The Johnson family

Friday, December 14, 2012

One night in October on the Thursday night before General Conference, Simon woke around midnight having significant trouble breathing. He couldn't talk so I gave him a dose from an inhaler we had from past incidents. That didn't help too much but I had half a dose of steroids left from Piper's strep throat. That helped him sleep for about two hours. Around 4:30 I decided that he needed to go to the ER. Rick stayed with Piper and got her off to school. Even as I took Simon to the bathroom before we left, he was a sweetheart and told me that he loved me. He can't breathe but he can say "I love you Mom." Breaks my heart.

Simon was not doing well at all. His oxygen saturation level was at 88 when most of the time it's at 98/99. They gave him massive doses of steroids and a nebulizer. He had to stay all day on Friday and even overnight since his oxygen levels kept dipping when he slept. He had a chest x-ray, not his first by the way, just to exclude pneumonia. He was feeling more like himself but they wouldn't release him yet. His awesome pediatrician, Anita Sabeti, came to visit in the afternoon. Rick brought some clothes and toys/books later and then came to relieve me around 5:00. Rick stayed the night with him since I hadn't slept the night before. Simon was not fond of the sticky oxygen monitor they made him wear on his toe. We made it a bit more bearable by putting socks on his feet to cover it up. I kept Piper busy on Saturday by having her help me decorate for Halloween. They finally released Simon around 5:00 on Saturday night. My mom and sister-in-law brought us dinner which was very nice.

So it would seem that Simon has asthma. They don't like to diagnose kids under three with asthma because it could easily be a recurrent lung infection. But since Simon is over three now and it's not the first bout he's had, they diagnosed him with asthma. They gave us an inhaler and spacer for him to use. Thankfully Simon's form of asthma is only triggered by sickness, not pollen, cold air, or exercise. So when he gets a cold/cough, we have to be very vigilant and watch his breathing to avoid having to go to the hospital. Things ended well but it was not an experience I want to repeat.

Soccer Class Redux

Piper took a soccer class through the city. She was the only girl but she held her own really well. The first time I put on her cleats and shin guards she told me, "I feel really strong and fast in this." She got the chance too to wear her famous Sydney Roosters jersey that Rick's co-workers in Sydney got her. She did awesome and I think she'll be ready for AYSO next year.

On a side note, there was a kid in her class named Seven. Yes, just like that episode of Seinfeld.

Dance Partners

Rick's brother Jeff got married back in September. It was a lovely ceremony and we LOVE his wife Karen. It was also the first time that Rick's brother Ben ever got to meet our kids. We've always lived too far from each other. It was a wonderful weekend.

Dancing with her dad. Piper was really concerned about having a dance partner. She wanted someone her age but I told her that I would loan her Rick. I see this photo being featured in her wedding someday, like in 50 years.

Simon looking dashing

Piper looking hot but beautiful

Smile for the camera Simon!

Strep Throat

On day three of school Piper came down with a vicious cold. It turns out that it was strep throat. She was out for three days. Poor thing. We don't have luck with being healthy for the first week of school. Last year she missed her first day ever of school from being sick. I can always tell when she's really sick; she falls asleep on the couch.

First Day of School - 2012 edition

These were the best shots I could get of my two sweethearts on their first day of school; my camera battery charger is yet to be found. Piper started first grade in August (back to school should always be after Labor Day, in my opinion). Her teacher is Lori Levi. I am co-room parent for her class. She wanted a different teacher but after day one she told me how happy she was that she had her teacher. We've loved Mrs. Levi; you can tell she loves teaching and that she loves her students.

Simon started at a co-op preschool in September. He goes for two and half hours every Wednesday and Thursday. He loves it, even if he does need a lot of reminding to sit still and listen. He loves to sing the welcome song as his goodnight lullaby too.

Island Park 2012

Rick was traveling for work right up to when we were to go to Island Park on vacation. So instead of waiting for Rick to get home for the drive, we met up in Vegas. It was a fairly uneventful trip up. On the way home however, in epic Sunday night traffic, Simon decided to throw up all over just as we were pulling over for a bathroom break. We cleaned him up the best we could but I won't lie, it wasn't fun.

The kids and I had to stop at the "train" McDonald's in Barstow. I remember this place from road trips of my youth. It was blazing hot outside, around 110 degrees, so a little break was nice.

Once we met up with Rick we had to go to the Rio. This is Simon doing his best impression of Grandpa Rich.

Fishing for the first time.

Glad we brought boots.

Simon's catch (it was a private, stocked lake)

GOLF! Grandma Vicki and Papa Allen gave Simon a real Lynx putter as an early birthday present. He was so excited to be on the putting practice course. I even took him to hit a bucket of balls at the new driving range. It was dang cute.