Les has an ear infection. Now a double ear infection because despite the fact that he is on antibiotics- his right ear has started hurting. Earlier today he put his ear drops in and then plugged them with toilet paper (toilet paper is what we quasi-hill billies use instead of a cotton ball). He was walking around with these tufts of tp sticking out of both ears. The Bean got real interested. She kept staring at him and asking "Papa does that hurt?" and he would tell her no, it's just there keeping his ears from leaking. She kept staring and asking and then she said "Papa are you saying that when you put that THROUGH your head- it did not hurt?"
Then I realized why she was so concerned. She thought that he put a strand of toilet paper in one ear and then pushed it through his entire head until it was sticking out the other ear!!!!!! HA!! HA!!
After we were done laughing we showed her how it worked, that it was NOT through his head.
She was not amused.
We were.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Peeling Oranges
My Mom has always had this expression, I can remember her saying it waaaayyyy back into my childhood. It goes like this , the kid asks for something, anything really but something that the parent is not going to get to quickly or maybe never or it is something silly that the kid is asking for, like they do. Well, then the parent says "As soon as I am done peeling this orange", in other words "no, you are nuts to ask now go and play while I sit here and let my eye twitch". No, really that's what it means. I NEVER thought this answer was funny. I was always a bit irritated at it in fact- I guess that's the point.
You know how they say that when you get a certain age and you have kids and you open your mouth to respond to them and then, WHAM! your Mom falls out of your mouth? That happened to me last week.
The Bean and I were in a grocery store and she wanted something silly and expensive - I honestly can not even remember what it was now -and I completely surprised myself by saying "yeah sure as soon as I get done peeling this orange". Apparently my daughter has the same reaction to this answer that I did, except she is a bit more vocal and confrontational than I was as a child. She sat straight up in the cart, sighed and looked right at me and said (this is a quote, an exact quote by the way- this I remember) "What? You don't even have an orange. What is that supposed to mean anyway? Peel an orange? Really, why don't you just tell me no and get it over with?" Yeah she said that.
The older than me lady that was standing near us started laughing and nearly choked. She looked at me and said "My, you have a smart and feisty one on your hands don't you?"
Sheesh lady, you don't know the half of it.
You know how they say that when you get a certain age and you have kids and you open your mouth to respond to them and then, WHAM! your Mom falls out of your mouth? That happened to me last week.
The Bean and I were in a grocery store and she wanted something silly and expensive - I honestly can not even remember what it was now -and I completely surprised myself by saying "yeah sure as soon as I get done peeling this orange". Apparently my daughter has the same reaction to this answer that I did, except she is a bit more vocal and confrontational than I was as a child. She sat straight up in the cart, sighed and looked right at me and said (this is a quote, an exact quote by the way- this I remember) "What? You don't even have an orange. What is that supposed to mean anyway? Peel an orange? Really, why don't you just tell me no and get it over with?" Yeah she said that.
The older than me lady that was standing near us started laughing and nearly choked. She looked at me and said "My, you have a smart and feisty one on your hands don't you?"
Sheesh lady, you don't know the half of it.
What's Been Going On
- My husband has been recovering from an ear infection. An ear infection? I have no idea how a fully grown and healthy man in his thirties with no cold or sinus infection in the previous weeks ended up with an ear infection. I just know that it was bad enough to send him to the ER in the middle of the night (I was at Smokewood preparing for the County Fair so I was really no help to him when he was his sickest).
- Evelyn has started back up in Gymnastics. She is stoked. She has a class with her favorite teacher and there are only 2 other girls in her class.
- Jodi had her purse stolen. She lost her wallet, her keys, her cards...it was pretty awful.
- I have reached a new stage in my weight loss plan. It is time to kick it up a notch. I have to buckle down more on the calories and get VERY regular about my work outs. I am looking forward to it. I am now feeling so good and so used to having that work out that I crave it. I now love to sweat.
- Ev has a touch of a cold. It's just bad enough that she feels it, it's pretty mild, I have not needed to medicate her or anything. She notices though and is perplexed by the whole thing. She is convinced she "picked up the germs" at the fair and is now wondering why I ever took her to such a germy place. I reminded her that was where the rides and Cotton Candy were and she seemed to think that it was worth the risk after all.
- I was wandering around a book store yesterday and I was thinking "I should be looking for books for the baby" then I glanced down and there was a book right in front of me that has the boy's name we have picked out - right in the title. I bought the book. And am now nearly completely convinced that have a son on the way.
- The Dermatologist performed a hack job on my left arm! That's the arm that I nearly passed out with because he was digging all around and well...it was gross. Then he got a stitch too tight and it really needed 3 stitches instead of 2 and now that scar tissue is back and bigger than ever and it is all red with a sore in the middle and well....it's gross and I am mad. Also? He went off on this weird political rant when I was there and sort of stood in front of the door and I had to get nasty with him to get out. Weird.
Monday, September 28, 2009
A Walk In The Flowers
The day before the fair my Mom and I took the kids to a local place that has the grounds all laid out with beautiful flower beds and brick paths and fountains and a duck pond. We fed the ducks and walked around with the kids. It was the nicest afternoon I have had in a long time. I was able to walk around and talk with Mom while the kids ran around feeling like they were discovering all of these hidden paths and secret places. I took a bunch of flower pictures and maybe I will post them on their own but for now, here are a few pictures of Mom and the kids. I love watching my Mom with her Grandchildren, she loves them so very much. She just knows how to talk with them or soothe a boo boo and make them feel as if they are the single most important thing in the universe (they truly are to her).
Oh! For The Love of Chickens
We went to a County Fair. We went with my sister, Brevin , a long time friend of Lissa's- Jenny and her son Jace. We were smart enough to attend in the afternoon when the crowds were thin and the music hadn't been turned on yet. After being at a County Fair as an adult, I am wondering "what's the big deal?"
I started the day full of excitement and wonder. All of that quickly dissipated when I realized the following things
1.) the actual expense of the fair
2.) that farm animals do indeed, stink to high heaven
3.)carnies give me a feeling of anxiety
4.)the rides seem barely fit for experimentation on safety dummies, let alone my precious daughter and nephew and Jace
5.) Farm animals poop- alot
Then it rained. And my sister nearly killed us all with her umbrella. Multiple times.(no really she did, ask Jenny)
Then we decided to head into the chicken tent because I LOVE chickens. Well, I used to love chickens. The smell. Oh my Gawd the smell. Evelyn and Brevin ended up doing this whole synchronized dry heaving thing that will live in infamy in my mind. It was a thing to behold. I am sure that Jenny and Jace think we are all absolutely whacko - well we are and she has known this for many years , it's not our fault she keeps coming back for more. Because it's now like "The Cottrill Girls Are Moms-RUN. Run for your life!" where we just used to be moody teenagers with moods. Where was I? Oh yeah the Fair.
There was Pony Riding. That was cool. I especially loved watching my nephew do that stiff legged, "no way in hell imonna get on that beast" thing with my sister, who did NOT notice that Brev was actively resisting because she was talking with Jenny, she just thought Brev was heavy. The he was all "oh I am on this thing and Mommy did not notice my fit? I like this, I hate this, oh well, let's ride"
Also my sister? In a cow barn? Hands down worth every cent, dry heave and umbrella related eye injury.
I am trying to decide if the quote of the day is Melissa saying "oh GOD! Stay away from their butts!" OR Brev saying "Mommy dis dinks!" OR Ev going "Nope. I am NOT Ok. I am going to throw up!"
Also Ev fell down -alot. I had her in a white sweater and new shoes so of course she fell.
Then there was this boat ride? That Brev could not manage because it was jolting him around and he was all rubber backed and getting the poop literally shook outta him and he cried and we could hardly rescue him because we were laughing at the way his entire body was swaying one way and his head was bobbing the other way (Mom , really you would have laughed too. The guy stopped the ride right away and Lissa got hi quick, in between chuckles) It was after Brev was out of his boat and the ride continued, that his boat was kind of "off" and much more jerky than the others.
Also I got the single coolest picture of sheep balls-EVER.
In summary: The County Fair, A Hellish Experience that I can not wait to repeat. Especially if it means I get to see my sister in a cow barn again because that is some funny &*%# people
Oh! Yes. The kids loved every minute, well not the 1.5 minutes in the chicken tent but, other than that- love.
I started the day full of excitement and wonder. All of that quickly dissipated when I realized the following things
1.) the actual expense of the fair
2.) that farm animals do indeed, stink to high heaven
3.)carnies give me a feeling of anxiety
4.)the rides seem barely fit for experimentation on safety dummies, let alone my precious daughter and nephew and Jace
5.) Farm animals poop- alot
Then it rained. And my sister nearly killed us all with her umbrella. Multiple times.(no really she did, ask Jenny)
Then we decided to head into the chicken tent because I LOVE chickens. Well, I used to love chickens. The smell. Oh my Gawd the smell. Evelyn and Brevin ended up doing this whole synchronized dry heaving thing that will live in infamy in my mind. It was a thing to behold. I am sure that Jenny and Jace think we are all absolutely whacko - well we are and she has known this for many years , it's not our fault she keeps coming back for more. Because it's now like "The Cottrill Girls Are Moms-RUN. Run for your life!" where we just used to be moody teenagers with moods. Where was I? Oh yeah the Fair.
There was Pony Riding. That was cool. I especially loved watching my nephew do that stiff legged, "no way in hell imonna get on that beast" thing with my sister, who did NOT notice that Brev was actively resisting because she was talking with Jenny, she just thought Brev was heavy. The he was all "oh I am on this thing and Mommy did not notice my fit? I like this, I hate this, oh well, let's ride"
Also my sister? In a cow barn? Hands down worth every cent, dry heave and umbrella related eye injury.
I am trying to decide if the quote of the day is Melissa saying "oh GOD! Stay away from their butts!" OR Brev saying "Mommy dis dinks!" OR Ev going "Nope. I am NOT Ok. I am going to throw up!"
Also Ev fell down -alot. I had her in a white sweater and new shoes so of course she fell.
Then there was this boat ride? That Brev could not manage because it was jolting him around and he was all rubber backed and getting the poop literally shook outta him and he cried and we could hardly rescue him because we were laughing at the way his entire body was swaying one way and his head was bobbing the other way (Mom , really you would have laughed too. The guy stopped the ride right away and Lissa got hi quick, in between chuckles) It was after Brev was out of his boat and the ride continued, that his boat was kind of "off" and much more jerky than the others.
Also I got the single coolest picture of sheep balls-EVER.
In summary: The County Fair, A Hellish Experience that I can not wait to repeat. Especially if it means I get to see my sister in a cow barn again because that is some funny &*%# people
Oh! Yes. The kids loved every minute, well not the 1.5 minutes in the chicken tent but, other than that- love.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
- The ten days for my stitches is up on Thursday. I am interested to see if I will nearly pass out this time. What a wimp I can be.
- I am going to try and re-schedule that appt for either a day sooner or later as Ev and I want to sashay our way to Smokewood to have some time with the Grandparents and also go to a County Fair with Lissa and Brevin. Well, either way we are going....I already have the bags packed.
- I am hoping a little visit with family will sort of settle the beast that is my daughter right now. I spoke a leee-tuhl too soon about her gettting back to normal.
- There has been ALOT of adoption talk around here lately and I am thinking that is what is contributing to Ev's erratic moods. I think she just gets unsettled and has a hard time sorting thru things. Earlier in the week we ended up talking abot pregnancy and the like (in a very general way) and that led to a very deep and emotional conversation that left us both teary and tired and worn out.
- Last night she told me that I was her step mother so we had more of a talk that ended in tears (good ones just like before) and.....I don't know . I hope I am doing this right.
- Evelyn found this little lady bug lapel pin that I wore during the wait for her. She is now wearing it for her "brother or sister or twin".
- I have decided that I would like to get my hair colored for the fall/winter. I am thinking a dark, dark brown -almost black color. I will NOT do it at home this time. I WILL pay to have it done professionally.
- I wish we were leaving for China next week. I am feeling like my baby is born and in this world and I want him/her in my arms. NOW.
- I watch Brevin and Evelyn together and they get along so well and are so very close that I am afraid that The Younger may mess that up. I love that they are close and rely on each other. Maybe they have room for one more in that special little club.
- Having written the previous statement, the kids will probably fight like cats and dogs at the Fair.
- I am going off to have another good cry because I just re-read that bit about Ev calling me her step mother and it makes my heart hurt so bad that she has to try and work these things out. I would not change the way she came into my life for anything, I would, however, change the pain that her beginnnings have caused her.
36; and then the Sandman got Brevin
Yesterday I turned 36. Thirty six. My Grandma called me yetserday and sang the birthday song to me, just like she does every year. When she was done singing she asked me if I felt old. I have to say that last ear on my birthday I felt so much older than I do now. I guess with all of the fitness routines and expecting another baby and all I just feel young. The numbers don't match my self image at all. I guess it will feel this way for many years now.
On Sunday - Les and Evelyn had many whispered conversations during the early morning and they left mid-morning to "go look at motor oil". They promised to be back before my parents got here. I had a nice couple of hours just bumming around the quiet house, even Billy was off sleeping somewhere so I had a dose of much needed solitude. When Les and Ev got back home, Ev was full of ear to ear grins, whispered consultations with her Papa and many secrets. I was told that they did indeed, look at motor oil. I had to close my eyes for a couple of their trips through the house and then there was this whole session of the two of them being locked in Ev's room. It did not take a genius to figure out that there were some birthday surprises underway. Eventually I was told that the big brown bag in the freezer was "yellow soy beans". Apparently this was Ev's idea, she wanted me to be completely surprised by my ice cream cake and she had the idea to get a brown bag and label it yellow soy beans, Les did that and I was "non the wiser".
Mom and Dad arrived with Brev (Lissa was at work) and we sat down for a nice visit. Mom and Dad got me my very own Pandora bracelet! We then talked some more and then Mom and I ran out for pizza.
After we ate the pizza and that settled it was time for the cake. Les and Ev got the cake all ready and carried it in and I was very surprised to learn that there were no REAL soybeans in the freezer after all. While enjoying the cake, Ev wanted to bring me down my gift from her. This was all from her, the idea, the card, the wrapping. I knew that I was in for some tears when I saw this:
I had no idea what was inside the card though. Inside was a hand written message from my daughter to me on my birthday. I can remember only one other time in my life being flooded with so much good emotion and love and that was when I took her into my arms the first time. This was her message:
What else could a mother want?
I had a box of my favorite perfume that I just ran out of and Ev knew that and desperately wanted me to have more because she knows how I love it (Tresor by Lancome). There was also a mermaid bookmark that she picked out because she knows that I am forever loosing my place while reading.
So I am reading this card and crying all over the place and I felt like my chest was going to explode. Then as each adult in the room read that card, they started tearing up too. Les knew what was in it but he too got emotional when He saw the impact it had on me. There we were all of us sitting there crying and being sappy. It got real quiet for a minute and then you could hear Brevin say "the Sandman got my eyes!". I looked and he was all teared up too, without understanding exactly why. (he is a very tender hearted little guy and cries whenever he is around strong emotions- I love that about him). The only dry eyes in the room belonged to Ev who couldn't quite figure out why we were all emotional (ever practical that girl- I love that about HER).
Earlier in the month I got tickets for the Broadway show "Wicked" that will be playing here in Cleveland - this from Les. I have wanted to see that since it came out and he remembered. I also get to pick out a cooking class to attend with Jodi (from Jodi).
It seems that this may go down in the books as my best birthday ever. EVER.
On Sunday - Les and Evelyn had many whispered conversations during the early morning and they left mid-morning to "go look at motor oil". They promised to be back before my parents got here. I had a nice couple of hours just bumming around the quiet house, even Billy was off sleeping somewhere so I had a dose of much needed solitude. When Les and Ev got back home, Ev was full of ear to ear grins, whispered consultations with her Papa and many secrets. I was told that they did indeed, look at motor oil. I had to close my eyes for a couple of their trips through the house and then there was this whole session of the two of them being locked in Ev's room. It did not take a genius to figure out that there were some birthday surprises underway. Eventually I was told that the big brown bag in the freezer was "yellow soy beans". Apparently this was Ev's idea, she wanted me to be completely surprised by my ice cream cake and she had the idea to get a brown bag and label it yellow soy beans, Les did that and I was "non the wiser".
Mom and Dad arrived with Brev (Lissa was at work) and we sat down for a nice visit. Mom and Dad got me my very own Pandora bracelet! We then talked some more and then Mom and I ran out for pizza.
After we ate the pizza and that settled it was time for the cake. Les and Ev got the cake all ready and carried it in and I was very surprised to learn that there were no REAL soybeans in the freezer after all. While enjoying the cake, Ev wanted to bring me down my gift from her. This was all from her, the idea, the card, the wrapping. I knew that I was in for some tears when I saw this:
I had no idea what was inside the card though. Inside was a hand written message from my daughter to me on my birthday. I can remember only one other time in my life being flooded with so much good emotion and love and that was when I took her into my arms the first time. This was her message:
What else could a mother want?
I had a box of my favorite perfume that I just ran out of and Ev knew that and desperately wanted me to have more because she knows how I love it (Tresor by Lancome). There was also a mermaid bookmark that she picked out because she knows that I am forever loosing my place while reading.
So I am reading this card and crying all over the place and I felt like my chest was going to explode. Then as each adult in the room read that card, they started tearing up too. Les knew what was in it but he too got emotional when He saw the impact it had on me. There we were all of us sitting there crying and being sappy. It got real quiet for a minute and then you could hear Brevin say "the Sandman got my eyes!". I looked and he was all teared up too, without understanding exactly why. (he is a very tender hearted little guy and cries whenever he is around strong emotions- I love that about him). The only dry eyes in the room belonged to Ev who couldn't quite figure out why we were all emotional (ever practical that girl- I love that about HER).
Earlier in the month I got tickets for the Broadway show "Wicked" that will be playing here in Cleveland - this from Les. I have wanted to see that since it came out and he remembered. I also get to pick out a cooking class to attend with Jodi (from Jodi).
It seems that this may go down in the books as my best birthday ever. EVER.
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