Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year. I love the smells, the family, the pie. This year I was in charge of the pumpkin pies. My mom usually does this, but she just had her knee replacement surgery and isn't up to this task. I love to bake, so it was no problem. I decided to do a bit more and loved doing it. Here is the problem: since Mom had her surgery, she is living with her mom, Grams, which is about 20 minutes from home and Dad. R, M, and I decided to stay with Dad because this is where we stay, it's home. I felt like my parents had gotten a divorce while I wasn't looking and I had to decide between them. IT WAS HORRIBLE! Mom had made arrangements for a cleaning lady to clean the house, which was great. I truly expected to have to clean before I could even go in the house. Dad isn't necessarily messy, but it's a farm and there are dogs and cats. You can just picture a man living on his own with the animals. It reminds me of The Waltons, you know the friend Yancy who lived with the chickens only there are no chickens in the scenario, THANK GOD. We get there and all is going well, we get up and I bake, we head to Grams' house for dinner and all is wonderful, but weird. Mom is doing very well, but she has therapy she has to do and so she did. We then went back home and I felt like I had chosen Dad over Mom. The next morning is when the crap literally hit the fan. Mom's dishwasher broke and didn't wash any of the dishes that I had run through the day before, my brother's dog crapped on the floor, NEXT TO M'S BED. I was VERY P.O.ed!! R and I did all of the dishes, I cleaned up the crap, packed our stuff and headed for the door, but couldn't find Dad. I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. He was working across the road chopping asparagus, long story. Finally said goodbye and cried, because I had ditched my Dad, all the way to Grams' house to see Mom. We decided to stay with Mom and Grams Friday night. This made their day, but I felt so guilty. I don't know know how little kids get through this. My parents will be living together again in about two weeks once the knee is better. I can't go through this and I'm 32. I will never let M be a part of having to choose which one of us she wants to be with. Therefore I am thankful that my parents are not divorced, for working dishwashers, for family, and for my own home. I just love to visit my family, but I am SO happy to come home.

As thankful that I am for my three wonderful brothers, I do wonder why they say the things they say. Mom is recovering and doing super great. One brother hasn't said two words to her in two weeks because she isn't recovering at home. Another brother is doing his best with the situation, but asked her when she was going home where she belongs. The oldest brother has a wife that is recovering herself from various ailments and hasn't got a clue what is going on, but came out to see Mom while we were there. There is no way Mom could recover at home. She is currently handicapped and can't get in the bathroom with her walker. She can at Grams's house. Do they want her to do her business in a bed pan for four weeks? Why are some boys just clueless? Dad even told her to say out there because he knows he wouldn't be around as much as she needed.

Anyway, that's the Thanksgiving news. It was great, but weird and I can't wait for Christmas. R and I are hosting for his family on Christmas Eve which really is great. His family needs to get into the family routine. They are way too focused on medical conditions and what their houses look like. If they tell R one more time that he needs to do something with our house, I might just lose it.

A late Happy Thanksgiving to you and Merry Christmas!!

CDR

On the mend, YEAH!

It's been a busy week, but little M really seems to be getting better. She is even taking a nap today, which didn't happen yesterday. Her little cough is much better and the runny nose has almost stopped entirely. Now, we must knock on wood because I mentioned that things are going well and with Thanksgiving coming and nieces and nephews around, this will probably all go to heck in a handbasket.

In other news, R and I decided it was time to update our phones. We went to the Sprint store yesterday and got brand new phones, FOR FREE. That was the best thing. We got really cool phones and paid nothing. Mine is pink, which is just fun. They also have cameras which is very cool because I took a picture of M and made it my screen saver.

For those of you who know me best, you know that having M was not the easiest for R and I. We are so fortunate for our doctors and how helpful they were to us. After trying for eight years and then finally having such a super little girl, we can't deny we chose the right path. Here we are two years later and I still keep hoping that our "boys" and "girls" would play nice. I even had a dream about it last night and I hate that. Why in the world would I now have these hopes again? I know the medically speaking, it isn't going to happen that way, but it just breaks my heart that M can't be a big sister. She is so amazing and I want another adorable little one to love. I know that there are women in far worse situations that we are, but it doesn't hurt any less. I'm surprised that I've been feeling this way because I really haven't thought about it since M was born or even before. Must be my "clock" is ticking or something and it's pissing me off. Anyway, just had to vent.

Congrats to my friends D and G who will be able to see their little girl before the end of the year. They have been waiting a long time. R and I are very excited and happy for you.

Take care and LOL,
CDR

And the sickness goes on and on and on...

M has croup. She hasn't been able to go to daycare because of the ear infection and today she started coughing and coughing. No one was sleeping, so we took her to the clinic and it's croup. I was just thankful her lungs were clear, whew!!! Now we're on new meds that are stronger and only have to give once a day for five days, instead of twice a day for ten. It must be some seriously good stuff. I just hope she gets some restful sleep tonight.

She's not the only sick kid around either. I know of at least three other moms with sick little ones right now. M is sleeping for the most part, but not these other little ones. Poor babies and mommies. It's the hardest thing in the world for the little ones to be sick and they can't say what's wrong. They just cry, poor little things.

Well, off to try and sleep.

CDR

Medical crap of sorts

M has an ear infection and started her Amoxicillin today, which means she can't go to daycare for another day. R took here to the doc. today and waited forever. Must have been a lousy weekend for everyone because everybody and their brother were at the doctor's office. Well, we're on the drugs and hope to get better. She's two and this is only her third ear infection so I won't complain. I get to stay home with my peanut tomorrow morning. I need to go to work in the afternoon to teach one class. They have presentations due and I just can't let them not give them. I know they would just be heart broken. :-)

My mom had knee replacement surgery on Friday and is doing well. She had her other knee replaced several years ago and wanted to have a matching set. She is now titanium woman and feeling pretty good. She'll have a lot of rehab, but at least her bones aren't rubbing together anymore. She has severe rhumetoid (sp) arthritis which is very painful. She's a trooper though.

Which brings me to R's mom. We feel so bad for her. She's a bit of a hypochondriac and recently seems to have taken on some cold of sorts. I guess today she really didn't look well and even commented to R that she may have walking pnemonia. We don't really think that she has this, but she must feel bad to look so bad. Poor R's dad is taking care of her and doing very well with it. However, he's also painting R's brother's new house and watching the other grandchild in his spare time. We are very concerned that he takes on too much and won't be well in the long run.

Have a duper day/night/whatever!

LOL,
CDR

Now we have a fever

I don't know how much more of this I can take. M has been the healthiest little girl and very rarely does she get sick. This fall has been a b****. She has had a runny nose forever, then the stomach flu, now a horrible cough and today a low grade fever. I can't miss work tomorrow, so R is going to take her to the doctor first thing. That's another thing, why Sunday? It's just like the stomach flu, the puking started at midnight. It kills me that it's always in the off hours that we seem to be sick. I feel so bad for her. I called my sister-in-law who has four kids and asked her if I could give M some stronger stuff. Stuff made for the bigger kids, that costs the same (see first post). She said yes and in fact had a sheet from her doctor with amounts to give, bonus for us. I so hope that it helps. Fortunately, M hasn't lost her appetite or will to play, which is great news. She just rubs the snot across her face every few minutes, which is so gross. She is good about getting a kleenex though. She sucks in instead of blowing out, but that's a normal kid thing. Eventually she'll get the hang of that.

Anyway, R painted in the basement today and it is really looking cool. We decided on a neutral color for the drywall walls and a deep brick red for the brick walls. I think it will look very cool. Funny thing is, his mom is going to hate it and that is just a hoot. We don't try to make her mad, she just asks for it. She ALWAYS has an opinion and it usually is different than mine. R and I own the house, not her. She'll have to get over it.

Those papers aren't going to grade themselves.

LOL,
CDR

Cold medicine, etc.

Why is it that cold medicine for toddlers is in a 1 oz. bottle and the bigger kid stuff is in a 4oz bottle? And, they're the same price. That's just crap. I realize that bigger kids take more at once, but why is it the same price? Also, why do people talk to me and suggest medicines for my little M that are inappropriate for her age? She can't take big kid stuff, she's only two. I'm a stickler for the proper dosage, isn't everyone else? I don't want to over medicate her unless I'm not getting sleep. So far that hasn't been the case.

R made the best dinner tonight. Yes, that's right, I have the husband who cooks for me. He used to do it more often, but it gets crazy busy sometimes. Anyway, he made hamburgers in the frying pay with onions. YUMMY! I haven't craved those in a long time and, wow, was it ever good.

We had a fog delay today from school. To some of you, this may seem a bit weird. We tend to get a lot of fog here and it can really make driving a bear. However, I looked out the window and could see quite a ways. I think they anticipated fog and called it in early. We haven't had a break in awhile, so they figured what the heck. It was OK with me, I was able to spend time with M and take her to daycare.

Sorry not too witty today, maybe tomorrow.
LOL,
CDR

Hot or cold? Which to choose?

M is so cute and wonderful, yet she's still two. We seem to be having a better week, knock on wood. We blame the flu and Halloween for the recent two year old tantrums. Of course now, she has moved on to having a cold with a cough. I have her all decked out for the night. I plugged in the Pedialite Vapor nightlight, the humidfier, gave her Robitussen and kissed her goodnight. I hope she gets better. It is killer having her sick. I worry so much about her when she sleeps when she isn't sick, let alone coughing through the night.

I had a rough day today. I opened my mouth, again, and said something that I thought would be helpful, but turned against me in a split second. I really was trying to help and ahhh, it could kick me in the butt. I'm pretty confident, now, that that won't happen, but I hate it when this happens. I seem to have a knack for doing this and I don't know why.

Voting was a hoot. We vote at the township hall which is relatively close to our house. I had to wait about five minutes to vote. That's a good sign. At the primary elections, R, M, and I were the only ones there except for the workers. They gave M a sticker that said she voted. She was very excited. They were out of stickers today by the time I got there. I hope people went to the polls. I have to say that I voted to let people shoot the morning doves. It's not about the birds, it's about the DNR doing their job. They know what's best. If we decide that they can't make the decisions about the wildlife, then what are they there for? Doves also, by the way, poop on my friends car often and should not be tolerated. IF we deny the right to hunt Doves, will we then deny the hunting of deer, for example. Deer can be a menace to a farmer, just ask my dad. R says that he heard that doves taste like chicken, yummy.

Enough babbling on,
CDR

Terrible Twos

Patrick Stewart was AMAZING!! However, we did leave at intermission because I felt horrible and tired from the stinkin flu. I bought a huge poster with him on it and plan to have it framed for my classroom.

The terrible twos have set in with M and, wow, is this hard. I have a very low tolerance for screaming and that's all M is doing lately. She changes her mind in a split second and then throws herself on the floor when she is misunderstood. She speaks very well for her age and can tell us what she wants, but refuses and loses it. It usually happens in the morning and then just before supper. We try to make sure she gets food early enough so the screaming doesn't happen and sometimes it works, but not often enough. Today she wouldn't take a nap. I left her in her crib for two hours and nothing. She just talked and talked. She didn't cry, she just talked. I know she needs a nap, but how can I explain this to her? She then of course became unbearable tonight around bath time. Of course, she has a bath phobia ever since the poop in the bathtub incident, TWO MONTHS AGO. Will she just let it go? No way. She freaks out every night, sometime less than others, but still hates the bath. She needs a bath, she needs a nap, she needs to eat veggies and we are losing patience. She had a huge fit tonight about getting into her car seat and became the stiff board. R had a heck of a time and I about went crazy. I know it's a phase and God willing, she'll outgrow it, but I don't know if I can make it through this one. The teen years are too distant to even fathom. She already has such an attitude. We tried the time out chair yesterday with some success, but it's HORRIBLE. She just screams. She is absolutely irrational about the strangest things. I love her so much, but want her to just ask using manners. I also want her to know that R and I are on the same side. She tends to know that Daddy will cave faster. He knows this too, but doesn't seem to change. Instead of ignoring the screaming, he keeps trying to console her. It drives me nuts. She is having a tantrum, don't console. She is misbehaving, don't make deals with her. I've seen my nephews and nieces go through this stage and watched my brothers handle it their way. I don't like any of their ways, but what does work? I think I'm going to tune in to Super Nanny this week and take notes.

Anyway, papers to grade.

LOL,
CDR

Flu bug on warpath

Last Friday, M came down with the stomach flu. Granted, she's two and she's going to get the flu. We dealt with it and cleaned up. She was such a trooper. It scared her though. She was pretty much on the mend by Sunday. Now, it's my turn. I was up all night last night fighting the urge to vomit. I refuse to do it. I don't care if it will make me feel better, I can't do it. Why does this have to happen now? Tonight is THE night of PATRICK STEWART. I'm going, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I feel better as the day goes on, but still, why this week with the flu? I hope that R doesn't get it. I hate when he's sick. I also hope that I don't give it back to M. Even feeling lousy, I have washed all the bedding, towels, Lysoled the doorknobs, etc. all day to make sure it's gone. I obviously stayed home from work, which was a good decision. I hated to not go, but R thought I was crazy to go. He said I would get them sick. I see it's not really about me, now is it.

Anyway tonight's the night. Off to find something to wear.

LOL,
CDR