Drew's So Vain

Drew is making faces and watching his reflection in the microwave.



This isn't the cutest video I have of Mirra but it is the one with the best lighting. We were at the kart track and she was watching Drew and Daddy circle the track.

Drew's Cutie

Mirra thinks it is the most fun thing in the world to get on the bed and roll in the blankets. One day both kids were on Drew's bed and he started to tickle her, which she loved. Then he started singing a song from Sesame Street. "Important. You're important. Anybody can see. Important. Impor-or-tant. You mean a lot to me."

P.S. Chubby's medicine arrived this week so that mini-drama is over.

This One's For You Gram!

The weekend of Drew's birthday party many of the Ellington's gathered in our realm of the country. Here are some pictures of my Gram's three great-grandchildren: Mirra, Drew and Bentley.

Hi Ike

I'm sitting at the computer in the kitchen today and I hear "cra-a-a-aKKK!". I look out the window to see this. We have had a fair amount of rain and wind but nothing compared to the rest of the midwest. Apparently it was enough.

Drew and the Quarter Midget

The End.....I Hope

Well, I called the vet. They tell me that they don't know why the medicine company told me that it was against their policy to fax prescriptions because they do it all the time. So someone is full of it.

So the vet faxes the prescription (for a year, yeah!) but it occurs to me later that I forgot to give the vet my order number which was supposed to accompany the prescription. So I call the company to make sure they match the prescription to my order. The woman tells me that the order was approved and that now she will release it. Why wouldn't she release it before my call if it was approved??? I think I need to find another medicine source.

The Vet Saga Continues

I am....displeased.

I received the following email from the company from whom I ordered Chubby's meds:

DearAmanda,

Your veterinarian requests that you pick up a written prescription from their office. It is against their office policy to provide authorization via phone or fax. Thank you for your understanding.

When faxing the prescription to us, please make sure to write the order number on it for identification. Thank you for your patience.

Sincerely,
Jacob Mangat
Customer Care Center

They assume I am patient.

That woman at the vet told me they would fax the prescription to the company and charged me $10 for it! It's a good thing that the office is closed so that maybe my hot little temper will cool by the time I pick up the phone tomorrow. Grrr...

The Ups

Seems like lately I have been writing about the Downs of parenthood. Well, let's face it, those stories are funny when they are happening to someone else and I write to entertain you.

Let's see if I can adequatley convey some of those "Awwwww" moments.

Drew has had this fear of the dark recently. So he has been going to bed with this little flashlight and a light in the hallway. One night he wanted the overhead light in his room left on. At this we drew the line and he became very upset. We let him try to work it out on his own for a while, but I eventually went up to his room, laid down beside him, and pointed out that he could draw shapes on the ceiling with his flashlight. He calmed down, but was still not entirely happy with me. As I was getting ready to leave I asked for a kiss. On my cheek he bestowed the lightest, teeniest kiss ever and said "little kiss" in a quiet, pouty voice. I couldn't help it and I busted out laughing, which made him laugh too. Now the "tiny kiss" is his trademark.

Mirra has started saying Drew's name. Only problem is that she doesn't day 'Drew', she makes this sound through her nose that sort of resembles 'Drew'. Today the kids were in the backseat of the car and the conversation went like this.
Drew to Mirra: Can you say 'Drew'?
JJ grunts through her nose: ghhew
Drew: Drew
JJ: ghhew
Drew: Drew
JJ: ghhew
Drew: Drew
JJ: ghhew
Drew: Give me five
And she does

A couple of days ago we were headed somewhere and the two of them were enthusiastically blowing kisses at each other for a full minute. I wish could have that on film it was so cute.

Now that Drew is in his big boy seat he can lean over and pat Mirra or give her a little hug. He was hugging on her the other day in the car and pulled back. Mirra grabbed his arm with both hands and pulled him back into another hug.

I Can Only Do Three Things At Once

Here is a snapshot of "one of those days." I think all parents can relate to this.

I finally feel like I am getting a handle on the fall schedule. I haven't forgotten milk money or bus times or to pack a lunch or send back signed forms, though I now have a hard time recalling our address. Then I am thrown this curve.

Our cat, Chubby, has been on thyroid medicine for almost 5 years. He can't live without it, but is otherwise healthy. When we first moved here I was buying his meds by the month at a local vet, who also required tests and shots, etc = $$$. When we sat down to do the math we discovered that we could save a ton of money by buying in bulk online. We also found another vet about 25 minutes away that offered cheaper services. The new country vet gave us a prescription for a couple of years because we knew our cat and could tell when his thyroid levels were off based on his weight and behavior and knew how to adjust the meds appropriately. Several months ago we found out that the country vet had passed away. Last week I found out that my online source for Chubby's pills stopped selling to consumers and only sells to vets now. So with less than a week's supply of pills left in the house, I loaded up the kids and the cat and headed to the country vet's replacement today for his thyroid test and new prescription. Twenty-five minutes there, 40 minutes in the office waiting room, and another 25 back. Let me note here that our angelic baby girl has rapidly turned into a screaming toddler. I mean that the blood-curdling screams that she previously reserved for bodily harm are now unleashed for any minor infraction by anyone at any time. So during this 50 minutes in the car Mirra would yell and scream, Drew was singing at the top of his lungs, and Chubby was protesting from the cat carrier. In the waiting room Mirra started screaming 3 different times because she didn't get a crayon that she wanted. Silly me forgot the ear plugs and sedatives at home.

The good news is that Chubby's test was normal and that they only charged me for the test and not an additional $20 for an office visit. I then ask the woman for a one year prescription to order pills online and for a small supply of pills to get us by until the pills come. She says sure except that she wants the cat back in 6 months to test him again. Standard procedure is 1 test per year. I was hoping to go longer than that. I told her we know how to monitor the cat and she said she would ask about a 1 year prescription.

When I get home, I realize that they charged me a $10 prescription fee. She had not mentioned that. Now here is the real bite in the butt....I calculated that the cost of the pills from this vet are the same or cheaper than what I pay online! I could have just bought a six month supply there and saved myself some time. My dad's advice is still ringing in my ears...."don't assume anything. It only makes an ass of u and me." I just assumed the pills would be more expensive at the vet.

So now we are home. Mirra is cranky because she is tired and has been tied down in a high chair, stoller, or car seat since she got up from her morning nap and now it is time for her to sleep again. Drew just wants to play. I am cranky because I was too busy juggling my kids and the cat at the vet to ask a simple question that would have saved me time and money. So....I let Mirra play peek-a-boo with the sorted dirty clothes pile on the floor while I make some chocolate chip muffins to cheer us all up. I look up from the muffins to see her headed for me with a shirt over her head and face (very funny...think Baby Frankenstein) and before I can move toward her she walks head-first into the corner of the kitchen island. So she starts screaming as I scoop her up and head upstairs to try to calm her down and get her to nap. Right now she is sleeping and Drew is watching Backyardigans. I really should unload the dishwasher, flip the laundry, pick up the house, defrost something for dinner and make the calls for Chubby's pills. However, I think I will curl up with a novel for a half-hour and boycott it all while my sanity returns.

Hi Grandma!

This picture was too cute not to share. Grandma Miles came to visit last week. Drew jumped up to give her a hug and Mirra decided she wanted in on the action.

Mirra's First Day

This was the begining of JJ's first day at her program. She is our little ambassador. In the hall while we were waiting to go in to the room she kept walking up to everyone and waving at them. She had no problem, as you can see, as I left. The issue came later when she didn't take a morning nap and became tired and started some crying jags. She made it 3 hours before I came to pick her up. Hopefully it will get easier for her as she gets used to it.


Drew had some initial trouble getting used to 'gym' but has had several good days there now so it seems that he is getting used to it. He told me today on the way home that he was very tired though. It seems the longer days are wearing him out a bit.

Drew at School

Drew's teacher has been singing a good morning song to the kids that sounds like the muffin man.

Later, Drew was playing and Eli walks up to him and wants to play too.

Here goes Drew – “Do you know my friend Eli, my friend Eli, my friend, Eli. Do you know my friend Eli he’s wearing stripes today. Good Morning Eli.”

I love his teacher for sharing stories like these!

Mirra's New Stats

We just got back from Mirra's 15 month well baby visit. She is now 21 lbs., 10 oz. (31%) and is 31 inches long (69%). I think that I am definitely going to be the shortest one in this household when all is said and done.

Here is a video (no audio, sorry) of Mirra playing with her new purse and jewelry that Grandma Miles gave her last week.

The Official Day

Drew is officially 5 and Mirra is 15 months today. I made them pancakes for breakfast today and then Drew went off to 'gym'. When I went to pick him up he was wearing a birthday hat. Too cute.




We went to have his picture taken. He chose to wear his Nebraska Cornhuskers jersey today so that made for good photos.



When he got home we ate some cake and he opened his presents from us and a couple of cards. We also called Aunt Diane to wish her a happy birthday too. Pretty low key.