Very Sick Kids

We have had a rough week now with our children. Here's a brief rundown of what's been going on. Sorry that I haven't posted in awhile, as you are about to see, I have had my hands full...

We woke up at 1:00 a.m. last Wednesday night when Miriam started crying. Usually this isn't a big deal. We slid the wicker couch into our bedroom and put Luke to sleep there while I tried to help Miriam settle down. When I picked her up, she was burning hot with a fever. I gave her Tylenol and some juice and just laid next to her. Moments later, she vomited everywhere in bed. After cleaning her up, washing the sheets out, and changing the bedding, I was finally able to get her to go back to sleep.

In the morning I sent Luke and Morgan to school. Since Miriam wasn't feeling well, I just laid her on my chest while I laid on the couch. We were doing OK watching Curious George and lying there, when Miriam emptied her stomach again. However this time, there wasn't any bedding to catch the vomit, only my chest and part of my face. Good times. So I rush Miriam into our bathroom and turn the water on. But guess what...NO FREAKING WATER!!!! Can you believe it? We have been getting a lot of rain lately and they shut the water off to help keep the filters from getting backed up with dirt. Good thing we have 2 55-gallon barrels of stored water in our apartment for emergencies like this!

I put two pots of water on the stove to heat up some water to bathe Miriam and myself. In the meantime, I had taken off all of Miriam's clothes and diaper since they were puked on. Just as the water was finally warm enough to bathe with, I noticed that not only has Miriam an upset stomach but she also diarrhea since there are trails of it all over the bedroom, even with little footprints in it. What a morning (it wasn't even 9:15 yet)!

Once everything and everyone was cleaned up, I had to take a taxi to our laundry service and drop off all the icky bedding and clothes. What I wouldn't have given for my own washer and dryer on a day like this!

Later that day I was holding Miriam and I just happened to look at her scalp. When we were at Grandma's House a few weeks earlier, we found a tick attached to Miriam's head. Morgan removed it and we cleaned the area with rubbing alcohol. She had not shown any other symptoms associated with getting bit, so we thought that she was not affected by the bite.
The spot where Miriam had gotten bit, was now red it was raised...a possible indicator for lyme disease. The clinic was unable to see Miriam that afternoon but she was seen the next day (Friday).

When I showed up at 8:00 a.m. they said that I should return at 9:20 for an appointment with the doctor. I asked if I could just wait in the waiting room since it was a rainy day. They said "no" because they would need it for all the other walk in patients. So Miriam and I headed out to find a place to chill for an hour and 20 minutes. While waiting for our appointment, Miriam threw up again. Luckily it was only Gatorade and a few pieces of crackers. Finally when it was time for our appointment, the doctor seemed very concerned for Miriam. They went ahead and prescribed penicillin for the tick bite which she will be taking for the next 2 weeks. By the way, Friday was a research day at school and there was absolutely no one on campus, and for that matter, no one else went to the clinic. So glad that I didn't take up all that space that they needed in the waiting room.

Anyway, Saturday brought on a whole new set of problems. By this point we were pretty used to Miriam vomiting but now Luke was getting sick. He had several diarrhea explosions, and yes, explosions is the most accurate word to describe them. Luke is a fast runner, but even he couldn't outrun a few of those blasts. Needless to say, we stayed home from Church on Sunday.

Everyone was doing better until Monday night. We were sitting down at the dinner table and Luke said that he didn't feel well. He went and laid down on the couch. I just happened to look over at Miriam and she looked a little pale. I said, "Miriam, do you feel OK?" Just then, and I do mean, just then, she puked all over the table. Good. I wasn't hungry anyway. I have been wondering why I haven't had much of an appetite lately. Now I know why. Puke destroys any desire I have for food. Luckily Morgan was home and cleaned the table while I cleaned the small one up. Morgan is truly the best husband and father. He has cleaned more diarrhea underwear and puke filled sheets and clothes than anyone I know. Plus, he always jumps in to help clean. No begging for help on my part. Can't find a better man than that.

OK so by Wednesday, Miriam is doing tons better. She has stopped puking and seems to be happier. Luke had stayed home on Tuesday and Wednesday because of a fever and cough, but he too seemed to be better. Thursday he went to school, but by the evening he was just miserable. He had a fever again and his cough was so harsh sounding.

Now that it is Friday the kids are both sick again. Miriam is getting what Luke has. They both just laid around today and Miriam wanted to be held for most of the afternoon. So sad. When I put Luke to bed tonight, I asked if he wanted me to read some stories to him. He said, "Let's just go to bed." That never happens. Usually if I read 10 books and sing for half and hour he still wants to delay bedtime. Maybe a good night's rest will do everyone some good.

Hope you and your families are doing well. Just keep our little ones in your prayers for the next couple of days.

Clone Trooper Luke

Since Luke loved shopping at Target (only in the toy department though) while at home, Grandma gave him a few jobs to do in which he could earn money. With his money he wanted to buy a clone trooper helmet. Target didn't have any more left, but Wal-mart had a helmet and costume. Luke loves to dress up as a clone trooper now. Tonight Morgan asked Luke if he wanted to be a Jedi Knight. Luke said, "No. I want to be a clone trooper." Who knew that clone troopers were cooler than Jedi?

Chef Miriam

Since bananas are Dominica's main export, we like to have banana oatmeal chocolate chip muffins for breakfast sometimes. On this particular day, I decided to let Miriam help out in the kitchen. Now that Luke is in school until 3:00 each day, Miriam and I have lots of time together. Cooking and washing dishes are just a few of the ways that we spend our mornings together.

Miriam just loved stirring the batter. She didn't want me to help at all.

The Chef at work
Now time for filling the muffin tins
Mmmmm....which one should I choose?
"Now how do I get the chocolate chips back out?"

Paintball War

I had no idea what an exhilarating rush paintball could be! On the last Saturday in WA, we had the Goffs and Mike over to paintball. Scott gets the award for the most creative armor. He used cardboard, bubble wrap and duct tape!

Of course there were a few casualties...

Here's Jeff with a paintball hit to the throat

Mike got it on the top of his head...

And poor Morgan ended up getting some of the paint in his mouth when a ball exploded on the mouthpiece, YUCK!

Rambo would be so proud!

Tricycle Fun

Another great thing about being at Grandma's house was that we could access all our possessions. Scott and Shelley have been so wonderful at allowing us to keep our things at their house since we have been in Dominica. The kids loved finding their old (and yet new to them again) toys, especially Luke's tricycle. While Luke liked riding the tricycle, it was Miriam who became possessive of it. She could hardly wait to have a turn. Since the tricycle had been sitting in the shed for a year, it was so squeaky loud! Have no fear, Grandpa Fife to the rescue!

Grandpa getting the tricycle tuned up

"The Tricycle is Mine, ALL MINE"

Grandpa is not only a handyman, but also a speed racer. Scott got his work stool to race Luke and soon they were off. After a few successful races, this happened....

Thanks to Morgan's fast reflexes, Luke was kept safe. Luke wasn't too thrilled about riding the tricycle again and Miriam couldn't have been happier to have it all to herself.

Pacific Science Center

After the kids played on the cars and carousel, we headed to the Center House for lunch. We ate fish and chips and I had a very tasty chowder bread bowl. Yum Yum! Once again another great part about a cool, overcast day...it's so good to feel cold and eat soup! Now that our tummies were full we decided to go see the Pacific Science Center. We started out with a science lesson on combustion. No pictures or video to post of this but here's what happened... A very energetic scientist came out and explained the necessary elements for combustion. He ignited several flammable things and the kids loved it. However for the big finale, the scientist ignited a hydrogen and oxygen filled balloon. KABOOM!!!! Luke just about jumped through the ceiling. Well no matter how cool the dinosaur exhibit looked, Luke would have none of it. He had to exit the building for fear of something else combusting. Oh well. We found other cool things to explore. The special exhibit was on speed so the following pictures are from this exhibit.


Grandpa and Morgan and Luke raced each other. Luke won!

Miriam and a crash dummy. Remember to wear your seat belts!

Morgan showing Grandpa the cool lego car that he and Luke made for the race.

Time to race...

Miriam with Grandpa at the Butterfly House

Seattle Center

Wednesday, August 27th we headed to Seattle to take some of the attractions at the Seattle Center since it was an overcast day. Which by the way....we loved having overcast and cold days while we were home! The cool air felt simply marvelous! I digress...

How could we walk by the ride attractions at the Seattle Center and not stop? The kids loved riding the carousel and then the cars. Take a look!

Luke seems to be taking driving his little sister very seriously...let's just hope he feels the same when he gets his real license.

Miriam had the most fun driving the car when she sat behind Luke. Check out her huge smile as she waves in the video!