Periorbital Cellulitis

One day last March, I had just arrived at work when the school nurse called and said Drew's eye was red and a little swolen. He had spent the night at his dad's house so I had not seen him that morning. I asked if it was oozing any mucous to which she said no.

Okay, then. Send him back to class. I am a firm believer if they're not running a fever or oozing anything gross then they can go to class.

No, she would not send him back to class. So, back in my car I got and went and picked the stinker up. It was a rainy day. Strict instructions here. If you're going to be sick, be sick on a nice day so I can at least enjoy it.

I called him a faker. I didn't see anything wrong. But, I made an appointment anyway just to prove that school nurse wrong!

Crap. What is periorbital cellulitis? And, is it contagious?

It's an infection in the skin around the eye. Here's what Drew looked like on the morning of Day 2.

Hey, Drew! Your eye is all swolen. Shoot, I guess you weren't faking it! I'll keep you home one more day lest that school nurse call me to come back and get you.

I got a lot of yard work done on Day 2. Afterall, I wasn't sick. I trimmed these shrubs. And, bagged them into these bags. (I hate that part.)

I turned these bananas into banana bread. (I love that part.)

The swelling went down throughout the day and the kid was bouncing off the walls, I swear. There was absolutely no way I was staying at home with him again. I'm not one of those moms.

This is what we woke up on Day 3.

Whoa! It looks worse than it did the day before! What is going on here? It's swollen shut! You're going to school. And, stay away from that nurses office!

Guess who called me first thing that morning. Go ahead, guess. Damn, school nurse.

I was not coming to get him! Can you say, "I'm looking for some attention?" You send that kid back to class. He's fine! He was bouncing off the walls yesterday! I'm not coming to get him.

I sat there and thought. And the mom guilt flooded in. What if he really is not feeling well? What if my baby needs his mom?

NO! He's fine.

And, at the end of the day when I went to pick him up, he was cheerfully bouncing off the walls at his after school program. Literally. Bouncing off the walls. And you can see for yourself the swelling went down.

Day 4 was getting a little bit better. And, I didn't feel guilty for sending him to school.

He didn't need his mom.

Funny Face

You funny, JB. You funny.

Love you.

A New Kind of Super Hero

Hello!


I'm Pepperoni Boy!


Here to save the day!

The Great Shoe Kick Robbery

One of JB's favorite events at Field Day is the Shoe Kick. It is exactly what it sounds like. You loosen one shoe and then you kick it as far as you can. The farthest shoe wins.


This is a serious sport. Not one to be taken lightly.

He sends a quick prayer out into the universe.

Total concentration.

Get Ready. And Kick!

His shoe didn't go very far. Not far at all.

Total disappointment.

It's okay JB.

Don't cry french fry.

But mom. I was robbed. The basket was in my way. The basket!

The basket was right in front of me and blocked my shoe!

Let's review.

Yes. the basket was there, son. And you had a beautiful kick, son. But unfortunately, sweet boy, your shoe just went sideways and the basket was not impeding your kick from traveling a any distance. Other than sideways.

He didn't agree with me.


After review of the play, the call on the field stands. Sorry, son.

Hijacked Photo

I love this picture of the boys. Let's see... Drew looks to be about 2ish plus some months maybe. That's the hall in our Park City condo.

While Drew is cute and cuddly in the front, I'm not sure what JB is doing in the background.

But, it's dang funny!

Yellow Envelope Project

One year ago this week, HouseofShine.com started an initiative to Spread Shine by recognizing every day people that make their corner of the world SHINE.

Watch this video to learn more.

You can make a difference by taking 10 minutes, one yellow envelope and 44 cents and telling someone else that they SHINE. Click here to see this weeks nominee.