It's June already? Whaaaaa?

Okay, I can't believe that it's nearly June (probably not helped by the fact that our Whiteboard calendar still says March ... since there's a HUGE lamp (from my Nana and Pop-pop's house) that makes it harder to change that up.

(I need to move the lamp to the top of a bookshelf to replace a different lamp there. BUT in order to do THAT, I have to empty that bookshelf enough to move it out, unplug the FIRST lamp, plug in the second lamp and reshelf all the books on that. AND in order to do THAT, I have to move Bruise's little table so that I can access the bookshelf! #smallhouseproblems)

But, yeah, what have I been doing with myself lately?
Gosh, let's think ...

• Last weekend, Michael took the big kids to a Youth Outdoor Day at a nearby wildlife park.
  They got to try fishing, Bucket painted a duck decoy and built a birdhouse, they posed for a picture in a gianormous Chinook model, they won prizes -- Bruise has a little folding camp stool and Bucket won herself a pink fishing pole. They also came home with lots of swag: little backpacks, "training knives" that they got to build and can use to practice the rules of having a real pocket knife, two shirts ... it was really impressive.
• Our kids' school also had their Family Fun Day. We went and ... had fun!
  Bruise was able to hit the target for the dunking tank. Bucket and Bubbles got their faces painted (a kitty "mask" and a little bunny on her cheek, respectively). The kids all got balloon animals (a sword for Bruise. Bucket opted for a kitty to match her mask -- they had a special heart-shaped balloon just for the cat's head, and a bunny for Bubbles). Bruise got a book at the book walk (like a cakewalk, but with books). Bubbles won a book on her first try at the bookwalk. Bubbles decided she wasn't interested this time. Her loss.
  We also picked up some sodas with the leftover tickets. Then we got pizza for dinner.
• Sunday, I was doing Bucket's hair and found a louse. Ugh.
  Then, while sitting on the pew at church, I had a louse crawling on my shirt ... from Bruise.
  YES, I have two kids with lice. UGH.
  So, after Sacrament Meeting (like Mass/Communion), I broke the Sabbath since I had to run to Wal-Mart and load up my arsenal.
  Once Michael brought the kids home, I used that special, stinky shampoo on Bruce and Bucket (and checked Bubbles' hair ... and Michael's hair. And he checked my hair. Repeatedly.
  I treated their beds with the lice-killer-spray. We combed through until there wasn't anything else to find.
  I can tell that we caught it pretty early. Only a few adults. Only a few nymphs.
  Still, I'm itchy just writing it down.
  And that made for a metric buttload of laundry to do.
  I let their teacher(s) at school know ... just to be responsible.
  WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN ON A SUNDAY? I just want to know.
  I blame Satan for this.
• Monday, I got the kids signed up for the local library's Summer Reading Program.
  Lately, we've taken a break from the Lemony Snickett book we're in the middle of (we've been getting started with story-story/the bedtime story a little late, so we don't have time to read a chapter each night) ... Randomly, Bucket brought me "The Green Kingdom" volume of my Childcraft books. We'll finish it tonight. I'm glad that the kids are enjoying it so much.
  During Summer, we'll be able to get through some more books a bit faster, I think. We can finish "Who Can It Be at This Hour?" ... maybe get through "The Princess Academy" and some other books. ... Debating on reading them "Sabriel." So many books, so little time!
• Tuesday, I woke myself up by having a bad dream where I found multiple louse nymphs doing Bucket's hair. Glad THAT was a nightmare.
  Michael had basketball that night. He ended up pulling a muscle in his upper thigh a bit.
  He jokes that, since his season he's (1) jammed his thumb, (2) borked his bad knee, (3) pulled a muscle in his upper arm/shoulder, (4) pulled a muscle in his upper thigh, all that's left for him to do (tonight, since it's the last game) is either stub his toe or take a head shot.
  I told him, PLEASE let it be the toe. Because, with the kids in bed by the time he's playing, I can't drive over to the church to drive him home with a concussion.
  
  Also, while he was at basketball on Tuesday night, and I was watching "My Cat From Hell" on Netflix, curled up with Freyja-cat, I hear *cough cough cough GAG CRY!!* from Bubbles.
  I run into the kids' room. She's sitting in her bed with two handfuls of dinner-vomit in her hands.
  Amazingly, she only got the slightest bits on her dress and a blanket.
  I clean her up, brush her teeth, and put her back to bed in clean jim-jams and a coating of VapoRub.
  
  About ten minutes later, ... *cough cough* "MOOOOOOM!!! [BUBBLES] THREW UP AGAIN!!"
  It's still a really small amount -- on her pillowcase and her pajamas ... and her bunnies' ears smell kinda funky (they get washed the next morning).
  Get her cleaned up, add a dose of Children's Pepto, a smidgen of cough syrup, clean pajamas. And wish for the best.
  
  Michael gets home shortly after that. I tell him of the excitement he's missed as he limps with that pulled muscle in his thigh.
  
  We go to bed, think about maybe getting a little intimate ... THEN *cough cough GAG*
  
  Well, I can report that Bubbles DID NOT throw up ... but she was in our bed (not coughing or gagging) for the rest of the night. ... Best laid plans, right?
  
• So, after that eventful and un- night, I aired out the kids' room. Just in case it was the lice-killer spray off-gassing that was aggravating Bubbles' lungs (seems like that was the trick. She slept like a log last night).
  My mom came up for a visit. We eventually went to the store to pick up snacks and dinner with the kids. (Bruise was hankering for fish sticks. Yeah. I know.)
  It was a nice visit. We chatted and I shared random videos and websites with her. The usual. We also talked about how things are going with my stepdad (the dementia is ... there. And he's had some issues with medication. ... And his hearing isn't the best. Also, he recently had to have the rest of his teeth pulled and get some new dentures). The motor for the fan in their heat pump broke. He says that he'll fix it, but hasn't yet. (I told Mom to give him a date. If it's not done by then, she's going to get someone else to do it. And that's it. ... I'm mean, I know. But, well, she's willing to pay for it to be fixed. And she shouldn't have to wait around for the stars to align JUST so in order to get it fixed. She has a point ... it took him nearly a YEAR to get the water pump replaced. It was nuts. And crazy-frustrating.)
• I woke up from a dream this morning. Strange dream.
  I was at my Nana and Pop-pop's house, they don't own it/live there anymore.
  And I was with other people. One was a mix of my cousin (S) and my sister-in-law, A.
  There were two mice in the house. I caught them and was releasing them outside.
  As I closed the door so they'd be outside (and a white cat inside wouldn't kill them), I couldn't close the door, because another (wild) mouse was getting squished in the doorframe, toward the middle of the bottom of the door.
  A/S handed me some Kleenex so I could pick it up and move it (as it's squealing and bleeding).
  The tissues are soaked and dripping blood. And I don't want it to suffer ... but I don't want to kill it. Though killing it would be much more merciful than seeing/hearing/knowing it is in pain.
  
  I don't remember what I ended up doing. Might have woken up.
  
  Another part of my dream featured a book fair. But it was more like a pre-order book fair. And I didn't have my kids with me. Or, at least, Bruise wasn't there. And I picked out a book for each child, guessing on his. His teacher said that was fine. And that, yes, I could choose something else if he opted to get a different book.
  When I went to get the order, I did choose a different book for him. And then she was freaking out because it was a lot more popular than she had thought and more people wanted it than she had books in stock. And I wasn't going to give it up, since I had permission in advance to get him what he wanted.
  
  Yeah, my dreams are weird. At least, what I remember about them.

Today, I need to finish up laundry (on the home stretch!!!), do dishes, make dinner, take Bubbles to a WIC-thing, ... things like that. Nothing wildly amazing ... but things that do need to be done.
Oh, and practice my Spanish and German. (Yay for the kids' school offering use of Rosetta Stone Classroom for Spanish. I also am supplementing it with Duolingo. And added Memrise. And I'm trying Pronunciator [through the local library's site] and LiveMocha ... Overachiever much?)
(Also, French is HAAAAAAAAAARD, with the silent 't's and 's's. My Duolingo scores there are pretty awful. But my German and Spanish have improved!)

Bruise reports that Cub Scouts wasn't very fun ... he had to SAND HIS RAINWATER REGATTA BOAT.
(When he learned that they were doing the Rainwater Regatta, he told me, "I worked REALLY HARD on my car. NOW I have to make a BOAT. *facepalm*"
I did my best not to pee myself laughing. I can understand his frustration ... but, hey, it's something he can mark off for an arrow point requirement.)

Bruise was a little disappointed yesterday ... for his pack, usually the first Wednesday of the month is a Pack meeting, then the next two Wednesdays are den meetings. This month, it's switched so we have the Den meetings first (to work on the Rainwater Regatta boats) and the third Wednesday is the Pack meeting.
He'll be getting his Wolf badge and his gold arrow point at the Pack meeting ... so I was a little sad, too. But, hey, this will give me an extra week to get all his badges sewn on, right? ... And, who knows, maybe he can get enough requirements done to get a silver arrow point by the Pack meeting. So I can get THAT sewn on.)

Tomorrow is Michael's birthday. I should do something special, huh?
He knows that I love him. And I know that he's not a person who's all out for birthday extravagance.
But I should make him a cake.
Or some bacon.
Or biscuits and gravy.
Or STEAK.
And maybe a pie.

I do have a present for him.
So that's something, right?

Ha! Bubbles obviously had pressed a button on the remote while watching Frozen.
So Anna and Elsa's song was sped up just a little. Not QUITE like The Chipmunks, but it was definitely not normal.
Wow.

Okay ... This weekend is a little busy. Still combing through hair twice a day, looking for eggs and nymphs; we have a niece and nephew who've had birthdays; the next town over is having a celebration, complete with parade; Home Depot has their free kids' activity. And we should continue celebrating Michael's birthday. ^_^

And Bucket is giving a scripture in Primary at church.

No rest for the wicked, right? 

1,001 Posts

... and not an Pulitzer Prize for any one of them.

But, really, according to my lists of posts, I've written a thousand posts already. (Only took me, what, a decade. Imagine if I actually wrote a post every day!)

So, let's catch up ... What have we been up to? Um ...

• We go to church ...
• Michael's had rehearsal every Tuesday and Thursday (but he won't on Valentine's Day!)
  He was described, due to costuming and EPIC BEARD and the Mustache of DOOM, as either a "Norwegian Hunter" or William Wallace.
  I TRIED to talk him into painting his face blue and delivering the speech from "Braveheart" ... No dice. Oh well. It's not like I didn't try.
• Michael and I ran some errands on Friday, after he got home.
  I'm not all that impressed with Arby's Molten Lava Cake ... it's rather dry. Oh well.
• Saturday was more errands ... get ant spray and a new switch (one light switch, when turned on, was making this evil popping sound. Michael fixed it Sunday. Phew!), get Valentines for the kids' classes, get Bucket a new fish since Iris I died (So far, Iris II has been doing fine. Even when Bubbles-fish, who we NOW know is a boy, decided to chase her all around the tank.)
  
  Me: This isn't good behavior. ... It doesn't look like Bubbles is nipping her fins. *adds some food to try to distract Bubbles-fish. No go.* Why is Bubbles doing that?
  Bruise: *playing with LEGOS, matter-of-factly* Maybe Bubbles wants to make babies.
  Me: Huh. *looks it up on the Google. Yup. That's mating behavior, right there* Good call, buddy.
  
  So, yeah, apparently my kids are well-adjusted enough to handle animal husbandry. Okay. I must be doing something right. Right?
  
  We also visited with Michael's folks and headed back home to get ready (and attend) the kids' school's Family Valentine's Dance. There was a DJ and an crafts table, lots of cookies and sparkling cider (which is important in a minute). They put forth good effort into decorating the gym. They even had a couple gals from a local business come to teach some dancing. (Merengue ... I still really have NO IDEA what I'm doing. But I KNOW it involves fast marching.)
  
  Bruise danced Gangnam Style with me ... until I, like a beached whale, was out of breath and needed to sit down (Well, maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was wearing Bubbles in the Moby wrap. That does make dancing a bit more strenuous, wouldn't you think?) ... and I got Bucket out onto the dance floor for a little ... until all the aforementioned cookies and cider, combined with the jumping/bouncing around, made it necessary for us to make a hasty exit. Whoops! ... But she did learn a lesson (better NOW than when she's a teenager and trying to impress boys, right?) about not stuffing one's gob before dancing.
• Yesterday was mostly quiet ... I FINALLY watched Lifeboat (Alfred Hitchcock) while attempting to make some progress at the dratted puzzle that we bought for Christmas (SPOILER: Between Michael and me, we finished it last night. Now to fix that sucker so we never have to put it together again. ... In other, related news, I'm headed out to buy Heat-n-Bond today.
  Besides that, I've been working at getting through the laundry and dishes. They never end. And my mom and aunt are headed up this week ... so I'd LIKE to get things a little cleaner. We'll see how it goes.
  But I did vacuum the dining room yesterday ... so that's a start.

Well, I think that's MOST things that're standing out in my mind ... besides that fact that Miss Bubbles is taking steps now. She's babbling a little more, which is much preferable to her nasal whinings. :P

Okay, housework/duty calls. I'd better get stuff done. Then I can go out and grab some supplies

Starting out behind this year ...

Like usual, here's my chock-full-of-stuff catching-up post!

Okay ... so it looks like I last posted ... over three weeks ago. Whoops!

Let's see ... The kiddos' school had their "Winter Celebration." Which means that we didn't sing any carols ... BUT!! They had a gathering where teachers could read aloud to small groups. And there were books and board games that were given away to all the families (Thanks to a VERY generous group).
Bucket got a (vintage) Pound Puppies book. I don't totally remember which books Bruise or Bubbles got. But they all got a little book. And we got the Headbandz game, which the kids have enjoyed.

We rushed at getting the Christmas shopping done as soon as Michael got his bonus ... and it took us a little while to get everything together. Even though I was working VERY hard to compile a list of who all we were buying for and WHAT to give them.

Michael and I got new phones. And now my old phone (which still works ... mostly) is a toy for the kids. A nice little collection of games on there. And, YES, I really, really like my new phone (Droid Razr Maxx HD. It's nice to have a phone with a great battery life. And that texts people consistently. And that doesn't need to be consistently restarted/factory rebooted).

I also got a new computer chair (on a good sale), which Bubbles and I put together while Michael was at work and the kids had left for school. It's a good feeling to NOT almost fall out of your chair or worry that the arm is going to break off totally, dumping you and the infant on the ground/into the desk.

I helped a friend to set up a blog ... while I was there and we were passing Bubbles back and forth (she needed a nap. And wasn't getting one), my friend asked if Bubbles would like a graham cracker. Which I knew that she would ... so they went to the kitchen to get Bubbles a cracker to nosh on.
While my friend was opening the cabinet, her dog barked. While she was distracted, a can of pineapple glanced off of Vesper's eyebrow as it fell out of the cabinet. Whoops!
It was just a deep scratch. It's almost completely gone without scarring now.
(My friend felt AWFUL. I immediately latched Bubbles on to nurse, to get her calmed so I could look at what was bleeding. I asked my friend, who is a nurse, if it needed stitches. It didn't. So I was all, "Eh. She'll be fine. Let's get her calm and keep her hands off of it so it can clot. If she doesn't need stitches, I'm good."
We put a cool compress on it. It didn't even bruise!)

We did get a day of snow ... but not enough for the kids' school to be closed. It also was the same morning that Michael and I woke up to see that the power was out. He still went to work (since that's FAR enough away not to be affected). The kids and I lit candles (after poor Bruise was FREAKED OUT that the house was dark and none of the light switches worked. Poor guy.) and huddled under blankets as I called (on my old phone which was NEARLY out of batteries ... yeah, before we made the switch) the power company to find when the power would be restored. It came back on before the kids needed to head to school. (Then Bubbles and I headed over to help my friend with her blog in the aforementioned story.)

Michael had really wanted to take Friday, December 21st off. However, there was so much work that it wasn't feasible. So we just planned, anyways, on not heading down to visit family until the 22nd.

We packed that car FULL ... and, since the kids were getting lots of presents, we arrived back home with it FULL. In fact, it was so full, that we couldn't find my camera bag in there until yesterday! (Yeah, we've been busy.)

We visited my Nana, my dad and his girlfriend, and stayed at my mom and stepdad's for a few days.
(My stepdad ADORES Bubbles. He says it's because she's such a mellow baby. We think that it's also because there's only one. Twins can be a little overwhelming. Don't get me wrong ... he loves the older duo ... but he is completely enamored of Bubbles.)
We managed to take the kids to The Festival of Lights outside of Roseburg. I grew up in the Roseburg area ... and in the 18 years that I lived down there, I never managed to go once. But it was really nice. The kids enjoyed it a lot. It's a little spendy at $8/car ... but it was pretty awesome.
I did want to take the kids to the WildLights at Wildlife Safari ... but it was so cold and rainy. So we'll save that for another year.

After lunch and presents on Christmas Eve with my mom, stepdad, and aunt, we loaded up and drove out to the coast to spend Christmas with Michael's family at his sister's house.
We went to dinner at the Sizzler there ... where Bucket threw up. TWICE.
She came to me to take her to the bathroom ... and we raced, her with her hand over her mouth, dripping on the floor. And I ended up with two big splashes of vomit on my pants ... that I could see. AND SMELL.
Then, a few minutes later, she needed to go again ... and that time she didn't make it quite to the toilet.
We were in the bathroom ... but, golly.

As soon as we finished dinner and got back to T1's house, I gathered up the kids and put them all in a bath. I got them all settled in pajamas (with Michael's help ... as he worked at unloading the van as well), and then I jumped in the shower ... and, upon undressing, I found that I ALSO had a patch of vomit on the BACK of my jeans. WINNING. (Not.)

However, I felt a lot more human (and a lot less like curling in a corner and crying for being THAT MOM at Sizzler whose child puked TWICE. Yeah.) ... and we worked at getting the kids to bed and helping Santa with stockings, visiting with family, and getting to bed.

We were awake before any of the kids Christmas morning. In fact, I think we were up before anyone else. So we just chilled until people woke up ... for the present extravaganza!

Bubbles was not totally into her stocking ... until she got some crackers from it. ^_^

The kids all got a great haul from grandparents and cousins. We finally gave Bruise the Darth Maul lightsaber that we picked up on a great sale (Target Deal of the Day) months and months ago. He even used it for a staff when he, Bucket, and their baby boy cousin posed as a nativity scene (Bubbles and their other girl cousin there were in desperate need of naps ... and too wound up to take them. Whoops!). I like to joke that we refer to him as Joe-SITH.

Bucket liked the Barbie DVDs that I was able to pick up (Black Friday sales). They also really liked the other presents that they got, too.

We stayed Christmas night and took off the next morning. We drove up Hwy 101 and took the kids to the Newport Aquarium, which was a real treat. (Yes, we got a membership. We only have to go twice more to more than recoup the cost. AND with at least one trip, we can take grandparents, too. We asked Michael's folks if they'd want to come along with sometime this year. And they were very amenable.)

And we headed home and started unpacking ... and Bruise and Bucket started putting together their LEGO sets from Santa.

Freyja-cat was very happy to see us, after we were gone for five days. I'm glad to report that the Kitty Prozac did its job. There were no messes or bad smells to clean up. ... Just loads and loads and loads of laundry that I'm behind on.

We took the kids with us up to the Portland Aquarium (I had gotten passes a few months ago on a great discount via Sharing Spree ... It's like Groupon), which was very crowded. We had to park in a lot of a neighboring business. But it was fun. There's a LOT of hands-on tanks ... and, if you buy the food, you can feed the fish. Bruise got to pet a baby shark (a white striped bamboo shark, IIRC) and a ray.
I got to play with my Christmas present from Michael -- a video camera. (Seriously, Costco has great deals. We got one with a case AND an extra battery, with an 8GB memory card included. Which is a very nice thing.)

I also got to use my Christmas present from my mom -- a "whizzy stick!" ... It's an immersion blender with lots of attachments. I used the food-processor one to cut up carrots and pickles to put in tuna salad sandwiches last week. Yum. (And a nice way to get some extra vegetables!)
We call it a whizzy stick due to the Youtube videos of Titli's Busy kitchen ... since that's what she refers to her immersion blender as.

We also, while we were up in Portland, took the kids to IKEA. I picked up my IKEA Family card. We ate dinner there ... and we checked out furniture that we'd like to invest in ... when we have the truck and NO kids to transport that day. (Because we couldn't fit a couch AND the kids in the van at the same time. No possible way.)

And we stopped by the Washington Square Mall. I had a coupon for a free hand lotion at L'Occitane. And Michael and the kids went to the LEGO store. Bubbles, with me, flirted with the salesclerk at L'Occitane (He always pronounces my name correctly, so I already like him). She and I eventually moseyed over to The Body Shop ... and I snagged some body butters and a lip butter. Yeah, I like beauty products.
If I knew that I'd have that much time to kill while Michael and the kids were STILL in the Lego Store, I'd have also dropped into Lush to check out their stuff. ... As it was, I wheeled Bubbles (in her stroller) into Victoria's Secret to look at their lotions and body sprays.
I headed back to the LEGO Store ... just in time, so that Michael could snag the LEGO VIP card from my wallet.
Gotta love those VIP points! ^_^

We moved Bubbles out of our room and into the kids' room. Which meant that we had to rearrange their room (and buy a shelving unit to hold their tubs of dress-up clothes and such) ... so it's a lot more open in there, even with more furniture in there ... and there's an industrial-chic vibe with that shelving unit (Home Depot, what would we do without you?)
Bubbles has been sleeping pretty well (and deeply) in the kids' room ... which means that Michael and I are getting more sleep again.

We also picked up some sundries for home projects (new light for the front porch, house numbers so that we can put them in a spot where pizza/Chinese food deliveries can see them at night ... IMPORTANT stuff, you see?).

We also replaced out old (nearly twelve years) vacuum. We went for a less-expensive model ... though I'm tempted to try a Dyson someday. But our old bagless Hoover was a good worker for SO LONG ... we just got a newer Hoover. And a little handvac so the kids can help keep the Dining Room floor cleaner.

Michael spent the last couple days of his vacation with the flu: sore throat, fever, chills, aches. Not the stomach flu, but not feeling great at all. Poor guy. He wasn't feeling awesome this morning ... but he still headed into work. At least he's feeling a little better, right?

Funny conversation with Bucket, the other night:
She has a habit of naming stuffed animals after family members ... and she has a stuffed triceratops.
"Look, [Bubbles]! This is 'Daddy!'"
"Um, [Bucket], that'd be confusing to her. how about a different name?
"Okay ... how about Horny Daddy?"
"No. That's not appropriate. Let's find something else."

And NO, I didn't explain to her WHY "horny daddy" is not a good name for her stuffed animal ... however, I was VERY composed the whole time. Whereas, Michael was shaking with suppressed laughter.
Usually, it's the opposite.
Apparently, I was VERY tired.

Just now, Bucket made a card for Bruise, for his/their birthday.
Inside it, there's a picture of him as the earth, smiling. And she's the sun, smiling.
And she's putting me in there as a smiling Jupiter.
"What?? You're going to make me a GAS GIANT?? You should make me Saturn! Daddy like me so much he put a ring on it!!"
But she's not to be swayed ... I am a gas giant (*raspberries*) and Michael's Saturn ("Mom!! It looks like monkey ears!!! ... And [Bubbles] is going to be Pluto!!")

But, yeah, she's working herself up into a state.

The house is cleaner. I need to do another load of dishes and lots of laundry. But the floors are vacuumed (I need to vacuum the kids' room and our room. Sometime.) ... the hall bathroom is pretty clean. I need to clean the kitchen, our bathroom and bedroom (which hasn't been done in so long. *sigh*) ... And tackle the laundry room with its piles and piles of boxes to be collapsed and put in recycling. ... and all the laundry in there, too.

And let's not start on the state of my desk. Oy.

BUT! At least I've sent out the save-the-date for the kiddos' birthday to family. And Michael and I are getting plans put together for what to do.

I just need a few more days weeks to get the house clean and everything planned.

Oh!! Did I mention that Bubbles has cut her first tooth? It's in there! And it's a sharp little thing. Feels like her second tooth is not far behind. And I keep waiting for her top teefers to pop through, too.
Can you believe she's going to be ten months old tomorrow?

Bucket's started watching Invader Zim ... I can't complain (says the girl who told her husband, ala Gir, "I have to have tacos or else I'll explode! ... that happens sometimes." Yes, the fun we have when we go to Jack-in-the-Box).

okay, okay ... I'd better go throw another load in the dishwasher and washing machine. This house isn't going to clean itself!

Oh ... also I gave a talk at church on Sunday. I was TOLD that I'd be the first adult speaker (in the middle). I was the last speaker (so I needed to fill up the time ... good thing I prepared a 20-minute talk!). Yeah ... my topic was gratitude ... and GOSH, I'm SO grateful that it's over!! Then, after that, my kids' class didn't have a teacher. So I passed Bubbles to Michael and taught their class ... including a boy who said "Poop ... poop.... poop" throughout the opening prayer before our lesson. Then, after I told him that that was NOT reverent behavior (and we HAD just had a class trip to the bathrooms and drinking fountain), he screeched out, "I HAVE TO GO POOPY!!!!"
"Well ... then ... go to the bathroom." I told him.

And he did and got back to the classroom. And was all wiggly and distracting. Then he yells out, "MY BRAIN!!"
"Are you okay?" I ask (Earlier in Sharing Time, where the children's classes meet together, he snarled at my not to touch him after I had patted his knee. So I wasn't about to touch him against his will).
"I don't feel good! I want to go home!!!"

So, I left the kids for a minute (good thing that the other three are pretty self-sufficient and well-behaved) so I could take this one to the Primary President ... and she tracked down his family.

The rest of the lesson went quite well ... especially since I only had time to review it during Sharing time. Trial by fire, that was.

Yeah. Crazy times. If it wasn't ALREADY vacation, I'd ask for some vacation ... but, well, we see where that got me now, don't we?

Here's a blog. Hope you're happy.

Yeah, it's not my best moment at present.

I woke up about six to Bubbles spitting up ALL OVER MY CHEST. Yum! (Not. Not at all "yum.") So I jumped in the shower and Michael put her in the swing.

Since then, she's spit up all over a CUTE outfit ... and had her first blow-out in another cute outfit.
So, now that I have her in a NOT CUTE outfit, I'm sure that she'll be as clean and fresh as an ocean breeze.

However, she was very sweet and happy when she woke up and during her bath this morning ... so there's that.

Dad and L came and visited yesterday. That was nice. I managed to get things cleaned up (with LOTS of Michael's help the day prior).
Our house was smelling weird. I assumed that it was dishes or under-the-stovetop or the sink in the laundry room.
Nope. It was that Freyja-cat peed on the unfolded, clean laundry that was taking over the old couch.
UGH.

So THAT'S been re-washed. And ... yeah.

Last week was our first week with me running solo during the day.
Monday was Bubble's two-week appointment.
She's gained over a pound since we went home. That was nice. And she's healthy. Always a plus.
Bruise and Bucket were very well-behaved.
We also found out what's causing Bruise's skin issues ...
He's got this condition ... wait for it ... DRY SKIN.

Yes, that's the official diagnoses. His skin just doesn't produce enough oil to keep it moisturized. So, hey! My rubbing almond oil into it? Perfect! Yay for trusting my instincts!

The kids brought home their report cards. Everything's looking good. They do need to put more effort into PE ... but, besides that, things are looking good.

Michael and I celebrated our anniversary (can you believe it? 11 years!) this weekend. Mom C watched the kids ... well, Bruise and Bucket. She would have watched Bubbles as well ... except that I wasn't aware that was the plan that she and Michael had made. So I didn't have anything to feed her while we were out (that would have been about 7 hours. Yeah ...), so we didn't go see The Hunger Games.
Instead, we went to Target. And Red Robin. And Safeway. And Baby Depot.
Yup, we just go CRAZY WILD.
Also, we had stopped at home ... and while Bubbles slept, I pumped some more milk. Now I have, like FIVE ounces saved up. Yeah. That's not much at all, really. Because I usually am just too dang tired to sit for 20 minutes and hand pump with the Medela attachment that I got last pregnancy. Yeah.
(Also ... WHY THE CHICKEN are electric pumps so crazy expensive? Just wondering.)

I know that we did stuff on Saturday ... but I really don't remember WHAT. No idea. Oh well.
Sunday was the usual ... get up, get dressed, church, come home, chillax ... and a frenzy of cleaning there while I had ANY amount of motivation.

I finished my library book yesterday night. Since I thought it was due yesterday. It's due today. YES! I finished it (BARELY!) before its due date. Go me!

Then, like I said, Dad and L came to visit yesterday.
Then I jetted the kids over to the pediatrician to check out Bucket's eye.
(She had a BIG, spontaneous nosebleed at school Friday. And again (but not as bad) late at night. AND one eye was all RED. Looked like pink eye, which I treated on Saturday. Just to be sure she wouldn't be contagious to the kids in Sunday School.)
Dr. R pronounced that her eye looked good ... and we could stop the eye drops. AND I got a prescription for another bottle ... so that, if we EVER get it again, we have medicine on hand. (Last year? Bruise caught it from the cousins at Grandpa C's funeral. And then Bucket came down with it the next day ... as did I. Then I caught it AGAIN the next month from one of Michael's brothers at another family function. *sigh* No, I'm not bitter ... I just really, really, REALLY hate pink-eye.)

By the by, I DID treat Bucket's eye with a squirt of breastmilk. And I got Bubble's eyes, JUST IN CASE.
Bubbles didn't get it at all ... and, really? Bucket's eye did drastically improve within 24 hours. Yay for lactation!

We're two days into Spring Break ... and Bucket was eating (dry cereal) on the couch. When she could totally see and hear the TV from the table. So I blew up and told her to finish eating and go take a nap for time-out. And that I REALLY didn't feel like making her any more food today, since I couldn't trust her to eat it where she was supposed to.

... AAAAAAAAAAND, apparently, I'm a liar.
Bubbles JUST spit up all over herself. In the not-cute outfit.
I look at her, in the swing, and she's got spit-up all over one shoulder and down her arm.

Oh, by the by? I don't know if this child will take a bottle ... which makes it just as well that we didn't leave her with her Grandma. Michael tried to give her a bottle (with water) to tide her over while I was out visiting a friend ... She (Bubbles, not my friend. My friend doesn't need a bottle. Nor would Michael feel impressed to try to administer one to her) was NOT impressed. So, yes, they were both glad to see me when I got back home.

But, yeah. We need to go to the library. There are books that I want there. And I have holds. And I need to turn in my book. And the kids want to check out DVDs ... But, goodness ... I'm so tired. Even though Bubbles did sleep for nearly five hours last night. I still am exhausted.

And the kids REALLY want to go to play at the park. ... So, of course, the weather report says that it's going to be rainy ALL WEEK LONG. Joy.

But, something I get to look forward to ... I ordered nursing bras. I hope they arrive soon. And that they fit well. So I'll have a couple cute and completely functional bras. That'll be nice. And I got them on sale, even. Yay for coupon codes!! ^_^

But, yeah, if you need me, I'll be changing my youngest's clothes. AGAIN.
And doing laundry.
And wanting a nap. Oh, so badly.
And trying not to yell. Ugh.
Sometimes, it'd be really, really nice to have a pinch hitter during the day.
(When Michael's home, it's so much easier. I DO have the opportunity to take a nap or go soak in the tub or something. Oh well. Not so much tonight, since he has a meeting. But it shouldn't be terribly long. Thank goodness!)

Day 13 - A letter to someone who has hurt you recently

I don't know of anyone who's hurt me recently.
I try and surround myself with good people. And, usually I succeed.
(It's easy to find what you're looking for ... and I try and look for the good. It makes me happier.)

Oh, hey ... here we go:

Dear left kidney,

WITHER THE FRIES?!?
Seriously, what did I ever do to you?
Thanks for passing one stone.
But, seriously, being blocked TWICE in one week?
That's SERIOUSLY NOT NICE.
It hurt. Freaking bad.
And I spent Bruise and Bucket's sixth birthday in the hospital due to you.
NOT COOL.
Then, after being out the hospital for a matter of hours (okay, so like, about ten hours), I had to go BACK and stay for the pain meds since passing that one stone got you all swelled up again ... which caused the second blockage. You pansy.

But, hey, thanks for getting back to normal. Even if it took the better part of a week. And I got to learn the difference between Vicodin and Percocet. And, hey, since we were there TWICE, we got all the paperwork taken care of for registering for the hospital when BabyGirl is born.
And I got to see BabyGirl on the x-ray that we took of you. ... So that was kinda cool.

Awwwww ... I just can't stay mad at you. Yeah, I still love you.
But, please ... don't form any more stones. Or get blocked up again. Because that really, really hurts.
And I prefer not to be curled up on my bed, unable to find a comfortable position ... or vomiting. Because, apparently, pain can make you throw up. A lot.
Like, to the point of being dehydrated.
And that's not good at all.

So, hey, let's agree to get along. Because, if I'm in the hospital that long, I find myself watching "Toddlers and Tiaras." And ... well, let's just not go there.

Also ... being doped up? That makes grammar hard.

Let's be friends again.
     Allanna

About 33 weeks now ...

Officially, my 33rd week starts tomorrow.

But I had my check-up today. A new doctor. She's joined the practice since I had Bruise and Bucket.
She's nice. I enjoyed chatting with her.

I gained 9 pounds since my last appointment. A little more than they'd like. But she says that, overall, my weight gain is pretty much on track.
I'm measuring a LITTLE larger ... but, again, nothing to worry about.

My blood pressure looks great, so I shouldn't be concerned about seeing stars when I have a big coughing fit.
And, YES, (like Michael and I pieced together last night) my coughing is probably brought on by the heartburn/acid reflux that's plaguing me.
And taking ten Tums to be able to go to sleep is too many. So I'll be taking Zantac for now. Try that for a week. If there's no improvement, move on to Prevacid. And take two Tums at a time.

(That ten Tums? Were NOT all at once. I took three after coughing (due to heartburn) so much that I threw up dinner. And there was STILL no improvement. So I took a Zantac and three more Tums so I could try to fall asleep. Then I needed four more, since Zantac takes FREAKING FOREVER to kick in. ... Then I was able to fall asleep.)

But, yeah, I have CRAZY BAD HEARTBURN. It strikes when I eat. It strikes when I don't eat.
It hits when I'm laying down. It hits when I'm sitting or standing perfectly vertical.
It makes me cough ... It makes me lose my cookies (or salad and pizza and juice, as was the case last night).

NOT FUN.

But, overall, things are all looking good. BabyGirl seems to ALREADY be head-down. And, once she drops, I'll be able to (hope, hope, wish, wish!!) say Sayonara to being short of breath and some of this heartburn. Just seven more weeks of this torture if that's NOT the case.

Her heartbeat is strong. She's still wiggling around. My blood pressure is good (which is a BIG thing ... since I do NOT want preeclampsia again. Or EVER. Heck, I didn't want it at all with the FIRST pregnancy!!) ... except for the bad morning sickness (which has appeared to be over and done with! Yes!!! *knock on wood*), my sore pelvis, some excess weight gain (Still, I'm just over how heavy I was when I started my pregnancy with Bruise and Bucket, IIRC), and this infernal heartburn that buns with the fires of one thousand suns (or, well, at least it FEELS that way!!), this is going really well.

Let's hope I didn't just jinx it. :P

Seven weeks ... that doesn't seem like a whole lot of time.
I am not going to freak out about it. I refuse.

But, yeah, if I NEVER throw up again ... or NEVER get heartburn again ... it will really be too soon.

But, hey!! At least my sinus infection from Hades is over! I can breathe through my nose! Consistently! YAY!!!! That's a really good thing.

Now to stop coughing, so I can talk and sing again with my regular voice. That'd be really nice.

A post of many titles

This post could easily wear many titles, such as:

• In which sleep eludes me (since it's about 1:30 AM and I WENT to bed around 11).
• Why you shouldn't allow your four-year-old to eat a hot dog, two glasses of juice, five dinner rolls, two bowls of ice cream and apple crisp ... and THEN take them to the park right before bedtime.
• If my daughter throws up anymore, I have threatened to give her a suppository.
  (Yes, we DO have some. NO, this will NOT be the first time she's ever had one.
  NO, I'm NOT looking forward to administrating this dose.)
• I'm almost out of clean dishtowels.
• The curse of Saturday the 14th (since she managed to wait until almost midnight).
• The "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMY!!!! *HURK!*" -- Repeat every thirty minutes. At least three times.
• (Okay, that second time was due to a nightmare. THEN, she STILL threw up.)
• (The last puke was her lunch. Which confused me at first.)

So, yeah ... where did I leave off blogging? Oh, yes ... the great ant fiasco.

Joy.

Since then, I've still had odd dreams off and on. I'm not remembering them well enough to really report on them. However, the last doozy was Wednesday night -- One of my friends was working at an animatronic wax works ... and we got to sneak in (a LOT of us) after it closed. ... And you couldn't tell who was real and who wasn't. Parts of it, Michael told me, sounded a LOT like "Westernworld" ... But I don't think I've ever watched that before.

Still, it was strange and unsettling.

Tuesday, I spent cleaning up the house a bit. But mostly procrastinating.

Wednesday was the usual thing: Mom came up, went to storytime, (OH! Our books, mostly food storage and freezer meals, from Amazon came in. That was exciting!) took the kids to McDonald's, volunteered while the kids played at the park (The kids ate just about their WHOLE Happy Meals. BRUISE ATE ALL OF HIS!!!), we took them to the summer reading program (Legos this week), we bought them those big/wide pencils so they can practice their penmanship more easily, we went home and ordered pizza, Michael came home and didn't have an EQ meeting (but he did still have to go to a meeting later with Bishop), we watched SYTYCD ... That's it in a nutshell ...

Oh, and some young'un BIT THE CRAP out of my son's arm in the PlayPlace. Just about broke through the skin in a few places. 

Seriously, if I had lived about fifty years ago (when I wouldn't have gotten arrested for that sort of thing), I'd have climbed in there, extracted that three-or-so-year-old by his ear and dragged him over to his mom (chatting across the room and out of sight-line of her kid) BY HIS EAR and given him a good shake or two while fiercely intoning that "WE DO NOT BITE."

Hey, I'm a mama bear. You do NOT eff with my kids.

Good thing that my mom was there. While I sent hate-glares at the offender, she remarked that he seemed off ... like, perhaps, learning disabled or something.

Bruise got over it (and I slathered some hand sanitizer over the bite. Just in case) and went back to play with Bucket. They both were instructed to give Biter-Boy a wide berth.

Some people's children.
Some children's parents.

*sigh*

Thursday, we went to storytime as Mom headed home. Then we joined up with Katie and her crew of boys. We followed her to their new home where I got to touch up her new haircolor (She's got THICK hair. Thick enough that she NEEDS two bottles of dye. ... I'm trying not to be jealous. ^_^). Bucket and I got to play with her iPad. (It is nice. I just need some friend to let me play with their Droid now. Any volunteers?) The kids all played outside and then with the Wii in their family room.
After a tractor ride, we headed back to our place where I fed the kids and they went to nap without any arguments (AND THEY SLEPT!!) while I cleaned up in preparation for some high school friends to drop by.
Obviously, I must have the week wrong. Or they got busy. But, hey! The house was clean and the kids took a nap!!

Then I had to wake up the kids after a couple hours' nap so I could schlep them over to church for my RS meeting and Visiting Teaching interview.

Then we headed back home, where Michael was, fed the kids and put them to bed.
And watched the finale of SYTYCD. Truly, any of the top 3 (or even the top 4) could have won and I'd have been fine with any of the results.

......

Great, she threw up again.

The suppository went well. MUCH easier than I had anticipated. Having a bumoley that's a few years older (and larger. In a good way.) really helps. That and the fact that she's able to understand that this is medicine that will help her not throw up any more. *sigh*

I really did not /DO not want to be up at 2 AM ... but, hey, if she FINALLY falls asleep for realz this time, maybe I can, too.

----

Back to where I was ... Oh! That brings us up to what WAS today. And what is now, technically, YESTERDAY. *sigh*

Got up before Michael left for work. Let the kids eat yogurt while I worked at making sure they didn't mess up the house any. Thought about walking to the mall to do errands. Remembered that today's the start of our heatwave, so thought again. ^_^
Michael got home, so I gave him a haircut. We started dinner. We invited another family in our ward, one that we didn't know all that well. We made Chicken Parmesean, spaghetti alfredo, ceasar salad (from a bag), rolls, and hot dogs (for the kiddos).
The food turned out. ^_^ We ate and had fun while the kids ate and played. Then we walked to the park to get the kids all played out so they'd sleep.

(Famous last words in our case.)

Michael finished another disc of NCIS and we went to bed.

As soon as I fell asleep ---- "*scream/cry* MO-OOM!!!"
And, as we rushed into the kids' room, there's Bucket ... heaving her dinner all over the carpet.

We get her cleaned up, get the floor cleaned up, and head back to bed.

Half an hour later,  she screams for me again. Because, as she declares in her sleep-addled state, "I can't catch [Bruise]!" And she pukes a little more.

Another 30 minutes go by, I JUST manage to drift ........ and then ...... "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMY!!!!!! MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!"

I try not to burst into tears.

REPEAT of the vomitorium ... with bringing up Spaghettios from lunch (TMI, I'm sure. Hey, who's the mom who's lost hours of sleep?? Bear with me. This is stream of conciousness writing here at this point. You should be proud of the fact that I'm THIS coherent.).

Michael gives her a father's blessing as we have her hurk up anything else in her stomach into the toilet. Which gets clogged. AGAIN.
(I HATE that toilet. Really. I really, really hate that toilet. ... But, hey, at this point, using the plunger? I'm SO good at that.)

She's got her fun croup-y cough. We give her some DM cough syrup. Get her settled back in bed.

Michael grabs the wastebasket from our bathroom, empties it and puts it by her bed. Just in case.

I TRY to fall alseep. After ten minutes of LAYING THERE, trying (among things) to slow my heart-beat so it's not CRASHING IN MY EAR as my ear is on my pillow, to calm my brain with music -- playing memory of Claire de Lune, Moonlight Sonata, Ave Maria in my brain ... Nothing's working.

So I get up and come out here. Might as well blog, right?

Half an hour later .... "MO-OOOOOOOM!!!!!!"

Pukes into the trashcan, I get her to the bathroom for another sip of water. She has to pee. I get her there. Grab the suppository, do my best to cut the blasted thing in half. Get her situated over my lap, squirt some vaseline on her bumoley, and ... well, that went considerably better than when I'd do it on a changing table. ... I get her back to bed and situated with the trashcan. JUST IN CASE and come back to write and write and type and type this all out. *sigh*

My eyes hurt. My brain is still on FULL PANIC ALERT, though. And it's almost 2:30 AM ... 

I want to cry. But that would take energy. And it would make my eyes hurt more.

I also have to pee ... but that would require going back through the bedroom and maybe waking up Michael. Again. Since he did wake up when I got up out of bed ... He asked if there was anything wrong.

"No. I just can't sleep."
"Anything I can do to help?"
"No. I'm going to go to the computer. Thanks, though."

So, yeah. Just checking Facebook and blogging. 

Sleep is for the weak, right? 

My poor, poor neglected blog ...

I apologize that I haven't been writing a whole lot lately. Mostly I don't think about doing it ... or I somehow run out of time ...

Yes, I do have books sitting on my nightstand and shelf (and in the car), waiting to be read. That's a usual. My house could be cleaner ... but here I am, making time for YOU, my dear little blog.

Sooooooo ... last blog was *gasp!* TEN DAYS AGO?!? Yep, I shall account for (what I can recall) my doings. ... Let's see ....

Michael's getting us into some better financial shape. One credit card is all paid off. So that's REALLY good. We've almost got the kids' hospital bill from when they were born all paid off. BIG PLUS. If we're very good (and we're trying to be), in a couple months, we'll just have the car load, his school loan, and the mortgage as our debt.

(Anyone else find it a little strange that mort = "death" ... and it's in the word for house loan? ... Maybe it's just me. *shrugs*)

But, yes. So that's one BIG thing. I try not to freak out about money. I hate not having money. I have not having ENOUGH money to pay all the bills (i.e., stay caught up on all the bills) and have enough left over that I can think, "Okay, self, let's put some of this away into SAVINGS ... and, well, let's go buy something fun. And get a pedicure or something decadent!"

We're not quite there yet. But, oh, I'd love to be. I'd love to be FUN again. To enjoy shopping not just for "what can I afford to buy that won't make me feel like a giant, blubber-butt WHALE ... if I can FIND anything like that?" To be able to find a cute purse that will work for me ... not just something that'll get me by until we have enough money again to afford something that makes me happy (And I'm NOT talking about holding out for something by Louis Vuitton or Burberry -- I had to look up the proper spelling for both of those! :S ... Though they do make some very pretty-pretty handbags.) (Also: HOLY FLIP! I think the Burberry bags are gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but MY WORD!! Some of them are more expensive than our monthly house payment! Even the ones on sale! AAAAACK!!!!!)

But enough about that ... what else is up in my life?

We took the kids out for a weekend of culture. There was a Youth Theater production of Cinderella over at one library ... and they kids did well (though, I think they did enjoy the production of "Willy Wonka" better the week before. The next day was a special ballet production at the local library. A local ballet studio did a lite version of "Coppelia." Bruise actually clapped for it. Bucket LOVED sitting on the floor for a first-row view.

Later on Saturday, when Michael was heading out (taking the van) for a meeting, Bruise called out to him as he left, "Don't crash the car!!"
(WHAT??? It was really funny, though. )

I started playing a came on Michael's iPhone -- Zombie Farm. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, it's seriously fun. It's (mostly) free. It looks like there's no way around paying money (99 cents) for one game item to let you use the blue zombies. :( Oh well. I don't get to play it a whole bunch, since Michael has the iPhone with him all day at work.

Tuesday, he took the day off of work so we could celebrate our anniversary. Mom came up to watch the kids for us ... and we took off for the day. We went to the temple, then we headed down to watch a movie. We saw Alice in Wonderland in 3-D, which is always fun. We also bought candy (for the movie) at the Dollar Tree (since we're SUCH big spenders! ^_^) and browsed at Borders (I did buy the latest copy of Mental_Floss with some of my birthday money. The first thing I've REALLY wanted to buy with my little stash. I'm so protective of it!)

Oh ... Saturday, after we had gone to the library, we went to Target to return a gift Michael had bought me (The thought was nice ... and he's right, I can be hard to shop for). So, in exchange for a yoga mat and bag (I have a yoga mat ... which I don't use all that often. THOUGH I SHOULD. And I've never needed to carry it anywhere. But he did pick out cute ones!), we got new tension curtain rods for the living room -- to replace the terribly twisted ones that have seen MUCH better days (just regular cheapo curtain rods. And when the kids have played with the sheer curtains, they've gotten in SUCH bad shape).
Soooooooo .... Michael took the kids to the park, since my PMS-FREAKOUT was starting, and I set to work putting up the rods (instead of reading or taking a bubble bath or anything). ... And, of course (I say "of course," when I really should say "it figures," but bear with me!), as I get the first tension rod set up so it'll be long enough to stay up in the window, I manage to cut the back of my hand. And start bleeding.

Now, do I really freak out? Do I call Michael's cell and beg him to come home and patch me up?

No. Why would I do that? I skitter off to the bathroom, grab some tissue to blot the blood and start applying direct pressure until I can use up the last of one roll of medical tape to awkwardly wrap my hand so I can finish putting up those bleeping curtain rods. Because DAMMIT I'm ready for my living room to look NICE.

And, by the time that Michael and the kids got back, I had the rods up (he did have to tweak the length on one. But that's fine) and had my hand properly bandaged. (It's healing well. No infection or anything. Aren't you proud?) I think I had also finished a graphic novel or something.

I got a 94% on my quiz in my HAM radio class last night. My test is in two weeks ... can you believe it? I think that I'll do fine. I should be fine. Just have to study a little more and I'll be ready.

FUNNY STORY: Monday, since the kids had worked hard to take a nap, I rewarded them with a trip to the library to play (in the children's area. Since it was rainy). Bruise was tapping on the window as I got in the car. And I asked him not to do that.

"Wook, Mom! Sweepeeo tapped on my window!!!"
"WHAT? Who?!?"
"Da shiny wobot!"
"OHHHHHH! C-3PO!! OHHHH! *laughs*"
(Bucket) "Mom, why are you laffin'?"
"*between snickers* Because I thought that [Bruise] said that SLEEPY PEOPLE were tapping on his window!"
"No, sleepy people wouldn't tap on your window. They'd TAKE A NAP on your window! But only in a movie or a story!"

(To make more sense, we had discussed with the kids earlier that some things that happen in movies or stories would NEVER happen in real life. So you don't have to worry about, say, an alligator suddenly appearing in your car and EATING YOUR HEAD. Just so that's cleared up. )

But, yeah, life with my kids is not a boring thing.

Like when Bucket comes running, screaming ... "What's wrong? What happened?" "The wall hit me!!!" "Huh? Like it just JUMPED out and hit you? What?" "No! Come with me! I'll show you!" ... and she proceeds to explain that she was standing on a soccer ball, looking out the window. And she went to reach about two feet over and the soccer ball shoots out from underneath her and she, apparently, banged her head on the window sill.

Yes, we DID discuss that we don't stand on balls. They're not very secure.

--------------------------------------------

One more story that I've forgotten to share. And, um, if you have a weak stomach, you probably shouldn't read it. Just to warn you.

Saint Patrick's Day, I made the kids egg-in-a-hole for breakfast. And I scrambled the eggs with green food coloring before I cooked them in the bread. They were GREEN. Like, EMERALD GREEN.

Bruise and Bucket snarfed them down. AFTER they had eaten lots of dried apricots. LOTS of dried apricots. Then they had a peanut butter cookie each.

We (Mom, the kiddos and I) go to storytime. And then, about 3/4 through, Bruise, in my lap, has a burp-that's-more-than-a-burp ... if you know what I mean. So I clap my hand over his mouth, pick him up so he's straddling my other arm, and rush him out of a closed room in the swinging door of the ladies' room where he (are you ready for this? Really?) BARFS ALL OVER THE FLOOR.

Thank goodness it's a tiled floor. Instead of the carpet that we were on in the storytime room.

So, I try to get him to go throw up anything left in the toilet. But the boy's so efficient that he's emptied his stomach in one go. So I try to keep him out of the HUGE puddle o' puke ... and I'm working at cleaning it all up with paper towels and water. And not slipping and falling on my butt in the middle of it in the meantime.

So, we change our plans from taking the kids into the next town while I go volunteer to having the kids and my mom stay at the house (and get McDonald's to go instead of eating at McDonald's) ... which is a double-good thing since the boy ended up having, um, "Revenge of the dried apricots" in his pants. If you know what I mean. .... And I think you do. ... Or you could easily figure it out.

But my mom's much better about cleaning up THAT than cleaning up vomit (she's got a wicked-weak gag reflex) ... so we called ourselves even over that. Oy.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, THAT story's over. And since I mentioned it (when it happened) on Facebook, my librarian-ladies at my library knew all about it (three of them have friended me) ... and, bless their hearts, but they think it's rather hilarious. And, it is ... in a gross way.

The joys of motherhood. ^_^

Okay. About 30 minutes until my Visiting Teachers come over. My house is ..... um ..... decent.

And, after they're here, I think I might try and take a nap. Or read. Because I'm beat. Between cleaning a bit, baking brioche (did I mention that? I should have!), going to the temple, going out with my husband, shopping with my mom, hanging up curtain rods (and injuring myself in the process), my HAM radio class, playing games on the computer, reading, staying up too late ... well, I'm pretty beat. Thank goodness our weekend has arrived!

Of course, I want to spend part of tomorrow working on our yard. Rain or shine. Which is going to be GREAT with my hay fever. *rolls eyes* But those blackberry vines that keep encroaching in our little yard? They're SO going down.

Off to see the ... Turning Around

SO, we were ready to go to the aquarium. We'd gotten the kidlets ready and were dressed. We dropped books off at the libraries, picked up some sheetrock from Freecycle (if you don't know about Freecycle, you totally SHOULD. Awesome.) ... and we were driving and then ... Bunny's couch is so bad she spits up. And I get her a cup after wiping her off (it wasn't THAT bad) ... and the spews into the cup TWICE MORE ... once filling that little sippy-cup about HALFWAY.

Yeah, we are NOT making it to the aquarium today.

And she didn't get to stay in Nursery the whole time ... maybe for about one hour yesterday ... so she went to Priesthood meeting with Michael while I went to Young Women's. 

She's been coughing for a couple days. And it just got bad yesterday. Bruise is coughing a little, too. So today is our sick day. ... At least Michael's on vacation, so we can try to get to the aquarium tomorrow. ^_^

Poor little girl, though. And poor Bruise. They REALLY wanted to go "see tha fishies," as they say it.

But, hey, I'm a good wife and mother. I got a free sheet of wallboard (the sheetrock mentioned earlier) so Michael can repair the holes in the bathroom (NOT from us.), I found the clothes that Miss Bunny wanted to wear (which she's no longer in, since she peed herself -- poor, tired, sick-y girl) on Michael when we got back in the house ... I played with her as she took a warm bath, got her slathered with the Vick's Baby Rub ... and picked up a bagful of groceries to treat my little sicky as we were on the way home.

Yup, I stocked up on some ginger ale, grabbed cough drops that taste good, some more Vick's rub (since she's now old enough for the real menthol-rub), some Powerade mix ... and replenished the supply of string cheese for the kidlets.

Besides all that, Michael and I got a big Christmas present for each other -- we now can hear our movies as we watch them. We got a home entertainment system with new speakers. Putting it up entailed breaking part of our TV stand ... everything seems to have some casualty count, right? (But it still works ... the TV stand. And the sound system.)
It even has an iPod dock, which we didn't notice until we got it home and were setting it up. 

It makes me happy. I like being able to hear a DVD over the dishwasher. Or the children. ^_^

My neck's been hurting for the last couple days. Ugh. Someday I'd love to be filthy, stinking rich and be able to afford to go to the chropractor whenever ... or have a live-in massuse. Or both. And an accupunturist on call. Someday.

In other news, I got that chiffon shrug returned ... and have ordered the satin shrug to go with my bridesmaidmatron dress. One less thing to freak about. And I am checking into seeing if the local tux place is selling a tie to go with the Boy's tux. *sigh* Hopefully they are. But, if not, at least this place only charges $7.50/day for a rental of the tie ... as opposed to another place that was asking $30/rental.

Oh, and I was also like, the BESTEST wife evar(!!!!1!!one!!!!1!) because I *gasp!!* did the dishes!
I KNOW!! Totally GO ME!!

Now, I have a sick family to take care of. And I'm ready for a nap. 
But I'll probably read some blogs first, while the kidlets are engrossed in their Robots DVD (Thanks, T2!!).

returned

We are back from our whirlwind trip from Cali. Michael missed us. The house was clean on our arrival ... He even fixed the toilet that started to leak (deluged) right before we took off Thursday.

Saw Grampy (the kidlets' great-grandfather. This was the first time they've met him. The last time that we saw him was when we told him and Grammy [who has since passed away. Explains why he was having a wedding reception, no?] that we were having twins. When we were getting together to spread my uncle's ashes. Very circle of life, huh?) and met his new wife. She seems really nice. She brought us all presents ... crackers and snacks for Michael and me (I get the coffee-flavored crackers all to myself. Yes, I'm a terrible Mormon. I like the flavor/smell of coffee. It comes from my coming from a long line of "Friends of Other Faiths." ... And the fact that at my Nana's house, a treat I commonly received was coffee candy. Oh, yum.) and pajamas and an outfit for each of the kidlets. Bucket is running about in her Abby Cadabby outfit ... complete with wings on the back and a little petal-skirt on the shorts. Very cute. Bruise was sad that his new truck PJs were dirty. He wanted to wear those today.

The kiddos got to try swimming in a swimming pool. At first, Bruise didn't really like it. But now he really finds being towed around a pool, in his little inner-tube, to be a huge highlight. Bucket wants to love swimming ... but she's so trepidatious about it. She says that she does want to take swimming lessons next summer, though. That'll be good.

The drive into San Francisco was crazy. We got caught in rush hour traffic before the toll bridge we took. Oh my words ... and it didn't help that one guy didn't have very bright brake lights (the light in his back window was OUT ... We almost smashed into him. Good thing Mom's car and Julie's car all have very good brakes ... and that we didn't take the van). And Mom and I REALLY needed a bathroom. :S

But, overall, the trip went well.

Bucket threw up once a day with all the excitement ... and she loves to eat. And doesn't always know when to stop. Friday, she tossed her cookies in Julie's bathroom. Saturday, she filled three linen napkins at Grampy's reception. Sunday, she puked all over herself and her carseat on the way back to Oregon. Ugh. That was crazy. I'm still trying to get the stains out of her new shirt.

But, yeah. It went pretty well. Mom brought her portable DVD player (she bought it especially for the trip. We know that we can get lots of use out of it. ^_^ The kidlets watched movies all the way down. They even napped a little on the way down. Bruise seems to be a bit of a better traveler than Bucket (she wants to be "up" and held during the drive), but Bucket did a really, really good job of going to the bathroom in the toilets. She only really had a bad day of it yesterday. Bruise was filling up his Pull-Ups left and right. *sigh*

We should be caught up with insurance. *sigh* Anyone want to give me a trust fund? Any wealthy, philanthropic readers out there wanting to pay for some of my kids' college? Just thought I'd ask. ^_^ (But, really, if you're out there, I'm not too proud to accept it. ^_^)

I really do feel that things WILL work themselves out. I've been praying a lot about it. Keep feeling that it'll be okay. ... But you know me. I'm impatient. And I like me some monies. ^_^

I also like me some swimming pools. ... If we ever get to the point where we build our dream home, we are having us one of those indoor pools. Swimming year-round. And a hot tub/whirlpool/spa/whatever you call it. (Bucket LOVED the hot tub.)

Today, I'm just going to concentrate on getting caught up on things ... do some dishes, fold some laundry, finish cleaning out Bucket's puke carseat, do some reading, maybe take a nap, snuggle with Michael ... that kinda stuff.

I'm pretty wiped still ... but, considering that I haven't been sleeping all that well lately, it's hardly surprising. *sigh* I'm working on that.

And, hey, I impressed my mom by using a curling iron to straighten my hair for the reception. Go me.

And everyone thought that Bruise and Bucket were so adorable at the reception (you can tell they didn't see Bucket upchuck, huh?).
As Bruise was chasing/being chased by Bucket and the other little girls on the dance floor, one of the girls came up to us (she might be three-five years old) and said fervently to Mom and me,

"He is SO handsome."

That's my boy. Breaking hearts at this tender age. Keep it up, little man. But be kind. ^_^

And, Bucket? Stop throwing up. You don't want to be sick.
Neither do I, sweetheart. Neither do I.

Let's make a tally

Days Bucket's been a puke-bucket: 5.25
(She had thrown up in bed [again] bust hasn't since. [knock on wood]).
How many times she's thrown up in the past 5.25 days: About 20.
How many loads of laundry I've done in the last 5.25 days: around 10
(when I usually do around 4 loads per week)
How many family members she's infected: 1 - Michael
How many days Michael took off of work: 2
How many times I cried from being burnt-out: 5
How many pills she was given for nausea: 6, with an option to refill.
How many of those she's taken: 1
In how many doses: 2 (1/2 dose for my little girl)

How many times I want to administer this: -5 bazillion

Why: The medicine is a suppository.

Yes, I have to Vaseline up my finger and the half of the suppository and guide it past her little sphincter as she cries and screams.

Not fun? Ohhhh... "Not fun" is a huge understatement.

Suppository is to "not fun":: Being boiled alive in a volcanic eruption is to "feeling a tad bit warm.

But I don't think that even that amount of understatement covers this travesty.

Feel free to come up with a better one.

In the midst of the barf-dom ...

I had my hopes up since Bucket was more of a grumble-bucket than a puke bucket that all of the puke had passed.

Not quite. I got to wash her face and hair (and my chest and the Boppy) after a good 24+ hours of no barf. But, it's still an improvement. I'm hoping that she keeps down this last feeding, though. She's pretty miserable.

And so I'm going to share some quizzes. Since I'm "productive." (Read: those were irony quotes.)

Your Score: Pure Nerd

60 % Nerd, 43% Geek, 30% Dork

For The Record:



A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.

A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.

A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.


You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd.



The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful.
Congratulations!
Thanks Again! -- THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST

Link: The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test written by donathos on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

So, obviously, I need to get my geek on, just a little more often.
Still, I scored 99% higher than my peers on nerdiness, geekdom, AND dork points.
Well, everyone has to be good at SOMETHING. Maybe I've found my niche.

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

Well, I'm this or A Canna ... or a Sunflower. But speaking of ... maybe I can plant some snapdragons in our yard sometime. Maybe along the street-side of our house. Or some hollyhocks. Something with some height and color. Or climbing roses ... Of course, these all depend on if I'm willing to put out the effort, time, and money. And making a decision. :P

The Barf Chronicles

We took Bucket to the doctor's today.

We have a great doctor. A busy one (we arrived a little late for our appointment. We still waited about 20+ minutes to see him), but a very nice and competent man.

Bucket, our little puke and poop bucket, has indeed caught the stomach bug (virus, of course. Something that antibiotics wouldn't clear up) that's going around.

I feel bad because I think she caught it when I took her and Bruiser to play group last week. The virus lay dormant for a couple of days and -- BAM!!-- hit my girl with full force.

But, even though she's not keeping much (if anything) down, she's not dehydrated. She even can call up tears and everything. She's just puking and miserable. (And HATED being prodded with a stethoscope.

So, even though I'm guilty because I took her out where she got it, I'm a good mom because I've worked very hard to try and keep her hydrated. Go me.

Our washer's getting its workout. I think we've done at least eight loads of wash, starting Saturday morning.

Michael just came down with the bug, too. Good thing he stayed home today (to help take Bucket to the Doctor's. And to help me keep my sanity).

Bruiser and I are hanging in there. He seems none the worse for wear. I think most of it has to do with the fact that he and Bucket are still nursing. (Of course, this weekend hasn't been the best for Bucket's nursing. ... She's eating for maybe five minutes and --POW!!-- We're all covered in barf. Load up the washer again.) However, it seems that Baroo's gotten all the antibodies I can produce. Except for the few I've stocked away for myself. He's like the Energizer Bunny, immune system-wise. He's gotten a cold a couple of times. Always much more mild of a case than Bucket's.

I don't feel great. I don't know if it's due to (a) being so dang tired and (b) being a little burnt-out or (c) being on my ladies' cycle or (d) a touch of the bug. I'm not very hungry. I'm getting a little light-headed. I have a headache. It's nothing like Michael's case -- nausea, other ickies, whole-body-being sore.
I feel okay, but not like I'd be bringing my A-game to the table. If I ever DID bring my A-game anywhere.

But the good news is that I'm nearly caught up on the dishes. And I only have two loads of laundry to fold. And I have a prescription for Bucket for some anti-nausea medicine (DO NOT ask me how it's to be administered. If you can't guess, you DO NOT WANT TO KNOW). And another hold to pick up at the library. And I should vacuum. (Note: You don't want to walk around barefoot or in socks for a couple of days. And the "couple of days" ONLY applies if Bruiser doesn't catch this crud.)

Since the husband and the kids are asleep (well, Bruiser is ... I think he's doing some Gregorian chants ... in his crib), I'm signing off and laying on the couch to read/nap.