Blonde Hair May Be Hazardous To Your Health

Posted by Unknown |0 comments

This woman does NOT represent the average blonde female intelligence level.  F Y I. 

She does, however, make it difficult for some of us, doesn't she?

Blonde jokes.  I don't hate them necessarily.. but they do get old.  Especially after hearing them for many, many, many years.  Occasionally they can be humorous, but usually they are just silly - predictable and worthy of only a slight eye-roll.  People sometimes throw them at me and expect some type of reaction.. and I really can barely bring myself to even fake-chuckle these days.  It's not that I'm feeling ridiculed and hurt (which yes, I know is the intent on certain occasions!).. it is because I appreciate fine humor, and this just isn't it.
That being said..  I think that I have become the embodiment of a very bad blonde joke this week. Maybe not an actual joke per-se.. but even I will admit that I have had a couple of 'blonde moments' this week.

{Setting:  Living room.  It is early on Saturday morning and I have a killer headache.  Flashback to the evening prior when I was selecting the bottle of wine at PF Chang's and said 'I think maybe that wine gives me headaches.  No, I don't think that is the one.'  It WAS the one.}
I am laying on the couch with a cold compress on my head (thank god - that was a moment of brilliance on my part b/c it actually helped more than the ibuprofen).  Devi brings me a toy 'fireman hose' that Maya rec'd for Xmas.  It holds 3 small blue balls.  After loading the balls, you pull back on a lever and they fly out - I guess they are supposed to look like water.  Not really sure where the toy manufacturer was going with that.
Anyhow, not surprisingly - the kids have lost all but one ball.  Devi does not understand why it will not work with only one ball (we have tried many times and it will not work - the ball or 2 balls will simply slide out of the hose and fall, anticlimactically onto the floor) and is beginning to throw an extremely loud 2-yr-old tantrum.
I take the gun.. oh I mean the 'fire hose' (psh) from her and look into the shooting end (that's the technical term.. ha).  I see that she has loaded the one lonely blue ball into the hose.  It seems to be stuck.
While eyeing the ball, trying to figure out what is holding it in place (it usually just falls out).. I pull back a bit on the lever.
Needless to say, the dam ball comes flying out of that gun at an ungodly speed and hits me directly in the right eye.
Sigh.

Fast-forward 2 days.  I'm in my office, prepping for an upcoming photo shoot.  I pull out my portable black backgrounds.  I haven't used them in awhile, and I need to fold them up from their 5'x7' size into their collapsed ~2' circular size.  I grab one, maneuver it a bit.. and it suddenly pops back into its full size, smacking me directly in the face at the same time.
If you are not a photographer or someone who has seen or used one of these stupid things.. you probably cannot fully appreciate that moment.  The only thing that would have made it better is if I was in front of a client at the time that happened.  {eye roll}
Here's a video of some other poor fools trying to fold a reflector (and bear in mind that my expandable background is heavier.. but same concept) so you can get the idea:
 


Maybe I should get some low-lights. 

Adoption Podcast/Videocast

Posted by Unknown |3 comments

Do you have questions about adoption that you have always been afraid to ask?   

Here is your chance!

I have received numerous emails, phone calls, and even personal visits to discuss questions surrounding adoption.  Most of these Q&A sessions begin with the same fact-based questions (what agency did you use, what country did you adopt from, what types of documents and information about my life will I be expected to provide).. and always lead to the more personal questions (how did you decide on your agency, were you terrified to meet your child for the first time, have you honestly bonded with your child, etc.etc.etc).  And of course, the personal questions are the ones that lead to page-long answers and coffee-into-lunch meetings.  The personal questions are the ones that everyone really wants to ask.. but often do not know who they can ask.  

Or if it is politically-correct to ask. 

Soo.. here is your chance!  Or here is the chance for that friend of yours who keeps mentioning that she is considering adoption but is feeling overwhelmed.  

Send me your questions!  I, of course, have many questions already noted from past email exchanges.. but who knows if it is the question that you have.  You can be anonymous.. just comment on this post with your question, send me a personal email, or Facebook me (if you are a FB friend, of course).  Direct any of your curious friends or family members over here.. no one will be turned away.  ;)  No worries about being uber-politically-correct also.  Believe me, I am pretty sure that I've heard them all.. or at least a good number of non-pc-questions.

I will be creating a podcast or videocast to discuss this topic.  I'm hoping to create this within the next week or two, so please send your questions ASAP.  

Don't forget to check back to watch/listen!  If you have a preference.. video or podcast (are you more apt to watch on your computer/phone or would you just like to listen while driving/working/etc) - please submit it.

Why I am doing this?  I am currently taking a graduate workshop on Distance Learning in Education.  This will fulfill one of the required activities for the course (though only if I have response.. so please respond.. whether it is to submit a question or to comment on the actual podcast).  This however, is not the only reason that I am doing this podcast.  As I had mentioned, I am asked these types of questions quite often.  I had already been giving this some thought.. as maybe this would be a good reply to the emails.  Maybe it would be nice to see and hear your questions answered than to just read a wordy email.  

If you have been following my blogs at all, you will also know that video is my fav mode of communication.  I love making films.. especially about my fav topics and people.  Here is a great excuse for another!

Who's White??

Posted by Unknown |0 comments

Well, come to find out.. it might be.. 
Me.   
Have you read 'Stuff White People Like' by Christian Lander?  No?  Hm.. neither have I.  If you actually HAVE read this book.. I might need you to tell me if I have been insulted.
I did, actually, just order the book as I was told that it describes 'me' quite accurately.  
I scoffed, however, when I first heard this.  What?  Me?  'White'?  
Surely not.  
I don't mean to slam on the entire Caucasian race of course.  I have just never thought of myself being the personification of 'white people'.  That idea, truthfully, scares me.  Especially in my current state of mind - having just finished reading 'The Help' a couple of days ago (btw..GREAT book).
I have a bad feeling that I am NOT going to like this book.
Does that mean that I have an identity issue?  Will reading this book give me an identity crisis?
I have tried to deny that this idea could even potentially be true (without reading the book yet of course.. a daring feat I admit), but was then asked if I know who 'David Sedaris' is.  I guess there is an entire chapter entitled 'David Sedaris'.  I can't really hide the fact that I know this author.. it seems that I have four of his audiobooks on my ipod at the moment.  Yikes.
We will see if the entire book describes me, or if there might just be one or two (or 30) coincidental similarities.  Stay tuned next week for the (not so) thrilling conclusion.

Speaking of audiobooks.. I again have to plug 'The Help'.  I actually listened to the audiobook, and I believe it might be my favorite audiobook of all time.  It was sooo very good.  The writing, the characters, the readers.  Wow.  I could almost listen again, and I have never listened to an audiobook twice.
Oh wait, I did listen to Stephen King's Needful Things two times.  Over a very, very long period of time though.
Siiigh.  That was my mom's fav book and audiobook (and one of mine).  :(  She actually found a store in Canada that was called 'Needful Things' and was an antique-type store.  She bought me a hand mirror at that store.  If you have read the book, you will understand that reference.  That was one of those once-in-a-lifetime-awesome-purchases.  Perfection. 
{when will these memories stop causing instant sharp pains in my upper-abdomen??}

Ok, ok.. I've decided that I have to end every blog post with something happy.  There has been too much sorrow, pain, and anxiety in my life over the past several months.  I have always believed that some people just seem to be 'magnets' for unhappiness.. and I want to ensure that I never become that.  I'm starting to worry!!  So - in the manner of 'The Secret' (nope, never read it.. but a friend did and was so overcome by the message that he gave me a 2-hr dissertation on it over a long dinner one night) - I am going to send positive thoughts out into the universe in order to bring positivity into my life.  {one might also call that 'FAITH'.. but who am I to question the Secret}

 

Another Hole In My Heart

Posted by Unknown |1 comments

It's hard to believe, but we lost our grandmother (Dad's mom) today.  It's been a tough past few months.  Hope Mama and Nan are happily reunited today and watching over all of us.  They are going to be so, so very missed. 

It was so strange.. the other day I was getting my haircut and telling my hair-guy about Nan and how sick she was. For some reason the memory that came to my mind that I shared with him was how the first time that I saw Purple Rain was with Nan.  I always thought it was somewhat hilarious that my grandmother and I hung out and watched that movie together.  I would not have guessed that she would have enjoyed it - ha!  She was awesome.
Anyhow, I went home that evening and was cooking dinner. Ajay turned the TV on and was watching something.. all of a sudden I realized what it was.. Purple Rain!
How coincidental eh?

I can't believe that both my mom and Nan are gone now.  Life is going to be so wierd.. getting adjusted to being without both of them.  Everyone in our extended family was very close to Nan.. she was somewhat of a matriarch. She was always the only person who could tell me that my butt looked fat or my hair looked unflattering.. without hurting my feelings!  Such the grandmother.  :)  Of course.. it didn't hurt my feelings b/c usually she complimented the heck out of me.. so it was all good.  

Ah, the memories.  So many good ones.  It's the end of an era.

 

Getting By

Posted by Unknown |0 comments

My classes are now in full-swing, and o m g!  I had no idea that they would take this much time.  I am greatly enjoying both of them.. but wow.  Time-suckers.  No time for fun!  Oh well.  The price to pay for feeling cerebral.  

I'm wondering if anyone out there has advice for containing a lippy 4-yr old?  ;)  My god.. the girl turns 4 and you would think she has turned 13.  I shudder to even begin to think of her teenage years!  This is an interesting age for sure.  She will be in a great mood.. totally entertaining and just amazingly awesome.. and then BAM!  She is angry and lashing out and making horrible faces at me while punching at the air in front of me and spitting down the front of her shirt (an absolute NO-NO in my house thank you very much).  ?!?!  Hormones already?  
Time to pull out the parenting books again to get some new ideas for containing her craziness!  Seriously though, Maya is an uber-smart, amazing girl.  Just the latest phase.  Hope it is a short one!!  
 Ah where is my mom when I need to get advice! 
And on that note.. well, speaking of Maya and advice.. the girl was sick AGAIN last week.  She had a fever for a week.  During the day she was fine, but at night.. fever and forehead-headache plus the leg/joint pains she gets every time she is sick (and many days in between).  Her doctor gave me a little sh*t about not bringing her in after 3 days with a fever.  I'm like.. uh.. HELLO!  I brought her 3-4 other times when she had a fever of 106 for 3 days and you acted like I was a moron b/c she just had a virus!!  Good lord.  This time her fever wasn't that high, thank god.  
Anyhow.  Does a freaking day go by when you don't feel like a crappy parent???  I'm waiting for one of those days.  Really though.
So my in-laws think Maya must have caught something in India last year when we picked up Devika.  I actually wonder myself.  She never was sick.. nor did she ever have leg/joint pains prior to that trip.  I can remember the first leg pain day - we were in Goa.  It is a tad coincidental.  I've asked the pediatrician though, and she blows me off.  I think I'm going to request whatever info I can get on her med file and get a 2nd opinion.  If I don't, my in-laws will probably come here and do it for me.  They are highly irritated that I haven't done so yet.  
Remember how sick Maya was just before my mom got so sick.  Thank god that didn't all happen at the same time.  I had one week in between her finally recuping and mom falling uber-ill.  Seems odd that they really found nothing wrong with her after our 2 long ER visits, CAT scan, etc.. and then the strong antibiotic made her well.  She recovered ~24 hrs after starting the antibiotic this past week also.  
I have to wonder.  The girl is just always, always sick.  
Criminy, this mom-job just isn't easy, is it?  
Thankfully Devi has been healthy and happy.  She was re-assessed by her OT today.  Still lagging behind in certain things.  She doesn't have the hand-strength she should have (that a 24-mo child should have.. and she is 30 mo now).. can't stack the blocks high enough.. etc.  Soo.. the OT continues.  On a VERY happy note.. she is beginning potty-training!!  She used the potty for me one time yesterday and once today.  She has also been using it pretty consistently at school.  YAY!!  


Maya has a new favorite bedtime story that she would like to share with you:

Chaos Theory

Posted by Unknown |0 comments

“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” 

~  Friedrich Nietzsche

I have officially welcomed chaos into my life lately!  And don't get me wrong, I am not complaining.  I'm actually back on that road to being 'me' again.  This is me.. chaos chaos chaos!  Luckily I have married a man who is the opposite of chaos.  No wait.. he is the opposite of the form of chaos that I gravitate toward.. and I am the opposite of the form of chaos that he gravitates toward.  My point here, however, is just that THANK GOD I have someone to balance my life in certain ways because this allows me to embrace my craziness and find happiness and success within it!  I hope that he would say the same.

Herein lies my chaos:  I am now fully-immersed in two masters-level courses that I am taking at a state university.  I am taking them as online courses, and I am finding that I very much enjoy the online course process!  Busy-busy already.. and of course, the semester is only 2 weeks in.. but I feel like I just put on a very well-fitting pair of sneakers.  Slipped them on and I'm ready to run!  

Speaking of running.. that's another part of my chaotic life.  I'm gearing up for major triathlon/duathlon/running training for the 2010 season.  I have joined a somewhat-local women's triathlon team.  Last year I joined their 'virtual team' because I could not make it to many of their clinics, coaching sessions, etc (they are not located close enough to my suburb to work with my kids' schedules).  This year I have decided to take the big plunge and go for the big commitment.  I'm very excited!!  One of the best things about this season is that they have established 'pod' training groups (it is a huge team/club) - dependent on your location.  This means that I will meet people who actually live pretty close to me that I can train with/hang with/etc.  I am def. looking forward to expanding my network.  I'd love to compete in the Tri For The Cure this summer and have a very respectable finish time.  That's my goal.  And.. bonus.. I move up an age group this year!  Dam I'm old.  Sigh.  But I"m the youngest of my age group!  And this means my transition spot will be a teeny bit closer to the start/finish lines..  :)  Go me.

Ok enough tri-talk.  

I've also suddenly found my photo/film biz to be taking off a little.  This is exciting, as it is one of my great passions in life.  I have totally needed an artistic outlet recently.  It's therapeutic for me.  

As part of this work-life, I feel privileged that the Joint Council on Int'l Children's Services has asked me to create a short Haiti-related film for them.  You might recall that I created their 2009 membership film.  Great experience, great group of people to work with, and a cause that I feel very strongly about.  I'm very excited to be able to do something.. anything.. to help the orphans in Haiti.  It devastates me every time that I turn on the tv or look at news headlines online.  I browsed some youtube videos today and was a bit overcome with sadness for the Haitian people.  It puts your life in perspective, doesn't it?  I just want to join the JC reps in journeying down to Haiti to help.  If I did not have my girls to think of, I'd be doing anything that I possibly could do.  I hate feeling helpless when so many people are in such dire need of help.  Especially the children.  I saw a clip of a fallen school.. with the headmaster trying to get to a boy who is buried so far under that he will likely not be rescued (and I don't know when this clip was taken, so not sure of the outcome).  He kept yelling to the boy and the boy would respond.  But nothing they could do.  My heart breaks.

I look at my house and think.. well.. I could fit a couple more kiddos in here..  and I feel a bit sickened by the amount of material comforts that we have, when so many have absolutely nothing.  My heart breaks again.

Add these things together and then add in my best little buddies (yes I am talking about my girls).. and life is F U L L.  Exactly what I need.  My chaos makes me a better person, a better wife, and a better mom.  I want my girls to grow up understanding that they need to be in touch with the events happening around the globe and they need to do their part to make this world a better place.  I've had many discussions with Maya about this lately.  She knows that we are trying to help the Haitian orphans.. she knows that I train and compete in the Tri in order to honor her grandmother.. and she knows that we need to thank God every day for everything that we have.  
It could be gone in an instant.  

Hug your kids.  

Oh heck, hug various family members!  :)  

My Girls

Posted by Unknown |1 comments

Thought it was high time for a kiddo update!  Here's the latest:

Maya:  

• Still in love with her Bear-Bear (and still we have no GPS device attached to him.. we REALLY need this!!).
• Loves to talk the ear off of just about anyone who will listen.
• Loves to scream "HEY!  WHAT ARE YOU DOING??" across parking lots, stores, restaurants, etc. to complete strangers.  Sometimes it is b/c these strangers have kids with them.. but often not.  
• Recently ordered a 'beer' when asked by a waitress (at breakfast no less) what she would like to drink.
• Has an entertaining sense of humor.  Is in some phase right now where she likes to make herself laugh (often by doing whatever she can to run away from me/ignore me/etc) and will giggle hysterically for a very long time.  Tonight's laugh:  she is in the tub and suddenly is breaking out in peals of hysterical laughter:  "MOM!  I just made a jacuzzi!!"
• A few days ago we were in a local liquor store picking up a bottle of wine for a dinner party (yes it is no surprise that she ordered a 'beer' at breakfast now is it?  eek!).  It's a large warehouse-type place and has several life-like and bizarre statues (think wax-museum style).  One of the statues is a 3-ft pig who is standing on his back legs and fully clothed (uh.. I have no idea).  She suddenly leaves my side and runs up to him, throws her arms around him in a big hug and yells, "HONEY!  I've MISSED you so much!!'.  
• Has finely-tuned her negotiation skills for moments such as bedtime and shopping trips.
• Loves her ballet/tap class (Ms. Joy is awesome!), but still has not developed the 'grace' I'm hoping will come... ;)
• Still loves Caillou (cartoon of a whiney 4-yr old boy), Backyardigans, the Polar Express movie.  Still refuses to watch any type of princess-type movie/show.
• LOVED singing Xmas carols this holiday.  Is still watching a kids Christmas Carols DVD that I bought her at a christian book store.  Has taught herself (very quickly I might add) most of the words to most of the songs.  Of course.. there are often mistakes that are quite hilarious, but she is doing well!  And if I correct her, she remembers.
• Is also very into Jesus, God, and Heaven.  I had to teach her some things/read some books when my mom was dying, so that she would understand at least a little.  She, like most 4 yr olds I'm sure, has been very open and matter-of-fact about all of it.  It took her awhile to stop thinking that grandma would be back in '2 weeks' (?).. or that we could visit grandma in heaven.  She loved learning about all of it.  She keeps asking if there are beds in heaven.  She loves church and prayers and very much wants to go to 'god school'.   {we are currently deciding b/t catholic schools or CCD classes for her - biggest issue being that the schools are at least 20 min away with little traffic and good weather}
  
• She was also awesome with my mom on the last few days before mom slipped into a coma and Maya was still able to see her.  My mom kept trying to walk on her legs which were no longer functioning, and Maya would say 'Now honey, your legs are not working because of your medicine so you need to just sit down!'.  So cute! 
• Still hates mushrooms.
• Still walks/does stairs/runs/etc very slowly.  Gross motor skills still a bit delayed/not strong.  Devika is faster now.
• I'm back to thinking that the Orthopedic specialist was correct in saying that milk is the problem behind her leg pains.  I stopped believing it, added milk in as normal.. and every time the girl has ice cream or a decent quantity of something dairy - she wakes up inconsolably crying due to leg pain.  Ok, ok I will stop being skeptic!!

Devika:

• As of approximately 1 month ago, her language skills began to take off.  Yay!  This has been a big issue for us.  Lots of mega tantrums b/c of communication breakdowns.  These are much fewer and further between and life has become extremely more peaceful and enjoyable!!  
• Has sensory issues and requires a LOT of stimulation.  The preschool she had been attending locally was in a very small and dimly-lit room.. and was not working well for her at all.  When we were in IN, she was enrolled in a preschool which was large and bright, active and colorful.. and she positively THRIVED!!  We enrolled her in a similar type school upon return home after the holidays.  She is doing great!  Loves it.  
• Grew 2" in the 2 1/2 months we were in IN!!  WOW!  Her pediatrician would be so excited.  She had not been grown since February (through August) and her doctor was very concerned. YAY!! 
• Is finally showing some personality.  Or maybe is finally bonding completely with us.  Not sure what it is, but she is the sweetest, most loving kid ever!  She has a great sense of humor - laughs all the time.  Anyone who spends any amount of time with her instantly falls in love with her.  Seriously she has gone from being a source of mega, mega stress a couple of months ago to being our sweet, adorable, 'warm fuzzy', crazy/fun child.
  
• Never walks, runs everywhere.  Aj has changed her nickname from 'Screamika' to 'Gump'.  {as in Forest}
• LOVES baby dolls.  Sleeps every night with 5 of them.. and freaks out if any are missing.  When she wakes up, she wants to take them all (and her 'lovey' - which is a cloth turtle-book, and her 'blankie') downstairs with her.  She tries to hold all of them at once - and most are almost her size.  So adorable!!  I really need to get a photo of this.
• Loves Barney and Elmo.  Yes, here we go again.. :)  Luckily she is going to be very excited with Maya's Elmo sweatshirt hand-me-downs. 
• Though her gross motor skills are pretty good, she still falls down and bleeds almost daily.  It no longer concerns me much - nor does it concern her.  Sometimes she will get up, bloody.. and just keep running!  Hoping that she doesn't end up with a deformed lip from all the cuts!
  
• If there is a patch of ice anywhere near her, she will find it and she will fall flat on her back.  This has been tested and proven true.
• Loves, loves, loves popsicles.  'Pops'.  Will go to the freezer and beg for one.  Will then require that Maya also have one (actually she requires that Maya always has anything that she has - it is so cute!).. will run to the 'bowl drawer'.. grab bowls for herself and Maya.. and run back.  The entire time she will be yelling, 'Maya!  Pop!  Maya!  Pop!'
• When she says 'bye-bye', she always follows it with blowing kisses.  :)
• is still, sadly, lactose-intolerant.  yuck.
• Loves Maya sooo much!  Is definately the annoying, copycat little sister!
• Oh, and a couple of weeks ago, she just starts counting!  She can count to 10!!  Well, not perfectly, and you can't quite understand her pronunciation of all the numbers.. but wow!  Obviously we need to work more with her, b/c both Aj and myself thought she wasn't there yet!  We stand corrected.
  

I'm sure there are many, many more cute stories and interesting facts about my little monsters.  Oh, I mean 'angels'..  But that's a nice start!

The video clip below was taken at the St Francis Convent, where my sister lives.  Maya loves all of the Baby Jesus statues that they have in the 'big house' at Christmas.  Sadly, we visited prior to Christmas, so Jesus wasn't 'born' yet.  Luckily, one of the sweet nuns brought out the Baby Jesus for the large nativity in the church so that Maya would not be horribly disappointed!