Sink or Swim

I hadn’t blogged in a while.  I started a few days ago, but all I could squeeze out was a few scratch-the-surface memories and thoughts. 

I knew this post was coming. Lurking in the back of my scattered little mind.  The moving post.   I have been inching across the diving board toward the water for months now.  It’s time to dive in.  Make our move.  In 2 weeks.  My house is half packed.  It’s sold.  Sigh.  I talked pretty big.  No tears allowed.  I only talked about the good and excitement in all of it.  Bright, shiny, and new.   Now, looking over the edge, I would like to baaaaack up, right down into my nice comfy familiar pool chair.  Have you been there?  But you can’t backup.  There’s a line.  You have to jump.  So I am standing here crying on the edge of the diving board hoping it will just go away. 

I don’t want to be the kid who cries at the edge of the diving board that someone puts out of their misery by giving me a swift shove over the edge. 

I know I’m not dying, or even moving very far.  But I’ll miss my friends.  My home. My familiarity.  

And in I go! (envision me gracefully twirling through the air, a couple of flips and just the tiniest splash.) 

Lainy turns 6, and I get older.

 Lainy and I share a birthday week, and sometimes Turkey Day is thrown in there.  Her dear and talented Aunt Shelley made her this beautiful tutu and wand combo.  (LOVE) 

 

I got a little carried away and went a little Vegas showgirl that night…  I know, hard to believe there was no drinking involved…

You can’t tell, but behind the paper were two glorious treasures.  My mom had taken all of my childhood photos and put them in order in two beautiful photo albums.  And those cute earrings I have on are from her.  (Thanks mom!)

And this picture is for Shannon.  I idolized my sister Shannon growing up (I still do) and every time something exciting happened to me, her name was the one that came out of my mouth, since she was usually the one I wanted to share the news with. I have countless pictures of me with this less than glamorous facial distortion.  I’m sure I was saying her name yet again here… 

 

We had our annual gingerbread decor contest that weekend as well.  Boys vs kids vs girls.  We won.  Hands down. (Though I’m not sure the boys know that)

Thanksgiving was wonderful and fattening.  Great week.  Christmas post is coming along nicely…. 

Hi Ho Hi Ho back on Steroids we go…

I have two asthmatics, and one very healthy child.  Jayce has had it since he was a tiny person and now that he is older we have a handle in his medication.  But Jared…   oh my goodness.  He shows no normal symptoms of an asthmatic.  He seems to be able to breath deeply, but cannot stop the chronic coughing.  Remember last year?  He coughed for months.  I’m not talking a little cough here and there.  ALL NIGHT. EVERY NIGHT.  We tried all kinds of meds, had his tonsils and adenoids removed, slept keeping him sitting upright with a bowl next to him for when he coughed so hard he threw up.  (I know, I know, woe is me.  I’m documenting history here…) 

Once the summer hit (and all things living died, hence no allergies)  The boys slept like babies again minus being stuffed with steroids, creams, and antihistamines.  Winter hit and here we are again.  Doc said to keep up his steroid regimen, but to also put him on OTC Claritin.  Really?  Claritin?  C’mon.  We took the kids tonsils out for crying in the night, you think it’s as simple as Claritin?

MM HMM.  It is. 

Slept like a rock.  For a month.  Until I decided to mess with it again.  Why do I do that?  Oh, it’s working, surely we should mess with it and see if we can screw it up fix it some more.  Two nights of coughing cured me.  Back on all those blessed meds. 

Ok, here’s the thing.  (The point of this novel)  I complain a LOT about everything I have to give my boys for this thing called asthma.  But really, I need to add it to my daily prayers.  Because I wouldn’t have either of my boys anymore, if it weren’t for all of these things that may or may not have horrible side effects.  So….  I LOVE Flovent, I LOVE Pulmicort, I LOVE Hydrocortisone cream, I LOVE Albuterol, I LOVE Immunotherapy drops.  Because I LOVE my boys. 

Good teeth come to those who wait…

I thought this kid was going to be 10 before he got his teeth back.  I would venture to guess he is the only 3rd grader in his school still missing his front teeth.  I even took him to dentist to make sure there were some IN there waiting to pop through.  Today, 8 full months after it came out, it has made it’s debut. 

Jared:  sniff sniff.    SNIFF SNIFF.

Mom: You ok?

Jared: Yeah, I have a booger in my nose. 

Mom: Let me see, do you need a tissue? 

Jared: (Proceeds to blow nose.)

Mom: Did it work?

Jared: It needs a finger up there.

He lives in a pineapple under the sea

I never thought I would say I miss SpongeBob.

I always put cable TV on hold for the 6 months while the weather is beautiful in AZ.  So, we right now have the basic shows.  As Jared was watching one of these channels (qubo) I was doing dishes and catching a bit of it.  I kept hearing the term ‘belly button lint’.  My interest was piqued. 

There are a handful of animals that are friends and were each collecting their own lint.  Some of the more villainous characters were stealing the lint from others.  (gag)  Turns out there is an annual belly button lint weighing contest. 

In case you are still held in suspense, (I know I was feeling something other than suspense) The villian is found out and is disqualified. 

So, need I repeat…

I MISS SPONGEBOB.