We had traveled 2,600 miles to visit family and friends in New England. The first 36 hours were fun, but on Saturday ... Calvin spent much of the day collapsed on the floor, screaming in bed, or just being hysterical. By dinnertime, we were at the ER in North Adams, where Calvin was diagnosed with asthma.

   As soon as they started with the X-rays and IVs and inhalers he cheered up. His mother would have greatly preferred to have spent those two days relaxing with family, but Calvin, being 3, thought the hospital was a grand adventure. (The speed-like effects of steroids helped too.) A steady flow of visitors -- Grandma, brother Finn, cousin Devon, aunts Megan and Cheryl, uncles David and Scott -- kept our spirits up.

May 2007