One thing is for sure...this stomach virus going around DOES NOT PLAY! whew!
Another thing is for sure...I have the best little nurse around! Kevin quarantined me to our bedroom from Friday nite until sometime late Sunday afternoon. The whole time, my little one, Ava, was constantly checking on me thru the closed door asking sweet things like, "Mommy? Can I get you anything? Mommy, are you okay? Mommy, I love you. I'm so sorry you're sick. Mommy, I hope you feel better.".
That sweet little voice made my time being quarantined much better. When I finally opened the door this afternoon, I looked down and I had several pictures painted just for me and other pictures that were colored with her crayons. I had her favorite dolly waiting on me, sitting beside the works of art and a flower (one of my pansies from my garden).
That was THE BEST MEDICINE I could have ever needed or wanted.
I love that little one and her Daddy more than anything.
I just do NOT want them catching this. at. all.
What's been going on in my life....
Thursday 01-13-2011 1:27pm CT
I have thought long and hard about whether or not I wanted to write about and share how I felt about my Daddy's ....
See, I can't even type it, much less say it. Let me start by saying so that you understand, not so that you will feel sorry for me, just to be able to give you a little background of what's been going on when the mic's turned off.
My Daddy went to heaven December 21, 2010 at 1:27am. I know this, because I was fortunate enough to be able to hold his strong sweet hand when he did and for that, I am forever grateful. Maybe at a later time, I'll be able to share more; but, at this moment, that's all I can do.
My Program Director and others have been after me to update this blog, and they should have. I mean, my goodness. It's a blog for people to read everyday. If it's not updated, who in the world would want to read it....duh, Ericka.
My biggest hurdle to overcome is the fact that behind the smile on the mic that I tried to put on everyday at work (for the past 2 - 3 months) was maybe to actually not to "help your workday go by faster"; but, perhaps helpmy workday go by faster. I'm not saying I don't love what I do, because I do! I'm doing what I've wanted to do my whole life, it's just that I knew my Daddy was so sick and well...I just wanted to curl up and shut out the world some days.
Another part of that hurdle was writing from the heart for my Mommy Blog. I didn't want to put up the next "New List of the Yada Yada Yada" or the "Best Blah Blah Blah of the Year!". I want to be able to share w/you what I go thru being a Mommy, what all Mommies go thru and be honest about it. The thing was, I just wasn't ready, because writing and sharing feelings about being a parent reminded me sharply that I was about to loose one of mine.
Well, here I am.
A million thoughts going thru my head, followed by the same response, "I can't talk about that yet - think of something else to write about". So here I sit...
Okay. Here's one that I can share.
I love how God gives us a comedic relief riiiiight when we need one. Case in point:
The day after my Daddy went to heaven, Ava and I are on the way to her Gran's house so that Ava can play at Gran's and so that I can take care of my Daddy's arrangements. I get a call on my cell and after I hang up, tears start the all too familiar trail down my cheeks. (I now HATE that sting that trail brings on so many different levels.) I try to wipe their tell tale signs and take deep breaths as I put my foot again back on the gas pedal. Ava's small sweet voice from the back asks me, "Mama, who was that on the phone?". "A man that is going to play a bugle for your MeDaddy." (sidenote~We did not tell Ava of her MeDaddy going to heaven until after Christmas.) Ava responds sounding very concerned with a tad of defensiveness in her voice, "A horn? A BUGLE?? He BETTER NOT play it loud for him! My MeDaddy is VERY sick and it will hurt his ears!". "He won't, baby. He will play it very low and soft. It will be lovely, sweetheart.". (I had contacted an organization to play Taps at my Daddy's funeral. Our Government is supposed to provide someone; however, there are not always enough people to be able to do so. It's all part of the "Full Military Honors/Burial".) Ava responds, "Oh, okay then. That's good. What's his name?". "His name is, Bobby Horton." "Ohhhhh."
I thought that was the end of the conversation, well that's what I get for thinking. She then says two seconds later, "Bobby Horton, Mama?" "Yes, baby." ~and this is where God inserts the much needed comedy~ Ava then says, "Like Bobby Horton HEARS A WHO?". I then let a BIG chuckle, pull over, get her out of her car seat give her THE biggest hug and say, "YES, MY LOVE, JUST LIKE BOBBY HORTON HEARS A WHO!".
I'm very very sure my Ava's MeDaddy was up in heaven chuckling too. How do I know? MeDaddy use to love to read, "Horton Hears a Who" to his grandbaby.
I love you, Daddy.
One Mother's "Thankful List"
Tuesday 11-16-2010 12:04pm CT
It's that time of year -- the time to mention what I am thankful for. Some people keep a gratitude journal, and some people make lists or send notes. I'm a Mama. I don't even have time to find a pen that works... so I just tell anyone who will listen.
Once you are a mom, your "thankful list" changes drastically. Health and happiness fall by the wayside ... we focus on the little things. The following is a list of a Mom from across the pond's 2010 Thankful List. (which is weird, since she's British and Thanksgiving IS an American holiday, but whatever....)
She's thankful that ...
* the school bus was on time and no one was home sick. * no one has to know I crawled back into bed before the bus left the curb. * no child called 10 minutes later asking me to bring an instrument/lunch/homework to school/ * my socks only hit three sticky spots on the kitchen floor as I slogged to the coffee pot. * the dog likes to lick the sticky spots. * I have that one reserve pair of underwear at the bottom of the drawer on laundry day. * I went six whole hours with no bodily fluids on my person. * I'd actually had a shower when the UPS guy rang the doorbell. * the greeter at Walmart told me my shirt was on backwards BEFORE I ran into the PTA president. * when I went to the restroom to change my shirt around, the restroom didn't smell like [insert gross smell here]. * I have all of this and more to look forward to tomorrow ... sigh.
What are YOU thankful for? The little things, right? Yeah, me too! :)
A reminder of how my four year old's mind works.
Sunday 11-14-2010 9:21am CT
Ava and I were in the car late yesterday evening, singing the song: "Little White Church", by the group, Little Big Town. In the song, the lyric: "Take me down to the little white church" is repeated several times. Finally, Ava said: "You know what, Mama? A taxi can take her to the church, maybe she needs to call one if no one will take her down.". I love little minds and how they work. :)
Congratulations, you just received a what??
Thursday 07-08-2010 4:39pm CT
Earlier this morning, I was talking w/one of our engineers here and he was telling me about his youngest son and the latest word to come out of his mouth. It's so cute, I couldn't help but share it with you...
It started w/a drive to their local pizzeria when the mother asked the youngest to tell his daddy what a certain word meant. Apparently, he and his mother were discussing it all day and she couldn't wait to see the look on his face. :) (we mommas sometimes do these things.)
So, he took the bait and asked.
"What is the word you wanted to know the meaning to?" "What is a Bone-a$$, Daddy?" "A WHAT??" "A Bone-a$$." "Son, are you saying, Bone-a$$??" "Yes, sir." "Please use it in a sentence for me."
(This is where I really started to giggle, because in my mind, I immediately thought of the National Spelling Bee contest.)
"Okay, here goes. The sentence would be: 'I received a Bone-a$$, today.'." "WHAT?!? Wait. Say that word real fast, son." "Okay....BONEA$$!!"
Then Daddy's lightbulb went off. (and of course the Momma was laughing at this point)
What was this little one really trying to say?
Give up?
Bone-a$$ = BONUS.
...from the mouth of babes. :) lol!!
YUCK
Wednesday 03-03-2010 4:48pm CT
Woman Says Bremerton Day Care Gave Son Wrong Breast Milk!!!
A woman said a caregiver at a Bremerton day care gave her 3-month-old son the wrong breast milk, tried to cover the mistake up, and did not notify her of the mistake until the next day.
The head teacher at Sylvan Christian Schools Daycare Center said the mistake happened when she left the room on a break two weeks ago.
"I came back and my boss told me, 'I gave the wrong breast milk to one of your kids, but don't tell the parent,'" said teacher Tai Charbonneau.
Charbonneau called Love the next day.
On Tuesday night, the school committee that runs Sylvan's 28-year-old day care was meeting with parents on a separate issue. As emotions over that issue boiled over, Love spoke up and had a heated exchange with the school's administrator, Judy Belcher.
"My son could have gotten AIDS, could have gotten a disease and could have died," said Love. "You'd want to know if your baby could have gotten AIDS or hepatitis, right?"
"Let me give you the rest of the story," said Belcher.
Charbonneau also expressed anger at the meeting about how the mistake was handled.
"I told (Love) what happened. Then I told her that my director said, 'don't say anything.' Then I got written up for breaking the chain of command," said Charbonneau.
Belcher has resigned.
Love said she is taking her son out of the day care.
"I don't trust the administrator and the director, to tell you the truth. If they're not going to tell me the truth about that, what else are they going to lie about?" said Love.
The senior pastor at the church said the day care is making changes to prevent such a mistake from happening again.
Love's son was tested for AIDS and hepatitis. Both tests were negative.
The Washington Department of Early Learning is investigating the report.
THIS SCARES ME TO DEATH!!
Monday 02-22-2010 10:45am CT
Suspected MySpace Predator Arrested After Attacking 12 year old!
This story, like many others, scare me to death and ANGERS ME. I really hope there is such a thing as "prison justice". You know, where even the inmates have a certain code and certain accidents happen to certain inmates that molest children. May be horribly wrong of me - but, as a Momma - you better believe I feel this way.
Anaheim Police detectives have arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he met on the social networking site MySpace.
Matthew Casteneda was taken into custody Friday night at a warehouse in the 2000 block of Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa.
He was booked in the Anaheim Detention Facility for lewd and lascivious behavior with a child under the age of 14.
The girl was found at an Anaheim hotel, just outside Disneyland, about two and a half hours after being reported missing in Santa Ana on Wednesday.
Investigators say the girl told officers she had been sexually assaulted by a man she met through MySpace.
"They met at South Coast Plaza and took a bus up to Anaheim, where he took her to a hotel and sexually assaulted her," said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
Anaheim police Sgt. Tim Schmidt said the girl was located after she flagged down an Anaheim Police Department employee.
The case is in the early stages of investigation, Schmidt said.
Police believe Casteneda has victimized other minors, and asked anyone with more information to contact detectives at (714) 765-1958.
Here's the piece of *&^%#...
HOW DO THEY KNOW!?
Tuesday 08-25-2009 3:24pm CT
"How do they know?" I said to my friend, Misty, on the phone yesterday.
"How do children know certain things?"
The day before yesterday, Ava and I were on our way to school/work. We had yet to leave our neighborhood when out of the blue Ava asked me: "Mama, are you thinking?" "Yes baby." "Are you thinking about MeDaddy?" ~~sidenote: "MeDaddy is my Daddy, Ava's Grandfather.~~ "Yes, I sure am." "About how much you love him and how much you want him to be better and come home from the hospital?" This was about the time my tears started falling down my cheeks and onto my lap. "Yes, my love. I am thinking about your sweet MeDaddy and I am hoping he gets well soon so that he can come home."
She then did and said something I will never forget as long as I live... "Mama, stop for just a minute." I looked in my mirror at her and replied, "What? Stop crying?" "No Mama, stop driving." I pulled over in front of one of our neighbor's yards and put it in park. I took off my seat belt and turned around so that I could see her little face.
She motioned for me to come close and as I did, she was able to put her little fingers on my shoulder and said: "Mama, we can tell Jesus to make MeDaddy all better...and he will. Jesus can do ANYTHING. He can make rain and He can stop rain."
So right there, Ava and I asked Jesus to help MeDaddy. I'm pretty sure He heard us...it started to rain.
...AND IT BEGINS.
Monday 01-31-2011 9:38am CT
Yesterday when I picked Ava up from her "school" one of her sweet teachers approached me with a huge smile on her face. I thought to myself: "Uh-oh. Wonder what type of mischief Ava has concocted today."
Her teacher placed her hand on my arm and said sweetly: "I want you to know that today on the playground every single little boy claimed Ava as his girlfriend." (Ava's acting like she's not listening - oh but she hears every word, make no mistake.) She continued as her sweet smile grew, "Aiden even told everyone that HE was going to be the one to marry Ava!" I looked down at Ava and she cut her twinkling eyes and smiled.
"Ava", I said, "how many boyfriends do you have?" She looked up at me cocked her head and put that little hand on her hip and replied so nonchalantly, "Ohhhhh, all of them.". I couldn't help but laugh and scoop her up and kiss her all over. She makes me laugh all the time! My little Scarlet O'Hara.
I could NOT wait to get home and tell her Daddy at the dinner table of the adventures his three year old was having at school.
I told Kevin word for word how the story unfolded and watched his eyes grow even bigger than I thought they would grow. I then asked the question: "Ava baby, how many boyfriends DO you have?" Kevin immediately said: "NONE!!"
Ava sweetly took her Daddy's hand looked up sweetly at him and said: "Daddy, don't freak, it's gonna be okay."
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