Justin is in a digital design class in which they have to build a robot out of Legos. The age range on the box of Legos is 10 years old. This entire class (mostly men) get to build their manly robots out of toys designed for children. Justin and his lab partner decided to make their robot say a phrase when it passes over a sensor. So, what phrase did they agree upon? Well, first you must picture a mechanical robot built out of Legos moving about and saying....
Hello, My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
If you have not seen the move "The Princess Bride" I am truly sorry. We are a fan. Our entire family and our closest friends can quote almost this entire movie word for word.
There second voice option was the Imperial Death March from Star Wars, but that just isn't the same. It was inconceivable that they would use a different phrase!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Spencer's Ears
Today we saw Dr. B, the Ear, Nose & Throat doctor. The appointment began with a hearing test. Spencer and I were placed in a soundproof room with speakers on each side and some other mysterious looking stuff throughout the room. The audiologist told me to hold Spencer in my lap, but not to react in any way to the sights and sounds that I would hear. The first sounds were to the right and it sounded like paper shuffling around. Spencer didn't turn toward the speaker. The sound repeated, but this time a small puppet of Winnie the Pooh also lit up and moved. Spencer turned toward the right. We repeated this with the left side and various volumes.
Next was tones, repeat the same pattern and repeat with Spencer looking at some, but not all of the speakers. We ended with his name being called over the speaker at various volumes, with and without Winnie the Pooh.
The last test was to see if there was fluid behind his eardrums. I didn't need a machine to tell them this, of course he has fluid! Their little machine said his left ear is full of fluid. His right ear was clear, but there was negative pressure pushing on his eardrum, not normal.
The summary of the audiologist was that he has some hearing loss. She wasn't going to continue with any additional tests until the fluid was gone, because the results would not be accurate.
After a short wait in the lobby, we got to see Dr. B. He reviewed the audiologist tests and then did a full exam on Spencer. He asked about his medical history and we went over the past 10 months of infections, antibiotics and frustrations. He asked what words Spencer could say. We thought and the list was short, too short for someone his age.
Dr. B got out the color picture flip charts and explained what a normal ear looked like. The next picture was what happens to ears when there is fluid build up (Spencer's ears). Without hesitation he says that Spencer is a prime candidate for tubes, just based on what the audiologist found and not even considering the ear infections. His hearing loss, lack of speech and the infections are all of concern.
He reviewed the procedure, risks and follow up care with us. He said the nurse would come in and book the surgery. SOOOOO surgery is this Friday! We have to be at the surgery center at 6am and with no breakfast. Spencer is not going to be happy about that!
We will head back to the audiologist in a month to test his hearing again and hopefully have some improvement.
We feel a sense of relief that maybe we can finally move on from Spencer's health issues. Some months it has dominated our lives and has definitely increased the amount of stress for everyone in the house. Whether it is because the lack of sleep or trying to rearrange schedules to accommodate the multiple doctors appointments, work, school and other obligations. We are all truly hoping that this will close the chapter in Spencer's health issues.
Next was tones, repeat the same pattern and repeat with Spencer looking at some, but not all of the speakers. We ended with his name being called over the speaker at various volumes, with and without Winnie the Pooh.
The last test was to see if there was fluid behind his eardrums. I didn't need a machine to tell them this, of course he has fluid! Their little machine said his left ear is full of fluid. His right ear was clear, but there was negative pressure pushing on his eardrum, not normal.
The summary of the audiologist was that he has some hearing loss. She wasn't going to continue with any additional tests until the fluid was gone, because the results would not be accurate.
After a short wait in the lobby, we got to see Dr. B. He reviewed the audiologist tests and then did a full exam on Spencer. He asked about his medical history and we went over the past 10 months of infections, antibiotics and frustrations. He asked what words Spencer could say. We thought and the list was short, too short for someone his age.
Dr. B got out the color picture flip charts and explained what a normal ear looked like. The next picture was what happens to ears when there is fluid build up (Spencer's ears). Without hesitation he says that Spencer is a prime candidate for tubes, just based on what the audiologist found and not even considering the ear infections. His hearing loss, lack of speech and the infections are all of concern.
He reviewed the procedure, risks and follow up care with us. He said the nurse would come in and book the surgery. SOOOOO surgery is this Friday! We have to be at the surgery center at 6am and with no breakfast. Spencer is not going to be happy about that!
We will head back to the audiologist in a month to test his hearing again and hopefully have some improvement.
We feel a sense of relief that maybe we can finally move on from Spencer's health issues. Some months it has dominated our lives and has definitely increased the amount of stress for everyone in the house. Whether it is because the lack of sleep or trying to rearrange schedules to accommodate the multiple doctors appointments, work, school and other obligations. We are all truly hoping that this will close the chapter in Spencer's health issues.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Halloween
Last night was fun, but way too hot for Halloween. Most everyone was outside handing out candy. I am really bummed because our neighborhood was dark. There were not very many lights on last night. I took Madison and four of her friends around and Spencer rode in the wagon. He got out every now and then to go and cautiously take a piece of candy from someone. Surprisingly enough, he didn't try to eat it. His favorite thing to do was to toss out whatever was in the wagon out of the wagon, including the flashlight. It is lost someone on the last street in the neighborhood.
Asian Dragon Slayer, Witch & Alice in WonderlandAKA
Madison, Vanessa & Alexis
Way to cute!Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Drunkin' Sailor
Yesterday started out as any other Monday - it was Monday and I really didn't want to be at work. My cell phone rang about noon and it was day care. Uh - oh, that was my first thought. Ya see, day care doesn't call ya to tell you that your son is being a wonderful angel or he just said a new word. They call because something is wrong.
I could hear a child screaming in the background and Sonya (Spencer's teacher), said, don't worry that isn't your son. Whew.
With that said, Sonya begins to explain that Spencer has been falling down, falling down a lot. Unfortunately he used his face as landing gear. His tooth had a blood blister right above the tooth and the tooth itself had started to discolor. He wasn't in pain and everything else seemed okay, she was just calling me to let me know.
Okay, so not too bad. I'll take a look at it when I pick him up from daycare. I walk into daycare at 5:45 and the first thing I see is blood all over Sonya's shirt.
"Please tell me that is not my son's blood all over you."
Uh, yeah. Well, he fell again and hit the same spot on his mouth and the second time it did bleed. His mouth looked pretty gross, but the doctor's office was closed, so we would wait until morning.
Justin and I both talked that Spencer had been falling a lot over the past week and he always looked drunk when he was walking. The poor guy walked into two doors this weekend.
This morning we decided that we better take him in to the doctor; we were concerned that te had fluid in his ears again and it was messing up his balance.
So first things first, his tooth is TBA - if it turns grey or begins to darken, we will have to take him to a pediatric dentist. Not cool - Spencer only has four teeth, he can't afford to have any go missing!
Second of all, his ears. BOTH ears have fluid in them and it is a matter of time before they get infected. So as a preventative measure, he is going back on an antibiotic and adding the Claritin to his already daily dose of Singulair. This is to try and keep an infection from forming until we FINALLY, yes FINALLY get to go see an ENT (Ear, Nose, & Throat) doctor. We go there on Nov. 11th. Our doctor thinks that Spencer will have no problems qualifying for tubes. Thank goodness, we have only been pushing to go see an ENT, since the first 5 ear infections and 4 antibiotics since April.
So with that said, Spencer chews with his back gums and doesn't try to take a bite out of anything. He continues to walk crooked and fall a lot, so we have had to keep our eye on him a bit more than usual.
I could hear a child screaming in the background and Sonya (Spencer's teacher), said, don't worry that isn't your son. Whew.
With that said, Sonya begins to explain that Spencer has been falling down, falling down a lot. Unfortunately he used his face as landing gear. His tooth had a blood blister right above the tooth and the tooth itself had started to discolor. He wasn't in pain and everything else seemed okay, she was just calling me to let me know.
Okay, so not too bad. I'll take a look at it when I pick him up from daycare. I walk into daycare at 5:45 and the first thing I see is blood all over Sonya's shirt.
"Please tell me that is not my son's blood all over you."
Uh, yeah. Well, he fell again and hit the same spot on his mouth and the second time it did bleed. His mouth looked pretty gross, but the doctor's office was closed, so we would wait until morning.
Justin and I both talked that Spencer had been falling a lot over the past week and he always looked drunk when he was walking. The poor guy walked into two doors this weekend.
This morning we decided that we better take him in to the doctor; we were concerned that te had fluid in his ears again and it was messing up his balance.
So first things first, his tooth is TBA - if it turns grey or begins to darken, we will have to take him to a pediatric dentist. Not cool - Spencer only has four teeth, he can't afford to have any go missing!
Second of all, his ears. BOTH ears have fluid in them and it is a matter of time before they get infected. So as a preventative measure, he is going back on an antibiotic and adding the Claritin to his already daily dose of Singulair. This is to try and keep an infection from forming until we FINALLY, yes FINALLY get to go see an ENT (Ear, Nose, & Throat) doctor. We go there on Nov. 11th. Our doctor thinks that Spencer will have no problems qualifying for tubes. Thank goodness, we have only been pushing to go see an ENT, since the first 5 ear infections and 4 antibiotics since April.
So with that said, Spencer chews with his back gums and doesn't try to take a bite out of anything. He continues to walk crooked and fall a lot, so we have had to keep our eye on him a bit more than usual.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
She's 12
Today is Madison's 12th birthday. WOW, it is so hard to believe she is growing up. I keep telling her to stop growing! She is wearing my shoes now. Thank goodness my shoes are "too old" for her.
Madison's Favs
Madison enjoyed the day playing Wizard 101 and her new Nintendo game that Spencer picked out for her. She choose to eat at Johnnie Carinos for dinner and tried something new: chicken parmesan. She loved it! Dinner was finished with a complimentary huge bowl of ice cream, with three spoons of course. I think overall she had a good day. We have a small party with some of her friends next week.
Madison's Favs- Food: pizza
- Book: Revenge of the Shadow King by Benz & Lewis
- Dessert: il dolce's gelato
- Board Game: Shadows Over Camelot
- Online Game: Wizard 101
- Color: green or purple
- Clothing: t-shirt with hoodie and skinny jeans
- Drink: Dr. Pepper
- Musical Artist: Daughtry
- Song: No Surprise
- Subject: math
Madison enjoyed the day playing Wizard 101 and her new Nintendo game that Spencer picked out for her. She choose to eat at Johnnie Carinos for dinner and tried something new: chicken parmesan. She loved it! Dinner was finished with a complimentary huge bowl of ice cream, with three spoons of course. I think overall she had a good day. We have a small party with some of her friends next week.Thursday, October 15, 2009
Are You Ready for Some Football?
Can I go outside?
Pleeeeeaaaaassssseeeee mama!
Can you open the garage?
This is my "ba".
Are you ready for some football?
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