Annual Check-ups

We're going to be going to Cameron's annual genetics appointments on Monday. I've learned (through my 4 years with making genetics appointments that are FAR from home) that it's easier to get as many appointments scheduled at one time as possible.
So on Monday we are having his opthomologist appointment. At THIS appointment they will check his optic nerve to make sure that there aren't any tumors growing there. It's also handy as his annual eye check-up. Two years ago we learned that the poor boy inherited his mama's awful eye-sight. He has astigmatism and is slightly near-sighted. This time we're hoping that the glasses we get for the boy will sit better on his face! (That's OUR choice though....not the doctor's!)
The genetics clinic is only open for appointments on Tuesdays, so Tuesday is our genetics clinic day. His doctor has been with us for YEARS! We started seeing him when he was still a student. But he has since graduated and become a bona fide doctor! I absolutely LOVE this doctor. He's more concerned with Cameron's well-being than his regular pediatrician!! Seriously, this man is WONDERFUL!! He's given us his direct line if there's ever ANYTHING that happens! I wish he was our regular pediatrician, but since he's there and not here....

Cam will also be getting some tests done for some research projects. Since there are varying degrees of NF1, they want to see if certain forms are linked to other things or if having a certain form of NF1 precludes you to getting something else. An example: they have found that many people with NF1 have scoliosis (curving of the spine) and they want to see if it's linked with one type of NF1 more than the other. There are two ways to detect NF1 in DNA, either a mutation of the gene or a gene deletion. Cam has the gene deletion. Because of these tests with the research lab, we've discovered that Cam has a SLIGHT curve of his spine, and we went back for MORE testing to find out exactly why. When we went back, they did an MRI. Doing an MRI on a child this young requires sedation, which isn't very fun! At his initial MRI they found that he had some items "of interest." At the second MRI they discovered that the items of interest weren't just malfunctioning lymph nodes, but actual plexiform neurofibromas (tumors caused by NF1).

Thanks to the discovery of these tumors, we need to keep an eye on them to make sure that they don't change and become fast-growing and possibly cancerous. So, on Wednesday we'll be doing our third MRI. We've learned, from previous experience, doing the MRI early in the morning is best, so we'll be ready to go at 6:30 in the morning!! Uh, yay!? But with this being the LAST appointment for this trip, we can leave for home as soon as my child is coherent. (And by "coherent," I mean awake, but tipsy!)

I'm planning on documenting this trip, so anyone who wonders about my trips or the things we do, will have a better idea of what we do! I want to video tape the boy once he wakes up from his sedation, so you can see his drunken-demeanor. (I know, it's not very nice, but it makes me giggle with how much Cam thinks he's in control, but with how LITTLE control he actually has!)

So if you wonder about me, that's where I'll be. Don't worry, you WILL get the update...when I feel up to it! ;)

It's BAAAAACK!!!!

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!

If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

Answers (Even Some You DIDN'T Expect....)

One Scrappy Gal said...
My Friday question: Why do they pronounce "Sean" as "Shawn" ????

Scrappy:

It's an Irish thing. I don't pretend to know the little nuances of EVERY language, but I do know that it's because it's NOT English! (And I absolutely LOVE that spelling of Sean! If I ever named one of my kids that, I would use THAT spelling!)

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Elena Manwaring said...
"Sweet!" :) Sewn with a sewing machine or by hand? Either way, it's way more than I've ever done. Way to go!

Elena:

ALL by machine!! I'm NOT that talented (or patient!) ;) The only problem is that I have to change the bobbin thread ALL of the time....it gets annoying, but it's WAY better than doing it by hand!

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Elena Manwaring said...
Whew! I thought I was going to have to go two weeks without knowing it was Friday! :) Here's your question, (even though technically I've already gotten one in today) : What shows did you watch this premier week and which ones did you like and want to keep watching?

Elena:

I have a few shows I watch, and they were the ones I've watched before....I wasn't excited about most of the "new" shows.

I watched Heroes (WHOO HOOOO!! My favorite!), Dancing with the Stars (what's UP with Wayne Newton??? THAT dude STINKS!), The Office (a recent fan....but I have seen EVERY Office episode!), and ER. On Sunday I will watch Desperate Housewives!!

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CareBearMommy said...
If your fight the other night was about what I THINK it was (I was reading the MOF's board, ahem, iPod?) are you now at peace with the whole situation?

Carrie:

Now I have to give BACKGROUND information!!

The iPod situation: We found out that we're getting an extra amount of money, not a lot, but enough to help out our paycheck-to-paycheck situation. Steve informed me, he didn't ask, or discuss this with me, that when we get the money, he wants to buy an iPod. I told him we'd have to talk about it first before any firm decisions were made. I thought that the extra money should go towards paying off some of our bills, and I told him that. We both agreed to let the whole thing drop until we get the money, then decide. The situation was dropped, and nothing more was said, until the fight...

The fight the other night was mostly about my complaints that Steve is being VERY selfish (in MY opinon). As many of you know, we've been trying for another baby for YEARS, and recently I've discovered charting my temps. And according to those in the know, when you ovulate there is a significant dip in your basal-body-temperature. That morning I had a dip, and informed Steve that it was "time." That night he told me that he was too tired. I got furious, and frustrated, and just BLEW UP! Things had been building for weeks with the argument over the iPod to him not wanting to do the deed. The fight was bad at first. I cried and yelled, he fumed and clammed up (that's the way he deals with confrontation....DRIVES ME BATTY!) and I left the room. I came back and more tears and frustration was put out there, and not in a good way. So HE left. I cried. I felt very alone...without a friend, really. So I prayed. (Yes, that's my way of dealing with stuff that goes on in my life...) At the end of my prayer, I felt like I should go and rationally explain my outburst. I talked with him, more rationally, I felt, and he just sat taking it all in. After I had said what I had gone downstairs to say, I left. I had HOPED that he'd follow me, we'd both say we were sorry, and that would be the end of it, but it didn't happen. Steve slept on the couch for the first time in our marriage, and I felt HORRIBLE!

After I knew he was asleep (I could hear his rumbling snores from downstairs) I went into the bathroom an wrote him a soap message on the mirror. (Anyone else do this??) The next morning he left home for work without kissing me, and I thought for SURE that he had had enough of me.
Thankfully, we talked and found out that we had both forgiven the other, and things have been better. In no way are we perfect, but we're working on it, and I'm glad that he's forgiven ME and that we can continue in a forward direction!

We've also discussed what we're going to do with this excess money, and no firm decisions have been made either way, but at least he knows where my thoughts are, and why I told him no.

Does this answer your question?? If not, then I'm sorry, but I can't think of any other way to answer it!

SO Proud

I don't feel like I have very many talents, but I'm SO proud that I created this:

Oh, and don't mind the bumpy parts....Steve is hiding underneath the blankets!

I've been wanting to make a King Size quilt to fit our bed for about 3 years now, and I finally kicked myself in the rear, and started to put the pieces together. Unfortunately, when I bought the material, I didn't realize how much I'd need....and sadly, I've run out of material. So when I get more purples and whites, I will finish the top, and REALLY have something to be proud of! ;)

I guess I should add that this is only a PART of the top of a quilt....it's not anywhere NEAR finished, but after sewing for a while, I feel proud to show off my accomplishments! The hardest part of putting this whole thing together is cutting the stupid squares!! Seriously annoying!!

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And another thing I'm feeling proud of....Cameron has picked up a few new words. Every time I hear them I can't help but giggle. I noticed it the other day, but last night he couldn't STOP saying these words! His new words? "Awesome" and "sweet!" He'll be watching TV, and someone will do or say something he thinks is neat, and his response is, "Mama, that's AWESOME!" Or just randomly, "SWEET!!"

Putting Up a Fight

Is it worth it to pick battles that you know you can't win?? Please discuss....I'm having problems with a "fight" that I had the other night, and I'm wondering now, if what I even said, whined, cried about was EVEN worth it....

And Now It's Story Time

My friend, Sketchy, sent me a BEAUTIFUL story that I've heard before, but want to share. I feel very fortunate to have my different little boy, but there are DEFINITELY days where I wish I was in Italy. (By the way, I don't know who wrote this story, so I apologize now for not telling you who the author is.)

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"Welcome to Holland"

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this.......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy.

"But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandt.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But.... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

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I want to shake this person's hand and thank them for putting this SO beautifully. It truly is amazing to have a child with differences. Maybe part of MY learning experience from having my son is learning to put aside those dreams that I thought were mine, and dream of what I have. I think that's something I will work harder on: finding peace and happiness in the life I DO have, instead of mourning the life that isn't mine to live. Sure there will be bumps along the way, but I will get up, and will try again!

SURPRISE!!!

I have a visitor, who really needs to leave my house!!

For weeks we've been hearing this scratching noise under our kitchen sink, but we haven't investigated any further than figuring out where the sound came from. Today I was brave, and looked. I found nothing, but proceeded to pull out the boxes and food-stuff that was kept there. We've suspected that we have a mouse, but haven't really seen any mice wandering around. After pulling out the boxes, I showed Steve and we both figured that the mouse was hiding behind the dishwasher (there's a hole under the sink that leads behind the dishwasher...)

So Steve left me to my under-sink rearranging. I decided to find out what exactly was IN this box that was under our sink, and as I pulled out a bag that had napkins in it, a furry, gray mouse JUMPED out and RAN toward my garbage can!!

I ran faster than I've ever run before and while SCREAMING jumped onto our couch. I didn't want to see that mouse again...all I wanted was for him to DIE!!

Unfortunately my screaming woke up baby J, who had *just* settled down for his nap, and I immediately yelled for Steve to come and take care of our pest. He told me to get him a pillowcase. I gave him a look that said, "You want me to sacrifice one of MY pillowcases for this......THING!?" He instructed me to get one that I didn't want anymore, and I hurried as fast as I could, staring at the floor in fear that another mouse would pop out and chase me. After I grabbed the pillowcase, Steve and the mouse had a stare-down. Steve asked me to run to my neighbor's to see if she had mice or knew of anyone who WANTED a mouse. She and I talked for a while, and then her son offered to catch it for us, but by the time he came over, Mr. Mouse was hiding under the stove or fridge. I gathered up the sleeping baby and ran to Walmart to buy sticky traps and mouse poison. (Did I mention I want the mouse DEAD!?)

All day long I've been wondering how quickly I can invent a hover device, but Steve assures me that the mouse will stay hidden, and won't attack me.

Sadly, I had gotten over my fear of the floor and was SITTING on it when Steve, who was in the kitchen, said, "OOH....Where'd it go?!"

I asked him, "What!?"

Him, nonchalantly, "The mouse....."

Me: hyperventilating......

I know this fear of mine came from my mother....

When I was younger, in my teens, we were remodeling our house. We had pulled all of the carpeting out, and that left HUGE gaps underneath the doors, which allowed mice to come and live with us. She put out all sorts of mice poisons, and when a mouse would be dead, foaming at the mouth in the middle of the floor, she'd FREAK out!! She'd yell for us to get it out of her sight. So I was one of the ones to dispose of these ICKY things!!

There was one night I was walking to my bedroom in the basement, and because the light switch was on one side of the basement (the one FARTHEST from my bedroom) I'd turn off the light and make a run for it. On this night, I stepped off the stairs onto something soft and fluffy. Now, you have to realize, our house was MESSY, and stepping on something soft and fluffy usually meant clothes or toys. But I KNEW this one was different, because it SQUEAKED!! I didn't kill it, but I know I scared it, and it scared me too!!

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Update: Two mice were caught on the sticky trap underneath our sink....EWW!! I went to the store again today, and bought 12 more sticky traps and rubber gloves!! All morning long I could hear one of the mice that was stuck on the trap squeaking....I felt safer, until I discovered there were TWO on the trap!!

Oh, and just to satisfy your curiosity, NO, I didn't have to sacrifice my pillowcase....it's still safe! :)

Makes Me Giggle When I Read it....

Life with a "Different" Child

Thinking about my life, I don't think people really understand what I go through on a daily basis. By no means am I trying to demean anyone who has a child that is SEVERELY disabled, I just want to let you know what MY life is like with a child that is just....well, different.

Cameron, on the outside, looks like a completely healthy, normal first grader. The only CLUE someone MIGHT have is his glasses, but now a days, many kids have glasses. BUT once you stop to get to know Cam, you can see that he's just a little different.

His speech is a HUGE thing! He still is very hard to understand if you don't know his "Cam speak." He will try to ask for something new, and I, as his mama, can't always understand him. He's been known to get really frustrated asking me for something. He'll continue to mumble the same thing over and over until finally, in frustration, he explains it to me. Because he has problems articulating his speech, he has in-community (meaning NOT in school) speech therapy that he goes to EVERY week. Since putting him into regular speech therapy, he's DEFINITELY improved, but he's still really, really hard to understand! It's something that I don't know if he'll EVER have to stop doing.

Cameron is also VERY clumsy. I love how fun he can be, but if he runs, dances, or sometimes just walking, he can fall over nothing. His run isn't even very coordinated. Last year when the Kindergarten teacher would let the kids out for the day, she'd stand at the front of the field, let the kids look to the back where the parents were supposed to be, and let them run to their various rides. Cam would invariably start out running at the same time as the other kids, but be one of the last kids to the fence. I'm sure physical therapy would help him out, but in order to get him IN physical therapy, he needs a prescription from his doctor....and I figure since he's SO close to his yearly annual physical anyway, it can wait. But he has had physical therapy (or PT) in-school in the past.

Cameron is also a very easily frustrated child. If he doesn't understand something instantly, he will get SO frustrated that he gives up completely or will sit back and cry! It breaks my heart that he is so easily frustrated. Today before he left for school, he pulled out this little shoe tying thing that we bought a long time ago. I was trying to show him how to make a bow, but his mind couldn't grasp what I was trying to tell him, so he threw the shoe at me (luckily it's only cardboard), took off his back pack, and went to the stairs yelling!! Unfortunately, I didn't handle his fit appropriately and had an angry yelling fit.....

He also has problems with his fine-motor skills. To help him in THIS area, he has occupational therapy (OT) in and out of school weekly. You may be asking yourself, "What kind of occupation does a CHILD have?" The occupation of a child is BEING a child, running, catching, doing puzzles, coloring, cutting, all the things that kids do. Cam's been in OT since he turned one. I tell him he's going to be "playing" with whoever is his therapist at the time, and he accepts it. OT has been SO good for him, but it's so hard to find a time when he can do it that he won't be too grumpy with Mr. Therapist.

Cam is also an only child, and because of this he's socially awkward. I remember one time last year when I went to help out in his classroom, he walked up to one boy, who was very sweet, and he tapped this boy on his shoulder and said, "C, will you be my friend?" This boy looked at me with HUGE eyes, almost as if he were asking me, "Do I HAVE to say yes?!" My child just doesn't understand that if you're "friends" you don't have to ask....

Because of his slower tendencies he's been put into DACC. This is supposed to teach him at a MUCH slower pace the things that other first-graders are learning, but what he brings home from school is almost a step BACKWARD from what he learned in KINDERGARTEN!! I don't know why, but will find out this week when I go to his IEP meeting. People with kids in the special ed programs KNOW about IEPs, but regular, healthy, NORMAL kids don't have these. IEPs are Individual Education Plans. Cam's annual update for his IEP is this Thursday. It's not very fun for parents OR teachers!! It's a meeting where EVERYONE involved in Cam's education (from parents to teachers to therapists, even to the principal *gag*) meet and discuss his needs for the upcoming year, and what goals will help him accomplish those needs. Then he's supposed to be evaluated every few months to see that those needs are being met. In theory it's WONDERFUL, but in reality, it doesn't always get addressed. Looking at his IEP, I'm SURE he's had the same goals for 3 years.....and he's still "working on them...."

Because of his NF1 status, we also have the "fun" of going once a year to Salt Lake for annual genetics check-ups. They basically make sure that he's not regressing and that he's getting the helps that he needs. And now, we also have the added pleasure of MRIs! Since finding out that he DOES have some internal tumors, we need to keep a close eye on them to make sure that they don't grow, or change in anyway. He is always put to sleep for this procedure, and THAT is never easy! Needles freak the child out!

Cameron is also mentally a few years behind his peers. We've done testing with the school and with the Learning Center and found in his last test that mentally, Cameron is 4 years 10 months old. So anything that an almost 5 year old does, finds funny, or entertaining is what Cameron is into. The boy has just recently fallen in love with Little Einsteins, Blues Clues, and those kinds of little kid shows. He recently has also picked up on jokes. He thinks he can tell a funny knock-knock, but usually, it's so off-the-wall that we laugh anyway.

An example:

Cameron: "Knock knock..."

Me: "Who's there?"

Cameron: "Cameron"

Me: "Cameron Who?"
Cameron: *fit of hysterical giggles*

I love my son, don't get me wrong, but there are times when I wonder if someday he'll ever catch up with his peers. Will he ever be in a "normal" classroom, or will he be stuck in the special ed cycle his whole life?? Will he be a "normal" adult?? Or will he have to stay with us his whole life because he just "doesn't get it?" When someone says that therapy is like an inoculation, "Short-term and intense so that it will prevent other delays." When will it be ending?? Where is the short-term aspect of this??

My life is not frustrating by any means, but it is difficult at times. He has so many programs that he's apart of, how can he ever get through all of this? If he ever lost his Medicaid, how would WE make it?

This is just a glimpse into my life. Please, do NOT feel sorry for me, because this is normal for us. We know of no other way. Just understand that there are others out there, who may look like they're frazzled and have no apparent reason for it....it may just be that they have a "different" child or "different" situation.

Guess What Time it Is....

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!
If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

So YOU Asked....

One Scrappy Gal said...
Ever watch the cartoon The Backyardigans with your son?

In the opening credits...they always show 5 Backyardigans. Uniqua, Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha and Austin.

Yet... in the actual episodes...they almost always only show 4.

It's usually a different one that's missing of most of the episodes...yet they don't explain where they are! Are they at a doctor's appointment? Having braces put in? Running errands with their mother? THEY NEVER EXPLAIN WHERE THEY ARE!

So I sit through some of these episodes...wondering...why bother showing 5 in the credits...when most episodes only have 4.

Do you think it's because it's too hard to show 5 on the screen at the same time?

Where do you think the missing one goes? Is there some conspiracy afoot?

P.S. I'm looking for some good movies to add to my online rental queue. Any suggestions?

Scrappy:

HOLY SMOKES LADY!! ;)

Yes, I sometimes watch the Backyardigans (cute show...) And I DID notice that there are usually only 4 kids (are they kids?? Or are they animals??) in the episodes. I feel kinda bad too, because I've noticed (at least in the early episodes) that Austin was the one left out.

I have also come up with a theory, Austin's mom is STRICT when it comes to playing with his friends. She's worried that he'll pick up bad habits from his friends. (And what IS Uniqua anyway!?) But getting back to the point, he's stuck at home, watching his friends from his bedroom window because his mom is "mean."

If Austin happens to be in the show, and there's still only 4 kids, then the odd one out is often Tasha. Tasha is just TOO good on those days to play with Austin, she's often jealous, and BEGS her mom and dad to take her on errands. She just does NOT get along with Austin, unless she's in charge!!

The reason they show ALL 5 is because there's always the possibility that you might spot the missing child, staring out of their bedroom window....WISHING they were playing with their friends....Either that, or the animators are just lazy!!

And as to your movie rental question: Disturbia is good, and I just watched Pursuit of Happyness....BOTH are good!! (Oh, and if you want one your kids can watch too, I highly recommend Bridge to Teribithia and The Last Mimsy.) If you want classics, you can NEVER go wrong with The Princess Bride, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Head Over Heels, or (my personal favorite, which I'm watching on MTV right now and HOPE to buy one day) Get Over It!!

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Elena said...
What's your favorite kind of pizza? And from where?

Elena:

I LOVE Craigo's Philly Cheese Steak Pizza. Yes, it's a little more expensive, but WELL worth the money....I fill up on just two pieces of their pizza compared to 5 of Pizza Hut's or Little Caesars'.

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Anonymous said...
Have you got that postcard i sent you yet? Do you have a good recipe for children's party food?

Rachel

Rachel:

I SO LOVE YOU LADY!!! Yes, I did get your postcard, and my husband was confused!! *snicker* I use it as my bookmark when I read....every time I see it, I think of my WONDERFUL friend on the other side of the world!!

The BEST children's party food I can think of is cupcakes. (Use the box, the kids won't know the difference!!) And then there's always Puppy Dog Chow:

9 cups of Chex (or a Chex-like cereal)

1/2 cup of peanut butter

1/2 cube of butter

1 bag of chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Set aside the cereal. In a microwave safe bowl put the peanut butter, butter, and chocolate chips. Let melt (stirring often...I do about every 30 seconds or so...) until mixture is smooth. Add vanilla and stir. Pour mixture over cereal and combine until cereal is coated. Then put into a zippered baggie, (gallon sized) and add sugar and shake.

SOOOOOO Yummy!! ;)

Tired of Unwanted Calls??

Then go to this site! :) I know I'll be happier!!

My Days

Someone asked me today what I do with my TIME, and I felt guilty when I told her, but I have to realize, everyone has a time and a season. On days when I don't have to babysit, I *try* to do some house chores (laundry, vacuuming, dishes....) but in reality, I sit around and watch TV. Granted, I don't watch much, but it's enough that I'm getting tired of the same old stuff.

I actually took a nap today, but it didn't last very long, because my phone is ringing off the hook with ANNOYING sales people. Whatever happened to the "do not call" list!? I miss those times when my phone rang with an actual person, and not a recording!!

I saw my doctor a few weeks ago, and he asked me to walk daily. I told him I would, but I have NO motivation to do it. I need some friends to motivate me, but sadly, with the price of gas, and my fear of my neighbors, I am alone.

I get very excited when I can leave my house to hang out with my mom. I LOVE my mom, she and I can talk about anything and everything (and often we do...)

I've been very depressed lately, but things are looking up. I'm not upset with Steve anymore (yeah, that was a drama....) and Cameron has his doctors' appointments set up. Peace is filling my heart, but I feel guilty for not being more productive.

Gratitude in Pictures

My Son is Taking Over my Life.....

Things are FINALLY falling into place....I've gotten back the okay for Cameron's medical things, and now we're off and running with setting up his appointments. I tried to schedule something with U of U Genetics early on Friday, but the lady in charge of setting up appointments didn't return my call until after 6:00 pm!! So, coordinating appointments will be my goal for tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers that I can get everything scheduled for the same day or the day after his genetics check-up. I have yet to call the eye doctor and radiology. I'll also have to call Dr. S's, Cam's geneticist, assistant. Then I'll have to call my service coordinator and let HER know what's going on.....yeah, the joys of being the ONE in charge!! *sigh*

On a happy note, Cam is THRILLED to learn that his top front teeth are BOTH loose. The boy was completely terrified when I told him that they would fall out. (Since he was three, he's only had the DENTIST pull his teeth, so he hasn't known that it was "normal" for them to fall out on their own...) He's constantly in my face asking, "Mom, can you pull them out now!?" He's so cute!!

And on a slightly unrelated, but maybe it's VERY related, topic I've decided to make a few goals to make my life more spiritual than it has been. I had quite a personal epiphany today in church about things that I SHOULD be doing, but I'm not. My goal is to do better in preparing my son spiritually, and not leaving it ALL for his church teachers!

Free For All Friday

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!

If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

Answers

One Scrappy Gal said...
Why oh why can't I get the song "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb out of my head? Specifically... the part where he says "how can I hold you when you ain't even mine? Only you can see me through... I leave it up to you. Do it right... take me through the night... shadow dancing... "

What IS shadow dancing?!! I'm flummoxed!

Scrappy:

Sadly, I've never heard that song. (Don't throw tomatoes....)

I believe shadow dancing is when you're all alone, and you're possibly thinking of your love. When you shadow dance, it's in the dark, and you dance with yourself. Man, I just realized, you've probably been thinking of your husband....am I right?? When you talk to him next, pick a time, and make sure you BOTH shadow dance....then you will be together! (Just make sure he can do it where no one else will see him, they may make fun of him...)

Mini-Party

Things are going well now!! In fact, I'm secretly having a mini-party!! (For those who know what I'm going through....party with me!! Hint: af)

This week has really flown. I've been attempting to clean up my house, and keep my son's allergies in check. It doesn't matter the season, Cam will always have issues with a runny nose and a sore throat at the changing of the season. I've been trying to keep him dosed up with the proper allergy medicines, but he will squawk and scream when it's time to take the medicine. His new "trick" is to plug his nose as he gulps down the medicine as quickly as he can. He IS getting better, although, chasing him around the house is NOT my idea of fun!

School seems to be going well for the boy. Whenever he comes home from school, I'll ask him what he did that day and his answer seems to always be whatever he ate for lunch!! Today he told me that he ate salad. WITH dressing!! He's a funny boy, and hopefully soon enough I will find out EXACTLY what he's been up to! I do know that his DACC classroom is VERY small this year, when I go to pick him up on Tuesdays for therapy, I've only noticed 6 or 7 kids!! I'm hoping the small class is helpful to him!!

Steve has started up his annual fall hobby: the city's fall musical. This year the musical is The Music Man, and he's playing Tommy's dad. (Tommy is the teen-ager who falls in love with the mayor's daughter...you know, the one who runs around saying, "Ye GODS!!") I think that was their way of making him feel like he HAD a part, even though he's just part of the ensemble! He's excited, and he's told me that he THINKS this will be his last time with this particular group. Here's hoping!!

And me?? I just do what I do....goof off, read, clean, and be an ornery mom/wife. I'm THOROUGHLY enjoying this cooler weather, and I can't wait for the leaves to change color and fall off the trees!! I'm THANKFUL that summer is OVER!! YAY!!

Life goes on, and thankfully, at this point....ALL is well!! *knock on wood*

Paperwork

Reapplying for things is annoying....I'll just leave it at that!! >:(

Cows?? I Can Tell You About Cows!!

Before I tell you about cows....let me answer the questions from the weekend....they were all good ones too! ;)

Nikkie said...
Question: Coke or Pepsi?

Nikkie:

Neither....cola makes me wanna puke!!

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One Scrappy Gal said...
What's on your Christmas wish list this year? Besides the usual peace on earth and good will to all?

Scrappy:

Christmas?? I don't even want to THINK about that holiday yet!! Fall just got here, woman!!

I REALLY want a Dyson vacuum cleaner, but I don't THINK I'll get it....unless Santa thinks I've been REALLY good this year!! ;)

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Sketchy said...
Why do they make video games with obnoxious repetitive music? Are they trying to drive me insane?

Sketchy:

Is it working???

Then YES, they do it to drive parents insane!

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Now about COWS!! Yes, I want to tell you what I've learned about cows!

Cows, despite popular belief, are social creatures. Choosing to converse in "moos" and moans in the WEE hours of the morning. And, quite like humans, cows will have ONE cow who dominates the conversation. The exception to the conversing cows fact, is that when coyotes are awake and howling or chirping, cows are silent.

When I was camping, and attempting to sleep, at least three cows were conversing, VERY loudly, mind you, about the food they would eat that day. I KNOW that's what the conversation was about, because, come on, what else do cows talk about!? The funny part of the whole conversation came when convo-hogging, cow would mumble and giggle about what the other cows had said!! She's not very nice, but they all deal with her, because she's related....and you have to be nice to relatives....there's an unwritten rule.

Another cow fact: Cows like to walk VERY slowly in the middle of a busy highway, but if it's a mildly busy highway, ALL the better, poop is inevitable then!!

We went on a short day-trip to a beautiful lake that was about 20 miles down the highway, and 5 more up a mountain. About six of those 20 highway miles were riddled with cows and cow doodie. Big cows, little cows, black cows, brown cows....all walking slower than a slug, and poo covering their bums. Luckily, my dad, who is an EXCELLENT driver, slowed down enough to not actually KILL any cows, just scar them for life! The funny part??? When one smart-alecky cow, probably a convo-hogging cow, smacked my parents' suburban with it's poo covered tail!! *WHACK!*

Cow fact #3: Cows, who are easily confused, should NEVER be barked at, they will run directly TOWARD the sound!

My brother, who is more like a giant teddy bear than a dog, decided it would be hilarious to make the cows move by barking at them. For most of the cows, it worked. For the ones who had drool hanging from the sides of their mouths?? BIG mistake!! We barely made it through the cow traffic without a major collision! (But I was laughing hysterically at the barking sound coming from my brothers!)

And our final cow fact of the evening: Even if you THINK you can get away from cows, you can't!! They're EVERYWHERE!!

Overall, my weekend was WONDERFUL!! I got to spend time with my family, laugh at some DUMB memories, make new ones (that included a redneck costume, and a troll mask), and just have a fun time. The best surprise of the weekend came when my little sister, who moved to Nevada, showed up. We weren't expecting them to come, in fact, I think she had told us that she probably COULDN'T come.....when I saw her, I let out a squeal of excitement. We all laughed until our heads hurt, and our bladders wanted to explode. It was GREAT FUN!!

We went on a quick trip to Meadow Lake (the jaunt when we nearly hit 30 or 600 cows) and a shopping trip to Kings and Alco in Salmon. The highlight was our finds at Alco: the LONG Halloween masks, and the troll mask, and a redneck costume. All making for a fun weekend.

I did lose Cameron's glasses on the first morning there, getting me grouchy, but calmed after Grandpa helped him find them. Then I freaked out when I thought I had lost my camera and cell phone, but was RELIEVED when I found my aunt had taken them into her trailer for safe keeping!! Oh, and arguing with crazy aunts ALWAYS adds an air of fun to any trip!! *dripping with sarcasm*