family fun

Pictures of family fun on Alex's arrival day...

busy week, Sam's trip to the ER

This week and next are really busy because I'm working full time and am on call for 16 days straight, plus we have Buzz's medical school graduation this Saturday. Bryan's mom is here helping with the kids, my parents are here too (helping Buzz pack and move), and Pete and Grace are also visiting. Last night we had dinner with Pete and Grace, without kids - SO nice to see them and catch up. Peter and I found we have independently each developed similar interests in food, nutrition, and Macs :-) (we each bought our first one about 6 weeks ago) , despite not communicating regularly. I felt like I'd found my long-lost twin. :-) That has happened before with other siblings. We don't live in the same state and don't keep up as well as we would like, but when we visit we find we have been doing the same things, unknowingly. Once I visited Laura and saw we had bought the same coat - she in LA and I in SLC.

As if things weren't hectic enough, Wednesday Sam got into Mom's suitcase and took an estimated 600 mg of Tegretol and some adult multivitamins. We spent 6 hours in the ER under observation, and he surprisingly drank up all his activated charcoal with the promise of a popsicle reward. He got a little sleepy but did not slow down much. The nurse said his blood pressure was a little low for a while but it normalized over several hours. Thank goodness that was all there was to it. As I was driving him home from the ER, Cameo called and reminded me (thank goodness!) that I was supposed to take Alex to a birthday party that I had completely forgotten about. I dropped off Sam, put Alex in the car (in her pajamas, since that is what she was wearing), grabbed a gift bag after discovering that we had used all our birthday wrap and had only Christmas wrap, and made it to the party. After that we all had a picnic in the park.

Tomorrow morning, Buzz graduates and I will be the honored one to do the "hooding." I need to iron my old gown, figure out a way to attach the too-large cap to my head long enough to last through the ceremony, and find an outfit that can double for VA neurology rounds and graduation. I'm just hoping there will be no neurologic emergencies between 10 a.m. and noon tomorrow.

Mother's Day thoughts

Mother's Day ramble - thinking about all the significant moms in my life...

For my own mom, especially for all the ways she taught me how to love.

For my mother-in-law, who has "adopted" me and mothered me for nearly 18 years (!)

For each of my children's birth mothers, who gave them life and had to let them go. Without them, I wouldn't be a mother. Tears, when I think about that.

For their foster mothers, who gave from their hearts and asked nothing in return.


Finally, to Alex and Sam:

Not flesh of my flesh
Nor bone of my bone
Yet nevertheless
Still my own.

Never forget for a single minute
You didn't grow under my heart,
But in it.

-Author Unknown

Mother's Day laugh

Alex and Sam made me a sweet collection of things for Mother's Day at preschool. There were drawings, handprints, cards, and an adorable little picture frame. The best, though, was Alex's creation called "My Mom." On the front is a picture she drew of me, complete with long, stick-thin legs :-) and hands with about 15 fingers on them. Then, on the second page, is some information about me. According to Alex:

My mom is "75 years" old.

My mom has "blonde brown" colored hair.

My mom's favorite thing to do is: "painting"

My Mom likes to eat: "snow peas"

My favorite dinner that my mom makes me is: "cereal"

THis is how my Mom makes it: "She gets it from the cabinet. I eat it. My tummy gets so full and I can't eat it anymore."

I like to help my Mom: "do everything"

My mom is the best mom in the whole world because: "she's the boss!"

I am sooooooooooo thankful to have such a funny little girl who makes me laugh!

battles

I am feeling discouraged after an extra long battle of wills with Alex tonight. Ugh. :-(

She is a tough kid sometimes. Today she told me, "I need help calming down because I don't calm down very well by myself." I think she's heard us talking about her! At least she's aware of her issues. :-) I'm open to suggestions if anyone knows how to teach a 4-year-old to calm herself down.