Current Dirt

I just watched a lost footage episode of John & Kate Plus Eight and it got me thinking about moments that haven’t made it to the blog and I came across some pre-blog photos that never had the chance to make the cut…

We bought our house 9 years ago.

Oscar came home with us on October 8, 2001.

Then Chyna, at the age of 5, in April 2004.

Tom and I got married January 29, 2005.

There were LOTS of cakes.

And my Maid of Honor was a total hunk.

Our nephews and niece were born:

But these three little babies aren’t babies anymore, our dogs have gray whiskers, and our house is no longer blue. Little changes, big changes, all good changes.

Last year, during Oscar season, I watched a ton of movies I wouldn’t of otherwise watched and I am glad I did because I ended up liking most of them. For example, there was only one best picture I really wanted to see (Slumdog Millionaire) but it turned out that I enjoyed all five nominations. I didn’t go into the theater thinking I would like Frost/Nixon, but I did.

So today when we went to see Amelia, a movie I wouldn’t otherwise see, I told myself that I just might like it. Guess what, I didn’t, it sucked. The worst part is you knew how it was going to end. But I really hope it gets nominated because if I sat through that movie due to Oscar Buzz and it doesn’t get nominated for SOMETHING I will be pissed.

So we get yet another call from Tom’s sister. Our nephew tripped at school and caught his eyebrow on the corner of a brick wall, which led to another trip to the plastic surgeon’s office for more stitches, on his face. Speechless. I was completely speechless. However, from what I understand the practice offered him a job, and there may be a new Wii game in his future.

We went to see him last night and I have to tell you, almost two weeks after the horrible dog bite incident, he is healing fabulously. I was pleasantly surprised at how much he had improved. I took photos but the lighting wasn’t great and the pics didn’t do his progress justice.

A few years ago, after one of Tom’s elbow surgeries, I bought him the Frankenteddy Beanie Baby to try and make him feel better. We thought now would be an appropriate time to pass it along to our nephew. The two boys got a kick out of finding the places on the bear that had stitches in the same places they did.

My nephew named him Lizard.

Our nephew is funny and smart and handsome and apparently a little clumsy. But I think he is going to come out of these unfortunate set backs just fine. He’s cool like that.

Our nephew got his stitches this morning at the plastic surgeon’s office. He was in and out in an hour. His mom tells me he was a trooper. I really can’t get over what a strong and brave boy he has been. The adults seem to be suffering more – seem to be – as it’s hard to tell sometimes what little guys are thinking. Watching him play a game of laser tag with his Uncle today made me feel better, and him too I think.

We got a call today from Tom’s sister saying she was on her way to the hospital because her son, our nephew, was bitten – in the face – by a dog. We met everyone there, our nephew, his parents and their significant others. Our poor guy was in pain but so, so, so strong. It was a good sign when his first question was, “where’s the remote?”. He didn’t talk much, just mumbled his needs, which weren’t many. He was patient and cooperative and wanted to laugh at the goofy adults surrounding him but that hurt too much. He mostly just stayed glued to the cartoon network kindly shooing people away that got between him and the t.v.

The dog owner stopped by. A good person. He filled out the requested paper work. The dog’s shots were up to date. And before he left he asked in the most quietest of voices, “Can I apologize to him?” He was sincerely sorry and my nephew mumbled, “It’s okay.” And the owner said, “No, it’s not okay.” Ugh, I had to hide my tears. The man so sorry, and the boy so strong. Too much for my emotions to handle.

My nephew will see a plastic surgeon in the morning. They will open the office on a Sunday in the middle of a long weekend to get him all fixed up. For now he is resting comfortably at his dad’s house. I’m so sorry this happened to him. We love you guy.

Tom and I had the truest sense of a vacation, no agenda, no obligations. Just beach, pool, donuts, shopping and Dr. Oz with our morning coffee. Tom even tried a couple of new things like fried calamari, which he liked. And skimboarding, which didn’t like him. He has the torn up skin to prove it.

On our last day we found the outlet mall. Shopping on vacation is a very tricky thing since chances are you’ve packed your suitcase full just to get to your destination, much less have room for goodies to bring back home. But somehow I managed to get back with a Marc Jacobs trench coat, two sweaters and four camisoles from Banana Republic, six pair of socks from the Gap (3 stripped, 3 argyle), hairbands for the gym from Puma, a Kate Spade purse and matching wallet, a bracelet from a beach shop, a new water bottle, a souvenir for our nephew, a Christmas gift for someone, a birthday gift for someone else, and a new ball for our dog Chyna. Tom got something new too.. a laptop bag from the Hartmann outlet. They were practically giving their luggage away. And we got it all home as carry-ons…with only a couple of dirty looks from the flight attendants as we stuffed our (one too many) bloated bags into the overhead bins.

Not missing a beat we got back in time for happy hour on Friday, almost as if we had never left. And along with happy hour everything else will start to fall into place like cream of wheat cereal in place of peanut and butter jelly donuts, spin class instead of walks on the beach, Yoga on land rather than the pool, and on Tuesday, after being out of the office for ten days, it’s back to work…in a new outfit!