Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Mary, Mary
We ran across the blog of some of our friends from our time in Emporia ... Chad and Angel, directors of our college ministry group during part of our college days. Their ministry in Tuscon, AZ seems somewhat similar to our ministry in Lawrence. I was captivated by one of their passions. Please read about it. I don't know that our ministry is ready for this yet, as we are kind of spread thin the way it is, but who am I to decide that?! I think this wold be a really special way to get immersed in the community. I can only imagine the hurt and pain that is living here. Let us pray that we would respond to His calling, even if it is against societal "norms" (in Christian circles, anyway), and seems so very far out of any box or comfort zone we have ever experienced ... OR ... if it is a place we have been, and removed ourselves from, that we are not afraid to be in and not of that very place.
Eek!
Remember the tale of Little Miss Muffet? Well, we had a similar experience here today, with a little variation ...
I was on the phone with Jill, my Mary Kay director today, discussing my team and how we were doing on our goals for the month. Erin, who was particularly needing to be right with me for most of the day, was at my elbow, asking every 20 seconds if she could talk to Jill.
During one of the 20 second intervals, she yells out, "Mom, there's a spider on my shorts!" I turned to look, and sure enough, there was a small black spider dancing illusively around on my daughter's purple shorts. Wanting to relieve her of this impending trauma, I leand over in my rolly chair to bat the arachnid from her little quivering leg. I was successful, however, just as I saw the spider drop to the floor and went to reach for it with my (bare - eww!) foot, I felt a loose feeling under me, and was powerless to do anything to prevent the chair from rolling backwards out from under me.
The trip to the floor was quick, yet felt as if it were in slow motion. My tush hit the protective floor mat, and I rolled up to make sure Avery (who was eating happily throughout the whole ordeal) was okay. She was, just looked a little bemused, and smiled at me anyway. I started to giggle, but was interrupted by the shrill squeaks of my firstborn, who was jumping around in a "potty dance"esque way, pointing at the floor mat.
"Mom, you didn't kill it yet, it's next to you, right beside you!!!"
"Where? I don't see it."
(Voice even higher pitched, and with even quicker, breathier delivery) "Mom, it's under your butt! You're squishing it with your butt!"
Now, by this point in time, I realize that the situation is fairly hysterical, and also realize that I am still "talking" to Jill. All is quiet on her end, and all I can say is "Oh my." We quickly finished our talk, and after hanging up the phone, having a big laugh out loud, I turned to Erin, who was still standing in the same spot, looking at me in a horrified way. She then kind of pointed to me and said, "Mom, that spider is still on your butt."
Needless to say, I "brushed myself off" and had another side splitting round of laughter. Yep, another day in the Rahija household. Don't you wish you were here?!
I was on the phone with Jill, my Mary Kay director today, discussing my team and how we were doing on our goals for the month. Erin, who was particularly needing to be right with me for most of the day, was at my elbow, asking every 20 seconds if she could talk to Jill.
During one of the 20 second intervals, she yells out, "Mom, there's a spider on my shorts!" I turned to look, and sure enough, there was a small black spider dancing illusively around on my daughter's purple shorts. Wanting to relieve her of this impending trauma, I leand over in my rolly chair to bat the arachnid from her little quivering leg. I was successful, however, just as I saw the spider drop to the floor and went to reach for it with my (bare - eww!) foot, I felt a loose feeling under me, and was powerless to do anything to prevent the chair from rolling backwards out from under me.
The trip to the floor was quick, yet felt as if it were in slow motion. My tush hit the protective floor mat, and I rolled up to make sure Avery (who was eating happily throughout the whole ordeal) was okay. She was, just looked a little bemused, and smiled at me anyway. I started to giggle, but was interrupted by the shrill squeaks of my firstborn, who was jumping around in a "potty dance"esque way, pointing at the floor mat.
"Mom, you didn't kill it yet, it's next to you, right beside you!!!"
"Where? I don't see it."
(Voice even higher pitched, and with even quicker, breathier delivery) "Mom, it's under your butt! You're squishing it with your butt!"
Now, by this point in time, I realize that the situation is fairly hysterical, and also realize that I am still "talking" to Jill. All is quiet on her end, and all I can say is "Oh my." We quickly finished our talk, and after hanging up the phone, having a big laugh out loud, I turned to Erin, who was still standing in the same spot, looking at me in a horrified way. She then kind of pointed to me and said, "Mom, that spider is still on your butt."
Needless to say, I "brushed myself off" and had another side splitting round of laughter. Yep, another day in the Rahija household. Don't you wish you were here?!
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Shu Shu's Sheet
This morning, as I was checking my email, Erin popped into the office and said to me ...
"Mama, in my room, all the animals are going to listen to a song, but only the animals who have clothes on can listen to it."
"Oh, that sounds like a good idea."
"Yeah, but Mom, there's a problem. Shu Shu (one of her stuffed toys, a rabbit) really wants to hear the song."
"Okay. Does she need to get dressed?"
"Yes, but I have tried and tried to put some of my shirts on her, but they won't fit. So I need to cut off some of my sheet for her to wear. Where are the blue handled scissors?"
"Whoa ... why do you need to cut off part of your sheet?"
"Mom, I just told you, my shirts won't fit Shu Shu -- they're too big and fall off of her!"
"Well, have you tried some of your doll clothes?"
"No, Mama, they won't work. She just wants the sheet. Where are the scissors? That's just what I needed to get from here." (translation: If you hadn't have been in here, mom, I would have been happily snipping out a sheet tunic for Shu Shu right now.)
"Okay, well, I can see that Shu Shu is too little for your big girl clothes (the rabbit is about 8 inches long, and probably 4 inches wide), so how about some of Avery's clothes? They're much smaller, and might work nicely?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"Well, mom, I don't really like Avery's clothes, especially her shirts."
"Well, we aren't going to cut up the sheets today, so you'll need to find a shirt of Avery's, or Shu Shu will just have to listen to the song another time."
"Ohhh, okayyy."
Erin dashed out of the room (I was careful to note the position of the blue handled scissors!) and came back a few moments later with Shu Shu and a yellow onsie of Avery's. We worked together to put it on Shu Shu, and snapped it, and held her up to survey our work. She did look quite cute, even Erin had to admit... and, Shu Shu was eligible to attend the concert :)
All I can say is, whew, I'm glad I checked my email this morning!
"Mama, in my room, all the animals are going to listen to a song, but only the animals who have clothes on can listen to it."
"Oh, that sounds like a good idea."
"Yeah, but Mom, there's a problem. Shu Shu (one of her stuffed toys, a rabbit) really wants to hear the song."
"Okay. Does she need to get dressed?"
"Yes, but I have tried and tried to put some of my shirts on her, but they won't fit. So I need to cut off some of my sheet for her to wear. Where are the blue handled scissors?"
"Whoa ... why do you need to cut off part of your sheet?"
"Mom, I just told you, my shirts won't fit Shu Shu -- they're too big and fall off of her!"
"Well, have you tried some of your doll clothes?"
"No, Mama, they won't work. She just wants the sheet. Where are the scissors? That's just what I needed to get from here." (translation: If you hadn't have been in here, mom, I would have been happily snipping out a sheet tunic for Shu Shu right now.)
"Okay, well, I can see that Shu Shu is too little for your big girl clothes (the rabbit is about 8 inches long, and probably 4 inches wide), so how about some of Avery's clothes? They're much smaller, and might work nicely?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"Well, mom, I don't really like Avery's clothes, especially her shirts."
"Well, we aren't going to cut up the sheets today, so you'll need to find a shirt of Avery's, or Shu Shu will just have to listen to the song another time."
"Ohhh, okayyy."
Erin dashed out of the room (I was careful to note the position of the blue handled scissors!) and came back a few moments later with Shu Shu and a yellow onsie of Avery's. We worked together to put it on Shu Shu, and snapped it, and held her up to survey our work. She did look quite cute, even Erin had to admit... and, Shu Shu was eligible to attend the concert :)
All I can say is, whew, I'm glad I checked my email this morning!
Welcome William!
Our good friends Jeff and Valerie have a new addition to their family! We are so excited that Baby William has arrived, and it looks as if everyone is healthy -- tired mama, proud papa, and pink, sleeping baby! Congrats on a beautiful little boy -- we won't call him beautiful later, but something more manly, like handsome or dashing :) For now, though, as he can't protest, he's beautiful!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Together again!
While David is downstairs writing an embarrassing blog about something I blurted out in a discussion about Johnny Cash and music in general ... I'd like to take a moment to share that Erin is home! She had a great time at the farm, and came home equipped with an even more prominent farmer's tan, a farm hat, and cat scratches across her lip (But she caught 'im!). She had a great time, and now is home to terrorize her little sister again (who is, yelling at me from her crib presently, so I shall close and rescue her from the monsters in her crib). We are together again!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Toilet Humor
In response to David's post, I was reading the Men's Restroom Survival Guide, or whatever it's called and noticed one rule that should apply in both the men's and women's restroom ... noise reduction. I posted a response on his blog, then remembered an article I saw on the Lawrence Journal World today, Solicitor nabbed; toilet explodes. Now, this caught my attention, and upon reading it, I realized that the two phrases were not connected, but some of the online responses to this "Crime Blotter" were amusing.
Anyway, isn't it sad how bathroom humor always makes us snicker?
Anyway, isn't it sad how bathroom humor always makes us snicker?
Generosity
We've been a part of of several amazing acts of generosity over the past few weeks. Our church is partnering with Faith Church (Sean's other church) for a fundraising garage sale the first weekend in August. We are two small congregations, and were a bit unsure of how many items we'd have to actually sell. I decided to post a wanted ad on freecycle to see if anyone had things left over from their own garage sale or items they didn't want to drag along in a move, or just things they wanted out of their storage shed or garage.
I thought we might get a few responses with a few items ... I don't know why I try to limit God's giving ... we have had responses from 10-15 individuals who have given us trailers full of items for our sale ... furniture, freezer (full of food we will use for the ministry center!), clothing, toys, exercise equipment, books, and the list goes on ... I continue to receive emails from people who would like to donate. Faith Church has an annex building that is fairly large, and from what I hear, we have filled almost half of the building with items that have been donated. The church members have not even begun bringing their items yet.
It has also been neat to be able to be in the community and meeting these people. For many, this has been a great service to them, and they have thanked us for coming to take away the things that were cluttering up their home, or things they didn't want to haul to a landfill. For a special story semi-related to this, check out David's Blog. All I can continue to say, is WOW. Community.
I thought we might get a few responses with a few items ... I don't know why I try to limit God's giving ... we have had responses from 10-15 individuals who have given us trailers full of items for our sale ... furniture, freezer (full of food we will use for the ministry center!), clothing, toys, exercise equipment, books, and the list goes on ... I continue to receive emails from people who would like to donate. Faith Church has an annex building that is fairly large, and from what I hear, we have filled almost half of the building with items that have been donated. The church members have not even begun bringing their items yet.
It has also been neat to be able to be in the community and meeting these people. For many, this has been a great service to them, and they have thanked us for coming to take away the things that were cluttering up their home, or things they didn't want to haul to a landfill. For a special story semi-related to this, check out David's Blog. All I can continue to say, is WOW. Community.
Quiet Times
Shhh ... it's very, very quiet here! Erin is visiting Grandpa and Grandma G ("Derstenkorn") for a short week, and it's been so very quiet in our house!
Avery has found her voice, though, and has been talking up a storm ... poor David, he'll have to live with three chatterboxes! I love my little girl, just enjoying some time to think, do a bit of cleaning, and getting to know our baby a bit better!
I'm sure we'll have some "Tales from the Farm" to post later this week!
Avery has found her voice, though, and has been talking up a storm ... poor David, he'll have to live with three chatterboxes! I love my little girl, just enjoying some time to think, do a bit of cleaning, and getting to know our baby a bit better!
I'm sure we'll have some "Tales from the Farm" to post later this week!
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
The Eyes Have It
Yep, they sure do ... after spending an afternoon with Eye Care Professionals, we know that the Rahija family eyes are a definite contender for the "Most Expensive Health Care Bill" contest we have going around here.
David and I both had eye exams this afternoon, and both had to have new glasses. David will also be getting new contacts, and I am going to try them to see how they work for me. Frighteningly enough, it has been nearly NINE years since my last vision appointment. I thought it was funny when the woman helping us fill our scripts said to me ... "You know, for being almost 10 years old, your frames are pretty good, not terribly out of style. Thank goodness you didn't have those big ugly ones that most people had then!" I quickly told her that I probably would have changed sooner if they were much worse than they were.
Well, like I posted earlier, the day was busy, but didn't seem to yield much blogworthy content. Hopefully yours did! Looking forward to reading some new posts!
David and I both had eye exams this afternoon, and both had to have new glasses. David will also be getting new contacts, and I am going to try them to see how they work for me. Frighteningly enough, it has been nearly NINE years since my last vision appointment. I thought it was funny when the woman helping us fill our scripts said to me ... "You know, for being almost 10 years old, your frames are pretty good, not terribly out of style. Thank goodness you didn't have those big ugly ones that most people had then!" I quickly told her that I probably would have changed sooner if they were much worse than they were.
Well, like I posted earlier, the day was busy, but didn't seem to yield much blogworthy content. Hopefully yours did! Looking forward to reading some new posts!
Family News
Well, my sister has some new news. Exciting times ahead. Check out her blog to read about it.
Sorry sis, it seems my day, although busy and full, didn't have much to share, so I thought I'd share something from you. Give Jon our hellos.
Sorry sis, it seems my day, although busy and full, didn't have much to share, so I thought I'd share something from you. Give Jon our hellos.
Monday, June 19, 2006
The "F" word
Whew, I think I got here first ... tonight while celebrating Father's Day with the Rahija family, Avery was very flatulent. She was fussy, with good reason, as it sounded as if her bottom half were trying to detach from the rest of her body via explosives. During one of these episodes, Uncle John asked if Erin or Avery was the culprit, and was informed quickly that it was Avery. This led to a more in-depth discussion of flatulence, or as we frequently call it at our house, "tuting". Uncle John made the remark about how Erin had threatened to fart on him earlier. I smiled and said, "Yeah, we've been using the "f" word around her lately." - indicating that it was okay with us for her to use that particular linguistic gem.
Innocent enough, yet the room fell silent for a brief moment, before erupting in laughter. Of course, the four letter "f" word I was referring to was "f - a - r - t", not the more popular one.
Yep, chalk another one up to the Embarrassing Sarah-isms Hall o' Fame (hey, another four letter "f" word!). Happy Monday!
Innocent enough, yet the room fell silent for a brief moment, before erupting in laughter. Of course, the four letter "f" word I was referring to was "f - a - r - t", not the more popular one.
Yep, chalk another one up to the Embarrassing Sarah-isms Hall o' Fame (hey, another four letter "f" word!). Happy Monday!
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Garage Sale Day!
It's Saturday ... garage sale day ... woo hoo!
I love going garage sale shopping! It's fun, cheap, and you get to meet lots of interesting people! On the "search" list for today ... Erin is seeking a doll house for her dolls she bought at a previous garage sale. I am searching for summer clothes for Avery, shoes for Erin, and some new Mary Kay customer contacts ... obviously, I won't be purchasing that last item, but they fall under the "interesting people" segment of the day!
I'll let you know if we find anything spectacular! Happy bargain hunting!
I love going garage sale shopping! It's fun, cheap, and you get to meet lots of interesting people! On the "search" list for today ... Erin is seeking a doll house for her dolls she bought at a previous garage sale. I am searching for summer clothes for Avery, shoes for Erin, and some new Mary Kay customer contacts ... obviously, I won't be purchasing that last item, but they fall under the "interesting people" segment of the day!
I'll let you know if we find anything spectacular! Happy bargain hunting!
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Breaking Through
I thought this was fun ... Yahoo! was advertising the Superchic[k] song, We Live in their "Entertainment" section.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Blogworthy ... who knew?!
After taking the "How much is your blog worth?" test found on John's blog, the results are in ...
I don't know where one might "cash in" the value of one's blog, but I would be really excicted to find out more info on that! David, is going to list his blog on ebay and try to reap the benefits there. We'll see how that goes ...
In other related news ... I took an online IQ test and scored 133. The results page said that was highish, so for those of you who were guessing I was a genius, you were almost correct, I'm the category just below that :) The sad thing is, I really enjoyed taking that test :) What a dork I am!
My blog is worth $2,258.16.
How much is your blog worth?
I don't know where one might "cash in" the value of one's blog, but I would be really excicted to find out more info on that! David, is going to list his blog on ebay and try to reap the benefits there. We'll see how that goes ...
In other related news ... I took an online IQ test and scored 133. The results page said that was highish, so for those of you who were guessing I was a genius, you were almost correct, I'm the category just below that :) The sad thing is, I really enjoyed taking that test :) What a dork I am!
Sweet Avery
David is helping me learn to post pictures on my blog -- I can't imagine it's that hard, but as the technologically challenged one in our home, I'm excited. This is a picture of Avery we took today as she was enjoying listening to the music from Beauty and the Beast. We didn't catch the whole smile, but a sweet look of content. We think she's pretty cute!
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Bee Bites
Today was another first at the Rahija household. Erin, while playing in the backyard, encountered a stinging bug of some sort. She first told me it was a bee, then later, a wasp. All I know for sure is that she stuck her hand up under the "big green box" (some sort of utility box in the back yard that the kids use as their table and "play central"), a bug stung her right ring finger, and the bug, a large black stinging machine, flew out from under the box. She also said it had a nest with 5 holes in it, so I'm guessing a "mud dauber" or bumble bee. Either way, it caused much mayhem around here ... lots of tears, major swelling, lots of accusations of the bee/wasp/whatever, questions as to why God made those kind of bugs, and more tears. We called Rachel, our nurse friend, and asked for her expertise. She told us to use meat tenderizer. We didn't have any, so we made a quick trek to the store, and returned to make a paste for her finger. Later, we used ice, and between the two remedies, her finger is much closer to it's normal size, as the swelling has redused considerably! She tearfully told Avery about her misadventure, and I felt pretty bad for her as she squeaked her way through the story. Avery seemed to really not care, but cooed her sympathy anyway. Although her pain was great, she did manage to stop crying by the time we got to the store, and the Butterfinger BBs we brought home seemed to cheer her even more. Soooo, Erin is doing better, just a little worse for the wear! Always something fun going on at Rahija Central!
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Another Month ... Another Chapter
Hello. Seems like forever since I've read, much less posted a blog entry. We have been kind of without the web for a few weeks, and as of today, we are back "online".
News to report: Avery is smiling and chatting these days, AND growing like crazy. She has passed the 10lb mark, and looks it. Erin grows browner by the day. She and the backyard crew are outside as much as possible, however, the increased temperature drives them inside more and more. They all like to come here and hint (or blatantly ask/demand) snacks and drinks. David is battling poison ivy and has spent the past week in agony. I am getting back into the swing of Mary Kay, with three new team members this week (welcome Laura, Diane, and Alicia!), and booking the Tuesday night and Saturday afternoon fuctions with as many guests as I can for facials and pampering.
Events of the past two months: My sister, Desiree, graduated from Kansas State University. The following weekend, we treked to Gaylord, KS to celebrate my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. What a special time, to honor the love and committment of 60 years. Last weekend we stayed with David's grandma while his parents are in Guatamala on a mission trip.
Upcoming events: Matt and Dena's wedding tomorrow (actually, later today), getting back on target for that illusive Pontiac Vibe, David applying for his local minister's license, a few more weddings, a few babies, and lots of summer fun!
Well, I think that's about it for now. I'll post more if I remember more details or some silly story about the girls. Looking forward to catching up with our little blogging community news!
News to report: Avery is smiling and chatting these days, AND growing like crazy. She has passed the 10lb mark, and looks it. Erin grows browner by the day. She and the backyard crew are outside as much as possible, however, the increased temperature drives them inside more and more. They all like to come here and hint (or blatantly ask/demand) snacks and drinks. David is battling poison ivy and has spent the past week in agony. I am getting back into the swing of Mary Kay, with three new team members this week (welcome Laura, Diane, and Alicia!), and booking the Tuesday night and Saturday afternoon fuctions with as many guests as I can for facials and pampering.
Events of the past two months: My sister, Desiree, graduated from Kansas State University. The following weekend, we treked to Gaylord, KS to celebrate my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. What a special time, to honor the love and committment of 60 years. Last weekend we stayed with David's grandma while his parents are in Guatamala on a mission trip.
Upcoming events: Matt and Dena's wedding tomorrow (actually, later today), getting back on target for that illusive Pontiac Vibe, David applying for his local minister's license, a few more weddings, a few babies, and lots of summer fun!
Well, I think that's about it for now. I'll post more if I remember more details or some silly story about the girls. Looking forward to catching up with our little blogging community news!
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Update
Hello all! I've been a bit absent lately, but that's because I haven't had two free hands to type with for the last two weeks! David, Erin, and I have a new family member, Miss Avery Layne, born March 21st at 5:24pm (following a brief 14 hour labor!). She is beautiful in every way, peaceful, and sleeps amazingly well! She weighed 7lb 11oz, and is getting close to being back to her birth weight. She eats very well, about every 3 hours during the day, and an impressive 5-6 hour stretch at night (I should be sleeping now, but with the two girls, I won't have time tomorrow!). She is such a sweet baby, and cries only to let us know of a wet/dirty diaper, temperature discomfort (usually cold), or a gas issue -- sometimes burps get stuck and build up pressure ... she woke David up with two really loud ones a few nights back!
Erin is adjusting to life as a big sister, and loves Avery very much. We are, of course, having some "issues" of boundary testing and finding our places in this new family setting, but at two weeks, I think we are doing pretty well. It's been great to have so much family support for her ... at church, Daddy's work, at home, and even people calling on the phone to ask her how she's doing. What a blessing!
Well, my old, tired body needs some rest (I turned 28 today -- no more "mid twenties" claims for me!). David has a few pics of Avery on his blog, if you'd like to see her with her big sis! Have a great day!
Erin is adjusting to life as a big sister, and loves Avery very much. We are, of course, having some "issues" of boundary testing and finding our places in this new family setting, but at two weeks, I think we are doing pretty well. It's been great to have so much family support for her ... at church, Daddy's work, at home, and even people calling on the phone to ask her how she's doing. What a blessing!
Well, my old, tired body needs some rest (I turned 28 today -- no more "mid twenties" claims for me!). David has a few pics of Avery on his blog, if you'd like to see her with her big sis! Have a great day!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
5 weeks and counting
Well, we had another doctor appointment yesterday. Baby is doing fine, with a heart pumping at 147 bpm, and measuring well. I had lost a pound this week, which is fine, because I had been gaining a little too much -- 2 lbs per week instead of the 1/2 I'm supposed to gain :) My blood pressure was great and baby is head down, ready for delivery. Doctor Peck is going to be gone two out of the next 4 weeks, so that will be interesting. He told me that in two weeks he'd introduce me to his partner, and told me that if I had to have Dr. McFarlane, that I'd like him very much. I hope he's right :) Dr. Peck is such a nice guy -- he seemed sad at the possiblity of not getting to deliver our little girl.
Erin got to go along with us yesterday. She was a big hit in the office. The nurse that did my bp and weight check (Leslie) took her out front to meet the other nurses and she came back stickered with Barbies and puppies. When she came back, she asked me when Erin's birthday was. Erin piped up and told her August 24th. Leslie asked how old she'd be then. When I told her that Erin would be 4, her jaw fell to the floor, and she told us how proud we should be at how well-mannered and poised Erin is. David and I smiled and said thanks, thinking of all the temper tantrums we've had in the past few weeks, the loud comments from Erin about how she doesn't like different names of people we meet, and other "precious" moments. However, it is wonderful to be reminded that we are having some positive impact on our daughter as parents, and that she is a precious creation. Nurse Leslie even wanted to give us her number so she could babysit for Erin sometime. I was very excited about that! As we left, they all invited her to bring her stethoscope along next time, so they could all wear them together (Erin has a real one, compliments of Grandma Gerstenkorn). They tried to convince her that is was okay to wear it around the neck, instead of constantly in the ears, but she was still not convinced, and looked at them suspiciously, as if David and I had bribed them to mention this to her :) She told them she didn't know how they could hear things with it around their neck, she could only hear with it in her ears, and that's how she intended to wear it. Stubbornness roots deeper still!
One funny moment about the doctor visit ... I had forgotten just how they check for "Group B Strep" in new mommies, and when Leslie brought the smock for the bottom half of me into the room, I remembered. Just a quick swipe with a cotton swab ... but this does require me to remove the bottom half of clothing. As I started doing this, I was trying to explain to Erin that Dr. Peck was just going to check me, and that it was okay and a "safe" thing. She was not near the end of the exam table, but up near my head. She looked at me, as I was disrobing, and said, "Mom, it is not appropriate for you to take off your pants here! We are not at home!" I about lost it, and had to agree with her, that most times, it is inappropriate to take one's pants off anywhere other than home, but again reiterated that at the doctor office or hospital, it was okay if a doctor or nurse asked that of you.
What a crazy time we are in ... the bridge between concrete and abstract thought ... learning to make logical conclusions from information that is known and new information. It makes me think twice about using "figures of speech" and other funny sayings as I have to try to explain them -- we use some strange word combinations, I have discovered! Here's to new discovery, new thoughts, and new levels of appropriateness!
Erin got to go along with us yesterday. She was a big hit in the office. The nurse that did my bp and weight check (Leslie) took her out front to meet the other nurses and she came back stickered with Barbies and puppies. When she came back, she asked me when Erin's birthday was. Erin piped up and told her August 24th. Leslie asked how old she'd be then. When I told her that Erin would be 4, her jaw fell to the floor, and she told us how proud we should be at how well-mannered and poised Erin is. David and I smiled and said thanks, thinking of all the temper tantrums we've had in the past few weeks, the loud comments from Erin about how she doesn't like different names of people we meet, and other "precious" moments. However, it is wonderful to be reminded that we are having some positive impact on our daughter as parents, and that she is a precious creation. Nurse Leslie even wanted to give us her number so she could babysit for Erin sometime. I was very excited about that! As we left, they all invited her to bring her stethoscope along next time, so they could all wear them together (Erin has a real one, compliments of Grandma Gerstenkorn). They tried to convince her that is was okay to wear it around the neck, instead of constantly in the ears, but she was still not convinced, and looked at them suspiciously, as if David and I had bribed them to mention this to her :) She told them she didn't know how they could hear things with it around their neck, she could only hear with it in her ears, and that's how she intended to wear it. Stubbornness roots deeper still!
One funny moment about the doctor visit ... I had forgotten just how they check for "Group B Strep" in new mommies, and when Leslie brought the smock for the bottom half of me into the room, I remembered. Just a quick swipe with a cotton swab ... but this does require me to remove the bottom half of clothing. As I started doing this, I was trying to explain to Erin that Dr. Peck was just going to check me, and that it was okay and a "safe" thing. She was not near the end of the exam table, but up near my head. She looked at me, as I was disrobing, and said, "Mom, it is not appropriate for you to take off your pants here! We are not at home!" I about lost it, and had to agree with her, that most times, it is inappropriate to take one's pants off anywhere other than home, but again reiterated that at the doctor office or hospital, it was okay if a doctor or nurse asked that of you.
What a crazy time we are in ... the bridge between concrete and abstract thought ... learning to make logical conclusions from information that is known and new information. It makes me think twice about using "figures of speech" and other funny sayings as I have to try to explain them -- we use some strange word combinations, I have discovered! Here's to new discovery, new thoughts, and new levels of appropriateness!
Friday, February 17, 2006
Cleaning House
I see that a bunch of "house cleaning" spam stuff is appearing on here -- I think someone feels sorry for me, or has seen the inside of my house. However, due to an increase in my own house-cleaning aptitude, I have added the word verification to comment on my blog. I don't need someone from Michigan, Florida, Arkansas, Montana, or any other state to solicit me for house cleaning services :) If they'd do it for free ... then they could post all they wanted, but somehow I doubt that is the case! Have a great weekend -- I'll be continuing the clean sweep around here. Erin's room and the livingroom have stayed relatively great, and the kitchen is catching up, despite the three baking projects in the past two days, and cooked dinners for the past three nights, plus a a cooked lunch for Erin and I yesterday! Nothing spectacular, but around here, for those of you who have seen it, you know it's an accomplishment! Now it's off to my bedroom to prepare for the big room-swap!
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