Backpacking the Lake Ozette triangle

 

We went on a wonderful backpacking trip this summer.  It was Sara’s first ever backpacking and it was a doozy!  9 miles and 2 nights/3 days.  She was a champ!  She loved (most) of it and walked (most) of the way by herself.  This was Alex’s 3rd summer of backpacking with Daddy.  But now that Sara is old enough – we are going to go as a family!  We had such a great time that I’m sure we’ll go again next summer!

 

I wish I would’ve lugged my big camera out – it would’ve been worth it!  It was so beautiful.  But, alas, these were all taken with my point and shoot to save on the weight of things carried. 

 

I bought the kids some binoculars to share and they were quite a hit!

 

 

 

 

The group at the beginning of the trip – Lance’s cousin, his daughter, and his Uncle joined us and it was so fun going as a group.  Gwen said to me how much she liked coming along with other kids to play with – and I agree!  Our kids liked having Gwen along too!  Since our kids don’t have any true cousins, since my sister has no kids and Lance is an only child, Gwen is a second cousin (Lance’s cousin’s kid) – we call them cousins.  They are basically cousins and are great friends.  It’s fun watching them all grow up together, albeit way too fast sometimes.  I remember when Gwen and Alex were just newborns!

 

 

 

 

 

The first 3 miles and the last 3 miles of the triangle are mostly on boardwalk.  Which makes it really nice to hike through, especially with our novice Sara. 

 

 

 

 

 

We made it to the beach after the first 3 miles and found a campsite.  The day was warm and the sun was just breaking out.  We enjoyed beachcombing, playing in the water, climbing the rocks, looking for crabs, tidepoolin’, finding a beach swing, climbing trees, Alex showing us his muscles, etc.  The weather was in the mid to upper 70’s and was glorious!  Don’t let this grey photo below fool you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the great things we’ve discovered is the Junior Ranger programs at the National Parks.  We started this way back in Moab, UT a few years ago.  The kids do a booklet that involves reading, puzzles, stories, lessons, etc.  They also go to a ranger program if it’s available and they “earn” badges based on completing age appropriate work.

 

My kids eat this stuff up!

 

I got three sets of booklets for the kids – the ocean steward booklet and the junior ranger one for Olympic National Park.  They had something to do during downtimes and when you turn your booklets in and take the oath – they give you free badges!   My kids loved this activity and Gwen got hooked!

 

We’ve put the patches on kids fishing vests with tons of pockets to put their treasures.  It’s a wonderful idea that Grandma Sandy came up with!

 

 

 

We ended our first night with an AMAZING sunset!

 

 

 

 

 

And awoke to more grey thick fog!  But, a very low tide…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kiddos played four hours in the rocks of the low tide – discovering anemones, and all sorts of creatures.  I’ve read about the starfish wasting disease hitting the west coast and there were only a few (3?) starfish that I observed. 

 

 

 

 

We spotted many types of animal tracks and used a book Sara got at the ranger station to identify them.  They were big cat looking prints, but with no nail marks…. a mountain lion/cougar!  Never saw it (!), but saw the tracks!

 

 

 

We set off mid day to hike 3 more miles on the triangle.  But, this time – it was along the beach!  What took us ~1.5 hours the previous day, took us 4 hours this day.  It was a rugged beach, with sloping, soft sand.  Logs to go around, over and under.  Headlands to go over or around.  lots of things to look at (a lot of fishing debris) and generally a tough part to the hike.  We stopped for lunch and had a break, but otherwise we took it pretty slow. 

 

 

 

 

Alex found a garter snake!

 

 

 

Either Lance or I carried Sara a few times on this middle day – to get around headlands, logs or other areas.  But, it wasn’t too bad.  We made it work. 

 

 

 

 

When we got to our campsite – it was so warm and sunny!  We were all hot and sweaty and Sara just went for it!

 

 

 

 

We had a great night and dinner and went to sleep early.  We woke up to hot chocolate and oatmeal and had a great hike out. 

The kids found some “treasures” to bring back.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the hard part…. It was only 3 miles back, but seemingly slightly uphill most of the way.  Sara was tired.  really tired.  And Alex and Lance were up ahead.  I ended up carrying Sara probably ~2/3 of the way back because of this.  Which actually wasn’t as difficult as it sounds, but made for a tired Mama at the end of this trip. 

 

 

 

Ear tubes are out!

The ear tubes are out. 

 

 

Remember putting them in? 

 

Well, they were irritating her ears.   After being in for almost 2 years and they were ready (they were supposed to fall out on their own!).  She got an ear infection where blood was coming out of her ears instead of puss.  Although, this is a bit shocking, it’s not as horrible as it sounds.  She wasn’t complaining about her ears hurting, or even feverish, just saying that her ears were popping.  When we were coming over the mountains in August, at the top she was crying a bit.  Which is weird, since ear tubes are supposed to prevent that, unless they aren’t working properly…

 

duh duh duhhhhhhh

 

Ding ding ding!

 

So, with the first round of antibotics down, which actually cleared it up nicely from the outside, a few days later ---- blood in her ears again…

 

I wasn’t going to the pediatricians again…  They would just refer me back to ENT or give her another antibiotic.  So, I called ENT myself and with the symptoms, they had us come in within a few days. 

 

The diagnosis:  They were irritating her ears and needed to come out.  The left one was plugged, which was why her ears weren’t clearing over the mountains. 

 

Unfortunately, the ENT doc put “easier to fall out tubes” than Alex’s, which were easily removed in clinic with tiny little tweezers and some serious bribing to stay still.  Sara’s were supposed to fall out within a year or so, but since they hadn’t and were a different shape and material, they would rip her eardrum if he pulled them out.  So, going under anesthesia was the only way.  Seriously?

 

Well,  Children’s is the BEST!  We got a fast appointment right in Bellevue.  We had been to the Bellevue clinic before, but had always had the surgeries to place the tubes in Seattle.  The quickest surgery was in Bellevue, so we were lucky.  It’s a new facility and designed so smart for the little ones. 

 

First, the elevator is always the coolest part.  We had packed her a backpack with all sorts of distractions and toys (new).  She was so excited to find out what was in there.   Since it’s surgery, you have to have no food past a certain time, and for Alex (who’s HUNGRY in the morning) this was challenging.  But, for Sara, it wasn’t too bad.  She doesn’t seem like a wake up and eat as fast as she can kind of gal.  Not a problem at all, but the distractions are nice. 

 

 

 

But, the waiting room was so cool – that we didn’t really need it!  Painting!!!!  One of Sara’s favorite things.  She painted many rainbows and had so much fun and this was just the waiting room.  They really think of the kids here. 

 

 

 

Then we got called back to her pre-op room.  In Seattle, it was a room where they prepped her, but then would take your child from you to go to the OR.  Or, if you’re me – they you beg/borrow/steal and swear you’ll be OK – and beg them to let you gown up and carry your child back to the OR so they won’t be so scared.  I did this with both kids and it was great.

 

But, this was EVEN BETTER!  The room where she would be put to sleep was right there!  They had the moving Brave going, very kid friendly, and we did all the pre-op in this room.  There was a bed there and we would be able to stay right there with her. 

 

I must say this was genius!!!!

 

She peacefully went to sleep to the sleeping gas they gave her – flavored with strawberry scent.  Her favorite fruit.  We held her hand and she was so peaceful.  They took her to the OR on the bed and we were escorted to another room to wait the 10-15 minutes.

 

At Seattle, there was a recovery room where we couldn’t go.  So, not only do you not be there when your kid goes to sleep (although I did and was so glad I did), but you are definitely not there when they wake up.  Even though I tried to beg/borrow/steal my way in.  Promising that I wont’ touch or do anything that they didn’t want me to.

 

At Bellevue Children’s, they wheel her back into the room with her still asleep  - genius!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She stayed asleep for ~5 minutes more, and the nurse assured us she was good.  The longer it took her to wake up, the better.  She was getting all the sleepy meds out of her system.

 

Then, with one big breath – she was up and awake.  She sat up groggily and I was able to be right there. 

 

 

 

We snuggled for a bit, with a precautionary barf thingie. 

 

 

 

But, she knew what she was after.  The nurse didn’t even have time to start naming the colors before she answered “green” to the question of what popsicle color she wanted.  She scarfed it down. 

 

The ENT doctor came in to let us know how it went.  He said that the ear drums had grown behind the ear tubes, so that was what it was causing the problems.  He said removal was easy and she was good to go.  We will be back in ~ 2 months to check to make sure the hole has closed and everything looks normal. 

 

 

 

Then, I also brought some muffins and other things to eat and she ate those too, with some help from Dad who was “starving” since he hadn’t ate since 7:30 am. 

 

 

 

 

She was quickly back to our normal “Brave” girl.  It’s funny that the movie Brave was showing in the first room, because I had bought her a Brave barbie with red hair and all.  It was one of her “new” toys that day. 

 

 

 

 

We went home and Lance went back to work.  Sara and I watched movies, played with stickers and snuggled.  I tried to get her to nap (I was tired) but with no luck. 

 

Overall – it was a great experience.  I’m glad those ear tubes are out, we loved them while they were in and working – but hasta la vista baby – when they are not. 

First/last day of school

 

First day of kindergarten for Alex and first day of school session for Sara in the Toddler room.  Sept 2012.

 

Notice the very nice smiles. 

 

 

 

 

 

Last day of school. June 2013.

 

They are growing up so fast.  Hopefully next year they’ll let me take a picture – they weren’t so thrilled with the idea of just taking a picture because it was the last day of school.  As you can tell.

 

 

Alex (close to the last day of school) on his favorite – the monkey bars.  Mom – look – I can skip two!

 

Sara on her last day of school holding her pet balloon animal – a green (her favorite) snake!  She has grown SO much this year!