortunately Ben fell asleep and missed the entire second act (He was SO SAD that night that he missed seeing the dragon that he almost cried that night. I felt so bad for him!). After the show we headed out to dinner (where he literally didn't eat a single bite of food) and then back home where the kids played for a few minutes before the Johnsons headed home.

Sunday was soccer day! It was also soccer picture day. We head to get there an hour plus before the game even started. Luckily the kids seemed to handle it really well. In fact, they handled it so well that they scored 5 goals for the first time ever! In fact, I think it was the first time they've ever even scored any goals. It's liked something finally clicked! Even adorable Samantha was seriously into it - and that sweet little girl has had less than zero interest in soccer all season so far. It was a great game - very exciting!

Pneumonia Update

Ben is on Day 4 of antibiotics out of 5 prescribed days. He's doing pretty well. His coughing has massively slowed down and seems to be fading away. He had a good day at soccer yesterday (his team actually scored 5 goals even though they don't keep score). When we went out to dinner last night he was really such a good boy. He ate practically nothing (although he ate an entire cheese sandwich within about 45 minutes of us going out - the only thing he'd eaten all day aside from part of a corn muffin that morning and some snacks at soccer), but since he's been sick he eats and drinks even less than he usually does. I'll take it from him where I can get it!

Pneumonia!

Ben's got pneumonia! Ben went back to school on Wednesday after staying home sick for two days, but his cough wasn't going away and sounded like it was getting phlegmier (is that even a word?!) and deeper. He had a ridiculously long coughing fit in the middle of the night Thursday night so Friday morning I decided to call the doctor to see if this was more than just a cough. I took him in on Friday afternoon, and after examining Ben, Dr. Vermont sent us to the hospital for a chest x-ray. He called us at home a little while later to say that Ben definitely has pneumonia and that he'd call in an antibiotic for us. He also tested Ben for whooping cough (Wow, Ben did NOT like having his nose swabbed!), but I have a feeling that the extremely long coughing fits that he's having are all about the pneumonia. Who knows...I must have missed medical school that day. Anyway, he also wants us to see a pediatric pulmonologist to see about getting tested for asthma since this is the second time Ben has had pneumonia (last time was two years ago at Thanksgiving). Can't hurt to check, right?

So that's our story around here. We're still going this afternoon to see the Backyardigans Live at the Fox Theatre. If we didn't go I think Ben would absolutely go beserk. He used to come to me out of nowhere and tell me that he wanted to go to Chicago or Washington, DC, and when I'd ask him why he'd tell me that the Backyardigans Live were going to be there (Thanks so much, Noggin). And tomorrow are the rescheduled soccer pictures (and soccer game) so we have to go to that too. We're just hanging out at home today and resting. Ben was up before 8 this morning (yuck) and isn't too bad right now. He's pumped full of antibiotics and cough syrup and only coughs once every once in awhile which is much better than it was before. I think he'll be fine to do a few things. Besides, the fresh air will be good for him.

Last Weekend, Etc.

This last weekend was a pretty busy one for Ben. Saturday morning we attended Harper's 5th birthday party at The Sugar Shack in Kirkwood (Harper's a girl in his class at MICDS) then he and I headed down to the Kirkwood Farmer's Market for our annual pilgrimage to pick up some pumpkins. It's a tradition that I started the year that he was born. I've taken him there every fall for pumpkins - even if it's just a baby pumpkin (this year it was 2 large and 6 small). It's also always a great spot for some pretty fall/pumpkin pictures.

We chilled out at home the rest of the day, and that night he and I had a date at Noodles & Co. where he ate some plain buttered noodles and some of the mac and cheese that I got with the hopes that he would try it (and it got a "Yum" from Ben - the highest culinary rating a 4 year old can give something). Sunday morning my Uncle Neil (my mother's younger brother) and his friend Riva drove in from Centralia, IL, where he was in town attending a high school reunion (he currently is splitting his time between New York and California). We had lunch together before Ben and I had to head to his soccer game.

It was another fun weekend on the soccer field! It's more like swarmball than soccer, but that's okay. The kids seem to have a good time. Ben seemed to enjoy chasing Audrey and Anna around on the sidelines more than the time that he spent on the field, but that's okay (he was a puma, and they were kitty cats).

Afterwards we hung out, watched some Noggin and eventually headed to dinner at the Trainwreck Saloon in Rock Hill where Ben proceeded to sleep through the whole thing (He'd been coughing a lot for two days at this point and just sort of passed out on me in the booth. At one point before he fell asleep he told me to stop eating because it was making him cough.). When we got home he was awake long enough to scarf down two slices of American cheese and a bunch of blueberries before sleeping for 13 hours. I told him last night that he probably wouldn't go to school today (see the 'Sick Again' entry), and he was so cute. He wanted to go to school so badly! It just wasn't a good idea for him today.

Last week I went to MICDS and talked to both JK classes about Rosh Hashanah. I brought books for both classes' libraries, read a story to the kids and brought apples and honey for their morning snack. That's about all that's gone on with us lately. So now everyone is all caught up!

Sick Again

Ben is home sick again today. He's fine - just a cough and what feels like a tad bit of a fever (who knows where the thermometer is...) so I figured better safe than sorry. There were several absences from JK last week, and according to Mrs. Moulton (the other JK class's lead teacher) they all had that "fever headache thing". Ben doesn't seem to have a headache, but he's got something. He'll be fine after a day of R&R at home with Mommy.