Pooping in Peace

Migraines-They're Not Just For Middle Aged Hormonal Women Anymore

2012-02-08T17:18:00.000-08:00

I've posted on here before about Georgia's ongoing problem with migraines. Well, in the past year, they have changed a bit and I became concerned that it was something more. Because you know, well maybe you don't, but I tend to be a tiny bit of a hypochondriac. I am WAY better than I used to be, but I am one of those people who always goes to worse case scenario. Pain in my head=tumor. Pain in my chest=heart attack. Never mind that I work out six days a week, eat fairly well, and have low cholesterol. It's a heart attack. Pain in my upper back=breast cancer. I was a lot worse in my late 20s. I've gotten over it for the most part, but I still tend to think doom and gloom when something seems off. So, when Georgia's migraines started to change, I worried a bit that perhaps they weren't migraines at all, but something far worse. Before I knew it, in my head, I had us checking into L.A.'s Children's Hospital. Since I didn't want to go to far down crazy road, I decided to be rational and go back to the neurologist who diagnosed her a year and a half ago.

As I said, the reason I was worried was because the symptoms themselves changed. When she first got them, out of nowhere, she would say she didn't feel good, moved to- she was going to "frow up", followed by- actual "frowing up" for about 5 hours, and ending with- her passing out for the night. This used to happen about once every 5-6 months. Over the summer it started to change. Now she will wake up any given morning and complain of being dizzy. If she has gotten out of bed, she will lay down halfway down the hall to our room and whine that she is too dizzy to walk. I will pick her up and she immediately puts her head down on my shoulder, with her eyes closed, clinging to me for dear life, until I lay her down in bed or on the couch. Within a few minutes the threat of "frowing up" starts. Sometimes it takes a couple false alarms, but eventually she starts the cycle of ridding anything that may be left in her stomach from the night before. She is pale, clammy and can't move or really keep her eyes open. Now, instead of lasting all day, this will end sometime in the early afternoon. Better, right? Yeah, except that it happens all over again the next two mornings, although each subsequent day it ends sooner than it did the day before. Also, instead of getting them every 5-6 months, she now gets them every 6-8 weeks. Oh yeah, fun times I tell ya! It takes us out of whatever we were supposed to do for now almost 3 days. When she gets these I can't go anywhere, besides to pick up or drop off the other girls, and I NEED to make my Target runs every week. So you can see why this much of a change had me a bit worried.

I do feel so bad for her every time she gets hit with one too. She is miserable and feels terrible. So let me take a minute to have a tiny tangent and address two types of people out there. The true migraine sufferers and the ones who claim to have a migraine. Those of you who say you have a migraine and are still walking around talking, eating, going about your day, let me re diagnose you. You have a HEADACHE. If you had a true migraine, you wouldn't be doing ANY of those things. Take a couple of Motrin and shut up about it. I never quite got it before, because I myself have never experienced a migraine. In fact, I rarely get headaches at all, except when I'm sick. However, seeing my child go through it so often, I get it now. So for those of you who truly get migraines and can't leave the house for a day, I am so sorry and I apologize for any doubt you get from those around you, or perhaps even from me in the past. I can see how horrible an experience it is. Okay-end of tangent.

So anyway, I had briefly talked to my sister Megan, the nurse, about what was going on and she encouraged me to go get her checked out again. She mentioned that there was a chance she might need an MRI, but she didn't know for sure, because this was not her area of expertise. That idea freaked me and Andy out, but we wanted to do what needed to be done.

So last week, off we went to Pasadena to visit Dr. Michelle. I love this woman. She is no nonsense, yet sensitive enough to understand a parents worry. Perhaps it's because she's a parent herself. I told her everything that was happening and how much had changed. She asked me a few questions, like if she was sweaty, or complained of head pain. Yes sweaty, no head pain, just the dizzies. Then she let me know that they don't usually complain of head pain until seven or eight. Oh yay! Something to look forward to in 4 years! She did a brief exam on Georgia, checked out her eyes, ears, reflexes, made her hop on one foot, that kind of thing. When all was said and done the diagnosis was... still migraines. This is apparently how they change as the sufferer gets older.

"Sooo, the way it's changed into how it is now, all that is normal?" I asked.

"Oh yeah. She is a textbook case of toddler migraines," she assured me. "I'm not surprised you came back."

"And the fact that she gets them a few days in a row?" I asked.

"Clusters," she said matter of fact. This I understood, because my mom suffered from cluster headaches in her 30s.

Then she told me the plan was to put her on a prescription antihistamine for two months. Antihistamine! Who knew?! It has something in it that helps block the migraines from starting at all. The only side effect was that it might make her a little sleepy, so I am to give it to her before bedtime. Side effect? Making her fall asleep quicker when I put her to bed so she doesn't get up ten times? That's not a side effect, that a plus in my book. So, we go back in two months to meet with her and assess the situation. If it works, then she takes her off of it and she can go up to a year without having a migraine. I'm not really sure how taking medication for only two months keeps her from getting a migraine for a year, but if it works, I'll take it!

Before she left the room, I just had to make sure,

"So she still doesn't need an MRI to check anything out?"

"Oh no!" She told me again, "This is a textbook case of how the migraines develop. No need to put her through an MRI."

That made me breathe a sigh of relief in more than one way. First of all, no MRI. I mean who wants their tiny three year old in one of those gigantic loud machines? Secondly, I LOVE the fact that she used the word "textbook" case. There was no question of what it could be, or that this sounds weird, or that doesn't look right, just that she fits right into the migraine category. The way it looks, she probably always will. Don't get me wrong, it's not awesome that she gets these, but at least a migraine is a thousand times better than where my worst case scenario head goes.

It Only Sounded Bad

2012-02-06T18:45:00.000-08:00

Last week one morning after breakfast, while Lana was in the bathroom:

Lana- "Urgh! My eyes water every morning when I wake up."

Me- "Oh yeah. Are you going to be all right?"

Lana- "Yeah. I think it's because I drink too much at night."

That one and I have more in common every day. Even if she was just referring to water.

Mastering a New Trait

2012-02-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

Georgia is at an age where she doesn't always want to listen to me and can sometimes be difficult to deal with. However, she's still got just enough of that toddler cuteness to her, that I can't always get mad at her. Plus her being difficult is still angelic compared to what Lana, and even Sonya, put me through at this age. Every once in a while she will get a time out. Which is never compared to Lana's daily (sometimes thrice daily) time outs when she was three. When she does go to time out, she cries the entire time. Then when I go to get her, she immediately hugs me and says how sorry she is. She does NOT like anyone being upset with her, or getting in trouble. Then there is the latest thing she does, which I hate to admit, gets her immediately out of any trouble she may be brewing.

There are times when she will ask me for things she knows I'm going to say no to, like a treat or a TV show. A lot of those times her sisters are making her ask. I guess they think I'm more likely to say yes to her, which I'm really not. When she asks me she will always give me this hopeful little look with her cute dimpled smile, and a sparkle in her eye. You know the kind of look that says "look how cute I am! Don't you want to give me what I want?" When I've gotten this look from her in the past I always stop and smile at her, tell her how cute she is before declining her request for whatever it is she is asking for. Although, I will admit I've given in to that look a time or two. She also uses this look when she's about to get in trouble for something bad she did.

About two weeks ago, she was doing one of those troublesome things. I can't remember exactly what it was, but you know, something fun like writing on the floor, or taking all the shoes out of my closet, or maybe it was making the huge mess in Sonya's room. Who knows? Anyway, I gave her my mom, "you're going to be in trouble if you don't knock it off" look. Then she came back at me with her little "look how cute I am with my inherited dimple from you" smile. I immediately found myself trying not to smile back at her and she could tell I was softening. Before I could tell her she was cute, but she was in trouble she looked at me and said,

"You cute mommy!"

REALLY?? Oookkkaayyy....here's some more markers to write on the floor and my best shoes are out of reach, so let me just get those down for you.

That remark took me right out of any anger I might have had at that point. How could it not? I only wish there was a way to take those moments, wrap them up and put them away. That way I could pull it back out again when she starts to roll her eyes at me in a few years, and remember how damn cute she used to be when she did something wrong.

Since last week, she tells me how cute I am every time she gives me that look and I start to smile back at her. It got her out of trouble for the first few times, but I'm on to her now. I always thought Sonya had the corner on manipulation. Turns out Georgia may be the master. Or at least she's definitely figuring out how to master it.

Nice.

Adorable Giraffe Cupcakes

2012-01-30T14:37:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was Kennedy's first birthday. Kennedy is the daughter of my best friend Melissa, and I wrote about her here when she was first born. Okay first of all, how the hell has it been a year already?! Second of all...well there really isn't a second of all, just why does time go by so fast lately? Anyway, I had promised Melissa a while ago, that I would make Kennedy's birthday cake. I've made all my girls' birthday cakes using Wilton cake pans and made them character cakes, like Tinkerbell, Elmo, Mickey, Minnie or Spider Man. They're time consuming, but I really like doing it. It's fun to see the end result of all the work you just did and I've always loved baking anyway. It's my inner Martha Stewart. So at one point I promised I would make Kennedy's cake using the same type of Wilton cake pans. Partially, because I love doing it and Melissa is my best friend, but mostly because she doesn't really have an inner Martha Stewart. I didn't want Kennedy to have a store bought cake for her first birthday! The HORROR! The question was, what kind of cake did she want?

Melissa's favorite animal is a giraffe, so as of right now, Kennedy has a bunch of giraffe toys, clothes, bedding, towels, etc in her life. So the obvious choice for the cake was a giraffe, but the pan that Wilton has for a giraffe wasn't really what Melissa wanted. She had decided on a little jungle animal theme for Kennedy's party and I found a pan that Wilton made of a monkey and he was super cute, so she decided to go with that instead. He did, indeed, turn out super cute:

I made a vanilla cake, and the icing was mostly chocolate. He wasn't too difficult to decorate either. Other cakes I've done have been more of a project (I'm looking at YOU Spider Man!)

I decided earlier in the week, that I was going to make some cupcakes to go along with Mr. Monkey and I really wanted to satisfy Melissa's love for giraffes by turning the cupcakes into little giraffes. I researched giraffe cupcakes on line and found a bunch, but none that I was crazy about. Half of them were made using Fondant (yuck-no offense to anyone who likes it, but yuck) and the other half I just didn't think were that cute. So I decided to tap into that part of my creative genes I got from my mom. She teaches first grade and always has a creative solution to an idea like this. I wanted to try and figure it out for myself first, before I decided if I needed help.

I took a trip to Target and found a few things I thought would work to form the giraffe's features and here is what I ended up with:

TA-DA!

Yes he IS totally adorable!! Thank you! For those of you who would like to try and make these guys, here are my step by step instructions.

What you need:

Cupcakes

tootsie rolls

banana chips

Wilton eyes

butter cream frosting

chocolate frosting

Golden Yellow Wilton color

Black Wilton color

Wilton icing bags

tip #3

chocolate chips and a black gel icing pen

First you need to make cupcake, of course, chocolate or vanilla, whichever you prefer. I made chocolate since the cake was already vanilla. Then I made some butter cream frosting, using butter and powdered sugar. No, I do NOT use shortening. That just makes it gross. I also do not do store bought icing, but if you're short on time, I won't fault you for it. Then I colored the icing using Wilton coloring, Golden Yellow. I frosted all the cupcakes for the base of the giraffe.

Next I cut the end 1/4 off the tootsie roll and then cut the larger part of the tootsie roll in half. The two halves I molded with my fingers into the antenna for the giraffe:

The little eyes I found in Target in the baking section. Wilton makes them and you can use them for any kind of face cupcake you're making. They're candy, so they're edible. After I placed the eyes where I wanted, I took the leftover piece of tootsie roll and flattened it out for the mouth area. In earlier versions of the cupcake I used chocolate icing for the mouth area, but I found this looked cleaner.

Next, I stuck the banana chips on the sides for the ears. I tried to find some that were on the smaller side, but the ones with larger chips (ears) came out looking really cute too. It was fun because they were all different.

I had made chocolate icing to decorate the monkey cake, so I dyed some of that black to make the mouth and the nostrils, using Wilton tip #3. However, if you don't have chocolate frosting, one of those black gel icing pens you can find in the baking section of the grocery store would work.

The last thing I did was put on his spots. I used chocolate icing for this as well (with Wilton tip #3) but, I also did an alternative. Again, this way you don't technically need to make or buy chocolate icing. I used chocolate chips instead of the icing. Upon a second look, mini chocolate chips might work better. As far as these two go, I will say that I think the ones with the non-uniform icing spots looked a little better than the chocolate chips, but that's just me.

icing

chocolate chips

Here a few of them together. You can see how they transformed as I got better ideas:

And here is how I like to roll while creating; wine and my soaps on the computer. Do I know how to multitask or what?

Yes, this is something I have to do well after the girls are in bed. If I tried to do it during the day, they would have wanted to help and who knows what I would have ended up with. Anyway-I wanted to share the way I made the giraffe cupcakes in case anyone else out there in baking land is looking for some cuter/easier ideas than what is currently posted. I have to admit, I was pretty proud of myself for coming up with these all on my own. I knew I could follow directions to make something creative, like the cake, but who knew I could come up with something so cute all by myself! Thanks mom for that Martha Stewart gene!

SHOES!

2012-01-25T16:14:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I've ever mentioned on here before, but Lana is very into dressing girlie. If I ever want her to wear any type of pants I have to bribe her. Usually in the form of chocolate or a trip to Disneyland. She loves any kind of skirt or dress and bonus points if it's pink or sparkly. So it was no surprise when she insisted she needed ANOTHER pair of sparkly shoes when we were in Payless yesterday. Then she proceeded to have a major tantrum when I denied her those shoes, which by the way, looked almost exactly like the ONES SHE ALREADY HAD ON.

Tuesday mornings are "Lana and Mommy Day". The other two are in school, so some Tuesdays I try to get errands done in the morning before I pick up Georgia from school at noon. It's usually easier to do running around with only one of them, except when they decide to flip out for some reason. It had been a while for Lana since she had such a public display of badness, so it kind of caught me off guard. We went to Payless because I had to get her and Georgia ballet slippers for the dance class they have been taking. I was looking at ballet slippers when Lana wandered down the aisle and came across some shoes she apparently had to have. They were princess pink and sparkly. She walked over to me with shoes in hand.

"Mom, can I get dees, pleeeeaasee?" She asked me hopefully. "Day fit me!"

She had already taken the liberty of trying them on, which looking back now, was smart on her part. I looked at the shoes in the box and I looked at the pink sparkly princess shoes she already had on her feet. Then I said,

"Lana, they are just like the ones you have on. You're not getting them."

"NO THEY'RE NOT!" She insisted. "See deese ones have jewels on dem," she said pointing to the toe of the shoe.

She was right, they did indeed have jewels where her own did not, but I was not about to buy ANOTHER pair of pink sparkly shoes because of a couple pieces of jewel shaped plastic. Not to mention the fact that she has a pair of silver sparkly shoes, which I bought for her at the beginning of the school year, and a pair of pink sparkly TOMS my friend Sooz gave her for Christmas. (Sooz works for TOMS so all the girls got pink sparkly TOMS shoes. They are so cute. Thanks Sooz!). So that makes THREE pairs of sparkly shoes, two of them already being pink. I was drawing the line.

"Lana," I said calmly, "you are not getting those shoes today."

She could tell this was one of those times I wasn't going to change my mind, so she started the whining, whimpering, and eventually, sobbing.

"PLLLLEEEAAASSEE!!!" She cried. "I WANT THEM!"

Oh well, if you WANT them then....

"No, Lana. Not today," I said again. I tried to redirect her to some Hello Kitty socks that I was looking at for her. She needed new socks, so I thought perhaps at least if she was getting something else she would be happy, but no. They were not the shoes she wanted, so the tantrum continued.

The good thing was there was only one other person in the store and the clerk, so at least she wasn't making a spectacle in front of a ton of people. Still, it's embarrassing in front of anyone. She lied on the floor and sobbed about how she NEEDED the shoes. How much she LOVED the shoes. How much she HAD TO HAVE THE SHOES! I tried ignoring her at first, but I should know better because that never works with her. So I finally got down on the floor next to her and spoke calmly.

"Lana, I am not buying the shoes for you today," I started. "I don't have enough money to get you the ballet slippers and the shoes." I figured if I put it on me and take it off the fact that she doesn't NEED another pair of sparkly shoes, she would be more willing to accept it. "Now, if you don't stop crying, I'm not going to buy you the ballet slippers or Hello Kitty socks either. I need you to take a couple deep breaths and count to ten."

This is something I've been doing with her for a couple months now. When she gets out of control with one of her tantrums, I work with her on focusing on her breathing and counting to ten to calm herself down. I would say 80% of the time this works. Luckily, this was one of those times. She stood up, wiped her eyes and took two deep breaths. Then she counted to ten. Once she calmed down she said,

"Can I pick out some socks?"

"Of course," I answered. "And good calming down Lana."

Then she looked at me and said, "When you get some more money, can we come back and get the shoes?"

That kid does not let things go.

"We'll see," I said, trying to avoid another break down.

Once we were safely in the car, and out of earshot for anyone to hear another tantrum, I talked to her about her behavior in the store. I told her I didn't like the tantrum she had, especially in front of other people, but I was proud of her for calming down. She apologized and promised not to do it again, (yeah right!) Then I explained how she already had three pairs of sparkly shoes, and perhaps when she outgrew those three pairs, THEN we could come back and get her the ones in the store. She understood, and because she was in a less emotional and more logical place at that point, agreed with me.

I'd like to think she's going to forget all about this, but again, that child will not let something like this fall through the cracks. So, who wants to bet that in six months, when all of those shoes she has now don't fit her feet anymore, I'm going to be begged to go back to Payless for those beloved, bejeweled, pink, sparkly princess shoes. I mean, after all, they ARE different!

All She Wants For Christmas...

2012-01-23T14:28:00.000-08:00

I guess we're to late for that song, but look who lost ANOTHER tooth. That makes six so far. Losing those top two has made her look like such a grown up kid. I know she's only going to look even older when those top permanent teeth make their awkward appearance. They always look so big! How the hell did she get to be at this stage of childhood already? I swear it was just yesterday when I was squishing her with a swaddle and shushing in her ear, just to get her to stop screaming for five minutes. I think I do enjoy this stage better though, despite all the eye rolling.

Unexplained Food Mysteries

2012-01-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

Last night during dinner, Georgia dropped one of her tomatoes on the ground by accident. When it happened she looked over at me not sure what to do and I said,

"Go on, get down and pick it up."

She climbed out of her booster seat, disappeared underneath the table for 30 seconds, then climbed back up into her seat. After settling herself, she looked around her plate and said,

"Weaw my tomato go?"

"Isn't it on your place mat?" I asked.

She looked around, picked up her napkin. Nothing. We looked under her chair, I made her stand up at her seat, to look under her. Still nothing.

"Georgia, where did it go? Did you eat it?" I asked.

"NO!" She insisted, and I believed her. Then she shrugged her shoulders and said to me,

"It must have wawked away."

"It did not walk away," I told her. "What did you do with it?" I still wasn't positive that she didn't have it hidden somewhere. Although that didn't make much sense, because she loves tomatoes and wanted one to replace the missing one.

Then she said again, "It must have just wawked away!"

"Fine, Georgia, it walked away. Finish your food," I told her.

I let it go figuring I'd find it when I cleaned up later. Turns out I didn't. I honestly have no idea what the hell happened to it. Now all I have is a picture in my head of a cherry tomato, with little feet, hightailing for my back door. So maybe she was right and it did just "wawk" away. Or maybe I will find a decomposed cherry tomato underneath my washing machine years from now.

Here She Comes...

2012-01-17T13:45:00.000-08:00

Saturday night was my annual Miss America party. Well, gathering. It's not really a party so much, just a few friends come over, we eat, drink and watch Miss America. Now before you start giving me that look, this is NOT something we take seriously. We do vote on the contestants and I do give out prizes, but it's all in fun. We like to joke around, make fun of some of the girls and be catty, you know, because that's what girls do. Watching Miss America has been a tradition in my life for as long as I can remember. My mom used to let my sisters and I stay up late to watch it every year. It was a while, before I was actually able to stay up for the whole thing, but I have memories from very early on of watching the ladies walk around in pretty dresses and perform dance numbers. Thankfully, they don't do the dance numbers anymore.

So when I moved out on my own, I kept up the tradition with my friends. They thought I was crazy at first for watching a beauty pageant. Soon they realized I wasn't Toddlers and Tiaras serious about it (don't even get me STARTED on that show). Since I had drinks and food, to accompany my event, they were in.

Now, since I have girls, I can pass on the tradition to them. Every year I let them stay up for part of it and we all get dressed up like we ourselves are in the pageant. Well, at least I still do. Some of my friends have decided to party poop out on me, but I still love doing it. This year I even managed to get into the bridesmaid dress I wore for my sister Beth's wedding in 2002. (Excuse me while I feel good about recently losing 9 pounds.) My girls, of course, are all about it. They would wear fancy dresses to school every day if I let them. They all picked out an old Easter or Christmas dress to wear and I curled every one's hair.

The biggest problem is the show doesn't even start until 9pm and my girls are in bed by 8-8:30 at the latest. This year Sonya got close to staying up for the whole thing. She did start to fade around 10:15 so she went to bed. She was so into it though, that the next morning when she woke up, the first thing she did was finish watching the show. Something I couldn't do at her age, since there was no such thing as DVRs. Or even VHS. Yes, I'm old. I did give Lana and Georgia naps that day so they would be able to stay up later, but around 9:30, they were really starting to work on my last nerve, what with the whiny tiredness. Okay fine, it was mostly Lana, but both of them were done. So I had Andy, who was confined to our bedroom, come out and get the little two ready for bed. Before they left though, Andy told Georgia she should twirl in her dress for everyone, like she had been doing earlier, before everyone came over. She seemed apprehensive about it at first, which isn't really like her, but then we all convinced her that we wanted to see it. So she spun around and her dress flared out all around her. All of us girls yelled,

"Wooooo!!! YAAAYYY!!!"

Georgia stopped immediately, with a look of horror and ran to her room. I looked at her from the living room and watched her face turn from one of fright to one of crying. I went to comfort her. I wasn't exactly sure why she was crying, but it was almost 10pm at night and WAY past her bedtime. I chalked it up to that and also maybe we had startled her when we cheered.

Andy got her and Lana ready for bed and called me to tuck them in when they were all ready. Georgia was laying with her head on the pillow, thumb in her mouth and I asked her,

"Why did you get so upset, baby girl?"

She kinda shrugged her shoulder.

"Did you think we were laughing at you or making fun of you?" I asked, suddenly realizing that we had been joking around and laughing at a few of the contestants.

"Uh-huh," she said through the thumb.

"No, silly!" I told her. "We were all cheering for you, because you were so cute and we liked your twirl."

"Oh," she said, and thought for a second. Still laying down with her thumb in her mouth she said, "I go do it 'gain!"

I laughed, because I thought it was funny how once she realized she was getting GOOD attention she was ready to show off again. Andy was in the room tucking Lana in and I told him what Georgia said. He looked over and said to her,

"Well, you can't now because you don't have your dress on anymore."

She sat upright in her bed and said, "I go get my dwess on!"

At the same time Andy and I said, "No, no, no, no! Lay down."

"It's all over now," Andy told her. "It's a good lesson for next time."

She was to tired to fight and lied back down on her pillow, sticking her thumb back in her mouth.

I guess maybe next year I should make it clear that we are only making fun of the girls we DON'T know on TV.

Leaving the Last Bits of Babyhood

2012-01-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

So yesterday my heart broke. It happened. I mentioned in this blog post that I would have a hard time when this happened and I did.

Georgia and I were playing a game yesterday. Her sisters were both at school and I don't usually give her a nap anymore, unless I really feel she needs it. Or I need her to stay up late for some reason. Otherwise, giving her a nap only means getting her to bed is next to impossible. I decided to spend a little quality time with her, since it was just the two of us and she wanted to play this game called S'match. It's similar to other matching games, but you have to match either color, number or category. It was her turn and she was trying to match colors. She turned one card over and it was green. The other one was orange. Orange is her favorite color, but she has always called it "orangin", adding the extra "n" on the end. So I said to her,

"Do those match?"

"No," she correctly replied.

"Right, because what color is this?" I asked.

"Green," she said.

"Yup, and how 'bout this one?" I asked.

"Orange!" She CORRECTLY said.

"What?" I asked, not sure if I heard her right.

"Orange," she said a little more unsure this time. She didn't understand why I was questioning her. She knew the color was right.

I looked at her sadly. Here it is was, the day the baby talk starts to completely go.

"Mommy, what?!" she asked, looking at my sad face.

"Not orangin?" I asked.

"Yeah orangin, orangin!" She said trying to make me happy.

"No, it's okay G. Orange is the right way to say it," I told her, but in my head I was saying,

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

So sad. Do they HAVE to grow up this fast?

Dealing With Sadness In Her Own Way

2012-01-10T14:14:00.000-08:00

Remember how I said Lana didn’t seem to care at all about when we put Jazz to sleep? Well, I may have been wrong about that. She seems to just be dealing with it differently than those of us who cried it out that day. Her coping mechanism was to become attached to something else altogether. A Christmas decoration, no less. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Years ago, CVS starting selling little stuffed animals from the animated Rudolph special that comes on CBS every year. It has always been my favorite Christmas special. My best friend, Melissa who also loves Rudolph, and I were so excited when they started selling those dolls. We bought as many of them as we could. At one point we lived together and had quite the menagerie at Christmas. I have all the main characters from Rudolph, with maybe the exception of Clarice, Rudolph’s girlfriend. I even have some Frosty the Snowman ones, which CVS also sold for a few years. I don't think they have them anymore, but I know you can find the toys on ebay sometimes.

Every year I put them out as part of our Christmas decorations. Before I had the girls and when they were just babies, the toys were there only to look at. However, once they got to an age of knowing what they were, I couldn't keep them away from playing with them. Good thing I'm not one of those crazy collectors who don't wan you to even breathe on their toys. I didn't care if the girls played with them. After all if you you've watched any of the Toy Story movies, those guys were dying to be played with. However, in the past, the girls have always been fine with them leaving when it was time to put the decorations away.

We put up most of Christmas decorations the weekend of Thanksgiving, before we put Jazzy to sleep. The girls were playing with Rudolph and friends throughout the week, but I would always put the toys back where they belonged every night. The next weekend was the sad one where Jazz left us. I didn’t realize it at that point, but Lana started to hang on to Rudolph a little more.

Soon he was going everywhere with us; the grocery store, gymnastics, Target, play dates, in the car before school, and Heaven forbid he wasn’t there waiting for her when she got out of school. (She had a huge tantrum when I forgot one day). Every time we left the house, she asked if she could take him. Most of the time he got to just come along for the ride. She slept with him and carried him all over the house. If there was a moment she couldn’t find him, she would break down into sobs. And I mean sobs. Usually when Lana can’t find something, she just gets, angry, whiny and ornery, but this was different. She cried like she lost her best friend and he was never coming back. My heart broke for her every time.

It all came to a head the week after Christmas. Andy and I were still in bed one morning and the girls were up and playing. Side note: can I just say how awesome it is to have more self sufficient kids who will entertain themselves on a weekend morning? Andy and I can BOTH sleep past 7am most weekends. Something for you parents of babies to look forward to one day. I swear you won’t be up at 6am forever. Anyway-we were still in bed one morning and she came in and said to me,

“Mommy? Can you call Rudolph and Clarice, so they can come visit me?”

Huh?? Wait, what was she saying? What was she talking about? I opened one eye and questioned her and she said it again,

“I want you to call Rudolph and Clarice so they can come here!”

Still half asleep, I couldn’t really figure out if she was playing a game or what, so I just said,

“Lana, let’s talk about this when I get up in a bit, okay?”

“FINE!” She said begrudgingly and stalked out the room.

Fast forward a few hours later. She came to me again insisting I call Rudolph. What she meant was she really wanted me to call Rudolph on the phone so he could come to our house and play. A Reindeer play date! Why not, right?

Ummmmm....Oookkkaayyy...except that, you know, he doesn’t really exist, so that might be kinda difficult to get him to our house. Well, I couldn’t very well tell her that so I tried,

“Lana, he can’t come here. He lives in the North Pole with Santa, and he only comes to our house once a year.”

“Call him though! Can’t you call him?” She questioned.

“Well, I.... don’t have his phone number,” I quickly said. “I can’t call him.”

Now she was getting frustrated, “OOOOOHHHH!! PLEEEEEAASSEE!!”

“Lana, I can’t. Rudolph doesn’t just go to anybody’s house at anytime. It doesn’t work that way,” I said.

She would not accept it, “But mommy! I want RUUUDDOOLLPPHH!!”

Then she started to cry. And again, not her normal whiny I want my own way cry, but the sobbing, “my heart has been ripped out” cry.

I sat there, hugging her while she cried for about twenty minutes saying over and over again, "Ruuuuddddoooolllppphhh!!! Ruuuudddooolllpphhh!!"

In that time I had to talk myself out of trying to find a place to rent a deer and somehow make it’s nose red. I had never really seen her this miserable. I mean, we all know the child gets upset and cries, but this was different. This was the same cry I comforted Sonya the day Jazz died. Lana just took a little longer to get there and seemed to have displaced her sadness into another situation.

After she finally calmed down, she was exhausted and decided to go to her bed where she napped for about two hours. Something she rarely does anymore. She seemed better when she woke up, clutching her Rudolph doll.

She never again asked if we could call Rudolph but continued to drag the stuffed animal everywhere. She kept questioning me about when we were going to put the decorations away and was Rudolph going to go too? When we did put all the decorations away last week, I just couldn’t bring myself to take it from her. He has become her companion and her best friend for the time being and let’s face it, it’s not hurting anyone. Well, it may hurt my sense of Christmas decorations being out past their time, and he is getting a bit worn, but it something I can handle, especially if it helps her get past losing her pet. I’m sure in a few months, she will find something else to become attached to, maybe even a new pet. Then I can retire Rudolph to the attic until December. Although by then he may look a bit more worn than the rest of the cast. Oh well, at least it's for a good reason.

Yakety Yak-Don't Talk Back

2012-01-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

Last night I was trying to get Lana to eat her dinner, as usual. We were even having something she usually likes. I swear I think I could serve warm chocolate chip cookies for dinner and that child wouldn't eat them. Lana just does not do dinner. She finished her milk and asked for more. I told her she was not getting more until she ate her dinner, because that's the other problem. She would drink her calories for dinner if I let her. (Insert like mother like daughter joke here.) Anyway-after I told her she wasn't getting anymore milk until she ate, the whining started.

"Mooommmmmyyy!! I waaaannnt moorrrree MILK!!"

"Lana," I said through my gritted teeth, "do not even start with me."

She immediately retorted back, "I wouldn't start with you if you would just give me more MILK!"

Sometime in the fifteen seconds it took me to decide whether I was going to laugh at her or smack her, I regained my composure then calmly and firmly said,

"You do not talk to Mommy that way, Lana. Eat your dinner or no more milk."

"Fine!" she agreed and proceeded to take a bite of her food. She, of course, she did not finish her dinner. Not even close. So she did not get anymore milk. I WIN!

Well, sort of since she still didn't eat.

If this is the back talk I'm getting at four, I can't even imagine what it's going to be like at fourteen. Actually, I can and I don't want to.

One Last Piece of Christmas Cheer

2012-01-05T14:42:00.000-08:00

I know, I know Christmas is over. Although you wouldn't know it if you drove around my neighborhood and saw all the lights still up and on. Even though we took everything down New Year's Day because I couldn't look at it anymore, I know some people like to leave theirs up for a bit longer. I mean technically, Christmas isn't over until after tomorrow. The Feast of the Three Kings in the Catholic religion is January 6th, and the Armenians recognize that same day as their celebration of Christmas. So keeping up your decorations until this weekend is allowable. HOWEVER, by MLK Jr. day if I still see lights on, I'm knocking on some doors. It's a pet peeve of mine when people leave their decorations up for to long. Living in Southern California, some people think it's okay to leave their lights up ALL YEAR, even if they don't light them. It is so NOT okay. TAKE THEM DOWN PEOPLE! Okay, I'm done with that rant now.

My whole point of this post was to show you the video we made of the girls singing their Christmas songs from the shows they had this year. We recorded their actual shows, but the video on those is difficult to watch what with other people in and out of the camera view, so we made our own. It's cuter anyway, except Georgia keeps grabbing her crotch throughout and I'm not sure what that was all about, so I apologize for that up front. The first two videos are songs that Lana and Georgia learned at school and Sonya also learned when she was there. The last video is what Sonya did this year, which is the reason the younger two look a bit lost during part of it. Anyway-without further ado, here are the girls singing their Christmas hearts out. Enjoy!

This concludes Christmas. At least in our house. Don't make me come take the lights down at yours.

Twenty Questions

2012-01-03T13:04:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Friends!! I hope you all had as great a break as we did. Andy was off last week, so we got to spend some quality family time, and I got to go workout in the middle of the day! It was awesome. But now the decorations are all away and here we are back to the daily grind. I was kind of ready for it anyway. Sonya DEFINITELY was. The school routine is essential in her life. Because we were trying to do things with the kids, I took some time off from writing and I hope you all took time off from what you normally do as well, to hang out with your family or just relax. After the madness that happens BEFORE Christmas that is. I did have a little story of something that happened well before Christmas that I just never got around to writing about.

Sonya is at an age where she likes to ask a thousand questions or maybe it's just her personality. Perhaps a little of both. Sometimes I don't have answers to all her questions and other times the questions just start to get a tad annoying. Like the day we had this conversation before we took a shower;

Sonya- "I don't want to turn the fan on today when we take a shower."

Me-"Well, we have to."

Sonya- "Why? Why does the fan HAVE to be on?"

Me- "Because it helps to get the steam out of the bathroom caused by the shower."

Sonya- "But why? Is the steam bad?"

Me- "Ummm...It's not bad. We just don't want it to be steamy in there for so long and the fan helps that."

Sonya- "But what will happen if there is steam? Is it bad for the bathroom?"

Me- Starting to get annoyed and just wanting to take a shower, "It's not really bad, but it's just better to not have it build up so much in there."

Sonya- "But what will happen if it does? Will something bad happen? Why do you not want the steam?"

Me- "YES! YES Sonya! Something bad will happen! The bathroom will fall apart and we will all die if we don't get rid of the steam!!"

Okay, perhaps I went overboard, but I was all done with the conversation and she would just not LET IT GO! These kind of conversations have become somewhat of a daily occurrence. I like the fact that she's curious and she asks questions, but sometimes... SERIOUSLY?

Then a couple of weeks ago we were all sitting around having dinner, and she asked Andy and I a question about something I can't even recall right now. There are always so many of them. After answering her, she said,

"Yeah, that's what I thought." She says that quite often after having a question answered, mind you. Then ten seconds later she said to Andy and I,

"I know all the answers, but sometimes I just like to ask the questions."

Awesome, Sonya. Nothing like finding out a way to irritate your parents at a young age!

Letter To Santa

2011-12-23T15:17:00.000-08:00

Before Sonya left for Christmas break, her teacher had all the kids in the class write letters to Santa. It was a great way for them to practice their writing skills and an adorable keepsake for us parents. Ms. Oh kept a copy at school, but told all the kids she was making a copy to mail to Santa at the North Pole. Welcome to the North Pole! She sent them to all the parents and I'm so glad she did. I knew it was coming, so when I saw the school address I immediately grabbed it before certain other people saw and inquired about it. Later, when Sonya wasn't around I read her Santa letter and, of course, cried. I cry at just about everything my kids do that's like this. During their recent Christmas performances, I teared up at each one. Even when they sing the songs on their own now, I have to fight back the tears. It's that overemotional mom gene I got from my mom. Thanks so much mom! However, how could I NOT cry when she goes and asks for things for everyone else before herself. Oh and the still being concerned about Santa's hurt feelings. So sweet. Plus she does recognize her attitude toward me and has promised to work on it. What 7 year old is that self aware? She may infuriate me sometimes, but she really is one damn great kid and I will always be proud of and love being her mom.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope Santa brings you everything YOU want this year too. Thanks for reading and keep the comments coming. For any Jewish readers out there-Happy Hanukkah!

Ladylike

2011-12-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, Georgia started doing this. I don't know how she learned to do it or who taught her, because the other two are amazed by it and can't do it themselves. She does it quite often when we are eating a meal and we can't help but laugh at her, which only makes her want to do it more. We are raising some VERY classy ladies here at the Dadekian household. Very classy indeed.

A Sensitive Issue

2011-12-14T10:46:00.000-08:00

Well, after the bring down post I left you with on Monday, I thought I should quickly get back to the funny. Good thing I've got three girls who provide me with plenty of that!

Andy and I try our best to teach our girls to be kind, sensitive to other's feelings, and tolerant of different kinds of people, regardless of shape, size, color, religion or sexual orientation. I've always felt that we had done a pretty good job so far. Perhaps a little to good in the case of Sonya, and Lana may need a bit more work.

Lana is four, almost five, and is one of those kids who has no filter. I recently found out she said something to one of my friends, which I was mortified by. She asked this particular friend of mine why he/she was fat. I guess she's asked him/her a couple of times now. OH LANA! This is something Sonya would NEVER do. I wasn't around when she asked this, and I guess Sonya even scolded Lana for saying it. We talk about how it isn't nice to say that to people and it could hurt their feelings, but apparently Lana does not care. (See post from Monday about her having no empathy/sympathy. ) I know she doesn't really get it and I apologized to this friend of mine and I apologize to her/him again now. So sorry! Lana is just going to be that blunt to the point girl who doesn't think before she speaks. Okay, that just sounded a little like me, but I am MUCH better than I used to be and would never ask someone why they are fat. At least I wouldn't ask that NOW anyway.

In contrast, Sonya has been beside herself this Christmas season because of everyone calling one particular person fat. Santa Claus.

About a week ago I was saying something about Santa. Somehow I must have said something about Santa being fat. I mean it's no surprise. It gets talked about in songs, poems and Christmas shows, how Santa is fat and jolly. I never really thought about it before. So after I said whatever it was I said about Santa and his size, Sonya said to me,

"Mommy, that is not nice!"

"What isn't nice, Sonya?" I had zero idea what I said that she was so offended by.

"About Santa being fat! That could hurt his feelings!" She insisted.

"Ummm...noooo..., Santa is okay with it," I tried saying.

"How do you know?" She challenged. "It's not nice to call people fat, even if they are."

Huh. Well.... I was completely flummoxed as to what to say to her. I mean on the one hand she was right. This IS what we had taught her. On the other hand, it's SANTA! He's SUPPOSED to be fat. We like him to be fat and encourage it, by leaving milk and cookies for him. In the beginning of Rudolph he is stressed out and skinny. Mrs. Claus tries to force feed him saying, "Who's ever heard of a skinny Santa?" (yes, I just watched it two days ago. It's my favorite holiday special.)

I never really did give her a good answer. I just said something about him eating lots of milk and cookies and that is why he is so fat. Her response to that was,

"Yes! But people should stop calling him fat!"

You guys, this has been an ongoing conversation for over a week now. Just about every day she gets upset about someone saying Santa is fat. They even wrote letters to Santa at school, and she asked him in her letter if it hurts his feelings when people say that. Then Andy asked her to draw some Christmas pictures for us. Her picture of Santa is almost anorexic. (See below) I am not sure what else to say to her at this point. I feel like this is a total FAIL moment as a parent. I did my job as far as making her sensitive to other's feelings, but now I can't explain why it's okay for this one certain person to be fat and for us all to say it. I think I may have the most "politically correct" seven year old on the planet. I wouldn't be surprised if she made us leave out cucumbers and tomatoes for Santa this year instead of the milk and cookies. I suppose that would be better for the Santa waistlines in this house anyway.

So if you know my kids, or ever meet them, and you want an honest answer about something, ask Lana. On the other hand, Sonya will sugar coat anything, if you are in need of an ego boost.

svelte Santa

Jazzy

2011-12-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

So remember how last week I was super busy, but told you about something sad that happened to us and yes, I wanted to talk about it, but had to wait until I had the time? Well, I have a couple hours now. Grab a seat, and possibly a tissue and read away. Here is that story. Just a warning-it's a long one.

It began eleven and half years ago when Andy called me from work one day in May, to tell me he was holding this adorable little kitten. One of the girls from work had brought her in. The kitten, her sister and her mom were all found outside in this girl's garden. The friend at work wasn't sure what to do with them, but there was another woman at Andy's work who was very involved in an animal shelter. In fact, the place Andy worked had quite a few cats running around that had been brought in by other people. The problem was, the kittens were about five weeks old and would soon become feral, if they weren't around people soon. They needed to be held constantly, to try help domesticate them. Andy, who has always been a cat person, grabbed the calico one and she laid on his shoulder for the better part of the day. He was hooked. We had gotten engaged just a few months before and were preparing to move in together. So he called to tell me and told me about this cute little kitty he was holding and could we keep her, please, please, huh can we??

Here was the problem. I was very allergic to cats. This is something I discovered when I was about fourteen. I am a dog person and always had dogs around, so never really entertained the idea of having a cat, especially when I became allergic. I could tell he really wanted to keep her though. I did have friends I knew who had been allergic to cats, but after a month or so, became used to their own cat and the allergies all but disappeared. Since I loved my soon to be husband, I was willing to give it a try. If my allergies didn't go away, we were prepared to give the kitten to Andy's roommate when they moved out.

Well, for about a month I was completely miserable anytime I would go to their house. Sneezing, itchy eyes, stuffiness, the whole thing. But after a while I realized that my allergies started to subside. It would take a longer period of time being around her, before they would start, and as long as I washed my hands after playing with her, I was okay. We decided to go ahead and keep her. Jazz became our first "baby".

Since I had never had a cat before, I wasn't sure what to expect. She was fun as a kitten and always wanted to play, much like a puppy or dog, but as she got older she became more independent and aloof. I liked her, but she didn't always like me and would sometimes hide in the bathroom in the hallway to take a swipe at me as I walked by. This used to drive me crazy. Andy would defend her saying she was just playing, but she rarely did it to him. In fact, she LOVED Andy. Like a dog, she would run to the door to greet him when he came home from work. She was always ready to sit in his lap when we would watch TV at night, and loved to lay on him when we went to bed. If Andy wasn't around she would sometimes do those things with me, but it was always clear who her favorite was.

Then we went and had a baby. I will never forget the day I came home from the hospital with Sonya. She came running out to greet me, only to be surprised by this big bulky thing Andy carried in that held something tiny and moving inside of it. Andy placed the car seat on the floor and she sniffed it for a bit. Then she decided she wanted nothing to do with it, turned and haughtily walked out of the room. She refused to sleep in our room for a week and a half. Eventually, when she realized the little thing wasn't leaving, she got over it. She even became protective of the little pink screaming being. When Sonya would cry she would even become concerned. Jazz would run to us and run to the room where Sonya was crying. Then we would get the baby and put her on the bed and Jazz would hop up look at her, look at us, then back to her. You could almost hear her thinking,

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HER?! WHY IS SHE CRYING LIKE THAT?? DO SOMETHING!"

Trust me, Jazz, we were trying.

This past April she turned eleven and was in fine health. I've had friends with cats who live upwards of 20, so I never thought of her as old. We hadn't taken her for her shots in a while, and over the summer Andy made a trip to the vet to get her caught up. She had always been an indoor cat, but sometimes we let her go in our walled in backyard when we were out there. She adored being outside. After all, it is where she was born and spent the first five weeks of her life. She would always try to make an escape outdoors if she could. Then at one point this past summer, she started to get mad at us when we wouldn't let her go out. Usually in the form of shitting on Sonya's rug in her bedroom. I think she chose there, because she knew what a pain in the ass it was for me to clean it. I swear that cat knew those kind of things. My husband thinks I'm crazy and would say she was just an animal and didn't know. I'm telling you, she knew how to piss me off. So eventually, I said screw it. Let's let her go outside. She can't get out of the backyard anyway and all she wanted was to be out there in the sun all day. Andy agreed and she became the happiest cat ever. The pooping and throwing up everywhere stopped. She would come inside and spend the nights with us, but first thing in the morning she would be meowing to go outside again.

When we came back from RI in October, our friends who looked in on her while we were gone, Norb and Cecelia, had told us she seemed to be drinking a lot of water. More than usual. We noticed she had also started to lose some weight, which we had attributed to her being outside. I thought it might be a good idea to get her checked out though, so Andy took her to the vet. They diagnosed her with hyper thyroid, gave her some pills and ordered some special food for her. After ten days of taking the pills, she was still losing weight and now wasn't eating as much. Then we noticed her limping on one side. Back to the vet she went, where they x-rayed her leg and found nothing. The blood tests showed nothing, but she did have a fever. Perhaps it was an infection. So they gave her an antibiotic shot and sent her on her way.

The next day she seemed to rally a bit and act more like herself, but she was still sleeping an awful lot and eating next to nothing. She wasn't really even asking to go outside. Then, when my sister was here, at one point she ran around the house to every rug trying to pee. She would leave less than a drop of pee and it appeared to be tinged with blood. There was something so obviously wrong with her, but we couldn't get her to the vet before Thanksgiving. Some days she seemed like she was doing okay, then some days she completely ignored her litter box, peed anywhere, slept constantly and ate nothing. That weekend Andy went back to the vet, where this time they did a full body x-ray. I took the phone call two hours later from the vet informing me that she had two tumors. One on her spine and one on her kidney-which explained the peeing problems. They had metastasized and there was nothing really to be done. His words to me were,

"So if she's eating and doing okay, you can let her go for a while. Otherwise...."

I knew what that "otherwise" meant. I had a dog we had to put to sleep because of brain tumors when I was 16, and I knew that there was no coming back from what she had. Through tears I told Andy what the vet said and what our options were. He was not ready to let her go yet. She still seemed to be more on the life side of things at that point, even though she wasn't eating at all now.

Cecelia, who volunteers at an animal shelter and fosters kittens, came over with a bag of tricks to try on Jazz to see if we could at least get her to eat again. But after three days of force feeding her, Andy and I gave up. I felt like we were only torturing her at that point. All she did was sleep. Andy was reluctant to put her down, because of how much she hated going to the vet. I don't think any animal loves it, but Jazz had a bad experience once that really put her off going. That was when I remembered that I had heard somewhere about vets who would come to your home to put an animal down. I did some research and found a couple. I talked to Andy about it, but he was still not ready. He wanted her to go on her own, although I knew that might take a while. With three little kids in the house, I didn't think that was probably the best option. Not to mention, she seemed to be miserable and in pain. However, she was more or less his cat and I wanted him to make the final decision, so I left him alone.

By that Friday, not yet a week since she had been diagnosed, she was looking worse than ever. Twice that day she had tried to escape outside, which was something she hadn't done in a while. Then that night she found a spot to lay down in the corner of the kitchen where she had never gone before. Andy figured she was probably trying to find a place to die. When he came home from work that night, after seeing her, he said to me,

"We need to call someone and do it tomorrow. She is just not our Jazz anymore."

She wasn't and she looked like she was done. So the next morning I made an appointment for the vet to come over at 1:30pm. We let Jazz outside in the morning. It was sunny and breezy, perfect weather for her to be outside. Sonya was crying on and off most of the morning. Andy was sitting outside with Jazz for a while. I put off all the things I had to do that day and Sonya and I went outside to spend some time with her too. The younger two, oblivious to this part of life, ran around and played. Then the vet came at 1:30. She was a wonderful, sweet lady, but it was like looking at a personified grim reaper. Jazz was laying under a rose bush when she arrived and she told us we could leave her there. She would give her one shot to knock her out and then the second shot would, well, send her to the big scratching post in the sky.

I had all the girls come over and give her one last pet and say their goodbyes. Sonya was sobbing, and I wasn't far behind. Then I tried to usher them inside, but Lana decided she wanted to stay and watch. I told her no and she argued with me, until I promised her a cookie if she would join us inside. She willingly ran in he house.

Andy stayed outside to be with Jazz. Sonya and I sat on the couch and cried while Georgia sat near us, looking like she wanted to be sad, but didn't really understand why. Lana jumped up and down on the floor near me asking for,

"COOOKIE!! I want my COOKIE!!"

Seriously Lana! Some of us are trying to mourn here! She would not shut up about the cookie. I think my daughter may lack empathy, or sympathy. Perhaps both. That might be a problem, but I couldn't think about that right now. I just wanted her to stop, so I got up to get her cookie and looked outside to see Andy holding Jazz as the vet administered the final shot. Then I saw my husband, who up to that point hadn't shed a tear, break down and cry like I've never seen. We've been together for 16 years and I've only ever seen him cry one other time. That day, he broke. He got it back together after about ten minutes. Can't cry to long, you know, because he's a guy and all. Sonya and I however, cried on and off for the rest of the day. It was a pretty miserable day and in the middle of it, we were trying to put up Christmas lights and decorations. Because nothing says Christmas like putting your beloved pet to sleep!

It's been hard on all of us. Well, Andy, Sonya and me anyway. Sonya came across an ornament when we were decorating the tree that held a picture of Jazz and started crying again. Andy has had the worst time of us all. There hasn't been anymore crying, but he was definitely brooding for the earlier part of last week. I think the hardest part for us was that she wasn't that old for a cat and that it happened so damn fast. One minute she's fine, normal, swiping at my legs in the bedroom Jazz and the next she's a five pound mass of fur barely moving.

And to answer the question everyone asks, yes we will most likely get another pet. I've been wanting a dog for years, but to be honest I liked having a cat. I wouldn't mind having both. For right now though, we are going to grieve over the loss of this one for bit and take some time to miss her. She was a huge part of our lives for eleven years. She was there for some of the most important times from marriage to births. She was a part of our family and we were in no way ready for this. It's going to be hard without her, even if she did drive me crazy, or annoy me half the time, I still loved her. In fact, I knew this was going to be hard on Andy when she died, but what I didn't count on was how sad I would be. Even now writing this, I've done part of it in tears. She was a great pet and we will miss her terribly. Rest in Peace Jazzy cat.

Jazz and Sonya 2005

From The Mouths of Babes

2011-12-07T09:53:00.000-08:00

Sooo, things are a tad crazy around here again. This week is just chaos for me, mostly because of the Christmas party Andy and I are throwing Saturday night, but also because we are finally getting our new heater/AC unit. I have something I really want to write about and share with you all. A sad thing that happened over this past weekend, but I just don't have the time right now to devote to it. In the meantime, I thought I'd share a quick funny Georgia story. Then when my head stops spinning next week and everything in our lives stops breaking down or dying, I will share with you all the story in my head that need to come out. But for now-Georgia!

First I have to tell you about two words that she uses constantly, that coming from a three year old is cute enough, but then the way she says them... I giggle every time. The words are, in Georgia language, "Emazing" and "Ennoying". I'm not sure why she thinks those words start with an E instead of an A, but she does. She will say things like, "Lana! That is so ENNOYING!" Or, "Oh my gosh, dose lights are so EMAZING!" I can't bring myself to correct her. I love it.

Then there was her comment yesterday, when we dropped Sonya off at piano lessons. She takes piano from a gay man in Burbank, who's house inside and out is well taken care, nicely decorated and just beautiful. Not really surprising I suppose. He and his husband live there with their two boys. He is awesome and yes, as the house implies, he is your stereotypical gay guy. Not that there is anything wrong with that! He is very flamboyant. Even someone with no gaydar would know this guy is gay and as I said, he has impeccable taste. Think Cam from Modern Family. Sonya absolutely adores him and loves going to piano. I only tell you about all this gayness, because it makes what Georgia said that much funnier.

When we drove up yesterday, we noticed they had decorated their house for Christmas. For some reason, people seem to think throwing up any lights they have on their house in any formation as long as their house is illuminated, is okay. In other words, most people have tacky light displays. His house, was, of course, lovely. It was daytime, and we didn't see it lit up, but you could see how it was layed out and there was garland and decorations that were overall, tasteful. The girls and I were all commenting on how they had decorated for Christmas and how pretty it was. Then as we were getting ready to drive away, after dropping off Sonya, from the back seat Georgia says,

"Wow! Dat house looks FANTASTIC!"

Two things- I've never heard her use "fantastic" before that moment, and two- isn't fantastic one of those words people like to use when mimicking stereotypical gay guys? I think she might have even accented her "s".

You Ought To Be In Pictures

2011-12-02T13:28:00.000-08:00

While my sister and her family were here, we had my good friend BethAnnDoodKoehn, come up to take pictures of the girls. Plus, she and I took a few with them. We spared the husbands of such torture and they headed off to the Los Angeles Auto Show for the afternoon. BADK has always loved taking pictures since I met her in high school. She is always trying to learn more about photography and recently has started a little side photography business. So I thought I'd give her a shout out and share a few of the fabulous pictures she took. If you live in the Southern California area and are in need of some new kid, family, pet, wedding, pregnancy, whatever pictures, (ok, maybe no nude pictures) check out her facebook page and hire her. She's fairly cheap right now, since she's just getting started, but she knows what she's doing. Thanks BethAnnDoddKoehn!

How adorable are all these girls?!

From Left: Vivian, Lucy, Sonya, Lana, Georgia-so much personality in these five!

Okay, may I just compliment myself and my sister for a minute? We look damn good in this picture. Especially for having five kids. Just sayin'. It could just be Beth's awesome work though.

Scapegoat

2011-11-29T14:11:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, while I was getting dinner ready for FIVE kids, they were all playing in the living room. Things were going well and then Georgia said,

"Somting stinky! I tink Vivian pooped!"

Then Sonya chimed in "Yeah, she pooped. It stinks in here!"

Now, it's been almost a year since I've had to deal with a kid in diapers. I know how they like to lie about their poop, at least mine did.

"No, mother, I have no idea why I smell so badly. Pay no attention to that load in my diaper."

I don't know why they hated being changed. So it was no surprise when I walked to Vivian and asked if she pooped and she gave me a flat out-"No." Not believing her I checked her pants, but turns out she wasn't lying. No poop. Huh.

"She didn't poop girls. Maybe she just farted or something."

"Yeah, maybe," Georgia agreed.

Then Sonya fessed up, "Actually, I farted."

"SONYA!" I said. "So you just blamed Vivian for you stinking up the room?"

"Yup!" She said, giggling.

It seems like she's practicing to be a grandfather.

Ironmom

2011-11-28T14:32:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! So when last I left you, I was about to embark on the journey that is five children. ALL girls no less. And look here I am on the other side! I survived! In fact, in some ways it was easier than I thought it would be and in other ways...well you people with 4 or more kids are a wee bit on the crazy side, is all I'm saying.

My sister and her family came in the Thursday before Thanksgiving. She and her husband left on Friday morning to head to Arizona for the weekend, as I mentioned, to support their friend competing in the Ironman there. (Also a crazy person.) Friday went pretty smoothly. The girls all played well together and had fun. I was breezing through this five kid thing on my own. In fact so much so I thought, huh, maybe I could have another one. I took care of them all day-FIVE OF THEM, cleaned the house, made dinner and STILL had energy for sex that night. Oh sorry, that last part might have been too much information. Then Saturday happened. The good news was Andy was home to help. The bad news, everyone of my girls had a MAJOR breakdown/temper tantrum between Saturday-Sunday.

It started with Lana. Who's surprised? Then you haven't been reading this blog very long. Thursday night she came down with a fever and threw up in the middle of the night. Just what I needed as I was about to take care of two extra kids. She continued the fever on Friday and stayed home from school, but seemed better by the end of the day. I was so paranoid that this was going to get to everyone, but it didn't really. My stomach was a little funky for a couple days, but nothing I couldn't handle. I am constantly willing myself not to get sick, when I start to feel it. I do NOT have time for that crap.

Then on Saturday she woke up super cranky. Maybe it was leftover sickness, but still, a cranky Lana is fun for no one. Trust me. In the morning, we went to a little get together for kids at the adult school I take her and Georgia to. They had a drum band playing and an art project for the kids to do. It was there that Lana started to lose it. She decided she was hot, even though it was in the 60's. She kept complaining about being hot, so I finally just let her take off her long sleeve shirt and walk around in her tank top undershirt. I know she had to be cold, but that kid is so damn stubborn and refused to admit it. So there she was in a tank top in the 60 degree weather. Needless to say, we were getting "you're a bad parent" looks from the other moms. Whatever, you deal with her "I'MMM HOOOOTTT!!!" whine then.

When we got in the car to go home she started screaming and crying about her seat belt and she never stopped. As soon as we walked in the door I marched her to time out, where she proceeded to throw whatever object she could find at the bathroom door. Warning to Lana's future boyfriends: Duck. She's a thrower. It was one of her bigger flip outs in a while and it took a good half hour to get her back to normal.

Georgia wasn't in much of a mood for the competition of someone her age and younger than her. Vivian needed the most attention and I had to give it to her. Lana took a serious liking to Vivian and was glued to her side most of the weekend. This sorta sent Georgia into a tailspin, since she is the baby in the house and Lana's usual partner in crime. It came to head when we took all of them out to dinner at Outback. I don't know why we are that crazy, we just are. It seemed easier than cooking and cleaning at the time. Georgia behaved terribly at dinner. She whined and wouldn't eat. Honestly, she is hardly like that. Usually she gets in trouble for being to crazy and goofy when we go out. She only got worse once we got home. Hence the temper tantrum she threw followed by her own time-out, which she rarely gets.

Then we had Sonya. Who, I swear is way to old to be throwing the three year old type temper tantrum, yet every once in a while she does. Bright and early Sunday morning is when she decided to throw down. I'm still not even sure what it was she was so upset about. Something along the lines of wanting Lucy and Vivian in her bed, but not her sisters, but Lana and Georgia wanted to be with everyone, as did Lucy and Viv. I tried to smooth it out and let them all go watch TV in the living room, but Sonya was NOT okay with that. Andy came in and told Sonya to knock it off and serious crying and screaming ensued. Well, he did tell her she was now confined to her room the whole day. Why is it that the husbands go so far in the other direction? It was 6:30 in the morning and now she was not only upset because she hadn't gotten what she wanted, but now she thought she couldn't leave her room the entire day, even to pee.

Eventually, she got herself under control and was allowed to leave her room. It just took a little while. At 6:30 in the morning. Yay.

And in all of this, my sister's girls were perfect. There was really no whining and very little crying. Vivian was a bit more upset on Sunday, but I think she was also not feeling well. She decided I was her mom the entire weekend, because she kept calling for me, "Moooom!!" It took me a bit to figure out she was talking to me. I tried to tell her I was Auntie Kristi, but gave up by Saturday. It wasn't until Megan came back that she realized I was "Kisti". So the whole time I'm dealing with my demon children, I'm tying to figure out what the hell my sister is doing so right making her girls are so well behaved. Where did I go wrong? What kind of secret did she have? Was it something she put in their cereal-and where can I get some?

On Monday we picked Megan and Matt up from the airport and their girls were so excited to see them. By the end of the evening, I realized that Megan didn't have a special secret. Her girls did what most kids do. They held their shit together while Mom and Dad were gone. Lucy became more whiny than she had been all weekend and even ended up with her own temper tantrum and to time out. Vivian was pretty much the same, but may have let loose a bit more with them around. That temper tantrum that Lucy threw that night, made me feel so much better about my parenting skills. I wasn't sucky at it. I know my girls would have behaved just as her girls did if the situation was reversed. They are always good at someone else's house. Everytime they have a babysitter we always hear how great they went to bed. (With the exception of Melinda, who they know well and feel they don't have to hold their shit together in front of) When I put them to bed it's a good 45 minute excursion.

So, turns out I made it through four days with five kids and I did a bang up job. It was A LOT of work though. I didn't think I could spend anymore time in the kitchen than I do now, but guess what! I did. We had a fun Thanksgiving week when my sister and brother-in-law came back, despite our heater unit dying and our cat being on her last legs, but those are stories for other posts. I do know for sure for sure now that I am all good with my three girls. All done now. Vasectomy, here we come! That was too much information again, wasn't it?

Trouble?

2011-11-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

Sonya, Lucy, Vivian, Lana and Georgia

I should be able to handle all of them for four days, right? I mean they LOOK harmless enough. As long as nobody gets sick we'll be fine! Just as long as nobody ends up with a fever and throwing up in the middle of the night it will be ALL GOOD! Yup-healthy kids are easier to take care of, so this should be no problem....

....to be continued....

Because I Am THAT Crazy

2011-11-16T15:07:00.000-08:00

I thought I should warn you all that I may go missing from blogging for the next week or so. The reason is that I'm about to gain two extra kids for four days.

Back in May my sister, Megan, told me she and her husband wanted to go to Arizona for a couple days. They want to support one of their best friends who is going to do an Iron Man. Let's not even go into how crazy THAT guy is. I understand them wanting to go there to support him, because not many people can complete something that difficult. They didn't want to bring their girls. Lucy is three and Vivian is 18 months, so not exactly easy to run around cheering for someone running/biking/swimming with them in tow. They thought that maybe they would wrap their trip to Arizona with coming to visit us, and spending Thanksgiving here. Sounds good! Oh and also could I watch the girls for a few days while they were in Arizona? Suuurree! No problem! I can handle it! Perhaps something else that sounded better in my head. Plus it was May and November was soooo far away.

Well, here we are in November and my sister and her family are ready to hop on a plane out here tomorrow morning. Megan and Matt stay Thursday night, and leave on Friday leaving me ALL ALONE with FIVE KIDS! FIVE!!! ALL GIRLS NO LESS! WHAT WAS I THINKING??? At least Andy will be here on Saturday and Sunday to help out and my sister gets back on Monday afternoon. So, I will only have to be alone for like a day. I can handle that! I think. God, I hope I can. Just kidding Meg-I will be fine!! Maybe.

Yeah, so needless to say I won't have much time for extra things like writing. I don't know how I fit this in most days to begin with, but now that I have an extra 3 year old and and 18 month old to take care of, forget it. Plus I have to change diapers again. I've gotten very used to my non-diapered life. I'm not sure I even remember how to do it anymore!

This is what family is for though. In all seriousness I am excited to see my sister and her family. We don't get to see each other pretty much ever. Wisconsin might as well be the moon since I live in Los Angeles. We can't exactly afford to fly five people all over the country whenever we want. I wish we could. So, it will be fun for our families to hang out and spend the holiday together. And I love the fact that I get to watch my nieces for a couple days. It's something we would probably do all the time for each other if we lived closer. My girls will get to know their cousins better and I know we will have a fun, albeit crazy, time. Even if I do have to break out the wine at 5pm on Friday night.

Meg-I can't wait to see you and hope you and Matt have a fabulous weekend sans kids. Just remember you owe me one! Oh and I do intend to collect. Only to bad for you I have an extra one to watch.

I will update when I can. I'm sure I'll have plenty to talk about by the end of all this.

Seven Years Ago

2011-11-14T14:46:00.000-08:00

Saturday, we celebrated Sonya's seventh birthday. She had a fun filled day with a trip to Disney Studios to see a screening of the new Muppet Movie, (thanks to Melinda!), In-n-Out for lunch (also Melinda), then an evening slumber party. That part sounded much better in my head than it did in person. Five seven year olds in our house made it very, um, screechy in here. Our house is not big enough for that much screechiness. Sonya did have a great time, and fortunately only two of those girls actually spent the night. However, I didn't plan to write about her party this weekend. Instead I thought I'd give you all a story about baby Sonya. Since I didn't start this blog until she was four, I didn't get to write about all the crazy baby stories that happened, what now seems like forever ago. I know I've mentioned things here or there about when they were babies, but not an actual tale. So in honor of her birthday, here is one of my favorites. Some of you may already know this one. It's an oldie, but a goodie.

As I've mentioned time and time again, Sonya was a screamy baby. Not colicky exactly, but she cried. A LOT. If she wasn't eating, sleeping, or in a trance next to the stove under the exhaust fan, she was crying. Therefore I was stuck in the house for most of the first three months of her life. I was afraid to go anywhere, unless I was sure she would stay asleep. If she woke up, it was all over. Once, I had to leave CVS in the middle of shopping, because her eyes popped open and she started to scream. Now to be clear, that was the new mom Kristi. The experienced mom of three kids Kristi, would just let her scream until I was done with my shopping, and if you don't like it you can go to another CVS, but I have to get this done now, thank you very much. It's so funny how different first time moms are from those of us who have been around the block a couple of times.

Anyway, I hadn't yet taken Sonya into Andy's work to show her off. This was mostly because I was worried about her crying, and disrupting the office. You know, my husband sorta needed to keep his job. But it had been two months, and people kept asking to see the baby, so we said screw it. If she cries I'll just leave. Luckily, she slept through almost the entire visit to his office. Everyone oooed and ahhhed over her. She was a very beautiful baby, as far as new babies go. Still a little alien like, but adorable alien. We were there for an hour or so and decided it was time for us to leave. It was around then that she woke up. She was okay for the time being, but I knew that the peace wouldn't last long. So I said my goodbyes and headed to the car. That is when the wailing started.

At the time Andy was working in Beverly Hills and we live in Burbank. If you look on a map it's only about twelve miles. Quick, right? Only if you live anywhere but L. A. It can take anywhere from 25 minutes (at 2am) to an hour to drive those twelve miles. Since I was leaving at 4 pm on a Friday, I was looking at the hour plan. With a screaming baby. Yay.

So I started my drive and I did all the things I had done before to try and stop her from crying. Things that had worked at one point for five or ten minutes. Shushing, humming, shaking the car seat back and forth, chanting in a Native American like style-you have NO idea. Nothing was working and the sobs only became louder. I was ready to lose it, so as a last resort I decided to try music. A song that I had played incessantly when I was pregnant with her.

I'm not sure why, but for some reason the first time I was pregnant I became obsessed with Barry Manilow. Don't look at me like that. Come on-tell me you can't belt out all the words to Copacabana. My mom was a Manilow fan when I was a kid and I remember listening to him often. I don't know if it was some sort of pregnancy craving or what, but I listed to that Greatest Hits CD over and over again. One song in particular, which is one of my favorites, Mandy. I was so obsessed at the time, we even considered naming Sonya, Mandy. She's so not a Mandy though, so it's a good thing we nixed it. So I put the song on thinking maybe it was one of those things she heard so much in the womb, like the white noise, she would like it. It was probably my first real parental instinct success.

I started the song on the CD and within two piano notes, she stopped screaming. Although, I could hear her kind of whimpering a bit still. It was like she wasn't sure if she was okMandy, she was quiet. So for 45 minutes I sang Mandy, over and over and over again. Needless to say, I was a little sick of the song by the time we pulled in the driveway.

After that, car rides were much more quiet. Anytime she would start to cry we would pop the CD in and BAM! Tears ended. It was the craziest thing. Thankfully, I didn't have to sing EVERY time. Although, anyone will tell you about how fabulous my singing voice is. As long as you ask them after a few drinks at a Karaoke bar.

Eventually, she did become a better baby and didn't hate just being awake, but anytime she started to have a break down in the car I would break out that song. Worked every time, up until she was about two. Although she still did like the song, and would ask us to play it over again when she heard it.

I haven't had Barry in my car for some time now. I should play it and see how much it still effects her, if at all. Even if it doesn't help her now, it saved my sanity back then. Because Mandy-she really did come and give without taking, and I thank Mr. Manilow, and my mom who introduced me to him, for that.

Happy Birthday to my beautiful first born girl! Even though at times you might be difficult, I will never forget how happy you make me, and I won't ever send you away.

Comedy Competition

2011-11-10T13:29:00.000-08:00

Remember how I recently wrote about Georgia being the funny one in the family? Well, either she's reading this blog (which I don't think would be the best thing for her) or she thinks of herself in this way. Even though she's only THREE.

Last week we were in the car on the way back from picking Lana up from pre-school. Lana had on her favorite pink sparkly shoes. She was admiring her shoes and then told me,

"Mommy, my shoes don sparkle in da shade." It was cloudy that particular day.

"Oh, no?" I asked.

"No, day only sparkle in da hot," she informed me.

I giggled and said, "Oh you mean in the sun?"

"Oh yeah," she said. "Da sun. Dats what I mean."

I kinda chuckled again then said, "Lana, you're so funny."

Georgia, who sits next to Lana in the van, had listed to our conversation. Right after I told Lana how funny she was, GG did what can only be described as a courtesy laugh then immediately said,

"Yeah, but I's more funnier."

Since that made me laugh harder than what Lana said, I guess she had a point.

Look What I Found!

2011-11-09T10:22:00.000-08:00

Under the couch yesterday I found G's hair:

It was on this piece of paper from the Sesame Street coloring book, that Sonya had given to Lana, if you notice. Apparently, sneaky little Lana hid it under the couch just like this. I will give her credit though, when I asked her if she hid it there she fully admitted it, smile and all. I did realize she cut off WAY more than I thought she did. Good thing Georgia has unruly curly hair and it is less noticeable. Well, except for in the bangs. I will be making daily checks under Lana's bed when she is a teenager. I shudder to think what will someday be hidden under there.

Beauty School Drop Out

2011-11-07T13:54:00.000-08:00

Saturday I was in and out of the house all day. I took Sonya to a birthday party in the afternoon and Andy was in charge of the Wonder Twins. He cleaned out the garage most of the day and the girls went in and out between helping him, and playing inside. I did request that they not completely destroy the house that day, because I was having some girlfriends over later for a little party. Well, it wasn't COMPLETELY a mess when I got home, but you know, they're still kids and he's still a husband who thinks dishes in the sink and crumbs on the counter is a cleaned up kitchen, so whatever. I wasn't surprised to come home and find a piece of red construction paper cut up all over the living room rug. No biggie since I had to vacuum anyway. What I didn't see, while vacuuming, that was also cut on the floor was hair. Hair belonging to one miss Georgia.

I didn't notice GG's lovely new do until after she had a shower later in the evening. She and Lana have the same type of hair. It's curly and hard to manage, so it is not unusual for it to look unkempt most of the time no matter how often I brush it. Her bangs can also look unruly from time to time. I guess I just hadn't looked at her straight on, until she ran into the kitchen after Andy dried her hair. My girlfriends were all over and we were into shopping for some jewelry, drinking wine and having a few appetizers. Georgia came running out to show us all how wonderful her blown dry hair looked, when I realized something looked amiss with her bangs. I thought perhaps they were just tucked up under some other hair, so I went to brush them down and fix them, only there were no bangs to brush down in that spot. That's when I saw it. A very distinct chunk of hair was missing.

"Ummm, Georgia? Did you cut your hair today?" I asked, my mind going immediately to the cut up pieces of red construction paper that had been strewn all over the living room rug.

She looked at me a minute, then said, "Yeah."

"You cut your hair? When, how...?" Never mind I'll got ask Andy. Maybe he had known about this, but had hoped I wouldn't notice.

I marched Georgia back to the bedroom where Andy and the other two girls were.

"Did you see this?" I asked pointing to Georgia's bangs.

"What?" He asked.

"Look! She cut her bangs!" I said.

"Oh..wow, I didn't even notice that. Huh, well they were playing with scissors today cutting up paper," he told me.

"Yes, I saw the red construction paper everywhere," I said, trying not to sound annoyed with him.

He continued, "So when I came in from the garage and saw them with the scissors and I took them away."

"Well she must have cut them before then," I concluded. "Georgia, why did you cut your hair?" I asked, not really sure what kind of answer I expected from a three year old, but I felt I had to ask for some reason. That is when Lana stepped in with a big smile on her face and said,

"I did it!"

"What do you mean you did it?" I asked.

"I cut GG's hair?" She informed us, extremely pleased with herself.

"LANA! Why!?" Again, not sure what I expected, because she just kind of shrugged her shoulders at us. I mean it's not like I haven't been through this before. But at least Sonya had a reason for cutting her own hair. Not a great reason, but a reason none the less.

"Okay, well, no more scissors for either of you for two weeks," I told them. I'm not really even sure they care about this punishment, but there is not really much more I can do. It was way past the point of getting a time out. I also can't figure out why Georgia said she was the one who did the cutting, when it was Lana. Maybe she figured Lana gets in trouble enough, so she threw herself under the bus. It's pretty nice of her considering how silly Lana made her look.

I'm hoping at some point in the two weeks they will want to use scissors, and I will tell them no then maybe the punishment will make an impression, but who knows? This is one of those things that I think just about every kid does and in the long run, it really is harmless. Although it did cause harm to our Christmas pictures this year. I'm not sure where it is written, but somewhere it states:

"If a child cuts their own hair or their siblings hair, you can be sure professional pictures of some kind are being taken in the time period before said hair grows back."

Yesterday morning were those pictures for us. The Booster Club at Sonya's school was doing a fundraiser where you could get your family Christmas pictures taken. Our appointment was 11:30. Not even 24 hours since the hair went missing. So those of you receiving our Christmas card this year will see just how lovely Georgia's hair is. At least it will be a fun memory and something to laugh at years down the road. Here is a preview.

I'm going to go on a limb and say that perhaps Lana doesn't have a future career in hair, but then again, the short spiky bang look could come back in style. I think I'm hiding all the scissors until the girls are twelve.

'Tis The Season!

2011-11-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

Well technically it is NOT the season yet, but for some reason it gets pushed on us earlier every year. Usually, it doesn't start until after Halloween, but while driving down North Hollywood Way, five days BEFORE Halloween, the good city of Burbank was putting these up:

SERIOUSLY BURBANK?? I love you so much and you do THIS? The week BEFORE HALLOWEEN?? This kinda makes me want to break up with you, but I will let it go. It is not completely your fault. Monday night I saw a Christmas commercial. Not sure what it was for, but it was definitely a Christmas commercial, complete with cartoon Reindeer and snow. I give up. Sorry Thanksgiving. You are now completely wrapped up in Christmas, with a bow and all. Perhaps we should just call it Thanksmas from now on. And for those of you playing your Christmas music right now, just STOP IT. It is NOT Christmas yet. I won't name names, but there are a few of you out there who I know are doing this. You know who you are. It is not time for the Fa la la la la's.

The worst part of all of this? My kids think Christmas is days away instead of weeks. Oh, it's going to be a joyful two months!

Trick or Treat

2011-11-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

After many months of debate and coming up with about 15 different costumes, the girls finally made a decision a couple weeks ago about what they were going to be for Halloween. And when I mean months of debate, I do mean MONTHS. They started talking about what to be this year the day after Halloween LAST year. Here is what we ended up with:

Sonya as Pocahontas, Lana as Tinkerbell, and GG as a little witch. It's a good thing Nona found that Pocahontas and Tinkerbell costume at a consignment shop in Florida a few weeks ago. Sonya was planning on being a fairy with some dress up clothes we already have. Lana had been changing her mind every other day. Then when the package showed up with those two adorable costumes, they were both set on what to be. Georgia, on the other hand, was going to be Minnie Mouse up until last week when she decided the costume felt to "funky". That means it was uncomfortable to her. Sonya had been a witch a few years ago, so I pulled that costume out and convinced Georgia that is what she should be. I'm she agreed, because she was so damn cute. Especially with that hat!

They had a great time trick or treating. Andy and I were talking last night about how crazy it is that they are all now at an age where they really get the whole experience. He and I would stand back as they ran to each house's front door, rang the bell on their own, and yell "Trick or Treat". Lana was the bravest of them all, ignoring any scary decorations in a yard. She would just run to the door determined to get her candy. Sonya, however, would hang back and make sure her sisters didn't get killed by the plastic zombies before running up and grabbing some candy herself. Georgia had me giggling when she asked after EVERY house,

"Aw we going to anotha house?"

We had to answer her every time, or she would just continue asking. After walking down our street, we went back to the house where the girls had just as much fun passing out the candy. Then Andy took Sonya and Lana out to trick or treat for a bit longer. They got back just as I was about to put Georgia to bed, because she was ASKING to go to bed. We had them all in bed and out cold by 9pm, despite the 10 pieces of candy they each ate. All in all it was a fun Halloween.

I think I've come to the conclusion that Halloween is probably my favorite holiday with the kids. I do love Christmas, but there is so much stress that surrounds that time of year, that it makes Halloween feel that much more fun. I love watching them get dressed up and the joy on their faces when they run to each house, and inspect what treat they were given. It's all about the fun on Halloween. That's probably why I feel a little sad today. Another year of them being little on Halloween is gone. I know I have very few years left where they will love getting dressed up and trick or treating with us, so I will hang on to it as long as I can. Even if it means that today will start the great debate of what they will be next year.

What did your kids dress up as?

Sink, Swim or Worse?

2011-10-31T16:56:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Nona and Grampy- my parents- came for a visit. It was a good time of year to have them, because I don't think they've ever spent Halloween with us. Even though they are not here for trick or treat today, they were able to be around for the girls school parties, costume parades, and harvest festival. They were also here when the girls carved their pumpkins. Truthfully, they were here for all the fun parts. Tonight is going to be a blur of walking around getting candy, trying to keep the girls from eating ALL of the candy and then fighting them to go to bed because they are so hyped up on all that candy. So much fun, Halloween! Hmm, now that I think about it, perhaps their plan was to be gone for that part all along. Anyway, Saturday night before the pumpkins were carved, my first grade teacher mom decided to do a little science with the girls.

She took one of our pumpkins and had the girls guess the weight of it, which they were all way off on. I'm pretty sure there is no way to buy a 35 pound pumpkin from the grocery store for $5, no matter how good my Ralph's Club discount is. After they all made a guess, my mom weighed the pumpkin on our scale and then weighed each of the girls. I think this made the idea of weight a bit clearer. The next thing they did was play "sink or float". It is just as it sounds. She filled the sink with water and then went around the kitchen finding items to throw in the water. The girls had to guess if each item would sink or float and see who was right. Eventually, they worked their way up to the pumpkin. It's a great experiment to do with kids over three.

The girls loved it and would probably still be throwing things in the water, if my mom didn't pull the plug on the sink. They especially loved guessing what each thing would do. Sonya started finding things of her own to put in the water and came over with a crayon. My mom held it up and asked each of them,

"Sink or float?"

"Float," answered Sonya.

"Fwaot," said Georgia.

My mom turned to Lana with the crayon in her hand. Lana looked at it, thought for a minute and said,

"Drown."

Huh. That was a little morbid. I didn't even know she knew the word drown or what it meant. Perhaps it's all those Halloween specials she's been watching this time of year. Although, I don't remember anyone drowning in, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."

Lucky for the crayon, we saved it before it met it's demise.

The Aluminum Anniversary

2011-10-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I told you all about my ten year anniversary. I mentioned how much I love my husband and how great he is. He proved it further with his gifts to me for our anniversary. Usually we don't exchange gifts, but since this was our tenth, we decided to make an exception. Okay, fine. I decided we should get each other gifts. I mean it's been ten years! Anyway, I didn't really care what he got or how much he spent, I just wanted a little something to commemorate the occasion. Most guys would have just gotten some flowers or a random piece of jewelry, which would have been fine. However, when Andy puts thought behind a gift, he becomes the most romantic, sweetest, fantastic guy. Here is what I got:

Now most of you are looking at this and thinking- "Ummmm, looks like random jewelry to me." But it isn't at all. In fact, the necklace made me cry. Here is what you are looking at.

First of all, both pieces are made from aluminum since the tenth is the aluminum anniversary. Who even knew there WAS such a thing as aluminum jewelry? The earrings are purple, with gold in them. They represent the place where Andy and I met, college. The colors of our school were purple and gold. Those he gave to me on our anniversary. The necklace came last week. When it arrived I called Andy to let him know and he explained it to me. If you look at the necklace you will see dates stamped on each of the rectangles. Those are the girls birthdays. The little round balls represent Andy and I. They are peas in a pod. That is where I started to cry. Then he told me the reason they are blue and not green, like peas are supposed to be, is because my eyes are blue and he thought the blue would be better on me. AWWWWW!! I know right! He really CAN be so thoughtful and romantic. I love both of my gifts. I wish I could have been as thoughtful, but he really did need/want his new sunglasses.

Now if only he could be romantic in a picking up his dirty clothes off the floor and putting his dirty dishes in the sink kind of way. I guess for now though, he gets a free pass.

When Tooth Fairies Forget

2011-10-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

Sooo, I suck. Why you ask? Because I forgot to play tooth fairy last night. NOT good.

I think this is the fourth tooth Sonya's lost so far. It has been a little wiggly for a few weeks now. Then the other day she wiggled it to the point of extremely loose. She asked me to see if it would come out on Wednesday, but it didn't seem quite ready yet. Then last night after dinner, she asked again for me to try and pull it out. It took a little more pulling than I like, but she was desperate to have that tooth out and it was ready enough. The "magic tissue" did the trick and it popped out in my hand. She ran around the house just as excited as if it was the first one she had lost. She showed her sisters and we called Andy at work. Then she wrote her note to the tooth fairy, as she does every time, placed her tooth in the little tooth bear she has and placed it on her nightstand. I also got to hear about how her friend Tyler, who is in her class at school, lost his tooth yesterday, and how cool was it she lost HERS the same day! How cool indeed. Little did I know that Tyler's lost tooth would help provide my alibi the next morning. She went to bed happy and exited.

I'm not sure why I completely forgot about the tooth, I just did. Maybe because the novelty of her losing a tooth has worn off. Who knows? I wasn't even drinking wine last night! I swear! Andy came home a bit late, so missed bedtime which made it so he didn't remember the tooth any more than I did. I even checked on her before I went to bed last night, but for whatever reason, my eyes never looked to the nightstand where the tooth and note sat waiting.

This morning I woke up a bit later than usual. Most of the time I try to get up by 6:15 so I can work out. All this week I haven't gone to bed until late and then woken up early. That is why when my alarm went off at 6am and I realized I hit the wall. I couldn't do it. My body wouldn't get out of bed, no matter how much my mind try to coax it, so I gave up and went back to sleep for another hour. Then around 7:15 I heard in my sleepy state Sonya calling for me.

"What is it?" I called from my bed, still not ready to get out of it yet.

"Can you come here please?" She asked, sounding kind of sad.

"In a minute, girlie," I told her, trying to wake up. Then out of nowhere it hit me. SHIT! I FORGOT ABOUT HER TOOTH!!! I was awake.

Quickly, I formed a plan in my head. My first thought was to tell her the tooth fairy must have been so busy she didn't have a chance to get to her. No, that was no good. She would be upset, and I didn't want to deal with that. Too much guilt. Then I had it! I found a piece of paper and a random crayon on top of my nightstand. I scribbled a quick little note. Then I went to our change container in the closet, where I had a one dollar bill and a couple quarters. I wrapped them inside the note and headed to her room.

"What's up Sonya?" She had her back to me, so I quickly placed the note and money next to the nightstand.

She was already crying. Shit, shit, shit!

"Tooth Fairy didn't come last night!" She said through her tears.

"Really?" I said feigning surprise, "that's so weird. Are you sure? Let's look around."

Then I bent down next to her nightstand and picked up the folded note and money.

"Wait, what's this?" I said.

"What?" She asked, looking over the bed to me on the floor. I opened up the note and place it with the money on the bed next to her. She read the note, and immediately broke out into a smile.

"Well, that's strange," I told Sonya. "She left you money and a little note but forgot to take your tooth."

"Yeah, that is weird," she agreed.

"You know what?" I told her, spinning my story. "She was probably so busy last night, she just completely forgot it on her way out. I mean your friend Tyler lost his tooth too, and I'm sure there were other kids she had to go to last night. It was probably a crazy night for her. You know how that happens sometimes to mommy and she forgets things."

Luckily, she bought it. "Yeah. Like when you go to the grocery store and are in a rush and then we get to the car and you say 'crap, I forgot something'."

"Yeah, just like that," I said. "But let's not say crap."

Then I said to her, "I think we should leave your tooth here. She probably realizes she forgot it and will most likely come back to get it tonight, don't you think?"

"Oh yeah," she agreed. "Then she can answer the questions I asked her on my note too."

"Yeah I'm sure she'll have more time for that tonight, but at least she left you something last night," I said.

"It's a good thing too," she started to tell me. "Because everyone at school knew my tooth was loose and if they saw I lost it they would have asked me what I got from the tooth fairy. I was afraid I was going have to tell them nothing."

Hold on a second while I pick my heart up off the floor.

"Plus!" She said. "Usually I only get a dollar and this time she gave me a dollar fifty!"

Oops. I had forgotten how much we give her. I think the extra 50 cents was for my guilty conscience.

"Well, maybe she left you a bit more this time, since she was in such a rush and couldn't answer your note last night," I offered.

"Yeah that's probably it," she agreed.

Great! I almost created the most dramatic thing to happen to my daughter to date. Going to school and telling her friends the tooth fairy didn't come. What kind of mother am I? I know there has to be others of you out there who have done this a time or two. In fact, I'm almost positive it happened to my sister Beth, so perhaps it's genetic and I just got it from my mom. If I remember correctly though, she covered much like I did.

Sooo...yeah...I suck. BUT at least I made up for it and suck a little less now.

Like Father, Like Daughter

2011-10-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

I've recently come to the realization, that little Georgia is becoming the jokester in the family. She is the one who is not afraid to make a fool of herself to get a laugh. For a few months now, she will use different voices to make fun or her sisters, or even Andy and I. Most of the time it's her repeating what we say in a goofy voice, but I have no idea where she even got the idea to start doing this. Then again, I have to remember who I'm married to.

Andy has always been funny. It's definitely one of the reasons I married him to begin with. Wittiness comes to him very naturally and anyone who knows him, knows how much he jokes around. Pretty much 24/7. It's hard to get him to be serious. Usually the only time he's serious is when he's mad, we're in a fight or he's sleeping. Actually, even during sleep he's laughing. Like last week when I woke up from a nightmare yelling "NOOO!" I think he laid in bed and giggled at me for five minutes before going back to sleep. Don't bother seeing if I need comforting from my nightmare!! No no, just laugh at me yelling in my sleep. Well, in his defense it was pretty funny. He will be more serious when he's around people he doesn't know that well. He has to feel out his audience before deciding what kind of jokes he can make. When we had kids I always hoped that they would take after him in this way. They all seem to have a good sense of humor. Each one of them can be goofy in her own way at different times, but Sonya will become too self conscience and Lana is too moody. But Georgia...she is the one that will do anything to get a laugh. Sometimes it's making silly faces, sometimes it's the mocking voices, then other times it's her attempt at trying to dance in tap class.

I take Georgia and Lana to dance class every Tuesday right now. It's through the Parks and Rec here in Burbank, so it was fairly cheap. One week they do ballet and the next week it's tap. The girls like going, and I can't even begin to tell how how incredibly adorable and funny they are. I wish I had videos or a picture even, but alas their teacher doesn't allow it. She doesn't allow much, let me tell you. She is very serious about dancing with them and even I'm scared of doing something wrong when I'm there.

Yesterday, she was teaching the girls "shuffle, hop, step", which is the only step I remember from my own very brief tap days some 100 years ago. She showed the girls how to do it and then she went down the line to have each of them do it so she could help them with it. The girls in this class are between 3-5 years old, so they are all cute to watch and have a hard time performing any step. They also have difficulty keeping focused for the 25 minutes they are in there. All of us moms are entertained by our kids each week, and how funny they are when they try to dance. This week though, Lana nailed it. She did a great job with the move and the teacher even commended her. I was so proud. The instructor continued to have each girl show her the move individually until she got to Georgia. Oh Georgia. I don't really even know how to describe what she did in words. If you were a Seinfeld fan, think something along the lines of the Elaine dance. If you weren't you can check it out here. Yeah, it was sorta like that.

Georgia did the shuffle, but kicked her leg way out in front of her. Then she jumped high in the air and landed hard for her step. Except when she jumped, she did this thing with her arms punching them in the air. Her teacher made her do it a few times on each foot and every time she did the weird jump arm thing. At the start of her turn I was giggling, but by the end, I was in full church laughing mode. You know the one. It happens when you find something funny in church and you can't laugh out loud, so you start to laugh inward and it makes your whole body shake which only makes you laugh harder. Then your mom snaps her fingers and gives you her mad look because you are laughing in church, even if it isn't out loud. That was me at dance class yesterday. Only when I turned to look at the other moms, they weren't snapping their fingers with mad faces at me, but doing their own church laugh. I was laughing so badly that I started tearing up at one point. I didn't want to laugh out loud, because I didn't want Georgia to feel self conscience. However, it appeared she did notice we were all in silent fits of giggles, and this only fueled her to be more silly. Even her strict instructor was smiling and appeared to be holding back some of her own chuckles. Then the mom sitting next to me, leaned over and said,

"She is super cute!"

Yes, yes she is. While she may not be the best dancer or any kind of dancer, she appears to be the class clown of the dancing class, and loves every minute of it.

I always knew that when I got surprisingly pregnant with her, there was a reason for her to be in our lives. I'm almost certain now it is for her to make us laugh, and lighten our lives. For all the drama the older two can cause us, she is the comedy to play off of them. I think she is going to have us, and others around her laughing out loud or church style, for many years to come.

Vampire Teacher

2011-10-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

After picking Lana up from preschool on Friday afternoon:

Me- "How was school Lana?"

Lana- "Good! I yike my teacher. Teacher Suzanne."

Me- "Yeah? She's a good teacher, huh?"

Lana- "Yeah, she's fun. Mommy?"

Me- "Yes, Lana?"

Lana- "Does Teacher Suzanne go to sweep at night or is she awake and teaches all night?"

Me- Stifling my giggles, "I'm pretty sure she sleeps at night like we do."

Lana- "Oh. Okay!"

What would possibly make her think that someone stays up all night and teaches? Perhaps I shouldn't let them watch the Twilight movies anymore.

Ten

2011-10-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was an very important day in our family. It was important because it was the anniversary of the beginning of this family. Ten years ago yesterday in a church in Rhode Island, Andy and I vowed to stay together for the rest of our lives, in front of all of our family and friends. So much has happened in that ten years. Namely the three little beings who have turned our lives into something completely different from where we were back then. The funny thing is, we weren't supposed to have October 12 as our anniversary date. We were supposed to be married on September 15th of that year. If you're following, you will see that was also the same year as the September 11th attacks.

Since I told you all the story of how we met, I thought it appropriate to tell you the story about our wedding. Everyone has something that goes wrong at their wedding. Usually, it's something that is easily fixed. For us it was a little more involved of a fix.

Any one out there who has planned a wedding, knows how much work and preparation goes into it. How you get more excited as the day gets closer. It was no different for me. We were living in Los Angeles then, as we do now, but were planning on getting married in Rhode Island. Andy grew up there and since I had moved so much when I was younger, it made more sense to get married where one of us had strong ties. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001 we were supposed to be taking a red-eye flight to RI, where we would get married that Saturday.

I remember that morning as clear as everyone else in this country does. Andy and I lived in an apartment in Burbank that had a running track behind it. I would get up early most mornings and go for a run, before getting ready for work. I headed out that morning with my cassette walk-man (I guess iPods weren't quite there yet) and turned on KROQ. I listed to the Kevin and Bean show every morning. I knew that they were on vacation and would most likely be playing old shows, but when I heard the voice of Ralph, who does entertainment and the news guy Doc I got confused. They were not on vacation with the others and what were they doing live? Weird. I continued to run and as I ran, their words starting sinking in.

Plane hit the tower.

Another plane hits the second tower.

The first tower falls.

I just continued to run, hoping that this was all a mistake. Thinking they would come on and claim it as some War of the Worlds type thing, but no, they seemed pretty somber and extremely serious. I finally decided to end my run and went up to the apartment where I found Andy wide awake sitting on couch watching the whole thing on TV.

"Where were you?!" He demanded.

"Where I go every morning, to run," I said more calmly than I felt.

He had been worried when he received a phone call about what was going on and I wasn't there. We sat on the couch for a while watching the second tower fall and trying not to panic. The talk started about this being a terrorist attack. Then came word of other planes being hijacked and immediately and all the planes were grounded. Then as the horror of the attacks continued, I started to have thoughts in the back of my head that were completely selfish, but I couldn't ignore. What about my wedding?

Now let me just say right here how tragic what happened was. I have so much sympathy for everyone who lost their loved ones that day. I couldn't even begin to imagine. That is what made it worse for me. I was lucky to still have everyone I loved safe and sound, but there was this huge thing that was supposed to be happening in mine and Andy's life that was what? Not going to happen? Going to happen later? Be moved to a different location? I had no idea. I felt bad for even trying to think about it, but we had to.

All the planes were grounded. The times for them to be back in the air kept getting pushed back, and back, and back. The earliest they could get us into RI was the day of our wedding by 10am. The wedding was at 2pm. And that was just us. We had no idea what all my friends and family were going to do. Luckily, my parents were already in RI with my soon to be in-laws. They had driven there the day before to help tie up loose ends. Now we had to tie the biggest loose end of all. Moving the ENTIRE wedding to another date.

I am so thankful to the four of them for all they did those couple days. I was in no frame of mind to make those calls myself. Again, I can't tell you how guilty I felt at that time for feeling upset about the loss of my wedding, especially when so many people lost so much more. But I couldn't help it. It was something I had planned for, well my entire life really.

Fortunately, it was fixable. The place we were having our reception had two dates available, one in November and October 12th. I chose October, for fear of snow in November. You never know in New England. All of our vendors we were using from DJ to photographer, were understanding and available that day. The good thing was that it was a Friday and not many people choose a Friday to get married. This helped us out. Most of our family and friends were able to change plane tickets and make the switch. There were a few people we lost, but a couple that we gained with the new date as well. The day itself ended up being beautiful. The weather was awesome and we had a fantastic time. We went through a bit of stress, but it all worked out in the end. That is more than I can say for so many people's lives that day. I am grateful that was the worst problem I had to deal with.

Now, ten years later, it has become just an interesting little fact in our lives. All of our engravings and wedding invitations say September 15th, 2001, yet our actual wedding date is October 12th. Every September 15, Andy and I wish each other a Happy Fake Anniversary. That week is such a blur in my mind, but Andy remained calm and helpful through it all. He was a rock. Well, after the initial shock anyway. I am thankful for him every day, because besides being a great husband, he is the best father I could have asked for my girls. He has continued to be my support and my rock through so many points in this past ten years. When they told me I needed to have a C-section with Sonya and I burst into tears, when I became surprisingly pregnant for the third time with Georgia, and when Lana had a number of problems as a baby. He has been helpful through all of it. Sure we've had a few bumps in the road, but this is something I have learned about marriage in the past ten years. It's not about flowers and chocolates. Don't expect midnight trips to Paris on a private jet for your birthday. Life is not a soap opera. (Which is too bad sometimes) It's about really being there in the good times AND the bad, the sickness and the health. We've been there for each other. It's not always easy, but it's always totally worth it. For our girls and for each other. So here's to my wonderful husband of ten years. I can honestly say I love you more than the day we got married, and I hope to feel that way in another ten years, and another ten, and another. Then we should be good. Thirty years is long enough to be married, right?

I love you Andy, Happy 10th Anniversary. Thanks for making all my family dreams come true.

Quick footnote-If I haven't said it before, I will say it now, thank you to all of you who switched your plans and lives around to be there with us on this day. Besides having a great husband, I have amazing family and friends.

Family Vacation

2011-10-12T09:55:00.001-07:00

Hello and welcome back! Well, to me anyway. I have neglected my writing because of our whirlwind trip to Rhode Island for the past six days. Can I really call a trip to RI whirlwind though? I guess that should be saved for more exotic vacations to places like Paris or Italy, maybe even Hawaii. However, since there's no chance in hell I will be visiting any of those places in my near future, I will consider this trip in the whirlwind category. It kinda was. We did so much in the four full days we were there. Dinner's out, visits from family and friends, visit to friends, lots of good food and great wine- of course- all while staying with my brother-in-law and his family.

The great news is that the six hour plane ride across the country went extremely well. The girls did fantastic the whole time and we didn't have any major problems. It's so much easier traveling with them now that they can keep themselves entertained and aren't in diapers. As I am writing this, we are on the plane back home. It's hasn't been horrible, but Georgia is definitely more antsy this time. About ten minutes ago I sent her to sit with Andy. It was his turn.

One of the main reasons we decided to take this trip was because we had not seen Andy's brother, David and his family in over two years. They have a little girl, Brigid who is a few months older than Georgia, who we had met before. However over a year and a half go my sister-in-law gave birth to Moira, who we had never even seen in person. Sometimes it really sucks living 3,000 miles across the country. Even if the weather is nice most of the time.

My girls had a great time meeting and playing with their cousins. Brigid was especially fun, because she fits right in with my kids ages. Although, I fear she may have picked up some bad habits from my girls. Perhaps a bit of an attitude and a little more wildness. Oops! Sorry David and Brenda. Brigid is usually a more quiet, easy going type of kid. In fact Brenda described her as an 80 year old in a 3 year old body. I think one of my favorite things she did this weekend was when she asked if she could play outside with my girls.

Sonya and Lana decided to go outside and play picnic, and hang out on the hammock. I don't recall them asking me, more just saying they were going. That was fine with me. They were playing, having fun and staying outside to make noise. That meant peace and quiet inside. Works for me! They coaxed Brigid into going out with them, but once outside she realized that SHE had not gotten permission. I was on my way into the house and she said to me,

"Can I pway owside wit da gwils?"

"Sure, Brigid. Go play," I told her.

"But, can you ask my mowm if I can pway owside?" She said to me.

"It's okay Brigid, I'll tell mommy you're out here," I promised her.

Then she looked at me and kinda put her finger up toward me and said,

"Yeah, but still, can you ask my mowm if is okay."

It was then I realized she wasn't about to take my word for it so I turned toward the upstairs where Brenda was changing Moira and said,

"Brenda, Brigid wants to make sure it's okay with you if she's outside playing."

She of course okayed it and upon hearing this Brigid went to join her cousins to play outside. But ONLY after it was positively okay by her mom. I think my girls would be okay with the mailman telling them it was okay to do something.

So while, it is sad that we don't live closer today for us all to get together more often, it's probably better for David and Brenda in the long run. I have a feeling my girls would be a bad influence on Brigid's 80 year old soul.

Thanks to David and Brenda for the hospitality! We had a fabulous time!

Unwelcome Guests

2011-10-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

Thursday evening, as I was getting dinner ready for the girls and I, Sonya mentioned that her head was itchy. Uh-oh. Then she informed me that the school nurse had been in their classroom that day to inspect the kids' heads for lice, but she didn't get inspected. Double Uh-Oh. The nurse had to leave right before she got to Sonya. That might have been ironic. Why? Oh well, can't you guess by now? Because as it turned out Sonya had LICE!

That's right I said LICE! I feel the only way I can describe this whole situation is to capitalize that word with an exclamation point. I mean really. LICE! Did I need to deal with this a week before we go on a trip back east? No, no I did not. Yet there it was. After she told me about her itchy head, I inspected her. The problem was, I didn't know what I was looking for, because we have never dealt with LICE! before. So I called one of her friend's dad. Her friend had a case of it about a month ago and her parents had been telling me what a pain in the ass it is, not 2 weeks before.

He told me what to look for, but the problem is, Sonya is blond. The eggs are white. This makes them very hard to find. Plus I didn't exactly know what it was I was looking to see. Then I saw one. Not an egg. Nope. An actual live bug. A LICE!

O...

M...

G!!!!

It crawled away quickly. Quickly enough, that I decided to deny that I saw it for about 20 minutes. I did NOT want to deal with this and all that came with it. Because, oh is there A LOT that comes with it.

I decided to stop the search for the moment and we sat down to dinner. Then I called Andy to give him the news, and he decided I was being dramatic. Yes in fact I was being dramatic. Why? Because she has LICE! Which means the other two probably have it , and wow was MY head starting to feel itchy. Then there was the cleaning that had to be done to make sure we got rid of it. All the bedding had to be washed, and I mean ALL. And not just washed, but washed on the highest heat possible. On my washer that is a two hour and twenty minute cycle. Stuffed animals had to be bagged up and stored in the garage for at least 2 weeks. Stuffed animals, that even though they don't play with most of them, it's the end of the world when I had to put them away. All the rugs had to be vacuumed or washed, the couch and the rocking chair had to be sprayed with a LICE! killing spray, and I had to treat all of us with some sort of LICE! killing product. So was I being a bit dramatic? HELL YES I WAS! Look at all the shit I had to do, on top of all the shit I have to do everyday already. Oh and, AND! Andy was leaving Friday night for a fun filled weekend in Vegas with his friends. So while he was off gambling, drinking and eating great food, I would be cleaning, washing, and let's be honest, drinking myself. There was no way I was getting through this weekend WITHOUT a glass of wine. Or perhaps I'd bump it up a notch to vodka. Either way, this was not my idea of a fun weekend. When faced with these situations, I tend to get mad and dramatic before I get to my place of acceptance and just do it. So, I just had to go through my phases.

It only took me a couple hours before I did get there though. Andy got home from work, and I went to the store to arm myself with whatever products I needed to destroy this enemy, while itching my head the whole time. I ended up getting a homeopathic LICE! killing product, that the dad of Sonya's friend had recommended. The only problem with it was that you had to let it sit for four hours. So we couldn't start the treatment until the next morning. Poor Sonya. She didn't want to go to bed that night knowing there were bugs crawling around in her head. I promised her we would take care of it first thing the next morning. She was already upset, because she couldn't go to school the next day and worst of all to the birthday party for her best friend's sister. They were all mad at me for that one but what could I do? I wasn't about to bring them around other kids, until I knew for sure that those pests were gone.

I got up extra early on Friday to squeeze in a workout, before starting every one's treatment at 7AM. The good part for the girls is I allowed them to sit and watch TV for about three of those four hours. There wasn't much else they could do. We had to wear shower caps and I wanted to do anything that would make them forget they were wearing shower caps. Georgia wasn't too keen on having that on her head, but when zoned in front of the TV she sorta forgot. I stripped down the house and started the wash. My poor machine has been on since 7AM Friday morning. Our water bill is going to be a wee bit high for these days. Stupid LICE!

When the four hours were up, we showered out the product and washed our hair. Then I had to go through every one's hair with a fine tooth comb, and nit pick. And there are two phrases that I have always used in my life, that I finally realized where they come from. Look at all I learned! Anyway-that phase took a while, especially with Sonya's long hair. Don't think the other two were any easier. Their hair may be shorter, but working with curls is challenging. I couldn't really go through my own hair though. I used the comb a bit, but didn't find anything. When I was done with the girls, we took a ride to Sonya's school to see the nurse and have her check us all out. Sonya has to have less than five nits (or eggs) in order to return to school, but it was to late for her to return that day anyhow. I just wanted to make sure I did what I was supposed to. Plus I really wanted someone to check me. I was positive I had a whole camp of them living on my scalp.

Thankfully, I was wrong. The good news was she found none, on Georgia or myself. Lana only had one and Sonya did still have five or six that she found. Nothing alive anymore though, so that was a plus. She informed me that I still had to go through Sonya's hair for a few more days searching out nits. Then in 7-10 days it is best to repeat the treatment, just to be sure anything that is thinking about coming to life, does not. We will be in RI at that time, so I will get the 10 minute non homeopathic treatment to use then. (Don't worry David and Brenda, I promise we won't leave you with LICE! Hopefully.)

Now here I am on the other side of having a kid who had LICE! I can answer any questions you might have on the subject now and yes it sucks more than I can tell you in words. I have continued to check Sonya all weekend long, which sometimes she's okay with and sometimes she complains about. Fortunately, I haven't found to many and I think they are mostly gone. I periodically checked the younger two as well, but found nothing and to be honest, didn't feel like dealing with Lana's whining about it every time. So I left them alone after a while. I'm counting on Sonya getting back into school tomorrow, where she will be wearing a braid from now on. Otherwise, I'm giving her a "mom" cut.

Thankfully, since we were able to get rid of most of it and all the live ones, we were able to continue with our weekend plans. We had a Girl Scout pancake breakfast yesterday morning and a birthday party afterward. The only problem with doing those things, is that Sonya thought it would be a good idea to let everyone know,

"I had LICE! yesterday and had to stay home from school!!"

Thanks for sharing Sonya! Well, I guess it's better than sharing the LICE! with one of the kids. Although who knows if she didn't. Sorry to anyone who's kid may have gotten it from her. Enjoy washing the contents of your house!

Oh and by the way, I apologize for making all of you itchy while reading this. It's just something that happens as soon as the word LICE! is brought up.

Georgia's Eating Adventures

2011-09-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

I have three different kind of eaters with my three girls. As I've well documented on this blog, Lana is my picky eater. If it's not peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese, it takes much coaxing to get her to try it. Sonya will try just about anything I ask her to, but won't necessarily like it. She is willing to try though, which I love. She will also eat whatever she has to in order to get to a treat. Although, we don't always have a treat every night. Georgia, while she's not fond of veggies, she will eat just about anything else. I made beef stew a few weeks ago, the other 2 gagged down their three bites. Little G had two bowl fulls.

Last week I made Chili for Andy and I one night. It's a very healthy and not very spicy chili recipe I got out of my Cooking Light magazine. The next night I decided to give the girls the leftovers for their dinner. I was sure they wouldn't like it, but I feel like you should expose your kids to as many foods as possible, whether they like them now or not. If you don't, then all they will ever eat is PB&J and grilled cheese. At least this way they try new things and start to get a taste for them, and maybe someday they will even like different foods. At least this is the theory I'm working with.

So I gave then all a little bowl of chili, complete with some cheddar cheese and crackers. Lana took one look at it and gave me her usual,

"YUK! I don't want to eat THAT!"

Sonya tried it, and even though at first claimed she liked it, was done after about five bites. Georgia ate her entire bowl and then proceeded to eat TWO more bowls of the chili. Although, she was not so fond of the kidney beans and did pick most of those out. I couldn't believe it. She absolutely loved it. Then on Sunday night we were having "clean out the fridge" night with leftovers. I gave everyone the choices of what was to eat and given the options between lasagna, pasta, and chili, girlfriend chose the chili. Well, actually this is what she chose,

"Georgia, what do you want for dinner tonight?" I asked her. I had already given the options a few minutes before and had asked the others. Everyone else was opting for Lasagna or pasta. Not G. She looked up at me and said,

"Cold."

"What?" I asked, not really sure what she had said.

"Cold," she said again.

"You mean chili?" I asked.

"Yeah!" she said.

Not only will she eat just about anything, but she's funny too! I think next week I will try liver and lima beans, although I'M not eating that one.

Fickle

2011-09-26T13:58:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday the girls were all outside playing somewhat nicely. Lana had been in a particularly ornery mood all day for some unknown reason. She even had a meltdown earlier with her friend Angelina over. She spent about ten minutes in timeout while Angelina went off and played with Georgia. So I wasn't surprised when I heard Lana yelling about not wanting to play the game Sonya was suggesting. I stood and listed to see what was going to happen to decide if I needed to intervene.

"I don't want to play that!! I'm going inside!"

She stomped in the house and yelled to nobody or anybody,

"I'm not EVER going outside AGAIN!!"

"Okay," I said and went about my business. I guess she figured I didn't hear her right so she yelled again,

"I'M NOT EVER GOING OUTSIDE AGAIN!!!"

"Sure, Lana," I was not about to play into her tantrum. Then she went to the back door and yelled from the steps at the three girls playing outside,

"I"M NOT EVER COMING OUTSIDE AGAIN YOU GUYS!!!!"

Her yelling was met with silence from them. They continued to play their game and ignore Lana. I don't think they did it on purpose, I really think they just didn't hear her. So she stood there on the step for a minute, waiting for someone to acknowledge that she was MAD. She tried one final time,

"YOU GUYS!!! I'M NOT EVER COMING OUTSIDE AAAGGAAIINNN!!"

Crickets.

Then, not even sixty seconds after her last declaration, I heard her say,

"I think I'm going to go swing!" Then off she ran OUTSIDE to her swing.

I guess she's just practicing her woman's right to change her mind on a whim.

Going Green Again

2011-09-22T14:39:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, after the Mommy and Me class I take Lana and Georgia to, there was a mom selling a product she had made. The product was reusable bags. I'm not sure if some of you have seen these in another place or online, but when I found hers I thought they were absolute genius. I only had enough cash to buy two at the time, but the week later she was at the Family Picnic at Sonya's school, and I bought four more.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I pack a lunch and snack everyday for at least two of the girls. This meant using Ziploc baggies that would get thrown away after they finished their food. I was beginning to feel really guilty for how much trash we were making every day, not to mention the cost of going through the baggies. I've tried containers, but they take up so much room in the lunchbox, it's just not feasible. Then I found Colleen and her product. You guys these things are awesome! You can put wet or dry food in them, and they can go in the washer AND dryer. Woo-hoo! They have a Velcro to hold the bag closed and keep the food in. The best part is they come in all kinds of patterns and colors for girls or boys. They come in snack or sandwich size. Right now we just have the snack ones. Here are some of the ones we have.

Colleen is a stay at home mom and hand makes them. She uses the money she makes from them to supplement her family's income. I don't know Colleen at all, but I loved her product so much, I told her I would tell all of you about it. I'm also all about helping a fellow mom in any way I can. We have to stick together you know! You can find her website here and order some for your kids. It doesn't matter if you live here in Burbank or across the pond in London. She will make 'em and send them to you. Buy a few and save yourself some money, AND the earth. It's a win win! Plus your kids will love the fun colors and patterns. My girls will request which ones they want in their lunchbox that day. I've only been using them about a month, but so far they are holding up really well. So go to her site and buy a few for your family! Then tell your friends. I'm sure you will love them as much as we do.

By Themselves

2011-09-20T15:49:00.000-07:00

When the girls were all babies, I couldn't imagine them ever doing anything for themselves. I think most everyone has a hard time imagining their babies doing anything on their own. Then they get a bit older and they do start to learn how to feed themselves, dress themselves, even wash up in the bathtub at night. Because my girls are so close in age, I feel like I have been helping at least one of them since forever. Slowly, they have all started doing those things on their own though. Georgia still needs a bit of help, but since she's determined to be like her sisters, she doesn't really like to accept the help. The one thing I figured they would still need me for, for a while anyway, was getting buckled into the car seats. Until last week.

It's funny, because anytime I would talk about having to do this or do that for the girls and how it would just be easier when they could...fill in the blank here, my mom would talk about how she remembered the first time she told us to go get in the car, and we did. And we buckled ourselves. She told me as a way to let me know, I would get there eventually, and quickly. Perhaps I shouldn't be so eager to get there.

Getting my girls into the car and buckled is one of the things that makes us at least ten minutes late to anywhere we go. From getting their shoes on, to actually getting in the car, fighting over which seat they are going to sit in and then the buckling. OH... MY... GOD!! THE BUCKLING!!!

Sonya is not a problem. She can usually do her own, not a big deal. Lana has gotten better, but still needs help sometimes. Georgia, well, she can do the top of the 5 point harness, but the bottom is always an issue. However... BACK OFF! Because,

"I CAN DO IT MYSEFFF!!"

That is what you will hear if you even think of helping her. This is what takes another five minutes to get out of the driveway. Why? Because she CAN'T do it herself. She can do part of it by herself, but she needs help with the bottom, and she does NOT want help. Then I give up throw the car into reverse and when she realizes that we are moving, THEN she asks for help. This has been going on for quite a few weeks now. It's starting to get extremely annoying, and I'm ready to just strap her to the luggage carrier on the roof of the van instead. Except then, I will get those disapproving looks from other drivers. Whatever. Do they have a three year old insisting to do everything by themselves?? NO? Then don't judge.

Well, then last Tuesday we were getting ready to take the two little girls to their new ballet/tap class. They must have all been excited to go, because I only told them once to get their shoes on and head to the car. Within two minutes they were all out of the house and in the van. I grabbed my sunglasses and keys and headed out the door. I noticed the door to the van was already closed. Usually, they are arguing over seats at this point, but I saw no sign of that. After I locked the door to the house, I opened the door to the van. There I found all three girls sitting in their seats, completely buckled. Including Georgia.

"Are you ALL buckled?" I asked.

"YUP!" They replied.

"Did you all buckle yourselves?" I said looking at Georgia, figuring Sonya must have helped her.

"YUP!" They said again. "Georgia did it all by herself too," Sonya said reading my mind.

"Oh, wow. Great job girls!" I said. I was shocked. I was proud. I was so sad. They did it by themselves. Without my help. They didn't need my help anymore. This is the part about motherhood that really sucks. You spend all your time trying to get them to do something on their own and then when they do it, you want that time back when they couldn't do it and needed you more.

I made kind of a sad face as I was closing the door to the car and the girls asked me why. I told them, I was happy that they did it on their own, but sad they didn't need me anymore. Then I walked around to get in the driver's seat. As I opened my door, Lana unbuckled the bottom part of her seat and said,

"Mommy! I still need help! You can buckle me."

Awwwww! So sweet I know.

"No, it's okay Lana. I'm happy that you are all getting bigger and can do it on your own. It just makes me a little sad. Good job girls!" Then off we went to dance class where, for once, I was actually on time.

Just a little side note to this story-this has only been a one time thing so far. I am still arguing with Georgia over getting her buckled, just about every time we get in the car. My sadness over them all doing it by themselves, is back to annoyance with GG. Especially because I know she CAN do it. It appears that I am never happy with the situation. I think this may just be part of being a mom.

Famous!

2011-09-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, maybe we're not exactly famous, but certainly more people know about Sonya and this blog now. A few weeks ago I was contacted by a woman from Parents.com, the online portion of the magazine Parents. If you're a parent, you have read Parents at some point, no doubt. Anyway, she had seen Sonya's back to school picture on here and asked if they could feature it on their back to school page on their site. They said they would also put a link to this blog underneath Sonya's picture. Of course I was more than happy to let them do this. I was excited because it could mean more potential readers for me, but more than that I was thrilled that someone over at Parents knows about THIS blog! I feel like it's a pretty big deal, so I had to share with all of you. So go over to their site and check it out. We are on a nationally known publication's website! See..famous! Well, almost famous.

Sounding It Out

2011-09-14T16:14:00.000-07:00

Recently, Lana has been sounding out words. She has even read the first two books in the series of BOB books. If you don't know what these are and you have a child who is starting to read or will be soon, do yourself a favor and get some. They are fantastic. They are basically "Dick and Jane" for our kids generation. Anyway, she has been seeing words and trying to sound them out wherever we are. Whenever I hear her doing it I try to help her out, because even though she gets all the right sounds of the letters, she still has a hard time putting those sounds together to make a word.

Yesterday was Lana and Mommy morning. Sonya is in school all day, and Georgia now goes to preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Some of my friends thought I was crazy to not put the girls in preschool together at the same time, but I planned it this way ON PURPOSE. Yes, maybe I am crazy. However, I did it because little miss Lana has never had any alone time with me like the other two have. Unless you count from when she was 11-15 months. I was pregnant with Georgia then and Sonya had started preschool, so we had some alone time then, but it just isn't the same thing. Next year she will start kindergarten and my alone opportunity with her will be gone, so I decided to take it while I can this year. It's not like we're going to Disneyland or anything, just running errands or maybe hanging out at home, but the point is, my attention can be solely given to her. Lana is a kid that REALLY needs that sometimes. I've always said she would have been better off as an only child. So yesterday, we went to Target. She was excited about going, because I promised she could get a new lunchbox, which until last week she didn't want. You may remember, I tried to get her one when I got her sisters' each one a month ago. Well, after going to school last week for the first time and realizing she had the same old lunchbox, she decided she now needed a new one. So I promised her a trip to Target to buy one on our first Mommy and Lana morning.

It was a fabulous trip to Target with only one kid in tow. She did almost have a tantrum over toothbrushes while we were there, but I managed to talk her down. Possibly because there wasn't anyone else to add their two cents. (I'm looking at you Sonya.) We were getting everything we needed and at one point she asked to walk instead of sit in the cart. I allowed her to as long as she stayed next to the cart. At one point I was preoccupied in an aisle looking for some sort of product and when I walked back to Lana and the cart I found her trying to read the word on the side of the shopping cart.

"Teh...Aww...rrr...gga...eehh...teh," she sounded. "Teehh...awww..rrr..gggaa..eeh...teh."

"Good job, Lana!" I encouraged. "Now put it all together," I said, just waiting for her to sound it out enough and hear herself saying the word "Target". Instead, she smiled pointed at the word and said,

"Shopping Cart!"

I guess we will go back to the BOB books.

Bookworm

2011-09-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

I am an avid reader. I've always loved reading books for as long as I can remember. There was a period of time after I had the girls, that I wasn't reading at all, because if I had any extra time I was using it to sleep. I got to a point where I missed reading books though, so I found time to read. It's the only place I can't do anything else. The bathroom. Sorry, but it's true. It's where I read about 80% of my books. The other 20% being right before bed, if I'm really into a book and willing to spare the sleep, or that one time we went to the beach and the girls actually entertained themselves for half an hour so I read. I don't read the most intellectual books. I like reading to escape, so I lean more towards beach type reads like Sophie Kinsella or Jennifer Weiner. I do love Harry Potter too, and have read other things like "The Time Traveler's Wife" and my most recent favorite, "The Help". I loved that damn book. White woman from the south in the '60s were NOT nice. I'm just saying. The most recent book I started reading is "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". I know, I know, I'm late to the party, but at least I showed up. The problem with this book was that I had a REALLY hard time getting into it. I'm not sure why. I talked to my sister, Beth about it, and she said it took her about 100 pages to get into it. Megan said the same thing, so I guess it wasn't just me. Now that I'm further into the book I am intrigued and itching to read it when I can. However, there are only so many times a day when I can lock myself in the bathroom, so it might take me a while to unravel the mystery.

Sonya has taken after me with her reading habits. I say after me, because Andy has never been much of a reader. He reads magazines and news on the Internet, but book are not really his forte. His brother, David, however will read a 500 page book in about 4 hours. So Sonya may have taken some of her reading love from that side of the family too. She loves to read and reads faster than I ever did at her age. She's already reading chapter books like "Tales of The Fourth Grade Nothing", that I didn't even look at until I was at least 8 or 9. Over the summer I took her to the library where she checked out some chapter books that were in the section for "3rd and 4th graders". She took out about twelve of these fairy books that she's been into. The books were due back in three weeks. She was done with ALL of them in five days. FIVE DAYS! I couldn't believe it. So yeah, the kid likes to read.

Fortunately for her, she has less responsibility and more time than I do, so she can read just about anytime. Although, like her mother, she also reads in the bathroom. Andy reads in there too, so it's not just from me! Anyway, Saturday afternoon she used my bathroom and when she came out, she asked me about "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" book. I told her it was mine and I was in the middle of reading it. She informed me that she too had started reading it when she was in the bathroom. What? NO!

"Sonya, that is not a book for you girly. It's a book for adults not little girls, " I explained.

"Well, I started reading it," she told me.

Then I just let it go. Until yesterday, when I headed for my daily bathroom visit and read and couldn't find my book. I looked on my nightstand, nope. Then I looked in the living room, where it would have no reason to be and nothing. Then a thought occurred to me and I remembered my conversation with Sonya two days before. There in the girl's ducky bathroom, in the book basket next to the toilet was my book. In it were two bookmarks. One for me, one for Sonya. I'm not sure what I was more worried about, her reading a book that was much to old for her, or her understanding it better than I did.

So we had a more in depth conversation about it last night at dinner. I again explained she couldn't read that book and she asked why not.

"Because it's too old for you for right now. I don't think you'll understand some of it and there may be parts that are to scary for you. I'm not really sure, because I haven't finished it," I said.

"Well, how about this? You can read it first and then let me know if I can read it when you're done," she told me.

I agreed knowing what my answer would be before I finished the book, but this seemed to appease her, so I went with it. Just to remind everyone, SHE IS SIX. Okay, almost seven, but still!! I can't have her reading books about murder and mayhem!

Well, I was debating on when to let her read Harry Potter, but I suppose I can put that debate to rest and just let her read them now. At least those are closer to age appropriate. And the murder and mayhem doesn't start until at least the third book. That will take her at least until Thanksgiving to get to. Maybe Halloween.

For The Love Of Treats

2011-09-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

I think I mentioned that my in-laws were in town last week. One of the places they like to take the kids when they're here is Menchie's. The kids love it and if I'm being completely honest, my father-in-law would eat there every night if we let him. He loves ice cream. Well, this is frozen yogurt, but they have hot fudge and when you come right down to it, that is what he really wants the most is the hot fudge. They had already taken the girls once on Friday afternoon, after playing at the park. On Sunday we went to the beach and we had decided everyone would go again to Menchie's that evening. We had a late lunch after the beach, so Menchie's was going to be dinner/dessert. I was not going, however, because I had dinner plans with my girlfriends for Melissa's birthday.

The girls had been acting unruly since we had gotten back from the beach, and we had to threaten to take away the trip for frozen yogurt if they didn't find some better behavior. They calmed down and played outside for a while. Before I went off to get ready for my night out, Sonya said to me,

"You're not going to Menchie's?"

Or at least that's what I thought she said.

"No, honey, I'm going out to dinner with the girls," I told her.

Her eyes quickly filled with tears and she started to cry.

"Oh honey, don't cry!" I said. "I can't go tonight. If you want to wait until tomorrow to go I can come with you."

"Nooooo!! I want to go tonight!!" She said, and started to cry harder.

I was so touched. She was upset I wasn't coming with them for their big treat. How sweet of her. Then Andy walked by me and said,

"No. She thinks NOBODY is going to Menchie's."

What? No, but she's all upset about me not....

"Sonya, just I'M not going to Menchie's. You guys are all still going," I explained.

The crying immediately stopped. "Oh. We are?"

"Yes, you are all going to Menchie's and I am going out with the girls," I told her.

She wiped the last of what tears had fallen, "Oh, okay!" Then she ran off to play with her sisters.

So it appears that my child loves frozen yogurt more than she loves me. Lovely.

My mother in law even said, "Well THAT'S gotta make you feel real good."

BUT! But-about ten minutes later I was in the kitchen and Sonya came inside and said to me,

"Mommy, are you okay that we're going to Menchie's and you're not?"

"Well sweetie, seeing as how mommy is going to a fancy, yummy dinner, which means I don't have to cook, and I'm not driving there, so I can drink more than one glass of wine, and have uninterrupted adult conversation, while getting away from the craziness of the house-yeah I think I'll be fine." That was only the answer in my head though. The answer I gave her was,

"Well, I'm a little sad that I don't get to go with you all, but it's okay. I will go next time. You guys have fun, okay?"

"Okay!" She said and hugged me before going back outside to play.

Well, she might love the frozen yogurt, but I'm pretty sure she still loves me more. I think. Let's not ask her to make a choice.

Then There Were None

2011-09-07T16:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I figured out when the longing for another baby starts again. It's when your youngest baby starts pre-school. Yup, Georgia started school yesterday and she could have cared less that we were leaving her there by herself for three hours. I guess there is no reason she shouldn't be comfortable there. She's been seeing her sisters go since she was an infant. She was nothing but excited to go and had a great day. The first thing she said when I picked her up was,

"I didn't cwy or whine and I didn't pee-pee in my unders!"

I suppose that is all good. I guess I should be happy she wasn't upset at all. It is better than dealing with a crying child for TWO MONTHS, every time you drop them off (I'm talking about you, Sonya). Still a little tear to let me know she would miss me wouldn't have hurt.

Then Lana went today and this is her second year, so she's an old pro. She walked right in, found her name, sat down and started to color. There was a little boy sitting next to her who took a page from Sonya's book and had a complete meltdown. I tried to encourage Lana to talk to him and let him know that school was fun and he would be fine. She just shook her head no and went back to coloring. I got the feeling his crying might set her off. But she was fine and had a great time as well. Plus she is in class with Angelina again, so all was right with the world.

Now that I have all of them in school, it does make me wistful and sad for those baby days. I guess up until now I've just had babies, so it's hard to feel like that when you're still taking care of them. Especially when you have them back to back like I did. It makes you not want to ever look at a baby again for a while. I honestly thought I'd never feel this way but I do. Don't worry though, we have NO plans for a fourth. Even though the idea of having another baby is sometimes nice, I enjoy sleeping through the night now, and having my body to myself. I am overwhelmed with three most of the time, so four would probably have me buying the next plane ticket to Hawaii. I just think I will always miss having a baby. I don't think that will ever go away. I know it never really did for my mom either. So I will just hang around the babies of my friends and get my fill that way. The truth is it's really nice to hold them and play with them, but then give them back. And I'm really enjoying the stages my girls are at now. I just wish it would slow down a little.

I think we have had this discussion before, Time. I'm not asking you to stop completely, just slow to a crawl for a little while please. I want to absorb as much of this cuteness for as long as I can.

Georgia-first day of preschool

Lana-first day of second year of preschool

*All of the girls first day of school dresses are Hartstrings and were provided by Nona. Thanks Nona!

A Job For The Day

2011-09-02T17:31:00.000-07:00

As most of you know I stay at home with my girls. This is my job. Years ago, in another life, I used to have jobs that actually paid, but this one is way better. Except for the not getting money part. While I do love being at home with the kids and don't regret my decision for not working, I sometimes find myself having daydreams about having a job. Is that weird? I mean I go to Starbucks and think,

"I could totally make mochas for people at 5 am before the kids wake up."

Even though I've been out of the workforce for almost seven years now, I do want to go back to work someday for a number of reasons, extra money, my sanity, you know little things like that. I figured when they were all in school someday I could do that. But as that day approaches, I'm realizing how much driving I do to pick them up and take them to extracurricular activities. It occurs to me that if we keep things this way, going back to a full time job, the kind I had before kids, would mean we would have to get a nanny. That would mean paying about the same money as I make, so what's the point? So lately, I've been trying to find things to do so I could work while the kids are in school, but still be home with them after to the activities, make them dinner, etc.

Just about every day I decide on different jobs I can do based on what's going on that day. Some days I think maybe I could teach gymnastics at the place where the girls go. Then I think about selling retail somewhere like Macy's. That one is low on the list though because I've done retail before and it's not my favorite job. Except for the discount part. Then I think maybe I could do personal training. I workout every day and eat fairly healthy. I feel I could motivate people, so that might work. Put it on the list! Wednesday I went for my yearly gyno visit and thought about helping to deliver babies. Not by way of being a Doctor. I couldn't go to school for that long. And I'm not that smart. But I could maybe look into being a doula. Yesterday I got my nails done and decided I could be the girl in charge of scheduling the nail girls. I'm not kidding. Just about every place I go I think about what it would be like to work there. I guess it's a little weird, but it just means I do miss working just a little bit. It's hard to only be with the girls all day and the only challenge I have is getting them to stop fighting for five minutes. Which is a challenge mind you, but not the kind I'm looking for. I would love for writing to be my full time work and make me some money, but that doesn't seem to be happening right now. Maybe someday, I'm not counting that one out yet. Then I found something today that I had always thought about doing and it would be perfect. The problem is, it isn't a job anymore. At least not here in California. A teaching assistant, which has become, the parent volunteer.

Since my in-laws are in town I took the opportunity to go into Sonya's classroom and help out her teacher. They are always looking for parent volunteers, since they don't have anyone to help them anymore. The teachers have to do all their own copying, stapling, pasting, and cutting of whatever it is they want to hand out to the kids. And the good teachers have a lot of that stuff. I was more than happy to help out today. Sonya's teacher, Ms. Oh, had a bucket of projects for me when I walked in. I wasn't sure how to work the laminating machine or what a dye cutter was, but by the end of the day I was a pro at both, as well as a champ on the copy machine. It was mildly challenging. Especially, when the copy machine and I got into a fight and it refused to work for twenty minutes. One of the staff members helped to fix it. I had a good time doing the busy work. I wasn't interrupted every two minutes, by screaming and crying or to get someone a snack. Plus I was done with everything well before Ms. Oh intended, I'm fairly certain. She was surprised to see me back with everything done and still 2 hours left in the school day. She said she didn't need anything else, so I left for the day. It was the perfect situation. I got to go in, help out and feel like I was doing something worthwhile, yet I was still around in plenty of time for Sonya to get out of school and take care of her. Only I don't have to do that much today since my in-laws are here. I sent them all to the park, so I could write in peace.

When all of the girls are in school, I could do that every day. I would love to. It takes care of my sanity issue, but it does not take care of the money issue. It's really too bad that there isn't enough money in the schools to hire assistants here in California. Especially because of how large the class sizes are now. I'm not sure if other states still have assistants. I know where my sister lives in Virginia they don't. Zach's Kindergarten teacher was more than thrilled to find out that, not only does my sister have a teaching degree, but she is a reading specialist AND willing to come in and volunteer every week. It's help I'm sure she needs.

I still have two more years until Georgia goes to Kindergarten and really three until she's in school full time. Hopefully, I can figure something to do to make a little money that fits in the schedule and works for all of us. Hmmm, maybe Menchies-I could totally sell frozen yogurt, although I don't think I've seen anyone working in there over 18. Perhaps Target since I'm there so much anyway...wait! I know! BEVMO! I think I will go apply there right now.

No Babysitter's Club For Her

2011-08-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was Sonya's Family Picnic at school. This is something we always look forward to every year, and this year even more, because the In-N-Out truck was going to be there. Then the heat wave came and it was 100 million degrees on Friday. I was not about to miss that Family Picnic, because dammit we had pre-paid tickets for burgers at the In-N-Out truck. It was later in the day, and we didn't get there until almost 5:30 and I would like to say that meant it started cooling off, but it did not. According to the temperature gauge in my car it was 105. At 5 PM. PM meaning evening. That was sooo NOT okay. Still...In-N-Out. For those of you who don't know about or haven't had In-N-Out, I'm sorry. (This blog is not being sponsored by them, I swear. Well, at least I don't think so. Maybe check the ads. It's purely coincidence if they have an ad there.)

Back to the picnic! So we get there and the line of the truck is, of course, forever long in the 100 degree heat and sun. I immediately go stand in it, because we were all hungry and I knew it would better to just get it over with. I didn't, however, feel like listening to three kids whine and complain about how hot it was, or when we were going to be done standing in line. You have to keep in mind that I don't have a husband with a 9-5 job, so he tends to miss these kinds of things. He has actually made the picnic the past two years, but this year he works for a new company, that is actually busy. Good and bad. Good because he will have a job for a while, but bad, because I have to go to things like this solo now. Oh well! I like to eat, wear clothes and have a roof over my head, so I accept it.

Anyway, I gave each of the girls a dollar and told them to go get something from the bake sale table. I could see it from where I was standing. I made sure to let everyone know that Sonya was in charge and they should stay with her. In turn, I reminded her to keep an eye on them. I wasn't really concerned because, after two years, I know or recognize the other parents and kids at the school. Plus we were on the playground of the school, which is completely enclosed and they knew where to find me. I was going to be in that line for a while. So they went to get their treats, but came back pretty quickly. Since I knew I had at least another 15 minutes to go and that their little patience wouldn't last that long, I gave Sonya the pink bedsheet I had brought for us to sit and eat on. I told her to go lay it out on the grassy area. There were cheerleaders from the middle school entertaining the people sitting on the grass, and I thought they would like that. Again, I reminded everyone to stay with Sonya and for Sonya to watch them. I figured, she's six, almost seven. That's babysitting age in some parts of the country, right? I'm pretty sure in West Virginia the babysitting age is at least 6, maybe even 5. I could see the grassy area from where I was too, so don't get all worried. But like I said I know the school, and the people, so I wasn't too concerned. Not as concerned as I was when this happened two years ago.

I finally made it to the front of the line and placed my order. As I was standing there with the stroller, waiting for my number to be called, I thought I heard I heard them say something familiar on the microphone at the front of the playground. They were playing music and making announcements, and then I heard this,

"We have Georgia up here."

Wait-did I just hear them say Georgia?

"Georgia is looking for her mother. Could Georgia's mother please come up here."

Yup, they said Georgia. But there could be another Georgia looking for her mom right? Yeah, not likely. One of the reasons we gave my girls their names, is because they're not popular overused names. It's not like they were looking for the mom of Emma or Lilly. I looked up to where the announcement was being made and sure enough there is Georgia being held by one of the moms I recognize from PTA. Then I look over at my pink sheet in the grass and see Sonya and Lana sitting there unfazed. I walk to the front and take Georgia, who is not crying or upset mind you, just looking for me.

"Why aren't you with sissy? You were supposed to stay with her," I said.

"I was yooking for you," she explained.

I carry her back over to the In-N-Out truck to wait for our food and I give her a drink. Then Lana came over to me standing in line, wondering what was taking so long. I give her a drink too, and send them back over to the pink sheet, where Sonya was paying no attention to the fact that now BOTH of her sisters were gone.

I finally got my food and headed over to the grassy area. I handed out burgers and chips to everyone, and we all started enjoying our meal. About halfway through, Sonya said to me,

"It was so funny, because when you were waiting for the food before, I heard them saying that a girl named Georgia was looking for her mom! Just like my sister's name is Georgia! Isn't that funny?"

"Sonya," I calmly said to her, "that WAS your sister."

"It was?" She asked.

"Yes," I said. "You were supposed to be keeping an eye on her, remember?"

"Oh, I thought she was with you," was the only response she gave me.

Sooooo, I guess she's not quite ready for the babysitting responsibilities yet. Well, it's a good thing I found out now, because Andy and I were all set to leave them alone next Saturday night.

Proving She May Become A Doctor, Midwife, or Doula

2011-08-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

A few months back the little girls' gymnastics teacher, Teacher Danielle, had to stop teaching gymnastics. She had found out she was pregnant with her second babies. Yes, babies. She was having twins, which came as a complete shock to everyone, especially her, because unlike most twins born these days, hers were not due to fertility drugs. No, she got twins the old fashion way! Purely by chance. The first thing the Doctor told her to do was stop teaching gymnastics. My girls were disappointed when they were assigned new teachers, because they have been taking gymnastics from Danielle since they were babies. When I told them the reason for it, they were excited at the prospect of not one but two babies. Of course they wanted to see them right now, so we had to have that conversation. They kinda got it after a while, when Danielle's belly started to take on a life of it's own.

Every week we would see her at gymnastics, sitting behind the desk, bigger than the week before. The girls would question when they were going to get to see the babies. Could we see them now? Were they going to be out soon? When would they be out so they could see them? I kept telling them, not for a while.

I felt bad for poor Danielle. She looked so uncomfortable. She was past that point every woman gets to those last couple weeks of their pregnancy. The point where you feel like if you sit down, you might not be able to get up again. Where you feel like you are waddling around, rather than walking. She was about five times that, and she wasn't due for another two months. I couldn't imagine carrying that much baby around in my belly at one time.

The babies weren't due until the end of September, but as with most twins, they came a little early. Last Monday when I took Sony to gymnastics Teacher Danielle wasn't there, but the other instructors informed me that she was still pregnant, just had to stop working altogether. By the time I went in on Friday morning, however, Teacher Alex(Sonya's teacher since she was 2) told me she had them that Tuesday. She had delivered two little girls via C-Section and they were healthy at about four pounds (!) each and doing well. I was so happy for her, and couldn't wait until the girls were done with their lesson for the day so I could give them the good news.

Lana was the first to finish and come over to me.

"Guess what Lana!?" I said excitedly to her.

"What?" She asked, mimicking my excitement.

"Teacher Danielle had her babies!"

Her face fell, she furrowed her brow, frowned, looked up at me and said,

"AWWWWWW!!!! I wanted to see them come OUT!"

Ummm...Yes...well. Sorry about that Lana. Maybe next time.

Congratulations to Teacher Danielle on her TWO new bundles of joy. Get ready for everyone to make this statement to you:

"Oh my! You have YOUR hands full!"

It will get annoying by the fourth time you hear it. Good luck!

The Art Of Makeup

2011-08-22T18:47:00.000-07:00

On Sonya's first day back to school last week, I was feeling a bit relaxed in the morning. She was starting to become a little crazy toward the end of the summer and needed to get back to her routine. Honestly, I was happy to only have the two younger girls to take care of for a few hours. Plus, with Sonya gone there was less fighting. So, I was feeling pretty generous when Lana came to me with the bag of play makeup and asked if they could put it on.

Now, my first thought when the girls ask this is always, "Oh God! Not the makeup!" But then I said-"Eh-why the hell not?" We weren't going anywhere for a while, so I let them have at it. After putting it on, Lana showed me her handiwork and I have to say, I think she may have inherited my mother-in-law's makeup gene. My mother-in-law, Julia, is rarely without her "face" on. Once she even put on lipstick to go for a walk around my block. In Burbank. However, she does an impeccable job with her makeup and always looks flawless. Perhaps when she was four if she would have played with makeup, this is how it would have turned out.

Subtle, yet still noticeable. Not bad, huh? Not to mention she colored in the lines, so to speak.

Georgia on the other hand....Well, Georgia looked like I used to in college after a night of heavy drinking. You know what I mean- the times when you pass out before you have a chance to wash off all your party makeup? Yeah, I think my mother-in-law's makeup gene may have skipped her.