this weeks highs and lows

Low: Auntie Bonnie left us on Monday afternoon to return home to sunny Hawaii. I guess she just didn't have thick enough skin for our weather (just kidding, she never really complained despite her thin Hawaiian blood). The kids miss her (and frankly, Josh and I do too!). The first couple of days, Ellie kept asking for Aunt Bonnie and it was just too sad to explain that she had left. They still call the sunroom (aka playroom) Aunt Bonnie's room.

High: Harrison has had a great time in preschool with the other four boys. The past two weeks they have focused on cooking and reading some fun books to coincide with the unit. Harrison has really come out of his shell thanks to his interaction at preschool and church.

Low: Harrison has started a new and very naughty habit. Since Ellie listens to everything he says, he has discovered a loophole in the "do something wrong/get in trouble" cycle. Instead of doing something bad himself, he will just tell Ellie to do it (and she willingly agrees). For example, today he told Ellie to open the bathroom door while Josh was in there. He handed her a dinner knife, and showed her what to do. When the lock clicked and Ellie opened the door, Harrison instantly pointed out that Ellie unlocked the door, not him. Ellie is just so willing to do whatever he says. While we were eating lunch this week, Harrison told Ellie to jump on her chair. Of course, she did. I told her to stop and sit down. She did. Harrison again told her to stand up and jump on the chair. Well, you get the cycle. Harrison is a smart cookie and thinks he can beat the system with this new "get Ellie to do it" business. We are still working on why this is conceptually still naughty. He's pretending to not understand why.

High: I got a botox injection this week. I know, you are all jealous. My right adductor muscle is now looking so tight and fit, no more wrinkles my friends. Well, now that you all think I am a little vain, the botox is just one more treatment option for my mysterous, never plan to leave, abdominal/thigh pain. We will see if it works (it takes at least a week to see any results...2 more days to go). And does anyone else think $1,000 is a little steep for a 100mL bottle of medicine? Ridiculous.

Low: Seriously, does Ellie even have another pair of shoes to pee on? The little goose has done reasonably well on potty-training but still has accidents (and apparently she has expensive taste, she likes to pee on her suede boots and patent leather dress shoes). Come on girl, just get with the program.

High: Josh finished up a class he's been teaching for the past month so that's one less thing to worry about. He's been feeling really good about the two classes he is teaching this semester and his research is pluggin' along. He is looking forward to his conference in Florida this May and we hope he will have the chance to make some good contacts (and maybe, one day, have a real job like other real grownups! =] ).

Low: The kids are still adjusting to Daylight Savings. Ellie has been playing and singing and reading and jumping and throwing and dancing in bed for nearly two hours before falling asleep at naptime and bedtime. Harrison has adjusted easier but that kid is a sleeping machine.

Low: Harrison tossed a toy hammer upward and shattered one of the lighting fixtures in the hallway. He still has a hole in his door from ramming it into his coat hook. Boys.

Anyway, we our adjusting to life with out Aunt Bonnie. We were so lucky to have her stay with us since September. She was an amazing help and always so patient with the kids. I think I am unofficially bound to potty train her kids when the time comes as payment for her services.

My health is struggling but I hope the Botox injection will finally be the magic bullet for my abdominal pain and that my pain management docotor's appointment tomorrow will improve things.

I am not near the camara so no pictures this time but they are coming, I promise (don't I say that everytime?).