My Adopted Daughter

If you know me, it is quite obvious that I didn't really adopt another daughter (I go quite crazy enough with the children I already have, thank you very much!). The below photo is of Zee-- her grandparents live across the street. Zee and her mom are here visiting from Louisiana for a month. I mentioned that Zee was welcome to come over if she saw my kids outside, so it looks like I have myself one extra kid for a month or so.

Zee is quite a character and unfortunately finds herself being treated a bit unkindly by some of the boys in the neighborhood.  Since I seem to be the only parent present they'll have to live with me reprimanding and parenting their kids. I hope we move soon to where difference is a little more the norm. The best part about Zee, though, is that she calls me Miss J. It makes me laugh every time.

Taking One for the Team

Tonight was Ginger's second baseball game of the season. She's got the total package--throws right, bats left... now if she could just develop a little bit of that killer instinct! Actually, I love watching Ginger play sports. There is no embarrassment at failures, no disappointment at a loss (in fact, she never even pays attention to who wins or loses). She just exhibits pure enjoyment at playing the game no matter the outcome. She always focuses on and is happy about the things she did well and completely brushes off the other. I learn a lot watching Ginger.

One thing I learned while looking at this picture, but didn't notice at the time, is that she is holding the bat in a right-handed grip. We'll have to take care of that tomorrow.

  

Love the slogan on the back of their shirts (have the Land O' Frost folks never tasted their own product?  I most certainly hope they're not teaching these kids that it's okay to lie!):

Looking sooo alive out there:

A little more alert:

Now that's more like it!

Ginger alternated between just watching the balls roll by to "diving"' on them and blocking them with gusto:

I'm glad that we finally have the kids involved in sports again. It helps with making friends and provides the whole family with a lot of enjoyment. I must say, the most enjoyable (and funny!) moment tonight was when Rophone took one for the team while he was acting as first base coach. Did he get hit by the ball, you ask? No, but a lovely bird flying above dropped a gift on the top of his head! Hilarious!

At Long Last

The tooth fairy finally came to visit Pen last night.  She left a note to explain that she had been suffering from a cough and therefore was unable to be sneaky enough to do the job. Thank goodness she is okay and has recovered enough to resume her fairy duties.  

Perfect

Yesterday morning the weather was just too perfect not to be outside (mid 60's and sunny), so we went.  I took my camera of course.  The kids have been having a great time outside this summer.  We seem to have become the gathering place for all of the neighbor kids, and since Rophone and I have decided we'd like to have our kids want to hang out here with their friends, I'm trying not to scare them off.

Staring at something (both Bud and Ginger have inherited their grandma's "staring gene"):

 

Big's looks are changing as he gets older, and he's really slimming down:

Waving to all who passed by (and yelling something, too!):

Biking, as usual. I'm afraid the helmet will become attached, but at least then she'll always be safe:

The "staring gene" again:

I really don't like roses.  Maybe it's because of their cloying smell, or because of the time I wrecked my bike right into a big rose bush... who knows!  Anyway, I feel no great love for them, but find myself surrounded by them.  The house we are living in now has multiple rose beds, all terribly overgrown.  Even though they need serious help, I feel no desire to count down however many branches or whatever to trim them back (I guess I just have no rose compassion--does that make me a bad person, or just a lover of tulips and gerber daisies?)  

I can't help admiring our roses from a distance, however.  With absolutely no help from me they are producing roses the neighbors comment on.  So, while we were outside yesterday, I decided to take photos of just a few of the colors and varieties my yard is sporting.

No matter what type the flower is, though, I do know that I enjoy them best (and longest) when they have not been uprooted or torn from their plant.  I'd prefer to have them in my yard than on my kitchen table!

The Long Afternoon

I took Bud to his appointment with the pediatric orthopedist on Monday afternoon.  All told, including drive time to and from the children's hospital, we were gone for 4 hours.  I am so glad Auntie Art could come hang with the other kids (thanks, Auntie Art!) or it might have been a nightmare.

The doctor we saw (eventually) was great, and being able to take necessary x-rays right there in the office was fantastic (instead of the typical, "let's send you for these x rays and then you can come back when we have the results" kind of thing).  I am just glad that someone finally treated me like my concerns are warranted and believes as I do that the cluster of symptoms Bud has exhibited off and on are related.  

I have tried to talk to both of Bud's pediatricians about his recurring limp, hump on one side of his back and his frequent tremors.  But since the limp wasn't constant and never seemed to occur when we went to the doctor, it's hard to get a kid to hold still to get a clear view of his spine, and they were sure his tremors were probably just due to excitement, etc., no one seemed overly motivated to look into it further.  It was finally this last time the limp recurred and was around for longer that I pushed a little.  

Bud's regular pediatrician saw him for his well-child check and once again didn't try too hard to evaluate his limp (which he actually had!) or his hump (I make him sound like Quasimodo!).  I guess it's lucky for me that he picked up croup on that visit and we had to go back later in the week, because the doctor we ended up seeing got the ball in motion and sent us for some original x-rays and I think convinced Bud's regular doctor to send us to the specialist.  Even when she called me to tell me where she wanted us to go she made some muttering comment like, "I sure didn't see much of a limp to worry about".  (Does anyone have advice about how to switch to another pediatrician in her practice without it being too awkward?  I have wanted to almost from the first time we saw her, but we keep getting steered back in her direction!)

Anyway, when they took the x-rays of Bud's back on Monday I felt some sense of justification when I saw the clearly evident curve of Bud's spine, but also dismay that I had been correct. I was also happy when the specialist agreed that the cluster of symptoms were a bit worrisome (finally!  Someone who sees the big picture!), but of course felt worry that the curve of his spine might be causing problems.  So, the next step is an MRI, for which they'll have to put him out--hopefully that will let us know what is going on.  It will at least help us know what other tests to do or steps to take.  It is all a bit worrisome, but I am glad to know, and am glad I finally pushed for what I knew should be done.  

Waaay cuter than Quasimodo:

The Mind Fairy

Pen lost her first molar 3-4 days ago.  It is quite an event, so you'd think the tooth fairy would have remembered to stop by.  I feel rather bad about it, and told Pen that maybe the tooth fairy is just waiting for the next tooth to fall out (it is really quite loose) so she only has to make one trip.

The tooth fairy may not have come to visit, but someone else clearly has. I opened up my laptop to check my email this morning and found 10- $20 bills sitting on the keyboard.  That's $200!! I was quite shocked and amazed, I mean, I haven't even lost a tooth!  What could be worth receiving so much money?  And then I realized that there is only one thing I could have lost that could warrant such a large amount. I must have finally lost my mind.  

Nuts!

I just realized that I forgot to serve the intended raspberries with the salmon dinner pictured below! Nuts! It would have made the photograph (and the meal!) even better.  Where is my brain, you ask? 

Perhaps my brain is on vacation 

due to continuing lactation

Or maybe it's gone to take a rest

as I should, too--yes, that would be best!

Seriously, let me go to bed and leave you alone before I blog yet again today!  I'm out of control! Can you tell that Rophone has been working on launching our new business in the evenings after the kids are in bed, leaving me alone with my thoughts? (And what frightening thoughts they are!) Good night!