So can I just admit that it was less painful to live with the ginormous cyst in my foot than it is to have it gone? The surgery was 7 weeks ago, and my foot is still killing me. So, I had my follow-up appointment with the surgeon yesterday. It seems that my foot still hurts because it is infected. Great. I got to experience the joy of something they call “scraping and draining” without any pharmaceutical intervention. I only cried a little. Now I have a lovely crater on my foot - .7” long, .3” wide and .3” deep (oh, yeah, they measured how deep it is. Let’s not do that again, please.). I have to keep it packed with gauze that has to be changed daily for the next week. Plus, I’m on oral antibiotics for 10 days. So, on the eve of a 3-day weekend I’m about to spend with 2 extremely active little girls, I am once again hobbling around in pain and unable to do anything cool – like go swimming in the lake when we visit my sister tomorrow. Oh, yeah, and I if have a fever, chills, nausea or vomiting I’m supposed to go directly to the emergency room. Lovely.
Ok, I’m done whining now. You can feel sorry for me if you want.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
See How She’s Grown
Yesterday the girls both had physicals – OBaby for preschool and YBaby had her 2-year-old check up. Both babies are wonderfully healthy. YBaby needed to have some immunizations – 3 shots for the poor thing. Of course, she handled it well. Two minutes of crying, then she was her old self. She was a little whiney last night and early this morning, but it was no big drama. The good news is that YBaby has grown 1 ½ inches and gained 3 pounds since her doctor’s visit 5 months ago! She really is getting bigger. Now, she is as tall as the average 16 month old and weighs the same as an average 7-month-old baby. I would say she is tall and skinny, but since she isn’t even on the height chart for a 2 year old, well, she ain’t exactly tall.
The doctor was thrilled with her progress – especially her increased strength and muscle tone. The last time he saw her, she couldn’t stand. Yesterday, she couldn’t sit still! She was running around the exam room and playing hide and seek with her sister in the curtains. He also got to hear lots of her chattering and was impressed with her communications skills. He is the father of 4 internationally adopted kids, so he really knows what he’s talking about when it comes to orphanage delays. To me, the most amazing thing is that this was her first visit to him since we came home 5 months ago. She has seen her specialists for her surgery, but we haven’t had to have one trip to the family doctor. This kid has got one heck of an immune system. OBaby caught every bug in 3 counties her first 6 months home. Heck, I got to witness childhood illnesses I’d never even heard of before (Hand/Foot/Mouth, anyone?)! But YBaby, knock on wood, is a healthy girl. And a smart girl. And beautiful. And funny. And sweet. Yeah, I kind of like her!
The doctor was thrilled with her progress – especially her increased strength and muscle tone. The last time he saw her, she couldn’t stand. Yesterday, she couldn’t sit still! She was running around the exam room and playing hide and seek with her sister in the curtains. He also got to hear lots of her chattering and was impressed with her communications skills. He is the father of 4 internationally adopted kids, so he really knows what he’s talking about when it comes to orphanage delays. To me, the most amazing thing is that this was her first visit to him since we came home 5 months ago. She has seen her specialists for her surgery, but we haven’t had to have one trip to the family doctor. This kid has got one heck of an immune system. OBaby caught every bug in 3 counties her first 6 months home. Heck, I got to witness childhood illnesses I’d never even heard of before (Hand/Foot/Mouth, anyone?)! But YBaby, knock on wood, is a healthy girl. And a smart girl. And beautiful. And funny. And sweet. Yeah, I kind of like her!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Happy Birthday, Grandma!
Ok, so we drove all the way down to see you, spent two days at your house, and not ONCE did I think to have the girls say happy birthday to their dear grandma. So, today OBaby says, "Happy Birthday, Grandma. I love you really much, and I hope you have the most special birthday ever." YBaby says, "Ah-pple! BITE!" Really, do I need to interpret that?
Happy Birthday, Mom!
Happy Birthday, Mom!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Saying Good bye to An Old Friend
Today, I had to do the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I had to make the decision to have my dog, Marbles, put down. He is 11 years old, and I’ve had him since he was 4 months old. He is my longest lasting relationship, and he has been a true friend to me for more than 10 years. I love the old boy.
The first time I saw Marbles, I thought he was blind in his left eye because of the color. He had one brown eye and one blue – they looked like a pair of marbles (hence the name). He was at that awkward not really a puppy, but not a grown dog either stage. I knew the first time I saw him that he was supposed to be my dog.
The first months were rough. He destroyed everything in his path. We tried crate training, and he ate the pad in his crate. We let him play outside, and he ate the hot tub cover and pulled all of the landscape lighting up out of the backyard. I literally had to stand between him and Bill that day to keep Bill from pummeling him!
But, he outgrew the chewing and became a well-behaved dog. Ok, so he flunked obedience training 3 times, but that was more me than him. He just knew that I wasn’t mean enough to be the boss. Oh, well. He still had pretty good manners – no jumping (except on my sister) and no licking people’s faces (I hate that!).
We had a few rough times and nursed him through a couple of serious illnesses. At times it seemed silly to spend that kind of money on a dog, but back then, we had it to spend, and we felt like we’d made a commitment to care for him.
When Bill died, Marbles became my reason to get out of bed in the morning. He mourned with me, he comforted me when I cried, and through it all, he just loved me. What more could you ask for from a dog?
I’ll admit, Marbles was more than a little put out when O Baby came home. By then, he was used to it just being the two of us, and he really wasn’t interested in sharing his mamma with that “thing”. But, in time, he grew to well, ok, I won’t say love, but he grew to accept her. I think he realized that she was important to mamma, therefore, she became important to him. For her part, she adored him. Her first attempt at his name, “Waba” became a nickname that stuck, even after she learned to say Marbles.
By the time Y Baby came home, Marbles was pretty much resolved to the fact that he was never going to be top dog again. He accepted her right away, and she thought he was ok, too. Marbles was a good little mother’s helper. He would come find me when the baby was crying, and I could always count on him to clean up the floor after a messy meal.
It’s a horrible thing to have to decide to let your pet go, but it is the biggest responsibility a pet owner has. Knowing that I did what I needed to do doesn’t make at any easier. I love that dog, and I would have held on to him forever if I could. But, it was time. Time to say goodbye, buddy. And I like to think that Bill is there, waiting for him on the other side of Rainbow Bridge – in a place where they can play tug and share cheeseburgers again.
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
The first time I saw Marbles, I thought he was blind in his left eye because of the color. He had one brown eye and one blue – they looked like a pair of marbles (hence the name). He was at that awkward not really a puppy, but not a grown dog either stage. I knew the first time I saw him that he was supposed to be my dog.
The first months were rough. He destroyed everything in his path. We tried crate training, and he ate the pad in his crate. We let him play outside, and he ate the hot tub cover and pulled all of the landscape lighting up out of the backyard. I literally had to stand between him and Bill that day to keep Bill from pummeling him!
But, he outgrew the chewing and became a well-behaved dog. Ok, so he flunked obedience training 3 times, but that was more me than him. He just knew that I wasn’t mean enough to be the boss. Oh, well. He still had pretty good manners – no jumping (except on my sister) and no licking people’s faces (I hate that!).
We had a few rough times and nursed him through a couple of serious illnesses. At times it seemed silly to spend that kind of money on a dog, but back then, we had it to spend, and we felt like we’d made a commitment to care for him.
When Bill died, Marbles became my reason to get out of bed in the morning. He mourned with me, he comforted me when I cried, and through it all, he just loved me. What more could you ask for from a dog?
I’ll admit, Marbles was more than a little put out when O Baby came home. By then, he was used to it just being the two of us, and he really wasn’t interested in sharing his mamma with that “thing”. But, in time, he grew to well, ok, I won’t say love, but he grew to accept her. I think he realized that she was important to mamma, therefore, she became important to him. For her part, she adored him. Her first attempt at his name, “Waba” became a nickname that stuck, even after she learned to say Marbles.
By the time Y Baby came home, Marbles was pretty much resolved to the fact that he was never going to be top dog again. He accepted her right away, and she thought he was ok, too. Marbles was a good little mother’s helper. He would come find me when the baby was crying, and I could always count on him to clean up the floor after a messy meal.
It’s a horrible thing to have to decide to let your pet go, but it is the biggest responsibility a pet owner has. Knowing that I did what I needed to do doesn’t make at any easier. I love that dog, and I would have held on to him forever if I could. But, it was time. Time to say goodbye, buddy. And I like to think that Bill is there, waiting for him on the other side of Rainbow Bridge – in a place where they can play tug and share cheeseburgers again.
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...
Thursday, August 09, 2007
And Baby Makes . . . 19????
Ok, I admit it. I have this sort of freaky fascination with the Duggar Family. You’ve heard of the Duggars, right? The family that just welcomed their 17th child? Yeah, you read that right, these people have 17 kids – all of them biological. Mama Michelle has spent something like 11 years of her life pregnant, and she wants MORE KIDS. Um, Michelle, me thinks perhaps you might have a bit of a problem. Like maybe you are addicted to making babies. Really, 17? I read that her doctor “ordered” her to stop having babies about a half a dozen kids ago, but apparently she didn’t listen. I’m thinking instead of a gyno, this woman needs a psychiatrist to figure out why she needs so many kids!
So, you might wonder, how do 2 parents raise 17 kids? Easy, they make the older kids raise the younger ones. Each older kid has one or two “buddies” that they are responsible for taking care of. Nice, huh? Plus, the kids are responsible for cleaning the house. The 15 year old daughter has to make lunch every day (for the whole heard) while the 17 year old girl cooks dinner – every night. The family home schools (sure, don’t let the kids out into the world where they could see that not every 12 year old is expected to dress, feed, bath, and baby-sit a couple of toddlers every day). The older kids spend the mornings teaching the little ones. Ok, so with all these older kids taking care of the little ones, and cleaning the house, and the two servant girls doing all the cooking, what exactly is Mama Duggar doing all day (ok, I’m not going for the cheap, obvious joke here!)? The only thing I’ve found that she actually does (besides act as over-seer) is facilitate “financial freedom” seminars. Yeah, apparently despite having more kids than sense, the Duggars are debt free. They recently built a house using their little angels as unpaid laborers. Really, little kids hanging dry wall and swinging hammers.
So, what’s my problem with all of this? Yeah, of course I’ve got a problem with it. As a single parent with just 2 kids, I see how hard it is to spend time with both and to give each of them the amount of attention they crave. So, how in the world can two parents possibly do this for 17 kids? How do you ever spend one-on-one time with a child when there are 16 others competing for your attention? And what does it do to a child to be just one of the heard? People who adopt children from overseas worry about the fact that the children don’t have individual care-givers, and that they don’t get to bond with a parent. How is having 17 kids with only 2 parents really much better than an orphanage? Ah, but the little ones do get individual attention – from their buddies.
That’s my other problem with this – kids being forced to act as de facto parents for younger siblings. How fair is it to a pre-teen to make him/her have total responsibility for one or two toddlers? When do the big kids get a chance to be kids? And who is nurturing them while they are nurturing the littles? Not to mention the amount of housework these kids are expected to do. A 15 year old being forced to cook lunch for 19 people every day sounds like a violation of child labor laws! It’s just wrong on so many levels.
So, the Duggars feel that kids are a gift from God, and they want as many gifts as God is willing to give them. And, hey, while they’re at it, they aren’t turning down gifts from anyone else, either. These two media whores have sold their story to anyone and everyone. They brag about being debt-free (isn’t bragging a little “flashy” for such a “simple” family?), but they never mention the “assistance” they got from The Learning Channel (one of two networks to do specials about the family) to build their house. They say that they dress the way they do as so as not to draw attention to themselves, but they jump in front of a camera every chance they get, turning their kids into a bunch of freaks growing up in a freak-show.
It’s sad, it’s disgusting, and it’s like a train wreck – I just can’t look away. Mark my words, one of these days, we are going to see Duggar neighbors on TV saying “Little Joshua/John-David/Jill/Jessa/Jinger/Joseph/Josiah/Joy-Anna/Jedidiah/Jeremiah/Jason/James/Justin/Jackson/Johannah/Jennifer* was always such a sweet child. I’d never would have expected him/her to become an axe-murderer.”
*Yes, all 17 kids names start with the letter “J”. It just adds to the freakiness.
So, you might wonder, how do 2 parents raise 17 kids? Easy, they make the older kids raise the younger ones. Each older kid has one or two “buddies” that they are responsible for taking care of. Nice, huh? Plus, the kids are responsible for cleaning the house. The 15 year old daughter has to make lunch every day (for the whole heard) while the 17 year old girl cooks dinner – every night. The family home schools (sure, don’t let the kids out into the world where they could see that not every 12 year old is expected to dress, feed, bath, and baby-sit a couple of toddlers every day). The older kids spend the mornings teaching the little ones. Ok, so with all these older kids taking care of the little ones, and cleaning the house, and the two servant girls doing all the cooking, what exactly is Mama Duggar doing all day (ok, I’m not going for the cheap, obvious joke here!)? The only thing I’ve found that she actually does (besides act as over-seer) is facilitate “financial freedom” seminars. Yeah, apparently despite having more kids than sense, the Duggars are debt free. They recently built a house using their little angels as unpaid laborers. Really, little kids hanging dry wall and swinging hammers.
So, what’s my problem with all of this? Yeah, of course I’ve got a problem with it. As a single parent with just 2 kids, I see how hard it is to spend time with both and to give each of them the amount of attention they crave. So, how in the world can two parents possibly do this for 17 kids? How do you ever spend one-on-one time with a child when there are 16 others competing for your attention? And what does it do to a child to be just one of the heard? People who adopt children from overseas worry about the fact that the children don’t have individual care-givers, and that they don’t get to bond with a parent. How is having 17 kids with only 2 parents really much better than an orphanage? Ah, but the little ones do get individual attention – from their buddies.
That’s my other problem with this – kids being forced to act as de facto parents for younger siblings. How fair is it to a pre-teen to make him/her have total responsibility for one or two toddlers? When do the big kids get a chance to be kids? And who is nurturing them while they are nurturing the littles? Not to mention the amount of housework these kids are expected to do. A 15 year old being forced to cook lunch for 19 people every day sounds like a violation of child labor laws! It’s just wrong on so many levels.
So, the Duggars feel that kids are a gift from God, and they want as many gifts as God is willing to give them. And, hey, while they’re at it, they aren’t turning down gifts from anyone else, either. These two media whores have sold their story to anyone and everyone. They brag about being debt-free (isn’t bragging a little “flashy” for such a “simple” family?), but they never mention the “assistance” they got from The Learning Channel (one of two networks to do specials about the family) to build their house. They say that they dress the way they do as so as not to draw attention to themselves, but they jump in front of a camera every chance they get, turning their kids into a bunch of freaks growing up in a freak-show.
It’s sad, it’s disgusting, and it’s like a train wreck – I just can’t look away. Mark my words, one of these days, we are going to see Duggar neighbors on TV saying “Little Joshua/John-David/Jill/Jessa/Jinger/Joseph/Josiah/Joy-Anna/Jedidiah/Jeremiah/Jason/James/Justin/Jackson/Johannah/Jennifer* was always such a sweet child. I’d never would have expected him/her to become an axe-murderer.”
*Yes, all 17 kids names start with the letter “J”. It just adds to the freakiness.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Ba, Ba, Ba, Baaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I swear, I’ve never met a kid who loves to take a bath like Y Baby. She would probably willingly get in the tub 10 times a day if I would let her. Really, I’ve never seen anything like it. The girl loves her baths. I would say she is a total water baby, but um, the swimming pool? Not so crazy about it. I think she prefers the quite, confined nature of the tub. But hey, she LOVES to take a bath.
So, here’s the story. Last night, she was in the family room, and I went into the bathroom to run a bath for the girls. O Baby followed me, and started undressing. I few minutes later, I hear Y Baby coming down the hall. She gets about half way to the bathroom and hears water running – so she starts running! She comes running into the bathroom yelling “Ba, ba, ba, baaaaaaaaaa!” and pulling at her dress trying to get it off. She gets in the bathroom, and stands in front of me yelling “Ba, ba, ba, baaaaaaaaaa!”, pulling at her dress, and her little feet were just dancing all over the place. The girl was soooooo excited to get to take a bath! I got her clothes off, and she was trying to pull her diaper off – ‘cause apparently Momma wasn’t moving fast enough. When I finally got her “nake” she started trying to throw her little leg up to get in the tub by herself. Now, if you’ve seen her, you know she was in no danger of actually getting that little leg up high enough to get into the tub, but you have to admire the effort! O Baby and I were both laughing out loud. I wish I’d had a video camera so you all could have seen her! Once she was finally in the tub, she was in heaven! She lays over on her side to get her hair wet. She blows bubbles. She will even float if Momma holds on with both hands under her. She likes to wash her own hair (like big sister). Then, once she is done (that is, once the water gets too cold) she wants OUT. NOW. She likes to get wrapped up in a towel and have Momma hold her like a tiny baby. Sigh. Who knew kids were so much fun?
So, here’s the story. Last night, she was in the family room, and I went into the bathroom to run a bath for the girls. O Baby followed me, and started undressing. I few minutes later, I hear Y Baby coming down the hall. She gets about half way to the bathroom and hears water running – so she starts running! She comes running into the bathroom yelling “Ba, ba, ba, baaaaaaaaaa!” and pulling at her dress trying to get it off. She gets in the bathroom, and stands in front of me yelling “Ba, ba, ba, baaaaaaaaaa!”, pulling at her dress, and her little feet were just dancing all over the place. The girl was soooooo excited to get to take a bath! I got her clothes off, and she was trying to pull her diaper off – ‘cause apparently Momma wasn’t moving fast enough. When I finally got her “nake” she started trying to throw her little leg up to get in the tub by herself. Now, if you’ve seen her, you know she was in no danger of actually getting that little leg up high enough to get into the tub, but you have to admire the effort! O Baby and I were both laughing out loud. I wish I’d had a video camera so you all could have seen her! Once she was finally in the tub, she was in heaven! She lays over on her side to get her hair wet. She blows bubbles. She will even float if Momma holds on with both hands under her. She likes to wash her own hair (like big sister). Then, once she is done (that is, once the water gets too cold) she wants OUT. NOW. She likes to get wrapped up in a towel and have Momma hold her like a tiny baby. Sigh. Who knew kids were so much fun?
Monday, August 06, 2007
Ying Turns 2!
Saturday was a big day at our house. My little baby celebrated her second birthday - her first at home with her family. I wanted to do a simple birthday - cake and ice cream with just family - since Ying has no idea what a birthday is or what it means to be 2. Well, lucky for her big sister is on the job, and big sister knows birthdays. She informed me that we needed a fancy cake, balloons, and decorations. Way to go, O. You look out for your baby sister! So, we had sort of a mini-party. As expected, the birthday girl had no clue what was going on. She woke up from her nap kind of grouchy, and it took over an hour for her to start getting into the party. The cake and ice cream bored her. The presents were mostly overwhelming – until they were opened and she realized that there was cool new stuff to play with. Then, we finally started to see some smiles.
The girls are starting to play together a bit more these days. The new favorite game is mommy and baby. O is the mommy, and Y is the baby. I have to get some pictures of O pushing Y through the house in the doll stroller (which is actually just Y’s size!). The funniest thing was to hear her calling O “Momma” and then looking at me and grinning. Yeah, she knew it was a game. At one point this weekend, Y yelled “Momma” and I answered. She gave me that ‘Oh, please, no one is talking to you look” and said “no”. Then she turned towards O and yelled “Momma” again. It’s so cute to see her little brain figuring all of this out. I know the girls play mommy and baby at daycare, so she is used to hearing O and G calling each other ‘Mommy” and “Baby”. I’m just surprised at how quickly she has learned the game!
Friday, August 03, 2007
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