Hair-Raising Wake-Up

Talk about a hair-raising experience!

On Thursday morning I was busy online trying to figure out if Drew's hands could be infected when I hear a chipper little boy calling out "Mommy, Daddy!"

I go into our room (Drew slept with me that night because Dave was in St. Louis) and I found this! The kid was a mess of hair, apparently all that rolling around a CalKing bed will do that to you.

He was so funny about it too, that is until we went to comb it out. Then it wasn't so fun or funny for that matter.

Hands update: On Saturday we changed the bandages (with the help of Grammy) and they looked a million times better than Thursday after the doctor's visit. I'm not sure whether this is because of the new ointment or the new bandages but there's progress!

On his left hand we left all of his fingers exposed so the air can do it's healing thing. On his right hand we left only his his pointer finger covered since that looked really raw yet - and it didn't help the bandage had stuck to it. We only had to put the outer "glove" on his right hand. The left I just taped exceptionally well to almost "cast" it.

Then last night I needed to fix the right glove - Drew poked his pointer finger through the bandage, and it needed to get recovered. In doing that, I noticed one of the other fingers on his right hand wasn't looking great - a little discolored - so we went ahead and covered the whole hand, minus the thumb. And for good measure we rebandaged the left hand. I was hoping to leave that hand completely open now, but there was one area that looked a bit raw and needed a bit more ointment, so we only covered up the palm again.

I think by tomorrow's dressing change the left hand will be bandage free, and his right only the palm will remain covered. FINALLY! Only 2 1/2 weeks later!

Traumatic Hands Update

Oh my, was yesterday's Doctor's office visit traumatic - almost as bad as the ER visit two weeks ago today! We'll share a happier picture, taken on Wednesday while we were playing outside finding "things" - just to keep a "happy" spin on it for a while.

So as I mentioned in yesterday's blog, during the bandage change on Wednesday, I noticed something that looked like it could be an infection on his right hand (under his ring finger). I worried about it all night, and took another peek in the morning before making my decision to call his pediatrician and get him in for a hand-check before our scheduled appointment on Tuesday.

If you talk to Drew or see him as he's about to go to the doctor's office you'd think we're ripping his finger nails out one by one - he absolutely loses it. This was no exception.

So we check in, and I manage to get him calmed down by reading a book about trucks - all boy right?! Well then they call our name, and we're back to the fingernail torture type screaming. The nurse weighs him - and she says he's down a whole pound since we were there last week - and asked if I wanted to re-weigh. I said no, since we're going back in 2 weeks for his 2 year check-up (in hindsight, I think it's a miscalculation since Dave got on the scale with him last Monday, where today he was on the baby scale - alone).

Anyway, the nurse leaves and Drew collects himself, as he pleasantly says "bye-bye" to the nurse and begins begging to "Go bye-bye too". I bribe/distract him with some milk and Fruit Loops.

Then the Doctor comes in, and he said he was surprised to see the bandages on his hands still - and then I explained we were there because I suspect an infection. So we begin the process of taking off the right bandage - which is an ordeal in itself. We get it off, and the Doctor grimaced when he saw the hands, but he instantly knew the area I was looking at as the possible infection.

He went back and forth, kind of talking aloud about whether this was an infection or the "epidermis" growing back - freakin' use the word skin dude! After a moment or two of his going through the options with himself, he says he wants to get a second set of eyes on this. He goes to find a Doctor. Moments later he's back, and says "Let me take a picture" and whips out his iPhone. Then leaves to consult someone.

He comes back and grabs my diaper bag, and asks me to go into another room, he wants to cut off the blisters/left over skin, so that the area can really start to heal.

Oh boy this is where the trauma starts - and I'll warn you it's not for the faint of heart or those with a queasy stomach!!! Ok that's your only warning - read at your own risk!

So he has me sit down in the chair with Drew - who hasn't stopped screaming since the Doctor peeked his head into our room the first time. He then gathers some sterile gloves, sterile scissors, gauze and tape. He then goes to work, all while asking me "Do you think you can handle this" (um a little late now dude, I'm already in it!).

I couldn't watch what they were doing for fear of either passing out or throwing up, so I focused on my screaming child, and tried to sing songs while I had his little legs pinned in mine, and had his right arm (the one he was working on) in one hand, and I used my other arm to brace is other hand and also pat his head to calm him down. I was afraid of having any kicking, head-butting or punching going on while the doctor was cutting at him with the worlds sharpest scissors (no sharper than we were given from the ER for the dressing changes, but still they're razor sharp).

So while Drew's screaming his head off, the doctor manages to cut away all the loose skin. All that Drew has on his right hand is a lot of very raw, pink skin. It literally looks like someone skinned him - it's very gross and frightening to look at. The doctor then put some antibiotic ointment on his hands just in case it is an infection, and then put a lighter gauze over the area - rather than the sterile pads we've been using - which are much thicker. He then wrapped his right hand back up, and put the glove back on.

Poor Drew thought he was done.... but we went for his left hand. I thought the hysterics couldn't get worse, but they did. Luckily a nurse came in to see if she could help, so the three of us had to pin Drew into my lap while the doctor performed the same cutting procedure on his left hand.

The bright side of this - his left hand wasn't burned as bad, so the skin was much more "normal" looking at this point, and less raw. And it didn't have any of the same "spots" where you'd think there's an infection. The bad news it had the the last blister to pop, so the skin was a bit tougher yet to cut than the other hand (where it practically fell off in your hands) -- Hey, I warned you this was going to be gruesome!

We then bandaged up his left hand - which didn't have any possible signs of infection. The doctor said we didn't need to come back, but he wanted to see a picture of his hands in 2 weeks - just to be sure he's coming along. He then called in a prescription for the additional antibiotic ointment, and he wants us to use that and the Silvadene (burn cream) but with the gauze vs sterile pads. He really wants us to let it breathe more, and possibly remove the bandages altogether within the next week or so - as they start to scab more.

But we can continue to put the "gloves" on over the gauze bandages like we've been doing to keep the wound clean - at least the doctor gets that boys will be boys and play in dirt! And we should keep up the changing every other day.

I promised Drew throughout the procedure that he could have anything he wanted for lunch - so I bribed him with McDonald's. That was the least I could do after all of this! Um, I think it's safe to say he's not going to like going to the doctor's office for a long while yet!

Peeping Tom - Already

I know when you have a boy (or any child for that matter) they're going to embarrass you. I did after all have a brother so I saw first hand the misery he put my mom through... like walking through Denny's with his pants hiked up like Steve Urkel, snorting and saying something to the fact of "Don't you Love Me Mom .?Why are you walking away from me ?"

Well this weekend, Drew's started doing it too. On Friday we went to Chevy's for dinner, and Drew needed yet another diaper change (his second during dinner). After getting him off the diaper changing station located in the handicapped stall, I put him down on the ground. All you moms, I'm sure know what's coming....

Drew looks under the stall at the poor woman doing her business and says "I See You! Hi!" Then proceeds to wave with his white gloves at the poor woman.

Had I been smart, I would have apologized to her. Instead I scolded Drew, and was humiliated while I put the contents of his diaper bag back together. The poor woman ran out of there so fast I never had the chance to say anything. Come to think of it, I wonder if she even washed her hands...

But this is just one of many instances I'm sure we'll have with my little "Peeping Tom".

Hands update: Last night I did my first solo bandage change (Dave is in St. Louis on Business). It went better than expected - I think Drew's resigned that he has to go through this torture, and he didn't fight me too much. In fact he was laughing and singing with me when I changed the bandages on his left hand.

The Right hand (burned worse) wasn't quite the same story. It started out well, while taking off the bandages, then when it was exposed, he flipped. I need to look at the blisters to see how they're healing and such, and he wasn't having it. I think I spotted what could be an infection forming, but Drew wouldn't sit still enough to get a great look at it.

So I think I'm going to schedule an appointment for him today to have the doctor look at it. I'd feel better getting it checked out now, rather than our scheduled re-check on Tuesday.

Dreaming of Letters

Friday night was kind of a lazy night in the Briseno's household. After a rough week, I didn't feel like cooking so we ran down to Blockbuster to pick out a movie and then out to Chevy's for dinner (where we ran into our Pastor and his family).

After a long wait, we finally got our table and had dinner, but that meant that Drew didn't get to bed at the 7:30 hour he's fallen asleep at since his injury. We got home close to 9pm, and by that point he wanted nothing to do with bed.

Rather he fell asleep on my his body pillow, watching "Johnny", and of course cuddling with his letters. Yes, that would be a "D" he's clinging to in his left hand. Daddy had to pry it out of his hands when he carried him to his crib shortly after this picture.

Lookin' Sharp

Now how adorable do the two best guys in my life look?! On Sunday we had to look our best because not only was it church, but it was also the wedding ceremony for our Pastor's middle son.

We were thinking that if Drew looked extra sharp, it would divert everyone's attention away from his hands. Well our plan didn't work entirely, but we did get an even amount of comments like "What Happened?", and "Oh my gosh does he look cute!" So I'd say it was a success.

This was the first wedding Drew ever sat through, and I must say - he did AWESOME. We had to get to church about an hour early because Dave had to usher as well, and while normally on ushering days we're a 1/2 hour early, the wedding had us there an hour before the ceremony. For the record - bride and groom looked amazing!

Here are a few other adorable shots of Drew all dressed up.




Update on his hands: We changed the bandages last night, and boy do his hands look so much better! There is one remaining blister on his left hand (the hand that wasn't burned as much), but many of the fingers are starting to look normal on both hands. Which is a great sign of improvement. I'm hoping in a changing or two he will be able to only have his palms covered on both hands. Thank you all for your continuing thoughts, prayers and concern.

Can You Tell Me How to Get, How to Get to...

You know how the song goes, sing along now - ♪♫ Can you tell me how to get, how to get to "Elmo Street"♪♫

OK well maybe that's not how the song goes for you, but in "Drew's world" Sesame Street is known as Elmo Street! So what if Elmo doesn't come on until the end of the show - don't you know he is the star?

Ms. Stephanie first told me about this a week or two ago, but the other morning Drew was begging for "Elmo Street" on TV - of course it wasn't on right then, but it was so funny.

OK just so you're not lacking for another adorable picture - here's a great shot I took at Camping (those blogs were already photo heavy).

Sign of Resilience

This photo was taken on Sunday - the day we came back from camping, and two days after Drew burned his hands. All weekend, we were commenting at how resilient this kid was, but when we saw him grasping those blocks with only his thumbs and a slippery glove... we were amazed.

Of course when he'd drop them, or couldn't maneuver them into the corresponding shape, he'd get ticked. So ticked, that after about 3-rounds of shapes, we had to put the cube "nigh-night".

This is only one of the many things that Drew's doing with his hands that I wouldn't have imagined - he's also eating, attempting to hold his sippy cups (sometimes successfully), and climbing up and down things.

Thursday morning he woke up around 5:30am screaming - after some consoling and trying to get him to use his words, we determined his poor hands were itchy. I think that's a sign of healing - which is good. It's just so tough to explain to him why we can't take off his "gloves".

Camping 'Pinners

I mentioned last week Drew's fascination to "Spinners" otherwise known as windmills. On our way home from the campground we drove through the Altamont Pass, and came upon one of the windmill farms. Unfortunately they weren't moving this time, but he was still pretty excited about them.

Sorry about the low audio - I was taking the video on our new digital camera, and I'm still learning the ropes.

Camping Final

Friday after all the hands drama, Daddy showed up and it was a huge relief to me. Once Drew woke up from his drug induced nap, he was busy telling Dave about the campfire and how "it's hot", and you have to "be careful". It was really adorable, but a hard lesson for him to learn. I think it did sink in finally though.

On Friday we were just kind of low key after the ER visit. Everyone else went and walked through Jackson while Grammy, and I were at the hospital attending to Drew. That evening there were some horseshoes, and just a campfire.

Saturday however, everyone had recovered from the "excitement" and we stared the day out with a morning fire. Drew was happy to help Daddy get it started - from a safe distance of course.


We also continued with our plan to go vertical wine tasting at our new favorite winery - CG Di Arie. They were tasting their 2003, 2004 and 2005 Zinfandel. YUMMY. We were able to have "private" tastings with the wine maker, who also is the creator of Captain Crunch & Hidden Valley Ranch.


The wine maker is the one in the hat.

We did visit one other winery - where this candid of Drew and I was snapped (felt like this was a Daddy photo heavy blog hehe)


For Drew this was a different type of camping trip. He was able to watch a TON of movies, where we don't usually allow them except for setting up, tearing down or right before bed. But we had to find something for the poor kid to do that wouldn't involve his hands or getting dirty.

Adrina was a real sport with him, and was extremely patient. Although I'm sure she was bored when Drew couldn't do much with her.

The guys on the other hand, kept up tradition and played horseshoes. I hear Dave really creamed Uncle Matt!



Update on Drew's hands. Per the pediatrician's orders we no longer have to change the bandages everyday, however we did last night because one of the bandages was falling off (he's peeking his left pointer through to do more stuff with his hands). Every fingertip on his right hand is about 2-3 times its regular size with blisters. I think they should be ready to pop soon, which is good.

Drew is doing his best to keep up with the kids and continue to play even if he only has a pair of thumbs to use. He's doing puzzles, playing with his cars and throwing balls around. You'd never know he was hurt - except for the obvious white gloves.

Camping Pt. 2 and a Drew update too

Before I move on to the more pleasant part of our camping trip, let me update you on the status of Drew's hands. (The picture is courtesy my sister shortly after the hospital visit).

We got into his pediatrician first thing Monday morning. Drew HATES the doctor's office and the screaming commenced when we entered the parking lot and neared the building. It continued until Daddy and Drew left toward the end of the appointment.

The doctor said the hands were not as bad as he expected so he was happy with that. But he said the healing to take more like 2-3 weeks, and not the 10-days the ER doctor told us. We are to continue doing what we're doing, keeping his little blistered hands wrapped in the burn cream until they're healed. We can stop giving him the liquid vicodin too, and move to Motrin (of course go back to Vicodin if needed.) We go for a follow-up appointment in 2 weeks.

OK now onto the fun stuff!!

We arrived at our favorite place, Gold Country Campground around lunchtime on Thursday, and began the grueling process of setting up 2 tents and a trailer (Aunt Lisa, Jimmy & Cousin Kady were there with us too). The temps were pushing 90, so we managed to have a few beers in the set-up process.

OK so we didn't let Kady have much more than the condensation, but hey she should enjoy a cold one too.

How did Drew pass the time after setting everything up? As any toddler would do - playing in the dirt of course!


Grammy came to our rescue with some good clean fun - bubbles!


Other fun things to do - chase balls! We were smarter this time, and found a campsite that had either a fence or a screen room to catch the balls. Last trip they went about 300 yards or more downhill. Kady was just itching to play too.


Later on Thursday night, Uncle Matt and his girlfriend Rana and her daughter Adrina came up. It was a mellow night of enjoying the calm, and campfire. Dave was still at home since he had a Friday meeting at work. We all had a nice relaxing night.

Then came Friday... the day started out really calm and and easy. Some playdough, conversation and cards. Here Matt's girlfriend Rana & her daughter Adrina play Go Fish.


This photo was snapped just moments before Drew took a dive into the firepit. I happened to be capturing a few candids while Drew was happily chasing a ball up and down the campsites. I'll have the final look at our trip for tomorrow's blog.

Camping Casualties - Pt 1

Camping started out fun and exciting on Thursday afternoon. But rather than go through our trip chronologically as I normally would, I'm going to start with the most traumatic events and work our way to the happy stuff later this week.

As you can see from this picture, Drew had a little mishap on Friday morning, sending us to the ER in Jackson. For those that didn't hear about it on Facebook or by phone, Drew fell into the fire pit while chasing after a ball.

The good news, the fire embers were from the fire we made the night before. The bad news, it was still smoldering hot, and he suffered first and second degree burns.

The moment it happened, I was snapping a shot of my sister Lisa and her boyfriend Jimmy. But I heard my Mom, who was sitting right next to me, yell my name in that "stop everything you're doing"tone. I didn't have to look at her, just panned to find Drew and saw him going hands first into the fire pit.

All I remember is making the maddest dash from my chair to him in milliseconds. And yelled at him as I was pulling him out, and running into Mom & Dad's trailer, to wash his hands off praying all the while it was just some ash on his hands and he was freaked out, just as I was. As the water hit his hands, and cleaned away the ash, I saw the blisters coming up, and I calmly said, "we need to go to the hospital". I asked for some ice, and we sat on the couch in the trailer so I could inspect his hands a little more - and to catch a breather for myself as everything was starting to sink in, and I was feeling a little woozy.

We tried to apply the ice, and that wasn't going over so well - it never does for bumps and bruises either, so why should this be any different. Much of what I remember during this time, was how amazingly calm I was despite Drew was hysterical. I just gathered him up, got his diaper bag (which had my wallet) while Mom got her keys and we loaded into the truck.

I strapped Drew into the carseat at first thinking, it was the safest thing while I sat alongside of him. We didn't get 1/2 a mile down the road before I just pulled him out and cuddled him. We were on our way to the hospital anyway (about 15 minutes down the road), so if we got into an accident... well we wouldn't be much worse off than we already were. And Drew REALLY just needed consoling. I think this was when the pain started to set in on his tiny little hands.

We got to the ER at Sutter Amador Hospital and they knew instantly he hurt his hands, based on how he was holding them. I filled out the entry paperwork, and Grammy took Drew outside. He has a phobia of doctor's office and hospitals, and all he kept saying was "I go Bye-bye" over and over. So rather than traumatize all the other ER patients, we pacified him while we got everything in order. Within 5 or 10 minutes of our arrival they called us back to triage, and put some numbing cream on his hands and got his first round of "gloves" on his hands (just some gauze to hold the pads).

There was a minor mishap on the weight and we had to have a do-over since the nurse pegged him at 20 lbs when the doc and I said he weighed more than 24 lbs. We were right, but they needed the weight to be exact since they were going to give him some demoral to calm him down enough to check his hands. That demoral kicked in fairly quickly only Drew was still pretty hysterical - it took him perhaps 30 minutes to nearly knock out, and then the nurse and doctor came in.

Good news - they were only first and second degree burns. Not the 3rd Degree which would have sent us to the burn unit for treatment. So the nurse bandaged him up and we were on our way. Poor kid was so upset that he had that "hyperventilating" breathing thing while he slept on the ride back to camp and for a good 2 hours of the nap that followed. Poor baby would wake up and say "all done, no more" in his sleep. This was what he kept repeating as they were putting the bandages on him.

Grammy & GrampC drove back down to town and got Drew's liquid Vicodin prescription filled, and Daddy who wasn't due to come up until Friday afternoon anyway showed up, and I finally was able to relax a bit.

When Drew woke up, he was a true champ! He adjusted to his "gloves" so well and only asked us to take them off for the first 2 hours after that nap. I think he's asked maybe one other time. He's a real trooper. He's maneuvering things around with his thumbs, and still wants to play, pick up toys and rocks.

We decided to stay up at the campground since everything we could do there, we would do at home. And up there, we had extra help and assistance from everyone! It was the right decision, and Drew managed to keep his white gloves pretty darn clean.

Sunday was the first time we had to take those bandages off and clean the blisters. The right hand is definitely worse than the left, and looks like one large blister with five fingertip blisters. We will go to his doctor today and have them take a look as well (I look at it as one less dressing change I need to do).

This was by far the most traumatic camping trip I've been on, and I'm hoping the last time something like this happens. But Drew's a real trooper, and the ER doctor thought he should be all clear in about 10 days. Thank you to everyone who has sent healing prayers our way. Please keep them coming.

'Pinners

Last week I mentioned Drew's fascination with "purple fowers", but that's only one of the things that get him all excited. Another... "'pinners". Now what is a 'pinner you ask?

Well you and I may call it a windmill, but in the mind of a 23-month old, it's a 'pinner.

Occasionally a 'pinner can be a "fand" (aka a fan), or a pinwheel, but lately he's intrigued by windmills. He has a train set at home that has a windmill.

Going through the Altamont Pass or over Vasco Road, there are "'pinner" farms, and he sees a multitude of them. (Those who live outside the area, the Altamont Pass is what we go over to get to I5 which takes us to LA, and Vasco, well it's the "shortcut" from Grammy's to the Livermore wineries). So over the weekend after we picked Drew up at Grammy & GrampC's, Dave thought it would be fun to take him to see the 'pinners and pick up our wine shipment. So we did! Problem was, this was the view Drew had of the outside attraction:

Apparently we stayed a bit too long at Grammy's and he decided to catch his nap right as we hit all the 'pinners!

We I have paid for it ever since too. He has asked to see the 'pinners everyday after I pick him up from day care. Guess we'll have to plan another trip to see the 'pinners soon, so the kid can get his promised fix.

That's Enough

When I pick up Drew from Ms. Stephanie's house everyday, she gives me a little sheet about his day - when he ate, what he ate, when he napped (if he even did) and notes like when she needs diapers or wipes.

On Wednesday, she was telling me how Drew told one of the other babies she watches, "That's enough Baby Drew". Yes, she is watching another Drew and yes, our Drew was bossing around the baby.

The things our kid mimics... yes we tell Drew "that's enough" when he's incessantly whining, crying etc for no reason. It's just amazing to see him using the same terminology and at the appropriate time.
*sigh*

Weekend at Bernies...er.. Grammy's

Before I start into today's blog... can you believe in one month from today, Drew will be 2?!

OK back to the purpose of today's post...

Over the past weekend, Dave and I went into San Francisco to attend a wedding for his former co-worker. Grammy and GrampC were put on alert months ago that we needed to have an overnight sleepover for little Drew.

Problem is no one expected he would've been sick a few days before and causing Mommy & Grammy to get sick during this planned sleepover. (see here for the back story). Grammy being the trooper and earning Mommy Badges of her own in her day - agreed to let Drew still come over, since when we spoke at 7am, she was feeling better.

As the day wore on, the symptoms of this vicious bug reoccurred, but Grammy braved it out. Until she tired out. GrampC sent me this photo from his cell phone while we were at the wedding.... Poor Grammy fell asleep before Drew (I've been known to do the same thing).

By the wedding, Dave was feeling back to his normal self, but I was still pretty miserable. Our poor friends, I kept my distance from them and couldn't congratulate them properly, for fear they'd spend their honeymoon getting to know each other a little "too intimately" in a not so fun fashion.

By Sunday I felt a million times better - although not 100%. The beauty of technology - you can keep up with what Drew's doing from your cell phone. Just email/text GrampC and you get all the scoop. Including this photo, which was received when we were about 1/2 a mile from their house.


Apparently Drew was waiting "patiently" for us to return, by the front door. He loves his Grammy & GrampC, but I don't think he was feeling 100% yet, and just wanted some special hugs and kisses from his parents.

Photos Courtesy GrampC

The Bad Side of Sharing

At nearly 2 years old, we're really working with Drew on his sharing skills. The problem is, how do you explain that it's not so nice to share everything!

Thursday last week, Drew came down with a 24-hour stomach virus that made it's way around day care. I'll spare you the gruesome details, but needless to say we were up all Wednesday night/Thursday morning with Drew. In the middle of the night I emailed Grammy to see if she would be available to help us out on Thursday - knowing Drew couldn't go to day care (this was before I knew Ms. Stephanie had come down with the same vicious bug overnight).

Thankfully Grammy was able to step in, and Dave and I were able to go about our extremely busy days.

Then Friday night hit... Daddy was nailed by the bug. His symptoms slightly different than Drew's, but bad nonetheless. Drew did return to daycare, with only some ugly diapers (and a nice diaper rash to boot). But at least the vomiting stopped.

Friday night/Saturday morning - Grammy & Mommy get hit!

So tell me, why is it he won't share the things you want him to, but share the things you don't want him to? Is it possible for a nearly 2 year old to understand the difference? If so please shed some light because Daddy's tired of this kind of sharing (he was hit by Drew's Tonsillitis over the 4th of July too - after going 10+ years without an illness - other than a cold).

Tunnel Vision

I mentioned briefly on Friday, that Drew's fascinated with anything he would describe as a "tunnel". Case in point - my legs during a workout last week. In addition, after stepping out of Olive Garden for Dave's birthday, there was an awning. Drew was so excited that he was in a "tunnel".

Last week, I was an awesome mom and brought him out of his afternoon funk with none other than a tunnel (ok so most of us would call it a fort, but work with me here).

Exhibit A - our first attempt at a tunnel.


Daddy saw just how excited Drew was, so we built a bigger and better model.

Exhibit B


OK so you don't see the above view of this awesome tunnel, but the expression on Drew's face, shows he LOVES it. He spent a good hour crawling back and forth, rolling balls and just hanging out in there. We had to force him to come out and eat dinner.

When he woke up the next morning he immediately asked for his "tunnel". Guess we have a new hit!

Calling all Grammys & GrampCs

As Drew gets older, we are seeing a new trend - he favors his grandfathers (which he has three). There are several theories, but that's for another blog entry.

Over this past week, I called Grammy to see how things were going. Drew who was standing next to me, says "Hi Grammy" in the background. That's when I hold the phone for him, and he has his customary conversation with Grammy. Of course there is some coaching on my part as to what Drew should say, but he is starting to respond to things he's hearing on the other end.

We sign off with Grammy, and not even two minutes later Drew starts whining about needing to talk to GrampC. It was a quite pitiful whine in fact. So I call back and Drew gets to chat with GrampC, for which the conversation was rather interesting. At one point there was some whining about wanting to play with their dog Mollie, and how he can't wait to see GrampC (he's at their house this weekend for a sleepover while we attend a friend's wedding in San Francisco).

This discussion with GrampC was yet another sign my "baby" is turning into a big boy. Not only are phone conversations becoming less one-sided, but he knows when he doesn't talk to everyone on the other end. It's the small things that make you realize how fast time flies.

Morning Workout Helper

Apparently I let Drew watch too many blog videos, because earlier this week he pulled a stunt he saw a few months ago from my friend's blog. You can see her entertaining video showing her triplet boys helping her with her workout routine.

Mr. Copycat had to jump in on the action himself. I go through a series of workouts after I get home from my morning run. Drew started out by helping me do some crunches...

Drew's into anything that makes a "tunnel". Apparently climbing on my stomach and squeezing through my legs is as good as any tunnel.

This is followed by some push-up assistance...

Again, any open space or "tunnel" makes him quite the "helper". So my cool down routine took a bit longer, but it was nice to have a workout buddy.

I'll think twice about letting Drew see videos and photos in the future.... hehe

Purple "Fowers"

If you have hung out with Drew in the past few months, and he comes across these flowers - you'd think he just received a million bucks. OK, so Drew still gets equally excited over a penny as he would a $100 bill, but these purple flowers are so enthralling!

He has to stop and comment at every purple flower he sees. When we're in the car, it's a game as to when and where he will see "purple flower". When he spots one, he screams "Oooh, 'nother purple fower" (yes he leaves the "L" out of flower).

What the name of this plant is I have no clue - I don't exactly have a green thumb. But I remember them growing up as plants that would attract snails.

Drew's favorite thing to do with them when we're out front playing - to go right up to them, as if he's smelling them. Looking at them, analyzing them with great interest - and then whacking it as if he's giving it a high-five or something.

So don't be surprised if you hear some screeching from nearby, and Drew's eagerly showing you the "Purple Fowers".

Identity Crisis Averted

Just so there's no confusion after yesterday's Cubs posting, our house is still a Dodgers (and Twins) house.

Sunday after the church luau, we went home to prepare for one of the families at church who were going to join us for dinner and the Dodger's Sunday Night Baseball game. This family of five is a little taste of home for Dave - they're from LA and the three kids are all die-hard Dodger fans. They're triplets, and both girls, can recite stats from a number of the players and one even brought a handwritten letter she'd received from Andre Either (a former Arizona State Sun Devil I must add).

The kids were especially excited to see what was for dinner, the famous Farmer John's Dodger Dogs. This is an LA staple, and Dave was able to find them here in enemy territory.

For most of the night Drew was perfectly content to watch his movies on his portable DVD player we leave set up in the living room for him to watch his movies whenever he wants - some parents we are huh?

About the middle of the game, when everyone in the house started cheering, Drew got into the action. It was quite hilarious and this picture doesn't do it justice.

Drew would get so excited and yell at the TV that he was completely incoherent. His little mind was going faster than his mouth. But he was so excited, and would usually end his thought with "Go Dodgers!"

A Possible Traitor?

Dave is born and raised LA - and as he likes to say, he bleeds Dodger Blue. So he shocked a good number of people at our church this weekend when he busted out like this:


Yes that would be Dave wearing a Cubs Jersey with our Pastor.


Why you ask? Well Dave wears his favorite 2nd Baseman of all time, Ryan Sandberg. And this past Sunday marked our Pastor's 10th Anniversary at our church. So Dave gave him an Ernie Banks 1969 jersey. So the two had to show their off their jersey's.

Have no fear, when Dave got home he changed the colors - but that's a story for another blog.

Busted!

For those wondering about our "angel" Drew, yes he is known to get in trouble from time to time. One thing that works for discipline - time outs. At Ms. Stephanie's house, there is even a special Time Out chair that Drew has become accustomed to.

His biggest violations - hitting, pushing and most recently whining.

He doesn't like Time Outs, and usually if you ask him if he wants one, he will stop the whining for example. One day in July, Drew was busted for something or other and was sent to the naughty chair. His reaction was so funny Steph had to get a few snapshots.

Here are the faces of Time Out....

Is Anybody Home?

I don't know what's more amazing - the fact that Drew took a 3 1/2 hour nap on Saturday, or what he said when he woke up.

Dave and I were working on cleaning up and hanging things in Drew's room, when suddenly we hear:

"Hello? Is anybody home?"

Yes, we doubled over laughing and wondering where he comes up with this stuff. Needless to say we rescued him from our bed where he was happily napping.