Hedgehog Blog: Disabled Mom Parenting with Cerebral Palsy after Pregnancy

Stressful Saturday

2012-01-28T19:02:00.000-05:00

I should have known what kind of day it was going to be from the start. Riley woke me with urgency and fresh on the heels of her stomach virus I jumped out of bed worried to discover she was simply requesting a prompt breakfast. Then I selflessly kept the kids entertained and away from the bedroom so Mike could sleep. Mike got up just as I was putting Riley down for a nap at noon.

I didn't mind because I knew we didn't have any plans and I figured post nap it would be his turn. It turned out, being the good son he is, he had to go help his mom with car and computer trouble. So, after a whole week of a cranky toddler and way more exorcize than I bargained for I got a whole Saturday alone with the kids. I've gotten all, but one hamper of laundry done. That's an accomplishment since I had to dig my way into the laundry room with a fork lift.

On top of kids, messy house, laundry stress I've had a healthy amount of surprising news. Nothing Earth shattering just sad stuff, I'll get over it. I'm very tired and I seem to be leaving upset people in my wake lately. I love my friends and I try to be considerate and appreciative of them all the time, but I've failed more then once recently. I feel terrible about it.

I feel selfish and oblivious because I am obsessed with my wedding and my recovery in every spare moment of thought. You heard me of thought because there aren't any space moments for deeds right now. I am trying to inhale, exhale and mend fences. I am attempting to let the hurt I feel today roll of my back. If someone is immature enough to go out of their way to make a show how little they care for me than let them. I don't want to force people to do things. I want to take of myself and the people who love me and let the rest go.

A Sudden Shift

2012-01-27T12:29:00.001-05:00

Today, I got up and showered and got dressed to leave the house. Hurray! I took Riley over to play with her friends. I had a nice visit with D. and then I ran over to the mall to pick something up. When I got home it was quiet. Messy and over run with laundry, but quiet. I made a start on cleaning and laundry. More importantly I ate an uninterrupted and unshared lunch and watched something that wasn't Dora the Explorer. Aaaahhh....

I started editing all the blogs that had piled up in my draft box while Riley was sick. What a whiny bunch of writing. Sorry, blog fans. The back to back mall walks have really sapped my energy. I really put some miles on those crutches. Unfortunately, today was also my last physical therapy home visit. He was supposed to come at noon, he called me at 4:30pm. Ugh. I did find somewhere to go for out patient therapy, but it's a hike. Mike is really worried about me driving that far three times a week.

It's been a little intense around here with Riley's illness and the wedding looming. I'm feeling almost manic lately. I'm either so excited and happy about life and the wedding or I'm down in the dumps. Maybe I need more sleep. Yeah, that goes on the list more sleep, more money and more hours in the day, please!

Bustin' Out!

2012-01-26T20:40:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we actually opened the front door and sat on the stoop to get some fresh air. I think the novelty of not having to go anywhere has worn off for both of us! We have ants in our pants big time. Riley made it through a full two hour nap yesterday and best of all slept through the night last night without getting sick! Woo-hoo! Mike and I woke up disorientated like we used to when she was tiny.
"Did you get up with her last night?"
"No, did you?"
"No."
"But that means..."
"Yay!!!"

She everything she ate down yesterday. Now, if the other end of things behaves normally today she can be officially released from quarantine from other kids. She ate a good breakfast and was very happy this morning. My mom just got back into town from taking care of my Aunt post car accident (this was her car). So, grandma came to visit us with some treasures she found on her trip. Riley got new cupcake and princess pants among other things. She brought Isaac a peace sign made out of a circuit board, it was a big hit. She even brought Mike and I some things.

I decided to test the waters and run a post nap errand. Riley slept well and I got to see all the beautiful pictures from Mom's trip. When she woke up the three of headed over to the mall. I needed one thing and knew exactly where to get it. Unfortunately, Riley's patience was all used up on the walk from the car to the store. She did point into the case at jewelry store and say “oh! When I grow up I'm gonna have some of these. I'm gonna wear them on my finger.” Upon inspecting her finger and considering “they're gonna fall off.” I guess it's hard to imagine your hands bigger. After the cute commentary concluded and Mommy still wasn't done she got mad. I think she was hungry and grumpy, but what a pill! She dove away from grandma and right into the sign, Konk!

I'm sure they were happy to see us go! After a trip to the food court for a snack Riley claimed to "feel better." By then of course we were leaving. We came home for bit and then we took a walk to go get Isaac from school, lots of fresh air. I'm confident she can go play with her friends tomorrow without danger. Now, If I survive the insane amount of laundry the sickness left in it's wake we'll be getting back to normal around here. Phew!

PS: Happy Birthday, D!!!

Climbing the Walls

2012-01-25T12:12:00.001-05:00

Riley hasn't slept through the night or a nap in days. She's either issuing forth something disgusting and crying or happy and playing. I have a tiny little bipolar person with stomach flu in my midst. I'm having so kind of sinus issue and I'm exhausted. The past two days I didn't ever want to separate from my baby. Today I wish she'd get better and leave me alone for five freaking seconds!

She seems to be on the mend by afternoon, but definitely not better. So much for exactly 48hrs, I guess no one gave the nasty little virus the memo. I'm really not a whiner, but this week was exceedingly difficult. I haven't been this tired or over bodily fluids since potty training!

I pray Riley's immune system will win once and for all today. Please, please let her digestive function return to normal. I want to sleep (how in the heck did I survive her infancy?). I miss outside...At this rate after the virus passes we'll stay home another week while I wade through all this laundry.

The Next Phase: Guilt

2012-01-24T21:44:00.001-05:00

Phase one of being home with a sick little one is heartbreak. Actually, phase one is probably denial. She's not getting sick. She's fine. When you can't deny it any more your heart breaks. After you've felt sad until you ache, it starts. The guilt.

This is my fault. How could I let this happen to my baby? All of Mike's anti-social tendencies are right. I shouldn't let her be so social. I did this? Why don't I do more? I should have her home with me everyday all day. I should protect her from this ever happening again.

It's irrational, but motherhood is too. I just wish I could live up to my standards as a mother and a spouse. I'm not 100% recovered from this last surgery and I have a lot on my plate with the wedding around the corner. I thought I had an opportunity to be productive outside the house and it fell through. I used to think if I can't have something that's just mine I'll do this mother thing better than it's ever been done before. Now, I know a)I can't live up to my expectations b)It's not enough to live for other people all the time.

I guess I feel like I let both of us down today.

The Toddler Plague

2012-01-23T23:01:00.044-05:00

Some days back Miss Boo had a house guest who got very ill during his stay. After he left Miss Boo got sick. I felt for her Mommy there are few things sadder on Earth than a sick toddler. The weekend passed and Riley was so well...so Riley that I thought we were in the clear. I should have known best friends share everything, especially two year old girls!

Last night around 10pm (she'd been sleeping for two hours)Riley came to get me. From that point on something vile issued forth from my sweet girl every two or so hours all night. This morning she seemed tired, but in good spirits. I washed all of her bedding so she was hanging out in my bed with me. She just laid with me and watched Tangled most of the morning. Then she had a warm bath.

She seemed to be doing ok so I gave her lunch. Then we laid down in my bed together for nap. She talked my ear off and watched Dora, but didn't fall asleep. Finally, I turned off the tv, asked her to close her eyes and sang to her until she was out. I fell asleep too. We slept soundly side by side for about 45min. Riley woke up screaming. I was in a haze and naptime wasn't over. I kept trying to hold her and reassure her, but she wanted down. I should have known. I should have taken her to the bathroom. I didn't and this time it came out both ends all over me.

Obviously it was all down hill from there...It's completely devastating to watch your child suffer when there is nothing you can do to help. When she was a baby and she threw up she'd have no idea what was happening and then she'd immediately forget. Now that she's older she knows exactly what's happening, but she doesn't remember it happening before in her life so it's terrifying. Not only doesn't she remember it when it's over she tells me the story all day long. This is going to be a long week.

What Riley Does During My Doctor's Appiontments

2012-01-22T21:58:00.002-05:00

Step One: Charm the front desk and score a clipboard full of paper for drawing.

She's so cute and proud. "I'm workin' Mommy. I'm verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry busy!"

Step Two: Charm the nurses and score a lollipop and a Hello Kitty sticker seconds after leaving the waiting room.

Step Three: Get comfy and entertain yourself by drawing on the exam table paper, pointing to X-rays and exclaiming "mommy's bones!" and various other adorable yet asstute remarks.

Step Four: Sweetly bid everyone farewell to ensure you'll be in their good graces next time.

Repeat monthly until your Mommy heals for best results.

Some Saturday

2012-01-21T20:07:00.001-05:00

Some not so terribly distant Saturday I will wake up long after dawn and I will lay in bed missing being woken up at 6am and offered a plate of plastic food. One such Saturday I won't wonder through the house and see both kids sitting silently side by side on the couch while cartoons flash shadows on the wall. One such Saturday Mike won't emerge and offer blueberry waffles to a chorus of excited screams.

Today though everything was as it should be. The afternoon passed in a blur of toys, playdough, story books, PBS cartoons and nap time. I'm not sure what I accomplished...I know wedding related emails and decisions were priority. I know Mike worked in the shed. I know Isaac built a second level on his Lego mothership. We never left the house.

I woke up with my head buzzing with errands and to do's, but the day proceeded alot stiller and calmer than that. I think some days you just get the balance right. Play with kids, be productive, take a moment and start again. We'll be back to our weekly routines soon.

Who knows what the kids will learn or how they will grow by next Saturday?

Physical Therapy Drama

2012-01-20T13:32:00.000-05:00

The doctor wrote me a prescription on Tuesday. I called Wednesday to the place down the road where I intended to go for physical therapy. Guess what? They no longer have an out patient physical therapy department. Awesome. The next closest hospital didn't either and they thought the first place I called still did. These must have been recent department cuts. I am hopping and praying I don't have to go all the way to the other side of town (with minimal parking) three times a week.

The 3rd closest hospital still had an out patient PT department at least, but I couldn't get anyone on the phone. I know the place on the other side of town that I went to when we lived closer is booked solid for at least 3wks at the moment. Three weeks! I have a deadline, here folks! I'm hoping the smaller closer hospital has a sooner appointment.

My current PT warns against going anywhere that's not a hospital since their cap for insurance coverage is higher. I really hate the way insurance doles out rules and limits for everyone based on no medical knowledge at all. I have a life long neuro-muscular disorder, so how does billing my therapy as a certain number of visits "per incident" make sense? It doesn't.

I was so excited to be discharged from home care and now I'm going to be stuck in limbo or dragging myself across town three times a week. During my last round of therapy I remember parking the car and hiking the two blocks to the door and being worn out when I got there. At least I'm approved for one more week of home visits so I have a little bit of time to sort it out.

My last two surgeries I was under a more minimal insurance and nobody cared whether I got the amount of therapy my doctor prescribed or not. When the insurance ran out I was done. Six visits after the back surgery, six visits after the hip surgery. Instead of 3 times a week for 6-8wks per surgery like I was supposed to.

Grrrrr!

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

2012-01-19T12:55:00.001-05:00

I got a lot of bad news this week. Everyone in my house is happy and healthy as can be expected. Friends and family however are suffering. I am grateful that I am removed enough to be objective. I can see the up side and count the blessings, but I am close enough to them to feel compassion. I wish I could protect my love ones from pain, but I know that that fast forward button I've longed for so often recently doesn't exist. I know everyone who's struggling through hard situations right now has a strong support network. I am happily a member of that network in all cases.

They are facing difficult medical situations, devastating accidents and significant changes in their lives. I am proud of the courage they have all shown. I am so glad they all have an optimistic view of the future dispute their current circumstances. You are all super heroes. I love you and I'll be here for whatever you need. Be strong! Just keep swimming.

Mother of Three Trial Run

2012-01-18T12:20:00.001-05:00

Nothing went according to plan today. It's really been the week for that. Miss Roo was supposed to go play at her friend's house today, but her friend threw up in the wee hours. So, poor Riley was stuck with me. I volunteered to take the 6mo old off sick Momma's hands so she and the toddler could recover together. I was excited to be up to babysitting again, but not foolish enough to think I was up for three conscious children by myself. I picked up my mom for back-up.

Most of the day I had Riley and the baby. It wasn't until afternoon when school let out that I was juggling the needs of three beings. The baby slept every three hours which was great because I could give the big kids lots of attention during naps. Unfortunately, children can sense when you have your hands full (giving the baby a bottle, etc) and they converge on you with their "urgent" demands.

Generally, a two to one ratio is what I deal with during the day so with my mom and I we were at a similar disadvantage. Riley was exceptionally sweet about all the attention the baby was getting. I do think knowing she would leave at the end of the day helped. I know it helped Mommy cope with the stressful moments. You sure get used to a toddler's level of independence. I told Riley I loved her more than the baby because she could help. She was thrilled by that.

I'm glad we're an even numbered family unit because sometimes we're one adult per child which is so nice. It's easier to remember who's turn it is to do things too. Can you hear me rationalizing what I cannot change? There are no more babies whether it's a good idea or not. It was a fun day overall and I was thrilled to be able to help a friend the way so many helped me after the back surgery.

Optomistic Ortho Updates

2012-01-17T11:44:00.024-05:00

I went back to see Dr. B today. Riley was super bummed that the big Christmas tree in the waiting room was gone, but the lady at the front desk gave her a clipboard to draw on. She was verrrrrrrry busy. She was working and working! It was adorable. She has forever dubbed Dr. B's nurse "nice lady" which she doesn't mind at all. Nice lady took her to get stickers and a lollipop as soon as we were in a room. Her sticker this time was a doctor stick man with clothes and accessories. That was super fun to stick to the paper on her clipboard. My mom made a comment about Riley growing up in doctor's offices "just like mommy" I really hope not.

I sincerely hope that she barely remembers all these surgeries and doctor visits. I hope this is a phase of life that passes soon for the sake of myself and my children. I need another 10yr (at least) break from all this crap. Fingers crossed, breath held, determined face on.

We got a new X-ray and Dr. B says the bone are solid again. Full weigh bearing is permissible now as much as tolerated. He wrote me a prescription for out patient physical therapy. Which was expected. Then he said "Well, was it worth it?". I told him I'd let him know when I got back to my former level of activity/mobility. It always hurts less when you do less, you know? In the recent past I declared a surgery a success before I was moving too much and I was incorrect. He agreed that it was a little soon to know for sure, but that he too was optimistic.

I don't have to go back until April! I'll have turned 30 and been legally married by then. Woah. Hopefully, I'll be able to definitely say it was worth it by then.

Who Am I?

2012-01-16T22:50:00.001-05:00

Another post from the past: Originally published on my My Space blog Oct 27, 2006

Who am I? Who am I if I break free from everyone I care about? Who am I if I make a life from nothing? Who am I if I never follow? Who am I if I conquer my fears one at a time? Who am I if I never need help?

Now...

Who am I if I'm lonely for the people I've left behind? Who am I if I need the things I said I didn't want? Who am I if stability appeals to me? Who am I if I decide some things aren't worth giving up? Who am I if love brings me back? Who am I with roots?

Am I less me? Less free, less fearless, less passionate....

Isaac Academically

2012-01-15T22:40:00.000-05:00

I may have missed the first years of Isaac's life, but I have been here every single day since he started school. We seemed to get incredible teachers every other year (so far). Kindergarten was amazing for Isaac. His teacher that year really understood him. He really blossomed that year. She even tried to send him to a first grade class for reading time, but he's not good with change and he wasn't mature enough to handle it. When that didn't work out she sought out higher level text books not just reading, but whatever he needed (math and science, etc)

I knew she was special, but I had no idea how much I'd miss her. He spent a summer doing nothing while I incubated Riley. When he went into to first grade he was excited, but within weeks he was completely discouraged. I'm not sure what kind of educator this woman was any other year, but this happened to be a difficult one for her. She was overwhelmed by a large number of below average performers. She didn't have the time or energy to deal with an academically advanced kid like Isaac and his high energy and volatile emotions didn't endear either. When I went for a parent teacher conference with a newborn in tow his teacher became teary eyed at our suggestions for engaging Isaac. They were reasonable suggestions and most of them volunteered extra participation from us. It was obvious to me, but when she started going to regular doctors appointments it was confirmed. She gave birth the over the summer.

I was terrified our bright boy was already burned out on academia at 7yrs old. We sent him to science camp were he had nary a one behavioral issue. Instead of looking forward to school starting he was understandably anxious (as was I). When we went to meet his teacher before the first day of school a steady stream of former students was flooding in with hugs and greetings. It was a good sign. She had a system for everything, her classroom was all bright colors and positive reinforcement. She was wonderful. It was sad when the year ended.

It was off to a different summer science program that summer. We'd moved a month before school ended and Isaac was equal parts thrilled and completely terrified at the prospect of starting a new school. Third grade, the beginning of the big leagues. I was thrilled that he'd have two teachers (science/math and language arts), but even more thrilled by the teachers themselves. They were interesting, engaging and very willing to hear from us. He's had a good year for the most part. He's had some early pre-adolescent angst, but he finished the first half of the year with straight As (Principal's List) and Perfect attendance!

As Much As You Can Handle

2012-01-14T18:18:00.001-05:00

Post from the Past: Orginially published Jun 9, 2007 on my My Space blog.
Current mood:exhausted

Yesterday was one of those days that lasted weeks. It had some serious and ups and low moments respectively. To start off I didn't get alot of sleep, thanks-you know who you are.

I was "on-call" for jury service from Monday- Friday this week. Without fail I'd call the hotline as soon as the info was posted everyday and eveyday it said I didn't have to go in until Thursday night when a cheerful recording informed me I was to report at 7:30am. Woo-Freakin'-Hoo.

So I decided that a 6:30am drive into down town warranted, brace yourselves, my first serious solo trip on the highway! That's right kiddies two years in Los Angeles and I successfully avoided the highway all that time. But no more.

So, having successfully navigated the delightfully empty 101 and arriving outside the court house with plenty of time to kill I proceeded to pass the parking structure. Unfortunately, "I'll just go around the block" doesn't really work to well downtown. It's all one way you can't turn left until you leave LA county apparently.

To make the experience extra special the people downtown passionately love their horns. It doesn't matter if it's a red light with 30 people in the crosswalk and a down power line shooting sparks 20 feet in the air they will honk. Knowing I had to be within a block of where I needed to be but completely flustered and unable to get there I stopped for breakfast.

I ate and then asked everyone in the Burger King in turn how to get back to the intersection where the courthouse was and all of them looked and me as if I had two heads, shurgged and gave some indication that they didn't speak English. I was saved by the lady behind the counter who I suspect has dealt with more then one person lost on the way to jury duty.

I arrived minutes before 7:30 having spent nearly an hour on my little adventure. I made friends with the girl sitting next to me and waited around with the other 86 people praying not to get assigned to a 6 month murder case.

At 12:30 they released us for lunch at which point my new friend and I set out with the worst directions ever given (thanks court security guy) to some food court. We ended up at CPK where we bumped into unquestionably my favorite regular at Blockbuster.

After an amazing salad we sauntered back to the courthouse half an hour late. Just as we settled in some empty sits they released us for the day. I was so overcome with relief I rushed back to my car and peeled out of the parking without so much as a glance at the directions home, clearly a poor choice.

A good 15 minutes of pondering what a left turn would be like when some far off wonderful day I could make them again, I was back on my good friend the 101. I was headed home, but I missed the memo that rush hour was starting early . Bumper to bumper at 2:45 on a Friday, nice.

I made it home in one piece and excited that I survived a round trip on the 101, break out the baby book mom. I came home to find I was being offered not 1but 2 roles in the independent film I auditioned for! That's right I got 3 roles out of 2 auditions. Two words: 1)Super 2)Hero.

I also had an email from Alison wanting to hang out. The original plan was to get the girls together and go out for Mexican to celebrate my awesomeness. It ended being just the 2 of us on an impromtu trip to see her cousin in Riverside.

The trip there was smooth enough and we had a nice dinner, but something told me to pee before we left the restaurant...(insert omnivorous music here). We made our merry way back to the on ramp and were detoured in a ridiculous circle, just a preview of what was to come. We hopped on and went 55 for about 3min before we came to a screeching halt. Dead stand still, gridlock at midnight. I think the circular detour deposited us in the Twilight Zone. The slowest hour of my life ticked by almost audibly as my full bladder became painful and the lanes slowly dwindled down to one single lane. Your garden variety douche bags, who I suspect are serial killers for the most part, were making the merging process more difficult than it needed to be.

Finally, a little over an hour later the pointless detour lead us off and back onto the highway again. We exited to find a bathroom and marvel and the hour of our lives we'd never get back. The gas station was a no go and we wondered whether continuing with our present luck this would be the only Denny's in America not open after midnight. All was well, good old Denny's was there for our needs.

At this point we hopped back on the highway and headed for home. While there was other signs of construction there was none of the incredible congestion we'd experienced previously.

At about 2am I was dropped off at my door. Adventures....

Photo Friday

2012-01-13T17:05:00.000-05:00

Miss Roo wearing Daddy's hat. Her cheese face is totally weird lately. I think the hat suits her though.

Chowing on an apple in her pretty pink hat and jacket. We were putting the car seat in Grandma's car while she waited on the other side of the backseat and she was so pleased to be sitting in a regular seat. She's getting so big, isn't she? Maybe she should be a hat model. They all look good on her.

Progress and Playing

2012-01-12T16:28:00.000-05:00

Just a update on my progress: I drove by myself today! It was a successful solo mission. I have been using the crutches most of the day for 48hrs. I am tired, but doing well. I have an Ortho appointment on Tuesday where I expect everything to be peachy, the doctor to be super impressed with me and for him to switch me to outpatient physical therapy.

I've had physical therapy at home since right before Thanksgiving which is great because I don't have to go anywhere. As I've started healing and getting around more it's becoming a nuisance because I never know when he's coming until he's 10min away. When I have to drive to my PT appointments at least I'll know about them well in advance. Fingers crossed my X-rays look lovely.

Moving on, Riley on her new bike in the driveway this morning:

I never rode a regular bike. I had a pink Hot Wheels motorcycle when I was a little older than Riley and an adult tricycle when I was a teenager. I could never pedal all the way. I'd push the pedal down and then change the position of my foot and pull it back up instead. I asked my physical therapist if he thought I've ever be able to pedal a bike and he said yes. We'll see...I certainly won't be able to keep up with my kids. Riley pedals a little bit, but mostly she wants to sit on her bike and put things in the basket.

One final thought from Riley and I:

This is Riley's Repunzal dolly that Mommy and Daddy got her for Christmas. The other day she brought this dolly into my room and tucked her in under my covers.
Riley: Repunzal is going night, night.
Mommy: In Mommy's bed?
Riley: Yeah. Her Name's Repunzal (HER DAD'S LAST NAME) Mommy: Oh, really. (laughing)Actually, she'd be Repunzal Fitzherbert.
Unless you can take someone's fake name. Do celebrities get married and take each others fake names? I suppose she could be Repunzal Rider, ewwww. Then again she is a celebrity in her own right being a princess maybe she didn't take either of his names. One more thing on the doll subject, she never wears shoes in the movie. Why the heck does the doll come with shoes? This picture was taken hours after she came out of the box and already she's only wearing one shoe.

Testing, Testing 1,2,3...

2012-01-11T12:52:00.000-05:00

So, I took some risks last night. Calculated ones, but none the less risks. I drove my car for the first time since the end of October. That's almost three months people. More then being physically unable I have been nursing a fragile mental state, which is always when I make stupid driving decisions. So, with my new super light crutches, Riley buckled securely into her car seat and my mom in the passenger seat for moral support I drove for about 5min. No problems. I put my updated tag on even though it didn't expire until next month, happy 30th please renew everything- hugs & kisses the DMV. I digress it went well.

After my little crutches & car test drive it was time to try a crutches & Riley. She has dance class Tuesday nights. I haven't gone with her to dance class for months. We rode over with her friend and I tried the crutches/backpack combination. More accurately we did the crutches puppy combo since Mike took backpack out of my car. I forbid the removal of backpack, but Riley can be pretty persuasive. So, we borrowed the adorable puppy instead.

Riley did most of the work getting into her car seat I only buckled. When we got there she was thrilled to put puppy on. She and I were sorely out of practice at this so I expected hiccups. In the past I looped the lead around my wrist and used one crutch so I could hold her hand in the parking lot. This time I obviously needed two crutches and to walk at a much slower pace. She was a little put out having to hold two fingers and walk slow. She even tripped over the crutch once or twice, but over all she did great.

I thought it would take lots of trips before we were functional, but she figured out quickly just how fast she could go. She's a good girl I'm really lucky. Go team! She did great at dance class too. It was so nice to be there with her. She earned a pink star sticker and a lollipop! Hopefully, if I use them more often I'll get quicker and more confident and be able to take her places by myself soon.

What's Best For Mommy vs What's Best Me

2012-01-10T20:46:00.000-05:00

I should rest, but the kids need me. I should walk more around the house, but it's impossible to grab a speeding two year old when your hands are full of a walker. I want to re-organize my room, sleep, work on the wedding details, but instead I'm up early chasing the kids around until bedtime. I often get breakfast, morning snack and lunch for Riley before I ever eat a bite. The line gets blurred. I'm doing for others or doing nothing productive a lot.

I want to do my physical therapy and then take a nap. It never works because Riley sleeps during my therapy and then I feel bad and want to take her outside even though I'm exhausted. Under normal circumstances I'd tough it out a few days and then tag Mike in or call my mom, but it's not a couple of days at this point. I have a hip operation healing, a two year old who manages to be demanding and independent at completely inconvenient times, a 9 year old displaying all the attitude and angst of a teenager and a wedding in just over 2mo.

There are no breaks. I struggle with taking care of me on a normal day, but right now I am failing. I am doing what I have always done, I am pushing through. I just hope I don't do any damage in the process.

The Crutches Are Here!

2012-01-09T22:21:00.000-05:00

I got them this evening. They are super light, Walk Easy brand, white with pink tribal designs crutches. What do you reckon guys? Pulling the stickers off for sure, but then what? They're white so I can paint them any color(s) I want. I want to consider the wedding in the short term and off and on usage long term in this.

Seriously, I'm completely open for suggestions here folks...

Riley Reads

2012-01-08T22:10:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I took some video of Riley reading me one of her favorite books The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything. If you click it you can read the summary or flip through the "look inside" and see what we're talking about.

Of course, she was doing a phenomenal job reading each page and making all the sounds for the articles of clothing and then I got out the camera. She must have sensed it even with her back turned because she wasn't as good the second time. She loves to read us her favorite books now. The ones we've read her hundreds of times.

Yeah, early literacy skills.

Gravity vs The Disabled Bride

2012-01-07T20:21:00.002-05:00

I know I've mentioned before how the logistics of my disability get lost in the fantasy of an event sometimes. I imagine the dress, the groom, the dancing, but not the horrible balance. I imagine tables full of guests, beautiful bridesmaids, but not needing my crutches or wheelchair. More accurately I imagined them off and on over the time I've been engaged. Now that we're just shy of two months away...Oy! Those considerations are on my mind.

I actually got an email from a blog fan (which I adore! I can't tell you how much it means to hear people read and appreciate the blogs) with her beautiful wedding pictures. She only used her wheelchair for the reception and said she only fell once. All the sudden it hit me, falling...Gosh Darn It. When I was in high school I did a lot of theatre and my mom always told me she'd spend shows anxious that I'd fall. I never fell on stage in high school, or college (maybe once or twice at an audition). Never-the-less, I'm suddenly anxious about a face plant in front of my guests.

I texted my bridesmaids and made them swear an oath that if I fell they wouldn't record it on their phones and upload it to YouTube. A million hits later I'm the "falling bride" for-ever! It would be beyond embarrassing. Suddenly, I worried that hiring a videographer was a bad plan. The girls promised, of course they're not the ones I really worry about. Then I decided if I go down they should all throw themselves to the ground to create a distraction! Perfect, solution: fake earthquake.

In all seriousness, I'm still getting used to my body since the surgery and I haven't a clue how likely a fall would be. I'm glad it occurred to me early so I could fret about it and get it out of my system now. I decided as always the biggest obstacle to staying on my feet will be fatigue. So, I'll get my new crutches Monday and practice with them a ton before the wedding. I'll have my wheelchair for back-up too. On the day of I plan not to be on my feet at all before the the ceremony. Thanks to the wheelchair, planning ahead and awesome bridesmaids I'm sure I can pull it off.

Here's hoping there's no nose dives, at least by the bride, on the wedding day. Any guests reading this feel free to throw yourselves on the ground in solidarity too.

***First Ever Cross Post! Read it here or Ready, Set, Happily Ever After: Ramblings of a Disabled Bride

New Crutches

2012-01-06T20:27:00.001-05:00

Remember how I lost one of my crutches this summer? I Lost It! Well, I went went on using one crutch and holding Riley's hand, using the future to get around, etc for moths. When I had surgery I thought it'd be a good opportunity to ask the physical therapist to help me replace it. I wasn't in a rush though.

recently though I've become fed up with how limiting and cumbersome the damn walker is. Case in point, me on Christmas Day:

Unfortunately somewhere down the line someone abused their mobility device upgrades so now they have this iron clad rule about only replacing them every 5yrs. No exceptions, even when you loose one like a moron. Obviously, I can't do anything with one crutch in my current condition. I pressed my physical therapist to press the insurance, but we were getting no where.

After some dark thoughts about what would happen if I fell at the wedding and other disability related anxiety I was on a mission to find some crutches. A new pair is $139 if you pay out of pocket and you have to buy the pair. That would be fine normally but not post Christmas pre Wedding, no way. I started Googling and found some beautiful emerald green crutches which got my wheels turning. My current lone crutch is standard silver.

In the end Mike was the hero of the day. He found a pair on Craigslist that a nice lady who is about 5'2" old used for a brief period of time and was selling for $25. To me! They're white with pink tribal designs, but the designs peel off (stickers) and we can paint anything over the white.

I'm a little torn between going discreet (black, etc) or decorative and pretty (sparkly even?!?) We'll see. Mike's gonna pick them up Monday on his way home. I can't wait to try them out.

Nerding Out: Lessons From SG1, Doctor Who and The Gang

2012-01-05T20:40:00.000-05:00

What can I say? I am a nerd. A big one. Normally I'm more of a theatre/movie & TV kind of nerd, but I dabble all over. I wanted to do a post about what we learn from SciFi Tv shows and here it is:

You are NEVER really dead, hello Daniel Jackson (SG1)! What was it like 13 times? I think at least one member of all the good SciFi shows has been resurrected a time or two.
Anyone can fall in love with anyone/anything: Samantha Carter (SG1), Ct Jack (Doctor Who/Torchwood), Cpt Kirk (If you need me too tell you then turn in your nerd id card right now), etc...
Upgrades never are/come at a price: The Borg/Cybermen/Cylons...
If you don't know what is DON'T touch it. I could do an entire post on this one. Humans are so arrogant messing around with technology we don't understand all over the darn universe and mucking things up.
Reading people's minds sucks. It's not a gift it's a curse and it falls into the wrong hands a lot.
Be nice to the neighbors. Every respectable show has an homage to The Day The Earth Stood Still
You never profit from alien technology for long. It's kind of an extention of if you don't know what is don't touch it. You always pay in human life when you exploit the things you don't understand.
People suck, or more aptly humanity on the whole is greedy and cruel, but there are small factions standing up for what's right in every crisis.
Memory lies. Let's face it having your memory wiped or manipulated in some way is standard practice on SciFi Tv.
The trip is never as short as you think it's going to be, (ahem Voyager)
NEVER open the rift in space time. Like hotels forgotten by the interstate and parking garages in the movies nothing happy comes from there. Just leave it alone.
All of history can be explained by alien intervention. From the great pyramids to the extinction of dinosaurs, aliens played a part.
Not quite yourself today? Go see the doctor now! You could be mutating, carrying alien larva, suffering from a horribly contagious pathogen of alien origin, undead, etc

Happy Blog-A-Versary!

2012-01-04T23:20:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the two year anniversary of the Hedgehog Blog! Unbelievable how much has happened in two years. To celebrate I thought maybe I'd list the blog's greatest hits (according to number of views):

Unwanted Children, Undeserving Parents: 336 views since 2/19/2011
Riley's Mommy Walks Funny: 292 views since 4/21/2011
Cottonball Christmas Countdown: 222 views since 12/2/2011
Conversing With Cute: 160 views since 11/20/2011
We Don't Live in Parking Lots: 105 views since 4/26/2011

So, there you have my top five in the last 2yrs of posts. A little social commentary, some silly kid stuff, disabled mom perspective and crafts. It seems like a pretty good snap shot of what I get up to blog side to me. Full disclosure though, there were two with more views than number 5, but one was a contest entry and the other was pictures of Riley's new room so I skipped them.

This blog has given me a place to write, an excuse for time to myself and connected we with lots of other wonderful people who I am so lucky to have read my little old blog. Thank you, thank you. If you keep reading it, I keep writing. Here's to another two years!

Mother Goose Story Time

2012-01-03T17:36:00.001-05:00

I think Riley and I started going to sing and dance and hear stories at the library when she was about 7mo old. We really enjoyed it. She obviously didn't participate much, but she enjoyed it and it got us out of the house. We've gone on and off since then. We hadn't been for months when I decided to brave the cold and take her today.

I took the walker to give my mom a break from loading and unloading the wheelchair. The walker is slow. So slow that we were on time when we parked, but by the time I got from the car to the reading room we'd missed the beginning. It was a good size group despite the cold. Riley was very skittish at first.

By the time laminated kitties were being handed out Riley was with the program. She presented her purple kitty on cue and put the bean bag on all the correct body parts during the beanbag song. She's so big now.

I had taken someone's seat when I walked in, well they gave it to me (thank goodness). I'm terrible at getting on and off the floor right now. I remember thinking this was a good group all around grownups and kids. I let Riley check a cute little lift the flap book. At which point I spent 5 awkward minutes figuring out how to lift Riley to reach the water fountain while pushing the button. At which point we pottied in the "companion stall" and suited up to hit the playground.

A lot of the kiddos from story time where there probably for a while (walker=slow)when we arrived. All the kids were all bundled up and playing happily when we arrived. All the moms with their pretty sweaters that made me feel frumpy in my big red coat were standing in a circle chatting. We entered the gate and not 60 seconds later every one of them had evacuated. Did I imagine their hurry? Maybe it was the cold and my timing. I hate that it bothered me, but it did.

I want to be a pretty sweater mom chatting with my friends on the playground not a frumpy coat girl with a walker watching my mom (bless her) climb around with Riley. I hate this part. This almost, but not quite back to normal part. It's complete crap. I'm so happy we went today and for all the help I get, but I really want to wake up decide to take my kid somewhere and go.

I want to be one of the pretty, together moms. I'm tired of this crap. I don't want to observe my children I want to engage. Wah, wah, wah...Enough of that. Riley got on the swings at 2yrs and just shy of 4mos old and pumped her legs and made it go! I was so proud of her. It took Isaac until 6yr old to figure it out, but we didn't have swings in the back yard (or a backyard at all then).

Sick, but Sweet

2012-01-02T19:58:00.003-05:00

I was the former, but the day was surprisingly the later. It happened yesterday, Mike started feeling lousy. I was thinking maybe I'd escape this round in the afternoon, but when we went to visit Mike's mom that evening she commented that I sounded a little congested and I knew I was in for it. Riley went to play at Boo's house this morning, thank goodness. I needed a break. Isaac spent his last day of break plugging away at his project.

It's hard when Mike and I are both sick because there's no one to take care of me. It always makes me stiff and tight which is super annoying considering the stage of heal my hip is in. Also, with Isaac's deadline approaching and cleaning help on the way I was afraid to sleep. Once afternoon rolled around and the house was quiet I dozed a bit. My mom dropped by with the last of the presents (warm jammies!) and then Mike and I snuggled, sniffling and watched Torchwood for a while.

It was nice to lay around. I realized how busy my days are normally when I lay around for a day or two. I'm so tired, but I think on the mend.

Howdy, 2012

2012-01-01T21:49:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year From My Rockstars.

How do I begin? 2011 is over which isn't terribly emotional for me. 2012 however is. This is it, the year of my wedding. The year Isaac will turn 10! We will have been in the new house a year in April. Mike will have been at his job 2yrs this summer. Riley will have her first dance recital in June. Woah.

I have high hopes for complete recovery (and functionality)from this hip surgery in the very near future. I have some new opportunities on the horizon and I'm very excited. It just seems like all the struggle is starting to pay off. I don't want to whine and cry about how hard life has been, this isn't the year for that.

I'm optimistic and ready for the next chapter. I did my best to have a relaxed first day of the year, hoping the old "what you do one the first day of the year is what you'll do all year." I am very pleased to report that I slept until 10am! Well, I got up to help with pottying and breakfast and then got to lay down for most of the morning. I watched a movie and cuddled with poor sick Mike, which we didn't do nearly enough of last year. I had quite a few laughs with the kids, too.

I didn't even have to worry about dinner. We had a tradition of going to Mike's mom's for Hoppin' John (beans and rice) which is supposed to be good luck. It was a nice day with on exception Isaac (for the 3rd time in a row) just skipped a class project because he didn't feel like it. It's became a constant source of stress. He turned the other two in late for partial credit. This time it was assigned over Thanksgiving break and is due when he gets back and he didn't bring it up until after Christmas!

We've made it clear that he will complete ALL assignments whether it's too late to get credit or not. We've also been clear that we're not doing his work for him just because he waited until the last minute. Other people's procrastination is so stressful, but it's ten times as much when you're responsible for that person.

I resolve to be kinder to myself than I was last year. I also resolve to balance my time away from and with kids better. To remember my thank yous more than I forget them and to stop apologizing every time I get my way.

We Love Aglets

2011-12-31T21:43:00.001-05:00

My little fashoinista with pink cowboy boots, borrowed sunglasses and a pink slinky as an accessory flashing her Perry the platypus invitation on the way to the party. I have amazing friends who hand make felt Perry face invitations and scour the interenet looking for the coolest theme related decor and favors.

Jack's mommy did a beautiful job start to finish. Phineus and Ferb would have been proud. The kids had an inflatable bouncy thing and lots of space to run. There was lots of pizza and amazing platypus cupcakes too! It was a fun day. I think every birthday should be special and it's nice to know I'm not alone in going out of my way to see to it.

As it started to get dark the Christmas lights came on in the park it was a magical way to end the day. Well, that and bouncer deflation duty.

New Years Eve?

2011-12-30T10:10:00.000-05:00

Who? Me? Well, I'm going to Jack Jack's Phineous and Ferb 2nd birthday party in the afternoon. Yay!! After that I plan to hit the grocery store and come home. I don't want to go anywhere. I want to watch movies and put Miss Roo to bed at a reasonable hour. Maybe something fun for dinner and then left over Christmas goodies?

I remember the first New Years Mike and I were together. I told him for over a month to get a sitter and in the end I was willing to take Isaac somewhere family friendly just to get out. It was a strange night. Last year my Dad and his wife volunteered to babysit. Mike and I dropped the kids off in their PJs around 8pm. We went out to dinner and picked up the kids before 10:30pm. Party animals, I know. I feel asleep before midnight and Mike woke me up at midnight for a kiss. It was a good night.

We'll ring in 2012 quietly, I think.

Stage 5 Clinger!!

2011-12-29T22:29:00.000-05:00

My kids have been sooooo needy over the last two weeks. I thought incorrectly that all the holiday goings on and then new toys would keep them busy. I also thought, as they had in the past whenever Isaac was off from school, they would play together. Things have been very different this time. School and dance classes ended and Riley became my shadow. Meanwhile, Isaac became a disembodied voice from another room.

Nothing I did or said made Riley want to leave my side. I even got dragged out of the bathroom once or twice. Isaac on the other hand, must have gone into his room that first night to discover his legs had fallen off. Between his computer, 3DS and all those new books he had little use for us girls. It was really maddening at times. The age difference strikes again. I think they played together less than 15min in the last week and a half. Bah.

I am partially to blame, I wasn't physically up for the backyard or driving so that seriously limited the activities this go round. It was also hard because the friends they normally play with on weekends were otherwise engaged or out of town so there wasn't a lot of the normal social time to break things up for us either. I can't wait for Riley to start spending time with her friends and going to dance class again! As for Isaac he needs his routine. He is super grouchy without his schedule. His regular homework was done the first week of break because I made him do a page a day during his lunch time computer hiatus. There was a "forgotten" gifted project has had me kicking his butt for a few days. I'm tired, I can't wait for school to start.

I know it sounds funny, but I miss the predictability of our day to day schedules. I love my kids and quality time has been great, but I still don't feel recovered from the weekend yet. I need a break.

Holiday (Mis)Managaement

2011-12-28T01:04:00.025-05:00

There are generally two kinds of holiday stress I experience yearly. The stress from my expectations of myself and the stress from other people's expectations of me. The first is by far the most hazardous. I'm a bit of Chevy Chase's character from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation as it is, but throw being a month post op in there and I really don't cut myself any slack.

Mike grew up with one set of traditions, I grew up with another and now we have a family of our own. For the past several years we've failed to mesh everything very well. I started formulating an idea over the spring to give my parents a chance to join Mike's extended family goings on separately. That way it'd be less segmented and fewer stops for the kids. In the end the schedule worked out that we'd see my Dad and his wife the afternoon of Christmas Eve, Mike's Dad's side for dinner that night and I'd forgo my midnight mass in favor of rest. My mom joined us Christmas morning for Mike's Mom's side's brunch and for dinner with just our family.

I always got up in my PJs and opened presents and had breakfast with my family before I went anywhere on Christmas. Mike always got up took a look in his stocking and rushed out. We've been doing it his way, because he has more extended family here. It was really tough this year, I don't know if it was the toddler or my post op status or all of the DIY projects leading up to it, but I was really worn out by it all!

I busted my butt shopping early to make sure the kids had a good Christmas and got lukewarm reactions from Isaac which hurt. I had my DIY gifts done 2wks early and Mike waited until the last minute to finish up which was stressful. I took the time to put rollers in my hair, but it wasn't all the way dry and my curls fell out before dinner. We had to run back to the house between the restaurant and the family gathering to grab a missed gift and Riley announced as we were pulling out the driveway she had to potty and then didn't make it to the toilet in time. We didn't get home until 11pm on Christmas Eve. So, logistically I feel I missed some things.

My kids who never sleep past 7am, ever, woke up at 8am Christmas morning (brunch started at 8am). All that being said, while it took me years to get melding the families down I do feel we were successful this year. Now if I can only work out the logistics of getting us where we need to be on time, looking pretty and feeling less exhausted by next year we'll be golden.

The End of the Magic?

2011-12-27T11:07:00.001-05:00

2008, Our first Christms together

Isaac was just turning 5 when I came into his life. He was just leaving toddlerhood and full of enthusiasm for everything. While enthusiasm is just a part of his personality what elicits it has changed over the years. We used to load the DVR with Christmas movies all December long and watch them together. We used to decorate Santa's cookies together every year. He used to start his Christmas list before his birthday in November.

I really enjoyed my first Christmas as a mother. I really loved having an appreciative recipient for all my Christmas spirit (as a former elf it is considerable). I did find it a little sad that he was all by himself Christmas morning opening gifts. It just didn't seem like Christmas without a sibling. I guess Santa heard me because by the next Christmas Isaac had a sister.

Christmas 2009, Ta-da our tree

It was different the next year, but Riley was only three months so we still did the movie marathon, cookie decorating, tree decorating, Santa visits and all that fun stuff. It was a good year. It very much the Isaac show despite it being baby's first Christmas. I was glad to have a "big kid" to do crafts and cookies with.

Christmas 2010 decorating the tree with gusto

Last year Riley was 15mo old and much more aware. It was my first Christmas with two kids to do Christmasy stuff with. It was a really fun year, but I had no idea it was the last year Isaac would fully engage. He participated in everything with an ear to ear grin and a heart full of faith in all the magic of Christmas. Meanwhile Riley was vaugely aware.

This year's sour reaction to a Santa gift.

I know what they say about how fast children grow up and where expectations get you, but my fond hope was that Riley and Isaac would have one or two Christmas where they experienced the magic together. Their 7yr age difference means they'll never go to the same school or experience certain things for the first time together I understand that. I just didn't know this was the year it would start for Riley and end for Isaac.

This year Isaac had to be dragged from his room for the two or three Christmas movies I got him to watch. Even though they were picked for him (Unaccompanied Minors, Home Alone, Home Alone 2). He was rushing through tree decorating to get back to his computer or DS or whatever. He just isn't this little boy marvelling at the tree any more.

I already told you how he rushed through cookie decorating even with 3 other kids still hard at work. He visited Santa and was very worried about the naughty list situation. This year I talked to him about choosing to always hear the bell ring (Polar Express) and how I've visited Santa every year for 29yrs (even when I was single) even if it was just to say hello and thank you. I never let go of the magic of the whole experience but it's clear he has.

He was out for number one all weekend. He opened the Santa gift he suspected was his main request and turned his nose up at everything else. He opened that awesome ball blaster weapon and said "I didn't ask for this." When his turn came around again he opened a light up glow in the dark Slinkey and tossed it aside with a frown. I was heartbroken. I busted my butt making this Christmas special despite budget constraints with the wedding approaching and my limitations from surgery in November and now he was completely ungrateful. He'd turned his nose up at all the pre-Christmas activities and now he was acting like a brat. I was over forcing either of the kids (Riley was happily playing and didn't need any more toys at the moment) to open gifts.

It was the last piece of evidence I needed Christmas was forever changed for Isaac. There would be no bright eyed wonder next year, just greedy scanning of the packages under the tree. After a break we reconvened to finish opening gifts. Largely, due the fact that we didn't have batteries for Isaac's robot dog he engaged and was smiley and polite for the rest of the gifts.

It goes by so fast, especially because I missed his early Christmases. He'll be ten next year and in the fourth grade (woah!!) and honestly that's when I expected the shift. It was just hard timing, but it makes me appreciate how little Riley is. Riley has lots of magical Christmases left and lots of wonderful friends her own age to appreciate my baking and crafts for the next few years.

We Came, We Saw, We Christmas-ed

2011-12-26T23:01:00.000-05:00

In no particular order...Christmas 2011

I have more to say then will fit neatly into one recap post. So, I'm letting my exhausted self stew a bit more. I'll carve out time over the next few days to find words for it all, but in meantime enjoy these pictures.

Christmas Eve Cuteness

2011-12-24T09:29:00.000-05:00

Enchanted Forest Photography

This morning Riley woke up crying which was very usual for her and even odder given that it's Christmas Eve. After she'd been awake a little while she seemed in high spirits. I asked her if she dreamed about Santa.
She said "Yeah, dreamed about Santa!" With a huge grin.
So I asked, "Did he come and leave you presents?
Jumping up and down, "yeah, left me pressssssents!!
"What else?"
"And I played in the cold cold cold snow!" Hugs herself like she's cold
"You did?"
"Yeah and I made a tiny (s)nowman and a biiiiig (s)nowman! Ever. in. my. life."
What a funny girl!

A few hours later I was trying to explain how our day would go today.
"Today's Christmas Eve, Riley. We're going to visit Grandpa and Grandma and open presents and eat cookies. Then we'll go to dinner with your other Grandpa and Grandma and Aunts and Uncles. Then we come home and go night night. When you go night night Santa will come leave presents under the tree."
"Yeah! At the doctor's office"
Laughing "No, sweetie Santa's going to leave presents under the Christmas tree at our house."

"You Have Such A Pretty Face. You Should be on a Christmas Card!"

2011-12-23T15:32:00.000-05:00

Yay, Elf! Also, yay Christmas cards! Who doesn't love mail that isn't bills? Growing up my mom always sent store pretty bought cards. As did I when I was single. I suspect photo Christmas card have grown substantially since the invention and common use of digital photography and the internet. We began the tradition of a family photo Christmas card the year Riley was born.

We hosted Thanksgiving that year and used it as an excuse to get a tree very early. We had it up and lit by Thanksgiving so we could take a family photo for the Christmas card. Lara graciously accepted the task of taking the photo that year (and each one since, so far).

I put it on a green and blue background with reindeer and sent it out. Notice we choice a seated pose. Everyone in my family towers above me. It was very simple. Seated in front of a Christmas tree in holiday clothes. Classic. I think the card said Merry Christmas and our names.

Last year I had this idea to take a picture of Mike & I unwrapping the kids. Sounded fun and fairly simple.

First of all, Lara is amazing some of the best pictures of my kids ever taken came from this Christmas card photo session. Amazingly, good pictures. Second, nothing is ever as simple as you think it will be. Getting four people to smile and look at the camera at all is a challenge let alone getting a 1yr old and an 8 year old to pop out of a box. Sigh.. Like I said despite all the work getting the group shot we got a lot of beautiful pictures.

I put this one a red background that said This is What Jolly Looks Like! It came out nice. I decided I really enjoy knowing we'll have a family photo once a year. Just look at the difference from 2009-2010. The kids grew a lot and I no longer have the ragged look of the mother of a newborn.

This year I told Mike over the summer I wanted to do something different. We'd had an inside joke for awhile about being Mr & Mrs Nerdelmeier. So we decided to take a nerdy family photo. It wasn't that big of stretch

This was our best idea, yet. It's different, but not over complicated. It wasn't a Christmas-y picture so we took it right before Halloween (before my surgery). A+ once again for Lara's photography. We got a few really fun pictures of the kids and Mike and I.

The pictures were really fun. This year for the first time I didn't choose a ready made layout from CVS. In past years at Mike's insistence I always started making the entire card myself, but gave up. The first year I just didn't have time with a 3mo old. Last year I found out that there wasn't an upload your own option in the Christmas card section of the photo sites and 5x7's in the quantity I needed for cards was ridiculously expensive.

This year Mike and I made our card in photoshop and uploaded it to Vistaprint which does have an upload your own option. I had a coupon for 20 cards for 1.99. I got 40 cards for $4 and it was exactly what we wanted because we made it ourselves. It was so freeing to do a non-dressed up, Christmas themed photo. Best card experience so far start to finish. It really got my wheels turning for next year. The response has been wonderful.

The Big Man

2011-12-22T21:16:00.043-05:00

Love at first sight, Christmas 2009 3months old.

Two screaming toddlers and a partridge in a pear tree... Christmas 2010 1yr and 3months old.

Thoughtful hugs for Mr. C. This was Riley's first of two Santa visits this year (2yrs and 3months old). This gorgeous photo was taken at Enchanted Forrest Photography. It was a visit with Santa with all her buddies in their jammies. Riley wasn't her normal smiley self, but she was super sweet and left saying "Yeah, Santa's a nice guy. Yeah."

Right to business. We let Isaac go first so she could watch and I talked her through the procedure a few times before we left. She got right up on his knee and whispered "I want a dolly, a big girl bike and a (s)quid". He gave her a candy cane and she gave him a big hug.

I'm pretty sure the look in this picture is because Mommy's picture taking is interrupting her Santa business. What a big girl!

Santa's Cookies

2011-12-21T22:33:00.000-05:00

I have always baked cookies for the kid(s) to decorate. We always choose the best two or three to leave out for Santa. It's just a fun tradition. I had always done sugar cookies, but last year I wanted to make a gingerbread house. It was a complete failure. Very sad, but after three attempts we at least had some gingerbread men to decorate. Here's our cookie art from 2010:

This year I was bound and determined to make a simple batch of gingerbread. I botched it by accidentally following the cake rather than cookie directions. It was tough to take. I bought some blank gingerbread men at the store and invited the neighbor children to come decorate with us.

Supplies!Those markers are food coloring markers. We discovered them at the craft store one Easter, love those.

Riley's sprinkle laden ginger girl

Isaac's marshmallow heavy creation.

The finished products.

Two things are evident: First, we're going back to sugar cookies next year and second Isaac is growing out of these kinds of activities. I'm ill equipped for him to be so Grinch-y at 9yrs old. Even with his friend decorating along side him and all that candy at his disposal his patience for cookie decorating was worn thin after 2 or 3 min. I hope this is just a boy thing and not the end of the Christmas magic...

Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Figures

2011-12-20T21:38:00.001-05:00

I saw these on Pinterest and had to try it. Feel free to skip this post and go to Disney's directions. They call it Christmas Crew and I found their directions incredibly vague. Maybe it's because I'm bad at folding paper.

Materials

Toilet paper rolls
Construction paper
Glue
Scissors
Cotton balls

Plan ahead unless you have a craft supplies drawer filled with toilet paper rolls. I let Riley decide how many and which characters we'd make. She wanted a (S)nowman and a Santa. So that's what I set out to do with a picture on my laptop for inspiration.

We started with Santa. I cut a strip of red paper and measured by wrapping it around the tube to make the pants. I used glue stick for all the paper pieces except the hat. I just laid it out glue stick-ed and rolled it on. Then I added a black piece for a belt. I was confused by Santa's flesh colored face in the picture because that certainly isn't a standard color for construction paper. I used white paper that I colored with a peach crayon. Than I used Elmer's glue to attach the beard.

I drew his face on rather than cut tiny pieces of paper. My assistant was happily directing me and coloring, but I knew it wouldn't last. I had a lot of trouble with the hat. I used glue on that too. I lined the bottom with cotton as well. I just cut my Jumbo cotton balls and kind of rolled them into shape. I kept trying to fold the top of the hat together and glue it, but it kept popping apart. It was at this point that I lost Riley, but Isaac upon hearing my frustrated groan at Santa's hat commented "Don't give up, Mom." In the end I just folded, smooshed and glued until it stuck.

Next I made a very simple snowman. No cotton balls just white construction paper. I drew on the face even though Disney's directions talk about making a tiny carrot nose from paper. I copied their little scarf. I used a strip of red paper that I crossed in the front and cut the ends. I tried to follow their directions for the little top hat and failed so my snowman has a graduation cap.

New Treatment

2011-12-19T19:23:00.029-05:00

My physical therapist asked ages ago about using "electrical stimulators" to help relax my muscles. I didn't pay much attention to this because growing up this meant TENS units:

They have large sticky pads and a heavy control box. In my experience the low settings did nothing and the high ones hurt like hell. Even when it felt good while it was going I never had lasting effects. I never liked them.

Well, apparently technology has taken a leap forward in the years I wasn't having surgeries. What Steve (my PT) showed up with today was something I'd never seen before which is saying something. It more closely resembled Mortimer the Marker from Picture Pages than a TENS unit.

It was a large pen like object. It had a small display screen and a few buttons, but the end looked like the tip of a pen.

He had me sit in a chair at the dining room table while he used it starting with my back. It felt like nothing when he pressed the end against my skin for the most part, but it was noisy. It's high pitched squealing would change key suddenly and I'd feel a strange vaguely painful sensation.

Apparently, it's a biological stud finder. It's yells until it finds a nerve ending and then it sends feedback. The idea is based on reflexology principles that if you can find the nerve endings you can effect the muscles of the body profoundly. I had a lot of luck with reflexology, but I could never go regularly. I learned why I hate people to touch that spot on my ankle (it's linked to my low back).

While he was using it on my feet and toes to relax my hip muscles I noticed the more it hurt when he found the nerve ending the more dramatic the muscle release I'd feel very shortly after. It was like Kerplunk you knew the microsecond after you begun to pull that stick those marbles were about to rain down. When I stood up after less than 10min with this crazy thing my left foot that has been turning in because of hip tightness since surgery wasn't. It was pointing straight and my foot felt soft. Loose, I'm never loose. It was surreal and lasted until I went to bed.

Big Family Trips

2011-12-18T15:46:00.001-05:00

Perk number one of a big family vacation (as in a large group of relatives attend) There are lots of adults all too happy to supervise and entertain the kids. Which is especially true when you have the only kids on the trip and your toddler is potty trained. Don't get me wrong I didn't peg our nearest and dearest as free babysitters or Suckers, but when I got to eat a meal and the opposite end of the table from my kids it was a huge treat. Don't worry I'm pretty sure that isn't Riley's beer.

Isaac sat between his aunt and his uncle and did pretty well considering I wasn't giving him dirty looks from across the table for breeches of etiquette. It was surreal to just eat. I could converse with other adults without rushing through my meal to tend to someone else. I didn't have to share it with a demanding toddler, not one bite. Woah!

It was incredible, really. It was like being on a date. I know that being in a party of 9 makes that comment weird, but not having to worry about my kids really is a change of pace. I'm always on high alert in restaurants and self conscious of their behavior. Not last night. I look forward to them growing and mature so that it doesn't take an army of family to make me relax in public.

ICE! & Snow

2011-12-17T14:04:00.006-05:00

We arrived at about 9:00pm Friday night with a wired 9yr old and a sound asleep toddler. We were pulling around the curves of the expansive driveway that led to the lobby of this castle aglow with white Christmas lights when Riley woke up begging for her own bed. We tried reassure her that we were at this pretty castle and she'd have a big princess bed (to share with her brother)to no avail. She was cranky and tired until she saw the afore mentioned princess bed and then she was gitty and awake.

After a reassure from Daddy that Shrek was sleeping too she finally fell asleep. In the morning we went to Shrek Feast. Riley enjoyed waffles with whipped cream and fruit. Isaac heaped a whole mound of breakfast food on his plate. They even got to wash it down with neon green swap juice in Shrek cups. While we ate and waited for the characters to make the rounds someone came and administered the Ogre Oath. All honorary ogres received Shrek or Fiona ears.

We met Puss in Boots first. Mike and I enjoyed Puss the most, he was by far the most animated of the bunch. Then we met Shrek. Isaac showed off his fart noise effect skills, having just taken the oath. Riley was star struck, but a little overwhelmed by his size in person. It reminded me of the old Disney commercial where the older brother explains to the younger one that even though Goofy is only a few inches tall on TV in real life "He could beat up dad!". We also met Fiona in her human form. Isaac got all bashful it was a preview of adolescence for sure. Riley was happy to stand with Fiona for pictures, she even hugged her!

After a wonderful breakfast experience we suited up for the ICE exhibit. It's 9 degrees in there. I don't care where you're from that's cold. They loan you parkas (and sell gloves and scarves). This year it was Shrek The Halls themed. As you can see from the photo that's Mike I in front of a giant ice Shrek. We're actually standing behind a book called The Village Idiots Guide to Christmas. All the Shrek stuff was big and colorful. Near the end of the Shrek story there were huge Ice slides. Even Riley took a turn on those (with Grandpa). After the Shrek displays there was a room with a huge Christmas angel and a Nativity Scene made out of clear Ice. It was really impressive.

After a break for hot chocolate and perusing the gift shop we went to play in the snow. Snow was just a big room with a playground and snow on the ground. Riley made a tiny snowman with lots of grown up help. Isaac went down the big slide on a burlap sack and threw snowballs at targets. I was very proud of Riley she stopped in the middle of all that fun and asked Grandma to take her to a potty. What a big girl. We didn't have a single incident the whole trip. She burst back through the doors ready for more snow play. The best part was coming out into the warm weather. We went from jackets and hats to swim suits. Ah, Florida Christmas.

And We're Off!!

2011-12-16T20:19:00.001-05:00

A Christmasy weekend trip to Orlando to see ICE and play in the snow.

Packing

2011-12-15T19:51:00.006-05:00

The last time I packed for a family trip it looked like this.

That was last November when we went on a cruise. This time I was thrilled not to have to consider diapers or cribs. Also this trip is only a weekend and we won't be at sea so if we need something we can run to the store. All that being said I despise packing. My ex used to say "When you pack, Evil Katie come out." He wasn't wrong.

I enlisted my mom for 48hrs of laundry, folding and packing. I packed the kids and myself. I then proceeded to pester Mike until he packed his clothes too.

I knew I could manage the car ride and the hotel would be a nice one so I had good odds of maneuvering in the bathroom. I was just nervous about everything else. I read the website site over and over looking at the pictures of the exhibits carefully. I was pretty sure I'd be ok, but I had to call Mike's Dad (trip organizer) for reassurance.

It's just packing that does this to me. I love to travel, hate to pack. I'll be thrilled once we hit the road, but the potential to forget things is stressful. So many logistics and the worst part is now that we're packed all I can do is wait. Wait with impatient kids.

Deck The Halls

2011-12-14T19:48:00.000-05:00

Christmas table runner, pretty green bowl of Christmas ornaments and Riley's Little People Christmas Set. Perfect.

My DIY Christmas card holder. A Christmas sign I hang every year (Thanks Alison!), some plaid riboon, clothes pins and Viola!

Some small stockings in the archway (the real ones are by the tree). Although Mike turns them backwards everytime he bumps them walking through I like them. I wish I had some mistletoe for that doorway.

The hand print wreath Riley made last year.

Kid Art! Foot print reindeer with hand antlers and a hand print snowflake.

Lots of happy Christmas friends here and there, like Mickey and Minnie.

Using Other People's Bathrooms

2011-12-13T18:59:00.030-05:00

In my normal (aka not post op) life I don't have any anxiety about using the facilities anywhere I go. I don't often even use the handicapped stall when I'm out and about and not freshly healing from something. As I started venturing out to visit friends, enjoy family events and so on it became clear not all bathrooms are created equal.

At home I cane wheel right up to one toilet and there's a conveniently located washing machine to brace myself on, beside it. The other bathroom's doorway is too narrow. I pull as far in as I can manage, brace myself on the door frame, lean in and use the counter to lower myself onto the potty. At home I can always choose to just walk in with my walker too.

I'm not usually picky about where I do my business with one exception, I will walk over hot coals to avoid the (SHUDDER) bed pan. I digress when I'm out and about I rarely have my wheelchair and walker. Usually, I just bring my chair erring on the side of caution especially if Riley's with me.

I was was at someone elses's house a few weeks ago. I was able to wheel in and close the bathroom door, but the height of the counter and toilet were different. I was having trouble spinning around. I knocked the paper onto the floor and couldn't bend to pick it up. It was as I was dropping myself onto the toilet seat that Riley barged in and left again without even helping me reach the toilet paper. Sigh. I broke the bending rule because I didn't have a choice.

I managed to do what I needed to do, replace the paper and get out of there, but it was a sobering experience. Just because I can hobble around the house doesn't mean the world's my oyster. Thank God this challenge will fade as I heal.

Ring Around the Sofa

2011-12-12T18:45:00.000-05:00

A Look At Last Christmas

2011-12-11T17:41:00.003-05:00

Riley was 15mo old and all see could say were a handful of words and lots of animal sounds.

Miscellaneous Merriment

2011-12-10T11:32:00.002-05:00

Candy Cane Nails by: Me

Christmas Tree (Kiss-mas Twee) Sandwiches

Jingle Riley (Prepping for the race that we didn't end up attending)

Jingle All the Way!!

Christmas-y Cute

Hello Kitty, Christmas tree shirt + holly barrette+ lounging in front of a Christmas movie= Cuuuuuuute.

Peaking out from behind the Christmas tree at Dr. B's office. She thought it was so pretty. She kept saying "I not gonna touch it. I not gonna touch it, Just look." She even pointed to ornaments with her fist to prove she wasn't going to touch.

Isaac's Modern Art

Stuffed Animal Christmas Party

That's Baby Bob, Mickey and Minnie enjoying a feast Riley prepared. She's sitting next to them in her Christmas Tinkerbell jammies "reading" them a kiss-mas story from Daddy's Kindle.

Cookie Party Prep

2011-12-09T10:26:00.004-05:00

I made Oatmeal Jam-ups from my 365 Cookie Recipes book.

Ingredients:

1 cup Crisco Butter Shortening
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons almond extract
2 cup All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 cups quick rolled oats
1 cup finely chopped pecans

I couldn't get finely chopped pecans so I spend the morning chopping. I was instructed to make a "rocking horse motion" to chop more effieciently.

COMBINE shortening and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Beat in eggs and almond extract. The Crisco butter flavor shortening come in these little plastic tubs. One stick per tub. I made this recipe twice to get four dozen cookies for the party so I saved the plastic tubs for crafting. Also, God Bless Mike's dad for upgrading his standing electric mixer and passing his old one one. Standing mixers are amazing. It was my first time using it since we got it (Mike uses it all the time).

COMBINE flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Gradually add to creamed mixture at low speed just until blended. Just a note here, I do not recommend doubling your recipe. I made two separate batches of dough to get my 4 dozen cookies. There's a alot of dividing and rolling out dough later. Yay, mixer (it bears repeating)!

STIR in oats and chopped nuts. Divide dough in half. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour.This where your toned upper from weeks of physical therapy and walker use comes in handy. I refrigerated overnight while I waited for Mike to do some dishes. Cookies were a good motivator my kitchen was spotless in the morning (for a few hours).

HEAT oven to 350ºF. Grease baking sheet. I just used a non stick baking sheet. They're pretty hardy cookies. More like tiny pies than cookies. We didn't have any issues popping them off.

ROLL one half of dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. A WELL FLOURED surface. Do not mess around, flour the heck out of your counter and rolling pin. This dough is stick-yyyyyy!

Cut out with 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter.I used a cup to cut circles. We got 12-14 each half of dough.

Place 1 teaspoonful of jelly in the center of half the rounds. Top with remaining rounds. Press edges to seal. Prick center. Place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining half of dough. We used Strawberry for half and blackberry for half.

BAKE 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove to cooling rack to cool completely They were to heavy and copious for my meager cooling racks so we put them on foil on the cool counter.

Once they cooled it was time to package them up. I used regular ziploc bags. I punches two hole above the zipper with my crop-a-dile. Then I threaded curling ribbon through. I used glittered red and green star buttons I had left over from Riley's Halloween Rainbow Brtie hair bow. I used a large embroidery needle to thread the curling ribbon through the button holes. Then I added a small tag: Love, Katie Oatmeal Jam-ups. I tied a bow and curled the ends. I glued the small buttons to tags when I ran out of large ones. Alternating green ribbon with red button and the reverse.

Cookies all packed up and ready to go.

All done baking. Riley took this one. Don't worry I shook the flour off my pants before I left.

What's Up Doc

2011-12-08T16:43:00.001-05:00

The screws will have to come out, but we're not in any hurry. The popping should stop on it's own. It was never in the joint it was always on the outside. It's sore when you push on it, but I'll probably live. They tell me it's the tendon sliding over the screw heads. Yuck.

He did give me the green light to bear weight as tolerated. Hurray! I've yet to try though as I am wrecked from not sleeping well three nights in a row. I still have to go back just before Christmas. Chances are he'll green light me for everything else by then.

Being Stuck

2011-12-07T07:36:00.020-05:00

Forgive me for not being a ray of sunshine today, but sometimes it just becomes overwhelming. I had been planning since last year to go to this event with my friend and her family and have Mike meet us. That way we'd be early, get good parking, pick up our shirts and have a little dinner picnic. I picked out Christmasy clothes for Riley and I to wear and spent the morning making turkey and cheese sandwiches shaped like Christmas trees. It was the first cooking I'd done in a month.

As soon as I'd put the food away it was time for PT. There's a lot of being stuck in my life right now. Physical therapy is one way. Three days a week he'll come sometime between 8am-5pm and I never know more than hour ahead. It's not like I can go anywhere very often, but it's annoying when I do have plans and a ride. So, we got started and I mentioned the popping. He got a concerned look and said "If it happens again call the doctor, you'll need an X-ray." Well, moments later with my therapist as a witness it starting happening again. He called the doctor's office they're seeing me at 1pm tomorrow because he's in surgery today.

It could be anything from not enough bone growth to keep the hardware from moving around to the muscle rubbing over the top of the screw (like a cheese grater). Both ends of the spectrum indicate another surgery to remove the screw God*&^% it to H$%&. I was hoping to bear weight early since I was doing so well and now it'll be extra weeks off of it. Stuck longer! For *&^%s sake!

Stuck. stuck. stuck. Stupid body, stupid surgeries...grr. Ok, I laid down iced my hip and tried to regroup. It would be ok I'd go have so much fun. Take the kids to see the real deal Santa and pretty lights and I'd deal with tomorrow when it came. Wrong. I got dropped of and my friends house and it begun to pour rain. It let up, but people kept reporting a cold mist and she has a small baby so she was ready to call it off. I was bummed, but persisted in getting Riley ready and packing us up to go. I kept telling everyone "I'm afraid of what the cold will do to my body, but I'm so much more afraid of what missing this with do to me emotionally."

I called Mike because I was stuck there without a ride. I rejected her offer to take the kids to the mall instead, but I understood why she didn't want to venture out. I had Riley packed up, shoes on and eating her Christmas tree sandwich when Mike got there. He decided to give the baby a bottle and someone took off Riley's shoes. Stuck. I couldn't put the shoes back on anymore than I could drive downtown by myself. Then my friend got a long distance call and I went to corral my kids. She had a step down into her playroom. I can get down that step, but not back up by myself. Stuck.

That's when I started crying discreetly. I called for help, but the adults were occupied. Riley, bless her little heart, tried to help me. Stuck. By the time the baby finished her bottle I was openly crying and asking to leave. The frustration and pain were overwhelming.

We finally got in the car to go home. Mike decided even though EVRYONE else had been fed he wanted to go through the drive thru. Ten more miserable minutes in the car. Stuck. No hope of even making it down town late. Stuck. I laid in my bed and cried. Not only had I wasted money at a time when that's a real problem, but I was stuck in bed in pain with the TV not working to distract me. Bad night. I was so worried about what Dr. B would say/do, but more so just irritated at all the relying on other people.

I want to decide to leave a room and go. I want to decide to take my kids somewhere and go. I want to drop something and pick it up myself. I'm so frustrated. I don't want this event to be the first of all the December events I miss without any say in the matter. It's too depressing.

Santa, if you're reading I'd like a way to cope for Christmas, please!

December is...

2011-12-06T18:46:00.000-05:00

December is not a month. Months have dates. December has daily events and obligations for those lucky enough to have family nearby and lots of friends. Most of them are fun, but the strain they put on someone trying to complete their overloaded daily routine while recovering from surgery is substantial. It's a lot of stuff, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

DECEMBER

Week one: Dinner party, Toddler Christmas Party, Mike's work Christmas party, Christmas crafts, Christmas cards and Yard/Tree Decorating.

Week Two: Shopping, Jingle Bell Run/Picnic/Santa Visit, Santa pictures & story event, Baking, Christmas light looking, Cookie party(s), Birthday Party (Happy, Happy Ms La!), Finish Christmas cards, Wrap!

Week Three: LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL for Isaac, More baking and crafting, Trip to Orlando for the Ice and Snow exhibits!!

Week Four: Christmas!! Wrapping, Family events x3, Gift opening and Eating.

Non-Holiday-wise there's physical therapy, helping with friend's new baby, my dad's surgery, Riley's dance class, Isaac's homework help needs, physical therapy (it warrants mentioning twice), school ending (that's also worth mentioning twice), cleaning/laundry, the constant demands of a toddler, blog writing, wedding planning, trying to recover from surgery and hundreds of things I'm sure I'm forgetting...

Decorating the Tree

2011-12-05T17:53:00.000-05:00

Ta-Da! We decorated our tree. In our family it's tradition to order a pizza and it's the one night a year Isaac is allowed to have Coke. It's a big deal. Since Riley is too little for Coke, but big enough to get some kind treat. She got her very own small milkshake. It was the highlight of her week.

This year, I sat at the table and unwrapped and handed out ornaments to be hung. Since hopping around with a walker near my precious ornaments seemed unwise. Everyone hung their baby's first Christmas ornament. We each picked a new one this year too.

I went in search of a house ornament for our first Christmas in the new house. I struck out completely. I decided instead to let everyone pick a new ornament. Riley picked a sweet little corduroy owl with button eyes. Mike picked a purple monster. Isaac picked a shiny green snail because they're in the cephalopod family. I got a little girl with blonde braids and a red winter hat. I doubt we'll make that a tradition though because we're pretty heavy on ornaments.

Mike and I also have a beautiful green partridge for the first Christmas we were together. Other than those we came into the relationship with our own ornament collections. I always let the kids hang the ones they made too. Riley did very well considering being a tired, sugared up two year old. Mainly she wanted to hang one and then take it down and run away screaming. She managed to get a few on though.

The kids found my big jingle bells and started dancing and jingling to Christmas music. It was adorable. Then they started rolling bells down the hallway. Loud and also the most fun ever based on laughter levels. They had a fun night. I had back spasms from all that sitting, but a beautiful tree. I really over did it this weekend with back to back Christmas parties and tree decorating. I hope Santa appreciates the effort.

Decorations!!

2011-12-04T16:03:00.003-05:00

My gesse made it ouside! Then we put down blue rope lights for a pond. Good idea, right? I was proud of that. Mike put some reeds by the pond and with deer it gave us a woodland theme out front. I'm loving it.

Here's a close-up of our Christmas that's in background of the last picture (through the window). It's lit, but not decorted. We're gonna fix that tonight.

How Toddlers Do Christmas

2011-12-03T23:38:00.017-05:00

Lighting the tree

Wearing Christmas clothes and antleers!

Dancing to Christmas music in a tu-tu!

Decoring cookies

Rudolph the red nose Riley

Cottonball Christmas Countdown

2011-12-02T20:42:00.002-05:00

I love Christmas and crafting so much, but recovering from hip surgery really puts a damper on things. Riley's toddler friends are having they're Christmas party Saturday and the Mommies discussed bringing a food item and a craft for each of the kiddos in attendance. We're talking less than 10 toddlers here. I knew exactly what I had the resources and physical capability for.

I saw this idea on Pinterest and loved it, a Christmas countdown where you glue a cotton ball onto Santa's bare chin. When the last one is on (beard full) Santa comes that night.

Materials

Santa face/template
Construction Paper
Cotton Balls
Glue
Scissors
Crayons/Markers/Colored Pencils
Glitter

Frist here is the first tmplate I found: Template from Pinterest. I love this one, but I didn't want to waste all the blue ink for the background. I debated cutting out individual Santa facial features for each one, but decide to Google first. I found and used this one: Template I used. I think it would be just fine to print Santa coloring pages and hand draw or stamp numbers on too.

Next I used glitter on the holly on Santa's hat. Don't you love glittery Christmas decorations? I also colored his cherry nose and hat red. I cut out Santa and glued him to some green construction paper. Then I used a gold marker write the poem:
Santa's beard is very bare
On his chin there is no hair!
So each day add a puff of white
When they're all on, he'll come that night!

After that I just counted out cotton balls. I only had jumbo ones so I had to cut them in half, grumble. Smaller fits better for sure. Twenty-four cotton balls in a baggie and they were done. I didn't attach the baggie to Santa just in case mom and dads had other plans, but it would be cute to do a sack out of Christmas fabric for your cotton balls.

Photo Thursday!

2011-12-01T23:50:00.000-05:00

Last Christmas a family in our neighborhood had these geese. Christmas geese with hats and scarves. Super Cute, huge hit with Miss Roo.

Ever since I saw those I began formulating my outdoor display around acquiring some of my own geese in the off season. Well, guess what finally came after a shipping error last month, my geese!

Helping daddy assemble them.

Straightening a baby "GUCK" (duck and goose at the same time?). Aren't they pretty lit up?

Good in the World

2011-11-30T19:33:00.000-05:00

It's there, but you have to put it out there to attract it. I've learned the hard way though that helping someone when it harms you isn't good for anyone. Today a huge opportunity to give came up (love more than money). I wanted to be the hero, but it wasn't the right time for me. God worked his mysterious ways and I knew exactly who was in the right place for the kind of help needed.

Everything worked out and a lot of people are sleeping easier tonight (I'm one of them). Whatever happens now, my faith in humanity which trends towards optimistic is safe and sound. Thank God for good people and amazing timing. Someday, it'll be my turn not just to be a middle man of kindness, but to step up. It'll be a good day. I hope the kindness keeps moving for a while tonight. I hope others are inspired to give and care too.

People with open hearts and minds tend to attract the same. I have amazing friends.

So Much Love To Give

2011-11-29T18:26:00.001-05:00

If Mike and I were wealthy or even in less debt and I were physically up to it I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have stopped at 2 kids. I think we would have had a handful more. Most of my time the rational part of my brain keeps that feeling at bay assuring me 2 is the perfect number. However, I feel that way every time Mike adds another feature to the playground out back. I feel that way every time I have a group of kids running and playing through my house for an event. I feel that way every time one of my friends announces they're pregnant. I feel that way every time Mike builds something out of Legos with Isaac or dances with Riley.

Today my Mom was babysitting her neighbors' 4mo old and she ended up spending the day with us. I felt that way today. Where does the time go? Miss Loo was so tiny in my arms. I had forgotten what a 4mo old felt like nestled in your arms. It was my pleasure to hold her most of the time she was here today. I had started to talk myself down mainly by remembering how much work potty training is when Mike came home.

I passed her to him with instructions to give her a bounce to help her tummy. He sang and bounced and spoke to her so sweetly it was heartwarming to see. She's a very sweet girl and Mike never talks to children like they are less than people. I've always loved that about him. It was sad to say goodbye, but a relief too. We've always said someday when ours have left the nest we'd adopt. It's a distant future kind of dream. I hope we're older and wiser and much more financially stable then.

Get Out of my Space

2011-11-28T22:25:00.003-05:00

Can you tell what kind of day I had? Generally, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but some people really flaunt their inconsiderateness. I've only been out of the house a handful of times since I can't drive. Today Mike was off (he worked Friday) and the kids were away so we ran a few errands.

I live in a state heavily populated by the elderly so it's not uncommon to have trouble getting a close space. I've been glared or even yelled at for parking in a disabled space because at first glance they only see a young mom. I'm glad they care whether the privilege is being abused, but let's go over this again: Everyone listening?
Not all handicapped people are old.
Some of us have nice cars.
Some of us have families.
We do not live in parking lots, but we sure do use them!
I digress, I understand that it's hard to tell when a disabled space is being abused in some cases, but there doesn't seem to be anyone checking for this abuse. Mike read me an article about how many people admit to using a relative or spous's permit. There were also people granted temporary tags that renewed them. Why was it so easy for the paper to get this information, but no law enforcement agency seems to be able to do it?

We circled the parking lot for about 5mins before we pulled into an open space, the farthest row from the curb. I unfolded my walker and scooted my non-weight bearing butt out of the car. As I hopped past the full disabled spaces I noticed at least 3 vehicles with no disabled tags of any kind. Give me a break. One sure footed gentlemen clammered into a large van. Mike sneered and spat "he doesn't look disabled." Wait a minute, it might be on the license plate. It was.

What does that prove? Just that the registered owner of the car is permanently disabled. Is that him? No idea. Could he have been suffering from a heart defect or other less visible affliction making it difficult for him to march 100ft to that door? Maybe. I on the other hand am 3wks post op and all the hopping is making my leg cramp. Once I did get to the building there were people smoking outside so I was holding my breath as I hopped, not easy. When my bussiness was complete it was a long hop back to the curb and by the time I got there tears were welling up in my eyes. Mike pulled the car around for me.

What Mike and I think would help would be some sort of priority rating. Top level within 3 weeks of major surgery, severe physical limitations, severe heart issues, etc. Next Level less severe versions of all of these. So on down the line they could be color coded and arranged with degrees of closeness. For people whose conditions would be improved from walking a few feet put them a few more spaces down.

What about people using grandma's tag? Report them! If it's obivous (in my state your driver's license number is printed on the permit) or there's a serious doubt don't let them get away with it. Please don't put yourself in danger. Get their plates to the authorities or tell someone who works in the building the parking lot is for and let them tow them. People have been clearly warned about being fined or towed when they park there so don't feel bad. You're saving someone like me an afternoon in bed recovering from an unnecessary over exertion instead of playing with her kids (or being any part of their day).

Conversations With Christmas Cute

2011-11-27T17:35:00.000-05:00

Riley:(Sees an inflatable snowman out the car window) Hi! (S)nowman. (waving).
Mommy:(laughing)That's nice Riley
Riley: (as we're pulling into the driveway, still waving) Hi, hi (s)nowman. (her voice lowers slightly) Hi, Riley!
Mommy: (laughing harder)
Riley: Did you hear the (s)nowman say hi?
Mommy: Yes, what a friendly snowman.

Riley was being very two the other day. Finally I made her look at me and asked her to be a good listener.
Mommy: Riley, be a good girl. You know what? Santa only brings toys to the good girls who listen to their mommies. You want Santa to bring you toys, don't you?
Riley: Gonna be good, yeah. Santa bring toys, yeah.
Sometime later
Mommy: Riley that's not nice! Mommy doesn't like that. Santa doesn't like that. What does Santa like?
Riley: Reindeer!
Although she missed my point she wasn't wrong.

Experiment Failed

2011-11-26T19:45:00.000-05:00

I saw a preview for Arthur Christmas in November and decided Isaac and I would be equally thrilled to see it. I knew for sure he and I had to attend Thanksgiving weekend. What I was unsure of was whether I'd be driving by then and if Riley would be up to it. I proposed the outing to Mike fully expecting him to pass. I had my mom lined up as back up and everything, but he thought a family trip to the movies sounded good.

I figured it couldn't be that bad with two of us. Surely, Riley would be engaged by a 3D movie about Santa for at least half the film. Mike could spend the other half walking her around the lobby since he's not such an animated movie enthusiast. No big deal. Turns out both of my suppositions were wrong I couldn't drive and Riley could not handle it.

She lost it at the end of the 30min of previews. I was a little stressed at that point too. Good lord, Disney these are kids give them a break! She watched about 20ish minutes of the movie in total (it's a 2ish hour movie). Mike ended up taking her next door to Target for more Christmas lights. When the movie ended Isaac and I had been thoroughly entertained. I had a bit of trouble getting up the incline and out of the theater after all that sitting, but the nice man at the end of the row lent a hand (probably because I was blocking traffic).

We left having paid $48 for Isaac and I to watch a movie while Mike and Riley walked. Sigh. I think Miss Roo needs to grow up for another year or so before we try that again. Live and learn. She wasn't bad at all. She's just so 2. She got restless. Despite missing the movie she assured me all the way home she "had a gooood day!".

It's Beginning...

2011-11-25T20:25:00.001-05:00

We're off and excited!

We inspected the options...

Loaded it up

Brought it home

And after rearranging some furniture it was in the house.

Tree's up and decorating the house/yard's begun!

Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T12:21:00.001-05:00

I am thankful that the kids played nicely until 9am and let me stay in bed. I am thankful they can enjoy the parade while Mike cooks our contribution to a big family Thanksgiving that we are not hosting. Yay!

I am thankful that I am recovered enough from this surgery to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. I am thankful that my children are old enough that I can get dolled up without having to stop and breast feed or change diapers. I am thankful for the family pictures we only get over the holiday season. I am thankful for Etsy and Riley's amazing Miss Gobbles barrette.

I am thankful for Mike's job where he is appreciated. I am thankful that I am healthy (outside of Orthopedic issues), knock on wood. I am thankful for two intelligent, funny, healthy children.

I am thankful to have a wonderful co-parent helping me raise them. I am thankful for extended family that lives nearby and for sincere compliments. I am thankful it's 70 degrees on Thanksgiving in Florida. I am thankful that I'm surrounded by good cooks. I am thankful for pie!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Hand Turkeys

2011-11-23T20:09:00.002-05:00

So, I really wanted to do a Thanksgiving art project with Riley, but I needed it to be low key as I'm still recovering. The answer of course was hand turkeys. We did ours a little differently. Instead of tracing her hand we made brown hand prints with paint. Now, if you have time and paint it's much cuter to do the palm brown and paint the fingers different colors (for the feathers). I did her whole hand brown and used two hand prints per sheet of construction paper. We used her left hand so they are playing follow the leader, but you can use each hand and have them chatting if you like. Also if you let your toddler choose pieces of construction paper you might want to pull black out of the options it doesn't read well.

As you can see we just drew on the hand prints with markers. I had a hard time with the googly eyes on the ghost footprints and less patience this time. By all means go nuts add feathers, googly eyes and glitter.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Stitch in Time

2011-11-22T23:21:00.001-05:00

Today was the day. The first time I'd see Dr. B since I left the hospital and get my stitches out. I was so excited because this is a big milestone in the healing process. It also means no more stupid dressing with stupid tape making stupid wrinkles in my skin that ITCH. I very much appreciate the use of stitches because they make a nicer scar and in my opinion are much easier to get out.

Riley and I in the waiting room.

Riley putting grandma's pen to good use on the exam table paper. Just like her Momma did thousands of times as a child over the course of 15yrs worth of orthopedic surgeries. Ah, memories.

Laying on the exam table, insisting Grandma trace her. Then she sat up and pointed at the outline and said "There's Riley!!" It was adorable. We made a family of hand turkies as well. She was so bubbly today greeting everyone and wishing them all Happy Thanksgiving. Until Dr. B came in. He was very sweet and he spoke directly to her like a person (which Old Ortho never did). She clammed up, pouted and shook her head in response. It was strange. He didn't do anything scary. He reported I was healing well. It was amazing to see my hip in the socket correctly on the X-ray.

When Dr. B left Riley said "That was (s)carey." I was taken aback. I asked if Dr. B was scary and she said "it was terrible." with teary eyes. I hugged her and assured her he was gone. When the nurse came in to pull the stitches Riley watched the whole thing without batting an eyelash and spoke very sweetly to her.

Even stranger when we passed the Dr in the hall she kindly wished him a happy holiday. I can't even guess what that was about. The ladies at the front desk thought Riley was adorable and gave her a cookie. Oh, to be two...

I'm An Award Winner!

2011-11-21T18:55:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my award winning blog! The Liebster Blog Award is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers, all in the spirit of fostering new connections. Leibster is German & means ‘dearest’ or ‘beloved’ but it can also mean ‘favorite’

I was quite shocked to find this comment waiting for me today! A fellow blogger and mom: Debi, from the Shit My Six Year Old Says nominated me for this award. Which is lovely, but a touch frustrating since she'd be the first I'd nominate. Beat me to it. She has a lovely, intelligent, unique little boy and documents some of his singular perspective on life. I read often because I love knowing I'm not alone in parenting such a little boy. More than that I read her blog to laugh.

Now it's my turn to do some nominating. Which is no easy task since I've found quite a few wonderful blogs along the way. I've narrowed my favorites down to those with less than 200 followers (which was already in the rules) who have posted in the last month (just to help me narrow the field/motivate some bloggers to post). Here goes:

I have to start with Disabled Mama Kati is also a disabled mom, obviously. She has a lovely name and gave birth to her daughter a few months before I had mine. She writes with intelligence and humor about the day to day of motherhood, crafts/sewing, cooking and all manner of things. She lost her leg to childhood cancer and not unlike another Kati(e) I know she is a force of nature. It's always a good read.
There is also Misty at Mommy's Crutch. She's also a disabled mom. She has cerebral palsy and a daughter, like me. What I love the most about her blog is the unabashed honesty. I strive to be open and honest, but I never feel as eloquent as Misty in doing so. Her posts aren't as regular as mine, but they are always worth the wait.
Surprisingly enough I'll follow my disabled mom favorites with a running blog. Sandy writes Not Fast But Not Last. It is absolutely true that I can not at all relate to running, but determination and passion are very familiar to me. Competing with oneself is best kind, in my opinion. I've never missed a post.
I'm not only a disabled mom who had hip surgery two weeks ago I'm also planning my wedding. I've found some remarkable wedding blogs in my incessant research. Unfortunately, a few are way more popular than this award allows or haven't published in a few months. I have been following and enjoying Kelly at The Whimsical Wifey. Now the fact that I read her blog is significant given my distaste for term Wifey. Aside from that I can't find a flaw. Kelly will be married next fall. She's very much a crafter and she just learned to sew which inspires me to bite the bullet and finally learn too.

Conversing With Cute

2011-11-20T10:17:00.001-05:00

Riley: Want a coooookie!
Mommy: Please?
Riley: Please, have a cookie.
Mommy: Here ya go.
Riley: Ah, (T)hank you!

She sits down and eats it. The room is silent for a minute. Then she springs to her feet.
Riley: Nother cookie, pleeeease.
Mommy: I don't know how old are you?
Riley: (Without skipping a beat) Twelve.
Mommy: (trying to stop laughing long enough to disagree) No you're not. How old are you, Riley?
Riley: (long pause) Two
Mommy: That's right. You're two so you can have two cookies. (I give her the cookie)
Daddy: (laughing) I bet you wish you were twelve now!

Several days later.

Mommy: What a good helper, Thank You.
Riley: You're Welcome!
Mommy: Should we have a cookie now?
Riley: Yes. I'm two, two cookies!

This morning Riley was laying in my bed talking to me and Mike was still dozing. She kept asking me to sing Tiny Tim faster and faster. She thought it was very funny. Eventually, Mike stirred and Riley gave him some hugs.

Riley: Good Mornin'!
Daddy: Hi, Riley
Riley: (pointing to the flowers I got in the hospital)they're not (s)cary. Want to (s)mell them!
Daddy: They don't really have a smell
Riley: It's ok, they're not (s)cary. (s)mell them!
Daddy: Ok (they "smell them)
(Riley stands up to look out the window and notices some green paint spots on the the white tile window sill)
Riley: Uh-oh! Daddy (s)pilled some paint.
Daddy: Where?
Riley: On dare! (points to the window)
Daddy: Oh
Riley: It's white not green. Don't paint there.
Daddy: Ok
Riley: Green for walls. You're supposed to be sorry.
Daddy: (laughing) I'm sorry, Riley.

Ups & Downs of Parental Post-Op

2011-11-19T20:32:00.000-05:00

I've been tired and grouchy with having to re-grow bone and all. I was thinking about how nice it would be to heal without kids around. How much more rest I'd get. How quiet the house would be. How there wouldn't be any toys to trip over while hopping on one foot with terrible balance. Wondering if I'd feel less guilty about my pain without having to worry if the kids were fed or Riley pottied before nap, etc. You get the picture.

Then I thought about how I powered through the check list to get the heck out of the hospital and back to the kids. I thought about how I haven't taken more than an extra strength Tylenol since the day after surgery. Partly because after 20 surgeries my pain tolerance is impressive, but also due to the distraction and entertainment the kids provide.

Speaking of distraction, my post-op depression lasted about 72hrs this time compared to months with the spinal fusion. I haven't lost any noticeable weight this time either despite 3 days of (gag) hospital food. I'm busy enough not to mope, but not too busy to eat.

It's so helpful to have other things to focus on besides my recovery. I've been really feeling the whole I have a break in the most major bone in the body today. I got out for an hour this morning and spent the rest of the day in bed. I napped and iced it, but I also had conversations with the kids. I listened to them laugh and play in the backyard with Mike while I read a book. It was a downer day pain wise, but not a bad day at all in general.

An Educational Day

2011-11-18T14:08:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Mike volunteered for the Great American Teach In. A few years ago we both did it and really enjoyed it. It's basically career day. You go and talk to a class for 30min and then you go to a different class and so on. It's always a huge deal to Isaac when one of us goes to his school for something. He's especially proud of his dad though.

Mike stayed up late drawing huge mazes in varying degrees of difficulty. The kids learned basic programming commands and then used them to navigate a chicken through the maze to sit on an egg. I thought it was a very clever lesson plan. He stayed the whole school day and spoke to 3-5th grade classes. One of the classes he spoke was Isaac's.

He said some classes understood faster than others, but overall it went very well. I am a big supporter of public education, but more than that we have to make sure the kids feel important right now. It really did just make Isaac's day. I'm so glad, too. He's getting older and soon enough he won't want his parents at school anymore. It's amazing how much growing happens between 7 and 9. I'm just overwhelmed at all the growing up around here.

Photo Thursday

2011-11-17T19:15:00.000-05:00

Isaac's balloon giant squid from his birthday dinner with Grandpa and Ya Ya

Wednesdays Stink

2011-11-16T18:24:00.000-05:00

I had trouble sleeping last night. Both kids were in bed late and they both tried to get up at an unreasonable hour. When laying in bed a little longer was thwarted by my tiny bladder the dark clouds really rolled in. I got from the bed to the chair, but Mike had dropped his pants in a wad directly behind my tire. It was like those wedges of wood they put in front of airplane tires, I wasn't going anywhere.

It took considerable begging on my part to get Riley to move the jeans. Normally she thinks putting clothes in the hamper is fun, but today she brought them into the bathroom and dropped them directly behind the door! So, I got to the bathroom and couldn't get the door opened wide enough to get in. I was in tears and bursting by the time I "helped" her (I can't bend or lift) move the pants.

After I had relieved myself I went to the kitchen to get Riley something. I have no words for the state of my kitchen at this point. (Shudder) I discovered when I opened the fridge I'd forgotten to put out the veggie tray for Isaac's party. Annoying. Then I had a to pull out a few empty packages from the fridge to get to anything, more annoying. Then I lost my balance standing on one foot to get something. Most annoying, but no injury.

Then I scratched my foot on the chair getting on to the couch. Come on! At which point my mom called and offered to bring us to her house. I was relieved, but I wanted to double check what time my physical therapist was coming. I reached farther than I should have for the phone and when I tried to sit my weight went on to my bad foot. I was terrified. After that I managed to pull it together and dress Riley except for shoes. When my mom got here we searched high and low for my shoes and NEVER found them.

Losing things makes me nuts. I wore them Saturday. They have to be here somewhere. I had vigorous therapy today and I'm beat. I would have just gone to sleep afterward, but Mike's work is crazy today. So I stayed awake and kept Riley out of his hair. We started hand print turkeys. I'm dying.

Tomorrow is The Great American Teach In so Mike will be at Isaac's school all day. It would be a great chance to rest if I could find someone to watch Riley. My poor mom's been here every day for a week and I want to give her a break, but there aren't a lot of folks available during the day. I'm still working on it.

Silver lining: my kitchen's getting cleaned tomorrow. Woo-hoo.

Isaac's Nine Today!

2011-11-15T18:36:00.000-05:00

Just a few pictures of Isaac opening his presents from us:

Wait for it

Rip..

What?

Oh my..

Yippee!

Unwrapping with his eyes fixed on the 3D DS...

The game he wanted too

Life is complete

So happy

Watch Your Mouth

2011-11-14T17:08:00.001-05:00

So, I've talked before about hissing or growling to prevent cussing when I'm in pain. I still do that which usually means I'm on the verge of tears and my kids are laughing at me. I'm usually pretty aware around the kids. I'm only human and I'm sure I've slipped here and there. For all my effort though we still had a couple lessons in how much the kids around you absorb.

I was having a rough day with Miss Roo. She was just being two and I was grouchy and tired from pushing it too hard post surgery. Generally, I hold fast to my sense of humor and distracting her distracts me too. We'd been playing and laughing in the bed. I put on a movie and she was mellowing out and then she decided that wasn't the best plan. She started kicking me in the bad hip and being aggressive. I heard myself say "stop it" in a tone that implied I was losing my calm, but she didn't. So in frustration more to myself than to her I said "I'm gonna smack you!".

I honestly said it to myself in that way adults say "I'm gonna kill you" when we're annoyed with each other. In any event, I couldn't unsay it. After a moment of silence Riley said thoughtfully "Mommy said gonna smack you." Another brief silence followed and I replied "You're right Riley I did say that. That's not a nice thing to say, is it? Hitting is not nice. Mommy didn't mean it." She thought about it and agreed "not. nice." Just a little reminder.

Not long after Isaac got sent to the office for saying "I wish I was dead." He said it in an impassioned fit of frustration. He didn't mean it, but the school was right to investigate such a horrific statement. It was one of those moments were I felt completely overwhelmed trying to decide how to handle it and I'm so relieved not to be a single parent.

Mike kept pondering where he would have heard such a thing. I pointed out that we're not just contending with what he hears at home, but what all of his friends hear at home or on tv too. The root of the idea to claim such a thing seemed irrelevant and only served to make make me feel powerless to protect my child. Beyond that I wondered how we had produced such a sheltered kid. How is it possible that not being able to draw a cheetah perfectly on the first try feels like a life or death scenario?

Clearly, I had failed somewhere. We addressed the issue as calmly and rationally as possible. We made him understand how serious those words are. We talked about the kids who do feel that way. We talked about good ways to deal with frustration. We did everything we could do to address it without giving him undo positive or negative attention for it. We still went to bed wondering if we did the right thing.

You have to be so careful to say what you mean and mean what you say around kids. Hopefully, they'll grow up and do the same.

Maddy's Baby Shower

2011-11-13T15:52:00.001-05:00

Five days post op I squeezed my swollen hip and tired bones into my "big jeans" and went to a baby shower. Maddy is due in February to Mike's cousin's wife. Get that? I just say my cousin's baby, it's less confusing. I digress, it was a very special shower. Lara, Mike's sister, and some of Mommy-to-be's co-workers got together and threw a spectacular Harry Potter themed shower.

The food was all from the books. Butter beer, chocolate frogs and cupcakes with little owls on them among others. The presentation was stunning. I brought my camera, but didn't take a single picture. Failure. It's the fatigue I can't concentrate to the end of my own thoughts. Anyway, the tables had maroon table cloths and the signs to identify the food were written in beautiful Harry Potter font. There was a display with an owl and stacked books and wands. Even the favor bags looked like brooms.

ABC Family just happened to be doing a Harry Potter marathon that night too. We all wore white owl name tags and the pens for filling out the baby games had feathers attached to look like quills. It was really well done. I love a theme. We played the standard games not saying baby, guessing how many pieces of candy were in a bottle and baby word scramble. All the games that involved writing were glued onto black card stock which had hole punched at the top for maroon and gold ribbon.

She got the usual baby shower haul gift-wise, but her invitation requested everyone pick a children's book and write a message to Maddy inside instead of cards. It was so interesting to see the choices and a little emotional to hear the inscriptions. Maddy's one loved little girl. I gave her two owl clipies on headbands (headbands for now and the clips detach for later). I also gave her two onesies "stormpooper" in black and white and "mischief managed" in pinks. I got all of those things on Etsy: Geeklings and Craving Cuteness respectively. For our book we chose one of Riley's favorites that we got from the library recently. It's called The Witch Who Wanted To Be A Princess. It's a great story about being yourself and also Harry Potter appropriate.

It was an amazing shower. Gold star ladies. It was totally worth dragging myself out of the house newly surgeried. I'm so excited to see the Harry Potter nursery finished. I'm just excited all the way around. See you soon Miss Maddy.

The Back to The Future Shindig

2011-11-12T10:20:00.000-05:00

Here I am! I just finished my home made flame trails. Making a "Great Scott! It's Isaac's party sign for the yard.

Here's the "clock tower" (note the clock is stuck at 10:04) and cable that the flame trails were taped to the walls beneath. The cable was later used to add a zip line to the playground in the back yard. I also had the movie playing in the living room during the party.

The kick ass cake. I bought a really ugly cake at the grocery store. I'm 4 days post op so baking is not in the cards. I just crushed Oreos to make soil and used it to cover the ugly balloons. It worked out nicely. Mike made the praying mantis tractor from Coraline out of fimo clay. He bought tiny lights for the eyes and covered them with the bubbles on the bottom of a Coke bottle painted yellow. As you can see, it came out wonderful! I also bought the candles with colored flames they were a nice touch.

The birthday boy with one of his gifts. Note he's wearing his Marty McFly vest.

It was a nice party all things considered. I was thrilled to meet some of his school friends. He got wonderful gifts. I was very impressed, a motion sensor pterodactyl, Lego interceptor ship from Star Wars, Cars 2, a drawing robot, great books and amazing gift cards. What a lucky kid.

Great Scott! It's Party Time.

2011-11-11T10:37:00.000-05:00

Isaac woke up humming Happy Birthday. The day has arrived, although neither myself or the house seems at all ready. The show must go on. I haven't been sleeping great. It's hard to be comfortable, but I'll take that over a drug coma any day. So, I pretended to be with it as I instructed Isaac though some tasks and got Riley ready this morning. It's chilly today so it was harder to get moving than it should have been, too.

In summation, I am a superhero. Everything pressing got done and everyone got out the door. Now to delegate a few tasks to my mom, nap, get my dressing changed and maybe go to the store for party food later. I have cleaning help coming too (thank GOD!). Don't get me wrong, the house looks pretty good considering I was gone 3 days, but it's not party ready. I'm down to no cleaning ability at all (expect wiping things within arms reach) and I'm going to have parents I've never met before in my house tonight. Speaking of, I wonder if I could squeeze into "normal" pants? The swelling has been steadily decreasing, but jeans are probably still a few weeks away.

I want to make sure everything gets picked up, make sure food gets purchased, supervise decorating and be fresh and ready for company when they arrive. Is that a lot for 4 days after surgery? Well, it's my plan any way. I'm very excited for Isaac's first birthday at the new house.

I'll do my best to get pictures up tomorrow. 11/11/11, let's see about you...

Back to Business

2011-11-10T16:33:00.000-05:00

So, life did not freeze in it's tracks while I was gone. Isaac was a well behaved little helper for exactly one evening before he started taking advantage which is really silly since he's supposed to have a field trip and a birthday party tomorrow. Oops, I think most nine year boys are often short sighted.

I had a look at the notes home from his teachers and confronted him with both his impractical timing and my hurt feelings. I hope we're back on track. I told him I won't cancel his party for behavior, but there are lots of other consequences that could make his weekend less pleasant if he doesn't shape up.

What were we thinking? A Friday evening the week of my surgery. Poor Isaac's birthday is right on the heels of Halloween and right before Thanksgiving so it never gets as much attention as the other fall birthdays.

He wants a Back to the Future Theme. Obviously, you can't just go pick those decorations up at the party store. I've been brainstorming decoration ideas. I think we've got some solid concepts at this point. He also wants a cake with "the robot mantis from Coraline" After that request he got self conscious that it wasn't in theme. I told him it's his party and there's nothing wrong with his choices.

We decided to forgo the trip to Lego Land as the present idea because he longs for a 3D DS and none of us are up for a theme park yet. I think the DS upgrade will be less expensive. Plus, Isaac's computer has not been operational since the month after we moved. Mums, the word party guests he's not getting his Mom and Dad present until Tuesday (his actual birthday).

End of (hospital) Days?!?

2011-11-09T20:33:00.006-05:00

Today I kicked butt. I did everything required for discharge. I couldn't wait for afternoon to come and discharge papers to materialize. When 2:00 came and went I got a little stressed. It would be a bummer not to go home today, but at least I'd have it from the horse's mouth.

I'd given him the benefit of the doubt and soldiered on, until it started to approach shift change. Woah, my nurse is going to depart for the night and we know nothing?!? No. Wait a minute, I did everything I was supposed to do to go home. I want to go home. What's going on?

I promptly finished my dinner and hopped in the wheelchair. I was going to make damn sure I wasn't forgotten. I wanted to be discharged or at least hear from the doctor why I wasn't being discharged. I sat in the hallway, I wheeled the the length or the unit and I checked in at the nurse's station a few times. After two hours the charge nurse informed me Dr. B was on trauma call and it would be hours if I saw him at all tonight.

I want to go home. I have no recourse. I have to stay another night because he's busy. In the meantime my night nurse has yet to identify themselves. At the end of hospital stay when you're at a higher level of independence everyone begins to ignore you. Really stoked I'm still here for this Dr. B, thanks a bunch. Huge waste of everyone's time. If no one's taking care of me why am I here?

Spoke to soon

I was a very squeaky wheel and sure enough Dr. B appeared at 9pm (minutes after the original post was published). He checked my incision and asked me a few questions. Are you sure you're ready to go home? Are you sure you want to be discharged now instead of in the morning? I also clarified that the blood thinner injections were just during my hospital stay I'll be taking Aspirin twice a day at home. Yay!!

I have a follow up with the Dr right before Thanksgiving. Until then, he gave me a very stern expression and instructed me to "take it easy" in that I mean it tone. No weight bearing on my left foot of two weeks. Aye, aye.

I was home in bed by 10:00pm last night. It was such a relief.

First Day Post Op

2011-11-08T17:09:00.001-05:00

I asked to get up and sit in a chair first thing. I stayed up a little under an hour. I started to feel wiped out and dopey at that point. I decided the pain meds were doing me harm than good. As an added bonus they came injected me with blood thinners during the night. I wish I'd been prepared for that! He told me low dose Aspirin. Anyway, I was getting out of bed to go to the bathroom by mid day, but otherwise hanging out in bed.

Dr. B's physician’s assistant came to check on me. He, Mr. P, told me it went well. He even called it "one of the most straight forward surgical dislocations he'd been a part of." That's a huge deal for me, nothing about my orthopedic problems has ever been described as straight forward. He was very nice and said he'd swing by later because most people think of other questions.

Well, I don't know if he forgot me or if I was sleeping when he came back, but I didn't see him again. I can't believe I forgot to ask about the darn blood thinners that was my only question. That night when my nurse gave me the next one I asked if the dr ever gives injections in patient and then prescribed Aspirin out patient. She said no. (Huge toddler style tantrum). Anyway, I figure it'll all get cleared up tomorrow since it's supposed to me my last day.

Surg-er-yyyy Day

2011-11-07T16:28:00.000-05:00

Last minutes snags rained down on me, but I was determined to be positive. Grandma's car broke down eliminating our plan b to pick up Isaac. Boo came down with a rash and was waiting to hear whether she was contagious possibly eliminating Riley's plans. It turned out Boo was ok. Just as I breathed a sigh of relief Riley peed on the floor in front of potty and Isaac annoyed his friend right out the door. Sigh, not the restful night I hoped for.

I super hydrated all night to prevent the cottonmouth I woke up with last time. I got up before the alarm thank you time change. Riley was thrilled to be up before the sun. She was stunned that Mommy wasn't sending her back to bed. She was totally trilled that today was her slumber party with Boo. After a hiccup getting my car started we were underway.

My long goodbye made Riley's brow furrow, but she's a tough cookie. Isaac bounded up to my dad's promising to be extra helpful while I was gone. Go team. We got to the hospital just before 7:30am. After paper work we went up to Pre-Op waiting. This was the first time I'd been in there without Riley. When I saw all the people waiting I was overwhelmed. Luckily, the nurse I had the last two times was my nurse again. It was comforting, even if this is not the place I wanted to be a regular.

As usual I was last in line. They didn't come to get me until 11:00am. So many hours of waiting with an empty stomach. I remember "ok now's the the time for hugs and kisses" and then nothing.

When I woke up I was in a room and Mike was by my side. I could hear everyone in the room, but my eyes were having a hard time focusing. Mike read something to me I haven't clue what. I begged him not to go. After that my mom came by and I called Riley to say good night. It's all blur after that.

The Eve of Surgery

2011-11-06T16:23:00.000-05:00

I'm so tired today. Part of it is the time change, but mostly I'm a ball of nerves over the surgery. I slept pretty well, but I was up super early. We took the kids to a playground and then we all went to lunch. It was nice. I'm going to miss the kids so much. To avoid my emotions and for practical reasons we came home and cleaned. I got all the dishes done and toys picked up. Mike took down and stored all the Halloween odds and ends.

I blogged for a few minutes before Riley was up from her nap. I was so grateful for the distraction when she woke up. I painted her toe nails pink as per her request. After that Mike took the kids for a bike ride and I packed Riley's bag. She'll be staying overnight with Boo on Monday and coming home after their dance class Tuesday. I needed to do it so that I felt like she was ready. I also really didn't want her to be ready because that would mean it was really happening. The extra hour is miserable I keep thinking it's so much later than it is!

I put like items in gallon ziplocs:

Pajamas: Bug Night Gown, Piggy PJs and Castle PJs (She'll be wearing one pair over Monday morning and I wanted her to be able to choose that night.)
Outfits: I packed 3 pants/shirt combinations, a dress and one pair of spare shorts. I listed what went with what on the outside of the bag. Just for variety sake. Miss Roo can be particular about her clothes.
Undies: 4pairs in a sandwich size bag
Socks: 4pairs, 2 solid color non-slips and 2 patterned pars
Shoes: 2pairs, sneakers and slip-ons
Hair clips: I put them in a snack baggie. I also packed her brush and de-tangler spray.
Toothbrush and Toothpaste: I'll also pack them in a snack baggie after she brushes her teeth tonight. I left the labeled baggie out where I could see it with a post it reminding me to also grab piggy pillow and Yogi (the bear her Grandpa gave her that she sleeps with).
Wearing there: She'll wear her jammies, kitty flip flops and her hooded sweatshirt over in the morning.

I'm so sad about not seeing her for two days, but so proud of my highly organized overnight bag.

The first time I had surgery I asked people to bring Riley everyday. She was 8mos and still breastfeeding when they shoved the rod in my spine. Isaac came twice, but it was too scary for him. His reaction made me feel guilty. The next time when they pulled the pins out of my hip Riley was 14mo old and weaned. She hung out with Boo a lot, but not overnight. I asked Mike not to bring Isaac at all that time.

This time Riley is 2yrs 2mo old and very independent. I've asked that niether of the kids come to the hospital until I'm discharged. I hope I'm up to phone calls the first night. I'm planning on being in and out a day or two. Fingers crossed.

Garage Sale Day

2011-11-05T20:17:00.000-04:00

Garage sale day or my last big distraction before surgery. Get up early on a Saturday, no problem I do that every week. Purge clothes and toys, needed to do that anyway. Haul two car loads of stuff and the kids over to the location, no problem they love to play with their cousins. Setting up ALL that stuff was when I began to wonder about my decision.

I had Mike drive over with me and unload. After that I sent him on his way and the kids and I took the first shift. It was a rather impressive amount of stuff between all of us. I was hoping to pocket a little money to go in the wedding fund, but mostly I just wanted to get rid of the stuff. Mike gave me some change this morning and said if I made more profit then the $20ish change he gave me he'd be shocked. I sent all kinds of toys and clothes to new homes. I sent all kinds of baby gear off with moms-to-be. I was happier to see it go than to make some money. However, I was thrilled to shock Mike with my take.

At lunch time Mike scooped up the kiddos. They had been well fed by then and were ready to crash. I stayed a few more hours before the waves of customers had slowed to less than a trickle. Then I was thoroughly depressed at the amount of crap I had to load up. I enlisted help to load the car. When I called home Mike remarked on how "beat" I sounded. I realized that he was very right. Although I had a grand plan of going by the clothing donation bin I didn't have the energy.

I came home and took a long nap. When I woke up I had the startling feeling that now there's only surgery to look forward to. Oh, no. What have I left undone? What horrible world shaking mistakes have I made? What consequences will my family suffer in my short absence? I feel completely depressed about my inadequacies and apathetic about things intermittently.

I'll do my best to blog from the hospital, but that didn't work out last time. We'll see.

Building Up...

2011-11-04T17:13:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the slowest day of my life. I had dinner ready and warming in the crock pot by 3:00pm. I was willing the minutes by. Today is the opposite. Where is it going? I've been pre-registered and now actually register and at 6am Monday they'll check me in for surgery.

I have a defiant toddler, a-slobby-work-obsessed-doesn't-know-how-to-react-to-my-stress partner, an eight year old with his eye on his birthday party and a feeling of being completely overwhelmed. It's awful how run down I feel from all the preparing. I'm just in slow motion today.

I really, really wanted to go to the toy store today. I hallucinated for a moment that I could take Riley, but that was not going to happen. I snunk away in the afternoon and wondered the aisles. It was fun. After today's trip we just need Isaac's big present which I think we have to order online and I earned a $10 gift card for today. My kids are essentially done and Mike and I aren't doing gifts for each other this year so I have get going on my DIY projects for the extended family.

Honestly, I could get each kid at least five more things, but I have to keep in check this year. I sent my annual wish list to the grandparents with a lot of the toys I'm not getting so I feel better. Speaking of toys people aren't getting there wasn't a single one of those dolls on the shelf in this store. It's a conspiracy. I'm glad I have one tucked away. Phew.

The Dr. B's office called when we were walking to meet Isaac and it turns out we don't have to be there as early as I thought, so that's something. Easier for kid drop off, harder on my poor empty belly.

Riley Makes Mommy Cry and Laugh

2011-11-03T20:19:00.001-04:00

I've been trying to take everything in stride and remember I wouldn't see my baby for 48hrs very soon. There's been a lot of quality time and memory making moments overall. I really do love my girl. It's just tricky because we've entered the oppositional stage two-year-olds are famous for. I get that she needs to practice being assertive, but when it's aimed at you 12hrs a day for almost an entire week it wears thin.

She's usually so agreeable and sweet. This week she's been to time out more times than she has been in her whole short existence. For awful things like hitting Mommy. It's hard to take her places. I tried to bring her with me to the store for my stock up before surgery trip. Big Mistake. It went something like this:
Riley, do you what Blueberry or Apple nurti-grain bars (her favorite)?
No!
Oh, you don't want any. (walking away)
No. I don't like it. I don't! Go back.
Can you ask nicely?
Pleee-ase! nutri-grain bars.
(I put them in the cart)
(she reaches back and picks up the box)
Are you gonna hold them? Thank you helper.
(Pause)No!(she tosses them on the floor)
So much fun. Cryptic answers and erratic behavior really mess with your concentration. I must have made 3 round trips of that stupid store picking up stuff I forgot. Also, it is clear we are in a phase where it is no longer the best plan to get her a cookie at the bakery before we start shopping. I miss when she munched quietly and calmly through the store.

I was living Llama Llama Mad At Momma today. It was bad, but I'm fairly confident it will pass. She is a sweet one at heart. On a lighter note Riley's been watching my old VHS copy of The My Little Pony Movie and apparently she picked up some phrases. Yesterday at the coffee shop while waiting for “Grandma Dorween” she exclaimed "What will become of us." It was pretty stinking cute, but I'm glad I recognized the context. At the store today she said "Never break promise, never!" Ponies strike again. She delivers these with perfect emotion and inflection. She does her actress Mommy proud. I laughed so hard I cried.

The "IT" Toy

2011-11-02T17:04:00.030-04:00

Ok, I fully admit before I had kids I remember thinking the people trampling each other for Tickle Me Elmo were certifiable. I also remember a Christmas or two as a kid where I either didn't get my heart's desire or it didn't work. Somewhere between a childless person's lack of understanding and a child's disappointment when the magic of Christmas lets them down is the true reality of a parent on the trail of their child's desired toy at Christmas.

Last year it was the Mickey Mouse that danced. People were getting twice what he retailed for on Ebay. Greedy soulless people who went to toy stores in September/October and bought toys so they could exploit desperate parents in the holiday season. I looked for him earlier in the year, but there were never any on the shelf. I was going to skip it, but I ended up buying one on Ebay. What can I say? I love Christmas and it was such a cool toy. We'd had a rough end to the year that year the kids deserved a big Christmas.

The year before that Isaac wanted this stupid wrist watch thingy that figures snapped onto and lit up. To find it and the figures that went with it took months and was so stressful. We're talking multiple WalMart trips in December (shudder). We didn't have resort to Ebay in this case. By the time we found it I would've paid more to have been able to skip all the work.

This year Riley wanted a certain doll. I bought her early because I'm trying to spread out Christmas expenses and keep them in check. Plus I was there and she was on sale, yay! When I bought her she was one of only two on the shelf, in October. Maybe they'll get five more shipments before December, but somehow I doubt it. When I got home I looked up a different toy and found people selling the doll I'd just purchased for two and even three times what I had just paid. Where do they get off?

Do the toy companies do this on purpose? Are they controlling supply to drive up prices like with diamonds? I bet they do. It's endlessly frustrating and a little cruel.

The kicker is that the stupid Omnitrix thing we tracked down for Isaac was broken a month later.

Post Halloween

2011-11-01T13:15:00.003-04:00

In the post sugar and excitement light of morning Riley woke up and exclaimed "More goblins coming tonight!" She was a little put out that Halloween has ended. She decided the consolation price to more Trick-Or-Treating would be candy for breakfast. She was sad when I did not agree with that plan. Instead I agreed to let her wear her costume and submitted to her request for Mac and Cheese and chocolate milk for breakfast. So, she sat happily munching her cheesy noodles in Rainbow Brite attire while watching Tangled. Don't you wish you were two?

I cleaned out her clothes and toys yesterday in preparation for the garage sale (and surgery). I re-organized her room and more importantly her play kitchen in the living room. Now there's a whole toy bin for play food in the corner and no huge tub of miscellaneous toys in the living room, yay! I also stacked all her dishes in the cabinet and put all her pots and pans in the oven. She and Isaac were in full hamster mode checking out all the changes. It was cute. Even though there's nothing new it was like Christmas watching them re-discover toys that had been buried in bins previously or on closet shelves.

House-wise, I've gotten most of what I wanted accomplished done. The kids' rooms are clean and orderly. Mike's closet is functional and I even cleaned out my car. I'd still like to re-organize the kitchen and I must re-organize the bedroom shelves. Tick, tock. Wasn't I just saying I had two weeks? Now I have 6 days. They called and pre-registered me for surgery yesterday.

The only way I know to cope is to stay to busy and not think about it too much. I'm focused on the garage sale this coming weekend and Isaac's party the weekend after surgery is just an appointment I have in between. Sigh...

Happy Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T22:39:00.001-04:00

You've been hearing about the kids' costumes since August so without further delay here they are:

Miss Roo was a perfect Rainbow Brite!

Big Brother's wish granted, praying mantis.

I have come to the conclusion the better the kids costumes, the crappier my own. I may have to (sniff) give it up soon. I bought Riley's dress on Ebay over the summer. She's seen my Rainbow Brite movie and has a few toys I passed down so she was excited. After I had the dress I got her some rainbow leg warmers on Amazon and scrunched them over her pink books. So much cuter than the boot covers that some Rainbow Brite costumes come with. After that I threaded (rather Aunt Lara did with floss as a threader) a red star shaped button on thin purple ribbon. I put Riley's hair in the required side ponytail, tied thicker darker purple ribbon around it and then tied the thin ribbon with the star around the middle of the bow. The last touch was a small star sticker on her cheek and a tiny bit of roll on glitter. She looked amazing.

Isaac's praying mantis request was much more challenging and required every resource we possessed. I started by hunting for lime green clothes. Shock of shocks the eighties have ended and people aren't so into lime green attire. Eventually, I found leggings in the little girl's section and a workout shirt in the ladies department of Target that did the trick. Some Google-Fu produced the amazing Mantis mask. It has compound eye or regular vision. A mix of green, yellow and white face paint gave us the right shade for his face. The most time consuming part were the "claws". Mike bought a yard of lime green fabric, lime green thread and lime green ric rac. He sewed and stuffed them. Then tapped the ends to his sleeves with my lime green duct tape. Isaac was so proud of those.

One more year of Riley Trick-or-Treating from my lap in the wheelchair. Although she did get up and walk to the door with her brother a few times. What a doll!

And that's a wrap. Thank You and goodnight.

The Last of the Halloween Crafts

2011-10-30T19:00:00.000-04:00

I did add the bats to the spooky banner:

I did a Google image search for “silhouette of a bat” with it narrowed to large images. I dragged this fella into my Silhouette Studio software. Then I cut two out on my machine. I sprayed them with adhesive and covered them in black glitter.

I also did another banner. This time I bought one from Joann's Fabric for less than $1 and decorated it myself.

Before I started.

Isaac helping me punch out bats.

Halfway done.

Close-up. It's Marths Stewart glitter in Orange Sorbet. The black glitter is called Onyx. I bought a set of them for a craft class.

All done. It took hours. The done side to decorating a pre-assembled banner is you can only work on a section at a time without messing the other letters up. I had to do a letter ot two and then do something else until they dried. Shake off excess glitter, brush off anything that didn't shake off with a small dry paint brush and start again.

HAPPY

HALLOWEEN

Ashes, Ashes We All Fall Down

2011-10-29T16:02:00.000-04:00

The other day I took Miss Roo to the library. When we got out of the car my literary little bit said "we have the only Gak in town" (a line from One Fish, Two Fish). It was nice and cool that morning so after our book business we went over to the playground. I always forget about the playground in front of the library, but it seemed like a day to finally try it out. It was 10am so there was only one other family there. It was an adorable little boy Riley's age, his 10mo old brother and Mommy.

We had a great time with our new friends. Everything was damp so the corkscrew slide was not slippery at all and the straight down slide was like a rocket. It was pretty comical watching them scoot down one slide and shoot down the other in turn. After some sliding and general merriment the kiddos decided to swing.

I was pushing Riley on the swing and chatting with her new friend's mom when as it often does my balance deserted me. She swung back and BAM! So embarrassing! I laughed and made a big deal about her swinging so high she knocked me over. My new Mommy friend was really cool about it. Much cooler than most people would have been. She didn't sound shocked or overly concerned when she asked if I was ok. When I assured her I was fine she didn't insist on helping me up or get super handsy. That's the worst when a stranger grabs you and forces you to your feet.

When it was time to go Riley exclaimed "That was a fun party!" It was adorable. I don't even think she noticed my fall. I explained it wasn't a party we just visited the playground. She persisted, "Fun party at the playground." What can you say?

After nap it was time to go get Isaac from school. Riley had spent the morning wearing her Dora backpack and holding Mommy's hand. Apparently, she hadn't had enough because she didn't want to ride in my lap in the wheelchair like we usually do, she wanted her backpack. It seemed like a good idea since it was still cool.

On the way back we cut through the neighbors yard. Still no progress on the sidewalk situation, by the way. So, we cut through their yard to get out of the street since I was on foot. In the last few steps before the front door my foot caught in some weeds. Just at that moment Riley ran around me, circling the lead from the backpack around my crutch and legs. I yelled for her to stop and come back, but it was too late. My upper body twisted while my feet stayed firmly planted and BAM!

It was such a bad one the neighbor boy ran inside to get help. Now I was embarrassed and dreading the moment the adrenaline would wear off. I assured my very concerned neighbor I'd be ok and got to my feet. I also thanked her son for looking out for me. They're really nice people. I did get a few more hours before I really felt it and then Oh, man did I feel it. Ouch.

Stupid Gravity

We Have to Go Back...

2011-10-28T15:46:00.000-04:00

To The Future!

Who doesn't love that trilogy? As you can see Isaac was Marty for Halloween last year, but because we were on a cruise and I had hip surgery as soon as we got back he never got his Back to The Future birthday party. Until Now...

This is the rough draft of his invitation. I'm pleased. I need to check on whether gigga watts is one word and whether this color font is readable on black card stock, but I think we're pretty close.

Photo Thursday!

2011-10-27T21:23:00.001-04:00

Last week Jack-Jack came to play! I couldn't choose just one:

Wagon-ing it up with little J (Jack's brother).

They ran in circles taking turns on the slide, so cute!

Want to know what's more fun than a playground? Wheelchairs! (Or medical equiptment in general...)

It's ok he can play in the wheelchair, I found a plane!

Bye,Bye Hugs!! (note: niether of them let go of their toy).

Riley Loves Pumpkins!

2011-10-26T20:35:00.032-04:00

I can not explain in words how much my daughter enjoys pumpkins, so I'll show you.

Riley at the pumpkin patch, one month old.

Experimenting with pumpkins, 13mos old. We carved the one she's sitting on, but she also picked out one of her own.

Before we carved it. I do not miss the "everything in the mouth" days!

Admiring her Jack-O-Lantern. It's an LED light, guys.

She had so much fun I took her back in costume to meet up with her friends. My camera died soon after the other babies joined us. The pumpkin patch is Riley's Diseny World.

This year, 25mo and thrilled with life!

What a difference a year makes!

Back again to meet our friends for the now annual Pumpkin Patch Picnic. That is joy folks.

That is Boo and Roo with matching pumpkin clipies I got on Etsy. Those smartie pants have line up those pumpkins in size order!

Happy Pumpkin Picking

Try Triple Whammy...

2011-10-25T21:41:00.000-04:00

It was a long rough night with two sick kiddos. I'll spare everyone the gory, smelly, gross details. I didn't get a good amount of sleep as I hoped. I actually did very little overnight compared to Mike who was scrubbing floors, changing sheets and other things my back isn't up to. Surprisingly both kids were in better spirits this morning.

I was not. I woke up to conclusive proof of a UTI, ugh. So, exhausted and slightly feverish I soldiered on. Isaac opted to go to school and I was bound and determined to get Riley to a picnic we'd been rained out off the week before. I called my doctor and then I rallied. I'm sure had Mike been in my place he would have put a movie on for the grouchy toddler with tummy trouble and laid back down.

Maybe that's what any sane person would do. I, however took Riley to the pumpkin patch for a picnic with her friends. When it was over she and I both slept heavily. A nap and a dose of antibiotics later it was time to get Isaac from school. After that it was time to take my little ballerina to dance class. She did great. In fact she did really well all day. She was clingy and grouchy, but she seemed fine.

When we got home she got sick again. Poor kid. Poor me. So, to re-cap Isaac wins fastest working immune system. He didn't make very wise choices while I was at dance class and Mike was finishing his work so he's lost television privileges tomorrow. Nobody's perfect. Long day. Mike stressed, Isaac in trouble, Riley still sick and me exhausted.

Double Whammy

2011-10-24T18:13:00.000-04:00

I still haven't caught up on my sleep since last week. Riley's been super clingy and the cooler weather although delightful makes me stiff. I don't mean to whine, but with the horrific teething episodes over the weekend I thought today would be a chance to rest.

Wrong-o. Riley woke me up at 1am. I forgot to mention I gave up coffee starting this week. I knew I'd become pretty dependent which made me mad since I don't really like coffee in the first place. Caffeine also makes it harder to heal and I'm having surgery in two weeks. Way down at the bottom of the list is the fact that I'm getting married in 4ish months and I want shiny white teeth. I digress, Riley wet the bed at 1am.

I sleep walked through my day and soon Isaac was home from school with a fever. Why didn't I nap while I had the chance? Soon I was rushing out to get Riley while my mom sat with Isaac. I manged a Daddy type super power and left seconds before the puking started. It turns out I had two sick kids to contend with.

I made them Ramon for dinner and I'm going to bed early. Ugh.

Embracing the Inner Nerd

2011-10-23T19:44:00.000-04:00

Who am I kidding? It's not inner at all. Maybe it's slightly less obvious though.

My kids really never had much of a shot at being cool.

So Many Steves!

2011-10-22T23:17:00.001-04:00

For Mike's uncle's 60th his wife threw a party. The party was not a surprise. However, his wife asked everyone to dress as the birthday boy. That part was a surprise. Everyone looked great. Mike dressed up on behalf of our family.

Mike as a nuclear engineer. This is my favorite picture of him from tonight. He looks like he's working in a lab.

Here's Mike and his cousin Pete, Steve's son, who's dressed like Steve from the 80's.
Awesome

One last picture. This is the real Steve in the middle flanked by two more clones, his son and daughter-in-law.

This was an awesome idea for a birthday party. She even put up a wall of pcitiures of Steve spanning his entire lifetime. I hope to have an everyone come as Mike party someday. Speaking of Mike how hot does he look in those nerdy glasses? I think he'll re-use the outfit with a wig and be Doc Brown for Halloween. Fun stuff.

Week END.

2011-10-21T23:07:00.002-04:00

This week my often present to the point of annoyance partner in parenting was completely MIA. It was supposed to be 48hrs of him disappearing before 7:30am and rolling in well after 11pm. It did not go down that way at all. He had to go a day early and help an extra day at the end. Apparently the conference was a huge success and everyone's pleased. Everyone except me who is exhausted.

Thursday, Miss Roo's little boyfriend came to play. It was a beautiful day out so they spent most of the time they were here in the backyard. I love our backyard so much! After nap my mom surprised me by showing up with dinner. It was a good day. I thought I'd made it through and I could relax a little.

Friday, Mike was off again. I took Riley over to Boo's and all the babies seemed off. Sad or tired or sick, just off. I stayed until lunch time trying to help and hug them all. I went home and fell sound asleep on the couch until it was time to get Isaac from school. Not long after I got a phone call about Riley and rushed off to scoop her up as well.

Mike was home by dinner time for the first time all week, but Riley fell alsleep at the table which isn't like her at all. A few hours later she was up screaming and burning up. So much for some quality time with Mike and a good night's sleep. Tylenol helped and she went back to bed. She was up and down all night long, sans fever. Damn two year molars!

YAWN...

Photo Thursday!

2011-10-20T13:14:00.000-04:00

It's been threatening to rain or raining a lot this week. Which means I hurt. It's also the week Mike has had to drive 45min to a convention deal-y for work. He's been gone from 7am-11:30pm two and a half days in a row. So I'm very tired. Being a single parent for even a few days stinks. I'm lucky I have such a good network of friends and family to lean on (and I've leaned heavily!).

Matching mother daughter dresses? Nope. Sailor suits, no. Not this week. This week we wore matching sweats on Tuesday.