where did YOU party tonight?

My plans were a nice retrospective on the year we've spent together, talking about our good times, eating a meal together since David was getting off work at a decent time, and maybe catching a movie all snuggled on the couch. Didn't happen. Dennis had a fever this morning (because he sensed that the doctor's office would be closed for the New Year's holiday) that got progressively worse throughout the day. When I went to check on him after his very long nap, he said "Mommy, Baby Bird is SICK." My heart melted appropriately, of course. When his temp reached 102, I paged the pediatrician, who confirmed my suspicion that I needed to get him to the hospital tonight to have him tested for flu. It's rampant here right now, and the vaccine hasn't prevented some people from getting it. If he had flu, we would have to start him on the flu medicine within the first 48 hours. So we had our New Year's Eve party in the emergency room, celebrating with a feast of Cheetos, Rice Krispie treats, and carbonated beverages while we waited for the life threatening emergencies to filter through and get transferred. He tested negative for the flu. We are so, so glad. He got a shot (and this was a HUGE ordeal--the screaming brought every employee to the room, and Dennis scored a new stuffed panda for his trouble) and some cough medicine. He's in bed now after INSISTING we take him to Walmart just minutes before they closed so he could buy the red Happy New Year hat he'd seen yesterday. He's asleep, of course, as he was as soon as we got in the car after Walmart. We spent 4 hours in the hospital tonight. We're all exhausted.

I found Dennis' Fisher Price castle loaded down with Army Men this morning when I went in to play with him. He had precisely set each man up to peer around the turrets. He said they were looking for bad guys. Pretty funny! And tonight in the hospital, I was trying to distract him from the coming shot, and I kept asking him if I could sleep in his bed or with this toy or that toy, or watch this movie or that one, (all his stuff, so he kept saying "no" and laughing). Finally he just said "no, Mommy, those are all MY options!".

So, 2010 was wonderful and we are hopeful and expectant for the same or better in 2011. Happy New Year, everyone!