A Glimpse into the Future

When I was putting Danny to bed tonight he held my face in his hands and said "You're my mom in the whole wide world!" It would have been nice if he'd have added "best" instead of just stating the obvious but I'll take what I can get. He's so loving right now that I'm soaking it up.  I think I have done Daniel an injustice in the way I have portrayed him sometimes. People at work ask me how the little terror is, but in fact he isn't a little terror. What he is is independent to the extreme. Happy to play by himself and not a mean bone in his body. But he sometimes wants his own way so much that you can't win. For example, after using the potty (he insists on going by himself, won't even tell me ahead of time unless we are somewhere outside of the house) he'll yell "mommy I can't put my pants on!" so I'll go and help and half way through he'll yell at me "Mommy stop! I can put my pants on MYSELF!"  Can't bloody win I tell you.

I cannot wait for Dot & Harry (in laws) to get here from England next week. I know they will just eat him up and they are catching him at such a great time in his life. He has a lisp for goodness sake - what is more adorable than that? He asked me for something last week and I retorted back at him "Daniel - say pleath!" What a muppet I am sometimes!! I'm just so used to him pronouncing it like that that I copied him.  He also says Lelomade (lemonade) which makes my heart melt.  Maybe once Dot & Harry get here Jack will pester me a bit less, allowing me to devote a bit more time to Danny. That would be nice.


Lastly - I looked at this photo that I took of my boys this past week and thought "Oh my God. They look like two young men, strolling along the street, chatting as they walk".  It is like a little snapshot into the future. Very strange.

Okay, I'll get the beer, you get the gyros...

Goodbye Sweet Girl Tutz

We lost our cat Tutz today. She got ill late Saturday night and rapidly declined to the point where our vet made the gentle suggestion today that we put an end to the suffering. It was awful and of course both Craig and I cried. It was hard for me not to think about the fact that I'm going to have to do the same thing soon for Cody, which probably made things worse. It was very quick and the vet was so kind but there's no getting away from the fact that the deed itself is just God awful.

She was only 12 (the same age that our other cat Frank died) so I'm a bit paranoid about why she passed so young but whatever it was was quick and catastrophic. A stroke or blood clot maybe he said. We brought her body home and buried her next to Frank. Jack helped with that.

I never did tell her story on here, like I did with Frank and Cody. I feel bad about that now but life just gets so busy and you always think you have time.

We got her at our neighbourhood supermarket! In 2000 we were shopping at a local Krogers and they announced on the speaker system that they had found a kitten in the toy section and was there anybody in the store that could take it to a vet or rescue place. They gave her to us in a polystyrene cooler and I remember the young cashier telling us that we needn't take the cooler back. She's the assistant manager of the store now and I still see her every week. My friend Sue just arrived from England for a visit and I have a picture somewhere of her holding Tutz, who was just 6 weeks old and fit in one of those big pint glasses with a handle on the side. She was a feral cat and throughout her whole life she was terrified of people but she would sometimes come and sit next to you if all was quiet.

Her defining character was that she was a sweet girl, with a tender heart. She didn't like noise or being handled too much but she loved to sit next to you and she'd purr her little head off when you tickled her chin. I'm going to miss her a lot and it's very sad that our two cats, Frank & Tutz, that started this "Great American Adventure" with us, have now passed away.

RIP Tutzy Girl
2000-2012

Jack's T-Ball Team

There's always one. And this time at least, it isn't mine. 

Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee

Yesterday we went to a friend's house to party with about 60 other Brits for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. It was the quintessential English garden party, complete with bunting and a glass of Pims each. We even had a game of welly-throwing. Jack had a go and did great! Some of the older, more excitable Englishmen got a little too ambitious and the welly ended up in next door's garden on several occasions. They also had a raffle and Maureen won but gave Jack an English teddy bear that he's been carrying about ever since.

A rare moment outside of the bouncy castle. He bounced for 4 hours without food, water or a wee.

Everyone took English food. We took Cornish pasties, egg butties and fairy cakes with cute little rice-paper Union Jacks on the top. The pasties were gone in less than a minute! You knew it was an English spread because there was no salad dressing and the cake table had about four Victoria sponge cakes and an "adult" trifle! I had some and nearly fell over from a sherry overdose.

A new English friend, Jules. Mad as balloons &  I loved her!

One of the older ladies dressed up like the Queen, complete with mask, and did a quick round of the garden, giving us the royal wave.

Speeches and a chorus of Jerusalem

We were last to leave of course but then I get on really well with Maureen and she's become quite a close friend so we had a natter and a laugh. I met some great new English people, including a woman from Manchester called Sarah that put an idea in my head about visiting England with the kids (fly to London, have 2-3 days there with the kids before going up to visit everyone in the north-west, then fly out of Manchester back to OH).

Maureen & kids

There was the token odd couple that of course I got stuck with (I swear I am a magnet for the weirdos) but I learned at least to avoid the pair of them at future events. She's American and he's English and they were very pious, conservative and bigoted - you know, just my kind of people.  Craig stuck by my side the whole time and admitted afterwards it was just so he could watch my reaction to their spewings. I pride myself that I was polite to them, but as soon as they left I put their business card in the bin.

Brits in Ohio! Katie, Maureen, me, Lynn, Sharon & Jack

Today we had a lovely time watching the Flotilla then we went to the pool for an hour.

We do appear to be having major animal issues. Tutz is ill and I'll have to get her to a vet tomorrow. Cody has not had a good day and I am on the verge of taking Ben back to the shelter. The chewing, pooping, and digging continues. Today again we got back from the pool to find complete destruction. Sigh. I can't bring myself to take him back but I can't take much more either.  So I was laying in bed this morning and thinking that it's very probable that by the end of the week I could have no pets at all, after having three in the house.  The fish got given away last Friday but don't tell Jack. He hasn't even noticed that they've gone and been replaced by a vase of garden flowers on the sideboard.

Jack's Kindergarten Graduation

Today was Jack's kindergarten graduation. This morning as he was sat on the loo he said "Mum, I've waited for this day all week!" then he looked serious and said "But I haven't waited all week to leave Mrs C" (his beloved teacher). And I thought oh lordy, I'm going to cry at this ceremony. Thankfully my friend's mum had tissues.

Singing & dancing before the ceremony

A little nervous

With Mrs C.

Celebrating with his best friend

Ice cream treat after

I had to go back to work after and got home at 8pm, knackered. But it was also my last class until the Autumn so it's a big day for both of us. While I was working Craig went and bought Jack an inflatable shark, then took both boys swimming and then to the local park. So he's on his chin-strap too. But what a fab day.

So there you are, let the summer fun for my boys begin! But Ohhhh we wish we could be summer stay-at-home parents.

A Cracking Memorial Weekend

It's been a fabulous long weekend. We didn't do anything to commemorate veterans (looking guilty) like going to a parade, but I did think about them and we did talk with the boys about what the day off is for.

What we did do is swim swim swim! God I love the fact that we are members at the local pool. My cleavage might be sun burnt to hell but I've had a cracking time there. The boys also loved it and they are already better at swimming than they were last Friday! Jack conquered the diving board and this afternoon did some kind of crazy corkscrew move when he jumped off it. Thankfully he didn't do a big belly flop (loads of kids did) as all of us parents were stood on the side of the pool cringing and hiding behind our hands.

Daniel summing up how much we all love the pool

This morning Jack made a lemonade stand and charged a quarter for a drink. I was so happy that a few people (thank you neighbours!) stopped by and bought one from him. He made about $5 that he's going to give to our local charity. He didn't do it for the money - he did it because he loves to do that kind of thing. He's a showman and he loves to chat to people.  I did exactly the same kind of things as a kid. Genetics are amazing aren't they.

Get your lemonade!

Craig & Buster

Craig and I had a date night tonight and went to a boxing match. It was awesome, as we say in the USA, (notice that I said "we" and not "they".  I think after 13 years of living here that its time to be a "we"). Anyway, we got to chat with loads of people who also didn't know too much (we love boxing but this was our first live match) and we laughed, we got a bit tipsy and we cheered for all our Columbus fighters.  The big fight of the night was a featherweight title fight that the lad from Ohio won- woo hoo!

Just before the title fight they brought Buster Douglas into the ring and then he went and sat at the other side of the arena. I know that my husband Craig would LOVE to meet him  and  I could see where he was sat so I grabbed Craig by the arm and we ran around the stadium to his seat and met him.  Seize the moment right!

So here's my hubby with one of his idols. He's convinced that he could take him on,  based on his fist size and he says his forearm is much larger.

A 40-sec video of Buster knocking out Tyson. The stuff of legends!!!

Talent Show!

This afternoon it was Jack's school talent show (remember, he & his friend are magicians). He wasn't allowed to go to the middle school to perform this morning as magic is a bit hard to hear or see on a big stage, so he was part of the second show at his school this afternoon. When I was at work this morning I got a text from my friend Heather telling me about the middle school performance as her son was doing his fabulous act. She said "Bring tissues". I'm glad she told me that because yes I needed them.

I know I've said this before but I'll say it again.  I LOVE Jack's school. 50% of the population are orthopedically impaired kids in wheelchairs or kids with other difficulties. 25% are lottery kids and 25% are neighbourhood kids. So it's a big mix of kids from all walks of life and all abilities and I just love it.

So anyway, here's Jack &  his friends magic performance. I shrunk this video down to just 54 seconds. I think my boy Jack and his two friends did great, don't you! I know you have no idea what the card trick is about but you get the gist......

After the magic performance they had kids come up and do all kinds of great stuff. I sat there and thought  Every single person on this planet needs to witness this - to sit for one hour and watch kids of all abilities put on a talent show.

Kids were singing a cappella, dancing in pop groups, playing guitar & violin, Irish dancing, break dancing, being Michael Jackson, hula-hooping, and telling jokes.  It was just great.  Towards the end four kids came out in wheelchairs and sang Dynamite (by Taio Cruz)  and everyone swayed their hands in the air and cheered and yes I lost it (so did everyone else I may add!) But it was a happy kind of "lost it" because the kids were just having a fabulous time.  It didn't help that I was sat right opposite the Principal and she's retiring this year after 30 years there. She loves these kids and all it took was a quick glance at her face during a performance and I'd be in bits.  I ended up doing my best to avoid eye contact with her just to be safe.

Nervous!

Well done you lot!

Today is not the day

Codyrific

It's been 2 months almost to the day when we found out that our dog Cody had cancer. The vet said he had about two months left to live because mouth cancer is quick and the prognosis is horrible.

But today is a VERY good day. And here is he, wagging his tail.

The last few days have not been good at all and we've been cleaning up a lot of diarrhea with blood and he's been lethargic and just fed-up. This morning as I was tickling his ears he looked at me and I thought he was telling me "okay mum, I've had enough". I texted Craig and just said "I think it's time. Please call the vet", which he did. All day I've been trying not to think about the appointment tonight but several times it got so bad I had to close my office door. What a horrible thing to have to make a decision like that when you love your dog so much.

But then Craig and I took him on a big walk down by the stream after work and he seemed to perk-up. He was drinking lots of water but biting at it, rather than licking it (his tongue has the cancer). It suddenly dawned on us that we haven't seen him drinking too much the last two days. Maybe he can't get water out of the little bowl in the kitchen because of his tongue? Anyway, by the time we got him to the vet he was wagging his tail again and looked much happier.

They tested him and he does have some pretty nasty bacteria that's making him have diarrhea so he's on meds for that and some antibiotics to kill off infection. Tonight he's like a different dog as you can see by the picture. He also has a humongous red bowl of water sat by his feet.

As I type he's laying on my foot like he always does, instead of lying on his own in another room like he's done the last few nights. I'm not prolonging my boy's life to suit me. I swear that Craig and I are doing our best by him. He's happy right now eating and enjoying sitting in the garden watching birds. He loved our walk tonight and most importantly, his tail is up & wagging. I hope I have many more months with him but my heart tells me it might be just one.

But anyway. Today turned out to be a great day after all. And thank you to Linda and Heather for being there for us and taking care of the kids while we took Cody to the vet. It meant a lot.

Looks like We Made it!

Loving the splash pad

We made the decision this year to buy a membership to a local outdoor pool complex. It was fairly expensive ($380) but we ducked out of other things for this year, like zoo membership. I love this pool complex as it has lots of pools and slides and nice sitting and eating areas, including a cheap little cafe.

For years we've done the free outdoor pool in town but good grief it's rough. Each week we'd encounter something crazy, like grown adults stealing Danny's toys, or homeless people having a wash in the pool. The two most hideous things we encountered was a kid vomiting in the pool last summer (I can NEVER get in again) and once we had to leave and push our way through an angry family that was gathered outside and were being refused access and they were shouting racist and really offensive stuff in front of my kids. We took all this in our stride - how can we not when we are from working class backgrounds,  and we had a policy to come home wet (the restrooms were vile) but I'm glad we are done with that place, for now at least.

So today I took Danny to the pool complex because they opened the splash pad. The main pools open Memorial weekend - next weekend. He loved it as you can see and cried when we left!  What struck me though was that I felt like we've finally made it. Never once in my life have I splashed out on such non-essential luxury. To be a member of this pool complex makes me feel incredibly lucky and almost like a fraud. At any moment I was expecting someone to come up and tell me that there had been a mistake with my membership. It was a wonderful feeling and I hope I didn't just jinx it. Silly isn't it. I'm a 43 year old professional woman but I still feel like the girl who worked at a beetroot packing factory in my summer holidays for pocket money.

There is of course one disadvantage of moving up in the pool complex world. At the old place the fact that I only had two tattoos, all my own teeth and children that I actually played with made me look like Supermummy. At this new place I'll be mingling with the beautiful & distant Abercrombie & Fitch crowd. Please Lord don't let Danny kick anyone in the goolies or poop on the splash pad!

A Day at the Madhouse

That was a day for the record I can tell you!
 I took the boys to t-ball practice this morning at 8am (that's never going to become routine for me) and didn't sit my arse down till 10pm! T-ball was fun and I got to see my friend for a chin-wag but then I had to race back and get Craig as Jack had his last soccer game of the season at 9.30am.

Thumbs up - just scored a goal!

He scored a goal and saved a goal! I was so  proud of him and I can't believe how much better he is at soccer,  even than last fall. We are sad to say goodbye to his lovely and cool coach Andy but I'm excited for the fall soccer season because we have signed him up with his friends from school on the same team.

After soccer we ran over to get our car cleaned by the kids of a friend who were raising money for their baseball team, THEN  I took Jack to a clinic because he had been up the night before with ear-ache. I thought the Doc would say a mild ear infection but no, he has strep throat again, a horrid ear infection and then he got a fever.  He was crying at the clinic and just terrified when she put the drops in his ears to numb the pain. They've given him stronger medicine than standard antibiotics this time and I got a telling off for not going to see my doctor because I think I have strep too but haven't been to a doctor (no time - like all mums!). As soon as she told me that strep can get into your heart and destroy valves I made a mental note to call my doctors at 8am on Monday!

After the clinic I had to go to a supermarket pharmacy to get the medicine. Let me set the scene. I have a distraught child sat in my shopping trolley, wearing a medical wrist band and with cotton wool balls in his ears. He is so exhausted at this point he is leaning his head against the cart bars and he has bloodshot eyes. I am exhausted too and dying for the loo. And the lady in front of me was trying to have an in-depth conversation with the pharmacist about all her her ailments. After 10 minutes I wanted to whack her over the head with a bread stick.  Another assistant at the counter saw my face and called me over to pick up the medicine and pay. I think she could read my mind and was worried my head might explode. The annoying lady continued to prattle on long after I'd left I'm sure.  Craig is more charitable than I am and suggested she might not get to talk to many people in life. I'm still not against giving her the bread stick treatment if I see her in the supermarket anytime soon.

When we got home Jack laid on the couch and looked dreadful so I took his temp again and he had a 101 fever. At this point I checked in on Danny who was having a nap and OH MY GOD he had made a mess. He had stuck his hands down in there and smeared the contents all over the cream carpet and bedroom furniture. At this point I nearly cried. So while I had a poorly child on the couch I spent 30 minutes hand-scrubbing poo out of carpet and bleaching  & bisseling the room. It was awful. Craig at the same time had him in the bath scrubbing his nails (why oh why can't you buy nail brushes in the USA? Doesn't anyone have dirty fingernails? Every bathroom in England has a nailbrush in it). I am still in shock that he did it. I thought he was way beyond doing stuff like that now. *sigh*

It's a good job he's cute

So there you are. What a bonkers day. Craig was a trooper and went out to get dinner and a nailbrush. And he put the boys to bed and helped put drops in Jack's ear which was a traumatic experience again. I am now officially drop-dead tired and after a little mummy juice will be going to bed.  The good news is that Ben didn't do anything crazy today, other than jump the fence and chase strangers, dig a hole in the garden and chew the cat's toys.