So...it's been a while.  The blog about nothing in particular is back!  I guess I've just been busy cleaning up toilet paper that Blossom has either shredded or pooped in the yard.  

This is some of what has really been going on: 

In June, we found out that our 15 year old cat has "renal insufficiency".  This means that her kidneys are not working as well as they once did.  Our doctor advised us how to give her saline fluids/electrolytes by needle every night, for the rest of her life.  Learning how to hold the cat down to stick her with a needle for 5 minutes has been an adventure.  I'm the holder, Scott is the sticker.  Before her "wellness" blood test, we had no idea that Greta was feeling bad.  When we started to give her daily fluids, she immediately began running around and acting like she did when she was a kitten.  She still hasn't warmed up to the needle yet though.  I guess she never will.  Thankfully, her prognosis is great.  The doctor said she may live a few more years.  No matter how long she has, we are thankful for every day with our kitty and grateful that we are able to make her feel so good. 

Blossom and Balto are still eating toilet paper.  

Well, that's some of what is going on with me.  I promise to post again this weekend. 

Birthday Week...

Last Sunday was Daniel's birthday.  Then, on Wednesday, my dad turned 79!  Here's a picture of Daniel helping Papa open his presents...

 Oops.  Try again...

I've always been a "Daddy's Girl" and my dad has always been my superhero but as I've gotten older I've started to realize what I put the man through just because he had a soft spot for his little girl.  Did I mention that he took me and a friend all the way to Chapel Hill to see the Monkees in concert?  Yes, the Monkees.  Not only did he drive us all the way there, we sat 2nd row from the very top in the Dean Dome.  That is love.  

I grew up going to watch my dad play in tennis matches and softball tournaments.  I realize now that he could've left me at home, but he didn't.  Some of my favorite memories are of all of the NBA & college basketball games we attended together.  My dad instilled a love of sports in me.  It's a good thing that I'm a sports fan because my brother was too busy reading books and watching science fiction shows.  

Friday was Rana's birthday (Birthday #3).  I watched the kids while Kevin and Rana enjoyed a quiet dinner at Olive Garden.  

Saturday brought the Mitey Riders Spring Festival.  Mitey Riders is the horse therapy program that Laura attends.  We know that she was excited because she was getting very impatient just before time to leave. She kept saying "Horse?"  That in itself is a blessing.  We couldn't have asked for a better day; the weather was perfect.  Full sunshine is not a friend to the cameraman.  I tried to lighten the photos a little so you can see them better.  

Laura rode Cosmo.  I don't think she stopped smiling from the moment she mounted until she got home. 

The man standing beside Laura introduced her to her volunteer sidewalker.  He thought it was funny when he said "Say hi Laura" and Laura said, "Hi Laura".  She wasn't trying to be funny.....that is what she always does...repeats what you ask her to say. 

This picture was taken after she received her gold medal for the year.  Here she is checking it out: 

Proud dad Kevin  (Rana was at work):

Here's my dad, Laura & Daniel...

Proud Nana (my mom)...

 Since they were running 45 minutes behind schedule, I was in charge of entertaining this one...

He had a great time at the festival.  When we returned home it was a different story.  Daniel learned that even though your helium "Cars" balloon is not floating inside the house, when you take it outside, the wind can pick it up and carry it far away....

Oh the tears...

I am happy to say that Sunday was a day of rest for Julie.  Well, compared to keeping up with the kids.  I don't know how my mother does it day in and day out.   

3-2-1 Birthday

Yesterday I had the privilege of serving at 3-2-1 DASH with Elevation Outreach.  The 3-2-1 DASH is a 5K that helps to raise funds and awareness for the Down's Syndrome Society of Charlotte.  My friend, Cat, has 3 #21 chromosomes.  It is always a privilege to serve alongside of Cat.  The picture below is of her and her father, George.  George ran the 5K. 

After serving at the DASH all morning and coming home for a quick nap, I went to church with my good friends the Mackay family at Transformation Church.  It was awesome to worship with my friends.  

Today is Daniel's 5th birthday.  Not surprisingly, Daniel chose Red Robin for his birthday lunch.  He also chose "Cars" for his party theme.  Here's a picture of the birthday boy blowing his candles out. 

As always, Daniel asked for helicopters for his birthday.  To his relief, Nana and Papa gave him helicopters.  Uncle Scott & Aunt Julie (that's me) gave him a playmobil car and....a rocket launcher.  The rockets launch when you step on an air pillow (see top of picture for rocket).

A few more pictures from today:

 

Even Sophie came to the party.

One more picture before I go.  Here's a picture of what happens at my house almost every night....

The Week In Blossom

Thursday night, Blossom locked us out of the house.  Yes, BLOSSOM locked us out of the house.  Scott and I were sitting outside with Greta when we heard a scratch at the front door.  I tried to open it, but it was locked.  The thing is, you can't lock our door from the outside without a key; therefore, Blossom locked us out of the house.  As she watched us out the window through her sad eyes, I foolishly tried persuading her to unlock it. 

Trying to open the door and get to her family, I'm not sure if she locked it with her nose or her paw.

Thankfully, Scott remembered he had left one of the basement windows open.  Unfortunately, he had to break a screen to get in.

Together again; all is right in Blossom's world.

April is National Autism Awareness Month.  I love someone with Autism....and here she is! These are photos from Laura's horse therapy on Thursday.  Oh dear, sweet, beautiful Laura.  I pray for the day you will talk to me.  I can't wait to know what you think about riding horses.  They say you love to talk and sing in your Laura language while you are riding.  I'd give anything to know what you are saying. 

Oh how I'd love to ask you what is going through your mind in this picture.  Are you flying?  Do you feel free?

Driving home from work yesterday, I saw my dad and my nephew cutting the grass together.  I stopped and took a few pictures.

Dad said he caught on really quick however, he liked to drive it too fast.  I just hope Dad trains him well because we will be counting on Daniel to mow our grass in a few years. 

I'm off to pack now.  Headed to Raleigh to watch the Carolina Hurricanes play tonight.

Instagram Ketchup

For those of you who don't follow me on Instagram (Lorraine) here is my "Instagram Week In Review":

Greta was taking a cat nap when Balto decided he wanted the spot beside her.  She was not amused.  

Oops she did it again...

All of my animals like Scott the best...

 

Balto fell asleep on top of his toys. 

Last night, Christy and I went to the Checkers' game.  They're in the middle of a playoff push and won the game in a shootout hugely in part to this guy.

We had the pleasure of hearing the guy behind us give his date "play by play" of the entire game. Very loudly. Clearly he wanted her to think he knew what was going on.  Sometimes he did.  Sometimes he did not and it was all I could do to sit there quietly.  Our main problem with the guy was that his girlfriend was not blind and she didn't need him to tell her the obvious.  But, we had fun with it and decided to describe the game to each other as if we were that guy.  When the announcer said the game would be going into a shootout I informed Christy that the players would not be using actual guns....however, that might be the only thing that could make a shootout more exciting than it already is!  I have a love/hate relationship with shootouts. They make me nervous! 

I watched the kids this afternoon so that my brother could attend the funeral of a very dear friend of ours.  Here's Daniel kicked back watching some toons on NickJr.  

At age four, Daniel already has a wicked sense of humor.  I asked him what he learned about in church today and he gave me a knowing smile and said, "God".  So I asked him if he knew who God is.  He said "Jesus".  Then I asked him if Jesus loved me and he told me that Jesus loves everyone.  *Smiles*

Daniel is a very smart kid.  So smart that his PreK teachers say he is by far the smartest kid in the class.  In fact, my mom said that they mentioned he might be a genius if he could just focus.  For this reason, they want him tested for Asperger's Syndrome.  I had not even thought of this possibility although having a sibling on the autism spectrum does make him a much higher risk.  Even though I take Daniel to school every day, I've never actually seen him with his class so I'm not sure how he interacts with them in that setting. Either way, he's just a super fun kid to be around.  

(I tried to take a picture of Laura but she wouldn't look at the camera.)

I guess I should say that I might be starting to understand and actually kind of...maybe...sort of...like my job.  The next few weeks are going to be very hard for me; I have to do a lot of accounting BUT, if I can do it....I might just be ok. 

Tough work week but I'm headed to Raleigh next weekend to see the Hurricanes.  Woohoo! 

Ketchup

Since we last spoke, I made a new friend...

It may come as a surprise to my blog reader, Sophie (my family's dog) is still with us!  Two and a half years ago they told us she had a very aggressive cancer.  Here's a picture from last week:

Sophie is such a joy.  I try to visit with her at least every other day.  We've had the privilege of being loved by her for 13-14 years so far. 

Here's a recent picture of Laura.  She lost her two front teeth early last fall and I sure can't see any sign of the new ones yet.  Poor thing...can't bite into an apple.

I have the "never dull" task of driving this one to PreK every morning.

 

Blossom has the best posture in dog world.

I really don't know what to say about this one.

 

He seems to sleep with his mouth open about 65% of the time.  Balto always knows how to get comfortable.

Most importantly, here's our oldest.  She turns 15 later this summer!  I guess she'll be asking for a car soon.  

 

 More to follow....