Bad Homeschool Mom

New Blog Site!

2008-03-12T09:57:00.002-05:00

Ok everyone, I've taken your advice and I'm moving over to Hands Not Full.

I'm leaving everything here as it is for posterity :D

See ya'll on the other side.

-Meg

Name change?

2008-03-11T15:01:00.003-05:00

So I'm thinking about changing the name of this blog.
While I truly do feel I'm a bad homeschool mom, I do love my kids and I'm not a bad mom...and...perhaps, just perhaps, I wouldn't get so burnt out if I didnt think I was so bad??

Anyhow, a few options:

Milk Stains - Sometimes on my shirt, sometimes on the carpet, a few in the van...

The Last Jellybean - the one no one wants because it's black licorice flavor ;)

Hands Not Full - I'm already slowly transitioning my email handle to this, and after all, my hands are SO not full and ready for more!

Leave as is.

Vote below the gratuitous picture of Mister Giggles, aka mister perfect. Not sure where this pic came from, I think the Train swiped my camera last week. I'm assuming he's also the one behind the 15 minute clips of Diego on my camera ;)

Douse me, would you please? (UPDATED)

2008-03-11T11:49:00.005-05:00

I'm on fire, and not the good kind of "wow, you're hot!!" fire either, more like the "wow, I think that vein in your neck is going to blow!" fire.

Have I mentioned this book I'm writing lately (the bottom of the page)? Yeah, I hate it now. I'm so sick of....ME!!!!

My dear friend Terri, my mentor, a writer and a mom who managed to graduate 3 kids from homeschooling, told me I'm burnt out.

I managed 5 minutes alone in the tub last night to think (and 3 hours lying awake in bed, the insomnia bug has hit again) about burn out. What causes it?

1. Expecting too much from my kids. Expecting them to act like adults? Expecting the littles to act like the bigs? Expecting them to have the maturity of people twice their age? Expecting them to have the same standards of cleanliness that I want to have?

2. Expecting too much from myself? I'm already nurse, mom, shoe-finder, writer, daughter, wife, friend, chef, accountant, diaper changer, Heimlich manuverer, the person who cleans up the dog vomit, teacher, secretary, zookeeper....heck, if I can manage to stay regular without metamucil I'm having a good day. Perhaps it's not a crisis if we have to reuse our socks one day? The thought creeps me out but something's gotta give.

3. Expecting too much from my husband? As if it's not enough that he has a job that keeps him away 12 hours a day (2-3 of which is driving time), I expect him to be able to come home and pick up the pieces of myself that have spilled on the floor?

4. Comparing myself to everyone else? Letting others hold US to THEIR standards? Why does my house have to be spotless and my kid doing math 4 grade levels ahead just because yours is?

5. Letting the everyday stuff get to me? Sometimes I feel like I focus too much on the little stuff (clean house, skipping schoolwork for a few days, matching shoes) so I don't have as much time to think about the major stuff. A clean house I can somewhat control, I can't make my children NOT have a genetic defect. I can double up on the math lessons one day, I can't make my 16 month old not do that holding his hands over his ears and screaming thing.

Input? How do you deal with burn out? How do you pick up the pieces, get over yourself, and get back on track?

***************UPDATE*****************

new post over at Bad Housewifey re the Great Toothpaste Incident of 2008

Rockin' Out with Da Train!

2008-03-04T13:45:00.004-05:00

The Train's newest grunge version of Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star.

So not a saint

2008-03-03T12:29:00.003-05:00

I was talking with my neighbor yesterday, the nice neighbor. I haven't talked to her since before Christmas, between my kids taking turns being sick and her kids doing the same we just haven't crossed paths.

I went over to talk to her about the neighbor who seems intent on getting us to move (FTR nice neighbor has had similar problems with her). As we cannot go to the annual homeowner's meeting (being renters and all) I wanted to get the scoop on what was going on and if the others who have been abused by her regarding the suspension of pool privledges were going to speak up, I've been told they are. I also found out that some board members are pushing for her removal from the hoa board and pool committee for such actions.

So anyhow...neighbor has two foster babes that are there full-time and they are attempting to adopt, one is 2 1/2 and the other just turned 1 (and they are so ridiculously cute!!!!) Last week they also had a one year old boy and another toddler boy with them. She asked me how I manage to homeschool with so many little kids running around. Then she said it:

"You must be a saint."

I hear this a lot. I hear it almost as much as I hear the old "your hands are full" line.

I am so not a saint. I'm not even close to sainthood. I have the patience of a rabid labrador retriever eyeing a raw t-bone. Literally.

Having 5 kids is easy. I mean the actual HAVING, as in making & birthing. Raising 5 kids isn't even that difficult, they do what they do despite the mistakes we make. Feeding 5 kids is more difficult by far ;)

I'm not a saint. I do what I have to do, some would call it responsible, others call is saintly. I call it necessary.

I guess I never really thought about it, it's just what I do because when I wake up in the morning and when I go to bed at night I have 5 kids. Five kids who get sick. Five kids who argue almost constantly, both with me and each other. Five kids who need bathed and fed and clothed. Five kids who need emotional attention more than physical. Five kids who need medicine and playmates and exercise. Five kids who need to be educated. It's not saintly, it's just what a mom does, isn't it?

Thursday Thirteen #38ish

2008-02-28T15:03:00.002-05:00

Thirteen Famous People/Groups from Orlando, FL

I was not born or raised in Orlando but I do consider it my hometown having spent most of my independent years there.

What follows is AN INCOMPLETE list of famous people & groups from Orlando, FL or who call/called Orlando home. This is not an inclusive list...I only have 13 spots ;)

1. Mickey Mouse (Actually, Disney isn't in Orlando, but I digress)

2. Wayne Brady

3. Delta Burke

4. Daunte Culpepper

5. Buddy Ebsen

6. Johnny Damon - hubby went to school with him and went to the same temple his family went to

7. Nsync

8. Jack Kerouac (anyone else singing "Hey Jack Kerouac"???)

9. Mandy Moore

10. Wesley Snipes

11. Cheryl Hines

12. Carrot Top

13. Tiger Woods

I got my baby back!

2008-02-28T12:33:00.002-05:00

Kudos to Dell :)

They picked up my baby Monday, fixed it Tuesday, shipped it back Wednesday and it arrived home good as new (BETTER than new with new keys!!!) Thursday.

Back into the land of the living!!!

My Little Old Man

2008-02-26T16:09:00.004-05:00

Ok, so we've done reallllly well lately. We managed a whole 3 months without a hair incident. Train's hair was growing out nicely...and then Tornado decided to make magazine collages and Train got hold of the scissors.

I asked him if he wanted me to shave his head again and he said yes. I managed to clip 3/4 of his head before he decided that was enough, told me to stop and said daddy would do the rest ;)

He looks a bit like Terry Bradshaw now, no??

and yes, that is Miss Universe's swim suit. Train happened to be "'Merica's next top model" in Tornado's fashion show.

Dead....dead.....d.e.a.d.

2008-02-21T10:45:00.002-05:00

My motherboard toasted itself last night.
A few too many of Kristy's Mai Tais I think.

Anyhow, Dell is coming tomorrow to pick it up, hopefully I'll be back within 2 wks.
I'll be sharing the PC with the kids until then and since there are more of them than me, and since they are louder, I'll be offline for the most part.

Later.

Comin' ow in d'warsh

2008-02-20T09:16:00.004-05:00

Holy crud. Revenge of the Piitsburghers.

I rolled out of bed at 5:40 this morning, opened my laptop to work but instead of working I dealt with....angry comments from people who told me I forgot famous Pittsburghers on my list. My own sister and mother were among the complainers.

And, btw, if I listed every single great sports hero from Pittsburgh it would take me ages. Course there isn't one to be found now, I have to go back to the 70s ;)

So, to appease everyone...here are more famous people who lived/grew up/worked in-and-or around Pittsburgh, PA.

Roberto Clemente was born in Puerto Rico but drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, he played in Forbes Field and 3 Rivers Stadium. One of the best ball players EVER, died in an unfortunate plane incident. He was also a well known humanitarian, flying home frequently to help the families in his old village. Does anyone know if they moved the statue of him outside of 3 Rivers Stadium? Is it at the new field?

Terry Bradshaw DID NOT GROW UP IN PITTSBURGH but he did play football there and he was very good at it.

Dan Marino DID grow up in Pittsburgh but he had the sense to move to Florida ;) Of course, had he stayed in Pitt MAYBE he would have that ring. OH SNAP!

Trent Reznor ROCK GOD of Nine Inch Nails grew up in Mercer, PA. My sister met his family once, they had taken all of his pictures away because he "went to live with the devil" or some such nonsense ;)

Ron Paul was born in PA but didn't stay there long.

Andrew Carnegie - but of course I would be REALLY surprised if public schools outside of the Pitt metro area taught our kids who Andrew Carnegie was.

Perry Como was from Canonsburg, PA

Joe Montana is from New Eagle, PA.

Joe Namath is from Beaver Falls, PA

**I'm getting tired with all the sports talk**

Henry Mancini a musical god in his own right, was born in Cleveland, OH but grew up in Pittsburgh, PA (dang, that must have made for a rough childhood!)

Ken Griffey SR is from Donora, PA

Ken Griffey JR was born 19 years after Griffey SR and also grew up in Donora, PA

Lynn Swan not from PA but played for the Steelers for many years.

**I feel like I'm stuck in a bad Adam Sandler song**

Robert Fulton - you know, the steam engine guy. Lemme guess, they don't teach that in schools either.

Donnie Iris is someone I've never heard of but I guess was big in the music scene in the 50s or something. I dunno.

*UPDATE*
Ok, apparently Donnie Iris was popular in the 80s and 90s. Seriously, I've never heard of him. I visited the Google Music page about him (the link right above) and I've never heard any of those songs. And anyhow, his band is "The Crusiers", tell me that's not a 50s name?!

So there you have it. An INCOMPLETE listing of famous people who lived in/worked in/spent some time in Pittsburgh and/or surrounding areas.

Famous People I Don't Know (TT#38ish)

2008-02-19T19:52:00.003-05:00

Here ya go...a way early Thursaday Thirteen.

This is proof that I am slowly recovering from my newly released repressed memories of growing up in cow country, PA. I'm still trying to stiffle the high school nightmares, 13 years and I'm still traumatized. It's sad.

************

13 Famous People/Groups that are from where I grew up (or near there, let's face it, not very many people from Dixonville, PA are famous...if any..no, I don't think so...not until my book is published anyhow!)

1. The Clarks - Cool rock band, met where I went to college. Saw them perform once I think, I can't say I really remember...

2. Rusted Root - Kinda from where I grew up, not far anyhow. Saw them perform tons of times, was almost moshed to death during a particularly interesting concert near Penn State. I was dragged away by security before I could get too hurt. Michael Glabicki himself (ummmmmm...drooling) picked up my sunglasses and gave them to me and apologized for the outbreak of senseless violence (dude, I thought pot was supposed to chill people!)

3. Jimmy Stewart - My gramma would never forgive me if I didnt mention the famous actor, her absolute favorite (dripping with sarcasim, she can't stand him)

4. And who can forget Punxsutawney Phil. Punxsutawney (or Punxsy as we called it) was actually a spelling word each February.

5. Lindsay Vuolo - one of Playboy's finest. That one's just for you, Sparky! Enjoy.

um, ok this is getting hard, I'm gonna have to branch out some more.

6. Mister Rogers is from Latrobe, PA.

7. new baby momma Christina Aguilera grew up in Wexford, PA.

8. Charles Bronson born in a pittsburgh burb.

9. Stephen Foster - famous American composer lived in Lawrenceville, the Pittsburgh burb my mom grew up in.

10. Rush Limbaugh (barfing a little in my mouth) worked in Pittsburgh under the name Jeff Christie.

11. Demi Moore grew up in Perryopolis, PA

12. Miss Leg Crosser Sharon Stone is from Meadville, PA. Her husband was bitten by a komodo dragon a few years ago. In a zoo. Stupid, eh?

13. Let's hear it for the outcast!!! Andy Warhol lived in Pittsburgh.

TAG! I'm it :) and my other blogs

2008-02-19T18:15:00.003-05:00

ExPat Mom tagged me for a meme :)

The Fun Book Meme
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open it at page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence/phrase.
4. Blog the next four sentences/phrases together with these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig your shelves for that very special or intellectual book.
6. Pass it forward to six friends.

*************
I am really gonna have to search for a book ;)
The closest book is a family cookbook but it doesn't have page numbers and as much as I love ExPatMom I am so not counting the pages.

OK...here we have it..

1. A Message of Ancient Time (my 11 yr old's history text)

2. ok, got it...

3. -The hunter-gathers searched the countryside, taking seeds from wild grain and other edible plants. Then they sowed these seeds and grew their own plants closer to home. They learned to save enough seeds so they could replant the next season. They also captured wild cattle, sheep, goats and pigs and tamed them.

4. Obviously I didnt. I almost picked my 9 yr old's science book.

5. I tag:

-Leigh@$$
-Amy - Dude, I just NOW figured out why you call yourself neloplyma, LMAO! Now I won't forget how to spell it!! HA HA. I'm such a dork.
-Heather
-SassyLucy
-Elizabethy
-really, I don't have a 6th.

Cookin' me up sumpin' good!

2008-02-18T12:09:00.004-05:00

a big ole batch of yummy baby soup!!

Yeah, you want somma that cuppa giggles soup :)
Isn't he the sweetest??

yeah, he knows it too!!

Miss Universe rediscovered the legos I had hidden in the garage.
She made a robot....but wait, there's more.

She made a robot on a SEGWAY (this one's just for you, mama flan!!)

And she also made a bee costume for her Webkinz frog, Fergie:

and the rare pic with me in it (thanks to some motorcycle dudes) can you make out the graffiti??

Meg is sooooo in the closet

2008-02-18T08:42:00.002-05:00

Apparently we live in something called Dixie Alley which is somewhat more dangerous than living in Tornado Alley.

No one told me that before I agreed to move here. I move from the land of hiding in closets because of hurricanes to hiding in closets because of tornado sirens. Nice.

Better than snow? Me thinks so!

I don't want your stinkin' cookies

2008-02-14T09:36:00.004-05:00

No thanks.
I don't want your overpriced, delicious and addictive cookies.
No thanks.
I don't want the ensuing child-fights over who gets the last cookie.
No thanks.
I don't want the extra 7 lbs on my hips.
No thanks.
I DON'T WANT YER STINKIN' COOKIES!!

People call me a scrooge but seriously, I don't want to buy your cookies.

I don't want to be accosted by you and your friends in matching outfits outside of the grocery store. Man I hate that! As I walk toward the door a group of little girls in green outfits surround me, I feel like I'm at the Penn State Rusted Root concert of 1995 again, only without the calming effects of the purple haze coming from the group of hippies beside us...

I don't want your mother verbally abusing me because I am not buying cookies from you.

I don't want to pay $3.50 for a box of 20 cookies.

Please, don't knock on my door. Don't approach my vehicle. Don't block me from going into the store. And whatever you do, PLEASE, for the love of all things good, DO NOT INVITE MY CHILDREN TO JOIN YOUR ORGANIZATION!!!! My children are socialized well-enough despite not being forced to sit in neat little rows behind a desk and despite not being part of your organization. And frankly, unless you're willing to give me a vehicle to use and provide babysitting services at no cost, it ain't gonna happen!!!

Get TESTED!! for Alpha-1

2008-02-12T15:58:00.001-05:00

Get tested for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency for free!

What's holding you back?

Florida residents click here for info on the U of FL Alpha-1 program.

Everyone else click here

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency is:
-a genetic condition
-often misdiagnosed as asthma, especially in children
-the #1 risk factor in emphysema and COPD
-the #1 non-alcohol related risk factor for cirrhosis of the liver
-found in each & every ethnicity
-estimated to affect 1 in every 2500 Americans.

The symptoms of Alpha-1 reflect those of other conditions. Unlike your common cold or the short-term effects of smoking, however, the symptoms of Alpha-1 will not go away. Many of these symptoms are also identified in asthma, COPD and other respiratory problems, thus easy to misdiagnos.

These symtoms include:
-shortness of breath
-wheezing
-chronic cough
-chronic bronchitis & recurring chest colds
-chronic coughing up of phlegm
-unexplained jaundice (including infant and late onset infant)
-swelling of the abdomen and/or legs
-vomitting blood
-exercise-induced asthma or shortness of breath
-asthma that doesn't respond to medications
-"allergies" that last all year
-unexplained liver problems, elevated liver enzymes
-panniculitis in infants & adults (inflammation of muscle & fatty tissues, causing skin nodules and tenderness, click here for more info)

Possible Signs of Alpha-1 / Commonly misdiagnosed conditions
-COPD diagnosis (especially if not a smoker)
-Emphysema diagnosis (especially if not a smoker)
-Bronchiectasis diagnosis
-asthma diagnosis
-chronic liver disease
-cirrhosis of the liver diagnosis
-unexplained liver conditions in infants & children

The above signs & symptoms are seen in infants, children, teens and adults. It is possible to show signs from birth and be misdiagnosed throughout your entire life. You cannot be treated correctly if you don't have the correct diagnosis.

(infomation from The Alpha-1 Foundation and COPD International)

My sons have Alpha-1. My 3 yr old son has the SZ type. SZ is considered a moderate deficiency.

My 3 yr old son has experienced the misdiagnosis of chronic bronchitis and asthma. He suffers from respiratory symptoms year-round. When he wheezes the medications are of very little, and only temporary help. He is subject to random jaundicing and his abdomen swells so large that as a toddler & infant he would not fit in the largest size of diaper at times, yet he weighed well under 20 lbs.

Perhaps the most serious issue my older son has dealt with was the failure to thrive, the weight loss as an infant that stifled his development. After months of losing an ounce here and there he hit rock bottom. I laid him on my bed and attempted to wake him from his sleep, he would not wake up. I could see his ribs and his spine protruding through his skin. Every breath was labored. My baby was going to die unless we did SOMETHING. I called his pediatrician and begged him to admit my son into the hospital.

I don't want to recall those horrifying months, you can read them as I experienced them in my July 2005 archive.

My son is now thriving, thanks to the care of some pretty wonderful doctors. I am now thriving, thanks to the care of some pretty wonderful friends. My younger son remains healthy despite being diagnosed shortly after birth. My younger son is benfitting from the horrible experiences my older son had to go through, a gift I hope Mister Giggles can truly appreciate one day.

Thus far my family has been lucky, no transplants have been needed or are indicated at the moment, though our pediatrician & pulmologist remind me that it's not out of the question in the coming years. A lot of kids with Alpha-1 aren't as lucky. Would you please take a few seconds out of your day to think of these kids and families dealing with Alpha-1?

If you're interested in Alpha-1 advocacy drop me a line or leave a comment and I can send you some links to reputable organizations.

New Freebies Site

2008-02-12T13:20:00.001-05:00

I just started a freebies blog at Mama's Freebies.

I was spending so much time sharing the freebies I find via email, I figured it'll be more time-effective to just do it this way!

Go visit and get yourself some freebies!

Bad Neighbors??

2008-02-11T14:44:00.000-05:00

Look what I found today. Should be fun, no?? Just kidding, *I* didn't make any reports and don't plan to.

RottenNeighbor

For Mister Giggles

2008-02-06T15:14:00.001-05:00

It only took my about 7 hours, but...

this is Garrett's virtual baby book since he doesn't have a real baby book!

Enjoy!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The word is...

2008-01-30T22:27:00.000-05:00

"great"

"personable"

"easy to read"

"a pleasure to read"

"very informative"

"a good fit for the market"

"a much needed resource"

and perhaps my favorite:

"Doesn't need a lot of changing"

:)

Yup, that's right...that's what my editor said to me today after finishing her first go over my manuscript. She also threw around phrases such as "[the head of the publishing company] and I are really pleased". And to think I almost ignored her phone call.

Sure, there are SOME changes that need to be made and I have to add another 100-150 pages (!! have ya'll ever known me to not have a ton to say??? Well, try paying me to talk and I just can't do it!) and she's already made plenty of changes to my grammar and punctuation (I did go to public school, after all) but all-in-all they are very pleased with my first draft and have decided to proceed, which means I don't have to pay them back my advance ;)

And she also said "let's work together and get this thing out by summer!"

And with that I am scared of my wits about finishing this thing (I'd be lying if I said I've looked at it since I turned it in and that was a LONG time ago) and balancing homeschooling. I'm already a pretty bad time balancer. I suppose I could spend less time blogging, eh?

Oh and my mom sprung the news on me that I might be related to Ron Paul, ha ha ha! Apparently my great grandmother's maiden name was Paul and my entire family hails from Pittsburgh and Ron Paul is from Pittsburgh (but I won't hold it against him)...who knows, it would be kinda nifty though, eh?

I never thought the day would come....

2008-01-30T14:07:00.001-05:00

the day Meg endorsed a republican.

Hey, times change ;)

Now, we don't see eye-to-eye on everything BUT in general Ron Paul seems to be the most down-to-earth and reasonable candidate in my mind and we agree on a whole lot more than we disagree on (and not just homeschooling either!)

Have you read his comments on the only LEGAL way to go to war? No? Well, you should.

Ron Paul thinks The Federal Marriage Amendment is a Very Bad Idea

Ron Paul has a decent stand on health care

Ron Paul REALLY understands how crappy the system of government education is.

Ron Paul's views on homeschooling make me smile.

Go visit Ron Paul's Website and read about his views for yourself.

So, there ya have it. Meg endorses Ron Paul, a republican.

Meg is now going to wash her mouth out with soap, I feel so dirty ;)

Oh yeah...AND...(Part 2, part 1 is below)

2008-01-25T12:08:00.000-05:00

Why I want to be a witch (HA HA, seriously, it's not that funny) is at the bottom.

I forgot...remember my neighbor? The ~~pathetic and lonley~~ lovely lady who called the police for our "bonfire" on new years eve, when what we really had was a legal campfire roasting weinies???

Last Sunday morning I was enjoying a few minutes to myself, in my room reading. The baby was still sleeping, Miss Death Ray Eyes was on the computer in her room and the others had all just left on their way to get breakfast and go to Home Depot.

MDRE ran upstairs screaming "THERE IS A COP IN OUR BACKYARD! I want to go to Harvard, I cannot have a record!!"

I didnt see anything when I looked out the window and asked her if she was ~~smoking crack~~ seeing things but she seemed pretty insistent and shaken up. I lugged my butt out of my warm bed and went downstairs and stepped onto the back porch, nobody. Walking into the kitchen whilst wondering why on earth MDRE would say she saw a cop in our yard I noticed there WAS a black & white police car parked right outside our house. There was a male officer inside filling out paperwork and then he pulled away.

I immediately called the police station and demanded to know why there was an officer walking around my backyard and why he didn't tell me what he was doing or ask for permission to go back there.

Turns out lovely neighbor called and said our dogs had been outside for 2 hours, alone, in the snow, barking that morning.

Yeahbut our dogs hadn't even been outside yet that morning. Yeahbut none of us had even been awake 2 hours yet, and I could prove it with the two piles of dog crap in the basement hallway and the two puddles of dog pee on a kid coat (I keep telling them not to leave their coats on the floor!!) Besides, it was snowy which means it was wet and my prissy canines refuse to go out when it's wet, I have to literally push their butts off the porch and stay out with them so they don't get back up on the porch and claw the crap out of the door.

So anyhow...I decided the time for keeping my mouth shut & rolling my eyes was over. I bundled up and went over for a visit.

That got me nowhere.

I asked her flat out why she called the police and lied to them about our dogs. Over the next 5 minutes I was:

-Threatened with more calls to the police for having a firepit in our yard. I ignored her when she called the police but I couldn't anymore. I told her was legal, I even showed her the info I got from the fire marshall and offered to let her keep the paper. She said "well good for you, you know what you're doing" (what the heck sense does that make?)

-She said she was "a good neighbor and a home owner" and we are "just renters" and "I don't like renters in the neighborhood, especially on my street."

-She also said "I don't want to live next to a house full of kids" (mind you there is one house between us that is vacant most of the week as it's for sale and mind you my kids are rarely outside because they are as prissy as the dogs!)

-I asked her when my kids ever bothered her and she said "I have had my house vandalized before, it was before you moved in." It was hard to bite my tongue and not say "Gee, I wonder why!" As I mentioned a second ago, she never said when my kids have bothered her. I don't let them walk or bike in front of her house because of the stink she caused this summer over the whole pool thing (she is chair of the pool committee and refuses to let us use the pool for a couple of reasons, the most ridiculus being that we have 5 kids and if we went to the pool it would be "overcrowded" Complaining to the HOA doesnt help either, she's on the board!)

If she could tell me of just one time in which my children hurt her, hurt something she owned, caused any kind of damage to her or her property, were outside causing trouble, were outside screaming after 7pm or before 10am or heck even TALKED TO HER perhaps she'd have more creedance.

You're child-free, yay for you, so what? Until my kids do something to you or your property or run amok causing trouble leave them out of this. I'm not saying my kids are innocent or perfect cuz I know they're not, but I know they've never done anything to you so until they do they have nothing to do with your hatred of me. And yes, I do know this because I actually do monitor my kids when they are outside and they are never out alone, unsupervised or running amok. (I can already see the child-free ppl who stalk this blog and try to leave nasty comments raising their voices)

-She also said that when we called the police to tell them there was a stranger in her backyard (we also went to her and warned her) that she never believed us because she didn't see anyone (maybe because my dogs & the police scared them away???)

Hubby & I have already decided not to move as long as homeowner's contract isn't dropped with the mgmt company we rent through (long story there, basically home owner isn't holding up his end of the contract). We like this neighborhood, we like this house and aside from pathetic lady we have good neighbors and get along well, they don't even mind that we have a zillion kids. The kids have friends here and our moves have taken them away from enough of their friends already.

So I guess we have to learn to live with her. I asked the police station phone answerer person (oh geez, I have been around toddlers too long)if there was anything I could do. Since she hasn't outwardly harrassed us or threatened us with physcial harm and since she hasn't actually filed a police report there isn't much we can do. They did tell me that the more she calls the quicker the officers will become annoyed with her and eventually they will warn her to stop calling.

One can hope.
*************************
The comment about more attention to Tornado over this peeing thing makes sense. She already gets the most attention of all the kids but I guess she just needs more, anything to make the peeing stop.

Tonight she is accompanying me to the store for mommy/tornado time and since it's friday night it's game night and I'm going to let her pick this week. This means I'm facing an evening full of Dora Candyland and if that doesn't show how much I love this child nothing does.
************************

Since Blogger wasn't working for me last thursday and I forgot yesterday was Thursday I'm going my Thursday Thirteen #37 late. You probably won't get these if you haven't read Harry Potter (sorry Leighann).

It was during one of my periods of being not so happy with the hubby that I thought to myself "damn! If I was a witch I could do something really horrible to you like the crutacious curse!"

Thursday Thirteen #37

13 Useful Spells I Wish Were Real
OR
13 Reasons I Wish I was a Witch (HAHA, no comments from peanut gallery, we're talking witch as in harry potter)

1. Alohomora - an unlocking spell. The next time the Train locks himself in his bedroom I won't have to spend an hour trying to get him to unlock it or remove the doorknob.

2. Accio - summoning spell. Simply say "Accio cheddar cheese" and out of the fridge it will fly, into my waiting hands.

3. Engorgio - enlarges an item. Instead of buying a bigger bed I simply say "Engorgio" and my full becomes a queen!!!

4. Diffindo - splits seam in fabric. Harry used it to open Cedric Diggory's backpack. I won't tell you what I'd use it for but it has something to do with Brad Pitt.

5. Expecto Patronum - conjures a Patronum, which is a silvery ghostish animal that wards off dementors. It can also be used to relay messages and keep you company. Snape used his to lead Harry to the Sword of Gryffindor. Mine would be a manatee, fat and cumbersome on land but cuddly...or maybe a moose.

6. Reparo - Fixes broken things and very, very useful. The next time someone drops a mug on the floor I yell "reparo" and it's all back in one piece without nasty glass shards to find at a later time with my heel.

7. Stupefy - Causes your opponent to cease movement and fall over. That could be VERY useful when the Tornado and Train are in one of their moods.

8. Sonorous - Amplifies your voice, all the benefit of a megaphone without a megaphone :)

9. Quietus - well I'm not gonna want a megaphone voice 24/7, am I? Think of how nice this would be when I have one kid on my left screaming that she hates me and one on my right screaming that the kid on the left is annoying him. *sigh*

10. Impervious - makes something waterproof. The cure for lostumbrellitis.

11. Wingardium Leviosa - makes something levitate. That would be fun just for the sake of being fun.

12. Aquamenti - Creates stream of water from wand. Would be handy the next time the Train decides to make his own oatmeal and catches it & the microwave on fire...not pretty. Would also be handy the next time the neighbor calls the police on us for cooking in the fire pit, only I wouldn't use it to put the fire out *wink wink*

13. Bubble Head Charm - Cedric used it to save Cho from the lake, students use it to provide fresh air when dungbombs were set off in the hall. Let me just say Train and the dogs are quite adept at stinking us out of the house, and it would be helpful when I have to clean the kid bathroom!

Anyone see Meg?

2008-01-25T09:19:00.000-05:00

Yeah, so I've been kind of out of it.

For a week or so there google services weren't working so I couldn't get into my email, blogspot, writely or anything else google-related. That's my excuse anyhow, I haven't had much time or want, preferring to sit on the couch and stare at the tele or stick my nose in a book that I've already read twice.

And I was sick. I went to the Minute Clinic last Thursday with a kinda sore throat, my face hurt and a really bad headache. Turns out I had a fever of 102, strep throat, a sinus infection and two ear infections. Who knew. I've been on antibiotics for a week, two more days to go, and my throat still kinda hurts, my ears are still stuffy and my head & face still hurt.

I haven't slept well in weeks and when I do sleep I keep having these really weird dreams. I dreamt about telling off people who went to my high school. I was current day Meg but they were high school age kids. I told R (the football star who really wasnt that good but was the best of the team, they lost a lot) that he grew up to be nothing and never left the hick town he grew up in and I told K (the snobby one who didnt really do anything except think she was better than everyone else) that she ends up getting married at 20, at 22 her husband leaves her for her "best friend" because she is such a bitch, and she manages to bloat to the size of an orca in the meantime.

Geez, repressed anger much???? High school was pretty much a miserable existance for me, but I guess that is how it's supposed to be, right???

Alright, I meant to go on and tell everyone why I wish I was a witch (HA HA, I already thought of that so don't bother leaving it in comments) but alas I have a 4 yr old on my left screaming about not being able to watch a mickey mouse movie and that I broke a promise to her and she hates me and never wants to see me again and I have a 3 yr old on my right screaming that his sister won't let him watch handy manny and he wants cereal and he peed in his pants. Of course neither can talk without screaming and crying these days.

Oh, one more thing..speaking of peeing...The Tornado has been toilet trained for a long time so the following are not accidents. SHe's recently taken to peeing on items when she is angry with someone. She peed on Train's stuffed monkey. She peed on my bed. This has been going on for weeks but I thought she was just having accidents a few times a week, as odd as that seemed. When she peed on the monkey she let it slip that she did it because she was angry at Train and allt he pieces came crashing together.

Advice? Anyone???

She always has to be different, doesnt she??

Laugh at me. It's snowing.

2008-01-16T18:57:00.000-05:00

I live just outside of Atlanta, the dirty south. It doesn't snow here often and when it does I hear tell that everything closes. This is our 2nd winter here. Last year we didnt experience falling snow, the closest we got were a few patches of snow that stuck to the dog pee on the back porch and froze ;)

I don't do cold. I don't do snow. I moved to Florida when I was 20 and consider it my home. Guess what, it doesn't snow in Florida. OK, techinically I suppose it does once every 15 years or something like that. I can deal with hurricanes, snow I can do without.

Around 4:30 this afternoon I walked outside to take the trash out and I saw something I haven't seen in 11 years...SNOW. There were very, very few flurries floating around the air. I called the kids out to see it, they've never seen falling snow.

It's now 7pm and there is at least an inch of snow on the ground, perhaps more. There was even sleet for a half an hour or so. Parts of the interstate have already closed down because of ice. See, we southerners don't know how to drive in the ice and snow...even those of us who come from the north forget how ;)

My back yard an hour before I sat down to blog about the snow.

And this is my van experiencing snow for the first time.

I can hear all of you north of the Mason Dixon Line and west of the Mississpi laughing at me now.

This is the first snowflake the Train has ever had in his hair ;)

This is my front yard about an hour ago...

and finally, this is my favorite way to see snow:

FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE!!!!!

Holy crapsticks it's cold outside!!!

2008-01-16T12:41:00.000-05:00

I.do.not.do.cold.

I took the kids up to Kennesaw Mountain today for something to do since we have the car most of this week as Jason is in Virigina (where it's even colder). We drove to the top of the mountain (which is quite harrowing, the trip down is even worse) and got out to take pics. The kids all got out and asked if they could get right back in, it was that cold. If it's too cold for my kids to get out of the van you know it's cold.

I stayed out of the van long enough to snap 1 photo from the top.

It was a bit warmer at the bottom where we played near the canons. By a bit I mean 15 degrees warmer.

In case you're wondering this is Dragon, our flat visitor from the UK. He's been staying with us for a while. He went a little crazy with the cheez whiz at the gift shop today, bought lots of cool stuff to send home.

See Meg Laugh, Have a Heart Attack & Laugh Some More

2008-01-15T18:33:00.000-05:00

I was upstairs in my bedroom merrily typing away and monitoring which family secrets the Tornado was spilling to my mother via the telephone when I heard the Train pounding on the basement door (MDRE & MU's bedroom) and screaming "FIRE! FIRE! GET OUT! FIRE!"

You've never seen Meg run as fast as I did when I heard the word fire. Of course there was no fire, the smoke alarms weren't even going off so I should have known.

me: WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING (insert train's first & middle name)??? YOU SCARED ME! THERE IS NO FIRE! WE DON'T YELL FIRE IF THERE ISN'T A FIRE! (first & middle name) DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN! WHY DID YOU DO THAT???

Train: The gowls won't lemme in dere room so I is gonna getem out! I yell fire so dey will get out!

Had I not been doubled over due to the stitch in my side from running so fast (not really) I would have laughed once the initial horror passed. THAT is a prime example of how the 4th kid learns early on to improvise to get what they want, and how they usually succeed. And people say I'm doing them all an injustice by having so many kids ;) Pee-shaw!!!

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According to Cars.com the MAzda cx9 is a good choice for a large family.

In what world? Technically it seats 7 but can you imagine trying to fit 3 car seats, a booster seat, a grumpy pre-teen the size of a small adult and two adults in this? Comfortably enough to make a 9 hour drive?? Pray tell how this qualifies as a van anyhow? Wouldn't it be more like one of those crossover SUV things, which is really a car that has more seats than it can realistically fit with any idea of comfort and is too stuffy to call itself a CAR or mini-minivan? I can see fitting 2 children or maybe 3 younger kids in there alright, but since when is 2 or 3 kids considered a large family? bigger than normal, maybe, but large? Nah.

photo courtest of MotherProof

Cars.com's other choice was the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, the one with the handy table in the back. Again it only seats 7, which doesnt qualify a family as "large" in my book, but I guess according to today's standards it isn't normal ;)

The table looks pretty neat but I can't imagine it would allow for much leg room for said grumpy-arse preteen and I don't think it would help the carsickness issue we face either. But, if we ever go...um...camping? again I guess it would provide a mosquito-free place to play cards. Yeah right, like I'm ever going camping again.

I'm in a very cynical & rotten mood. Rough weekend and I'm not recovered yet. I'm in such a foul mood that (hold your breath for this one) I AM NOT WATCHING THE START OF AMERICAN IDOL TONIGHT. I know I've previously said I lost interest because officially I'm too old to enter the running now, not that I would, but I feel old watching it now ;)

I'm again playing the "how can we possibly afford to buy a newer, bigger vehicle" stage. We really need a 2nd vehicle because it's a royal PITA to drive an extra 2-3 hours a day getting jason to and from work just to take the kids to a 15 minute doctor appt, ya know, and a waste of gas since his commute is so far. I'm perfectly happy keeping the wife beater we have, esp if we ever manage to get the heat & ac fixed, but I'd also like to be able to take the kids to co-ops and soccer and doc appts without having to wake up at 5am to get him to work by 7.

I suppose I should just quit complaining and be happy that I have a husband to take to work, be happy he has a job to go to and be happy we have one semi-working & paid for vehicle, right?? Yeah, but I still preferred it when we had two semi-working & paid for vehicles :P
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Speaking of large families...
I stumbled across this old article during my google search of "vans that seat 8".

God Does Not Want 16 Kids about the insufferable Duggar family.

I may loathe the tv specials but holy crap, leave them be.

My comment (which you'll find on the link above if it's not erased *smirk*)

"Well then I suppose it's a REALLY good thing that God wasn';t the one who birthed the kids and has committed to raising them. Geez, pick on someone your own size or at least find a real reason to pick on someone. Just because they have more kids than what you consider is normal? At least they support themselves 100% unlike many smaller families that depend on our tax dollars to feed, clothe and educate the smaller amount of kids they have. Or are you just jealous that this couple has a lot of sex??? Yeah, I guess that could be it too."

Cynical I am today!
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and Leighann, I MISS YOU :(

There's one in every neighborhood, right?

2008-01-07T17:18:00.000-05:00

Dearest Neighbor:

Thank you for calling the police on us on New Year's Eve over our little campfire. My husband and I greatly appreciate the row you put our oldest child in, especially since we weren't doing anything illegal by cooking our weinies & biscuits over the open flame, reveling in our primal instincts of "meat...fire...me big man, me fire meat!"

Thank you for calling the police and allowing them to inform you that we weren't breaking the law as it saved me from having to have a nasty confrontation with you. I don't like confrontation and I tend to be really bitchy when I must confront someone. You saved us both a lot of headaches and you saved my husband a trip to the liqor store for a little "something something" to calm me down.

Thank you also for your absurd passive-aggressiveness, a trait that at first annoyed me but now brings me much pleasure. Rather than taking my husband's "Thank you, we're done and I'm putting it out now" as his word (as he was hosing the flames) you had to stand a mere 20 feet from our yard and have an intentionally very loud as to be overheard conversation with the police. Thank you for sparing us your humiliation when you turned around and spoke in a quieter voice when they told you there was nothing they could do. The bad part of me wishes I could have seen your face after you turned out of my view, but I must learn to squelch the bad Meg, she gets me into a lot of trouble (see my comments on confrontation above.)

I am sure the police and fire marshall have already informed you of the exceptions to the outdoor burning ban. In the event they have not I will reproduce them for you here, taken directly from the Fire Marshall's website (let me know if you need the URL).

The City of K### outdoor burning ban is in effect as of Sept 1, 2007 with the following exceptions:

1. a campfire on private property for personal recreation and a hose is present
2. a bonfire with a permit
3. A fire for cooking purposes and a hose is present

I can also assure you that my husband & I will continue to wave to you like a couple of loons everytime we see you spying out your window at us, and every time you stand on your porch staring at our yard with a camera or any other instrument of attempted manipulation.

In the event you decide to report us to the HOA, I would like to point out that we just had an unannounced HOA visit and we passed. Nothing in our yard is in violation. See, we have children, thus we have children's toys in the backyard. We understand that you do not have children living in your house and as such I do my best to keep the kids from screaming needlessly and I always have them inside during the early morning and evening hours so not to bother you or the other neighbors. I understand your choice in life and I respect it, I expect you to at least accept that I am not breaking the law by having children, allowing my husband and children to cook over an open fire, and we are not breaking any HOA covenants by having a swing, toys, a dog run, lawn chairs and a firepit in our backyard.

I can also assure you that the next time there is an attempted break-in and the next time we see someone lurking in your yard we will call the police again, just like we did the last time. See, we weren't calling the police ON YOU, as my husband pointed out. We called the police because there was a strange man standing between our yards and when we went outside to let our dogs out he turned and ran into the woods. That is not normal behavior for a resident of our fair subdivision.

We have no ill will against you and have no ideas of retaliation, we simply want the same thing you want...to co-exist peacefully in our shared subdivision, even if we are "only renters". At the very least you can rest peacefully knowing we aren't here to stay as eventually we will move on to bigger & better things. Perhaps the family that follows us will have no children for you to tolerate.

Best wishes for a happy 2008 dear neighbor!

Good Reads & Clicks

2008-01-03T13:23:00.000-05:00

Taking the time today to share with you some neat stuff I found/read/use.

I've been reading Chris over at Notes from the Trenches for a while, since Mama Flan told me about her in 06. She has 7 kids and she's nutty enough to homeschool them. Anyhow, she and her family started a new mission in 2008, to buy nothing unnecessary. She is quite open about doing this not to save money or be green, but to stop her house from becoming overwhelmed with ALL OF THAT STUFF that having a family brings. Her old blog In The Trenches will redirect you to A Year Off. I hope it works for you Chris, I really do! And if it does let me know how to get my husband & kids on board :D

Arguing over who is supposed to take the trash out today? Tired of being the only one to clean the toilets? Wish you could get the others to help out and do their fair share? Check out ChoreBuster. This site is REALLY cool and free! Enter the names of ppl in your house and what percentage of chores they should do, then enter the chores and their difficulty level and viola! they will divide up the chores evenly. It will even email your kids or other half every week or daily to remind them of their chores :D WOO HOO!!! Why didn't *I* think of that???

Remember the Milk is a neat website too. It's like a one-stop calendar/to do list/grocery list/address book/etc. Membership is free but if you have a palm or blackberry you can sync it if you buy an upgraded membership. Nifty. Too complicated for me but nifty nonetheless.

Got coupons? Match them up with local store sales at Coupon Mom. Excellent!!! Sure, you COULD pay for Grocery Game, but you don't have to, CM gives you the same stuff for free.

Holiday Pics

2007-12-27T12:25:00.001-05:00

See the stockings hung by the chimney with ~~haste and if they touched them again I'd take them down permanently so help me goodness I will!~~ care.

Take special note of the extra something Santa left for Tornado & Train. They were especially naughty on Christmas Eve, despite our begging them to go to bed at a decent hour as Jason and I were facing several hours worth of wrapping & assembling. Very little got done with Jason being in the hospital and all.

Note the expression on Train's face as he realizes what Santa left him...

Yes, that's right. Santa left Train & Tornado COAL! We told them it was a warning, Santa saw how naughty they had been and left the coal to remind them that all they willg et next year is coal if they don't clean up their act.
~~I am so going to hell~~

This is what it looked like BEFORE they woke up...

and this is what it looked like after all was said and done.

Here's Tornado in her ~~hootchie mama~~ Cheetah Girls dress-up stuff.

Miss Death Ray Eyes opening the traditional Christmas undies.

Mister Giggles loves his toy!

The Train enjoying his Spiderman Shave Bath Set

And this is Miss Universe expanding her scientific knowledge.

I hope everyone had as wonderful as holiday as we did!

So we didn't go to Florida after all

2007-12-27T12:14:00.000-05:00

We had a nice holiday.

You know how I was lamenting my trip to Florida and not having enough time to see anyone? Well guess what!! WE DIDN'T GO!

We were spared the 18 hour trip and inevitable carsickness. We were, however, all sick. Very, very sick. Short recap:

Friday, the day we were to leave. At 6am Jason was in the bathroom being sick. He had this stomach bug thing for over a week, but it was just a virus, right? At 8 am he was STILL in the bathroom. I woke up because I could hear Miss Universe wretching in the bathroom down the hall. I got up to go to CVS to get her some gatorade when I heard Jason moaning from the bathroom in our bedroom. I went in there and he was in the tub looking green. His stomach was swollen about 3 times normal size and was somewhat blue. I told him to hold tight, I was running to the CVS a few blocks away and when I came back I was taking him to the doctor.

I ended up taking him and MU to the urgent care. MU was given a script for phenegren and hubby was told to go to the ER without passing GO. I dropped him off at the ER after seeing him put in a room, which they did immediately. I wanted to stay with him but I had 5 kids, one of whom was puking her guts out.

I walked in the door at home and Miss Death Ray Eyes said "good, you're home, I'm sick" and immediately vomitted into a bag she was carrying. I wasn't feeling so terrific either but I was ok.

We played the day out and later in the afternoon jason sent me a text along the lines of "bowel obstruction surgeon coming". Ah crap!!! I called both of my sitters and either they weren't home or decided they didn't want to babysit my kids a few days before Christmas. I ended up taking the 3 littles to a neighbor's house and left the older two at home with another neighbor poking her head in on them. I arrived at the hospital and talked with the surgeon and made sure jason was ok (he had a tube going down his nose and another coming out of his abdomen).

After an hour or so at the hospital the nurses sent me home because I didn't look so great, assuring me nothing was going to happen until the next morning. I felt bad for leaving him, but I did have kids at home and I was feeling pretty putrid, so I left. On the way home I started vomitting.

Around 3am Mister Giggles woke up puking. Not fun, not fun at all. The good news is that the kids and I each seemed to stop puking after about 12 hours and then we were fine, aside from general nausea for a day or two.

Jason is home now, feeling well enough to be at work yesterday and today. He has a follow-up with his doc next week to check on his pancreas and gall bladder.

Everything seems ok now and he was home in time to celebrate Christmas with us! his parents even drove up for a quick overnight visit, it was nice to see them again and the kids really enjoyed the time.

I wanted to put pics in this post but it seems like those should go in another post.

What a gem!

2007-12-20T13:11:00.000-05:00

So yesterday I was frazzled. Frankly, I've had enough of a lot of crap and I am seriously considering moving me and the family to a far away island. I told Jason about the broken ornaments and the lovey...he brought home 3 tubes of superglue and took all the shards and did his best to reassemble the ornaments.

I dont really even care about the ornaments that much, it was just the icing on a very emotional & stressful day. Mary is missing her face and the wisemen look a bit worse for the wear, but the fact that he went to the store for glue and sat down for two hours trying to reassemble the broken ornaments speaks mountains to me. That was so kind and I hope he knows that when I say I am very appreciative he knows I really mean it.

'Tis the Season

2007-12-19T13:34:00.000-05:00

I don't feel like writing.

I could write about how we were asked by jason's parents to come to Florida for the weekend. And how we made the ridiculous decision to say yes despite not having the money to do so since we opted to buy christmas gifts instead of going to Florida this year. And how we're facing an 18 hour total drive with 5 kids (3 of whom get carsick) Friday and not expected to get in until realllly late (or really early depending on how you look at it.)

I could tell you how we're only going to be in Florida for 48 hours but we're so loved everyone is fighting over when they get to see us and how I feel stuck in the middle and no one seems to care what I want.

I could tell you that the mouth my oldest child has developed is driving me to an early grave and she's turning into a thankless ungrateful beast that I don't want to be around....but how on other days she's pretty much the coolest person on the planet and how we spent friday shopping at the mall and had a ball together.

I could tell you how my 3 yr old smashed 2 heirloom glass ornaments on the tile fireplace. I'm not even sure where he found them since they weren't on the tree.

I could tell you how I told my 4 and 3 yr olds to go to their room for screaming and hitting each other but the 4 yr old is standing at the top of the steps yelling "NO! NEVER!" and just woke up the baby.

I could tell you how I still have to clean the house (I clean they walk behind me and mess it up even worse) and wash the clothes and pack everything for this weekend.

I could tell you how MDRE found the Nintendo DS Lite she lost months ago...and she found it in EXACTLY the same spot we told her to LOOK FOR IT. So now she has $35 in her pocket that she was saving to replace said DS and she is having a full-on screaming and crying tantrum because I won't take her to target to spend it in the dollar section.

I could tell you how my husband had the stomach bug Saturday and Sunday and how he was up until 5am Saturday morning moaning and groaning and how I wanted to slap him. I could tell you how I finally said "Look, you're sick, I get it...but you get to sleep in and I have to be up in 2 hours with the baby!" and how I tried to sleep on the couch, and the kid's couch, and the recliner and the Tornado's bed but I couln't sleep because they are uncomfy and I could still hear Jason moaning and groaning. I could tell you how pissed I was at him for being sick, even thought it wasn't his fault. I could tell you how bad I feel about that because he really was very, very sick.

I could tell you how I went out Saturday to do the christmas shopping and how I came home 3 1/2 hours later to find the house so messy I couldn't walk through it.

I say Jason and the kids can go to Florida alone. I'll stay home and clean, finish wrapping the gifts, get the laundry finished, bake the cookies for santa, make the chow for the reindeer and greet them with hot cocoa and warm cider when they come home on Christmas eve.

On the bright side, I won $50 in the anniversary contest over at Frugalforlife.com. I didnt even write anything good ;)

VACCINE WARNING

2007-12-13T17:18:00.000-05:00

That's it. No more vaccines for us. NONE. Not one. We're already pretty selective about the vaxes we get, but now it's none and we'll take our chances. In 1999 Miss Universe almost died from the MMR. Now, read this:

Merk recalled a bunch of vaccines that have been in use since April 2007.
According to the CDC the vaxes were contaminated with a bactereia known as Baccillus Cereus.

cite: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/recalls/hib-recall-faqs-12-12-07.htm

According to the CDC (cite:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5448a3.htm)

"Although Bacillus cereus is known mainly as an agent of food
poisoning, other infections caused by this organism have been
documented in immunocompromised patients, including sepsis,
meningitis, pneumonia, and wound infections"

Mister Giggles became ill with what I thought was a stomach bug, run of the mill virus just two weeks after having his hib vaccine (this was after April, 2007). Within another 10 days he was admitted to the hospital with aseptic meningitis and bacterial pneumonia. My son is slightly immunocompromised.

Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. I *am not* saying the vaccine caused my child to become ill, I am simply stating that it might be a possibility (no slander lawsuits here, thank you!)

I am also telling you that if you have a baby who received a hib vaccine anytime in 2007 to check lot numbers if your child showed any sign of illness afterwards. It is possible for a baby to have meningitis and you not know it. The symptoms are similar to other stomach viruses and a baby can't tell you "my head hurts". The only reason I knew my baby was sick from something other than a run-of-the-mill virus is because his soft spot was horrendously swollen (and frankly the doctor pointed it out to me, I did not notice it on my own), otherwise I would have passed the screaming and vomitting off as rotavirus or something. In fact, I thought it was rotavirus when I took him to the doctor. Had my baby been a normal weight at the time and not "failure to thrive" perhaps I would have not visited the doctor at all.

The CDC and Merck do not acknowledge that any child has become sick from affected vaccine lots.

Thursday Thirteen #38

2007-12-13T12:57:00.000-05:00

One of my very first TT's was all about Good Childhood Memories.

Instead of posting a gripe today about how a certain relative of my husband once again complained that I ignore her because someone else got our Christmas card before she got hers .... I'm doing a childhood memories part duex today, simply because I am in need of less drama and more happy warm and fuzzy feelings.

Look how clever I am, I managed to sneak the gripe in there anyhow ;)

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Thirteen Favorite Childhood Memories, part duex

1. Videotaping our crazy neighbor doing his "you're driving too fast" dance ;) The man was certifiable, seriously. He would put nails out in the long driveway that ran past his house and led to my parents. He would jump in the middle of said driveway and do this little dance while screaming "you're driving too fast! Slow down! I'm gonna call the superintendent!" He also used to paint words like "slow down" on the side of his garage that faced my parent's house.

2. As a child I recall feeling such rage at the fact that some kids threw corn at my parent's car. Not cobs of corn, kernals. It was a popular thing to do back in the era of having nothing else to do and no internet. Ah, I wish my rage was restricted to such simple things now.

3. You still can't buy tomatoes like the ones my dad grew

4. My dad grew corn one year and I'd take my little Fisher price plastic record player out in the garden and sit between dried stalks and let my imagination work

5. Riding public transporation and walking through the "big city" with my grandmother. I was always amazed at the number of people that were on the street, the delis with counters that opened right to the sidewalk, Woolworth's :)

6. Making chocolate every Christmas with my mother. She let us eat the scrap pieces until we were sick to our stomach :) I continued this tradition and make chocolates with my kids every year (though not sure I'll find time time year)

7. Starting in October my brother and I would start watching home movies of Christmases past. While it made us even more excited about the holiday I think it helped our patience.

8. Asking Santa to bring my mom slippers.

9. Asking Santa to bring me a new pair of shoes. I understand my mother was mortified but I thought I was helping! Mom must have said I needed new shoes. I guess my 5 yr old mind figured I'd save her the money and trip to the store and just ask Santa to bring me some. Sounds reasonable to me ;)

10. The day my mom surprised me by being a substitute teacher at my preschool. It was puppet show day and I remember moving so I could sit next to her. I also remember getting in trouble for moving once the show had started ;)

11. Whenever my grandmother was visiting she's attend Mass with us and she didnt mind when I rested my head on her shoulder.

12. Something about the priest asking me what was found when Jesus's tomb was open. He gave me a clue that was something along the lines of "they were flying around with wings". I think he wanted me to say angels. I said "chickens".

13. Dad worked at Sears and every year they;d have Winnie the Pooh come and take pics with kids. Winnie the Pooh scared the loving bejeezus out of me. The picture is of me in a horrific 1970s era green dress, being held by my daddy. Dad's firmly planted between me and Pooh as I recall. Years later dad scored me a job wearing the Pooh costume, ahhhh, sweet revenge. My turn to scare the bejeezus out of little kids. As I recall there weren't very many kids there to scare.

Birthday pictures & more

2007-12-12T10:22:00.000-05:00

First, I'm feeling a lot better. I went to bed at 9:30 last night and didnt wake up until 8:30 this morning. Sleep helps :D Second, I sat my butt on the floor and played games with the kids all day, mostly multiplication war, boggle & clue. Good times, good times.

Now, on to pics!

POWER RANGER CARS! SCORE!

The Race Car Cake
I am not the world's greatest baker and definately not the world's best cake decorator. I am, however, too cheap to pay $30 for a yucky tasting so sweet it peels the enamel off your teeth bakery cake.

Look, I always read the card first (and then I turn it over to look at the price, hee hee hee)

I'm supposed to be making my bed, but here I am defying the laws of gravity

Bubby has cake. Bubby has cake. I'm so happy Bubby has cake. Did I say Bubby has cake? Bubby has cake. Bubby has cake.

Miss Universe made this flying car for The Train. Super awesome, eh?

This weekend!

2007-12-10T12:28:00.000-05:00

The Train, aka Mister Man, turned 3.

The little boy who was so sick with a then undiagnosed condition, the little boy who was only 11 lbs at 8 months despite being darn near 8 lbs at birth, the little boy that GIJerkface to say would never walk and would be lucky to live longer than a year. The little boy who I rushed to the ER convinced he was dying. The little boy who was starting organ failure at the ripe age of 8 months. The little boy who was diagnosed with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin deficiency.

My little man turned 3.

My little man is 34 lbs now outweighs his older sister.

My little man is healthy.

My little man now has an arsenal of doctors, none of which is a jerkface.

My little man is one of the funniest beings on this plant.

My little man says we need a new house with a bedroom just for "dad, mom and me!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRAIN! *pics to be updated soon*

**********************************************************
I had some sort of alien being inside my body this weekend. I totally freaked out because the house was such a mess. Jason took all 5 kids to the park yesterday so I could clean. Two hours later I will still working in the kitchen, so Jason and the kids pitched in and did their rooms, the living room and my bedroom.

I feel really bad. Really, really bad. I feel emotionally out-of-control in some aspects. I guess it's a combination of daily stresses adding up, hormonal changes from the pregnancy (not to mention the emotions of losing the pregnancy and the miscarriage that took forever), the holiday season and not being near family and friends...

With that said, I'm taking the week off of everything computer-related except a bit of work in the mornings and maybe evenings if Jason has to work. I don't know what's going on but I do feel the need to just sit and be with the kids. The weather is gorgeous here lately, in the 70s, just like florida :) I'll take it!

I also have a few personal demons to work out and I guess now is as good a time as any.

Catch ya'll on the other side of the week!

This n That (TT is next post down)

2007-12-06T12:25:00.000-05:00

If you haven't read my TT yet, it's below this post.

Yeah, I was talking about Grey's Anatomy in it. And Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty. Those are 3 of the 4 shows I watch with any regularity (the other is My Name is Earl, which is on opposite of Ugly Betty, so I watch it online) Everyone in my house knows Thursday night the tv is reserved in my name from 8-10 :) Sundays I usually get to watch D.H. cuz hubby isn't into football this year (even though we have the way overpriced Sunday Ticket!!!!!) I do his ironing while my shows are on, so he doesn't complain :)

BTW, we got the new lightbulb for the tv and it's working now. I had no idea how much I counted on Sponge Bob to give me 10 minutes of peace here and there during the day ;) How *SAD* is that.

Some good came out of it though. When the kids woke up this morning they didn't reach for the remote control first. Last night they actually went off and did other stuff instead of using the tv. Yesterday they even took on a horrifically messy project of making clay bricks in our backyard, that's gotta please the neighbors who are trying to sell their pristine kid-free house ;) I kind of think they are moving because they enjoyed not having kids as neighbors, can't say I blame them, but that's their issue, not mine.

Nah, I do try to keep the place looking nice on the outside so they can sell faster (no one sells fast here) but as long as the HOA is cool with me (and they are) I can only do what I can do. I'm not totally insensitive, I do make them scoop the dog poop and the cat stays inside ;)

Baby sign - Mister Giggles is largely uncommunicative, aside from the giggles and persistant smile and walking up to us to give us hugs. The doc is too concerned about it while I take the "dude, he's 13 months old" line. BUT...I have decided that since he refuses to say dada or mama I'm gonna force baby sign language on him :D I'm awfully rusty with my ASL so I need a refresher course in basic signed English I think. I remember more and mommy and baby and and and how to sign "bathroom now" and some other insignificant phrases. It's been a good 10 years since I last signed on a regular basis (oh gosh I'm getting old) so I need to dust off my books and get back into it.

I think the first thing he will learn to sign is mommy so when he does the sign I can look at jason and say "HA HA!!!! HE SAID MOMMMMMMY!!!!!!"

No really, it'll be "sleep", as in "PLEASE GO TO SLEEP NOW MAN CHILD" or "this is a time to nap, not to scream at the sight of your bed" or "It is 2 am and not time for you to be awake right now buggy booo" and of course "BED! NOW! SLEEP! MOMMY GETS CRANKY WHEN SHE DOESN'T GET HER SLEEP" and the perennial favorite "Little boys need their sleep so they have plenty of energy to eat dust bunnies tomorrow"

As for Big Mutha Truckers, ah, we played that in Florida too. Actually, in Florida it was much more backwoodsy than where we live now, though the trucks with 72" wheel bases aren't far off ;) Hey, the game was on clearance and I'm on a budget. It's mature content though, so the kids won't be playing it any time soon, that or they will be playing it with the sound off.

Oh, hey, and did you know that when you're chatting with cust service you're usually not chatting with a person, but a computer instead? That's kinda cool when you think about it, but sometimes you just need to talk to a person and don't want to sit through 35 minutes on hold because they are talking to other people who had orders lost.

And, in case you're wondering, I'm already composing my annual Christmas poem to my family. Last year it came to be during one of those sleepless newborn baby nights. Read last year's poem here. No, I don't plan to be drunk after all. I almost wish, but then I'd be up until 2 am assembling dangerous toys ;) Besides, I've been dry for months now and I don't need the extra calories.

Thursday Thirteen #37 & A funny conversation

2007-12-05T11:13:00.000-05:00

First things first. Overstock.com. (skip below to go right to TT #37)

I've never had a problem ordering from them before, sometimes things take a while to ship but no real problems.

Recently I made two orders. 11/25 I ordered a kid's cookbook and a game cube game. 11/29 I ordered a microscope set.

I've been checking the tracking updates. Apparently they use UPS to ship to a post office and then the post office delivers. Ok, there is problem number one, too many fingers in my pot o'stew. The book and game were made in one order but shipped seperately, problem number two, too many packages in my pot o'stew.

Apparently the kid's cookbook was delivered yesterday. Uh, no, it wasn't. The tracking info says it was, Overstock says it was, the post office says it was. Exactly WHERE it was delivered, nobody knows. The game has been in USPS custody since 11/27 and neither UPS, USPS or Overstock knows where it is.

Check out this IM conversation I had with overstock...all I edited was my address cuz I don't want you all knowing where to send hate mail the long way (BTW, MDRE thinks it's really cool that I get hate mail. I told her it's usually just someone having a bad day who needs to blow off steam and doesn't know where to direct said steam.)

Welcome to Overstock.com's Customer Service Live Chat! You will be joined with a chat representative as quickly as possible. (Less than 2 minutes)
Welcome to Overstock.com Customer Service, you are now chatting with Carol.
Carol: Thanks for visiting Overstock.com, this is Carol, how can I help you?

you: hi Carol.

you: This is regarding order # 10582486

you: according to the tracking page the package was delivered yesterday,however, I did not receive the package.

Carol: I will certainly check that for you.

Carol: Could you provide me with the order/invoice number or email address, please?

you: itszen4me@gmail.com

you: order # 60945397

you: I'm concerned about both items, the book I ordered has been at the post office since 11/27 but I have yet to receive it

Carol: Let me check that.

Carol: For security purposes, can you please verify the name and billing address on the account?

you: ********

you: 1234 any street, any town, stupid GA, 12345

Carol: Thank you, let me check your account.

Carol: I'm checking your account.

you: ok

Carol: I see that you have ordered the 'Everything Kids` Gross Cookbook' right?

you: yes, and a game cube game, and more recently a microscope

Carol: I see that you have also ordered for 'GC - Big Mutha Truckers' right?

you: yes

Carol: Okay, did you receive both items?

you: I haven't received either item

Carol: I'm checking that for you.

you: thanks

Carol: I have just checked and see that the shipping timeframe for media item is this item will be delivered to you via USPS Trackable Media Mail or UPS Mail Innovations and will take from 2 days to 3 weeks from the time the item leaves our warehouse.

you: my issues is that one of the items is listed as DELIVERED 12/4, but it was not delivered.

Carol: Okay, is that the book for 'Everything Kids` Gross Cookbook' is delivered.

Carol: *?

you: yes, but I did not receive it.

Carol: Okay, I will set up trace for that book and the trace takes 1-4 business days to complete, once the trace is completed you will be contacted by email or phone.

you: ok. Can you please also put a trace on the GC - big motha truckers?

Carol: If we are not able to track the carrier, we will send you back replacement.

Carol: I'd request you to wait till the timeframe is over for other item as well.

you: by that time Christmas will be over

Carol: If the shipping timeframe is over you can contact us.

you: Ok, let's start over...

you: gc - big motha truckers:

you: this is listed as delivered 12/4, but I do not have it

you: the everything's gross cookbook: listed as the post office receiving it 11/27 but i have not received it yet

Carol: Okay, how about the book for 'Everything Kids` Gross Cookbook'?

you: so big motha truckers SHOULD be here but it's not...

you: the everything kid's cookbook hasn't been heard from since 11/27

Carol: Okay, let me check that for you.

you: ok

Carol: Okay, I have checked and see that one item tracking shows delivered and the cookbook shows still in transit.

you: ok

Carol: Let me give you the link.

Carol: Please click here to view it.

you: ok, as for the other item, big mutha truckers, you are putting a trace on it and I will hear from overstock in 1-4 days as to it's whereabouts?

you: and if by chance the items I ordered aren't here by Christmas, which they were supposed to be, I'm supposed to call back?

Carol: If you will not receive the item as per the shipping timeframe, we will give you full refund back.

you: ok, thanks. Did you put the trace on big Motha truckers?

Carol: I will set up trace for the item that shows delivered and did not receive it by you.

you: thank you

Carol: Is there anything else I can help you with?

you: no, i'll call if there are more problems.

*banging my head against the wall.* Aye
****************************************************

Ok, let's get to Thursday Thirteen #37

Thirteen Things I would do if I were a SCAB crossing the writer's guild picket line.

1. If I were a SCAB Mike would come out of rehab fine and never, ever touch the stuff again. And I'd finally figure out why Orsen ran him over and he held that kid at gunpoint, and where the kid went (I missed a few episodes)

2. If I were a scab Meredith would fall in love with someone else first. Not that I don't like McDreamy, she's really doing him wrong, but I dont want to see the good guy win ;P

3. If I were a SCAB Erica Hahn would finally go out with McSteamy...but wait, there's more...Hahn would admit that she's a lesbian...but wait, there's more...she's also trans-sexual. Hahn is almost complete and is only going out with McSteamy to get him to agree to confidential surgery to finish the process. And oh yeah, she'll still be a lesbian when the surgery is done, she's always liked women :D

4. If I were a SCAB Lindsey would realize she doesn't want to be a surgeon and would join Addison in LA, as a pediatrician. Then I wouldn't have to watch her because I don't like Private Practice one iota.

5. If I were a SCAB George would realize that not only is he gay in real life, he's gay in tv life too. Poor Izzie, whatever, that's what you get for sleeping with a married man. And oh yeah, the Syph too.

6. If I were a SCAB Alex would become George's lover one night. hee, hee. He sleeps with everyone else, why not??

7. If I were a SCAB Torres would be "found" in a local karaoke bar and would start a new career as a host on Discovery Health and would start a singing career. Did you know she can sing in real life?

8. If I were a SCAB Bree would get pregnant...right now.

9. If I were a SCAB Mark would return to Mode because he's so funny and Willy would come crawling back and get a job in the mail room and delivering coffee.

10. If I were a SCAB Edie would get involved with one of the gay neighbors. And they'd get married. The hot one, not the one that used to be on Judging Amy.

11. If I were a SCAB Betty would go out with the sandwich guy and enjoy herself, get married and have a lot of cute babies. Henry would stay in NY and what's her name pregnant girlfriend would be in and out to make trouble for him.

12. If I were a SCAB Miranda would tell her husband to get the heck over himself and do what the rest of us stay-at-home moms do. He will see the light and realize he enjoys the money his wife brings home and get addicted to soap operas.

13. Finally...if I were a SCAB I would work for peanuts and I don't need benefits. I am totally available, you know how to find me :D

Of Trees & Dofuses

2007-12-02T13:21:00.000-05:00

And that's our tree, folks :)

And this would be my children acting like dofuses. It's nice to see MDRE having fun, isn't it?

They are so totally bringing dofus back ;) Them other kids don't know how to act....jiggle to the chorus....

Is it 2008 YET??

2007-12-02T09:19:00.001-05:00

Counting the days, I swear.

I'm just so over President Bush. yes, I was over him 8 years ago but seriously, it just gets sillier by the day. I just can't stomach this man and what he's done to us anymore. I'm going to wake up one glorious day in 2009 and know I'm not sleeping under a bush anymore and I'm going to do a happy dance unlike any I have done before.

A new pres isn't going to solve all the problems this man has brought upon us, but it'll be a new day and a new start. Time to get off the silly train and back into reality where it's not just "gays" who suffer AIDS. Children actually WON'T be left behind (and I'm not talking about govt schools either, my faith in them won't ever increase). We won't have to be terrified to travel internationally. We won't have to hang our heads and be ashamed. We can support our soldiers by bringing them home, or at least give them some real objectives.

Don't get me wrong now, I heart our country and I heart our soldiers and I really heart the families of our soldiers. I just want a safer world for my children and their children and their children's children. When you live under a bush your opinions don't count unless they happen to agree with the bush. That is not what I want for anyone. Disagree with me, that's fine...but don't make up facts and stories and then oppose anyone who calls you out, that's all I ask.

Well dammit.

2007-12-01T12:27:00.000-05:00

So ya'll know I said we were going tvless. We lied. Apparently we paid the bill anyhow.

I knew we should have just turned it off.

The HD receiver turned itself off last night and wouldn't turn back on for several hours (it tends to turn itself off and on for some reason.) Jason finally called Direct TV and spent an hour on the phone with them before it was working again. Thirty minutes later we were in the middle of CSI and there was a LOUD pop, a sizzle and the screen went blank.

Did you know there is a lightbulb in the back of these big screen tvs? And that it can pop at any time just like a regular lightbulb? Well I didn't know that!

Last year when we sold our house we each bought a present. He got the 62" tv and I got a living room set and dining table. Doens't seem fair, does it? LOL...ANYHOW...

Wanna take a gander at how much this lightblub costs to replace? Go on, wager a guess.....

$165.

ONE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS

plus shipping.

for a light bulb and a little plastic case that cradles it from the hands of inexperienced folks such as myself. Oh, and let's not forget two real gold screws.

See, the lightbulbs are considered a "consumer repair" and aren't covered by the extended warranty. Sure, Circuit City would install the part for $400 and a two week turn-around (it is busy this time of year ya know.) Or we could order the part through them for $197 and wait 5 days for it to magically appear. Or we could order it online for $165 and wait 10 days for it to appear. Or we could order it online for $165 and upgrade shipping for $21 and have it in 4-5 days.

We opted for the last option.

So I'm thinking to myself "ah, this will be a calm weekend without the tv blasting on the main floor". Sure, yeah...not. The tv has been replaced by the din of 4 kids fighting over whether they should watch The Weather Channel, Dudley DoRight or Sponge Bob in the girls room, fully accompanied by the girls screaming "They're messing up our room!!!!"

Dear sweet goodness help me. Please.

I was even nice and offered to fix their computer but they don't want me to (WHY???) But guess what Missy MDRE!!!!!! I'm gonna fix it anyhow! Apparently MDRE installed firefox over MSIE. That's all fine and good except...um...how did she find out about Firefox and why would she download it anyhow? Now the internet won't work for them so I have to go sort it out because frankly, I already have to share my laptop with Jason and I don't like sharing it with them too. Eventually I'm going to get the other laptop fixed but unfortunately the repair money went to buying a lightbulb for the damned tv.

And then, in his anger over not getting to watch sponge bob the Train helped himself to SEVEN BASKETS of clean and folded laundry in my bedroom. Now I have to reasses what is and isn't clean, rewash half of the stuff because I won't know the difference and refold.

Where is my husband during all of this, you ask?

Working. Making a dollar. Bringing home the bacon. Funding our Christmas.

He picked up a PT job a few weeks ago. He went in 3 days and then stopped going in, no calls, nothing. He went in last week to get his paycheck and quit. The next day they called him and begged him to come back in 3 days a week, two nights and one weekend day. And he said yes. I hope it's only one weekend day.

Tonight when he gets home it's TREE TIME! We wanted to take the kids to a cut it yourself farm about 30 minutes away, until we found out that we have to pay $70 for the pleasure of weilding an ax and popping some Advil afterwards. No thanks, we'll go for the pleasure of driving to the kroger 30 second away, paying for a $30 tree and loading it on the van ourselves ;)

The Wisdom of a 4 year old

2007-11-29T08:30:00.001-05:00

Just poppin' in real quick-like to share the wisdom of my darling 4 year old.

The scene:
It's the late evening hours. Mom is washing dishes at sink. Tornado enters stage right.

Tornado: Hey mom! I don't have to wipe anymore.

Mom: Really? Why is that?

Tornado: I just put toilet paper in my underpants. Now my underpants wipe for me.

Can't argue with that, eh?

I did tell her she may get a rash if she does that and she yelped "OH NO!" and ran upstairs and promptly removed the tp from her underoos.

********************************************************************

This morning I'm trying to pee in peace when Tornado walks in, shuts the door behind her AND LOCKS IT.

Torando: Mom, I have to tell you sumppin.

Mom: Tell me summpin.

Torando: We are out of frooty loops.

Mom: I know, I'll get you some more when I do my big shopping on Friday.

Torando: When I go shopping I pay and the shopping fairy lady comes and gives me money back.

Mom: I like that. I wish I had a shopping fairy.

Torando: Only princess-fairy-mermaids like me have shopping faries. You should be
like me. I have a princess dwessand cwon and shoes and fairy wings and a mermaid tail, but since I'm a fairy I can change my tail into legs so I can go shopping.

Mom: Ok. well, can you leave so I can pee?

Tornado: Mom, I have to tell you summpin.

Mom: Ok, tell me summpin.

Torando: I TOLD YOU WE'RE OUT OF FROOTY LOOPS!! and I love you! BYE!
*******************************
I have to keep adding things because she keeps saying cute things!

Tornado: Mom, I have to tell you summpin.

Mom: Ok, tell me sumppin.

Tornado: Do you know what I want to be when I grow up?

Mom: What?

Tornado: A ridder that rides horses. But I'm allergic to horses (insert pout)

Mom: I don't think you're allergic to horses.

Tornado: yes I am, you're just not smart enough to know.

Recovery shew

2007-11-28T09:03:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I gave Miss Universe one assignment...to look through the zillion cookbooks she picked up at the library and plan a 3 course meal and cook it :)

Sound harsh, nah, she loves to cook. You should have seen her, all domestic and stuff.

She worte down a bunch of recipes and I helped her weed through them. She then copied the recipes onto recipe cards, made a menu on the computer (complete with graphics) and around 4 we started (yes, I helped a little bit).

For an appetizer we had Bruschetta, a wonderful use of stuff we had sitting around. She made this totally on her own.

For a main course we had fried chicken fingers (I did the frying part only), corn & green beans.

For dessert we had Cuban sugar cookies. She made the dough, rolled, cut & baked them all on her own. They were yummmmmmmy, more like a shortbread cookied than a sugar cookie. She wanted me to share the recipe, so here it is:

Cuban Sugar Cookies
(from The International Cookie Jar Cookbook by Anita Borghese)
~~hop a raft to Cuba~~ Just kidding, you can find Cuban sugar cones at target or just use brown sugar, or if you don't have that white sugar with a tad of molasses will make brown sugar, or heck...just use white sugar.

You need:
1 cup sugar
4 cups flour
1 egg beaten w/ 2/3 cup water
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup shortening (we used butter)

Cream butter until soft.
Sift flour, baking powder and sugar.
Slowly mix dry into the butter.
Add eggs/water and extra water.
mix well.
Form into small dough balls, lay onto waxed paper.
Cover with waxed paper, press down and roll to just under 1/4".
Cut with cookie cutter
Bake on ungreasged sheet at 350 for 10 minutes

And viola, it's like your in Cuba ;) Serve with very hot coffee, of course.

Dear Children,

2007-11-27T12:45:00.002-05:00

I love you. I really, really love you.

Today, however, you're driving me a little bit batty.

To Miss Death Ray Eyes:
Darling. I understand that you are the center of your universe. I understand that in your pre-teen mind you also believe that you are the center of everyone else's universe. I am sorry to be the one to break this to you, but you are not. You are a spark right smack in the middle of my universal map so I suppose it's my fault you think that you are the bread that butters our universal toast. So, let's knock off the whole "you are ruining my life" and eye-rolling routine, ok?

To Miss Universe:
I know it's probably my fault that you are so...um...~~ditzy~~ forgetful. When I say something such as "The paper is on the kitchen table" I really do mean the kitchen table and not the bathroom counter or the microwave. And, dear child, when you say the word "accidentally" I really do not believe it. You accidentally kicked your sister off the couch...the couch that was a full 10 feet away from where you were standing. I know you're long-legged, darling, but not THAT long-legged. So, let's knock off all of this "I didn't mean to look in the bathroom for the salt shaker" stuff and use our ears. And while we're at it, let's knock off all of this "I didn't mean to drop the salt shaker on her head but she was underneath me" crap.

To The Tornado:
Perhaps it was the nasty bout of PPD that got to you. Maybe it was the non-alcoholic beer. Maybe it was the fact that you were born during a torrential thunderstorm. I feel as if I have failed you more than your siblings. Look, I know you're smarter than the average bear but you don't have to let me know that you know that I know you know. All I ask of you is a bedtime without screaming, or hitting, or moving mattresses around or spitting. Please? Sleep child, it's not a 4 letter word. You don't need to call names, I really am not the most evil person on the planet. Why must you be so argumentative? The tears I am shedding are not happy tears, dearest love of my life. I think your attitude makes me love you harder and want to fight for you more, but I never thought such a small person would bring so much havoc into the world. Let's knock off this whole attitude thing.

To The Train:
Man child! While you may be the constant joy of my life and a wonderful source of laughter, you are not the Tornado's evil bidder. Really, if she tells you to do something it's probably not something you should be doing, so don't do it. Ok?

To Mister Giggles:
PLEASE DON'T GROW ANY OLDER. Stay the smiley, quiet, happy with anything toddler you are now. Please? Just so you know, I am seriously considering not teaching you how to talk because that's when things start to go downhill ;)

To my darling husband:
Not tonight, I have a headache.

Oh it has so been one of THOSE days. I'm going to shut the computer down and just sit with the kids and hope whatever they are high on today wears off fast and they all fall asleep for a very, very long time.

I love the kiddos, I don't need any remarks about having too many or sending them to school, just venting. I think the weather here (cold & rainy) coupled with having dad at home for 5 days straight is getting to all of us.

Oh, I have to share. Yesterday I was at the OB and got the all clear to resume life as normal now. I took The Tornado and The Train in the exam room with me. MDRE & MU waited in the waiting room with Mister Giggles. T&T were very well behaved, I was impressed and a little surprised.

I was lying on the exam table making unpleasant small talk with the doc when all of a sudden my underpants came flying out of the back corner and landed right on my chest. I turned my head in mortification (Why? I don't know...I was lying there having my girly parts examined, what are undies compared to that???) and Tornado was sitting on the floor laughing her little butt off and Train started yelling "MOM! I can see your butt!" NICE.....

Keep on Smiling :)

2007-11-27T12:45:00.001-05:00

Wookie what ExPat Mom gave me :)

What a great way to spread the bloggy love :) I feel all warm & fuzzy now :D

In return I'm gonna spread the love to 5 people that make me smile...but here's the catch, they have to read this entry in order to get it. HA HA HA HA HA. I'm gonna make it even trickier by not making this my top post today. Heee, I'm one sneaky mother.

I'm spreading the joy to:

1. Leigh@$$
2. Elizabeth
3. Dana
4. Sparky just ignore the football stuff ;)
5. Tali & Elisa

Thanksgiving Circus-Style

2007-11-25T10:07:00.000-05:00

No animals were harmed in the making of this post.
Except the turkey, I can pretty much say with confidence that he was harmed, but he was delicious :D

The pre-turkey tantrum:

My favorite kind of worm, a bookworm:

5 cooks, 2 aprons (see MDRE pout!):

The feast on Gramma's good china (and yet again nothing was broken, score one for me!):

The circus (we actually had to wake Mister Giggles up for the photo, he wasn't a happy turkey):

As if all of the thanksgiving cooking wasn't enough, we settled down for a family game of......wait for it......Iron Chef, the board game! MDRE, the Train and I kicked the pants off of Jason, Miss Universe and the Tornado with our menu of tuna tar tar salad, braised salmon roe and tomatoe ice cream. hey, at least it wasn't sea urchin roe, right?

What can I say, they're homeschooled freaks

2007-11-20T16:02:00.000-05:00

The kids and I are unintentionally doing an experiment on growing molds and baceteria (yuck, I know...)

Seems my kids are hooked on the tv show "How Clean is your house?" and want to get their hands on some petri dishes & agar stuff. They want to know what is growing in their bathroom. I'm afraid to find out but perhaps it will motivate them to keep it a little less pig styish?

They also want to test out antibiotics, lysol, tea tree oil and some other stuff to see what really kills the nasty little bugs. Ok, not really. *They* aren't interested in killing the bugs that's totally me talking there. Darnit! If they're gonna grow the little bugs they are darned well going to kill them too (and hopefully scrub the shower while they're at it)

Anyhoo, before I consult Mr. Google has anyone ordered these supplies from a reputable source?

This is me

2007-11-20T08:52:00.000-05:00

as drawn by my 4 year old, The Tornado.

Apparently I am in need of three things, in this order:
1. a plastic surgeon
2. a good bra
3. a bathrobe

The best gift...EVER

2007-11-19T13:45:00.000-05:00

I just got a package from an unknown address, it was address to "Megalicious Groomsicle" and I had to fight it out of the grubby hands of things #1 and 3.

There is only ONE person that calls me megalicious, so only one person this package could be from, Mama Flan!

I opened it up and it's a huge coffee mug. Oh, that's good...but wait, it gets better.

Some backstory - Mama Flan and I shared a ped back when I still lived in FL. More than once we ended up in exam rooms next to each other ;) We both saw Dr. Rich who um...had a way with words and spilling things he probably shouldn't have. He once referred to his partner's ex wife as "cat killer crazy" and he once referred to a patient as "all like this" and made a weird gesture. When I moved we started referring to GA as "stupid ga" because we're so far from each other. These terms have been the source of many an inside joke between us.

The mug has a picture of a cat killing a teddy bear, a map of GA with the word stupid on it and the quote "I need my cofee so I don't end up 'all like this'".

I cannot stop laughing. How freaking funny is this mug? I love her! I LOVE HER I LOVE HER I LOVE HER!!!

Family Traditions

2007-11-19T11:55:00.001-05:00

Family traditions, the things that make you ~~groan and moan~~ warm & fuzzy. Growing up we had a few traditions that make me smile, some we have carried on and some we have not (like, uh, hiding the Christmas pickle, that one just didn't catch on, sorry mom!)

One of the things that makes me feel like a bona fide family is taking a bit of my history, a bit of Jason's history and creating traditions for our own family. That's been really cool and makes me proud in a way. It's neat to think that this screwed up middle child is raising her own family now, and one day my screwed up by default kids will grow up and do the same. It's really nifty to think about.

Every year we tie a red bow at the top of our tree. Why? Our first Christmas together on our own we were poor. Dirt poor. Jason was working 50 hours a week at Disney bringing in maybe $13K, but we were happy! Our first Christmas with our little family of 3 was so special. We went to Kmart on Thanksgiving day and bought our first tree together, a little scraggly 6 foot fake fir that was on sale for $12. It was pretty sad looking, even with Charlie Brown standards, but it was our FIRST tree. We couldn't afford decorations and certainly not a star or angel to top it, so we bought a $2 red bow that was supposed to hang on a door. That tree was awesome. We used it annually until Hurricane Charley came through in 2004 and flooded our laundry room where it was stored.

That tree brings back such good, fuzzy memories. That first christmas Miss Death Ray Eyes was a toddler and she decorated it with coat hangers ;) A few years later I was disassembling the tree and found that a lizard family had made it their home. A year later the cats made it their home.

It was even more ragged as the years went on and the tree is now wherever the trash company put hurricane debris, but the tree stands in our memories as a sign of the small things that really do make a person happy.

I really wish I had a picture of that tree to share. I do have some but none are scanned in and we've moved so much in the past 3 years I'm not sure where the photos are.

Our second Christmas together found us a family of 4, with Miss Universe being just a few months old. That was a tough year, she was constantly ill, Jason was still working 50 hours a week at Disney (though I think our tax return said he made around $19K at this point). Things were rough, but we were happy ;)

A few days before Christmas we received 3 HUGE boxes from an anonymous source. I discovered a few weeks later than a good friend with a baby of the same age sent them. Her husband received a bonus at work and they decided to adopt us for the holiday. The boxes were full of toys for the kids, baby items and a complete Christmas dinner complete with canned ham :) I still get warm & fuzzy thinking about those boxes and how appreciative we were. The kids were too little to understand but those were pretty much the only gifts under our scraggly $12 tree that year. I told my friend that her kindness would be repaid, and every year since we have "adopted" a family or person in need.

Every year we pick an angel from the salvation army trees, the kids pick kids and Jason & I usually pick someone in a nursing home. We don't always have a lot to give but we always have more than enough, if that makes sense. This year we adopted a family, a young mother with a toddler and another on the way. She reminds me a lot of me 12 years ago. My story turned out better than I could have imagined and I honestly hope hers does too. If we can bestow a smile half as wide on her kid's face as mine had on their face that Christmas 10 years ago, it will be a good day.

Right now, as I type, The Tornado is going through her toys to give them to this woman's child. That makes me smile, though I am going to have to go through the toys again because I know she'll never forgive me if I let her give away her Cinderella doll ;) and she's trying to give away all of the Train's toys too. A little too enthusiastic, perhaps?

Game night - for quite a few years we had a standing tradition. Every other Thursday was family night. The older girls took turns picking what to do, either a game or a movie, and they picked dinner and were allowed to help make it. I don't like kids in the kitchen ( This is part of the reason why I'm a bad homeschool mom). This tradition has waned over the past 4 years. We've been too busy, we had too many little ones to get to bed in the evening, daddy had to work late, we forgot, we had dance class, etc. The older girls recently asked to start this up again, and tonight is the night (daddy does have a business dinner tonight so he'll miss out on the fun)

We don't have a lot of board games anymore, either they were ripped apart by toddlers, thrown away due to chokables or trashed in our many moves. Board games are on our christmas list this year but until then we're making our own games, which seems to be more fun anyhow. Tonight we're going to be playing "Draw or act", I'm trying to think of a more clever name ;) We're going to make a candylandish game board from a file folder and some clue cards. The whole deal is you pick up a card and either act it out or draw it out. The first person who gets the clue rolls and moves ahead on the board.

Totally self-promoting...If you get your hands on a copy of Linda Dobson's "The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas" you'll see a few of our homemade games featured :)

Making games takes some work but it a lot of fun, and educational. As the kids get older they can make up more & more elborate rules & the games get even more fun.

More games you can make:
Make Your Own Board games
Making Math Fun

Another tradition- Thanksgiving. We've done tgiving a lot on our own due to work schedules and whatnot. We enjoy our feasts, just the 7 of us. Don't get me wrong, we enjoy the big family celebrations too, but doing it on our own and carrying on despite being 9 hours away from our family feels good in a way, like we're doing the best we can to keep things going even though we could easily get down.

Every Thanksgiving (or thereabouts given the work schedule) we clean the house while dinner is cooking, drag out the Christmas decos and go for broke. We don't get our tree that day because it's still a bit early, but we have everything ready for it. When it comes tree time Jason and the kids pack up and go on the hunt. We're considering a cut-your-own tree farm this year but we're still not sure how we'll fit 7 people and a tree in the van (no roof rack). I hope we can manage it, I have very fond memories of going into the woods with my dad looking for the perfect tree. As I don't live on 7 acres of wooded land a farm with a hayride is about as close as we're gonna get.

Ok, I really do have to get to work now. I am writing an article on why you shouldn't buy your kids a pet for Christmas to feature over at BellaOnline Exotic Pets

I'm thankful & an all cash Christmas

2007-11-16T11:33:00.001-05:00

Last week Miss Death Ray Eyes reminded me that Tgiving is coming up. Thanksgiving. ALREADY? I haven't even seen a Tgiving commercial or display. I think this holiday is becoming a whole heck of a lot less appreciated, and isn't that kind of ironic?

I sat down to make a meal plan for the next two weeks and Thanksgiving today. I accepted requests from the kids and the plan is.....pretty typical.

Turkey w/gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed white potatoes, fresh green beans, crescent rolls, cranberries (not that any of us will eat them, but we have two cans from who knows when that I'm gonna open and see what comes of it), blueberry pie (or apple) and pumpkin pie. Pretty simple and won't break the bank.

I know I've been complaining and whining a lot lately. I really, really have A LOT to be thankful for. This little list can't cover everything, but it hits a few things that are wading around in my head.

-I am thankful for my husband. Sure, I may want to poke his eyes out once in a while, but he's really a good guy and my best friend. He still makes me feel safe & warm and like I am well taken-care of. Sometimes it's hard to remember that he's only one man and he's already stretched in a zillion directions, but he always makes time for me.

-I am thankful for my five wonderful children. They keep me moving and on my toes and have taught me more than any schooling or book ever has. Lately the miraculosity (is that a word? Probably not, but still..) of bringing a child into the world has made itself clear to me once again. We're not promised fertility or pregnancy or healthy children. There is no magic fairy that comes along, lites you with her wand and says "be fruitful, I'll cover the rest." I consider myself luckier than a lot of people. I have five miracles that I conceived, carried, birthed and have the honor of raising. Sure, they make me want to pull my hair out sometimes (not unlike their father) but I am more than lucky, I am privledged, to have them. Even when they insists on "helping" me in the kitchen. Even when they refuse to put on their underpants. Even when they climb into my bed at 4pm soaking wet. Even when they comandeer my computer and send my friends garbled IMs making my friends think I've been drinking ;)

-I am thankful that I have a home. It may not be ours, it may be small, it may not have a fenced in yard and kitchen big enough to fit a table for 7, but it is warm & secure, and that is a lot more than a lot of people have. I am perfectly happy here.

-I am thankful for blogging ;) The comments and emails I have received lately have been so welcome and wonderful. THANK YOU. I get a lot of emails, more than I get comments, and they have all been so positive and some even helpful. Guess what, I'm not all alone in this little world of my mental creation ;)

-I am thankful for eggs and potatoes. Oh such cheap, fast, versatile and filling they be.

Ok, enough with my gushiness. On to Christmas now because rushing the season seems to be what it's all about now.

Hubby and I haven't used credit cards in something like 3 years, maybe even longer. It didn't start out pretty & has made the rare event like hotel reservations and car rentals a bit of a pin in th ebutt, but thankfully we've adjusted well. It's nice not having that black cloud over our head. Sure, there are times we really wished to use one (back power bills or medical emergencies, mostly) but we've always figured out a way to manage through those times.

We're off to a late christmas start this year. Normally I start hiding things away around June & pray I can remember when I hid everything. From my own youth I've learned that under the bed and the attic are BAD places to hide things.

Hubby and I have once again decided on an all-cash Christmas, but even moreso, an ALL CASH Christmas...meaning no debit card. We started setting aside some moola from his extra paychecks for the holiday. He recently won an expensive set of football tickets at work and we sold those and put the money into the holiday envelope. I've pretty much gotten the stocking stuffers taken care of with freebie samples and cheap target stuff.

I have a few gifts set aside but our real shopping is yet to begin. I'm looking forward to it cuz you know I love my retail therapy. I'm going to see if we can get a sitter or trade sitting with a friend so we can go shopping together, that's always fun :)

Docs & labs & playgrounds...OH MY!

2007-11-15T11:50:00.000-05:00

So the doc called the other day and even after 3 weeks of this misery (I know, it could be worse, I remind myself of that daily) my hcg levels were still at 71, down from 97, down from the 4000s. Progress in the right direction, well, the right direction if you're miscarrying anyhow (and yes, I'm getting as sick of talking about this as you are of reading it and I will stop soon, promise!)

I had yet another hcg draw today, which means waking at 5:30am to wake the kids up at 6:00am to get out the door by 6:30am to get hubby to work by 7:30am. Today we were on the ball, I'm not sure how. We woke up late (5:45) and we were still out the door early!!

I cannot believe this is STILL happening. I'm on day 20 now :( Doc says it doesn't happen easily when you were as far along as I was and that it's totally different from the early miscarriage I had a few years ago. Sigh. I get that but really, I just need this to stop, just be over with.

Anyhoo, we picked up the orders from the doc and went to the lab. Once again the ~~minions~~ angels were *WONDERFUL* so I let them talk me into taking them to the park. Whilst there I snapped some pics and a video (or "bideeeooooo" as the Train says)

I'd like to use that one for the christmas cards but there was smudge ont he lens and Miss Universe looks fuzzier than usual ;) The Train simply would not tolerate standing beside the tree for another second and took off running, right into and on top of a mud puddle. THAT WAS FUN. He is so OCD I swear. Also, note the mcdonald's happy meal bag to the left of liam's foot. No, it wasn't ours but it made it into the photo (I cropped it out, but I'm still not happy with the blur over Miss Universe and the Train)

Sayeth the Train: "WOOK MOMMY! I can FWY!"

And visions of broken arms danced in my heads (deja vu)

The Groomsicle Family Theater is now proud to present our feature film.
A film of daring and triumph!
A movie to awe and amaze.
THE movie of the year states Family Movie Review!

With pleasure we bring you...

BABY WALKING WITH LEAF, the story of a forlorn little man lost in the world, looking for one true friend (of the edible type, that is). Little man searches the playground near and far looking for his lost friend. Will he find his friend? Will he eat his friend? What happens??

Let's watch... (at this moment please turn your laptop sideways or tilt your head to the right...thank you.)

Stupid Mondays

2007-11-12T15:12:00.000-05:00

update in the miscarriage that won't end drama. Doc called and my hcg levels dropped from 97 on Wednesday to 71 on Friday. His exact words were "That is higher than I would like and a slower drop than I would like, but it's going in the right direction. We'll do weekly draws until it's 5 or less."

So there you have it. All of my bargaining with god (even when I didn't realize I was doing it), all of my last ditch hopes for a miracle...all gone. The emptiness is hitting me now, the barren feeling, the feeling of worthless and self-loathing. I officially allow myself until dinner to feel this way. After dinner I had better perk up because, as I have stated before, life goes on without regard to my feelings. And dangit someone around here has to do SOMETHING, ya know.

Monday's A Bitch Meme

1. If you could swim in a pool filled with any substance, what would you choose?
bacon grease (just for you, Leig@$$)

2. Describe your left hand in detail.
dry skin, extra dry skin on the bottom knuckles fingernails chewed to the nubs, a small mole on the left side of my thumb, a red scratch under my ring finger. A tan line and shiny skin from where my wedding ring should be (it's not what you think!), the wrinkles on my palm form an M shape. I can see blue veins on the underside of my middle finger. A rose fingerprint on my ring finger.

3. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
goat cheese

4. Write us a haiku.

A haiku for Miss Tornado

Brown hair on her head
eyes full of wonder and dare
she captivates me

5. If you had some sort of deformity that was causing the general public to worship you as a God (not necessarily this one, but this story obviously inspired the question), would you want to undergo corrective surgery, or continue living as you were?

Living as I was because surgery scares me and I do NOT want my post-op photos being sold to magazines, thank you oh so much. Besides, what makes you think people don't worship me as a god? Ok, so they don't...but still...

YABBIT!

2007-11-10T14:14:00.000-05:00

Ya'll know what a yabbit is, right?

"I really have to fold this laundry. Yabbit I have to iron first. Yabbit Grey's Anatomy is on. Yabbit I haven't blogged in 4 days. Yabbit my husband is hoarding the laptop."

So, a bunch of mish-mashed thoughts and events from this week.

Wednesday the kids and I went to an animal resuce about 2 hours northeast of our little town. We heard about the rescue on the radio, they resuce circus animals an exotic pets that zoos can't take for whatever reason. Most of the animals were geriatric, the chimps looked absolutely ancient. The rescue has hit a wall lately, their 2 wells have dried up and they have no water. They are buying water from nearby farms and accepting donations because they are going broke, that made me sad because rescuing circus animals is a good thing, right?

The rescue is also trying to expand but there are housing subdivisions going up all around it and the potential home-owners don't necessarily want lions and tigers and elk ~~stink~~ musk as neighbors. They have a lot of land but a very small display area and all of the animals are in tiny, itty bitty cages. They had 6 or 7 siberian tigers and each had about 12 feet of space to pace. That made me very sad. I left the rescue feeling ripped off by having to pay $40 to get in and wondering if the animals would have been better off being euthanized. I understand their goal is to make better habitats but that takes millions of dollars to do that and they hardly have enough money to provide water for their animals. *sigh*

It's good to resuce these animals and give them a home when they would otherwise be put down, but the state in which they are living is so sad. Sure, they are safe and have food and are treated well (aside from the space issue) but if you were a tiger would you want to be left to live the last years of your life in 12 feet of space?

I understand the issues they face. These animals cannot go to zoos because of their age, size, temperment, funding issues, breeding issues, etc. These animals are the by-product of the cruel circus trade and the awful trade of exotic pet breeding and sales. Unfortunately this rescue exists because of the irresponsible pet owners and well, circuses are evil.

******************************************************
ok, that's over...let's move on.

The doctor called friday my hcg level from wednesday's draw were still high at 97. I don't think 97 is all the high but I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on television either (though I am a pretty damned good triage nurse simply through raising 5 ~~hellions~~ marvelous angels.

I packed up the kids and took them to the doc for the orders and to the lab for the bloodwork. I found a jewel, a lab that is about 5 miles away from the hospital. it's on a back road that you can't see from the highway and it is NEVER crowded. The kids were *so* good and I am *so* proud of them. As you can imagine I always get nasty looks when I enter a doctor's office or other relatively quiet area with 5 kids in tow, especially toddlers. I know what everyone is expecting, but *most* of the time my kids are really, really good. I won't say they always are as that would be a raving lie, but they usually are. So cut out the nasty looks people, ok? I want to get out of there faster than you do, believe me.

As for emotionally, we're doing better. I'm still worried about Jason and his reaction. When I miscarried before he was the rock and I was the puddle, and this time we're experimenting with changing positions.

Here is something I have to get off my chest, bear with me.

I know there are a million-zillion-bagillion reasons why we should not have another child and it seems that everywhere I turn someone is reminding me why. I know the reasons better than anyone and I can zip of 10 reasons without even thinking too much, but that's not the point.

The point is that I was pregnant, quite pregnant, and now I am not. The point is that we are grieving for this being that was growing and died inside of me. It doesn't matter how we got pregnant or if we were trying or not, or why we shouldn't or should have more kids. And the point is not whether or not we will have more kids in the future. The only thing we can do right this second is live right in this second.

We have made no permanent plans for the future when it comes to having more children and right now is not the time to make that decision. We had plans and this experience has changed EVERYTHING. I'm not saying which way it will go or even that we agree on a plan for the future.

What I do know, and what I am saying is that we are grieving and right now is not the time for us to make permanent decisions based on emotion.

******************************************************
Ok, with that said....what else?

I've fallen back on the flylday train, or well, I'm going to try again. I have used the "system" several times and it actually worked quite well for me once, but I only had two kids then (I was preg with #3). I think now is a good time to start back up.

I decided to jump start with a kitchen and living room cleaning. WRONG. I spent 2 hours this morning in the kitchen alone. I was going to do the floor and counters and be done with it YABBIT the fridge was REALLY nasty and the cabinets had grime on them that was so thick the kids could draw faces in it. I went through a 40 count canister of lysol wipes and part of an 80 count doing the cabinets and fridge, but they are clean. I also did the dishwasher which was probably making our dishes more dirty than clean. I started the stove and oven, and when i'm done here (yabbit I have to switch & fold some laundry first) I'll do the walls, finish the oven, organize the pantry shelf and do the floor.

I hate cleaning. I really, really hate cleaning. I swear the kids follow me around dropping things on purpose, and they give themselves bonus points if they drop something that is sticky or stains.

******************************************************

Jason started a weekend gig assembling bikes at a toy store. I think he'll enjoy it, but it means he's working 7 days a week. The toy store is hella closer than where his 9-5 job (er, 7-6 job) is and he managed to get dayshift (I'm not even sure they have night shift bike assemblers). The extra money will go a long way towards getting us out of the hole and help pay for christmas presents, and he gets a discount to boot.
******************************************************

Speaking of toys, have you seen the aqua dots recall??? Apparently if your child eats a few they may pass out. I guess they are made with the same chemical knows as the "date rape drug". GREAT. Not that I was going to buy them for my kids because, well, they EAT everything, but still.

When I was in college the phrase was "dont let strangers buy you drinks" and "dont leave your drink unattended" (as if you could get the keg tap out of my hands!) but now it's all "don't let your children have toys."

*sigh*
******************************************************

I've slowly started some christmas shopping. Slowly. I'm picking up a few lead-laden toys here and there. I managed to get Mister Man a $40 diego talking piece of hell toy for his birthday in early Dec for just $9 on clearnace :) No, seriously, it wasn't recalled (yet) As if we don't have enough talking beings in the house.

I'd list what I have for them but I'm sure my kids would manage to find this post and that would totally kill the fun.

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Oh, I have a walmart/MDRE story too, but I'll have to gt to that later as miss Universe wants online and I have to actually switch & fold the laundry (yabbit I need to finish the oven!)

Tuesday Memes

2007-11-06T13:45:00.000-05:00

At a loss of what to write about? In a funk and tired of talking about the same old and assume people are tired of reading about the same old? Ah, why not pick up another meme?

Tuesday Twosome
Would you rather:

1. Be the person next door or the fantasy person that appears unattainable? (explain)
The person next door, because I'll probably have to ask you to borrow sugar or something and I don't want you looking all funny at me and think I'm talking about SUGAR and not plain old sugar-sugar.

2. Lie to maintain a “goody-goody” rep or not care what people thought about you? (explain)
Seriously, I am so far beyond caring what people think about me.

3. Go back in time to undo your mistakes or deal with the mistakes and learn from it? (explain)
No because then I wouldn't have learned from the mistake, duh. Ok, maybe one or two.

3. Be friends with people that make you look good or people that make you appear to have an edge? (explain)
See #2. I am friends with people that I like, there really shouldn't be more to it than that.

4. Stay friends with a person that betrays you or break it off and not give her/him another chance? (explain)
Depends on the nature of the issue, doesn't it? I am pretty much the give another chance person, lord knows I've done and said some things I shouldn't have!

Oh the dram-ah!

2007-11-05T13:43:00.000-05:00

This is worse than drama, it's dram-ah! Raising a pre-teen is such a riot. I suppose it'll only get ~~worse~~ better with time, right? Is there hope??

Miss Death Ray Eyes and Miss Universe were told to clean their room. I won't touch it, I offered to once before and it took me an hour just to find the beds. They have the largest room in the house, it's the basement and was actually renovated to be a seperate efficiency apartment at one time. The only thing that wasn't finished was the shower (they have a half-bath) and the appliances were never installed (the kitchenette is now a large walk-in closet).

They have it pretty sweet down there. A bedroom area, a computer area (with a computer, mind you), a sitting area, a closet bigger than my own, their very own bathroom that isn't used by toddlers, recessed dimmer lights, a 27" tv, sattelite service and plenty of room to play, dance in their PJs, paint their nails funky colors or whatever else it is pre-teen girls do when they aren't pouting or eating everything they can get their hands on.

They don't appreciate that we decided upon this house SOLELY for that room, the "teen suite" as we called it. There were bigger houses, newer houses, houses with bigger & fenced yards, houses in nicer subdivisions, houses with kitchens that can actually fit a table for 7, houses with dining rooms...we picked THIS house for them.

*well that blew up right in my face*

MDRE and MU are currently grounded for the day. No phone, no playing outside, no computer, no friend over this week. WHY? you ask? Because they committed the biggest no-no in my book.

They physically attacked each other.

Not with knives or closed fists; with their legs, a stuffed monkey and their overly obnoxious voices. The instruments of their demise aren't the point. The point is that I'm freaking tired of it and NO ONE lays hands (or monkeys) on each other in this house. Period.

Miss Death Ray Eyes: I can't believe you would ground me! I don't understand why I am grounded after all I do for you!

Me: I can't believe you would act this way after all I do for you!

MDRE: Yeah Right. I do everything around here.

Me: Oh yeah, that's right. (I happened to be folding her laundry so I tossed it at her)

Me: Oh, and your lunch dishes are on the counter, I assume you'll be washing them?

Me: Oh, and you know your friend's party this weekend? I suggest you start walking there a few hours before the party. And remember, you have to walk to wal-mart to get her present first, which you will be buying with your own money, right?

Me: I'm making salisbury steak for dinner tonight, I will make sure not to make you any. You can walk to publix tonight and pick something up for yourself.

Me: You know, I know how you are feeling. I remember feeling the same way and saying very similar things to my mother.

MDRE: If you were like me you wouldn't ground me! Why are you grounding me?

Me: Honey, I remember feeling like you do. Now I understand the parent's point of view and I can see that my mother was right and I was wrong.

(stiffling the urge to barf at the sound of "my mother was right")

So now I feel obliged to apologize to my mother. I am SO sorry I was such a butt. I am so sorry I didnt clean my room. I am SO sorry I thought I did everything (even if I did, ha ha, just kidding.)

Mom (and dad) I'm sorry. I was a putz. I get it now...I get all of it. Well, I get most of it.

Ugh, I hate being the responsible adult.

Excuses, excuses

2007-11-05T11:05:00.001-05:00

They learn it from me, I'm fully aware of that. I totally played my head trauma up, in fact, since I have a nice scar I'm still using it as an excuse not to push them on the swing ;)

My younger children, however, are far more creative than I. Here are some of their dousies:

"I don't understand you, I only speak Princess" (she then taught me how to speak princess)

"I can't eat this, I don't have enough teeth." (she opens up to show me)

"I am a robot. [Tornado] didn't do it, I did it." (in a monotone robot voice)

"If I let [Train] take a turn I won't remember how to swing."

"I COULD move my legos but the baby will scream." (yes, as he's swallowing them!)

"I can't clean my room, it's too dirty"

"I need on the computer NOW. My ipod needs charging" (she doesn't HAVE an ipod!)

Nice, eh?

From the Files of Meg (Thursday Thirteen #35)

2007-10-31T21:05:00.000-05:00

From the files of Meg. Thirteen things I have learned about raising a family.

1. You shouldn't unpack the diapers before use (note the baby in the corner pulling out more)

2. You shouldn't let the baby help you make breakfast.

3. "Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave"

4. You should stop arguing and just go by what they say (aka The pumpkin your pre-teen makes out of spite when she really wanted to ask for help but was in such a snit she refused to. I still think it's cute, the pumpkin, not the attitude)

5. Boys are merMEN, not merMAIDS

6. Tie.Down.All.Lamps.

7. Leaving the camera out on the table is always good for a laugh.

8. The days are long but the years are short.

9. A kitchen table is never JUST a kitchen table.

10. Never underestimate the power of a having good friend

11. Listen to your instinct and follow the signs

12. Always have a good set of shoulders to lean on

13. Never, ever, EVER give up or stop fighting for your family, the journey is always worth the occassional heartache.

Wallowing Day 4 and still, Life goes on

2007-10-31T06:39:00.000-05:00

Life has a pesky way of interfering, doesn't it? Life is what happens when you're headed out the door to a fabulous vacation and promptly 3 of your children vomit on the threshold. Life is what happens when you have other plans. Thankfully Life also has a pesky habit of continuing, with or without you.

Life has no concern for my grief and my children grow a day older under my nose.
Life has no concern for my pain and the bills still need to be paid.
Life has no concern for my emptiness and it's Halloween again.

Wait. Give me a minute to catch my breath. Allow me a moment to just be, a moment in which the clock isn't moving forward. Please? No? No.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Today is Halloween and it occurred to me at 3am that I didn't fix the Tornado's Sleeping Beauty crown. She says it's ok, she doesn't want to wear it anyhow, but I promised her I would. I got up at 7am to iron for Jason, I started the methergrine the doc gave me and I couldn't stand last night...so anyhow...7am...ironing....when I was finished I looked for the glue gun and it's nowhere to be found. Mind you we have 3 glue guns.

Why do we have 3 glue guns you ask? Simple, because I couldn't find the first one so I bought a second. Then, I found the first one and put the second one away. The next time I needed it I couldn't find #1 or #2 so I bought #3. Now all 3 are lost. It's alright though, I probably wouldn't have been able to find a glue stick anyhow.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The methergrine the doctor gave me is horrible. The purpose is to contract the smooth muscles in your body, thus making them expel whatever is inside them. The uterus is a smooth muscle. So is the stomach. Not pretty, not pretty at all.

The good news, if you could call it good, is that the miscarriage has continued thanks to the medicine. This is important because the contents of my uterus were getting a nasty infection (I'm also on tetracycline).

The bad news is that I feel as if these purple pills of pain are mocking me. "HA HA, now you not only have to bleed like a kosher cow but we're going to make you vomit everything you've eaten for a week too! HA HA!"

All remaining sense of dignity is gone.

Tomorrow I go to the lab, a friend is coming over to watch the kids. Friday I hired a sitter so I can go to my appointment and pick Jason up after work.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I was browsing the other day and realized I didnt share our pumpkin pics.
I havent uploaded the picture of MDRE's yet, she was spending the weekend with a friend when we carved them. She carved her own while we decorated. Hopefully I'll remember to get pics of the yard today, jason made fake tombstones and they're cute, well, as cute as tombstones can be I suppose.

Pics at bottom of this post.
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I NEED AN ARTIST! If you can draw reasonably well and can do me a favor, would you email me? I just need something simple because I can't find quite what I want.

Thanks!

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PICS!

The Tornado scooping (note that her counterpart, the Train, was happily sleeping on the recliner having opted not to touch slimey "ooey" pumpkin parts, can't say I blame him there, that's why I'm behind the camera)

Miss Universe loves pumpkin goo

Happy Hallofreakinween.

It's still not over and I'm still fine (not)

2007-10-30T09:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I went to the OB. It was nothing short of humiliating, demoralizing, horrible.

I arrived on time and thankfully most of the waiting room was filled with gyn clients, only a few OB. They took me back to the lab and did a pee preg test, it was positive. They sent me to the back waiting room. On the way the nurse ran into a patient she knows and had a conversation with her for a full minute until she pointed me in the direction of the 2nd waiting room. They followed and stood outside of the waiting room for 5 minutes talking about her 2nd pregnancy, how she was due in April, she was having a little girl this time, she was so "blessed". I wanted to throw the waiting room chair at her but I settled for a loud cough and looked at them with tears in my eyes. I wanted to scream "I am glad that you get to experience this, but I don't get to, my baby died, so please move along". They didn't notice that I was sobbing but they eventually left.

I went in the exam room and waited for the midwife. She had me tell her everything that happened and she did an exam.

**The rest gets kind of gory, gross and ventures into the land of TMI, feel free to skip**

She said my cervix was closed, no signs of a miscarriage pending (well, duh) but since the pg test was still positive either I was still pregnant or there were parts of the pregnancy that hadn't expelled yet. I started to bleed during the exam but she insists it wasn't from the cervix. She said "I dont want to get your hopes up, but just in case, don't take any ibuprofen for the cramps, just tylenol." She said I needed a sono right away but their sonographer had just gone home sick and the only other machine they had didn't have the right kind of probe.

I was given paperwork to have blood drawn right away, more on thursday, and an appointment Friday for a work-in sono and visit with the OB afterwards.

I left the office not really knowing much and fighting the bargaining phase of the stages of grief.

I made it out to my van when I felt it happen, the rest of the miscarriage. It was horrible. There was blood all over my jeans, running down my legs. It was really, really awful.

I called the doc from the parking lot, explained what happened, and they told me to come right back in. I cleaned myself up the best I could with baby wipes, tied a sweater around my waist and went back in.

Again I waited in the waiting room, standing in a corner, crying. The nurses behind the desk referred to me as "the woman who called crying from the parking lot". The other patients (it was more crowded now) were looking at me, trying not to let me see them looking.

They called me back, took my blood pressure (it was high, duh) and checked my iron (it was fine) and sent me to an exam room. The doctor came in this time. I cannot thank Kim enough for recommending this doc, he was the best OB, so great. He said he was so sorry we had to meet under sad circumstances, that no one wants to go through this, but that it'll be ok and he'll make sure it's not too painful.

As if being on your back with your feet in stirrups wasn't humiliating enough, there I was, with the remains of my pregnancy making their way out. I cried the entire time. He told me to sit tight, he'd be right back.

When he came back he said I needed a sono pronto, he could send me to the hospital where I would wait 4 hours or I could drive up to their 2nd office and they would work me in there. I opted to drive to their other office, it was about 12 miles north and thankfully at 3:30pm there was no traffic. He told me to wait in his office, he's a messy person which makes me like him more. He came in, expressed his condolances and wrote me a script for an antibiotic and some medicine that starts with an M that will make my uterus contract and will expell everything left. He told me to hang on to them until I get the sono and talk to him. I obliged, stuffed them into my diaper bag and was off.

I walked in the door and they were waiting for me, the doctor was on the phone wanting to make sure I made it. I sat in the waiting room for 30 minutes or so, watching the happy couples walk in and out and wishing with all my might that I would walk out happy. I knew there was no chance, but I was bargaining with god and all.

I went back for the sono, the bleeding had again stopped by this point. I tried not to watch the screen, I tried not to watch the black & white furls of nothing inside my uterus. Unfortunately there wasn't nothing, there is still some tissue remaining. According to their measurements I was around 10 weeks. The doctor called and told me to get the meds filled. He warned that the one that started with an M is going to be the worst med I have ever taken, it will cause extreme cramping and more blood loss than I have ever seen in my life. He said to take it easy while it does it's job (as if). He again said he was sorry and that he was on call all night and morning and to call if I needed anything or had any questions.

I didn't get the meds filled, I guess I'll do that tonight. I just wanted to go home and take a shower. Well, I wanted a shower but I didnt want to go home. My 1 hour appt turned into a 4 hour ordeal. I had to go home and explain everything to my husband and my children (who were worried I had actually seen the baby pass, when I told them it's not like that they felt better). I went home even though all I wanted to do was check into a hotel and spend the next 4 days wallowing.

When I arrived home I found that my oldest had offered to her dad to babysit so he and I could have some time (he agreed & financially compensated her to boot). She had taken their mattresses into their bedroom and made them a little mini-apartment, complete with their tv and vcr. She had a cooler full of snacks, she had taken the superyard down for the baby. That was the sweetest thing anyone could have done at that moment in time.

So Thursday I go for bloodwork. Friday I have another sono and an appt with the OB. I can't ask Jason to take more time off so a friend is helping Thursday and I'm going to try to hire a sitter for Friday.

Jason is still not doing so well. He said he's better when he's with me but when he's alone he breaks down. I know exactly how he feels. He has meetings and conferences all week at work and that makes it harder for him.

I am fine...so, so fine

2007-10-29T09:21:00.000-05:00

I am ~~fine, just fine~~ coping.

It's really hard to wallow in the mire when you have 5 wonderful creatures cuddling up to you and giving you hugs and nose kissies and making you cookies. That doesn't mean that I'm not trying, however.

Yesterday was not a good day but by evening it had improved considerably. Yesterday I was sad. I was ~~angry~~ right pissed off, I was mad at the entire state of georgia for being too far from the state of Florida and my home. I felt ashamed. I felt immense disappointment.

I told my children and they cried and that made me angrier yet.

I had a few uncontrollable sobbing episodes, I found it very difficult to look at Mister Giggles and had to defer his care to Jason. I ran upstairs a lot to crumble into a lump on the bathroom floor, and Jason was always there to help pick up the pieces. I made Jason take me with him to the store to get his meds refilled and I broke down when I walked past the baby section, but I didn't freak out on any pregnant women (which I did the last time this happened) Jason obliged, held me up and directed me forward.

So, I'm a little ok. I'm not fine but I'm not crumpled on the floor either, and that is a good sign. Like I said earlier, it's really hard to wallow when you have the 5 best miracles sitting in front of you, asking for green milk (I add food dye, he drinks it that way so I don't ask), making sure you get some of the chocolate chip pancakes you made for breakfast and jibbering on about their Halloween plans.

October sucks. Everything bad that has happened to me has happened in October. A few years ago a dear friend suggested I cross october off my calendar and name it "ReSeptember". I think I'll take her up on that next year.

and, on the topics of calendars...my advice, don't buy a calendar from the dollar section. If you do it'll have you believing it's daylight savings time an entire month in advance and you'll spend an entire day arguing with yourself over what time it really is, and then you'll insist the government's official clock is wrong, and that the blackberry is wrong, and you'll spend an hour trying to figure out how to change the time on your cell phone, all unnecissarily.

I believe Jason is taking this worse than I am, but it's hard for him because it's not physically happening to him so he feels he has to take care of me before he can take care of himself, and lord knows I'm not in a place to take care of anybody in that way right now. He's not doing well and last night he was taking my place on the bathroom floor. So please, think of him. He apologized for how he acted when we found out and he said he was really excited to be a dad again, but now it's all over.

The nurse just called. From what I explained she's afraid I didn't expel all matter and I go in at 1:30 for a sono and possible transfer for a D&C. I am not much of a prayer, but I am sincerely praying I don't need the D&C. I didn't need one before, and I am afraid it will really push me over the edge. Wish me luck and solace.

Another Angel

2007-10-28T07:47:00.001-05:00

Last week Jason and I received a bit of exciting, albeit shocking, news.
I'm almost embarassed at how we reacted, how we spent those first 24 hours freaking out.

After we calmed down we became excited. If there is one thing we do well it's raise good kids. We were going to buy a bigger van. We were going to buy maternity clothes and cute little baby clothes. We were starting to gush because we were going to have another baby. A BABY!

I was lying in bed last night when the oddest sensation came over me, and the strangest pains took over, my body shuddering under the waves. It wasn't bad enough that I was miscarrying but it had to be extremely painful, adding insult to injury.

I don't care how normal, natural, common or protective miscarriage is supposed to be. I don't care how many wonderful children I already have. I don't care that I have been through this before and I survived. IT. STILL. SUCKS. It sucks the life out of you. It sucks the emotions out of you. It sucks any teeny bit of confidence right out of your body. This is not "god's will" and this is not "not meant to be". This *is* a baby and I feel betrayed by my own body.

I have to tell my children when they wake up.

I haven't been able to cry yet, but it will come.

Now I must say goodbye. I have to wake myself up from this awful dream, convince myself that it is real, and I have to say goodbye.

Of Cupcakes and Pumpkins

2007-10-26T14:07:00.001-05:00

Blogspot photos were going weird the other day. I hope it's all working now.

Mister Giggles was pretty cranky yesterday after his shots, not to mention we woke up before it was daylight and he didn't have a chance to nap all day. We skipped the cupcakes last night and I gave him one today. He wasn't sure what to make of it. He picked around at it and thought maybe it was cool, but then he dug his hand into it, started trembling, cried bloody murder and refused to eat it. Are we sure this child wasn't switched with the child of a crunchy granola family in the hospital?
DOn't be fooled, the chunks of cupcake missing did not find their way into his mouth, rather, the Train's mouth ;)

Yesterday was the last day of soccer for the year. The kids played about 30 minutes and then had a small award ceremony (they all received soccer dog tag necklaces) and a pizza party. Pizza....*drooling*

Here is MDRE and a friend (she's going to the animal rescue with her tomorrow to help clean out cages)

And here is Miss Universe going for a goal (not really, she was running back from the bathroom, it was the best pic I got of her)

And here we have the Tornado doing her coach's hair (*sigh, I give up*)

And this would be the Train doing something, I don't know what he was trying to accomplish, actually.

And of course the big birfday boy himself, looking mighty dapper if I might say so (and I do say so)

Birfday updates

2007-10-25T14:54:00.000-05:00

Mister Giggles, Train & Tornado all visited the ped today.
The states:

Mister Giggles - 19lb, 7oz. I forget the length, I have it written somewhere. Get this, doc wants to "re-evaluate" his speech development at 15 months because he doesn't say anything aside from dada and babbling (he doesnt really say dada with a purpose I don't think). He doesn't point for something he wants either, but he's only 12 months, besides, he has 4 older siblings who get him everything and anything he wants. I dont know about everyone else, but pushing kids in for speech therapy at younger and younger ages seems to be a trend. I can see three years or even two...but 12 months?? There was a TEN MONTH OLD in speech therapy where Giggles went to physical, because her mom wanted her to get into a certain preschool and "she needs a head start" (mom's words, not mine) Ugh, dragging a kid around who needs therapy is exhausting enough, I couldn't imagine doing it just for the experience.

Anyhow...

Tornado (4.5) is 30 lbs.
Train (3 in Dec) is 34 lbs.

Giggles got 1/2 a flu shot and goes back in 30 days for the other half (something about less side effects, yada yada). We turned down the pox vaccine.

Train got the flu shot and was good about it, of course I didnt tell him what was coming so he may never trust me again, but seeing as he's sleeping on my shoulder as I type this I think we're ok.

Tornado didn't get the shot. Aye, we tried. She ended up getting the mist, which is a live virus so most likely she's going to feel crappier than the others, and it also means intense hand-washing for the next 48 hours so no one gets the flu it's supposed to prevent. Thankfully Train is a little more than OCD about hand washing. The doctor laughed at him today, Train said "My hands are thirsty" ;)

Jason got a flu shot at work so that leaves me and the older girls left to get deathly ill. I can't remember the last time any of us had the flu. I remember rotaviruses and RSV and meningitis and all sorts of other things, but not the actual flu. *KNOCK ON WOOD*

Today was the last day of homeschool soccer, yea! The kids played for half an hour and then had a huge pizza party and small award ceremony. Miss Death Ray Eyes went home with a friend to spend the night. One night less of eye-rolling. Friend's mother comments on how MDRE has perfect phone courtesy skills and I almost spit my starbucks out, LOL.

So, the Train has decided our bed is better than his and he's been crawling into bed with us every night for the past two or three weeks. A few nights ago he decided to bring a block of cheese, a sac of lunch meat and an apple with him for a snack in bed. Last night he locked the door behind him so Jason couldn't get in and kick him out ;) I love rolling over and seeing my little man sleeping beside me, but really, our bed is WAY too small for that kind of thing.

I think that's about it, I have to head into ATL! LATER!

Thursday Thirteen #34ish - Mister Giggles Turns 1!

2007-10-24T15:43:00.000-05:00

On Wed, Oct. 25, 2006 I woke up early in the morning and told my husband he wasn't going to work that day because we were going to have a baby! A few hours later (and six pounds lighter) Mister Giggles was here!

My big man is ONE YEAR OLD! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISTER GIGGLES!!!!

and with that I bring you 13 things I love about Mister Giggles!

1. He is the happiest baby on earth, always smiling.

2. He loves to help me clean.

3. He has the most adorable laugh and is very free with it, hence his nickname.

4. He sleeps, he sleeps well. He always has, except for the nights he decides to pop a tooth anyhow.

5. Mister Giggles shows a real preference for his big brother, the Train

6. Despite the growth retardation in utero and his slight developmental issues he is growing into a perfectly gorgeous, normal little boy

7. He has always traveled well, not that he's traveled much ;)

8. His hair was dark but is turning lighter every day

9. In one of his sonos he was holding his manhood

10. He's just plain cute and I could kiss him forever and ever and ever

11. As he was a newborn I got out of taking the kids trick-or-treating :D

12. He's now eating table food and feeding himself and it's just...so...adorable

and finally...

13. He's the good one!!!

A video for you

2007-10-22T07:21:00.000-05:00

Mister Giggles walking yesterday, you can see how much he's been practicing :)
Only 3 days until the BIG ONE!

He was up a good portion of last night until I drugged him with motrin. Teeth #2, 3 and 4 were sitting under the gum. I noticed before bed that #2 was jutting out, so I imagine it made it's way through last night, I wasn't about to put my finger in his mouth and make him cry more, the poor thing was screaming in his sleep. So, I guess #s 3 & 4 will come this week. He looked so cute with that one top tooth sticking out, I was kind of hoping he'd be a one tooth wonder a bit longer ;)

As seen on freecycle

2007-10-19T11:54:00.001-05:00

I was reading Chris' rant about freecycle and I couldn't keep my mouth shut.

It aggrivates me. I have something to give away and all of a sudden I get all of these vultures after me.

I'm a single mom...no...I have triplets...no...I am unemployed....no...I'm in a wheelchair....no....I just had my ear amputated and my leg is sore and my back is hurting and I promise I'll give you a new puppy if I can have that box of used tissues....no....I have already emailed you seven times about the box of old dog crap you are giving away and you have not responded. I need this dog crap more than anyone else because I'm a single mother pregnant with triplets, I am in a wheelchair because I had my ear amputated and I am suffering from a bad case of scurvy.

It's amazing the stuff people give away, and it's even more amazing the stuff people ask for. The most amazing thing about freecycle is exactly how much people will fight each other to get that box of tissues.

Yes, freecycle is a good thing. I was recently given an entire box of expired food simply for the chance to drive to pick it up (no, i didnt know it was expired, some of it expired 3 years ago)

Some of my favorite past freecycle moments:

-I gave a guy a whole bunch of kids VHS tapes. Blues clues, barney and apparently porn. Yeah, except that I don't keep porn in the house and never have. And I can tell you that this wasn't one of hubby's hidden tapes because he is a srange man and doesn't own any tapes. Seriously, we've moved 6 times in the last 11 years, I would know if he had a tape. He bought the 50th anniversary playboy a few years ago because his friend said Jason was too much of a wuss to buy it, LOL. Jason felt so guilty that he threw it away a month later! Besides, who needs a porn tape when you have adult pay per view available?

OHOH, the best part....wait for it...

The guy emailed me and described everything the men in the tape were doing in very explicit detail, it was like reading an erotic book (not that I have, but I can imagine.) Ah, yes, it was gay porn! And apparently home-made. Apparently I missed a gay swing party held in my own home. Man, I miss all the good stuff!!!

Anyhow..the guy called the freaking police on us, said we were distributing porn in kid's tapes. Police figured out quickly that the guy was off his rocker and told him to leave us alone.

-A guy named "pierced richard" (richard...get it???) thought I was offering free...um, how to put this nicely...oral gratification when I offered a large amount of coupons for the store BJs. Ok, that is kind of funny in retrospect.

-Oh, another police officer! This one freaked out my nosy neighbors :D We were giving away a baby swing and something else and a lady came to pick it up on her way to work. She neglected to tell me that she was one of orlando's finest. My kids and a friend were outside listening to music and when she pulled up in her cop car they ran inside yelling "THE POLICE ARE HERE! WE DIDNT DO ANYTHING!" talk about convincing argument, not...

-The guy who was honking his horn outside my house at 3am, he had "forgotten" to get something earlier in the day and decided 3am was a good time. And I had two babies in the house.

Boring blog day

2007-10-19T09:55:00.000-05:00

You know it's a boring blog day when I blog about food.

I could blog about how I spent most of the night on the couch because of a snoring husband or how when I finally went to bed at 6am I found the Train standing on my bed nekked holding himself and pretending to pee all over driving it like a fire hose, or how I had some kind if internal hissy fit last night with the words "A THANK YOU WOULD BE NICE" screaming in my head, or how Ugly Betty was really weird last night...but no, you get to see my meal plan for the next two weeks :)

I decided last pay period I hate going to the grocery store so instead of weekly forrays we now have bi-weekly, thank goodness! I'm hoping to get out sans kids tonight, but I think I'm going to have to end up taking the Train with me since I already told him he could.

That said..our meals the next two weeks (with recipes where allowed)

In no particular order:

1. Meatball sandwich casserole
Cut a baguette into slices and layer in baking dish.
Mix 1 cube cream cheese with 1 cup mayo, spread over bread slices
Cook up some meatballs (or buy prepared) and put over bread
Pour spaghetti cause over all, cover with shredded mozz cheese
Bake 350 for 30 minutes

2. Thai Pork Chops w peanut sauce (look it up at allrecipes)

3. Spagehtti (ho-hum)

4. leftover stir fry (again, ho-hum)

5. Chili mac

6. Crockpot curry (recipe from savingdinner.com)

7. Salsbury Steak (savingdinner.com)

8. Philly Cheese Steak Salad (savingdinner.com)

9. Pizza w/ homemade crust
1 C warm water
1 pkg dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
3 C white flour
2 T oil
1 tsp salt
Mix yeast, sugar, water, and stir. Let rest 5 minutes. Add other
ingredients. Knead dough. Place in bowl and let rise until no
longer sticky – the longer it rises the more bread-like it becomes.
Punch down and shape.
Top and bake on metal sheep at 450 for 15 minutes.
Tip – grease pan well and sprinkle with corn meal to avoid having
the dough stick to the pan

10. Grilled fish sandwiches with dill sauce (savingdinner.com)

11. Autumn Turkey Loaf (savingdinner.com)

12. Ginger-mustard chicken breast (savingdinner.com)

13. Crockpot Sweet Italian Lentil Stew (savingdinner.com)

14. Tostadas (totally ripped off from Tali)

Tonight we're having "Meg cleaned out the freezer crock pot soup", ie, a bunch of leftover chicken, turkey, stock and veggies thrown in the crock pot with some sazon seasoning)

ohohohoh, wanna see my shopping list?
Alright, I didnt think so. If you're lucky I'll scan in my receipt and show you how much I saved in coupons, which should only be about 30% this week since most of what I am buying is fresh.

Why We Homeschool Updated

2007-10-18T09:22:00.001-05:00

In response to the NEA's re-issued statement against homeschooling I have updated my Why We Homeschool blog.

You can see the NEA statement there too, and click a link that will take you to the entire 105 page document, which is extrememly scary.

Enjoy.
Meg

Thursday Thirteen #33ish

2007-10-17T18:34:00.000-05:00

I have some views that people consider radical. I don't consider them radical, they seem perfectly reasonable to me :)

Thirteen of Meg's Various Political Views

1. I don't believe any government should say who can and cannot be married. Either chose to recognize all marriages performed by clergy or a judge or don't recognize marriage at all. I'm not just saying the whole "marriage is a man and a woman" thing, it should be a blanket thing as long as all parties involved are human. I know the arguments about inbreeding, regardless, I don't believe a govt should have that say whatsoever. It all comes down to the govt not believing people are able to make their own choices.

2. I think prostitution should be legal, regulated and taxed just like every other profession out there. Wouldn't that be safer, not to mention bring in a ton of money to the govt?

3. I believe we should make immigration easier, cheaper, faster and done in a comfortable holding cell in the middle of a 20 foot high secure fence with rusty nails sticking out of it and electric zappers running through it. I also think we should do extensive background checks before allowing people to move here and before allowing any kind of visa. I'm not against immigration at all, I want it to be easier so more people come legally.

4. I think marijuana should be legal. I don't smoke pot and I can't see myself doing it in any case except should I have the misfortune to undergo chemo, but I don't think it should be illegal. Driving under the influence of pot, sure, that should be illegal. Giving pot to minors, yup, illegal. But do I think all use should be illegal, no way! I can hear you already "having pot at home will make your kids do it". Yeah, it will...but it's not different than keeping beer in the fridge, is it? They both taste bad and make you do stupid things, and your kids are bound to mess around with both, but you can legally buy beer.

5. I think the govt should pick one language and make it the official language. I don't really care what that language is, and kids should be allowed to learn whatever language they want, but for heaven's sake just pick one and get the whole thing over with.

6. I believe when a bill is introduced it should be for ONE objective only. No more of this piggybacking obscure laws onto bigger ones. If I want to dress my pig up in children's clothing I should be able to without having to worry about the fact that it was made illegal in the same bill that outlawed marijuana, ya know???

7. I truly believe that the govt should step out of the way when a parent decides to home educate. Sure there are lousy home educators out there who do bad things, but there are wayyyyy more lousy teachers out there who do bad things. The public schools have to meet govt standards because they are a govt entity, they are government schools. Homeschoolers (and private schoolers for the most part) shoulder the cost (and still pay govt school taxes, pooey!) so the govt needs to stay out of it. Once again it comes down to the govt not trusting their citizens to make a good choice.

8. Workers should start paying federal taxes at age 18 and it should be a flat rate based on their income. Every working person pays the same flat rate, none of this adjusting for being married or making more money, no earned income credit (which isn't really earned in the first place)

9. You don't pay taxes (see #8) you don't get govt benefits. You don't get medicaid, you don't get food stamps, you don't get TANF, you don't get housing subsidies. You can't tell me you can't get a job, people need their papers delivered, people need their pizza delivered. If you can't drive or walk you can sit at home and take phone calls. Almost everyone can do something. I can see granting a short reprieve to people on their deathbed, people over 60 or people with cancer who will be undergoing chemotherapy, but generally speaking most people can do something that brings in income (see #2, LOL). You cannot force a person to work, I would never want that, but no work = no benes sounds pretty good to me.

10. I think full time college students under the age of 25 should not have to pay federal taxes while in school.

11. I believe soldiers who have served overseas deserve a 1 year tax holiday.

12. I believe that everyone honorably discharged or retired from the military deserves a 1 year tax holiday if they served more than 2 years.

13. I believe that every single child in the United States deserves quality medical care at an affordable price. I think this should have NOTHING to do with the family's income and EVERYTHING to do with the fact that this is a CHILD. No one in the US should have to postpone dental care or vision care or immunizations or sick visits simply because they don't have insurance or the money to spend on an appt. We cannot have good students or a good future if our children are denied a 15 minute doctor visit once or twice a year, proper eyesight and healthy teeth. How can our kids learn to read if they can't see? The fact that so many children do not have medical care is shameful and unexcuseable.

Here's an idea, take the money spent on debating what is and isn't a marriage and put it into a health care fund for our kids????

Leave a comment and I'll visit :)

I promise I'll even approve comments from those who don't agree as long as you don't call me a breeder, I don't need any more of those comments thank you oh so much. And if you're wondering, yes, they're all mine. Yes, I know what causes THAT. Yes, I know what birth control is. Yes, I'm out of my mind. Yes, I can count and I'm quite sure there's five of them. No, I'm not catholic or mormon. I think that covers the bases :D

Fall 2007 TV Season (WW below)

2007-10-17T14:41:00.000-05:00

I know we're going TVless but that doesn't mean I won't watch my favorite shows online :)

I have to say I am very disappointed in some shows I really thought I might like. Let's recap, shall we?

Private Practice (available to watch for free at abc.com) - I was SO excited to see PP. I am a Grey's Anatomy freakazoid and was so hoping this would be as great. Yeah, it's not.

I am not a believer in network censorship. I believe that a person who wants something censored has only one responsibility, turn the channel. I know it skeeves my mom and some friends out, but I allow MDRE to watch Grey's with me. It's one of the few rituals we have, every Thursday we wrestle the little kids out of the room, make sure Jason is busy and settle in for Ugly Betty and GA. She's mature enough to know what's going on, she gets the whole s-.e@-x thing since she has 4 younger siblings. She knows the dangers of promiscuity as we've always been very open with her about mature relationships, how they can go wrong, how you can get ill or pregnant, etc.

She watched the PP mini-episode with me last year and we were both looking forward to it. As the premiere date loomed we would expanded our finger-wiggling Grey's Anatomy dance, we embraced the possibility of another tv night. That didn't work out so well.

The first episode or two ran right on that line of "I don't even want to watch THAT". Last week was the kicker, a woman fresh back from her honeymoon had a broken hoohah. The characters were making fun of her for being a virgin, Amy Brenneman's character called it "sad". That was it. I said "Ok, tv off" and that was the end of PP (now referred to as PooPoo) for us. It wasn't just the mature content and I'm not being uppity about making fun of virgins. It's just not what I expected. I didnt expect family-friendly content and MDRE knew from the get-go that if I felt it necessary she wouldn't be watching the show with me. Now I don't even want to watch it and my Wednesdays are once again free.

Cavemen (also avab free at abc.com) - I should have listened to popular opinion on this one. Contrary to popular opinion I happen to love the Cavemen commericals. I also loved Wonderfalls and Dead Like Me which apparently no one else loved as they were cancelled way too early, Wonderfalls was cancelled before the first season could finish (the entire season is available on DVD).

Yesterday I logged onto ABC's player and tried to watch Cavemen. I tried, I really, really tried. I have nothing good to say about this show, nothing, so maybe I shouldn't even continue? The script was horrible, like the writers are trying to make it another show about nothing with a long haired Jerry. It doesn't work, it doesn't even come close to working. I was watching the show as I mopped the kitchen and fifteen minutes and 49 seconds into the show the Train pulled the laptop screen down and I didn't bother to put it back up.

House (full episodes available for free at fox.com) - Greg, I am so disappointed in you. Instead of the pain in the arse drug addicted doctor I'm used to I find the doctor who is pretending to be a pain in the arse while he's off feeling bad that he fired his team. The new candidates for his team annoy me. I don't feel connected to any of them and frankly, I don't want to. I have been a faithful House viewer since day 1 and now I find I don't have the time or care. It's sad because I really did like the show. And btw, should I tune in, if I hear the word "whipples" again I will scream. Has anyone on the show actually HAD whipples? Must they assume every patient who can hear through their eyes has whipples? It's old, find something new.

Kid Nation (available to watch for free at cbs.com) - Lost meets Survivor meets Supernanny. Throw a bunch of kids into the middle of the country and have them make their own city and government. Fine, that's bad enough. Make them team up against each other, ok, that doesn't sound much worse than school. Allow them to have a mock drinking party in which kids do soda bombs in a mug of rootbeer and it's ok but let a few sustain minor burns cooking or kill a few chickens for food and it's an outrage? HELLLLLLLO PEOPLE?? CAN YOU HEAR ME???!!! Which is worse, teaching the kids that their nuggets actually come from an animal or encourging our kids to become alcoholics before they are of voting age?

I am disgusted. I will let my kids watch Greys but you can be sure I won't let them watch Kid Nation.

Wordless Wednesday: The Peanut Butter Bandits

2007-10-17T10:31:00.000-05:00

background on the peanut butter chronicles:
Part 1, in which I discover a banana in the washing machine
Part 2, in which I give instructions on how to wash mashed banana out of your washing machine
Part 3, in which I delve into how to remove peanut butter from unlikely surfaces

Leave your link below and I'll visit :)

I feel so...so...naked!

2007-10-16T07:55:00.000-05:00

I have spent the better part of the last month with a book in my hand. My ability to read an 800 plus page novel in less than 4 hours (counting meal preparation and laundry switching time) and recount every activity in said book astounds my family. They want to know my speed reading techniques but I won't share. Actually, I started reading early in life and I guess it's just what I'm good at, I wish there was a magic pill the hubby and kid could swallow and make them read faster. I cannot remember a time in my life when I couldn't read.

OK OK OK, I guess I put in more like 6 hours on harry potter 7 just because there is a whole lot to comprehend and remember. Let's put this in perspective, however, this is young adult fiction. Then again, the later HP books are way more complicated than any adult fiction book I have ever read, with the exception perhaps of trying to figure out all the unspoken imagery in Hawthorne or Hemingway (but trust me, HP is much more fun!)

Hawthorne is my favorite author of all time. I first read him in high school, we were required to read The Minister's Black Veil and of course, The Scarlet Letter. I loathed required reading and to this day I still do, however, I kind of see the point of it now. Had I not taken that AP English class I would have never picked up Hawthorne and my scope of literature, while not fantastic, would have been gravely duller. I still lament on reading Walden, which by the way YUCK, the worst book of all time, I still shudder when I hear a loon on television. Despite my loathing for all things camping and outdoorsy I still managed to write a 50 page essay on it and earn a 100%, the professor even asked me if she could keep my essay as instruction for her lit majors. I'm not sure how I passed that one off but I skipped a lot of her classes and still managed to get more than 100% on my final grade. I think it was because back then, in the era before my brain was busy working on trival matters such as washing bananas out of clothing, I used "smart" words like ephemeral and quintessential.

I feel naked without a book in my hand, even moreso than I feel without a computer in my lap or a child hanging from my back. It just doesn't feel right to not have a book next to my bed waiting for me to wake up early just to peer into it's pages.

This all leads me to the television. Jason and I have decided to turn the sattelite service off after this month (paid in advance, of course) and leave it off until at least January or February. We're both working on projects and we're tired of the noise nd the arguments over the television. I'm tired of "I can't do my reading right now, I have a show on!" We have two televisions hooked up, which I guess is less than most American households, but is more than we've ever had in our history.

I expect to spend the time writing or curled up with a book. I hope my children decide to do the same, or at least something creative.

Which brings me to our newest venture, the North Georgia Junior Scientists Club, or Saturday Science as I like to call it. We're recruiting :D

For your low annual membership fee (think in the $20 per kid range) you'll get:
-twelve 2 hour co-ops taught by a scientist
-instruction in scientific theory and experimentation procedures
-all program supplies
-a finished experiment to take home along with extra supplies
-free admission to a field trip or two
-free admission to science career lectures by local scientists
-a lesson plan to take home with parent instructions
-a 2nd lesson plan with a month's worth of related activities
-if you miss a class we'll send everything you need to your home
-free entrance in the NGJS science show in spring 2008
-group entry in the GA state science fair
-free tutoring sessions in science/math (as schedule allows)

Sounds fun, eh? Jason is working on the details, mission statement, accounting measures and website.

In Remembrance

2007-10-15T14:58:00.000-05:00

October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Memorial Day.

For more information:
October 15th
SHARE
Empty Cradles

Mister Giggles W-A-L-K-I-N-G

2007-10-15T10:28:00.000-05:00

The time has come. My baby is now a toddler, just 2 weeks shy of his 1st birthday.

Oh yeah, and he popped his first tooth a few weeks ago. I could see it sitting under the gum since he was 7 months old, but it finally popped through. It's a top tooth too, how weird is that?

I'm sorry the video is sideways, I'm too tired to figure out how to flip it. I stayed up until 1am reading all about the Battle of Hogwarts (HP #7, by far my favorite.) The kids keep asking me to tell them what happens but I won't spill the beans, I told them they have to read it for themselves. MDRE says she'll just wait for the movie (I have no clue how that book would fit into a movie under 3 hours) and Miss Universe says "I'll read it someday".

We had a good weekend. Jason and the kids cleaned and sanitized the kitchen, then rearranged it so it was safe for the baby to explore. I'm so proud of them :) It was definately NOT something I wanted to do but the baby gates hardly keep Giggles out. Jason also made something like a zillion super chocolate chip cookies (actually, 8 dozen I believe) to habd out to the neighbors who helped us when I broke my head. They are some yummy cookies, I can only eat one (!!!!) because there is just SO much chocolate in them.

As for my head, it's looking pretty good. It's not red anymore, the scar is fading. I think the bump is there to stay and where the skin comes together it's not meeting up nicely, one side of the wound sits higher than the other. But, it is fading and I'm a little beyond caring about a scar at my age (oh wisened me).

OH! the peanut butter on the money. Seriously...look at the photos at the top of this page and ask yourself "Do I really have to ask who put the money in the peanut butter?" My guess is you can zone in one the two culprits pretty quickly.

As for why they did it, I don't know. Sometimes I wish I thought at their level, especially on those days when I can't find my keys or cell phone and I know they are behind their disappearance. But yes, I found several coins and a dollar bill wadded up inside the peanut butter container. The coins washed off nicely in the dishwasher. The dollar bill was carefully washed in dishsoap to remove the grease, rinsed in hot water. Repeat a few times and hang to dry.

Coins are now banned from my house for another reason, as in the baby got hold of a penny and almost choked, thankfully he coughed hard enough to barf it up. I don't think my children have ever seen my that livid, i'm sure my face was a million colors of red and purple. The kids had been counting money earlier and I told them to move it to the kitchen table, be super careful and vacuum when they were done. This baby definately has the fates on his side, first he misses the falling lamp and now he coughs up the swallowed penny. I realllllly don't want to push it any further, ya know.

Anyhow...Mister Giggles walking. He can actually walk better than this but he was more interested in the camera than in the woman behind it barking commands at him:

Soccer pics

2007-10-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

This is mainly for my family, this is easier than sending out links.
For full version click on the photo.

Since you asked

2007-10-11T10:01:00.000-05:00

A banana does funny things when it's put into a washing machine mid-cycle.

First, the peel is ripped from the banana (but I can't promise that the banana wasn't peeled when it went it), and then it turns a dark black color.

Second, the banana itself breaks into a million pieces

Then the banana fruit is smashed and ground into the clothing and turns the water a murkey beige color

After running such a special cycle the clothes will be not only stinky, but somewhat slimey as they come out of the machine.

When this happens it's imperative that you remove all traces of banana peel, trust me, you don't want that hanging around. Remove all wet clothing to a basket and run a full cycle in the machine, empty, with hot water and high agitation. When finished place clothes back in washer, fill it with hot water and wash on high agitation. If a few dark spots remain on your husband's work khakis dab with dish detergent and allow to sit overnight, then rewash and it should be all good.

****************************

Tomorrow's lesson will begin with how to remove peanut butter from money (no, really...)

I'm trying to do laundry here / Thursday Thirteen

2007-10-10T10:53:00.000-05:00

Someone put a banana in the washing machine as it was washing clothes.
I guess they thought it would be funny. It kind of was.

I know it's only Wednesday, but here is my TT anyhow.

Thirteen names we considered for our children but didnt use

1. Morgan Alicia (#1)
2. Jason Douglas (#s 1-3)
3. Sydney Mae (#2, not sure where Sydney came from but Mae is a family name)
4. Amelia Grace (#2, I ended up getting a cat named Amelia instead)
5. Emelia Rose (#2, also pronounced Amelia)
6. Connor Sean(#s 2-5)
7. Ian Connor (#s 2-5)
8. Jessica (#2)
9. Chloe (#2)
10. Kalen (#3)
11. Zachary (#1)
12. Avery (#2)
13. Abagail (#2-3)

By the time we had our first boy (#4) we knew what his name would be. We didnt' have a middle name but we knew his first name. We argued back and forth on #5, deciding on two names but arguing on their order. I won that argument :) Well, truth be told Jason let mehave my way. We don't have a JR son because girl #3 was going to be our last and we named her after jason, as close as we could with it still being a girl name anyhow.

Baby Bathtime!

2007-10-09T09:29:00.000-05:00

Mister Giggles usually screams his head off and clings to me like he's drowning when I try to bathe him. Apparently he didn't do that for Jason, so guess who now has baby bath duty?

Happy Birthday Angel Baby

2007-10-08T15:39:00.001-05:00

Ok, I wasn't going to do this. I wasn't going to write anything, I was just going to let it pass silently. I struggled with that decision all weekend.

Today I decided I would do what I do every year. I will pay respect and remembrance to my third child, my angel baby, my little world skipper. I had something all written up in my head yesterday but couldn't get to the computer and by the time this morning rolled around I didn't want to, rather, I *couldn't* bring myself to write anything.

I cannot bring myself to actually follow through and write nothing, however. I don't know how to explain any of these thoughts except that I feel such sorrow, even all these years later. I spoke last month with a woman who lost a child two years ago. I told her that things are never going to be really ok, but they do get to be a little more ok as time passes. I believe that with all of my heart 364 days out of the year, it's the 365th day that leads me to wonder.

********************************************

Dear Angel Baby,

Yesterday was supposed to be your 6th birthday. Six years since you so beautifully and perfectly came into our lives and just as quickly passed on to another life.

Yesterday was a beautiful day, perfect in every sense of the word. The sun was shining, your brothers and sisters played outside all day long, the weather was perfect, your baby brother started walking. But you weren't here to see any of it.

Your younger sister and I talked a lot about you this weekend, unlike any time we've mentioned you before. We talked about how you were our baby before she was. She told me not to be sad with the special kind of wisdom only a four year old can have. Your older sister and I talked about you too. She was too young to remember much, but she misses you too.

I told myself that this year I wouldn't cry out of sorrow. I wouldn't cry for what isn't here. I promised myself that this year would be different. It's not. We're all here and we're all healthy, for that we are thankful and blessed, but my arms are still so empty.

The life you never had the chance to live weighs heavily on my heart. I am grateful for the brief time we had to enjoy you. Your father and I treasure every single moment we had you, every single ray of light you showed us.

Life is a miracle, it's a miracle we didn't truly grasp the importance of, until you came into our lives. I will always be thankful to you for that. You, my child, have taught me the importance of loving freely, being thankful and being joyful.

I miss you terribly but you have given me the opportunity to find the strength within myself to keep going on in the world without you. Thank you. Thank you for giving us all of the time you had to give. Thank you for choosing us. Thank you for showing us how precious time, love and family are.

I miss you. I will always miss you, but you have given me far more than I could have ever dreamed of giving you. I love you.

Love always,
Mommy

Support for pregnancy and infant loss - Share

Angel Babies Forever

Almost a year!

2007-10-08T11:22:00.000-05:00

I am having a really hard time grasping that in less than 3 weeks we'll be celebrating the baby's first birthday. ONE! It's so hard to believe. It's been a heck of a year too, and mostly in a good way.

Mister Giggle now feeds himself, tries to drink from a cup and is walking several steps on his own. It's just so unfathomable to me. The other day he was toddling around the kitchen in a onesie that was unbuttoned and he reached up and I had a flashback of Miss Death Ray eyes at that age. She was much bigger but she had the same type of hair and the same look in her eye, reaching up to grab something she probably shouldn't have been grabbing. *sigh* It all goes so fast.

I am seeing a big change in MDRE. I can see her teetering on the fence of wanting to grow up and wanting to stay a young child. She isn't sure she wants to trick-or-treat this year. She wants to shave her legs. She wants to be allowed to walk to her friends house without an escort. All of this while she is trying to cling onto childhood. I wish she would cling just a little bit longer...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I had the stitches removed from my head. I think it looks worse now. The gash kind of pulled apart a little bit and is very red, but I guess that's what it's supposed to do.

Yes, I read HP 4 even with the misprint, I still have to go to the store to exchange it. I finished HP 5 Sunday morning. And Leigh@$$, i don't care if you're bored. My blog, I can say whatever I want ;P And Tali, it is kind of silly to line up at a bookstore at midnight when you know they aren't exactly going to run out of the book, and even if they do they'll have more the next day ;) I am reserving HP 6 & 7 at the library I type this, my fine is just $.20 below where it is where they won't let you borrow books until it's paid ;)

The neighbors across the street brought over 3 trash bags full of girl & boy clothes for Train & Tornado, a few even fit Miss Universe. You would think it was Christmas at Meg's house! The fact that they are so tickled over used clothes makes me happy.

So things are same-same here. Haven't had much time to write. I took a very low paying pt writing gig, at least I can work in my jammies, right? Still no word from my publisher about the whereabouts of #1 in the editing process or the proposal for #2. I grew weary a long time ago, now I just, I don't know...have forgotten about it for the most part?

Anyhow, things are status quo here. Nothing new to report.

Grrrrr (harry potter vent)

2007-10-03T09:13:00.000-05:00

Ok, this isn't so much a vent about harry potter, whom you all know I have come to love with such a strange obsession it's almost comical.

I was getting into Harry potter 4, which I purchased at BAM last weekend before the whole head trauma thing, and now it's unreadable.

My book skips from page 513 back to 467, then repeats 467 to 513 and then skips to page 563.

I'M TICKED! I can't keep reading because apparently harry and Krum got into some kind of trouble together and someone is blaming dumbeldore...ARGH!

now I have to wait until 8pm tonight when I can take it back to BAM and exchange it. ARGH!

But wait! There's more!

Now I don't have an excuse to put off such trivial things as, oh i don't know...cooking, laundry, scrubbing the toilets...

In my withdrawl just this morning I've already scrubbed the kitchen floor, started the laundry and vacuumed/dusted the living room. I think all this cleaning will probably kill me, so I should stop now ;)

I AM NOT A LESBIAN...

2007-10-02T13:35:00.000-05:00

AND I WILL CONTINUE TO PROTEST AND RESIST THE PEARLS AND THEIR TEACHINGS.

See the article in which Michael Pearl says "There is a group of lesbian home-schoolers that always try to protest our seminars," Pearl said. "We don't have anything to hide because it's quite legal to spank children."

and other gems such as:

"When the child is rebelling, she's practicing to be a little hippie or deadhead," Pearl added. "The rod is a way of creating an accurate reflection of a world that has consequences."

He said some mothers begin when a child is breast-feeding. "If the baby is biting too hard, you can pull its hair just a little bit," Pearl said.

Referring to a mother who suffocated her child after reading the Pearl's writings:
"You won't find anything on our Web site about smothering children," Pearl said with a chuckle. (EXCUSE ME..A CHUCKLE???)

Other posts with more info:
Doc's Sunrise Rants
A Typical Homeschool
Get In, Hang On
Mommy Brain

and, ftr...I have been called a hippie more than once and I love the Grateful Dead *AND* I was not spared the rod as a child.

Ultimate Comfort Foods: Mac & Cheese

2007-10-02T12:31:00.000-05:00

Quick Crock-pot Mac & Cheese, serves 8-10

16 oz macaroni.
12 oz can evaporated milk
1/2 lb cheddar, grated (who are we kidding? Go for a whole pound!)
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 C water
1 stick butter
a few handfuls of bread crumbs (or wheat germ if you're crunchy granola)

Cook & drain noodles, pour into crock.
Add butter and evap. milk to noodles. Mix well.
Add cheese, water & eggs, mix well.
Add salt & pepper to taste (alternative: add curry powder for a neat taste, or hot pepper falkes)
Cook on high 1-2 hours.
Sprinkle bread crumbs over and cook on high 30 minutes.

Cheesy love, that's what that is!!

To redeem some nutritional value serve with a salad :)

Impact: Stories of Survival

2007-09-30T12:04:00.000-05:00

On tonight's episode of Impact: Stories of Survival

A young mother is brutally attacked in her own home. The assailant's weapon of choice, a 20 lb soapstone floor lamp. Perhaps what is most shocking of all is that the assailant was her own infant. her injuries left her in a state of confusion and major blood loss.

(Ok, so maybe I am a little bit too addicted to the Discovery Health channel)

The assailant: Mister Giggles(isn't he cute?)

I was sitting on the loveseat in the wrong place at the wrong time. having recently moved the furniture because it "annoyed" me I didn't secure the lamp as I should have.

He was not so gracefully practicing his walking skills and tumbled the lamp over. I was sitting 5 feet away, at exactly the right point for the soapstone dome to crash onto my head. I have never seen to much blood in my life, and I only saw what was streaming into my eyes and caught in my hand. In my moment of oh so rational thinking I was screaming "GET ME ICE!" and "GET ME A TOWEL" and doing my best to keep the blood on the um...oh those carpet thingies that go over the carpet (my brain still isn't working right) and not on the beige carpet.

Fast forward 10 minutes...still bleeding, only I made my way to the bathroom. Jason is pressing an abdomen bandage on my head and telling the older girls to get the neighbor (a nurse). She comes over and says yeah, need stitches and takes the older two girls out for pizza.

Jason, the 3 younger kids and I pack into the van and head to urgent care. I sat in the waiting room for about an hour, the little kids were SO good. They took me back where I waited on a stretcher for another hour. The bleeding was almost under control and I was feeling woozy. my eyes wouldn'y focus and I was confused but no real signs of a problem.

The doc eventually finished with the 89 yr old next to me. She was driving and pulled in front of someone and refused to go to the hospital, even though as it turns out she had several broken bones and was sent to the hospital by the immediate care doc.

He came over and numbed my head and started stitching. The rest is kind of hazy but I remember a bit. I remember him yelling "We've got a bleeder" and for a nurse to come apply pressure. I remember an IV starting and I remember saying something like "I don't feel right" and "I think I'm going".

I remember the doctor slapping me on the face and screaming "Stay with us". I remember them calling Jason to my side and someone yelling "ambulance, code 3".

I woke up about now and they asked where I lived and I know I said "Orlando". The nurse asked if I knew where I was and I said "the doctor's" and they asked where and I said "by the florida mall". They asked for my phone number and I gave them my childhood phone number. All the while I was thinking "no, that's not right" but the words just weren't coming out and I couldn't see out of my right eye.

So, for the second time in my life I experienced the backwards ride of an ambulance, and I was quite in the know by the time. After 30 minutes or so I could tell them that I didn't live in Orlando anymore but I couldn't remember the name of the town I did live in, but I knew I moved about a year and a half ago.

You know, we watch this show on Discovery Health called Code Blue. It takes place in a very old hospital in New Orleans. There aren't enough rooms in the ER so they line patients up in stretchers in the hallway. I remember thinking "oh wow, i'm glad it's not like that here"

WRONG

My stretcher is assigned to "E3", an 8 foot stretch of wall painted happy place green. In E2 was a 55 yr old man with a nasty case of vomitting and diarrhea. In E1 was a woman in her 80s suffering from alzheimers, and a husband who was very distressed that they had been at E1 for four hours waiting for her doctor.

Talk about a lack of medical privacy, eh?

Anyhow, I sat in E3 for about 2 hours. Jason had taken the kids back to the neighbor's. The neighbor next door kept Train and Mister Giggles and another neighbor had the girls.

The doctor looked at me and had the nurse dress my wound and secure the stitches. They gave me some not so great pain medication and said as soon as Jason arrived I could go home. I didnt need a CT scan because I was now talking sensibly.

The diagnosis is a mild concussion, minor head trauma, stage 2 laceration and fainting due to rapid but non-severe blood loss. The docs estimated I lost about 2 cups of blood total, not that I know how they know that. Two cups seems like a lot to me but I guess it wasn't enough to be "severe". I don't think the urgent care doc appreciated how much blood I had lost before I got there, it had slowed down a lot by the time I got there.

Jason and I returned home about 10:30pm. I have the headache of a lifetime and will have a nice pirate scar across my forehead. I am surprised, I really expected a lot of bruising but there isn't any. I am not allowed to shower until tomorrow but I managed to scrub most of the dried blood out of my hair. I did my best to get the blood out of the carpet, but I think there will always been a brown stain.

I have to go back in 5 days to have the stitches removed.

All of this after a fantastic day. I actually met the Dalai Lama while browsing for Harry Potter books. Ok, we didnt meet as in sit down over a hot dog (hot dog...get it? Ok my sense of humor is obviously still warped as usual). Rather, I had 4 harry potter books in my arms and had just sat down to a cup of coffee when Miss Death Ray Eyes said "Hey mom, look! It's the Dalai Lama" all non-chalantley. I turned and sure enough, it was him surrounded by about 30 bald men in orange robes.

WOW. This was HUGE. Massive. Awesome.

I paid respect by closing my eyes and bowing. In return he gave me that gorgeous smile and bowed in return.

Amazing.

I just happened to drive an hour into the city to go to a shoe store. I just happened to go to books a million on a harry potter jones.

After that we went to sketchers and MDRE used a GC she received for her birthday and bought FOUR pairs of shoes! That was pretty cool too, she is all about Sketchers.

And then this morning the turtle escaped. We put the tank outside to get sun and the dog knocked it over. We put Sheldon in a box so we could get a new tank this afternoon but he knocked it over and escaped. It's all fine, he came fromt he woods and went back to the woods.

Except now Jason and the older 2 are at the pet store looking for something else.

Anyhow...pics for those interested. they aren't gross. I actually thought about taking pics BEFORE the stitches but that would have qualified me as someone with a blogging addiction ;) That and Jason was a bit more concerned with the amount of blood coming out of my head than my insane need to actually take pictures.

As if nothing else went wonderfully this weekend...jaosn returns home with two grass lizards, except there was only one in the box when he got home. After tearing apart the van we came to the comclusion that one escaped between the store and the van, they are tiny little things. So he's back at the pet store getting another one.

Straight from the Tornado's Mouth

2007-09-28T10:01:00.000-05:00

Well, you heard it right there.
"Ain't Jayden happy, ain't nobody happy!"

Not to be outdone by his big sister, the Train wanted to sing the itsy bitsy spider. He has an interesting rendition.

Second wind - Thursday Thirteen #32

2007-09-26T08:12:00.001-05:00

I submitted a proposal for my 2nd book to my publisher yesterday. The 1st book is still in the editing process. I'm looking forward on getting to the revisions on #1. I learned a lot writing it and a lot is just digesting now, so I'm eager to get my hands on it.

So, with that in mind here is my day early thursday thirteen. I've given up on wordless wednesday, LOL.

Thirteen reasons I'm really lucky

1. I grew up in cow country, which I used to see as a curse.

2. My husband always eats what I make for dinner, even if he isn't keen on it.

3. My husband has given me 5 beautiful darlings.

4. I am smarter than I was 10 years ago. Maybe not in book knowledge but in more important ways.

5. My publisher found me, I didnt go looking for them

6. My husband and kids give me time to work when I ask for it

7. I can work from home, in my jammies, with bad breath and no undies on if I want

8. We have a great pediatrician that makes us feel like the only people in the office when we're there (that's not an easy thing to find!)

9. I don't have to get up early to take the kids to school

10. My baby is among the happiest, easiest to get along with type. Just yesterday our ped said "He has such a sweet demeanor", right after he actually said "Mt. PoopHelen's" ;)

11. I am glad I don't do daycare. Yesterday the lawn guy, who has been cutting our lawn for over a year, asked if I did daycare. When I said no he pulled they "they're all yours?!?" Aren't I lucky, I don't have to do daycare, take my kids to daycare and I still have a very bustling, busy home.

12. My husband is every bit as much housework-challenged as I am.

13. I have the best friends in the world.

Meet Sheldon, Oreo & my favorite oppsies

2007-09-25T09:50:00.001-05:00

This is Sheldon Leonardo, the second turtle that appeared on our doorstep yesterday. Bloke, the alligator snapping turtle, made an escape last night, fully aided by a mother who really didn't want it hanging around.

This is Oreo. See, I told you she's cute!

And my favorite oppsies.

I was chatting with a friend the other day. I was lucky enough to be there when her 5th child was born. She told me "She's my favorite mistake" :)

You know, I knew exactly what she meant. The word mistake has negative connotations, but it really shouldn't. Accident, that's also a nasty word. Unplanned? I don't like that either. Unexpected, that sounds a bit better.

Thank goodness for unexpected surprises. It's fun to get presents on your birthday, but it's even better when you get a present out of the blue. You know that feeling you get when your husband comes home with flowers for no reason? Or how it feels when you stick your pocket in your winter coat and find a $5 bill you forgot you had? Those are GOOD feelings, all unexpected, all unplanned.

These are my biggest unplanned, unexpected presents. "Wait a minute?! You're missing one!" you say. No, I'm not. See, one of the 5 was actually planned ;) We did the boxers and baby dance thing intentionally once, believe it or not :)

We didn't have to try long, about two weeks. I've been blessed with the gift of fertility. Some people have looks, some people have grace, I have overactive eggs. I am one of the luckier ones!

How my kids learn science

2007-09-24T17:51:00.001-05:00

(totally stolen from a post I wrote to my homeschooling group, live with it)

Ya wanna know a good way to learn science?

Look out in your yard to discover there is a snapping turtle eating
the fish in your pond. Attempt to trap said turtle because your daddy
thinks it will be cool (note that daddy is at work) Then go to the
computer and email your mother a zillion pictures of snapping turtles,
all while researching everything you need to know to keep it. Then
try to convince your mother to keep it. (mom said no way)

Then..the very same day...look out in your yard to find a small box
turtle (much friendlier). Attempt to trap said turtle because your
daddy thinks it will be cool (daddy is still at work). Then go to the
computer and email your mother a zillion pictures of box turtles and
everything you can find about how to care for a box turtle. Then when
daddy comes home give him puppy dog eyes and ask to keep it, then have
dad give mom puppy dog eyes and ask to keep it.

Then go to the petstore to buy a tank (math) and tell your mother she
is the best mother in the world (brownie points) and know your mother
is serious when she says she is not taking care of it and the minute
it stinks up the house it's gone.

That, my dear, is real science (with a bit of language arts, math and
the subtle art of body language thrown in)

The fates are not listening to me!!!!

2007-09-24T15:21:00.001-05:00

It's been a turtley kind of day here.

This morning I was sitting on our back patio trying to write when I heard a rustle. I had the kids zombified in front of a movie (Are We Done Yet, it's cute but not as good as the first one) so I knew it wasn't one of them. I assumed it was the neighbor's dog, she gets out and likes to poop in the woods behind our house (I wish my dogs would)

I turned and saw a huge alligator snapping turtle. HUGE. I ran into the house and called the girls out. I then emailed my husband, who really wanted me to somehow box it in so he could see it. Yeah, I know...

so about an hour later the turtle moved to a place where I could secure him in the extra baby superyard cage thing. We gave him shade and water, so he's sitting pretty (not really, he's an ugly old thing!) until Jason gets home and can relocate him to the nearest lake. I don't think Jason appreciates how huge this turtle is. I know they get much bigger and this bloke is only 5 or 10 years old, but he's got to weigh at least 20 lbs.

IF someone had reminded me to buy batteries I would have a photo for you.

So anyhow...Bloke is in the superyard.

About 10 minutes ago I again walked outside to get some fresh air and MDRE followed me and shrieked. I thought she was stung by another bee, but no...

sitting just on the edge of my patio was...

a

freaking

box

turtle.

Here's the thing...no way could we keep the snapping turtle as a pet but the box turtle, well, that's a different story.

I don't know what on earth sends animals to my house. I don't leave food out for them. I don't hang a "we welcome all sorts of strays" sign. I don't encourage them. They find their way anyhow. Cats, dogs, snakes, a few legless lizards, once a sun conure (an expensive bird) and now turtles. I should be happy it's not a bear, right?

I think it's a sign. I'll tell ya what, if I start seeing locusts or frogs in large numbers I'm packing my bags and heading for the hills.

BUT I SAID....oh geez, forget it. Nevermind...

2007-09-23T20:59:00.000-05:00

In the days leading to Miss Universe's 9th birthday hubby and I had a discussion that went a little something like this:

Me: What should we get Miss Universe for her birthday?

Jason: Something sciency, or arty. An animal would be cool.

me: she got an animal last year (a leopard gecko named godzilla)

J: Yeah, but she really wanted a snake. What about a snake?

me: They are kind of expensive and we don't have any of our reptile stuff left.

J: Yeah, that's true. Maybe a hermit crab.

me: How about art stuff? She loves to draw and you don't have to feed it.

J: Yeah, maybe. I'll stop by the pet store and see what I can find.

me: How about Michael's? They have a lot of art supplies.

J: Ok, I'll see when I get there. I'll stop at Petco and Petsmart.

me: Michael's is in the same plaza as PetSmart and across from petco. Let's get her art supplies, I think she'd really like that.

*20 minutes later Jason calls from cell*

J: Ok, so I know you won't allow a spider or scorpion, but they are so cool. What about a bird? A finch?

me: no because you need more than one. And birds are expensive.

J: That's true, but their hermit crabs look crappy and I really want to get her an animal.

me: she HAS an animal. We also have a dog and a cat. We don't need anything else that needs fed.

J: Alright. You're right. I'll get her some art stuff.

*20 minutes later*

J: Michael's doesnt have any good craft stuff. I'm going to go to petco.

Me: GO TO TARGET. TARGET HAS A LOT OF ART SUPPLIES

Jason did conceed and he did get her a lot of art supplies, nothing that needs food, water, shelter or air.

I distincly remember telling him that art is good, we don't need any more living, breathing things in this house. I have a hard enough time keeping the kids full and the mealworms in my fridge are starting to look appetizing to them (not really, they are for the gecko)

Not that it lasted long...because a few weeks later he came home from target with a dog.

and yesterday Miss Death Ray Eyes bought herself a pet rat.

A rat.

As a pet.

A rat.

As far as rats go she is really sweet and awfully cute, but she's still a rat. Ok, a mouse-sized rat, but still a rat.

Said rat is named oreo because of her coloring. Pictures are forthcoming (someone remind me to add batteries to my shopping list)

Jason suggested she name her Lucky, as in she was lucky not to become a snake's lunch.

MDRE insists the we (and I have to chuckle here) "DO NOT CALL HER A RAT IN FRONT OF HER! I DON'T WANT HER HEARING THAT WORD!" But dude, she's a rat!!!

All I can think is "oh thank goodness she didnt buy a rabbit!"

The phone! The phone is ringinggggg...

2007-09-20T16:41:00.001-05:00

I love the Wonder Pets. I think I like them a little too much. I'm seriously considering naming my next child after the duck.

I am also strangely infatuated with the backyardigans, they are just too cute. Wanna hear something sad? I know the names of the backyardigans, my toddler & preschooler do not.

Here you have Tasha and Tyrone, Pablo and Uniqua and Austin over on the right. And, ftr, Uniqua is...a uniqua. She's not a bug, she's not an alien. Uniqua is an Uniqua, it's her name and her species...so there :P Kind of like naming your unicorn Unicorn.

I'm sick today (a sinus infection I think) which is why I am writing about the Wonder Pets and Backyardigans, because aside from a few spongebobs that is all I have watched on tv today. I can feel the braincells falling out of my ear.

I'm gonna go nap on the couch since the baby is napping and hubby should be home soon. I SHOULD go get the baby up so he'll sleep tonight, but I am just so..so..so tired.

Mad at the world

2007-09-19T10:25:00.001-05:00

I am mad. I am really, raging mad.

You wake up one morning and your entire life has changed. Someone or the idea of someone dies.

Someone I know decided to end her life yesterday. She has a husband, children, a mother, a father, step-parents, extended family, friends, me.

She did not succeed. Her husband walked into the house at exactly the right moment and was able to call 911 before the 3 bottles of narcotics did final damage. The doctors were able to pump her full of charcoal and milk enough out of her body to allow her life, hoepfully without permanent damage to her organs.

She was so close to the end, a place she woke up and decided to go with calculate precision. She waited for her children and husband to leave the house. She said her silent goodbyes. She placed her wedding rings on the table, crawled into bed and swallowed 3 bottles of god knows what.

Now she is lying in a hospital bed and I hope to god she's medicated beyond any capability of thought. She will spend the next few weeks in that grim place people are sent when someone believes they are worth saving from themselves.

Before anyone flames me, I get it. Belive me, I GET IT. I feel bad for her, I feel sad for her. I want her to get help, which now she'll be forced into. We have all been begging her for years to get help. I believe in a person's right to end their own life.

That doesn't mean I don't think it is the most selfish, horrible thing a person can do. Your life is over, fine, so be it. What about your children? When a person dies they do not die alone, they leave so much baggage behind for the rest of us to deal with.

I don't know what she was thinking. She must have felt she was such a horrible person that her children would be better off without her. If only I could grab her by the ears, kick her in the head and scream "WHAT THE FRICK ARE YOU THINKING?" but that would be selfish of me, wouldn't it?

While I am at this exact moment drowining in my own personal grief (of another matter that I will not blog about) that rivals the worst pain I have ever felt, I go on. I wipe my eyes, I patch the sore the best way I know how and I. go. on. I say my goodbyes silently and I swallow my medicine and I walk into the kitchen to do the dishes, and I make lunch, and I blog and I text and I write emails and I pick my husband up from work and I make dinner.

So, dear friend, I will not grab you by the ears and kick you in the head. I concede to let you make your own decisions and I will remain to pick up the pieces the only way I know how. I wish you a long life, if that is what you want. More than anything I wish you peace. If you decide to stay I will be here. If you decide to go I will be here for your husband and children. Godspeed, dear friend, godspeed.

My secret addiction that will bore you

2007-09-17T06:12:00.000-05:00

I've always said I have an addictive personality. In fact, I am so aware of the fact that once I start something (usually unhealthy) I can't stop, that I refuse to ever go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City. I refuse to set foot in a casino because I know I won't be able to stop and it will simply come to no good. Over the years I've had my addictions to the wrong things but I grew up and learned how to control myself, which means staying away....

until...

"reality" tv. (reality in quotes for obvious reasons)

It started innocently in the 80s with COPS. I blame COPS, which I still watch religiously because I'm a loser.

I don't like Survivor, I watched parts of season 2 and decided not to watch it again. The Amazing Race is another popular show I don't watch. Nah, see I go for geeky men and I go for geeky shows.

I am ashamed to admit that I am an American Idol addict. My feelings about the show have settled a bit, however, since I am now too old to qualify to be on the show. Not that I would ever try out, but now that I am too old it kind of takes the fun out of it, and it makes me feel old which I don't like. See, casinos are for old people, maybe I'd fit in better there (just kidding)

Last night I watched Kim Miles win HGTV's Next Design Star. I'm also addicted to HGTV because someday I would like to have a presentable house, someday. A girl can dream, right?

I was stoked Kim won but wayyyyyy surprised. Todd is a freaking genius and very personable but I think his designs were impractical. Not all 30 somethings want a half pipe in their living room, ya know. Most of us are to worried about our insurance premiums to be doing that. Todd really showed his stuff when he made the underwater room. I know, I know, that's all he did, made underwater rooms. I'm talking about the one for the fake mag shoot, the one that didn't have to be functional, you know...the one with the cotton balls and kitty litter?

The deal was that each contestant had their own individual space to design. it was a tiny room, something like 10x10 or 8x8, really small. Each had a small couch, book shelf, coffee table and side table. It wasn't a practical room, it was to be designed purely for aesthetics. They could ONLY shop at the $.99 store and they had $399.

I liked this challenge the best because let's face it, I'm a dollar tree JUNKIE and I could spend $399 there in a heartbeat. I seriously ADORE the dollar tree. There is one by our kroger, which is right near our pediatrician. We always hit the store after a doctor visit and after good store visits because I bribe things 3 & 4 with the promise of shiny mylar balloons from dollar tree ;)

Anyhow, look at what Todd did, it's amazing!

He should have won based on the merits of that room alone, wicked creative...however, that's where his creativity seemed to stop. he painted underwater and surfing scenes and THAT WAS IT. In the above photo (click to enlarge, btw photo is from HGTV) he used cotton balls as sea foam and kitty litter as sand.

Something Kim did that was really cool is use beans to make a carpet.

and I love the 'wallpaper', she did that with paint and paper plates cut into ginko leaves. I think that was wicked clever and looks really great. It gives me a victorian feel. I had this teacher in high school that lived in a huge, ancient victorian and the house has wallpaper similar to that. And, you wouldn't think the green would compliment the pink, but it works for some odd reason. Beats me why, I didn't go to design school.

So anyhow, I was pleased with the results. I liked both Todd & Kim (and am SO glad Neeraja the bitch wasn't in the finals) I really expected Todd to win but I am glad Kim did, I was rooting for her. I think it came down to functionality versus whacked out there design. Whacked out there is fun but not practical.

ON TO SOMETHING ELSE...

Top Chef.

This is the first season I've watched, though after I started I did see a marathon of season 2. Last week some seriously bad broccolini (I know what that is, LOL) sent CJ home which totally depressed me since he is one of my faves. This leaves me with Dale and Casey to root for.

And hello Hung, you're not that great so get the heck over yourself!

I spend most of the show looking at the gorgeous Padma and wondering what that thing on her arm is. Thanks to IMDB.com I now know it's a 7" scar that is the result of an automobile accident she was in as a child. And she's STILL a model (and a cook), good for her!

Another fact I found extremely interesting, she is married to Salman Rushdie. While they are in the midst of a divorce they married in 2004, which is after he came out of hiding, right? Cuz I think it would be reallllly hard to be married to a guy in hiding, especially when you're a model out on the catwalk. (on the catwalk, yeah, I do a little turn on the catwalk...sorry, brain fart)

Ok wait a minute.
How is this:

married to this:

Ok, ONE last show and then I'll stop, I promise.
Recently I stumbled across a show that I have never seen before, it's called "You are what you eat" and it's on BBCA. It's on after Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (which I was stoked to find out is in production in the USA now, to premiere this fall on FOX!)

The premise is this, a holistic nutritionist visits folks all over the UK analyzing their diet. These people are obese and suffer from varied maladies. She analyzes their health by looking at their tongue, examining their poo (she asks them to poo on command, seriously, can anyone do that?), looking at their eyelids to check their iron stores, etc.

The participants are asked to keep a detailed food diary for one week and at the end of the week she looks at it and the confrontation happens. She stacks a table full of every food the person has eaten in the previous week. She has a second table set up with the shocking bit, such as 35 donuts representing how much sugar one bloke put in his tea over the course of a week, or a bucket containing 5 lbs of fat to show one guy how much he was eating at lunchtime.

She then puts the folks on an 8 wk diet. The food is mostly whole grains and whole foods, such as plain porridge for breakfast, salads with salmon for lunch, chickpea burgers for dinner, prune compote for dessert and plain herbal teas for snacks.

She also starts them on an exercise program.

The results of the show are dramatic. The first 1-2 weeks the participants complain about two things, the time it takes to prepare the food, and the blandness (especially the plain porridge)

She checks in with them periodically and by the 3rd or 4th week most people have a good system going, preparing food ahead of time so it's quicker, exercising regularly, etc.

By the end of the 8th week most of the people have lost 4 or 5 stone (a stone is equal to 14 lbs), their skin is clearer, their digestive systems work better (though I don't know if they can poo on command after the changes)

I wonder how many stay with the program after the check-ins stop at 8 wks. I'd love to see an update show. If nothing else the show motivates me to keep my own food journal and it helps keep me on the right track in this whole weight loss & healthy lifestyle gain.

I've lost 4 lbs my first week on sparkpeople, which is great, but I know it won't be that much every week. Even so, my shorts aren't tight now and I actually fit into the jeans I bought last winter (I weighed less when my baby was a few months old, go figure). My digestive system is working much more comfortably (no comment on pooing on command.)

If you haven't seen the show, check it out!

well, anyhow...

There you have it. My secret little addiction. I watch reality television.

For your entertainment:

Funny Dance Clips

2007-09-15T12:24:00.000-05:00

Leigh@$$ started it, so blame her.

The Evolution of Dance - this is hilarious, so funny. He even does the lawnmower! BTW, I am proud to say that I have taught my 9 yr old to hammer dance. If you don't every single one of these, well, you're a dork. Shake it like a polariod picture.

Not sure how to hammer dance?

Mr. Bean - Anyone who doesn't love Mr. bean has no hope for a happy life. Ok, so his movies suck but the show is funny.

Singing animals are just cute.

Dancing W.O.W. characters - just for jason.

The internet is for.... funny!

This is one of my favorite movies of all time

How to Dance like a White Guy

2007-09-15T07:50:00.001-05:00

OK people, you HAVE to watch this if you haven't already.

TIP - Guys, if you really want to show a gal you are hot for her, take the stinky, sweaty cap off your head and put in on hers. Oh yes, that says love.

Potty Poll Results

2007-09-14T11:13:00.001-05:00

a few weeks ago I put up a little poll asking parents how they potty-trained their sons.

The results:

68% (13 votes) - sitting, facing forward
0% - sitting, facing back
21% (4 votes) - standing from the start
11% (2 votes) - other, don't know

Addressing the ppl who said other/i don't know, no one left me a comment telling me how they did it aside from sitting or standing, so no clue there.

Looking to waste some time?

2007-09-14T07:39:00.000-05:00

THIS HAS to be the funniest clip EVER. I watch it every time I need a pick-me-up.

Dance Like a White Guy

**********************************************************************

Funny Mac Spoof

**********************************************************************

This one is the funniest lullaby ever. This guy could be talking about us.
You HAVE to listen to the whole thing.

Pachelbel Bedtime

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Mom Jeans

Thursday Thirteen #30

2007-09-13T14:28:00.000-05:00

Thirteen things I love about taking my kids to soccer every Thursday
(I am only guessing that this is #30, I left numbers off too many to keep track, but 30ish is about right)

1. There isn't much that is cuter than watching a group of 4 yr olds trying to do jumping jacks.

2. Mister Man doesn't complain that he isn't playing with the girls. He sits in the dirt and makes himself impossibly filthy for two hours and is quite happy doing so.

3. There are at least 5 other families I have met that have 5 or more children. Every single mother told me they aren't discounting the possibility of more kids in the future.

4. People stop and laugh at my unsocialized homeschool kids bumper sticker (if you scroll down to the very bottom of this page you can see it)

5. For two hours I only have two children

6. I get some real quality time with Mister Giggles since the girls are playing and Mister Man is preoccupied in above-mentioned pile of dirt.

7. They all fall asleep on the way home

8. They wake up when we get home but they are happy to sit quietly and watch tv for "rest time"

9. Miss Death Ray eyes met another "best friend". She's not the best at making friends so this is really nice to see.

10. Miss Universe & MDRE play on different teams so they each get their "own thing", which is super nice since that doesn't happen a lot.

11. All of the kids are homeschooled. My kids have never felt like outcasts (so they tell me) but being with so many other kids who don't go to school is a good thing for them, it lets them know they are more "normal" than they thought.

12. It's not far from home but far enough to stop the "I want to go out!" whines for a day or three

13. As far as extra-curricular activities go soccer is CHEAP! Registration, shirt and supplies for 3 kids cost less than $200 total. Next year we'll just have to pay registration. When the older two were in dance/drama it was that much a month.

Updated stuffy stuff (more updated for Sparky)

2007-09-12T07:41:00.000-05:00

update for sparky:
They have real, paid coaches in the 7 & up age ranges. The smaller kids have teenagers who are volunteer coaches, all of them homeschooled or homeschooled grads who are earning volunteer hours for the local college (they require it.) All the kids happen to be homeschooled which is great since they meet weekdays at 1pm :D

They are all normal kids. You can take the kid outta school but you can't take...the...kid....out of the kid? Does that make sense? Anyhow, there are the jocks (my oldest), the geeks (my 2nd), the unruly ones (my 3rd), the wannabe bullies (I dont have one of those, yet, thankfully) but there are no real outcasts and no real "cliques". The kids are actually getting *GASP* socialization in a proper setting with proper supervision.

Meaning, they aren't throwing them into groups of 30 according to age, slapping them behind a desk and telling them to stop being interested in things and learn what they are told to learn, how they are told to learn, when they are told to learn ;)

Also meaning they are exposed to all different kinds of kids and have to learn how to deal with the resulting situation, but they just happen to have a lot of adults around who will supervise and make sure things don't get too far out of hand. Not that we interrupt every argument (not that I've seen one at soccer, I'm just saying), we won't necessarily interrupt an argument because the kids have to learn how to handle things on their own, but we will step in if the need arises.

The scariest part is trying to keep their uniform shirts seperate and cleaning them in time for the next practice, that and trying desperately to find matching socks for them to wear, and keeping track of all the gear.

And, cruising is when a baby holds on to the furniture and walks, it's a step before walking without support.

*****and now back to your regularly scheduled blog*****

I woke up an hour early today to ~~read my email and blogs~~ get some work done (you can see how well that is going, eh?) and figured I might as well give the friends and family some updates.

Mister Giggles - synopsis: Mister Giggles is 10 months old. I had very low amniotic fluid levels with him, causing him to be super cramped and kind of on the small side. As a result he was born with plagiocephaly (funky shaped head) and torticollis (head constantly tilted to the side, weak muscles in neck) and low tone (weak, floppy muscles throughout body) After reassurances from a neurosurgeon that it's not a problem with the structure of his skull he's been in physical therapy since he was 3 months old. Hearing problems can be associated with the condition (he passed his tests) as well as eye problems (we still have to take him to the opthamilogist)

When he reached 8 months he had met most of his therapy goals so they were adjusted to focus more on the low tone as the plagio was improving (though I can still see it everyone else says they can't because his hair hides it) and torticollis seems to be greatly improved.

We started out with weekly visits and sessions at home and now we're down to one a month. Yesterday he had a therapy appointment and it was determined that he has met 2 of his 4 new goals. One of the new goals is standing unsupported for 20 seconds and he does 8-10, but heck, he's ONLY 10 months old and he's a tiny thing weighing in at just under 17 lbs. The other goal he hasn't met is standing at a table with his belly against it, using his two hands independently and not to hold himself up (again, he's only 10 months old!) The ones he passed are standing up supported and cruising.

The therapist says he's still majorly favoring his left side (the side he compensated with when the torti was a bigger problem) and we need to get him working more on the right side. When he cruises it's always with the left foot first, which I guess isn't a great thing but seems perfectly fine & normal to me. Anyhow, the good news is that his appts are now down to every 6 wks with sessions at home, just to monitor his progress. They were going to release him at 12 months but now it looks more like 15-18 months.

The older girls received all of their school books, the only thing I have left to get is math and they have to finish last year's books first. We're spending the next few months back at a basics level, reinforcing multiplication tables, using remainders and borrowing, etc. Math is now their least favorite subject, which is a shame since Miss DRE is really good at math. The awesome Wrap-Ups I bought them were doing the trick...until I found the entire set hiding under the diswasher disassembled and broken to the point where they no longer wrap up *sigh* Remind me to teach things 3 & 4 about RESPECT for other people's belongings.

We are using Calvert this year and I like it and more importantly, THEY LIKE IT. I always said we'd never use textbooks, but hoenstly, it's working well. The only one I don't like is the 6th grade world geography. It's a standard mcgraw hill text but has been edited for use with the Calvert SChool, which means it jumps from page 63 to 309. Quite the pain when chapter one tells the student to "look at the map on page 207". The workbook doesn't coincide with the text at all. I think I'm just going to get our own map and use only the workbook.

The books make the girls feel more grown-up and that is a good thing.

The others are all doing well too. They are all over their coughs and only hoarseness remains from their illness. Soccer is going well and even the Tornado is listening to her coach. I forgot to take pics last week and am hoping I remember the camera this week.

On the soccer thread, holy cow! I have never seen so many homeschooled kids in one place. There are at least 150ish of them, divided into 9 leagues based on age, and based on gender when they reach the 7-9 yr old league. The kids were all great and polite, the parents were as well. Somehow I managed to hook myself up with a group of staunch catholic moms, all of whom have at least 5 kids ;) Ok, ONE has 3 kids but she's young yet. They all attend the same church too, I'm not sure how I was welcomed into the mix, but I was.

BTW - if your 2.5 yr old comes into the kitchen asking for "my pooping stuff" he means PUDDING.