We are finally pacifier free! Last Saturday we bought Ryan 4 Superfriends on the condition that his fussy (pacifier) stay in the crib. No using it in the car or to watch television. That went really well. Every time he asked for the fussy, I threatened to take his pacifier away.
Yesterday I was on the phone with my mom and Ryan said he wanted to go to the store and buy the Planet Hero from Venus - http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=10&e=planetheroeslanding. I told him he had to throw away his fussy FOREVER. He said no.
I continued to talk to Mom, then hung up. He told me he wanted Venus and went in the kitchen and threw the fussy in the trash. We immediately went to the store and bought Venus, and that was that. He played with Venus all day and took his nap just fine. Going to bed was another story. He never asked for his fussy, but couldn't get to sleep. Finally at 2 am he fell asleep with me in our bed! It was a long night.
Did I mention that he did all this while he had a fever?
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Friday, July 04, 2008
Misc.
Speed Racer
Three Generations of Steins
Ryan in his new pool, which lasted only 5 minutes before it started leaking and collapsed
Magellan Zinnia in Jean and My's Bed at the Discovery Garden
Happy Fourth of July
Happy 4th everyone! As usual, I am home alone with Ryan today, but I got the better end of the deal. Todd is working with his parents to clean the bar and get stuff ready for the sale. For those of you that don't know, Todd closed the bar a week ago Tuesday to spend more time with Ryan and me. It is sad, but I think he is ready to be done with it. Last Saturday he and I worked there until 10 pm packing up the liqour and doing inventory. Ryan stayed at Mike and Sandy's. Sunday I went to the store and gardened all day. Literally like 8 hours because I didn't have a 2 yr old pestering me!
Ryan has been enjoying going next door every Wednesday night for 2 hours so I can work at the Discovery Garden and run errands. It's worth the money for me.
Not much else new - just trying to keep my #$%^ together at work and home. Whoever says they can easily balance their career and family is lying. Ryan is very clingy now when I drop him off at school because he wants to stay home with me. The other day I bawled all the way to Merle Hay Road.
Two weeks ago we had my grandpa's and great uncle household sale. It didn't bother me like I thought it would. I was just counting my lucky stars that I didn't have to help clean out his house or schlep the stuff to the sale. Ryan had a good time with Big Grandpa, and we got to see some of the tornado damage. It seems weird to look out my parents' windows and see the neighbors house (the barn blew away).
Ryan has been enjoying going next door every Wednesday night for 2 hours so I can work at the Discovery Garden and run errands. It's worth the money for me.
Not much else new - just trying to keep my #$%^ together at work and home. Whoever says they can easily balance their career and family is lying. Ryan is very clingy now when I drop him off at school because he wants to stay home with me. The other day I bawled all the way to Merle Hay Road.
Two weeks ago we had my grandpa's and great uncle household sale. It didn't bother me like I thought it would. I was just counting my lucky stars that I didn't have to help clean out his house or schlep the stuff to the sale. Ryan had a good time with Big Grandpa, and we got to see some of the tornado damage. It seems weird to look out my parents' windows and see the neighbors house (the barn blew away).
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Todd's Birthday and Father's Day
Last weekend was busy. Saturday Todd turned 38, and Sunday I had Mike and Sandy up for a little birthday/Father's Day celebration. Ryan and I spent the weekend shopping, cleaning, and cooking. He helped me stir things and chopped the carrots by pounding on the food chopper. He also got the grape jelly out of the jar into the bowl. Oh, and I mowed the lawn too since Todd has gout in one hand and chopped off the tip of his thumb on the other hand.
I made an awesome chocolate cake for Todd and a German chocolate cake for Mike. I also made macaroni salad, little smokies, and cheese dip. The afternoon was a success. Ryan provided the entertainment as usual. We were all standing outside talking, and no one noticed that Ryan had turned the water on and picked up the hose. Suddenly, he sprayed Todd!! Then Grandpa!! All the boys ended up soaked, and we all laughed a lot.
Stupid blogger is not uploading my pics. I will have to try later!!
I made an awesome chocolate cake for Todd and a German chocolate cake for Mike. I also made macaroni salad, little smokies, and cheese dip. The afternoon was a success. Ryan provided the entertainment as usual. We were all standing outside talking, and no one noticed that Ryan had turned the water on and picked up the hose. Suddenly, he sprayed Todd!! Then Grandpa!! All the boys ended up soaked, and we all laughed a lot.
Stupid blogger is not uploading my pics. I will have to try later!!
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Rain, Rain, Go Away
I'm pretty sure the next time I look out the window I am going to see Noah and the Ark go by.
My garden is flooded, and I put the tent up in the living room for Ryan since he can't go outside.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Water, Water Everywhere
Finally got Ryan almooost asleep at 10 pm last night - then sirens went off. [Note: the siren is at the end of our block] I could see on tv that the storm was north of us, but we had to go to the basement anyway since the siren was so damn loud. Ryan was good natured but very confused.
Finally got back to bed at 10:45 and slept on Ryan's floor until 2:30. Then Todd woke me up at 4:15. The sump pump hadn't been able to keep up with the 4 inches of rain in 3 hours, so it overflowed and the basement floor had water on it. It probably didn't help that we have the pump hooked up to a sprinkler in my garden. We disconnected the sprinkler, and it went down fast. My poor garden has standing water in it and the mulch has washed on to the lawn!!! (And yes, I am more upset about my garden than the basement - I'm telling you gardening is a sickness!)
The water in the basement was less than .5 inch deep by then, but all the carpet runners are wet and wood furniture had soaked up some water. It will all dry out (except carpet runners) pretty easily, it's still a mess. Only had to throw out a few cardboard boxes and 4 or 5 tiles popped up.
No point in going to bed now!
PS. Regarding my earlier post about being an addict - I have identified 3 more barespots in my garden that need plants - I just need to buy 3 more....
Finally got back to bed at 10:45 and slept on Ryan's floor until 2:30. Then Todd woke me up at 4:15. The sump pump hadn't been able to keep up with the 4 inches of rain in 3 hours, so it overflowed and the basement floor had water on it. It probably didn't help that we have the pump hooked up to a sprinkler in my garden. We disconnected the sprinkler, and it went down fast. My poor garden has standing water in it and the mulch has washed on to the lawn!!! (And yes, I am more upset about my garden than the basement - I'm telling you gardening is a sickness!)
The water in the basement was less than .5 inch deep by then, but all the carpet runners are wet and wood furniture had soaked up some water. It will all dry out (except carpet runners) pretty easily, it's still a mess. Only had to throw out a few cardboard boxes and 4 or 5 tiles popped up.
No point in going to bed now!
PS. Regarding my earlier post about being an addict - I have identified 3 more barespots in my garden that need plants - I just need to buy 3 more....
Sunday, June 01, 2008
My Name is Marnie, and I'm an Addict.
My Name is Marnie, and I'm an Addict. I can't stop buying plants! Eventhough gasoline and food are costing us a fortune, I seem to always be able to come up with some spare pennies to buy more plants. I thought I was done, but I had to get a wave petunia today to put in my upside-down flower pot that the H gave me two years ago. I will have to post a pic of it. I think that puts my total for this year at around 72 annuals, 92 perennials, and 8 bags of mulch so far!
Still a Fever
I don't know if Ryan is better or not. He ate spaghetti last night and fell asleep on the couch right after Todd left for work. He woke up at 9:30 am without a fever, so later we went to Lowe's to get a new grate for our grill. By the time he got home he had a fever again. He slept for 4 hours and then I finally woke him up at 6 pm. He was covered in sweat, but went right outside with Todd and I to help water the plants. I guess it's a crap shoot if he will have a fever in the morning or not.
Despite him being sick, we are making progress with the fussy removal. He now only uses it to sleep, and is not allowed to use it in the house unless it is nap time or night-night time. Still no movement (pardon the pun) on potty training!
Despite him being sick, we are making progress with the fussy removal. He now only uses it to sleep, and is not allowed to use it in the house unless it is nap time or night-night time. Still no movement (pardon the pun) on potty training!
Pictures
The mighty pirate conquers his lunch - AAARRRGH!
The Ryan-Monster roars from inside the skeleton of a dinosaur.
Goggles help you put together your new puzzle from Aunty Kathy faster!
A two-headed giraffe!!Saturday, May 31, 2008
Check out My Ads
The ads on my blog continue to make me laugh. They adjust to the content of my blog. Look at them - now they are all for gout, rash, or abdominal pain!
Random Information
Hmmm...I really can't remember much of note around here. I was way behind at work before I went to San Diego, and now I'm even further behind. By the time I get Ryan in bed at night I am brain dead...so here are some random bits of information:
1) Mommy: Ryan, you are my favorite person in the world!
Ryan: No, I'm just a good boy. I'm not a person!
2) Ryan has had a 103 degree fever since Thursday. He has hand-foot-and-mouth. There is nothing you can do but give ibuprofen for the pain and fever. He has sores in his mouth and the typical hand rash all over his chest. I managed to get just the right dose of medecine at just the right time this afternoon so we were able to play outside for a bit today.
3) We need a new air conditioner and a new furnace. We have known we needed the air conditioner since last fall, but I also had them look at the furnace because it did some weird things this winter and our bill was really high. Apparently the heat exchanger in our furnace could crack at any time spilling CO into the house. Lennox recalled the furnace in the early 1990's (before we bought the house) because it was so dangerous. We are thinking of getting a heat pump.
4) Last week Rachel treated me to lunch at Hu Hot. It was fun and a nice treat. She got a gift cert for her birthday, and Eric won't eat there, so she took me. I never get to go there because Todd won't eat there, so it all worked out well.
5) Ryan stayed overnight in Oskaloosa last Saturday night. I should have been out painting the town red, but instead I watched the last 4 episodes of Dangerous Housewives and some crime shows I had taped. Sunday we went out for supper with Aunt Kathy and Uncle Denny so they could see Ryan. Sandy and Grandpa Fortner had been bragging to Kathy about how well Ryan talks (he talks in paragraphs, non-stop), but he was tired and only said about 25 words the whole time! I think everyone was disappointed, but I enjoyed the silence! You've got to take it when you can get it!
6)We went to the zoo on Monday. Ryan was most impressed with the playground. He asked why the monkeys weren't talking (they're not like Curious George), and why the cow wasn't walking (it's fiberglass). Since it was Members Monday, we got a free train ride. We ran into Rachel and the boys when we got off. It's a pathetic zoo when compared to St Louis or Omaha, but it is the perfect size for Ryan. Not too big and not too crowded. We were lucky to get a membership for Christmas, so we can zip in and out whenever we want. Ryan fell asleep on the way home and didn't wake up until 4:09 AM Tuesday morning!
7) My parents got hit by the tail end of the Hazelton tornado the same day as the Parkersburg tornado. They had softball sized hail, lost shingles, ruined the siding and air conditioner compressor, and the silo has spiral cracks in it. The middle row of trees in the grove were sheared off at the base. I guess that they were under the stairs in the basement and were sure there wouldn't be a house left when they went upstairs. They were very lucky. The farm south of them lost their bin and barn, and the windows in their house were blown out.
1) Mommy: Ryan, you are my favorite person in the world!
Ryan: No, I'm just a good boy. I'm not a person!
2) Ryan has had a 103 degree fever since Thursday. He has hand-foot-and-mouth. There is nothing you can do but give ibuprofen for the pain and fever. He has sores in his mouth and the typical hand rash all over his chest. I managed to get just the right dose of medecine at just the right time this afternoon so we were able to play outside for a bit today.
3) We need a new air conditioner and a new furnace. We have known we needed the air conditioner since last fall, but I also had them look at the furnace because it did some weird things this winter and our bill was really high. Apparently the heat exchanger in our furnace could crack at any time spilling CO into the house. Lennox recalled the furnace in the early 1990's (before we bought the house) because it was so dangerous. We are thinking of getting a heat pump.
4) Last week Rachel treated me to lunch at Hu Hot. It was fun and a nice treat. She got a gift cert for her birthday, and Eric won't eat there, so she took me. I never get to go there because Todd won't eat there, so it all worked out well.
5) Ryan stayed overnight in Oskaloosa last Saturday night. I should have been out painting the town red, but instead I watched the last 4 episodes of Dangerous Housewives and some crime shows I had taped. Sunday we went out for supper with Aunt Kathy and Uncle Denny so they could see Ryan. Sandy and Grandpa Fortner had been bragging to Kathy about how well Ryan talks (he talks in paragraphs, non-stop), but he was tired and only said about 25 words the whole time! I think everyone was disappointed, but I enjoyed the silence! You've got to take it when you can get it!
6)We went to the zoo on Monday. Ryan was most impressed with the playground. He asked why the monkeys weren't talking (they're not like Curious George), and why the cow wasn't walking (it's fiberglass). Since it was Members Monday, we got a free train ride. We ran into Rachel and the boys when we got off. It's a pathetic zoo when compared to St Louis or Omaha, but it is the perfect size for Ryan. Not too big and not too crowded. We were lucky to get a membership for Christmas, so we can zip in and out whenever we want. Ryan fell asleep on the way home and didn't wake up until 4:09 AM Tuesday morning!
7) My parents got hit by the tail end of the Hazelton tornado the same day as the Parkersburg tornado. They had softball sized hail, lost shingles, ruined the siding and air conditioner compressor, and the silo has spiral cracks in it. The middle row of trees in the grove were sheared off at the base. I guess that they were under the stairs in the basement and were sure there wouldn't be a house left when they went upstairs. They were very lucky. The farm south of them lost their bin and barn, and the windows in their house were blown out.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sesame Street Live
Second Row Tickets: Free
Soda: $2.50
Parking: $6
Ridiculously Priced Souvenir: $15
Taking My Son to his First Stage Show: Priceless
San Diego Pictures
Statue of Navy Man returning from war.
The biggest Hen and Chicks I have ever seen in my life!
I finally got to see a Panda Bear! Everytime I have been to the zoo in Washington DC, the pandas were hiding inside!
Sunset views near our hotel.
Me suspended over the ocean on the USS Midway.
Our free appetizer at Buster's. We used every tacky tourist coupon we could.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
My Luck is Changing?
I thought my luck was changing because Dahl's called to say I won 4 tickets to Sesame Street Live! This is awesome. Since it's free, if Ryan misbehaves or is bored we can walk out and not feel like we wasted money. I never win anything so I am way excited!
But then...Todd almost didn't make it home from work last night. The jeep is leaking oil, power steering fluid, and engine coolant. Great! When it rains it pours!! Luckily my mom is lending me my grandpa's car while Todd's is in the shop.
Tomorrow Todd and I are going to San Diego. We are going to hang out for 3 days before the Climate Change Conference. It will be nice to be away from all the icky things at home. Although I will miss Ryan......
But then...Todd almost didn't make it home from work last night. The jeep is leaking oil, power steering fluid, and engine coolant. Great! When it rains it pours!! Luckily my mom is lending me my grandpa's car while Todd's is in the shop.
Tomorrow Todd and I are going to San Diego. We are going to hang out for 3 days before the Climate Change Conference. It will be nice to be away from all the icky things at home. Although I will miss Ryan......
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Stress and Sickness
This has not been a fabulous week at our house. First of all we are very stressed. With it costing $50 - 60 to fill up a car with gas, you can guess how much money people in Newton have left to buy drinks. Zilch. I am getting worn down from my double-workload at work, and I have never quite got the hang of balancing work outside the home and motherhood.
Anyway, Sunday Todd's wrist swelled up and he was in excruciating pain. After 2 hours at Urgent Care and 8 hours in the ER we didn't have a confirmed diagnosis. They even "tapped" his joint - i.e. they took a very big needle and sucked fluid out of his wrist. It was possibly one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen.
Monday we found out it was gout for sure. He has uric acid crystals in his wrist. This has involved many pills and many doctor's visits. He has to take medicine FOR A YEAR! to dissolve the crystals and is still in a lot of pain. To top it off, they think he has Crohn's Disease and was supposed to have an endoscopy/colonoscopy on Monday, but can't because of the Gout.
While we were at the ER I started sneezing and developed a horrible cold. I was horribly congested all week, and I have hives all over me (stress). The medicine for the hives makes it so I can't breathe, and the medicine to help me breathe brings back the hives!! To top it all off, the 85 plants I ordered came last Friday so I have been using every spare moment to get them in the ground before we leave for San Diego on Monday.
Today is better. The plants are in the ground and I have found the right medicine combo for the hives and my nose. Ryan is wild as hell though. I finally had to take him to McDonald's so Todd could sleep. I don't think he has shut up for more than 30 seconds all day!!
Well, it is time to go beat my laundry into submission again. Every time I almost catch up, it the pile grows again. I swear my towels are having sex and multiplying!
Anyway, Sunday Todd's wrist swelled up and he was in excruciating pain. After 2 hours at Urgent Care and 8 hours in the ER we didn't have a confirmed diagnosis. They even "tapped" his joint - i.e. they took a very big needle and sucked fluid out of his wrist. It was possibly one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen.
Monday we found out it was gout for sure. He has uric acid crystals in his wrist. This has involved many pills and many doctor's visits. He has to take medicine FOR A YEAR! to dissolve the crystals and is still in a lot of pain. To top it off, they think he has Crohn's Disease and was supposed to have an endoscopy/colonoscopy on Monday, but can't because of the Gout.
While we were at the ER I started sneezing and developed a horrible cold. I was horribly congested all week, and I have hives all over me (stress). The medicine for the hives makes it so I can't breathe, and the medicine to help me breathe brings back the hives!! To top it all off, the 85 plants I ordered came last Friday so I have been using every spare moment to get them in the ground before we leave for San Diego on Monday.
Today is better. The plants are in the ground and I have found the right medicine combo for the hives and my nose. Ryan is wild as hell though. I finally had to take him to McDonald's so Todd could sleep. I don't think he has shut up for more than 30 seconds all day!!
Well, it is time to go beat my laundry into submission again. Every time I almost catch up, it the pile grows again. I swear my towels are having sex and multiplying!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
I forgot...
I forgot to tell you that Ryan is obsessed with tromping around the house and outside wearing one, two, three, or a combination of these items:
-snowboots
-my sunglasses (he looks like Posh Spice)
-a Dr. Suess backpack stocked with a phone, a flaslight, and two naked Barbie Dolls,
-no pants
-his coat
-socks on his hands
Stein Happenings
Two Friday nights ago Rachel and I had a girls' night out. My neighbor girl came over and babysat all three boys. We went to eat at Bonefish Grill (http://www.bonefishgrill.com/). Neither one of us had been there before, and it is not somewhere our husbands would enjoy, so we took full advantage of the occasion and ate a lot of seafood. We also had two martinis each. The pomegranet one was to-die-for. If we would have had a DD and a pitcher, we would have been in Nirvana. We had a great time catching up. Then we went to the mall for a bit and then home. Luckily, Ryan and Anthony didn't fight, so everyone had a sucessful evening.
The next morning Ryan and I left for the farm. We went straight to my grandpa's to sort through some stuff. My mom and sister have been working their butts off for weeks (my dad too!) cleaning out the sheds, basement, and garage, and packing up the household stuff for the sale in June. They were almost done by the time I got there, but I got everything I wanted. It is all sentimental stuff. My grandpa was a real tightwad, so there's nothing of value. I got the sugar bowl. It is a really ugly ceramic yellow/brown, but my grandma let us but as much sugar on our cereal as we wanted. I remember a lot of happy breakfasts with that bowl. I also got her spoon collection, some teacups, silverware, souvenir plates, and some Christmas decorations. I also get the china cabinet, but it is staying there since I have no where in my house to put it.
Sunday was a beautiful day and Ryan enjoyed swinging, riding in the big tractor, and riding the new lawn mower, which has CRUISE CONTROL!
Yesterday the girl next door came over again so I could go to cleanup day at the Discovery Garden. It was cold, but fun. We raked, built a new entrance to the tunnel, rebuilt the tunnel, and I planted 140 violas. Other than that, Ryan and I have been hanging out and playing. I am in a bummer mood so Todd is playing with Ryan while I work on the computer. There is so much to do with so little time. Sigh.
Muddy Delight
This is what his diaper looked like afterwards. Very muddy.
This was taken a few weeks ago, on one of those hot, sunny Sunday afternoons. I let Ryan play in the mud. He washes off!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)