Addiction

Hi. My name is Suzanne. (Now you all say, "Hi, Suzanne"). I'm addicted to Afrin. I've been using now for 10 days. It all started with a severe sinus infection that turned into mild bronchitis which in turn caused a humongo cold sore on my top lip. Thus, Afrin has become my drug of choice. I guess I just have a thing for breathing at night while I'm sleeping. Breathing, that is, with my mouth closed. Once, while suffering from a cold, I actually tried sleeping with a straw in my mouth just so I could sleep with my mouth shut. It didn't work so of course I had to resort to my old pal Afrin.

Don't worry about me though. I'm on antibiotics and as soon as my sinuses are clear again - I'll start the detox process. Detox means only using in one nostril and alternating nostrils until I can breath on my own again.

In the meantime, if you feel the need, you are welcome to send chocolate to comfort me until I am done negotiating my addiction.

My Son Ferris Bueller

When my boy was in third grade, he came home one day with his school pictures. I immediately asked him to hand it over for inspection. I scanned the rows looking for his face. Our family is usually on the front row due to a height challenge. But I actually found him on the third row back. He looked like he had just got the surprise of his life. His mouth was wide open, and his eyes were big as saucers. We laughed ourselves silly.

A few years later he was at school having the eye test. Just for fun he decided to fail it on purpose. He squinted and squirmed and called every F a P and every C an O. He was taken aside afterwards by a kind elderly lady who said, "Sweetheart, when you get home you need to tell your parents to make you an appointment at the eye doctor." He laughed all the way back to class.

More recently he had to miss a football game for his back brace check up. His team wore his number on their helmet. The team called him before the game. They were seriously in tears. I wanted to remind them this isn't cancer people, it's just a back brace. But I let them have their moment of inspiration.

At school he is loved by all, including the staff. When they had intramural football games during lunch last week, we were out of town. They decided to hold off playing until he came back! Several teachers enjoy having him come to their classroom just to hang out and talk Cougar football. And don't even get me started when it comes to his coaches. They are crazy for the kid.

So yesterday my husband and I were picking him up from school and we asked ourselves, "who is this kid?" Then it hit us: we're raising Ferris Bueller! Only one day he'll decide to take the day off school and the principal will call to see if he can join him.

Thankful

Today I am thankful. We had a great report from the Dr. at Primary Children's Hospital. My boy looks good! So he keeps wearing the brace and we come back in six months. We'll keep this routine going for the next six years, hopefully with the same great results.

I'm thankful too for health. While at the hospital we saw lots of kids. Kids in wheelchairs. Kids with scars and sutures from surgery. Kids with birth defects. Kids with trouble greater than that of my boy. I pray for them.

I'm thankful too for family. While we were in town my mom and I spent time together and my wish was her command. She came with us to the doctor just in case we had another "fall off my chair" moment. Thank heavens we didn't! We did some Christmas shopping and ran necessary errands together. She is our angel and I'm so blessed to call her mother.

I'm thankful too for the love and support of family. Friday night, after a long day spent at doctor offices I was lucky enough to have my sister-in-law (who is a masseuse, and a nurse and a mother of eight) give me a full body massage. It was awesome. And after, she fed me homemade wheat bread with honey collected from their very own beehive in their backyard. To die for I tell ya. I'm thankful too for good food.

I'm thankful too to be home today with my handsome husband. Thankful the football season is over and we can now enjoy the holidays together. Holidays that are meant to remind us to be thankful.

Check Up

We're in Salt Lake for my boy's back check up.

Wish us luck!

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

Big news on the kindergarten playground yesterday. Fred and Daphne were kissing on the school bus on their way to school. (names changed to protect identity)

I can't decide if this is a cute story, or a sign of the apocalypse.

Memory Lane

Recently I've been listening to the all-Christmas radio station. I love it because I can hear all the old classics I know from when I was a kid. One of my favorites is "Walking In A Winter Wonderland" by Johnny Mathis.

And when I listen to old Christmas songs, I remember that Johnny Mathis was my Dad's favorite singer. I grew up in the 80's listening to Madonna and Boy George. My Dad would always say to me, "Can they sing Moon River?" I thought he was ridiculous until I grew up and had kids and understood what he was talking about. There is just something about a classic sound. No synthesizers, no gimmicks.

And thinking about being a kid reminds me of the Christmas when we had a flocked tree that was decorated with only red lights. The ornaments were little mirrors, different shapes, that my mom glued red ric-rac on around the edges.

And thinking about that Christmas tree will make me hungry for the homemade treats my mom used to make (and still does make with my kids today). Divinity, fudge and suckers flavored with cinnamon, butterscotch and peppermint. Yum.

And my mouth watering will make me want to run to the corner gas station for a treat.

And on my way I hear Johnny Mathis singing "Walking In A Winter Wonderland."

Click here to enjoy it for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crXJ81GjCWY&feature=related

Perspective

I like my job at the elementary school, which is good because it used to be that other people's kids weren't my favorite. I really didn't like negotiating with other people's kids. I guess when my own kids were little, I'd had enough snot and tears so that other people's snot and tears pushed me a bit over the edge. Or it could be that I've matured and gained a little perspective so that snot and tears don't bug me like they used to.

My job title is "intervention aide." I guess intervention is the new resource. Resource must have gained a bad reputation over the years. Resource is defined as: a source of support or aid. Intervention is defined as: interference in the affairs of another. From my perspective, resource seems like the better choice. Nonetheless, my job is to help kids who are either falling behind their class, or who are getting ahead of their class (so basically intervening in their affairs).

One of my groups is kindergarten. Yesterday I stopped in the kindergarten room to pick up my 14 friends who need help learning their letters. One girl, who is not in our group, stood up when I entered the room and said, "I've never had a turn to go with you. Not once. I want a turn!" I loved how, from her perspective, theses kids who were taken out of class each day for 20 minutes were the lucky ones. Little does she know water boarding is a great way to teach the alphabet.

So I suppose life is how you look at it. Me, myself, I'm a "glass is half full" kinda gal. I agree with the perspective of a little girl who thinks that any individualized attention must be a good thing.