A Whole New World!

Poised with pride and pleasure, this little girl is loving her new glasses and the world it has opened right before her eyes. She said in the car ride home, "So, you guys see-- what I'm seeing now?" "Wow!" Kyle is still trying to figure out what she meant by that, but Kent and I knew exactly what she was saying. Things are crisper, have more detail and it's clear that this gal is thrilled with the promises her new glasses bring! She truly was missing out and we are happy with the decision to go ahead with her glasses. While she is only supposed to wear them for TV, the classroom or distances--we've found her a few times reading the comics with them on. It will take a while for her to get her on/off pattern down, but she's one smart cookie so I'm sure she'll figure it out in no time!

911

From the age of 2, I have drilled the kids and instructed them on these three numbers. When to call, who comes when you call and that it is for emergencies only. NEVER did I really think we'd need it.

Last night, we called. Darling Kyle, who seemed to be improving somewhat with his stomach bug, went to bed early. He was so tired from being up the night before and all the trauma his body had been through just being sick--he was out. Or so we thought. About an hour after he went to bed, Kent found him in the hallway. Sleepwalking? We thought maybe, but upon putting him back in bed, it was clear that he was disoriented and something was wrong. We tried to stir him, to talk with him and even to touch him and get him to respond. He just looked past us. Like we weren't there. His arms were outstretched with tremors and he was not able to squeeze my hands or even talk. Something was very wrong. Kent picked him up and carried him down stairs and he continued to decline. His color grew more pale and blue like, he babbled and when offered a drink it just streamed right back out of his mouth and down the front of his body. We couldn't tell if he was having a seizure or otherwise--but he wasn't "with" us mentally, didn't know his name and his muscles were contracting/spasming and his facial expressions were very odd. We decided that the advice nurse just might not make the cut this time. I did it, I dialed 911.

Big sister Karly was a big help. She ran to open the door for the coming help and scurried over to the neighbors (as I told her with panic in my voice) no questions asked. It seemed like forever for help to arrive as Kent held Kyle and continued to try to bring him into reality. I could hear the sirens, knew they were coming, but also didn't like the vision of my child who was in this distant and declining state. He's so tall and thin that he looked so fragile and weak in Kent's arms. I knew he had lost almost 2.5 pounds since his well child check-up last week, and worried he didn't have much left to offer this sickness.

Kyle was very courageous. With firefighters and ambulance personnel right at his side, he didn't flitch when they told him they would be poking and prodding him. They gave him oxygen, took BP, inserted a butterfly port, and tested his blood sugar right here in our family room. Before we left the house in the ambulance, they had him on fluids and he was a little more aware of his surroundings--but not much.

At the hospital it was amazing to see how the fluids brought his color and energy back slowly. The first hour, he slept deeply under the bright lights and within the ER's noisy hallway. He was out. I thought about how hard it would be to do this more than a few hours. My heart goes out to parents who have to sit bedside their ailing children for days/weeks at a time. By the time we were released, after some great IV juice, he was laughing at Daddy's teasing a little and he was clearly KYLE again!

Yesterday just may have been the longest day of my life. I was up just shy of 24 hours straight, and it was a huge pendulum of emotional and physical craziness. Trying to figure out how to help Kyle, seeking medical attention, implementing treatments, thinking he was improving, and then the big crash! We're all exhausted here and hoping today will bring further health for a dear little boy! I hope I never have to be the mom waving her arms to signal the fire truck again!

The BUG!

Mothers everywhere dread it and cringe at the very notion that it may be lurking about their home. It voids all playdates for the week, preys on the early morning hours and offers little warning--holding children hostage within their own bodies. It's the dreaded bug of all bugs, the stomach bug!

My sweet boy has been up since 1:30am and took 15 minute naps laying parallel with the throne. His color is a bit less olive and his lips now flake like pencil sharpenings. He's one dehydrated couch potato. He can't believe his mother says he can watch TV all day while he rests! During commercials, this tired mother, dropper feeds her eight year old two teaspoons of Pedialyte or Gateraid every five to ten minutes--hoping he'll keep it down and it will calm his stomach. All the while, I worry, who will be next and just how well does Lysol work anyways.....................

First Day of Summer

Without intentional irony, the Kern kids celebrated the first day of summer by pulling out the mittens and hitting the ice. Usually this Mama avoids the ice rink because of it's "cold" factor (yes, selfish I know), but we were seeking a new activity and energy burner--so I gave into their pleas! It was so hot here Friday, that Karly and Kyle had to pack two sets of clothes, one for the 100+ heat outdoors and another for the icy temperatures indoors. Kyle is fast on his feet and very competitive with himself trying to get around the rink faster and faster. And let me tell you, this Mama better not miss a lap! He was watching to make sure I was watching. Karly was the spin queen. She taught herself how to spin around-- no surprise, always creative she is. In her own happy world! The perfect end to a long hot summer week!

Here's the pics!

Here are the "Dragon The Line" pictures in better quality!

Dragon the Line

Karly's latest theater experience brought along with it dragon feet and scales! Karly plays a dragon hatchling and has a most inexperienced dragon Daddy who wasn't expecting the eggs to hatch while his wife was away. It's a cooky story with leprecauns and trolls in the mix, but the hatchlings summoned all the attention with their "cute" factor. Here are bits and pieces of the show for you! Thanks to our Daddy for putting it together! We're not sure why is pixelated so bad, sorry that it's blurry!

An Apple A Day!

Well child check-ups (done every two years now) for the Kern kids brought smiles for children, doctor and parents. No shots made the kids day! Plus, these kids have been so healthy, I have to knock on wood! Just awesome! Karly didn't even have enough visits through her nine years to chart her weight on the line graph. Aside from Kyle's seasonal allergy visits, he too would be missing some links along the way. Drug allergies? Love that question.....neither child has had more than a dose or two of antibiotics in their whole lives! I have no clue what we may or may not be allergic to at this stage. We are so fortunate to have two very heathy kids!

Both kids had great blood pressure and all the positive signs doctors look for, i.e. skinned knees and big smiles. Karly has shot up a bit in height and remains fairly consitant at the 35% mark. Her current height projection is to be 5'3 or 5'4--as best they guess. She did show signs that her eyesight is declining further, so an eye appointment tomorrow will likely lead us to the eyewear store for some great kid friendly frames and lenses! Because it is only one eye having the trouble, her left, we need to start treating it. As for Kyle--he's just plain tall. Still off the charts. He is on the low end of his BMI because of weight, but the doctor said that he's healthy and progressing so it's not a problem. He'll just be tall and lean--no surprise there! His current projection is 6'6 or 6'7.

Watch for pictures of Karly in her new glasses, coming soon!

Counting Down~Oh, yeah!

Kent and I are counting down! 18 days until we whisk each other away for a week on the Yucatan Peninsula-celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary! Sand, sunshine, seafood, snorkeling, smiles and spoiling--here we come! Did I leave something out? Hmmm....Snoring on the beach perhaps? Things have been so busy lately, this trip just can't come soon enough!

While we aren't all that excited about our red-eye flight out of San Francisco, we are thrilled to be starting our trip with a little relaxation in mind. Thanks to a co-worker with connections, Kent was able to get us a sweet deal on a limo for the drive to SF! That way we don't have to bother family with a late night drive out there, and we get spoiled before even leaving our day to day surroundings! Wahoo!

Every five years, Kent and I take a big trip like this-alone! Considering all the fun the two of us have traveling together....and the fact that the kids are getting older and more easy to take care of (and we have amazing family who love to spoil them while we're away)....we might just have to move these trips a little closer together! HAH! This is us. We truly enjoy being together & TRAVEL tops our activities list! Thus, our packing list is printed out and our shopping list nearly completed. We've been known to start packing weeks in advance....it's just our way......I'm betting the suitcases will be sprinkled about our bedroom floor in no time! Anticipation baby!

Future desired destinations: Australian, New Zealand and back to the Caribbean Islands--all of them!

Off to an Amazing Start!

So far the Kern Team summer is off to an amazing start! With summer survival in mind, Mommy sprang into action last weekend to create a rewards system for the kids which capitalizes on their "Commodity" (honestly, something I got years ago from Dr. Phil) --WEBKINZ. The kids are earning tickets with positive activities and losing them for our OOPS moments. When they get 500 tickets, I buy them a Webkinz. So far both kids are doing well with Mama's creative plan....we'll see how long it lasts!

Daddy's have great summer ideas too! Just before bed, the kids were concerned that it was too warm to sleep. Kent's solution: the hose! Both Karly and Kyle giggled their way between the beads of water and were cooled off in no time. Great silly fun that got them into bed! Yeah says Mommy!



"Narnia, Prince Caspian" also topped our list for the week! Gotta love that matinee pricing!

As for the rest of the week, the kids slept in, Mommy took her workout to a local park to spare the kids the torture of bordom at the gym. Karly and Kyle re-discovered legos (who have been around town with us), we had playtime with friends, Mario Cart races, and both kids learned a little about the dog skeletal system at the vet for Gilligan's check-up!

Thus far....the Kern Team is playing together and loving it! This Mama is crossing her fingers that things continue in such a positive direction! VBS, Art Camps and a Basketball Camp are yet to come in the next few months!

A Great Season

He's Eight!

Celebrating EIGHT years for Kyle! Wow! Birthday gift highlights include: Chargers hat (he's worn it everyday to school this week) and a Cardinals pennant, Pitch Back screen (Baseball), Webkinz (we have a zoo) and Mario Cart and Accessories for the Wii! Mama is hoping all of these things will keep the busy boy content over the summer!

On Tuesday at school his class celebrated their math facts with a cookie decorating party where they also sang "Happy Birthday" to Kyle in "old man" voice--too funny! He also proudly wore his birthday crown--at recess he even wore it over the top of his charger hat.
He's a cutie and a keeper! What a great kid!

Pioneer Days

The living history trip to Bernhard Museum was a fabulous trip! We had beautiful weather, about 80 degrees, and the site is just an amazing replica of the mid-late 1800s. From the moment the kids stepped off the bus, they were taken back in history--hands on learning at it's best. This history nut mom had a great time!

Here's Karly's class:
Karly pumping water for laundry-what a task laundry was!
Karly making a fruit crate, as grapes were grown on the property.
Karly made her own marble pouch and learned to tan leather.
Making "leavings dolls" and button spinners--the toys of what was left-over. Nothing wasted!
Lunch with Mama, friends and fried chicken!


Other activities included: grinding wheat for biscuits, churning butter, baking biscuits, carrying water from the well and a walk through the Bernhard home.

I can't wait to return next year with Kyle!