It’s the last day of our February vacation and it has been one rough week. We have all been sick to some varying degree. The kids seem to bounce back after, at most, 48 hours. Me? I’ve been sick since Monday. And I’m still not fully recovered. I just can’t believe that I’ve had to spend my vacation this way. Ticks. Me. Off.
I tried to pull it together yesterday for my son’s birthday. What he really wanted to do was head to the mall, do some shopping and pick out exactly what he wanted for his presents. I’m not one for wasting money on things my kids will never play with so I dosed myself on Advil and Robitussin (nectar of the gods!) and off we went.
We live out in the boonies and it usually takes between 35 and 40 minutes to get to the mall. But the traffic yesterday was unreal. And even though only 50 minutes passed on our trip - by the time we got to the mall I swear it had been 2 hours. Of course it didn’t help that my patience reservoir was empty thanks to the flu or whatever this evil sickness is. 30mph in a 40mph zone? Are you trying to kill me? Seriously?
We hit the food court first to make sure everyone’s blood sugar was a-okay; a crucial tactic for a successful shopping trip. Then it was off to the video game store for purchase number one. Let it be known that my son was given a budget before we started so he could make mindful choices along the way. And so I didn’t have to keep track of anything. Because I wasn’t capable.
Then he went to Radio Shack looking for a remote control vehicle but the selection was crappy so I convinced him (I am so manipulative) that we should really check out the ones they had at Target as I was sure there would be something more to his liking there. I am so bad.
Target was a success, were you really surprised? My son found this very cool FJ Cruiser and I got some much needed Tar-zhay therapy. I swear my sinuses cleared the second I walked through the door and I think I heard angels. Or the cold medicine made me a little delirious, six of one half a dozen of the other…really, who cares at this point?
We made a stop at the pet store and then everyone played some skeeball at the arcade before we finally left and drove home.
The evening finished out with burgers and fries and an M&M ice cream cake with 12 candles. When my son went to bed last night I asked him how his birthday was. His reply?
“Awesome. Let’s do exactly the same stuff next year. But maybe without everyone being sick.”
That’s my boy.
12 years ago today you changed my life forever.
You are the one that taught me what unconditional love actually was. I had never in my life felt so full of love that I thought I might burst. Ever. With anyone. Until the first time I saw you.
You showed me what it felt like to belong - to have others that I actually fit with. There was never a place in this world for me. Until you came along.
You taught me how to be friend, teacher and nurturer all rolled into one tight package. I never had the patience for any of it. Until you showed me how.
You helped me to let my guard down. To be able to laugh uncontrollably with you. I had always been so careful. Until you wore down my shield.
Most importantly - I know you get me. Because you and me? We’re just alike. I have never felt understood before. Until you.
Happy 12th birthday my son. There is no gift I can give you today or any other birthday that will ever come close to the gifts you have given me simply by existing. I love you more than anything. No matter what. Forever.
Now stop growing up already. Please?
Olivia is having a birthday party today with everything done up in Tinkerbell style. A couple of her friends are already here and a couple more are on the way. All those 7 year old girls in the house should be tons of fun. LOL
You have to admit from a girly standpoint, that Tinkerbell beats the Super Bowl any day. Colts? Bears? Who cares! We’re having cake, ice cream, party games and goody bags.
And our cat is still here as sort of an honorary guest. The vet “tweaked” him with antibiotics and prednisone and he’s acting 100% better. She told me that she would continue to do this each time as long as I understood that one of these times, he may not react positively to treatment. And so he lives on.
Have a fun Sunday and if you must know I’ll be watching the game tonight and hoping that the Bears stomp the Colts seeing as how the Colts took my Pats out of the running.
It’s Jeff’s birthday today and I spent my entire lunch hour rushing around trying to find his presents. I forgot about how convenient it was to be home all day and go out whenever you wanted. These time restraints are leaving me winded. *phew*
I just have to pick up his cake and dinner on my home tonight. I really need to get more organized with my time. Being home has made me lax with time management. So many new things to learn!
The doctor’s office called and moved E’s appointment up to yesterday afternoon. This was a tough one because I had a house full of children, literally, but that’s one of the advantages to having my husband home. I could just pick up and take her and leave him here with 6 kids. LOL
She was nervous on the way up there and kept asking me what the doctor was going to do to her. Was he going to give her a shot? Was he going to take a picture of her arm (x-ray)? I told her he was going to look at it and he might take a picture. We checked in at the desk and sat and read a book together. They called us in shortly and her shyness quickly ensued. The nurse tried to talk to her ad she just looked at her feet or buried her head in me. The same thing happened when the doctor came in and I had to put her on my lap and sort of push her until she was sitting up enough for her arms to be examined.
The diagnosis? After my description of what happens and where the pain is located the doctor indicated that he felt she suffered from what is called “nursemaid’s elbow“. Basically what happens is when someone pulls on her arm, a piece of ligament gets caught on the top of the radius bone in the lower arm. It will be extremely painful and render the arm unusable until the arm is turned in such a way that the ligament pops out. She will outgrow it. *phew* The doctor also showed me how to pop it out myself when it happens but I’m not sure if I have what it takes to do it. You’re supposed to turn the arm over, palm facing up and push up on the elbow until there is a pop. *shudder*
So I’m relieved that she’s going to be fine. We just have to be super cautious of her arm in the future. When we left she asked me if we could stop at the store for a little bit of candy. LOL So I took her for a treat, what with all we’ve been through in the last few days. She ate her Skittles on the way home and went on to play happily for the rest of the afternoon.
It was also L’s birthday last night. She is 3 years old! I can’t believe the time has gone so fast. My youngest is 3! J made homemade pizza and breadsticks for dinner - he’s a fabulous chef - and he even baked and decorated her birthday cake. She requested a strawberry cake and J made her one and decorated in with white, pink and yellow frosting. Dinner and cake were a big hit but her presents were an even bigger hit. We got her 2 stuffed animals, a little white tiger and a brown and white puppy, and they are the super soft and squishy type. She carried them everywhere last night, talking to them and playing with them. We also got her Dora’s Vaminos Van. She and her sisters fought over that one for a while. LOL
All in all it was a good day yesterday and we’re due.
Birthdays, Kidlets | Jules February 22, 2008 | 
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