Melissa's Good-bye

Last Monday, I had my follow-up appointment with my surgeon.  Melissa was coming through town on her last trek from Rochester, her hometown, to Pottsdam, her adopted hometown the last few years.  She's moved to Florida this week, so it was my last chance to see her for awhile.  I asked her if she wanted me to try and switch my appointment, but she volunteered to babysit as a chance to hang out and bond with the kids before she left.  Bobby was already there as I left at ten and she wasn't coming through until nearly noon. I had been a bit apprehensive for Melissa's sake because of Hurricane Abigail.  Bobby was, too, offering to stay with her if she wanted.  (Really, I think Bobby HATES seeing Abbey cry.  It is hard to watch).  So I told Melissa if Abbey freaked out, Bobby would stay and I would let Todd know.  She said she handled Peyton's meltdowns (her boyfriend's nephew), she can handle Abbey's.  So it was set.

Melissa said Bobby ran right out as quick as he could, so as not to get Abbey more upset.  But Melissa came prepared with gifts: a teddy bear, some crowns and some tinker bell items from cleaning out for her move.  She sat with Bailey and Adam to show Abbey they liked her.  She's genius.  I guess the meltdown lasted only three minutes.  Then Abbey sat with her and Bailey and got into the stuff she brought.  Melissa sent me this picture while I was in the waiting room to reassure me.

And Adam got into the crowns, too.  And pulled out Abbey's princess shoes.  Melissa just got a kick out of his ability to walk in them.

And then I got this picture!  It was a good lesson for me....Abbey can adjust and also, follow my instincts.  I knew Melissa could handle the tantrum.  Some people can't, especially those who it upsets.  But for those who take it in stride, it's not a big deal.

Melissa's favorite picture of Abbey trying to squeeze her own feet into the slippers that go on the teddy bear.

I got home right at nap time.  Abbey had just drank her milk and was in the chair with her monkey scowling for me to hurry up.  Love this kid.

And of course, Adam just loved Melissa.  Here he is trying to get Melissa to play light saber.

Love this photo.  Melissa looks gorgeous, well, because she is.  We will all miss her (especially Adam, who has crushed on her since he was a baby).  It's so weird to think that she is all the way in Florida and we won't see her on her way through town!

I met Melissa my first day as an Assistant Hall Director, when I was nervous and awkward and didn't know what to expect.  It was clear that even though I was only 27, I was way out of touch with college kids.  Melissa likes to say that she didn't think I liked her because of the way I came off, but I didn't know what I was doing.  By the end of that year, I had convinced her to apply for graduate school and become a GA like me.  I thought she'd make an amazing teacher and boy, was I right.  She was an amazing assistant hall director, hall director, supervisor and now an elementary teacher.  Melissa makes everyone feel good.  She's positive and hard working and a great listener.  The same things that make her such a great friend.

When my life fell apart, she was an amazing part of my support system, right down to reminding me to hand in paperwork and making sure I left my building.  When I met Todd, she was right there cheering me on.  She loves to tell the story of how we met at Pizza Hut and I told her I had something to tell.  She thought I was going to tell her I was getting married, but I informed her I was pregnant and she was so surprised, it was funny.  And then she was so happy for me.  Melissa got involved with my kids before they born, making sure to be a part of their lives and never missing a birthday.  

When I met Melissa eight years ago, I had no idea a new forever friend was walking into my life.   My life is better for having Melissa in it and I am so excited for her as she starts her new career and takes her relationship to the next level in their first home together.  No matter how many months pass, I know the next time I see Melissa Ellen Garwol, it will be like no time has passed.  That's what kind of friend she is.

As she pulled away after an afternoon of hanging out last Monday, I surprised myself by getting teary and ran out to the car to say good-bye again.  Remember, I said, I'm here no matter what.  Me, too, she said.

But it's Adam whose heart will be broken...he's going to miss his sexy tall blonde buddy :)

Monday

On Monday, I had an appointment with Dr. Arce, my endocronologist (not the surgeon, the guy in town who referred me to the surgeon).  It was to check my thyroid hormone levels, which I knew were way low and the doctor thought they would be, too.  (they were)  Tammy came by to babysit, which was a big help as Bobby now goes to work at 9am.  Abbey did not freak out at all.  I did put on her new favorite movie "Ice Age" before I left and I know that helped.  Also, they usually see Tammy with me, so there was no instant freak out that I was going to leave when she saw Tammy.   AND Tammy has a playground they love.  Don't ever underestimate the power of THAT.  All went well and when I came back, we took the kids to Azteca.

They wouldn't sit us in one of the booths because the high chair would be in the way in the aisle you can see below.  This must be a new trend as we heard the same malarchy at Red Robin.  Please people, if you're going to have a family restaurant with high chairs, people with little kids like BOOTHS.  But we took a front corner table.  Abbey behaved well and Adam was a bit wild.  He was NOT happy that he had a high chair, but if I don't have a booth to corral him, it's hard to keep him at the table.  The food was decent, but it's honestly not as good as it once was.  And Adam talking VERY loud the whole time didn't make it easy to focus.  But it was pretty cute that he's singing "Accidents Happen" in his little off-key way :)  I took this photo of Adam running away from Tammy back towards me as she went in the back to pay the check and I was holding Abbey so she didn't take off.  OK, this is so adorable even though I know he shouldn't be running around the restaurant.

And then he ran back to Tammy to help her pay the check.

Came back after a little calming drive around the neighborhood and got the kids in kind of late.  Tammy worked on her computer (she doesn't have Internet at home) while I puttered with my housework.  Then, I learned that Jackie's father had passed and immediately, I felt sad for her.  And it brings back all the feelings of missing my Dad.  You never stop missing a parent.  I'm glad for Jackie he was so close to her son, but I know it must be difficult for her with a new baby on the way.  I can tell you that I know he's hanging out with that baby in heaven right now, getting to know her before she's born.

Abbey didn't sleep at all, which is no shocker.  Abbey wanted to eat her dinner, got into her chair and so I gave her an apple while I was trying to deal with her crib tent I had been sewing all afternoon.  The pole rammed through as I was trying to re-set it up and I was trying to get it fixed while she whined from her high chair and Adam woke up hard, wanting Mom.  A Calgon moment for sure!!

Then the oddest thing happened.  This has NEVER happened even as a baby, neither of my kids did it.  Abbey fell asleep sitting up in her high chair.  Say WHAT?  I tried to wake her, but that ticked her off.  I got worried and put her on the living room chair instead of her bed.  What if something was wrong?? What if she stopped breathing???  Tammy kind of chuckled at me "I've seen kids do this" she said.  I know, I know, but not mine!!!  Todd comes home as she's leaving.  He wasn't concerned either.  I calmed down and stopped poking her.  Guess sleep snuck up on her for once :)  She woke up ten minutes later and went back to her highchair.  I'm not kidding!

Summer Kickoff at the Zoo

I will begin this with a disclaimer:  we've been to 2 zoos 2 times this summer already....and this is the first.  It was the first weekend in May, right before I had my surgery and we decided to head to the Burnet Park Zoo in Syracuse.  We got kind of a late start and it was lunch time, so on the way there, we stopped at one of my favorite weekend jaunts.  Five Guys Burgers.  Yeah, I know super healthy.  But the burgers are just SO good!  The kids like it, too.  I grabbed an outside shot of the one in Camillus.  This is the ONLY burger Adam will eat at all.   You can't even get Abbey to try as she knows there are fries in the bag and she'll destroy the table until we give her some.

 This was our third year in a row to head to the zoo, so we've gotten kind of familiar with it.  Started through the indoor part.  Adam, of course, loved looking at all the animals.  Abbey showed interest hear and there, like at this exhibit.  It was a snake or lizard, I think.

 Adam was THRILLED to see an "Abbey-gator".  Though it's really something else, a cousin to the alligator.  He also loved "Nemo" and the snakes.

 Next stop was the aviary.  As I was downloading this picture, Adam said "Master Uguay!".  That's a character on Kung Fu Panda.  I took the picture at the time because I thought how neat it was how he just lives there with all the birds, hanging out.

 Love the pink birds.  Hanging out with an Orrie bird.  After the bird room is the nocturnal room, which I have no photos of.  Needless to say, the sloth, aka "Sid" from Ice Age, was a huge hit for Adam.  He also liked the desert cats.  KITTY MEOW MEOW he kept trying to talk to them.

 After that are the lions.  Kids loved seeing the Daddy and Mama lions (yeah, he gets two chicks).

 Trying to see the lions!

 What a funny face from Abbey as she watches the lions... :)

 Monkeys were a big hit after that, though I didn't get photos.  But in that same area are the lemurs, aka "King Julian" from Madagascar.  Adam was thrilled.  I think this photo.  Wish I'd had a telephoto lens for this.

 It's a FOOSA!!! A real animal I had never heard of until watching Madagascar.

 Outside, the kids were fascinated by the duck pond and the farm animals, but we noticed the elephants were missing.  We headed around the outdoor path.  The black bear was pretty active.

 And then we found the elephants.  To be honest, we got to the indoor part first and couldn't see them well through the windows and were disapointed when we thought THAT was the new exhibit.  But we kept walking and there they were.  Beautiful.  MANNY ELLIE Adam said.  Ice Age again.  So my kid gets his zoology from movies, what can I say?  The baby was so cute.

 At this point, Abbey was ready to get out and Adam actually wanted IN the stroller.  That's why I took this photo.  That never happens.  Last year, he refused to sit and was DRAGGING himself at the end.

 Abbey walking with Mama and noticing her shadow.  I took our shadow picture.

 Didn't get a great look at the tigers.  Adam was most interested in this tiger artifact on the table.  DINOSAUR MOM.

 Wanted photo of the kids on this tiger sculpture.  Todd took the photos while I tried to convince them to look at the camera.  Believe it or not, Adam loved it, he just was a bit nervous of his precarious position.

 Petting the tiger. :)

 Miss Abbey girl.  Oh how I wish her eyes were open I actually kind of like this picture!  She loved it.

 So Adam started reading the map and telling us what to look for.  Smart kid.  He'd take it out look and fold it back up and put it in the stroller.

 Penguins weren't really swimming that day, though Adam enjoyed seeing them on the rocks.

 Abbey was trying to break in to go swimming.  Seriously.  After this, when we passed the duck pond again, she tried to jump into that, too.

 Why do I have a photo of Adam on his hands and knees?  Because he saw some little girls, dropped to the ground and starting roaring like a tiger :)  Those girls didn't know WHAT to do!

 Abbey was asleep five minutes after we left.  It was a fun afternoon.  Poor Adam did NOT want to go.  It was clear he loves animals and zoos.  Abbey liked people watching the most, I think, though she has gotten more into the animals lately.  Ah, sweet princess.  They both actually behaved really well.   It was a nice day, especially when I was so nervous about the upcoming surgery.  One of those days I used to dream about when I'd fantasize about having kids.

Abbey Donut Invader

 A few weeks ago, we decided to do Sunday at home instead of our usual outing.  Which involved a run in the morning to Tim Horton's for TimBits for the kids, french toast bagel for Dad and plain bagel with cream cheese on the side for Mom and COFFEE.  But I also pick up some donuts or muffins for later when I do a Sunday Tim Horton's run.  You know, because if you're going to lay around all day, eating donuts just adds to it!

Abbey barreled down the gate probably a half hour after we had our breakfast and I found her in the kitchen invading the box.  Yeah, that was my secret indulgence, a Boston Creme donut, on the floor.  With a big chunk missing.

She couldn't have been in there more than five minutes and took a bite out of two of the three in there.  And she was so into it, that she didn't even care she got caught!  That girl LOVES her fruits, but don't get in her way of cakes or donuts!

This Week So Far

On Sunday for Father's Day, we went to the zoo (I have to write on that, still).  That night, Adam turned the house into a zoo.  Superdad became a sea lion swimming under Dad's corner table in the living room and his crib became a cage for multiple lions.

"Mommy," he said "Hold my hand.  Come here."  He led me into his room "Lion! See it?? See it?" he said to me, exactly what we said to him at the zoo.

Daddy joined in the fun, helping Adam put the Alligator in a "cage" of the chair and the wolf was "caged" behind the kitchen gate.  So cute.  He's been playing it on and off all week.

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On Monday, I drove up to see my surgeon for my follow-up.  I knew when I saw the sign on the door that says "Please excuse our delays", there would be an issue.  I was in there for nearly two hours.  My doctor had called in sick and I met with a nurse practitioner.  But all was good.  Mostly.  My blood pressure was high and I have a lot of small issues.  She said it sounds like my thyroid hormone is low.  I agree.  Getting tested tomorrow and follow-up with my regular endocrinologist next Monday.  I just want to get it right.

I've been plagued with a headache on and off all week.

Bobby babysat for two hours and then Melissa came and watched the kids.  It went well.  I have more to say about that.  And about her.

I made really good goulash for dinner Monday.

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Yesterday, Erin came over and cut Adam's hair.  It's a always a bit shocking as to how he looks right after.  We ended up headed over to Breitbeck Park after, only to find it packed, probably with an end of school event.  We went over to East Park where Abbey spent 99% of the time in a swing and they both scared the crap out of me on one of those old slides.  She suckered Erin into pushing her most of the time.  And in the second photo, that's Jonathon on top of the old scary slide.  He was actually posing for me!

 Daniel was pretty impressed with himself for using the big kid swing.  He's a of couple months older than Adam.  Adam swung for a bit, but it's not his favorite thing.

 Big Abby and Jonathon headed over to the play area with Adam, which is usually his favorite part.

 Abby got suckered into pushing Daniel.

 This is what I got when I asked Adam to smile for Mommy.  Sigh.

 Jonathon came over to pose for me.  I took a few photos, but this one is the nicest of him.  That's the bars.  Next time, I will frame it differently.

I underestimated how hot it was an 50 minutes later at about one, I felt a little dizzy.  We left and I went through Tim Horton's for a muffin at Adam's request, but really, I wanted iced coffee. It's housewife crack, I think!

Yesterday afternoon, I did the world's longest phone interview at an hour and a half with a new dog trainer for the business magazine.

It's hot today and I spent the morning doing some small cleaning projects.  Off to bathe the dog, who goes in for her surgery tomorrow.

Chewy's House

Last Friday morning, I decided to combine two offers into one and stop by Chewy's new house and to see my friend Sarah out near Rochester.  Now, looking at the photo above may have you think that Chewy lives in the country.  But actually, it's more the suburbs.  He has this hedged in yard that a deer was sitting in when he went to show me.  Crazy, right?  She was just sitting there until we walked out and then she kind of got a little frantic looking for the way out.  Kept the kids in until she was gone.  And here we have Abbey taking advantage of the enclosed yard.  She couldn't be more excited for the chance to run around!  But it was hot and both kids soon felt it.  It's always cute to capture her joy se vivre in a picture....

Chewy had his old cars and trucks in the basement which he keeps around in case kids visit and got them out for Adam, who really liked them.  He was in and out of the back porch arranging them on this table.  Here's Abbey taking a break to rest checking them out.

Chewy's and his girlfriend Jackie's house was very neat and tidy, as I expected.  I wish I'd taken a few more pictures, but with the kids, it's always hard to!  It's got an eat-in kitchen, a living room and three bedrooms and a bath in the back of the ranch.  Off of the attached garage is a "man cave"... basically a converted porch that is Chewy's favorite room.  They also have a finished basement straight from the 70's complete with swirling gold in the mirror.  They are setting that up as a rec room.  It was the only room that wasn't immaculate!  The main bathroom was retro in a 50's way....they plan on renovating it, but I kind of liked it.  It all reminded me of my grandmother's house.  There's something about being in the Rochester area that always feels familiar to me, probably from spending ages 2-7 there.  Here's a shot of Chewy in front of fireplace in the living room.  The did a good job painting most of the rooms.

He had offered to make lunch, but I told him not to bother with my picky kids.  I brought them snacks and banana bread and I cut them up apples and strawberries.  After about and hour and twenty minutes the kids were done.  I think the heat was killing Adam, he kept asking to go home.  But they were super comfortable around Chewy and his house, which was nice.  Though the house was really clean, he was fine with the kids running around it and made them at ease.  I think their favorite part was the shaded front yard.  On our way out, I tried to get a photo with the kids.  And Abbey takes off.  And Adam's headed to the car.

Adam, can you give Chewy five?  Half-hearted, but he did it.  He was too hot!

Nice photo of Chewy on his front porch.  It was  VERY quiet neighborhood.  Chewy said that there weren't many kids.  A lot of single people and older couples, I guess because the houses are smallish.  He was like an old lady, peering down the street and giving me the gossip on his neighbors and watching where the post man went.  Meanwhile, Abbey dives for the pig lawn ornament while I'm taking this photo.

Adam loved this pink flamingo, something his girlfriend put in. He kept calling it Big Bird.  After I got the kids in the car, I told Chewy to pose with it.  I told him to give me a Chewy picture, not an Eric picture.  Couldn't be happier with the results!  He has a nice home, which I can tell he really likes.  He wants to start his own business eventually from home, leaving higher education behind.  I hope he achieves his goal.  I don't talk to him a lot and it had been since last summer since I had seen him, and he seemed a little lonely, which was way I made the stop out there.  I think he's just trying to figure out this next stage in his life.