Day Two

Don't fall out of your seat people...I am finally blogging about day two when I have five million other things I should be attending to, like packing for an 8 day trip. Here we go anyway.

The second day the plan was to go to el centro mercado (the central market) in the morning and then meet up with my dad (he had to work a half day) and head to the ruins. The first half turned out as planned. We went the the central market which is this huge underground artisan type market with every possible trinket you could imagine...some less appropriate than others. It was really interesting to see the things they had to offer. It reminded me a lot of Jerusalem and the vendors behind the Damascus wall (is that what it is called?? I have a HORRIBLE memory for names). I bought a few little trinkets. Douglas loved it. He would stop at every little store and look around. In fact, he loved EVERYTHING about the trip. He wanted to try any thing that was native and wouldn't kill him or make him really sick. He wouldn't even drink normal soda, he wanted the obscure pineapple drink that they sold. He is fun to travel with!

They also have a cool area in the central market where you can buy fruits, veges and meat. I feel extreme gratitude for the regulations in our country after going to and smelling places like that. I remember going to the meat stores in Uruguay and seeing huge slabs hanging with flies all over. Makes me what to vomit (and you too, I am sure).

We picked up my dad around noon and headed back to their apartment where we were to meet our driver that would take us to all the ruins. The had rented a "new" since my parents car can't hold all of us and it is a long drive in a short amount of time. I wish I had taken a picture of the van because it was so ghetto. There weren't even seatbelts for everyone and the back row was more of a huge jump seat with a bar that dug into butts and backs. Seeing how I hoped to raise my children to adult hood, I suggested we don't go in the van. It was agreed and after a few phone calls another "new" van (which actually turned out to be new) was arranged for the next day.

With the change of plans we decided to go to Antigua for the rest of the day. We piled in my parent's SUV (with Jonathon in the back) and drove the 40 minutes out there. It is a cool old town with old buildings, many of which had been destroyed by earthquakes and volcanic eruption. We had lunch at a little deli-ish place and spent the day perusing the local shops. The streets are loaded with women selling EVERYTHING you can imagine. The kids sell too and the all gather around you asking you to buy. I bought a piece of jewelry there and a really cool old cheese bowl for taking pictures.

There is also a really old cathedral there that we walked around. I am normally not a scenic photographer, but there was so much amazing stuff I couldn't resist. I gave up on the editing part though since I realized it wasn't going to happen.

My parent's have to be back at their aparment by dark for safety reasons so we left before it got dark. So there you go, day two. I may edit as I remember, but I think that is it!



The central market.





My uncle and cousin. He bought necklaces for all his lady friends (my cousin). He was fun to have there...a good little brother figure to tease!

This is all the fresh produce I told you about and the native dress.




Mi and my mamacita.

Aren't these the coolest flowers. I had to resist putting up all the pics I took of them...they were so cool. And isn't my mom beautiful!!

Who is that handsome dude with his eyes half shut?

Oh, my one and only.

I loved all the colors. Why don't we paint our houses cool colors?



An old building that was destroyed.



Handsome man again.

Cool flower again.





























This is the volcano right outside town. I can't remember the name of it.



and no day is complete without ice cream.

Fantastic Read

I had to post this because at times I feel at a loss for resources regarding parenting. Sometimes I feel like people don't want to share the reality of it and I am all alone in this world where I struggle to know how to parent well. I read a lot of books about the subject. Some are good, but occasionally I read one that I find exceptional. This was a great book and gave me some really good tips on dealing with my oldest (and I think my second will be very similar so hopefully I will be ready, somewhat). I do have to say, however, that 4 has been a great age so far with J. I still struggle at times, but in general, it is smoother sailing.

The two year old though...she is a cute, feisty handful.

My Thing...

So we all have our "thing", right? I hope? You know, the thing you feel totally inadequate about (I guess I should use the word "things"...little more accurate). Well, I am here to confess to all of you what one of my major inadequacies is. I have thought a lot about this since I left a session yesterday of a client with an immaculately decorated and cleaned home and though I haven't come to terms with it, I want to. You know, it really stinks to have a list of things we feel we "should" do, or "should" be. Who decided these things anyways? I wish I was on that committee, because I sure would make it easier to live up to. Anyway, I digress.

So, I am horrible about keeping my house tidy. I have someone who cleans it every other week (a huge blessing and the only way I stay sane while working and having two little ones). I vacuum a few times a week. I make sure my dishes are done at night, but when it comes to things and clutter, I can't control it. I get on a binge and clean, organize and then slowly it all just returns to chaos. I get stacks of paper on my counters, nail polish bottles on the window ledge (out of reach of little hands, but not where it belongs), clean laundry on the couch, folded laundry that goes from my bed to my chest. And the toys...don't even get me started. I wish I could throw them all out at times. Sometimes I just wish I was someone else who could just stay on top of it all, who just took the time to put it away right after it was used. I wish I wasn't a packrat (I don't keep total junk, but if I see it having some future use, I keep it). It stinks to feel like that though, because I am me. I know this is how I am and I realize it will be a life long battle.

So, I am working hard to be okay with it. I don't want to apologize everytime someone stops by and my house is in disarray. If it bugs people, they need to give a heads up first and I will throw it all in the guest room and shut the door before they come.

So, there you go. I know I have many strengths and talents, but this is just not one of them and someday I WILL be all right with it. And, if you happen to be on the committee of how things "should" be...could you loosen up just a bit?

p.s. J's scab fell off today and it seems to be healing nicely. I will post the updates soon.

J's ER Adventure...

Well, most have heard about this, but I thought I would record it anyway and give a daily or every other day update with pictures.

So Friday I took the kids to Dairy Queen because Miss P was dry all day (we will discuss her lazy little potty habits another time)and D was out of town do it would be a fun little outing. We had enjoyed a yummy treat and the kids had gotten up and were running around. I didn't see a problem with it since it was almost empty. I was cleaning up and a friend had called so I wasn't really paying attention. All of a sudden J man screamed and started bawling. He tends to be a little over reactive so I wasn't totally alarmed, but told my friend I had to go and ran over to him. As I ran over I noticed a pool of blood all over the ground. He was grabbing his face and I could see his nose was bleeding. There was a lady and son at the table right next to him so I asked for some napkins and they handed me a few. I went to stop the bleeding and when he took his hand down I noticed (and wanted to gag) that his lip was torn down right in the middle and about 1/2" below the bottom of his lip and bleeding profusely.

I am quite impressed that I was so level headed during the whole ordeal. I yelled to the workers that I needed some more napkins. They ran over and I told them that I needed to go to the hospital. An older woman who worked there offered to drive and I agreed. I helped J walk to the car as I held pressure and another worker carried P out. I was driving my brother's little Jetta and as I got to the car and started searching for keys I realized that there was no way I would be able to get there in the car. The two car seats make it impossible for me to fit between and there was no way I could leave J alone to apply pressure. I realized that my only alternative was to call 911. I called and walked J back in and laid him in a booth. The 911 dispatcher asked a series of questions while the ambulance came. J was hysterical this whole time. By the time they came in with the gurney, J had calmed down a bit and they were able to get him into the ambulance. Because I had P too, J had to go alone and I followed in my car. He was really brave. They gave him a basketball teddy bear (which he named "basketball sports"--creative, I know) which he LOVES.

We got to the hospital and they took us right to a trauma room. The dr. came right in, took a look and told us that it was beyond her scope of ability and that I could either call an OR doctor or a plastic surgeon. I opted for the latter. We had to wait about 45 minutes for him to arrive, but in the meantime they started an IV (that was not a fun event for J, though he calmed down quickly) and I told him a lot of really lame, made up stories (definitely not a storyteller). Finally Dr. Klomp came and after discussing different options, they gave J some Ketamine which is a conscious anesthesia. That was the first time I really lost it. It was so hard to see his little eyes flick back and forth and know how brave he had to be. I left and wandered the halls for a bit. I should mention that my friend Jen had come and picked P up--thank you, thank you. P knew this was serious because when I told her to sit on a chair and not get up, she didn't move. That is unheard of for her.

So, I finally came back in as the dr. was stitching the last layer. He had to stitch it in four layers for a total of 19 stitches in the lip and one on the roof of the mouth. He would have also put one in his gums, but said it would just tear through so didn't do it. He also had a bit cut on his tongue and really bruised upper gumline. The hard thing about repairing the lip is making sure the bottom lip matches all the way across...that is why I opted for the plastic surgeon. He was fantastic. He explained everything and assured me that I could call for ANY reason. That is nice, especially when you tend to be a little over protective.

It took about 20 minutes for J to come out of the anesthesia after the dr. was done. It was kind of crazy to watch him turn toward my voice but not be able to really see me. The first thing he finally said is, "I want my daddy" and "I want to go home." Later he asked, "Is this a dream." Oh, how I wish it had been. Then, later he looked at me and said, "mom, you have four eyes." He was having a little double vision. Douglas finally got to the hospital and J insisted on sitting up even though he couldn't hold himself up so we sat and help him up and laughed at all the crazy things he said.

Finally when he could hold himself up, the nurse brought a wheelchair and we took him home. He has really been very good considering all. He is a little drama about taking medicine and swishing his mouthwash, but has been relatively happy. The Dr. prescribed some Lortab and that helped a lot. The first day he spent the majority laying on the couch watching TV. He can't eat any hard food, use a fork or straw for 6 weeks. He can't get in any bodies of water for 2. The Dr. said that it takes six weeks for it to heal 90% and a year to heal the rest.

I have been somewhat of a basket case since we have been home. I had J sleep with me the first two days so I got little sleep. That one top of coming off a trip with little sleep, week with little sleep and emotional exhaustion has not suited me well. I finally don't feel like crying all day today which is nice.

It looks like J may be getting a little infection in his mouth now, so we go to the plastic surgeon tomorrow to get it checked out. The stitches should dissolve in 5-7 days which is crazy to me that our bodies heal that fast.

So, that is it. My first really traumatic event as a mother. It is amazing how our hearts can just ache for our children. I am so glad that we have the health care we do though and that I could opt for a plastic surgeon. Yes, it will cost a pretty penny, but I would make the same choice again and again. Let's pray our health care remains as great as it is!

So, here are some pics. The first few were taken with my phone, so the quality isn't great and the angle doesn't show the severity, but you get the point. It is gross, be warned.

Before:






Right after the surgery





Day Two:





Day Three:



Day Four:

Little Miss P

Before I show the cute pics I just want to list a few of the things P did for me today...

turned the hose on and soaked herself
peed on her carpet
took her undies off countless times
covered my kitchen floor in water
squeezed Jackson's stitched up lip and made it bleed
got out a knife and attempted to use it to open three goguts in the family room

and the rest I think I have blocked out. You may ask yourself, "but where are you, Staci, when all this is going on?" Oh, you know, going to the bathroom, calling on the warranty on the fridge, putting makeup on. I guess the solution is to NEVER do anything but follow her around and be her entertainment committee...she walks around aimlessly if I don't. And, she WON'T watch any movies. None. Not for 2 minutes.

I am going crazy. Please remind me that they don't stay two forever and that I should just enjoy the cute things she does...because she is very cute, at times. Actually, don't remind me of that, because that would annoy me. Just give me sympathy. That is what I really want :).

And so, here is the cute side of her. She actually asked me to take her picture. WHAT?!?! We might have a bright future together if this continues. So here are the many faces of Miss P....













p.s. Can you believe her beautiful hair??

Guatemala Day 1

hmmm...only 3 months late. This task has been a little daunting since there is so much to say. I will do my best at being thorough and remembering (not too good at that). We left for Guatemala Wednesday after D got off work. We headed down to Vegas to drop the kids off with my amazing aunt who had offered to watch them (I don't think she knew what she was getting herself into!). We also met up with my uncle and 14 year old cousin who can with us. We were on the red eye to Guat. with a connection through Houston. It was fairly uneventful. I think I slept most of the way. We landed in Guat. at 11am and once we were through customs etc. my mom took us back to their apartment to freshen up and then out to have lunch with my dad at a Mexican restaurant. (okay, so this is really travelogey...sorry.) After lunch we went to check out the embassy where my dad works. It was a much different than I expected. For one, I have seen the Saint and was really disappointed not to have guards on the outside that I could run up to yelling that I was an American and be protected from harm. In fact the embassy in Guatemala is a little ghetto. There are marines at the entrance (inside), but not as super coolish like the movies portray.

My mom showed us her office (she is a nurse there) and then my dad showed us around where all the other consulars and foreign nationals work. It was pretty interesting learning about how it all runs. Douglas opted to stay the rest of the day with my dad (he is a little obsessed with military books and govt. stuff--I think still holding to the dream that he will join the military). I went back with my mom and took a fat nap. It was just a slow evening to let us rest for the next few crazy days. I wish I had taken pics of my parents apartment. It was really cool and nice, but didn't even cross my mind. This is the only picture I took the first day...



better than nothing, I guess?

Part two another time.

bilingual??

J is just full of wisdom and insight. The other day he was telling me something about being in big "doo doo" . I was surprised he knew that word and so I asked him what it meant. In his duh mom tone of voice he informed me that it means "trouble...in Spanish."

Today's conversation...

Douglas was driving J home from church and they saw a man in his front yard in street clothes. This was the conversation...

J-"He already got home from church and changed."

D-"He might not have gone to church."

J-"Lucky."

Cute kids

I have tried to plan activities while D has been away and one of the days we went to the cabin to have fun with Steph and Tara and their kids. We went out to take pics of the kids. It was kinda crazy with 10 kids and 3 adults! We stayed really late and then headed home around 10:45pm. Paige puked on the way down the mountain which was delightful. It was kind of creapy to pull over in the middle of the pitch black no where and try to clean it up. She of course was still up at 7am the next day while J slept until 10:15am. Wouldn't it have been dreamy if they had both done that?

Dear Douglas,

I really need you to come home from scout camp now. Three late nights which will be six by the time you get home are going to do me in. I know, I know, I should just go to bed, but what it the point when it is empty (and I get kinda scared when I am alone)??

Oh, I miss you a lot too. I am definitely not as funny when you aren't around to laugh at my jokes.

xoxo...your adoring wife.

A little update...

It has been a busy, HOT summer and I am so far behind in my blogging. Here are a few of the highlights of the past two months. Some pictures will follow...

Went to Guatemala with Douglas and had a fabulous time with my parents and Uncle and cousin. My parents will be there until the end of the year so we really wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. We saw some amazing stuff...Guatemala Cite, Quirigua, Tikal, Rio Dulce, Livingston (a little Carribean town) and Antigua. I got to brush up on my rusty Spanish and we thoroughly enjoyed being childless.

D turned 31.

Potty trained Paige...still wondering why...I now have seen the inside of every local that we have patronized in the past two months.

Swimming lessons.

Jackson's musical theatre camp...so cute.

Family here in town for the fourth.

My brother in law's wedding in Cali and getting to see all of Douglas' family.

And a whole lotta summer fun.

Here are a few pictures for the grandmas.