Do you ever have one of those days when you're just glad you survived it in one piece? I had one of those weekends. To say I'm glad it's Monday is an understatement, as long as Monday is an improvement over the past 3 days.
It all started Friday morning while I was baking cookies and realized that the pain I'd been feeling in my ear was not going away. I had a double ear infection 2 weeks ago, got antibiotics, and thought I was done with it. It was not to be that easy. I went to the doctor Friday afternoon to get the news that the ear infection was indeed back and back with a vengeance. I got home with my medicine at about 4:30. At 4:55 Hanny told me her ear hurt. I had noticed her digging at it quite a bit and had asked her repeatedly if it hurt, but she always assured me that it didn't. I called the doctor's office to see what they could recommend, and they suggested we head to a minute clinic in Gardner (35 minutes away - no big deal). We took out at about 5:30 with all three girls and dad set to see the doctor. On the plus side, nobody had any signs of infection, they got medicine to treat their symptoms, and Hanny got her ear cleaned out (long story...she's got strange ears). After getting supper at 8:00 and eating on the road, we made it home just before 9:00. I spent the night on the floor with the girls just to make sure everybody was okay.
Saturday morning I woke up at 5:50 and got up for awhile. I was up and around for about 25 minutes (with no problems) before Boo woke up and I got back in the floor to keep her quiet so her sisters could sleep. By 7:00 we were all awake so I got up again to get some coffee. At some point between the time I laid down and the time I got up I did something to my knee. I could not walk on it and had a ping pong ball-sized lump on the back of it. Long story short, we headed to the ER (at the advice of the doctor's office) and learned that I had a Baker's Cyst. It had apparently ruptured by the time I got to the ER (I think it did at home), so the lump was no longer there and the pain had improved slightly. I took it easy the rest of the day, kept it wrapped, life went on.
Yesterday morning I got up expecting to feel better. I was doing pretty good. I made some homemade muffins for breakfast, ate, had big plans to bake some bread for our friends and neighbors after my shower... It was before my shower that I noticed that my knees were two different sizes. My left one was twice the size of my right one. I have some pretty bird-like knees, so when one is swollen, it shows in a big way. :) Doctor Gary got a true taste of being the caretaker all day while he iced it on a schedule and I perched myself on the couch for most of the day. It was a learning experience for both of us. He did great at taking care of me and I did a fair job of staying off my feet. I was not made to spend much time sitting down,though. There are too many things I could see that needed to be done. On top of all the knee business, I have also had two of the most excruciating sinus headaches the last two days. No amount of Motrin would ease the pain, so yesterday afternoon after icing my knee I put the heat pad on my head. I was a sight... In the meantime, though, we had some of our dearest friends visit bearing Christmas goodies. It was such a joy to get to see and visit with someone outside our crazy household! We're out of things to visit about here! :)
I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be learning from all this. Maybe I'm supposed to slow down a little. Maybe I'm not supposed to sleep on the floor. Maybe I'm supposed to allow someone else to take care of me for a (hopefully) short period of time. Only God knows. That's comfort, though. Today I'm praying for a healthy, no-headache, normal-knee, day. I'll even tolerate the frigid temperatures with a smile if I can just feel good! :)
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Slinkies and Silly Putty
So it's already been a long day. Not long in the bad sense, I have just gotten several things done today and am ready to sit down and relax for awhile. Add to that that Gary turned our TV on at 5:45 this morning and the twins got up very shortly after that, and I'm just a little sleepy. Well, okay, I'll admit it. This weather makes me sleepy too. It's hard to have a bright sunny attitude when the weather is so cold, snowy and dreary. Don't get me wrong, I almost enjoy being stuck in the house this time of the year. It allows me to get some of the fun baking done without feeling guilty about not doing something else.
I made a trip out to the school this afternoon to pick up the girls' goodie bags. Their teacher had emailed me and asked if I wanted to come get their fun stuff, so off I went. They were so excited about everything. In one particular bag they received a slinky (the plastic kind) and silly putty along with a few other little goodies. These girls have never had either of those items, so it was something new for them. Boo asked me what she was supposed to do with Silly Putty, and I have to admit that I didn't really know what to tell her. I think I rolled it into a ball and bounced it at some point as a child. I also remember squishing it onto the newspaper cartoons to get the ink transferred onto it. But I also remember that eventually it's more ink and less putty. So, taking the safer route, I told her she could stretch it apart, as long as she didn't get it stuck to anything, including her. I think she might've been a little scared of it, because as soon as I got done giving the speech about how important it is not to get it stuck to, on, or in anything, she told me she'd just put it back in the egg for now. Good plan... Then we got out the slinkies. It didn't take much playing before Doodle had hers so tangled up that I spent the next 20 minutes untangling it. Ahh, the joys of childhood toys. Who comes up with these things?!
Hanny is spending this afternoon at Meme's Pomona house. For those of you who didn't know, my parents just recently bought a small fixer-upper house on a great lot here in Pomona so Mom can be here more often and at a shorter notice than before. And the best part is that it has a basement! It probably had something to do with the many, many times we've been sick and had to make trips to the doctor since August. Anyway... The twins want her to spend the night down there so they can be here all by themselves (well, with Gary & me, but you get the idea). They told Meme that then maybe we'd sleep on the floor, or maybe they'd both just sleep in my bed...with Gary and me. I don't think so. Why do you think we sleep on the living room floor when they're sick?! It's always something with them.
We also had a visit from our own private Santa today. Some people have Santa visit once a year, but our Santa comes by pretty regularly. Santa (and you know who you are), thank you so much for being so thoughtful year-round. We are all truly blessed to have you in our lives. We think you and Mrs. Claus are both very special people! :)
I made a trip out to the school this afternoon to pick up the girls' goodie bags. Their teacher had emailed me and asked if I wanted to come get their fun stuff, so off I went. They were so excited about everything. In one particular bag they received a slinky (the plastic kind) and silly putty along with a few other little goodies. These girls have never had either of those items, so it was something new for them. Boo asked me what she was supposed to do with Silly Putty, and I have to admit that I didn't really know what to tell her. I think I rolled it into a ball and bounced it at some point as a child. I also remember squishing it onto the newspaper cartoons to get the ink transferred onto it. But I also remember that eventually it's more ink and less putty. So, taking the safer route, I told her she could stretch it apart, as long as she didn't get it stuck to anything, including her. I think she might've been a little scared of it, because as soon as I got done giving the speech about how important it is not to get it stuck to, on, or in anything, she told me she'd just put it back in the egg for now. Good plan... Then we got out the slinkies. It didn't take much playing before Doodle had hers so tangled up that I spent the next 20 minutes untangling it. Ahh, the joys of childhood toys. Who comes up with these things?!
Hanny is spending this afternoon at Meme's Pomona house. For those of you who didn't know, my parents just recently bought a small fixer-upper house on a great lot here in Pomona so Mom can be here more often and at a shorter notice than before. And the best part is that it has a basement! It probably had something to do with the many, many times we've been sick and had to make trips to the doctor since August. Anyway... The twins want her to spend the night down there so they can be here all by themselves (well, with Gary & me, but you get the idea). They told Meme that then maybe we'd sleep on the floor, or maybe they'd both just sleep in my bed...with Gary and me. I don't think so. Why do you think we sleep on the living room floor when they're sick?! It's always something with them.
We also had a visit from our own private Santa today. Some people have Santa visit once a year, but our Santa comes by pretty regularly. Santa (and you know who you are), thank you so much for being so thoughtful year-round. We are all truly blessed to have you in our lives. We think you and Mrs. Claus are both very special people! :)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Reindeer Snacks
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We just made these cute reindeer snacks and wanted to share a picture. This is what I had organized to make for a healthy treat at their school party tomorrow, but since they're puny and at home we made them here after I took the supplies to the school. They thought it was a fun snack! :)
Hanny 1, Mama 0
This morning Miss Hanny demonstrated just a small sliver of crankiness with her sisters and I that was, in my own words, totally unnecessary. I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt and say that she was only cranky because she's not feeling totally up to par. I'd rather that be the case than be seeing a glimpse, a big, hairy glimpse, of what life will be like when she's a teenager. At one point, she attempted to trudge off to her room with a scowl on her face and a clomp in her step. She has a special walk that she performs when she's really showing her displeasure in all its glory. She sort of hunches her shoulders forward, drops her head down and has a trudge-like stomp. It's hard to describe, really, but easy to distinguish it from her normal bubbly walk. You'd just have to see it to truly appreciate it. I hope you never do...see it or appreciate it! Anyway... I asked her to return back to her room to try walking back with less attitude and more happiness, for lack of a better word. This went on for about 4 attempts, at which point I stopped her and tried to talk to her logically and sensitively about how important it is that we all speak to each other with love and respect. It was then that she rolled her eyes. Yep. The first eye roll. Well, the first one she's actually been crazy enough to do in front of my eyes. I was not pleased. I addressed it and ended with the words "You'd better watch those eyes, young lady." Yep. I know. As soon as the words passed my lips I KNEW I had said the wrong thing. You see, she is her mama's daughter and her Papa's granddaughter. I've sort of picked up a thing or two about making and proving a point from my dad. That, and when I know I'm right, I KNOW I'm right. Hanny's apparently picked up a thing or two as well. Her response to my ridiculous instruction to watch her eyes? "I can't watch my eyes. How can I watch my eyes?" She's a smart cookie and born to be a lawyer. I have a feeling this is only the beginning.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Oh, the things they say!
Well, it's a snowy, white, wintery night at our house. It wasn't bad since we didn't have to get out in it, but Gary had to and that was bad enough. We had some fun watching the squirrels try to figure out how to attack the bird feeder this morning. Hanny helped me make tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. She's all excited now because she knows how to do it and can probably do it herself (her idea, not mine). It was a pleasant day at home, although I didn't accomplish anything I really set out to do. Yes, the kitchen is clean. Yes, the laundry is done and almost all put away. But I didn't do any of my Christmas preparations or cooking. For anyone who typically receives food gifts from us for Christmas, let me apologize in advance. Hopefully there will be something soon!
Hanny is indeed the first to experience (and share) the latest family cold. She spent a good portion of the day sneezing and blowing (note to self - buy kleenexes ASAP) but doesn't seem to feel too bad. That's a good thing. It's bad enough when they're sick, but when they act sick it's a BAD thing. Hopefully, with a little luck and a lot of prayers, this one will just be a simple cold. That's what I'm praying for...continually.
Now, on to the funny tidbit of the evening. While we were tucking in the twins, Doodle asked me if they are going to school tomorrow. I told her I didn't know and that we'd decide in the morning. She then told me, "I don't think we'll probably go. I really doubt it." I've used the words "I doubt it" relatively often lately and explained that I meant that I didn't think so when I said that. I told her tonight that it was good to hear her using such "big" words! That just led up to Boo's comment about the same question. She heard Doodle's opinion and then informed me that she thinks she's "getting down with a cold." Obviously she's heard me say that they're "coming down with a cold" but it really struck me as funny to hear her replace one word with another. The mental picture I got was of her dancing like a Peanuts character (maybe because we watched that this evening and laughed about the dancing) with some big animated germ. I know...I need more sleep. I'll be there soon. It's just a matter of whether or not I'll be able to stay there.
Hanny is indeed the first to experience (and share) the latest family cold. She spent a good portion of the day sneezing and blowing (note to self - buy kleenexes ASAP) but doesn't seem to feel too bad. That's a good thing. It's bad enough when they're sick, but when they act sick it's a BAD thing. Hopefully, with a little luck and a lot of prayers, this one will just be a simple cold. That's what I'm praying for...continually.
Now, on to the funny tidbit of the evening. While we were tucking in the twins, Doodle asked me if they are going to school tomorrow. I told her I didn't know and that we'd decide in the morning. She then told me, "I don't think we'll probably go. I really doubt it." I've used the words "I doubt it" relatively often lately and explained that I meant that I didn't think so when I said that. I told her tonight that it was good to hear her using such "big" words! That just led up to Boo's comment about the same question. She heard Doodle's opinion and then informed me that she thinks she's "getting down with a cold." Obviously she's heard me say that they're "coming down with a cold" but it really struck me as funny to hear her replace one word with another. The mental picture I got was of her dancing like a Peanuts character (maybe because we watched that this evening and laughed about the dancing) with some big animated germ. I know...I need more sleep. I'll be there soon. It's just a matter of whether or not I'll be able to stay there.
Bad News...
Hanny's got another stinkin' cold. Good thing I kept them home today. Boo just sneezed a couple times...she'll probably be next. I just hope we can all come down with it quickly and get over it before next week.
Tuesday
We are having a self-imposed snow day. They are actually having school today, which just amazes me, quite frankly. Boo was up coughing just before I fell asleep last night, so I sat up with her until 11:00, Gary turned on the tv at 4:30 this morning (Oh, I know...what was he thinking?!), and Doodle was up coughing at 5:30. Add the snowfall and frigid temperatures to all that and I decided we were going to stay home today. We'll be doing schoolwork this morning (some their teacher sent home and some I have for days such as today). I hope to bake some cookies since I already have the dough in the fridge. I've got a couple Christmas gifts (okay, more than a couple) that need some work too, so we'll be busy. I've also got a reindeer necklace to make with the girls sometime, so we might try to complete that as well. I'm sure we won't run out of things to do.
The girls had been planning (it was even on our calendar) to watch the Presley's Christmas show on RFD-TV last night, so we got to do that. They thoroughly enjoyed it. Hanny has always been very fond of the piano player and always tells me he's her favorite. Last night I learned why that is. She told me that he looks like Peter, and that's why he is her favorite. Is that sweet or what?
The girls had been planning (it was even on our calendar) to watch the Presley's Christmas show on RFD-TV last night, so we got to do that. They thoroughly enjoyed it. Hanny has always been very fond of the piano player and always tells me he's her favorite. Last night I learned why that is. She told me that he looks like Peter, and that's why he is her favorite. Is that sweet or what?
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