the elusive vacation

We need a vacation....badly. I have a week off coming up at the end of June, but we still haven't planned what we're doing. This is mostly due to some medical issues that may need to be addressed during that time. What needs to be done, where and exactly when will not be determined for another few days, so planning has been placed, frustratingly, on hold for now.

We'd like to hop on a plane and head off to an exciting, exotic location, but that probably won't be feasible this year. With Z-Dub's surgery earlier this month and some other medical appointments in the family, we've had to fork out nearly $1,500 to pay insurance deductibles, uninsured diagnostic tests and for prescription medications. Needless to say, it's been one extremely expensive month so far. It's probably going to continue to be as such for the next couples months as well.

If we are able to take some time for a vacation during that week, it'll probably be just a quick trip to our homeland of Southern California -- perhaps San Diego. It'll still be fun, but nothing like last year when we went to Montreal. Speaking of which, I wrote an article for Uptake today about  vacationing in Montreal. Feel free to check it out . It was difficult to write because it made me yearn for a return trip. I definitely want to go back for the Jazz Festival and to see more of the city. Maybe next year.

Anyone else have plans for summer vacation this year? Want to invite a family of four?

wordless wednesday: gratuitous kid pic

of doctors, dangling bits and humiliation

Today is a day I've been dreading for the past two weeks. In about one hour I'll go in for another in a series of recent doctor appointments where, for the first time ever, I'll be forced to endure a rather humiliating diagnostic examination. And, no, it's not a prostate exam, if that's what you're thinking. Besides, I'm not that old yet. Instead, this examination will involve a tool usually used to view a baby in its mother's womb and my dangling bits. As if the doctor's recent hand job hand examination wasn't already humiliating enough. Just my luck the person conducting the examination will be a woman...err...or a man. Holy crap, neither would be ideal!

I think the anxiety has to do with the fact that I don't know what to expect. Will I have to get completely naked? Will I lay down on a table or will I be standing? What if it hurts? What if it feels good!?!

I don't know why I'm so freaked out about this. If you think about it, the ladies have to go through yearly examinations that would be considered much more invasive. I'd hate to be violated in such a way every single year. I was happy with my once-in-a-few-years visits to the doctor. I guess this is part of "growing up."

Anyways, who knows what this examination will find and ultimately diagnose. I will tell you that I wouldn't be putting myself through this torture if there wasn't concern.

On a lighter note, Z-Dub is feeling much better. Now that he can eat, he's doing so like a pig. I'm sure he'll regain his lost weight in no time. Thanks to everyone for your continued well wishes. He, and we, appreciate it.

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Finally, I started out strong in Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect "Best Las Vegas Local Blog" voting, but the momentum has slowed down. Now I'm in last place. So, if you have time, please vote. You're allowed one vote per day. Thanks!

squeaky boy

Something strange has happened to our Z-Dub's voice since his tonsil surgery on Saturday. He has suddenly become squeaky and, dare I say, kind of girlie. At first we chalked it up to a post-surgery attempt to get attention and sympathy. It's been almost a week and he still has this squeaky little mouse voice, so now I'm concerned. So much so that I did a little research online.

I was shocked to discover that tonsillectomy can in fact cause both temporary and permanent change to voice pitch. Our doctor never discussed or even mentioned this to us before or after surgery. According to the experts all over the Internets, the causes vary and include:

1. If they were large, removal of the tonsils can change the resonance of  speech (voice would be the same as that's produced by the larynx). 
2. If the adenoids were removed as well as the tonsils (which is what Z-Dub went through), then there could be some velopharyngeal incompetence and hypernasality.
   
3. Muscle tension dysphonia. 
4. Vocal cord damage from intubation injury. 

Whatever the cause, I'm fine with the temporary change as we can deal with our little mouse for a while longer. I read somewhere that it can take up to 12 weeks to go back to normal. However, a permanent change would be a little too hard to swallow, especially if he continues to sound like a eunuch.

it's an honor to just be nominated...

Yeah right! I just found out that this little blog is in the running for the Parent's Picks 2009 best local blog in Las Vegas at Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect. I totally want to win this thing. I hardly ever win anything. 

Of course, I need your help to do it!

Please visit the link and vote. You can vote every day if you want. Voting runs until July 15 and the winners will be announced on August 15.

Featuring the tagline "We're not perfect, we're parents," Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect celebrates the reality of parenthood and make parents' lives easier. Geared towards parents with kids of all ages, from newborns to teens, the site offers unique features like local events and resources; personalized profiles that help parents connect with each other; daily tips for all ages and stages; expert parenting advice; a weekly meal-planner for quick and healthy meals; and guest celebrity editorials. Each age-related section on the site provides users with daily content to help them through both large and small parenting challenges.

Now go VOTE!!!!

a deserving mother

The rules are simple over at Uptake.com -- write a post about why you deserve a “Spa Girl Package” and you can win a trip for four to the Silverado Resort in NapaValley. Despite what some of you may think, based upon what I’ve got going on downstairs I’m definitely not a girl, but HotMomma is. And she’d love a spa getaway with her BFFs. So instead of talking about me, I’m going to deviate from the rules a bit and write about why she deserves to win. Actually, I’m going to give four good (and hopefully compelling) reasons:

1. She's been begging me for a trip to the beautiful Napa Valley and I still haven't come through with my promise to get her there. How many years has it been? Too many to count.

2. The last time I surprised her with a spa treat it turned into a bit of a disaster. Her prized diamond necklace -- a family heirloom that has been passed down three generations -- was lost in the spa and never found. It turned what would have been a relaxing time into one of heartache and tears.

3. Our three year old had surgery last weekend to remove his tonsils, adenoids and get tubes in his ears. He's been in a miserable whiny state ever since. And to make matters worse, he's been treating HotMomma like crap ever since, clingy to his Daddy (yep, me) like a leech and being totally disrespectful to his concerned mother who wants nothing more than to comfort her first born. It's been a bit of a slap in her face and she's feeling down because of it.

4. Mother's Day was a week ago and I still haven't gotten her a gift. Pathetic, I know.

As you can see, HotMomma NEEDS this trip. It will not only provide her an opportunity to rejuvenate, but will also get me out of the dog house. Okay, not completely out of the dog house. Perhaps just one foot. Every little bit helps.

on the mend

Z-Dub had his tonsils and adenoids removed and new tubes put in his ears early Saturday morning and then spent the entire day and overnight in the hospital. He was discharged midday on Sunday.

Since we arrived home he's been recovering at a very past pace, without requiring any pain medication. However, he's very grumpy because he's on a strict liquid and soft food diet. Z-Dub is a little weird because he doesn't want Jello, pudding, popsicles and ice cream. Instead he begs for chicken, hot dogs, pizza, chips, french fries and popcorn. HotMomma did break down and made him some Orzo pasta with parmesan and romano cheese mixed in it. He seemed to like it and it was soft enough for his throat.

Other than the diet thing he's also been very clingy to me, which has been a bit of a slap in HotMomma's face since it was Mother's Day weekend. I have no idea why, but all Z-Dub wants is his Daddy. It's almost annoying though.

Thank you to everyone here and on Facebook for your well wishes. We appreciate it very much.

Just after surgery, all Z-Dub wanted to do was sleep.

A visit from his Grandma.

Later in the evening he got a visit with his bro The Deuce.

Doing great!

Waiting to get that damned IV out of his arm and go home.

kid talk

Z-Dub amazes me every single day with words that come flowing out of his mouth. Sometimes they're funny and other times just out-of-left-field strange. For example, right after waking up this morning:

Z-Dub: "The coyotes are all over Grandma's house! Pandora (sister-in-law's English bulldog) is going to eat the coyotes...and the bats. Bats are flying around Grandma's house. And the chipmunks eat Pandora's food."

Me: "Huhhh!?! Did you have a weird dream?"

A few minutes later while walking down the stairs to have breakfast and get ready to head over to Grandma's house:

Z-Dub: "Daddy, I want to ride the city bus."

Me: "The city bus? How very environmentally conscious of you."

Z-Dub: "Huhhh!?!"

As we're walking out the door:

Z-Dub: "It's raining for us outside."

Me: "No it's not! It's hot!"

Z-Dud: "I want to go in an airplane. I have poo poo in my tummy and I go poo poo in an airplane."



I'm not even at work yet and my brain is exhausted.

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In other news, my latest Uptake.com post about treating your special mother to a poolside retreat in Las Vegas for Mother's Day got picked up by the Los Angeles Times online travel blog. Cool!!!

cough, cough, sniffle

Z-Dub's surgery to get new tubes in his ears as well as his tonsils and adenoids removed is scheduled for Saturday, but we've run into an obstacle. Yesterday he suddenly became sick with a high fever, cough, runny nose, sneezing and an overwhelming urge to whine. As a result, his surgery may be postponed another week. They can't do it while he's ill.

In the meantime, HotMomma is off to the pediatrician with him this afternoon to get checked out. He hasn't sprouted a curly tail and started oinking, so I'm not concerned that it's the swine flu -- oh, excuse me, I mean the H1N1 flu. I don't want to piss off the pork farmers or pig lovers.

It's kind of weird for him to be sick now. The weather is awesome, and even borderline hot (we're almost at the century mark today). And the entire fall and winter season, when colds and flu are common, he avoided any and all illness. Considering his track record, we were ecstatic.

I'm sure hoping it's not the swine...err H1N1 flu. He hasn't even been around any pigs or Mexicans lately. If he sneaked out of the house for a quick midnight rendezvous with a hot Latina in Cancun, I think I'd find out about it.

a mission

VegasDad circa 2003:

A consistent gym regimen (before kids, blog, etc.) and 190 lbs. of pure muscle.

VegasDad present day:

Haven't been to the gym in ages, feeling out-of-shape, pathetic and not even 160 lbs. of softness.

We've got a mission my friends. I'm on a quest to regain the glory of my days of peak physical shape. I don't want to be 190 lbs. again, but a nice muscle-toned body somewhere in between my current weight and my former would be nice. I'm being realistic because, let's face it, I'm no longer in my 20s. And frankly, I don't have the time and energy anymore to commit to what is required to be my previous self. 

Anyways, stay tuned. And if you hear or see me slacking, feel free to tear me apart with your words of disappointment and disgust. 

of needle pricks and hard hits

Have any of the few parents that read this blog ever have to take their child to get blood drawn?

How did it go?

What did you do to calm your child (and yourself)?

We're facing having to take Z-Dub to get blood drawn as part of his pre-operation regimen. He's scheduled for surgery on Saturday morning, so we have to get it done sometime today or during the next couple of days. He's never had blood taken, so I'm fearful about the trauma it's going to cause him. I think we may actually have to strap him down to do it.

I don't know if I'm going to be able to be in the same room with him as its done. I personally have an intense fear of needles due to some extremely excruciating childhood experiences in the hospital with IVs. I remember when I was about 10 years old I spent a week or so in the hospital for one of my many surgeries. I had a room mate, who was a little boy that had a pituitary problem and was going to have surgery to fix it. We decided one evening to race wheelchairs in the hall of the children's ward (this was before surgery for both of us). In doing so, I knocked the IV out of my arm. The result was a punishing replacement. The damned nurses couldn't get the IV back in my arm. They tried 17 times, jabbing long needles into my black and blue arms, with no success. Finally they gave up and stuck it in my foot. That hurt like like hell. Ever since then I almost pass out at the sight of needles.

Needless to say I'm not looking forward to Z-Dub facing the same thing. Not only will he need blood drawn for the pre-operation blood work, but he'll most definitely need an IV for his his surgery to remove his tonsils, adenoids and place new tubes in his ears.

I'm going to be a nervous wreck all week.

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Changing subjects to something much more pleasant...anyone else see the Pacquiao vs. Hatton fight live on Saturday night? We were at a Pacquiao party, eating Filipino food and supporting Manny. He kicked some serious Hatton ass (well, face) for sure.

It was awesome, but I kind of wish the bout lasted a little longer than just two rounds. Oh well. Pacquiao won and that's all we cared about.