Ode to Cloth Diapers

The original Family Garden Day.

March 23, 2014
28 months, 4 days

I have just completed my last load of cloth diapers.  The very last load for my dear son, Colter.  I have folded them up and packed them away with the rest of his wee little things.  And someday, God willing, I'll get to pull everything back out and revel in the fact that a child can be so small.

6 months old...almost 2 years ago!

Today is a celebratory day.  My 28 month old is officially too big for diapers - he can use the potty.  Yes, the occasional accident and nighttime diapers (disposable, thank you very much) are still in use but for the most part we've graduated.  The cloth diapers are too bulky for my little man now that he has learned the joys of "UNDIES!"  Can you blame him?  Watching him trot around the house in nothing but his tighty-whities brings me a joy I have never before known.

This about sums up my child.

There was a time when diapers hung in the backdrop of our photos on a regular basis.  And that cute, massive diaper butt waddled around the house.

Colorful backyard.

Somewhere around 15 months..in the dead of winter.

For now, I say farewell to the cloth diapers.  Sleep well tucked away in a bin in our garage.  Until next time...

Goodnight, sweet diaper butt.

On Call

March 13, 2014
Almost 28 months

Rush Hour at the Canyon

I'm the wife of a National Park Service Paramedic, SAR (Search and Rescue) guy, and Firefighter.  Which means I live, eat and breathe the happenings of Grand Canyon National Park. A fire? A motor vehicle accident? A heart attack? Somebody lost on the trail? I am one of the first to know.  News spreads like rapid fire in a small, tight community like ours.

Baked good are also shared in the neighborhood.  We baked banana chocolate chip walnut muffins.  Colter is an excellent taste tester.

It's 2:30 am. And for the second night in a row I am up at this hour watching my hubby donning his uniform to take on the task of caring for those who call 911 at this hour.  Tonight happens to be a woman in labor with her fourth child. This has the possibility to be good.

The sound of his phone ringing always makes me jump no matter the hour.  It's inevitable that I won't be falling back asleep anytime soon.  That's what you get when you live where you work. The EMS (Emergency Services) Station is a half mile away.  CJ's never really off duty.  I can think of a handle of times off the top of my head where my husband has been called into work on his day "off".  I suppose that is why we often leave the Park on his "off" days.

I suppose that's the fun of it: working in an industry that never sleeps.

Me? I hear Colter cooing in the other room after the roar of the truck as it pulled away. It's likely I'll have to rub his back and let him know Daddy had to go to work. My son knows this routine all too well. He just likes to be sure he wasn't left behind.  Can you blame him?

My first, "Hey, Mom!"  Moment.

I let Owen out of his crate and he curls up against my legs. We've been here before. I bet he secretly enjoys when Dad leaves in the middle of the night- this dog would never pass up an opportunity to snuggle for a few hours.  80 pounds of dog sure takes up a great deal of our queen-size bed.

As my heart rate slows back down after the heart wrenching volume of the ringing set it off (someone forgot to turn the volume down....again), I'm saying a little prayer that my hubby gets to assist in the delivery a healthy baby tonight. I suppose you may think that's a bit odd. It's all part of being on call. If you're going to drag my man out of bed, it better be for something worthwhile. Call me jaded. That's just the truth.

Though he may not admit it at 2am, in CJ's 8 years as a medic he has always wanted to deliver a baby.  So despite 2 hours of sleep last night and 3 hours tonight, he'll take the call.  And hope that's it is worth it.

A little slice of heaven from my kitchen window.

Meanwhile, I'll write a blog on my iPhone and pray for sleep to overcome me.

Overcoming Sickness

March 5, 2014
2 years, 3.5 months

The one and only Route 66

It's been a month.  I got Mono.  Yes, I must be in middle or high school.  No, I haven't been kissing random people.  For some reason or another I just got Mono.  And Strep.  It was brutal.

While I had the Kissing Disease and didn't know it, I worked 4 days out of 6, climbed in Joshua Tree and skied in Park City.  When in Rome...I even managed a trip to the ER.  I suppose all that didn't really help the healing process.  It's safe to say I'm glad I didn't rupture my spleen. 

Climbing in Joshua Tree...it had been too long!

Tearing it up in Park City.  And feeling like poo. 

Free lift tickets from our babysitter?  Priceless.

My first trip to an ER in 30 years. Can you see my lymph nodes bulging? ;)

It seems to me that I am just about over this whole sickness thing.  Done being sick.  It's official.  No more illness in the Malcolm family for 2014.  I won't let it happen.  (Though I vaguely recall saying the same thing about a year ago and 2013 was probably our worse illness year to date.)

Colter hanging out by the fire at Jacobs Lake.

But a shout out to my amazing husband and my incredible parents who helped out tremendously during the thick of it.  It appears that everyone else has gotten away without the disease, thank goodness.  I don't think I could handle another dose of it in my house.  Enough is enough.

Best. Dad. Ever.

So now I'm on the "Cleanse".  Probiotics are my best friend after two nasty antibiotics.  I'm hydrating like a champ and getting all the nasty narcotics (you can only imagine the throat pain...) and other ridiculous medications out of my system.  I'm rather thankful the weather has been warm - I'm using the environment to lift me up as well.

It was really a great trip though....Joshua Tree to Vegas to Park City and HOME.  2500 miles in about 8 days.  That's about standard for the Malcolms.  I just wish I had been a bit healthier.  You'll notice there are hardly any pictures from Park City.  That would probably be because I couldn't move, let alone take pictures.  Except of course for one glorious afternoon of skiing.  I wouldn't take it back for anything!

Colter gets on the rock.

Love my boys. So proud.

Puppy loves.

Camping.  Malcolm style.

Playing in Joshua Tree National Park.

In Vegas, before the sickness took hold, hanging out with JJ, Chris and Catherine.

 

 

 

 

Dad took Colter out for an evening sled - the hill is deceivingly firm, slick and FAST.  Colter had a blast.