Showing posts with label photos of daniel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photos of daniel. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
this and that ...
• My first issue of Wondertime magazine came in the mail this weekend, and I finished it off this afternoon. I've read it in doctors' waiting rooms and thought it seemed whimsical and interesting, so I subscribed. This issue hit me as Real Simple meets Parenting. In other words: light, fluffy, pretty and uncluttered, well-meaning, enjoyable, fairly mainstream, somewhat mindless, and over in an hour. (Isn't that the way with all things Disney-owned?) Today I learned how to keep Christmas simple and nonmaterialistic — and how to make my own Christmas ornaments by shaking balls I already own around in plastic bags filled with glue and glitter. Um, no thank you.• I'm off chemo for now, and I'm going to be starting radiation again soon. There are two larger tumors in my lungs that the oncologists would like to zap — one near my spine on the right side, the other near my windpipe on the left. They're the two that could potentially cause the most trouble if they kept growing, and the one near my spine is the one that hasn't been responding to chemo. I'm nervous about it all, but from I've seen and heard, I think it's the best thing to do right now. They're not going to go after all my lung tumors. They can't; there are just too many little ones. This is all about buying time. (I am looking forward to having my hair grow back! It's already about a half-inch long, but I'm not ready to debut my pixie do!)
• Steve and I went out last night and had a great date without the kids. We need to do that more often! I even wore makeup — which is to say that I went out yesterday afternoon and bought new mascara and eyeliner, which I had thrown out when I started chemo because they said eye makeup (especially old eye makeup) is a source of infections. Anyway ... we went out to dinner at our favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant, hit a bookstore and split a latté, then went to the Northrop Auditorium and saw a ballet staging of Carmina Burana. It was breathtaking. I'd never seen it before, but of course everyone knows that music. (The Web tells me "O Fortuna" has been featured in commercials for Reeboks, Old Spice, Guinness and Pringles.)• Does this little guy look like the Joker? He worked really hard to get that Naked Juice Purple Machine around his mouth just right.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
friday
It snowed yesterday morning — a heavy, wet snow, and Daniel decided he didn't want the flakes falling on him. Ben and I stayed inside and ate some applesauce.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
daniel the lion
Daniel went as a lion for Halloween yesterday. He really had a fun time, though he was grumpy when I took these pictures and didn't want to pose for any with me. (I was wearing all black with my purple wig.)
A lion with deep red whiskers, you may be wondering? A lip pencil was all I had because I'd thrown out all my eyeliner and mascara when I started chemo (because of the higher risk of infection from eye makeup, or so I was advised). Daniel helped me draw some of his whiskers. He likes to hold onto any and all pens and pencils he can get his hands on, so he was not happy when I took the lip pencil away from him at the end. Thus the momentary grumpies during picture time.
But he soon cheered up, and he and his dad collected a lot of candy during trick-or-treating. What candy did he choose out of all his stash? The lollipops. And not because he wanted to eat them, but because he could carry them around like weed-whackers. We had some sticky hands by the end of the night — but that's better than a sugared-up boy! Unfortunately, he discovered the magic of M&Ms this morning.
Ben sat in my lap while I handed out candy. We decided he would be the World's Most Adorable Baby for Halloween — which didn't take much work in the way of costume design! Next year, he can go trick-or-treating with Daniel.
A lion with deep red whiskers, you may be wondering? A lip pencil was all I had because I'd thrown out all my eyeliner and mascara when I started chemo (because of the higher risk of infection from eye makeup, or so I was advised). Daniel helped me draw some of his whiskers. He likes to hold onto any and all pens and pencils he can get his hands on, so he was not happy when I took the lip pencil away from him at the end. Thus the momentary grumpies during picture time.
But he soon cheered up, and he and his dad collected a lot of candy during trick-or-treating. What candy did he choose out of all his stash? The lollipops. And not because he wanted to eat them, but because he could carry them around like weed-whackers. We had some sticky hands by the end of the night — but that's better than a sugared-up boy! Unfortunately, he discovered the magic of M&Ms this morning.
Ben sat in my lap while I handed out candy. We decided he would be the World's Most Adorable Baby for Halloween — which didn't take much work in the way of costume design! Next year, he can go trick-or-treating with Daniel.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
it's all happening at the zoo
A better day today.
This morning, we went to the Como Zoo. It was chilly and overcast, and all the animals were out. I wish I'd brought my camera.
The gorilla stared at us, banged his big hand against the glass, then turned around and mooned us as he drank from his pool of water.
The tiger ran, as majestically as a caged creature can, up and down the fenceline.
The father lion roared and roared, and the mother lion sat and watched him.
The timberwolf put his nose in the air, opened his mouth and howled, over and over. His silver-furred mate came out of the woods a few times to check on him, then went back.
The pink flamingos waded around in the pond with the ducks, their long necks curving as they tucked their heads into their wings.
It was all spectacular (and maybe a little sad). I've never seen such a showing of animals up close at the zoo.
The sun came out this afternoon. How do you like Daniel in his amazing technicolor outfit — the sweater, the nanny's scarf and his green shoes? To top it off, he found a stick that was just the right size to use as a cane, and he looked like a little gent. He had fun crunching the leaves, too.
Here's Ben, showing off his back strength with a little tummy time. I think he will be sitting up quite soon.
This morning, we went to the Como Zoo. It was chilly and overcast, and all the animals were out. I wish I'd brought my camera.
The gorilla stared at us, banged his big hand against the glass, then turned around and mooned us as he drank from his pool of water.
The tiger ran, as majestically as a caged creature can, up and down the fenceline.
The father lion roared and roared, and the mother lion sat and watched him.
The timberwolf put his nose in the air, opened his mouth and howled, over and over. His silver-furred mate came out of the woods a few times to check on him, then went back.
The pink flamingos waded around in the pond with the ducks, their long necks curving as they tucked their heads into their wings.
It was all spectacular (and maybe a little sad). I've never seen such a showing of animals up close at the zoo.
The sun came out this afternoon. How do you like Daniel in his amazing technicolor outfit — the sweater, the nanny's scarf and his green shoes? To top it off, he found a stick that was just the right size to use as a cane, and he looked like a little gent. He had fun crunching the leaves, too.
Here's Ben, showing off his back strength with a little tummy time. I think he will be sitting up quite soon.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
scenes from a saturday
Daniel and his dad discuss the finer points of the Economist while lounging on the race car bed ...
... and Ben gets some attention, too.
Later, we go to an apple orchard, where Daniel runs around in the hay maze, throws himself into the hay piles and takes his very first pony ride.
It brings to mind a photo we have of my first pony ride, at around the same age. I think I look a little less serious!
... and Ben gets some attention, too.
Later, we go to an apple orchard, where Daniel runs around in the hay maze, throws himself into the hay piles and takes his very first pony ride.
It brings to mind a photo we have of my first pony ride, at around the same age. I think I look a little less serious!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
what a difference a haircut makes
I love Daniel's long hair, but he looks so grown-up with short hair, too.
Nothing beats a favorite pair of striped socks to go with new, striped pajamas.
Daniel had a little trouble going down for his nap while I was at chemo yesterday. When I got home, both boys were sacked out in the living room. Ahhh ... quiet.
Monday, August 25, 2008
daniel is 2 today
No longer can I call myself the mother of "two under 2" — my sweet little big boy has turned the corner. (We celebrated Saturday, but today is his actual birthday.)
He loves anything on wheels — planes, trains, automobiles — and anything that resembles a saw, screwdriver or weed-whacker. He got a toy chainsaw for his birthday this morning (thanks, Aunt Sue!), and he hasn't put it down all day. He even napped with it this afternoon, and as I write, it is lying next to him as he sleeps. How ironic that Steve used to joke, before he was born, that we would name him Chainsaw.
Here he is with a 4-year-old neighbor pal down the street, who also happens to be into tools.
Happy birthday, our precious little boy. You light up my life!
He loves anything on wheels — planes, trains, automobiles — and anything that resembles a saw, screwdriver or weed-whacker. He got a toy chainsaw for his birthday this morning (thanks, Aunt Sue!), and he hasn't put it down all day. He even napped with it this afternoon, and as I write, it is lying next to him as he sleeps. How ironic that Steve used to joke, before he was born, that we would name him Chainsaw.
Here he is with a 4-year-old neighbor pal down the street, who also happens to be into tools.
Happy birthday, our precious little boy. You light up my life!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
eat, play, love
Choo-Choo Bob's is a little train store in St. Paul. It offers a great birthday party package, and we had Daniel's 2nd birthday party there today.
Kids love Choo-Choo Bob's because there are train tables set up all across the back of the store, and kids can play there for free — their very own island of Sodor! Daniel and a half dozen of his toddler friends had such a great time playing that it was almost a shame to call them in for snacks.
The party package includes a cake (a very tasty cake from La Patisserie in St. Paul). Daniel had been talking about his birthday cake all morning, but once it was in front of him, he didn't quite know what to do. He was very somber indeed.
He soon got into the spirit, however. Within 20 minutes, he was so jacked up on sugar that he couldn't sit still to open his gifts. It was kind of funny but kind of sad, like seeing someone on a bad drug trip.
Benjamin slept through much of the party. Once he woke up, he got some good face time with his grandpa.
I had a good time, too. For those few hours, I wasn't a woman with cancer. I was just a happy mom.
Kids love Choo-Choo Bob's because there are train tables set up all across the back of the store, and kids can play there for free — their very own island of Sodor! Daniel and a half dozen of his toddler friends had such a great time playing that it was almost a shame to call them in for snacks.
The party package includes a cake (a very tasty cake from La Patisserie in St. Paul). Daniel had been talking about his birthday cake all morning, but once it was in front of him, he didn't quite know what to do. He was very somber indeed.
He soon got into the spirit, however. Within 20 minutes, he was so jacked up on sugar that he couldn't sit still to open his gifts. It was kind of funny but kind of sad, like seeing someone on a bad drug trip.
Benjamin slept through much of the party. Once he woke up, he got some good face time with his grandpa.
I had a good time, too. For those few hours, I wasn't a woman with cancer. I was just a happy mom.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
a few random pictures
Daniel must miss winter. He still insists on going out in his hat and gloves from time to time.
How do you like my handsome boy? How do you like my careful framing?
Because people asked ... of course, some makeup and a cuter top would help make it an outfit!
A little update, also for those who asked. I'm feeling OK (OK = a little run down but otherwise fine) since finishing my chemo session Tuesday, but I'm trying to stay away from big groups and people with colds and other potential sources of infection. Every two days, I change the dressing of my Hickman catheter and flush out the lines with heparin to protect against clotting. But really, I'm trying not to think about cancer very much. My sister left Friday after a very nice (but short) stay. Now I'm spending a lot of time with my family and a few friends — and in the garden. For the past two weeks, we've brought the paper and coffee out to the patio and enjoyed a quiet Sunday morning there.
Or maybe not always quiet. Stressful, sometimes. Work has begun on the fence (photos forthcoming). It's pretty exciting! But at the moment we have no fence at all — just tall cedar posts, eight feet apart — which means it's really hard to keep Daniel from running into the alleyway. Someone always has to chase him. Or keep him busy with a shovel.
How do you like my handsome boy? How do you like my careful framing?
Because people asked ... of course, some makeup and a cuter top would help make it an outfit!
A little update, also for those who asked. I'm feeling OK (OK = a little run down but otherwise fine) since finishing my chemo session Tuesday, but I'm trying to stay away from big groups and people with colds and other potential sources of infection. Every two days, I change the dressing of my Hickman catheter and flush out the lines with heparin to protect against clotting. But really, I'm trying not to think about cancer very much. My sister left Friday after a very nice (but short) stay. Now I'm spending a lot of time with my family and a few friends — and in the garden. For the past two weeks, we've brought the paper and coffee out to the patio and enjoyed a quiet Sunday morning there.
Or maybe not always quiet. Stressful, sometimes. Work has begun on the fence (photos forthcoming). It's pretty exciting! But at the moment we have no fence at all — just tall cedar posts, eight feet apart — which means it's really hard to keep Daniel from running into the alleyway. Someone always has to chase him. Or keep him busy with a shovel.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
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