N had to go to the ER last week. He'd been complaining about an ache in his side on Monday, and we thought that it was probably a pulled muscle. But the pain didn't go away, and by Thursday it was so bad that he had to come home from school very early in the day. H called me and we talked about it and decided it would be best to take him to the ER to find out what was going on.

I left work and ended up meeting H, M and N there (S was at school) and we pretty much spent the next four or so hours waiting until he could get in. They did give him some pain meds so that he wasn't uncomfortable. Anyway, once he was examined, including x-rays, the doc was able to determine that is was pleurisy/pneumonia, but just in a small area on the bottom of his right lung (right where he'd been feeling pain). The doc was surprised as he had no other symptoms (shortness of breath, a cough, etc). So he started taking antibiotics and regular pain meds and it has cleared up pretty quickly. He's not in pain any longer. He'll go back for a checkup with his regular doc to make sure it's all taken care of. We've also been making sure he gets probiotics while taking the antibiotics.

Anyway, it was weirdly nice to be together in the ER - I hung out with M while H & N were in the exam room, and for awhile it almost felt normal, as if we were all together... I suppose only emergencies like this will let that feeling happen.

I bought a couple new bike helmets for the boys yesterday. All three kids are motivated to be on their bikes again, for which I'm happy. We also finally have some nice weather (it actually snowed this last weekend!). N & M could use some new bikes, and M & I looked at some Redline BMX bikes yesterday at Kulshan Cycles - I hope I can get them both one of those, they're sweet rides. Then S can move up to M's bike. She's eager to learn how to be a better bike rider. I'm predicting she'll learn fast!