Busy, Busy Week

Last week, I was put in charge of the crafts portion of our church's VBS. The theme was Avalanche Ranch, which was very cute. I started out very intimidated and a bit overwhelmed, having never even known what VBS was before this year. By thursday, I was not only feeling almost in control, but also pretty excited about it all. And then. We found out that two of the kids who'd been attending all week were suspected of having whooping cough. The last day was cancelled. Major bummer. And a major reminder of why it's so important to keep our kids immunized.

Just call it the Spring Creek Wildlife Preserve

I think my neighbors are beginning to wonder about me just a little. My erratic lawn caretaking must be getting pretty curious, or at least a little amusing to the outside observer. I think I mowed our lawn once this summer before our lawn mower decided to take the summer off. I was not convinced, so for a two week period, I'd be out there a couple times a day trying to get it started. Jehromy came home, worked on it, declared it fixed, and went back out of town for work. Which began another two weeks of trying, but not starting the lawn mower.

After a month of not mowing, it was getting a little embarrassing to pull into our driveway. Another couple weeks, and I decided something had to be done. It was becoming a fire hazard, not just an embarrassment. So I borrowed my father in law's mower and weed whacker.

That's when things got pretty interesting. Seeing as how I'm in my fourth month of pregnancy, and we're in the midst of a heat wave that shows no sign of relenting, I can only do a little bit at a time. Now, a smart person says, just do your yard work in the mornings and evenings when it's cooler. That person isn't in an exhaustion coma every morning from staying up too late on the phone with her hubby, or on the phone with said hubby the second the kids are tucked in. This person is, and has to do ten minutes here, ten minutes there, all the while taking half hour water breaks. The picture above is what it looked like when I'd mowed my first swath.

When it rains, it pours...

On Saturday, I bit into a piece of candy and lost part of my tooth. Tuesday, I went to the dentist to see what was to be done about it. I was given a referal to a specialist in Reno. I immediately wondered how much this was going to cost me. Turns out, I have a choice. I can pay $800 for the specialist to try to save the tooth, with no guarantees for success, and then pay for a crown. Or I can have the tooth removed and get bridgework done, for around $2000 out of pocket. What makes this a difficult decision is that part about "no guarantee". I don't want to take the first choice, only to have to do the extraction and bridgework anyway. Do I take the chance, or not? I don't know yet.

What did you do today, sweetheart?

I wasn't always a stay at home mommy, and it wasn't a decision Jehromy and I came to lightly. In fact, we both fought it tooth and nail, because of some hilarious miscommunication. He thought that I needed to work in order to feel like I was contributing to the family, and decided that he would not be the one to force me to quit working, even though he thought our family would be happier with me at home. I thought that I'd lose all respect from him if I admitted that I really didn't want to go to work and miss out on all my kids were doing- even if it was diaper blowouts and weird science with the kitty litter.

So, for the first few months we were together, he worked as a delivery driver for Budweiser, and I worked as a bartender. Doesn't that just sound like a match made in drunk heaven? We had opposite schedules, so one of us was always at home while the other was at work. Which worked ok for the kids, but soon Jehromy started calling a babysitter more and more often so he could hang out with me at work. When I realized that he was paying the babysitter more than I was earning, I told him he either had to quit visiting me so much, or I need to quit working. He finally admitted that he really liked having me home when he got home from work, and that he just missed me too much when I went to work, and would I feel horrible if he wanted me to stay home? I was so relieved. I've gone back to work at odd jobs a couple times since then, as needs have dictated, and those experiences have only solidified our committment to put our family first.

The other fantastic side effect of the opposing schedules was that Jehromy got to be home alone with the kids, and got a small taste of life as a stay at home parent- sort of. It was enough that I know when he asks what I did today, it is out of interest in my life, not a question of derision. And on those days when I say it was a worthless waste of a day, he'll find something I did right, even when I just see everything I didn't do. The way he sees it, the most important thing I can do in any day is make sure the kids know they are loved. The rest is gravy. Or icing. Or whatever you like best.

Why, oh why am I not allowed to title my posts anymore? Sheesh.

Ah, well. Moving on. My seven year old son is singlehandedly resurrecting the social life that he, himself killed seven years ago. Oh, I know I could have done playgroups and gone to the park to meet other mommies and stuff like that. But I had more important stuff to do, like oh, you know, surviving a crappy marriage and supporting my family and all. Silly priorities.

So, anyway. My son has a social life. This means I almost have a social life, because negotiating the details of his social life requires me to interact with other mothers. Somethine that has really been quite terrifying to me for quite awhile. I am very much an introvert. But I'm starting to enjoy interacting with some of these moms quite a lot lately. In fact, I even hijacked the phone from Bug to talk to his friend's mom for almost an hour today! My kids thought I'd lost my mind!

I bet I'll even need a calendar once Kat starts school. That kid is so not an introvert. She's incredibly friendly and outgoing, and will find something nice to say about anyone.

Well. This has been quite the blogging hiatus, hasn't it? After the worst morning sickness I've had yet, and then the entire family getting the flu, and then me being in the ER because of a migraine, well.... last week was a doozy. The ER doc told me initially, "you're either having a stroke or a migraine, so we're going to run some tests to find out which it is." OH, ok. No biggie. I'll just sit here in this massively uncomfortable bed wondering if I'm dying or not for the next six hours.

Thankfully, things seem to be gradually improving now. My midwife is concerned that I've lost a couple pounds instead of gaining. However, taking into account the above mentioned situations, and mixing in a heat wave that makes it too hot to even think about eating, and I think we've figured out the problem. She says to eat lots and lots of protein in order to prevent another migraine. A gal can only eat so much peanut butter, nuts, and yogurt before it gets really old though.

Oh, and Blogger won't let me title this post.

Technical difficulties....

I can't seem to comment on my own blog. Don't know why, but it sure is frustrating. And posting seems to be a hit or miss matter lately as well. I've actually posted about three times for every one you've seen, and gotten an error message. So. Please bear with me as I attempt to figure this situation out. (please post, please post, please post.....)

They say there's no such thing as a free lunch...

That goes for puppies, and kittens too. In our local paper, which has a monopoly in the area, it will cost me 41.50 to advertise "free kittens". Sheesh. I'm beginning to think that the kids and I are doomed to a day sitting in front of Walmart accosting everyone to enter or leave until they're gone. No one at church wants them. No one we know wants them. Who knew people were so smart? I sure wasn't.

Birthday SOS

Kat turns five soon. In exactly two weeks. And I haven't a clue what to get/do for her birthday. Monkey-boy turns two in exactly three weeks. Same story, except that I don't think he'll notice if it's less than perfect. I don't think he'd even notice if we forgot, but we won't do that of course! Kat has asked for a Barbie doll for her birthday. That's it. And since she only has, oh, about two hundred of them, what's one more, right? Add to this the fact that Hubs will be working the week of her birthday, and will get home sometime on the day of or the day after Monkey-boy's day, and we have a little more trouble. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please?

Loaded

The following are some statements/questions that one should approach a pregnant woman with very carefully. You never know which way the hormones are swinging her temperament, so be ready to run if you utter any of following:

1. Are you sure you're pregnant? You don't look pregnant. (This can brighten her day, or ruin it, depending.)


2. How many are you having?


3. Again?!


4. But why?


5. So, any interesting cravings yet? (Be prepared to fill an order if you're dumb enough to ask this one!)


6. Do you know what you're having? (Why, yes, I believe we'll be birthing a litter of puppies! And you?)


7. How do you feel? (ummm, does the vomit on your shoes answer your question?)


8. Have you tried crackers? (Really! People still make this suggestion!)


9. How much weight have you gained?


10. Can I get you some water? (I'm sick of that one already. I know it's well meant, but really, don't I sprint for the toilet enough?)


11. Four! Wow! (or whatever the applicable number is... it's always awe-inspiring.)


12. Do you breastfeed?


13. Gonna circumcise?


14. Got names picked out yet?


15. Are you still pregnant?


16. Have you met so-and-so? She's pregnant too.... (followed by details guaranteed to either scare you to death or make you insanely jealous)


17. Is it moving yet?

Of course with two of my three children fluent in the english language, you may never get the chance to ask. They'll tell everything you wanted to know, and a lot you didn't want to know, at top volume, before you've finished drawing breath to say hello. Isn't it kind of them to save us all the trouble?

Is this real?

I came across this website purely by accident and cannot figure out if it's real or if it's a hoax. What do you think? And if it's real, then what do you think?

Appointment

I had my first pregnancy checkup today. I love this midwife! She was so excited for me, she gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek in congratulations! All the usual first appointment stuff, and an official due date of January 16th. One healthy baby with a strong heartbeat. I'm demoted to Flinstones vitamins for a couple weeks to help with the morning sickness. All in all, a good day.

Just Because

I am an Echinacea What Flower Are You?

I'm a rebel!

Last night I watched a History Channel show about the hippies. It explained their reasons for many of the things they did as rebellion against the expectations of their parents in order to find a more fulfilling life. Really.

Now, with that line of reasoning, I must be a rebel too! I'm living my life completely against all the expectations set out for me by my mother and her family. I was supposed to get a college degree, use it in a professional career, and maybe get married sometime in my late twenties. One kid, maybe two would be ok with them.

Oops, I guess I fell off the prescribed path somewhere. And most days I couldn't be happier about that. I love being a wife and stay at home mom. I think I'm pretty good at it, too. But there are times when that happiness feels a little thorny, a little less than perfect. Usually my mother is involved when I feel that way.

She called me to get my email address, and I decided to tell her I'm pregnant. There would never be a good time to tell her, and I was tired of dreading it. So I told her, "I have some news I need to tell you. I don't expect you to be happy for me about it. I'm pregnant again." She said, "Why?" and then at my stunned silence, "Was it (in horror) on purpose?" There are so many things I could have said, should have said to those two questions. But I didn't. I knew that there really was no point. I just said, "Yes, it was on purpose." She gave a great big sigh, and stated, "Well, it's going to be a hell of a lot harder when you're abandoned with four children to take care of than three. Didn't we talk about this last week?" (this was a reference to a tirade about the evils of men, how they always abandon you in the end, culminating in her announcement that my stepdad is leaving her.)

I let her lecture me on my lack of value as a human being because of my lack of skills in the workplace, until she realised that I wasn't bawling on the floor like she'd hoped. Used to be that a sharp word from her would send me into hysterics. This time, I stayed calm, at least outwardly. Inside I was raging at her, pitying her, wishing I could understand what made her so bitter. She finally gave up, said bye and hung up. I gathered my kids to me and told them that I love them no matter what, and that all I want for them when they grow up is happiness. They looked at me like I'd lost my mind, but I felt better. I'm just going to keep telling them and showing them, and hopefully I won't screw up too much along way.

Aren't I rebellious?

I'm baaaack! (well, sort of)

We had a fantastic visit with my father and his wife. (I don't call her my stepmom because I already had one of those and his wife is a much nicer person.)

They brought salmon that he caught somewhere in Oregon and grilled it for us. This was great timing, as I was really craving fish! They took us out to dinner lots and lots. More cravings satisfied!

They took us to see Shrek the 3rd.

We all went to the local museum, and my dad pointed out all the wildlife exhibits that were labelled incorrectly. There were a few guns mislabelled, too.

We went for a picnic lunch in Lamoille Canyon, and then took the kids on their first hike, which turned out to be more of a mini-hike when we reached a creek crossing that had been reduced to a very narrow tree for a bridge. We decided to turn back. The kids were mad, but they just don't have the experience to have gotten across safely. It was fun anyway, and very beautiful.

I was sad to see the visit end, sad to say goodbye. It's been so nice, and they spoiled us all so much!

I still have morning sickness.... oh, boy do I have it! It took some serious determination to go go go with my parents all last week, and I all but collapsed into an imitation coma on Saturday- just in time for Jehromy to come home from work hoping for attention and help with his laundry. Apparently, he got promoted, and this meant coming home for a day and leaving again for two weeks. Poor Hubs wound up my nursemaid while still taking care of his own stuff.

Since Hubs left again, Bug has been extra cooperative. He even loaded the dishwasher for me when I asked him, even though he usually just unloads it. And he's been letting me sleep in lately. Woo Hoo! I'll have to do something special with the kids when this finally passes. Like that baking party! mmmmm.

I'll Be Back Soon...

Schools out, morning sickness has commenced, and my parents are coming to visit. My plate is full. I'll be back when I'm able.

Waiting.....

For almost the past week I have been waiting for just one of my children to do something to merit a fun evening baking together. I've literally been searching for any excuse to reward them this way, thinking that it would be a fun bonding activity. I swear, it had nothing to do with a craving for brownies!

Every single day that I've had this fun surprise in mind for them, we have had worse and worse behavior. I don't understand it. Today was horrendous. I'm beginning to believe that Bug likes being grounded. Monkey-boy is trying to prove to me that he can be more defiant at almost two than his sibs were at four- and that's saying something. Kat can't finish a meal to save her life. Birds exist on more nourishment than she takes in. Maybe this week will be better than last.

What to do?

Bug was very upset when he came home yesterday. After some trying, he finally confessed to me that someone at the bus stop told him that I drink lots of alcohol. After some more trying he told me the little girl's name, and I went to ask her mother about it. The little girl overheard, and clarified that she heard it from one of Bug's friends and was just asking Bug if it were true. So I talked to Bug's friend's mom, who told me that he heard this from another boy at the bus stop who claimed that we are always throwing beer bottles into their yard. I was dumbfounded. I don't drink. My husband might have a beer with dinner, but the bottle usually makes it into the trash, unless he's having a bad day and then I'll find it in the sink. But someone else's yard? Who lives an entire block away from us? I don't know what to do from this point. I was comfortable talking to the first two kids and their mothers because I already sort of knew them. I don't know these other parents at all, so I'm not sure that it would be the best idea to knock on their door and ask them about this, or if I should let it go. I don't like having my charachter maligned, and I don't like that Bug is having to deal with this for absolutely no reason at all.

WFMW: Early Christmas Shopping

It's that time of year again..... time to start shopping for Christmas presents! Yes, I know, I sound completely insane. There is no way that I will know my kids' sizes seven months ahead of time, but fortunately for me, they are fairly predictable in their tastes.

What really works for me is buying books. Lots and lots of books. On ebay in "lot sales", at garage sales, on clearance, from scholastic. Whenever the price is right for books in good condition, I snap them up. Then I stash them in my closet. Over the year I will give the kids a book here, another book there, for various occasions. As a reward for good behavior, to keep them entertained on a long car ride, or as a distraction during a doctor appointment are all fantastic reasons to give a kid a book in my opinion. And I'll still have lots left for Christmas presents! (Lucky for me, my kids love reading as much as I do!)