Smellyann Strikes Again

Friday Fragments

 

Friday Fragments is brought to you by the wonderful Mrs. 4444 over at Half Past Kissin' Time. Link up with her here if you're fragmenting today!

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Ahh, Friday again, already? It seems like you were just here.

This summer is shaping up to be a dreadful one. First, it was air conditioning season again, and we are out of freon. We're suffering without it right now, because with starting homeschooling and our garden, there is just no wiggle room in the budget for anything else.

But then?

It was over 100º today!!!!

Seriously? I am sitting here nekkid right now with the sweat dripping down me. And it's after 1 in the morning! I know you are so glad I provided such lovely imagery, too.

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Oh, also? More loveliness? It would appear that at least one of our mongrels has a flea infestation, and now we are being bitten, too. Probably not the sort of thing one normally wants to share publicly, but I am nothing if not an open book about such things.

Cat #2's flea meds are due to arrive tomorrow or the next day... I wonder if we can, uh, share it with Cat #1, she of the fleas?

We have been flea-less for 7 years and now this. Suckage.

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I have been working my hindquarters off on my new blog, Fishing and Wishing. It is a review and giveaway blog, and holy COW, I didn't *quite* realize how time- and labor-intensive it would be, at least at the beginning.

I'll spare you the details, but I would absolutely adore it if you'd come over and enter one or two or three or all four of the current giveaways! Check out the list on the right, and stop back again tomorrow, because I've got more in the works.

Thanks!

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Hmmm, what else... Oh! I'm excited, because my friend Gloria from Pieces of Me may very well be coming for a visit - and she may very well be staying with us!! (Though she may reconsider, now that she realizes we have don't have AC and we do have fleas... lol) If she comes, it'll be in a week, for four days, and we'll go to the big 4th of July party at the park down the road together.

Eeeeee!

I'm excited! We've never met in person and are just friends through the blogosphere. So that's fun!

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These three days - Weds thru Fri - have been utterly awesome, because unlike the past, well, ever, there has been absolutely NOTHING on the calendar. School is out, dance is over, camp hasn't started yet ('til next week), and we are FREE!

Needless to say, with these crazy temps, I'm so thankful we have a pool and the beach at our disposal!

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If you could keep my IRL friend Stephanie, and her husband Tim, and especially their baby Luke, in your thoughts and/or prayers, I would appreciate it. He's had a number of seizure-like "episodes" in recent days, and had undergone all manner of neurological testing. Thankfully, it would appear that he does not, in fact, have a neurological disorder, but they still don't have a diagnosis and are understandably worried and frustrated. Thanks!

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After all the frustations of posting on Blogger - I love that it's free, and that I can have and snag buttons and other gadgets, but dang, it's annoying - it's so lovely to be posting back here at my wonderful Typepad. Thank you, Typepad, for not being an intense pain in my neck.

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I guess those are all the bits I can pepper you with for today. I do have some cute kid quotes to share, but they're on the iPhone, which is busy syncing right now, so it'll have to wait 'til next week!

Oh, I can think of one off the top of my head, from this morning: I was cooking bacon and eggs for the kids' breakfast, and the bacon pan started smoking. One of the kids, Jack maybe, started freaking out about it, and Sophia, 5, soothed him by saying, "Don't worry, if it catches on fire, we can just put bacon soda on it!"

Bacon soda! Hee!

(She really did say "bacon," and not "bakin'," because there was a whole follow-up conversation about which it was, but that takes away the funny, so I'll leave it at that!)

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Have a lovely weekend. Don't forget to visit Fishing and Wishing for some goodies. Thanks!!

Fin.

Ready, Set, Go!

This picture is for Stephanie, who requested a Work In Progress pic of the shorties I'm making for Luke. So here ya go, Steph! They look huge to me.  Hopefully they'll fit... do you like so far? I'm planning on working on them a bunch tonight, so maybe another update pic tomorrow if I do.  

So let's see... this afternoon, I picked up all three kids from school for what was supposed to be a comprehensive ADHD evaluation of Jack and Chloë. I got Sophia too, because I didn't think Rob would wake up to get her off the bus, and I didn't think I'd be home in time, since it was supposed to last an hour and a half.

Ha. 

Hahaha.

Dr. P. spent less than a half-hour with both kids, total. And when I say "with the kids," I really mean just talking to me, barely acknowledging them except to say, "Don't touch that. Don't touch that." He didn't look them over, he didn't question them, he didn't really observe them. He asked me to check off symptoms on a checklist, and he questioned me very briefly about their habits and history. Then he told me, based on pulling it out of his ass that minimal information, to increase both of their doses of Adderall!

What?!

REALLY?

I don't understand why. I certainly did not need his "expertise" for such aggressive medical action on a disorder I'm not even sure either of them have, especially Chloë. He tried to convince me that they have it, but I disagree. I'm annoyed. I'm irritated. I'm agitated. I'm frustrated.

No, I don't see much difference in their behavior since going on the meds a week ago, but truly, I am not entirely sure there is such a problem. Jack's kindergarten teacher never mentioned these issues that are suddenly exasperating for his first grade teacher. Like my sister pointed out, he was an early preemie, he has had his fair share of problems and delays, and maybe he just needs a little more time, a little more coaxing, because he is such a little guy. Neither of us (she or me) would have labeled them as having ADHD ourselves, based on our own observations. Rather, we would have chosen to label them as "kids."

I watch my kids closely. I would say I can be hypervigilant when it comes to their various behaviors. I observe them when they're with their peers. Do I think they're out of control? Do I think they are more active than kids their ages? Do I think they need medication? No, no, and NO.

And I certainly don't think we need to go all increasing the dose, willy-nilly, based on a few minutes of questioning the mother. I am going to go the therapy route instead. I do not want to dope up my children. If there are problems, if there are issues with their behavior, I would rather suss out exactly what they are, than just dump them in a box labeled "ADHD" because that seems to be the easiest explanation. Through therapy, we can all learn coping mechanisms and stress relief techniques.

No. No more medicine. I'm done. I'm through. It's enough.

Phew.

What a relief. I'm glad that is decided. You may disagree with me, and that is fine, but know this: I am positive I am doing what is best for my children and our family.

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After the girls came home from dance and I finished working on my coupons for Harris Teeter (see prior post on my awesome savings!), I worked more on the whole homeschooling thing. I've been doing research. It's not enough, but it's a start. I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy the $200 Hooked on Phonics program for Jack and Sophia, for their beginning and emerging reading skills. Also, I am certain I want to use the Math-U-See program for all of them for mathematics. A friend recommended it, and it gets lots of great reviews on all the homeschooling review sites. I don't know yet where we'll find the money for these programs, but if it comes down to buying materials for our homeschool or having my abdominoplasty, I guess I'm going to suck it up and not have the surgery. The idea saddens me, but the kids' needs definitely come first.

Boohoo for me, but yay for them!

I'm thinking about taking in a baby or two for daycare. It will bring in some much-needed extra money, I can still do that and homeschool, and ... and Rob just texted me, so now I've forgotten what I was going to say! The subbing thing just hasn't worked out as planned. I don't get called when I am available, and when they do call, I can't take the job because they want me to start at, like, 0700. I don't get the kids on the bus until 0800, so it just doesn't work, with Rob's hours. Bah. Frustrating, but whatcha gonna do??

Oh, and I've submitted my letter of intent to homeschool to the city, as well as a rudimentary curriculum based on what I blogged about earlier. It's in the mail! That's it! We're homeschoolers! Well. Almost...

So now, I'm going to do my online orientation for being a Girl Scout Leader, so I can proceed to the next training step(s). I want to get all my ducks in a row as early as I can. I've always been like that. I want to get things done ahead of time. I like to follow a plan. I can be quite spontaneous, but with a plan in place, I feel more comfortable and prepared.

'Evening, then!

Fin.

P.S. Also for arts instruction, I can teach them cross-stitching/embroidery, and we can learn more together about that and sewing! That will be fun. And, I thought, maybe we can get a big world map and put pins in it every day when we see where the clothes we're wearing were made, and maybe even where our food came from (if not local). That will open a discussion about the various countries of the world, for further exploration. What do you think?

TWIR: Tuesday, Subbing & Running

I don't have any pictures for Tuesday, but it was another busy one. The phone never rang, calling me to sub, the night before, so I had just about given up when it rang about 10 minutes before the kids and I left for the bus stop in the morning. Wow, I could not have phrased that sentence any worse, I think. But it's late, I'm getting tired, and I'm freeeeeezing.

Anyway.

So I put the kids on the bus, and then I went home to get ready. And by that I mean, lolligag around for another half-hour, since I didn't have to be there until 0930, and it was only just after 0800. This shift was 9:30-2:30, just long enough to be considered a full day, but short enough that I would still beat the kids home. Perfect, actually.

It was at the "alternative school," but I didn't have any idea what, exactly, I would be doing. All I knew was the teacher's name and the name of the school. The school was just a few minutes down the road from our house, but it's newly opened, and I had no idea it was even there! Half the school is a middle school, and the other half was a high school. I was to be on the HS side, on the upper level. It turned out, I was subbing in the GED prep class.

This had to be the juiciest, plum-est job available. I would take it again in a heartbeat! Really, there is no teaching involved, whatsoever. Because these are the kids who WANT to be there, more or less, to get out of school and on with their lives, they were more or less self-motivated. All they had to do was check in, work on their prep tests, and check out. They came in and out at various times of the day, got right to work, and left only for lunch.

My job was to watch them, float around the room and make sure no one was sleeping (it happened), and try and help them if they had problems on their tests.

A lot of them had problems with the math portion of their prep tests, and hey, guess what? I'm a math and sciences person. Once the other part-time "teachers" there realized this, they pretty much let me handle all the kids questions, while they relaxed and enjoyed a little downtime. I preferred it this way, much better than sitting there watching the clock for five hours.

And so, help I did. It was really very rewarding. I enjoyed the assignment a great deal. One young man had a terrible time with percentages. He just didn't get it. I sat down and worked through the problem with him, one by one, step by step, giving him little tips and tricks that have always helped me with my math work. We worked on a problem until I was sure each step made sense to him, before going on to the next one. At the end, he looked at me and said, "You have made this clearer to me than it's ever been in my life." That just made my day!

Another kid needed help with one question after another. The other teachers, I could tell - because, um, they said so, pretty much - were expasperated with his constant need for attention, but he really just needed help. They weren't sure whether he truly didn't get it - and if that's he case, he should go back to regular school - or if he just needed the interaction. As for me, it was obvious that he truly did not get it. Could not figure it out on his own. But it wasn't for me to say, so I just sat and helped him as much as he needed it. And truly, there is nothing better than watching someone who is struggling and seeing that moment when the lightbulb goes on for them. I love that moment so much.

Oh, and I got hit on at least three times, which was good for my self-esteem. Of course, these were teenaged boys, so I completely ignored the advances... but still, flattering!

At the end of the day, all the kids waved good-bye to me, and I waved at them. Good luck to all of you on your tests, out there! And good luck in life...

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Rob was there when I got home from school, or just after. He went down to get the kids from the bus, which I love.

The kids had their after-school snack, and then it was time for Chloë to go to Ballet. I'm pretty sure I took a nap while he took all three kids to dance class to let me have some rest, which was pretty awesome of him. I guess I'll keep him, even if he still doesn't have his motorcycle license!!! But let's not go there...

So after everyone came home and woke me up, I had three mystery shops to do. The kids started their homework while I got my paperwork together, but soon it was time to go.

Our first stop was at the Walgreens I'd gone to the day before, to pick up my "deals" notebook that I'd left behind, and to do a return. I'd bought two things on one receipt, both of which had a mail-in rebate attached to them (the Olay deal I neglected to mention in the last post, oh well). So I needed to return those and have them re-rung on two separate receipts, which entirely confused the poor manager, but we eventually got it all worked out.

Second stop was to the first of two party stores. It all went off without a hitch, and for my required purchase, I continued building my stash of goodies for Rob's 40th birthday bash in a couple of years (he'll be 38 in August). Same with the second of two party stores. I do those shop a lot, and apparently I do a good job on them, because they keep hiring me, eh?

Fourth stop was for dinner, at the big boobs-and-wings chain y'all know and love. Or maybe not love, but that's your call. The food is good, and cheap. We had a good time. The girls all sang to Jack for his birthday, and he had the biggest shit-eating grin on his face over that! That in and of itself made the whole thing worthwhile.

And we we came home, I crashed again, so still, no blogging.

Up next: Wednesday!

Fin.

 

Ketchup And Mustard, I'm Behind!

Phew. Another busy week.

Besides the usual (school, 3 dance classes on Tuesday & Wednesday, Brownies AND Cub Scouts - the latter of which we ended up missing AGAIN because the boy-child could not stay awake past 1800 and the meetings aren't until 1900 - on Thursday), etc., we've had lots going on.

I had a fun time collecting the money from all the other Brownies and finishing up the troop paperwork to finish the cookie sale this week. I finally made all the deposits and turned in everything yesterday, so I'm hoping I did it all right. We'll see. Last year I messed up the patches, and I'm not entirely sure I did things correctly this time! So now it's finally, finally over... well, except for the last few boxes our Leader still has, to sell. But we received enough in donations to cover those in the meantime.

Also on Thursday, we went to the Scholastic Book Fair at the kids' school. I volunteered there on Monday (think I told you that already) and was looking forward to picking out our favorites last night. I was going to buy ONE book per child, but I ended up buying 9 total!

Here's our list:

Hot Wheels: Stunt Show - (which I can't even find on the Scholastic website; weird) a level 1 Reader for Jack to read to ME. He keeps saying he can't read, but he can. He's just soooo stubborn.

Ouch! How your body makes it through a very bad day - which is NOT the same cover as the ones pictured on all the links I Swagbucks-searched for, but they must be related somehow, eh?  Jack is totally digging this book; he's very "into" what goes on inside the body and what all the parts look like and everything. I picked out this book for him at the volunteer session on Monday.

 

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick! - which Jack and Sophia both picked out, independently.  

 

Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones - Had to get this; these books are so funny, and I opted to get The Pout-Pout Fish last time instead. I'm still wishing I'd just gotten both! 

Duck at the Door - Rob picked this book for the kiddos. I haven't read it yet.

 

Barbie in A Mermaid Tale: A Storybook - most obviously picked out by Sophia, who is having a love affair with Barbie right now, and also with stickers, which it contains. She's always loved stickers, though, and she sits and goes through my sticker box whenever she thinks she can get away with it!

 

Fluffy and Baron, another book Sophia picked out, which I also haven't read yet. Apparently it's based on a true story.

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days - Chloë's BFF, Sammy, told me about these books at the Fall Book Fair, and I missed out, running to the library after the books had all been packed up. I really wanted the school to get credit for the purchase, so I held out until this Spring Book Fair. Sammy really likes the books and thought Chloë would enjoy them, too. I told her she could pick out two of them, since they have AR tests associated with them, and although she always has her nose in a book, she infrequently takes the AR tests at school. I'm always pushing her to do so, but it seems she couldn't care less! 

 
Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Stage Fright  - Instead of a second Wimpy Kid book, Chloë begged for this one. Since there was an AR test attached, I relented and let her put back one of the others. She's been reading BOTH books ever since, even though technically I only gave each of them one of their books, planning to save the other for their Easter baskets! So, I stole it back tonight and am making her read Wimpy. :P

In all, the nine books cost us an average of $5.10, after my $5 credit for volunteering on Monday. I guess that's a pretty good deal. Hopefully Sophie won't take her Barbie book into the tub with her and rip it to shreds, like she did the last time!!

Speaking of Chloë and BFFs... she came off the bus completely sobbing yesterday because another BFF, "K," had written about her that she was annoying, in her diary, and Chloë saw it. The way she describes it, it almost seems like K had meant for her to see it, which I thought was a little too "mean girl" for 3rd grade! I don't know, but we really didn't handle it at all. She came running into my arms when Rob brought her back from the bus stop (he's on days since Wednesday), and I just held her while she cried her heart out. Rob and I just looked over our shoulder at each other, while I mouthed, "I don't know what to do!" and rubbed her tiny back. She eventually ran out of steam and has seemed to forget about it, so I don't even know whether I should bring it up again. Thoughts?

Let's see, what else...

Oh! I subbed Friday afternoon, 1200-1500, for the first time. A pack of wild fifth graders, about 80% of whom were bigger than I am, or at least as big. How does that happen? I'm used to little ones. I daresay I was far less intimidated than I was a decade ago when I subbed in Tampa, freshly out of college and not yet a frequently-yelling mother, but still, it was hard to keep this class quiet. At first, they were shouting at each other, using all kinds of filthy language, and threatening to throw chairs and stuff. I even got hit hard by one kid, but it was accidental, so I didn't really do anything about it.

But all it took was starting to write names on the board - and threatening to skip lunch! - to get them back under control. By the end of the day, several of the kids proclaimed that I was the "best" and "most fun" sub ever, because I actually did things with them instead of just yelling and throwing more busy work at them. Indeed, when we got our work done early, I let them go outside and run for 20 minutes. I could tell they really needed it. And another time, when work was finished early, I let them go in front of the class and read a poem they'd written, or do a silly dance, or whatever. The whole class was cracking up, even me. So, it was an okay day. But I definitely earned my keep!

Linda and I went out on a lunch shop together on Wednesday, and the family and I did another shop for dinner that night. Both were really good; I'm trying to keep my hand in that, even with everything else we've got going on these days.

Sophia had a field trip to - of all places - Krispy Kreme on St. Patrick's Day, and they had a "green day" party. I was supposed to send in a green snack, but all I could find were Del Monte jello and fruit bowls in the snack stockpile. I'd forgotten until it was too late to go out. Apparently no one ate them, and the teachers stuck them in the fridge; I kinda wish they would send them back home, so I could feed them to MY kids!!

Also on Wednesday, I took Chloë and Jack to the dentist. Jack had two of the eight cavities filled and seemed to do well. I haven't heard him say a single word about it, so I guess it didn't hurt too much or anything. Chloë had her orthodontic records started - molds of her teeth taken, pictures, etc., - because she has a crossbite that we need to get fixed. Then, she had a frenectomy, to cut the extra thick upper frenulum she has/had (the tissue connecting the gums to the lips), which was causing her teeth to grow in funny. We had to shell out beaucoup bucks for that visit, and we're only just getting started! So I'm kind of nervous about that...

The only other thing I can thing to mention is that I'm now down 170 pounds!! I've lost about half my old self, now.  I need to get down to at least 164 before I can schedule the abdominoplasty, but I plan to lose 10 more before I even go in to try, to account for clothing and eating /drinking that morning. Hopefully another month or so will do it!

And that is the week that was. Tomorrow's another busy day!

Fin.

Five Days O' Scouting

Oy vey, it has been a busy ... well, it's been busy for weeks! I have a trillion and one things to do, and I feel like I'm way behind on everything. Rob told me to take a break from blogging, but you know what? I really don't want to miss the show-and-tell about some of the fun and important things we've done as a family lately, so the answer to that is a big, fat NO!

On Thursday, we had Chloë's regular Brownies meeting. Nikki, their Troop Leader, had them making "people" out of different toy foods, as part of their learning that day about nutrition and the different food groups. They probably had the most fun doing this out of any activity I've seen them do all year! They were so lively and engaged; it was a lot of fun for them.

Chloë and Meighan's "food person"

She had a lot of fun with this activity!

I think everyone appreciated the portable DVD player that day! Jack and Sophia, who normally run around like hooligans during the Brownies meetings, sat there and watched Ponyo, quietly on the sidelines, for the entire time. It was such a relief! But now, it won't play... we'll definitely have to get that fixed before the next meeting!

On Friday night, we were supposed to have a cookie booth sale at Kroger. However, it was Bingo Night at the kids' school, and I'd asked for and received permission from the administration and the PTA to have a cookie table there, instead!  I asked for permission from the booth coordinator to do this, and she made lots of excuses and it was this whole big ordeal, but in the end, we were able to go and have our table at the Bingo Night. The Littles were babysat by Nikki's two older children, while she and G. were at the cookie sale with Chloë and me.

At first, I didn't think we were going to sell much at all, but in the end, the girls managed to unload 32 boxes, which is almost 3 cases. It's not fabulous, but like Nikki said, it's probably about what we would have done at Kroger, plus we were INSIDE and WARM. And we were so grateful to the school for letting us be there!

Saturday was a nutso day.

We had to get the kids up early, so we get Jack checked in for the Pinewood Derby District races by 0830. The Tigers raced starting at 0900. Unfortunately, Jack didn't feel well that morning, and he was over-tired and hungry, so he was quite the miserable little chap. He kept saying he didn't want to be there, poor thing. Can you find my little guy in the middle of the back row?

There he is!!

The boys had to hold their cars and listen for an extended period of time as the long-winded announcer explained everything to the crowd and tried to hype us up. The parents all cringed as the boys played with, fought with, dropped, and otherwise molested their somewhat delicate little cars! Rob commented that in his day, the boys weren't allowed to touch them at all, lest something happened to them. At the pack races last month, they didn't handle them. Shoulda kept it the same at Districts!

Finally, Jack's car was up. I think each car had to race twice in six or eight different heats. Something like that. It was a long morning, therefore! That's Jack's car up in the middle.

The girls, Rob and I whooped and hollered for Jack and his car, but he was so not enthused. Here he is, whining that he wanted to come sit with us. Poor guy. And yes, he's missing his neckerchief slide; we've since found it, but now I can't find the shirt!

Poor Jack zoned out between his car's races. He went home later and had a good, long nap.

Oh, so how did Jack's car do? Well, it just wasn't the same fast car after its accident at the pack races. It came in last for most of its heats, although it did come in first on this one and one other, I think.

In the end, Jack came in 9th out of all the Tigers at Districts. (I'm not sure how many there were, since there were a lot of ties.) I was actually kind of glad he didn't continue on, because we had so much else to do that day! And he didn't seem disappointed any, either.

At the end, he shook the announcer - Mike's - hand, as well as the Boy Scout who helped with the races, and we left. It was fun and exciting, but he didn't place in the top three. There's always next year!

A few hours later, we were scheduled for another cookie booth sale at the store Torrid, in a local mall. No one else signed up with us, and Nikki had tried to convince me to cancel it because she knew I was burned out... and I almost did. But then, I was picking up my cookie order from the cookie cupboard on Friday, and I heard that Torrid was a goldmine from another lady who was also there to get cookies. My ears perked up, and I decided to go after all, no matter what.

Well, that lady had been right!! I brought Sophia along again, as an honorary Daisy, but she was intimidated by all the mall shoppers and hid under the table the entire time. Rob and Jack helped us load all the cookies from the van, into our wagon, through the mall, and at the store. We only brought half the stash because of our Walk-About event on Sunday. However, on her own, Chloë was quite the little saleswoman, and she brought so many customers to our table! We had beenn warned that she could not go past the Torrid sales line or else mall security would come and yell at us, but they walked past three times, looked at her, and didn't say a darn thing. Hehe.

Halfway through, I had to page Rob to bring us the rest of our stash, because we were selling out of everything! Chloë started to peter out after the first hour, telling me she was hungry. So to boost her back up again, I said I would buy her a box of whatever kind of cookies she wanted, if she sold at least 75 boxes. That brought a huge smile to her face, a burst of energy to her step, and back out she went. In the end, she managed to sell 98 boxes of cookies in two hours! I wish I'd known she'd do so well there; I'd have booked two or three more Torried booths. Next year, I'll know...

In the evening, Chloë and I took a break from scouting activities to go to the Music in Motion Dance Company show in downtown Norfolk. I try to take her every year, so she can see what the talented older dancers are doing. Before this, she has been so young, but I think this year she really got into it. She has been dancing ever since, and she was so excited throughout the show, telling me how "cool" and "awesome" all the dances were. We had a great time on our Girls' Night Out, as she likes to call any outing with Mom. She'd already eaten dinner, or I'd have taken her for a bite to eat, too; however, it was late, and I still had a lot of work to do at home to get ready for Sunday.

Rob had been helping to clean up at home while Chloë and I were at the dance show, because I didn't have time to do it. He fell asleep as soon as we came home, leaving me alone to get everything else done. I baked three dozen cupcakes long into the night, from scratch. Vanilla and chocolate, with yummy Wilton candies on top. The girls really liked them when they received them the next day. Chloë even said they were the best cupcakes ever!

On Sunday, Chloë helped me get all the prizes separated into each girl's gift bags. Between the cupcakes and all the loot in their prize bags, I figured each girl would be happy after doing a great job at the sale. Chlo sure was excited to receive hers, in spite of - or because of? - knowing what was inside.

Later, we ran to the Dollar Tree to pick up balloons and things for decorating her cookie wagon for the Walk-About. She chose four balloons, a pinwheel, two huge green bows, and pink and purple leis. She thought she was going to get to ride in the wagon, so she was a tad bit disappointed when I told her it was for carting the cookies around!

Nikki showed up early with L. and G. to decorate their team's wagon. 

When (almost) everyone got there, we all posed with M's grandmother, who was our contact for the Samaritan House, our Gift of Caring organization this year. We were able to give them 24 boxes of donated cookies! Way to go, girls! (The dad who took this picture took a second one, and Sophia snuck her little self right in there. It was funny... wanna see? Okay.)

Can you find her? She ALWAYS does this!! Funny girl. :P

I wish I could say that our first Walk-About went off without a hitch, but there were a few snags along the way. I had planned everything carefully, down to the letter, for the past several weeks, but people started complaining about everything as soon as I explained how it was going to go. I was so frustrated and almost started yelling, but I held back, thankfully! Once everyone got going, they were happy and had fun for the most part, I think. I asked for feedback, but no one's been brave enough to give me any - yet. In the end, the girls sold a total of 115 boxes in just over an hour, and they raked in the moolah! We just have one weekend left to sell the rest of our boxes, so I hope we're able to do just that. I'll be so thankful when it's all over for another year!

On Mondays, we have Jack's Tiger den meeting. He came home from school in a terribly cranky mood, so I sent him to his room until he could come down and be more pleasant. It was no surprise, though, when he ended up falling asleep. He came down a half-hour before Cub Scouts in an unusually fantastic mood, so I was glad for that!

At the meeting, the little sister of one of the other Tigers had a game with her that Sophia and Chloë were interested in. Chloë had also brought her gift bag from the Walk-About to keep them busy, so she played with that while Sophia made fast friends with little J. They were so cute together!

Their activity tonight was making fish snacks. Leader Beth gave each of the boys - and the sisters - a graham cracker with blue vanilla frosting on top. They all received a bunch of S'mores goldfish crackers and flower sprinkles to decorate their "tanks." Everyone had a lot of fun making and eating their crafts tonight. And as always, they were careful to "leave no trace."

The boy-child with his, uh, rather busy masterpiece!

The girls were so thrilled to be included in this activity! Sometimes they don't get to participate - which is fine, it's not for them - but when they do, yay!

Back to J's game after their snack...

 

At the end of tonight's blessedly short meeting, Jack earned six more beads for his shirty-beady thing! Just three more to earn and then he gets what? His Tiger award? Or his yellow beads? I don't know; I'm confused, a little. But yay for more beads!  I'll take a decent picture as soon as we find the darned shirt.

********

And now back to work for me. I'm excited to report that I've received my official "you're a Va Beach substitute" letter in the mail, so I can begin getting assignments! The first day I have available if Friday, so I'm hoping to get something for then. I plan on taking every Wednesday off so I can get the little girl to her dance class on time and maybe help out in the kids' classrooms more than I have... or just to relax. I'm excited to get started!

Fin.  
  
  

 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  

 
 
  
  
  

 
  
  

 
 
  

Nutella No-Go

Busy day.  I should be sleeping by now. I did take the sleeping pill last night and slept a full night, and I haven't been tired since then. I'm still wide awake, too much so to settle down and try to sleep, darn it. Sucks, because I have another full day tomorrow.

I did a lot, but it doesn't feel like I got a lot done, if that makes any sense. I cleaned up the kitchen, ran the dishwasher and emptied it later. I did take an hour after the kids got on the bus and play my various silly Facebook games. But then I didn't touch them again until night-time. I canceled the cable, although I did decide to keep the local channels for $10/month. We can always drop that later, too. I looked at all the coupon sites and made my deals for today, which is when the new grocery sales start in our area. I contacted the Brownies moms about coming to sign permission slips, and no one wanted to come... so they all told me to forge their signatures on them. Heh. I did, but then I realized - after turning it in - that I spelled one of the girls' names wrong! Oops... how do you explain that one?!

Anyway, so after I showered and got ready to go out, I ran to Target and got lots of great deals, including the new "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" DVD for the kids. Chloë has been raving about it since she saw it at the theatre with her soccer friends, and I knew the kids would enjoy it. I got lots of other great stuff too, but I didn't have time to take a picture and figure it all out.

Then I went to Harris Teeter - MY old store - for the first time since I quit back in October. They are running super doubles week on coupons, so I had to suck it up and go in. I was so nervous! It turns out that was for naught, because everyone was so nice and welcoming. I got lots of hugs, and everyone was concerned about me because they'd heard about the breast cancer thing. I assured them that I'm fine and all is well, and they seemed happy about that. Lots of nice people. I really kind of miss working there. I do. But, the hours weren't enough, and apparently things have gotten lots worse regarding that. So it was the right thing to do, I guess. Oh yeah, and I spent about $61 but SAVED $84 in coupons! All stuff we need and will use, of course.

I got home just five minutes before the bus came, so I didn't even have time to unload the groceries (and speaking of which, please tell me why I bought the 2½-dozen egg carton when there is NO room in my fridge for it?!) before walking down to the bus stop. The kids came home, and they helped me carry in the bags. I quickly scanned the Target stuff and part of the HT stuff for Nielsen, and then we had to leave for both girls' dance classes. 
Sophie went first, and the Bigs did their homework while she was in there. I knitted on the kimono. Can't really say it was power knitting, since I had to stop every two seconds to help Jack with his work. Chloë went in second, and I kept knitting while the Littles climbed all over every inch of the van, pressing buttons and generally driving me mad. In a fun way, though. ;)

 

Oh, and the entire time all this day was going on, I was in a madcap rush to figure out if and how we were going to go to New York City - tomorrow! And back - in a day! Chloë's acting and modeling agent there called to say they had an audition for her to attend today or tomorrow (I said to them, "Today? You know we're in Virginia, right?") for a Nutella commercial. They really wanted her this time. Steph volunteered to drive up with us OR stay home and get the Littles to and from school, however we needed her. Isn't she awesome? We were going to have her and Luke come with us, and then her sister Mandy wanted to come along, too. It was just going to be a straight shot up there, audition, have lunch in Manhattan somewhere (the audition was right on Broadway), and then drive straight home. A seven-hour trip, or thereabouts. I was going to have to cancel all sorts of things for tomorrow. But in the end, we called to check and see if she could still go, seeing as she's missing four front teeth, and they said NOPE! No way, no how. Oh, well. It was fun while it lasted...

After the dance classes - during which time I talked to Ms. D, Chloë's Jazz teacher, and was told that she's focusing much better in class lately, to my surprise since I have not yet had her evaluated for ADD - we came home so I could prepare dinner. The yummy food from grocery shopping was still all over the kitchen table to be put away, and the kids were picking at this and picking at that, wanting to nibble, nibble, nibble. I had planned on making the grilled salmon from Schwan's, but in the end they had sandwiches and chips and assorted other things, and I never cooked at all. 'Tis fine. Salmon can wait 'til Friday, since we have a dinner shop tomorrow night.

After dinner, Rob and the kids watched "Cloudy With..." while I worked on Cookie Sale paperwork and drove the permission slips over to the person in charge. He got the kids ready for bed, and then we posed for all these silly pictures together. It was a little bit of fun, we enjoyed it. Jack keeps insisting he doesn't know how to smile, so in the ones where he IS actually smiling, it's because I was tickling him! And now, back to reading my Cookie Manual some more, before I train the girls and moms at tomorrow's meeting. Ciao!

Fin. 

Update From The FluHaus

So... after three days of cleaning up puke (not counting last week's Sophie episode), and a good day of rest today, the kids are going back to school tomorrow.

Hallelujah!!

Unfortunately, now Rob and I have the flu. I've been throwing up - well, at lest dry heaving, since I rarely have anything in me TO throw up - and we've both had fevers. Rob, normally a weeny boy when he's sick, has had to suck it up and go to work anyway. He's the only inspector on duty at night, so they'd pretty much have to shut the whole hangar down without him. Poor guy.

I, on the other hand, have been lying around, saying, "yes" whenever the kids ask me if they can have a yogurt/juicebox/fruit snack/go at each other, not caring so much as long as they were taken care of.

Until this evening, when they all begged me for soup for like an HOUR before I got up off my sick bed and made it to the kitchen. Because they all wanted it, I made two cans.

And you know what? They didn't eat one single bite of it. It's all still sitting there on the table, for me to scowl at whenever I walk in there.

I'd eat it, but I can't have soup, or Oscar the Pouch will be sorely pissed at me.

So there it sits.

After the soup, I sent the troops upstairs to find Jack's long-missing glasses. Those things go missing every other fricking day. I'm SICK of it. Jack and Chloë fell asleep instead of looking for it, so Sophie hung out with me in the kitchen.

I had to bake something for Chloë's school party tomorrow, so rather than the cookies I'd planned on, I decided to use up the dozen or so overripe bananas sitting around.

Only, halfway through the process, I couldn't find the baking soda! Wth, who runs out of baking soda? Seriously? I must have used the last box to deodorize the litter box...

So we ducked out to the store, leaving the Bigs asleep upstairs, to go around the corner for the soda, some more OJ, and eggs. I was going to make up two loaves of banana bread, and that would use all my eggs. They are a hot commodity 'round these parts.

At home, I finished the first loaf, put it in the oven and eventually, took a quick taste of the dough left in the bowl. DRAT! That's when I realized, I'd left out the brown sugar! Bahahaha, I'm super-slow sometimes.

So I made the second loaf, making extra sure I put in all the ingredients, and listed the first one on Freecycle. Surprisingly, no takers! Hee.

My kids decided they wanted it, so I tried a little bit with butter to make sure it wasn't nasty. It tasted like banana crackers. Not bad, but definitely not sweet, despite all the bananas and chocolate chips. Oh, well. Fail.

At least there is one loaf to take to school tomorrow. I'd meant to send both, but they'll just have to take what I've got, right?!

I'm half-expecting someone to call home and need to be picked up tomorrow. Not sure who, though. Wanna place bets?

Fin.

P.S. Thanks SO much for not ragging on me about quitting my job. I realize how it sounded... but I seriously hate cleaning! lol

Three Down, None To Go...

...to school, that is.

We kept all three home from school today. Chloë was a given, after yesterday; Sophia was a pretty sure thing, and Jack was the surprise sicky this morning. All three had a fever, all three were coughing, and the girls were throwing up. Awesome stuff!

Chloë was much more chipper today, but Sophie took a nosedive and was about as miserable today as her big sis was yesterday. And it's a rare thing for Sophie to feel that bad, so I knew she was very sick. She rarely loses her smile, but today, it just wasn't in sight.

I had to go to work, so Rob pulled Dad Duty in the morning. Basically, feeling sick himself and having three lethargic little babies scattered around the various couches, that meant dosing them with meds before passing back out himself!

At work, I was scheduled to be a bagger for the day, instead of the cashier I was hired to be. That pissed me off. Strike one. (I freaking hate when they do that. And then expect me to do bagger duties like cleaning? I don't effing think so.)

Strike two was when I checked my schedule for next week and found I'd been given all of 8½ hours. What? That's bullshit. Clearly, they don't need me. I was supposed to work 8:30-11:30 tomorrow morning. What kind of shift is that?! Waste of time.

So I started thinking about quitting. I mean, the plan was for me to be subbing, not cashiering during the day - and cashiering late at night. Since I've been working, I haven't followed up with the system to see why I haven't moved to the next step in the long subbing process. Add to that my sick children at home, the fact that I may be battling a serious disease - which, I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but in my heart of hearts I feel like things are NOT going to be good when I get my boob-o-gram - and the lack of customers to keep me from thinking about all these things, and I had one foot out the door.

Strike three came an hour into my shift, when the customer service girl called me over, started to hand me a feather duster, and asked me to clean shelves. If found myself blurting out, "Um, no, I think I'm going to quit instead."

Her eyes got all round and she rushed around to hug me, asking, "Was it something I said?" I mumbled something about maybe having breast cancer (I am so dramatic!!!) and burst into tears, and she was like, "please don't quit, please don't quit, talk to C. tomorrow" etc.

I got my measly paycheck, punched out and left. I think I quit. I'm not entirely sure, but I think I did. Does this mean I can't go grocery shopping there now? Because that will suck, a lot.

I am so spontaneous sometimes. It has mostly been for the good, but, geesh! I drive myself crazy!

Anyway, so I went home to face The Sick. Instead, I found myself utterly exhausted and lay down for a nap with the kiddos. Rob napped upstairs with Sophia, and I slept downstairs with the bigs.

No sooner did I get up and come over here to the computer, then Sophie trotted downstairs, came over to me, and started to whine the sick whine, "Mommeeeeeeee!"

BAM!

She opened her mouth and vomited straight into my face, all over my clothes, the chair, the floor, and herself.

Awesome.

Like I said the other day, this is a child who rarely vomits, so I knew things were pretty back. She generally has an iron stomach.

I picked her up and carried her upstairs into the shower with me, leaving my poor hubs to sop up the puke. Totally liquid, at least, no chunks. Thank heavens for small favors! But it was a bucketful. Why am I sharing the puke details?! Because it's 2:10 AM and I can, that's why.

She has a big booboo on her back, covered in a Band-aid, so she sobbed in the shower, telling me she didn't want me to wash her. I kept shh-shhing her, telling her I could put on a new band-aid, but she was pretty inconsolable. She kept begging me for water (while we were in the shower), but I told her she needed to wait a little while because her tummy was upset.

She wanted water so badly, I knew she was becoming dehydrated, so I decided on the spot to whisk the three of them back off to the ER. It was too late in the day to snag a regular doctor appointment, so I had no choice. We said good bye to Dad, packed them up in jammies and socks and comfy coats, and off we went.

Halfway there, I heard Sophie puking all over my car. Again, AWESOME. At least her coat and my huge bag stuffed full of canvas bags caught most of it, and can be easily laundered. She didn't get any on herself, miraculously, so I didn't have to go home and change her.

At the ER, we checked in, and all three kids were handed hospital barf bags. Both girls quickly made use of theirs, which I guess set off some kind of bells to move us up faster in triage, because we were abruptly taken to the back - ahead of at least two dozen people in the waiting room.

I kept hearing "where is the Odette family? I have the Odette family. Odette family this, Odette family that..."

Vitals were checked, and soon the doctor came in to check them. I'd thought it would be a couple hours' wait, but they were seen immediately! He didn't hear anything peculiar in Chloë's chest, but he sent her off for x-rays after I told him she was diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday. The x-rays came back clear, so the other two weren't checked.

I was sure he was going to put the girls on IV fluids, as he'd mentioned on his first visit, but for some reason I forgot to ascertain, he changed his mind and abruptly discharged them. He pronounced them sick with the flu, but too far in to be given Tamiflu.  Of course, he told me to give them lots of fluids, but didn't quite mention how I was supposed to do that when they kept puking everything up, other than to say "try to give it when their fevers are down."

Hm, great.

On the way home, I briefly contemplated calling in a cleaning service to sanitize the house from top to bottom, until I remembered we have no money for that. Crap. That means it's up to me!

I stopped at the store for some popsicles, OJ and goldfish crackers, which the boy requested. We got home at 1800, and Sophia ate a popsicle. I was at the stove, heating up a pot of chicken noodle soup for Chloë and Jack, when I heard a weird burping noise. I asked who that was and turned around just in time to see Sophie upchucking her popsicle all over the back of the dog.

It just kept getting better and better, folks!!

So I quickly cleaned that up, and was glad that again she didn't get herself. After realizing the futility of my instructions to run to the bathroom when she had to be sick, I fashioned her a barf bag like the one at the hospital. She hasn't barfed since. That sound you hear is me, knocking on wood.

She asked for some soup, so I heated up some broth, no noodles. She didn't touch it, but she did sip a little orange juice, and she managed to keep that down. Phew.

So after that, everyone was flopped back down on the couch, and I planned to start cleaning in earnest. Only... I fell asleep with them again! Lazy bones. I'm just so tired lately. And when I got up, I had the deep cough back in my chest that I was free of for the past several days. Great. If I get sick again, I will positively lose it!

We slept for hours, too. It was after 2200 when I woke up. I sent Chloë up to bed; she and Jack MAY go to school in the morning, depending on how they're doing. We'll see. Sophie is a definite no. The other two stayed asleep.

Rob came home, so I went out to Walgreens to do a little fun shopping. I say "fun," because I worked out some deals to get lots of stuff for free:

{For all that, I paid right about $20. I got $46 in free stuff!  Now I'm done with buying Halloween candy (we get a lot of ToTers), and I can use those three Mentos gums for Tooth Fairy gifts. Rob, of course, will eat the five Snickers I got free, and we really needed that toothpaste. I collect lots of chapstick, so yay, and the kids will drink up some of that Sprite tomorrow, I'm sure. So I only ended up with two things I can't use (the Dulcolax and Lysol refill I don't have the dispenser for), which I'll post on Freecycle for some other lucky soul.}

I could have gotten lots more, but they were out of lots of their advertised deals. That always drives me nuts, stupid Walgreens!

It's now 0230. I'm going to give the littlest another shot of cough meds and then try to get her settled down again. Ciao!

Fin.

Bunny-Like

As in, quick. For me. We shall see...

I've jumped back into the grind at work.  The Z-pack has really kicked the pneumonia/sinusitis/pharyngitis/bronchitis' ass, and I'm feeling pretty good. Except for having to run to the bathroom every so often to hack up a lung, that is.

And three things have happened in the last two days at work that have me feeling pretty good about myself:

1. A sweet old man, after telling me that he was doing "so-so," told me that if he was a "cute young chick" like me, he'd be doing fantastic. Did someone say "cute"?
2. A much younger man, maybe five years older than Rob (so early 40s), told me today that I had a very nice smile.
   
3. A much younger man, maybe my age, maybe younger, and sexy as hell, winked at me from three or four registers away. Take that as you will, but Rob's interpretation was, "Hey, you're a cute girl!"

So apparently, losing 140 pounds done wonders not only for my outward appearance but inner self-esteem. I'm liking things right now. I'm liking them very much.

When work is slow, and it often is, we are supposed to stand at the end of the check-out lane and wait for customers, to invite them in. Sometimes, 20 minutes will go by in the early mornings, with no takers. So I have lots of time to daydream. Thinking about my weight loss, and having talked to one of my managers about my surgery, I imagined a conversation wherein she asked me how I'd gotten so fat in the first place. And I'd give her the several reasons/excuses/explanations, not the least of which is that I really ate my way through my depression for the years following Robby's death. And that started me thinking about the depression and the suicide attempts. There were many. At least six, I think. And the kids remember the last one, although they do not know that that is what was going on. They bring it up from time to time, and it pains me. So then I was thinking about how, despite being broke as a joke, happy I am in my "new" body, how good I'm feeling (thanks in no small part to my bipolar diagnosis and nightly meds cocktail) mentally, and how awful, just how awful, it would have been if I had been successful.

How much I love those kids. How much they need me. How much I need them. How I would have completely devastated them, their lives, their futures...

So I'm grateful, very, very grateful, to have failed at that singular aim. I wanted so badly to take Robby's place. I was trying to die for the one I lost instead of living for the three I still had. I'm so thankful to have stepped out of that cloud and come back, if you will. I'm a lucky girl, in so many ways.

So much for this being a quick one.

So Rob is working nights now - did I mention that? He started last night - and it completely sucks. I was not cut out to be a single parent; I have said that before. I like sharing the duties, having someone to complain to and commiserate with about the hard parenting stuff, and you know, sharing the good, fun times, too. But mostly I miss having someone to split up the chauffering duties with!

Today, as soon as the kids got home from school, I had Chloë change out of her school clothes and into her dance leotard and pants. We headed back to HT (my work) to:

1. Show my pre-surgery picture to my manager, C, whose jaw completely dropped,
2. Buy the Pink Ribbon 99¢ cookies (which had been discounted 75% and which were apparently pretty nasty) for the kids' after-school snack,
3. Buy Tic-Tacs and get a dollar back, for Tooth Fairy duties tonight (yes, she struck again), and
   
4. Talk to same manager, C, about changing my availability, now that Rob is working nights.

That was a quick in-and-out, during which each of the kids acquired a free helium balloon. Two of them, the younger pair, let theirs go as soon as we walked out of the store. Scoundrels!

We headed straight over to dance class then. Chloë went in to dance, and Jack came up front with me to do his homework. From his homework folder, I pulled out his School PIctures and had the horrified-yet-amused reaction to this awful pose:

Uh.Muh.Guh. Is that awful, or what? I showed it to Jack, and he burst out laughing! I was amused at his reaction, but geez.... it's terrible! (And look how yellow his teeth look! They really are not that yellow IRL). Since I never took his 6-year pictures at Sears, I was just going to let his end-of-kinder pix and beg-of-1st pix suffice, but, holy cow. I think I will keep some of these just because Jack thinks they're so hysterical, though!

Chloë's is much nicer:

I like it, although Rob absolutely detests that dress, and her face looks much rounder here than IRL. I can see Robby in her when I look at this picture.

So. Homework progressed, and he did pretty well. He farted majorly stinky farts the whole time and kept cracking up at himself. Ugh. Such a boy!! He couldn't decide what he was prouder of, smelling like shit or that awful photograph!

He still does NOT know how to write the numbers from about 11+, so I am constantly making him write them and then tell me what they are. It's just not sinking in and is becoming very frustrating for both of us. I'll have to come up with a much funner way to do it.

Anyway, dance ended, and we went directly to IH*P for dinner, for a shop. That went pretty well, although they seat all parties with kids in the same section, and some of the rowdier kids in the bunch got mine going, which annoyed me. My kids KNOW how to behave in a restaurant, but when they are hyped up, it all goes to pot. Guess I know why they seat them all together in the back!

There was a very nice family seated right behind ours, and there was a lot of cross-chat between our two families. So it was with no hesitation half-way through our meal that I got up, tapped the other mother on the shoulder and whispered, "Can you please keep an eye on my kids? I have to go throw up!" yeah, I'm still doing a lot of that. She was more than willing to help, so I went off to do that, and when I came back, after questioning me about my okay-ness, she informed me that they basically shared their whole lives in five minutes. Mostly about school, phew! At least no one blew our cover.

Back at home, I suddenly remembered the massive day I have tomorrow. I'll tell you about it now, just because I'm doubtful I'll have time to blog much about it after the fact:

1. To my PCP for my PAP, the first one since my hysterectomy, to make sure the bad guys haven't returned. (I think I will absolutely scream if anything comes back abnormal again. Cross your fingers! Or your labia!)
2. To Newport News for my 9-month post-surgery check-up, which will take an hour or so each way to drive, 15-30 minutes in the waiting room, and 5 minutes, max, with the doctor
3. To the bank to finally deposit the remaining Brownie troop dues
4. To the post office to mail three tutus I just made tonight after Etsy orders came in and re-mail Jack's 2T wardrobe (which was returned because I used an alcohol box the first time, wasting $12. Bah!)
5. Home to bake something, anything, for
6. Collect the kids and take them to Troop Leader's house for Juliet Gordon Lowe's birthday party (and bring my entire XXXXXXXXXXL wardrobe to M to try on later)
   
7. Leave early to go to Chloë's soccer practice (which we missed on Tuesday b/c I felt like utter doodyballs)
8. Leave early to go to Sophie's soccer practice
9. Leave early to go to Jack's den meeting (or is it a pack meeting? I forget now, it's almost 2 AM), where they are NOT to wear class-A uniforms but instead must come in costume and bring their pumpkins from the pumpkin patch visit a couple weekends ago.

So. After we got home from dinner, Chloë started her homework while Jack, Sophia and I carved their pumpkins. I made them rip out the innards - which they hated and bellyached about to no end - before I would carve them. They did a half-ass job, though, so I found myself arm-deep in gourd guts anyway. I am a crappy jack-o'-lantern maker. Observe:

It didn't matter, though, because they were both thrilled with the results and said they were exactly what they wanted. Great! Who could ask for anything more? (Sophia went to the Farmer's Market with her preschool class last week, and they all got a pumpkin there. Chloë doesn't have one yet.)

After the pumpkins, they had a quick dessert, and the littles went to bed. Chloë and I finished her homework and worked on getting the soccer gear ready for tomorrow's tour-de-Virgina Beach, and had a conversation that left me in tears. She was telling me about a classroom assignment today, wherein they had to choose a word to describe themselves, starting with each letter in their first names. She chose caring for the "C" and loving for the "L" and I forget what for the "E," not able to think of anything for the "H" or "O."

I said, "What about 'happy'?" To which she broke my heart by replying, "But I'm not happy. I'm mad. All the time."

Oh, my God. I knew she was stressed out, but I did not think she was NOT happy. I don't care if my kids are cute. I don't care if they're smart. I don't care about any of that, as long as they are happy. Above all, I want my kids to be happy kids. My heart broke when she said that, it really did.

She came over to me, and we had a very long conversation about it, a heart-to-heart. There were lots of details, but basically it seems that the crux of the matter is that she doesn't like Sophia, wants to be an only child, and wants her own room back. When she said she didn't like Sophia, I bawled. Why does that hurt so much? I know it's normal. I know it is. But I'm pretty darn fond of the kid, and I want her older sister to be, too. Pain.

I told her I'd talk to Daddy about putting her back in her own room, and we'd go from there. I hope that solves things. She really is stressed out. Mommy yelling, Daddy yelling, problems with friends, problems with school/schoolwork/tests/the gifted class, etc., don't seem to be the matter. I worry about Jack and Sophia sharing a room, but I care much more about Chloë's mental health than I do about more destruction of physical property.

Phew. Heavy stuff.

On a lighter note, no sooner did Chloë go up to bed than she came running back down to tell me, "Jack climbed up on the dresser and then peed a fountain out into the room!"

Good golly, where is my husband when I need him??!!!?!

S'late. I'm out.

Fin.

Spackle.

I like that word. Spackle. Say it. "Spackle." It's fun.

Anyway.

Let me (try to briefly) recap:

Friday.

Still sick, still feeling miserable, I didn't accomplish much. However, I did transform this monstrosity:

into this beauty:

Looks good enough to dive into and start knitting, right? It took me two hours and the removal of lots of dog hair. The cat was largely responsible for the look in the first photo. She had a grand ol' time playing in my yarn while it was stored upstairs in the bedroom, out of my constant view. Naughty Tink! I have imposed a feeding strike on her for that. I jest, I jest. Not that her fat ass couldn't use it. 

When Rob came home, our plan was to go right out to dinner for a mystery shop. Instead, Jack snapped his glasses in half, right at the bridge, and we had to make a quick run to Walmart to replace them - free! In the space of 20 minutes, they'd looked at his glasses, pulled down the identical replacement frames, installed the old lenses in them, and sent him on his way. I don't know who was more relieved - me, at not having to pay anything and having him able to see without a wait, or him, for not being in trouble. Probably him. I've seen me when I get mad, and it ain't fun.

Since we were already at Wal-mart, and since Sophie was responsible for her soccer team's after-game snacks the next morning, we did a little shopping. Unfortunately, it's pretty much expected that we have to feed all the players' siblings, too, so I had a cart loaded with juice boxes, bananas, and Go-gurts, as they were out of string cheese. And I remembered I had but four pairs of undies at home that fit, now that I gave all the gigundapannies away (it's a word; Google it), so I got some of those, too. Knickers and 'nanners. I just wanted to say that.

I had Rob text me the three codes I had for three free Redbox rentals, having noticed the machine on the way into the store. I'd gotten them as a reward for some of my grocery purchases last week. It's been a while since we've had free movies 'round here, and I was ready for some TV time!

We rushed home in the rain and collected the rest of the Fam for our dinner out, at last. That did not go by without incident. MY children behaved, but one of the servers did not, and that will be a fun report to type. I wish I could tell you what happened, but I'd probably get spanked for that. Not that I don't enjoy a good spanking.

After the kids went to bed, we fired up the first movie: Management, with Steve Zahn and Jennifer Aniston. It was cute, and we both enjoyed it. The second movie was Sunshine Cleaning, with Adam Arkin, Amy Adams, and Emily Blunt. Great movie; I recommend it! But the best part was that I was able to get the second mitt done for Baby Luke's alpaca layette. Unfortunately, I forgot to photograph it, so just look at this one and pretend there are two there:

Saturday.

The girls' soccer games ended up being cancelled, which means I'd bought all that stuff for... well, I guess for my kids, but will now have to buy it again next month for the make-up game. Bah.

The good thing, though, was that Rob was able to take Jack and the girls to the Cub Scouts' visit to the SPCA. First, they went around the neighborhood where his pack meets to collect supplies for the animals, and then they toured the SPCA. Later, they told me about all the animals they'd seen. Chloë, aware that I've wanted a Chihuahua puppy since childhood, is ever on the lookout for me; alas, there wasn't one there. It's probably a good thing, since we're not exactly in an acquisition phase now that Operation Sweet Pea (the boat plan) is in effect!

As for me, I went back to work, after four or five sick days. It didn't last long. I was there all of 2½ hours before I had to run to the bathroom to blow my nose. In there, I started coughing up more blood - I'd done it Friday night, too. Egads. That can never be a good thing, right? I went out to tell my manager, and she was kind of pissy about it, like, "Fine, leave if you want to." Um? Can it really be a good thing to be around customers - and their food - in that condition? So, whatever, I left. Now I'm probably the Problem Child at work, but truly, I felt like shit!

Rob was home when I got home, but not for long, as he and the Littles had to take Chloë to her friend's birthday party at the movie theater. I'd remembered to pack her gift before work, at least, but I'd forgotten a card. While they went to the party (she saw Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and loved it), I headed to the ER to determine the cause of my bloody sputum.

Tests upon tests were run. X-rays were taken. I waited for hours. I was asked a million times if I was a smoker. I slept. I emailed and texted and Facebooked on my iPhone.  Finally, my official diagnoses: Bronchitis. Pharyngitis. Sinusitis. Hemoptysis. (Don't ask me to pronounce that.) With a touch of pneumonia. Basically: Sick! They sent me home with Rxs for the Z-pack (antibiotics) and more cough syrup with codeine.

I went home and canceled my shops for the rest of the day, ready to just lie down and die. Rob gave me a shot of the cough syrup I already had, which, MAN, that gives me some crazy dreams, and I was out.

Sunday.

I slept late because of the drugs, entirely missing Stephanie's text message at 0245 saying that her water broke and she was in labor. Dammit, I missed the whole thing. Luke was born before I woke up! I wish I could have been at the hospital; the only births I've been present for have been my own children. It's just as well; I wouldn't have been in the OR anyway, and she needed her rest afterward. And family time. So, okay.

I woke up just in time for us to make it to my lunch shop at the Oceanfront. I know, I should have stayed home in bed, but I'm a stubborn girl. What can I say? The shops were low-key, anyway. Lunch went well and smoothly, and then we headed to the party store for another shop.

Sophie accompanied me while the rest stayed in the car. We looked at the jillion costumes on display, not intending to buy her one, when she spied the doctor get-up. Have I told you that lately she claims she's going to be a doctor when she grows up? So of course she had to have that one. I gave in, what the hell. My plan has been to collect "over the hill" and "40" themed merch at these party shops over the next three years, in preparation for Rob's next big birthday, but a little diversion from the plan won't hurt. And she was thrilled, so yay.

We had to go home between shops, because my phone completely died, and I couldn't take notes. Oopsie. We went home long enough for me to charge up a little and look at my shop form, and then I took Jack out to do the second shop. Rob stayed home with the girls to clean up their rooms and do laundry.

Jack didn't have a costume yet, so I fully intended on getting him one. Only, trial after trial, the store was out of the costume he wanted. Superman? No. Batman? No. Power Ranger? No. And so on and so forth. Finally he picked a Star Wars one (I have no idea what the guy is, but Tim would know), and they had it in stock. He was happy with it. Phew. We finished the shop and went home to, again, collect the rest of the family for another dinner shop.

Hadn't we just eaten? Yes, we had, it seemed, but here we were again, out to eat. I didn't touch a single bite of my food; too stuffed. The kids barely ate, either. But we had free meals for all three of them, and when they messed up our order, they gave us our drinks and appetizer free, too! Hey, hey.

I was all set to go home and chill for the night after that, but Steph wanted me to come to the hospital at that point. Of course! I finally got to see the baby. But all about that visit in the last post; I won't repeat.

Monday.

Steph had planned to go with me on a lunch shop this afternoon, but when she went and had her baby, darn her, I called in Linda to substitute. She was game. I was going to bring Stephanie McDonald's, as requested, for lunch before I went out to lunch, but I way overslept. As in, I meant to sleep from 0800 to 10, but didn't get up until ten after noon. Oops. I needed it, though.

Lunch was fun, although drawn-out and much longer than it needed to be. It was fine, though. Good, fun, chatty company. We didn't eat much and took a ton of food home. The server must have wondered why we kept ordering more food we didn't eat!

Linda gave me a couple pairs of nice pants in size 16. Since the new 18s I just bought at the thrift store are already falling down on me, I'm hoping they'll fit when I try them on! I'm so close to being at my next goal... hopefully I'll hit it this week!

I went home just in time to collect the kids from the bus. I threw them in the rental car, and we went off to Progressive to collect Vanna from the repair shop. We waited a LONG time, but the kids behaved like perfect little angels. I kind of couldn't believe it, since it was boring and there wasn't a lot to do. Three Highlights magazines in the waiting room saved the day, and they all sat in separate chairs, reading quietly. Awesome.

Rob was already home when we got there, so he took the kids to go pick up my antibiotics Rx (yes, two days later... hush), while I stayed home to relax and work on all my reports that have been building up this weekend, unfinished. I got a little done, but I felt sick and lay down for much of the time.

We were going to go out to dinner for another shop tonight, but I just didn't feel up to it. I got back to work tomorrow morning, so I'm hopeful everything will go well and normally.

That's about it. Rob's starting nights tomorrow, so he's getting up with the kids tomorrow for school. yay, I'm off breakfast-and-lunch duty. Boo, I'm on permanent dinner-and-homework duty. We'll manage. Oh, crap, how am I going to get all three kids to their different activities at the same time, especially on Thursdays??

Not awesome. Once again, the Navy is royally screwing up my plans! ;)

Anyway, back to my reports. Ta.

Fin.

Shot Through The Heart

I'm talkin' 'bout bullets, people:

• I was scheduled to work today, 11 AM - 4 PM. I am SO sick of the boot (post-op shoe) I've been wearing for my broken toe, and it's been feeling pretty good lately, so I opted to wear my sneakers on both feet lately. BIG MISTAKE. By 1:30 PM, I was practically in tears. I called home to see if Rob could bring me the boot, but I had all the carseats with me and he couldn't. My manager was standing right next to me, and since she needed to cut hours anyway, she sent me home. That part sucked, but it was nice being home with my family.
• 
  
• Rob tried to go get his motorcycle road test done at the DMV today before I left for work (never mind that he should have been doing that instead of, well, me when he came home early the other day), but something was wrong and they had a notice that NO ONE could do any kind of tests or get licenses or anything. That sucked, too. He's still driving that gas-guzzler of a LandCruiser after all this time!
• 
  
• Chloë and I decided to go out and sell candy and nuts for the Girl Scouts, since we haven't done any of that yet and the sale is several weeks old. (Thank you, soccer.) We only went to one house before the skies opened up and we had to go home in the rain. That sucked, too! 
• 
  
• I was tired, so I decided to take a nap, telling Rob to wake me up in time to go to church. Well, I woke up on my own - 15 minutes past when we were supposed to be at church. He fell asleep, too, and didn't set an alarm. Guess whether it sucked??
• 
  
• Stephanie and Tim (aka "Stim") arrived after their own church service, so Steph and I could go out and do a mystery shop at the bar of her favorite restaurant (drinking not required, which is a good thing since I can't, and she's nearly 37 weeks pregnant). That did not suck. We have been talking all things 'baby' whenever we get together lately, and I have a feeling it's a topic neither of us would tire of quickly!
• 
  
• I drove Steph home and got to look at Baby Luke's newly-painted nursery, and all of the goodies they've acquired for him. I am jealous; I wish it were me having a newborn in the house! I told Rob today that we could have a surrogate baby, since I still have an ovary and he still has testes, albeit with a severed connection... He firmly answered "no!" Harumph. I would have three more if I could!
• 
  
• I got home after 9 PM, and Rob was just then feeding the kids some dinner. Good thing it's a Saturday night. He deviated from the menu plan, though; I'll have to spank him later. ;) Then all three of them cashed in some Dad Dollars so they could stay up late. We let them go 'til 2300. What the heck, we don't have to be anywhere 'til noon tomorrow. They cashed in more DDs so they could watch TV. I still hear them playing upstairs, though. Stinkers!

And that's about all I've got for this fine October Saturday. What about y'all?

Fin.

Back To Bed

Wow. It's amazing what a mere four hours of work will do to a 33-year-old body. I'm so tired after working that shift yesterday and today, I slept for nearly three hours after Rob came home from work today. And I'm still dragging! Lame.

Since I went through all my super-huge fat clothes and bagged up everything with more than one "X" in the size (I hate to share my size, but what the heck, I share damn near everything else, so I'm hovering between a Large and an XL, and am about an 18 in pants - but that's down from XXXXL and 26 or so, so I guess I'm doing pretty good. It would be much smaller if I got a tummy tuck, because my super-saggy - "super" being the word of the day - baby belly isn't going anywhere without it, and gets in the way) I was left with barely half a dozen wearable items in my closet.

And since yesterday was "military Monday" at the CHKD thrift store, and also since they get some pretty damn decent name-brand clothes in there at ridiculously low prices, well, boy howdy, I decided we were going to go there last night to fill out my smaller wardrobe. And that we did.

We spent about two hours and 88 bucks on tons and tons of new clothes for me, all nice, all in good condition. There is no changing room there, so I kept shucking off my clothes right in the middle of the aisle to try on clothes! At first I was very modest about it, but I got less so as I became more tired and hot.  Some people got quite a show - hopefully, they were all female. One time, I was pulling off my pants and my undies came down with them. Hee! (Rob liked that.) I'm wearing one of my new outfits now, a nubby brownish sweater and brown pants. It feels nice. I feel like I look good, between the clothes and the haircut.

Edit to add: And I felt even better when I tried on some clothes in my new size, and Rob told me, "Oh, no, that's WAY too big!" Proving that you can't just go by the number on the tag, but still, it was a good feeling. And I was told again today at work that I looked mid-20s and not old enough to have an 8yo child. Woot!

If only I could get that tummy tuck, I'd feel just smashing! I need to prove that it's medically necessary, and I intend to attempt to do just that. There is no way we can cough up the funds for another surgery. If I can't, I'll obviously have to live with it, but it will suck big hairy donkey balls.

So that's about all that has been out of the routine. We forgot about Cub Scouts last night after all the clothes shopping, whoops. Kids have gone to school, I've gone to work, Curls has gone to soccer... week in, week out, same old, same old.

Oh, and I made this tutu for my bestie Lisa's baby girl, Emilie. I shipped that off tonight, along with Sophie's entire 3T wardrobe that sold on eBay this weekend. Someone got a great deal!  I still have to make another tutu, all-black this time, for someone who bought a pink-and-black one, ON CLEARANCE, from me on Etsy, and then specified in the purchase order that she wanted all black instead. Grrrr. 

Anyway. Guess I better come up with some kind of picture for Wordless Wednesday tomorrow. See y'all.

Fin.

What. A. Day. ... What. A. Night!

Forewarning: This will be long!

I didn't go to bed 'til, like, 0200 or something, and I had to get up at the buttcrack of dawn (0630) to wake up The Fam. I haven't stopped running since. Both girls had to be at their soccer fields at the insane-if-you-ask-me hour of 0745. Sophie's game was at 0800, and Chloë's was at 0830, but her team pictures were scheduled for 0745. How do they expect these kids to play when they are so darn tired?! Anyway, I managed to sneak behind the professional shutterbug and snap these pictures of my older soccer player. He requested she not wear her glasses - fine by me! Now you can see her face.

Here's the whole team of Purple Dolphins, minus one who didn't show. On the left is Coach Cam, and on the right is Coach Matt. I stayed and watched the photo shoot while Rob took Sophie to her game. They were short players - and therefore parents - and he ended up coaching Sophie's half of the team while CoachJohn took the other three girls. Glad it wasn't me!

They had one picture for being silly! Too cute.

Can you see my little Chlo running out there in the middle? Unfortunately, I forgot to put a memory card in the new camera, so these are all the soccer pics I was able to get next week. I have one now, so maybe more and better ones next week, after I've had a little time to learn the camera some more.

We're SO proud of the girls today. I first watched Chloë play, and she ran her little heart out! She even managed to steal the ball away from the other team and kick it halfway down the field before they stole it back. Then she kicked the ball and slipped on it, twisting her leg. She was just sobbing, and I held her and let her cry into my shoulder until snack time, when she was magically better. Jack and I left her then, running down to Field 3 from Field 5, to see Sophia play.

Now, Sophie was completely exhausted from staying up too late herself. She was sound asleep while I dressed her in her soccer clothes, and didn't really wake up until halfway to the Sportsplex! So I didn't expect much out of her for today's early game. But when Jack and I arrived to find Daddy coaching, Sophia was running clear from one end of the field to the other, with the ball in her control, and made a kick for the goal. She missed, but it's clear she could be really talented at this support if she would just apply herself.

She saw me, then, and left the field, refusing to go back. So I bribed her, telling her that if she would just stay ON the field - she didn't even have to play, just stay on the field with her teammates - I would take the kids to Linda and Tony's house later, at night. Of course, they were going to go anyway, so I was banking on the fact that they super-enjoy going there, and as I'd hoped, it proved to be enough incentive. She literally just stood there on the field, but at least she got out there!

Back to Chloë's game we ran. Just in time to see her put back in the game and take the ball away from the opposing team again! She only got a couple little kicks in, but I was so proud of her - and I could tell the other parents were, too! Several of them know she has a background in dancing, and everyone knows this is her first season playing soccer, so they were really shouting out encouragements to her. I guess it worked! I was elated. So  happy for her! Well, except when an opposing team member completely body-checked her, and she got hurt again. Ugh! Poor thing.

Jack and I arrived back at Field 3 just in time to see the game end, with Sophie standing there sucking her thumb. No matter. She stayed! Rob and I lined up across from each other, to make the tunnel for all the players to run through - Sophie's favorite part of the games after snack time. We grabbed her post-game snack, said sayonara to Coach John, and ran back to Field 5 with Daddy.  Chloë continued to run with the pack, really getting in there and attacking that ball whenever she had the chance. As Coach Matt said, she really showed some hustle today, and he noticed a major improvement over last week.

Good job, girls!!

After we again made the tunnel for the players and fetched Chloë's post-game snack, we finally headed home after 2½ hours at the Sportsplex. By now, the kids were pumped up and raring to go.

Rob again didn't get his motorcycle license today, because like the past three weekends, it's been too late after soccer ends to get in the DMV on time. Maybe next weekend he'll just have to miss a game, and make taking that test as high a priority as it is for me to stop paying a trillion dollars every three days to fill up his LandCruiser with gas. Know what I'm sayin'?

I had a lunch date with Steph for a mystery shop, and the girls were originally supposed to go with me while Jack and Rob sold popcorn. Their sale was canceled, so the four of them stayed home and cleaned the kids' rooms while Steph and I had a lunch date. 

I had a really nice time with her today! We had a great conversation over a very nice meal, and it was wonderful to be able to go without the kids hanging on our every word. She's really close to having Baby Luke now, so we talked at length about all things labor, delivery, and newborns.  I can't wait to meet the littlest Goetsch!

Let's see, let's see... what next? Oh, after lunch, Steph and I headed to Toys 'R Us to do a little birthday present shopping. Well, I did. She's 90 weeks pregnant and had to pee. Hehe. On Friday, Sophie was invited to a classmate's birthday party on Sunday. Hello, short notice! But I figure it's good karma to let them go to as many parties as they can attend and make the honoree happy. I bought an "I Spy" game and a reusable gift bag that I hope the mama, well, reuses.

We came home and chatted some more in our kitchen, and then Steph took her leave. Rob took some "before" pictures of me, since I was about to go get a haircut, but I hate them. I think I look a lot fatter in the pictures than I do in real life, so I don't want to show them. Oh, what the hell. This is today, at 130 lbs lost, but I'll take newer, better ones at the 150-lb mark:

Focus on the hair. There was a big change from that to this:

Which I just LOVE!

As for the clothes, I'm wearing a shirt and jeans that I've never been able to wear before. After my shower, I went through my whole wardrobe and dismissed everything that was a 2x or 3x (I only want ONE X in my clothes now; the others just hang off me and look ridiculous), or a 20+ size. It does me some mental good to get rid of those humongo sizes, and it does me some mental good to only have smaller sizes in my closet. Unfortunately, that leaves me with about three things I can wear, not including my work uniform, so I will need to head to the thrift store on Monday and take advantage of the 20% Military-Monday discount! They get some really good clothes in there and assign them awesome prices, so I should get some great deals.

Anyway, I went to get my haircut, and I knew exactly what I wanted. My sister gave me layer upon ridiculous layer, and I was so sick of it. It just did NOT look good on me. What was she thinking?!! So, I wanted a chin-length bob, angled toward my face, to get rid of the layers.

Tommy cut my hair; it was the first time a man has ever cut my hair before. He was the only stylist available on such short notice when I called earlier in the week, fed up with my tresses, but I wasn't worried, since he owns the place and has cut both Jack and Sophie's hair in the past.

He was a man of few words, being both tired and sore from working all day, but I rather liked it. I'm not really a big fan of all the hair salon chit-chat. I always feel like I have to come up with some juicy gossip or some really interesting tidbit about my life, and it's agonizing for me. I'd rather just sit quietly and enjoy the pampering.

At the end, though, I could tell he was just as pleased as punch with my haircut - as much as I was! He kept showing me off to other stylists and clients alike, and they all gushed about how great it looked on me. I have to agree - I felt rather hot and sexy with my new 'do! Rob also concurs. He's been all over me ever since I came home. Hee!

Rob and I had a dinner date down at Rudee's Inlet (a marina near the oceanfront), so we dropped the kids off at Linda and Tony's and headed out to another mystery shop. Our expectations were high, as I had a rather large dinner budget, but the place just did not meet our pre-conceived notions. By itself, it didn't suck, but it was not at all what we thought it would be. We were expecting something like the Ruth's Chris of seafood restaurants, and instead it was more low-key, casual, with a cafeteria-like feel. Lots of children. And we spent less than half of our budget. Which is fine, but it just wasn't the fancy night out for which we were hoping. Oh, well.

Rob took this picture of me at dinner, so I could put it up on Facebook as my new profile image. Not bad, but he never tells me when my hair is a mess or something needs fixing!

Not that I can complain much, because what the hell is he doing in this picture? I have no idea.

For an appetizer, Rob got a half-dozen oysters, and I chose the jumbo shrimp cocktail. I shared half of mine with him, because of course I couldn't eat it all. It was really good, though, as was all our food. The food wasn't the issue. It was the ambiance. Eh, well.

For an entrée, Rob had the tuna special, while I chose the crabcake combo, including broiled lemon-pepper scallops (yum), green beans and baby potatoes. I ate about two bites of that before I had to run to the bathroom and puke. I think I'm developing a problem with that, but I don't know. I have to make myself throw up, sticking my finger down my throat, to relieve the discomfort of too much food or something just not sitting right in my pouch. It happens an awful lot, and while I'm doing it to relieve pain and not to get skinny, exactly, sometimes I wonder if I'm doing it out of habit or because I really need to. I think I should talk about it with my doctor, and also find a new therapist. Sigh.

Rob ordered the chocolate eclair cake for dessert. Apparently it was quite tasty but too sweet. He got an upset stomach after that and has been crapping his brains out ever since! Poor thing.

So after we picked up the children from Linda's, we headed over to HT where I work to get a few groceries. Little did I know what drama that would entail...

I didn't really know what I wanted, just that a lot of produce was on special. I was out of fruit for the kids' lunches, so I picked up lots of good fruits and veggies for next week: apples, bananas, peaches, nectarines, grapes, baby carrots... and more. Some fresh baked bread, some cheeses and whole grain crackers for my own snacks, some Cokes on sale, but mostly good, fresh, healthy stuff. A lot of stuff, much more than what I'd expected to buy.

I'd never spoken to or really met the store manager, T, before tonight. He'd never introduced himself to me while I was working, or vice-versa. So when I asked a deli clerk for help with some cheese, she in turn needed help and called him. I told him who I was and that I worked there, and thanked him for the help. That was that.

But then, when we checked out, our order came to $160. I had $80 in cash and wanted to pay the rest on my debit card. You with me? Well, the cashier rang in the $80 cash twice, essentially paying for our order without allowing me to use the card. He proceeded to try to give me change to boot! I stopped him, of course, and told him that he had made a mistake. He refused to admit his mistake, but I wasn't going to allow him to be $80 short, so we called customer service.

The store got really busy all of a sudden then, so we waited and waited and waited until someone could help us. Finally, T, the store manager, took us over to the customer service desk to straighten things out. Unfortunately, something in their system changes at 10 pm, and it had just turned to 10 pm, and he wasn't able to fix the mistake. (I'm trying to make this long story short, so sorry if it's a little confusing!) Finally, in frustration I think, he said, "I just canceled it out. Go ahead, have a nice night."

Huh? What? I was like, "But, but..." and he insisted, "Go on. Have a good night!"

So what happened was, we got $160 worth of food for only $80, because he wasn't able to fix the problem. I was stunned. It wasn't my fault, but I still feel really guilty about it, like I was scamming my store out of food... but that's Harris Teeter for you! They really take care of their customers, and I was treated like one myself. I even offered to let him dock my pay for the amount, but he insisted we just go. Wow. Rob and I were both incredulous.

But that's not all. When we got home, we realized that Rob had had my wallet while this was all going on, and he'd forgotten to take it out of the cart and bring it in the van with us. We couldn't find it anywhere, and I was trying like hell to maintain my composure and not go ballistic on him. That wallet is basically my whole life; I'd be up shit's creek without a paddle if it was lost or stolen!

We got everyone back in the van and rushed back to HT, calling the store on the way to see if it had been turned in. The manager, T, was looking all over for my wallet in the shopping carts, while Rob and I searched the van. Finally, T came over and informed us that he'd found it! Thank God, thank God, thank God. I was sending up major prayers of thanks... until I couldn't find my debit card!

T took Rob inside to look at the security tape from our transaction at customer service, to see what happened to that red card. I stayed outside with the children.  They came rushing out to tell me that the tape showed I'd stuffed it in my purse with the receipt, and we instantly found it. So, more thankfulness!

I turned to T and told him, "Sorry about all the drama tonight! I think I'm going to reintroduce myself to you on Monday when I come in to work!" He laughed, told me not to worry about it, and again wished us a good night. He seems like a really, truly great guy, and I like him immensely. I just wish I'd met him on better terms!

I'd promised the kids a treat long before, when we were leaving Linda's house, and Chloë and Jack still wanted to cash in. Sophie fell asleep in the car, so Rob carried her to bed and tucked her in while I took care of the groceries and fixed their treat. Jack just wanted some of the honey sunflower bread I'd bought - easy enough. Chloë decided on some chocolate-dipped bananas, so I melted the chocolate wafers I'd just bought and dipped about five sliced bananas. I had to try one myself, of course - pure deliciousness! She popped four or five before deciding that she'd had enough. That kid is really good at regulating her intake of sweets.

The treats don't look quite as good wrapped in green cellophane, do they? No. But trust me, they are the shizznat, and you want one.

And that, my friends, was our crazy Saturday. I hope you had a good one, too!

Fin.

Quick Like A Bunny

I still can't figure out how to get the pictures off my new camera, and I haven't had time to sit and figure it out. I don't know why I've suddenly come down with a case of Acute Idiocy, but I hope it clears up soon. I want my pictures!

I found out today that the psycho mom at the bus stop (not the one who beat her kid - she no longer comes to the bus stop - but the other one on whom I called CPS a while back) is moving to Connecticut in a few weeks. Ding dong, the witch is dead! I can't wait until she's gone. Seeing her sour face every morning and afternoon at the bus stop really brings down my mood.

I didn't have to work until 10 this morning, and I made the bad choice of going back to sleep after I put the kids on the bus. I figured on a half-hour's last-minute sleep, but it ended up being more like an hour-plus. Oopsy. I had just enough time to run through the shower and whisk off to the store. But I was on time, at least!

Today, they started off by putting me with someone to learn the U-Scan, which is the four customer-scanning register set. Most of the other cashiers haven't learned U-Scan, and I caught a few of them giving me the "WTF?!" look during that time. It's nice to know they think I'm capable of what some aren't, but truth be told, it's extremely boring and I hate it. I'd much rather run the register myself and keep busy. The U-Scan time dragged on slooooowly.

Then I ran the register for about 3-4 orders with Timothy, who taught me U-Scan, before he got sick of standing around doing nothing and demanded I be put by myself.  So, they did. I still don't have my own cashier numbers, so I ran on his number all day, and so did he, which is weird. Again, if it were me, I'd be pissed to have someone else running my number, but they run things really weird at this store compared to Publix, where I worked through college. Holy lot of run-ons, batman. But I do tend to run on, don't I...?

So that went fine. I wore the boot to work, and gave them my doctor's note, earning me the nickname "Hop-Along" for the day. I kind of wish I could just wear the Crocs; they are so much more comfortable than that stupid post-op shoe that doesn't fit! Oh, and to answer your many questions, I wear anywhere from a 5 to a 7 shoe, depending on the brand. Not exactly minuscule, but smallish. I don't know why the ER couldn't have maybe given me a kid's boot? The one I have is supposedly a Small and yet it extends 2" past my toes.

I had another customer I knew today - one of the brownies moms who had gastric bypass 2 months before I did.  I don't like her a whole ton, but she looks great. She's friendlier-seeming now that we have that in common, I think. We both complimented each other on our disappearing selves. I wonder who I'll run into tomorrow!

Oh, I know. Rob and Jack! I have to work again, so Rob is taking time off to get Jack to the hospital to pick up his new leg braces. I told him to swing by the store after and show me. I can't wait to see, and I'm really disappointed I can't go to that appointment. I hate missing such stuff.

After work, I had my hands full with my wallet, keys, iPhone, knitting, mail, a Coke... so when I was unlocking the front door, the iPhone slipped from my hands and smashed onto the brick threshold. My first thought was, "Oops, Rob's going to kill me for dropping it yet again." I drop it a LOT. But then, I looked down and saw that the screen was completely smashed to smithereens. Just demolished. Obliterated. I did a double-take, and maybe a triple. I couldn't believe it! I'd just completely ruined my latest obsession. Fuuuuuuuuuck!!!

I was so pissed. Like, furious. At myself, of course. Who else? It's my fault for quitting the purse-carrying lately. I don't know why I did, other than someone telling me recently that purses were dorky, and another someone telling me she was too cool for a purse, and another someone telling me her kid said "purses are for old ladies." Peer pressure, I guess! Dumb, dumb, dumb.

So I called AT&T and got the bad news that my $199 iPhone was now going to cost me $399 to replace with the early upgrade option, or $599 if I didn't use it. Hello! I JUST bought it in August! (I did find out that the protection plan doesn't cover dropping it, so at least I didn't kick myself in the butt over that one.)

I absolutely refused to do that, though, so I got Apple's phone number from them and found out they could give me a new phone for $199. Perfect! I made an appointment for tomorrow night, but they said I could do a walk-in tonight and see if they could fit me in. Yeah. Appointments at the Apple store. Who knew?

This post is turning out NOT to be as quick as I'd planned...

Anyhoo, the Littles and I took Chloë to her Jazz class and then ran to the Post Office. I had to mail back two Netflix movies we'd found during the floor thing, which I'd, uh, reported missing. And a Blu-Ray movie I just sold on eBay, and Jack's big box of 2T clothes which I'd also just sold on eBay, and a huge packet of expired coupons to an overseas Navy base, which I do every month. The Littles went inside with me, of course, and made everyone giggle over their antics. Well, most people. They kept fighting over who got to drop the package in the chute. It's a favorite job for them.

We were on our way to Sonic (I had another hankering for that egg-and-cheese croissanwich that made me barf while driving last week) (I never learn), when Rob texted me that he was home. Perfect! We ran home instead and picked him up, getting back to dance class just in time to get Curls.

The next stop was MacArthur Center, the big mall in downtown Norfolk where the Apple store is located. The "concierge" greeted us, with major attitude, and told me that no, I would NOT be getting a new phone for $199 but rather just a replacement screen. And furthermore, I could be waiting for hours if he put me in on stand-by without an appointment. Hum, okay... I had him put me on the list anyway.

I waited about 20 minutes. In that time, I realized that the Apple store, and Apple users in general, seem to be in their own little sub-culture of Weird. They are funky, they are snobby, they are assholes. I'm not saying they ALL are, but that was really the pervading nature of almost everyone I witnessed, both customers and employees alike. Huh.

Except for the nice young girl who came out to be my Tech Support person. She whisked my phone off to the secret little hidey-hole in the back where they Make Things New Again, and she came back out to tell me that she was out of replacement screens, so I would be getting a brand-new phone after all. Great! Honestly, I almost would have rather had the new screen, because then I wouldn't have to worry about losing any of my calendar data, my notes, my contacts, my apps, my whole life which was on that phone. But especially my calendar.

I got the new phone, coughed up the 200 smackers that we don't have, paid my stupid two-dollar parking bill (paid parking at a mall! Psht), and drove a handful of blocks away to the Norfolk Waterside. I had picked up a last-minute bonused dinner shop at H******s, the T&A wings place we all know and, um, love. 

The kids ate really well, even Jack, and they inhaled their dessert. We just sat back and watched the forks fly. It was amusing, to say the least. The Server was amused at how fast it disappeared into such small children. When it comes to sweets, my kids don't mess around! You'd think they never got any, but they do. Sillies.

So.

We came home, and while I helped Jack and Chloë finish their homework, I synced up my new iPhone to my iTunes account. And I was right to be worried. My contacts and apps survived the move, but my notes and calendar are completely gone. I am lost without my calendar. I'm really pretty bummed about it. I know I'm going to forget important things, because I no longer have them. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays... all gone, but even worse? Appointments, schedules, shops... I have no clue. Now what??!

I guess maybe I'll call the Apple store in the morning and see if they still have the old phone, and see if I can go get it or something. I NEED my data!

On that note, I'm going to take out my contacts and hit the hay.

Fin.

Back In The Boot

First, I'd really like to share a couple of pictures with you - nothing special, just something to spice up this post a bit - but I still can't figure out how to get the pictures off my new camera! I've read the manual. I've done what it says. No dice. Bah! I'm getting frustrated.

Tuesday.

Nothing really exciting happened before school, except that Virginia, the little girl who comes in the morning to go to wait for the bus with us, didn't come all last week, so I wasn't expecting her today. Imagine the fun when she walked into the house, and I was standing in the kitchen in just a bra and undies! And her big sister came in, too. I will get dressed first thing, from now on...

I worked six hours today, while the kids were at school. This time, I trained on the register. I did really well, and they kept leaving me alone while the girl training me had to go off and do different tasks. I think I pass. I got my own register a half-hour before I had to leave, so I guess one day of training was sufficient!

And I made friends with the girl who was training me, R. She's Romanian and close to my age and super nice. We talked all day long and now know half each others' lives! She doesn't have a car, so I gave her my number to call if she ever needs a ride. Hopefully she realized I meant it.

My day was made again today. My friend Christine, whom I worked with on the PTA board a lot the year before last, came in with her new baby. She exclaimed a great deal over how much weight I've lost and how good I look, which was nice. We agreed to do a lunch date soon.

Not only that, but people kept asking me if this was my first time working as a cashier, what I did before, blah blah. I kept saying I've been a stay-home mom for the past nearly-9 years, and they all said the same thing: "But you don't look old enough!"

To which, of course, I always asked, "How old do you think I am?" The answers ranged from 20 to 24. Whenever I informed them that I am, in fact, 33, their faces always registered disbelief. I got a lot of "Wow, you don't look anywhere near that!" Hey, I'll take it. I'm certain that I looked older when I was so much fatter, but now that I've lost a lot of the weight, I look younger again. It's not a bad thing! And it kept me smiling all day.

The only downside to working was that my broken toe, shoved in my sneaker all day, was absolutely killing me. KILLING. I was so relieved to sit down for my 15-min break and get off that foot. It hurt so much that, two weeks after I broke it, I finally took myself to the ER tonight to get a doctor's note. I'm only supposed to wear sneakers to work, but my Crocs are so much roomier and comfier for the toe, so I wanted a note from the ER.

They decided to do an x-ray, even though I've broken it at least three times before and assured them I knew it was broken again. It wasn't swollen or bruised anymore, so they thought it was just a sprain. Lo and behold, it's actually a good-sized fracture in that little toe, in the doc's words, "enough to be pretty uncomfortable." He couldn't believe I haven't been taking anything for the pain. Hey, my insides have been cut open five times now, I think I can handle a little tiny broken toe. Well, except when I have to wear tight sneakers, I guess!

So I got the note - and a lovely post-op shoe, to boot. (Pardon my pun.) They wanted something more supportive than the Crocs, I guess, although it seems less so to me since the size-small shoe they gave me is way too big. I have bitty feet. Not fun to drive in that thing. Hopefully when I go to work tomorrow with the note, it'll be no big deal. I hate to cause a fuss when I'm brandy-spanky new.

Oh, and speaking of looking 20? Yeah, I certainly don't feel 20. I thought I did, at least post-mega weight loss, but no, not so much. By the time I punched out, my joints were aching from neck to feet. I mean, bad. I couldn't wait to get the kids home and send the Littles for a nap so I could take one myself. Everything was stiff and sore, and I'm already over this work thing! The little bit of extra money will be nice, but I could do without all the bending and lifting all day long.

Yeah, I'm a whiner.

A tired whiner. I'm full of yawns. G'night.

Fin.

Eight Months Out

Friday night, I stayed up wicked late hosting my monthly online crochet-a-thon, so I was exhausted come Saturday morning. We had another early day, this time for Sophie's soccer game first. Chloë's wasn't until after noon.

Saturday was my 8-month surgiversary, so I weighed in - 127 lbs gone forever! And a lot of people have been commenting on it lately. At Chloë's math LD meeting at school last week, Mrs. P., the assistant principal, stopped me and said, "You look GREAT! Really GREAT!" I thanked her, and she said she hoped it was a planned thing and not that I was really sick or something. I told her about the surgery, and she asked me whether I was recovering well and all that. But it made up for no one saying anything at the back-to-school picnic!

That same day, I came home and my neighbor, Mr. C. told me that I must have lost a lot of weight. Again, I told him about the surgery, and he said, "Well, it looks really good on you!" And today, our neighbor on the other side, Ms. P., said, "You're doing great with your weight loss, it looks really great!" 

Oh, and last night at work, I ran into K, who used to work at the Farm Fresh around the corner from us. She was my buddy; I always went through her check-out line. But it's been so long since I've seen her, that I didn't quite remember where I knew her. Finally, she came up to me and asked if I was the FF customer who used to carry a ton of canvas bags and always had a lot of coupons. I laughed and assured her it was me. She said, "Wow, you've lost so much weight, I almost didn't recognize you! You look amazing!"

So yeah, 8 months out, and I'm doing fine. I can deal with all these nice compliments I'm getting lately! My goal now is to be below the 200-lb mark by my one-year surgiversary. That's only 14 lbs away, which is 3.5 lbs a month. I think I can do it! To get there, I'm amping up the protein intake and drinking as many shakes as I can stand. Working is going to interfere with that - I basically don't eat anything on my breaks, because... oh wait, I just remembered there is a fridge in the break room. Duh. I'll have to bring a shake to work for my breaks from now on. 

********

Anyway, back to Sophia's game: We had super-low expectations, based on last weekend's lack of play. Basically, we wanted her to go to the game and at least cheer her team-mates on from the sidelines. But then she said she wanted to go out and play, holding Daddy's hand. No sooner did they get on the field, than she changed her mind and balked. Rob refused to carry her around, so I carried her out to mid-field and plopped down with her. I tried again to get her to agree to run around holding Rob's hand, but this is what she did:

She hid under the watercooler chair for I-don't-know-how-long, until I gave up and just sat next to her, cheering on her teammates. She eventually came out and joined me, and then, surprising me, decided to go out and run with her Dad. I waved Rob over, and they went out and kicked the ball a few times with the team. Go, Sophie!

Mostly, she stayed on the sidelines with me, while her Coach (up there with the yellow shirts) tried to encourage her to play. Then, a second time, she agreed to run out there with her dad! Again, they only stayed for a few minutes, but she got a kick or two in and made us proud. Finally, in the last quarter of the game, she went out by herself without telling me she was going and stole the ball. She ran and ran with it toward the goal and very nearly made a goal, but missed. We were all shocked - Coach, Dad, and me! As Coach said, "I didn't know she had it in her!" Well, we did, but not during a game. Way to go, Soph!

During the game, while I was sitting mid-field (not in the way, the field halves are separated), I would talk to the other girls who were taking a break from play. One girl, Athena, told me all about her doggy who just went to heaven. Poor thing. And another girl, Alyssa, came sobbing into my arms to be held. I asked her if she was hurt, and she said, "No, my daddy says I have to do it right, but I just can't!" My heart broke for her. Hello, these girls are FOUR. It's about having fun, not excelling at soccer. I'd sure hate to hear that conversation on the way home, in the car. :(

Of course, Sophie's favorite part of the game is when it's over, and they get an awesome snack. Here, Coach J is telling all the girls (and their parents, since the kids aren't listening) what a great job they all did. I like him. I like both girls' coaches, actually. They really seem to care a lot about the girls' feelings as well as teaching them about the game. Unlike Jack's coach when he started at 4yo, who was a total dickwad!

After the game, we rushed home to get some lunch and have Jack get ready to sell popcorn again. He is getting so sick of it! He and Dad went off to their show-and-sell, where apparently he snapped back to life and did a really great job. They made a ton of money at that sale. Someone even bought Jack a $20 can of popcorn! Of course, that made his day. They worked the sale with a really nice father-and-son team, and the two hours went fast.

Meanwhile, we went back to the soccer field for Chloë's game. The prior game went way overtime, so the girls warmed up in a nearby area of the field for a while. I encouraged the hell out of my kid and even told her I'd give her, oh, I forget, maybe $10-15 Dad Dollars if she made a goal! In the end, I don't think I should have done that, because for her, it ended up being all about making a goal. She is very unsure, not confident, and intimidated by the other girls on her team - many of whom are practically twice her size - so she basically walked around through the whole game and did nothing. Sometimes she ran, especially when she caught my eye and I waved her on, but mostly she walked around, playing with her curls.

I could tell that she was just too afraid to get into the mix and try to get at that ball. So she hung back, afraid to get hurt or trampled, and did nothing. After the game, she came up to me, sobbing about not getting to make a goal. I hugged her tightly and, darn it, started crying myself.  I told her how proud I was of her just getting out there and running with her team, and that I knew how she felt. We went over and talked to Coach M, who hugged her and told her that she did a great job, showed some real hustle, and that he would put her in whatever position she wanted to try. She chose the middle, so I guess he'll put her their at the next practice. But he was very sweet and soft, and he encouraged her and made her - and me - feel better. I like the guy, gosh darn it.

Oh, and since there are only 7 teams, the Purple Dolphins didn't have another team to play against this week, so they split in half and played themselves. No win, no loss.

Here's where Sophie spent much of Chloë's game! She was cold and tired, so she huddled up in one of Rob's camp chairs. It was pretty cute. When she wasn't doing that, she ran around with our soccer ball and the other tag-along siblings, or catching bugs, or visiting the other parents and telling them her short life story. She's a charmer, that one!

We pretty much finished the game at the same time the boys finished the popcorn sale, so I wanted them to meet us at the S***c where I had a mystery shop. They never made it and went home instead, so the girls got to eat the lunch themselves. We missed church that night, because Rob was working on his truck. I don't know what's going on with his truck and his motorcycle - every other day, one of them has a dead battery and needs to be jumped. It's driving me nuts. But he doesn't think the batteries are the problem, so... I dunno. Whatever!

I took a nap and then did another S***c shop at night, by myself this time, since Rob had cooked a frozen pizza for the kids. That was Saturday.

Sunday, I worked 12-8. I gave Rob a honey-do list of things to work on while I was gone, and he basically got very little of it done. But never mind about that. At work, I spent the entire 8 hours on the computer, doing my cashier training. It was, eh, a little interesting, but mostly old hat, since I've worked so many years in grocery, already. The only things that really piqued my interest were the differences, like how to take the different tender forms. I'll have to unlearn my old ways as I'm learning the HT way to do things. And I was given a store tour with R., a teenager who is also starting as a cashier. Nice kid. I'll probably never see him, though, except on Sundays.

Today, I worked while the kids were in school. It kind of sucked! First, I had three more training sessions to do, but because I couldn't find where they were on the computer and decided to do the tests anyway, I failed them. Hehe. (It was non-intuitive stuff that I could never have guessed.) So I was locked out of re-taking them until tomorrow.

Then, because my trainer wasn't there, no one knew what to do with me. The other cashiers on duty were all pretty new themselves, since the store just recently opened, so they didn't want them to teach me. So I had to bag groceries all day. Boring! They told me it was good to get the practice, which is when I informed them that I actually have a lot of experience bagging and cashiering (and didn't say that I'm a better bagger than any other 10 actual baggers they have hired, thank-you-very-much)! That surprised them. And it's little wonder they didn't want the cashiers training me: I caught multiple mistakes and could have taught them a thing or to!

But lest you think I'm getting too cocky, I'll admit I made a couple major blunders myself: Not once, but twice, I forgot to give the customer a bag of their groceries! When that happens to me, and I get home and discover I'm missing something, I'm pissed! So, of course, I was very apologetic and felt shamed. I'm just not used to having four bag racks set up at once, and it's easy to miss the bags in the back. Something to work on, at least.

I carried out a few orders, and one lady insisted I take a tip. I kept telling her, "I can't, I really can't!" but finally, she just threw the dollar at me and said, "Oh, yes you can, the last guy did!" and walked away. Hee. I went in and reported it, and they told me just to say "thank you" and put it in my pocket when that happens. I am all about the honesty and rule-following, though. Something of a stickler!

After the kids got home and snacked, we went back to my store to get some groceries. I hadn't paid attention to the ads for this week, but there were some really great deals. For the most part, they behaved well - and I may have bribed them to do so with the free balloons and cookies HT offers the kids. Hey, whatever works, sometimes.

Rob was home before us, and I was really sore and tired by then. He gave me a lovely foot rub and then let me take a nap. Ahhh, what a nice boy. I can forgive him for not mowing the lawn, then. ;) The menfolk went out to Jack's den meeting for Cub Scouts (or is it a pack meeting? I don't know), Sophia colored half a coloring book all night, and Chloë and I worked on her homework and studying for tomorrow's Social Studies test. She knows the material pretty well, so I'm expecting good things. We'll study a little more in the morning.

And one more thing: I got my new camera in the mail today. I didn't pay a lot for it - less than it would have cost to fix the old one - and I'm happy with it. It will definitely do the job for now. I haven't figured out how to charge and upload it, but I've got a few pictures from tonight to show.

Maybe later. Hope you have a good week!

Fin.

The "S" Is For "Super" And The "U" Is For "Unique"

Friday:

I had to go to work to sign papers and get my schedule for the rest of the week (which runs Weds to Tues) as soon as I put the kids on the bus. I was there for an hour and was happy when I found out that time was on the clock. She scheduled me for all day Sun-Mon-Tues, so that's good! Hopefully I'll continue to get good hours.

I was on my way to my S***c shop afterward, the food from which I was going to bring to Rob. He, of course, didn't take anything to eat at work, as per usual. He called, though, and said not to come, because he was going to be somewhere else all day, running a training session. So after I did my shop and finding myself with the whole day ahead of me, I decided to skedaddle on home and bake brownies to take and eat lunch with the kids at school, for a surprise.

While they baked, Birthday Girl Steph and I chatted online, and she invited Chloë to come with her Girl Scout troop to Disney on Ice that night. She had a free, spare ticket; did we want it? Sure! I had thought about taking the kids, but the money just wasn't there. I knew she would be thrilled to go, so we made the arrangements.

I was so excited to bring the brownies to the kids and sit with them, because I think I only did that one other time - maybe when Chloë was in first grade? It's just too much confusion with a toddler in tow, I think. At least for me. I brought in an extra brownie for each of the kids' teachers, and for the security officer at the front desk. She (security) turned it down, patting her belly rolls. But Jack's teacher, quite rotund, was happy and snapped hers right up!

When Jack saw me, he was so shocked and excited! He was already sitting down and eating his lunch, and the lights were off. On Fridays, they play a movie in the cafeteria. He snuggled up against me, but he didn't talk much because he was really into the movie. That was fine; I was happy just being near him and rubbing his sweet, soft head.  The cafeteria attendant turned on the lights to be able to yell at the kid to be quiet and watch the movie, so I was able to snap this picture real quick. I'm surprised he didn't hide under the table!

The other first graders were so cute, too. I really love the K-2 set (and younger kids); they are my favorites.  I just love little kids! The girl on my left was really chatty, and she told me her life story. When another girl across the table asked her if I was her mom, she laughed and then hugged me tightly, saying, "NO, she's my FRIEND!" I loved it; I'd never seen her before in my life! She kept offering Jack apple slices from her lunch, and to my surprise, he kept eating them. Sweet girl. I wish she was the one he had a crush on! (He likes a little girl whose name I can't remember at the moment...)

When it was Chloë's lunchtime immediately after that, I said good-bye to Jack, which was not an easy proposition. He did not want me to go. He held me tight and started to follow me out of the cafeteria. Poor guy! I hugged and kissed him, but of course I had to make him stay with his class.

Chloë's class was lined up in the hallway, and I went out there and surprised the knickers off her, too. Her teacher informed me that they eat lunch in the classroom on Fridays, but I was welcome to join them. I told her I'd baked brownies, and did she want one? Turns out, she baked brownies for the whole class, too; I was a little disappointed at that, because naturally Chloë wanted one of her brownies and not the treat that I'd brought her. Hey, mine was three times bigger! But I tried not to let my feelings be hurt and just enjoyed her company. She was so excited I was there and kept thanking me for coming to see her. They watched a movie, too, so while she was engrossed in that, I asked Mrs. B. if there was anything I could do for her. She let me do some filing of the kids' papers in their folders, and I was glad to feel useful and do a little classroom volunteering. I'd have done more, but she couldn't think of anything else at the time.

I had a brownie for Chloë's other teacher too - Mrs W., who was in the math LD meeting on Thursday - but when I passed her in the hall, I decided not to give it to her. She's such a grumpy sourpuss face all the time, and those are not the nicest words I have used in reference to her. She just seems mean and cranky, and I keep forgetting to ask Chloë what she's like. At first I thought that she didn't like me, but why? What reason have I given her for that? So I've since decided she must be a mean ol' crankypants, and I don't like her. So there. (Yes, I'm 12.)

I think I went home and took me a little nap after that, but I really can't remember. The kids came home, and the Bigs were all atwitter about my visit to school. I was kind of sheepish about it, because I didn't want Sophia's feelings to be hurt, but I'm not allowed to visit her class until October to get them accustomed to preschool. No visitors in September, and I already blew it once!

When Rob came home, we took Chloë to the meeting point for Stephanie's Girl Scout troop. (Steph has been the leader of this troop for a few years now, and they convinced her to continue even though she's not teaching at their school anymore. I think she's nuts, trying to do that with a baby on the way, and then a newborn! But then, maybe it's just 'cause I'm not really "leader" material, I don't think.) Anyway. My kids were happy to wish Steph a happy birthday, and then Stim took our Chloë away to the Disney show.

Sophie and Jack had each saved up enough Dad Dollars for the Happy Meal/Wacky Pack-level reward, so they wanted to go to Sonic and get their prizes. I realized later that Jack just wanted the motorcycle toy and didn't care about the food, which he barely ate. Ugh. I could have taken him to Toys 'R Us and gotten him a Hot Wheels, saving three bucks. But Sophie ate every bit of hers, of course. Kid was born to eat!

We drove to another S****c for a mystery shop I had to do, which took care of Rob's dinner. Sophie mentioned a million times that she missed her sister, which was terribly sweet. Except that Jack mentioned a million times that he did NOT. Hee.

Rob went out to get Chloë later, because I was stuck at home doing my monthly online charity crochet-a-thon thing. She came home bubbly and full of tales, happy to have received a nice big Disney patch for the back of her vest.

Gosh, I'm tired. I am going to save Sat & Sun for tomorrow, because I can't stay awake. I"m a working woman now, no more naps! ;)

Fin.

Parent Night x Two

I had stayed up late Monday night for no good reason, so I was a sleepy, sleepy girl Tuesday. I napped all morning instead of getting the things done I needed to do, waking up just in time to go do my drug test at Harris Teeter. This whole getting-hired process is taking an annoyingly long time; I thought I would start working last Friday!  I didn't have to go pee in a cup for the test; instead, I had to stick a thing under my tongue for, like, 10 minutes until it turned blue.

And C., who was now in charge of hiring me, finally mentioned the nose ring. It had to go come out; I couldn't even cover it with a band-aid. I was worried about that. I mean, I really tried to get it out, but it wasn't budging. Eep. I was afraid I'd have to cut my nose!

Aaaaand, she told me that my availability basically sucked, and she was going to have a hard time giving me hours. I want to work during school hours, pretty much leaving nights and weekends for my family. In her words, HT is "a nights-and-weekends business," so there wasn't a lot she can do for me. I'm starting to re-think this whole working crap. Bah.

Back at home, I spent a half-hour trying to get that nose ring out. It was a major struggle, which I wasn't winning. It's a short post with an attached ball on either end, and they don't unscrew. So I had to shove one ball through the hole in my nose, which since closed up to be much smaller than the ball. Eventually, I worked it halfway through (I seem to have thick nostrils!), but it wouldn't budge the rest of the way. I grabbed my small sewing shears and tried to yank it, but that wasn't happening and just made my eyes water. Finally, I was able to snip right through the post with those dinky little shears! But then, I couldn't get the inside half out, so that was another fun challenge. Finally I pushed on it with the tip of the scissors and out it popped! I was so relieved. But now, I miss my little nosey bling. I liked it, man.

When the kids came home from school, I sent the Littles down for naps, because they were beyond tired and cranky. I had Chloë work on her homework until it was time to get ready for soccer. Daddy came home in time for me to get her to S***c for a dinner mystery shop to feed her little belly before soccer practice. She ate a ton, and then we realized that we never brought her a water bottle for soccer! Gah, that's not good. But the practice field is waaay far from home, so it was pointless to think about going home for one. She'd have to do without.

Other than that, soccer went splendidly, and they learned the "diamond formation," and practice lots of scoring goals using passing techniques. She's starting to pick up on things and spent an awful lot of time shouting, "I'm open! I'm open!" She even made two goals, and I could tell she was elated about that!

Meanwhile, Rob had woken up the kids and taken them to school for Jack and Chloë's Open House. They sat through the opening PTA meeting - which I was glad to miss, as it's always boring and disorganized as hell - and then waited for us to meet them in C's class. Mrs. B. was already in the middle of talking about their daily schedules, which is a hectic one for those gifted students! They are go-go-go, all day, every day. I hope she can keep up. She seems to be doing all right so far. Mrs. B teaches the language arts, and Mrs W. teaches science, social studies and math. The students switch classrooms halfway through the day.

So during the second session, Rob went with her to Mrs. W's spiel, while the Littles and I walked to Jack's first grade class. Only one other family was in there for the second session, so Mrs. J quickly ran through her little presentation and then I had a chance to talk to her personally, since the other family had already done so beforehand. I guess Jack is having a LOT of trouble catching up and staying focused, which is news to me. He's been doing SO well on his homework, not only with most comprehension but with sitting down and getting it done in a timely manner. Also, I thought he was getting pull-out services (for his IEP), but apparently they're only doing inclusion. Mrs. J is going to talk to his Special Ed teacher about the need for more services, especially if his attention problem continues and/or worsens.

On the way home, I discussed this with Jack, and he admitted he wasn't paying attention in class. What I can do about it from afar, I don't know, other than continually reminding him that he's got to pay attention and focus on his classroom. First grade just ain't like kindergarten, pally!

At home, I gave the kids a quick dinner and sent them to bed before I crashed myself - at 2130!  But if you saw today's Wordless Wednesday post, then you'll see the pictures Rob took of Sophie "playing" the violin at Open House, with the 5th grade music teacher. They don't start chorus/orchestra/band until 5th grade at this school. Seems absurd to me, but what do I know?

********

After a good, long sleep, I was raring to go this morning at 0630. The kids got up on time, so we had plenty of time for a leisurely breakfast and preparation for Picture Day. This was a nice switch from my usual let's-go-let's-go-let's-go chant every other morning!

Of course, I didn't think to get pictures of the kids, but you'll see them when the pictures come back. I only hope they looked half as decent by picture time as they did when they got on the bus! Chloë looked especially nice, with her hair in a pretty barrette and a Fall dress on. Jack chose a green shirt and green camo pants, and he insisted that's what he wanted to wear, so... we went with it. Why the hell not?

I spent the whole day unpacking and rearranging the office, since it has been full of boxes since the downstairs floor was installed. It's been driving me crazy not having my yarn and patterns and craft table accessible so I can work! Plus I just hate a mess. It took me the whole day, and a lot of sweat, but I got it done. It looks good; I'm happy!

And no, HT didn't call me with the results of the drug test like they said they would, so yet another day passed without working. Frustrating!

Right after school, the kids had their usual snacktime, then the Littles and I did a little clean-up while Chloë got ready for Jazz class. She couldn't find her ballet shoes and was in absolute tears. She still hasn't found the new ones, which is driving me mad.

Just in time, she found the pair of shoes, and we zipped off to class. Both Littles fell asleep in the car, so after I dropped her off and found myself starving from busting my hump all day, I decided to go to Sonic for my new favorite, the egg and cheese Croissandwich, or whatever the thing is called. Good stuff, aye. Only, I ate too much of it and, on the way back to dance class, ended up yakking it all up. Nice. Fun. Good thing I had the Sonic bag to use!

We drove straight to school after dance, this time for Sophie's Parent Night at preschool. Rob met us there. It was his first time at the preschool, so he didn't know where to go and parked way far away. Oh, well.

After a short discussion about the rules, regs and routines of the preschool, the children each took their parents around the different "centers" to show us what they do during the day. Sophie wanted to visit the "Library" first. She sat down to "read" us a story, which was absolutely the cutest thing ever. I wanted to cry, she was so adorable. Wish I could've taped it! I guess I could have, but I keep forgetting my iPhone has video!

She didn't want to go to the next center just yet, so she "read" us another book, which was just as sweet. After she finished that, she went back and "read" us the first book again! It was definitely her favorite.

The next center we visited was "Art." Here, the kids each colored a little wooden hand and put stickers on it, and then we put magnet tape on the back. Chloë did one, too, but Jack didn't want to. He wanted to skip ahead to the apple-tasting center with Daddy. There, the kids could choose to eat their apple slices plain, or with sugar, caramel or peanut butter, and then the class made a chart with everyone's choices. Peanut butter was the clear winner!

*Picture removed*

The next center was "Legos." That was Jack's favorite; after he discovered that, he did not want to leave, even when the whole shabang was over. He pitched a small fit about having to put down that airplane!

We visited "Manipulatives" next. Basically, they had to do puzzles. They were really simple puzzles, so I challenged Sophie to do them as fast as she could. She was super-fast! And proud of it, too. :)

*picture removed*

The last center we had time to visit was "Easel." We missed "Blocks," which was on our little passport to the classroom, although there are several more available centers that weren't on our little tour. Sophie painted a picture with watercolors - see? She's our little Southpaw!

This was her finished work. She was so proud of that sun! So was I. Now the picture is on our fridge, of course.

*picture removed*

At the very end, all the kids, along with Mrs. P and Mrs. S, got up and recited the little grace that they say before breakfast and lunch. (Sophie eats breakfast at home, so, I found out, when she gets to school, she eats half her lunch at breakfast time with the other kids! I have since started packing her bigger lunches, and she eats every last thing, unlike her older siblings.) It was really cute, and they all knew every word. I can't remember it, or I'd share it with you. Maybe I'll ask her for tomorrow.

When it was over, we had to run and do another S***c dinner shop, but we can only get one meal, so everyone was still hungry after that little appetizer. We drove home, where I got the kids started on homework while Rob cleaned up the kitchen a little so I could cook. Jack had mac & cheese (I had gotten a few free Easy Macs this past week for when I knew he wouldn't eat the main meal), and everyone else had a Schwan's chicken/rice/broccoli meal from Schwan's. I have not been sticking to our menu plan as much this week! But it's good for a guide...

After dinner, I helped Jack with his math homework. They're learning tally marks. He had a lot of difficulty with this, wanting to make the "slash" its own thing, and then do the five for the next set, and so on. I went over and over and over it with him, before Rob pulled me aside and said he thinks Jack has a math learning disability, like we think Chloë has. I don't know, I think he just wasn't paying attention! Once he really paid attention, he got it pretty quickly. He has a very hard time recognizing numbers greater than 10, so I had him write the numbers 1-30, and then I tested them on the numbers. And then we tallied some more. We'll need to review that a lot more to get him back to where he was at the end of kindergarten and catch him up to first grade level!

And that, my friends, is the end.

Fin.

Gainfully Employed

Knitting progress first:

... which only represents about 15 rounds or so since last night, but I've only worked on it for about 40 minutes today. I'll do some more, finishing at least that section if not the whole sleeve, tonight after I post.

As for the rest of the day:

♠ "Dad Dollars" is off to a fun start! The kids are ECSTATIC about their money envelopes, earning the bills, and counting them. Chloë checks the posted list of ways to earn and spend her DDs constantly, and the other kids are always suggesting new things to add to them. Sophia has the most DDs so far at 10, and Jack has 5. I think Chloë has 8. They can't wait to start spending them!

♦ We almost missed the bus again this morning! I don't know what happened, other than that it's finally coming on time instead of 20 minutes late, now that the route is routine. Guess I better catch up to the game, because I really don't like this running shit.

♥ I got a job! I went for my "interview" at Harris Teeter, the grocery store that just opened up 7 minutes down the road, at noon. I even gussied up for it, doing full hair and make-up for the first time in I don't know how long. I looked cute, thank you so much. ;) Anyway, the interview was anything but, because the woman's conference room was taken up for a meeting, so she really couldn't sit down for me anywhere. Instead, I took two HEE-LARIOUS tests on a computer (basically, I did a little easy math and answered 50 questions on whether I thought it was okay to steal money and merch from the store) and then signed consent for a background check. She told me that after the check comes back, in about three days, I'll do a drug test and then get started. Hope they don't mind my occasional heroin usage. Oh, and no mention was made of the nose ring. I wonder if they even noticed it?

♣ I barely slept at all last night (took a shower at like 0230, which finally did the trick), so I came home and took a nap until the bus came. I had a dream about working at Harris Teeter: first, all the girls hated me and all the guys hit on me, because I was so skinny and hot. Hahahaha, not! Then, I had to start by scrubbing toilets and cleaning up the meat department floor. Ew! Then, I had to change into my uniform in the girls' locker room, and for boys kept coming in to watch me. That was weird. Finally, when I got to the cash register, they immediately put me to work at the customer service desk, even though I didn't know anything. 'Twas an amusing dream. When I worked at the Big M in high school, I used to dream all the time about forgetting to punch my time card!

♥The kids had a good day at school. No new news about that. I let them watch a little bit of TV and have a good snack before we started homework. Holy fucking cow, what an ordeal. There were tears, many tears, shed over math on both their parts. They are both wandering uteri when it comes to doing their homework, I tell ya. No focus whatsover! It's enough to make a mother jump off the side of the boat. What the hell am I talking about? Oh, so I emailed Chloë's math teacher and told her I want her tested for a math learning disability. Chlo wants to be tested. She is just so frustrated. To calm us both down, I sent her to her room to count to 1,000. She came back down, sobbing, "I can't!" Poor thing. As for Jack, he was just tired. First grade is a long day for a little chap!

♠ The kids get Dad Dollars for doing their homework (although from now on, I will set a time limit so they don't keep getting up to play, etc.), so I gave Sophie lots of little jobs to do to earn some herself. She was so cheerful and helpful! Tomorrow I will have to be better prepared and give her more "homework-y" stuff like writing her name, counting things, etc.

♦ I made dinner when homework was done. The girls demolished the chicken and tater tots (I forgot about the corn, oops), but Jack had maybe one bite. He refused to eat. Sigh.

♣ Rob took Jack to his first den meeting tonight. I have no information about it, other than that Jack played kickball and got all sweaty, and then there was a parent meeting. Rob fell asleep before we had a chance to have grown-up time and talk.

♠ While they were out, the girls drew pictures for their cousin Elizabeth's 3rd birthday today, but Sophie lost hers, so we only sent Chloë's. Then we went to the PO and mailed the four tutus I sold (yay! There are more left if you want 'em!), and to the bank to deposit a few checks that came in the mail. Money is good. Payday tonight. Can I wait? No, I cannot.

So here I will wait, knitting and fighting with this damned brand-new skein of alpaca until midnight when the moulah hits.

How was your Monday?

Fin.