Dean family update

We are planning to go camping this weekend- hopefully near the Forlorn lakes region again.  My husband seems to prefer the white salmon area…so we’ll make definitive plans tonight.  Brian isn’t working Monday- so we’ll be able to enjoy Saturday and most of Sunday wherever we go.  We do not have the boys this weekend- but Brian has to work next Saturday…and most the weekends in May are now booked with school events, visits to family and our free camping adventure at Neskowin.  Back to the main point for this posting- we’d love to have other family members join us in this adventure.  Well I came in early to get some work done before students come in…so I better get at it. 

beautiful dad-from jennifer

Great job! Now you can come build one at my house J I hope everyone is enjoy the beautiful weather.  Brian, Kalena and Gabe all suffered through the flu this weekend- is it my imagination- or have we been sick a lot this year?? Well lots of work to do.  Have a great Monday!

Windy day

Today it was so windy out I actually thought my tires were coming off and making me swerve. So I pulled over to check for a flat or something but it was all A-ok, just wind I guess. I think it was partially the fact that I haven't slept for the last week since Quark has been up every night crying and my nerves are a little fried. About a month ago he stopped eating his food well and then completely stopped eating and drinking all together last week. So he has a feeding tube that runs into his esophagus and I use a big syringe to load up his belly every 3 hours. He is miserable and very weak. Today was his 3rd appointment at the vet this week and hopefully his last for at least another week.

The goose seems to be healthy and happy following me and Ada everywhere we go. I need to come up with a name for it other than Goosey-goosey. I am not sure if it is male or female so it needs a name that can go either way. Ada very carefully picked him (for some reason I do think of it as a him) up and carried him gently before I yelled at her and told her to put the goose down. The gosling ran off unphased and Ada was sent to timeout (the bathroom) for a while. She has managed to step on the gosling unintentionally a few times without really hurting him. Hopefully he will go through a growth spurt and get bigger soon.

Enough pet talk.
Work is fine. Those 15 hour days I was putting in for The Dalles work really drained me. Luckily the study got separated into 2 studies instead of one long study. So I have a week off (in the office) to recover from the first part before I head back out.

I love my new flower garden area. I can't wait to see how it fills in. I had a few more things planned for some other beds but with Quarks new situation all of that money has been rerouted. However there is a rumor that raises are going around. Unfortunately my specific office is in the red this year so I don't know that we will get one.

As far as events go this summer let's plan ahead. I propose we sign up now for campsites if we want them. Anyone check into the group campsite for the reunion site? Is it open this year? I can't wait to see this new trailer of the Dean's, it sounds impressive.
Later,
-Mel

Pergola Project Nearly Done

Dean family update

That gosling sure was cute!  Is it still alive? 

Nothing real exciting to report- I’ve been caught up in the state testing at our school.  Our students are a little wound up during this time of the year.  I’m writing two more grants- I’m hoping my mother will have time before June 1^st to proofread and make suggestions again for me.  Kalena’s doctor wants her to be checked by an orthopedic specialist- just in case- and we aren’t supposed to worry at all.  One leg bone does twist more than the other- causing her to be quite pigeon toed at the moment.  The nurse was apparently incompetent at giving vaccinations- because Kalena came back from the appointment with a huge bruise/knot in her leg…and after watching three other kids go through this regimen of shots- I’ve never seen this happen before- so I’m going to let Kaiser know how I feel about it.  Brian said the woman just slammed it into her leg.  Emma is still resisting potty training- but when you insist- she will go in the toilet.  So she’s capable- just not motivated. Hmmm…sounds like a large population of my students.  Gabe’s been a little challenging again this week- we continue to work on frustration tolerance- but its more a snotty attitude they have the first day back from extended periods at their dad’s house.  So I don’t know if it’s a friend/school influence or neglect at their dad’s in terms of thinking that they can communicate in this negative manner.  But its usually better by the second day home.  I did my assigned reading by the counselor for Gabe- “the explosive child”- it was basically an entire book that could be summed up with these three steps….when a conflict arises you should 1) empathize with the child about the situation 2) restate the two concerns- the child’s and your own 3) have child (or you if they aren’t feeling creative) come up with some ‘equally agreeable’ solutions to the conflict.  Both the boys and their mother and step dad are getting a layer of fat on our tummies- so I think we are going to need to implement a new healthy meal plan and more than 200 sit-ups for our work out routine.  Anyone up for some camping or hiking adventures in the near future?  We will be going to Neskowin over Memorial day weekend- but we’d like to go to either forlorn lakes again or another coastal destination- Garibaldi?- before then.  Well I’m going to get out of my classroom and pick up the boys from school.  TTFN. Jenn.

Sooooo sleepy

So we have a new addition to our pets as you can see. This one wasn't planned. I was working at The Dalles Dam yesterday and the boss brings up this dead gosling that had died going through some really rough spill at the dam. He brings it into the trailer I am workin on to scare this lady in the trailer that hates birds. As he is dangling the bird by its back leg it slightly twitches and the gosling is barely alive. Being the only "local" I set up the almost dead bird in a hardhat nest and take him home with me. The poor thing can't even hold up his neck or anything, he just lays where I put him. Once I get him home I set him up in the cat carrier. About 2 hours later I hear tweeting and he is upright. A couple of hours later the bird is ready to go. I haven't got him to eat my starter chicken food yet but he has tried every crumb he could find on my floor. As you can see Ada really likes him and hasn't left his side. She has been very gentle so far but I am keeping a close eye on her.

Quark on the other hand seems close to death. He has Feline infectious anaemia (FIA) and has lost a bunch of weight. He is extremely week and cries throughout the night because he is miserable. But even in his weakened state he did try to bite the gosling's neck. I managed to make him stop before he did any damage. I still have to give him his 3 medicines this morning. Usually I am great with giving pills but it is like his mouth is so dry they just won't go down. If he gets any worse he will have to have a tube inserted for direct feeding and medicating.

Can someone remind me why we have pets?

happy birthday

Dean family update

Ok- does anyone else have a dog that digs up their flower pots…well mine does! Even when they are up on tables.  So I’ve decided that having flowers in pots may have to wait until a future without a Jack Russell.  Melanie happy belated birthday.  Traci- sorry to hear about the book.  Hang in there- keep trying.  I hear through my mother that (my parents) they are on their way up to drop off birthday gifts and visit Mel and Greyson’s home.  It turns out we don’t have the boys- but will get them Sunday afternoon 3 or 4 ish.  So we will do an outdoor egg hunt in the afternoon- and an indoor one in the morning with the girls.  Saturday is Kalena’s birthday- so we will be celebrating with a free Safeway cake- other than that we don’t have any plans.  I need to get the Easter bunny motivated for Sunday- not much on the agenda yet.  Emma is starting potty training- apparently it’s been fairly successful at the babysitters- not so much at home.  Kalena’s bowed legs have us a little concerned- but her 1 year check-up is next week- so I’m sure they will let us know if there is a problem.  According to some web sites- it’s normal unless its still evident when they are 2.  Gabriel has had a good week- I read the book “the explosive child” with Brian on our trip to the coast.  We are implementing plan B as discussed in this book…I think it will work much better with Gabriel.  Nicholas is getting so tall- his feet are as big as mine now.  He just keeps getting taller and taller- he complained that none of his clothes fit anymore- so I guess some clothes shopping is in our near future.  Well its time to return to the grind.  Take care everyone- one and all are welcome to join us to celebrate Kalena’s birthday or the egg hunts…now you can stay in our new trailer or down stairs- whichever you find more quiet and comfortable.  Staying in the trailer when camping reminds me of being in a motel room- not quite roughing it anymore.  Love. Jenn