Wednesday, February 22, 2006

In loving memory of my Grandmother



With love, Lisa

The book is keeping me busy!

Gee, ya publish one book and all of a sudden you have a lot more work to do! *GRIN* But it's all in good fun and in good time.

Honestly, the biggest news here is that Becca had a BM today. Wooooo-hoooo!! The things you celebrate when your kiddo is critically ill. I am so over the moon! :) :) :)

And MY HOUSE IS A WRECK. *sigh* I fear that my husband will disown me...if he can find me under all the stuff that has piled up. And I have no idea what to have for dinner.

Ever have one of those days?

Friday, February 17, 2006

What's furry and smells like toothpaste?

One of our cats.

It seems that yesterday, young Mr. Aiden discovered the toothpaste my oldest daughter, Rachel, keeps in her backpack to clean her teeth at school.

Well, maybe he thought it was hair gell.

He AND the cat had spikey, blue, minty-fresh hair yesterday.

They just don't prepare you for this things when you're about to become a mom....

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Boo's hot pink wheels

I forgot to update you. We ordered Boo a wheelchair last Friday. We picked the hottest pink they had...and you can never have a pink that's too hot for Boo. (Her other favorite color is bright yellow.)

They say it will take months before her own wheels will arrive. So, in the meantime, we've been loaned a chair that fits her very well and is much like the one she will be getting.

We got to test it out last Saturday. Took the kids to the Egyptian Museum in San Jose. Very cool, I hear. My Dear Husband went in with the older kids and I wheeled Boo around the gardens while Aiden ran up and down stairs counting each as he went and, of course, we had to scout out every fountain and make wishes.

Tomorrow I get to test out the wheelchair on my own...which means it will be just me and the little ones off to my appointment. I'll need to leave early to do the whole wheelchair assembly thing and getting Boo all set up.

I do have to say, though, she looks very good in "The Chair." More grown up. I'd been hauling her around in a wagon, but she can't sit as well as she used to. "The Chair" gives her all the support and safety she needs.

Well, I hear howling now, which means my youngest (2.10 years) is finished with his bath and needs an escort to bed where he will refuse to kiss me because I have betrayed his love by sending him to bed.

Pingu, hallucinations and Boo

Made you look!

Pingu is my latest favorite kid show. Have you seen it? Absolutely cute and imaginative. I get drawn in each and every time.

Tomorrow I visit the sleep clinic for a consultation. I have bi-polar disorder and my psychiatrist wants to rule out a sleep disorder before he decides what to call the floating orange jellyfish that wake me up in the middle of the night and scare me half out of my wits as they zoom at my head and then dart out of sight.

Did she just make that up?

No. GREAT stress can cause a 'bi-polar flare up,' if you will. And sometimes there is a lot of stress related to Boo. Since I reported these strange night phenomena, though, there haven't been anymore episodes, but then I hide under my blankets or refuse to go to bed without my husband. Big brave woman am I.

I also pray. And I ask people to pray for me and my family. It works! Thanks be to God.

BOO REPORT: She's got that head cold that's been going around. Sore throat, cough, congestion, maybe a bit of an earache. But she's rallying well. Eating and drinking better than her younger brother who just doesn't want to eat. And when I offer Our Little Candy Addict his favorite treat and he "just says no" I know he's not feeling very well.

Now I'm taking bets on which of the older children will be staying home the rest of the week. Seems like every other day I have a combo of three convalescing.

Did I ever mention that I hate snot?

Blogger is up, Blogger is down

Anybody else having troubles lately with Blogger? Sometimes it just gets 'stuck.' A good excuse for me not be on the computer, ay? :)

Friday, February 10, 2006

What a week!

Gee, I'm glad it's Friday! What a wonderful head cold that's going around. Earaches, coughing, wheezing, loss of voice.

Bec gets fitted for her OWN wheelchair today. Haven't used the loaner yet. Can't make up my mind if I'm just lazy and don't want to go out or if I am in denial. I should get out walking. It's part of my change of life plan. Walking gives Momma a healthy heart and bones.

Here's a good one for ya. I was mixing Boo a drink of Tang (powdery orange stuff that makes a juice type drink--for those who've never heard of it). I was spoonfeeding it to her and thought, "Boy, this stuff is really dying her teeth orange."

The NEXT day I figured out what the problem was. For one serving one must use two TABLESPOONS of Tang mix, not TWO SCOOPS.

Lol! Poor kiddo! She had a nice glowing orange smile for a few days there.

P.S. Do not try this at home. This is a sheer act of stupidity on my part and should not be attempted by any sane individual.

Hope your week has been good.

Friday, February 3, 2006

I talked to Delilah

I sent Delilah (from the radio show Delilah After Dark) an email, just to thank her for her show. The kids and I love it and it gets us through this time with Boo and her illness. It's one of those positives in our life.

So I wanted to send her a book just to say, "Thank you." Because I know she's a mom of many--she might get a laugh or two out of the book.

Well, the people who run the show called me. And then within seconds I'm talking to Delilah. Puh. I had no clue what to say, Delilah had no clue about me... I such a dork!

(But you already knew that, right? :) )

At least now I can go back to be little ol' me.

And I never did get her address so I could send her a book. But she's praying for us! That's cool. Everyone's prayers get us through. Amen.

Best compliment

The physical therapists were here and one mentioned that he'd seen an article about me in the paper. So I showed them the most finished copy of the book that I have on hand. They were reading it right there and laughing! Can't ask for better feedback than that.

I gave them the copy and they said they'd share it with their unit.

I would have never guessed how much I'd enjoy hearing people laugh at what I write. Very cool.

Boo's got wheels!

Loaner wheels that is. Next week we are ordering a wheelchair/pediatric stroller for her. In the meantime, she gets to cruise around in a loaner and I'm actually impressed by it. On their own they look clunky and uncomfortable (see picture--see what I mean?), but she really looks comfy in this one. AND it tilts. That's important.

So I am a little less concerned now about getting her one of her own. I think we will make a good choice.

It will take two months for Boo's very own wheels to be ready, so I think we will have plenty of time to get used to life with a wheelchair.

Thursday, February 2, 2006

Boo speaks!

Aha! After 4 1/2 years, we got some real communication. She saw Daddy eating his birthday cheesecake and wanted some. So she leaned forward, got our attention and then made a 'suckie face' like she was trying to slurp up some for herself.

We couldn't resist. This is the second night in a row that she had a whole slice to herself. *BIG GRIN*

Tiger At The Table

Occassionally some great books cross my desk.

Recently I got to review Tiger At The Table by Scott Parish.

This is a wonderful, colorful children's book that gracefully teaches little ones about the correct way to behave at the dinner table. My pre-schoolers loved it!

You can get this book in English or Spanish (I have both!)

Tiger at the Table: http://www.lulu.com/content/157842

Tigre A La Mesa: http://www.lulu.com/content/184494

New column up

Check it out: www.JellyMom.com

Time flew by this week

Mummy at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium in San Jose, CA

Hello,

I've been busy getting the word out about the new book. It's nice to see so many people taking an interest. :)

Bec is doing very well all things considered. Aiden is the usual--into everything. JD is doing mostly well in school. He's been a bit sensitive lately, but rebounding fairly well. Rachel is having fun with dance in her P.E. class. Nicole's exploratory class is taking a field trip to the Egyptian Museum in San Jose. We're opting her out (something about signing a permission slip heavy with legalese claiming the school is not responsible in any way shape or form for our daughter) and going up as a family instead the following weekend. Should be a lot of fun!

Yesterday was my DH's (dear husband's) birthday. We decorated, I roasted a chicken and some potatoes and carrots and he had his traditional cheesecake for dessert. Now how to follow up with another good home-cooked meal tonight?

I've been slacking in the dinner department because of the book business. But this week it's been a lot better--real food and not that fast food stuff.

Hope all is well with you! Thank you to those who send encouraging email and keep us lifted in prayer. God is GOOD!