7 Quick Takes: Update on the Laptop Situation, Daniel’s ER Trip, and Being Sheenazing

7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Interesting… My friend Kristen posted a link to this article on Facebook. I don’t know if the presence of said missionaries is the exact reason why some countries did better than others in terms of development but it is an interesting theory.

— 2 —

Apparently, I’m “sheenazing”. I got nominated for a Sheenazing Award in the “Best Blog by a Non Papist” category. I’m up against Ann Voskamp and Ree Drummond so I’m not expecting to win, but hey… I’d love your vote anyway! To vote, click on the picture.

The 2014 Sheenazing Awards

— 3 —

Orphans. Do you see these darling children?

L-R: Brett and Iris
BrettIris

Brett still needs a mama. Iris finally has a family committed to her and they have an appointment in her country next week.

— 4 —

Touched. I’m a James Martin, S.J. fangirl and after finishing The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, I wrote him a note telling him how much I appreciated his writing and his Christian witness. This week, I got a note back from him thanking me for the one I sent him. This is a guy who has many balls in the air that he’s juggling and I’m touched that he took the time to write me back.

It’s probably fitting that I got through 218 pages of My Life with the Saints (re-reading it) while I was sitting in the E.R. with the wee bairn on Monday.

— 5 —

Update on the Daniel bear. The bear child was completely wired on Sunday night (would not go to sleep until 1 a.m.) and woke up coughing on Monday. It was a school holiday so we lazed around the house all day in our jammies and I did a few breathing treatments on him. The problem: he started “belly breathing” (where you’re using your abdominal muscles to move air because you’re not getting good lung function) and the breathing treatments weren’t helping. I decided to take him to the ER at UCD Medical Center which was packed. Thankfully, there was a bed in the pediatric ER so we got in immediately after being triaged. Daniel was feeling so awful that he was content to curl up in my lap on the gurney. They did two breathing treatments and gave him some steroids which got him back to normal. We also broke in a new resident and a new ER attending physician which was lovely. (It’s funny in a twisted way that we know one of the ER physicians so well that she comments on how much Daniel has grown.) After 6 hours in the ER, we got home around 12:30 and Jon bathed Daniel while I ate something (my first solid food in 12 hours — wheeeeeeee!!!!) and put him to bed while I showered.

Little boy has been home the last few days and has done well thus far. We were doing breathing treatments every 4 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday and we’ve only had to do one of them today.

— 6 —

Source of the Stephen Colbert quote from last week. I found the video with the quote I referenced here on the Colbert Nation site. I’m having issues embedding it so you’re going to have to take my word on this one. The pertinent quote is at the end of the video.

— 7 —

Update on the laptop situation. The case manager from HP called me on Wednesday morning. My laptop is shipping as we speak and will be here on/before the 28th. Of course, I don’t have my tracking number memorized and I’m not checking Fed Ex eleventy-billion times to see if it has cleared customs in China yet. Noooooo…

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 12, 2014

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 12, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It was fairly warm today.

I am thinking… about my nutritionist consult tomorrow that I’ll have to reschedule because Daniel has diarrhea.

I am thankful… for being able to get away for a little bit the last couple days.

In the kitchen… chicken hotdish that I made and portioned out to be frozen.

I am wearing… brown shirt with a ruched collar and black running shorts.

I am creating… this entry and a baby blanket.

I am going… out to replace my headphones when Jon gets home from his concert.

I am wondering… what injury Daniel is going to give me this week. He gave me a minor concussion last week and he almost hit me with my lapdesk a few minutes ago.

I am reading… The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by James Martin, S.J. — I’m almost done with it.

I am hoping… my stomach calms down.

I am looking forward to… my massage this Friday. (It got rescheduled from last week because my massage therapist had the flu.)

I am learning how to remove gel nail polish.

Around the house… *puts fingers in ears* I can’t hear youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!

I am pondering… waaaaaaay too many things.

A favorite quote for today… After seeing Fr. Jim Martin, S.J. on the Colbert Report talking about income inequality, I though of the following:

??If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don’t want to do it.?? — Stephen Colbert

One of my favorite things… quiet so I can pray.

A few plans for the rest of the week: ABA therapy for Daniel Monday to Friday, possibly Morning Prayer on Tuesday, and my massage on Friday.

A peek into my day… I still don’t have my laptop (and thus can’t upload pics) so we’ll just go with a funny Youtube video.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 15, 2013

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 15, 2013

Outside my window… dark. As usual, I’m doing this at night once every other creature in the house is asleep. It was maybe in the 50’s today — definitely warmer than a week ago!

I am thinking… about Thomas‘ twins who were born this weekend.

I am thankful… that I have less Christmas crocheting than I anticipated.

In the kitchen… I baked 3 batches of cookies yesterday, most of which disappeared after church this morning.

I am wearing… black t-shirt with constellations and my blue striped fleece pajama bottoms.

I am creating… cotton snowflake ornaments for the family gift drawing this year. The theme is “homemade”.

I am going… to be starching these ornaments tomorrow.

I am wondering… if I missed anyone on my Christmas card list. I got all of them done this afternoon while sitting at $tarbux and listening to a talk by Fr. James Martin, S.J. on humor and faith.

I am reading… Mysteries of the Middle Ages by Thomas Cahill. I don’t get a lot of reading time right now (my own fault) so this might be a book I finish on the way down to southern California after Christmas.

I am hoping… I can get all my shopping done and everything mailed off in time for Christmas.

I am looking forward to… my massage on Friday.

Around the house… my Roomba just finished cleaning the floors. (It was a gift from my mother-in-law for my last birthday.)

I am pondering… many things.

A favorite quote for today… ??For outlandish creatures like us, on our way to a heart, a brain, and courage, Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning – not home but the place through which we must pass if ever we are to reach home at last.?? — Frederick Buechner, The Magnificent Defeat

One of my favorite things… my Jacquie Lawson Advent calendar.

A few plans for the rest of the week: installing my new keyboard whenever it arrives (a certain little blond boy decided to remove the keys from my current one and broke the Tab key), ABA therapy for Daniel in the afternoons from Monday to Friday, doctor’s appointment for the wee bairn on Tuesday morning, quarterly meeting with all of Daniel’s ABA staff, my massage on Friday afternoon, and a respite night on Saturday night.

A peek into my day… the talk I was watching while compiling Christmas cards.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 9, 2013

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 9, 2013

Outside my window… dark and cold. It’s definitely winter here even if the solstice hasn’t happened yet. I’m watching the news and the hard freeze is scaring citrus growers in the area because the temperatures have been dipping into the 20’s at night.

I am thinking… about what needs to get done this week.

I am thankful… for my parents helping us to clean out the cat cave on Saturday.

In the kitchen… lasagna.

I am wearing… blue shirt and navy blue striped fleece pajama bottoms. I’m also under a comforter.

I am creating… entries and such for the blog.

I am going… to hope my bloodwork reaches my endocrinologist for my appointment on Thursday. It will be drawn tomorrow.

I am wondering… how to explain to someone that their attitude and words are driving people away from the Church because they act like such a scold.

I am reading… Mysteries of the Middle Ages: And the Beginning of the Modern World by Thomas Cahill. I find that the odd-numbered books in his “Hinges of History” series tend to be the good one which is kind of too bad because #6 is out and it’s partially about the Reformation.

I am hoping… Daniel goes down without a fight tonight. Jon is out of town and I’d like to be able to get him to bed so he won’t be grumpy tomorrow.

I am looking forward to… Ladies’ Night Out tomorrow — hopefully, we all have a good time.

I am learning to pick my battles.

Around the house… my Roomba will get a workout tonight.

I am pondering… many things — it’s Advent after all.

A favorite quote for today… “If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong (sin boldly), but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says Peter (2. Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign.” — Martin Luther

One of my favorite things… Daniel’s laugh.

A few plans for the rest of the week: ABA therapy Tuesday-Friday afternoons, bloodwork tomorrow morning, Ladies’ Night Out tomorrow night, Advent midweek worship on Wednesday, WIC and endocrinology appointments on Thursday morning, and thankfully nothing on Friday.

A peek into my day… Our Christmas picture for this year which was taken on my birthday in May.

This year's Christmas picture.

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7 Quick Takes: Jeans, Snow, and Advent Music.

7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Orphans. Do you see these precious children?

L-R: Brett and Iris
BrettIris

Brett still needs a mama. Iris finally has a family committed to her and their dossier has been submitted to her country.

— 2 —

Because, you know, speaking normal English would defeat the point. My tasoni friend sent me this. I understood and resonated with all the jargon spoken by the blogger about his autistic son and am shaking my head because my people use a whole different set.

— 3 —

Let it snow. We might actually get a trace amount of snow in Sacramento on Friday night. It’s down in the 20’s at night right now which is freaking out a lot of people and making me laugh because the 20’s are a walk in the park compared to some of the temps in Minnesota and Montana when I lived there. (It was -25F in Great Falls this morning according to some of my friends there.) The hard thing for me is that our washer/dryer are in a laundry shed so I’m going to be getting up shortly, putting on fleece, and going out there to sort through clothes and find something for my wee bairn to wear to school tomorrow.

— 4 —

Jeans. Last week, I was getting a pair of my 4 year old jeans from Lands’ End out of the dryer to wear them to the airport to pick up Jon and discovered that they had a massive hole in the rear end. (Thankfully, I discovered this BEFORE I wore them.) I went onto the Kohl’s website to order more, figuring that I wouldn’t be able to go shopping before Black Friday (when I wanted nothing to do with retail) only to find out that Jon was fine with watching Daniel so I could go after his eye appointment the next day. OK… It was too late to cancel the order on the Kohl’s website so I just kept those and went out to shop the next day. End result: 4 pairs of jeans that fit me (after taking them to my seamstress to be hemmed) for less than the cost of 2 pairs of jeans from Lands’ End. I still have one pair of 4 year old jeans from Lands’ End left so I actually have enough pants for a change.

— 5 —

Advent music. My friend Thomas of Fuller Life put together an amazing playlist for Advent.

— 6 —

More Advent music. Bonnie of A Knotted Life has a great playlist as well that she shared a few weeks ago.

— 7 —

Potty-training. I think I should be getting time off of Purgatory for the time I spend potty-training Daniel. We’re on our second shot of it and it’s a headache for me, especially as nothing we try seems to be working. I have his ABA therapists working with me on it and even they are a bit stumped because this is definitely not anything they’re used to (and these are people who have been in the business for a fairly long time). Pray for me.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 1, 2013

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 1, 2013

Outside my window… dark now though it was sunny and in the 60’s earlier. It’s gotten cold lately and I’m loving it.

I am thinking… about what’s going to be coming up this week. For a change, my mornings are free of Daniel appointments.

I am thankful… for a good time with family this weekend.

In the kitchen… made lasagna from scratch today.

I am wearing… black shirt and blue striped fleece pajama bottoms.

I am creating… this entry and Christmas card mailing lists.

I am going… to try and knock out as much editing as possible tomorrow morning.

I am wondering… if my precious sweetling will go to bed on his own or if drastic measures will have to be taken.

I am reading… Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl by Susan McCorkindale. It’s about a New Jersey marketing director who moves to a 500 acre beef farm. It’s very typically “fish out of water” but it’s cute.

I am hoping… this new attempt at potty-training goes better.

I am looking forward to… my mani-pedi on Friday. I never dreamed I’d be saying this a year ago.

Around the house… laundry to be folded.

I am pondering… too many things.

A favorite quote for today… ??Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.?? – Benjamin Franklin

One of my favorite things… peppermint taffy.

A few plans for the rest of the week: ABA therapy for Daniel, mani-pedi and massage for me on Friday, and my parents coming up to help clean out Jon’s study on Saturday.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: November 17, 2013

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY November 17, 2013

Outside my window… dark. It’s 11:00 p.m. and I’m writing this to kick my brain into moving around the writer’s block with my NaNoWriMo piece.

I am thinking… about various things I need to do to some of my NaNoWriMo characters. I also need to kill a few donors off creatively.

I am thankful… for a good weekend with my parents and a good nap today.

In the kitchen… dishes. 🙁

I am wearing… plum colored t-shirt from Old Navy and my Left Behind shorts.

I am creating… a NaNoWriMo piece that might be worth publishing… eventually.

I am going… to meet with a woman interested in cleaning for me once or twice a week.

I am wondering… how to best write flashback scenes in… *drumroll* my NaNoWriMo piece.

I am reading… Pope Awesome and Other Stories by Cari Donaldson. Run not walk to get your copy! (Seriously, I love Cari to pieces even if she does have a strange interest in fisher cats.)

I am hoping… I make it to 34K words tonight.

I am looking forward to… seeing my evil twin and his wife at Thanksgiving.

I am learning that I cannot write scenes with dialogue well at all!

Around the house… cats being nocturnal.

I am pondering… the wonderfulness of rain possibly arriving on Tuesday.

A favorite quote for today… ??There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.?? – Maya Angelou

One of my favorite things… chilled Lipton Pure Leaf Raspberry Tea.

A few plans for the rest of the week: writing, ABA therapy for Daniel every day from Monday to possibly Saturday, massage on Friday, funeral for Gordon Smith on Thursday, and… yeah.

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