Monday, March 30, 2009

The Most Magical Place on Earth?!

Disney 2009; what an adventure. In January of 2007 I took all 3 kids to Disney (then 9, 5 & 3) by myself. After that debacle I vowed never to step foot in WDW ever again! But then my dear friend, and Disney Travel Agent, Gigi sent me an email detailing a fantastic deal. Buy 4 nights, get 3 free!!


My sister generously agreed to keep Kyleigh for the week, and so Jess, Kenny III and I were looking forward to a great week.

Unfortunately, the week of our departure my sister's grandfather (aged 90) had a stroke and was taken from Assisted Living to Brandywine Hospital. So my poor sister spent the week visiting and arranging....oh, and taking care of his 30 pound MINIATURE daschund, Mitzi. Who has never been fed dog food, had tapeworm, fleas and a yeast infection!!! My sister is a saint.

So we arrive on Friday afternoon and got settled, and enjoyed an amazing meal of Italian Wedding soup. And then for dessert we had a cake made out of long johns, heavenly.

We made it to bed and my sister drove the kids and I to Philadelphia Airport on Saturday morning.
We arrived in one piece and our room was ready! So we got into our bathing suits and headed to the pool for a swim and a bit of a rest. Then we got on a boat bound for Downtown Disney. Remember it is Saturday night, and it was a bit windy. So imagine my surprise when my mother's husband got me on the Nextel to tell me "You need to call home, Kyleigh cut her hair." I was thoroughly confused, as my mother is a hairdresser, and quite capable of fixing whatever Kyleigh may have done. It took quite a few tries for me to realize he was telling me that Kyleigh cut her HAND and my brother in law had taken her to the ER. Mind you, my sister was at Brandywine Hospital getting her grandfather discharged and returning him to Tel Hai, a good hour from Chester County Hospital where Kyle was taken.
Turns out, she had fallen, gashed open her wrist and required 4 stitches. The rest of our trip was uneventful, but upon returning to my sister's the following Saturday it was obvious the stitches needed to come out. But first, Dawn had noticed that Mitzi had been hobbling the last few days. She had been on a diet and had lost a good deal of weight, so my sister wasn't sure what the trouble was. I took one look at her paws and realized her toenails had grown full circle and were now growing back into her paw pads. So off we went to the Emergency Animal Hospital!!! They were so nice, and we were not there long and Mitzi is good as new.
After breakfast on Sunday a nurse friend of my sister's offered to take out Kyleigh's stitches. She screamed her full head off, I felt so badly for the poor woman who I am sure will think twice before offering her services again!!! After claming her and washing up we went to my mom's to properly celebrate my sister's birthday and our visit was cut a little short by a tornado, and hail that was reported to be 2 inches in diameter!!!! Fortunately no one was injured, but many mobile homes in the area were destroyed.
The next time I want to go away without Kyleigh, I think I will leave her with my in laws :)

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Kid Swapping (Thanks, 6 !)


I have a beautiful, angelic looking 5 year old... and she is a holy terror. She screamed non-stop for the first 3 years of her life. She was allergic to disposable diapers and the gel that they contain. Her skin is so fair she always bruises at the slightest touch and a simple mosquito bite looks like a huge welt. She will not sleep by herself and screams like a lunatic for no reason at all. She is smart as anything and not afraid to tell you exactly what she thinks of you. She is foolproof birth control.
Forget Planned Parenthood, just loan Kyleigh out to any teenager even considering mattress dancing.
I also have a boy. He never cried, ever. He ate when I wanted him to eat, slept when I wanted him to sleep and was joyful and happy every minute of every day. He is still an absolute delight. Even the rare temper tantrum is explosive, but brief and he always apologizes and is generous with the snuggles.
So when 6 mentioned his wife would like a girl, it got me thinking. I was jesting when I suggested we trade his 4 year old boy for my 5 year old girl, but why not? Maybe parents should take kids for a test drive. There are a whole lot of parents our there that should not be parents. Maybe if they had the opportunity to try before you buy they may have realized parenting is not for them.
Anyone want a moody, sullen, messy 12 year old girl? How about a really large puppy?! Both are precious when they want to be, but boy do they have their moments.
* Disclaimer: I adore my children, temper tantrums and all. But I seriously believe if people know what they were in for they would think twice.