Thumb Sucking Addiction

No Smoking 8" X 10" watercolor

The other night I caught Jimmy sucking his thumb, he only does it when he is going to sleep in his bed under the blankets. I asked him if he was sucking his thumb. He told me he was. and then he said that his thumb was just like a cigarette: he is addicted to it and he can't stop. I told him sucking his thumb is probably not as bad for him as smoking but he probably shouldn't do it anyway. Then he asked me how people stop smoking. I told him there are different medicines and things to help but, what really has to happen is the person has to decide no matter how much they want to smoke they just aren't going to do it anymore.

Too bad they don't make a "patch" for the thumb.

All clear

*Whew* it was a long and stressful day, but It ended well with a preliminary good MRI report, we will find out more details on Wednesday when we go to brain tumor clinic.

Jimmy had a hard day: We had to check Jimmy out of school in the middle of his valentines party activites, then they had to do a couple of tries to get his IV in: that is the part he hates most, the blood draw & IV. He has quite a bruse on his hand from the first attempt. He actually cried but he held still, It is so hard to see him sitting there with tears in his eyes while holding still and being so brave. Then when we got to Medical Imaging for his MRI we found that the special goggles they have for him to watch movies on were broken and he would have to hold still for an hour and a half without a movie. He just loves the goggles, because of how his vision loss is he can see movies better with those goggles than he can on the TV or even in the theater. He was very disappointed by this time I could see tears welling up in his eyes again but he said he wanted to try to do the MRI anyway. He held very still during the first half he said he used his imagination to entertain himself he pretended he was in the army and the noises from the MRI were bombs and guns. After about fourty-five minuites they came in and told him the goggles just got delivered so he got to use the goggles for the last half of his MRI! It took one hour and fourty-five minuites and he held still the while time!

That little 7 year old boy is my hero!

Crossed fingers...

Jimmy's MRI is tomorrow, Friday the 13th, When I made the appointment the date did not bother me, now, I'm not so sure. I always get upset, sick and nervous before an MRI, and I am not superstitious but .... keep your fingers crossed.

Jimmy is doing a full brain and spine, with and without contrast so the MRI will take a very long time, he wants to do it without sedation: that impresses me. I have a hard time even sitting in the room when the MRI is going on, let alone hold still for the hour or so the MRI will take. I don't know how many other seven year olds would even want to try, especially since he will still have to get an IV for the contrast.

I'm praying for no more tumors, anything else I think I can handle.

Getting chickens

My husband has decided we need chickens. I'm not sure why.. does he want fresh eggs? ...more pets? ... possibly he thinks he does not have enough to do. So after listening to him tell of all the benefits of having chickens and knowing I never could say no to the man. I said yeah, lets get 3 or 4 chickens. I also told him I was not going to be responsible for them, well see how long that lasts. So last Saturday I came home to find *surprise* we had 5 fluffy yellow baby chicks and 5 fluffy black baby chicks. I am not mad or anything, that is just how my dear Hubby is, he gets excited about something and tends to go overboard. And besides I'm not going to be the one taking care of them, right? Unfortunately one of the little yellow chicks died. My hubby decided to replace it and came home with 3 more chicks, now we have an even dozen. The neighbors will be so excited. Lets see, chickens lay an egg a day, that is seven dozen eggs a week. Does anyone want a dozen eggs?

This morning he said "I think we may have too many chickens"

I'm wierd

Beehive Hairdo 2.5"x 3.5" trading card Watercolor

I was taking my two teenage sons to a game the other night and it was a little chilly out. I went to the closet to get a jacket or sweater and instead put on my fluffy pink polka dotted robe because, hey, it's warm and fluffy. As I was driving the boys I said "I hope I don't have to get out of the car because I'm wearing a bathrobe over my clothes, people might think I'm a little weird". Both my boy simultaneously burst out laughing. When I asked them what was so funny I was told that if I didn't want people to think is was "weird" the bathrobe was the least of my worries.

Other things my kids have said that leads me to believe that they think I am a little different......

My oldest boy told me when I came to teach art in his school "I like it when you come to school... then everyone can see just how strange my life really is."

My 16 year old said as I worried I might embarrass him at school "Mom don't worry, I just tell my friends you're an artist and they understand"

When I was on a Jr. High School field trip another kid asked my son "Is she really your mom?"

And I thought teenagers were strange.......

25 random things about me

1. I have 4 sons I also had 4 miscarriages.
2. I have never colored or premed my hair.
3. I love snakes, but I hate spiders.
4. I play Starcraft, but only with my kids.
5. I am incredibly uncoordinated I have never been good a sports.
6. We have 1 excessively energetic dog, 2 sweet little parakeets and 10 chickens.
7. I have the same middle name as my sister and my childhood dog
8. My sons tell me I am a cool mom, I’m not sure that is a good thing.
9. I am a terrible typist, even my kids make fun of me.
10. I love to wear bright colorful striped socks.
11. I am an artist but I have a hard time telling people that, It sounds so pretentious.
12.I love to spend time playing with my boys, talking to my boys, and hugging my boys.
13. I hate to talk about myself, but I don‘t mind speaking in public.
14. My 7 year old son is legally blind, and half bald as a result of a brain tumor and its treatment.
15. I always have my hair long so my son can recognize me.
16. I hate my sons MRIs they make me so stressed out.
17. I make jewelry and sell it to benefit brain tumor kids.
18. I think I am a good cook, but I am not so sure my family agrees.
19. Me and all 4 of my brothers have red hair, My sister is blonde, poor freakish Angel ; )
20. I love to read but I don‘t do it very often because when I start a book I keep reading until I finish it. Good thing I am a fast reader.
21. I am a terrible housekeeper.
22. I love learning. I try to learn something new everyday
23. I have a website: ArtistMelody.com.
24. I love vacationing with my family: I am just as happy camping as I am going on a cruise, as long as I am with my family.
25. Been very happily married for over 20 years, I sometimes can‘t believe my husband still puts up with me.