Tamiflu anyone?

What a week, wouldn't ya say. Makes you wonder who above Obama pissed off. He got a war, a wacked econonmy and now a pandemic. Really, you could not make this stuff up if you tried. I know this because I have been sitting around thinking of something to write and nothing is nearly as intriguing as this pile of crap we are sitting in right now! 

I had the pleasure of working today in a large medical faciltity. Swabbing noses, passing out masks, wondering why in the heck you would come to the doctors office for a wart to be frozen off when the World Health Organization keeps saying "pandemic". I personally might wake up, listen to the radio and say...maybe next week I'll get this looked out. I think it does not take a degree in Rocket Science to think that all the sick people are going where? yup, that is right--the doctors office ya doorknob!

I am just a little nurse but really have a gripe with the news media. You would think AIDS suddenly was transmitted via casual contact and came with an automatic 7 day death sentence. People are freaking out! 

Calm down, wash your hands, avoid sick people if possible. Drink your fluids, get rest. Take care of yourself. We will get thru this. It will suck if you catch it. But rest assured most people will survive. Already in the US this year we have lost about 13,000 people to the plain old regular flu...13,000 people! Influenza A/H1N1 has claimed nothing even remotely close worldwide. 

Oh and I have one more request...

Leave them out of it! 

It is tough to be a pig 2009!

Don't even get me started on Egypts' solution to the problem.

I need to take a minute to say something...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

We love you Papa! You are a super Step-Dad, Father-in-Law, and Papa. You are the master of a little game called Monkey Cage, you are very prompt at filling wine glasses, the King of Trivia, and somehow seem to have a link to almost everyone. Things are never boring when you are around. We are lucky my Mom found you!

We all adore you and we wish you a happy, happy, happy year.

 

Honeymoon?

I know, I know...I have been MIA of late. I am being out blogged by everyone in blogland. It was a long week that involved more working then I typically do. I bow in awe to Moms that work full time! I just cannot wrap my brain around how everything gets done. Working 4 days this week, with evening activities and home work time leaves the house looking like we have been vandalized!

My husband took Elise fishing with him for opening weekend of freshwater fishing at the family lake cabin. Amazing how changing the family dynamics like that seems to create a honeymoon atmosphere. My remaining Posse and I will hit the pool for a swim, hopefully they will oblige me some gym time and then Mexican has been requested. I will then try not to eat all the chips undoing any good I did at the gym...guess I should skip the margarita. Except that this is a honeymoon, right?

Have a lovely weekend where ever you are.

Sisters fishing a couple years ago at the cabin. Yes, we love tye-dye!

They dyed these shirts themselves-I love them! The girls and the shirts.

Might have to send her out to get some real fishing done.

Really, the boat was anchored to the dock in shallow water. I am a life jacket nut-- 1 scary near drowning incident as a child left me freaked out about my kids drowning! That is a future blog for my Mom to share...years if screaming in the shower must have been fun. I hated water as a child.

If they are lucky they will catch something bigger then this!

Megan insists this fish went on to live a happy life. He was put back in the water and swam off...hopefully not to a watery grave. You just have to take a picture of your kids 1st catch!

clarity

I have had a lot of noise in my head lately. Wondering about choices. Questioning my actions. Trying to forecast my future when I realized something. It is not brilliant or a secret. Maybe you even have had this light bulb go off above your head too.

It's not too late.

I still can be a great Mom.

I still can do all those things I have given up on.

For so long I have been living like I already failed. Ridiculous, I now realize. How much time do you waste when you give up before the race even has started.

I have been dealing with guilt. Feeling like I am not as great of Mom as all these over the top Moms you read about in blogland. Fresh cookies, home made crafts, fancy bedrooms, lot's of activities--June Cleaver stuff. Some days I am tired. It affects my parenting and how attentive I am. Maybe if I own that and accept that I will be a better Mom that way. Besides, I think a lot of these Super Moms are not nearly as perfect as they appear!

I asked all three kids last night what I could do to be a better Mom. They all said "why do you say that, we think you are a great Mom". Maybe my standard is higher then theirs?

When I pushed my son a little more saying, "well, you know sometimes I yell and get upset". His response was, "well, sometimes we do stuff we aren't supposed to". OK, I feel better now.

Thanks for listening to my rambling, I did not cry!

Baby-steps.

I'm fine thanks, how are you?

As I was sitting here looking on Amazon at great kids shoes for super prices, today only. You should check it out if you need kids shoes.

Amazon Bargains

I heard my 7 year old son who is playing matchbox cars with his older sister say these words...

The inflection was the same, he sounded like a miniature Joey. Should I be worried?

I have not watched Friends in years. It is not something that he would have heard here. Where did he pick that up?

I'm doomed aren't I?

Welcome - VGNO

Hi all, this is my first time playing at VGNO! I am so looking forward to having all the drinks without the empty calories. In my dream world I will be drinking one of these. They are a lot of work in real life so much easier this way!

I know a lot of folks out there are still dealing with snow...so sorry! It seems like maybe (knock on wood) we will have sun, finally! This drink is the perfect light drink to sip by the pool, enjoy at a BBQ or heck mow the lawn with! It just works. Enjoy and happy weekend!

Cuban Mojito recipe

1 teaspoon powdered sugar
Juice from 1 lime (2 ounces)
4 mint leaves

1 sprig of mint
Havana Club white Rum (2 ounces)
2 ounces club soda

Place the mint leaves into a long mojito glass (often called a "collins" glass) and squeeze the juice from a cut lime over it. You'll want about two ounces of lime juice, so it may not require all of the juice from a single lime. Add the powdered sugar, then gently smash the mint into the lime juice and sugar with a muddler (a long wooden device pictured below, though you can also use the back of a fork or spoon if one isn't available). Add ice (preferably crushed) then add the rum and stir, and top off with the club soda (you can also stir the club soda in as per your taste). Garnish with a mint sprig.

Librarian Alter Ego

If your first name begins with letters A - E, your first name would be: Bubbles. Follow the chart to see what your Librarian's Alter Ego name is.

First Name=
A - E: Bubbles
F - J: Cookie
K - O: Pepper
P - T: Honey
U - Z: Pebbles

Last Name=
A - E: Featherbottom
F - J: Ivanabee-Queen
K - O: Rhea-Listik
P - T: Anitacocktail
U - Z: Mona-Lott

What is yours?

Look around, maybe you will like something you see...
My son wants to be a pirate...or something like that
I tend to cry for stupid reasons
I was blessed with twins
I have lustful thoughts about her
My daughter is the charitable sort, when it comes to the Disney Channel and Hobo's

Questionable career choices...

Trying to have conversation at the dinner table is sometimes like pulling teeth.

How was your day?

fine.

What did you do?

nothing.

Did you learn anything new?

no.

We have started asking them questions that require an answer that they put together in there little minds. More then one word. We are late at figuring this out, I know.

Last week Michael asked the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. Megan wants to be a photographer and geologist. Elise wants to be a veterinarian. It came time for Trevor to answer and he said he wants to be a pilot.

I understood he said pilot, since I speak Trevor and Elise fluently. They both have a very interesting East Coast accent. This is curious since we live solidly on the West side of the country. I am wondering where there speech therapist grew up, maybe they picked it up from her?

Anyhow, everyone else at the table thought he said PIRATE.

In this current climate that might not be a solid career choice. Elise asked what a Pirate does. Michael did his best, "ahoy, matie. ARGGG" pirate impression. Trevor and I are watching this. Trevor just keeps saying. "No, a pilot, a pilot", still sounding an awful lot like pirate. A few days later my Mom asked the kids the same question. She thought he said pirate too. I think he better pick a back up career unit his L's quit sounding like R's!. Anyone who asks him that question is going to wonder what kind of derelict we are raising!

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you finally grew up?

After High School I went to school briefly to explore being a cop. Can you imagine that...I would be dabbing my eyes all day long! Those criminals would never take me seriously. "Yeah the cop that picked me up today, she had a tissue shoved up her sleeve like a little old lady".

Why I could not be a police officer

Isn't it nice to see that ship captain was finally released/rescued from the real Pirates. You should have seen the look on my kids faces when they realized that pirates actually do exist. I did not have the heart to tell them they do not look like Johnny Depp though.

The gift

I just looked at the date on my computer and remembered something. It was 8 years ago that I went into labor at 25 weeks with our twins. It was a busy day, I remember. Trying to run errands and get some last minute things for Megan's upcoming 2nd birthday before I was stuck at home like a beached whale. I spent the day not drinking enough fluids and going from store to store like a delusional woman!

That night, I remember feeding Megan dinner and feeling this tightening that was not normal. Michael was on swing shift at the time so at night it was just Megan & Me (funny, I just thought that sounds a little like Marley & Me~she was much less trouble). That night is a bit of a fog. I think it is the minds way of protecting us, forget the things that are big stresses and are not important in the long term.

I ended up in the hospital. I remember after I got into my room the nurse was checking for dilation... she reached in and pulled her hand back out pretty quickly. Telling the other nurse, "I felt a head". I was 4 cm dilated and only 25 weeks pregnant. Part of me did not believe this was happening to us.

Can't be.

Not Now.

Too Early.

My world came crashing in around me that day. The talk of viability, health impairments, possible lifelong disability, transfer to a bigger hospital, extended NICU stays and a future without our babies clouded my head.

After steroid shots for lung maturation and a lot of monitoring my doctor let me go home on strict bedrest with medication to hopefully hold off an early delivery. My Mom was a gem and took FMLA and offered a lot of help with a busy 2 year old. Michael's Mom came to help watch Megan and get us through the evenings as well. Both our Moms were huge blessings to us during that time. Not sure how we would have survived without them.

It felt like the clock had stopped.

I twiddled my thumbs.
I counted contractions.

I yearned to get out of bed.
I watched a lot of daytime TV.
I got a shower every other day.

I dyed Easter eggs in bed with Megan.

I spent a lot of time laying on my side.

Occasionally at night when our helpers had gone home and Megan was snug in her bed...I would sneak downstairs and raid my own kitchen. I was pregnant after all, those craving can be all consuming!

Somehow we made it to 35 weeks. It was a miracle many have told me. People everywhere were praying, our families supported us, my husband managed to be a Mom and a Dad for 10 weeks. We were a burden on everyone, yet they were all still willing to help.

Then they were born. Trevor was 4lbs and 9 ounces and had eyes that people were compelled to tell me, frequently, were gigantic. Elise was 5lbs 2 ounces and blessed with more proportionate eyes and was just as cute as a little girl should be. They were overall pretty healthy and only spent a little over a week in the hospital after they were born.

I think of this today. I try to remember what could have been and how happy I am to have healthy kids that will be 8 years old in just a couple months. I am far from a perfect Mom, some days when I am getting frustrated with my kids and am dealing with my own demons - I need to remember the gift I have been given. Some Moms only have memories or dreams of their babies and what they should be. I have the whole package! I am one of the lucky ones.

Easter already~

I hope you enjoy this day with your family happy and healthy, and without that Cadbury egg hangover that sometimes comes by Easter evening. 

Our Easter dinner is a bit non traditional this year. We are having homemade sourdough waffles. Crazy huh? Breakfast for Easter dinner. A yummy dinner but not very Easterish.  I just am not feeling very up for anything big and complicated. That is a little out of the ordinary since I normally love to cook. Just not today. I am in a funk and just cannot seem to find my way out of it. Since it is just the kids and myself tonight waffles it is. 

Did you cook a big Easter meal? 

Emotional WHAT?

I am a crier...not the bawling, blubbering, sobbing sort of crier you may be thinking of. I am the sort that gets tears in my eyes when something touches me in some way, it does not even need to be sad or especially emotional. Maybe I am not a crier more of a wet eye kind of girl. Not always convenient, frequently down right inappropriate.

I am fortunate to be able to keep it together when I am working although there are some times as I am taking care of someone I feel that little tug that comes before I sense my eyes are starting to look moist.

I hate this defect! I have even looked into a name for this awful condition. Do you know what they call it? It is called "Emotional Incontinence". Great, that alone is reason enough for me to reach for the tissues and call Dr. Phil. If only an adult diaper would solve this problem!

Since I am getting all personal with you let me share something else. This year my kids were all sick during parent/teacher conferences.

What did I do you ask?

I made my husband go to the conference so I could stay home with the kids.

Why?

Not for the reason you may think. It was because Trevor and Elise's 2nd grade teacher makes me cry. Can you believe it? I can be brought to tears by a 2nd grade teacher telling me how good or bad my kids are doing at school.

I think I might make her uncomfortable when my eyes start to glisten. That one unpredictable parent that might lose it at the drop of a hat. It is never more then silent tears in the eyes, but we all know they are there. I am hoping she is extra nice to them at school just because she thinks their Mom must be a train wreck at home!

CRAZY...maybe you should move on now, find another blog to read because I must be nuts! Just back out of the room, I may not even notice. Don't take it personally if I shed a tear.

I would love to find something that keeps this in check. It is not even like I am sad. I just get teary for no reason. It seems to be worse with people I do not know well, anxiety? Hell if I know! If they find a cure I will call my doctor everyday crying until they offer it to me. Actually my doctor might not be a hard sell, she makes me cry too!

Do you have a physical/emotional trait you just hate? Anyone need a tissue? I have plenty here.

The big reveal~

Yesterday my oldest daughter had an orthodontist appointment. She was told last time that she would probably be getting her braces off next time she came in. She was very excited because she is already planning the celebration that will follow removal of the dental appliances that torture her. She wants Carmel Apples, corn on the cob, taffy, and anything else that makes me yell "no you can't have that, you will break a bracket!"

Here is her before picture...in the parking lot on the way in for the big removal

and this is what she looks like now~

She is still smiling though.

Her party is on hold for at least 4 more weeks. There was a bright spot in her day. She had a tooth the Doctor has been trying to get her to pull out for 2 months. The other tooth was growing in under it and it was wreaking havoc on his work. Her orthodontist really wanted it gone...He pushed and prodded with no luck, only tears. I figured least I could do is offer a large reward for that tooth. How does $10 sound, but it had to be out that day. Well, it sounded good to her too, I had that tooth in my hand within 4 hours. I told her no double dipping though. It is my tooth now, she can't try to sell it to the tooth fairy as well!

the day we all knew was coming...

Today was a seriously rough morning. We went from the luxury of sleeping till 9-9:30am, Having a nice brunch and lazing around in jams till noon. This morning held shrill alarms clocks and Mom saying "come on, hurry up, you're going to miss this bus." The stress was almost more then they could handle! These kids had a major spring break hang over!

Here is the proof...

"Man, I sure am going to miss pancakes and my DS"


"Helping Mom cook is way better then learnin' and stuff"


"I love having jammie days...why am I dressed so darn early?"

They look really sad in all this photos, wouldn't you say? Funny thing is I did not ask them to look this sad. So either they were terribly disappointed to go back to school or it was just too early for Mom to be hassling them with the camera!

I don't have the heart to tell them after they got on the bus...I hauled my butt back into bed for a little nap...till about 9am. Boy they would be so bummed!

Worse for the little darlings is that after I was recharged myself - I took garbage bags into all their rooms and had my way with them...This would be the time I would insert and evil laugh and put my pinkie to my mouth like in Austin Powers.

Let's see how long it takes them to notice if anything is missing.

The buzzkill is that tomorrow I will have to go back to work too. Guess that means my spring break hangover will be in full swing by then as well! Not sure if I will share that picture... I am sure it will look similar only I will have a coffee cup instead of a back pack but my face may be just as sad!

Hey, I just realized this is my 100th post...
What do ya think of that?

Sunday Quote

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

So self explanatory but sometimes I still need to be reminded to make the right choices in life. The ones you can be proud of as you lay on your death bed. The ones that take you out of what was convenient and easy and become something so much more. Going above and beyond the call of duty. If we all did this regularly I think it might be a different world we would live in.

Here is how this works...
Post a new post on your blog with some of your favorite quotes.
Then go over to "A Daily Dose of Toni" and post your link in the mister linkey.

Then go check out all the other cool bloggers that are joining in Quotable Sunday, check back all day as people are posting throughout the day. Have a great Sunday!

I love hearing from you and like to visit you as well!

Spring break without the body shots and wet t-shirt contests

I could so get used to this. I vote to extend spring break until the end of the month! Sleep till 9:30am, coffee in jammies, read a few blogs, more coffee, check email, take a walk and torture the kids with more pictures to be taken of them, wash a few dishes, more coffee, catch an episode of something on the Disney channel with the kids, banish the 8:30 bedtime and watch food network with my little foodies, read book with the kids. This is way better then working!

My oldest daughter asked my husband why he had to work during spring break. He told her that grown ups don't get spring break. She looked a little puzzled and said "but Mom does". Gotta love it. Yup, I sure do! I am not too old for spring break, you heard it here first! I will spare you the wet t-shirt shots though...being the Mom of 3 kids did major damage to my future as a wet t-shirt model! Well, that and my unhealthy love of carbohydrates!

So, thanks for working Honey, so I can spend the week doing nothing and hanging with our kids. If only I did not have cramps that make me think my ovary will be exploding out of my body like a projectile missile any minute, it would be perfect! Gee, I guess I am not 19 anymore!



P.S. If you wouldn't mind my little fellow would love some more traffic on his awesome aerial acrobatic photo. He thinks it is so cool people he does not even know think he is almost as cool as Tony Hawke. Who is Tony Hawke I asked...I am "so not cool" I was informed!

Link here --->Trevor mid air

Wordless Wednesday

This one if for the Grandmas