Another busy week (s)

As is usual, when things calm down around here, it's time to start wondering just how long you have before the next crazy, busy cycle begins again..... it wasn't very long in this case. This time though, I do admit, some of it was my own doing.

We managed to get Francesca off to Italy thanks to the help and patience of Paul's mother who arrived a few days before she left. Then, Paul and I managed a 25 hour respite in Baltimore, thanks again to Nona. Ahhhh, a bit of calm.......

Before our little get a way though, and unbeknownst to Francesca, we headed up to Maryland and adopted a new dog from Mid Atlantic German Short Hair Pointer Rescue. This GSP is male, between 3 and 5 years old, solid liver colored and came with the name Beckett. He is also the complete opposite of Shade (our first adopted GSP)- not afraid of all people and children, curious, and not prone to hiding under the bed. We've had him almost 3 weeks now and he has settled in really well. Francesca arrived home from Italy and gave her stamp of approval to him despite the fact that she was not consulted in the decision making process. Shade says she has yet to make up her mind about him, although she is now spending more time out from under the bed and today, she actually came downstairs to greet all of us.

The new addition: Beckett "no, I'm not a chocolate Lab" King

Shortly after Nona left, my parents arrived and we began to make some plans to do some sightseeing. Short lived plans......

Carson began to run a fever the day after they arrived and we proceeded to have two unplanned clinic visits back to back. The good news out of this is that a) my parents were here to help and b) Carson managed to get sick during business hours which meant no ER! On the first visit we learned Carson's ANC had jumped to nearly 9000, which meant he was definitely fighting something off. Bring on the IV antibiotics and blood cultures. On the next day's visit his ANC had dropped to 1500, his immunogammaglobulin level was 298 and blood cultures were negative. Bring on more IV antibiotics and add an IGg infusion. At least we said goodbye to that fever and our little guy was feeling good.

And then, Francesca arrived home: unpacking all her stuff, brimming with stories and proving that jet lag and teenagers don't mix. Seriously though, she had an absolutely fabulous time. Thanks to the Palomos for hosting her. Now we begin packing up for Student Life camp on Monday.

That leaves today and Grandpa Chuck's 70th birthday. We finally got a little sight seeing in at Fort McHenry in Baltimore and more than an earful about cannons, soldiers and prison from Carson.

As Carson was jabbering on today, Francesca gave me one of those looks like "I wish he would stop". That's when I broke the news to her that Carson's neuropsych testing revealed that he needed some help with expressing himself and that we should be encouraging him to talk more and to include even more details and descriptions. As I picked Francesca's jaw up off the floor, I began to ponder "What did these psychologists/psychiatrists ask Carson to talk about in order to come to their conclusions?" Did they ask him to talk about cars, Legos and law enforcement or was it fuzzy animals and flowers? Seems to me, he can talk a blue streak about things he is interested in......but I digress....