A Surprisingly Sane Blog

One of the lesser-known tourist attractions in South Seattle is the beautiful Kubota Gardens. We took my family there yesterday, and we all enjoyed strolling through the peaceful Japanese gardens.

James and I have made a point to stop by there every couple of months because it looks so different every season.

My family’s visit has been going extremely well, and I’ll be sad to see them leave for Tucson tomorrow.

But we know we’ll at least see everyone in May, if not sooner, because that’s when Kathryn and Scotty will be getting married on a beautiful Hawaiian beach.

We are really looking forward to having Scotty as an official member of our family. Not only does he make my sister happier than she’s ever been, but he’s also a really great friend of ours. And he’s not afraid to strike a dorky ninja pose for a silly photo op.

Then James got ahold of my camera and decided I’d make the perfect subject for a couple shots… so I’m going to take this opportunity to point out my stylin’ waterproof boots that I got for Christmas.

I must say, I look like a true Northwestern Girl in that photo. In Tucson, my fair skin just made me look unnatural. Here, it totally works.

Current Mood: Cool

So Thing 2 was jealous that her big sister had to take a trip to the emergency room and decided to stumble headfirst over a box on the floor this morning.

Luckily, the gash inside her lip stopped bleeding almost immediately, so no trip to the ER was necessary. Thank God.

Now she has a very fat top lip, and I must say… she looks freaking adorable as all hell with it all puffy like that. I know, horrible to say. But gosh, she’s just so damn cute.

Her big sister’s black eye is puffy and swollen and looks awful, but she seems to be back to her sassy little self now.

My poor kids. They look like they got into a serious brawl with one another and April won. My outstretched hand is waiting for my parent of the year award.

Current Mood: Alarmed

Julie decided that on the third day of Christmas what she really needed was a trip to the emergency room.

I’d post pictures, but the color drained from my brother’s face and my sister nearly passed out when they saw the blood pooling from the gash on her right eyelid while she screamed loud enough for greater Seattle to come running to save her. She had tripped over April’s bike/scooter and stumbled directly into the corner of the baseboard in the kitchen. James and I were upstairs while my family was down there with her, and we both went sprinting the second we heard the bang, followed by the obligatory thirty seconds of gasping before the sobs rang loud and clear. Poor little sweetie.

My parents were holding her over the sink applying pressure to the gash and clearing the table to lay her down when we got there. And that’s when emergency mama bear mode hit me full force. There was no time for emotion, just time for action. I could do nothing but focus on getting my darling the care she needed as quick as possible.

One glance said she definitely needed stitches, so I barked an order at James to find an emergency room or urgent care while the rest of us tried to get the geyser on Julie’s brow to stop gushing.

We took her to the emergency room at the fabulous children’s hospital downtown and have never been so impressed with healthcare as we were from that experience. Four hours and four stitches later, our little girl is no longer terrified of doctors and nurses. She was so calm and comforted by the incredible staff that she didn’t even come close to needing a sedative while they sewed her up.

I was so proud of my little stinky as she sang “Stomp” by Boomkat to distract herself from the needles tugging at her eyelid. Even if that really isn’t a kid song by any stretch of the imagination.

Gotta love big, progressive-city healthcare. We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful place. Crap, I didn’t even get a dirty glance from a single member of the staff when I told them my daughter hasn’t had [insert specific names here] vaccinations.

Now James and I are utterly exhausted, but I’m currently baking a chocolate raspberry dessert for everyone.

I’m not going dancing tonight. I’m going to stay in and crash.

*yawn*

Current Mood: Alarmed

Peanut M&Ms should be illegal.

Current Mood: Alarmed

I hope everyone had a phenomenal, blessed Christmas! I know I sure did.

Currently, we hare hosting five people at our house- mom, dad, Kathryn, Scotty, and my brother. It’s been absolutely wonderful, and James and the girls and I have really been enjoying spending time with my family.

So my apologies for the lack of blogging over the last few days, but I’ve been so busy that I’ve barely had time to even check my email.

Hope you’re all having a wonderful holiday season, and I’ll get back to my bitchy blogging soon!

Current Mood: Esctatic