My Most Beautiful Kathleen :-)

Twas the Day Before Christmas

Twas the day before Christmas and all through the mall, the shoppers were freaking, the big and the small.

One day's not enough time to buy all that I need, so I'll drive with reckless abandon, I'll curse, and I'll speed.

I don't care if this is the season for giving... it's the "all about ME and MY family's life", that I'M living.

But this thing we call Christmas is more than gifts, food, and a tree.  It's about the birth of a most special and blessed baby.

This Jesus the Christ, this King of all Kings, is the best of all reasons to eat, laugh, and sing.

He was sent here from Heaven to show us the way -  live life with hope, love, joy and peace, every and I mean EVERY day.

So be kind to your neighbor when waiting in line at the store, and if you say prayers for others, then say 10 prayers more.

If you go to Church tonight or tomorrow morn, move down the pew for others and hold back the scorn.

Drive with caution and patience and cheer, and keep look out for bad drivers, grannies, and deer.

Take time to be thankful for family and friends, and for a Jesus that came to show us that life never ends.

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends!!

Don't play with your food - eat it!

My kids are apparently playing with their "Finding Nemo" gummies.  I just heard Brian say to Kate, "Well, I have 4 children.  Can you babysit them?  Here is a list of food.  If they get hungry give them seaweed.  If they want to play just give them a car to drive."  Kate, "Okay."  Brian, "I have to go to my meeting now.  Stay out of the deep water.  My darlings like the coral reef and that's where they should play, and if you see a mean jelly fish just STING him!!"  Kate, "okay".  Kate seems highly invested in this game.  She's probably thinking what I would be thinking, "Why aren't we eating these?!"

Brian is writing!

I decided to see what Brian is capable of so I told him a few things to write (with no help from Mommy) and I think he did an amazing job!  The first picture reads, "Hi Nonni, I love you.  I love you too, B" and the second one reads, "My name is Brian."  Good boy Brian!!  Oh, and keep in mind, he's in preschool. :-)

A comment worthy of a blog entry

When I was getting the kids ready for school today I realized that there was no hope for my hair.  It needed to be washed and there was no way I was going to get it looking good before dropping the kids off.  I went searching for my pink Red Sox cap but couldn't find it, so on went one of Jeff's ski hats.  I got the kids in the car and as I started to pull out of the driveway Kate said, "Mom why do you have that funny looking hat on your head?"  Brian then chimed in and scolded Kate by saying, "Kate, you're only supposed to talk about MOM, NOT about the funny things that she is wearing!" 
Awesome!  I wonder how often Brian refrains from saying something about me because of this "rule" he seems to have made up!

Oh She's HILARIOUS alright!

Many of you have expressed how cute and funny you find Kelly to be.  Kelly is VERY VERY funny and VERY VERY cute, when all the stars are aligned (which seems to happen about 3 times a week).  However, the rest of the time she's a beautiful, sweet, challenging  and extremely strong willed toddler.  I wouldn't want to change Kelly for the world and it is my hope that she does amazing things with her personality as she gets older.  But at this stage in her life I can tell you that I'm pretty much at the end of my rope with the screaming and incessant asking (I pray A LOT for patience).  I thought I would share with all of you my car ride experience to and from the grocery store this morning, with Kelly. 

Kelly:  "Want muffin want muffin want muffin want muffin want muffin want muffin want muffin want muffin want muffin want cookie want cookie want cookie want cookie want cookie want cookie want cookie want cookie want cookie want cookie want cookie want cookie want cookie (oh and fyi, I'm saying "yes Kelly" intermittently while all of this is being said...let's continue shall we?)  see a bird see a bird I see a bird mama see a bird see a bird see a bird see a bird see a bird see a bird mama want purple fa (pacifier) want fa want fa want fa want fa want purple fa want purple fa down there!!!!!!!!!!!!"  Then as I'm parking, "want to walk want to walk want to walk want to walk want to walk want to walk want to walk want to walk want to walk want sit in big part want sit in big part want sit in big part want sit in big part want sit in big part."  She was surprisingly quiet in the store, which was nice.  And then on the way home, "want go home want go home want go home want go home want go home want go home want go home go fast mama go fast mama go fast mama go faster! go fast mama want go home want go home want go home."  When we parked in the driveway, "want get out want get out want get out want more cookie want get out want get out want get out want more cookie want more cookie!!!!!!!!!  want get out!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I decided to give myself a verbal and mental break today and I only responded to her a few times because you  know what?  It doesn't matter if I respond or not, it doesn't stop...she'll keep saying what she's saying!  My guess on Kelly?  She going to be in the Olympics or she'll be our first woman president....provided she makes it past toddlerhood!  Go Kelly!

Oh, and she really IS funny too. :-)  This was Kelly painting with her sunglasses upside down, at night the other night.

Happy (early) Birthday, Kelly!

Kelly will be 2 on the 22nd, but we had her "mini-party" today.  It was Jeff, Brian, Kate, Nana and Nonni.  It was a small but very sweet group.  Kelly told me she wanted a princess on her cake and blue frosting...so that's what she got. :-)

Kate could have fun in a box!

We had a very small (early) birthday party for Kelly today.  My mom gave Kelly a fake aquarium.  It's pretty cool, actually.  It looks like fish are swimming in water but it's really just an illusion of water, with a screen of fish that keep going around and around.  Kelly likes it, but Kate LOVES it.  She was looking at it in the kitchen (pictured above) and all of a sudden I could hear her talking and she was going on and on and on.  The following is a portion of what she said.  I couldn't catch all of it so if you see xxx it just means I don't know what she was saying.  It's pretty comical.  Here it is:

Kate to the fake fish tank: "If this fish is alive then go on!  I'm your brother and I'M the sister!!  Come on let's go, but I'm not going to the edge with you!  Well fine then stay there, my wife is killing me.  Well go out of here, I don't want to see you again.  Then why do you stay because my friend says my wife is a xxxxx (I pray she wasn't swearing there).  Well what are you talking about?  Well I don't like you cause you're so cute.  Well aren't you the cutest fish I've ever seen.  Get out those fins you little woman!  Now where is that fin??"

After writing this I realize it sounds somewhat violent and aggressive, but it didn't sound that way coming out.  It sounded very passionate and animated, in a cute 3 year old girl way.  But now that I think of it, has Jeff ever said, "my wife is killing me"???  Juuuuuust kidding!

Updated posts 12/9-11/7

Kelly's version of "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music: "Tampons in purses and paint on my body, juice on the floor and hands in the potty, screaming in line at the Edaville train..these are a few of my favorite things. When the show ends, when the pop's done, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember to screa...m with my lungs, and then I don't feeeeeeel soooo bad."

 

Conversation with my cousin Bridget today: Bridge: "Are you doing anything this weekend?" Me: "Nope" Bridge: "You've got a family b-day coming up this month, right?" Me: (thinking), "Um, I don't think so" Bridge: "Isn't Kelly's b-day in December?" Me: "yes" (embarrassed/laughing). Bridge: "Are you having a party... for her?" Me: "Yes, it's this Sunday" (laughing and slightly freaked out about myself)

 

I layed Kelly down on the floor today to change her diaper. She picked up Mr. Potato Head off the floor and shook him. When she shook him all of the Potato Head parts that were stored in his bum compartment came flying out and landing in the poop in her diaper, which I had just opened. So, how are all your days going?

 

Holy Shit! It's silent in the living room and all three of them are in there so I figured they were all up to no good. I just peaked in.....they're all looking at books!!!

 

My son was just watching cartoons and he came in from the living room and said, "Mom, moles are sneaky scary monsters. You have to whisper so they won't hear you and be careful not to eat cheese or they'll smell it." Then he paused and said, "And they come from California!" Better watch out all you California moles!... Brian is on to you!

 

I wanted to be Lynda Carter SO bad when I was little! I didn't even come close, though. I had bat girl underoos and blonde hair...but a kid can dream!

 

Thanks to Paesana marinara sauce, chopped garlic, pecorino romano cheese, and Whole Food's pork and garlic sausage, I just made a lasagna that would make my Italian ansestors proud! So so so soooooooooooooooo good!

 

More Christmas shopping done, check. Trip to Whole Foods, check. Sitting in a (still) quiet house eating my dinner, check!!! Woohoo!!! This has been the best day in the history of the world!!! (once again, refer to previous posts for any confusion you may be experiencing regarding this post).

 

Workout at gym, check. Shower at home in peace, check. Lunch in silence, check. Hair blown-dried, check. Grocery shopping, check. Sipping coffee, check. Heading out to do Christmas shopping.... Great day so far!! (Refer to last post if you're confused :-).

 

Do you see that? It's my minivan leaving my driveway. Do you hear that? It's the silence in my house. No you feel that? It's the love in my heart I have for my husband, for taking our children down to his parent's for the day. Early Merry Christmas TO. ME. Weeeee!!!

 

Just bought a brand new necklace. On the way to the car I accidentally wacked the bag on another car. Just got home and opened the back...one of the large brown glass beads is cracked in half...AWESOME!!

 

This status is a friend of a friend's but I had to share: "Rachel (5 yr old) starts singing Holly Jolly Christmas: "Yo ho, the missing toe. Hung where you can see.". The missing toe?! What is this some Soviet war camp song, where they cut off toes of insolent prisoners, and display them as a warning to others. Got to love kids!"

 

Sometimes in order to get Kelly to eat her meal I pretend like I'm going to eat her food. She doesn't like that & as soon as I put the food up to my mouth, she'll scream "No! My food!" & then she'll take it from me and eat it. Tonight I tried that with chicken, & I actually put it in my mouth and started to chew and... said, "uh oh, I'm eating your food." She looked at me and said, "Good job, Moma. Good job."

 

Kelly was playing with a toy at the table and it fell and she said, "Oops! I drop it." She got down, picked it up and put it back on the table and it immediately fell to the floor again, and she laughed and said, "Oops! I drop it some more." That moment of utter cuteness made up for at least two times in the past ye...ar (maybe 3) that she screeched so loud that paint peeled off the wall.

 

My mom came up to watch the kids today while I went to the doctor. On the way home I stopped at Trader Joe's and got the kids frozen chocolate covered bananas. When I took them out of the box and gave them to the kids my mom says, "Oh! This was on your front lawn!", and she handed me a packaged CONDOM! I wonder what re...minded her of that??!! We had a good laugh.

 

I wonder when my kids are going to realize that sandwiches do not come with bite already taken out of them.... :-)

 

My son yelled at me earlier today because I didn't swing the bat fast enough at the ball he pitched to me....that went behind my back. (Just for the record, I didn't swing at all. I guess he thought that I was eventually going to swing at it).

 

I'm pretty excited so I'm going to post this....I've lost 13.5 pounds! Woohoo!!! Thank GOD the scale is finally going the other way, or else I'd be rolling into my 20th reunion next year. Everyone would be like, "Ooooh, who's the ball?"

 

Me to Kelly (23 months): "Are you a good girl?" Kelly: "no" Me: "Oh, Are you just Kelly?" Kelly: "no" Me: "What are you?" Kelly: "I a baby wrecker". I guess I'm going to have to be more forceful with her sister who screams at Kelly saying: "You wrecker baby! You're a baby wrecker baby!!"....When Kelly knocks ...down her blocks or tears apart the train track! :-o

 

Brian had a birthday party to go to yesterday at a bowling alley. I asked him if I could drop him off & then pick him up later & he said "no" b/c he would be too afraid. I asked, "what would you be afraid of?" He then listed the following, "being alone, getting wet (um,ok??), getting eaten by a wolf, tiger or lion (...bowling alleys are known for those things), and getting stolen." I ended up staying. :-)

 

I have written, posted and then deleted several statuses over the past week or so. Not sure what's going on with me. FB burn-out, FB anxiety disorder, FB confidence crash?? See, even right now I'm thinking about deleting this. Something is up with me that's for sure.

 

Yesterday was the first time in FIVE years I've been able to actually sit and eat my entire Thanksgiving dinner without having to get up and walk with a crying baby, chase a toddler or make sure somebody wasn't falling down the stairs. THAT is something to be thankful for!

 

Best part of my day was on the ride home from my parent's house and Kelly said to me from her carseat, "Hold hands Mama?" And I reached back and we held hands for the rest of the ride. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

Jeff asked Kate (age 3) what holiday was tomorrow, and she responded, "EASTER!" (while jumping up and down and clapping with joy). To help her out we just put on "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving". When it was over Brian asked, in a very excited tone, "Can we have toast for our Thanksgiving meal tomorrow!?" So, Happy Ea...ster everyone and don't stuff yourself with too much toast!

 

I came downstairs to the living room this morning and my son looked at me and said, "You sure do look pretty, Mom." Must have been because I was wearing my BEST sweats AND I had make-up on.

 

I have GOT to stop wearing sweatpants everyday! I fear the "What Not To Wear" crew is going to ambush me while I'm at the playground with my kids. My gosh! With the way I dress you'd think I'd given up on life.

 

Many of you know I have my "FAT FIGHT" blog going right now. I am determined to continue losing weight throughout this holiday season. If any of you out there are trying to lose weight or if you're afraid you'll gain through the holidays, maybe the blog can be of some support to you so you don't :-)

 

I am a computer JUNKY!!! Between FB, and two blogs (well, I actually have three blogs:-), I should be getting PAID!!! Anyone want to pay me? :-)

 

Jeff got a company wide email yesterday morning at around 10 that read, "There is a blue Geo Prism in the parking lot with it's lights on." At around 4 in the afternoon Jeff got another company wide email that read, "does anyone have jumper cables?" I thought that was pretty funny.

 

Kate had her neuropsych testing today & she scores above age level in ALL tests. :-) Her neurologist called tonight, & again reiterated how shocked all the doctors are, including the one Kate saw today, with how well she is doing given how ABNORMAL her EEG is. Gosh, that kind of scared me, I didn't realize it was "tha...t" abnormal. I told the Dr., that it must be a miracle, & she said, "I think it just might be."

 

It's time to give some thanks to FB. It helped save me from complete isolation over the past few years, it's reunited me with SO many people I've wanted to be back in touch with (and people I didn't even know I wanted to be in touch with), it's brought me new friends, it's helped me to discovery a love for writing tha...t I never knew I had, and it's profoundly increased my confidence.

 

The Judge's scores are in and Kelly (22mo) receives a 9.0 for her near perfect fall of flying off a spinning chair and landing head first on the corner of a plastic bin on the floor. The only thing that would have made it a 10.0 would have been a trip to the ER!

 

I think I'm going to start "liking" all my status updates because well, I do.

 

Parents:
Sing the following to the tune of "The Gambler" (and yes, I'm a bit slap
happy today): "You got to know when to hold em, know when to scold em,
know when to walk away, know when to RUN! You better count your
blessings, when they're AAAAALLL playing happy. They'll be time enough
...for drinking, when the day is done."

 

Six years ago today the first snow had fallen and Jeff and I stood together at St. Joseph's church and two became one, and a family was born. Happy Anniversary to my best friend and my love.

 

At dinner tonight my son, who doesn't eat vegetables (unless they've been hidden in a brownie by me :-), asked if he could have one of my spinach leaves. I played it down like it was no big deal, but inside I was jumping around like a crazy lady. He said he just wanted to hold it, and I said, "pretend you're a giraff...e and see what it tastes like", and HE DID! My son voluntarily ate something green!

 

I did an automated phone survey about my recent experience at Mass General Hospital. A few times I felt like I didn't have enough time to answer &/or I wanted to change my answer. At the end I was asked if there was anything I didn't like about the survey itself. When I started to say, "I didn't think there was enou...gh time to answer some questions" it cut me off bf I finished & said, "thank you, have a nice day."

 

Just about 3 days (maybe more?) without the sun, coupled with daylight savings, is making me very very very grumpy. This has been the longest day EVER! My kids have been SO needy ALL! DAY! Oh, and this is my first day in five days without dessert!! Let's see, what else can I complain about? Oh yes, my son told me t...hat he can't remember number that I am now because it's "too big". That should just about cover it!

 

Got my son "Slinky Dog" from Toy Story for his birthday. The way my youngest was playing with it my husband and I said, "he won't last long". We were right. Not even 4 hours after opening it, the slink kinked and now Slinky Dog looks like he's permanently going to sit down.... or take a dump.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Belated Birthday Post, Brian!

Anyone seen Kelly?

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

Wow and Thank you!

Hey, I just realized that this blog has been viewed 3,000 times since I started it last year.  Thank you to all of you who like to read about my life!!  It's cooky and crazy, but I'm also truly blessed and thankful for all I have :-).

Hitting the bottle HARD!

Sometimes it's tough being a toddler, and desperate times call for desperate measures!

Updated fb posts (9/14-11/6/10). Enjoy!

I just told my husband to put the washing machine on "hot and heavy" (I'm cracking up writing that). Why?? To clean all the towels we used to soak up the toilet water all over the floor Why?? Because little miss blue eyes in my profile picture put several non-septic safe items from the trash into the toilet and the...n flushed it. And this completes my week....and my three post day.

 

 I just tried out my brand new Jillian Michael's cardio fat burn dvd. About half way through I was slacking a bit (it's tough moving fat around). I'm pretty sure her arm actually came out of the t.v. and she punched me in the face. Man she's mean!

 

I'm having a great skin day! My makeup went on smoothly and perfectly. I have no blemishes. The produce guy stocking bananas at the grocery store smiled at me... It's just making this whole day FABULOUS! I feel like I could do anything! Is there any one else who knows this feeling, or am I just weird?

 

Oh my GODiva, this chocolate is SO good! (I made that up all by myself). Mike, don't get the hook. And Yes, I realize this is my third post of the day. Must. find. other. things. to. do. Maybe I'll start taking care of my kids...starting tomorrow, of course.

 

To ALL the ladies out there: Can we make a pact? Can we make a pact that if any one of us sees someone else, from now until the day we die, and that person has a "Nana whisker" ANYWHERE on their face, chin, neck, shooting straight out of a "beauty mark" (aka, mole) etc., we will tell them? Together, we can make female whiskers HISTORY!

 

We live in a world that places too much emphasis on "feelings". LOVE is not a feeling. Love is a decision, a thoughtful decision to treat others in the way they should be treated. It's selfless, & humble, & kind, & compassionate, & challenging, & pride swallowing, & scary, & very very hard at times. If I could start EVERY day thinking like this, I know I'd have a lot more joy for myself and to bring to others.

 

I saw Lady Gaga on the news last night right before bed, which led to strange strange dreams. I don't remember the specifics but there was singing, dancing, glitter, ugly shoes, more singing, yelling, waving of flags, and meat. I do remember the meat part, I was at a meat cook-off, cooking lots and lots of meat. Needless to say, I'm in a weird mood today.

 

Let's change, "I'm in a weird mood today" to, "I'm having a weird day." I almost got into a fight with another mother at McDonald's (I never go to McDonald's and this will only cement more reason never to go again). I can't get into all of it, but let's just say by the end of it, she was outside in the parking lot lo...oking in the window at me, making a circle around her eye and saying, "I've got my eye on you!"

 

The forecast for Boston: Today: 85, tomorrow 69, Friday 90, Saturday 85, Sunday 62. I'm predicting my whole family to be sick by next Wednesday. Time to stock up on echinacea, motrin, tylenol, and benedryl for the kids....and booze (for mommy) right now!

 

You know you've completely lost it, and/or you're totally uncool, when you want to take pictures of your new roof and then post the pictures on facebook, because you're sure everyone is going to be just as excited as you are about how AMAZING it looks. I'm holding a big L up to my head right now.

 

If anyone happened to just drive by my house, look in the kitchen window, and see a blonde woman standing at the open refrigerator door squeezing chocolate syrup straight from the bottle into her mouth...I have no idea who that woman was.

 

I think the 40 bucks I spent on a dust buster a few weeks ago is THE BEST money I've ever spent on anything!. I just used it to suck up ground in muffin crumbs off the top of Kelly's head....and she liked it!! WOW! What else can I suck up today? I could EASILY sell this thing! Sign me up for a commercial STAT!

 

I was watching my kids playing outside today, and I felt my heart smile. I can't quite explain it, it wasn't a feeling of peace, or joy, or even happiness, really. I could just tell that my heart was smiling and it was pretty awesome.

 

I couldn't figure out how to put together my son's marble track for my daughter (lay off..it was made it Italy..very complex). My 4 yr old son comes over and says (while pushing my hands away), "mom mom...no no no...you're just not up to the ....." and I said, "challenge?" and he says, "yeah, you're just not up to the challenge"...alrighty then 4 year old!

 

‎"I think there should be a worldwide law, in my opinion, that mothers should breastfeed their babies for six months." This statement was made by Gisele Bundchen (Tom Brady's wife). I think Gisele should have had the opportunity to spend some time in my body so she could know the hell I went through trying to breastfeed my son. Go back to Brazil!

 

Time for humor: Anyone who has ever been pregnant knows the feeling of those little baby kicks around the 6th month of pregnancy. They are very light. I felt those last night. I am 100% certain I am not pregnant. It can only mean one thing: My food baby has gotten so big, it's kicking me! TIME to start the diet....again.

 

We went to visit another family last night (there were actually a few families there), and Kelly (the one year old) walked up to the hostess (who was sitting on the floor) and spit the full contents of her mouth (juice box juice) all over her legs! Can you say, mortified?!

 

I'm missing college today. Kind of wishing I was back at Marquette- going to class, hanging with my roomies, laughing out loud in the dining hall, studying, going out (well, maybe not on a Monday)......I love life now.....but I loved a lot about life back then too......it was a lot more simple :-)

 

What is the complete absence of patience? Because that's what I have today, for just about everything and everyone (except you, Andy...since you've found God).

 

Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if there were no facebook. Sure, my kids would see me more, and my house would be cleaner, and I would talk to my husband (kidding). But would I be truly happy? Would I be sane? Would I be thinking like a normal person and not in 220 character segments (the amount that fits in a post..and I'm running out)?

 

Quote of the day (by me) said in the most serious and authoritative MOM tones: "BRIAN!! You should be playing with your balls and leaving Kate ALONE!!" (He was playing with some super bouncy balls, and teasing his sister). If you can't laugh at yourself....

 

It's 6 am. Sitting here wondering how I'll screw my kids up...I mean, help them develop to their full potentials...today. Seriously though, Kelly just woke up at 5:45 and I'm facing a full day ahead...what the heck are the 4 of us going to do all day? (huge sigh) And I think it's supposed to rain..(even BIGGER huge sigh).

 

Why am I NOT getting mother of the year this year? Well, my three yr old daughter went sprinting through the food court at the Burlington Mall with not one, but two deflated balloons dangling from her mouth. And right after that, my one year old daughter shoved and knocked down another toddler so she could go first through the tunnel in the play area. And of course there was the "ball" incident.

 

My son is so much smarter than me (&I'm not saying that to rip on myself in any way). We were just doing some math & he was adding zeros to one & saying, "This is 10, this is one hundred, this is one thousand, this is ten thousand, and this is one hundred thousand. See mom, so the more zeros you have with one, the bigger the number you have." Okay, I NEVER spoke like that at age FOUR!!!

 

GOOD MORNING SUN and COOL CRISP AIR! Oh how I've missed you! I'm not going to let ANYTHING get in the way of my happiness today, not even waking up to a wall, a floor, a crib, a crib skirt, several stuffed animals and dolls, and a toddler, covered head to toe in vomit (raisin vomit)! Bring. it. on!

 

I'm back on fb restriction. Twenty minutes during the day, and from 8:30 to 9:30 at night. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing (I think). Gotta finish my post before I get booted. (PS, I asked my husband to rig the computer to restrict me....I have NO self control or will power). Now if someone could just ...take my keys away so I can't buy desserts........

 

Have you ever heard of "Rachel's Challenge": "Rachel Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School 4/20/99. Her acts of kindness & compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America."

 

I wonder what it's like to be THAT person -THE ONE who causes ALL the other cars in the fast lane to jam up and drive slow. What does THAT person think about? Are they doing it on purpose, like they're some kind of control trip? What types of foods do they eat? What kind of music do they listen to? Are they smart?... Can they see? Does their car have mirrors and do they use them? So many (too many) questions..

 

Kate was just sliding down the stairs (at lightning speed) in her tights. Me: "Be careful Kate, I don't want you do get hurt." Kate: "Mom, I wouldn't. My bum is in my underwear." Three year old logic.

 

I'm going to try and not have any dessert until my birthday in November. Last night I dreamed I was in a bake-off. REALLY??? I woke up craving cream cheese brownies, chocolate chip cookies and ganache. God give me strength, PLEASE!!!!

 

Sooo, I knew I had fallen asleep on the couch while watching "Beauty and the Beast" (for the millionth time) with the kids, but I thought it was only for a minute or two. A few minutes after waking I looked at my left hand and realized that someone had stuck around 20 to 30 stickers all over it. Apparently, a minute ...or two of light sleep was really at least five minutes of being completely passed out cold!

 

I think PMS should stand for "Pretty Miserable Scene". However, after three days of darkness and rain, PMS should stand for "Back off, NOW!"

 

Kate and I were just snuggling and after a little while she sat up, poked me and said, "Mom, those big things are puffy." I smiled and said, "that's mommy's padded bra." And she said, "ooooooo".

 

Fb is going to be coming out with new ways for people to share info with smaller groups of people i.e., if you wanted to post "I had a killer run" then you would just share that with the people in your "run" group. Whatever. I'm pretty sure EVERYONE wants to read about my kid's snot, my PMS, my underwear, my fights at ...McDonald's, my sugar addiction...

 

The sun came out today, which was GOOD, But I woke up with a migraine & felt like vomiting for most of the morning, which was BAD. Then I went out in the yard with the kids & Kate discovered a dead possum in the grass, which was VERY VERY BAD. Then I had to get a shovel, & scoop it into a bucket, & carry it down the ...road to the woods, which was downright AWFUL. Is it Friday yet?

 

I just realized that I gave the kids their sandwiches on DOUBLE fiber bread today. CRAP! I mean, CRAP CRAP!!

 

It's a sleeping in (HA! - okay, that didn't happen), turn on the heat for the first time, coffee, hot chocolate, chocolate chip pumpkin muffin, kind of morning. To be followed by a Bog Hollow (anyone going), hayride, pumpkin patch, hot apple cider, corn maze, kind of day. I. love. Fall!

 

Not feeling great :-( I took a nap, got up and rubbed my eyes a lot (forgetting I had mascara on). About an hour later I was outside talking to my neighbor and her 6 yr old son. When I came in I looked in the mirror and realized I looked like a cross between Rocky Balboa and Alice Cooper.

 

Not gonna lie...having trouble shaking the weird and sick to my stomach feeling that overcame me, after finding the malodorous, greenish-brownish slimmed, dog penis type fungi growing up out of the ground in my yard this afternoon. I would take a dead possum in the yard ANY day over this twilight zone episode. At least a dead possum is somewhat normal!

 

Homemade kale soup with grilled cheddar cheese sandwiches last night. Tonight, homemade chicken pot pie with dumplings. Once again, I. love. Fall!

 

I don't believe that "the grass is always greener on the other side." If you look close, every lawn has imperfections, and if it doesn't, then way too much money is being spent on something that isn't all that important to begin with.

 

I was covered in vomit (not my own) about 1 1/2 hours ago (just in case anyone was interested in knowing that). I guess it's par for the course with the (gross) week I'm having.

 

Poor Kelly was so sick on the ride to the doctor this morning that she wasn't even eating the lollipop I had given her. She just sat in her seat zoning out. Then, when I was getting off the highway I sneezed and I heard a little voice through a pacifier say, "Bless you, Mama." My heart completely melted...my sweet sweet baby girl.

 

There's a new show on PBS called, "The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That." Kelly (21 months) loves it and comes up to me at least 5 times a day and says, "Mama, Cat in Hat. How bout that?" I'm trying to limit their t.v. but how can you say "no" to that!

 

Not letting this dark, rainy, windy, cold, home with two sick kids day, get me down. The plan? Lollipops while watching shows (BEFORE breakfast), COFFEE (for me..NOT them), make homemade playdough, have t.v. on ALL DAY, build a fort, have a tea party, hmmm..maybe make cookies. Any other suggestions?

 

The guy who sings that song, "Into the Night" with the lyrics, "she's just 16 years old, leave her alone they say....", sounds like he's 40. Ummm yeeea, leave her alone....pervert. That song weirds me out.

 

Went to the gym this morning & none of the interesting "characters" were there (they must be a church). But no trip to the gym is possible without some comment. I was looking at the business/help wanted/info bulletin board & there were two info flyers for dance clubs in the area: "Disco Love" & "The Red Zone" (both pictured hooker type looking women). Right next to those? An add for St. Paul's preschool. NICE!

 

At dinner Kate asked for some of Jeff's squash (it was mashed potatoes, but when one of the kids actually requests food we don't argue, we just give it to them). While eating them she started freaking out b/c there was a chunk of potato mixed in. She said, "I don't like potatoes in my squash!" So Jeff took the potato out, and she continued eating the potatoes...oh, I mean "squash."

 

I've started another blog to journal my weight loss journey. I'm doing it for me and for any one else who doesn't want to feel alone...or weird... or sad...etc. I'm not going to just lie down and be fat, so I titled the blog FAT FIGHT!!! Tell anyone you want about it. I hope someone finds it helpful. You can find... it at www.fatfight-now.blogspot.com

 

Part of the kid's bedtime routine is making sure everyone goes to the bathroom before bed. I sent Brian (age 4) into the bathroom & as he was closing the door I noticed the light was off. I yelled, "Brian the light isn't on." His response, "MOM. MOM. I know what I'm doing. I've been doing this a LONG TIME. See, t...he pee pee shots out just like a rocket!" Potty trained 1 1/2 yrs..he's an expert.

 

‎"There's a fine line between clever and stupid." Spinal Tap

 

I was flipping through the channels and came across Pretty in Pink (I haven't seen it since it first came out). Is James Spader seriously supposed to be a HIGH SCHOOL student????

 

I really wanted to get to bed early last night but I can never seem to get off of this bleepin computer, and then the power went out. I guess there was a higher power, or just some guy that hit a pole somewhere, helping me out.

 

I know I'm not supposed to be jealous of others, but I can't help be jealous of those who make running look effortless. I look (or at least I feel like) a wounded animal when I go running. Whenever I run I keep looking quickly to the side as cars go by, because I know one of these days some well meaning soul is going... to shoot me, to put me out of my misery.

 

It was just about one year ago that we found Kate face down & unresponsive on the living room floor. For the next 2 1/2 hours she had several petit mal seizures followed by, what seemed to be an endless grand mal seizure. She has been seizure free for one year, but has been on a seizure med. Tomorrow she goes for an... EEG to see if her brain function is normal. Please say some prayers and wish us luck!

 

RE: my post from last night. THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the thoughts and prayers. Kate was such a good girl, but her EEG was abnormal (my heart sank, it was NOT what I was expecting). We have a meeting with the doc in a few weeks to discuss details but for now, she stays on her seizure med. Thank you all again...I'm touched beyond words.

 

RE: my post from last night and earlier today. To make a long story short it has been recommended that Kate be admitted for a 24 hour EEG (possibly 48 hr). The test is scheduled for tomorrow and I will be spending tomorrow and tomorrow night with Kate in the hospital. Again, thank you for your thoughts and prayers, ...please keep them coming. They are appreciated and needed.

 

Time for humor again :-) So it looks like my 22 month old is not only going to be on "Hoarders: Buried Alive" someday (the list of items required in her crib is growing -not sure where she sleeps..), but we can add "COPS" as well. She apparently stole a baby doll from my son's preschool classroom (unbeknownst to my mother until they got back home), and then she added that to her crib stash.

 

Pulled a muscle in my buttocks. I REALLY could have done without THAT this week!

 

My daughter just put a sticker on my bum. She said, "mom I just put a sticker on your special bum." I guess "special" is one word for it. Not the word "I" would have picked, but I'm not going to argue.

 

Happy Halloween! Oh, and nobody go selling their soul to the devil for a doughnut. It's not worth it :-)

 

Halloween is over and it's only a matter of time before Christmas decorations emerge in windows and on people's lawns. My personal favorite? The large plastic lit up nativity scenes with Mary and Joseph and the stable animals, intermingled with Santa and Mrs. Claus and Frosty, all looking adoringly on the plastic lit... up baby Jesus. Truly a beautiful way of bringing the secular and religious together.

 

I was just having lunch with my kids and noticed that my son (age 4) had stopped eating and was looking out the window. I said, "Brian what are you thinking about?" To which Brian replied, "How do you spell echolocation?" I almost choked on my salad (wasn't expecting THAT). I said, "where did you hear that word?" ...He said, "The Cat in the Hat show". SEE, t.v. IS good for kids.

 

OH. CRAP. No really, OH CRAP! I was taking a shower and realized the water level was rising in the tub, then realized the water in the toilet was rising....then realized the utility sink in the basement was full of water! COME! ON! Calling an emergency plumber right now. Goodbye Christmas presents kids, mommy and ...daddy had to spend all your toy money on CRAP! Pictures to follow! (KIDDING!)

 

Aaaah, just to clarify my last post. We don't actually have raw sewerage coming up right now (I don't think my post would have been that calm). I just said "oh crap" because ultimately, it is a sewer issue. We just have a lot of water backing up all over the place.......fingers crossed it stays "smell" free!!!!!!

 

Is anyone else out there sick of feeding their kids? It's just so draining. I wish there was an automatic little kid feeding dispenser, you know, like dogs and cats have. Push a button and they feed themselves. Or maybe just a chewable pill that I could give them- tasty and packed with nutrients that would just pop... open to meal size once in their bellies, so they feel full.

 

If Kelly (my 22 month old) ruled the world we would all need earplugs and a drink, a BIG one!

 

A friend posted this yesterday & I thought it was worth sharing: "I was at a Target last week and was approached by a man to help him jump start his car. I
told him I did not have time. As I drove away I felt I was being a jerk and turned around to help him only to see him drive away. I am not sure what would have happened, but I am certainly fortunate my Guardian Angel told me to say no the first time."

 

My three year old got out of the tub and said she was, "simmering". Either the tub water was too hot and she was actually "simmering" (oops-sorry honey), or she was trying to say that she was "shivering".

 

Two different allergy pills and a boat load of vitamin C later, and I've finally stopped sneezing. However, I no longer feel like I'm on this planet, or that my head is attached to my body.

 

Started my weight loss blog a little over 2 1/2 weeks ago and it's been viewed 1,000 times! WOW! Thank you to those who read it. It wouldn't be half as much fun writing it if nobody were reading it :-) It's been helping me, hope it's helping some of you, and thanks again for the support. :-)