So I've gotten in one full week of blogging now. (Well, technically that won't occur until nearly midnight.) A LOT of stuff has happened in one little seven-day chunk.
There was Groundhog Day. There was the Super Bowl. There were the presidential primaries. There was Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. There was the Templeton children's health crisis (still in process, but improving). There was my parents-in-law's 61st wedding anniversary. There were the surgeries (Billy Baker's dad; our friend Daun Newman's). And there were all those milestones and mishaps that any reader could add to the list.
Granted, next week probably (hopefully!) won't be as dramatic--but still worth observing and commenting. I think I'll keep at it.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
A rough day . . .
I arrived at the Children's Hospital of Orange County about 9:30 this morning. As I approached Lexi's room, I could hear crying coming from within. My heart sank--especially as I saw the red triangular sign on the door, a "code" warning hospital staff to enter with caution (masks, gloves, and in some cases, gowns).
Lexi was so distraught...kept moaning and crying, "Ma-ma . . . owie . . . maaa-maaa . . owww-ie." It broke my heart. Kristi was holding her on her lap. Neither of them had slept any more than an hour overnight.
I carefully lifted Lexi and moved her to the crib so Kristi could change her diaper. It was obvious that she was fighting sleep. We were hoping that her only "owie" was the annoyance of the i.v. and all the paraphernalia on her arm. (She was frustrated that she couldn't hold her "night-night"--an old cloth diaper that is her security blanket--and suck her thumb at the same time.)
She absolutely refused any diversion or consolation--no fruit juice, no toy, no stuffed animal.
A nurse came in to set up a potassium drip to join her regular i.v. Lexi's potassium count was very low, so the drip was needed to restore those levels.
After the nurse left, Kristi leaned over Lexi and began humming a soft, soothing lullabye to her. It was amazing to me to see the almost-instantaneous effect of that little tune. In a very short time she was asleep. It was a troubled sleep, but at least she was out for a while. She woke up about 30 minutes later, still a little distraught and inconsolable. Once again Kristi hummed and once again Lexi responded by calming down and nearly falling asleep again.
The power of music and a mother's voice--what a combination!
About 2 hours after I arrived, Lexi began to perk up. I even got a hint of a smile from her, and a soft little "Pa-pa." That was special. Before you knew it, she was ready for some jello. I happily fed her a whole serving of jello and had to request more from the nurse. That was quite a little victory.
After that, we brought out some toys and books, and she was much more her old self. She had a blast playing with Mr. Potato Head. (And she did very well with only one arm, too!)
Here's Lexi with Mr. Potato Head, her stuffed bear, and her
I.V. gear--after the potassium kicked in.
Lexi was so distraught...kept moaning and crying, "Ma-ma . . . owie . . . maaa-maaa . . owww-ie." It broke my heart. Kristi was holding her on her lap. Neither of them had slept any more than an hour overnight.
I carefully lifted Lexi and moved her to the crib so Kristi could change her diaper. It was obvious that she was fighting sleep. We were hoping that her only "owie" was the annoyance of the i.v. and all the paraphernalia on her arm. (She was frustrated that she couldn't hold her "night-night"--an old cloth diaper that is her security blanket--and suck her thumb at the same time.)
She absolutely refused any diversion or consolation--no fruit juice, no toy, no stuffed animal.
A nurse came in to set up a potassium drip to join her regular i.v. Lexi's potassium count was very low, so the drip was needed to restore those levels.
After the nurse left, Kristi leaned over Lexi and began humming a soft, soothing lullabye to her. It was amazing to me to see the almost-instantaneous effect of that little tune. In a very short time she was asleep. It was a troubled sleep, but at least she was out for a while. She woke up about 30 minutes later, still a little distraught and inconsolable. Once again Kristi hummed and once again Lexi responded by calming down and nearly falling asleep again.
The power of music and a mother's voice--what a combination!
About 2 hours after I arrived, Lexi began to perk up. I even got a hint of a smile from her, and a soft little "Pa-pa." That was special. Before you knew it, she was ready for some jello. I happily fed her a whole serving of jello and had to request more from the nurse. That was quite a little victory.
After that, we brought out some toys and books, and she was much more her old self. She had a blast playing with Mr. Potato Head. (And she did very well with only one arm, too!)
Here's Lexi with Mr. Potato Head, her stuffed bear, and her
I.V. gear--after the potassium kicked in.
The doctor told us she would probably need to stay overnight again, but we're all hoping that she'll be released tonight. News at 11. :)
While Lexi was recuperating at the hospital, Haley was suffering with all the same symptoms (minus the dehydration) at home with Curtis and his parents. We're all hoping to keep her hydrated--PediaCare popsickles, Sprite, juice, etc. She has to be bribed to drink anything--partly because it hurts so much to swallow. (She was diagnosed this morning with Strep throat!!)
Needless to say, we'll all be glad when this season has passed!
While Lexi was recuperating at the hospital, Haley was suffering with all the same symptoms (minus the dehydration) at home with Curtis and his parents. We're all hoping to keep her hydrated--PediaCare popsickles, Sprite, juice, etc. She has to be bribed to drink anything--partly because it hurts so much to swallow. (She was diagnosed this morning with Strep throat!!)
Needless to say, we'll all be glad when this season has passed!
Our Sick Ones :(
Grandpas are supposed to be bragging about their grandchildren. I've been planning to write a series of entries "highlighting" (i.e., carrying on about) my three wonderful granddaughters. They're certainly brag-worthy!
Haley Beth Templeton at her 4-year "Princess" birthday party 2 weeks ago
Lexi Mae Templeton (20 months) at Haley's party
Emily Brynn Johnson (2.5 months) chillin' at Grandma and Grandpa's house
(She was too sick to go to the Princess Party! )
Today, however, I'm just too sad to brag. Kristi and Curtis' youngest (Lexi - almost 21 months) has been sick since Monday. Very sick. Grossly sick. (I'll spare details, other than to tell you that Kristi has done a yeoman's job cleaning up some Ripleys-worthy messes.) Haley (4 years) came down with the same thing on Tuesday. Yesterday they took Lexi to the E-Room at Hoag Hospital. She was pretty badly dehydrated, so they gave her the saline I-V and she improved a lot. BUT...she was diagnosed with a RotaVirus. Nasty stuff. Consequently, she was taken by ambulance to CHOC where they spent the night. Haley stayed home under Grandma Templeton's care.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Jennifer and Brian's 2-month old Emily spent the wee hours of the morning at CHOC. They rushed her to E-Room with serious vomiting around midnight and were there for 3 hours. Fortunately, they got her under treatment before dehydration set in.
So, this has been a health-challenged kick-off to 2008. Hopefully, these viruses will soon run their course and head for the open seas. It's tough to look on helplessly as these little guys suffer.
I look forward to writing some long brag-blogs about the exploits of my hale & hearty granddaughters. Hopefully, that will be very, very soon!
Right now, I'm off to the hospital to spend time with the little patient, and give Kristi a chance to grab a bite. (They're keeping Lexi for a 24 hour-watch, so she'll be there all day.)
Haley Beth Templeton at her 4-year "Princess" birthday party 2 weeks ago
Lexi Mae Templeton (20 months) at Haley's party
Emily Brynn Johnson (2.5 months) chillin' at Grandma and Grandpa's house(She was too sick to go to the Princess Party! )
Just a couple of weeks ago, Jennifer and Brian's 2-month old Emily spent the wee hours of the morning at CHOC. They rushed her to E-Room with serious vomiting around midnight and were there for 3 hours. Fortunately, they got her under treatment before dehydration set in.
So, this has been a health-challenged kick-off to 2008. Hopefully, these viruses will soon run their course and head for the open seas. It's tough to look on helplessly as these little guys suffer.
I look forward to writing some long brag-blogs about the exploits of my hale & hearty granddaughters. Hopefully, that will be very, very soon!
Right now, I'm off to the hospital to spend time with the little patient, and give Kristi a chance to grab a bite. (They're keeping Lexi for a 24 hour-watch, so she'll be there all day.)
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Squawk On the Street
This morning at the gym I had just settled myself in for a 45-minute workout on one of the new elliptical cross-training machines Bally's just got. The book I intended to read was propped up on the book-ledge and I was just about to open it and dig in. For some reason, I lifted my head up to glance at one of the 4 new flat-screens in that workout room. (Bally's must have come into some serious $$ lately. Funny. I'd heard they were about to go belly-up. May have something to do with my increasing monthly dues! I digress.)
Anyway, CNBC was the selected channel on the TV that was in my most direct line-of-sight. I gotta tell you, normally I find CNBC about as interesting as attempting to detect "random art patterns" from hardened chewing gum wads on the undersides of library tables! In a gym where hip-hop music blares from overhead speakers, there was, of course no sound from the TV itself. I was only able to watch the network's talking heads mutely spouting off the latest Wall Street scuttlebutt as a NYSE ticker zipped across the bottom of the screen at warp speed. Just as I was about to turn my full attention back to my book, something behind the "star" of what I assumed was a very entertaining "show" about stocks and bonds, caught my eye. There in varying shades of green (symbolic of money, no doubt) was a fascinating wall-filling logo which read, SQUAWK ON THE STREET.
Squawk on the street! For some reason, that title clicked with me. I thought it sounded so cool. I mean, how often does one in real life see, hear, or speak the word "squawk" on any given day? Or week? Or year? (There's probably a reason for that. It's your basic ugly word.) On the other hand, it's really descriptive: "SQUAWK!" One of those "onomatopoeia" words we learned in high school. You know, when a word sounds like what it's describing.
I actually looked up the definition (although I had a pretty good idea what it meant): "to utter a harsh, abrupt scream; to complain or protest loudly or vehemently." If one spends much time around small children, animals, (or certain church members, for that matter!), the occasional squawk is inevitable. In fact, most of us have been guilty of squawking from time to time.
But, "Squawk On the Street" actually made me do a bit of introspective thinking. As a Christian, generally, and as an ordained pastor, specifically, I wonder how often my ears are receptive to squawks on the street. Not the road rage-type squawks. I mean the "I'm-in-pain" type of squawks. Because squawks are inherently ugly or demanding, it's tempting to try to drown them out with other sounds--much more pleasant ones. Sometimes our response to someone else's squawk may simply be to let go with one of our own! After all, doesn't one good squawk deserve another?
Seriously, I feel like I do need to ask myself how Christ would respond to the squawk on the street. He certainly wouldn't turn the other direction. He wouldn't avoid it. He'd probably look into the heart of the squawker and discern--lovingly--the reason for the squawking. The squawk is definitely outside the comfort zone of nearly everyone. Are the folks at CNBC the only exceptions? Maybe our "investments" should be in the lives of squawkers more than the stock market. The dividends may not be as tangible, but they'll certainly last longer!
Anyway, CNBC was the selected channel on the TV that was in my most direct line-of-sight. I gotta tell you, normally I find CNBC about as interesting as attempting to detect "random art patterns" from hardened chewing gum wads on the undersides of library tables! In a gym where hip-hop music blares from overhead speakers, there was, of course no sound from the TV itself. I was only able to watch the network's talking heads mutely spouting off the latest Wall Street scuttlebutt as a NYSE ticker zipped across the bottom of the screen at warp speed. Just as I was about to turn my full attention back to my book, something behind the "star" of what I assumed was a very entertaining "show" about stocks and bonds, caught my eye. There in varying shades of green (symbolic of money, no doubt) was a fascinating wall-filling logo which read, SQUAWK ON THE STREET.
Squawk on the street! For some reason, that title clicked with me. I thought it sounded so cool. I mean, how often does one in real life see, hear, or speak the word "squawk" on any given day? Or week? Or year? (There's probably a reason for that. It's your basic ugly word.) On the other hand, it's really descriptive: "SQUAWK!" One of those "onomatopoeia" words we learned in high school. You know, when a word sounds like what it's describing.
I actually looked up the definition (although I had a pretty good idea what it meant): "to utter a harsh, abrupt scream; to complain or protest loudly or vehemently." If one spends much time around small children, animals, (or certain church members, for that matter!), the occasional squawk is inevitable. In fact, most of us have been guilty of squawking from time to time.
But, "Squawk On the Street" actually made me do a bit of introspective thinking. As a Christian, generally, and as an ordained pastor, specifically, I wonder how often my ears are receptive to squawks on the street. Not the road rage-type squawks. I mean the "I'm-in-pain" type of squawks. Because squawks are inherently ugly or demanding, it's tempting to try to drown them out with other sounds--much more pleasant ones. Sometimes our response to someone else's squawk may simply be to let go with one of our own! After all, doesn't one good squawk deserve another?
Seriously, I feel like I do need to ask myself how Christ would respond to the squawk on the street. He certainly wouldn't turn the other direction. He wouldn't avoid it. He'd probably look into the heart of the squawker and discern--lovingly--the reason for the squawking. The squawk is definitely outside the comfort zone of nearly everyone. Are the folks at CNBC the only exceptions? Maybe our "investments" should be in the lives of squawkers more than the stock market. The dividends may not be as tangible, but they'll certainly last longer!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
TRYING to Go to Bed . . . But
Well, I finished my blog entry and was getting ready to head upstairs to bed. Decided to pour myself a glass of OJ. Today's mail was lying on the counter, so as I drank my juice, I picked up the Newsweek magazine on top of the pile and happened to turn to a terrific article by Fareed Zakaria ("The Wrong Experience"). In the article he compared the great "experience" of Senator Clinton with the much-expressed lack of experience of Barack Obama. His opinion: sometimes "experience" can get in the way of taking the bold steps necessary for true leadership. VERY good article!
Anyway, a curious idea hit me and I decided to check it out. I was wondering just how much experience another Illinois politician had before he became president. Just as I suspected: Abraham Lincoln didn't have all that impressive a political resume before he became the 16th commander-in-chief.
Check it out:
I'm not really advocating the politics of Senator Obama. But I AM tired of him being constantly labeled as unfit for the presidency because of "lack of experience." If it was okay for Old Abe, then it might just be okay for somebody else, too. (Of course, Mr. Lincoln didn't spend 4 or 5 of his formative years living in Indonesia.)
What's a country to do?
I'm going to bed now. Good night!
Anyway, a curious idea hit me and I decided to check it out. I was wondering just how much experience another Illinois politician had before he became president. Just as I suspected: Abraham Lincoln didn't have all that impressive a political resume before he became the 16th commander-in-chief.
Check it out:
- Four 2-year terms in the Illinois House of Representatives
- Only one term in the U.S. House of Representatives
- Ran for U.S. senate, but lost to Stephen Douglas
I'm not really advocating the politics of Senator Obama. But I AM tired of him being constantly labeled as unfit for the presidency because of "lack of experience." If it was okay for Old Abe, then it might just be okay for somebody else, too. (Of course, Mr. Lincoln didn't spend 4 or 5 of his formative years living in Indonesia.)
I'm going to bed now. Good night!
How Many Months???? (Lord, Deliver Us!)
Well, February Madness was in full sway today.
Seriously, this year's Super Tuesday really seemed a lot like the Final Four of an NCAA Tournament--in slow motion. Instead of baskets and field goals, we had states and delegates. Instead of color commentators, we had political pundits. Instead of highly coordinated teams of tall, physically superior athletes running from one end to another on a basketball court, we had a motley collection of politically savvy candidates trekking from one precinct to another on a multi-state chessboard. (At least we were spared the analogous locker room interview with Hillary!)
I must confess, though, it's all been very entertaining and intellectually stimulating. Unfortunately, it's not just an athletic contest we're talking about. There's a lot more on the line than scalped tickets, pom-poms, nachos & cheese, and Goodyear blimps humming gracefully overhead.
We've got a long, potholed "November Highway" ahead of us as a nation. I guess that's not such a bad thing--there have been bumpy roads before. One thing for sure: at the end of this road, we'll arrive at one of three historical presidential destinations: 1) the first female president, 2) the first African-American president, or 3) the oldest president ever.
The times, they are a-changin! So hang on to your dentures--the potholes are probably going to be deeper than they've ever been before. The Final Four may have begun today, but the "Championship Game" is still another nine months away! Time Out!
Seriously, this year's Super Tuesday really seemed a lot like the Final Four of an NCAA Tournament--in slow motion. Instead of baskets and field goals, we had states and delegates. Instead of color commentators, we had political pundits. Instead of highly coordinated teams of tall, physically superior athletes running from one end to another on a basketball court, we had a motley collection of politically savvy candidates trekking from one precinct to another on a multi-state chessboard. (At least we were spared the analogous locker room interview with Hillary!)
I must confess, though, it's all been very entertaining and intellectually stimulating. Unfortunately, it's not just an athletic contest we're talking about. There's a lot more on the line than scalped tickets, pom-poms, nachos & cheese, and Goodyear blimps humming gracefully overhead.
We've got a long, potholed "November Highway" ahead of us as a nation. I guess that's not such a bad thing--there have been bumpy roads before. One thing for sure: at the end of this road, we'll arrive at one of three historical presidential destinations: 1) the first female president, 2) the first African-American president, or 3) the oldest president ever.
The times, they are a-changin! So hang on to your dentures--the potholes are probably going to be deeper than they've ever been before. The Final Four may have begun today, but the "Championship Game" is still another nine months away! Time Out!
Super-Tuesday Humor
I saw this today on Ann Coulter's website.
Love it! I want one! (For laughs only!!!)
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