Meanwhile…

Meanwhile

The other day, Jacob asked to write a letter. He got out his paper and pen, an envelope and asked where the stamps were. I was really surprised because I realized, I’d never talked to him about “real mail”. He’d gotten the idea from watching a youtube video of mail-trucks (of course). I initially felt bad that youtube had done my job, but it got me thinking. When was the last time I sent snail mail? Just wrote a letter, on pretty paper, stamped it and sent it on it’s way? I couldn’t remember. When I was younger, I had a stationary set. A box with compartments for stationary, envelopes, pens, stamps and stickers and I remember feeling so inspired every time I opened it and put pen to paper.

I’m not good with set challenges, hence why  none of my New Year’s challenges made it through April, but I’ve decided to handwrite more letters, and to teach my boys to do the same. I love the digital age we live in, it’s a convenience that is much needed sometimes, but some of my most treasured items, are the handwritten notes and letters I’ve saved and tucked away in my memory box.

Meanwhile

The Sickness came last Tuesday night and lingered until Friday morning. But I chugged The Pepto and slurped soup because this weekend, was Girl’s Weekend. It’d been planned for like three months, and I bet the Universe knew that. Rude

Thankfully I (and one of my friends involved in the girl’s weekend) recovered from The Sickness in time to live it up in the swanky hotel and bustling city for a night. Major props to our husbands who wrangled the kids and sent us on our way, guilt free. I treasure our weekends as a family and it’s rare that I’m willing to give one up, but every now and then, it’s worth it. Casey and Faith know how to show a girl a good time!

Meanwhile

We sort of laid low this weekend and the clouds and fog helped facilitate our much needed chill weekend. Speaking of fog, do you follow Karl the Fog on Instagram? I kinda love that Karl has social media accounts. I love our sunny days, but the fog is quickly becoming my favorite too.

Happy be-lated Memorial Day. I say it every year, how thankful we are to those and their families who have and are serving our country, and I mean it with all my heart. It’s more than noble, it’s more than admirable, it’s one of the single most incredible things I can think of and truly, we are thankful.

Meanwhile

Our weekend was pretty good. We spent Saturday morning lounging around with the boys and then met Malisaand Anthony for lunch (we love when they’re in town!)

Sunday we sort of flew by the seat of our pants and ended up in the city at the presidio. Off the Grid holds apicnic at the presidio event. It’s usually pretty busy and festive, with music and games, but we decided to set up camp on the edge and just people watch. The weather was beautiful, the boys ran their energy out and we all got a little sun.

Meanwhile

We never eat out at restaurants as a family. I mean, it’s just, no one has that big of a sense of humor. Actually, we rarely ever eat together at the same time. It’s just what works for us right now. So we feed the children and if there’s crumbs left or we remembered to grab ourselves a morsel, we eat. As long as there’s coffee, we’re generally good. But, when the opportunity unexpectedly presents itself, we tip toe up to it, pretending we don’t notice, so as not to scare it off, but inwardly we screech chants of the warrior. Maybe that’s a little much. But you get the point.

Meanwhile

Let’s just be honest, I haven’t kept up with a single one of my new year’s projects, at least not consistently. Granted, I knew this would happen, but I would like to know I’m not alone in dropping the ball. So don’t you dare comment if you’ve kept up with all your resolutions and whatnot. :) I’m kidding, comment away, maybe it’ll inspire me. But if you too, have dropped the ball, you’re my new best friend. 

I don’t know what it is, maybe it’s that dormant period that happens just before Spring really kicks in, but I’ve been giving myself permission to be lazier with my free time. And by lazier, I mean, going with the flow rather than hacking away at my schedule until it’s in shreds. I think I’m still panning the gold, so to speak, with re-prioritizing and simplifying and whatnot.

My arms are whisking the muck around, letting the gravel float away, while the heavier-real stuff settles to the bottom. And I’m finding it varies from day to day, which is sometimes difficult for this OCD personality of mine. I’d love to arrive at a conclusion, a set list of solid “yes” and “no’s” for our lives, but lately, each day is requiring more flexibility than I’m used to.

Meanwhile

They’re cute, it’s their weapon. They draw you in with those gazing eyes and thug life smirks, wielding their powers for world domination like, “Whatever, I own you now”.

Judah had an intense day yesterday. One thing triggered another, triggered fifty things and recovery never fully came until mid-morning today (So thankful it came, rather than drug on for days). Strangely, yesterday I felt deeply successful. Through the tantrums, him hurting himself and lashing out at me, in the volley of emotions, I felt capable. Like, yeah, this is difficult on so many levels, but also, I got this.

It’s funny how parenthood sloshes around an array of emotions, generally in contract with the amount of sleep you’ve had that week, but then sometimes, despite the nonsleep, the randomizer tosses out a winning number. Of course, I don’t really think it’s random. Honestly, I think it’s grace and kindness and it’s perspective.

But yesterday woke me up. Weirdly, in the most uncommon of places to find joy in your kids, in your life, I did. Jacob needed me, to be the human ladder that reached the goldfish on the top shelf, to read him books, to talk nonstop about monster trucks. Judah needed me, to be his stabilizer, to protect him, to force him to eat food because he was hungry but couldn’t. So much needing is normally tiring, it’s normally hard and I am selfish, so it’s typically done with an inward frown and five text messages to friends of “WTH?! Oh my gosh, these kids!”. (Albeit, a valid expression and much needed release of emotion)

Meanwhile

Today I’m tired. Today, I felt the grace to do life successfully, slow down to a tired limp. It’s not one of those really serious days, where the grace is a vapor, and I should buy my mom a one way ticket; Just one of those days where the answer was to stop pushing and just let things be as they would.

I have those moments, where I’m faced with the choice to make my own happiness and I know, deep inside, that is the right answer. Suck it up and give piggy back rides to the tantrumming kids, eat chocolate chips from the bag and see the sunshine, even if we have to drive forty minutes south. Change my perspective.

Then there are days, like today, when things are clustering into a flub of ridiculous mess, and it’s okay to not fold the laundry, not clean the dishes, not make it all happen. It’s okay that things are imperfect.

Meanwhile

Yesterday and today warranted hats. They cover so much. Like that patch of equal parts dry and oily skin on my forehead, my unplucked eye brows and the obvious, unwashed bed head. It’s been two days since my last shower, but some things you do well to overlook in the name of maintaining sanity and peace among the natives. The natives being the two male children I’ve brought forth. Also, I feel I can run errands incognito, just tip the bill down a bit and bam! Stealth mode.

Meanwhile

Balloons make me nutty. I tired to be the cool mom who blows up giant green balloons and leaves them laying around the house for dull moments when the boys need entertainment. I really tired. But then the balloons float around underfoot and rest beside my bed at night, cackling at my lost salvation, when I fall over them on my way to comfort the 2am waker. But the last straw really is the “hey mom, let me beat you in the face with a balloon because see, it’s funny. You can’t get hurt, but I’m still hitting you. hahahahahaha!”

So, I exact my revenge (on the balloons, not the child) and we go to the park.

It’s sort of a running joke, us the and the park. The punch line being that we’re always there. I didn’t say it’s a hilarious joke, I guess it’s more of a factual, tongue in cheek kind of thing. So we’re always at the park. Mainly because, the balloons, but also because it’s a proven fact, outside air and exercise makes kids tired; Eventually. And every single thing I do as a mom is fueled by, will this help them nap/sleep at night or not?I’m kidding.

Come on though, the second someone figures out how to bottle and sell whatever it is that fuels the tiny humans, the world will never see another lazy couch potato again (which I’m semi-against because I kind of like being a couch potato) You know I’m right. So naps and bed times are sacred and must be preserved at all costs.

Veterinary medicine

Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all animal species, both domesticated and wild, with a wide range of conditions which can affect different species.

Veterinary medicine is widely practiced, both with and without professional supervision. Professional care is most often led by a veterinary physician (also known as a vet, veterinary surgeon or veterinarian), but also by paraveterinary workers such as veterinary nurses or technicians. This can be augmented by other paraprofessionals with specific specialisms such as animal physiotherapy or dentistry, and species relevant roles such as farriers.

Veterinary science

Veterinary science helps human health through the monitoring and control of zoonotic disease (infectious disease transmitted from non-human animals to humans), food safety, and indirectly through human applications from basic medical research. They also help to maintain food supply through livestock health monitoring and treatment, and mental health by keeping pets healthy and long living. Veterinary scientists often collaborate with epidemiologists, and other health or natural scientists depending on type of work. Ethically, veterinarians are usually obliged to look after animal welfare.

Deepwood Veterinary Clinic

17 February 2019

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