Prove it

The five year olds were in the back of the car bantering over who does and who does not have a significant other. Ashton somehow thinks this conversation is directed towards him, and turns around and shouts:

"Yeah! Well I could get one if I wanted one"

Thank you for the clarification Ashton.

The results are in

I didn't want to wait until the timing chips used in the triathlon were uploaded in the computer before I made the previous post. Patience has never been my specialty. I also figured Ashton deserves 2 blog posts. So here it is:

60 kids in total (for the 7-10 age bracket)

Overall time: 26:28 (41st place)

Gender placement: 25th out of 32 boys

Now we break it down:

Swim: 5:31

Placement: 53rd

Bike: 10:23

Placement: 39th

Run: 6:12

Placement: 18th

I can't wait until next year to see how much he improves!

Triathlete: check!

Pre-race Ashton:

100 m swim: In case you don't know what 100m is in the pool, it is 2 full laps. (down, back, down, back). Ashton started swim lessons at the end of June, and can swim on his own, but 100m was questionable, especially in a 12 foot deep pool with only four teenage lifeguards whose definition of a lifeguard seems to be looking in any direction except the kids in the pool. That's where the water noodle came in. Water noodle is my definition of a life guard. He was the only kid in his heat, and 1 of 2 kids that I saw in the whole group, using swim "help". I think he was really nervous (me too), but he kept up with the other kids fairly well, and swam the whole way.

Transition area, after the swim, getting ready for the bike ride.
2 mile bike ride: In addition to swim lessons, Ashton also learned to ride his bike without training wheels. He rarely dismounts it.

3/4 mile run: Just like dad. At the bottom of the slope Ashton is on, the kids turn to the right and run 1 lap on the track to the finish line. Talan was really excited when he saw Ashton running by, but decided to have a coach moment and chase after Ashton yelling "GO! GO! GO!" Grams had to pry Tal off the track.
He's totally focused, tongue hanging out of his mouth, staring at the finish line just around the turn.

Notice anything??

In case you didn't catch it...here's a closer look:

OCD much?

Talan's new favorite hobby:

July has to be my favorite month in Kansas. The scorching hot temperatures, unbearable humidity, insects, allergies, and lack of motivation to do anything productive due to the previous stated issues. Can't get much better than that!

This year July brought us something new to add to the list. Since it has been so hot and I'm tired of Tal clawing at his scalp, but refuse to put baby oil, vaseline, or lotion on his hairy scalp which was the solution given by 3 doctors asked (seriously, I am not taking my child to target with greased up hair, and have those doctors ever tried to get vaseline out of hair?!), I decided to see if buzzing his head would help.

So far so good. Sort of.

Today, July brought me the knowledge that Talan is allergic to himself. That is right, go ahead and re-read that sentence. My child is allergic to himself. I took about 5 minutes buzzing his head and he went straight in for a bath...I didn't even pick up first. Once in the bathroom I took a good look at him and realized he has tiny hives all over his body everywhere his previously attached golden locks touched him. Maybe that was why he has been clawing his scalp raw? He was just allergic to his own hair. Fan-freaking-tastic!

Here's a picture of the new cut:

New Words!

I've been waiting, what seems like forever, for Tal to start talking. Now that he is closing in on two I think he realizes it is time. These are his latest words starting just a couple days ago. Ashton was playing his DS and must have done something wrong because he said, "oh man!" That was quickly followed by a little voice in the kitchen saying those same words (Talan style---meaning overuse of letters 'n' and 'd'), in the same tone his brother used. A few times before Tal has said words without realizing he said it....so, I didn't expect to hear it again. The next day at lunch Tal was holding his corndog a little on the low side and one of the dogs took a bite. All the sudden I heard, "DAW NEEN" (oh man).

I'm also very happy he can say "thank you" (da du), and binki (dink-dee)

Tonight Ashton went on a "date" with Grams (but he let gramps tag along too). He wanted to make sure he took a shower so he smelled nice, and his teeth were brushed 3 times. When he came upstairs after his shower he explained how he tried brushing his hair to the side because he thought that might look nicer, but he likes it down instead, but maybe when he was wearing a suit or something fancy to go to  a party he would comb it to the side. (the boy never brushes his hair). He even asked me for $10 bucks so he could pay for the movie since he was the guy. At one point there was a sticky note attached to his shirt that read, 'I'm going on a date....don't mess me up!" But when I asked if he wanted to go pick a flower for grams he scowled and said, "no! It's not THAT kind of date." I can't wait to see what he's like when he is on that kind of date. 

A few minutes after I left I got a call from Gramps who was laughing about some words that came spewing out of Ashton's mouth. I'm glad we have 9 years to work on the right way to interact on a "date"....

"I'll pay for the tickets, you pay for the pop corn...and that is how it is goin down."

Officially diagnosed

Diagnosis:  Asthma

About an hour after my last post I took Tal back to the ER because he was struggling for breath worse than the first time I took him in. I even said, "Talan, do you need to go see the doctor again?", and he took out his binki and said "yes". 

That "yes" resulted in a 2 day stay in a small room for 23 and 3/4 hours a day hooked up to an oxygen sensor that had a very loud alarm that went off when Tal's oxygen level got too low. The first night it was going off every couple minutes. Gradually his oxygen levels got better when he was awake, but were still dropping when he slept. On Monday night the nurse wanted to put a cannula on him (the oxygen that has the 2 little tubes that go up your nose), but his oxygen levels were okay so I asked her to wait. 4 am I was woken by the very loud alarm and the nurses rushing in with this stupid cannula. I held Tal's hands and it took 2 nurses to get this on. After they left I told Talan I would let his hands go if he promised not to tough his nose tube...he shook his head yes. I let him go and he just laid there, staring at the ceiling with a glare on his face. I said, "Talan, are you  mad?" In almost a little roar he said, "YES". Poor kid! 

It wasn't until tuesday that he took a nap without oxygen, and while his levels were not perfect, the doctor said he could go home somewhat reluctantly. Not fun, but we managed. I also learned from Dr. Peacock that Talan had a flat diaphram on his chest X-ray meaning he has had asthma for a while and it has gone untreated. Hmmmmm....no kidding! 

Talan sometimes does not want his picture taken. He kept shouting "NO" at me. But I had to capture the cuteness that is his hospital gown.

He still managed to sneak into my purse and bring me all the thing he wasn't supposed to have...like pennies. (The stickers on his cheeks are from his nose oxygen tubes. He wouldn't take them off)

We found out the hospital bed when at the right angle makes for great car racing! 

He slept fairly well in the hospital considering he doesn't sleep when we aren't at home. 

No big deal. Just something new to add to our list of ailments. 

Unofficially Diagnosed

There needs to be a rewards program at the ER. Maybe just a priority card that you could flash the front desk staff so they wouldn't make you wait in the waiting room with the weirdo's who all want to stare at you and wonder what kind of abuse you have inflicted on this little kid who is laying limp, gasping for air.  

Is it surprising to anyone I was back in the ER tonight? Not to me. I knew this morning when Tal started wheezing I would be making a trip sometime today. I thought maybe if I did everything I was already planning on doing, his noisy airways would settle down. Instead they got worse. His oxygen level was 96% when I took him in, which is not bad at all so I told him to stop faking. But the poor little guys stomach was caving in when he took a breath signaling he was really struggling to breathe, and he was breathing extra fast. 

He got his energy boost (steroids), a breathing treatment (with oxygen...(aka-the good stuff)), and 2 chest x-rays. Is it sad that Tal knows how to successfully pull off 2 chest x-rays on the first time. Bet your 2 year old can't.  (chest x-ray was clear by the way)

There were a few good things that came out of this visit though. I added another mask to the nebulizer collection (this helps me keep track of how many times I've taken Tal to the ER for wheezing), I stole some sort of sleeve bag (I know...it's a problem) which I'm baffled on what its used for, and Tal has  been unofficially diagnosed with asthma. I guess when you go the the ER for uncontrollable wheezing 4 times in 3 months, they start to realize it is excessive and there is probably an underlying issue. Way to use your medical knowledge doc's! But, the problem is they can't diagnose him there, he has to see his doctor who is booked at least 6 months in advance so she can decide if she wants to diagnose him, and if so, get a plan of action together so I can hopefully avoid the ER. Okay, maybe those aren't great things in general, but they are helpful to lower my stress and frustration level, which makes my life, and theirs easier.