An outing with my daughter. (or) Kicking and Screaming

To tell you this, I first have to give you some history.
My daughter is a Daisy. I know what you are thinking. Of course you think that of your kid. How else are you supposed to think?
And for the record I do. But wait! There is another explanation.
So, for those of you who don't know. A Daisy is a rung on the Girl Scout ladder.
In Kindergarden, a girl goes in as a Daisy, at second grade, a Brownie, then Junior Girl Scout, and finally Girl Scout. (or something to that effect)
My little girl is going into the second grade this fall. Graduation from being a Daisy was this past Tuesday. Just afew days before this I found out that the Troop was going on a field trip on Saturday. Yes. Today.
Now I like/love to play poker. I'm not always very lucky. But I think it's fun. I ask the wife every time if I can go play. Well.... this was her turn.
It turns out that she and a few friends had planned to go and scrapbook for the day.
Crap.
Mental note "Kiss up to wife to score points"
I bit the bullet and took my lovely child on a *choke* Daisy field trip.
Dragging her little brother along for the ride.
The plan was to meet at Crown Center and walk over to Kalidescope, a kid activity and learning place, put together by the Hall company (Hallmark Cards)
We get there a little early. And I count my lucky stars, because a charity run for a hospital was wrapping up. The street past Crown Center was closed and the closest parking was across the street.
Mental note "Always check area activities before an outing"
We walked over and didn't see anyone yet. Gotta kill some time.
There is a great LEGO exibit going on for awhile. LEGO artwork on display in the lower level where Santa gets set up each year.
It was the wierdest thing. My son walked around and looked at the artwork. Commented on it. (did not understand much of what he said) Didn't play with the LEGOs and then wanted to leave! Guess he's an art lover!
Mental note "Get LEGOs for the boy"
Still a little early. Might as well walk over to Kalidescope.
We walked over and still don't see anyone. So, to kill more time, I took the kids through the Hall's Visitor's Center.
We come out and after asking, find out that the troop went in without us. Oh, well.
We were allowed in. My daughter and the troop had fun.
This is not the place to take 2yr olds when it's crowded.
After letting them explore and create. We headed over to Crayola Cafe.
A fun diner attached to the Crayola Store. Good food, decent prices. Not equipped to handle more than two parties of 10 or more. At a kid's restaurant!!!!
Staff was harried, 3 manager types looking lost.
But a very friendly mouse in the corner.
Lunch paid for from the Cookie Fund!!!!!
Mental note "Don't go on a Saturday without a reservation."
After lunch, in which my youngest was finished before anyone else. (don't blame him)
We headed over to the fudge/chocolate store "Chips". Great place. Lots of yummy looking things.
The girls had a front row seat to the "Fudge Master" making a batch of fudge. Then entertaining them while he made up new candy combos for them. At the end, all the girls got a sample bag.
Yum!
We walked back to the car, past the fountains with kids playing in them.
Looks like fun.
Mental note "Go back and let kids play in fountains"
The drive home was peacefull. Kids were told in Dad Voice (thanks Hossman) that there would be quiet time when we got home.
Quiet time was not very quiet. Dad Voice came out again. Crying girl stomped to room after.
Laid down on my bed to read a book, wondering if my day could just get any better!!! YAY!!
Couldn't doze off due to forgetting to put "Do not disturb" sign on door.

Next week will be better.
Now.... where did I put that notebook?

Trouble with the car.

How do you spend an hour, two days in a row at the car dealership, while getting oil changes and safety inspections with a 2 yr old?
Carefully.
Bring toys, books (for both of you), change for the vending machine, and patience.
Hope there is a cute receptionist.
And pray, that while your kid, who loves cars plays in one. And you get in the backseat to watch.
Someone hasn't thrown the child lock on the back door. Which when you close it, locks you in the car, with the windows up. So you have to crawl across the half folded seat to open the other door to get out.
Then when you are paying. That same child runs down the hall and dissapears.
Only to reappear, looking at you like this is the best game ever.
Then you have to go back to the cute recepionist and shyly get the keys and wallet you left on her counter.
And to leave you have to look like the worst parent ever. Dangling a chocolate bar like a carrot in front of the kid to lead him out of the building to the car that you actually own.

Sometimes. I hate my day.

But I love the kid.

Lab Work? or Blood Suckers from Avon.

You ever have that sick child that scares the hell out of you? You want to run to the hospital. But you also don't want to look like all the parents you see who overreact to everything.
ie: "Help! Help! Somebody help my child! I don't think he/she will make it! Somebody do something!"
"What seems to be the trouble ma'am?"
"My child was playing and fell down a very steep hill. Now he/she is bleeding! Help!"
"Ma'am. Your child rolled down the grassy slope. He/She rolled over a piece of wood on the way down and got a splinter."

Ok, you get my point.

So there I am. Ignoring.... Playing with my youngest. 2 1/2 years old. Boy. We'll call him Monkey.
He has started getting a little cranky. Feeling a bit warm to the touch. MOTRIN!!
He chugs it down. Acts happier. Dinner: Frozen Pizza.

7:00 : Feeling warm again. Acting very cranky. Hand in mouth. Ok, there's a tooth coming in.
7:30 : Falls asleep while watching TV. Cuddled against me. Carry limp Monkey to bed.
9:00 : Wakes up crying. Whining. Mother goes in to comfort. Call her The Warden.
9:10 : Another dose of Motrin.
9:12 : The Warden yelling for towels. Monkey has just released dinner.
9:15 : Clean up Monkey. Take Temp. Ear not reading clear. Gotta go in the bad way.
Temp reading : 104.4 !!
Got on phone with NurseLine. Can't believe she said not to worry until temp hit 105.

Took Monkey to doctor in the morning just to be sure. Doc said everything looked ok, but wanted to get a blood test to rule out bacterial possibility.
Try to NEVER DO THIS!!!!!!

We drove to the nearest lab. One person working there. Doing everything.
Now if you have never had to do this with a child, here's the deal.
You sit in a chair. The child sits in your lap. Then you have to pin the child down while some stranger ties a tourniquet on their arm and then comes at them with a needle to jab in their arm.

It helps if the chair you are sitting in does not swivel. Yes, this is from experience.

Then of course, Monkey starts squirming. - She missed the vein.- Then you have to watch, as she moves the needle around in your child's arm to find the vein.

And, you guessed it. Your child is looking between you and the needle, wondering what they have done wrong. And SCREAMING at the top of their lungs.

Then to make a bad thing worse. Since she didn't get anything. We have to go to another lab, where they have more help to hold a child.
We get there. We wait to be called. Monkey falls asleep. (wonderful)
We get called. We go into a room. We wait again for more help. (come on!)
We hold. She ties. She stabs. Victory!!!! Blood goes through the tube! She hooks up the second vial. Then .... Wait.... What are you doing!? Forget the tourniquet!!! Don't let go of the needle!!!!!.
He moved. Needle came out of the vein. Blood swelled under the skin.
Did we get enough? NO!?!?!?! Ok. Make it QUICK!!!!

Ok, kiddo. It's over. Would you like a sucker? Huh? Ok. Here you go.

Whew. It's over. But I tell you.
There is nothing like the looks you get. Carrying out a 2 year old who the whole packed waiting room has heard scream and cry for the past ten minutes. You get ooohs, ahhs, how darlings, bless his hearts, and looks of sympathy for you from everyone. Why? Because they are in to have the same thing done to them! And they could not imagine if they had to sit there and do that to their child.
The other best part? Your child will have the best sleep that night.

Excuse me. I need a nap.