Anika and I went to my Weight Watchers meeting last night. She was so excited to go. She kept announcing to anyone who would listen (typical audience Kaden and Grizly, our golden retriever) that she was officially going to a meeting. When I said it was time to go, she ran into the mudroom with a frantic gust, quickly put on her shoes and coat, and declared in loud huffs: "I must hurry! I can't be late to the meeting!" When we arrived, but before we went inside, I told her that she had to stay quiet, not run away, and that this was a special meeting just for "big girls" - and then had to chuckle, of course. And besides farting loudly twice at the meeting, she did a great job. As the kind woman two chairs down from us said: "It just happens."
When we arrived home, the night had fully blossomed and the stars and planets were blinking brightly against the black sky. Ryan took Anika outside, knelt down and pointed out the moon and the planets to Anika. I stood watching them, breathing in the cold air, following Anika's wide-eyed gaze. In the time of those few quiet breaths, under that infinite dark dome, I was briefly overwhelmed. Everything seemed so simple, basic, elementary...
... and then, just like that, it was over, as Anika decided yelling at the hills and running in the dark were much better options then silently standing in it. But still, I recognized my Kairos moment. I recognized it, and held it close.
***
We are all healthy, finally, after over two months of consistent undertheweatherness. It started right before Christmas, when the kids got pneumonia. And continued into January with a sniffle here, a sinus infection there. This is what sustained me:
It's Jess's Famous Ginger Tea! One taste and I was hooked. Chop up some ginger, skin and all and bring to a simmer. Mine went for 10 minutes or so. If you forget about it (as my Super Bowl Sunday batch was), it simmers into a deliciously condensed tincture. Actually, if I had simmered it even longer, I could have added some honey and had a strong yummy cough syrup...
Add a squeeze of lemon juice, some honey for your cough, and you are good to go. I tested out adding some green tea as well, but I like the original mix of ginger, lemon, and honey. Thank you Jess introducing me to this drink!
I'm fine with a runny nose. I'm fine with a sore throat, and a cough, and some body aches. But I am not okay with midnight trips to the ER with my baby boy. No parent wants to be the idiot that brings the child with a cold into the ER. But how else do you respond when your child is having a hard time breathing in the middle of the night? Um... you go the ER. Here's how it went: nebulizer, steroids, nebulizer, me refusing another chest X-ray, hospital admittance, oxygen level check every hour - all culminating in (obviously) a night of literally no sleep. Everyone at the hospital did a great job, but there was no avoiding it being the Worst. Night. Ever. And one week later, my poor little man was still having trouble breathing with an oxygen level of 96. Another round of steroids, another round of antibiotics, and finally finally he is better. Needless to say, I'm paranoid about him getting a cold. And will unabashedly avoid it.
Here are some of the small moments that have fueled me lately:
... and then, just like that, it was over, as Anika decided yelling at the hills and running in the dark were much better options then silently standing in it. But still, I recognized my Kairos moment. I recognized it, and held it close.
***
We are all healthy, finally, after over two months of consistent undertheweatherness. It started right before Christmas, when the kids got pneumonia. And continued into January with a sniffle here, a sinus infection there. This is what sustained me:
It's Jess's Famous Ginger Tea! One taste and I was hooked. Chop up some ginger, skin and all and bring to a simmer. Mine went for 10 minutes or so. If you forget about it (as my Super Bowl Sunday batch was), it simmers into a deliciously condensed tincture. Actually, if I had simmered it even longer, I could have added some honey and had a strong yummy cough syrup...
Add a squeeze of lemon juice, some honey for your cough, and you are good to go. I tested out adding some green tea as well, but I like the original mix of ginger, lemon, and honey. Thank you Jess introducing me to this drink!
I'm fine with a runny nose. I'm fine with a sore throat, and a cough, and some body aches. But I am not okay with midnight trips to the ER with my baby boy. No parent wants to be the idiot that brings the child with a cold into the ER. But how else do you respond when your child is having a hard time breathing in the middle of the night? Um... you go the ER. Here's how it went: nebulizer, steroids, nebulizer, me refusing another chest X-ray, hospital admittance, oxygen level check every hour - all culminating in (obviously) a night of literally no sleep. Everyone at the hospital did a great job, but there was no avoiding it being the Worst. Night. Ever. And one week later, my poor little man was still having trouble breathing with an oxygen level of 96. Another round of steroids, another round of antibiotics, and finally finally he is better. Needless to say, I'm paranoid about him getting a cold. And will unabashedly avoid it.
 |
| Back to his happy self again |
Here are some of the small moments that have fueled me lately:
Shadow hopscotch
Driveway tricycle rides
New wall art
Game Night!
 |
| This one's called Chicky Boom - Anika loves it! |
Wine with friends (of the kismet, meant-to-be kind)
Rainy morning trips to the sheep barns
Lunch dates
Coffee
Banana bread with the crew
Getting our beef order - so excited!
New tricks
Mud puddles
The beauty within the storm
We've got a busy weekend ahead. Dinner parties, visiting friends, a birthday party, and a baby shower. WHEW! I can't wait. :)
*****
