House of Estrogen

Christmas Wrap-Up 2011

Christmas was good to us this year. My dining room table made a rare appearance to host Christmas Eve dinner.  If you know anything about my dining room, this photo in itself is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.

This is my parents' first Christmas here since their move from Texas, so they came over for Christmas Eve dinner. My dinner plans involved cooking a pork roast. Unfortunately, I forgot to pull it out of the freezer early enough to thaw it completely. Since I was hesitant about serving up roast ala salmonella, I ran out and bought a Paula Deen ham on Christmas Eve. That sucker was great! Thank you Paula Deen!

My parents were in luck. They got to hear Addie's harmonica concert. It was as lovely as you might imagine from a hyped-up four year old with a new harmonica.

After Christmas jammies were opened and donned, JoJo read stories.

Then, I had a little fun taking bokeh photos of the tree,

and late that night, Santa stopped by. He stuffed the stockings and set out the baskets o' electronics.

I usually prefer still photos to videos, but I do love videotaping the girls coming down the stairs each Christmas morning. This year, I think Nina's reaction was priceless. I'm so glad I caught it on video.

You think she like her iPod?

Elise was pretty happy with her stash as well.

One of the things on Addie's list (along with a roller coaster, a fox, and a giraffe) was "little tiny people that I can push on a little tiny swing."  After puzzling over this request for a while, I finally realized that she was remembering playing with some vintage Little People that my mom's neighbor in Dallas had. As always, Ebay can usually get me out of any jam. Who would have thought that in 2011, a four year old would be asking for 1970's Little People? When she opened the gift though, she exclaimed, "It is just what I asked for!!"

In the afternoon, we spent time with JC's family. All the testosterone bearing family members (they are few and far between) received remote control helicopters. Papa looks like he was having fun!

 Addie continued her streak of good presents.

Maybe she had just opened her Cars Play-doh set. That was a huge hit. Most other toys were neglected the rest of the day while everyone played with Play-doh.

After a couple of science experiments,

 

a few rounds of new video games, too many desserts, and saying thanks that nobody's hair got caught in the remote control helicopter blades, we all settled down for a long winter's nap.

Emerald Isle 2011: Fun in the Sun

Despite lice, croup, asthma, hurricanes, swarms of locusts, blizzards, and the plague, we managed to make the most of our vacation and have a lot of fun in the sun.

For your enjoyment (or complete annoyance)... a little vacation alliteration....

 We hopped high,

 

to ride on a raft,

 

slept in the sun,

 

got pitched above the pool,

 

colored creations with chalk,

 

donned dolphins, 

 

got pushed in the pool, 

 

giggled in our goggles,

 

snacked by the surf,

 

rowed on rafts,

 

 

beamed at the baby

 

stood on shoulders,

 

played pranks in the pool,

 

gave huge, happy hugs,

 

tiptoed in the tide,

 

searched for sand crabs,

 

laughed out loud,

 

and jumped for joy!

 

It was a terrific trip, indeed.

Emerald Isle 2011: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

To say this beach trip had its ups and downs would be putting it mildly. It was more like the Murphy's Law of beach trips. Overall, we had a great time. We truly did. We tried not to let the bad and ugly bring us down, but there were times that felt like a full time job!

First for the GOOD...

The beach house was lovely. The girls loved the pool and hot tub.

 
 

 

We had beautiful weather the first four days.

 

Hurricane Irene left us with some fantastic shelling opportunities.

 

We were vacationing with great friends.

 

The girls all got along marvelously,

 

 

and I had a sweet baby to snuggle with all week!

 

Now on to the BAD...

The waves were INSANE... HUGE... STRONG... CRAZY, in part thanks to Hurricane Irene causing some beach erosion and in part thanks to Tropical Storm Maria churning out at sea. Elise really didn't feel well enough to play out in the ocean, but Nina was dying to boogie board. That didn't go so well.

 

 

 

 Our plans to dine outside on the deck at Channel Marker for Elise's birthday were foiled by Hurricane Irene as well. It is tough to eat outside when the deck has been ripped off by a hurricane. Bummer. She had a great party regardless, just not exactly as planned.

 

Poor J.C. reinjured his wrist with this slick move on (or, uh... off) the skim board. I just happened to be in the right spot with my camera at the right time (Shhh... don't tell him that I was anticipating a fall and was set up waiting for it!).

 

This porch swing at the house was a lot of fun until the chain broke and it came crashing down while our friend M and Addie were on it. Nobody was hurt, but it just added to the Comedy of Errors theme for the week.

 

Combing through Nina's hair and doing lice treatments didn't fall into the category of a "relaxing vacation activity", so that definitely added to the bad. On the upside, I think we've conquered the lice (knock on wood).

J.C. spent our first day of vacation driving three hours back home to pick up a box we had forgotten, turning around, and driving right back. He said he didn't mind, but that didn't really qualify as quality vacation time either.

Now we get to the UGLY.

Poor Elise was suffering through the worst asthma flare in years just before we left and for the first couple days of the trip. She was getting migraines from lack of oxygen, and just generally wasn't doing well. After several days of steroids and round-the-clock nebulizer treatments, she snapped out of it, but she spent a couple days looking like this.

 

Addie developed croup our first night there. I took her to the little beach urgent care the next day. The beach doc prescribed steroids (which I knew she needed) and another med that didn't make much sense to me. I decided not to give it to her and later asked a physician friend about it who said, "You DEFINITELY made the right call NOT giving it to her. That causes shallow breathing, and I NEVER prescribe it for kids." Nice. Gotta love crappy beach docs. She sounded awful but stayed in good spirits.

 

I'll be posting more pictures in the next few days with more of the fun and less of the whining. I just couldn't describe this trip without including the bad and the ugly. I'm not sure we've ever had a vacation with quite so much of it! Despite the apparent curse, we all managed to enjoy the trip!

  

 

When the Morning Person is Away

When J.C. is home, he is in charge of mornings. He is a natural morning person, so it just makes sense that he is the morning captain of this ship. When he is home, our morning routine goes something like this:

6:30: Nina bounds out of bed and starts watching TV.

7:00: Addison gets up and yells for us to wipe her bottom which gets one or the other of us out of bed long enough to do that.

7:05: I'm watching the Today Show in bed. JC is getting dressed.

7:30: J.C. and Nina are dressed and ready to start the day. He has pried Elise out of bed, and he takes all three girls down for breakfast. He puts out cereal and juice for all of them and eats with them while checking his email. I am still watching the Today Show in bed.

8:00: J.C. yells at me to get out of bed, help Addie get dressed, help Elise find her shoes, and make lunches.

8:15: I am out of bed, helping Addie get dressed and Elise find her shoes. J.C. is making sure reading logs are signed, homework is in backpacks, and blankets are ready for preschool.

8:30: I am frantically making lunches, so everybody else can get out the door to walk to the bus stop at 8:35.

8:35: Everyone in the house is ready except for me. They all walk to the bus stop while I get dressed.

Now, imagine how well that morning works when he's not here. Uh yeah, not so well. This morning went like this:

6:30: Nina bounded out of bed and started watching TV.

7:00: Addison got up and yelled for me to wipe her bottom. I did that, and then she went downstairs to watch TV with Nina.

7:05: I was watching the Today Show in bed. Elise was still asleep.

7:30: no change in the status quo.

8:00: no change in the status quo.

8:10: I finally rolled out of bed, griped at Elise to get up, and yelled downstairs to Nina that she needed to make breakfast for herself and Addie.

8:30: I came downstairs to find Addie eating Go-gurt in the playroom (which is carpeted). Nice. Is there anything messier than a 3 year old eating Go-gurt? That's what I get for putting a 7 year old in charge of breakfast. I quickly made lunches, got Addie dressed, and helped Elise find her shoes.

8:38: I assumed we had missed the bus, so I told everybody to line up at the back door to go. While waiting on Elise to find her binder and grab breakfast for the road, Nina and Addie left the house, presumably to go to my car.

8:40: I walked out, heard Addie crying about five houses away. I looked up, saw Nina's backpack in the middle of the road, and she was racing toward Addie. From the other direction, a dad across the street was running toward her. I ran down there. Addie was fine. She had fallen and scraped her knees a little. I asked Nina what she was thinking going to the bus stop with Addie and no grown-up. She said, "I wasn't. She just started running." Note to self: The 7 year old should not be in charge of breakfast or safely walking to the bus stop.

8:45: Somehow, the bus was running later than we were, so the girls actually got on the bus. I'm sure their hair and teeth weren't brushed, but they appeared to have backpacks and lunchboxes in hand and shoes on their feet, so I called it a success.

As much as I complain about the perky morning people in my life, they are really quite useful.  Maybe tomorrow will be better. Somehow though, I doubt it.

Father's Day Beach Weekend

For Father's Day weekend, we decided to take a quick trip to Atlantic Beach. We told the girls that we were going to pick them up early from camp to do a fun family activity in the afternoon. On the drive to camp in the morning, they asked me what we were going to do, and I told them they would find out when we got there. Then we had this conversation:

Elise: I know what we're going to do!!

Me: What?

Elise: We're going to the pool!

Me: pool, huh?  That sounds like fun. Good idea.

Nina: No, I know what we're going to do! We're going to Monkey Joe's!

Me: Monkey Joes... that's a great idea too! You guys have some really good ideas for a fun family afternoon.

Elise: Maybe we're going to the beach!

Me: The beach???  <said with a tone of "you have got to be kidding!">

Nina: Elise!!!! There's no way we're going to the beach!!!

and I left it at that. When we picked them up in a packed-full car in the afternoon, it went like this:

 

Addie was clearly much more interested in Elise's ice cream sandwich than the trip, but at least the big girls were excited!

We arrived at the small cozy condo we had rented late Friday afternoon, dropped off our stuff, and headed to our perennial favorite, Sanitary Fish Market, for dinner.

 

The girls gave me a little attitude,

 

and giggled a lot. I think we were all glad to be on vacation.

 

Then we did our part to support the economy (and Sanitary Fish Market) by buying our annual SFM t-shirts. (Elise's really is THAT bright. I'm pretty sure she could be seen from the space shuttle.)

 

 

Why did I think red was a good color for me? Must have been the peach margarita clouding my judgement. The color Nina chose is so gorgeous. Why didn't I go with that?

 

Saturday and Sunday, we soaked up the sun and played in the waves all day, making the most of our short trip.

 

Elise and Nina spent nearly every second on their boogie boards.

 

 

 

Addie loved playing in the waves too,

 

except for a few run-ins with unexpectedly large waves. (Love J.C.'s expression here... no sympathy for the poor girl, huh?)

 

J.C. taught the girls the very important skill of how to feed sea gulls.

 

Saturday night, we decided to try a new (to us) restaurant, Channel Marker in Atlantic Beach. It didn't look like much from the outside, but it ended up being so nice. There are few things I love more than outdoor dining right on the waterfront!

 

The food was delicious, and it was just so relaxing.

 

 

After another fun day on Sunday, it was time to say good-bye to the beach and head back home.

 

We'll be back though!

  

 

Survival Swim

J.C. was out of town for the last five days. Single parenting always challenges my energy, patience, and spirit.  My plan for survival this weekend was simple: swimming.

 

We swam Friday.

 

We swam Saturday.

 

We swam Sunday.

 

Basically, we spent as much time as humanly possible swimming. There were several reasons for this strategy.

 

1. My children don't fight at the pool. I haven't figured out the secret of the sun and water, but there is clearly magic there. They all get along. While at the pool, I can enjoy my time with my children rather than playing referee all day.

 

2. They can't destroy the house when they aren't in it.

 

3. There are no dishes to wash or meals to prepare when all meals consist of pizza or subs delivered poolside.

 

So, pool time we had. We planned pool playdates with friends - girl friends,...

 

guy friends,...

 

and little teeny,

 

tiny friends.

 

Overall, the weekend was a success.

 

We had a few scraped toes and sunburned shoulders,

 

but that didn't put any damper on the fun,

 

 

and most importantly, this temporarily-single mom maintained her sanity!

Photo Post Mashup

Things have been a bit busy and stressful lately, and my blog has suffered. My parents are mostly moved in though, my dad is finally out of the hospital, and while he is definitely weaker, he seems to be getting around OK, so it is time to lighten things up around here. This post is a mashup of all the photo posts that have gone unpublished in the last couple of weeks... a little bit of everything from House Of Estrogen life. I promise no hospital or moving truck photos though... just the fun stuff.

First, a little family bike ride on a rail trail. J.C. got a flat tire soon after we started, so this ride ended up being just the girls.

 

It was great family time on a pretty spring day.

 

 

We were all pretty wiped out when we got home.

 

Next up... hanging out with our cutie-patootie friend S at the company picnic,

 

and a ride on the carrousel there.

 

Next, Nina's Girl Scout troop went mining for gems which is like Nina's idea of heaven. The girl loves rocks and gems... little budding geologist.

 

 

 

Last, Elise and Nina had Field Day this week on a blistering hot day, but it sounds like they had a great time. A friend sent me this picture of Nina and two of her good buddies.

 

See... we aren't all doom and gloom around here. I think we're finally coming up for air after a rough couple of weeks. Again, I really appreciate all the emails, comments, prayers, meals, phone calls, and thoughts through all the crappola we've been through lately. Thank you. It means the world to me.

Flattened

I'm stealing my post title today from Jen over at ::Meditatio::. She did a series of posts recently titled "Flattened" when her son was in the hospital. I couldn't think of a better word to describe how I'm feeling right now, so this is my take on "Flattened."

This has been my week in the shortened, condensed version:

Sunday: My parents arrived from Texas around midnight for the beginning of their cross-country move. The entire move has been stressful and overwhelming in many respects. We thought we were over the worst of it.

Monday: uneventful day. I should have appreciated it more.

Tuesday: We rushed my dad to the ER with labored breathing. He was having a heart attack, was in congestive heart failure, was extremely anemic, and his kidneys were failing.

Wednesday: He moved from the ER to the Cardiac Care Unit where his kidneys continued to decline, the enzymes associated with heart damage continued to go up, blood pressure dropped, and all news was generally bad.

Thursday: After two blood transfusions and extensive medical management, he stabilized.

Friday: We talked to the cardiologist who explained how he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. The treatment he would like to do for dad's heart would destroy his weak kidneys. Another treatment he is doing for his heart can't be done at the dose he would like because it lowers his blood pressure too much. The blood transfusions that help his anemia add more fluid to his body which is accumulating in his lungs. The treatment choices are limited because most of them cause bigger problems. He is still stable though and beginning to feel a little better. Mom got a call from the movers that their belongings that were supposed to arrive mid-week will not be here until Sunday. My cousin's memorial service is on Sunday.  We were supposed to leave for a Girl Scout family camping trip in Virginia on Friday but we cancelled those plans and sent Elise with a friend's family instead.

Saturday (Today): Dad is stable and should move from the CCU to a regular room tomorrow. The cardiologist felt we could safely be gone for a day. Dad wants my mom to go to the memorial service, and it is important to her to be there. My ankle pain has flared up (maybe from walking hospital corridors? Dunno).

Sunday: Mom and I will leave at 5 a.m. for a quick trip to Chicago for my cousin's memorial service. We are flying out and back in one day. It should be a very emotional day. I'm not entirely sure either my mom or I are prepared for it. Also, I'm a little worried about my ankle with all the airport walking. My wonderfully supportive husband will be hanging out at my parents' new house to greet the movers and get them moved in. Hopefully dad will remain stable.

Flattened.

Yes. Flattened is the best word. I can see why Jen used it. Right now, I don't have any other words to describe how I'm feeling. I think my brain is a bit numb.

If you are the praying type, could you please send a few prayers our way? If you aren't the praying type, could you send a few groovy vibes, healing brainwaves, or positive thoughts? We could really use some right now. Thanks.

Lisa

I know a lot of my readers became followers of my cousin Lisa's blog or followed her story through me, so I wanted to share her obituary here.

Elizabeth “Lisa” (Weihe) Dapas, 51, of Downingtown, PA, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2011, at the West Chester, PA, Neighborhood Hospice Care facility.  She was born July 30, 1959, in West Virginia (in the same hospital, she would come to learn, where her husband was born the next summer).  Lisa grew up in New York City and McLean, VA, just outside Washington, D.C.  She graduated from Mt. Holyoke College (MA) with a degree in German and a minor in German Economic Studies.  Lisa married Naval Officer, Marc Louis Dapas, on January 18, 1986, at the Naval Academy chapel in Annapolis, MD.  Lisa and Marc made their first home as a married couple in Charleston, S.C.   Lisa distinguished herself as a portrait artist and muralist, talented photographer, interior design consultant, and retail manager. 

Marc and Lisa relocated to Batavia, IL, in 1995, from Red Wing, MN.  Their two children attended H.C. Storm Elementary School where the family formed many wonderful and lasting friendships.  During this time, Lisa was accepted into the Master of Fine Arts program at Northern Illinois University based on the strength of her art portfolio, and painting became even more of a passion.  Lisa and Marc’s son, Matthew, graduated from Batavia High School in 2006.  The family joined Marc in Downingtown, PA, that summer as Marc had already transferred to start his next assignment within the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  Their lovely home was a reflection of Lisa’s personality:  a perfect blend of sophistication and subtle whimsy.  Lisa made the most of each new challenge and eagerly embraced each situation as opportunity.

An engaging storyteller, Lisa enjoyed public speaking and had been active in the local chapter of Toast Masters in Geneva, IL.  She appreciated and enjoyed deep friendships, great literature, art galleries and bookstores, summers in Maine, attending Matthew’s basketball games and Natalie’s dance performances.

Once settled in PA, Lisa found her home-away-from-home in the Brandywine Valley at Longwood Gardens.  Her membership there, a gift from her mother, allowed for frequent visits (always with camera in tow) and “Longwood” became a sacred respite - a blessing.

A favorite family photo taken last year in May marked a very proud and happy day:  Matthew’s graduation from Johns Hopkins University.  Lisa and Marc’s daughter (her mother’s “Sweet Pea”), Natalie, is completing her freshman year at Penn State, where she is majoring in Chemistry. 

Lisa’s many close friends and loving family can attest that she was courage personified as she battled oral cancer with all her might for the past eleven months.  No matter the toughness of what she was facing, Lisa always looked forward.  She constantly inspired  with her ability to appreciate and channel the beauty in art and nature while enduring the heartache of each setback.  Lisa’s natural creativity led to the widely visited personal blog site:   www.pullupachair.typepad.com.  She was driven to document and share her experiences and fascinating insights for the benefit of others.  Lisa’s voice, as well as her ever-expanding network, LIVES ON helping others.

Lisa is survived by her husband and two children; her mother, Barbara Eldridge of Red Wing, MN; father, Kenneth “Whit” Weihe (Teddy) of Lakeland, FL; brother John (Heewon) of Houston, TX; sister Ellen (Peter) Gorsevski of Bowling Green, OH; brother Richard (Friday) of New York City; in-laws Lou and Connie (Cross) Dapas of Raymond, ME; in-laws Lynne and Alan Davis of Bradenton, FLA; sister-in-law, Marci Mauro of San Diego, CA; six nieces and nephews; and several dear aunts and uncles.

As she was in life, Lisa will be remembered with tremendous love and admiration forever.  Her blog includes this quote of Stendhal “beauty is the promise of happiness”.  Lisa lived for finding the beauty.

A Celebration of Life for this remarkable mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, artist, and gracious woman, will be held Sunday, May 22, 2011, at 2:30 in the afternoon at the Unitarian Universalist Society Church, located at , 110 2^nd Street, Geneva, IL, where Lisa was actively involved in various capacities for the many years her family resided in the Fox River Valley.  Friends are invited to join the family for a reception at Nosh (directly across the street from the Church on James in Geneva) from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. following the service.

In lieu of flowers, Lisa’s family has requested that any desired donations be made to the Oral Cancer Awareness Foundation (www.oralcancerawareness.com).

A Good-Bye

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.

                                                                                        ~ author unknown

My cousin Lisa passed away this weekend. I'm glad she is out of pain, but it is a big loss for our family. Lisa was the oldest of all the grandchildren on my mom's side of the family. She was the one who gave our grandmother her funky grandmother name, "Moonie". She was creative, well-spoken, talented, and a wonderful mother. I remember visiting her several years ago when her kids were teenagers. I was in awe of the open communication she had with them. She was just that kind of mom - guided her children through life, but still "cool" enough that they could talk to her about anything. Cancer took her from them too early, but they have a great foundation from her. I know they will go on to do great things in life with memories of their mother as inspiration.

Lisa, we miss you!

 
Lisa with her daughter Natalie at our wedding. Natalie was one of our flower girls.

 
Lisa (on the far right) with her mom, sister, and brothers at her mom's big birthday bash in Williamsburg.