Beyond Disgusting

This is so gross that I debated whether or not to even share with you. If you are sensitive to disgusting stories at all, then please stop now. I will not be responsible for your vomiting...

Micah had the runs today. He pooped during dinner. I was in the other room and heard it. John wasn't home. When I went to pick him up less than a minute after the last sound, I noticed that his diaper had leaked, but not out the side and bottom like a normal diaper. No, his was spilling up and out the top and side and it was puddling in his chair. What I did NOT notice was him grab a fist full of his poopy waistline. I didn't notice until he smeared his diarrhea on my face!!!

In my three short years of motherhood, I have been pooped, peed and spit on. They have burped and spit up right into my mouth. I have dealt with mud and blood and messy meals. Or snacks that shouldn't have been snacks; like the time that Micah ate a cricket. Flooded toilets, clogged drains, and unidentifiable moldy things. I thought a month-old sippy cup of milk was bad. NOTHING compares to diarrhea on your face. Oh, the stench...! Gag me with a sewer brush! I am unashamed by this blatant plea for sympathy. I will accept flowers or contributions toward the cost of a facial.

Expounding on a Few Slivers

A few asked for more thoughts on some of the "Slivers" posted a few weeks back. I have decided to accommodate.

I recently discovered a new author I really enjoy, Jodi Picoult. I have read several of her books and would recommend any of them, but in this post I will focus on "My Sister's Keeper". (It bothers me that I can't figure out how to underline the title.)

The primary question raised by Picoult in "My Sister's Keeper" is the ethical status research. She places the debate into the minds and hearts of child characters, two sisters. Do the benefits of stem cell research outweigh the downsides, or the other way around? Without giving too much away, I can tell you that one sister was conceived invitro for the specific purpose of donating cord blood to her perfectly genetically matched sister who suffers leukemia. What is the unpredictable fallout from such a situation? If good ethics support justice, how can justice possibly be served for both sisters?

I am, admittedly, uninformed on the stem cell research debate. My initial reaction is that it errors too close to playing God, whatever that means and as if that is possible. I understand that the benefits of research in this field are noble in that every advancement relieves pain and suffering. I do not believe that I give to much away by saying that Picoult leaves the debate open, a wise choice that does not alienate either party. Her book simply raises many questions and creates empathy in the reader for both sides. Her characters are well rounded, full of love, hate, self serving habits, history, and conflict.

A tangent thought as I read this book through the lens of my own parenting experience was how difficult it is to watch our children suffer. The parent of a cancer child suffers unimaginable pain vicariously through every needle, pill, test or procedure. My experiences with Micah have been minuscule compared to what is described in this book. And yet our heavenly father watches us suffer, and suffers with us, without numbing our nerves to the pain. He desires that we feel no pain, yet he loves when we draw near to him through it.

Now I will quickly change the subject to something more light-hearted. Out little flood in the house a few months back provoked a domino line of home projects. One of those involved moving Micah into a twin bed and creating a bedroom for the boys to share. I still have some work to do in this room because I think the walls are too stark white, but here are the pictures. I'm sewing pillows that look like rocks to put on the ground around the tree. I'm also looking for a "tree stump" stool / chair. I'm open to any creative suggestions in the jungle theme. I built a tree in my house and I'm very proud. The pictures don't show the dimension very well... it's not really that dinky... and now I'm sounding insecure despite my claim of pride. Oh, well.

Joy

Of the first rate: "I love you, Momma," with slobbery kisses.

Of the second rate: Fresh brewed coffee in a girly Starbucks mug and a Saturday morning with the house to myself.

*Note: None of the above is possible without a fabulous husband! He loves me well and I love him. That is joy.

I Stand Corrected

Joel: Momma, why are we taking a bath right now?

Me: I'm tired and don't feel well and I thought you and Micah would like to play in the bubbles for a while. Momma is going to rest and watch you play in the bathtub.

Micah pours a large cup of water out of the bath, down the side and under the changing table.

Me: AaarrrGh!!! Micah!

Joel: Momma, it makes me sad when you talk that way. I know that you are sick, but I don't like for you to yell at Micah. I think we need to get out now. Maybe we can read a book and calm down.

I stand corrected.
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Joel: Momma, you need to put your shoes on before you take me to Thursday school.

Me: I am. Right now. (I'm putting lotion on my feet before I put on socks and tennis shoes)

Joel: What is that stuff? You need to get that off your feet!

Me: It's lotion. It's okay.

Joel: It will ruin your socks!!! Oh, NO! (He's practically dancing in anxiety for my socks.)

Me: It's really okay, Joel. My socks will keep the lotion from getting in my shoes and on the floor. It will make my feet soft.

Joel: Momma, it's not okay to ruin your socks. It will make it all mucky and God doesn't like that. You need to take care of your things because God doesn't like your lotion. He doesn't.

I stand corrected.
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Joel: Can we wake Micah up from his nap now?

Me: No, please don't wake him up, Joel.

Joel: I want him to play with me.

Me: He can play later. Is there a game you can play by yourself while I finish the dishes?

He runs off.... maybe five minutes go by.

Joel: I need you to get the animals down please. (I reach a higher toy self and give him a set of Noah's Ark animals.)

Joel: Oooo.... Yeah.... Oooo...WOOO Hoo!!!

On my way back to the kitchen, I follow him to the living room where he gets right down to play with the animals. I have maybe 5 more dishes.

A few minutes later I see that he has lined the anmials up in a semi-circle in front of him. He's fanning his legs and just barely missing the animals while he talks to them. "Do you want to play a game with me?" ... "Come on, lets play a game." ... ... "Please, play a game with me."

His final words before I burst into laughter were spoken in a demanding, slightly mob-like threatening voice with considerable bass for a two-year-old, "We will play a game now. I will knock you down." He proceeded to wreak havoc and distruction amongst his nice lineup of animals. In the course of the morning he also took certain animals to the doctor and then put all of them in a "cave" to sleep and recover from his "game".

Maybe you are not laughing right now. Maybe you had to be there. In truth, this was hilarious!

Discount Tire

I love Discount Tire. New tires are always expensive, but I've never felt like Discount took advantage of me. Today I stopped there just becuase I wanted my tire pressures checked. One tire had a little uneven spot that I was concerned about, but none of them looked low. The guy patiently explained that the uneven spot was not concerning, but he would check everything. They checked, found one small nail in the tread on a tire, but not puctured though. Balanced everything and sent me on my way safely with NO CHARGE!!! I hadn't even bought the tires there. That is the way to earn customer loyalty. Keep'em safe for free, only charge if there is a larger problem.

On another subject, we have a family victory/milestone... Micah is sleeping in a twin bed! Yeah!!! I'm getting rid of the crib this weekend!!! WooHoo!!!