I have so much to say that I almost don’t want to say anything. Have you ever felt like that? There have been so many thoughts and reflections and realizations this last week that I kept thinking, “I need to remember to blog about that. When I get ten minutes.” And now? I’m just not sure where I would begin. So I… won’t? I’m sure snippets will emerge here and there over the days and weeks to come. In the meantime, I’m just going to post some pictures and hope you all don’t unsubscribe at the same time, causing Google Reader to crash. Sound like a plan?

My niece’s wedding was gorgeous.  She looked awesome.  I can’t believe she’s old enough to get married.

I’m a little jealous.  I would like a carriage ride courtesy of beautiful Clydesdale horses!

I spent a lot of time here.  So did Kile.

Snuggle buddies.  She really enjoyed sleeping in with Kile while we were there.

The afternoons were prime opportunities to find a sunbeam and nap.  The dogs couldn’t resist.

Snickers looked awesome with the “Vintage” action.

It feels like Evie grew up a lot while we were there.

She really dug when I would set her on the floor to look around and explore.

There aren’t a whole lot of Liam pictures.  Liam and I weren’t the best of friends on this trip.

This is “Thor”.  I wish I’d gotten more pictures of him.  He was really something.  He’d been shaved but they left him a furry head, feet and poof on his tail.  HEE!

Harry would like to remind us that he wants “Rock Band”.  We get it, Harry.

Tags: Elko, Evie, Harry, vacation, wedding
Filed under Family Circus, General Snark |

WE ARE HOME.

We made it, in one piece.  And I am SO HAPPY.  I almost feel guilty saying that because Kile’s family was so great to us while we were in Elko.  We got support like we would have never had here in Reno.  But it was also a strain to be away from home and what is familiar too.

I just took a shower, wash the road grime off (and boy, did I have grime… neglected to take a shower this morning before we left), and I felt like such a new woman when I stepped out.  I felt like “Home Marilyn” again.  For the last week or so, I’ve been “Disaster Marilyn” and she’s too busy to take inventory of herself and check for bruises from that lovely trip down the stairs.  “Home Marilyn” is not too busy and was rather shocked with what she saw.  OUCH.  “Disaster Marilyn” also takes showers like she’s expecting the UPS guy any minute now and needs to sign for a package.  “Home Marilyn” doesn’t waste any time (she’s got a baby downstairs that might want nursing, after all), but she can stand under the spray a moment longer, reflect on life a little longer and compose this post while she’s at it.  (Oh, yes, I did.) (Don’t you?)

Kile even drove us, but that was mostly because the driver’s seat reclines further since Evie’s carseat is behind the passenger seat.  But I carried in the heavy loads and even drove to the post office to pick up our held mail and to the store for much needed milk afterward.  So I haven’t been slouching, by any means.

I’m just so glad to be home.  Have I mentioned that?

Tags: car trip, Elko
Filed under Family Circus |

If you have a husband who has a hernia that will likely need to be operated upon in the future and you have a little one (ages 1-2) at home PLUS you’re pregnant?

HAVE YOUR HUSBAND GET THE SURGERY BEFORE THE BABY IS BORN.

Trust me on this one.  Let my folly be your lesson.  YOU WILL THANK ME FOR IT.

Tags: Elko, emergency, hernia, Kile, surgery
Filed under Family Circus |

Ugh.  I wish I could say things are getting easier, but they’re not.  The good news is that Kile has a post-op appointment with his surgeon this afternoon and hopefully we’ll find out that he can start lifting small things (perhaps even Evie) or drive or SOMETHING.  That would help.  In the meantime, it feels like I have more than I can handle and that is even with my mother in law around to help out.  So you can only imagine.

Yesterday, Liam was in fine form.  After his nap, he decided for whatever reason that he really wanted to play in the dog water upstairs in the kitchen.  It’s only a short flight of stairs and there is a gate at the top so we could have blocked it off, but since he has learned the proper way to get down the stairs, it hasn’t been priority.  But splashing in the dog water was a NO NO.  Kile’s mom was downstairs in her room, busy with something.  Kile was trying to relax in the recliner as best he could.  I was nursing Evie.  We asked Harry to fetch Liam out of the dog water, bring him down the stairs and pull the gate across so he couldn’t get back in the kitchen.

Well, he got most of it right.

He dragged Liam downstairs alright, but he neglected to pull the gate across.  He went out in the backyard at that point, to play with the dogs, before we could remind him about the gate.  So NATURALLY, Liam was right back up the stairs and in the dog water again.

splash, splash

I was about done by that point.  Liam had been going full-boar all day long and I was tired of having to put everything else off to chase him down.  I believe I swore.  I set Evie down in her bouncer and stomped upstairs.  I grabbed Liam out of the dog water and gave his (well-padded) rump a swat (or two) and then hauled him off downstairs.

Now, the stairs are a very short flight.  8 stairs.  They’ve been known to be treacherous in the past.  Shoot, Liam himself had tumbled down them a couple days prior.  Plus, they had new carpet (with Scotch Guard!) and I was wearing socks.  I bet you can imagine what happened next.

My feet flew out from underneath me.  I bumped down a couple stairs and cracked the middle of my back as I landed.  Liam escaped unharmed while I was doubled over in pain and gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of me.  Kile and his mom were there in an instant, asking me what I hurt.  I would have told them if I could only SPEAK.

Thankfully, the pressure in my chest eased and I was no real worse for the wear.  I had a skinned elbow (which I didn’t even feel at first), a sore rump, and an aching back.  OY.  I’m just glad I didn’t break anything.  Because if I had…  Well, we would have just been ahead to sell the house in Reno and just move in here.  Both of us laid up was about the LAST thing we needed.

This morning, I’m sore.  It’s to be expected.  But, I can move around and am better off than Kile at this point.  My dignity is bruised, for sure.  (What dignity??)  We’ll see if Liam makes it through another day or if I’m forced to eat him for an afternoon snack.  Stay tuned.

Tags: Elko, injury, Liam
Filed under Family Circus |