Acts of Kindness

Fumbling my way through this blogging world, I discover new and amazing blogs, people and information at least 42 times a day. Bloggers routinely link to other blogs' posts that have inspired them, made them laugh, or fit in with their topic of the day and I usually end up clicking the link to take me down down yet another little blogging avenue. It has amazed me at the sense of community that exists out here in the Blogosphere. There are some mighty fine people here and it's been a joy to "meet" them and get to know them thru their blogs.

This sense of community has been further evidenced by the story of a little girl named Emily and her parents, Katie & Brian. The other day, several of my favorite bloggers linked back to her story, and when I finally had time to sit down at my computer for a minute, I clicked the link to see what everyone was talking about. (I hope you'll do the same.)

Today there was a new post with an update. As I read the post and the comments, the tears welled up in my eyes and a chunk of my flagging faith in humanity was restored. The generosity of the human spirit and our capability for compassion sometimes really overwhelms me. If everyone exercised these "emotional muscles" more frequently, can you imagine what kind of world we would live in?

I wanted to write this post for two reasons: 1) To share the evidence that kindness does exist in this world that often goes too long without a demonstration, and 2) To share their story and maybe garner more prayers and support for them.

I hope that Katie & Brian know that there are a world of people out here that are praying for them, for Emily, her doctors and specialists, and for strength for them all. And I hope they won't think of us as strangers, but rather friends they haven't met.

A Few Rays of Sunshine

In stark contrast to Saturday's weather, today is sunny and clear, but still chilly - only about 42°. But you won't hear this sun worshiper complain. As long as the sun is out, I'm mostly content. I realize that by choosing to live in this part of the country, I am not endowed with year-round temperatures in the range that I'd like, but I do at least need to see the sun. So what if I get frostbite or snowblindness if I go out? At least it's bright outside and I can lay on the floor in the sun like a cat. And yes, I do that.

Another little ray of sunshine in my life today is that after tonight, I am off work for three days. Hopefully the sun will wait for me and I can get the kids and I out in it tomorrow. Lord knows, we all need some fresh air and some activity OUT of the house. I'm thinking of bustin' out the double jogger stroller and dragging the kids out for a walk tomorrow if it's not freezing cold. Which should be interesting....Sam probably won't want to ride, which is fine. He's old enough and knows the rules of walking on the roadside, so I have no problem letting him walk along. Plus it saves me pushing 48 extra pounds. But Zoë may go into a meltdown if Brother gets to walk and she doesn't. Which would mean pushing a strapped-down, screaming toddler through my peaceful neighborhood and thereby destroying any peaceful, restorative qualities of the afore-mentioned walk. Hmmm. But it could force me into a quicker pace thereby ramping up the exercise benefits of this walk. I guess I'll wait and see what kind of weather the day brings before I start worrying about it.

Lastly, it's baseball season. Yesterday was Opening Day for the Mariners which always brings a twinge of excitement, wondering if this could be Our Year. Being the baseball lover that I am, I was disappointed to have to miss the festivities (I had to work) but you can be sure I had my radio on and will again tonight at work. My dad and I totally bond over baseball, so of course I had to call him on my way to work yesterday to wish him Happy Opening Day. We'll get together later this week to watch the game together, grill some hotdogs and eat some peanuts. Kind of like a delayed Opening Day party. I'll tell you more about my dad sometime. He's awesome.

Anyway, lots of little bright spots today, literally and figuratively. But for now, I'm off to work.

Spring has NOT sprung.

This is what we awoke to this morning.

It's been steadily, and quite heavily, snowing for hours now.
For the love of toast, isn't is supposed to be Spring?!?
SO annoying.

Return of the Living Dead

In case you've been wondering where I've been, I've been in HELL. After working my usual three-day weekend (Sat/Sun/Mon), I was thoroughly looking forward to my six day stretch off and mentally making a list of all the things I needed and wanted to do.

Obviously the fates had other plans for me.

On Tuesday evening, I managed to whip up some dinner. Soon afterwards though, I began to feel not so great. Then my head started to pound. I laid down, packing my head and neck in ice, hoping to stall the onslaught of pain that was fast approaching. It didn't work. I then attacked my medicine cupboard with a vengance born of suffering, and quickly downed a Vicodin. My dear hubby came to check on me after tucking the kids in bed and found me in agony. His sympathy and tenderness only served to bring me to tears, which of course did nothing to alleviate the pain. But bless his heart, he just held me and soothed me, murmuring reassurances and making shushing sounds, like one does for an inconsolable baby.

Here is where I make a confession. I have a severe "waiting for the other shoe to drop" issue. This could be also known as bad karma comin' to get me, or whatever you want to call it. There's an elephant in the room in the back of my head that I try desperately to ignore. That elephant is the fear that something will happen to me that will take me away from my family. Or that someone in my family will be taken from me.

So of course, when excruciating pain comes on in a matter of hours, in one's HEAD, one naturally starts to think brain tumor, aneurysm, or something mildly annoying like meningitis. (Which I've had and it was more than mildly annoying, to be honest.) Ok, so maybe not everyone's mind naturally strays to those diagnoses, but having worked in hospitals for the better part of 15 years, you realize how quickly life can change. I've been a silent witness to tradegy striking down families and it only serves to remind me to appreciate life every single day. And how it could happen to me.

But anyway...

After crying myself out and the Vicodin kicking in, I melted away to sleep. I woke a few times during the night and thought "Oh thank goodness...the headache's going away." But along with the sun (and snow, I might add) it returned in the morning and with a vengeance. I won't bore you with all the details, but suffice it to say I didn't leave my bedroom until about 6pm that night. I did manage to make it out of bed to deposit my stomach's contents in the toilet several times, but that was the extent of me getting out of bed. Josh stayed home from work to wrangle the kids and, even though the noise was exceptionally painful to my throbbing noggin, the fact that he vaccummed and did several loads of laundry was humongously appreciated. He knows me so well. While I lay there in bed, writhing in agony, my mind is also ticking off all the things that need to be done, that I should be doing, which only adds to my pain.

Today the head is better, feeling only like I'd rapped my head on a wall a few times, which is an improvement over the nails-being-driven-in-your-skull feeling of yesterday. Unfortunately, I think yesterday's pharmaceutical forays have wreaked havoc on my stomach and intestines for I've had the pleasure of some quality time in the bathroom today. 'Nuff said.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that for the remainder of my days off I will not be beset by malaria, some kind of flesh-eating bacteria or so much as a hangnail. I really have things to do, places to go and people to see. And I just don't have the time, or interest, in spending another single minute of it feeling like The Living Dead.

p.s. No pictures posted of this day's events as a small mercy to entire mankind.

A Tasty Afternoon

The other day Zoë woke up early from her nap, and even though I'd planned on getting some dinner started, we decided it would be much more fun (and tasty) to make cookies. Brother was at school which meant we had the house to ourselves, something that doesn't happen very often.

So the cookie-ing commenced. My little sous-chef was right there, mixer side, to aid in the adding of ingredients.

She was so careful too, not spilling any at all.

Under her watchful eye, the cookies began to come together.

Of course, as any chef knows, you must taste as you go to ensure the outcome you desire.

Finally, we added in the chocolate chips, sampling a few to confirm that they met our standards.

After baking them, counting them and waiting oh so patiently for them to cool...

...it was time to EAT them!

It was a lovely afternoon for Mommy and Daughter, one I know that we will repeat again and again. We baked up some good memories.

Chaos Reigns

I just received a phone call from my cousin, Cris, and as of tonight, three of the four babies will be home! Miss Addison arrived home yesterday, Miss Avery came home earlier today and Braydan will be brought home tonight. Landan remains at the hospital but should be home in the next couple days.

Can you imagine the chaos in that house tonight? Three itty bitty newborns and a toddler to wrangle. Aside from that scary thought, it is an absolute miracle that those babies, those QUADRULETS, have only spent 2 1/2 weeks in the NICU and have had zero complications. Wow. That's all I can say.

When Cris started on this whole adventure, we were all so nervous about her health and the health and outcome for those babies. But here they are, less than 3 weeks old and already coming home. What a blessing.

So, I'm off to start checking airfares. Looks like I'll be making a trip down to the Land of the Sun in the near future! Woo hoo!

My Love List*

*This is a list of my loves. This was a challenge put forth by She Loves Purple so I accepted and have made my own list. The only restriction being that it be totally about me; not me as a mother, or wife, daughter or friend. This exercise is about eliminating those that may define me and about getting down to the root of what I am about.

I love having a pile of books on my nightstand that I can’t wait to read.
I love watching daddies fall in instantaneous love with their newborn babies.
I love the sound of a cat’s purr.
I love browsing through gourmet food stores, imagining how I’d use each tasty little treat I come across.
I love the sound of Rainbird sprinklers.
I love the smell of freshly cut alfalfa and hay.
I love making people laugh.
I love the feel of sun on my skin.
I love fresh corn tortillas.
I love chocolate dipped strawberries.
I love the smell of lilacs and how they remind me of gathering bouquets for my great-grandma.
I love when summer eases into fall, requiring you to slip on a sweatshirt as the sun sinks, while still feeling the warmth of the sun that has soaked into your bones.
I love the smell of suntan lotion.
I love The Barenaked Ladies. Especially in concert.
I love sitting on the beach, wiggling my toes in the warm sand, and watching the ocean.
I love otters and watching them play.
I love chapstick.
I love crisp, salty French fries with a root beer milkshake.
I love office supplies, especially Sharpies and cute notepads.
I love sitting around a campfire, watching it spark and dance.
I love good chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant, along with a good cold Dos Equis.
I love eating breakfast out.
I love tennis and watching it on TV.
I love picking berries: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries.
I love Calvin & Hobbes.
I love being able to whistle really loudly. And a reason to do so.
I love the Fourth of July.
I love anticipating a new baby.
I love the smell of sheets dried outside in the sunshine & fresh air.
I love finishing a project and having it turn out better than I hoped.
I love when people “Oooh” and “Ahhh” over food I’ve made.
I love kneading bread and the smell of it baking.
I love driving thru the country with the windows down and the music up loud.
I love falling asleep outside in the sunshine.
I love going to baseball games; walking into the stadium feeling like a little kid in my excitement, the smell of the hotdogs, the roar of the crowd, the camaraderie of the fans united in their desire for their team to win. I love it all.
I love 80’s music.
I love working in my yard; planting flowers, pruning bushes, pulling weeds, clipping flowers. I especially love watering everything.
I love laughing so much that my cheeks hurt.
I love tigers.
I love watching ballroom dancing on TV.
I love making lists.
I love simple clear glass vases and serving dishes, decanters, canisters.
I love a clean house.
I love looking back at old pictures and reminiscing.
I love cooking on Thanksgiving and sitting down to a table loaded with good food, surrounded by family and loved ones.
I love having candles burning in the house.
I love dark chocolate covered nuts, even more so if there’s a bit of caramel.
I love leisurely browsing through bookstores.
I love Dooney & Bourke purses.
I love California Pizza Kitchen’s Thai Chicken Pizza and that my recreation of it tastes just as good.
I love going barefoot.
I love discovering something new about my town; a new café, a new walking trail, a new little gourmet food market.
I love that I always have something to do, or new to try, a project to work on, a book to read. I love to be busy.
I love tangy sourdough bread and good olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip it in.
I love roadtrips.
I love counting my blessings, which are exceedingly abundant, and having a grateful heart.

This list is by no means complete. It changes and grows constantly as am I. But it's a good start, huh?