You know you've wanted to say it, too...

**I just have to say...I have tried 3 times to break this down into paragraphs, but Blogger isn't letting me do it! Sorry for the jumbled mess of a post!** Turns out, my kids and story hour just don't mesh. Doesn't matter if the story hour is one where the kids can be a little loud, or one in which they are expected to be silent (pfft). I think the county library does an excellent job with their story hour. They have just the right amount of sitting and listening to stories, and in between the stories, they sing a couple of silly songs, with hand motions, just to get the kids moving (because you know they want to be moving). When we first moved here, Ryan was 2 1/2. I took him to the library for story hour, really more for myself to get out of the house than him. Ryan was a rather shy child at the age of 2 1/2, and he had absolutely NO interest in singing or clapping (even though he loved music and knew all the songs they were singing). He sat beside me with a grumpy look on his face the whole time. After the stories are read and songs are sung, they pull out a few bins of toys and let the kids have at them. Ryan loved that part. He played well with the other kids and had a great time. I thought, "This is great!" I went back a second time, and the only thing Ryan wanted to do was to play with the toys. He let everyone know it. I had to leave the story hour room because he was SCREAMING that he didn't want to listen to the story, he wanted to play with the TOYS! Wow. I thought it was perhaps a bad day or something, so I went back one more time. Same thing happened...again. Goodbye library story hour...we were never coming back. Barnes and Noble also has a story hour for the kids. At this story hour, they read 2 or 3 stories, have some *stretching* time in between, and maybe sing a song. They do, however, seem to be rather strict about kids being quiet (which, I understand that they want everyone to be able to hear, but a little whispering among two and three year old children is quite normal). I thought we would try that to see if it was any better. We made it through the first time, and rather than pulling out bins of toys...there was a Thomas train table to play with in the children's area. Ryan LOVED the train table. He couldn't SEE the train table from where the story hour was, so I thought we would go back. Guess what happened (I should have guessed what would happen, too...but I didn't). We sat down to listen to the stories and Ryan immediately asked about the trains. He got louder and louder until I could no longer justify sitting and ignoring his behavior. We got up, went over to the trains, and all was well. That was the end of the Barnes and Noble story hour for Ryan, though. No amount of Dr. Suess could compete with that train table. Fast forward a year and a half and it was Ella's turn to try out story hour. I started with the Barnes and Noble story hour with her. We dropped Ryan off at preschool at 9:00, and went to Barnes and Noble for the 9:30 start time. She sat still for about 0.2 seconds. She got up on the *stage* where the lady reads the books (which did not go over well with said lady). I believe she actually gave me the stink eye. It wasn't like I didn't go after her and get her down. Sheesh! So...we sat back down, for about another 0.2 seconds (maybe it was 0.3, I don't really remember), and Ella was up again...this time taking books off of the shelves. OK...point taken, lady with the stink eye. Goodbye Barnes and Noble story hour for Ella. She never even got to experience the train table. I didn't really want to bother with the library story hour, but I figured that perhaps if there were no other distractions (there isn't really anything IN the room at the library) that perhaps we could make it work. Besides, a good friend of mine was going there with her boys and I wanted to meet her there. Turns out, Ella did wonderfully. Her first time, her second time...and so on...until today. The library usually does about a 6 week session of their story hours and then they take a little break. We didn't go back right away after the break, so it had been awhile since we had gone. Ella sat through the stories, and she even played for a bit with the toys. It's hard to tell sometimes, because Ella is a tall girl, but based on their sizes and speaking abilities...Ella definitely seemed to be one of the oldest, today. I was watching a little 14 month old girl climb into one of the mini chairs, and was holding on to the chair for fear that she would flip it over (as her mother wasn't exactly rushing over to help...and I'm not judging...she just really didn't seem as concerned about it as I was). I sort of missed the whole interaction, but Ella came over to me with a ball and was being closely followed by another little girl and her mother. I had seen the little girl playing with the ball, so my guess was that Ella had taken it (the frown on her face kind of gave it away, too). At any rate...I took the ball from Ella and explained that it isn't nice to take toys from others, and I handed it back to the other little girl. Well, my little red-headed toddler stomped away from me and screamed at the top of her lungs, "You're the worstest, Mommy!" I didn't flinch, because I hear this often from her (she is 2 1/2). I realize, the behavior was not appropriate, but I'm not exaggerating when I say that ALL of the Moms in the room (and I think they are pretty much regulars there, as I have seen some of them before) stopped and stared at me. I calmly walked across the room to my daughter, who was standing in the corner of the room with her arms folded across her chest, and I got down on her level to tell her (quietly, but sternly) that she was not to talk to Mommy that way (just as I do EVERY time she does it). Still...the Moms are staring. We walked back across the room and picked up a few toys that she had been playing with and put them away, then we got her coat on and walked out the door. Goodbye, library story hour (perhaps not for good...but for right now). Really, though. I could have done without the staring Moms. ALL of them had either infants or children who appeared to be under the age of 2 (perhaps I was at the wrong story hour time? Nope. It is for ages 0-3). I *really* wanted to turn around on my way out of the door and say "Just wait...your time is coming." You know you have wanted to say it before, too. When your child is throwing a tantrum at Target, or in the middle of the grocery store, or at some other place when there are a lot of people to look around and judge your parenting. Mine just happen to do it at story hour...where it is especially quiet. Oy.

Tidbits

I haven't been keeping up with my blog as much as I used to. I think with the 'real-time' access to facebook, I just have said it all already in short little quips. But...for those of you that actually read my blog...I thought I would share some little tidbits.

• I got the phonecall yesterday to schedule Ryan's Kindergarten screening and registration. We go on May 17th. Sigh. I know Ryan is ready for Kindergarten, and I really am excited for him to start school, and to see how he will continue to grow and mature. However...he's my baby...so it still makes me a little sad.


• I have been training for the Greater Binghamton Bridge Run, a half marathon, to take place on May 15th. I am in my 5th week of training, though I haven't *actually* signed up yet. Ha! What is stopping me?? I don't know, really. I have never done anything like this in my life, so I guess I am just a little overwhelmed at the thought of running 13.1 miles. My longest run yet has been 5 miles. 100% of my training has been on the treadmill, as winter hasn't exactly left the area yet. I'm looking forward to running outside. I have also signed up for a 10K, the Beach to Beacon, in Maine in August. I have heard it is a fun race, and I have a couple of close friends running it, too!


• Speaking of winter...it is currently snowing. We are forecast to get 6-10 inches of snow between today and tomorrow. I am really done with winter. Bring on the sunshine, please!


• We have signed Ella up for preschool 3 mornings a week this coming fall. She is still not potty trained, so we have some work to do before September! I'm not really ready for her to go to school, either, but she seems to be ready. She will sometimes cry when we leave Ryan at school and say that she wants to stay. Sigh...my kids are growing up.


• James is going to Ryan's school to talk to the kids about his occupation. Ha! Ryan is really excited. I wish I had a video camera to capture him speaking to 17 kids. He loves kids, and he is really good with them, but I just think it would be fun to watch.


• We are trying to refinance our mortgage. We have had 2 banks tell us that it really isn't worth it, while one has come back saying that we can go from a 30 yr mortgage to a 15 yr...and pay almost $200 less a month. I'm skeptical, but we shall see. Rates have dropped quite a bit since I talked to the naysayer banks a couple of months ago. Here's hoping! Speaking of our house...the 29th marks 3 years that we have lived here!

I don't even have any new pictures to share. Oh...wait...here's one:

What? You already saw this on facebook? Sheesh.

Happy Valentine’s Day

We have been preparing for Valentine’s Day since February 1st. Ryan brought home his class list containing the names of all the boys and girls in his class. 16 total. A note home said that a good activity would be to have your child sit down and write the names on each of the Valentine’s by his/herself. This IS a good activity to practice those writing skills, but I knew it would be like pulling teeth to get Ryan to actually WANT to do this. We started February 2nd and sat down 3 different times to write out a few at a time. I am so proud of him. He complained a minimal amount and was able to get them all done.

February has been a pretty snowy month for us in the Southern Tier of NY. Ryan has had quite a few snow days from school, seeing as how every time there is so much as a two hour delay, his morning class in canceled. So…we took that opportunity to create some Valentines for Mimi, who we send our love to across the miles. Ella was the most interested in this activity. She sat for a solid hour (which is a lot for a busy 2 1/2 year old) and covered her whole heart with stickers and feathers and even a few scribbles. Ryan got into it too, and even wanted to put a mustache on his Valentine Man that he made for Mimi. (I’m not sure if he was thinking that Mimi needed a man for Valentine’s Day, or what…but a Valentine Man is what we made!?)

So…all that hard work put into making Valentines and getting them completed to take them to school for a fun Valentine’s Day party…and this is what we end up with…

A poor, sick (and somewhat angry looking) child with a fever of 102. Sad.

We have been passing some kind of flu-like bug around our house for almost a week. Ella started with a fever on Wednesday, and by Friday she was majorly congested and it seems now to have moved into her chest. I also got it on Wednesday, though mine began with aches and chills. My head currently feels like a big balloon. Ryan ended up with it on Saturday. He has the high fever like Ella had, as well as congestion. So far, James is the only one who does not have it. We are hoping, for his sake, that it stays that way! Sigh…

At least Ella is looking a little more like herself, today!

My Valentine from James was a lovely bouquet of flowers. Well, the second bouquet was lovely. The first one came, and most of the flowers were dead. I took it in stride and laughed it off, but James was not happy (which I don’t blame him), but he called and demanded they were happy to oblige in delivering a second bouquet for free. So…today, I received the second bouquet and combined the new flowers with the remaining flowers from the old bouquet (you know, the ones that were not all droopy) and it is gorgeous! I wasted some time had some fun photographing them this morning.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Ouch

I don't even think "ouch" is a good word to describe what I was feeling this past Sunday, but it will have to do.

Warning: I talk about peeing in this post. If that is TMI for you...move along now. :)

I woke up at 4:15 on Sunday morning feeling an urgent need to pee. I got up, went into the bathroom, and did just that. I was pretty groggy, so I kind of just went about my, um, business, without a lot of thought. I got back into bed, closed my eyes, and tried to go back to sleep. However, I had the same urge to pee...again. Hmm. Strange. I got up to pee...again...and this time nothing came out. At this point, I started thinking that perhaps my body might be trying to pass the kidney stone that had taken up residence in my right kidney for the past couple of years.

My mind started reeling back to 9 months ago, which was the last time I had the stone 'checked'. At that time, the diagnosis was that the stone was 3mm in size, and that I should easily be able to pass it on my own (perhaps without even knowing).

Well, this business of having to pee but not being able to was really getting to me. So...I went downstairs and got a large glass of water. I chugged it, then I sat on the couch for awhile to see if perhaps the water would help me pee.

In the meantime, Ella woke up crying. I went up to lay down with her, but she would have nothing to do with going back to sleep. I was really starting to feel uncomfortable, so I brought her into bed with us to try and get her to go back to sleep. Ryan was already in our bed (we've been having trouble lately with kids ending up in our bed at night), so James got up to bring him back to his own room. He noticed the light was on downstairs, and so I explained my peeing woes to him when he came back. He just kind of grunted at me and got back into bed. I should mention that he wasn't being rude...he just REALLY doesn't wake up easily. With Ella squirming, and my level of comfort declining by the minute, I decided to go back downstairs. I assumed that since James didn't come down to check on me, that he had gone back to sleep. At about 5:15, I started having pain in my lower back on my right side. This kind of confirmed for me that I was probably passing this kidney stone. Great.

The pain kept growing in intensity, and I was still unable to pee. I paced around the kitchen, knelt down on the floor, drank some more water, tried to sit, went to the bathroom (um, not pee), and then finally I went upstairs to wake James up. I. was. miserable.

I tapped James on the shoulder and asked him to come downstairs (so not to wake up Ella). He took a few minutes. When he came downstairs he walked right by me and turned on the coffee pot (really?). He walked right by me because he didn't see me. I was on the floor, on my hands and knees, huddled over the register that blows the heat into our kitchen. He turned and looked at me, and then he knew this pain was real. I wasn't kidding. In typical James fashion, he got right to business. He asked me my symptoms, started looking them up online, and then confirmed to me that yes, I was probably passing a kidney stone. Yes, thank you. I figured as much. I told him to call his Mom and Dad and tell them that they need to come and watch the kids, because I didn't want to take them to the ER. While he was on the phone, I was in the bathroom...throwing up. I didn't know how I was going to survive (and I'm not being dramatic) waiting an hour for them to show up. So, James called our neighbor and asked if he could come and sit with our kids for just a half hour until his Mom got there. He did. We made our way to the ER at 8:00 in the morning.

I had to sign in when I got there, and I remember writing 8:05. There was nobody around. NOBODY. I stood up, I sat down, I walked around...barely. Finally, someone came to check me in. A lovely aid who said "Welcome to the ER" with a big fat smile on her face. If I had the strength to punch her in the face (and I'm not a violent person), then I would have gladly done so. Really? Welcome? Um, thanks...because this is really where I want to be on a Sunday morning. She proceeded to SLOWLY type in my information, making a joke with each answer I would give her, and telling me to slow down as I spelled my name and she typed it all in with one finger. Seriously? Take some typing lessons, lady.

Once I was checked in, they got to me pretty quickly. The doctor came right in to see me, and upon asking my symptoms thought that I was probably right in my self diagnosis. They gave me some strong pain meds, and wheeled me in to have a CT scan to have a closer look. The CT scan confirmed that my 3 mm kidney stone had doubled in size in the 9 months since I last had it checked, and it was, in fact, stuck at the "uv junction" where the kidney meets the bladder. The urologist on call said that 80% of people with a 6 mm kidney stone are able to pass it on their own, so I would be (4 hours later) sent home with a prescription for more pain meds and a little jar and strainer to pee in to hopefully catch the stone. I still hadn't peed since 4am.

Once I was discharged, I got up to get dressed...and felt no pain. "Wow", I thought. "Those must be some serious pain meds." Upon reading the discharge paperwork on my way home, I read that once the stone passes into the bladder, the pain should be gone. "Hmm", I thought again to myself. We stopped at the pharmacy to fill my prescription. Still no pain. "Hmm." We got home and I explained my adventure to my mother-in-law. Still no pain. "Hmm." I excused myself to go to the bathroom, as I REALLY needed to pee. I took my little jar (which I was to pee into) and my strainer (which I was to dump said pee into) and I went to the bathroom. I filled the jar (and dumped into strainer). I filled the jar again, and dumped it. I repeated this process 4 or 5 times (I told you...I REALLY had to go). Much to my surprise...there sat the kidney stone in my little strainer. AMEN. I had passed it.

I'm thinking that I should have peed upon leaving the ER, so I could have then left my little present with them. But...then I wouldn't have these pictures to show you. That's how nice I am...I waited until I got home, just so I could show you what caused me such misery. Don't act like you don't want to see them...you know you do. Unless, of course, you have passed a stone before...then you might not.

My "tools"


The stone. I forgot to edit these to enlarge the photo...but you get the idea

Looks tiny and innocent, doesn't it?

Phew. When they say that passing a kidney stone is excruciating...they aren't kidding. It was the worst pain I have ever felt. It was worse than the pains of child birth. WORSE, I say. For all of you women who have had children...you know that is some serious pain.

I am feeling much better now. However, I still have some twinges (is that a word) of pain here and there on my right side. I am going to the urologist tomorrow to take in my stone and to have a follow up appointment. Hopefully all will be back to normal soon.

Christmas 2010

Christmas was a bit different for us as a family this year, as James had to work the entire weekend. Due to that fact, we visited with family both before and after the holiday...stretching our Christmas festivities out for almost an entire month! Well, it seemed that way, anyway.

We went to James' parent's house the Thursday before Christmas and celebrated with them as well as James' brother and his family. The kids enjoyed visiting with their older cousins!



Ryan and Grandma (don't mind Ryan's fingers in his mouth...we recently went to the dentist and found out he has 2 loose teeth...he's just wiggling, here :))

Ella excited to be opening presents


Ryan, too


The older Carlson cousins from left to right: Michael (12), Joshua (16), and Christopher (14)

Ella 'helping' Uncle Dan (no, not James with a mustache) open his presents

Though James had to work, his schedule was such that he was able to be home with us Christmas morning. We all slept until about 7:30, then awoke to the face of a sweet little boy, "blankies" held up to his face in anticipation, asking if we could go downstairs to see if Santa had been here. He, of course, had. We woke Ella up and went down the stairs as a family. Ryan ran by the tree and all the gifts and went straight to the plate of cookies we had set out the night before. He exclaimed with the pure joy that "Santa DID eat the cookies we left for him!"

Our Christmas tree!



Checking out the "loot"

This is the first year Ella has been interested in opening presents!

Once the presents were opened, we enjoyed a delicious brunch and just soaked up our time together before James had to go into work. The rest of the weekend was pretty low key...kind of nice, actually.

The kids were really excited about Santa this year. I know there are many Christians out there who don't like to "celebrate" with Santa and such, but I really think it is harmless, and it is such a short lived experience for children to believe in the magic (not as in black magic) of Santa. We did, however, choose to talk a lot this season about the fact that while we open presents on Christmas, that the real reason we celebrate is because of the presence of Jesus and how He was born into this world so that we might be saved. I know that Ryan knows that this is the real reason, because I overheard him (ever so sweetly) explaining it to Ella in his 5 year old terms. He was pretty right on, I must say.

The day after Christmas, James' sister and family came to visit. We enjoyed a nice lunch with them and a few hours of visiting, before they headed back home to the Adirondacks! Apparently, I didn't take any pictures during their visit!

After the New Year, we made the trip to Maine to see my family. We stopped first to see my Uncle and his wife, and then drove on to my Mom's house the following day. "Mimi" really enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, and they enjoyed spending time with her! Ryan (at one point) said the he didn't ever want to leave Mimi's house!


Mimi enjoying the time with her grandkids

Ryan was quite content to sit on the couch with Sammy (Mom has had this cat since I went off to college in 1995...whoa!)


Mimi and Ella having a morning tea party


Cheesers

We had an uneventful trip, and for that we were very thankful!

Now, we are back to reality around here. Back to school, back to work, back to...um...laundry!

The Santa Express

On Saturday, Grandpa and Grandma were gracious to buy us all tickets to climb aboard the "Santa Express" via the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railway. We kept it a secret from the kids until we pulled into the train yard. Ryan started grinning as soon as he saw the train, and he didn't stop until we got back to Grandpa and Grandma's house that evening.

Grandpa, Grandma and the kids...excited to be on the train!

The train ride was a 2 hour trip from Milford to Cooperstown (and back), and along the way we got a cup of hot cocoa and some cookies, and the kids got presents from Santa Claus, himself.

Ella anticipating Santa's arrival

Ella getting her present from Santa (with a little help from Daddy)

Ella opening her gift

Ryan getting his gift from Santa

...and opening it

We really enjoyed our day together, and the snow flurries that were falling were an added bonus, and really made it quite festive.

Love at Last Sight...a review

"I don't believe in love at first sight; I believe in love at last sight. Each of my relationships has the potential to be better the next time we're together than it was the previous time so that the last time we see each other on this earth, we're closer than ever before."
-Love at Last Sight, by Kerry and Chris Shook

So, I kept my word and read this book. To say I read a chapter a day (as suggested by the authors) would be a lie, but I did keep up with my reading and only had to squeeze in extra chapters a few days here and there. Regardless, the book has been read and I am now able to give you a review (just what you have been on the edge of your seats waiting for, right?).

The book is a 30 day challenge to "grow and deepen your closest relationships." (If you missed my last post, see it below to understand why I decided to read and review this book.)

The first line in the book says "Right now, there are three relationships in your life that trouble you." In less than 30 seconds, I was able to determine who those three people were/are in my life. The challenge in this book was to consider these three relationships throughout the 30 days, and to actively try to work on those relationships through the tips/advice given in the book.
The three relationships should be those that are "key", or "essential" in your life. A close friend, a spouse, a family member, not just some acquaintance that you would like to get to know better.

The first week of the challenge talks about being present in your relationships. Kerry and Chris call it "practicing the art of being all there." With all of the technology available to us, facebook, twitter, e-mail, texting...it's easy to connect with each other, but physical presence is also important. Sure, I appreciate a phone call from a friend, or a text, and many times this is how I myself choose to communicate. However, being physically present can really show a person that they are important. Ironically, I have tried to find a time to be physically present with one of the relationships that I feel could be better, and one or the other of us always seems to have some other commitment standing in the way. I'm not sure how to get around that...but I'm going to find a way!! It certainly does take EFFORT!

The second week of the challenge is, in fact, about acting "intentionally." Kerry and Chris suggest painting a vision of what we want a relationship to become. As they say in the book, "to envision something better is rarely part of our thinking. People will say "I'll believe it when I see it." But God says, "You'll see it when you believe it," as in "We live by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7)." If you want a relationship to be better, you have to believe that it CAN be better, and then do the work to make it so.

The third week focuses on "the art of risking awkwardness." It's pushing deeper, as opposed to keeping things on a surface level. Kerry and Chris are good at pointing out the difference between love at first sight, and love at last sight. They write, "Love at first sight says that when relationships start feeling awkward, it's time to bail. Love at last sight says that when there's a problem, a silence, a rote toutine, or something not quite right in a relationship, that's precisely the time to dig in and do the hard work of risking awkward questions or uncomfortable conversations."

Finally, the fourth week of the challenge focuses on "the art of letting go." This section of the book focuses on letting go of the control that we try to have over people and situations. The book lists several of the ways that we try to control others, and gives tips on how to overcome these issues.

Personally, I cannot say that I truly have put this challenge into motion...yet. The book definitely has me thinking about relationships, and specifically the three that are at the forefront of my mind as I was reading through the book. It made me realize that I'm not content with the way these relationships are right now. It also made me realize that I need to step out of my comfort zone if these relationships are going to change. I like my comfort zone thankyouverymuch...it's, well, comfortable! But...I'm a work in progress, and I hope to start implementing some of the tips and advice that Kerry and Chris provide in this book into those key relationships. If you are struggling with a relationship in your life (and we all have SOMEONE with whom we wish our relationship was better), I would recommend this book.

Happy reading!