More conversations with Ryan

Coming home from Ryan's soccer game this afternoon:

We were talking about another boy on the team, and I said he was taller than Ryan. Ryan disagreed. I said something along the lines of 'if you say so.' Below is the response that made me laugh out loud. He said it very matter-of-factly.

Ryan: I know you secretly think I am wrong.

Conversation with Ryan

I brought Ryan home with me after his indoor soccer game today (his team won, 9 to 3). Part of our conversation in the car went something like this:

Ryan: Mommy says if I save [enough] money, I can buy a puppy--you know, for it's food andvet visits and stuff.

Me (mischievously): Do you want a puppy like Lola?

Ryan (thoughtfully): Not Really.

Me: What kind of puppy do you want?

Ryan: A comforting and restful one.

Visiting Girlies

On Thursday of this past week, T.J. and Jodi brought us their dogs to look after while they traveled further north to Vermont for the funeral services for Jodi's Grandpa Schutzman, which were scheduled for Friday. Naturally, we were happy to keep the dogs--they are sweet and loving and fun to have visit, even if they do wake up early when they visit here. Tom was out of bed two or three nights at about 3:00am, because the doggies (mostly Lola) wanted out...this is not normal for them, but she insisted and did need to go out, so what can you do? Luckily, they do go back to sleep when they are returned to the bedroom, so Tom can grab another few minutes before he starts his day.

I love having the girls visit--they make me laugh on a regular basis, and they also make me feel warm and secure. On TV this morning, they were talking about new breeds added to the Westminister Dog Show--each different dog caught Lola's attention when they were shown in close-up. She approached the TV like she was going to sniff the newcomers. Hee. Yesterday, when I felt so badly after my attempted platelet donation and fell asleep sitting up on the sofa -- I awoke to find Lola snuggled up next to me with her head in my lap. Of course, this was after she insisted on a trip outside while I felt so awful. I took her out on a leash, and she behaved well...and made up for making me go outside by making me feel all warm and comfortable.

As for Lucy, I had noticed that she comes in from outdoors and immediately sits nicely, waiting for her treat for being a good dog. Tom noticed that she will go so far as to step outside with Lola, then immediately come back in and sit to wait for her treat. How smart is she? Lucy also makes sure she is present anytime Lola might be getting a treat--like when we put Lola in her crate in preparation for leaving the house. Lola gets a treat for entering nicely, and Lucy is right there looking at you as if to say "I deserve a treat, too!' She knows I am a soft touch.

Speaking of 'soft touch,' Lily has me figured out, too. She came over last evening with Mommy and Ryan to spend some time with us and the dogs. Ryan and Grandpa were working on some Cub Scout stuff while we visited in the family room. At one point, Lily took me by the hand and dragged me toward the stairs saying something about showing me something she wanted to have but would have to ask Mommy about first...when we reached the doorway to the dining room, she stopped suddenly and said 'the walkie-talkies are gone.' Walkie-talkies? In talking to her, I figured out that she was looking for candy. The only candy I could think of was the Werther's Originals that were in a candy dish in the living room. They were the right thing. Do you think she misunderstood 'toffee'? She took one each for Mommy and Ryan, and two for herself and ran off to ask Mommy if it was OK. Mommy said yes!

Kirsty's photos

Geraldine's daughter Kirsty posted her pictures from their visit here in October on her Facebook page. I copied two of them to post here. I think they are my favorites! Lily and Kirsty made fast friends. Lily really liked being with Kirsty and Kirsty seemed to like her back. These pics were taken in the car on the way to Fort McHenry. After that, we went shopping at the mall, and Lily loved shopping with Kirsty. She spent all of her time with Kirsty, until she spotted a pair of Hello, Kitty shoes. Those she brought to me, with a glint in her eye. Naturally, she took them home. ;)

Giving Platelets... *edited*

...has been harder than I thought it would be. Before my cancer surgery in 2007, I had been a regular blood donor--whole blood, not platelets. During that time, I had heard about 'apheresis'--a way of donating platelets, but I never did it. After my surgery, when I went in to the Red Cross Donation Center in SC, I was told that I had to wait five years and be cancer-free during that time to be eligible to donate blood in any form. Didn't make sense to me, as they took my blood *before* the cancer was discovered and I didn't get radiation or chemotherapy. But I figured 'rules are rules' so I didn't donate. Then we moved to MD, Tom got his new job--where he doesn't take his personal cell phone so he refers a lot of calls to my number. The Red Cross called for HIM to donate platelets and convinced me to do it, too, since they will accept me as a donor here. That's the back story. I have donated twice, and it didn't go well either time. I just felt lousy through the whole process, which takes like two and a half hours, total, with over an hour of actual donation time. Both times, the technicians suggested "maybe this isn't for you," and the most recent time they only took half what they usually do. So today we are trying it one more time. If I still feel lousy, I will go back to donating whole blood. Which still helps, by the way, you just cannot do it as often. So, I guess God will be deciding how he wants me to donate blood today.

*So. God wants me to donate whole blood, and he made darn sure I understand. I was feeling a little nervous before the process, but I did really well most of the way through. I concentrated on relaxing my arms and legs because they have a tendency to tense up during the donation, and I breathed deeply, and took the calcium they offered me. I started feeling a little bad with just eleven minutes to go. I said I could stick it out. I couldn't. With just two minutes left, I suddenly felt so bad all over -- I told one of the technicians. Suddenly, four absolutely lovely women were flapping around me...well, flapping isn't the right word. They were very controlled and organized and solely interested in helping me. They stopped the apheresis process and started saline, the video player with the movie I was watching was removed, the couch was tilted back, a bucket arrived because I said I was nauseous, I got wet paper towels applied to pulse points, blankets were removed, somebody brought me a cold drink, I asked for a cold cloth behind my neck. Someone prepared ice in a paper towel--it helped so much! So, it was decided for me that I should go back to donating whole blood. And I will!