Air Jammin' with the old folks!

Back in the 70's while I was doing the hustle and trying to figure out what Donna Summer meant by "leaving a cake out in the rain", my wonderful husband was being totally absorbed by the pyschodelic sounds and sights of Pink Floyd.

This is Scott's favorite all-time band and many a nights I hear him with his Bose headphones on just lost in the songs as he plays his computer games.

Although I know a couple of songs, and I can't even say I know them, (I recognize them is a more accurate description), I had the opportunity to give Scott a gift that I knew he would love.

The real Pink Floyd no longer tours but as I was surfing the web a few weeks ago looking for PF laser shows, I came across a Floyd concert tour. I called Scott over and he immediately knew what I was talking about. He said that there's this great PF tribute band that had amazing reviews and their show was just like PF's show. The band, Aussie Floyd, received the highest honor possible by being the only band to ever be asked to play for a band member. They were hired to play for David Gilmour's 50th birthday bash!

So, we searched their tour locations and noticed that they would be coming to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, which is on the east coast. Although it was feasible, it would be tough because it would mean driving there and back (2 hours each way) and having to ask my sister or Mom to stay with the kids overnight, since we wouldn't be back till 2 am. We left it at, "Let's see what happens."

Well, a couple of weeks ago, somehow the conversation came up with Amanda and I about Pink Floyd. She asked if we were going to the concert, since Scott had mentioned to her that he'd like her to see their show. I said I didn't think so, mostly because of the distance and all that was involved. She then said, in her teenage way, "Mom! Why? Fifteen minutes is too far to drive?" I said, "Huh?" She then proceeded to tell me that Aussie Floyd is playing at the Barbara Mann Theater here in town!

Of course, being that we had checked the tour schedule and they weren't coming to SW Florida, I knew she was wrong. Well, that's what 13 year olds, I-know-it-all children are for. She promptly went to the computer, pulled up the BM Theater and lo and behold, there they were! I was so happy to see it that not only did I tell her I was sorry for saying she was wrong, but I got her a ticket, too! That was Scott's 10th anniversary gift from me.

Last night, we went to the show. Although it was not what I expected, it was a good show if you're a PF fan. Scott would become a groupie and follow their tour worldwide if he ever could.

I felt incredibly young when we arrived. I'm not sure if it's because we live in the retirement capital of the world, or because the demographics of the original PF band were an older crowd, but I swear that more than 80% of the people there were over 65. Scott was a bit bummed because of this. He knew that it would be a sit-down concert and he loves partaking in concerts as if he were up on stage, especially when he loves the band. In this case, he not only knew every song but sang every word of each song at the top of his lungs.

He's had me listening to PF cd's all week so that I could become familiar with the music. After a while, sorry to the PF fans out there, it was all sounding like the same white noise. But, I love making my husband happy so I showed much enthusiasm and told him I was so excited to go to the concert.

The band was great and if you closed your eyes, you really could not tell the difference between the real PK and the Aussie tribute band. The light and laser show was really good, too. But, I have to say that my favorite part of the concert was when they were playing the last song, Comfortably Numb, and my husband just could not contain himself anymore. Scott was sitting between Amanda and me. All of a sudden, he leaped up out of his seat and began air jamming (yes, with head bobbing included) along with the bass player. The group of 70 year olds sitting around us who had been lightly tapping their toes to the beat, stared in amazement. Even the usher/security guard, also in his 70's, by the stage (we had great seats!!) just watched in disbelief.

I was so proud of my husband for not allowing his surroundings to deter him from having a good time, but I must admit that I sheepishly slid lower and lower in my seat until I was almost in a horizontal position. I glanced over at Amanda who was just as surprised as her elderly neighbors at Scott's zest for Pink Floyd music. We both looked at each other and just giggled.

The whole moment was very cute because it certainly was very uncharacteristic of Scott to do. I'm sure had it been in another city, at another venue, the entire place would have been standing, but you gotta do what you gotta do, and air jammin' with the old folks was definitely the thing to do last night.

Baby Love

AJ lovin' on his favorite baby, Seth.

Seth, at 3.5 months is almost AJ's size.
I LOVE this picture!
Seth's smile is priceless.
The "pinky" hold.
I just love both these sweet babies.

What was I thinking????

I went to kiss Amanda goodbye as she headed to school with Scott yesterday and I noticed that her right eye was weepy and beet red. I asked her what happened. Her response, "Nothing, Mom." Typical 13 year old...ugh! So, I tell Scott to wait and I drag Amanda in the bathroom, make her take off her contacts and put on her glasses. She was livid at the thought that she had to go to school with glasses on. Heaven forbid! I think she'd rather have plucked her eye out with a spoon. So, after telling her that I was in charge, she pouted out the door, glasses on her face.

When I picked her up in the afternoon, the weepy eye was almost closed shut, red and just plain gross. This morning I happened to have an appointment for the little ones to go to the doctor, so I called the doctor's office and asked if Amanda could be seen at the same time. Of course, it was no problem, since I think we have purchased the doctor's BMW from all our visits.

Bright and early today, I trot into the doctors office with my brood following. The appointment was scheduled right at naptime, so I knew it wouldn't be a fun one. After finding seats for everyone, I sat pondering whether I should give the little ones a heads up that it was a "shot" day. Two for the boys, and four for Anna Grace, since she is still catching up. I figured I wouldn't since the crying would start then and there.

About 20 minutes later, we are called in. We take up the entire hallway where everyone is weighed, measured, and temps taken. (By the way, they ALL weigh 27 lbs and are within an inch of each other.)

The nurse then herds us into an examining room. This particular room had, of course, only 1 toy in it. Sharing is still a learning process, especially for AJ. I brought toys and some other stuff to entertain them all, but as expected, they all wanted the new toy. Some may call my next move cruel, but it stopped the screaming. In the midst of their arguing over who touches which button, I stopped them and told them that I had something to important to say. The 3 little faces froze and looked at me. Kai immediately said, "Shot?" Well, at that point, I couldn't lie. So, I said, "Yes, everyone is getting a shot today. BUT....it will be fast! A REAL fast one!" Then, the crying began. It stared with Kai, then Anna Grace followed, and AJ had really no idea why everyone was crying, but once one does it, they all do. So, he joined in.

Fortunately, the nurse came in. I sat Kai on my lap and told the two younger ones to watch what a big boy Kai was. Ummm.....wrong! He wailed and screamed bloody murder. Next was AJ. I gotta say. This little guy is so darn tough. No crying. The needle went in as I held him against me and told him, "We're almost done." He said, "Done?" By the time I answered. It was over. He hardly whimpered.

Anna Grace, and righteously so, screamed till I thought the veins in her neck would explode. She got two shots in each arm. It broke my heart because she kept saying over and over, "Mama! Mama! Mama!" Poor baby.

Finally it was over. The doctor came in and agreed with my motherly diagnosis that Amanda had pink eye. We got our prescription and we were off to the pharmacy for more Motrin (note to self: buy stock!) and Amanda's eye drops.

So, now I sit here with a teenager whining that her eye itches and me reminding her every few minutes not to touch it and to go wash her hands again. And with 3 little ones with fevers ranging from 100.5 to 102, and all of them cranky, whiney and crying. Ahhhh yes, the joys of motherhood.

What was I thinking when I scheduled all 3 of them for vaccinations on the same day?

Praising God....

and thanking everyone that lifted up our little Kai to the heavens. We just got back from the doctor and he told me that Kai's palate is 100% intact!! So, no corrective surgeries needed! I am ever so grateful for everyone's prayers and of course, to our Lord, for watching over my baby boy. I know it's because of your prayers that his palate is intact.

His diet has now been expanded a little bit to softer foods, instead of full liquid. So, he will be able to now have pancakes (soaked in syrup), shredded cheese, soft rice and a few other yummy items that he has not been able to eat, but loves.

We return to the doctor on the 10th and hopefully then he will be allowed to begin eating normal foods and soon thereafter, return to school. We have a "playdate" for an hour at school this Thursday, with his classmates.