Time to get serious!?!

For the first time in my life, I have been carrying a bit of extra weight long term (okay, so there what that time after first getting married....).  I don't know whether the three miscarriages in the last year or my nightly indulgence of sweet sugary somethings is more to blame but it's become quite the problem.  The kids are even starting to notice.

The other day I was loading the kids up in the car.  As I strapped Kian in his seat I was taken aback by just how cute his big chubby cheeks were.  I said to him, "Oh Kian....why can't 'chubby' look so cute on everyone."  Gabe, walking up behind me says, "Chubby does look good on everyone."  To which I replied, while grabbing the rolls of fat that have found their home around my middle, "Well, it's not cute on me."  Gabe thinks about this for a second, shrugs his shoulders and says, "But it's not UGLY on you either."  Sweet unobservant boy.

I laughed....hard.  I could have kissed the boy (come to think of it I probably should have).

and... 


Yesterday, as I'm putting Isaac and Cael to bed, Isaac looks at me and says, "Why is your tummy getting bigger?" *OUCH* "Is there a baby in there?"  *Sigh*  "No," I replied, "There is not."  He just looked at me, as though he didn't believe me.  Poor confused kid.  The only time my kids have ever seen me "round" is when there IS a baby in there.


I think it may be time to get serious about eating more healthy and loosing this excess poundage. 

Not that it stops me from doing things (I finally signed up for the Omak Warrior Stampede which will be this Saturday) but it will make me feel more comfortable in my own skin (literally) and that's pretty important to me.

We'll see how it goes.  (I sound TERRIBLY motivated, don't I...he he he).

Incredible(-y stupid) Mom moment

Every once in a while I have an amazing Mom moment.  You know...the ones when the stars all seem to align and you come up with something brilliant to either say or do to make the world a better place...or at least put your children in their place.  Yeah...I like those moments.

But...more often than not, and sometimes in rapid succession, I have Mom moments of a "not so brilliant" nature.  Kinda on the stupid side.

Like today...when I made Little Red a peanut butter sandwich (yeay...for freedom from peanut allergies)...WITH jam.  Little Red HATES jam.  Or so he says (although I don't believe him). 

I know it...he knows it...we both know it. 

And I did it anyway...knowing he would throw a huge hissy fit. 


And...

this is where the "stupid" comes in...

I had the "who knows what" to get angry with him when he got upset about it.  Yeah...like I was really mad....as if I couldn't believe what was happening.

What????

Like I said....not one of my most "brilliant" moments.

H.E.L.L.O! 

But...lucky for me, it all worked out in the end.  I hoped it would.

He did eat it...eventually.  And even liked it, saying "It's sort of good" (which in Little Red language means, "this is actually really good I just don't want to admit it because I'm too stubborn.").

I'm sure the reward of a handful of Heath Bar Baking Bits hanging over his head, with a threat that he would not get any if he didn't eat the sandwich "all gone", had something to do with it.

Maybe next time I will channel my limited brain power toward something a  little less antagonistic.

Bad mommy......bad.....bad...


Just one easy click!

HELP...I need you: Crayon vs. Dryer

I know I told you I would post more laundry ideas soon....and I planned on it.  Just not this soon...and certainly not this one.  No...this was a new discovery...as of this morning.

The morning was going well.  Very well.  I didn't have any specific plans for the day....no appointments, no pressing errands, no immediate needs....just a day to catch up and clean up and I REALLY wanted to get a workout in.

I decided, first, to fold a bit of laundry.  I mean, Roberto has become the major laundry folder in our home as of late (because he's awesome) and I usually leave it for him.  But...I wanted to be "nice" and get a head start on it.

Imagine my surprise horror when I opened up the dryer to find this...

Wanna closer look?  How about this....

and this....

and how about this one?

What the heck?  At first I was really confused.  Then after a little time and investigation on my part, I discovered the culprit.  Crayon.  BLACK CRAYON!  Someone must have had one in their pocket.  And you know what...I wish I could blame it all on "them"....but I can't....because it's my job to check the pockets before I launder the clothes, right?

Arrrrggghhhhhh!

The articles above are just a few of the casualties.

The whole entire load is COVERED and you know what....we're not a small family....and we don't have small appliances.  When we purchased our washer and dryer we purchased the LARGEST they carried.  They hold a lot of clothes at one time....and we never run a less than packed load. Yeah...lots of clothes....*sigh*

I panicked at first...then called my mom...then searched the web...then ran to the store...and now have spent the better part of my day experimenting with different methods of getting crayon out of clothing (and the dryer drum as well).

On the bright side....at least I can blog about it.

(UPDATE:  SOLUTION:  How To:  Get crayons out of clothes)

Like I said, I have been experimenting with different methods (even looked up cleaning treatments on Crayola's website).

So here's what I'm going to do.

When all is said and done....and hopefully wax stain free...I'll share my finds with you.  You know, tell you which method worked best...with the least amount of work...and at the lowest cost.  Sound like a deal?

I have met with success so far.  There is life after melted crayon......thank goodness.  I was really worried.

Although I have to admit...I have not actually tried to tackle any articles of clothing that actually matter to me (like my favorite sweater and my more than favorite skirt, oh...and several of Rob's nice work shirts).  Instead I've been using "test" subjects( like boys underwear, pants that were showing signs of serious wear anyway, and a few pairs of Rob's holey dress socks).   

Wish me luck.

I've got a long (and scary) way to go.  And you know what...I could use your help.

Got any ideas and/or experience on the subject.  Wanna share?

UPDATE:  FIND THE SOLUTION HERE.  How To: Get Crayon out of Clothes


 P.S.  Today I linked up to Family Time Tuesday blog carnival.  Go check it out.  And don't forget to vote for T.O. on the Top Mommy Blogs by clicking on the banner below.

Just one easy click!

Serious choking hazard....

We ran a ton of errands today.  The kids were exhausted.

We finished up at Costco....I bribed them with hot dogs (our monthly routine).

We got out to the car when I realized I had forgotten a knife to cut Mr. Golden Locks section (he get's about a 1/3 of one of his bros) of "dog" up.

I was not about to go back inside.  So...against my better judgement...I gave it to him....whole.

"He'll chew it," I reasoned with myself.  (Uh huh....)

He was remarkably quiet on the way home (of course, they are usually pretty quiet when they are stuffing their faces) but after hearing soft snoring I realized he had fallen asleep.  Poor thing.

I looked back in my rear view mirror and saw this....

Can't see it?

How about NOW?

When I called his name...he stirred a bit...chomped down a few times...then promptly fell asleep again.

We got home...I got him out of his car seat and took him inside.  I tried to take out the piece of hot dog...except it wasn't really a piece at all.

Yeah, that's right.  He shoved the ENTIRE thing into his mouth and this (above) is what wouldn't fit.  

It made me laugh and scared me at the same time.

I coaxed him into spitting it out in the sink. 

He was none too happy to see it go. 

I am very lucky nothing serious happened to him.

Let's just say that I will NEVER be doing that again.  EVER!   


Just one easy click!

"Here is some bad things I do not like about my mom"

Excerpt from G-McBabe's journal (written today--I know...I shouldn't be peeking):

Sunday
Here is some bad things I do not like about my mom.
1.  she makes me get off the computer right when the timer goes off
2.  you never know when she is going to yell.

Funny?....sort of.

For the "full story" and how it links to depression, come on over to my other blog...Methodical Musings of an Unbalanced Woman.

I'm just too lazy to type it up twice (or copy and paste it for that matter).
Just one easy click!

L.I.C.E is a four letter word

I mean....literally....and figuratively, too.  At least it is in our house.

It's naughty....very, VERY naughty.  

Why?...because when you say it mommy get's all scared and anxious and starts hyperventilating.  And her head starts itching.....really bad.

At least that is what happened the day we found a little creepy, crawly, egg laying nasty in G-McBabe's hair about 18 months ago (just a few weeks after Mr. Golden Locks was born).

(see here)

 But let me tell you, things haven't changed a whole lot.

A few weeks after the start of school, we got the customary "lice" letter home one day.

You know, the "it's that time of year again when we typically see an increase in head lice" letter?

I hate that letter.

But....not more than I hate the "Nits (lice eggs) and/or lice have been found on a couple of students in the 3rd grade" letter.

That letter came home today.

For a few seconds I thought about falling apart.  (Breath, breath, breath).

Instead I just did a little scream inside......

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!

Why now?  I'm not medicated (at least not for a few more days).

How do you expect a "sister" to deal with something like this unmedicated, y'all?

SO....NOT....COOL!"

I looked at the paper....I looked at G-McBabe.....and then I said,

"You do realize we are going to have to do a head check today, right?

"Yeah.....(sigh)....I know."

Poor kid....he knows his mama all too well.  Let's face it....she can be a little psycho.

We FINALLY got to it tonight just before bed....

Luckily....so far, so good (all heads checked, all heads cleared).....and I didn't even panic, at least not more than once.....or twice.  :)

We ended the day with the "do not share hats or coats or scarfs talk"....the "stuff your coat inside your backpack talk" (what are they thinking making kids share cubbies?)...the "I know you love your friends but just don't get too close to them" talk.

Oh....and I prayed.....HARD!

I think we have it all covered.

Did I miss anything?


Just one easy click!

Pictureless for an undetermained amount of time.

Sigh...

This blog shall remain picture-less for an undetermined amount of time. 

Why?

I broke my camera...my $350 camera....yeah....

CRAP!

First, I dropped it.  I seem to have a nack for that kind of thing.

It wasn't a huge fall, but it did something to the lens.  It wouldn't zoom in and out and it messed with the function of it enough that the camera would not take pictures. 

We have no...as in, ZERO, ZILCH...local camera repair shops.  Just to send it in to the nearest qualified Panasonic repair shop would cost over 1/2 of the camera's original price...plus parts.  Oh yeah...and....I don't have any money.  Bummer.

My solution?

Take it apart and "fix" it myself.  (a trait I inherited from my father...only he is an engineer and knows what he is doing.  Note to self....get a degree in engineering before attempting something like this again!)

It went fairly well....

until the very very end.  I messed SOMETHING up  ????? and now it wont even turn on.

DOUBLE CRAP!

Big ginormous sigh....

Does anyone have am extra camera lying around the house that I can borrow for a while or buy for super super cheap?
Just one easy click!

The day from "H-E-double-hockey-sticks"

Today was not a very good day.  Not a very good day at all.

We had LOTS of errands to run (back to school shopping included) which made for a very long...LONG...day.

4 kids....4 very hyper kids....4 very grabby kids....4 very dawdler-ific kids (I really shouldn't add the baby into all of this...he is actually pretty angelic for the most part)...leads to one very tired, cranky mama (and I even took a nap halfway through the ordeal).

Honestly...

Now that the kids are in bed and I am looking back on the day, however, I have found a little humor in it...just a little...when I was reminded of this scene from Dumb and Dumber.



I kid you not...this scene is near IDENTICAL to our car ride home after our afternoon set of errands.  Myself playing the "bad guy" (I totally react like him too) and my two oldest playing Lloyd and Harry.  Just replace the second set of hitchhikers with my two youngest children and the "bad guys" antacids with chocolate/ice cream my husband is right now...as I type...on assignment to retrieve from the store and you've got the complete picture.

What a day....

It makes me a little unsure about my decision to start weening myself off my anti-depressants tomorrow.

You see...I'm an angry depressed person...not much weeping (or any for that matter)...just a lot of anger and even more RAGE.  Ugh.

I'm not gonna lie...I was a little scared before today...now I'm even more so.

Pray for me (and my poor family), please.   We're gonna need it.

Just one easy click!

Lack of Balance, Salt and Pepper, Atheism, and Exercise

I've been out of sorts all morning.  Not only did I stay up WAY past my bedtime, e-mailing a new atheist and depressed acquaintance (find a post on MMUB about it here and his blog here), but realized this morning I had forgotten to take any of my medications/vitamins yesterday.  Not so good when you are taking an anti-depressant. 

When I finally dragged myself out of bed I was feeling a little groggy, a little nauseous, an a whole lotta unbalanced-ness (as if anything is new, I mean the name of my other blog is Methodical Musings of an Unbalanced Woman ha ha...just kidding), meaning I was dizzy.  Right off the bat I had a bum to wipe, a baby upset about being trapped in his "jail" (aka crib), 4 hungry boys and a really messy house.  Such a wonderful way to start off a Monday.

I scrambled to get ready to head out to our local church, where I freely give of my semi-fine tuned Jillian Micheals-like services twice a week (aka teach aerobics--boot camp, mean lady style).  I love it.  It's a fun outlet.  Unfortunately it's not the same as teaching in a gym...I don't get paid (which I am totally okay with) and my kids have to go with me (which I'm only semi-okay with).

It was while we were there, at our church, that the fiasco of the morning occurred.  It was one of my previously mentioned little bundles of energy (the 3, almost 4 year old) that was in the middle of it.

I'm working up a good sweat, kickin' some lady butt (including my own) when #2 comes to me with yet another complaint/question/thought (he's always interrupting).  I heard something about Mini Rob (3 year old), salt and pepper, and glass.  What did I do...ignored him.  "Please go away until I am done."

We're finally done....cooled down...ready to leave when #2 saunters back and requests my attention.  "Okay, Little Red...what do you need?"


"[Mini Rob] and ***** (neighbor boy whom we love and whom M.R. LOVES to get into mischief with) got into the salt and pepper shakers in the kitchen and dumped them out and broke some glass."


"HE WHAT?"


Yeah...they dumped out somewhere around 20 glass salt and pepper shakers and then decided to throw and shatter them all over the church's kitchen floor.  Lovely...just lovely!  At least Mini Rob was wearing shoes, ***** wasn't.  And he managed to escape with only one cut.  Don't ask me how.  Glass was EVERYWHERE!!!!!

*****'s mom and I (with the help of another lovely friend) finally got it cleaned up, amidst the sneezing, while another mommy held my shoeless, screaming one year old.

What a nightmare!

Now it's nap time.  I'm so happy I could cry....but I think I will just sleep instead.


Tell me..what kind of naughty things have YOUR kids done?

My very existence in one word..."poop"

I'm frustrated.  I grab the phone and go outside.  Mail...I'll check the mail.  That's what I'll do.  Just get me out of here.
When I'm done I sit on the front lawn and call Rob at work.
"How are you?"  he says.
"Frustrated."
"Why?"
"I have wiped bums over 40 times today and  ___________ (we will call him child XYZ) has pooped in his pants three times in the last 45 minutes.  I swear, I'm gonna scream." 

"So what are you gonna do?" 

"I told him he had to put on a pull up and would have to pay me for every one of them he poops in.  And...HE'S UPSET with me because I wont let him go outside and jump on the trampoline (do you blame me?...visions of poop...eveRYwhere)."

Just then another child comes out and says, "Mom...I have to go poop."

Rob starts laughing. CASE. IN. POINT!

Can we say probiotics....HELLO! (which I have already administered)

If only that was that.

While I am sitting here typing child XYZ comes in from playing outside and says, "Mom, were you REALLY serious about me having to pay you for the pull-ups?"

"DID YOU POOP IN YOUR PANTS AGAIN!?!?"

"Yes."  

ARRRRGGGGGGGG!!!!

I put him on a potty time out.  "Just stay there for a while,"  I said.

Seriously. 

I'm leaving for an undisclosed amount of time as soon as Rob gets home.

Just one easy click!

Six staples to the head..............and the winner is.............

MINI ROB! Poor, Sad, 18 month old Mini Rob. With three boys, we were sure our first trip to the emergency room for injury would have happened a long time ago. But alas.....no. Sure we've been there for croup, RSV and other breathing issues but this was the first trip for INJURY. Check it out!

Even closer (for dramatic effect, of course) Makes you kinda whoosy huh? You should see the chair......oh wait, I'll show you! See the nice dent (it's the shinny white part)!

So here's how it happened (all by word of mouth....I wasn't home. I was on my way home from the gym). One minute Mini Rob was on his knees rocking back and forth on the rocking chair ottoman. Then, he is on the floor SCREAMING. Rob picks him up (concerned because he is SCREAMING much harder than usual), puts his hand on M.R.'s head and, after pulling it away, notices that it is covered in blood. Rob finds a clean cloth to cover it with (of course it is pouring out blood....it's a head wound...they're like that) and calls me, a bit frantic like ("I NEED YOU HOME.....NOW!"). I'm almost home...........it's a good thing. I take Mini Rob to the ER. He does a pretty good job. He screams a bit when they stick a needle in his head. But really, who wouldn't? When it was all said and done........he ended up with six staples and a pretty nifty head band. We are given instructions to keep a clean wrap on his head for 7 days. What?.....Are you kidding me?!? How the heck are we supposed to accomplish that nearly impossible task? On an 18 month old? So far it hasn't been TOO bad (dripping with sarcasm). We've only have had to re-set it or replace it 10 times, or so (the materials aren't cheap either).

After taking it off a few times, he finally fell asleep. This morning......after a bath (which still left greasy antibiotic ointment all over in his hair).

Just chillen' with his bro!

Rob thinks he looks like a injured war hero but he reminds me more of Martin Short (and the lead actress, whatever her name is) at the end of the movie"Pure Luck." "Are.....Are you Valerie?" "Valerie? Valerie?............Yeah, Valerie!" Anyway.....good movie. So.....we have to wait a week to have the staples taken out. Rob thinks we should just take some pliers and do it ourselves (since our DR's office won't do it........seriously, what are they good for?). I think that idea is disgusting and unsanitary. Besides, I know from personal experience (with a c-section) that they don't just pull them off, they clip them in half and the pieces are picked up by a magnet on the tool. Seriously......men are disgusting. Always looking for a reason to use their tools. Barring infection the worst is over. Until the next time............... It's inevitable now.