Glass half full

I was in a meeting yesterday and a woman said something very simple, but very wise. Worth sharing...

"Be careful what you're looking for, because you will find it. If you are always looking for the negative in a situation, you'll find it...but, if you look for the positive, you'll find that instead. Take your pick."

Getting older...

No, NOT me - I'm only 29 (for the 10th time)! I'm talking about Allison. She turned three last week and I'm seeing her change and mature every day. We (yes, I mean WE) are officially moving out of the terrible two stage. Over the past week I have noticed her being able to gain control and exercise patience - neither of which she had any of before. Seriously, I worried about her having major impulse control later in life.

I know it's not good to compare children, but Brent NEVER had nearly as much energy or impulsiveness as Miss Allie - nor did he have meltdowns like her (frequency, intensity or duration). She seriously had the patience of a gnat! And that's insulting a gnat's patience. But, BUT, this past week I have seen little Miss impatience gather control, use her manners and wait (for a few minutes) many times. Could it be? I'm seeing the light! There is a GOD!

This post isn't meant to convey that the past year has been hell with my daughter - far from it. She is a wonderful ball of energy. She has a zest for life and she is funny as heck. But, her impatience, meltdowns AND WHINING caused me to age in dog years. Her new found sense of control and little bits of maturity, have really made a difference. The kiddoes have actually fought less because of their ablity to play for long periods of time sans meltdowns. I'm LOVING it!

Since I often post about little conversations with the boy, I thought I'd share some three-year-old words of wisdom:

Allie: "I didn't grow in your belly - I grew in my China Mommy's belly. But, Brent did, right?"
Me: "Yes, honey. You grew in my heart and Brent grew in my belly."
Allie: "Well you know what Mommy? When I get bigger like you, and can be a Mommy too, YOU can grow in my belly. OK?"
Me: "OK. I bet you will have the warmest belly ever!"
Allie: "Yeah." she said, as she giggles.

How sweet is that!?!?

(I updated the post with pictures of the kiddoes - they were taken today. So freakin' cute, if I say so myself. It is a BIG deal to get two kids looking in the same direction for portraits. I felt sorry for the photographer - who used every trick she had. )

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sweetheart!

My baby turned 3 today - guess that means she's not a baby anymore. She is a curious, smart, silly, loveable, happy, energetic and brave little girl.

Allie was excited about her birthday this year and LOVED all of the attention that her special day brought. We celebrated both kids birthdays on Sunday since Brent's 8th birthday was last week. (yes, I'm lame & didn't post about the boy's birthday) We had a fun day filled with lots of kids, games, grub, prizes and loudness (oops, I mean laughter). No, seriously, it was FUN.

**Hey, anyone see the resemblance of Miss Allison with the little girl on the book cover? (She's telling me that the baby pooped in the picture) :0)

***Don't you love that balloon hat? One of Brent's buddy's dad makes balloon animals & he sent it to the party with him. Hilarious!

Neighborhood PHANTOM

Each year, starting mid-October, the Phantom hits our neighborhood. For the past five years, since our neighborhood began, we all participate in a Halloween tradition of filling bags of goodies (and a few spooky treats) and leaving them on our neighbors' doorsteps. But here's the fun part.... it is done at dark, and you can't be seen - you ring the doorbell and hide, leaving the treat bag on the front porch in front of their door. Once your house is hit, you have to hang a pumpkin on your mailbox, so you're not hit again and everyone gets a turn. Boy, do the kids (and parents) get into it - often dressing in camoflage. It has turned into such a game that flashlights are kept at the front doors so they're quickly grabbed and the kids run around their yard trying to catch their Phantom. So freaking funny! I can't even tell you how excited the kids get to play and/or try to catch the Phantom. Even Allison got into it this year & she was so proud of herself that she stayed out of sight.

Maybe the Phantom can hit your neighborhood this year.....

Here's the poem that gets attached to the treat bag:

The Phantom Ghost...

The Phantom Ghost has come to town
To leave you some goodies, I see you have found.
If you do not want a curse to call
Continue this greeting, this Phantom call.

First, post a pumpkin where it can be seen
(On the door of your mailbox), leave it ‘til Halloween.
This will scare other Phantoms who may visit
Be sure to participate - don’t be a fis-bidget.

Second make two treats, and two notes like this
Deliver them to two other neighbors who may have been missed.
Don’t let them see you! Be sure to sneak, no doubt
And make sure they put their pumpkins out!

Next you have only one day to act, so be quick!
Leave it at doors where the Phantom hasn’t hit.
Deliver at dark when there is no light
Ring the doorbell, run and stay out of sight!

And last, but not least, come join in the season
Don’t worry, be happy. You need no good reason.
Be cool, have fun and remember - DON’T BE SEEN
Share in the Spirit of HALLOWEEN

Ramblings of a tired woman...

Oh my God is it December yet? I'm smack in the mid semester crunch & I'm feeling the squeeze. Today we had an exam that covered a ridiculous amount of information - I've studied so much in the past week my brain hurts. Now I'm wanting to go into crash mode and not look at another 30 pound book for a few days, but no time to slow down, there's a list as long as my arm of things that I need to accomplish for tomorrow's lecture and next week's debate. Oh yeah, a debate in my medical ethics class. Lucky me. I feel like doing that like tap dancing on a mine field. I don't need to polish up my debating skills since I debate daily with my son - really, I'm good.


The nurse that I worked with during clinical this week was a real snot (and I'm being kind) - she wouldn't make eye contact with me and spoke to me (or should I say, at me) like I was an idiot. To top it off she was at least ten years younger than me - for some reason it bothered me more because she was so young. Ugh, it's not the end of the world, it just made for a miserable few days.


On a happier note, I'm several weeks into my pediatric rotation & I'm loving it. LOVING IT. My clinical group was assigned to the oncology unit and I was apprehensive about working with kids with cancer, but it's nothing what I had expected. Kids are awesomely resilient - even when sick they can find enjoyment out of little things, like playing a board game or taking a wagon ride. Ok, just typing about those amazing kids makes me feel guily about whining about my test, the impending debate and nurse Ratchet.


moving on.....