LEAKING FAUCET

Ever have one of those nights that just makes the whole week stink? Well that was last night.

We had a leak in the bathroom faucet. It wasn't so bad a few weeks ago then last night it was just bad. So, Adam said tightening a screw would help. Oh no! It did not help. The water just started POURING out. Then we shut off the valve to the bathroom and the water started pouring in our basement. After 15 minutes we finally discover the well hidden valve that turns off the water from outside. GRRR! We really have no spare cash to fix said mess, but let's face it... we need to shower, do dishes... all that stuff.

So at 9:30 last night Adam's dad came to help us see if it was a simple fix. No such luck. Today we go to purchase parts with no money to spare. I swear we have the worst luck with this stuff. A month ago it was our car that we absolutly need to fix, but didn't have $800 to fix it with, but had to anyway.

Our house is on the market, but has only seen one couple who aren't ready to buy just yet. The money situation stinks right now. Adam works SO MUCH. I work, but ony days he doesn't work because we can't put Ry in day care nor can we afford another car. It just sucks. We just want a fresh start and it's not happening.

Now to go help fix the mess that happened last night!

RYAN LEARNS TO BAKE

On rainy days I wonder what to do with Ry. He loves to be outside so these days are difficult if they cannot be broken up with time at the park or in the yard. Today was one of those days. He was being so good until about 3 p.m. I decided to let him learn to bake. I watched his every move, of course. He helped put the flour in the bowl, put the cookies on the cookie sheet and begged to take them off when they were done, but that was my job! He loved standing on the chair next to me (we've done this before when I've had to cook or wash dishes and he wants to see what's going on)and thought it was cool to move the cookies into one large cluster on the sheet. We really had fun.

In addition to baking, he's learned how to put shoes on and so he brought Adam's shoes to me and put his little feet inside and sat around for a little while just looking at the shoes.

Enjoy the photos!


Wearing dad's shoes.


I like putting the cookies on the cookie sheet.


I'm so strong I can pick this up and give it to mum to put in the oven.


Ryan waits for the cookies to get out of the oven. (He was not allowed to take them off the cookie sheet... he had to watch mum do that job.)

On motherhood and Harry Potter

Warning: random ramblings about being mommy and Harry Potter

A long time ago I made a post about being a mommy It was May 24... about a week after my doctor gave Ryan to Adam and said, "This is your son; he's yours for a lifetime." Being a mommy then was hard. I had no clue about what lack of sleep can do to a person or how difficult breastfeeding can be if you have no support from family or friends.

A year later I can say that there are still days when being a mommy is tough. Like this week for example... Ryan decides to scream in church (once) and we promptly took him out. The guy behind us says, "Geez it's about time!" This is the time in mommyhood when you want to punch someone, but can't because you're in church. Then Monday, he was a whinny boy. Just whined the whole day. I know he wanted to go outside, but it was raining and no matter what cool game or activity I came up with, he just wanted to be "owsie." Then Tuesday he was an angel. He got to go outside. The rain had stopped. Yay! Today he wanted to climb the stairs at Aunt Vanessa's house without anyone watching him and he didn't want to go to bed. And the kid never listens when I say no, but listens to daddy.

While there are days that are tough and make me want to pull my hair out, I wouldn't want to trade them for anything. He's so precious when he takes his two little hands and holds my face and gives me really wet kisses, over and over and over again. He laughs after every kiss. And I love it when he comes over when I'm reading a magazine and gently closes it to remind me I'm supposed to be playing with him instead (not that I've forgotten, I just thought I could sneak in some reading really quickly). I love it when he runs to the door when Adam gets home and claps his hands and squeels with delight. He's my sweet baby. A treasure sent from heaven.

Sister-in-law is experiencing the new mommy blues like I did. It wasn't easy, but we made it through. Her circumstances are different, but it's still tough. Babies don't come with instructions and they are all so different. What may work for one doesn't necessarily work for the other. This too shall come to pass and she will look back and laugh at thinking how complicated baby seems now. I do. I laugh thinking that I cried becasue Adam went to work and I was left "alone." I confessed this to my doctor at our two week check up and at six weeks she confessed that she was afraid I was in for some serious post-partum depression. We can laugh at it now, but back then it wasn't funny.

I've said it a million times, but I wouldn't trade being mommy for anything else. I love watching Ryan grow and learn. I especially love when he calls socks "shoes!" and tries to put them on our feet. I love when he's so brave and runs across the bridge at the park all by himself.

So this has nothing to do with Harry Potter, but I did finish book seven. I won't give anything away, but I will say I loved it. Adam had theories about Snape and he was right. And there was a theme running through them all, which I cannot discuss now, but at some later date. I think J.K. Rowling has grown as a writer and that her work has been clever. It'd be nice if she created another world for us to escape to sometime, but if not, maybe there will be other writers who write original things (not additions to Harry Potter or copycats!) that will be just as clever and continue to get children and adults alike reading.

She's here!

Here are two wonderful photos. One of Madison Lucy born Sunday, July 15 at 9:30 a.m. weighing 6 lbs 2 oz and 18 inches long. I am a proud aunt who hasn't seen her neice yet... Adam took these photos... I was at work yesterday afternoon when he visited.

Also here's one of my handsome Ryan playing in a drawer that I was cleaning out. He's hugging his buddy Paws.

Another baby update

Sister-in-law will be induced today. She was having contractions last night and they watched her all night and decided to induce today. They think she'll have baby sometime late tonight or very early tomorrow morning.

Sister-in-law's father is still in hospital. The stroke did most of the damage on the right side of the brain. So he's loosing speach, memory and balance. He's starting some therapy today and they are also watching him because he has been having seizures.

Thanks again for the prayers. I'll post photos of Madison when she arrives.

Update

Seems like sister-in-law and baby are okay. She had an appointment with the doctor today.

As for her dad, the news is still sketchy. It seems as if the stroke could have been fairly bad, so continue to pray for him.

Prayer Request

Hello all...

My sister-in-law is 37 weeks pregnant and found out that her amniotic fluid is low, which is not good for baby. In addition, she found out today that her father had a stroke on Saturday. Apparently they were keeping the information from her so as not to worry her. She's a wreck now, as I can only imagine. Her parents live in New York so she's hoping for the OK from her doc to travel. Her name is Vanessa and her dad's name is Frank. I'll update when I know more.

Thanks again. It's so nice to have a wonderful extended family in Christ.

A 7/7/07 Wedding

We attending a wedding yesterday. Here are the two best photos. It was a nice wedding, but the long drive has me tired today.



Chris and Sarah


Ryan and Dada at the table waiting for our food.

More photos



Playing dress up with dada's tie.



Dada and Ryan sleeping together on Sunday.


What a mosquito bite under the eye can look like.

Lots of Photos


Us with Marc and Robin outside of Red Lobster. We were so happy to see them. It had been way too long!

Can you hear me now? Probably not since I am talking into the wrong end of the cell phone.

Ryan running to the dance floor. He can really shake his booty.

The group of friends we travelled with to Melissa and Tony's wedding.

Ryan sitting in his own chair that he got for his birthday.

Having some birthday cupcake. Ryan thought it was just okay. He likes things like pickles and chips (which we try not to give him) more than cake and cookies (which we also try not to feed him).

On Memorial Day, we celebrated Ryan's birthday with a party. We first took a trip to the parade where he put his foot up on the stroller. It was too cute.

Grandma Grabianowski

For those of you who have been praying and keeping up-to-date on things... my grandmother passed away this afternoon. My mum and dad visited with them last week and just left on Saturday. So, now I ask for prayers for my grandfather who, after 62 years of marriage, is having a hard time dealing with this and will need to make some tough decisions in the next week.

Thanks again to those of you who have been praying for us.

Crafty

I've been reading this book, "The Friday Night Knitting Club," by Kate Jacobs and it's inspiring me. I do want to learn to knit better than I can now, but need a tutor, I think. So, I've been doing other crafty things. I've been working on two crocheted rugs for our bathroom. The first is complete and looks wonderful. Now, to just get the second one done. Then, I plan to crochet two sweaters for two babies on the way. Oh, and then there's this purse that I want to crochet for myself and the top that I saw in the same magazine. The list is almost endless.

I'm also working on a surprise for sister-in-law for her baby. That seems to be a bit more challenging than I had expected. It's a sewing project and it's cut out, but that's as far as I've gotten. It's easier to crochet with Ryan around in the evenings than to get out the sewing machine to sew. He's too interested in where it plugs in and the parts that make it go.

But the project I should be working on is scrapbooking. I really want to display the entire first year photos of Ryan at his first birthday party (btw, he turned one on Tuesday, had no clue why were singing to him and just wanted his bottle) but I'm so far behind. We're doing the party on the 28th so that sister-in-law, who missed his birth, won't miss the first party. We're keeping it simple, some food, some cake, some fun watching Ryan. But, that darn scrapbook is not up-to-date! I need some motivation... any books about scrapbooking clubs? =-)

They called in "Sick"

It's a nice day outside today. The sun is shining, it's hot and there's not a cloud in the sky. It's the perfect day for someone to call in "sick." While I have never done this some people do, like the people who work for my husband.

See, today started out really good. Ryan woke up at an hour that I felt was acceptable (i.e. not 5 a.m.) and husband was off to work. Ry has already taken two naps, which is great because earlier this week he wasn't really interested in napping at all. The ironing is done and the house isn't looking so bad.

Husband was going to come home from work, we'd get the grocery shopping done, take a walk, watch a movie. But that's going to be another night because someone decided to call in "sick." You know, they're a mother and I bet they call in "sick" tomorrow too.

I'm really po'd about the situation. I knew when husband took this job there would be days like this, except I thought they would be when people were really sick. In addition to him arriving home around 8 p.m., I also decided not to take the car today. I mean, he'd be home at 4 p.m. and we'd get to do things together so it wasn't a big deal.

So, if you're the type to call in "sick" think about the other people missing out on time with their parent or spouse because chances are they aren't going to like you very much anymore.

The man on the couch, gram and Kathleen

Last night I got up to go to the bathroom and there was someone sitting on our couch. I went back into the bedroom and said, "Adam, I hate to sound stupid, but I think there's someone in our living room." He quickly got out of bed, pushed me further into the room and went to investigate.

There was no one sitting on our couch, but we both thought it coul have been a person. It was just the guitar case and a sweatshirt. The two items were placed in such a way that it really looked like a person sitting there.

In other news, my grandmother is slowly getting worse. I've expressed to others that I'm not sure how to feel about this since we weren't very close. I'm sad she's dying, but know that she's been suffering for the past eight years with strokes and heart attacks.

I ask prayers for my mum. I can't imagine what it's like to watch you own mum slowly die.

I'd like it if you guys kept my friend Kathleen in your prayers. She recently had a miscarriage.

Update

Mum made it to be with grandma. All of her siblings are also there. I can only imagine that this is a hard time for them and for Gram who knows that she has a week to live... well less now.

Just thought I'd give an update.

Grandma

My grandmother is dying. She and my grandfather live in Ohio. My mum is rushing to meet them today and we're praying she makes it in time for one last vist with gram. It's a tough thing when you know someone has been suffering for so long. You want them to be at peace, but you want one last time together. My mum is a wreck, as she should be.

Prayers greatly appreciated.

We're back!

We had a lovely trip in the Bahamas. My dad was very surprised to see us for his birthday. When we arrived he was cleaning fish in the kitchen and when I walked in he asked what Ry and I were doing there. He was very glad to see us. We had a lovely trip that included spending Papa's birthday with him. The flights there were wonderful and I thought it would be the same on the way back, but alas I missed my connection (due to no fault of my own, only the unhelpful people of a certain airline) and had to purchase formula from a CVS which I had to get to by cab. I didn't get home till midnight with no suitcase because I ended up having to get a flight to Portland and not Manchester. Suitcase came in last night... late... like when no one should ring your doorbell. But I have it back!

A few photos of our adventure...



Ryan and Muma pose with the Junkanoo man.



" I don't like the sand. It's icky!"



In the big Atlantis chair.



Ryan looking at fish in Atlantis on Papa's birthday.



Ryan on the plane playing with his new toy.

Random Stuff

I promised myself I'd find time to make more than one post this month. I don't want anyone to stop checking because I haven't made a post in a month!

I've managed to get some sort of cold. I thought I'd dodged the bullet, but I guess I was bound to get this cold since Adam, Ryan and little Allison all had it.

Easter

It doesn't feel much like Easter here. We'll still have snow on the ground tomorrow. I'm longing to see tulips and other such flowers dotting people's lawns and there are none. While it may not feel like Easter, it is. Church happenings point that out very much. You can't go to Good Friday service and not be aware that tomorrow is the day we celebrate Christ's resurrection. He gave us this spring.

I read a wonderful line in my devotional today. It was talking about how easy it may be for us to point our fingers at the phariseees and say how horrible they were for getting Jesus hung on the cross. BUT "There are no good guys and bad guys, just a race of sinners who are passionately loved by their heavenly Father and who have been undeservingly redeemed by his beloved Son."

Passinately loved -- loved so much that He would die for us. We who turn our backs on Him and shake our fists when the going gets tough were undeservingly redeemed. Hallalujah, what a Savior!

Traveling

If Ry's passport makes it in time, we'll be leaving for beautiful Nassau next weekend. I'm excited about going. I will miss Adam not traveling with us. I will worry that he won't wake up in time for work and eat very unhealthy meals while I'm away. I will worry until we get there that Ry will be a horrible almost one year old... kicking and screaming to get down. But when I am there, I will relax and enjoy my dad's 62nd birthday (it's a surprise) and I will let Nana and Papa spoil my little rascal to death. I'm excited to see friends I haven't seen in awhile and just be at home in the warm weather. Should be fun.

Packing

And because of said trip I have already started packing. I hope to bring everything we may need that dear old mum doesn't have. Ry has helped with the packing, mostly closing and opening the suitcase.

So there's my post. I've enjoyed reading yours (if you have a blog). I'll be back soon. Promise

Last night we had another crazy bit of snow. It's April! Make the snow stop! Last week we had some nice spring weather and now it's like winter again. Good news is that Ry hadn't played in the snow yet, so he got his chance and here are some of the photos.

UPDATE ON THE MCGEE FAMILY

So I haven't posted in almost a month. I didn't fall off the face of the earth. We've just been living at the doctor's office and feeling a bit tired.

Since January I've had my fair share of doctor visits. It started with blurry vision and a trip to the eye doctor. That lead to a visit with my doctor after two eye docotrs found nothing worng. Then somewhere along the way I had a CT scan and an MRI and lots of blood work.

Good news... there's nothing wrong with my brain!

Diagnosis: Hyperthyroidism. That same monster that made my wicked since during pregnancy has come back in the form of a thyroid problem. An ultra sound showed my thyroid is swollen with multipile systs on it, but not to worry... we'll look at it all again in 6 months. While we wait for six months to pass, I'm taking meds for my hyperthyroidism and crossing my fingers that the next blood test comes out normal. Fun thing about the meds, I dropped 5 pounds in one day after they upped the dose. YIPPIE!

Then we all had that awful stomach virus that is going around. Ry had it first and then we both had it. It was the worst thing ever! The Monday I had it I slept on the couch most of the day. Ry would crawl over and climb up on me for nap time. When he was awake he'd play some more by himself (he's so good) and come to me when he was hungry. It was a wicked tough day. Dear Husband worked that Monday, but had Tuesday off, which was nice for Ry to have someone to play with. Allison, the baby I babysit, missed two days and then I was deathly afraid she would get it even after super disinfecting our house and all toys. She managed to stay healthy, but the week after brought us a cold! We're all doing much better.

And the weather has been crazy. One day it's like spring and we walk outside sans jackets and the next it's horrible snow storm, like today! Oh Maine! How we love thee!

In other news... sister-in-law found out she is having a baby girl. We're very excited for them.

Ry is growing like a weed. His favorite word is still "hi." He's liked that word for many months now. Sometimes we'll be driving and talking and out of nowhere he just starts saying hi, then we say it back and it keeps going on and on. It's cute.

He's still not walking. I think he'll have it mastered by the time he turns one, which is just two months away!!! Time for another little McGee =-) But thyroid must be in control first, so we wait!