Let Me Introduce Goose's Buddy... Kee-Ka

Sucia is Kee-Ka to our little one.  About a month ago we were hiking up to Fragrance Lake and for the first 30 minutes Will kept repeating "kee-ka, kee-ka, kee-ka."  He fell asleep and woke saying the same thing.   We didn't put two and two together until we told Sucia to jump into the car and Goose got so excited and screamed - "Kee-Ka!!!" 

So Sucia got a new name...

Sucia is our patient, gorgeous, sweet two year old, golden retriever.  I always wanted to have a golden named Sucia - after my most favorite island in the San Juan Islands. 

Goose has become the best of buddies with Sucia (Kee-Ka).  Here is a day with Will's most favorite buddy in the whole wide world...

"Lets see can I lean on you?"

"OR maybe I can climb over you?"

"Kee-Ka, maybe one day I can ride you - what do you think....?"

"Um - Goose that hurts... Just a little!!!"

"Oh I could eat you up Kee-Ka!!!"

"Goose, I am bored, lets do something..."

"Kee-Ka, lets go for a walk... Or maybe we should go mess with the chickens? Roosters? What do you want to do??"

"

"Goose, how about we go outside and run circles??  Or we could go outside and I could tackle you?"

 "Kee-Ka what is 'tackle'???"

"How about I show you - Goose...  Um...  Just kidding... 
How about you grab my nose again!" 

An Idea From the Past

A few days ago I woke up with a chink in my neck.  I flashed back to the day I had an awful experience with my neck cramping up like a charlie horse.  I stretched, drank water and babied it for the day.  The next morning I woke up the same, but my jaw was hurting too.  And the next same, and the next worse... So I broke down and called the chiropractor. 

Last night I was thinking, "What is wrong with me???"  I have been sick 4-5 to times since last November.  My neck is killing me.  My jaw has this dull pain.  I have headaches.  I feel just gross inside.  And then I realized something as I was making this mental check list in my head - My body is screaming at me!  It was telling me that I needed to take better care of myself - NOW!

As I was thinking about my realization, I just could not help but realize the excuses I kept coming up with - I didn't have time (more like it I wasn't making time).  In all reality, I haven't since I had my little boy.  

For me to start taking care of myself, I needed to change my behavior. 

Suddenly, I flashed back to huge life changing event in my life.

The event I am talking about was one that lots of people in this country deal with - debt.  I had the worst spending habits and I felt like I just could not keep my head above water!  I broke down one night and showed my husband (who at the time was my boyfriend) what kind of mess I was in.  It was a huge deal for me, but also for him.  I started paying it, but it wasn't going as planned and my behavior continued. 

One day, at the dinner table, I got the best advice of my life from my now mother in law: 

• Live on one income and save or pay off debt with the second income 

Between the two of us we had quite a bit of debt - manageable, but annoying and frustrating for both us.  We went home that evening and devised a plan.  The cards were long gone, so no need to cut them up, but we totaled up everything we owed and made a very detailed plan and budget.  It was hard and trying at times, but very exciting!  When we paid off the first card we just about had a party.  Then the next and the next and finally it was all paid off - car, tractor, and credit cards all a zero balance.  We were amazed at the road we took and what we accomplished (and what we are still accomplishing)! 

So, when I think about the change I need to make in my behavior on taking care of myself I look at it in the same light I did a few years ago. 

I need to make a MAJOR change to my behavior.  

I have a nice long list of thing I need to do, so I think I will tackle them one step at a time.  We paid of each credit card/loan as we went, so I will need to do the same here. 

First, I need to get to the dentist.  So my first goal is to set an appointment with them to get my teeth clean and checked.  If I have any cavities, schedule an appoint right a way.  Plus, consistently care for my teeth - floss (once a day), brush (2xs a day), Listerine, etc. 

Second, go the chiropractor regularly.  It is amazing the pain I feel, I can see in my scan and my x-rays - my back is a mess and that needs to get fixed.  That will include stretches and strengthening daily.  Plus, massage weekly for one month (especially since my insurance will cover it - Yay!) and then every other week after that.

Third, take care of my lungs.  I have asthma.  And I really don't care for them like I should, which I will pay for when I get older.  So, I need to use my medications like I should and get my asthma back under control. 

Forth, drink 80 oz of water a day (10 - 8 oz a day).  And stop drinking things that will dehydrate me - coffee, beer, etc.  Maybe one glass of red wine - ever once in a while...

Fifth, exercise.  I am going to start out with 2-3 times a week, plus the one hike a week we do as a family.  My goal is to exercise at least 5 times a week, so I am going to start out slow and move up.

Sixth, find 30 minutes 3 times a week to meditate.  I want to master meditation.  

6 changes are good to start out with.   

Yippee!  

Just a little out there

His right side is extremely swollen - this was right before we heading to the doctor's office the night we were sent to the hospital.

Almost 2 weeks ago my little 13 month old was rushed to Children's Hospital in Seattle from St. Joe's in the Ham.  In the end, William ended up with an infected lymph node.  It was scary for him (and for us).  I can't explain all the emotions I felt and pretty sure I am going to keep it all to myself, but something happened to the connection Will and I have. 
We became connected like I never knew could every be possible.

It is a little out there, but we experience something I am pretty sure has happened to other moms, but they either knew it happened or just didn't realized it.

Here is the story:

We woke after a night at Children's (the first night I had gotten more than a block of 3 hours of sleep in over a month...).  William had slept - finally.  When he woke in the am the nurse came in to the room to complete her every 4 hour vital check.  He screamed and cried and screamed some more.  We changed him and got him comfortable again.   I sat in the chair, the nurse had brought, and he fell into my arms - exhausted.  His daddy packed up and heading home to get clothes and check on the Ranch for a possible additional night. 

I rocked our little man as he slept in my arms.  My head was up against his.  I felt his chest take a breath and then another.  I said something and he responded.  He suddenly sighed after I explained to him what was happening and why the nurses and doctors needed to check him and give him medicine.  Not one word left my lips during the entire conversation with him, but I knew - he understood what I told him.  He asked questions and I answered them...  He took many huge sighs, and in the end he understood and finally relaxed.  

Quiet tears ran down my face as he slept - the first time I cried since the doctor at PeaceHealth told me that we needed to rush him to St Joe's in an ambulance due to the risk of him not being able to breath if we got in an accident. 

But those were tears of fear - these tears were of relief. 

A few hours later, the doctor came into the room to check his tonsil, lymph node and ear.  William didn't make a peep.  He laid there looking at me and the doctor while the doc examined him.  William understood what was happening - finally.  Exam after another, he laid there extremely patient.  In the evening we were sent home.

Ever since that moment I have been able to open my mind, relax and talk to him.  He has been able to talk to me too.  He is more relaxed.  He is more understanding and patient. 

Maybe it is listening to my gut.  Maybe it is all a part of some new age stuff - I mean really talking with your mind!!??

Either way - our connection has always been there with the two of us.  I guess I never realized it until that moment in the hospital.  When I was pregnant someone gave me this meditation CD about talking to your baby and asking it questions (even if you weren't pregnant - maybe a little out there, but after this experience I am able to look outside the box...).  We didn't know what we were having, so I opened my mind and asked.  That night I slept (finally) and woke with a clear vision that my baby was a boy. 

Our little master has healed up.  He has gained 1 of the 2.5 pounds he lost.  His smile is back.  His sense of adventure has returned. 

I have my boy back, but gained a world I never knew existed - even if it is little out there...

A hike up to Fragrance Lake

Playing with his new favorite toy Daddy picked out.

New Look, New Job and New Molars

It is amazing what a few months can be filled with...

From watching someone very close to me get married to her soul mate, traveling to Italy with an (almost) one year old, little man going to daycare (part time), running walking all over the place, me going to work full time to 4 molars arriving in little man's tiny mouth (when will teething end?! I have a completely different child on my hands!!!). 

Really there is so much to write about I have no idea where to start.

So I will begin with this:

Everyday - I think about how lucky I am.

I see my boy and can't believe I can love so much.

I hug my husband and think about how wonderfully placed my life is.

 I am the luckiest mama/wife and I love everyday.

Thank you to my boys! 

One year ago...

Happy Birthday William!