Christmas 2010

I cannot believe it! It’s been too long since I’ve posted here! 18 months was the last one? Holy heck, where have I been? Oh yeah, in toddlerville.

It’s been too long. Sorry about that! They are now 2-1/2 years old and in preschool, can you believe that? They are loving it!! So am I! Time off is like heaven to me. Don’t get me wrong, they are the coolest couple of kids you’d ever meet, but time off is precious around here. They are all over the place. Talking up a storm and learning so much. They can count…mostly. Cameron is very good at it and enjoys counting. He knows the entire alphabet. He’s starting to recognize letters and he recognizes most numbers that he sees. He sings songs that he’s heard maybe once or twice in his lifetime. He seems to read books occasionally, but I am a bit in disbelief on that one. It just seems like it cause he’ll pick up a book he hadn’t seem in months and tell me the title. I can understand about 90% of what he says. He’s putting so many words together in coherent sentences, I’m totally flabbergasted every time he speaks up. Kiefer is getting much better. I understand about 65% of what he says. Maybe a little more on good days. He sings…or at least tries to sing. He has a hard time sticking with the tune, but you can tell what he’s trying to sing at least. He’s gotten very clingy to me, which I’m not at all upset about. Cameron wants nothing to do with me most of the time. At night, both boys want their daddy to put them to bed. I’m still waiting for them to ask for me. It’s an extreme rarity. I think both have asked once in their lifetime for me to put them to bed. It breaks my heart, but I know I’ll get my time some day.

They are starting potty training. That’s a hoot. OK, not really. They started out ok, but then we had construction in the house and went on vacation in the middle of it, and it kind of messed things up. Now they don’t want to use the toilet or potty unless they are taking a bath. They have no trouble using the toilets at school….just not here. One day, I’m going to have to surprise them with undies only. I’m going to have to get my cleaning supplies out and ready for those days. I don’t look forward to that, but I am hoping for good results. They both think the pull-up is a diaper and use it as such. But, I know Kiefer does not like it when he’s naked and goes on the floor. He freaks out if he sees doody on the floor. I’m hoping that’ll encourage him to use the potty once the undies are on. Cameron, I’m not sure how much he cares if he’s gone on the floor. All I know is they have to be trained by 3 years old. They can still be in pull-ups in pre-k, but they’d like them to be able to wear undies during the day time, pull-ups at nap. I’m not in a huge rush yet. They have until June to learn to use the potty. But wouldn’t it be nice if I didn’t have to change so many diapers/pull-ups any more….

I’ve learned as they get into the kitchen cabinets and drawers that they like jobs. I tell them to throw somethign out or get somethign for me, they love it. Absolutely love knowing they can help. They don’t get in to as much stuff if I have a job for them. I still don’t cook much though. I feel awful about that one, but I don’t cook. I have to face the fact that I will never love it. I just need to learn how to do it on a timely basis and plan my meals. I have never had to plan them before. I know how to organized the time, but I just don’t know how to keep them occupied while I cook without them getting their hands on the stove top, in the oven, or in a drawer. So, I tend to hold off as long as I can. Sometimes their daddy is available to help. It’s still difficult.

Speaking of dogs, I have since lost my dog, Sparky. She’s gone to rainbow bridge. I am now in possession of her ashes. It’s still sad, but I feel good at the same time. I feel like this is what she wanted. I got that feeling from the day she was supposed to be put down. We were planning on a Wednesday, but Kiefer got sick just as we were about to go to the vet’s. Well, we rescheduled for that Friday. No one got sick so off we went. On that Wednesday, however, I saw the look on her face. She actually looked disappointed. She was so ready to go. The next day, it was like looking at a ghost. She was not supposed to be there. Her spirit was already halfway out the door! Friday came and she wanted to get into the vet’s office. She doesn’t like the vet’s very much, but she knew why she was there. It was a sad day for me. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. But, by the look on her face, she was at peace. Skye has been missing her terribly. She’s had a few acupuncture appointments since and that has helped her out tons. She now has some liver and pancreas problems to work through and a wound on her nose from surgery. She had a suspicious mole on her nose removed. We have yet to get the results of the biopsy. She’s still having trouble eating, but she does eat at least. She’s getting old. I’m not sure how long Skye will be with us, but I’m hoping for a couple of years at least. She’s not as interested in the boys as she used to be. I accept that. She’s used to being alone all this time because of Sparky, but it’s sad to see her be so aloof around the boys as they love her so much. She will lick them and play a little with them, but then it’s back in to her room. The boys ask about Sparky. It’ hard as they don’t understand death yet. They accept it when I tell them she’s not here anymore. They just love Skye though and do ask for her some times.

She recently has been to the vet who found that she has arthritis in both her back hips, she’s losing her hearing (quickly it seems), and she’s starting to lose her eyesight. She’s also got asthmatic bronchitis, OCD (osteochondritis) in her shoulder, and more arthritis in her elbow. Meanwhile, she’s got babies to share her attention with. We are moving…yet again. Her world around her is just so uncertain these days. She seems to put up with everything so well, but yet, she’s getting old and things are going to get harder and harder for her to deal with. I’m just hoping the new house has a yard she can get some energy out in. She doesnt’ have much time left in her before she won’t be able to take advantage of the freedom of a fenced in back yard. We don’t have one in this house adn she really needs one. She may not be able to run like she wants to, but she’ll have the freedom to do whatever she’s capable of then. Skye can also get some bottled up energy out. She needs to so badly! She’s young enough where she’s got a few years left of that energy to burn off.

I just hope that Sparky is able to deal with all this change a little longer. I’m going to miss her sooooo terribly much when she passes. That time is getting nearer and I’m so afraid of it. I don’t know how well I will be able to handle it. She was my first baby. We shared so much together.I taught her so much, and she taught me in return. She’s so special to me, but these days I have not been able to show it. I know this hurts her. I know she doesn’t understand what’s really going on here. She is not very baby friendly, but she’s doing her best to respect their existence here. I’m so proud of her for getting this far. She’s trusting me so much that i will not smack her around the babies like her first family did. I would never hurt her. She does act up around them unfortunately though. She’s never hurt them, but she’s gotten snippy towards them and I let her know I do not like that behavior. I just keep in mind how she’s refraining from doing anything more than a snip in the air. I dont’ let her stay around them alone at least. Skye, loves these boys and has been a angel around them. I’m not worried about her. I’m actually more concerned with her pruning them than biting.

Every day, however, I do try to give Sparky some attention to remind her that she is still special to me. I jsut hope she sees that she is so dear to me. I love her so much!

What is it with dog breath that grosses people out? I mean I’ve smelled some nasty people breath in my life, but this smell I whiffed from my dog will haunt me for the rest of my life! <<VOMIT>>

Skye used to be the stinky dog. Her breath smells like a field of lilacs compared to Sparky’s breath now. I just hope it’s nothing to be worried about. Sparky hasn’t been feeling well lately, but it seemed she was getting better. It could be another issue all together, or just a bad day of doggie breath. I gave her some doggie breath mints that’ll hopefully take care of the situation at least for a little while.

I’ve had some tough times at my school. Nothing really bad, but the teacher we have on Tuesdays and Thursdays has at times dropped a surprise speech on our laps. Speeched scare me! I just make the speech because I have to now-a-days, but they used to scare the crap out of me. I am doing better though. That doesn’t mean I don’t dread the day it happens.

After that class, it’s usually somewhere between 9:30pm and 10:30pm. I call Jason on my way home and on occasion another friend just so I have a driving buddy. I get tired around that time and it helps to talk to someone. I enter my drive way, open my garage door, and park the car in the garage. I unlock my door and enter and immediately, there are two very happy faces fighting to get to me before I even step into the door. It’s the best feeling in the world to know you are loved that much!

Sparky, my shepherd mix, is a skinny girl. In fact, she’s a bit bony right now. I’ve been feeding her a lot more than usual but her metabolism is on some sort of speed trip right now. She’s about 10 1/2 years old now and is as active as a puppy on crack. I thought dogs’ systems were suppose to slow down by this point? I guess in her case, she’s opposite. But, for the record, I feed her twice a day, every day, veggies, tomato sauce, and fish. She’s on a special low-inflammation diet as is her sister.

Skye, my Siberian husky, is the opposite of Sparky. She usually borders her weight limit on the high end. She doesn’t eat as much as Sparky but she gains the weight anyhow. The way I see it, she just doesn’t have the same amount of energy as Sparky. She doesn’t need as much food as she does. She’s about 8 1/2, but she’s like a young lady who occasionally sticks her fingers in an electrical outlet. She gets these bursts of energy where no one, and I mean NO ONE, should get in her way. She’ll spin around and around and around and occasionally run in a circle. If Sparky gets too close to her, she’ll beat her up with her butt. Watch out for that thing! Her ass is a blunt-force weapon, and she knows how to use it. She’ll knock down Sparky down like a bulldozer running through a pack of sunflowers. Of course, Sparky does get back up or hold her ground and goes in for another rush of Skye mania. I think Sparky has a death wish sometimes. She’s a smart dog, but she can’t help herself when it comes to figuring out what makes Skye tick.

These two dogs have made me laugh, cry, get mad, excited, and fall in-love. They are my best friends, my bed warmers, my confidants, and my companions. Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. But he doesn’t stick his nose in my ass to greet me when I come home like my dogs do. How can anyone beat a wonderful greeting like that?