What's scarier than Halloween?

The hospital.
What started as a basic office visit ended in a trip to the ER. Elsa had been having an assortment mild ailments that lasted for too long, including a fever. None of them were alarming on their own, but all of them together was puzzling. We brought her to the doctor after the first five days - while she had a rash - but none of the doctors could figure out what kind of rash it looked like. It was most similar to a strep rash, but the test came back negative. We also had a Lymes test taken, which was also negative. Their diagnosis was, "virus of the week". Two weeks later, she still had an on/off fever and some other symptoms. The nurses at the Fairview nurse line told me it sounded like a virus and not to worry. In the meantime, she felt good enough to go to school, dance class, and every other normal activity. These photos were taken just 3 days before we went to the hospital. She doesn't look too sick, does she?




But we went back a second time, anyway. I figured we'd get some medicine to finally kick whatever it was and get outta there. But instead the doctor very seriously told us that we needed to go to the ER at U of M Children's in Minneapolis right away. They thought she had Kawasaki's disease, which can lead to permanent heart damage and is deadly if not treated. When we got to Mpls, the doctors all agreed that must be it... but then suddenly changed their minds. They still couldn't figure out what was going on, so we had to stay there for two nights and poor Elsa had to go through a ton of tests. Chest x-ray, CT scan, echocardiogram, eye exam, an IV, and the dreaded lab work... they took 10 tubes of blood. All the tests were negative. I didn't take any photos, I purposely left my camera at home when we left. Now I wish I would have brought it - the hospital was really impressive! I took some photos from off their website and the rest are from Tim's phone.





Elsa was relaxing while watching the HUGE flat screen TV.


After a full day of tests, finally some fun - playing cards with dad!


We still have to go back to Children's and she needs another echocardiogram just to be sure, and then we'll be 100% in the clear and hopefully we'll be done with doctors for awhile. She seems fine now. Just a virus after all!!

The house is done and basically move-in ready. Just some picky little things to get done for our inspections, and we'll have the occupancy permit this week or next. It's very exciting, but these last little things seem to be taking so long. I'm ready to move in!

Home Sweet Home.




Lila is the first to use the toilet in the girls' new bathroom!


Now that we have carpet upstairs, the kids finally seem to see the new house as a house. They run all around the rooms in their socks and have a blast.


Last night at dance, the kids got to dress up in their costume and we got to watch them do their thing. Lila and Violet had the same exact costume!


Today I went to Ikea with Lila while Elsa was in school. On our way home we stopped by Cousin Avery's house for a play date. Her first birthday is next Monday already!

Creepy Crawlies

This year we bought our usual season passes to Pinehaven Farm.




What's the verdict? Pinehaven. Pretty cool.


Fall not only brings a ridiculous number of ladybugs, bees, caterpillars and box elders, but last week we also saw a ton of these guys:
Salamanders...


Snakes (unfortunately there seems to be a ton of corn snakes out at the new house)...


and deer. Which are typical, even in town, but the fawns are still too young to be afraid and they get really close. This is nothing, he moved before I could take the photo. You can see him in the shadows just to the left of the tree trunk.


Lila and I took some photos in the pretty fall leaves while we waited for Elsa's bus.



Today we went to the pumpkin patch with our neighbor and her daycare kids. They really know how to pose!



Here are a couple of dance photos from tonight - I couldn't get a good one of both of them. They really enjoy the class, and Elsa is tells me that "Lila is actually a good listener!" lol.



Here's how awesome of a gardener I am, not to mention groundskeeper: it took nearly all summer for me to notice that we had a huge pile of pumpkin vines growing in our backyard. Once I finally did notice, it was only thanks to the yellow orbs that started to materialize. A couple weeks ago I finally went to check it out up close, and sure enough, we had over 25 pumpkins growing! Our old pumpkins had been tossed out last year, and then probably covered with some leaf clippings from the mower. It was quite the surprise crop.

North Shore 2011

For the 4th year in a row, we made our way to the North Shore for our annual family trip. The first year was my sister's wedding. Lila was just 2 months old, and Elsa had just turned 2. The next year Lila was 1 and Elsa was 3... you get the picture. We've always stayed at Gooseberry Park Cabins in Castle Danger, just north of Two Harbors. It's a great area, right next to Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls, and Tettegouche State Park.

Friday, Day 1: Arrived and went down by the beach. First order of business: find the perfect stick!


The kids had fun doing what they did last year on the rocky shore: "stirring the soup" in potholes filled with water. Elsa got some lake scum on her stir stick and thought it was pretty neat/gross.


We ate at the cabin and then headed to Betty's Pies for dessert.


Saturday, Day 2:
The sunrise from our cabin window.


We ate breakfast across the street at the Rustic Inn, then headed back to cabin #4 (straight ahead). You can just barely see where water meets the sky.


The kids posed for pictures down by the beach.


Elsa loved watching the waves crash against the rocks.


We usually go to Gooseberry and Split Rock, but this year we ventured a bit further and went to Tettegouche State Park. The kids are hit or miss when it comes to having energy for long walks, but surprisingly they took a 3+ mile hike with us this day! Lila only had to be carried some of the time. They loved walking through the woods and exploring. Every time Lila heard a tree rustle, she thought for sure it was the waterfall we'd been waiting to see.


Finally, the waterfall!


The bouncy cable bridge.




Lila takes a rest while Tim and Elsa play around on the rocks in the river.


Not long after this photo, Tim fell into the water. About ten minutes later I asked how wet his shoes were, and he said he was fine... except for this. He held up his hand, and even with the sun in my eyes I could see it was covered in red. The rocks had sliced his hand pretty badly as he was trying to catch his balance! Elsa said,"I don't like blood, especially on my D!" Not a good injury for someone who works with his hands all the time. :(

I captured this photo just as Elsa tripped over a piece of driftwood! Not doing too well with the injuries on this vacation...


We got home and Tim took a nap while the we put together a 55 piece puzzle.


Next we went to the Two Harbors farmers market and got some sides for dinner: corn, tomatoes, and green beans. Of course that was followed by S'mores and a campfire down by the lake.




But, back to Two Harbors... where is the Voyageur outside the Voyageur Motel?! Don't mess with my landmarks, people!


Whew, we found him, completely refurbished and sitting in front of another tiny motel on the Expressway just before Two Harbors. Not quite the same thing, but I'll take it.


Sunday, Day 3:
It rained all day, but luckily it stopped for a bit while we took our usual walk at Silver Creek Cliff.

First day of Kindergarten, Preschool, and Dance!

Kindergarten started last Wednesday. Elsa goes M, W, and every-other Friday, from 9:15-3:30. It started out a little rocky... she got a fever on Sunday of almost 102, and had it until the early morning hours of Wednesday. I was so nervous she'd miss the first day - how terrible would that be? When she woke up it was gone so I sent her anyway. I told her teacher about it and she kept on eye on her, but I never got a call. When she came home she had her fever again, plus a headache, and was miserable and exhausted. Luckily we have a day of rest in between, and she was fine on Friday. It was tough on her, but I'm glad we sent her that first day. She already seemed to have learned a lot as far as the way they do things in school. They got a tour of the library, gym, playground, lunch room, computer lab, etc. They did a few worksheets, watched two videos on the Smart Boards, and met some of the other teachers. She would have missed a lot, and I'm glad she didn't!

Our new house is in the Chisago Lakes district, but we Open Enrolled to stay in Forest Lake. That means the bus won't pick her up at our driveway. The closest bus stop just happens to be on Grandma and Grandpa's road, so we'll have to drive her there every day. Here's the bus stop crew. The younger girl is in her class, and her older sister helps make sure they get off the bus at the right stop, find their classroom, etc. Works out great!


A HUGE goodbye hug for Lila!


Finally home at 4:00 pm - a very long day for a kid who isn't used to being away from home, not to mention a full day of learning and activities! She was so exhausted, you can just see it in her eyes. She really loves it, though! This week was much easier.


Oops, the flash was a little bright for this one. Last week Grandma Karen brought over a special picnic lunch, with all the things that Mickey and Minnie ate at their picnic (in the book, pictured), including a big chocolate cake! We all thought it was a really cool idea. The kids loved having lemonade out of jars, and the cake knife that was taped to the bottom of the cake pan - all just like in the book.


This is Lila's first drawing of a person that I've ever seen. At first she had the two blue legs, but later added the white line in the middle, saying it was the butt. I think Elsa did the same thing when she was little! Funny kids.


Lila started Preschool this week. I stay with her for half the time on Mondays, then we separate. Wednesdays I drop her off and she's on her own the whole time. She did great! Here she is, standing very proud by her locker.


The weather is suddenly in the 50's and cold! It's hard to believe how hot it was only 5 days ago. I'm sure it'll be the last swimsuit picture of the year.


Today was the first day of dance. Elsa lectured her the whole way there, telling her she had to listen, she couldn't just run around all wild. When the class was over, the first thing Elsa said was, "Mom, Lila actually did really good!" She did throw a fit when it was time to leave, but hey, at least that means she likes the class!


Tomorrow we leave for our annual family trip to the North Shore. Can't wait!