Monday, May 31, 2010

Home Sick

On Tuesday I had my gall bladder removed. Everything went well, my incisions seem miniscule, and I've had almost no pain whatsoever. I have, however, felt like I had surgery this week. I'm generally tired and weaker than usual, two facts that keep sneaking up and surprising me. I credit my overall speedy recovery to the tremendous support I have gotten in the last week by my MIL, C's brother Zio, and C.


Zio and Nonna stayed for the week and watched Wiggle, so that I could get some R&R. I will admit, I was a little apprehensive to have them come and stay with us, even though I was the one who invited them. I knew I would need the help, but I also knew I wouldn't be feeling very well, and house guests can be the last thing you want when you're not 100%. I'm glad to say I was completely wrong. They weren't house guests; they were family. It was absolutely wonderful for me, and Wiggle had the best time. He spent the entire week showing off and learning tons of new things, like saying "thank you." I've been working on that one for awhile to no avail, but for Nonna it was effortless. I can't wait until their next visit!


C and I even got to go out to dinner on Thursday night for our third wedding anniversary. We had a very nice meal at Fonda del Mar, one of the many Mexican restaurants we will miss when we leave Chicago at the end of the summer.

As summer gets started, I am realizing that our "last time" for many things is fast approaching, and for a ton of others has already occurred. We've already had our last winter in Chicago, which is fine because I'm really enjoying the warm weather, but I'm still getting nostalgic already.

Today we sat in the backyard, talking to friends, while Wiggle played in a kiddie pool for hours with his friend, and I kept thinking about how much we will miss those people, this yard, and Chicago summers in general. For so many people we know, Chicago is just a stop along the way, but for us, it is home. I'm sure we will love Virginia and the East Coast and everything else about our new life, but when I wake up in the morning and the sky is a certain shade of blue, no matter where I am I will think I'm waking up in Chicago.


On Tuesday I had my gall bladder removed. Everything went well, my incisions seem miniscule, and I've had almost no pain whatsoever. I have, however, felt like I had surgery this week. I'm generally tired and weaker than usual; two facts which keep sneaking up and surprising me. I credit my overall speedy recovery to the tremendous support I have gotten in the last week by my MIL, C's brother Zio, and C.Zio and Nonna stayed for the week and watched Wiggle, so that I could get some R&R. I will admit, I was a little apprehensive to have them come and stay with us, even though I was the one who invited them. I knew I would need the help, but I also knew I wouldn't be feeling very well, and house guests might be the last thing you want when you're not 100%. I'm glad to say I was completely wrong. They weren't house guests; they were family. It was absolutely wonderful for me, and Wiggle had the best time. He spent the entire week showing off and learning tons of new things, like saying "thank you." I've been working on that one for awhile to no avail, but for Nonna it was effortless. I can't wait until their next visit!

C and I even got to go out to dinner on Thursday night for our third wedding anniversary. We had a very nice meal at Fonda del Mar, one of the many Mexican restaurants we will miss when we leave Chicago at the end of the summer.

As summer gets started, I am realizing that our "last time" for many things is fast approaching, and for a ton of others has already occurred. We've already had our last winter in Chicago, which is fine because I'm really enjoying the warm weather, but I'm still getting nostalgic already.

Today we sat in the backyard, talking to friends, while Wiggle played in a kiddie pool for hours with his friend, and I kept thinking about how much we will miss those people, this yard, and Chicago summers in general. For so many people we know, Chicago is just a stop along the way, but for us, it is home.

I'm sure we will love Virginia and the East Coast and everything else about our new life, but when I wake up in the morning and the sky is a certain shade of blue, no matter where I am I will think I'm waking up in Chicago.

Impatiently waiting for the pool to be filled

Who needs a slide when you have measuring cups?

Playing in the Pool

Sunday, May 9, 2010

My Long Lost Blog

I haven't really felt like blogging much lately. So much for the resolution, right? I will try to get back on track even if I don't feel like it. Part of the thing is to develop the habit, so I really need to soldier on especially when I don't feel like it.

C's fam comes in next week to see the boy and help out while I have my gall bladder removed and during my recovery. I'm really looking forward to their visit, and even to the surgery a little. I'll feel better, physically and psychologically, when the little bugger is out.

I've finally begun to feel like a mom again, instead of a warden. Each time Wiggle makes a jump in mobility, it was running and climbing this time, it seems like it takes me about six weeks to adjust enough so that I can still get something done in a day and have fun with the boy. This week, I finally planned a menu, did the shopping for it, and tonight we even cooked recipes from the menu. Also, the sink is empty, there's not a full bag of laundry in the house, the floors were all mopped this weekend, and the bed is made. It's amazing how wonderful getting into a made bed can make me feel after a long day. Last night, I made a comment to C about it, and he asked me why. I explained that if the bed is made when I come in to go to sleep, I think about all of the things I got done today. However, if the bed is unmade when I go to bed, I think about all of the things I meant to do, but didn't get to today. It's much easier to get myself to make the bed, than to try and overhaul how I naturally think about my day.

In Wiggle news -
He has been talking up a storm as of late. Today, he said "sssss" for the first time. Cool, huh? It gets better. He actually pointed at the letter "s" while making the sound, totally unprompted by me. Later, he mastered "f" with his dad. When he's on a roll, he's really on a roll.
Physically, he's been running. Running up and down the halls, trying to run down the stairs, the sidewalk, into any door, out of any door. Everything he does is fast. I have started letting him choose his clothes. When I hold up two shirts for him to choose between, there is no deliberation; the decision is split-second. The boy knows what he wants. Who would have thought that C and I would have an opinionated child? Even knowing that I would, I didn't expect him to have so many opinions and that they would be so well defined this early.
My Mother's Day breakfast - biscuits and gravy. Wiggle cut out the biscuits himself.


Counting at the Zoo