Beware of Flying Objects...Particularly Raisins!

So the phone call goes like this:

Stacy: Hi Mom.

Grandma Kemp: We have an emergency.

Stacy: Oh, no. Now what happened (mind you last week's emergency was Alison slicing open the chubby part of her hand between her thumb and pointer finger because she didn't want to wait for Grandma to cut her peach...I do it...I do it, she says. Boy did she ever!! No stitches - just endless amounts of Barbie band aids.).

Grandma Kemp: Well,...***insert dramatic pause here*** Alison stuck a raisin up her nose.

Stacy: A what?

Grandma Kemp: A raisin.

Yep, sure enough. Our daughter managed to not only get the raisin up her nose, she managed to shove it so far up her nostril that she nearly touched her brain!! Okay, not that far, but almost into her sinus cavity. Now THAT takes some persistence.

So I show up at my mom's house and Alison is hiding under her blanket - one, because she knows Mommy had an important client meeting that day and got called out of it to take her to the doctor and two, because she didn't want to show me the ghastly "raisin bump" that was literally protruding from her forehead. I have to ask "what made you stick a raisin up your nose, kid?". Her reply: "I was just curious". Ah ha, so that is what killed the cat!!

We proceed to the pediatrician. I get to the front counter with Alison in toe (mind you the receptionist lives in our neighborhood and is almost our neighbor). She says "oh, the second day of school and you are already at the doctor. What's wrong with the little one?". I reply pretty nonchalantly "she has a raisin up her nose". "Oh, so SHE is the one that did that". Great - so now the whole doctor's office is waiting to find out which child will surely be labeled with some silly raisin-related nickname! I can just see her chart now...

We get into the exam room, Dr. Woods (our wonderful pediatrician) takes one look up her nose and tries so hard to say something, anything, with a straight face. He falls amazingly short of his goal. Alison has managed to jam this large raisin way, way up there so Dr. Woods won't even attempt to take it out. Lovely...one co-pay down...at least one more to go.

We head to the ER (Mercy) and Dr. Woods pages a ENT doc so they can come and remove the "foreign object" from my darling child's nose. Can you believe that right on the docs receipt there is an actual medical CODE for foreign object removal from one's nose? I'm serious...this must be a regular occurrence, I assure myself. I'm told later that Barbie shoes and Match Box Car wheels are highly popular items for the little tots to shove on up the schnozes.

We get into a room and are waiting for the ENT doc to call the hospital and let us know when he can get there. This very kind ER doc comes in and suggests we try something "a little less invasive". Okay, I say, whatever it takes to get that thing out of there before it rots her brain! So he tells me to blow in her mouth like I am giving CPR. HUH? Come again? Blow in her mouth? Seriously? He's serious all right. Before I try, however, I get the caveat that there is a 'gross factor' that comes with this procedure. I figure, how gross can it be right? It's just a little raisin in there.

So I blow into her mouth and the doc holds her good nostril closed. Nothing. He takes a look and tells me that the "object" has moved. Try again, he encourages me, but do it a little harder. Harder? I might explode my own child's lungs by doing this procedure, but I listen to the good doctor and give it one more try - one more solid blow into Alison's mouth.

Sure enough, one snotty, germ soaked little raisin comes flying out of her nose and sticks directly onto my cheek. The nurse is kind enough to get a Kleenex and wipe it off for me and then asks "would you like to keep it". Seriously? I snot-soaked raisin....now I'd like to see someone try to scrap that little baby into a cutesy little 12 x 12 memory page!

Alison ends up fine. I end up at the Station with a tall adult beverage in front of me to sooth the days activity. My husband, my parents and our dear friends the Allards end up making raisin jokes all night and laughing their fool heads off.

All I know is this wasn't in the users manual for three year olds!!

Move Over Preschool...Here She Comes

Last week we went for an hour orientation to the Mona Shores Administration Building to meet Ali's new preschool teacher, Mrs. Marchese. The former preschool teacher that Sammi had for two years, Mrs. Lindback, took a kindergarten position at Reeths Puffer. Ali was initial really bummed that she wouldn't have the same teacher as Sammi, but as soon as she was in her new classroom with her new and old buddies, I think the janitor could have taught the class and she would have been happy. Mrs. Marchese has her hands full, though, as all Alison wants to do is play with the new dress up clothes! Luckily, Mrs. Marchese is 24 and as full of energy and excitement for her new position as the kids are to be in school. Alison likes her new teacher very much, even though she can't say her last name (she told Grandma Kemp her mom calls her teacher Mrs. Cheezie - her name is Mar-K-Z!!) and I believe we are in for a very exciting and fun-filled year of preschool!!

September 9th was Alison's first official day of school. I decided to take a few minutes off of work to take her, just in case there were any last minute jitters. Sometimes, Alison can actually be kind of shy - yes, I know you don't believe me - but it CAN happen. Who was I kidding? The door opened on the first day of school and Alison went flying into the classroom - and I mean flying, as in an all-out-run to get in there first. She found the spot to put her coat and backpack, moved her "star" with her name on it from home to school so her teacher could take attendance and proceeded to find a seat next to her best buddy, Koryn. It was adorable and heartbreaking and exciting and frightening. Our baby is growing up so quickly!! In just two short years, we will be walking her to her bus stop for her first day of kindergarten.

I'm so very excited for Alison. She has been going over to preschool since she was born taking one sister or another...patiently and not-so-patiently waiting her turn to go into the classroom. It's finally her time to do something without her sisters. Something that is all her own and she is loving every minute of it.

I'm so proud of you, Alison. You are growing up to be such a dynamic young lady and every day is a new adventure with you. May you always have that adventurous spirit... and may Miss Liz never run out of the hair dye that is required to cover the gray hairs that your adventurous spirit churns up!! We love you, Ali-Bubba!

And They're Off...

Ah, the first day of school. Full of new backpacks, school supplies, brand new shoes and ironed clothes...a type A personality's dream come true!! Last night, Scott and I got two backpacks ready with supplies, completed forms, lunches and Kleenex (mainly for Mom when she puts them on the bus:). Maddie was first off this morning, getting her picture taken in the front of the house, as has been the tradition since she started off to kindergarten. She looked so grown-up and ready to tackle another year. Third grade...yes, third grade starts today!! You'll note the new glasses. Madison got her glasses the very last day of second grade, so she hasn't worn them a lot this summer. She needs them only for reading, so she'll be using them more and more these next few months. Third grade is supposed to be very challenging, so we'll see how she masters all the homework with her extra-curricular activities.

Sammi also had her first day of school this morning, catching the bus shortly after 11. She was off to her "Young-fives" classroom, via the big yellow bus. Given her late September birthday and how quickly the elementary curriculum moves, we thought it best for Sammi to have a "practice" year before the real thing. I know she'll do great academically, but needs the year emotionally to grow. She was so excited today because her bus stop is in her best friend's driveway and they get to ride the bus together!! As you can tell, Sammi and Kendra are joined at the hip and love to be together!!

I can't wait to get home tonight to hear all about their days. Alison was kind of quiet this afternoon when I stopped in to check on her at Grandma's, mainly because her playmates were all at school, but she'll be fine. Preschool starts next week for her and that will keep her busy. I'm not sure what her and Grandma have up their sleeves for all these afternoons they will have to themselves, but I'm sure it will involve something fun!

Happy first day of school, girls.

Go get 'em!!