Garden Variety

"He's not your garden variety kid." That's the quote from Sean's immunologist and pulmonologist at Primary's. They use it in the context of how he needs to be treated for infection. I just found it peculiar that they used the exact same phrase. I mentioned it to our family doctor and he said, "maybe it's something they teach the doctors at Primary's to say."

Yesterday we went to the pulmonologist for our regular appointment. I wasn't feeling the love by the time we left. I didn't like the tech who did his pulmonary function test very much. I appreciate her concern for hygiene and infection control but she seemed like she had a serious case of OCD. Sean kept wanting to touch the computer screen and I thought the woman was going to have a coronary. Seriously lady, just wipe it off in between kids. Sean had to watch the screen when he blew into the tube. The screen has a balloon or clown or something interactive that Sean chooses. I also got annoyed because she gave us another nebulizer spacer. I said I wish they had told us to bring our own so we didn't get charged again. She said "it's included in the cost of the PFT and I can't take that charge out." I call bull on that. I got a separate $45 charge for that stupid thing last time. I can buy them online for $11. Not that I need another one because now I have three.

After the PFT the pulmonologist comes in the room sits down and looks at Sean's wrist and says "I don't see his medical alert bracelet." Hmm, maybe it's invisible. She asked where it was and I told her at home on my dresser. She was annoyed that I didn't take him to the ER at Primary's when he was sick last month she wanted to know why. I told her money, the ER is expensive and that the urgent care clinic cost less. She said "well, he would have been admitted and then they don't charge for the ER visit." It's nice that she knows how our insurance works. Yes, I know that he would have been admitted and that's what I was trying to avoid. I would rather take care of him at home where he is more comfortable and exposed to less germs.

The one good take away was that she said we should talk to our primary care doctor about seeing Sean when he is sick even when they are full. She said most doctors will accommodate non garden variety kids. (Nah, that's not really how she phrased it). When I talked to our regular doctor today they flagged Sean's information on the computer so if I call in and he has a respiratory problem he is to be seen at the clinic regardless of how busy they are.

We also did a follow up an the orthopedic clinic today. After Lake Powell Sean was holding his arm and not moving it. I was having to give him Tylenol for pain. I made an appointment on Tuesday for today. Of course yesterday his arm got better. He was supposed to do a six month follow up so I decided to keep the appointment and be done with ortho follow up.

Waiting at the pulmonology clinic.

After the doctor appointment we stopped for our Khloe fix. I needed to kiss some cheeks.

Waiting for the orthopedic surgeon. We get in and out of that clinic much faster than the pulmonologist. Sean likes to play with the bones while we wait.

In between the ortho appointment and his kindergarten/five year old check up we went back to Sean's school for an hour. They were planting a garden. Perfect for my non-garden variety kid. Tomorrow is the last day of his traditional school year. I've got him going to summer school to keep him busy but I imagine we will play hooky often.

We went to the lake on Monday. It was too cold and windy to take the boat out. Mostly too windy and the lake water was too cold.

 

Alika and her boyfriend had come spent Sunday night at the lake. Sean loves to climb up the sand hills.

Sean asked the other night what a picnic was and if he had ever been on one. Yep, Sean you've been on picnics. He told Alika "this was the best day he ever had not having a picnic." Or something along that line. Last night Sean wanted me to sing him to sleep. Not something any of the other kids ever asked. They always told me not to sing. I was singing "Hush little baby don't say a word" and Sean wanted to know what brass was and why the ring would turn brass. Then he wanted a song about God. He wanted to know the exact relationship between God and Jesus. So much conversation regarding the words to songs.

The pool was warm! I was sitting with Alika (Art and Char) and Alika said, "It's weird to see my dad looking old." Ouch, though I know where she's coming from, every time I look in the mirror I see middle age.

Loving that baby

Sean is a cute uncle to Khloe. He keeps asking "why am I her uncle?" I keep explaining that it's because A.J. is his brother and Khloe is his baby so he is her uncle.

Helping baby Khloe with her bottle

Sean wanted Khloe to come in his room and watch a cartoon with him. I asked if he was going to have her watch Ben 10 and he said that would be too creepy and scare her. He decided the only shows appropriate for Khloe were My little Pony or Kipper. He's never watched My Little Pony so that is what they watched. Well, you can see from this picture Khloe slept through the show. He even shared his beloved banket "lovey" with her because he wanted her to "be happy."



So she opened her eye for a minute. She was unimpressed with the pony's.

Family Pictures on the lake

Digging a fire pit

Got the marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers.

Alex and Loreal

Char and Art the mighty fisherman

Alika

Around the camp fire.

Alex, Loreal and the doggies.

David and Alika (boyfriend David, not brother David cause that would make this picture weird)

Arch's





There were a couple of arches about a 30 minute hike from the boat. Well, it was 30 minutes after Don figured out how to get there. The first day a bunch of the family went while Sean and I slept. Sean and I woke up and decided to try and catch up with them. We ended up going through a stick forest and then I fell up to my thighs in quick sand. I was yelling for Sean to run so he didn't get stuck too. He asked what was wrong and I said "it's quick sand, run so you don't get stuck in it." He stood there and said "quick sand usually goes in a circle." Seriously kid, your giving me a science lesson. About that time he starts to sink so he starts to run. He lost his shoes and was crying but he was out of the sand. I was trying to pull myself out and he asked "do you want me to call for help." Great idea but I'm not sure who was going to hear him. I pulled myself out, recovered Sean's shoes and my pride. When Sean is doing something he likes, sitting in the hot tub, boating, flying, he will say ahh, this is the life. As he was standing next to the sand crying he said "THIS IS NOT THE LIFE!" We turned back and decided we'd try the trek again another day. On our last morning we all went out while Art and Char stayed back and cleaned the boat. Don marked our way with aluminum foil in the trees and we stayed away from the sand traps.

We did find this little beauty in the sand. He had a rattle thing on his tail so we decided not to antagonize him. We also saw jack rabbits, lizards, chameleons, and lots of bats. There was duck by our boat the entire trip. I named him Peking, sometimes his girl friend came to visit. There were also some annoying blackbirds that came on board and tore up our garbage.

Playing

Art, master of the grill!

Sean and Tyson playing with the previous nights fire wood.

Taking a break from the outdoors to watch a movie.

Jameson, the first one to jump off the slide. Sean was second and did not like it one bit.  He said it felt like the water was pulling him under even though he had a life jacket on. I told him that the life jacket pulled you back up but didn't keep you from going under. He was very brave.

Burning sage brush. It burns like a dry Christmas tree. Scary fast.

Don going down the slide. There was no way I was going to do that.

Making ice cream. Char found a recipe on Pinterist. The kids had fun and it was fast and tasty:)

Sunset in the water.

The boy spent hours pulling themselves up and down between the anchor ropes.

Building a sand castle.

Digging out a moat.

Lake Powell scenery

Just a pictures of the sky.



Reflection of the sky in the lake.



So many rock formations.

Our little yellow boat

Our little boat has never left Pine View Reservoir. We took her on a road trip to the big lake in the desert. (Almost lost a trailer wheel on the way home)

Don and some boys.

Captain Don showing his little yellow boat some new scenery.

At Pine View we never see other boats like ours but at Lake Powell we saw a couple.

The weather was fabulous. I can't imagine going to Lake Powell in the middle of summer when it's 100 degrees. It was in the 80's and perfect.