I didn't really want to write about this, but I better so I have a record of it. July 2nd we had to make the agonizing decision to put Oliver to sleep. The decision wasn't all that bad, because he was really bad off, but the aftermath has been horrible. We knew he was continually getting sicker and sicker over the last year. He was 13 years old and slowly fading. He had developed pneumonia and they found that his heart was enlarged. After giving him medication he went into shock which sent him into heart failure. By the time we got to the vets that afternoon, his heart had stopped once and he was hooked up to breathing machines. The vet said he could possibly come out of this, but he would have to be a couch potato. No running around and getting excited. Which if you have ever seen Oliver, that would have required sedating him and we just didn't think that would be fair. It was terrible seeing him hooked up to the machines and he couldn't even focus on us, he didn't even know we were there.
We have joked that it would be better when he passes. Quieter, no nipping at Madi all those little annoying things that he has developed as he got older and meaner. But now that he is gone, it's like we lost one of our children. That first night was terrible. Chris and I both cried ourselves to sleep, he just wasn't there with us anymore. The last couple of weeks have taken some getting used to also. Every once in awhile I catch myself thinking where is Oliver or expecting him to meet us at the door when we come home. I could hear him scratching at the chair to be lifted up or drinking water in the back hall. Just weird things like that. Madi has her days where she talks about him and asks about him. She is at a perfect age for this because she is content with a simple answer and then she forgets about it, she doesn't dwell on it. But we make it happy also. She asks where Oliver is and then reminds herself that he is in heaven playing with God and running around with the other dogs, not sick anymore. But we have decided that we don't want another pet right now. At this point all I can think about is having to go through all this again in 10-12 years. No way!
-------------------------------------------------------
On to happier subjects!! This was the first year in 20+ years that there hasn't been a ban on fireworks in Saline County. So this was going to be great, we finally live in the county and have plenty of room to have a great party and shot some fireworks. Of course I also have a big kid for a husband and he was ready to play.
We made a trip to Missouri the week before to buy fireworks. We thought we might get a better deal at their stores that are open year round and get some bigger stuff too. So we had a full load of fireworks, the whole back end of my van was completely full. We bought for our two employee's also. But once the stands opened around here, Chris HAD to go visit them to make sure we got a good deal. Of course we found we didn't. And so what does my husband do? He buys more fireworks, so he could get the good deals of course! We also found that the big stuff we bought we could also get at the stands here also. We just weren't for sure since we were never able to buy the larger items we never really paid any attention to them.
So, on July 4th, I spent the day cooking snack foods and Chris worked outside getting things done for the party. (One great thing about having parties, we get all the little jobs done around here that we have been procrastinating on, it's great!) We had a great turn out, considering we waited until 5 days before to invite people. Next year we will do better! And boy did we have a fireworks show! We started at about 9:30 I guess. They shot a bunch off and then took a break and then started shooting more and finally ended a little after 11:00! We also had a beautiful night for it. We had gotten plenty of rain for several days before the 4th, so we didn't have to worry about setting any wheat stubble on fire. It was cool, not a lot of wind, just perfect. We actually had to pull jackets out, it was that cool, with a north wind, FANTASTIC!!!
The big surprise for the night was that Madi and Kenley (Chris' cousins little girl, she's 3 months older than Madi) had absolutely no interest in the fireworks. They were so happy and content running around and playing all night, that they didn't even sit for more than 5 minutes the whole night to watch. Crazy girls!!
Madi and Kenley cruising! Can you just see
them doing the same thing in 13 years?!
Maybe they couldn't sit down because they were
high on sugar from cupcakes and lollipops :)!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
July 5th was my 29th birthday! I never really put much into my birthday because the day before is always filled with fun that the next day all I want to do is relax. I consider fireworks are my celebration and that's all I need. We did have plans for this day but everything got mixed around. We ended up sleeping in and then spent most of the morning cleaning up from the night before. We were going to then head to the lake. Jason and Tabatha and Jaxson were getting there that morning and wanted to go visit. And then we were going to leave Madi for the night and head to Bellville for the races. We did make the races but never made it to the lake that day. Chris' truck tire had a flat and we had to get it fixed so he could make it to work the next day. And then we got a call from Chris' dad saying that the back window of one of the work vans parked at the shop had been broken out. So Madi went down for a nap and Chris headed into town to deal with the broken window. Thank goodness nothing was stolen. Someone had thrown a large rock through the window just to do damage. Obviously, someone needs to find a hobby (a good, non destructive one)! Oh, and I also got a nap in!! I could spend my birthday like that every year; sleep in, be lazy, take a nap, and then go see a race!!
Monday and Tuesday we spent at the lake with Mom and Dad, Jason, Tabatha, and Jaxson. We had great weather Monday. Not too hot, absolutely no wind. We were able to go out in the boat and Madi went swimming with Uncle Jason. She loves to swim and be in the water and also ride in the boat. I never thought she would have such a turn around from year to the other. Last year, we practically had to strap her in and force her into the boat and then you could get a good 15-20 minute ride in and she was ready to be done. This year, she would probably walk around all day in her life jacket ready to head to the boat. She loves to ride in the very front with all the wind and bouncing for as long as we can keep Papa out there!
Tuesday it was terribly windy but we had the whole park pretty much to ourselves, it was really nice. We went down to the beach and swam for a little while. Madi is convinced that where ever she is swimming, there is a whale in the water somewhere. And since we were at the lake and it was much bigger than our pool at home, there must be several whales swimming out there. She doesn't really fuss much about this little story she has made up when we are at home, probably because she can see the bottom. But she was a little more apprehensive about getting into the lake with these whales swimming around. It took a bit of convincing to get her in and comfortable. She is beginning to get quite the imagination lately!!
She is such a cool chick!
I've come to the conclusion that the "whale" that she sees swimming with her all the time is me!! I'm always swimming with her when this story pops up, so that must be it :)
Tuesday night before we headed home, Jack and Charlie and Dixie came over for a play date. Dixie and her husband run the marina and we always try to get together when we are there. Jack is 6 months older than Madi so they have fun playing together. Charlie turned one earlier this year but he likes to play along with them. I think all three of the kids were tired this evening because our little play date was filled with tears and tantrums for awhile. Madi wasn't wanting to share very well which was upsetting to Charlie especially! But once we got the squirt guns out, they were all smiles. Of course, who wouldn't be when you have Dad there to shot water guns at!! I just love Madi's smile in that picture!
-------------------------------------------------------------
I haven't done a Madi update in awhile. She is such a little stinker right now. 3 is definitely a little more trying times than 2. She is feeling out just how far she can get away with things and taking no for an answer often lends itself to total meltdowns. She is also becoming very active and very rough at times. She really doesn't know her own strength and unfortunately, my stomach is getting the brunt of it (poor baby). She is not catching on that my stomach is not her personal bounce off toy. It hurts and I cringe when I see her coming. My internal organs don't have a lot of room to go anywhere and often feel like my ribs are going to explode!! But she can also be a love bug too!
She has also become very inquisitive. Her favorite phrases right now are "why" and "what's that for/do?" Car rides have become very long when we play the asking questions game the whole time.
"Mom, what's in that field?"
"Soybeans."
"What are soybeans for?"
"It's a type of crop that feeds cows."
"Why does a cow eat soybeans?"
UGH, "Because!!"
We have some of the silliest conversations some times. And we can have the same conversation over and over.
She is also a little helper. Wants to help with everything and doesn't understand that she can't help with everything. She gets so mad when I won't let her help me at the stove. WWIII begins when I start making supper. But she is a wonderful help with laundry and loves to fold! Thank goodness, because I hate that job. I'll keep her at it until she is older and that can become her chore!!
She has also become Daddy's little shadow. As soon as he pulls in the driveway after work, she is running out the front door and is with him the rest of the night. They like to hang out in the shed together. Chris can fiddle with things and she can help and then go ride her bike for awhile and then come back and help some more. On the weekends she likes to go run errands with him. Which is great for me too. Gives me a break and someone else can entertain!! Last week Chris went out and dug the trees out of the waterway with the back hoe. Madi wanted to ride along. This was the first time she has ever rode in the digger or been around it when it was on. She usually runs the opposite direction when the big machines get turned on. I was really surprised. But it also almost gave me a heart attack! At one point all four tires were off the ground and that thing was just a jumping around. All I kept imagining was that thing rolling over. I snatched her out of that thing real quick. Which she was happy to be out also, she said that was scary. I said I bet it was, Mommy was scared too!
Madi is getting more and more fun to be with. Not that she wasn't before, but now that she is talking, walking, potty trained, can entertain herself for periods at a time, it makes life easier and more fun. Plus, we get to be kids again when we do things with her. Like going swimming everyday if we want, going to the zoo and to the movies, playing at the park, all those fun things we did as kids and now we get to do them again. Plus, now we get to start all over.
Raising a second child I am sure is going to be much different than with the first. This one will be out and about more and sooner. I don't expect Madi to be content to be cooped up in the house. But there will be a lot of adjusting on her part also. She is going to have to learn to sleep through noises at night and not be the center of attention all the time. There are a lot of things to think about and wonder about in the next two months. What is our life going to look like? Interesting and scary at the same time and still nervous about having another baby. I thought it would be a breeze having the second one. In some ways it is and other ways, it's just as nerve racking as the first time.
July 8th I had my 28 week checkup. Everything is clipping along just fine. I didn't gain any weight this last month. My blood pressure is still good and the baby's heartbeat is still at 150. I had to do the diabetes test this month. I didn't hear anything back about it. They said no news is good news! So I'll just keeping going like I've been going until the next appointment.
Even though I haven't been gaining any weight, I can definitely feel a change in my comfort level right now and the ease (or lack of) getting around these days. I've been very tired and it has been nice to be able to sit down and take a nap in the afternoon. Not that I don't have plenty to do around here, but I can't help it. I sit for more than 15 minutes and I am out. And my wonderful husband has nothing but nice things to say to me lately, he is such a sweetheart!
Here is a sampling of some of the lovely things he has said lately:
"Chris, I need to find a festive shirt for the 4th, I just can't seem to find one."
"Go over to Salina Tent and Awning, they'll make you a shirt in whatever color you want!"
"Amy, let's go measure your stomach!"
"Why would we do that?"
"I have a new 100 ft tape measure, it's a bendable one, it won't break when we put it around you."
"Chris help me up."
"Let me go get my power wench first."
Now go back up and reread the part where I said my husband has nice, lovely things to say to me and read it with sarcasm. He is such a butt!! Now I know why Madi keeps talking about the whale she is swimming with! I wonder who she got that from?!
Love, Amy
