Living with an Addict

Yes, for the past 3 yrs we have been living with an addict. Sadly, Mom , Dad & sister have been the biggest enablers. Last Saturday we had an Intervention. "My name is Tracie Chesser and my 3 yr, Ruthie, is addicted to her PAPPY." (pacifier) Last Saturday, December 29 we decided it was time for detox. She only used it for sleeping but it was time for her to get rid of it for good. We decided cold turkey was the best way. She went to bed about 8:00 and after crying, whining and wanting to go get the pappy I decided I should grow up and focus on Ruthie. :) She cried, whined, and wanted to get the pappy too but finally at 7:00am Sunday morning she fell asleep. I went to bed and at 7:30 guess who was awake ready for the day, it wasn't me that's for sure.

Let's focus on the positive now. Ruthie is 1 week clean of her pappy and has only asked for it once since the first night of detox. She is happy to say she is a big girl. There is no more searching the house inside and out looking for a pappy for bed.

I would like to say all is well but, at bed time she doesn't know what to do with herself , so we lay down with her until she goes to sleep. Anyone out there have any ideas for a new addiction we can introduce to our 3 yr old to calm her a night?:)

Introducing...Belle !!!!!

Belle is the newest member of our family. Belle is inside and doing well with the crate training. We adopted her from the local pound. I saw a sign that said they didn't adopt out animals to famlies who had children 5 & under. The man said it was fine and continued the process. We have had Belle for a week and I now understand the not

adopting to families with children under five.

These are the things I have had to explain to Ruthie...

You can't put Belle in a suitcase

You can't carry her around by the neck

You can't dance with her like a human, her legs are just not that strong

You can't hold her under a blanket

And last but not least, you can't feed Belle grapes

Needless to say Belle likes her crate we have set up for her. She handles Ruthie really well, but when I say it's time to go into the crate Belle doesn't hesitate. I know that Ruthie and Belle are

going to become best friends.

I will try to catch that teenager of mine

and get a photo of her and Belle.

Happy Birthday Alex!!!

December 27th is our precious son and brother's birthday. Alex was about 4 yrs old in this picture. Like all boys he was into superheros. Dad is wearing Alex's Batman costume and Alex is Superman. He was such a fun little boy.

Happy Holidays!!!

Christmas has come and gone and as I look back we had a very nice one. We always open presents from each other on Christmas Eve, sometimes very early in the day because everyone is excited. The kids always get cool pajamas that they immediately change into. That night we prepare Santa's cookies, milk and a note. Chelsea and Alex's note used to be very long and specific. With Ruthie only being 3 and Chelsea almost 16 this years note was quite short. In the morning the kids are allowed to get up and get their stockings first and they don't have to wake us up first. Chelsea and Alex always like this, whoever woke up first would go get the other and they would ooh and aah over each other's stuff. Chelsea is helping Ruthie learn our family traditions and I enjoying watching them. Then the kids come get Rodney and I and we open from Santa then have a big breakfast and mess with our stuff for the rest of the day.

Chelsea's big gift this year was a digital camera. She is taking a homemaking class at school and has pick up sewing. She made many of her friends purses for Christmas. It only seemed fitting that she get and sewing basket and scissors of her own. Her cool pajamas this year were Spiderman boxers. She loves Spiderman these days.

Ruthie big gift was a basketball goal. (Ruthie size) She is really into the Disney princesses, so she got several of there toys. Her cool pajamas were Spiderman like big sister. She loved them, it makes her feel special to be like sister.

Rodney got a 8ft ladder that he had asked and I got a new flash for my digital camera.

We had a nice Christmas and pray everyone else did too.