Fine Line

I'm thinking there's a very fine line between bribery and reward. Isn't a bribe really just a reward that you tell the kid about ahead of time? Whatever you want to call it, I promised Patrick he could have a lollipop last week when he went in for the second time for a blood draw for allergy testing. The first experience the week before was horrible. Two pokes, one in each arm and they still didn't get enough blood to do the test. So, we tried another hospital for round two and it went better. Since we were on a date (Gramma Kitty watched Kimberly), I also told him I'd take him for ice cream to a place that had a train.

And, as if a lollipop and ice cream weren't enough reward, the nurse also gave him a popsicle.
Here he is taking a break from his lollipop to eat his popsicle.

One popsicle down, one lollipop and ice cream to go.

Watching the train.

So, now we're waiting to find out what it is that he's allergic to. We think it might be citric acid. He breaks out in a contact rash when he eats oranges, tomatoes, etc. The red around his mouth in these pictures is popsicle, but it looks just like the rash he gets from eating certain foods. Poor guy. He sure misses eating some of his favorite things like strawberries, pineapple, and tomatoes.

The rest of our date included walking around the Village, watching the roosters, running across the bridge, and throwing rocks in the creek. It was really fun to be out with just Patrick. He has quite a personality, which I often miss when I'm trying to safely get two kids in and out of the car and somewhat uneventfully through a meal out or a trip to the store. As we were walking back to the car down Grand Ave., Patrick asked if it was ok if he walked like Mogli (on all fours). I wish I had gotten a picture of him. It was quite a sight. I'm sure the people driving by were laughing.