Survey Take 2

One of the neatest things about my blog is the search command.

"When did that happen?" Search.

"Didn't I have a funny pic/video when...?" Search.

"What should I write about tonight? Did I ever mention ______?" Search.

That last one brought up an old survey post. I figured I'd revisit it (over four and a half years later!).

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November 2015

Children: Shane (4 years, 11 months)
Pets: Max, Bucket, and River

Where do we live: Cville
Profession: Still education
Average amount of sleep: 7-8 hours (when I don't have a cold)

Average drive to work: 8-15 minutes (Unless I have to take Shane to preschool: 30-40 minutes with walk to class)
Average drive home: 12 minutes or less
Distance to work: 1.7 miles

Leave for work: 7:45 AM
Return home from work: Usually 4:00ish, but if I work late (~5:00 PM) I go straight to Shane's preschool. It's always my job to pick him up.

What I do to relax: Browse the internet, blog, simple games are much more rare but do happen (more like websudoku or FTL lately), Netflix with Carrie. I never seem to have time for novels anymore. I main read my bible or random articles online (big wikipedia and Google Maps fan - I am eternally curious). I play my LOTR LCG card game if I have the energy (usually at least a couple of times a week).

What I do for "quality time" with my wife: Less TV and much more Netflix! We're on season 7 of MASH. I've lost track of how many series we've gone through. Carrie went through Once, Arrow, and Flash this week since she's injured.

Extracurricular hobbies/activities: Do allergy shots count?

Future plans/goals: To love God, be the best father/husband I can be, and survive teaching until retirement. I've taught at high school and middle school now. I'm also currently "in the trenches" again at an alternative school. I coached wrestling last year and I'm going to be involved again this year (more on that later). I still wonder if I should pursue a PhD one day. It's not high on my list, but if I'm capable I wonder if it's something I'll be called to do. We've bought and sold two houses since the last survey. I want to be in this one for a while!

Coolest thing lately: Carrie's parents dropped by and brought an old recliner. The doctor said a recliner may be better to sleep in and she's sound asleep as I type. Shane had a great soccer practice Saturday that was fun to watch. I feel like he's growing and developing well! I bought a gallon of cider at Costco, too (Maybe I should have some...). Wrestling season starts tomorrow.

Extras:
Shane's wake-up: 7-7:30 AM
Shane's nap: I try to put him down between 1 and 2. Some days he naps, some days he doesn't. The more active he is, the more likely he'll snooze (so I keep him as active as I can in the morning!). It sounds like he normally skips at school (They try to put the kids down earlier - 12:30 I think. Shane's not worn out enough by then).
Shane's bedtime: 8:30 PM
When he actually goes to bed: 8:50 PM
How I get him up the stairs: We race to see who gets to put the toothpaste on his toothbrush
Once he's in bed: I check to see if/where Carrie's asleep. If she's awake, snuggle and Netflix!

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For reference:

February 2011
Children: Shane (2.5 months)
Pets: Min and Max (two tuxedo cats)
Where do we live: Northern VA
Profession: Education
Average amount of sleep per night: 6-7 hours.
Average drive to work: 12-15 minutes there and 20-55 minutes on the way home (35-40 avg) due to traffic.
Distance to work: 9 miles
Bed time: anywhere from 9:30-10:30. 11:00 is not uncommon on weekends.
Alarm clock: 6:20
Leave for work: 7:10
Return home from work: usually around 4:30-5:00
People I talk to most on the phone: My grandparents, my wife, and then Matt and Mom.
What I do to relax: Read, browse the internet, and play simple games like PuzzleQuest 2. I'll watch stuff on Netflix while Shane feeds too.
What I do for "quality time" with my wife: Change diapers, watch TV, and lots of SG-1 on Netflix. We finished up Star Trek DS9 and the Next generation last year. We're just now starting to use the TVs again instead of streaming everything on the computer.
Extracurricular activities/hobbies: I'd like to start doing the SCA again. It was a lot of fun and I need to get back in shape. Plus, it's a lot cheaper than when I took BJJ.
Future plans/goals: Write, write, write! Also, I may want to go back to school for a PhD to try teaching at the college level. I would like to teach at all there levels of school (Elementary, Middle, and High) and when the economy is better I would like to try another tour of duty at a center or an alternative school (a run in the trenches!). I'd also love to sell our house for a big profit in 5-6 years when/if the housing market turns around so we can have a yard. I need to read my Bible more and invest more too.
Coolest thing lately: Aside from a ton of baby moments, my friend, Iggs, dropped by to visit on Saturday and my wife brought home some surprise sushi. I got to show a friend my son for the first time and stuff my stomach.

Rainy Soccer Day

Soccer's been a great experience for Shane. He learned how to play in the rain today.

Not that he's afraid of a little mud.

He ran around the goal with a pack of kids for twenty minutes after practice ended.

Shane preferred to play defense at game time. He stood in the goal. Whenever someone approached I yelled "Charge!" Then he ran out and kicked the ball away (most of the time!). He ran around the other side of the field some, too. He even guarded the goal he was supposed to score on for a while (wait a minute...). Shane has vastly improved from refusing to play day one.

Also, one little spitfire on his team pushed him over during warm-ups. Then she refused to partner with him later. I don't know why. Shane managed to shake it off. He practiced and played on. He didn't get mean or nasty either (though he did make tough faces right back at her). Gold star as far as I'm concerned, kid.

Carrie Update

Carrie's follow up was today. The doctor said, "I've been looking forward to meeting you! You have some very interesting x-rays!"

He quickly clarified. They were "interesting" in a good way. He was excited to know how Carrie had hurt herself.

Carrie will be a couch-time regular for the next two to three weeks. The doctor hoped she would turn the corner and walk without a walker after that. No surgery required. Our next check-in will be at the end of the month. It will take longer than that to be fully healed, but at least Carrie didn't break her one surgery a year average (in a bad way!).

He Did It Again

Shane did not want to leave school again. I had to set a timer. When I saw he had almost finished the puzzle with his friends, I turned it off. 

I wouldn't want to leave mid-puzzle either.

I think Shane is the only kid that makes sour faces and hides when I show up. It's only half the time, though.

It's great to know he likes school so much. I feel less bad about him being there so long! Shane was very proud he learned to count by five's to a hundred this week.

Traffic Stop!

No, the cops weren't there for me. Or Shane. Or anyone we know.

They were lots of flashing lights. There were red lights from an ambulance earlier, so Shane wanted to check for fire trucks. A tow truck showed up and Shane went hyper. He wanted to help.

We hung around, but the tow truck was a bust. We went in for bedtime. I never figured out what happened either.

What's in a Box?

Shane found a bunch of Carrie's horse ribbons in a box. Now, he's award crazy.

Sometimes he'll give me one, too.....2nd place or lower! He awards himself the champion ribbon.

Carrie's hurt. Shane has strep. I got a cold.

The snot never ends. My instinct is to get rid of it.

All of it.

I hack, couch, snort, and blow out every bit I can. I know it won't end, but at least I feel productive. To be honest, I find the various hues fascinating, as well...

Carrie's probably better off on the couch until I feel better.

Shane Saw My School

Shane got to visit my school for the first time. He was on antibiotics for 24 hours and Carrie needed to nap.

Turns out we have a lot of toys.

An Unexpected Hospital Trip - Sunday 11/1/2015

The ambulance called me at 1:00 PM. 

"We have your wife. She fell from her horse on her hip. We will be at the hospital in 10 minutes." I got a text from Jenny and talked to her, too. Shane and I were in the car and at the hospital soon after. 

We waited over an hour before we could see her.

When Carrie went to mount Pixel, Pixel didn't sit still. She stepped slightly forward at an angle. She bumped the mounting block and it startled her. Pixel shied away with Carrie half seated. The sudden move made Carrie bounce down into the saddle which spooked Pixel again. Then, Carrie said Pixel took "a rodeo hop", bounced her, panicked, and went into a full launch. Carrie's worked with much larger and aggressive horses before, but she wasn't seated and completely surprised. 

Carrie fell off backwards in a seated position and landed hip first on the arena ground. The pain was instant. She could barely move. She tried to call 911, but her cell phone was on the mounting block. She couldn't reach it, so she started to scream for help instead. Jenny heard her and ran out to help.

It was a very painful ambulance trip strapped into a backboard.

Shane and I knew Mommy would need her boys. We didn't mind the wait.

Shane wanted to help however he could. I explained what I could to dispel uncertainty. He was fascinated with the concept of x-rays. He asked a doctor to see Mommy's (and the doctor showed him!).

The rest of the day became "hurry up and wait." We spent 10 hours at the hospital.

Around the 2 hour mark, we received word the x-rays were clear. We were told Carrie could go home once her pain was at a manageable level. The nurse unhooked her IV.

However, when Carrie tried to stand her face went white. Her hands clenched and she couldn't un-clench them. She swore that there had to be something more wrong. 

An hour (?) later a second doctor saw something in the x-rays the first doctor missed. CT scans were ordered. We were told it would take about 15 minutes. Then Carrie got bumped back from the head of the line by a more severe injury. The scans didn't happen until almost two hours later and then we had to wait some more to hear what they showed. 

Carrie had three fractures. One on each side of the hip and one in the sacrum.

Another hour passed until we talked to an orthopedic doctor. Another hour passed here, and there, and between each bit of news we received. A burn victim came in to Carrie's room and was discharged. The police brought in someone who overdosed soon after (The nurse said, "It's about to get noisy in here," so I took Shane out on a walk).

It was nearly 10:00 when we heard a doctor wanted a new set of x-rays. Then, if Carrie could walk with a walker, they would let her go home. If not, she'd be admitted.

Carrie walked. 

She really, really wanted out of there.

Our night nurse, Kate, was awesome. She and Carrie bonded in those last couple of hours. Everyone else was helpful, too. It was a busy night at the ER. Nurses, students, police, you name it. 

Throughout it all, Shane never slept. He missed nap and wouldn't sleep when we tried to get him to lay down.

Shane woke up at 6:45 AM and didn't fall asleep until he got in the car around 10:45 PM.

Do you know how hard it is to contain Shane for that long?

He drained our cellphone batteries early on (not that there was service anyway). Shane and I explored all over the hospital.

By the end of the day, I could tell him "Take us back to Mommy," and he'd find the way.

The cafeteria food was pretty good, too.

All things considered, Shane was awesome. I was very proud of how he handled everything. He won over a few hearts with his upbeat demeanor. The night nurse, Kate, let him shoot saline solution into the sink.

Maybe I shouldn't have posted that, but it was one of the highlights of Shane's night. He took home the syringe ("This will be a good bath toy!").

But wait! There's more!

I don't know if Shane picked it up at the hospital (he's bad about putting his hands in his mouth lately), but he was sick the next day. He tested positive for strep. He's been coughing and congested since Wednesday or Thursday, but I don't know if they're linked (He did pass the congestion on to me).

Shane woke up around 1:00 AM after a nightmare and slept with me. Carrie was on the couch downstairs (no stairs). Shane tossed and turned and woke up for good at 5:45 AM. His temperature was 101.4 F. I stayed home to take care of Carrie and Shane.

Busy times over here! Both Carrie and Shane are doing better than before.

Carrie hurts and will for a while. The orthopedic surgeon said that the fractures should heal on their own, but it would take months. She'll be walking without a walker before then, but she's off work the rest of the week.

We caught Shane's strep as it started. He took some fever meds in the morning and never slowed down. He had his amoxicillin by 11:00 AM. He'll be considered non contagious after 24 hours and I'll need to throw away his toothbrush.

I hope he doesn't share the strep with me like he did the congestion! I plan on taking him in to work for a little bit tomorrow. It will help Carrie sleep and get him out of the house for a bit. Students are off for election day and teacher workdays, so at least the timing there is convenient.

We have a lot to be thankful for. I made many a mental list and thanked God whenever I could. Prayers are still appreciated!

Bedtime for now.

Halloween 2015

Halloween 2015!

Shane's costume: Fireman.

Dad's costume: Redshirt.

Mom's costume: Raider Cadet Captain.

Let the trick or treating commence.

Shane and I went door to door while Carrie manned the fort. We hit up every porch light on our cul-de-sac, but the pickings were very slim once we ventured out. Eventually, I threw Shane in the car. We drove off in search of more lights in the night.

Carrie had her own ideas on how to have fun. 

She moved our computer to the entry hall, cued up some inspirational music and played drill sergeant. Any kid who wanted candy did jumping jacks!

And they jumped for her! Shane and I heard a group laugh while we were at our neighbors.

We got to trick or treat for a little bit with Charlie, too. We beat her to several houses, so we trick or treated our own front door to extend the fun.

Overall, there were a lot less people out than expected. Our last neighborhood was a trick or treat mecca. I only counted four houses down the side street that participated. There was a mom and a daughter in the parking lot of the trailer park around the corner, too. I wouldn't have even seen them if they didn't yell out "We have candy!" The Lawn was really the place to be. I heard that the stores at the downtown mall all have an event, too. Maybe we'll try that next year.

Shane was not hurt for candy, though. Between Friday, Saturday, and our leftovers he had plenty. He enjoyed to take inventory. I eventually hid them, because he couldn't keep his mind (or hands) off of them.

It was another fun year. Shane looks forward to Halloween off and on throughout the whole year. I'm glad it lived up to his high expectations!