My goodness!

The creeping crud has taken up lodging in my home. 

It started around the 8th.  I came down with a cold around the same time as Maddy.  This lovely cold had your usual markers.  Head congestion. Fatigue.  Maddy also had a cough.  This cold just wouldn't go away. 

Last Tuesday, while at Maddy's Brownie meeting (if you need any Thin Mints, I know how to hook you up.  Just let me know!) one of the moms mentioned how a homeopathic product called Umcka really helps lessen the length of her colds so the next day I was at the Natural Food store when they opened.  Within a short time, I started with the cough.  The cough turned into a fever, aches, pains.  Flu.  Possibly H1N1.  I was on the couch, can't-get-up-except-to-pee sick for 3 days.  Ugh.  It wasn't fun. 

Now, I am feeling better but the computer died.... Best Buy was able to remedy that one.  Welcome the new laptop.

Today, Maddy's cold, which is still hanging on, decided to fill her ears and start with an infection.  Ugh.  I was on the phone to the doctors office faster than you can say Merry Christmas.  We jumped in the car and headed over to the office for an emergency visit in order to get antibiotics ASAP.  Gotta get this little kiddo better before Friday. 

So, we've been sick.  How've you been?

Happy Dec 1

I am excited for Christmas this year.  I dunno why but I am in the mood for Christmas.  Maybe it's because I feel like I am ahead of the curve with the decorating and shopping.  That would help.

One thing that I am a little sad about is that Maddy has figured out the "secret".  And no, I am not talking about Victoria's Secret but the Santa Secret. 

Last March, after a trip to the mall, Maddy asked me a question.
 "Mom?"  "Is the Easter Bunny just a man in a suit?" 
"What do you think Maddy?"
 "I think he is." 
"Well, I think your right."
She thought about this a minute.
"Then, what about Santa?"
"What do you think?"
"I think he's a man in a suit too."
I knew this would open a can of worms but I didn't want to deceive her just to find out later that I lied.  Being caught in a lie is not exactly something I want to teach her.  Even if it's for a good reason like Santa.
I gave her a knowing smile...
"I knew it!  Then who brings the presents?"
I gave her a knowing smile...
"You?!  Your Santa?"
"Well, sort of."
Then I explained to her why to the best of my abilities.  Why to we tell children about Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.  She had already figured out Dad was the Tooth Fairy.  And then I explained to her that her newly found knowledge is a special secret.  Not to be told to her friends.  That it's their parents job to tell them about the Santa Secret.  So far, she has been great about not spilling the beans.

But

Yesterday, while in the mall, she refused to even go up to Santa to say Hi.  All of a sudden Santa is now a "stranger" and she is being very good about not talking to strangers.  This makes me a little sad.  This part of childhood is over and done with.  boo.

Friends - update

I spent last Thursday with my friend, J,  mentioned in my last post.  She enjoyed her hat and I enjoyed her company.  Even though I haven't seen her in a while, we fell right into our usual easiness.  Picking up where we left off. 

I will admit, I had braced myself for the worst.  I hadn't seen her since she found out the cancer had returned.  I am glad to report she looked terrific.  We got her started on her Christmas shopping while I am trying to finish. 

We are planning on having another outing soon.  I am looking forward to it.

Friends

I got some disturbing news a couple of weeks ago from a dear friend of mine.  I was floored when she told me that her breast cancer had returned and spread.  She was going through chemo yet again and really needs a miracle.  I wept when I got off the phone.  For her, her young children, her family.

She has been a special person in my life.  We met at my first full-time job.  She and I were from very different backgrounds but we had one commonality.  Crafting.  We often spent our breaktimes cross stitching one thing or another.  Over the years, we took cake decorating classes together, made Christmas wreaths together.  She was there when I first met my husband, was in my wedding, was there when Maddy was born.  I was there when she met her husband, when she had surgery and I am god mother to her oldest son. 

I feel so helpless knowing that she is going through such a hard time.  One thing I know I can do for her was knit her a warm hat for the winter. Yesterday, I went out and bought the bulkiest, softest yarn I could find.  I worked on it all day and finished it this morning.  I am taking her out to do some Christmas shopping for the kids tomorrow and wanted to give her the hat.  I hope everytime she wears it she will know I am thinking of her and praying for her and care about her very much.

Autumn

Here's my very cute halloween mushroom.  She had a blast going to all the houses getting her candy booty.  Makes me think of all the fun I had as a kid, Trick or Treating with my brother Mike.  Those were the days.

Yesterday, the kids had a day off from school and we took Maddy and some of her friends to Lego for the mini build they do once a month.  We made the turkey.  The pumpkin was last months.  Aren't they adorable?  Lego also has some patterns for different small winter/holiday themed items.  I think I will order the parts from the website so Maddy can make some ornaments for the family.  You can find the patterns on the Lego website. 

Way too early

Yesterday, we had our second snow of the season. It's October!

If you watched the Patriots game you saw just how much we got. It was quite a bit for this time of year. It snowed from early afternoon till bed time. While I am truly thankful nothing accumulated, it's still craziness.

Snow! it's way too early. :(

Parties and such

My baby has turned 8. It's truly amazing just how fast time flies. She is growing up to be such a terrific kid.

For her birthday, she wanted a Lego party. Our nearby Lego store is booked a year in advance for birthday parties! Wow. My kid is a bit to fickle for me to book a year in advance so instead, we did a low-key, just a few friends, make-Legos-at-home kind of a compromise.

After pizza and Doritos, I had each child make their own Lego mini set. They got to choose which one they wanted, make it up and bring it home with them.

After that we had cake, which were made from a special cake pan shaped like Lego blocks, and ice cream and then the kids had some free time to just play. Each child went home with their Lego kit and a goodie bag of candy and mini toys.

They all had such a good time, I don't think they even missed going to the store for the party.

Happy Birthday, my little munchkin!