Mindless Ramblings and other useless thoughts

Wow another 2 months have passed....

2010-08-15T14:30:00.003-05:00

And yes, I do have much to report!

First the good stuff:

We have decided to head back to DIsney! 9 days for Girl Child 1's Birthday. Well, we will smartly arrive before she turns 10 so that she will be considered a child the entire trip, but she will get to celebrate her actual Birthday there!

BUT before I go I will be headed to Vegas to witness my little sister's Best Friend's wedding. Woohoo!! Sat - Wed in Vegas then Tues - the following Wednesday in Disney! I am loving October this year!

More Good Disney News: We are surprising my kids by having our best friends join us! Their kids do not know, either. THey will all find out that morning in the airport! I can't wait!

Even more good news: I am now the proud owner of an iPhone 4. I still do not know much about it, but I am having a ton of fun learning about it!

Sad news: Igore (EYE Gore) my beloved Kitty of 18 years had to be put down Friday afternoon. Thursday Afternoon it was very apparent he was not well, and based on his age, we figured it was time. He will be missed!

And on a happy note: I have paperwork in the works to become a stay at home travel agent for Dream Come True Vacations! I get to work from home AND expand my Disney knowledge all the while helping others discover why its the Happiest place on Earth!

Everyone else is doing just fine. Will try to update more often!

is this thing on?

2010-06-16T18:11:00.002-05:00

Wow. Time sure does fly!!

Sorry about leaving my poor blog to fend for itself for so long!

Since November: Thanksgiving came and went, and just after that, my gall bladder left as well. Well, it was more evicted than left. Christmas and New Years have passed. My Birthday was non eventful, as was Valentine's day. The boy's annual trip to Cincinnati was also mundane, but happy in that we do not have to go back for TWO years now! Easter happened, I picked up a part time temporary job, Mother's day is long passed, too. My Goofy Girl turned EIGHT! I celebrated my 11th wedding anniversary and next week the boy will turn FIVE!! SWOOSH! Time rushes by!!

So. How ya doing?

ANOTHER new week!

2009-11-16T08:28:00.003-05:00

Last week became the week of the dentists!

Monday M lost one of her teeth (#6!). That night she showed me that her gums were very swollen near one of her molars. It was the size of a marble! I called the dentist and got her in the following day at 2. I check again before she went to bed and it was still swollen, but now looked like it was coming to a head?!?! By morning it was still red and angry looking, but no longer the size of a marble. I sent her to school with a note and picked her up at 1:30.

We get to the dentist and she finds that it is abscessed and has burst (SHe found the hole) Ew. An x-ray confirms that her adult molar is trying to come in, but her baby molar is firmly in place. The space in between has a significant pocket of ew. The baby molar will need to come out. M is NOT happy. SHe flat out REFUSES even though the dentist and I am willing and able to it immediately. She BEGS us to let her come back in the morning to have it done. Against our better judgement, we agree and set her up to return at 9AM.

Wednesday there is no school, and my In Laws are AWESOME so I take the other 2 kids over there and then on to the dentist with M. She is confident and in a fairly good mood. Only squirmed a bit with the novacaine, and was SO brave during the extraction process, which took under 2 minutes after the meds took effect. M agrees that we contact the tooth fairy to come the following night so that she can take her very cool looking molar with roots still attached to school.

Lots of packing changes, antibiotics and a bit of motrin and she is well enough to go to dance class and church that night.

Thursday the girls are off to school then its the boy's turn to go to his dentist for a filling. Laughing gas and novacain for him as well.

Friday it my turn. I get 3 fillings, and the one we were worried about was NOT deep enough to require an other root canal.

Later this week, we start on the crowns. Can't be the princess of everyday adventures with out them! LOL!

Still no word from the hospital about my impending surgery, but knock on wood, I"ve been feeling pretty good!!

Its a new week!

2009-11-09T20:25:00.002-05:00

Last week I had a successful root canal, even though my #4 tooth had 2 roots. The stubby one almost got away with hiding, but it was found and drilled out in time.

I also met my surgeon, who I really like! We have a date in 2-3 weeks. THe exact date I do not know yet, but I know we will see each other again ... LOL. Yes, by gall bladder needs to come out. I've been doing OK with just diet restrictions, but I never know what will make the nausea make an appearance. The nerve. SHowing up unannounced.

Saturday I took Pup to class and she is doing GREAT!! Still just baby steps of success with "heel", "Wait" is coming along nicely, and then she decided "we" needed to learn "longdog" and "roll over" this week as well! LOL!

Sunday we skipped church since the boy was up with nightmares like a yoyo. No idea why, he was crying so hard he could barely catch his breath each time. The final time I tucked him in, the only thing I could plainly hear is "M likes the big TV". um. I llike the big TV, too, but maybe that was not the best time to tell him. SO that afternoon we took advantage of 70º temps (In BUFFALO?!? in NOVEMBER?!?) to clean out the garage. We have some empty shelves, a huge pile of trash, and when that pile is gone. our tenant will be able to park in there as well!

Today is nothing spectacular. I'm catching up on laundry, training the pup, making cookies, regular mom stuff. OOH Except the tooth fairy needs to come tonight AND same girl child needs to get to the dentist tomorrow. She looks like she has an abscess Lets hope it is an easy fix! I am sending her to school with a note. I'll pick her up at 1:30, whisk her off to the dentist and hopefully be home by 3 to get the boy off the bus. In Laws are on standby if I can't get home in time. 3:45 I have to pick up Girl CHild #1 at school.

SO there is the past week. Wednesday all the kids will be home. Thursday the Boy with get his filling taken care of and Friday I will get my filling taken care of and hope it does not turn into another root canal. By then I should also have my surgery date! Is it wrong of me to look forward to a bit of forced down time?

*sigh* cookies are done and kids need tucking in. Such is the life of a Trophy Wife in Training.

How's your week shaping up?

2009-11-02T09:47:00.002-05:00

I"ll bet even money that its infinitely better than mine will be!

Today is the only full day I have at home, and I have to clean the entire house and make a meat market run. Oh and pay on my Christmas Lay away and the car loan. Oh and pick up DH's meds.

Tomorrow I will get to have my head shrunk.

Wednesday I get to have a root canal! I"ve always wanted one of those! NOT! Followed by the "typical crazy" schedule of picking one kid up at school at 3:45 to make it to their jazz/ tap class by 4. Volunteer at Salvation Army (if I'm up to it) until they are done at 6, then race to church for their AWANA meetings until 8, then home for night time/ bed stuff.

Thursday I get to relax a bit at my Mother's Or PreSchoolers (MOPS) meeting then do my bill stuff.

Friday I have a surgical consult to have my gall bladder removed. Then I will make a mad dash to the bank and try to make it home in time to get the kids off the bus.

Saturday we have the boy's tap class in the morning and the dog's training class in the afternoon.

With exception of the MOPS meeting, and my puppy time, it doesn't look like too much fun, but I will manage! In all this I still have to find time to cook for the family, do laundry, train the dog, wash the dishes, feed the cat, blog, take a shower or two, bathe the dog, take my meds, monitor homework, and deal with what ever else wants to pop up this week!

Being a Trophy Wife is never easy!

Busy weekend

2009-10-26T07:39:00.002-05:00

We made it through possibly the most trying weekend of my whole life! Me dealing with gallstones (Call to surgeon will happen later today) and a HUGE amount of laundry caused by all 3 kids getting head lice, Cat deciding to pee on the carpet in the living room, not one but TWO birthday parties to host, and then pulling the silverware drawer completely out, dumping the ENTIRE contents onto a floor that had not been washed in a week.

*sigh*.

I've never looked forward to Monday more in my entire life! Today will be a good day, no matter what the surgeon says!!

The boy and his costume.

2009-10-23T20:40:00.001-05:00

Last year he wanted to be an "Elephant Speed Racer bad guy". We negotiated down to just "elephant"

This year was MUCH easier. He just wants to be a bat. A Scary Bat, NOT a baseball bat!

Can't wait to see what next year brings!

A Fall Haiku

2009-10-22T20:11:00.001-05:00

Dedicated to my doggie woggie

Colored Falling Leaves
Distracting my Puppy Dog
As she tries to pee.

Very deep, I know.

My newest train of thought on becoming a Trophy wife!

2009-10-01T12:25:00.002-05:00

I know that I do not post nearly as much as I"d like to, but probably more than you want me too, but I have to share this with everyone. (And I use that term loosely since I think I only have 2 people that actually read this thing!)

I have discovered yet another training tool to help me become that Trophy wife I know I am!

This one deals with my attitude. I know it happens around here, so it must happen other places, too. I tell my wonderful, Dear Husband something important to me and he tends to "forget" about it or black out on certain points, or deny the conversation ever took place in the first place.

Well, I used to get aggravated at him, but I've come to realize, like most things in life, it is NOT his fault!!!

He was just distracted by my overall awesomeness to fully comprehend what I am telling him. So next time he gets mad at me for not reminding him about DInner at his Parents, I no longer sigh or get mad. I just take pity and remind myself what he has to deal with in living with awesomeness of this magnitude and help him work through it. He is a terrific judge of character, he just underestimated my awesomeness!!

20 year reunion and all is well.

2009-08-01T23:13:00.002-05:00

i do not seem nearly old enough to have a 20 year anniversary of anything, but I attended my 20 your HIgh School reunion last night. It was strange in a way, but mostly fun and refreshing. Strange in that I realize how much I've forgotten since I walked the halls of NW. Mostly the people! Some of my fellow reunion attenders were unrecognizable. It did not matter that their names were on their badges along with their senior pix, I still had no clue who some of these people were! Does that make me a bad person?

I had a great time catching up on those I've lost touch with and it was nice to see others whom I only speak with over the computer. the night was way too short though. There were many that I didn't get to talk to, or didn't get to spend enough time with. It seemed a hug and hello were the order of the day, but nothing spectacular followed. This is partly my silly "OOOH SHINEY!" brain defect and mostly because I wanted to get in depth with those I really missed!

All in all, everyone looked great, some looked older than others, some looked EXACTLY like they did in high school and, gosh darn it, we all mostly turned out just fine!

survivor!

2009-06-12T14:17:00.004-05:00

um, ok, maybe too strong of a word, but I did survive a pit bull attack that is!

I started out to walk our 6 month old puppy and only got 2 doors down when our neighbor's 2 pit bulls attacked us! Candi, mostly, but I was in the way.

We both made it out alive, thanks to the kindness and insanity of 3 of our neighbors' visitors, one of which wrestled BOTH dogs to the ground and held them in headlocks until animal control arrived. Not before they chewed some serious holes into my pup and me, too.

I made it out with scratches to my nose, upper lip, chin and under my chin and a serious scratch and other scratches to my ribs including one puncture mark, which was all checked out by immediate treatment. I am now on antibiotics.

Puppy needed staples to close a few of her wounds and was shaven in many more spots. We rescheduled her spaying, which was supposed to be yesterday. We will now do it when she gets her staples removed.

Today (Day 2 after the attack) I am still very sore and tired. I stopped sleeping. I did take a xantax last night and slept better, but far from great. and Pup needs a bit of coaxing to get her outside again. *sigh*

and nope, that ER visit was not free, either.

funny things my boy has said...

2009-04-17T20:59:00.003-05:00

I really want to open this candy very very very now!

Me: Why is there a fudgcicle and a banana in the blender? boy: Because there is ice on the floor.

Me: Why are you in my bed again? boy: because my bed is cold and doesn't smell like you.

Momma? Here - smell my brains. (Offers me his hair to smell)

Pirates do NOT wear jackets! me: Pirates who go to school do! The boy: Oh, I didn't know that! I'll wear my jacket!

me: Why are you licking your foot? Boy: to get the smell of shoe off it.

Momma, these are the best potatoes ever! me: do you want some more? Boy: no, sanks, they are too mashy.

I love having a boy!

Things I've learned since I last blogged:

2009-04-15T19:11:00.004-05:00

totally random.

The 3rd ER visit is NOT free, but you are already in the system so you get checked in really fast.

It is impossible to say no when being stared down by a puppy breathed, floppy eared baby doggy.

Baby Doggies will make you keep your home cleaner.

Except the kitchen. FOr some reason, that will get even messier, even though baby doggie is not allowed in there.

If you find yourself owning a blackberry you'd better stock up on sweaters because you will feel SO cool!

The boy will ask you is the Easter Bunny will come lay eggs the night after Easter, too.

Taking pix of 3 kids (8,6,3) and a 13 week old puppy at the same time is like trying to nail jello to a tree.

It will take close to 350 shots to get 6 really great ones but they will make you forget about the other ones entirely!

You can love a puppy so much that you will lose your sanity, carry it around in a baby carrier and wonder how your life was ever lived before this moment!

Any 300 mile car trip will take an hour longer than it should if you travel with children.

Children need less sleep the later they stay up.

Your DH will INSIST you take another cruise and you are very happy when your mom says she will go with you and even happier when your far away niece calls to say she wants to go too!

Even Disney will miss you and offer you great thing. Another Disney trip is in the works - 9 days POR, free dining!

Migraines can strike quickly and without ANY provocation. You will be eternally grateful that not only did you refill your magic pills, they are now available in generic so you no longer have to contemplate if its "just" a headache or worse and NOT take your magic pill! Since they are now generic they cost less than $1 each instead of the $5 each they were!

DVR may be our household best electronics purchase ever.

item #359842 that I"ve never thought I'd ever have to say.

2009-01-29T17:00:00.002-05:00

Its a COMPUTER not a PIGGY BANK!

my beloved system has been away getting fixed since I could not put anything into the DVD drive.

It returned home today with the offending object attached. A Quarter.

*sigh*.

Maybe the boy was just trying to buy something off Disney or Noggin?

Happy Birthday to me!

2009-01-18T10:52:00.003-05:00

I"m in a good place.

I am surrounded my a terrific family and a nice circle of friends. I have all my needs taken care of - well, some by me, but I can meet them at least!

Life is good. I keep saying that, but it is just SO true!

I pray each of you will have the peace I have today, and that is doesn't take 38 years for you to find it.

Birthdays and the boy.

2009-01-13T09:21:00.003-05:00

I really love this age. THe boy is 3.5.

This is not stopping him from planning his birthday party. He will tell anyone the plans he has so far. This is not new to me. The 8YO was forever trying to plan her own surprise party. She gave up on that one. The 6YO loves parties, but likes to just gather friends at home. When I asked her what she would like for her birthday party, she gave me a look and said in her most sarcastic tone "You know, a PARTY? Friends, Games, a cake?." Duh. I had no idea what a party was LOL.

The boy is always planning his party. He chatted up the woman in line behind us telling her of the plans for the party in our back yard. Being its Buffalo, and its January, and there is not one, but 2 Alberta Clippers about to bear down on us, she asked if it will be cold. Imagine her surprise when he told her his Burfday is in June!

So far he has a list of people he wants to invite. (I was happy to hear, I made the A list!) He wants it to be in our back yard (Specifically NOT Bounce Magic or CHuck E Cheese and NOT Applebys like his soon to be 5 YO cousin. He wants CAKE. ANd wants to help make it. He wants a picture of himself on that cake. Um, ok, Buddy we will do our best. And he wants....Hula Dancers. Girls. NOT his sisters. Five of them. DH said if his boy wants Hula dancers, he will PERSONALLY audition them for him. What a guy. The boy also wants water balloons. Filled with water.

Um When do boys learn to be boys? Hula Dancers? FIVE of them? Really? And if they cold he told me, he will let them wear his jackets. He is, after all, a gentleman.

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-04T17:04:00.003-05:00

Resolutions.

I tend to not make them, or make them so vague its impossible to fail.

We are working on measurable goals in my MOPS group this year and I have yet to fill mine out! (Yup, MOPS season is 1/2 over already!)

So, my standard goals of "Be better off than I am at this time next year and try at least one new things" will stay, but I need to implement something more concrete.

I guess a good place to start (And turn to!) will be devotion time. I should do this, I WANT to do this, I never seem to stick to it, or screw up the first part of the day/ week/ month/ year that I think "Why bother", so I will start with a tiny MEASURABLE baby step of trying to get 15 minutes A WEEK in place. How's that for measurable AND achievable?

I also want to work on my office. Yup, WAY back when a FLYlady group I am on had the motto of "Find the floor 2004" this was what I wanted to work on, but I had no real goals then. YES, I DID find the floor, and we have been using the front door for the kids, so I've even kept it reasonable clear. - Well a walk way is clear most of the time at least!

I even get most of my desk cleared off sometimes, but I can't seem to make it "stick". SO my measurable, achievable baby step will be to spend 5-10 minutes a week decluttering - and REMOVING the things I no longer love.

My FINAL "measurable and achievable" baby step will be to find a pair of jeans I absolutely LOVE then "find" the money to purchase them. I will need to be more on task with my budgeting and waste less! I will need to continue with my good food and exercise choices so they fit me for a LONG time. These jeans will fit me well, not gap or sag in anyplace, will not ride too high, or too low. Will move with me, not be too short or too long. Should not require a belt to keep them in place, and should be flattering overall. I may even *GASP* pay retail for them!

SO what are your goals? How will you judge your success?

I never thought I'd be me!!!!!

2008-12-10T16:22:00.001-05:00

how you, too, can get a $120 Easy Bake Oven

2008-12-09T18:14:00.003-05:00

Easy Bake Oven on sale for $19.99 on hasbro.com

OOH remember earlier coupon code for 25% off.

Hey, order at least $50 (after discount) and get free shipping.

Add on frosting pen for $15 and two multi packs of mixes (about $13 each). Not quite enought to get free shipping. Talk to DH, he thinks the $50 for 4 future shipments of product is a great deal, added to cart. Hmm not included in the free shipping though.

OK, can still get 25% off, but still need to order more to qualify for free shipping.

Add more mixes to get it over the total.

Won't take my shipping information.

OK figured it out. Now won't take CC info. GRR.

NOW it says cannot process order try again.

Try again.

And again.

Find and call 1-800 number

Painstakingly give all product info once again since they can't "see' my cart on their system for some reason.

GRR Multi pack of product is now out of stock,

Order more packs of mix to bring new order up to required amount.

CS person unsure if I can place an order with a CC that is not mine.

Holding. OK it can be done.

Try process again.

CS person now tells me pink oven is out of stock.

Order blue instead, but consider chucking the whole idea since it has now been almost an hour and a half on this one silly order!

Finally get a confirmation number. But still ended up paying $9.99 in shipping and no one knows why.

Give up. take order anyway and pray it arrives by Christmas.

The End.

Dealing with a Tummy Egg.

2008-09-03T18:04:00.002-05:00

That is why there is STILL no trip report. ALl are on the mend and everyone went to school today so that is a step in the right direction!

The boy is the last to get sick, and we are down to just breathing treatments 3 times a day. His TUmmy Egg is now gone so the potty learning and big boy pants are back on! (We were dealing with um, a bunch of poop, so we had him back in diapers for a couple days until the tummy egg went away.

How did it go away? According to the Boy, The Tummy Egg goes away when it cracks and the gushy stuff gets out ROFL!!!

Well, that is ONE way to explain it!

Back from FAYcation, but I've been too busy to post.

2008-08-31T07:05:00.003-05:00

Vacation was GREAT! Wet, but great. I will do a proper trip report most likely after school starts later this week.

Life here has been crazy, BUT, School shopping is nearly complete, closet clean up has occurred (Who knew 3 kids under 8 could accumulate so many shoes?), House is clean, kitchen sinks are shiny, there is food in the house, and I am off to church in a bit. I start to volunteer there next month! YAY! Just one Sunday a month for now. OH. and I turned in my application for January admission to college EEEK!

SO lots going on. I can't believe Summer is almost over! As much as I love the "Freedom" that comes with Summer (Especially when swim lessons and Gymnastics are over) I look forward to settling into a routine!

SO, Look forward to me blogging away in the near future. (THat is if there is anyone out there that actually still reads this besides me LOL)

Almost...there....

2008-08-12T07:48:00.001-05:00

THREE DAYS!!!!

I am about 85% done with the kids' packing. ALl their clothes are "Bagged and tagged" and in their suitcase and the boy's carry on is packed. Today I should finish the girls' carry ons then move on to my packing.

One week form today we will be at Animal Kingdom and getting ready to eat at Yak ANd Yeti!!

DH's alarm went off this AM (I was already awake, just laying in bed) and as he stirred to tiptoe to turn it off (HE keeps it in the bathroom LOL!) I whispered "I'm too excited to sleep" to which he chuckled and said "I KNOW!! Me, too!!"

By this time Friday we will be somewhere over the Atlantic coastline jetting our way to MCO!

I am beyond excited to go on this trip that almost wasn't!!

t minus 5 days 8 hours 38 minutes an counting...

2008-08-09T21:52:00.002-05:00

Almost on vacation! We can't wait!

9 days in WDW!!!

WOOHOO!!

Catch you when I get back!

The good and the bad.

2008-07-16T10:42:00.003-05:00

I've been car shopping for 2 days now, but yesterday my van officially was declared dead. SO I need a van YESTERDAY. We were able to walk to 3 of our errands today, but now i need to call my FIL for a ride to look for a new car and hope we can take delivery today. UGH! That is the bad.

The good is that I was able to rebook our outgoing flights again and saved another $120. Not exactly enough to buy a new to me van, but every little bit helps!

Off to find a newish, low mile, no rust 7 passenger vehicle that is great on gas and under $12000.

UPDATED!!

THis was taken from another board I post on since I am a bit lazy LOL!

Our van is officially dead. We knew we were on borrowed time, but yesterday the thingy that holds the steering mechanism to the frame snapped off! (OK you knew that already - this was posted Wednesday Morning around 8 AM)

SO now I had to walk the boy to school (just 1/3 mile each way) and will have to walk to swimming lessons (1/2 mile each way) but I hear thunder in the distance.

FIL has agreed to take me car shopping (DH has to work) but I do NOT want to do this today! But we are being sensible and not renting a car for now. I have a lead on one older minivan, but it is in the opposite direction form where we wanted to go car shopping and my FIL is not so great about "all that highway" driving.

At least Disney is Paid in Full and we do have a bit of cash on hand for a down payment and taxes, etc.

UGH!!!

Just had to get that out. Prayers for a minivan, not too old, rust free, under 40,000 miles on it and under $11,000 would be deeply appreciated!

THIS was the update posted at 10 PM

FIL Decided it was better for everyone if they stayed back to watch the kids and just let me take their van (I agree, but was surprised that they let me take their not quite a year old car "unsupervised!")

Storm stayed north of here, and even though first lessons were cancelled (Its an outdoor pool) The girls got to do theirs with no raindrops, and we made it home again.

FIL gave me his car, I went to check on the 1 iffy lead and 1 solid lead we had and came back empty handed and disappointed. The solid lead was about 12 hours old and while the car was still on the lot, it had a deposit on it. I did get another lead on a car coming in about 40 minutes, but I had to leave to get the boy.

I got the boy just 3 minutes late, and then went to get Molly and had FIL drop us off at home so Char could visit alone.

I let the kids ride around the block with me trailing and then fielded phone calls form various car guys telling me what they found. Nothing exciting, but I took the info to check when we were all back in the house.

Nothing excited me seeing it on the computer either, so I started a fresh search and the 2nd one I found was great! DH stopped home for kisses and told me to jump on it, see if I could get a live view of it and then just buy it if I thought it was a good one (DH trusts me with it after seeing me in action Monday night - he was confident that I would not give into pressure and knew we were in agreement on important features.)

I called the contact listed on the ad and asked a few questions, made arrangements to see it "live" in about an hour, called my credit union to transfer the down payment to my checking just in case and inquire about their rates and probable monthly payment, Then called my ILS back, they came to get me and the kids, and they let me use their car once again. DH called to say he would be able to meet me there (Insert sigh of relief here since I really didn't want to get this wrong no matter how much confidence HE has in me LOL!) then headed over.

I was greeted by a sales man who told me he was expecting me and not even 5 minutes later "my contact" came out to introduce himself and assured me that they guy was one of the best and left me alone with him. We scoured the car thoroughly and DH arrived in time for a test drive. BEAUTIFUL van inside and out, 2 years newer than the one we missed out on earlier, less miles and cheaper, too! We were in agreement that if we could get the financing, we would be buying it, but the salesman first took us on a tour of the entire operation from the service department check in, bay area, quick lube, body and detail shops and 2 showrooms (New and used lots) then we came back to get serious.

Everyone took time to smile, shake our hands, joke around and was very nice! Not to mention how CLEAN everything was! Even the kids area. It was "loved" but not dirty. We got to work on the negotiations (Trying to see what terms suited our needs and we got it after 2 tries. Then we met with the official finance guy and came up with the "final" number. Then we were told they would need about an hour to get things finalized, so they lead us back to the "other" showroom to get started on the insurance transfer and then we left to drop of the IL's car and get the plates of our van. We signed off on all the paperwork while our sales guy put our plates on the van, and then he handed us the key and walked us to the van, explaining EVERYTHING to us before letting us drive away. "THis is where your headlights are, the highbeams, this is how the radio/ AC/ heat/ whatever works." and "Oh hey, don't drive away before we can give you your coupon for your first oil change for free AND remember you will get a free car wash, too!" OUTSTANDING customer service over all.

IN reality, I found this van online around 4PM and we had it parked in our driveway by 9! Truly amazing!

My home was so clean I invited the firemen over to see!

2008-07-05T14:36:00.005-05:00

And they brought the police, and ambulance and some EMTS as well.

Ok, not so much "invite" as much as had my neighbor call 911. I would have called, but my hands were full. See the boy's head was stuck in the cat door and I had my hands in there to protect the skin on his head and neck from the raw wood.

sigh The boy is fine. The door is not.

Note to all: Saw dust will stick to butter.

Doing Disney

2008-07-03T18:34:00.002-05:00

I am very excited to report that we changed our Disney plans, thanks to a discount code I found online We are now going for 9 days instead of 6 and staying at Port Orleans Riverside instead of WIlderness Cabins. We are paying for the dining plan instead of getting it for free, but with canceling the golf cart, we are saving $500 over all. Not a bad deal for a family of 5 that wasn't going to go this year!

We are paid in full, less than 43 days out and have all our sit down meals planned out.

AND thanks to our other purchase this year, the Wii Fit, I should have a smokin' body to take on vacation! I may be sporting noticeable ab muscles! Me! A Mom of 3!

Anyway. I love planning Disney Vacations! They are even more fun to plan when you actually are going!

Are Wii Having fun yet?

2008-06-20T18:16:00.002-05:00

YUP!!

We got a Wii just before Mother's day. THe basic system, Wii Play, and Link's Cross bow. IT was fun, and we enjoyed it.

3 weeks later we get Guitar Hero 3, 2 steering wheels, Thrill Ville and Indy 500. Wow! Never know family time could evoke SO much laughter! ANd I can't remember the last time I felt SO accomplished as the night I ran downstairs where DH was recording with one of his artist and I burst in exclaiming " I beat the devil on Easy!!".

THis past week, was perhaps my shining achievement I managed to snag Mario Kart AND a Wii Fit.

I've NEVER laughed SO hard while exercising in my life! I love that it is very encouraging, with a hint of attitude. I love that when I end up as a snowball at the bottom of a giant downhill ski hill, that I can't wait to do it again! I love that my girls, now 7 and 6, willingly race each other and laugh SO hard when they LOSE!

I'm sure I will be sore, but I am equally sure I will be playing this thing more tonight. and tomorrow. and the next day!

Nope, no endorsement deals here, just letting you know that there are things that live up to the hype!

Back to Disney we go!

2008-06-10T14:12:00.002-05:00

DH discussed it at length and we were in agreement: No DIsney until 2009. Um then DH got an e-mail claiming that the time to book Free dining is almost over and well, he said well, lets just do it! Being ever the level headed one, I protested, but he insisted, so here is it 3 days later and I have our room booked, airline tickets, ADR's (Advance dining reservations) and even reserved a golf cart to use!

All done while setting up and throwing a party for my new 6 YO, picking my dad up at the airport, registering all 3 kidlets for swimming and gymnastics for the summer, going to church and trying to relax. Um no, the laundry did not get done, but hey, I took on a lot this weekend, and I am getting caught up today!

SOOOOO Back we go! YAY!!!

the most randomest of thoughts

2008-06-05T08:35:00.004-05:00

I was volunteering at my newly 6YO's school the other day and I zoned out for a bit.

And I've been pondering this very strange thought ever since.

I have decided that I never want to play "SImon says" with circus folk.

Nothing against them personally, but I just do not think I could ever win when the "Caller" says things like "Simon says 'put your butt on your head'" OR "Simon says 'Balance on one arm'" and everyone there can do it but me.

*sigh*

Why can't I dream about hunky guys barely dressed like every other housewife out there?

2 pounds 14 oz.

2008-06-02T07:19:00.003-05:00

That does not sound very big at all. And well, it isn't. I've gained as much on a good weekend of holiday eating. But 6 years ago today my baby girl came into this world weighing just that!

You'd never know it today, although she is still on the small size, she makes up for it with enthusiasm!

I love her more than I can tell you, even when she writes on the newly painted white walls. In black Sharpie. Again.

I can still remember her in her isolette with my wedding ring next to her arm looking like a bracelet. I remember how scared I was at her sudden entrance and the roller coaster ride we took the next 6 weeks one day she spent in the NICU.

But it was all worth it to see my energizer bunny bound through the house full of energy. At 6:15 AM. Again.

My baby girl is now 6. Wow.

She is having her first friend party here on Saturday and decided on a Hawaiian Luau theme. When I asked her what kind of party she wanted at first she looked at me like I was an alien and said in a pseudo sarcastic tone " A BIRTHDAY Party...you know, friends...games...cake!" Then realized I was asking about theme not content and we started brainstorming. I tried hard not to laugh at how seriously she was describing WHAT a party was to me.

I love my baby girl. Whoops. I guess she is a little girl. At least I still have the boy. I can call him my baby still since he is very 2. Well, for 3 more weeks, then it will be his turn. He will be 3!

Vacation was nice but the service here sucks.

2008-05-14T10:52:00.002-05:00

I have to say that the service here sucks. I had a wonderful few days where people willingly made me an insane amount of food to choose from and happily took my dirty dishes away. IN the time it took me to eat my breakfast, my bed was made for me and fresh towels were laid out in a clean bathroom that I did not clean. Some time after dinner I'd return to my room to find my bed turned down and a chocolate placed on my pillow.

Since Sunday, the service has greatly declined. Breakfast was nice, and the dishes got cleared away swiftly. Lunch was fairly good, but when I was handed the menu there was these strange numbers next to the food items, and they refused to take my state room card. Same with dinner. THey did clear away my plates at least, but when I went to bed Sunday night, there was no sign of a chocolate on my pillow.

Monday, I had to make my own bed and get this: I had to PREPARE food for OTHERS, and if I wanted any, I had to get it myself. No one came to clear my plate, I had to take it to the kitchen all by myself, and then I realized, I was expected to wash them as well, and when I got out of the house not only did I have to drive myself to the donut store, I had to use these little green pieces of paper since no one is willing to use my handy cruise card anymore.

It gets worse. I had to venture to the bowels of my home to use a washing machine and a dryer and then was expected to return all the clean clothes to their proper homes, and if I wanted clean sheets, I had to do it myself as well. And if preparing meals for others isn't bad enough, I was forced to go out and restock the cabinets as well.

I'm getting by just fine, and slowly coming to the realization that my wonderful vacation is over. There is no miles of ocean to be seen from my bedroom window and I there are now much bigger uncertainties than "How windy/ humid is it?" or "where will my morning and afternoon naps be?"

BUT there is a reward in it all. Monday night The Boy announced he no longer wants to wear diapers. We have only had 2 small accidents, and none in his bed! He will be 3 next month, and for the first time in almost 8 years, my diaper changing days may be over!!!!

For those of you that didn't know: My wonderful DH sent me away on a short cruise tot he bahamas with my friend, leaving the guys to fend for themselves and our children!!! We left extremely early Thursday, flew form Buffalo to Ft Lauderdale, boarded the ship around noon, spent a couple days sailing, just a few hours on Princess Cays, got off the ship Sunday morning, where a friend picked us up, drove us around Ft Lauderdale and Miami before depositing us back to the airport and I was home just before midnight Sunday Night.

It was WONDERFUL while on board that ship I tell ya!!

me, on the left and my friend, S.

Have I REALLY changed my last diaper?

2008-05-14T08:58:00.003-05:00

I've been changing diapers for nearly 8 years now! That is a LONG time, trust me!

I got home from my fabulous Mother's day Cruise with my girlfriend (More on that later) and kissed my sleeping children before crawling into bed with my dear husband late SUnday night.

I was awaken in the morning with an excited "My Momma! She's HOME!" My Momma! She's HERE!" Which was a great way to start my first full day back from, paradise (More on that trip in a later post).

I got my sweet kids all off to school on time, even getting all 3 of them a donut treat before school. It was great! Then I set out to do the banking that didn't get done and pay some bills that didn't get paid, coming back to start to unpack all the bags. Now mind you, I only took a total of 4 bags - 2 checked bags, my carry on and my purse, but DH took the kids away for a couple days as well, and each of the kids packed 3 small bags. That's a ton of luggage that invaded my dining room.

Anyway, I got each of the kids back home again, and went about the business of laundry and dishes, etc. and even managed to remember to cook and feed them all dinner! After dinner my sweet boy, who will be 3 next month announced. "I don't need diapers anymore. I a big boy!" And requested big boy pants. Hmm. Well, What's the worse that can happen? ANother load or two of sheets, etc on the already huge pile. I do not feel like arguing with my boy since I am still in a very relaxed mood, so I insist he use the potty one last time, remind him that he is not wearing a diaper and send him to bed.

We make it through the night accident free. I have a few errands to run and I have to take the boy with me, so every chance we get, I make him sit on the potty. He goes peeps every time. Hmm.

He takes a nap and wakes up accident free. We have one smallish accident when I forget to make him sit on the potty after yet another errand, but he remembers as he is going, and only gets his big boy pants and jeans wet, nothing else. I applaud his effort and give him a choice, but he chooses big boy pants yet again.

We go to my mother's house to celebrate her birthday, and we make it there (About 25 miles) and home again accident free. I make him go potty one last time before bed and he wakes up accident free yet again. He wakes up groggy, but hungry and insists that he does NOT have to go peeps, so I get him his breakfast, against my mommy instinct to have him sit on the potty anyway. He goes in his pants while eating, but I still applaud him for staying dry so long, make him sit on the potty to finish, and put fresh big boy pants on him. He must have stopped himself since it only took one paper towel to clean up and he is just wearing thin jammies.

SO now my boy is off to school in big boy pants. I sent in 2 changes of clothing, but since they make them all go potty about every hour on the hour I have confidence that he will be just fine!

I am very excited about this stage of life. DIAPER FREE!!! Imagine what I can spend that money on! Well, next month's allotment just went to more big boy pants. And a cookie at the "parking lot" for the boy. His request. I know he meant the mall, but he always calls it the parking lot. as in "Can we go ride the crocodile at the parking lot?" Translation: "Can we ride the elevator at the mall?" Not sure what goes on in that boy's head sometimes, but at least I can figure out what he means and right now, he means he no longer wishes to wear diapers!!!

Now what to do with the ones I have left over here......

Strange things....

2008-03-29T06:58:00.004-05:00

WHo know that a SAHM like me can motive another to actually get out of the state for some girls only fun time!

DH has been away once again, but before he left, my SIL said 'SO, why do you get to go away all the time, when is it E's turn?" DH replied: "Whenever she wants." My heart skipped a beat, but I dared not get excited.

SO I did what I do best: Started to plan a fantasy vacation. But to where? NEW YORK CITY! I lived here in a former life, and really want to get back to it. But the more I thought about it and my #2 choice, CHicago, other than taking in a show, I had no idea what else (Low cost) I could do and safety fears ran rampant through my mind. How could I pick a good hotel in a safe neighborhood? THen the numbers started to climb. Airfare. OK, not horrible, but then how will I get to my hotel? Shuttle? Taxi? Rental car? How will I get around the city? Hmm prices get higher still.

I abandoned that plan and started to daydream again. Hey, if I get away without the kids, I want to go somewhere warm!! ANd my favorite, warm, safe, clean, free transportation place is DISNEY WORLD!!! I didn't think it was possible, but ran some numbers for different travel dates with 2-4 to a room. Wow. IT is REALLY reasonable! I talk to DH who was in Miami at this point and tell him my findings. His response? "DO it up, Baby!" What? Really? I let myself get really excited. I shoot off about 11 or so e-mails to women that I know that I can tolerate for long periods of time. ONe is pretty interested. SHe is planning a WDW trip in the fall. So is another! OOOH! This may really happen! The next 5 are all no's. I call one another friend since she won't get the e-mail for a couple days (SHe works very part time) and she is really interested and promises to get back to me the next day.

Wednesday I see a couple more women on my Mom's morning off and they are all no as well. I get an e-mail from one of the first that was interested and she is now a no. SO is the 2nd. I am still hopeful. The crushing blow comes from the friend I called. While her DH is all for her getting away, she doesn't feel right about going to WDW before she takes her kids, but would consider a cruise or something possibly in the fall when the prices go down.

I fight back tears and tell her thanks for letting me day dream a bit, but fall cruises are cheap for a reason: Hurricane season.

I feel defeated, but need a pick me up, so I decide to research a few cruises to satisfy my curiosity since there is no way I can afford one. I am once again hopeful. I find some "Last minute deals" and a short 3 night cruise is actually not too ad at all! I call my friend, S back asking if she would consider a short Mother's day Cruise. I hold my breath. YES! SHe would, but would have to discuss it with her DH. OK I continue to search different departure dates, places and ports of call. I match them with potential airfares and jot down a few prices.

My DH calls to check in once again and I inform him that my "last hope" has said no to WDW, but may consider a cruise. HIs response? "I was gonna suggest that!"

I get a call back yesterday the guys are on the phone with each other and YES, the trip is a go! WOOHOO!!!

I finish putting the kids to bed, then call my AAA agent to see if they can do better than what I found. I give her all the details I have and she makes a few calls while I am on hold. She not only finds an outside cabin with an unobstructed view, it is cheaper than the one I found online! I take a chance and have her hold it, then we look at airfares together, finding that she is coming up with the same prices I am.

I call my DH and he asks why I didn't book it already. I call S and she is ready to give me her CC# as well. So now here I sit, waiting for 9AM EST to come up. That is when J will be at her desk. I am excited! I will soon be a cruiser!!!

Visual reference

2008-03-15T07:32:00.001-05:00

I love this one site and I while I was looking at pix, I found the perfect one to describe "Death Flu with Ruptured Ear Drum". Enjoy.

see more crazy cat pics

The Death Flu

2008-03-14T13:44:00.002-05:00

I've often wondered why in this day and age people are still dying of the Flu. Well, maybe OFTEN is an overstatement, but I know the thought has crossed my little pea brain now and then.

I came too close to first hand knowledge.

I set off to church a couple weeks back, totally unsuspecting of the crud that was about to invade my body. I knew I was getting sick, but hey, I'm a Mom. How bad could it be?

By the time I sat in my favorite section at church my entire body ached. Hmm. I must have slept wrong or something. Or there's a front coming in. Or I am Suddenly, without warning, old. Then I could barely stand during Praise and Worship. Hmm I must need more sleep or something. We had a guest paster and I tried my best to listen attentively, even taking notes, but about 10 minutes into his sermon, I realize I have NO IDEA what he is talking about! Wait, I took notes! Hmm No help there. There is no Mahoney 33:13 anywhere in the Bible. The rest is incomprehensible scribbles.

I made it through the rest of the service, not remembering any of it, then onto family worship which I wish would just be over already. I LOVE Family worship, but not today. I gathered the kids and head home, stopping for DH's coffee along the way, nothing for me, thanks.

We make it home and I crawl into bed with DH. I sleep for 2 1/2 hours, and feel like I need more sleep, but we are getting ready to go to dinner with my ILs to celebrate a couple Birthdays. DH offers to take the kids and go without me, but I want to eat out!

I am dizzy and tired and not at all hungry, but I do manage to eat a bit of salad, a breadstick and 2 stuffed mushrooms. I do not eat any of my dinner, but bring it home for later. I"m sure I will feel much better in the morning.

On to my MIL's house and I eat the tiniest piece of cake and about a tablespoon of ice cream, then fall asleep in the chair. In the middle of the living room. WIth about 15 other people in the house around me. DH wakes me and we head home. I jammie up and crawl into bed. I sweat and freeze all night.

Monday comes and I can barely get the 3 kids out the door to their various schools. I have to drive the boy, but come home and promptly fall asleep until nearly 1. I figure I must just need some fresh air and head out to clear a bit of ice from the driveway and storm drain in front of our house. DH is happy to see me up and about and I go get the boy.

I come home and sleep once again until DH wakes me to say he has to head back out to work again. I warm some leftovers in the microwave, but that is almost too much for me to handle. THe kids get fed, jammied and we are all in bed by 7:15. DH calls at 8:30 to say he is on his way home. I do not remember. I sweat and freeze all night once again. I also do not remember a phone conversation with my sister.

Tuesday DH wakes me as he leaves for work, and I know I am down for the count. I drag myself out of bed, get the girls fed, dressed and out the door. My little sister arrives with OJ and muffins and helps M get on the bus, which is running very late today. THen my Little sis makes me some tea and toast, and plays with the boy for a bit. I eat almost one full slice of toast and most of my tea as well as a bit of Oj. SHe leaves around 11 AM, so I only have to deal with the boy for an hour before he needs lunch. I manage a PB&J for him along with 1/2 a banana and then I pull him into me bed with me.

I sleep for nearly 3 Hours. DH came home in that time and took care of the boy when he got up from his nap, and even made me get back in bed wehn my alarm went off to get the girls off the bus. I sleep for almost 2 more hours when DH tells me he HAS to take a service call, but will be back ASAP. I reheat my dinner from SUnday for the kids, jammie them up and we all go to bed by 7. I do call my friend and cancel our plans for Wednesday. Between the impending snow storm and how I am feeling, I do not wish to share my germs. I also make alternate plans for Thursday with my MOPS group.

Wednesday I wake up, feeling a bit better. I manage to eat a muffin that my sis had brought as well as some apple sauce and a banana. I do a bit of laundry and reboot the DW. Then the cough starts. By dinner time I am feeling bad once again, but I do manage to drive the kids to church and home again. We get home, I get everyone jammied up and we are all in bed within 20 minutes of coming home.

I cough/sweat/ freeze all night and by Thursday morning I feel the worse that I have all week. I cancel my Thursday plans and make ride arrangements for the one volunteer I usually drive to MOPS. I call my doc and make an appointment and get one for later that morning.

I drag my smelly butt to the shower and dress and feed the boy. I marvel that I got the girls out the door on time as well. I get to teh doc and only have a short wait. After my exam, it is determined that I have both the flu and bronchitis. I leave with an inhaler and a cough suppressant with codine and instructions to keep taking my Advil codl and sinus and advil as I have been.

I get the boy drive through and come home to sleep. The boy falls asleep on the way home, so I put his lunch in the fridge. DH gets home, takes care of the boy and lets me sleep. I update him when I wake to get more meds in me. He makes pancakes for dinner and I manage to eat 2 silver dollar sized ones.

Friday I wake up with extreme pain in my left ear oh and now I am vomiting. I call my ILS (in laws) to come get the boy. I LOVE my ILs. I try to take my AM meds, but they all come up. I try again with different meds an hour later, and they come up too. I call my doc and they say wait and see since my ears were clear the day before. I try meds one last time, but they come up, too. I switch to ginger ale. THat comes up as well. I stick with tiny sips of water every hour on the hour. That seems to stay down.

DH takes the girls out to play in the newly fallen snow while he snow blows. I sleep more and then wake with a strange sound/ feeling/ pain coming out of my left ear. I hear pop POP pop pop pop crackle WOOOOOSSSHHH and then extreme pain followed by a wetness coming form my ear. Yup. my eardrum ruptured. The pain is excruciating, my cough is still pretty bad, bringing up chunks every time i cough, I am still feverish, now I have a tissue stuck in my ear and nothing wants to stay down. Yes, I am beauty in a blanket!

DH comes in, I inform him what is going on, and he leaves to get the boy and a pizza, none for me, thanks.

I sleep a very restless sleep that night, having to wake every hour or so to change the tissue in my ear. Saturday I am still only managing sips of water, and the pain is getting worse. By 10 AM DH announces he is taking me to immediate treatment and then goes to shower. I do manage to get a gift out of the basement gift closet and wrap it since M has a birthday party to go to. We drop the kids off at my ILs and drive there. Father In Law has agreed to take M to her bowling party. I love my ILs. I sleep the entire way.

We get there and there is no line whatsoever, so we are quickly brought through admissions to triage. I fall sleep waiting for the doc to look me over, but DH said we were only in there about 5 minutes. SHe starts the exam and when I try to take a deep breath, I cough up chunks again. SHe asks to see the tissue I coughed into and we both see red blood. GREAT!!! SHe says I will benefit form IV fluids and meds, but first we need a chest X-ray. I get that done first, then get moved to a bigger room. I fall asleep while she places the IV and draws blood.

I mostly sleep the next hour or so while the fluids and pain meds go in along with anti nausea meds. I feel MUCH better by the time the last of the fluids go in. I leave there with prescriptions for antibiotic and anti dizzy pills. My chest x-ray showed no pneumonia. Wow. At least there is SOME good news! the blood was form my sinuses. I have a raging infection and my sinuses are packed with blood. ew.

I feel well enough to eat a bit, but have no sense of taste or smell, so settle for a fruit and yogurt parfait form Mickey D's. DH also gets me a fruit and walnut salad for later.

I actually stay awake the ride home, but need a nap by the time we get there. DH drops me off, then goes to get the kids and pick up my meds.

Saturday night is a bit rough since DH needs to nap to go to his overnight job and I need to deal with the kids, but we get through it.

Sunday I choose to skip church. My church does have a live web cast, though so I watch that online. I am able to eat tiny amounts, and feel better over all, but still get very tired easily. and Dizzy. Very very dizzy. My "Antivert" pills make me tired. Actually the first 2 times I take them they knock me out cold. I try my best to get the house back into shape, but I am in tears by the time it came to bringing up laundry baskets. I call for help. I have a good friend that cleans houses, so I call her praying that she is available. SHe is! ANd will come all day Monday to clean.

DH takes the kids grocery shopping and I get a nap in. He makes me dinner. It looks lovely, but I can't smell or taste any of it. I do manage to eat salad, a perogi and a bit of grilled steak. We jammie up and watch a bit of TV as a family before heading to bed.

Monday, same drill, get 2 kids off to school and I drop the boy at his school as well then head home. I shower and wait for BJ to get here and make a list of what I want done. I call my doc for a follow up appointment and get in almost right away. BJ gets here, we chat a bit and she gets to work as I head out to the doc.

Doc can see that my ear is starting to heal, but isn't healed yet, so she will see me next week. ack. I head home, stopping for burgers and yogurt. BJ and I eat lunch when I get back, and I am able to take a short nap before i need to go get the boy.

It is nice to have BJ here and together we tackle 4 loads of laundry. The girls are excited to see her as well.

She leaves just before dinner and refuses to charge me. I give her a tip and plenty of thanks for her help!

We order take out once again, and I go to bed early.

Since then I am getting better every day. Today (day 12) I actually feel more like myself than I have in a a LONG time, but my ear is still draining. I have laundry going, I was able to reboot the DW this morning and I am about to tackle making dinner.

So yes, death flu attempted to visit here, but I managed to make it go away. I pray that NO ONE has to deal with this! I "only" lost a week and a half of my life. ANd now DH says he isn't feeling well..........

Why hasn't there been an update?

2008-02-24T15:19:00.003-05:00

That is what I keep asking myself every time I log in to read the next installment of my life. I like to read as if I am a stranger looking in, and every few days I pop in to see that, sadly, there is no update. Then I have to remind myself that is because I am the author the this so called blog, so I have to write it.

The trip was "interesting" but mostly uneventful. I got airsick for the first (ANd hopefully last) time of my life, but other than that, no real surprised. Hand and donor site look good, see you next year.

We are headed to the Shrine Circus next month, as guests of the Shrine Clowns. I keep offering to pay for the tickets after all they have done for us, but they keep refusing. They are great people!

SO at least there is something to look forward to.

Winter break is almost over, but it was about 3 days too long for me and the kids. We are all bickering at this point. Right now I am enjoying a bit of silence. DH took the girls to the studio so they could play on their computers (ALl the way to the basement LOL!) and the boy is napping. I wish I was a napper, otherwise I may be napping, too. Then again, if I were napping, I'd once again log in to look for an update and find none, so I guess its a good thing I'm not.

Ok nothing more to report at this time.

On Our Way To Cincinnati once again

2008-02-09T19:39:00.000-05:00

Just a check up, so it will be a quick one, well, not as quick as usual. Last year when we went we were able to get direct flights there and back the same day for roughly $850. THis year the exact same flight was $1500+.

WHAT?!?!?

SO now I have to drag the boy (Have I mentioned he is very 2 these days?) on a connecting flight, then spend the night then go to the doc, be told everything looks good come back in a year, then drag the very 2 year old boy back on a connecting flight home again.

Grr. Well, it does save the Shriner's a bit of cash. THis nonsense only runs $600 each. They are paying for it, the cab voucher and putting us up for the night. And I guess I can't really complain. They do not charge for any of the visits, transportation or supplies needed for the boys care. I am just a bit aggravated that anyone has to pay that much money to fly for a doc appointment.

Well, wish my wonderful DH luck at any rate. HE will be on duty for nearly 40 hours. Sure, far less time than the 2 weeks we were gone the first time, during the worst October Storm this area has ever seen, but still. It will be a nice reminder of what I deal with 24/7, and much easier for him since I will have the boy with me.

OOH Maybe I'll get a nice present out of it! Maybe I'll just get an even better hug and a bit of sympathy. Maybe I should just stop expecting things and keep in mind that he works very hard so that I can stay home with the punks we were given.

Eh, I guess. I am a very lucky woman and I know it!

Are all boys weird, or just the ones I know?

2008-02-01T08:31:00.000-05:00

The Boy and I are on our way to the doc in a bit.

Not sure WHY, but The Boy found the white out I had just used on M's homework and in the split second it took him to find it and open it, decided to try it IN his eye.

I rinsed it out the best I could, put a warm compress on it, then called the doc. We got the first appointment, so off to the doc at 8:45.

WHY? WHY? WHY? I can understand in the nose, or even in the mouth, but your eye? Seriously?

No one said having children would be boring.

After a long day of cleaning I find out this:

2008-01-30T07:33:00.000-05:00

The boy is very 2 these days, but yesterday he was being very sweet. He came up to me and said "Momma, Can I messy you?" Seeing the tape measure in his hand I said "Sure, Buddy!"

He says "Oh Day ay" and proceeds to put the heavy part of the tape measure on the floor and pulled up on the tape. The Boy got a very serious look on his face, leaned in to take a closer look at the "1 inch" mark and then looked me straight in the eye and said "ooooh, Momma, you messy 40 points" then went on his way.

I'm not sure what scale I was being measured on, but I hope 40 points is good. I've been busting my butt getting the house in shape! LOL! He even helped me vacuum before this.

A very Non Princess tea

2008-01-29T08:00:00.001-05:00

As the self proclaimed Princess of Everyday adventures, I do, form time to time, throw small intimate tea parties for my friends.

Now these are not by any means lavish affairs, they usually consist of well, tea. Food may or may not be served, it is mostly about the tea.

Yesterday I did throw a very small party with unusual party favors. I have just 3 guests plus myself and each guest left with a hunk of beef and partially used salt and pepper grinders.

The hunks of beef were leftover form a party on Friday and the grinders were a gift form the manager of a Red Lobster. They have a rule that they cannot put the grinders on the table once the contents get below the label, so they tend to have a ton of these grinders around 1/3 full!! They do get creative with the give-aways, though!

Anyway. Just thought I'd clue you in on how to throw a successful tea party from a Trophy Wife in Training.

I'm no longer waiting for something interesting to happen.

2008-01-23T15:08:00.001-05:00

I've decided my "ordinary" life is interesting enough.

This morning I pulled out a fistful size clump from the vacuum. No, this isn't very interesting, but the opening I pulled it from was about an inch and a half across, and I only reached in as far as my 2 fingers would allow without removing the brush rollers. I managed to pull out a handful of lint, 2 puzzle pieces, a cap to something we got around Christmas time, several hair ties and assorted papers. I guess I need to get better about picking things up before I start to vacuum.

So now you know that I may not be the best housekeeper, but I do vacuum, and I do know what to do when the vacuum isn't sucky anymore.

Happy New Year!!

2008-01-04T19:35:00.000-05:00

Well, here we are day 4 of the new year and I am already not living up to my full potential. I had planned on trying to blog a bit every day.

Here is today's blog. I hope you enjoyed it.

What is A Trophy Wife?

2007-12-01T20:20:00.001-05:00

OK, so I know what I think a trophy wife is and why I wish to become one, but others may not share my vision, so let me clue you into my way of thinking (It may not be what you are thinking, but its my blog, so you need to see my vision, even if you do not agree! LOL)

So anyway. My "Trophy Wife Dream" me would be me, only better! I would be fit!! (Not sickly "no butter, no dairy, no wheat, no fun cause I have to exercise 12 hours a day" thin, just fit!) I would be Healthy! Yes, I would eat dessert, but in moderation. I would happily use REAL butter and whole milk cause I like it, and I know where my cholesterol would stand, too!

I would drink more tea! Preferably with like minded friends! (Ok I try to do this at least once a week on my "Mom's day off Wednesdays" but I'm hoping this will NOT change in my quest!)

I would continue to take time for me! - But not to the exclusion of my family! I have and will continue to cancel my day off if my child or spouse need me!! BUT they'd BETTER need me and only me! I get grouchy if I can't fill my cup now and then!

I would be VERY good to me, but not step on toes to do it. I would be assertive in my needs, but not demanding or snarky in my pursuit. My picture would be no where to be found near the Diva entry in the dictionary.

I'd be a better home maker. Yes I'd LOVE to meet my Dear Husband at the door of our tidy organized home calm and coiffed with children happily playing TOGETHER in the background. After my hello kiss to my Honey, the children would then rise up and yell "Daddy" and smother him in hugs and kisses while I complete dinner and they chat about their days.

DInner would be nutritious and homemade to perfection, served the perfect temperature on matching dinnerware. (We already eat in the dining room together as a family most days!) so the only other thing I would add is that I'd have the patience to make it through the meal without snapping at any of my off spring!

Daddy would continue to clear the dinner plates while I got the children jammied up then we'd all read a story togehter before bathroom runs and teeth brushing. THen prayers would be said and happy children would be tucked into beds that they'd stay in all night! Well, ok, I"m not sure if me becoming "better" will make my bed invaders extinct, but its my vision!

Then DH and I can gaze lovingly into each others eyes for a bit since all my housework will have been done during the day and DH will not have to rush out do yet another side job since I will become an ace at managing the finances. Yes, we do well but there is always room for improvements!

As a trophy wife, I will make time in my life and room in the budget for things like family portraits, salon pamperings, babysitters for Date nights and well, date nights. ANd while on those dates my DH would be PROUD to be seen with me!

I hope to be where DH will want to be no matter what else is going on in his life. I mean I can do my job anywhere, so making sure my DH wants to be with me in my main goal. I'm not sacrificing me. I guess I'm a bit old fashioned in that respect.

I believe God is (and should be) number one in my life. Then there is the Man God Gave me. Then myself, my children and then my extended family and finally my friends. This only works if the man God Gave me is actually a man of God. And I thank God mine is! My DH understands that I am to be loved but he is to be respected!

OK enough mindless rambling about that for now. Any Questions?

Oh the weather outside is.....

2007-10-04T12:25:00.000-05:00

Hot and humid?!?! In October?!?! IN BUFFALO?!?!

Yup. The high today will be close to 80, 85 tomorrow. Hmm. This time last year was one week from the big "October storm" That dumped tons of snow over the area breaking trees and stopping air and ground traffic. I was in Cincinati when it hit, but I still remember it well!!

Oh well, not much else has changed, except for a new movement I am leading. I have my own business cards, even so it must be true!!!

I am NOT JUST A MOM!!! It says so on my card! I am the Princess oF Everyday Adventures!! I AM a Trophy Wife!!

I decided that if I have a card that says I am, then it must be true. If it is true, then I get to treat myself better and demand that others treat me with respect as well!!!

Trophy Wives in Training - UNITE!!!!!

OK, its been a month

2007-09-11T16:57:00.000-05:00

and all I"m gonna do right now ais cut and paste. I'll update my little blog about our outstanding Diseny trip in a few days, but for now...

" I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God's business." Michael J. Fox

bye for now!!!

2007-08-14T20:34:00.001-05:00

We're going to Disney World!!

we will leave in about 9 hours, leave here in about 6 1/2 and arrive at MCO around 10 AM.

I will give full details, just like last time! You can read Aug/ Sept 2007 if you need a Disney Fix for now!!

Too!!!

2007-08-03T08:26:00.000-05:00

I've never heard a sweeter word!

My boy is growing quickly and his vocabulary expands by the minute it seems.

I am amazed at how much he understands and how hard he tries to engage in conversation.

By far, my favorite response he has is "Too!" IT is said with enthusiasm and clarity. But it always makes me smile.

As I was dropping him off at day care the other day, I yelled "Bye, Buddy! I love you!" ANd his usual response, looking me straight in the eye and smiling his pop-eye grin he yelled back "Too!".

How can one word mean so much? The girls had their "Wub You" that was cute, but somehow Too! carries so much more weight. Maybe because its the love of a son for his mother (Although Daddy admits he likes to hear it as well). Maybe it because he always seems to mean it when he says it and not an automatic response.

I know it, like his chunka legs, is only temporary, but I will cherish it always!

Serial planning strikes again!!!

2007-07-06T19:15:00.000-05:00

I am SO happy that I am obsessed with ur upcoming trip! THe Day after I made our last payment, I found a "code" online. I called DIsney with it and they not only upgraded my room, they gave me back over $175!!

You gotta love a trip that gets cheaper the closer you get to travel!!!

So far: $175+ back form Disney and $192+ from Southwest!

Woohoo!! Now on to buy my Pirate And Princess Party Tickets!!!

Cool Video

2007-06-29T18:18:00.000-05:00

Lets see if I can do this right:

or try:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/id/83824732

Her next single is called "Kiss ME Goodbye" and its a song written by Tamra Pacile and My DH did a majority of the scoring for it.

Thank you all!!!

~E

My Baby is now a terrific Two!!

2007-06-22T21:57:00.000-05:00

Yes, the boy is getting big! He is TWO!!

I still am in a bit of shock over it. He was totally un aware of it, but had fun blowing out the candle on his ice cream cake tonight.

We've been praying "Terrific Twos" over him, so I hope that the "other" TWO stays away!!! I know he will have his moments, but I am very much looking forward to watching him grow! I can't wait to experience Disney with a 2 YO!!

Of course, DH, as he was putting the candle on the cake made the comment "Wow, next time we use this 2, someone will be turning 12" EEEEK!!! 12?!?!?!

FOr now I will watch my boy sleep in his big boy race car bed and think back to this day 2 short years ago when he was born after a fairly easy birth, A VBAC that was BY FAR the easiest of my deliveries.

hmm Perhaps a Haiku to celebrate:

The Boy is now Two!
He is a baby no more.
Except in my mind.

*sigh* OK I've Haiku'd better than that before, but there it is.

Happy Birthday to The Boy!

Haiku Again!

2007-06-21T17:50:00.000-05:00

I Wrote A Haiku
About a Didgeridoo
At last I can rest!

Don't you HATE it when you KNOW the name of something, but for the life of you can't remember?

I am eternally greatful to live in a time where I can take the information I know, plug it into my trusty computer and a few clicks later come up with exactly what I already knew, but was stuck in an inaccessible part of my brain.

Oh the things I know!!

M's 5th Birthday

2007-06-02T06:58:00.000-05:00

Wow. What a road its been, but today is the day M was born, in a flurry of activity after 2 days of hospital bedrest only 15 1/4 inches long weighing just 2 pounds 14 oz!!

She is now 42 inches tall and weighs 33 pounds. So, smallish, but far from where she started!

I will never again have a 4YO girl! She is 5! SHe can count to 100, knows all her letters and will be starting ful day Kindergarden in the falll. Today we have a fun day planned. The kids are all dressed, and I'm about to join them, thenits off the the offices at Town Park to register them for their Summer activities, then off to Chuck E CHeese to use their coupons. M was sent a Birthday one for 20 free tokens and we got another one off hte juice boc package fore 40 free toekns when we buy 40. I have other coupons, too, so we'll be plenty stocked LOL After eating a hearty snack there, its off to Toys R Us for some shopping! All these companies have the right idea to give away a bit to get more in return. Geoffry sent her a birthday card with a $3 gift card in it, an I'm pretty sure its gonna cost me close to $30 to use it LOL!

OK off to fix my princess' hair and add her tiara to it as well so that everyone will know its her special day. No one will realize just how special, or how much she has accomplished in her short life, just like I have no idea what the future holds, but we will tackle today with excitement!!

Gotta Love SouthWest Airlines!

2007-05-08T04:11:00.000-05:00

Since I am a serial planner, I am constantly on te lookout for ways to improve my vacation plans.

The other day I found a GREAT gem! I Ceck SWA every few days for deals and rates and got a notice that SW had lowered their fares. I had a look for myself and sure enough, it was lower! I was able to rebook the EXACT same flights for our August trip and wound up saving $192.50!!

I'm hoping this means we will be able to attend a Pirate And Princess Party while we are there! Tickets fort he 5 of us to attend will be close to $154, but everyone that I have spoken to that has attended one of theseahas agreed that it is TOTALLY worth the price!!

As long as I do not change my Advance Dining Reservations AGAIN, we can go to it on either night it is offered on our trip! Yay!

Ok, I"m headed back to bed. Not sure why I can't sleep. Maybe Its like the commercial and I'm just too excited. "just" 99 more sleeps until we go!!

And the dating years begin?!!?

2007-04-14T16:58:00.000-05:00

I am sitting here wondering when my oldest will be home fromher first ever date. Yup my oldest. She is SIX. She was asked out on a date by her daddy last week and she happily accepted. Normally I would have a fit if my wonderful DH ever suggested he date a much younger girl, but I told him it was a wonderful idea.

C got dressed in a pretty dress, stockings and all. She bathed last night and made sure I did her hair exactly as per her instructions. She happily wore sneaker with her dress to teh grocery store and excitedly told anyone that looked her way that she had a date! She even had a mini melt down when she didn't have "Proper date shoes" (Her words, not mine!). My little girl is growing up!

She begrudgedly wore here mary janes with a promise from me that we would go shoping for shoes "WIth just a hint of a heel" (Again her, words!). I guess it was a good time to have a melt down since she totally forgot to ask me AGAIN if she could pretty please wear "just" some blush, eyeshadow and lip gloss.

My Daughter likes her man to be properly dressed. DH showed up in a shirt and tie which made her fight tears even more over the non date shoes. They were headed over to Red Lobster then to the movies. She is not a cheap date.

I know I will not always look forward to or approve of her dates in the future, but I hope that DH will treat her so well that she will demand the same from all her future dates. I hope that all her future dates will treat her even better than her daddy does! And she will be very lucky if they would be as handsome!

We're Going TO Disney World (Again!)

2007-04-06T21:24:00.000-05:00

Ok, it is old news to most of you, but for hte random reader, we are headed there once again!

We've booked our package for August, made our down payment and paid in full for our airfare (SMokin deal, that just may get better!). I'm already pouring over the various website and my pass proter and talking DIsney will all my DIsney Friends. I cna't wait. I need a break!!

ANd just for fun...

the news was tlaking about holidays her ein the good old BUffalo region. It seems that Thanksgiving 2006 it was 50 degreeas and misty. Christmas found us 50 degrees and drizzly. New Years Day 2007? 52 and Hazy. AND OUR EASTER IS SHAPING UP TO BE...36 WITH FLURRIES.

No wonder I'm getting socked with a cold. It was 75 earlier this week and now we have snow! Even more reason to dream of an August Disney Vacation!

Another trip to the ER

2007-03-17T08:35:00.000-05:00

I think the next trip will be free!! At least I think it should be.

Thursday morning was a typical day. I was showered, dressed to the shoes, made a doc appointemtn for myself and got one kid off to school. M and the boy and I were about to head to my twice monthly MOPS meeting when a heard a somewhat familiar blood curing scream.

I sprint to the source of the scream and find The Boy with blood dripping off his hand (Yup, the same one that was burned) and small pools of blood on the floor, his pants, the wall where he touched it. M was nearby trying to calm him with "I didn't mean to catch your hand in the door".

Ok, a quick assessment of the area and I grab 2 wash cloths, one to soothe his hand and catch the blood and the other I handed to M to clean up the floor and wall. Basic first aid kicks in and I apply pressure to the source of the bleeding, which from what I can tall is the rather large skin tag that was on his ring ringer, but it is bleeding too bad to tell for sure. After a good 5 minutes the blood nor the screams are subsiding, so I call the doc to see what they think I should do. Near as I can tell, the skin tag has been partially removed and the top part of one of his grafts, too but the bathroom door which was being operated by a 4YO.

They tall me to get to Children's hospital ASAP. Rather they tell me "Do you need us to call an ambulance, or do you have someone to drive you there so that you (me) can keep constant pressure on it?" I tell them I can call my FIL and hang up with them, call my FIL, who will head right over (He lives about a mile away) and then the Church to let them know I will NOT be attending the meeting that is about to start. I find my supplies and carry the boy tot he kitchen floor with them and hte portable phone. I Put some bacitracin on it, put a bit of adaptect over that (It won't stick to wounds) then wrap gauze around that and then wrap the whole thing in coban. I figure this should buy me enough time to run to the garage to get the boy's car seat. The IL's ahve a seat for the girls in their car, so I'm just going to need one. I send M to get s few busy things for herself and run out to the garage, leaving the boy to cry for a minutes. I close the garage with his seat over my shoulder just as my FIL pulls in. I set to work installing the seat and he goes in to supervise the kids.

He then heads out with M and I gather the boy, his bag, some snacks for me (I didn't eat at home since I had planned on munching at the meeting).

The boy screams the entire 20 minute ride to the hospital, but at least FIL tells me that he will take care of M and get her on her bus if need be, so that is one less worry in the ER waiting room. I unhook the boy's seat and bring him in still attached sending FIL away with M.

We get inside and sign in at 9:50 and see the triage nurse almost immediately, who changed the now blood soaked bandage. Then we sit for over 2 hours until we are lead to the back. At least registration goes smoothly (We've been here before) and DH gets there to offer some kisses for both of us before heading back to work. The boy cries off and on during the wait.

The nurse comes in to take a peek (Blood soaked gauze once again) and take a quick history, and give pain meds FINALLY before sending us to X-ray (I never even thought that the scremeing could be from a fracture!) but the x-ray shows no breakage. Then they have a surgeon take a peek at it since the doc isn't sure what a 5 month Post op skin graft is supposed to look like. Surgeon is very impressed with the look of the grafts in general, and is not concerned about the nearly severed skin tag.

We are given instructions for "Abrasion" care and told what to look for if infection sets in. I must ask the right questions since she stopped trying to explain to me about "sterile" PT and wound care. THe Shriner's have taught me well!!

I call my FIL to pick us back up, DH to tell him that the prognosis is good, then my parents to tell them of the ordeal. Then I run to the cafeteria to grab a snack since it is now after 2 and I am starving! FIL and MIL arrive and bring us home, and I am suddenly tired, the boy asleep.

I slide him into bed, eat some cereal, then make a few more phone calls, including the clinic at the Shriner's in Cincinnati and send a few e-mails until the girls get home.

I hope I never have to go to the ER again!!!

And the good news is....

2007-02-27T18:14:00.000-05:00

We've had a very trying month so far this February.

My Nephew (Just turned 24 on the 2nd) went missing just before Valentine's day and has yet to be found. His snowmobile has been found in the waters at a marina, so we are not very hopeful.

Our Van has decided to vomit its transmission. I hate being without a car!

BUT we have had some unrelated good news. As those of you who know us well, or have been stalking my blog know, The Boy severely burned his hand back in October. We have been flying back and forth for our Doc visits, all paid for by the wonderful Shriners!! No, burning his hand is NOT good news.

Anyway, on with the good news.

We had another appontment in Cincy yesterday. I was hoping for typical appointment, fly in mid morning, have a 2 O'clock appointment, see the doc, get new instructions, see you in XX months, have something to eat, head back to airport, wait in the airport forever and fly home that night. What we got was SO much more!

I get a ride to the airport with my BIL, who is also going to see to it M gets on the bus when she needs to since my FIL needs to have a "Proceedure" and my MIL is waiting with him. Our car is in the shop since it won't go into reverse all the time. I Manage to wash a load of clothes, vac the living room and dining room and pack a few snacks for The Boy and I before 9:45!

We get to the airport an hour early, express security (Love travelling with a toddler in a stroller LOL!) and wait for our flight, which is not only showing an on time departure, the airplane is at the gate already! Sweet! I distract the boy with fresh fruit and soon we are on the plane ready to go ON TIME!

The boy has some crackers and water then promptly falls asleep on the overfull flight and the nice grandmotherly lady in the next seat reads the entire trip, so I get to relax a bit, too. We arrive in Cincinnati on time and make our way 2 terminals over to baggage claim to look for the Shriner's van. Just as I am about to check the curb, one of our escorts gets to the door. THey just got there, right on time!

We get to the hospital with about 25 minutes to spare, so I figure I'd go sign in and let the boy play on the slide while we wait. He only gets down 3 times before we are called to a room. We are not in there very long when Physical Therapist #1 comes in to take a look and chat. She sees his glove is getting a touch small and wants to consult with someone else before sending in the garment lady for new measurements. We talk about the supplies I need at home to tide us over to the next appointment (Not sure when that is yet) and then leaves. Not too long later Nurse comes in with our "Stuff" and more questions, then SHE takes a look at his hand and leg (Donor site). She is excited by how good it looks, asks me about any "problem areas" and I point them all out to her. She leaves. A little while later PT#2 comes in and talks a bit about how the scarring process works, and how we are at "peak" time for permanent scarring to occure, BUT she thinks it all looks good!

She exits and we are alone for a bit (Maybe 10 minutes, but it may not have been that long). Resident comes in to take a peek and take notes then leaves. While she is there the "Recovery specialist" stops by to see if I returned the last survey (I did) then says she will have to check her log better since she doesn't have it marked as recieved yet. Since I do not hear from her again, I'm assuming it was just a simple paperwork error. Soon Doc Warner, Resident, Nurse and PT#2 all come in to take a looksee and chat. Doc Warner is very excited by the healing and scarring and RELEASES US FORM GARMENT WEAR!! this is HUGE because #1 - Ricky will no longer have to wear his glove OR shorts - I was told that both would be worn for at least year!!! and #2 - I will have FAR LESS laundry and cleaning to do!! Ricky will still need to have PT 2 times a day, but I won't have to scrub the tub, give him a bath, hand wash the glove, shorts and "French fry" that goes between his fingers, hang to dry, do his PT, put clean shorts and glove on him, then scrub the tub again, using fresh towels for each step. And to make sure I understood that yes, there are no more garments, she says "See you in ONE YEAR". Wahoo!! Yes, we will have to be diligent about sunblock -Not just sunscreen- Every 2 hours while outside and I can call if there are problems. Yes, there is DEFINATLY surgery in our future, but nothing for at least one year! Yay!! I return the bag of supplies we just got since I will no longer need them!

Then we head out to get pictures taken of the burn site and run into our Family Life Rep on our way out of the clinic. She is excited to see the boy, but sad that he won't be back for a year, then very excited to hear we are released from garments already (her privious "best ever" was 7 months!) I then touched base with our driver and headed upstairs for lunch since its WAY cheaper to eat at the hospital. I got a Philly cheesesteak, onion rings with ranch dressing, a bottle of soda, then got a pasta salad and a bag of chips for the boy - $5.76 cents! I made a couple phone calls while we ate, then my boy made friends with one of the patients there, a boy about 13 or so.

We then headed downstairs and bought a shirt for DH, then found our driver and headed back to the airport. Yes, it is insanely early, Not even 3:15 yet and we have a 7:30 flight, but I am told traffic gets brutal starting around 3 and peaks between 4 and 6. There are times the 20 minute ride to the airport has taken close to 2 hours! IF there is an accident in the tunnel, it can take even longer. Traffic is starting to build, but I still arrive by 3:45. I go check in, then head to customer service to have my name changed on my ticket (It was spelled wrong) and have my frequent flyer miles updated (I couldn't do it since my name was spelled wrong). Then I sit to finish our snack (THe bottle of soda we bought) and make more phone calls, including my Father. He tells me to call my Aunt that lives in Kentucky and I do. Since she is free, she says she will head over and is there in about 1/2 an hour.

We have a snack together and chat, killing nearly 2 hours! I decide to ge through security (Its almost 90 minutes before my flight) and give her a hug good bye. Ricky and I express security again and we are on the other side less than 5 minutes later. I know of a play area in terminal A, so we head over there. Ricky has fun then spies the ice cream machine and I agree to share a sandwhich. I let him play a bit more then we head over to terminal B to catch the tram to Terminal C. We make a bee line for the bathrooms and I change his diaper (Its true! No shorts!) and go potty myself. I check the departures again and see we are still marked for an ontime departure and the plane is in the gate. With only about 15 minutes to go before boarding I lead Ricky to the toy store to play a bit. As I walk in (ITs a small store) I overhear a panicked Mom asking if ANYONE sold pants for little kids, to which the clerk replies "no, we have some skirts!" She has her DD (Around 2) wrapped in a blanket. I ask what size her DD is and she says 2T. I dig in our diaper bag and offer her our sweat pant, size 18-24 months. She thanks me then tries to pay me for them, but I decline, telling her that I've been there as a mom and when she gets a chance, to pay it forward. She is near tears as she leaves to dress her DD.

The clerk is amazed at my act of kindness and I wave it off and let Ricky throw balls around for a bit, then we clean up and head to the gate. WIth less than 5 minutes before boarding, I see this flight is oversold, too, but know Ricky should be alseep soon. I think I want a lemonade, but as I gather up our things and turn to head to the pretzle shop, then start boarding our flight and the line is longer than I think I can get away with so I go back to the gate.

God rewarded me for my PIF by having one empty seat on the flight - right near me! The flight attendant tells me to go ahead and use the seat and Ricky is asleep shortly after take off. I have my snack in peace and take a short nap myself. We arrive in Buffalo just one minute late and we are home before 9:30 that night.

I give the boy his PT then we all head to bed. It was SO nice to not have to clean the tub, bathe the boy, clean the tub, wash the garments then do PT. I can get used to this!

Valentines Day

2007-02-15T08:59:00.000-05:00

I had a very nice day, despite never finishing my wonderful Dear Husband's card. I rolled some change since I am without cash until Friday, and headed out for the day.

I got C off to school very late. She has a sub bus driver and got on the bus nearly 1/2 hour late. I then got the boy tto "school" and M to my ILs fo the morning. I enjoyed soem kid free grocery shopping and then paid for my purchase mostly in quarters and headed home.

I put away the groceries, then did some printing on my computer. Stamping at my friend's got cancelled, and I attempted to scrap here at home, but decided to take advantage of alone time to take a nice long hot uninterrupted shower. Then I made some sugar cookie dough and some bread dough to rise. I finished puttin gon my face and headed to the girls' school to help out in M's class. I got to see C on my way out,tehn picked up the boy before cominghome to wait for them to get off the bus. As I waited, I ppunched down the dough and made rolls to rise, then rolled out the cookie dough to make heart cut outs.

The girls got home as I was drizzling pink icing on them with heart sprinkles. I let them each have one as well as let them have a go at their Valentines' treats as well.

I got the rolls in the oven and started on dinner (Broiled steak, cheesy mashed potatoes and green beans) when my wonderful DH got home with flowers and peeps (My favorite!) for me and cards for us all. He is so sweet! I then gave him his Godiva chocolate and apologized for never finishing up his card. He forgave me and said DInner and my love was even better than a card! Told you he was sweet!

He set out to finish snow blowing the driveway while I finished making dinner, then we all enjoyed a hot meal together, followed by cookies and cherry floats. Then we got the call that Church was cancelled so Paul had me bundle the kids up for some sledding fun. He built a sled run in the back yard with all the snow we've had the past couple of days. THey all had fun with that.

No one even noticed I forgot to thaw the shrimp LOL! I got them all in bed and sleeping by tht time Americal Idol came on, and even had the kitchen mess cleaned up. I'm working on "Cleaning up" the last of the cookies today.

SO that is it. We went to bed early and watched Tv. We were asleep before the evening news!

Hope you all had a great day as well.

Just another day

2007-02-13T09:52:00.000-05:00

I am up, dressed to the slippers, sipping some decaf tea. I got one kid out the door with a full belly and fully dressed for the weather (It is curerntly 8 degrees out.) I have done PT on the boy, fed and dressed the remainder of the kids here and accepted the drop off of another boy. The 3 kids are watching The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle in spanish on DVD.

I ate a yummy breakfast of day old fresh made bread toasted with butter and honey and have the DW running with all the dirty dishes (Well, except for my tea cup) and the Dryer and washer running with more clothes waiting patitently to have their turn in the washer disco and dryer after party.

This weekend we are going to look at a house. We long outgrew this house and are in need of at least more bedrooms. Having 3 kids squished into one small bedroom isn't fun, but at least it forces me to stay organized. It is a cute older farmhouse, and although there is no garage, there is room to grow on the acre and a half land that will come with it. We are totally leaving it up to God, if this is the house for us, but we did go for preapproval on a mortgage. I am excited about the prospect of "starting over" but scared, too. I know God will lead the way, and do find comfort in that!

OK Off to drink my tea and snack the kiddos. Yes, not smack, they want to have their AM snack LOL

I can't believe 2007 is 1/12 over already!

2007-02-03T21:28:00.000-05:00

Here we are the begining of February already. Wow. Since Christmas, I have had (ANd defeated!) a strep infection, got my portable dishwasher "hard wired" into my kitchen for easier use, Turned 36, went out to an 80's party with my little sister (And looked amazing!), and have learned how much I LOVE cooking when you have the right tools!

I am still wokring on getting my home less cluttered (My local group of FLYladies are helping me out with it - our Motto is "Progress not Perfection". I am letting go of things in my home I no longer love or use (Thankfully, I am still in love with my Husband!) And we even got our taxes done (Will be deposited just after Valentine's day!). I've had some VERY nice get togethers at my friend's house, and got my haircut for the first time since before Disney! Oh, speaking of which, I am 99.99% sure we will be going back this year.

In store this month: Another night out, this time with my next oldest sister (There are 5 of us girls!) to a "Disco" party that my DH is coordinating with the best of the best Disco DJ's from the late 70's/ early 80's. And a return trip to Cincinnati. I also have a clown show coming up this week and I will be volunteering in my 4YO classroom twice this month.

As a totaly mindless tangent, I hate change, so I hope that whatever I just did to "Update my blog" will have no ill affect on my posting. At least this appears to be the same as it was my last post 5 weeks ago. Time will tell, I guess.

OK, Just popping in, time to get the boy back in bed once again.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-26T20:30:00.000-05:00

DH presented me with a complete new set of cookware on the 23rd, and kept insisting it was NOT my present (Even though this Wolfgang Puck stainless steel set WAS on my C-mas List!) I got a 19 piece set and then a new stainless steel crock full of more new untensils and a huge SS Puck's Frying pan that wasn't in the set. I tossed (Some I didn't even bother to wash!) 2 tall kitchen bags of chipped teflon cookware and older than dirt utensils. And I got an IOU for the buffet server that I wanted as well!

For C-Mas Eve, I hosted my family (Never expect much gift wise from them) We ate an entire turkey dinner with all the trimmings and way too much dessert, even though I never got around to finishing making all the coookie dough I had in the fridge. As far as gifts, I got a great pair of jammies that fit, 3 pairs of gloves, some jewlery cleaner, a scratch off ticket (I won $2 LOL!), 1 pair of incredible fuzzy house socks, a pocket planner and some Neutrogena bath gel.

C (6) was very disappointed to have only gotten clothes. I assured her repeatedly that Santa usually brings a great toy, and I know Daddy and I got her all toys!

M (4) was happy with her clothes, but we sent her new jeans home with my sis to be exchanged (Um sis was obvioulsy distracted since she got her size 12-18 month jeans! LOL!)

The Boy got an outfit, a puzzle, and some small toys. He was happy to just rip up the paper.

DH got 2 of his favorite shirts (He ALWAYS wears a denim long sleeved button down shirt), a pocket planner some socks and gloves.

After my family left we went to DH's Cousin's house for a bit. We left around 9 and everyone was alseep by 10, so I could finish wrapping and help Santa with the gifts he had. I was in bed by midnight.

The kids were ALL up by 6 AM, and we waited for The Boy to finish eating (The boy NEEDS to eat first thing, or he is miserable LOL!) SO C sorted all the gifts into piles, then we took turns opening things.

Santa only brings one gift to each of us and fills the stockings. DH and I got a new 400 thread count set of extra deep sheets and a thermal blanket for our bed. C got a combo air hockey/ pinball game. M got the biggest littlest pet shop (C has the Get Better center and playground, so they can play together now) and The Boy got the Little People train set. HIs first train set! Our stocking were full of things we love. C got some markers and an activity book, and both girls got some new tights, an apple, some gum, some new pencils, M got a coloring book and crayons in hers. The Boy's was stuffed full of little people and construction vehicles and an apple and all 3 got new toothbrushes. DH had a box of Godiva chocolate, 2 tins of the mints he likes, some blue dress socks that are thinner and an apple and mine had a bunch of new stamping sets, some milk duds, and an apple.

The kids each brought home a school made gift for us and DH did good with my gifts this year! I got a beautiful bracelet... http://www.kay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product1|10101|10001|-1|110916208|15054|15054.15080.15286 or http://tinyurl.com/yx9flm (same link) a new wall calendar for the kitchen (Again it was on my list!) and new jammies (Again, on my list! LOL!) DH didn't want me buying a lot for him since he built a new recording studio in the basement, but I still managed to get him quite a few things at great deals: A new bathrobe ($30 on sale 30% off, then turned in my $10 off coupon so I only paid $11 including tax!) which he immediately flung off his old one and put the new one on. An "electric" tape measure (For one handed measuring) on sale for $12. A funky rugby shirt (On the clearance rack for $2.50!) a new bacon/ pancake pan (Not in the WP set and on sale for $13).

C got a little box filled with plastic reptiles and amphibians, a bunch of read them myself books, 3 new leap pad books, and 3 more parts to the littlest pet shop.

M got a doodle monster, a bunch of learn to read books, 2 new leap books, 3 more parts to the littlest pet shop, and a "projector" book that has these little disks with it that look like a view master.

The Boy got 2 small "Little people" scenes and the Little people Fire Engine (Can you tell we loved sets that we can expand on LOL!), some more of those acryllic blocks with stuff inside them (Brain fade, I think they are the peek a blocks?!?!), the ark and circus elephant to go with them, and a bucn of Sandra Boynton books that we do not already own, as well as a Little Einstien book about cats.

The "kids" got the Learn To PLay Piano and 2 additional cartridges,a nd we all (Well, except for The Boy) love playing with that.

Then we reheated leftover turkey for lunch and headed over to my IL's house.

I got a $50 GC to AC Moore and a $30 to Wal Mart as well as some chocolate and a wall calender.

"We" got a fiberoptic snowman

DH got 2 GC's to Best Buy and a scratch off ticket (He didn't win).

C got some color wonder markers and paper, and 3 Polly Pockets sets - her first of many, I am sure! a cute Disney Charm Bracelet, a $30 GC to the mall and a kid's wall calendar.

M got some color wonder markers and paper, and the Lazy Town Dance Mat, the same charm bracelet, a $30 GC tot he mall and a kids wall calendar (I swear my IL"s treat the girls like twins sometimes LOL!)

The Boy got the Little People Dinosaur big set, a $30 GC to Babies R us and a huge, very soft floppy dog.

Phew. Then we stuffed ourselves with Polish sausage, ham, and pasta saladas, baked beans, and way too many desserts yet again.

The best part was seeing the pix my DH took and realizing that my commitment to ME is paying off and even the 6:30 AM, no shower, just rolled out of bed, still in glasses, teeth not brushed yet, pictures my skin looks amazing! THe best it has EVER looked!! I'm using all Avon products and commited to a "regiment" 2 times a day for almost 2 solid months now!)

OK, that is probably WAY more information than anyone was looking for, but it really was a GREAT Christmas this year!!

because my life isn't busy enough

2006-12-22T16:21:00.000-05:00

Hmm I already have to give the boy a bath 2 times a day, scrubbing the tub before and after each time with fresh towels, then perform PT on his hand and thigh.

Then I get to nebulize him 2 times a day too.

NOW, the cat has decided he needs some mommy time too. He is sick for unknown reasons and $350 in tests later, still no answers. He is now on antibiotics 2 times a day. Yeah. It is TONS of fun to medicate a sick kitty. Especially 2 times a day with a yucky smelling liquid. Yay me!

ack!!

2006-12-18T12:13:00.000-05:00

Here is is a week befoer Christmas, and while I felt well prepared before, I am realizing I am not.

Today already I have gotten 2 kids out the door to school and the 3rd is eating her lunch . Her bus will be here in about 10 minutes. I have laundry and dishes going, went grocery shopping and stopped at the bank. I have most of the groceries put away and went to my ILs house to pick up some cash. They can't figure out wha tto get hte kids, so I am buying the gifts and then returning them to to be wrapped and given to my children Christmas day.

I never got around to Christmas Cards, but have started to address the envelopes for our New Years News Letter.

As soon as M gets on the bus I have to run over to Salvation Army to help in a store straightening racks. My Sister manages it, but is shrt on help. I figured that since it is a charity, I Can volunteer for an hour or so, as a Christmas gift to Jesus,t ehn pick up the boy and shop for the gifts for my kids before getting back home in time to get the older 2 off the bus, then start on dinner. Phew.

I am getting some adult time in. My WOnderful DH and I attended a concert last night. A local radio station puts on a "KissMas Bash" and brings in a bunch of different acts to perform. Names of groups I don't remember, but songs I vaguesly recall. I was out and looked great and felt good and was a sexy hot woman for a change. I was home by 11:30 and in bed shortly after. Didn't say I was young and energetic. LOL!

Ok, M is putting on her oversized back pack and I need to help her wait for her bus. then on with my day. Just letting my poor blog know that I think about it often, but rarely get a chance to write!

Weird

2006-12-05T20:58:00.000-05:00

I met 2 friends out for lunch today and when we took off our jackets, we were all wearing the same sweater in different colors.

I guess we either all have similar taste in clothing, or we hang out way too much!

Home again home again

2006-11-30T21:55:00.000-05:00

The Boy and I may it back ok, but making it there, was an adventure all its own. We made it there and home again in just under 12 hours. (My Parking receipt says time in 9:45 time out 21:12- that's 9:12). Our flight was delayed in leaving Buffalo, making us late for our appointment, but a few phone calls and all was well. We finally arrived at the hospital at 3 (Appointment time was 2:25 and we were supposed to land at 12:20), but we signed in and waited, and only had to sit long enough for The Boy to bump his head on the climber. Just a red mark there, and we were lead to the room.

The nurse told me to strip The Boy but leave his garments on, and someone would be with us shortly. I got his shirt off and the OT and PT ladies came in. They both agreed that the garments are fitting nicely. I gave the seamstress the one pair of shorts he has that were too long (Well, tall, but that didn't sound right - they went to his armpits LOL!) and she set out to fix them. As PT was looking at the scarring, Doc and his entourage arrived and gave him the once over as well. PT got his shorts off and everyone agreed all is looking good!!

There were a few things I was concerned about but they are no problem or "normal" or "Expected". They did give us a "french fry" to put in his glove between 2 of his fingers to try to help stretch it a bit more since the area is getting tight. I also have one more stretch massage to do every morning and night, adding 2 minutes total to our day. The "french fry" is just a small strip of foam. They use such technical terms at this new fangeled hospitals!

The good news is that he no longer has to wear his splint at night. That thing hurt when he clunked you in the head with it! I did have to promise that if his fingers start to curl at all, we will go right back to using it. The best news is that we don't have to go back to Cincinnati until the end of February!! We went to get pictures taken (SO cute that he smiles so big when they are just taking pix of his hand LOL!) then got him dressed and scheduled his next appointment. Time out: 3:40!!

We were stopped in the foyer by our social worker and had a nice chat, and the seamstress return the shorts to us then we went and had lunch. We got back downstairs just as the drivers were gathering up the other 2 sets of people heading back to the airport. We were first to be dropped off then took our time getting to our gate since we had 3 more hours to go.

The Cincinnati/ Norther Kentucky Airport is really big. We stopped to get my name on my ticket fixed so that I could credit the flights to my airmiles card. We then walked form the ticketing/ baggage claim terminal over to terminal A, where there is an indoor play area. I let the boy play there for almost 45 mintues, then I changed his diaper and went potty, then we walked over to terminal B to catch the shuttle bus to terminal C. I le tthe boy lead the way and he played with a little boy around his age for all of 3 mintues before moving on and eventually finding the toy store we visited before. I did find another of the "Cars" that my sister needs to fill her son't collection, then sat, bursed him to sleep and waited.

The ride home was exactly on time.

I have noticed something I do to pass time. I recast all the people I see. How can I explain this? I feel like it is all a movie scene and everyone around me are the actors in it, so then I set out to "cast" all the roles with people I know. Not just "real" actors, but anyone I've ever seen that may be a good match to play that person! LOL! Hmm, the couple eating ice cream? Meg Ryan and my cousin Matt. The guy sleeping? My Friend's Son. OH and the guy sitting next to him could be That guy that was on CSI...I don't have to know their names, just who I would cast to play them, no experience necessary. Weird I know. But you try spending hours on end in an airport with a sleeping toddler.

A strange thing happened this morning...

2006-11-22T16:51:00.000-05:00

My wonderful DH and I woke up childless!!!

OK, not really. They were still in the house, and I still had to get up 2 times though the night, but at least when morning came (Ok, it was 5:45, but it WAS morning!) there were NO children in our bed!

I decided to bite the bullet and get into a test of wills with the boy around 3 AM. Instead of sleepily carrying him out of his crib into my comfy bed, to nurse, to his dismay, I sat beside the crib and patted the mattress. After 25 minutes, he finally gave in and laid down near my hand so I could pat his cute butt instead. Another 15 minutes later, I'm sure he is out, so I tuck the girls back under their covers and sneak out of the room. Almost. I get as far as the door when the boy sits up in protest. I swear the boy has a proximity detector that goes off if I get too far from him or have the nerve to lie down. This time it only takes under a minute to get him to lay back down, and after another 15 minutes, I successfully return to my warm bed.

I heard a small whimper around 5AM.

5:45 the boy announced night time over and wanted Momma NOW, so I gave in and let him nurse, and he happily snoozed until 7:15 this morning.

I hope that tonight will go smoother, with the 3AM thing getting shorter or non existant. I can't even remember what 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep feels like!

Did I mention that the 3AM tuck in kept the 4YO out of our bed, too? Now, if only we can find a suitable place for the cat to sleep!

The new "for now" normal.

2006-11-20T23:33:00.000-05:00

Mothering young children is not easy, and rarely predictable, and lately every few days brings a new challenge. M had a "mystery virus" that knocked her off for a good 6 days, and the boy is just getting over a mild (Thank heavens!) case of RSV, but I have once again fallen into a routine of some sort.

Neither child sleeps through the night (once again) so I am very sleep deprived, but here is an outline of my days.

5:00 AM The boy wakes and is having problems breathing, so I come into the office to give him some albuterol to knock loose some of the gunk still in there. He sometimes wants to nurse again during or shortly after that, so I let him. More often than not though, he will be ready to start the day. Very rarely, he will fall back asleep during this and I may get another 2 hours of rest myself. Usually, I will barracde us into the living room and try to catch a nap on the couch until at least the sun is up, too.

7:00 AM DH leaves for work and both girls and the boy are usually up by now. I force myself into motion and make the beds, telling the girls to get dressed. I will remove the boy's splint unless he has already done it and then I scrub the bathtub, being sure to use a fresh towel, then draw a warm bath for the boy. I set the girls up with their breakfasts, bring out a fresh diaper and clothes for the boy, then get him undressed and into the tub. The boy is easily trained and will put his own clothes down the chute before he plays for a bit in the water, sometimes with bubbles, sometimes with toys, but always under 10 mintues since we can't let the skin or grafts pucker. While he bathes, I take the opportunity to put in my contact lenses and wash his glove and shorts by hand in cool water, wring them in a dry towel, then hang to dry the rest of the way and put a fresh glove and shorts with his clothing for the day.

7:15 or there abouts, I "scrub down" the boy's hand and thigh then drain the water and take him out for PT/ massaging and stretching. With the clean, wet, towel clad boy on my hip I run some warm water so C can do the dishes in the kitchen. Yes, she is only 6, but LOVES to do them, so I let her when I know there is nothing that will hurt her in the sink. She takes great pride in washing the 2 bowls and 2 spoons, and I never let on that as soon as she is out of the house, I rewash them since she isn't too maticulous about making sure things are actually clean as she washes them. Again, she is only 6! I set M on the task of putting all dirty clothes down the chute and gathering hangers to put with the laundry basket, then they are both told to get their shoes on before they can turn on the TV.

7:40 The boy is finally dressed to the shoes and new garments on his hand and thigh. I drain the water in the kitchen sink and compliment Char on finishing the dishes. I give him his pulmicort treatment next while he nurses for a bit.

7:50 I set him up with some breakfast in the hallway and the girls watch a bit of TV, I finally get to hop into the shower and get dressed to the shoes myself, but not before scrubbing the tub once again, again with a fresh towel, and putting any tys useed int eh sink to dininfact as well. Thanks to the boy's burns, I need to scrub the tub before and after every bath to prevent the the transfer of bacteria or other germs. I leave the door open so I can keep an eye on the boy and keep an ear open to make sure the girls are watching "approved" television.

8:05 I am showered, shampooed, shaved, clean, cleansed, clothed, moisturized, I've meditated a bit and have my hair in a towel and teeth brushed. I have tossed all the towels and the washcloth used on the boy's burns down the chute, and have rinsed and put away the bathtub toys and am now moving the boy to the living room to join his sisters, who have now been instructed to check their back packs to make sure everything is in there that needs to be in there and that I have signed everything that needs to be signed.

8:15 I gathered any laundry still up here and start on a load after sorting it all, bringing up any things that is clean and hanging in the basment, putting it away immediately.

8:25 I now can start on breakfast for myself, usually downing a bottle of water while I do so. I can usually nurse the boy and check my e-mail at the same time. The girls are given a warning that the TV will be turned of in 5 mintues then they will need to neaten up the Living room.

8:30 The TV is turned off and the girls put away the few toys that are out, tossing any trash they find and putting DVD's into a pile to be gone through later.

8:35 The girls are told to go brush their teeth and put on their jackets. I finish up with the boy and put my bowl in the kitchen sink. I take the towel off my head and may have time to use a blow dryer, but usually am happy getting a comb through it at the very least.

8:45 I set up C in the front hall to watch for her bus, then make sure the boy has all he needs in his diaper bag. I give any meds that need to be given to anyone that needs it, and if I can squeeze out 5 more mintues, I will even put on some make up.

Here is where the days get unpredictable and screwy usually. C's bus is supposed to arrive at 8:53. It has come as early as 8:45 and as late as 9:20! If we are having a decent day, she is on the bus by 9AM. Any later than that, and my morning gets off track, and I have to try my best to keep my cool. If I have to drive C to school, it gets off kilter even more, even though her school is less than a mile away! Her school day starts at 9:10 if all goes well. I lock up the front once again as soon as she leaves, or sooner if we are ready to head out, too.

Mondays and Wednesdays the boy has school from 9 until 2 PM. Yes, he is usually late since I can't leave the house until C is on the bus, but school is flexible and is less than 1/2 mile away. We can sit in the car to wait for the bus if we had a very smooth morning and I can get everyone in before C's bus arrives. C gets to sit up front since we don't actually move while waiting in the driveway, so that usually puts her in a very good mood. Tuesdays M goes to the In Laws (ILs). They live about a mile away, in the exact opposite direction from the primary school. Every Other Thursday I go to MOPS to save my sanity. I am on the creative activites team there, and am supposed to arrive at 9AM, but again, I can't leave until C is on the bus, so I am always late to that since it is about 5 miles away. That meeting ends at 11:30, but since I am on the steering team, I stay to help clean up, and M usually ends up missing her bus, but she doesn't care since I usually get her a Happy Meal to eat on the way to school. Fridays I travel north to do my banking, gassing up the car and visit with my parents. I try to schedule doctor appointments for myself when C is at school, even better if I can get a day when R or M is at school, too, and I've hit the jackpot if I can get an early afternoon appointment when everyone is gone.

No matter the day I need to be home before noon, earlier if we do not eat while out. M gets on the bus around 12:15, as early as 12:05 and as late as 12:35, but her school starts at 12:40 the same place C attends. If I need a few extra minutes, there is no disaster if I have to drive her to school. C is in the first grade and M got into the Pre K Program that is new this year, if you have been reading all along, you knew that already.

If I have no other plans, and no meetings or appointments, I like to come straight home after morning drop offs then rebooth the laundry and redo the dishes, and get it all clean, dried and put away. I will run the vacuum, "Swish and swipe" the bathroom including the sink, mirror and toilet, sweep the bathroom, hall and kitchen, and if I have the time, wash the floors, too. I aim to wash the floors at least one time a week each. If M is still with me, she may dust or play with "special" toys that we don't play with when the boy is around for one reason or another. She really likes it when it is just me and her, so we tend to go to the mall to walk or out to lunch together just the two of us. When she is at my IL's they drop her off by noon since they usually feed her.

If we eat at home, I make sure she brushes her teeth and washes her face, and puts her lunch things away, garbage in the garbage and dirty dishes in the sink, then I set her up in the front hall to watch for her bus, but she is much less proficient at it, so I wait with her, usually checking my e-mail here in the office while I jump up every 2.8 seconds to see if her bus is coming. Her bus won't even slow down if she is not out there waiting, but I will not let her out of the house without me right there with her. I lock up the front once again as soon as she is on the bus. Mondays and Wednesdays I may meet friends for lunch or find another way to enjoy my "free" time (no children for an hour and 45 minutes!) Once or twice a month I switch M's IL day to Wednesday and will either go papercrafting with my friends or volunteer in C's classroom and have lunch with her before driving to my IL's getting M and then driving back to drop her off at school. C's "centers" are from 11 until 11:45 with lunch immediately following. They eat quickly and get to go out for recess, so I am usually done by 12:05, but won't kill myself to get M to our house to catch the bus. I'd rather drive leisurly , visit with my IL's for a bit, then drive M to school. I still have over an hour before I have to get the boy, so I may run an errand or two, lunch with the ladies, or come back home to have uninterrupted computer or TV time. I may even do more laundry. On Friday's I try to take this time to grocery shop.

1:45 (Mondays and Wednesdays) I head to school to pick up the boy and take my time there since he is usually napping. He is usually chatty and happy to see me. If I have any unfinished errnad, I will take him with me to complete them, but usually we come home, and I may have to nebulize him again, but know I have to nurse him. We both need it!

2:30, I wash anything that needs washing in the kitchen, then will strip and remake a bed or two, adding to the laundry pile. The boy will either finish napping or play nicely in the clean living room or bedroom. We may play toghther, read books, or just snuggle while I finish watching a TV show I've taped or a movie.

3:30, I open up the front again and wait for the girls to get home. They ride the same bus home, so at least I only have to wait for one bus. It usually arrives around 3:35. DH gets home around the same time, and will need a snack when he gets home. So will the girls and the boy will join them.

3:40ish I go through each of the girls' backpacks, sign any papers that needs signing, wite any checks that need written and get them set up with homework and snacks. DH and I look at school work, and chat about their days. DH then usually leaves for another job, or excuses himself to go work in the studio.

4:00 I let the kids watch TV while I get dinner going. Wednesdays they have Church at my IL's church from 6:30 until 8:05. Thursdays M has Tumbling from 5:10 to 6:10 so I usually serve pasta those nights. Fridays C has Ice skating from 6 until 6:50. If DH is home, we always eat dinner as a family at the dining room table. I love this part of my day! I'd love it even more if I couls convince DH to turn off his phone for the 45 minutes we take to eat, but I digress.

Dh usually takes charge of clearing the table and putting away the leftovers. We may let C wash dishes, but we are usually rushed so she won't get a chance. If DH is "home" then he will play with all 3 kids for a bit so I can wash the dishes and get the sink shiney again. I will also wash the table in the dining room well and set the boy up for evening dressing change.

If we are going to be home for the night, I will then bathe the girls then scrub the tub (One day a week) and then bathe the boy or just scrub the tub then bathe the boy again. Either way, while I am bathing the boy the girls will change into their jammies, and pick up their room, putting toys and books away and cltohes down the chute. While he is in the tub, I will wash the day's glove and shorts again, wring them in a clean towel and set them out to dry. After that I will let the girls brush their teeth.

By this time, it is usually around 7PM (on a night we are home). I send the girls to bed, and promise to come tuck them in in a bit. They say their prayers and talk to each other, read or play with their leap pads in their beds for a bit while I do the boy's PT, stretching and massaing, put him in his jammies and put his splint on too that he sleeps in. I add tape to his sleeve to try to make it harder for him to get the splint off. He needs ot wear it 12 hours a day.

7:15ish we go in to say our goodnight, check to make sure they said their prayers, then I will turn down the lights and turn on their music. I remind them of events that will take place the next day, then give them kisses and tell them I love them before closing their door. I will go to our room, set the DVR for the evening, then return my attention to the boy. I administer any meds he needs, then its back to the office to be nebulized again with both pulmicort and albuterol if needed then will nurse him again before putting him in bed by 8. With any luck, the girls are already asleep by then.

8:05PM I scrub the tub once again, putting all the towels and the washcloth down the chute, then finish up cleaning the kitchen and dining room. I make the trip back down to the laundry room, and bring up anything that is clean down there. I will fold, hang, and put away anything that is ready to be dealt with. I will pull out anything I need to pull out for dinner tomorrow and check the calendar for any events that we will be needing to attend the following day.

With even more luck, DH will be home, rested and available to spend time with. We will usually attempt to watch a TV program or two before heading to bed. We try to stagger our going to bed since we only have one bathroom, and we both need to get in there to wash our faces and brush our teeth. I also get my contacts out and go potty, since I usually don't remember to do it during the day LOL!

If its a good night, The boy and M will sleep through til morning. Usually the boy will wake around 11 but put himself back to sleep. Around midnight, M will find her way to our room and sneak into our bed. 1AM the boy usually wakes and needs a breathing treatment and/or nursing. I will return M to her bed before getting the boy. I try to put the boy back in bed, but I usually fall asleep before he does. 3:30 the boy wakes again to nurse and I usually have to put M back in her bed before I get the boy. Then 5 AM arrives once again.

It gets even more fun when M has an asthma flare up as well and I have 2 kids to nebulize and medicate.

Well, for now, I'm going to bed. I spent way too long typing this all out. Time I could have spent sleeping, or doing laundry, but in reality I would have spent it playing online or watching TV. DH should be back home soon, so I was sort of waiting up for him anyway.

OK, Can I get 2 hours before the first kid wakes? I've already sent M back to bed 3 times since she fell asleep at 7:15.yes, she has woken up 3 times in 4 hours! At least she didn't go make herself comfy in our bed!

Wanna trade lives for a day or two?

Back form Cincy Again.

2006-10-31T11:34:00.000-05:00

Well, yesterday we had our first clinic visit and the awesome Shriner's flew us out in the morning then home again in the early evening. We were only gone 14 hours!

The boy got his gloves and shorts (They gave us 3 of each) and is at day care right now (Actually, he is probably out Trick or Treating at the infamous "St Joe's" or just gotten back). The Day care goes over there each year for their Haloween Parade. C and M both have their costume parties today as well, and I am volunteerng in M's class room this afternoon.

Everyone at the Hospital was very pleased with his healing process and we go back in a month to check on progress and decide if his one finger needs a quick proceedure or not. We are giving it one more month to try to heal itself, then we will schedule a proceedure if it doesn't. Nothing serious, he has just developed a rather sizable skin tag right on the tip of it, but he will have to be put under to have it removed. The shorts are SO much easier to use than the ace wrap and I was SO pleased to feel how smooth his skin is now that we are using them. With the gauze and ace wrap I could never get it totaly flat, and now it is!! His glove is a bit of a struggle to get on, but he has SO much better mobility in his hand and fingers with it on! Not to mention that it is beige, so now it doens't stand out so much. I"m not sure if it is easier to use than wrapping each finger individuality, but it is just one thing to put on instead of several littles ones. I am still massaging and stretching him 2 times a day and the garments are to be worn all the time unless he is in the tub or having his PTdone. About 23 1/2 hours a day they said.

SO, it was a good trip, but I forgot how tiring it is to spend a full day travelling! I got up at 4:30 AM, showered, got dressed, folded some laundry, got The boy up, gave him a quick bath, woke up DH so he could shower while I did the dressing change, then we all piled in the car to head to the airport around 6 AM fora 7:30 flight. The girls spent the night with my ILs. We both napped on the airplane, arrived in Philly on time, found out departure gate after walking the entire length of one terminal, taking the tram to another terminal, and walking almost the entire length of the other terminal and discovered my cell phone missing! UGH! They called back to our arrival gate and yes, they did have it so we had to take the tram back to the other terminal to fetch it then come ALL The way back again. I decided we should split a pretzel at least since I last ate "real" food at 5:30 in the morning! We got back in time, boarded the plane and even left a bit early, but we were delayed on the runway for nearly 40 minutes. We only arrived 25 minutes late in Cincy though. I still had nearly an hour before my appointment, but the Shriner's were never told we needed picking up, so I lost 50 minutes while they came and got us. We arrived 5 minutes late for our clinic visit, but at least we got in right away! The drivers were anxious to go home and they were trying to take us back to the airport ot 3:30 - our flight didn't leave until 7:30! Our "team" convinced them that we NEEDED to eat SOMETHING and well, they still needed to make the final adjustments on 2 of the gloves and 2 of the shorts. SO I grabbed food while they got sewing and we still got to the airport 3 hours early.

I am unfortunately getting pretty good at killing time in airports with a toddler! We got on our plane to go home, and we were delayed while waiting for airplane to come in from LA. Ricky nursed then fell asleep and I had a pleasent chat with our seat mate, who is also from the same town I live in. Somehow, even leaving almost 20 minutes late, we arrived 2 minutes early, and I was home just a couple minutes after 9 PM, unpacked our bag and new materials, gave the boy a quick bath, massage and stretch, then got him into a new glove and shorts before nursing him to sleep and crawling into bed just after 10 PM myself.

SO I guess that's the update for today!

in the blink of an eye your whole world can change.

2006-10-07T14:37:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I've heard that before, but I can't believe how true it really is!

Thursday night, I was cooking dinner. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Nice, mundane dinner. The girls were home from school watching TV, DH was working on music in the studio and the boy was playing at my feet.

I went to the Living room and told M to get her leotard on since she had tumbling class right after dinner and then I heard THE Worst scream ever coming from my boy. I ran to the kitchen (a meer 5 steps away!) and was horrified to see that my boy had pushed hte step stool to the stove and now had his hand caught under the pot of boiling potatoes IN the flame!

I got him out, under cold running water and immediately started to scream for DH, who couldn't hear me since he was in the nearly soundproof studio. I then got my almost 6YO to run and get him and DH yelled at the girls to turn off the TV, which they did immediately and then we all piled into the car and drove the longest 1/2 mile ever to the nearest hospital.

The Idiots actually handed us an ice bag and told us to sit in chairs while my boy screamed in pain, his skin coming off in my hand.

OK I"m not typing it all out again, I"m just going to copy and paste what I wrote to a group of people earlier.......

Hello, Everyone!!

We finally made it home from Cincinnati. For those of you that don't know what has happened, R severely burned his hand Thursday night, October 5. While my back was turned, he reached to touch the flame under the pot of boiling potatoes. When he found it to be hot, he tried to pull his hand out, only he lifted his hand and got it "Stuck" between the pan and the flames.

We rushed to St Joe's emergency room only to be handed a bag of ice and sent to chairs!! DH called our Pediatrician and I tried my best to calm the screaming boy, when we were finally lead to the back, where the nurse told us that ice was bad... after 20 minutes they finally gave him some pain meds, but only gave him MORTIN!! We were about to leave and drive ourselves to Children's as per our doc, when they finally offered to call us an ambulance and administered morphine. They attempted to wrap his hand, but failed miserably and after 3 attempts I grabbed the stuff and did it myself. P took the girls to my IL's and I rode in the ambulance with R.

The Ambulance ride was uneventful, with R finally stopping crying about 2 minutes from Children's. The ambulance dude even gave him a teddy bear! P arrived shortly befor we did.

They were waiting for us at Children's but we still had to wait to see the surgeon. R was feeling pretty good by this point, so we didn't mind the short wait. She took one quick look at his hand and then rewrapped it to wait for 2 specialists to look at it, too. The 2 docs came in and basically said they were going to send us to Cincinnati's Shriner Burns Hospital. They called them and we talked. Children's admitted us overnight and basically kept his comfortable. Less than 2 hours after arriving at Children's we had our flight information for the following morning, a direct flight at 6:30 AM.

My Parents arrived and so did some food (DH knows a few restaurant owners and since we didn't eat, we took advantage of their generous offer to send us some pasta and bread! The 4 of us ate while R dozed a bit. We decided that My parents would drive me back to my house so I could trow a bag together for the trip. Our Trip co-ordinator told me to pack 4 days worth of clothing, jammies and toiletries, but there was a chance we would be back the same night! My little sister arrived just as we were about to leave so she sat with P.

I ran home, sent out a couple e-mails, packed my bag and was back out the door in about 20 minutes! I even grabbed P's paycheck to give to my parents (They live near my bank) and some cash for the trip.

P and I switched so he could go finish a job he needed to do, and grab some clothes to take to my IL's for the girls. My sis sat with me until midnight.

2AM we get a call that the flight is delayed and we have an extra hour before we have to be at the airport. 5AM we leave the hospital, find an all night pharmacy to get a prescription filled for Tylenol with codine and get to the airport with 45 minutes before our flight. One of the Shriner's met us there, paid for our tickets and gave us the name of our contact in Cincinnati. We had a direct flight and arrived in CIncinnati just after 9AM. THe Shriner's were there to transport us to the hospital, and we arrived there just before 10 AM. Our driver delivered us right to our room!

By 11 AM we had already met with admissions, 2 nurses, his surgeon, his doctor, 2 students, Child Life, Family Life, Social services, 2 aides, a photograppher and 2 medical arts people that drew some diagrams of his burns and had a date for his first surgery. We were staying, but at least I was able to room in with him on a comfy single bed. I had received a hospital tour, been given some cash to tide us over until Monday and started the phone calls home.

The Shriner's were wonderful and really did take care of us while we were there!

The rest of Friday was spent getting to know the lay of the hospital and trying to settle my spinning head form the last 24 hours or so! Saturday we got to attend play group and I got to meet some of the wonderful Shrine Clowns!! After Morning play group, R nursed and took a good nap, so I decided to go up to the cafeteria to get some food. The Shrine clowns had just sat to eat, too, so I got to join them for some wonderfully refreshing conversations and distraction. One of the guys was on his way to the costume shop to pick up his pants, and asked if I wanted to tag along. I jumped at the chance to get out of the hospital environment. I had fun at the shop and got back before the boy even woke up! I got him to eat a couple nibbles and nurse a bit, then we went to evening play group.

Sunday we tied our best to stay positive and focused and the doc and surgeon took another look at his hand. They wanted to wait until today to see if some healing has occurred and to wait for some selling to go down. They looked at it with the Physical therapist present, and I got anotehr peek at it, too. Even I could see that His hand did look a bit better. THey decided to try a one day surgery with a graft taken form his groin area. We spent the rest of the day updating people and trying to amuse the boy and got to play group 2 times, including Pet Therapy! The Boy was so happy to get to pet some doggies! He especially loved the kisses from Rocky. Then I kept him up late and nursed him to sleep since we couldn't eat after midnight and couldn't nurse after 3 AM.

He ended up having 2 surgeries (Actually, it is one surgery over 2 days) ON Monday the 9th and Tuesday 10th. The first surgery was just 45 minutes. They "Excised" his hand and wrist, taking off as much damaged skin as they could, and really scrutinized the area. WHile int here they determined there was more damaged than anticipated, so tehy went ahead and scheduled his 2nd surgery for the next day. He did well and was supposed to be in recovery for about an hour and a half. After just 5 minutes, they moved him back to his room and called me in, too. He wanted nothing to do with the recovery room and only wanted me to hold him. Nothing makes someone feel better like Momma! I held him and nursed him most of the day, taking a break only to shower and eat. Since the floor was light on patients, When I needed a break, one of the students would come in and hold and rock him. He actually felt well enough to attend a going away party for one of the boys. THey throw such parties for anyone that stays more than 30 days. He ate about 1/4 of a cupcake, then was too tired to stay much longer so we went back to our room. Every 2 hours, someone would come in and "irrigate" his hand. THey had him wrapped up pretty tight, but didn't want his fresh wounds to dry up so they would push fluids into a tube wrapped into the dressing. They would alternate between an antibiotic solution and saline. This made his dressing pretty wet, and it needed to be elevated. At one point we both dozed off a bit with him facing me asleep on my chest and is hand near him, elevated on a towel. While we were snoozing, his hand slipped off the towel, so I ended up with a pretty big blood stain (Blood mixed with all the fluids they kept pouring in there) on my shirt. Luckily, I never pay much for my clothing, so I tossed it out LOL! I put him in his crib to nap so I could go get some dinner, and when I came back, he had pulled out his IV from his ankle. SInce he was nursing well, they didn't put it back in.

That night he had a restless sleep and when I woke up (Around 5AM) he had his irrigation tube in his "good" hand LOL! He was due back in surgery in about 3 hours, so they didn't bother to put it back in, instead pushing the fluids directly into the ace wrap in various places. His second surgery took much longer, a little over 2 and a half hours. THey ende dup grafting all 4 of his fingers, an area from his pinky to the side of his wrist and the inside of his wrist. I stopped counting at 70 stitches. HE did tolerate recovery better, and he was in there for over an hour, although he was closely watched since his asthma flared up and his breathing sounded pretty horrible. They said it was to be expected, and had the x-ray department on standby "just in case" but to me, Darth Vader had quieter breathing! They kept watch over him and even though the breathing was noisy, he slept peacefully most of the day. He had his IV in his "other" hand, so they thought he couldn't get it out again, but they forgot that the boy has teeth. He managed to pull it out.

Wednesday, they had wanted to put him under again to do the dressing change since it is usually painful, but since his IV was out, they just gave him some Cadamine and had me hold him to do the 24 hour check. He did pretty good with the check and I got to get my first look at the donor and graft sites. Its a good thing I am not squeamish, but I had to admit it did look better than it did we arrived, but still very swollen and scary looking. They wrapped it up again and the waiting game started. They didn't want to look at it again until day 5 after surgery. They moved the irrigation tube to the outside of his hand, and tucked it under a layer of ace wrap to make sure The Boy wouldn't get it out again. and added a split to it as well.

We did make it to evening play group since his doc said he had to be either in the crib or in mom's arms, I figured I could at least hold him while we played. Just after we arrived, this nurse arrived and told us that Doc had changed her orders and as long as he wore a sling, he could now move around and play!! Yay! But making a 15 month old wear a sling is not an easy task. THe play therapist and I finally figured out a way to get him to wear it correctly (It his hand elevated) and not slide out of it LOL!

For the next 3 days, they continued to irrigate it every 2 hours and to vitals checks every 4 hours. We were not confined to the room, just had to be there for the checks. We did get to go play on the indoor playground, in the play room, do laundry, go attempt to eat, walk in the healing garden, play in the library (They had internet computers there!) and play "Elevator ROulette" where I would let the boy push any button he wanted and we would get off on that floor. Sometimes it was a good choice (The boy would happily get off and explore) but sometimes it wasn't (HE would get off, shake his head "no" then get right back on). They were talking of sending us home as early as Monday evening, probably Tuesday.

We got news of the snow storm and power outages, but my only concern was making sure our house had power and that the airport was open by the time we were set to leave! Since Paul is an electrician, we had a generator going less than 24 hours later, and the airport wasn't closed very long at all. The house was in tact, but we did lose the tree in front (I think most of the trees on the street are going to be gone!)

Day 4, they stopped irrigating to let his bandage dry out and just did vitals checks every 4 hours.

Morning of day 5 (Sunday) finally arrived and I was trying to distract the boy, who wanted to nurse, but they wanted to put him under for the dressing change, so no food or nursing again. We had about 3 hours before the schedules procedure, so I figured I could get dressed and we could go for a walk around the hospital. As I was changing out of my pajamas I poked my head through my shirt to see R with his bandaged hand in the toilet! EEEK!!! I quick called his nurse who called the on call doc and they came in and decided to take the dressing off completely since it was soaked through. I had to admit it looked SO much better than day 1!! They decided to just rewrap it, then wait to see if Doc wanted to put him under or just continue with the dressing change. Doc Warner came in 2 hours later and said since the hard part was over, they would just give him Tylenol with Codine, wait 1/2 hour, then proceed with a bath and dressing change, and call her when the bath was over. SO it was the 2nd time he avoided being put under, but by the time he was getting his leg "Scrubbed down" I was wishing they would have put him to sleep!! IT was horrible. He was screaming and he was bleeding, both of which they assured me were good signs. The blood means there is blood flow and the screaming meant there WAS pain, which means there are nerve endings going there. Yeah, it didn't make me feel any better. Doc Warner looked at the grafts and donor site and said both looked really good. The physical therapist came in as readjusted his splint for night wear. He wears it to keep his fingers straight and the wrist bent backwards at about 45 degrees. He needs to wear this about 12 hours a day. The rest of the time he is encouraged to use his hand as much as possible. The garment department came in and took measurements, too. They are making him a compression glove and shorts to wear. We get those when we return to clinic. His nurse did the first run through of how to dress his hand and thigh as I held the boy, giving many, many kisses as we went.

My Aunt that lives not too far away in Kentucky was finally able to make it up for a visit and it was nice to see her and my cousin!! They brought some goodies and we ate lunch together in teh cafeteria.

That night we did the Tylenol, wait 1/2 hour, bath with scrub down, dressing change again, still with the nurse doing it and me holding the boy. And we got to play group, too.

Monday we still had no flights out and not much hope. We were told Tuesday night or Wednesday. I attempted my first dressing change and it only took me an hour from start to finish, not counting the 1/2 hour wait for the codine to kick in. That night, I got the "timing" down and ordered his dinner tray at 4:30, got his meds around the same time as his tray arrived at 5. Finished feeding him and got him in the bath by 5:30, and finished the dressing change around 6! We then went up to the cafeteria, where I ordered my dinner and then made it to 6:30 play group where I ate while he played. Play group lasts for one hour, we went back to our room and he happily nursed to sleep. The nurse came in ad took his vitals and commented that I did a good job on his dressing change totally unassisted!!

Tuesday Morning came and still no word on flights, so we did the whole, order tray/ meds/ eat/ dressing change thing, then we played for a bit tin the room before he nursed and took a nap, so I went to get myself some brunch. We managed to make it to morning play group, and then ate lunch. Afternoon was spent with him flirting with the nurses then the same evening routine as the night before.

Wednesday morning, we awoke to the same morning routine, with the exception of the nurse looking at his unbandaged hand and Family life telling me to be in the lobby at 10:45 for a 12:45 flight home YAY!!! We filled out all the discharge paperwork, got our instructions on wound care, we were given our clinic return time (Oct 30 at 1:40) and the contact number to arrange return flights when we got back home. Good thing I had started packing and didn't have too much more to do. We were ready to go around 10, so we went up to the cafeteria to get some food to go, figuring it was cheaper than airport food! We were in the lobby ready to go at 10:40.

As soon as we got to the ticket counter we hear an announcement that our flight is delayed an hour!! EEK! We checked in, then hunkered down to eat before going through security.

The boy was pretty good the entire flight home, and even on they layover in Philadelphia. He slept the flight home from Philly. We were very happy to find our family waiting for us on the other side of security!!!

We have to continue to do his dressing change 2 times a day with stretching and massaging. He can't go back to day care until after our clinic visit, although we did pop in today to see everyone. We have our flights to and from CIncy and very happy to be home now!!!

Day 6: I don't want to go home!

2006-09-28T21:23:00.000-05:00

I awake before sunrise and immediately think: I don't want to go home!

I hop in the shower since everyone else is asleep and then wait until 7AM so I can call and cancel our ADR for The Beach Club in a few hours. It would have been out of pocket anyway, and we decided to not be rushed this last day here.

DH jumps in the shower next and I do more packing. The kids each rise and stretch and then get dressed and have breakfast, trying to use up all the "Stuff" That can't be taken home with us. I reiterate that I do not want to go home and while we are all in agreement, there is nothing to be done except pack and get back home to the reality that there will be no paycheck next week. I mope in my corn pops.

We find a friendly family to give our left over water and fruit to and then try to pack everything we will not need in the checked bags, then try to get the "park bag" packed with the stuff we NEED, but nothing that can't be taken in our checked bags, while keeping enough room in our carry ons for the items that are currently in the park bag. We foolishly decide to pack ALL the rain gear in a checked bag since it only rains in the late afternoon here, and we will be on ME when the inevitable rain occurs. We are trying to travel as unencumbered as possible so that we can do and see all we want before our 3PM pick up time for the Magical express.

Bell services comes to take our Checked bags to advance check in for us, and we pack the last of our room up. I take one last look at the past week's home and sigh. Have I mentioned that I don't want to go home?

We head for the front desk. We had "Express check out" and so that is one less line we need to wait ofr. I get in line to precheck in for the airline and DH located the line for bag holding for our cary ons. The girls wisely opt to watch a movie while they wait!

We are finally on our way, but failed to make it to MK in time for Rope drop. Next vacation I promise we will make it! We get in, head straight for Exposition Hall to get our Photopass. There is a bit of a line, but we are #3. This has to be the slowest line!! DH nearly misses Goffy sauntering directly beind him, but he does get a Hi-5. We finally purchase out Photo pass, then head for ToonTown Via train when it starts to cloud up. We chat with a nice family on the way. We get out and the girls want to play in toon park which was closed on an earlier visit. Just as they get in there, and I have taken all of 2 shots, the rain starts. We gather them back up and head...where? This was not in the plan! We walk QUICKLY and end up in the small farmer's market before blankets and buckets of rain start to fall. Then the wind kicks up so the rain is now sideways. We decide to have a snack and huddle with about 30 other people in the tiny shop, which the workers close 2 sides on in an attempt to keep at least a few things dry. ONE HOUR AND FORTY FIVE MINUTES later, it is finally raining light enough for us to leave the haven. Well, DH and I also BUY ponchos. (Wow, good thing I picked up a few at home LOL!) I even figure out a way to wear the baby and the poncho at the same time! Now you may be asking why we didn't head for the character greeting area instead? Well, I foolishly packed all the autograph books in teh checked bags. I guess we could have went and gotten pictures at least, but in my "Don't want to go home" mind didn't think of that.

C and M really want to ride Barnstormer again, but there is still lightening in the area, so it is closed. We promise next trip we will ride it and head to Fantasyland to ride Snow White's scary adventure, The Many adventure of Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan's flight. On the way over there C and M both notice that the tea cups are open. Darn. DH and I do not do spinny rides well (Dumbo was almost too much for me!). Oh look at the line! We will have ot ride it next trip. (And Hopefully next trip the girls are tall enough to ride it themselves!)

It is now time. The time we are all dreading. We need to head back to the resort for the last time this trip.

I don't even look back at the castle. I WANT do, but I don't. We are trying to get off main street since they are already setting up for the 3PM parade.

We are quiet on the bus ride back and we head straight to the shop to "spend" the last of our snack credits and the lest of the girls' DIsney Dollars. I used our last 10 snack credits on boxes of cookies, bags, of crackers and peanut brittle. I "splurge" and buy myself a $10 sparkly Mickey Head anklet. The girls spend every last dollar they have then they go with DH to get the bags and I hit the food court to spend the last of our counter service credits. We get plenty of food, and the nice CM reminds me that I "need" to get desserts, too, so I opt for Mickey head Rice Krispy treats. Darn. I wish I had remembered about them earlier. I would have bought more of these and less boxes of cookies LOL!

I meet up with my family and we wolf down our food. It tastes way better than it should, but I think we are all just trying to savor every last bit of Disney.

We board ME which arrives 10 minutes later than it should have. Darn that is 10 more minutes we could have had in the park! Ok, not really, the rain was mostly to blame for our short park time this AM, but I'm dreading the inevitable.

Actually, since we are already checked in, we are leaving rediculously early. ME picks you up 3 hours before your flight leaves. Even with the bit of traffic we run into, we still have over 2 hours before our flight leaves, and no bags to check! We hang out by the fountain just outside of the Disney store at the airport. I then fill out the post cards I promised a few people, even calling one of them for her address.

About an hour beffore our lflight, we finally go through security, which is a bit backed up, but not terribly so. We get through security without incident, gather everyone once again and head to the train to our terminal. Once we arrive, I drop the post cards at the newsstand and then we head to our gate and discover...delayed. NP, we have just over an hour layover in Atlanta. We play a few games, color another picture and otherwise pass the time before heading to Atlanta FINALLY.

We make it to Atlanta, sprint to the next terminal (OK, sprint to the train, that takes us to the next terminal) and discover..delayed. MAJORLY! We setteloursoves once again with various games and C breaks out the bubbles. Um...bubbles? Where did she have those? In her bag. Appearanly the "Contraban" made it through security! We snicker a bit about her "illegal" bubbles, but they help keep her and her sister and brother in good spirits. We FINALLY leave Atlanta almost 2 hours late! We are all tired, cranky (DH most since he hasn't had a cigarette) but now we are looking forward to just getting home.

My Wonderful IL's had picked up our van Sunday morning, and took it home for us, then picked it up for us and dropepd it at the airport around 10 at night. (We live about 3 miles from the airport!) We were supposed to get home just after midnight, but we don't arrive until almost 2 AM. We are so tired when we arrive that we don't even notice that part of our stroller is missing.

We gather all our bags from baggage claim, then we decide to send DH to get the van (So he could smoke) and then he would pick us up in front. That leaves me with 3 sleeping kids, one still strapped in his seat and the other 2 sleeping in the stroller, plus most of our carry on bags AND SEVEN checked bags! Somehow, I manage to get all of it and us to the curb by the time DH arrives! I'm not sure who is more surprised, him or me!

We make it home, tired, and already planning on when we will go back!

Have I mentioned its good to be home?

Where is day 6?!?!?

2006-09-07T21:17:00.000-05:00

I've come to the conclusion that if I do not write my sixth and final day's trip report, then mentally, I can be "Stuck" there forever!!!

I know, not really, but I will write it soon, I promise!

~Elena

Day 5 How many modes of transportaion can you take in one day?

2006-08-30T17:55:00.000-05:00

Day 5 How many modes of transportaion can you take in one day?

We are up by 6:30 and my first thought is: I don't want to go home! Yes, I realize that we have all of today to look forward to and part of tomorrow, too, but I don't want to leave! I hop in the shower since everyone else is still asleep. By the time I get out, DH is ready to shower, the boy is in need of nursing and M is up. C is starting to stir as well.

It is Extra Magic Hour at Magic Kingdom today, so I want to get there for early entry at 8. We grab some snacks and head for the bus. We arrive at MK at 8:15 and it is nearly empty! (Well, for MK that is!) We stop in the bakery for some breakfast, then head through the castle to Fantasy land. We grab Fast Passes For Mickey's Philharmagic and then ride Cinderella's Carrousel. Our Fast Pass TIme is ready for MP and it is GREAT!! Probably my favorite ride so far! The kids and I then hit Dumbo. No Fast Pass, but just a 20 mintue wait. I figure its the shortest wait time we will see since Rope Drop has occurred (When they let in the non resort guests). We get to Ride Snow White's scary Adventure and Its A Small World before circling the castle to the front to catch Cinderellabration. I send DH and the kids ahead while I run back over to the Cars Cart to get the other Car I had seen earlier in the week for my Nephew. I get there and they are sold out!! So I head back to the castle to meet up with my family, who were supposed to be grabbing some ice cream...only they don't sell ice cream before 11 AM at MK! We watch Cinderella get her crown and then head back out of MK just as they start to sell ice cream, so we split up and grab our favorites before heading back to our resort.

The bus ride is uneventful and we quickly get the girls changed into their princess dresses, but I forget to put better clothes on the boy. We then grab the bus to Down Town Disney for lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express. WOW!! THis is our favorite counter service meal EVER!!! The Pizza is tastey according to the 5YO (the 4YO is asleep in the stroller and we don't dare wake her LOL!) The Chicken lasagne thingy is to die for!! Dh and I split it, and it is plenty for us to top us off! We each get a slice of yummy bread, too. We polish this off, get a box for the last slice of pizza on the off chance that M will wake and be hungry and head to the Christmas store. We spend abit of cash here (It could have easly been MUCH more!) then head to Goofy's candy shop. It looks like rain, and we brought nothing with us. DH decides to buy 2 kids ponchos and 2 umbrellas and we hang out in the shop browsing and spending a little money, too! We each pick out something to nosh on, but choose not to eat them yet. Then the clouds burst open and we are sort of stuck, but what a great place to be stuck! We wander around a bit more before decideding to head to the Next shop.

Since everything is now wet and both girls are wearing the "princess" Shoes and dresses, we realize that kid ponchos are pretty much useless for us! I was going to put the baby in the sling, but C wants to "walk". Not wanting to cause I melt down, I reluctantly agree, and put the baby in the stroller with M. We take one step into the rain and C starts to yell, "My Princess shoes are getting wet!" Being a mom, I pick her up, soaking wet poncho and all and carry her and the umbrella to Once Upon a Toy store. We get there pretty wet, but it is warm, so I stuff a box of Potato head parts for my nephew for Christmas. Payback for all the little part gift my sister always gets our kids! LOL! The girls are happy to just put a potato head together and pull it apart again. We find Cinderella gloves for M since she says she NEEDS them and DH agrees! HE is such a push over when it comes to his kids LOL!

There is still time before our BBB appointment so we head over to Lego Land between the raindrops. I would have loved to get more photos of the sculptures, but it is just too wet and I have to carry at least one child at all times since they are wearing their princess shoes, well the girls are, not the boy, obviously! and we do not have a second stroller today. We play in there for a bit, chatting with a guy making a sculpture before finally heading into the World Of Disney store.

Had I known how busy it was, I would have come here and checked the girls in before heading to Lego Land, We are 15 minutes early for our scheduled appointemnt, and wait an hour to get in! They are handed the "Menu of services" card complete with their names on them. Choosing hairstyles takes all of .6 seconds so we wander around the store for a bit thanks to the pager they give us. I FINALLY find some post cards and grab 10 of them and the girls are getting more impatient by the second! We are quickly running out of diversions when our pager goes off. Princess M is the first to the chair. She choses the updo with the hair extensions, I think its called Disney Diva. Photo pass people are there, so we whip out our card! She is pretty patient in the chair but tried more than once to get a peek at her do. Enough hair gel to stop a charging Heffalump is applied, then tasteful make up is put on next. Princess C is right next to her and he doesn't appear to be happy at all. Later we find out she is mad that M got to go first. Harumph. First borns. All is forgiven when she is turned around to reveal her "Disney Princess" do, a simple bun with a tiara and a Mickey Rhinestone barrette on the back of her head. Lots of glitter is applied as well. Princess M notices that Princess C has a tiara and she does not. $10 later she gets one too. Thankfully, Princess C has no interest in Princess M's hair extentions.

We leave BBB Nearly $100 later after paying for both bookings ($35 each) plus the extra tiara and my post cards. Each of the Princesses get to take home their make up palletes in very pink bags that match the sashes they are given announing to all that we were at the Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique.

Thankfully the rain has slowed to a mist and we head back to the bus area, stopping to ride the merry go round. Many, Many people comment on how beautiful our Princesses are and ever so Modest, the girls eat it all up! We grab the Bus to the Contemporary and arrive with plenty of time before our 5:40 ADR's at 1900 Park Fare. We check in and then go potty, then pose for pictures with the Fairy GodMother. Our table is ready and we are seated fairly close to the buffet. I have no where in my notes what time it was! Perla is the first to stop by, followed by Suzy. We manage to get a few runs to the buffet in when Cinderella herself makes an appearance. M is entralled. The Boy steals a kiss and C is chatting her up like they are long lost friends!

We make yet another Potty break and when we return, DH informs us the Prince Charming had stopped by. He asked him to return and he said "He Shall." We get our desserts, the girls dance with each other a bit, and are about to leave when he FINALLY returns! HE certainly looked the part! More autographs and photos then we are on our way out again.

We decide to grab the monorail to Magic Kingdom and C starts to rifle through our bags and can't find the marshmellow sucker she bought at Goofy's earlier. I'm not sure how she can still be hungry, but we loook for it everywhere and decide it is long gone.

When we get to the Magic Kingdom, we decide to pop into Main Street Confectionary to replace her pop. We can't find one like the one she had, but buy her the Goofy leg one instead, then take the train on a circle tour. Checking our Watches, we realize we have 40 mintues until Illuminations is about to start, and we decide to go for it! Hop the ferry back to TTC, then the monorail to EPCOT and sprint for Canada for the perverbial "better spot". We actually find a decent view near the fence across the walkway from McDonalds. We enjoy our "Goofy" snacks while waiting. Yes, this is a much better view, but someone could have warned us we were practically sitting atop the pyrotechnics LOL! I think I nearly had at least 2 heart attacks when they go off very unexpectedly.

As Illuminations comes to a close, we decide to NOT wait for the crowds and head for the buses once again. On our way out, we pause to get more video of the fountains, this time with the lights. 2 of the kids are sound asleep, so we get video of that, too.

We then head for the buses, me fighting tears since I still do not want to go home. How adult of me. A fellow passenger leans in and tell me "I hate to go home, too!" Only in Disney!

We settle the kids into bed "as is" then decide that Princess Dresses are not the most comfy things to sleep in. We pour them into their jammies and I start to pack for the trip home. I give up around 11:30 and go to bed instead wishing with all my might that something would happen to keep us there forever.

Coming up Day 6: I don't want to go home.

~Elena

Day 4 - We can Speak Whale!

2006-08-29T21:21:00.000-05:00

Day 4:

We are heading to EPCOT today! Since we have 11:30 lunch ADR's we decide to eat cereal and fruit in the room before we head out. We get on the bus a bit later than I wanted, but still make good time there. We rent a double stroller yet again, then head to get Fast Passes for Soarin' around 9:20 (10:15 - 11:15 return time). We then head over to the Living Seas and get in line for Turtle Talk with Crush. The line is reasonable, but it doesn't start until 10, so I leave DH in the line and take the kids to see the Manatee and do the Kid Cot station. We get back in line with just 5 mintues to go, and are with the first group to be let in. The girls find seats right up front and I stand on the side with the boy. DH stands just a bit further back than I.

CM Josh introduces himself and then Crush appears! He is excited that there are "people in the people tank" and wants to talk to some of them. For those of you that have no idea what this "show" is. You walk into a theater of sorts and on the front wall, there is a video screen the looks like a view of the bottom of the ocean. When Crush Appears, he is on the video screen, talking to CM Josh. But then , Crush tells CM Josh that he wants to talk to "The dudette right in front with the striped shell and big ears" C is wearing a striped shirt with her mouse ears and is sitting right in front! CM Josh comes over to C with the Mike and Crush asks her what her name is. C positively beams and says her name, then Crush says "Well, hello, C!" They talk aback and forth a bit then he tells CM Josh that he wants to talk to the dude in the yellow shell and CM Josh goes over to talk with him next. Then Crush talked to his parents. This is a totally amazing experience, Chaw! (Turtle for Yes). Dory comes out to play a bit as well, and teaches us to say "Hello whale" in whale. The whale swims a bit too close and pins Dory between the whale and the glass, so then Crush tells us to say "Move away Whale" in whale to free Dory. Dory is freed, then goes away then Crush demonstrates how fast he can swim, and ends up swimming right into the glass. Its very funny stuff!! Crush then answers a few more questions (DId you know that turtle sex is determined by the temperature of the egg? If the sand is colder then the turtles become boys and if it is warmer, they become girls...Crush says that is why Dudes are cool, but Dudettes are HOT!. He then gives a friendly suggestion to the kids to call everyone dude the rest of the day, and we head out.

We still have time before our FP, so we explore the aquarium some, I reminisce about the time I got to dive in there, and we wander around some more. We then hit Soarin around 10:45. M and C are both tall enough to ride, so we kid swap here, the boy staying with P first, then the girls riding again with P. This is a great ride, too! I love that you can smell what you are seeing, and I even catch the Hidden Mickey on the golf ball!

We finish there at 11:30 and then high tail it right to the Canadian Pavilian and to LeCellier for our Lunch. It is easy enough to find, and we are seated within 5 minutes. CM Joseph is wonderful and the food is unbelievably good!! Once again we over eat on the meal plan, having appetizers, and main entrees but manage to squeeze in dessert, too! We each opt for a "Smoothy" and P and I have what is possibly the best Filet Mignon ever, and yummy potatoes. C opts for Grilled cheese and M has Chicken. The boy sleeps in my arms until dessert time. P has the Creme brulee, I have the Blueberry thingy, M had the Moose...not a typo. It is chocolate mousse in the shape of a moose, sprinkeled with cookie crumbs to look furry, topped with maple spun sugar to look like antlers, then added fruit for the eyes, nose and tounge. Very cute! C opts for "just 2 marshmellows" but Disney can't do "just" marshmellows. They bring out 4 skewers with 2 marshmellows each on them. They are slightly toasted and rolled in rainbow sprinkles. C is very happy!

We leave Canada after finding another KidCot station and head back the way we came to start out in Mexico. We go for a boat ride and check out the "Marketplace" in there, and do another Kid Cot station. C chats a bit with a CM in Spanish. We then head for Norway, grab fast passes for Malstom and then walk straight to the "cool post" for some cold sodas. C and M get to play the drums for a bit. Be back track to China in time to watch the acrobats. This is the first time I realize exactly how hot it is. Usually we are walking around in the breeze a bit, wandering in and our of buildings with AC. Standing still in the sun, there is sweat POURING off me! I can feel it on my back, down my legs, on my chest. Not a terrific feeling, but not horrible, either. The acrobats finish just as our FP time come up so we contine back tracking to Norway. We are pleasently surprised to find out that the boy can ride this with us! No baby swap this time!

After the boat ride, we watch the movie then browse the shop. I find a cookbook I want and the girls both want to make crowns. They have $$ to spend so I let them. P then decides that they "NEED" to have viking swords, too! He's buying, and appeases me by paying for my cook book as well LOL!

We start to head out of the park, and we stop to visit Innovations and Spaceship earth (Can't remember if we did east or west) but we did get to build and race virtual robots (We came in 3rd on the race and 10th for style) and then got to build a real robot to take home out of the plastic pieces they were making there. We enjoyed Spcaeship Earth as well. How some poeple think this isn't a park for kids is beyond me! DH and I need to spend another 2 days here at least!! There was SO Much we didn't do!!

We then decide we need a break and head back to the hotel for some swimming and relaxation. The girls are getting more comfortable in the water and M is now jumping in on her own, even going under without freaking out. This is a HUGE step! C will now jump in, but only if we catch her. The boy screams when it is time to get out. He loves the water, too!

We have a few snacks, then head back to EPCOT. I want to go to the Yorkshire FIshshop for dinner and then catch IllumiNations. We get on the bus, and head throught he gate, pick up our stroller rental again (YOu only have to pay once a day, tehn show your receipt after that) stopping to film the water fountain that dances with music every 15 minutes. We head through Cananda and into the United Kingdom. I find the fish shop...closed! Hmm, Why didn't I know this?!? OK, so we decide to find a good viewing spot, then we will find a Counter Service location near us. We find a spot just out side of France, but the only CS location that looks good is all the way in the American Pavilion. Somehow it is decided that P will sit with the kids and I will run for food. Run I did. IT is a good hike from where we are. I get 2 adult meals and 1 kid meal to share, plus an extra applesauce and an extra chocolate milk. I am now balancing 2 chocolate milks, 2 large sodas, an order of chicken fingers & fries, 2 applesauces, 2 double cheeseburgers and fries, jello, apple cobbler, chocolate cake, ketchup, BBQ sauce and relish in little paper containers, lettuce, and napkins, forks, spoons, and straws, all on one tray, and need to carry it all the way back to where we were sitting. IT was the longest walk ever. LOL!

I get back and find everyone crying/ yelling. C and M are too tired to wait for the food that they are too hungry to wait for. The boy is crying since Mommy had the nerve to walk away from him. P is yelling since everyone is crying, and what took me so long?!!? GRR. I hand him the tray, pick up the boy and try not to add to the chaos. I tell P to start handing out food, and I will eat whatever is left on the try when he is done. With in about 2 minutes, everyone is calm again.

As we eat our food IllumiNations start. We quickly realize we are in bad seats, but don't want to move. We can still see the fireworks, but can barely hear the music and the kids can't see the globe move over the water. Well, now we know. CM standing nearby says that Canada is the best place to view it. Um, a bit late, but thanks!

We finish up our food while waiting for the crowd to thin a bit and then start to head out fo the park. All 3 kids are asleep by the time we reach the gate. Hmm, 3 kids sleeping in 2 strollers, one of which needs returning before we can leave the park. I transfer the boy to the sling, then the girls to the stroller, and return the rental.

The bus ride is similar to the one the night before, except we get 3 seats fort he 3 sleeping kids and I and DH is still standing nearby. We get help again getting off the bus and collapse into bed exhausted, yet happy!

Coming next: Day 5 How many modes of transportaion can you take in one day?

Day 3: Expedition Everest Or Bust!

2006-08-29T20:59:00.000-05:00

the cast: Myself 35, DH "P" 44, DD "C" 5, DD "M" 4 and DS "The boy" 14 months
6 days 5 night ASMovies Aug 20 -25 2006.

Day 3: Expedition Everest or Bust!

We decide to not use any wake up service and just sleep, but the girls are on their own time and M is up by 7:30, C closer to 8:30. We grab food in the food court and then head to Animal Kingdom!

DH decides we need to rent a double stroller, so we get that (We have a double with us, too). We find 2 different Photo Pass people and get a few shots done of us, some with the kids, some without!

Our "plan" is to head the the safari, go to Plantet watch while waiting for the Fast Pass, then head to EE for FP, then explore over there until time to turn it in.

We start to head to "Africa" and DH decides he wants his own misting fan (What ever happened to not wanting to carry too much through the park, and not spending money needlessly? We brought 2 fans from Wal Mart with us, but he claims the girls are hogging them)

We get our FP for Safari with a 45 minute return time. We head to Rafiki's planet watch, but get stopped when we go to board the train...The boy is sound asleep and we don't wish to wake him, so we opt for the trails instead. We enjoy it enough and then have some fruit we brought with us since we still have a few minutes before our FP time is up. We do bathroom breaks, then it is time for the safari. We enjoy it immensely and try not to make the ostrich mad that saunters right by our truck. We see many, many animals, but some are already sleeping or hiding.

We then decide to save Planet Watch for later since it is already getting late. We head straight to Asia to get FP for EE and get return time of 3:55. It is close to noon, so while we are thankful we got FP, I am just a bit disappointed that we will be missing the parade. We have 6:10 Dinner ADRs at Chef Mickey's so we don't have a lot of wiggle room.

We head through Dinoland and on to Flame Tree for lunch. DH has the Chicken, I order the ribs and we add one one kids meal and share it all. I am very disappointed in the ribs, DH tries one and concurs, claiming that the ones I make at home are much tastier. the corn is very chewy and a disappointment as well. We are trying to make the best of the meal when a boat pulls around (We walked all the way to the back and are sitting waterside with a view of EE) with Mickey, Pluto and Goofy aboard. They float on by us with big smiles and waves!

Kids are getting antsy so we head into Dinoland and let them run around in the Boneyard place. DH and I are just thankful for a cool place to sit, and I am suddenly extremely tired and headachy. I am drinking lots of water and supplementing with 7-up, so I know its not dehydration, and it doesn't "feel" like the beginnings of a migrain. I am getting worse by the moment, so we decide, regretfully, to head back to the resort to try to salvage our Dinner ADR's. C is a bit disappointed that we will not ride "The snow mountain" but we promise her next time we come to Disney we WILL Ride it. We delight a random guy with our FOUR fast passes, due to come up in about 40 minutes.

By the time we get on the bus, DH is getting headachy. We get to the resort and its all I can do to not fall asleep on the floor! I had sat down to help the baby with his shoes and laid down on the spot. I got up about 15 mintues later when DH asked if we are going to dinner or cancelling. Not wanting to disappoint the kids again, I drag my butt off the floor and start to fix the girls' hair. I push my 5YO out of the way and barely make it to the bathroom and get sick. 5 times in a row. ew. But suddenly, I feel much better. Not great, but not like I just want to sleep until I die, either. I manage to get 4 motrin down and the cold water feels good.

I clean up and we head for the busses. DH stops and buys some tums since he still isn't feeling well, but refuses to get sick. I pop 3 in my mouth and fight the nausea that still lingers. We are first in line for Magic Kingdom, which tells me the bus must have just left when a bus for Epcot pulls up, we hop on that one. The movement is almost enough to push me over the edge again, but I manage to breath and swallow my way through another episode. I am feeling better by the time we hop the monorail to TTC. We switch to the resort monorails and relax a bit until we get to the Contemporary, just 5 mintues after our ADR. There is a line to check in, but I am actually thankful for it. We check in at the podium about 15 minutes later and are 3rd in line to get our pictures taken. Just as the camera snaps, our pager tells us our table is ready. We get seated right away and I opt for ginger ale to drink and teeny tiny portions on the buffet. The meal would have been better if I relaxed enough to enjoy it, but I didn't want to get sick again. I did top off the meal with a tiny sundae and some mint tea, all included on the dining plan!

We decide to take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom then take the bus home from there. We are first on the platform and I ask if we can sit with the pilot. Cast member says he will see what he can do. Just then a new monorail is being put into service and they go through safety checks. We get on near the back and just make small talk aobut our day and how we are each feeling right now when the CM pokes his head in and tell us there is room for 4 of us in the front. DH decides that I should take the kids and the camera and go! I am feeling pretty good, so I grab the baby and camera and lead the girls to the front car.

Way cool sitting up front! The Pilot is very friendly and funny. C and M are on their best behavior and even the baby is entertained. I film just about the whole loop LOL!

We get to Magic Kingdom, thank the Pilot and head for the buses, dismissing the brief thoughts that we can catch either Spectro and Wishes again or head to MG to see Fantasmic, but that was starting immediately. We wisely decided to just head back. The girls go right to sleep, the baby too, so I grab the laundry and get it all done around 1 AM. I crawl into bed and drift right off to sleep.

Coming up: Day 4 - We can speak Whale!

~Elena

Day 2 - Magic Kingdom Kamakazee!!

2006-08-29T20:51:00.000-05:00

We were up at the crack of dawn (6 AM!) to try to catch the bus by 7:15 AM to make our 8:10 AM ADR at the Crystal Palace for Breakfast in the Magic Kingdom (Yes, we got to get in before MK officially opened!)

We made it to the bus by 7:20, and didn't have to wait long at all. It was a bit frustrating watch the buses (FOUR of them!) leave for the EMH park, but were were able to stay composed LOL!

We got to MK just after 8 and it was SO great to see the girls' reaction to the castle. We even had P get up in front of us, so he could capture it on video. IT is priceless to see their reaction!! Then they started to yell, "Daddy!!! TURN AROUND!!" Not knowing he had already seen it when he ran ahead LOL!

We got to CP about 4 mintues late, and only had to wait 5 mintues for out table, which was right near the buffet - #2 for character greets in our section and no one in the #1 table yet!

I took C to get food for us and the boy while P and M hung back at the table to entertain him. PLENTY of choices! C chose to start off with Tigger Waffels and strawberries. I got strawberries and cheerios for the boy and took some fruited granola with 1/2 and 1/2 and some fruit to start for myself. I ended up having eggs, sausage, potatoes, a muffin, more fruit, tea, and plenty of fresh OJ, too! We got to meet Winnie the Pooh, Tigger And we renamed our Tiger Flakes - Frosted Flakes - TIgger flakes in honor of him LOL!, Piglet and Eeyore. It was after rope drop by the time we left there (what would have been $98 dollars later, including tax and 18% tip that we didn't have to pay for thanks to the free dining plan I got us! LOL!). We wandered back down main street and found the barber shop after stopping to buy Mickey Hats for the girls.

We made it to the barber shop finally and were 4th in line, but there are only 2 barber chairs, so it was a long wait. This was the longest wait we had to wait in all trip, but it was so worth it! It was fun to watch grown men get their hair cut, then smile as they got colored gel either on top, on in back in the shape of Mickey Heads, or both and lots of pixie dust added LOL! THe girls in line were getting gelled and pixie dusted, too!

I had heard great things about Michal, and was excited to see him working that morning, but we ended up with Penny after one guy decided last minute to get his hair gelled, too. No biggy. Penny was AWESOME!!! First she covered the boy in Mickey Mouse stickers from chest to toes, and handed him even more to peel off himself. She then discussed what we wanted briefly and set to work, carefully collecting most of his hair in tissue paper that she later sealed with a Mickey Sticker for me! When the boy started to show signs that he was getting bored with the stickers, she whipped out a bottle of bubbles, assuring me that not only are they spill proof, they were non toxic. She didn't even flinch when he started to eat them LOL! (ANd she did clean the wand before putting them back on the
shelf!) When M started to get bored, she whipped out a second bottle for her to use, too. P video taped it, and it is still quite a site to see the transformation from baby to big boy!

When we were done with his cut, Penny presented us with his official mouse ears, which she posed for pictures with, and then his certificate, and placed tthose, his hair packet and pixie dust in a bag for us. We then decided to let the girls get gel and pixie dust and she honored our request to keep the gel to a minimum, and only did the parts of the head they could see. $30 including tip for all 3 heads! ($14 for the boy's cut and $5 each for the girls).

We were supposed to be meeting a small group of online friends for Dole WHips, but it was already after 11 at this point, and the girls were itching to go on some rides, so we hopped on the train and headed to Mickey's Toon Town after that. We each took a girl on Barnstormer with only about a 5 minute wait time for each of us. Then we went to Mickey's house and saw him in the Judges Tent. We let the girls play on Donald's boat then headed to Tomororwland, stopping for lunch at Cosmic Ray's first.

Tea Cups were closed (Phew! P and I both get side on spinning rides, and the girls should be old enough to ride alone next trip LOL!) We Fast Passed Space Mountain, stopped at a cart selling Cars Merchandise, called my sister and picked up 2 of the cars my nephew was missing then headed to watch Belle's story book time, which was very cute. We then got to get autographs. M, for some reason insisted on spelling her name for Belle about 5 times in the time they were standing up there, and as we were leaving, Belle yelled, "Bye Princesses! Bye, M! " then spelled her name out loud! We then opted to watch the afternoon parade before turning in our Fast Passes.

My sister called back again saying there was one more car she needed, and I promised her that I would get it when we returned to MK on Thursday.

We found a spot more in the shade than not, in front of a merchant door so that at least some cool air was blowing on P, and found enough curb space for the girls to sit. We pushed the stroller behind them so the boy could see, and I stood behind that with P just over my shoulder.

The "preshow" was 2 CM's getting a bunch of us to play a round of "Mickey says". C and M got taken out pretty early in the game. I made it all the way to the finals, but got tricked when he said "Minnie says put your hands up". Darn him LOL!

The parade was fun to watch and Rafiki shook C's hand after nearly scaring her out of her skin. She was watching the approaching float and never even seen him walk up to her LOL! She looked up and he was right in her face, just about, but all was well, she gave me a huge smile as he walked away!

We grabbed some ice cream at the Main Street Ice Cream shop and headed over to Space Mountain. On our way, I noticed we could get another fast pass, so we grabbed them for Buzz Lightyear.

C was lucky enough (OK, tall enough) to ride Space Mountain, but M was not, so with our child swap pass, she got to ride 2 times, and we ended up giving away our other 2 fast passes. Molly was consoled by being allowed to play video games while she waited for each of us to return. Well, I let her pretend to play, P let her really play LOL!. C decided that while she really liked SM 2 times in a row was "Just too much" LOL!

It wasn't time for our Buzz Ride yet, so we did the TTC, then rode Buzz. I REALLY liked it, and P was happy to have high score on our ride. The boy snoozed in the sling since I had gotten to nurse him on the TTC and got to ride with us on Buzz.

We then headed all the way over to the Haunted Mansion. There was no wait time, and we got right on. M didn't care for it, and burst into tears as soon as we exited and C was just "Eh" about it. P and I both enjoyed it, and the boy still snoozed LOL!

We then grabbed fast passes for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and were excited that M was tall enough for it. We grabbed some frozen lemonade while waiting, since the fast pass return time was just 30 minutes from when we grabbed them (The stand by line was just 15 mintues, but who wants to wait in lines when you can eat LOL!) The boy loved the frozen lemonade! We did the child swap thing again and both girls got the ride 2 times. They REALLY liked this one, and I think I liked it more than Space Mountain. Then the clouds started to move in, so we donned rain gear, gave away our last 2 fast passes and hopped on the train. It did rain pretty hard while we were on the train, and basically we just rode it until the rain stopped, which was only about 20 mintues or so.

We considered leaving the park, but decided that since it was getting close to dinner time, we would grab some dinner. We ended up at Casey's for Hot Dogs and they were good! I took M and the boy to the bathroom (Actually the baby care center, since they are SO Nice!) R got his diaper changed and M and I both went, too. When we got back, P and Cr were talking to CM Raphael, who had taken me out of Mickey Says earlier that day. C had drawn a picture and decided to give it to him, and he said "You know, I give away things all day, and this is the first time anyone has ever given me anyting!" We chatted a bit more, then he casually asked if we were palnning on staying for Spectro, which was to start in about an hour. He said "Stay here, I'll be right back". P went for a smoke, then to the bakery for desserts, and the kids and I finished up the last of our food.

Before P got back, CM Raphael, told us he had gotten us VIP seating for the parade, right at the start of it and to see CM Gene. Our reservations were under "Princess C, party of 5", and since it was VIP seating, we didn't have to get there until 10 mintues before the parade started. COOL!!! Then he told us the find him in front of the ice cream shop when the parade was over and he would get us good viewing for Wishes, too!! We enjoyed our desserts and took our time since we no longer had to worry about finding seats!

We ended up getting there about 20 minutes to parade time and there was just one other family in the VIP section! Way cool!!! At the end of the parade, there are CM's that carry a long bar. C and M both got to help hold the bar as we walked down mainstreet. Their smiles said it all!! The best part of that was before we left on vacation, C told me she had a dream that she got to be in the parade with all the Disney Characters! It really was a dream come true for her! She was smiling and waving all the way down main Street! They didn't even complain when we told them we had to get out of the parade at the Ice Cream Shop.

We found CM Raphael quite easily and aobut 20 mintues later we were "seated" in the middle of main street between Casey's and the ice ceam shop. This is dead center in front of the castle and there was an emergency lane set up in front of us, so there was no one in front of us for about 15 feet! WONDEFUL view!

At the end of wishes (Keeping track of time? We arrived at 8 AM and it it now 10:20 PM!) We moved to the side to let most of the people leave the park so we were not fighting crowds. All the kids had fallen asleep during the fire works, so we didn't want to deal with the crankies just yet. Paul went for one more cigarette and I chose to change the boy's diaper once more, then we headed out. Everyone on the bus was great about our sleeping kids and one woman even had M just about in her lap LOL! the 4 of us and squeezed into 2 seat. I had the boy in the sling in my lap and C was 1/2 in my lap and then stretched in to the next seat. M was scrunched right next to me, but her feet were in the lady's lap...she - the lady, not M put them there! P was standing, so I had 3 sleeping kids on me LOL! When we got to the resort, the bus driver and a guest helped get the kids back into the stroller...the guest grabbed the stroller and set it up and the bus driver opened the back doors for us to get our more easily. He also grabbed our bags so P and I could just deal with the kids. I love Disney. No one complained, no one got impatient.

We got everyone into bed then, I fell into bed and was asleep within seconds. No wake up call was scheduled, so I wanted to get as much sleep as I could!

Next report: Day 3 Epedition Everest Or Bust!

~Elena

We're going to Disney World!!

2006-08-29T20:29:00.000-05:00

Day 1 - in bed by midnight, asleep around 12:30 up at 3:30, showered and last minute packing including laying out clothes for DH who walked in the door at 4 AM from work (Yup, he was up at 7 AM, worked 2 jobs with a short break in the middle, and got home at 4 AM!) Woke the kids, got their whiney butts dressed and we were at the airport by 4:45. We are lucky enough to live under 3 miles away, go to the end of our street, take a right, airport on the left! I packed the car before bed. All we had to add was the bag with DH's shower stuff in it since we would normally have just thrown it in the carry on, but had to pack in the checked bags instead.

Left Buffalo just 25 mintues late but arrived just 10 minutes late Atlanta. We found our way to the next gate and then saw it was not leaving until 20 miniutes later (Now we have an hour) good, but the girls and DH and I are all tired. The boy slept just fine!) Announcement that the plane we are waiting for is running late. Another announcement that is is still late. We finally board an hour later then the late time posted.

FInally touch down in Orlando, an hour and 45 minutes later than planned. Find Magical Express easily and check in and get in line for the bus 20 minutes later! Only wait 10 minutes for the bus, and we are the first to board. We only sit for another 10 minites and we are on our way!

We get checked in by 1 PM, and our room is ready, but she moves us to a first floor room instead, so while the room is ready, she still needs to move the crib, but we don't need that to hit the parks LOL! Small snag while trying to figure out what to do with the check for WeGoShop, but on our way! We run our bags to our room, repack the "park bag" and head for MGM.

The bus ride is not too long. We remember to grab a map, but forget to grab a times guide, so we have no idea when things are showing. As we get in the gate another family approaches us with tehir double stroller rentel. Theya re leaving and no longer need it. The girls happily jump in! Can't quite get a hang of the map scale, so we spend too much time back tracking a bit. We do get to meet a few characters: Donald Duck, JoJo and Golioth, See Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable, but can't justify the wait time to meet them. We try to see Socrerer Mickey, but quickly run out of time in the line to visit him. We jump out of line and head to out 3:40 reservations at 50's Prime Time Diner where Cousin Susan searves us Meatloaf, Fried Chicken, yummy mashed potatoes and corn washed down with super thick milk shakes. P gets "yelled at" plenty for having his elbows on the table. We witness more than one (Mostly teenagers) get sent to the corner for one thing or another. Another was punished by having to stand up and sing "I'm a Little Teapot". We opt for 2 desserts to go (Instead of the FOUR we were supposed to get) and head towards the main gate to catch the parade at 5. I get all Misty watching the girls reactions! It rains, but not terribly so, and the sun is still out. We decide it is probably a good time to head back to the hotel, then we can properly unpack and let the girls swim a bit, too.

They willingly get in bed by 8:30 and everyone is alseep by 9, except me, who manages to not only unpack and hang everything in the closet (We brought most of our things on hangers) but get all the freshly delivered food into the cooler and order fresh towels in the bathroom, too. I call for a wake up call, then fall into bed by 11.

Day 2: Magic Kingdom Kamakazee!!!! Coming next!!

~Elena

Has it really been this long?

2006-08-29T20:15:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged in over a month?!?!

OK I'm abou tto make up for that. We went to WDW in Florida last week and had a blast!!! We departed Early morning 8/20 and returned just after 1 AM Saturday 8/26.

I will now attempt to capulate our entire trip, one day at a time.

~Elena (Been there, done that, planning ot go back already!)

WooHoo!! We got a "Twofer"

2006-06-29T20:03:00.000-05:00

Well, maybe it isn't worth cheering about, but I'm here to report that the boy is good at sharing. SO good, that M now has pnemonia, too, and it didn't even cost us another Emergency room Visit. We happened to have had a Doc appointment today for M & the boy. M had turned 4 earlier this month, and I figured just one doc visit would be a good thing.

So, She is now on antibiotcs, too, but gets bonus nebulizer treatments, too. Yahoo.

Anyway. That's all I have to say about that, as Forrest Gump would say.

Satisfaction?

2006-06-25T02:38:00.000-05:00

Well, in one phone call I want from overconcerned parent willy nilly bringing a child with a cold to the ER, to being right for doing so.

This morning as I was about to leave to set up for my parents' party, the phone rang. It was the ER doc saying that after they got another look at the boy's X-ray, they think he does indeed have pnemonia.

Grrr. I am not upset that he has it. I am upset that Friday night we had him there with a central line in his arm and was sent home. I was told at the time that if they found anythign then there would be a round of IV antibiotics, then we would go to the doc's for another round. Instead it is 30 doses here at home. Yeah fun. Getting a 12 month old to take meds is not fun. I'm not looking forward to the next 27 doses (If you check he hour, we are up trying to get another dose in him. We didn't get up specifically to do this, but rather he was up, uncomfortable anyway, and it is time.)

OK, off to try to get the rest of this in him. You never know just how much 1/2 teaspoon is until you try to squeeze it into an uncooperative child!

Happy Birthday?

2006-06-24T07:27:00.000-05:00

The boy has turned one. So far we have: had a major allergic reaction at the zoo ON his birthday. Ate cupcakes, rather smeared them all over himself. Slept, awoke with a fever. Meds on and off all day, higher fever. Call to Doc, then emergency room visit. Chest x-ray, IV line put in, blood draw. 5 hours later the diagnosis? Cold. Ok, Cold with a virus. Gee thanks.

I was going to "promise" him that not all birthdays are like this, but who know what the future holds LOL!

BUT I will say lots of prayers. This was just our 2nd ER visit in 6 years!!

Ok, off to celebrate the parent's 50th anniversary!!

My mother, suspected Terrorist.

2006-06-06T09:02:00.000-05:00

If any of you have ever met my mother, this is not a word that would ever pop into your head when you think of her. She is in her late 60's, but still very active. She dyes her hair, but its her attitude that keep her youthful more than anything. She is very sweet, but tough, and the one that everyone called "mom".

Well, we live very close to the Canadian border and my mom (well the whole family actually) makes frequent trips to Canada both by driving and walking when the weather is nice.

My mom is beginning to feel her age more and more these days, and a few unexpected spills while chasing grandchildren have ensued. She has had a nagging pain in her leg from falling into a ditch while chasing a 2YO, but is taking care of it. She even had a bone scan! (We are still awaiting results).

What does all this have to do with being a terrorist?

Well, Mom and my Aunt were on their way to bingo. Yes, 2 old ladies (Its my father's older sister - My Father is in his 70's!) on their way to spend some mad money. Well, if you follow the news then you know that there have been some terrorist suspect apprehended in Toronto, a meer 70 miles away, so the borders are on heightened alert.

My mom, it seems, is still radio active and was detained for a bit for questioning! It made me laugh to think about my poor mom in the holding cell when all she wanted was a little excitement. This was not the excitement she was looking for!!

She called me today to laugh about it. She may be getting older, but she knows how to see the humor in things, still. I hope I can remember that when I get older, and be just like my mom! Although I hope I am never mistaken for a terrorist!!

My Inner Brat

2006-06-06T03:25:00.000-05:00

I have been doing a bit of reading on thebratfactor.com and I get daily e-mails from them as well. I really liked the one I got the other day....

If you'd like to change your circumstances you have to change your behavior.

In order to change your behavior, you have to change your thinking.

In order to change your thinking, you have to become aware of the thoughts that created your circumstances in the first place.

In order to become aware of those thoughts, you have to recognize your inner brat who likes things just the way they are.

*sigh*. I guess I have to give Fergus, my inner brat, a good talking to!!

'Round the world in 80 days!

2006-06-01T17:42:00.000-05:00

Ok, not exactly, but TO "the World" in 80 days!!

My Disney Ticker has informed me that there are just 80 days until our trip!! I have done plenty, but still feel there is so much to do! I have our confirmations for travel, transportation and transfers, hotel, tickets and even a sit down meal each day we are there.

I have a list of park hours, including Extra Magic Hours (EMH) where the parks open early or stay open late for resort guests. I know all the parade times and night show times for each of the parks, and even know the travel times, and best way to get from park to park and from resort to resort, or from resort to park, to different resort, and any combination of that. I have rolling back packs on layaway for each of the girls, have been walking miles and miles every day (And am 125 pounds to prove it!).

I have a list of counter service places broken down by resort and park, and even have highlighted those whose menus sound most interesting (And that my research have shown to have great food with decent atmosphere.) I have printed out a few dozen pages of all the penny press machines (And even learned Disney has Quarter press machines, too!) and know more "history" Than I ever though possible about each ride, park, attraction, resort and means of transportation.

I have combed through so many web sites and photos, that I now see Hidden Mickeys in my house, on my walks, while out shopping, even in my food!

I can Acronym with the best of them and can tell you the difference between a HiMi and HM. I know all the advantages and disadvantages to bringing our own stroller, water and snacks into the parks, and have learned how to "Credit juggle" the meal plan to the best advantage for us.

Why then do I feel so unprepared?!?!

I think its just the "Mom" in me, hoping to plan, but not over schedule. I want to "Do it all" without feeling stress. I want to ensure each of us has a special and unique and mostly memorable vacaion, and I don't want to let anyone down! I still feeel there is more to "discover" about each of the parks, but do not want to lose the "vacation" in the plan! I want to have down time each day without feeling like we are missing out. I want to be sure to take lots of pictures, but want to experience the vacation, not just watch it through a lens!!

It is the perfectionistic, aproval seeker in me that wants to have every possible senerio covered so that we don't have to miss a beat with ANYTHING occurs, and if something does occur, someone, anyone will say "Wow, I wish I had thought of that!"

How silly is that?

Ok, I am getting away from the computer for a bit to frost some cupcakes. Yeah, You've read about that before. This time they are for my about to turn 4YO DD. When I wake up tomorrow, I will never have a 3YO DD again!

Until I blog again, you may envision the lady bugs and doggies and flowers I will be creating out of not much more than sugar and food coloring!! At least that is what they should look like. Well, that is what I will tell everyone they are, well, that is what they will look like in my mind. The rest remains to be seen!!

Little Known Facts

2006-05-17T17:45:00.000-05:00

According to my oldest, at one time we lived in Shake A Llama, NY. Um, well, even though we haven't moved, we now live in Cheektowaga (Cheek Tow Ah Gah)

My 3 YO goes to Pretty school, as in Preschool.

My boy was very nearly named Sporticus. Thank heavens that he was born without a moustache.

I think I have a fear of being organized.

I was actually considering going back to work today. Then I decided that just about the only job I want is a cast member at Walt Disney World LOL!

I am currently below the weight I was the day I got married.

I fear my 3YO is heading for a lifetime of medication to control her impulsive behavior!!

I find myself looking at clothing for my oldest DD (Almost 6) that baby boy will be able to wear when he gets older. (almost 1) LOL!

I often fantasize about my life "When I grow up".

I do like to vacuum, but I hate having to move everything out of the way in order to do it.

My 5YO has been know to be overheard saying "I only like my mom's sloppy joe".

I have said things that I never ever thought in a million years I would ever hear coming out of my mouth. Things like "Please, don't put your cheese in my lemonade" or "Stop flinging frosting on the Christmas tree!"

I fantasize about a bigger house, you know one with more than 2 bedrooms, or more than one bathroom, but then I think. "When will I have time to clean it?"

I am still deeply and madly in love with my husband.

I've had to inform a friend that he was dating a woman. He eventually married her!

I still keep in contact with 2 friends that I have had since Pre K! Not as often as I'd like, but I know where they work, live and the names and birthdates of their kids!

Although I belong to a Water Ski Show Team, I do not swim. I really am not all that comfortable in the water.

Even though I do not swim, I still managed to get SCUBA certified as a Dive Master - and it only took me 45 minutes to swim my mile in the Water Rescue portion of the test. I can save you, but don't expect me to do it anytime soon!

I've had my cat longer than I've known my DH. My DH will tell you its his cat.

Now you know more than you did when you started reading this!

Its Mother's Day Eve

2006-05-13T20:24:00.000-05:00

Here I sit at my beloved computer, trying to get the girls to go to sleep (It is WAY past their bed time) the boy is asleep in his crib and DH is gone to work.

Can I vent here for a moment?

Tomorrow is mother's day. So far I have made my mom's card and delivered it to her today. I have been told I need to make one for my MIL and GMIL as well, and a card for my SIL (?!?!?) would be a good idea. Don't get me wrong, I love making cards, But so far I have been informed that I will be taking the kids to church my myself in the morning (No sleepng in, and I have to keep the kids quiet while we dress/ eat/ get out the door. DH will be working until 4 AM the next county over. Church starts at 9 AM. I was involved with the planning of the Mother's Day meal at my IL's house because DH was working.

I came home today from my Mom's house (We were celebrating her birthday today as well at Mother's day - TWO cards! LOL!) and promptly made dinner. SO, what exactly is the point?

Well, I guess I was just hoping that things would be different this year with my DD being 5 and much more aware of things going on around her. She is indeed VERY aware it is Mother's Day Tomorrow. She even "Snuck" her gift she made in school home and hid it so she can surprise me with it. I even recieved a card from her in the mail. It was VERY touching! (Church helped her with that one!). My 3 YO has a card for me, which she she long forgot about, but I know where it is - pretty school helped her with that one. The boy will not even aknowledge this day as differnet from any other, but I will get plenty of special smiles, snuggles and laughs from him.

I guess I am feeling cheated. No sleeping in, no breakfast in bed, and most likely no gift or card from DH unless he hastily goes out to get one tomorrow afternoon before heading over to his parents house, which will make me feel guity since I know he has been wokring so much and so hard lately. I will still get up in the middle of the night to attend to each of my children's needs and will quietly get everyone ot the door. I will sit all alone in Church and yet still come home with fresh hot Coffee for my DH who will no doubt at 11 AM still be asleep in bed.

I really shouldn't complain. My DH is very blessed with an abundance of work, and talent to match it! We have money to pay all our bills and plan a great vacation! My children are equally blessed to have me be able to be a SAHM and they have 2 sets of grandparents (And one GREAT Grand mother!) still alive that they see on a regular basis. I get along well with my IL's and my parents like my DH as well. I live in a home that we are on our way to owning, and our car will be paid in full shortly.

Why then do I feel cheated for something that hasn't even happened yet? Who knows. I am blessed beyond belief. I am a mother. I am very lucky to even have that title! I guess I should just dwell on that.

Next stop...Disney World!!

2006-04-17T12:10:00.000-05:00

OK, as reported earlier, my 3YO needs to know our agenda. This one has not been in it and she is not happy about that. 3YO's are not patient people. As soon as I got off the phone with the lovely Disney reservationist, I turned around to find both girls with their jackets on announcing that they are ready to leave for Disney now!

Anyway, aside from the regular decision you have to make when planning a vacation...when/ where do we go? How much do we have to spend? Going to Disney brings up another batch of questions! We are staying on property so we will not need a car rental. I have found a couple places that will even deliver groceries right to our room, so we will have some fresh food available without the Disney price tag. But what about the sheer number of dining choices? I narrowed it down (and booked) 4 character meals and one a bit fancier for us. But did I make good choices? Is the time right? What parks do we visit on what days? How much cothing will we need? Yes, there is laundromats available on site, but do I really want to wash clothes while there? ITs my vacation , too!

I have no idea if we will get to every parade or get to see all the shows we want to see,a nd I am sure we will not get on all the rides we want to go on, even if we will be there 4 full days and 2 partial days.

Do we hire an in room sitter for an adult night out, or use that money to get My Pal Mickey? De we "Child swap" adult rides, or just bypas them altogether and cater more tot he kiddos? Which stroller, if any do we take with us?

Fortunately I do not have to make every decision immediately and I am getting help. I never knew how many "unofficial" Disney sites there are out there at our disposal. I am been reading lots and posts questions all over the net. I first heard out our free dining plan through mousesavers.com, then started posting questions at Mouseplanet. That lead me to Allears.net. I also started reading on I-village's page since I go there for parenting support, too. Then I went and goggled and came up with at least 2 more.

Who knew that booking a family vacation would take on a life of its own? Although it seems so far away (125 days according to my Disney vacation planner site) it will go quickly (Although not quick enough in the girls' eyes!) and I will be saying "Next stop Disney!" soon enough, then "Next stop home" even sooner.

I'm going to Disney World!!!

2006-04-08T23:07:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I've been there before but this will be my first time staying on property and the first time going as a parent! I can't wait! I got us a smokin deal, and we are going in August.

SO much to plan, and do, and read about! My head is spinning, but I know we are going! I got flight and trip confirmations!!

Not too much to save, we used our tax return! Yay us!!

Ok, I need sleep. Rather, I need to get some sleep before it gets interrupted. Church seems to come earlier on some Sundays! LOL!

~Elena

Haiku

2006-03-31T07:37:00.000-05:00

Today Is Friday
I Need To Run My Errands.
I Pray Money Lasts.

Back from the allergist!

2006-03-30T22:15:00.000-05:00

OK, SO far, so good!

Well, not totally all good, but not terrible at least, They do not think he has any real food allergies only sensitivities, so that is a good thing. BUT since his initial screen showed a positive allergy to SALINE (ROFL!) We next need to get a blood screen done. The Boy did test positive for an allergy to the dust mite and a small allergy to cats, and a SMALL reaction to a couple of the foods, but they aren't even counting them because of the saline reaction.

SO, at least we think we have avoided the epi pen, but we are to still avoid teh boy's triggers for now (Dairy, oats, squash - which they didn't have a test for, and Bananas) They will call back 7 days after his blood test, even if we get an all clear, and we go back in a month to see if the Zyrtec is helping with the inhaled allergens. We can keep trying new foods at our current pace (ONe new food every 7 days unless there has been a reaction, then hold off until the rash clears.)

I was able to reintroduce Rice, and not only did it stay down, there was no gas, and he skipped his midnight boobie call LOL! We do have a rash where he pooped, but that may or may not be from the virus that is running through is system right now on top of everything else. I didn't give him any rice tonight, and that was one of the foods that he showed no sensitivity to.

Back to applesauce, 1 OZ apple juice mixed with 2 OZ water, honey wheat pretzels and apple wagon wheels for now.

Thanks for all the prayers!!

Are you tired, yet?

2006-03-15T04:40:00.000-05:00

I know I am! It would be SO nice to go to sleep at night, then not wake up until morning. I mean like 7 AM morning, not 4 AM morning, and sleep straight through, not up at midnight and 2 AM as well.

But alas, the boy and I are up. Well, he is wide awake and will not let me sleep. I'm not exactly sure my mental state qualifies as "up". His diaper has been changed and nursing came to an abbrupt end when he bit me, so now I am hoping his binky will make him sleepy. We are snuggelled in a blanket at the computer since it is chilly in here (We lower the house temp at night in an attempt to keep our monthly heating bill lower than the average salary per capita of some countries). He is wiggly and fussy, and I may be to blame for that. After over a month of being dairy free and almost 2 weeks of being oat and squash free, too, I caved when my sweet DH "forgot" that ice cream was dairy and brought home a peanut buster parfait just for me. He is such a sweet guy, really, and did remember that I wasn't eating ice cream...as soon as he got home with it. Now, I wasn't going to let a perfectly good sundae go to waste! I chalk it up as an experiment to see if my sweet boy is really sensitive to dairy and judging by his tummy, I guess he is.

The things we moms do for our kids! The boy is overall much happier now that I am limiting my food choices. His rough scaley knees are now soft again, with no sign of a rash! HE had a REAL bowel movement the other day. The late night gas sessions stopped until I ate some ice cream the other day. I adapted quiet well to my boy's new diet, the only thing I truly miss is cheese. I now eat cream of wheat in the morning instead of my oatmeal, and soymilk is not the same, but I can live with it. I even found a dairy free butter like substance that is decent tasting. Both of these are also SO expensive! $2 for 1/2 gallon of Silk soymilk and nearly $4 for a small tub of "Butter". Doesn't sound too bad, but my grocery budget is so tight it squeeks! I have also scanned all the groceries to make sure I am not eating any hidden milk or dairy products.

It is funny the things that contain dairy. Packaged Peanut Butter cookies, French dressing, most breads and some spaghetti sauces have dairy in them. Oreos, pretzles, catalina dressing and chocolate syrup do not. Chinese food is now my quick meal of choice when I am out and about. I can't eat at Subway since all their breads contain an ingredient in dairy. Their wraps contain oats! Pizza is off limits, but salads are not (Just make sure there is no cheese or cream dressing). *sigh*. I miss cheese. Did I mention that?

Anyway, I know this is just a season for me, ands pray that my boy will out grow his sensitivites. We see the doc tomorrow so hopefully we will get a good report! He is finally asleep, so I think I will slip back into bed as well. Morning will be here before we know it!

how I spend my days

2006-03-07T10:27:00.000-05:00

Someone on my online play group asked me how I managed to loose so much weight so far and this is my reply to her:

I am lower than I was when I got preggers and just 2 pounds from my wedding day weight (1999). Here is my typical diet and exercise for a typical day:

6:40 AM DH leaves for work

6:45 AM Have eyes forced open by 3 YO asking if I am awake yet. Boob is still hanging out from last baby feed some where around 3 AM. Convince her that I am still sleeping but let her have the remote so that she can watch TV while I try to get some more sleep.

6:50 AM try to force my eyes open so I can look at the 5YO and tell her to stop fighting over the remote.

6:55 AM baby wakes and wants to nurse, so I try to get comfy with 3 kids in my bed and Noggin in the background.

7:10 AM crawl out of bed with baby in arm, make the bed with free arm while older kids "help". IF I make my bed, then it is that much harder to crawl back in it.

7:11 (Didn't say I made the bed well!) change baby's diaper, take off his jammies and change his onsie. Put him in his crib with music playing softly.

7:13 get both girls some breakfast, put mine in the microwave and hit the shower while they eat and mine cooks.

7:15 Tell the girls to eat in the dining room, not the living room

7:16 Go potty finally, brush my teeth and put in my contact lenses. start to yell at them again, but decide a shower is more important

7:20 get hair all sudsy and hear "Mom, I Need a paper towel, sister spilled my cereal on the carpet in the living room"

7:22 Rinse hair quickly, put hair in towel, and dress to the shoes

7:23 go to living room and clean up the mess. Re pour cereal and set it on the dining room table.

7:25 gather all laundry and take it to the basement to sort.

7:26, run back up stairs when baby starts to yell. Admonish 3YO for getting in the crib with him.

7:28 tell girls to get dressed and head back to the basement with baby on your hip. Start 1st load of wash

7:29 toss damp towel in dryer since you never got the load out of the dryer yesterday.

7:31 come back upstairs, turn off TV again and tell girls to get dressed.

7:32 clean up cereal spilled on dining room table. announce breakfast over then tell girls to get dressed once again.

7:35 start washing dishes. Tell girls to get dressed.

7:37 take hair out of towel and run a comb through it.

7:40 go to closet, take out clothes, hand them to each of the girls and tell them to get dressed (Don't forget there is a baby on your hip or you might bang his head into the closet door)

7:42 get a small ice pack for baby's head

7:45. Turn off kitchen faucet. Clean up water mess from letting the water run too long.

7:46 tell girls to get dressed.

7:47 get baby dressed to the shoes then let him play on the floor in the living room.

7:48 Grab 3 YO and take off her jammies. Tell her to get dressed

7:50 grab 5 YO, take off her jammies and tell her to get dressed

7:51 go rescue cat from baby's grip

7:52 Tell 3 YO that you meant to get clothes on, not her jammies and pull her jammies off her once again.

7:53 go finish cleaning up water mess in the kitchen

7:55 help 3 YO get dressed. Tell 5 YO to get dressed

8:00AM locate baby...he was stuck behind the couch trying to get the cat again. Start to look for his shoes. The baby's not the cat's.

8:10 put baby's shoes back on him, move him to the exersaucer and tell 5 YO to get dressed once again. Tell 3 YO to get her socks and shoes back on.

8:11, dress the 5 YO against her wishes She is a big girl and doesn't need help. OK, then WHY didn't she do it 45 minutes ago?

8:12 set up the tooth brushes so they can brush their teeth as soon as they put on their shoes.

8:13 check to make sure 5 YO's back pack has everything in it that she needs. Find a note she forgot to give you that due to unforeseen circumstances today is her snack day. for 21 kids. No chips or candy, please.

8:14 find the girls smearing the tooth paste on the side of the bathtub with their toothbrushes. Smile since they have their shoes on!!!

8:16 scour kitchen for a "No chip, no candy" snack including, juice, cups, napkins for 21 kids. UGH!

8:18 take baby out of exersaucer. HE has exploded and the poop is coming through all layers of clothing.

8:19 bathe baby and quickly redress him, being careful to not get tooth paste on my clothes from the side of the tub.

8:22 redress the baby to the shoes, yell to 5 YO to get her coat on.

8:25 tell 3 YO to put her socks and shoes back on

8:27 Help 3 YO with her shoes then instruct her to put her jacket on.

8:29 GO to kitchen to grab a bottle of water and notice my breakfast now cold still in the microwave.

8:30 shovel 4 big spoonfuls in my mouth anyway then dump rest of contents in the hot soapy water I started earlier.

8:32 tell 3YO to get her shoes AND jacket back on while helped 5 YO not topple over from the jar of juice and box of goldfish crackers in there along with everything else she needs.

8:33 locate baby.

8:40 help 3 YO with her shoes and jacket.

8:42 get jacket on baby and well as my jacket on.

8:44 Notice blankie missing form 3 YO's Preschool bag.

8:45 set 5YO up in the front foyer to watch for her bus while you try to locate blankie. Don't forget Baby is on my hip.

8:48 try to convince 3 YO that Rabbit blankie is just as restful as doggie blankie as 5 YO announces her bus is coming.

8:48 Actually get 5YO on the bus! YAY!! one down!

8:49 lock up front foyer and TELL 3YO that rabbit blankie will be going to school with her.

8:50 grab keys, diaper bag, checkbook and purse. Locate 3 YO who is now refusing to stand.

8:51 take baby and other effects to the car put in all "Things", bring baby back in to tell 3YO "I really mean it, we need to leave now."

8:55 put 3YO's shoes back on her, get her her own bottle of water, put baby's shoes back on him, grab the preschool bag and head out the door again.

8:57 pull out of driveway with everyone in their proper car seats.

8:59 pull back in driveway, leaving everyone in the car while I run back in for blankie.

9:03 arrive at preschool just 3 minutes late. Get 3 YO settled in her room, stop at the front office to write this week's check.

9:05 smell the freedom in the air!

9:08 - 9:30 Grab a few forgotten items at the market

9:35 arrive home unload baby and groceries

9:40 put away perishables, leave rest of groceries, grab baby and finally sit to nurse him at the computer. Check e-mail and all groups while I do so. Mubch on almods I have hidden in a drawer.

10:10 try to get baby to sleep in his crib. sneak out of the room backwards with soft music playing.

10:12 run to the basement to reboot laundry. Hang up my and DH's clothes while standing at the dryer, bring up rest in a basket after moving wash to dryer and starting another load.

10:20 finish putting away groceries, finish washing dishes, then try to fold and put away clothes in basket.

10:30 baby wakes up not happy.

10:31 try to sooth him back to sleep for 20 minutes before giving up and letting him play in the jumper while I talk to him and fold clothes.

10:40 turn to discover baby sleeping in jumper. Decide that if he was comfortable enough to fall asleep there, he can stay there rather than risk moving him.

11AM this load of laundry done, dishes washed and in the drainer, groceries put away and meat pulled out for dinner tonight.

11:05 grab some tea and cookies. Munch on them while "playing" on line.

11:30 return basket to the basement and reboot laundry, hanging things down there and bringing up the rest.

11:38 baby wakes up not happy. Change his diaper, then play with him a bit on the floor. Discover I should vacuum.

11:39 pick up all small toys in the walk ways and pull out the vacuum. Put baby on hip and vac living room and dining room too.

11:45 get back on the floor to play with baby. Decide that since I am down there, maybe I should exercise. Pop in favorite work out tape and move baby to exersaucer. GO to kitchen to retrieve bottle of water forgotten earlier. See dishes that need putting away and since baby is happy now, put them away, dry out the sinks and think about lunch. make some tuna salad for lunch, and discover that there is no dairy free bread in the house, and I forgot to get some this morning at the store. PUt it in the fridge since baby decides he has had enough of the exersaucer.

12:05 baby is happy on the floor again, and exercise video is still playing. No, I"m not exercising, but it seems to keep baby happy! Since baby is happy, I decide to clean the bathroom. "Swish and swipe" and get all the tooth paste off the side of the tub.

12:30 baby still happy! run down to reboot laundry again, add that basket to the other one that needs folding still.

12:35 rewind video and put on sneakers. Grab bottle of water and put baby in the jumper. Actually start to exercise!

12:37 phone rings. IT is DH asking if you can run a few things over to his parents for him. NP, they only live a mile away. Take off sneakers, put on boots again, grab baby, put his jacket on and relocate his shoes. grab the things that IL's need, turn off dvd and TV and run everything over there. They want to visit for a bit, so I stay "Only for a minute".

1:40 head back to day care to pick up 3 YO. She is dead asleep. Um no need to wonder why. She was up at 6:30 this morning!

2:05 finally make it home with cranky 3YO. Feed her a fruit roll up and milk (She eats lunch at school). Decide to shove a few spoonfuls of tuna salad in my mouth straight from the bowl.

2:10 baby needs a diaper and to nurse again. Set 3 YO up with a movie and nurse him while I play on the computer more. Munch on blueberries straight form the package.

2:30 baby is sleeping and 3 YO is quiet. too quiet.

2:31 put baby into bed successfully and locate 3 YO. she is transferring a juice box (I didn't give it to her) To a cup by squeezing it. SHe mostly missed the cup and it is on the carpet. Clean it up the best I can, having her help. run to the basement to get the extractor and come up to discover 3 YO in crib with the baby again.

2:40 get her out of the crib, sooth crying baby.

3:00 baby asleep again and now run extractor on new juice spot and earlier milk spot. 3YO vanishes

3:05 find 3YO "HElping" to fold the 2 baskets of laundry. Since she is happy and baby is sleeping, I run downstairs and add a 3rd basket to be folded.

3:10 have 3 YO continue to help and try to get it all folded. Don't want to risk waking the baby so no kid clothing gets put away yet, just mine and DH's.

3:30 start waiting for 5YO's school bus, putting away DVD's while I do so since I can still see the road from the entertainment center.

3:45 5YO finally arrives Home. Feed her a snack and set up her homework. Yup my 5YO gets homework just about daily!

4:00 start on dinner, stopping frequently to mediate fights, deal with baby, clean up spill, sign off on homework, bring in the mail and refold all the laundry that 3 YO unfolded.

4:45 call form DH that he is running late, but should be home in 40 minutes. Stall dinner.

4:46 have girls help you put away laundry with baby on my hip.

4:55 return all baskets to the basement

4:58 Mom calls just to chat. Try to ignore fighting children.

5:00 tell mom I have to go and swear I hear her laughing as I hang up.

5:01 get girls settled with a DVD and start on dinner again while baby watches from the exersaucer.

5:05 decide to toss old food in the fridge while dinner cooks.

SO basically: DH arrives home to find all the kids alive and well and Wife looking good, but is more from lack of food than anything else!. The kitchen floor is remarkably clean. Dinner doesn't go too well since I have to jump up about 12 times to get or clean up various things. Baby gets himself and everything around him messy so he gets another bath, which the girls find very unfair, so I let them bathe too.

I nurse him while they bath and then do our before bed stuff before getting them in about by 8. I wash the dinner dishes, finish up laundry, putting away as much as I can. Send 3 YO back to bed about 10 times before she finally falls asleep on the floor in the hall. DH is getting some side work done in the basement during all this. Come 10 PM we try to watch at least one TV show together, but fail miserably at it since neither of us can stay awake.

11PM we finally resign ourselves to bed, and 7 AM comes way too early once again.

ON a good note. I am eating much better since I don't have time to snack. I may not get any "real" exercise in, but I am carrying around a 23 pound weight often, and am constantly moving!

Hmm, actually all in all, I have a pretty good life!

~Elena
Mom of 3
Girl Girl boy

I got a sticker!!

2006-02-03T22:59:00.000-05:00

The other day I was dropping M off at Preschool (She calls it Pretty school! LOL!) and we were doing our usually good bye ritual. She has always separated easily, and the last thing we do before I leave is give a Hug and a kiss. She has one for me and one for "Her Bwuddah".

Well, one boy that was separated from his peers due to behavior issues made a face at M, Stuck out his tongue and was basically being very much a boy. This caused M to pause during our Ritual and exclaim "Mom, C is sticking his tongue out at me>" "Mom, he's making faces" and so on, I got in M's face and looked her straight in the eye. I told her that she has no control over the ways others will treat her, but she can control how to react to them. C was trying to get her attention, and make her mad, and while that is not right, she had the power to just ignore him and walk away. I told M that she is a very smart girl and that she shouldn't let others control how she feels. I was rewarded with a very big hug and a excited Kiss as she skipped away to play in the house center.

M's teacher was standing there as I stood up. Now I really have respect for Miss V, but haven't exactly embraced her tough love style of teaching. I do like that she is direct with the parents and not harsh with the kids, but I was somewhat put off with her strictness, even when the parent is there. I got that same feeling in the pit opf my stomach that I used to get when someone in authority stare me down because they think I did something wrong and want an explaining, but I have no idea what I did wrong in their eyes! Miss V, gave me a huge hug and said, "Now, that was some great character skills, Mom! You get a sticker for that!" I gave her a hug back and flashed her a smile and walked out of the room. She yelled back "where do you think you are going? You didn't get your sticker, yet!" Now I was feeling a bit foolish, like when your Aunt makes a huge fuss over your how great your c+ was when you KNOW you are capable of A's! But part of me was very proud! Me! I earned a sticker for being a mom! It was a cheap sticker, but it had 3 starts and the word WOW on it. I found it on the boy's sock twice and tried to replace it each time, knowing it was very much less sticky than it was the first time it was placed there. It was missing from my jacket by the end of the day, but in my mind it will be there whenever I get those doubting thoughts wondering if I am being a good mom.

Now, I'm not sure Miss V, ever knew that I didn't get warm fuzzies around her, but I do now! I know that she has the same values that I do, and will recognize a job well done, and steer my girl in the right direction if she makes a bad choice. I know that she has a tough job. And I think I will give her a no reason gift, anonymously, of course!

My head is up just a bit higher because she took a moment to tell me, "You did good, Mom!!" She did it in front of my child, and her peers, as well as the teacher's assistance and I think the snack lady was even there. And as I strolled out of the building, I showed my sticker to the director and bragged that Miss V gave it to me! I doubt anyone will know that she gave me so much more, too!!

A Funny Thing Happens

2006-01-12T09:24:00.000-05:00

A funny thing happens when I sit down to blog. The dishes seem to scream louder than ever. The baby wakes from his nap. The 3 YO will fall off something and need kisses and hugs. The 5YO will call because she forgot "Something". I will notice the date and rush off to a meeting. I will simply forget that is why I logged on in the first place.

There will be cards to make (Which means saying and poems to research), laundry to fold, homework to supervise, dinner to make, eat or clean up. It will be too late or too early, or I will be too tired.

Then as I look longingly at my beloved computer as I step away, I think "Hmm, I really miss blogging". So here I sit, baby in my lap, 3YO "reading" to her teddy, 5YO at school, laundry going, dishes caught up.

I sit still in my jammies, but about to shower. I am happy, relaxed and well, uninspired. Today's entry is simply an effort to keep my blog alive. I hope maybe today something worth blogging about will happen. And I hope I can find the time to blog it!!

No, this isn't mine

2005-12-24T10:35:00.000-05:00

But I thought this was as good of a place as any to post it, since I got it in my inbox, and I wholeheartedly agree with everything!

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to you all!

A LETTER FROM JESUS!

Dear Child,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of you're predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival.
Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate
My birth just, GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that let Me go on.

If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a “holiday tree” instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can and may remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine
if you wish. I actually spoke of that one in a teaching explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know. They
tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up, it will be nice
hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and
remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that’s hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile
It could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Hot-Line. They talk with people like that every day.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If
the store didn't make so much money on that day, they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name. You may already know someone like that.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive If you don't know them (and I suspect you don't) buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some
other charity which believes in Me. They will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let. people know by your actions that you
are one of mine.

P.S. Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work. Time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love. And remember,

I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

A recent discovery

2005-12-16T21:34:00.000-05:00

OK, this is something that I thought for a while, but I now know it to be true! I am a "Hot Mom!" LOL!

I am almost 35 years old. I have been married for 6 1/2 years to a wonderful man. I am a full time stay at home mom (SAHM) to three kids (How the heck did THAT happen?!?). My oldest DD is 5 and in kindergarten. My next is 3 and in preschool and my boy is almost 6 months old.

Despite all this, I went to a concert last night with my DH, and was very happy to see I was in much better shape then most. Now this is not ego, although it was greatly massaged last night. I am 5'4" and currently 132 pounds, and still dropping. I am below my weight at the start of my last pregnancy and just 7 pounds from when I got married.

I went out last night in a pair of comfy, but funky (Fumfy? Conky?) jeans, heeled boots and a belly peeking tight and fuzzy sweater with sparkling buttons that matched the detailing on the jeans. I was pulled together in an "outfit" and not one drool, spit up or food stain on it. I even wore a real bra, and not one with nursing flaps LOL! I am at an age where I am very comfortable with who I am, secure in my relationship with my DH, and proud of how far I have come in my life. I wore makeup that enhanced my features, yet was still sexy, in style yet flattering to me.

I didn't even care that my low rise jeans showed more peeks of my c-section scar than my thong that was specially purchased for this occasion. I didn't even care that many of the concert goers could have been my children. I do care that I looked good, and my dear husband noticed. His friends noticed. Their wives noticed. I felt good! I was confident! I was, for just a couple hours, not a mom, but a woman!!

Today, even though I am wearing the jeans again with the boots. I am most definitely a mom. My sexy sweater has been swapped out with a sensible burgundy mock turtle neck. I see dried milk, dried drool, I think 3 different food stains from 3 different meals. I am wearing cotton panties in battleship grey instead of the color of cotton candy, and yes, my bra has flaps, and not for fun either.

Today I lack some confidence, since I am reminded over and over that I do not have all the answers by my 3 and 5 YOs. I am inept at everyday things (Ask my boy, and he can show you his- Hopefully not permanent- deformed finger where I accidentally cut off a piece instead of a nail - not sure who cried harder). I have dishes to wash, laundry to do, and yes, I scrubbed the toilet today. I bet 99.9% of the people that were at the concert last night can't say they did that today. Or this week. Or ever.

But still, I do have a bit of poise that came from the fact that some random person last gave me a look that let me know that I still got "it". He was rewarded with a smile that he never saw.

Ok, maybe its just more of a daydream. The hope that I am still a woman under this spit stained shirt. The hope that yes, mothering preschoolers is only temporary. But I still came home to my precious babies and will continue to do so. I love my kids and my life. I just hope that there is not another blogger out there ranting about the nerve of some people dressing like they are all that when in reality they will always be a frumpy housewife, no matter how you wrap it.

Anyway, if that is you, maybe it is a delusion on my part. But at least the wrapping is currently a size 6 and getting smaller every day.

Gotta love the change of seasons

2005-11-26T11:32:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is the day after the day after Thanksgiving.

I had a nice pleasant Holiday with only one stop to make just one mile from here, instead of at least two, one being 35 miles each way. My parents did us a favor and volunteered to stay in Hawaii for an extra week to save on airfare. How nice of them! I didn't have to drive for 45 minutes each way to spend an hour or two shoving as much as I could into my mouth before packing up the family, driving 45 min and then settle ourselves in another house to shove food in our mouths again!

Instead, we had a leisurely morning sleeping in until nearly 8!! Those of you with small children will know what I feat this is! We held off the children that were near fainting from not eating until nearly 10 and had bacon and french toast. Poor dears had to live off from warmed chocolate milk until then. Then we got each child bathed - how dare us? AFTER BREAKFAST? What kind of free for all are we running here? Then let them wear their Christmas outfits since the boy is growing at a world record pace and will never be able to squeeze into it ever again. Then they got to watch the parade in the Living room, or kitchen or our bed room since we put it on in all three rooms. The poor deprived children do not have a TV in their shared room. I made the last pie - a chocolate one! And then packed everyone up for our trek "Over the mile and around the corner" to Grandmother's house. We had a lovely meal with my dear husband's family before coming home and tucking the exhausted children into their warm beds. Meanies that we were we only let them stay up an hour later than usual. I told you there were depraved children living with horrid parents.

Friday came and no line standing for me. I refuse. We slept until nearly 8 once again and everyone had their favorite cereal for breakfast. My Dear Husband has to go to work for a few hours, and around 10, I bundled up the children to make the 2 stops on my list. I drop the 5 YO off at my ILs since she doesn't have school and they NEVER get to see her anymore (Never mind that we were just there for 7 hours). The younger 2 and I head out. I stop to buy the Wedding gift that we saw advertised, and even got up front parking. The blessing keep coming when there is just one left and we got it. THEN the lovely sales clerk happily tells me there was a misprint in the flyer. The gift we wanted is actually $10 CHEAPER! I buy the gift, and a stocking stuffer for my dear Husband, and Happy Sales Clerk lets me use my coupon for an additional 20% off BOTH items.

Since I had great parking and cooperating children, I head over to the craft store across the parking lot. I get a stack of paper I had been eyeing but thought $10 was too expensive. They let me use their competitors coupon and I get 60% off from it, add some wired ribbon to it to wrap the gift with later and I get out of there spending far less than I saved over at the other store!

Then I pile the kids into their assigned seat and head to the thrift store. Now I know that thrift store shopping is not for everyone, but do you really believe that the "new" things you pay full retail for were not tried on by a few dozen people before you bought it? Anyway, I spend an hour looking around a bit and settle on 10 items. A Laura Ashley Skirt, another one form the Gap, a Third from Casual Corner, a pair of pants for Talbots, another pair from Express, a sweater from the limited, another from Liz Claiborn, a shirt from Kathy Ireland, another from Learner NY, and finally a blouse from Ann Taylor. Total spent: $14.78. I happily pay for my new "in between sizes, but I don't have to look like a slob" wardrobe and head back home.

I make lunch for the 3 YO and myself, wrap the gift, made a card and then settle in for some computer time while I feed the boy. MY wonderful Dear Husband makes it home in time to head out once again, and I goof off the rest of the afternoon. DH makes it home again just as it starts to snow a bit. He helps me neaten the house a bit and then head out the door about an hour and a half later. Well, try to. 5 YO gets home just as baby sitter arrives and Dear Husband is forced to snow blow to get us out. Um, 6 inches?!?! Where did this come from?

Its a slow go, but we make it to the wedding a bit late. SO did everyone else. It is about an hour later than planned by the time the judge arrives, then the small simple ceremony goes off without any further problems. It even stops snowing after just 10 inches fall. We have a lovely time and make it home shortly after midnight. Pay the sitter what I used to make in a week, and she cleans up the empty food containers that used to be ours and allows my DH to drive her home, chatting happily about how all the kids were in bed and sleeping about an hour after we left, so she mostly just watched TV, a few of our DVD's and ate our food.

That brings us to today. Our nice neighbor from 4 doors down snow blowed our driveway from the sidewalk to the door, so that made it a bit easier for my DH to get out to go to work today, but not before helping get all the kids dressed warm enough to hike to Siberia if we needed to. I strap the boy in his car seat, add a few blankets and we all head out for some snow time.

The girls play happily in the snow while I work on clearing the end of our driveway, the drain in the curb in front of our house, and the front stoop. After an hour the girls are bored and I am sore, so we head in for some hot cocoa. I watch TV and I make it and the girls are singing CHRISTMAS songs (At elast I know the words to these ones!). As we do so I am stopped in my tracks when I see that after the record snow fall yesterday, it will be a high of 60 on Monday. Boy and I happy I just spent all the time and energy shoveling!

Alright, my cocoa is no longer hot, the boy is done nursing and the girls are RRREEAAAALLLLLYYYYYY hungry. Poor dears. Its been nearly 3 hours since they had anything to eat, and the hot cocoa with marshmallows aparenly didn't count for anything. I'd better go make lunch before someone calls child services on me.

What has happened to the Holidays?

2005-11-09T22:40:00.000-05:00

OK, I feel a rant coming on, but I will try to keep it under control.

My 5 YO has been wandering around the house singing holiday songs. Now, don't get me wrong, I am all for holiday spirit, but this is a bit out of control. We can't celebrate any "religous" holidays, and most people scoff at "Hallmark" holidays. We are regualted in how we can celebrate some holidays, and there seems to be no wrong way to celebrate others.

Some holiday meaning are long lost, forgotten or made "Politically correct". Since when is politics correct about everything to every one?

There are plenty of holidays that deserve special recongition, and I love that there are actual days set aside for remeberence and prayer! As long as you don't dictate what god is prayed to.

My 5 Yo , however has been singing...Veterns Day songs. Now, I am not knocking the symbolism of Veterns Day. I am very greatful for all of those that have fought to keep our country free and put their lives onthe line for us every day! But come on.

I guess it is a good thing that she has learned a bit about what verterns are and a bit about what they do. Her school even will place flags near the headstones of veterns that have passed on, some of them even fighting for our rights.

I am not sure why I find this so ridiculous. She is leanring some great truths and in a very age appropriot way. She knows more about Veterns day than I did at this age. So maybe I should just go with the flow and try not to be a "Back in my day" type of mom.

Besides singing Vetern's Day songs is infectios.....

"Vetern's Day, Vetern's Day
Comes Just Once A Year!
Lets Take Time To Honor Those
That Guard Our Freedom Dear!"

(Sung to Jingle bells!)

Everyone now!!..........

Daydreams of a housewife...

2005-11-02T10:21:00.000-05:00

It is easy to dream about what you will do when _____. When What? What are you waiting for, and will you actually DO any of the thing you dream about?

I ask this because I always used to say "When my kids are in school, then I will be able to keep house better". No this isn't my life's ambition, just the thought I keep pondering over today. My 3 YO and 5YO are both in school for the morning and part of the afternoon, too. The Boy is snoozing away.

My house? Not exactly my vision of perfection! So what am I doing? Um, blogging away. I pause now and then to scoop some cereal in my mouth. I think I should start the laundry cycle all over again, but still I sit.

I am meeting a friend in an hour for lunch, but what is stopping me from taking control of my house right now? I know in about 30 minutes I can make the house look sparkly. I say look because I know I will not deep clean everything today, but when my sweet Dear Husband walks in the door, it will be a comfortable place to welcome him home. Why can't I just get off my butt and do it?

In my dream, I will drop the 3YO off at day care and return home with my smiley guy. I can get the dishes started and put him in his swing in one swoop, and chat away to him while I wash the few things we dirtied at breakfast. As things are draining, I run the laundry downstairs, and get it all sorted and started, grabbing the clean things that are hung down there to be put away up here. Next I will nurse the boy and put him down for a nap, and be able to "Swish and swipe" the bathroom from top to bottom. By then the dishes can be put away, then the laundry will need rebooting. I can wipe down the washer and dryer while I am down there this time, and look over supplies I need to add to my grocery list. Back upstairs, I will take 10 minutes to put away everything that is out of place, then quickly dust the knick knacks, door frames, baseboards and pictures before running the vacuum. I know I will have enough time to get a 45 minute work out in and then my Smiley guy will awaken eat his lunch and get a fresh diaper. We will head out to lunch with my friend, then return home once again. Smiley guy will happily sit in his bouncy seat while I neat the girls' room and restock the diapers. Then I can run downstairs to bring up a freshly laundered basket of clothes and fold/ hang/ put it ALL away before returning the basket to the basement, scooping up the boy and then heading off once again to pick up my 3YO. We can return home and have a healthy snack while she tells me about her day, and smiley guy looks on from his jumper. I am relaxed and happy. Then I will read her a book or two while waiting for my 5 YO to get home on the bus.

When she gets home, she will then be snacked and chatted to while the 3 YO watches one TV show. Then I can make Dinner uninterrupted in my sparkly clean kitchen. As dinner cooks/ simmers/ bakes, I will have time to nurse and change the boy once again and put on some make up in anticipation of my Dear Husband's return home. The girls will play quietly with one toy each, happily returning it to its designated place before choosing another.

Then I wake up and see that the boy is snoozing in my lap, and I am still sitting at the computer with yesterday's laundry still in baskets nearby. Breakfast dishes are still waiting for me (they are patient, but still yell out "WASH ME" when I pass by the kitchen) and last night's dishes are clean, but abandoned in the strainer. I am dressed and look decent, but haven't worn makeup in over a week, if you don't count Halloween. I am nearly out of diapers, I don't know how much fabric softener I have, and well, I vacuumed yesterday so why do it again?

Hmm, I guess I wasted enough time here. I need to at least make one attempt at laundry before heading out to lunch. And when I come home, I will try not to be shocked and wonder if someone came and ransacked the house while I was out. I may even try to put on some eye liner before I go, so my DH will think I did it just for him later.

After I finish reading my e-mail, I promise.

AHHH The sound of Silence!

2005-10-31T10:48:00.000-05:00

After a crazy week and a half, I am sitting here planning my day, enjoying a hot cocoa and finishing up my oatmeal. My 5 and 3 YOs are at school, and the boy just settled himself for a nap.

AAAHHH Mommy time! Ok, not really, but at least I get one uninterrupted hot meal in me before I set out on my day, which will consist of cleaning my home and planning the next few dinners, catching up on laundry and maybe even changing some bed linens for a bit of excitement!

Such is the life for a stay at home mom. Now don't get me wrong. I LOVE this field now more than ever! I like the freedom to choose where I will perform some of my routine tasks, and the gratification I get when I see one of my charges succeed!

True, the pay is horrible, the hours are long, and there is no time off for sickness and you are expected to work straight through the holidays and any vacation you may actually squeeze in! You are responsible for the bookkeeping, the meal planning, the chauffeur duties, the housekeeping, the social planning, gift buying, mental health assessments, and night watchman duties. You have to play doctor, mediator, fashion consultant, detective, nanny, helpmate, and sometimes even the gardener, landscaper, mechanic, and secretary, be quick on your feet and at times show no emotion. You also have to be the soft place to fall and know when a hug is better than any words you can come up with. You have to have a kind smile and a look that can stop delinquents in their tracks. You should have 4 arms and the strength of 10 men! You have eyes in the back of your head, yet know when to look away!

You should be able to do this all while looking cool and collected! You should be able to accomplish this all without a shower most days! With a baby tucked under one arm, and singing along to "Victor Vito". And get this...you should do it willingly, with love, compassion and so much gusto that you fall into bed totally exhausted but yet feeling very fulfilled.

Ah yes, my silence has just been broken. My breakfast is done. I must go swoop up the boy, reboot the laundry and do the dishes...all while singing a silly song and feeding him. Then look forward to the next sounds of silence!

Squishy Shoulders and Chunka chunk legs.

2005-10-29T11:12:00.000-05:00

Um, no not mine LOL!

My boy is not only my only boy, he is also my only full term baby. I had my first in a hurry girl at 34.5 weeks. My water broke for some unknown reason and she was born naturally just 5 hours later!

My second was even more in a hurry to be born. My water broke with her at 28 weeks 5 days (A "full term" pregnancy is on average 40 weeks, with 37-42 weeks considered the norm). I held off going into labor, but she still insisted on coming early. I discovered her cord coming out and had to have her via emergency c-section at exactly 29 weeks. She spent just 6 weeks in the NICU before coming home.

We weighed a lot of the pros and cons of having another, and finally decided to leave it to God. God knows best and we got pregnant almost immediately and we were followed very closely since they still had no idea why I had 2 preemies. My Doc reiterated that every pregnancy is different and sent me on my way, with just a few more tests and a few more visits scheduled than an average pregnancy. I packed my bags at 27 weeks. I celebrated 29 weeks and every passing week after. You have never seen a pregnant lady SO happy to have reached 36 weeks!

By 37 weeks, I was getting anxious, 38 weeks panic started to set in...what if this baby NEVER comes out?!? 39 weeks brought more panic..what do you mean, DOC that YOU are going on vacation? I see my Doc's partner and like him immediately.

39 weeks 2 days, I wake up and know something is different. By lunch I am driving myself to the hospital. By dinner I have a full term boy born via successful VBAC (Vaginal birth after c-section)! Everyone was estimating a 7.5 pound boy, but I didn't even want to wish it! ME!! A mom to a big baby! That didn't even seem possible!! My girls were 5 pounds 10 oz and TWO pounds 14 oz at birth. Imagine our SHOCK to see the numbers on the scale..EIGHT pounds NINE ounces!!! That is one ounce BIGGER than BOTH of the girls combined!!! ME!! A mom to a newborn with ROLLS!!

You would think the novelty of baby fat would, well, wear thin. No, baby fat just keep getting cuter! Every diaper change I am amazed that we have these Chunka chunk legs. Thighs so big I cannot wrap my hand around them!! Every time I try I squeeze them to my boy's delight as I exclaim "Chunka Chunk Legs!" I am responded to with squeals of delight! I move up to his "Tubby Tum Tum", then the "SQUISHY SHOULDERS!" this exercise has us both laughing.

I can imagine that I will have to stop doing this soon. Yes, my boy is getting bigger, and not just the pounds on the scale. He is 4 months old already!! He weighs as much as my 29 weeker did at a year. I want to keep admiring his rolls, but know there will be a day they will either start to go away, or they will no longer be cute. I still do it often right now. I want to do it a thousand times so that I will never forget it. I am already starting to forget things, and it just doesn't seem fair!

OK, my squishy shouldered, tubby tummied, chunka leg boy is almost asleep. I will put him in his bed for a nap and watch him sleep for a bit, resisting with everything I have to not touch him again until he awakens later. I look forward to that actually! When he wakes, he will need a new diaper, then I can admire his Chunka chunk legs again!!