On the mend?

We've been fever free for 27 hours now and Lincoln is back at school for the first time since last Wednesday. So while we exhale, enjoy this photo of Linc wearing a pair of birthday presents. Batman shirt from Grandma V. and snorkel gear from Charlotte.

Sick Linc XVI

The tentative diagnosis is acute lymphocytis. Translation -- the lymph node on the left side of his neck is suddenly swollen, but they don't know why. Blood test indicates some sort of infection, with all the cell counts where they should be for someone who is fighting an infection. Augmentin for 10 days and Motrin/Tylenol for periodic fever. In the meantime, here we are.

Birthday parties

Lincoln had a couple -- Friday at school with his cousins and classmates, then Saturday at the park with friends. He was healthy enough to enjoy both thanks to Motrin, but his ear/lymph/fever odyssey continues today. He's getting some blood drawn as I type. We're hoping it's just a lymph node infection that could take weeks to dissipate. In the meantime, he gets some augmentin to blast any infection and lots of TLC.

Cousins

Grandma Vickie, Aunt Colleen, Matt, Allison and Emily arrived Friday in time for Lincoln's birthday party at school. Today we had another party at Tulip Springs with friends. And then it was off to the zoo for them while I cheered my lungs out for USA Soccer to no avail. Carey came back with 200+ photos. This is one of the best.

Three!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Lincoln!

You have grown up so much in the past year, I hardly know where to begin.  If you look at this, and this, and then this, I think you'll see what I mean.

But no matter how big you get, you'll always be my baby.  I miss you so much since I returned to work in January.  I can't believe after spending nearly every minute of your life with you for your first two and a half years, I am lucky to get two and a half hours a day with you during the week.  The adjustment has had its growing pains, for sure, but we're soldiering on.  Thankfully your awesome Dad has dutifully recorded your many milestones, so that we can always look back on this year of terrific and sometimes terrible twos, which prepped you for what I think may be tiring, but thrilling, threes!

So who are you, right now?  You are a sweet but sneaky little fellow.  You can turn on the charm, and are irresistibly cute. You still love to cuddle, but are definitely asserting your independence.  You tell everyone "I'm a big kid now!" And that is so very true.  You spell your name, get excited when you see the letter "L" in anything, and love to be "it" when we play hide and seek so you can count.  You just had your first, true, big kid haircut a couple of weeks ago, where the #6 razor took away the last of your baby hair. When I look at you now, I can't help but shake my head in amazement.  You are growing up so fast!

Your favorite color is black, your favorite clothing features Batman and Spiderman.  I'm thankful that your infatuation last winter with "Bad Guys" like Facilier from The Princess and the Frog has given way to favoring superheroes.  You now want to "Get the villain!" and enjoy saving damsels (or animals) in distress, which makes playing with your sister lots of fun.  And despite your love of action, you will still dress up in your sister's fairy wings and heels to play with her when she tires of your adventures.

I must admit that you've acquired a fascination with weapons that initially worried me...you want bat-a-rangs like Batman uses, and after watching The Fox and The Hound you declared that you'll have a gun and hunt someday.  You were elated at a birthday party recently when you realized there were squirt guns in the party bag: "MOM!!!  I HAVE A GUN!!!" I have no idea how to respond to the definite "boyness" that is you.

If anyone asks what you want to be when you grow up, you say, without hesitation, "A scuba diver!"  You love books about exploring the ocean, and want to learn to swim, snorkel, and dive.  When we play the "I'm thinking of..." game, you ALWAYS think of a scuba diver, much to Greta's delight.  When I ask you what you plan to dream about at night, 90% of the time it involves The Big Blue.  Grandpa Jerry just drew a picture of a scuba diver for you, and you think it is how you will look when you grow up.

You love to run, as well as throw and kick balls. You can climb like a monkey and jump like one, too.  You are so much fun to play with!  Daddy just got you your first ball and glove and can hardly wait to play catch with you.  And I can't wait to watch.

I love you, Lincoln.  And I love being your mom.  You definitely can put me through the paces some days, but even your belligerence is a blessing, as it helps me work on my patience.  I look forward to the coming year, as you continue to grow and discover the world around you. Three will certainly be a charm!  Happy birthday to you!

Posers

Not sure why exactly, but as Father's Day was winding down Carey and the kids felt like posing. My camera obliged.

Scuba diver!

Lincoln is obsessed with the men and women in wetsuits, oxygen tanks, flippers and goggles who explore life below the sea.  He answers, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" with an emphatic -- "a scuba diver!" We play dozens of games that involve him being a scuba diver, rescuing whales or turtles or whatever marine life is in trouble. So when Carey found these goggles at the dollar store, Lincoln pretty much reached Nirvana. For this photo, he chose to combine his new goggles with Grandma Pat's tickle fingers.

Cousins

It's a shame we don't live closer to our cousins. The kids had a great time all weekend and Carey commented after they left that she felt so at ease and comfortable during their visit. That's what family is for. Here are the 20 best shots taken by either me or Karin over the weekend. I'll take credit for most of the portraits.  :-)

Dad's day

We were lucky to have company on this day that Hallmark chose to honor fathers. My cousin Karin and her family -- the McMahons -- spent the weekend with us. All the women and Lincoln rushed downstairs this morning and instructed Mark and I to stay in our cozy beds. About 30 minutes later they brought these two trays into the master and guest bedrooms.

That's my tray on the right. Eggs in a nest is a new celebratory tradition! What's not a tradition is me freshening up before photos.

Post-breakfast, we went for a walk up the street to the high school athletic fields, where Kate beat Greta in a barefoot 400-meter run by about 100 meters. No pictures, sorry.

The McMahons left for the next stop on their 9-day northeast journey, Saratoga Springs, just before lunch. We spent the rest of the day running errands and watching the World Cup and U.S. Open.

Oh, my gift, besides this family that makes my life worthwhile, was a new Yankees cap and a workout shirt. New Era and Nike Dri-Fit, natch.

Big man in little man's eyes

Jumping into the weekend

Cousins Kate and Lauren arrived early this evening. We enjoyed pizza and a concert in the park. Didn't get many great shots, but will try again tomorrow. I like this leaping shot of Lauren, if it was a little more in focus and all the background people were Photoshopped out.

Sick Linc

Spiked another fever Tuesday night of 103.  Carey stayed home with him through a lethargic Wednesday while dealing with her own ill effects from bad Chinese food, and now I'm home for a little more energetic Thursday.  Fever of 102.2 at 9:30 this morning, but down with Motrin.  Question for anyone out there -- any difference between Children's Advil and Motrin?  Cuz we were giving him the former at first and he got a little rashy and puffy-eyed. But active ingredient in both is Ibuprofen, so I think we're just paranoid. Anyway, back to Barbie Mermaid.  Even when the poor boy can choose to watch anything he wants he picks his sister's DVD.  Sigh. Here's a shot of Fever Boy during happier times, smelling the proverbial flowers.

Daddy's girl

She's so beautiful she makes my three chins almost disappear.

Hair

Greta refuses to trim hers. Says she wants it to touch her waist.

Batman tackle game

Lincoln got a Batman blow-up during his latest illness.  We'd been simply karate chopping and kicking it indoors until Grandpa visited this weekend. He brought it outside and stood behind it like it was a blocking sled used at football practice. First, Lincoln would get his game face on.

Then he would steel himself for the run towards Grandpa.

The impact was violent, but cushioned.

Jackwalking

We joined Jack Bailey, his family and a dozen or so friends this morning for a fund raising walk around Verona Park. Here are a few of the 100 photos I took.

What are you doing on Saturday?

As regular readers know, Lincoln's buddy, Jack Bailey, has leukemia. He, and his amazing family, have been fighting cancer since January 2009.   
Jack is doing well in remission, although a fever of 102 last week resulted in a six-day hospital stay.  His dangerously low blood cell counts resulted in a slew of antibiotics and a blood transfusion.   

Jack is in the loving and capable care of The Valerie Center at Saint Barnabas.  And we're looking forward to being part of The Valerie Fund Walk-a-Thon this coming weekend to raise awareness, funds, and hope...because, quite frankly, cancer sucks.  But it sucks a little less when you are in such good hands.

Will you join Team Jack Jack? If you donate through the "Register to Walk" button and select Team Jack Jack, I'll pick up and mail you the 2010 Valerie Fund walk-a-thon T-shirt! 

Just click here, select TEAM JACK JACK and be sure to select your shirt size.  Thanks for your support!

More graduation stuff

The photo in the blog masthead yesterday -- Greta hugging her teacher -- marked the only time Mrs. Lehrer was hugged by a student during the ceremony. Most of the kids paraded solemnly to the front to receive their diploma. Greta bounced out of her chair and grabbed Mrs. Lehrer around the neck.

The audience laughed and we smiled. Other photographic highlights from the day:

First commencement

Yeah, yeah, we know it means the beginning and not the end, but we both admit to choking up a little today watching our oldest "graduate" from pre-school. It sure felt like the end of something. Mrs. Lehrer's four-year-old class put on quite a performance. From the program:

• The World is a Rainbow, music & lyrics by Greg and Steve
• ABC, 123, music & lyrics by the Jackson Five
• I Know, poem, uncredited
• These Are My Glasses, by Lauri Berkner
• Do-Re-Mi, from the Sound of Music
• Tap Your Sticks, words & music by Hap Palmer
• On My Way, music & lyrics by Phil Collins

I took a few videos with the Nano, but you can't zoom and we couldn't really move around in the small chapel pews we were sitting in, so enjoy it only for the booming mezzo-soprano of Greta Corleen Merrill. Will post pix later in the week.

Welcome to sickville

Turns out Greta's fever Thursday morning was the first sign of strep. Now it's Sunday and both she and Lincoln are on antibiotics. We didn't do much yesterday. A quick shopping trip to Costco and a whole lot of television. Their appetites are starting to come back and both slept a decent amount, so here's to blue sky ahead. Greta will hopefully be healthy enough for her preschool graduation tomorrow!

More time lapse slip & sliding...

This is cousin Allison, who was a big fan of the jump-on-the-boogey-board technique.

Sick kid

Greta woke with a 103-degree fever and an upset stomach, so I'm home with her today. Settling in for a Pinkie Dinkie Doo marathon. We just dropped Lincoln off at school and Greta insisted on posing with these flowers that bloomed downtown, just to show everyone that she's not so sick that she can't appreciate nature.

Slip & slide some more

Taken while lying on my ample belly holding the camera as still as possible in front of me. Four continuous frames on the sport setting - f stop 7.1, 1/640 shutter.