oh, bother

A few things we learned this weekend:

1. My little Winnie-the-Pooh book lover learned a little bit about a bees nest. Kicking said nest - or rather - "tapping it gently with my foot" is probably not such a good idea.

2. Next, and rather quickly, we learned that Ezra is highly allergic to bees, or rather "Yellow jackets!" as he has corrected all of us (and the nurses and doctors) repeatedly.

3. Mama learned - for the third time in one year - that having a separate pediatric emergency room is a brilliant idea. Ingenious, actually, and I'm eternally grateful for it and the people who work there. Really - I love it there. Well, you know what I mean.

4. A wonder to his swollen-shut eyes, Ezra learned all about flat-screen TV's (apparently the education I'm providing him is lacking in important things like this). And the remote that was handed to him by the nurse upon entering our room? Like gold to my little guy. What more does one need? (besides some benadryl and epinephrin.)

5. He also gained an new idol in the "hospital music show man," a.k.a. Lawrence Welk (to whom he's "rocking out" to in the photo above). Our friend Lawrence now ranks right up there with G. Love and Jimi Hendrix in Ezra's book. That's cool.

6. I learned that we needed a new go-everywhere-with-us-all-the-time bag to hold our latest accessory - the epi pen. And yes, that's the culprit insect embroidered on the bag. Luckily Ezra shares my twisted sense of humor - he requested the yellow jacket be put there. He still thinks they're pretty cool - "You just never can tell with bees".

Oh, and Hi Portland! Thanks, Justin - for the really lovely article in today's Portland Press Herald, and to Jack for the beautiful photographs (and for letting me ogle his camera)! And, Welcome! - to anyone who might be here for the first time!

Comments

[corrie]

uh oh....glad you all survived and someone looks pretty happy considering....love your little purse and buzzing bee! too cute!

[katie]

Another adventure! Love Ezra's glee in the remote and his digging ol' Lawrence Welk.

Love the article, too.

[Steph VW]

Oh my gosh - I'm so glad that Ezra is ok. Here's hoping that the epi-pen expires, unused, year after year... although, the bag is lovely.

Lawrence Welk, eh? That's hysterical.

[sheree schattenmann]

Thank goodness this was not worse. And yes, the bee on the bag is a fun twist, and a good indicator of what is inside. My daughter was allergic to milk/dairy products, so we had to carry an epi pen around for years, just in case! Luckily we never had to use it.

Enjoy the rest of summer. And stay away from those bees!

Sheree

[wendy]

you never can tell with bees, indeed!

i'm just a little black rain cloud, pay no attention to little me.....

love to all,
w

[bellablue]

Great article in the paper!!! I'm going to have to go and buy one now!

I'm glad Ez got to rock out to LW. You might have to pull that TV out of the closet on Saturday nights!

[Julia]

uughh- at least it was a learning experience, and it sounds like you all made the best of it. (and made an awesome little epi pen bag too- what more could one ask for!?).

wonderful article in the paper too-congrats!

[Livia]

Oh, poor Ezra! It's good he survived so well. You write so vividly, it's so nice to read your text.

[annette]

Oh! so sorry to hear this... We, too, really liked that pediatric ER -- discovered with Elias last new year's eve -- well, as much as one can like a place like that. See ya soon.

[Meredith]

How frightening for you all! Glad you have your epipen. We carry one at all times. Seems like it should be standardly issued at birth just in case, in my opinion. LOVING the epipen bag and the new Lawrence Welk obsession. Polka, polka, polka!!

[Mama Urchin]

I should make one of those bags for my hubby though I'd have to embroider it with nuts, fruit, and soy. The bee is much cuter. I hope you never have to open up that little bag.

[Gloria]

Oh, wow, what a brave boy to manage to look at the fun side of it. I was stung by a bee when I was a little tot and I've had apiphobia since then. I can go pale even at a buzzing sound. Glad he's ok!

[erin]

lovely article, amanda!

and your epi pen bag is really cute. sorry that you need it at all. sounds like ezra was quite the trooper, though.

[tamara in melbourne, australia]

Glad Ez is ok. You never can tell with bees.

Hope that your new go-everywhere-all-the-time bag stays put in the tote and never has to be taken out.

[Liz Cadorette]

My word, Amanda, I am SO glad that Ezra is okay, and it's such a testament to you guys that he turned his stay in the hospital into an opportunity to "rock out" rather than "freak out".

As a former EMT, may I suggest that you guys also have Ezra wear some piece of emergency notification jewelry? Sometimes every little bit of information helps. (and if they'll let you, have your doc prescribe you an emergency back-up Epi-Pen for your household emergency kit. You have your travel one; it's also good to have one for backup.)

So glad he's okay.

[Carrie]

That is such a cute way of looking at it! A sad, owy, memory turned good! Here's hoping you DON'T have to use the Epi Pen!

[Jen]

My children love Lawrence Welk. The singing, the dancing, the cheesy outfits and hair. We only get a few channels in our house and PBS is one of them. Glad he's ok and good that you have some protection next time he wants to kick a hive.

[Leah]

Very glad to hear that Ezra made through just fine and is okay! I carried around an epipen for myself for a long time because of a food allergy, but I didn't have as sweet a little bag as you've got :).

[Bex]

OUCH!
Phew...
Ooooo...
&
Awwwww...

[kristin]

oh amanda that sounds like some adventure. glad everyone is now ok - yellow jacket stings, tv and all... (i love that ezra is a g. love fan too!)

[kristin]

just had to come back and say the article is wonderful. those family photos are really nice.

[Stefani]

Holy smokes! You're such a rock star, Amanda! Ezra too. Any boy that can dig Jimi and Lawrence too my kind of people :-) The bag is adorable, of course! Have a great start to your week, now that the whole ER thing is behind you!

[colleen]

Ezra, you are the coolest! And, Mama, I love the epi-bag -- I hope you don't have to open it any time soon, but it's too cute!

[Suzanne]

Hi Amanda,
Lawrence Welk--what a hoot! used to watch it with my grandparents. Hope that epi never needs use! Great article , you must be thrilled-everyone looks great:-)

[Amy Curran]

What a crazy weekend! Happy Monday!

[brandie]

oh! poor ez :( how scary for you! so glad he had a nice place to sit while feeling so yucky. you really can never tell with bees :)

i don't have an actual copy *yet*, but i did read the story online and it is great! you must be so pleased with how it turned out, and the photos are great. woo hoo!

[jean]

Oh Ezra. A fairy house indeed. And I second the second epi idea. We always keep two. Thankfully we have never had to use it. For all of the mamas whose children need such a nasty thing, I suggest you add that lovely bag to your fall line-up in the shop. Maybe one with a messenger bag kind of strap for walks in the woods. I hate having to put it in my pocket. It sticks out and drops all the time. Which isn't very safe.

[bigbucketgirl]

OH! "tapping it gently with my foot" That is priceless! Glad to hear his expereince rocked!
We have to carry medication everywhere for DS#2 as he is allergic to milk, which is hidden in the most un-milk like things! If he has another attack before he's 3 then we will have THE pen. Urgh.
ANy chance a copy of that newspaper can make it to the UK? Seriously? Do you think there'll be any on Ebay? The kids were well impressed that yours were in the newspaper!
Hope the yellow jackets find someone else to annoy....xxx

[eireann]

whew! glad ezra is okay. that's a scary thing.

xo

[lisa]

i am also allergic to bees (ah, yellow jackets!!)...so glad Ez is okay. And congrats on the article!! wow!

[Anne]

I am glad he is o.k.

The article is sweet and I love the pictures.

[Alina]

I am glad that Ezra is ok. Love the lil pouch for the epi pen.

[HeatherCE]

A sweet story about a nasty event. And, I agree, Children's Hospitals are very important and special places. I'm glad for your family that all is well.
That epi-pen baggy rocks!

[Grace]

we carry an epi pen for our little guy, too. although it doesn't have such a cool carrying bag. i wonder how to go about embroidering some milk, soy beans, and eggs on ours? lol.

congrats on the newspaper spread. how cool is that?!

[Kelly]

"Soule's first book, 'The Creative Family,' is due out in April, and another is on the way." -- True? Book #2? Do tell... (Glad Ezra is OK.)

[almamater]

We love Lawrence Welk around here, too! Great article in the newspaper.

[Cindy]

Wow, I'm so glad Ezra is ok! I wish that we had a pediatric ER here! I just want to say that I don't know how you do it. You manage to whip up wonderful little somethings for so many occasions in your life, I love the little epi pen bag!

[heather]

glad to hear ezra is okay, and that he had SUCH tolerance for the er experience, though it sounds like they really do their part in making it bearable for the kids, and mama and papa...

i read the article amanda, it is really, very good. you must be pleased! you never know with those things what "quotes" they'll use, looks like you were in very good hands.

[Jodi]

Thank goodness he's OK! It sounds like all of you handled the situation incredibly well. Love the little bee pouch.

[Lisa L.]

So scary. Glad he's okay. My eldest has a severe peanut/nut allergy so we always have epinephrine handy. We use a special pouch that can withstand hundreds of pounds - perfect for little boys. We also have a second one in my purse and in the cupboard.

A few months ago I had a severe allergic reaction to metaclopromide - an anti-nauseant. I almost died. I was extremely lucky because we had an epipen in the house and we reacted quickly.

Please tell him that he is such a brave little boy and not to be afraid...just be cautious.

[meg]

crap! glad he's ok. we've had our inaugural visit to the pediatric e.r. as well this summer and it is so nice!

[m]

Oh my. So glad to hear Ezra's okay. And trust you to whip up a cute bag to match the situation! (This may seem like a silly question, but is he now allergic to bees, yellow jackets, wasps, etc? Or just yellow jackets? I know so little about these sorts of things.)

Also, great article. I really am looking forward to getting your book.

[Julie]

Glad to hear that Ezra is okay... how wonderful to have a pediatric ER! I loved the article about you and your beautiful family!

[abbyjane]

A brilliant bag and a lovely article. And book #2 is on its way! Awesome.

[kendra]

How scary! Good to hear that Ezra is doing just fine now.

We have an epi pen too that we carry due to my little one's peanut allergy. It's quite a thing to have to bring it *everywhere* you go.

[Andrea]

I'm so glad your little guy is ok. We had a similar experience in my childhood when my little brother was stung by a wasp and we 'found out' he was allergic when he swelled up so badly we could not recognize his face. It was terrifying. But it's so reassureing to know that though emergency rooms can be purgatory when you've twisted your ankle, they do not mess around when it comes to allergies. The nurse in our emergency room practically vaulted over her desk to get to him. My mom hardly had time to get out the words "he's been stung" and they were already getting the adrenaline into him. And of course, this was in the dark ages before EPI pens, so all of us kids had to lean how to give a shot in case my brother got stung again and was unconscious. Many oranges were subjected to our syringes as a result. And my little bro is now a 6'5' 31 year old and has not been stung since. Hope Ezra never has another run in with the old yellow jackets either. There will be no more nest 'nudging' I'm sure.

[kimberly/tippytoes]

Glad Ezra is okay! When my oldest was little and was in hysterics over something, the only thing that calmed her was Lawrence Welk. Who knew?

I love the bag and congrats on the lovely article!

[Nicole]

Delurking... we carry two epipens wherever we go due to little ones nut allergies. Perhaps I need to make a case in the shape of a peanut! Don't forget to make sure teacher is trained on administering it come school time.

[Valerie]

That must have been very scary. Thank goodness he's okay. I so admire you for your calm.

[molly]

wow, amanda! what a weekend. so glad everything worked out and you were there when he 'discovered' his allergies! yikes.

of course the bag is totally perfect, wasp and all!