The light at the end of the tunnel....so to speak

Well, I think we have seen the light at the end of the tunnel. In regards to Kiira's pooping problem that is. The problem being, in case some of you aren't up to date, well, she won't. Unless there are certain conditions....
Aaaaanyway.....we have now achieved THREE poopy in the potties! Yes, THREE. This is none other than a small miracle since we have been dealing with this issue for uuhhhhh...let's see here....can I think back that far....yes about two and a half long, tear filled, mom and dad hair yanking out of their heads years! Two and a half years of crying (both child and parents), two and a half years of watching her cross her legs to hold it in (that girl has some of the strongest muscles around when it comes to that!), two and a half years of watching her make herself sick before goddamn pooping.
Yes, she also has a mind like a steel trap. She had two victories some time ago, in recent days said three poopies which now total 5. Well, she informed me yesterday that daddy said she could have a FISH (oh lord, here we go again) if she did FIVE poopy in the potties. Guess where we are going tomorrow? To pick out some poor fish who will cringe when she sees us coming. I'm sure in the fishy world, word has gotten back that 528 Silverado Drive is a death trap for fish. Poor fish....I apologize in advance. It really is unintentional (unless you were our last fish who actually jumped to her death unbenounced to us - till I found her crispy...sigh......).
So....yeah for Kiira! Too bad for our future fish. Let's hope Kiira's trend continues. I've spared you all any photos of this latest victory....

Things are a'flutter

Kiira performed in her latest and greatest ballet. She was....yes...a monarch butterfly. Dressed in black with wings and antenae, she did a marvelous job in front of thousands of people (yes thousands, it was at Marin Civic Auditorium) performing her much practiced routine. Despite rocky starts to these performances (she wouldn't get on stage for the first two) - she handles it like a champ now. Not a jitter in her. We go through a dress rehearsal the day before and then the big show. I'd post the video but uhhhh hummm....someone whom I won't mention...taped over it.....
Hope the photo does justice.

Robin and Kiira

I realized that I don't have any photos of Kiira's trusty steed Robin Hood on the blog. Here he is....with the equestrian herself....

Oh Rennie boy!

Well, we had quite the scare this week. Poor Rennie had to be rushed to the ER at midnight (is it EVER normal hours?) on Tuesday. He was throwing up ALOT and looked like he was pregnant. Two xrays, a possible surgery, and quite a dent in the pocketbook later he is home and recuperating. We were lucky that we got him there in time - that is, before his stomach flipped (they can die from this...). For once, it wasn't something he ate (that we know of). That's good. What did cause it, we don't know. So, that's bad. One vet recommended what I call the tummy tuck where his tummy is surgically attached to his sides so that it can't flip (in case our angel DOES get into something in the future). Our regular vet is not leaning towards that. Gonna have to ask a third - need a tie breaker. So, Karen Z - if you're reading this - I may just have to call you and ask your opinion! In the meantime we will watch him closely and hope that it was just a one off! Also pictured - our friend Ginger the pup who was with us that week adding moral support. Evan is seen comforting aforementioned bloated pup when he got home....

Rainy day activities

It's been a bit overcast and rainy lately so alot of indoor time! Why wait for the Legos to come to you when you can go to the Legos?
Who is this masked bandit (thanks to the cousins for some good rainy day activities!)

In the family

Ok, ok, this isn't really about klutziness but it seems like it's in the same family. My sister sent me the below email (I've paraphrased) and I couldn't stop laughing. Seems like something I'd do....
"So, I had to go to Mackay this afternoon and was running a little late. I had wanted to leave by 1pm and got about 3 phone calls just as I was getting ready to walk out the door. None of which I could not take. So I was running around and rushing. I need to emphasize this. In the end, I got there on time...
I got home at 6:30 and read the paper while waiting for Tom to arrive home. He arrived home at 7, sat down next to me on the sofa and began to read the paper I had just finished reading. At this point I took the opportunity to look down at my feet and realized I had been wearing 2 different shoes all day long. No, they don’t even remotely look similar. One was white with flowers on it and the other was brown. They are however both slip ons with the same height heal which would explain why I didn’t feel a difference. Anyway, I’m not sure my friend noticed, or anyone at the fuel station I stopped at to put fuel in the car. If so, I’m sure it made them laugh inside because it has had me laughing for the last 15 minutes!!! Wow. Talk about a blonde moment."

Into Orbit

Well, as some of you may know by reading past blog entries, I have started riding again. Above - a photo of me in my glory days on my horse Silver Spoon. I think I was well, maybe 16 or 17 yrs old.
Riding is a form of relaxation for me and some quality bonding time for Kiira and me seeing as she rides at the same time. Each week I feel like I've been getting a little stronger which boosts my confidence I have to say. This week - I was wearing some new britches (yeah, yeah, I got too big for my britches, go ahead and say it...) and different 1/2 chaps. Things were feeling good. Also was demo'ing a new saddle that the barn had and I was feeliing pretty secure. Lumpy, the owner of the barn was giving me my lesson this particular day. It was a great lesson. She was doing exercises with me that I felt were really getting my form back into shape. We did some flat work for about 20 min and she set up a little crossrail/vertical combination jump. Translated - it was a small jump in the shape of an 'X' then the horse canters one stride and jumps another small jump that is a pole straight across, slightly bigger than the 'X' jump. Have to say - I did quite well for not having jumped in 7 hears (I let Lumpy know my not so recent jumping timeline before the jumping began mind you....). I guess she thought I did quite well too b/c she raised that second jump and made it an oxer. An oxer is two of the the vertical ones I just described close together so translated it is one WIDE jump! Well, my horses name is Orbit, she jumps QUITE round. Different than I am used to. It kind of throws you out of the saddle a bit. BUT, I stayed on. THANK you very much.
Well, before I get too cocky here, pretty much the next time I did said jump, Orbit got a bit bouncy after the jump for sake of changing her lead and, bloop, there I go, bounced right off. Into Orbit shall I say. Also - I remind you of the title of my blog. I'm surpised it has actually taken me this long to write of one of my many wipe-outs (horse or even no horse included!)
Bad news - well, I fell off. And I fell off on the side of the arena that was actually muddy. Good news - the mud was quite soft. Oh well, nothing like REALLY getting back into it!
It's amazing though - Kiira was in anothr barn at the time and it seems there was some reverberation of "she fell off" going through such that in no time Kiira headed over to see 'ole mom climbing back on and doing it all again (and staying on...). Guess it turned out to be a good lesson for us both. Gotta get back on and get it right. Luckily these 'ole bones were a bit sore but that's all. I will say though that I'm going to invest in the "better" helmet. Apparently they've improved in the last 10 years. I think it might be worth it given my recent bounciness! Rest easy mom. And stop that hand fluttering to your chest - we know you're doing it.... :-)

Top 5 TV shows - and yours?

Ok - don't know why I thought of this the other day but I think having a top 5 list every now and again is a good thing. Our first topic (and this is designed to be participatory so dust off the cobwebs, dig back in the recesses, and conjure up some good shows from either now or zen - okay, okay - I live in CA - I have to throw that part in) is TV shows you'll look back upon fondly when you're using the cane, the walker or even someone else to hold you up.

Heidi's top 5 TV shows as of 1/9/08

1. Law and Order (the original - none of this new takeoff crap)
2. Scrubs - tickles my quirky funnybone
3. Monkeys - reminds me of days stayed home sick
4. Magnum PI - got me hooked on my first "crime" shows
5. Ugly Betty - I think the writing is just spectacular
On deck: Boston Legal - also tickles my quirky funnybone

Alan's top 5 TV shows as of 1/9/08

1. Cheers
2. Northern Exposure
3. Scrubs - that's why I love him!
4. Mary Tyler Moore
5. Newhart - the VT Inn show - not the other one
On deck: Sex and the City, Sopranos, LA Law, Westwing

Ok - now you see the little word "Comments" on the bottom here - click it. Good. Now fill in your top 5.

Calvin the kitty and other stuff

Well, he's not improving. Again, don't tell Calvin because he is still acting his same old self. So, that's good. What's not - well, the fluid buildup in his chest. I am now supposed to up all medication such that he gets three pills in the morning and two at night. Oh lordy. Picture last post plus add giving cat 3 pills in morning. Uggghhhhhh.
On another note - I feel like I am back in rehab. I've bitten the bullet and gone back to Weight Watchers to hopefully lose that last bit of weight that I've said I always would. So, again I frequently gaze lovingly at that list of "no-no" foods on the side of my blog. Insert slight drooling. New mantra, "I want this", "I can do this" and more crap like that. Made the appointment with the personal trainer since I have several unused sessions. And low and behold - she threw in a few extras perhaps knowing that weight doesn't seem to melt from my body as it does others (or so it seems to me). Let's see if I can pull off THAT time management feat. Oh yeah, have I mentioned I have two new clients? As usual, they want things ASAP. Never a dull moment.

Blustery day

Yup. That says it all. We've made it through relatively unscathed. Each year, the rainy season seems to kick it into high gear by "announcing" it is here. This year, the announcement was made via 85 mph winds on the Golden Gate Bridge and the closing of the Richmond Bridge. Also joining the announcement winds were the "flooding" signs and the "we're not home" sandbags. That water is a wiley guest though and always seems to find it's way into the party. Supermarkets and hardware stores were sold out of D batteries and flashlights. Mill Valley, the town adjacent to us was hit hard. Many have been without power for 4 days now. Thankfully, we undergrounded our electrical wires about 5 years back and are now thinking that wasn't such a bad investment. Trees were down everywhere but thankfully had no lines to strike in our neighborhood. That, of course, doesnt' mean that clever Mother Nature didn't get us somehow. One of our bushes got uprooted and well, let's just say that we feel all the ants in a 5 mile radius have decided to boogie it on down in the Hirvonen-White household. Mercifully, Kiira is no longer afraid of them and doesn't scream at the top of her lungs when she sees them. THAT was a long rainy season.....

What I do all day

Well, I often get the question, "what do you do all day?" or "why do you have so many errands?". This question is mostly posed by my husband. So, by the urging of some equal errand running girlfriends, I've decided to type up a typical day.
6 am - Evan wakes, I fix bottle for Evan and coffee for me before getting him
6:15 am - get Evan out of bed
6:20-7:30 - in no particular order, dodge child clinging to my legs in order to unload dishwasher and reload. Wash all plastic things by hand b/c I am too paranoid to DW them because of chemicals they could give off. Clean counters with anti-bacterial natural cleaner. All the while, still dodging small child and trying to drink hot coffee while not spilling it on said child. Child's favorte pastime: unloading DW as I load it. Task takes twice as long. When finished, take a sweep of living room where i find numerous dishes that never made it into the kitchen to get loaded into dishwasher. Load dishwasher a second time. Clean stray plastics a second time. Now, you may ask - why don't i give the living room a perusal before loading for the first time - can't say that I'm all that sharp at 6:30 am. That's the short answer.
7:30 - Kiira wakes up. Make her milk. Repeat dodging of said small child. Whining begins of same small child because he wants breakfast. Kiira insists that she sits on my lap as she has warmed milk. I've figured out that this is the only way she can guarantee I'll sit for that long at this hour. To sit on me that is. Turn on TV for short show so I can now prepare breakfast for both kids. Whining continues in background as littlest one is still hungry.
7:45 - breakfast is served. Smallest child eats as fast as I can cut fruit so grunts intermingle with whining as clearly i am not fast enough. Biggest child eats like bird but still barking orders from couch while i try to cut fast enough to keep up with small grunting whining child
8:00 am - deposit both children on couch, fed and ready to continue TV program. Tell them I'll be taking a shower.
8:02 am - smallest child finds me while hot steamy water is just beginning to saturate greasy, tangled, there-could-be-a-bird-in-the-back-of-it-hair. Commence combination of pounding on shower glass and water muffled screaming. By both that is.
8:07 am - can't take banging anymore, decide no one sees my underarms or legs in winter, don't really need to shave. Lucky to get hair/body/teeth somewhat washed and brushed.
8:10 am - balance small speechless but loud child on lap so screaming will subside. Pull harmful things from him as fast as he can grab them. Commence "beauty treatment". Child takes interest in makeup. What the hell, if it keeps him occupied....the pink eyeshadow is a nice touch. And the eyeliner...well...brings out the tawny highlights in his hair.
8:15 am - wrestle brush through hair that clearly was not moisturized enough, dodge small child (still on lap) trying to grab brush. Try to interest him in makeup again. Clearly no luck - needs whatever mommy is interested in. Balance child while trying to blow dry hair. With some luck - no one gets burned.
8:20 am - more screaming while mom deposits smallest child on floor so dressing can begin. Mom clearly seeing this as a speed issue and not a fashion one. Child clinging to leg while pants are tryng to be slid on. Time check 20 minutes to get "healthy, sugar free" lunch made, oldest child dressed and both of said items into car for school.
8:21 am - oh crap - forgot to give the cat his pill. Find cat. Place pill in pill popper. Give cat pill. Cat spits pill out. Try #2 to give cat pill. Cat spits pick out again. Try #3 to give cat pill. Cat now looking with serious distaste at me - despite 15 pill-popping free years. Cat spits pill out again. All the while I am mumbling incoherently, "third time's a charm". Cat does NOT grasp thing. Try #4 - new resolve, by both cat and me - pill miraculously goes down.
8:25 pm - another time check. more mad dashing around house.
8:45 am - trying to dodge smallest child while looking for needed school items. Child seems to have developed herculean grasp on mom's legs. Child is once again picked up and mom finishes tasks with one hand while holding small child in other.
8:46 am - sigh of relief as 1/2 of chaos is left at home. Rush to school in order to make "rinca ronca"
9:00 am - success, oldest child dropped off after running from parking lot, whipping coat off, handing off lunch and catching tail end of train going through school door.
9:01 am - sigh of relief - most of chaos taken care of for time being.
9:05 am - back in car. See I've missed a phone call in the 2 minutes I've been away from damned thing. Check message. Pull out list of items to be done that day. And off I go to:
- Drop off the drycleaning, pick up the drycleaning
- Drop off the printer cartridges in order to be recycled like good citizens we are
- Go to grocery store in search of tasty organic produce and environmentally friendly beauty products (luckily in abundance in our area)
- catch cup of coffee on run
- Go to tailor to drop off pants to be hemmed. Pick up oldest child's blankie which seems to have been left there god only knows how long ago
- Go to store to get fitted single sheet since oldest child having nightmares and sleeping on "nest" in our room periodically. Trusty $5 off coupon in hand.
- Shop for baby present for husband's boss
- Shop for wrapping paper and card for above present
- Re-check list of items to do, realize not all will get done is small window of "school time". Re-prioritize.
- think about lunch. abandon real lunch in favor of something that i can pick up as oldest child now needs to be picked up from school
- think about how many emails I will have to answer/delete upon returning home since I didn't have time to check email this morning.
- make 2-4 phone calls regarding playdates, child's activities or just plain returned calls. In car of course. The only theoretical uninterrupted time. Calling takes two times as long as several dead spots are hit. It seems "my phone team" is not 100% behind me this particular day per the commercials.
- Oops - time to pick up oldest child from school.
Are you exhausted yet? It's now 1 pm.
Other items on MENTAL to-do list: pick up house, vaccuum dog/cat hair, put away laundry, schedule upcoming classes, order ballet costumes for upcoming production, finish christmas cards, resubscribe to kid's magazines (like I have time to read!!), divy foot high mail pile taking over kitchen counter, conquer leaning tower of magazines in living room, contemplate a date night with my husband (stealthily peruse Marin Civic Auditorium concerts and dog ear pages of concerts I'd like to see), dream of a weekend away with Alan to NYC (think about how I'd have an hour to sit down and plan this), think what kid birthdays are coming up ie. what needed presents i'll put on the list, weed out too-small clothes from kid's closets, surf the internet for the BEST deals on any needed household items/clothes/shoes etc, play with dog, cuddle with the cat, pay bills, and....well....then do some "work".
Also, hoping the dinner fairy will drop something onto the dining room table at, I'd say, around 6 pm. That would work for me. Anyone? Anyone?
So....that's what I do for my day. Unless of course it's Hannukah, Christmas or birthday time. A couple extra things to do in there.....
Good night all - this tired mama is hittin' the sack.

Dec 28 - Kiira's gone a walkabout

....and found out that today she was 5 years old! 5 years old just seems to be a pivotal number. Perhaps because we associate it with kindergarten. But, geez, it just seems grown up. Well, to celebrate her new found grown upness, we had an Australia themed party. It turned out very well if I do say so myself. Some highlights: kangaroo decorating with foam cut out kangaroo's, face painting (popular choices: koala) - thank you Chloe!, the birthday cake with the koala and kangaroo on it, the yummy Tim Tams (found only in Australia and brought home from Australia by mommy), the cute "walk about" goodie bags, and the piece de resistance was the didgeridoo concert by non-other than our talented friend Mona Helen. Not only was the concert spectacular, she told an incredible story about how the didgeridoo was discovered which the kids were mesmerized by. I had a shorter didgeridoo and let all the kids have a blow. A good time by all! Oh yeah - and before we got the koala face painting perfected, Kiira was trialing the face paint on mama. I guess she was going for more of the Aboriginal look....

Dec 25 - Finally it's Christmas!

Well, Santa was up late as usual but with good results! A pleasant day was had by all. The favorites - no entertaining for Nanny and Mom (Heidi also loved her new riding saddle given to her by Alan), Kiira loved her baby in a basket and the puppet theatre, Evan loved the, well, I guess he loved going from thing to thing, Alan loved his pocket knife and ski helmet and Nanny loved her photos and sweatshirt which read appropriately, "Don't make me use my opera voice". Perfect for my mother. We all got a good laugh over that one.

Dec 24 - Christmas Eve

Well, we didn't ask the animals what they thought for fear they really COULD talk on this particular eve. I'm sure I'd know what they'd say - lousy service, not enough walks, not nearly enough lap time. And the treats? Why so stingy with the treats? They don't seem to take, "for your own good" as an answer. So instead of chatting it up with our furry friends we dined with our good friends Mike and Hilary and their family. It was lovely. The kids had a bang up time and the grown ups got some real grown up time in. The meal was YUMMY! Thank you Mike, Hil and Luca!

Dec 22 - Nutcracker ballet

The season would not be complete without a viewing of the Nutcracker ballet. This year, a friend of ours from childhood, Katito Waldo, danced the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. It was funny to see her as a principle dancer of the SF Ballet now when we think back to Ithaca ballet days and small town dancing. She was wonderful. We had 4 adults and 4 kids (kudos Sharon for braving it with a 3 month old) and we ALL enjoyed it. Funny trying to get a photo of all of them but here is the attempt....

Dec 20 - High tea - raise that pinky!

Well, la-tea-daaaahhhhhhh. Literally I've spelled it out. High tea at the Fairmont hotel. Best dress. Best manners. Best time! Kiira decorated a gingerbread man - well, kind of decorated, she got distracted by the frosting. AND, we got a real Nutcracker to boot. Love the little sandwiches and treats!
The Fairmont space is beautiful with frescos around, Christmas lights, and a harpist to get you in the mood. Kiira loved it. So did Nanny and mama!

Dec 19 - Turning the big 5

Well, at the Mountain School, birthdays are a big deal. Kiira looks forward to it all year long. You don a cape, walk the rainbow bridge and get to light the candle doing "Fire Fairies". All the while, the teacher tells a mystical story about how you came to be. AND, all your friends are lined up sitting in their little chairs along both sides of the room. So, if you like to be the center of attention, you will love this! That said, it's really well done, and while the story is being told, I always get a tear in my eye. Here is the princess....