Not much time to write, just wanted to let everyone know that we are ALL going to work/school tomorrow. Caleb has bounced back beautifully and I'm getting a little better every day. Rudy is ready to get out of the house!
We carved pumpkins tonight and they turned out great! It was the first time Rudy and I have ever carved pumpkins in the 12 years that we've known each other. Caleb was appropriately grossed out by the "pumpkin guts" and like helping us pick up all of the seeds that fell on the ground. He was upset that he couldn't do any of the cutting, but he liked the idea of the activity. He even blew out the candles when we came in the house.
Mom and Mr. L. will be here tomorrow evening to share the fun of trick-or-treating and to take care of Caleb while Rudy and I go to homecoming. It should be a fun weekend...as long as we stay healthy.
Oh...and Rudy and I voted today! Yeah!!!!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
"Daddy's a Superman"
WARNING: THIS POST IS ABOUT THE STOMACH BUG AND IS WRITTEN FROM A MOM'S PERSPECTIVE. IT MAY NOT BE FOR THE SQUEAMISH...
We went to bed last night at a decent hour. I took some awesome cough medicine and my antibiotic and hit the pillow. Rudy was snoring before I fell asleep and the baby monitor was whispering the sound of the wave machine in Caleb's room. Somewhere in the 1:00 hour, that all changed. I heard Caleb start to call for me. In my narcotic-induced fog, I checked the clock, but can't remember the exact time. I told myself to stick to my guns and make him cry it out. After all, he slept through the night Sunday and Monday. Fifteen minutes later, he was still crying, " Mama, Mama, Mamamamamama..." I tapped Rudy on the shoulder and told him that I needed for him to go check on Caleb to see why he was crying. I honestly would've done it, but waking up from a hydrocodone sleep is tough! He got up and I quickly heard him come back to the bedroom. I asked what was up and he told me that Caleb had gotten sick. He threw up in his bed. Immediately, my maternal guilt set in. I let him lay in his throw up for 15 minutes, calling for me and I didn't go get him. How was I supposed to know? Rudy told me to stay in bed since I'm already sick and he would take care of the situation. I grudgingly agreed and just as I started to doze off again, I heard that sound. I jumped out of bed, threw on a pair of PJ pants and headed (still foggy) into the living room. Rudy, still waking up, was determining the best way to help a vomiting 2-year-old at 2:00 in the morning. Unfortunately, Caleb had thrown up on the floor in the living room. When he stopped long enough, I helped him to the bathroom and held onto him while he finished throwing up. It was one of the saddest things I've had to do as a mom. It was the first time he's been old enough to understand that he needs to throw up in the potty. I kept telling him to "spit in the potty" and he would do just as I said. When he was finished, I took him in the living room and held him while Rudy spot-cleaned the carpet and stripped Caleb's bed. Caleb asked me what Daddy was doing and I told him that he was cleaning up. Caleb's response was priceless, "Daddy's a Superman." I agreed with him 1000 percent! After that, he told me one other time that he needed to "spit in the potty" and sure enough, he did.
I got Caleb a plastic bowl to hold in case he needed to throw up again, but he didn't want it. He kept giving it back to me. Knowing that he needed something "just in case," I decided to make it more appealing. I took the cup in the bathroom where we still have some potty training stickers left over. I put truck stickers all over the cup and took it back to Caleb. I told him it was his "truck chuck cup" and if he needed to throw up and couldn't get to the potty, that was the place to do it. He grinned and took the cup like it was the greatest thing in the world. Score one for Mama!
Rudy insisted that I go back to bed in order to go to work today and that he would stay home. I did and he stayed up with Caleb the rest of the night, holding him and helping him when he got sick a couple more times. When I got ready to leave for work, they were still in the recliner, exhausted from a long, hard night. It broke my heart to leave them like that.
Rudy tells me that Caleb only got sick once more during the night and at some point, it switched to diarrhea. That has been the case all day long. When I called home mid-morning, Caleb was soaking in an oatmeal bath and Rudy was going to put some cream on his bottom. The poor kid was miserable. He has felt better off and on today and tonight. He enjoyed playing cars tonight and understood when I told him that he couldn't have any milk until his tummy was better. He napped from 1:30 until almost 6:00 and asked to go back to bed at 8:15.
Rudy is staying home with him again tomorrow because of my work obligations. If we need another day on Friday, it'll be my turn. We're just crossing our fingers that we don't get it next. Mom and Mr. L. are supposed to come up on Friday for Halloween and to watch Caleb while Rudy and I go to the last football game of the year. We have really been looking forward to their visit and hope it doesn't get cancelled.
Monica and I were laughing via e-mail today about Caleb's tummy troubles on his first Halloween. I don't know what's up with that, but it needs to stop! This is not a tradition we need to carry on!
As for me, I'm still coughing. I feel a little better, but not back to normal yet. It's hard to tell what's pneumonia, what's lack of sleep and what's stress. The combination isn't healthy, that's for sure!
Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for the little man, a miracle that Rudy and I don't get it, my recovery from pneumonia and a Bootiful Halloween. I'll keep you updated...
We went to bed last night at a decent hour. I took some awesome cough medicine and my antibiotic and hit the pillow. Rudy was snoring before I fell asleep and the baby monitor was whispering the sound of the wave machine in Caleb's room. Somewhere in the 1:00 hour, that all changed. I heard Caleb start to call for me. In my narcotic-induced fog, I checked the clock, but can't remember the exact time. I told myself to stick to my guns and make him cry it out. After all, he slept through the night Sunday and Monday. Fifteen minutes later, he was still crying, " Mama, Mama, Mamamamamama..." I tapped Rudy on the shoulder and told him that I needed for him to go check on Caleb to see why he was crying. I honestly would've done it, but waking up from a hydrocodone sleep is tough! He got up and I quickly heard him come back to the bedroom. I asked what was up and he told me that Caleb had gotten sick. He threw up in his bed. Immediately, my maternal guilt set in. I let him lay in his throw up for 15 minutes, calling for me and I didn't go get him. How was I supposed to know? Rudy told me to stay in bed since I'm already sick and he would take care of the situation. I grudgingly agreed and just as I started to doze off again, I heard that sound. I jumped out of bed, threw on a pair of PJ pants and headed (still foggy) into the living room. Rudy, still waking up, was determining the best way to help a vomiting 2-year-old at 2:00 in the morning. Unfortunately, Caleb had thrown up on the floor in the living room. When he stopped long enough, I helped him to the bathroom and held onto him while he finished throwing up. It was one of the saddest things I've had to do as a mom. It was the first time he's been old enough to understand that he needs to throw up in the potty. I kept telling him to "spit in the potty" and he would do just as I said. When he was finished, I took him in the living room and held him while Rudy spot-cleaned the carpet and stripped Caleb's bed. Caleb asked me what Daddy was doing and I told him that he was cleaning up. Caleb's response was priceless, "Daddy's a Superman." I agreed with him 1000 percent! After that, he told me one other time that he needed to "spit in the potty" and sure enough, he did.
I got Caleb a plastic bowl to hold in case he needed to throw up again, but he didn't want it. He kept giving it back to me. Knowing that he needed something "just in case," I decided to make it more appealing. I took the cup in the bathroom where we still have some potty training stickers left over. I put truck stickers all over the cup and took it back to Caleb. I told him it was his "truck chuck cup" and if he needed to throw up and couldn't get to the potty, that was the place to do it. He grinned and took the cup like it was the greatest thing in the world. Score one for Mama!
Rudy insisted that I go back to bed in order to go to work today and that he would stay home. I did and he stayed up with Caleb the rest of the night, holding him and helping him when he got sick a couple more times. When I got ready to leave for work, they were still in the recliner, exhausted from a long, hard night. It broke my heart to leave them like that.
Rudy tells me that Caleb only got sick once more during the night and at some point, it switched to diarrhea. That has been the case all day long. When I called home mid-morning, Caleb was soaking in an oatmeal bath and Rudy was going to put some cream on his bottom. The poor kid was miserable. He has felt better off and on today and tonight. He enjoyed playing cars tonight and understood when I told him that he couldn't have any milk until his tummy was better. He napped from 1:30 until almost 6:00 and asked to go back to bed at 8:15.
Rudy is staying home with him again tomorrow because of my work obligations. If we need another day on Friday, it'll be my turn. We're just crossing our fingers that we don't get it next. Mom and Mr. L. are supposed to come up on Friday for Halloween and to watch Caleb while Rudy and I go to the last football game of the year. We have really been looking forward to their visit and hope it doesn't get cancelled.
Monica and I were laughing via e-mail today about Caleb's tummy troubles on his first Halloween. I don't know what's up with that, but it needs to stop! This is not a tradition we need to carry on!
As for me, I'm still coughing. I feel a little better, but not back to normal yet. It's hard to tell what's pneumonia, what's lack of sleep and what's stress. The combination isn't healthy, that's for sure!
Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for the little man, a miracle that Rudy and I don't get it, my recovery from pneumonia and a Bootiful Halloween. I'll keep you updated...
Monday, October 27, 2008
Cough...Hack...Cough
You know how I've been saying that I have this nagging cough that just won't go away. I've been calling it bronchitis. I was wrong. According to my 3 hour visit to convenient care tonight, my bronchitis has turned into walking pneumonia. I had to get a Rocephin shot in my hip (OUCH!) and I'll be picking up a variety of prescriptions at WalMart tomorrow. I was just too tired to go get them tonight! Seriously - walking pneumonia. This was supposed to be a healthier year for us.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Pumpkin Patch
Rudy met Jan at the Rudy exit (funny, huh?) to get Caleb this morning. They got home just as I was getting up and around. Caleb came in feeling the after-effects of a weekend with Grandma. I promptly put a movie on for him. This gave him some thinking time and gave us some breathing time before any of us had the chance to irritate each other. It has quickly become evident to Rudy and I that it takes Caleb some time to get used to the expectations of home when he's with any of his grandparents for an extended period of time. We're okay with that, we just have to make sure we remember. After the movie, Caleb ate his lunch at a snail's pace and then I put him down for his nap. He cried for a ridiculously long time before finally going to sleep.
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We took home a couple of pumpkins to carve this week:.JPG)
And Caleb picked out a pumpkin that was just his size!.JPG)
This is one of my favorite family activities that we do. I love fall and I love being with my boys at the pumpkin patch!
At about 3:00, Rudy woke Caleb up and we got ready to go to the pumpkin patch. We went to the same one that we went to last year and it was just as much fun. When we got there, Caleb was a little grumpy from the hour-long ride. (I know - an hour to go to the pumpkin patch! It's worth it!) We went straight to the pumpkins, but he wasn't happy with that. We tried to get him to play on the hay jump, but he fussed and cried when he fell down. .JPG)
Then we let him play pumpkinball, but that frustrated him. .JPG)
We tried the slides and he did great until he cried when he couldn't do the big slide by himself. .JPG)
That's when Rudy pulled him aside for an attitude adjustment. .JPG)
After a stern talking-to, Caleb's attitude improved tremendously and we had a wonderful family evening together. Here are some of the things that we did:
Then we let him play pumpkinball, but that frustrated him. We tried the slides and he did great until he cried when he couldn't do the big slide by himself. That's when Rudy pulled him aside for an attitude adjustment. After a stern talking-to, Caleb's attitude improved tremendously and we had a wonderful family evening together. Here are some of the things that we did:The Hay Ride: We even saw some deer while we were on our 45 minute hay ride...
Of course, we picked out a few pumpkins and posed for some pictures:
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Caleb liked pumping water for the duck races: .JPG)
Caleb liked pumping water for the duck races: His favorite thing of the day was riding the cow train. He rode it 3 times. Rudy and I each rode it with him once and then he told us he could "do it by myself."
We took home a couple of pumpkins to carve this week:
And Caleb picked out a pumpkin that was just his size!
This is one of my favorite family activities that we do. I love fall and I love being with my boys at the pumpkin patch!
Birthday Friday and an emotional loss
As I said in my last post, I turned 32 on Friday. If you've read that post, you'll know that it caused some introspection and gratitude to come from my heart and mind right through my blogging fingers. It has been an interesting weekend, to say the least.
Friday started with one of the most uncomfortable IEP meetings I've ever been a part of. I won't even go into details, because those of you who don't live in the world of special education would be bored to tears. Suffice it to say, this wasn't a good one. The rest of the day went reasonably well. I did my usual work with kids and paper shuffling. I even stayed after school for about an hour to tie up some loose ends. Rudy took Caleb to meet Jan in Alma, because he was staying with her all weekend. She and my mom share taking care of Caleb on Razorback game weekends and she had volunteered for this one. To keep her from having to pack up and leave her house for the weekend like she usually does, she kept Caleb in Ft. Smith. From what I understand, they both had a blast.
When Rudy got home, he took me to dinner at one of our favorite indulgent restaurants, Cafe Rue Orleans. We came home stuffed to the gills, but managed to have a little birthday cake that he had kindly gotten for me. Around 9:00, Chad and Ronni Fellers got to our house to spend the night. They were in town for the Razorbacks/Ole Miss game on Saturday and spent Friday night with us.
The guys got up early on Saturday morning and played golf. Ronni and I slept in! It was a real treat for 2 moms. After the guys got home, Ronni and I went to the Promenade to do some shopping and then came home. We all got ready to go to the game and said our goodbyes. Rudy and I went to the Wilhelms' tailgate party and then walked up to the Alumni house for dinner before the game. We headed over to the stadium in time to witness the bizarre goings-on. It was Coach Nutt's first game back at Arkansas since leaving to coach at Ole Miss. The Arkansas fans were brutal to him. The boos were louder than any I had ever heard. Initially, I clapped for him - giving him the benefit of the doubt and showing some gratitude for the improvements that he brought to our University while he was here. My mind quickly changed, though. When he brought his team back out after warm-up to start the game, he held them back until our team came on the field. This classless act caused our team to enter the field to a chorus of boos, rather than the cheers that we always greet them with. His players proved to be as classless now as he allowed them to be when he was at Arkansas. I hated the thug behavior when it was our guys and I hate to see it from other teams. Now we have a coach who doesn't stand for that and I am glad. We ended up losing the game following a completely bogus offensive pass interference call that brought our fans out of their seats in disgust and anger. Then, Nutt proceeded to stay on the field long after the game was over. He was surrounded by cameras and milked it for all it was worth. By the time he finally left the field, most of the crowd was gone, his players and some assistant coaches had taunted our fans in the stands and he had officially lost any and all respect I ever had for him. I was standing outside after the game when 2 of the Ole Miss staff members walked by. One of them said, "I just love the looks on the faces as we pass by." As Rudy and I got to the elevator, I realized that we were going to have to get on with them and we decided to take the stairs. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to hold my tongue after a comment like that. We left the stadium disappointed and disheartened. The only good thing about the night was that the Wisemans and their friends invited us up to watch the game with them in their luxury box. At least we weren't freezing and packed in our seats like sardines.
We got home and it didn't take me long to crash in the bed. Rudy stayed up for a while, trying to avoid the Razorback message boards and playing video poker. After a celebratory Friday, it was a miserable Saturday night.
Friday started with one of the most uncomfortable IEP meetings I've ever been a part of. I won't even go into details, because those of you who don't live in the world of special education would be bored to tears. Suffice it to say, this wasn't a good one. The rest of the day went reasonably well. I did my usual work with kids and paper shuffling. I even stayed after school for about an hour to tie up some loose ends. Rudy took Caleb to meet Jan in Alma, because he was staying with her all weekend. She and my mom share taking care of Caleb on Razorback game weekends and she had volunteered for this one. To keep her from having to pack up and leave her house for the weekend like she usually does, she kept Caleb in Ft. Smith. From what I understand, they both had a blast.
When Rudy got home, he took me to dinner at one of our favorite indulgent restaurants, Cafe Rue Orleans. We came home stuffed to the gills, but managed to have a little birthday cake that he had kindly gotten for me. Around 9:00, Chad and Ronni Fellers got to our house to spend the night. They were in town for the Razorbacks/Ole Miss game on Saturday and spent Friday night with us.
The guys got up early on Saturday morning and played golf. Ronni and I slept in! It was a real treat for 2 moms. After the guys got home, Ronni and I went to the Promenade to do some shopping and then came home. We all got ready to go to the game and said our goodbyes. Rudy and I went to the Wilhelms' tailgate party and then walked up to the Alumni house for dinner before the game. We headed over to the stadium in time to witness the bizarre goings-on. It was Coach Nutt's first game back at Arkansas since leaving to coach at Ole Miss. The Arkansas fans were brutal to him. The boos were louder than any I had ever heard. Initially, I clapped for him - giving him the benefit of the doubt and showing some gratitude for the improvements that he brought to our University while he was here. My mind quickly changed, though. When he brought his team back out after warm-up to start the game, he held them back until our team came on the field. This classless act caused our team to enter the field to a chorus of boos, rather than the cheers that we always greet them with. His players proved to be as classless now as he allowed them to be when he was at Arkansas. I hated the thug behavior when it was our guys and I hate to see it from other teams. Now we have a coach who doesn't stand for that and I am glad. We ended up losing the game following a completely bogus offensive pass interference call that brought our fans out of their seats in disgust and anger. Then, Nutt proceeded to stay on the field long after the game was over. He was surrounded by cameras and milked it for all it was worth. By the time he finally left the field, most of the crowd was gone, his players and some assistant coaches had taunted our fans in the stands and he had officially lost any and all respect I ever had for him. I was standing outside after the game when 2 of the Ole Miss staff members walked by. One of them said, "I just love the looks on the faces as we pass by." As Rudy and I got to the elevator, I realized that we were going to have to get on with them and we decided to take the stairs. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to hold my tongue after a comment like that. We left the stadium disappointed and disheartened. The only good thing about the night was that the Wisemans and their friends invited us up to watch the game with them in their luxury box. At least we weren't freezing and packed in our seats like sardines.
We got home and it didn't take me long to crash in the bed. Rudy stayed up for a while, trying to avoid the Razorback message boards and playing video poker. After a celebratory Friday, it was a miserable Saturday night.
Friday, October 24, 2008
32.
I have been telling people that today is the 3rd anniversary of my 29th birthday. Yikes. 32. Thirty-two. 32. Thirty-two. No matter how many times I repeat it, I am thirty-something.
On the other hand...
I have an amazing husband who loves me like I could never imagine anyone would. He absorbs my faults and celebrates my successes. And he got me a cake - chocolate with buttercreme icing, which is my favorite. The fact that he knows (and remembers) that is pretty cool. Oh...and he got me a gold and silver Razorback watch. He loves me. He really loves me. Not that I ever doubted it...or needed gifts to prove it. He loves me.
I have a son who surprises me every day with his ability to make me laugh, cry, feel and tolerate things that I never thought I could. He is a blessing and a joy and the only miracle I can ever remember being a part of.
I have parents who think I'm special and tell me so and are my greatest cheerleaders, no matter how insignificant the cause.
I have 3 living grandparents who have been a blessing all of my life. They show me things and teach me things that only grandparents can teach. I am so grateful.
I have an unbelievable extended family whose journeys make me believe that everything is possible with God. I know that as long as I hold His hand, I am connected with them, no matter what.
I have friends that support me, carry me and comfort me. I have friends that laugh with me, celebrate with me, love me and know that they can count on me even when the world is spinning too quickly to hold on. They are the family that extends beyond family.
I have a career that keeps me stimulated and I know that because of it, we can pay the bills and I can touch the lives of children in a good way, which many of them need so desparately.
And most of all, I have the blessings of God that give me all of these things and more. What else do I need?
On the other hand...
I have an amazing husband who loves me like I could never imagine anyone would. He absorbs my faults and celebrates my successes. And he got me a cake - chocolate with buttercreme icing, which is my favorite. The fact that he knows (and remembers) that is pretty cool. Oh...and he got me a gold and silver Razorback watch. He loves me. He really loves me. Not that I ever doubted it...or needed gifts to prove it. He loves me.
I have a son who surprises me every day with his ability to make me laugh, cry, feel and tolerate things that I never thought I could. He is a blessing and a joy and the only miracle I can ever remember being a part of.
I have parents who think I'm special and tell me so and are my greatest cheerleaders, no matter how insignificant the cause.
I have 3 living grandparents who have been a blessing all of my life. They show me things and teach me things that only grandparents can teach. I am so grateful.
I have an unbelievable extended family whose journeys make me believe that everything is possible with God. I know that as long as I hold His hand, I am connected with them, no matter what.
I have friends that support me, carry me and comfort me. I have friends that laugh with me, celebrate with me, love me and know that they can count on me even when the world is spinning too quickly to hold on. They are the family that extends beyond family.
I have a career that keeps me stimulated and I know that because of it, we can pay the bills and I can touch the lives of children in a good way, which many of them need so desparately.
And most of all, I have the blessings of God that give me all of these things and more. What else do I need?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Bad and the Good of Late October
There is nothing on this planet that makes me cringe as much as a whiny child. Guess what...I now have one. Since Caleb's surgery on the 10th, he has whined like there is no tomorrow. It makes me crazy!!! Let me back up a little and please excuse me if I whine.
The last time I posted, we had had "A Strange Day." That was the start of what turned out to be a nasty bout with bronchitis for me. It's now 11 days later and I'm still coughing. We were supposed to go to the Pumpkin Patch with friends on Sunday (10/12), but I spent the day in bed with fever. I spent the nights of the 13th and 14th laying awake and coughing. I actually went to the guest room so that Rudy could sleep. On Wednesday, the 15th, I went to the doctor and ended up with a ZPac, which helped but didn't knock it out totally. I also got some fabulous nighttime cough medicine. If hydrocodone had a fan club, I'd be a member. It turned out to be the only way I could stop coughing long enough to sleep. Caleb has also had a cough for quite a while. We thought the antibiotics after his surgery would solve the problem, but he's still coughing and now his nose is running too. Aaaggh! Silver lining: he doesn't have a ear infection! Rudy was a super-dad during all of this. He took full responsibility for Caleb while I had fever and continued to take care of him most of the week since I was feeling so crummy.
I had the day off on Friday, the 17th and it was a busy day! I took Caleb to school and came home to do laundry and pack for our trip to Hot Springs. We also had the carpets and living room furniture cleaned to rid ourselves of the remants of having an indoor dog and potty-training a toddler. Yeah!!!! After the Sears guy left, I called Stacy and met her for a quick trip to the Hammonds center craft fair and lunch. We went to get Caleb at school and came home to meet Rudy. Not long after he got home, we hit the road for Hot Springs. We made it there without any trouble. It was one of Caleb's easiest trips in a while! Hallelujah!
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Hot Springs. Mr. L was at deer camp, but came home on Sunday morning before we left. Rudy played golf at Hot Springs Village with Chad on Saturday morning and Mom played with Caleb while I slept in. Unfortunately, Caleb hasn't taken too well to sleeping in the "big bed" with siderails at Lala's and one of us ends up having to sleep with him. Again...thank goodness for hydrocodone. :) Shortly after I got up, Aunt Harolyn came by to see us and then Pepapa and Anna Joyce came over. Caleb and Mom spent some time outside collecting acorns for Pops to feed the deer. I went shopping while Caleb napped and got an outfit to wear Saturday night. When I got home, Rudy was there and got ready to go over to Little Rock. We went to dinner and then to UALR for the Air Force Band Concert. Our friend, Chris was playing a trumpet solo, and it was our first time to see him play professionally. I think the last time I saw Chris play was at our wedding 10 years ago! After the concert, we all went over to Chad & Ronni's house for a little bit and then Rudy and I drove back to Hot Springs. When we got home, Caleb was sound asleep in Lala's bed. I'm not sure which one of them enjoyed that snuggle more.
On Sunday, Mom treated me to a special birthday lunch! She made my favorites: crawfish ettoufee and chocolate pie! Yum! After our early lunch, we hit the road for home. We made a short stop in Ft. Smith to see Jan and her friend Sue, then came home.
Of course, in our family, it seems that someone always has to be sick. Rudy woke up during the night Sunday with a stomach bug. He went to work on Monday, but came home early after a trip to the doctor. He was officially quarantined to the bedroom until this morning.
Sunday night, I went to bed at 9:30, thinking I would get a good night's sleep to prepare for a busy week. No such luck. Caleb woke up at 12:00, crying. I put him in the guest bed with me and we both went back to sleep. He woke up at 2:00 and whined/cried until I had to get up at 5:45 to get ready for work. I put him back in his bed at some point during all of that and he cried so hard, I thought he was going to be sick. So, I started the week on minimal sleep. This week is parent-teacher conference week for me, so I knew it would be busy. I left school at 4:30 on Monday and picked up Caleb. We went to the grocery store and then came home for dinner, bath, play and bedtime. I admit...I bought him a new movie at the store so we could have a low-key night. It worked. I put him to bed at his regular time and then had some work to do. It was midnight before I could get to bed. Of course, Caleb woke up at 12:30 screaming. I thought I was going to cry, but my Mom abilities kicked in and I sucked it up. He kept saying that his ears hurt. I gave him some pain medicine from his surgery and he went right back to sleep. Again...I love hydrocodone. We both slept most of the night and made it to school on Tuesday morning.
Tuesday was a LONG day for me. After school, I had parent-teacher conferences until 6:45. On Monday night, I had called our fabulous superhero babysitter, Kelly and worked out a way for her to take care of Caleb for me on Tuesday night. She came by my school and got my carseat, then went to Caleb's school to get him. They went to an early dinner at McDonald's and then came home to play. Rudy was still quarantined. When I got home, Caleb and Kelly were playing happily. Caleb told me he had to go potty, so I took him. My heart sank when I realized that he had diarrhea. I just knew that he had gotten Rudy's virus and we were in for another few days of misery. After a few more trips to the bathroom, I finally got him to bed. I called my principal and told her I wouldn't be at work on Wednesday and settled in for another long night. I got to bed at about 10:15 and, as expected, Caleb woke up at 2:00. Again, he told me his ears hurt. I gave him more pain medicine, took him to the bathroom (no diarrhea!) and we climbed in the bed. The pain medicine wasn't as effective this time. He fussed and cried and whined for over an hour while laying in the bed with me. He finally fell asleep around 4:00. We got up at 8:00 this morning and he played and watched TV while I dozed on the couch and counted down the time until his nap. After lunch, I finally got him in HIS bed for a nap and started some laundry. Then I hit the bed and slept like a rock until Rudy got home. Rudy woke up Caleb and took him to his follow-up appointment at the ENT. I went to school to get some work to bring home. I'm not sure why - it's not like I've even looked at it tonight! I guess I just needed to get out of the house and that made me feel productive. When I got home, Caleb was playing and Rudy had dinner almost ready. It has been a pretty good night. Rudy has felt so much better and enjoyed playing with Caleb tonight. He put him to bed not long ago and we've agreed to let him cry a little longer tonight before going to rescue him.
Everyone is going to school tomorrow. Rudy and I both have parent-teacher conferences and I have someone coming to my school to watch Caleb and another teacher's child. Good heavens, I hope it's a better day.
Now...for the update from the ENT. Nothing. He told Rudy absolutely nothing. He said that Caleb's ears looked fine. He wasn't worried about anything. He suggested a steroid for the inflammation that may be causing the ear pain, but Rudy turned it down. Caleb doesn't handle steroids well. We'll just keep giving him Tylenol and Motrin. Rudy said that Dr. Lee considered another round of antibiotics, but decided against it. I guess we're just going to have to ride this storm out with a test of patience.
Caleb's whining is ridiculous, but I don't know how much of it is because he doesn't feel good and how much is him being a pain. He will throw a holy fit and whine and cry, then look at me and say, "Mama, I not crying anymore." Usually, when he whines, I ignore him or tell him that I can't hear his words when he's whining. When it's the middle of the night, I tend to cave a little quicker. I'm just too tired to deal with it at 2:00 in the morning. I know I shouldn't get him out of his bed and sleep with him in the guest bed. I know that goes against every logical parenting rule. But...usually that cycles through about 2 or 3 nights every month or so. Not a big deal. Now, this has been going on for almost 2 weeks. It's not just getting old - it's old already.
I know I've written a lot of negativity in this post, so let me finish with some positives.
The last time I posted, we had had "A Strange Day." That was the start of what turned out to be a nasty bout with bronchitis for me. It's now 11 days later and I'm still coughing. We were supposed to go to the Pumpkin Patch with friends on Sunday (10/12), but I spent the day in bed with fever. I spent the nights of the 13th and 14th laying awake and coughing. I actually went to the guest room so that Rudy could sleep. On Wednesday, the 15th, I went to the doctor and ended up with a ZPac, which helped but didn't knock it out totally. I also got some fabulous nighttime cough medicine. If hydrocodone had a fan club, I'd be a member. It turned out to be the only way I could stop coughing long enough to sleep. Caleb has also had a cough for quite a while. We thought the antibiotics after his surgery would solve the problem, but he's still coughing and now his nose is running too. Aaaggh! Silver lining: he doesn't have a ear infection! Rudy was a super-dad during all of this. He took full responsibility for Caleb while I had fever and continued to take care of him most of the week since I was feeling so crummy.
I had the day off on Friday, the 17th and it was a busy day! I took Caleb to school and came home to do laundry and pack for our trip to Hot Springs. We also had the carpets and living room furniture cleaned to rid ourselves of the remants of having an indoor dog and potty-training a toddler. Yeah!!!! After the Sears guy left, I called Stacy and met her for a quick trip to the Hammonds center craft fair and lunch. We went to get Caleb at school and came home to meet Rudy. Not long after he got home, we hit the road for Hot Springs. We made it there without any trouble. It was one of Caleb's easiest trips in a while! Hallelujah!
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Hot Springs. Mr. L was at deer camp, but came home on Sunday morning before we left. Rudy played golf at Hot Springs Village with Chad on Saturday morning and Mom played with Caleb while I slept in. Unfortunately, Caleb hasn't taken too well to sleeping in the "big bed" with siderails at Lala's and one of us ends up having to sleep with him. Again...thank goodness for hydrocodone. :) Shortly after I got up, Aunt Harolyn came by to see us and then Pepapa and Anna Joyce came over. Caleb and Mom spent some time outside collecting acorns for Pops to feed the deer. I went shopping while Caleb napped and got an outfit to wear Saturday night. When I got home, Rudy was there and got ready to go over to Little Rock. We went to dinner and then to UALR for the Air Force Band Concert. Our friend, Chris was playing a trumpet solo, and it was our first time to see him play professionally. I think the last time I saw Chris play was at our wedding 10 years ago! After the concert, we all went over to Chad & Ronni's house for a little bit and then Rudy and I drove back to Hot Springs. When we got home, Caleb was sound asleep in Lala's bed. I'm not sure which one of them enjoyed that snuggle more.
On Sunday, Mom treated me to a special birthday lunch! She made my favorites: crawfish ettoufee and chocolate pie! Yum! After our early lunch, we hit the road for home. We made a short stop in Ft. Smith to see Jan and her friend Sue, then came home.
Of course, in our family, it seems that someone always has to be sick. Rudy woke up during the night Sunday with a stomach bug. He went to work on Monday, but came home early after a trip to the doctor. He was officially quarantined to the bedroom until this morning.
Sunday night, I went to bed at 9:30, thinking I would get a good night's sleep to prepare for a busy week. No such luck. Caleb woke up at 12:00, crying. I put him in the guest bed with me and we both went back to sleep. He woke up at 2:00 and whined/cried until I had to get up at 5:45 to get ready for work. I put him back in his bed at some point during all of that and he cried so hard, I thought he was going to be sick. So, I started the week on minimal sleep. This week is parent-teacher conference week for me, so I knew it would be busy. I left school at 4:30 on Monday and picked up Caleb. We went to the grocery store and then came home for dinner, bath, play and bedtime. I admit...I bought him a new movie at the store so we could have a low-key night. It worked. I put him to bed at his regular time and then had some work to do. It was midnight before I could get to bed. Of course, Caleb woke up at 12:30 screaming. I thought I was going to cry, but my Mom abilities kicked in and I sucked it up. He kept saying that his ears hurt. I gave him some pain medicine from his surgery and he went right back to sleep. Again...I love hydrocodone. We both slept most of the night and made it to school on Tuesday morning.
Tuesday was a LONG day for me. After school, I had parent-teacher conferences until 6:45. On Monday night, I had called our fabulous superhero babysitter, Kelly and worked out a way for her to take care of Caleb for me on Tuesday night. She came by my school and got my carseat, then went to Caleb's school to get him. They went to an early dinner at McDonald's and then came home to play. Rudy was still quarantined. When I got home, Caleb and Kelly were playing happily. Caleb told me he had to go potty, so I took him. My heart sank when I realized that he had diarrhea. I just knew that he had gotten Rudy's virus and we were in for another few days of misery. After a few more trips to the bathroom, I finally got him to bed. I called my principal and told her I wouldn't be at work on Wednesday and settled in for another long night. I got to bed at about 10:15 and, as expected, Caleb woke up at 2:00. Again, he told me his ears hurt. I gave him more pain medicine, took him to the bathroom (no diarrhea!) and we climbed in the bed. The pain medicine wasn't as effective this time. He fussed and cried and whined for over an hour while laying in the bed with me. He finally fell asleep around 4:00. We got up at 8:00 this morning and he played and watched TV while I dozed on the couch and counted down the time until his nap. After lunch, I finally got him in HIS bed for a nap and started some laundry. Then I hit the bed and slept like a rock until Rudy got home. Rudy woke up Caleb and took him to his follow-up appointment at the ENT. I went to school to get some work to bring home. I'm not sure why - it's not like I've even looked at it tonight! I guess I just needed to get out of the house and that made me feel productive. When I got home, Caleb was playing and Rudy had dinner almost ready. It has been a pretty good night. Rudy has felt so much better and enjoyed playing with Caleb tonight. He put him to bed not long ago and we've agreed to let him cry a little longer tonight before going to rescue him.
Everyone is going to school tomorrow. Rudy and I both have parent-teacher conferences and I have someone coming to my school to watch Caleb and another teacher's child. Good heavens, I hope it's a better day.
Now...for the update from the ENT. Nothing. He told Rudy absolutely nothing. He said that Caleb's ears looked fine. He wasn't worried about anything. He suggested a steroid for the inflammation that may be causing the ear pain, but Rudy turned it down. Caleb doesn't handle steroids well. We'll just keep giving him Tylenol and Motrin. Rudy said that Dr. Lee considered another round of antibiotics, but decided against it. I guess we're just going to have to ride this storm out with a test of patience.
Caleb's whining is ridiculous, but I don't know how much of it is because he doesn't feel good and how much is him being a pain. He will throw a holy fit and whine and cry, then look at me and say, "Mama, I not crying anymore." Usually, when he whines, I ignore him or tell him that I can't hear his words when he's whining. When it's the middle of the night, I tend to cave a little quicker. I'm just too tired to deal with it at 2:00 in the morning. I know I shouldn't get him out of his bed and sleep with him in the guest bed. I know that goes against every logical parenting rule. But...usually that cycles through about 2 or 3 nights every month or so. Not a big deal. Now, this has been going on for almost 2 weeks. It's not just getting old - it's old already.
I know I've written a lot of negativity in this post, so let me finish with some positives.
- Caleb has learned some pretty amazing things the past few weeks at school. He's starting to pretend a lot and his language has exploded once again.
- There is a child in his class that likes to try to scare the other kids by talking about ghosts and monsters. With Halloween coming soon, we've been tying to tell him that ghosts and monsters are pretend. When he starts talking about them at night when he goes to bed, I spray some air freshener that we call "monster spray" and he seems okay.
- As usual, he sings a lot. The new favorites are "Where is Thumbkin" and "Old MacDonald."
- Yesterday, Caleb walked into the living room with his blanket wrapped around his shoulders and told me that he was a princess. I thought that was pretty funny.
- Last Monday, he told me that it wasn't raining, it was just sprinkling.
- With all of the fall decorations out right now, he likes to point out all of the "squarecrows."
- When he is in the car with Rudy, Caleb likes to "help Daddy drive" by pretending that he is holding a steering wheel. He actually turns it the right way most of the time.
- He also likes to tell everything "Happy Birthday" - especially Taco Bell and the cows that we pass on the way home. That's a game that he and his Daddy made up one day and he's holding on to it.
- Caleb has started playing with his toys by "making them talk." He'll hold an Elmo figurine and say, "Hi, Elmo" then, "Hi, Caleb."
- Caleb's sense of direction seems pretty impressive to Rudy and me. He knows which way we turn to get places and if we don't go that way, he gets upset. He can also guess where we're going based on which way we're going.
- And, to make things truly positive...I would venture to say that Caleb is now fully potty-trained. He goes days between accidents. When we were in Hot Springs, I asked him if he needed to go potty and he said no. He then went into the bedroom, closed the door and wet his pants. I asked him why he did that. He said he "want to play, not sit on the potty." That's a pretty good sign to me that he can control his bladder. He's just being two.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
A Strange Day
When we went to bed last night, Rudy said, "If Caleb wakes up during the night, please wake me up and I'll take care of him." I didn't argue one bit. When I heard Caleb crying at 4:00, I promptly tapped Rudy on the shoulder. From that point until I woke up at 8:15, I slept harder than I've slept in a long time. I woke up rested and without a headache for the first time in 2 weeks. I just knew it was going to be a great day! I came into the living room and found Caleb and Rudy playing, which is one of my favorite things to see. Rudy then offered to make breakfast, but needed a few ingredients so he headed to Walmart to get them. Caleb and I stayed home and played while he was gone. When Rudy got back, he made Ziploc omelets for us. They tasted much better than they looked and we all enjoyed having breakfast together. After breakfast, Rudy and I were talking about our plan for the day. Caleb was doing so great that we even considered going to the pumpkin patch, but decided to wait another day to make sure he was up to it. Rudy suggested that he take Caleb to the park for a little bit so that I could have some time by myself to scrapbook or do whatever I wanted. Again, I didn't argue. I quickly got out my scrapbook table and went to work. The boys came home from the park and played in the living room for a while. While I was cropping, I noticed that my headache had come back, but didn't think much about it. I've actually gotten kind of used to it lately. However, this didn't stop at a headache. I started feeling really gross pretty quickly. About 11:00, I called for Rudy and he came and walked me to our room where I laid down on the bed to try to make the world stop spinning. I wasn't sleepy or tired, just very dizzy and out of sorts. I covered my head with the blanket and before I knew it, I was sound asleep. I woke up at 3:00, feeling better, but still groggy.
Rudy told me that Caleb had never really taken a nap and that they were both pretty tired. Apparently, Caleb threw both of his blankets, his pillow and his stuffed animals out of his bed and reached over to pull a basket off of his dresser and into his bed. He had partially taken off his shirt and had managed to put his arm through the neckhole. The basket that he grabbed was full of things that we use off and on - diaper cream, Vicks cream, a thermometer, etc. It's a miracle that he didn't smear the creams all over the walls.
Rudy and I each managed to take showers before the Razorback game started at 4:00. While we were watching the game, I noticed that Caleb felt really warm, so I took his temperature. Sure enough, he was running a fever, which was expected after his surgery yesterday. I gave him some Tylenol and he continued to play. Rudy grilled burgers and made fried potatoes for us for dinner and they were yummy. After we ate, I still didn't feel so great, so I took my temperature and found that I, too, had a fever. Yuck. I took some Tylenol and hit the recliner to watch the rest of the game. While we watched the game, Caleb pretended to play football in the living room. He took his little football and crouched down. Then he would say, "hut!" and take off running in a circle around the couch. Eventually, he would fall down and say, "I tackled!" It was pretty stinkin' funny!
Caleb surprised me today. I took my contacts out and put on my glasses, then came into the living room where he was playing. He rarely sees me in my glasses, so he said, "What's that?" I said, "Mama's glasses." His response: "Oh, you beautiful." It made my day. I knew that I didn't look beautiful to anyone but my little boy. I hadn't fixed my hair after my shower, wasn't wearing makeup and had on my awful glasses, but Caleb thought I was beautiful and that's all that counts.
On a happy note, the Hogs managed to pull off their first SEC win of the year against Auburn tonight. Hallelujah Hog! I honestly didn't think we'd win another game all year. It's been a tough season so far and it's far from over.
What a day!
Rudy told me that Caleb had never really taken a nap and that they were both pretty tired. Apparently, Caleb threw both of his blankets, his pillow and his stuffed animals out of his bed and reached over to pull a basket off of his dresser and into his bed. He had partially taken off his shirt and had managed to put his arm through the neckhole. The basket that he grabbed was full of things that we use off and on - diaper cream, Vicks cream, a thermometer, etc. It's a miracle that he didn't smear the creams all over the walls.
Rudy and I each managed to take showers before the Razorback game started at 4:00. While we were watching the game, I noticed that Caleb felt really warm, so I took his temperature. Sure enough, he was running a fever, which was expected after his surgery yesterday. I gave him some Tylenol and he continued to play. Rudy grilled burgers and made fried potatoes for us for dinner and they were yummy. After we ate, I still didn't feel so great, so I took my temperature and found that I, too, had a fever. Yuck. I took some Tylenol and hit the recliner to watch the rest of the game. While we watched the game, Caleb pretended to play football in the living room. He took his little football and crouched down. Then he would say, "hut!" and take off running in a circle around the couch. Eventually, he would fall down and say, "I tackled!" It was pretty stinkin' funny!
Caleb surprised me today. I took my contacts out and put on my glasses, then came into the living room where he was playing. He rarely sees me in my glasses, so he said, "What's that?" I said, "Mama's glasses." His response: "Oh, you beautiful." It made my day. I knew that I didn't look beautiful to anyone but my little boy. I hadn't fixed my hair after my shower, wasn't wearing makeup and had on my awful glasses, but Caleb thought I was beautiful and that's all that counts.
On a happy note, the Hogs managed to pull off their first SEC win of the year against Auburn tonight. Hallelujah Hog! I honestly didn't think we'd win another game all year. It's been a tough season so far and it's far from over.
What a day!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Surgery Success
Caleb did great in his surgery this morning! We got there at 7:30 and waited just a little while before we were called back for the prep work. .JPG)
It was hard to turn him over to a stranger and know that she was going to put him under. I distracted myself with a Southern Living magazine and Rudy read the paper. It wasn't long before Dr. Lee showed up at the door and called us back to the consult room. He said that Caleb's ears looked perfect and that he had no problem removing the adenoids. The nurse came to get Rudy and I from the waiting room just as Caleb was waking up. I held him for about an hour while he slowly emerged from his anesthesia fog. .JPG)
As he woke up, he started to talk a little more. He seemed to feel a little queasy, but wouldn't take any crackers. We made it home right around 10:00 and I held Caleb while Rudy made us a late breakfast. Caleb wouldn't touch his breakfast, but Rudy and I were starving! After breakfast, I took Caleb into my bed and we watched a little TV and rested while Rudy went to get some groceries. At one point, Caleb said, "Mama I want medicine my mouth." I guessed that his throat must be hurting, so I gave him a dose of the painkiller that the doctor prescribed. Since then, he's been much more like himself. He is singing and playing and watching Sesame Street. The only thing I've been able to get him to eat is ice cream and fruit snacks. I told him to enjoy it now, because tomorrow he's back on "real" food. Speaking of that...I got some wrong information yesterday. This morning, when I asked the doctor about a note for soft foods only at daycare next week, he looked at me like I was crazy. He said that with adenoids, there's no need to restrict his diet. He can have whatever he wants. Our only restriction is to keep him from playing too rough for a few days. I think we can manage!
It was hard to turn him over to a stranger and know that she was going to put him under. I distracted myself with a Southern Living magazine and Rudy read the paper. It wasn't long before Dr. Lee showed up at the door and called us back to the consult room. He said that Caleb's ears looked perfect and that he had no problem removing the adenoids. The nurse came to get Rudy and I from the waiting room just as Caleb was waking up. I held him for about an hour while he slowly emerged from his anesthesia fog. As he woke up, he started to talk a little more. He seemed to feel a little queasy, but wouldn't take any crackers. We made it home right around 10:00 and I held Caleb while Rudy made us a late breakfast. Caleb wouldn't touch his breakfast, but Rudy and I were starving! After breakfast, I took Caleb into my bed and we watched a little TV and rested while Rudy went to get some groceries. At one point, Caleb said, "Mama I want medicine my mouth." I guessed that his throat must be hurting, so I gave him a dose of the painkiller that the doctor prescribed. Since then, he's been much more like himself. He is singing and playing and watching Sesame Street. The only thing I've been able to get him to eat is ice cream and fruit snacks. I told him to enjoy it now, because tomorrow he's back on "real" food. Speaking of that...I got some wrong information yesterday. This morning, when I asked the doctor about a note for soft foods only at daycare next week, he looked at me like I was crazy. He said that with adenoids, there's no need to restrict his diet. He can have whatever he wants. Our only restriction is to keep him from playing too rough for a few days. I think we can manage!Thursday, October 9, 2008
Prayers, Please - Surgery Tomorrow
Caleb goes in for his new set of ear tubes and an adenoidectomy tomorrow morning. We are supposed to be at the outpatient surgery center at 7:30 and they expect to take him back at 8:00. The surgery should take anywhere from 15-30 minutes. We'll be there for a while afterwards so that they can make sure he comes out of the anesthesia okay and can eat/drink without getting sick. He can't have anything to eat after midnight tonight. Rudy has graciously offered to get up with him at 11:30 tonight to try to get him to drink some milk and eat a snack, then go back to bed. Poor little guy will be so confused. First, we've never woken him up in the middle of the night. Second, he ALWAYS has a cup of milk when he wakes up in the morning. This is without fail. The first thing he usually says when we get him up in the morning is, "I have milk, please?" Tomorrow, he has to not only go without his beloved milk, he can't have anything at all. For the first set of tubes (Feb '07), this was the worst part of all. He was so hungry when he came out of surgery that he practically inhaled his bottle. That made his ears pop, which hurt and made him cry like I've never seen before. It was heartbreaking.
I know this comes as no surprise to anyone. When I called the nurse this morning to get our arrival time, I had questions.
1. What's the recovery?
1 day for the tubes
4-5 days for the adenoidectomy
lots of pain relievers for the first couple of days and then fade those out
soft foods for 5-7 days
"take it easy" (no rough play, etc) for a week
no major travel for 2-3 weeks (Darn, there goes that tropical vacation we had planned)
2. When can he go back to school?
probably Monday, maybe Tuesday
I'm nervous about 2 things. First, my child is going under general anesthesia, which is always scary. He's two and they are going to put him to sleep. I know he will be anxious because we won't be with him and he'll be taken into a very strange place by people he doesn't know. Then they will start poking at him and he'll feel pretty helpless. I'll feel helpless because there's nothing I can do to help him. Second, the fear of the unknown is not my forte'. I want to know what to expect. There's no way to know in this situation. I just have to hope that Caleb will be a trooper and if he's not, I have to be patient until it passes.
I'll try to post something sometime tomorrow, but I don't make any promises. Hopefully, he'll sleep quite a bit to sleep off some of the painful time, but who knows!?! In the meantime, please say a little prayer for Caleb tomorrow morning and for his parents who are just hoping this will help.
I know this comes as no surprise to anyone. When I called the nurse this morning to get our arrival time, I had questions.
1. What's the recovery?
1 day for the tubes
4-5 days for the adenoidectomy
lots of pain relievers for the first couple of days and then fade those out
soft foods for 5-7 days
"take it easy" (no rough play, etc) for a week
no major travel for 2-3 weeks (Darn, there goes that tropical vacation we had planned)
2. When can he go back to school?
probably Monday, maybe Tuesday
I'm nervous about 2 things. First, my child is going under general anesthesia, which is always scary. He's two and they are going to put him to sleep. I know he will be anxious because we won't be with him and he'll be taken into a very strange place by people he doesn't know. Then they will start poking at him and he'll feel pretty helpless. I'll feel helpless because there's nothing I can do to help him. Second, the fear of the unknown is not my forte'. I want to know what to expect. There's no way to know in this situation. I just have to hope that Caleb will be a trooper and if he's not, I have to be patient until it passes.
I'll try to post something sometime tomorrow, but I don't make any promises. Hopefully, he'll sleep quite a bit to sleep off some of the painful time, but who knows!?! In the meantime, please say a little prayer for Caleb tomorrow morning and for his parents who are just hoping this will help.
Caleb's Musical Taste
We were in the car tonight on our way back from dinner at Chili's and I had listened to all the Backyardigans and toddler music I could handle. Jokingly, I turned my iPod to the Chingy song, "Right Thurr" (the clean version, thankyouverymuch). Caleb piped up from the backseat and said, "I like this song! I like it!" and started dancing in his carseat. Rudy and I cracked up! Unfortunately, he didn't like several of my other song selections. He did, however, say that he liked Jimmy Buffett. He is my child, after all.
I'm Haley Villines and I approve this message.
I've never been into politics. Most of it goes over my head or bores me to tears. This election has my attention, though. I believe that it truly is the most important one I've ever experienced. This time around, I'm adding a category to my list of demographics: parent. Now I vote as a Christian, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a woman, an educator, an advocate for those who can't advocate for themselves and a moderate environmentalist - among other things.
My decision has been made for a long time. I'm voting for Barack Obama. I supported Hillary Clinton in the primaries. I was disappointed when she didn't win. Now, though, I fully support the Obama/Biden campaign. I'm not completely thrilled with the choice of Biden for VP, but I'm comfortable with it. I understand it. I like his story, his ideas and his message - I just don't always like his tactics. He's a little too typical politician for my taste.
I support what the candidates stand for and I support the promise that I not only hear, but also FEEL when I read/watch/learn about their platform. I'm not fooled by politicians. I know there is a lot of junk under the surface and I know that promises are empty, but I believe that it is in the best interest of my family and my country to vote for the Democratic ticket this year. I hesitate to use the word "change" because I think it has lost its meaning in the melee of election season, but it fits. I'm ready for a change. Enough is enough.
A while back, I subscribed to get e-mail updates from the Obama/Biden campaign. I delete most of them without opening them, because I simply don't have the time to read them all. This one came today and caught my attention. The purpose was to encourage people to send an e-mail to their families to "educate" and spark conversation about Obama. I'm not into forwarding e-mails. Like me, most people aren't interested in reading forwards. However...you're here, so you must be in a reading mood. I've copied and pasted some of the sample e-mail into this post (below) so that maybe someone who is undecided will feel the excitement that I feel about this election.
I've been thinking a lot about the election and how important it is to our family.
I've decided to support Barack Obama, and wanted to let you know why.
There are many rumors floating around out there, so here's some information about Barack's positions on things I know are important to you:
-- Economy: http://my.barackobama.com/EconomyFlyer
-- Health Care: http://my.barackobama.com/HealthcareFlyer
-- Education: http://my.barackobama.com/EducationFlyer
More information Obama's position regarding a variety of issues can be found here.
Watch Obama's speech from the Democratic convention here.
See a video about who Barack Obama is, where he comes from, and what his values are.
My decision has been made for a long time. I'm voting for Barack Obama. I supported Hillary Clinton in the primaries. I was disappointed when she didn't win. Now, though, I fully support the Obama/Biden campaign. I'm not completely thrilled with the choice of Biden for VP, but I'm comfortable with it. I understand it. I like his story, his ideas and his message - I just don't always like his tactics. He's a little too typical politician for my taste.
I support what the candidates stand for and I support the promise that I not only hear, but also FEEL when I read/watch/learn about their platform. I'm not fooled by politicians. I know there is a lot of junk under the surface and I know that promises are empty, but I believe that it is in the best interest of my family and my country to vote for the Democratic ticket this year. I hesitate to use the word "change" because I think it has lost its meaning in the melee of election season, but it fits. I'm ready for a change. Enough is enough.
A while back, I subscribed to get e-mail updates from the Obama/Biden campaign. I delete most of them without opening them, because I simply don't have the time to read them all. This one came today and caught my attention. The purpose was to encourage people to send an e-mail to their families to "educate" and spark conversation about Obama. I'm not into forwarding e-mails. Like me, most people aren't interested in reading forwards. However...you're here, so you must be in a reading mood. I've copied and pasted some of the sample e-mail into this post (below) so that maybe someone who is undecided will feel the excitement that I feel about this election.
I've been thinking a lot about the election and how important it is to our family.I've decided to support Barack Obama, and wanted to let you know why.
There are many rumors floating around out there, so here's some information about Barack's positions on things I know are important to you:
-- Economy: http://my.barackobama.com/EconomyFlyer
-- Health Care: http://my.barackobama.com/HealthcareFlyer
-- Education: http://my.barackobama.com/EducationFlyer
More information Obama's position regarding a variety of issues can be found here.
Watch Obama's speech from the Democratic convention here.
See a video about who Barack Obama is, where he comes from, and what his values are.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Extra-Curricular Activities
I am in a dilemma. Maybe you can help.
Caleb's school is offering a class (for an extra fee, of course) called Jitterbugs. The class is basically a "dance" class, but it is co-ed and geared toward both boys and girls. The class would take place during the day at Caleb's school. We would only see the results when they have a RECITAL. (That word brings back some ugly memories!) I wouldn't even consider it, but apparently, they had a trial class today and Caleb's teacher told me that he loved it! He was one of the only ones to stay in "his spot" and apparently, that 's a big deal. He loved the music (not a surprise) and loved learning the movements to the songs. He even told me himself that he did a fire truck dance. Plus...he got a Skittle and a stamp on his hand.
My dilemma is that if Caleb is going to participate in some sort of extra activity, I'd like to be a part of it. We really enjoyed going to Gymboree this summer. I've been debating going back for a while now, but we needed to iron out some financial wrinkles first. BUT...he loved Jitterbugs. Then, there's the other factor. My cousin (3rd or 4th...I'm not sure) has opened The Little Gym in Rogers. I'm totally open to supporting my family member, but there is a waiting list for the only evening class for Caleb's age group. Hmmm...
Here's how I make decisions:
Jitterbugs:
Pros - Caleb loved the trial class and it's the least expensive option
Cons - Rudy and I don't get to be a part of it, except to attend the recital
Gymboree Music Class:
Pros - Rudy and/or I could go with Caleb; no sign-up fee; seems to be a lot like Jitterbugs, but without the recital
Cons - it's on Monday nights and it's not age-specific (could be anywhere from 6 mos-5 years)
Gymboree Play Class:
Pros - Rudy and/or I could go with Caleb; no sign-up fee; Caleb is familiar with the class structure
Cons - it's not age-specific and it doesn't start until 6:30 on Wednesdays
The Little Gym:
Pros - Rudy and/or I could go with Caleb; it would support my family member who owns it; it is focused on teaching new physical skills and it includes music
Cons - there is a waiting list for the only class we can go to; it's the most expensive option
What do you think? Vote over there on the right underneath that adorable picture of Caleb...
Oh, and I reserve the right to veto. It's my motherly prerogative.
Caleb's school is offering a class (for an extra fee, of course) called Jitterbugs. The class is basically a "dance" class, but it is co-ed and geared toward both boys and girls. The class would take place during the day at Caleb's school. We would only see the results when they have a RECITAL. (That word brings back some ugly memories!) I wouldn't even consider it, but apparently, they had a trial class today and Caleb's teacher told me that he loved it! He was one of the only ones to stay in "his spot" and apparently, that 's a big deal. He loved the music (not a surprise) and loved learning the movements to the songs. He even told me himself that he did a fire truck dance. Plus...he got a Skittle and a stamp on his hand.
My dilemma is that if Caleb is going to participate in some sort of extra activity, I'd like to be a part of it. We really enjoyed going to Gymboree this summer. I've been debating going back for a while now, but we needed to iron out some financial wrinkles first. BUT...he loved Jitterbugs. Then, there's the other factor. My cousin (3rd or 4th...I'm not sure) has opened The Little Gym in Rogers. I'm totally open to supporting my family member, but there is a waiting list for the only evening class for Caleb's age group. Hmmm...
Here's how I make decisions:
Jitterbugs:
Pros - Caleb loved the trial class and it's the least expensive option
Cons - Rudy and I don't get to be a part of it, except to attend the recital
Gymboree Music Class:
Pros - Rudy and/or I could go with Caleb; no sign-up fee; seems to be a lot like Jitterbugs, but without the recital
Cons - it's on Monday nights and it's not age-specific (could be anywhere from 6 mos-5 years)
Gymboree Play Class:
Pros - Rudy and/or I could go with Caleb; no sign-up fee; Caleb is familiar with the class structure
Cons - it's not age-specific and it doesn't start until 6:30 on Wednesdays
The Little Gym:
Pros - Rudy and/or I could go with Caleb; it would support my family member who owns it; it is focused on teaching new physical skills and it includes music
Cons - there is a waiting list for the only class we can go to; it's the most expensive option
What do you think? Vote over there on the right underneath that adorable picture of Caleb...
Oh, and I reserve the right to veto. It's my motherly prerogative.
Yahooey.
I love technology. I love that I can type something in my living room while wearing my PJ's and within seconds, my friends and family can read it on their computer in their living room while wearing their PJ's. I love that they can read it when they want, not when I have a minute to talk on the phone. I love that I can post pictures of our family for people to see. I love that I can buy gifts without setting foot in a store, that I can check my bank balance at 2:00 AM and that I can keep up with friends from almost 20 years ago.
I don't love people who take technology and twist it to hurt other people. Someone hacked my Yahoo account. I had the same e-mail address through Yahoo for over 9 years. When I started my new job, I opened a Gmail account because my school district blocks my access to Yahoo. Today, I found out that some unknown person tapped into my Yahoo account and sent a potentially virus-laden e-mail to my entire address book. So, to all who received the e-mail about the "great website" and the deep discounts, I hope that you didn't open the link. I hope that if you did open the link, there isn't any damage to your computer. And...I hope that this never happens to you. It is maddening.
I don't love people who take technology and twist it to hurt other people. Someone hacked my Yahoo account. I had the same e-mail address through Yahoo for over 9 years. When I started my new job, I opened a Gmail account because my school district blocks my access to Yahoo. Today, I found out that some unknown person tapped into my Yahoo account and sent a potentially virus-laden e-mail to my entire address book. So, to all who received the e-mail about the "great website" and the deep discounts, I hope that you didn't open the link. I hope that if you did open the link, there isn't any damage to your computer. And...I hope that this never happens to you. It is maddening.
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