March-ing On Part 1

I thought I'd continue catching up by showing you the cuteness that is my dog. Look at that. This picture was taken when I was having a rough day pain-wise and she snuggled up with me. Having her for company really keeps my pain based anxiety in check. Everyone with orthopedic issues should have a lovable furry friend.

Isaac was notified early in the month that he won the Pride award for Science. Here are the award requirements: "The Program to Recognize Initiative and Distinction in Education awards recognize fifth-grade students who excel in math, science, social studies and writing. Fifth-graders must achieve an “A” average in their subject area to be eligible and demonstrate a positive attitude while scoring highest on a subject-area test. Each student winner receives a medallion and a trophy to recognize their academic achievement." Isaac's Pride award will be for Science." Pretty exciting stuff. In April there will be a big fancy county-wide award ceremony at a performing arts center. Yay!!

He got Honor Roll on his report card and also participated in the county's science meet. He was one of 6 students (2 three person teams) from his school. They were given a written test and then an experiment to perform. There were 86 schools represented (2 teams each) and only first, second and third place awards were given. His team did not place, but he had a great day!

Later in the month his gifted class participated in a math meet. I wasn't invited to witness any part of that one (Boo!), but I'm told there were individual awards and team awards. He told me he almost got third place and his team almost won third place. It was a big month for academic achievement.

I made my first Esty sale! I put up the store a little late last spring so I never had an order. I'm up to eight orders since March 4th! It's amazing to have your craftiness and creativity recognized.

Mint Oreo donuts at Dunkin Donuts!!!!!

Leeloo turned two!

This conversation happened:
Me to Mike: Which Disney couple are we?
Mike: hmmm
Me: Belle and beast? (laughing) Rapunzel and Flynn?,
Mike: Anna and Kristoff. For sure, yeah.
Me: Awww!
(I love it when he talks Disney to me)

Isaac as Will Burrows from the Tunnels book series for character day.

February Recap

I was debating which post to publish next and feeling completely unsettled about there only being one post in February. This morning I woke up with a painful swollen ankle. It's been bothering me off and on, but I'm starting to think it's tendinitis. Anyway, it seemed like my cue to stay in bed and write a recap!

I got this pedicure at the end of January, but I wanted it to be the first image. A little bit of pretty to start me off (Never mind my spastic toes). I went to a boring but necessary appointment and then before I went home I decided to have a pedicure. It felt so self-indulgent. They were having a 20% off all services special so I got a great price and they had amazing new message chairs. These were the first massage chairs I've ever encountered that slide forward. Short people there's hope! You can put your feet in the water and your back against the rollers! I had to get used to having my feet touched without jumping, but before I moved in with my husband I had pedicures twice a month. Since we're been together (almost 7yrs) I think I've had six pedicures. I treasure them a lot more now. Mike even joked about my "yearly pedicure." I love pretty toes.

Nerding it up! My kids are booth big readers and we have always made regular visits to the library. I always made regular visits as a kid and when I was single. I will never forget how grown up I felt when I got my very own library card. It was Isaac's turn! He was so proud.

Valentines day festivities! Riley signed all of her valentines this year!

Parties & Dress-up

Housework interrupted by cuteness

I had a birthday. It wasn't a huge significant birthday. I had a good time celebrating, but birthdays aren't as fun as they used to be. I'm not worried about aging in the typical "never ask a woman her age" way. I've always looked (and acted) younger than my age. It's about my body in a different way. Most people are born young and healthy and their bodies gradually react to wear and tear as they get older, but not me.

I started out tight, spastic and limited by my body from the moment I was born. It was always something I dealt with. I can't remember (aside from being hit by the bus) ever being laid up or having to skip something in my 20's. Since having baby I feel broken down more often. I hate that I'm sitting in bed right now because I woke up with a messed up ankle. This never would have happened five years ago. It's frustrating because I'm broken down and bemoaning the cleaning I can't do. When I was twenty I walked large cities and worked jobs on my feet for 8hrs and still managed to wash the dishes at the end of the day. Now, I take care of the kids and the house and then I break down. I'm not saying it's not a physically demanding job I just think when I was having adventures that would have been worth a day in bed I didn't need them.

Puppy Play Date

LeeLoo & Wilson

Puppy's Procedure

I know this will be one of those posts that garners eye rolls, but for anyone else with as much empathy as I have for surgical procedures here it is. Leeloo turned one recently and we scheduled her to be spayed. It hadn't occurred to me that I would feel any emotion over this. When receiving the instructions from the vet over the phone I began to cry! I felt awful signing my poor fur baby up for a scary painful experience away from me. In the irrational part of my brain, obviously. I couldn't get over how distressing the thought was for me.

I hadn't felt any of this when it was the cat's turn. Mike pointed out that the cat was always independent where Leeloo is very dependent. Such a baby still. Now I have an idea how my mother must have felt dragging me in for orthopedic surgeries. I dreaded the surgery day. I pampered and fussed over Leeloo and hoped it wouldn't come. I worried all day and night before we brought her in.

Unlike me and my poor mom, Leeloo went willingly and happily. It was over so quickly too! One minute she was there and the next they had whisked her away. With all the papers signed we went off to pretend it was a normal day. I ran a quick errand after the vet's office. When I got home I tried to step out of the car and in my haste I tangled my crutch in my purse and went over backwards in the driveway. I fell HARD too. It had been so long since anything like that had happened, I was stunned. Damn, gravity!

While I laid there, pain reverberating in my skull and blood trickling from my skinned elbow, like a turtle on it's back my phone rang. No joke. Ka-boom! Riiiiiiing.
Mrs. [LAST NAME]? This is [Vet's Office]
Hello.
I'm calling to tell you, Leeloo's out of surgery and doing fine.
Oh good!
Just give us a call tomorrow after 9 to find out when you can pick her up.
Ok, thank you! Bye.
Goodbye.
That's how it went. Then I called Mike's cell phone from the driveway and asked him to come help me up. Yup, I was like the old lady in the commercial: "I've fallen and I can't get up!". Once I knew the procedure was over there was just a night with out her to get through. Tomorrow, will be our first wedding anniversary and we'll get to pick her up in the morning. Breath in, breath out, don't fall down!

Happy Birthday, Leeloo!

My furry baby is one! Happy birthday big lady!

More Misc Minnie Decor

Unfortunately, just after I discovered Dog Shaming (and laughed until I cried) I had my own experience. Sigh! I cut a giant number 3 out of a piece of white poster board. Then I covered it in layers of pale pink tissue paper (with decoupage).

Pretty, right? My plan was to stick some of the large paper bows to it and hang it on the wall so it would be in background of the cake pictures. However, Mike saw it and suggested that it needed an outline. I let Roo pick out a boa at the craft store for this. She picked a hot pink and pale pink $8 boa, but I wasn't too bothered because I could take it off and add it to the dress up bin post party. It looked good, but 6ft of boa only made it halfway around.

So, I set it aside with the other party decorations until I can get a second boa. I take Riley to get Isaac from school and explain all the way home how everyone needs to hurry so Riley can get to dance class on time. I crated the dog before I left. She pulled the tiny corner of feather she could reach through the bars and ate the entire boa! There were feathers everywhere.

I scooped them up and moved the wreckage to another room. No, I did not take a picture of Leeloo covered in feathers to submit to the blog. I was so pissed. Overly so because I was in a hurry and I hadn't done anything wrong. Also, I lost my wedding clients over the weekend and this party is literally all I have at the moment. I'm going to attempt a repair, but the thought of buying 3 $8 boas for this silly project makes me sick to my stomach. Speaking of, for an encore Leeloo vomited feather boa on the rug we had just steam cleaned for the party!

On a more pleasant note: I also made this sign for our balloon fort!

Cute, right? Plus it survived the afternoon so Woohoo! We got some more Crazy Forts pieces despite Toys-R-Us no longer carrying what is arguably one of the coolest toys ever conceived. We used them for our Hedgehog Fort at Riley's first birthday. This time we're just doing a dome shape (3 sets worth) filled with punch ball balloons and helium filled balloons. Then covered in pink tulle.

Here's a sneak peek of the structure.

The Calm Before the Storm

A hurricane watch is in effect and the wet (or threatening to be wet) weather and my body DO NOT get along. I'm exaughsted and my inflammation levels are high. My problems however are a drop in the bucket compared to my poor, poor stir crazy puppy. Just when she gets all used to her nightly walks, the weather turns all stormy and unpredictable. She's almost learned heal. So, today we decided to make a run to the dog park while the getting was good. We also remembered bread for the ducks this time, as promised.

It was a great group of dogs! There was even a welcoming comittee at the gate. Leeloo was trilled. It was about 4-5 large breed dogs who where all just as sweet as pie. The owners where a good group too. I parked myself under a shady tree while Isaac and Mike ran around with the big dogs. Riley wasn't fearful of the big dogs just a wee bit overwhelmed. She found the smallest dog there to hang out with. A little black butterball of a dog who was walking around on top of a picnic table to avoid being trambled by the big dogs. We decided his pointy ears reminded us of Skippy John Jones.

Now, the dog park does have a special small dogs section as well, but I've never seen anyone in there. After we left the dog park area a whole bunch of little dogs poured in. I'm not as familar with the names of the smaller breeds, but there were chihuahuas, some fluffy ones and maybe a dachshund? Anyway, I think the problem with the small dog section is there's not usually anyone in there. What's the point of bringing your dog out to socailize if they're on the small dog side alone. Except that, if that crowd of tiny dogs had been there when the retriever, the lab and boxer (among others) were playing rough they could have been hurt. The first time we went to the dog park a man told me that last year a miniature poodle was killed after it annoyed one of the big dogs one too many times. I'm just saying there's a reason they have a small dog section, but they could have made it more appealing so that maybe people would use it.

When Leeloo was tuckered out we went to feed the ducks. Only this time it wasn't a weekday morning it was a Saturday afternoon so we had competion. Last time we were the only game in town so even without bread the ducks walked right up to Riley. This time an elderly couple with two small dogs was standing on the little "duck feeding platform" with an entire loaf of bread. Not only that, but when they saw us find a spot in the grass and prepare to toss bread they threw everything they had left.

So, having survived the lesson in patience the kids did their best to toss the bread into the now full ducks. Riley's pitching arm could use a little work and Isaac will never be a career ninja. I think they had fun and I'm pretty sure some of those greedy fowl have tummy aches at this point. We headed for the car as the thunder started. Some of us (kiddos) running excitedly. Some of us (puppy and Me) slowly ambling. I wonder where the park ducks go during the storms?

Furry Friends

We're very soft-hearted people. I think we just have so much love to give we can't help ourselves. I have no desire to live in a pet store/zoo. I've always coped by steering clear of pet stores. After all I've said many times that having two kids, a cat and a dog is just right. It all started with the old gecko habitat. For those of you who didn't know we lost Milo (Isaac's leopard gecko) a few month's ago. Well, when Mike moved the empty tank off of Isaac's dresser he started thinking it would be nice to have fish in the bedroom.

Picture me annoyed, but accepting that there is NOTHING I can do to change his mind. My husband doesn't know the meaning of simple. Several batches of fish (and broken hearts), plants, countless hours, a significant financial investment, a cracked aquarium (and resulting flood), PH test strips and so on...We have said functioning aquarium with healthy happy swimmers in it. All those trips to the pet store were trouble though. I was still grieving the first set of fish I named and lost it was a dangerous time for Mike to bring me along to get "one more plant" for the fish tank.

I had a dwarf hamster when I was on bed rest with Riley. Her name was Gulliver, Gully for short, and she was gray and white like Thumper and the sweetest little critter ever. It really broke my heart when she passed. I had so much guilt that I wasn't the best caretaker given the circumstances and I said I'd never have another hamster. I'm wrong a lot. We went in for a plant and came out with 6 new fish and a female dwarf hamster. I named her Gertrude, Gertie for short. Miss Gertie has white and brown patches.

It was not our normal pet store and soon after all the fish Mike bought there had to be quarantined and subsequently died from Ich. It was awful. The pet store not caring properly for the fish wasn't the end of it either, Gertie was terrified of hands. I mean Terrified. I always believed dwarf hamsters don't bite. Apparently, if they aren't given enough human contact even if they're raised in a pet store they bite. The locked cage and apathetic employees that we had to practically assault to get to help us should have been a clue.

Like any animal she can be rehabilitated, but it's a slow frustrating process. While I'd never send her back to that awful pet store (or buy an animal from them again) it was not fun to have a hamster I couldn't touch. So, to kill time one day while we had a sitter (Yay! Mother-in-law) Mike and I wondered into our old pet store (TROUBLE). We discussed getting another hamster to love on while we keep working with Gertie. I never wanted more than one hamster. Never. The situation was such a bummer though.

So, we visited with all the hamsters. I thought I was safe because they didn't have any dwarfs, but Mike found the lovey-est little gray teddy bear hamster. She stepped so carefully on our hands and nuzzled against us and well it was over. We had enough cage pieces to house the two separately and we'd just stalked up on food and fluff. She was half the price too (figure that out?!?). Riley calls her Princess Buttercup, but I call her Thumbellina. She's all gray.

Here she is on my desk (aka hamster Disneyworld).

It may be time to clean my desk, I appear to have a rodent problem..."

"Faster than a speeding bullet..."

"Whatcha working on there, Mom?"

"Hold on, let me just take a few notes"

Go! Dog Go! One Last Time

We took it literally this time. We took Leeloo to the dog park. She was beyond thrilled. It would have been perfect if it hadn't been 800 degrees. Yup, that tiny silhouette down there by the tree is my dog who took off like a shot when I unleashed her. The dog park is a Golden Retriever's idea of heaven. Room to run and fetch and lots of dogs and people to socialize with. Leeloo made an adorable little friend.

Riley meeting Leeloo's friend the 3month old Pitbull Terrier, Heaven.

Riley "gardening."

Leeloo and her friend playing.

Leeloo wore herself out playing mainly with her little buddy, but she had a kiss for every single dog there. We went out the "back" way when we left so we could walk around the lake to the little playground. After begging me to take her to "Riley's Playground" the entire time we were at the dog park I couldn't get Riley to follow us. There were ducks! Very friendly ones who erroneously assumed Riley had bread.

I convinced her to leave the ducks for the playground by promising next time we came we would bring bread.

We when got home we had one pooped puppy.