March 26, 2009

Drama Boy

Chunky has a flair for the dramatic. A couple of weeks ago he was diagnosed with a sinus infection and was feeling pretty low. I gave him lots of TLC - even warmed a damp washcloth in the microwave with a cinnamon stick for a little aromatherapy. I may have set the bar a little high. He asked later that night why so many bad things were happening to him. I asked what those things were and he cited headache, runny nose, sore throat and oh yeah the four pills a day for 10 days. While I feel for the kid - I've had sinus infections and they're not fun - I had to chuckle a bit at the assigned severity this lapse in health held in the scheme of his young life. I'm blessed and lucky to say both kids are very healthy - aside from Chunky's dental issues and Sassy's acid reflux. While at the Dr. for the sinus infection, they had to remind me to make a "normal" appt since Chunky hadn't been seen since 2005 and that was for all his pre-K stuff. Oops.

More "bad things" this week - he had a bonus tooth immediately behind his baby eye tooth so they had to pull the eye tooth, the bonus one, then the eye tooth on the other side to maintain symmetry when his adult teeth come in. Poor kid - he was really hurting that morning and he'll have holes since those adult teeth won't likely come in for a year or more. That bonus tooth was over one inch long! When he asked why this was happening to him, I told him he had an extra tooth because he's extra special. I also told him everyone thanks their mother when they win an Academy Award. I wonder if they've learned the meaning of "compassionate" in third grade?

March 22, 2009

Spring Has Sprung

It's a gorgeous day in the arctic tundra - 51 degrees at Noon! We've had several nice days and I'm really hoping that winter doesn't return for 7+ months. I took my second favorite guy (Chunky Monkey) to breakfast while Sassy and her dad were at a volleyball tournament. We also took the dogs for a long walk since it was such a nice day. Chunky's in the bathtub now because he got sweaty on our walk. Personal hygiene is becoming a priority. I remember when Sassy got that way - it was the beginning of the pre-teen years. Chunky wrote the sweetest letter to Shivam, the 4 yr old boy from India we are sponsoring from Compassion International. I love how he expects Shivam should at least try to write back himself. Sassy is on spring break this week and we're going to have a girls day out on Tuesday. The Twilight DVD was released yesterday so I'm sure we'll have every scene memorized by mid-week. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

March 16, 2009

How Do I Love Thee?

Hubby is feeling a bit neglected on the blog so I thought I'd better show him some love. The passive-aggressive side of me was tempted to post a honey-do list but I thought better of it (though I do owe him a landscaping plan for approval - water feature, pergola, flagstone with creeping thyme ...). We started dating in high school and I loved English Lit class so my favorite poet was Elizabeth Barrett Browning for reasons that will be obvious to those who know Hubby's name. In his honor I am posting my favorite poem from 11th grade -

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

March 7, 2009

Almost there ...

I did it - we went to Como Conservatory and took photos with the intent to send Easter cards! I feel so accomplished. Hold on while I grab another Thin Mint to celebrate my achievement ... Here's a sample - a lovely lily and my favorite of Chunky Monkey.

March 6, 2009

RIP Maisie Daisy

Our sweet little Maisie (aka Itty Bitty Pretty Kitty or Boo-Boo) went to visit Queenie, Raven, Tootsie and Sami in kitty heaven today. I noticed she had gotten sick in a few places around the house a couple of days ago and then she stopped eating altogether on Wednesday. By yesterday she was thin and lethargic so I knew it was dire. I called the vet this morning and made an appt for 4:30. By 5:30 she was gone - acute renal failure with less than 50% chance of survival with intensive medical intervention. Here she is in her third most favorite room of the house (after the top of the dryer and Sassy Lassy's room). I love that the sun is shining on her and "the moose" (aka Maddie Rose our 85 lb wonder dog). Rest in peace Boo-Boo kitty - we love you.

March 5, 2009

Making A Difference

I am posting twice in one day! Mostly because I forgot to add this earlier, but decided it was important enough to be a standalone post rather than an edit to the previous one (bl8tn!). I took my kids to see "Slumdog Millionaire". What a wonderful film. And sad. We came out wanting to adopt lots of little Indian children to save them from the poverty that surely was not Hollywood-fied in the film. Of course I know there are children in need all over the world. After having Sassy Lassy, I donated money each month to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital because I was so grateful to have a healthy baby and knew there were so many parents with sick children who had the same thought when their children were born and were later praying for a miracle. I wanted to be part of more miracles once I'd experienced the birth of she who would one day become the eyeliner devotee. They say giving is good for the soul and keeps you young. Here's to the fountain of youth!

Unlovable

In just 8 days I will be celebrating my 22nd wedding anniversary. WOW! How'd I get this old?! I feel compelled to share that I'm frequently asked if I married as a teen :) Unfortunately I have to answer "uh, technically yes". Not unfortunately because I married, rather because I married so young (three weeks before my 20th birthday - OMG now I've shared my age!). Yes I thought I knew everything, but am a l-i-t-t-l-e wiser now. I can't believe it's been that many years. We've had our ups and downs (which makes me think of "Auntie Mame" the original of course), but I believe today I'm with my one true love (okay now thinking of "Enchanted" - I watch too much TV). I was reading MckMama's Love the one your with post and though I don't have the same "call" as she, I definitely agree with her overall - marriage is loving the unlovable. And to be honest I fall in the unlovable category as much as or more than hubby does. In recent years we've embraced the Will & Jada Smith philosophy - divorce is not an option. Murder on the other hand ...

Random related thought - I am loving myself for thinking about a trip to the Conservatory this Saturday to take photos of cherubic children for Easter cards. I am infamous for thinking a lot and doing little (again, why doesn't thinking burn calories??!!), so wish me luck.