Everyone Sick

So the whole family is sick! Anthony and Carson have strep. And, Tabbie, our dog has a strained back. I took Tabbie to the vet yesterday. Since Saturday, she had been really lethargic, can't jump up, and yipping when being picked up. I was really scared for her. The vet did blood work to eliminate the potential of infection and everything came back good. He diagnosed her with a strained back, gave her a shot for pain and pain meds for home and sent us on our way. He said that it will back 7-10 days before she is feeling better and to minimize her activity. This is not a problem since the pain meds knock her out and all she seems to be doing is farting. PEEYOU! YUCK! She looks so sad and I feel so sad for her. Normally, I am cursing her name as she is my shadow and I am constantly tripping over her. However, like Peter Pan, I miss my shadow and wish Wendy would come and make everything better.

Carson and Creighton had a "Graduation" from Pre-school picnic today, however Carson could not attend since he was sick. Creighton was on the fence about going without Carson. However, I was able to persuade him to go and he and I had a lovely picnic with his classmates.

I had to work an event last night so I was tired today. So I laid down for an hour and then took Carson to the doctor (diagnosis - strep throat), then I was off to pick up Audrey from school. It was pissing down rain. It was my turn for carpool to gymnastics so I got Taylor, Logan and Audrey and off we went to gymnastics. Got a coffee from the vending machine at the gym and enjoyed watching Audrey try to do a cartwheel. She has been working on this for 1 year and $500 in gymnastics class fee but she can finally do it. Well, she thinks so and that is what matters. Of you that knew me as a child you know that I came out of the womb cartwheeling so when my daughter can't do it, I struggle. I love her gym though, because they really work the kids out. They stretch for an entire 15 minutes. It keeps her exercising and she enjoys it.

When I got home, Anthony had made Cheese Broccoli soup and Tastee Burgers for dinner and now I am relaxing with my thoughts as I write this. Good night all!

Carson's Addiction

My son Carson is a pistol. In fact, my Dad gave me a book on raising a strong-willed child when Carson was only about 18 months old. Bad sign! As you can see from his photos, he is a wee-bit of a kid with his daddy's auburn hair, and eyes, in particular, eyelashes to die for. All of this is a disaster...he can flirt his way out of every jam and yes, it even works on me!

Well a few months ago, he has developed a new skill (don't think he will want this on his resume). He is stealing! Had he been born in the Middle East both his hands and possibly his feet would have been cut off by now. It all started when we were doing our cookie sales for Audrey. We were at a school friend's house getting an order and when we got home, we discovered Carson had stuffed his pockets will all kinds of stuff; marbles, puzzle pieces, a plastic bird and some other little items. I took this opportunity to lecture Carson about not taking our friend's things when we go home and returned the items back to the rightful owners the next morning. I quickly chucked this one to him being 4 and not realizing that they were in his pocket and so on. Then the following week he loaded his pockets with matchbox cars at preschool, and I mean loaded, 11 little cars in all. I don't know how he even keep his pants up. After I discovered his thievery, I marched him straight back to his classroom. I thought that would be embarrassing enough to end this behavior. But NO! The next incident, we are having brunch at our friend's, Leah and Adrian and Audrey tells us that Carson has packed his pockets full of marbles...you know the ones that you use in floral arrangement or to decorate candles. UGH!!! So we quickly had him empty his pockets and had him put them back. As a result, Carson is now frisked upon leaving the Herrera's house.

And then it continues, this morning I caught Carson removing all the cash from Audrey wallet (her tooth-fairy money) and stuffed it in his piggy bank. I can't remove the money without breaking his bank. And then, I got a call from my Mom this morning about him taking a skull and crossbones key chain from the thrift store after she said she wouldn't buy it for him.

I am at wits end. I spoke with one of my friends who I get together with weekly for play dates and she said that she just read an article about this very thing in one of her parenting mags. She promises me that it is phase but that it needs to be resolved before it becomes a habit. Okay, so I have tried all the love and logic ways to no avail. I am thinking that I am going make him wear pants that have no pockets. But also, why is he doing this? She says stress or maybe a change in his life. I can't figure out what is so stressful in this 4 year-old and yes, over-privileged life. How will he handle real adversity? Rob Banks! Okay, so that discussion is a whole other blog.

Do you have any stealing wisdom to share? Or any stories of your own?