Must Love Dogs

We have had a disagreement in our house for quite sometime now. It is the age old question: Cats or dogs? You would think that having an odd number of people in the home there would be a tie-breaking vote, but no. So the question remains. I am using this as my opportunity to show the world why the answer is so easy!

I am a "dog person" (insert joke here) and really despise the felines of the world. My husband is a "cat person" and A-Cat is a perfect combination of mom and dad! Do you see the problem here? DH wants cats, I want a dog and A-Cat thinks we should just get both! She's such a diplomat!

The problem with that many animals, or any number of animals I despise is that I am the one who will end up feeding, and cleaning-up after them. Since the responsibility of the animal falls on my shoulders, it should be my choice!

So why do I prefer dogs over cats? Simple: dogs like people; dogs need people; dogs give back. I want to be liked by the creature; I want it to need me and damn it I want something back! Dogs have a great bond with their human friends - always happy to see you; always eager to please you.

Cats, on the other hand, are really quite nasty animals. They could care less if you are there or not; just feed and water and clean the litter box. The will be petted when they want without any regard to your feelings or needs. I refuse to bow to an animal that thinks it is smarter than I am. I have a husband for that!

As you can see from the photos of A-Cat and my aunt's dog Ollie, I have saved A-Cat from the dark side, and she too is now a "dog person"! I always knew I liked that girl!

Happy Birthday SCG!

May All Your Dreams Come True!

The Bike

The bike was abandoned at the Med Center and has been adopted by PJ. We haven't quite decided what mental deficiency allows a man in his thirties to enjoy riding a girl's Huffy.

Here are some photos of PJ's new bike.

Our Aunts added the basket and bell for a little extra flair! Where can I get tassels?

Go PJ, Go!

Juggling at the Circus

A Juggling Act
I've been spending a lot of time at the hospital with J13 and the family. This means I am missing my A-Cat. It is tough to balance life when one side seems to be crashing down. How do you try to support the broken piece without neglecting the others? I guess you thank God for a wonderful and supportive husband and A-Cat!

I came home from the hospital the other day and A-Cat came running upstairs. "Mommy!" Then she got a very sad look on her face. "I'm sorry your cousin is sick," she said in the most sympathetic way possible. She is such a sweet girl, especially when someone else is hurting. She has always been tuned into others that way, a gift from God I suppose.

My DH has been such a trooper getting meals done for himself and A-Cat, doing the laundry (OK, he always does the laundry!) and just letting me be with my family. There have been times when I could tell he just wanted me to be home, but I think he understands I need to be with my family.


The Circus is in Town
Have you ever noticed how tragedy can bring out the best in people? Is that a survival mechanism? Is the laughter and silliness out of sheer boredom? PJ (another cousin) has "adopted" a a huffy bike that has been sitting at the hospital as long as we have. It is a lovely pinkish orange and teal thing from about 15 years ago. Apparently there is a Youtube.com video out there - if I find it, I'll post it. He and Julie were having cell phone races the other day, only so he could show his phone sucks and he needs a new one. I'm sure Julie kicked his butt with her iPhone.

Sometimes, the silliness feels wrong. J13 is fighting for her life and we're laughing. Trust me, she would want us to laugh, but it just feels strange. I have been told several times in my life to lighten-up. I'm a lot better than before, but it is something I still struggle to overcome. I do believe that laughter helps and my I have tried to be very positive through all of this. In my heart I know she will pull through all of this.

There are some, however, that consumed with all the negative this situation has to offer. I have done my best to avoid conversations with these people. I am, by nature, a pessimist; so if I allow myself to get caught up in the woefulness, I don't think I could get out. I surely wouldn't have the stamina to continue to support J13 and the family with that type of attitude. So I cordially bring up the positive when the worry-warts start up.

I guess a bit of silliness has its place here, as uncomfortable or inappropriate it may seem at times. Laughter has its own pain - your cheeks hurt from big grins, your side aches from the belly laughs, and the emotional uneasiness tugs at your common sense, but no one ever developed an ulcer from laughter. What we have developed is a stronger bond and the knowledge that no matter how far apart we are at times, we are always here when we need each other. I think back to when we were kids and all the fun and laughter we had back then. We've all grown and we've all gotten married and had kids, but the giggling kids inside us seem to come out when we get together; when we need it the most. I want J13 to hear us all laughing when she wakes up. I want her to laugh with us.

The Road to Kindergarten

Kindergarten is only 5 weeks away. Both A-Cat and I have been counting down for nearly a year. The excitement of going to a "real school" bubbled in both of us. She was eager to be older and I was dreaming of being richer. This morning, I realized there is a twinge of sadness in my anticipation.

I went in to A-cat's room to kiss her sleepy head goodbye and I saw her differently than ever before. She was a kid. She wasn't my baby (that wore away a few years ago) and she wasn't my little toddler. She was a kid. It was almost like she wasn't mine; "She's too big to be my little girl," I thought.


A-Cat has always been little. My cousin said it was like watching a Chucky Doll walk and talk - she was just too little to be moving and talking like that. She will be 6 in November and at last check weighed 34 lbs and was 42 (or 44 can't remember) inches tall.


I have always joked that my daughter was "travel size". When we first moved back to Omaha, right after A-Cat's first birthday, she had an ear infection. DH took her to the new pediatrician. The doctor was concerned about her size - I'm sure A-Cat did look tiny next to my DH who is a big man. When I took her back for a check-up, the doctor wasn't so concerned anymore. "OH! I didn't realize she had a little mama," the doctor said. Yep, she has a little mama, and back then, I was real little (5'0" and 98 lbs).


At Kindergarten round-up, DH and I waited outside for A-Cat. As all the other children came filing out, DH leaned over and said, "Are they have first and second grade round-up too?" Nope - that's what a typical 5-year old looks like! We are just so use to A-Cat, that is normal to us, so we are thrown a bit off guard when someone remarks on her size. Dance class was the worst - the other moms would ask about her age and then be surprised to find out that my five-year old wasn't a three-year old. Then they would go on and on. I wanted to tell them that their freakishly large children are the weirdos!


So here we go - a new chapter in our life! My little fat baby is about to be a Kindergartner! Somewhere in me misses the long nights of feedings and changes and snuggles. A-Cat depended on me; she needed me. Over the years she has grown not only in size, but independence. I suppose that is what my job is - give her the love, discipline and tools to be an independent person. I think God gave her the independent spirit, he has just entrusted me to keep it alive.


Before I go, I feel a little obliged to give out some advice to A-Cat's new school:


• She will make you laugh when you want to scream and she will push you beyond your line - don't worry, she'll extend a hand to help you back with the hope you'll do the same for her.




• Discipline her with love and intent.




• Don't tell her how cute she is, trust me - she knows.




• Remind her that it's OK to be mad, but it's not OK to be bad.




• Speak to her like she is a child and you are an adult. She may fool you with her vocabulary and speaking ability, but she is only 5 and should be treated as such.




• Love her because she is A-Cat, the only A-Cat in the world.


Kindergarten: Here we come!

When the Phone Rings - you'd better have a tough chicken!

Nothing makes your heart skip a beat like the phone ringing at 1:30AM. Nothing good ever comes from that call. No one ever thinks to call you in the middle of the night to let you know you just got a promotion, or won a new car, or were selected to be the next family featured on Super Nanny (my secret dream) - that just doesn't happen. When the phone rings at that hour, dread fills the room like smoke in a bar (a bar before the smoking ban).

This morning, the call was that my cousin was being rushed to the University Medical Center with an aneurysm. They had wanted to life-flight her in, but the storms forced them to take her via ambulance 3 hours to Omaha.

J13 (as I will call her) is 2 weeks younger than I am - she just turned 30! She is the mother of 2 wonderful children and a friend to anyone who has ever crossed her path. We grew up together and were extremely close most of our childhood years (and beyond). It is frightening that this could happen to her - someone I know and love. As the hours wear on, fright is replaced with assurance.

If it was impossible to get through this, J13 would spit in the face of impossible and do it anyway! She is one of the most athletic women I have ever known and tough as nails. She was built to play sports, she was built to survive! J13 is one tough mutha! I'm not sure what side of the family that trait comes from, but I hope it's the side we share! (I know she doesn't look real tough in a chicken costume, but for 4 or 5 years old, a chicken can be pretty tough - at least tougher than her Glenda the Good-Witch-Ballerina sister!)

Good news is that she is talking and there does not seem to be any neurological problems. We'll see what the news is later this morning, I'm sure the big guy is on her side!

Incidences like this make me realize it was a good decision to move back to Omaha from Michigan to be close to family. You just want to grab them, hold them and keep them safe. At the very least, you just need them there.

Next time the phone rings at some ungodly hour I know my heart will jump into my throat (as I think of J13 dressed as a chicken), but I hope to be able laugh when a British woman on the other end tells me that I've been "very very naughty!"

Get-Away and Get-a-Life

If you've visited my blog before (and I'm sure you haven't since it's only a few days old), you'll notice I changed the template. The photo at the top is one that I took out at a friend's lake. He doesn't actually own the lake, but he does have a nice lot with an old art deco camper out there. It's his little get-away. We've been out once and are hoping to go out again soon.

Our host for the day

We all need a little get-away. Whether it's a location, a state of mind or a hobby. Since we don't have the money for a physical get-away, and my brain is too full to create a "Zen-like state of mind", I have decided to commit some time to the "hobby" I have enjoyed for years: photography.

Add a glass of lemonade and this is the perfect spot!

I have never given it the time to really make it a hobby. I had a camera and I enjoyed taking photos. Every once in awhile, I will see something and think, "That would be a great photo." Now I am determined to make time for it and create some beautiful photos. My fear has always been that it would become work, and not the release or the joy it is intended to be.

The wheelbarrow may be for work, but even it had the day off that day.

We all need time to let go and enjoy the company of our friends. Let go of the stresses of work and daily life and just laugh. It's something I haven't had in a long time, so the moments I do get, I cherish.

Friends stealing away for a moment

Included in this post are some of my photos from the day at the lake. Unfortunately, some of my favorites of all-time are the photos from visiting Sara in Spain - they were on my 35mm and are now framed. Maybe I'll get ambitious some weekend and get them transfered to a CD.

There's a New Mommy in Town

Anyone who has ever had the slightest encounter with A-Cat knows my father's nickname for her is quite fitting, especially this time of year. The Human Firecracker can go from an innocent sparkler - so pretty and fun loving - to a deadly M-80 - ready to rip your fingers off dare you make one wrong move - in about the same time it takes for one Black Cat to explode.

A-Cat is a wonderful little girl, but she is what psychologists refer to as a "strong-willed" child. Anyone who has read the "The Strong-Willed Child" by Dr. James C. Dobson will know exactly what I am talking about! She isn't defiant by most standards. She is usually most happy to comply with any order given (that is: she is happy to comply if she wants to). It isn't in her blood to be disobedient. It is in her personality to be the leader.

When I attended parent-teacher conferences at her new preschool, the teacher told me the other children use to just run and play on the equipment at recess. Since A-Cat has been there, they now follow along with her elaborate stories finding treasures and bad guys and various other mysteries to solve! Look out Velma and Scooby, there's a new sleuth in town!

My little darling is an only child (and most likely will be for all time). She has spent most of her existence surrounded by adults - listening and conversing with them at a very advanced level. She now sees adults as her peers rather than her classmates or other children. She once told her preschool teacher who was trying to get her to nap (nap time is another story) that "You're not the boss of me!" So DH and I are working to teach her respect for authority.

Not only is she smart, she is smart enough to manipulate adults. Where I once would not flinch at the request of 15 hugs post bed-time (what mother could deny the plea for a hug?), there are no longer anyhugs and kisses given once her little peanut head hits the pillow. Nor do I give into her requests to have her music turned back on multiple times. Amazingly one incident of each solved the problem!

One night A-Cat came tip-toeing in and asked for another "huggy please". I simply but firmly said, "You are to be sleeping now. I gave you a big hug and kiss at bed time. Go to sleep and you can have all the hugs and kisses you want in the morning." With her head hung low, she shuffled back to bed.

The next night, she came in asking to have her music turned back on (she listens to the They Might Be Giants "NO!" CD at bed time - a FANTASTIC CD!) I informed her that I had already turned it on the first time and that was her chance to fall asleep to the music. "Daddy turned it on the first time!' she quipped back. "Well then," I said, "You have had two chances to fall asleep to your music. There will not be another chance. Go to bed and go to sleep." This time the low-hung head and shuffling feet didn't pull at my heart as hard.

I must admit there have been times I have wished for a child with a milder personality - Give me a smoke-bomb or one of those black snakes! Think how easy it would be! Think how boring it would be. A-Cat makes us laugh - milk-out-the-nose laugh! She is a beautiful girl and I really think it's the horns and tail hiding beneath that give her that spark - the charm that draws people to her! She has been that way since birth, and I have no doubt she will be that way until the day heads up to the pearly gates! And just know when she hits those pearly gates, there will be a fireworks display so grand that even the biggest scrooge will know something special just happened!

The photo on this post is one we took of A-Cat last Summer. On our Journey home from Iowa, we came across an orphanage that had been torn down. Only the sign remained. We awoke a sleeping A-Cat and handed her a bag from the trunk. Momma-Cat couldn't resist this picture!