Today, Ethan had fillings done at the dentist. While under the influence of nitrous, he said he could feel something hurting. Dr. Stevens stopped and offered to numb the tooth. Ethan said he didn't want a shot because "the only thing worser than shots is Barbies". Dr. Stevens wants to put that one up on his wall. Also under nitrous, "this nose thing smells so good, I want to take it home".
Tonight, Alaina was dancing around at Jordan's riding lesson in her Mizzou cheerleader shirt, leftover from a dress-up day at school. The instructor asked her if she would be a cheerleader one day. Alaina said "No, I'm gonna be a teacher and a Mommy; I'm gonna have lots and lots of babies". How many babies will you have, the instructor asked. Alaina considered and announced "I'm gonna have ten babies!" Might be fun to quote her when she's about 25.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Happy Hallow-Post
Ok, that last post was a downer. So let's review Halloween. Alaina was dressed as a lovely Princess Ariel, Ethan was a Clone Trooper, but don't call him a Clone Trooper because he's actually Captain Rex all right? Cody was festive in a jester collar in Halloween print with tiny bells that when worn in the house quickly became too much.
Jordan decided that this was a good year to be too big for Halloween. Her friends invited her to walk around their neighborhoods but she just wasn't into it. Can't blame her at all. Something about ringing doorbells for candy when you're 5'8" is awkward.
We decided to take the little ones and Cody to Rocheport. We had never trick-or-treated there and this summer some friends told us it is a great time. And, officially, it is the kids' hometown! First we stopped by our neighbor Teresa's where we got wonderful fresh popcorn balls, then we hit the streets for about 1 1/2 hours. There were lots of kids out, and many fun decorations. Plus, the fact that most of the homes in Rocheport are from the 1850's or so added a spooky feel. With brimming buckets, we returned home to a huge pot of vegetable beef soup that I'd left warming on the stove.
Ethan's Favorite Stop: The house that gave out pop rocks
Alaina's Favorite Stop: The house that gave out bubble gum
Best Decor: House with lit decoration all over their big landscaped terrace and garage, a bonfire, spooky music and resident ghoul handing out treats.
Most Unique Treat: Mexican candies-one made of dehydrated mango, one of tamarind pulp, both coated with red chili powder. Tart and zippy! I have inherited these and must say I'm gaining fondness for them.
Class Party Highlights: Ethan- Mummy wrapping contest, treats made of apple slices spread with peanut butter for lips with tiny marshmallows between for teeth, mask decorating.
Alaina - Making a scarecrow face with her own photo inserted, Freeze Dance, Cupcakes!!!
Now to run the scary luminaries downstairs and dig out the cornucopia!!
Jordan decided that this was a good year to be too big for Halloween. Her friends invited her to walk around their neighborhoods but she just wasn't into it. Can't blame her at all. Something about ringing doorbells for candy when you're 5'8" is awkward.
We decided to take the little ones and Cody to Rocheport. We had never trick-or-treated there and this summer some friends told us it is a great time. And, officially, it is the kids' hometown! First we stopped by our neighbor Teresa's where we got wonderful fresh popcorn balls, then we hit the streets for about 1 1/2 hours. There were lots of kids out, and many fun decorations. Plus, the fact that most of the homes in Rocheport are from the 1850's or so added a spooky feel. With brimming buckets, we returned home to a huge pot of vegetable beef soup that I'd left warming on the stove.
Ethan's Favorite Stop: The house that gave out pop rocks
Alaina's Favorite Stop: The house that gave out bubble gum
Best Decor: House with lit decoration all over their big landscaped terrace and garage, a bonfire, spooky music and resident ghoul handing out treats.
Most Unique Treat: Mexican candies-one made of dehydrated mango, one of tamarind pulp, both coated with red chili powder. Tart and zippy! I have inherited these and must say I'm gaining fondness for them.
Class Party Highlights: Ethan- Mummy wrapping contest, treats made of apple slices spread with peanut butter for lips with tiny marshmallows between for teeth, mask decorating.
Alaina - Making a scarecrow face with her own photo inserted, Freeze Dance, Cupcakes!!!
Now to run the scary luminaries downstairs and dig out the cornucopia!!
Anniversary of Second Chances
One year ago today, I was unaware. One year ago yesterday, I awoke to a beautiful day, and a couple of hours later life itself was uncertain. One year ago Saturday, my previous self went about the business of getting kids to school, putting on Halloween parties, and getting a bit of nutrition in the kids before going trick-or-treating. It's easy to get hung up on the uncertainty of life and to replay those days over and over again. It's not as easy to just move on, and not let the reality of our mortal existence creep into daily life.
Sometimes I get stuck on a train of thought that reviews what I'm not able to do, or can't do easily, or what difficulties will come as I age with stainless steel running through me. Being grateful is a noble endeavor, but I'm not always noble. And sometimes I'm angry, at the arrogant fool who took our lives in his hands, at the fate of bad timing, for lost time and for pain.
By way of recognizing this as a year of accomplishments rather than a year of lost opportunity, I listed milestones one night. It helped me to see how far I've come in a relatively short time and gives me hope that I will continue to gain strength and comfort, and be able to run alongside my kids, play soccer with them and show them the world in the active way I wish to.
Here goes:
Survived the crash
Stayed awake enough to talk to the girls and get necessary calls made
Kept my leg
Got off the ventilator
One little, two little, three little surgeries, four little......
Saw my babies again
Got off morphine
Sat up in bed
Pulled self up
Stood for 20 excrutiating seconds
Moved from University Hospital to Rusk Rehab
Shower with lots of help
Wore my own clothes again
Used bedside latrine
Used a wheelchair
Used toilet :-)
Used walker
Used crutches
Walked 50 feet, 100 feet, 150 feet on crutches
Shower with little help
Mostly dressed myself
Put on my shoes
Sat in wheelchair for a whole meal
Got in and out of bed alone
Stood at a table for 1 min, 2 min, 3 min...
Went up stairs with crutches
Got in and out of the car
Visited Home
Went home
Ate with my family
Drove
Showered alone
Cooked a meal
Went to mailbox
Took Ethan to the bus
Went upstairs
Put kids to bed
Carried Lainey
1 crutch
Walking
Stationery bike
Real bike
Wounds closed
Released from physical therapy
Swam
Went to the park
Rode a horse
Rode Bree (who is no ordinary horse)
So I've come a long way, and I can surely come a bit more.
Sometimes I get stuck on a train of thought that reviews what I'm not able to do, or can't do easily, or what difficulties will come as I age with stainless steel running through me. Being grateful is a noble endeavor, but I'm not always noble. And sometimes I'm angry, at the arrogant fool who took our lives in his hands, at the fate of bad timing, for lost time and for pain.
By way of recognizing this as a year of accomplishments rather than a year of lost opportunity, I listed milestones one night. It helped me to see how far I've come in a relatively short time and gives me hope that I will continue to gain strength and comfort, and be able to run alongside my kids, play soccer with them and show them the world in the active way I wish to.
Here goes:
Survived the crash
Stayed awake enough to talk to the girls and get necessary calls made
Kept my leg
Got off the ventilator
One little, two little, three little surgeries, four little......
Saw my babies again
Got off morphine
Sat up in bed
Pulled self up
Stood for 20 excrutiating seconds
Moved from University Hospital to Rusk Rehab
Shower with lots of help
Wore my own clothes again
Used bedside latrine
Used a wheelchair
Used toilet :-)
Used walker
Used crutches
Walked 50 feet, 100 feet, 150 feet on crutches
Shower with little help
Mostly dressed myself
Put on my shoes
Sat in wheelchair for a whole meal
Got in and out of bed alone
Stood at a table for 1 min, 2 min, 3 min...
Went up stairs with crutches
Got in and out of the car
Visited Home
Went home
Ate with my family
Drove
Showered alone
Cooked a meal
Went to mailbox
Took Ethan to the bus
Went upstairs
Put kids to bed
Carried Lainey
1 crutch
Walking
Stationery bike
Real bike
Wounds closed
Released from physical therapy
Swam
Went to the park
Rode a horse
Rode Bree (who is no ordinary horse)
So I've come a long way, and I can surely come a bit more.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Cannonballs, Horses and Butterflies
Tonight Alaina offered the following, un-solicited wisdom at the dinner table: Babysitting is like riding horses for Jordan. You go around and around doing loop-de-loops. And you do a cannonball over the poles and when you land you are riding the horse again...
This string of thought apparently stemmed from watching Jordan's riding lesson Tuesday night, and is either just goofy or a very deep insight on child-rearing. I'm truly not sure which.
We were outside tonight playing and my horse Bree started running around, carrying on because she couldn't see the other two horses. It is still very mucky out there from all the rain we've had and as she tried to gallop a sharp corner she lost all her four-hoof-drive and slammed flat on her side. She leaped up and started over again, but now with her entire side black with mud and a huge, smooth egg-shaped indent in the mud preceded by a skid mark of about 15 feet. Too funny, you rarely see a horse actually fall down.
Today was Ethan's class field trip to the Butterfly House in St. Louis. This caps off a big study unit on butterflies. It is a cool place and was a beautiful day for playing and picnicking in Faust Park.
Another big hit this year is Running Club. At first Ethan insisted he did not want to join, and would rather go home and play Lego's. I asked him to try one night and he came out so excited! They meet each Monday for five weeks in the fall, then again for five Mondays in spring. Some of Ethan's friends are in it too, and it is limited to 1st and 2nd graders. The coach makes it fun, and the kids are eager to go each time. Ethan has gone between .8 and 1.2 miles each time, which I think is great.
This string of thought apparently stemmed from watching Jordan's riding lesson Tuesday night, and is either just goofy or a very deep insight on child-rearing. I'm truly not sure which.
We were outside tonight playing and my horse Bree started running around, carrying on because she couldn't see the other two horses. It is still very mucky out there from all the rain we've had and as she tried to gallop a sharp corner she lost all her four-hoof-drive and slammed flat on her side. She leaped up and started over again, but now with her entire side black with mud and a huge, smooth egg-shaped indent in the mud preceded by a skid mark of about 15 feet. Too funny, you rarely see a horse actually fall down.
Today was Ethan's class field trip to the Butterfly House in St. Louis. This caps off a big study unit on butterflies. It is a cool place and was a beautiful day for playing and picnicking in Faust Park.
Another big hit this year is Running Club. At first Ethan insisted he did not want to join, and would rather go home and play Lego's. I asked him to try one night and he came out so excited! They meet each Monday for five weeks in the fall, then again for five Mondays in spring. Some of Ethan's friends are in it too, and it is limited to 1st and 2nd graders. The coach makes it fun, and the kids are eager to go each time. Ethan has gone between .8 and 1.2 miles each time, which I think is great.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Back Again...
Quick update of current thoughts:
* We love the little kids' new school, and so do they. Ethan seems in his element and enjoys his new friends. Mr Hager, the lower school science teacher, is his favorite teacher. Alaina loves her class, teachers, being at a big kid school, her buddies, going to specialist classes like Spanish, Art and P.E. The toughest thing each day is prying Alaina out of her classroom to go home.
* Ethan is playing soccer on Saturdays this fall. He likes it a lot and is starting to be more assertive going for the ball. Bill and I are clueless as to the rules, or how to properly put Ethan's shin guards on for that matter, but are learning!
* Andrew is enjoying playing football back at Lewiston. He has had several catches so far, which was what he wanted most to do.
* Jordan loves her freshman year. Algebra is tough, as well as Physics and German II, but she is getting in the groove. She has lots of friends and has fun going to football games and other school functions.
* Alaina is very interested in learning her letters now, and also spends lots of time drawing pictures and singing spontaneously made-up songs. She is at a time of emotional maturing, with lots of ups and downs along the way. Generally though, she is a bright, shining spot of joy in our days.
* I am doing well but have hit a hurdle with trying to jog. Even a little bit makes me very sore for days after. Maybe if I get my overall fitness better, I will have better luck. Today I was sitting on a hard surface and when I moved back and forth I could hear creaking from my leg. Creepy!!!
* Bill is engrossed in Fantasy Football for the first time in years. I love that he is having fun with it, but it is frightening how much devotion it inspires. It reminds me of him and a bunch of goobers from his dorm crowded into his dorm room for the "draft" of their fantasy football league. His work schedule has improved a bit with the new pharmacists on staff, but I know the store still weighs on his mind all the time.
* We love the little kids' new school, and so do they. Ethan seems in his element and enjoys his new friends. Mr Hager, the lower school science teacher, is his favorite teacher. Alaina loves her class, teachers, being at a big kid school, her buddies, going to specialist classes like Spanish, Art and P.E. The toughest thing each day is prying Alaina out of her classroom to go home.
* Ethan is playing soccer on Saturdays this fall. He likes it a lot and is starting to be more assertive going for the ball. Bill and I are clueless as to the rules, or how to properly put Ethan's shin guards on for that matter, but are learning!
* Andrew is enjoying playing football back at Lewiston. He has had several catches so far, which was what he wanted most to do.
* Jordan loves her freshman year. Algebra is tough, as well as Physics and German II, but she is getting in the groove. She has lots of friends and has fun going to football games and other school functions.
* Alaina is very interested in learning her letters now, and also spends lots of time drawing pictures and singing spontaneously made-up songs. She is at a time of emotional maturing, with lots of ups and downs along the way. Generally though, she is a bright, shining spot of joy in our days.
* I am doing well but have hit a hurdle with trying to jog. Even a little bit makes me very sore for days after. Maybe if I get my overall fitness better, I will have better luck. Today I was sitting on a hard surface and when I moved back and forth I could hear creaking from my leg. Creepy!!!
* Bill is engrossed in Fantasy Football for the first time in years. I love that he is having fun with it, but it is frightening how much devotion it inspires. It reminds me of him and a bunch of goobers from his dorm crowded into his dorm room for the "draft" of their fantasy football league. His work schedule has improved a bit with the new pharmacists on staff, but I know the store still weighs on his mind all the time.
Friday, May 1, 2009
I'm Back
OK, it's been a while since I've posted. Soon I'll try to recap the past month or two. But not now. I can report, however, that Alaina has had a record-setting mishap evening. While I prepared dinner the kids were "sitting" at the table. I put quote on that as Alaina has had trouble for many, many moons actually sitting in her chair, and any number of remonstrations and falls have not cured her of this problem. I heard her cup flying, water spilling, and spun around just to see her falling backwards to the floor. Luckily, her elbows took the beating her head was heading for. We recovered from that, ate dinner, and as I cleaned up dishes, I heard a solid thud from the living room. Another of Alaina's poor habits has been fooling around on the couch and coffee table, again despite prior experience that could have taught a more timid child not to do this stuff. I ran over to see her holding her nose, which promptly began bleeding out of both barrels, and a bit of swelling is showing up. Watching and waiting to see the extent of the damage, but I think we have dodged the broken nose this time.
Meanwhile, Ethan and Bill have gone out to play catch. Ethan is in coach pitch baseball this year, and out of seven practices, I believe only three have worked out. The rest went down the drain with all the rain we've been getting. His first game is the 8th, and he is excited. Anyway, I finally got back to my dishes, glanced out at them playing and saw Ethan in his Mr. Incredible suit with big fake muscles, which is several inches too short, showing his St Patrick's Day bright green socks with gold leprechans, heaving the ball with painstaking form. It made me crack up.
Meanwhile, Ethan and Bill have gone out to play catch. Ethan is in coach pitch baseball this year, and out of seven practices, I believe only three have worked out. The rest went down the drain with all the rain we've been getting. His first game is the 8th, and he is excited. Anyway, I finally got back to my dishes, glanced out at them playing and saw Ethan in his Mr. Incredible suit with big fake muscles, which is several inches too short, showing his St Patrick's Day bright green socks with gold leprechans, heaving the ball with painstaking form. It made me crack up.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Showdown
As the kids play for a bit before breakfast, I hear the following:
Ethan: Barbie, your no match for giant Bowser (bringing Bill's old Godzilla perilously close to the doll house where Lainey is clutching two beautifully dressed Barbies. For the uninitiated, Bowser is the bad guy at the end of each level of Super Mario Brothers)
Lainey: Oh, yeah? You can't get us. We'll get you with our big knifes.
A battle ensues, complete with blips of theme music and high-pitched Barbie voices saying "hi-ya", "take that" and other un-Barbie-like things. Occasionally Ethan adds a comment in Mario's Italian accent to Bowser's thrashing and snarling sounds.
Outcome is still unsure, but I don't think anyone's taking Lainey's gals down.
Ethan: Barbie, your no match for giant Bowser (bringing Bill's old Godzilla perilously close to the doll house where Lainey is clutching two beautifully dressed Barbies. For the uninitiated, Bowser is the bad guy at the end of each level of Super Mario Brothers)
Lainey: Oh, yeah? You can't get us. We'll get you with our big knifes.
A battle ensues, complete with blips of theme music and high-pitched Barbie voices saying "hi-ya", "take that" and other un-Barbie-like things. Occasionally Ethan adds a comment in Mario's Italian accent to Bowser's thrashing and snarling sounds.
Outcome is still unsure, but I don't think anyone's taking Lainey's gals down.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Funnies
Here are some things that made me laugh this weekend:
Ethan giggling uncontrollably at the dog park saying "Mom, all the dog's are sniffing each other's butts"
Both kids yelling out "Mom, that dog looks like Sparky!", when they saw a bulldog (Sparky is the mascot of his namesake wonderful ice cream shop downtown)
Jordan (you may remember an earlier, related post) sampling Mom's baked goods and asking "so are these kolaches or polaches or pilates?"
Alaina flitting by on tip-toe dancing to her boombox wearing, for the maybe 40th day in a row, the purple ballet outfit her aunt Julie got her for Christmas.
Remembering high school fun with my friend Swen who I hadn't heard from since maybe 1991 and who popped up on Facebook this weekend.
College-brand humor when we went to Deja Vu comedy club for the first time in maybe 10 years with our friends Terri and Jamie.
Watching Bill and Andrew count how many times the pastor said "Super Bowl Sunday" during the sermon (that laugh was quietly and reverently inside me)
Watching Jordan and Kahlea sing and dance to some song on the ipod.
Sasha peering at me from her giant cone the vet gave her.
Realizing that Anna and I, at least vicariously, were NOT watching the Super Bowl together.
Ethan giggling uncontrollably at the dog park saying "Mom, all the dog's are sniffing each other's butts"
Both kids yelling out "Mom, that dog looks like Sparky!", when they saw a bulldog (Sparky is the mascot of his namesake wonderful ice cream shop downtown)
Jordan (you may remember an earlier, related post) sampling Mom's baked goods and asking "so are these kolaches or polaches or pilates?"
Alaina flitting by on tip-toe dancing to her boombox wearing, for the maybe 40th day in a row, the purple ballet outfit her aunt Julie got her for Christmas.
Remembering high school fun with my friend Swen who I hadn't heard from since maybe 1991 and who popped up on Facebook this weekend.
College-brand humor when we went to Deja Vu comedy club for the first time in maybe 10 years with our friends Terri and Jamie.
Watching Bill and Andrew count how many times the pastor said "Super Bowl Sunday" during the sermon (that laugh was quietly and reverently inside me)
Watching Jordan and Kahlea sing and dance to some song on the ipod.
Sasha peering at me from her giant cone the vet gave her.
Realizing that Anna and I, at least vicariously, were NOT watching the Super Bowl together.
Motion Picture Joy
I've found my latest time-waster. We recently re-joined Netflix after several years off. The new features are so great! It is better than ever at recommending films based on your prior choices, much like Amazon, my other media fetish. Better yet, many films are available instantly via streaming video. Now Bill will tell you the streaming movies aren't the newest blockbusters, but more older stuff, indies and foreign flicks. Kinda made for me, in other words.
Now in addition to Ragtag, our cool local theatre that shows great smaller-budget and foreign stuff, and which I get to go to more often now because Jordan likes to go with me, there is an endless array of Lisa-films at our fingertips. This coincides with our finally replacing our old computer with a new Dell that includes a good-sized Samsung monitor and decent streaming capabiity.
So today, I called Mom down and we wrestled the loveseat into the computer room (dining room to you traditionalists) and enjoyed Arranged, a very fun movie about arranged marriages for two modern girls in New York. Of course, we could invest in a Tivo or similar device that would stream the movies over to our TV, but first i have to convince Bill there are more than Lisa-flicks to be seen. Until then, I will be computing from the loveseat, with Cody stretched out behind me providing excellent lumbar support.
Now in addition to Ragtag, our cool local theatre that shows great smaller-budget and foreign stuff, and which I get to go to more often now because Jordan likes to go with me, there is an endless array of Lisa-films at our fingertips. This coincides with our finally replacing our old computer with a new Dell that includes a good-sized Samsung monitor and decent streaming capabiity.
So today, I called Mom down and we wrestled the loveseat into the computer room (dining room to you traditionalists) and enjoyed Arranged, a very fun movie about arranged marriages for two modern girls in New York. Of course, we could invest in a Tivo or similar device that would stream the movies over to our TV, but first i have to convince Bill there are more than Lisa-flicks to be seen. Until then, I will be computing from the loveseat, with Cody stretched out behind me providing excellent lumbar support.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Marley & Me
I started reading Marley and Me last night. My mother-in-law got it for me for Christmas, and I finally finished the thick historical fiction I was reading so I could start. It is going to be a quick read; the author's writing style is so easy and entertaining. When Judy gave it to me, I imagined that she felt it might go well with our new, big dog. However, he has been so amazingly good that the book only somewhat reminds me of him. Mostly, I envision our friends' dog Cokie on each and every page. She was a big black lab, maybe the smartest dog we ever knew. That was coupled with stubbornness, gluttony, separation anxiety, and excess nervous energy. So while she was tons of fun to take to the lake for hours of retrieving, and had an enormous vocabulary, she also cleared out the fridge, cupboards and countertops, destroyed shoes, cushions, furniture, whatever was around, and everyone knew to quickly raise their drinks when she came through before her tail crashed them all to the floor. Her "puppy phase" never really ended and sometimes finding dog-sitters was tough.
One memorable dog-sitting moment for us was when we went out, thinking we had dog-proofed the kitchen. Cokie found, at the far back of our lazy susan cupboard, a huge Sam's Club size bag of Hershey's Kisses. We arrived home to find the plastic bag (no aluminum wrappers) laying by her, and she spent the entire night moaning and groaning before being sick all over the floor. Cokie was able to survive that and countless other gastronomic mishaps, although they did lead to health problems and rolls of thick fat.
Another famous thing about her was her drool. It was profuse and made of some bionic material that could not be scrubbed off many surfaces and ate through paint. Her sweet face was always accompanied by one or two long strings of the stuff hanging six inches or more from her lips.
Despite all this, we all loved Cokie. We didn't envy being her owners, but we loved her all the same.
So as I read this book, my mind keeps substituting Cokie for Marley, and I picture her black oily coat and thick otter tail, body wiggling from head to tip, defining the term dogged determination in everything she did, good or bad.
One memorable dog-sitting moment for us was when we went out, thinking we had dog-proofed the kitchen. Cokie found, at the far back of our lazy susan cupboard, a huge Sam's Club size bag of Hershey's Kisses. We arrived home to find the plastic bag (no aluminum wrappers) laying by her, and she spent the entire night moaning and groaning before being sick all over the floor. Cokie was able to survive that and countless other gastronomic mishaps, although they did lead to health problems and rolls of thick fat.
Another famous thing about her was her drool. It was profuse and made of some bionic material that could not be scrubbed off many surfaces and ate through paint. Her sweet face was always accompanied by one or two long strings of the stuff hanging six inches or more from her lips.
Despite all this, we all loved Cokie. We didn't envy being her owners, but we loved her all the same.
So as I read this book, my mind keeps substituting Cokie for Marley, and I picture her black oily coat and thick otter tail, body wiggling from head to tip, defining the term dogged determination in everything she did, good or bad.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Contact Stress
Andrew went yesterday for an eye exam. After I believe a number of years of not quite seeing the board clearly, he confessed that things are a bit blurry far away. Sure enough, he is near-sighted. He wants the new "leave 'em in for a week" contacts. We sat down for the dreaded first time sticking something in your eyes experience. His lovely, long lashes along with those pesky reflexes foiled him and after an hour we left so he could practice touching his eyeball at home.
This reminded Bill of his first experience. We were in college and he went to Shop-Ko. His exam was at 6:00. He then proceeded to try, and try, and try to get the contacts in. Soon the employees told him it was closing time and he had to go home. Memories!
Think of Andrew Thursday after school once again trying to pass the put 'em in and take 'em out test at the eye doctor.
This reminded Bill of his first experience. We were in college and he went to Shop-Ko. His exam was at 6:00. He then proceeded to try, and try, and try to get the contacts in. Soon the employees told him it was closing time and he had to go home. Memories!
Think of Andrew Thursday after school once again trying to pass the put 'em in and take 'em out test at the eye doctor.
If You Don't Get a Response..
Alaina operates under a number of aliases now, and we are quizzed periodically by an imperious little voice that says "WELL, do you know my name?" In order to facilitate conversation with the littlest Morrissey, I enclose a list of her latest aliases. Good luck to you all.
Snow White
Cinderella
Princess Peach
Tinkerbelle
Teacher
Da Mommy
Ariel (also try Yittle Mermaid)
Belle (also try Booty)
Super Girl
Bat Girl
Flying Girl
It also is helpful to know she is 16 and "A Dult".
Snow White
Cinderella
Princess Peach
Tinkerbelle
Teacher
Da Mommy
Ariel (also try Yittle Mermaid)
Belle (also try Booty)
Super Girl
Bat Girl
Flying Girl
It also is helpful to know she is 16 and "A Dult".
Big Trouble
Last night Ethan was roughhousing around and I said (not sure why) that if he didn't stop he would be in deep doo-doo. As I inwardly shook my head at that word choice, Lainey's face lit up and she said "that means big trouble!". Yes, Lainey, that's what it means.
Two nights ago Lainey had barely started her dinner when she pulled up her shirt, rubbed her belly dramatically, and said "I'm getting really full". We're in a phase when dinner is a hit or miss proposition for her, so I immediately tried to head her thought process off at the pass, saying "Lainey, you have barely touched your food, you have to eat before you're excused." With that too-quick-for-a-3-year-old-mind, she said "Did I ask to be excused? No, I only said I'm full." Well pardon me, miss big britches, but I'm pretty sure that was gonna be next.
Two nights ago Lainey had barely started her dinner when she pulled up her shirt, rubbed her belly dramatically, and said "I'm getting really full". We're in a phase when dinner is a hit or miss proposition for her, so I immediately tried to head her thought process off at the pass, saying "Lainey, you have barely touched your food, you have to eat before you're excused." With that too-quick-for-a-3-year-old-mind, she said "Did I ask to be excused? No, I only said I'm full." Well pardon me, miss big britches, but I'm pretty sure that was gonna be next.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Destination: Optimist
I'm one of those people who spends time thinking about how I should be, what I should change about myself, what my goals are, etc. In a job-related class once the term was self-actualization. It's a great thing until you do it too much. That phenomenon is often called the Ready, Set, Set, Set syndrome.
A few years ago, we began holding the Kilgore's Christmas party at a local Optimist club. I remember very well that first evening being fascinated by their creed, written boldly on one wall. I read it several times and thought, that's who I want to be. Those first few years, the party was held in December, and that creed filled me with all kinds of New Year's resolutions. Bill recently joined that Optimist club and I even posted a copy of the creed on our refrigerator. This year the party was held in January, last weekend, so too late for resolutions. I still spent a few moments re-reading the words yet again and thinking, 'what a wonderful way to live'.
So here it is, in case you haven't read it before:
The Optimist Creed: Promise Yourself-
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
A few years ago, we began holding the Kilgore's Christmas party at a local Optimist club. I remember very well that first evening being fascinated by their creed, written boldly on one wall. I read it several times and thought, that's who I want to be. Those first few years, the party was held in December, and that creed filled me with all kinds of New Year's resolutions. Bill recently joined that Optimist club and I even posted a copy of the creed on our refrigerator. This year the party was held in January, last weekend, so too late for resolutions. I still spent a few moments re-reading the words yet again and thinking, 'what a wonderful way to live'.
So here it is, in case you haven't read it before:
The Optimist Creed: Promise Yourself-
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Entrepreneur
Ethan is showing signs of an entrepreneurial mind. In the past he latched onto ideas from books like lemonade stands and garage sales. The other day he came to me with a very thought out plan to gather up newspapers and "walk the streets of Columbia" selling them to people. He would write a price on each one "one might say ten dollars and another one might cost an apple or something like that." I must have looked at him with skepticism because he rushed to assure me that I could sit nearby in my car and watch out for him.
Then tonight he wanted to make cupcakes. I explained that we have lots of cake to eat up first. His face lit up and he said "should we sell it for money?". This boy's a go-getter!
Then tonight he wanted to make cupcakes. I explained that we have lots of cake to eat up first. His face lit up and he said "should we sell it for money?". This boy's a go-getter!
Let Them Eat Cake
I'm in trouble. Thursday night our good friends the Devines brought dinner, including a sheet cake. It had some almond flavoring in it and that good old powdered sugar icing I can't leave alone. It was finally getting down to the end, then tonight our friends the Klenklen's came with a big Texas sheet cake. This item was my downfall at all the Shelter goodie days. Give me strength!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Singing Fools
Ethan's Winter Concert, for the Kindergarten and First graders at his school, was last night. It was short, but so cute. Ethan got to deliver a line and gave it great expression :-) They sang several very cute songs with hand movements to match, and the last one was even a round. Ethan was proud as punch and we were home in time for Bill to see the Championship football game.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Good Report
I returned to Dr. Crist, my orthopaedic surgeon, on Monday. They took a ton of X-Rays showing my various metal sculptures at various artful angles. Then a sweet little resident guy came in to do a practice round, followed by Dr Crist himself. The good news is, the news couldn't have been much better. I have bone growth in all the right places, and a few extra. All five breaks in the pelvis, including the hip socket, are bridging, as well as the clavical. They don't even look at the ribs; guess they always heal.
Perhaps the best news is that the femur is knitting together, even the floating piece that he thought may need a bone graft appears to be bridging the gap to the rest of the bone.
He said the range of motion of my left arm is amazing, as many folks never get full motion back. The leg wound he is also pleased with. It is still open in a few places, including one hole that just won't close up, largely due to drainage. (I think that's the bit that made Trish faint when she looked at my leg). He didn't seem too concerned about it though, and just put me on a course of antibiotics prophylactically. Wow, did I even approach spelling that right? Too lazy to check. Anyway, the scar will certainly turn heads if I wear swimsuit or running shorts, but he agreed it was amazing it looked that good or even could heal without skin grafts considering the beating it took and how torn up it was.
I did ask about the fact I can totally feel the fixator like a big knob if I roll on my left side. He said so much tissue was lost (mostly fat) during the injury that I may always feel that since there is very little between it and the surface. Guess that do-it-yourself liposuction was a bad idea!
He changed my physical therapy protocol to a progressive scale. I went from 20 pounds on the leg to 50, next week 100, next week 150 and begin weaning off the crutches. Yeah!!!!! I went to therapy yesterday and stood on the scale to get a feel for it. 50 pounds is quite a bit when just standing. Walking puts more than your body weight on due to momentum, so can't do that yet. I got to do a regular stationery bike though, and leg presses with one foot on the scale to watch how much I press on it.
Oh, and another big thrill, I can discontinue the daily injections of blood thinners!! Not that sticking something in your belly each morning isn't a great wake-up call, but..... Also, I asked about the fabled card that you can show airport security so they don't hassle you too much when you set off the metal detectors. Dr. Crist laughed and said they don't respect those much anymore, and I would likely have to go to a little room and show them my scars. He did give me one though and I can see why. I had imagined we would fill out a form and the card was issued from some transportation agency. Instead, it is a pre-printed card with the hospital name and info, then a blank where they wrote in my name. I will take it and copies of my X-rays along just in case they help, but not optomistic.
That's the gist of it. Hoping no crutches by February!!!!!!!
Perhaps the best news is that the femur is knitting together, even the floating piece that he thought may need a bone graft appears to be bridging the gap to the rest of the bone.
He said the range of motion of my left arm is amazing, as many folks never get full motion back. The leg wound he is also pleased with. It is still open in a few places, including one hole that just won't close up, largely due to drainage. (I think that's the bit that made Trish faint when she looked at my leg). He didn't seem too concerned about it though, and just put me on a course of antibiotics prophylactically. Wow, did I even approach spelling that right? Too lazy to check. Anyway, the scar will certainly turn heads if I wear swimsuit or running shorts, but he agreed it was amazing it looked that good or even could heal without skin grafts considering the beating it took and how torn up it was.
I did ask about the fact I can totally feel the fixator like a big knob if I roll on my left side. He said so much tissue was lost (mostly fat) during the injury that I may always feel that since there is very little between it and the surface. Guess that do-it-yourself liposuction was a bad idea!
He changed my physical therapy protocol to a progressive scale. I went from 20 pounds on the leg to 50, next week 100, next week 150 and begin weaning off the crutches. Yeah!!!!! I went to therapy yesterday and stood on the scale to get a feel for it. 50 pounds is quite a bit when just standing. Walking puts more than your body weight on due to momentum, so can't do that yet. I got to do a regular stationery bike though, and leg presses with one foot on the scale to watch how much I press on it.
Oh, and another big thrill, I can discontinue the daily injections of blood thinners!! Not that sticking something in your belly each morning isn't a great wake-up call, but..... Also, I asked about the fabled card that you can show airport security so they don't hassle you too much when you set off the metal detectors. Dr. Crist laughed and said they don't respect those much anymore, and I would likely have to go to a little room and show them my scars. He did give me one though and I can see why. I had imagined we would fill out a form and the card was issued from some transportation agency. Instead, it is a pre-printed card with the hospital name and info, then a blank where they wrote in my name. I will take it and copies of my X-rays along just in case they help, but not optomistic.
That's the gist of it. Hoping no crutches by February!!!!!!!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
What to Do When It's 70 Degrees in January
Today was so great! It was supposed to get to 62 degrees with afternoon rain. Instead we got roughly 70 and sunny. Add to that it's a Saturday and Bill is off work. Bill, Ethan, Alaina and I went out with the dogs and had a blast. They rode bikes, flew kites, hit baseballs, played "summer camp", did sidewalk chalk, ran with the dogs, you name it. Soon the jackets came off like a day in spring. I even shaved Sasha for the first time in a long while. I fancied she was jealous of Cody's new fancy shave. Jordan had Alexis over and they even poked their faces out for a bit. Shortly after we came in, both the little kids were sound asleep. Tomorrow is a return to reality weather-wise, but we sure enjoyed our day in the sun!
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