The only Halloween with all three kids, October 2006.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Halloween
I will post a few pictures here. There are more in the October Pictures post before this one.
The only Halloween with all three kids, October 2006.
The only Halloween with all three kids, October 2006.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Quack
A little while ago I asked Lauren when she wanted for her birthday. I was expecting some hemming and hawing from her but she very quickly said "A rubber duck!"
I told her that we actually had several rubber ducks upstairs in the tub and now she is hemming and hawing.
I have no clue where she got that one from!
I told her that we actually had several rubber ducks upstairs in the tub and now she is hemming and hawing.
I have no clue where she got that one from!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Reaction
So - I just don't know how to have a normal reaction to childhood illness. I guess it is not surprising but I just don't know how I will get through the rest of my girls' childhoods. It seems when I see some kind of symptoms I initially overreact, but then when I start thinking about it maybe I underreact just so that I am not overreacting. I have lost sight of what a "normal" parent would be concerned about.
As usual, I am concerned about Lauren. She is always tired. She walks around saying "I am So So So tired". She probably does not get enough sleep, but still - what almost three year old says that! She is pale, she has dark circles under her eyes. Well - at times I was a pale child with dark circles under my eyes - so that is probably just genetic.
Today after preschool she looked wiped out so I asked her what was the matter. She said " My breathing is just hard today". What does that mean? I checked her out in my mommy way - I counted her respirations and listened to her breathe with my ear on her back. I looked at her lips and nails to see if they were at all bluish. I took her temperature. All were normal. I wish I had a pulse-ox thingy. If you recall, she had to have an echocardiogram about a year ago due to a very pronounced heart murmer. The doctor said she was just fine. I wonder though.
I was tempted to take her to the doctor after that comment but that is when I get so screwed up and feel like I have no perspective. She has an appt. on Nov. 18 for her three year checkup. I am going to voice my concerns and request they test her hemoglobin. So - I am just trying to wait until then. Meanwhile I am afraid maybe there is something wrong with her and I shouldn't wait. But, there is nothing I hate more than taking a child to the doctor and having them tell me she is perfectly fine. I feel like an idiot. Plus, it is only a few weeks until that appointment, would I then need another appointment for the three year appointment?
Ughh.
As an aside, my friend Sherry, who is president of the non-profit I am working with and whose daughter died of neuroblastoma, is in the hospital with another of her daughters. Her daughter was on the bus and the bus driver was egged on by the kids to go over a dip fast and she did and this little girl hit her head on the ceiling and landed on her abdomen and lacerated her liver. Beside the obvious horrors of this accident she is having a hard time being in the hospital with another daughter. I went to visit her on Sunday and it sucked just to be visiting. As I have said before, the universe is not fair and losing a child does not make your other kids immune. I wish it would. Her daughter is expected to recover fully, thank god.
As usual, I am concerned about Lauren. She is always tired. She walks around saying "I am So So So tired". She probably does not get enough sleep, but still - what almost three year old says that! She is pale, she has dark circles under her eyes. Well - at times I was a pale child with dark circles under my eyes - so that is probably just genetic.
Today after preschool she looked wiped out so I asked her what was the matter. She said " My breathing is just hard today". What does that mean? I checked her out in my mommy way - I counted her respirations and listened to her breathe with my ear on her back. I looked at her lips and nails to see if they were at all bluish. I took her temperature. All were normal. I wish I had a pulse-ox thingy. If you recall, she had to have an echocardiogram about a year ago due to a very pronounced heart murmer. The doctor said she was just fine. I wonder though.
I was tempted to take her to the doctor after that comment but that is when I get so screwed up and feel like I have no perspective. She has an appt. on Nov. 18 for her three year checkup. I am going to voice my concerns and request they test her hemoglobin. So - I am just trying to wait until then. Meanwhile I am afraid maybe there is something wrong with her and I shouldn't wait. But, there is nothing I hate more than taking a child to the doctor and having them tell me she is perfectly fine. I feel like an idiot. Plus, it is only a few weeks until that appointment, would I then need another appointment for the three year appointment?
Ughh.
As an aside, my friend Sherry, who is president of the non-profit I am working with and whose daughter died of neuroblastoma, is in the hospital with another of her daughters. Her daughter was on the bus and the bus driver was egged on by the kids to go over a dip fast and she did and this little girl hit her head on the ceiling and landed on her abdomen and lacerated her liver. Beside the obvious horrors of this accident she is having a hard time being in the hospital with another daughter. I went to visit her on Sunday and it sucked just to be visiting. As I have said before, the universe is not fair and losing a child does not make your other kids immune. I wish it would. Her daughter is expected to recover fully, thank god.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Revived
I won't bother linking back but 2 years ago I killed my laptop. I lost everything on it. I tried everything to get the data back and read all the silly tricks. None worked.
About a month ago my current laptop's hard drive died. I had the computer out and about with me and when I got home and took it out it said "no hard drive detected" I took it out, but it back in, hooked it up to our desktop and it was just dead. I bought a new hard drive and went on from there. I had backed up data in May and had most everything I needed. Pictures are always backed up and in mulitple places so I am not at risk of losing those ever. As a side note to that, one of my pieces of advice to people with all their pictures digital is that next time you are going to visit good friends or family out of town, make a backup of all your pictures and bring them with you. Leave them with you family. Now you have off-site backup
Now - back to my story. Yesterday I left my laptop (running) on my bed for a good part of the day. Later in the afternoon I brought it downstairs and put it on the coffee table. After dinner I walked over to it just as it was trying to reboot and got the dreaded no hard drive message. I popped the hard drive out and it was very hot to the touch. I put it back in and tried to boot again with no avail. I remembered one of those weird hard drive recovery hints - putting the hard drive in the freezer. So - I popped it in the freezer for about 15 minutes until it was cool and then put it back into my laptop and it booted right up. I backed up my files and turned it off again. Today it is working just fine. I will be watching the temperature from now on. Crazy!
About a month ago my current laptop's hard drive died. I had the computer out and about with me and when I got home and took it out it said "no hard drive detected" I took it out, but it back in, hooked it up to our desktop and it was just dead. I bought a new hard drive and went on from there. I had backed up data in May and had most everything I needed. Pictures are always backed up and in mulitple places so I am not at risk of losing those ever. As a side note to that, one of my pieces of advice to people with all their pictures digital is that next time you are going to visit good friends or family out of town, make a backup of all your pictures and bring them with you. Leave them with you family. Now you have off-site backup
Now - back to my story. Yesterday I left my laptop (running) on my bed for a good part of the day. Later in the afternoon I brought it downstairs and put it on the coffee table. After dinner I walked over to it just as it was trying to reboot and got the dreaded no hard drive message. I popped the hard drive out and it was very hot to the touch. I put it back in and tried to boot again with no avail. I remembered one of those weird hard drive recovery hints - putting the hard drive in the freezer. So - I popped it in the freezer for about 15 minutes until it was cool and then put it back into my laptop and it booted right up. I backed up my files and turned it off again. Today it is working just fine. I will be watching the temperature from now on. Crazy!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Not offended easily
I sat in a coffee shop reading for a little while (When You are Engulfed in Flames, David Sedaris). I was the only customer in there for most of the time and then a friend of the sole employee arrived and they sat chatting. I sipped my coffee and read my book and didn't hear a word they said. I then decided to get up and leave and the friend apologized saying she was sorry if she was driving me away because they were talking about strippers. I told them I was reading and had not even heard them but I am not sure they believed me. As I rolled away in my minivan I am guessing they thought they offended me. I could have cared less if they were talking about strippers. What would have driven me away would have been if they were talking about how much they loved the presidential candidate I am not voting for and bashed the one I did vote for. I'd rather hear ANYTHING but politics right now!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
New Poll
I have tried to keep politics out of my blog - especially since a few of the blogs I read are not keeping it out and I disagree so strongly with these people it makes it hard to read their blogs now and may change my view of them in the future. So - I don't want to do the same to my readers. However - I am curious how my readers are voting. So - please make your choice in my poll (in the sidebar) and if you leave a comment - please don't talk politics!
Friday, October 10, 2008
The end of an era
I sold our crib and changing table yesterday. They served us well for 8 years and three kids. They were good quality. One of the few arguments Luke and I have ever had was over that crib set. He thought it was too expensive. I accused him of wanting our unborn first child to sleep in a cardboard box.
Lauren is almost three! Where did the years go.
Lauren is almost three! Where did the years go.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
People really do that!
I have seen caricatures of women who keep things in their bra/cleavage. I have seen it in the movies. I never thought I'd see it at ballet class - by a woman my age, no less. I heard a cell phone ring, looked over at her and she promptly reached into her cleavage, extracted her phone and answered. Oh-Kay....
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
What I have been up to.
I have been posting here and there but not really about everyday life. I thought I'd share some things.
1. PRESCHOOL...
As I referred to in the previous post (also written today) Lauren is in a mom's morning out program at a nearby church. It is from 9-1 every Monday and Wednesday. One of her best friends is in it too and she LOVES it. It is not just a daycare situation, it is a structured learning environment and it makes her feel like she is going to school. Since she wants to do everything that Julia gets to do she loves having her school.
I love her having school too! I have some free time to do things for myself. I run errands, go to the library, sit in a coffee shop, meet people for lunch, and have my thoughts to myself for a little while. It gives me free time for another venture which I will get to later in this post. I know that all too soon she will be in Kindergarten (2 years, 10 months) but I also know I will not regret having her in this program.
2. VOLUNTEERING....
I was unable to commit to much over the years Nathan had cancer. My schedule was too unpredictable for that and all my energy was spent on his medical care. I am free from those things now and of course, I wish I weren't.
On Wednesday mornings I am helping out in Julia's classroom during the reading hour. It is fun to be in there and I love her teacher (who was Nathan's teacher).
On Wednesday evenings I am helping out (not leading!) in Julia's choir at church. This involves a lot of "babysitting" because there are kindegarteners in there who have been in school all day and are just plain done sitting and listening. Interestingly, I seem to end up with one or two kids on my laps and others leaning on me during the hour and a half. This is not interesting in that the kids want to, it is interesting because if you know me, you probably do not picture me with kids hanging off me. I am just not that kind of person. Why they gravitate to me for that is beyond me, but I actually enjoy it. They must see something that I don't see.
The last half hour of the evening is in the gym, but not to play, to have devotions. That is VERY hard on these younger kids. I was initially to lead these kids with questions I was given. I quickly realized I was ill-equipped and asked for some help. Fortunately they have given the questions over a senior high leadership class so I am off the hook. I will just continue to wrestle with the kids to keep them sitting in the circle.
The other thing on my plate is a non-profit organization I am involved with. This organization exists to serve the families being treated at our local pediatric oncology office. The woman running this organization was going to dissolve it. A friend of mine, whose daughter also died of neuroblastoma, decided to take it over. She has gotten it transferred to her and changed the name to Nevaeh's Wings. We are kind of rebuilding the organization from the ground up and are trying to keep it simple for now. One of the new things we are doing is holding support groups for the caregivers. We are having our third one tonight. We will also be reviving a photography program for the families and hopefully add a peer support group at some point. Perhaps a grief one later down the road.
3. GRIEF STUFF....
Julia continues to attend group therapy through hospice twice a month. Luke and I attend a child loss grief group through hospice. We may not continue that for too long. It has been mostly parents who lost infants for 6 months now and the losses are soe different we are not getting very much out of it currently. Julia still loves hers - I have told her she will have to stop sometime...but I don't know if that is true...I just don't want her her to count on doing it indefinately if that is not possible.
4. CHOIR....
Still enjoying choir...Thursday nights. We do a big Christmas concert every year at the local symphony hall with a bell choir, big band, symphony, soloists and this year, ballet. We are starting to gear up for that.
5. DANCE...
Julia and Lauren are still in dance. I am not sure for how long they will continue but for now they both enjoy it. Lauren tells me she doesn't want to go and then has a lot of fun. Last Friday she said' "Ballet is one of my most favorite things, but I don't feel like going today". She is at the age where she really wants to be in charge of her own agenda....too bad!
6. FRIENDS...
We are now having dinner every Sunday evening with two other couples. It is wonderful to have a set time like this. Luke and I isolated our selves for years and it is nice to begin to get out of that.
My busy schedule leaves little time for attending playgroups. Several of us longtimers have kids in school and preschool now and so it is not as regualr as it used to be. I went to a playgroup this morning with only one other attendee, however it was was very good friend Myndi, so it was nice to catch up with her.
There is more stuff (I am not forgetting Luke) but I have run out of time. Thanks for reading. (there is another post below I wrote right before this one)
1. PRESCHOOL...
As I referred to in the previous post (also written today) Lauren is in a mom's morning out program at a nearby church. It is from 9-1 every Monday and Wednesday. One of her best friends is in it too and she LOVES it. It is not just a daycare situation, it is a structured learning environment and it makes her feel like she is going to school. Since she wants to do everything that Julia gets to do she loves having her school.
I love her having school too! I have some free time to do things for myself. I run errands, go to the library, sit in a coffee shop, meet people for lunch, and have my thoughts to myself for a little while. It gives me free time for another venture which I will get to later in this post. I know that all too soon she will be in Kindergarten (2 years, 10 months) but I also know I will not regret having her in this program.
2. VOLUNTEERING....
I was unable to commit to much over the years Nathan had cancer. My schedule was too unpredictable for that and all my energy was spent on his medical care. I am free from those things now and of course, I wish I weren't.
On Wednesday mornings I am helping out in Julia's classroom during the reading hour. It is fun to be in there and I love her teacher (who was Nathan's teacher).
On Wednesday evenings I am helping out (not leading!) in Julia's choir at church. This involves a lot of "babysitting" because there are kindegarteners in there who have been in school all day and are just plain done sitting and listening. Interestingly, I seem to end up with one or two kids on my laps and others leaning on me during the hour and a half. This is not interesting in that the kids want to, it is interesting because if you know me, you probably do not picture me with kids hanging off me. I am just not that kind of person. Why they gravitate to me for that is beyond me, but I actually enjoy it. They must see something that I don't see.
The last half hour of the evening is in the gym, but not to play, to have devotions. That is VERY hard on these younger kids. I was initially to lead these kids with questions I was given. I quickly realized I was ill-equipped and asked for some help. Fortunately they have given the questions over a senior high leadership class so I am off the hook. I will just continue to wrestle with the kids to keep them sitting in the circle.
The other thing on my plate is a non-profit organization I am involved with. This organization exists to serve the families being treated at our local pediatric oncology office. The woman running this organization was going to dissolve it. A friend of mine, whose daughter also died of neuroblastoma, decided to take it over. She has gotten it transferred to her and changed the name to Nevaeh's Wings. We are kind of rebuilding the organization from the ground up and are trying to keep it simple for now. One of the new things we are doing is holding support groups for the caregivers. We are having our third one tonight. We will also be reviving a photography program for the families and hopefully add a peer support group at some point. Perhaps a grief one later down the road.
3. GRIEF STUFF....
Julia continues to attend group therapy through hospice twice a month. Luke and I attend a child loss grief group through hospice. We may not continue that for too long. It has been mostly parents who lost infants for 6 months now and the losses are soe different we are not getting very much out of it currently. Julia still loves hers - I have told her she will have to stop sometime...but I don't know if that is true...I just don't want her her to count on doing it indefinately if that is not possible.
4. CHOIR....
Still enjoying choir...Thursday nights. We do a big Christmas concert every year at the local symphony hall with a bell choir, big band, symphony, soloists and this year, ballet. We are starting to gear up for that.
5. DANCE...
Julia and Lauren are still in dance. I am not sure for how long they will continue but for now they both enjoy it. Lauren tells me she doesn't want to go and then has a lot of fun. Last Friday she said' "Ballet is one of my most favorite things, but I don't feel like going today". She is at the age where she really wants to be in charge of her own agenda....too bad!
6. FRIENDS...
We are now having dinner every Sunday evening with two other couples. It is wonderful to have a set time like this. Luke and I isolated our selves for years and it is nice to begin to get out of that.
My busy schedule leaves little time for attending playgroups. Several of us longtimers have kids in school and preschool now and so it is not as regualr as it used to be. I went to a playgroup this morning with only one other attendee, however it was was very good friend Myndi, so it was nice to catch up with her.
There is more stuff (I am not forgetting Luke) but I have run out of time. Thanks for reading. (there is another post below I wrote right before this one)
Out of the mouths of babes....
Lauren's mom's morning out program is at a baptist church.
After school yesterday she was trying to tell me all kinds of things about God and Jesus. Finally she said "Jesus is your most allegiant friend" I asked to her repeat it and that is what she said. I told her she was right. They say the pledge of allegiance every morning so I am sure that is where she got the word.
After school yesterday she was trying to tell me all kinds of things about God and Jesus. Finally she said "Jesus is your most allegiant friend" I asked to her repeat it and that is what she said. I told her she was right. They say the pledge of allegiance every morning so I am sure that is where she got the word.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - The Big Picture - Boston.com
I was asked permission to include the photo of Nathan - #6. The author told me he gets about 500,000 hits a day on this site. I am thrilled for the attention for Childhood Cancer Awareness
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - The Big Picture - Boston.com
Posted using ShareThis
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - The Big Picture - Boston.com
Posted using ShareThis
Sunday, September 21, 2008
11 years
I didn't get around to posting but yesterday marked 11 years of marriage to my wonderful husband, Luke.
We were driving back from the Denver airport as we noticed it was almost exaclty the time of our wedding on east cost time. Luke was supposed to come home Friday night to Colorado Springs but due to airplane problems had to spend the night in Minneapolis instead.
Earlier in the week I was talking to a friend who, along with her husband, watches the girls for us when we go to our grief group. She had been sick for the last one and had been wanting to make it up to the girls. She suggested Saturday and then it dawned on me that it was our anniversary. So - we got to go out last night and we had a really nice time.
I had to laugh when I was trying to get ready to go out to the sounds of football in the background and screaming, hyper kids. Eleven years of marriage also brought three kids. There will be peace and quiet at some future anniversary.
We were driving back from the Denver airport as we noticed it was almost exaclty the time of our wedding on east cost time. Luke was supposed to come home Friday night to Colorado Springs but due to airplane problems had to spend the night in Minneapolis instead.
Earlier in the week I was talking to a friend who, along with her husband, watches the girls for us when we go to our grief group. She had been sick for the last one and had been wanting to make it up to the girls. She suggested Saturday and then it dawned on me that it was our anniversary. So - we got to go out last night and we had a really nice time.
I had to laugh when I was trying to get ready to go out to the sounds of football in the background and screaming, hyper kids. Eleven years of marriage also brought three kids. There will be peace and quiet at some future anniversary.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Letter
These are two of the things that Julia asked me to put up on her wall above her pillow. She colored the cross in Sunday school for Nathan.
When I put them up I added this picture as well.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Feeling cranky
As usual I haven't blogged because I mostly have a swirl of things running around my head. All the PINK breast cancer stuff is annoying me. What about childhood cancer? I was just commenting on someone else's blog and it made me think of the poor shoppers confronted with a gold (childhood cancer color) mixer at Target. "Gold - oh that must be to support research for childhood cancer - Oh my God - I'm not buying that! Now I am thinking about kids having cancer and I don't want to shop anymore." I am glad there is so much awareness now about breast cancer. I have known women with breast cancer. This is not against them but is about moving forward to children.
I am also cranky because I haven't been feeling great and have been eating horribly - the kind of mindless eating that is bad for you. Purely emotional.
Luke has been having all kinds of problems with his ears and allergies and has been swamped at work and is now travelling this week. He hasn't been all that cranky even though Lauren has been extra cranky lately and I have been all but unavailable to him - sitting here behind all my walls where I retreat to. The problem is, when I do that, most people have no idea because I can easily function. In fact it is easier than ever to deal with casual relationships when I am like this. It is my close friends and family that bear the brunt of it.
Furniture was rearranged this weekend. Julia now has Nathan's dresser and there is a shelf on her wall with his things that were on his dresser (at her request). Thank goodness at least I can blog about this because I haven't really talked to anyone about it and it was really hard - but how does one just bring it up in conversation. "Oh and by the way I took all my son's things down from his room and put them on a small shelf. This small shelf now represents that my son used to live in that room." No one I will let myself really talk to about that so I just stuff it inside me. So - I guess it at least comes out here.
One thing I really appreciated this weekend. I went to a girls night at a friend's house. Most of these women I know only very casually. One of them came up to me and told me that she didn't feel right not saying anything and she didn't know how to say it but she wanted to tell me that she knew Nathan's story and that she admired the way I seem to be coping with it all and that she just didn't feel it was right all these times she has chatted with me to not say SOMETHING about what I had been through. So many people, but especially all the moms I am constantly around, have no clue what to say to me and more than that probably don't even want to think about it. I mean, I am just proof that something like that could happen to them. It is too scary. So - nothing gets said. I have prefected answering the "how many kids do you have" question. I do it is in such a way that I mention Nathan last and say that he died and then I very quickly CHANGE the topic lest I have to stand there and watch them try to get the shocked look off their face and try to come up with something to say. I tried to stonewall the dental hygenist last week. She asked if I had kids and I just said yes. She later asked if they were in school and I just said yes. She finally ended up asked me how many and so then I was stuck with answering.
Anyway - I guess I have managed to spew some of the thoughts that have been hanging around inside me. If you read this far - sorry and thanks.
I am also cranky because I haven't been feeling great and have been eating horribly - the kind of mindless eating that is bad for you. Purely emotional.
Luke has been having all kinds of problems with his ears and allergies and has been swamped at work and is now travelling this week. He hasn't been all that cranky even though Lauren has been extra cranky lately and I have been all but unavailable to him - sitting here behind all my walls where I retreat to. The problem is, when I do that, most people have no idea because I can easily function. In fact it is easier than ever to deal with casual relationships when I am like this. It is my close friends and family that bear the brunt of it.
Furniture was rearranged this weekend. Julia now has Nathan's dresser and there is a shelf on her wall with his things that were on his dresser (at her request). Thank goodness at least I can blog about this because I haven't really talked to anyone about it and it was really hard - but how does one just bring it up in conversation. "Oh and by the way I took all my son's things down from his room and put them on a small shelf. This small shelf now represents that my son used to live in that room." No one I will let myself really talk to about that so I just stuff it inside me. So - I guess it at least comes out here.
One thing I really appreciated this weekend. I went to a girls night at a friend's house. Most of these women I know only very casually. One of them came up to me and told me that she didn't feel right not saying anything and she didn't know how to say it but she wanted to tell me that she knew Nathan's story and that she admired the way I seem to be coping with it all and that she just didn't feel it was right all these times she has chatted with me to not say SOMETHING about what I had been through. So many people, but especially all the moms I am constantly around, have no clue what to say to me and more than that probably don't even want to think about it. I mean, I am just proof that something like that could happen to them. It is too scary. So - nothing gets said. I have prefected answering the "how many kids do you have" question. I do it is in such a way that I mention Nathan last and say that he died and then I very quickly CHANGE the topic lest I have to stand there and watch them try to get the shocked look off their face and try to come up with something to say. I tried to stonewall the dental hygenist last week. She asked if I had kids and I just said yes. She later asked if they were in school and I just said yes. She finally ended up asked me how many and so then I was stuck with answering.
Anyway - I guess I have managed to spew some of the thoughts that have been hanging around inside me. If you read this far - sorry and thanks.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Monday
Luke has been gone all weekend camping with his brother, Josh. I hope they haven't frozen - it is a little cold here. He did take the van so in an emergency, they could sleep it that. I hope to hear from him later today.
I am feeling pretty good about making it through the weekend with the girls fairly sane. I have several friends with deployed husband and husbands that travel almost 100% of the time so I have to acknowledge that I am a wimp.
The weekend included an impromptu invite to my house to a young couple being interviewed by my church and I am happy to say my house was clean enough to make that happen. They were given my name as someone to help them get a feel for the neighborhoods and schools in town. Luke and I have been working hard at keeping our house much neater and cleaner than in the past and so far it is working well and it was nice to see the positive outcome of doing so.
Last night was a milestone for Lauren. I have been talking to her about the bed in her room for a while and about how pretty soon she could start sleeping in that instead of her crib. Last night after I rocked and read to her she got down and sat on the bed and said she just wanted to sit there for a minunte. I told her that she could sleep in the bed if she wanted. She said yes and I snuggled her in and she did great. The crib will come down very soon. That will be a bit sad. It was down for about a year in between Julia and Lauren but this time it will be down for good. It was nice not having to get her out of her crib this morning but I did meet her at the door as she was heading down the stairs just to check on her and so shortly thereafter she was calling me to feed her breakfast.
It also helped me get through the weekend knowing that this morning I would have four hours to myself. Lauren is an a moms morning out program and this is her second day going (she started last Wednesday). So - I am typing this from Panera, drinking coffee, by myself. Ahh....
I am feeling pretty good about making it through the weekend with the girls fairly sane. I have several friends with deployed husband and husbands that travel almost 100% of the time so I have to acknowledge that I am a wimp.
The weekend included an impromptu invite to my house to a young couple being interviewed by my church and I am happy to say my house was clean enough to make that happen. They were given my name as someone to help them get a feel for the neighborhoods and schools in town. Luke and I have been working hard at keeping our house much neater and cleaner than in the past and so far it is working well and it was nice to see the positive outcome of doing so.
Last night was a milestone for Lauren. I have been talking to her about the bed in her room for a while and about how pretty soon she could start sleeping in that instead of her crib. Last night after I rocked and read to her she got down and sat on the bed and said she just wanted to sit there for a minunte. I told her that she could sleep in the bed if she wanted. She said yes and I snuggled her in and she did great. The crib will come down very soon. That will be a bit sad. It was down for about a year in between Julia and Lauren but this time it will be down for good. It was nice not having to get her out of her crib this morning but I did meet her at the door as she was heading down the stairs just to check on her and so shortly thereafter she was calling me to feed her breakfast.
It also helped me get through the weekend knowing that this morning I would have four hours to myself. Lauren is an a moms morning out program and this is her second day going (she started last Wednesday). So - I am typing this from Panera, drinking coffee, by myself. Ahh....
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Entertaining a 6 year old
How much is a mom supposed to entertain a 6 year old? She is moping around right now. So far today we went to a toy store to shop for a birthday party and then spent an hour an a half at the library where there was a 3rd birthday party going on for the branch was activities at food. She told me many times how much fun she was having and what a good day it was. We got home, had a late lunch and she played with Lauren and watched a movie. She then went to a birthday party for two hours and came home and had food (even though she ate at the party). Now she is sitting in the chair moping. I suppose part of it is that I denied her request to play a video game and she wants me to read a book but I can only see out of one eye right now (allergies) and the book is yellowed and type small.
It just frustrates me - I cannot provide entertainment 24/7. Even Lauren is entertaining herself - she is playing and talking to herself.
It just frustrates me - I cannot provide entertainment 24/7. Even Lauren is entertaining herself - she is playing and talking to herself.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Sweet
I just love this picture...Julia is 4 months and Nathan is 23 months. He was always calm, gentle and loving even as a toddler.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Techinal issues....
*** Update - I have put a temporary personal theme up ***
Whomever created my theme has exceeded their bandwidth on photobucket. I will hopefully have my theme (or a new one) back up soon.
Whomever created my theme has exceeded their bandwidth on photobucket. I will hopefully have my theme (or a new one) back up soon.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Unearthed....
...no pun intended
Luke and I have been having some allergy problems. I decided we should deep clean our bedroom because it had been a while.
A long while....
So - I moved the couch and was unpleasantly surprised to find this document:
Mountain View Mortuary
General Price List
Children 7-13 Years
Yes - did you know that age affects funeral costs? We just missed the 6 year cut off by a month...
What a crappy document. No parent should ever have to seriously read this damn thing.
Anyway - here is page one if you are curious...no room for denial when you read the line items. (click to make bigger)
Luke and I have been having some allergy problems. I decided we should deep clean our bedroom because it had been a while.
A long while....
So - I moved the couch and was unpleasantly surprised to find this document:
Mountain View Mortuary
General Price List
Children 7-13 Years
Yes - did you know that age affects funeral costs? We just missed the 6 year cut off by a month...
What a crappy document. No parent should ever have to seriously read this damn thing.
Anyway - here is page one if you are curious...no room for denial when you read the line items. (click to make bigger)
Monday, September 01, 2008
33 months 15 days
Lauren is now the same age Nathan was when he was diagnosed. It is so hard to look at her and remember him that young.
I don't know if it is related or not but I have been having a strange vision/thought lately with her.
I will be changing her diaper and when I see her hipbones I envision bone marrow aspiration marks. In NYC they did bone marrow from the front too and something about the current size/look of that area reminds me of Nathan I guess. It has happened more than once and is kind of disconcerting.
I have a lot of irrational fears of her getting neuroblastoma. Natural, I know but not rational. I go through periods of panic about it and wonder if I should have her urine tested or an ultrasound. Sometimes I wish I could just get a CBC and see normal blood counts. However, I wouldn't do that to her, even if her doctor agreed.
I only write down a fraction of the strange and horrible thoughts that go through my head. You would all think I am crazy. I saw SO MUCH. I saw things a parent should never have to see. I wish I could have those memories erased because they do affect me. However - I just have to live with them and manage to weave them into the rest of my life's experience and hope that at some point I will not be so traumatized by them.
I don't know if it is related or not but I have been having a strange vision/thought lately with her.
I will be changing her diaper and when I see her hipbones I envision bone marrow aspiration marks. In NYC they did bone marrow from the front too and something about the current size/look of that area reminds me of Nathan I guess. It has happened more than once and is kind of disconcerting.
I have a lot of irrational fears of her getting neuroblastoma. Natural, I know but not rational. I go through periods of panic about it and wonder if I should have her urine tested or an ultrasound. Sometimes I wish I could just get a CBC and see normal blood counts. However, I wouldn't do that to her, even if her doctor agreed.
I only write down a fraction of the strange and horrible thoughts that go through my head. You would all think I am crazy. I saw SO MUCH. I saw things a parent should never have to see. I wish I could have those memories erased because they do affect me. However - I just have to live with them and manage to weave them into the rest of my life's experience and hope that at some point I will not be so traumatized by them.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Rebuilt
One of the last Lego projects Nathan built was this Lego Star Wars toy. He had very little strength and sitting upright to build it left him in immense pain after each building session, but he was determined to build it, and he did. He finished it on July 3, 2007. 26 days before his death. There are worse pictures than this but I didn't have the heart to post them - in this one he looks not quite as close to death as he was.Anyway - It has been in a box that it didn't really fit in on Nathan's bunk bed and had been slowly taken apart a bit. When Julia moved up to his bunk I put the box in my room. I finally got a container it would fit in and spent a while Friday afternoon rebuilding it. I kept thinking that many of those pieces were last touched by his hands. Miraculously - all the pieces were still there and it is now complete again. It felt good to do that.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Little Lauren
A few of you asked about Lauren's size. I decided to measure her since she hasn't been to a doctor in many months (yay).
She is 35 inches tall and 24.5 pounds (at 2 years 9.5 months). At her two year old check up she was 21 pounds and 33.5 inches. She is 8th percentile for weight and 34th percentile for height. At two she was less than 1% for weight and 50th % for height. So - she is growing.
She doesn't look skinny - just thin. She is slowly catching up to Julia,but Julia has bee
n growing lately. The way she is eating she will keep at it, too. She is 49 inches and 49 pounds. She has had the same weight as height for at least a year, longer I think. That puts her in the 55th percentile for weight and the 83rd percentile for height.
Back to Lauren - she is now not the smallest kid in her baby ballet and is starting to look more like a little girl than a toddler.
Oh - and don't call her LITTLE. She may be shy when strangers talk to her but if a stranger dares to call her little she will quickly speak up and say " I'm NOT little!"
She is 35 inches tall and 24.5 pounds (at 2 years 9.5 months). At her two year old check up she was 21 pounds and 33.5 inches. She is 8th percentile for weight and 34th percentile for height. At two she was less than 1% for weight and 50th % for height. So - she is growing.
She doesn't look skinny - just thin. She is slowly catching up to Julia,but Julia has bee
n growing lately. The way she is eating she will keep at it, too. She is 49 inches and 49 pounds. She has had the same weight as height for at least a year, longer I think. That puts her in the 55th percentile for weight and the 83rd percentile for height.Back to Lauren - she is now not the smallest kid in her baby ballet and is starting to look more like a little girl than a toddler.
Oh - and don't call her LITTLE. She may be shy when strangers talk to her but if a stranger dares to call her little she will quickly speak up and say " I'm NOT little!"
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Poor planning
I went with Julia after school to the orientation for her grief group. It was pretty useless since we did it last year but it was mandatory.
Hospice has more than one floor in the building. The child grief therapy room is a converted patient room on the in-patient floor.
I have been thankful many times we were never in-patient there (though maybe some things would have been better). Julia has had a notable glimpse of a dying patient during her time at the group in the past.
Tonight I sat at orientation next to a woman who had lost her husband four months earlier. We were on a different floor at the time. She mentioned her son was upset when they pulled up to the building but felt better that they went to a different floor. When we finally went down to the fourth floor where the kids room is she was in tears.
If that were me - I don't know if I could have come back there. I can only imagine the memories flashing through her and the emotions she was feeling. There are two elevators and a father made a comment about going the long way around when he got off of one set of elevators. he didn't have to add that it was in avoidance of glimpsing the room his wife died in.
It just seems to me that they could have foreseen how difficult it might be for parents and children to have to come hang out right by the room their loved one died in.
Hospice has more than one floor in the building. The child grief therapy room is a converted patient room on the in-patient floor.
I have been thankful many times we were never in-patient there (though maybe some things would have been better). Julia has had a notable glimpse of a dying patient during her time at the group in the past.
Tonight I sat at orientation next to a woman who had lost her husband four months earlier. We were on a different floor at the time. She mentioned her son was upset when they pulled up to the building but felt better that they went to a different floor. When we finally went down to the fourth floor where the kids room is she was in tears.
If that were me - I don't know if I could have come back there. I can only imagine the memories flashing through her and the emotions she was feeling. There are two elevators and a father made a comment about going the long way around when he got off of one set of elevators. he didn't have to add that it was in avoidance of glimpsing the room his wife died in.
It just seems to me that they could have foreseen how difficult it might be for parents and children to have to come hang out right by the room their loved one died in.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Heavy heart
I found out earlier this week that Nathan's oncologist has been forced to resign by his partner due to a medical condition. This was very upsetting to me. I admire, like and respect him so very much. I immediately suspected why and when I got home I googled the symptoms I had been starting to see near the end of Nathan's treatment - hand tremors and shuffling gait. I found out today that I was right and that he has Parkinson's disease.
I am just sick about this for many reasons. He was a wonderful doctor to Nathan. He always spoke to Nathan in a way that made Nathan feel informed and included about medical issues. He teased Nathan in just the right way to bring smiles. He ALWAYS put Nathan's well-being first. Every medical decision that was made was considered first in light of how it would affect Nathan, as a child, not just as a patient. He was always willing to take as much time as I needed to answer my questions. When explaining medical things to me - he would err on the side of being too techinical with me rather than answer my questions too simply. He never showed frustration or annoyance with my many questions as an intellgent, googling lay-person. I am so upset that future cancer kids and parents will no longer benefit from his excellent care.
I can't begin to imagine how he is feeling right now. I hope his being forced out was really necessary and not politics or greediness on the part of the practice. I don't know how old he is - I do know he has one child in college and the other in high school. He is not an old man and he was not ready for retirement.
I am going to write him a note. I am not sure exactly what I am going to say but I hope I will be able to convey my deep gratitude and respect for him as and doctor and as a person.
I am just sick about this for many reasons. He was a wonderful doctor to Nathan. He always spoke to Nathan in a way that made Nathan feel informed and included about medical issues. He teased Nathan in just the right way to bring smiles. He ALWAYS put Nathan's well-being first. Every medical decision that was made was considered first in light of how it would affect Nathan, as a child, not just as a patient. He was always willing to take as much time as I needed to answer my questions. When explaining medical things to me - he would err on the side of being too techinical with me rather than answer my questions too simply. He never showed frustration or annoyance with my many questions as an intellgent, googling lay-person. I am so upset that future cancer kids and parents will no longer benefit from his excellent care.
I can't begin to imagine how he is feeling right now. I hope his being forced out was really necessary and not politics or greediness on the part of the practice. I don't know how old he is - I do know he has one child in college and the other in high school. He is not an old man and he was not ready for retirement.
I am going to write him a note. I am not sure exactly what I am going to say but I hope I will be able to convey my deep gratitude and respect for him as and doctor and as a person.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Brrr
It has been raining for 2 days straight which is VERY unusual weather for us. I am half tempted to turn the heat on but can't do it in the middle of August.
Check out my desktop weather tool - It is currently 9:00 am.
Check out my desktop weather tool - It is currently 9:00 am.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Oops
This afternoon Julia and Lauren were playing and I put my iPod on and was reading a recipe in the kitchen. After several minutes I looked up and saw Julia in the family room with tears streaming down her face. I hit pause on my iPod and asked her what the matter was. Sobbing, she asked me why I kept ignoring her and wouldn't answer her.
I pointed out my iPod and she got over it but I was surprised at how upset and hurt she was. Poor thing.
I pointed out my iPod and she got over it but I was surprised at how upset and hurt she was. Poor thing.
First Day of School
Julia went off to school today. She is thrilled to have Nathan's first grade teacher. Lauren is sad and has asked if she can go to school with Julia. I took her to a play area today. She played with Julia all summer and so she is missing her playmate.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Mix of things
My posts haven't been very personal lately. It seems there are a lot of things swirling around my head but I can't bring them together to form any sort of reasonable post. There are also a few things I just can't post here.
I am feeling hurt by someone and have felt that way since they didn't contact me after Nathan died. A few things have happened lately that has brought that hurt back to the forefront.
I had a episode in (May, June?) where I felt physically kind of psychotic for a few days. That was freaky as I am a pretty stable kind of person but I was having "flashes" in my head of all kinds of horrible traumatic things that did happen and that could happen. It was also the first time I ever felt that perhaps I might go to bed and just not get up in the morning. Fortunately it passed after about a week. It was very strange though because it was all happening to me and I felt not at all in control about it. In the last day or two a few small signs of this were cropping up although today has been OK so I am hopeful it won't come again.
School starts on Thursday. So far this is not feeling nearly as hard as it did last year. I guess it is the first repeat milestone in year two and it seems as if I am going to be OK about it this year. I already school supply shopped without a problem.
I went to Wal-Mart today. It is the one place that I just have to purposely avoid accidently looking in the direction of the boys clothes. My Target is so new that I have never bought clothes for Nathan there but I did shop for him quite a bit at that Wal-mart and I hate even glimpsing that section.
Today Lauren asked me if we had any toy airplanes she could play with. Yes! Nathan LOVED toy airplanes and so I will get them out for her later. I love that she likes playing with boy toys.
Speaking of that - after being asked for weeks I finally got out the Geotracks the other day for the girls. Nathan loved those and I would do it for him all the time. This was the first time I had them out since he last played with them. There was an orange cup in the boxes that had a thin film of crusty milk at the bottom. Somehow it got packed up those many months ago. I am certain it was his since he loved orange.
Oh! The backyard is done! There a just a couple of minor things but it was finally washed and sealed and fire pit installed this weekend. Pictures will come soon.
I also want to tell you about a non-profit organization I am involved with - I will hopefully post about that soon.
So - those are just a few of the things floating around in my head lately.
I am feeling hurt by someone and have felt that way since they didn't contact me after Nathan died. A few things have happened lately that has brought that hurt back to the forefront.
I had a episode in (May, June?) where I felt physically kind of psychotic for a few days. That was freaky as I am a pretty stable kind of person but I was having "flashes" in my head of all kinds of horrible traumatic things that did happen and that could happen. It was also the first time I ever felt that perhaps I might go to bed and just not get up in the morning. Fortunately it passed after about a week. It was very strange though because it was all happening to me and I felt not at all in control about it. In the last day or two a few small signs of this were cropping up although today has been OK so I am hopeful it won't come again.
School starts on Thursday. So far this is not feeling nearly as hard as it did last year. I guess it is the first repeat milestone in year two and it seems as if I am going to be OK about it this year. I already school supply shopped without a problem.
I went to Wal-Mart today. It is the one place that I just have to purposely avoid accidently looking in the direction of the boys clothes. My Target is so new that I have never bought clothes for Nathan there but I did shop for him quite a bit at that Wal-mart and I hate even glimpsing that section.
Today Lauren asked me if we had any toy airplanes she could play with. Yes! Nathan LOVED toy airplanes and so I will get them out for her later. I love that she likes playing with boy toys.
Speaking of that - after being asked for weeks I finally got out the Geotracks the other day for the girls. Nathan loved those and I would do it for him all the time. This was the first time I had them out since he last played with them. There was an orange cup in the boxes that had a thin film of crusty milk at the bottom. Somehow it got packed up those many months ago. I am certain it was his since he loved orange.
Oh! The backyard is done! There a just a couple of minor things but it was finally washed and sealed and fire pit installed this weekend. Pictures will come soon.
I also want to tell you about a non-profit organization I am involved with - I will hopefully post about that soon.
So - those are just a few of the things floating around in my head lately.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Singing snobbery
We have "Heritage Sunday" next week at church to celebrate its 136 years. It seems the music selected is from the decade of the 70's.
I usually love the music we sing but I am really disliking the two main pieces for next week. Now I am honored and lucky to get to sing in my choir - but I just feel like complaining this week.
I thought I'd share.
And - for you few big bluers who read this - don't tell Jim DJ! (though I did make the crack to him at rehearsal about whether we would need to wear our bell-bottoms)
I usually love the music we sing but I am really disliking the two main pieces for next week. Now I am honored and lucky to get to sing in my choir - but I just feel like complaining this week.
I thought I'd share.
And - for you few big bluers who read this - don't tell Jim DJ! (though I did make the crack to him at rehearsal about whether we would need to wear our bell-bottoms)
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Friday, August 01, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Singing
I have been away from choir for three weeks and it is just too long! It was so nice to be singing again tonight.
My iPod decided to play Eva Cassidy's version of "How Can I Keep from Singing?" for me on the way home.
How can I keep from singing?
My life goes on in endless song
above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it's music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?
When tyrants tremble sick with fear
and hear their death knell ringing,
when friends rejoice both far and near
how can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?
My life goes on in endless song
above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
How can I keep from singing?
How can I keep from singing?
Here it is on YouTube - I have no idea what the images are the person put on with the song.
My iPod decided to play Eva Cassidy's version of "How Can I Keep from Singing?" for me on the way home.
How can I keep from singing?
My life goes on in endless song
above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it's music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?
When tyrants tremble sick with fear
and hear their death knell ringing,
when friends rejoice both far and near
how can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?
My life goes on in endless song
above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
How can I keep from singing?
How can I keep from singing?
Here it is on YouTube - I have no idea what the images are the person put on with the song.
Allerton
Another very fun outing in Illinois was to Allerton Park.
This is a place I used to go with my family growing up and so it was nice to go back there. We lucked out because we went fairly early in the day and it was still cool and overcast (but humid, of course) and I don't think we saw anyone else there the whole time besides the workers.
The girls had fun running around and looking at all the statues and plants. There is a polo field there and so we set them free to run, run, run in the grass. We don't have expanses of grass like that here in Colorado Springs.
This is a place I used to go with my family growing up and so it was nice to go back there. We lucked out because we went fairly early in the day and it was still cool and overcast (but humid, of course) and I don't think we saw anyone else there the whole time besides the workers.
The girls had fun running around and looking at all the statues and plants. There is a polo field there and so we set them free to run, run, run in the grass. We don't have expanses of grass like that here in Colorado Springs.
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