Friday, March 22, 2013

I Shall Blow a Fanfare




As a Spring Break gift, the Dean of my college encouraged all staff to take a 2 hour lunch each day this week.  Since I typically lunch with my husband and he was not afforded this luxury, it really meant nothing to me.  But, as the week wore on (and my kids wore my mother out), I had the idea to take a long lunch on Thursday, and take the big kids to see a movie.  I have been a Wizard of Oz fan since childhood, having seen the 1939 version with Judy Garland MANY times; and I can genuinely declare Wicked as my favorite Broadway musical of all time, having seen 3 different touring companies perform it in 3 different cities – 2 more on the horizon for the next 18 months!  Britt is as well, and we took the big girls to see Wicked 2 years ago in Dallas.  So, it was a forgone conclusion that the Weavers would see the new Disney prequel, Oz The Great and Powerful.  It was just a question of WHEN?  So, a two (or so) hour lunch on Thursday it was – and a complete surprise to the big kids!  We are not 3D fans AT ALL (especially since one Dream Weaver wears eye glasses and that makes it hard to wear the 3D glasses, plus it costs more), but to catch a matinee at out little theater, we had to go that route.

I went in with low expectations of the story, but HIGH expectations of the cast, scenery, costumes, make-up, set design, cinematography, and music.  LOL!  I really like the technical stuff!  And, since we have 3 elementary aged kids in our house, we watch the Disney channel A LOT, so I had seen countless trailers, as well as the little behind the scenes things they do between shows about the next HOT movie.  I am very pleased to say, I was not disappointed AT ALL!  It started with the opening credits, which were spectacular!  I am so glad we were watching it in 3D – it really added to the effects!  And the MUSIC!  I have been a Danny Elfman fan for a long time, and he did a fantastic job with the score – again from the opening credits to the last curtain.  And it just got more beautiful from there.  The first part is at a carnival in Kansas in 1903, and it is all in black and white.  But you can still see the excruciating detail that was taken with every scene, set and prop – as well as costumes and make up.  It was visually stunning!  Then, when they get to Oz?  Magnificent!  It was just so fun to watch and see all the colors and the creativity of the characters and the animation of the inanimate ones.  I think I had a smile on my face the whole time!  Except when things in 3D were scaring me, flying at my head, or causing one of my children to grab me as they were startled!  I loved it!  Visually, the move really had them mesmerized and drawn in the whole time.

The move was long.  We went to a 1:00pm start time, and we left the theater at 3:30.  The run time is listed at 130 minutes (2 hours, 10 minutes), so I guess we endured 20 minutes of previews and commercials (which were all PG-13,and 2 were basically the same movie with different actors – about post-revolution futuristic America with space ships and aliens…  SO not my thing, but I digress…).  The opening credits were quite possible the longest I have seen in AGES, but they were so entertaining and delightful I was OK with it.  Then, as I previously mentioned, it opens with a black and white scene in Kansas.  That lasted FOREVER.  It was to construct the back story, but it was painfully drawn out.  I don’t know how long it lasted, but I would guess 20-25 minutes.  Could have all been covered in 10.  Once we (finally) got out of Kansas, and into Oz, the story ran at a much more tolerable pace – although the slow spots crept up several more times.  Honestly, what kept me hooked and paying attention was the visual aspect of it.  It truly was a superb movie as far as the sets, costumes, make-up, props and CGI animation went.  Quite charming, and stunning at the same time.  I had a little trouble with the writing as well.  This movie is supposed to take place during the turn of the century, but the language was very current and almost too modern-day at times.  It was as if they forgot what time period it was.  It was strange at times, and off-putting at others.  My favorite characters were Finley, the flying monkey in a bell hop’s uniform, and China Doll.  What can I say?  I am a kid at heart!  I also enjoyed the sour attitude of the herald and trumpet blower, Knuck.  I think James Franco did an amazing job as Oscar Diggs (Oz), and I loved how he portrayed his character.  A classic tale of a con-man turned good because of a woman.  I also think Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz were perfectly cast as Theodora and Evanora, respectively.  They were GREAT!  I had a little trouble following the story of the 3 sisters, since I have the other 2 stories in my veins, but I did figure out the hook pretty quickly on that one.  Once I could predict how the story would unfold and quit obsessing about how they were not Elphaba and Nessarose (Nessie), I really enjoyed watching them!  The power struggle is great and an exciting plot to watch unfold.



Now, I am a Glinda girl ALL THE WAY!  I like the good girls!  I love that Kristen Chenoweth played her on Broadway.  I love the blonde hair and the sweet, caring manor.  I do not, however, like Michelle Williams.  Didn’t like her on “Dawson’s Creek” back in the day – never have.  So, I was already predisposed to not like her as Glinda.  And it worked.  She was drab.  Made the character dull and uninspiring.  *YAWN* In this version of the story, there was a lot riding on her shoulders and she was under considerable pressure.  But you couldn’t tell it by the way she acted.  And of course she loves Oz, and that was prophesied in the opening black and white scene, so we all knew it was coming – like a brick.  But, I suffered through the performance and did enjoy the way it all worked out for them in the end.  Open ended for a sequel (2nd prequel?) for sure!

As for the kids – they are still talking about it a day later!  Jake loves movies. LOVES them!  Watches movies endlessly.  Quotes them tirelessly.  And he has favorite things from this movie that he has already worked into his everyday vocabulary!  The girls are both very skittish and easily startled, so they were “mad” at the movie for scaring them! LOL!  It was a very intense movie.  I would not have taken the girls (now 10) at Jake’s age (6) because of how jolting it was at times.  But, they loved the story and really got in to it as well.  Lara had the same trouble I did with the witch sisters’ storyline, since she too has seen Wicked and tried to make this movie fit with that retelling.  They want to see it again in 2D this time, and Jake wants to make sure we buy it “in case” when it comes out.  (That’s what he calls a movie on DVD that we own at home.)

Overall, it was a success for our family!  It was a GREAT break from the monotony of a Spring Break with nowhere to go, and it was a fun movie to see together as a family.  It had its weak spots, but my love for the Emerald City made it a must see!  There are some GREAT lines, wonderful scenes, and it was simply stunning to watch.  It’s also fun to see a new spin on an old familiar story.  (This story takes place 20 years before Dorothy hits Oz, so in that sense it is completely separate.)  It was a little sinister in places, and very intense in others, but if you have ever read any of L. Frank Baum’s works, he is dark and twisted.  I would recommend it to Oz fans, fantasy fans, fans of the visual aspects of movies, and anyone who wants to get away for a long 2 hour lunch to see the “Number 1 Movie in the World 2 Weeks in a Row”!

(Oh, and the title of the post is a line from the movie by Knuck the Trumpet Blower.  He was funny!)

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Spring has NOT Sprung



There is snow/wintery mix in for forecast for this coming weekend, yet today is the first day of Spring.  Oklahoma, you are CONFUSED! LOL!  In all reality, this is typical of Oklahoma March weather.  I distinctly remember one Spring Break (I don’t know what year – it was either late high school or early college – it was VERY important that I call my boyfriend everyday!) I went out to Western Kansas to stay with relatives for a couple of days, and got stuck out there for the whole week!  The weather was fine there, and fine here in Stillwater, but I-35 was CLOSED between Wichita and Blackwell, so I had to wait it out!  Snow on Spring Break it not that uncommon, but my kids think it is the end of the world that it might snow!  Poor sweet souls!

Looks like I haven’t been on here to update in a bit.  It’s been BUSY!  As usual, I guess, but still...  Here are the highlights:

** Finn had his post op follow up with the ENT – all is well – go back in 4 months
**  Finn is taking steps and waving a bit!  Video Proof:





** Lara finished up her 6 week intensive Hip Hop dance class – still working towards her recital in June (next up – leaps and turns in April!)

** Nana the Wonder Sitter (aka “Mom” to me) and I attended ΑΔΠ State Day on the Oklahoma State Campus – it was WONDERFUL! Love my sisterhood! #WLFEO

**Jake played his last Upward basketball game of the season and served cupcakes to his teammates, and had the end of season celebration which was SUPER fun!
Instagram of the event!
** We went to an OKC Thunder NBA basketball game as a family (again.  Thunder Up!)

** Except for Emma who was diligently preparing for State Competition with her Odyssey of the Mind team

** Had our first “Restaurant Night” fundraiser for the Stillwater March of Dimes March for Babies ta Panda Express (YUM!) Click Here to donate to Finn's Fans!

** The Spring Version of the semi-annual Adorable Affordables sale happened last week – I spent 2 solid days helping set up, and shopped on 4 different occasions!  Had to re-shop for Jake, 10’s are too small, he needs 12’s!

** Had parent-teacher conferences for all three big kids!  Emma and Lara are crushing 5th grade, aside from a couple minor bumps in the road we are working out, and Jake is head of his Kindergarten class as far as reading and helpfulness go!

** Britt and I got to be part of a surprise birthday party celebration for one of his longtime friends and co-workers.  The guest of honor was truly SHOCKED and surprised.  That was fun

** My father-in-love celebrated his 80th birthday!

** Mom and I attended a cute bridal shower for my future niece-in-law (Is that what she’s called? My nephew’s bride?)

** Did I mention, IT IS SPRING BREAK THIS WEEK!  They love the time off.  It just means MORE babysitting for Nana the Wonder Sitter…

** Nana and Grandpa took the big kids to the Chickasaw Cultural Center  in Sulphur, OK for a day trip yesterday while Mr. Finn hung out at Krista’s Kids day care.  BIG day for all of them!

** I am enjoying the creative outlet Dream Weaver Prints is giving me!  Love to see the orders roll in!  (Check us out on Facebook!)  

Life just keeps moving forward, it seems!  And so QUICKLY!  Emma and Lara are gearing up for the BIG move to the Middle School next year, and Jake is ready for summer and baseball!   For some reason, I have been reflecting on Finn's NICU stay the past several days, which has led me to pin a few more things to his board on Pinterest.  I have also been working with a fellow NICU mom in her efforts to do some fundraising for her Oklahoma City March for Babies family team.  She has truly inspired me, and given me some GREAT ideas for our team, too!  Stay tuned for a fun event I am dreaming about!  Our March in Stillwater it not until late September, so we are not in full gear quite yet.  PLUS!  There is going to be a "Mercy Miracles" team for Mercy NICU graduates in the OKC March the first weekend of May, so the Six Dream Weavers are going as a team to that one as well!  We sure love our March of Dimes and NICU family!  Such a crazy time in our lives - yet it has made bonds and relationships that will last us a lifetime! #blessed


Thursday, March 7, 2013

Finn Firsts: Haircut (and STEPS!)



Yesterday was full for FIRSTS for our Finn!  The first first was his first haircut!  In the middle of the afternoon, I met Nana the Wonder Sitter at Shine Salon for my friend (and Jake’s friend and teammate’s Mom) Mika to work her magic on Finn.  I remember for Jake’s first haircut Britt insisted I take him to a barber (for men).  Somehow, I got to side step that requirement this time around.  Maybe because Finn is SO WIGGLY and we knew Mika would take good care of him no matter how crazy he got!  And don’t be mistaken - he was VERY wiggly!  But, he did a good job of trying to cooperate while sitting my lap, and Mika worked wonders snipping off the crazy parts and shaping up the unruly parts.  He looked so handsome (if not a bit concerned about the whole process) when we were finished!  So proud of him!

CLICK on picture for full size version!


 I think all the excitement wore him out, so he took a strange little after work/before dinner nap - which left us trying to decide what to do about church for the kids and LifeGroup for us.  In the end, we decided to go - and I think it was a blessing that we did!  The big kids OF COURSE had fun in their classes - Jake just started Konnect when he turned 6 a few weeks ago, and Emma & Lara always have a blast and come out of Roots all fired up with funny stories to tell!  And while Britt and I love spending time with our LTC LifeGroup, tonight we got a wonderful surprise!  Due to Finn still having lingering respiratory issues, and our church kids area being under construction with dry wall dust, paint fumes and carpet glue residue everywhere, we decided it best for him to stay with us and go to the home we meet in.  They have 2 little boys, so we knew Finn would find something to do!  We also had just a few people from our group in attendance, so it was a small audience.  I guess it was just the right size for Finn to show off for.  He has been standing unassisted for a couple of weeks, and he "tries" to take steps, but really just stumbles and falls face first.  But not at LifeGroup!  He took TWO FULL steps, stopped, then sat down!  Everyone who saw it cheered and clapped, and the look of accomplishment on Finn's face was priceless!  Later at home we were encouraging him to do more, and he took SIX steps between Dad's recliner and the couch I was sitting on!  YAY FINN!  I hope to get video of soon of some of his first few steps!


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

One Way (Finn's Way)



Hard to believe it is March 5 – ALREADY!  And Finn is 17 months old.  WHAT?!?  But, February was a blur.  With him being sick, in the hospital, and a short month, it FLEW by.  So, yes, Finn is 17 months old.  He is standing on his own for 20-30 seconds, babbling up a storm, has 10 teeth (2 molars on the bottom!), eats everything he can (but yet we still have to supplement with PediaSure – he just doesn’t GAIN), and weighed in at 19 pounds 7 ounces – fully clothed with shoes (Tiny Toms! So cute!) – at the doctor yesterday.  He is a SUPER FAST crawler, and is in to EVERYTHING!  If you can’t find it, check the drawers and cabinets he has been opening – Nana found a missing toy that way, and I found a missing remote control!  (These items had been missing several WEEKS when they were finally found.)  He is still a complete joy and such a happy baby!  His shirt today says it ALL!    Even if the sheer number of doctor appointments has been a bit overwhelming these past few weeks! 

Finn - 17 months - MY WAY!


Britt and I were going through old pictures and videos on our phones over the weekend, and we watched a few videos from our time in the NICU at Mercy.  It still seems surreal – to both of us – that THAT was our lives for over 3 months, and that the tiny struggling baby in those films is OUR son.  It doesn’t seem real.  Or that it happened to us.  But, it was our Finn!  As strong and crazy as he is now, he started out so tiny and frail.  God’s work blows us away.  To HIM be the Glory!


In the meantime, Finn had his first evaluation with the pediatric pulmonologist (physician who specializes in treating diseases of the lungs) yesterday.  We were recommended to see one after our stay in the hospital, and this Doctor came HIGHLY recommended.  While we didn’t really learn much from the visit yesterday, we are glad we went.  They did a chest X-ray (I think this was probably the 20th one he has had in 17 months), a full exam, and tried to do a sweat test.  This is a test where they stimulate muscles, then collect sweat to evaluate the chemical content in it.  Unfortunately after the (long) procedure, Finn didn’t sweat enough to test anything.  Traditionally, this test is used to check for Cystic Fibrosis, but we know Finn doesn’t have this disease.  So, we assume (no one told us) they do this test routinely just to see what the chemical make-up of the child’s sweat is.  I have another preemie mom friend whose son sees this same physician, and she said they did it with her son as well, and he does not have CF.  So, we were told there is residual evidence of the RSV in his lungs, and to come back in 6 weeks for a follow up and to attempt the sweat test again.  And for Finn to drink LOTS of water before he comes!

(CF sidebar: The girls' father does have CF.  He has a rarer mutation that only slightly effected his lungs, but the end result is what caused us to have to do IVF/ICSI to conceive Emma and Lara.  Before we went ahead with fertility treatments, I was tested to see if I was a carrier since he had the disease, and I am not.  (Both parents have to be carriers in order for the offspring to inherit the disease.)  Each girl has a 25% chance of being a carrier.)

TOMORROW, Finn gets his first HAIRCUT!  I’m sure I will cry.  My last baby’s first haircut.  WOW.  (Emma was over 2 before I cut hers (because she was bald before that), Lara was 11 months,  and Jake was 8 MONTHS at his first haircut!  He had SO MUCH hair!)  I can’t wait to share pictures!