My favorite Nativity Set
Of the many nativity sets on display in our home this Christmas, my favorite is this painted rock nativity. Ken created it when she was a little younger.
It is made from backyard rocks, and features color washes detailed with a black marker.
Lost and Found
A number of years ago we lost the second key to our car. We searched everywhere, but just couldn’t find it. It was pretty strange.
Last Saturday we decided to have a house cleaning party (the kids were soooo excited) and while searching the crevasse of our couch I found the key (along with about 20 pens, Legos and numberless crumbs).
12/13/2007 | hugh | Comment [1]
Croup
This year (2007) in January we had a terrifying experience.
In the middle of the night we woke up to the sound of a seal barking. We could tell Quinan was coughing and rushed to his bedroom. He couldn’t seem to breathe. I don’t remember all the details right now, but we didn’t know what to do. Michele sat with him in the bathroom with the shower streaming hot water hoping the moisture would help him to breathe better. It didn’t work. I’ll never forget the look on his face (he couldn’t breathe).
I panicked. This was one of those moments when you feel absolutely helpless as a parent. I thought about calling 911, but didn’t and insisted to Michele that we go to the emergency room right away. Within a minute or two we were on our way. Michele sat in the back with him in his car seat. I drove as quickly as I could (without putting us in too much danger).
We rushed into the emergency room waiting area. I was choked up and remember saying “my son can’t breathe”. I must have been pretty distraught because the lady at the reception area got help right away. They directed us to the back and the nurses started working on him right away.
Our poor daughters Ken and Jen awoke as left for the hospital and were at home worried and praying. Their prayers were answered.
We didn’t know it at the time, but he had croup (which is a swelling of the vocal chords). Unfortunately Quinan either had a lot of swelling (or has a petite airway) and was in respiratory distress. He ended staying in the hospital for a couple days.
Audio: Quinan’s croup cough
This whole experience for very surreal for me, because this same ER was where I said goodbye to a good friend who had a heart attack a few years ago.
So why am I blogging this now? Less than a week ago we woke up to Quinan barking again. Luckily he wasn’t in respiratory distress and I wasn’t in shock. When we were in the hospital (back in January) the nurses told us that the best remedy for croup is to drive around in the car at night with the windows down. It was raining outside so we grabbed blanket, wrapped up Quinan and I held him on the porch in the cool moist air. Within a short while his barking cough had settled and he was breathing normal (for having a cold).
I think it’s odd that we didn’t have an experience with either Ken or Jen similar to this and I hope that readers of this will have and idea of what to do if their little ones have croup.
12/11/2007 | quinan | Comment [2]
Majora Carter: Greening the ghetto
Housing bubble
According to Zillow(.com), our home has dropped $42,000 in value during the last year. I don’t think it has hit the bottom yet.
12/11/2007 | michele | Comment
It's called a toylet
Toylet from Hugh Roper on Vimeo.
This is and oldie (Sept 2006) but a goodie.
12/06/2007 | quinan | Comment [1]
Camera Filter
Yesterday our friend Anna Lee was baptized. It was a wonderful service. She looks great in white. It seems like yesterday that she was just a sunbeam.
On the way home we blew up an orange balloon for Quinan. Kennerley took advantage of the opportunity to show that a balloon can function as a terrific camera filter.
I especially like the reflections. Click on on the thumbnail photos above to see them in their true bright color.
12/02/2007 | ken | Comment [1]
Garden Update December 2007
Garden Update December 2007 from Hugh Roper on Vimeo.
12/01/2007 | hugh | Comment [4]
I wanna hol' it
I wanna hol’ it from Hugh Roper on Vimeo.
Quinan, our budding three-year-old photographer craves the new digital camera as if it were a Leica. If my memory serves me correct, his cousin Brad acted similar this about twenty years ago. I’m glad kids grow out of it.
12/01/2007 | quinan | Comment [1]