During the two years since my husband Lyle and I had moved our family to Fargo from Bismarck, we had found the most curious guardian angel in a female police officer. I had known Officer Cora Duin since I was a little girl. She is a remarkable woman, a dynamo, the very first uniformed female police officer... Continue Reading →
Tis’ the Season…
“Abracadabra! Make Grandma and Grandpa disappear!” was the final desperate attempt of two persistent little girls in the back seat to get their way. At ages four and three, Maggie and Serrah had given it their all. They had come up with reason after reason why Grandpa should turn the car toward our home in... Continue Reading →
No, I Can Not Be A Halloween Cat!
“O.K., now, arch that back like a Halloween cat,” he repeated as if I hadn’t heard him the first time. “I AM,” this seemed hopeless. I tucked my chin to my chest, and willed my spine to pop out for the anesthesiologist attempting to insert a spinal block. “My belly is huge. There really isn’t... Continue Reading →
It Was a Really Scrawny Tree!
What could possibly be so hideously wrong with the image on the screen as to make the ultrasound tech purposely turn the screen away from our view? He looked so serious. What the heck could be wrong with our baby? Oh, jeez. Our baby is hideously deformed! Why is he so nervous? “Why did you... Continue Reading →
Did You Ever Have a Time, When You Couldn’t Make a Rhyme?
“Down by the bay Where the watermelons grow Back to my home I dare not go For if I do My mother will say ‘Did you ever see a moose Kissing a goose?’ Down by the bay” We were reveling in days of Raffi and grilled cheese. Who doesn’t love a good grilled cheese and... Continue Reading →
Defeated
The pharmacist rang up the medicine for treating the thrush in my infant daughter's mouth. I stood nervously holding her. I hated this part, but I swallowed my pride and said, "I need to put it on a charge." He looked at me awkwardly, "We don't use charge accounts here. You have to pay with... Continue Reading →
Keep the Change? NO THANK YOU!
I stared at the contents of a toddler's diaper in disbelief. He had passed a quarter. What on Earth? Throughout the two years that I had an in-home daycare, I both figuratively and literally saw some "weird shit.” The kids that I cared for ranged in age from six months old to four years old.... Continue Reading →
The Baby Before
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." -- Ernest Hemingway I hadn't intended to write this part of my story. This endeavor was to write a blog, a chronicle, the story of our family. It is first and foremost, for my children. I started thinking about... Continue Reading →
Hello, Emily Ruth
I stared at the face of our third baby girl, propped up on my knees as I sat in the hospital bed. We were face to face, and all I could see in that little face were the droopy ears, almond-shaped eyes, tiny nose, and the tongue that wouldn't quite stay in her tiny mouth.... Continue Reading →
It’s Just A Sinus Infection!!!
I stood looking up at my mother atop the long staircase that led up to their upstairs condominium, diaper bag and purse slung over my shoulder, nine-month old Serrah on my hip, two-year old Maggie holding one hand, and car keys in the other. Mom had been watching the girls while I was at the... Continue Reading →
Love My Messy Life 