Tuesday, January 30, 2007

good mail & a spoiled girl (make that 2!)

These past few days have been great ones for me to receive good mail, I have really needed a pick-me-up, and good mail certainly provides that!

I got this fun package from Amie: book order forms, a great talk on raising missionaries, super-cute "m" rub-ons, way cool circle tags, the tiniest cute little post-its, and a pack of gum. I love it all!

I got an actual letter from Claudia! I don't know why that thrills me so, probably because I know the effort involved in writting letters and I so rarely do it myself. It's hard to tell from the photo, but the envelope and ink are both metallic silver -- so pleasing, and such a nice letter.

Liz sent me a packet of gourmet hot cocoa, the cutest little magnets of world monuments, a cool architectural blank card, and some Hershey's kisses the likes of which I've never tasted (are they dark chocolate with raspberry?). So sweet!

(By the way, Marc noticed the magnets on the fridge and commented, "good mail, I presume?". Poor guy, I thought he got a card in yesterday's mail, but it turns out it was just a thank you note from the store where we bought our fridge! Not real satisfying, as good mail goes...)

Pam sent me such a fun package! She sent not one, but three pairs of super cozy socks. Imagine my delighted surprise when a lipstick rolled out of each pair! I don't know that I would trust myself to choose lipsticks for someone else, but Pam did a great job! (Pam, I don't think you have known that I have a bit of a lipstick fetish...) And did you know they still make Fruit Stripes gum? I haven't seen that in years and years, and my boys have already taken it over. Pam you are just too generous -- not that I'm complaining!

In other news, one of my sickies returned to school today, hooray! Lucas was definitely doing better and although I think he was getting used to the easy life of lounging at home and playing lots of video games, we told him it was time to head back to class.

Now that Max is on antibiotics too, he seems to be improving a lot as well. I'm hoping we can get him back to school tomorrow (crossing my fingers). I went in to the school today to get some of his homework and one of his classmates asked me if he was dead (he was kidding). I'm sure they're wondering if he's ever coming back at this point -- to which I answer with a resounding YES.

I don't want to count my chickens, but it's possible that Eva is doing a little better too. She needs more cough medicine every night between 1:00 - 1:30 a.m. Last night I heard her coughing like crazy, so I headed in with another dose. Instead of sitting up as she usually does in such cases, she was still lying down, so I stood there hesitating, wondering if she was really awake enough to take the medicine. Suddenly she said, "blanket. pink blanket.", thus solving that mystery and making me burst out laughing.

I'm convinced that one of the great trials of my life is going to be getting that girl to eat. Something, anything! (well, not cookies, she does just fine with those.) I feel like every day is spent in my offering one food after another, only to have her reject them completely, or take a tiny nibble. At this point I wouldn't even care if she always wanted to eat the same thing -- it would just be wonderful to know that there was a food she would reliably eat!

This is a picture of Eva looking in the pantry. She does this many times a day. She does get hungry, she just doesn't want to eat anything but treats! And -- no joke -- when I got up this morning I saw that her dad had given her a lollipop for breakfast. (We do have a stash of dum-dums, but I reserve them for when we're running errands and I need a bribe.) When I asked him about that, he claimed she just wanted it soooo much, he couldn't resist. Arggghhhh! No wonder she's holding out for the sweet stuff!


It's not just treats, oh no. This little girl has her daddy completely wrapped around her finger. Here she is lounging on the couch, getting him to play "this little piggy" with her toes ad infinitum. He also falls victim to the "circle babies" game that Eva invented, in which one must take each crayon one is offered and proceed to draw small circles, while Eva exclaims with delight: "green circle baby! tiny purple circle babies!". Is it any wonder she can't wait until he comes home?

When I was titling this post, I made reference to a spoiled girl (Eva). But then, after looking at all my good mail, I realized that that makes two of us. Being a mother to a spoiled girl = not so fun. Being a spoiled girl = pretty darn fun!

28 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Glad everyone is starting to feel better.
What fun packages!

Amanda said...

You are spoiled with good mail! How fun! Everyone is sick at our house, too--glad to hear that yours are doing better. What are your plans for creative Friday? Maybe you can sponsor a cyber-Friday club with those of us who want to do a creative Friday with friends but don't have the "crafty" friends to do it with!! :)

Robyn said...

Wow, it sounds like you are in dire need of good mail and acts of kindness lately. I think I would go absolutely crazy if all my kids were sick like yours! I hope for your sake that they are all better VERY soon. I love the punch card comment by Jill. Seriously, I hate paying for co pays and medicine.

Please share the name of the article from Amy- it sounds like a good one.

Jordan said...

My Lucy is partial to her Dad as well. I'm glad he can dole out the kisses when I'm perhaps not in the mood after wrestling with her and her two-year-old antics all day! Glad your family is regaining health--we are finally through with what I hope was our last round this winter.

melanie said...

How fun! I love all of your Good Mail! I haven't gotten a real letter forever, that would be a nice treat.

Maybe the healthy thoughts are working. I'll keep sending them your way!

Who doesn't love cookies? She is a girl after my own heart!

Jill said...

Eva is definitely spoiled, but I'm so glad that you are too! Every time you post your multitude of good mail I can't believe my eyes. What a treat to get all those fun things and to know so many people are thinking of you. It's really a wonder that you wait until Marc brings in the mail everyday.

Elisa said...

Eva is so cute! I love it when my little girl makes me laugh in the middle of the night. It makes being up a bit better, and I have a story to tell my husband the next morning. I can't imagine holding out for treats when hunger strikes. I swear I would eat anything. Persistence and determination are good qualities once toddler hood is over:)

Tasha said...

I hope hope hope all your kids are on the path to wellness soon!

Evie and Dave go upstairs for him to put her in bed and 45 minutes later they are still singing and reading... I often say that he would make a much better mom than me..

jenny said...

That is a whole lotta good stuff. Sounds like you really needed some after such a rough week.

I am glad your boys and hopefully Eva is on the mends. I think Weston is coming down with a fever and flu. Rats!

You should talk with Angie about eating. Her Maryn doesn't really like anything either. Not even bread. You could have quite the conversation.

Anonymous said...

I adore the recounting of the "circle babies" ritual - this little exchange will now be remembered, as it should be. He can send her circle babies when she is at the dorms her first year away, and she will feel him.
I also liked your double-take on the word "spoil" - because though while acting as the mother of a spoiled daughter may not be fun, I am sure she happily takes your stance as the spoiled one, thinking her world is "pretty darn fun", just as you do!

Anonymous said...

You deserve to be spoiled! I'm so glad that you enjoyed your package, I did know that you had a love for lipsticks (I like remembering the little things). I had so much fun picking out colors, at one point I had 10 different tubes in my hand.

I love to get cards from Claudia, she just makes me smile.

I'm glad the hear that your house of ill is getting better. Eva is too cute.

everything pink! said...

i love seeing good mail being sent. it is seriously inspiring and makes me want to send some.

my sally jane never eats as well. and when she does it is so exciting.

you deserve all the goodness

Liz said...

So glad to hear that your kids are finally starting to feel better. I am with you on the punch card thing at the Drs office. I spend way too much time there!

Aren't those magnets the coolest!? And, yes those are dark chocolate kisses with raspberry. I thought it might be fun to try, and they are kind of tasty. :) Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

I am always overwhelmed with the amount of good mail you receive! If you didn't post it for all to see, I might doubt the reports! How fun it is! It is fun to read your reports as I have spent the last three days getting up at 4:15 AM to catch a train to NYC for the gift show.....it gets so old, yet it is usually inspiring and productive. Did you, Jill and Jessie forget that I wanted to place the paper order while there???Send it whenever, I did pick up the latest catalog while there and you might want to see it before you complete your order. Hope all the kids get well soooooooon! Love to all,

jenn said...

Hip Hip Hooray- I love when kids go back to school! Especially after being sick. Then I feel like I can wash sheets and open windows to purge our house of all the germs, even though the next kid gets it within twelve hours of the last and this time, I was the one to get it....
the joys of germs and being the mom!

Anonymous said...

Why don't you make up a receipe for oatmeal cookies that could be a breakfast (or lunch or dinner, for that matter!) substitute??!!! Lots of fiber, raw or brown sugar, raisins, nuts for protein, hey, why not??? Perhaps Eva would eat that for a day or so.....just a thought! I suppose you have tried all manner of breakfast type bars. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Why don't you make up a receipe for oatmeal cookies that could be a breakfast (or lunch or dinner, for that matter!) substitute??!!! Lots of fiber, raw or brown sugar, raisins, nuts for protein, hey, why not??? Perhaps Eva would eat that for a day or so.....just a thought! I suppose you have tried all manner of breakfast type bars. Good luck!

Kelly said...

Really, how can you NOT give in to such a cute little bug? I love that her dad gave her suckers for breakfast.

I have a spoiled little girl who also happens to be the caboose and the only girl. We are doomed!

Diana said...

Eva is so grown up for her age.. what a doll. I love how verbal she is. Jessie tells me the things Eva says and it just amazes me
You have some yummy food in your pantry. Eva needs to start liking something soon... no wonder she is so tiny.

Anonymous said...

Michelle--I feel your pain on the toddler food issue. My Oliver is exactly the same. It makes me nuts! He always is perfectly willing to eat some junk--but little else. And if he opens the fridge one more time . . .

I'm glad the sick kiddos are on the road to recovery.

Crystalyn said...

so glad you're getting spoiled! super fun! hanna has her dad wrapped tightly around her finger as well. it's somewhat amusing although at times frustrating when they cave over the silliest things. those little girls...too funny! glad everyone is starting to feel better.

Melinda said...

That is so nice that you got all that great mail! So fun to get.

It is always nice to be able to send the kids back to school, to get back on that schedule.
Don't all little girls have their daddys wrapped around their fingers? I know that is how it is in our house!

amy gretchen said...

Great mail! You definitely deserve it. It's good to hear at least someone has gone back to school and that things are looking up for the other 2.

I am with you with the eating. Megan doesn't want to eat anything unless it has sugar in it. I'm pretty good at just not giving her anything then, but of course I feel guilty she's not eating. It's an up hill battle and it sure doesn't help when dad comes home and feeds them whatever they want. Aargh!

Amie said...

You deserve to be spoiled after taking care of so many sickies. I'm glad the mail was good to you this week!

charlotte said...

That picture of Eva is too cute! And I'm sorry about the picky eating. I was really picky when I was little (although I don't think to that degree), and while I am still a little picky, it's gotten loads better since when I was little!

Shawna B. said...

What fun GOOD MAIL! Hooray for you, Michelle! It sounds like it all came at just the right time. You deserve it!

My second son barely eats. What's up with that? Why don't our children eat? Eating is so pleasant. My husband and I often ask ourselves how such a boy could come from the two of us who LOVE to eat!

Could you please share the name and author of the missionary article? Thanks!

annalisa said...

I love watching my husband melt around my daughter. Gratefully, she has yet to discover how much power she really has over him. I often find myself chastising him for giving in to her demands, but secretly I love how much he loves her.

Amy said...

You are a spoiled girl--and you deserve it. I'm glad you've gotten such good mail lately.

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