Yea for ear tubes!

Just a quick note to say Caelun's PE tubes went in with out a hitch. It took him most of the day to kick the anesthesia but he actually slept last night! Hurray! Hurray! One of my fellow teachers, Robbin said she had this done with her son at the same age and it "CHANGED THEIR LIFE!" I can believe it. Her son is now in high school and hasn't had any recurring problems so here is hoping. As you can see he is his usual happy self- really even more so. The last picture is the unusual one- he is sleeping!

M R DUKS- C M Wangs? - L I B M R DUKS!

The PE Tubes go in tomorrow - we have to be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. Clint and I are both taking the day off of work. I wanted to post some pictures that I think are just to cute. He sure does love the water- we will have to see what our restrictions are with the ear tubes and get some ear plugs. I hope to start swimming lessons at the YMCA in the next month or so.

January 2008 book- March

I haven't talked much about book club. Deb Gren and I are the founders and discussion leaders of the Cedar Springs book club. We meet at the Cedar Springs Library on the third Monday of every month, with the exception of December. We read a book a month and discuss it. We have been at this for I think about five years now. This month's book was March by Geraldine Brooks. This book is based on the premise that it is telling the story of the absent father in the classic Little Women. The author bases the main character loosely on Louisa May Alcott's real life father. The setting is of course the civil war. We have previously read Year of Wonders, which our club really enjoyed. The author, who has won the Pulitzer Prize, has a new book out as well called People Of The Book. On a five star rating we gave it four and a half. I will post the discussion questions in the comments section. You can find out more about the book and the author at http://www.geraldinebrooks.com/ and click on March. Next month's book is Snow Flower And The Secret Fan by Lisa See. I actually just finished reading it today. It is a rather quick read. It goes much faster than March - although March is a relatively quick read as well. Just be prepared to wince in this book. There is a rather detailed discussion of foot binding.

Ear infections

Well it is official from our ENT, Caelun needs PE tubes. We are putting in 11 month PE tubes on Tuesday. Here is hoping that all of us get to sleep through the night Tuesday night. The doctor is Tom Pfennig. He is an ENT, allergist, audiologist, cranio-facial plastic surgeon. I don't even want to know how long you have to go to school to have all of that. He is the same guy who reconstructed my head both times. He is also Clint and Abbi's allergist. Here is hoping.

Snow Day

We have a snow day today. Forest Hills, Cedar Springs, 200 other schools including eventually KCTC- but not until after first session block in which Clint taught 1 student. Cae is on his fouth antibiotic azithromycin, and we go to the ENT on Thursday. Abbi spent the weekend scooting up and down the stairs on her butt- at least they are clean now- the stairs that is- I can't speak for her butt.

My debate kids broke to octo-finals at the East Kentwood debate tournament back on the 11th and 12th of January. I told them I would post some pictures.

Hurry find the evidence!

Your see judge this is why I have the best argument

Judge Mandy from Mona Shores says we will see.

But judge you must listen to me!

Beware the cross-ex

Who needs high heels?

The octo-finalist are....

Abbi's Ankle

When it rains it pours. Abbi fell down the stairs at school on Tuesday and pulled the ligaments in her ankle. We talked to her last night and she has some swelling and it hurts a lot. We told her the RICE prescription, Motrin, and time will hopefully make things better for her. This is my week for damaged children.

Ear Infection

We had a debate tournament this last weekend and the kids broke to octafinals, today we vote in the primary, and we have our garden club get together for Christmas but this post isn't about any of those things. Caelun has a double ear infection. We started on amoxicillin before New Years. We switched to omneceph when the amoxicillin didn't work. We went back to the doctor yesterday- he was still miserable, and we now have a series of three rocehperin shots. They are very painful. They dilute it with lidocain but it is still painful. If this doesn't work we are probably looking at PE tubes. We now know why he hasn't been sleeping through the night. Thanks to my friend Pat in garden club who had a grandson with a similar thing who suggested ears might be the problem and not just the reflux. So much for the undergrad. in speech path. Any input is appreciated.

Bob Medford Is On The Net

Just a quick entry to let you know my dad is on the net and has e-mail. We just got him hooked up tonight. For his x-mas/b-day/father's day present we got him a year of internet to see how he likes it. Shoot him an e-mail to say welcome and happy 82nd birthday.
rmedford25@peoplepc.com

We haven't had a chance ot celebrate his birthday yet. Clint and I were sick and we didn't want to share, so we postponed the festivies. As soon as we get a chance I will post pictures.

Dad- love you and welcome to the world wide web

Great Wolf Lodge

Last weekend we celebrated Christmas with Clint's mom and that side of the family. Rita instead of buying us presents takes us on a family vacation- ALL of us. All I can say is brave woman. All of us includes: Tony- Rita's husband, our family of four, Clint's brother Chris, his wife Missy, and their two kids- Cody and Bree, Clint's sister Jodi, brother Kyle, and Abbi brought along a friend Kaylee - rounding out our merry band to thirteen people. This year she took us to Great Wolf Lodge and indoor water park in Traverse City, Michigan, and rented one of the Cabana's for us to all hang out. Enjoy the pictures and think warm thoughts - everyone in the cold that is.

Bree and Cody excited to swim

Wow what a water park!

Abbi and her friend Kaylee play with Caelun

in the little kids pool

Abbi enjoys the water

Kaylee spoils Cae


Isn't it a great pool for the tiny ones?

Clint takes a turn with Caelun

Snack break

Grandma Rita takes over while Cae warms up

Hanging out at the cabana

So tired- back in our room Friday night-not Caelun


Neither are Abbi and Kaylee

We meet in Chris , Missy, Cody, and Bree's room for breakfas the next morning Bree keeps Cae entertained

Kids camp room

Rita makes breakfast while we get ready to swim

Clint and Caelun in the cabana


Tony gets ready to float down the lazy river

almost... okay now he is ready!

Rita and Jodi float down the lazy river Here we are on the lazy river with Cae and Breerollin' on the riverCody joins us on the lazy river

Abbi, Clint, and Kaylee go down the big water slide

Kyle, Rita, and Clint take a ride

Whew! Those boys made that raft fly

Rita takes a turn with Bree and Missy

Bree is ready to go again

Here is her chance with Uncle Kyle provinding weight in the rear



Poor uncle Kyle abandoned


Cody, Chris, and Bree warm up in the hot tub

Cody comes out one of the water slides


The day is over bringing the weekend to a close
back at the cabana