Giving Thanks

So much to be thankful for this year (and every year, really).  To begin, I am ever so thankful for my little boy who just amazes me every day.  I am thankful for his health (even runny noses and coughs are fine by me:) and for my own health so that I can be present and enjoy being his Mommy (sinus infections, too, are fine by me in the grand scheme of things)!  I am amazed too that such a little person can become such an integral component of my life, a life that for now, for most of the time, is based around this little boy.

I am thankful for my husband, too, for being the man he is and for being the father he is.  I am thankful that he supports my decision to be home with our son, and accepts dirty dishes, only sometimes dinner on the table, toys over which to step, etc.  I am thankful for his health and admire his passions.  

And my family, so lucky I am to have a family that I both like and love.  A family that I enjoy spending time with and spending holidays with.   Rather than a hassle, it is a blessing that both Trav and I have such wonderful families to spend the holidays with, even if it means racing from one house to the next.  We are blessed to have such special people in our lives, cheering us on, being there for us, and sharing our special memories and moments.

And yes my friends, too, though I don't see them nearly as often as I'd like.  I am thankful at least for their blogs that keep me at least artificially updated, though nothing beats real together time.  I continue to be thankful that my friends continue to accept me for me, for my opinions, for my aloofness, and for whatever else makes me, me.  Old friends and new alike are essential to maintaining a happy and healthy life.  

And finally, I am thankful for little things, too, like starting to be able to breathe through my nose again, like the sound of Keller's hysterics as Trav plays with him on the bed, and the freshly shaven husband as he emerges from the bathroom, for Bobo and his antics, but especially for his getting me off my butt and down to the park so I can appreciate the fresh air, crunchy leaves, quacking ducks, and hungry swans.  We rarely went to the park before Bobo, he deserves special thanks on that one, especially when I know he's felt less and less appreciated as of late.  *sigh*  More little things like a front steps face-lift I am grateful for, and for days spent home in my jammies, and for a little boy who wants nothing more than to sit on my lap and read books, that alone is like heaven (well, I'll confess to sometimes getting tired of the same books over and over, but he likes what he likes, don't we all!)  I am thankful to live in a comfortable home in a stable community and country.  I could go on and on but I'll end with being thankful that it is 7:50 pm, the baby is asleep, Trav is out jiu jitsuing, and I have the luxury of climbing into bed early to ready the "Christmas Club" book my mom left for me yesterday.

Wishing all 5 of you who read my blog (okay, may it's like 7 or 9) a wonderful Thanksgiving!  And thank you for taking a few minutes of your time to check in with the goings on in my little world!  xo

Drugs.

Yup, I got 'em.  Felt like crap yesterday so I dragged my butt to the Doctor, again, who "confirmed" my sinus infection (which I'm certain I had a week ago when I went, too and was told it was just a cold...grrrr)  But anyway.  I started Amoxicilian last night and actually was able to breathe through my nose for awhile last night...Now THAT's luxury!  Neti pot works wonders at clearing out the sinuses, too, if you haven't tried it, I recommend it when you're all stuffed up.  Now just waiting to feel better...

Trouble!!

Here's a photo essay of what Keller's been up to over the past couple of weeks...

Yummy black beans make a baby smile!

Naked heiny time to help the diaper rash...yeah, yeah, I know, sitting on the dog blanket not the best idea for naked heiny...butt...

What happens to the house when Mommy's not feeling good...

What happens to the dog when Mommy buys antlers...

Keller inhaling his banana...They're just soooooo good you just have to smoosh as much as you can in there!!!  Or perhaps he's practicing playing "Chubby Bunny"...

This is Keller's serious artistic side.  He did the painting while we were babysitting the other day:)

Keller figured out by himself that off road vehicles belong off-road and in dirt and mud.

Keller plays the paper towel game while Mommy organizes his drawers.

Sick of Sick

Enough already!  So what was it, 2 Fridays ago when I was at my Mom and Dad's and woke up to Keller's croupy cough...That was no fun having a sick baby with a bad cough, runny nose, and on and off fever.  That lasted for almost a week though his cough is still lingering.  Then cam my turn.  Last Thursday I started feeling sick, stuffy, head-coldy, sleeping with my mouth open kind of thing...ugh!  Did that wipe me out.  It hurt my head to blow my nose.  I thought my head might explode.  It hurt to bend over. And I literally had to pour water into my mouth frequently during the night so I could wet it and actually move my tongue/lips...yuck!  And just when I thought I was coming around the corner, bam, I'm back down again so on Sunday I went to the walk-in clinic just to confirm it wasn't a sinus infection or anything that required treatment and he sent me right out saying I had a bad cold.  That's it.  And still, I have a bad cold.  Yesterday I woke up feeling a little better and actually went out with Keller to Trader Joe's to buy some staples.  Came home to a cranky baby, which he has been practicing lately it seems, and finally had to put him down for a nap at 5:10, yes 5:10, that close to his bedtime because I desperately needed a nap.  (nose blow break here) So upon waking Keller up to get him into the tub, I see he has a rash all over his back and belly...ugh!  What's THAT from now?  Is it the milk?  Yogurt?  We had stopped milk and yogurt for a couple of weeks after Keller's poor heiny had been constantly diaper rashed which he never really had problems with.  So who knows if the diaper rash is from milk, or from having been sick and been pooping a lot??  Who knows, but that rash may very well have explained some of his crankiness.  Poor little man.  As for me, I'm now onto a sore throat.  Last night was a headache.  And stuffed up, still...UGH!  I just want to feel regular again!  I am sick of sick being in this house!!!

My Little House

So.  Decisions, decisions.  I'm using this blog in place of my journal on this one, so bear with me as I "think out loud."  I love my little house.  It's comfy and cozy with nice neighbors in a great neighborhood for walking with a little park down the street to run the dog and stroll and slide and swing the baby and watch the ducks in the pond.  It's really just been a great house that has truly served us well.  And I don't want to leave it.  That said, the reality is, is that it is indeed a small house.  Which has been fine in teaching us to keep things simple and to continuously get rid of what we don't need, etc, etc.  We have plenty of living space up front and in the kitchen, for now still, but alas, the bedroom thing is that lingering problem that we've known we were going to have to address sooner or later.  Is it finally that "sooner" time or can we continue to put it off until "later"...who knows.  We're resourceful people.  

The thought of moving is exhausting.  The thought of putting the house on the market (and keeping it nice and clean during that time:P ) turns my stomach.  The idea of spending more money on a mortgage than we already do is overwhelming.  But.  Change is looming...

Have you seen the attic lately...too bad we couldn't just remove the top portion of this house and move it to the next one.  ugh.  Between the wall of teacher-stuff, which has been downsized twice already in the past year, and the boxes and bins of baby clothes and related paraphernalia, on top of the section of "for the next house" goods from the wedding shower, the outdoor recreation department (backpacking gear, tents, sleeping bags, snowboards/boots, etc.) odds and ends of relics from our pasts, and possible tag sale merchandise...ugh!  It's a lot of crap!  

Then there's the basement.  Furniture odds and ends, a bed frame, my childhood bedroom set, bookshelves, random antique-like pieces, garage-related goods, soap-making bins, air conditioners, and plenty more tag-sale junk...and it's not even the Stuff down there that's overwhelming, it's the idea of cleaning up the basement a  little for putting on the market.  I mean, it's kind of spooky down there with all kinds of webs and such---could use a good sweeping, but the thought of the dusty air that would be produced...another ugh!!  

So really, we should just keep staying here.  Right?  We could stick another kid somewhere for awhile, right?  I mean, "in the event" that another child were to join the family, it would spend at least the first few weeks in me and Trav's room anyway.  We could stick a pack n' play up front somewhere...Heck, Trav's sister's baby only just got her room/crib at 6 months I think!  So anything is possible.  The thing that stinks is that eventually, yes, we will have to move.  It's really just a matter of figuring out the WHEN of that.  Maybe next fall.  That would give us the spring/summer months to have a few tag sales and to try to get rid of stuff.  and to clean out the basement.  and stain the porches.  By then, maybe the economy would be in a little of a better position and we'd be able to get even just a little more than what we originally paid for the house.  Who knows.  The other side of that is that if we buy by April (I think) we'd qualify for the $6500 upgrading tax credit.  That could be looked at as balancing out any loss we might take be selling now.  So much to think about.  I know the answer will come.  But not until we explore our options and get a better understanding of what our needs will be over the next few years, what we can honestly afford, where we'd like to be to officially raise our family, where Trav will be working, and all that good stuff.  In the meantime, if you know anyone that might be interested in buying a cute little yellow house, we would entertain a for sale by owner opportunity prior to "going on the market."  We'll figure it out eventually.  In the meantime, I'll just continue to enjoy my little house and continue to prepare for the next tag sales, the biggest of which will include the little house.  Boo hoo!   

Belated Fall Post

 Just some pictures from our trip to the Jones Farm pumpkin patch and winery a few weeks back:)

"Dah"...showin' off his two teeth.

He looks like such a "boy" in this one.

My Little Monkey

Okay, so most of you all have seen the monkey shots or the actual monkey himself before this post for sure, but for my personal record keeping, I'm obligated to post them here of course!  We didn't do to much as far as Halloween goes, except for Molly's birthday party which was Keller's one and only out and about in the costume experience.  Kind of warm that day for a full fleecy outfit, but he looked cute!  Back home here, he hung out in his costume for a little while as the trick-or-treaters came, though not too many, and Trav and I had out annual Take-Out Chinese on Halloween treat which has changed over the past few months from Szechuan Bean Curd and Broccoli to General Tsao's Bean Curd and Broccoli---yum!  Here's Keller on his new wheels!  Jill gave Keller a gift card to pick out his own ride-on toy which clearly a boy his age needs and so this is what we got.  He's good at getting on and off all himself and though he doesn't quite sit on the seat, he does  "walk it" around the house.  Not so good at steering yet though, but it's an oh so cute bike!  On the topic of walking, Keller is all over it.  It is officially his preferred method of transport at this time and I just love watching him waddle around with his arms up (in half guard?--jiu jitsu term) and ready to catch himself when he falls.  He's pretty good though--it's liberating for him to be up and about and able to use two hands to carry stuff around.  Every morning that we're home, he goes into the cabinet that has pots, pans, tupperware, and his cereal in it, takes out the cereal box and walks it over to me saying, "Nah, nah, nah, nah..." which means "Can I have some?" or "More" or a myriad of other possibilities!  So he gets a little bowl of cereal and has a picnic on the floor.  A cute little morning ritual!  

Keller is also big into books and being read to, which I love.  I told Travis the other day when Keller handed him a book saying "Nah, nah, nah..."--anytime Keller hands you a book, you're obligated to read it to him, at least for now!  Keep that love of books going!  So yes, he'll sit cozily on your lap looking at the pictures, and taking my finger to point at different things.  He was into the flap books for awhile (Where's Baby's Bellybutton, etc.) but now he's really liking the books with actual photos of animals and other real objects.  He'll just listen to the words and point to different things on his own.  He can point to the duck, dog, bike, ball, and car on his own now when prompted.  

On Thursday, Keller, Bo and I went up to my mom and dad's for a change in scenery and visit while Trav was out of town.  Keller stayed up late so he could have a visit with Grandpa and was a happy playful little guy and then went right to sleep when it was time.  Well not two hours later I was going in to check on him before I went to sleep and woke him up with the creek of the door.  That was the end of sleep for him for awhile.  He sounded all congested and was miserable so I held him, rocked him, laid down with him and he cried and slept on me on and off for about 2 and a half hours before being officially zonked out enough for me to stick him in the crib.  He slept a good stretch and then around 3 am I heard him coughing that lovely bark like cough.  He whined and fell back to sleep.  Then about every half hour or so it was the same, cough, whine, sleep.  He ended up sleeping until after 8 which is unheard of but considering how much he/we were up in the night it made sense.  Finally when I went in to get him, there were these rosy red cheeks and a feverish little boy.  102ish.  But by the time he ate and went downstairs he was happily playing and running around.  In the meantime, I made an appointment to see the doc later that afternoon---after all, cough and fever are THE symptoms to watch out for these days.  Keller stayed home with my mom while I worked for a couple of hours after which we went right to the doc who after hearing him cough said, yup, croup.  She immediately recommended a steroid to open up his airways a bit and sent us off with a scrip to continue the steroid and with explicit directions on what to do in the night when croup flairs up the worst.  She said "If you make it through tonight without having to call me and go to the ER than you're in the clear, but make sure to check on him regularly to be sure his breathing is okay."  Hearing how seriously she took it made me a bit worried, but I knew Trav would be home that night and as a team we could manage just fine.  We actually used the baby monitor for the first time so we could hear him, but still needed to go in and check on him.  He was just up with some coughs and whines like the night before so we were in the clear!  On Saturday his cough was better, not "croupy" and he was playing about happily.  And today he's been playing, although is coughing more and far more drippy/sniffly than he has been, which to me is a sign that things are clearing out I guess...It's no fun having a sick baby though:(  At the moment, he is out getting some fresh air with Trav and Bo at the doggy park while I relax and clear my brain a little..loooonnnngggg overdue!  

On top of all of Keller's feeling bad, I too have been feeling not well, but alas, who has time to be sick when you're the mommy?  And so it goes!  I'm just glad he's feeling better.

So Smart?...or Trouble...

So Keller has taken a travel mug from the cabinet, brought it over to Bo's bowl, filled it and made an attempt to drink from it...at least he's attempting to drink in a civilized manner and at least it wasn't toilet water...right?  Ugh!  Time to change the wet clothes!