Tooth Fairy

The tooth fairy forgot to come the other night.

Yep. FORGOT.

This is a fundamental no-no in my book.

In our electronic age, I tried to explain to my nine year old that perhaps the tooth fairy didn't get my email...or with the unusually moist climate the last few nights, maybe the tooth fairy didn't want to chance getting stuck in a storm.

Well, bottom line is...the tooth fell out that day and daddy forgot to tell mommy so mommy could make sure that the tooth fairy came.*sigh*

To make up, the tooth fairy left a hand made card and wrote a note to Troi that she/he was sorry about missing. That the last few days have been unusually busy and that she/he was "swamped". To make up, she/he left TEN dollars! So, this morning I was informed that the tooth fairy did not forget again and that a note was left. As Troi shared the note with me, he made sure I knew that the tooth fairy was stuck in a swamp so she/he could not get out to take care of business.

I think I have saved a believer.

Phew- that was a close one!

his brings to mind the numerous times I tried to earn extra cash by making paper mache teeth, cutting small pieces of paper into tooth shapes, even taking small stones that looked like teeth and putting them under my pillow. I never was able to fool the tooth fairy into leaving me any cash. I was however afraid that when I actually left a "real" tooth that I would get overlooked. After all, isn't that the moral of the story "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?

Never in those futile attempts at fooling the fairy did I ever think that there wasn't a fairy. I just figured she was damned smart to not be fooled by me.

Here's to hoping that Troi's teeth never get overlooked again and that the busy schedule the Tooth Fairy is keeping eases up a little. Like me, she/he has probably worked 3 weeks straight with no day off. *sigh*

Oh, the tooth fairy also signed the note "Love, T.F." Which Troi lovingly thought meant "Troi F." ha ha ha. I said no, I think it means Tooth Fairy. Isn't that cool that they have the same initials?!?I thought so.

More Water Fun

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The only downside to Flickr is you can't blog more than 1 photo at a time. So- what I will do it link the title to this one to the photo set with all the photos I took of these boys today! :) How's that sound dear reader? Like a plan? Yep, thought so! :)

Pool Time

IMG_2632, originally uploaded by Michellene.

Troi and his best bud CJ had a great time in the pool today. I rested with Kai. Napping at a late time of day. Which meant I woke up to the sound of laughter and some special rocket ship sound effects. Enter Troi and CJ- two rambunctious boys playing in the pool.

They had a great time playing in the late afternoon hours. The light of day was ebbing and I had to break out the camera.

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all those mom's out there. From my Moms to my Mother In Law...to my friends that are now mom's...

To my Moms Julie and Bridget- I love you both so much and appreciate how you have set aside your differences and embraced loving me and my children together. You're both excellent Grandma/Nana.

To my Mother In Law - thank you so much for being such a great Mom to me and Jerome and an amazing Granny!! You're so thoughtful in every way.

To Jennifer - Thank you for getting me knocked up. You are a super mom in the truest sense and I am shocked at how much you can do in one day and still be sane.

To all those other moms that have touched my life in so many way...this is our day and I am so thrilled to be a part of it with you!

All my love!

Michellene

Sky's the Limit

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

Troi just had outpatient surgery yesterday. The only tell tale signs that anything is amiss is a scar you can't see and a walk like John Wayne.

Love and distraction or a combination of both are quick healers. My parents bought Troi an airplane. It's a remote controlled plane that flies very well. It also repairs well. My Dad made many repairs in his few hours here at my house.

Finessing landings was the hardest lesson learned this evening. The last venture brought the plane down in the neighbors back yard. Thankfully they do not have a dog lest my Dad and son would have been kibble for sure.

Thank you Mom & Dad for coming down to cheer Troi up. He's feeling well and that Orange Chicken from Panda Express was a winner too!

Love you!

Babyrazzi

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

This is the Kai man. He loves cameras and any within reach are easy targets. He knows just what to do with them!

The future of photography is in the tiny hands of this little fellow.

Happy Birthday to Me!

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

Well, I am 37 today! Yippee! My 9 year old son just had minor surgery yesterday and we are all doing very well!

My Dad, Mom, and 2 of my siblings (Esther and Stephen) came down to visit Troi but to share the day with me! What a treat.

Next week is the official party...to ring in my newfound age...

I am actually feeling older today but I think it's because I am just tired!

Another Wee Fave!

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

Sometimes I go a little crazy (ok A LOT) with the picture taking. I cannot stand being anywhere without my camera. Wee Start Gym is no exception.

Precious Girl!

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

This is one of my favorite photos of this little bundle of energy and brains!

I can't tell you enough about this little girl. She's super tiny but packs a lot of energy and entertainment into her pint size. She amazes me at every turn and I can't even imagine what she does to her parents!

Jenn and Pete- hope you have insurance and a shot gun. You're going to need it!

Jenn and Nadia

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

Kai's best bud and mine too! Jennifer is one of my most dearest friends. We have shared so much together, including her getting me knocked up (long story).

This photo was taken at Wee Start Gym. We have had so much fun visiting every week. We don't live far from each other, we just don't have the same schedules. Nadia (or as Kai calls her - Nania) is on a different nap schedule and well, we just have taken this weekly visit and had sometimes visited more. We met for breakfast afterwards and even tried to make it to a puppet show!

I love these two girls!

Wee Start Gym

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

Thanks to Mama Peggy for the wonderful 6 weeks membership to Wee Start in Carlsbad. Kai and I have enjoyed every moment we have spent with Jennifer and Nadia! This photo was taken by Jennifer in a rare moment that Kai was cooperating. The Wee Start Gym has so many amazing actvities and they pack in a sufficient amount of stimulation for these tots to thrive on.

I know Kai sure has. This tied in with his occupational therapy has done wonders for him. Next on the to-do list is speech therapy.

No, Kai isn't suffering from a learning disorder or disability, but he has some mouth muscles that don't want to cooperate. Or maybe they cooperate with HIS wants and desires far too well. This little man talks, but sometimes the only person that understands him is Jennifer!! He he he

Well, I just love this photo.

Post Op

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

Out of the "wake up room" and into the post op area. I was called in once he was ready to start trying to take fluids.

He looked at me and said, "Where is my stuffed animal?"

I promised him a stuffed baby. He had forgotten his favorite silkie and did this entire field trip without out any nur-nurs or pacifiers.

Big boy.

Mom couldn't just pick one, she was torn between two huggable animals that both passed the "hug test" with flying colors. So, a gorilla and a pig.

Sense of Humor!

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

Do you see what I see? This kid is just amazing to me. Here he is, two days out from surgery and he's kidding around and having a good time.

Pre-Op Surgery Face

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

We took the tour of the facility.

This is a very information part of the entire process. I personally do better with information. The more I know/understand, the better I do. In MOST cases.

This is no different. I knew exactly where to go and what to do. So did Troi.

This photo was taken when he received his goodie bag with all the the operative essentials, surgical booties, a mask, and this lovely hat/cap.

He's a great kid.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

Well, this little munchkin turned 2 on 1/28/07. I took this photo on his actual birthday. He was sick with rotavirus and was unable to drink his formula and when he did he couldn't keep in IN or DOWN. Poor guy.

His party was scheduled for the 27th but had to be rescheduled for obvious reasons.

This photo to me, looks like he's so skinny. But he really isn't. I guess maybe I just knew he just wasn't feeling well. This just so happened to be the first day he really started to at least smile again.

On this particular day I revisit the ease at which he actually physically entered the world...and his beuatiful disposition all those days he spent in the NICU doing his best to do the "do" and get home with his adoring family.

No, my pregnancy with him was far from easy...from the very beginning it was tough and I was rather ambiguous about my entire state. No, I never ever thought for a moment I didn't want Kai...just didn't think it was best time for me. I was at my heaviest and I worried mostly that my love for Troi would be diminished or diluted in some way.

Kai was different from the moment he arrived. He didn't make a peep...he was still and so warm..as soon as they put him on my belly still slimy and bloody ... I thought to myself..."What's wrong with him, something is wrong with him."

Mother's intuition is never wrong. Several week in the NICU and on Feb 9th of 2005 we were informed that Kai has cystic fibrosis.

As you can see in his picture, he's a joy and the apple of everyone's eye. He's doing great pulmonary-wise...still has weight issues but we work everyday to resolve them. He won't chomp down real food yet...and we are working on that as well...he visits the occupational therapist every week and we work with him every day to try to get him to just bite and chew.

So, 1/28/07 marks not only the significant milestone of Kai's 2nd birthday...but also the 2nd anniversary of our fight agains this nasty disease.

Santa Was Here

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

Magic dust marks the spot.

Every year Santa makes his way down the chimney to leave gifts and fill our stockings.

He never fails to leave evidence of his arrival. Magic dust on the logs in the fireplace was all I could get photos of this year. Troi had already vacuumed up the remnants on the carpet.

Some years he will eat all the cookies and drink all the milk. Other years Rudolf will oblidge.

This year was the magic dust all over the place. It was in one long trail from the fire place to the tree.

Troi has a theory about the various gifts Santa leaves at the homes he visits on behalf of Troi and now Kai. At Nana's house, Santa will leave snow, magic walnuts that once cracked open reveal a surprise which is usually coins or money. (And they say money doesn't grow on trees!) Along with the magic walnuts, Santa leaves gifts that are fit for a mountain prince. New boots, new snow bib, things definitely out doorsy and made for the rugid terrain that surrounds Nana and Grumpa's house.

At Papa and Grandma's, he leaves clothes, games, books and other "fun and games" things that Troi just loves. Then he has Granny's house. Where Granny always gets Troi the "sensible" needed gifts like shoes, clothes and the occasional PS2 game that Troi must have been hinting about for the 20K time!

Santa leaves us goodies every year in our stockings at Nana's house. I think he knows that we will be waiting for the goodies there since we don't have gifts in ours here at the house very often.

Thank you Santa for NEVER letting us down!

Baby Boy Troi - 9

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

Number 9. Year 9. 9 years old...9 years young.

Doesn't seem like a big number huh? It's still less than 10...but when you think about how long this kiddo has tolerated me interfering in his life, it's a pretty long time.

Nah, this kiddo is so amazing. He's definitely a keeper.

I recall when he was Kai's age (almost 2) and thinking how I couldn't imagine him being 9. I guess it's just the same feelings I have now toward Kai. I am eager to have him grow up and be independent, but still want him to be my baby.

Troi is still my baby. He always will be...9 or 99. He's my Baby Boy Troi.

Troi's Birthday Aftermath

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Originally uploaded by cf.sucks.

The aftermath of a successful birthday celebration is a miracle to behold. It's a FREAKING miracle we made it through another wonderful event without too much chaos!

Having a child born so close to Christmas is not an easy parental assigment from the heavens. No, it's more of a multi-taskers nightmare.

Troi was born on December 24, 1997.

He was my Christmas gift that year. The same year I received my very first computer. Two HUGE milestones in one fail swoop. Not too shabby if you ask me.

Celebrating Troi's birthday is the easiest of all yearly holiday tasks. It's the preparation for it that kills me every year. I know when it happens- every year at the same time. So why do I punish myself this way?

I have put these crazy limitations on myself. For instance, my rule has always been that we don't put any Christmas decor up until AFTER we have Troi's party. We usually have Troi's party the weekend before Christmas. So that leaves me NO TIME to truly enjoy my precious decorations...some that I have had for many years and some that just my absolute favorites - my Christmas carousel collection.

Why do I not just put up the damned decorations right after Thanksgiving? So I have more time to enjoy them and less stress to put them up only to take them down 2 weeks later.

I have asked Troi and he doesn't mind. So that tells me it's a self-limiting, self-imposed, self-neurosis that I freaking do to myself every year.

He's 9 now! It's time to stop this craziness. Next year I am putting the decorations up early AND still having the amazing party for Troi we do every single year.

Wow, do I feel better or what?!?