Birthday

I was a very pathetic mom on Christopher's birthday. I did manage to get a little video of him playing...but no photos! We baked the cake and didn't decorate it. We didn't even eat it. So, we have an octopus cake in the kitchen that is mostly whole. I guess it just had something to do with the fact that Steve's been really busy in the lab this week and that we haven't been getting a lot of sleep. I just wasn't too motivated to do much! Pathetic. He did get a new toy. And at Thanksgiving we had pumpkin pie with a candle in it...does that count?

**Photos are backwards in time...obviously! Not sure where his pants went...must have been covered in pumpkin pie...he loved that a little too much!

Christopher's First Birthday

...is today! Sang "Happy Birthday" to him this morning when he woke up. Not sure what else we're going to do today. We'll bake that octopus cake tonight when Daddy gets home. Christopher doesn't have his 12 month appointment until December 13th, so I can't give you any stats just yet. I'll be sure to take lots of photos today.

SNOW!!!! (this time it's sticking!!!)

It's dark and snowing...so naturally we bundled up and went out. :)

Thanksgiving Eve

Tonight I am thankful for a dry/warm place to live. And for Mexican food. And for Katelyn's pie expertise...she's going to make the pies!

Making Use of Naptime

Today I find myself rather limited in free time. Katelyn comes today (which is an incredible and wonderful thing) and the house is a "mess". I seem to be able to live in a "spot-cleaned" home, but I don't feel guests should have to. So today I am on a mission to deep clean this place to the best of my ability. Here comes the glitch: I don't want to spend the whole day cleaning! (Don't forget I have a very cranky/upset nearly-one-year old boy who seems to "need" me in his sight at all times.) The solution? Use that 2-3 hour (yes, he actually naps now!) block of time when he doesn't need me and use it wisely. So I will write my little list of things to get done today in columns, one "bad" and one good.

clean oven _____________catch up on Fiskateer messages
clean bathroom floor ______workout
clean bathtub___________ fold laundry
call maintenance_________return library books
homework_____________ pick up Katelyn at the airport
do the dishes___________ read for book group
clean kichen floor________ work on various projects

Obviously those on the left are things I don't want to do and those on the right are things that appeal to me today. For every thing I get done on the left, I allow myself one thing that would take the same amount of time. I'm off to tackle the oven...

U of M ER and Atul Gawande

Last night (this morning) at 2am we took Christopher to the ER because he's been sick with a fever of 102 degrees on and off and woke up screaming (for the second time that day) and couldn't be comforted. Naturally he quit crying when we walked into the triage reception area. The plus side to taking your child to the ER is that they try much harder than the pediatrician's office to actually come up with a solution and probable cause. We had taken him into Primary Ped's earlier in the day and they decided nothing was wrong with him at all. The ER doctor came in twice to see him and proposed a temporary solution (Motrin for any pain) and probable cause. She is quite certain he was merely having trouble with his bowels, possibly some telescoping. No hernia and no strep. While the ER doctor told us he was in perfect health, she also sent us home with instructions and things to look for in case he really does have some bowel issues. And she even told us to ask for her if we have to check in at the ER again and she would personally do the ultrasound. Phew. A nice doctor! Now don't get me wrong, we love our pediatrician...but because we had a sick visit, we didn't actually see his pediatrician earlier that day. Anyway, he's doing just fine today. We're all a little tired, but just fine.

We are reading "Better" by Atul Gawande for book group this month. While the book is fascinating, it made me just slightly more paranoid about hand washing and I couldn't help but watch all the nurses in the ER to see if they were obeying the signs above the sinks/near the light switches to use the anti-bacterial gel before examining each patient. To my relief, they were. If you ever want to read more about the medical world, read this book!

*The Wolverines lost to the Buckeyes 14-3 this afternoon. Pretty sure we don't want to go out now...too much rain and too many angry football fans!

Loud Noises

You would think that not having tv would diminish the weird thoughts that pop into my head when I'm alarmed. Not so. There was a huge car accident just outside our apartment. I heard the collision over the running water in the kitchen (which is quite a feat given that I usually can't hear Christopher crying upstairs when the water is running) and though we were being bombed. Seriously that was my first thought. And then naturally I thought about a car accident. While I'm glad it wasn't a bomb, I feel terrible for those people! One car is completely wrecked and two more are rather smooshed. And it's started snowing...and it's dark. If Steve were home I'd let them sit in our living room while they wait for the police. It would seem no one is hurt, so maybe I won't worry too much. There's something about being a mother that makes you incredibly concerned for complete strangers long after you witness an accident.

SNOW!!!!

We are enjoying a soft and light flurry of snow. So pretty! I am glad it's not sticking, though. Not sure I'm mentally prepared for that. Another photo of Christopher as requested. More of SA later...internet isn't cooperating!

Home from San Antonio

And I'm still recovering. I got home Sunday night and still haven't unpacked. There's way too much stuff!!! I can't even believe how much Fiskars put into our weekend and how much stuff/training they sent us home with. Wow. I am floored. We took classes with Cherly, Holly, Stephenie, Heidi Grace, and Nancy from Cloud 9. I learned SO MUCH. Fiskars is doing some amazing things and there's even a village named Fiskars in Finland where artists live and work. We even took a little field trip to the Alamo! There is no way any of the Nifty Fifty will be able to thank them. So, here's a HUGE thanks to all my fellow Fiskateers for making the weekend such a wonderful experience, to the lead Fiskateers for teaching us, to Heidi Grace, to Nancy from Cloud 9, to Suzanne Walker and team, and to Brains on Fire.

*We wore these orange hats all over San Antonio. Christopher loves it!

Texas

I leave today for the BIG weekend in Texas. I'm excited, but nervous. I had no idea leaving Steve and Christopher alone for 2+ days would be so hard! Hope they do well, stay safe, get some sleep (that means no screaming, Christopher!), have good weather for taking walks, and find new boardbooks at the library (we've checked them all out at least once).

Chicken Little and Some Friends