Media

Oh I'm so happy Thursday night TV is back. What did you all think of it? The Office made me laugh and scream with delight. Yeah for Pam and Jim. Man Steve Carrell is so funny. I was also cheering out loud for Izzie and saving the deer's life. So glad she won the Emmy. Plus the speech the new intern gave George. I hope Grey's Anatomy is back to being good. =)

Also thought I'd include a copy of my Fall Playlist, it took me a while but here are a bunch of new songs for this fall.

• How Far We've Come Matchbox Twenty
• Flathead The Fratellis
• 1234 Feist
• Money honey State of Shock
• Hold On KT Tunstall
• Dreaming With A Broken Heart John Mayer
• We're Going to be Friends White Stripes
• Paralyzer Finger Eleven
• In the Sun (Gulf Coast Relief) [Featuring Chris Martin] Michael Stipe & Chris Martin
• Catch My Disease Ben Lee
• Wake Up Call Maroon 5
• Get Your Freak On KT Tunstall
• Mad About You Chantal Kreviazuk
• Relax (Take It Easy) Mika
• Ordinary Miracle Sarah McLachlan
• Snow ((Hey Oh)) Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Were All in This Together Ben Lee
  

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

A Lesson for NYC

This weekend we bought Lucas a Dora book, to continue to obsession. We have been reading Dora's camping adventure every nap time and bed time. If you are not familiar with Dora it follows the same pattern every show. Dora and her monkey pet, Boots has to go somewhere and needs to consult the "map" There are 3 parts to each journey. They always need to use something from the bottomless backpack. At some point during the show, there is a fox, Swiper, who tries to steal something for Dora and to get him to stop all you have to do it chant, Swiper no swiping. I only wish all the problems of the world could be solved that way....

I figure if someone tries to steal something from us in NYC next week I'll try this and see if it works. =)

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Zoo Story

Recently Lucas and I headed for our monthly trip to the zoo. We almost always go in the morning because his schedule best suits that. It's also advantagous becuase the zoo is not as busy, but the animals seem to be quite active after there night of sleep. As we walked into the zoo we saw the tiger and it's new baby lounging and eating grass. It's amazed me at how much a baby tiger can be so similar to a kitten, a fraction of it's size.

Then we headed off to the elephants and saw one dancing. He'd take his his front paw and kick it over his other front paw and then switch. I was happy at how content he seemed to be dancing to the music in his head. Unfortunatly we did not get to see the baby elephant which is almost a month old now. It is still bonding with it's mother.

Next over to the rest of the African animals to see the hippo and girafees (my favorite), lions(who as usually were not very active) and zebra, who seemed to be racing each other back and forth over the plain/cage.

The funniest part of the zoo was in the gorilla building where two female gorillas were playing really close to the window. There must have been 10 kids watching them from their strollers, wagons and others (like Lucas) standing close to the window. All the sudden the one gorilla comes up and bangs both hands on the glass ( I take it she didn't like us all staring). All the kids start to scream and cry. Even I jumped. Poor Lucas did not want to see any more animals up close after that, he was happy to stand back an watch them, but there was no way he was going up to the glass after that. It is amazing how in the last couple of months he fears have really started.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Singing

I love singing. When I am working I sing and sing. This weekend I spent a good chunk of time finding new music for my fall season CD. When someone says a phrase I love to try and find a song that has that phrase in it. Even if it's a kids song. So I'm proud to say Lucas has started to sing as well. We'll I don't know how much of it is singing or just reciting the words. Even tonight we much have sang Twinkle, Twinkle ten times in the park.



Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Dora??

Lucas has become crazy about Dora the Explorer. We can watch other TV shows and he gets tired of them and plays or talks to me during them, or whines (which is he new favorite thing to do). But with Dora I don't even know he's in the house. I just don't get it. What is it about Dora?? Is it the yelling? Swiper? Is it becuase she "talks" to the her audience?

I think I'm going to have to invest is some Dora movies becuase my life in now revolving around when Dora is on TV. Oh, can't have my shower till 8:30, then Dora's on. Or oh we're having a showing I can do some cleaning at 3:30 when Dora's on. Oh gotta go, Dora's over. Are your kids crazy over Dora or is it so other show?

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Married Well

One of the things that I find endearing about people is when they have a good marriage. It's not that I won't be friends with people who are not married or who are not happy in their marriage, but for me to really connect with someone new I find they have to like being married. I say this because yesterday I was at the park with Lucas and there were two mothers there swinging there kids complaining about their husbands.

"It's like having another child"
"I'd never do it again"
"If I did do it again he'd have to be rich, so I could stay home and do nothing"
"I have to nag him and tell him what to do all the time"

I was amazed. I would never imply that my marriage is perfect. But it's something that both Darryl and I work hard to maintain. But I would marry him 100 times over if I could. He is not like another child but my partner in life. I think I would have lots of trouble being good friends with someone who felt that way about their significant other. I was even over reading a blog today, and find that I read blogs about people that have a good marriages. I think even subconsciously when I had Lesley watch Lucas one of the things I liked was that Lucas would see another example of a good relationship and Lucas often talks about Lesley's husband.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

New Best Friends

It has been really cute the last couple of days to see Lucas be so considerate of his animals. It's amazing when they start to make others "equal" to them. For example yesterday when Lucas gets up from his nap I ask him if he'd like a snack, he has insisted on bringing his Winnie downstairs with him as well.

Lucas: Ice Cream Cone?
Me: Sure
Lucas: Winnie wants one too.
Me: Okay, what flavor of ice cream would you like, rainbow or chocolate
Lucas: Rainbow, but Winnie wants chocolate
Me: Could you share yours with Winnie
Lucas: No, I want rainbow, but Winnie wants chocolate

In the end this is what the afternoon snack looked like.


Not that I really mind. It's good that he realizes the world doesn't revolve around him. ALthough now Winnie wants to see all the pictures in the book and Lucas like to wrap his arm around Winnie and let him feel the "touchy feely" books we read.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Monthly Newsletter - Month Twenty Five

Dear Lucas,

Well I definitely am noticing a difference in your growing up. I think I have said every couple of days, it's hard being two. You are much more mellow dramatic then you were two months ago. You went through a bought of really terrible crying when I would drop you off at Lesley's. Now you don't cry when I drop you off but when I pick you up. There's no winning. Luckily the crying when I pick you up is more of a whine then a heart wrenching cry. But you can be that way with everything. " Don't wanna go home", "Don't wanna go to the park"

Luckily the good things still totally out weigh your mellow dramatic. You continue to be so smart. You are counting and starting to sing your abc's, although you do like to start with LMNOP.

The other thing that we have had alot of experience with this past month is birthdays. It started with your birthday and you talked about that for weeks, and still talk about it now. Then we had cake and candles for 3 other people's birthday's and you are very into it. You know the birthday song, you know there should be a candle you can blow out and most important you know we get to eat cake.



Another thing that is developing is your love of stuffed animals. You just use to sleep on them and use them as pillows, but now Winnie the Pooh has feelings and likes to feel the parts of the touch and feel book. Hugzie is now your friend who likes to eat toast with us while having dinner. And who you squeeze so tight.


You have definitly been a trooper this month. Living in the uber clean house where no one would know a toddler resides, becuase all the toys are hidden in cupboards somewhere. Plus with all the stress your Dad and I have been under sometimes we can't give you the attention you normally get. I am so happy you have no idea about everything going on. It makes everything seem less life changing. In the end no matter what happens you'll still want to play with playdoh and take walks to the park. You are a healthy and happy kid and have healthy happy parents, and that's is the most important thing of all.

I love you

mommy

HIghlights of the Birthday Weekend

Although the weekend is not complete yet and I will be enjoying my favorite dinner at mom and dad's house it has been a fun birthday weekend extravaganza. Lucas now loves to say the word extravaganza. Yesterday we cleaned and cleaned because we had a couple of house showings (although no offers) and then I headed out shopping. After getting home Darryl and I dropped Lucas off at our friends house and we went to Red Lobster for a feast. This morning I went for my pedicure, present from Darryl and Lucas

and now I am reading a new book, present from Tammy. But one of the best things that happened this weekend is I got this great deal on a shirt from Old Navy. I love to get a good deal. I even bought the shirt in two different colors becuase it was such a good deal. Can you guess how much?



Till Tomorrow

Jenn

A Sign

5 minutes ago I'm sitting on the couch crying and I feel something on my arm. I look down and there is a ladybug walking up it. I think, there's a sign, maybe everything will be alright. Maybe Darryl's dad is looking down on me, telling me not to worry, everything will be alright again.

Hopefully the weekend will bring some good things.

Jenn

Pond

One of the nice things about living in a new community is that they put in things like ponds and parks all over. We live about three houses away from a great pond. We have been walking around the pond quite a bit lately and love to look for the heron that lives there.

There have also been lots of geese and other ducks there, which Emma loves, although she hasn't jumped in after any recently. =) I live a great life when so much time can be spent outside enjoying nature.



Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Perks

I'm sure I've mentioned it on this blog before, but generally there are not alot of "perks" to working in healthcare. It's not like there are extravagant Christmas parties or summer picnics that are all payed for. No freebies, or free flights, really other then being able to have a barium enema the next day if one was ordered there are no real "perks".

Although sometimes when I am working, I can come up with a few. Today was one of them becuase we get free CPR training, but I'll get into that in more detail later. On a day to day basis I have a pretty good idea of how sick you need to be to go into a hospital. I hope to never spend some unnecessary time waiting in an emergency room. I know that if you can walk on your ankle it's probably not broken. Or if you have time to shave your knee, its probably a torn ligament and not a break. I also know that if your abdomen ever feels big and hard as a rock you probably have an obstruction. But if you haven't gone poo for 5 days and you have a tummy ache that you should probably take a laxative, not sit in emergency for 6 hours waiting to see a doctor, who will order and x-ray to prove yes, in fact that lack of pooping is a problem. I also know that for chest pain always go into see a doctor, especially if you are having trouble breathing. Experience has taught me a lot about emergencies.

As I said one of the other perks is free training on how to save people's lives. Sometimes I'm amazed that the hospitals pay for it because I've never had to give some chest compressions at the hospital. If they stop breathing I call a code and a bunch of experienced people come out of the walls (at least that's what it feels like they get there so fast) and take over. But they spend half a day with us each year reviewing CPR for an adult, child and infant. I consider this a perk because if I ever need to do full blown CPR it won't be in the hospital but on one of the my parents or grandparents. And we don't give people food or anything they could choke on in the hospital but I know exactly what to do if Lucas chokes on his lunch tomorrow. I do recommend everyone take an oppurtunity at least once in your life (if not once a year) to take a CPR course. Although I may not get free flights at least I'll get to take my dad on a flight if I ever need to save his life. I know that sounds mellow dramatic and I know that only 1% of the time does CPR "save" a persons life, but it does although there brain to continue to get O2 while paramedics come. As an optimist, I consider CPR training to be a real perk.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

My Favorite Picture Lately

6 years ago

It's strange how certain dates will always be ingrained in our mind. 6 years ago the craziest, saddest thing happened, that made the whole world a little less safe and trustworthy. I remember working at the hospital and the doctor didn't see half the patients and we x-rayed very few people because we were all busy watching the events unfold on the TV. No one was sure if it was done or if some sort or war starting or some sort of armegeddon.

In the years past I met someone who was in NYC on September 11th, she talked about how traumatizing it was. Today on Oprah there were kids who lost a parent on September 11th and they talked about how they are doing, most were doing well. An sad world event, sad that so many people lost their lives.

Just know today the world is thinking about what happened and the people who lost their lives.

Jenn

The Best Noises

Since I'm am a mother and cheap and slightly boring my Saturday night have started to be consumed by The Hills I don't usually go out on Saturday nights. I can go out, I just don't usually. So now I am crazy about The Hills, which CTV replays on Saturday night. If anything I am amazed at how stupid girls can be. Are all girls as stupid as Audrina is over Justin Bobby, or is it because it's reality TV?!? I do like Lauren, or LC. And the relationship with Heidi and Spencer is so easy to hate. Obviously the show does a good job of editing. But it is my new indulgence, that makes me live vicarioulsy through Lauren, Audrina and Heidi.

Although the best part of the episode today was when I could hear Lucas and Darryl through the baby monitor and Darryl was making Lucas laugh. Lucas would say, Daddy, do again. Darryl would do it again and Lucas would laugh hysterically. So even though I am cheap and slightly boring, I wouldn't change being a mother part of anything.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Preliminary Potty Training

A funny story, that seems to happen to most kids, at some point. The other day Lucas was farting in the tub to make his father and himself laugh hysterically. During one of his pushes to omake a fart came out, he ended up pooping in the tub. I don't think Darryl, panicked about it, but definitly got Lucas out of the tub ASAP. Ever since that evening Lucas has no desire to go in the tub. He soon may look like a black child because he does not want to get clean. Instead when it's tubing time, he wants to sit on the toliet. He has yet to pee or poop on the toliet, but wants to sit on it for the half and hour tubing time usually is. Ahhh a new phase....

No good news on the housing front yet.

Jenn

Stressed

I'm not sure if it's been obvious in the last couple of post, but I am going through one of the most stressful times in my life. I can think of one other time when so much was going on, and it also had to do with moving.

Right now the big stress is selling the house. The problem is that I don't feel like I can do anything to help it. We are priced right, if not a little lower, but there are so many houses on the market, no one has put an offer in on ours. The problem is that we take possession of the new house on the 26th, and if we don't have a buyer before then I'm not sure what is going to happen. We are looking at all kinds of different options, but everything seems so scary. I feel like I am turning into a crazy person. I'm yelling and upset with all kinds of people I shouldn't be. Normally I am a very sane person, but I am at the end of my rope with my nerves. I really don't want to lose my new house, but it may come down to that if we can't sell our current house. It's hard becuase I don't feel like I can start packing the old house and getting things ready for the move, when there is a possiblity there won't be a move. We've put a large deposit down on the new house and I don't want to lose that either. We are looking at some different options, it just feels like everything needs to happen so fast and that we have such little time to get everything done....

Plus our second car was terminally ill and needed a heart transplant, so that's more money.

Anyway I don't mean for this post to be a pity party, just know that I don't know how much I'll be posting over the next month, I don't like to be a downer to everyone, but will keep you updated with anything good.

Jenn

No Rest for the Weary

I'm am a very lucky girl in that I only work part time. That being said I do work part time at 3 jobs. It never amount to full time, but some weekends (like this one) I am working a lot (although) I chose too. A couple of really good things do come from me work lots. First off (and the less important thing) I made tons of money. I got paid double time for today. That rarely happens, but today I made double my usual wage to go into work, I'm also working on Monday the holiday and that is for time and a half. I do love a long weekend. =)

Secondly when I pick up work at my 2 extra jobs it is only when Darryl can be home with Lucas. I only have daycare for Lucas when I'm at my teaching job, not my clinical job. The best thing is that after Darryl and Lucas have spent lots of time together, Lucas loves spending time with Darryl even more. Right now Darryl and Lucas are down stairs organizing the basement together. Although my guess is Lucas is making more of a mess then organizing. =)

Also a belated Happy Birthday to Darryl. I'll be sure to post a picture of the very cool gift Lucas and I got for him.



Till Tomorrow

Jenn