Minneapolis

This past week was my Spring Break. The first few days I worked, then we decided to take the last few days and head to the Mall of America. We packed up the car at 5:30 on Wednesday night, put Brode in his pajamas, and headed out for the weekend.Brode lasted a while in the car, then cried out of frustration and tiredness. After an hour he finally fell asleep like this, blocking the sun:

We stopped to get dinner around 7:30 and Brode woke up and wanted OUT of the car. We took a break for a couple minutes then got right back on the road. Brode didn't sleep the last stretch from 7:30 until 10:00 but now that it was dark he sat contently resting and whispering. He tried as hard as he could to fall asleep, not even Tigger or his blanket could help:
We got to our hotel late Wednesday night and headed right to bed. Thursday morning we woke up, had breakfast and went right to the mall. Brode has lunch and naps around 11 so we didn't have much time. We walked a few laps, played in the theme park, and checked out Lego Land.

Brode was wishing that he could have been bigger and rode on the big rides!
He had to ride the little quarter ones. Can you believe I had to peel his hands off the steering wheel as he screamed to get him out of here?
Because Brode's schedule was so messed up from the night before he napped for 3 hours! My mom sat at the hotel with him while my dad and I went back to the mall and ran in some stores. When the little guy woke up we headed right back to the mall and actually did some shopping this time around. I got in touch with my friend Alix who lives in the cities and she met us for dinner at Rainforest Cafe!
Brode loved all the things to look at, but wasn't too sure about the large fake snake in the ceiling. He got very into his coloring and flirted with Alix the whole meal.
Brode hasn't been eating the greatest lately. It is very obvious he is not in his growth spirt. He eats a few bites and drinks a LOT of milk but he hasn't been cleaning his plate like usual. Most of his kids meals didn't get finished this week, but he did like these carrot sticks:
After dinner we sat outside the restaurant and let Brode run out some energy! He did so well for sitting all day long in the stroller, but he was ready to laugh and have fun. Gramps took him for a ride on the escalator!
While packing and getting ready for a long weekend or trip with a young child you always need to figure out how to improvise. You need to figure out the most important things to remember, think of his few favorite toys, and never forget the blanket! We had a suite so it was very easy with Brode this weekend, but he had a tough time not getting time to play, run and sit with toys. Friday morning after breakfast he did get a little bit of time to play with some toys that got mixed in:
After we had our breakfast on Friday morning we all finished getting ready then headed out for my favorite store: IKEA!
It doesn't matter what you are there for, you always come home with more! We had to walk around the whole store and picked up quite a few purchases. My main goal of IKEA this weekend was to find things for Brode's room when he needs to move to a toddler bed. He tested everything out for us, and it was determined as he jumped and rolled that he still need a crib!

Yes, we came home with one of these egg chairs. The canopy fold all the way down to make a full, round egg and Brode just loved playing in it so he got one for his room:


I think Brode enjoyed IKEA just as much as I always do!
After IKEA we still had some time until lunch and nap so we headed out to another mall fairly close to our hotel. They had some different stores we wanted to check out. We ended up walking around here a bit and got some lunch before heading back:
Back at the hotel Brode napped for another 2 and 1/2 hours. My mom sat with him again and my dad and I ran back to the mall and did 2 more laps and went through different stores. We came back when Brode woke up and we all packed up and went back to the mall AGAIN. (I feel like the whole weekend was sleeping and traveling back and forth to the mall and the hotel)! Because Brode napped so long it was already dinner time. We headed to Bubba Gump Shrimp Company to get some seafood because it was Friday and it seemed like the perfect opportunity! This was another fun restaurant to bring Brode to because there were so many things to look at! We all had a great dinner and had fun doing trivia!
We got fun lemonades that came in light-up glasses we got to keep. Brode enjoyed them very much!
When we were finished with dinner we headed to the theme park. The first time I went there was I was 7? 8? 9? ish my dad and I got our picture from the large log chute ride they have. We then went back when I was in my mid-teens? i think, and got another one. So yet again we had to ride the log chute, get soaked, and get our picture. We had some tickets left over so Brode got to ride some rides with a chaperone! We rode the trucks first and oh boy did he love steering and honking the horn:
We rode the Blues Clues ride next. I didn't know how Brode would react because they go up and down in the air but he loved it!
We had a few tickets left so we rode the trucks, again. He threw a fit every time our turn was over!
We headed to Lego Land to pick something out for Brode - what I called his 1 and 1/2 year old birthday present because our little boy turned 18 months on Friday! He once again wished he was bigger to play with the kids.

Saturday morning we were checking out and heading back so we took our time getting ready. We had breakfast then Brode and I hit the pool. He had to miss swimming lessons so I thought we could brush up on his skills. He loved it!
We packed up the car and headed out around 11:00. After a stop we were home at 4:00 and had to find a place for all of our purchases. Overall we had a very "relaxing" weekend. We walked a lot, but we got some time to do some fun things and had lots of time with Brode! I think Brode would agree that he felt pretty relaxed as well:

Patience

The Rivet family has NO patience. Ok that is wrong... Gramps has no patience, so Malorie has no patience, therefore Brode has no patience. Darn these genes.

We met with Dr. Denny on Monday March 8th and yes I realize it has only been 2 and 1/2 weeks but I'm losing my patience. I'm just so anxious. We're waiting on Brode's surgery date for 2010 and some days I can't stop thinking about it and others I compeltely forget! He told us we would hear within the week but they are working on getting caught up so it may be a few more days. They're so quick about everything and I cannot not complain, I completely understand, but what mother wouldn't be dying to know when their child has to have surgery!

On another note, Brode is doing alright after croup. He is still extremely whiny and has a bit of a cough but it seems to be on the leaving end. It is a virus and cannot be treated with antibiotics so it just needs to run its course. Hopefully he will begin getting better now that it is his 4th or 5th day with it. He has been sleeping great, but the eating not so much. That poor little boy!

On a Scale From One to Awful

On a scale from one to awful The Croup weighs in a full blown - AWFUL. It is the current sickness Brode has gotten. I am fairly surprised he did not get it earlier but either way it is now on our list. Matt got it all the time when he was little so it does not surprise us at all. With Brode's history of pneumonia and asthma it was bound to happen.

He got a slight temperature last night and went to bed a half hour early. Around 11:30 he woke up and it was downhill from there. At that point he had the barking seal cough and was not able to sleep more than 20 or 30 minutes at a time. We got the cool humidifier out (yes we have both because each sickness demands something different) and took shifts rocking him, sleeping in bed with him, sleeping in the living room with him. He seemed to be doing fine as long as he was sitting up so he got a little bit of sleep.

Unfortunately we had to cancel swimming class this morning, again. He has already missed some. We've also got plans that he can't go to next weeks so I really wanted him to go this week.

UPDATE: We went to the doctor and confirmed croup. Thank you daddy's genes. Brode was given a steroid and some Tylenol and will hopefully start improving! He is sitting at my feet emptying his entire basket of books reading them all, I'm sure it's going to be a quiet day around here.

On a completely different note. Yesterday after I posted about the nice weather I went to run errands and it started raining. It then continued to rain all afternoon. Whoops spoke too soon. Brode and I ran a few errands together and came home with WAY too much scrapbooking stuff (it's a sickness I think) a few random things, and golf clubs for the little guy. He does NOT need any more toys and won't be getting any for a long time, but he needed some outside toys now that it is getting nice. He sure is spoiled. They were $5 I couldn't pass them up. Too bad it was raining and he had to play with them in the house the first time.

Sixtys

No we're not going retro this week, but we did get some temperatures in the 60s! We have been spending a lot of the afternoons outside going for walks, playing street hockey, getting out the toy cars, going for runs, and playing basketball! Brode got his golf club out with Gramps yesterday afternoon but we soon discovered that he cannot figure out how to hit it right handed but can hit is very well with the golf club backwards with his left hand! We're going to need to get him a new club!

Trigger Thumb

Today was yet another doctors appointment. This time we were meeting Brode's hand specialist/surgeon. We were referred to him by Brode's regular pediatrician to look at what we believed to be Trigger Thumb.

He loved watching the fish in the waiting room.

Brode and Daddy sharing a Dum-Dum sucker while waiting.
We walked into the room and the doctor followed close behind. He introduced himself to Matt and I and we shook hands. Everyone looks down as he says "and this must be Brode" and there stood the little guy holding out his hand to shake and introduce. I do NOT know where he gets these things from.

After he evaluated his history, shoulders, elbows, and wrists it was determined that it was just the typical, simple case of Trigger Thumb. Our first thought was that it was congenital and we did not see it developing, but as he pointed out to us, new research is finding that it may just be something that can be developed.

The final decision ended up being to wait. The doctor decided waiting 6 months and re-evaluating would be the best option. He is not optimistic that it will release and said it usually never does. He will need surgery to correct it but it is a 10-minute procedure with a dressing for 10 days so it is relatively simple.

After we talked with the doctor and got some x-rays we got Brode a special Dum-Dum for being a trooper through another meeting with doctors. We were then all back off to work, school, and day-care for the day!

"Spring" Ahead Weekend

I'm a few days behind, again. We had a fun weekend. Friday night Matt and I had two friends over. We went to Chili's for dinner (one of my favorites) and then came back here and played with Brode. He got a bath and then we all hung out and watched TV. We had plans to go to a movie, but after a long week of early classes and jobs we didn't think we would make it through the late one.

Saturday Gramps, Grams, Brode and I took a trip to Cabela's and did some major shopping. It was only one store but we were there for hours! Be the time we left to start the long ride home it was already dinner time so we headed over to The Mineshaft for some food. Have you ever been there? It's the largest bar and restaurant in the nation, and boy was it huge! There was a game room the size of Funset Boulevard. They also give out free Country USA tickets but they didn't have them quite yet! Brode didn't last long on the car ride home.

Last night's daylight savings time threw our Sunday off a bit, but not too much. Brode woke up at 8:00 (his normal 7:00 just the hour ahead). Everything then got pushed back but we managed. Brode and Daddy played hockey outside this morning then came in for some lunch and a nap. After Brode took a very long nap and I worked on my English paper we went for a walk in the nice weather! It was great to see so many neighbors out again! Tonight I was planning on putting Brode to bed a little later since he napped so long and late because of the time change, but Mr. Attitude changed that plan. For whatever reason Brode got a bit of a mean streak and was hitting, throwing, etc and chose not to listen to anyone. He went to bed at his usual bed time. I thought we were going to get away with no tears - that didn't happen. His room doesn't have darkening shades so it was very bright yet at 7:00 therefore he was NOT going to go to sleep.

No big plans tonight except writing this wonderful English paper that I can't seem to finish - it is not a topic I'm interested in so it has been extremely difficult and boring.

Tomorrow we've got a morning appointment with Brode's hand surgeon to figure out his non-extensive thumb (trigger thumb) so we all get to sleep in a bit and have breakfast together at home.

Sorry no pictures today!

"First" Haircut

We finally did it! I don't know when Brode's hair took off, but all of a sudden it was very long! We debated if we could go any longer, put it off for a while, but finally just went for it and boy are we glad we did. Brode looks great!

A before, you can see the mini-mullet hanging off the back.

He did great! He didn't scream, cry, wiggle, or anything. His left ear was a bit ticklish (or sensitive by the scar) that his fingers went up for but didn't last long.


Ringing the bell on the Firetruck!


Our handsome little boy with a new fresh trim! He looks so good and so much older!


I hesitate to say first because he did have his hair completely shaved off when he was 10 months old for surgery, but this is the first time he sat in the chair and had the clippers. We have the lock of hair (ok we have the entire bag of every last strand they shaved off and saved for us) from surgery, but we got all the pictures and experience this time so it was still exciting!

A few other new things. Brode has learned more words! He is also learning some new songs and putting phrases together. While I was away for the weekend he learned the complete definition and usage of the word please. He begs at the counter, at the top of the stairs, and at his toys "pwease, pwease" and of course sucks Gramps in every time, but I'm going to stand strong! He also learned to sing and do the "Wheels On The Bus" song and some more of "Old McDonald". He has really been catching on and copying more and more each day... it is so entertaining!

Milwaukee Monday

This weekend was very fun! Tiff had a great birthday, I got to see some old friends, and sleep in (even if we did go to bed at the time I usually wake up)! It was also nice to have to some warmer weather for the first time in a while! I can't wait to go back again. It had been 6 months, and this time it looks like it could be a few weeks!

On another note, today was Milwaukee Monday. Every 3 months we've been having check-ups with Dr. Denny on Brode's bone healing. Their check-up clinic hours are only on Mondays so it was yet another Milwaukee Monday. This trip was the transition from checking progress from the last surgery to planning the next surgery. He said everything was looking great, Brode has made some great progress and they are not anticipating having to do much work during the next surgery. It was strange being back to the hospital but as Matt and I pulled in we couldn't help think we just left. The smells were all so familiar. The only difference, the toddler that sat in the chair next to me. When we started the process Brode was 4 months old, he couldn't even sit up alone. Today he answered yes and no to Dr. Denny's questions, sat in the chair next to me, and said good-bye to all the nurses as we left. I had to laugh, but couldn't believe how big he was! We're in another waiting period as they schedule surgery so there shouldn't be any more progress until June or July.

After his appointment we went to the Mayfair Mall. We were only at the hospital for an hour (45 minutes in the waiting room, 15 in the doctors room) so Brode wouldn't have been able to handle the quick turn around of a 2 hour car ride home. We walked around the mall, made a few purchases, played with some toys, and then headed to Applebees for dinner. Brode ate his entire dinner of corn dogs, apples, and for being such a good boy at the doctor - his special drink of chocolate milk. It only took 5 minutes and he was sleeping in the car and we had a quiet drive home.

A Whole Lot of Nothing

Well I realize I just posted yesterday and I wasn't going to write again until I had some pictures or stories from the weekend, but I have had some random things in my head I thought I would write on.

1. Reading List - Do any of you have reading lists? I never have, until now. This January I had a literature interim class that forced me to read a book a week. It was a struggle to do it that fast with everything else going on, but I thought I would run with it as long as I was in the habit. The only problem is that I don't know quite where to go for ideas. I read some off our bookshelf at home the summer I was pregnant with Brode, and I'm always interested at Barnes and Noble but I can never make a decision on what to start. Lately I have been coming across situtaions that a book title pops up that sounds interesting and I write it down. My list has gotten long! I have a few I saw suggested in a magazine but they most be good because I've had them on hold from the library for a long time! My roommate from LaCrosse - Leah - suggested a handful to me that all sound very interesting that I've added. One that she mentioned happens to be popular here at work so I was sure to write that one down. Lastly, I am in Motor Learning right now at school and our teacher has suggested a few that sound intriguing and they deal with my area of study so I'm sure they'll be enjoyable. I had to write them down so I wouldn't forget any, and now I've got this long list! I do have to say I am excited, except I still have 2 that I have about 50 pages left in each left over from Brode's surgery last year so I need to finish those first! So anyways, do you have a reading list? or any suggestions? Also, I'd be happy to give you some titles of the ones I was recommended I just didn't want this post to go on for months!

2. Car Wash - My dad suggested I get a car wash yesterday. I got home to a voicemail from my mom suggesting I get a car wash. I scraped me black pants on the door and ended up with a huge white line across my knees and thighs, so I suggested to myself that I need a car wash. I hate winter weather. The slush and ice and rain makes my car disgusting. I don't have an excuse for the cheerios, CD's, paper, and thousands of miscellaneous items inside the car, but that was disgusting too. St. Nick brought me some PDQ car wash certificates in my stocking this year so I went and got the full scrub, wipe down, and vaccumming done and I feel like a whole new person driving that car. My car was so shiny and the sun is finally out that I even brought out the sunglasses for spring!

3. Toddler Bed - Do any of you have children in that toddler bed age range? (silly question I know 1/3 of my readers do) When did you switch? What do you suggest? Brode isn't climbing out yet, but I want to be ready when it happens. He catches on quick and once he figures it out it is all downhill from there. Brode's crib does not convert into a toddler bed easily because of how the front gate attaches, and it doesn't lower very far because there is a drawer underneath. Toddler beds are not cheap, but it would definetaly be a big help if he can get in and out of it safely. Grandpa is eyeing up the race car and fire truck beds. I don't really have a preference, but we brought up the point of the plastic being cold, but I'm sure Brode would smack his head on the wood corners multiple times as well! There is also the matter of how long they stay in them. There are multiple used ones in very good shape and not knowing how long he may sleep in it I don't know what the best option is! What to do, what to do?

LaCrosse

This is my friend Tiff.

She is turning 21 this weekend.

And I get to celebrate with her!

I haven't been to LaCrosse since the first week in September, so I'll be making the trip on Friday to see some of my best girl friends!

I am very excited, I wish it could be longer, but it sure takes a lot of work to prepare for 48 hours. I made my list of things to pack. It never fails I forgot a few important things so I always have to make a list. Then I had to make of a list of all the goodies I will be bringing along, birthday presents, baked goods, etc. Not so bad right?

Then there is Brode's list. He will be spending the weekend with his daddy and grandma. There is the typical: Diapers, wipes, bibs, clothes. Then there is the weekend stuff: Socks for Monkey Joes, Swimsuit and towel for swimming lessons. There are the comfort items: Curious George, his blanket, favorite books. Somehow his list is extremely longer than mine.

After making all the lists, packing all the bags I then get the urge to clean the car for the long drive adding another hour to the day.

Friday after four classes I will finally be heading westward to celebrate! I can't wait to wish Tiff a Happy Birthday! I am also very excited to catch up with all the girls about life! Hopefully it will be good weather like we have had all week so we can make a trip up the bluffs or take a walk down by the river!