Quick Takes Volume 8

~1~

Madeline's week of NJASK testing is finally over.  For months we told her it didn't matter how she did on it since we were planning to homeschool.  All of that changed when we decided that she was going to get her wish and attend the middle school next year.  At that point, this test became vitally important since she needs to perform very well on it in order to have a chance at being accepted to the TAG (Talented and Gifted) program at the school.  I spent a week praying a rosary a day and asking our pal St. Joseph of Cupertino to pray that she does well.  Ok, I totally forgot to pray for her today, but she says she knows she did awesome on the science portion.  I guess watching the Discovery and Science channels has paid off.

~2~

Taking Oscar for a walk almost everyday is working out nicely.  He's figured out that I won't put him on a leash until he's gone out in the back yard and done his business.  I don't think he's figured out that I'm essentially using him so I don't have to walk around the neighborhood by myself.

~3~

Ellie's first week of wearing a patch over he eye for four hours a day has gone quite well.  She hasn't complained much and she's been very good about wearing the patch for the full four hours a day.  I will say I was a bit stunned when I mentioned this to Bryan and he told me that he scared her into it.  He told her that if she didn't wear it the doctor was going to remove her eye.  I hope she realized that he was was teasing.  Poor kid has mean parents.  Equally shameful, I'm rather enjoying calling her Patchy and Pirate Ellie.  Arrgh matey!

~4~

My mom and dad got me two pounds of the best vanilla fudge ever (Douglass Fudge from Wildwood, NJ) for my birthday.  I've consumed somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of a pound in the past two days. This can't be good.

~5~

The strawberry and blueberry plants are sprouting out more berries with each passing day.  Pretty soon I anticipate we'll have lots of tasty homegrown berries to harvest.  I really need to find a recipe for making strawberry preserves soon.

~6~

I'm less than a week and a half away from my ultrasound.  Not only will we have our first peek at the baby, we may also find out the gender of our little one.  I can't wait to know if I'm buying clothes for a boy or a girl.  I think my parents are convinced the baby is a boy based on the small mountain of boy clothes they brought at Kohls on Wednesday.  We'll just have to wait and see.  I really have no idea.  As long as the baby doesn't mind being my living doll I'm happy.

~7~

Ellie's ear recheck today went well.  Once again her ears are looking good.  Here's hoping the next time  I bring her to the doctors will be for a well visit.  I'm tired ear infections followed by ten days of trying to remember to give her an antibiotic twice a day.