Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Marie and Brooke! Wish I could celebrate with you both! ;)

And were an epitaph to be my story I'd have a short one ready for my own. I would have written of me on my stone: I had a lover's quarrel with the world.

Robert Frost

Slow-- yet great day...

Today was a glorious work day. It's the type of day we dream of on the Hem/Onc floor. No major emergencies, no one going down the tubes, no real urgent issues, just a quiet Sunday--a rare day indeed.
I organized ordering lunch which was a real treat. I usually don't even have time to use the restroom so to be able to coordinate gathering monies and hungry participants is quite a joy. We ordered Chipotle. It was delicious! Super delicious.
I had one of my favorite patients that makes me feel like work is a little home away from home, he's my 3 1/2 year old buddy who has been through the ringer and back and keeps on truck'n! He is going to be leaving our floor soon and heading on home (hopefully), though I'm sure we'll see him again. He's been with us for nearly 8 months. I took a picture of him today on my cell phone which I'm sure is completely against HIPPA, but I don't plan on sharing it and I need it because he is my buddy. His family is not very involved with him so he has sort of become a part of our work 'family'.

At work I was thinking that I really ought to find myself a fantastic hobby. I keep saying that and have been searching for one for years. Nothing has stuck so far. First there was knitting. I have many started, uneven, rather unappealing scarves--all with the knitting needles still connected to them. I just buy new ones when I picked the hobby back up as I don't know how to get them back on the needles without unraveling the whole project.
I have a wonderfully effective pilates DVD that I thought might revolutionize my bod and my life...that was 4 years ago and I might have used it thrice times and there has been no revolutionizing anything.
I have a wonderful collection of various 'crafty' type things in which to create--unfortunately I found creating patiently isn't really my thing either.
I have a sewing machine (gift from my mother-in-law). I do love my sewing machine. I'm proud to own one and frequently admire it when I see it. I have four pillows that I enjoy, and Alex enjoys a pillow courtesy of the sewing maching...I have drawers full of lists and fabric and ideas just waiting to be sewn with vigor. Someday.
I have books the train me to be a better writer as I enjoy creative writing from time to time. Just haven't found the time (motivation) to read them yet...and, well, finding time to sit down and write seems daunting, intimidating, overwhelming and so I don't.

Will I ever find a hobby? Perhaps my hobby is finding new hobbies and trying them on for size? Maybe the perfect one still awaits me? I guess I could count eating ice cream my hobby? And shopping...does that count? Hmmmm....
I'm open to suggestions.

Splash park frenzy, 'red boot' helper, anniversary, and the conversation with Grandpa

Yesterday was Tim and my anniversary. I got him a really nice watch...he is taking it back (as he does most gifts I get him...I should know after so long to stick to the simple gifts but I always think, "THIS will be the year I get him something he likes!" Anyway, he already feels bad but it was too nice a watch for him not to like it and not to wear it. Anyway, I digress. He got me roses. They/he made me real happy :)

I took Al to the splash park a couple days ago. She is like a maniac when she's there. She runs from one thing to another to another. It was disgustingly hot out but we still had fun. Unfortunately for you all I didn't get a picture of me in my new TEENY TINY string thong bikini---it's SUPER comfy to wear to places like this! Super kid friendly, too! Maybe I'll post some on my next blog! [something to look forward to]

Here is the bean in her undies and her 'red boots' heping T organize some things in the garage. Can you imagine if I organized my garage in only my underwear and rain boots! What a visual I just gave you all! Ha!

Anyway, we use to correct her and tell her they were green (she has known her colors for a long time now so we didn't get why she was calling them 'red'). Then I heard a song on one of her shows called "Red boots". A woman is jumping around in red rain boots singing about her red boots. So, obviously they are NOT rain boots or green for that matter---they are HER red boots. I love how kids' brains work!

I remember when I was little my Grandma had a picture in her kitchen of a lion in a tree. I think it said something about getting stuck in a tree or some clever little saying. Well, one day I asked her about it (think first or second grade, maybe younger...probably younger) and she MUST have said that "Grandpa gave me that" or "It reminds me of Grandpa..." but I misunderstood her and thought she said something about it being Grandpa IN the tree. I remember staring at that picture ALL the time when I was there TRYING to see how that lion in the tree was actually my Grandpa. I literally thought it was him, somehow, someway, that was him with paws and a tail and fur and a big lion head....I'm not sure how hold I was when I finally realized that it could not possibly be my grandpa. Let us hope it was not too late afterward!

One quick funny Alex story:

We had been having some issues with getting the bean to sleep in her bed. She would eventually do it but it took many times of putting her back in her bed over and over and we had to get mean and ugly. We hated that part. Anyway, we finally put a gate up in her doorway so she didn't feel totally trapped but at least couldn't get out of her room. Works great. We all are much happier, or at least T and I are. The other day I put her down for her nap and closed the gate to her saying, "DOn't do it, mama! Don't do it! Don't lock that door!" (which she hates) and I did and then went downstairs and this is what I heard....

"Grandpa! GRAND-PAAA! Are you here Grandpa?! No, I can't come over---NO, Grandpa! Mama has locked me in here, Grandpa! She locked the door and I can't get out! Grandpa! I'm stuck here" [I could only imagine her hand up to her ear as she quite frequently pretends to be on the phone to various people, usually Grandpa. Usually the conversations are much more pleasant and less frantic. I guess it was better than crying.]

More writings...

Oct 4, 1990

I like the sound of thunder at night. I also like the sound of rain. I like to listen to rain when I am up at the lake with my friend Kelly. I don't know why I like thunder. I also like the sound of when someone says crack-of-don really quick!

Oct 18, 1990

[be prepared blog readers...this one is really really profound! ha!]
What realy bothers me is that we still don't have world peace. With all the stuff that has happend and we still don't have world peace. It is scary! If only we could just work it out. I guess it just isn't that easy. Here I am in dream land, (thinking that) but yet in reality we have far to go until we achieve world peace.

Another poetic writing of a third grader....

Melissa Nov. 30, 1990

I wish I could change the way my thumbs look. They are ugly. And expecially deformed. They are fat. They also crack when ever I bend them. Everyone always asks why they are like that! Thats why I want to change my thumbs.

[For the record, I now appreciate my thumbs. It is especially exciting to meet someone with the same thumbs. I also like them because they are like my grandmother's thumbs. I guess that's the sort of thing you can't really appreciate until you are older.]

Melissa Sept. 14, 1990
When I grow up I want to be either an arcitec, dentist or a model that gets paid good. I want to have 2 kids. A boy and a gril. I want to have two dogs and 3 cats and maybe a turtle. I would name my dogs Marge and Clide. I would name my 3 cats Lucy, Tiffany and Barney. I don't realy know what I would name my kids. I would have a Big gymnastics room and a indoor and maybe an outdoor pool. I would have a big yard for my cats and dogs. I would like two satilight dishes. Oh...I would name my turtle Murtle.

Third grade memories...

greenbrooke.blogspot.com had a good idea when she posted something she wrote in fourth grade. I have a journal type thing we had to keep in third grade and I still have it. Our teacher would start it out like, I hate.... and then we'd finish it. I think every now and then I'll post something from it. they are pretty hillarious! i'll even include the unique spellings.

Oct2. 1990

I hate to eat pork chops! They are so sick! I hate them because there are little chuncks of hard fat! There are also little vanes, that is even worse!!!My mom says that my dad cut all the fat off. I believed her the first time she said that, But when I took one bite of it,,,I got a vane and a hard chunk of fat! Isn't that enough to make to want to throw-up? After that I never believed her again. Now I just move my meat around to make it look like I ate it. Sometimes I even feed some to my dogs, give some to msister, throw it away when they aren't looking or I set it by the sink and run upstairs to my room. The reason I give some to my sister is because I eats all her green beans when she doesn't want them. I will almost do anything to get out of eating my pork chops!!! Here is what I think of pork chops... (there's a picture here of a head with an open mouth saying, "yuk! yuk! yuk! yuk! yuk! yuk!")

Melissa Sept 7 1990

I would like a great big bag of money. I would be at the mall for 24 hours without one break! I would probly give some to my parents and sisters and even my grandparents. With all that money I would buy 1,000 stuffed animals or more, candy, 2 computers, 100 out-fits, 20 pairs of shoes, a pool, hot tub, 100 loto tickets I would win 500,000 dollars!! Thats not all I would buy, I would buy lots lots lots more! Of corse this could never happen me win the loto...Get real! Or me getting a bag full of money...Get Real! That would be a great big mirical if that could realy happen! Well if it ever does...I will know what to do with all the money. But win the loto? Man, I wish that could happen but...Maybe if your a doctor or a loyar. Then maybe you could win! Well bye!!

[I like how my priority was clearly on stuffed animals. And who knew I was such a synic!]

Dec 14th, 1990

The best thing about a pet is that you can talk to them and they won't talk back. I ahve two cats. And also two dogs. So I should know. We used to have two chamealones. But they died.

Sept 13,
Sometimes I am afraid to look at my self in the mirror when my friends finish doing my hair. Sometimes they do my hair really nerdy! My Friend Brooke always makes it ugly on purpose! It dosn't realy make me mad it just makes me have to wash it right after words. When their done I have to go show everyone!!! That's inbarising!
[I then drew a picture of me with normal hair and wild hair and then some type of box with bottles in it? must have been all the product Brooke would put in my hair?]

Christian's visit, lady bug, and some funny stuff

Alex has been insisting lately that she wear her lady bug costume. It is quite heavy and warm, yet she still enjoys wearing it and looking at herself in the mirror. She will now wear the hat part which if you recall for Halloween she went hat-less.

My mom and Christian came to visit last week and we all had so much fun! Here's a pic of Christian with the rocks he collected that I then paid him for. He made out pretty well. While we were sitting outside on this particular evening Alex crawled up on my lap demanding my attention saying, "Mom! Mom! Mom! I want something in your purse! I want something in your purse!" repeating it over and over until I stopped talking to my mom and listened to her. When I finally said, "What, Alex!" she calmed down and very seriously said, "Dollars." Oh. Dear. They do learn so young. I had no idea.

Yoga fun! Alex seemed to be enjoying watching Christian work while she loafed.

Park Fun! Even my mom enjoyed playing on the equipment.

What a cutie pie!

He's a cutie pie, too :)

Some more quick funny things that Alex has said lately:

This morning when we were waking up and walking downstairs to start our day when she requested to put on lady bug costume. It was sitting on the stairs so I put it on her quickly right on the stairs. She then says, "Today is Halloween. I want candy. Come on, mom, let's get started!" Ha! Let's get started? Where did she get that?

When we were driving today I was talking about how much I loved her and that I even let her live in my belly when she was a baby, and in fact that I GREW her in there. She corrected me and said, "No mamma...I lived in Grandpa's belly, then daddy's" Oh. I see. I must have been mistaken.

Work story:

Remember the girl I was talking about that always worked in the fact that she works out? Well, yesterday we were sitting at computers next to each other and somehow we got talking about what we wear outside of work (i.e. she wears dresses, i wear cut off sweats and tank tops). Then she said, "I just did laundry yesterday and all that was in it was scrubs and TONS of work out clothes. That's it." Good for her. I told her I work out so much that I started doing it in the nude...saves on laundry.

Let us see...what else is new?

I was never able to give up ice cream (remember that old post?). Yeah, that might have lasted a couple days. I still eat it and in fact I eat it nearly everyday. It makes me quite happy and so I'm not going to try to give it up anymore. That was mean. I also eat fast food. But mostly only meatless cheeseburgers when I really am hungry, so I guess that is some progress.

Work is good. Really liking weekends. We are finishing our basement, or at least starting the process. Tim is doing most the work. I just make phone calls when necessary. It's best that way. I may have made a new friend?! I don't know, I'll have to keep you posted. We have a lot in common (social workers, nerdy-brainy husbands, same sort of humor) So, like i said, I'll have to let you know how it goes. She's a wife of Tim's co-worker. Unfortunately no 2.5 year old children. owell.

Gotta go tend to the babe. I've let the TV babysit her for a few minutes so I could do a quick post. Hope your weather was as amazing as it was here today!

It's someone's Birthday today!!!

Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear MARLAAAAAA, Happy birthdaaaaay, tooooooooo YOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!

Happy 4th

Happy 4th! I was having some fun on the new site that Kelly talked about on her blog picnik.com. I just spent three straight hours on it. I was going to spend my evening watching chick flicks but I suppose the evening is nearing it's end for me as I have to get up early and work. But something tells me that won't be happening anyway as every one of my neighbors seems to be congregating outside my house and in the street along with their first, second, third, and eighth distant cousins and those cousins' cousins. So, with their firework and ATVs sleep is looking unlikely. Nice. I guess I can always nap tomorrow. I could go join them but I don't much like home-type fireworks (scare me) nor do I like ATVs---taken care of too many ICU patients with ATV injuries...so that leaves me to be a little hermit in my house. Owell. Sometimes a little alone time can be a good thing.

Hope you all have a safe and happy weekend!

Finally, some pics!

Here are some pics I wanted to share of one of Al's last days of school. i left a diposable camera with her teachers so I could make a little book for the bean to look at. Still haven't made the book, but I'll get to it. She was one of only two girls in her class. Nice. The kids were all really good and seemed to all get along really well. Anyway, as I type this Al is laying naked on a big pile of pillows she has collected. She stripped after she went potty and I have yet to dress her for the day...she also keeps telling me she is thirsty and I keep replying, "just a second..." for like the past thirty minutes. I'm am such a good mom! But I felt it necessary to get these pics posted before another day went by and no new pics! I also have new posts below this one so don't miss them!

Help...

I have requested a new bedspread/comforter/whatever type you please for my birthday. I am seeking THE perfect one with the perfect look, perfect feel and the perfect temperature keeping abilities. If you have any recommendations or stores with not so pricey picks let me know. Tim is very attached to our bedspread now and is hesitant to change so I must show him the grass can be even greener! It doesn't matter the color as I slowly want to redo our room anyway.
Thanks!

crucial mermaid converstation

THis morning when I was doing laundry, Alex ran into the kitchen and said, "Mom! I found my phone!" [I didn't know she had ever lost it or was looking for it?] I glanced out to see which one---it was her mermaid cell phone. She flipped it open put it up to her ear and said, "Oh hello? OOOOOH, yes, Hi Mermaid..."...silence while she listened intently to the mermaid calling. Then she says, "Mmmm, hmm...you want me to come to your mermaid kingdom?...and baby, too?" Then some more silence while she walked around the kitchen slowly--still listening oh so intently... "Ok Mermaid, be right there! Ok, bye!" And then she ran out of the kitchen with great urgency.

It must have been one seriously crucial mermaid conversation.

(this isn't exactly like her phone, the one I got her was more like 3$ in a check out lane...but it's a good visual none the less)