Gymnastics – not for the acrophobic

AE is being quite the trouper in his gymnastics class.  For the second week in a row, N reports that although he was clearly terrified to be on a high apparatus (last week: bar, this week: rings) AE has yet to complain or completely refuse to try it out.  We knew this was going to be a challenge since AE is so scared of heights (and also being upside down), and I’m really proud of him for trying.  I keep telling him it will get easier, and so far he hasn’t asked to quit.  I think he may actually be making some progress.  Not bad for one of the world’s most cautious children.

I should listen to my inner voice more often

I KNEW I shouldn’t have mentioned it.  I KNEW IT.  Apparently in 6+ years of parenting I have learned NOTHING.  We are back to multiple unexplainable night wakings.  And for the last several days, night feedings as well.  GAH.  I don’t even care to try and explain it at this point.  Maybe it is teething, maybe it is gas.  Maybe it is a growth spurt, or maybe she is cold.  Maybe she is hot.  Maybe there isn’t enough light in her room.  Maybe there is too much.  Maybe she is worried about global warming or the state of the economy.  I DON’T KNOW.  All the maybes in the world don’t get me a full night of sleep.

Ike hits home

My parents have lots of yard clean-up to do and currently have no electricity or sewer service at their house.  Same with my in-laws.  My grandmother had some yard cleanup but it appears that she never lost power at all.  My sister has no power, but no damage.  Same with my aunt and uncle.  N’s grandparents have electricity again, but also have a significant amount of yard clean-up to look forward to.  I don’t know the status of my other grandmother’s retirement community – presumably it doesn’t have electricity since she’s staying with the grandma that does. 

We’re going to try and head down that direction this weekend to help assess the (minimal) damage and assist with the clean-up process.  All in all, our families came through the storm relatively unscathed and for that we are all very grateful.  The only things lost – as far as I know – were the contents of their refrigerators and freezers.  Not bad for a storm that promised “certain death” to anyone in its path.

Sick of being sick

I’ve had a sinus issue for about two weeks now.  I get sinus infections twice a year almost like clockwork – one in March, one in September.  This time I’ve been too stubborn/busy/cheap to go to the doctor and get some antibiotics, so on and on it lingers.  I actually feel mostly fine now except for the pesky tickle in my throat that causes me to have coughing fits with no warning.  It is supremely awesome to be having a conversation with someone and then explosively hack in their face.  Sorry, people.  It’s probably not contagious, if that is any consolation.

A genius, I am not

After the kids went to bed last night N and I were playing Trivial Pursuit.  It was my turn and the question was asking about the animals used in the making of catgut.  I was happy to get a question I immediately knew the answer to.  There was no hesitation at all as I proudly blurted out “Beavers!”  BEAVERS?!  WTF, self?  THIS IS WHY YOU ALWAYS LOSE AT TRIVIAL PURSUIT.  BEAVERS, GOD.

Nor a gifted athlete

After I was soundly defeated at all things trivia-related (even using the special rules that I have invented to keep N from beating me in ONE TURN, which he is fully capable of doing), we decided to play Wii.  I was trying out the fitness feature that comes with WiiSports – you know, the thing that tells you your fitness age?  Mine is 51.  I am not even thirty years old and the Wii thinks I’m middle-aged.  In my defense, I wasn’t performing my best because I think I have Wii Shoulder from overexerting during a bowling game.  Wait, I don’t think that improves the situation.