Hat #16

We tried everything to prevent it from happening, but that tiny little virus was able to sneak past every hand washing and made its nasty way into our home.   So, for the last week I have been wearing my nurse’s cap (number 16 of many hats I wear).  My aunt, Sherri would be proud.

It started with my oldest calling early from a friend’s house after a sleepover to request an early pick-up.  This is not normal.  They like to stay to the very last second if at all possible.  (They’ll do anything to put off doing chores or homework.)  I picked him up and sure enough, the handy-dandy thermometer told me I had a sick child.  This was last Sunday.  Fever, body aches, chills, and that dreaded croupy cough.  Yuck is pretty much all I can say.  How can something so tiny cause so much havoc?

With a trip to urgent care to rule out the flu and a follow up visit to the doctor, it was confirmed.  He was sick.   We got out the motrin and the cough medicine, the Clorox wipes and the Lysol to try and contain it to one room.  Would we be successful?

Well, three days later, it happened.  He came into our bedroom with his droopy eyes and a flushed face.  It had spread to our youngest.  Higher fever, no body ache and that cough that makes your ribs hurt.   One more trip to the doctor and sure enough another confirmation, he was sick too.

The two of them camped out in the master bedroom with a wall of pillows tucked behind their heads, the electric blanket on, water and juice beside the bed and room service to boot.  Quite the hospital if I do say so myself. 

“Mom, could you bring me my book?”

“Mom, could you bring me my magnets?”

“Mom, could we watch a movie?”

“Mom, could you bring me some more orange juice?”

I don’t know if nurse is the real definition of my job the last week or not.  I’m thinking personal butler is probably more like it.   Needless to say, six days later, they both have recovered and still have a bit of that lingering cough, but can at least move around and work on the homework that piled up over the missed days of school.  Now I’m just hoping that my husband and I don’t come down with it.   I’m not so sure the boys would be as eager to be our personal butlers for a week.

FEBRUARY VOCAB CHALLENGE 101

Day 11

miasma:  (noun) Noxious emissions: smoke, vapors, etc., especially those from decaying organic matter.

S.W.A.K.

I have a trunk in our storage room in the basement that my mom had in college.  It’s been wallpapered and even covered in fabric.  It now holds old trophies (4th grade 3rd place spelling bee), old photos, my diplomas and old letters from everyone.  I opened it up the other day to search for a letter I could share with the ladies at my letter-writing club. There were several from my mom and a few from my grandma and it was so nice to see their handwriting and feel the paper they had touched and written on.

I love getting mail.  No, not junk mail or the water bill, but real mail.  Handwritten letters or notes from anyone.  It makes me feel so loved and thought of when I get a letter.  It really is the thought that counts and it does count.

A while back, I decided I needed to try something new and venture into unchartered territory.  I decided that I would try to create a new “club” of sorts and thought a letter-writing club would be just the thing.   Who doesn’t love receiving a letter in the mail? 

So, last night I had several ladies over to the house and we did just that.  We chatted, and ate cookies and I shared one of the letters I came across in my trunk that my mom had written to me after I got married and then we each wrote a letter.  It was wonderful.   I had stationery for each of us, stamps, pens and pencils and sealing wax to finish off the letters.  It was something new for all of us and I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did. 

Each month we’ll gather and write letters and maybe even have a theme or write to soldiers serving across seas, or to nursing home residents who don’t receive mail.  The thought is what counts and the love that goes into the envelope is what will be felt when they open their letter.  The content of the letter isn’t always important, but just showing them that they are thought of and appreciated is what the purpose of our little club will be.  I’m really looking forward to this new little adventure and hope it brings joy to the ladies who come as well as to those who receive our letters.   Sincerely yours, Stephani

The Island of Misfit Toys (a.k.a. The Urgent Care Waiting Room)

I’m not one of those moms who rushes to the doctor every time her children are sick.   I tend to be one of those who treat their symptoms at home first with chicken noodle soup, lots of water, warm blankets and resting on the couch.  So when my oldest son texted me to pick him up early from his friend’s house because he wasn’t feeling good, I checked the cupboard for the soup and headed to pick him up.

Once we were home, I could tell this might be the start of the dreaded flu and didn’t want to take any chances and try the “wait and let’s see how you feel in the morning” method.  For the last three months, he’s been practicing for a musical and opening night was five days away. He didn't want to be sick and miss it.  I called the doctor and when they said their after hours clinic was booked, we opted to try the urgent care office one door down the hallway from our doctor’s office.

We were told the wait time was about an hour.   We chose to wait.  The receptionist asked him to wear a surgical mask and have a seat.  I pointed to the corner away from the coughing, sneezing, oh please wipe your kid’s nose group. 

Within a few minutes of surveying the waiting room of illnesses, we began to feel as if we were on the island of misfit toys.  You know the island, where everyone’s clothes don’t match, the children have on their spaghetti stained smiles, and there is a “help me get off this island” kind of look in everyone’s eyes.  

In the right corner was a woman and daughter both in surgical masks laughing and chatting, while the mother held her rubber gloved hand upright in a Queen Elizabeth type wave the entire time.  Across from her was a father with his 20 year-old son, who couldn’t stop pulling Kleenexes  out of the box on the receptionist’s desk and wiping his goopy eye.  Down the row from us was a family of five, each engaged in their electronic devices, who obviously made a wrong turn into the waiting room because no one even had a sniffle.  Directly in front of us was a young family complete with the deluxe size diaper bag filled with gummy bears and sour worms, dvd player (playing “Beauty and the Beast”), granola bars (conveniently left all over the table and floor), water bottles and pacifiers and books for the entire family.  (They obviously had been here before and knew it wasn’t going to be a 15-minute wait.)  The mother to my right held her daughter who moaned and cried in discomfort while she was texting someone and her healthy daughter continued to play at the water fountain.  And, minutes before they called our name, a woman was wheeled out in a wheel chair with her leg sporting a new cast of some sort laughing and chatting on the phone about the dinner that was in the oven.

It was a sight for sure.  We waited with the other islanders for over an hour and then another thirty minutes on the other side of the island waiting for his flu test results.  Negative.   We were thankful to be released and rescued off the island with our discharge papers in hand.  I guess this is why I like to try and treat them at home first.  Why expose them to the island of misfit toys if you don’t have to?  Right?   He’s now resting under the electric blanket, and being waiting on hand and foot to help expedite a speedy recovery from a virus of some sort. I must say, there’s something to be said about the comforts of your own island.

FEBRUARY VOCAB CHALLENGE 101

Day 10

fluke:  (noun)  The flat, triangular piece at the end of an arm of an anchor.

Thoughts on a Thursday

The wind has made its way into my yard and I don’t like it one bit.  It makes my blood pressure rise and makes me feel like I’m trying to hurry everywhere.  I think it’s fair to say I officially hate the wind.

I’ve done a test today.   Whatever room I’m in, within minutes, that’s where the cats are as well.  I guess I will turn into that “old cat lady” one of these days.  Cats will be sitting at my feet while I hem my apron.

Speaking of hemming. I hemmed some pajamas for my oldest son to use as a costume in The Sound of Music.  I sat and hand stitched them and it felt good to do something so simple with my hands.   Why is that?  He loved them so much that he wore them to bed last night.  (Little does he know they are women’s pajamas.)

I’ve decided to take an iphoto class at the local art school in April.   I’m really looking forward to it.  I know how to use iphoto, but this is supposed to take me to the next level.  Should be fun.

I am so lost for ideas to make for dinner. I feel bad for my family and having to suffer through the same things over and over.  I’m really hoping my lottery ticket wins this week so I can hire a chef. 

I’m thinking that I need to be here for a little bit.  Just a little while to breathe.

photo credit

FEBRUARY VOCAB CHALLENGE 101

Day 9

seadog: (noun) A veteran sailor

L-O-V-E

Today the world will be filled with pink and red and all things lovely.  I think I’m pretty neutral when it comes to Valentine’s Day.  I could take it or leave it.  It’s nice to share your love with your sweetheart and browse through the cards at the store and make sugar cookies in the shape of hearts.  And, I think everyone enjoys having an envelope sitting on the table with their name on it.  But, as my best friend said last night, “Do we really need a day on the calendar that requires us to do that?  Shouldn’t we be doing that every day?” 

I think so.

The love we show each other comes in the simple kindness of our deeds and in our words that we choose to use throughout the day.  Valentine’s Day should be seen in our lives every day by turning on your spouse’s electric blanket while they’re in the shower, by listening with our full attention to our children when they’re talking about their day at school, or by calling a sick friend to see if they need anything.  Our actions and our loving words are our gifts to each other.  Those are the tiny everyday moments that are wrapped in pretty paper and tied with satin ribbons.   We don’t have to call it Valentine’s Day though, let’s just call it L-O-V-E.

"Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."

Franklin P. Jones

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."

Aristotle

"Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold."

Zelda Fitzgerald

"You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly."

Sam Keen

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FEBRUARY VOCAB CHALLENGE 101

Day 8

fell: (adjective) Fierce, cruel, lethal

"Steal Your Heart Day"

I don’t know why I picked brown, but I did.  It was supposed to represent me and be unique to me.   My mom embroidered an “S” on the middle of the big heart and then we hung little hearts from brown satin ribbons from the big heart. I still have it. One of the hearts that dangled from the large heart was made with ribbon and sugar water to make it stiff so it would hold its shape.

I think it was called “Steal Your Heart Day.”  The student council held a contest on Valentine’s Day (I think it was in 8th or 9th grade).  All the girls were supposed to make a heart of some sort to pin onto their shirt and wear it to school on Valentine’s Day.  The only rule for the girls; do not talk to the boys.  If you did slip up, then you had to relinquish your precious heart to the boy who got  you to talk.  They essentially “stole your heart” that day.   It was a clever little contest.  I think I kept mine almost all day and then lost it to a boy named Benito who kept staring at me, obnoxiously, and making kissing noises during English.  He smiled when I said, “Ok, fine. Take it.  Just quit staring at me.”

I think he was declared the winner that afternoon and probably won a prize.  He had the hearts pinned all over his shirt and jeans and was so proud of himself.  He did however, return my heart to me at the end of the day, which I thought was very nice of him.  Most of them probably ended up in the trash, but I wanted to keep mine and he knew it.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I have fond memories of the day my husband stole my heart forever.  He was giving a presentation to about 60 of us and stared at me during the entire thing.  I’m sure everyone noticed, but it didn’t matter to us. The day ended with a walk and a kiss.  He had stolen my heart and I knew it.  This time however, I didn’t want my heart back.  It was his to keep.  I wanted him to have it.   That was almost twenty-two years ago and my heart still flutters when I think of that day.  It was definitely “Steal Your Heart Day” for me.  I hope each of you will have a happy Valentine’s Day next week and you let someone steal your heart. 

"Steal Your Heart Day" Heart - circa 1980s

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FEBRUARY VOCAB CHALLENGE 101

Day 7

valetudinarian: (noun) A weak or sickly person, especially one who is constantly or overly worried about his or her health.

Class of 2015

We walked into the gym and it was filled with 387 wide-eyed 14 year-olds and their nervous parents (ourselves included).   The jazz band was playing, club tables were set up with candy jars and informational flyers galore, administrators were seated on risers ready to address the group about the evening ahead of us.   Balloons were everywhere; cheerleaders were teaching the class cheer, and even the hip hop club was on the gym floor doing their “thang”.  It was an amazing, welcoming atmosphere to say the least.

When we finally settled into our seats, the principal gave his welcome speech and asked for a round of applause for the class of 2015.  That’s when the tears came creeping into my eyes.  I did everything I could do not to sniff.  I didn’t want to embarrass my soon to be freshman sitting to my right and didn’t want the other moms around me to know how much I was struggling with all this.  He smiled and some of the nervousness began to subside. 

We spent the rest of the evening going to our three different sessions; clubs and activities, curriculum, and the final stage of registration.  We walked the halls to the pool and racquet ball courts, checked out the lockers, talked to the French teacher and the TAG coordinator, signed up for baseball and put his name on the Key Club list and watched the video clips from the drama department. 

The announcement came to switch to the final rotation and it was his turn to register for his classes for the full year.  Biology, Geometry, Health, French II, Theatre/Drama, Civics and Freshman Literature were included in his list.  He circled the course numbers and then headed up to the stage of the auditorium to turn in his form.  He wondered if he looked old enough to be in high school and we assured him he did (even though as I looked at him all I could see was his two year-old chubby baby cheeks and his never ending eyelashes).

It was official.   He was now officially registered for high school and was soon to be part of the class of 2015.  He took his purple ticket up the stairs and turned it in for a RHS tote bag, class t-shirt and a Rams water bottle.  “We’re done?” he asked.  “That wasn’t so bad,” he said.  And, it wasn’t so bad.  It was good actually.  His nervousness was gone and that feeling had been replaced by a bit of relief and a tad of excitement and a small skip in his step as we walked out the front doors into the cold night.

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FEBRUARY VOCAB CHALLENGE 101

Day 6

caitiff:  (noun) A cowardly and despicable person.

Life Requires Effort

10 Tips for Being an Efficient Mom

7 Things You Can’t Live Without

5 Ways to Get Rich Quick

6 Shortcuts in the Kitchen

3 Steps to Happiness

It all sounds so easy doesn’t it?  Quick. Fast. Instant. Well, you know the saying, “If it’s sounds too good to be true, then (say it with me) it probably is.” 

I always laugh when the morning news shows have “experts” on to give their handy dandy lists of shortcuts to a better life.  It really makes me chuckle.  Are there people out there getting their notebooks and pencils out to take notes?  Do they really think that if we do their “Top 3 This” or  their “Best 5 That”, that our lives will be better? Easier?  Come on people! Reality Check.

You cannot buy three homes for zero down and think that is a safe investment because a book says so.  Buying a home takes a great deal of planning and hard work.  You give up eating out to save that $40 you would have spent.  You go for power walks outside and give up the gym membership.  You sacrifice some of the fluff to have what you want later.

You cannot read a book on parenting and expect the methods they suggest to work perfectly every time.  Being a parent is a full-time job and gosh darn it, it’s hard.  No book will prepare you for a girl breaking your son’s heart.  You just have to be available and fill them will all the love and support you have at that very moment. Chapter eight doesn’t cover that. Parenting is the hardest “learn as you go” job out there.  Sometimes you just have to punt and hope for the best.

 

I guess I’m just a believer that you reap what you sow.  Life requires effort.  

You have to plan ahead for vacations. You have to empty the cat litter box. You have to service your car, go to the dentist and pack the kids’ lunches the night before.  You have to wash the dirty clothes and some days eat rice and corn because that’s what’s in the pantry. If you’re always looking for a shortcut, then you’re probably missing out on some of the best life has to offer.  If life was always easy, then what would be the point?  Would we appreciate the homes we saved so hard for?  Would we feel as close in our families if we didn’t have to overcome difficulties together? I don’t think so. 

Don’t always try to take the short path, the fast lane, or order the glossy finish.  Life is in the journey, the walking, and the rough stones that cover the path each and every day.  Enjoy the effort. Enjoy your life.

FEBRUARY VOCAB CHALLENGE 101

Day 5 (yes, I know it's the 7th - bear with me)

dyspeptic: (adjective) Having a bad temper, gloomy, irritable

That Pang In My Heart

The snow started around 2 o’clock, just an hour before he was to arrive at the bus stop, which is only half a block from our house.  The wind was cold and the temperature was dropping.  I didn’t want him to walk even that short of a distance in the wet wind.  I quickly made him his favorite hot tea and put it in a to go cup, so he could have it as soon as he got into the warm car.  I left the cupcake I sprinkled for him on the table, so he’d know I was thinking of him and awaiting his arrival. 

I gathered my camera to capture an “everyday” moment of him getting off the bus and started the car.  I turned the heat full blast so it would be warm when he got in.  The tea was steaming delicious goodness out of the lid.  I pulled out of the garage and wasn’t even out of the driveway when I heard it. My cell phone rang and it was his ring, a pinball machine dinging and donging. 

“Hey, Mom. Can I go over to my friend’s house and you pick me up after you get the little guy?”  I could hear all his friends in the background laughing.   I said, “yes.”  I offered to pick them up and take them over there since it was so cold, but he said they’d probably just walk.  It was more than a half a block away.  He didn’t mind the cold.

I sighed in the car and pulled it right back into the garage and carried his hot tea into the kitchen and ate his cupcake.   

His mom was looking forward to him coming home.  He was looking forward to time with his friends.  It’s a good thing.  I know it is.  It’s my little reminder that I have to let go and let him grow.  That doesn’t mean it’s always easy and free of that pang in my heart.  I felt that pang for a few minutes today.  Ok, maybe several minutes.  Who am I kidding?

FEBRUARY VOCAB CHALLENGE 101

Day 4

verdigris:  (noun)  A bluish-green patina formed on copper, brass or bronze when exposed to water or air for a long time.

February Vocab Challenge 101

Words are fascinating to me. They are the fabric of our every thought and feeling. They mean so much when said at the right moment and can hurt when said at the wrong time.  They are strength for us and give us the possibility to express ourselves at a very simple or very deep level. 

I have to admit however, that I don’t have a Webster’s vocabulary.  I have more of a Reader’s Digest vocabulary where the words are simple, basic, get the point across type of words.  However, when you’re in the car with your children and they ask what “juggernaut” means and you think you know but don’t want to be wrong, what’s a mom to do?  (I have now downloaded the dictionary.com free app for my iphone so this won’t happen again!)

As I write more each day and read more each day I am realizing how limited my vocabulary really is.  (I’ve always known this, but it never really bothered me until now.)  So, I have decided to take the February Vocab Challenge 101 (which I have conveniently made up for myself  - and you’re welcome to participate if you’d like) and learn a new word each day.  The fun doesn’t stop there however; not only do I (you) have to commit the definition to memory, but I (you) have to use the word three times that day in my (your) writing or conversations. 

Yes, I realize it’s the 3rd of February and have already missed two days of the challenge. Have no fear.  I’ve already taken care of that.  Today, I (you) must learn three words. Oh, come on. We can do it.  We’re not that old are we?

For the month of February, I will post the word of the day along with the definition at the bottom of my post and come February 28th, we’re going to be so smart we’ll have to buy ourselves a new leather bound dictionary to put on display in the family room! Won’t we be fancy schmancy? 

I hope you will join me in the challenge!  And, if for some reason I forget to post the word, just let me know.  After all, I’m a simple woman with a simple mind and may forget one day.

Here are our three words for the day. Remember, three today to catch us up. We can do it!  Oh, and if we already know the word, yeah for us. No homework that day (except to use the word in your writing or conversations). 

FEBRUARY VOCAB CHALLENGE 101 

Days 1, 2 & 3

spartan:  (adjective) Lacking in comforts; marked by self-discipline or self-restraint.

helut: (noun) A serf or slave.

milliner: (noun) Someone who design, makes or sells women’s hats.

(Yeah! I knew all three. Now to use them in my conversations. This ought to be good.)

"Update Closed"

Today is the second of February and the news is covered with stories of snow and blizzard conditions.  The crawl on our favorite tv station says, “Update Closed” due to the cold temperatures, so no school once again today. More than fifteen states are under some kind of weather advisory. The Midwest to the East Coast is blanketed in snow and ice inches thick. 

Yet, we’re inside under our electric blankets toasty warm.  We have heat.  So many people today are experiencing power outages and are without heat and the comfort of their own home.

Today I am thankful that we can stay inside and keep warm and enjoy the day off without worry.  We don’t have to shovel snow and we have more hot tea than anyone could possible need.  I am thankful today for our safety and comfort.

As I was reading about the weather yesterday I came across this photo that made me laugh and wanted to share it with you.  I hope you all stay warm today.