We missed church today. Yesterday was a really busy day w/two Christmases and Cassie is still quite stuffed up. I can hear her snuffly breathing over the monitor as I type. We'll head over to dad's for lunch when she wakes up. But she missed a nap or two yesterday and poor quality sleep is really the last thing she needs right now. In fact, she's still in her jammies and I may just leave her in them all day...they're Chase's old yellow duckie fleece jammies. Mind you, he wore them when he was 9-12 mths old and she's only six months, but they're just as cute on her as they were on him!

I think the Christmases went well yesterday, although I'm not sure what my sister's blog will say (http://www.hodgefamilyhappenings.blogspot.com/). Hayden was a bit uncooperative in the morning (that might be the understatement of the year, but hey, she's my niece and not my kid, so understatements are in order here) but Bud took her on a drive and she went back to normal after that. She wants to move in to Camp Christi. I told her I only let potty trained big girls come to Camp Christi. Mikki suggested that Camp Christi be potty training camp. I don't think so. I also don't think she'd be quite as enamoured w/me after a week here...last week Chase told me he wanted a new mom after I told him to quit whining in Kohl's (I may have worded it a bit more strongly than that, of course). I told him good luck with that since his behavior at the time was less than marketable. ;)

But anyway, back to Christmas. On the way to Nita's house, Chase asked if there would be any presents there for him. I said, "Oh, I think there may be one or two for you..." and he said, "I just LOVE Christmases!" It was too funny. I made a yummy frittata for brunch (despite the fact that Cassie had me up for three hours on Friday night and I really thought I might drop dead from sheer exhaustion after the marathon playdate, cleaning, etc). I was instructed by Mikki to post the recipe on here. Like everything I cook, it is super-easy. I actually made a much more difficult egg casserole on Christmas morning and Dad said the easier one tastes better. Hey--I'll take it!

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups frozen hash brown potatoes,
vegetable oil spray,
salt and pepper to taste,
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese,
2 cups any combination of vegetables and/or meat,
2 cups egg substitute (like egg beaters)
PREPARATION:
Microwave potatoes 3 to 5 minutes on high, or until hot; drain as necessary. Spray pie plate with vegetable oil spray; pour in the egg substitute. Layer potatoes, salt & pepper, vegetables and/or meats, and 1 cup cheese into pie plate. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350° for about 40 minutes or until center is set. Cool slightly before serving.
Make your own combination: Mexican Frittata - Use Monterey Jack & Cheddar cheese, diced green chilies, diced tomato, chopped onion*. French Frittata - Use Swiss cheese, chopped ham, chopped spinach, and sliced mushrooms. Italian Frittata - Use Mozzarella cheese, thin quartered zucchini slices, chopped tomato, and sliced black olives.

*Note, I made the mexican version w/shredded 2% mexi-blend cheese, 1 can of ro-tel (tomatoes and green chilis) drained well and 1/2 an onion, chopped for the veggies. It was totally yum-o and couldn't be easier!

Cassie awakes. She's been asleep for an hour and a half, so it's time to hit Grandpa's for lunch. We're off...

PS--Speech delay my hiney. Cassie has discovered her voice and she "talks" as much as any other member of her immediate family. Boy are we in for it!

Chase had an almost seven hour playdate today. His best friend is the sweetest kid. I really enjoyed having him over. We baked and decorated gingerbread men, made Christmas ornaments, the boys played in the playroom and outside in the mud--it was really a very lovely day! Even Cassie adores Dylan. It made me miss our old neighbors b/c Chase used to play like that w/the kids. Our new neighbor is very ill and I worry about them both. Mrs. B mentioned that her husband was on medical leave (hence why they're living in the house full time now) for three months when she stopped by after Cass was born. Cass was six months old on Christmas Day and on the 23rd there was a Barnes Home Delivery truck outside their house. That can't be good. I think I'll take a casserole over when Chase goes back to school next week. At the very least, Mrs. B won't have to worry about dinner for a night or two.

Chase's friend kept calling me Mrs. Tennyson today. Which is incredibly polite of him, but I kept asking him to call me Christi. Mrs. Tennyson is my mother in law. Plus, Mom was always Sandy to my friends, even when we were little. And I really hope that our house is the house that kids always like to play/hang out at, like my house was the house we always played/hung out at when I was a kid...

Merry Christmas

Despite the 6am phone call from my sister informing me that her kid vomited at midnight (yes, the same sister who bitched twice on her blog about me calling her at 8:30pm on a Friday night when I thought I was going to have to put down my dog). Apparently she's under the delusion that 6am was a better time to call me than midnight, you know, b/c 90% of the time I'm actually awake at midnight and 99% of the time I'm not awake at 6am. So when I less than politely requested that she not ever call at that hour again unless someone was dead (and BTW at least I had the audacity to do it in person instead of using my blog), she snapped at me and hung up on me. It was really a lovely way to start Christmas. You know, it reminded me of Christmas Vacation...

But, pressing on like Clark W. Griswold, Jr, I decided that we would nonetheless "have the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap danced w/Danny "F-bomb" Kaye in White Christmas and ...(be) the jolliest a$$holes this side of the nuthouse" anyway. I roasted my 18lb turkey, made my breakfast casserole, and watched my son open his stocking gifts. Cassie woke up, I changed one of the most digusting diapers of my life, changed her, fed her, and watched Chase open her stocking stuffers. Jamie vacuumed, I did some last minute things and then my dad and in laws arrived w/in minutes of each other.

Unbeknownst to my father-in-law, Santa hid Chase's big present in the basement. Since Jim didn't know the basement was off limits (JAMIE!), he let Chase lead him down into the basement to play a computer game. Well, like Jamie said, "At least we HEARD Chase's reaction to the ball pit/slide combo...." He also loved his Legos from Santa (Grandpa Jim spent a good five hours helping him assemble them) and ALL his presents from Grandpa Bill!

Dinner turned out great (did I mention we had 18lbs of turkey plus 1/2 a ham for six people?) and we actually got to use the dining room and Mom's Christmas china. Chase had a blast, Cass had a good time when she was awake (poor baby has a wicked cold, as does Grandpa Bill) and all in all, despite the rough start to the day (to her credit, my sister did call and apologize) we had a really good day.

Despite the 80lb per person weight limit, I'm off to play in the bounce house. I figure since Chase is only 45lbs, we're still under the 160 total limit...

Well, he's doing okay when I get the motrin in him in time. This evening he fell asleep, the motrin wore off, and all hell broke loose when he woke up. Once the motrin kicked in, he was almost back to normal. But when the motrin wears off, he is in A LOT of pain.

Pneumonia sucks.

It's pneumonia...

The good news is that he isn't real contagious. Dr. T said that as long as he isn't kissing all over or licking people, we don't need to keep him home from all the Christmas stuff. The bad news is that he has pneumonia.

I'll update more later when I have time.

Sickness

So Chase has been sick. Since Monday. Cassie is a bit stuffy, but Chase is wicked sick. Going to bed at 7pm after a strenuous day of lying on the couch in front of Noggin sick. His current fever is 104.6. I don't care how many years of experience my ped's partner has, his diagnosis of a cold on Tuesday was wrong. And now I wish I'd volunteered my suspected diagnosis of influenza b/c I've got a completely uninnoculated five month old and it's too late for antivirals. Stupid FluMist vax. I got a shot and I'm fine. Little bit gets the nasal spray and he is NOT fine. He's so getting the shot next year. Tuesday would not have been too late for Tamiflu. Today is. I've got a call into the ped but I know it is viral, and I know there isn't anything they can do. But I'm not happy that I didn't push harder when the partner said, "It's a cold." No cold has ever given Chase a fever in the 103-104 range. Grrrrrrr.

I was at the dentist today for yet another sinus infection. I really, really don't have time for this. Dad has blessedly watched my sick kid the last two days and after the dentist proclaimed that my teeth look "really good" (which is HI-larious considering that Jamie went yesterday--4 mths after his last check up and was told that his teeth looked like hell and that he should get an electric toothbrush, I go today 8 mths after my last checkup and my teeth look good--ha ha ha), I called my GP who is calling out another prescription. Last time it got this bad, I wound up on 28 days of antibiotics and prednisone, after consulting a specialist. I'm hoping we don't have to go there again. Or the other Dr. B may order the CAT scan he threatened last time. I just don't have time for this....

I'm off to go heat up some Campbell's CARS soup for my sickie. Cass is napping, Chase is vegged out on the couch and I'm feeling quite sorry for him spending Christmas break sick as a dog. :(

Our Christmas Letter

So I didn't do a Christmas letter this year. But if I had, it would probably read a little something like this:

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Holy Ramadan, Happy New Year and whatever Holiday it is you are celebrating this season! 2007 was another great year for the Tennyson family. Jamie is in his 12th year of asset management and still squeaking past compliance. He hasn't gotten indicted, audited, fined by the SEC, or fired, so no complaints there. Christi is staying at home with the kids (Cassie's arrival in June guaranteed her another five years w/o gainful employment) and is relatively sane. Most days. She's still actively volunteering w/Alpha Chi Omega, church, and Chase's school--or as Jamie likes to say, "working for free" when she can con her dad into watching baby Cassie. Chase started kindergarten on July 19 (cue "Hallelujah" chorus) and loves it. Well, he likes recess, lunch and gym class and that's good enough for us. Christi finds the "all day" part the very best part of kindergarten. Baby Cassie is such a joy to be around when she isn't puking all over (she's got reflux). She looks just like Jamie and Chase--so we know for sure the fertility clinic didn't screw that up! Christi supposes it's always a bit nerve wracking to conceive a baby when your husband isn't even in the building. Jamie agrees. So much for the fun part of babymaking.... Finally, Woody is doing about as well as can be expected for a 14 year old beagle. Some days (and those would be the bad ones), we're convinced he'll outlive us all. His incontinence seems under control now though and we're looking forward to many more years of checking to make sure he's breathing while he sleeps on the couch. Here's hoping '08 is just as great!

So it isn't Cushings. It's simple incontinence, which appears to have been solved w/a testosterone shot on Monday (yes, I trudged through the crappy weather w/both kids in tow to the vet for a shot). If you read my sister's blog, you've undoubtably read her ever-so-empathetic thoughts on Woody's illness. If he could speak or pray, I'm guessing he's thanking God right about now that I'm his dog mom and she's not. In my defense, I called her at 8:30pm on a Friday night, when we returned from a funeral visitation. I hadn't realized she was following her work schedule and getting up at 1am on weekends now. And being upset, I thought that was what family was for. Lesson learned and duly noted.

The sick streak continues though--Cassie and I spent several hours at urgent care on Sunday as she has her first ear infection and quite possibly a sinus infection. Jamie and I are force feeding her amoxicillin twice a day. Wow--that's fun! Kids these days are so spoiled. When I was kid, amoxicillin was the good medicine! Yet both of my kids hate it in all its bubble gum flavored goodness. Jamie and I don't get it. Cassie seems to be a bit allergic to it (her eczema flared after her first dose), but as long as I can manage it w/half a tube of Cortaid post-bath, the ped isn't too worried. Jamie is convinced she isn't getting anything (b/c I usually end up wearing most of it), but clearly she's getting enough to irritate the eczema.

Our Parent Educator was out today and is a bit worried about how quiet Miss Cassie is. I'm to have her hearing checked at her six month ped visit. It was checked (and she passed) at birth, but the PE is concerned about her lack of babbling. Given Chase's speech delay--she's being extra cautious w/Cassie. I'm fine with that--I'd much rather be safe than sorry. Plus, Chase seems to be making up for lost time w/the whole speech thing. How I give birth to quiet babies, I'll never know, but Chase is certainly NOT a quiet child. Not by a long shot. I'm thinking Cass just can't get a word in edgewise...but will have her checked out anyway. Early intervention is a wonderful thing.

I spent all of Cassie's nap this afternoon working on Christmas cards. Tomorrow we must get to the post office for stamps and to the mall for a Christmas gift for Chase's teacher. Not to mention that I'm only halfway through my Christmas shopping and Christmas is in 13 days. YIKES! Chase's best friend's mother came to the rescue today w/six gallons of faux snow for the party on Friday. Now I don't need to drive all over looking for it and her son gets to play w/it w/o royally messing up her house. It's win/win for both of us.

Cassie is awake and rather unhappy. I'm off to my mommy-duties.

Well, the vet called this morning. The good news is that Woody's blood work came back nearly perfect. Including the liver enzymes. That doesn't rule out Cushings, but it makes it less likely. So we're monitoring water intake and touching base w/the vet w/oz. consumed early next week.

He had a good day. Lots of sleeping, a little eating, and peeing outside. That's a good day for all of us.

Jamie's company party was tonight, but we didn't make it b/c of the weather. Our mailbox was iced shut at 3:30pm and there was ice all over my car after the bday party this afternoon. So we stayed home and hung w/the kids.

I had a great time w/Chase at his friend's bday party this afternoon. We played in the inflatables--we had a ball! Jamie had a slightly harder time w/Cassie, she was boycotting her naps today. I came home to an unshowered husband holding a fussy baby and surrounded by a messy house. I've got to be honest, that was a good thing for my ego. I think the occasional gentle reminder that staying home w/the kids isn't all sunshine and light is good for him.

I'm off to bed. In the rare circumstance that church isn't cancelled tomorrow (it usually is when we get the ice they're predicting for us), we've got Christmas play rehearsal at 9am.

Answers

It appears our Woody has canine Cushing's Disease. His adrenal glands are misfiring, resulting in excessive thirst (hence why he wakes us up at night for water) and uncontrollable peeing. We did urinalysis and blood work this morning, I'll know more when I get the blood work tomorrow.

Our vet is very pragmatic. Woody will be 14 next month. The doctor said that Cushing's itself isn't fatal, but the symptoms often are (ie--peeing all over isn't good for longevity). Apparently treatment is rather hit or miss. It isn't a cure, and there is no guarantee it would work. It could do more harm than good. And there would be two more tests, including a hospitalization to definitely diagnose Cushings. Jamie and I have been saying that we wouldn't do anything drastic to prolong Woody's life for a while now. But that's a lot easier to say when the inevitability of euthanasia isn't staring you in the face.

I'm glad I know what's wrong with him, but I hate it too. This is so the worst part of pet ownership. We had so much loss last year and this was such a good year. I've known this was coming, but that really doesn't make it any easier at all.

So I'm not crazy--it IS my thyroid! Wahoo! I never thought I'd be happy about hypothyroidism, but the weight gain and crabbiness and fatigue, oh my! No more self medicating for me (and all around the area, my drs cheer). I have put myself on a Kashi and salad diet though until the weight comes off. Nothing like losing your pregnancy weight and then gaining a third of it back. UGH.

Jenny very nicely made dinner for us tonight b/c she feels sorry for me b/c my workaholic husband is indulging his huntaholic side. IOW, it's that time of the year in which I learn how much it sucks to be a single mom. One that stays home w/the kids, but spouseless nonetheless. To my knowledge, the trip was fruitless and has not resulted in any new antlers or deer sausage for Jamie. But I haven't gotten a text from him in a few hours, so I could be wrong.

Today was my day to volunteer in Chase's classroom, but I got a call from the teacher as we were heading out the door requesting that I not come in today. They worked on their parent surprises for the holidays this morning and she didn't want any parents in the classroom. So I spent the entire morning (all of Cassie's ridiculously long 3 1/2 hour nap) cleaning the house. It took 2 hours to do my bathroom alone. I think the spring house project this year (besides the landscaping we swear we'll do every year) will be replacing our hideous vinyl in the bathrooms with ceramic tile. I loooooooove the ceramic tile in the basement, especially since I realized all the vents were closed, opened them, and now we actually have heat in the basement! Love it. And given that I have to attack those stupid vinyl floors w/a scrub brush and soft scrub to get them even remotely clean--ugh. After 4 years, Jamie is tired of the whining and I think he figures new floors are a better investment than the cleaning lady I keep threatening to get. ;) But I'm not thinking about it until after the holidays!

I'm off to let the fat boy out, put on his diaper and go to bed.

Oh, the kids are great. Cassie napped for over six hours today (I love my life) and Chase was impossibly cute watching Rudolph tonight. I love Christmas at his age--he is so precious about the whole Santa thing. It's too cute for words.

The diaper keeps the dog from peeing in the house. He hates it, but not as much as I hate cleaning his pee from my carpet. And I'm the human. So I win.

Well, Chase is feeling well enough to complain about his augmentin. Cassie is still snotty, but sleeping better. Woody, on the other hand, is going to spend the night (or the rest of his life) in the basement if we have another repeat of last night. I started bathing the kids around 7:30pm. Chase headed down the hall to his room right at 7:59 and discovered a puddle at the top of the stairs. So I told him to put the dog outside (I was giving his sister her bottle). When he hit the kitchen, he discovered that Woody had gotten into the trash before he peed in the house. And he didn't just get into the trash--it was all over our breakfast area. Can you see the steam coming out of my ears? Grrrr. So the dog spent some quality time outside while I cleaned up his messes. I think he's acting out b/c he misses his dad. At least, that's what I'm telling Jamie. Oh, and Cassie slept through the night last night, but Woody had me up at 3am AND 5:30am. Chase came into my bed at 4am, so it wasn't exactly a restful night for me. I've reminded Woody more than once that in some countries, he could be dinner for less than that...

I'm heading to my GP in an hour for a thyroid test. I battled hypothyriodism during my pregnancy w/Cassie, but thought it was over when my TSH came back .04 six weeks ago (normal would be 4-7 or so). So I quit taking my meds. I've gained five pounds and am really, ridiculously tired--so I'm hoping it's just hypothyroidism.

I'll know the results of the test in a day or two. In the meantime, treadmill time.