The Halloween Festivities

I hate the smell of pumpkin guts, I hate the feel of pumpkin guts, in a nutshell, I hate pumpkin guts. But my child goes to school now and they tell her all of these things that a parent is supposed to do with their children on Halloween. So I sucked it up and took one for the team and carved the stupid pumpkin. She was supposed to help, but didn't. Cause guess what?? Like me, she hates the smell of pumpkin guts and hates the feel of pumpkin guts. There's those damn sensory issues rearing their ugly heads again. Only this time, it is to my benefit. Caitlyn said we should have just painted the pumpkin. So next year, that is precisely what we shall be doing.


And here is the finished product. At least it does in fact resemble what a pumpkin should look like. Those people that do all those fancy things with their pumpkins....well, they must have loads of patience and forearm muscles from hell. Because after scooping for only 15 minutes I thought my arms were going to fall off.

We awake this morning to screeches of glee that it is Halloween and there is a party at school and a parade at school and she FINALLY gets to wear her costume.



And I could understand why she would want to cause holy shit does she look adorable in it.

Of we go to trick or treating this evening. And of course it rains becuase it hasn't rained all day. Luckily the temperature wasn't too awful so we were able to stay out and play in the rain. Paired with begging for candy and getting it, what could be better in life for a 4 year old??

And on the second day, the Lord created...

Here is my confession of the day (or year). I can count on one hand the number of times that Caitlyn has been in a church. Not that I am against it or anything, but Sunday is a day of rest in the land of the Walshes. I just can never muster up the strength and energy to get up early to go to church. And to have to figure out an additional days worth of clothing for Caitlyn and I is really a task.

My 16 year old cousin has attended a church down the street from me for about 6 or so years. I really don't even know what religion this church is. Matt and I often refer to it as "The Cult." Not that they are like Jamestown or anything, but sometimes my cousin has some views on things that she has learned from this church that just strike me as odd. Granted it could be that she is now 16 and has her own views, who knows. Anyhow, she is there every Friday night for "group." Seems very similar to Awana when she has described it to me. Her younger sister, whom my mother now also has custody of, was going with her this past Friday. So naturally, Caitlyn wanted to go as well. After discussin it with the 16 year old, she assured me that there was a group of children there in the 3-4 year old group and that Caitlyn would have a wonderful time.

Off they went.

I get a call about 2 hours after they have gotten there from a luaghing 16 year old. Imagine my child, who again has very little exposure to any religion, sitting in a small group discussing religion. Here is the conversation my cousin tell sme ensues...

Teacher: Does anyone know what God created on the second day? (they had already discussed his very busy first day)

Students: raising hands in the air shouting I know I know I know, my daughter included

Teacher: Caitlyn what do you think God created on the second day?

Caitlyn: Well he created the sun.

Now, I know I am a teacher, and I know my child is brilliant, but who in the world has taught her some of the things that she knows??? Cause it sure as hell HAS NOT been me or Matt. I mean honestly, is this something that they are now talking about on Sesame Street? I am really at a loss as to where she would have gotten this info from and retained it no less.
Of course when she gets home I ask her about how she knew this information and who gave it to her. Her response is very clear and makes perfect sense to me (I think)

"I just thought about it in my brain mommy and knew that was the answer."

Needless to say, next Friday she wants to go again......and Matt and I are now part of "The Cult."

They actually did it!!!

Hard to believe but true. I am so excited that a Chicago team has actually won some sort of championship game. Since the Bulls stopped being "Da Bulls" we haven't had a decent team around here in quite a while. Witht he exception of the Cubs. Yes they have had a couple good season in the last few years....and well, that always ends poorly.



Matt and I decided that we were happy not to be living in our old neighborhood on the southside last night. I can only imagine how loud and insane it must have been down there last night!





GO SOX!!!!

3-0

WOW!!! I am so not a baseball fan. But holy cow, who would have thought that a Chicago team could actually make it to the World Series, much less have a 3 game lead (by the end of the 3rd game no less). I am amazed and so excited to think that they may actually win this thing.

Now, next year belongs to the Cubs (say it with me, maybe it will make it actually happen)

Survey says.....

All of the girl's bloodwork came back within normal limits. How this is possible with all the symptoms this kid is showing, I have no idea. And to be honest, I really don't give a shit. I am just thrilled to death that my little girlie isn't suffering from such a debilitating disease. And now my husband can stop beating himself up over the issue. I have been elated for the last few hours since I found out and pretty much plan on staying that way for several more hours. I have a sugared up kid to prove it too...LOL

The first thing Caitlyn said to me after I told her that her blood test came back perfect was.....

"That means I can have all the snacks I want and cookies too?!?!"

See we had the discussion about if we test her blood and the number is too high then she wouldn't be able to have certain snacks. What I thought was conversation that was over her head and would really take her a while to absorb and understand, it turns out that she "got it" the entire time.

Tough Weekend

Good news first....Matt's football team has won their conference and they are now in the playoffs. The goal is to win the next 4 (or 5 I can't remember) games and he will coach his team at Soldier Field. To say that he would be ecstatic would be the understatment of the year. I think if he were given the opportunity to do this, he would die a very happy man. So keeps fingers and all other appendages crossed that he makes it and his team does well over the next month.

Now on to Caitlyn's business. Lately she has been peeing like a madwoman and having some accidents and doesn't even realize that they are happening. She has also been wetting the bed every night and a few nights ago actually wet it twice in one night. And when I say accident and wet, I really mean saturate. It is an extroadinary amount of urine that she expels. She has also been constantly telling me that she is thirsty. Now normally this wouldn't bother me, but she actually uses that word instead of just asking for some juice or milk or whatever. The fact that she is telling me how very thirsty she is has led Matt and I to a very frightening thought.

All of these things are symptoms of diabetes. Because her father has it, she is obviously at risk. So on Satuday morning, we decided to test her blood sugar just to put Mom's mind at ease and prevent her from automatically jumping to the wrong conclusion. (as I sometimes have a tendency to do) Lo and behold, the number that appeared was one that about stopped my heart....156. Norm range for healthy person, 80-120. So although it is not much higher than the norm, it is high none the less. Meaning that there is something going on in that little body of hers. So on the phone to the ped's office to get an apoointment for Monday am so that they can run blood work. Down side to that, she must fast.

Fast forward to Monday, today, and a starving girl who has not been able to eat or drink for damn near 15 hours. The doc was visibly unnerved by the number that we got on Saturday (on Sunday morning when we tested it was 80 which has me thoroughly confused). He is also concerned with the fact that she is peeing so very much and asking for fluids. He has drawn some blood and will be running a host of tests on it. The most important test that he will be looking at is the A1C. This will basically give him an idea of what her blood sugars have been in the past and whether or not she has been having high blood sugars. It may also look for unusual lows, I'm not exactly sure.

So we are now in the wait and see stage. We have had to do that so many times in this little girls 4 short years that when I hear those words, I want to hot the person saying them. Hopefully we will have some answers by tomorrow, Wednesday at the latest. When all is said I done, I just want him to say that it was a fluke, but my gut is telling me something much different from that.

I am losing my Patients

You know, it's funny how difficult the English language really is. It is amazing to me that people manage to learn it as a second language and even more amazing that it just comes so naturally to so many of us. Things like bow...how many of you read that as bow as in something that goes in hair or bow as in bending your body in half? Yet, we all figure it out and it is simple for most of us.

Well, I am sure that for a child, the learning process that goes on while they are hearing and speaking all of these words, is tremendous. And every now and again, they show you that it really doesn't just come naturally. Sometimes they need to understand that there are words known as Homophones. Words that sound alike, but have 2 different spellings and meanings. But can you really explain a homophone to a 4 year old? No. They just have to take your word for it that you know what you are talking about despite the fact that what you just said has a completely different meaning to them than it
did for you.

Take for example the scenario in my house last night....
Caitlyn is being her usual self and driving me crazy before bed. Not wanting to pick up her toys, not wanting to come by me so I can bathe her, not wanting to basically do anything that I tell her to. Naturally, voices get raised and a pouting child is the end result with some whimpering (on both our parts).

Mom: "Caitlyn come over here now."
Caitlyn: "Mom I just....."
Mom: "Caitlyn, I am losing my patience."
Caitlyn" crying at this point "But you're not even a doctor."

Fight over, Mom laughs and hugs child and says come on goofy let's go take a bath. Does she know why I was no longer aggravated? No. Did I explain the difference between patience and patients? No. Why? Cause that probably would have ended up in another power struggle between the two of us and I just wanted to laugh at the moment. (and get her ass in bed.)