Leah's Second Birthday

I haven't forgotten. There's a 2nd birthday post coming for Leah. I just have some great pictures I want to download into the post and I can't find the cord to connect my camera to the computer.
More details coming this week, I promise. She had a fabulous birthday last week and loved the celebration.

Just didn't want you to think I'm a slackin' mama.

Twas the Night Before School Started...

...and all through the house...

Well, I'm too tired at this point to write a poem that rhymes, so you'll just have to trust me on this one.

The backpack is packed...
The lunch box is ready...
The new school clothes are washed and ready to wear...
We've met her teacher...
We've discussed the bus ride several times...

My baby girl is going to first grade tomorrow. I can't believe it.

We'll post pics of the whole event - she is VERY excited but definitely apprehensive.

Stay tuned for live blogging tomorrow (if I can find the cord to download pics from my camera)!

Awake Again

Yep. Still dealing with insomnia...but I'm getting a lot accomplished. I've been very overwhelmed lately with all the projects to do around the house so that we feel more settled here. There is still SO much to do. I was laying in bed worrying about it all until I finally got fed up and did what any other woman would do who has lost control.

I cleaned out my makeup bag.

I washed and disinfected the brushes, wiped down the inside of the bag with a Clorox wipe (you never know what germs are running around in there and I am NOT about to find out), re-sharpened my eyeliners and lip crayons, and put everything back again.

All is right in my world again and I can sleep now.

Chemo. The Gift That Keeps on Giving

So, it's a little after 1:30 AM CDT and I'm still awake. Why, you ask? Because I had chemo five years ago. Guess what residual side effects I still have? Insomnia and hot flashes. They say that only gets more intense as you approach menopause. Yippy.

Since I went to bed the first time at around 11 pm, I've watched Letterman, eaten a bowl of cereal, checked my email several times, read a few stories on People.com, printed the directions to the outlet mall I'm going to tomorrow (uh, today), watched the women's Olympic gymnastics all-around final, realized that I forgot to RSVP to 2 weddings this summer (not like me at all), and had random thoughts such as:

• What to get my mom for Christmas
• Should I go ahead and just hang my new toile shower curtain or will I regret that I didn't wash and iron it first?
• What posessed clothing people to make size 6x for girls? Why not 7x or 8x?
• I forgot to buy cucumbers at Kroger today
• Did I tell my grandmother I loved her enough during my recent visit?
• Why do I only have insomnia when I have somewhere to be the next morning?
• Why is the Halloween candy already out in stores?
• How do you know when you're done having children?

I thought about taking a Tylenol PM to help me sleep, but at this point, I wouldn't wake up until noon, and giving a curious 2-year-old free reign of the house is not in my best interest.

I think I might go make a batch of cookies. If you're up, give me a call. I'll probably answer.

Is There A Doctor In The House?

It just happened that our trip to see my grandmother coincided with the date that my brother was to defend his doctoral dissertation for his PhD in Math Education. He did his presentation on Tuesday morning and we spent the rest of the day celebrating with family and friends – first at a restaurant in a fun downtown district in Portland, then we came home long enough to change into casual clothes, then we went to a fun pub downtown again. We had a terrific time and I’m so proud of him! He has worked really hard on this for so long and it was a lot of fun to be part of the final chapter and celebration.

So, Professor Swinyard now will be teaching at a local university in their math department in the fall. I caught myself thinking during his defense, “How is it that two such different children came from the same parents?” He’s a total brainiac…my sister-in-law bought him a t-shirt a year ago that says “Mathlete” – it’s very fun. And a Mathlete he his. I’m hoping that he can help our girls with their math problems some day. And maybe I can help him accessorize or decorate or something. I’m much more artsy than academic. Just smart in different ways, I guess. :)

Home Sweet West Coast

The girls and I just spent 9 days in Oregon/Washington seeing my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, and extended family, including my grandmother. She’s been failing lately, and a series of seizures has caused her cognitive abilities to diminish. I was happy to be able to spend several days with her, have the girls see her, and take some pictures of her with the girls. Here are some of those great pictures! My gram is very special to me – she was only 48 when I was born and we have spent a lot of time together over the years…I love her dearly and was so pleased that she recognized me. She had a harder time remembering the girls but considering the fact that she has 23 or 24 grandchildren (including spouses), and 7 great-grandchildren, she’s doing well to remember us! We had a wonderful time with our extended family and the girls had a great time playing with their fellow second cousins…It was relaxing, the weather was amazing and we hated to leave.

We also spend a few days at my parents’ house in Oregon – they have an incredible yard and our days were spent relaxing and dining on the deck, the girls swam in the wading pool and ran through the sprinkler, went to parks, and played in the yard. The weather was cool and crisp at night and warm and dry during the day, and almost always sunny. My favorite time of day there during the summer is when I first wake up – the windows in the bedroom are open and the air is cool, sweet smelling from the sprinklers being on, and so pure that you feel like you’re breathing pure oxygen. I found myself breathing deeply and taking it all in – the air in Texas is not quite like that- it’s definitely more humid!

We missed Daddy (he had to stay home for orientation for his new job) and we are glad to be home with him. It’s nice to be in our own beds again.