Testing Vocabulary Patrick Style

Patrick: "Mommy, can you please help me clean my room tomorrow morning."

Me: "Yes."

Patrick: "Good because otherwise I might get 'roomatism'."

Me: "I don't think so."

Patrick: "What is rheumatism?"

Me: "I think its when you have sore bones."

Patrick: "Yes, if you don't help me clean my room, then I will have rheumatism from stepping on things that make my bones sore."

Finnian used and mispronounced a big word the other day. Patrick commented, "Finnian that's not how you say ___________. I think you need to check your pronunciation. Maybe, you need pronunciation lessons or something."

A couple of months ago, Patrick was teasing Finnian. As usual, Finnian responded by trying to attack Patrick. Patrick stopped Finnian in his tracks, saying, "Finnian stop! I am trying to come up with a diplomatic solution." It's too bad, Patrick didn't use the same line a few weeks later when Finnian gave him a black eye.

When It Rains

Yesterday, my older sister called. During our conversation, she commented, "I remember Mommy saying, 'When it rains, it pours.'" I couldn't help but respond, "I think it's pouring, but I have so much for which to be thankful."

Thank you, God, for everything.

Timely Advice

On Sunday, October 9, my pastor gave me some very timely advice in the confessional. He told me to share the advice with my husband which I obediently did, telling him, "Fr. Saguto told me that I should take some time for myself." Little did any of us know that my pastor's advice would be something about which I would have no say.

On the Friday preceding that Sunday, in the wee hours of the morning, I woke up with a pain in my right calf. Thinking that a cramp was starting, I flexed my foot to no avail. As Friday turned to Saturday, and Saturday turned to Sunday, the pain in my calf became increasingly worse. Listening to my husband, I called my doctor's office on Sunday morning. I told the on-call doctor what I was experiencing and she advised me to go to the ER to rule out a blood clot. As I got ready to do so, I decided that I would rather go to Sunday Mass; I also thought, "The pain is probably just muscle related." However, by Sunday evening, I realized that I should probably take the doctor's advice.

My husband lovingly took me to the ER. Once in the ER, the doctor checked my blood, administered blood thinner, and admitted me to the hospital. On Monday morning, a doppler ultrasound (?) was done on my leg and the hospital's obstetrician told me that I would be staying in the hospital for a week. My eyes welled up and I swallowed hard, asking, "A week?" The doctor replied, "Well, a minimum of three more days."

After the doctor left, I let the tears roll down my face, thinking, "I can't be away from my husband and children that long." Then, I started to pray the Rosary. As I did so, my pastor's advice came to mind, and I decided to turn my hospital stay into a little retreat. I continued to pray the Rosary, and added the Memorare and a special little prayer. The first time that my family visited, my eldest daughter brought my missal and two books for me to read. In doing so, she inadvertently added to my little retreat.

Fortunately, someone in the hospital overrode the obstetrician's decision and sent me home around bed time on Thursday night. Thanks to my pastor's advice, I left feeling a little refreshed. After visiting my doctor the following Friday, I was thankful to see that this little baby inside me is doing well. I still have some ultrasound photos to share (10 weeks 2 days, and 11 weeks). I also now have something to offer up for this baby.

Melt My Heart

Out of necessity, my husband spent the last few days at home helping with the children. This morning, he returned to work. When Elizabeth woke up, she asked me, "Is Daddy home?" I replied, "No, sweetie, he went to work." Her response melted my heart, "But I need him."

9 Weeks

I intended to share the photo below last week, but we have been busy. Last week, my doctor did another ultrasound and I was amazed to see how much this baby had grown in one week. This little one was moving all over the place and the head, arms, and little legs were very obvious. When I arrived home and showed the children the picture, there was no need for me to point out the baby's head and arm. We are all very excited and praying for the youngest member of our family.

Heart Rate: 169 beats per minute

8 Weeks

On Wednesday, I went to my first doctor's appointment. At the recommendation of a friend and her doctor's office, I went to see a perinatologist. Seeing the perinatologist included having an ultrasound. This isn't the first ultrasound that I have had with a tiny little baby (I saw Theresa on ultrasound at 6 weeks); however, it is the first time that I was told so much. I heard this baby's heartbeating at 174 beats per minute and was told that the baby is 1.67 cm from head to bottom. I also saw the baby's little legs and arms when the doctor came in and ran the ultrasound again. The picture on the screen was clearer and easier to see than the photo below.



The yolk sac is underneath the baby's bottom on the left
and the baby's head is on the right.

Please keep this litttle one in your prayers.

Prayer for St. Catherine of Siena's Intercession

Humble virgin and Doctor of the Church, in thirty-three years you achieved great perfection and became the counselor of Popes. You know the temptations of mothers today as well as the dangers that await unborn infants. Intercede for me that I may avoid miscarriage and bring forth a healthy baby who will become a true child of God. Also pray for all mothers, that they may not resort to abortion but help bring a new life into the world. Amen.

A Girl and Her Dog

A couple of weeks ago, as Elizabeth was petting Heidi, I heard her singing, "Oh doggy, there's something special between you and me." (adapted from Charlotte's Web)

Elizabeth is definitely correct. Although we are still trying to stop Heidi's biting (it is pretty bad at times), she tends to be very good with Elizabeth. Heidi is getting better about not jumping up on Elizabeth. She also still lets my little girl pull her tail without reacting (I am trying to stop Elizabeth from doing so). Elizabeth doesn't think twice about putting her food in the dog's mouth and, when told not to do so, pulling it right back out and putting it in her own mouth (ugh). She also likes sharing her water bottle with Heidi...I do mean sharing.

As a character in a movie that we watched recently said, "The outside of an animal is good for the inside of a child."

September Picture Book Basket

I intended to share this list last September, but I wanted to write a little something about each book. I still haven't had a chance to do so; however, I have decided to share anyway. Hopefully, one of my children or I will have a chance to write a little something about the books one of these days. 

Autumn Story (Brambly Hedge) by Jill Barklem

The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward

Brother Bartholomew and the Apple Grove by Jan Cheripko

The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Jim Arnosky

Fall by Ron Hirschi

Little Patron of Gardeners: The Good Saint Fiacre by Catherine Beebe (September 1)*

Miss Suzy by Miriam Young

Mother Teresa by Demi (September 5)

Now It's Fall by Lois Lenski

Nuts to You! by Lois Ehlert

One More Acornby Don Freeman and Roy Freeman

Raccoons and Ripe Corn by Jim Arnosky

St. Jerome and the Lion by Margaret Hodges (September 30)

Heidi: Our Golden Retriever

On Friday, July 29, our lives changed when we purchased a lively, seven-week-old (born June 10) red Golden Retriever puppy named Heidi. There were some lighter puppies in the litter (the mom was red and the dad was light), but most of the children wanted "the red one". I think that red Golden Retrievers are beautiful.

Heidi is very good with the children, especially my youngest. I often find her watching and then trying to imitate what they are doing.

On Saturday, Heidi was watching Elizabeth walk up the stairs (something with which the dog was somewhat unfamiliar) and soon bounded up behind her, trying to get between Elizabeth's legs. On Monday, Heidi watched Finnian climb up the slide and she immediately tried to do the same. She ended up sliding down, but is still attempting to get up the slide. She also climbs in the kiddie pool with the younger children and splashes around with them.

Heidi rarely has an accident during the day, but night time is a different story.  She likes to sleep on a sheet on the floor underneath Bernadette's bed and has never wet it, but she does wander off of the sheet and wet the carpet. She also likes to sleep in her crate. Unfortunately, she will wet in the crate before making any noise. Hopefully, she will be able to hold her bladder for more than 4 hours soon and/or she will start whining or barking before she has an accident in the crate.

The other issue that we are working on is also typical of a young puppy. Heidi is mouthing (or biting) us. We are obviously trying to stop this behavior and Elizabeth seems to have the most success at doing so. She holds a Nylabonewhen playing with Heidi and puts it in the dog's mouth whenever Heidi looks like she might bite.

On Monday night, I thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the couch and watching Elizabeth and Heidi (Finnian eventually joined them) playing sweetly on the floor together. I am amazed when I see Heidi calmly permitting Elizabeth to pet her from her head to the tip of her tail.

In addition to playing with Elizabeth, Heidi enjoys having her belly rubbed and often falls asleep as we rub it.

This is the first puppy (first dog) that we have owned which obviously means we need a little help in the puppy raising and training department. We are receiving this help from the Monks of New Skete's books, The Art of Raising a Puppy and How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend.I highly recommend these titles to prospective dog owners and owners who are having issues with their dogs. I think that we would be lost without these books. Of course, the employees at our local Petco have also been very helpful in responding to questions and I am sure that the Golden Retriever books that I have on hold at the library (per the Monks' recommendation) will also be of some assistance. I am also planning on taking Heidi to puppy training classes when she is around three months old.

We are thrilled to have a Golden Retriever!

Update: The day that I wrote this, Heidi started to whine in her crate in the middle of the night to let us know that she needed to "go potty". She usually runs to the door during the day when she needs to "go potty". So far, we have succeeded in crate training her. She also allows us to do all of the dominance exercises described by the Monks of New Skete. We are progressing with housebreaking, "come", "sit", "stay", "fetch", and leash training. We are still struggling with "NO BITE", despite consistency. In trying to find out when the puppy biting will stop, I discovered All About Goldens which is full of helpful information.