Mom and Grant on our Birthday
Grandpa Wayne and his Little Hope
Playing in the blizzard snow!
December 30, 2009
Two Posts, same day, #2
Back to regularly scheduled programming! Here is a glimpse of our Christmas, 2009 edition:
Mom and Grant on our Birthday
Grandpa Wayne and his Little Hope
Playing in the blizzard snow!
Mom and Grant on our Birthday
Grandpa Wayne and his Little Hope
Playing in the blizzard snow!
Two Posts, same day, #1
I've been away from my computer for several days, and I just read all your comments on my last post. Thank you--sincerely--for all your encouragement (and enthusiasm!). It means so much to me. So, a quick update:
I'm feeling better each day--walking a little straighter, in a lot less pain (although my chest is still sore, my tummy isn't), and inching my way back up to my regular energy level. We've had the stomach flu floating through our house again, so that's what's been taking up a lot of time and energy here, but everyone seems back on track now. I have to wear this girdle thing 24/7 for 4 weeks (except when I shower or wash it): it goes from right underneath my breasts down to my knees, with hooks and eyes and zippers up each side, and a big hole in the "down there area" for going potty. TMI, probably, but some of you have asked. It helps keep everything compressed and supported during healing, and I've noticed that I feel better with it on because it supports my back so well. Also have to wear compression stockings for 4 weeks, too. Jeez, can you imagine how hot you'd feel if you did this in the summer? I'm so glad I'm doing it in the dead of winter since we're all layered up to stay warm anyway. Per the doctor's orders, I am still sleeping in our recliner with a pillow under my knees. Hopefully I'll get the go ahead to sleep back in bed with my sweetie and my pillow very soon! Have a checkup in Bismarck tomorrow, so if there is any new interesting info, I'll post it after.
I'm feeling better each day--walking a little straighter, in a lot less pain (although my chest is still sore, my tummy isn't), and inching my way back up to my regular energy level. We've had the stomach flu floating through our house again, so that's what's been taking up a lot of time and energy here, but everyone seems back on track now. I have to wear this girdle thing 24/7 for 4 weeks (except when I shower or wash it): it goes from right underneath my breasts down to my knees, with hooks and eyes and zippers up each side, and a big hole in the "down there area" for going potty. TMI, probably, but some of you have asked. It helps keep everything compressed and supported during healing, and I've noticed that I feel better with it on because it supports my back so well. Also have to wear compression stockings for 4 weeks, too. Jeez, can you imagine how hot you'd feel if you did this in the summer? I'm so glad I'm doing it in the dead of winter since we're all layered up to stay warm anyway. Per the doctor's orders, I am still sleeping in our recliner with a pillow under my knees. Hopefully I'll get the go ahead to sleep back in bed with my sweetie and my pillow very soon! Have a checkup in Bismarck tomorrow, so if there is any new interesting info, I'll post it after.
December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas Makeover
Merry Christmas, blogger friends! I miss you. The snowstorm is coming and our family is hunkering down for a movie night. We've just started A Knight's Tale with Heath Ledger and Paul Bettany. It seems we've watched all the Christmas movies already (well, at least the ones the boys want to watch).
Most of the gifts are wrapped and all the Christmas cards are mailed. I didn't do any baking this year because I have another project in the works this holiday season.
It's been really hard not to say anything to all of you, so I've decided to just put it out there: I had a "Mommy Makeover" last Thursday. Translation: tummy tuck and breast augmentation. I have about 3 weeks of recovery ahead of me--just enough time to be back in the game before the next semester starts. I've been thinking about doing this for about 2 years now, and I finally decided in August to take the plunge. Kris has been amazingly supportive, and I couldn't have done it without my mom. While Kris held down the household and cared for the children, my mom traveled with me (I went with a wonderful female surgeon in Bismarck), was my 'caregiver' post-sugery, and pampered me at their house for the weekend until I felt strong enough to manage the stairs and the children here at home. Both procedures went very smoothly, and although I am in some pain, it is manageable because the Kris and the kids are so great about letting me rest when I need to (the kids know about the tummy but we haven't told them about the other).
I do feel guilty for messing with everyone's holiday, but on the other hand, it's a pretty awesome 37th birthday present to myself, and we are still able to celebrate with both families.
There. Now you all know why I haven't blogged in a while, and I feel better getting it off my newly-endowed chest! Hehehe!
Most of the gifts are wrapped and all the Christmas cards are mailed. I didn't do any baking this year because I have another project in the works this holiday season.
It's been really hard not to say anything to all of you, so I've decided to just put it out there: I had a "Mommy Makeover" last Thursday. Translation: tummy tuck and breast augmentation. I have about 3 weeks of recovery ahead of me--just enough time to be back in the game before the next semester starts. I've been thinking about doing this for about 2 years now, and I finally decided in August to take the plunge. Kris has been amazingly supportive, and I couldn't have done it without my mom. While Kris held down the household and cared for the children, my mom traveled with me (I went with a wonderful female surgeon in Bismarck), was my 'caregiver' post-sugery, and pampered me at their house for the weekend until I felt strong enough to manage the stairs and the children here at home. Both procedures went very smoothly, and although I am in some pain, it is manageable because the Kris and the kids are so great about letting me rest when I need to (the kids know about the tummy but we haven't told them about the other).
I do feel guilty for messing with everyone's holiday, but on the other hand, it's a pretty awesome 37th birthday present to myself, and we are still able to celebrate with both families.
There. Now you all know why I haven't blogged in a while, and I feel better getting it off my newly-endowed chest! Hehehe!
December 13, 2009
Not much time to post
Friends, there hasn't been a second to write a new post lately. Not that there's lots to say--I've been busy preparing for Christmas by buying gifts, getting the letter written, envelopes stuffed, and mailed, and scrambling to wrap up the semester. God bless Kris for being the family gift-wrapper. He's so much faster at it than I am! We sat downstairs last week and wrapped while watching Revenge of the Nerds! THAT took me back. too.funny.
I may not be blogging for a while. I'm heading into a really booked few weeks, but I'll be back as soon as I can. Merry Christmas to all!
I may not be blogging for a while. I'm heading into a really booked few weeks, but I'll be back as soon as I can. Merry Christmas to all!
November 27, 2009
Black Friday
Well, did you go out? Brave the crowds and stand in line? Or did you sleep in, at least until your regular waking time? Bonnie and I were going to go out early this morning, but last night around 8:30 I backed out on her. My reason? There wasn't anything I HAD to get, but mostly because I didn't want to wait in ridiculously long lines. Or so I thought. At 9:00 I paged through the Toys R Us ad again and realized their sales were INCREDIBLE. I found 2 or 3 really good gift ideas for each child, plus birthday and Christmas gifts for one of my nephews. Since they were opening at midnight, I thought that would be easier on me than getting up in the middle of the night--so I decided to go.
It was a really interesting experience. I definitely underestimated the crowds--there was a line of people waiting to get in that snaked from the front door, past Office Depot, and all the way to the street. Most had planned on waiting in line: they had layers on, hoods, and many were wrapped in blankets. Employees were passing out tickets for electronics, and a lot of the people lined up appeared to be college-age. I walked back to my car and sat in the dark warmth for 30 minutes. At midnight I walked to the area in front of the entrance and got swept up in a growing crowd slowly inching our way toward the door (yes, basically weaving ourselves into the line of established "wait-ers"). At 12:10 there still didn't appear to be anyone entering the store, but the crowd was surprisingly patient and well behaved. I got into the store about 12:20, took a cart, and began working my way through the crowds to find everything I had put on my list, around 14 items. It was tricky; most people that I saw at first did not take a cart, instead opting to pile stacks of boxes in their arms so as not to be slowed down navigating a shopping cart. However, everyone was patient and courteous; I didn't observe any fighting, rudeness, or anything of that nature. Thankfully, I was able to find EVERYTHING on my list!! Amazing. By 1:15 I was ready to get in line.
THIS WAS THE LONGEST.LINE.EVER. It snaked across the front of the store, through the every aisle across the front half of the store, and then through 2/3 of the aisles in the back half of the store. I had no idea I would have to wait so long to buy my items. The one advantage to the line was that I got to browse almost every aisle. I was so hungry that I contemplated taking a can of Gerber fruit puffs to snack on and paying for them at the counter, but I was too embarrassed to do that. I only saw three people I knew, one mom from daycare, and Hope's daycare provider and her 22 year old daughter--they were shopping for all the children in her daycare. So, when do you think I arrived at a checkout lane? 3:30am. Yep. It took two hours and 15 minutes to get to the front. I loaded my car, got home, had a quick bowl of cereal, and curled up into bed at 4am.
Was it worth it? I think so. I found wonderful toys at amazing prices, and I have almost finished all the Christmas and birthday shopping (between my children and the cousins there are 5 birthdays between Dec 5 and Jan 3, in addition to Christmas). Would I do it again next year? Maybe. But maybe I'll I might just choose sleep over shopping.
It was a really interesting experience. I definitely underestimated the crowds--there was a line of people waiting to get in that snaked from the front door, past Office Depot, and all the way to the street. Most had planned on waiting in line: they had layers on, hoods, and many were wrapped in blankets. Employees were passing out tickets for electronics, and a lot of the people lined up appeared to be college-age. I walked back to my car and sat in the dark warmth for 30 minutes. At midnight I walked to the area in front of the entrance and got swept up in a growing crowd slowly inching our way toward the door (yes, basically weaving ourselves into the line of established "wait-ers"). At 12:10 there still didn't appear to be anyone entering the store, but the crowd was surprisingly patient and well behaved. I got into the store about 12:20, took a cart, and began working my way through the crowds to find everything I had put on my list, around 14 items. It was tricky; most people that I saw at first did not take a cart, instead opting to pile stacks of boxes in their arms so as not to be slowed down navigating a shopping cart. However, everyone was patient and courteous; I didn't observe any fighting, rudeness, or anything of that nature. Thankfully, I was able to find EVERYTHING on my list!! Amazing. By 1:15 I was ready to get in line.
THIS WAS THE LONGEST.LINE.EVER. It snaked across the front of the store, through the every aisle across the front half of the store, and then through 2/3 of the aisles in the back half of the store. I had no idea I would have to wait so long to buy my items. The one advantage to the line was that I got to browse almost every aisle. I was so hungry that I contemplated taking a can of Gerber fruit puffs to snack on and paying for them at the counter, but I was too embarrassed to do that. I only saw three people I knew, one mom from daycare, and Hope's daycare provider and her 22 year old daughter--they were shopping for all the children in her daycare. So, when do you think I arrived at a checkout lane? 3:30am. Yep. It took two hours and 15 minutes to get to the front. I loaded my car, got home, had a quick bowl of cereal, and curled up into bed at 4am.
Was it worth it? I think so. I found wonderful toys at amazing prices, and I have almost finished all the Christmas and birthday shopping (between my children and the cousins there are 5 birthdays between Dec 5 and Jan 3, in addition to Christmas). Would I do it again next year? Maybe. But maybe I'll I might just choose sleep over shopping.
November 19, 2009
My boys are so weird!
Tonight, Kris asked Grant to use the mid-size vacuum w/hose to vacuum around the perimeter of the kitchen. Grant did a great job, but as he was working he started "exploring" with the vacuum hose. First, he smucked it to his cheek. He looked like Buddy the Elf in the scene where Buddy sticks his face against the mailroom tube and says, "Oh, it's sucky. It's VERY sucky!" But Grant didn't stop there. The next time I glanced his way he had lifted his t-shirt and smucked the hose to his chest--right over his nipple. "I'm sucking my boobie, mom!" He thought it was hilarious, and he laughed even harder when I tried to give him my best 'judgmental mom look.' After that, I just gave up and let him vacuum his boob.
Last month the boys stayed at my mom's for dinner while I attended some meeting. I don't remember if they stripped naked and started running around, or if they were taking a bath and talking about their penises, but mom HATES the word penis. So, she told them to stop showing off their "dangling participles." Well, ever since that night, Ross and Grant have taken sheer delight in gleefully saying, "Look at my dangling participle!" whenever they're naked. Especially Ross. He says it a. lot. Like tonight when he was zipping up his sleeper he said, "I gotta be careful not to zip my DANGLING PARTICIPLE, mom!" He says it with an impish grin that just makes me shake my head and laugh every time. So, thank you, mom, for teaching my boys a super-fun-to-say phrase that they think is a bit of a risky phrase. I can't wait to see their reaction in 7th grade when they realize it's just a grammar term.
Last month the boys stayed at my mom's for dinner while I attended some meeting. I don't remember if they stripped naked and started running around, or if they were taking a bath and talking about their penises, but mom HATES the word penis. So, she told them to stop showing off their "dangling participles." Well, ever since that night, Ross and Grant have taken sheer delight in gleefully saying, "Look at my dangling participle!" whenever they're naked. Especially Ross. He says it a. lot. Like tonight when he was zipping up his sleeper he said, "I gotta be careful not to zip my DANGLING PARTICIPLE, mom!" He says it with an impish grin that just makes me shake my head and laugh every time. So, thank you, mom, for teaching my boys a super-fun-to-say phrase that they think is a bit of a risky phrase. I can't wait to see their reaction in 7th grade when they realize it's just a grammar term.
November 18, 2009
Quotes I like
We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. ~Stacia Tauscher
Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it. ~Harold Hulbert
Boy, n.: a noise with dirt on it. ~Not Your Average Dictionary
The prime purpose of being four is to enjoy being four - of secondary importance is to prepare for being five. ~Jim Trelease, The Read-Aloud Handbook, 1985
A child seldom needs a good talking to as a good listening to. ~Robert Brault
Source: www.quotegarden.com
Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it. ~Harold Hulbert
Boy, n.: a noise with dirt on it. ~Not Your Average Dictionary
The prime purpose of being four is to enjoy being four - of secondary importance is to prepare for being five. ~Jim Trelease, The Read-Aloud Handbook, 1985
A child seldom needs a good talking to as a good listening to. ~Robert Brault
Source: www.quotegarden.com
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