Putting it in perspective

So here's my big New Year's resolution.....

Don't sweat the small stuff. I mean, really, we all get so worked up and focused on drama that we tend to forget about the good stuff.

This week, I felt like I was dealt one blow after another. Due to...let's call it an unexpected expense...I have to break my lease and move into a friend's "cozy" apartment with her family. I was stressed to the max about moving, uprooting Wyatt for what is going to be a temporary thing (meaning he will get uprooted again), being another 1/2 hour away from work, hoping the roommate stuff wont' mess up our friendship....Then, I realized... I have an amazing friend who is more than happy to share what she has with Wyatt and me. And she offered without even batting an eye. What an incredible gift that is. We don't need "stuff". There really is very little we need. This biggest thing is, of course, shelter and nourishment. Just behind that is love. Wyatt and I have an abundance of love, both for each other and for (and from!) friends. You truly don't know what kind of friends you have until they step up. This last year has certainly shown me that. (Heck, really, the last 6months) I'm certainly convinced that DNA means very little, it's the people who stand beside you that make up your family.

Today I picked Wyatt up from a sleepover. He stayed up way late, then was up throwing up (pretty sure it was reflux) and woke up early. Yay! The recipe for a cranky kid. He took a 2 hour nap right up until 5, and was then very whiny, felt warm to me (but I was cold) and continued to lay around and not want to eat. Great. He's gotta be getting sick, right? Yet another thing I have to figure out how to balance. Did I mention he was cranky? Oh. My. Bob. I was ready to lay down next to him and stomp my feet about how much life stinks.

Then, I remembered...an old friend had to do the hardest thing imaginable today. She buried her newborn daughter. The daughter she felt moving inside her 2 hours before her C-section. I looked at my healthy (in the grand scheme of things), smart, funny and mostly happy little boy today and remembered that I have a major blessing. I'm sure my friend would have gladly traded places with me.

What amazing reminders to keep things in perspective. There is always someone who wants to trade places with you.

You never know what may happen next year, tomorrow, or in the next 2 hours. You can't go crazy worrying about it, but you can make every moment count.

Oh me oh my

This is definitely one of those days where I cannot wait to get back to SC. It's cold outside (17 degrees) and, well, I DON'T LIKE COLD!!

The best part about having to go to work on a day like this, though, is my crock pot. Seriously. I love walking in the door at the end of a long day and voila! Dinner is ready.

Crock pots are a necessity in any working mother's kitchen. Without it, I'd come home, have to cook something healthy (in theory). Now, in reality, we'd be eating out. A lot. I have, at the moment, 2 crock pots. I'd have more, but, well, 2 broke in the move.

I've used mine to take soups and stuff to work, to make yummy dinners at home. They are just the greatest. Mmmm. Plus, there's only one dish to clean!

Anyway, today I'm gonna make Brown Sugar Chicken. When you see the ingredients, you will probably think I'm nuts. But it is SO GOOD. I serve it over noodles. I always make enough for leftovers. Mmm mmm mmm

OK, so I didn't intend for today's blog to be an ode to my slow cooker. I really do love it though. It's got me thinking maybe once a week I will post something about kitchen type stuff.

Christmas Happenings

Well, here I sit on another day-after-Christmas.

It's been a crazy busy week. Wyatt got to ride the fire truck with Santa and pass out candy canes to people. He LOVED it, but shockingly, he asked if we could stop at McDonalds while we were out. (Bad Mom, I let him have fast food. Oh, for shame!) I choose to think I'm not a bad mom, I'm a realistic mom :)

Then 2 days later he went to see the lights at the National Zoo. It was SO cold, but he had so much fun. Riding the "Mentro" was an adventure for him.

Walking around the zoo there weren't many animals out, but there were a lot inside the buildings. We got hot chocolate and cider to stay warm. There was also an "iceless skating rink" and a train ride, but we didn't participate in that. We just looked at the lights and whatever animals there were.

Of course, yesterday was Christmas. On Christmas Eve we went to Jen's. She gave me a photo charm to add to my Mom necklace. I swear, that girl tries to find ways to make me cry!

I will post more about Christmas itself later :)

I did spot an ex at the zoo....

Can you see me now?

Well, I took the boy to the eye doctor Monday night. His right eye is great! He has 20/20 vision. His left eye not so much. That one is at 20/200. My heart sank when he was reading the letters on the wall, and he couldn't read more than the 2nd line. I was sitting there thinking it had to be a joke. I mean, those letters are HUGE. But, no, he's legally blind in that eye. The eye dr then did that whole "better one, better two" thing. At best, with glasses, the boy's vision will get to 20/60. So, he's excited to be getting glasses. One side will basically be glass, the other lens will have a strong prescription. The dr tried to convince me he's a good candidate for contacts because of that, and I said "He's 6! No way!"

The boy will also have to wear an eye patch over his good eye for 2 hours a day once the glasses do come in. (Arrrr Mateys!) He can't do it now, because then he wouldn't be able to see at all. The hope is that it will force his bad eye to work.

It may improve over time. It may not.

Having such poor vision in one eye does mean that his depth perception is off. That can explain why it's been so difficult to get him to write neatly and observe spaces when writing.

One of my best friends kept asking if I was ok with everything. I just kept thinking "Of course! Lots of kids need glasses" But last night I couldn't sleep, so I tried remembering what the term the doctor used was. I wanted information. I couldn't find it, but what I did find out is that if the sight in the other eye never gets better with correction, he won't be able to get a CDL. No big deal. Unless your child has only ever wanted to be a firefighter. Even now typing that I get a little teary.

But...I'm going to look at it this way. Who knows where technology will be in 10 years? I don't think 15 years ago anyone saw Lasix as a possibility. 10 years from now? Just imagine the possibilities. And my kid is AMAZING. I bet he does get better with corrective lenses.

And if not? He's still awesome, and he's still my son, and he can still have or do anything. This is just a minor thing, and so many have it so much worse. He will NEVER know that he's missing out on anything...because he won't be.

For anyone who is wondering why I drink coffee....

This is what the boy said in a matter of 2 seconds:

"Mom, I'm not wearing underwear! I need a pair. Hey, that rhymes. Did you know pear is actually a fruit? Hail to the Ravens!"

I love the boy. If for no other reason, than for the comic relief.

Randomness

OK, so I really waffled with whether or not to continue blogging. I really don't like being the topic of conversations when I'm not present. But, whatever. People will talk if they want to talk. I can't really stop them

So I have today off, but I have to spend it running around like crazy. I have a test this morning, then Wyatt has to get an immunization (Which I'm really NOT crazy about, especially since we are hard core into his airway issues right now), then he has to get a cavity filled. I know a little boy who will be getting lots of TLC tonight!

So Elvin the Elf left Wyatt a mini Krakle bar (Although with this visit to the dentist, he may have to find something else to leave). Wyatt then decided to hide it from Elvin. Pretty cute. I love my kid.

Sometimes, I look at him, and I can literally feel myself fill with love. There is just no comparison.

The elf is back!

Every year one of Santa's elves causes mischief in our house. Last year, he spilled sugar, set up the dining room table and chairs on the front lawn...I never know what we will wake up to find. He starts once we put up the tree, and doesn't stop until we take it down. Well, Santa must have lectured him, because last night he brought gifts instead of trouble. But I think he brought Rudolph to do his dirty work...when Wyatt woke up, his nose had been painted red!