Daddy's Got A New Toy

The photog bug bit DaHubby hard years ago. He's hauled a large backpack full of camera gear around his annual treks into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness while his "canoe-mates" have taken fishing gear! LOL

Last fall and pre-Dave Ramsey, he just HAD to have a new camera that took AA batteries (can't do recharageables in the middle of the wilderness with no power) for his last trip. Well, that one somehow met its match.

When DaHubby and Flicka went on a daddy-daughter date last Friday night, DaHubby whipped out that camera which he is ALWAYS carrying to take some adoring shots of his beloved girl...only to find that the LCD screen on the back as broken rendering the camera useless.

While we would normally suspect that the Vikings had something to do with that, DaHubby and I also have a history of occasionally not being as careful with our tools and gear as we should be. We figure this camera came to an unnatural end one day in DaHubby's briefcase which gets bumped around pretty harshly.

Anyway, with our federal tax return recently burning a hole in our pockets awaiting its trip to Lowes and the dentist's bank account, DaHubby wanted to discuss a replacement. Now, I can use discipline and tell my babies "no" to just about anything...but DaHubby? Never! LOL He just simply works too hard for us! LOL Plus, our Dave Ramsey re-training has made him nearly as frugal and penny-pinching as me! So, I was less worried about him being extravagant.

So, after much research and web-surfing, DaHubby settled on a mid-ranged price replacement which takes significantly better pics than the old one.

He's been like a kid at Christmas taking pics and videos of EVERYTHING and these are two of my new favorites:

Leap Day baby revisited (UPDATED)

I was due on Leap Day 2004 with Flicka. Unfortunately, she did to me what I did to MY mom...I was 3 weeks late, Flicka was nearly 2 weeks late! LOL

I had mixed feelings about my due date. It was cool because it was something special but then the questions started to come from strangers and family: what if you actually deliver on that day? ANd, then I found out it was actually considered UN-lucky in some cultures.

The point became moot as I failed to go into labor and was considered 2 days late which became 5 days...7 days...10 days!

However, I still found Leap Day history, explanations, and traditions interesting...

"A tradition was introduced many centuries ago to allow women to propose to men during a leap year. This privilege of proposing was restricted to leap day in some areas. Leap day was sometimes known as “Bachelors’ Day”. A man was expected to pay a penalty, such as a gown or money, if he refused a marriage offer from a woman.

The tradition’s origin stemmed from an old Irish tale referring to St Bridget striking a deal with St Patrick to allow women to propose to men every four years. This old custom was probably made to balance the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way to how the leap day balances the calendar.

It was also considered to be unlucky for someone to be born on a leap day in Scotland and for couples to marry on a leap year, including on a leap day, in Greece."
From TimeAndDate.com

Anyway, as a wonderful wish to all...Happy Leap Day!

UPDATE TO ADD: And, to celebrate, here's some Walgreen's .29 coupons...good for just today!

Update on my SIL

Well, the news hasn't been good this week. After doing genetic tests on her particular leukemia, the results indicate she has a very rare type of leukemia that the cancer specialists at Chicago Rush have only seen 19 cases of...ever! And, of those 19, only one was able to find a bone marrow donor suitable enough and quickly enough to survive.

Luckily, Peggy has four surviving siblings! And, siblings are the single best chance for a bone marrow match. And, the statistics say it's a 1-in-4 chance a sibling is a match and she's got all four to "choose" from.

Outside the normal worries about what this means, this has hit me in an odd way too since I am a biological only child. I have half sisters but no full siblings. If this was me, outside God' divine intervention, I would most definitely be one of the 18 who wouldn't make it.

So, DaHubby waits for the call which might come next week to tell him when to start the screening process.

Meanwhile, Peggy has another bone marrow test this morning (in about 15 minutes actually) to see if the last 2 weeks of chemo has knocked the leukemia out for now and she'll be OK'd for a bone marrow transplant in about 2 weeks.

As always, your prayers are appreciated and pray as you are led.

Maybe it's the weather...

Brain-locked. Cabin fever. Survival mode.

And, I can SO relate to Karen's post recently where she said:

"But, I do feel like I have become more ’surface’ with the things I talk about here. I haven’t wrestled with much of anything meaningful in a long time.”

Other than my SIL's fight with leukemia (whose battle is not necessarily taking the path of least resistance), the biggest worry around here right now is coughing babies and Flicka's upcoming birthday party. With the exception of Peggy, not particularly earth-shattering. *sigh*

But, I've on more than one day after a morning busy with activities, errands, to-do's, or a combination of all of those can't help but sit down and be entirely exhausted at lunch time. And, I just can't get engaged or re-motivated through the afternoon...which should be my busiest time since the Vikings are taking their nap/quiet time.

And, I know I'm lacking downtime, time for my brain to percolate, work through "higher minded" issues because immediately upon leaving last night to run a couple errands after dinner with the Vikings are in the capable hands of DaHubby, I immediately starting thinking of more "deep" thoughts.

In the quiet of the car and the quiet of the darkened evening, everything came tumbling in for no apparent reason...thoughts about the possibility of a third child, for example. And, that I need to lose all fear, anxiety, and worry of the future since (according to Chris Tomlin):

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine

By the time the kids are in bed, I fall onto the couch or into bed with little interest in reading or other quiet pursuits because I can barely keep my eyes open. Plus, it is often the only time DaHubby and I get to talk.

So, I decided my brain just needs a retreat! LOL But, I haven't quite figured out how to make that happen since a momma's 24-7 job is never done and there's always something to clean up, someone to feed, or someone to keep from jumping off the couch! LOL

But, I did get a glimpse of God's promise and reminder that He will always care for me and I have nothing to fear or fret about in Tomlin's song on the car radio. As for the third child issue, well, that's definitely more up to God than us since DaHubby and I are too exhausted to even think about it! LOL

Called in the Cavalry

Today is pay day and grocery day. But, I have two sick little Vikings. No food in the house isn't really an option so I called in reinforcements - my in-laws. LOL They watched the Vikings while I made my rounds of Aldis, Meijers, Hardings, Rogers, and Martins for our week's supplies.

Flicka started at 102 this morning but seems to be feeling better. Pojke "relapsed", has had a sippy to drink, a couple piece of fruit and was in this the condition I found him in on the couch when I got home an hour and a half ago...


...and he's in the same position now!

Guess I'll be missing church again tonight...poor babies.

99.5...100.7...101.6

And, the second round of this crud begins...and it's Flicka's turn. *sigh*

Three

That's the number of entries I'll receive by posting about this cool toy giveaway contest at FreeStuff4Kids.net. Two great prizes. Eight entries possible per person. One great site. Check it out.