What would the week before I get a girl's weekend be without trips to the ER and facial trauma? Really - I'm not sure what I would do without those things to make a weekend away all that much more welcome.
Yes, I'm the sucker who took her 7yr old dog to the ER because he was constipated. Although the symptoms did not seem like constipation - more like bloat - but I love the beast, and we were worried this was it. Of course when I arrived at the Vet ER, Moby pulling (I mean leading) the way, he acted fine. Mellow - but fine. He was my mellow yellow lab. One Xray and another hit to the checking account later we had no more answers and I had him back in the car on the way home. Never mind that it was 1:45AM by then. I was a late-night person when I was in college. That was only how many years ago? Great - now I feel old AND tired.
The facial trauma, you ask? I'm probably being more dramatic than necessary, but Emmett is definitely taking after his Appa! (remember this post?) While running up the stairs at church he hits the only stair in the entire house with one of those metal strips. Only he hits it with his face! Craig handled the situation well - until he noticed one of Emmett's front teeth had been pushed back a bit. Then he called me out of worship practice for consult. There was debate over stitches, but it was decided that we would ice it and calm him down, then see if the tooth was loose. It wasn't loose when I finally got him still enough to try and wiggle it. And I don't think the gash in his gums is deep. More blunt-force trauma than all out cut. So now, my dear child has a franken-smile and one really cute lisp (the tooth causes a lisp now). It is healing well, so I think we're out of the woods.
We did consider calling the familial RN on vacation in AZ - however, we didn't want her to jump on a plane and fly home to shower Emmett with toys. He's fine, Mom, really. =)
So, now I'm ready to go on my girls weekend, if only we can survive the rest of the week. Keep your fingers crossed!
BTW - Any adoptive parents out there who finalized in 2007 and are now looking at completing your 2007 tax returns. Check to see if your state gives tax credits as well as the federal gov. Gotta recoup that cost somewhere!
(consult your tax advisor as I am not a tax specialist, just an adoptive mom who does her taxes early!).
Monday, February 25, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
A Gotta See Movie!
I know "Juno" has been out in theaters for quite some time, but I finally got around to seeing the movie today. My dear husband (who, btw - is awesome!) let me sneak out of the house and go see the movie this afternoon.
Juno had received very high marks in adoption circles for portraying adoption in a positive light. I'd received emails recommending it to adoptive and pre-adoptive parents and knew that eventually I'd see it. I wasn't expecting, however, how profoundly affected I would be by the movie. I anticipated a sickly-sweet idyllic idea of adoption as the best thing ever! What I was surprised about is the movie's honesty in portraying both sides of the adoption coin.
*******Spoiler Alert Spoiler Alert Spoiler Alert****************
Obviously I closely identified with the pre-adoptive mother, Vanessa, played by Jennifer Garner. There is a scene where Vanessa and her husband Mark stand in the nursery planning paint colors for the walls. She remarks about reading expectant mother books and adoption books. This scene hit so close to home (except for the paint colors). Having the cautious-excited anticipation of adoption, but also the fear of everything set before you. I'm sure that pregnant women also have similar feelings, but the connection which is inherit with pregnancy is absent for us adoptive moms. We only know our children when they become real little people. And there is always a certain amount of worry that something will go wrong - it's not really going to happen.
I think few people can identify with the sick-to-my-stomach fear and anticipation of waiting to meet your child. I remember the Seoul subway train, pacing and humming to myself in hopes of calming down. It felt like the whole train knew what we were going to do, and yet no one in the world had been here. The thoughts of "I can't believe it's happening" and "Here we are, at the moment in time that I have imagined in my mind for years." I really did feel like I was going to hurl - I was so nervous, and Jennifer Garner hit her performance perfectly in portraying the pre-adoptive mom. Wanting to be polite and perfect, to be exactly what everyone expects from the perfect future mom. I think my favorite part of the movie is at the end. Vanessa is holding her adopted child for the first time in the hospital nursery, and she asks "How do I look?" and the response is "Like a new mom, scared poopless" **Edited for content*** I know that first day, those first few weeks, I must have looked like a dear in headlights. In fact, I look back at pictures taken of our first meeting with Emmett, and have to laugh a little at the look in my eyes. Only I know what I was thinking at that moment - "Does this mean I'm really a Mom?"
More than the quirkiness of the title character Juno endears me to her. Seeing her emotion after delivering her child brought tears to my years. Rarely do movies so honestly show us the harsh beauty of adoption. The joyful pain, the inexpressible dichotomy of adoption. One woman's heartbreak is an other's long-dreamt wish come true.
If you want to know something of what adoption feels like - watch Juno. It gives the flavor of what it means to bring adoption into ones life.
Juno had received very high marks in adoption circles for portraying adoption in a positive light. I'd received emails recommending it to adoptive and pre-adoptive parents and knew that eventually I'd see it. I wasn't expecting, however, how profoundly affected I would be by the movie. I anticipated a sickly-sweet idyllic idea of adoption as the best thing ever! What I was surprised about is the movie's honesty in portraying both sides of the adoption coin.
*******Spoiler Alert Spoiler Alert Spoiler Alert****************
Obviously I closely identified with the pre-adoptive mother, Vanessa, played by Jennifer Garner. There is a scene where Vanessa and her husband Mark stand in the nursery planning paint colors for the walls. She remarks about reading expectant mother books and adoption books. This scene hit so close to home (except for the paint colors). Having the cautious-excited anticipation of adoption, but also the fear of everything set before you. I'm sure that pregnant women also have similar feelings, but the connection which is inherit with pregnancy is absent for us adoptive moms. We only know our children when they become real little people. And there is always a certain amount of worry that something will go wrong - it's not really going to happen.
I think few people can identify with the sick-to-my-stomach fear and anticipation of waiting to meet your child. I remember the Seoul subway train, pacing and humming to myself in hopes of calming down. It felt like the whole train knew what we were going to do, and yet no one in the world had been here. The thoughts of "I can't believe it's happening" and "Here we are, at the moment in time that I have imagined in my mind for years." I really did feel like I was going to hurl - I was so nervous, and Jennifer Garner hit her performance perfectly in portraying the pre-adoptive mom. Wanting to be polite and perfect, to be exactly what everyone expects from the perfect future mom. I think my favorite part of the movie is at the end. Vanessa is holding her adopted child for the first time in the hospital nursery, and she asks "How do I look?" and the response is "Like a new mom, scared poopless" **Edited for content*** I know that first day, those first few weeks, I must have looked like a dear in headlights. In fact, I look back at pictures taken of our first meeting with Emmett, and have to laugh a little at the look in my eyes. Only I know what I was thinking at that moment - "Does this mean I'm really a Mom?"
More than the quirkiness of the title character Juno endears me to her. Seeing her emotion after delivering her child brought tears to my years. Rarely do movies so honestly show us the harsh beauty of adoption. The joyful pain, the inexpressible dichotomy of adoption. One woman's heartbreak is an other's long-dreamt wish come true.
If you want to know something of what adoption feels like - watch Juno. It gives the flavor of what it means to bring adoption into ones life.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Procrastinator...
Got to make this quick before I run out and vote. Yes, primary is today - and again, I'm the procrastinator. This morning..."Wait, what ward are we? Do we still vote at that place down the street? Whose in the mayoral race?, what are the city issues? Can I just vote for whomever will fix the potholes on my street?" Oh yeah, and the presidential race. No endorcements here - sorry to disappoint. It's been one of those weird presidential seasons. At least for me. I think I've taken every internet "Who to vote for" quiz that exists. And each one tells me to vote for someone else.
So off to do my civic duty.
So off to do my civic duty.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Ok, I give up
I'm done, I quit, I need help. Maybe there is a twelve step program, but I've hit rock bottom. If only I could see it through the snow!
I'm so very done!
Done with the shovel, done with the salt, done with my pant legs looking like I attempted to acid wash just the back ankles. I'm done with 3 hour long drives home where all the plows forgot to actually lower the plow! I'm done with leaving work early to be sure and save the aforementioned 3 hours to pick up Emmett from daycare.
I'm done with snow days, and snow boots, I'm done with weather forcasts which promise a 'dusting' of snow. Excuse me, but since when did a 'dusting' mean 6 inches!?!? I'm done with my windshield wipers freezing over. I'm done with my fingers freezing over! I'm done having a great hair day ruined by the need for a hat! I'm done making snow people, I'm done with snowball fights. I'm done with the plow covering my driveway 10 minutes after I just finished shoveling it. I'm done with the 5 ft piles of snow outside my house, and I'm done reliving the blizzard of my wedding!
So, I'm done. I quit - I'd like to sign up for the warm-weather-recovery program. I'd like to request a room with a view of a beach & palm trees, something sunny, maybe above 50 degrees (yes, I'd even take 50 degrees!). I'm done liking the Midwest.
That's just it, we're the Midwest - ya see we don't have the mountains of the west to really enjoy snow. I don't ski (probably kill myself), I don't snowboard (even more dangerous with my ungraceful talents!). We're simply the Midwest, where we get to enjoy snow, sleet, slush, tornados in January, thunderstorms, floods, throw in the dreaded New Madrid earthquake which has been predicted for years, and you too would love it here!
I'm sure next fall when the leaves turn brillant shades of orange, I'll love my good ole Midwest again - but for today...
I QUIT!
I'm so very done!
Done with the shovel, done with the salt, done with my pant legs looking like I attempted to acid wash just the back ankles. I'm done with 3 hour long drives home where all the plows forgot to actually lower the plow! I'm done with leaving work early to be sure and save the aforementioned 3 hours to pick up Emmett from daycare.
I'm done with snow days, and snow boots, I'm done with weather forcasts which promise a 'dusting' of snow. Excuse me, but since when did a 'dusting' mean 6 inches!?!? I'm done with my windshield wipers freezing over. I'm done with my fingers freezing over! I'm done having a great hair day ruined by the need for a hat! I'm done making snow people, I'm done with snowball fights. I'm done with the plow covering my driveway 10 minutes after I just finished shoveling it. I'm done with the 5 ft piles of snow outside my house, and I'm done reliving the blizzard of my wedding!
So, I'm done. I quit - I'd like to sign up for the warm-weather-recovery program. I'd like to request a room with a view of a beach & palm trees, something sunny, maybe above 50 degrees (yes, I'd even take 50 degrees!). I'm done liking the Midwest.
That's just it, we're the Midwest - ya see we don't have the mountains of the west to really enjoy snow. I don't ski (probably kill myself), I don't snowboard (even more dangerous with my ungraceful talents!). We're simply the Midwest, where we get to enjoy snow, sleet, slush, tornados in January, thunderstorms, floods, throw in the dreaded New Madrid earthquake which has been predicted for years, and you too would love it here!
I'm sure next fall when the leaves turn brillant shades of orange, I'll love my good ole Midwest again - but for today...
I QUIT!
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