Fat Elbow

Steve had his Very Serious Elbow Surgery yesterday. He, basically, had a fatty tumor on his elbow. He does not like it when I tell him he had a fat elbow, though. It had a strange hard bump the size of a pea on his elbow that has been hurting him for a while. And he's been to doctor and after doctor (having 2 X-rays and an MRI in the process!) who basically all told him to stop whining about his fat elbow pea and live with it. But, after much trying, he found a Cutter. Finally, some guy was willing to cut it out! He was a surgeon, so getting it done was a whole business. Steve had to take a surgical shower, couldn't eat or drink for 24 hours, couldn't drive himself, had to wear the whole gown and hair net combo, etc. They took him to pre-op and he was next to people having actual surgeries. It took about 10 minutes. And he lived. And no more fatty pea. 

I had an important meeting, so, thankfully, Guy was able to drive Steve. I got an update text during my meeting and I was looking at my phone, so I go, "Sorry - I'm not being rude, my husband is having surgery and I'm getting an update." Someone gave me a funny look so I said, "OH, not a real surgery. A stupid surgery. I'm not missing his triple bypass or anything!" Then, all the biomedical engineers wanted to know what a "stupid surgery" was. So I explained about his fat elbow. And they agreed that I am the best wife ever (jk). 

It is crazy gorgeous outside today, so we ran all our errands this morning (including selling back Wm's violin). Then, after Mimi and Wm's Spanish lesson, we are going to take Flip on the walking path and enjoy it!! I am REAL excited because I have been trying to talk Steve into selling everything and living on a beach in Mexico. Maybe this warmish sunny tide will tide me over for a while!

And now, some fun pictures.

Woke up to multiple animals sleeping ON my legs. 

Just cuties being cute (look at Flip resting his dog elbow on Wm!)

At 9:15 this morning, I went in to see if Wm was still alive. He did not enjoy me showing up in his room and accidentally waking him up (then taking pictures of him). So here is the progression of Wm waking up this morning and going from cutely sleeping to cutely grumpy:

Sleeping like a baby

Trying to get me to go away and stay asleep

Awake. And pissed.

Ain't nobody knows how to nap like Flip. He digs DEEP. Check out this intense napping situation right here:

Snowmageddon

I made an eye appointment for me and Wm on Friday at 4pm. Unbeknownst to me, Snowmageddon was headed our way! Luckily, the eye doctor was close because I had to drive us home through sleet and ice with dilated pupils. My eyes are still great! And Wm's are stable. He got new frames, which should arrive later next week. But then, while we slept, 5 inches of snow fell. So we woke up on Saturday and decided that we weren't leaving the house! 

We did go out to shovel. And I told Wm if he shoveled our neighbor's sidewalk, I'd sign off on an hour of service for him. He then whined around that his fingers were numb until he was presented with hot chocolate.

Service!

Steve was hanging out cutely on the couch, resting his face on a pillow.
Me: Hey, just FYI, Flip's entire butthole and wiener were just mashed all up against that pillow. I haven't washed it yet; it's on the agenda for later. So you're covered in a bunch of dog nether juice.
Steve: Shut up. No I'm not.
Me: [shows this picture]

Exhibit A

Steve: Ugh. Oh well, he's constantly licking both those things and then licking my face anyway.

Last night, I was reading on the couch and Wm was upstairs in his room doing whatever weirdness he gets up to in there when he texted me a picture. I loved his caption!

Since we were snowed in yesterday, we are doing all the things today! We rolled out of bed and went to breakfast at our favorite place. Then Steve went to play soccer and we grocery shopped. Afterwards, we took Flip to PetPeople to get him booties (we did not get him booties since they didn't have his size). He was very ill-behaved and tried to eat or steal all the things, but still left with a Sherlock Holmes fleece and bacon flavored NylaBone.

Both new items in use

We then went to the library and will shortly leave to go see Jumanji. Wm is REAL excited about it because Steve has promised him pretzel bites. Meanwhile, I (like a NORMAL PERSON) have packed my own bag of home goodies to smuggle in for free intend of paying $900 for some pretzels. Once we get home, I have loaded baked potatoes (made in the Instant Pot!) on the menu and then a nice evening of reading and watching Pitbulls and Parolees in bed.

Tomorrow, Steve heads to work (chump!) and Wm and I will loaf around, like we do.

Oh, also, at his annual check up, we found out Schroeder has some weird tooth/gum anomaly and he needs to have at least one tooth pulled. To the tune of $500. But, the good news is that the doctor said he's in a lot of pain (NOT THE GOOD NEWS), so maybe he's been extra grumpy recently because of the pain. And once the tooth is out and his gum has healed (it's more a gum issue that tooth issue), he may be more willing to be friendly with Flip instead of trying to claw his eyes out because he's not in pain anymore. The pain may also be causing his nighttime yowling. So, hopefully we will have a much happier cat soon!!

Shoe Mixup

Well, Wm has reached a new milestone! We got home from school and I was going to take Flip for a walk. I was looking everywhere for my sneaks and couldn't find them. Finally, I realized that Wm had worn them to school!! We both have black Nikes and he had just grabbed mine and worn them all day. We are only a half size apart now, so it's an easy mistake! It freaks me out that Wm, basically, wears the same size shoe that I do! Captain Tiny is getting big!!

He has also continued to tinker around on his keyboard and is getting quite good!



We are supposed to get a weird snow storm tonight. So we are planning to snuggle in tomorrow! Then we're planning a movie and adventures (maybe sledding!) on Sunday. Wm and I are off for MLK Day, but Steve has to work on Monday. Wm is actually off today AND Tuesday for Round Tables. He has his Round Table on Tuesday. It should be interesting! (At Metro, in lieu of conferences, they have Round Tables - which is, basically, where the kids create a presentation for parents and their teachers about what they've learned, what they think strengths/weaknesses are, how they are doing in class, and request any help they need. Kids only report to school for their Round Table during those 2 days.)

Musical Genius

This may be shorter than planned since Steve got me fancy knives for Christmas and I just sliced the top of my finger off with one (hyperbole...finger is intact). Which makes typing difficult.

To sum up, Wm is the next Mozart. After Mimi and Guy gave him a keyboard, he discovered a hidden talent. He can hear any song and then recreate it on the keyboard. So, farewell violin lessons, hello piano lessons!! Here he is doing his thang:




Besides my very serious finger injury, we've had a good weekend. Steve installed my plant shelf in the kitchen!

And we've done a bunch of snuggling and planning our move to warmer climes. Steve and Flip have done lots of co-napping.

I've been figuring out my Instant Pot. Which is weirdly complicated. Good thing I am a very stable genius. I have made a roast, spaghetti sauce, steel cut oats, rice, dried beans, and currently have soup simmering in there. So I've spent my weekend familiarizing myself with The Beast (a Christmas present from Grandma and Grandpa!)

For some reason, my camera didn't want to stay in focus, but here are The Two Idiots fighting. Which I find hilarious. They are entertaining!! (Flip goes upstairs to bed around 8pm and then it's like Carnivale for the cats from 8pm-dawn every night.)

High School

Wm came home from school yesterday with his syllabus for Algebra I. Not only is it a high school level class, but, he is actually earning high school credits! By the time Wm even starts high school, he should have AT LEAST 3 Math credits complete (which, technically, is all he needs to even graduate!) SO PROUD of my little Math Nerd! He will start 10th grade math (Geometry) in 7th grade. We are also so happy that he is in a school that allows him to just plug along at his own pace. He is completing 2 years of Math in 6th grade. He completed the (typically) year long pre-Algebra class in one semester and it is anticipated he will complete Algebra I after spring semester. If he keeps going at this rate, he will be starting at Ohio State shortly after high school begins! But, I'm thinking, at some point, the kid has got to slow down!! He's very tiny. There's not room in his body for all this information!

Also, Wm is savage...
Wm: Some YouTubers that started when I do have over a million subs.
Me: Dude! You have almost 60 subscribers! That is amazing! I've been on YouTube forever and I only have, like, 7.
Wm: You have 2.
Me: Burn.
Wm: And they are both me. So if I unsubscribed both my accounts from your channel, you'd have 0 subs.

He must get it from Steve. Who seems to think I am overreacting about the cold weather. Pfffft.

Anatomy of a Nap

The car said it was -1 out as I drove in to work yesterday. NEGATIVE ONE. This is not a drill. And nowhere is safe! I read 90% of the US is below freezing. I think we have to move to Miami! But, regardless of the frigid horrors we are living through, everyone is now back at work and school today. Wm made the most of his last day off by laughing at Flip's insane napping with me as we huddled under piles of blankets. Wm was wearing a ton of layers when he left for school today and was still silent and grumpy in the backseat because school was not canceled due to cold. I am picking him up all this week because I don't want him walking to my office. The high is in the 30's on Sunday (balmy!), so I think he'll be OK next week!

Update! Wm was so close to mastering Medical Detectives, he is just going to meet with the teacher a couple times to do that instead of taking up a whole J-Term class period. Instead, he is going to start Algebra I! Way to go Wm!!! High school Math in 6th grade. Woot! AND, his favorite teacher is teaching his Algebra I class to boot!

Without further ado, here is the Anatomy of a Nap:

Phase 1: pets make one sleepy

Phase 2: BIIIIIIG stretch

Phase 3: Settled in for the long haul

Final Phase: Fang poking out and intense dreaming

This was also a visual, due to the crazy dreams The Pup was having. So, here he is, doing what Flip do:

New Year

It's a new year! And I am REALLY COLD and VERY GRUMPY about it. Wm and Flip have been enjoying the snow...for as long as they can stay out in it! But, otherwise, everyone is very annoyed.

Snow ball

We've mostly been snuggling in, despite having to return to work today!

Nappin'

Cuddlin'

Wm returns to school tomorrow. He got his J-Term schedule. (J-Term is for the month of January, between fall semester and spring semester and the kids get to take fun/unusual courses, as well as remediate anything they didn't master). Wm is taking:

Murderers, Codebreakers & Puzzle Solvers (i.e., logic and deductive reasoning)

WHAM! (i.e., gym)

Don't Make Me Think (i.e., web design)

Medical Detectives Remediation

Because he got a B+ in Medical Detectives last semester, he has to remediate that class and get an A to move on to spring semester with a clean slate. Wm should knock that out quickly. That was actually his favorite class, but it was really hard! 

Being cooped up inside is forcing some canine-feline interaction.

Flip: "why can't we be friends?" Schroeder: "GTFO."

OMG!! Co-snuggling!!! Schroeder and Flip...BFFs 4EVAH!

Today is Mimi's birthday! To celebrate, here she is playing Angel of Music from Phantom at her recital:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIMI!