Dirt Magnets - Barium, Rice, Parties, and More (Feb. 13)

Barium, Rice, Parties, and More (Feb. 13)

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

What a day!

Tyler has been complaining of stomach aches at least three or four days a week most weeks for the last two years or so. We visited our doctor about them once a little over a year ago, and examination, labs, and x-ray didn't show anything that should be causing him trouble, and they don't seem to interfere with his work, play, or eating habits, so we hadn't worried too much. That is, until a couple of weeks ago, when he got sick and started vomiting. Nothing new here, as he tends to vomit whenever he's sick, but this time, he had one episode of vomiting what was most definitely blood. We saw the doctor again about it last week, and he ordered a long list of lab work as well as an upper GI study. Fun, fun, and more fun.

The lab draw was extremely traumatic, and ended up with the eight year old in my lap (he's nearly as tall as I am), crying and hyperventilating, and of course, causing James to burst into tears along with him. Thank goodness the phlebotomist was fantastic and got it with only one stick.

The imaging was scheduled for this morning, first thing in the morning, since he wasn't allowed to eat after midnight. Honestly, I was very worried about how he'd react, knowing how "gaggy" he tends to be, since he had to drink the funky barium drink, and I was even more worried after the lab experience. I worried for nothing, though. The test went surprisingly smoothly, with no major complaints from the boy, other than a hungry tummy, which was remedied by a special "mom and Tyler only" breakfast at First Watch. Oh, and the results (and those of last week's torturous lab work), were all normal...nice to know that there's nothing glaringly wrong with him, but frustrating not to be able to find an answer.

We finally returned home at 11:00, just in time to cut James' and Ryan's hair, make a huge mess playing with trucks in our big can of rice (indoor sandbox substitute), and manage a miniscule amount of school work before heading back out the door for our homeschool group's Valentines Day party. The boys all enjoyed their social time - James found a friend only a little older than himself to follow around, Tyler played games with his friends, and Ryan bypassed the kids his own age and tagged along right behind Tyler. Of course, they all came home loaded with valentines, crafts, and treats.

One of the haircuts...

The rice...

The party...

I don't think Ryan cared much for the watermelon flavored lollipop!

Foil ball sports are great! Ryan, Tyler, and Tyler's friends played both tabletop soccer and tabletop basketball with them. They also played a marble sharpshooter game - it was Ryan's favorite activity by far!

The mom of one of our little daycare boys decided to spread out the Valentines Day sugar, so when we got home from the party, we began our "Quack Pack" Valentines Day partying, too. James certainly enjoyed the mini cupcakes that she had supplied!

Our day didn't end there, either. It was Cub Scout night, so after dinner, Tyler, Grandma and I ventured out to our meeting, where we read lots of tall tales and found their locations on a map, practiced the fitness skills that the boys are working on for their physical fitness belt loops, practiced counting to 10 in Mandarin Chinese, and made paper dragons.