Wednesday, February 28, 2007

A few thoughts....

Can you believe February is almost over? That's two months of the year already gone and nine months until I have to figure out where I'm going to put the Christmas tree this year. Because we rearranged both living rooms this past weekend.

My soul wasn't resting well the way it was. Seriously. I would sit and watch television and constantly look around the room thinking it just wasn't right. The only show I could watch with full concentration was Grey's Anatomy...which I lovingly refer to as O'Malley's Anatomy because Meredith so needed to stay and hang out with Denny. And please don't let Patrick Dempsey cry again. He's just not attractive when he does. Yuck. So he's sensitive. Whatever.

My wonderful husband catered to my crazy idea to change things around. He moved heavy furniture and mopped that white tile floor. I drafted my neighbor upstairs to come help me figure out where everything was going. She may be young, but the gal has really good taste. We are now happily able to focus on television because the room flows, people! It flows around you and just plain rocks.

Guess what doesn't work in a garbage disposal? A nickel. Mr. Plumber came this morning and, boy, was he unhappy about that nickel stuck in there. Instead of yanking it out and charging us for a new one, he fussed and cussed and finally got it out. You should see it. It's literally bent in half. Imagine what the disposal could do to a finger. ~shudder~ We will be having a family meeting tonight to discuss what NOT to keep around the sink area. Next time we might not be so lucky.

I'm getting my hair done today. Because it's red. And I'm not a redhead. No offense to you red's out there. I've just always been blonde and it's not working. My stylist decided to do something different and put a golden brown on my roots...just for kicks. And I keep an open mind. I don't want to be one of those gals stuck with a hair-do from the 80's*. It was fine at the salon. Then I came home and washed it the next day. It came out red. Yucky red. Apparently the water on this base is toxic to a degree. You can't drink it. You can't cook with it. And now I guess you can't get a brown hair color without it turning to a disgusting shade of red. I've not hated my hair in a very long time, but now I do. I can't keep this hate bottled up for so long before I explode, so I'll just head on to the salon and get this issue nipped in the bud.


Ya'll have a good day out there in Internet Land. We're looking at 80 degrees with no humidity and bright bright sunshine. Go ahead...hate me.



*The 80's rocked with hairstyles. I may be 5'6" now, but I was a sweet 5'10" back then after I fixed my hair. Long live Aqua Net!!!!!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

The Girl is Good

Yep, I was right.

Makenna has strep throat and the Commander who saw her yesterday gave me a referral for a civilian ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist). I told her in a matter-of-fact voice what had been going on with Makenna and that I felt she had strep again because of the symptoms. She said she would do the rapid strep test and go ahead and get a referral ready. Rock on, Commander! Now I just have to wait a couple of days for the information to get into the lovely military system. Then I will call and get the name of her doctor. If my research on this doctor isn't satisfactory, then I will call Tricare back and proceed to show my butt to get the results I want for my baby.

Vitt, on the other hand, I think there is a lack of communication going on there. They did a strep test on him and it came back negative. I believe he has a sinus infection, but the Commander was so focused on Makenna that she didn't prescribe anything but cough and congestion medicine for him. I'll wait another day or two on him. If he doesn't clear up or get better, we'll go pay her another visit. So, it appears I wasn't right...and I wasn't wrong. The jury is still out on him.

Want to get upset? Want to roll your eyes in disgust? I was asked if I had Motrin and Tylenol for the kids. I DO have some here at home, but I was smart and said that I was running low. Makenna weighs enough to take Motrin in pill form, but the children's liquid is better on her throat at the moment. Therefore, with just 3-4 doses, she can clean out an entire bottle very quickly.

I took the kids out to the vehicle because Vitt was literally a froot loop in the pharmacy waiting area. Fred came out with a HUGE brown bag. We were given FOUR bottles of Children's Motrin......name brand, baby! No generic stuff there. We were given FOUR bottles of generic Children's Tylenol. Both kids got their own bottles of cough and congestion medicines. Did we see the right person or what?????

That was around $40.00 worth of over the counter medicine. Sweet.


A word about my youngest froot loop. That kid looks like he could be the poster child for A.D.D. sometimes. He was insane acting while waiting to see the doctor and in the exam room. When it was his turn to be examined, he sat there like a grown man. Seriously. He was absolutely perfect. He let her do just what she needed to without argument. She even did the strep test....with the Q-tip in the back of the throat. Didn't even flinch. She took the test out to be developed and Vitt told his Dad he had to "go pee pee". Fred and I both start running for a bathroom when he says this. Especially in public. The Commander came back in to check his lungs and he told her he had to "go pee pee". She immediately stepped to the side and told him to go and come right back so she could check his lungs. A few minutes later he came back, got back on the table, informed her he had pee-pee'd AND washed his hands. God, I just eat him up when he acts like that.

He made us look like Parents of the Year. Anyone with kids know that moments like this are few and far between. When they happen, grab them and hold on for dear life. Bask in the moment that is fleeting and will go away too quick for your liking.

So, I was validated and got lots of medications that should last us a while. Makenna will be getting checked out by a specialist and Vitt rocked in front of the doctor.

Monday, February 26, 2007

Just Call Me Doctor...

The doctor is in.

Schooling is important, but I feel life experience has potential to be a great teacher also.

Vitt and Mak are sick. This is my diagnosis of their maladies.

Vitt had a stomach virus last week that lasted until Saturday. Friday he developed a cough that come clean from his toes. We've given him children's NyQuil at night so he can rest but have discovered that we will NOT give him triaminic EVAH again. We almost had to peel him off of the ceiling after a dose of that stuff yesterday. My diagnosis for him is that he's developing a respiratory infection due to a compromised immune system.

Makenna has a sore throat. Again. My diagnosis is that she once again has strep throat. This will be her fourth episode since Thanksgiving. Methinks it's time for us to consider getting her tonsils removed. When Paige was 6, she had strep and tonsillitis for six months straight. After being on approximately 7 antibiotics, I put my foot down and she ended up getting her tonsils and adenoids out plus tubes in her ears. How healthy she was after that.

We're visiting the doctor this afternoon and I will let you know if I qualify for an M.D. upon our return.

I will either be totally validated or completely ignorant. We shall see.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Lesson Learned

Children learn so fast. It amazes me how fast Vitt picks up language. I saw it with the girls when they were little, but it never gets old.

Sometimes there are life lessons that have be taught the hard way.

Vitt learned one this morning.

He learned:

Don't pick your nose while running. You might trip and fall.

Made me cringe when I saw it happen.

Email to my Husband

It's Thursday. What happens on Thursday morning around this time?

That's right. The trash truck comes around.

Guess what?

You are correct. Our trash wasn't out there.

I was a running fool.

That simply was not attractive.

Let's try not to let that happen again, shall we?

Love,

Hope



This is the email I sent my husband a few minutes ago.

I'm glad we have good communication skills.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Unexpected Coolness

The title has to do with our weekend back home to South Carolina and today's events.

It was cold up there, people!! Not near as cold as some are in this nation of ours...but pretty dang chilly. Just sitting on the front porch with my dad talking was almost unbearable. But, we did it. I treasure those moments with my dad. He hardly ever slows down, but when he does, he's a joy to sit and talk with. Although I'm not too fond of when he reminds of things I did as a teenager. I could live without those reminders!

We made our way home Sunday afternoon and by Monday night, it was apparent a stomach bug had attacked our house! It claimed Paige Monday night and Vitt Tuesday morning. I literally held that baby all day yesterday. He couldn't hold anything down and fever just went through his little body. He moaned and groaned and dozed while I held him in the recliner. Finally, last night we were able to get some Motrin* in him. When the fever broke.....he hit the ground running. He finally ate and drank with no bad repercussions.

Until this morning.

Then came the diarrhea. Whew. Last week Vitt decided he would wear "unnerwear".... the cutest little boxer briefs you ever did see. We've had issues with peeing in them...but he's pooped in the potty like a champ.

Until this morning.

Everyone knows diarrhea really gives no warning. You fart and it's there. And this boy is the Fart King. He loves to poot and exclaim to the world "I POOTED!!!". That's when we remind him to say "Excuse Me". After shouting it loud and proud, he follows with a "ME!!!"

All morning long I've been behind him disinfecting and wiping. I knew he couldn't help it and I would try to get him to the potty.

Finally, about an hour ago, he went to go potty. And he pooted. And here came the diarrhea. He thought it was the coolest thing EVAH! It literally made him laugh with glee to see this foul stuff shoot out of his butt. He would almost fall head first in the toilet trying to watch himself poop. He must've flushed the toilet 5 times thinking he was already done. It was so cool and he strained so hard, I think he almost pushed his eyeballs out! We totally did a dozen high fives over this accomplishment.

Now he's been running to the potty every five minutes trying to recapture the unexpected cool new trick. I hate to tell him it shouldn't last much longer. Let the boy have his party.

That's what's been happening around the Edge. I've had people call me and ask if everything was okay because I hadn't blogged in a few days. I wish they'd comment like they call!!! *hint* *hint*



*Motrin is the bestest drug ever made for kids. I think of Tylenol as a joke because it doesn't affect my kids at all.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Valentine O' Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you in Internet Land. I hope your day is red and rosy and full of chocolate.


Ask me what I'm getting? Go on. Ask me.

I'm getting an unusual and unique present this special day.

I'm getting four things contained on one thing.

You can't eat it.

It has potential to be used over and over and over again.

I will carry it with me always.

Guessed it yet?

I'm guessing you haven't.



I'm getting keys.

Seriously.

Apparently Vitt has lost my keys for me. I've always been very careful to keep up with my keys as I have been locked out of the house before a couple of times. Paige was younger and had ten kinds of anxiety attacks over it, so I've gotten into the habit of having them in my hand when I walk out.

Yesterday, Vitt and I went to go pick up the kids from school and I couldn't find them. Fred was in a meeting and unreachable. So, I called the neighbor and explained my dilemma (we share carpooling duty). She laughed...being a mother of six....and went to get the kids.

We have torn this house apart. We've asked Vitt to go get Mommy's keys. He puts up both hands and says..."I don't know."

I have this fear they are floating in the septic tank abyss of this navy base.

Two keyless remotes. Gone.

Instead of a glass of wine or nerve pill? I ate a Hershey bar instead.


Happy Valentine's Day.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Mountains

And there she stood.

Surrounded on all sides by mountains. No path of escape to be found.

Towels to the North.

White clothes to the South.

Pastels to the West.

Jeans to the East.

Good dress clothes (pastels) to the SouthWest.

Good dress clothes (darks) to the NorthEast.

Another load of non-bleachable towels to the SouthEast.

Skivvies to the NorthWest.

She lifted her hands to the heavens to ask "Where did this all come from?" "How can 5 people use so much in such a short time?"

She hums the age old song....Workin' in a Coal Mine...goin' on down down...Workin' in a Coal Mine...Oops, about to slip down....Lawd, how long can this go on?

In true Scarlett O'Hara fashion she goes to her knees and proclaims out loud........

"Lord, when these children are grown and gone. When they are educated and making decent money. When they live in nice houses. Lord, remind these children of the promise made to their Mama. They will pay for Mama to have a housekeeper so she may live the golden years of her life loving granchildren and participating in retail therapy at least three days a week til she draws her last breath."


Amen.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Slumber Party 2007

We survived. Six giggly, screaming girls invaded our home at 6:30 p.m. sharp Friday evening to celebrate Makenna's birthday.

I was gone to pick up Paige from a thang she was doing and the house was full upon my return.

Fred said they all came at one time! The way he described it to me....the parents pulled up in front, chunked the kid out the vehicle and took off with tires a squealin'.

We ordered 3 LARGE pizzas. There wasn't a piece left.

We went through a gallon of fruit punch kool-aid and probably 2 gallons of water. We got a water cooler. With cups on the side. It's cool and calls for lots of drinking and chatting "around the water cooler."

This morning they went through an entire loaf of bread when I made toast. Plus 2 quarts of Tang.

I was floored over how much these gals could eat.

Oh, and I was unapologetically* evil. I had some cheap-o door hangers up in the cabinet. I told whoever cleaned up the living room best this morning would get a prize. There was some cleaning fools working. I gladly passed out prizes.

Just to soothe my nerves, I had Fred take me for some retail therapy.

We're good to go until April. That's when Paige wants to have HER slumber party.

Dear Joseph......I'm saving money for groceries now. I bet those girls could put salt on a shingle and go to town!



* uh...spell check said this isn't a word.....but it's workin' for me so it stays.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Letter of Importance

Dear Discovery Channel,

We have a teensy problem here. You see, my husband is working in an office at the moment instead of being on a boat. This is fine except for the fact he has a television located in his office. Why, you ask? I have no idea, but apparently everyone has a television located in their office. Until recently, he had an office mate who loved to watch a certain channel that showed continuous J*A*G re-runs. Now that the office mate is gone....he has full control and has decided you, Discovery Channel, will be the channel of the day after he's seen Robin and Company run through at least three times (in case he's missed something concerning sports).

I didn't think anything of it at first. Call me oblivious.

But, at lunch yesterday, I got a full entire monologue on how baby chickens are hatched, sorted, etc etc. He insists that it is very interesting, yet he feels sorry for how the chicks are handled so soon after birth. I can live with it.

Tonight....out of left field.....he all of a sudden says..."Do you know why mirrors are so expensive?" I sighed. Then I looked at him and said..."You've been watching Discovery Channel again, haven't you?" I was right.

I'm all about educating one's self. I really am. But, you've got to understand that you've got the wrong person watching you now. He stores all this lovely information so that he can enthrall his family later with bunches and bunches and bunches of facts. I would even venture to say that his explanations are longer than the shows he watches.

All I'm saying is that if you are kind, you will go off the air from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

We, the family, would appreciate it. Alot.

Yours truly,

Miss Hope

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAKENNA

I would be considered a bad mother if I didn't do a little post about my Baby Girl.

I've heard alot about how the middle child is always left out. Not really on purpose...it just happens in the shuffle of life. And I can understand it happening in this life I'm living.

Paige is high maintenance. Always has been. But, that's just her personality and makes her who she is. I love her for it because she's not afraid to ask for attention and show her entire butt if she doesn't get it. Vitt is UBER high maintenance. I don't know if it's because he's a boy or he's his daddy's son. My mother in law tells me he's alot like Fred was as a little boy. Yeah, Fred was known by his first name back in Tucson in the local E.R. before he was two. And, yes, that fact worries me. Alot.

Makenna, on the other hand, is very laid back and so easy (thus far) to raise. She never asks for anything really but when she and I go somewhere....just the two of us...she always makes the comment about how cool it is for 'just the two of us' to do something. So, I make an extra special effort to do 'two of us' stuff. So does Fred. Heck, it thrills her soul to go to the car wash with Fred. She thinks its cool to be in the car and watch the different colors of soap. Like I said....laid back.

This time, 8 years ago, I was no where near labor and one day away from my due date. I'd had the perfect pregnancy with no problems and was feeling great. My grandaddy had come by for my dad to wash his truck since he wasn't able to. As we were sitting outside, I told Grandaddy I hadn't gotten anything for his birthday (February 6), but would a baby do if I could swing it? He told me that would be just fine. I was totally joking when I said that.

My mother was very emotionally vested in this pregnancy. We were living next door by that time and she got to see me from beginning to end. She had gone to my doctor's visit the day before and the doctor was stressing for me to do kick counts. Make sure the baby was moving. After lunch, she asked me every five minutes if this baby was moving. Makenna didn't move fast enough for Nana. She decided we needed to go to the hospital. So, we did. Makenna's dad, me, Paige, and my parents. When we got there, I asked the doctor to just get done checking me so I could go to Walmart. He decided to keep me!!! Figured since I was 4 cm dilated, it wouldn't be long. Dangit. I really wanted to go to Walmart.

My friend came and got Paige (it was all pre-arranged). Off she went to eat supper with Aunt Chelle and soon to be Uncle Mark. She had a wonderful time being the center of attention.

In a nutshell, this is how it went down. Doc came in around 7:30-8:00 p.m. to break my water. I told him I needed to have this baby by midnight because it was my grandaddy's birthday. He laughed and said that this was considered my first delivery since Paige was an emergency c-section and to expect at least 12 hours of labor.

He didn't know me too well, did he?

Suffice it to say, I had her at 11:03 p.m. There was 57 minutes to spare. She might have been quick then....but that's been the only time. That girl is slow as molasses in winter-time now. Laid back.

My grandaddy came to see me in the hospital. He wasn't able to walk that far, so he suffered what he thought was the indignity of a wheelchair. He had to see his birthday present.

Happy Birthday, Mu Mu. You are such a special light in my heart. I worried for months about how was I going to love another child as much as I loved your sister. I just didn't think it was possible. My Mama was right. My heart grew even bigger when you were born. It had to. How else was it going to hold all that love? You've blessed all our lives so much.




p.s. Do you think you can FINALLY start picking up your shoes and putting them in your room?

Monday, February 05, 2007

No Offense, of course

I shared this with my family at the dinner table yesterday in South Carolina, so this is old news for them.

I had an interesting conversation with Makenna yesterday morning while getting ready for church. It went something like this:

Makenna: Mama, did you know that if you take five dimes to the lunch room ladies, they'll give you two quarters.

Me: (fixing her hair) That would sound about right. They're just giving you an equal amount.

Makenna: Yes ma'am. You can even put the money in your lunch account. But, some people take money out of their account.

Me: (stopping the hair process) Makenna, you better not take money out of your account. That's there for you to eat lunch and if you take it out, you'll be hungry.

Makenna: Oh, no ma'am. I don't do it. Only the rednecks do it.

Me: Why on earth would they take money out of their account?????

Makenna: Because they're from Delaware.

I started laughing and just about couldn't stop. I asked her why would rednecks be from Delaware and she just shrugged and said that's what they say when you ask them. I have no clue as to why she would say that, but she was so earnest and sincere about it and I was laughing too hard to pursue it. Besides, we were running late and the moment was lost after that.

So, my question to you folks is this:

Why are all the rednecks from Delaware?

Friday, February 02, 2007

Prelude to a Weekend

So, we're going home this weekend. And we're all excited since we haven't seen the family since Christmas. Makenna is especially since her birthday is this coming Tuesday and Nana is cooking a special Sunday dinner for her along with a birthday cake that Aunt Destiny is ordering.

That leaves me to get everyone prepared to go. It means I have to do a butt load of laundry because Paige will ALWAYS wait til the last minute to bring her dirty clothes and she HAS to have certain articles to take with her. Spoiled rotten, she is.

It also means I have to clean the kitchen and whatnot because I do not like driving four hours home on Sunday to a nasty kitchen and undone laundry. Drives me nuts.

So, I'm doing laundry and when I reach into the washer to grab a handful of towels.....my fingernail on Pointer finger is bent totally backwards and pops. Snap. I jerk my hand up to see the damage. And being a human being, I snatch the nail off because it's gone and of no use to me anymore in this lifetime. Holy Joseph and the goat. Meat came with it. Suffice it to say I saw many a star floating in my vision.

I can deal with broken nails. I pamper my hands and keep them as lovely as I can. I refuse to get manicures and acrylics simply because I am a mother and wash my hands too many times a day. Broken nails are a part of life and that's that.

But, ye gods, I then had to wash dishes with that hand. Got done and doctored it up nice and neat with a flex band-aid.

Now I'm hitting 4 keys at once and trying to figure out how to use my mouse with the middle finger. It's not working.

Good thing we're going home. No washing dishes for two days and my mother will do all the cooking. Life don't get no better, folks.

You all out there in Internet land have a decent sized weekend. We're leaving rain and going into more rain, but the windshield wipers are fairly new and Fred will be driving. Because I'm injured and all that. I just get to fix dvd players and pass out threats and wave my wooden spoon at Vitt so he'll stay buckled up.

Good times.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

The Only One

Am I the only mother whose son is like this?

Today I turned my back for just a second. I hear a thud and turn around. There lay my son on the floor spread eagle on his back. As I look around to see out exactly what happened, this is what I figured out:

1. He saw my lovely curtains. Valances that hang down the side to the window sill.

2. There is a window sill. With a maybe a 3 inch ledge?

3. There is his chair.

4. Methinks he was playing Tarzan, Spider Man, or some other crazy male.

5. Apparently he climbed up on the window sill, grabbed the curtain, and proceeded to swing out.


And I'm sure as he lay on the floor looking up at his dreams....he seriously couldn't understand why the curtain rod was RIPPED from the wall.