Owen & ER Trip #4... and More

I was wondering what I was going to post in February because I've gone three years without a down month.  I didn't want to break my streak.  This, though, wasn't what I wanted to post although things seem to be working out OK and will be fine.

Owen the tank engine, decided yesterday at about 9 AM that it would be a good idea to pull a coffee pot of water off of the counter at Grandma's house.  The problem was that this pot of water happened to be filled with boiling water.  The water and the pot hit him in the left shoulder and splashed up onto the left side of his face.  Cathy said that she had never heard him scream like that.  She ripped off his shirt and put him under cold water in the bathtub and then they ran him to Children's Hospital. 

He spent the morning in the ER where they gave him something for the pain and put some medicine (Silver Nitrate I think) on his shoulder, which is the worst of the burns.  When I got there about noon they were just taking him up to his room to await a surgical procedure later that yesterday afternoon.

They took him into "surgery", and I use that term lightly.  Other than putting him under it really wasn't surgery.  The procedure involved scrubbing all of the skin off that was burnt to prevent infection and scarring and then apply a "bio brain".  Basically a biological bandage or skin that will stay on the burns and allow them to heal in a sterile environment.  There will be no scab because of it.

He seemed to sleep pretty well through the night I was told and will be able to come home today.  It will be about two weeks before the biological bandage comes off and he is back to new, hopefully with no scars.  I've included a few pictures below.

Right after he got to the emergency room...

Owen and Mommy...

Sleeping in the ER...

All bandaged up... waiting to go to his room.

After his surgical procedure, the patch on his cheek is the biological bandage...

Academic All-Star

We award a weekly Academic All-Star award to students at Risen Savior.  For months, Liam has been asking about it.  Before Christmas we even had tears because he wasn't getting it.  Well, today Liam won the lower grade Academic All-Star.  He was kind of stoic about it.  I thought I was going to have to peel the smile off of his face.

Winter Fun

The weather has been a little bit unseasonably warm - 35+ degrees for a couple days, nothing great.  So here are a couple pictures and videos from sledding between our house this past December...

Snow

So... I say this every year, but it is hard to believe that I have been able to keep this blog up for what is now the start of the 4th year.  It has been a little tough as of late but I think I'm going to be able to do it.

Well it has been snowing quite a bit lately and one of the bad things about leaving early and getting home late is that I don't have time to shovel.  When the first storm came in December Cathy out shoveling caused our neighbor to have pity on her and snow blow everything, but this time no such luck.  I got home last night and decided I shouldn't wait until Sat. morning.  And that is where the story begins...

I had started up the 1974 Toro Beast back in October and got it running so I wasn't real worried.  It was dark, I thought I had the key and choke ready to go so I started pulling.  Thanks to the Musgrave Small Engine Repair Shop the beast usually starts up in one pull.  After five minutes I was exhausted.  I went and got a flashlight and realized I had the key in the 'off' position.  DOH!  After another minute or two she hadn't started so I looked at the choke... oops!  It was in the low position.  Alright, I've got 'er.  Another several minutes of pulling and NOTHING!  So, I thought, "I wonder how much gas is in the tank?"  Well, NONE!!!!  DOH! DOH! DOH! 

It was amazing that with gas in the tank, the key in the 'on' position, and the choke open, guess what?  One pull and I'm off.

No one said I was the brightest bulb in the box.

2009 Year In Review

In what has become sort of a tradition here at the Chateau Dusseau, here is the 2009 in pictures!

Disney World!

We went to Disney World yesterday. I'm not a big fan of it, but it just is one of those things you are supposed to do. Getting up at 6 AM on vacation isn't my idea of a smart thing to do, but we made it. It was FREEZING! 39 degrees when we woke up, someone remind me why I came here when I could get that at home.

We did all the normal things: Winnie the Pooh, It's a Small World, Peter Pan, Bear Jamboree... etc... The night was obviosuly highlighted with Liam being able to drive the car on the Race Car Track. Liam and Owen love the train and monorail which we rode back to the car. Fun was had by all and I did get to see the Badger game afterall.

Liam trying to become KING OF THE WORLD!

Liam driving his race car... his smile is pure bliss.

Owen before the 3D show. A little gangsta

Liam posing
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With Woody and his girl (don't know her name)

Captain Owie

Merry Christmas... from Florida

Well... it has been some time since I posted. Life has been busy. We did leave on December 21st for Florida. I had hoped to post each day, but again, that didn't work.

Our plan of leaving at 8:30 AM on Monday was pushed back when we found out our flight had been postponed to 11:00 AM. Owen then proceeded to puke twice. We did go back home where he was able to take a nap and that helped. We got back to the airport at 9 AM and found out our flight was then cancelled. They put us on a direct flight leaving at 4 PM. So we had a nice first day at the airport.

We've had a good time swimming, playing putt-putt golf, hanging out, and relaxing. Liam and Owen did go with Grandma and Grandpa to a Disney character breakfast this morning. Liam and I hope to get golfing over the next few days... I hope to get more posted later.

Liam hanging out...

Owen by the pool

Liam and Owen before Christmas Eve church.

Owen opening presents

Liam and Owen doing... something.

Owen climbing a tree.