Update on Me: The Narcissistic Short Version

This fairly narcissist post is dedicated to The Pirate.  RIP!

I am, egads, exhausted.

Today, I didn't take any pain meds and it is showing.  At the same time, I can drive, play with my boys without falling asleep mid-tickle (while guarding my boob), and have a complete thought in my head.  I have a couple things to say . . . for now, this is what you get:

Pathology of The Pirate is benign!

I *knew* to follow my own instincts (with some Help from above) about treatment and *knew* to remove The Pirate instead of babysitting it.

Further pathology results:  The Pirate ended up being a different tissue type than what was collected through the biopsy (not unusual for this type of tumor).  If I (oh, and the surgeon) hadn't removed the tumor, there is would have been an increased likelihood that it would have developed into a malignant state later on . . . so, there.   Arrr, Matey!

(next post:  "gratitude and why I feel thankful to be around to sleep through Christmas")

14th

Happy Anniversary, Erik!

Thanks for taking special care of me on our 14th wedding anniversary.

I'll do my best to not make you sit around in a waiting room on our 15th.

Love you!

Sheila

Heat!

Evy: They call me Heat!


Mom: Why?

Evy: 'Cause I'm hot!

(Mom laughs.)

Evy: Mom, that's not funny.

Shimmer Me Funny

The surgery went well as far as I know.  I've got a bunch of stitches, some purple marker marks, some skin "glue," and a betadine stain across my chest and armpit as results of my surgery. 

The surgical center made sure that the "correct" side was operated on.  I initialed the appropriate boob, as well as the surgeon, before I was wheeled into the operating room.

I've been mostly either asleep or pre--eett--yyy out of it since the surgery.  Lots of good pain medicine.  Most things are pretty funny when I'm on these meds and my own comical quotient jumped like 400 times as well.  Well, I'm the only one that thinks I am funnier.

I've been a very, very lucky girl.  So many people have shown their support and love for my family this week.  Multiple offers to take care of my kids, bring us meals, or whatever else we need.  And, we have been accepting help.  The help has been a tremendous blessing for my family.  Seriously.

I go for a follow-up next week so the surgeon can check my incision and share pathology results.

I'm only allowed to pick up things that are less than eight pounds for a week.  I've been good in following directions, mostly.

The Pirate is gone!

Hit Replay

The kids and I heard this driving home . . . and with windows down because the weather was Ni-Ice, we jammed out.

It is now on replay in our house all the time!

V.Bucket

My earliest memory of missing out on "holiday" fun was when I was really, really young.  We were visiting family up north for Christmas, and it had SNOW!  In my mind, the snow piles were like eight feet high!  I had a cold and couldn't go out.  I remember looking out the door at a girl who was able to play, wishing I could be out there with her.  (When I was there, I did get to use a hot water bottle--that part was pretty neat.)

The next memory and actually saddest one was when I was eight.  We, in our children's group, were going to sing for a nursing home.  Especially as a young child, I LOVED to sing, and I LOVED to sing Christmas songs, and I was excited to go somewhere to help others feel better.  The morning of the anticipated day, I woke up with chicken pox.  I remember sobbing because I wasn't allowed to go and could not understand how the presence of some little rash could drastically change my plans.  (duh).  I was so disappointed.

Since then, I've had the occasional cold, but I was always able to participate in holiday cheer. 

This weekend, Merritt and I have been busy with the stomach flu.  Missed a couple of parties.  No fun.

Hhhmmm, at least I'm not at the party getting sick from some germ floating around there.  Grateful to avoid those germs. Grateful for the miracle of Tylenol and the healing properties it has for aches and chills. Grateful for vomit buckets. Grateful for those bottles of Gatorade I forgot we had in the pantry.  Grateful my other two guys are avoiding this latest bout of yuck.  Grateful for parents who will never think I am too old to call and ask to help me "think 'cause it hurts too much to do it by myself."  They even called back several times to check on us.


Merritt said a word that sounded like "keys" today when he was pointing to them. Progress even when ill.

"Mhyne Jhuu"

Merritt's first sentence:

"Mhyne Jhuu"

Mine juice.

I'm all for progress, people.

Evy Is Goin' on an Airplane

I just found Everett out of bed again.  Standing by his doorway, I reminded him that he needed to go to bed.

"I sleep standing up," he replied.

yeah.

As I tucked him into bed, he said,"Well, some birds sleep standing up."  yes, they do.

And, as I walked out of the room, he reminded me for the 10,000,000,000,000 time, while wagging his finger,"Don't forget to get me when it is time to go on the airplane."

"Yes, Sir!"

Evy is SO excited to visit family this weekend.  We spent today packing his clothes, practicing his cousins' names, picking out the movies and the games for the airplane ride, and talking about how even though he is going,"Merritt will keep you company, Mom."

He is sleeping in the clothes he'll wear tomorrow, his shoes are poised ready to go by his bed, and he might of slept in those, too, if he felt it would help make tomorrow go better.

We wake up at 3 something in the morning to get them to the airport for their 6:00 flight (I'm hoping I can stay asleep until 3:55 am).

I'm goin' to miss them.

Portraits by Evy

(a little blurry due to some setting Dad had it on, but I think Evy captured my essence.)

MOM

"MOM!  Come here; I have to show you something!"

This is what they wanted to show me, the hug.

(yes, that is cheese in Merritt's mouth as he says,"CHEESE," for the camera.)

Holiday Cheer

So far on the advent:
Christmas decorations inside and out
Driving to see Christmas lights

Christmas cookies

Christmas pictures

Make wrapping paper

Christmas music

Candy, ah-hem, Gingerbread House

and last night we ate dinner, without electricity, by candlelight (that wasn't planned)

I'm eager for carolling night. If you are lucky, we'll come by your house.

If you want to join in, call me.

Who Do You Want to Be Today?

I chose wizard.

Thanks Pics

Chills and Thrills with a Thanksgiving Recap

Thanksgiving was awesome!  I took, uh, one picture.  It was of the table. 

Family and one of Erik's colleagues from work came over.  The food was awesome!  My chocolate meringue pie was ugly.  The kids had a great time hanging out with family. I love being able to do that.

Over Thanksgiving break, Erik and the boys  made a skunk house (read: fort) out of cardboard boxes in the backyard.  Amazingly, it is still standing!  They play in it, want to eat in it, hide in it, and have put more miles on those boxes than I thought possible [there is a lookout portion, several entryways and exits, it is QUITE a skunk house (read:  fort)].

Last week we started our advent calendar, put up all the Christmas decorations, and stocked up on sweet rice.  I've been missing that.  Mango and sticky rice.  Awesomeness!

Evy is excited to visit Washington state at the end of the week with his Dad.  Our days are full of chatter about airplanes, who goes on airplanes, how many airplane rides, and snow, snow, snow, snow.  It is nice to see him excited about the trip and about visiting family.

Merritt has discovered the trick of opening up all the doors in the house and the trick of escaping out of his five-point harness carseat.  (Thankfully, he isn't much interested in the front door, yet.)  No, I don't know how he does it.  No, I don't know what I am going to do.  I have been stopping the car mucho times and strapping him back in each time he gets out.  He is in full-on CHASE mode.  From the moment he wakes to when he is asleep, whether we are in the house or in the front yard or in the parking lot or in the parking lot of the church by the busy street and I don't have running shoes on . . . .  I may have to put him in a harness.  seriously.  It is getting dangerous.

Everett had a great time at his school's "winter" day today, the last day for this class.  The parents were invited and we were able to go on the hike, be there for the animal hour, and join in on all the fun!  I love that we have this resource here.

I am so blessed.  I am blessed to find a place like Everett's preschool that focuses on the things that I think are important for him right now.  I am blessed to have a husband who puts us first.  I am blessed with two bright boys (they are smarter than me) who are caring and fun.

Stuff We Said or Heard Today

We were out and about and came across a couple that seemed to be in their 80s.  They were together but I didn't get the impression that they were married.  She, we'll call her Miss Red, was redheaded and wearing a red "Merry Christmas" sweatshirt.  He looked like Santa Claus, for real, was wearing a lounger suit that had the appropriate detailing to make it look like a Santa Suit (sort of like a santa suit for jogging), and was carrying a Santa hat full of candycanes. 

Along behind us came two ladies, who were elderly.  Evidently, they were friends with Miss Red--

Miss Red:  Hi (giggling) I'm here with Santa Claus. (motions towards the Elderly Santa Dude)
Lady #1:  (looks over at Elderly Santa Dude and kind of snickers)
Lady #2:  Well, you'll really go out with anyone won't you.

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So, Everett believes in Santa.  Erik and I have not taught him about Santa.  Somehow, in the realm of our living, he picked it up and is extremely excited about Santa visiting us and bringing Everett his presents.  According to Everett, Santa lives "way up in the sky and he is giving away presents to others right now but he'll come to our house and give me my present on Christmas."

Everett saw Elderly Santa Dude in the Santa lounger suit, was VERY excited, and told us that that man *was* Santa.
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Later, Elderly Santa Dude came by our table to say hi to the kids.  He very sweetly asked if it was okay for them to have candy, and, with our permission, gave each of them a candy cane.

After Everett tried his candycane, I asked him if he liked it.

Everett:  Yes.
Mom:  What does it taste like?
Everett:  Chicken.
Mom:  Chicken? (and, yes, I was laughing)
Everett:  Well, candychicken.
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Everett at dinner:

I *SURE* got an app-E-tite.  It is right here.  (he opens his mouth really wide)

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And, as I type this up, at 8:50, he is having an AVID conversation with himself.  And, yes, he is sleeping in a two-man tent in his room.

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As we were leaving our awesome Asian Market this evening, we passed by some of those "anti-car" concrete barriers in the shape of huge balls.  (you know the kind, like in front of Target)  He took a look at them and said:

Those really knock my socks off!

Who knew?
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And, Everett said, "Duh" all throughout the day.  Probably picked that one up where he picked up his belief about Santa.

He doesn't know what the word means, really.  Today he told Erik that he says that when he is excited.
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Everett is extremely sweet when someone is upset or hurt or sick.  He is extremely perceptive to my moods and is quick to ask if I am okay.

Most recently he has been saying"
You sure are sweet.
You are so helpful.
Thanks for helping me.
You know, Merritt is an active guy who is sure learning (weerning) a lot.
I like it when you play with me.
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And, he doesn't really walk through the house.  He has this happy trot that takes him along his merry way.

Walk the Plank You Scurvy Scum!

From Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Notification to The Pirate:

Ye will walk the plank o'er the Sea o' Pain on December 20th.  Gar! We will part our merry ways.  Me, to bask in t' joy and attention o' family and me fellow maties. And, I'll be e'en more appreciati'e o' what me have this fine holiday season.

Ye, well, ye will be sent t' Pathologist t' check for any, well, "scurvey dog cells."

Ye have been put on notice.  Don't get any ideas and start lootn' and plundern' in the meantime.  Got me eye on ye.  Ye'll ne'er get me buried treasure!  Arrr!

(Ahoy, the surgery be scheduled on the same special day when my special Mate, Erik, and me war married fourteen years ago.  What a way t' celebrate!  Argh!)