Mommy: "Daddy's home early from work so mommy can take kitty to the vet. He's sick, and the vet can help us get him to feeling better."
Colin: "I sad."
Mommy: "Yes, I'm sad, too, but they'll take good care of him"
This was the conversation in our household this afternoon. Elliot has barfed off and on for the past 18 + hours, and I took him to the cat hospital ER to get him checked out. And I haven't bought pet insurance why? Does flexible spending cover non-humans in our family. I digress....
Elliot had x-rays to check for a blockage in his tummy, blood and other lab work, and nothing shows any signs of why he is sick other than just a few remants of nausea from an antibiotic that didn't sit well with him (for treating cat acne, of all things!)
So, the bad news is that he was sick twice while they had him in doing lab work. So they are keeping him in "kitty intensive care" overnight to administer fluids and to nurse him back to health.
They asked if I wanted to see him before I left for the night. Sure, why not. And when I saw him, I had a range of emotions flash through my mind, which I hadn't expected. It must have been the smell of the cat hospital area, or perhaps just seeing my kitty sitting behind some bars and knowing he wouldn't be coming home with me tonight.
The last time I left Elliot overnight at the vet was when we lived in Indiana. He had surgery September 10, 2001. The next day, I was told I could come visit, and I thought, "He's just a 2 1/2 month old kitten. I'll just get him in a few days."
the next day was Septemnber 11, 2001, and the world as we knew it came to an end. I had only been living in Indiana for about a month, and all of my family except my husband was hundreds of miles away. Stores were closed. My office was closed, and people had gone home for the day. The mall was closed. Everyone wondered what was coming next.
So what was a lonely gal in Indiana suppose to do? I went and visited my family, my 2 1/2 month old kitten. As I pet him, the sound of Tom Brokaw on the TV was being broadcast throughout the back room. Yes, I had gone to see my only other family member, even though he had just joined our family a few weeks earlier.
Tonight as I left Elliot, I felt the heaviness of his sickness as I left behind a member of my family and drove home. Alone.
Last month we fought his cat cancer once again -- and this shall be no different. He still has many of those 9 lives left to go!
Yes, dear Colin, "I sad," too!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Days of Our Lives
My house has been living its own soap opera this week. Every day I have learned something new about her sordid 20 year old past that is eating away at our cash flow. Ah, yes, the joys of owning and caring for a home!
On Monday she was scraped, only to reveal that we have some rotted boards. (replacement cedar siding, here we come!) Additionally, her faulty gutters are rusted out, not dirty!
Today I had our carpenter come out and look at the rotted boards. Turns out, the boards along the entire fireplace exterior ALL need replaced. Yep, they've all had a rough life! So we're thinking maybe we replace a few really bad boards now and then stage the repairs over the coming year. Same for the gutters. Rainy season is (hopefully) going away until next fall, so other than looking bad and having a few dripy spots, the gutters will have to wait.
So for those of you wanting to see all of the progress, pictures are coming soon. I'm waiting for the stained glass sidelight to go in this weekend. And the doors to be painted. and the lights to go up. And the gutters to be repaired. Oh, OK, OK. Just kidding. After the window goes in this weekend, I'll post pics, so stay tuned until late Sunday!
On Monday she was scraped, only to reveal that we have some rotted boards. (replacement cedar siding, here we come!) Additionally, her faulty gutters are rusted out, not dirty!
Today I had our carpenter come out and look at the rotted boards. Turns out, the boards along the entire fireplace exterior ALL need replaced. Yep, they've all had a rough life! So we're thinking maybe we replace a few really bad boards now and then stage the repairs over the coming year. Same for the gutters. Rainy season is (hopefully) going away until next fall, so other than looking bad and having a few dripy spots, the gutters will have to wait.
So for those of you wanting to see all of the progress, pictures are coming soon. I'm waiting for the stained glass sidelight to go in this weekend. And the doors to be painted. and the lights to go up. And the gutters to be repaired. Oh, OK, OK. Just kidding. After the window goes in this weekend, I'll post pics, so stay tuned until late Sunday!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Signing to the cat?
OK. I've unintentionally been doing some of the funniest things to the cat lately, as though he is Colin. He just cried at me, and I used sign language to him and said, "Are you hungry?" Yah, as though he's going to put his paw to his mouth to note his hunger.
And the other day I was tired of the cat doing something on the counter, so I used our new, toddler-friendly "non -no" phrase, which is "All done _______" And I told cat, "All done counter, get down. All done counter."
Someone shoot me before I put a bib on the cat and feed him cheerios!
And the other day I was tired of the cat doing something on the counter, so I used our new, toddler-friendly "non -no" phrase, which is "All done _______" And I told cat, "All done counter, get down. All done counter."
Someone shoot me before I put a bib on the cat and feed him cheerios!
Ears Ringing
Last Thursday I enjoyed a fun girls' night out. A friend received comp tickets to see the Newsboys in concert, and I was fortunate to join her for dinner and the concert. 9th row, center section tickets -- totally awesome! You know they're great tickets when the usher personally shows you to your seat....
They put on an amazing show! It's so great to hear the songs I enjoy on the radio, live, and sung at times just 8 feet from me! When the lead singer came out on the walkway, we were so close! And thus, surrounded by such a high octane concert, my ears rang for almost 2 days after the concert!!
Their lead singer recited some scripture that was what I really needed to hear that night, and it gave me perspective, especially during some recent challenging times as a parent. The day before I went to the concert, I wrote about God's understanding. And here it hit me -- His understanding NO ONE can fathom! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did:
Isa 40:28
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
Isa 40:29
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Isa 40:30
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
Isa 40:31
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
They also sang "He Reigns," which totally reminds me of God's awesome provision in leading us to our current church. Our first visit to the church, the choir, dressed casually in Aloha wear, came into the church singing this in full force, with choir members standing in all areas of the sanctuary, and I felt God's presence that day assuring me that His power was indeed present in this church. Every time I hear this song, I recall the feeling of God's clear communication to us that we had found what we had asked for: a new church home.
It’s the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It’s the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God’s holy fire
It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns,
He reigns
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
Let it rise about the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this
And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they’ve just heard
‘Cause all the powers of darkness
Can’t drown out a single word
When all God’s children sing out
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
All God’s people singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
They put on an amazing show! It's so great to hear the songs I enjoy on the radio, live, and sung at times just 8 feet from me! When the lead singer came out on the walkway, we were so close! And thus, surrounded by such a high octane concert, my ears rang for almost 2 days after the concert!!
Their lead singer recited some scripture that was what I really needed to hear that night, and it gave me perspective, especially during some recent challenging times as a parent. The day before I went to the concert, I wrote about God's understanding. And here it hit me -- His understanding NO ONE can fathom! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did:
Isa 40:28
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
Isa 40:29
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Isa 40:30
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
Isa 40:31
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
They also sang "He Reigns," which totally reminds me of God's awesome provision in leading us to our current church. Our first visit to the church, the choir, dressed casually in Aloha wear, came into the church singing this in full force, with choir members standing in all areas of the sanctuary, and I felt God's presence that day assuring me that His power was indeed present in this church. Every time I hear this song, I recall the feeling of God's clear communication to us that we had found what we had asked for: a new church home.
It’s the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It’s the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God’s holy fire
It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns,
He reigns
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
Let it rise about the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this
And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they’ve just heard
‘Cause all the powers of darkness
Can’t drown out a single word
When all God’s children sing out
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
All God’s people singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
It's Never Just One Thing
I wrote about this a while back, but we decided to have our house repainted. Mostly because it's a bland, boring color, but upon closer review we have noted that the area around the fireplace was in bad shape, so a new paint job was indeed in order!
We narrowed to three colors and then we procrastinated before making the big choice. We went with a color called Milkweed, which is a green brown color (if that makes any sense). And of course, the crazy weather much of this month has held them off, but yesterday morning, out of the blue, 2 guys show up to scrape and caulk. And today they are here to mask and paint. and now we're completely committed on the color (yikes!) as it is covering much of the house!
And today I get the call that I need to pick the trim color. This afternoon. So I scramble to call a neighbor and she and her friend are coming in an hour to help make the trim color decision. So how do we make this huge decision from a 1/2 inch x 1 inch square paint chip???
And now I am going to hold up some painting because we have a few rotten boards that the carpenter is coming to replace on Thursday. And the sidelight window connected with the door is being replaced with a custom designed stained glass window, so I will hold up the painting of the door until that is installed on Sunday. (Yes, a customed stained glass window was MUCH cheaper than replacing the entire door -- and I can get rid of the mini blinds covering that window once and for all!
OH, and the kicker is that the gutters were scraped and it looks like over half of them are rusted and need replaced, so I get to spend money on glamorous things like a bit of new gutters to replace the areas where it went bad. Money on gutters -- what a sexy home improvement expenditure, right?
And lastly, we all know that when you repaint, you can take the opportunity to rid the house of all 80's brass. The house numbers? Gone. The cheap colonial light fixtures? Gone. The brass kick plate, knocker, and door bell? Going, but not gone yet.
I look forward to wrapping up this home improvement endeavour! Maybe we'll do something painful next time like replace the bathroom cabinets and counters. And maybe buying new light fixtures and mirrors will prove to be a lot more fun and "sexy" (or so I hope!)
We narrowed to three colors and then we procrastinated before making the big choice. We went with a color called Milkweed, which is a green brown color (if that makes any sense). And of course, the crazy weather much of this month has held them off, but yesterday morning, out of the blue, 2 guys show up to scrape and caulk. And today they are here to mask and paint. and now we're completely committed on the color (yikes!) as it is covering much of the house!
And today I get the call that I need to pick the trim color. This afternoon. So I scramble to call a neighbor and she and her friend are coming in an hour to help make the trim color decision. So how do we make this huge decision from a 1/2 inch x 1 inch square paint chip???
And now I am going to hold up some painting because we have a few rotten boards that the carpenter is coming to replace on Thursday. And the sidelight window connected with the door is being replaced with a custom designed stained glass window, so I will hold up the painting of the door until that is installed on Sunday. (Yes, a customed stained glass window was MUCH cheaper than replacing the entire door -- and I can get rid of the mini blinds covering that window once and for all!
OH, and the kicker is that the gutters were scraped and it looks like over half of them are rusted and need replaced, so I get to spend money on glamorous things like a bit of new gutters to replace the areas where it went bad. Money on gutters -- what a sexy home improvement expenditure, right?
And lastly, we all know that when you repaint, you can take the opportunity to rid the house of all 80's brass. The house numbers? Gone. The cheap colonial light fixtures? Gone. The brass kick plate, knocker, and door bell? Going, but not gone yet.
I look forward to wrapping up this home improvement endeavour! Maybe we'll do something painful next time like replace the bathroom cabinets and counters. And maybe buying new light fixtures and mirrors will prove to be a lot more fun and "sexy" (or so I hope!)
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Boundless Love
Dear God,
I searched very hard this week for the perfect trampoline for my child. The therapist said it would be very helpful for him, and it looks like something he really enjoyed during our first session. I searched for and even found one second-hand from another mom whose son just finished using it for his therapy.
You were with us when we drove in the rain to get it, and we somehow managed to fit it in the back-end of the car with the hatch slightly ajar. I drove home very excited to get it home and to see the same expression of joy on his face that he had shown as he bounced on the trampoline at the therapy session two days earlier.
And then I sat it in the front room, next to the Wonderhorse, who has already lost her luster. And then my heart sank. I just spent the past hour aquiring this trampoline, only to find he has no interest in it. None. He humored Dad with about 3 bounces later that evening.
I am so frustrated with the situation. God, do you understand?
Dear Sarah,
Over the years you have asked me for things, and I searched very hard, and sometimes made you wait for something I just knew you would love. I moved the heavens and the earth to place the right people and circumstances in your path, and to lavish you with gifts, such as a home, cars, and other desires of your heart.
And just when I give you something I know you will love, you move on to the next thing, and hardly notice it at all. Yet the depth of my love for you knows no bounds. Yes, I understand.
Love,
God
And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. Ephesians 3:18
I searched very hard this week for the perfect trampoline for my child. The therapist said it would be very helpful for him, and it looks like something he really enjoyed during our first session. I searched for and even found one second-hand from another mom whose son just finished using it for his therapy.
You were with us when we drove in the rain to get it, and we somehow managed to fit it in the back-end of the car with the hatch slightly ajar. I drove home very excited to get it home and to see the same expression of joy on his face that he had shown as he bounced on the trampoline at the therapy session two days earlier.
And then I sat it in the front room, next to the Wonderhorse, who has already lost her luster. And then my heart sank. I just spent the past hour aquiring this trampoline, only to find he has no interest in it. None. He humored Dad with about 3 bounces later that evening.
I am so frustrated with the situation. God, do you understand?
Dear Sarah,
Over the years you have asked me for things, and I searched very hard, and sometimes made you wait for something I just knew you would love. I moved the heavens and the earth to place the right people and circumstances in your path, and to lavish you with gifts, such as a home, cars, and other desires of your heart.
And just when I give you something I know you will love, you move on to the next thing, and hardly notice it at all. Yet the depth of my love for you knows no bounds. Yes, I understand.
Love,
God
And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. Ephesians 3:18
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The Great Duck Chase
In the adventures of being a toddler, what could be more fun than chasing a duck? Chasing two!
This evening, Matt & Colin went on a walk to a nearby open grassy area which is a little swampy. Two mallards were there getting some dinner when our lil guy came along. He was so excited and chased after them. They didn't fly away, but would walk really fast, only 5-10 feet in front of him. This continued for 15+ minutes, as he chased them in circles and gave them a good ole ducky workout.
The drake was quacking loudly the entire time he was being chased, which really egged Colin on. It was as though the drake was saying, "Catch me if you can!"
This evening, Matt & Colin went on a walk to a nearby open grassy area which is a little swampy. Two mallards were there getting some dinner when our lil guy came along. He was so excited and chased after them. They didn't fly away, but would walk really fast, only 5-10 feet in front of him. This continued for 15+ minutes, as he chased them in circles and gave them a good ole ducky workout.
The drake was quacking loudly the entire time he was being chased, which really egged Colin on. It was as though the drake was saying, "Catch me if you can!"
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Fun With Grandma
This is our "dirt pit," which is just waiting for inspiration. Ideas, anyone??This past weekend we couldn't have ordered up better weather for having my mom in town. It was our first day of official shorts weather for the year, and we LOVED it!
On Friday we had kind of a date night -- we spent some time at the Mariner's game early in the evening and ate dinner down at the Bull Pin Pub, which had a great view down to the field and to the guest team's bull pin area. We then joined all of Matt's colleagues up in the nose bleed section to watch the entertainment production, umh, I mean, game.
On Saturday we basked in the great outdoors as much as we could, which included a trip to the local plant nursery to get ideas for our backyard. We have a muddy dirt pit in the back right hand corner where we dug out a plethora of weeds, blackberry thistle, and a bushy tree during the winter months (oh, and LOTS of rocks, including one that was over 300 lbs!) This little patch of brown is waiting for some inspiration, but we haven't fully decided what to do with it yet. Landscaping can be very overwhelming when you don't know much about plants and how much they will grow, etc.
The sunny Saturday was just a tease, and we expect some areas may have snow this coming weekend. Our trip to Hawaii can't be soon enough!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Grizzly Bear Camping Party @ The Zoo
I have had this funny image in my mind all week that I had to share, as it's too bad I didn't have my camera with me to share the actual images!
We took Colin to the zoo last weekend and ventured to the area with the grizzly bears. On this particular day, several area conservation groups, as well as a well-known bear researcher were at the exhibit to "put on a show" for guests.
They presented "how not to bear proof your campsite," and it was a hoot to watch. We watched as the zoo staff set-up tents, coolers, etc. in the bears' play area -- all filled with human food, hidden deep inside multi-layered containers or bags. They placed a raft in their water play area, filled with fish, and also tied food up a tree about 8 feet off the ground. The point was to show that carelessness in setting up camp can be a treat for bears and a disaster for you.
Grizzly bears Yukon and Denali were SO excited to run out and explore the whole set-up, and they showed us how they can make short order of food that even seems well hidden in "bear-proof" containers.
Apparently they do this once each year with the bears, and they have learned to get so excited when the see the British "bear man" coming and when they hear his voice describing the set-up...a bit Pavlovian, I suppose. It was fun to watch!
And as a bit of random trivia for the day, there are 5-20 bears thought to live in our state up in the Cascades, and we are one of only 4 states to have grizzly bears still in the wild.
We took Colin to the zoo last weekend and ventured to the area with the grizzly bears. On this particular day, several area conservation groups, as well as a well-known bear researcher were at the exhibit to "put on a show" for guests.
They presented "how not to bear proof your campsite," and it was a hoot to watch. We watched as the zoo staff set-up tents, coolers, etc. in the bears' play area -- all filled with human food, hidden deep inside multi-layered containers or bags. They placed a raft in their water play area, filled with fish, and also tied food up a tree about 8 feet off the ground. The point was to show that carelessness in setting up camp can be a treat for bears and a disaster for you.
Grizzly bears Yukon and Denali were SO excited to run out and explore the whole set-up, and they showed us how they can make short order of food that even seems well hidden in "bear-proof" containers.
Apparently they do this once each year with the bears, and they have learned to get so excited when the see the British "bear man" coming and when they hear his voice describing the set-up...a bit Pavlovian, I suppose. It was fun to watch!
And as a bit of random trivia for the day, there are 5-20 bears thought to live in our state up in the Cascades, and we are one of only 4 states to have grizzly bears still in the wild.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
God S.T.O.P. Moment
This past year I participated in Beth Moore's "Believing God" Bible study. I have wanted to take my faith further and to expect really big things of our God who is more awesome and faithful than I can even fathom.
In this study we discussed God STOPS -- Where STOP stands for "Savor The Observable Presence;" today I had a huge God STOP moment.
I am leading a group of new moms through a community-based organization called PEPS. One of the women in my group saw my name in a bulletin at church and made the connection that I go to her church same church, as well (not an everyday occurance in our community, mind you!) We have determined that we became members around the same time, and she is now joining our mom's playgroup.
I can see God smiling as we made this connection and realized we are sisters in Christ. I have expected big things of this whole PEPS experience, but I never imagined I would meet a member of my own church and have such a unique connection.
I am sitting and savoring the observable presence of a God who is so excited to reveal to me what the coming 10 weeks of this PEPS experience will bring!
In this study we discussed God STOPS -- Where STOP stands for "Savor The Observable Presence;" today I had a huge God STOP moment.
I am leading a group of new moms through a community-based organization called PEPS. One of the women in my group saw my name in a bulletin at church and made the connection that I go to her church same church, as well (not an everyday occurance in our community, mind you!) We have determined that we became members around the same time, and she is now joining our mom's playgroup.
I can see God smiling as we made this connection and realized we are sisters in Christ. I have expected big things of this whole PEPS experience, but I never imagined I would meet a member of my own church and have such a unique connection.
I am sitting and savoring the observable presence of a God who is so excited to reveal to me what the coming 10 weeks of this PEPS experience will bring!
Monday, April 7, 2008
The Unexpected Journey
Before I became a parent, I'm not sure what I expected things to be like as a new mom. I often wondered what my child might look like (a blend of us as a couple, or a chip off the old block of either mom or dad, maybe?)
Sure, I prayed for a healthy baby, and next time I will pray for a great sleeper, but I never gave much thought to interesting things like temperment and the unique quirks that would make my child unique.
Through some recent early intervention evaluations, we have discovered that our child does have some unique qualities that give our role as parents an unexpected journey. I have suspected from the "beginning" that I was raising a unique child with some unique attributes, and now I know that to be true.
I am simply glad that I have the Perfect Father to look to for guidance and advice. I don't know what lies ahead for us, but He does, and thank goodness He has surrounded us with speech and occupational therapists who can help us along the way. Thanks for friends of mine who cared enough early on to keep nudging me for an evaluation. Thanks for teachers and support from others along the way who have simply listened or provided hugs when that was all I needed.
And now I am beginning to see that this journey that seems so unexpected to me, has been expected and planned by God all along. So it is into His perfect hands that I will simply trust that He has, or is going to equip me with all I need to raise this wonderful child He has given into our hands to raise.
Sure, I prayed for a healthy baby, and next time I will pray for a great sleeper, but I never gave much thought to interesting things like temperment and the unique quirks that would make my child unique.
Through some recent early intervention evaluations, we have discovered that our child does have some unique qualities that give our role as parents an unexpected journey. I have suspected from the "beginning" that I was raising a unique child with some unique attributes, and now I know that to be true.
I am simply glad that I have the Perfect Father to look to for guidance and advice. I don't know what lies ahead for us, but He does, and thank goodness He has surrounded us with speech and occupational therapists who can help us along the way. Thanks for friends of mine who cared enough early on to keep nudging me for an evaluation. Thanks for teachers and support from others along the way who have simply listened or provided hugs when that was all I needed.
And now I am beginning to see that this journey that seems so unexpected to me, has been expected and planned by God all along. So it is into His perfect hands that I will simply trust that He has, or is going to equip me with all I need to raise this wonderful child He has given into our hands to raise.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Tickling the Ivories, Tickling My Heart
As a child, we often sang this song in Sunday School:
Chorus:
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Way beyond the blue.
I took Jesus as my Savior, You take Him too.
I took Jesus as my Savior, You take Him too.
I took Jesus as my Savior, You take Him too,
Way beyond the blue....
In this picture, Colin and his Grandaddy are "jamming" to "Do Lord." This picture was pulled from video footage (and thus a bit grainy) of Colin and his Grandaddy having a grand old together, tickling the ivories while he plays and sings this song for Colin.
Colin's Grandaddy has a special gift -- he can listen to music and play the piano by ear. Wow! Colin is sure lucky he gets to sit on Grandaddy's lap to enjoy this special gift.
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