I did it. I stood in my basement… in the dark, with a flashlight, and stared at the electrical panel.
But I was not alone.
Archive for November, 2007
This was our very first Thanksgiving on our own. It was our chance to start new traditions and carry on old traditions. We could make the foods we craved and forget to make the ones that made us cringe. We could watch the big parade or play football in the backyard.
So what did we do?
I can’t really remember a time that I ever thought that Santa was real. There’s no moment of realization that Santa’s gifts really came from my parents. I remember Santa coming to our house to dole out gifts but I think I always knew it was my grandpa’s friend dressed up.
Today is my anniversary. My hubby and I have been married 9 years. NINE. I know it’s not a huge number but it feels like it’s been so much longer. (in a good way) I look back at our honeymoon pictures and it’s like looking at a couple of kids.
We have been through so much in our nine years of marriage. Some of it really, really sucked but it has made us the couple we are today. Some of it has brought more joy and love than I ever thought possible. That, too, has defined who we are today. I married my best friend and that’s exactly who he is today.
I thought about writing a tribute to him today. But who am I kidding? He doesn’t read my blog unless I sit him down and read it to him. Besides, that’s my love language, not his. Instead we’ll be spending some serious cuddle time together.
Chickie: Hey Mom, did you know it’s Martians Day?
Me: You mean Veteran’s Day?
Chickie: Oh, yeah. That’s what I meant. Martians are those things that fly around in the sky and kill everything but the cockroaches.
My son has always had abnormally large tonsils. When he was a toddler he would snore so loud that there wasn’t a spot in the house that you couldn’t hear him. The snoring would occassionally stop for a few moments before resuming the loud sawing. We learned that was sleep apnea. About the time his doctor asked us to start charting his breathing (or non-breathing at is were) he stopped doing it. In fact, his snoring tapered off and only became occassional – much to the relief of his older sister who shared his room.
His tonsils have remained huge. I don’t know how the kid can breath or swallow anything but somehow he does.
He’s had a lingering cough for almost 5 weeks. No fever, no sore throat, no gagging. Just a cough. The other day he was showing me his loose tooth when I looked beyond his teeth and noticed his golf ball sized tonsil. I exagerate. It was more like the size of one of those large purple grapes. I couldn’t even see down his throat.
I took him to the doctor yesterday to have her check it out. As I suspected would happen, the nurse came in with one of those really long Q-tips and my gag reflect kicked in. I loved her approach, “This isn’t going to feel very good but I have to touch the back of your throat with this. Humans have a gag reflect so if you gag then we’ll know you’re human. Okay?” He was more than happy to open up and find out if he was indeed from another planet or just another human.
No strep, no fever, no nothin’. The doctor suspects his tonsils are enlarged because they’re fighting off the infection that caused the cough. If he suddenly gets a fever, the dreaded white spots or the snoring starts up again we’re supposed to bring him back in. Until then, he’s only human.
… that I washed dishes by candlelight.
This weekend was a whirlwind of activity. I think I may need another weekend to recover.
Happy Birthday my little Bean! I can’t believe you’re FOUR already. Any last traces of babyhood are far gone and the last bit of toddlerhood has faded. You’re now 100% Little Girl.
You are so much fun to be with. We get to spend all day together – just you and me. You are so good about entertaining yourself when I have work to do. But there are times that you demand my attention and affection. You’ll find me at my computer and come over and put your head on my arm. If that doesn’t work you’ll hug my arm. And if that doesn’t work you’ll climb into my lap and snuggle. That always works!
When you do play by yourself you like to play with Play-Doh, Little People and Polly Pockets. You also love watching Dragon Tales – just like your sister when she was this age. When you watch t.v. you’re very physical. No t.v. zombie. You hang upside down off of the couch or lay on the back or arms of the couch. You also love to draw – unfortunately you don’t limit your artwork to paper… walls, furniture and skin have all been decorated by you. You’re happy to curl up on your own with a stack of books but you prefer someone to read them to you.
If I ask you “Where are my kisses?” you throw your arms up and tell me that they’re in your pitties. When I ask for them back you pucker up your fish lips and give me a loud smack. I hope my kisses stay in your pitties for years to come.
You have a crazy sense of humor. You’re always saying the most random things and you love to laugh at the simplest things. Knock-knock jokes are your favorite but you only know one so you tell it over and over again.
Knock Knock
Who’s there?
Orange
Orange who?
Orange banana!
That’s your version and it always makes you laugh.
You waffle between wanting to do everything yourself and wanting me or Daddy to do it for you. I’m amazed at the things you attempt to do. You approach new feats with bravery and confidence. I pray that stays with you. Just last night when you were trick or treating at a neighbor’s house you showed just how brave you can be. The neighbors had a creepy animated statue that held the bowl of candy. When it started moving and talking your brother and sister ran away screaming. You stayed put and hollered after them, “Hey Kids come back here!”
I love that you call your brother and sister “the kids”. If you’re asking about just one of them you’ll use their name but if you’re talking about both of them they become “the kids”. You have your own vocabulary that’s evolved since you first started babbling. When you first started talking on the phone you sounded chinese. Now when you talk on the phone most people can understand you.
You have become a fashionista – taking great interest in your clothing and hair. There are rules when dressing you. Any bottoms you wear must not touch your button. You’ll wear jumpers but not overalls. You don’t mind mismatched clothes or getting clothes dirty but nothing can be too tight or too loose. You like to wear your hair down most of the time. Sometimes you’ll bring me a brush and a handful of hair ties and clips.
Bathtime is still your favorite. Washing your hair isn’t the battle it once was. You hated getting water in your eyes but you don’t care about that as much. Now it’s water in your ears that freaks you out. Out of habit you still call it “taking a ba” even though you can say bath.
Someday you’ll be embarrassed by this but you love to pick your nose. We’re always hearing “I need a tich-chew. I have a boogie.” I’m so glad you ask for a tissue! I just wish you’d ask for it before you go digging! You’re also a fanatic hand washer. I never have to remind you to wash your hands after the bathroom or mining for boogies.
There is so much about your year as a three-year-old that I am going to miss. I am looking forward to this next year and seeing what it will bring. You are such a blessing to our lives little Beans! My prayer for you today is that you continue to be confident, that you explore the world around you, that hugs and kisses will flow freely, always for safety, and that you remain my little Beans for just a bit longer.
I love you!
Mommy
