I am a sick and sorry individual..........
In the same instant that I whine about my spotty complexion, I reach for a chocolate.
The night after laying in bed resolving to excercise more, I curl up with a book for hours barely moving.
In an attempt to get away from the claustrophobic clutter of toys, books, clothes, etc... guess what? I leave the house with every intention of just heading to the grocery store, but on the way I go to a garage sale, flea market, salvation army, dollar store.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This weekend is no exception. The annual BIG garage sale near our neighbourhood happened, and a friend of mine had a table, I'll just go and SEE what there is I tell myself. Since there were dozens of tables I offer the boys each a $5 limit. Next thing I know I am buying a big outdoor play gym for my neice and nephew and a set of contruction blocks for my other neices and nephews and a remote control car set and Star Wars thing for Christmas presents! At least most of these things will not be staying in my home. Just 6 months. I am so silly.
Oh ya.
And there's that well known on-line auction too.
sigh.
My intentions are good, my resolve is very very very temporary.
So I do have a pile of toys the boys have outgrown. I was going to save them for the younger relatives, but I don't think they need them either. LOL
How much is too much?
7.29.2006
7.27.2006
Major Ursa or Teddy Bear?
***** See: The Helping Hand *****
T surprises me every day. Just when I think I have him figured out, just when I start to wonder what I am doing, I am reminded in vivid clarity all of the LITTLE things he does that melt my heart and make my life so good.
For one thing, the kitchen always is clean after he gets home. And the kitchen is always clean before bed. He always says thank you for dinner (or any meal) even if it was some wild experiment that just turned out bizzarre. He eats it gracefully, and says thank you. THEN he invariably cleans it up too. No matter how messy I am making the meals, there is never any discussion nor complaint, it just quietly gets taken care of! If for some reason he CAN'T clean up, he apologizes so genuinely its enough to bring a tear to your eye.
He vacuums, he maintains the vehicles and mows the lawn without any comment, it just "happens". If he was gone and I had to suddenly do these things I think I may be lost for a bit. (Not to say he wouldn't be lost without ME too though!!!!!!). He has his role and I think I may take it for granted sometimes.
But there is so much more, more than I can list in one entry about how he contributes and how I feel secure and right with this big, grumpy "old" bear....
His caring for all his family that goes well out of his way. It's a closeness that is very admirable and reflects well on his character.
His sense of humour is very silly (surprised?) and not always subtle, I simply love his sense of humour and would be absolutely empty without it!
What triggered all these warm fuzzy sentiments you ask??
Well, for the third morning in a row, before leaving for work at around 5am, he has pulled the blanket up over my shoulders. Its a very gentle and caring gesture for someone up at that ungodly hour, generally in a hurry getting ready to go to a job he doesn't even like. He tries hard not to wake me, but he is trying to help me be comfortable as I get to continue sleeping, and stay in our fine home with our fine kids all day long.
Sigh....
T surprises me every day. Just when I think I have him figured out, just when I start to wonder what I am doing, I am reminded in vivid clarity all of the LITTLE things he does that melt my heart and make my life so good.
For one thing, the kitchen always is clean after he gets home. And the kitchen is always clean before bed. He always says thank you for dinner (or any meal) even if it was some wild experiment that just turned out bizzarre. He eats it gracefully, and says thank you. THEN he invariably cleans it up too. No matter how messy I am making the meals, there is never any discussion nor complaint, it just quietly gets taken care of! If for some reason he CAN'T clean up, he apologizes so genuinely its enough to bring a tear to your eye.
He vacuums, he maintains the vehicles and mows the lawn without any comment, it just "happens". If he was gone and I had to suddenly do these things I think I may be lost for a bit. (Not to say he wouldn't be lost without ME too though!!!!!!). He has his role and I think I may take it for granted sometimes.
But there is so much more, more than I can list in one entry about how he contributes and how I feel secure and right with this big, grumpy "old" bear....
His caring for all his family that goes well out of his way. It's a closeness that is very admirable and reflects well on his character.
His sense of humour is very silly (surprised?) and not always subtle, I simply love his sense of humour and would be absolutely empty without it!
What triggered all these warm fuzzy sentiments you ask??
Well, for the third morning in a row, before leaving for work at around 5am, he has pulled the blanket up over my shoulders. Its a very gentle and caring gesture for someone up at that ungodly hour, generally in a hurry getting ready to go to a job he doesn't even like. He tries hard not to wake me, but he is trying to help me be comfortable as I get to continue sleeping, and stay in our fine home with our fine kids all day long.
Sigh....
7.26.2006
WARNING graphic images here
We had the "cast clinic" on Tuesday. My boy's bone is healing like crazy and they will do one more X-ray and scheduled his cast to come off on Aug 17th!!!!
Hooray!!!!!
The part that freaks me out and fills me with a queasy uncertainty is looking at HOW his bone is healing...... You see in my naivete I thought bones are supposed to be set STRAIGHT. Seems reasonable doesn't it? Well Cammie's bone is NOT set straight and it just looks WRONG.
Top and side view of Cammie's right femur as of July 26th
Though the surgeon doesn't seem alarmed in the least by the crooked overlapping image at all. He said his leg will be shorter (and possibly bent) when the cast comes off. BUT as the 5 year old bone grows and the muscles pull he SHOULD straighten and lengthen...... and if it doesn't there will be surgery and pins and another cast. I am actually worried that there will be permanent damage now!!!
Hooray!!!!!
The part that freaks me out and fills me with a queasy uncertainty is looking at HOW his bone is healing...... You see in my naivete I thought bones are supposed to be set STRAIGHT. Seems reasonable doesn't it? Well Cammie's bone is NOT set straight and it just looks WRONG.
Top and side view of Cammie's right femur as of July 26th
Though the surgeon doesn't seem alarmed in the least by the crooked overlapping image at all. He said his leg will be shorter (and possibly bent) when the cast comes off. BUT as the 5 year old bone grows and the muscles pull he SHOULD straighten and lengthen...... and if it doesn't there will be surgery and pins and another cast. I am actually worried that there will be permanent damage now!!!
7.25.2006
The Helping Hand
Well, T's brother D was coming into town last night and for the first time in the history of our relationship, T volunteered to help me set up the "guest room" (AKA laundry, craft, storage room).
groan....
next time I will wait until I am by myself to do it.
It's not that it didn't get done, it's just that if even a tiny bit of clutter gets in his path (and there ALWAYS IS CLUTTER) then he transforms into a grumpy grizzly bear. Giant paws knocking swaths of destruction in the name of FORCING the object through the barrier to his intended destination. Grunts and under-the-breath swearing, things flying. I either completely ignore the event until its over, or even snicker a bit (still keeping my distance), but either way the mess happens and I am too timid to jump in and rescue whatever is about to get crushed.
Example A: The other day in an attempt to put an air conditioning unit into Stevie's Room everything was brutally swept off of his wide windowsill onto the floor. Carefully collected rocks, shells and other things too beloved to my son to be on the floor suddenly hit the new laminate with an ear splitting crash, and T bellowed that he asked Stevie to clean off the sill LAST WEEK (therefore the destruction was warranted I suppose). Of course there was the resulting need to TIPTOE over broken debris for the rest of the installation, and everything was left for Stevie to sort out.
Back to the guest room. The kid's painting eisel (a beautifully crafted double sided wooden artboard with a generous tray for supplies that my stepdad made for his grandsons) It is something I would haven traded all my Barbies for in a heartbeat. And it is big and awkward for any room we have tried to have it in. Anyway, T dragged it accross the cement (not smoothly so nothing would come out of the trays, but roughly) and sidewalk chalk and papers fluttered and clinked to the floor in a big messy heap. The frustration multiplied on T's face and he SLAMMED the thing down into the corner, more things falling out everywhere. "I wish this damn thing folded!" he exclaimed haughtily. hmmm..... I have moved it dozens of times without causing so much mess..... quietly I duck down to pick up the misplaced art supplies and felt really PEEVED that he did this so often. The rest of the room's transformation was a grumbly manhandling of totes and miscellaneous things until it was all in order.
Next time I am definitely doing it alone, it was faster, and OH so much more relaxing!
I think I should bash smash and throw things like a mama bear in the garage on my way to trying to reach the garden tools through the mayhem of wheels and engines next time! We presently have 14 motorcycles in various states of assembly and 2 outboard engines and a small block out of his old Chev taking up 90% of the floorspace in there. I truly can't reach a rake if I needed to! At least the boys have been grudgingly given some space for their bicycles.
My husband he's such a Major Ursa.
groan....
next time I will wait until I am by myself to do it.
It's not that it didn't get done, it's just that if even a tiny bit of clutter gets in his path (and there ALWAYS IS CLUTTER) then he transforms into a grumpy grizzly bear. Giant paws knocking swaths of destruction in the name of FORCING the object through the barrier to his intended destination. Grunts and under-the-breath swearing, things flying. I either completely ignore the event until its over, or even snicker a bit (still keeping my distance), but either way the mess happens and I am too timid to jump in and rescue whatever is about to get crushed.
Example A: The other day in an attempt to put an air conditioning unit into Stevie's Room everything was brutally swept off of his wide windowsill onto the floor. Carefully collected rocks, shells and other things too beloved to my son to be on the floor suddenly hit the new laminate with an ear splitting crash, and T bellowed that he asked Stevie to clean off the sill LAST WEEK (therefore the destruction was warranted I suppose). Of course there was the resulting need to TIPTOE over broken debris for the rest of the installation, and everything was left for Stevie to sort out.
Back to the guest room. The kid's painting eisel (a beautifully crafted double sided wooden artboard with a generous tray for supplies that my stepdad made for his grandsons) It is something I would haven traded all my Barbies for in a heartbeat. And it is big and awkward for any room we have tried to have it in. Anyway, T dragged it accross the cement (not smoothly so nothing would come out of the trays, but roughly) and sidewalk chalk and papers fluttered and clinked to the floor in a big messy heap. The frustration multiplied on T's face and he SLAMMED the thing down into the corner, more things falling out everywhere. "I wish this damn thing folded!" he exclaimed haughtily. hmmm..... I have moved it dozens of times without causing so much mess..... quietly I duck down to pick up the misplaced art supplies and felt really PEEVED that he did this so often. The rest of the room's transformation was a grumbly manhandling of totes and miscellaneous things until it was all in order.
Next time I am definitely doing it alone, it was faster, and OH so much more relaxing!
I think I should bash smash and throw things like a mama bear in the garage on my way to trying to reach the garden tools through the mayhem of wheels and engines next time! We presently have 14 motorcycles in various states of assembly and 2 outboard engines and a small block out of his old Chev taking up 90% of the floorspace in there. I truly can't reach a rake if I needed to! At least the boys have been grudgingly given some space for their bicycles.
My husband he's such a Major Ursa.
7.20.2006
Happy Boy
Well, he has had his moment of frustration, but all in all I think he is doing REALLY WONDERFULLY!
What is a hip spica cast? Let me show you....
Can he walk? no.
Can he sit? Not really.
So, how does he get around?
Well I carry him usually, OR in the house he may use the scooter board I made him...
Or when we leave the house he can ride in the handy-dandy stroller...
And he has been known to be "parked" in it while watching the other kids play.
And we have gone for walks, and even to the lake where Steve splashed around and Cam found his own amusement....
We are keeping busy and trying not to hurt each other (bumping toes, straining backs, lifting, twisting, jostling....)But mostly to keep himself amused there is way more TV, Video and computer time than I usually permit. It's a bummer keeping such an active boy so inert!
Steve is loving the extra electronic time too....... normally I would FORCE them to go out and play.
What is a hip spica cast? Let me show you....
Can he walk? no.
Can he sit? Not really.
So, how does he get around?
Well I carry him usually, OR in the house he may use the scooter board I made him...
Or when we leave the house he can ride in the handy-dandy stroller...
And he has been known to be "parked" in it while watching the other kids play.
And we have gone for walks, and even to the lake where Steve splashed around and Cam found his own amusement....
We are keeping busy and trying not to hurt each other (bumping toes, straining backs, lifting, twisting, jostling....)But mostly to keep himself amused there is way more TV, Video and computer time than I usually permit. It's a bummer keeping such an active boy so inert!
Steve is loving the extra electronic time too....... normally I would FORCE them to go out and play.
7.10.2006
Back on our "feet"
Well not really our feet, Cammi won't be walking for a couple months still, but at least our routine is finding a nice equalibrium.... of sorts.
Sleeping in his own bed, playing with his own toys, WATCHING the kids playing in the cul-de-sac from his stroller. These are all activities that are helping with a feeling of "normal" once again. And we all like that!
Sleeping in his own bed, playing with his own toys, WATCHING the kids playing in the cul-de-sac from his stroller. These are all activities that are helping with a feeling of "normal" once again. And we all like that!
7.06.2006
7.03.2006
hospital fun
Hard to believe that 3 weeks ago he was jumping around!
BUT, Cammi is in good spirits.....
He is kind of reverting back to a baby a bit though, all this hand-feeding and having grown ups at his beckon call is making him use "babytalk" and whining to get things..... though it is hard not to coddle him in this situation, I won't tolerate the whiny "gimmee's" and still insist on the full sentences, complete with please and thank you.
Here is a picture of the rigging he is in:
We have turned his room into something of a jungle..... the traction contraption reminded me of monkey bars right off the bat, so we have been playing it up. Cmplete with monkeys.....
But he had Xrays this morning, so we will find out if he gets a cast on Wednesday.
I have definately been in there long enough! A parent thought I worked there yesterday! I must look comfortable there now. I know every nook and cranny of that ward, and the nurses are almost my buddies now. Cammi has a great reputation as the "cutie-pu-tootie" of the ward, and he always willing to smile for them.
BUT, Cammi is in good spirits.....
He is kind of reverting back to a baby a bit though, all this hand-feeding and having grown ups at his beckon call is making him use "babytalk" and whining to get things..... though it is hard not to coddle him in this situation, I won't tolerate the whiny "gimmee's" and still insist on the full sentences, complete with please and thank you.
Here is a picture of the rigging he is in:
We have turned his room into something of a jungle..... the traction contraption reminded me of monkey bars right off the bat, so we have been playing it up. Cmplete with monkeys.....
But he had Xrays this morning, so we will find out if he gets a cast on Wednesday.
I have definately been in there long enough! A parent thought I worked there yesterday! I must look comfortable there now. I know every nook and cranny of that ward, and the nurses are almost my buddies now. Cammi has a great reputation as the "cutie-pu-tootie" of the ward, and he always willing to smile for them.
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