Lions, and Tigers, and Bears oh my!

We made a trip to the County Zoo on Saturday and had a blast!  Right now there is an exhibit where you can go in with free flying birds (mostly parakeets but still cool) and feed them.  

Gabe, my Mom and I went in.  Mike hung out and waited for us outside.  He does NOT like birds. So we got out stick with food stuck onto it and went in.  It was so neat.  I ended up with several birds at one time on my arm all fighting for the food.  Gabe got to pet several and he thought feeding them was a blast.

At the end of the day we HAD to ride the train.  Gabe had been calling for the Choo Choo all day.  Every time we crossed the tracks he puts his hand on his forehead like a salute and looks both ways and hollers for it.    The line was looooong though so we had to wait through 2 trains before we got on.  He was definitely a tired kid by then.  So he doesn't really look like he is enjoying himself but he's been talking about it since so he must have had fun.

Next year I think we'll buy a pass so we can go a couple of times.  We didn't actually get to see everything in one day because it's just too long of a day still.  I think we were there about 3 hours.  Gabe napped a little in the car on the way there but didn't nap at all after we left and I really thought he would.    

We stopped at the humane society on the way home too.  The one was stopped at is so nice I don't feel guilty just visiting.  We were checking out dogs.  It will probably be a year or more before we seriously consider a dog and NOT a puppy but it was fun to look.   I think 4 cats will be enough to keep us busy for awhile.  Until we have the house settled and a fence a dog isn't something we'll really talk about.  

Another summer weekend gone so fast.  I can't believe that June is almost over.  Where does the time go?!  I want more weekends with the family where the weather is nice. 

Blarg!

So it's hot hot hot, and HUMID too.  90 degrees out still and it's almost 7:30pm here.   

Mike is home from work for the whole week.  He's doing steroids again.  At least they're doing oral again instead of having to go in and get stuck with needles (no one needs more needles).   We have the AC running and we're just hanging out inside now.  

Hopefully the steroids will help, and Mike won't be too cranky on them.  Steroids always make ya cranky.  I did get orange juice which helps with the potassium loss during it.  Now if I can just convince Gabe to not drink all of it will be in good shape. 

Just figured I better update since I mentioned Mike hadn't been feeling great.   This too shall pass. 

Half Birthday

Holy cow I forgot to post yesterday.  Gabe was officially 2 1/2 yesterday.  Where the HECK did half the year go? 

He's such a great kid.  He's stubborn as can be but he is so sweet.  He loves to give hugs and kissed to Mike and me and loves when Grandma comes over.   He loves to "ride" bikes and play outside.  He can run around for hours, I can't wait til we have a fenced yard.   

He was laying with his head on my lap yesterday evening while we watched Jeopardy and I just couldn't believe how big he is.  He's definitely not a baby anymore but a wonderful, smart, precocious little boy.   

In other news Mike has been home from work Monday night and last night. He's feeling like crap and waiting for the doctor to call him back.  It's fabulous when the doctor doesn't call back by end of business like you were promised.   Hopefully they'll call back early today so we know what's going on. 

Good Night Moon, Good Night Stars

This is probably a pretty common book in many of our lives. Who doesn't know Good Night Moon?

We don't actually read this book, a slew of others yes but I'm not sure we even own that one.

What we do get each and every night before bed is Gabe going "night kiki (kitty), night truck, night cars, night dog, night cards" And he has to go around the living room and wave at each of them and if the cat lets him he kisses her before bed too. It's so freaking adorable I had to make sure I wrote it down.

I love that kid.

Job offers

Mike came home and told me there is an opening at his current employer, for his job on first shift (he's on third shift now). He wanted to talk to me before posting for it because there would be a pay cut right off the top. He'd lose his shift premium which would be 15% of his total pay. That's a BIG pay cut ($4000+ a year).

I told him I didn't care, we'll figure it out somehow. He's GOT to get off of 3rd shift it's horrible for his health. I mean no one should work third shift but a guy with MS really shouldn't be working 3rd shift. It's impossible for him to get enough sleep, impossible for him to go to school etc.

I'm actually hoping we'll be poor enough to really qualify for some things at least. We were JUST over the $$ cut off before so cutting that much off of our income probably will "help". I'll just have to figure out if I'm going to keep working or if I'll quit my job and be the one to go to school or if DH will go to school on the weekends/nights. My mom says she can watch Gabe some to help out too.

I'll probably look into state funded health care if he does get it since then we could save the money we pay in premiums now ($400/month) which would be better too but I worry about Mike being able to see his regular neurologist that way, getting the RIGHT meds and not whatever they tell him he needs etc.

I know I'm REALLY putting the horse before the cart but it's better for me to think things out before it happens just in case so I can have a plan in place IF it does. The way things go at his employer though I won't be holding my breath but extra prayers and positive thoughts would be nice.

He ate it!

Before I could get to him Gabe ate a cat treat.  You know one of those squishy ones that comes out of a bag.   He had it because he likes to give the treats to the cats when they don't run away from him.  Suddenly though I turned around and he's chewing.  

I asked him to show me what was in his mouth and when he stuck out his tongue there is was, Oh well.  He did say YUM and lick his lips when he was done.  I better hide the rest or he'll be eating them all.  

I think that's the strangest thing he's eaten so far so I thought it deserved note.

Sometimes I wonder about that boy.

Please return to your regularly scheduled day. 

Cars, Cars, Cars

Gabe loves cars, big cars, little cars, trucks, trains, you name it.  He especially loves the move Cars though and I think Lighting Mcqueen might just be his hero.   

Now Gabe doesn't talk nearly as much as the other kids his age so when he gets something down it's worth celebrating.   Yesterday evening we were watching Cars, AGAIN, and at the end suddenly I hear "bah cow"  (Ca Chow).  It's Lighting's signature sound.  I just about died laughing.  When Mike got up I asked Gabe "what does lighting Mcqueen say?"  And he says "Bah cow" again.  Mike and I both busted up laughing.  

Now you do Ta-Da, Ba Cow, and You make a dinosaur sound when you get asked what Grimlock (Transformer who's a dino) says too.  I love this stage where you do things on cue.  It makes it really easy to impress the Grandparents with cuteness. 

PS.  I went to preview this post before publishing and Gabe saw Lighting at the top and started saying "car, Bah Cow" and pointing.  I love that kid.