
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Bronchitis - Day 12
It is now day 12 of my bronchitis extravaganza. There may be light at the end of the tunnel. I can actually breathe a little and I'm only coughing every 15 minutes as opposed to every 5. Maybe this new antibiotic will do the trick. All I know, is come hell or high water I am cropping on Saturday with the girls!
I'm going to pop Brokeback Mountain in the computer/dvd and sort pictures for Saturday. I have my own little oasis upstairs now. Sweet.
I'm going to pop Brokeback Mountain in the computer/dvd and sort pictures for Saturday. I have my own little oasis upstairs now. Sweet.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Freaked Out
Anybody else having nightmares about this Virginia Tech thing? I think my problem is two fold - 1) I watched too much news coverage when I was sick 2) it bothered me when I saw Laura Bush interviewed and she said she had met two families that had lost their only child - this freaked me out because Ryan might be an only child. It is not helping that MSNBC is now playing a constant loop of the pictures of himself with the guns that Cho sent to NBC. You would think that that we be very traumatic for all the families/students to see those pictures all over the place.
Uck. Poor Mommy. Poor Baby
Well, the uck got worse than Pink Eye. Sunday morning I had the sniffles which seemed typical since Ryan had snot pouring out of him. I got his eye prescription and things seemed ok. By Sunday night I was sick as a dog. Ryan and I both stayed home on Monday, and it was Todd's day off, and he wasn't feeling well. I went to the doctor in the morning and found out I had bronchitis. I kept getting sicker all day (but still took Ryan outside to play) and finally decided that if Ryan had the same symptoms as me and only felt half as bad, he must be miserable. So, I called the doctor's office at 2:55 and managed to get a 3:20 appointment! Turns out the little guy had pink eye, strep throat, and a double ear infection. Then we headed to HyVee and got his prescription. We finally got to the car, and I was beat. I had been to two doctor's appointments and two pharmacies that day, and I felt like crap. I just wanted to go home. I put the car in reverse, and backed into another car backing out! $%^! It was the old couple that was next to me in line at the pharmacy. There car had about a 6 inch scratch and a tiny, tiny quarter-sized dent. They acted like it was totally my fault. The corner of my bumper is caved in, but hey, my car is 13 years old, so I might not even fix it. What a day! Ryan had a horrible night and was up every 90 minutes. Luckily Todd took care of him, so I could sleep. Last night was the same way, and I swear he got me up every hour, coughing, poor baby.
We went back to work and daycare today. My ears still hurt and I still can't breathe, but Ryan is a new kid. I can tell he is better because he's got his attitude back. Apparently they spent the entire day outside at day care today, and even took shorter naps than usual. He had a complete melt down at Dahl's (my first grocery store tantrum) because I put milk in the cart and he wanted milk! He screamed all the way through the check out line and all the way home. But he was happy as soon as he got his milk.
We went back to work and daycare today. My ears still hurt and I still can't breathe, but Ryan is a new kid. I can tell he is better because he's got his attitude back. Apparently they spent the entire day outside at day care today, and even took shorter naps than usual. He had a complete melt down at Dahl's (my first grocery store tantrum) because I put milk in the cart and he wanted milk! He screamed all the way through the check out line and all the way home. But he was happy as soon as he got his milk.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Uck. Poor Baby.
I was looking forward to seeing if Rachel wanted to get together and take the boys to the park tomorrow, but Ryan has pink eye so he shouldn't be around other kids. I hope I don't get it.
Last night his nose was running and this morning his eyes were a little yucky, but by 7 pm they were red and oozing. I will have to call the doctor's office in the morning for a prescription. Pink eye is the one illness that you don't actually have to take the kid in for. Poor baby. I don't think that he feels that well. I know this because he hasn't been naughty for a few days and he didn't bolt out of the bathroom stark naked and run around like a crazy man after his bath tonight.
We have spent most of the weekend playing with his John Deere barn, and we went to WalMart this morning. I have been organizing my scrapping area (the end is almost near) while he has been napping or sleeping. Boring.
Last night his nose was running and this morning his eyes were a little yucky, but by 7 pm they were red and oozing. I will have to call the doctor's office in the morning for a prescription. Pink eye is the one illness that you don't actually have to take the kid in for. Poor baby. I don't think that he feels that well. I know this because he hasn't been naughty for a few days and he didn't bolt out of the bathroom stark naked and run around like a crazy man after his bath tonight.
We have spent most of the weekend playing with his John Deere barn, and we went to WalMart this morning. I have been organizing my scrapping area (the end is almost near) while he has been napping or sleeping. Boring.
I Think I'm Insulted
After much media coverage that the Assesor raised the average price of a home in Des Moines 9.6%, we received notice that they raised our property value a whopping $100. I think I'm insulted. The house next door to us sold for more than that, and it's only a 2 bedroom! I guess I should be happy though, I'm not planning on moving anytime soon and this means our property taxes will still be ok.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Easter
Easter weekend was pretty good, but I was exhausted before we even got to Oskaloosa, and I had a headache (I have had it for almost a week despite a chiropractor visit).
It's a long story, but Todd brought home 9 dozen eggs that were left over from St. Patty's at the bar. So on Saturday I boiled eggs, made egg casserole, made an angel food cake, made homemade noodles, made chicken and noodles, and I still had 2 dozen left! Ryan was pretty good and played while I worked. I let him beat the eggs with the whisk (very messy) and he enjoyed watching the pasta roller and the mixer.
Sunday morning we awoke to see the Easter bunny had visited. Our neighbors have an annual egg hunt, so they expanded it to our front yard and put out all sorts of eggs for Ryan. We about froze to death while he played with the first two eggs he found and wouldn't hunt for them. We gave up on him and headed for their yard. They have 3 kids - one in high school and two in college - and they have an extreme Easter egg hunt. After they find them up, they all attack each other and try to rip their sacks open and steal each other's eggs. While all this chaos was going on Ryan found a golf ball, so he was in 7th heaven.
After that, we came in and dyed eggs. It was a risk, but he did very well. He used his hands and didn't make too much of a mess. His hands were all stained and he kept licking them and the eggs, but PAAS is non-toxic, so what the heck. Then we went to Todd's parents. We left at 12:45 and got back at 8:30 pm. The whole time I was driving back I was lamenting that I was missing the Sopranos. I stayed up and watched them at 11 pm on HBO West Coast. It was worth the wait. The show was very foreboding, and I kept waiting for something bad to happen.
Back to Easter, we had a lovely day which mostly involved Ryan being spoiled rotten and eating a lot of sugar. Todd's parents gave me a beautiful pink begonia plant which hopefully I won't kill. The flower bed that I am working on at the State Fair is going to be all pink begonias, so hopefully I won't kill this one. It would be an omen for the Fair.
It's a long story, but Todd brought home 9 dozen eggs that were left over from St. Patty's at the bar. So on Saturday I boiled eggs, made egg casserole, made an angel food cake, made homemade noodles, made chicken and noodles, and I still had 2 dozen left! Ryan was pretty good and played while I worked. I let him beat the eggs with the whisk (very messy) and he enjoyed watching the pasta roller and the mixer.
Sunday morning we awoke to see the Easter bunny had visited. Our neighbors have an annual egg hunt, so they expanded it to our front yard and put out all sorts of eggs for Ryan. We about froze to death while he played with the first two eggs he found and wouldn't hunt for them. We gave up on him and headed for their yard. They have 3 kids - one in high school and two in college - and they have an extreme Easter egg hunt. After they find them up, they all attack each other and try to rip their sacks open and steal each other's eggs. While all this chaos was going on Ryan found a golf ball, so he was in 7th heaven.
After that, we came in and dyed eggs. It was a risk, but he did very well. He used his hands and didn't make too much of a mess. His hands were all stained and he kept licking them and the eggs, but PAAS is non-toxic, so what the heck. Then we went to Todd's parents. We left at 12:45 and got back at 8:30 pm. The whole time I was driving back I was lamenting that I was missing the Sopranos. I stayed up and watched them at 11 pm on HBO West Coast. It was worth the wait. The show was very foreboding, and I kept waiting for something bad to happen.
Back to Easter, we had a lovely day which mostly involved Ryan being spoiled rotten and eating a lot of sugar. Todd's parents gave me a beautiful pink begonia plant which hopefully I won't kill. The flower bed that I am working on at the State Fair is going to be all pink begonias, so hopefully I won't kill this one. It would be an omen for the Fair.
I Can Finally Sleep At Night
Now that I know who is the father of Anna Nicole's baby, I can finally sleep at night! I just haven't been able to get any rest while THE WHOLE WORLD waited for the DNA results! Not.
Why is the media obsessed with that tramp? I am sooooooo sick of it.
Speaking of sleep, I finally did it. I quit rocking Ryan to sleep at night. After just 4 nights of crying, he goes down without a peep. I can't believe it! I can actually do stuff. I know, I know, I should have done it sooner, but I wasn't ready. He's too sweet :)
Why is the media obsessed with that tramp? I am sooooooo sick of it.
Speaking of sleep, I finally did it. I quit rocking Ryan to sleep at night. After just 4 nights of crying, he goes down without a peep. I can't believe it! I can actually do stuff. I know, I know, I should have done it sooner, but I wasn't ready. He's too sweet :)
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Motherhood Frustrations
Aaah! My sweet little boy has turned into a Holy Terror - or as my mom aptly put it - a One Toddler Demolition Derby. He has always had a little bit of a temper, but now if you tell him no he either throws something at you or throws a roaring fit on the floor for 10 - 20 minutes. He is also fearless and is climbing many more things and then jumping off.
Two weeks ago he knocked over our Tiffany floor lamp. It was quite spectacular. It hit the edge of the toy box at the base of the shade and sheared off the socket. The shade and the light bulb didn't shatter, but there were sparks and it blew the circuit so all the lights went out.
Last weekend I took him to Aurora for the weekend. It was icky weather all weekend, so we couldn't go outside. In the course of 48 hours he put cereal down H's humidifier, flipped the rocking chair and put two big black marks on Mom's wall, opened Mom's china cabinet - took out a candle holder and ran away, jumped from the footstool to the rocking chair, jumped from the couch into the chair, etc, etc. I was exhausted by the time I got home and starting to question my motherhood abilities. He also had several hellacious tantrums while we were there and was a real pain when we went out to eat.
Monday night Todd, Ryan, and I went to the Machine Shed. We had to take him out twice while we waited for the food, and he whipped a spoon across the table, narrowly missing my nose. It made for a miserable meal. Of course he cooed, and smiled and charmed the server whenever she paid attention to him.
Today at school he whacked Chance upside the head with a truck for absolutely no reason. He spent quite a bit of time in timeout for that one. It seems he is either a good, good, charming little boy or naughty, naughty, with no in between. He definitely has the Stein temper.
He has also been refusing to go to bed - rocking him just doesn't work that well anymore unless you wait until 10:30. So, Sunday night we started the tough love and put him in his crib and let him cry. Night 1 - 10 min of screaming, Night 2 - 45 min of screaming/wailing/hysteria, Night 3 - no screaming (fell asleep on my lap), Night 4 - 15 min of screaming. It has been hard, but not as hard as it would have been to do several months (or a year) ago. It still sucks. I miss rocking him.
Well, I should head downstairs, it's 12 am. I have been simultaneously downloading music to my iPod, doing email, and putting together my new paper shelves. Maybe that explains why two sides of the shelves were put together wrong!
Two weeks ago he knocked over our Tiffany floor lamp. It was quite spectacular. It hit the edge of the toy box at the base of the shade and sheared off the socket. The shade and the light bulb didn't shatter, but there were sparks and it blew the circuit so all the lights went out.
Last weekend I took him to Aurora for the weekend. It was icky weather all weekend, so we couldn't go outside. In the course of 48 hours he put cereal down H's humidifier, flipped the rocking chair and put two big black marks on Mom's wall, opened Mom's china cabinet - took out a candle holder and ran away, jumped from the footstool to the rocking chair, jumped from the couch into the chair, etc, etc. I was exhausted by the time I got home and starting to question my motherhood abilities. He also had several hellacious tantrums while we were there and was a real pain when we went out to eat.
Monday night Todd, Ryan, and I went to the Machine Shed. We had to take him out twice while we waited for the food, and he whipped a spoon across the table, narrowly missing my nose. It made for a miserable meal. Of course he cooed, and smiled and charmed the server whenever she paid attention to him.
Today at school he whacked Chance upside the head with a truck for absolutely no reason. He spent quite a bit of time in timeout for that one. It seems he is either a good, good, charming little boy or naughty, naughty, with no in between. He definitely has the Stein temper.
He has also been refusing to go to bed - rocking him just doesn't work that well anymore unless you wait until 10:30. So, Sunday night we started the tough love and put him in his crib and let him cry. Night 1 - 10 min of screaming, Night 2 - 45 min of screaming/wailing/hysteria, Night 3 - no screaming (fell asleep on my lap), Night 4 - 15 min of screaming. It has been hard, but not as hard as it would have been to do several months (or a year) ago. It still sucks. I miss rocking him.
Well, I should head downstairs, it's 12 am. I have been simultaneously downloading music to my iPod, doing email, and putting together my new paper shelves. Maybe that explains why two sides of the shelves were put together wrong!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Sleezewad
A few weeks ago, a total sleezewad tried to pick me up. It scared the crap out of me. It was one of those really nice days in February, so I came home at lunch and decided to go for a walk. I was bundled up in my big winter coat, ear muffs, and gloves, and was walking a block from home by the library. A car went by, and the guy kind of turned and looked at me. I thought it was someone I knew, so I gave a little wave. The car went down the block and turned left. As I approached the end of the next block, the car came back and stopped at the end of the sidewalk. The guy rolled down the window and ....
Mr. Sleazewad: Where ya headed?
Me: I'm just walking.
Mr. Sleazewad: Do you need a ride?
Me (getting freaked out): No thanks.
Mr. Sleazewad: Are you sure? Because you sure are cute!
I turned on my heel and took off for home. Those are the fastest 2 blocks I have ever walked in my entire life!
Mr. Sleazewad: Where ya headed?
Me: I'm just walking.
Mr. Sleazewad: Do you need a ride?
Me (getting freaked out): No thanks.
Mr. Sleazewad: Are you sure? Because you sure are cute!
I turned on my heel and took off for home. Those are the fastest 2 blocks I have ever walked in my entire life!
Finally The !@#$%^ Works!
Errrrr! to the new version of Blogger!!!! Errr!!!! Finally, after days of searching the help groups, I finally figured out that the reason I couldn't log in to my blog is because for some users, when you see 'Click Here to Continue' you have to right-click and open it in a new window. Errr!! Also, when I converted to the new version and set up my Google log-in, you can't change your google email address, even if your regular email address has changed, or you can't get into your blog. Errr!!!!
Well, I see it has been almost 7 weeks since I have blogged. I won't even try to catch you up on what all has happened. Pretty much I am just working, being a mom, trying to stick to my meal and exercise plans, and basically trying to keep my head above water. Todd in the past two weeks, has increased, (yes - I said increased- his work hours) so that has added extra joy to my life. Errr!!! Errr!!! We did have one nice family evening last Tuesday, we took stroller and walked over to Marino's on Franklin for pizza then walked the long way home. It was very nice, but nights like that are few and far between.
Since the last blog, Mr. Ryan has started eating people food, has made the transition (finally) to a sippy cup, and has quit using the inflatible bathtub in the big bathtub. I am still rocking him to sleep and he still has his paci, but we are making progress. He has also turned into quite the little climber (dining room table, top rung of rocking chair, into the crib, etc) which gives me quite the workout and scares me to death because he has no fear of anything. I have finally caved a little, and let him watch PBS just so I can catch a breath now and then. He is still obsessed with the vacuum cleaner and is obsessed with books. We read, and read, and read, which is good. I also let Aunt Kathy give him m&m's which he LOVED!
Yesterday we went to Humboldt with Todd's parents to visit Todd's Grandpa and Aunt and Uncle. It was a fun day, but very long. Ryan was non-stop from 8 am to 8 pm with no nap and without eating much. Todd's aunt and I splurged at supper and had the Ultimate Humboldt Burger, which is a hamburger with cheese, pickles, bbq sauce, and homemade onion rings on it and we split an order of the onion rings & ranch dressing with Sandy. The bowl the onion rings came in was just glistening with grease, but it was I almost cried it was so good. And, I had a taco salad at lunch. I really don't eat like that anymore (except the to-die-for giant lasagna at the last crop) and really paid the price. I had horrible nightmares last night and indigestion all day, which wasn't helped by the burger and chips I had at Tami and Preston's today! I guess my body has really adjusted to my new eating habits and doesn't like the junk any more. The first 40 pounds was easy to lose, but this next 40 has been hell. I was hoping to get if off by my birthday, but I may just have to settle for another 20 by then.
Last weekend we went to Osky and surprised Todd's dad for his birthday which was very nice too. I guess that was another nice family day. Todd had to leave after a few hours to go to work, but Ryan and I stayed until 8 pm. Next weekend Ryan and I have no plans, and then the 31st we are going to the Farm for my dad's birthday, and the week after that is Todd's mom's birthday and Easter. Whew!
That's all I can think of for now, I was going to clean up my scrapping area, but I am ordering some paper shelves (a bonus for me from me) so I might as well wait until they come in to clean up.
Well, I see it has been almost 7 weeks since I have blogged. I won't even try to catch you up on what all has happened. Pretty much I am just working, being a mom, trying to stick to my meal and exercise plans, and basically trying to keep my head above water. Todd in the past two weeks, has increased, (yes - I said increased- his work hours) so that has added extra joy to my life. Errr!!! Errr!!! We did have one nice family evening last Tuesday, we took stroller and walked over to Marino's on Franklin for pizza then walked the long way home. It was very nice, but nights like that are few and far between.
Since the last blog, Mr. Ryan has started eating people food, has made the transition (finally) to a sippy cup, and has quit using the inflatible bathtub in the big bathtub. I am still rocking him to sleep and he still has his paci, but we are making progress. He has also turned into quite the little climber (dining room table, top rung of rocking chair, into the crib, etc) which gives me quite the workout and scares me to death because he has no fear of anything. I have finally caved a little, and let him watch PBS just so I can catch a breath now and then. He is still obsessed with the vacuum cleaner and is obsessed with books. We read, and read, and read, which is good. I also let Aunt Kathy give him m&m's which he LOVED!
Yesterday we went to Humboldt with Todd's parents to visit Todd's Grandpa and Aunt and Uncle. It was a fun day, but very long. Ryan was non-stop from 8 am to 8 pm with no nap and without eating much. Todd's aunt and I splurged at supper and had the Ultimate Humboldt Burger, which is a hamburger with cheese, pickles, bbq sauce, and homemade onion rings on it and we split an order of the onion rings & ranch dressing with Sandy. The bowl the onion rings came in was just glistening with grease, but it was I almost cried it was so good. And, I had a taco salad at lunch. I really don't eat like that anymore (except the to-die-for giant lasagna at the last crop) and really paid the price. I had horrible nightmares last night and indigestion all day, which wasn't helped by the burger and chips I had at Tami and Preston's today! I guess my body has really adjusted to my new eating habits and doesn't like the junk any more. The first 40 pounds was easy to lose, but this next 40 has been hell. I was hoping to get if off by my birthday, but I may just have to settle for another 20 by then.
Last weekend we went to Osky and surprised Todd's dad for his birthday which was very nice too. I guess that was another nice family day. Todd had to leave after a few hours to go to work, but Ryan and I stayed until 8 pm. Next weekend Ryan and I have no plans, and then the 31st we are going to the Farm for my dad's birthday, and the week after that is Todd's mom's birthday and Easter. Whew!
That's all I can think of for now, I was going to clean up my scrapping area, but I am ordering some paper shelves (a bonus for me from me) so I might as well wait until they come in to clean up.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
New Philosophy

I haven't caught up on the laundry in weeks. I don't watch much tv anymore from 6-9 pm. My house isn't as clean as it used to be. I don't use my elliptical machine as much as I should. I haven't cropped in weeks or months. I need to go shopping for new clothes and haven't done it. I didn't make any homemade valentines. I eat frozen dinners for lunch and supper. My blog rarely gets updated, and I have had the same music on my iPOD for the past month. But from 5 - 9:15 every night and all day every weekend, a sticky, noisy, loud little soul has my full attention. He is happy and thriving. And so am I. Everything else can wait. He won't be a little boy forever.
CREEPY!!!!
Last night Todd was home and had been in bed since 4 pm. I turned out all the lights in the living room and got into bed at 11 pm. I specifically remember that I turned them all out because I couldn't see a darn thing when I tried to get into bed. I woke up 15 minutes later and the 3-light lamp in the living room was on and Todd was still sound asleep. All 3 bulbs. CREEPY!!!!!!!!
Today Todd took the laptop upstairs to hook up to the internet. When he got up there, the internet cable was already unhooked from the main computer and was just lying on the floor waiting for him. I never unhooked it, and I am the only one that uses that computer. CREEPY!!!!
Today Todd took the laptop upstairs to hook up to the internet. When he got up there, the internet cable was already unhooked from the main computer and was just lying on the floor waiting for him. I never unhooked it, and I am the only one that uses that computer. CREEPY!!!!
Tidbits
It's been a long time since I blogged. Here are some random thoughts/updates.
- Sometimes I can be a genius. I spilled a pop and it filled up both cup holders in the Jeep. I stuffed a diaper in them, and it sucked up the pop in minutes.
- You know it's cold when a jar of (spaghetti of course) baby food explodes in your diaper during the 15 minute drive to Rachel's house.
- A 15-month-old boy and a 18-month-old boy can not be expected to share their toys.
- Poker last Friday night was fun, but I only won one hand. I was having a hard time concentrating since it took me until 11:30 to get Ryan to sleep! He was up bright and shiny at 7:30 am Saturday morning.
- I continue to be addicted to the prison shows on MSNBC on Friday nights. I am also now addicted to Crime and Punishment and The Real Housewives of Orange County. Now there's a lot of silicone on that show. I am also addicted to Flip this House. I prefer the San Antonio version. That Armando is a real ass. I guess I am really into watching bad tv after Ryan goes to bed!
-Mediacom is a bunch of morons (like I didn't know). I haven't been able to get my new DVR box to work since they installed it. I finally called, and it turns out they didn't install a DVR box, they installed an HDTV box. Why???????????????
- I am a wuss. I can only do about 7 minutes on my new elliptical machine before I collapse.
- Why do I crop? Is it so I can be perfect or so I can keep a record of the important things in my life? I need to just start slappin' it down.
- I thought Todd and his parents were crazy, but the Macaroni and Cheese Pizza at Cici's is AWESOME!
- Don't cheat and eat all the bread pieces out of a giant bag of Gardetto's before you go to bed. You will dream that a toadstool grows out of your left eye, and when you pull it out your eye totally rots out and you have to take chemotherapy pills while you walk around with a brown mushy hole where your eye was.
- Sometimes I can be a genius. I spilled a pop and it filled up both cup holders in the Jeep. I stuffed a diaper in them, and it sucked up the pop in minutes.
- You know it's cold when a jar of (spaghetti of course) baby food explodes in your diaper during the 15 minute drive to Rachel's house.
- A 15-month-old boy and a 18-month-old boy can not be expected to share their toys.
- Poker last Friday night was fun, but I only won one hand. I was having a hard time concentrating since it took me until 11:30 to get Ryan to sleep! He was up bright and shiny at 7:30 am Saturday morning.
- I continue to be addicted to the prison shows on MSNBC on Friday nights. I am also now addicted to Crime and Punishment and The Real Housewives of Orange County. Now there's a lot of silicone on that show. I am also addicted to Flip this House. I prefer the San Antonio version. That Armando is a real ass. I guess I am really into watching bad tv after Ryan goes to bed!
-Mediacom is a bunch of morons (like I didn't know). I haven't been able to get my new DVR box to work since they installed it. I finally called, and it turns out they didn't install a DVR box, they installed an HDTV box. Why???????????????
- I am a wuss. I can only do about 7 minutes on my new elliptical machine before I collapse.
- Why do I crop? Is it so I can be perfect or so I can keep a record of the important things in my life? I need to just start slappin' it down.
- I thought Todd and his parents were crazy, but the Macaroni and Cheese Pizza at Cici's is AWESOME!
- Don't cheat and eat all the bread pieces out of a giant bag of Gardetto's before you go to bed. You will dream that a toadstool grows out of your left eye, and when you pull it out your eye totally rots out and you have to take chemotherapy pills while you walk around with a brown mushy hole where your eye was.
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