Friday Follow 1-29-10

     Today was another lovely day with a sick toddler. The fever seems to have broke (again), but he still has congestion, cough, and an extra bad case of grumpy butt-itis. When I finally got him out of the house, we had to go to the grocery store to get my money back on some bad meat they sold me yesterday. (good thing I decided on that pizza!) He screamed the entire time in line at customer service, and looked something like this:

He  was actually perking up at this point because he is a ham!

     From there we went to another grocery store, and I guess I thought I was Joe (sephene) cool on the drive there.:

     The next store is where he proceeded to throw a full out fit rolling on the ground and everything. Screamed for his cup, only to throw it. Yelled for a store cookie only to drop it. Poor guy was a mess! I rushed us out of there and went to pick up SPF from her sleepover that she apparently didn't sleep at. Here is what she looks like at this moment:

Here is what my darling toddler looks like now, finally :

                                                                            

Even the cat got in on the action!

     I guess it's just another day in paradise. Well I'm off to make dinner then shuffle SPF to basketball practice. Wish me luck.

Jiggity Jig

     Today was a long day for me. Took SPF to school, came home so HM and I could get ready for the day. (BTW-he pooped in the potty again!!! I am such a proud mother! ) Anyway, brought him to school then it was off to Walmart for me. I had to buy SPF a pre pay phone because hers is broken, and she is going to a sleep over tonight. (No school tomorrow.) Why does an 8 yo have a phone you wonder? So she can get embarrassed when I call her of course!

     Home again home again jiggity jig. Call Verizon get the pre pay activated, WAIT, call back and convince them to put SPF's original line on the pre pay phone, therefor making it no longer a pre pay. (Against the rules I think, but so thankful.) Back out again. Drop off said phone to SPF's school, got my haircut, it is so hard to keep up with this short hair! Then back to walmart to pick up a sheet set I found on sale. Then off to the Dr.

     I went to see a naturopathic Dr. to do biofeedback. It's supposed to be a stress reducing tool. It's like some crazy thing from a sixties flashback (not that I was there). They clip this probe  onto your ear and the other end goes in to the computer through a USB port. It all seemed a little hokie to me.   This device can tell the doc when you are stressed so she can help you practice techniques to reduce your stress. I failed miserably. I was told to think of a happy, warm fuzzy thing. I thought of the birth of my kids, didn't work. Thought of first words, etc., nothing worked-I stayed stressed. Maybe thinking of them was my mistake, mmmmm....the root of my stress? NAH..., couldn't be them!

     Then to pick up HM from school. WAIT! I need dinner, stop at the grocery on the way to get him. Realise in the parking lot of day care it's way too late to cook, order pizza. Walk in to get him, and I find him having a thermometer shoved in his arm pit. OH NO, he's sick still! Come to find out he was clingy and crying for me all day. Talk about a knife through my heart! He didn't have a fever all day yesterday, I would have never have sent him if I knew he was still sick. And this Dr. wants me to do relaxation techniques and meditate? When would that be? Go take your bio feedback and shove it up your a$$. I mean, I'm just saying......

Wordless Wednesday Poo Poo in the Potty

     For those of you who have been following we have been having an issue with poo poo in the potty, so today was quite exciting for us! First he went poo poo in the potty:

This is him saying "cheese"

     Then after such success, he couldn't leave Barney out, oh no, he had to go to:

     Then the hand washing: (for both)

     Then the bribery candy for successfully going in the potty:

He is pinning Barney down force feeding him candy for his poop success!

     That went so well, and the candy was so good, he ran back for a repeat:

BTW-he put himself on backwards.

WAIT!! That Barney sings your favorite songs, NOT IN THE WATER!!!!

I am so proud!

Link up below to show us what you have been doing on this wordless Wednesday:

Tackle it Tuesday

     So yesterday I posted a pic of my out of control filing  (if you can call it that) system for not me Mon. :

So, as promised, I tackled that mess:

And unfortunately I did it all with a sick toddler:

My poor little man!

     BTW-Is that cheating using the same pic twice? LOL.

Sunday being lazy

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

     I would never just sit around on a Sunday being lazy, like my cat, oh no - not me!

       Who would let the laundry pile up in the kitchen (stupid place for the washer & dryer anyway!) over the weekend? Not me, I would never.

     Buying files and file folders with the intention of finally taking care of all that paperwork, but never actually getting to it, who does that? Surely, not me!!!

     Well that is what I have been not doing this weekend. Oh well, tackle it Tuesday is coming right up....

Some sort of crazy cat lady

     I don't want to be known in the blogging world as some sort of crazy cat lady. I do have a cat, and I love him, but he in no way defines me. I picked the name 2 kids and a cat because all the good ones were taken that is my household. It's just me, my two kids, and our family cat, no husband. OK, I just wanted to clear that up

Poop on demand

     Tonight we had an excellent dinner. Chicken breasts with artichoke. I am doing low carb (still on it, just forget to tweet my every meal) so the artichoke was a real treat. Dipped in 100% real lemon butter-YUMMY!!! The meal was great, found out HM loves (and can eat) artichoke, and he even sat long enough that I could eat without him climbing on the table trying to throw my plate at SPF.  (We recently gave up the high chair.) Everything was a smashing success until HM left the table and proceeded to take a big dump- IN HIS UNDERWEAR!! ARGH, I HATE this, do I toss or do I wash and bleach? SO SICK of having to make these decisions!

    Let me backtrack a bit here. We are in the process of potty training. He is 100% on pee pee, but not so much on poop. He waits till he is in a pull up for sleeping times, or goes in his pants, every once in awhile  he makes it to the potty. He is a curious sort when it comes to poop. He has a type of chronic constipation that causes chronic diarrhea-I know, weird. So he takes daily stool softeners (Miralax) with monthly "clean outs".  "Clean outs"  consist of double doses of Miralax as well as a laxative for a three day period. Can you imagine a toddler on a laxative? No, it's not pretty!

     So even on this regimen, the boy refuses to poop if I am not around. He won't poop at day care, won't poop during weekend stays at Grandma's, he saves it all for me. That's what got him in this dam mess in the first place. Then to top it all off, he poops on demand. Not on my demand of course. I mean that strictly in a cable television sort of way, on his demand. You know, like Sprout or Nick Jr. on demand. Every night without fail he poops over and over again as a way to get out of bed. Me and SPF have dubbed it "poop on demand". He will go all day with out a pull up,  then go through 8 (yes really 8!) at bedtime. SPF will hear him in there forcing it out. It's crazy!

     So this brings me full circle. Wouldn't you think a boy with this much bowel control would be a cinch to potty train? Yeah right!  He pooped so much tonight, I thought for sure he would be empty. Yet still, he had enough for our nightly episode of "Poop on Demand" brought to you by none other than HM! It's driving me nuts.

     Wait a minute, did I really just make an entire post about my toddler's poop? I guess I did. Oh well, all you mom's out there have, or are, going through the same shit as me-pun intended.

Haiti Disaster fundraiser

     Are you guys watching this? It's breaking my heart, bringing tears to my eyes. There is a terrific fundraiser with the biggest stars on tonight. Everyone is there preforming and answering phones, all in order to raise money to rebuild Haiti.

     You can donate at http://www.hopeforhaitinow.org/ I have also installed a widget on the top left of my blog which allows you to donate as well. (No I do not get PPC or anything off that link) The website hope for Haiti now boasts 100% going directly to Haiti, I can't say the same for my link on here.

     My point is, if you can spare anything, please do. I know times are hard for all of us, but every little bit helps. Even $1.00 can add up to alot if enough people donate that dollar. If you visit my blog, please pass this message along and post something similar on your blog.  (If you haven't already.) Thank you

If I actually had a medical degree

     I just want to say the following statement to health insurance companies:

     What's that on my finger you ask? Why, it's a homemade splint. Why? Because I have health insurance, that's why.

     You see, I have a condition called trigger finger. It causes my fingers to lock up when I open or close my hand, and causes alot of pain. I have known I need surgery, but have opted to try other things first-cortisone shots, etc. Since I recently changed health plans again, I am all the way back at square one. I am in limbo, needing surgery, yet having to wait for the stupid referral department (that supposedly doesn't even have a number I can reach them at.) to process my referral from my primary care physician. My PCP won't even touch my hands, therefore the homemade splint.

     Yesterday I woke up and couldn't straighten my right middle finger at all, it's never been that bad before. I forced it open later in the day, (I won't even attempt to explain the pain that caused!) but then it wouldn't close. My hands always seem to be best in the evening, and worst in the mornings. So I decided I needed a splint to prevent me from closing my hand (and therefore getting stuck) in my sleep. A couple handles from plastic forks, and some medical tape......voila, instant splint. Thank you Dad's old boy scout manuals. Here is what I came up with:

     Worked like a charm, woke up with minimal pain, and minimal clicking in my finger. Just think what I could do if I actually had a medical degree, .....mmmm.

Wordless Wednesday 1/20/2010

     Let me get this straight, this is wordless Wednesday, right? Yet all the  bloggers never shut up, always having to explain the picture. I too am no different. I guess that's why we are blogging, motor mouths....we are one.

     This is SPF modelling her new jacket for Grandma. She is such an 8yo teenager. What has the Disney channel done to our Children? Ahh, for the love of Hannah Montanna. (Even though she is so last year!)

     Wordless Wednesday link up below:

Tackling my blog

  

      Before you say anything, let me just say- it's still Tuesday here in Seattle. (Better late than never, right?) Today, and many days before, I tackled my blog. I successfully changed it to a 3 column a few days back, but was lacking a header that popped.  Mind you, I am not the most computer literate, and had no idea what HTML was. I am however pretty bright and a quick study (pats herself on back). I found so much help at  aprilshowersblogdesign.com. Then I got creative. I not only figured out how to put that header in there, I made the whole thing myself. You would be more impressed if I told you that I didn't even know I had the photo editing software on my computer before yesterday that made it all possible.

      Yes I admit, my computer skills are seriously lacking. I am at that age right before it was common place to teach computer stuff in school. Unless you  had a job in that field you weren't really on them. Not like today where everything is on computers! So I let myself slip through the cracks. But today I tackled this header and I love it. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that the world's cutest kids are pasted all over it!

     Well that's my pride and joy for the day. The only problem with learning all this HTML junk, and tweaking my blog? I can't stop! The more I do, the more I realise I can do, and then the more I want to do. Does it ever end? 

No I didn't!!!, But I did...

     I just want to post about my Yo Yo of the year week award. Thank you to all you little people that made this possible. Thank you to my devoting parents never forgetting to install absent mindedness into me, but the biggest thank you to each of my children. Them, who are always willing to give  my mind a distraction to think about instead of the task at hand, let all my brain cells be yours someday...(which don't amount to much at this point.)

     Today I asked SPF to take the clothes out of the dryer and move the ones from the washer into the dryer. Trying to save my healing back, she agreed. When she was done I started the dryer and put another load in the wash. I started the water, put in the soap, was about 75% done loading it and ..."NO I DIDN"T!!!". I reloaded the wash with the very same towels SPF had just took out of the dryer for me. Of course at this point it's too late as they have soap and water on them. Oh well, another 'what can you do?' moment.

The last 10 Vicodin on earth

     I have been staying up to all hours of the night working on my blog, only to realize I haven't actually posted in awhile. So I'm writing today about something that I have alot of raw emotions about-doctors! Not just doctors, but the whole flawed system really. No I am not going to bore you by talking about health care reform or anything political, just my experience this last week.

     I was taking SPF to school on Thurs. and HM threw a fit at the door, I bent to scoop him up and got stuck. My back was out. Somehow I managed to get the kids dropped off (late-not that I can fully blame it on my back.), and went to see the Dr.  Mind you I recently changed insurance so had to see the new Dr anyway for prescription refills and what not. So here I am waddling like a duck walking in there, feeling like some kind of junkie asking for pain meds and muscle relaxants. I hate that, I always feel like they are looking at me fish eyed when I ask for something for the pain. Are there really that many out there abusing the system that when an in pain mom comes in you have to dole them out like they are the last ten vicodin on earth? Seriously?

     Then there is the ibuprofen, yes the same stuff I can walk in to any store and buy. I ask for prescriptions so insurance will pick up the tab. They act like that's liquid gold too, I'm so sick of this game. The hoops we have to jump through.

     So the next day (Fri) HM has an appointment and is diagnosed with mild asthma.  (I'm not convinced) The Dr gives him a baby inhaler, but with no refills!! So you think this kid has asthma but he will only need one inhaler? I know the game, they want us to come back see her again, she gets paid again, and we get another inhaler. So stupid!

     Really there was alot more to this story, like them dispensing me meds I am allergic to trying to replace what I have been taking all along with something cheaper. (Oops) Other things too, but it all boils down to how flawed our whole system is. Why is it so hard to just get the care we need? I know what's wrong with me, I know when I take that pill it fixes it- why won't you just give me that? No I don't want to try something newer/cheaper/better, that old one worked for me just fine. IDIOTS!!!

     OK, I think I'm done with this rant now.Thanks for listening

Wish me luck

     I found some great tutorials at aprilshowersblogdesign.com so I am going to attempt to improve the look of my blog. If you come here in the next few days and it looks crazy, it's just because of me, the self proclaimed computer illiterate. Definitely NOT April's fault! She rocks! LOVE her blog! I hope to see you soon with a brand new look. So here goes, wish me luck....

What are the secrets?

     I started this blog under advice from my father when I was laid off, it was his suggestion as a way for me to make a little money. The more and more  I write, the more I find I enjoy it. I also love the fact that this has become a sort of online scrapbook, or journal that can be enjoyed by my family and friends not near me. I am free to write candidly about anything I want. I picture you, my readers, as always having a sympathetic ear in agreeance with me. And if you don't agree- TOO BAD, it's MY blog!

     Well, the time has come for me to ask for help. How do I do this whole blog thing? I tried to make mine prettier, but the "cutest blog on the block" link superimposed on my page over my date. How do I get more readers? How do I get to review products, and give them to you  in giveaways? What are the secrets? I search the Internet for blogs similar to mine, and only follow or comment on ones I fell a connection too, ones I like what I am reading. So often I run across blog after blog that have hundreds, if not thousands, of followers. Yet, they are nothing more than a huge page of advertisements. Is that what success amounts to in the blogging world? They no longer have to blog? Just sit back and collect the checks? Is there a way to make money, gain a large readership, and stay true to my blog? I want to continue to write, to express myself for better or worse on my blog. I also want people to read me, and of course some extra money wouldn't hurt either.

     Any help, advice, or links you could give me would be appreciated. I am new to the whole blogging thing, and maybe a bit naive. I would love to learn more about improving the looks of my blog, my readership, and of course my income opportunities. If this is not too top secret, please share with me. So I ask you all- what advice would you give to a new mommy blogger?

HM of course

     Just a quick funny for tonight. The second I told my mom about this the first words out of her mouth (after she stopped laughing so hard) was not to blog about it. I can't resist, it's just hilarious! A couple days ago I had just gotten out the shower, and was standing naked in my bathroom. I was putting on make-up, doing my hair, usual stuff. HM was standing behind me fiddling with everything he could get his hands on. So I'm getting ready, and I let out a fart  (don't act like you never do it), a pretty loud one. HM of course thinks this is incredibly funny, and when he quits laughing he leaves the bathroom to go play with SPF, so I thought...

     Picture me, face in the mirror putting on mascara (still naked),I am suddenly startled by the feel of something cold and wet on my behind, I scream and jump-only to find HM standing behind me with a baby wipe attempting to wipe my butt. Seeing my reaction he starts saying "poop, poop!" defensively and continuing to try and wipe my butt. As awkward and uncomfortable as this was, it really was quite sweet of him. We all wipe our kids asses, but how often do they wipe ours?

    

Confessions from a tweeter

     So  I joined Twitter, and I have some confessions to make. I think Twitter is completely stupid! I mean, who really cares what I am doing on a minute to minute basis during the day? I know I could care less when the next person is going to the bathroom, or waiting to pick up their kids at the local middle school, or whatever.  I admit it, I only joined twitter to drum up traffic on my blog, and be able to put that cute little bird on here. OK, that being said; I feel  I have found the perfect way to utilize Twitter, and am growing quite fond of sending my little text messages in to my profile. I am trying to diet (who isn't?), and I am using it as my food diary. Since I am honest with myself, and know that you could care less when I stub my toe, or burn my dinner,  I am tweeting simply for my own benefit.

     Now on to my diet. It wasn't exactly a resolution because I didn't start until yesterday. I am doing low carb for 2 weeks, then low carb with fruits and veggies like carrots there after. I need to lose 30 pounds, but would love to lose 40-my blog and my twitter are my support system for now. I invite anyone and everyone to participate.  (please oh please diet with me!!!) I plan to tweet all of my meals and snacks from here on out. Even if I cheat, I am going to hold myself accountable and post that too. I will be planning all meals a week in advance, and post that here as well. I would love everybody's support, and would love to find some diet partners out there too. (No, I'm not calling you fat...)

    

Happy New Year everyone!!

     I feel like it's been months since I have posted. I feel as if my fans (all 3 of you) have been sitting on the edge of your chairs waiting to see what's happening in my life, like when your favorite show is in the off season. So here I am, sacrificing my cleaning time, to give you, my loyal fans, an update. Choosing you over scrubbing my toilets, don't you feel appreciated? Really though, alot has happened and I do have pics to share. The tail end of the holiday season seemed more hectic than the holidays themselves! We went to Grandma and Grandpa's (My mom and step dad's)  house for new year' eve. Not quite the party I like, but it was nice not  to have a hangover on new year's day. Here are some pics:

Figuring out the Santa bubble maker:

Our dinner:

New Year's day  (notice how bright eyed & non hung over I look?) :

My princess:

Our trip to the beach:

Afros are in again right? :

     So that was the end of our holiday. No matter how excited I am for the holiday season, I  sure am happy to put it behind me by the time it's over. By the time it rolls around next year I will be excited all over again. It's a new year, back to school, and back to life as we know it. Happy New Year everyone!