I hear Jeremy in the other room announcing to his grandparents that his "yankee wife got herself into some chiggers".
Well yes I suppose I did. I couldn't tell you how I did seeing as the extent of my outdoorsy activities as of late has been dinner on the deck of some friends. I didn't venture out into the trees to climb with Jordan and I didn't climb under, around or next to the deck. Just sat unsuspecting at the table while I was silently assaulted.
I know nothing of this chigger beast. I am indeed a yankee wife. Imagine my surprise.
I have a dozen little nightmares on my ankle that have kept me up long into the night. I tried vinegar, After Bite, hydrocortisone, Benadryl, alcohol, nail polish,wearing socks, not wearing socks, sheer knuckle whitening will power but to no avail. . . .
I thought earlier today that I'd post a picture of my poor little ankle, afraid that somehow the horror would be lessened by the limitations of the written word. So I took a few pictures (all of which made my heel look 4 times it's actual size, oddly enough) and thought maybe tonight I'd detail my struggle here for you.
Then I googled "chigger bites" and discovered how repulsive the sight of someone else's welted, burning, itchy, swollen foot and/or leg was and decided I'd spare you. I am not a person uncomfortable with feet. I like feet just fine. No weird phobias or neurosis here - at least not when it comes to feet and ankles. But, well, eww.
Think you have a pretty strong stomach? Try a google image search and let me know how you hold up. The combination of badly scarring flesh and the magnified image of the menacing little mite that caused the damage is just a little too much for me.
So all of that is to say. Dammit man, I met a chigger or two or three and I do so hope our paths never cross again.
You can thank me for sparing you the photos later. And for those of you who are oddly and grossly intrigued. . .. google images should more than satisfy.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Naked City, USA
Well, so, we overslept a bit this morning and in the somewhat hurried mess of getting children fed and washed (or least making it appear that they had been washed) Sedona refused to get with the program. She was happy enough about her resistance, still silly and playing but not wearing any pants.
I was collecting my lists for the day, phone, purse etc and still, she is not wearing pants. We got in late last night from some friends' and she'd fallen asleep in the car, so I simply pulled her jeans off of her and left her to sleep in her tank top. It was this very tank top that she felt was a complete outfit come morning.
I said, "Well, I'm about ready to go. C'mon Sedona, get ready. It is time to leave."
"I am ready." still with no pants.
"Well, I don't where you think you're going with no pants on."
without hesitation, slings her weight back on one hip and says, "I'm going to Naked City. You don't need pants there."
I was collecting my lists for the day, phone, purse etc and still, she is not wearing pants. We got in late last night from some friends' and she'd fallen asleep in the car, so I simply pulled her jeans off of her and left her to sleep in her tank top. It was this very tank top that she felt was a complete outfit come morning.
I said, "Well, I'm about ready to go. C'mon Sedona, get ready. It is time to leave."
"I am ready." still with no pants.
"Well, I don't where you think you're going with no pants on."
without hesitation, slings her weight back on one hip and says, "I'm going to Naked City. You don't need pants there."
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The trouble with imaginary friends
It is just all fun and games in the imaginary world until someone gets nail polish in their eye.
Yes, our darling ER maven struck again. This time we avoided the actual hospital but calls to medical professionals were made while the child was half drowned in the sink.
As it turns out, Sedona's imaginary friend (whose name she will not disclose) thought that a pale pink (yes, sparkly) nail polish might make dazzling eye make up. She then proceeded to apply said nail polish to lids and lashes which of course resulted in blood curdling screams, seering pain and a very red eyeball.
As soon as I identified the problem (through the tears and falling over) I dragged her to the sink and flushed her eye out which procured more screams and flailing.
Seriously.
So she's okay now. The vision intact and a little bit of an added sparkle to her right eye for a few days until the nail polish wears off.
Is everyone's life this exciting? Cause I'm gettin tired and I might be running low on adrenaline.
Yes, our darling ER maven struck again. This time we avoided the actual hospital but calls to medical professionals were made while the child was half drowned in the sink.
As it turns out, Sedona's imaginary friend (whose name she will not disclose) thought that a pale pink (yes, sparkly) nail polish might make dazzling eye make up. She then proceeded to apply said nail polish to lids and lashes which of course resulted in blood curdling screams, seering pain and a very red eyeball.
As soon as I identified the problem (through the tears and falling over) I dragged her to the sink and flushed her eye out which procured more screams and flailing.
Seriously.
So she's okay now. The vision intact and a little bit of an added sparkle to her right eye for a few days until the nail polish wears off.
Is everyone's life this exciting? Cause I'm gettin tired and I might be running low on adrenaline.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Our last hoorah
Living in Saint Louis, you are often told that the City Museum is lovely. I believed them, but didn't understood just how lovely a museum could be. I knew it wasn't the cheapest place around and so decided that we'd make it the last hoorah. Our final summer event. One last blast before school and bedtimes, alarm clocks and homework set in again.
So Friday night we picked Jeremy up from work a bit early and headed downtown to the City Museum.
I can't tell you how much we enjoyed it. Well, I can try and I can show too many pictures but you still won't get it. So you'll just have to come visit and see for yourselves.
City Museum says it is "where the imagination runs wild" and boy do they mean it. From grand pianos out in the open for banging and playing and composing, to Art City, trains that go through glow in the dark tunnels and well, more slides than I dare to count. We explored cold, dark caves in the bowels of the building and got lost in a giant bird's nest in a tree. They even have a vintage clothing boutique, circus and skateless skate park. Everything is designed with the imagination first.
The World Aquarium is just the way an imaginative aquarium should be. You can pet a shark (amongst other things), see giant catfish fed and yes, climb through more tunnels and slides. What initially looked half-baked, turned out to be just what the creative mind needed. The aquarium is an additional admission fee so I was a little bit suprised to find hundreds of individual aquarium tanks set up with separate lights and filters etc like you'd find in many a child's bedroom, hand written signs and encyclopedia pages (literally) of info Scotch taped to the glass. Instead of being substandard though, I've decided it was more of an adventure, more like exploring to wander through what could easily be a scientist/biologist's basement. And it wasn't just fish. Alligators, snakes, tarantulas, guinea pigs, and macaws loose in the air.
Oh but Art City. I stood in awe of the heaps and mountains of collage fodder, more tempera paint than you can shake a brush at, mounds of clay ready to be shaped. . . all free for the using. Big fishbowls full of water for used paint brushes and to discourage "dirty double dipping". Sedona is guilty of this dirty little deed and instead of surrendering her brushes, she made her way to a splatter booth/box to create messier, more active art. Everything about this room screamed "spill your creativity here!" I looked at Jeremy and said, this is like my dream come true. . .he looked worried and replied only"you're going to go tear the hell out of the kitchen now aren't you?" He knows me too well. I imagine concrete floors stripped of crummy vinyl tile and splattered instead with paintings spilled over. Mis-matched chairs no longer mis-matching as they all find a home in the paint smearing hands of the kids. Walls strung with anything and everything that inspires. Whether it be our own masterpieces or chunks of fabric and photo that make us think, or least breath for a moment longer. . . . .ah yes. Art City. And again, the pictures can't possibly do it justice.
But here I'll go trying anyway. . .
So Friday night we picked Jeremy up from work a bit early and headed downtown to the City Museum.
I can't tell you how much we enjoyed it. Well, I can try and I can show too many pictures but you still won't get it. So you'll just have to come visit and see for yourselves.
City Museum says it is "where the imagination runs wild" and boy do they mean it. From grand pianos out in the open for banging and playing and composing, to Art City, trains that go through glow in the dark tunnels and well, more slides than I dare to count. We explored cold, dark caves in the bowels of the building and got lost in a giant bird's nest in a tree. They even have a vintage clothing boutique, circus and skateless skate park. Everything is designed with the imagination first.
The World Aquarium is just the way an imaginative aquarium should be. You can pet a shark (amongst other things), see giant catfish fed and yes, climb through more tunnels and slides. What initially looked half-baked, turned out to be just what the creative mind needed. The aquarium is an additional admission fee so I was a little bit suprised to find hundreds of individual aquarium tanks set up with separate lights and filters etc like you'd find in many a child's bedroom, hand written signs and encyclopedia pages (literally) of info Scotch taped to the glass. Instead of being substandard though, I've decided it was more of an adventure, more like exploring to wander through what could easily be a scientist/biologist's basement. And it wasn't just fish. Alligators, snakes, tarantulas, guinea pigs, and macaws loose in the air.
Oh but Art City. I stood in awe of the heaps and mountains of collage fodder, more tempera paint than you can shake a brush at, mounds of clay ready to be shaped. . . all free for the using. Big fishbowls full of water for used paint brushes and to discourage "dirty double dipping". Sedona is guilty of this dirty little deed and instead of surrendering her brushes, she made her way to a splatter booth/box to create messier, more active art. Everything about this room screamed "spill your creativity here!" I looked at Jeremy and said, this is like my dream come true. . .he looked worried and replied only"you're going to go tear the hell out of the kitchen now aren't you?" He knows me too well. I imagine concrete floors stripped of crummy vinyl tile and splattered instead with paintings spilled over. Mis-matched chairs no longer mis-matching as they all find a home in the paint smearing hands of the kids. Walls strung with anything and everything that inspires. Whether it be our own masterpieces or chunks of fabric and photo that make us think, or least breath for a moment longer. . . . .ah yes. Art City. And again, the pictures can't possibly do it justice.
But here I'll go trying anyway. . .
Friday, August 15, 2008
Sedona's ER portfolio
Head injuries or not. . .the girl still hams it up for the camera.
What limited sense of self preservation and pride that I still have intact prevents me from posting the pictures of Mommy and Daddy making funny faces for the camera wielding patient during our 4 hour stay in the ER. But know this . . . we are not beautiful people when eyes go crossed, lips curl, and nostrils flare.
What limited sense of self preservation and pride that I still have intact prevents me from posting the pictures of Mommy and Daddy making funny faces for the camera wielding patient during our 4 hour stay in the ER. But know this . . . we are not beautiful people when eyes go crossed, lips curl, and nostrils flare.
A call for helmets and oven mitts
The following post is told in flashbacks, so if you have sustained any brain injuries or have trouble with the space-time continuum, then discontinue reading now.
The Latest Incident
I got the call yesterday at work.
"Sedona hit her head and it is like swelling faster than like...it is swelling really fast. What should I do?"
This call does not surprise me. Why? Because head injuries are what we do best in the Nulik house.
The Previous Incident
Just ten days previous to this Sedona and I were at the park having a nice time on the swings.
"I'm going to do a new trick, Daddy," she says.
"No...no tricks today," I say.
However, this warning was too late. She had already released the chains and commenced her attempt to fly. This attempt culminated in a dive that would have made Olympic judges proud.
Several hours and a few puking bathroom visits later, we had found ourselves in the warm confines of the Lake Saint Louis Emergency Room. CAT scans proved what we already knew...no concussions...just mild stupidity.
The Walking Through Doors Incident
However...not even this episode surprised me...why? Because only several weeks previous on a trip to Chicago, Jana thought she would try to be like Patrick Swayze in Ghost and go through a glass backdoor.
After failing to shape shift around the door, we ended up in exotic Central DuPage Hospital. No brain scan necessary here. After an ER fee, they told us to "Be careful." Apparently, I listen to doctors like I listened to my parents in high school.
The Original Incident?
Since the phone call yesterday, I have done some serious soul-searching..."Gully, Jeremy...that is 3 head injuries in 1 month. What is going on here?" Then, the memory of my childhood came to mind. Wow, I hit my head a lot. If my fallible memory serves me incorrectly, then I come up with at least 3 good sized concussions. This does not count the time I fell out of the tree house or when I jumped off my friend Steve's bike pegs. I can't imagine the worry that this caused my parents.
I am reminded of this phrase, "The sins of the father are visited upon the son." Apparently this applies to daughters and wives as well. God is not gender specific with the whole son thing.
Update On the Most Recent Head Injury
Sedona is fine. After another set of brain scans we have found the same thing. She has a mild case of being related to her parents.
Watch for more updates and, if possible, please send some helmets and oven mits. As head of the household, I would like to protect the other heads in the household by instituting a "Helmets must be worn at all times" policy. The oven mits are just a precaution. I wouldn't want anyone's eyes to get poked out. All helmets are welcomed, but ones that include a face mask are preferred.
- Jeremy
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Lonely Goats Tour 2008
It is a funny thing to find your children so very much unlike the other 30 running around screaming and chasing goats. Both of mine, separately, took up an adoption and compassion cause. After visitng with and brushing every goat she could find sitting alone near the fence, Sedona took to one particular goat, and there she sat for more than 30 minutes. Talk about dedication.
Jordan in the meantime traveled around looking for the loneliest, smallest goats and offered them additional milk (yes, we are crazy city folk feeding fenced goats from bottles for sport).
While the other children scrambled amidst the frenzied goats all fighting each other for the bottles of milk, mine were repeatedly found as far from the action as you could get. While somehow sweetly satisfying and encouraging it was also, I'm afraid, exhausting. I simply wasn't as taken with the goats as they were and, not wanting to leave their bleeding hearts alone, had to kind of loiter around the goat pen for a great deal longer than I'd ever intended or desired.
So I'm having all these swell thoughts about the kids kind hearts, and great compassion, their slow and steady approach to serving these underling goats, right? Ah yes, we've recently applied for 501c3 status, don't worry. . . .
And then Jordan, sweet Jordan, helped me snap out of it.
He'd been fending off other goats and humans in service of a particular goat (you'll see him below in the slides) for quite some time. Any other kids who tried to feed him were quickly turned away. Afterall, "this is MY goat." He looked at me and introduced me to his goat, was silent for a minute then peered deep into the goat's eyes and announced, "This goat doesn't like me anymore I need to find a new goat."
I still laugh good and hard when I replay it in my head (or on my screen as the case may be). I might be alone in seeing the irony here. Just as I'm thinking how devoted to this goat he is, how seemingly unselfish, he reveals that it had little to do with that particular goat. Rather, he wanted to be needed, to be adored. Ahh yes, human afterall.
Other highlights from our trip to Grant's Farm:
-A kangaroo that didn't do so much as flutter an eyelash (do they have eyelashes?) in the hour we were near its pen. Very creepy.
- Jordan got to feed an apple to an elephant!! I thought his face would cracked he was smiling so hard for what seemed like hours afterward.
- Displeased that the brochure showed a young horse alongside one of the full grown Clydesdale Budweiser horses when there wasn't a baby to found anywhere in the stables. . .Sedona announced that the babies were all hiding under the hay. I can't tell you how put out she was though. She's not down with false advertising.
- Ducks mating just a few feet away from the crowd. Always a good conversation piece for both 4 year olds and 9 year olds alike.
- Camels. Really, there isn't much about camels that isn't bizarre and interesting and somehow a little bit gross. They seem just great in movies and on safari home decor but up close and personal . . . yeah, I dunno.
Jordan in the meantime traveled around looking for the loneliest, smallest goats and offered them additional milk (yes, we are crazy city folk feeding fenced goats from bottles for sport).
While the other children scrambled amidst the frenzied goats all fighting each other for the bottles of milk, mine were repeatedly found as far from the action as you could get. While somehow sweetly satisfying and encouraging it was also, I'm afraid, exhausting. I simply wasn't as taken with the goats as they were and, not wanting to leave their bleeding hearts alone, had to kind of loiter around the goat pen for a great deal longer than I'd ever intended or desired.
So I'm having all these swell thoughts about the kids kind hearts, and great compassion, their slow and steady approach to serving these underling goats, right? Ah yes, we've recently applied for 501c3 status, don't worry. . . .
And then Jordan, sweet Jordan, helped me snap out of it.
He'd been fending off other goats and humans in service of a particular goat (you'll see him below in the slides) for quite some time. Any other kids who tried to feed him were quickly turned away. Afterall, "this is MY goat." He looked at me and introduced me to his goat, was silent for a minute then peered deep into the goat's eyes and announced, "This goat doesn't like me anymore I need to find a new goat."
I still laugh good and hard when I replay it in my head (or on my screen as the case may be). I might be alone in seeing the irony here. Just as I'm thinking how devoted to this goat he is, how seemingly unselfish, he reveals that it had little to do with that particular goat. Rather, he wanted to be needed, to be adored. Ahh yes, human afterall.
Other highlights from our trip to Grant's Farm:
-A kangaroo that didn't do so much as flutter an eyelash (do they have eyelashes?) in the hour we were near its pen. Very creepy.
- Jordan got to feed an apple to an elephant!! I thought his face would cracked he was smiling so hard for what seemed like hours afterward.
- Displeased that the brochure showed a young horse alongside one of the full grown Clydesdale Budweiser horses when there wasn't a baby to found anywhere in the stables. . .Sedona announced that the babies were all hiding under the hay. I can't tell you how put out she was though. She's not down with false advertising.
- Ducks mating just a few feet away from the crowd. Always a good conversation piece for both 4 year olds and 9 year olds alike.
- Camels. Really, there isn't much about camels that isn't bizarre and interesting and somehow a little bit gross. They seem just great in movies and on safari home decor but up close and personal . . . yeah, I dunno.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Of humidity and gas prices.. . .
I realized just this week that we are down to 2 little weeks of long and winding summer days. 10 days to be exact. But as tends to happen in Saint Louis this time of year, the humidity has steadily climbed through the roof, sending my fibromyalgia into a little temper tantrum and slowing our outdoor adventures. And while Saint Louis has gobs of free attractions, they are all 20-35 miles away from home sweet home, which in my sad, old Blazer translates roughly into at least $20 in gas alone per trip. Not exactly free.
And so. . . .this past week found us at the pool, a mere mile from our home and at $10 admission I figure we saved $10 and we bargain away. We swam, we sunned. Tuesday was a good day.
Wednesday brought more rain (and its subsequent sticky, slimy air) and we made our way to the front yard to bask in it. It was a delicious summer rain, no lightening, no thunder, just a warm, steady rain.
Thursday, I don't care to mention as it was . . . well one of those days. Only a small percentage of residents made their way out of pajamas, movies were watched, boys were driven to silly gestures of boredom, snacks were scattered, imaginations were put to work (see Professor Jordan below, complete with costumes). And we move on . . . .
By Friday morning, the humidity reached such absurd heights that the toilet paper began to sag off the roll, paperback book covers rolled and curled up, edges of papers waffled in the moisture. Ahh yes. let's settle here near all the rivers and swamps. Delightful.
And then I found myself in Dallas!! I got to travel, on my very own, to Dallas for the My Shopping Genie Launch and it was terrif. Time spent with my mom, time spent without whining of incessant requests (besides my own), and the new technology was amazing. I'm really excited about this business as it might just be the way I get to stay home with the kids this school year. In fact, I'm sure that it is the way.
Shameless plug ----->www.myshoppinggenie.com/nulikjana It is a free download, totally free software. When the newest version goes public later this week I truly believe it will be the greatest shopping tool on the internet. It helps you compare prices and shop smart. Try it out and let me know what you think. I hope you love it.
End of shameless plug.
And now for the proof.
So that's what's been happening here. Stay tuned. . .next week we go to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and to the City Museum. I'm looking forward to it.
And so. . . .this past week found us at the pool, a mere mile from our home and at $10 admission I figure we saved $10 and we bargain away. We swam, we sunned. Tuesday was a good day.
Wednesday brought more rain (and its subsequent sticky, slimy air) and we made our way to the front yard to bask in it. It was a delicious summer rain, no lightening, no thunder, just a warm, steady rain.
Thursday, I don't care to mention as it was . . . well one of those days. Only a small percentage of residents made their way out of pajamas, movies were watched, boys were driven to silly gestures of boredom, snacks were scattered, imaginations were put to work (see Professor Jordan below, complete with costumes). And we move on . . . .
By Friday morning, the humidity reached such absurd heights that the toilet paper began to sag off the roll, paperback book covers rolled and curled up, edges of papers waffled in the moisture. Ahh yes. let's settle here near all the rivers and swamps. Delightful.
And then I found myself in Dallas!! I got to travel, on my very own, to Dallas for the My Shopping Genie Launch and it was terrif. Time spent with my mom, time spent without whining of incessant requests (besides my own), and the new technology was amazing. I'm really excited about this business as it might just be the way I get to stay home with the kids this school year. In fact, I'm sure that it is the way.
Shameless plug ----->www.myshoppinggenie.com/nulikjana It is a free download, totally free software. When the newest version goes public later this week I truly believe it will be the greatest shopping tool on the internet. It helps you compare prices and shop smart. Try it out and let me know what you think. I hope you love it.
End of shameless plug.
And now for the proof.
So that's what's been happening here. Stay tuned. . .next week we go to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and to the City Museum. I'm looking forward to it.
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