Homeward Bound

In the three days I have before we leave for Michigan (SURPRISE!! if you didn't already know we're coming), I finally have about three minutes to myself. In those three minutes (give or take), I have managed to write three lists.

List One: Things to do before we leave

1. find bag to pack
2. pack bag that's not yet found
3. organize things to take in said bag
4. clean carpet downstairs
5. pick up all toys and furniture downstairs so carpet can be cleaned
6. dust furniture, since you're already cleaning
7. mail in registration for Con Ed class
8. get a hotel room for said class
   
9. call dr office to make follow up apt
10. call school to suspend bus service
    
11. call the other school to suspend therapy services
    
12. collect stool samples three days in a row from Lars' diaper, mail to appropriate labs
13. shop for train friendly, Lars friendly food
14. wash laundry so I can pack
15. find out if I can bring sharp knife on train
    
16. pay bills
17. balance checkbook
18. copy pages from calendar in case I need them while on vacation, which I know I will
    
19. kid's haircuts
20. stop mail
21. charge camera battery and cell phone
22. chiropractor appointment
23. massage?
24. make new list for what to do when we get back
    
25. gas up Ford

List Two: Things to pack for train

1. Eden's blanket and Care Bear
   
2. Lars' blanket, Lars' Other blanket, Big Tigger, Little Tigger, weighted vest, pacis, Little Tigger's blanket, ear muffs, gum for chewing, tractor and cars.
3. Elia's blanket
4. cooler, hopefully with some food in it
   
5. duffel with sleeping bags, breast pads, books, crayons and other things to do on train
6. suitcase, preferably filled with clothing and 'things to take to Michigan'
7. Train tickets and ID
8. Travel Bassinet
9. Three children; one walking, one being walked with people leash, one in snugli
   

List Three: Things for Allen to do whilst we're gone

1. order me a new computer, have files transferred and ready to use upon return to NE
   
2. move home desk and book shelf around to make office space (don't forget to vacuum behind it!)
3. fix broken file drawer
4. hang paper towel dispenser
5. learn how to use washing machine (start with the Power On button)
   
6. finish the deck
7. drag race car motor home from Casper
8. winterize camper?
9. miss us, even just a little :-)

Michigan, here we come!!

It started out with Allen asking the question, "Do you want to take a trip to the Mountains?" Well, anybody who knows me knows that I'll take a trip just about anywhere, anytime. Allen had found some race seats near Loveland, Colorado, that looked new and were selling cheap. Looking at the map, the place seemed to be at the base of the Rocky Mountains, just north of Denver.

It was supposed to be a kid-less trip, but since no babysitter wanted to watch our kids for 6 hours, (I can't imagine why not!) they came along with us. We loaded up in the Ford Friday when Eden got out of school, popped in a movie, and headed south. Seeing as we were going to pass right thorough Cheyenne, Wyoming, I thought we may as well stop and do some shopping on the way back, as well.

With only one rest area stop (it was the only rest area, too) to feed Elia, change diapers and run around the grass, we made it to Loveland in about 3.5 hours. Driving down the road, we were looking for the turn off and admiring the beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains.

"That was the road" Al said, as we drove by. I looked back and said, "What road? I didn't even see a road." That's because I wasn't looking under the overgrown tree that was covering the sign to the dirt path, which was apparently a road. We turned back and took the 'road', crossing a cattle guard and about losing our front end to a pot hole that any Michigander would be proud of. We drove up, looking for an address and finding none. Then we passed a junk yard and saw a nice house at the top of the next hill. I pointed onward and said, "I bet it's up there." Meanwhile, Allen was turning the car around saying, "I bet it's the one we just passed."

"Huh? No way."

Whipping out his cell phone, he called the guy. Sure enough, we had just passed it.

Mustering up some courage, we pulled in the driveway JUST enough to be off of the road. Thinking I may never see my husband again, my exact words to him were, "Give him the cash and whatever else he wants, grab the seats and let's get outta here!"

Eden and Lars were unbuckled by now, saying, "Can I go with Daddy??!!"

"NO" we both said in unison. I told Eden to stay in the car, as she was climbing out with Lars close behind her. "Wow", she said, "LOOK at all this cool stuff!" And off they bounded to play and explore.

The guy was a huge man, 6' 3" and at least 400 pounds, dressed in black and covered in tattoos, cigarette hanging out of his mouth, sitting on a deck below a sign that read, "Property under constant video surveillance. Any persons damaging property will be executed." I don't doubt that for a second. I grabbed the camera, trying desperately to get a picture of the sign and the guy w/o being noticed. (I failed, wrong lens). But did manage to take a few shots of the premise. Al thought I was trying to get us all shot.

After some, shall we say, pleasantries, Al was led to the back of a white truck (see photo) where the seats were. In the 10 minutes of what seemed like a long, drawn out evening, cash was exchanged and we were peeling out of there, praying that the tires would make it back to the town without further incident.

I said to Al, "What took so long!?" He said he was trying to be friendly and barter a bit. Good gravy, we're not in Mexico! They guy was all 'yup' or 'nope' and that was about it, until Al told him, "you have a beautiful view." Guy said, "yeah, nice to know I can step out of my house any time I want and take a p___."

Ok, time to go now....

We got out of there, laughing with good cause. Took the kids to Ruby Tuesday in Ft. Collins. Lars was visibly agitated and would not walk on the checkered floor, but had no outbursts and ate everything on his plate, so all was well.

We even got to stop at a couple stores in Cheyenne on the way back (I love buying new shoes!) and saw a shooting star from the interstate.

All in all, it was a good day out, and if nothing else, something to write home about!

A beautiful new bonnet

It was probably my fault, really.

As the third child in my family, I know all too well that hand-me-downs are the norm, and new, store bought items are very few and far between. Don't get me wrong, I love used clothes and frequent them. But every now and again, it's fun to know that Mom bought something JUST for me from the store. And that time, she did. A beautiful pink and yellow flowery bonnet that adorned my head as a baby, then sat in Mom's cedar chest.

Years go by and Sarah finally gets married. Then Baby Eden comes along a few years later. Out comes the beautiful old bonnet and Eden wears it till the strings fall off and I have to sew new bias on it.

Eden grew out of it after two summers, and it went into the hat box, not to be seen again until Elia, almost 5 years later. It fit perfectly on her tiny little head and she wore it all summer long.

Then came the camping trip I really wanted to take over Labor Day weekend. She wore it all weekend long (and I took some adorable pictures, my mother pointed out). Sunday afternoon, bonnet on head, she sat on the beach with Daddy while the rest of us went out on the boat for a ride.

A week later, I was still looking for the bonnet. After a spirited discussion, it was determined the the hat most likely blew out of the stroller when the pick up hit a bump hauling the boat out of the water that evening. (The baby was back at camp, eating, by this time).

Allen did his sentimental duty and drove us back to Minatare several days later to look for it along the beach, driving along the sandy shore, looking amongst the rocks and trees for a beautiful pink and yellow flowery bonnet.

Alas, it was in vain.

So, as if planned, my third child, coincidentally also a girl, gets her new 'store bought' bonnet. It arrived today, a beautiful pink gingham bonnet, lined with pink strings, all for Elia and her children to come.

First Date...

The time had come. It was do or die, really. And yesterday was the day. Al and I had our first date while all three (count them 1-2-3!) of our children stayed with a fellow pastor and his wife for a few hours in Sidney. We arrived in the late afternoon at their house after a 45 minute drive. Mommy fed Elia and as soon as she was done, we were out the door. Where did we go? I know you're dying to ask! Where else to go in Sidney except Cabelas, of course. And, it gets better, I had a $125 gift card to use.

The two hours went quickly and I took home two new pie irons (with a fancy carry bag) that cook burgers and other meats over the fire, a small bean pot and a new shirt. Tried for hiking boots, but I can't find anything to replace my 13 year old Reeboks that have carried me around the world and back again. It might just be a sentimental block, I'm not sure.

We went back to the house for a wonderful supper of spare ribs, baked potatoes, salad and gluten free krispie-like treats. After giving Elia a quick snack, we ducked out again for a trip to Wal-mart to replace the crock pot I broke in the sink the day before, intended to be followed by a drink out at a fancy restaurant. Well, have you ever been in Walmart without children? It's absolutely liberating! I didn't want to leave. In fact, Allen had to drag me out kicking and screaming like a two year old. (I didn't want him to be missing the kids to much, you know). Not only did I replace my crock pot with an upgraded stainless steel model of the same size, but also a large toaster oven. I have to blame that purchase on Laura, albeit the fact she wasn't even there, because she uses her so often and loves it and their kids often use it and I was reading about all the great uses of a toaster oven, so, since we had so much time to study the different models in the store, we bought the biggest and fanciest one Wal-mart had to offer. I couldn't help but peruse through the blender aisle, either, but since our cart was already full, I had to keep my paws off them.

Since our time was up, we went to a truck stop (romance at it's best) for a coke, but they only had Pepsi, so skipped that and went to Dairy Queen for an ice cream treat instead before winding our way back to the house to pick up the kiddos, who, for the record, were having a great time. Eden didn't want to leave, Lars had his blanket in one hand and Tigger in the other, saying, "Mommy, time to go home". Elia was asleep in somebody's arms, which is her preferred state of being.

Today I have had fun re-arranging my kitchen, cleaning counter tops along the way, finding the perfect place for the new toaster oven and cleaning up the crock pot for it's first use. In an attempt to put the oven to good use, I made egg free blue berry muffins and we watched them bake, then devoured them within 10 minutes. I guess it's been a success in this house already, Thanks, Laura!

In other, more important news, today is Lars' 3rd birthday and we are celebrating by going to the FARM (Farm and Ranch Museum) in Gering. This weekend is their annual festival and we get to bring buckets and dig and wash our own potatoes, something I grew up doing with my dad. After that, we'll grab a bite to eat and head to the race track for the final night of 2010 racing. This might be the last time Al is in the stands, too, as you can see by the photos in this week's slide show, he's planning to race next year. Stay tuned for that saga.

We had birthday and family pictures taken Thursday at Olan Mills, and I'm happy to report that it went relatively well. Nobody screamed, nobody ended up getting bit or scratched or hit and the photographer was FAST and effective, once I told her the 'rules' of photo taking for our family. She deserves a raise.

We were going to be having cake and ice cream at lunch today, but since Daddy is planning another funeral and is not able to attend the continuing education conference he's been looking forward to for the past 3 years (something always happens this weekend), we're going to celebrate tomorrow. That gives him another day to get the present put together and ready to go. Three-year-olds don't understand "some assembly required", especially our three year old, so I thought we'd better be safe than sorry.

Look for birthday pictures later in the week!

Atheist Song - First hymnal for Atheists

a glimpse

My life is like being atop a fast moving river, deep in some places, not so bad in others, with a rocky bottom and several floating trees and branches to dodge along the way. In the distance, a bear watches a fish. I don't really notice him that much. Until suddenly, this enormous beast, this large, dark creature, this nameless catastrophe, pounces, feasting on it's prey without mercy, dumping my canoe and changing the course of my life forever...

Life with Lars

I know, I know, it's already Wednesday and it's September. You don't have to tell me.

I know it's Wednesday because my husband goes to church and it's always questionable if he's ever going to return. Not that I don't appreciate trying out single parenting once a week to know how lucky I am, and it gets me prepared for the season of Advent. That's the positive way I look at it, anyway. That's how I know it's Wednesday.

I know it's September because all the flies and wasps that have been just fine hanging out all summer in the outdoors decide to come in my house in droves, just to annoy the heck outta me and my dog. Samson has been swatting them in the living room with his tail and trying to eat them all day. Looks better than those fly strings that hang in people's kitchen and gross you out, you know?

I am thinking that blogging has become has become such a main stay therapy of my life that I need to do it more often when the mood hits, instead of trying to wait till the end of the week to remember what I was going to say and then forgetting anyway, and not having time to get it done! So, having said that, let's see if I follow through or if it's really just something to put in my bucket list for after all my kids go off to college and I have time to write more. You know I'm going to write a book someday.

What is a bucket list, anyway?

What's in your bucket list?

Eden began Headstart last week on Thursday. The first two days there was no bus service, so we took her and picked her up. Yesterday, however, the bus arrived at 0735 and she burst into tears and balled up her blanket to sob on it. Thankfully, the bus waited for us. And waited. And waited. I had instant memories of my mom running after the bus in her night gown, waving it to stop so she didn't have to take me to school when I wasn't out at the end of the driveway in time.

I walked Eden up onto the bus and she eventually picked out a seat next to another little girl who looked equally as miserable and sad. As they drove away, she looked pitifully out the window at me and I felt torn between 'awful' and 'Thank God'.

Since I had to pick her up that day because of an appointment, I arrived at the school with a big smile on my face, waiting to see a happy Eden greet me to get in the car. Instead, I walked in and Eden said, crying, "But Mommy, I wanted to go home on the bus!"

I can't win.

Elia is a growing girl, who has found a new love in sucking on various fingers on both hands. She favors her right thumb OR pinky, and her left middle/ring finger. Eden calls this her 'married' finger, which I think is very cute. Still sleeping through the night (God knew we needed that early on), she is a very amicable baby who has started laughing a lot at nothing. (God knows we need that, now, too).

Lars. Oh My Loveable Lars.

Lars has had several weeks of distress and anguish, followed by discomfort, tears and tantrums. Along with several aggressive behaviors and screaming fits that go on for several hours each day. I realize this has been going on since the night he was born and the nurses refused to keep in the nursery because he cried the whole time, but after nearly three years of that & now 6 solid weeks of pure insanity, I started making some phone calls. One receptionist actually asked me to call back when my child stopped crying because she couldn't hear me. I said, "EXACTLY!"

In the last two weeks, we have been to the pediatrician, who gave us a list of vitamins/minerals to begin supplementing and had his food allergies and Celiac Test re-done. (He is now allergic to Egg Whites and his intolerance to Gluten has increased tremendously over one year).

We have seen an Occupational Therapist who specializes in Sensory Disorders. This man is amazing, and he was here 3 hours one week and 2 hours the next, filling our heads with information and tools to help Lars. I have also applied for respite care, but need to find somebody who will take him & love him for a few hours each week. Anyone interested??

We've filled out loads of paperwork and profiles and questionnaires and have received some test scores back that strongly suggests, at the very least, a sensory processing disorder, which is exacerbated by the food allergies and chronic stomach aches and diarrhea.

We made him an appointment with a pediatric gastroenterologist at St. Luke's Children Hospital in Denver for the end of this month, got him fitted for a weighted vest and blanket, and acquired a weighted turtle from the school, which has already been a calming presence among us all, especially during car rides, diaper changes and meal time.

The OT taught us how to use a brushing technique on his body, as well as joint compression, and we do that about every two hours while he's awake. We have a new therapy ball for deep pressure massage, a new system to recognize his triggers, and a relatively new outlook on "Life with Lars".

Now...on to finding a recipe for a dairy free, gluten free, egg free 3-year-old birthday cake....