Fish, the fish

Let me introduce you to Fish. Fish lives in a Mason jar on our kitchen counter next to the paper towels and the hand soap. Fish was originally inherited by Macie from a birthday party, who was eventually passed down to Kaleb because the responsibility of the Fish's possible death was too much to bare.

But as we all know as moms, anytime a child gets a pet, it soon becomes your pet. So really, this whole post should have started with "Let me introduce to my new fish, Fish..."

I have no idea what the purpose of having a fish is for. Sure, maybe they're fun to poke every now and then, but other than that they're not a lot of fun. They do nothing. Everyday. All day long.

I can't think of anything worse to be than a fish. In a Mason jar. Living on a kitchen counter next to the paper towels and the hand soap... Except, perhaps, being a fish in a Mason jar. Living on a kitchen counter next to the paper towels and the hand soap. In the hands of a two year old.

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A prodigy of sorts

Have I ever told you how self entertained I am? It's true, give me a mirror and I can keep myself entertained for a good 7 minutes or so. Give me an iphotobooth and that time increases by at least 68%... and by my calculations that's well over 7 minutes.

Today I discovered something truly amazing about myself. A talent and skill I had no idea I possessed. 

First let me tell you how blind I am. Without glasses or contacts I can only see 5 inches in front of me... maybe 6... or 6 & 3/4 inches, tops. So blind that if I drop my glasses on the floor I have to call for help to find them. So blind that my little dog, Millie, has to assist me when crossing the kitchen. So blind that if you asked me how many fingers you are holding up I'd say, "Eleven" but first you'd have to show me where your hand is. 

So today, while self entertaining, I decided to take a picture of myself. I was trying to go for the sophisticated-secretary-who's-really-not-a-secretary-or-even-very-sophisticated look. I was truly amazed with the results. You see, when I pull my glasses down (see above picture) I have the ability to let me eyes get all crazy like.

It's really quite simple, all I do is not focus on anything. Which is easy, because, well... I'm blind. The result is an impressive lazy/crazy/wondering eye.  

You know what they say about hiding your talents under a bushel? I had been doing that, and hiding under a bushel, my talent will no longer be. Nate's a lucky man. But I will only pull out the wobbly eye for special occasions. 

Please, feel free to pin this.

Also, I'm not sure how to feel about this picture...

My kids, all sitting quietly, not fighting, not arguing, not throwing tantrums... just sitting... peacefully. Granted, they are all absorbed in electronics, but look how angelic they are when they just sit... and do nothing... and kill brain cells. The house could be on fire and they would have no idea... at least until the internet when out.

There's a good possibility I'm failing motherhood miserably. Please, feel free to pin this too.

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And then there was the 1st day of school

Every year on the first day of school there is an anthem, my anthem. A song that's fitting for the first day of school. A song that expresses the thoughts and feelings that I cannot adequately express myself.  Last year, it was Hallelujah!  This year it was "Celebrate Good Times.... (come on)!" 

There was genuine excitement in the air as the kids left for school (mostly on my part). Eden and I waved them goodbye, blew them a handful of kisses (plenty to last them the whole day through), and we watched as they walked off to school joining the hordes of children dressed in their crisp, new school clothes.

Eden and I had so much fun together coloring, reading, snacking, dancing, playdough-ing, hide-and-seeking... and any other appropriate action verb that involves a 2 year old. 

Pretty soon I had exhausted my fun resources and that was only the first 20 minutes.

You do realize one can impersonate Elmo and recreate farm animal sounds (disturbingly well, might I add) for only so long.

I slowly started to reconsider that maybe this whole summer-being-over and school-starting-up thing wasn't such a great idea after all. I had become my child's only form of entertainment... 6.25 hours a day... Monday through Friday... me & Eden... Eden & me. 

I guess it's a good thing she's so cute... and takes naps.

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It's in the genes

I was sitting at my computer being a whole lotta' unproductive when Eden walked up to me anxiously chanting, "Dan! Dan! Dan!" which, when translated from her Edenic language to English, means Dance! Dance! Dance! I looked at her and hesitantly repeated, "You want Mommy to Dance?" she responded with and excited, "Yep!".  

Really child? You want Mommy to dance? But my chair is so comfy and the computer is so inviting. Can't you go and watch the TV or let the dog entertain you?

Eden could not be deterred. This time she repeated it with more gusto, "Dan! Dan! Dan, Mom!"

Now who am I to deny anyone, especially my own spawn, a personal showing of my dance moves.... because, who are we kidding? These hips don't lie. So I put on a little "I Like to Move It, Move it" and brushed up on my Running Man. All the while Eden laid back, reclined on the floor with her hands resting behind her head enjoying the show, free of charge might I add.

After a few minutes of watching she decided it was time to join in. I held her tightly in my arms and reminisced how my dad use to hold me in is big 'Steel Claw' arms. He would twirl me around and we would rock back and forth doing the Two-Step. It was the best feeling ever, being held in the strong, comforting arms of my father.  

And maybe, when my kids grow up, they'll reminisce how their mom (that would be me) would hold them close and dance... but instead of the Two-Step and twirling, it will be the Robot and the Shuffle along with some mild pelvic thrusting. 

Ya, those will be some good, quality memories.

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A trip to the hospital :: a photo essay

Getting all prepped and ready for surgery.

Killing time with some chocolate cake and a Diet Coke, 

trying to take our minds off Eden... It's not helping.

Waiting...

and some more waiting.

Recovery. She was one sad little baby and in a lot of pain.

Finally asleep for the night thanks to a little help from some morphine.

The next morning. 

She was one swollen little baby.

Apparently, eating a half a popsicle and smiling for the camera is tough work. 

This is her incision. It looks so much better than I thought it would. 

The tube sticking out of her incision is her stent. It goes into her bladder, up her ureter, and into her kidney. It is constantly dripping urine... like a leaky faucet, which makes for a fun diaper change. The stent is held in by the stitches and they will be pulling it out next week.

She is wearing two diapers; one for the stent to drain into and the other for her to urinate regularly into. So far, the last time she has urinated on her own was 5 days ago. She refuses to go because it's so painful, but next week when they pull the stent she will have no choice. It's not going to be a fun week.

All in all, she's doing pretty good considering all she went through. She is refusing to eat and she's only drinking about 16oz of milk a day and sucking on some otterpops here and there. She is going to be one light weight when this is all over with.

And now I must go, because Eden is in her bed crying over and over "Ouchie, Mama. Ouchie!". So I'm off to give her some pain meds (I keep the stronger ones for me... incase I get really desperate.)

Thanks so much for all the love and support via emails, phone calls, and facebook. One thing I've managed to do well in life is surrounding myself with amazing people!

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Let There Be Rain...

And sunny skies... and kids... and playing... and a mom with a camera.

And 10 minutes later the only sign of rain is the freshly watered ground 

and some sopping wet clothes piled high on my laundry room floor.

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Happy to say it's over

I think one of the worst parts of your child having surgery is the anticipation that builds before you have to leave them in the care of someone else; handing them over to the nurses, and just letting them go.
It's over and done with and now I can breath
(which is a good thing because a person can only hold their breath for so long)

1. Prepped and ready for surgery... poor kid doesn't know what's coming.

2. Right out of surgery. She was not a happy baby.

3. Getting some much needed shut eye   4. She's going to be one drugged up little girl.

5. A little Elmo to pass the time   6. Rocking my baby

More {real} pictures to come.

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Surgery Bound

 I do believe it's time for a little Eden update.

A year ago this month, Eden was in the hospital for several days with a pretty nasty kidney infection. Since then, Eden has been on a daily dose of antibiotics for the past year to make sure she doesn't get another infection.

Well, she had her follow up test last month to see how her bladder reflux (VUR) is doing, which is not a very fun process. They do a light sedation, place a catheter and inject dye into her bladder, and then they watch to see if her urine refluxes back into her kidneys.

I was hopeful that she had grown out of her VUR, but unfortunately, that was not the case. In fact, her reflux has gotten worse and is now on both sides and one of her kidneys isn't growing as fast as it should. So with everything in consideration the urologists suggested that it's time to do surgery and I agree.

The surgery involves removing both of her ureters where they join the bladder and reimplanting them in another spot. She will be in the hospital for a couple days and, depending on the surgeon, she may have a stent to drain her urine for the first few days. They say to expect a good 7-10 days for a full recovery.

So August 1st is the big day. I am anxious to get this chapter of our lives over and done with and have baby E feeling happy and healthy. Wish us luck!

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Recent Happenings :: a photo essay

Lookin' cute in polka dots • My squishy • I was a mother of 9 for the weekend • My freshly painted cub 

Getting spiritually edified • My annual trip to the gym • Say HELLO to my little friend • My morning beauties 

All the cool moms drive minivans • Dairy Queen, the hubs, and Netflix • Wishing I could climb in there and spoon her • Bed head & Kix • My after-lunch snack • Naptime • My little Hershey Track runner • Summer toes

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So I've fallen victim to the convenience & awesomeness of instagram.

I couldn't help it. If you feel so inclined, you can follow me on followgram.