Marsbarn Designs...

A dog encounter of a different kind

Yesterday morning, on the walk to school, I heard a door open and close, and then I saw a blur of doggie goodness streaking our way.  Galloping our way, was a very, very, large brown puppy.  It ran in that loose legged, head rolling gait that shouts "Oh, I want to play!" and "How do I control all these legs at once?!" at the same time.

And of the three of us, who looks the most inviting to jump on play with?  Why Little Miss e, of course. 

There ensued this sort of three person mosh-pit style dance.  Large puppy embraces Little e with his paws on her shoulders, while Little e, with her eyes wide, tries to stay upright and figure out what the heck is going on. I push the puppy down, saying "Down, down!". Puppy backs up, turns to the left, and we repeat with some added bottom wiggling (by the puppy, not me).  

Then the owner came rushing across the street calling, "Fred, Fred. No, Fred!"  
Fred, meanwhile, had eyes, paws, and tongue only for Little e.  
The owner did manage to subdue Fred, after a bit of a scrum.  The owner apologized, Little e was checked for injury (a scrape to one leg, and a graze on her cheek), and more formal doggie/girl introductions were made (where Fred tried to chew on Little e's coat sleeve).

So, this morning, as we walked to school, I said to Little e, "Do you think we'll see that puppy again?"

Her answer?  "I hope so!"

gotta get the details right

Big girl to Little girl:  "You stabbed me with a fork!"

Little girl to Big girl: "No, I didn't!  It was a knife!"

a two person canoe is so much better when paddled by two

Wait a minute.
This might be it.
This might just possibly be... normality returning.

The shop is open again, and stocked with geeky goodness.

For the first time in three weeks, no one in the house is taking narcotics.  

And best of all..
This two person canoe?
I'm no longer paddling it solo!

It is amazing how much easier life works when it is not just one person pulling the household along.

Big E has been cleared to be active.  He has started leaving the house for more than just doctor's visits, and (hold on to your socks) he's started driving again.  He has two weeks to rebuild his strength and stamina before he returns to work.

Yesterday?  He loaded the dishwasher and washed some dishes. 

It's like we're being pulled along by a current, instead of fighting uphill against the rapids.

Things learned recently.

-Apparently I wear too many casual knits (read: long sleeved t-shirts).  Both of my children remarked on my "dressy" button down shirt,  "Why are you wearing that today?"  and "What's the occasion?" 

-Little e has developed a somewhat tragic backstory for Ellie Phant.  You see Bad Men stole her from the wild and kept her in a cage.  They cut off her tail just to be cruel, and fed her rotten vegetables and fruit.  Finally, after much abuse, I came and took her away from the bad men and gave her to Little e for safe keeping.   (Why oh why, didn't I think to give her a tail?! What was I thinking?!)  
I must admit to being shocked by this story when I first heard it.  Ellie Phant looks so happy and sweet in her bright clothes... I guess it just goes to show that you can't tell an elephant's tale by her trunk.

-According to Little e elephants in Lumpy Land (where all of her elephants live in their free time) do math for fun.  They love all kinds of math, except geometry, which they don't understand.

-Sisters can be jealous about anything, even oral surgery.  "It's not fair Sweetheart G gets to have surgery!"  Really?  Fruit smoothies and a day off of school are worth pain, nausea, and a big hole in your mouth?

-Ten year olds have the ability to choose pain over nausea and roll with it.  

-My superhero power of Vomit Catcher is still alive and well.  
Me, "Wait! Is that Sweetheart G throwing up?!"  
Big E, "Huh? I don't hear anything."  
Me, "Yes, it is!  Here I come Sweetheart G!"   

It is a glamourous life I lead in my long sleeved T's.

Do you know Liam?

We are at home in recovery mode, but I thought I'd post a quick link to Lynn Russell's fundraiser for her son Liam.  Liam is a bright, shining six year old little boy, who just happens to have a neuromuscular disorder.  His parents want to build him a wheelchair accessible bathroom.   Although I've purchased cards from Lynn in person, I've only met Liam through the magic of blog-land. The first time I time I "met" him, he was three; take a look.  I bet he'll make you smile.

The fundraiser website is over here.

Really, I'm not evening daring to think of contemplating about next week... at all.

Waiting until it is time to leave for Sweetheart G's oral surgery....

and I'm wondering what next week will bring... 
because even daring to think of a quiet, uneventful week seems to be tempting fate.
(Which is why I'm only thinking about today, and getting through this next adventure.)
 

Rallying for the next round

Big E continues to slowly heal. 
I must admit that I had hoped that this part of the process would go more quickly.  I am tired (goodness but I use that word a lot these days) of being only able bodied adult.  

Today,  Auntie O and I went out and picked up Sweetheart G's meds for Friday's surgery.  So, we are now as prepared for that adventure as we can be.  

What can I say?

It is a beautiful time of year, we are blessed with local family and loving friends, and I am ready for this string of exciting medical events to be done.  

Every elephant has her day

Little e's birthday was good.  

There were two dinners of her choosing, a family dinner, a kid party, and good friends all around.  She enjoyed excellent presents, and even a few surprises.  Best of all, Little e was able to spend her day dressed as her favorite animal.

 

The elephant I made for her has been christened Ellie Phant, and is in the process of being loved. (Hurray!)  

 

And now my littlest girl, and only pachyderm, is 7! 

It started with stolen time, in a horrible week, and ended in love

I stole some time during the blur that was this past week to make a special gift for Little e's birthday.  On Tuesday, instead of going to Taekwondo, I invested that time equity here:

 

It has always been important to me to make something by hand for my girls at birthday and Christmas time, but this year it seemed especially vital.  

 

I am so, so pleased with the result. 

I used Jodie's pattern for Parsley and Beet.
The pattern was lovely to work with, and I must admit that I might be smitten.

I've been dabbling with spinning, and although I find it interesting, it doesn't capture my heart.  There is no moment of magic in it for me. No spark.  It's kind of like washing the dishes.  I get the "There, that's done. Don't those dishes look nice all stacked there."  

But, when I was working on this stuffy?

There was a moment, when the head was turned right side out, and the trunk, ears, and face had all come together... I could see the personality and the sweetness all there in the face.. oh there were sparks and twitters in my chest.  There was magic.   And the thrill kept coming as the body was filled, the arms and legs attached, the little dress made... oh, yes.. this could be love.

And now?  I cannot wait to give her to Little e.

Oh goodness, is it time yet?!!

Exiting surgery, next stop birthday

It is good to have friends.

This morning a good, kind friend turned an unwelcome errand (returning to the hospital to turn in a redundant but essential (whatever!) insurance form) into a fun morning out.  Oh, it was good.

 

Big E and his teletubby belly (it's orange from iodine, has a big shaved circle, and a square white bandage in the middle... no, he doesn't get cable... yet.) are resting comfortably in as little pain possible.  There is a tangible sense of relief at our house that the surgery finally happened, and that this is the road to recovery, instead of the roundabout of waiting.

Now, with the surgery (just barely) behind us, 
we are trying to get into the birthday mojo.  
It's been a bit of a struggle, I must say.  
Happily our littler girl is a great motivator.  
Little e's birthday cakes are in the oven,  and the tidying has begun.  I have plans to hang streamers tomorrow while the girls are at school, and I am tremendously pleased with the gift that I made for Little e.  (I'll share photos once the girl has received her gift!)