Several weeks ago, the TN-GPs (grandparents from Tennessee) came to visit. Along with them, they brought two bags full of VHS tapes. This was done with the promise that Daddy Mac can convert the tapes from tapes to DVDs. We haven't gotten around to doing that just yet. However, I did decide that I needed to at least rewind and play the tapes to get the gist of what was on them.
The first tape made me feel so old. I was 16-17 and the focus was on my then 2-3 year old nephew. I cannot believe that the now 6'5" 200 lb man was sitting in my lap and giving me snuggles and dying eggs. He was so stinking cute. Honestly, he was and is so beautiful. He was wrestling with Brother B and playing with our dog, Brandy. I had the poofy bangs and large glasses, but I still look the same (give or take 30 lbs).
My grandparents were on that tape. You could hear my grandmom telling my younger brother that she loved him. This is while he was snorting styrofoam peanuts through his nose. On another day, she sat down beside my older brother on her couch and tucked her arm in his and whispered to him. It made me so sad. My grandad was interested in my little nephew....doing high fives, letting him shoot water pistols at him and reading with his magnifying glass. Just like I remember them.
The second tape was of Brother B and myself involved in various marching band activities and concert band. I had totally forgotten that Brother B had been a clown with a wig and full makeup for our Halloween marching half-time. I had been a tramped up housewife in curlers, pjs and make up galore! Good times. We looked like babies.
My grandparents would have L.O.V.E.D. my children. Goosey Lou is an exact replica of me and would have sat in her lap reading or snuggling. Grandmom always called me her baby doll in the midst of 4 grandsons. Grandad would have been fascinated at how Little Man is on the go all the time and his advanced fine motor skills.
We thought we could copy these tapes. I think that I may have to see if there is someway to remove the "noise" from them. Even if it can not be done, these tapes are priceless now. In a blink of an eye, 18 years have passed. I am guessing the next 18 will go by quicker.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Daddy Mac Saves the Upcoming Weekend...potentially....
After a wheezy, hacking awakening by Little Man this morning, we knew that these allergies were probably a cold. The yucks were draining out of his left ear and he was coughing more today than yesterday.
I had decided to give it a couple of more days before hauling Little Man into the pediatrician for a looksey. However, Daddy Mac insisted that he be taken to the doctor today in case he had something like bronchitis. In my mind, I thought "That is crazy. Little Man is not running a fever. He is playing normally. He just sounds bad." But to humor the Mac Daddy, I took him in first thing this morning.
Little Man has an atrocious ear infection in his right ear, draining infection in the left ear, clear lungs, and the croup. So we have drops for the ear, antibiotic for the other ear, allergy medicine for maintenance, and a steroid for his vocal cords. This could have turned out to be a long weekend of no fun if I had waited to take him. A great big THANK YOU, to Daddy Mac for insisting that he be taken in.
Now, for the past 3 days, I have had three, I REPEAT, three sets of parents tell me that their little ones who have "croup" are not contagious. Children who have croup have NO way of passing this on to someone else. I call b.u.l.l.
Mr. Pediatrician told me that croup is caused by a virus that settles in the throat/vocal cord area. It is contagious. It is a virus that is passed like any other virus.
So no wonder he has croup...three school buddies have it. I guess it is going to be a long school year.
I had decided to give it a couple of more days before hauling Little Man into the pediatrician for a looksey. However, Daddy Mac insisted that he be taken to the doctor today in case he had something like bronchitis. In my mind, I thought "That is crazy. Little Man is not running a fever. He is playing normally. He just sounds bad." But to humor the Mac Daddy, I took him in first thing this morning.
Little Man has an atrocious ear infection in his right ear, draining infection in the left ear, clear lungs, and the croup. So we have drops for the ear, antibiotic for the other ear, allergy medicine for maintenance, and a steroid for his vocal cords. This could have turned out to be a long weekend of no fun if I had waited to take him. A great big THANK YOU, to Daddy Mac for insisting that he be taken in.
Now, for the past 3 days, I have had three, I REPEAT, three sets of parents tell me that their little ones who have "croup" are not contagious. Children who have croup have NO way of passing this on to someone else. I call b.u.l.l.
Mr. Pediatrician told me that croup is caused by a virus that settles in the throat/vocal cord area. It is contagious. It is a virus that is passed like any other virus.
So no wonder he has croup...three school buddies have it. I guess it is going to be a long school year.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sleeping Sweetie
When Little Man was getting ready for bed last night, I noticed that he had a little cough and runny nose. I figure it is seasonal allergies for the most part. Bless his heart.
At 3:00 AM, I hear a small, quiet voice standing next to my bed. "Up, pease." I woke up and there is Little Man coughing a little and holding two trains in his hands, Thomas and James. I haul him up and sling him over to the middle of the bed to keep him from rolling out. I told him that it was still "night-night" and to close his eyes. After a few minutes, I feel him relax and breathing deeper. All the while, he has these two trains in a death grip in both hands. I try to ease them out and place them in between us. The little booger feels around until he gets them back and continues to sleep.
He snuggles up close and puts his feet under my knees. When I try to move, his cold little feet find my knees and warm up.
The alarm goes off at 6 AM and we wake to find Thomas and James suffocating in the grip of Little Man's fists. He lubs some 'train tracks'. He was so sweet, lying there, hogging the bed. Bless his little heart.
At 3:00 AM, I hear a small, quiet voice standing next to my bed. "Up, pease." I woke up and there is Little Man coughing a little and holding two trains in his hands, Thomas and James. I haul him up and sling him over to the middle of the bed to keep him from rolling out. I told him that it was still "night-night" and to close his eyes. After a few minutes, I feel him relax and breathing deeper. All the while, he has these two trains in a death grip in both hands. I try to ease them out and place them in between us. The little booger feels around until he gets them back and continues to sleep.
He snuggles up close and puts his feet under my knees. When I try to move, his cold little feet find my knees and warm up.
The alarm goes off at 6 AM and we wake to find Thomas and James suffocating in the grip of Little Man's fists. He lubs some 'train tracks'. He was so sweet, lying there, hogging the bed. Bless his little heart.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
I Guess I Really AM Vain
It has been almost exactly two years since I have been to the eye doctor. Little Man could not walk, was still nursing, and in size 2 diapers. It is hard to believe how quickly two years can pass. In the blink of an eye.
So today I went to see my eye doctor. After a brief and painless chastisement for not coming in last year, he began his examination of my baby browns. Good news! No change. Despite a family history of Fuch's Dystrophy, I look good with no precursors that are apparent. My eyes haven't changed enough to warrant new lenses in my glasses either. However, I wanted some sunglasses.
The doc explained that I could get the transition lenses (nope) or some clip-ons (absolutely not). I explained to him that I wanted some stand alone sunglasses that look fab-u-lous. He then begins to ask why I want sunglasses: Do I have sensitivity to the sun? Blah, blah, blah. Nope. I am trying to prevent wrinkles.
Yep. Wrinkles. When I don't wear sunglasses, I squint. And when I squint, I have crow's feet around my eyes. I suppose that makes me vain. I want cute sunglasses so that I look good in them and will have less wrinkles in the future. He laughed and sent me on my way.
The optician was so nice and friendly. She helped me by picking out those frames that she thought would look good. See, I could not see very well. Dilated eyeballs make things blurry. I was in her able hands at this point. I explained that I did not want something that was yucky or blah or boring. I wanted fab-u-lous that did not make me look like a bug or like Elvis or fat AND it had to compliment my red hair. This lady totally understood. (Come to find out, she is the one who advised me two years ago on my current frames and I have LOVED them.) I will be the proud owner of some dark brownish red frames with some brown sprakles on the side. (I love my sunglasses that my friend gave me that has bling on them too...but those require contacts every day and my eyes get too tired.)
I guess I am vain when it comes to my eyeglasses investment. Holy moly! Frames are expensive! But if they are going to be used for a few years, it is worth it.
So today I went to see my eye doctor. After a brief and painless chastisement for not coming in last year, he began his examination of my baby browns. Good news! No change. Despite a family history of Fuch's Dystrophy, I look good with no precursors that are apparent. My eyes haven't changed enough to warrant new lenses in my glasses either. However, I wanted some sunglasses.
The doc explained that I could get the transition lenses (nope) or some clip-ons (absolutely not). I explained to him that I wanted some stand alone sunglasses that look fab-u-lous. He then begins to ask why I want sunglasses: Do I have sensitivity to the sun? Blah, blah, blah. Nope. I am trying to prevent wrinkles.
Yep. Wrinkles. When I don't wear sunglasses, I squint. And when I squint, I have crow's feet around my eyes. I suppose that makes me vain. I want cute sunglasses so that I look good in them and will have less wrinkles in the future. He laughed and sent me on my way.
The optician was so nice and friendly. She helped me by picking out those frames that she thought would look good. See, I could not see very well. Dilated eyeballs make things blurry. I was in her able hands at this point. I explained that I did not want something that was yucky or blah or boring. I wanted fab-u-lous that did not make me look like a bug or like Elvis or fat AND it had to compliment my red hair. This lady totally understood. (Come to find out, she is the one who advised me two years ago on my current frames and I have LOVED them.) I will be the proud owner of some dark brownish red frames with some brown sprakles on the side. (I love my sunglasses that my friend gave me that has bling on them too...but those require contacts every day and my eyes get too tired.)
I guess I am vain when it comes to my eyeglasses investment. Holy moly! Frames are expensive! But if they are going to be used for a few years, it is worth it.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Out of the Mouth of a Small Mac. . . .
You know, I have figured out the way of solving great problems that are perplexing a person....make an appointment. I am serious. Make an appointment to deal with the said problem and it will fix itself.
Case in point: Little Man's speech issues. I had mulled over this for a few months and finally decided that it was time to get the evaluation (see previous post). That evaluation has been less than 2 weeks ago and Little Man has come out with some verbal doosies!
He has started new classes in church on Sundays and Wednesday and also in his preschool. All three of these classes are structured (meaning that he does not get "free play" the entire time he is in there). They have lesson time, craft time, circle time, play time, snack time, number time, letter time, color time, you get the idea.
Big Sister and I were reviewing Bible verses for her class and Little Man was trying his best to repeat what she was singing/saying. He can totally get the melody, but not fully articulate the words. Anyway, she was complaining that he was too little to be saying verses. I told her that the scriptures say that "God's word never returns void" and that it was important that Little Man hear and try to repeat the verses too.
Me: Who is God's son?
LM: God loves me! God loves Darker (his name as he pronounces it).
Me: True. God does love you. God's son is Jesus.
LM: Desus?
Me: Yes. Now. Can you tell me who is Jesus' father/daddy is?
LM: (Looking around a bit...) Da Dord!
All of a sudden he is communicating with me!
Some other things he is saying very clearly:
Hey, mom! Dook at me! (doing various & sundry acrobatics)
I paying 'ite now (I'm playing right now)
Gandaddy
Giamommy? (for some reason he can't say Grandmama so he makes up a word)
Ganny
He also has a new trick: He knows not to take his cup or plate into the living room. However, he thinks that if he squints his eyes shut and tip-toes, I will not be able to see him. I can be looking straight at him and he will tip toe right by me, glancing at me through slits and head right into the living room. Poor kid.
=)
Case in point: Little Man's speech issues. I had mulled over this for a few months and finally decided that it was time to get the evaluation (see previous post). That evaluation has been less than 2 weeks ago and Little Man has come out with some verbal doosies!
He has started new classes in church on Sundays and Wednesday and also in his preschool. All three of these classes are structured (meaning that he does not get "free play" the entire time he is in there). They have lesson time, craft time, circle time, play time, snack time, number time, letter time, color time, you get the idea.
Big Sister and I were reviewing Bible verses for her class and Little Man was trying his best to repeat what she was singing/saying. He can totally get the melody, but not fully articulate the words. Anyway, she was complaining that he was too little to be saying verses. I told her that the scriptures say that "God's word never returns void" and that it was important that Little Man hear and try to repeat the verses too.
Me: Who is God's son?
LM: God loves me! God loves Darker (his name as he pronounces it).
Me: True. God does love you. God's son is Jesus.
LM: Desus?
Me: Yes. Now. Can you tell me who is Jesus' father/daddy is?
LM: (Looking around a bit...) Da Dord!
All of a sudden he is communicating with me!
Some other things he is saying very clearly:
Hey, mom! Dook at me! (doing various & sundry acrobatics)
I paying 'ite now (I'm playing right now)
Gandaddy
Giamommy? (for some reason he can't say Grandmama so he makes up a word)
Ganny
He also has a new trick: He knows not to take his cup or plate into the living room. However, he thinks that if he squints his eyes shut and tip-toes, I will not be able to see him. I can be looking straight at him and he will tip toe right by me, glancing at me through slits and head right into the living room. Poor kid.
=)
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
A Three Day Par-Tay
The long weekend has come and gone. The unofficial end of summer has come and it will be a while before we get another break in the day in and day out of going to first grade.
We had a great visit with the Grandparents from Tennessee. It started with the preparation and anticipation of Goosey. She changed her outfit twice in order to set the mood for a grand welcome. She straightened her room and the playroom (although to the outside eye, it did not look like it). She planned and practiced the "Goosey-Little Man" show over and over. It was fabulous. Little Man just ran around in circles from the excitement from seeing TN-GPs. He really took to Grandad. In and out of the house right on his heels.
We did not really do anything exciting since Goosey is still recovering from a bout of strep. And it rained. Can you believe it? Rain. Here at my house. Anyway, we were able to go to the pool so that TN-GPs were able to witness with their own eyes the swimming capabilities of Goosey and the Spider Man lifevest wearing Little Man. We had a picnic that evening and stayed up to watch a bit of TV.
A good time. It is always hard to say goodbye though. We were waving from the driveway when TN-GPs pulled away to go home. Little Man promptly ran to the car and said "Go bye-bye. Bue car?" When I told him no, he turned and said "Go bye-bye. White car?" I shook my head. He dropped his chin to his chest and started crying. Boo.
We had a great visit with the Grandparents from Tennessee. It started with the preparation and anticipation of Goosey. She changed her outfit twice in order to set the mood for a grand welcome. She straightened her room and the playroom (although to the outside eye, it did not look like it). She planned and practiced the "Goosey-Little Man" show over and over. It was fabulous. Little Man just ran around in circles from the excitement from seeing TN-GPs. He really took to Grandad. In and out of the house right on his heels.
We did not really do anything exciting since Goosey is still recovering from a bout of strep. And it rained. Can you believe it? Rain. Here at my house. Anyway, we were able to go to the pool so that TN-GPs were able to witness with their own eyes the swimming capabilities of Goosey and the Spider Man lifevest wearing Little Man. We had a picnic that evening and stayed up to watch a bit of TV.
A good time. It is always hard to say goodbye though. We were waving from the driveway when TN-GPs pulled away to go home. Little Man promptly ran to the car and said "Go bye-bye. Bue car?" When I told him no, he turned and said "Go bye-bye. White car?" I shook my head. He dropped his chin to his chest and started crying. Boo.
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