Surgery and Stuff

I did it. 

Remember my frank "talk" I had with my gynecologist some time back? 

On Monday, I had a quick little surgery. 

I say a quick "little" surgery because I still have most of my "parts." The surgery itself was uncomplicated, but for someone like me, there were a few more steps and hurdles. 

I had a little difficulty waking up and my oxygen levels weren't ideal when I was in recovery. But all is good and I was sent home with a few more stitches and a happening pair of fuzzy socks. Color puce. 

It is early. Currently, I am on my couch (I couldn't climb the vast height of my bed) with my cat waiting to take a pill (or two). The rest of the household is asleep.

Including (wait for it), MY MOMMA! She is here! In my house. In Josiah's little bed. 

I know what you're thinking. Why are you just now hearing about all of this STUFF going on with me? I am generally a bit more transparent. After all, I have admitted to losing my skirt in public, frequently going to the Wal-marts with two different shoes AND accidentally putting cough syrup in a coconut cream pie. 

Just. Plain. Goofy. 

That's what I be. 

This season in my life has been just harder to talk about. There is so much going on in the world. Wildfires. Contentious elections. People have just become unhinged. 

The fact that I had to sign a "Consent for Sterilization" seemed insignificant in the grand scheme of things. My private pain and suffering seemed almost too tender. It has been a constant reminder of all of my perceived failures. 

Rationally, I know that it was impractical and almost impossible for me to become pregnant again. Plus, the miracle of Josiah's adoption was and is a thing of beauty. I have no complaints. I love being a momma. 

It's just that infertility took away my choices. And some of my dreams. 

But. We do what we have to do...don't we? "Railing" against my body and venting publically about my disappointments and current pain seems counterproductive. And it's really not my thing. 

The reality is that my current list of medications is downright ridiculous. The girls at my pharmacy have memorized my birthdate. I have gained more weight in the past two years year than I previously lost. I don't ever have a day that I am not in pain from all the metal located in my body. I never know when the tide is going to turn and my heart function is going to take another nose dive. For nearly 8 months this year, I bled. I stop breathing when I sleep and sometimes my feet and legs swell so much I can't wear my cute shoes. 

Which is downright insulting, I assure you. 

But, my friends. I am singularly blessed. For the most part, the things that I have suffered have made me a better person. 

I have a husband that adores me. 

I have a son that sat up for two hours last night watching over me before he went to bed. He basically took the "night shift." This boy. He is a treasure. 

I have parents who have always been supportive and allowed me to be "me." 

Not to mention the love and support of all of the rest of my crazy family. And I can't even begin to tell you about my church family. 

They are precious. There is even a sweet couple who stayed at the hospital with my family the whole time I was in surgery and only left when they could see me in recovery. Last night, we were blessed with yummy food and a visit from some of my favorite people. 

And I have a Savior who comforts me. Who keeps me. Who has shown His faithfulness time and time again.

The past few months have been a reckoning for me of sorts. I have needed some quiet and private time to sort through my feelings. And, frankly, I haven't felt my best. I have needed to reserve my energies for evenings at home with my boys. Time spent with good books and mastering my homemade roll technique. Mornings spent in quiet devotion with a good cup of coffee (and plenty of cream). 

It's time for me to take a few more pills. I feel pretty good and my cat is doing an excellent job of keeping me company in this, the wee hours of the morning. But pain is pain and I'd rather not tempt it. 

My momma is here and she brought with her some treasures from my daddy's garden. I got to spend a few hours with my brother (though I would have liked it better if he could have stayed longer and made some of his famous beans). The Muffin has fetched and carried and been as doting as he always is. 

I feel cherished. Not only is it a fact...but it is also a choice. In the long run...no matter what is taken away...so much more is given. 

The Gyn

My husband tells me that sometimes I can be mouthy.

He knows better.

Mostly, I am guilty of not speaking up.

Last week, my nurse practitioner and I "practiced" what I was going to say to my gynecologist. I had told her that maybe I should see somebody else. That I just knew that if I went back to him that he was going to "prescribe" the same course of treatment that nearly every other gynecologist I had seen in my life was going to suggest and he wasn't going to hear me.

My nurse practitioner "hears" me.

This is about to get a little personal.

She told me that unfortunately, most everyone would feel that they would have to run the same battery of tests he had completed the year before and would want to run again.  But she also told me that I needed to speak up for myself. That I was intelligent and that I knew what I wanted.

And what I wanted mattered. ( I really need to have her make a general doctor's note a can carry around in my purse for this)

You see, when I go to a typical gynecologist visit it is never typical for me. There is always a sense of unfinished business. There is always a sense of loss. Most of the time, I can brush it off and bury my head in a magazine or book.

Only seldom do I go back to the exam room and have a typical visit. There is always an issue to be discussed or a problem to be solved.

And while I have many "specialist" who I have standing appointments with...it is the gynecologist who has always told me things I didn't want to hear.

You are not ovulating.
They are not regulating.

There is no heartbeat.

When it came time for my visit to my gynecologist it was not a pleasant one. I cried ugly tears. I'm fairly certain I scared the man. I'm also pretty certain he's never made a hillbilly mad before. Not to mention the number of unchecked hormones coursing through my body.

But, I also know what I want. This girl, this woman...had to learn to walk again. She faced death full on and cackled...The Muffin says I cackle. I am sure there are those that have traveled across my life and have discounted my tears and my pain, but we all have 'em.

Let me tell you something. You don't know me. You don't even know the half of it.  If I said the half of it, you probably would be offended. I'm mouthy somewhere up there.

As I was listening to that young man speak (I'm fairly certain he's younger than me) I wondered if he had looked fully at my chart.  But also realized that some of those qualities of "hearing" came from time and experience.

Our time together did not end badly. Eventually, he did hear me. He became less defense and actually gave me some really good advice. Though the man didn't offer to find me a baby somewhere and we all know that would have made everything better.

I have never been shy about talking about infertility or my love affair with adoption. Josiah is everything. And he knows it.

I just never figured on still having this unfinished business and sense of betrayal so late in the process. Especially after everything else I've been through. 

Confrontation and painful feelings are just so stinkin' hard to talk about.

 And we are all such ding-dongs. Really! The minute anyone of us wants to vent or cry about something "some" beacon of "light" has to stand up and remind us that we are so "blessed" and have so much to be thankful for. Or relate a story of a relative that has suffered a  tragedy that makes your story pale in comparison.

Word of advice? Just let people talk. Don't try and fix things. And don't start your reply with "well, you think that's bad..." 

Shew. So that was the tale of my time at the gynecologist and the visit he'll never forget.  Though I did eventually get to my favorite little boutique and spent too much on clothes.

There are many kinds of therapy, my friends. And nobody went in debt and died to do it.

I feel that I do need to make a bit of disclaimer here before I finish my little rant. The Muffin and I are not trying to conceive. The Muffin, my cardiologist, and my momma would KILL ME! There are some other things going on. I'm just speaking vaguely to protect the gentle sensibilities of my Uncles, Daddy and any other male relatives who might happen on this post.

You never know.

Saturday Random Thoughts

Happy Saturday, my friends! 

I'm presently encamped in the corner of my comfy couch. I've got a long "to-do" list for the day and I'm trying to muster up some motivation to get 'er going. 

I've not even had a hot beverage yet. 

It's been a while since I've treated you to one of my "Random Thoughts" posts, but I figure I'm long overdue. 

You're welcome.

1. Josiah has taken to wearing the same pair of 80's sunglasses 24/7. I've had to threaten him within an inch of natural life not to wear them in church. He even wears them at night. And I'm pretty sure there is a song about that somewhere. Here is the deal. I'm trying to pick my battles. Battling over a pair of tacky sunglasses with a 16-year-old boy is probably the least of my worries. Plus, I'm hoping he'll move on to a new obsession. Let's hope it doesn't involve a mullet. 


2. The Muffin and I are once again wrapped up in our annual viewing of Downton Abbey. It's our tradition. We start at the very beginning (a very good place to start) and go from there. We figure that we'll be done just in time to start the new When Calls the Heart season. Sappy...I tell ya! Though we are woefully unaware of most popular television programming. With the exception of the aforementioned When Calls the Heart the only other show we keep up with is Fixer Upper. 

3. I'm sure I've mentioned this a time or two, but since the beginning of October I have been going to cardiac rehab several times a week. Now I am not having major issues...so don't worry that my heart is being all funky again. There are just a few nagging things to worry about and cardiac rehab provides a safe way to keep on top of things. I absolutely love my therapist, Maggie. She is one of the few people who know my actual weight. I'm the kind of person who would rather not admit something is wrong or try and ignore potentially gnarly health issues. Going to rehab several times a week has forced me to pay attention to what's going on. I think I need a Maggie in every area of my life. Laundry, for example. I need a Maggie for laundry.

4. Have I mentioned that it has been COLD this winter? I might have. Cold doesn't like me. It teases all these pins and screws I have holding me together. It's always a little tempting to fall into a big ole pity party. AND then I feel sorry for myself for feeling sorry for myself. I continually have to remind myself that I have been on this journal a LONG time. It can't be all sunshine and roses every single minute. That would just be exhausting. Sometimes it's good just to take my mind off of myself and spend a little time with a little mindless entertainment. Which leads me to my confession. I LOVE DR. PIMPLE POPPER on youtube! There. I said it. I enjoy watching a dermatologist excising cysts, removing blackheads and scrapping a Seborrheic Keratosis. I can't even begin to tell you why this is. I was the girl who took Anatomy and Physiology 1 in college and spent the entire semester with a scowl on my face. However, Dr. Pimple Popper has been my guilty pleasure on youtube. Who can feel sorry for themselves when somebody else has a lipoma the size of Nebraska hanging out the middle of their back? 

You got to take it where you can get it, my friends. 

5. Josiah has just started a couple of classes with a homeschool co-op. He is taking Graphic Design and Theater. He told me that this past week he had to read both Paris and Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet.  He also told me that he had an easy feeling that someone was going to ask him to perform on stage at some point. Which, we all know, is generally the idea of a theater class. I did have to threaten him with bodily harm if he wore those crazy sunglasses in class. That's all we need. I have also decided that I am going to increase his anxiety level by making him watch the Romeo and Juliet ballet on youtube.  I know what he will be thinking. "Are they going to make me wear those tights?" I figure any boy who insists on wearing those 80's shades will just have to be okay with some spandex. 

So that's it for now. I have a list of stuff I need to do and my Saturday will be gone  before I know it. Plus, I've got a strict pimple popping viewing schedule to keep up. 😁

Baby Steps

Anybody else up to their elbows in "Spring Cleaning?" I'm trying. My big problem is that last year's Spring Cleaning marathon didn't happen.

And the fact that we are stuffed into a small apartment is causing its own share of issues. I'm considering moving one of us in with the neighbor. I'm thinking about volunteering to go myself. Beke needs a break.

I did get one big project done yesterday. I found a spot for the mountain of fabric buckets. Of course, I might never get them out from where they are all wedged...

Have you ever looked at something in your life and thought, "Where do I even start?"

Maybe you have a big project coming up. Maybe you are overwhelmed with weight loss or adapting a healthy lifestyle. Or maybe you are walking through a difficult patch right now.

Last week I told you to find 3 little things to do that would add a little beauty to your life. I did all of mine except for the trip to the park. But, hey! 2 out of 3 ain't bad. (my apologies to Mrs. Carter. My 6th grade English teacher who used to make us write sentences if we used "ain't").

This week I added to my "little things" list by purchasing a small bouquet of flowers at the grocery store to set on my coffee table. I've enjoyed staring at them.

This week I am overwhelmed with the disorganization of my home. It doesn't take much for it to become something from "Hoarders." I am overwhelmed with what to do. How do I just start?

I'm going to share another strategy that seems to help me get through those tough projects or mountains in life.

Baby Steps.

It is so easy to look at a situation in your life and become overwhelmed with the enormity of it all. I have done this with weight loss. When I started I had well over 100 pounds to lose. I would look at pictures taken of me at our wedding and just cry. How did that young, size 6 girl ever let herself become so disgusting? And how to lose 120 pounds? How was that even possible? Nothing I had tried worked. It became a mountain I just couldn't climb.

Baby Steps.

Some of us have trouble with moderation. We throw ourselves into a new project, a weight loss program, etc, etc. with wild abandon. And because it is impossible to maintain that kind of energy indefinitely we wind up crashing and burning. And that in turn pushes us even further over the edge.

Sweet friends. I've been there.

Baby Steps

Here is your assignment for the week. In keeping with last week's assignment, write down something you can do to add a little beauty to your life. And then write down a goal for yourself. Next, list one thing you can do to help you achieve that goal. If it is weight loss you can try and replace something in your diet, add more fruits and veggies or start walking. But...only do one thing. Don't try them all at once. In fact, only do one thing this week. I've found with weight loss that changing a lifestyle is key...and you can't do that all at once. Trust me...this 70 pounds I've lost didn't come off easily.

Because my mountain to climb right now is taking control of some of clutter, I started this week by finding a more permanent place for that fabric mountain.  Today I am setting our box for Goodwill by the door and another box of books to take for trade at the used bookstore. The Studly Muffin already told me he would take them for me. Tomorrow I am going to go through one of Josiah's drawers to prepare him for Spring/Summer.

Baby Steps.

Take some big deep breathes. And just take one step at a time. You'll get there.

Necessities

A girl can't go too far in life without realizing that there are a few things she just can't live without.

1. Good sturdy underwear (my apologies to any of my uncles reading this...TMI?)

2. An occasional soak in a hot bath.

3. A rich indulging treat now and again. Chocolate anyone?

4. Some "One" who provides daily Grace.

5. And (most recently discovered) a reliable flash drive. 'Cause you never know when your computer is going to go crazy and you lose everything you have stored on said computer.

This has happened to me twice in the past 2 months. I'm beginning to get a complex. Not only have I lost beloved pictures, but this happened in the middle of doing many, many reviews. And (Yay!) I have discovered I needed to replace the battery pack in my camera.

My camera battery and its replacement are no longer charging. And to add to the fun we have discovered we need to replace our Wii remotes. How am I going to get my Just Dance fix? This is serious!

But. Considering the events of the week...mainly the horrific bombing that happened in Boston....we must always put things in perspective.

Remember that reliable flash drive? (Full disclosure: It does happen to be my mama's reliable flash drive, but I borrow it like I borrow her jewelry...often)

This was what was on it.

We just had these pictures taken Saturday. And despite the fact that I look like I could use a little more sun we were really pleased with them. It could be the subject matter.

So (big sigh) despite all of this technology drama...I'm a pretty blessed gal.

It's the Little Things

Many years ago I sat before a group of ladies and spoke of what had happened in my life. Just a few years before I had been in a terrible car accident. I talked about what it felt like to have traction pins screwed into both of your legs…while still awake. I talked about hearing the cries of a mother whose child was unresponsive and passing away before her eyes in a bed near mine in the trauma intensive care unit. I spoke about the kindness of those entrusted with my care and what it was like to rely on someone else for simple things like brushing your teeth or more humbling things like wiping your bottom. I spoke of the months spent in a wheelchair and bed….unsure of my future. I talked of the humiliation of the weight gain. My bloated face, puffy body…my small frame was not meant to carry the over 100 pounds I had gained. I cried when I spoke of infertility and how helpless and betrayed by own body I felt. And I talked about my current struggle with congestive heart failure. At this time I was still learning to walk again…my cane propped up beside me. I was still having panic attacks while driving down the road. I was still angry that my womb was as empty and barren as a desert.

But, within my story I weaved those stories Of God’s faithfulness and protection. I talked about those small and big miracles I had seen and those I still needed in my life. Those who know me well know I am just a bit irreverent. Through my tears I relayed the time my (pretty stinkin’ cute) male nurse in the trauma intensive care unit told me not to fret over some of the more delicate parts of my care. He had seen thousands of hinnies and mine wasn’t any different.

I promised the ladies that I was going to share my secrets of How To Live a Beautiful Life….even if the life around you doesn’t feel so beautiful. I could tell they were ripe with anticipation. They sat on the edges of their seats..pens in hand. You can imagine that a few of them had the wind out of their sails when I gave them instructions to host a tea party, display a bowl of lemons and then get a pedicure. What? Where was that magical pill? That special bit of courage and determination that only came when you needed it the most? They were anticipating my formula. How I quoted 62 passages of scripture every morning to myself with a smile.  Sang Victory in Jesus to 3 people I would meet in the street and read the story of Job every day at 2:00pm. Please. There were days I spent in bed, staring at the wall trying to image the pain in my body was happening to someone else. Sure those passages of scripture went through my head, the song “I know Who Holds Tomorrow” wouldn’t leave it and I was feeling pretty sorry for myself and Job.

There is no formula for getting through the tough times. Sometimes you just have to let God carry you. And then Trust and Obey. God told me that there were things I just didn’t have any control of. And I couldn’t spend my life wishing my body morphed back into what I had known it to be. I needed to live now. I needed to live despite the pain. And I needed fill it with beautiful things. Small things…Cause the big things were things only He could take care of.

We are wired differently. To me beautiful things meant small moments that appealed to my very senses.  God created us to appreciate beauty. And even if it is the site of a single fresh flower in a bud vase beside our bed. By the way…I’m allergic to fresh cut flowers. They make my chest seize up. But I decided a long time ago that I couldn’t be mad at nature. I just make sure to enjoy my fresh cut flowers in small doses and on spell occasions…and to have the antihistamine ready if needed.

My car accident happened in 1996. Even after the particular talk I gave there were more trials to come. Little did I know that the philosophy that God had placed in my heart was something I was going to need again and again ….despite how I felt or my circumstances.

I still sometimes wait for that magic formula. I’ve done it with weight loss. I’ve done it within our homeschool. Surely. There is something that is going to work exactly how I need it to work. Smoothly. Effortlessly. I spend so much time waiting for that special set of “instructions” or that magic little pill to show up I fail to really live a life worth living. I don’t take time to enjoy the tea parties, lemons and the like.

So here is your assignment. This is helpful for those of you who are waiting for your miracle to come in the form of some sort of magical formula. Get out a pen and paper. If you are like me you have a favorite pen that you can never find. But I adore pretty pens and pretty journals. I have a beautiful one right now I’m working through that a sweet friend gave me. I was using it to write scripture in. Now I’m also including some other bits and baubles. But don’t worry about how cute it is. Just write it down. First write down a scripture of encouragement or the words to a song or hymn that speaks to your heart. Now. Write down 3 things that you would like to do this week. They have to be “fluffy” things. They can’t be industrious or profitable other in the fact that they make your spirit sing.

This is the important part. Take time to do at least one of them. You might have time to do more. I don’t want to overwhelm you. Just start.

What’s on my list this week?

I am going to give myself a manicure. I am going to get out my cuticle oil, soak my hands and put some pretty pale pink polish.

I am going to make some pretty lemon water and put it in my cut glass pitcher. I am going to pour it into a beautiful glass and sip it while reading Anne’s House of Dreams.

I am going to take Josiah to the park on a sunny day. I am going to let the sunshine bathe my face and the wind blow through my hair. We will share a peanut butter and jelly and talk about nonsense things like why Darth Vader turned out to be such a meanie and why some cats are so peculiar.

 

And here is some last closing advice. Just don’t forget Breathe more. Laugh more. Sing more. You’ll be fine.

Random Thoughts: Call Me Fluffy

I woke up this morning to thunder. And rain. It was a pretty big deal. We even lost our internet for a few minutes. The power flickered once. In honor of our much needed rain I thought I would provide you with a few random thoughts.

1. I have been extremely unproductive today. Which never turns out so good.  Last week (on another unproductive day) the repairmen came to look at our air conditioner (it was leaking on the folks below us). I piled a few towels in the laundry basket and apologized for my mess in between mumbling something about "alien invasion" and "organizing closets"...those repairmen saw the condition of my closet during a previous trip to repair something. I can guarantee that they didn't buy any of my excuses. I can't keep using the 'organizing closet' excuse. Anybody got some good excuse ideas? I need new material. That is one thing about living in an apartment building owned by the company your husband works. Everybody gets to know each other pretty good. Whether we like it or not.

2. I have been watching Hoarders on Netflix. Troy can't stand it. He says it depresses him. I am fascinated and repelled at the same time. One one hand I am always grateful my own house looks pristine compared to the messes we see on the show...but on the other side I worry that I am one good crisis away from surrounding myself with 22 cats and every Agatha Christie paperback novel ever printed.  Aren't we all just a few degrees away from crazy? Dysfunction can manifest itself in so many ways. 

3. Speaking of dysfunction. Should I be worried that my son has started standing on the balcony (in his jammie pants) every evening to greet our neighbors as they come home from work? Everybody in the building knows his name. They even bring him treats. So far I think he's behaved himself. I did hear him howling once out there. I am not going to even try and figure that one out. I discovered that boys are just plain weird. No getting around it. Weird.

4. I have a confession to make. I have only been to the Y just a few times this summer. Don't judge me. I have been trying to make a habit of exercising with the Wii Fit. I'm just having a hard time making friends with my Wii Fit. It has so many neat features, but I tell ya...the look of discouragement on my little Mii character's face after I have tried and failed miserable at the Hula Hoop is downright pitiful. I want to tell that my little Mii to go have a Hot Fudge Sundae. It will make her feel better.

5. To be honest this whole weightloss thing is kicking my hiney. I have numerous issues...One is that I have metal in both sides of my lower extremities and hips and the other is that I am in treatment for heart failure. But I can't continue to let those things deter me. I have set up a tentative weightloss blog, but to be honest I am not sure I am ready to share my ups and downs...yet. I am calling it "Fluffy"...Which I thought was a catchier title than "You Skinny People Shut Up You Know Squat And I Should Know 'Cause I Used To Be Skinny."

6. On to a happier subject. The Studly Muffin. I was thinking about something the other day. I was really young when I got married. 19. I have been married to him almost half of my life. He has seen the best in me and the worst in me. He was there for the whole unfortunate puff painted T-shirt phase and  has loved me despite what hair color I might have come home with. Every girl needs a man like that. He loves the "Fluffy" girl just as much as he loved the "Skinny" girl. Maybe even more.

7. My summer reading list has been a hodge podge of things. I have been known to enjoy a good biography from time to time. I love reading about old movie stars or historical figures...depends on the day. I've also read a few autobiographies of more current celebrities. And I'm always a little shocked. Should you people really be telling all you know, all you've done and all you ever hope to do? And where was your momma? I guess that is the thing now. To expose all of your secrets. If I ever decide to write a "tell all" book you can be sure that I won't "tell all"...there are just some things that are between me and God. Not that my "tell all" book would be a best seller. Who wants to read about a fluffy housewife/homeschooling mom with a fascination for murder mysteries and flip flops? 

8. In a one final random note, I just had to kick my son out of my bedroom. He came in trying to talk me into an ice cream run. It's 9:00 on a beautiful summer evening. I can hear the crickets chirping in concert outside my window. The broiled Zucchini I had for supper (while delicious) was hours ago.  You can get a cone at McDonald's for .49. Sigh. If he comes in and even mentions Andy's Frozen Custard I am locking the bedroom door.

Walking on the WILD Side

Yesterday we were blessed with a visit from Baby Sister, her cute Hubby and equally cute Kiddos. They live in OHH-klahoma and are on vacation. We let Cute Hubby do some business in town and Baby Sister and I took all the Kiddos to the Zoo. I took lots of pictures...some are actually worth looking at. I took more pictures of the kids than I did the animals. And because I was always a little behind everybody (it's hard walking so much with this metal hip and leg) I have a lot of pictures of everybody's backside.

I'm not sure what we are looking at here. But it was the first picture I had on my camera that was in focus. I take it where I can get it. Yay me.

 Whatchoolookinat?

Loverly. There are huge fish in this pond. At one point I thought I saw something floating in there that suspiciously looked like the Loch Ness Monster.

Payge is doing her best monkey impression. She is pretty stinkin' smart. She gets that from her Aunt Beke.

Our little zoo lets the waterfowl (and peacocks) run free. One of these gooses bit my nephew when we tried to feed the goats at the petting zoo. It was quite the ordeal.

I think we were looking for the black bear. Brynn, however, would rather pose for the camera. She's something else! She gets that from her Aunt Beke.

See what I mean?

How about a little Air Guitar?

This elephant was playing with the buckets above him. Josiah said, "Mom! These elephants are so old. Look at their wrinkles!" I need to get that kid out more often.



Random sprinkler moment!

Nothing like a good spritz.

 Our camera shy kids.

Oops! Here comes another one!

Somebody (and I won't say who) called this little deer statue a mule. I will give you a hint. He is the only one in this picture who lives in Missouri.

I had to make Cade pose for me. He was all about seeing the sites and moving on.

Can we go see something else now?  You can tell by his body language he was over it.



Now this mountain lion was frisky. He ran around his cage like a ....well, a mountain lion.

I think I need to keep her. Her momma insists that she would wear me out, but I know about rooter-tooters. I am raising one.

I know. I'm sorry. I didn't even realize I was taking a picture of a giraffe sniffing another giraffe's heinie until after it had snapped. But I just had to share. One can get quite a diverse education at the zoo.

This giraffe looks like he's saying "Can you believe this guy?" That is if giraffes could talk.

 I'd take him home with me, too. If he would fit in my purse. Or my car. Or my house. Maybe I need to think this one out.

At the end of our morning we took a ride on the little train.

It was quite the adventure.

Isn't she just yummy?  Maybe if I hide her in my coat closet for a little while her momma won't notice she's missing and go back to OHH-klahoma.

After the zoo we had lunch at one of the many Chinese food restaurants and then I brought the kids back to my house so their parents could shop a little bit. Later on we all had supper at my house and then they took off for my mom and dad's farm.  I wished they lived closer. I wouldn't have to entertain urges about kidnapping my nieces.

Running A Fowl

I'm a little behind. This actually feels like it should be my Monday. I woke up this morning ready to conquer my week and all that goes with it...only it's Thursday. Oops. I'm just a few days behind. Last week Josiah and I went to my parent's farm. I plan to post on all the fun we had, but I am waiting to pirate some of my mom's pictures on our next visit this weekend. Josiah had a blast. He ran with the dogs, fished and romped and stomped all over the farm. We also volunteered a few days at the Nursing Home my mom works at in Joplin. I will have to write a little about his experiences later...let's just say he made many friends.

Our summer has been fairly busy. As usual we are poorer than Job's turkey (I have some questions about Job's turkey that can't be answered in this breezy blog post) so we are making our own fun! We are fortunate to live in a town that has lots of great parks and free things to do. This week Josiah and I loaded up a few water bottles & apples and made our way over to one of the best kept secrets in Springfield. It's really not a secret, but I everytime we go I can't believe that something so lovely and well-maintained is free! It is the Botanical Gardens. Flora, Fauna, Wildlife. What more could a girl ask for (other than a mani-pedi)?

Warning: This post contains lots 'o pictures. I am practicing taking shots that don't decapicate folks.


We aren't sure who this fella is. But he looked like he needed a hug.

One of the great adventures at this park is feeding the ducks & geese. Unfortunately, after we had taken our walk through the park we went  up to the new Botanical Center building and saw a little flyer there "Please don't feed the ducks & geese." Ooops.

This guy is going after our  bread contraband. Look at his beak. Nobody told him about the "Do Not Feed.." policy.

There were some very lovely Canadian Geese there. This momma had babies she was watching out for.  She stared me down like nobody has ever stared me down before.

Her babies. Little Canadian Geese. They are kinda of ugly ducklingish. But don't tell their momma I sad that.

Momma Goose eventually started hissing at Josiah. Nobody hisses at my baby. I was raised in the country. I know my fowl. And geese can be pretty ornery. We took our illegal bread and moved on.

Except that then we ran into him. Isn't he a cutie?

This is the English Garden. I like to look at it and imagine that I have just waltzed out of Pemberley to find Colin Firth...Never mind. 

A new addition to this park. Where there is something to climb....The boy must climb.

And make crazy faces.

And more crazy faces.

There we go. Caught him with a 'normal face." I also realized that my camera was on the 'dusk' setting. Let there be light!

Lilies. Love lilies. I love the name Lily. But there is a small issue. I am allergic. Put me in a room with a lily and my sinuses start to close up and fall out. If that's possible.

Which has been a problem for me from time to time. Years ago when Troy and I were youth pastors our church had a tradition of filling the church with live Easter Lilies. Cue snot. I can barely look at a silk lily without wheezing.

Look Mom! These flowers are tall! Yes. And they look like they might reach out and grab me at any minute. Anybody got a kleenex?

There were many more beautiful spots in the gardens. So much so that when we walked past this tree, Josiah said, "Look, Mom! A naked tree!" Just don't climb it Josiah. I don't want hordes of botanists after us...We are already in trouble with the Fowl Folks.

Last picture and stop of the day. The new playground by the new Botanical Center building is pretty cool. But my boy is a swing kind of guy. He headed straight towards the swings and there he stayed.  That is until I told him we were going to go to McDonald's for one of those .49 cones. He's got his priorities after all.