Monthly Archives: August 2011

August 31, 2011 · 1:05 pm

Recovering

Ami has been experiencing presidential treatment.  Lets hope it helps him recover quickly.

He is having a lot of discomfort.  His prescription liquid pain medicine tastes terrible.  I haven’t tasted it, but it smells rancid.  It is a testament to how bad his throat hurts that he is willing to swallow that crap.  Poor baby.

Having a miserable, sick 5-year-old, who doesn’t want to talk, nested on the couch, is extremely familiar to us and I think it has struck us all.  We are talking tonsils here not cancer thank heavens, but to come around the corner and see Ami, who looks so much like Benny, looking miserable, tugs at all of our hearts for so many reasons.

Conrad is bored without Ami and it reminds me of Jeremia wanting to play so badly with Benny and Benny just not having the energy to.

Jeremia was sitting with Ami letting him play his gameboy, and rubbing his head, perhaps this ability to baby his brother through the healing process will also help Jeremia heal his own heart a little.  I can hope.

We moved Ami’s mattress into our room so I can have him close.  He slept really well last night.  He didn’t experience any apnea, which is what we were hoping for so I am grateful.

I have been pushing fluids like a crazed woman.  It is easy to become dehydrated, because swallowing is so painful.  I have been making him Gatorade slushies, which keeps him hydrated and soothes his swollen throat.

 

We try not to use disposable stuff, but these cups were too cute and perfect for making him feel special. This was yesterday when he was still talking.  He was like “I can have a drink in the family room?!”  like I was trying to trick him or something.  It’s normally such an unbreakable rule.

The recovery nurse gave him a stack of cool stickers for being such a great patient. I thought he would save them, but he stuck them all to his shirt at once, which I thought was super cute.

Here is his attempt to show me his lack of tonsils.  He thought he had his mouth open wide.

He is enjoying being in charge of the remote.

Yesterday consisted of Kai-lan and Spongebob.  Today it’s Nascar….who knew.

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August 29, 2011 · 4:23 pm

Tonsils

Ami is having a tonsillectomy tomorrow.  We are hoping this will end his sleep apnea.  He will be home from school for the week.  Which means serious schedule juggling going on up in here.  Not the best timing, but in my defense I did try to get him in for it during the summer break.

 

 

I am not looking forward to that little guy being in pain, but I will be standing by with Tylenol and lots of cold treats.  Here’s hoping for a smooth and quick recovery.

On another note I fear that this blog is going to suffer from neglect while I adjust to our crazy schedule, bear with me and remember I love you all!

 

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August 26, 2011 · 5:26 pm

Burr and Andy

First, a note about the top photo.  It’s a long story, but I am having photo/memory issues, as in too many photos not enough space for them all.  I was shuffling stuff around trying to make room and have misplaced the usual pic.  I need to shoot a new one with all of us anyway, but haven’t found time.  I will get to it….eventually.

On to todays regularly scheduled program….

I recently had the pleasure of shooting engagement photos for a really great couple, Burr (Amber) and Andy.  We have known Burr since 2005, when she became Benny’s volunteer.  She would come once a week and see Benny at home or in the hospital and they would play games and hang out. Burr and Benny quickly bonded and she has become a part of our family since.

Burr is very special to all of us and recently became engaged to awesome Andy.  They are a smokin’ hot couple, with beautiful souls to match, so when she asked if I would take photos for engagement announcements I happily and humbly accepted.

I learned how much more I have to learn, but we had fun and I took a ton of shots.  These are some of my favorites.

B & A walking away

B & A frame 5

B & A frame

B & A parking lot

B & A blue & brick 2

B & A blue & brick

B & A perverted

B & A brick

B & A bench2

B & A adorable

B & A

B & A sunset7

B & A saguaro park 3

B & A saguaro park 2

B & A saguaro park

 

 

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August 24, 2011 · 3:11 pm

This Bug’s Life

Bug is a pill.  She is the hardest dog we’ve ever had to potty train.  She eats everything.  She is a big chicken, afraid of her own shadow.  She doesn’t really come when she’s called, unless food is involved.  All that said and we love her to pieces.  She is super entertaining and between her bug eyes, her sound effects and her wild and crazy antics she is always good for a laugh.

Bug and Nilla play all day, everyday with small breaks for recharging in between.

Though I supply lots of toys to keep them entertained, much like kids, it’s the simplest things that they seem to like the most.

Today’s favorite toy was a stick.

Bug wins the stick fair and square and protects her stick from the evil stick stealer, Nilla.  Bug lets Nilla know what’s up.

“This is my stick.” Bug waits and watches to ensure Nilla isn’t trying some sort of stealth maneuver.

Being a smallish dog with a very squished face, she takes a moment to catch her breath.

Maybe another moment or two.

and “Look at my stick Mom!  Isn’t it awesome?”

and then “Die, stick, Die!”

“NomNomNomNom”

but “Wait…..Is that…..My boy?!”

“Who needs a dumb ole’ stick when you’ve got your boy?!”

 

She will stop just about anything to be with her boy.   They are like PB & J!  Happiest together.

If Conrad gets hurt or if anyone raises their voice at him, Bug barks nervously until she is certain her boy is ok. She loves him so!

 

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August 23, 2011 · 4:54 pm

Time Management?

I start school tomorrow.  I am super excited and very hopeful that I will be able to manage my life schedule effectively.  I still want to blog and help out at the boys’ schools and hike.

I helped in Ami’s class yesterday and he told me that he was proud of me for it.  The cuteness kills me in the best possible way and makes me want to be there every day.  I am helping in Conrad’s class tomorrow.  My Monday and Wednesday classes are at night so that leaves the days open for helping in the kids’ classrooms.  My Tues, Thurs. and Fri. classes are before lunchtime and will leave me a few hours of study time before the kids get out of school.

I have a lot of things that I want to be doing, and am trying to be careful not to overextend myself.

I will spend this semester at Pima Community College and start at U of A in the spring.  I graduated from Pima in May ’10, but am taking some credits at Pima that will count towards my Bachelor’s at the U.  Doing it that way will save some serious fundage.

Just in case you hadn’t noticed, hiking is our new favorite pastime. I want to do it every day.  There aren’t enough hours in the day and I require way too much sleep for me to fit everything in, but I am going to do what I can and call it good enough.

Here are some shots from our afternoon hike in Tucson Mountain Park on Sunday.

Being in nature is good for my soul.

These photos don’t do it justice.  The smell and the sound are equally important and impressive.

These dark boulders are jagged and sharp. It’s crazy because they don’t look like it and then you set your hand on it, or say, lean on it for a picture and you are made painfully aware of how jagged they are.

We will be back there this weekend. I hope you aren’t tired of desert photos.

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August 22, 2011 · 9:06 pm

Happy 12th Birthday Jeremia!

Or as he likes to be called these days. Ja-mon-ja-moe.  Don’t ask me why.  I remember asking everyone to call me by my middle name (Elaine) in 7th grade and then, after I tired of that, I changed the spelling of my name from Amy to Aymee for 5 years.  When Derek and I got married I went back to the simple old way.

Anyway Jamonjamoe turned 12 on Saturday.  He had a good one.  It was pretty simple.  Just the usual presents, pick what’s for dinner and cake.

We let him open up his presents first thing in the morning since it was Saturday.  I hadn’t even gotten his streamers hung up yet, but who cares about streamers when there are prezzies?

First he opened his cards that he had patiently been saving.

Legos, Star Wars and Nerf are huge in this house.

That is one giant Nerf gun.  It should have come with ear plugs for me though.

Taco Bell was his choice for dinner.

TDerek used a new frosting recipe, that was hard to work with.  He also misunderstood Jeremia’s cake request.  Jeremia wanted a turtle biting a lego guy and Derek thought he wanted them fighting.  The candles for light sabers is brilliant!  Jeremia loved it.

Happy Birthday Jamonjamoe!  We love you to bits!

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August 20, 2011 · 3:29 pm

Happy Weekend!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend.  I know I am.

The sunset yesterday – orange you glad I shared?

 

 

 

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As always thanks for coming by. :)  I am happy you did!

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August 19, 2011 · 2:05 pm

Tucson Mountain Park

We drove through it the other day and stopped for an impromptu hike.  Our spontaneity was dashed when we realized we weren’t all wearing proper shoes.  The boys were sad, but we’ve promised them we will go back, and soon.

We watched the sunset and goofed around for a little bit.

Sandals and flippies do not, a happy hiking experience, make.

Look at that beautiful moody face.

Always on the lookout for mischief.

Getting their “pose” on.

Love’n it!

They didn’t want to leave. I didn’t either. It was beautiful!  I can’t wait to go back for a well planned hike and maybe even a picnic.

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August 18, 2011 · 3:45 pm

Topic of Tucson


Derek and I imagine that “Topic of Tucson” was an old local news show from the 70′s or 80′s.  Part of the fun of shopping at Goodwill is making up stories to go with what you find. We Googled “Topic of Tucson” but haven’t found anything.  Do any of my readers who have lived here for a while know?

In any case I have found my new Burt’s Bees lip balm holder. I have an obsene amount of the stuff. Can you say addicted?! I can’t help it.  I hate chapped lips.

I have inexplicable love for this petite mug and for 50 cents, it’s hard to go wrong.  The sun vaguely reminds me of 80′s Madonna.

PS  Why don’t keyboards have a cent sign?  I have needed it more than once. And why does spell check tell me cent is not a word?  Get a grip spellcheck!

 

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August 17, 2011 · 11:36 am

Homemade Batik Wind Sock Craft

I saw this project at www.artprojectsforkids.org.  It’s a great resource and is put together by an art teacher who has loads of experience. Click here to see her tutorial.  If you like batik fabric, but don’t want to mess with the ironing the crayons out of the fabric this is a great way to do it. In true “Amy form” I read it and then just winged it.  Have I mentioned I have self diagnosed ADD?

So here are the pics.  If you want to try and have any questions message me.

This is what it looks like with the dry glue.  I went over each line twice because I wanted to be sure the white would stand out.

I set out 7 different colors and each color had it’s own paint brush.  If someone was using red you had to wait your turn.  This was a lot easier than reminding them to rinse their brushes in between each color and having to change the water constantly.  I will use this method on all future projects.

Conrad waiting for blue.

I watered down the paint in their original (almost empty) containers and mixed the other colors in my favorite salad dressing jars.  I love Lighthouse Caesar dressing and the jars are perfect for so many uses.

This was a big project so I helped each of them finish painting their fish.  They would tell me what color and where and I followed directions.

When they were all done I put baggies and rubber bands over the lidless jars to preserve the paint for another day.  The jars had lids once upon a time, but I tossed them in an attempt to de-clutter.

After they sat and “cured” for a day or so I soaked them in hot water for a few hours.  I would churn the water whenever I walked past.  They rinsed out much more easily than I had anticipated and I was pleasantly surprised at how vibrant they stayed.

I lay them flat to dry and then sewed them closed, and hung them.

 
From left to right, Conrad’s, Jeremia’s, mine and Ami’s

They took longer to make than I figured, but I just went with the flow and didn’t stress about it. We had a lot of fun and I love them.

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