To Market We Go

We managed to make it to the farmers market yesterday for the first time since Elias' birth. And how did it go? Just a little bit chaotic. Our location has changed, which is great for the market itself because we are now much more visible. But bad for a bunch of running boys since we are no longer at the edge of the pavement which is buffered by grass & towering weeds, both of which invite exploration. Instead, we find ourselves up by the main entrance to the shopping complex, surrounded by cars.

The market is our five-month long service project. We help run a stand which sells home made goods including bread, pies, cookies, jams, jellies, salsa, pot-holders . . . Our family provides 30 loaves of fresh wheat bread and between 6 - 12 pints of Isabelle's famous salsa. (Our house smells simply amazing on Fridays!) Everything is donated and all of the money raised each week goes to a different charity, mostly local. Yesterday, we supported Camp Manatawny's bathhouse project. Manatawny is an incredible camp I have been a part of since I was 14 and now our entire family is involved with, and we loved the opportunity to help in such a concrete way. Seriously - check them out: www.manatawny.org

I have no idea what we raised, but it was great to be among the other vendors again and greeting customers, many of which are repeats and were happy to finally meet Elias. We were only there for 2 hours, but I think that was a good start!

It's been a long time

Today, September 24, finds our home drastically changed.

Elias, baby number eight, joined us on August 13. Of course, in true Rutherford tradition, he felt the need to find out for himself just what all the fuss about the NICU is, so he arranged for a nine-day stay. His was by far the most calm of the NICU visits, but it still made for some interesting juggling as Scott and I managed our seven healthy ones at home and our precious new one in the hospital. And, unlike past NICU visits, this one was done almost entirely on our own, without the help we have always been so blessed by in the past.

However, he is home and a very pudgy 6-weeks old today. Although, on a phone message today in my lack-of-sleep state, I insisted that he was actually 6 months old. Ahhh, why is it my vocabulary is what goes once I become tired? He is currently sleeping in his swing, although noises are starting to waft over from his direction, so my time may be limited here.

And, I no longer have Nox to blame all of the items gone wrong in my day. He was, sadly, struck by a car shortly before Elias was born. Shelby spied his poor body on her way to worship and begged Scott to stop the car. Scott called me to let me know, since I was home with a feverish Abigail, that Nox had died and he had moved his body to the side of the road until after worship. Now, I understand that he is a pet and I certainly wasn't a big fan of his, but this just wasn't the right answer. And I didn't hesitate to let Scott know I didn't agree with the choice. He quickly amended his position, turned our 15-passenger van around, and came back for Nox.

I should state that we were experiencing one of the most torrential rainstorms of our summer that day. I think it would be safe to say that Scott received his second shower of the day.

Scott brought Shelby, Dawson, and Tucker home with Nox (Isabelle was at Camp Manatawny) and we sat around in mourning while waiting for Scott to return home from worship with the twins. Once he did come home, Scott (being the amazing man he is) proceeded to dig the perfect grave site for Nox. First, he dug up Nox's favorite place to lay when he was in the front yard - a large spreading of Spring Snow -- and then dug a 3 foot deep hole underneath. After the funeral service, the children threw flowers on top of Nox's towel draped body and then helped to spread the dirt back over him. Finally, Scott replaced the plant where it had been originally. Shelby placed a granite marker next to the plant and Dawson and I weeded the front flower bed so Nox was in a tidy place. Scott returned to the shower to wash off the sweat which was literally dripping from his body.

And now, I need to update the children's school logs as well as force my body into some much needed Pilates moves. Here's hoping it isn't months before the next posting . . .

Nox Update

Well, as usual, this time of year is crazy, crazy, crazy.  Between homeschooling end-of-the-year paperwork, Scott's schedule at work, he and Shelby prepping to work Camp Sonshine at Manatawny, and trying to get every project in the house done before I hit my third trimester, we have had NO TIME.  Add into that Shelby's stepped-up activity in the Youth Group and we are going to be lucky to find an evening within the next two weeks in order for Scott and I to watch the new Star Trek before it leaves the theaters.  Sigh.

So, anyway - we have finally reached a peace treaty with Nox.  He no longer pees on things in the house and we allow him to go outside whenever he wants.  We put him on the monthly flea and tick prevention and he is an altogether different cat.   I am actually starting to like him. He's still not my fav, but definitely better than he was.

I am going back to my day of lounging.  We finally managed to get all the school portfolios assembled and ready to be evaluated, and I'm beat.  So we have taken the last two crazy cold & rainy days to sit around and just watch movies.  I know, I know - not very intellectually stimulating, but it has been really nice to not be thinking.  About anything.

Bah - He Came Back

Nox returned.  After only a few short days away, he was discovered sitting on a window ledge at the front of the house. Tucker received hero status for finding Nox and the crazy creature again received enough treats to feed every cat at the pound.

But, before you despair over my lot in life with this cat, he may have just pushed too far today. After spending a total of 90 minutes chasing Nox outside (Shelby began logging it as a school project), which is where he dashed literally every time someone had the temerity to go outside and enjoy the day, the kids are less than enthralled with the cat. As Shelby sighed about his caterwauling to get out and turned the volume up on her computer math program again, she asked me if there really is a farm nearby that would take Nox. Of course, I urged her to really pray about whether or not she wanted to relocate Nox before making such a decision (while hiding my inward glee) since I felt strongly that this would be the correct "mother position" to take.  But that was before dinner.

During dinner, Nox came into the living room and climbed onto our basket of blankets and left his customary deposit -- urine. (Yes - these are the same blankets he chose to demonstrate his displeasure on during an earlier incident.) An unsuspecting Keats grabbed a blanket to wrap up in and immediately shrieked. As of bedtime, everyone in the house agreed that Nox needs to move to a farm somewhere where he can run in and out without the danger of catfights (our backyard) or being run over (parking lot in the front) before one of us kills him. Even Keats was disgruntled about needing another bath and his favorite jammies having to be washed.

So, we'll see what happens in the end. In true Carpe Diem form, I called Scott at the hospital immediately and told him to start putting the word out that a charming, orange tabby cat is in need of a loving family with plenty of room to roam.  Perhaps he can manage to convince a medicated patient that Nox is the perfect companion.  

Hmmm - Am I Sad?

It seems, that during all of the hub-bub of dad's surgery today and the ins and outs of multiple kids, we may have lost Nox.  

To be fair, the wonderful woman who agreed to watch our children and Sadie, my niece, brought her third-trimester-pregnant-self along with her four kids over to our house so I could be at the hospital.  So she was here with 12 children and a cat who is determined to thwart every attempt at remaining housebound which we have contrived.  I did go out for about an hour tonight once things quieted down enough that I realized I was missing Nox to investigate the bushes and shake his Kitty Treats container like a mad-woman.  And when I say "missing Nox," I certainly don't mean that I longed for his company.  Rather, it finally dawned on my awareness that he was not under my feet tripping me as I tried to move around and complete some tasks before going up to bed.

And so, I must admit that I'm not certain I'm sad he's not here tonight.  Obviously, this dashes my Mother of the Year award again this year.  But, let's face it, the cat and I have never been on great terms.  Perhaps he'll realize I'm not terribly upset by his absence and be waiting on the front step to be let in in the morning.  Now that would be classic Nox.

Dad is Back

In the hospital, that is.  After feeling dizzy and falling, dad wound up back in the SICU once a major brain hemorage was discovered during a precautionary CAT scan.  Yikes.  He did have brain surgery today and they actually burred holes into his skull to release the fluid and relieve the pressure.  The next big step will be waiting for dad's brain to fill back into the skull, and then the doctors will begin discussions to allow him to come home.  The surgeons were surprised at the thickness of his skull . . .  None of us were terribly surprised.

There might be a heart surgery in his future in order to replace the mechanical valve in his heart with a biological one.  But, his primary heart surgeon is off enjoying a family vacation in Peru, so we will have to wait on that information.

In the meantime, his life just got realllllllly boring.  Not exercise other than gentle walking and he is to avoid clumsy moments.  This should be fun to watch!

Admission of Failure

For only the second time in the history of our marriage, Scott and I regret to announce we will not be sending out 2008 Christmas cards this year. Now, I realize that you are chuckling over the fact that I still call them Christmas cards even though we've passed Christmas, New Year's, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Valentine's Day, President's Day and are already slurping Shamrock Shakes at McDonalds.  And, yes, I haven't sent a Christmas card on time since the twins began walking.  And yes, I know I blame them for everything. But I hate the thought of failure. And for me not to send a card is an utter failure.

So, please, don't die before next year's card can be sent or I will really feel terrible. And since I already had the photos ready and the newsletter printed, I will include the 2008 edition with our 2009 cards. But since our cards are still safely wrapped in their plastic prison, I feel I have no other choice but to concede defeat. If I haven't even gotten them unwrapped yet, what hope is there?

Yes, we are alive. Yes, we all had wonderful experiences to share. Yes, we thought of everyone not getting our cards as their cards began pouring in. And, yes, I feel like a turd.

Such is life within the Rutherford 9 from time to time.