Natalie's transition from sickie to kindergartner...

Natalie getting some rest in her throne bed.This was taken before the hospital, the only movie we could convince her to watch for over 48 hours....My sweet angel...

Feeling a little better, Natalie received this balloon from her friend Sage:)

Her first morning home from the hospital we were able to sneak a visit to her classroom. She was so excited to get to go to kindergarten.

Natalie's first day of school was also the day she was admitted to Palomar Hospital for Pneumonia. She came down with a fever and was severely exhausted. Sometimes lying still staring at the walls in her room for an hour or more at a time. She wouldn't eat, pee, and she didn't want any company...she just laid there sometimes with fever above 104. I took her to the pediatrician the next morning. Dr. Pillai checked her over and declared it a stomach virus. She reminded me to keep fluids in her and keep her comfortable with Tylenol.

She did not improve all day...she had not used the bathroom and she now had been vomiting for over 24 hours. Nothing would stay down. I called Dr. Pillai again because I was worried about dehydration. She said if I couldn't get any fluids in her and get her to pee they we needed to go the ER. Daddy came home and he worked his magic. She drank two glasses of water and kept it down for a few hours....then it started again. By Wednesday (when kindergarten began) we headed to the ER suspecting dehydration. Still unsure about my decision but feeling that I had nothing to lose if they sent us away...

They did not send us home. Her white blood cells were through the roof and after a chest x-ray the doctor said she had full blown lower lobe pneumonia and we would be taken to Palomar Hospital for admission. WOW! And this was supposed to be her first day of kindergarten?

She made a nice speedy recovery and she rested took all her medicine even though it wasn't always easy.

Fast forward to the following Monday...

We had a special breakfast.

These are the hand print tiles from the first year FVES opened. My hand is up there too!

The morning was a success. No tears! Natalie asked what time the school bus was coming? We brought lots of chocolate for the office and kinder teachers, if there's one thing my dad taught me it's to keep everyone happy....Since technically it is the second week of school parents were asked NOT to enter the playground or classrooms, they just wanted us to drop off at the gate (where Natalie and Jillian are posing). I figured that was best, I didn't want top be the ONLY parent lingering then have Natalie watch us walk away. It worked perfectly, she ran on to the playground happy as could be YELLING, bye mom, bye dad! I hope her enthusiasm lasts all day.

Natalie and Jillian

A few extra details.....French Valley Elementary is where I used to teach. It is great comfort and excitement to know everyone there! Her teacher is Marcy Kuker a dear friend and a colleague of mine. We taught both 4th and 1st grades together. This particular year is special at French Valley because many of us all had babies the same year. There are 6 teacher kids all starting school this year. Plus, through my Mom's Club, there are another 4 kinder starting...10 families of friends all beginning this adventure together, we could not be more blessed.

Love, The Straders

P.S. My PTA meeting is this afternoon, somehow I found my self on the board as the Fall Festival Coordinator.

Ocean City, Maryland

Ever been to the beach on the east coast? Here are some fun facts....

1. The sand is perfect for sandcastles...it is able to be formed into cool shapes, it is grainy and clean, no seaweed, no flies, and thick between your toes...a young man, AKA HOT GUY will come put up an umbrella for you and you can get your sandy pictures taken by another young man, known as "Scopes"...

2. The board walk is really made out of boards, the wooden ones that you hear about in songs. It is walked on by hundreds of people, bikes can only be on the boards before 11am, and food is served 18 hours a day. You can get a tattoo, a nose ring, a bucket of $10 fries, a beer, a kite, a hermit crab, an iron on T-shirt, an ice cream cone, a dunkin' donuts donut and coffee, a beach towel, sand toys, snow globe, did I miss anything? The list goes on and on...

3. The best rides are found at the piers, yes Rides like at any amusement park, roller coasters, the Freak Out!, fun houses, kiddie rides, vintage rides, mirror maze, Tilt -a -Whirl, etc....

4. Sharing Great Grandma Green's porch with the 5th generation of the family= priceless. Rocking on the porch just doesn't happen at west coast beaches....find me a porch on the eastern shore and you will find a rocking chair - probably more.

5. Parasailing is not thrilling it is peaceful. Had no idea on this one. I thought it would be crazy fun, make me anxious, scream for more...no way...it was quiet, soft, calm and watching the sting rays, jelly fish, dolphin, and even a hammerhead shark swim 800 feet below was amazing...