Friday Night Leftovers- The What Day Is It? Edition

M had a very successful Barrett's surgery last week, despite some initial confusion and a loud argument between the docs in the OR. Teaching hospitals...gotta love 'em.

Work has be cuh-razy. It feels like I just packed a month into a week. But there was one nice perk last week while I was traveling- staying at the Ritz Carlton. The impeccable room service, the garden tub, the television embedded in the bathroom mirror. Aaahhh!

Sunday night I got this lump in my throat, out of nowhere. By Monday, I looked like I had a huge Adam's apple and resembled a drag queen. Ever the procrastinator, I went to the doc on Thursday. After a rapid strep test, nasal flu swab, two tubes of blood, and two neck x-rays, I was sent home with two Rxs to treat both a sinus infection (I suspected) and "cervical adenitis"- the fancy way to say I somehow got a bacterial infection of the lymph nodes. Who knew? So, my body is fighting something off and let's hope it resolves quickly, because this tennis ball in my throat isn't really working for me.

I've lost 4.4 pounds so far...slow, but steady I guess.

The little man continues to be such a source of joy. We are taking the training wheels off his bike, after his basketball game tomorrow, and I know he's going to do great.

I spent $14 on a label maker today. My husband is afraid to go to sleep, wondering what all I will label as he slumbers (insert evil laugh here).

Totally in love with pomegranates- used up four of them this week, and the scent of Meyer's sweet lemons. I have some in the kitchen and I swear I walk in there just to smell them.

Where can I find a cute little chalkboard for my kitchen, without a hefty pricetag (read, Pottery Barn)? Even Wal-Mart didn't have them. Don't kids use chalk and boards anymore?

Reading a book I picked up at the airport: The Naked Gospel. Interesting look at misconceptions we have about the Bible, that continue to be perpetuated secularly or in the church itself. Just read The Five People You Meet in Heaven, while at the doc yesterday. Good read.

It has been glorious being off work for over two weeks and celebrating Christmas with family and friends...if only it could last all year long. Sugar daddy, anyone? Seriously, it made me wish I had the ability to be a SAHM, not at the corporate grind daily. I loved waking up and not having a slew of conference calls, reports, spreadsheets, "fire drills" and the like. My challenges were not how to solve for complex resourcing needs or professional development, but Legos or Parcheesi? Play-Doh or snowball fight? Broccoli or green beans? I loved it! I even managed to get some cleaning and organizing done, which never happens with working 45+ hours per week, plus being a mom on top of that. Even our NYC trip being cancelled due to snow was a blessing in disguise. C and I rarely have time to just "be." We had an entire unplanned week together that we just allowed to spontaneously evolve- how refreshing. I must disclose that as stressful as my career is, and all you need to do is watch the evening news re: financial institutions, I am thankful to be employed, and I am thankful to work for a company that provides me the privilege of working from home and keeping a flexible schedule.

I'd love to post more photos, but we currently have the issue of a bum PC, so who knows when I'll have more photos to post. In the meantime, you can see our 16" of snow- a true white Christmas!

There's No Crying in Hot Potato!

Is it me, or are kids just melting down over the smallest things these days? I feel old even asking that question, but I remember a time when you couldn't do something and mom or dad said something to the effect of "get back out there and try again" and that's exactly what you did. I was recently at C's basketball practice and a kid there was having trouble dribbling the ball, and started crying. And I don't mean just a couple of tears, I mean a full out case of the hooty puckers! Granted, every kid is different, but I have to say, C has never played this sport before, couldn't dribble, and just kept on trying. I think he knew though that if he started melting over that, there wouldn't be coddling waiting for him on the sidelines either. Then again, he's not really what I'd call a "melter" either. Perhaps it's a chicken/egg discussion...does the parent coddling cause the child melting or vice versa? Before you think I'm a total ice queen, yes, kids need love, support, etc...but I don't think we need to swing it to the point of encouraging inappropriate behavior and the inability to foster independence. So back to Mr. Hooty Puckers...he spent the next 15 minutes of a 60 minute practice on the sidelines with dad just carrying on. And no, this is not a special needs child, an autistic child, etc. Is this how "teacup children" and "helicopter parents" are made? Well, now that you probably think I'm one big meanie, I remember when you played sports as a kid and they actually kept score, and you learned how to win and lose gracefully...none of this "no score" crap.

So, I was in charge of coming up with a game for C's class party yesterday and I refuse to buy into this "no winner" mentality. I think if done right, you can play a game where there is a winner AND kids can have fun along the way. After seeing another mom facilitate a bingo game and pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey that ended with sobbing and alligator tears at the fall party, I knew I'd have to get ahead of these little munchkins. I was ready! I wanted something simple with very little prep and hot potato seemed like a good pick. To fit the theme I used a stuffed animal penguin and called it "Chilly Chilly Penguin" and it's the same concept as HP, but the CCP is just too cold to hold. I got the kids in a circle on the classroom rug and asked who could tell the class how to play HP. One little girl did a great job of it. Then I explained we'd have a CCP instead of a HP. So far so good. And then I said..."there's no crying in CCP!" The kids giggled, etc. and I restated it just for dramatic effect with them. The teacher whispered it would be a miracle if J did not have a meltdown. I quickly explained someone would leave the circle each time, they would see me for a small prize for playing as a good sport, and then they would be my DJ for one round, and there would be a bigger prize for the winner.

So, the rules and expectations were set and it was time to put the game in motion. And you know what? It went BEAUTIFULLY! We had 19 eager little people who played nicely, learned how to handle the disappointment of being eliminated and the winner was proud that he won and had a different prize as a winner (each eliminated child received a Christmas pencil, the winner received a Crayola Color Wonder maze and puzzle pack). Carefully crafted, I think we can teach kids that we can play games, keep score, and still have a good time. And you know what? Even J was all smiles and not one tear or meltdown over his elimation and never once did I hear "he got a cool prize and I only got a pencil." Now that's a party!

The Difference Between Men and Women

Here's one for you...

We decorated for Christmas a few weeks ago, but the hubs never got around to getting the candles in the window. So today, what do I see? Candles DUCT TAPED to my window sills! UGH! On what planet is that acceptable? Reminds me of the saying, "if you want it done right do it yourself." Not even clear packing tape, but duct tape. Nice, real nice.

Friday Night Leftovers

I cannot believe it's been a whole month since I last updated! I've missed this creative outlet, but it's been crazy busy and then some around here. In the spirit of FNL, some quick updates are below.

No great photos posted to the blog since the hub's computer is acting squirrely. I need to get the old photos transferred off before I can start downloading any new ones...5 years worth of old photos. I'm thinking I need a better photo management/back-up system, so I am looking for suggestions. In the absence of a current photo, I posted an older Christmas one I like.

The little man got his cast off this week and he's healed nicely. Of course, now that means he's looking to climb something new...the neighbor just told me C tried scaling their indoor steps by climbing the handrail. Nice.

As much as I want this to be a calm and peaceful advent season, I am stressed. Stress from work and so much to do around the house, plus so many commitments around the holidays. The shopping was all finished a month ago; it's getting the house cleaned up, Christmas cards done, etc. that are outstanding. In 2009 I remember thinking "next year will be different" and here we are pretty much the same. Grrr...two weeks left to enjoy the season, so if Christmas cards don't make it out, you know why.

Little man started playing basketball, with the cast, but he's now cleared for his first official game on Saturday.

We've been traveling fools lately...since my last post we've spent a week in Hilton Head, a weekend away at a cottage we love, a surprise weekend away for C and M next weekend and then C and I are headed up to NYC the day after Christmas. Even I think I'm just about "traveled out" right now...not that I'm going to complain about two NYC visits in 2 months!

M's last surgery did not go as planned; we are awaiting pathology reports (due next week) and we'll go from there.

When the Bough Breaks

You know there is a difference in you child's cries- the I'm-really-hurt-and-going-to-make-you-panic-cry versus the I'll-get-over-it cry. We had the former this afternoon, that which makes even the toughest mama's stomach drop and panic rise. Before I get to that, let me give some background.

We have a frequent flyer pass with our local ER and the annual Thanksgiving tradition here isn't just the turkey, Macy's parade, and football. Historically the holiday has included an ER visit for C...EVERY year. And JUST TODAY a colleague asked me about this tradition and I responded that I hope we break that one tradition this year, and just enjoy our time in Hilton Head. Well, we hope we broke the tradition and that our ER visit this evening takes the place of a Thanksgiving visit.

My boy must be part monkey; he cannot be outside without climbing a tree. As much as we say "that's dangerous" and "get down" the result is temporary. C will get down for that moment, but once your back is turned, he's at it again. As a mom, I am torn- aren't boys supposed to be climbing trees, catching bugs, chasing frogs and the like? I think this is one lesson that teaches itself though. Frankly, I'm not even sure the result of this fall will be a permanent deterrent for the little guy who likes to do his own stunts.

So, what happened? C decided to climb a tree after school and took quite a spill. He's broken both the radius and the ulna in his left arm, has a shiner forming on his eye, and a large goose egg on his head. My mom and I both knew when we heard his cry, then saw the limp arm, that we were headed to the ER immediately...and C wailed and wailed, which indicated even more that something was seriously wrong. C is finally resting (thank you Tylenol with codeine) with a splint and sling and we're visiting the orthopaedic surgeon in the morning.

Once we returned from the ER my mom and I visited the "scene of the crime" and realized how blessed we are that this was not even more serious than it already is. From where the branch broke and landed, it appears that C was at least 10 feet up in the tree...that sits between our stone driveway, stone walkway, and construction fencing (ditch work being done). There was also a metal landscaping light right there. We are so blessed that C did not hit the stone, the light, the fencing, the car- it's amazing he hit the patch of ground and nothing else, and for that, we are overwhelmed with gratitude. The branch is strewn all over the stone and I'm just so thankful we didn't have a compound fracture or more serious injuries.

I told my mom that I just don't know that my heart will ever be strong enough as boyhood marches on and leaves its nicks, scrapes, and ER visits. Tomorrow we'll meet with the orthopaedic surgeon to learn more, but for now, I'm just thankful my little snuggle bug is nestled in and feeling some pain relief. Thank God it wasn't worse than this!

Random Thoughts

Tonight's dinner is curry and coconut chicken with rice and Tuscan melon. My son thinks I am out to get him; I think I may be the only one enjoying this dinner, with a glass of wine of course.

Christmas is 47 days away and I already feel "behind."

Vacationing for Thanksgiving is a nice idea, but after cooking a Sunday dinner last night, I called it quits. Actually, I called Fresh Market, and since they are on island, they will be catering my TG dinner.

A split vacation is a concept we are going to test out this year- we'll enjoy 1/2 a week of just me, hubs, and C prior to family chaos arriving and ensuing.

I am packing wine for the trip- lots of it. And my bike. However, I will not be drinking wine on the bike.

During a rousing game of Candyland tonight, my son yells out "AW- THAT SUCKS." Not a proud moment around here, not a word we use. Couldn't get from him where he'd heard that, but I guess it resonated that we don't say it when C asked, "so, is it bad like 'shit'?" Mother.of.the.Year.

I am hosting a baby shower in less than a month- really need to get this place cleaned up and ready to entertain...and the invitations out!

Hoping to get rid of this underlying feeling of intense stress right now!