Dylan update

I was excited to find that a pediatric allergist from the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia - one of the best - has an office nearby.

I've been waiting for two months to take Dylan, and her first appointment was today - not a moment too soon. She has really suffered this spring. On top of her other symptoms, she's had a persistent cough, especially when running around.

Unfortunately, the tests today showed that she has developed asthma. The doctor is hopeful that it will be seasonal, and will only act up when her allergies are at their worst. We'll have to wait and see.

The good news is that the doctor was great. I really liked her. She was very thorough and was great with Dylan. She will monitor Dylan more frequently and adjust her treatment accordingly. I feel better about that. Especially now that our poor girl will have yet another medication to take twice a day.

Dylan's one question: Does this mean I'll have to give up swinging?
It's really the little things that mean so much.

May Flowers

May has been beautiful in our part of the world. We've had so many colorful surprises.

These irises have been Scott's favorite so far. He never had any luck trying to transplant some of his Grandma's at our yard in Daphne, so he has loved having some of his own at last.

Our Wild Child

Just got back from taking Isaac to the doctor because he received some sort of "trauma" to his ear. Who knows what happened? All I know is that when I went to get him up from his nap, his ear was filled with dried blood. Not to worry, though. The doctor says all is fine. He apparently stuck something in it, but the cut was just inside of the canal and the eardrum is fine. Whew. Again.

This child is taking years off my life by the minute. Just last weekend, he opened the car door as we were going down the road. Thankfully, Scott was driving and was able to pull over and allow me to jump out and close the door.

My favorite escape, American Idol, is soon to be over. I may be putting the headlights on our lawnmower to good use and driving around at night. The warm weather should hold up until Idol returns.

Reaching For the Stars

Throughout winter, Dylan participated in an acting workshop. These pictures were from her final class back in March.

She recently had her 3rd grade concert at school as well. It's amazing to see how comfortable she is on stage. She did a great job singing and playing the tambourine. (The pictures didn't turn out well enough to post, but we did get some great video.)

Early Spring

These pictures are from April.

Katherine is sitting with some of the daffodils she planted. She was so proud of them. She also planted tulips that have been beautiful the whole month of May.

Isaac is shown here with some daffodils from across the road. Katherine put the fear in him, and he stayed away from hers. He would just point to them and say, "Ka-Ka's".

She has taught him well. She has signs posted around her bedroom for him. Do Not Touch and Privat Stuff. It doesn't matter that he can't read.

When I went into her room yesterday, there was a new sign. At first glance, I didn't get it.

All Flimits

What's a flimit? Then I got it.

Off Limits.

The Color Green

As of yesterday, I have a new favorite pastime. Cutting the grass.

The antique riding mower we had inherited from the previous owners has been laid to rest. (I could say that it just couldn't cut it, but that would be beyond corny.) It's replacement arrived yesterday - a shiny new John Deere!

I had so much fun cutting the backyard! I'm actually looking forward to the next time. It was a perfect 68 degrees outside, and the smell of the freshly cut grass was great. A couple of months ago, when the grass was buried under ice and snow, and my lungs would hurt from just breathing, I dreamed of this day. And now that it's here, I'm going to savor every last second of it.

I guess I should be more excited about the bike, but it's not nearly as relaxing or fun. Just don't tell the girls.

Zoom City

For months, we've laughed at Isaac's "alien talk". He could carry on an entire conversation of gibberish and there wouldn't be a real word in any of it.

But in the last couple of weeks, he's starting to say so many words. And he's actually putting sentences together. It seems to correlate with when he began saying his own name. "Eye-sheek". Now, it's Eye-sheek go out-shide. Eye-sheek's car. And his favorite, Don't fall! (This usually signals that he's dangling from something he's climbed on, and I'd better hurry up and rescue him before he gets another bump, scrape, or bruise that he seems to stay covered in these days.)

Another new stage is his obsession with planes, trains, buses, trucks and cars. He is constantly making motor sounds and pushing around, or riding on, some motor vehicle. He favors the larger ones, especially the big yellow school bus.

Right now, he's tugging on my leg with his favorite book in his hand - Zoom City! which is all about cars and tow trucks. After I read it for the billionth time, we're going out-shide!