Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Daily Trials, Tribulations, and Joys

Yesterday we were so tired of being cooped up we went to Mobius for the morning. The boys had an absolute blast and it was so empty that I was able to just sit and watch them run from thing to thing. We were there nearly two hours...a record for us!

This morning was one of those mornings where I left a message with Dan on his phone stating that I was getting a job. Not that I'm real employable right now! : ) While helping Joshua in another room Thomas managed to totally destroy a silver ball ornament. He had a long session in the naughty chair while he watched me clean and vacuum it up. Not even minutes later I walk back in to find another ornament destroyed. This one was way worse. The boys' friend Harry had taken clear ornament balls and poured paint in them making a really neat design. Apparently Thomas decided "tapping" them with the extending wand of the vacuum cleaner would be neat. This caused the ornament to explode across the living room leaving dripping pink and white paint on the tv, carpet, Christmas tree, you name it. AUGH!

Luckily, we had an appointment downtown so we quickly packed up to get out. Getting to the appointment was no problem. By the time we left, however, it was heartily snowing. The office is about 10 minutes from our house. It took us just over an hour to get home, and we barely made it. NOTHING had been plowed or sanded so we slid everywhere. I promised the boys a candy cane if they would pray with me up Thor that we made it. The guy in front of me, reveling in his 4-wheel drive, took the hill at an even 20 mph. I, in my all-season wheeled van, rode his tail sliding up the whole way. It was a total mess.

Dan had his mole removed today. It was quite traumatic but he seems to have survived. His dad and uncle picked him up and drove his car home for him since he was drugged fairly well. It took them a good long while to get him home too. I think it's a combination of the mass traffic today with the weather.

The boys and I played in the snow and had a lot of time playing together. After our morning fiasco, it ended up being a really nice day! And no naps means they are both in bed crashed right now! Dan had to go to the store (I refuse to even try until I either get snow tires or the snow is cleared more) to get milk and bread to last a few days in case we can't get out like last year. I look out the window and he's shoveling under his car. Ok, neither of us should be shoveling, but I can control the contractions if I'm good, I cannot handle it if his stitches tear. Yuck! We shoveled and maneuvered the car. And I learned a trick from the news that newspaper is good traction...it works!! Dan got out! I have shoveled the rest of his spot so that when he gets back he'll have a huge spot to park in with little/no snow. Hopefully it helps in the morning...and hopefully he can get back home!

Tomorrow we are making cookies and playing in the snow. Maybe a short walk to the library, but that's our plans for the day. So far we have just over 8 inches outside. Our neighbor has shoveled once and I've now shoveled twice. Crazy Snow!

Snow Worries

Thought I'd post it out here as well as chatting with family and friends. We realized today that we are in trouble for shoveling this snow for the next 7-10 days. I can shovel a little bit, but start contracting after a fairly short period of time. Dan will have stitches in his back for 7-10 days and will be unable to shovel until they are removed. The doctor stated that sutures in the back tear easily and are painful to repair. Nice.

Here's my plea: If anyone wants to stop by and shovel our sidewalks/path to the garbage and car, we would be most thankful! Our upstairs neighbors shoveled for us today, but somewhat begrudgingly (I will keep asking them though until they flat out tell me no since they use the sidewalk too). My brother will come snow blow if absolutely needed as well. Give me a call in advance so I make sure I have cookies ready for you to take home in thanks! I can bake, I just can't shovel! :)

Monday, December 15, 2008

A Fulfilling End To A Day


Man it is COLD outside! Our sliding glass door now has ice caked on the inside of the door. The kitchen remains at a freezing 52 degrees. YIKES! We are working on solutions to fix this problem as it's COLD!

We had a great day. I attempted to more activities, reading, and cooking with the boys than normal. It definitely wore me out and by the time Dan got home I needed a couple hours to get the contractions to stop. No worries, the contractions are simply Braxton-Hicks and exactly the same as last time with the boys. They are a sign that I need to slow down and I listen to them religiously so it's easy to control. The boys both took a nap (although they tag-teamed it again meaning that Thomas slept from 1-3 and Josh slept from 3-5), but it was a nice quiet break. We discovered a Dora computer game online and since it's educational, both boys took quite a while exploring and playing. It was fun to hear them laughing together while playing computer.

When Dan got his new job I scheduled several appointments for him that he hadn't/wouldn't do in the past. He had a dermatology appointment last week just to get all his moles checked. At that appointment, they immediately did a biopsy on one. This completely freaked Dan out. He announced that in order to return to this doctor, he would need a reward (Scotch). Today I got a call with his results and a trip to the liquor store was then in order. Dan goes back in on Wednesday to get the entire mole removed. The biopsy came back atypical. Basically she told me that it is not yet cancerous, but left there it will become cancerous. They want it off now. I arrnaged his appointment for Monday as well as his prescription for Valium. Dan will seriously pass out on the table without some kind of medication on board. After this, we are hoping his dermatology days take a long vacation.

When Dan got home tonight it was Christmas tree time! The boys were ecstatic! It took several trips to the store (first for replacement bulbs, then just plain new sets of lights), but we finally got it all on. I think my favorite moment was watching Dan's eyes light up watching the boys. The boys had an absolute blast but it was Dan watching them that touched my heart the most.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Yup. It's snowing alright. It started snowing while I was at the doctor's office today. As I pulled into our driveway, a car turned onto our street, lost control and totally hit my neighbor's parked car. It was at that point that we decided we should probably stay in for the night. As soon as I walked in the door, the boys started in, "Can we play in the snow? Can we go outside?" Happy to run off some of their energy we bundled up and headed out. They had an absolute blast! I finally went inside and stood at the sliding door and watched them because I was freezing! It was only when I spotted a stray boot in the yard that I knew shoeless Thomas needed to come in. They were happy to oblige as long as we make Frosty tomorrow. :)

Smart Kids Or Too Much TV????

Josh just looked at me, "Mommy, where are my sharp teeth?" I pointed to his sharp teeth. "These are my canines?" I definitely did not teach him that. Cute though.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Do These People Not Know Me?

Seriously, ok not seriously, but still. A website I get a regular e-mail from sent me a weekly menu. I usually get some great stuff. This one, obviously they don't know me at all. Here is the menu for the week:
Monday: Alpine Sausage and Cabbage Sauté
Tuesday: Salsa Chicken, Italian-Style
Wednesday: Onion Chopped Steak and Gravy
Thursday: Chicken Stroganoff
Friday: Caribbean Chicken Sauté with Steamed Zucchini

*Yeah, I won't eat even one thing off that list. Yuck. Guess I'll have to wait for the next e-mail. It better have plain noodles with Parmesan cheese.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Sick Week

Apparently we just decided that this week would be sick week. I started feeling awful on Saturday afternoon. The boys quickly followed on Sunday. And Dan kept pace coming down with it Monday. Basically it's just a fever for a couple days and then an awful head cold. Dan, with his lightning quick recoveries, is fine. The boys and I are still coping. We have been fever-free, but continue to have runny noses, sore throats, and just a yucky feeling. I went to the doctor today because my ear was about to explode. I'm hoping the boys don't follow. This is my first ear infection ever, and (knock on wood) the boys have never had one. We'll just keep hydrating!

No pictures for now. We have more recovering to do first!