Today

Is the last day of February. Do you know what that means? It means I was supposed to have this quilt finished for my in-laws. The one I started for Christmas. And haven't touched since.
I should have lots of time in the next 40 days though since I'll need something to keep my mind off of all the sugar I won't be eating!

Random Monday Stuff

We had a lovely weekend, very relaxing (except for Mark who was at a meeting from 8-6 on Saturday). We haven't had a weekend like that in a while.

Quote of the day yesterday (I won't tell you who said it!) "Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday" I'm so glad we got that cleared up!lol!

I am remembering to take my medicine, but sometimes I remember when I am ready to eat breakfast and then I have to wait to eat!

Wednesday is going to be a really busy day. Preschool registration for the Princess, SB's field trip(which I am chaperoning) and Mass to sing at. Plus that's the beginning of the no sugar idiocy that Karin talked me into. UGH!

I am very sad about the Princess going to preschool, but I really know it's the best thing for her socially. I wish we had Sunday School at our church so I wouldn't feel like it was so necessary, but it's really her only opportunity to have extended time with other kids her age.

The Apprentice starts tonight. Because I don't have enough TV to watch already! Thank heaven for the DVR!

It's 8:50 AM and I'm ready for a nap.

Friday Ramblings

I love Fridays! I am so glad it is the end of the week. It's been a busy one around here.

No school on Monday, that was wonderful. My daycare kids also stayed home so it was just me and my kiddos. Lovely. The only thing more perfect would have been if Mark had been home, but he was "on vacation" as the Princess told Karin yesterday. Ummm...I don't think so. He's been working hard.

Mark made it home from the cold Mile High City on Tuesday. I am so glad he's home. I don't sleep well when he's gone. This was a great conference for him, for work purposes as well as for the school board that he is president of. There are some tensions at the school right now and he got some great ideas at the conference for dealing with this.


Mark was up late Wednesday night working on School board stuff. He only slept for 4 hours and then was out at a school board meeting until 12:30 last night, so again only 4 hours of sleep and off to work this morning. He'll be home tonight but will be at an all day 8-5 meeting at school tomorrow. I am so admiring of this man. He really does work his butt off. He puts 110% into everything he does. He doesn't get paid for this Board gig, this is strictly an elected volunteer position. It's amazing to me the energy he has for causes that are important to our family. He's my hero.

Speaking of my hubby, here's the link to his latest article! I am mighty proud!

I saw my Dr. on Wednesday. I've started my medication. The trick will be remembering it everyday. It needs to be taken at a specific time of day and a period of time before eating. I can barely remember to take antibiotics for 7 days, I hope this becomes so routine that it's automatic. I'll see the Dr. Again in 8 weeks to check my levels. This medication sometimes needs a bit of playing with, but hopefully we'll figure it out quickly.


Yesterday was field day for the Future Engineer and today for SB. I love to watch my kids at school. I'm really glad we live in a time where parents being at school for events is the norm. At least it is at our school. I wouldn't want to miss these things for anything.

Karin and I are giving up sugar for Lent. It starts next Wednesday. I will be gorging on sugar until then. Anyone want to join me???

Talking with the Princess

We were driving this afternoon when the Princess started talking, and really it doesn't matter what about because I'm telling you, it was 20 minutes straight of talking and questions. As we pulled in to the driveway she said "Mommy, I don't talk when I sleep". To which I said "No you don't", but thought "Praise God".

Hypothyroid

Got a call from my Dr's office this morning. I had some blood work done last week and the results are back. My thyroid numbers are way out of whack. Four times the normal range. What this means for sure I won't know until Wednesday except that it means medication and from my research which included talking to my mom who 1) has worked for a doctor for 35 years 2)has a thyroid issue herself, it looks like this means medication for the rest of my life. I'm not sure I'm ready for that. I just turned 37. I wasn't anticipating having to take daily medication for a number of years. I do appreciate having a diagnosis as I've been having some symptoms that are now explained, but I'm still having difficulty with the whole notion. I'll be glad to see the dr. and hear all about it.
Please no Pollyanna comments about "at least you know, blah, blah". Sometimes you just need to feel bad for a while. I'll get over it.

My Day

1) Lost a bag of stuff from Claire's at the Mall. Bye Bye $30
2) Came home to a notice on my door that my electricity will be out for 3 hours on Tuesday morning.
3) Got a PHONE CALL from Karin which can only be a) she's pregnant or b) someone died. It was the latter, my favorite priest.
4) one of my birds died

I'm going to bed.

Ready to hit the slopes?

Ready to hit the slopes?
Originally uploaded by mlm4.

The princess has been watching too much Olympic coverage I think!

Human kindness

This is what we need more of...

Reason # 9,995,996

Why I love my teenager...

About 9:15 I walked down to his room to ask him to take out the trash. He was asleep already(this being grounded thing is BORING!). I started to turn off his light and he stirred and this conversation followed:

Him:"What do you need?"
Me:"I was coming to ask you to take out the trash, but I'll do it since you're sleeping already."
Him:"No, I'll do it."

and he got out of bed and took out the trash.

Think I'll keep him...

Long Drive Home...

We dropped Mark at the airport this morning for his trip to Denver (which is forecasting a 70% chance of snow tonight!). As soon as the door shuts, the girls start crying. SB first, (as always. She is very attached to both of us) then the Princess, then me. It was a long drive home...

High School

So, I'm driving through the high school parking lot this morning, playing chicken with the teens on foot and the teens in cars. Why is it as teenagers we think we own the road no matter what we're doing? Anyway, I witness the teen on foot versus the teen in car confrontation. Too funny. The teen in car obviously wins, but it was a showdown that caused a definite pause in the traffic flow of that parking lot.

Happy Birthday!!

To my Mom! She's a blessing to our entire family and we love her so much!

Sick House

I've got two home sick today. Mark is leaving tomorrow to go to Denver until Tuesday. I hope the kids are better before he leaves...

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

I know, I'm late, but it was a busy day around here!

Two class parties,Mark was home for the day so I could go to the parties, lots of cooking for our romantic family dinner. The Princess and I made our standard Valentine's fare which included lasagna and bread and strawberry shortcake with homemade shortcake and chocolate dipped strawberries. Yum!

My husband got me a beautiful new Disney snowglobe, which I collect. It's my favorite scene in Beauty and the Beast. The one in which Belle is sitting in the middle of the village reading her book. Beautiful!

In other news, and Karin may be the only one who appreciates this, but SB's memory piece for school this month is The Bells by Edgar Allen Poe. A new generation introduced to the beauty that is the word...tintinnabulation.

Hmmm

The Princess just declared that she wants to be a firefighter when she grows up...

do they make firefighter dresses and crowns???

My Problem...

I've had a problem for a number of years involving my business and I don't know how to make it better.

You see, I do childcare in my home. This means that not only do I care for other people's children, but that MY children have to share me and their stuff. Since for the youngest three that's always been the way of it, it's not been too much of an issue, but it is for me. I feel tremendous guilt about putting my kids in this situation. But, that's not my real problem.

My real problem is that I can be very dismissive of my own children when the parents of the other kids are around. I really just want the parents to leave so I can get on with my life, so if my kids start talking to the adults, which they always do, I just try to hush them up. "Go do your homework" "did you pack your stuff for dance?" anything to get my kids out of the situation and get these people out of my house. But then, when the parents are dismissive to my kids?It makes my blood boil! Today, the parent of one of the children was singing this song she sings to her child and The Princess wanted to hear it again."sing it again,sing it again" she says. The mom looks at The Princess and says "I'll sing it for her tonight at dinner." The Princesses face fell and I was so angry. She's 4, she wants to hear the song again and guess what? Your child is going to be 4 and insistent and demanding some day as well. I'm just annoyed by this and feeling as well that it's my fault because I am teaching these people how to treat my children. But I love my kids, I do, I do. I just want these people to leave. How do I fix this thing about myself?

Busy Saturday!

Yesterday was a busy, but fun, day. When we finally crawled out of bed (after 8AM which is nothing short of miraculous around here!) we got busy cleaning the house up and then took the kiddos to see Curious George. Very sweet, cute movie. The kiddos giggled during the whole thing, even the 11 year old. After that we came home for a bit and the teenager beat Mark and I at a few hands of Texas Hold 'Em. Family values in this house! Gamble with your kids!
Then my mom came over to watch the kids and Mark and I went to dinner at Outback. Yum! Mark had an opening to attend last night so I went with him and saw a FABULOUS show called Crowns. The cast is 5 black women and 1 black man and it's basically the story of life and the different hats we wear. Glorious vocals. I love some good gospel music and this show was full of it with amazing voices. I love the theater!
Since the show was only 90 minutes long, we decided to head over to a grown up movie afterwards and saw Firewall. Pretty good movie. A little intense, but good.
This morning I was awakened very early by The Princess since she had fallen asleep at 7:30 last night. I sent my darling hubby out for Krispy Kreme's though and watched the Olympic coverage from last night. Gotta love the DVR!

Let the Games Begin!

I love the Olympics. I'm so excited for the games to start. I'm not a big fan of the opening ceremonies, but my mom is, so we always have her over and have some sort of quasi-regional food to go along with wherever the Olympics are being held. Tonight? We're having pizza!lol!
I normally cook, but I always make lasagna for Valentine's Day and besides spaghetti that's my total Italian repertoire!lol!
Anyway, it's a fun night and a great way to kick off one of my favorite things!

Have a great weekend!

Silent Treatment or Fight it Out?

I was talking with a friend of mine this evening who said she hasn't really talked to her husband in a week. There's some kind of disagreement simmering and she's not going to be the first to bring it up. Apparently he isn't either. I was shocked because in this house? We fight it out. I can't stand the silent treatment and I can't really give it (except to the teen in the previous post!lol!). Mark wants to get it over with as well...
How does it work in your house?

Think He Knew???

The Teenager is grounded. Meaning he needs to come straight home from school. He's usually home before I leave to get the other kids, but today he wasn't. I knew he was getting a ride with a friend, but then he's usually home even earlier. So, I call his phone 3 times before he answers. Then he's a little pissy with me that I kept calling. Then he says "So and So had a meeting after school, but I'll be home in a minute." I said nothing, not a word, not a sigh, not a sound. He finally hung up. When I got home? The backyard was cleaned up, the bathroom was spotless and all the trash was out. The silent treatment works wonders sometimes...

Job Hazard

I guess because I do childcare in my home, people think that I don't really do anything all day. So, when they come to pick up their children, whom I've just been caring for for 6 or more hours, they want to chat. I don't mind the "How was ___'s day" questions. That's to be expected. But, when you are already later than you are supposed to be, don't be surprised that I do not want to talk! I have other things to do, a child of my own who has been patiently waiting for me. Take your child and go home!

Privacy Issue?

So, this is really a question for you moms out there, although the perspective of someone who recently left the teenage years will not be ignored.

I have a friend with teenage boys, both of who have accounts on that website that rhymes with Fly Race. Mostly out of curiosity, she managed to access their accounts and read some of their mail and found out that one of the boys had seriously lied to her. Like major big time. Said he was spending the night one place, was another, there was a major consumption of alcohol involved. Enough that her child was passed out and throwing up. He's the same age as my boy, 15. When he came home the next day, he said he didn't feel good, but she really had no reason not to trust him or think anything was amiss. Now what?

I'm of the opinion that this could have been a life and death situation and it doesn't matter how she found out, she needs to deal with it! Am I wrong?

Favorite Bad Audition?

Okay, so now that the AI auditions are over, what was your favorite bad audition?
I have to say that last night's operatic version of Loverboy's "Working for the Weekend" might just be my all time favorite!lol!

Proud Wife!

My husband has been published...Again! This is the 4th time Mark has had an article published. As soon as the article is available online, I'll post a link. There's just something so cool about holding a glossy magazine in your hands and then opening it up and seeing the name of someone you know, particularly your spouse!

Whiney Post...

If you can't stand the whining, close this page now...I'll wait...

Anyone left???

Just in case you stuck around, boy do I feel like crap today! I have a runny nose, a sore throat, and I'm quite sure I'm PMSing which is driving me batty. I am so emotional right now I can't even stand myself. I hate this time of the month and how it affects my emotions. I get irritated very easily, by the littlest things. I yell at the kids far more than necessary, over little things. I'm not so nice to my husband and for gosh sakes, I, who cry very easily anyway, cry even more than usual.
I actually had to walk out of church last night because I was emotional about a comment that was made and then poor Rochelle said hello in this really sweet way. That hello? Sent me running out of the room with tears streaming down my face. What is wrong with me?? Do other people get this emotional with PMS? I don't believe that this is a choice I make. I really have no control over the tears. I tried last night to stop the tears before the whole hello thing happened but they just kept coming. I think that at any other time of the month I might have been pissy about the comment that made me cry last night. I might have been sarcastic to the commenter, but being so upset that a simple hello made me run out of the room? Not likely.

My New Look!

I'm so proud of myself! Thanks to a lot of help from my husband and my friend, I created my own design! Woohoo!!

Martha Stewart Wanna-Be

That's my daughter. I had some work that I needed to do last night, so I asked her to pack lunches for Future Engineer and herself. The last time I asked her to do that, she wrote her brother a sweet note to put in his lunch, which I sometimes do. Last night, she cut his sandwich into a cute shape, made a sticker for him with the sticker maker Rochelle got her for Christmas, and then wrote a sweet note. She's 11. I'm scared.

Princess-ism # 2

Today's conversation:

Future Engineer: "Mommy, where's Cub Scouts tonight?"
Me: "It's at Noah's I think."
The Princess: "Noah's the one who lives on the boat, right?"

Forte

forte
for·te Pronunciation: 'for-"tA,
adverb or adjectiveEtymology: Italian, from forte strong, from Latin fortis: LOUD -- used as a direction in music

The Princess is a genius...

The other morning she says to me...

"Mommy, screaming is a forte sound, right?"

I hate insurance!

So, I have this new medical insurance. Since insurance through my husband's work is about $1500 a month for our family, we needed to go another route and so the kids and I had private insurance for a while, until I found insurance through the state for small business owners, of which I am one. The insurance costs half of what the private insurance costs, making it quite affordable. And really, it's been working quite well. I have no copays for Dr. visits and minimal prescription copays. No deductibles. It's a pretty good plan. Unless you need a specialist.

The teenager has had some back issues going on since October. When I took him in in November, the doctor we saw, not his normal pediatrician, blew the pain off, spent two seconds examining the child and said it was a pulled muscle. The teen and I both knew when we left that it wasn't, but went along with the Dr.'s suggestions, which did not help. So, we were back in last week and our pediatrician,who actually spent time talking to and examining the child and looking up some stuff in his office to diagnose the problem, decided that the problem is beyond his scope of knowledge and we need to see an Orthopedic Dr. And, the teenager has a mole on his back that our ped noticed right away and wants examined as well, so we needed a dermatologist referral.

So, the referral person calls me and the only Dermatologist covered on my plan is 45 miles from my house. Now, I don't live in Podunk village, for gosh sakes, I live in one of the largest cities in the country and I have to drive 45 miles to see a freakin' dermatologist?? ARGH!!!
I make my peace with this and then she gives me the Ortho Dr.'s to call. Neither of whom are close to me, but not 45 miles. Well, guess what? They don't do backs! We go through 6 ortho Dr.'s before we finally find one who will see a back problem. Finally on the last one who takes my insurance we find one who does backs. He's a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and I beg for them to see the Teenager as they usually don't work on kids that old, but they agree, thank God!

Think of me Monday when I'm spending 2 extra hours in the car(on top of the three hours a day I already drive) to go to the DERMATOLOGIST! Ugh!