Baker's cyst

Tuesday, July 2

Back in May I noticed a big something under the skin behind Kay's left leg when I was drying her off after her bath.  I called her pediatrician the next day and we took her in to have the doctor look at it.  When the doctor saw it she said that it was most likely something called a Baker's (or popliteal) cyst and it was something not to worry about.  To be on the safe side though she gave us a referral to a specialist to have them take a look at it just to be sure.  So I called the specialist and wasn't able to get an appointment for over a month.  The day that they could get us in happened to be the same day that I had an appointment with my surgeon already but the times were such that we could make it to both in plenty of time.  

So on the day of the appointment, I took M&M and Kay with me to my appointment so that M&M could watch Kay while I was meeting with my doctor.  After that we went over to Primary Children's where Kay's appointment was.  When we got to the office, the waiting room was completely packed and there was a sign behind the checkin desk that had a list of how far behind the different doctors were!  We ended up waiting for over an hour past our appointment time before we were finally called back to an examination room.  First we had the nurse talk with us and then an intern came in and took a look at Kay's leg.  He had a flashlight with him and turned off the lights in the room and then put the flashlight up to the bump under her skin.  You could see the light shine right through it which he explained shows that it is in fact a Bakers cyst - a sac under the skin that is filled with joint fluid from the knee.  If the light didn't shine through the bump then it would mean that it is a solid mass instead of fluid.  After that the main doctor came in a basically did the same thing and said that this is something that 99 times out of 100 doesn't bother the child and will just go away on its own.  It can apparently happen when children are growing and some of the joint fluid leaks from the knee because of the quick growth.  Anyway, Kay is pretty proud to show her "bump" to people.  She did really good at the doctor's office and was a cute patient.

This was the best picture I could get of the cyst.  It is there behind the knee of her left leg - and you can only see it when she stands with her knees locked.

Wet soccer!

Kitty in particular had a couple of really wet games.  There was also one game of Luke's where I remember getting soaked on the sideline while I was trying to coach!  Here are some pictures as proof that it can rain here sometimes in Utah:

At first Kitty was not enjoying herself but then towards the end of the game it was so ridiculous the amount of water on the field that she was laughing.  (And I was out there refereeing the game.)

Spring soccer 2013 - Kitty

Kitty's team was a little frustrating to watch once again.  I'm not sure how much Kitty learned about how to play soccer throughout the year.  Unfortunately with volunteer coaches there are all different levels of expertise amongst them.  I think she enjoyed herself but she never really seemed to "get" the game to me.  After talking with her a little about it we decided to not sign her up again for this next year.  I think she has a lot of talent in other areas and I want to try and find something for her that she will really love.

Spring soccer 2013 - Luke

I had a lot of fun with Luke's team this spring season.  It was fun watching the players really come together and learn to play as a team by the end of the season.  We ended up losing our first two games of the season but then won or tied the rest of the games.  Our last 4 games were on Thursday evenings which actually worked out pretty well and I think because of that we had most of our players at each game.  I enjoyed co-coaching with another parent in the neighborhood and we plan on doing it again next year.

Kid talk

On our drive back home from visiting the state of Washington.
Luke: Are we in Idaho yet?
Me & DH:  No
Kay: Are we in America?

At lunchtime one day I had put some of my lunch down at one place at the table and then went to get something for one of the girls.  DH then sat down right next to my place and proceeded to spread out the newspaper so that I couldn't very easily sit there anymore.  When he noticed what he had done, this conversation took place.
DH:  Oops, I just kicked Mommy out of her chair.
Kay:  Did you just kick your wife?
MJ:  No, she kicked mommy.

DH was picking up a toy off of the floor and tossed it at MJ.
MJ:  Hey, you just hit me with that!
DH: Yes, I did.
MJ:  That wasn't very nice!

After our vacation I went out to the garden and saw that I finally had some ripe tomatoes.  MJ had followed me out there and said, "Holy mackerel! That's a huge tomato!"

When MJ and I got in the car to go somewhere.
MJ:  Hey Mom, could you please not buckle me?  I want to buckle me myself.

MJ:  Look, I have a cell phone in my pocket too!  (MJ had put a toy cell phone in her pocket and she was so proud of it!)

Spring soccer spectators

The girls having some fun on the playground during Luke's soccer games.  We tried to leave them home whenever we could because I couldn't keep an eye on them and coach Luke's team at the same time.

Yellow bird

This pretty yellow bird has been spotted several times around our house this summer.  DH was able to snap this picture of it through our kitchen window.  We usually just catch glimpses of it here and there as it is flying around the area.

Spring soccer 2013 - M&M

M&M had some good games and some bad games with her team.  Unfortunately her team was mostly girls with only 3 boys - one of which didn't come to many of the games and the other two were on the high school track team so they sometimes couldn't come either.  Some of the teams that they played against were really, really good and others were about on par with her team.  M&M got the chance to play forward in a lot of the games and was able to score several goals for her team.  Also towards the end of the season she played goalie in a couple of the games when their regular goalie didn't show.  She has played it before when she was on her all-girls team a few years ago but it has been a while.  At the high school level in our soccer league they play 6 vs 6 on a smaller field.  They focus a lot on passing and moving the ball down the field.  It was fun to watch their games when they weren't being crushed!  

We decided to not sign her up for next year.  The fall is crazy with marching band and then she is considering joining the track team for the spring season.  If she decides not to try track then we may sign her up for spring soccer.  We will have to wait and see what she decides to do and how time demanding her classes are next  year.

Beautiful rainbow!

Wednesday, May 29

There was a beautiful double rainbow on the evening of May 29th!  I was on my way home from YW when it started raining.  After a few minutes I looked outside and saw this beautiful rainbow - it was huge!  DH took a couple of pictures with his DSLR camera and then stitched them together to come up with this picture:

End of School Year 2012-2013

M&M's last day of school was Wednesday, June 5.  The other kids ended on Friday, June 7.  Tuesday the 4th was Lagoon Day for the 9th graders so M&M and a bunch of classmates took some school buses up there and spent the day.  This was M&M's first time at Lagoon.  I'm glad she had some friends that went with her.  Then didn't go to school on Wednesday because no one was planning on going - at least none of her friends...  It actually worked out nicely for me though because I was able to leave her at home with Kay and MJ so I could help out with field day for the kids and attend the other end of the year programs.  M&M ended up getting all A's every year in middle school with just one A- in Spanish her last quarter!

Blondie's class didn't do an awards program.  The teacher just gave out awards during class time.  I was able to get a picture of Blondie with her teacher though.  This was our third time with Mr. R.

Kitty's class did a Reader's Theater and then gave out some awards.  Kitty was a little upset with the program because she wanted a bigger speaking part in her group's play...  I may have to get her involved in some sort of theater or musical group...

Luke's class had a talent show and awards program.  Unfortunately I was not able to get a picture of Luke with his teacher...  He was supposed to wait at school for me at the end of the last day so I could take a picture, but I was running a little late and he left right after to walk home with a friend.  He is definitely excited to be leaving elementary school!  Although Luke's teacher absolutely loved him and would like to keep him around for a few more years.