This one is a little rant-ish...
I really try not to complain too much. I mean, I live in a big house, I have a great husband who's always home when I need him and I have two kids that for the most part get along and are best friends.
But really, isn't it all relative? I like to point out that there's always someone worse off than you. I suppose there's one guy, somewhere, who has it the worst but it certainly isn't me. But does that diminish my own hard times? I hate when I feel guilty for admitting that sometimes, only sometimes, I just don't like my life.
Like the weeks when I am up every few hours adjusting blood sugars because my T1D daughter won't wake up on her own and she's going through a growth spurt or hormone adjustment and now her insulin settings are all off.
Or how about waking my son up at midnight to take a pill because it has to be on an empty stomach 30 minutes before and 2 hours after, and let's face it the only time a 7 year old boy goes 3 hours without food is when he's asleep.
I have a new business that I have absolutely no idea how to get off the ground. I've done everything short of give away free vacations and no bites - not even free estimates! What happened to the 8 years I spent in business school?
I've been fired from the one volunteer job I'm completely excited to do because I don't write flowery emails, I'm straight and to the point, which is apparently unacceptable.
But, as I said, I live in a big house with a great family, so my problems don't count right? I mean it's not like I'm in Nepal where the power doesn't work most of the time and if you burn dinner there's no Wendy's down the street to run to.
I guess what I"m trying to say is - if you have a problem, even a first world problem - I'll listen because just because you aren't starving in a hovel somewhere doesn't mean your frustrations don't count.
Rant over.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
February
February has so many themes!
According to the all knowing internet, February is:
But there are others too!
National Potato Lovers Month, I could get in on that one, I love potatoes in just about every shape and size, cooked 1000 different ways!
National Pet Dental Health Month, because I guess if you don't have a Valentine, you're getting up close with your pet a lot and breath matters.
National Children's Dental Health Month, because everyone sets a resolution to get those kids to brush, but forgets by February?
National Gum Disease Awareness Month, man, the dentists are busy this month!
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, I would think all dating violence is important to be aware of, but maybe that's just me.
Missouri Earthquake Awareness Month, I didn't even know they HAD earthquakes in Missouri, so I guess I needed this one.
And let's not forget National Condom Month, probably for the desperate Valentine's hookups when you forgot Pet Dental Health Month.
But not every cause gets a whole month. Some get a week: World Salt Awareness Week, Burn Awareness Week, Random Acts of Kindness Week, and National Eating Disorders Week (for those post V-Day binge & purges).
And of course there are days. Give kids a smile day (probably hand in hand with kids' dental health), National Condom Awareness Day (just happens to be the 14th, just sayin'), and Love your Pet day.
Now, I have a heart shaped fake flower wreath on my door for Valentines day. Maybe I should hang some condom wrapped potatoes and toothbrushes off of it...
According to the all knowing internet, February is:
American Heart Month
Black History Month
LBGT History Month
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
But there are others too!
National Potato Lovers Month, I could get in on that one, I love potatoes in just about every shape and size, cooked 1000 different ways!
National Pet Dental Health Month, because I guess if you don't have a Valentine, you're getting up close with your pet a lot and breath matters.
National Children's Dental Health Month, because everyone sets a resolution to get those kids to brush, but forgets by February?
National Gum Disease Awareness Month, man, the dentists are busy this month!
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, I would think all dating violence is important to be aware of, but maybe that's just me.
Missouri Earthquake Awareness Month, I didn't even know they HAD earthquakes in Missouri, so I guess I needed this one.
And let's not forget National Condom Month, probably for the desperate Valentine's hookups when you forgot Pet Dental Health Month.
But not every cause gets a whole month. Some get a week: World Salt Awareness Week, Burn Awareness Week, Random Acts of Kindness Week, and National Eating Disorders Week (for those post V-Day binge & purges).
And of course there are days. Give kids a smile day (probably hand in hand with kids' dental health), National Condom Awareness Day (just happens to be the 14th, just sayin'), and Love your Pet day.
Now, I have a heart shaped fake flower wreath on my door for Valentines day. Maybe I should hang some condom wrapped potatoes and toothbrushes off of it...
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
RE jected
Struggling with rejection lately because Jeremy wants nothing to do with me. He and I have always been connected and now I feel like he wants nothing to do with me. He barely looks up when I come in the room, he won't talk or acknowledge me, he doesn't even give me a hug. I can't stand it, it breaks my heart. Everyone says he's not doing it on purpose, but if you stomp on someone's foot it still hurts, even if it's not on purpose.
The problem is, the more rejected I feel, the more I want to withdraw so I don't get hurt more. That's the opposite of what I need to do. But it's like in karate, when you know your partner is planning a kick, you don't want to go walking into it.
Maybe it will pass, on his side or on mine, but this too shall pass.
The problem is, the more rejected I feel, the more I want to withdraw so I don't get hurt more. That's the opposite of what I need to do. But it's like in karate, when you know your partner is planning a kick, you don't want to go walking into it.
Maybe it will pass, on his side or on mine, but this too shall pass.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
We will win
Jeremy woke up today and said, "In my dream I saw a ladybug and she was dead. Then another ladybug came out of her shell brand new."
I think it's a prophesy for his eventual recovery!
I think it's a prophesy for his eventual recovery!
Cancer
My baby has cancer.
Four words no mom ever wants to say. My baby has cancer.
13 days ago my son Jeremy started coughing. Not out of the ordinary, seeing as how he's 6, he picks colds like I pick up socks and it was almost April, which puts us in the height of allergy season. So, I got out the Flovent and the Ventolin and I kept saying "I'll call the allergist tomorrow". I never did.
On April 5th he couldn't sleep through the night. He was screaming in pain, he was a little gray, and we decided I should take him to the ER. They took an xray and decided he was extremely constipated, and sent him home to take miralax and this too shall pass. There was a shadow on his lung, which she dismissed as a viral thing, and she noticed a heart murmur, which she dismissed as normal under the circumstances. I trust doctors, they go to school for this, so I took him home.
On April 7th he still couldn't sleep through the night, this time we went to the pediatrician. He ordered a chest xray saying it couldn't be pneumonia because he didn't have a fever, but better be safe than sorry. This xray showed significant lung problems and an enlarged heart. Back to the pediatrician, who referred us to the Pediatric Cardiologist. I wish I could say that was the scariest profession I had ever met.
On April 11th we went to the Pediatric Cardiologist, who did an ultrasound on site. They found a "mysterious mass" in Jeremy's chest. So many things go through your head as you drive your baby to the hospital. Way in the back, pushed down is the word cancer. Traffic is a bear, but we don't dare deviate from what the GPS says because we've never been to this hospital before. The on call Cardiologist meets us at the door, I've never seen a doctor waiting for a patient before. 4 nurses are waiting for us too. He says he's going to be involved, but he's basically handing us off to the ICU doctor because this is no longer a heart problem.
Next came a battery of tests, blood work, CT, machines and wires and tubes. All on a kid who is sick of the doctor, sick of medicine and just plain sick.
A man walks in to the room, soft spoken but tall. Immediately I know who this is. This is the Pediatric Oncologist. Oncologist. The word echoes in my head like a cannon. He takes us into another room and gives us the worst news we have ever been given. Jeremy has cancer. April 11, 2014 - the day Jeremy has cancer. There's a large mass in his chest, a lymphoma, a tumor. It's pushing on his heart and lungs. It's compromised his airway and part of his superior vena cava, the big blood vessel to his heart. It's not the kind you operate on, its the kind you poison slowly. Only, they can't start the chemo until they biopsy it and they can't biopsy it because to sedate him would be fatal. So we have to try to shrink it with steroids, then hope it gets small enough to stop sitting on his airway, so they can biopsy it and put in a central line for the chemo.
He'll be in the hospital for a month, treatment comes in waves, with the first six months being the hardest.
He will not finish kindergarten with his class, he'll be lucky to start first grade with his friends.
He is six years old, about to face a literal fight for his life.
My baby has cancer.
Four words no mom ever wants to say. My baby has cancer.
13 days ago my son Jeremy started coughing. Not out of the ordinary, seeing as how he's 6, he picks colds like I pick up socks and it was almost April, which puts us in the height of allergy season. So, I got out the Flovent and the Ventolin and I kept saying "I'll call the allergist tomorrow". I never did.
On April 5th he couldn't sleep through the night. He was screaming in pain, he was a little gray, and we decided I should take him to the ER. They took an xray and decided he was extremely constipated, and sent him home to take miralax and this too shall pass. There was a shadow on his lung, which she dismissed as a viral thing, and she noticed a heart murmur, which she dismissed as normal under the circumstances. I trust doctors, they go to school for this, so I took him home.
On April 7th he still couldn't sleep through the night, this time we went to the pediatrician. He ordered a chest xray saying it couldn't be pneumonia because he didn't have a fever, but better be safe than sorry. This xray showed significant lung problems and an enlarged heart. Back to the pediatrician, who referred us to the Pediatric Cardiologist. I wish I could say that was the scariest profession I had ever met.
On April 11th we went to the Pediatric Cardiologist, who did an ultrasound on site. They found a "mysterious mass" in Jeremy's chest. So many things go through your head as you drive your baby to the hospital. Way in the back, pushed down is the word cancer. Traffic is a bear, but we don't dare deviate from what the GPS says because we've never been to this hospital before. The on call Cardiologist meets us at the door, I've never seen a doctor waiting for a patient before. 4 nurses are waiting for us too. He says he's going to be involved, but he's basically handing us off to the ICU doctor because this is no longer a heart problem.
Next came a battery of tests, blood work, CT, machines and wires and tubes. All on a kid who is sick of the doctor, sick of medicine and just plain sick.
A man walks in to the room, soft spoken but tall. Immediately I know who this is. This is the Pediatric Oncologist. Oncologist. The word echoes in my head like a cannon. He takes us into another room and gives us the worst news we have ever been given. Jeremy has cancer. April 11, 2014 - the day Jeremy has cancer. There's a large mass in his chest, a lymphoma, a tumor. It's pushing on his heart and lungs. It's compromised his airway and part of his superior vena cava, the big blood vessel to his heart. It's not the kind you operate on, its the kind you poison slowly. Only, they can't start the chemo until they biopsy it and they can't biopsy it because to sedate him would be fatal. So we have to try to shrink it with steroids, then hope it gets small enough to stop sitting on his airway, so they can biopsy it and put in a central line for the chemo.
He'll be in the hospital for a month, treatment comes in waves, with the first six months being the hardest.
He will not finish kindergarten with his class, he'll be lucky to start first grade with his friends.
He is six years old, about to face a literal fight for his life.
My baby has cancer.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Waiting...
It's 10 pm on a school night. I should be going to bed but instead I'm up with my entire family, waiting on two important things.
1. Natalie's blood glucose is 55 and falling. Some malfunction in the machine that delivers life saving and life threatening medicine caused her to get too much insulin and now we're spoon feeding her frosting to get it to come back up.
2. Jeremy has a terrible asthma attack and every time he lays flat it hurts his lungs and he starts wheezing and coughing.
So we wait, for the sugar to come up and the lungs to calm down.
I love my life.
1. Natalie's blood glucose is 55 and falling. Some malfunction in the machine that delivers life saving and life threatening medicine caused her to get too much insulin and now we're spoon feeding her frosting to get it to come back up.
2. Jeremy has a terrible asthma attack and every time he lays flat it hurts his lungs and he starts wheezing and coughing.
So we wait, for the sugar to come up and the lungs to calm down.
I love my life.
Monday, January 27, 2014
BEEEEP
My world is controlled by a series of beeps.
It starts at 7am beepbeep beepbeep beepbeepbeepbeep beepbeepbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Time to wake up. I'd love to say I bounce out of bed, and some days I do, but most days it's a drag.
After I am dressed, I drag myself down the hall to the kids' rooms - time for the wake up with mom show. "Good morning Griffin children! It's a beautiful school day, up and at 'em!" Jeremy bounces up with a smile, Natalie is more a groan.
Downstairs where the phone is beeping it's good morning - emails, texts, missed calls - I'm not real reliable on my cell phone. Beep beep beep
Toaster oven, microwave, even the stove makes a little tick tick tick as I make breakfast. Pop into the laundry room where the machines sing a little song when I turn them on and when they're done. beep beep beep
Kids are downstairs now, and Natalie's various diabetes machines are beeping at her to eat, put in insulin, change something, updates...beep beep beep.
The phone rings - some recording "to confirm your appointment at 1:00 press one" beep.
Finally after a day of beeps it's time to sleep - but here's the kicker. Natalie doesn't wake up when the glucose monitor, you guessed it, beeps in the middle of the night. Now it lives in my room overnight. Remember when you had a baby and they cried three times a night to be checked? Now imagine it's a robot baby who beep beep beeps. Down the hall, check sugar beep, give insulin beep, back to beep, I mean sleep.
It starts at 7am beepbeep beepbeep beepbeepbeepbeep beepbeepbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Time to wake up. I'd love to say I bounce out of bed, and some days I do, but most days it's a drag.
After I am dressed, I drag myself down the hall to the kids' rooms - time for the wake up with mom show. "Good morning Griffin children! It's a beautiful school day, up and at 'em!" Jeremy bounces up with a smile, Natalie is more a groan.
Downstairs where the phone is beeping it's good morning - emails, texts, missed calls - I'm not real reliable on my cell phone. Beep beep beep
Toaster oven, microwave, even the stove makes a little tick tick tick as I make breakfast. Pop into the laundry room where the machines sing a little song when I turn them on and when they're done. beep beep beep
Kids are downstairs now, and Natalie's various diabetes machines are beeping at her to eat, put in insulin, change something, updates...beep beep beep.
The phone rings - some recording "to confirm your appointment at 1:00 press one" beep.
Finally after a day of beeps it's time to sleep - but here's the kicker. Natalie doesn't wake up when the glucose monitor, you guessed it, beeps in the middle of the night. Now it lives in my room overnight. Remember when you had a baby and they cried three times a night to be checked? Now imagine it's a robot baby who beep beep beeps. Down the hall, check sugar beep, give insulin beep, back to beep, I mean sleep.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Black Thursday?
So I've seen a lot about Black Friday lately and I had to put in my two cents.
Black Friday is a phrase coined in the 60's for when retailers went from being in the red to being in the black - profits-wise. But the idea of shopping on the day after Thanksgiving is actually from around 1924 when the Macy's parade started to kick off the holiday season.
Yes, there are deals to be had online and yes, it starts earlier every year. But, I wanted to look at some of the posts I've seen:
1. I'd rather spend the time with my family. I do spend the time with my family. When I go shopping on Black Friday I do it with my mother, sister(s), sister in law, and daughter. As my nieces grow, they will come too. We keep each other warm in line, we laugh and joke, we help pick out what the others' kids will like, we wait in line together and catch up in an environment where there's no food to dish out, no dishes to clean, and no football.
2. Oh, the poor people who have to work that day. I have been on the other side of the register at 5am. The people who work that day are there for two reasons: A. If they weren't there it would be an unpaid day off - and people who work retail need every paid day they can get. B. A discount at Target over the holidays is a BIG advantage.
3. Thanksgiving isn't even over yet! First, unless you live under a rock from Halloween to Christmas, you'll know that not many people care about thanksgiving anymore. That's a whole other blog post, but come on! Second, I don't know about your family, but our tradition puts Thanksgiving dinner at 2:00, meaning even with the slower pace of a holiday meal, by 5:00 we're done - dishes back in the china hutch, pies picked over, turkey salad made... all that's left is the turkey coma and shopping replaces that with exercise.
4. The deals aren't that great - it's just a ploy to get you to spend more. God forbid a retailer try to make you spend money in their store! Call the cops it's rampant capitalism!! Ok, joking aside, of course there are some deals out there that aren't great when you look at them closer and yes they are trying to get you to spend more. But, that's where research and common sense come in. Look at a price - would you pay that for an item normally? Would you pay more? Is it something you've been wanting to get anyway? If you buy for the sake of buying you will get screwed. But savvy shoppers can get awesome deals and have some fun too.
5. What about the crazy people? I don't want to get trampled. OK, there are two options here (well three if you count just stay home). You can stay calm, stick to the edges of the crowd, say please and thank you and excuse me and be willing to maybe miss out on the loss leader sale. Or you can become one of them and run like a madwoman towards that must have toy in the back using your elbows to clear a path (why do you think I've been in Karate for a month?) :)
P.S. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES GO TO WALMART AS THEY OPEN THEIR DOORS - THAT IS CRAZY AND COULD GET YOU KILLED
Anyway - as I see it, Black Thursday/Friday is a treasured tradition that has hit its peak. It will eventually fall back into obscurity, shut down or reduced by the Amazon crowd. So, whether you shop on line or in line - just shop and help our economy grow.
Black Friday is a phrase coined in the 60's for when retailers went from being in the red to being in the black - profits-wise. But the idea of shopping on the day after Thanksgiving is actually from around 1924 when the Macy's parade started to kick off the holiday season.
Yes, there are deals to be had online and yes, it starts earlier every year. But, I wanted to look at some of the posts I've seen:
1. I'd rather spend the time with my family. I do spend the time with my family. When I go shopping on Black Friday I do it with my mother, sister(s), sister in law, and daughter. As my nieces grow, they will come too. We keep each other warm in line, we laugh and joke, we help pick out what the others' kids will like, we wait in line together and catch up in an environment where there's no food to dish out, no dishes to clean, and no football.
2. Oh, the poor people who have to work that day. I have been on the other side of the register at 5am. The people who work that day are there for two reasons: A. If they weren't there it would be an unpaid day off - and people who work retail need every paid day they can get. B. A discount at Target over the holidays is a BIG advantage.
3. Thanksgiving isn't even over yet! First, unless you live under a rock from Halloween to Christmas, you'll know that not many people care about thanksgiving anymore. That's a whole other blog post, but come on! Second, I don't know about your family, but our tradition puts Thanksgiving dinner at 2:00, meaning even with the slower pace of a holiday meal, by 5:00 we're done - dishes back in the china hutch, pies picked over, turkey salad made... all that's left is the turkey coma and shopping replaces that with exercise.
4. The deals aren't that great - it's just a ploy to get you to spend more. God forbid a retailer try to make you spend money in their store! Call the cops it's rampant capitalism!! Ok, joking aside, of course there are some deals out there that aren't great when you look at them closer and yes they are trying to get you to spend more. But, that's where research and common sense come in. Look at a price - would you pay that for an item normally? Would you pay more? Is it something you've been wanting to get anyway? If you buy for the sake of buying you will get screwed. But savvy shoppers can get awesome deals and have some fun too.
5. What about the crazy people? I don't want to get trampled. OK, there are two options here (well three if you count just stay home). You can stay calm, stick to the edges of the crowd, say please and thank you and excuse me and be willing to maybe miss out on the loss leader sale. Or you can become one of them and run like a madwoman towards that must have toy in the back using your elbows to clear a path (why do you think I've been in Karate for a month?) :)
P.S. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES GO TO WALMART AS THEY OPEN THEIR DOORS - THAT IS CRAZY AND COULD GET YOU KILLED
Anyway - as I see it, Black Thursday/Friday is a treasured tradition that has hit its peak. It will eventually fall back into obscurity, shut down or reduced by the Amazon crowd. So, whether you shop on line or in line - just shop and help our economy grow.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Tuesday
Everything flies around in a whirl,
I try to hold on, I try not to hurl.
Breakfast and lunch, laundry and dishes
There ain’t no time for dreams and wishes!
There’s dinner to make and torn dresses to mend
Bible study, PTO, playdates with friends.
Then homework and Girl Scouts, Karate and life.
Don’t forget to smile and be a good wife.
Be pretty and thin, congenial and happy
Don’t expect flowers or cards that are sappy.
Can’t run out of milk, or cereal or cheese
Remind everyone to say thank you and please.
Be up to date on all the math rules
And teach all the stuff they can’t learn in school.
Like life isn’t fair, not everyone wins
And most time life isn’t giggles and grins.
Take 30 seconds and write it all down,
Make it all rhyme so it won’t make people frown.
Now that it’s out get on with your day!
The living room’s a mess and you have the dentist today!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Intolerance
I absolutely have come to detest intolerance. Not the racial or gender kind which ARE bad, the food kind.
My son is allergic to nuts, which means no nuts in our house anywhere, no nuts in our desserts at dinner, no nuts in snacks or meals... no nuts at the baseball game.
My daughter, in addition to being a type 1 diabetic is now lactose intolerant. Do you know how many things have milk in them? Almost everything! They use milk solids to fill out foods, they use whey to stick things together, they put cheese on everything! Trying to find kid snacks with no milk in them is nearly impossible. No cheese, butter, milk, ice cream, chocolate. Nothing good at all.
Thankfully we don't have a gluten problem, although that is becoming more popular and so there are more gluten free products out there.
Some people say it's because we aren't supposed to drink the "breast milk" meant for baby cows. But what are we supposed to do? Have dairy's full of women who are milked daily? People have been drinking the milk of animals for thousands of years. God talks about it in Deuteronomy, so we know that they drank goats milk. People in other parts of the world drink milk from yak, water buffalo, sheep, goats, horses, reindeer and camels. Why do we suddenly have a surgence of allergies and intolerance?
I don't know - hormones, chemicals, pesticides or just change - whatever it is, it's a pain in my butt!
My son is allergic to nuts, which means no nuts in our house anywhere, no nuts in our desserts at dinner, no nuts in snacks or meals... no nuts at the baseball game.
My daughter, in addition to being a type 1 diabetic is now lactose intolerant. Do you know how many things have milk in them? Almost everything! They use milk solids to fill out foods, they use whey to stick things together, they put cheese on everything! Trying to find kid snacks with no milk in them is nearly impossible. No cheese, butter, milk, ice cream, chocolate. Nothing good at all.
Thankfully we don't have a gluten problem, although that is becoming more popular and so there are more gluten free products out there.
Some people say it's because we aren't supposed to drink the "breast milk" meant for baby cows. But what are we supposed to do? Have dairy's full of women who are milked daily? People have been drinking the milk of animals for thousands of years. God talks about it in Deuteronomy, so we know that they drank goats milk. People in other parts of the world drink milk from yak, water buffalo, sheep, goats, horses, reindeer and camels. Why do we suddenly have a surgence of allergies and intolerance?
I don't know - hormones, chemicals, pesticides or just change - whatever it is, it's a pain in my butt!
Thursday, March 7, 2013
cars
I was walking in the parking lot today, glancing at the cars as I went by. I realized that our cars have become an extension of ourselves. More than just a machine that takes us from one place to another, we use our cars to advertise information about ourselves. You can tell a lot about someone by their bumper.
Political stickers - I think you should NEVER advertise your political views on the bumper. First, what happens when they lose and you're stuck with Perot 2004 on your car forever? And with the political climate being what it is nowdays, you really could end up in some kind of road rage over your Obama sticker. Just not a good idea, but lots of people do it.
Family stickers - I admit, I have these. The little stick figures that represent each member of our family. However, if you have to put two rows or even cover the entire back window just skip it. And fine, your dog and two cats are part of the family, but the fish, bird, lizard, turtle - whatever? COME ON!!
Licence plates - my plates are JDRF in support of my daughter. So are my husband's. Colorado has quite a few charity plates, each showing what you believe in. They even have Rockies plates this year - man was I torn!
Sports stickers - I continually replace the Colorado Rockies sticker on my back window because it gets hard and chips off. Whether it's college, high school or pro, you can find a sticker.
Animals - I had a SeaWorld Manatee bumper sticker on my car for awhile, but people have all sorts of things. From Dogs to Save the Whales we try to convince people to believe our way by reading 6" on our bumper in traffic. Do these really work?
Stupid stuff - I have not put one of those cutesy bumper stickers on my car since high school. Stuff like "back off or I'll flick a booger on your windshield" "husband in trunk" "my other car is a pumpkin carriage".
So, before you stick that sticker on your car, consider - what does this say about me? Because one day someone might notice.
Political stickers - I think you should NEVER advertise your political views on the bumper. First, what happens when they lose and you're stuck with Perot 2004 on your car forever? And with the political climate being what it is nowdays, you really could end up in some kind of road rage over your Obama sticker. Just not a good idea, but lots of people do it.
Family stickers - I admit, I have these. The little stick figures that represent each member of our family. However, if you have to put two rows or even cover the entire back window just skip it. And fine, your dog and two cats are part of the family, but the fish, bird, lizard, turtle - whatever? COME ON!!
Licence plates - my plates are JDRF in support of my daughter. So are my husband's. Colorado has quite a few charity plates, each showing what you believe in. They even have Rockies plates this year - man was I torn!
Sports stickers - I continually replace the Colorado Rockies sticker on my back window because it gets hard and chips off. Whether it's college, high school or pro, you can find a sticker.
Animals - I had a SeaWorld Manatee bumper sticker on my car for awhile, but people have all sorts of things. From Dogs to Save the Whales we try to convince people to believe our way by reading 6" on our bumper in traffic. Do these really work?
Stupid stuff - I have not put one of those cutesy bumper stickers on my car since high school. Stuff like "back off or I'll flick a booger on your windshield" "husband in trunk" "my other car is a pumpkin carriage".
So, before you stick that sticker on your car, consider - what does this say about me? Because one day someone might notice.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Moving
Recently we moved.
We weren't planning on moving, but things worked out and fell into place. One day we're looking at towns online and 2 weeks later we're putting in an offer on a house that costs twice what our current one did.
Don't get me wrong, I love our new house. I love my new neighborhood, I love the schools my kids go to and I even love the new church. I have a fabulous deck out back where I can sit (when its more than 30 degrees) and read and look at the mountains. I have a jacuzzi tub where I can relax at the end of the day.
I'm doing well at keeping it clean, even though it's twice as big too. I've kept up on the laundry and dishes, I've mopped the floor and swept weekly. Every Saturday we switch sheets and we clean bathrooms.
But there are things I miss too. My sister for one. I barely see her anymore. And my neighbor Kristin. She's having a baby, I've been there for all of them, I'll miss this one. My grocery store.
Now, you say - "a grocery store? They're all the same!" But not really. Sure, some things are the same, but you get to learn where everything is, and you can run in, grab something and run out. The pharmacy people get to know us (we're there a lot) and you know which gas pump is the best one.
Then there's the new place - finding a place for everything, remembering the place you put it in, deciding if that's the permanent place, or finding a new place and going through it all over. I've got the kitchen set, and my laundry room is very close. We have no furniture in the living room, but the food tables are always nice. The toy room is still a DISASTER of epic proportions.
Bottom line - moving sucks. It's stressful on your family, your body, your life, your marriage, your relationships - everything! But once you're on the other side, hopefully you find that it was worth it all.
We weren't planning on moving, but things worked out and fell into place. One day we're looking at towns online and 2 weeks later we're putting in an offer on a house that costs twice what our current one did.
Don't get me wrong, I love our new house. I love my new neighborhood, I love the schools my kids go to and I even love the new church. I have a fabulous deck out back where I can sit (when its more than 30 degrees) and read and look at the mountains. I have a jacuzzi tub where I can relax at the end of the day.
I'm doing well at keeping it clean, even though it's twice as big too. I've kept up on the laundry and dishes, I've mopped the floor and swept weekly. Every Saturday we switch sheets and we clean bathrooms.
But there are things I miss too. My sister for one. I barely see her anymore. And my neighbor Kristin. She's having a baby, I've been there for all of them, I'll miss this one. My grocery store.
Now, you say - "a grocery store? They're all the same!" But not really. Sure, some things are the same, but you get to learn where everything is, and you can run in, grab something and run out. The pharmacy people get to know us (we're there a lot) and you know which gas pump is the best one.
Then there's the new place - finding a place for everything, remembering the place you put it in, deciding if that's the permanent place, or finding a new place and going through it all over. I've got the kitchen set, and my laundry room is very close. We have no furniture in the living room, but the food tables are always nice. The toy room is still a DISASTER of epic proportions.
Bottom line - moving sucks. It's stressful on your family, your body, your life, your marriage, your relationships - everything! But once you're on the other side, hopefully you find that it was worth it all.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Back to School
Well, it's back to school time again and this year my little one goes off to Kindergarten.
In our house we transition from summer sleep to school sleep gradually over a few weeks. Slowly we move bedtime up and wake up time earlier until we're at 6:30 am and 7:30 pm. This week we hit 6:30 am. Turns out that 6:30 am sucks!
On Monday the 20th my daughter starts 3rd grad and on the 23rd Jeremy starts Kindergarten. There is a huge pile of school supplies on the couch just waiting for back to school night tonight. I've contacted the teachers about their special needs and now it's just a matter of time.
School time is a time of mixed feelings. I love staying with my kids and teaching them things, but after 3 months together I'm very ready for them to go back. I'm not sure what I'll do with all the time, probably laundry.
I've volunteered to do more work with the Girl Scouts and the JDRF. I've agreed to run a small group for church, and I hope to do more Heritage Makers stuff.
I'm sure every mom goes through this - the first feeling of empty nest. First Kindergarten, then all day school, then Middle school, High School and off to college - or life.
Four days and counting...
In our house we transition from summer sleep to school sleep gradually over a few weeks. Slowly we move bedtime up and wake up time earlier until we're at 6:30 am and 7:30 pm. This week we hit 6:30 am. Turns out that 6:30 am sucks!
On Monday the 20th my daughter starts 3rd grad and on the 23rd Jeremy starts Kindergarten. There is a huge pile of school supplies on the couch just waiting for back to school night tonight. I've contacted the teachers about their special needs and now it's just a matter of time.
School time is a time of mixed feelings. I love staying with my kids and teaching them things, but after 3 months together I'm very ready for them to go back. I'm not sure what I'll do with all the time, probably laundry.
I've volunteered to do more work with the Girl Scouts and the JDRF. I've agreed to run a small group for church, and I hope to do more Heritage Makers stuff.
I'm sure every mom goes through this - the first feeling of empty nest. First Kindergarten, then all day school, then Middle school, High School and off to college - or life.
Four days and counting...
Monday, April 9, 2012
Take me out to the ballgame
Its that time of year again - time for baseball.
I'm not a big sports fan, not interested in Football, have no idea how they play Basketball or Hockey. But baseball is my sport. I can't play, but I can cheer.
I don't understand all the rules, and with few exceptions, I'll let someone instruct me, or I'll look it up if I don't understand what happened. Like a pitchers ERA - no one could tell me, so I looked it up. Lets suffice it to say that it's a complicated equation of batters, hits and innings pitched.
And - did you know there's a whole rest of the ballgame song? I found that out a few years ago.
There's nothing I like better than spending a gorgeous day out in the sunshine, watching the Colorado Rockies win or lose - but of course win is better. I know their names, I know their numbers, I yell and screamand eat peanuts (unless I'm with Jeremy).
I watch the games on TV, but don't care for the announcers who HAVE to fill the silence with useless information. Which is why going is so much better.
I love how in the spring there's hope. No one is ahead, no one is behind, anyone can take the series in April. Anything can happen in the summertime.
Go Rockies!
I'm not a big sports fan, not interested in Football, have no idea how they play Basketball or Hockey. But baseball is my sport. I can't play, but I can cheer.
I don't understand all the rules, and with few exceptions, I'll let someone instruct me, or I'll look it up if I don't understand what happened. Like a pitchers ERA - no one could tell me, so I looked it up. Lets suffice it to say that it's a complicated equation of batters, hits and innings pitched.
And - did you know there's a whole rest of the ballgame song? I found that out a few years ago.
There's nothing I like better than spending a gorgeous day out in the sunshine, watching the Colorado Rockies win or lose - but of course win is better. I know their names, I know their numbers, I yell and screamand eat peanuts (unless I'm with Jeremy).
I watch the games on TV, but don't care for the announcers who HAVE to fill the silence with useless information. Which is why going is so much better.
I love how in the spring there's hope. No one is ahead, no one is behind, anyone can take the series in April. Anything can happen in the summertime.
Go Rockies!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
vacations
My baby took off on her first solo vacation today. I know that all will go well. Millions of people fly daily, but not my 8 year old and not alone. And then there's the week in California with Grandma. Grandma has her good points, but she has never tried to learn about diabetes before, and now she's got my baby's life in her hands.
To add to the stress, their first line of inquiry is Mike. Now, I know Mike is her dad, and he knows more than Grandma, but he doesn't know as much as me. I do this daily.
I can only trust that all of our training and last minute reminders will sink in and Natalie will take care of herself.
But if I'm this much of a mess with a week away - what will happen when she goes to camp where no one loves her like Grandma does?
I thought bringing up babies was hard...
To add to the stress, their first line of inquiry is Mike. Now, I know Mike is her dad, and he knows more than Grandma, but he doesn't know as much as me. I do this daily.
I can only trust that all of our training and last minute reminders will sink in and Natalie will take care of herself.
But if I'm this much of a mess with a week away - what will happen when she goes to camp where no one loves her like Grandma does?
I thought bringing up babies was hard...
Friday, March 16, 2012
Open letter to all department stores
Open letter to all department stores:
1. I do not want your credit card. I don't care how much it will save me today, I don't care if I can pay it off right away - I know how credit works. The coupons you send me do not effect me that much.
2. I do not want to take your stupid survey. If I wanted to go online and waste time, I would look at Youtube videos.
3. If you do sell a credit card to some other schmuck, take them elsewhere - don't make me wait in line while grandma questions putting her social security number in the machine.
4. I don't want you to have my phone number/address/email so you can send me crap.
Just keep it to yourself - I can decide when and where to shop. Don't try and dictate to me. You want to win my money? Give me GREAT SERVICE and I'll come back.
Thank you
1. I do not want your credit card. I don't care how much it will save me today, I don't care if I can pay it off right away - I know how credit works. The coupons you send me do not effect me that much.
2. I do not want to take your stupid survey. If I wanted to go online and waste time, I would look at Youtube videos.
3. If you do sell a credit card to some other schmuck, take them elsewhere - don't make me wait in line while grandma questions putting her social security number in the machine.
4. I don't want you to have my phone number/address/email so you can send me crap.
Just keep it to yourself - I can decide when and where to shop. Don't try and dictate to me. You want to win my money? Give me GREAT SERVICE and I'll come back.
Thank you
Thursday, March 8, 2012
quirks
I do a lot of silly things that make NO sense.
I load the dishwasher and always end up forgetting a few, so the job isn't done.
I clean up the living room, but never all the way.
Not just that - I have to eat M&Ms and small candies in pairs: one for each side.
I dip potato chips in my ravioli sauce.
I can't back my car up without some kind of camera.
I like to keep stuff - not hoarding yet, but just a lot of memories are in my stuff.
I like things organized but don't have the will power to keep it that way.
I think I'm allergic to sunflower seeds.
I like chocolate milk, but not regular milk.
I hate change - it took 3 months for Mike to convince me to switch phones - but...
I want to move. Apparently I'm right on track with that one though, because people changes houses on average every 7 years and we're in year 7 1/2.
I want a house that people walk into and say - wow, this is beautiful! But I don't know how to get it and keep it.
Maybe everyone has these things, maybe I'm unique, but it's who I am. Who are you?
I load the dishwasher and always end up forgetting a few, so the job isn't done.
I clean up the living room, but never all the way.
Not just that - I have to eat M&Ms and small candies in pairs: one for each side.
I dip potato chips in my ravioli sauce.
I can't back my car up without some kind of camera.
I like to keep stuff - not hoarding yet, but just a lot of memories are in my stuff.
I like things organized but don't have the will power to keep it that way.
I think I'm allergic to sunflower seeds.
I like chocolate milk, but not regular milk.
I hate change - it took 3 months for Mike to convince me to switch phones - but...
I want to move. Apparently I'm right on track with that one though, because people changes houses on average every 7 years and we're in year 7 1/2.
I want a house that people walk into and say - wow, this is beautiful! But I don't know how to get it and keep it.
Maybe everyone has these things, maybe I'm unique, but it's who I am. Who are you?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Vices
Shopping is my vice. Some people eat, some gamble or drink, I shop.
Luckily I'm married to someone who can afford to keep me in the money so to speak. But as I was buying stick on window decorations today in the shape of Shamrocks, just because they were three dollars, I wondered - could I stop?
I have long maintained a belief in our country being Capitalist. The Free Market system is paramount to our country surviving. When the government started interfering, that's when things really went down hill. Bailing out companies that couldn't hack it, companies that had cheated the public into houses and cars and everything else they couldn't afford. Then dropping the interest rate so low that, while I love my 3.25% HELOC, no one wanted to invest in our country and thus caused massive unemployment.
But I digress, could I stop shopping? If one is a recovering shopaholic, where would one get their groceries, clothes, cars, anything? We live on cash only, no credit. My shopping has yet to cause us to go into debt for anything, or have to skip a meal, or any other major inconvenience. So, is my shopping really a problem? I can go days without it, but then when I am shopping I feel a rush and end up getting things we don't really need. Now our house is overflowing with stuff. That's where the problem comes in.
I don't know that I need to stop, but I do need some impulse control. Maybe someday, but for now - Kohl's has a sale on everything - want to go?
Luckily I'm married to someone who can afford to keep me in the money so to speak. But as I was buying stick on window decorations today in the shape of Shamrocks, just because they were three dollars, I wondered - could I stop?
I have long maintained a belief in our country being Capitalist. The Free Market system is paramount to our country surviving. When the government started interfering, that's when things really went down hill. Bailing out companies that couldn't hack it, companies that had cheated the public into houses and cars and everything else they couldn't afford. Then dropping the interest rate so low that, while I love my 3.25% HELOC, no one wanted to invest in our country and thus caused massive unemployment.
But I digress, could I stop shopping? If one is a recovering shopaholic, where would one get their groceries, clothes, cars, anything? We live on cash only, no credit. My shopping has yet to cause us to go into debt for anything, or have to skip a meal, or any other major inconvenience. So, is my shopping really a problem? I can go days without it, but then when I am shopping I feel a rush and end up getting things we don't really need. Now our house is overflowing with stuff. That's where the problem comes in.
I don't know that I need to stop, but I do need some impulse control. Maybe someday, but for now - Kohl's has a sale on everything - want to go?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Diets
Why do we have to have diets?
I started a new calorie counting app on the phone, but I'm sooo hungry! I've already cheated and it's only 9:45. I have no will power. I'll never live on 1200 calories a day.
I think I'll have to go on Jenny Craig again...
I started a new calorie counting app on the phone, but I'm sooo hungry! I've already cheated and it's only 9:45. I have no will power. I'll never live on 1200 calories a day.
I think I'll have to go on Jenny Craig again...
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
disney hates fat people
I was just reading an article about a new Disney ride that makes the good people thin and beautiful, then the bad people fat and lazy. They were forced to close the ride after protests that it made the "plump" kids feel bad.
They they pointed out all the movies that have a thin hero and fat evil villan. Like The Little Mermaid and Ursula.
Not only that but all older characters are plump - Cinderella's fairy godmother, the Witch Doctor in Frog Princess, Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast. What does this tell kids? Its ok to be fat if you're old?
I have long said that Disney hates mothers. Usually in the first few minutes the mom dies, or she's never mentioned at all.
Snow white - dead
Cinderella - dead
Ariel - never mentioned
Belle - never mentioned
Nemo - killed
Bambi - killed
Pinocchio - never had one
What does Walt have against moms? Seems to me that maybe Disney isn't the happiest place after all, but if we wish upon a star, we'll all be super thin, long haired beauties who live happily ever after - until we have kids that is...
They they pointed out all the movies that have a thin hero and fat evil villan. Like The Little Mermaid and Ursula.
Not only that but all older characters are plump - Cinderella's fairy godmother, the Witch Doctor in Frog Princess, Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast. What does this tell kids? Its ok to be fat if you're old?
I have long said that Disney hates mothers. Usually in the first few minutes the mom dies, or she's never mentioned at all.
Snow white - dead
Cinderella - dead
Ariel - never mentioned
Belle - never mentioned
Nemo - killed
Bambi - killed
Pinocchio - never had one
What does Walt have against moms? Seems to me that maybe Disney isn't the happiest place after all, but if we wish upon a star, we'll all be super thin, long haired beauties who live happily ever after - until we have kids that is...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)