Travel logue part deux

Another great trip we made this summer was to the cabin in WI that we've rented for five years in a row. It's situated on a beautiful spot off a channel that leads into a great lake, and has shady views, a paddle boat, a pontoon that we take out many times a day, and a nice little town nearby where we go jogging, get email and coffee, and visited the thrift shop and grocery store.

This year was a fun one because Eva was old enough to do so much more than in previous years. We went swimming a lot, including braving high waves on a very windy, very humid day, with her floaty and while the boat was tethered to the trees nearby.  She went paddleboating with Grammy and Gramps, wanted to play baby and mommy mosquito and get "seahorse" rides in the water. She helped roast marshmallows for s'mores, practiced her dance routines with Grammy, and even helped set the table.  We also enjoyed game time at the cabin, finding a new park and nearby ice cream place, watching West Wing Season 3 in the evenings, and watching Tangled (adults only). 

On the drive home from the cabin, we saw lots of farms, animals, and beautiful country-scapes on the way. Eva enjoyed this change of view from her backseat vantage point, and noticing what was passing outside the window helped pass much of the time driving.

My favorite car comment of hers was as we were driving through cornfields in Wisconsin. She pointed to the right side of the car and said, "Mom, look how tall that corn is growing!" And I agreed. Then she pointed to the left side of the car, at what was probably a soybean field, and asked, "Is that shorter field where they grow the popcorn?"

If the rash persists....

We made a visit to our pediatrician's office this morning to double check a growing rash on Eva's right leg. She got several normal-looking bug bites after our last week up in WI - a trip that was (of course),full of fun time in the woods, on country roads/trails, in the lake, etc. etc. Then the last few days, two of her bites started to look - funny. A red rash was spreading around each bite site, and then there was white area inside the red rash area. After 2 days of the red area growing, the whole rash/bite area faded; but it definitely still resembled a bulls-eye - the tell-tale worry marker for potential Lyme disease infection.

Cue momma and girl trekking to the doctor's office this morning, where we promptly received a two-week antibiotic prescription, a sticker for her great behavior, and the attention of several nurses who had never seen lyme disease before and wanted to see what the doctor on call called a "textbook case." Fun morning stop on the way to Eva's friend's house!

Eva is feeling fine, btw; she likes how the amoxicillin tastes and is already showing people her cool bug bite. I told her that usually bug bites don't hurt at all, but sometimes we might need medicine for them. Then she replied, "Ok, I get all better; I go to Leah's house now and play?" :) Obviously she is no worse for the wear.

Here is a (blurry) look at the tell-tale bulls-eye bite; today the doctor said there is no way to know for sure if it IS Lyme disease, but since it's a textbook case-looking rash, he wants to treat it so that in two weeks if it is anything serious, it will be out of her system. We never did see an actual tick or it's head or anything. But I am glad that whatever it was, it will not have the chance to continue to bother Eva. Whew! I am one thankful momma.

Cabin Quotes

We just got back into town after a long week traveling to MN, then WI, then MN again, and then back to Chicago. Whew! Eva traveled fairly well, slept amazingly great at every new place, and the weather mostly cooperated (aside from a near-tornado billowing through sleepy Cumberland, WI, where we were staying!) Today has already been consumed with unpacking, cleaning, making grocery plans and babysitter/work plans for the week; and it's only 9am! But we all got a great break this past week and I feel refreshed and re-focused for our dive back into summer!

There are a slew of great photos coming soon... but before I forget, here are a few of my favorite memories from this past week in the form of Eva quoteables.

"Hi Bo! I like your dress!"
To Tim, as he picked her up for a hug, while he was wearing a t-shirt and shorts:

"Want to play me? Want to go with me?"
To everyone, all day, most days.

"I hear a frog! I hear it! I hear it! Shhh. Quiet."
Said while running toward the lake shore, with her hands on her face to help her 'be quiet' to find the frog.

"Awwww. Hi kitty! Awwww. She's coot! She's coot! Awwww. Come here Meow, Meow. Come here. Up the stairs with me Meow, Meow."
Said while playing with a stray kitty Peter found and brought home; Eva named her Meow Meow and spent quite a while walking up and down the front stairs with her, clapping and explaining how cute she was.

"Good job Megs! Good job fishin'."
Said to the fishing queen, after she caught a crappie.

"I will miss you! But I will see you again soon. You come again? You come play me again?"
Said to Grammy and Gramps as we were leaving.