Bittersweet

I can’t you can, please help….

Thanks for listening.

Last night while I was trying to fix a bottle for Littlest, she kept crying and crying because she just woke up from a nap, was wet and very hungry.  Bug had been playing, but stopped after the crying started.  She crawled into the basket under the bassinette, got a diaper, then climbed up so that she could look in at Littlest, then she placed the diaper on top of Littlest.  I was shocked.   I guess I didn’t think she was that observant.  I made sure I praised her for her nurturing skills.   I think she would have gotten a wipe out and changed the diaper if she could!

I don’t mind it when she does things like that.  You can just see her mind whirling and twirling. 

Daddy and I are planning a date night soon and it made me remember back to our first date.

We went out on Sunday, October 24, 1999.  It was the first night we could both go out.  He had just quit his job (like hours before - if I remember right) and I had mono, as in mononucleosis.  We met at the movie theater.   I had never really seen him standing up, so I had worn some high heeled boots and was feeling pretty good about myself.  Until he can walking up and I realized that we were the same height without my boots.  Then I felt stupid.  We picked a movie neither one of us had seen, which happened to be Mystery, Alaska.   It was the worst movie ever!  We left part way through.   Then because it was about 9 pm on a Sunday night in our little town, there was very little we could do.  I didn’t want to go back to my place because even though I lived alone, I wasn’t stupid and I had mono and I didn’t want to tell him I had mono.  We couldn’t go to his place because he had moved back in with mom, so that was out.  Nothing was really open, so we ended up at Denny’s.  Now that’s a wonderfully romantic place (ha).    As we sat there talking and eating a little something, the waitress comes to our table and tells us that a little gang activity is brewing and if she tells us to leave, we are to leave right now and to not even worry about paying.  So Daddy finished eating and before anything could happen, we left…to the parking lot to sit in his pickup.  We talked for a while and Daddy asked if he could kiss me.  I told him no.  We talked some more and he asked me again if he could kiss me.  I told him no again.   I told him I didn’t kiss on the first date.  I didn’t want to tell him I had mono!  I’d rather look like a prude than to tell him I had mono at 35!  Then I would have to explain where  I probably got it from (let’s just say, what happens in Pendleton stays in Pendleton).   We finally parted ways and I really didn’t think we would ever go out again because it was such an awful first date.   Guess I was wrong. 

Saturday the girls and I joined Auntie Brat at the Hawaiian festival.   Daddy joined us briefly, but it was super crowded and the lines for food were very long.   Daddy doesn’t do well being hungry and standing in line - either separately or together.  We all walked around for a while and then Auntie Brat followed Bug while I fed Littlest.   Bug was everywhere! 

She finally got a turn on the swings.

Later when Bug was tired and kinda grumpy, she got to wear Auntie Brat’s bling bling sunglasses - they had tiny rhinestones on them.  She thought she was the shiznizzle. (Did you know you can look up shiznizzle on the internet and if you spell it wrong, it will correct you and there are at least 100 different sites you can go to?)

Needless to say, the sunglasses had a ton of finger prints on them, so I’m sure they were useless for the drive home. 

We had a fun day, but it was hot and a little long, so both Bug and Littlest were a bit fussy by the time we left.  Bug did so well all day.  I had dunked her in a vat of sunscreen before we left, but forgot her hat.  Littlest seemed to have a fierce hunger all afternoon and couldn’t seem to get full - it was probably the smell of all that yummy food. 

My baby is so hip, she doesn’t have a milk mustache, she has a milk goatee!

Recently overheard at our house:    “Bug!  Don’t color on your sister!”

You can’t see it very well, but there are hints of yellow and orange in this masterpiece.  She has also hit the hall cupboard and a wall or two.  I have been vindicated!

Now the old Crayons have been put away until a day she can color on paper only!

Friday Littlest had an appointment at the feeding clinic at CDRC.  She now weighs 11 pounds! She is right at the 10th percentile for her adjusted age in height, weight, and head circumference.  Her height and weight are perfectly proportioned.   They are amazed at the feeding clinic on how well she is gaining now.  The nutritionist came and glanced at Littlest, looked away, then whipped her head back and stared and a “WOW!” came out of her mouth.  She was amazed at nice and chunky our little girl is.   The big concern now is her reflux and how it is affecting her lungs.  The plan is to get another swallowing study as soon as possible and to also get the Prilosec compound preauthorized and paid for by the insurance.  There were problems with getting the Prilosec for her when we originally got the prescription and we can’t afford it on our own at $115 for 4 oz.   So the miracle workers at the clinic are on the job.   Other than that, all is well. 

Daddy and I have a date night planned for next Friday.  I am so looking forward to it.  I hope nothing happens that we have to cancel it.   I told Daddy that I wanted to have a just us four family weekend (other than our date).  So the Zoo or something like that might be in order.   We have been so busy for so long with so many people, it will be nice to spend time with Daddy alone. 

Actually I think Walmart has a mouse…or maybe a Bug!   The girls and I were grocery shopping and Bug was holding the garlic bread.   Well, I thought Bug was just holding the garlic bread.  Then she had a tiny piece of the wrapper in her hand, then she was eating a tiny bit, then while I was paying and taking care of the grocery she dug in.  The lady in line was eggin’ her on I think because Bug was giggling.  When I finally took the bread away from her to pay for it, she had a super big fit!  I figured she was hungry so let her have some more.   I just didn’t realize how much more.  Needless to say she wasn’t very hungry for dinner.

Here’s a hint…

Yup, I ran the car out of gas.  The funny thing of it was that it happened about 3 minutes after I told Daddy (as I was talking illegally on my cell phone while driving) that I had forgotten to put gas in the car before my appointment.   I had been driving on empty for quite a while…like days.  I had just said that I hoped I didn’t run out of gas…then I did!  I had Bug in the car with me and it was hot.   Daddy was there in a flash in the SUV, which also was on empty, and a gas can with just enough gas to get us to Costco.   Bug was a good girl.  We ate snacks, sang songs, called Grandma K, avoided looking back at the people whizzing by and staring.  All in all, it wasn’t a horrible experience.

I have never run out of gas in my life!  There is always a first time!

A wonderful handmade card from Aunty Brat - I love it!

Thank you!