Influenza A

SUCKS, and I hope I never see it take over my toddler's body again.  It took her down and she didn't get back up for seven days.  We worried each day as she coughed up tons of phlegm, ran a fever for five days, moaned every time she moved, refused food and water, lost over two pounds, and struggled to even lift her head up for four days.  We were vigilant and helped her not end up in the hospital, but she came close.  She is up and running today and all her giggles, "me mad" 's, jumping, running, and bossiness are music to my ears.  The cough is still around, but no worries, I can handle that.   I feel so lucky Ava is generally healthy and we've never had to worry about her so much. 

Waking up at 4am this morning was a joyous event, she said she was hungry!  We sat together in bed, ate buttered toast, giggled at Dejan snoring, eventually fell back asleep, and slept in until 9am for the first time since college.  There is something about that moment, when you don't worry anymore, which allows the sleep to just come.  On top of that, Ava slept in until 10am...I got an entire hour to myself!

There was one moment this week that will forever be etched in my mind.  Day 5, of Ava feeling as bad as she could possibly feel, was laying on the couch and she just started crying. "What's the matter honey?", "Nothing.", "Are you sure?" , "Yeah", "Are you just tired of feeling sick?", "Yeah." (with tears rolling down her cheek). I picked her up and held her as tight as I could and gave her words of encouragement. If my heart could burst, it would have at that moment. We sat and cried quietly together. I took her to bed and as I watched deep sleep take over her body, she suddenly opened her eyes and said, "want SHREK music". I laughed at her and played 'Darlng I do' until she fell fast asleep. I love this girl more than I ever thought possible after first bringing her home. I am so thankful for that and enjoy each day that brings us closer, and yes, even the bad days.

The world continued on as we sat held up in the house.  Sad news around the world makes a person appreciate having clean food and water, plenty of medicine to nurse our children back to health, the ability to make a snack at 4am when our children are hungry, and the only aircraft's flying over head are passenger planes or joy riders.  Sometimes living in the Midwest makes me feel a little out of touch with the real world, but at this moment, I feel lucky to live where I do.

Soul Pancake

I usually don't give a hoot about what famous people say or believe, but I thought this excerpt from Soul Pancake was something worth sharing.  I smiled really big after reading it, and it made me feel a little like he was reading my mind.  The book is funny and an easy read for these long dreary days. Thanks to my good friend Joanna for a great x-mas present that I finally got to.

By and large, people don’t like to live in the realm of “not knowing.” It’s terrifying. Which is why everybody wants to have all the answers. Atheists think science has the answers. Religious fundamentalists believe their particular theology does. But “not knowing” is a richer and more gratifying place to be. I have no idea what’s going to happen to me, why the universe is the way it is, or what will happen to my life force once my body stops working. You probably don’t, either. So just breathe and live in the great, beautiful mystery. And floss regularly.


Rainn Wilson plays Dwight K. Schrute on NBC’s The Office.
He is also a cofounder of the website SoulPancake.com and a coauthor of Soul Pancake: Chew on Life’s Big Questions.

Dang It!!

No, there is nothing wrong with your volume button.  I COVERED UP THE MICROPHONE while recording Ava singing Happy Birthday to me for the first time!!  Life goes on, but it was just the sweetest thing and still looks cute without the sound.  STUPID BIG FINGERS.

I think it's necessary for ever women to own one of these to give fair warning in times of need.


http://www.house8810.com/Browse.aspx

My little project



my new desk chair before



After





AND, just because I love it so much, this is my new favorite anthropologie purchase



A successful first trip to the dentist!  She watched me, then sat in the chair and took her turn without blinking an eye.  Polished, flossed, and left with a new toothbrush, paste, and a little proud of herself (mom was proud too).

Snow, Snow, and more Snow...and a random memory

In retrospect, we were lucky with what part of the snow storm went through our area.  We got a foot of snow.  Some got 20" or more.  It was an old fashion blizzard, and as long as you didn't have to be out in it, it was quit fun to watch.  The second picture is the snow drift at our front door.  Snow was blown into every window frame and Dejan was up e.a.r.l.y. to start shoveling his way out of the driveway.  It was still snowing at 7am, but the sun did make an appearance and has been shining since.

heading out to put food for the birds and squirrels. snow almost to my knees. ava would have
nothing to do with going out in that white stuff, BUT she wanted to take pictures.  haha

My random memory came after taking this picture of Ava and Dejan sharing a cookie last night.  I remembered taking a picture of them when Ava was four weeks old.  Quiet, sweet, and under control.  Not so at (almost) 3 years.  :-)