Pet Show, Hair Cuts and New Toys (for all!)

Regan's class is studying animals and they had a pet show this week. All the kids could bring their pets from home, so we brought Bailey. If I had been feeling better earlier, I would have gotten his hair cut first, but poor guy was all too happy to get out, no matter how shaggy he was looking. The kids loved him, he got in the middle of the circle of kids and flipped over on his back so they could pet his tummy, he is just the sweetest, most docile dog. They had great questions, and I promised to bring Bailey back in after his spring hair cut.

Then I took the kids in to Toys R Us to get their hair cut. It's always iffy going there, but I had a coupon! Sadly, I worry more about Riley's hair than Regan's, hers is straight, not that hard to mess up, but for some reason, people can't seem to figure out how to cut Riley's curls. But we got the perfect people yesterday, the lady who cut Riley's hair knew just what she was doing and did a great job, and he looks so much better, and the one who cut Regan's hair loved doing little girls, she took her time, gave her glitter and everything!

Then of course we had to look around a bit and Riley found a Lego dirt bike toy he wanted and Regan found a baby in a bathtub toy, so we splurged (you only live once, right?) And later, mom and dad got a new toy, our new LG washing machine!! I can't wait to get it hooked up and running, and lower our water bill!!

Bronchitis and Flu

I had a doctor's appointment to get a referral for my ENG test coming up, and wouldn't you know, over the weekend David gave me his wonderful flu bug. I made it to the doctor and he kind of laughed at me when I said I was just there for a referral for vertigo, he was like, um, really? Let me check a few things. So basically I had bronchitis and the flu. Thanks Babe. I did get a Z-pack, a 12 pack of Sprite and cans of chicken noodle soup, so it's all good.

Cannibals

On one of my message boards we were talking about Shel Silverstein and the book "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and I remembered how much I loved that book of poems when I was a kid. I thought that might be something Riley would enjoy reading. I was right! I got it from the library and he had it read cover to cover in a matter of days! I remembered my favorite, Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out! Anyway, in one of the poems, it mentioned a cannibal, and so Riley asked me what a cannibal was. I was trying to figure out a polite way of putting it, but I said, well, a cannibal is a tribe of people that live in the jungle and they eat human flesh. At this point Regan says, "Ewww, that's INAPPROPRIATE behavior!!"

Stay FAR, FAR AWAY!!

Regan told me she had a "forehead ache" last weekend, and was running a very low fever. That went on for a few days, I kept her out of school Monday and Tuesday. She's been coughing a lot, but those were really her only symptoms, so I don't know what it was she had, if it was a cold or the flu, but she's been sleeping a lot during the day, and having bad dreams at night, keeping me awake with her kicking and screaming. Then David started feeling bad Wednesday and decided to work from home, and by today it's probably the full blown flu. He's taken up residence on the couch and running a fever and sleeping most of the time. Then today I get a call from the school that Regan threw up in the cafeteria. She told me she spilled milk on her corn dog and tried to eat it anyway and it was just gross. I can imagine, that sounds pretty gross to me, but she's still just tired and worn down, but no fever so I don't know what's going on with her now. I told the kids not to touch dad, but if they do, they get boiled in disinfectant. We have our home group tonight, and it might just be me and Riley going, but I want out of the sick house!!

Boys will be Boys

This USED to be my flower bed. Past tense. Want to know what Riley and his industrious little pal Tristan have made with my flower bed? A whoops section. Part of a motocross track. They took it upon themselves to get the shovel out, dig out some nice little rivets and build up some areas (and use the extra dirt, by the way, to have a dirt fight in the driveway) and made themselves a little dirt bike track where my flowers used to grow. I can't complain, they do use it quite a bit, it took quite a bit of ingenuity and probably a bit of muscle and as long as they use it, I guess I'll let it stay a while longer. Who's mom ROCKS???

Week of the Doctors, Part Deaux

It's amazing how often a healthy family of 4 can go to a doctor of some sort. David went back for more work on his tooth this week, Riley went to an orthodontist, so far so good, we go back in a year to make sure everything is still where it needs to be. I had my yearly mammogram, gotta stay on top of those girls now. And I went to my ENT to find out about the dizziness and he thinks I have vertigo. I have to go back on Monday for an ENG test, which sounds like buckets of fun. The nurse was saying something about making me close my eyes and do math problems while they monitor my eye movement. I said good luck with that, I can't do math with my eyes open!! There's several parts to this test, flipping me upside down, then right side up, making me walk, probably while the doctor is on the other side of a one way mirror, laughing at me running into the wall. Monitoring my eye movement while they put hot and cold water in my ears, which better not make me have an accident. So, like I said, buckets of fun. At least David is off on Monday, he is my designated driver.

Happy Valentine's Day!

And what a day it was! I made cookies for each of the kid's class parties, made cups of cocoa for the teacher gifts (they said "you warm my heart") and glow stick Valentine's for the classmate's that said "you make my heart GLOW!" and they were a big hit. Regan's party was right after lunch, Riley's party was just before school ended, so I was up there most of the day. Then we had Riley's parent/teacher conference which went really well. He has a new teacher now, and he's smart as ever, and doing great!

Then for dinner I made a heart shaped meat loaf and pink garlic mashed potatoes, and a sunshine cake, that I decided we didn't need around the house so I didn't even cut into it, I just donated it to the school!! Such self control!!

Week of the Doctors...

It was the week of the doctors, as I had a dentist appointment on Monday, both kids on Tuesdays (all is well) except I just have to say, that was my first time to have a man as a hygienist, and he was rough! I have never had so much pain getting my teeth cleaned in my life. I think I will be looking for a new dentist. David had his root canal last week so on Wednesday he started the work for the crown. On Friday, Regan had her first eye doctor appointment, and apparently she's farsighted in both eyes, more so in her left eye, but not enough to need glasses, but the doctor wants to follow up with her and make sure it doesn't get worse. Also on Friday, I had my super fun yearly exam, which was fine, except now I have to go to my ENT because I have fluid behind my ears which is causing me to be dizzy and lightheaded some. But, I do have actual proof that I'm eating better, my blood pressure, which was never really high to begin with, is much lower now. I was concerned that it was too low, and wondering why it had dropped, and my doctor said, well, have you been trying to eat better, less fast food, less salt? I was like, wow, you can tell, yeah!! So, one of my new year's goals is actually being accomplished, and I have physical proof!

And can you believe it's hot enough here right now that Regan is outside playing in the sprinkler in her bathing suit?!! Crazy weather!!

My Day with Regan...and Hannah Montana!

Since I couldn't get concert tickets to the hottest concert on the planet, I did the second best thing and got tickets to the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus 3D concert movie, and even sprung for a can of purple glitter hair sparkles. It was fun!! Regan had a blast, rocking out to all the Miley/Hannah songs, while mom rocked a little harder to the Jonas Brothers. Regan loved her purple streaks and it was a lot cheaper than the concert. Life's What You Make It!!

In Memory

Tevin was really nice and he was a good kid, and I miss him. His favorite thing in school was recess and his favorite school break was summer. He liked to eat taquitos. Tevin liked PE, art and reading. We liked to be funny a lot. He was one of my best friends. Love, Riley