Happy Holidays, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Ohio Turnpike

We had a really great combination ThanksgivingChristmas in Buffalo. The Thanksgiving part featured the traditional roasted turkey, stuffing, potatoes and all the delicious things you tend to associate with the holiday. It was delicious, although we missed Uncle Tommy, who was in the hospital with a leg infection. (He asked the doctor if he could just come in on Monday, so as not to miss Thanksgiving dinner, but the doctor replied, "Only if you want to lose the leg." We only include this information because it indicates exactly what kind of event will keep Uncle Tommy away from Gramma Jo's delicious cooking.)

For the Christmas part of the weekend, which we celebrated on Saturday night, we enjoyed a beef burgundy that can only be described as sublime (thanks again to Gramma Jo). Those who were unfortunate enough to witness firsthand Zatoichi's horrible gas can thank the broccoli, which seems to have that effect on him. He apologizes to all those affected.

On our way home, we enjoyed this scenario, which has inspired our clever title for today's blog:

10:37am, "This is a [dang] record! We packed up the car and are ready to leave by 11:00am! That never happens anymore! Now let's not forget the baby! Maybe we'll make it home before dark!"

5:30pm, "Wow! We are making really good time! We even had time to stop for breastfeeding in Pennsylvania!"

5:31pm, "Wow, it's starting to snow!"

5:32pm, "Boy, where did this traffic come from? It must be for the Ohio Turnpike tollbooths, which are coming up in 3 miles."

5:33pm, "Man, Benjamin just dropped a deuce. Did you hear that?"

5:34pm, "WHAAAAHHHHHH! WHAAAAHHHHH!"

5:40pm, "He pooped again."

5:41pm, "It's bumper to bumper as far as the eye can see, all the way to the toll booths!"

5:42pm, "WHAAAAHHHHHH! WHAAAAHHHHH!"

5:43pm, "WHAAAAHHHHHH! WHAAAAHHHHH!"

6:30pm, "They shouldn't be allowed to charge money for this. I can't believe how many cars are. This is essentially a 3-mile-long line!"

6:31pm, "WHAAAAHHHHHH! WHAAAAHHHHH!"

6:32pm, "I think we should probably stop at Burger King to change the baby's diaper."

6:33pm, [Having gone into the Burger King bathroom and seen the line of 14 waiting for a stall] "Let's change the baby in the car."

6:44pm, "WHAAAAHHHHHH! WHAAAAHHHHH!"

6:47pm, "WHAAAAHHHHHH! WHAAAAHHHHH!"

7:00pm, [Baby sleeps]

8:15pm, "WHAAAAHHHHHH! WHAAAAHHHHH!"

8:44pm, "It's nice to be home."

Warning, Flying Baby

Living room flight.

Back yard flight.

Watch out for flying baby.

Zapatero TV

If you haven't seen it already, you really should. While Zapatero tries to finish a thought, the King of Spain pipes up and asks Hugo Chávez to be quiet:



Chávez was enjoying a long tirade against former Spanish president Aznar, whom he calls a fascist, among other things.

Stomach Flu Halloween

Now that everyone is feeling better, we thought we would give a blow-by-blow of our Halloween with hot pix of our cool ad hoc costumes.

The night before Halloween, Benny woke up throwing up. That was really rough to watch--it's such a violent thing for a baby to do. But then as soon as he was done vomiting he would cough a little and then look up at you and smile. Babies are incapable of feeling sorry for themselves. That's really a great feature in a life form. He would whimper a little bit because he knew he wasn't feeling well, but then would just smile and look really cute. The perfect survival mechanism.

So this picture was taken on Halloween, just as all of South Bend descended on our neighborhood for our high quality candy. Everyone is happy, the baby is feeling better after a massive ingestion of Pedialyte over a day and a half.

Dr. Sanders suggests only incremental infusions of mother's milk while he gets over it. Lactose is rough on the sensitive stomach. Soon Amy will be puking--among other things (this is a family blog)--all night long. So the stomach flu goes to mother first.

Benjamin, still feeling a bit queasy. Mother feeling a little better after her rough night. Now that Amy is feeling more human, it is my turn to starting to feel like crap. No puking though. I'm strong like the Hulk.

Day three. Recuperating, everyone still feeling crappy. In front of the television, waiting for the next episode of House (which will air in four days). Pedialyte for baby, Gatorade for parents. We like "Fruit" flavor Pedialyte, not "Grape." Soy formula seems to work for sensitive little baby bellies. Vanilla soy lattes seem to work for sensitive big baby bellies.


Gatorade. Fall. Hydration. Feeling good. Looking great. Nothing like a walk around the block after Massive Family Flu and Togetherness Experience.

So, little Benjamin has successfully gotten over his first sickness. His immune system is stronger and he has built up some character.

Just in time for: Inoculations, Round Two. Tomorrow morning at 11:15. Ding.

Baby Fish Mouth

Inspired by McMiller PDX's inspired blog entry, Prime Minister McMiller, we submit here our own Amagomundi likeness which springs from a recent impromptu nap:

Today's Guest Blogger: Benny Ray

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[Babies can blog, too, baby. Rock and Roll. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Drool.]

Benny's First Trip to Mexico

Mexico, Indiana.

Ever Feel Like a Pig in a Jar?

This pig does.