Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Hum-de-HO-HO-hummm

Where oh, where have I been???

Not that many people noticed... but I took a blogging break (with the exception of Friday Finds).

Why?

Well, let me share.

First, we put our dog to sleep on Wednesday, November 12. That was a tough thing. We knew she was old. We knew she was sick. We knew it was coming. What I didn't expect was to take her to the vet for a checkup and to see why her belly was swollen, and to be told she was in end-stage liver failure, and to prolong her life any longer than THAT DAY would be unwise and unkind. So I walked in at 11:45 WITH our dog, and left at 1:00 permanently WITHOUT our dog. And dropped $200 in the process. I cried my eyes out. And Hunter didn't miss a beat. "Mommy, good girl at the docors?" (he leaves out the t) or "Mommy, good girl dead."

Sigh. How do you reply to that? Yes, son, she is indeed dead.

Our poor dog. She was a part of our lives for 15 years and three months. She was the sweetest most adorable dog in all the earth. She patiently endured torment from children without a complaint, was faithful to the end, and returned our love each and every day. She knew she was loved. We knew she loved us.

Having said that -- I still won't be getting another dog anytime soon. If ever. Unless maybe my precious son begs me for one, in which case, I will probably slam my hand in the car door first to draw my attention away from the fact that we might be bringing another dog into my home. I'm sure my husband feels the same way.

Anyway -- the very next day, I was slammed with a miserable cold that robbed me completely of my voice for 5 days. I couldn't even whisper.

Then, upon having sufficiently recovered (it took 10 days!), I spent several days preparing items for a craft show. Which was followed by ANOTHER cold. I totally blame the flu shot for this one.

Somewhere in there we celebrated my 41st birthday. It's all a blur... quite possibly brought on by two cycles of antibiotics and enough cough syrup to drown a small animal -- like that blasted rabbit that ate all my veggies in the garden this summer. Thank goodness my doctor prescribed cough syrup with codeine last week. I'm loving that stuff. I mean -- it works really great. You should try it.

Oh, yeah ... I also sank into a 3-week bout of depression. Not sure where that came from, but it hit me pretty hard. I hate it when depression sneaks up on you and takes you for all your worth before you even have a chance to realize that it's taking you, if you know what I mean.

In the midst of all this funk, we attended a cooking class hosted in a woman's kitchen. We had fun. It was good. And I'm still in a depressed funk.

Then, we went to North Carolina for Thanksgiving, and I got sick. Again. This time, sinuses. And I'm firmly convinced that it had EVERYTHING to do with driving up and down in the mountains for 7 hours. Each way.

Now, I'm preparing for Christmas. I'm a wee bit overwhelmed by the quantity of things I've committed myself to MAKE (sew, bead, bake), and may, in fact, decide to purchase gifts and gift cards instead of MAKING gifts after all. It may be the one saving grace for keeping my sanity intact. We'll see after this weekend, as I'm planning on sewing all day Saturday.

And I know Etsy has homemade stuff. I love Etsy stuff -- really, I do -- but I look at it all and think, I can't possibly pay for that when I can MAKE IT and MAKE IT GOOD. Yeah, I'm prolific. Whatever.

As of this writing -- I'm still sick with the tail end of the cold that will be forever known as the Great Cold of 2008. Fortunately, Christmas preparations always make me happy and joyful, and I'm greatly anticipating the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Although somehow, I committed to singing 4 songs this season -- one is a quartet of Let There Be Light, one is a duet called Mirror Mirror (Barlow Girl), one is a solo of What Child Is This, and one that is six people singing Chrismastime -- I'm not sure about the last one, as I don't recall signing up for that one. I was handed a cd and music on the fly last Tuesday night at church, and at this point, I'm not sure what I did with either one.

And sadly, my voice has not been fully returned to me after this last month of colds (hence, the Great Cold of 2008), nor can I hold out a note for any length of time without running out of breath or cracking. And my lungs are still hurting. This should be interesting! Four songs will sap my voice for sure, as I lost my ability to sing strongly when I had my tonsils removed about 5 years ago. I was trained in a classical style, sang some light opera with my voice coach, sang in choral groups through my young adult life (that is the one good thing about public schools -- or rather, USED to be a good thing) and now? My voice pretty much sucks. Can you say that on a Christian-family-friendly blog? Because it does.

Has that happened to anyone else??? Any tips?

I still have to find that one elusive good picture for our Christmas cards. That always gets me each and every year, and I find my Christmas cards get mailed out later and later and later -- oh heck. I may just use a picture from the summer. Who cares that Hunter is in shorts, right?

Speaking of Hunter ... He JUST learned about Santa -- not sure who told him about this man dressed in red, but we have repeatedly said that mommy and daddy bring Christmas gifts for Christmas. Maybe this ho-ho man can fill his stocking. Still undecided about that, as I refuse to cloud the true meaning of Christmas with a fantasy-man that has at some point acquired vast sums of money and can make presents magically appear under our Christmas tree. If only it were true. That would have saved me a ton of money.

Now I'm depressed again. Just kidding!

Does anyone have any tips on teaching a child how to say S's?? For instance, Spank is Pank. And it isn't all the time, just most of the time. It's cute now, but I'm pretty sure Hunter will appreciate being able to say words with S when he's 18 and the captain of the high school football team. I mean... how motivating could it possibly be to hear the team captain say, "Let's give these pansies a good panking!"

So that's what's been going on here. It is 12:34 am, I'm battling insomnia, my brain is jammed with lists and tasks and projects, oh, yeah -- work is busy, and I'm fresh out of blogging ideas, although I'm sure I'll come up with something for the week!

Any thoughts?

Enjoy your week.

13 comments:

Lovely Rita said...

Gulp! sounds like you've had a serious one-two punch by the enemy. I had no idea and I'm sorry. I'm praying that you will be able to hold onto that light at the end of the tunnel.

Alesha said...

I am a fairly new reader to this blog (Friday Finds totally ROCKS!)but please be assured I am not the least bit put off my this post.

I have so "been there, experienced that" with the back-to-back illnesses and the inevitable depression that follows.

I am also a singer, so I understand the crunch of December performances.

This is what I recommend for your throat. Every day drink a mug of hot water laced with 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar and 1 Tbsp. honey.

On the day of your performance drink and eat nothing but the above concoction and Lays plain potato chips.

Somehow the combo of the vinegar, honey and salt clears the throat of any gunk and lubricates the vocal chords at the same time.

I hope this helps, and may I humbly recommend my blog: A Door of Hope.

adoorofhope.blogspot.com

Sincerely,
Alesha

Donnetta said...

WOW! Sounds like you've had a ton (and then some) going on! I will be praying you are restored to complete health soon!!

So sorry to hear about your family dog! Those things are so hard!!

And just for the record... I noticed that you haven't been around much!!! You've been missed!!!!

Tara said...

I noticed you've been gone!

I am sorry about the illnesses. I'm forbidden to turn 33 again because since I did on Nov 21 we have had 1 1/2 days of everyone well. And that includes today and yesterday. And we would have gladly traded the head gunk you have had for the stomach gunk all 6 of us have had. Ahem. Where was I?

Oh, yeah, the S sound. Toby has had problems with his L. What I do whenever a kid of mine has had trouble with a sound is to make them repeat themselves with the correct sound. For example, "Mom, I wove you." "Toby, say, L-l-l-love, Mommy, I L-l-l-ove you." "Mommy, I w-w-w-ove you." Etc. Eventually he gets it. :) Exaggerate the sound when you repeat back his words and have him say them.

That said, at the age of, what, three? Four? I wouldn't worry about it too much. If it concerns you, mention it at his next well child visit.

And just get gift cards and save the homemade stuff for birthdays next year! :) I wouldn't mind...

Lori said...

Can I tell you how much I enjoyed reading this. I am so sorry about your puppy, even today I remember when I lost the animals I grew up with...and I DO NOT look forward to that time with our current pets. My kids have only lost a goldfish.

I am so glad someone can relate on the depression thing also. Sometimes I feel it coming on and then sometimes it blindsides me.

I hope you get to feeling 100% soon.

Beth/Mom2TwoVikings said...

Good grief, girlfriend! You've been through the ringer!

I'm so sorry about your doggy-child. I only had my canine-son for four years before we had to put him down due to an untreatable, breed-related kidney disease. I still can't face the thought of having another dog. I'm OK for now because I told the kids no dog til Pojke is potty trained! LOL I only need to worry about one thing peeing in my house at a time! LOL The down side? If you ask Pojke right now "what happens on your birthday?" he replies "I stop wearing diapers." LOL So apparently I've got 4 weeks to prepare!

Don't have much advice about the voice thing - I'm a closet shower/in-the-car singer who can just barely carry a tune! *wink*

And, give yourself a little grace about the Cmas presents. It's been a brutal few months for you!

Finally, re: the big red guy. We've made it clear that Cmas is about Jesus's birthday and "Santa" is like Dora and Diego - like a "cartoon" character on TV or in their movies. They wouldn't expect Aladdin to show up with presents, would they? *wink*

Heather Smith said...

Hey girl! I'm still in debate about the Santa thing too. I grew up without Santa, and I think I like it better that way.
Sorry about the cold, it's no fun to have to sing when you've got the funk.
I'm beginning to think I'll have to do a summer picture too if I ever intend to get a Christmas card out!
Hope your holidays are great girl!

Anonymous said...

Hey girl! Sorry to hear about your family dog. Things like that are so hard. Raegan has just formed a huge attachment to our dog Copper. He is 6. I do not look forward to having anything happen to him.

On the Santa subject, as Heather says we grew up without Santa, but my husband grew up with him. So we let the kids believe in Santa however, we tell them that Jesus is the reason for the Season and that that is the most important part. There is a book called "God Gave Us Christmas" that has a pretty good explanation of Santa and brings out that Jesus is what it is all about. It is a children's book that I have to read to my children all month long at bedtime. But I don't mind.

I have never much dealt with deep depression, but have found myself in somewhat of a funk the last several weeks. It is hard to get out of the slumps sometime. Isn't it funny how we let things bother us so even though we know the Peacegiver. I will keep you in my prayers and ask that you will do the same for me.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all the work you do with your blog. I am sorry you have had so much going on lately and hope you can catch your breath soon. I just wanted to tell you that the 's' sound is difficult for children to make usually comes by the age of 5. I found this website helpful: http://www.speech-language-therapy.com/Table4.htm

Mandy said...

((hugs)) You've had a rough few weeks, huh? I am so very sorry about your dog. I know how much losing a pet hurts. I hope you are feeling a little better by now. I think the holidays just bring out the blues in us sometimes...coupled with feeling bad and the dog, I'd say that what you are experiencing is to be expected. Hang in there. Glad to see you back.

Sandy said...

Girl, sorry about your doggie loss. That is so sad. Also it sounds like you are on OVERLOAD. I said a quick prayer for you today.

Stacey said...

You have made me tear up and laugh with this post. You have encouraged me and helped me to realize that there are lots of other sisters in Christ that are dealing with the same issues that I am! Thanks for being so transparent. We, too, lost our dog recently and it's been one of the most difficult things we've gone through. It seems as if it gets easier and then it hits you as if it just happened again. But, they are true family members and cannot be replaced!

As far as your depression, anxiety and feeling of being overwhelmed...

*******
...For this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold. Nehemiah 8: 10
*******
And the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing to Zion; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 51: 11
*******
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16: 11
*******

Have a blessed weekend!...and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

gail said...

oh, i am so sorry about your sweet pooch. they are so much part of our families before we have kids. we had spunky for 16 yrs and our son was only 18 mo when we had to put her down. she was my baby and it was awful. i feel your pain. and its ok, to never get one again. its different now that you have a child. i made the mistake of trying to get another dog --- 3x! and it was never the same. i just didn't have time for the dog like i did when we didn't have our son.

i also get depressed in the fall/winter &/or after i get sick. i pray that your voice gets better and your health returns.

i have missed your posts, even tho i just pop in once in awhile. you are such a good writer.

and ya, i know what you mean about etsy! i have the same feelings.