Shhh!

This is as close as I can get to Carlotta w/o her hiding her face, closing her eyes or crying! I'll take what I can get... for now.

This was Carlotta's babysitter for the day. She was an awesome helper! I wish I could've captured the look of pure FEAR on her face when she was told that as the babysitter, she HAD to change the poopy diaper!

Priceless!

Fun @ Nonie's House!

Ok, here is the 1st of what I hope to be several posts about my grand daughters visit.

Things you may notice...

No cats in the video.

Gracie observes from a safe distance. She has, unintentionally, led Carlotta in a game of "Follow the Cat" (leader). It was going great until Gracie jumped up & through the opening between my kitchen & family room. Not something the baby can do yet! As for Zee, she wants NOTHING to do with this new thing in the house & remains safe in C's bedroom in the basement. We had to add an extra litter box in case Zee never comes back upstairs!

Weird floor coverings.

A severe case of loose bowels causing a terrible butt rash on Carlotta which I felt needed to be "aired out" to help in the healing process. I am trying to protect my rug & floor from becoming too disgusting, if you get my meaning, by placing huge beach towels all over the place.

Blue tape on TV stand.

It took her all of 10 minutes to figure out how to pull open the doors of my TV stand. I have a hard time myself opening these sticky doors. So, my quick fix was to tape them shut with painters tape. So far its working! She uses my DVDs like building blocks. I've given up trying to keep those neat.

Homemade barriers.

I am using my magazine baskets, TV trays and pillows to help keep her out of the litter box. Of course, the cats haven't used that one since Carlotta arrived, but I still need to keep her out of it. You can't see it, but our coffee table is blocking things on the other side of the room.

Our Dustbuster will see more use these next few days than its seen in 5 years! I may need more paper towels, tissues and sanitary wipes. I miscalculated how many we would need with a baby in the house!

She continues to prefer C over me. I wipe her nose too often, so I'm mean!

You Can't See Me!

I know, I know!

John Cena, from the WWE Wrestling Association has trademarked this saying. But I figure since I babysat him & his brothers, his mother, Carol, was my kids school bus driver, we frequented the JC Ice Cream stand in West Newbury and he was my kids summer Rec director for 2 years while he was in college, I'm going to use his saying as my blogs title today!

Thanks John.

As you know, Carlotta & T are in town for a visit. Carlotta's going through severe diarrhea, which has made her little bottom very sore. T has stopped all milk products, thinking she may be allergic. She's been giving her juices, but as a former mother of babies, caretaker, sister and aunt, I do not think the juice is a good replacement & could be making the diarrhea worse.

I got some Pedialyte & soy milk products to see if that helps.

Also got an extra tube of Butt Paste.

Any other ideas?

Now, for the reason I chose my title today. You can't see me!

I am always worried that due to the distance between our homes, my grand baby will be shy around me & think of me as a stranger. Thankfully, that has not been the case, thus far!

She does do this "thing" though which CRACKS ME UP! When meeting someone new, she closes her eyes super tight & makes a squished up face. She continues to play or eat (as best she can) while keeping her eyes closed. It is so funny to see.

She might be part ostrich!

I may also have to nickname her CS Carlotta, CS stands for "cold shoulder". When given the choice to play with me or C, she has chosen C over me time & time again! She'll walk towards me, but at the last moment, turns for C! Good thing I know she's only playing! At least I think she's only playing.

After a tough night for sleeping (new place, sore bum, no daddy) both T & Carlotta are napping.

Shhhh. Don't wake them up.

Integrity

I love this word.

It's a quality I find attractive in other people.

Seeing a person of Integrity in action makes me want to be a person of integrity even more.

The definition of Integrity, for me:

Making and following through with correct & good choices even when you KNOW no one is there watching you!

Integrity, it's more than just honesty or being a good person.

It's the whole package!

Let Integrity be who you are!

notice: I like this word & what it means so much, I capitalize it! Integrity!

Popcorn Poppin'

You have heard the song, "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" from Sunday School/Primary. It's one of the first songs my girls learned in their youth. It comes with fun hand motions and has a catchy, easy to learn tune as well as cute lyrics.

This is NO APRICOT TREE! But what rhymes with GARDENIA SHRUB?!?

This is my "Evergreen" gardenia, given to us by B's employer, to give us some happiness when our tiny granddaughter, Evergreen, passed away in February 2010.

Last year I blogged when it actually bloomed! Since I'm not known for keeping indoor plants alive and gardenias are a very hard plant to care for... last years blooms really cheered me up!

Today, the first blossom of 2011 exploded open and it truly looks like a gigantic popped popcorn kernel! There are others that will open soon!

Next week, Carlotta & T are coming for a 10 day visit. I've been busy getting the rooms downstairs, baby-proofed. I'm making sure there is food, toys and other baby things around.

I believe this white"popcorn" blossom opening up today on my gardenia is a sign that Evergreen will be here to visit too.

She is like her Papaw (B) though...

showing up too early, but never late!

I am one lucky, blessed and excited NONIE!

His Turn!

This morning, I was told Colin was staying home from school. I thought he had finally caught the virus that his brother had last week so.

I was wrong.

Last night, after I had gone & in the drizzle, they were racing on their bikes! Neither boys are very co-ordinated yet on their bikes (Brian got them expensive NEW bikes this past weekend) & during one of the turns, they collided!

OUCH!

Connor was able to catch himself w/o too much damage to himself, but the middle part of Colin's face, connected with his handle bars. His lips became swollen, his nose bloodied and he has a Charlie Chaplin-esque moustache type of scrape under his nose.

OUCH, again!

His lip was still swollen & sore this morning. Eating was difficult, though thankfully he did not have dental issues! I made him some scrambled eggs for breakfast & raviolis for lunch. He was eating regular food & racing bikes w/his brother again by the time I left him today.

I am SOOOO relieved that it happened on someone elses watch & I was not harmed!

Kaya goes for her final vaccination shots tomorrow, so I don't need to be there until 11am!

Whoohoo! I get to sleep in!

Do you hear that kitties? I get to SLEEP IN!

A Rose by Any Other Name...

The Swan Princess.

Jean-Paul, the Great Beast, Prince Derek and of course, Odette.

My children loved this movie and watched it many times on VHS.

I upgraded to DVD not too long ago. Now, Kaya is enjoying the movie too!

So how did I choose my title of today's blog entry?

Well, the movie takes on different meanings when the main characters name is pronounced...

"DUDE-ETTE" instead of Odette!

When I hurry the kids along, I say to them, "Come on, dudes! Let's get moving!"

And every time I hear a small voice tell me,

"I not a dude! I'm Princess Dude-ette! Just like in Swan Princess!"

Love this kid!

I Started It...

so... I have no one to blame, but myself!

Last year, I purchased a screen tent (made especially for cats) to allow my cats the opportunity to enjoy the fresh outdoors and yet, stay tick free.

(Since they sleep with me, I feel it is important for them NOT TO HAVE BUGS ON THEIR BODIES!)

Last year, they wanted NOTHING to do with the tent!

Last week, on a nice day, I set the tent up on the deck & let them out to watch the birds, chipmunks & squirrels scurry around the yard.

Gracie liked being outside more than Zee.

In fact, she liked it so much, she will now go to the back door & meow until one of us puts her in the screen tent. Zee meows for Gracie, so we have to put her outside too.

I'm not certain I like this new behavior.

The meowing is pitiful, it breaks my heart!

But I don't want them to be true outdoor cats.

Who knows what bug will bite them or what creature they could bring me as a hunting trophy.

YUCKY!

B puts them in & out a lot throughout the day (because he is home more often than I am).

I guess I could blame him. No, this one is on me.

I let them out this morning while I was doing chores. Later on, I checked on them & they were fine. After finishing the laundry, I checked on them once more.

ZEE WAS MISSING!

HUH? The cat was only outside because Gracie was outside... and SHE is the missing one?!?!

The zipper had been unzipped, (possibly due to the fact I left the zipper handle where she could reach to play with it) and the door was open. Gracie was still in the tent, but NO ZEE!

PANIC TIME!

I threw (yes, I said threw) Gracie into the house and began searching for Zee. Thankfully, it had started to rain & knowing my cats don't like to be wet, I looked under the deck steps.

There she was, scared stiff!

It took a bit of coaxing to lure her to where I could reach her.

PHEW!

Both cats slept the rest of the day away in the basement.

Of course, @ suppertime, when the downpours had subsided a little, Gracie began meowing for B to let her out, which he did. Then Zee began meowing to be with Gracie, so B put her out too.

What have I started?

Another Fun Pronunciation of a Word

It has been some time since I posted about Kayas ever expanding vocabulary and her pronunciations of the new words.

She is so grown up now, she doesn't have too many any more!

She does talk super fast though & tends to run her words together.

I'm constantly telling her to slow it down.

Hmmm? Sounds familiar to anyone else I know?

So, the word she is learning this season is... ALLERGIES.

To her, they should be called AJERLEES!

BTW...

My knees are killing me from the bike races today! I almost won a few of them.

Good Night

A normal day for me today.

Connor remained @ home, though he was feeling better. He prefers NOT to use the schools restroom (can you blame him?) and with his "germs" still raising havoc with his intestines, it was best he remain @ home. Besides, C came with me to keep Kaya company.

Bought a cheapo bike to keep @ their house. The kids are harder to keep up with now that they are all on bikes! Maybe I'll get more exercise in this summer. I already have a "cruiser" bike & baby trailer @ my house, for T to use when she & Carlotta get here in 19 days.

Made pan fried pork chops & potatoes for dinner. Cats spent time in their cat screen house on the deck. Gracie likes being outdoors much more than Zee.

Tried to use my Snapfish gift card the kids gave me for my birthday. I figured out how to make a 30 page album, with captions. However, at checkout, even though I was using my gift card, they still want credit card info.

Why?

The site said "to prevent fraud".

HUH?

I just logged out instead.

I don't like putting that info "out there" into cyberspace. What to do?

NCIS was good tonight. Nothing else on TV, C & B already in bed.

So, good night to all!

Germs

C came to work w/me today. She needed gas money.

The kids adore her (especially Colin!) They love to show off for her.

Colin couldn't wait to show off his new bike riding skills

(he's been working on standing up on the pedals to be able to ride UP the hills).

Kaya couldn't wait to show off her "Monster High" dolls, watch the web-isodes w/C

and sing her the theme song, word for word, over & over & over & over!

Connor?

Well, he managed to pick up a stomach bug from school and was on the sofa SICK all day.

He was sick all weekend too!

He watched his mom compete in the "Tough Mudders" obstacle race in Vermont.

(She completed the course in 3 1/2 hours!)

So, I'm now taking bets.

He's had contact with lots of people these past 3 days.

Who will get sick first?

Mom, with her immune system weakened from her race?

Dad, who seems to catch everything from his kids?

Me, who hates to vomit?

C, who has too many jobs to be out sick?

Or one of his relatives (please, not Gram-Gram!) who went to Vermont to support Krista?

Germs. Virus. Bug. Flu. Sickness.

No matter what you call it, it's no fun!

Another Adorable Story...

written by Connor, March 2011 (I have typed in his words, as he wrote them)

Once upon a time three little leprchans had a job to do. So off they went to go to there gold pote.

On the way they did mischeif.

Than it stareded to ran.

Then a rainbow aperde. Then they got there gold to find another place to hide it.

The End.

The three little lepercaren names where momo joe Sat Patrick

and by the way me laddie there micheif makers.

He does write stories quite often, but he doesn't always like to share them with others. This one was rescued from the bottom of his backpack, yesterday, May 5th.

Spin!

Shhh! Don't tell Connor or he will get mad!

While he was busy in his 2nd grade class all day,

his babysitter (ME) allowed his little sister (Kaya) to ride his Razor trike.

She wanted to spin it like the boys do.

Here is her attempt!

The Doctors Response

"Apply pressure for 10-15 minutes. Use Bacitrin & nonstick gauze. If the cut is deep or bleeding is heavy, the wound may need to be cauterized."

Well, I knew & did that already! And I didn't have to go to medical school either!

Cauterize it? It's a skinned knee, not a deep gash! It just won't stop bleeding, completely.

My conclusion?

The bleeding will stop when it wants to stop. The wound appears to be healing around the edges.

Since I'm not in danger of passing out or dying, so I'll keep changing the bandage, letting it "air out" whenever feasible and avoid kneeling on it which won't be hard since it hurts like crazy if I do kneel on it.

Hmm

Well, I guess the bleeding on my skinned knee hasn't stopped, even after 18 hours.

Waiting on a reply phone call from my doctor.

I'll keep you posted!

"Oh, This is Gonna Hurt!"

That thought ran through my head as my body was succumbing to the laws of gravity on the way home from the bus stop @ noon today.

Isaac Newton only used apples in his experiment to prove gravity.

I gave my body!

I was surprised, from behind, as the young boy I was so proud of last week when he no longer needed training wheels on his bike, lost control of his bike & went crashing into me!

I did not see him coming, nor did he yell out a warning. Since I was not riding a bike home, I was carrying everyones sweaters & backpacks in both arms, rendering me useless to even TRY to fight gravity!

DOWN I went.

And HURT, it did!

I fell with a THUD! (OK, it may have been a bounce!)

My knee felt like it was on fire. I had forgotten what a skinned knee felt like! It hurts!

Of course, being on Coumadin means it takes FOREVER for a bleeding booboo to clot!

My palm, near my wrist, suffered a blow but no broken skin. I'll see a good bruise tomorrow.

Kaya, my 4 1/2 year old friend, was so concerned. Everything I have ever said to her when she has gotten hurt, was said to me as she tried her best to be my nurse. Such a caring child.

She did make me feel better actually.

Colin, the boy who crashed into me, was afraid. I assured him I was fine & the bleeding would stop. Yet he thought I was mad at him. I was quiet, but that was due to pain, not anger. Thank goodness for C's recent degree in humor! She sent me a text.

"Wow! Colin is strong enough to knock over Miss Jen?"

He got a kick out of that.

I allowed him to see the blood &

how it was stopping (it took longer than I thought it would), he was fine.

We joked about his takedown of Miss Jen for the rest of the day.

OUCH!