Sunday, March 30th, 2008
Cut a few holes in a box, it suddenly becomes a house with windows! And now it’s time to paint them rooms!
My little artists hard at work:
With paints from this selection. After it’s all done and tattered from playing with for days, recycle the boxes.
Friday, March 28th, 2008
Our daughter Fiona is 2.5 yrs old and still sleeps in a crib. She has been able to get into the crib if the ledge is down; she’ll climb and go head first and slide down slowly. However she has never climbed out of the crib by herself, whether the ledge is up or down. Ever.
A few days ago Hubby thought what a great idea it would be for our daughter to learn how to get in and out of the crib by herself, when the ledge is down. After all, it’s not like she doesn’t climb everything else with full confidence. Except the crib, until now.
As Hubby watched and cheered on, Fiona cautiously climbs out of the crib, taking every step and move ever so carefully, and making sure she’s gripping onto something before she lets go of another part of the railing. She was SO proud of herself when she finally landed on the outside of the crib! She’s been watching her big brother climb in and out of the crib all the time and this is the first time she’s ever been able to climb out of the crib!!! Hooray Fiona!
Ah yes, you can see where this is going.
For the last 3 mornings, instead of being woken up by a shrilling call of “MaMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”, I found our lovely girl standing by our bedside when I opened my eyes each morning. Yes the railing was all the way UP for the entire night - and it was still up when I took her to her room to change her diaper.
Tonight, after putting her to bed, she climbed out of her crib not once, but twice, to visit us in the office downstairs.
I seriously hope this is not going to develop into a habit. One bad sleeper for 4+ years is really really bad already. I don’t need another one to start now.
Wednesday, March 26th, 2008
I’m happy to share the little (and big) things along the way with you here on my blog, and am even happier that you want to read more! So hop on over to Today’s Mama to read my Dream Big feature.
Do come back and tell me what you think!
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
This is one of my lists for March’s theme of “Lists” for nablopomo, which I am miserably failing at keeping up and or writing lists at least once a day. April’s theme is “Letters.” Go here if you want the details.
Chemo sessions I had: 12
Duration of each chemo session: 3-5 hours via IV
Frequency of chemo: Once every 14 days
Days I was bedridden from chemo: ~72 days
Times I puked from having chemo: 432 - 864 (that figures about 6-12 times each of the 72 days)
Hair lost: every strand on head & body except eyebrows
Neupogen shots I received to boost my system so chemo wouldn’t be delayed: 48
Radiation therapy sessions: 10
Duration of radiation: 45 seconds front & 45 seconds back (kind of like roasting or grilling) I think it was 45 seconds.. can’t remember now.
Preparation time before radiation: 15 minutes
Lives we’ve been gifted as a result of all the above: 3 (my very own, and our 2 children)
Friday, March 21st, 2008
Couple of days ago, out of the blue, he tilts his head and asks me,
“Mama, do you know why birds fly south in the wintertime?”
“Why?”
“Because it’s too far to walk!”
* * *
Our 4.5 yr old loves to read. Although the above is from a riddles book, I’m pretty sure he just told his first real joke with a real punch line!
Thursday, March 20th, 2008
On a whim last weekend, I took the kids with me to a nearby hair cutting place.
6 inches were chopped off - my hair, not the kids’.
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008
I have always resisted buying cake mixes in a box. I’m not a big cake person to begin (cookies on the other hand.. yum!) and I’m pretty sure there are some preservatives that comes with cake mixes from a box.
The other day I brought home a box of cake mix. Velvet cake mix by Duncan Hines. Instead of making it into a sheet of cake, we made them into cupcakes. I substituted with half milk and half water instead of the whole 1.25 cups of water. It turned out really well. I’m surprised by how easy it was, and so tasty, especially with some frosting!
Now we’ll probably have to live with the consequences of having those preservatives in our system for a while.
But really, how impossible it is to get away from preservatives - it’s in almost everything.
Tuesday, March 18th, 2008
And here’s the proof, in a quiz!
* * *
Your quiz score makes you: Smarty Pants Mom
Smart parents like you have smart kids. They need plenty of intellectual stimulation and you provide them with all they need, plus lots of love. You know how to help them with algebra homework, and you are superior at kissing boo-boos.
* * *
How about you, what’s your ranking?
Monday, March 17th, 2008
I came upon this Disease Risk Index page at Harvard.edu
I was intrigued and wanted to see what it would say about my risk of cancer, and see if the test is accurate or remotely accurate. However, I was dismayed when I had to answer “yes” to the 2nd question, which in essence screws up the entire survey and prove the survey useless. Also, the list of cancer was limited. (I did not look at the other diseases)
The whole bit about cancer is that, you (you as in, anyone and everyone) just don’t effin know if you will get it or not. There are too many exceptions, preventing any real cause/effect scenarios, hypotheses or theories to be drawn. You could be as healthy for your entire life (like me), and bam! the next thing you know, they’re tell you about your new cancer diagnose. Or you could be a chimney, chain, nonstop smoker / second hand smoking / whatever else, and you never ever get sick from anything. Ever.
It’s like playing Russian Roulette.
Oh sure the assessments might work for some people. But for the majorities, I think it’s a crap shoot.
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
This came from Marla, and Average Jane and Neena, and.. I think that’s about it. Better late than never! So here goes,
Basically I write 7 things about myself. And tag you guys to do it too. Feel free to be tagged and make your own list.
1. I must be the one driving, otherwise I get carsick easily.
2. I usually prefer silence to music (unless I’m in the car - see above - I’m the driver, especially long distance). Hubby is the exact opposite and wants music anywhere and everywhere.
3. When my hair is long, I’ll want to chop it off. When it’s short, I’ll want it long. Right now. I drive myself silly.
4. On my left hand, my head line (or brain line) and heart line intersects and makes a straight fold. In another words, if I put my hand faced up and pull all 4 fingers towards me, there’s a nice straight trench across the entirety of my palm. I’m not into palm reading, but find this interesting and I have a few family members who have the same thing.
5. I am the same weight as I was before any pregnancies and babies (+/- 2 lbs), but my shirt and pant sizes both have gone up at least 2 sizes. What’s up with that???!!!
6. Food is my good friend. Good food is my BFF.
7. I’m not as articulate in person as I would like to be. Oh I can talk, (boy can I talk, my friend Laura is about the only one who can out-talk me) just not as articulate as I would like.
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008
I came upon an article about a missing young father / husband in the Seattle, Washington area, and my heart skipped a beat. I as a stranger felt a huge tug at my heart, I can’t imagine what it must feel for the wife and mother, and their young children. I hope they find him safe and sound very soon. It’s been almost a month. My heart goes out to the family and friends.
Monday, March 10th, 2008
I don’t wanna close my eyes
I don’t wanna fall asleep
‘Cause I’d miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
‘Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I’d still miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
Lying close to you
Feeling your heart beating
And I’m wondering what you’re dreaming
Wondering if it’s me you’re seeing
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we’re together
And I just wanna stay with you
In this moment forever, forever and ever
I don’t wanna close my eyes
I don’t wanna fall asleep
‘Cause I’d miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
‘Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I’d still miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
I don’t wanna miss one smile
I don’t wanna miss one kiss
Well, I just wanna be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just wanna hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time
Don’t wanna close my eyes
Don’t wanna fall asleep
‘Cause I’d miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
‘Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
‘Cause I’d still miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
I don’t wanna close my eyes
I don’t wanna fall asleep
‘Cause I’d miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
‘Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I’d still miss you, babe
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
Don’t wanna close my eyes
Don’t wanna fall asleep, yeah
I don’t wanna miss a thing
– by Aerosmith (Armageddon Soundtrack)
Anyone who knows me well knows I’m not really into trendy music or listen to that many songs. But this song by Aerosmith is one of my all-time favorite songs. My knees go weak and my heart melt whenever I hear it. It makes me think of Hubby and the kids. It makes me think of my parents who live thousands of miles away, and I especially miss my mom.
Another song I love is the Truly, Madly, Deeply by Savage Garden.
