Medical Shmedical... annoying nurses & more.

On Wednesday of last week McKenna woke with a fever of 100.4
In most kiddos this isn't a big deal and something that with my other 4 kids I would ignore...
But my sweet McKenna has been prone to UTI's, and various sorts of bladder infections... and was diagnosed with Kidney Reflux 4 years ago...

When she spikes a fever with no other symptoms I take her for a UA (urine analysis) the last two times it was to urgent care... (but I don't like a $5o co-pay to dip urine...just sayin)

Crazy thing is that the nurse at the dr. office she goes to would not let me drop off a urine...
(I called at 8:30)

WHAT???
She said I had to see a dr. in order to leave a UA...
Which unfortunately I could not do because they didn't have any openings until 3:30...
and I was driving for the girls soccer team for the playoffs.

Now mind you that McKenna has NO other symptoms and that I am just trying to be proactive with her care because of her history...

at 2:30 I receive a call back from her... 2:30 people....
I remind you I called them at 8:30 AM!!!
She thinks the fever might be from diarrhea

She said I could come in the next morning at 9 am to see the dr.
Of course I said... (I just want a UA people!!!)
and then I said this

"I have never heard of an office that will not allow a child with a proven history of kidney/bladder issues to not be able to leave a UA without seeing a doc... mentioning my current issue with my kidney stone and the wonderful treatment I received (from a different practice) and mentioning prior drs. we have had... I then went on to tell her how frustrated I would be if in fact McKenna did end up with an infection and she made me wait another 24 hours to start antibiotics... I also mentioned that I was really struggling with this "office policy" since they were the ones who told me to come in at the first sign of fever for her to have a UA..."
(for the record... I do not pretend to be a doctor or nurse... but I am a parent of 5 kids... and I KNOW my kids and when something is not right!!!)

anyway... long story short.
I go in Thursday morning...
and the Dr. comes in apologizing...
BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING.
(she was gone on Wed...and the lovely nurse acted how she thought)

She talks with me and we wait until M can leave a sample...
it doesn't look good so she does a physical check...
and she sends us for a CBC...
and a referral to go see a pediatric urologist at Emmanuel Children's Hospital...
She also ASSURES me that ANYTIME I want to I may leave a urine sample...
without seeing a dr.... novel though huh?

they say they will call me when the labs come back...

Friday...
they call me... 2 times. First the nurse. Then my doc.

She has an infection.

Melting Pot + Friends = Priceless

On Thursday night I met up with one of my dearest friends at The Melting Pot..

It was the first time for me...

I didn't know what to expect, but can I just say that it exceeded my imagination.

For many reasons...

I made a new friend in Christina...
Lauri's co worker and friend...
Such a wonderfully interesting woman, wife, mother, dr.

and of course my amazing friend Lauri...
who inspires & amazes me.

and then there was this...

after 3 other courses of deliciousness...


smore chocolate mix...


a sampling of our dessert...

For those of you who have never been to the Melting Pot...
(you must go...)
first you choose your cheese...
we picked the artichoke/spinach cheese mixture... and they mix it together fresh right in front of you... I loved this course...

Then you get a salad...
You get to eat this while they prepare your broth for your meat choices.
We chose Chicken, fillet mignon, and the vegetarian
You cook your meats, potatoes, asparagus, etc in this broth...

and then... the final course...
By the time I got to the final course I was SO stuffed...
but of course I had no self control and totally stuffed myself with the yummy goodness.

Total dinner time: 2.5 hours.

I parked myself on the street in downtown Portland... found the restaurant...
I was pretty proud of myself since this is not my normal stomping ground. :)
admit it... you're proud of me too!

ps. between the 3 of us we had 12 kids... ranging in age from 24-3... one of our waiters could not believe it... I love it when that happens.

Top 5 from the last few days...

1. I love my DUCKS! Can you say OR - 53 USC - 32???

2. I ate at the Melting Pot on Thursday night with friends...
It was my first time... and I loved it!

3. I got to see my mom 3 times this week... a true blessing.


4. I made a new friend this week... and was amazed.

5. Worked with an amazing team of people to pull off a Fall Party tonight for 250 people or so...

That said I am [pooped] out. Gonna have to wait till morning to post my vent on my kid's pediatricians office... super not happy...

Nite all... gonna finish watching my ducks :)

a lot of hard work... and then... SCORE!!!!

this is how it ended...

you must mute this so that you can hear the girls celebrate...
and of course the crazy screaming parents... (yes... I am one)

Here is the history...
we started our pre season 2 wins 2 losses...
and then we kicked it into gear...
losing only one game... and tying one game...

Monday night we won a nail biter 1-0 with 5 minutes to go in the 2nd half...

Tonight we traveled to OES (Oregon Episcopal School)
They are the only team to beat us twice... and they were the only team to beat us during the regular season.

To put it mildly this was a formality for them...
when we arrived on campus some of the parents heard them talking with their families about the championship game and this game was a forgone conclusion... with them winning and heading to the championship.

Fortunately our girls know that on any night and team can win... and no matter what just do your best...

That is what they did...
They left it all on the field...

After 2 30 minute halves... it was tied 0-0.
(I should mention just for a reality check... that just minutes before the end of the game Jack pooped his pants... WHAT????? He hasn't done that in a year! So I missed the end and was freaking out in the bathroom that someone might have scored and I missed it.... ugh)

Thankfully I missed no score...

After 1 5 minute OT score was 0-0

After 2 5 minute OT score was 0-0

You guessed it...

a shoot out...

5 players from each team

alternating shots...

team with the most scores wins... if you tie you do it all over....


We were biting our nails... BIG TIME.
Our girls had played so hard... and wanted it SO bad.

they shot first... us last...

round 1 - 0-0
round 2 - 1-0 (them)
round 3 - 1-0 (them)
round 4- 1-1
round 5- well... you just witnessed it...


Championship Game on Monday night :)
I have no voice.


In case you are wondering... these girls are headed to the Championship Game!!!

And we are VERY excited!

Oregon Coast Aquarium

Aquarium Map

Today I went here.

With 48 5 & 6th graders... (and adult chaperones)

On a school bus...

3 hours each way...

in the rain...

Boy it was fun! :)

With 5 kids it seems like there is often a field trip,
but with 5 kids I can't always make it to every one...

maybe I can't get childcare...
or maybe someone gets sick...
or maybe I have to work that day...

But today I was blessed to be able to go.
able to sit with my kiddo on the loud bus (she was not helping the noise level btw)
enjoy the scenery (for 6 hours)

VISIT WITH MY MOM (who drove the 26 miles to come see us!)
who is so awesome she brought Em & I hot drinks and lunch... :)
and hung with us through our tour...
it made Emma feel special to have grandma come up...
it made me feel special too...

because when I was little my mom couldn't always come on the field trips...
sometimes she was working,
or my brother was sick,
or there was a change in plans.

But I always knew she loved me...
just like I love my kiddos...
even when I can't make it...

and super thankful for the times that I can!

Pictures to come later... I am too lazy & too tired after my LONG day on the school bus! :)

p.s. Our girls team won their first playoff game last night... (in the rain)
tomorrow they play against Oregon Episcopal School... they have beaten us twice... once preseason... and once during the season...
so we have nothing to lose, our girls will just play with all they have & I will be there to support them no matter what! :) So if you live in our area and aren't doing anything around 4:15 tomorrow afternoon (in the rain) come out and support our girls AT OES... our boys play at home at 4:15 for their first round of the playoffs!!! Go Mustangs!

Yellow Out to the tune of 60-13 :)

YELL
"OOOOOOOOOOO"


our annual "duck family photo"

our family 9 years ago... with a 6 week old baby tucked inside my green coat... you can barely see the top of McKenna's cream beanie...

Thursday night we loaded up 2 SUV's for the 2+ hour trek to Eugene to watch the UCLA Bruins take on our Oregon Ducks... The Dietrichs, Casey Dietrich, and Brian Allison were part of the crew that was going... along with the 7 macs...

The University asked all fans to "yellow out" the stadium...
Of course we had to comply... and whipped out all the yellow we had...
saving it for game time of course.

We met up at Costco where my parents had loaded up the car with lots of food so that we could tail gate and enjoy pregame in the Autzen parking lot... we park right up against the new PK field (Oregon's baseball field)


Here the kids are with the Oregon Dance team...
I love how proud Austin is to be in this photo.

Miss Maddie wanted to have her own shot with one of the girls...

9 years ago my dad had the guy who drives the Oregon Duck Harley onto the field at every home game come by the motor home and my sweet Emma got a picture on it...
When we got to the field Thursday night, dad called him and he drove the bike over so that the kids could see it :) Are we lucky or what?

She had just turned 2 in this photo.... and she did NOT want her papu to leave her alone on the ride... aka "duck harley"

it is amazing what 9 years will do for your confidence...
She had NO problem jumping on this bad boy...

neither did these kids..

With Mr. Cokie... the owner and driver of "the ride"
He doesn't have grandkids yet... so this was just a tad bit overwhelming....
But he was a great sport!
His daughter played soccer at the UofO.
(see it is a family thing... I am telling you!)



and just because we could...
and secretly really wanted too...


heading into the stadium...


our seats....

celebrating the USA!!!

Just us girls...

at Melissa's FIRST duck game!

watching the band at halftime...

my most FABULOUS parents!

time to celebrate...

on the field...


some video footage from the field after the game..


my handsome hubby... and me! :)

and again... seriously we are such posers...
and the setting was to video instead of photo...
so I just had to include this!


Toodles...

My Monthly Girls Night {Book Club}

I am blessed by a fabulous group of ladies.

We all like to read.

We meet once a month.

Eat yummy food.

We talk.

We laugh.

Sometimes we cry.

We eat.

We talk books.

We eat more... and drink coffee...
Book club is supposed to last 2 hours..
It usually lasts 3... or more... :)

This month we read Moloka'i

and we ate this...

and drank this...


which was made with that...
Our table looked like this...

and our desert was this chocolate coconut yumminess!


But my favorite was this deliciousness

OH MY GOODNESS... it was super yummy!
We used it to make Hawaiian haystacks...
I am thinking that this will be something that I need to start making in my family :)

Next month...
We read this

already dreaming about what kind of yummy delights Karis will whip up for us!

Group Review...Awesome book... heartbreaking... but a true testament of the human spirit.

Want to start your own book club?
It's easy, fun, and you can't imagine the bonds you will create with amazing women...
and you will read books that you would have never picked up....

and did I mention the food???

My "Oregon" History

I was born at Sacred Heart Hospital... on the University Hospital on the U of O campus.
Off 13th and a 1/2 block from the University bookstore... overlooking the campus.

I guess you could say I was born to be a duck.

Many people wonder why I love my ducks...
I mean they are a bunch of peoples sons and daughters going to college.
What is so wonderful about it?
(because seriously every college team has this same feeling)

Well, let me tell you.

When my mom was preggers with me her & my dad were already going to games.
They lived in Eugene and embraced the University.

My dad's best friend ran track for the U of O... and in the 68 Olympics...
He is in the Duck Hall of Fame.
Dad was the President of the Active 20/30 club which did many benefits for the Ducks... as well as floor security which allowed for my brother and I to experience many games on the floor of Mac Court...

Also, he was part of the team that let off the major fireworks show at Autzen every 4th.

When I was 12 Chris Miller was our qb... I was in love with him... and made signs to bring to every game.... at the or/osu game his senior year I ran down to the bench with my sign and yelled "Hey Chris" and he waved at me.... :) He made my day!

at 12 I also fell for #21 Anthony Taylor (basketball star) ... thus the beginnings of my favorite number 21... and basketball became the sport I immersed myself in.

As you know I was a TOTAL tomboy... and anything sports was right up my alley.
I kept journals of all the newspaper clippings of the teams...
I followed them like crazy.

The coaches and athletic directors would come stay at our hotel...
and Jerry Allen the voice of the ducks would come and do a show there.

I dreamed of the day I would attend Oregon.

When I was 14 I got to dance on Mac Court with the duck... who tried unsuccessfully to flip me over his shoulder... I thought my dad was so cool because he had access to get me down there...
He also got me seats directly behind the basketball team bench once... it was totally awesome.

Now remember... we didn't attend church.
So as a family this is what we did together.
Cheer for our ducks.
It was something we all believed in... a way to connect if you will.

All of my childhood memories surrounding the ducks are so wonderful and pleasant... it really has nothing to do with the teams or the sports... but rather the feeling and memories that I have.. and everytime we get to go to a game with my family it brings back all those wonderful times... and helps us to create more fun memories....

When I was in my Senior year of High School I began to believe in Jesus, I mean really believe in Jesus... He changed my life. All of the sudden I didn't attend the games with my parents... I was going to church while they attended... (at least the football games)
It was hard for me at first, a stumbling block if you will, because it was something I loved to do with my family and it was a good thing.... I missed going, but I would record the game and watch it Saturday night and it all worked out.

As parents Josh & I have "brainwashed" our kids if you will, into becoming duck fans... but really it is more of something we do as a family together... we cheer for the team as a family, we dress up all crazy and sing the fight song... we travel and go to games together. I think that is why they like it... for the same reason I did... because it is a fun family thing we do together.

But we are teaching them that the most important thing EVER is their relationship with Jesus. Everything else fades... Jesus remains the same.

So while we LOVE our ducks and we cheer with them with all our might...
Jesus is the reason for everything. He comes first... Sabbath comes first.

You know what I LOVE about my parents??? (besides like everything?)
They have always supported my decision for Jesus...
and they respect us not coming to the games...
but when it is a night game dad says
"you guys coming? we've got tickets"
I want to be like my parents when I grow up... just saying.

I am sure glad that He gives us things that we each love to do while we are here on this earth...
I am thankful that every once in awhile that we get a night game so that my family can go...
So that I can share a piece of my childhood with my kids...
and so that we can just all be silly etc.

P.S. Oregon was est. in 1876.... this is the FIRST TIME ever that our team has been ranked #1 in the nation. They have been ranked #2 twice in my lifetime. For most of my life they were absolutely terrible... I mean TERRIBLE.... usually losing most of their games... but we would still go and stay till the end of the game! Sometimes in snow with a 0-0 tie. So people I am not a jump on the bandwagon girl... or a fair weather fan...
I am a fan of the game... of these kids, and their families.
and I am going to enjoy this season because this may never happen in my lifetime again.



Let me tell you...
WE are VERY excited for tomorrow nights game...
It is a Yell "O" out...
So you know we will be ducked out in yellow...
With no voices by the end of the game... likely frozen in our seats...
and I will be wearing my #21 jersey...
cause it's my fav number you know :)

Here's the link to our game against UCLA 2 years ago... (click on the year)
2008
and WSU
2009
and USC
2009