Today's Highlights

• Shannon found her iPod!
• I saw Dr. Engle and a tonsilectomy could be in my near future.
• Rubio's for dinner and Valentine's Day leftover chocolate-covered goodness for dessert.
• I got to spend the extra day of this weekend making these:

For Mom

Caring for, and worrying about, aging parents is the most difficult thing I've had to do thus far in my life. As I've blogged before, I find myself forgetting to love and celebrate and enjoy the time we have together. Instead I get bogged down in nagging and obsessing about all the things they *don't* do that would make them feel better, make their lives easier, protect them from getting hurt or sick. Especially my mother. Just once I want to go over to their house and see her with her socks and shoes on, sitting upright with her wheelchair foot pegs on, following all the advice her doctors give her (with lots of repeating from dad and me!) Too often, our interactions are negative - because I get so upset with her for NOT doing what she should.

So with a lovely Saturday all to myself, I decided to create a simple gift for her. Mom's Honey-do List. I've already hung it in their kitchen. Hopefully it will serve as a pretty, loving reminder of all my nagging. And when I go over there, I'll try not to say a negative word... because my words are now on her wall all the time.

Becoming Us

Becoming Us

Supplies:
Patterned Paper - Sassafras
Transparency - Hambly
Letter and word stickers - Making Memories
Heart sticker - Sassafras
Flowers - Prima
Cardstock - Bazzill
Chipboard letters - stash

This is a simple project telling our unexpected story. Each of those adorable frames on the yummy Sass background paper contains a step in our process of coming together. How we didn't see this coming, how we both fought it and feared it, but how we couldn't stop it. The heart wants what it wants, right? Almost 10 years later, seems like were brave enough to make the right decision. :)

Pokey Little Puppy goes to Basha's

So Kenz slept over last night. We started our morning off with chocolate chip pancakes and bacon, closely followed by a session of sidewalk chalk art outside. Kenzie drew Aunt Shanni with a mustache, and Shannon maturely retaliated by sketching Kenz sitting on a toilet. I drew a kite...

I visited mom in the hospital (day 3 of what's looking to be a long stay, thanks to a severe UTI and all its ugly side effects) while Shannon graciously grocery shopped for Mom and Dad and us. When all the to-do's were done, we headed across the planet to Peoria for Crimson's 3rd birthday - a Littlest Pet Shop bonanza. Festivities included party games, ball throwing, a 6 foot sub, and face painting. A good time was had by all.

The real fun, however, came after the party when we had to stop by Basha's real quick to grab a few items Walmart didn't have earlier. Nothing like two adults buying tortillas and a 10 pack of Ramen soup, one with peeling face paint that once resembled a kitty and the other in full puppy makeup, floppy construction paper ears and all. Shameless.

Sorry, Kenz

A phone call from my niece Mackenzie...

K: Hi Waya.

A: Hey Kenz. What's up?

K: If I sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's tonight, will you take me to The Roomstore tomorrow?

A: Sorry, where do you want to go?

K: The Roomstore

A: (laughing) Why do you want to go to The Roomstore, honey?

K: Cuz I want a bigger bed. Mine's too small.

A: Aw, Kenzie, I can't take you there. You'll have to talk to your Dad and Stacy.

K: I did, but they won't take me.

A: Sorry babe, but I can't take you out and buy you furniture. That's Daddy's job.

She's 8. I'm used to her wanting to shop for clothes, earrings, nail polish, lip gloss... but bedroom furniture? That's a first.

I hate my tonsils

It's a dreary Friday, rain has been falling nearly non-stop for 3 days, and it's cold. Typically, these are my favorite kind of days because of their rarity. I'd be at school, enjoying an indoor recess with my students playing Chess or cards, watching them perform at our first class Toastmaster's meeting. It was supposed to be a great Friday.

But I have strep. Again. For the 3rd time in 6 weeks.

Seriously, I'm ready to peel these cursed, infection-riddled, pock-marked tonsils out of my throat with a straight razor. Gruesome, I know, but true. But I suppose the better idea is to wait until my appointment with the ENT surgeon next month. In addition to the sensation of swallowing shattered glass and thumb tacks, and the body aches from the fever, I'm just so frustrated. Please, Germ God, leave me alone. Enough is enough.

Bleh

No pics, no projects, just some brief whining. Our Monday trip up north spontaneously morphed into a visit to the zoo, which was really fabulous, because I was feeling a bit under the weather. Yeah well, under the weather turned out to be strep throat. Again. 3.5 weeks after just having it!! And the non-penicillin antibiotics I had to be on didn't agree with me; neither did the pain pills. Miserable. My doctor is going to refer me to an ENT to *hopefully* get these &$#@ing tonsils out once and for all. I LOATHE strep. I've probably had about 25 cases since first getting mono when I was 19. Fourteen years later, I'm soooo done with it! Bleh.