The Easter Man

Quinn: "Mom, if I'm bad, will the Easter Man still bring me an Easter Basket?"
Mom: "Don't you mean the Easter Bunny?"
Quinn: "No, isn't he an Easter Man? He's a man in a costume."

This had come after a previous conversation in which Quinn came straight out and asked me if the Easter Bunny was real. "A little" was my answer. I didn't want to lie, but I'm not quite ready yet for him to lose all the magic and fun of childhood. At the time, he had nodded sagely, and said "OHHH. A little like he's not a real BUNNY, but a man dressed up in a costume that comes into our house and hides the basket." Something like that.

Quinn: "So why do we still get an Easter basket even if we've been bad?"
Mom: "Easter is something we should celebrate whether we've been good or bad, because Jesus took our sins away when He died and rose again."
Quinn: "No. I know why. The Easter Man doesn't have a big screen to watch us all the time like Santa does."

Sore Throats

Colby has been talking. Non-stop. His voice sounds totally different now sans tonsils, and I don't know if it's because he's hoarse, or if it will stay that way, but he apparently really likes the sound of this new voice, because he has not. stopped. talking. since getting home last night. This morning, bright and early, the motor-mouth began again.

Colby: "Mom I had tape and a needle on my hand and I couldn't move my arm the doctor was silly and put the thing on my toe instead of my finger I get to eat yogurt for breakfast I don't have to go to school because I have a sore throat I have medicine to take but it's not working yet because my throat is sore I don't have to go to school I can watch a little tv and play candyland but I can't run......."

Quinn: "OH, stop talking about your sore throat! You talk about your sore throat all day! Enough about your sore throat!"

I had to laugh. I think Quinn's a little out of sorts because the doctor told us that HE shouldn't go to school until we figure out this fever thing, but I'm making him go anyways, because he's FINE, and has no temp during the day, and he's already missed a ton. He goes to the doctor this afternoon. I'm certain he's not contagious, because otherwise his brother (with whom he eats, breathes and sleeps) would be sick right now, and he's not. Although Colby does have a sore throat from surgery and he doesn't have to go to school but gets to stay home and eat ice cream and yogurt even though Quinn has to go to school and isn't he lucky he gets to stay home and watch tv and play games with mom but he can't run because the doctor said and he put this thing on his toe instead of his finger which was so silly but the medicine will work soon so his throats not sore theres four of them and they don't taste good........ (GASP).

Parts

As far as non-essential organs go, Colby's lost just about all he comfortably can. The spare kidney? Gone. Tonsils? Gone. Adenoids? Gone. Even his hair is shaved short. He still has an appendix, I guess, but other than that, the parts that remain are all ones we really need to keep. We've honed him down to a lean, mean, Colby machine. No extra fluff, no redundant back-up systems. Poor kid. He's sounding really hoarse, but he did a really good job today with surgery. Anesthesia made him nauseous, and he vomitted several times, which CAN'T feel good on a raw throat, but other than that, he's doing pretty good!

Quinn ended up having to stay home from school again (doctor's orders) until we can get him in to his primary physician to see WHY he keeps getting a low-grade fever every evening when there's no stuffy nose, no sore throat, no tummy ache, and (as we found out last night) thankfully no kidney infection. A trip to the walk-in clinic last night told us that he had some odd things in his urine, and a previously undiscovered heart murmur. He feels FINE though, and it seems pointless to keep him out of school! Oh well. Tomorrow is his turn at the doctors.

Reagan was in to see the doctor YESTERDAY with a sinus infection. So all three children needing medical care at roughly the same time. The perfect storm of childhood illnesses. My cupboard looks like an apothecary. I picked up FIVE prescription medications today, for a total in the three-figure range. SHEESH.

Would NOT have been able to manage today without the help of Rob's folks, as Rob had meetings all day. Sometimes I feel that two parents just aren't enough to raise three children.

Poor Quinn

Day #3 of Quinn's low grade fever, which at times turned not so low-grade. Last night it was up to 103. Proof that he's not feeling up to par - we read the ENTIRE book of "The Wizard of Oz" yesterday, and added two more hours of book time today. Normally attention spans wouldn't even BEGIN to last that long. He slept much of the day yesterday, but today feels fine, with the exception of this annoying, low-grade fever. Enough to keep him home from school, but not enough to knock him for a loop like yesterday. What to do with him??? After the read-a-thon this morning, I let him play a few games on the computer. He chose hotwheels.com. I chose Zoodles.

Quinn: "Mom, I don't LIKE Zoodles."
Mom: "Why not?"
Quinn: "It's all about letters, and learning and stuff!!"
Mom: "OHHHH. Educational. You're SUPPOSED to be in school, so learning would be a good choice."
Quinn: "Maybe I'll just be done with the computer." That was fine by me.

Later, sitting at the kitchen table, he says nonchalantly:
Quinn: "Boy, sure is a nice day for swimming in the hot tub."
Mom: "Maybe not. You have a fever."
Quinn: "Sure a nice day to go to the park."
Mom: "Nope. You have a fever."
Quinn: "Could you teach me to ride a two-wheeler?"
Mom: "What do you think?"


SOOOO HARD to be technically not able to go to school, but feeling FINE. What to do, what to do???

Addendum: Quinn's fever persists, and he reportedly laid low the rest of the afternoon. The unexplained temperature has spread to his sister now. She took a six hour nap this afternoon. I'm trying to isolate Colby, as he's got to stay well for surgery on Wednesday!! Those tonsils NEED to come out! We're apparently germ central over here!

Found Colby playing up in the treehouse today. I yelled up to him.

Mom: "Hey Colby! Whatcha doin' up there?"

Colby: "Smiling and being cute!"

OOOOHHHHH. Right you are.

Overheard

Colby: "Mom! I used the shampoo to wash myself in the shower tonight. I want to be cleanish for Sunday school".

Clean -ish. That's the best we can hope for around here.

Brothers

I shared a room with my sister for YEARS, and I don't remember ever getting up in the middle of the night and sneaking into bed with her. In fact, I distinctly remember certain "lines" being drawn down the middle of the room, which neither of us were to cross. Found Quinn on the top bunk with Colby this morning, the two of them snuggled under the covers. I hope they stay close their whole lives, because they certainly are each other's worlds right now!