Happy Birthday

yes, yes, it's my birthday today, BUT...

There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found....

For when they placed it on his head he began to dance around....

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

One for the road....

One last prank to try and even the score Mo-6 Me-2. Not quite even but, hey, she had a head start and i was lazy the last few years. I'm not really keeping score that's just a rough estimate.

Sooooo, i was really debating about this one cause it was SUPER, SUPER cold and SUPER, SUPER windy. It was fun... but ... not really.

Gas to drive to friend's house - $1.51 per gallon

Four bags of cottonballs - Four dollars

Water for cottonballs - Free

Pulling a prank and finding out it went further than expected - priceless

You can sort of see a smiley face on the windshield on the driver side.

Not so grand, but a joke none-the-less.

it's been a year...

and Toenail is returning today.

This week has been a little crazy. Sunday Both Dondan and Nona had some sort of stomach thing they caught from the neighbor.
Saturday...
Nona was sleeping on the couch, i'm sitting at my desk and just got off the phone with Marissa and Toenail, it's around 11:30ish, i turn to my left there stands, Nona making no sound and shaking.
then i notice, she's covered in vomit, all up in her hair and down her naked body. WTH?!
i go to put her in the bath and see the couch on the way, it's covered in puke. "MIKE!!" "get out the steam cleaner". Now she's crying cause i'm washing her hair. UUGGGGHHH.
i put her to bed and she continues to puke a little bit about every hour or so, there can't be much left. She starts to settle in more and sleeps. Now it's 4 a.m. Dondan wakes, "mommy my body hurts". "Okay Dondan go to the bathroom", expecting to hear vomiting... it's coming out the other end. for a long time. he washes up. walks to bed. (let me just say both Nona and Dondan sleep in my bed, every night) "are you okay Dondan?"
Dondan, "BLLAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHFFFFFFFF". all over my pillow and bed. i am going to puke myself. i leave the room. we all sleep on the couch. it's a crappy Sunday, again, only this time, it's pukey too.

Monday we had a hard time getting it in gear.

Yesterday, WOW, i got so much done! We delivered the fish to school. Dondan had his horn removed, for the second time. didn't want it to get out of control.




(YES, Marissa i have to have pictures... just for you... i KNOW how you love them...lol...)

i had my final ENT appointment. Got some sewing done. got an oil change. went to a family night at the school that Dondan HAD to go to. he wanted to shop at the secret santa shop, plus it was a free dinner and i didn't have to cook.
SOOOOOO, it was really packed. the boys were in the santa shop and i walked around with nona. i stopped in to the shop (a classroom) and nona was next to me, i lean in call to Mike, leaned back out and Nona was GONE! GONE! i tried not to freak out as my heart is racing, i don't see her any which way. i ask the lady that was sitting outside the shop on the floor and she just looked at me so clueless and didn't answer me. i couldn't wait for a response i yell to Mike, "nona's gone, look that way" as i run the other way. i can't find her, i am freaking out, trying to keep it together, Joann comes up to talk, all i can say is, "nonas gone, gotta find her". She calls her husband, who's an MP to send a unit to the school. I give a description. Joann informs the teachers and other volunteers. the kids spread out and are so helpful. My heart sinks deeper as i realize earlier she was trying to go outside and the possibility of her being out there alone in the dark parking lot as people are coming and going. I rush to the front doors. Joann says, "can she open the heavy doors?" i think no she can't, just as the image of her pushing the handicap button earlier, goes through my mind. I run outside and scream her name, i am frantic, i start praying and pushing back tears. trying not to hyperventilate. Joann keeps calling me back inside, finally i listen. As soon as i come back in, within minutes. she's found, in the art room corridor. a little girl spotted her and Dondan ran up to get her. She looks at Dondan and says, "brother". they bring her to me and i snatch her up and hug her so tight. AAAAGGGGHHHHHH. so CRAZY!

still a little shaken, i think to myself, how crazy for this to happen and Toenail returns home tomorrow!

So hear we are, waiting for his plane to come in and to start life all over again.
wonder how Nona will take it, she's only spent 5 months out of the 27 months she's been alive with her Dad. he was home for 2 weeks on mid-tour, but that was just enough time for her to realize he actually exists. that he was more than an image on the computer monitor. it was confusing, she kept looking back at the computer in the office and her dad in the living room. she's a little older now and i'm curious to see her reaction. so many things will change, i am so used to doing everything myself, dealing with everything myself, man, this may be harder on me. then again... change is good, right?