Happy Birthday

to Abe!

Yesterday was Abe's birthday. Cole and I took him balloons to work (I think we succeeded in our ultimate goal of embarrassing him!). Ironically, Abe picked the exact moment we were getting out of the car to go to his car to get something, so he ruined the surprise, but only a little. Cole still got to carry them inside and leave them in Dad's office.

Then Abe chose to have me make him fish tacos for dinner (I had offered to take him out, but fish tacos were what he wanted) I googled a recipe and they actually turned out really stinking good! If I hadn't made them and knew it was fish, I never would have guessed it!

I also made brownies. Abe's not a huge dessert guy, but I knew he would eat at least one, and that Cole and I would enjoy the rest. Sadly, I think our candles are still in a box somewhere (we never officially unpacked everything- especially things we don't use often), so I settled with Cole's #2 from his party (I totally spaced buying new ones while we were at Target yesterday, due to the fact Cole was having a COMPLETE meltdown!) Although the #2 was appropriate since Cole insisted on getting his dad an Elmo birthday card for a "big 2 year old" (we altered the card with some Sharpies to reflect Abe's true age- 34!!!!) I know this pic's a little fuzzy, but Cole was attempting to help Abe blow out the candle! Too cute!
I think Abe had a good birthday (I hope he did, at least!). Cole and I got him 2 new pairs of shoes and a new Camelpak water bottle. We also were down in Phoenix, Saturday, and were able to meet his mom for dinner in Cave Creek. It wasn't too shabby, and we can't wait to embarrass him more next year!

Michigan- Part III- the finale

So this is it for pictures I have. Like I said before, I know there are some others out there, but this all for me.

Here we are enjoying the traditional Geupel cocktail hour before dinner, complete with Schuler's cheese (think Handi-snaks cheese, but for grown ups). Cole even got in the cocktail action with a JuicyJuice.

Cole also got to ring the dinner bell in the dining hall that evening. It's a very momentous occasion, followed by applause from all patrons already enjoying their meals.
We also caught a lucky break in the weather that evening, and were able to FINALLY take Cole out in the Boston Whaler (aka boat)

Here is all suited up...

...and going to catch up with Dad.

He wasn't too sure at first.

His one moment of pure elation, and I just so happened to catch it!

Of the entire week, this is the ONLY picture I have of Cole and myself. I have got to get better about that!

Abe turned the steering wheel over to Cole. We went around in a circle for about 5 minutes, before Abe finally took control again.

This was Cole's preferred mode of transportation around the cottage. Who needs a stinkin' stroller?

Cole really enjoyed getting to play with his cousins once they finally arrived from England.

(I guess, technically, they are Abe's cousins, but with a generation gap.)

We also had a brief memorial for Abe's grandmother the morning we left. The family decided it only fitting that her resting place be the place she loved most, and placed her ashes beneath a White Pine sapling.
Here is the family, in near entirety.
All in all it was a great trip. We had so much fun and are so grateful to John and Paula for making the trip possible. And also, just as grateful, that Ben was able to make the journey with us, although, I think that much time with Cole has made him certain to never have kids of his own...we'll see. It was a once in a lifetime trip (since Ben probably won't ever make it back) but we can't wait to go back next year!

Cole's Health Update

Cole shakin' his groove thang, 4th of July.

I realized (after many people asked me in person) that I never followed up on the "Cole" situation.

His blood culture came back completely negative. The Benadryl really worked (aka made Cole sleep) only the first night, but did seem to ease his crankiness, and so was given to him the proceeding 5 nights (I was trying to be thorough- and maybe get a little extra sleep, haha- that was totally a joke, I'm not one of those moms who dopes up her kid unnecessarily!!!). His rash is completely gone, and we have been back in the swing of things.

After much internal debate, I have decided to take him back to his Scottsdale pediatrician for his 2 year old check up. I haven't taken him yet, due to the fact he was sick, and then I was debating on whether or not to continue with the practice here in Prescott. We go there next Monday (the 10th).

It was just truly frustrating speaking with 4 different doctors on 5 different occasions, and all having differing opinions. So, for now, I think I'll just make the 200 mile trek (hey, at least I can write off the mileage!)

Michigan- Part II

On one of the few sunny days we had while in Michigan, we were able to go golfing at John and Paula's Club. This was Cole's first time on a golf course (he and I just rode along in the golf carts) and he loved it!!! This kid has always been into golf- huh, wonder where he got that from?

Here is a picture of the Clubhouse. It is a beautiful place.

Cole kept himself entertained in the dirt along the greens. Here he is carrying some dirt...

...and then dumping the dirt on a bush, just in case it didn't have enough.

Running through the greens.

Watching the guys tee off with PG.

All the Geupel boys in their carts.

Cole grabbing a quick snack. (Good thing I brought some!)

PG caught a caterpillar and put it on Cole's hand. I don't think he cared for it much, but was a good sport once he saw me pull out the camera. He seemed pretty relieved once I was done taking pictures and Paula took it off his hand.

I think he really enjoyed his first golf trip. He didn't have a single meltdown until the 18th hole, and then holy meltdown. We ate lunch at the club after, and he was totally passed out before the food even made it out.


Cole also took in some rousing games of ping pong back at the cottage, though I think he may have been more of a hindrance than anything. He wanted more to participate than to spectate.

And for some reason, all the extra balls kept disappearing.

It's exhausting being a spectator!

Dad and Cole, walking back from the dining hall.

Michigan- Part I

After scrolling through all my pics from Michigan, I have decided I should do a multi-part post. There were just so many good times to document- and I currently only have my pictures. I know that John, Abe's dad, took some really good pictures and I'm pretty sure that Abe did too. But, for now, here are the start of mine:

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned, but Cole has an obsession with planes. Although this was not his first plane ride, it is the first where he could understand what was going on.

Abe had to force him to turn around and look at me- he was so interested in what the ground crews were doing.
And then immediately upon take off, we hadn't even levelled off yet, he was out!
"Hello? We've landed!" Of course, he was just pretending to talk- kid still doesn't talk, remember?


Helping Dad with the luggage.

We had to make a pit stop at a rest stop, due to the fact none of us could stand to listen to Cole cry much longer (we had a 3 1/2 hour drive from Detroit to Higgins Lake, which is where we were visiting). He really enjoyed chasing the seagulls in the grass with Uncle Ben.
That first morning, Cole and I missed breakfast, since Cole was still sleeping (its a 3 hour time change! and we didn't get to the cottage until well after 11:00pm). He was upset with me for some reason here- big surprise!

After breakfast, he made his way out onto the dock for the first time. Here he was throwing rocks with Gaga.
...and then making a break for it!

Heading back down to the lake with the fish net, but catching Uncle Ben on the way.

Dad, Gaga, and I made a trip into town and got Cole his very own "fishing pole." He thought it was so cool!

Checking out pictures of himself on the computer with Dad and PG
Gaga joining in the fun!
Well, that's it for part I, and that was just the first day! More to come...

Buggin!

I still need to post about Michigan, but I just had to get this off my chest.

I hate bugs! Like really hate bugs! I hate everything about them. Their creepy crawliness, penchant for darkness, venomous natures and stingers, their jumping and flying- yup, everything about them! And, for some reason, everywhere we have lived we have had some sort of bug problem.

Our apartment, it was cockroaches- cliche, I know.

Our Anthem house, it was scorpions. LOTS of scorpions. We used to "hunt" them at night, as a precaution for Dozer (a dog his size can die from a good sting). From Memorial Day to Labor Day (prime scorpion time), we killed over 300!!! It was awful!

Our Phoenix house wasn't too bad. Although, we would get a ridiculous amount of ants and mosquitoes- both are not my friends. Not to mention flies and bees. But nothing too out of the ordinary.

Now, here in Prescott, its crickets and centipedes. Not just any crickets (like the unobtrusive ones from when I was growing up), but the ENORMOUS black crickets (and some brown) that end up in the most inconvenient places- walls, ceilings, dresser drawers, the legs of pants before I put them on (those last two caused me to scream like the little girl that I am. I mean, seriously, how do crickets end up in drawers and pant legs?!?) But what has made me write this is the friggin' centipedes! We get them pretty regularly- not like the scorpions- but enough to make us question their origin, and enough that, at night, I try to turn lights on before entering rooms and hallways.

Last year we actually had a centipede in our bathroom sink (drinking from around the drain) that Abe missed killing before it made its mad dash down the drain, so we dumped a crazy amount of bug spray down the sink (I know, not good for the environment, but what would you do if you had a 6+ inch long, dime sized around, effing centipede in your sink?) About a week later, the stench of decay that filled our bathroom was INCREDIBLE! Who knew a dead bug could rot like that? Of course, this was the disgustingly large centipede from hell, so I guess it only makes sense. Abe ripped the sink apart trying to find it, and determined that it was trapped (and rotting) in the overflow trap. After pouring copious amounts of scalding hot water down the overflow, the stench of decay eventually disappeared.

Sunday night, in my state of paranoia, I turned the light on in our bathroom, thinking we were due for an unexpected visitor- and wouldn't you know it- there scurried one along the wall and into the closet (undoubtedly looking for darkness). As I frantically looked for something to smash it with it disappeared. I have now decided that there aren't many bugs on Earth creepier than centipedes- not even scorpions, in my opinion (having been excessively exposed to both). Centipedes have these grossly elongated, segmented, snakelike bodies, but with terrible pointy legs attached, and don't forget their venomous fangs, and antennae like appendages on both ends, making them all the more creepier.

Then last night, going down the hall to switch laundry to the dryer, I saw my disgusting, snaky, little friend scurrying down the hall. I am telling myself it was the same one from the night before, because if not, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. I quietly called Abe (I'd just put Cole down) and watched while Abe grabbed a shoe and the creepy crawly met his demise! I stood over his squished body, enjoying his last feeble twitches, and then the sound of my hero (Abe) flushing him down the toilet.

I told you- I HATE bugs!

What the...?!?

I know it's been long-time-no-post, but with good reason. For one, we were in Michigan for a while, and two, I have been dealing with the medical melodramas of Cole.

It all started July 1st, when Cole began running a 102.9 fever. This was startling, because this kid has never been sick, never run a fever, nothing (with the exception of a small cold he had in February, but he didn't even have a fever then!) This continued well into the night, only being helped by Tylenol briefly, and eventually peaked at 105!!! I took him into a pediatrician here in Prescott the next day, and they couldn't find a single thing wrong with the kid and his fever had come way down. We figured it was just a freak viral thing (it had been going around)

The following week, on the 8th, he started running a fever again. Rather than wait it out (and have it get super high again), I took him back to the doctor. This time they noticed some swelling and pus on his tonsils. They took a strep culture and put him on Amoxicillin, just to be safe.

Friday, the 10th (and day before our trip), the doctor called and said the culture came back negative, but they had me take him back in since he was still running a fever. At this point they decided to do a blood culture, and some other blood work (which Cole just loved and made me a wreck), and told me to go ahead and keep him on the antibiotic, because it wasn't going to hurt. So while frantically trying to get ready for our vacation, I was running all over Prescott to the doctor and then the lab!

Saturday, the 11th, upon arriving in Michigan, I received a phone call from one of the doctors he had seen asking me to call immediately on her cell! Now, I don't know about you, but I have never been given a doctor's cell number! I called back and she said the lab had called and bacteria was growing in Cole's culture. At this point they were still unsure what kind, but I should be ready to take him to the hospital. I explained we were in Michigan (although I thought they understood that, and that that was the reason why I had already brought him in 3 times that week!) She was shocked that I had left Prescott, and wanted to know where exactly we were so she could determine if we would be close enough to quality pediatric care (she was thinking Chicago). Of course, at this point, I was mildly panicked.

Monday, the 13th, I received another message to call the doctor's office immediately. This time they informed me that Cole's culture came back positive for staph bacteria and I needed to get him back to the lab ASAP to do a follow up culture. Again, I explained I was in Michigan. Again, shock on the other end. However, they said tests showed it was amoxicillin sensitive, and to go ahead and just keep giving him that, however, if he started to run any sort of fever (99 or higher) to take him to the ER immediately, and as soon as I got home, to take him in for another culture.

Saturday, the 18th (the day we came home) I noticed Cole was a little pink in the cheeks, but still no fever (it had pretty much been nonexistent since the previous Saturday). I chalked it up to the fact that we left the cottage in Michigan around 7:30 am AZ time, and didn't arrive home until 11:00pm!

Sunday morning, the 19th, we woke up to find Cole very red in the cheeks, and very spotty/splotchy allover. I gave him a bath (we had skipped this the previous night due to the time) and noticed his "spots" were a whole lot worse than I initially thought. He also had two very swollen scrapes on his knee (which he got while in Michigan). After much debate, I decided to call the on-call nurse at the pediatrician's office. At first, she told me to just wait till Monday to take Cole in, but then when I started relaying Cole's recent history, she told me to go ahead and take him to the ER. I mentioned that he had just gone down for a nap, so I would take him after a while. The nurse called back about 10 minutes later, and said, on second thought, she didn't want me to wait, and go ahead and wake Cole up, and take him in now.

At the ER, the doctor walked in, said oh, looks like an amoxicillin reaction, but his knee doesn't look right, wrote him two prescriptions, and left. (that was so worth the $500+ that that info's going to cost!) On the one hand, I'm grateful it wasn't anything worse (because it could have been a WHOLE LOT worse), on the other hand, it would have been nice if the doctor had looked at Cole up close versus the 10 feet he stood from the poor kid! (I should mention though, as soon as Cole saw anyone wearing scrubs, let alone a white coat, he was HYSTERICAL!!! I told you his blood work had been fun- and I guess traumatizing!)

So yesterday, I took him in for the follow up blood culture (again, so fun, but I swear, for a kid who's not talking, at the end of the draw he was yelling "I done, I done, I done!" So sad!) and this morning I took hm back to the pediatrician for his ER follow up. Today, however, the doctor said, its really more like hives that he's got, in addition to the measles-like rash from the amoxicillin. He also thinks his knee sores are nothing more than giant hives, and to stop the ER doctor's medicines, because they may actually be doing more harm (and cause more rash) than good.

So, now at this point, I have a major headache, and still, no one can tell me what the heck is going on!!! We are still waiting to hear back on the culture, and the doctor wants me to hold off on any meds, with the exception of Benadryl, if I so choose, just to help Cole be a little more comfortable, because we can't imagine he is just not itching to death. He wants to see if he gets any sort of fever again, so that way, we may be able to locate its origin a little easier. But in the meantime, I'm just thinking - what the...?!?




I will post about our trip later.