Dear Drunken Driver...
You may not know this, but you almost smashed your large truck into 3 small children last Monday. How do I know this? I was the driver in front of you on the HRBT bridge, heading to Hampton from Norfolk to go get donuts, and I had my 3 small children in the back seat of my midsize car. You were swerving all over the interstate as we were heading into the tunnel, and it concerned me enough that I called 911 to report erratic driving. You were straddling the divider line, and overcorrecting to the right, and I was worried that you might throw your burgundy Ford SportTrac into the ocean. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT *YOU*. Think about that for a minute. I was calling to get you off the road, because I thought you might hurt yourself. I didn't even consider that you might floor it coming into the tunnel, then realize too late that traffic was slowing down, coming inches from my bumper as I was heading into the tunnel. Once you figured out that traffic was going slower than you, you slammed on your brakes, thank goodness, but it was almost too late. Oh, and I'm pretty sure that once the guy behind you slammed into you, buckling the front end of his car, he didn't appreciate it when you floored it again, running from the scene. You floored and slammed your brakes 3-4 times, and every time you got near me, I'm sure the 911 operator was appreciative as I cried into the phone about my babies in the backseat, but at least I was able to get a partial plate number (VA last 4 digits 9330).
Drunken Driver, ask yourself this: how would you have felt if I hadn't been able to goose it just as you roared up on me? How would you have felt if you had crumpled my backseat, and my 3 children with it? I'll tell you how I would have felt. I would have died inside if I lost these three. I would have crumpled, and cried, and wondered why, why, why did it have to be us? Can you imagine if that would have been your wife and children in front of you?
Here's what I want from you. I want you to get help. Stop drinking and driving. Get help for your obvious drinking problem, and Stop putting people in danger. Stop thinking only of yourself. Oh, and it'd be really cool if you went and talked to the State Police, since they were antsy to talk to you, though I doubt you'll actually do something like that, that requires courage to face the consequences of your actions, something I always emphasize to my children how important it is to do. Running from the scene of a crime shows me your courage is lacking, Drunken Driver.
The ball is in your court, Drunken Driver. You can choose to keep putting other people in danger with your stupidity, or you can make a change. It's up to you and no one else.
Reflections of a loudmouthed, strong willed, Primal momma
Monday, August 24, 2015
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Things I did instead of Facebook
A few weeks ago, the whole family was SICK. I'm talking trashcans at the feet, "Not again, oh, god, no! I don't want to!" kids hurling, sad baby crying the whole time because all he wanted was to nurse, yet every time he did, it came right back up. S.I.C.K.
Of course, I'm on Facebook quite a bit, anyway. Bored housewife syndrome. Nursing? (Facebook) Take a break from housework? (Facebook) Kids won't interact with me, and are actually enjoying one anothers company? (Facebook) In the summer, with the weather being nice, the Facebooking slows down, because we aren't home as much, but as a one car family, our winter is spent inside during the week.
So during the sick week, I was on Facebook quite a bit more though, documenting the horrors of norovirus, and checking in to see what allllll my friends were doing. I mean, what else is there to do when you're laying on the couch under a baby who won't stop spewing? After the 30th check into Facebook the last day everyone was sick, I was SICK of Facebook. SO BORING. Everyone spewing the same rhetorical, copy, paste, share share share, vaguebook, whinebook, blah blah blah. There were maybe two things that actually caught my eye, but for the most part, it was all the same blather. Of course, quirkymomma shared a ton of craft stuff that I would love to do, but don't have the supplies to do, and don't have the room to put the supplies after we are done (tiny apartment living, y'all).
But still, my extreme Facebook habit continued past the sick week. Why? WHAT IS SO INTERESTING ON THERE??? So I made a decision to limit my Facebook, which I did, a little, Mostly instead of Facebook, I read on my kindle app. But with the app on my phone, I still was drawn to open it, again and again.
Thursday, I deleted Facebook off my phone.
Sadly, my habit of opening it up every time I sit down, whether to take a break, or to nurse, has led me to completely ignore anyone who talks to me, or tries to get my attention, and it couldn't have been clearer two nights ago, when the baby Bear was trying to play with me, and Mr. Daddy had to TELL ME he was trying to get my attention and play, while I was too engrossed in someone else's life.
So, without further ado, here is a list of all the things I accomplished without Facebook in the past two weeks, but mostly in the past three days:
I wrote this blog post. I haven't written in so long, I don't remember what the last post was about (Was it about writing more often?)
I dumped ALL toys on the floor, and sorted them. They did not get organized (yet), but that will happen soon.
I exercised. First thing in the morning all week, I started legitimately working out.
I cleaned the kitchen. It was becoming a hoarders nightmare, with stacks of random paperwork, beer boxes clustered in the corner, and dishes piled high. In fact, I even scrubbed the baseboards.
CLEAN SHEET DAY!!! I consciously stripped our beds without someone peeing on them in order to make it happen, cleaned them, and slept on clean sheets last night.
I took the kids to the beach, without checking in and posting pictures while they played.
I read several books. In two weeks, instead of Facebook, I made myself open Kindle or a paper book instead. I was able to read 3 books, and I'm halfway through two more.
I watched 3 movies with my kids. And actually paid attention to the whole movie, all the way through, without looking at my phone halfway through.
I biked with the kids down to the OV Fishing Pier, and introduced them to calamari.
Most importantly, I PAID ATTENTION to all the things my kids were trying to say and show me.
This is going to be a permanent thing. I won't be putting Facebook back on my phone. It doesn't add to our quality of life. In fact, it most certainly detracts from our life experiences. I won't be deleting my account, but I will definitely be limiting the time I spend scrolling down the feed, and I sure won't do it absentmindedly while sitting with my kids. They're pretty important. Facebook is not
Of course, I'm on Facebook quite a bit, anyway. Bored housewife syndrome. Nursing? (Facebook) Take a break from housework? (Facebook) Kids won't interact with me, and are actually enjoying one anothers company? (Facebook) In the summer, with the weather being nice, the Facebooking slows down, because we aren't home as much, but as a one car family, our winter is spent inside during the week.
So during the sick week, I was on Facebook quite a bit more though, documenting the horrors of norovirus, and checking in to see what allllll my friends were doing. I mean, what else is there to do when you're laying on the couch under a baby who won't stop spewing? After the 30th check into Facebook the last day everyone was sick, I was SICK of Facebook. SO BORING. Everyone spewing the same rhetorical, copy, paste, share share share, vaguebook, whinebook, blah blah blah. There were maybe two things that actually caught my eye, but for the most part, it was all the same blather. Of course, quirkymomma shared a ton of craft stuff that I would love to do, but don't have the supplies to do, and don't have the room to put the supplies after we are done (tiny apartment living, y'all).
But still, my extreme Facebook habit continued past the sick week. Why? WHAT IS SO INTERESTING ON THERE??? So I made a decision to limit my Facebook, which I did, a little, Mostly instead of Facebook, I read on my kindle app. But with the app on my phone, I still was drawn to open it, again and again.
Thursday, I deleted Facebook off my phone.
Sadly, my habit of opening it up every time I sit down, whether to take a break, or to nurse, has led me to completely ignore anyone who talks to me, or tries to get my attention, and it couldn't have been clearer two nights ago, when the baby Bear was trying to play with me, and Mr. Daddy had to TELL ME he was trying to get my attention and play, while I was too engrossed in someone else's life.
So, without further ado, here is a list of all the things I accomplished without Facebook in the past two weeks, but mostly in the past three days:
I wrote this blog post. I haven't written in so long, I don't remember what the last post was about (Was it about writing more often?)
I dumped ALL toys on the floor, and sorted them. They did not get organized (yet), but that will happen soon.
I exercised. First thing in the morning all week, I started legitimately working out.
I cleaned the kitchen. It was becoming a hoarders nightmare, with stacks of random paperwork, beer boxes clustered in the corner, and dishes piled high. In fact, I even scrubbed the baseboards.
CLEAN SHEET DAY!!! I consciously stripped our beds without someone peeing on them in order to make it happen, cleaned them, and slept on clean sheets last night.
I took the kids to the beach, without checking in and posting pictures while they played.
I read several books. In two weeks, instead of Facebook, I made myself open Kindle or a paper book instead. I was able to read 3 books, and I'm halfway through two more.
I watched 3 movies with my kids. And actually paid attention to the whole movie, all the way through, without looking at my phone halfway through.
I biked with the kids down to the OV Fishing Pier, and introduced them to calamari.
Most importantly, I PAID ATTENTION to all the things my kids were trying to say and show me.
This is going to be a permanent thing. I won't be putting Facebook back on my phone. It doesn't add to our quality of life. In fact, it most certainly detracts from our life experiences. I won't be deleting my account, but I will definitely be limiting the time I spend scrolling down the feed, and I sure won't do it absentmindedly while sitting with my kids. They're pretty important. Facebook is not
Monday, August 25, 2014
Two years
It really has been two years since I last updated this blog. Well, technically, two and a half. Excellent job, momma.
Once I figure out how to update this thing all over again, I'm going to attempt to make this into a once a month thing. AT LEAST. Yeah, right. Goodness. Consistency is not my best quality.
Whats new?
Well, lets see. Moved across country. 800 miles.While pregnant. Oh, yeah, also, had another kid! We call him Bear. Ha! I'm now a mom to 3 boys.Totally squeezed this last little dude out in the bathtub. HOMEBIRTH ftw. I'll never go back to the hospital for a birth. Downsized from a house to a tiny apartment, after a hop skip jump into my in-laws house for 10 months. LOVE that family, so thankful they were there for us when we needed to make the move, but at the end of 9 months, everyone was. so. done.
We are starting legit homeschooling this year. I really wanted to unschool, and we still are, KIND of, but at the same time, I'm using curriculum from EasyPeasy this year so I sort of feel like Bug is really learning something. That's what I tell myself. Honestly, I just have no idea how to homeschool other than to do a curriculum, and its really hard to unschool when your husband comes home every day, asking the kid "what'd you learn today?" At least this way, he's got a progress report.
We now live a block from the beach, The ocean happens quite often. This is what I've been looking forward to for the last 5 years. Sand, sun, tan lines. The kids adjusted well. I think having grandparents close by really helped with the transition. Little had some regression in potty training while we were living at the in-laws. Totally normal. Totally aggravating. Little also had to have oral surgery at age 3, which was the most devastating thing I've ever had to experience in his life.
Lets see... Bank of America screwed us royally. Thanks, guys! The house we left behind is still sitting empty, and we could still be enjoying life in the big Indiana, but we would be missing out on our little piece of this dream, so its a damned if you do, damned if you don't kind of event.
I find it amusing that I haven't updated in a couple years, yet consistently get a couple hits every few months. I am trying to keep off facebook more and more these days, so I keep coming back to here. I finally figured out how to merge two of my blogs, so now there's just this one and the paleo blog. That's pretty much it! Stay tuned, I'll try to update this thing more often. At least more often than every two years. Yep.
Once I figure out how to update this thing all over again, I'm going to attempt to make this into a once a month thing. AT LEAST. Yeah, right. Goodness. Consistency is not my best quality.
Whats new?
Well, lets see. Moved across country. 800 miles.While pregnant. Oh, yeah, also, had another kid! We call him Bear. Ha! I'm now a mom to 3 boys.Totally squeezed this last little dude out in the bathtub. HOMEBIRTH ftw. I'll never go back to the hospital for a birth. Downsized from a house to a tiny apartment, after a hop skip jump into my in-laws house for 10 months. LOVE that family, so thankful they were there for us when we needed to make the move, but at the end of 9 months, everyone was. so. done.
We are starting legit homeschooling this year. I really wanted to unschool, and we still are, KIND of, but at the same time, I'm using curriculum from EasyPeasy this year so I sort of feel like Bug is really learning something. That's what I tell myself. Honestly, I just have no idea how to homeschool other than to do a curriculum, and its really hard to unschool when your husband comes home every day, asking the kid "what'd you learn today?" At least this way, he's got a progress report.
We now live a block from the beach, The ocean happens quite often. This is what I've been looking forward to for the last 5 years. Sand, sun, tan lines. The kids adjusted well. I think having grandparents close by really helped with the transition. Little had some regression in potty training while we were living at the in-laws. Totally normal. Totally aggravating. Little also had to have oral surgery at age 3, which was the most devastating thing I've ever had to experience in his life.
Lets see... Bank of America screwed us royally. Thanks, guys! The house we left behind is still sitting empty, and we could still be enjoying life in the big Indiana, but we would be missing out on our little piece of this dream, so its a damned if you do, damned if you don't kind of event.
I find it amusing that I haven't updated in a couple years, yet consistently get a couple hits every few months. I am trying to keep off facebook more and more these days, so I keep coming back to here. I finally figured out how to merge two of my blogs, so now there's just this one and the paleo blog. That's pretty much it! Stay tuned, I'll try to update this thing more often. At least more often than every two years. Yep.
Monday, January 30, 2012
29 days
Oh, my poor neglected blog(s). Both of my blogs are suffering, and I go back and forth on whether I want to just scrap it all and call it quits, or go ahead and halfway neglect it, write once and awhile, and leave it as it is. For now, we get the half-neglect.
I started the other blog, planning on doing all my foodisms there. Take a regular meal, and paleo-ize it. I really like converting food!
I tried to do the project 365, and failed. I signed up for the picaday February, and guess what? We'll see if I can win that one.
Forget it. Who am I kidding. I'm no good at this consistent blogging thing.
So anyway, on with the writing!
I started the other blog, planning on doing all my foodisms there. Take a regular meal, and paleo-ize it. I really like converting food!
I tried to do the project 365, and failed. I signed up for the picaday February, and guess what? We'll see if I can win that one.
Forget it. Who am I kidding. I'm no good at this consistent blogging thing.
So anyway, on with the writing!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Cheap ass Cloth and Care 101
Someone asked me the other day how I go about cloth diapering my kiddo for so cheap, so I decided to make a post for it :)
theluvyourbaby.com has 10 covers for around $50, free shipping, stuff those with prefolds you can get from craigslist or a diaper swap page, and you're set. Depending on baby's age, you'll need between 6 and 12 inserts per day, which I got a ton of from CL for $21, I was set for 3 days worth of diapering, and that was when Little was 2 months old. You'll want to wash on or before day 5 to keep the funk from setting in. Rinse first, hot water, then wash in hot water with soap on the 1 line, and two rinses after, one hot, the other whatever you want it to be. If you clean them right, you'll very rarely need to strip them. Rinse, wash, rinse, then 3 drops of dawn in the machine, wash, rinse til the bubbles stop coming back, 1 c vinegar in that cycle, then one last rinse.
And cloth is SOOOOOO easy. It really is.
If you have a heavy wetter at night, you'll need to invest in some hemp inserts, to keep baby dry at night, otherwise you're going to get pissed almost immediately. If you decide not to do cloth overnight for that reason, or you decide not to do cloth in general, sign up for amazon mom, and use the subscribe n save option. You get 30% off diapers and wipes. AND you can stack the amazon coupons you'll find in parents magazine on top of that. My last $40 box of diapers (7th generation, even) cost me $9.
Oh, AND , parents magazine is on sale from barnes and noble for $1 right now
http://www.thriftyandthriving.com/2011/03/barnes-noble-year-subscription-to-parents-magazine-only-1/
Little is 11 months, we go through about 5 or 6 diapers a day, and I use sposies at night because he is a HEAVY wetter.
So what will you need in all? What do you do for messy poopy diaper?
I you buy the ones from luv your baby, the only thing you'll need are the covers and 30 or so prefolds. You fold them and lay them in the diaper, and lay babe on top, then pull the dipe up and snap it or velcro (I got snaps, which I love). Check the YouTube link for video how to :) second one down looks good to me.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=prefolds+and+covers&aq=0
Is baby's poo solid? If it is, you just shake the turd into the toilet and flush, then put the insert into storage. If it's still runny, just put the cloth & cover (it will be rare that babe misses the cover if it's runny) into your storage place (separate hamper, bucket, I store mine in the washing machine unless I know I'll be doing laundry every day), and on day 4ish, throw them all into the wash and proceed. Don't dry the covers, hang em, they'll last longer.
And for wipes, you can either continue using store bought, or you can use your gerber baby washrags, wetted with warm water. If you use regular wipes, you've got to keep em separated, pitch the wipes, and throw the dipe in the laundry. With a baby washcloth, you can roll it up in the dipe and forget about it :)
Stain tip: if you have stains, wash them like you normally would, then hang them in the sun to dry one super sunny day. The sun will bleach the poo stains right out (that reminds me...)
Good Luck, and have fun with diapering!
theluvyourbaby.com has 10 covers for around $50, free shipping, stuff those with prefolds you can get from craigslist or a diaper swap page, and you're set. Depending on baby's age, you'll need between 6 and 12 inserts per day, which I got a ton of from CL for $21, I was set for 3 days worth of diapering, and that was when Little was 2 months old. You'll want to wash on or before day 5 to keep the funk from setting in. Rinse first, hot water, then wash in hot water with soap on the 1 line, and two rinses after, one hot, the other whatever you want it to be. If you clean them right, you'll very rarely need to strip them. Rinse, wash, rinse, then 3 drops of dawn in the machine, wash, rinse til the bubbles stop coming back, 1 c vinegar in that cycle, then one last rinse.
And cloth is SOOOOOO easy. It really is.
If you have a heavy wetter at night, you'll need to invest in some hemp inserts, to keep baby dry at night, otherwise you're going to get pissed almost immediately. If you decide not to do cloth overnight for that reason, or you decide not to do cloth in general, sign up for amazon mom, and use the subscribe n save option. You get 30% off diapers and wipes. AND you can stack the amazon coupons you'll find in parents magazine on top of that. My last $40 box of diapers (7th generation, even) cost me $9.
Oh, AND , parents magazine is on sale from barnes and noble for $1 right now
http://www.thriftyandthriving.com/2011/03/barnes-noble-year-subscription-to-parents-magazine-only-1/
Little is 11 months, we go through about 5 or 6 diapers a day, and I use sposies at night because he is a HEAVY wetter.
So what will you need in all? What do you do for messy poopy diaper?
I you buy the ones from luv your baby, the only thing you'll need are the covers and 30 or so prefolds. You fold them and lay them in the diaper, and lay babe on top, then pull the dipe up and snap it or velcro (I got snaps, which I love). Check the YouTube link for video how to :) second one down looks good to me.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=prefolds+and+covers&aq=0
Is baby's poo solid? If it is, you just shake the turd into the toilet and flush, then put the insert into storage. If it's still runny, just put the cloth & cover (it will be rare that babe misses the cover if it's runny) into your storage place (separate hamper, bucket, I store mine in the washing machine unless I know I'll be doing laundry every day), and on day 4ish, throw them all into the wash and proceed. Don't dry the covers, hang em, they'll last longer.
And for wipes, you can either continue using store bought, or you can use your gerber baby washrags, wetted with warm water. If you use regular wipes, you've got to keep em separated, pitch the wipes, and throw the dipe in the laundry. With a baby washcloth, you can roll it up in the dipe and forget about it :)
Stain tip: if you have stains, wash them like you normally would, then hang them in the sun to dry one super sunny day. The sun will bleach the poo stains right out (that reminds me...)
Good Luck, and have fun with diapering!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Let's Go Krogering
Now that Mr Daddy is back to work, I've had to change our schedule. Today was the first day I've went grocery shopping on a Sunday since before I had kids. Normally, weekends for me mean clean up and spending time relaxing in house... I hate crowds. I hate having to shop elbow to elbow with the masses of people who 9-5 it Monday through Friday. Monday is my normal grocery day. And Monday is also clearance day at the grocery. Today is Sunday. And today, I shop.
I decided to leave Bug at home today, so I could just get in, out, and on my way. What should take an hour 45 total, tops, usually works out to about and hour and 15 minutes in Meijer, and an hour in Kroger with a 3 year old. I'm not complaining, but today I really just wanted to get shopping done instead of looky-loo'ing at everything. The time it takes to unload and load children, plus the 20 minutes we spend perusing the toy aisle, and the 15 it takes to get through the checkout, well, let's just say grocery day is a long day for me. And yes, I shop two stores. Price checking makes our grocery bill lower.
I spent a little more than usual this week, since we were literally out of everything. There were a couple boxes of spaghetti, a can of tomatoes, and some green beans left in the pantry, and condiments and a bag of raisins in the fridge. We still had a banana in the fruit bowl, and last nights leftovers for lunch today, but other than that, we were empty.
Surprisingly, Sunday afternoon wasn't too bad for shopping. Both stores netted me front row parking, and I only "ran into" a couple people. That may be due to the fact that I no longer shop the aisles. With our new lifestyle change, the food I buy now is on the outer edge of the store-produce, meats, cheeses, milk products. Aside from the spaghetti aisle (I don't have a pasta maker, but I'm sure if I did, I would be HOOKED on homemade pasta) and the pretzel aisle (with a three year old, you MUST have pretzels on hand at all times), and the baking goods aisle (flour, sugar, salt, etc), I have no use for the other aisles. Occasionally, I am forced to go down the canned goods aisle, and stock up on non perishables, but once I get canning learned, I won't even need that aisle.
So this weeks groceries, with 8 days of dinners, lunch food for Hubs, the big pack of TP, and plenty of chocolate, cost us... $85 at Meijer and $55 at Kroger. Not bad, considering we had nothing left to eat but the cardboard boxes the food came in, and I hadn't shopped in about 10 days.
I decided to leave Bug at home today, so I could just get in, out, and on my way. What should take an hour 45 total, tops, usually works out to about and hour and 15 minutes in Meijer, and an hour in Kroger with a 3 year old. I'm not complaining, but today I really just wanted to get shopping done instead of looky-loo'ing at everything. The time it takes to unload and load children, plus the 20 minutes we spend perusing the toy aisle, and the 15 it takes to get through the checkout, well, let's just say grocery day is a long day for me. And yes, I shop two stores. Price checking makes our grocery bill lower.
I spent a little more than usual this week, since we were literally out of everything. There were a couple boxes of spaghetti, a can of tomatoes, and some green beans left in the pantry, and condiments and a bag of raisins in the fridge. We still had a banana in the fruit bowl, and last nights leftovers for lunch today, but other than that, we were empty.
Surprisingly, Sunday afternoon wasn't too bad for shopping. Both stores netted me front row parking, and I only "ran into" a couple people. That may be due to the fact that I no longer shop the aisles. With our new lifestyle change, the food I buy now is on the outer edge of the store-produce, meats, cheeses, milk products. Aside from the spaghetti aisle (I don't have a pasta maker, but I'm sure if I did, I would be HOOKED on homemade pasta) and the pretzel aisle (with a three year old, you MUST have pretzels on hand at all times), and the baking goods aisle (flour, sugar, salt, etc), I have no use for the other aisles. Occasionally, I am forced to go down the canned goods aisle, and stock up on non perishables, but once I get canning learned, I won't even need that aisle.
So this weeks groceries, with 8 days of dinners, lunch food for Hubs, the big pack of TP, and plenty of chocolate, cost us... $85 at Meijer and $55 at Kroger. Not bad, considering we had nothing left to eat but the cardboard boxes the food came in, and I hadn't shopped in about 10 days.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Master of his Domain
Well, it's official. Little runs the homestead now. He's boss, and don't let anyone try to tell you differently. The world revolves around him. Or, at least, our world revolves around him. Fluffy little cute thing that he is.
Yesterday, Bug called me from the kitchen, "Mom! Mom! Come look! Brother is on the stairs!" Now, this isn't the first time that alarm has been raised. The other times, I come rushing in to find Little... On step one, sitting on his duff, smiiiiiiling oh so pretty as you please, like, "hi mom." So I'm standing in the kitchen doing (?) and Bug starts calling me, and I stroll on into the living room to see what he's shouting about, and lo and behold, Little is halfway up the stairs, huffing and puffing, pulling and pushing his little chubby legs as hard as they can go. With each step, I hear him, "hah", or "uh". So what do I do? Well I grab the camera, of course. I have to let him do his thing, I want to see just what he can accomplish, how far he can go. He makes it all the way to the top, up over the top, turns around and just GRINS the biggest grin ever. He *knows* he's done something spectacular.
And now I *know* I've gotta keep a gate up from now on. Ha!
Yesterday, Bug called me from the kitchen, "Mom! Mom! Come look! Brother is on the stairs!" Now, this isn't the first time that alarm has been raised. The other times, I come rushing in to find Little... On step one, sitting on his duff, smiiiiiiling oh so pretty as you please, like, "hi mom." So I'm standing in the kitchen doing (?) and Bug starts calling me, and I stroll on into the living room to see what he's shouting about, and lo and behold, Little is halfway up the stairs, huffing and puffing, pulling and pushing his little chubby legs as hard as they can go. With each step, I hear him, "hah", or "uh". So what do I do? Well I grab the camera, of course. I have to let him do his thing, I want to see just what he can accomplish, how far he can go. He makes it all the way to the top, up over the top, turns around and just GRINS the biggest grin ever. He *knows* he's done something spectacular.
And now I *know* I've gotta keep a gate up from now on. Ha!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Dad goes to work
Well, it's official. Mr. Daddy is back to work. Making $300 less a week than what he was making, but these days, that's a lot better than what most people are offering, if anyone is offering at all. The next six weeks will be training in the stores around Indy, then once the main man figures out where Mr Daddy fits best and where he needs him, he'll have a permanent place to call work. I'm crossing my fingers that he gets the store that's 10 minutes from us. That's where he's worked this week, and it's been nice. He's been able to take lunch and come home to visit, spend a little time with the boys and eat lunch. Bug isn't handling his return to work too badly, but Thursday evening, he had a meltdown of massive proportions, then eventually told me, "I just miss my daddy, and that's why I'm so upset." I'm glad he can explain to me what's going on in that head of his. At the same time, it saddened me. He's gotten used to Mr Daddy being home for the last 6 months, playing with him daily, and just generally being able to go to him when needed. Now, he has to wait for lunchtime, or evening time to see him or talk to him, and it's understandably hard for him. Thursday was the day Mr Daddy had to work a later shift, and it was close to bedtime, and Bug was tired, it was just a lot to take in for a 3 year old. I explained to him that Daddy would be home soon, and that he had to work so we could pay our bills and afford the things in life that make us happy. (like food! Ha! I really didn't say that!)
We are still going to lose the house. We've already turned the truck in, and we're down to one vehicle. The house phone was turned off about 4 months ago to save money, and we've made cuts here and there to keep from having the electric or gas shut off. And the heat is on 67 at night most nights. Now that spring is arriving, we can turn the heat off during the day completely. We are still trying to figure out what we will do for housing once we move out of the house. For now we're just taking it day by day, that's all you really can do in a situation like ours.
Once we turn in our paperwork stating Mr Daddy has a job making X amount of dollars, we will, of course, lose our food stamps. Little will still be insured, since he's under 1, but Bugs insurance will cost a little money each month. We'll move over to package C for him, and once the case worker calculates the dollar income vs the allowed income, we will know how much we have to pay. It won't be a big dollar amount, when Mr Daddy was making a decent income, we still qualified for package C, and only paid $44 a month. Technically, the only reason we even sign up for insurance is *just in case* of a true emergency visit. The kids are never sick enough to merit a doctors visit. Extended breastfeeding and lots of vitamin D (via the sun) has really built up the boys immune systems. I can count on one hand the amount of illnesses Bug has had, and the same is holding true for Little.
"Back to work", for me, means learning to handle the kids alone again. It's not been easy. The last time I had the kids alone all day was when Little was 4 months old, so I'm learning all over again, how to get things done by myself. And I'm actually doing better than I thought I would. Naps are being taken care of, dinner is getting made every evening, and I've even done a load or three of laundry, which is awesome, because I don't do laundry. Well, ok, yeah, I do, occasionally, but not often, and not very well.
*sigh* We miss Dad.
We are still going to lose the house. We've already turned the truck in, and we're down to one vehicle. The house phone was turned off about 4 months ago to save money, and we've made cuts here and there to keep from having the electric or gas shut off. And the heat is on 67 at night most nights. Now that spring is arriving, we can turn the heat off during the day completely. We are still trying to figure out what we will do for housing once we move out of the house. For now we're just taking it day by day, that's all you really can do in a situation like ours.
Once we turn in our paperwork stating Mr Daddy has a job making X amount of dollars, we will, of course, lose our food stamps. Little will still be insured, since he's under 1, but Bugs insurance will cost a little money each month. We'll move over to package C for him, and once the case worker calculates the dollar income vs the allowed income, we will know how much we have to pay. It won't be a big dollar amount, when Mr Daddy was making a decent income, we still qualified for package C, and only paid $44 a month. Technically, the only reason we even sign up for insurance is *just in case* of a true emergency visit. The kids are never sick enough to merit a doctors visit. Extended breastfeeding and lots of vitamin D (via the sun) has really built up the boys immune systems. I can count on one hand the amount of illnesses Bug has had, and the same is holding true for Little.
"Back to work", for me, means learning to handle the kids alone again. It's not been easy. The last time I had the kids alone all day was when Little was 4 months old, so I'm learning all over again, how to get things done by myself. And I'm actually doing better than I thought I would. Naps are being taken care of, dinner is getting made every evening, and I've even done a load or three of laundry, which is awesome, because I don't do laundry. Well, ok, yeah, I do, occasionally, but not often, and not very well.
*sigh* We miss Dad.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Spring has Sprung!
Please excuse my absence. The whole family's been sick for the last 3 weeks, and I am the last one to get catch it. Thankfully my immune system was strong enough to kick it within a few days, and as of today, while I wasn't feeling great, I didn't feel awful, either. Which was nice, because today, the temp reached 70
Spring is officially here! The groundhog was right? I don't get what the groundhog signifies, to be honest. Every year, we pull a groundhog out of a hole and scare the bejesus out of him. He either sees his shadow and runs away to hide, or he doesn't see his shadow, and what? Hangs out with the mayor and tells us spring is just around the corner? How does that work, exactly? *shrugs* Either way, the ground hog didn't see his shadow this year, and here it is, mid March, and 70 degrees. Love it!
So today, 70 degrees. Woo! We have been cooped up in this house for faaaaar too long. I strapped the kids in the stroller and took them for a long walk. We walked to Aldi's, and strolled the aisles. I didn't actually expect to find anything suitable to eat, but on the last aisle, the ice cream aisle, there were these lime pops with no artificial ingredients. No, they weren't organic, but yay! I was able to treat Bug for being so patient on our walk with something that wasn't bad for him. The ingredients in most foods at Aldi's reads like a science experiment, but the lime pops were less than 5 ingredients. And they were delicious, and messy, and Bug was a sticky mess by the time we got back to the house, and Little was fast asleep. He of the screaming car seat, he of the crying stroller walk, he fell asleep without a peep.
After the much needed nap, I took the boys back outside to play. Little got to experience grass again. He hasn't seen that since fall of last year, and he was really unsure of the prickliness on his feet. Actually, it made him cry, he of the crying earth touch. But we soon fixed him up and got him comfortable, and both boys got to enjoy the rest of the afternoon outside. No more cabin fever! Hope this weather sticks, because we love it!
Spring is officially here! The groundhog was right? I don't get what the groundhog signifies, to be honest. Every year, we pull a groundhog out of a hole and scare the bejesus out of him. He either sees his shadow and runs away to hide, or he doesn't see his shadow, and what? Hangs out with the mayor and tells us spring is just around the corner? How does that work, exactly? *shrugs* Either way, the ground hog didn't see his shadow this year, and here it is, mid March, and 70 degrees. Love it!
So today, 70 degrees. Woo! We have been cooped up in this house for faaaaar too long. I strapped the kids in the stroller and took them for a long walk. We walked to Aldi's, and strolled the aisles. I didn't actually expect to find anything suitable to eat, but on the last aisle, the ice cream aisle, there were these lime pops with no artificial ingredients. No, they weren't organic, but yay! I was able to treat Bug for being so patient on our walk with something that wasn't bad for him. The ingredients in most foods at Aldi's reads like a science experiment, but the lime pops were less than 5 ingredients. And they were delicious, and messy, and Bug was a sticky mess by the time we got back to the house, and Little was fast asleep. He of the screaming car seat, he of the crying stroller walk, he fell asleep without a peep.
After the much needed nap, I took the boys back outside to play. Little got to experience grass again. He hasn't seen that since fall of last year, and he was really unsure of the prickliness on his feet. Actually, it made him cry, he of the crying earth touch. But we soon fixed him up and got him comfortable, and both boys got to enjoy the rest of the afternoon outside. No more cabin fever! Hope this weather sticks, because we love it!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Meatless Monday redeems itself
So, this past week, we tried to do meatless tacos. We took 5 zucchini, two summer squash, half an onion, a can of corn, and about 1/4 of a green pepper, diced, and fried it all up with some taco seasoning. Stuff it all into a taco shell with rice (omit the rice, it didn't get cooked through *facepalm*) and beans, guacamole, and sour cream. Yum, right? They were not a hit. In fact, they were so not a hit, that Bug refused to eat one. This is the kid who will eat anything I put in front of him, and even he didn't like them. I ate a couple, because I was hungry, but I will not be trying this food disaster again.
We had leftovers, as we always do, and even though I was tempted to pitch them, I decided to see if I could maybe use them later in the week, maybe in a spaghetti sauce or something. Tonight I found my something. And it was so delicious, I have to write about it. And this may actually become a regular insert into our rotating menu. Yep, it's that good. What's extra nice is, I got to use up a couple other leftovers that were in my fridge and freezer, such as the last of my Christmas turkey, and real taco meat that we ended up making last night. There were enough leftovers to be able to have this again tomorrow, or get some dogs and do chili cheese dogs.
Chunky Chili
1 T oil
1 1/2 c turkey (+ 1/2 c leftover taco meat)
1/2 onion
1 clove garlic
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 c zucchini-squash mixture
2 T Seasoning mix (recipe follows)
1 beer
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 can kidney beans
In a deep skillet, heat oil. Add turkey, and heat through, then add the onion, garlic, mushroom, zucchini-squash mixture, seasoning mix, and beer. Bring to a boil, the reduce heat to medium, and cook until the mushrooms are softened (20 minutes or so) While that is cooking, in a crockpot, combine the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beans. When the meat mixture is done, pour it into the crockpot. Cook on high 3 hours, or low for 6. Enjoy!
Chili seasoning mix
4 teaspoons chili powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Mix all together and store in an airtight container. Use 2 Tbsp for 1 lb ground beef.
We had leftovers, as we always do, and even though I was tempted to pitch them, I decided to see if I could maybe use them later in the week, maybe in a spaghetti sauce or something. Tonight I found my something. And it was so delicious, I have to write about it. And this may actually become a regular insert into our rotating menu. Yep, it's that good. What's extra nice is, I got to use up a couple other leftovers that were in my fridge and freezer, such as the last of my Christmas turkey, and real taco meat that we ended up making last night. There were enough leftovers to be able to have this again tomorrow, or get some dogs and do chili cheese dogs.
Chunky Chili
1 T oil
1 1/2 c turkey (+ 1/2 c leftover taco meat)
1/2 onion
1 clove garlic
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 c zucchini-squash mixture
2 T Seasoning mix (recipe follows)
1 beer
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 can kidney beans
In a deep skillet, heat oil. Add turkey, and heat through, then add the onion, garlic, mushroom, zucchini-squash mixture, seasoning mix, and beer. Bring to a boil, the reduce heat to medium, and cook until the mushrooms are softened (20 minutes or so) While that is cooking, in a crockpot, combine the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beans. When the meat mixture is done, pour it into the crockpot. Cook on high 3 hours, or low for 6. Enjoy!
Chili seasoning mix
4 teaspoons chili powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Mix all together and store in an airtight container. Use 2 Tbsp for 1 lb ground beef.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Happy Birthday my little Bug!
Thursday evening, I put a two year old to bed, and I awoke Friday morning with a three year old. Wow. Three years. I cannot believe how time has just flown past me. I feel like I could blink and miss all that I am living day by day. Three years old. My little bug is three years old.
I remember his birth like it happened yesterday. I won't lie, the whole ordeal was awful. Not because birth hurts, but because I was inexperienced, thought I had to follow doctors orders, that they wouldn't "let" me go past 41 weeks. I've grown and learned so much since then, and I would never take back his birth experience, for his birth led me to learn more about the body, and all that it can do.
My dear Little Bug. Happy birthday, love.
Little Bugs Birth story:
I know they say the memories of labor pain will fade with time, but, WOW that hurt.
January 13th, 8 pm
I'm admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay. I'm 6 days overdue, and it's time to get this party started. They hook me up to all kinds of monitors, and I receive a dose of Cervidil (Cervix ripening agent on a string).Then, I'm given a mild sedative to help me sleep (I can never seem to get to sleep in hospitals) I finally fall asleep at midnight.
January 14th, 4 am
I'm woken so I can grab a shower before getting hooked up to the IV for the Pitocin. They put the IV in my hand (which HURTS, I've never gotten one of those before, that needle is HUGE!), and they start my Pitocin at 5 mL an hour, but they come in every 15 minutes and up the dose until I'm at the highest they can go. I start having contractions, but they're mild to medium, and they're irregular. Finally, at 12:30, my doctor decides things aren't moving fast enough, time to pop the sac. Being hormonally emotional, not only did that hurt, it also made me want to cry. So I did.
Shortly afterwards, my contractions started coming every 2-3 minutes, and they were getting fierce. I was given a dose of Nubane, which lasted a bit over an hour, and helped me get a nap in (I was so tired). The pain woke me back up, and I requested more Nubane, but guess what? The second dose was not effective! Apparently, when you are on Nubane, and you go for seconds, it doesn't work.
Time for an epidural!
I was really feeling the contractions now, so I requested an epidural, and they called in the anesthesiologist. I was instructed to sit up on the edge of the bed and lean forward, and when I did, oops, there went my water! I had been lightly leaking amniotic fluid previously, but I guess gravity decided it was time to empty me out.
That made me cry.
After what seemed like an eternity, the epidural kicked in, and the pain was gone.
Then, my blood pressure dropped dangerously low. I mumbled that I felt dizzy, then blacked out. Shortly after, the baby's heart rate dipped to 50 (previously steady at 130-150). I remember asking what was wrong with the baby, but I don't remember much else. I vaguely heard the nurse yell out the door for ephedrine. The nurse said she thought he was laying on his cord.. Uh, babies lay on their cords in utero all the time.. Turns out that‘s probably not it… One of the lovely side effects they don‘t tell you about the epidural is that you can have severe hypo-tension, bad enough, sometimes, that it can kill you…
After that, I dozed off and on for a while.
The doctor had told me that we wouldn't even start laboring until after midnight because I was moving so slow, but at 8 p.m., they checked me, and what do you know, I'm 8 cm dilated!
Suddenly, I realize I can feel the foot of my left leg.
And I'm getting a little back pain in the left side...
Nurse?
This is where the second shift nurses drop the ball.
Half an hour of pain later, they FINALLY check my epidural, and what do you know? IT'S EMPTY. So what do they do? Refill it. Oh, thank you. Now the pain goes away, right?
WRONG!
They may have refilled it, once they let it empty out completely, but they didn't press the button to RESTART the flow.
Where the F*$# do they train these people?
It's time!
I go into full force labor, and I feel EVERYTHING.
It's time to push, and I feel EVERYTHING.
If that old nurse doesn't stop telling me how not to labor, I'm going to kick her in the face...
Since I had such a long day, I ended up getting an episiotomy (which I didn't want... until I DID), and they had to help me with the baby at the end because I couldn't push him anymore, so they vacuumed his head. My little boy came out with a loud scream, just one. With the next push, his body slid out. They placed him on my stomach, and as I looked into his eyes, I forgot about all the pain, the pushing, the annoying old nurse at the foot of the bed who almost got kicked in the face, I forgot about everything but the here and now.
Look at this beautiful baby, I think, Can that possibly be mine?
Mr. Daddy clips his cord, and they take him to weigh him, then settle him back into my arms…
January 14, 2008, 10:10 p.m.
7lb 7.7 oz (they rounded it to 7lb 8oz), 20.5 in long
I remember his birth like it happened yesterday. I won't lie, the whole ordeal was awful. Not because birth hurts, but because I was inexperienced, thought I had to follow doctors orders, that they wouldn't "let" me go past 41 weeks. I've grown and learned so much since then, and I would never take back his birth experience, for his birth led me to learn more about the body, and all that it can do.
My dear Little Bug. Happy birthday, love.
Little Bugs Birth story:
I know they say the memories of labor pain will fade with time, but, WOW that hurt.
January 13th, 8 pm
I'm admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay. I'm 6 days overdue, and it's time to get this party started. They hook me up to all kinds of monitors, and I receive a dose of Cervidil (Cervix ripening agent on a string).Then, I'm given a mild sedative to help me sleep (I can never seem to get to sleep in hospitals) I finally fall asleep at midnight.
January 14th, 4 am
I'm woken so I can grab a shower before getting hooked up to the IV for the Pitocin. They put the IV in my hand (which HURTS, I've never gotten one of those before, that needle is HUGE!), and they start my Pitocin at 5 mL an hour, but they come in every 15 minutes and up the dose until I'm at the highest they can go. I start having contractions, but they're mild to medium, and they're irregular. Finally, at 12:30, my doctor decides things aren't moving fast enough, time to pop the sac. Being hormonally emotional, not only did that hurt, it also made me want to cry. So I did.
Shortly afterwards, my contractions started coming every 2-3 minutes, and they were getting fierce. I was given a dose of Nubane, which lasted a bit over an hour, and helped me get a nap in (I was so tired). The pain woke me back up, and I requested more Nubane, but guess what? The second dose was not effective! Apparently, when you are on Nubane, and you go for seconds, it doesn't work.
Time for an epidural!
I was really feeling the contractions now, so I requested an epidural, and they called in the anesthesiologist. I was instructed to sit up on the edge of the bed and lean forward, and when I did, oops, there went my water! I had been lightly leaking amniotic fluid previously, but I guess gravity decided it was time to empty me out.
That made me cry.
After what seemed like an eternity, the epidural kicked in, and the pain was gone.
Then, my blood pressure dropped dangerously low. I mumbled that I felt dizzy, then blacked out. Shortly after, the baby's heart rate dipped to 50 (previously steady at 130-150). I remember asking what was wrong with the baby, but I don't remember much else. I vaguely heard the nurse yell out the door for ephedrine. The nurse said she thought he was laying on his cord.. Uh, babies lay on their cords in utero all the time.. Turns out that‘s probably not it… One of the lovely side effects they don‘t tell you about the epidural is that you can have severe hypo-tension, bad enough, sometimes, that it can kill you…
After that, I dozed off and on for a while.
The doctor had told me that we wouldn't even start laboring until after midnight because I was moving so slow, but at 8 p.m., they checked me, and what do you know, I'm 8 cm dilated!
Suddenly, I realize I can feel the foot of my left leg.
And I'm getting a little back pain in the left side...
Nurse?
This is where the second shift nurses drop the ball.
Half an hour of pain later, they FINALLY check my epidural, and what do you know? IT'S EMPTY. So what do they do? Refill it. Oh, thank you. Now the pain goes away, right?
WRONG!
They may have refilled it, once they let it empty out completely, but they didn't press the button to RESTART the flow.
Where the F*$# do they train these people?
It's time!
I go into full force labor, and I feel EVERYTHING.
It's time to push, and I feel EVERYTHING.
If that old nurse doesn't stop telling me how not to labor, I'm going to kick her in the face...
Since I had such a long day, I ended up getting an episiotomy (which I didn't want... until I DID), and they had to help me with the baby at the end because I couldn't push him anymore, so they vacuumed his head. My little boy came out with a loud scream, just one. With the next push, his body slid out. They placed him on my stomach, and as I looked into his eyes, I forgot about all the pain, the pushing, the annoying old nurse at the foot of the bed who almost got kicked in the face, I forgot about everything but the here and now.
Look at this beautiful baby, I think, Can that possibly be mine?
Mr. Daddy clips his cord, and they take him to weigh him, then settle him back into my arms…
January 14, 2008, 10:10 p.m.
7lb 7.7 oz (they rounded it to 7lb 8oz), 20.5 in long
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Let's see how many resolutions I can break
It's that time of year again, ladies and gentlemen. That's right, the time of year when we all resolve to lose a little weight, quit smoking, be nicer to our neighbors, and the like. FranklinCovey, an organization that teaches effectiveness training, productivity tools and assessment services did a study in 2008 about how long most New Year's resolutions last. The group surveyed 15,000 customers, and found that 35 percent break their resolutions by the end of January. The study says that 23 percent actually follow through on the resolutions. Of the ones who break the resolutions, 40 percent said it was because they had too much to do, and 33 percent said they simply weren't committed to changing their ways.
I didn't get into this with the last blog post because, well, I already got one checked off the list. Oh, and I wanted to be a little more specific with what I want from the following year. Without further ado, I present to you:
MY RESOLUTION LIST 2011
Lets see how may of these I canbreak keep
1:Potty train Get Bug to POOP in the potty (DONE!)
2:Lose weight Starting February 28th, walk one mile every morning. By May 30th, jog half of that.
3:Don't be such a bitch Call my parents and ask them to forgive me for being harshly judgemental. No one is perfect, least of all me, so why do I continually expect them to be?
4:Party more Starting mid-May, have a girls night in or out, a book club, or a dinner club with my closest girlfriends.
5:Make some close girlfriends Let down my guard so that I can be closer with the girlfriends I have.
6:Save money Learn how to can.
7:Cook more Make my own signature pasta sauce and sun dried tomatoes.
8:Make money off Get personal satisfaction from selling said pasta sauce and tomatoes.
9:Write more Try to keep at least a weekly blog going.
10:Defriend a LOT of people Delete all the people off my FB friends list who I, A) didn't like in high school, yet have in the list, B) aren't family, C) ARE family, but like to cause me drama or talk behind my back, and D) don't EVER talk to me or I NEVER talk to, or I have no desire to ever talk to again.
A LOT of you will not make the cut. If you are actually reading this, you're more than likely safe.
There you have it folks. My New Years Resolutions for 2011.
Do you do resolutions? How many of them do you keep?
I didn't get into this with the last blog post because, well, I already got one checked off the list. Oh, and I wanted to be a little more specific with what I want from the following year. Without further ado, I present to you:
MY RESOLUTION LIST 2011
Lets see how may of these I can
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:
7:
8:
9:
10:
A LOT of you will not make the cut. If you are actually reading this, you're more than likely safe.
There you have it folks. My New Years Resolutions for 2011.
Do you do resolutions? How many of them do you keep?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Who would have thought I'd get so excited about poop? A new move? Oh and happy new year!
Happy New Year! Raise your hand if you were laid out on the couch New Years Day?
*raises hand*
Yep. 6 drinks. Apparently that is more than my limit. I celebrated the new year with good friends and Mr. Daddy, Bug slept right through it, and Little was in the wrap, being worn while momma threw back the girlie drinks. Played a little Wii Just Dance, and I gotta say-love it. I want that game. Oh, and the girlie drinks kicked my ass. It was 4 days later before I could even think about drinking again. And so, I started my new year by throwing up in the sink at 8 that morning, and recovering on the couch. Not exactly the way I pictured day 1.
Day 3, Mr. Daddy comes downstairs all determined looking, pen and paper in hand, "what can we sell?" We have been in limbo since he lost his job. We haven't been able to pay the house payment since September, and unlike a lot of people who just ignore the phone calls and let the bills pile up, Mr. Daddy has been in constant contact with the house company, and that may very well turn around and bite us in the butt. Apparently when you fly low on the radar, and just skip payments, foreclosure usually happen somewhere in 3 years. Since Mr. Daddy has been keeping in contact with them, we're no longer flying under radar. So, as of Monday, he decided that if we have to move, we gotta get rid of half of what we own. We own a lot of crap. The day was spent sorting, posting, and throwing away. Crazy.
Day 4, Mr. Daddy got a call about a job here. All this time, nothing. The day after we decide we're moving, he gets a call. *siiiiiiigh*
And Day 5: Poop! I seriously never thought I'd ever get excited about poop. Who does that?
Bug has been potty trained since July, but has refused to poop in the potty this whole time. Tonight, *drumroll* he pooped in the potty!!! Woo! Our conversation went something like this:
"Mommy, I gotta poop."
"Bug, I've got something new that we're going to try. I'll get you a diaper afterwards if you want, but first, we're going to sit on the potty for 10 minutes. I'll read you some books, and we'll talk, and you'll sit on the potty while we do it."
"I don't want to poop on the potty, I don't like it."
"Then don't, I'm not asking you to poop on the potty, I just want you to sit on it for me."
"Why?" Ah, the ultimate question.
"Because mommy wants to show you that the potty isn't scary. I don't want you to be afraid of the potty anymore, so we are going to just sit on it and read and talk. You don't have to poop, I just want you to sit, can we try that?"
"OK, mommy."
And that was that. I didn't even get to crack open a book, he had to pee, so I had to show him how to sit without spraying everything in front of him, and he decided to go ahead and give it a try, I guess. And with that, we are done with diapers! Of course right now, he still has a diaper at night, but no more packing an extra diaper for him, waiting in public restrooms for him to finish hanging out in a stall by himself. No more diapers! *happy dance*
When we came downstairs, we had to call his friend, C, and of course, Meemaw. Everyone is so proud of Bug. And tomorrow, we'll just stay the course.
And we'll also buy him that Kung-zhu pet I've been trying to bribe him with for the last 6 months. LOL
*raises hand*
Yep. 6 drinks. Apparently that is more than my limit. I celebrated the new year with good friends and Mr. Daddy, Bug slept right through it, and Little was in the wrap, being worn while momma threw back the girlie drinks. Played a little Wii Just Dance, and I gotta say-love it. I want that game. Oh, and the girlie drinks kicked my ass. It was 4 days later before I could even think about drinking again. And so, I started my new year by throwing up in the sink at 8 that morning, and recovering on the couch. Not exactly the way I pictured day 1.
Day 3, Mr. Daddy comes downstairs all determined looking, pen and paper in hand, "what can we sell?" We have been in limbo since he lost his job. We haven't been able to pay the house payment since September, and unlike a lot of people who just ignore the phone calls and let the bills pile up, Mr. Daddy has been in constant contact with the house company, and that may very well turn around and bite us in the butt. Apparently when you fly low on the radar, and just skip payments, foreclosure usually happen somewhere in 3 years. Since Mr. Daddy has been keeping in contact with them, we're no longer flying under radar. So, as of Monday, he decided that if we have to move, we gotta get rid of half of what we own. We own a lot of crap. The day was spent sorting, posting, and throwing away. Crazy.
Day 4, Mr. Daddy got a call about a job here. All this time, nothing. The day after we decide we're moving, he gets a call. *siiiiiiigh*
And Day 5: Poop! I seriously never thought I'd ever get excited about poop. Who does that?
Bug has been potty trained since July, but has refused to poop in the potty this whole time. Tonight, *drumroll* he pooped in the potty!!! Woo! Our conversation went something like this:
"Mommy, I gotta poop."
"Bug, I've got something new that we're going to try. I'll get you a diaper afterwards if you want, but first, we're going to sit on the potty for 10 minutes. I'll read you some books, and we'll talk, and you'll sit on the potty while we do it."
"I don't want to poop on the potty, I don't like it."
"Then don't, I'm not asking you to poop on the potty, I just want you to sit on it for me."
"Why?" Ah, the ultimate question.
"Because mommy wants to show you that the potty isn't scary. I don't want you to be afraid of the potty anymore, so we are going to just sit on it and read and talk. You don't have to poop, I just want you to sit, can we try that?"
"OK, mommy."
And that was that. I didn't even get to crack open a book, he had to pee, so I had to show him how to sit without spraying everything in front of him, and he decided to go ahead and give it a try, I guess. And with that, we are done with diapers! Of course right now, he still has a diaper at night, but no more packing an extra diaper for him, waiting in public restrooms for him to finish hanging out in a stall by himself. No more diapers! *happy dance*
When we came downstairs, we had to call his friend, C, and of course, Meemaw. Everyone is so proud of Bug. And tomorrow, we'll just stay the course.
And we'll also buy him that Kung-zhu pet I've been trying to bribe him with for the last 6 months. LOL
Friday, December 31, 2010
Goodbye 2010, helloooooooo 2011!
Holy crap, has it really been two and a half years since I've blogged? Shew!
Well, welcome back to the insanity that is me. Today is December 31, 2010 and I am getting back into the swing of things, with a brand spanking new blog entry. Let's go ahead and start this one off with a recap of my year (should I go back two and a half years? Nah, I think not).
This year has been fun and interesting, with a few big changes. Seriously I have had a blast. My little Bug grew up into a big guy. His 3rd birthday is JUST around the corner, and we now have a new little guy! Yay! I have yet to give him a nickname that sticks, so for now I call him Little Brother, sometimes, just Little, and sometimes, just Brother. Little Brother was born in May, in my car. Whoops! This week, I might post both boys birth stories just for fun, and for something to have to post, plus I'd like to have all my ramblings in one happy place, yes?
Change number 2: we have switched to all organic foods, and no modern medicines unless medically necessary. Before everyone starts talking about how weird we are, just listen... Mr. Daddy was in an accident 5(?) years ago, and got a pretty nasty back injury. He was put on all kinds of medications for pain, and had been on them right up to this year. After reading a book about healthy living and what really goes on in the food industry behind closed doors, he decided to try a cleanse and make a few changes in our diet. Give it a shot, hey why not, it's worth a try, the pain pills weren't working for him anymore, and he was getting up every day with extreme back pain, and waking up at least twice a month with migraines from the tightness in his back. So we switched, and he did the cleanses. Results: he lost somewhere around 30 pounds, and hasn't taken a pain pill since. Modern medicines are made with synthetic chemicals that are toxic to the body, and when a body is healing and you're pumping chemicals in it at the same time, your body hides the excess chemicals in the scar tissue of the injury. When you cleanse all that out, the "hot spots" of grouped up chemicals goes away, as does the pain. I wouldn't have believed it, if it weren't a "see to believe" kind of thing. Mr. Daddy hasn't had a single migraine this year. No pain pills. No pain! Healthy living, it's the way to go. Everyone thinks we are strange. *shrug* Fuck em.
Another big change that came this year: Mr. Daddy lost his job. September saw the closing of his place of employment (boooo!). Not only that, Indiana is a black hole of underpaying jobs, so for now, we are riding on unemployment and food stamps. Which sucks, because this lady doesn't work, either. I am underqualified to do anything that makes real money, and if I were to take a job making small bank, we lose our foodstamps, and we'd still not be able to pay our bills. The system that is supposed to help is is actually kicking us down a little further. *shrugs* Oh well, what can you do? Grin and bear it, and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
So, goodbye 2010, welcome 2011! Hopefully this coming year is just as happy (or more) as the year I'm leaving behind!
Oh and welcome, again, to my insanity. Maybe this time I'll stick around a little while, and write a little bit. Sounds like a good idea to me!
Well, welcome back to the insanity that is me. Today is December 31, 2010 and I am getting back into the swing of things, with a brand spanking new blog entry. Let's go ahead and start this one off with a recap of my year (should I go back two and a half years? Nah, I think not).
This year has been fun and interesting, with a few big changes. Seriously I have had a blast. My little Bug grew up into a big guy. His 3rd birthday is JUST around the corner, and we now have a new little guy! Yay! I have yet to give him a nickname that sticks, so for now I call him Little Brother, sometimes, just Little, and sometimes, just Brother. Little Brother was born in May, in my car. Whoops! This week, I might post both boys birth stories just for fun, and for something to have to post, plus I'd like to have all my ramblings in one happy place, yes?
Change number 2: we have switched to all organic foods, and no modern medicines unless medically necessary. Before everyone starts talking about how weird we are, just listen... Mr. Daddy was in an accident 5(?) years ago, and got a pretty nasty back injury. He was put on all kinds of medications for pain, and had been on them right up to this year. After reading a book about healthy living and what really goes on in the food industry behind closed doors, he decided to try a cleanse and make a few changes in our diet. Give it a shot, hey why not, it's worth a try, the pain pills weren't working for him anymore, and he was getting up every day with extreme back pain, and waking up at least twice a month with migraines from the tightness in his back. So we switched, and he did the cleanses. Results: he lost somewhere around 30 pounds, and hasn't taken a pain pill since. Modern medicines are made with synthetic chemicals that are toxic to the body, and when a body is healing and you're pumping chemicals in it at the same time, your body hides the excess chemicals in the scar tissue of the injury. When you cleanse all that out, the "hot spots" of grouped up chemicals goes away, as does the pain. I wouldn't have believed it, if it weren't a "see to believe" kind of thing. Mr. Daddy hasn't had a single migraine this year. No pain pills. No pain! Healthy living, it's the way to go. Everyone thinks we are strange. *shrug* Fuck em.
Another big change that came this year: Mr. Daddy lost his job. September saw the closing of his place of employment (boooo!). Not only that, Indiana is a black hole of underpaying jobs, so for now, we are riding on unemployment and food stamps. Which sucks, because this lady doesn't work, either. I am underqualified to do anything that makes real money, and if I were to take a job making small bank, we lose our foodstamps, and we'd still not be able to pay our bills. The system that is supposed to help is is actually kicking us down a little further. *shrugs* Oh well, what can you do? Grin and bear it, and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
So, goodbye 2010, welcome 2011! Hopefully this coming year is just as happy (or more) as the year I'm leaving behind!
Oh and welcome, again, to my insanity. Maybe this time I'll stick around a little while, and write a little bit. Sounds like a good idea to me!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
What's for dinner?
Do you ever not know what to cook? Get the question, What's for dinner? and just freeze, no response readily handy? I have that problem all the time.
See, I am bored with food. I don't have a favorite anymore. I don't even enjoy dinner anymore because I never know what I'm going to cook. Plus, now that I am actually trying to lose weight, all my old favorites are, well, bad for me. Not saying that I'd deny myself, it's just that I have to watch how much I eat. See?
For weeks now, Mr. Daddy has texted me -- I'm a text freak, Id much rather text than talk -- the all consuming, all important question... What sounds good for dinner? And I will stop, phone in hand, and repeat that exact question, "What is for dinner?" Then, frantically, my mind races to try to answer him.
Suddenly, I am on the hunt, tracking down ingredients, scrambling to find recipes that match those ingredient, and trying my damnedest to answer that daunting question, "Honey, what's for dinner?"
Doesn't it just make you want to scream?
So one afternoon, I'm sitting at the computer, thinking about what to do for dinner, and I'm searching every recipe site I can find, to no avail, when it hits me. Why didn't I think of this before? I Googled this phrase, weekly menu plan, and there at the top of the screen is my glorious answer. Shining out in blue bold letters is my salvation.
Menus4moms.com now sends me a weekly email directly to the menus4moms folder with a 5 day plan of just what we're going to have for dinner, plus recipes and a grocery list. Since that day, our grocery bill is down 25%.
The best part? I never have to face the challenge of "What's for dinner?"
See, I am bored with food. I don't have a favorite anymore. I don't even enjoy dinner anymore because I never know what I'm going to cook. Plus, now that I am actually trying to lose weight, all my old favorites are, well, bad for me. Not saying that I'd deny myself, it's just that I have to watch how much I eat. See?
For weeks now, Mr. Daddy has texted me -- I'm a text freak, Id much rather text than talk -- the all consuming, all important question... What sounds good for dinner? And I will stop, phone in hand, and repeat that exact question, "What is for dinner?" Then, frantically, my mind races to try to answer him.
Suddenly, I am on the hunt, tracking down ingredients, scrambling to find recipes that match those ingredient, and trying my damnedest to answer that daunting question, "Honey, what's for dinner?"
Doesn't it just make you want to scream?
So one afternoon, I'm sitting at the computer, thinking about what to do for dinner, and I'm searching every recipe site I can find, to no avail, when it hits me. Why didn't I think of this before? I Googled this phrase, weekly menu plan, and there at the top of the screen is my glorious answer. Shining out in blue bold letters is my salvation.
Menus4moms.com now sends me a weekly email directly to the menus4moms folder with a 5 day plan of just what we're going to have for dinner, plus recipes and a grocery list. Since that day, our grocery bill is down 25%.
The best part? I never have to face the challenge of "What's for dinner?"
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Who's got the skinny on why I can't lose weight?
I'll admit it, I'm self destructive. I was doing just fine dieting, exercising, losing weight. I lost about 10 lbs and was feeling mighty fine. Shortly thereafter, I discovered my love for Amish Friendship Bread.
A few weeks ago, Mr. Daddy brought home a large ziploc bag filled with creamy white stuff. "It's Amish Bread!" He announces, and I, never having made this Amish Bread, accept the responsibility of squishing the bag. I was excited, I'll admit.
For those of you who don't know the Amish Bread routine, it goes a little something like this:
Day 1 - Do nothing
Day 2 - Squish the bag
Day 3 - Squish the bag
Day 4 - Squish the bag
Day 5 - Add flour, milk, and sugar, then, you guessed it, squish the bag
Day 6 - Squish the bag
Day 7 - Squish the bag
Day 8 - Squish the bag
Day 9 - Squish the bag
Day 10 - Add more flour, milk, and sugar, divide the mixture into 4 new bags, and hand 3 of them out with a copy of the directions. What's left in the batter bowl is the beginning process for your Amish bread, to which you add, flour, sugar, milk, pudding mix, and other bread making items. Then you cook it for an hour, and ta-da! You have Amish Bread.
This will make either 5 mini loaves, or 2 of the 4x9 loaves. I chose the 5 minis so that half a loaf a day would get eaten, and I'd have bread everyday until the next batch. Well, here's where that idea gets hinky, and I've done this every time. After the breads cool, I wrap them in aluminum foil to preserve the freshness. Of course, I have to try my creation. I leave one loaf out and cut a slice off. Then, I cut another, and another, and another. By the end of the day, the loaf is gone.
No self-control, I tell you. None, whatsoever.
I walk almost everyday, and I have this little exercise routine I do in the evenings, but it doesn't matter much if I can't control my eating! I'm not gaining weight, but dammit, I'm not losing any weight either!
Told you I was self destructive.
Ah, so there really was a point to this story.
Starting today, June 24th, I am watching my diet. No more grub fests. No more eating because I am bored. No more snacking instead of lunch or breakfast. Today is the day I get healthy.
Cross your fingers and wish me luck!
This is gonna suck.
A few weeks ago, Mr. Daddy brought home a large ziploc bag filled with creamy white stuff. "It's Amish Bread!" He announces, and I, never having made this Amish Bread, accept the responsibility of squishing the bag. I was excited, I'll admit.
For those of you who don't know the Amish Bread routine, it goes a little something like this:
Day 1 - Do nothing
Day 2 - Squish the bag
Day 3 - Squish the bag
Day 4 - Squish the bag
Day 5 - Add flour, milk, and sugar, then, you guessed it, squish the bag
Day 6 - Squish the bag
Day 7 - Squish the bag
Day 8 - Squish the bag
Day 9 - Squish the bag
Day 10 - Add more flour, milk, and sugar, divide the mixture into 4 new bags, and hand 3 of them out with a copy of the directions. What's left in the batter bowl is the beginning process for your Amish bread, to which you add, flour, sugar, milk, pudding mix, and other bread making items. Then you cook it for an hour, and ta-da! You have Amish Bread.
This will make either 5 mini loaves, or 2 of the 4x9 loaves. I chose the 5 minis so that half a loaf a day would get eaten, and I'd have bread everyday until the next batch. Well, here's where that idea gets hinky, and I've done this every time. After the breads cool, I wrap them in aluminum foil to preserve the freshness. Of course, I have to try my creation. I leave one loaf out and cut a slice off. Then, I cut another, and another, and another. By the end of the day, the loaf is gone.
No self-control, I tell you. None, whatsoever.
I walk almost everyday, and I have this little exercise routine I do in the evenings, but it doesn't matter much if I can't control my eating! I'm not gaining weight, but dammit, I'm not losing any weight either!
Told you I was self destructive.
Ah, so there really was a point to this story.
Starting today, June 24th, I am watching my diet. No more grub fests. No more eating because I am bored. No more snacking instead of lunch or breakfast. Today is the day I get healthy.
Cross your fingers and wish me luck!
This is gonna suck.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Power? Failure...
I know this is an awful revelation about myself, but...
I am endlessly entertained by other peoples failures...
And other people's stupidity...
It's hilarious to see someone else screw up instead...
Type "fail" in the google search bar, and see what you get?
Hours of endless entertainment...
I am endlessly entertained by other peoples failures...
And other people's stupidity...
It's hilarious to see someone else screw up instead...
Type "fail" in the google search bar, and see what you get?
Hours of endless entertainment...
Monday, June 9, 2008
Water you doing this weekend?
That's right, I said water. As in gallons upon gallons, swirling around us, destroying homes and belongings. This is massive flooding like we've not seen in years. This is worse than the '05 flood, and almost as bad as the 1913 flood. Records show that we were only .08 inches away from hitting that record mark. Thankfully, only two deaths were confirmed because of the flooding.
In our area, there was at least 2 feet of water rushing across our road. The retention ponds were filling fast, with no place to go. Across the road is a field, in which those ponds chose to empty. Every weather station around was warning not to drive through rushing water, yet, those who had large trucks chose to drive through, anyway.
And some who didn't have large trucks drove through, also.
We drove to the cul-de-sac that faced the road to watch the idiots who chose to take the risk, and sure enough, a lady in a van comes barrelling through the water like she's the log on a theme park ride. Three quarters of the way through, her van stalls, and won't start back up. Anyone else see that coming?
Johnson and Shelby Counties were the first to issue an emergency, with many others quickly falling in behind them. In Fanklin, the park was completely flooded, and flood waters took the police cars down to the baseball diamonds, leaving them to rest against a fence. US 31 was underwater just south of the Shell station at In-44, and the Johnson Memorial Hospitals first floor had around 2 inches of water streaming through. In Shelby county, all the back roads were flooding out, leaving many stranded from the rest of the world. The hardest hit was even further south. In Bartholomew County, Columbus Regional Hospital had to be evacuated because of rising floodwaters cutting them off from town. The strip on 46 was even deserted, which is usually busy catering to those stopping off from the interstate to grab a bite to eat, or stay at one of the many hotels along that route.
In the town of Prince's lakes, the main dam as you heading into town broke through, covering their park in water, and threatening to overtake Nineveh if any of the connecting dams broke.
You couldn't reach Edinburgh by either US 31 or I-65, both those routes were closed, leaving the town stranded and hoping for a miracle.
Scores of people had to be evacuated from homes in Martinsville, Paragon, Seymour, Columbus, and many more towns. Many lost everything they owned due to not having Flood Insurance, though technically, they weren't in "flood territory."
All this less than 48 hours after damaging tornadoes ripped through southern Johnson County and northern Bartholomew County, putting damage in the millions, and demolishing parts of Camp Atterbury, Indiana's large military base.
Oh, but it's not over yet. More storms are headed this way tonight and tomorrow, and parts of Martinsville were still underwater as of last night. Brace yourself, Indiana, if you don't think it's bad now, it's about to get worse.
In our area, there was at least 2 feet of water rushing across our road. The retention ponds were filling fast, with no place to go. Across the road is a field, in which those ponds chose to empty. Every weather station around was warning not to drive through rushing water, yet, those who had large trucks chose to drive through, anyway.
And some who didn't have large trucks drove through, also.
We drove to the cul-de-sac that faced the road to watch the idiots who chose to take the risk, and sure enough, a lady in a van comes barrelling through the water like she's the log on a theme park ride. Three quarters of the way through, her van stalls, and won't start back up. Anyone else see that coming?
Johnson and Shelby Counties were the first to issue an emergency, with many others quickly falling in behind them. In Fanklin, the park was completely flooded, and flood waters took the police cars down to the baseball diamonds, leaving them to rest against a fence. US 31 was underwater just south of the Shell station at In-44, and the Johnson Memorial Hospitals first floor had around 2 inches of water streaming through. In Shelby county, all the back roads were flooding out, leaving many stranded from the rest of the world. The hardest hit was even further south. In Bartholomew County, Columbus Regional Hospital had to be evacuated because of rising floodwaters cutting them off from town. The strip on 46 was even deserted, which is usually busy catering to those stopping off from the interstate to grab a bite to eat, or stay at one of the many hotels along that route.
In the town of Prince's lakes, the main dam as you heading into town broke through, covering their park in water, and threatening to overtake Nineveh if any of the connecting dams broke.
You couldn't reach Edinburgh by either US 31 or I-65, both those routes were closed, leaving the town stranded and hoping for a miracle.
Scores of people had to be evacuated from homes in Martinsville, Paragon, Seymour, Columbus, and many more towns. Many lost everything they owned due to not having Flood Insurance, though technically, they weren't in "flood territory."
All this less than 48 hours after damaging tornadoes ripped through southern Johnson County and northern Bartholomew County, putting damage in the millions, and demolishing parts of Camp Atterbury, Indiana's large military base.
Oh, but it's not over yet. More storms are headed this way tonight and tomorrow, and parts of Martinsville were still underwater as of last night. Brace yourself, Indiana, if you don't think it's bad now, it's about to get worse.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Well, hi! What are you doing here?
Hi all! This is actually my secondary Blog, my current life, as I know it. Since I have interesting things that go on daily, I thought I'd add to my list of Blogs...
I decided to post this blog up because I am a MySpace Blogger, but I've since shied away from Myspace, so here I am...
A little about me...
I'm 25, which means I'm right there in the middle of where I've been and where I'm going.
I'm a mom, my child comes first and foremost. My little man was born January 14th, and I spend every waking moment watching to see what he does next. It's exciting to watch him learn and grow!
I'm someone's somebody. Finally, I've found love, and it agrees with me.
Welcome to my life...
**All names have been changed to protect the innocent...no, not me, silly!**
I decided to post this blog up because I am a MySpace Blogger, but I've since shied away from Myspace, so here I am...
A little about me...
I'm 25, which means I'm right there in the middle of where I've been and where I'm going.
I'm a mom, my child comes first and foremost. My little man was born January 14th, and I spend every waking moment watching to see what he does next. It's exciting to watch him learn and grow!
I'm someone's somebody. Finally, I've found love, and it agrees with me.
Welcome to my life...
**All names have been changed to protect the innocent...no, not me, silly!**
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