Thursday, May 17, 2012

Fun Dip Perspective

I love Fun Dip as a kid.  It wasn't something I had often but any candy was good.  Now when I see Laci get Fun Dip, usually part of a party goody bag, I cringe.  All I see is a bag of sugar... What kind of person thinks that Fun Dip is a good gift!  I can't take it away from her after she sees it.  Of course she loves it.  It's delicious.  It's a bag of sugar!  So usually after awhile, I give in and let her eat the Fun Dip... Grrr...

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Just Smile More...

You never realize how much you do a certain thing until you see your children copy you. For example, apparently when Laci walks through a door, I follow and say "After you, my dear" . I didn't realize it until she started saying "After you, my dear" too. I remember the first time I saw Laci spill something, grab a towel, set it on the floor and then step on it to clean up the spill - just like me. Lately, she has been picking up on Charlie's frustrations. Frustrations with a lot of stuff. I have heard her tell Charlie repeatedly to "Smile more" because he looks mad all the time. Of course, his response was "If you did what we ask you, I wouldn't have to be mad all the time." I'm glad that his little girl is there to remind him but it is a good lesson for all of us. We should all "smile more".

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mother's Day???

I know that it is wrong of me to think this way.  And I can't admit it to many people.  But I do not like Mother's Day.  It's too hookey for me.  As a mother, what are we celebrating?   I don't need to be celebrated as a mother.  That's who I am.  I can't imagine being or doing anything else.  I don't celebrate it.  It's like celebrating we are alive.  Oh wait, that is my birthday - which is in 2 weeks if anyone is counting.  The hallmark cards all say "... for all you do..."  Of course I do it all.  It's all I want to do and it isn't "all", it's my life.  It's nothing extra.  I don't want a "special" day. 

I had a great day.  Charlie did a lot the last few days and stayed home with Calvin a lot.  So I took both kids to Starbucks for Frappuchinos.  It's was Calvin's first trip there.  He still has a little to learn about Starbucks.  Laci loves our "coffee dates".  Then to Home Depot.  When we came home, Laci and Charlie went to play tennis.  Calvin and I took a walk and then went to watch.  Being at the tennis court with my family was perfect.  Laci still has a lot to learn about tennis but she is hitting it better and she loves it out there.  And by better, I mean she is hitting about 1 out of 5 instead of the 1 out of 10 she was doing last year.  Calvin loved chasing after the balls and running around the court, passing out water.  He was the ball boy.  I see a tennis racquet in his future - maybe for his birthday. 

I didn't do anything for my mother.  I feel really bad about that.  I forgot a card and didn't want to send an "empty" gift.  I called.  I said "Happy Mother's Day" but was too embarassed to say I forgot a card.  But she probably doesn't think like I do about Mother's Day being unnecessary and may feel forgotten.  Maybe my other three siblings stepped up. 

To me every day is Mothers Day.  Doing it all is my life and what I do.  I may complain sometimes but I wouldn't have it any other way.  But I will say this about Mother's Day.  I love getting a gift!  Even if it is a Starbucks card every year.  I don't want a day off or a weekend off or a few hours off.  I do enjoy a few minutes off every now and then and my kids (Charlie) know me well. 

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Tubes In, Adenoids Out

Calvin had another set of tubes put in his ears and his adenoids taken out today.  I was not worried having gone through the tubes once before.  It was such a simple procedure and he did so well with it.  So many people I know have gone through it with their kids.  I didn't want to overreact and worry too much. 

I wasn't sure what to expect with the adenoids surgery too.  Everything went so well.  We didn't need to be at the surgery center until 7:30.  The timing was great because we could all get up and go at the regular time.  Calvin did great waiting in the waiting room.  Give that kid a Sports Illustrated or ESPN magazine and he is good to go for awhile.

He had to wear a little gown and booties and I thought he was adorable.  He did not agree.




They took him away and we waited.  It wasn't too bad.  The doctor came back and told us how he was doing.  He was doing great and she fixed him all up.  After another half an hour in recovery, they brought him back.  I wasn't ready for that.  :(  He was so sad and crying.  He hated the IV.  It took us almost an hour to get him calmed down.  The nurses kept telling us that his reaction was normal but that didn't make me feel any better.  I just kept thinking "How could I do this to my little boy!"



While we were trying to get him to calm down, I turned on the TV looking for cartoons.  What really made us laugh was that the only thing that calmed him down was basketball!  When ESPN was showing basketball highlights, he watched calmly.  We flipped all over and found hockey and golf.  Neither really held his interest.  But basketball calmed him down. 

We went home and had lunch.  I wasn't sure if he wanted to eat so I gave him Jello.  He ate all my fries.  He didn't really sleep but played all afternoon.  After we gave him more medicine, he calmed down again and you can guess what he wanted to watch - Basketball!  Fortunately Charlie has a big recorded basketball collection.  The two of them watched the 1995 Final Four Championship.  He ate great all afternoon and drank like he was supposed too.  I put him down early and so far he has only stirred once.  We are supposed to wake him up in the middle of the night for more to drink.  I hope he goes back to sleep after that!  

We really didn't notice any problems with his speech and hearing until I saw him in the hearing test and saw his tympanograph results.  The doctor kept telling us how full his sinuses are and how enlarged his adenoids were.  He's such a trooper, we didn't even know he had any issues.  I am looking forward to seeing how much better his hearing, speech and breathing will be!  :)

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

My Worst Vice: No Self-Control

A wise woman once told me that she didn't drink and didn't smoke and if drinking too much Diet Coke was her worst vice, she's doing okay.  I quickly adopted that mantra.  I definitely drink too much Diet Dr. Pepper.  But my vice has gone much further... much worse.  I am now a complete addict of cookies.  It really doesn't matter what kind.  I love cookies.  I can not stop eating cookies.  Meijer Chipsters are my favorite - I prefer the generic to the name brand when it comes to chocolate chip cookies.  One cookie fits perfectly in my mouth.  I went through an Oreo phase for a few weeks when they had the anniversary cookies - strawberry ice cream flavor.  Yum.  This week my cookie of choice is barely even a cookie.  Laci talked me into it.  It's chocolate cover graham cracker.  Wow are they tasty.  I have gotten into the habit of bring a handful of cookies for after my run every day at work.  I ran.  I deserve cookies, right?  I am not at all hungry right now and I will regret it in ten minutes but I just scarfed down a 6 cookies and it was totally worth it.  If eating too many cookies is the worst thing I'm doing, I am going to say I am doing okay.

When it comes to cookies, I have no self-control.  Laci has a song in her spring program called "Self-control" "Self-Control.  I can't control myself.  It's doing what is smart.  And doing what is in my heart."  Apparently, eating too many cookies in in her heart.  

Friday, May 4, 2012

Parents Night Out

Two weeks in a row, Charlie and I had dinner out... alone... just the two of us.

Last Saturday night, we did this crazy, radical thing called get a babysitter!  Laci loved it.  Part of the reason why I got a sitter was for her.  I remember when I used to babysit in high school, the kids were so excited when I came over.  Charlie and I went to a nice dinner than we saw "Hunger Games".  The only thing that wasn't nice about the evening is that we finished dinner early and went to the movie earlier than planned.  The evening felt a bit rushed.

Tonight, our daycare had a parents night out.  It was the first time they have done an event like this.at her school.  They played it up pretty well and Laci was so excited to go.  The kids were left there after school and could be picked up anytime until 10:00.  Charlie and I went to dinner and then ran a couple of errands.  It was nice.  We met for dinner early enough that we had time to linger, like the good old days.  Then we went to Sam's Club and Best Buy and ended up with a new TV!  The TV in our bedroom was cracking and popping.  We were starting to take bets as to what show we would be watching when it finally explodes. 

We picked Calvin up at school early at his bedtime, 7:30.  He was the first kid to leave.  I was surprised at how many kids were there - even little ones.  They were having a great time.  Laci asked if she could stay so I came home and told her that I will pick her up at 9:00.  I am curious how many kids will have left by 9:00.  10:00 seems pretty late for the little ones for me. 

All the "big kids" were playing in the sanctuary at the church - they had loud dance music on and the kids were doing and playing games and Twister.  Then I came home, read books with Calvin and put him to bed.  It was nice to have a few minutes of quiet time alone with him.  Then I cleaned the family room and did the dishes... Yes, I spent part of my Parents Night Out cleaning!  I love my priorities right now.  :)

I have an all day work meeting tomorrow.  I am sad that I will be missing the kids all day but very grateful that this is just a once a year meeting.