N got a clean bill of health today. I'm relieved that he recovered quickly and that it didn't get any worse.

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!

M wants a nerf gun and a WWII themed video game, so we're in negotiations around that. I don't necessarily want any of my kids to be playing with toys that are guns because I don't think guns should be seen or used as toys....but I think M gets that, and I'm beginning to think that I may be acting in a reactionary way, rather than a balanced one. It's not resolved yet, but I'm thinking M should experience these things now, when at least I'm still around to guide him.

They're all into basketball and four square, which to my mind is much healthier. M is also interested in skateboarding, which would be pretty cool, I think.

S is auditioning for the Nutcracker this weekend! She's very excited. It will be very cool if she gets cast.

Went up to Mt. Baker with the kids yesterday for some sledding and fun in the snow. It was a beautiful, clear day with blue skies and powdery snow. The sledding was fun. There were a lot of people there.

Unfortunately S got banged up a bit. M ran into her once, my heel caught her in the eye when we were going up a slope, and she twisted her wrist when we were sledding and wrecked. But she recovered pretty quickly and had fun. M really wanted to catch some air. Both he and N were ready to launch off some steep slopes. We all want to do some snowboarding and/or skiing next time. I'll start saving up my money again...

We stopped at the North Fork Brewery for pizza on the way back, and got hot chocolate further down the road as well. It was a nice time.

Everyone's been sick, except for me. H went to Victoria to perform with the Impromaniacs, so I had N,M & S for two days, which was a lot of fun - except for the sick part. All three of them have gone through fevers in the last week, one right after the other. First M, then S, now N. H doesn't sound too well either. And after the fever it turns into a yucky chest cold with a nasty cough.

I hope they're feeling better today.

Oh yeah, on the same morning that N & S had a fever at the same time N lost a tooth and M had a nosebleed! All the fluids were represented at some point that day... Now that the boys are getting older and losing the last of their baby teeth the tooth fairy has upped the bounty to $5 - they're just a little more valuable now.

Busy weekend with the kids. Swimming, rock climbing, ice skating, horse drawn carriage ride - all free as part of Bellingham's New Year events, always nice for the strapped family!

N still doesn't like wearing his glasses - hope it'll all be better when he can finally get contacts.

M has to wear glasses now as well, but apparently only when he's at school...

Life continues to chug along. The kids are getting pretty excited about Christmas. They'll be spending the 24th and 25th with me, and we're going down to my sister's on the 24th, but they want to spend the 25th just with me.

School continues to go fairly well for them, though M especially doesn't like a lot of it. Both N & M have to get glasses.

After 11 and 8 years, respectively, of unschooling/homeschooling, the kids are experiencing their first day of public school today. H just wants to be a Mama, rather than a Mama/Teacher. It has always been a big challenge for her, and I've always maintained that since the onus of the teaching burden has been on her that if she ever felt she needed to cease homeschooling that I would support her decision.

And I have.

But I still have my own worries and hang-ups about public school. I'm just hoping that the kid's experience is better than mine - more akin to H's. S was very chipper this morning, but N&M were more glum. They can't be in the same classroom, which is really bumming M out, and they can't wear hats, which is bumming N out, who is trying to grow his hair out.

Anyway. More big changes. I'm staying positive.

The kids continue to be one of the few experiences that truly bring happiness into my life. N,M & S are still into making movies, both stop motion and live action - they have some great ideas and are having a lot of fun.

S is trying to figure out what food she may be allergic to - ruled out dairy and now on to soy...

Saw The Simpson's Movie with them last weekend - it's always fun to go to the theatre with them.

N has decided not to learn playing guitar for the time being - or at least, not to take classes. He still wants to keep his guitar, for which I'm happy - he'll likely pick it up again at some point. M also told me he wants to keep his drum set.

S's birthday is coming up - she's very excited. So am I! Jazzz piano lessons for her coming up!

The kids and H are down in Oregon till next week for P's birthday. I really miss them.

The kid's enjoyed their time at camp last week.

HD's bachelor party is tomorrow night - should be fun.

Lost my ring yesterday - totally bummed. At some point it just fell off my finger! :(

It has been really hot in Bellingham! Up into the 80's and higher. I finally got a pool key and the kids have come over a few times this week to go swimming. If it works out for all of us I've let them know that they can come over anytime to jump in the pool. It's only open from mid-June through sometime in September, so we should make the most of it while we can. We've been having a lot of fun in it - S generally stays in the shallow end, N&M in the deep end, and I swim back and forth, trying to split my time with all of them. The boys really like jumping in, and S enjoys making up all kinds of games to play. Her current fave is being a dog and playing fetch with various pool toys.

The kids and I went raspberry and strawberry picking with AC last Sunday. It was overcast that morning, which made the picking easier on us. We got about 20 lbs of raspberries and a big bowl full of strawberries. Then I finally racked the lambic onto the raspberries later that day. It'll be ready to bottle in 6 months, by which time it'll have been in the works for 2 1/2 years! I really hope it turns out well. It's been bubbling away as the yeast consumes the sugars from the raspberries, giving off a great raspberry scent from the airlock. I'm a little concerned with how hot it's been and how that might effect the fermentation, and have been thinking about moving it down to the basement storage area. I have to do some research on that today.

H's Mom is in town, and the kids have been attending Animals as Natural Therapy camp this week, riding and caring for horses and other animals. They're going on a trail ride today, and seem pretty excited about it! Hopefully they'll be able to come over for a swim this afternoon.

N&M are 11!

They are very excited, as is S. I baked mini chocolate cakes for them, and gave them both a Nintendo Gameboy Advance DS - exactly what they asked for.

They were very pleased with their gifts. It's a sunny day, which they're spending with their friends.

They are such wonderful boys - I feel fortunate to be a part of their lives.

The kids gave me a basket with tea, chocolate and crystallized ginger in it as a birthday present. Then we went to the Strawberry Festival at Boxx Berry Farm, where we had free strawberry sundaes and the kids took a ride around the fields on a "train" pulled by a tractor.

If the weather had been better I'd planned on taking them for a hike up to the observatory on Sehome hill, but I'll have to save that for another time.

39 now.

S's dance recital went well - it was great to be able to see her perform on stage. She was very happy. I went up to the stage at the end to pick her up, and bought some sunflowers for her. M&N didn't want to stay for the second half, so I drove them and Grandpa G back to HQ instead.

The next day N,M & S and I all went out for ice cream at Mallard's, and then they went down to OR for a week.

They returned in time for Father's Day, though. We watched cartoons in the morning, went to La Fiamma for lunch, and then back to Mallards. Then we watched some movies, did some drawings and continued reading The Golden Compass, which we're all really enjoying.

I'm planning on taking them for a hike up to the Sehome Hill Arboretum this Saturday. DG told me that there's an observatory up there too - hopefully we'll find it, and the weather will be nice!

S is very, very excited about her upcoming dance recital this Friday. She's counting down the days until her dress rehearsal and then the performance. She's as excited as she is around Christmas time, or her birthday. I'm looking forward to seeing her on stage again - she's so cute.

H's parents are coming up for the performance, and then H and the kids are going down to OR for the week :( - but they'll be back in time for Father's Day!

N&M&S drew a bunch of cool pictures last night - my refridgerator is already almost covered over with them. They sure are loving kids.

Went to Locust Beach on Sunday with the kids. It was a beautiful, warm day. Someone gave them little seashells that had been turned into mice sculptures - he said his Grandparents made them, and he always carried some around to give out to kids.

I think N,M & S had fun....

We finished reading Where the Red Fern Grows and started The Golden Compass, which we're all enjoying a lot.

Sure wish I could see them more often.

Have the kids all weekend. Should be fun, especially if the weather stays so nice. They were a bit disappointed to find out that the pool won't open until mid June....

N&M are very excited about their upcoming birthday - only one more month!

T/Th & every other Fri-Sun. That's it?

Not happy.

Went swimming with the kids on Saturday. We had a lot of fun. The boys really like going off the diving board, and all three of them enjoy the water slide, of course! I played in the water with them, and even went down the slide and off the board.

I feel a lot more comfortable now that they are all better swimmers. S still feels uncertain and likes me to be with her (which is fine with me). N&M could use some more practice as well, but they are fine in deep water.

I'm really hoping I can afford to get them all into more lessons this summer...

Well, it's official now, so I'm posting it here. I've been hired as a Web Usability Designer at PeaceHealth here in Bellingham. My last day at WWU will be Friday the 13th(!) this month, and I start at PH the following Monday.

I'm really looking forward to this job. It will be challenging, meaningful and interesting work, and pays really well too. I'll be working with my friend Dawn, the only other usability person at PH right now.

It took me almost exactly one year after graduating from UW to get this job. I'm pretty sure I could have got another sooner if I'd been willing to look outside Bellingham, but we've decided to stay here for the long-term, and this job will certainly help with that goal.

H and the kids are down in Oregon visiting her family for Spring Break. I sure miss them!

The article I co-wrote with Dawn about mashups will be published in the June issue of Searcher. I'm thinking of working on one about online reputation management next.