It was really all for the dryer......

The past week and half or so here at the Miller house found it's residents slightly under the weather. Anne came down with the flu promptly in time for her Doc appointment in Miles City on Friday, the 28th. Although she isn't particularly a fan of getting poked and prodded...at least now she gets "Mama Cow" and not "Heifer" status at the clinic, meaning the exams still aren't her favorite mode of business but at least it isn't all new. AND the Millers were scheduled to get a new gander at Baby 2.0 via ultrasound to check on size, etc. AND their dryer hadn't worked in several months (a whole post in itself) with the residents of the home also concluding 3 things: 1) Clean clothes not done at the laundromat are nice 2) Waiting for Sears to come through on anything, especially when you gleefully told them "No extended warranty is needed" only to find out maybe you should have bought it, is crazy talk 3) For the price of having a repairman arrive from Billings to fix it, you're already more than 3/4 of the way to buying a new one in Miles City. So, the wife scraped herself together with massive help from the husband and got in the car for the 90 mile drive.

All checked out well for Baby 2.0. The due date is still November 24th (it bumped once several months ago to Nov 26th, but returned to the earlier date) and Anne is hoping to sneak pecan pie into the hospital with her. Hoodlum is VERY active and has maintained heart rates in the 140s+ range. Mom's blood pressure has risen a bit but is being watched and no changes have been made in medication at this point. We will be posting 3D ultrasound pics shortly to the Chicks in the Sticks blog...as some readers think they are impossibly weird and definitely noncuddle looking, so we won't stick them here. Anne also had a slight bacterial infection showing up, was put on antibiotics, and then sent to "hydrate," which is code for having an IV for several hours. While "hydrating" (sounds much more spa-like), Anne was the only patient in that section of the clinic and tended to by a wonderful nurse that quietly pulled the privacy curtain for her. Not long after, another nurse wandered in, oblivious to the solo patient, and chatted with the attendant, announcing loudly, "Geez, its just like a morgue in here, so quiet today." Well, the humor potential of this was just too high.....and after evaluating professionalism and whether or not said nurse may have a heart condition, a voice decided to cry out next to her," Well, I sure hope not!" Once the nurse was peeled off the ceiling, she proceeded to get visual confirmation of Anne's existence and wish her a lovely day (and lifetime).

Next, after looking only so pulled together as one does following a battery of "Mama Cow" tests and related issues...the Millers drove straight to Ace and picked out the soon-to-be-beloved washer. When you are up to your eyeballs in dirty socks and underwear, anything with a plug and something resembling a washtub is a good value. However, the family succeed in purchasing a highly functional and less computerized species, with a TEN YEAR WARRANTY. After installation, it has definitely earned its keep and respect from the household - with many, many loads run in less than 48 hrs.

At this point in time, the flu has come and gone with everyone at the House of Miller. Or, as you could say, the only ones left that could possibly get it are the dogs. Bottles of Lysol were used to the point of nearly creating brain damage, the kitchen was sanitized and the bunch is all off and running again with brand new antibodies in clean clothes. Anne's infection (wherever and whatever it was) has cleared up and the next appointment is on August 14th (the Doc asked to see her within 2-3 weeks at the Flu Visit....something about keeping her in line, not doing crazy things, etc ;) )

As you can see, even Gwen was transfixed by the new appliance: