Adventures in Parenting....(a dog)

We have decided that a dog is the first step to test whether one is ready for children. Everyone should be required to have a pet of some kind before deciding they are worthy of parenthood. Thus our adventure this week.

Woody had been scratching a lot for a long time and like every good parent we hoped it would just go away. It didn't so we finally broke down and took him to the vet. Turns out he has allergies (go figure) and the vet started him on an experimental drug. Yes, our dog is a test subject. Part of the treatment is a week of baths every other day and then a spray every third day. Fun stuff!

Have you every tried giving a dog a bath? Much less in the guest bathroom? Quite the adventure. He has figured out that running water is not a good thing when it comes to the bathroom. It is harder and harder to catch him and drag him to the bathroom. Once in the tub he submits to the fact that he is getting a bath so it is pretty easy. Afterwards, it is interesting to try and herd him outside before he shakes all over the house. We have mildly succeeded so far! However, there is one more bath to go! Hopefully he won't put up too much of a fight!

After this (and dog vomit/diarrhea), kids should be easy!!!

Exciting News!!!!

Some exciting news to share with you from the Cramer household. Are you ready??? Mindy is engaged!!!! Her fiance proposed on top of the Empire State Building today during her break from the cruise ship she's on. After the proposal, she had to get back on the ship for another two week stint. We only talked briefly before she lost cell signal but she was giddy and very excited. I am too!! Congrats Mindy and Doug! We can't wait for the big day (maybe Playa del Carmen??)

Tough Decision

I love my job so much but one of the toughest things about it is making decisions that impact the futures of my children. One of these decisions is upcoming and I'm struggling with what to do. I feel as though I'm not meeting the educational needs of one student and would like to place him/her at another campus. This student is struggling to keep up with peers and I feel it is in his/her best interest to move. However, the campus I'm looking at serves the MR students for deaf ed. This is where my struggle comes in....should I be giving up on a "normal" paced education for the student at the tender age of 10? It is not a decision I take lightly and can only hope that I make the best choice!

Things I learned (or confirmed) about my husband....

this weekend. It was nice because we had a weekend with just the two of us and tons of time to spend together (it's been a while since this has happened). I can honestly say it was a fantastic weekend and I didn't do anything exciting. In the course of spending time with Joel I learned (or confirmed) the following things.

1. While he is a big Buckeye fan, he is not the craziest or the nuttiest one out there! We went to watch the game this weekend at the OSU alumni party. Talk about some obsessed fans! I usually don't go to these things but decided to since he would be alone and I had nothing else to do. I'm glad I went and got to spend time with him. It also helped they won the game!

2. He is really great around kids. We went to see one of our friends new baby, Taylor. She is precious! While I was holding her, Joel was entertaining Ryan. It was fun to see. I've know he is good with kids (toddlers especially) but it's always nice to reconfirm.

3. He wants to take care of me. For example, he gave me the best route to go to the courthouse for jury duty. It's a small thing but I appreciated it b/c then I could sleep in longer!

4. He loves me unconditionally more than I could put into words. We had some real conversations this weekend and I've never felt more loved or at peace than when I'm with him.

5. He is excited we are spending Christmas here in McKinney (even though we were supposed to go to Ohio). He is even excited my family is going to join us! Me too! I only wish that his mom could come too.

I'm sure there are lots more things I could list. But for now this will do. I just want everyone to know how special Joel is and how much I love him! I love you Joel!!

Babies, babies, babies

Everywhere I turn I seem to be surrounded by babies or expectant moms. Three of our friends had new baby girls this week. Welcome to the world Ava, Riley, and Taylor! We can't wait to watch you grow and become young women. It makes me so excited to some day have children of my own!

This made me wonder (among other things) why some people can have kids without even trying (and really don't want them) and others who really want kids have such a hard time having them. It just doesn't seem fair. I have come to the conclusion though that if we are blessed with children I will cherish them so much more because of the road we took to get there. Thanks to all of your for your thoughts, prayers and support!

A Panhandle Wedding

Sorry this took so long to post but it has been an exhausting beginning of the week. We survived the wedding and had a great time hanging out with the family. Some highlights of the weekend included: catching up with my cousins Lori, Nate and Marcy; meeting Mindy's new beau Doug; my dad's surprise toast to all three of us girls and mom; the great food Paul's family fixed for the reception.

The wedding turned out beautiful thanks to lots of hard work from my mom, aunt, sister and the husbands! We spent all day Friday decorating everything and finished up final touches on Saturday. It went off without a hitch (even the weather cooperated!) I've posted some pictures for you all to enjoy (if you want to see more let me know and I'll send you a link to them). Hope you had a great (but not as exhausting) weekend as well!

Texas Fair Adventures

I am exhausted but I survived the annual trip to the fair today with the kids. There is nothing like corralling deaf children and adults in large crowds at the fair. I felt like I spent all day counting to seven (the number of my kids) and yelling at them to pay attention where they were going and mind their manners.

One of my boys kept wandering off and so about the fifteenth time it happened I finally told him, "Fine! Go off again. I don't care. But when you get lost and the policemen try to call me I'm not going to answer my phone. You will just have to stay here and be lost!" He really pondered this and didn't leave the group again! I love little white lies to the kids....makes them wonder when you are serious. All in all we had fun and covered a lot of ground (highlights included Big Tex talking, the huge cow "Peter the Great" and lunch with Texas shaped nachos!). I remember now why this is a once a year occasion for me!

Now we are off to Amarillo for the big wedding. We will be back Sunday so I'll post details then. Have a great weekend!

My day off....and weekend

I had Friday off because it was our state fair day. I never knew schools took a day off for the fair until I moved to Dallas. I made the mistake of going one year on the same day the kids have their tickets for. Never again will I do that!!! Not a way to spend a relaxing day off. Needless to say, I don't enjoy the fair. I know several of you will disagree with me but I'm tainted by the fact I have to go with the kids on a field trip every year. Chasing and corralling deaf children will taint your experience greatly!

So what did I do instead on my day off you ask? I spent the better part of Friday driving around looking for the scrapbooking magazine that Aimee got published in. Oh, the things I'll do for friendship! (Just kidding Aims!) I needed to run errands anyway and decided to combine the trips. First I went to Hobby Lobby to get some scrapbooking stuff for my neice's Christmas gifts and didn't find the magazine. So I scooted across the street to Target in hopes they would have it. Of course not, because that would be too easy. By this time I needed to head towards Frisco and my hair appointment so I went to the mall. (Sidenote: I hate the mall in Frisco b/c they are doing construction all around it and traffic is a nightmare!) I went to Barnes and Noble and still did not find the mag. I stopped at J.C. Penny's to look for something for Joni's wedding but left empty handed. I then went to eat and to my hair appointment. Afterwards, I stopped at Jo-Ann's (thinking a craft store would carry the magazine) but no luck. I decided to make one final stop at the scrapbooking store down from Jo-Ann's. Eureka!!! I finally found the magazine. I bought it and came home to read it. I'm so proud of Aimee's layout and only wish I were half as creative with my scrapbooks! Maybe I need some lessons from her.....

The rest of my weekend was spent having a fabulous party at the Dinner Station with some girlfriends, watching Buckeye football (Go Bucks!!), working on the girls' Texas trip scrapbooks, church and lesson plans. It was a great 3 day weekend. Too bad it's back to the grindstone!

A Trip to Canton and other tales

I went on a road trip yesterday to Canton with Holly and Justin for first Monday. We had a lot of fun!!! Justin was such a trooper. He wins husband of the month award for hauling our things around and not complaining once! Holly and I found lots of "bargains" (or at least what we perceived as bargains). We have several crafts to complete now that we have ideas and items. I can't wait to start. I've got a window to paint, metal platters to paint and a cute message board with chicken wire to create. Fun stuff! The best part was buying "pumpkamelons" at the end of the day!

In not so fun stuff, I have a dr appointment with my ob/gyn tomorrow. (I know you are all jealous!!) I'd love your thoughts and prayers in hopes that we can resolve some issues that I'm having (I won't bore you with details but call me if you want to know them!). Hopefully things will go well and we can get some answers. Joel may not tolerate the Dr. Jeckel and Hyde routine for much longer!!! :)