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. :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Miraculous Papal Blessing on our Honeymoon

 

Jeff and I got married 11/13/04.  We went to Rome and Sicily on our honeymoon.  Before we left for our honeymoon we called the Archdiocese of Boston and reserved two tickets to a papal audience at the Vatican.  Newly married couples (within 3 months of getting married) can get special tickets allowing them to sit in a "bride and groom" section of the auditorium and receive a special blessing from the pope.  I had been to the Vatican before and I new that I would need to look  like bride, so I brought my veil along for our trip. 

The morning of the papal audience Jeff put on a suit, and I put on a cute burgundy dress with a cream colored sweater, and my veil.  When we got to the Vatican we showed the usher our tickets and he lead us further and further up towards the front of the auditorium, which holds thousands of people.  As we got up closer we saw the bride and groom section and couldn't believe that it was right next to the stage where Pope John Paul II would be sitting!  However, just before we got there the usher showed us to a different section. It was behind a barrier.  We told him that he was mistaken and that we were supposed to be with the other brides and grooms.  He pointed to me and said, "No, you are not in white."  I looked at the other brides and they were all in their GOWNS!  We stood behind the barrier in disbelief!  SO close, yet SO far away!!  Jeff stood there figuring out what we were going to do, and I went to the ladies room to fix my veil (it was crooked).  

While I was gone another bride and groom were put next to where Jeff and I were sitting, but they were dressed in "proper" attire.  Jeff asked them why THEY weren't in the correct section and they said it was because they didn't have their marriage license (you're supposed to have it to prove you're a newly married couple, within 3 months, and they had been married for 3 years).  Well, they must have done or said something because the next thing Jeff knew, they were with all the other brides and grooms.  When I got back from the bathroom Jeff was still frantically trying to figure out what to do.  He was looking to see if he could find a lady in a white coat, white ANYTHING, that I could put on to look like a bride.  And then, the miracle happened.

All of a sudden a woman appeared next to me with a white lace tablecloth in her hands, and she was trying to get the attention of the girl who had been previously standing next to Jeff.  It turns out she was the girl's mother (the couple and her parents were all on a vacation together).  We later found out that the girl had brought the tablecloth from home because she was thinking of wearing it as a mantilla, but then decided not to at the hotel.  Her mother brought it to the auditorium anyway. 

The mother had been sitting in the back of the auditorium, which again holds thousands of people, and was praying the rosary asking Mary to please open the doors for all the couples who were having trouble getting in to receive a blessing.  While praying the rosary the woman felt prompted to come up to the front to see once again if her daughter wanted the table cloth.  The girl said no but then looked to Jeff and I, and then looked at her mother, and excitedly said, "Give it to her!", as she pointed to me.  The girl then looked at me and while motioning with her hand in a circular motion said, "Take the cloth and wrap it around you!"  Jeff and I were like, "HOLY CRAP!" We looked at the woman and without having time to explain, asked her for it and promised to give it back.  At that point I wrapped the white lace table cloth around my dress, covered the top up with my cream colored sweater, and approached the usher.  He paused, and thought (for what seemed like an eternity), and then said we could go up!  

Had it not been for this family bringing their table cloth from Texas, the devotion of a woman to Mary, and an answered prayer, I wouldn't have this awesome story to tell you, and we wouldn't have had the INCREDIBLE HONOR of kneeling right in front of Pope John Paul II, now St. Pope John Paul II, and having our marriage blessed by him. 

Happy Halloween 2010!