Saturday morning the four of us went to Monument Valley Park.  We went up on the bridge over the highway and train tracks and the boys got to watch trains go underneath them and get big rigs to honk their horns at them.  I ran 6 miles while they played at the playground and on the bridge with Doug.  Afterwards, we had lunch and nap time before heading to Doug’s parents house.

Saturday night was The Scott Family Christmas with dinner ordered in from Olive Garden.  The boys were too excited to eat anything, of course.  The present opening was frenetic and chaotic – we only got presents for the kids (under 12) this year.   One family arrived late, and that pushed us out to after 9 PM, which is far too late for the boys to be up and not home.

Sunday morning was leisurely, and I went for another run before The Carpio Family Christmas at 1:30 PM at my parents house.  We had great food and watched the Broncos game.  Again, we just did gifts for the kids, and my parents gave us all cash gifts  

We went home and Zander played one of his new XBox Godzilla games with dad and Zevan and I played Finding Nemo and Cars games on the Leapster.  We watched Little Einstein’s Christmas Wish episode and got the kids in bed, excited about Santa.  Doug and I watched MI:3 (great movie!) after doing final wrapping on the boys Santa gifts.

This morning Zander woke up around 5:30 AM coughing.  No fever or anything, just congested.  I gave him cough medicine, and laid with him a while, fretting a bit that we need more of it, and that everything will be closed today.

He woke up around 8:00 AM.  “Mom, is it Christmas Day?”  When I said yes, he bounded out of bed and ran downstairs.  He came upstairs, all excited… “Mom!  There’s a lot more presents under the tree!”   He went to wake up Zevan and Dad,  “It’s a big day!  It’s Christmas Day!”

“What should we do first?  Open presents or eat breakfast?” he asks with a big grin

It was so cute!  Zevan came running, “Oh, it’s Christmas!”   

So, of course we opened gifts first, and it was really nice.  They are spending the morning playing with their new toys, with the usual possessive tussles.    But, mostly giggling and laughing (and screaming in glee).

Today will probably involve video games and we’ll watch The Cars movie after dinner.

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful friends!  I hope the rest of your day is filled with cozy snuggling, unexpected hugs, big smiles and love, love, love! 

Zander and I had a fight this morning because of his exuberant aggressiveness.    He had already had a time out for kicking near my head after being told not to SEVERAL times.   When I was getting Zevan dressed, he hit me with one of their little chairs and I snapped and  screamed at him.     One of those “not so proud” moments.  He cried for long minutes and laid down in our bedroom with a baba and cried more.  I concentrated on finishing getting Zevan dressed and being pleasant to Zevan.

Zander kept doing that thing where he stops crying, then listens for me, then dramatically cries some more if he senses me in the vicinity. 

After a while, he was done, and things were fine again.  Then I asked him to get dressed while I made breakfast.  More refusals.

He stormed upstairs and told me that he was done with me and he didn’t want to live in the same house as me and he wanted to be just with his dad.

“Fine.” I said and walked away.

He came down about 10 minutes later while I was putting the vacuum cleaner together.  He said that he did want me to be his mom.  We had hugs.  Then he was Mr. Helpful. “Is there anything I can help with down here?”  ” Do you need a big strong boy to help you with that?”

We finished assembling it together and things were okay.

Later, I was in my office, and he brought one of his broken toys for me to fix.  I fixed it.  I said, I’m glad you want me to be your mom.” 

He said, “Me, too.  I want you to be my mom.  I never want to be without your love.“ 

I hugged him to me and said in his ear, “You will *never* be without my love.  No matter what, you will *always* have my love.“

I still can’t believe he said that.     Is he really 4 years old?

We went to grandma & grandpa’s for breakfast this morning.  Then I took my van to Discount Tire to finally get my snow tires on.  While I waited, I shopped at Target, which is in the same shopping center (Platte & Academy).  Just walking across the parking lot was perilous.  Cold and windy and very snowy.  75 minutes later, when I called, they were finishing up with my van, so I trekked back across the parking lot.

As I tried to get on Academy, there was a lot of traffic backed up.  Then I saw a gap ahead.  A lot of people were unable to get up the slight hill at the light.  With my new snowtires, I was able to get up and past the cars sliding around at the light.  Instead of going home, I decided to go back to grandma & grandpa’s to regroup before taking the boys home.  I didn’t want Doug’s dad to have to drive the boys home and then back to his house in this weather!  I called Doug, and he was headed home from work early.

After a stop at the Wendy’s drive thru, I made it back to their house, and into a foot high drift in their driveway.  After lunch, we hung out for a while, and then I decided to try and make it home.  My wipers froze up and I had to get out at a stoplight to get the ice off of them.  Brrr.     As long as I went slow and steady, we did fine.  Took me 3 tries to get on our street and up our driveway, but I did it.  I’m glad to be home.  But we really need groceries.  Not sure when I can do that.

I wanted to finish up our shopping today, but I have to go too far to do it with the roads in this condition.  Yuck.  I may have to miss playdate tomorrow to get everything done that I didn’t do today. 

Good news.     Dr. Derkson stands by his original diagnosis of retractile testicles.  He brought in another urologist to check Zander, and Dr. Simon concurred.

Surgery is NOT necessary.  They each were adamant about it, and individually said that any doctor that would do surgery 1) would fail their boards 2) would be considered malpractice.

When puberty (!) hits, around 12-13 years old, his testicles will be larger, and they will drop.  There is nothing we need to do to “help” him along.  He is fine, and this won’t affect his fertility.

They assured me that they *could* do surgery to bring them down, but it would be unnecessary.  Dr. Derkson said that while he LOVES to do surgeries, he won’t do unnecessary ones.  I just wanted to 

I am going to see if I can just have a phone consultation with Dr. Furness, so I don’t have to subject Zander to more tickling of his tentacles.  Meanwhile, a little more research for me.

So, Zander didn’t want to go to the doctor, and I was explaining that he had to be checked so he could have a baby with his wife some day.  He looked at me earnestly and said, “Mom, you are going to be my wife.”   

I kept trying to figure out why he didn’t want to go.  This is what he finally told me, “Remember last time?  I had to get those shots that hurt me.”        I assured him that there would be no shots at this appt.  Things were fine after that.

So.  We might still go back annually for a check, or I just might get over my anxieties and let it be until he’s older.  Dr. Derkson said either would be fine with him.  DEEP BREATH. 

All that matter now is that he’s fine.  And doesn’t need surgery.    

Maybe now I can quit crying at the drop of a hat.

I kind of OD’d on chocolate today.  After Zander’s appt we went to Josh and John’s and I got a cocoa fusion with chocolate peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream.  O. M. G.   They start with a scoop of Ghiradelli chocolate chips, then add some very rich hot cocoa.  THEN they add a scoop of your choice of ice cream and top it with REAL whipped cream.  It is to die for.  I wasn’t able to finish mine.  I actually got chocolated-out.  I didn’t think it was possible.   

I’ve been having this weird cry-at-the-drop-of-a-hat feeling lately.  I can’t believe I called Kristi crying because I got lost on the way to her house for Kylie’s birthday party.  And the poor police officer who found me on the side of the road crying about it.  And my boys…”Don’t worry, Mama.  It’s okay.  We’ll find it.”  I ended up sobbing in Candy’s arms.   

It must be hormones.  I am just finishing up my period, so…

What I need is some dark chocolate and a Vanilla steamer from Starbucks, sweetie.

I can’t even read the news.  I cried twice this morning over a couple of articles in Newsweek.  Sigh.  I used to be such a hardass, what the hell is happening to me?!?!

I just came from a client meeting, then I need to go to the comic store to work until 6 PM, then dinner with my parents (Red Lobster – for my birthday!).  Tomorrow is Zander’s Parent/Teacher conference and his first urology appt. 

My birthday was a nice lazy day. When the boys came home, they both wished me a happy birthday.

I did have to work a few hours, but it was okay, interspersed with blogging and checking email.

When Doug went to the comic store, I spent time cuddling on the sofa with the boys watching Xiaolin Showdown.

Zevan even sang the Happy Birthday song to me…
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to mama…
Happy birthday to you

My dad came over and fixed my Christmas lights. He also bought us a new vacuum cleaner

Doug made me one of my favorite dishes for dinner – chicken curry with coconut milk. He even got some naan to eat with the meal. My dad came over and had dinner with us.

Then both boys sang Happy Birthday songs to me. And got my presents! A new running shirt and running gloves plus a gift certificate for a facial – woo hoo!

Doug and I watched some Daily Show episodes, and I watched Sex and the City after he went to bed. I worked a tiny bit more and am going to bed.

Yay for me!

We had a cocktail party last night for my birthday. It was so awesome! A kid-free, adult, wine & cheese party.

We lit lots of candles and got out all the wineglasses. Lots of eating, drinking and laughing. Lots of laughing. A wonderful surprise was to see Naomi – it has been 6 months since we’ve seen each other. Can you imagine? All my close girlfriends were there. It was just so fun!

Non-kid music, and a totally different atmosphere without kids running around and making all the kid noise. It was a great break. I mean, I love my kids, but sometimes I just want to be an adult!

Great presents – things I will actually use and enjoy! Booze, chocolate, candles, bath & beauty stuff… And a triple chocolate mousse cake from Marigolds for dessert! It was just FABULOUS! Exactly what I needed.

Perfect.

To top it all off, we slept in until 10:30 AM! Unheard of since the birth of the ZBoys. We’ve got some cleaning up to do, but it’s all good. I just had such a fun time with my friends.

It’s 1 PM, and I’m still in my pjs. Aaahhh…

My sister called today and let me know that 40 is the new 30… Good to know!