Mural Update

I've been working on the mural here and there. I've worked on the grass, hill around Winnie's doorway and the sky (not in the picture).

I've done a second layer on all the green (of course, not pictured) and I'm hoping to do one more and wispy grass, then that would be all done.

I have a lot of detail work left, the rest of the log, the door way, clouds and of course Pooh himself. I'm leaving Pooh until the end.

Oh, and of course the lettering in the paper pinned up to the doorway is left too. I won't get much done this weekend since its a busy time at work, but maybe next weekend I'll get to it. We'll see!!

Sick Little Guy

Maybe I'm not the brightest, or quickest mom to figure out that my son decided to have a mild reaction to his 1 year shots that he had two weeks ago, but I just assumed he would be fine after all the other appointments.

Let me explain. Back on May 10th, Drew had his one year check up. He had three shots, one for the Chicken Pox, MMR and Hepatitis. Two went into his left leg and the other in his left arm. The next day, I took off his band-aids and didn't notice anything wrong around the shot area so I thought we were in the clear. I knew that it usually takes 2 weeks for the immunizations to kick in, but I just assumed if there was something to show up on his skin, it would be right away.

Fast forward, two weeks later. I noticed a thik red line with two bumps on Drew's leg. Now, I assumed the mark was from a toy or book falling on his leg since he likes to sit under his bookshelf and pull all the books down on himself. I just assumed it was a self inflicted welt.

Then Tuesday night, he had a very messy diaper, messier then usual but I thought there was a bug going around or maybe a reaction from teething (since he's getting his 4th molar in at the moment). Weds I received a phone call from day care that Drew has a 100.3 fever and I should come pick him up. On my way to get him, I thought for a split second, could this be from his shots? Then I quickly dismissed it and thought it was from teething again.

Then Weds night rolled around and a Facebook friend said that her daughter is feeling the same way (and they got their shots on the same day). Bingo!! She helped figure out that my son is having a mild reaction to his shots, oh I feel like a horrible mother! I know I thought of it for a split second but I dismissed the idea that it was teething. It just makes me feel like I'm going to get called into the bosses office and get spoken too for not taking care of the precious cargo, like I'm careless or something. I read up on the handouts I was given at his pediatrics office and the symptoms he's having (I'm assuming its the Chicken Pox shot since it was in his leg, don't think its to the Hepatitis shot) happens in 1 and every 7th child.

I'm now relived to know what's going on with the little guy and we can handle the situation accordingly.

Wordless Weds - Drew Casserole For Supper

Afraid, No More

Drew has mastered many of his toys. He know to push buttons, he understands moving a car/truck along the floor and make a vroom vroom sound, he learned to crash blocks when they are stacked up high like Godzilla would attack a building and can throw a ball.

He's only had one toy that frightened him when he was younger (around Christmas time), but now he loves it. It is one of the fisher price toys where you hit a button and it shoots plastic, colorful balls in the air only to fall into a tray and roll back into the vacuum area to only shoot back up in the air. Drew wasn't afraid of the ball, it was the vacuum sound.

We worked with Drew, holding him in our lap while we would play with his toy. He would panic a little, but we just showed him that everything was ok. Eventually one day, he crawled up to it, hit the button and loved it ever sense.

Now, the toy is stationed in his room (we used to have to hide it behind a chair in the living room since he would just stare at it, making sure it wouldn't move) and he loves to walk up to it, hit the button and push the ball back into the vacuum suction area. Also, once the wind hits his hair, he smiles big and shakes his head, almost in slow motion. Its too funny!

He's still afraid of the household vacuum, the little bubble machine for the bathtub or anything else that makes that sort of sound. But, he's figured out that his ball machine is no big deal.

Its amazing to see how much he's grown into himself and taking on these new adventures to learn about things all around him. What's next?

If you could go anywhere?

I was walking, by myself for a moment at work the other day, walking back to my office from getting lunch and thought to myself, if I could pick anywhere in the world to go, where would I chose?

Well, first I would ask...can we have a two part question? Then I'd say.....

If I could pick anywhere in the world I haven't been, I would chose Italy. I would love to see the beautiful city and soak in all the breath-taking views of the city. I would chose to see the sites on a gondola boat, snap pictures while I was whisked through the aquatic city. Can you imagine exploring all that the lovely place has in store? Then after exploring on a gondola, explore all the beautiful old structures all over the country. Oh, the possibilities are endless!!

The other part of the question I would say, if I had to chose anywhere I've been to go back, it would be Hawaii. I loved to see Oahu and it was awesome to visit the big Islands volcano, but I want to explore the less crowded islands like Kauai or Maui. I day dream often of what could be found on those islands, a breath-taking water fall, a wonderful path to hike upon or a nice hammock on a quite beach. Ahhh, the possibilities of relaxation!!

So, what would your pics be? The place you want to see and the place you want to go back too??

A to Z

Stolen from Shelly and thought I'd share my A-Z list!!

a. area code: 413

b. bed size: King (I wouldn't have it any other way)

c. chore you hate: ironing

d. dog's name: none in the household yet

e. essential "start of the day" item: cup of tea

f. favorite color: purple

g. gold or silver: silver

h. height: on my licence 5'5 but in real life 5'4 1/2

i. instruments you play: um, none

j. job: administrator at a college in Western MA

k. kids: one and 1/2 (Drew and Zack, my step-son) boys

l. living arrangements: Me, Husband, Drew, FIL and a room for Zack

m. mom's name: Leta (Lee)

n. nickname: Maggie & Mandy

o. overnight hospital stay: only to give birth to Drew

p. pet peeve: people chewing gum very loudly

q. quote from movie: sorry, can't think of any at the moment (mommy brain)

r. righty or lefty: righty

s. siblings: only child

t. time you wake up: whenever Drew lets me know its time to get up (usually 5:30am-6am)

u. underwear: all the time and clean (since you never know what will happen, thanks mom)

v. vegetables you dislike: squash, egg plant and zucchini

w. ways or reasons you are late: other people holding me up, and I hate to be late!!

x. x-rays: recently for dental work

y. yummy food you make: chocolate chip cookies

z. zoo animals you like: all of them, how can you not love 'em all

Wordless Weds - Learning How To Splash In A Puddle