Christmas

Whew.  My goal was to get to these posts before they were a month old.  I did!

For Christmas, I will still really drugged from the surgery.  I avoided taking pain  medication as long as possible on Christmas day because I wanted to be able to be there for it.

Chips in the stocking . . . a favorite of Merritt's.

Mommy sharing her chocolate.

Erik is excited about the matching church tie fashion (in burnt orange, of course).  Merritt is annoyed because the chip eating was interrupted.

Can you believe how tall Evy is?

I don't look too shabby considering how I felt.

The kids received some more marbleworks tubing and Merritt went right to town.  (he is only 2 and loves to build it up!)

Merritt and the chips and his new helmet.

My family did the sweetest thing.  They brought Christmas dinner to me.  My sister came up from Waco with her kids and delicious things like apple chutney and a wassail drink My parents came with the brisket and then some . . . and they just set everything up in the kitchen.  I didn't have to do anything.  Mom even tried to make the "paperplateness" Christmas-y.  The food was yummy!

Making nativity scene placemats with cousins!

We enjoyed our Christmas and having everyone over.  The kids had a *great* time with their cousins!

Church the next day.



We are very grateful for the blessings of friends and family.  This Christmas will be one I remember (or "sort of" remember, go pain meds) for a long time!

More Duct Tape

If you have never seen the Red Green Show, I highly recommend it.  "If you can't be handsome, you might as well be handy."

Today, Merritt figured out the safety device for the doorknobs.  I think I am going to find some zebra striped tape.  Pink just doesn't do it for home interior decor.

I think Evy is experiencing cabin fever.  Yesterday he announces that he would like to go on a vacation that isn't boring.  His vote was for Preston's house.  Today he suggested that we go on a picnic, go to a friend's house, go on a plane and visit friends (his cousins in Washington--but he only wants to go with his dad on that trip, no Moms or Merritts allowed), go fishing, go to Glen Rose "the place with the high building and the big footprints" (aka the hotel and dinosaur state park), go out in the backyard, go to a playground, or to a RESTAURANT!

It is just too cold to venture to many places right now, especially with our snotty noses and coughs.

I've been checking the boys everyday for wheezing (thank you Grandma for the stethescope!).  And as soon as Merritt sees the blue tubing coming his way, he pulls up his shirt so we can listen to his heart and then he pulls up the back of his shirt so I can listen to him breathe.  He knows just what to do.

Erik is back home today.  Hooray!  At one point, there was a bomb threat at the border and it delayed his return back to the US.  In the end, it was only a hold up for a couple of hours.  We are glad he is safe!

Handprints: Nature Style

For Christmas gifts, I try and involve the kids as much as possible.  Frankly, like most things, it means that things take longer.  At the same time, I want Christmas to be about giving and thinking of others . .  . and so it works pretty well.

For one of the gifts we gave, a garden bag, we personalized it with our hands.

These are cabbages using the side of our hands.  Everett now swears that they are weeds.

The kids' hands were the "tops" to the carrots and I painted in the carrot so that it looks like it is tucked into the pocket.  Evy really liked this one.

The whole palm became a rose bush.

 And, that blue smudge was supposed to be a chrysanthemum.

The kids really enjoyed doing this and I was suprised at how big their handprints are.  (In fact, Everett's feet are 1/2 the size mine are, and I don't have small feet.)

And, we, of course, had to get out all of our gardening tools to help us "do the paintin' thingies."  I guess, Evy saw them as inspiration.

Play Time

The boys had lots of play time during Sheila's recovery.  They played outside, at the playground, at Dad's gym, at the mall, and every where in between.

Can we say Madagascar?

Whimsy Wall: Panic Is Setting In

Unless you are Erik and reading this at an exotic location.  At which point the title would be,"Whimsy Wall is Going AWESOMELY!"

Yeah, I've got the vision in my mind and decently on paper.  It is just *so* big on that wall.  I've got to tweak (read: repaint) some things (uh, or paint over it all).

At the same time, I am enjoying myself.  I spent some precious naptime working on it today and the time flew by . . . I was amazed at how quickly I lost myself even with the coughing and hacking and nose wiping.  I wasn't very fast but it was good to just be mentally focused on something else.

No, I'm not even 1/2 way done, maybe 1/4 way done.  Can't tell if that is good or bad.  This thing could go either way.  I'm eager to get to the part where Evy is helping.

And, why whimsy?  'Cause I am a better mom with more of it in my life.

Chills and Thrills

Today starts Week 3 of SnotFest. 

sigh.

Merritt is potting training himself, said sort of tongueincheek.

And, those two things should not overshadow the fact that we (read:  Erik) took down the Christmas tree.  I've still got to round up the other decorations.  Most are red . . .  maybe it would look okay for Valentine's Day? 

Merritt read his first book!  It was HUG and has like three words in it and can be very movement oriented, which is perfect for Mr. Perpetual Motion.  Merritt was able to retell the book to me right after I read it to him.  He did this while the speech therapist was over, and we were ecstatic to see him using language to retell a story!  He has added a couple more words to his daily chatter:  door, potty, poopoo, on, off, and down (all said with his own version of the word . . . I'm not to worry that the word doesn't sound like the real word, uh, because he is attempting with vocalization and intonation).   A week ago, he came up the stairs with a football and said,"OH WOW! I (jibber) ball!"  Just melts you, for sure.

Evy has all kinds of quirkiness-es going on right now.  I cannot remember a single one to write down right now, but he is thinking and putting things together (fitting some, others not so much).

That is all for now.

I love you, Grandpa!

Gayle Albritton

Born December 15th 1918     Died January 16th 2011

Of all the pictures of Grandpa, the ones where he is young and handsome, the ones where he is posing with family, the ones in uniform, the ones where he is making cranky faces with my dad,  . . . of all of them, this is the one that I enjoy the most:

This is his great-grandson, Preston, using him as a convenient mountain to drive up and down.  Grandpa never moved a muscle or let on that the driving woke him from his nap.  He would always bring treats, loved to eat at Cracker Barrell (one of my favorites), loved to tell stories, and had the coolest riding lawnmower . . . ever.

I remember a couple of years ago I was visiting him in Waco, cleaning up a bit, and was saying goodbye as I was moving from Dallas to Washington, DC.  At the time, the  plan was that I would be driving alone.  He wasn't thrilled about that and gave me a shotgun to take in the car.  He wouldn't let me leave the house without taking that shotgun.  It didn't matter that it was empty of ammunition or that I didn't know how (or want to know how) to shoot it.  "You gotta look like you know what you are doin'.  People won't mess with you then."

Grandpa was one of five boys.  Older people always knew the Albritton boys.  I remember going to the school counselor when I was a freshman at Lewisville High School to check my schedule.  The counselor asked me if I was related to the "Albritton Boys"  . . . and then basically gushed about a crush that she had on one of them. 

Grandpa served in WWII and the Korean War.  He always had stories to tell and was always eager to help with my school projects related to those subjects.

He read bunches and bunches.  I knew that I could always find something interesting to read at Grandpa's house.

He knew *everything* about cars and plumbing and wiring.  I remember helping Dad reshingle Grandpa's house in Marble Falls. 

I remember cleaning Grandpa's house while my sister cut the bushes out front . . . she was so thorough she accidentally cut the cord on the trimmer with the trimmer . . . and he didn't bat an eye.  He sat right down and rewired/taped it so that she could get working on the bushes again.

There are two objects that I will always associate with my Grandpa and Grandma.  One is a glassblown paper weight.  The other is a set of military medals.  These were always displayed with honor on their mantel.

My Everett's middle name is Albritton.  And, I chose it specifically because of how well the Albritton men always impressed me, particularly my dad, my grandpa, and my great-uncle William.

I will miss Grandpa.  He was that family member that always seemed to be present.  He and Grandma were at every major event.  They always sent birthday cards or gifts. 

I'll always remember the Thanksgiving that Grandpa hosted.  I remember how suspicious the turkey "meat" looked  . . . he cooked it in the oven on 190 degrees all night.  How proud Grandpa was to have provided a major portion of the dinner!  And, from what I remember, each of us ate part of that meat.

He, in his deep Texas accent, was the one that taught me how to use "o'er yonder." 

Stories always seemed to start with,"Now, you know . . . ."

I love you, Grandpa!

Snot vs Phlegm: Bodily Fluid SmackDown

Joining the action live is Momma (whose ring name is SLEEPLESS):

Oh yeah!  We've got quite a wrestling match going on today!  I've never seen it to this degree.  We have eye boogers, nose boogers, sneeze spray, and the stuff you cough up.

Both Evy and Merritt are hosting matches of viral skill that I have never seen the likes of in all my life.

Rosy cheeks, exclamations of discomfort, fevers, coughs, sneezes, and runny noses are chased by tissues, yelled reminders to "wash hands," hugs, humidifiers, more hugs, french fries, sporadic cleaning of boogers and slimy smears found everywhere, and lots of lap time!

The action is unparallelled*!


And me, well, I'm okay just as long as I have my cough drops.  Controls the stuffy nose and cough.  I'll worry when Erik gets home about how badly it makes me toot (My mom always said not to say the word "fart.").

PS  Merritt's naked jaunts took on a new function today.  He decided to try out peeing and pooping in the potty.  Success of the highest kind for him!  Kind of surprising since he can't even say any of those words.  (and, no, I didn't think we would start potty training today.)

*Did you know I had an internal debate on how to spell it?  "lled" or "led"---then I realized it is an "American" vs "British" spelling debate.  FYI:  I went the Brit way.  Blame it on all those British authors I read.  True Story.

Chills and Thrills

Last week, I slowly started getting back into routines of being human and being a mom all day.  Sheltering my surgery site, I played with my kids, did too much by 10:00 am, and was relieved on several occasions when Connie played in the afternoon with my boys, allowing me to lay down and fall immediately to sleep.

Then we all got sick.  We did manage to have some fun.  Cooking, playing, swinging, zoo break-outs with the animals, dominoes, chasing, sliding into our pool of balls, chocolate chip cookies with Connie, cupcakes with Connie, and popcorn.   The boys love popcorn.

My kids love to paint.  And Merritt loves to paint everything when he paints.  Windows, floors, chairs, himself, the table, and, oh, some does get on the paper.  (his face was all black and yellow by the time he was done painting)

This boy could not get enough of that icing.  Major licking action!

Connie and her #1 fan, Evy!

Evy:  I'm coming home wiff you!
Connie:  In your dreams!
Evy:  Oh, yeah!



Merritt just stripped down to his "naked boy" outfit again.  And, I think I just heard him break into the bathroom.  Maybe he is potty training himself.  At least if he pees, it is on the tile and not the carpet.  Well, I gotta go and wrestle him back into some clothes.

cough. hack. sniffle. sneeze. sniffle. hack. cough

Mom Is Lady Crankerpants

I am totally cranky today. I just can't kick it.  I have a pretty bad cold and I think I am just tired of being down and out.

I am tired of being stuck inside, making sure I don't overdo it, even though I overdo it plenty while being inside.

I am tired of staring at my dirty kitchen floor.

The boys have been sick.  Both are better.  Evy has a leftover cough and we are still on the 4 times a day meds for Merritt's pink eyes.

Today, I am tired of being a human climbing structure.  Tired of being kicked in the chest when I change diapers, tired of being the one in charge.

I am just feeling sorry for myself.  Poor me.  Really high on the selfpity.  I just need to get over it, as I cough up some phlegm.

Who decided how to spell phlegm anyway?  Some latin word origin, maybe, but I am pretty sure that at sometime some society spelled it with an 'f'.

In all, I am extremely blessed, really.  Super friend Connie came over a couple of times last week so I could get a nap and continue healing.  And, it does look pretty, today, with everything covered in snow.  And, I get lots of hugs from my boys.  And, I am wearing soft socks.  And, Merritt is giggling at Curious George and both of them are sitting next to me, all quiet and still for a moment.

Chills and Thrills: Just a snapshot of Amazing and Superb

All things considered, we've got some good stuff going on at our house.

I am healing.  Amazed at how much energy it takes to heal, but it is coming along.

We had our first speech therapy session with Merritt this week, and it reconfirmed our decision to go this route to help him.  The therapist is fun, easy going, and gives me another perspective to find ways to help Merritt.  AND, she has homework for me to work with him.  I love that.

Evy is sick right now; coughing up a lung as he tries to go to sleep.  He is an amazing big brother.  He also has been extremely sensitive to me and how well I am feeling. 

Erik has done an amazing job with the boys over the past two weeks.  I know it has been frustrating, spending his vacation doing, uh, "stay-at-home-Dad" stuff instead of traveling or whatever.  He has been a trooper through it all.

And, me, well, I am amazing.  Someone has to say it!

And, our friends.  Well, they are superb!  We have had so many people help us over the past two weeks . . .  all volunteers . . . meals, watching the boys, bringing by groceries, gingerbread houses, treats, calls and emails to check on us . . . all while it is a busy holiday time for them!  We are overwhelmed by their love, and we will ever be appreciative and remember the sacrifices they made to help us.

We had a fun Christmas with family and rocked it out with a New Year's Eve party here with the boys last night.  I have oodles of pictures to post from the last month.  I'll get to it eventually.

We have tried to do some family outings with my fleeting energy level.  We put on our own Sports Night at the gym at Erik's work, went to the mall to play games and ride the carousel, and tried to get outside so the boys can learn to ride the scooter and big wheel.

For now, the boys are in bed, Erik is picking out his snack of choice, and I need to go put socks on.  It is cold right now.