Date Night

I went on a date tonight. I put on my high-heeled boots, slipped on a new shirt, checked out my new haircut and makeup in the mirror as I was applying the lip gloss and I was ready to go. My date looked great. He had brown hair that glinted with copper in the sunlight, perfect skin, and luminescent brown eyes and smelled great. I let him choose what we were going to do. He chose dinner and bowling. We went to Willie's Roadhouse for dinner, I did think it was a little weird that he wanted to sit on my lap halfway through dinner! Ha, Ha I make myself laugh. Of course my date was Cole.

My parents were going to a concert tonight so Cole and I had planned a "date night" of our own. As soon as we woke up this morning that was all he could talk about. It was fun getting ready to "go out" with Cole and we truly had a great time. After dinner we did go bowling and he actually won two out of the three games (with the help of bumper guards of course)! It was a great way to spend a weekend night. I think we should start a tradition of a "date night" at least once a month. It would be a fun tradition and a great thing to do together especially once he's a little older and hanging with mom, won't be his first choice!

Single parenting

How can you spot a boy being raised by a single mom? When that boy is given a "pretend" shaving kit for Christmas. Hops into the bath to play with his kit. Lathers up his LEGS and starts shaving away. LOL. I was laughing so hard. Don't worry though, this mom showed him how to lather up his face and shave like a man! There are some things I will not be able to show him, you know like how to pee in an urinal! There are some things he will have to learn on his own.

Christmas recap

We had a great Christmas yesterday! It's so much fun with a kiddo around. Cole woke up around 7:00am and literally flew out of bed when he remembered it was Christmas morning. My brother was sleeping in the living room, so he would be ready for all the excitement. Cole jumped up and down with glee when he saw all the gifts Santa brought him. He wanted a barn and some animals, which he got. He also got a Pirate tent/boat. When we were putting the boat together the night before (Santa has got to have a little help) both my brother and dad kept asking what the heck would he do with that. I said play and use his imagination....men! Cole loved the tent. He had a great time opening all his gifts. The rest of the day was spent opening toys (who the HELL decided to secure all those toys with those irritating wire twist ties and worse securing toys into the boxes with the tinniest screws known to mankind?) and putting in batteries (I bought $30 worth of batteries). Cole's dad came through for Christmas. He got him several toys and a hockey jersey with his name on the back, it was great to have some presents under the tree from him. Cole also got a Leapfrog game system. I'm not the video game kind of parent, but I don't mind learning/education games. We had fun playing a few yesterday. He also got four gifts from Leah, yes FOUR! He sure was spoiled rotten this year!

Today we went to Lowes to get more shelving for Cole's room and spent the day cleaning/organizing all of his things. The rest of the week we plan on just relaxing and taking it easy. Especially since, I'm sick now too, YIPEE!

Christmas recap

We had a great Christmas yesterday! It's so much fun with a kiddo around. Cole woke up around 7:00am and literally flew out of bed when he remembered it was Christmas morning. My brother was sleeping in the living room, so he would be ready for all the excitement. Cole jumped up and down with glee when he saw all the gifts Santa brought him. He wanted a barn and some animals, which he got. He also got a Pirate tent/boat. When we were putting the boat together the night before (Santa has got to have a little help) both my brother and dad kept asking what the heck would he do with that. I said play and use his imagination....men! Cole loved the tent. He had a great time opening all his gifts. The rest of the day was spent opening toys (who the HELL decided to secure all those toys with those irritating wire twist ties and worse securing toys into the boxes with the tinniest screws known to mankind?) and putting in batteries (I bought $30 worth of batteries). Cole's dad came through for Christmas. He got him several toys and a hockey jersey with his name on the back, it was great to have some presents under the tree from him. Cole also got a Leapfrog game system. I'm not the video game kind of parent, but I don't mind learning/education games. We had fun playing a few yesterday. He also got four gifts from Leah, yes FOUR! He sure was spoiled rotten this year!

Today we went to Lowes to get more shelving for Cole's room and spent the day cleaning/organizing all of his things. The rest of the week we plan on just relaxing and taking it easy. Especially since, I'm sick now too, YIPEE!

I'd rather pill a cat

Most people who have tried to medicate a cat know sometimes it's extremely difficult. I'd still rather medicate a cat than a four-year-old. After Cole's visit to the doctor on Thursday he was already on two medications (a steroid and cough medicine). His doctor had also given me a script for an antibiotic in case he developed a fever (since we were going into a long Holiday weekend).

Saturday we went to see "Happy Feet" at the Imax. During the movie he snuggled into my lap and I could feel the heat radiating off his little body. When the movie was over, he cheeks were candy apple red. So now in addition to his previous two medication, we have now added Motrin and an antibiotic. It's been a twice a day battle. I have to chase him down, bargain, reason, beg, threaten to get him to take the medicine. He doesn't mind the taste of the Motrin or the Antibiotic (it's just a lot) but it still takes some convincing to get those down. The other two he hates and it's a struggle. I only wish I could wrap him in a towel and wait for the "hiss" to shoot the pill down. That would be great!

He's feeling better today. We made cookies for Santa and are eagerly awaiting his arrival tonight!

Waterworks

Yesterday was Cole's Christmas Program at school. His Pre-K teacher had the developed skits to several Christmas songs where the kids sang and danced and the parents were invited to go watch. The kids were so excited that morning. I slipped out of work and both of my parent's came to watch the program. Cole was in the first "act" he had to be dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and a baseball hat. They sang "I'm getting nothing for Christmas!" He was so cute. He then had to change into a white dress shirt, black pants and a black tie for the rest of the program. They sang several other songs. Whenever I watch him do things like that I always cry, I'm so lame. I will cry watching other cute things, not even just my own kid. Afterwards I had to head back to work, Cole was so upset he couldn't go with me.

Work has been crazy this week. With the holidays everyone has been on edge. I was ready for the week to be over by about 10:00am on Monday morning! URRGGGGHHHH! That's all I can say. At point the week I stepped out into the rain just the get away before I exploded (that would make a mess)! Anyway, I'm off all next week. Daycare is closed Monday and Tuesday, but I took the whole week for a mental health break.

Oh, I have a rant from yesterday, as well. I took Cole to the doctor yesterday because he has had a nasty cough for about 10 days that is getting worse. I had dropped off his prescription and went back to pick them up after dinner. There was this ignorant LOUD redneck cell phone talker guy in line behind me. In his country drawl he loudly was talking about "I got a CAAULL today from JD's school. He got in trouble for actin' out on de bus. I'm gonna WHOOP his ASS when I get home. I will just hit 'em where it won't leave a mark!" Even if he was kidding, which I'm not sure he was, why would he think everyone would want to hear this? He went on to complain that his "damn child support" was on his credit report and said if whoever was waiting in his truck for him left the store(because the lines were so long) he was going to call the "PULLL-LEEESE". I've heard way too much of people's personal information on cell phones these days!

Father Time

My grandparents are in town and we just finished our early Christmas gift exchange. Cole had a wonderful time, watching his face light up at each and every gift is truly what the spirit of the holidays are to me. Clothes, toys it doesn't matter he is truly delighted with every package. With each passing year he has become more excited and awed by Christmas, this is the first year he has really had the most understanding of Santa and had the most anticipation.

Sadly, with each passing year we've had to watch my grandfather appear more isolated and frail. He has Alzheimers, it's a word never once uttered by my grandmother. My grandfather has always been a slight built man, but the last several years he has become gaunt. He literally is skin and bones, he cheek bones are prominent leaving his face looking hallow. His once sparkling cornflower blue eyes most times appear vacant. He still has moments of spark and whit but mostly just sleeps or stares off into space. He still knows who we are, but has virtually withdrawn from all conversation. When he asks a question, he asks it repeatedly which we all answer with patience.

My grandfather has always been special to me. In fact his name is Robert which is Cole's middle name, that's how much he has meant to me. He is a remarkable man. He came from an extremely poor family with alcoholic abusive parents, spent time in an orphanage. He was a very hard worker, very intelligent and quick witted especially for someone who didn't have a lot of opportunities in life. He was amazingly artistic. He could draw, paint, and carve wonderful things out of a block of wood. Most of my most cherished memories involve sitting around watching him whittle, the wood chips flying, and watching in amazement as a character or animal appeared out of that block. He hasn't really carved in years.

The passage of time has been hard to watch. He has smoked since his teens and has emphysema, most of the time he doesn't remember to smoke now, except for when my grandma reminds him to so he can get some exercise????? His lungs wrattle even while resting and the slightest physical activity causes his chest to rise and fall in an alarming rate. The scariest thing to me is that he still drives. I am so scared that he will either be in a wreck or accidentally kill or injure someone else. I'm sure the thought of someone who had once been so strong is hard for my grandmother to face. My mom repeatedly asked my grandmother to ask his doctor about driving. When she finally did he asked my grandmother about his driving and she admitted that he doesn't know where to turn or gets lost (they have lived in the same house since my mom was a young child) but she said she tells him when to turn and he does so. So the doctor said, sounds like he is okay to drive to me! WHAT???? Besides her telling is usually yelling and if he is in the left lane and she yells to turn right, he will immediately turn the wheel right and go across the lanes of traffic. I know an elderly person losing their driving rights is a touchy subject and can be very demoralizing, but there has to be a line drawn somewhere. I really think my grandparents should really be referred to a geriatric specialist to get better information and advice.

I know time brings a lot of wonderful things into our lives, but it also brings a lot of sadness. Meanwhile I will hold onto my wonderful memories of my grandpa to pass onto Cole.

I'M FINISHED....I'M FINISHED

Well at least for a month. Tonight was my last final (actually a presentation complete with 25 lessons plans and a visual aid). A month off, AAHHH! I don't even want to begin to think of next semester with full-time work and school...I feel the anxiety coming back...baby steps, baby steps.

While I was walking to my class tonight I had to smile. There were two guys walking next to me and one was saying to the other "If I hate my job when I graduate in May what a colossal waste of a decade this will be!" I smiled for several reasons 1) YIPEE I'm not the only fool that is taking forever to go to school and yes I'm 31 and this will be the first time in my entire life I've been able to go to school full-time, anyway. 2) I may be doing the school think back-asswards by going when I'm ANCIENT, but I'm very confident in what I want to do aftewards. Matter of fact, that is what gets me through the dark days of work when I want to run screaming or put pins in my whining employee of the day voodoo doll (for those of you at work that covertly read blog but don't admit it, I do love you, but you sure can cause some gray hair) . Give me a whining child over a whiney adult any day.

So I will enjoy the next month and be thankful I don't have to leave work in a rush, drive to San Marcos in a rush, and drive back to pick up Cole in a rush, drive home do my homework, help with Cole's etc. I hope December DRAGS by :-)

Two things I learned from Cole tonight

1. The cameras in his daycare class that I had previously thought transmitted to the front monitor actually go directly to the North Pole! Which brings me to the second thing...
2. I always thought the lyrics to "Santa Clause Is Coming to Town were "He knows if you've been bad or good So be good for goodness sake"...but Cole was singing it tonight and he sings "He knows if you've been bad or good so be good for good mistake!" I laughed so hard and when I tried to tell him the real words he corrected me, so good mistake it is!

Anyway, I guess that's how Santa knows everything with those cameras planted everywhere. Talk about Big Brother watching you!

Hide-n-seek

A few nights ago Cole was playing hide-n-seek in the house with my dad. For those of you who don't know my dad, this was a momentous occasion. My dad spends each and every evening sitting in his recliner watching TV. He often plays with Cole but from the comfort of his chair. To see him up and playing and actually hiding was so cool. He had hid in their closet and I helped Cole find him. When he jumped out of the dark closet Cole squealed with fear and glee. Then my mom and I were invited to play. Here were Cole's instructions to us "You girls go count to twenty while Papa and I hide in the closet." In the closet? Hope we can find you. Laughing we went and counted to twenty and then pretended to look for them through out the house calling their name. My dad said whenever he would hear us he would start giggling his whole body shaking with the anticipation of being found. Being the best "seekers" in the whole world we did eventually find them. Imagine our surprise when they were hiding in the closet!!!!!

A quick pee note for Vetmommy http://www.vetmommy.blogspot.com:

When Cole and I watch TV in the "basement" (AKA the laundry room) he often will go outside to pee vs. trying to get past the dog to go to the bathroom on the other side of the house. Tonight he needed to go, but it was too cold. I looked over just in time to see tiny clenched white butt cheeks and one hand holding up the flap of the doggie door. He was going to pee through the door because it's "too cold" to go outside. Thank goodness I caught him because I'm sure that would have been one heck of a mess. FYI he still decided to step outside and pee and brave the cold. He said it was "so cold his tee almost decided to go away." Gotta love those boys!!!