Kayla's New Talent

Last weekend Kayla saw something on TV that she wanted to try. She is very excited about her new talent...


I would like to say she got this amazing talent from her father, but this is the only way he could keep any spoons on his face...



It only took me a few minutes to discover my hidden ability. Pretty amazing!!

Finally...some relief

About a week ago, I started having a lot of pressure in my right ear. I felt like my head was going to explode on the inside the pressure was so great. My hearing during this time was not so great. I finally went to the doctor yesterday. He said it was the result of an allergy. Something back behind my eardrum was swollen. This caused air to be trapped behind my eardrum which made my eardrum bulge out a little. It has been a long week for me. It is amazing how miserable ear pain can make you feel. No hearing, lots of dizziness, tons of pressure.

I had to get a steroid shot (he wanted to make sure I was feeling some relief before we get on a plane next week), some allergy meds, and a nasal spray.

I hate to say it, but I think this may have been a result of Elfy. The timing is just too right. I was reading about puggles before we got her. I remember telling Andy that I was a little bit worried about Kayla because puggles are not hypoallergenic dogs. I read that if you have an allergy to other animals, you may very well have an allergy to puggles. Kayla has always had some allergy issues. However, as soon as we got the dog I noticed my neck was red and itchy. The ear problem started while we still had her, and the worst day for me was the day I was in the car with Elfy for 2 1/2 hours. I had every intention of cleaning my van out really well after we delivered Elfy back to Jenny. I never did. The pressure in my head got worse every time I spent much time in the car.

I am finally getting relief from the meds. Andy vacuumed out the van really well last night. Having Elfy was a great experience for all of us. I thought even Kayla learned she was not a dog person, but she is still asking for one. Just not as often. She does miss Elfy though. I learned that I am absolutely not a dog person. I knew I was allergic to cats, and now maybe some dogs too. I am so thankful that we got Elfy and were able to return her. That was so much better than finding all of this out after buying a puppy!

Children

Ok, it is 4:50 in the morning. I am sleeping, like most people at that time of day. I hear Caroline. That is not really that unusual. But I keep hearing her. She is just talking, but it is alot louder than it should be. I get up to go and check on her. When I come out of my room I can see her walking around. Keep in mind that she sleeps in a crib that she has NEVER tried to climb out of. The light is on in Kayla's room, and they are both in there having some turkey...at 4:50 in the morning. Kayla said Caroline was screaming so she thought she would just put her to sleep in her bed with her. "But the she started asking for stuff." So now it is 5 in the morning and I am having to put 2 kids to bed. Oh, the joys of parenthood.

I just went to check on them. Caroline is finally going back to sleep. I go in Kayla's room and she is laying on the floor on top of two pillows. I asked her why she was not in her bed. Her answer "It is full of turkey." Sure enough, it is a mess. But is is 5:10 am. My best purchase ever was our little fold out couch that the girls sit on. It makes a great emergency bed! Some messes can wait to be cleaned up later.

Dog Walking

Andy took the three kids out for a walk last night so that I could have a moment alone without a kid hollering my name or a dog licking my leg. It was wonderful.



At the end of the walk he called me and said he finally figured out a way that he did not have to push the stroller and pull on Elfy...

I know this is another sideways movie clip and I apologize. I guess I turned my camera when I took this. I need to work on that!

My memory card was full so the clip got cut short. Elfy really picked up some speed going down that hill and ran Caroline right into the curb. It was really funny. Andy was still pushing the stroller until I came out with the camera. Elfy was not doing all of the work.

Speaking of Elfy...she is a good dog. I am really glad we took her from Jenny and Steve, but I will be even happier on Monday when we return her. This really has been a good thing. Kayla and I both learned that we are not dog people. I just don't care for them, and she thinks they stink. Our house is not anywhere big enough for an inside dog of her size. I am alot happier now that I found a way to keep her out of my living room and off of my furniture. I get the front room, and she gets the hallway, kitchen and outside. We are doing really well with this arrangement. I am still looking forward to Monday though!

I told Jenny that I found a really good and loving home for her if they decide not to keep her. Joel and Christy (mostly Christy) would love to have her in the spring. They already love dogs and they have a beagle. Elfy might like having another dog around.

Keystone Lake

We had a great night on Monday. We met the GAG's out at Keystone lake for dinner. They are there for a little family gathering and they were nice enough to invite us to join them. It was so good to see everyone. It is not very often we get to see people in our neck of the woods. It was only about 20 or 25 minutes away.

They said Drew and John David had made a hundred trips back and forth between their cabins, and last night was no exception. Our kids joined right in.

We had a good dinner, and then George started a fire and everyone made smores.

The smores were a hit with the kids of all ages.

It was a like a little vacation on a Monday night. Thanks to the GAG clan for the invitation. We had a great time!

More Puppy Talk

Kayla has had this chart on her chalkboard before, but it reappeared last week.

There is a no on one end and a yes on the other. Kayla and Caroline are on the yes end, and D (dad) and M (mom) are in the middle. Andy shocked all of us on Saturday morning by moving the D and the M to the yes end of the chart. I was at a scrapbooking retreat all weekend. When I came home this is what I found:

This dog, Elfy, comes on loan to us from Aunt Jenny. I knew they were trying to find her a new home. Andy and I had been talking about it. We both agreed we should probably just try it. Otherwise, he and I would discuss it forever and Kayla would never get a dog. I just did not know he had made arrangements to meet his sister this weekend.

I said that she is on loan. I explained to Kayla this monring that we were going to try it out, but she may have to go back to Aunt Jenny. I am just not sure that I am a dog person. Do you ever get used to the smell? And I am not sure that our house is big enough for her. She is much bigger in this little house than she was at Aunt Jenny's house. Jenny said to give it a week to ten days, so that is what I will do. I promise I will try my best Jenny! Wish us all luck.

Puppy

As everyone knows, Kayla has been begging for a puppy for a while now. She has not given up hope yet. She so badly wants a puppy to play with and teach tricks to. For now, however, she has settled for the next best thing...

I think Caroline was getting a little tired of this game by the time I took this video. She had been crawling all over the place doing whatever Kayla told her to do. Poor Caroline.