My husband has been asked to participate in an intervention. It's for the son of a good friend of ours. At the very least, he has a problem with alcohol and has been spiraling downward for years now - filing for bankruptcy and getting what I believe was his 2nd DUI. The meeting is happening at this very moment and I'm anxiously awaiting to hear how it went. My husband and I worked on his letter for the intervention together and the interventionist suggested the book Love First by Jeff and Debra Jay (which I read and gave my husband the "cliff's notes" version of). The book was amazing. I learned so much from it. It actually gave me hope and has me thinking about the possibility of planning an intervention of my own. I have a younger sister who has a substance abuse problem. We, as a family, have been trying to "just accept" it for years - feeling like there was nothing we could do but wait for her to hit her "rock bottom" and finally allow us to help her.
Update: The intervention went as well as it could've! Our friends' son was very surprised at the confrontation but not hostile, very humble and appreciative and willing to get help. The interventionist has already taken him to the treatment facility chosen by his family and we're hopeful that he will do well.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Heath Ledger (1979-2008)
It was just announced that Heath Ledger was found dead in his Manhattan apartment about an hour ago. How terribly sad - 28 years old. I loved him in Brokeback Mountain (yes - I watched and actually really enjoyed that movie) and was looking forward to seeing him as the Joker in the Batman movie this Summer.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Foolish Questions
Mary and her husband, Mike, have embarked on a 72-day trip with plans on visiting every Disney theme park in the world!
Follow them via their blog!
Follow them via their blog!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Mickey!!!
We enjoyed an amazing trip to Orlando and Disneyworld in July of last year but haven't been to Disneyland (here in California) since we celebrated the kids' 6th and 7th birthdays there in 2006. I decided that it was time to head back to Anaheim and we're now planning a trip for Spring Break in March. I know - I know - it's a horrible time to go. Everyone and their Mother will be there. The weather is great in the Spring, though, and the kids are off school - the timing just works! We'll deal - fortunately, my kids are pretty good at waiting in line and the crowds don't freak my son out now like they used to.
I haven't decided whether I'm going to book the trip on my own or buy a package. Disneyland offers packagess as does Costco and AAA. Doing it on my own will end up costing us the least but booking through someplace gives extra perks that I couldn't get otherwise - character calls (the kids got one in 2006 when they turned 6 and 7 and thought it was great), early entry into Toontown, prefered seating at shows, free parking at the parks etc...
I'd love to stay at the Grand Californian again. For a few years, that's the only place we stayed. Their rates have gone up dramatically, though, and I just can't see spending $500/night for the same room that we used to pay $150 for. We'll see... We've had good luck in the past with the Marriott Anaheim Suites and might do that again. There are definite benefits to staying at one of the Disney properties but I'm not sure the benefits are worth $300+/day.
I haven't decided whether I'm going to book the trip on my own or buy a package. Disneyland offers packagess as does Costco and AAA. Doing it on my own will end up costing us the least but booking through someplace gives extra perks that I couldn't get otherwise - character calls (the kids got one in 2006 when they turned 6 and 7 and thought it was great), early entry into Toontown, prefered seating at shows, free parking at the parks etc...
I'd love to stay at the Grand Californian again. For a few years, that's the only place we stayed. Their rates have gone up dramatically, though, and I just can't see spending $500/night for the same room that we used to pay $150 for. We'll see... We've had good luck in the past with the Marriott Anaheim Suites and might do that again. There are definite benefits to staying at one of the Disney properties but I'm not sure the benefits are worth $300+/day.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
New Year's Day Accident
My darling boy just had to have 2-wheeled Razor Scooter for Christmas. "All of the big boys ride them" apparently. He got one and was on it every waking hour for a week.
On New Year's Day, he hit a rock - or a patch of grass - or a crack in the sidewalk - or something - and broke his fall, unfortunately, with his beautiful little face. The poor child looked like a car accident victim - I honestly don't think I've ever seen so much blood. I rushed him into the house (and to a sink) and quickly learned that he had apparently landed on the left side of the afore-mentioned beautiful face. He had "road burns" on his left forehead, left cheek, the left side of his nose and his upper (fat) lip. His nose was bleeding (and purple) and, much to my chagrin, his top central incisor (on the left) - an adult permanent tooth - was hanging 1/2" lower than its partner on the right side.
Oh boy...
I, making every effort not to vomit, rushed him to the couch and asked that he remain still and quiet while I tried to call our pediatric dentist. I didn't expect for them to answer, of course, on New Year's Day - but I was hopeful that the exchange could transfer me to one of the dentists at the practice. After listening to the phone ring for 15 minutes, the exchange finally answered and promptly patched me through - to the office manager! She had no dental advice for me and simply suggested that we visit the ER for "some anti-biotics or something".
Feeling that this was unacceptable and less than helpful, my husband called an orthodontist friend of his from his Rotary group who wanted nothing more than to assist us. Unfortunately, he was in Lake Tahoe for the holiday. He urged us to push the tooth back up into the socket and hold it there until we found a dentist somewhere who would "splint" the tooth - our only chance at saving it.
My husband then called our dentist. He does not see children (and won't, we learned, even in an emergency) but he did want to help. He called back within 10 minutes and gave us information on a pediatric dentist who was ready to meet us at his office.
Bless this man's selfless heart - he was wonderful! As we pulled up, he was unlocking his office door and turning on lights. His rapport with my son was fantastic and his personality affable and kind. He, without delay, splinted the loose teeth (turns out that the right central incisor was loose as well) to my sons' canines as his lateral incisors have not come down far enough yet to provde enough support. The procedure went quickly and I couldn't have been more thankful for this dentist. He told me that if we'd have waited until the following morning, there's a good chance it would've been too late. He's hopeful that the tooth will re-root and that all will be fine in 4 weeks when we go back to have the brace removed.
My son was a real trooper. He looked like he'd been in a fight (and had his ass kicked!) but he tolerated it all - and the metal wire now in his mouth - like a champ. He's enjoying the daily trip to Jamba Juice!
Life with a BOY, I guess!
On New Year's Day, he hit a rock - or a patch of grass - or a crack in the sidewalk - or something - and broke his fall, unfortunately, with his beautiful little face. The poor child looked like a car accident victim - I honestly don't think I've ever seen so much blood. I rushed him into the house (and to a sink) and quickly learned that he had apparently landed on the left side of the afore-mentioned beautiful face. He had "road burns" on his left forehead, left cheek, the left side of his nose and his upper (fat) lip. His nose was bleeding (and purple) and, much to my chagrin, his top central incisor (on the left) - an adult permanent tooth - was hanging 1/2" lower than its partner on the right side.
Oh boy...
I, making every effort not to vomit, rushed him to the couch and asked that he remain still and quiet while I tried to call our pediatric dentist. I didn't expect for them to answer, of course, on New Year's Day - but I was hopeful that the exchange could transfer me to one of the dentists at the practice. After listening to the phone ring for 15 minutes, the exchange finally answered and promptly patched me through - to the office manager! She had no dental advice for me and simply suggested that we visit the ER for "some anti-biotics or something".
Feeling that this was unacceptable and less than helpful, my husband called an orthodontist friend of his from his Rotary group who wanted nothing more than to assist us. Unfortunately, he was in Lake Tahoe for the holiday. He urged us to push the tooth back up into the socket and hold it there until we found a dentist somewhere who would "splint" the tooth - our only chance at saving it.
My husband then called our dentist. He does not see children (and won't, we learned, even in an emergency) but he did want to help. He called back within 10 minutes and gave us information on a pediatric dentist who was ready to meet us at his office.
Bless this man's selfless heart - he was wonderful! As we pulled up, he was unlocking his office door and turning on lights. His rapport with my son was fantastic and his personality affable and kind. He, without delay, splinted the loose teeth (turns out that the right central incisor was loose as well) to my sons' canines as his lateral incisors have not come down far enough yet to provde enough support. The procedure went quickly and I couldn't have been more thankful for this dentist. He told me that if we'd have waited until the following morning, there's a good chance it would've been too late. He's hopeful that the tooth will re-root and that all will be fine in 4 weeks when we go back to have the brace removed.
My son was a real trooper. He looked like he'd been in a fight (and had his ass kicked!) but he tolerated it all - and the metal wire now in his mouth - like a champ. He's enjoying the daily trip to Jamba Juice!
Life with a BOY, I guess!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
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