we're off

Again. We're leaving early Friday morning to head up to Seattle for some fun with Nikko, his parents, and the Anton-bear (scroll down if you followed the link) on the Olympic Peninsula. We admit that this is a bit decadent so close on the heels of our recent Christmas/New Years trip to Nanny and Pop-pop's.

Micah's been on antibiotics for three days now and seems to be a bit better physically. Behaviorally, he's been quite challenging. I suspect it's a combination of still feeling a bit sick, having been spoiled and in general not held responsible for his own behavior for a while when he was very sick, and being two and a half. Take away all the battles, tantrums, cajoling, and contrariness, though, and he's still a very sweet boy.

I (Zack) am back to about 80 or 90 percent after getting some decent sleep for a few days, and Amy is simply getting used or resigned to feeling awful. She's pulled a muscle on her side/back from all the coughing, though at least she's vomiting less. Ok, maybe we deserve another vacation after all.

In other news, the heat wave (that followed the cold snap) finally broke and we've seen some light rain in the past few days. I've also been seeing a lot of dolphins on my morning bus commute. They're quite beautiful, but slow things down a bit because they never have exact change. Har! Seriously, I look out the window on the stretch from Ventura to Carpenteria and can see them right next to the shore, practically in the surf.

still...

...sick, still 84 degrees outside. Micah stayed home from school today and went to the doctor. He has infections in both ears and a bunch of gunk in his chest. Parents are still no better.
I had hoped that things would change today. Pediatrician told us to go get checked out because there's a bacterial bug going round.

ugh

We've been recycling the same cold for over a month now.

Micah has had a fever of well over 100 degrees since yesterday and Mom and Dad can't seem to kick the phlegm/sore throat/cough nasties.

And while the rest of country freezes its tootsies off, the car thermometer read 88 degrees yesterday. It must be The Quickening...

Midwife appointment

Micah was very excited to go to the appointment with the midwives this morning to see the "machine" (dump truck toy in the reception) and use the "blue thing" (either the blood pressure cuff or gel for the doppler). He had the routine down upon arrival, thanks to Dawn's patient tutoring last time, but had to be reminded that the appointment was actually for me and the baby first and then he could have his turn...

Heart rate: 98/62 (and mom, I weighed in at 118.5--"steady and good weight gain," so quit your worrying)
My uterus measured about 19 weeks, but I am officially 20 weeks (half way there!)
Fetal heartbeat(Hello baby!):





With every additional request Micah made to measure his belly again or hear his own heartbeat with the doppler I was amazed at how understanding and inclusive these women were of Micah and nurturing of his curiosity.


Sue's diagnosis upon hearing Micah excited heartbeat: "Sounds like you're going to be a healthy, strong big brother."

Measuring Micah's belly:

I also left convinced that all this extra time would have never happened at my old ob/gyn's office. "Midwife" is now deeply entrenched in his vocabulary.


p.s. In California there are apparently only 11 birth centers staffed by licensed midwives: Ventura has 2 of them while Berkeley, of all places, has none.

Millennium Park: San Anselmo, CA

2009: We're back.

Sorry.

That is all you'll get out of me. Now moving on, where did we last leave our fearless hero?...somewhere just before Thanksgiving I believe.

Well, for the faithful and desperate a little sleuthing on this site would have brought you to cousin Joey's blog where his dutiful parents still find time to regularly update us with their child's developments. Er, I mean, Joe, finds the time to keep us up to speed with his 2-year old happenings. Here are the boys enjoying some time together in the crisp autumnal air of Maryland where we enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving holiday waaaaay back in November 2008. Here are our token memories:



Nanny-Gorgeous came and visited for 10 days and went through over 50 tea bags of my prime Yorkshire Gold before we high-tailed it up North for some family and food(ie) time.

Then there was Hanukkah and 8 blessed days of bribery and way too many presents at Nanny & Pop-pop's on Christmas:


On a failed attempt to the newly re-opened California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, after ditching the 2 hour wait we got in some prime park time:



This photo of Micah reminds me to share his affinity for all things prehistoric and reptilian. Micah is a quick study and is eager to point out to you the myriad details that differentiate a brachiosaurus, apatosaurus and diplodocus, that corythesuarus has a crest and is a "duck-bill" like maiasaura as well as his horned and armored favs: triceratops (in-hand) and stegasaurus. Micah is also a "meat-eater", he would like you to know, like his all time favorite: T-rex. I'll admit I never cease to be amazed (and slightly weirded out) at hearing such multi-syllabic words coming out of my 2 and a half year old.

BTW: Zack and Micah eventually prevailed and waited the 1 hour and 45 minutes to go to the museum mid-week to take in the highly touted T-rex skeleton, "blue fish" and the albino alligator.

Otherwise all is well in the Grosskins household. One sweet little anecdote that I'd like to share and record for posterity is that Micah is quick to thank Mommy and Daddy at the table, unsolicited, for "cooking dinner" or "making broccoli" mid-meal which just warms our heart every time.

Greetings from Ventura Harbor

This is Fall

Micah had his last swim lesson this weekend. By "swim lesson" we mean "parent and child water adjustment class." He is still adjusting. As am I to the idea of outdoor swim lessons in November, but hey, this is how we roll now. Of course the wind chill factor brings it down to a chilly 70 degrees at least:



On a separate note, the "I" above actually refers to me, Micah's mom. Zack was threatening to change the name of the blog for a while there while I was shirking on my blogging duties and asleep by 7:30pm every night. I've had a lot going on inside of me. Here is me at the park on a typical day trying to keep it together:



The good news: I'm almost out of the first trimester and we heard ony one heartbeat last Friday.

roar

In his dinosaur pajamas, Micah roars and bites.

leisure wear

Earlier this week, Micah and Amy put on their bathrobes and enjoyed some warm milk on the couch.

where's the dark?

Micah and I caught the sunset at the beach today. We watched from when the sun cracked the horizon to the moment the last sliver disappeared. At that point Micah asked, "why isn't it dark?"

aaaargh!

Taken at Marina Park.

november 4

As usual, Micah crawled into bed with us before dawn and went back to sleep briefly.


Then he woke us up by saying, "John McCain".

We're not making this up.

halloween

What is he?


Oh, a bunch of grapes.

the rest of Hawaii

Here the scoop on the rest of our Hawaii trip. Sorry for the long delay.
On the day of Alisha's wedding, Amy and Zack snuck off to Tunnels Beach and enjoyed some snorkeling and peace n' quiet.


The wedding was beautiful. Afterwards, I caught up with Lucy and Reece, chatting on the lawn.Meanwhile, Micah exhausted himself on the trampoline.

By the dinner and dancing started, he was pooped.