Friday, August 31, 2012
A Letter to my boys
Dear Gruesome Twosome,
As you go back to school to begin second grade, I send you off with relief and a feeling of melancholy. You'll soon forget about this summer.
After years of working long hours, being incredibly stressed out, trying to deal with your diagnosises and how to support you, and being disconnected, I wanted to make this past summer one you would remember.
A summer where mommy was home, we went and did fun things, and reconnected.
I hope that in a few years, you'll remember fondly the summer you spent with mom, going swimming, visiting George Washington's house, Harry Potter camp, Animal camp, picnics, silly string fights, water balloon fights, How to Train your Dragon shows, etc.
I hope that you remember that I love you, and that this summer was as much for me as it was for you, in that I hope we were able to get close again and that you know you were/are loved by me.
I am happy and excited for the year to come for you boys. I hope you do well in school, have fun, make new friends, do new things. But always remember I love you and wanted to spend a summer with just the three of us having fun.
Now, go do your homework!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Book Review: Her Loving Husband's Curse (Loving Husband, Book #2)
Title: Her Loving Husband's Curse (Loving Husband, Book #2)
Author: Meredith Allard
Publication Date: April 2012
Book Description
And then, as if he could read her mind, he said, “We’ll be all right, Sarah. Just the two of us. I’ll never leave you ever.” Finally, after many long and lonely years, James Wentworth’s life is falling into place. With his wife, Sarah, the only woman he has ever loved, he has found the meaning behind her nightmares about the Salem Witch Trials, and now they are rebuilding the life they began together so long ago. But the past is never far behind for the Wentworths. While Sarah is haunted by new visions, now about the baby she carried over three hundred years before, James is confronted with painful memories from his time with the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears. Through it all, the persistent reporter Kenneth Hempel reappears, still determined to prove that the undead walk the earth. If Hempel succeeds in his quest, James and Sarah will suffer. Will the curse of the vampire prevent James and Sarah from living their happily ever after?
Review:
4.5 out of 5 stars
First off, let me say that this book was phenomenal. It incorporates some of my favorite things: vampires, witches, and love.
The story centers around a modern day couple facing a big problem. He's a vampire. Throughout the book, you learn their history (and it's a long one) and finding each other again. You learn about events in James' (the vampire and hero) life over the last 340 years.
Throughout the novel, there are snippets from letters James had written to his deceased wife, and mostly centered around the US government's rounding up of Indians to be put on reservations and the "Trail of Tears." I particularly loved this part, because it incorporated real, historical fact into this novel. Fact that sets up the remainder of the book, and facts that we were never taught in school.
The book moves pretty fast, and I couldn't put it down. It was a testament to true love, and that love will find you wherever you are.
The only down-side to the book is the ending. After becoming to emotionally involved in this couple, I thought the ending wasn't very fair. Even on the last page, I kept waiting for the happy ending.
But a very enjoyable book that everyone should read!
Disclosure: I received this book from a contest. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and this review is unsolicited.
Author: Meredith Allard
Publication Date: April 2012
Book Description
And then, as if he could read her mind, he said, “We’ll be all right, Sarah. Just the two of us. I’ll never leave you ever.” Finally, after many long and lonely years, James Wentworth’s life is falling into place. With his wife, Sarah, the only woman he has ever loved, he has found the meaning behind her nightmares about the Salem Witch Trials, and now they are rebuilding the life they began together so long ago. But the past is never far behind for the Wentworths. While Sarah is haunted by new visions, now about the baby she carried over three hundred years before, James is confronted with painful memories from his time with the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears. Through it all, the persistent reporter Kenneth Hempel reappears, still determined to prove that the undead walk the earth. If Hempel succeeds in his quest, James and Sarah will suffer. Will the curse of the vampire prevent James and Sarah from living their happily ever after?
Review:
4.5 out of 5 stars
First off, let me say that this book was phenomenal. It incorporates some of my favorite things: vampires, witches, and love.
The story centers around a modern day couple facing a big problem. He's a vampire. Throughout the book, you learn their history (and it's a long one) and finding each other again. You learn about events in James' (the vampire and hero) life over the last 340 years.
Throughout the novel, there are snippets from letters James had written to his deceased wife, and mostly centered around the US government's rounding up of Indians to be put on reservations and the "Trail of Tears." I particularly loved this part, because it incorporated real, historical fact into this novel. Fact that sets up the remainder of the book, and facts that we were never taught in school.
The book moves pretty fast, and I couldn't put it down. It was a testament to true love, and that love will find you wherever you are.
The only down-side to the book is the ending. After becoming to emotionally involved in this couple, I thought the ending wasn't very fair. Even on the last page, I kept waiting for the happy ending.
But a very enjoyable book that everyone should read!
Disclosure: I received this book from a contest. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and this review is unsolicited.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Jodie Foster defends Kristen Stewart
Jodie foster just authored an op-ed piece, where she defends Kristen Stewart - http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/15/jodie-foster-blasts-kristen-stewart-robert-pattinson-break-up-spectacle.html
I understand Jodie Foster's points, and I've long believed that thrusting children into the "fame" thing is asking for a messed up child.
But, did Kristen do anything between Panic Room and Twilight? Probably, but I don't know about it.
Her current predicament isn't because she was thrust into the spotlight at a young age.
It's because she is incapable of having a mature relationship, and believes to "love the one you're with." She ended a long-term relationship with another actor after getting together with Pattinson during filming of Twilight. Now that Twilight is over, Rob can't do anything for her, so she decided to sleep with a director who could help her get future roles.
I've LONG believed that as soon as BD2 was released, RobStew would be over.
Should her cheating have been private, maybe so, but if you're going to make out in public and in a car in public, you can't expect it not to be seen and consumed.
I understand Jodie Foster's points, and I've long believed that thrusting children into the "fame" thing is asking for a messed up child.
But, did Kristen do anything between Panic Room and Twilight? Probably, but I don't know about it.
Her current predicament isn't because she was thrust into the spotlight at a young age.
It's because she is incapable of having a mature relationship, and believes to "love the one you're with." She ended a long-term relationship with another actor after getting together with Pattinson during filming of Twilight. Now that Twilight is over, Rob can't do anything for her, so she decided to sleep with a director who could help her get future roles.
I've LONG believed that as soon as BD2 was released, RobStew would be over.
Should her cheating have been private, maybe so, but if you're going to make out in public and in a car in public, you can't expect it not to be seen and consumed.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Post Ear Mangling... Day 1
Today Iain is doing much better.
We were told to be careful if Iain didn't wake up the usual time, because he may have had a head injury. So I was happy when he woke me up at 6:20. He was all worried because the gauze around his head came loose. I wound it back up, turned on the TV and kissed him and told him I loved him.
He wasn't crying, didn't appear in pain.
And today, he ran around the house, giggled, chased his brother (which I was not happy about), but was back to normal, even if he looked like Jacob Marley from The Christmas Carol.
We went out and got Dairy Queen this afternoon, he sang in the car, happy boy.
Then the little stinker pulled out the "sick card" at dinner. I was making meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and Iain declared that he couldn't eat "slow food," he needed fast food for 5 days, the doctor said so.
Nice try son! :)
We changed his bandage, and it looked sooo much better than it looked without stitches. His ear looks whole again, there's no gaping V. And the poor thing has a nasty purple bruise on his head. But he flinched more from fear of what I was going to do to him, than what I actually did to him. He did great.
Now to just keep his ear clean and medicated until the stitches come out Monday, and see what they think the prognosis is on the cartilage.
We were told to be careful if Iain didn't wake up the usual time, because he may have had a head injury. So I was happy when he woke me up at 6:20. He was all worried because the gauze around his head came loose. I wound it back up, turned on the TV and kissed him and told him I loved him.
He wasn't crying, didn't appear in pain.
And today, he ran around the house, giggled, chased his brother (which I was not happy about), but was back to normal, even if he looked like Jacob Marley from The Christmas Carol.
We went out and got Dairy Queen this afternoon, he sang in the car, happy boy.
Then the little stinker pulled out the "sick card" at dinner. I was making meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and Iain declared that he couldn't eat "slow food," he needed fast food for 5 days, the doctor said so.
Nice try son! :)
We changed his bandage, and it looked sooo much better than it looked without stitches. His ear looks whole again, there's no gaping V. And the poor thing has a nasty purple bruise on his head. But he flinched more from fear of what I was going to do to him, than what I actually did to him. He did great.
Now to just keep his ear clean and medicated until the stitches come out Monday, and see what they think the prognosis is on the cartilage.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Being a Mom is the Hardest Thing
On the day your baby is born, you look at this miracle and whisper that you'll always love them and you will always be there to protect them. You screw up along the way, but you do your best.
Last week I took Iain to the hospital to get the mole removed from the back of his head. It was controlled, we knew what to expect. We knew he'd be in pain, but we knew he'd be okay.
Today, I hear crying, and see Iain running down the hall holding a blanket to his ear, saying he hurts, there's blood. I pull the blanket away... I know that I have to try to remain calm. That if I freak out, Iain will freak out. I get him to go in the bathroom while I try to find a towel to wet and put to his ear.
I look at his ear, and it's clear, there's nothing I can do. We have to go to the hospital. Because of the blood, we have to go now.
I put shoes on him, find him a change a clothes to put on for when we leave, make Jamie put shoes on, and rush off to the hospital, calling my dad and my husband. Usually ER visits are 6 hours and I can't deal with Jamie flopping around while Iain's crying, so I wanted dad to take him home.
The doctor comes in to tell us that the problem is, he split his ear almost halfway horizontally, and broke the cartilage. He says that cartilage doesn't heal very well, and is prone to infection.
He then sends us out of the room, that way he can be the bad guy and we can come in and love him after. I was quite okay with that, as I had already told Dad he had to stay with Iain because there was no way I could handle it. In the waiting room, I could hear the crying. I had to leave the building. Here I am 37 years old, crying on my daddy's shoulder like a teenager.
Hubby met us at the hospital (after receiving a panicked call in the car while driving home from work), and we walk in to see my baby. The injured soldier.
The doctor said he was lucky enough that everything fit perfectly and he put stitches in, but you can never tell about the cartilage. He had local anesthesia, but by bedtime it was wearing off, he was in pain, and was having problems getting comfortable and sleeping. I gave him some pain medication. I just hope he can make it through the night.
Today I failed in keeping my baby safe. He's hurt, in pain, will be scarred, and I wasn't there to stop it. The only consolation I have is that I got him to the hospital within 20 minutes, so the docs could work on him before he started to clot.
I feel so guilty. I feel so bad. I feel so useless.
Being Mom is the hardest thing.
Last week I took Iain to the hospital to get the mole removed from the back of his head. It was controlled, we knew what to expect. We knew he'd be in pain, but we knew he'd be okay.
Today, I hear crying, and see Iain running down the hall holding a blanket to his ear, saying he hurts, there's blood. I pull the blanket away... I know that I have to try to remain calm. That if I freak out, Iain will freak out. I get him to go in the bathroom while I try to find a towel to wet and put to his ear.
I look at his ear, and it's clear, there's nothing I can do. We have to go to the hospital. Because of the blood, we have to go now.
I put shoes on him, find him a change a clothes to put on for when we leave, make Jamie put shoes on, and rush off to the hospital, calling my dad and my husband. Usually ER visits are 6 hours and I can't deal with Jamie flopping around while Iain's crying, so I wanted dad to take him home.
The doctor comes in to tell us that the problem is, he split his ear almost halfway horizontally, and broke the cartilage. He says that cartilage doesn't heal very well, and is prone to infection.
He then sends us out of the room, that way he can be the bad guy and we can come in and love him after. I was quite okay with that, as I had already told Dad he had to stay with Iain because there was no way I could handle it. In the waiting room, I could hear the crying. I had to leave the building. Here I am 37 years old, crying on my daddy's shoulder like a teenager.
Hubby met us at the hospital (after receiving a panicked call in the car while driving home from work), and we walk in to see my baby. The injured soldier.
The doctor said he was lucky enough that everything fit perfectly and he put stitches in, but you can never tell about the cartilage. He had local anesthesia, but by bedtime it was wearing off, he was in pain, and was having problems getting comfortable and sleeping. I gave him some pain medication. I just hope he can make it through the night.
Today I failed in keeping my baby safe. He's hurt, in pain, will be scarred, and I wasn't there to stop it. The only consolation I have is that I got him to the hospital within 20 minutes, so the docs could work on him before he started to clot.
I feel so guilty. I feel so bad. I feel so useless.
Being Mom is the hardest thing.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
My baby is having surgery tomorrow
Iain is having surgery tomorrow. Nothing serious, he's having a mole removed from the back of his head. He's had it since birth, but because of the kind of mole it is (and his age), it requires anesthesia.So for this reason, I've put it off for years.
But we're all so used to it, that we forget to warn the barber when he gets his hair cut. And every time he gets his hair cut, it gets nicked and hurts.
Since I'm home this summer, we decided now's the time.
So tomorrow my baby goes in.
I've had so many surgeries, I can't even count the number anymore. I go under at the drop of the hat without thinking about it. But it's different when it's your baby. When it's not really medically necessary.
It's a simple surgery, will only take a half an hour. But my baby is going to be put under anesthetic. I'm not happy about it.
But we're all so used to it, that we forget to warn the barber when he gets his hair cut. And every time he gets his hair cut, it gets nicked and hurts.
Since I'm home this summer, we decided now's the time.
So tomorrow my baby goes in.
I've had so many surgeries, I can't even count the number anymore. I go under at the drop of the hat without thinking about it. But it's different when it's your baby. When it's not really medically necessary.
It's a simple surgery, will only take a half an hour. But my baby is going to be put under anesthetic. I'm not happy about it.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Chick-Fil-A Bru-ha-ha
I know you all have been waiting on my tirade about ... here goes.
I don't give a flying fig that the CEO of Chick-Fil-A is against gay marriage. I really don't. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, their own thoughts, their own moral compass.
The problem I have is with the CEO dragging his company into the issue. He could have gone on radio as Joe Public and here are my views. No, he went on radio, tossing his company in the ring.
At every company I have worked for, the first rule in social media is that you do not and cannot say you represent the organization when you express your thoughts. I've even been party to senior management discussions where they wanted to penalize employees for things they said on their own computers, on their own time, when they didn't even mentioned they worked at the company.
I'm against an organization using profits from their business to bully other people. I'm against the CEO of an organization saying his company is against a segment of the population.
Would we be having a Chick-Fil-A Appreciation day if the CEO had gone on TV saying he thought black people shouldn't be allowed to marry? That black people are ruining society? Or that fat people shouldn't be allowed to marry? Jewish people shouldn't be allowed to marry?
If you want to publicly declare that your organization is against people, that your organization thinks that part of the population is godless, then you need to be prepared for the consequences. You need to be prepared that people won't agree with you. To bellyache that you're being picked on, when YOU chose the fight is ridiculous.
How about you just keep your opinions out of your company, and serve up some chicken nuggets?
I don't give a flying fig that the CEO of Chick-Fil-A is against gay marriage. I really don't. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, their own thoughts, their own moral compass.
The problem I have is with the CEO dragging his company into the issue. He could have gone on radio as Joe Public and here are my views. No, he went on radio, tossing his company in the ring.
At every company I have worked for, the first rule in social media is that you do not and cannot say you represent the organization when you express your thoughts. I've even been party to senior management discussions where they wanted to penalize employees for things they said on their own computers, on their own time, when they didn't even mentioned they worked at the company.
I'm against an organization using profits from their business to bully other people. I'm against the CEO of an organization saying his company is against a segment of the population.
Would we be having a Chick-Fil-A Appreciation day if the CEO had gone on TV saying he thought black people shouldn't be allowed to marry? That black people are ruining society? Or that fat people shouldn't be allowed to marry? Jewish people shouldn't be allowed to marry?
If you want to publicly declare that your organization is against people, that your organization thinks that part of the population is godless, then you need to be prepared for the consequences. You need to be prepared that people won't agree with you. To bellyache that you're being picked on, when YOU chose the fight is ridiculous.
How about you just keep your opinions out of your company, and serve up some chicken nuggets?
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