My wonderful mother-in-law suffered a heart attack yesterday. This crazy woman, and I mean that in the kindest sense of the word, drove herself to the hospital! The doctors first tried a procedure to insert a stint but it didn't work. So this morning she underwent a quadruple bypass on her heart. She came out of surgery with a good prognosis. I am a bit sketchy on the details since I am 2 hours away, but things are looking good and she should be home from the hospital in a week. Paul and his siblings have been at her side for the past two days, watching over her, praying for her, and just letting her know they care. They are a great bunch of siblings and they are a good example to me of how to band together in times of crisis. I didn't pack up my kids to be there because 1) I'm not sure she would ever be awake to visit with them, 2) My poor Drew has been in enough situations watching people she loves suffer and I didn't want to put her through that again, and 3) I'm not sure the ICU would appreciate my 4 and 2 year olds and their 6 month old sister with all their energy contained in such a small place. Hopefully Grandma can feel our love and prayers for her over the miles and understand why we aren't there right now. We will probably be spending the next few weekends at her side, helping in any way we can, so if you don't see us around for the next few weeks, you will know the reason why.
Update as of 9:30am Jan 30: Emma hasn't recovered as quickly or as well as the doctors would like so it looks as though she will be moved to a nursing home facility after she is released from the hospital to have continuous care till she is strong enough to go home. We are headed south to visit her today and to spell the other family members who have been on duty this past week.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Terrible Two's
This little smiling face makes me so happy. Too bad that lately it is a face I rarely see. Mason has been having his trials lately, which have turned into my trials. Mason was such a sweet little baby. He was a good sleeper, nurser, and he just stole my heart when I first saw him. Its these memories that keep me going! I am hoping he is just going through the Terrible Two's and that he will grow out of whatever is bugging him, but it needs to be soon if I want to keep my sanity! We didn't go through anything like this with Drew so maybe its normal and I don't know it, or maybe he is doubling up on the "terrible" part to make up for Drew! He has decided to act out by hitting. Everything and everyone. It is a terrible habit and its a tough one to break. Wish us luck! And then today while I was feeding Darcy, a plastic ball made its way into the toilet and was flushed away for ever more. Who knows how to retrieve it. This little guy can drive me crazy, but just when I am at my wit's end with him, he gives me his adorable little smile and kisses me out of the blue. I love him tremendously but I am also being tried by him tremendously. He turns 3 in May, hopefully he will grow out of his troubles by then. Yah right!
Jan 24 Update - Paul took apart the toilet today and had it in the backyard with a hose running through it to pop the ball out. Thank goodness it worked! Thank goodness I have a handyman husband. Mason swears he won't do anything like that again. I'll believe that when. . .nah, I don't believe it!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration Day!
Let me begin by stating that I am not a person who takes an active interest in politics, usually. I vote when I feel like it, and I take resposibility for that fact and try not to complain too much over policies I may disagree with that I neglected to vote for and change. But this presidential election I did vote. I was so disheartened with the country I live in that I felt like I needed to mark my ballot, for whatever good it may have done, and feel good about trying to be a supporter of change. Now I'm not going to get all political and spew my views on all the issues facing our country and brand new president today, but I did vote for change and I am excited to watch, and hopefully help in some small way, that change come about. As I watched the inauguration of President Obama today, I couldn't help feeling a little sorry for him. When he became the Democratic nominee the country wasn't in nearly the trouble it is in now economically. I wonder if he ever wonders what he got himself into! That being said, I was very impressed by the whole production today. I loved how he was the ultimate family man, chatting with his kids and making a joke with his daughter about her step stool right before he was about to take the oath of office. I was impressed that he was having continuous, and what appeared to be respectful, conversations with President Bush. I loved that they mangled the Oath of Office. Shows us all that both President Obama and the Chief Justice of the land are human! I loved his speech. At the end I wanted to yell "CHARGE!" and lead the masses out to make this country a better place! Hopefully we can all take his enthusiasm and apply it to our lives and do what we can to contribute. I am excited to see what President Obama can accomplish, though I am grounded enough to realize that though the speech sounded pretty, there are many things standing in his way of accomplishing what he so vehemently believes in. I think if it was as easy as we were lead to believe, maybe President Bush would have implemented those measures during his tenure. And I will admit that I don't believe in everything he does, but I am excited for change and what it can mean for my family and my kids' future.
A couple of lighter thoughts as I watched the inauguration this morning: I want to be reincarnated as Aretha Franklin! That woman can sing! And if I could get away with wearing a hat like hers I would wear it every day. I loved it!
Never let your kids know what you are watching is important to you. Inevitably fights break out, they are on the brink of starving to death, their favorite game or toy is no where to be found, the happy-go-lucky baby is inexplicably inconsolable, walkie-talkies somehow end up in a glass of water, etc. Thank goodness for DVR!
NBC butchered a HUGE chance for Oregon State University to be recognized. Our Men's head basketball coach, Craig Robinson, is Michelle Obama's sister and he was front and center (well, off-center) the entire ceremony. Brian Williams went on a 5 minute diatribe about him, but he was really mistaking him for someone else the entire time! And then Tom Brokaw mentioned he was wearing Princeton colors in his scarf! HA! Hello, OSU is orange and black! And he said he was the coach of Oregon. Crimony guys, you really ruined a great chace for OSU to get some exposure. Tell your interns to work on their background checks a little harder!
Jan 25 Update - Brian Williams published an apology to Beaver Nation in the Oregonian this morning. Sounds like he took a lot of duff for his comments! Poor guy!
In all, I am excited for the new administration and I hope and pray that President Obama is good for our country and our people.
A couple of lighter thoughts as I watched the inauguration this morning: I want to be reincarnated as Aretha Franklin! That woman can sing! And if I could get away with wearing a hat like hers I would wear it every day. I loved it!
Never let your kids know what you are watching is important to you. Inevitably fights break out, they are on the brink of starving to death, their favorite game or toy is no where to be found, the happy-go-lucky baby is inexplicably inconsolable, walkie-talkies somehow end up in a glass of water, etc. Thank goodness for DVR!
NBC butchered a HUGE chance for Oregon State University to be recognized. Our Men's head basketball coach, Craig Robinson, is Michelle Obama's sister and he was front and center (well, off-center) the entire ceremony. Brian Williams went on a 5 minute diatribe about him, but he was really mistaking him for someone else the entire time! And then Tom Brokaw mentioned he was wearing Princeton colors in his scarf! HA! Hello, OSU is orange and black! And he said he was the coach of Oregon. Crimony guys, you really ruined a great chace for OSU to get some exposure. Tell your interns to work on their background checks a little harder!
Jan 25 Update - Brian Williams published an apology to Beaver Nation in the Oregonian this morning. Sounds like he took a lot of duff for his comments! Poor guy!
In all, I am excited for the new administration and I hope and pray that President Obama is good for our country and our people.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Plodding Along
January is definitely my least favorite month of the year. Its long, its cold, its dreary, the holiday highs are over, and credit card bills are due! About the only thing I look forward to in January is working on our taxes. Call me crazy, but I get a certain thrill figuring out all that tax mumbo-jumbo. This January has been just like the rest. Not much to report but there have been a couple noteworthy events. First, as you can tell from this picture, my daffodil bulbs are sprouting! I was amazed when I notice this the other day. We are only a few weeks removed from days straight of below freezing temperatures. I can't believe they are already growing. It makes me happy to see them and the hint they bring with them that Spring is on its way. What a relief!
Darcy is six months old! She turned in to a big kid over night it seems. She is just about sitting up by herself, with the occasional header and resulting squished nose. She blows razzberries like a pro and refuses to sit still during church. I'm ready for her to head to the nursery! She is such a sweetheart and she makes me so very happy. She is always smiling and it warms my heart even more than my daffodil sprouts! She is one happy girl and I hope this is a sign of a sunny disposition that she will carry throughout her life. What a joy to be around this little baby is!
After much cajoling on my part, Drew finally decided she would play T-Ball this spring. I have been excited for years to join the ranks of the sports moms on the sidelines, cheering my star athlete on, but for awhile I was afraid that wasn't going to happen with Miss Drewsy. She totally axed the idea of taking ballet, which broke my heart, so I wasn't surprised that she had no interest in T-Ball. Her reason was that she didn't want anyone looking at her. I explained to her that the other parents will just be looking at their kids so I would be the only one looking at her. So I stretched the truth a little! I decided not to push her into anything she didn't want to do, but for some reason she decided on her own that she would try T-Ball. She and I headed to the high school yesterday morning at 10am sharp to sign her up, and I should have known, things weren't what they seemed. Paul and I thought the fee to play was reasonable but what they don't tell you till you arrive at sign-ups, with a 4 year old all hyped to play on her first team, is that you either sign your kid up to sell at least 6 items from their fund raiser or you opt-out for $30 more. Crimony! So I call up Paul, grumbling under my breath, and we decide to let her still play, because really, how could we not, and that we would pay the darn opt-out fee since I'm not ready for my 4 year old to hit the streets hocking goods no one really wants. I guess we'll see how it goes this year, but I have definitely learned my lesson. Welcome to the world of kids sports and fundraisers. Ugh.
I have to admit January hasn't been all bad. The sunshine we have had the past couple of days has really lifted my spirits. Nothing beats a bright sunny day with sparkling blue skies and sunlight so bright you can barely keep your eyes open!
Darcy is six months old! She turned in to a big kid over night it seems. She is just about sitting up by herself, with the occasional header and resulting squished nose. She blows razzberries like a pro and refuses to sit still during church. I'm ready for her to head to the nursery! She is such a sweetheart and she makes me so very happy. She is always smiling and it warms my heart even more than my daffodil sprouts! She is one happy girl and I hope this is a sign of a sunny disposition that she will carry throughout her life. What a joy to be around this little baby is!
After much cajoling on my part, Drew finally decided she would play T-Ball this spring. I have been excited for years to join the ranks of the sports moms on the sidelines, cheering my star athlete on, but for awhile I was afraid that wasn't going to happen with Miss Drewsy. She totally axed the idea of taking ballet, which broke my heart, so I wasn't surprised that she had no interest in T-Ball. Her reason was that she didn't want anyone looking at her. I explained to her that the other parents will just be looking at their kids so I would be the only one looking at her. So I stretched the truth a little! I decided not to push her into anything she didn't want to do, but for some reason she decided on her own that she would try T-Ball. She and I headed to the high school yesterday morning at 10am sharp to sign her up, and I should have known, things weren't what they seemed. Paul and I thought the fee to play was reasonable but what they don't tell you till you arrive at sign-ups, with a 4 year old all hyped to play on her first team, is that you either sign your kid up to sell at least 6 items from their fund raiser or you opt-out for $30 more. Crimony! So I call up Paul, grumbling under my breath, and we decide to let her still play, because really, how could we not, and that we would pay the darn opt-out fee since I'm not ready for my 4 year old to hit the streets hocking goods no one really wants. I guess we'll see how it goes this year, but I have definitely learned my lesson. Welcome to the world of kids sports and fundraisers. Ugh.
I have to admit January hasn't been all bad. The sunshine we have had the past couple of days has really lifted my spirits. Nothing beats a bright sunny day with sparkling blue skies and sunlight so bright you can barely keep your eyes open!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Drama!
2009 has not been good to my family. We have had many injuries and its only been what, 4 days? Heaven help me if this is a taste of things to come this year! A few days ago I was shaving my legs and I sliced the tip off my pinky finger. I continued to shave my legs till I looked at my hand and there was blood everywhere! I couldn't get it to stop bleeding, and being the wuss I am when it comes to the sight of blood, I about passed out in the shower! I had to sit down and collect myself and Drew had to help me out. I showed her how to call dad at work on my cell phone in case I "fell asleep" and she couldn't wake me up. I was a mess for a few hours that morning. You would think after giving birth 3 times I would have toughened up a bit but I guess not!
Yesterday we turned our fire on in the living room. We hadn't had it on for probably over a year so its no wonder Mason had no idea he needed to stay away from it because it was hot. I turned it off and probably 2 minutes later, for some reason, Mason had the back of his left hand up against the metal grate on top of the fire place. He started to scream and I panicked and probably swore and grabbed him and ran his hand under cold water. He has 3 nice blisters across the back of his left hand, right across his knuckles. That was bad enough. Tonight he and Drew were snuggled up by the fire, watching the snow fall (AGAIN!) and I think he was using the fireplace as a support to help him up and he put his left hand on the extremely hot glass. He started screaming, I started swearing, I grabbed him, and we ran his hand under the cold water again. This time he has 3 nice blisters on his index, middle, and ring fingers. He was totally out of control, sobbing and screaming and writhing, mostly in pain, but I think the time change at church contributed a bit since he never took a nap now that we get home after 2pm. Exhaustion + owies = one freaking out little body! My poor little sweetheart cried himself to sleep and if tonight is anything like last night, he will be up crying a few times during the night. No, 2009 isn't shaping up to be a very good year so far!
Yesterday we turned our fire on in the living room. We hadn't had it on for probably over a year so its no wonder Mason had no idea he needed to stay away from it because it was hot. I turned it off and probably 2 minutes later, for some reason, Mason had the back of his left hand up against the metal grate on top of the fire place. He started to scream and I panicked and probably swore and grabbed him and ran his hand under cold water. He has 3 nice blisters across the back of his left hand, right across his knuckles. That was bad enough. Tonight he and Drew were snuggled up by the fire, watching the snow fall (AGAIN!) and I think he was using the fireplace as a support to help him up and he put his left hand on the extremely hot glass. He started screaming, I started swearing, I grabbed him, and we ran his hand under the cold water again. This time he has 3 nice blisters on his index, middle, and ring fingers. He was totally out of control, sobbing and screaming and writhing, mostly in pain, but I think the time change at church contributed a bit since he never took a nap now that we get home after 2pm. Exhaustion + owies = one freaking out little body! My poor little sweetheart cried himself to sleep and if tonight is anything like last night, he will be up crying a few times during the night. No, 2009 isn't shaping up to be a very good year so far!
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