HARRISON IS ELEVEN - part 2

Well, Harrison is off to a movie/sleepover birthday party for his friend, Avery, and his Mom has been a nervous wreck all day in preparation.

Why? As we were heading out to Pei's for his birthday dinner last night, his stomach started to bother him again. It got increasingly bad as the evening progressed, as you can see in the pictures below. He could barely muster a smile even when he unwrapped the best gifts of the evening.

Finally I remembered once when he was a baby and Nana was visiting, and he was screaming bloody murder with one of these colon spasm things, and she suggested giving him a warm bath. Desperate to try anything, we filled the bathroom sink and it only took a few seconds of him sitting in the warm water for him to settle down and sleep through the night. Well, Harrison is too big to sit in the sink these days, but Nana's suggestion did the trick again. As soon as everybody went home, he jumped into a warm bath and experienced nearly instantaneous relief.

He's been fine all day today (but slept until 11, so not like it was that long a day for him). He has an "emergency kit" to take with him to the movies, and I packed a fiber-laden sack lunch for him to eat in lieu of party foods. But I'll still be up all night listening for the phone to ring.

I really hope this doesn't set him back and cause him to be too sick or tired to enjoy his swim party/sleepover tomorrow night!

opening a bag full of "warm up" presents
while we wait for our chef

our food is ready to be cooked

Alex is first to break an egg
with the spatula

Avery takes a turn

Harrison steps up to the griddle

like a pro

our chef, David, poses for the blog

Harrison's tummy is hurting again

a rice soccer ball for the birthday boy

flaming onion volcano

faking a smile

birthday song with
drum and gong

HD is invited to strike the drum
and make a birthday wish

The whole gang

mustering enthusiasm for his gifts

the peanut gallery makes
elephant sounds

Thanks, Hawaii!

fading but using cheerful voice
to talk to Abuelito calling from Guatemala

ditto talking to Mamita

some fiber yogurt to address
hypoglycemia + digestive issues

Pokemon Platinum Book from G&G
gets the seal of approval

A hot bath brought instant relief
and the first genuine smile of the night