An Irish Country Villiage

An Irish Country Village  by Patrick Taylor

✭✭ 1/2 (out of five stars)

It seemed so promising...

Tales of life in a rural Irish country village, told from the resident doctor and his young assistant.  The characters were likeable, and I liked the town of Balleybuckelbo...BUT the book was so slow.  Nothing exciting really happened, no big conflicts (just a lot of little anti-climatic ones)...BORING.

Too bad too, there is a whole series set on this rural doctor and his town, maybe I just choose the wrong one first.  I don't think I will try any of the others though...

Rated: PG

Recommended: Nah

One more month!

Next month Harry is gonna turn 1 year old!!!  I can't believe it!  It really seems like yesterday he was rolling around on the carpet trying to learn to crawl.  This last month has been quite a challenge for Harry, a BAD case of the stomach flu, getting 3 new teeth ALL at the same time, and a major growth spurt that puts him just a couple inches shorter than Clark.  Our once quiet, calm and gentle baby has found his voice...and it is loud.  He has no problem shouting or whining when he is not getting what he needs, as fast as he wants it...it is actually a little funny.  He is so cute and funny waddling around the house examining every nook and cranny, finding stray pieces of food to eat and leaves.  He LOVES leaves, new green leaves, crispy old leaves, he tears them up in pieces, chews on them, rubs them on his feet and face, anything and everything to do with leaves, really funny (and yes, a little weird).  He is such a sweet heart, with his sweet little face and smile.  I love his guts!!!  (And I am really looking forward to his birthday next month!)

The worst week ever...

Seriously, last week was the worst week ever.  Well, the worst since I have become a mom.  It has taken me an entire week to recover and come back from it, and even then some of the memories are still too fresh.  Brace yourselves, this is not going to be pretty.

Last week...we ALL got the stomach flu!  There was vomit, fevers, crankiness, there was more vomit...and then the dreaded diarrhea.  The Bosko's don't really get sick...we may get a cold or cough, and we do have allergies all the time that are a nuisance, but we don't ever throw up or get ill in gross ways, never.  I can count all the times in Clark's short life that I have seen him be physically sick (4), it just never happens at our house.  We have been so lucky...until last week.

Poor little Harry had it the worst, eight whole days of not being able to keep anything down.  Eight days!  Needless to say, he has lost some weight.  I think the first couple days I went through 40 diapers (just for Harry)!  I have never seen another human being, not to mention a tiny little one, throw up so much at one time.  It was shooting 2 feet from his mouth, splattering all over the wall...it took me an entire can of carpet cleaner to get the smell out of his bedroom.  My heart was breaking for him, it was so hard to see him so miserable and uncomfortable.  Jason even took him to the ER a couple times, cause we were so worried about him getting dehydrated or paranoid that something else was going on.  He soldiered on, and I am pleased to announce that yesterday was his first day with a normal pooh...yay.

Clark lucked out and only had it 24 hours, threw up once and slept for like 14 hours straight.  I could handle Clark getting sick once a week if he was gonna sleep that long, it was quiet day.

Jason and I got it over the weekend.  Luckily it hit me first, so I had a day to try and sleep it off before Jay got it too.  I really can't think of a worse feeling in the world, I hate being sick.  It is really the one thing I am scared of the most...throwing up, feeling nausea, I HATE it.

So here we are, a week later, finally able to eat solid foods again...and some what back to normal.  I feel 5 years older.  I have SO much laundry and chores to catch up on.  (You know that was one of the worse things too, before we all got sick I was all caught up on laundry and cleaning...like ALL caught up.  Now I am back to square one, with 11 loads of laundry to do...and so many dishes to wash.)  You know, there is no better feeling than being healthy, eating what you like, being able to play with your kids, living life without a pounding migraine and a fever.  No better feeling than coming OUT of a week from hell, scrubbing vomit and other unmentionables out of the carpet numerous times a day, and realizing you made...I made it.  

Now please, give me another year or five before I ever have to do anything like that again.

Shark Dialogues

Shark Dialogues  by Kiana Davenport

✭✭✭ (out of five stars)

I am so torn about this book.

One the one hand I love Kiana Davenport.  Her storytelling is so rich, her writing is beautiful, her characters are so intriguing...and I love the Hawaiian history and culture she infuses with every line and passage.  I liked the concept of the book, following a family through four generations, how their mistakes become our mistakes, how we all need a past, and something to fight for.  However, the end just didn't justify the whole of the book (for me).

I found this book to be a little too much.  Things happening just for the shock of them happening.  New story lines and characters starting, that while interesting didn't really need to belong to the story as a whole...could have been their own story.  A little too crude in parts for me, and heartbreaking.

Such mixed feelings...it left me feeling mad and sad and disappointed, yet amazed.

Rated: R

Recommended: Not really, maybe.

All you need is a ice chest and a garden hose.

It was a hot and humid day, so we got out the ice chest (si si, the Boskos are too cheap to buy another pool) and let the boys go crazy, summer style.  Clark totally loved it, I couldn't even get him out, hours of entertainment and no mess for Mommy.

Harry was not too sure, he watched his brother on the side lines for a bit...but after a while he couldn't resist the cool water and was splashing away.

Splash, finally both boys in the ice chest.

Just a few minutes after this picture Harry totally pooped!  I had to undress both boys, soap them up and wash out the chest (needless to say we will not be using it for picnics anytime soon).  While I was gaging away they couldn't have cared less, they just wanted to get back in and play.

Impromptu outside bubble bath.

What a couple of cuties.

Working Out With Clark

Clark discovered the treadmill...a great way to exhaust his energy before bedtime!

2 1/2

Clark is 2 1/2!  He is growing up so fast.  He had a growth spurt this last month and has gotten taller, and thinner.  He is all energy and laughs.  We have finally got him back sleeping in his own bed, all through the night.  It is still a fight going to bed, but we expect that for the next couple years, ha ha.  His favorites right now are; Wonder Pets, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and anything by Pixar, Ramen Noodles, cookies, sidewalk chalk (and he is quite the artist) playing with the hose or pool, his Buzz Lightyear toy, the train table at the mall, and going to the park.  He has become quite the cuddle bug too, when he was a baby he was really independent and never wanted to be held, but now he is all about snuggling up (Mommy loves it!!!!).  I can't believe how much he is learning and growing, everyday he opens my eyes and blows me away with his personality and love...and shenanigans.  I am so thankful for our little Clark.

Group Hug

Jay, Harry, Clark and Gary.  

The boys sure love torturing, I mean loving, the kitty.

I can't wait!!!

The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife  by Audrey Niffenegger

✭✭✭✭✭ (out of five stars)

I really loved this book.  A classic love story, with a smooth twist of science fiction.  It was original, moving, heart-breaking and captivating.  Lovely reading.

I am not sure how to summarize the book without giving to much away, or confusing everyone, so I will keep it really simple.  Henry travels through time, without any control of where and when he goes.  He relives parts of his life, meets his older and younger selves...and falls in love with Clare.  While I could have done without a few scenes and a couple obnoxious characters, I really loved Clare and Henry's story.  

Recommend: Totally.

Rated: PG-13.  Sex, and language.  I felt like a couple of the sex scenes ruined some of the more romantic parts of the book, but overall it did not change my impression or love of the story.

Clark's Art

Clark discovered sidewalk chalk this week.  He had a ball covering everything in white chalk, and I mean EVERYTHING.  The entire front of our house is decorated with scribbles and Clark's drawings.  I love how he took the extra time to individually color every stone in the concrete.

Clark's art.  He took the most time on this chair, every stroke of the chalk was deliberate.  When he was through, he took a step back to admire his work, making sure everything was to his liking, before he ran off to doodle somewhere else.  I love it.

Coloring his rock, his favorite rock.  He drags it all over the yard, it has been responsible for two of Clark's toe nails falling off after he dropped it on his toes....but he still loves it.  And no matter where we try to hide it, he always finds it.  Who needs bicycles and basketballs when you have giant heavy rocks.  

Helping Himself

Well, obviously someone was ready for lunch and I wasn't making it fast enough (actually I was doing the dishes and he snuck up behind me...I never heard a thing).  I don't even know how he opened the fridge.

Looks tasty... I asked him if he wanted and peanut butter and jelly but he was good with plain bread.  Looks like I got another Clark on my hands.  Bread, noodles and hot dogs all day long.

Deception Point

Deception Point   by Dan Brown

✭✭✭✭✭ (out of 5 stars)

Pretty awesome book, fast paced and FULL of action.   I love Dan Brown's writing style, his books always hook me on the first couple pages and I can't ever seem to put them down.  All I can say is super awesome, and watch out for the wicked twist at the end.

Recommended: Totally.

Rated: PG-13.  Mostly for violence, lot of things blowing up, the body count got pretty high...it was great!

Evaluations

Clark had his 6th month evaluation today, with his speech therapist, to check his progress and see how many goals he has/we have met....and adjust accordingly.  Things have been going really well with his talking.  He can say about 22 words now, and sing along to songs (somewhat).  He still only "talks" when he feels like it, spontaneously, and you can never get him to repeat things, AND half of what he says is so hard to understand anyway (unless you really know him).  But overall it is still an improvement from what it used to be, which was nothing.  

When we began this program he was at a 10-12 month speaking (or non-speaking) level (he was already 2 years old), now he is at a 17 month level.  What an improvement!  Slow but steady.  A few of the other areas he was behind in (cognitive, fine motor skills and self'-help and social skills) are also slowly improving as well.  I was so unsure of his "therapy" sessions at first.  I mean, the people really didn't do anything different from what I was already doing, maybe just a little more structure, and they only spent 45 minutes with him a week.  But when you can see the results, and how excited he gets when Jill and Grace come over...well then it doesn't really matter.

We talked about the next six months, and what we would like our goals to be.  Doubling his word count and working on 2-3 word combinations will be the main focus, and then finding a way to redirect and deal with his destructive behavior.  We also talked about maybe continuing services when he turns 3, pre-schools or head start programs he could go to, and what we would do when we move.  It is so nice for me to know that I have a team of people at my disposal, to support me and Clark.  I feel so blessed, and lucky.  I know there are other kids out there, and families, that need more help than we do...but it is still nice to know that there is help out there, and that these people care about Clark's well being just as much as I do.

Clark's List of Words:

there he is or there it is

ball candy

star fire

yes/no bath

water show

bubble shoes

Harry again

outside oh toodles

food bye

Daddy Walle

that cookie

see bed    

please apple (his first word)

As you can see there is NO mommy on the list...grrrr!

Lady Chatterley's Lover

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence

✭✭✭ (out of 5 stars)

The story was a little slow at the beginning, it took me a good 125 pages to get into it, but it picks up a lot towards the end.  (And I did LOVE the ending, so it made it worth it.  In fact the last line of the book, made the whole story for me, perfect really.)  The writing was a bit old fashioned at first, but not difficult to read.  What I found fascinating was how modern and sex driven the book was, for when it was actually written.  

The story is about Connie, a.k.a Lady Chatterley, bored with a crippled husband and the proper life she must lead.  She finds herself, and love through a rather steamy affair, with Oliver (he is called by another name most of the book, but I like the name Oliver more).  I loved the characters, except for Clifford who I thought was a whiny baby, and for most of the book I felt like I was right there with them in Wragby.  Although a little slow, and way too much sexual content for me, I liked the book.

Rated: R- Lots and lots of sex, and sex talk.

Recommended:  In general, no not really...but to someone who I think may like this type of book, totally.  

My Favorite Picture of the Week (well, last week).

The boys weren't really feeling well this past weekend, but they needed some fresh air so we decided to go for a little drive.  With the windows down we drove along the coast, the salty air was blowing through the car, and Clark was in heaven.  He looked like a little dog, stretching his neck out the window, his hair blown back, eyes closed soaking in the sun.  He would stick his head out, get the rush and then turn to grin at us...the biggest cheesiest happiest grin.  Delightful.  

Better Walking

Over the weekend Harry really started walking a lot better, and more often. He is such a cutie waddling around.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Taking Out The Trash

I LOVE that he wanted to take the garbage out with Jay.  He was trying to carry the big bag, but couldn't, so Jay made him his own little bag.  It was pretty cute to watch him, and the fact that he was so excited to do it was the cutest.  I can not wait until he can start helping out more around the house...sweeping, vacuuming, dishes.  One chore down...five to go.

Flashback Friday

July 4, 2003 Washington DC

I love the 4th of July, after Christmas it is probably one of my favorite holidays.  I really loved living in DC and celebrating the 4th there.  With all the people gathered down at the capitol, the big bands and performances, and the beautiful fireworks show...it is one of the best places to be.  This 4th of July pictured (2003) was lots of fun.  My brother BJ and my Mom had come up for a summer visit and we took a nice picnic to the mall and just enjoyed the evening, playing cards, walking around and having fun.  What a great memory!  I really do miss DC a lot sometimes.