Kid Yogi

It's a normal occurrence for the kids to come tell me when one of their siblings is bothering them.

Today I actually heard something I have never heard before from Maddy:

"Mom!!!!!! Sawyer's bothering me during my yoga time!"

Sure enough, I looked over there and Maddy had created a yoga mat out of a blanket and was doing the cobra.

Sherlock Maddy

We were leaving Walmart yesterday morning and I said, "We need to run to the car. Looks like it's going to rain. Well....that's what the weatherman said anyhow."

Maddy then tells her siblings, "Yeah, that's what the weatherman said. Mama should know. She watched the weatherman on tv last night."

Lizzy immediately questions Maddy asking, "Maddy, did you see mama watching tv? How do you know she saw the weatherman?"

Maddy gets this look on her face and then says:

"Well.......my furniture gave me hints. You see.....I came down the stairs this morning and this is what I saw....the pillows were all stacked up on this side, like this (imagine a visual).....the blankets were all crumpled on this side like this (imagine another visual)....so, I just pictured mom laying like this (again a visual) on the couch watching tv. Ta Da! See....the clues helped me solve the mystery!"

What a super sleuth....

Frank - Part II

On Thursday Frank came by to check on the work he had done Wednesday. He asked if anything needed to be touched up and if I was satisfied with the work. Of course, I told Frank how everything was lovely and how he was doing a fantastic job.

All of a sudden, Lizzy comes running through the house....."Mr. Frank! Mr. Frank! You got grass all over my slide. I couldn't slide down it because there was grass everywhere." It was very matter-of-fact, not rude, more of a constructive feedback kind of tone.

Frank replied, "Oh! I am so sorry. Thank you for letting me know. I won't ever get better and do my job well if no one ever lets me know what I'm doing wrong. Thank you so much." He was, again, kind and gracious. He proceeded to ask, "Is the grass still on there?" Lizzy nodded. Frank continued, "I'll go take care of that right now and I'll make sure when I cut the grass next week to blow off your playset."

I told Frank that it wasn't necessary and that he should call it a night, but Frank ran out to his car, got the blower, and cleaned off all of the playset. Lizzy ran to the back door, opened it, and said, "Thank you, Mr. Frank!!!!!!" in this proud, elated voice.

Frank replied, "No problem! Thank you for telling me what I needed to do better. I wish more people were like you!"

I felt proud of Lizzy for being so honest and wondered where along the way I gained the fear of giving people feedback. I also admired Frank for the gracious way he received the feedback from a 4-year old and, again, was in awe of his pure heart.

Frank - Part I

Since Kerpatrick has been in Kansas City and the lawnmower broke, we decided to hire Frank. Frank is this amazingly, wonderful man who does everyone's yards in the neighborhood. He only charges me $35 for the front, the back, edging, and blowing. It's a deal if you ask me. I recently told KP how I felt blessed to have Frank in my life. He is this kind man who used to be an elementary school music teacher. He also used to be in the Virginia Symphony. Frank actually has prostate cancer and goes to radiation treatments nearly every day.

You would never know that this man has cancer. He's out there every day taking care of people's lawns and carrying on with the most positive attitude.

My kids love Frank. The other day Frank came over to just to follow up on the job he had done for me the day before. He was standing outside and Sawyer said to him, "Mr. Frank, you have green shoes, green socks, green pants.......green everything!!!!" Frank replied, "Yup....everything's green 'cept my bank account!"

Frank never worries about being getting paid. He is always kind and generous.

The other day he wasn't able to get the mowing done before we were having professional photos of the house taken. They had rescheduled his radiation treatment and Frank called to ask what time I needed him. When he realized that his radiation treatment and the time I needed him conflicted, he decided to forgo his appointment.

I, of course, said that was out of the question. I told him to keep his appointment and that I could run down to my neighbor's to borrow a lawnmower. Frank said that he was a couple blocks away and would lend me his lawnmower instead.

He pulled up, got out of the car, and explained his self propelled mower to me. I started to mow and Frank started to edge. I asked him if he was going to be late and he said that he should be fine. So there Frank and I were.....I mowed, he edged - a pretty good team.

Frank had to leave before I finished mowing the back, but before he left I tried to pay him for the edging work he had done, etc. He wouldn't let me pay him. In fact, I had to keep the mower and he had to come back for it after his appointment. I tried, again, to give him money and he wouldn't take it.

The other day when Frank came over, he expressed his sincere condolences about losing Llewellyn. He talked about how full of life she was and that he was surprised to hear of her passing from a neighbor.

It's rare that you find this truely genuine kindness. It makes me stop and wonder if Frank's presence in my life was supposed to be a gift.

Life as a Baby

Today Maddy had a nostalgic moment as we were eating lunch. She said outloud, "Ya know. I miss being a baby. It was easier being a baby."

I then asked, "So, what do you remember about being a baby and what was so great about it?"

She answered, "Oh, you know....everybody always makes comments about how cute you are, blah, blah, blah...." She paused for a moment. "Oooo, except diaper changes. I didn't like getting my diaper changed."

The Schedule

After teaching my Double Step class today at the YMCA, we were driving home when I decided to go over the day's schedule with the kids.

I started off saying how we were going to go home, eat lunch, take naps, and then go to Walmart to grocery shop. I proceeded to explain that after Walmart, we were going to go home, empty the groceries and then go to see the Curious George Show at the Constant Convocation Center.

I then asked if anyone had any questions...my 4-year old, Lizzy, of course, had a question. "Um...so, mom, when are you going to take a shower?" she asked.

Fishing Sea

This morning I was alone with Lizzy. When you are alone with Lizzy, Lizzy becomes the world's biggest talker. She talks and talks. Talks to me, talks to herself, talks to the bagger at the grocery store.

Lizzy spotted a Norfolk Southern truck and yelled out - "Hey, Norfolk Seven! That's daddy's work!" She then asked why the truck was in Norfolk. I had to explain that Norfolk Southern was a big company and that the railroad went across the country to Kansas which is why daddy was in Kansas City, etc.

She then asked, "Is daddy living in a hotel?"

I said, "Well, daddy's actually living in an effiency apartment." Lizzy then gasped, "A FISHING SEA?!?!?! I thought there weren't any seas in Kansas!?!?!?!"

Lew's Big Adventure

A week before Lew passed away, she had taken herself for a walk....

My neighbor, Karen, rang our doorbell. I answered the door and immediately thought something was odd because Karen has never come to our house in the 2 years we have lived here.

"Do you have a Great Dane?" she asked. I answered, "A Great Dane? No. We have a Doberman?"

"Yes, yes, maybe that's it.....I saw this dog in my yard. Then it went across the street to Linda's yard and down the block. I thought.....hmmmm.....yes, it must be their dog and I came over here to tell you."

I knew that I had just let Lew in the back and our yard was fenced so it couldn't have been our dog. I looked out the back window and I couldn't see the dog. I got a little nervous, ran to the back kitchen door, and opened it up to look out. When I opened the door, Lew was standing right next to it, on the top step. She looked up at me like, "Hey?!?! What's up?!?!?"

I turned back to Karen and said, "Must not have been our dog. Our dog's right here." Karen then asked to see the dog. She came to the back and scratched her head while saying, "Yeah...looked just like your dog. Hmmm. I guess they say everyone has a twin. Sorry to bother you."

As she left and I shut the door, I thought, "What if the side gate is open?" I put on my shoes and went around to the side of the house. Sure enough, the gate was wide open. When I walked through the gate, I found that the dog had 2 water bottles and a tennis ball in her possession. All of which, I have no idea where they came from.

I closed the gate and smiled. I just imagined the dog spotting Karen heading toward our house and then Lew running back to beat her to the backyard like Ferris Bueller.

My 4-Legged Child

On October 31, 2009, our dog was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. She was put on several different medications and limited exertion. The vet gave her about 6 months to live and this past Saturday, I lost my pet and best friend, Llewellyn.

It had been 5.5 months since her diagnosis. No one even knew she had a health issue. She was playful, sprite, and full of life. She didn't even have gray hair. She was only 7 and would have turned 8 this Thursday.

It was apparent Friday night that she wasn't feeling well. She had lost control over her bladder and seemed to be moving slower.

On Saturday morning I didn't hear her whine to be let out/eat. I went out to check on her and she was just standing there. I filled up her bowl with food and walked away. When I came back, the dog's bowl was still of food. I let her outside and she walked real slow.

I watched the dog for a while and she was going to different places of the yard that she never hung out in before. I called the vet and the vet said that I needed to bring her in. I made arrangements to bring the dog in and went outside to get her.

I called her and she looked at me. We made eye contact and then she walked away. I went back inside, got a treat, and called her again. I threw the treat at her and she didn't move. I got on my shoes and walked out to her. As we stood under the tree, I pet her, told her I loved her, told her she was a good dog....I gave her a hug and some kisses. As I walked off, Lew followed me. I asked her if she wanted to go inside and I opened the door. She walked inside slowly and went to her bowl. I tried to feed her a second time, but she didn't want to eat. She drank all of the water in her bowl and I filled it up a second time.

I went over to wash the dishes in the sink and she came over to me. She wedged herself in between me and the cabinet. I continued to do the dishes over the dog. She then layed down on my feet. I finished doing the dishes, dryed my hands, and turned back around to see her laying in an akward position. I went over to her, put my hands on her, and asked if she was okay.

At that point, she had lost control of her bowels. I told the kids to stay out of the kitchen as I was by myself and KP was in Kansas City. They did as I asked and I ran to get the phone. I called the vet and told them that I didn't know what to do. I was by myself and didn't think I could move my 86 pound Lew-Lew. As I was on the phone, the dog went into a grand mal seizure. She then took 3 big, deep breaths, and was gone.

I got down and put my head on her chest to see if I could hear her heart or feel her chest rise, but I didn't. I saw water running out of her mouth all over the floor.

I was able to get my friend and neighbor to come over and help put the kids upstairs while we tried to move Lew. Erin also brought our other neighbor, Katie, to help. The two of them had moved Lew while I was preparing the car. When I came back into the house, they were trying to move the dog onto the blanket. We started to carry the blanket like a hammock, but I felt very uncomfortable and wrong. At that point, I prayed hard to god to give me the strength to carry my pet to the car.

I was crying and shaking, but I made it to the van. I placed her in, uncovered her head, and drove to the vet. I parked in the back and the doctor ran out with two assistants. He checked her heart and told me she was gone. I already knew.

He then helped to get her on the stretcher and take her inside. They placed her on the floor because I had asked to be alone with her. I didn't have a moment to be with her without the chaos and the kids. I just layed there for 20-30 min. I layed there and cried. I pet her. I cleaned her eyes, I loved on her. I stayed until I could feel her body get cold and then I said goodbye to my loving, beloved, loyal friend.

Every day has been a struggle. It's hard to open the door and not have her greet me. I actually miss her nudging her head between me and the computer keyboard. I miss her whining. I miss her doggy breath, her cold nose.....

The kids made pictures of her and Lizzy asked me if I could mail it to heaven.

Lew-Lew, you were a kind, gentle soul. You were a beautiful, graceful creature. You were full of life, loved our family, and were adored by many. I was comforted with you here and my husband gone. I felt safe that you guarded our family. I loved you more than I thought possible to love an animal. You were my first dog and my best friend. I miss you and will miss you all the days of my life......