February is the worst month in the union, so if my birthday wasn’t in Feb, I would have nothing to do with it.

So, yeah! It’s my birthday tomorrow! Hooray! Have a good weekend.

Almost a year ago, I got an email from the cool people behind See Kai Run saying they wanted to name a pair of shoes after my Piper Jane! They noticed that the majority of Pip’s shoedrobe is from See Kai Run, and that’s what you do for your VIP clients…you name a shoe or a bag after them once in a while. (like Air Jordan kind of or Jane Berkin perhaps)

“A shoe almost as sweet as she”  is how they’re described and I’d wager that’s quite true. These shoes are adorable and I can’t wait to see my Pip in them!

I’m imagining crazy tap dancing. I hope I’m right.

Don’t be jeal!

In 5 years there hasn’t been a dull (good dull and bad dull) moment, and I’m proud that we still love each other so much. Even though there is some seriously hard crap going on all the time it seems like. In fact, just when I feel like I’m going to flip over a table because I stepped in dog poop or because our apt got burgled or because I’m sad about pip, or because I have a suspicious freckle or my identity got stolen or I’m lost driving in Queens…Jake sends me a stupid youtube video, or a photo of a baby chicken running, or maybe he does my taxes or shampoos my hair (figuratively), or it could be that he just laughs at the dumb stuff I say. Sometimes I can’t believe that there is just this guy who understands me so well, adores my quirks, forgives me of my faults, and he’s even hot.

WTF, right?

Anyway, I’m not trying to get all bragsville..I’m just really proud of 5 years. BTW being married for 5 years makes me sound like I’m at least 40 in NYC.

Well, I better go! That Jake’s not going to snuggle himself!

(I love posting old photos. sometimes I just spend hours looking at old photos of pip and me/jake when we were younglings.)

My favorite part of my Pip visits is the moment I first walk in. I usually kind of sneak in quietly to see what Piperjane is up to before she knows she’s being watched. I often find her in funny positions, playing with her figures or climbing things that aren’t meant to be climbed. It cracks me up that she can feel my eyes on her, because she always knows I’m there after just a few seconds…and this is the best part…she turns around and gives me the grinniest evil smile I’ve ever seen since the last time.

Long intro.

So, the other morning, I walked in and Pip was sitting like this in her kiddie cart. I have never seen her do this in my life! I was a little surprised for a minute, and wondered who put her like that, but then she did a quick little shimmy and her legs swept out from under her hiney just like that! I sat there laughing which  made her realize she must have done something hilarious and then she started laughing and it was a chain reaction that lasted nearly 20 minutes.

Or, I guess way longer, because I’m laughing right now 4 days later.

“The burglar took our cereal bowls!”

“The burglar didn’t replace the toilet paper roll!”

“The burglar took my lace skirt!”

And then other times we’ll find things that are so valuable that we just can’t believe anyone in their right mind would pass them up.

“Jake, the burglar didn’t take my VHS of The Little Mermaid. He must not have known it’s a Disney Classic!”

“The burglar forgot to take our coasters, Reags!”

Here are a few other things he didn’t take.

My beloved wooden duck in a rain slicker, bonnet and galoshes. Thanks for looking over this one, stupid! You clearly don’t know the value of a good fake animal in rain gear. Once I realized we had had a break-in, I looked up to the top of my bookcase in a panic to see him standing there, proud and strong.

I know this book doesn’t look like much….

..but when you open it there are bushels of treasures inside. My coffee talk glasses, a polaroid of me and pip snuggling, TWO kinds of tea, and 10$ for an emergency sushi delivery. Mr. Big Tough Burglar thought it was just a plain boring book about words! Stupid!

Unfortunately, the jokes end here. I’m afraid I now have to list some things that weren’t so lucky.

The cord to my iPhone plug. Sniffles.

My other striped sock.

Another thing I’ve been doing, is saging the apartment. You light some sage and walk through your home letting the smoke get rid of all the bad energy. I don’t know if it’s real, but it’s a really nice thought!

So I’ve been saging the place any time I start to feel bad. The other night I saged while Jake was at work. When it was done, I put it in a little glass bowl to cool off. I didn’t see that there was one tiny ember still going strong. A few hours later I was practically choking from the brush fire smoke in my apartment. I went in the kitchen and half the bunch had burned down! It is still extremely smoky smelling and all our clothes stink.

Back fire!

Although Abby and Piperjane share the same diagnosis, Abby was blessed to be able to come home when she was just a few months old, and she is even breathing without the ventilator! Her parents and brother are so in love with her, and their devotions inspires me when I get frustrated that our situation is so hard.

Julie is basically Wonderwoman. I’m so impressed with the Leach family. I hope you’ll go read about them and drop a supportive comment or two!

Life as a Leach

Seth and Zack are both so talented, and I’d love to see this film one day! Thanks for supporting them!

Sorry for posting this both here and on HDOF, but I just want to get the word out to everyone!

Here are some pictures to help tell the tale.

In the elevator ride there. Pip looks confused/alarmed about the early call-time. On schedule to perform was The Frey, Gavin Degraw, and Rob Thomas. We don’t really know much of their music, but I’m promising Pip a good time.

We are seated (close to the front) and waiting for the program to begin. Pippy is skeptical, but looks on the bright side and remembers that mom brought her my little pony toy.

Piper is getting lots of attention and she is starting to get pissed. She is clinging to me like a tree frog and avoiding eye contact with anyone wearing a Santa hat. Which by the way is everyone in the entire room.

I decide that as soon as the music starts, we’ll only stay a few songs. I use a portable suction machine hoping a junky airway is the cause of her stress.  Her vent starts beeping violently and everyone stares. Piperjane is nestled into my bosom and keeps up the tree frogging.

FINAL STRAW. Santa Clause’s grandmother comes over to say hello to piper. She is wearing a red velvety floor length fur trimmed gown and repeatedly patting Piperjane on the head. Pippy is terrified of her. She is literally freaking out right before my eyes. She decides to swat the poor woman away. I apologize and thank her for trying.

Just as the music is about to start, Piperjane barfs everywhere and we are escorted out quickly by a team of therapists and nurses. Everyone is staring and I feel hot all over my body. Piperjane kicks me in the privates and her shoe falls off.

We miss the entire concert.

I felt awful the whole time I was cleaning her up. I shouldn’t have made her stay there when she was clearly not having fun. I just kept hoping she would hear some music and start to enjoy herself. I thought with her being a little older this year, she might have a good time.

She quickly cheered up once I got the puke clothes off. She jumped around and smiled and played. I was glad to see her being that Pip again, but I was sad to be back in the room like every other day.

So, that’s the story of the Blythedale Christmas Concert. I didn’t realize I was so upset until I got to work and someone asked me how the concert was. I started crying like a crazy person out of no where. I’m really not a drama queen unless I’m trying to be funny, but I had a boardline histrionic meltdown right there in the back room.

Can anyone relate? Do you feel like you have meltdowns about some of the most minor issues?

PS thanks for coming with me Jen!

That little bleached thing top right was me just 10 years ago!

So this week’s episode, the Glee coach (I doubt he is called a coach, but nothing else is coming to mind), wanted to propose to his girlfriend. He asked his students for help (I got it, Glee teacher!) putting together a proposal number. Cute.

As I watched and smiled and sang along…

….We found love in hopeless play-eeeece.

..it started all feeling kind of familiar. Did this happen to me?

Yes, it did.

My cheerleading coach’s boyfriend asked his girlfriend’s squad (pictured) to help him propose with a cheer at a Friday night football game. We flipped with excitement. To us, he seemed like the most romantic person in the world. Can you imagine all of us squealing teenagers? He could’t tell us much in advance because he knew there was no way we could keep the secret. So you can imagine when game day arrived, we were nearly peeing our bloomers.

During the 3rd quarter break, we changed the words of a cheer to add her name in it as he shuffled her down in front of the crowd. He got on one knee and we all watched with our hands over our mouths. I remember my friend Traci crying because she was so touched. She said “yes” and the crowd roared with applause.

Ha Ha Ha.

For some reason now, this memory is so awkward!! I can’t put my finger on it. Also, once I dated a guy whose roommate’s girlfriend was an ex of the hero in this story. Finding out any information about your teachers outside of school is like seeing a dog walk on it’s hind legs. I think the memories started growing awkward there.

Adorable part 2-This swinging game that Jake and Pipsey do together. Everyone within a ten mile radius feels the happiness she radiates, I’m sure of it.

Adorable Part 3-The smile on Piperjane’s face when I showed up to with a mess of shiny new pink blankies sent/made from people that love her through the blob. Look at this picture. We are up to our ears in backup blankies, and Pip.

I hope these photos brought you a little joy this morning!