Heather over at Cool Zebras tagged me for the Fab 4 Meme...John, Paul, George and Ringo! Do I win? Oh wait...
4 Jobs I’ve Held
Checker at Wolfe Nursery (right up until they went out of business - it wasn't me!)
Paralegal
Chiropractic Assistant
Mama
4 Films I Could Watch Over and Over
Silence of the Lambs (yeah)
Master and Commander
Gladiator (sensing a theme between those two?)
Any Harry Potter
4 TV Shows I Watch
The Office
Rescue Me
Man vs. Wild
Dirty Jobs
4 Places I’ve Lived
Longview, TX
Lewisville, TX
Highland Village, TX
Durham, NC (70 odd days - interesting story)
4 Favorite Foods
Beans & Rice
Any Pasta
Mexican Food
Indian Food
4 Websites I Visit Everyday
Etsy (this has been cutting into my blogging time - go shop!)
Go Fug Yourself
CNN
The Superficial
4 Favorite Colors
Purple
Pink
Twinkle's eyes (yummy brown)
Green
4 Places I Would Love to Be Right Now
NYC
Ireland
Scotland
Belize
4 Names I Love But Would/Could Not Use for my Children
Quinn
Eden
Lola
Veronica
I pass this Fab 4 MeMe on to: Elastigirl, MB, Duchess of Insanity, Miss Smarty Pants
Friday, September 28, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Update on the Pup
Well, the good news is that Senna has Addison's Disease. While serious, it's good news because it beats the alternative of renal failure. It is treatable with Prednisone and other steroid type medication.
So, she's still at the vet. They wanted to keep her there until she eats something. Hopefully, she's getting better. I'm expecting a call from the vet this afternoon with an update.
So, she's still at the vet. They wanted to keep her there until she eats something. Hopefully, she's getting better. I'm expecting a call from the vet this afternoon with an update.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Pets
Meet Senna. (The dog, not the child).
Senna is 4 1/2 years old. She was born the night the US invaded Iraq, the runt of the litter of about 10. She has always been and is still kind of a submissive dog... In a "so submissive she might freak out and bite a stranger she feels threatened by" kind of way.
I have a love/hate relationship with this dog. She's such a sweety to me and the fam. She recognizes my Alpha Bitch status. But she sheds like a mofo, which I've mentioned before. She frightens most who come to the door. She pretty much needs to stay in her crate for most visitors - especially if they happen to be over 5'2" or male. Our priest flat out overwhelms her.
Senna is the first dog we've had since having children. Before that, we had a dog, Jaz (but pronounced Yaz. Ah the 80s), that I got when I was a junior in high school. She lived to a ripe old age of 14 and had to be put to sleep when I was 4 months pregnant with Twinkle. The vet was great throughout the whole thing, but I digress.
I'm realizing that dogs post kids are very different from dogs pre-kids. She is just at the very bottom of the totem pole. Our adding another child in May just pushed her down another level. I just don't feel the bond with her that I did with our previous dog.
The past couple of days, Senna has not been eating. She's been a bit mopey, even for her, and she's not an active dog. She hasn't even been cleaning up the food Sparkle so sweetly drops on the ground for her. So, this morning when she [pardon me] regurgitated something foul smelling, I decided that I probably should do something. Long story short, Senna is spending the night at the vet with an IV to rehydrate her while they try to figure out if she has Addison's Disease or kidney problems.
I, of course, feel bad for her low station on the totem pole around here. That's just the way it is right now. I'm anxious to find out what exactly is wrong with her, and where we go from here.
Senna is 4 1/2 years old. She was born the night the US invaded Iraq, the runt of the litter of about 10. She has always been and is still kind of a submissive dog... In a "so submissive she might freak out and bite a stranger she feels threatened by" kind of way.
I have a love/hate relationship with this dog. She's such a sweety to me and the fam. She recognizes my Alpha Bitch status. But she sheds like a mofo, which I've mentioned before. She frightens most who come to the door. She pretty much needs to stay in her crate for most visitors - especially if they happen to be over 5'2" or male. Our priest flat out overwhelms her.
Senna is the first dog we've had since having children. Before that, we had a dog, Jaz (but pronounced Yaz. Ah the 80s), that I got when I was a junior in high school. She lived to a ripe old age of 14 and had to be put to sleep when I was 4 months pregnant with Twinkle. The vet was great throughout the whole thing, but I digress.
I'm realizing that dogs post kids are very different from dogs pre-kids. She is just at the very bottom of the totem pole. Our adding another child in May just pushed her down another level. I just don't feel the bond with her that I did with our previous dog.
The past couple of days, Senna has not been eating. She's been a bit mopey, even for her, and she's not an active dog. She hasn't even been cleaning up the food Sparkle so sweetly drops on the ground for her. So, this morning when she [pardon me] regurgitated something foul smelling, I decided that I probably should do something. Long story short, Senna is spending the night at the vet with an IV to rehydrate her while they try to figure out if she has Addison's Disease or kidney problems.
I, of course, feel bad for her low station on the totem pole around here. That's just the way it is right now. I'm anxious to find out what exactly is wrong with her, and where we go from here.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Today's Sparkles
My miniature roses off the front porch.
I had fun trying to catch a drip with the camera.
It really seems like there should be a frog under there.
More roses.
These are the bracelets I'm wearing today.
Leave me a comment and let me know how you are making your day a sparkly one.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Here's a Question...
Can anybody tell me how to get rid of my 13 month old's dog food breath? Anybody? ? ?
New rule at Chez Swizzle, dog food bowls come up off of the floor once the dog has wandered away.
Ugh.
New rule at Chez Swizzle, dog food bowls come up off of the floor once the dog has wandered away.
Ugh.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Be Sparkly!
Friday is Sparkly Hannah Day. Hannah would have turned 6 on Friday if not for a horrible tragedy that happened two months ago today.
Hannah was a very sparkly and fancy girl who loved "all things bright and beautiful" and often found beauty where most adults wouldn't think to look.
Hannah's mom has been keeping up with her blog and "talking things through" in a way I can't imagine doing myself. They have a wonderful day planned for Friday. She invites us all to go out of our way to wear or do something sparkly on Friday, or just slow down to notice beauty around you that you may have not noticed before. Notice the dew on the grass. Paint your toenails. Wear that jewelry that you never wear because it's "special".
Start thinking about Friday and how you can honor this precious spirit.
Hannah was a very sparkly and fancy girl who loved "all things bright and beautiful" and often found beauty where most adults wouldn't think to look.
Hannah's mom has been keeping up with her blog and "talking things through" in a way I can't imagine doing myself. They have a wonderful day planned for Friday. She invites us all to go out of our way to wear or do something sparkly on Friday, or just slow down to notice beauty around you that you may have not noticed before. Notice the dew on the grass. Paint your toenails. Wear that jewelry that you never wear because it's "special".
Start thinking about Friday and how you can honor this precious spirit.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Where Has the Week Gone?
It's been a little crazy around Chez Swizzle, but only a normal crazy.
Twinkle had her second soccer game of the season on Saturday. She had lots of fun and really enjoys chasing others around the field. She even, apparently, ignored some trash talk from a player on the other team. Something about how they were going to win and we weren't. Poor child has a math problem. Ah well.
After we'd been home from the soccer game for a few hours, Twinkle came down with (is that the right way to say it?) a fever. She managed to hang on to that fever all day Sunday and part of the day on Monday - except of course while at the doctor's office. She's perfectly peachy today. Thank heavens!
Clearly, she didn't go to school on Monday. What made this a bit interesting is my carpool set up. See, the next door neighbor that I carpool with (and her husband) are in Rome this week for his job. Instead of having the direction-impaired grandparents participate in our carpool schedule this week, I said I'd drive Twinkle and the girl next door (GND) to and from school Monday and Wednesday. How could this be a problem? Oh, right. If Twinkle runs a fever for 2 1/2 days. Right....
I did take the GND to and from school Monday. Mr. Swizzle stayed home Monday morning so I could take her to school without the Viral One. He also came home from work in time for me to go pick up the GND (and Twinkle's work) in the afternoon. It really wasn't that big of a deal for ME. I couldn't have done it without Mr. S, but I didn't really feel put out to do it. I'm not sure why.
Last evening around 5:30, we received a call from Rome. On their cell phone. Clear as a bell. My neighbor had, of course, called her daughter and in laws to see how things were going. GND told her mom that Twinkle was sick, etc., etc. She was exceedingly grateful and swore that next week she'd take the girls both to and from school. It really didn't bother me to do it. I'm still not sure why. She went on and on about how grateful she was and that I didn't have to do that tomorrow if Twinkle was still sick. Thankfully, Twinkle WILL be going to school tomorrow.
I think I may have done something to form a bond with my neighbor. It's a nice feeling. We've lived here for 3 years. Twinkle and GND love to play together even though GND is a couple of years older. My neighbor is less talkative than I am. As usual, our children have brought us out of our shells.
Maybe it has been a little crazier than normal this week. It IS only Tuesday.
Twinkle had her second soccer game of the season on Saturday. She had lots of fun and really enjoys chasing others around the field. She even, apparently, ignored some trash talk from a player on the other team. Something about how they were going to win and we weren't. Poor child has a math problem. Ah well.
After we'd been home from the soccer game for a few hours, Twinkle came down with (is that the right way to say it?) a fever. She managed to hang on to that fever all day Sunday and part of the day on Monday - except of course while at the doctor's office. She's perfectly peachy today. Thank heavens!
Clearly, she didn't go to school on Monday. What made this a bit interesting is my carpool set up. See, the next door neighbor that I carpool with (and her husband) are in Rome this week for his job. Instead of having the direction-impaired grandparents participate in our carpool schedule this week, I said I'd drive Twinkle and the girl next door (GND) to and from school Monday and Wednesday. How could this be a problem? Oh, right. If Twinkle runs a fever for 2 1/2 days. Right....
I did take the GND to and from school Monday. Mr. Swizzle stayed home Monday morning so I could take her to school without the Viral One. He also came home from work in time for me to go pick up the GND (and Twinkle's work) in the afternoon. It really wasn't that big of a deal for ME. I couldn't have done it without Mr. S, but I didn't really feel put out to do it. I'm not sure why.
Last evening around 5:30, we received a call from Rome. On their cell phone. Clear as a bell. My neighbor had, of course, called her daughter and in laws to see how things were going. GND told her mom that Twinkle was sick, etc., etc. She was exceedingly grateful and swore that next week she'd take the girls both to and from school. It really didn't bother me to do it. I'm still not sure why. She went on and on about how grateful she was and that I didn't have to do that tomorrow if Twinkle was still sick. Thankfully, Twinkle WILL be going to school tomorrow.
I think I may have done something to form a bond with my neighbor. It's a nice feeling. We've lived here for 3 years. Twinkle and GND love to play together even though GND is a couple of years older. My neighbor is less talkative than I am. As usual, our children have brought us out of our shells.
Maybe it has been a little crazier than normal this week. It IS only Tuesday.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
A Time To Remember
What's missing from this picture?
I took this picture last year from the Brooklyn Bridge. There's so much in this picture, yet all I can see when I look at it is a large hole.
I'll never forget this day 6 years ago. A Tuesday just like today. When I think of it, my eyes still fill with tears and my heart races.
So much has changed in the last 6 years. Twinkle was only 3 1/2 months old and not aware of much about the world around her except for those people she saw on a daily basis. Adopting from China wasn't so much as a spark of an idea. We lived in a different house. Mr. Swizzle had just started a job on September 1 after 5 1/2 months of no work. Dear friends now, were strangers then.
So much hasn't changed. The people who orchestrated this horrible thing are still out and about. I'm still disappointed in our President's response. I still can't comprehend this event.
The number of American soldiers who've died in Iraq has exceeded the number of people killed on this day 6 years ago. I still haven't figured out the link between Iraq and 9/11/01. Why are they there? When bin Laden and friends aren't? Does anyone remember that this date was used as a reason to go to Iraq?
It's a day full of answerless questions.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Perspective
What a morning. It has been pouring rain since about 6:30 this morning. Crazy amounts of water falling from the sky.
Luckily, for me, my neighbor offered to drive the girls to school this morning because next week I'll be driving to and from school while she's out of town. I felt bad for her having to drive in this, really I did. But I hate and am slightly terrified of driving in this kind of weather. This is probably due to the fact that the only wreck I've ever had involved hydroplaning on the freeway, hitting a guardrail, and ending up facing traffic. But I digress. Obviously if there had been no one else to take Twinkle to school today, I would have done it. I just would have been a mess when it was all said and done.
After driving, yes driving, Twinkle next door for her ride to school, I came back home and had some tea, unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, and generally relaxed. I had planned to go to the gym today, but the image of carrying Sparkle and an umbrella in a monsoon deterred me. What can I say? Sparkle and I are going to have an inside, thank God we can stay dry, kind of day.
I also checked out the radar. Our area on the radar had this huge, red blob on it. "Well, that explains a lot," I thought. Then I wondered what more was on its way toward us so I zoomed out on the radar. I kept zooming out and zooming out until I could see all of our state and the states around us. Our big red blob became very small, almost impossible to see for all the green which simply shows that there's rain in the area. There were green dots here and there around our state and to the north of us. But, on the whole, it was mostly clear. Here we are covered in red on the close up, wondering what is going to come washing down the street, while around us others are waking to the sunshine.
It just hit me. So many things can make us try to find perspective in our lives. Reading about the death of a child who is close to our own child's age. Hearing about someone losing their home to a fire. A friend finding out they have inoperable cancer. Today, for me, I got all philosophical about the radar. It's hard to imagine that there are others out there, maybe only an hour away, who aren't covered by a big red blob. They are in the clear. And we could be in the clear in no time. And when we are in the clear, they may under the big red blob.
I guess the next time I'm feeling like I'm under a big red blob, I'll try to zoom out and get perspective. Sunshine isn't too far away.
Luckily, for me, my neighbor offered to drive the girls to school this morning because next week I'll be driving to and from school while she's out of town. I felt bad for her having to drive in this, really I did. But I hate and am slightly terrified of driving in this kind of weather. This is probably due to the fact that the only wreck I've ever had involved hydroplaning on the freeway, hitting a guardrail, and ending up facing traffic. But I digress. Obviously if there had been no one else to take Twinkle to school today, I would have done it. I just would have been a mess when it was all said and done.
After driving, yes driving, Twinkle next door for her ride to school, I came back home and had some tea, unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, and generally relaxed. I had planned to go to the gym today, but the image of carrying Sparkle and an umbrella in a monsoon deterred me. What can I say? Sparkle and I are going to have an inside, thank God we can stay dry, kind of day.
I also checked out the radar. Our area on the radar had this huge, red blob on it. "Well, that explains a lot," I thought. Then I wondered what more was on its way toward us so I zoomed out on the radar. I kept zooming out and zooming out until I could see all of our state and the states around us. Our big red blob became very small, almost impossible to see for all the green which simply shows that there's rain in the area. There were green dots here and there around our state and to the north of us. But, on the whole, it was mostly clear. Here we are covered in red on the close up, wondering what is going to come washing down the street, while around us others are waking to the sunshine.
It just hit me. So many things can make us try to find perspective in our lives. Reading about the death of a child who is close to our own child's age. Hearing about someone losing their home to a fire. A friend finding out they have inoperable cancer. Today, for me, I got all philosophical about the radar. It's hard to imagine that there are others out there, maybe only an hour away, who aren't covered by a big red blob. They are in the clear. And we could be in the clear in no time. And when we are in the clear, they may under the big red blob.
I guess the next time I'm feeling like I'm under a big red blob, I'll try to zoom out and get perspective. Sunshine isn't too far away.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
A Happy Report
I'm happy to say that Twinkle did well on her tests Wednesday. She said that she finished all 25 problems before the timer went off on her math test. Mr. Swizzle asked how many of the other kids in her class also finished and she said 3. The two other kids she named sit near her, so I don't know if there were others behind her she was unaware of.
Today was her first soccer game. The game consist of 10 minute quarters. She played two of them. She finally started getting into the competitiveness of it about half way through the fourth quarter. It was hot and she got distracted a few times, but she did pretty well for her first soccer game ever. Sparkle? She would have been happy anywhere else. Poor thing was hot and missing a nap and couldn't manage to get comfortable or happy. She did like us pouring water over her head and was happy to eat cheerios, but overall she was not a happy camper. Next week's game could interfere with her afternoon nap, but hopefully she'll be a little better off than this week.
Today was her first soccer game. The game consist of 10 minute quarters. She played two of them. She finally started getting into the competitiveness of it about half way through the fourth quarter. It was hot and she got distracted a few times, but she did pretty well for her first soccer game ever. Sparkle? She would have been happy anywhere else. Poor thing was hot and missing a nap and couldn't manage to get comfortable or happy. She did like us pouring water over her head and was happy to eat cheerios, but overall she was not a happy camper. Next week's game could interfere with her afternoon nap, but hopefully she'll be a little better off than this week.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
The Down Side
Twinkle and I have been doing pretty well with the home school thing. We've had our struggles with handwriting and the usual listening issues. I've been really glad that this is the schooling path we have chosen.
This week? Well, we really haven't had school yet this week. Monday, being Labor Day, there was no school. Tuesday, a home school day, there was no school either because we finished Thursday's assignments on Thursday. BUT. Tomorrow, there will be testing. Some phonics stuff that I'm not really concerned about and math. Hmm. Math.
Twinkle is going to have a test in math tomorrow on doubles. You know, 2+2, 3+3, 4+4, etc. All numbers from 0 to 9. Last week, she had a mental block for a little while about 6+6, but she's over that. She pretty much has them down. The test? She will need to complete 25 problems in 1.5 minutes. She's had a little stress today about that timing thing. I feel her pain. She knows the information. She can do 25 flash cards aloud in less than 1.5 minutes. We worked for about 45 minutes earlier today. She did 23 once then went back to 15-20. Oh, the sadness she was feeling. "I just can't do it mom!" My poor girl. I don't know the right words to say to get her to focus. That's all it is.
We took a big long break. Watched some cartoons. Had a snack. Went to a pet store close by that we haven't visited yet. Deep cleansing breaths all around.
We came back and tried again. First try, 23. Sweet! Much rejoicing. Second try? 21. Slight pout from Twinkle, then a deep breath and a "let's do it again!" Third try? 25! Yea! Woo Hoo! Dance with me! Fourth try? 25! "Mom, we're done!" OK. I told her we'd practice until she could do 25 twice in a row.
She seems less stressed. I'm curious how she'll sleep tonight. I hope she sleeps well and doesn't fret over it. She knows the info. She doesn't get them wrong when she moves faster. I think being in the classroom tomorrow should really be easier for her, even though she didn't have TV or the dog or her sister distracting her today. She'll just be in a different setting where she behaves differently.
This process wasn't fun. I didn't want to push her so hard that she totally freaked out. But, she really wasn't focusing like I know she can. It WAS fun to see her so proud when she finally did it. Whew!
This week? Well, we really haven't had school yet this week. Monday, being Labor Day, there was no school. Tuesday, a home school day, there was no school either because we finished Thursday's assignments on Thursday. BUT. Tomorrow, there will be testing. Some phonics stuff that I'm not really concerned about and math. Hmm. Math.
Twinkle is going to have a test in math tomorrow on doubles. You know, 2+2, 3+3, 4+4, etc. All numbers from 0 to 9. Last week, she had a mental block for a little while about 6+6, but she's over that. She pretty much has them down. The test? She will need to complete 25 problems in 1.5 minutes. She's had a little stress today about that timing thing. I feel her pain. She knows the information. She can do 25 flash cards aloud in less than 1.5 minutes. We worked for about 45 minutes earlier today. She did 23 once then went back to 15-20. Oh, the sadness she was feeling. "I just can't do it mom!" My poor girl. I don't know the right words to say to get her to focus. That's all it is.
We took a big long break. Watched some cartoons. Had a snack. Went to a pet store close by that we haven't visited yet. Deep cleansing breaths all around.
We came back and tried again. First try, 23. Sweet! Much rejoicing. Second try? 21. Slight pout from Twinkle, then a deep breath and a "let's do it again!" Third try? 25! Yea! Woo Hoo! Dance with me! Fourth try? 25! "Mom, we're done!" OK. I told her we'd practice until she could do 25 twice in a row.
She seems less stressed. I'm curious how she'll sleep tonight. I hope she sleeps well and doesn't fret over it. She knows the info. She doesn't get them wrong when she moves faster. I think being in the classroom tomorrow should really be easier for her, even though she didn't have TV or the dog or her sister distracting her today. She'll just be in a different setting where she behaves differently.
This process wasn't fun. I didn't want to push her so hard that she totally freaked out. But, she really wasn't focusing like I know she can. It WAS fun to see her so proud when she finally did it. Whew!
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