overheard in the past two minutes

"I'm so popular, I have two gay guys who want to ask me to the dance!"

"The opening sound when you turn on the xBox is a D chord."

early morning musings with the dude

"Mama, when I have kids, I'm going to name them Calvin and Hobbes."

"Our family is a girl sandwich."

Things only drummers say #1

Liam: "Dad, are you packed?"

John: "Yep. You?"

Liam: "Yeah.  I just threw everything in my cajon."

even my seven year old understands evidence-based care...

My cousin just gave birth to her second baby.  Jackson had some questions this morning about pregnancy.  He wanted to know how the belly got that big.  Did it just happen one day while the mama was sleeping?  I told him about nine months of gestation, how the baby grows just a little each day. 

Kat: "One day, the baby decides he or she is all done inside and begins labor."

Jackson: "How does the baby decide it's time?"

Kat: "We don't really understand it.  Doctors have been trying to figure it out for years."

Jackson: "Well, maybe they should just leave that to the scientists to figure out."

I get by with a little help...

I am grateful that I am part of a supportive community of birth professionals.  there are not many people who would lend me their blender knowing what I planned to do with it.  thanks, Kristin. #365gratitude

beginning the year with gratitude

today I begin a #365gratitude project.

instead of feeling like I am ready to bid good riddance to 2013, I feel strangely fond of it.  I learned so much.  much through pain and tears, yes.  but so much.  I feel that the next step is to embrace this intentional practice of gratitude.  let the fun begin.

a poem by Liam Hickey

Drummer to Drummer

Life for me hasn't been
a nice drum set.

It had dented toms,

and old Sabian cymbals,

and a hole in the bass,

and a snare with no head -

gone.

But all the while

I still drum on it

and hitting it

and beating drumsticks on it

and sometimes I miss

where the timing gets rough.

So, drummer, don't you give up

don't drop your drumsticks

because it's hard to pick them up again.

Don't you give up

for I'm still hitting

And life for me hasn't
been a nice drumset.

I think you got your lions crossed.

When the kids have a normal childhood ailment like a rash or congestion, we don't take them to a normal doctor like normal people.  We take them to the chiropractor, who uses adjustments, nutrition (vitamins and herbs), muscle testing and emotional release techniques to help get to the bottom of the issue.  Shhhhhhh.  Don't tell anyone.  I think we may still appear normal to people who don't know us well.

So, Jackson has had a strange rash on his legs that started after he scratched open a nasty patch of mosquito bites.  Some muscle testing determined that he has an imbalance in his gall bladder area.  The gall bladder area is often connected to the emotions of anger and frustration.  The chiropractor asked Jackson if he was angry or frustrated about anything.  (sidebar: this technique is much more effective with adults and teens who think: "hmmmm... have I been angry or frustrated about anything in the last week or so?" whereas the seven year old can only think of how he is still angry with his sister for tossing her shoe at him in the car on the way to the appointment.)

Jackson [thinking]: "hmmmmmm..."

Kat: "We have been getting ready to go back to school and summer is coming to an end."

Chiropractor: "Jackson, how are you feeling about returning to school?"

Jackson: "Good."

He asks a few more questions about his teacher and school.  Jackson seems okay with it.

Chiropractor: "Jackson, how do you feel about summer coming to an end? Is there anything you wished that you had done?"

Jackson: [instantly angry] "YESSSS!  I did NOT get to go BUNGEE JUMPING!!"  He is near tears with frustration.

We all bust out laughing.  After we finally settle down, I try to compassionately approach the topic.

Kat: "Jack. Honey.  You have to be 18 years old to go bungee jumping..."

Jackson: "You do?!?"

Kat: "Yes, baby.  It's dangerous.  Kids can't do it."

Jackson: "But!  But!  I did it befowre!"

And then I instantly realize.  He means EuroBungy.

I ask him if he means EuroBungy and he does.  We explain to him what actual bungee jumping is.  He laughs hysterically.

This kid may have a little competitive streak

Jackson and I were talking about getting him adjusted.  He's battling a little cold/congestion and an adjustment always helps him get over it faster.  I had planned to take him right after school to Dr. Harkenrider, our chiropractor who does muscle testing.  It's helpful to figure out exactly what supplements the kids are calling for to help them heal faster.  Because of the kids' pick up schedule this afternoon, though, we just couldn't fit it in.  I mentioned to him that maybe we could ask Dr. Heath if he had time to adjust Jackson later.  He thought about this for a few minutes and then randomly said:

Jackson: "Woudn't it be funny if Dr. Harknrider and Dr. Heaf had a face off to see who waz a better chiroprackter?"

Not sure he gets it

Jackson: "Didjou and Daddy go to the same skool?"

Kat: "No.  But our schools were close together."

Jackson: "How far apart?  Like me and Maddie's skool?"

Kat: "No, just a little farther than that.  About 10 minutes apart."

Jackson: "Did Daddy and Uncle Sean go to school togever?"

Kat: "Yes, they went to the same school?"

Jackson: "Did dey know each'over before dey went to skool togever?"