Fun with Jane & Dick » Monk & Friends

Stuffed Animal World. Plus, Monk & Dick have bonding time.

Jane — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:18:18 +0000

You know how some people have imaginary friends growing up? Well, Thelma has a world called “Stuffed Animal World”.

This is where Munck comes from…who she believes to be very real, growing and living with feelings and emotions. Munck is very much part of the family (Ducky as well.).

STUFFED ANIMAL WORLD

Stuffed Animal World is a world where are stuffed animals are real. They have feelings and they are alive. This is Stuffed Animal World. Anything can happen and everything goes in Stuffed Animal World.

Part of Stuffed Animal World is located in a piece of young pine tree landscaping next to a shopping center where we walk and bike. Whenever we pass it, we go on a tour through the trees and visit Stuff Animal World.

Stuffed Animal World was quite BEAUTIFUL when we had snow.

MUNCK AND DICK BOND

On the day that Dick was coming back from Gotham City, Thelma and I are eating.

“I can’t believe that Munck and I have been apart for 5 days!”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, Munck went with Daddy to Gotham City.”

“Oh! Did you make sure you reminded Daddy to bring Munck back with you?”

“Yeah, I already talked to him. Munck is with him.”

“Oh, ok, good.”

So after Dick gets home, I see this:

To: daddy.

I (heart) you.

Superies!

(Surprise)

Munk is coming with you.

(Look who changed the spelling of Monk again. I thought it was Munck!)

Take care.

Happy Birthday.

(Yes, the Ole Man just celebrated turning 38! Dayum, almost pushing 40! Yeah, ok, ya look good. Still.)

So, Munck accompanied Dick all the time and came back safe and sound.

Good Grandpa!

-Jane, Grandmother of Monk Munck Munk

Monk and Ducky: Long time no see.

Jane — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:51:25 +0000

Just thought you might be missing Monk and Ducky.

It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned them.

They’re still around.

They’re just chillin’ with their friends.

-Jane, Grandma to Monk & Ducky.

Birthday wishes for Monk.

Jane — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:11:39 +0000

Three years ago we were blessed to have Monk join our family when Dick gave her to Thelma as a gift for her 5th birthday.

Thelma reminded us today by having us celebrate Monk’s birthday.

Um, we didn’t have a cake so I had to improvise. Watermelon it is…and healthy too!

Happy 3rd Birthday Monk!!

Looks like Thelma let Monk borrow the peace heart earrings that Louise gave her for her birthday. How sweet.

-Jane, Grandma to Monk

Ice Skating fun turns into a trip to the ER. Yes, stitches required.

Jane — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:43:17 +0000

As I may have mentioned, Thelma is taking ice skating lessons and cannot get enough of it. She wants to go at every opportunity and likes to get there early so she can maximize ice time. We went for a private lesson today to prepare for a competition that is coming up. She had her lesson and then was able to skate around and practice.

All of a sudden she comes up to me to tell me she fell. I had not seen the fall and couldn’t see that her chin was cut since, thankfully, it was on the underside and amazingly wasn’t hardly bleeding. Being the tough girl that she is, she wasn’t crying but was instead concerned that Daddy would be mad at her. Awww!

The ice can be very unforgiving, sharp and it cut her chin right open. After taking a good look, I was concerned because it was quite a gash and deep enough that I could see the fatty layer underneath her skin. That’s when she started to cry…she was overwhelmed with fear of having to get stitches!

I, too, am no stranger to chin cuts. When I was 3 and living in Vietnam with my family, my aunt was feeding me. Somehow I got away from her to go get a drink that was in a glass container. The glass slipped, fell to the ground, scared me so I jumped and fell on the glass due to the water on the floor. I hardly remember the incident since I have scattered memories before I was 5 but my mom said she had to hold my chin together because the glass cut all the way thru to the bone.

As a Mom now myself, I can only imagine how scared she was. My scar is about 2.5 inches, since back in those days and because we were in a third-world country, there wasn’t the kind of technology like we have today to minimize scarring, but I’m old now and it’s faded alot. So luckily, most people don’t even notice that I have a scar on my chin and I’ve never thought about plastic surgery cause well, I think it gives character. It also reminds me how lucky I was when I could have been so much worse. To this day, my entire family is paranoid about letting kids drink from a glass.

So, we’re off to the pediatrician’s office. I managed to get squeezed in. I love our pediatrician but he’s not there today. Thelma is even more disappointed because she likes her doctor and because today of all days, she really wants to see him instead of the other doctor. She’s praying profusely that her cut does not require stitches. Dick is not here but is informed because I called him to let him know what’s going on. He doesn’t want Thelma to have to get stitches either but of course wants what’s best for her.

I talk to the pediatrician and he says it does require sutures. Because I had my appendix removed 3 years ago, I remember that the surgeon used this glue to hold my skin together. Given the size of her cut, I don’t think this is an option but ask anyway. No, must have sutures! The pediatrician advises us that he can do it in the office but to numb the area, he has to use a needle to inject the numbing solution. He tells us that if we go to the emergency room, they use gauze to apply the solution. So, since Thelma is just traumatized knowing that she needs stitches, we opt to go to the emergency room because I want to minimize the amount of pain that Thelma has to endure.

We’re off to the emergency room but have to stop to get Monk first!

After the doctor tapes the numbing solution filled gauze to her chin, it’s now the WAITING game.

Louise is super happy about waiting, can you tell? In the meantime, I’m pretty bored too so I take some pictures (surprise, surprise).

Finally the doctor comes in and gets to work. First, he applies the iodine. Then he covers her face with that hospital paper/sheet. Thelma hates this and is panicking because she can’t see. Plus, the doctor doesn’t realize he’s resting his hand on her nose and she feels like she’s suffocating.

Out of the blue, I see this needle come out and the doctor says he still has to use the needle to inject more numbing solution! WHAT??!!??! The sole reason I came to the ER was to avoid this. I was not fully advised! Had I known this I would have let the pediatrician do it cause it would have saved me time and money. Going to the ER costs you tons more and insurance calculates it differently.

He then starts poking it around and I’m squeaming because I KNOW it’s got to hurt. Thelma starts to feel it because the solution STINGS like a mother so we’re squeezing each other’s hands like crazy. She’s crying and I’m doing my best to console her. Monk doesn’t want to see this either.

Finally, the solution works and the doctor gets out that curvy needle to start suturing. I’m watching and taking pictures with one hand, holding Thelma’s hand with the other and trying to ensure her that she’s doing great. I’m cringing every time the needle goes in or when he sticks his tool inside the cut. I don’t even know how I ever considered being a doctor. Did you know that I was President of the Medical Explorers Group in High School? What a joke!! Another worthless thing I did for college applications.

All of a sudden, I start to get woozy…I’m feeling hot and starting to black out. This is so weird because even though it makes me squeamish to watch, it’s not like I haven’t seen these surgeries or worse on TV. I tell the nurse and Thelma that I have to let go of her hand and sit down. Now, there’s another nurse tending to me and gets me a cold rag to put on myself.

The doctor says this is normal because it involves a family member. He says he can’t operate on family for this reason. I guess it’s like sympathy pain. Anyhoo, after a few minutes of breathing, keeping my head down, and wiping myself down with the cold rag, I am fine and go back to holding my baby’s hand.

The doctor finishes up his sewing job and tells me she has 4 inner sutures and 8 on the outside.

Well enough fun for one day, now to get back to work! I now have to run to meet up with this Korean dude to show him a car. I had pushed back the time we were meeting 3 times due to the circumstances and wasn’t sure if he understood me. He’s only been in the country 3 months. So, off to meet with him. Fanny Mae thankfully was able to get off early to meet me at the hospital and take the girls home. She’s such a fantastic Mom and Grandmother!

-Jane, Thank-God-I’m-Not-A-Doctor Mom

Monk: Recovering Amputee

Jane — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:48:43 +0000

If you have not met Monk, you’re about to now. Dick gave Monk to Thelma a couple of years ago for Christmas. Bought from Justice Girls, she came hugging one of those comfy matching monkey flannel blankets. Monk is sassy and is one of the most traveled Monkey stuffed animals I know because Thelma just adores her and we take her everywhere! She likes to believe that Monk is real so we oblige and treat Monk as though she has feelings and stuff. I just got “sushed” today because Monk was sleeping and we can’t disturb Monk while she is resting! I wanted to take a picture of her in her new bathing suit but Thelma would NOT allow it because Monk needed her rest. Well, excu-ooze me!

Here’s a few pics of Monk with us out an about:

One day, Thelma, Louise and I were watching TV. It happened to be on one of those infomercials about OPERATION SMILE: The worldwide charity organization provides repair for childhood facial deformities including lip clefts and cleft palettes. It’s a very moving infomercial where doctors go overseas to third world countries and donate their serves for free to change the lives of these poor kids who have been deformed from cleft lips and palettes. We were all sucked in. At that time I didn’t know to what extent it had left an impression on Thelma.

Days later, I was abhorred to find Monk and she was missing a leg! I was worried how Thelma would react but when I told her about it, but she told me she had amputated Monk’s leg on purpose! What?!?!? Why!?!?!? I still don’t think I’m completely clear on why but she said it was because watching of Operation Smile and Monk wanted her to do it.

I’m surprised and weary because I thought we were supposed to treat Monk like she was real and I’m sure a limb amputation doesn’t feel very good without anesthetic. This was a couple months ago and now Thelma decides she now wants to reattach the leg. However, we can’t remember where we put Monk’s leg! And since we couldn’t find it at the moment, Thelma gets creative and makes Monk a prosthetic. Made from a sock and stuffing, Thelma sews the prosthetic to Monk and wraps a bandage around it.

Here’s Monk with us grocery shopping…

Finally, after days of looking for it, we find Monk’s leg and reattach it. The short surgery was successful and you’ll be elated to know she’s now on her way to a full recovery!

-Jane, Monk’s Reattachment Surgeon