I meant to do a September What I’m Into post . . . And then an October one . . . and time just got away from me. So here’s a What I’m Into Post for the last couple of months together — for the season of fall. (Which, by the way, isn’t close to being over. Didn’t everyone JUST finish saying fall is their FAAAAAAAAVOURITE season? And then the second Halloween is over it’s all Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls? Hang on a second, friends. There are still four more weeks of your FAAAAVOURITE season to enjoy. And we’ve been having a lovely one at that.)
I hate that I’ve been neglecting the blog. But you know what else I’ve been neglecting? My kids. (So I guess that’s a who, not a a what.) I’m just trying to get through the next couple of months.
Life in isolation has produced mixed emotions in us. On the one hand, we are just so unbelievably happy to be living at home instead of the hospital. Every day at home is a gift. Ever meal cooked on my own stove, every night spent in our own bed. I never want to take a moment for granted.
But it does get lonely sometimes. And boring. We have lived separated from the rest of the world for almost a year now. I get sick of these walls sometimes. I miss the outdoors. I miss my friends. I miss their kids. I’m so tired of waiting and worrying. Will my baby ever be okay?
It’s so hard to go out when you need two separate babysitters to care for your two kids (your healthy one and your sick one) that it rarely happens. We’re just always home. Alone. Always.
We’re having Lydia live with us more and more these days, and I could write a whole post on that experience alone. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to one of these days.
Felix’s first birthday is this week. I’m hoping to provide an update soon (we’re waiting on some really important lab results right now and I’m kind of losing my mind over it.)
For now, here’s what I’ve been into.
Books
Where is God When It Hurts? (Philip Yancey) — I re-read this 1977 classic when I realized that the excruciating emotional pain I experienced with Felix’s illness and near death over the last year is just the beginning of the suffering that is inevitably ahead of me. (Cheerful thought, right?) Yancey handles the subject sensitively and sagely. I’m sure I’ll be turning to it again.
Anne of Avonlea (Anne L. Montgomery) — I read the first Anne book while in the hospital a few months ago. I still can’t believe I never read these books. Why oh why did I waste so much of my childhood on the Sweet Valley Twins?! Why did I always assume these books would be boring? (I think maybe because the covers were always ugly.) This one was as charming and delightful as the first.
Children’s Books
With Lydia staying with us overnight more and more, and with her being a full year older than when I had to first relinquish care of her due to Felix’s diagnosis (she’s four now), I thought it was finally time to venture into the exciting world of read-aloud chapter books. What a thrill it was! (I went to this excellent list for suggestions.)
The Night Fairy (Laura Amy Schlitz) — this was our very first chapter book together. I loved the experience. What a thrill to have my child anxiously wondering, “What’s going to happen? Will the spider kill her? Will she get her wings back?” She hated the ending, though. (It’s a good ending; she’s just young and particular about how she wants her stories to end.)
Lydia tends to be wary of the unfamiliar, but I was able to lure her into the book with the fact that it’s about a fairy. But Flory is no Disneyfied Tinkerbell: she’s a complex character who develops through the story. It’s an exciting, well-written, well-paced story about survival, friendship, and forgiveness. It’s got a fabulous mix of magic and nature. It’s perfectly suitable for a boy, too. If I were to do it again, I’d probably wait until she was five, though. It was a smidge advanced for her.
Lady Lollipop (Dick King-Smith) — this book is from the same author as Babe. Again, I got Lydia to try it because it’s about a princess. I thought it was kind of boring but she really liked it. It involves using wit and kindness to get what you want in life. And there’s a pig, of course.
A Bad Case of Stripes (David Shannon) — this is a picture book Lydia picked out herself from the library, about a girl whose body starts to change in bizarre ways because she won’t admit she loves lima beans. I thought it was kind of dumb but Lydia finds it fascinating. She’s had me read it over and over again and asks questions about it randomly throughout the day. What do I know about what kids will like?
Knitting
Ben requested that I knit him a winter hat. I was delighted to meet the challenge. I used this pattern. Unfortunately, I’m learning that I’m a very tight knitter, and soon realized it wasn’t going to fit him. So I shortened it and now it fits Felix. (It’s on Ravelry here.)
Then I knit my first sock. How exciting! It took a zillion hours, and as Ben pointed out, I now have half a pair of socks. Which is as useful as zero pairs of socks. But still! I made it! I know how to make socks! The next one will follow . . . eventually . . .
Finally, I tried the hat for a second time but with larger needles. Hooray! Success! It’s so comfy and warm.
Television
We’ve been dutifully keeping up with Big Bang Theory and Brooklyn 99. Both provide much-needed laughs during this season of waiting. We’re also now regular viewers of John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight, which is terrific.
Last month I started re-watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix by myself which has been fun. (It gives me something to do when I feed Felix, who still feeds like a newborn). It’s so great, you guys! (I’m on season 3).
The last time I watched the show I was about Rory’s age, so I saw events primarily through her eyes. Now I’m almost Lorelai’s age, so I see them more through her eyes. The time Lorelai first saw Rory kiss Dean through the window I was all OH MY GOSH, IF/WHEN I SEE LYDIA KISS A BOY FOR THE FIRST TIME I WILL DIIIIIIIIIIE.
And while when I first saw the show as a seventeen-year-old I was completely and irrevocably in love with Jess, I now find myself thinking, “Man, that kid is irresponsible and disrespectful. And hey, hmmm. Luke’s kinda cute. I never noticed that before.” And then I’m all HOLY CRAP I’M OLD, THE GUY IS LIKE 40, WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN??
Movies
We have no time for movies. When we do watch them, we watch them in two parts so we can get to bed by 9pm. It’s a sad life. But we did watch:
You’ve Got Mail — we’re still catching up on Classic Romance Movies We Weirdly Never Saw Before. (Last year it was Pretty Woman, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and Jerry Maguire). This one was completely charming. We both loved it.
Divergent — I just can’t pass up a good YA dystopian-novel-turned-movie. The first half of the movie was sooooooo intriguing. The second half was kind of Meh, I feel like I’ve seen this before.
And that’s what I’ve been into!
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Aww, Kathleen, hugs and hugs and hugs. I adore your blog, but it’s hard to write when life gets real. Sometimes you have to get beyond it so you can look back, reflect, and gain perspective. I’m in that spot myself. I’m a writer with a chronic illness and spend the bulk of my time at home alone. There are days where the boredom and loneliness can be overwhelming. But in these moments of seeming disconnection, I have to dig deep and think of Jesus and the great heroes of our faith during their wilderness times with God. They went through times of solitude, loneliness, suffering and reflection too, which puts us in good company. We are more deeply connected than we can even know. This is where the spiritual wanderer becomes the mystic, where we are catapulted to new heights in the faith journey. I figure I’m a spiritual diva, surrounded by an entourage! Anne with an “E” has been a companion of mine on the journey too. Much love to you from central Texas, Kathleen with a “K”.
Love reading your updates. I hope the lab results turn out well for Felix. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
I’d like to suggest Jane the Virgin as a great show to watch right now! Season 1 is on Netflix.