DSSD = Dip Shit Sperm Donor

That's what I'm calling my ex-H from now on. After making my life hell for 10 days with his restraint order now he's telling me he can't afford his lawyer and the courts will side with me any way. Well - duh......get a clue you dip-shit. I do everything for that boy and you're just "Fun Daddy".

Anyhoo - I told him e-mail with what he'd like to see in regards to a custody schedule. You know - days he wants each year (his birthday, father's day, etc) and I'll send him my thoughts. We verbally agreed that my lawyer will get everything typed up, and submitted to the courts in time for our Dec 13th court date. Sounds simple enough doesn't it.....apparently not. This is the e-mail I got instead "I will be more flexible with the custody schedule if you will put in writing that you don’t want child support anymore. The original purpose of the child support, as stated in the divorce papers, was for “work related daycare expenses”, which obviously, you do not have anymore, nor have you paid daycare for over a year. I think that’s fair, but it’s up to you. "

Okay - NOT you F-ing moron!! Doesn't matter that he only paid me $500 in two years while unemployed, oh, and that I need $$ to put a roof over S's head, feed him, clothe him, etc. Yes, K does stay home with the kids and I don't have daycare expense for Stephen, but I figure the money he's paying now is making up for not paying anything for two years.

What's ironic is that I've told DSSD (remember that's Dip Shit Sperm Donor) that all he needs to do is contact the District Court and request a re-evaluation of child support, and viola - child support will be lowered, etc. No lawyers, just the DC office gathering data etc and going in front of a judge with their recommendation. Never mind that in a year it's automatically recalculated as S will be in first grade and in school all day. Okay, the boy is in full day K now and should be adjusted, but I'm not telling unless I hafta. :)

Oh well, once again I get to take the high road, ignoring DSSD comments and respond with what I think is far in regards to visitation/custody, etc. I'm also very tempted to state that as long as he gives up his parental rights then of course I'll put in writing that I don't want child support any more.

It's great when they punish themselves!!

And it's cute. Not sure that T was in trouble, but I did need to remind him several times to sit at the table to eat his lunch. Next thing I know he just walks over to the naughty corner and stands in timeout. Occasionally when S has been in timeout T will go stand next to him, and when T has been sent to timeout usually I or K stand next to him to keep him there.

Honestly don't know what he thought he did to deserve timeout, but it sure was cute.....and even after telling him he could get out he stayed right there. After that I had no more troubles getting him to stay at the table and eat.

Baby A's 4mo Check-up

Everything went great. Really like the new doctor, and Janis (person who referred us) is right he is cute! She's up to 13lbs 8oz (50%) and in the 60% in height.

Only problem is that she's been referred to a urologist. Apparently some of her girl parts are fused shut. The doctor couldn't even see an opening - not even one big enough for urine to pass through. Oh, and as I explained it to K - basically there's no opening to put a tampon.

Doc said it could probably be fixed with just an estrogen cream, but since she was new patient he wanted to err on the side of caution and referred us to a urologist just in case she'll need surgery. Could have been like this since birth, or it could've developed over time.

Great - I love a pro-active doctor.....but it's been 3 friggin' days and the urologist has yet to call and set-up an appointment. Don't they know they have a mother here with an over active imagination....who has yet to research on the internet 'cause there's no way what's out there could be as bad as what she's imagining?!?!?

Turtles, Fish and Snakes - Oh MY!

Well - apparently I've gone completely insane as I've agreed to get Stephen a snake for his birthday coming up. There are two reasons for this: (1) K already has all the equipment we'll need so we just need to buy the snake, and (2) the kids already have enough toys.

I guess there is a third - Stephen really would like one. I've been doing a little research and I'm thinking we'll go with a Corn Snake. They don't get very big, but do live for up to 20 yrs though. Best of all they're not poisonous. Believe it or not, Stephen really wants a rattle snake - no way in hell.

So the next step is to find some place or someone that is willing to have an instructional session with myself, K, and S on how to care for a snake. 'Cause the last thing I want is for it to die a week after getting it or for it to get out.

T's butt is green - no shit!

Apparently when one gives your not yet potty trained toddler toooooo much sugar free grape kool-aid in one day not only with his poop be dark green, but so will his butt!!! After a day the greenish tint faded, but still - how much of this stuff has K been feeding the boy for this to happen??

You'd think after him freaking out about the red poop (from too much sugar free cherry kool-aid) that he would realize not to give the boy sooooo much of the grape. Oh well - live an learn, and learn and learn in this case.

"Emma" by Jane Austen

I just finished this book after a month. Not that it's a slow read, but that's how long it has taken me to read this book on the bus to and from work. And during my three to four 10-15 minute pumping sessions at work.

I have to admit had I not seen the movie I probably would not have choosen this book out of the blue to read, but like "Sense and Sensibility" I loved the movie so I decided to read the book. Another confession is that thanks to the movie I did have a much better understanding of what was going on, as occasionally I would get lost or misunderstand the meaning of a phrase. But I always have this problem with period pieces.

I normally don't recommend seeing the movie first then reading the book, but in this case the movies sticks pretty close to the book and it did heighten my enjoyment of reading the book.

Anyhoo - off to find something else in my bookcase that I bought long ago to read but just haven't found the time. Irnoically all those years of driving I missed actually sitting down and reading a book that I started listening to books-on-tape, and now that I'm communting via public transportation I kinda miss the books-on-tape. Go figure.

Major meltdown last night

Me - not one of the kids.

You see K stays home with the kids. During the day he'll do the basics - dishes, load of laundry and feed the kids. No real cleaning and refuses to put laundry away. He uses the rest of his time playing WOW (World of Warcraft). That's all fine and dandy - I understand it's his stress reliever.

However, once I get home and changed he goes back to the computer to play some more and leaves me with everything. This includes: making dinner, feeding Baby A, myself dinner, S's reading homework, bath, make S's lunch (if needed), make my lunch, read books, feeding Baby A, help S get his clothes out for the next day, get clothes out for Tyler for the next day, get my clothes out for the next day, go through S's backpack, put dinner away, read books, brush teeth, and finally get the kids to bed. Oh, did I mention the whole time I'm usually feeding Baby A? At the breast? Or sometimes she's fallen asleep in her sling but I'm still carrying her around with me.

As everyone knows not everything goes according to plan. Example would be last night: not only was T poopie before bath, but during bath he got sick and threw-up a little in the tub. So I had to drain ALL the water, clean it up, and then get a fresh bath going for S.

My point is there are 2 - count them one, two - of us. Why shouldn't he help? Yes I understand he needs a little break from the kids - but damnit I want to rest and relax as well. Haven't I been working all day? Don't I deserve the same consideration?

All, ALL I have ever wanted is for him to help in the evenings so that I'm not yelling at the kids and we both then can spend some quality time together after the kids goto bed. Rather than me doing everything, get the kids in bed, and then listen to him whine that I don't spend time with him 'cause I still got shit that's gotta get done before I can goto bed.

If you haven't guessed I finally had enough (again) and told him everything that needed to be done. Of course 90% of it was done by the time he actually came up for air from the computer to help. He didn't help his case when I had first asked him at 7pm to help me and he didn't make it around to helping until 7:45pm. Better yet, told him I doing what's best for me and kids, and if he wants some love and attention then he better start helping.

You know your getting old when . . . .

. . . . . . you spend the first 15 minutes at work (when nobody else is here yet) on the internet looking for a waffle iron that's non-stick, has removeable and possibly even exchanable plates. See this is what I'm buying myself for X-mas this year since I'm tired of spending money on frozen waffles. I figured one weekend a month I could just make up a huge batch of waffles, french toast, and yes even pancakes and freeze them. Then the boys would be set for the whole month for breakfast or lunch and even dinner. If you haven't guessed we eat a lot of waffles/pancakes/french toast in our house......my boys love their breakfast.

So far this is the best one I've seen:
http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=210958

I just would really like one w/exchangeable plates to make quesadilla's or even grilled cheese on them. Oh well - I guess I have a few months to X-mas so I'll keep looking.

No use crying over spilt milk ? ! ?

Definitely a saying a man came up with.....probably after he saw his wife crying over wasted/spilt breast milk.

Men just don't get it do they? They don't understand the effort and time it takes to get a good supply going, then the foods you can no longer consume (caffine, chocolate, anything spicy, etc). Oh, and the constant worry of "do I have enough?" Then there's the sore nipples and breast engorgement, and breast milk leaking every where. As well as remembering to take our vitamins and avoiding medicines when we're sick.

So, yes when you (aka men) waste any drop of breastmilk we will cry and we will yell at you, but understand it's not just breast milk you're wasting but our hardwork and effort. Apparently which only our children understand and appreciate.

For those that care.....K just wasted a 5oz bag of breast milk the other day. I was so mad I told him if his daughter starves it's his fault. Never mind the twenty or so bags of frozen breast milk in the freezer.

"Turtles can't play with Hot Wheels Tyler"

This is the latest chant around our house. On the average we dig out 3-4 Hot Wheels a day from the fish/turtle tank. I think his obsession with doing this goes back to the toilet.....yes, we've retrieved many a Hot Wheel from the toilet as well.

Then there's the bread crumb incident. Mr Destruction got into the pantry, found the container of bread crumbs and proceeded to "feed" the fish/turtles bread crumbs. So after only having the fish/turtles in the new house for 10 days we've cleaned/changed water now 4 times.

Thinking we should introduce our selves to the Principal at the elementary school our children will attend......I have a feeling the first day of Kindergarten for T we'll be getting a call.

My new toothbrush

Yup - this is my new toothbrush. Isn't it trendy???

In all seriousness here - this is what I'm using until I can (a) find my toothbrush that Mr Destruction ran off with or (b) finish unpacking the bathroom and find the spare adult toothbrushes I know we have.

Let's just say that ALL bathroom doors are now closed - at least until we can deter Mr Destructions fascination with the bathroom. Okay it's more like an obsession - just last week we had to replace K's razor as Mr D got a hold of it and tossed it in the toilet, that and his body puff K uses in the shower.

Jayhawk Football 2007

Okay - now that school's back in session I can start to focus on what's really important: KU Sports!!

Yeah-yeah, I know. KU sucks at football.....but Coach Mark Mangino is slowly building us a great program. We've already won our first two games and this Saturday we're going for win number 3!!

Hopefully we'll continue to perform throughout the regularly scheduled Big 12 games. As always I look forward to the KU vs K-State Kansas showdown. Especially since we may actually be better than them - first time in a good 10 years.

Poop, Crap, Kaka, Doody, etc

Why is it no one tells you that at some point in your life after having children you will live and die by the bowel movement. Oh, not yours - but your kid's.

Whether or not my child has pooped can determine my whole mood for the day. See - I have 3 kids who all have had trouble going poo at one time or another, and when they don't go at least once a day they just get in a fowl mood. I'm not shittin'. Yup - pun intended.

To prove my point, K called me at work just to tell me the baby girl finally went dukie after 4 days of nothing. The rest of day at work was just great and I was just in a good mood. I think I felt as much relief as she had! Now the little stinker is back to not poopin' and I'm getting just a little worried.

Ironically if the older two go poopie more than once in a day for at least two days in a row they're on the verge of getting sick. No shit - by day two they've got a nasty cold and bad sinus drainage.

See - life does revolve around shit......at least in my house.

Fish can't live in Milk & Turtles don't eat Crayons

We moved over a month ago, but just this last weekend we finally moved the turtle/fish tank. We still don't have the stand, but we needed to get the "pets" out of our previous home so we could get it cleaned and ready to rent/sell.

Right now the tank is setting on the ledge in front of the fire place in the living/front room. Unfortunately this makes the top of the tank at just the right height for Mr. Destruction. Apparently the day before he dumped a whole box of crayons in the tank, and then yesterday he poured milk from his cup in the tank. Strawberry milk if you must know.

While I got the boys situated for dinner K emptied as much water as possible and cleaned-up the tank as best he could. Sadly our two bottom feeders (looked like baby cat fish) kicked the bucket, but we've still got four gold fish.

The turtles are fine......as they've just had a nice meal of fish. Yup - they ate the two that died. BTW - the remaining gold fish don't look so good either, but only time will tell.

Tonight R comes to stay so I'm thinking a trip to the pet store will be in order to get some more feeder gold fish (aka turtle food), snails, and two more cat fish. Now if we could just get the stand from K's dad we can foil the rest of Mr Destructions dasterdly plans. At least the ones invovling the fish/turtle tank.

Peter Pan Peanut Butter

Ahhhh......I've never been soooo happy to see a product back on the shelf!! Now if I can only find the no sugar added I'll be in heaven!

Yup - I'm old.......these are the things that turn me on lately!

Moving SUCKS!!

Plain and simple.

So not only do we have to keep up with the daily crap around our new house, but we're still unpacking. And little Miss High Maintance doesn't help. And neither does this stupid cold that T got last weekend that he's now passed along to everyone else in the house in one form or another.

Oooooo - and then there's trying to find the crap that you have unpacked. Like last night trying to find my hand-held mixer....found the beaters, but not the mixer. Where it's at is a mystery to me. Hopefully I can find it before I make mash taters again - then again I like lumpy mash taters.

What is it with boys and their penis

I know it's because I'm female and I don't have one is the reason for my lack of understanding, but seriously folks what's the fascination?

I ask because this is what I've dealt with at my house within the last week:
* R - just turned 4 and is constantly grabing himself. Finally told him it's okay to play with it in the bathroom or your bedroom, but NOT out in public.
* S - will be 6 in October, and recently informed me he likes playing with his penis. Fine, once again in your bedroom or in the bathroom, not in public.
* T - biddy boy just turned 2 in June. I swear the boy gets a woody the second you start to change his diaper he's that eager to grab/play with it. Oh - then there's the bathtub and the cups....you guessed it, the cups go over the penis.

Oye - how am I to survive the pre-teen and teenage years if they're already this fascinated with their favorite appendage? Maybe this is why I finally had a girl - but then again that's a whole different can of worms.

The Pirate Movie

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084504/


If you've never seen it - go get your drunk on and watch!!! Seriously this is right up there with "The Princess Bride". Now off to find the soundtrack!

Short, but sweet

The gravesite service yesterday for my grandmother was short, but sweet and not overly religious. I hate to admit this, but I honestly thought it would just family and one or two close friends. Was I wrong. Besides family (only 9 of us including the great-grandkids) there were at least 25 other people in attendance. Many people spoke up about what a wonderful woman, friend, person she was.

Made me realize I didn't really know my grandmother at all. Yes, I should've taken the time, but as a child she was always stand-offish - unaproachable almost. Unfortunately that feeling carried with me into adulthood. All of this has also made me very thankful for my own mother - as she's a wonderful grandmother.

Here's her obituary in the Lawrence Journal World:
http://www2.ljworld.com/obits/2007/sep/01/gertrude_coon/

Breakfast short-cuts

Okay - the boys love their waffles/pancakes/french toast and sausage links. It dawned on me the other day that the groves in our Geo. Foreman knock-off is just the right size for sausage links. You can cook about 14 at a time and you don't need to really worry about turning them, etc. Just set the timer and go. I can cook-up two packages of sausage links w/o the hassle and the boys get their sausage for their breakfast. Now I just gotta try bacon!



Second thing I just figured out......corn starch mixes great with milk and works wonders at thickening gravy for biscuts and gravy. This way you don't get that over powering flour taste. Made the best gravy this morning. Even K said it was my best effort yet.

Well - she's off to a better place

My grandmother's (father's mother) health has slowly been declining these last 10 months or more. She would've been 89 in November.

Unexpectedly, her death has made me sadder than I thought I would be. I don't know if it's because she was my last grandparent or if it's emphathy for my dad. You see my dad's father passed away 14 years ago, and his only sibling almost 7 years ago. He's not close to his extended family so his immediate family was all he really had. In my communication with him last night and today he's been very mater of fact, which I know is his way in dealing with his grief. But I'm at a loss for what to do for him. A big batch of chocolate chip cookies just doesn't seem like enough.

For those that care I wasn't very close with my any of my grandparents except my maternal grandfather. I've always felt a little cheated in the grandparent department 'cause none of my grandparents were the ideal grandparent - except my Grandpa Clary.

So, the service will be Saturday at 2pm. Just a small grave site, and family only. That's what she wanted.

School lunches sure are better.....

....than when I was kid. Seriously here....no joke.

This week is my last week to drive myself to work so I thought I'd take the opportunity to go have lunch with S at school. (He's in all day kindergaten.) Plus they were having pizza - the boy's favorite.

Oh, if you care I start taking the bus next Tuesday. Figured out I could save approximately $300/mo if I rode the bus vs driving myself.

What was also weird is that they basically have the kids serve themselves. No longer does the lunch lady populate your tray with the various menu items for the day, but you get to choose!! They have 3 choices of the main entree (today it was salad, pizza, or sandwhich) and then you choose your three sides (carrot sticks, cooked veggies, and/or applesauce). Plus you get not only chocolate and plain milk, but strawberry....AND you can choose a juice drink as well.

Also, it was nice to see that my little monster is one of the tamest of the bunch. No joke - there were a few kids there that I thought could benefit from a few doses of S's ADHD meds. However, it was nice to see my kid is normal....even if his parents are not.

I think I'll pull my hair out!!

Wait a minute I don't need to.....it's all falling out on it's own!!! Seriously - is this mother natures sick joke....once all hormone levels are back to normal after pregnancy a woman gets to lose her hair?? It's not like I had a lot to begin with......I guess I should look on the bright side: the grey hairs are falling out like all the rest!!

Curious George watch out!!

T will give you a run for your money. We've been our new house for little over two weeks. As you can imagine most things are still in boxes, and only recently have we been able to get the boy's room somewhat unpacked and organized. Until then this is what T has found to entertain himself.

1. Inflatable ring for the pool - he loves to step into this and pull it up to his waist and bump into things as well as put it around his ankles and shuffle around the floor.
2. Toothbrush - he's going to have the cleanest teeth
3. Sippy cups - they're great to stack and unstack
4. Boxes - of course empty ones are every where
5. Floor tile - we're tearing up the laminent floor in the basement and T's been helping.

He's also been getting into everything, and taking his clothes off. (He's the poster child for the toddler nudest colony.) Unfortunately we can only keep him clean for about an hour at best.

However, he's cute, he's entertained, isn't causing much more of a mess than what was already there - so why not let the boy have some fun.

Why now does he want to be a father to the boy ? ?

Is it because he'll be 6 in October? Is it because he can just sit the boy in front of the TV, computer, or video game all day? Why? I seriously want to know.

Even though he couldn't take care of him for the 2 years he was unemployed, and had me put him in daycare. As well as, made me use all of my sick/vaction/paid-time-off to care for him when he was sick for 3 years. He thinks he can now be a father?? Or does he just want to be "fun daddy"?

I unfortunately gave him the door with which to open up the issue of custody. The last 2 times I've moved and the last 3 times he's moved neither has required the 30-day written notice be sent via registered and certified mail. However, I move out-of-state (40 miles away) and all hell breaks loose.

Not only did he file a motion to get immediate full custody of Stephen while we wait on a custody evaluation, but he got the judge to sign a restraining order against me from removing the child from the state of KS. All of this the Friday we moved and a week before S was to start school - more specifically Kindergarten.

Luckily my parents were kind enough to keep Stephen from Friday August 10th through Monday August 20th as we'd already moved 75% of our junk by the time I was served with the restraining order. The 20th of course being the first day of school. Our lawyers were able to meet with the Judge on the 20th and got things temporarily straightened out. Basically I get S throughout the week so that he can attend school, but he gets to spend all of his weekends with "fun daddy" until our Dec 13th court date.

My lawyer told me I was being punished by the Judge for not filing the 30-dy notice as required by KS law, and I was being made to be the authoritarian figure. Well, shit.....I'm that already....no big punishment there.....except I do miss out on the quality time of every other weekend.

So after everything's said and done I got the boy back the night of the 20th and he started school on the 21st. Now I just sit back and wait for ex-H to do something stupid and for the custody evaluation to start.

Dec 13th can't come soon enough.

Good News

Baby A still fights it, but she'll take the bottle!!!!! Weird thing is she prefers one bottle with Daddy and another with Mom.....each bottle has different shaped nipples. At this point we're not going to question it and just go with it.

As you can guess this has made my week at work a little easier.

Food Allergies & School

S has a Tree Nut allergy.......more specifically to Walnuts (Black and English) and Pecans. So, not only do we avoid food with Tree Nuts but Peanuts as well for the boy. We also spend $110 every fall for his EpiPens, Albuterol inhaler, and Zyrtec....enough for four seperate emergency packs. One for the school nurse, one for mom's house, one for dad's house and one for his back pack which goes with him everywhere.

Now for those who are wondering we didn't know he had an allergy. It took him eating a chocolate chip cookie with a few English Walnuts in them and vomitting immediately for us to figure it out. (BTW - it's the Black Walnuts he'll have the most severe reaction.) This was a year ago........and so far so good.

FYI - the reason for the EpiPens is because up until the allergy was discovered he was on meds for asthma (aka Reactive Airway Disease)....which he has out grown TG......and if he has Black Walnuts most likely it will be an anaphalactic reaction.

S does know to ask if a new food has nuts in it, and I, his grandparents, and dad all know to read the labels carefully. So before you complain about what you can and can't bring to school for your kid's parties.....just think it could be worse.....it could be your kid with the allergy.

FWIW - here's a great article on Food Allergies:
http://www.babble.com/content/articles/features/dispatches/Martini/foodForThought/

It's official.....we bought a house

However, I'm not excited as I should be. You see....there's some strings attached (which I've already made it perfectly clear to K that should his grandparents get too involved in our lives we're making other arraingments). First, K's grandparents are buying the house so they can reinvest the money they received for selling some land. Should mention that we are thne paying them a monthly payment....more than they could rent it for but less than a house payment for us. Second, due to the first we bought in a city we weren't excited about but decided that we could suffer for the 2-3 years it'll take for us to get some equity and buy a house on our own. Third, K's grandparents have reserved the right to come and stay in the spare bedroom as needed. This is the one item I'm not sure about....they spend about 8mos outa the year in Phoenix AZ so hopefully this won't be too bad.

Oh, then to top it off Stephen starts Kindergarten Aug 20th.....we're hoping to be all moved by Labor day. So - not only do I hafta get all of the paper work together for his current school I've gotta get everything together for his new school. Then to top it off we're moving from KS to MO....that's just a whole nuther set of issues: driver's licenses, registering the cars, etc.

And the best is that I start back to work on the 14th of August.....and A won't take a bottle.

Starting to feel like I've lost control over everything........stay tuned to see if I lose my mind next.

3wks Left

:( I only have 3 weeks left of ML......guess baby A needs to get used to the bottle. Hmm...on the bright side I might ween her off me as her pacifer....doubt it though.

Ugh - Car Repairs

Okay - really shouldn't complain, but still we had to shell out $450 for a new alternator for my '99 Nissan Maxima. More than half of that was for labor as the alternator is on the bottom of the engine, not the top like American cars. However, I still LOVE that car.....even if K and/or my dad can't do all of the repairs when needed.

Anyhoo - luckily I'm on maternity leave and K's grandparents have been borrowing it as it gets better gas mileage than their truck, otherwise we'd have had to play musical cars as well.

Funny thing - K's grandfather thought he'd left the lights on and ran down the battery.....I kept trying to tell K and his grandfather that that wasn't possible as the car was equiped with a sensor that when it sensed a drain on the battery it would shut off whatever was causing the drain. They of course thought I was full of it.....got the last laugh in the end didn't I?

Crying, Crying and more Crying

I don't know who's been crying more: me because she's crying so much and I don't know what's wrong or Baby A.

Seriously folks, I think she has colic. But rather than crying 2-3 hours at a time she cries pretty much anytime from 8am to 5-7pm unless I'm holding and/or nursing her. The gas drops do help, and I have noticed that after she has her 2-4 good daily poops is when she well craps out.

I've given up all Mexican (too spice), all caffine (including my beloved morning cup), most Chinese food (brocoli, etc seem to upset her), and have severly limited my intake of chocolate. These have helped, but she still just gets pissed off for a lack of a better term and the only thing that seems to settle her down eventually is nursing.

Basically I'm the human pacifier again. Not bad at night as A and I sleep together, but during the day it sucks big time. Especially since I had to send the sling I ordered back as it was too big. Trust me the new one in the correct size can not come soon enough.

Then to top it off I think she's going through her 6 week growth spurt early.....at least there I can help and once she does fall asleep (for a good 3-4 hour nap) I can get in 2, sometimes 3 small pumping sessions to help boost supply.

Hope this ends soon.......

Finally an update

Tomorrow Baby A will be 4 weeks old. Hard to believe ain't it? What's harder to believe is that my maternity leave will be over in 6.5 weeks.

We're adjusting......I can handle all 3 for a few hours at a time if needed, but we still haven't gone anywhere further than 1 hour from our house. And even that trip we had to stop on the way home 'cause Baby A was hungry.

Am I the only one that sees traveling with an infant who is breastfeeding as a disadvantage? Seriously here....if she was bottle fed you can just keep driving and plop a bottle in her mouth...not so when breastfeeding. Well, guess I could but then I'd have to pump in the car and that seems just as annoying as stopping and feeding her straight from the boob.

I'm very surprised how well breastfeeding is going this time around. Seriously folks.....yeah we've got our latch on issues, but I actually seem to have a pretty good supply going. The only thing that has me worried is that she'll be up for 3-4 hours at a time (taking maybe 2-3 15 min cat naps in there) crying acting like she's hungry. I get her on the boob - which lasts just until letdown starts and then she pulls off and doesn't want it. Mostly does this to the right boob.....but will do it to the left as well. She does this about 3-4 nights a week.

I'm just afraid she's still hungry or has gas or something else weird is going on. We have her 1 mo check-up next week so I can ask then, but until then I'm trying not to worry as she's still having the recommended number of wet/dirty diapers a day.

Now I just need to start working on getting her days and nights in sync with the rest of the known world and all will be good. Having her sleep in her own bed at naps and night time would be nice too, but right now not having her awake for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night is all I'm asking for.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER!!

Day late.....but better late than never....plus his party isn't until this coming Saturday.

Can't believe the biddy boy is 2 already. It's only really hit me since A's birth how much of a big boy he really is.

LOVE YOU T-MAN!!

HOLY COW!!

Okay - embarassed to admit this but I started my pregnancy with Addison weighing 237lbs. By the time I was diagnoised as gestational diabetes I'd only gained 7lbs....244lbs. Well by the time I gave birth I was down to 233lbs. Now, I was not trying to lose weight, but I was strickly sticking to the diet so Addison would have less blood work done once she was born.

Well - now that most of the swelling is gone I decided to weigh myself this morning.......the scale read 211lbs!!! Yes!!! I thought I'd eventually weigh in around 225lbs....never did I dream of 211lbs.

I'm still sticking to the GD diet (have been horrible about checkin my blood sugar levels) as my hormone levels are still elevated as I'm breast feeding, but hopefully this will help me lose all this extra weight I've been carrying around the last 3 years. Anyhoo - my goal by the end of my maternity leave is 200lbs and by my birthday in March I want to be down to 180lbs....and eventually I'd love to be around 160lbs. This would put me about a size 12-14.

Cute Stories

T: The day of A's birth I couldn't have anything to eat until I could stop throwing up. Finally I was able to get a nice liquid dinner. K & T were there, and when the nurse came in with my meal he started clapping. It was the cutest dang thing and the nurse said she wished she'd get that kind of reception from all of her patients.

S: Informed me the day before A's delivery that he wanted to see her being born. I had to tell him that they only allow K in there, but he will come up with Grandma Sue later in the day to see her and me. Oh, and when I call A Addy I'm informed that her name is Addison, not Addy.

R: Kept asking her name, and when we'd tell him he'd repeat it and act like he got it.....but then 5 minutes later would ask again. He'd also would tell anyone he say that A was his baby.

Things I've learned you can do while breastfeeding

1. Goto the bathroom....this includes pulling my pants up and down and yes, even wiping myself
2. Getting T outa his crib...helps the side does go down
3. Playing WoW....hard to do one handed, but it can be done
4. Writing posts on my blog and a bb that I read
5. Along with #4 - answering emergency e-mails from work
6. Fixing a basic lunch for either myself or the kids or both
7. Reading a book, magazine, or other reading material
8. Trim the baby's finger nails
9. Pump one boob while the baby feeds on the other
10. Give/receive a hug from one of my boys


There's more, but sleep deprivation is making it hard to think. Now once I get my sling ordered all of this plus more will be a little easier.

Well - I survived.....

.....this weekend with out K. He left Friday morning at 5am to go race his R/C cars about 2.5-3hrs away for the whole weekend. He won't be back until this afternoon (Sunday) until 3 or 4pm. He didn't carpool with the other guys he went with just in case he needed to come home in an emergency so at least he was realistic about that aspect.

I should mention that S & R are at their other parents house, so that only left me, A and T this weekend. Grandma Sue and Poppie were great at taking the boys (S & T) on Friday afternoon, and yesterday Grandma Sue helped out for most of the day. She'll be over around 10am today and will head home once T's down for his nap.

Also helps that most of my swelling is gone in my feet, and my incision doesn't hurt as much (just down to the ibuprofen as needed). However, I'm in desperate need of sleep. Little Miss A has decided to be picky about which boob she wants, and when......apprently during the middle of the night the left boob just isn't good enough. Mom and K both asked me if they were different flavors or something.

Oh well - at least I survived without breaking down in tears, and it has been nice to have the bed all to myself (well A slept with me most of the time) for the last two nights.

1 week old

Yesterday we had A's 1 week check-up. Already back-up to birth weight which means Mommy's producing enough breast milk to get A fat & happy. She was down to 6lb 15oz when she left the hospital.

S, of course, is doing great with her and has stepped up to the plate to be an even better big brother to T. T is being surprisingy gentle with her, and only really gets upset when Mommy can't hold him. That's more to do with the incision pain than me holding A all the time.

Overall the first week has gone pretty good.

The smallest things that can make you happy

In my case....it's Addison not having that tarry poo....but cottage cheese poo.

For the uneducated....now that her poo looks like cottage cheese it means that the billirubin is out of her system and we won't need to go get blood work on Monday.

The details

Mom made it to our house at 5:20am, and we were off around 5:40am. Got to the hospital around 6:15am. Around 7:30am they had me walk over to the OR. Got my spinal and they got me situated before having Keith come in a little before 8am.



Took them a few good pushes on my belly to get her out, but out she did pop. She was bloody and blue - which kinad freaked me out, and I think that's why Keith had to leave. He felt sick to his stomach - and having very little sleep, no food, and only coffee probably didn't help either. The Nursery Nurse took her to get her warmed up and suctioned out, and they continued to put everything back and due the tubal. Most of the OR staff thought it was funny I thought at 7lb 8oz she was small......until my doc informed them that until her my smallest was 8lb 8oz.



I was back in my room at 8:45am, and as soon as I was comfortably in bed they brought her to me. Took her a few tries, but she latched on and wanted the boob. Unfortunately none of my kids latch on correctly, so we're working on that. For those that care we're using a nipple shield until the owies I have heal and we can wean her off of that.

Due to my gestational diabetes her blood sugar levels were low, but after 24hrs she was within normal and no more tests. And just so she wasn't out done by her brothers she decided she wanted to be jaundice as well, and spent a good 24 hrs under the lights. I got up every 2-2.5hrs to nurse her whether she was hungry or not, and after 24 hrs her levels went from a high 13 to a low 9. Only needed it under 12 to go home, but the lower the level was when we went home the less likely we'd have to come back in for more blood work on Monday.

I really need to send up something nice for the nursing staff at the hospital. They all were great, especially when she was under the lights and knew I just wanted someone to talk to. I'm thinking we're (aka my mom) gonna make up some cinnamon rolls, etc and take up there next week.

Almost forgot - the boys (all 3) were able to make it up to see me and Addison. We did it in shifts, and it worked out great. S & R are pretty excited to have a new sister, but T's still making up his mind. I do know he's not happy that mommy can't pick him up whenever he wants....but that's more because of the surgery not the fact that he has a baby sister.

Overall we're getting settled. It may take most of my maternity leave.....but we'll get there.

7lbs 8oz 19 inches 8:09am May 30th 2007

Here I sit. . .

. . .in front of the computer typing this up. I have hair color on my hair, topless, and dying to take a shower, but even then I know I won't be able to sleep.

You see....the Bean will make her arrival in 11 hours. Of course I'll be up at 5:15am and out the door at 5:30am to be at the hospital by 6am. Why it takes two hours to prep me for a c-section I'll never understand.

I know I won't be able to sleep....especially with K lying next to me snorring away.

Anyhoo - don't get outa the hospital until Friday or Saturday, but I'll definitely have plenty of pictures to share.

I think he's in DENIAL. . .

. . . and I'm not talking about the river in Egypt.

When I found out I was pregnant K and I were both thinking "Oh, shit". We hadn't really decided if we were done or not, but getting pregnant when we did was the last thing on our "to do" list.

We discussed all of the options, and we both agreed that the only thing we could live with would be to have the child.

He seemed to be okay with that up until we found out it was a girl. Even then he seemed okay as he knew there was a chance the sonogram tech was wrong. However, for the last 6 weeks I've been having a weekly sonogram to check my fluid levels (this is due to the gestational diabetes) and the tech has been kind enough to confirm the gender each time.

She is definitely a SHE.

Within the last few weeks K has become more distant. Even to the point of when I talk about the Bean and her arrival he seems to tune me out.

I'm really hoping tonight we can talk as I can't go through this emotionally alone. I mean I know he'll be there physically, but I'm not sure about emotionally right now.

Procrastination CAN be a good thing

While going through all of our receipts, statements, etc this past weekend so I could get our checkbook, etc caught up before the Bean arrives I found a 1099 from 2006. I confess it was no small amount either.

Anyhoo - we'd procrastinated on getting all of our tax stuff together so our tax person had to file an extension for us. (This only really worked since we were getting a refund for state and federal.) So, rather than being completely screwed up the a$$ w/o a reach around we'll at least get the reach around. :)

Don't know the extent of the damage yet - but at this point I'm just thankful we don't have to pay back a portion of a refund and we saved ourselves from getting audited by the IRS.

Another one bites the dust . . .

I've been in my current job for 17 mos. At the Bank for 12.5yrs though. In March one person quit and was finally replaced 3 weeks ago. Now someone else has quit.

Unfortunately my boss just can't see why everyone wants to bail......maybe because you stink as a manager. Yes you know your job, but when it comes to managing others you stink.

Oh well - 2.5 dys left of work and I'm outta here!!!

Oh, and should I mention that maybe tomorrow we'll have a temp starting to cover my duties while I'm out? Like that gives me a whole lotta time to train someone.

Some days it's not worth it to get outa bed. . . .

. . . .starting around 8pm last night everything has just gone to shit. K's grandparents borrowed my car since it gets better gas mileage than anything they have and they were driving to Chicago. They still have it as they're heading back, but last night 'round 8pm they called to tell us they locked my one and only key in the car. Luckily I have remote start and access so I just drove up this morning to where they left my car and unlocked it, retrieved the keys and dropped them off.

However, last night after getting home around 9:30pm I was carrying the T-man into (S was wtih Daddy) the house. I step on a toy and trip and fall. Landed on my knees, left elbow, and right hand. Biddy Boy was more scared than anything, but trying to do the splits when almost 37 wks pregnant on one's knees is not a good thing. Slept like crap last night so I came into work late.

Once at work I had to officers complaining about how things were being paid even though their own managers (and my boss) had told them I was doing it correctly. Then I went to get a Diet Sprite and the machine dispenses bottled water instead. Now I can't print from one of the applications I use, my Outlook (e-mail) has died, and Excel is now starting to freak out on me.

Oh, never mind the $50 it took to fill-up the minivan. I'm about to say f-it and head home even though it's 4pm and I usually work until 6pm.

I'm hoping this is just a 24hr Bad Luck bug....and my 8pm tonight everything should be back to normal. Well, normal as my house/life can get.

Still waiting on someone to train

Well, my boss informed me yesterday (8.5 working days left before ML) that they're going through a temp agency. Okay, great. However, not sure when this person will get here and they may not even be hired by the time I go on ML.

Seriously - I told my boss when I was only 7 weeks pregnant, and now were down to 7 working days left and I still have no one to train. Does this tell you what type of manager I'm dealing with?

Guess I'll just wait and see, but seriously after May 25th it ain't my problem or concern.

Adventures in registering your child for Kindergarten

We live in a small town (approx 6-7,000 residents) and apprently we do things at our own pace. Two weeks ago we went to a "Kindergarteners to be night" at the elementary school. At this time we got a tour of the school, the kids got to see the K classroom's, and we got a packet of forms to fill out. Then we got to sign-up for K Round-up day.

Well, I signed up for this morning at 8:30am. I thought to myself it couldn't take longer than an hour......was I wrong. We were there for 2 hours listening to all of the stuff we'll need to have in place, etc while the kids got to experience a couple of hours of Kindergarten.

It's amazing all of the crap you need to have filled out....plus with S's tree nut allergy I have extra forms to fill out for each of his emergency meds as well as two doctor's appointments to make for this summer to get the Doctor's to sign all of the forms and get refills on the expired drugs. Good thing I'm on maternity leave this summer and can make appointments at my leasure. :)

So, maybe by the time he actually starts August 20th I'll have all of this crap together.

FINALLY - A Picture of my Boys

Okay, in order of appearance: T, R & S. :)

We were having "quiet time" since they all refused to take a nap, so they were watching a short video in the big boy's room.

Ahhhh.....Mother's Day

So far so good. Got to sleep in until 8am. K made coffee and got the boy outa bed. Haven't done much, but veg and play with T. K called in Chinese and I just got done pigging out. However, now that T's down for his nap, I'm now off to go play WoW. Can't get much better.

Later today I get S back from his dad's and we head out to my parents for an early dinner and let the boys play outside.

Poop, Poop, and more Poop

Well, those of you with kids know that occasionally newborns will poop in the tub as they have no control over anything quiet yet. However, as they get older this will happen less often......supposedly.

Anyhoo - T never did this as an infant, neither did R or S. However, once the boy turned 18mos this has happen, not once, not twice, but FOUR times. The latest was last night. He's 23mo as of yesterday.

Last night T pigged out at dinner, and of course food was everywhere. Got the bath water going while he finished eating, stripped him down and let him run naked to the bathroom. The boy loves baths and tries to get in the tub before I'm even half way there. He's in the tub and starting to wet him down, and just started to shampoo his hair when I noticed he was going poop. Probably should mention he was squating in the tub as this time. That's just his stance when I wash him down.

Anyhoo - call K for help, and drag the boy outa the bath with soap in his hair. While trying to clean-up the tub & the boy the stinker squats and proceeds to poop more. Fine, clean that up, finish cleaning out the tub but by that time he was in the hallway and pooped again. K cleans that up as I and the boy head to our other bathroom to finish his bath. Make it too the kitchen when he not only poops again, but pees everywhere. Oh, and I should mention it was mushy poo.....not nice formed solid poo.

By this time we've had enough - quickly wipe his cute little butt with a diaper wipe and slap a diaper on. Waited a good 30-40 minutes before we attempted to complete his bath.....and yes, this whole time he had shampoo in his hair.

K tells me later that that was the only time he'd gone all day. GREAT. . . . explains the quantity though.

I can laugh about this now.....and actually we laughed about it after the poopin' machine went to bed. I'm just glad I'm not the one that has to sanitize the boy's bathtub this morning. :)

Our car woes

A month ago we had to replace two tires on my '99 Maxima. The other two were still good, but would need to be replaced this summer. Well - that was wrong. One of the old tires started to go bad so we were hoping it would last until I went on maternity leave. Wrong again. Had to replace the other two tires yesterday.

Kicker is that K's grandparents are back in town from their winter vacation in Arizona and needed to drive to Chicago. They wanted to take the BMW, but that didnt' work as we just took it into the shop the day before as it wouldn't always shift into overdrive. And when that happens the fastest you could go was 50mph.....not fun if you're driving 12-18hrs. So, we volunteered my Maxima. Of course I've been telling K for a few weeks now that I think one of the tires is bad. He drove my car said it was fine......until yesterday when he realized how bad it was.

SO - K's grandparents still took my car and were kind enough to stop at Wal-Mart and get two new tires and a lube, oil, and filter as well as replacing the windshield wipers. We paid for the repairs of course, they just did it on their way outa town.

Oh, it gets better.....now we've got some mysterious leak on the minivan. Great. It doesn't seem too bad now so hopefully that CAN wait until my maternity leave.

Sometimes it's the little things . . .

. . .that make you realize that you really don't have your act together like you thought you did.

Last Saturday we (me and the boys, all 3 of them) went to go see K race his R/C cars. It was a nice breezy cloudy day. Unfortunately we forgot to put suncreen on the boys and T was wearing a tank top. You guessed it.....his poor little shoulders and upper arms were pink (almost red) by the time we got home.

We've been lathering him up with extra mositurizing lotion hoping that would help, and so far so good.

Luckily the other two wore in t-shirts and were fine. Now we have a nice supply of sunblock in T's diaper bag.

Live and learn.

On a side note: feel like a horrible mom, but at least he's not peeling and doesn't seem to be in pain.

CRAP - F'ING - TASTIC

Well today is definitely a Monday. My normal 1 hour commute took 1.5 hours. It has been raining all friggin' day. I've had meeting after meeting. And the ultimate: the dude I'm training just resigned. Yes - 3 weeks before I go on maternity leave the snot nosed little brat (he's 23 btw) resigned.

He has no other job lined up, and thinks he can get a job in sales pretty quick. Yeah right you deliusional generation Y fool. Does explain why he was never at this desk today and seemed to be avoiding me.

Almost forgot - the best part is that earlier today I sent out a mass e-mail to around 25o individuals letting them know who to contact during my leave. Then this afternoon dork boy sends out a mass e-mail to almost the same 25o people letting them know he's resigning and appreciated his time here. Talk about stirring up a shit storm. Only got a handful of e-mails asking what was going on this afternoon, but wait until tomorrow.

Oh, I have forgotten to mention that he makes this announcement at 4:30pm today....his first day back after being gone a week. Yes, a week.....a week where I kept holding onto things to do so I could show him this week. Guess I will be in on Saturday working my pregnant arse off.

3 weeks and counting

Yup......my last time as being pregnant is almost up. In a little over 3 weeks the Bean will make her arrival into the world.

Weird as this sounds, but this is really the only time I've been ready well before the big c-section date to have it over with. Maybe because this is my last pregnancy, or maybe I'm just ready to be off work for 11 weeks. I'm thinking it's the later. Then again I'm already dreading going back to work after being off 11 weeks.....I know my notes/procedures are good, but I'm not sure the guy covering my duties is that competent.

"Mommy, when are you going to hatch?"

Yes - that was the question posed to me Wednesday night by S. Apparently Easter is still fresh in his mind, and I won't be giving birth but will be hatching.

Luckily he does understand that he, and T came out of my tummy (both were c-sections), and that's how the Bean will arrive in this world on May 30th. He did inform me that if I needed it he would kiss my big owie to make it feel better. Even with all of the ADHD issues and such, how can you NOT just love that child?!?!?

Bedrest SUCKS!!!

Even if it was for only one day. I applaud and am amazed at the women who are on it much longer.......after one day I was about to go insane.

Anyhoo - having weird pains near my right hip so doctor wanted to be cautious and have me take it easy one day. Also, I have a lovely bladder infection. She's not sure the two are or aren't related but since I have a non-stress test day she's gonna have the u/s tech take a look and just check things out.

He's finally seeing it my way

Like every man K has his toys. Unfortunately his toys are expensive toys: truck, trailer, and 4-wheeler. (Of course we're still making payments on them.)

I have no problem with him and his toys, but he wants the whole family to be able to enjoy the 4-wheeler and camping. I love to go camping and I think this is a great idea, but the boys are 5 1/2, 3 1/2, almost 2 and not quiet here yet. Not the most ideal situation.

Anyhoo - the man, on his own, has been talking for the last few months about just selling everything so we can pay off our debt that much faster and get a house. Well, this last week he did it. The trailer (enclosed toy hauler) is already gone as of this last weekend.

He listed the 4-wheeler and the truck today in the Auto Trader. (Along with a classic car, his dad's motorcycle, and his dad's 4-wheeler.)

SO - instead of being out of debt by the Spring of 2011 we will be outa debt hopefully no later than the Spring of 2009 - if not sooner. Which means we can get a house!!!

It may have had to plant this little seed in his brain over 9 mos ago.....but hey, he finally got it!!! Patience does pay off!!!

Outa the mouths of babes....

Everynight when I put S to bed we always chat about his day or other things. Last night was no different. Lately he's been asking how many days I have to work before I'm off. Since last night was Sunday I told him 5 days. He then proceeds to tell me that "you need to goto work so you don't get in trouble and don't catch on fire".

Catch on fire? Ah....took me a second.....Get Fired.

OMG - I'm impressed I didn't just dye laughing right then and there. However, I'm still chuckling about it today.

Gotta love the boy!

Ahh....the imagination of a 2yo

Daddy's out playing with his R/C cars so it's just the T Man and myself. We've been having a grand old time just playing around, and for once I actually made the bed.

T has decided he's going to pretend to be asleep. He crawled up on the bed, got under the covers, and has proceeded to make snorring sounds. Now he's just chillin' with the TV remote.

Disappointed our digital camera isn't working (aka batteries are dead) 'cause it's the cutest dang thing ever!

What an A$$

My ex-H calls me this morning on his way over to our house to drop S off. He wants to know if we have breakfast food (frozen waffles, pancakes, sausage, etc) for S since they were running late and S didn't eat breakfast at his house.

WHAT THE *UCK!?!?! No dude, we make the boys starve until lunch time. Seriously, what would make him ask a question like that???

Better yet - he calls and asks me, and I tell him yes we have stuff at the house (since I was already at work). But he then asks K when he gets to the house.

Good thing he's not my problem anymore....well, not 100% of the time.

The closer B-Day gets . . .

. . . .the more nervous I am about having my tubes tied. I know in my mind that it's the right thing to do. We can not financially afford another. Emotionally I know we could handle another. However, physically not sure my body can handle a 4th pregnancy. Then there's the birth control factor - don't need to worry about it!

Then again there's my heart......and the "what if's". I guess it's because it seems so FINAL, and this wil be the last child I'll give birth to. There goes my chance to experience a vaginal delivery......dang hospital and their policy. The last one I'll breastfeed, the last one to share those first experiences with, etc. Crap - now I made myself get all teary eyed.

Yeah - the hormones are ragging and emotions are running high....but I know in the end we've made the right decision.

Ugh.....5 1/2 is too young for his first visit to the Principal's office

Background: S is in a pre-K program that is grant funded but run by the school district. He currently attends the local grade school for this program. (It's also where he'll goto K next year.)

Friday night I get home and go through S's backpack from school. He doesn't have school on Friday's, but since he went to his dad's on Thursday night I knew I needed to check it. On his daily progress report is the following hand written note from his teacher "Stephen had to talk to the Principal about NOT standing on the toilet in the boy's bathroom". Yes, the NOT was underlined.

How embarassing is that?!?!? I know it stems from my post of yesterday about his dad's move which is yet another reason I'm pissed at the man. Never mind the man has NEVER looked in S's backpack to see how he did in school that day.

Of course we talked about it. Bascially what rules apply at home apply at school and vice versa. Unfortunately it was too late for any punishment (aka sleeping on the bottom bunk versus top), but I did tell him how disappointed/sad I was that he got in trouble. Which hopefully got the point through to him. Deep down I know he wants to be a good kid, but if I can't get his dad to help out I can only do so much.

At least he seems to be somewhat better this week.......knock on wood.

Why can't he be a father rather than fun-daddy????

No, this isn't a post about K, but about my ex-H C. C moved 3 weeks ago (slowly) into a new house about 15 minutes away from us. I called him twice to tell him he needs to talk to Stephen about how great the new house is, how it's okay to be sad about leaving the old house, and how neat his new bedroom will be. Unfortunately Stephen's behavior the last 3 weeks speak to the contrary.

It's not that he's having horribly bad days.......but there are bad episodes. With his ADHD he does not like change, and it will ruffle his feathers. BUT if you explain and talk about it he will do much better than he has been. I've been trying to talk to him about it, but I'm not the one that moved - his father did. Don't get me wrong it helps - but he needs to hear those encouraging and comforting words from his father as well - if not more so.

Why can't the man just grow up and be a father? He's not helping Stephen one bit and everything I say or do just gets ignored. (Like getting Stephen to bed at a decent hour.....the boy's lucky to be in bed by 10pm at his dad's, but at our house he's in bed no later than 8:45pm.) Of course I get to be the "bad" guy and make Stephen do all the things he doesn't like.

Seriously here - the boy is 5 1/2 yo. He can dress himself, bathe himself (mostly), do chores, etc......yet at his father's house his dad just does everything for the boy because it's easier and faster - but it's not better. How else is the boy to learn to become a self-sufficent adult if Daddy does everything for him?

Okay - enough ranting now......oh, and if you care I give the same lecture to K about Raymond. Keith - be 'fun-daddy' and your boy will end up like my ex-H. Amazing how quick he's tried to turn that around and be a real father to his child. At least Stephen has to good male role models in his life: Keith and my father.

Our flowers survived Mother Nature's ill will!!!

During the same weekend that the boys were digging for worms I decided to buy some cheap Dollar General packets of flower seeds and their cheap potting soil. (I spent a grand total of $7 - $1 for four packets of seeds, and $3 each for 2 bags of potting soil.) The weekend before the cold weather hit they had just started to sprout....then a week of cold weather......and this week it's beautiful out and they're still alive!!

The boys are all excited, but impatient at the same time for the flowers to grow and bloom. However, we've been using it as a good teaching experience about how things take time to grow. And with a new baby soon to arrive who won't be able to play immediately this is an important lesson.

On a side note: the iris' my dad transplanted from my mother's garden may not make it. They were planted the same weekend we planted our cheap-o flowers.

Things nobody tells you about pregnancy....

....cause if they did there'd be a decline in the population of the human race.

Okay, I'm only half serious here, but being that this is my third time being pregnant you'd think I'd know just about everything.....NOT. So for those that are thinking about getting pregnant or those that have been here's my little pieces of trivia on the subject.

1. Did you know that if you've geen diagnoised with Gestational Diabetes a quick ultrasound and measurement of fluid will tell whether or not you've been lying about your glucose numbers? Apparently if you have a lot of fluid then you haven't been keeping your numbers under control.

2. Did you know you'd get weird pains where you never thought you could get weird pains. I'm talking about pelvis spreading, to muscle spasms in your ribs, to cramps in places you didn't even know you had muscles.

3. Getting kicked in your cervix or belly button from the inside is just as painful as it sounds. Seriously the cervix is worse, but the belly button is a close 2nd.

4. If you have a c-section did you know they'll remove the staples before you go home and replace them with some super duper sticky "band-aids"? I shit you not....kinda freaks one out the first time.

5. Did you know that you most likely won't feel the epidural when you're in labor.....however, without labor it is pretty uncomfortable. With my first son I was already in labor when they decided to do the c-section.....I was in more pain from the contractions than from the epidural itself. However, with my second son we went straight for the c-section and the pain from the epidural was a little bit of a shock.

6. You can break your tailbone during labor....not just delivery and not know it. My labor with my first son progressed so fast that and he dropped pretty quick that he broke my tailbone.....yes, it can happen with a vaginal delivery, but since I had a c-section no one suspected that was my problem for 2 years.

7. You're hair will change....and not for the better. No amount of moisturizing shampoo or conditioner will help my hair. And then after delivery I'll shed profussly and my straight hair will gain some natural curl. Go figure.

8. Towards the end of your preganacy you'll need a sign that states when you're due, what the gender is, and what number this is for you.....oh, and if you have other children what their ages are and gender. Everybody and their dog will stop and ask you.....especially at work.

9. Any good sneeze or cough and you'll wet yourself. Mostly happens during the 3rd trimester....but can happen anytime. Yes, even after you just went to the bathroom.

10. Vaginal discharge. Not a pleasant topic, but it'll get annoying. I swear it's worse with each pregnancy. How stupid do I feel buying panty liners while pregnant?

11. Memory loss.....yes, this really does happen. Before pregnancy I could walk into a room maybe once a month and wonder what I'm doing there.....during pregnancy and during the first few sleep deprived months after giving birth it'll occur 2-3 times a day. Annoying yes...but hey it's exercise all that walking around trying to figure out why you're where you're at!

This is what I have so far.......oh, and for those wanting to get pregnant don't worry.....it can't be all bad if I'm willing to do it 3 times and would have more if we would financially and emotionally aford it.

Mother Nature is just a big TEASE!!!

The weekend before Easter was beautiful! I mean sunny, little wind, no rain and in the 70's. Felt like Spring had finally arrived. The week before Easter everything started to go down hill.....got cold, windy, and rainy. Heck that Friday before Easter saw a few little snow flakes. It's been like this for the whole week, and now that bitch is tossing snow into the forcast for Saturday!!

It's the friggin' middle of April in NE Kansas and we're supposed to get SNOW?!?! What's the deal?

Then with her sick sense of humor the forcast is sunny and 60's on Sunday. I don't dare look at next week's forcast.

Latest on the "Bean" front

Had my 32 wk check-up yesterday afternoon. I've lost another 4 lbs, but per my doc that's okay since it means I'm doing good on the diabetic diet and my glucose numbers look good. (Overall I've only gained 2lbs total - YEA!!!) Measured a week bigger, but that's to be expected. The "Bean's" heartrate was around 140.....until she starting doing her swimming exercises and jumped up to 153....which is normal.

Well, that's the good news. Bad news is that starting next week I go twice weekly for non-stress tests. The tests aren't bad I just lie around for 30-45 minutes while the monitor the "Bean" and see if I'm having any contractions. No biggie. Unfortunately I have to do these test with the Sonogram/Ultrasound Tech. She's only in from 9am-4pm M-T, 1pm-4pm Wed, out Thurs and 1pm-4pm on Fridays. Do you know how much work I have to miss!?!?! I figured out it's about 6 hours a week.

This is soooo not good. I finally have someone to train at work, and I don't want to burn my PTO (paid time off) for this crap. I'd like to have some time left to take off once I'm back from maternity leave. Hopefully my boss won't turn into bosshole about me making up the time during the week.

Another reason this is my last child......don't think I could go through 9 mos of all of these appointments, diet, and testing.

We have the official date

Dr. just called to tell me I'm scheduled for a c-section bright 'n early the morning of May 30th. Still don't understand why I need to be at the hospital at 6am for an 8am c-section.......oh well, at least Gma Sue is willing to be at our house at 5:30am to keep an eye on the boys. Plus she'll bring them up for a visit later that morning.

Now we just need to get our act together and go out and buy a carseat & a stroller.....the only two things we need this time around. Besides the obvious diapers, wipes, and girl clothes.

My co-workers are trying to sabatoge me!

Okay - yesterday it was a plethora of baked goods.....today it was muffins and bagels. What is with these people?!?!? Luckily I've been in meeting after meeting this morning and have been able to resist the temptation. Wonder what's on the menu for tomorrow?

I do have willpower afterall!

Well - so far. It is only day 5 of my new diabetic diet. Yet, twice now I've resisted the urge for the "good" stuff. First time was Sunday. I just had to have a Cherry Coke......not only did I get diet, but I was fine with getting K a treat and not myself. Second time was today at work. Some gal brought in a bunch of stuff she'd baked over the weekend.....all of it looked good and all of it was chocolate. However, I resisted the temptation.

Now the real test will be this Friday - we're having pizza for lunch. Just not sure how that's going to fit into my new diet.

Boys, and mud, and worms...oh my

It rained off and on most of last week and even Friday night. So, Saturday morning we awoke to a beautiful breezy, yet sunny day.....however, not enough sun to dry everything out. Of course with all the rain this means worms.....and with 3 boys they go hand 'n hand.

I think S & R spent about an hour digging for worms. By then I decided I needed to put those worms to good use: plant some flowers. Went to the local Dollar General and picked up 2 bags of potting soil for $4 and four packets of flower seeds for $1. The boys helped me plant the seeds, etc. Of course they then had to dig for worms, but since it was getting cooler and the wind was picking up (and nice gray storm clouds looming overhead) we decided it was time to go inside for the night.

You all can guess what they wanted to do today. They probably spent a good hour or more off and on looking for worms for our newly planted flowers.

See I don't mind the mud or the worms or even the boys getting themselves and their clothes dirty.......it's the fear of what if this little girl isn't a tom boy? I mean I'm out there helping the boys looks for worms and basically giving them amo to torture their little sister. And to be honest I wouldn't understand her "fear" of them. Hate to say it, but this is one time I really hope nuture wins out over nature.

I'm a failure!!! :(

Well, Saturday March 17th I did the 3-hour glucose test. Luckily this time the lab tech listened to me and stuck with the one vein that worked. However, I failed the first two figures and the last one was close so I've been diagnoised with Gestational Diabetes.

Yesterday afternoon meet with the nutrionist/educator and got my monitor. So far, I just test my glucose levels and stick to a new diet. My numbers in the afternoon and evening look good.....it's my morning numbers that stink.

I think the hardest thing to give up will be the Regular Coca-Cola and Cherry Coke from the fountain. Not that I drank a ton, but I did treat myself to a small cup almost everyday. And before you tell me about the diet drinks out there you can just stuff it........they don't taste as good and are no where near as satisfying.

On a good note I've only gained about 7 lbs as of my last appointment. Not bad for being 27wks......just as long as I don't gain a ton in the next 11 weeks I'll be estatic!! Techincally I'll be 29wks tomorrow for those that are truly anal and keeping track.

Keep your finger's crossed that I don't need to continue this once the Bean is born!!

Sorta good news. . . .

. . . .ex-H dropped off S last night after the KU vs KY game. It was later than our agreed upon 6pm exchange time....but hey, KU was playing so no problem. Anyhoo - he tells me that as of April 1st they're moving. Moving to Ottawa.....30 minutes away.

Apparently the rent is cheaper by $300/mo, they'll be closer to his wife's work and her parents. He said it was that or Kansas City and since wifey-poo refuses to live in KC they moved to Ottawa.

As you can guess this will change our custody arraingment. Personally I think for the better. Yes, ex-H will be just a weekend dad....but since I can't get him to actually parent the boy this will be in the boy's best interest.

Ironically I was thinking of filing a modification to the custody agreement this summer. Now that S will officially be starting school in the fall it just seems like the right thing to do. Basically I was going to cut-out the Wed-Fri visit on the opposite week of the weekend visit.

On a side note - I'm wondering if I've finally got through to him in regards to money....either that or his student loan lenders calling me and my parents wanting current contact info. Glad his debt and spending habits aren't really my problem any more!

Lying and Biting, oh my!

You'd think a 3.5yo would know better than to bite. Nope. He's not a chronic bitter, but someone gets bit every weekend he's here. The time before it was K, this time it was S. R knows it wrongs 'cause as soon as he did it he started saying, "I'm sorry" repeatedly.

To be honest that's not the bad part about the whole incident. FWIW - R did leave a nice nickle sized bruise on S's upper right arm. It was the lying about it. I asked R three times if he bit S.....each time "No". After a quick reminder, he was sent to his room to finish crying.

Once the crying was over I told him he could come out of his room and talk to me. Asked him again did he bite S. Once again told "No". Showed R the bruise on S's arm and said I knew that he had and I would like the truth. So, I asked him again. This time I got the ellusive "Yes".

I then proceeded to explain why lying was bad, etc. I really hope he gets it soon.

Speaking of people NOT listening

Friday I had the day off from work. It was a great afternoon just running errands by myself and coming home to a nice quiet house - until the boys got home.

One of the errands was to pick up my new glasses. Now before I ordered them I made sure I told the gal that I'm very sensitive to certain curves, etc.....and the last time I got new lenses the center point of each lenses was off a few mm. Okay - this may not be much, but when you look through the wrong part of the lens you get a vertigo like feeling. So the gal measured everything to confirm measurements before ordering.

Well - of course something was wrong. I tell her this, but she insists on fitting them and tells me to try them for a week. HA! After wearing them for 5 hours I had the worst headache and was on the verge of puking.....wait a week my arse.....I'm calling today. I should mention that I repeatedly tell her that there's something wrong and I should know.....I've been wearing glasses since I was 10 yo.

Unfortunately - I'm not sure when I'll be able to get in to get everything remeasured. Plus I do need new glasses as the lenses in my current frames are cracking. Flaw with these lenses when used with rimless glasses......didn't know this at the time I ordered them over 2 years ago.

I just hope they take care of this issue without treating me like an idiot (like the gal did on Friday)......otherwise I'm off to find a new optometrist.

Ugggg.....blood tests

This is the one thing I absolutely hate about pregnancy......all the blood work. It's not that I hate needles per say....it's just that I have one good vein per arm and if you screw it up you ain't getting anything.

The point to this little blurb.....I did the 1 hour glucose test on Saturday morning. I made sure I drank plenty of water on the drive there and while waiting for the lab to call my name. First draw of blood was easy....the vein in my left arm cooperated. Drank that nasty orange stuff, tried not to puke and drank more water for the next hour. My hour came and went and the lab called me in.

This is where it gets fun. Tried the one good vein on my right arm....nothing. Tried another....nothing. Do you see where this is going? Anyhoo - about 10 needle pricks later on both arms the lab tech thinks she has enough - the vein she found to cooperate colapsed. I'm not a very religous person - but at this point I was praying to God that it was enough. I was also praying that 1) I passed the 1 hour test, or 2) if I do have to come back and do the 3 hour that she's not there.

So - luckily it got colder on Saturday as the day went on so I put on a long-sleeve shirt to hide all of my "track marks".

Oh - and I don't understand people who don't listen. I told her that if the right arm doesn't work she needed to go back to the good vein on the left arm. As you can see above she didn't listen.....even then when she finally got a vein to cooperate.

Ahhhhhh.....a vacation day!

Today S and I had dentist appts bright and early this morning, and then I have my monthly pg check-up at 3:45......so I took the day off. Not only do I get from 1pm to 6pm to myself I get to actually go get my haircut, pick-up my new glasses, and go wondering around a book store. This may seem like no big deal.....but I honestly can't remember when I just took time for myself.

Bonus is that I've even had time to just play with the boys (S & T) from 9:30am - to now. Yeah I made lunch but K has been taking care of everything else in regards to our abode.

As a belated b-day present to myself I'm stopping at DQ on the way home tonight to pick-up an ice cream cake!!

Birthdays

Birthdays come and birthdays go.......when you're younger you look forward to the following milestones:

10 - you're in double-digits now
14 - get your learner's permit
16 - get your driver's license
18 - buy cigarettes
20 - no longer a teenager
21 - legal to do just about everything
25 - lower car insurance

After those......they're pretty meaningless......that is until you hit 35. Let me re-phrase that - until I hit 35.

Yes - today is my big 35th birthday. 29 didn't bother me and neither did 30.....but for some reason this year my birthday is actually a little depressing.

I've come to the conclusion I like my 30's.......but turning 35 means I'm half done with them and also half way there to 40. 40....sounds bad even typing it out.

Guess I need to focus on the positive. When I'm 40 I can look forward to:
* Having a 10yo, 8yo, 6yo, & 4yo.....which means no more diapers!
* Less time to get out the door to go anywhere
* The only debt I'll have will be my mortgage payment

Dang - that's it?? Hmm.....better start thinking of other things otherwise the next few birthday's are going to be just as depressing.

March Madness! ! !

Okay - from my previous posts you'd never guess I'm a huge KU B-Ball fan. (That's the University of Kansas Jayhawks for the uneducated and/or uninformed out there.) The Big 12 (our conference) post-season tournament starts on Thursday and then next week the selections for the NCAA tournament begin. I love this time of year!

Only down side is that Keith and I are so busy watching games that our house goes to $hit. We're lucky if the kids are fed, clean and clothed.

Anyhoo - if you don't have any one to cheer for in the NCAA tourny......we'll take your support!

3 hours......

. . . . .to go through the boy's closets, decide what we keep and what we donate, and then fold and put away their clean clothes - and this was with my mother's help. I can't imagine how long this would've taken had I been doing it by myself! Never mind that T wanted to help - and he did until he decided that everything that went in the boxes must come back out.

I still have two boxes of T's old clothes to go through, need to reorganize their closets - especially S's, and drag out the boxes of S's old clothes that we've been saving for R & T.

Never mind I then get to make room in the shed to store the 3 boxes of donations.

I know I shouldn't complain as saving the clothes is saving us a ton of $$ - but it would be nice if K would help out.....even if it is to entertain T. Luckily I only really do this twice a year - spring & fall.

Anything else. . . .

. . . is what I'd rather be doing than going through the mound of laundry. Yes, a mound.....it graduated from a pile a week ago. Keith does a wonderful job of taking care of the kids and the house and yes, even the laundry.....but neither one of us seems to have the time to put it away. Plus we really need to start sorting through T's old baby clothes and only keep what's gender neutral, and boxing up all the stuff that's too small.

Luckily my mother is a saint and for the small price of Ham 'n Beans and/or Chili w/cornbread she's coming over to help - and bringing tubs to store clothes in!! I know - I could have Keith help, but he's a guy and well, guys just don't get the clothes things unless they're gay - which he's not.

Actually this works out great. T's down for a nap, K and my dad are over working on a mobile home we're selling, and mom will get here around time for lunch at the same time dad and K are done and T's up from his nap.

Unfortunately I get to first sort all of the clean laundry........guess I better get my butt off here and get to work. :(

Finally found the right Currency

For you non-parents out there "currency" refers to what your child would do anything for to obtain. In my case I'm referring to S and his problems with hitting/tripping. This is one of the little issues with ADHD and expressive language issues they don't tell you about. For S his currency is sleeping on the top bunk of his bunk beds.

Seriously - this works. K thinks it's nuts, but I told him if it works we stick with it. When we started focusing on the hitting/tripping issue he'd do it everyday and most days multiple times. We started with time outs - they helped and the incidents were down to one/two times a day a few days a week.

Then my dad and K got their act together and got a railing and ladder built for the bunk beds in S's room. Not sure how it happened, but S was on top and R was on bottom and they weren't going to sleep.........fine, S on bottom and R back in his room.....that's when I noticed that S saw sleeping on top as a reward/privaledge - not just a right since he was the eldest.

So, every night while we're having dinner I ask S how was his day, what was the report from school and did he hit/trip? It was a slow start, but this last week he went all week w/o getting in trouble for hitting/tripping - even with R here most of the week.

In a few weeks if he keeps it up I'm going to add following directions the first time he's told/asked to his list of things we expect each day. It's a slow progress.....but hey we're making progress! Too bad I can't get his dad to actually do anything about the boy's behavior. Once again I think this summer I'm going to request a slight change in our custody schedule so that the boy is at our house more.....especially now that he's going into K next year.

Oh, don't get me wrong......it's no easy task discovering your child's currency......especially when you have more than one kiddo and each is different. Now I'm off to discover T's........I'll post back in a few years when I figure that one out!

WoW - my latest addiction

That stands for World of Warcraft. Keith got the game cheap and started playing. Playing all the f-ing time. So, one night when it was just T and myself and T went to bed early I hopped on and created myself a character. I just had to see for myself what was the attraction.

In the early stages I loved playing by myself in the game and completing quests, etc and attaining level after level - and eventually training and keeping a pet (FuzzyWuzzy the Bear). However, now that I'm a level 21 (I think the game goes to like level 60+) I'm discovering the quests are harder to do by my lonesome.....and I now need to interact with other people in the game.

Unlike Keith, who has about 40 people in his WoW friends list, I have two: Keith and some guy who we mutually helped complete a quest last night. For some reason I just can't get into the cyber chatting with all of these "strangers". But what's even more strange is that if I met all of these people in person I'd have no problem making poliet conversation, etc.

Guess I either need to suck it up and start playing with a regular group or just suffer dying every 10 minutes doing it all myself. Either way I really need to cut back my play time.......and you'd all agree if you saw the ginormous pile of laundry sitting on my bed this morning. (Seriously K and I are both out of underware and the both boy's dressers are about empty.)

BTW - Did I mention how addicting this game is?? I got T in bed last night by 8:45pm and from 9pm to 1am (yes - 1am) I played this damn game. I had plans to log-off around 10pm and go cuddle with Keith......but that's hard to do when at 9:30pm he's snoring so loud I'm glad T's at the other end of the house.

Ah - back to reality..........in my case laundry and taxes. Sounds like a fun weekend don't it?

You know you need a hair cut when. . . .

. . . . multiple people start calling your 20mo old son a GIRL.

Yup - Keith took in the treats for S's V-day party at school and brought along R & T to join in the festivities. Everyone kept commenting on what a cute GIRL T was.

On the way home after the party Keith stopped at the local beauty shop and got T's hair cut. Gone are his cute curls in back....but you can still tell he has curly hair.

It needed to be done, and Keith did make sure they saved some of T's hair.......but I just wasn't ready for my baby to become an offical toddler/big boy. Yeah, I know.....we've got one on the way, but it doesn't make it easier. He does look exceptionally cute......and if I think about it I'll post before and after pics.

The woes of child support modification

My ex-H was unemployed for over 2 years (read no child support), he then gets a job through a temp agency. However, since it was a temp agency the courts couldn't amend his child support. Finally in the spring of 2006 he's hired on full-time, and by June 2006 we're back in court to get child support modified. Of course it goes up and he's pissed - but I don't care.

He decides to file a motion for a re-hearing in the Fall of 2006 since Stephen is no longer in daycare. Well, we goto court on Jan 9th at 11am. Basically it was a hearing to see if a re-hearing was needed on the original child support modification - in other words was there information available now that wasn't back in June - NO. The judge told ex-H that the re-hearing was denied but that he could ask for a court hearing to modify child support.

Ex-H of course heard none of this - he was just pissed that he was going to have to pay more money. I have no sympathy for the man - especially on the way into court he asks me if his car payment is taken into consideration when calculation child support. The Asshole is living well above his means and thinks he can cut his expenses by paying less child support.

Two days later Keith gets a visit from SRS (child protective services). We both knew it was ex-H that called in.....but we had to wait another 5 days to get all of the details. Apparently we were turned in for child neglect for the following items:
1. Not bathing S regularly - excuse me the boy has excema you can't bathe him every night!
2. For a cat scratch on his face that happened 15 mos ago - freak incident and I took S to his
regular doc as well as a plastic surgeon to make sure it was healing okay
3. S playing outside w/o supervision - umm....the boy needs to learn responsibility and we
live on a dead-end street
4. S in the street - have no idea about this one
5. Mysterious bruises on S's legs - the boy is a clutz, has been since he was a toddler.
6. Living near registered sex offenders - hey dumbass, there will always be registered sex
offenders living near you.

Now, not only did they need to talk to us all together (Keith, myself, S and T), but they talked to Keith and I each individually, and then talked to S at school.

Throughout this how ordeal ex-H kept denying he'd called, yet SRS told us the call came in Jan 9th in the late afternoon......hmmmm - same day as our court date.

After my mom and his mom were discussing this whole mess my ex-mil confessed that ex-H did indeed call SRS.

Didn't really matter as I had ripped ex-H a new one any way.........if you have a problem with my parenting then talk to me about it. Plus I'm not the one that has the parenting issues.

So - as a way to be a big B - I call and let him know anytime S got hurt and will show-up at his house with a bruise or mark. I know it annoys him - but he asked for it.


Update: Just got the report from SRS - everything was unfounded. Too bad I can't take that lovely little piece of paper, shove it in his face and shout "nanny-nanny-boo-boo" loud enough for everyone to hear!

Feeling ashamed of myself

Yesterday afternoon L, my ex's new wife, called to ask if I'd heard from him. I said "no", and then she proceeded to tell me that she's helping one of his co-workers on a personal issue and as she was talking to him he asked how C (ex-H) was doing. She had no clue what was going on, but apprently ex-H went home sick as he was having blurry vision accompanied by a horrible headache. She was just curious if I'd heard anything........she was worried she'd get home and find him passed out on the floor or something.

Here's where I feel ashamed of myself - my first thought was maybe he's dead?!?!? Now please understand I do not wish for my son to lose his father, but it would make out lives easier. (Plus the $125k in insurance money wouldn't hurt either.)

Anyhoo - if you care she took him to the ER and he has an impacted sinus causing the headache. (Once again - dang!)

On a side note I just didn't have the heart to tell L that this is typical ex-H........you have no idea how many times I'd try and call him at work only to be told by his co-workers that he's home sick or went home sick. Yes, his lack of communication is something he still posses.

Of Shoes, Clothes, and Toys

I never thought I would have to explain the difference between these to my 5 & 3 yo - but when they pick-up their toys and shove them in their closet...so go all the clothes and shoes lying around. Apparently when I tell them to put the toys in the proper room, etc that doesn't apply to clothes and shoes.

What prompted this post you may ask......30 minute search for Tyler's right shoe. In Stephen's closet I found 2 slippers (non-matching of course) and then in his toy box I found a shirt and one sock. In Raymond's closet I found a pair of underware, two more slippers (non-matching to each other and the first two), two non-matching socks, and yes finally Tyler's right shoe.

Sometimes it's the little things that get on my nerves...........running through the house screaming at the top of their lungs after being cooped up in the house all day doesn't faze me, but for some reason this little thing pisses me off. Go figure.

FINALLY - I can get in and post!!

Okay - switched over to Blogger.com's new format and for some reason I haven't been able to get in lately. So - here's the latest in our little family.

Stephen - Per his teacher he's definitely ready for K next year. This is such a relief. I was sooo afraid he wouldn't be ready, but the behavior modification/medication, etc seemed to have really helped. Occasionally Stephen does have bad days, but the good still out weigh the bad. Now that my dad built a rail and ladder for the top bunk S get's to sleep up on top when he's had a good day.......and right now a good day is all smiley faces from school and no hitting.

Raymond - Is finally potty trained during the day. However, we'll still end-up with two in diapers here in a few months. He's doing good - and will be ready for preschool this next fall.

Tyler - Well, he's just a little pistol. Into everything and eats everything in sight. His four eye teeth finally cut through....now all he's got left is his 2yo molars. He's still addicted to his bottle, but he only gets it at naptime and bedtime. Slowly working on getting rid of it at nap time, but Daddy keeps giving in. He's slowly getting a vocab going: dada, thank you, ut-oh, love you, owie, out, up, and down.

The Bean - well, the bean is a girl. So far we've agreed upon Addison Sue Margaret for a name. (Addy for short.) Kinda nervous - this is unchartered territory afterall. At least we can start getting rid of the boy baby clothes for now. Now we just get to wait until after May 25th - hopefully we'll know a c-section date sometime in April.

Misc Stuff - Keith and I are doing good. Him doing the SAHD thing is awesome. My work is kicking butt - but hopefully a proposal I put in will get approved.

Think that's it for now.

DumbAss

Yup – that word has been added to my 5yo’s vocabulary. Unfortunately the first time he used the term he used it correctly and Keith and I broke out laughing. Bad parents I know – but seriously it was pretty funny.

Another downside is that I’ve come to realize that I too use that word – much more often than I should. Even substituting Dumas for Dumbass doesn’t work anymore.

Luckily though S has only called Keith a dumbass – three times. First time he was just told not to do it, 2nd time he got time out, and the 3rd time he got timeout but was well warned that if he called anyone that again he would be getting timeout and a nice little reminder. At least the boy is picking up when to stop and lay low….it’s been a week and the only person calling Keith a DumbAss is myself (when the boys are out of ear-shot of course!).

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! ! ! !

Wanted to wish everyone out there in cyber-ville a very merry Christmas and happy holidays to those who celebrate some other holiday.

Overall this has been a very stressful year. However, now that we're all getting into a comfortable routine and some things have been straightened out life has been easier. Unfortunately I'm a little behind in getting a few things done, but they will get done.....especially if I want to itemize my taxes!!

Everyone have a safe Holidays and I'll be back in full force at the first of the year.

Let's play catch! (Catch-up that is!)

Anyhoo - let's see:

1. I'm 12 wks pregnant - and yes the rents know. This will be number 4 in our household (#3 that I'll have given birth to). Yes, even after 3 boys I'd love to have another.....the thought of a girl scares the living sh-it outta me! The best part is that I have yet to gain a pound per my scale at home......I vow not to gain the 30lbs like I did with Tyler and Stephen.

2. Stephen's still doing great in school - we have about 1-3 bad days a month (usually when he's over-tired or not feeling well). He's becoming a pretty good big brother - even with the "Tyler/Raymond is bothering me" episodes.

3. Raymond has turned into the Terrible 3's monster. We get told "No" to absolutely everything. Better yet we hear "my arm/leg/etc is broken, you do it". Teach me to ask him the ol' "Is your arm/leg/etc broken? No? Then you can do it."

4. Tyler - he's an independent little cuss and a spitfire. He's now decided he needs to stand on the step stool when brushing teeth and refuses to let me help. Oh, and the tantrums are hysterical. Tell him "no" and we lay down on the floor and start crying and trying to be dramatic. (My mother of course thinks this is just down right funny as her curse has come true.)

5. Keith is really liking the stay-at-home-dad gig. However, I think he's a little worried about next Fall when I go back to work after maternity leave. He'll have an almost 6yo, a 2yo, and a 3mo old to watch after. Luckily Gma Sue is close if he needs a little sanity break.

6. Work - still swamped, but now I know I'll get some help as I gotta train someone to do my job while I'm out 11wks on maternity leave. However, I'm a little nervous as I'm afraid I'm going to have a lot of problems to clean-up.

Hmmm.....think that's about it. Questions?? Comments?? Anyone??

Parent - Teacher Conference

Let me preface this post by stating that even though Stephen is on medication for ADHD, and we as the parental group have changed our behaviors I still believe we all have a lot of work to do. Especially since I'd love to get the boy on a lower dosage and if possible wean him completely off of the meds.

Anyhoo - week or so ago we had our Fall Parents-Teacher conference. All were in attendance (me, Keith, ex-H and his new wifey). Stephen's teacher and speech therapist had nothing but glowing and positive things to say about Stephen. In his IEP (Individual Education Plan) he has 5 goals - and he met one!!! This was the one I was most concerned about: sitting still for 10 minutes and following directions.

Needless to say I'm estatic that he's making such great progress. Now if he can just keep it up - keep your fingers crossed!