Update on Dad

It's been a little crazy around here and I haven't had a chance to update anyone who might read this on my dad's status. I have been home with two sicks kiddos for the last two days. Fever, cough, runny nose, and now Miles has a nice ear infection. Preluded of course by a night with NO sleep for Miles or myself. Fingers crossed, I will make it back to work tomorrow.

I had the chance to video-chat with my parents yesterday evening. They both are in great spirits and my dad says that he feels better than he has in a very long time. He has decided to stay at the center longer and allow my mom to travel to St. Maarten to visit her friend Arna on her own. He feels that he wants to stay more at the center to gain everything he can and he is concerned that it will be difficult to carry on the diet in St. Maarten. (He already has plans for where to get his diet needs as soon as they get back here, use that outlet, and then Bradley will start growing what they need in our greenhouse).

I am pleased with their attitude and with his spirits. Please keep the prayers and healing energy coming!

Birthdays, heaven, a king, and some detox. . .

In a week where we have celebrated many birthdays, including that of baby Paul who we visited as a family, came this conversation tonight:

Bradley comes downstairs from bedtime and says, "I may have confused our son".

The conversation started as Carter asking what he was doing tomorrow. Bradley replied that "It's a holiday and you get to stay home and go to Medford with mom".

"Oh, a holiday?"

Bradley replied, "Not like Christmas holiday, but a different kind of holiday". He continued to explain that it was a holiday to remember a very special person. Bradley stated, "It's Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday tomorrow".

"Ooooh, a King?"

"Well, kind of."

"How do I get to the birthday?"

"Well, he is in heaven and so we just remember his birthday and momma doesn't have to go to work."

"How do I get to heaven?"

"Angels come down and carry you to heaven"

"Angel (cousin Shelby's new dog) is going to take me there?"

"Not, Angel, different angels."

"Oh???"

Bradley ended the conversation by promising him a trip to Target and some popcorn and that seemed to satisfy his interest in the King's birthday.

In other news my dad has made it to Puerto Rico with my mom. I talked with him today and he stated that he is tired, and going through a pretty strong diet detox, but his attitude was great.

The trip there was very tiring on both of them, but they remain in good spirits.

I love you Dad!

It's a typical Sunday afternoon in the Isbell Home: drying running non-stop, one kid napping, husband working on projects, me paying bills, all normal except that Mama Isbell is sitting with tears that won't stop flowing.

We have watched concerned as my dad's health has remained unsteady over the last year. He has had a lot of GI issues and has gone to a homeopathic doctor for several months. Recently his weight loss has been severe, he has turned yellow, and does not look like the vibrant soul he usually is. Super-concerned we all convinced him to have some bloodwork and an ultrasound done. The ultra sound found several lesions both on his liver and his gallbladder. My dad does not wish to further investigate and pinpoint the exact diagnosis of these lesions with either an MRI or a biopsy. He and my mom have decided to turn to the Ann Wigmore institute to try to holistically cleanse his system and help his body heal itself.

Although I would not choose this method of treatment for myself I have chosen to abide by his wishes, by remaining positive and supporting him. Truth is, my dad and I have not had the most wonderful relationship over the course of my life until the birth of Carter. Since Carter has been in our lives my dad and I are closer than ever and instead of feeling embarassed or mad at him, I feel more than anything that I need him by my side forever.

My parents are leaving this Friday and won't be back until the first week of February. I am so scared that something is going to happen to him while he is gone, but I just keep reminding myself of his wishes and put my faith into the higher workings of God and the universe. I just want to see him back to his old self, for me, for my family, but mostly for my boys. If you read this blog please take a moment to send out some positive vibes, prayers, whatever you choose.

I love you Dad!

Hello 2012!

Over the last year I have tried to be a more dutiful blogger and have since learned that I rather enjoy it. I appreciate being able to look back over the memories and I do truly like sitting and getting my thoughts out on "paper". That being said, I hope that 2012 is full of many blogposts as well. (At least my mother, sister, and a few stragglers here and there can still enjoy it right?)

To recap the holidays, I must focus on how absolutely beautiful Christmas seems to a child. Although Miles is still just mirroring his brother's every move, Carter is INTO Christmas 110%. Watching him "live" the magic of Christmas was better than any gift (including the Ninja 5000-I returned, thanks honey), I could ever have received. His favorite gifts this year were a space station "Just what I've always wanted!" and a new red, big kids bike, with pedals, from Santa, "Just what I've always wanted!". Miles also received oodles of gifts but his favorite things were the boxes and ribbon. However, we enjoyed the formula and diapers the most.

At Christmas Eve service during one of the last hymns, Carter leaned over to me and whispered, " I would like to eat lunch at Bob's now". Those of you who are traditional Etna United Methodist Church goers, get this joke, but those who are virgin EUMCer's should know that no trip to church is complete without lunch at Bob's Ranch House. Even though it was way past lunch time and Christmas eve, Carter still wanted a trip to Bob's.

I thought all of the fun was to be had after Christmas, but I had yet to experience New Year's Eve through the eyes of a two year old. I took down the Christmas decorations and Carter was quite sad, so I chose to make an elaborate New Year's display on the table. This got him very excited and it made Bradley and I want to stay home with our kids even more. I decided that we would be spending quite a few New Year's at home and that I better start our own traditions. I decided that homemade pizza, including homemade beer dough, was a must. I also thought it would be fun to look at a slideshow of our pictures throughout the year. Along with the pizza I served champagne and "special juice/sparkling cider". I found a onesie with a bowtie sewn on it for Miles and Carter wore a nice red bowtie along with the pj's I had indulgently allowed him to wear all day. (Insert Mother of the Year Award here). As the boys enjoyed pizza and "special juice" they also enjoyed playing with the noisemakers. I enjoyed my champagne and Bradley and our friend Steve partook in their culinary efforts that had produced some homemade "apple pie" earlier that day. Carter really enjoyed the photos and his daddy capped off the year with some nice illegal fireworks. The beauty of New Year's through the eyes of a child is that they don't know the difference between the ball dropping on TV at 9pm or at 12am. I'll let you guess as to which time we went to bed.

As I look towards 2012, I can't help but feel extremely fortunate for being blessed with my beautiful little family. I feel grateful to have a wonderful job, a loving husband, an exceptional network of family and friends, and to live in Scott Valley. This next year I am excited having a three year old and a one year old (God please help them get along), season two of Oak Hill Gardens and Pumpkin Patch, watching Ness graduate with a Masters in Texas, and running the NYC marathon in November.

Small town Santa vs. Mall Santa

This weekend we decided to take the boys to Medford to visit the "mall" Santa. We took them to see Santa in Etna two weekends ago and that was quite fun. Carter was so giddy standing in line and Miles didn't cry once. All of the local businesses were open and were providing holiday treats. The bank was passing out popcorn and Carter took his from Virginia, then all on his own, turned around and dramatically yelled "Merry Christmas!". It truly warmed your heart to see the boys so happy experiencing a little "hometown" Christmas Cheer. Well, we should have left it at that and totally skipped the "big-town"Christmas.

We knew we were in for trouble when we arrived at the mall to find the line to see Santa was so long that Mall Security was involved. While Bradley took Carter to the bathroom to kill time, I used my communication degree skills to promptly people watch. While observing my counterparts, I also was presented with a price-list for ways to commemorate our trip to see the jolly man. Before I even looked at prices I was aware of the bold letters prohibiting no outside photography. After a few calculations I realized that the only way we would be able to show our kids that we did indeed care enough to put them through this hell, it was going to cost us about $25 bucks. Good thing the line was long enough so that I was able to process these emotions. As we got closer to Santa, Carter was able to see the stuffed animals. At least this year he wasn't running around trying to shoot the big bucks.

While we were within five feet of Santa, Carter (who had been an absolute angel) almost had a meltdown because the autistic child in front of us kept trying to touch him. Carter was okay for the first few minutes, but soon felt his bubble being violated. I appreciate teaching my child about diversity and boundaries, but this kid was a little too much. (He and his three siblings). Anywho, we get up to Santa and he is able to easily get Carter on his lap, but Miles is pretty reluctant. In an effort to make everything okay, the dirty old man offers his lap to me. I promptly decided to sit off to the side, and Miles was happy.

The pictures turned out fine (for 25 bucks they better), except for the fact that I realized I had dressed Miles in shorts instead of pants. Insert Mother of the Year Award here. I guess seeing Santa is all part of the magic of Christmas, but I think next year we will visit Santa and Etna and call it good. We'll leave with our pockets fuller, our children happier, and our boundaries less violated.

In addition to making sure we fill our kids' minds with the commercialism of Christmas, we also made sure to touch on the true meaning of Christmas and the Christmas Story. Carter played an angel in the Christmas pageant (he was so good last year, they asked him to make another cameo appearance), but this year he was upstaged by his younger brother who played baby Jesus. Jesus didn't care much for Mary, and Carter got pissed at another angel who wanted to play with his toys, but I doubt that Mary and Joseph really had that swell of a night in a manger in the freezing cold anyways right?

Daddy Blues

Honestly, lately I feel as if I live for the weekends. However, this weekend was not one I wish to repeat. The fun started early on last week when Bradley was complaining of back pain. Not one to ignore my husband, I simply nodded and showed my "oh, no" face, all whilst still finishing off the nightly tasks. Come Thursday, he simply had turned into a very creaky tin man, and had the attitude to match. I tried to make him a chiropractor appt. for that day, but they couldn't see him until Friday at 3:30. Ah, yes, he will go to the chiropractor and feel better in time to get our Christmas Tree this weekend and hang some lights, Clark Griswold style. We all know what happens when we make plans in the Isbell home. . .

Friday night his back felt much better, but come Saturday morning he was in sheer agony around his neck. Sure he had in fact broken his neck, he spent the ENTIRE day on the couch in a 90 degree angle popping Vicodin I had leftover from giving birth to our youngest. Let me remind you of what Vicodin does to my husband who is already crankier, let's just say it didn't cross my mind to look up the number to 1-800-DIVORCE . Come Saturday night, we were all ready to go to the local tree lighting and had JUST told our two year old that Santa was coming. My husband who was all hopped up on Vicodin agreed to come. No sooner were we ready to go than the power went out. Sh**! Once the two year old was calmed and convinced that Santa would indeed still make an appearance at a later time, we decided to go to Yreka to get some dinner. Once again, the power comes back on, we go to dinner at the Pub, (where someone commented that Bradley looked shell-shocked, no just pain and Vicodin). My parents commented on how bad he looked and called their friend who is a masseuse (yes, my parents have friends like this), to come over the next day. After dinner, Bradley drove us around while we looked at lights. Carter looked at the lights and said things like, "I can't believe my eyes", "Amazing!", and "it's beautiful!".

Okay, so sometime around midnight on Saturday, I had fallen asleep on the couch, and Bradley attempted to go into our hottub to relieve his pain. This was after I had found him hunched over his dresser crying. Anywho, he goes into the hot tub (naked - we do have some privacy), I fall asleep on the couch, and he finds himself stranded in the hot tub and not able to get out. Luckily, he hears our newly retired neighbor out telling his dog to take a "poo-poo". Out of sheer determination to not have to seek help from our older neighbor, while being naked, and slightly "broken", Bradley miraculously manages to get out of the hot tub. He then comes in, wakes me up, and repeats the story, to which I start laughing, which makes him laugh, and then double over in pain.

Sometime around noon the next day an elderly gentlemen, wearing late 1980's NorthFace gear, and with a European accent, (whom we have NEVER met before), comes over and gives Bradley the best/worst massage of his entire life for two hours. Bradley feels better, the gentlemen leaves, and then all hell breaks loose. Apparently, having a massage can make the toxins in your body move around. Well, now Bradley is toxic. He's felt as if he has had the flu all day and has eaten nothing. We're hoping that he feels better by tomorrow.

In the meantime, Miles has been booked for Baby Jesus, in the church pageant, and I may have to forgo our "Griswold Family Christmas Tree" by going down to the local tree-lot. Yes, Fort Jones has one of those now. But the good news is that by next weekend, perhaps I'll be ready to be a "weekend warrior" again.

Pee-Pee for Two

You know there's nowhere for your day to go but up when it starts by getting pissed on. This week at 4:30 am I started my day with a warm stream of pee from Mr. Miles. (Yes, our seven month old shares some of his sleep-time with us, but Carter did the same thing and now sleeps on his own.) Anyways, after I finished changing Miles, and getting him to go back to sleep, while laying out on the coach, my running-alarm went off. I never heard it and Bradley turned it off. Somewhere in there Carter decided to tag-team us and Bradley (who by the way had put his back out and was hopped up on Vicodin), one-leg Charlied it up the stairs, and somehow packed our 40 pound two-year old back down. Although none of us, besides the gimped up father, were in our respective sleeping arrangements we were all dozing quite wonderfully in dreamland, until I was awakened by a knocking at the door. Yes, it was a school-day, and yes, I normally leave at 7:25, but no, this was my mother waking us all up at 7:30 am. I don't know what I looked like that day, I probably scared all of my 4th graders, but I still managed to make it to school by 8 am and wasn't so frazzled that I maimed any ten year olds.

In other news, Carter is seemingly completely potty-trained. I'd like to say that this new-found skill has left us with huge amounts of wiggle-room in our budget, but sadly our dog getting run over by a car last month has triggered a rather larger contribution to our local vet's office. (Which coincidentally is our neighbor). Yes, Carter even wakes up in the middle of the night to tell us he has to pee. He has pooped on the potty for over a year because of some constipation issues (TMI?), but due to the diligent efforts of our wonderful "Eileeny", he has mastered the art of the potty. In fact, he is quite the self-motivator on the potty. Lately he has been really into Bob the Builder and last weekend I could hear him singing to himself, "Can we pee-pee? YES. WE. CAN!". Those of you who know the usual lyrics of Bob and his crew, can appreciate this comment.

Onto other words of wisdom, last weekend I held a baby shower for my good friend and Bradley took Carter on a solo-trip to Medford. Bradley and his friend Steve have been brewing up a batch of "Apple Pie", in Bradley's man-cave and they needed some sort of auto-siphonor from the elusive land of "Black Bird". I truly wanted to experience Carter's first trip to this eclectic store, home to the rightfully titled "Black Bird", but alas didn't make it. Bradley shared that upon entering the store, Carter proclaimed with sheer delight, "Oh, holy Dollars!". I think this comment either points to my fascination with our ever-shrinking budget, or my lack of commitment to the church. Either way, he's a boy after his daddy's heart, a lover of a manly man's store.

As you approach this holiday season, may you live it through the eyes of a two-year old, or an infant. Sheer happiness and anticipation, maybe a few "holy dollars" too. But in the wise words of my own father, I guess maybe it is better to be "pissed off", than "pissed on".