The Hold-Up

My neighbors must be shaking their heads in wonder.  Our local police, fire and ambulance are kept VERY busy with the goings on at our house as of late.  And wait until you hear about our most recent brush with the authorities!

The other night we were gearing up for bedtime and Cole and I were in the bathroom getting ready for bath time when I noticed Tommy wasn't with me.  "Tommy...where are you?!?"  With that...our home's security system starts blaring with an alarm.  I jumped up...ran to the panel and immediately punched in our code and it silenced...but there was a strange code on the screen.  Hmmm...what does "99" mean?

Moments later, Kevin walked upstairs with Tommy in tow.  His head was hung low...guilt written all over his face.  I explained to him how serious it was that he had touched our alarm and that we could get in trouble with the police if we sent "false alarms".  I was hoping that he would be too afraid to do it again.  He wasn't looking too impressed...and then...the police arrived.

Want to know what a code "99" means?  It means we are being "held up" and it automatically called the police department.  Kevin went outside to greet the officer and he was thoroughly questioned.  The officer wasn't fully believing the story and asked to come inside.  Tommy...watching this all through the window...screamed.  "I don't want to go to jail!!!"  And immediately climbed up my body and started to cry.  We made our way downstairs where the officer took one look at Tommy's death grip on me and realized we were safe and it had truly been a mistake.

He explained to Tommy that he could never do that again...and a woeful little boy nodded his head.  The officer then went out to his cruiser and returned with two police badges for the boys before wishing us a good night.  Poor Tommy was still sad at bedtime...clearly an event he wouldn't soon forget.

His brother, on the other hand, clearly wasn't as affected.  Cole *actually* said to me..."Mommy?  So if I push the button will we get more badges?!?"  Oy vey!!!!

Toe Cheese

Okay...I know the headline is disgusting...but this is Tommy's new OBSESSION.  A few weeks ago, Kevin was dressing the boys and Tommy noticed some lint between his toes.  "What's that?"  He asked.  "Toe cheese." Kevin replied.  Ever since?  This child is obsessed with checking his toes to make sure they are clean.  So much so...that during his seizure incident...when we were in the ER and he was still not "with it"...he was checking his toes for lint.

His obsession with cleaning out "toe cheese" has now brought his focus to Cole's toes.  It's like watching little apes cleaning each other!!  Cole used to scream...but I think he also realizes how serious Tommy is about this so he just submits.

Hmmm...is this the beginning of OCD?  Should I be concerned?  Let's just hope he doesn't start asking kids at school to take off their shoes and socks.  OY!

Happy Birthday Uncle Joey!

Our worst nightmare...

Well...I lived my worst nightmare yesterday.  Tommy had a seizure.  I walked into the kitchen and found him on the floor, eyes rolled back, blue lips, gagging on his tongue and completely unresponsive.  I grabbed him, the phone and called 9-1-1.   As soon as I turned him on his side, he started vomiting.  It was horrific.  He wasn't trembling at all...I had no idea what was happening and only a mother can fully understand that kind of panic and terror.  Luckily, the EMT's were right up the street and arrived within minutes.  

My neighbor ran over to watch Cole and Grant until my parents arrived and off we went to the ER.  When we arrived, Tommy's temp was 103.5.  They controlled the seizure, gave him a super dose of medicine to bring down his fever and we waited it out.  He had a febrile seizure which is caused by a sudden spike in temperature.  According to the doctors, it is something that happens to 1 in 20 children...so it's common.  But seeing my Tommy like that...that is NOT common...not something I ever want to experience again.  It was heartbreaking.  It took my poor baby about two hours to return to his happy go lucky self.  Even then...he was exhausted and confused.  He slept for a good portion of it.  Here you can see his little flushed cheeks.  Still feverish.

Just when we thought it was all over, I came home to find Cole lethargic and spiking a temp of 102.6...then Grant started in on it.  The temperature spikes have to be the craziest part of it all.  One minute the boys are happy and cool...then the next?  Feverish and miserable.  After a memorable trip to the doctor's (Kevin is away so my parents came with us for support) we learned that all three boys have the flu.  Grant has the mildest case (as usual) and they gave him Tamiflu to help prevent it getting any worse.  Tommy and Cole were in the thick of it.  

Everyone slept in mommy's room that night.  Grant beside us in his bassinet.  This was how they looked when we surfaced in the morning.  It was a long night.  Poor Cole needed two baths to bring down the fevers.  At 3:30 we were all up drinking milk and watching cartoons.  Despite it being a long one...we snuggled and really had some cute moments.  My best pals.

I think we're on an upswing finally.  It's 11:30 on Tuesday night and I think that the fevers (knock on wood) have left the building!  Thank goodness.  Let's hope we never have to relive that again.  Thank god it wasn't anything serious...and I have my little guys on the mend!

Cole loves his numbers!!

He's always been my numbers man.  :)  Cole's new favorite thing is adding and subtracting.  Here he is showing off his math skills.  And of course his favorite number is 5!!  It's his birthday!!