If I had a clever title, it'd go here

I woke up a little earlier than usual. So I'm actually showered already.

But I put on pajamas, so don't be THAT impressed.

Today, during morning devotional with the kids, we got to talking about the whole "don't just love those who love you." (paraphrased from Matthew 5:46-47) ... and I told Bruise and Bucket (and Bubbles, if she was listening) that you can't just be cliquish. And that sometimes, yes, people will act like jerks ... but we have to remember some things:

• S/he is still a child of God.
• Maybe there's something going on in his/her life that we don't know about.
• We can always pray for guidance in helping us understand why [whoever is acting like a poophead] is doing what s/he is doing, so that we can use that inspiration/knowledge to speak to his/her heart ... so that they'll know that we care and are trying/wanting to help.

And Bucket's eyes went wide as she told me, "Mom. That is what I needed to know how to solve a problem with someone at school."

Okay. Phew.

My main goal in doing morning devotional with the kids is that (1) they'll get some scripture-time/pondering-time (nearly) first thing in the morning, (2) they'll have some spiritual armor on to help them through the day, since I can't be there to help guide them constantly (it'd be exhausting and overbearing. I'd rather be reading, truly. :P), and (3) we'll have some time together so that I can have some idea of what's going on in their lives.
There are some other goals, too, of course, but those are the biggies.

And, well, learning that this IS helpful ... it's very validating.

I also had Bruise and Bucket do their Spanish reading in the morning today ... and I had them read scriptures, since we have those in Spanish. And, since today is NOT early release, so they have an hour less to work on homework-stuff and housework after school. (It's only going to get HARDER once Strings lessons and LEGO Robotics start ... *sigh*)

Other things in my life --

I FINALLY got the correct email address for one of the students in my Sunday School class. I misread two letters as numbers ... and his mom was having a devil of a time with it. But she and I persevered ... and I've FINALLY succeeded in emailing him. Phew!

Last night, Michael and I started a bath for Bubbles (Bucket wanted a bath by herself) ... and we both got distracted. When Michael checked on Bubbles, the tub was about an inch from overflowing. Bubbles was happy as a pig in the mud, with the water up to her neck.
(She had been asking to go swimming, so this was pretty much her own private pool. Ha.)

Of course, this was something that needed to be made into a Facebook post, so I grabbed my phone and ordered her to "Cover your parts!" And, well, my Facebook friends seemed to enjoy what we shared of our crazy life

I'm still TRYING to feel prepared for Sunday's lesson.
Right now I'm printing out talks, lessons (for October), and ... well, anything that I think might help me to be more prepared.

We'll see how it goes. I still need to make a questions box, though ... just in case.
Or, until then, my students can just slip me a piece of paper or stick it in my bag or something. I'll find it ... eventually. :P

Michael and I made it to Curriculum Night at the kids' school the other night ... and I left with more questions than answers.
Don't get me wrong. I REALLY like their teachers. But when I asked about what Bruise and Bucket are going to be learning in Social Studies and Science, I was only told that it's integrated into the Math and Language Arts, due to how little instructional time is available vs what all needs to be taught.
Yes, it's an answer, but not exactly what I asked.
(I was looking for something more like, "Well, we're not teaching Social Studies and Science on their own, due to time constraints, but we have integrated units on [countries, cultures, animals, earth science concepts, etc] within the Language Arts and Mathematics that we're teaching." Or something like that.

We also learned, just before we left, that Bruise HAD been falling asleep in class. ... Which was due to his and Bucket's sneaking the tablets into their room. Which lets us know that it was going on for a little while. And that they REALLY can't be trusted with their tablets (which is ANOTHER reason why their tablets have taken a vacation to stay [indefinitely] at my mom's house). *sigh*

So, yeah, I was THAT PARENT and sent a LONG email with the other questions that we didn't have time to address (or fully address) ... along with offers that Michael and I are more than willing to help out in whatever ways we can. If the teachers don't have time to grade homework, it's not like I'm incapable of that (well, maybe slightly incapable in Spanish, since I'm only 46% fluent, according to Duolingo ... and I think they might be giving me too much credit) ...

I just want to know what's going ON.

But we're glad that the kids DID bring home homework packets Tuesday. Math, cursive (since it's not required for Common Core, it's not taught in the classroom), and a Spanish reading assignment with a multiple-choice assessment for comprehension. This is along with a reading log with student-set reading goals for reading in English AND Spanish.

Bruise and Bucket ALSO brought home a sheet about Typing.com with their log-in information so they can practice at home (optional) ... Bruise's didn't work, so I had to make an educated guess at the Technology teacher's school email (I got it right) and she let me know that Bruce's username was already taken -- and gave me the new username, so we were able to log him in. Phew!

I also read over the sheets that the P.E. and Music teachers had prepared.
The one surprising thing was that the P.E. teacher stated that if students come to P.E. without appropriate footwear (athletic shoes), they wouldn't be able to participate AND receive a failing grade for that day. ... I ran that by my mom, a retired teacher, and she said that it didn't sound legal. So, in my email to their kids' teachers, I mentioned that I was concerned about the kids receiving failing grades since my daugher OFTEN wears sandals/boots/non-athletic shoes to school and I hadn't been made aware of which days she has P.E., so I can't help her with that.
(And the P.E. teacher is a first-year teacher, so I don't want to lambast him with anything ... but, instead of stating that parents could just ask their children's teachers about which days they have P.E., it'd be cool if he'd put a small schedule on there with which animal groups have P.E. on which days. ... Yes, kids are sorted by groups with animal names. It makes it easier to keep track of which class they're in, since around 2/3 of the students are in TWO classrooms with the Bilingual program.)

Yes, I know, I know. I'm a hard woman to please.
I'm aware.

I'm also a woman with a headache, so I should go pop some acetaminophen and rub some essential oils on my temples ... and get dressed so that I can take Bubbles to storytime. And clean the house. And fold and put away more laundry. And wash more laundry. And prepare my lesson(s). And read books. And feed my family healthy things. And ...

Turn, turn, turn ...

So, at my OB appointment on Wednesday, we found that BabyGirl was breech.

Her head was wedged under my left rib ... which does explain how awful my heartburn has been.
And we scheduled an external version for the next morning ... so I can (hopefully) continue my streak of births without surgical assistance.

(Also, I had about the worst night. Let's just say that, around midnight, my body decided that EVERYTHING IN MY SYSTEM NEEDED OUT. STAT!!! ... It was ... HORRIFIC.)

So, I had a priesthood blessing and I let my friends know via Facebook that I'd appreciate prayers/good thoughts for Miss Girl to turn AND STAY TURNED.
I also spent about an hour on a Yoga/Birthing Ball while Michael and I watched Contagion.

I drove myself to the hospital the next morning (Mom was getting the kids onto the bus), got admitted, got in my room, gowned up (starkers underneath ... nope, I don't think I have any pride left at this point), and got my IV in.
My OB and another from their practice (I like them both) got there, got out the ultrasound machine to see where they'd need to turn this fetus, ... and found that SHE WAS HEAD DOWN.

So, they took out the IV, I got dressed again, and went home.
Seriously, I was out of there within about an hour of check in. It was kind of hilarious.

And I think that BabyGirl has dropped since she turned. Which, well, should help her STAY head-down.

And I haven't gone into labor ... so I was able to make it to the kids' school's Science Night last night.
AND I made it to Bruise's assembly (he was one of the students of the month at school).
I was going to be MAJORLY PISSED if I missed EITHER of those.

Oh, also? According to the ultrasound on Wednesday, BabyGirl is estimated to be ALMOST eight pounds (a couple ounces shy). Since Bruise was JUST over six pounds and Bucket was five pounds, three ounces ... well, this is going to be very different.

And I've been warned that, JUST IN CASE, if my water breaks, HIE ME to the hospital. This way if BabyGirl ISN'T still head-down, they have one last chance to turn her.
My doctor warned me, "Don't stay and labor at home."
Me: Why would I do THAT? If I come to the hospital, you'll give me DRUGS. I won't get drugs at home. It's not like I'm going to get a medal or anything. I'll come to the hospital. BRING ON THE FENTANYL!

Yeah, I don't think she has to worry about me staying at home to labor. At least not until I KNOW I'm in labor. And especially not if my water breaks.

Oh, I also got a gorgeous color picture from my OB's office ... of my kidney stone. It was completely Calcium Phosphate. 12 mg. 2x3x2mm
Yeah, I never actually saw it in person, myself. I could hear it clinking in the little jar when my nurse shook the jar, though. But, hey ... Facebook fodder at its finest, right? :P

Also, at Science Night (sorry for jumping around so much), Bruise and Michael got to ride on a Segway. Bruise almost crashed into the walls a couple times (he's so light that it's hard to control the Segway). Michael, though, made it look pretty effortless.

I got to chat with the principal, which was nice. I like her. I like the kids' school a lot.
(THERE WAS A SCIENCE EXHIBIT WITH LIQUID NITROGEN!!!!! ... Yes, I did geek out a little. I'm sorry, but earlier yesterday I watched a video of a NEW fondue thing -- you take fresh berries and cream and dip them into liquid nitrogen. DO WANT. SO MUCH.)

I also got to chat with the mom of one of the kids' friends. We adore their family. We met at their son's birthday party. They're really, really awesome. And, it so happens, that she and I blogstalk each other (since we're friends on Facebook ... and have both listed our blogs in our info ... heh. So, yeah, it's fun.)

I got to BRIEFLY exchange pleasantries with the kids' teacher today at the assembly. We had seen each other at Science Night ... but only at a distance. Which was a little sad. Since I like their teacher a lot, too.

Today, while Michael (who COULDN'T make it to the assembly ... too much work that NEEDED to get done. But it was okay. Mom, Julie, Mom C, Grandma C, and I were all there) took Bruise out to celebrate his getting Student of the Month, Bucket and I stayed at the house and I painted her toes and we started watching The Sound of Music.  Good times.

Well, I am READY for a nap. So I'm going to close up.

And, in other news, my cousin saw on Facebook that I had gone to the hospital. But she obviously hadn't checked out the rest of the comments (since I was OUT of the hospital so quickly) ... and she told Nana that I was in the hospital. So Nana called my Dad and Dad called me.
I told Dad to have Nana call my OTHER cousin (my first-cousin once-removed who's on Facebook a LOT more often) for the most up-to-date news.  ... So, yeah, that was interesting.

HA!
Bruise and Bucket were playing Legos. Bucket got (Bruise picked it out) a set of the new girl Legos (the one with the little robot. Since the girl's hair is the most like hers). She loves it.

Bucket declared that Olivia (Lego Girl) and Boba Fett were going out to eat a ham and cheese sandwich for dinner.

Bruise: No. She can't go out with him. He's bad. He's always been bad.
Bucket: He's NICE now!!!!!!!

Then she stormed off to her room.

Oh my ... As Michael pointed out, this is the conversation that will happen AGAIN in about a decade.
Oh my.

The Mucous Has Arrived ...

Okay, firstly, I FINALLY added my favicon!
Go look! On the tab! That cute itsy-bitsy picture of Bruise and Bucket?
Yup, I made that AGES ago.
And I only learned that Blogger allows favicons EASILY ... starting ... somewhat recently.

But, yeah.

So, what else is going on in my neck of the woods?
Let's see ... I last posted nearly a week ago ... here's the breakdown:

• We did five nights of performances for Savior of the World.
  Things went well. Michael says that Friday night was probably the strongest performance. But that the "Glory song" was best on Saturday night.
  I totally made that high note my .... PUPPY.
• Friday night, I started taking Cherry Coke. Medicinally. And another on Saturday. And a Vanilla Coke on Sunday.
• Sunday, Bucket started coughing. And then threw up. She's doing better. Feeling better ... Still coughing.
• I am now sick, though. Started with a sore throat and a cough. Now it's just all in my sinuses. So I'm blowing my nose. A LOT. GROSS.
• I got to help out Friday morning in the kids' classrooms with an art project.
  But don't tell me! It's a SURPRISE for the parents!!! ;P
• I still need to get presents for the kids' teachers.
  And do laundry.
  And the dishes.
  And clean the rest of the house ...
  It never ends.
• I need naps. Lots of naps.
• We drove around town and took the kids to see lots of Christmas lights. That was fun.
• We've also noticed that Bruise talks a lot more (and uses a MUCH larger vocabulary) since starting school. His Spanish is actually probably better than Miss Bucket's. (Though she IS an overachiever in almost every area ... proven by their report cards. Bruise's was perfectly fine. We're proud of both of them). He is SO PROUD of the fact that he is now a READER and that he's SMART. (Bucket's been a good reader for a while, so it's all old-hat to her, you see.)
• I need to start working on scarves for them. They've both requested scarves ... probably since I am wearing scarves nearly every day. (This morning? 29°F out there!!! COLD!!)
• I need to get a haircut. I just don't know how short I want to go. But I definitely want to even out my layers in the back. They do NOT look good. :( Especially when it's cold out and my hair starts to go frizzy. Which is my own dang fault for coloring it as much as I do.
• I need to clean off my desk ... along with all the OTHER CLEANING and organizing that needs to happen around here ... it's been crazy with rehearsals and performances ... and now I'm sick. Poor house. Poor people who have to live here ...
• I made sloppy joes last night. They turned out well. Which was satisfying, since I felt just shy of death earlier. (I HATE having to mouth-breathe. It's GROSS.
• Baby girl is kicking me right now ... Silly girl. She still needs a nickname. And I WANT to give her one. But the other kiddos ... I waited until they were out of the womb and I could get a real handle on their personalities ... And they BOTH have nicknames with the same letter ... should I continue that trend? I don't know .... Thinking is HAAAAAAAAAAAARD!!! Waaaaaaah!!!
• My neti pot is officially one of my BESTEST friends this week. I should go use it again. Like, right now. So I don't have to be a mouth-breather.
• We're getting through the Ramona books (by Beverly Cleary) with the kids for story-story (i.e., bedtime stories that aren't reading the Scriptures). They like Ramona ... it's fun. Especially since Michael and I both read (at least some) of the Ramona books when we were kids.
  I would like to read more Christmas-y books to them (e.g., The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Forgotten Carols, and ones like those ... but ... we're just running out of time. And the kids REALLY wanted more Ramona books. So I won't argue.)
• I need to start my holiday baking ... once I'm not a mucous-spewing mouth-breather.
  I'd like to put together some plates of cookies for some folks. And make cinnamon rolls. And maybe gingerbread. Or pumpkin bread. Or all of the above ... ^_^

And ... well, I think that's about enough of my life in summation ... it's mostly been busy ... but small busy.
Tonight, I think Michael and I will curl up and watch another DVD of Big Bang Theory Season 4. Haven't gotten to do that for a long while now.

But we have watched White Christmas (which the kids liked more than I thought they might. But, really, I shouldn't have been surprised. How can you go wrong with Danny Kaye? Or Bing?) and Holiday Inn (which Michael and I watched alone. It was our first time seeing that one. I prefer White Christmas ... you get Danny Kaye in there, too. ^_^). The kids have been watching some other Christmas shows. I need to bring out Mr. Kruger's Christmas (How can you not LOVE Jimmy Stewart? He's so darling. And humble ... I mean, really ... go read about what all he did in WWII. He's AMAZE-balls.) and It's a Wonderful Life ... along with Miracle on 34th Street (the CLASSIC. With Natalie Wood. I didn't care for the newer one. Ugh. ... YES, I AM a snob. I'm aware).

But first, I NEED to get fully healthy again.
And for this little girl to stop trying to push my left hip out. Owwwwww. (I understand that it's getting crowded in there. That is NOT my fault. Stop punishing me!!!)

Aftermath

The kids were caught up on shots ... except for their flu shot.
There was no record of a current flu shot.

So, Bruise cried ... then, as he hopped off the table, gasped, "That didn't hurt. Only a little!"

Bucket ... screamed in my ear.

They're both healthy ... they'll never be the biggest kids for their age. But their percentiles are consistent. Nothing to worry about.

And library books are turned in.

I also was reading the handbook for their school.
There is no standard that must be met for cold lunches ... so, more proof that the cafeteria helper overstepped her bounds.

Nice to get even MORE validation.

I'm ready for a nap. As little girlie-fetus is turning somersaults in utero. Silly girlie.
(Also, I had to take my anti-nausea pill this morning. I didn't throw up ... but my body was sure trying to. Just wasn't bringing up anything. Not even the water I had drunk shortly before. Crazy body.)

The last couple days ...

I did not take take a nap. Or do yoga. Or anything else, really. Mostly just hung out online and got caught up (again) on the Mental_Floss blogs and Neatorama. ^_^

So, the kids haven't had their card turned. And, it appears that IF they DID, that if they behave, their card can get back to green. Nice idea.

Tuesday afternoon and evening ... what did I do? Gosh, at this point, I barely even remember ... Oh, I used my Zeno on an inflammation next to my nail (ingrown nail? Hangnail?). It didn't feel very nice. (When I use the Zeno on a zit, it doesn't hurt or feel all THAT hot. This? I was aware. Ow. ... But between that, Michael pulling the hangnail out, and rinsing it with Isopropyl alcohol and using a bandage with Bactarin on it, it's feeling better. Lots better.)

And Michael and I watched clips of Whose Line is It Anyways on YouTube ... laughed until we cried.
This one is my ALL-TIME favorite at present:



I also really recommend the Songs of Horror (or should I say "Songs of HOR-RORR" ... just watch it, you'll understand.)



Good times. Good times.

Also, in full disclosure?
I do still hold Ryan Stiles in a special place in my heart (Srsly, the man has AWESOME taste in shoes.) ... But I've now really become a Colin Mochrie girl. I adore him. He makes me smile. /confession.

Yesterday, Mom and I got the kids to the bus on time, then chilled until my dental check-up (She ran to the store and checked Facebook at the house while I was gone). After I got back (Guess who has two thumbs and a lotta [mostly shallow] cavities??? THIS GIRL!!!!), we went out to lunch (Taco Bell, in case you wondered) and to Bath and Body Works. Then we divvied up lipgloss. And then we waited for the kids' bus to drop them off.

Bucket had, for some reason, eaten school lunch.
She HAD a sack lunch with her ... but ... well, School Lunch was chocolate milk and hamburgers and vegetables. So there was a DISCUSSION about REMEMBERING. (She also had this same discussion with her teacher, too. *rolls eyes*)
And we went to Salem to Motherhood Maternity, where I got three pairs of pants. And we got the kids Gardening gloves (just in time for the service project this weekend!) at The Elephant's Trunk.
Then we STARTED to head home (thanks to Google Navigation) ... and had to stop at McDonald's so Bruise could go to the bathroom and pouty Bucket (because she didn't get a TOY or something THIS shopping trip) got fries. Bruise and I got yogurt parfaits. Mom got a drink (which Bucket got to choose ... because she was THIRSTY. Crazy child. But she was in better [NOT POUTY] spirits then).

And we got home, relaxed and ordered pizza. Which was for dinner and the kids' lunch today. (Their request.) And, after Michael got home (late ... EQ duties. It's good that he can serve), we ate dinner and got the kids to bed after they took a bath.
Mom was impressed that I'm able to read tongue-twistery tales (I was reading one of the Rootabaga Stories). I was especially pleased, since it was one that I'm not that familiar with. ^_^ *preens*

Then we folded laundry while watching Eerie, Indiana. It's been so long since I watched that show. Good times. (Even though, later, while waiting for Bri, I kept falling asleep. I was tired after driving in Salem.)

Bri did come over and got hugs from Mom, Michael, and me (the kids were asleep in bed) and some snuggles with Freyja-cat ... and we got to chat. ... Then we all needed to get to our respective beds. We were all feeling that it'd been a long day. ^_^

And that brings us to today ...
I got up, packed the kids' lunches, did Bucket's hair, and headed out to my dentist appointment (Mom took the kids to the bus and got them on there safe and sound. And fed them breakfast).

I had five small cavities and one large cavity filled. I told my dentist and his assistants, "Let's just get it all done and over with. I promise I'll be a good patient."
I keep my word. The two swabs of numbing stuff (that tastes like menthol cherry ... and then like skunk spray and cherry) along with two shots of Novacaine ... 80 minutes later, I was walking out of there ... feeling like 1/4 of my lips belonged to Angelina Jolie. And I had my five fillings.

The only thing we didn't do is a rebuiling and a crown, since my insurance doesn't cover that.
Or TMJ. So I'll be getting myself a night guard from the store and trying that. Better $20 than $400 ... or over a thousand, if I went the oral surgery route. Since it'd ALL be out of pocket. *sigh*

And I scurried home, hugged my momma before she left, and checked facebook and chatted with Bri online.
Then I ate pizza, once my mouth wasn't numb anymore ... and got the kids off the bus.

And ... I had Bruise read to me. It's wonderful when he realizes that he DOES know how to sound-out and READ words. He's getting so much better. That's a good thing.

Well ... either I do or DON'T have rehearsal tonight. This is a little confusing ... Ugh.
Bri and I are trying to get answers. So I'm closing up.

Picture day tomorrow, btw. Wish me luck in giving my daughter a CUTE hairdo.