Venting, The Happiest Place on Earth and Hair Cut

We are leaving for Disneyland in the morning. We are so excited......we can't stand each other! Our kids are driving us crazy and we are driving our kids crazy. We are really looking forward to the vacation but getting ready for it is about to send us all over the edge. The kids have chosen the last couple of days to not listen to anything we say and to do the complete opposite of what we ask them to do. With the pressure of needing to have clean clothes to wear and gas in the car and our kitties and turtle taken care of and our bills paid (because they are due before we get back) and everything being such a mess (again) we are losing it left and right.
Naissa and Isaac packed their own suitcases, full of stuffed animals, doll clothes, stickers and books, underwear and lollipops. They both had meltdowns when I unpacked them to put their clothes in them.
Zack got this new marble thing you build up and let the marbles roll down from our neighbors, so he keeps sneaking off to play with it. Jade and Naissa have the never ending baskets of laundry coming out of their rooms every other hour while crying out "I HAVE to have this washed for the trip". Isaac finally passed out on the front room floor. The constant arguing and "I'm telling" whines have hit that last nerve ALL DAY! I went to Walmart to find socks for Isaac and found myself just wandering around. I have no idea what I was looking at and I didn't buy extra stuff, I think I just walked around like a zombie for an hour...I hope no one recognized me! (lol!)
I am looking forward to many things at Disneyland. Naissa was three and Isaac was one when we last went to Disneyland and I spent most of the time on the little train that rides near the big whale mouth, Casey something. We also rode the Tea Cups but we didn't spin around, too hard to do while holding two small children. We stood in line FOREVER to go on the Peter Pan ride, but it's one of my favorites so I didn't mind. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is not for little kids! I didn't care for it either, especially the hot air. Jim meanwhile took Jade and Zack on all kinds of rides. I think we'll be doing more trading off this year. lol! It should be a lot of fun.
On a different note, I got my hair cut off today! Around 12 inches! I didn't know when I went in that I would come out with short hair but what the heck, it'll grow!
I guess I better get back to packing! The Happiest Place on Earth is waiting for our arrival!! If you read this pray for us!

Thanksgiving Luncheon in 20 minutes

We went to the Thanksgiving Luncheon at the school today. They couldn't find our form or our check, said maybe the teacher forgot to turn it in. As we waited for my son's class, we saw the Me-n-Ed's delivery guy bring the pizzas for the party my son was giving up to come eat with us. Not a lot of parents there. Those that were there, were in big groups...mom, dad, step mom, siblings etc... We were served by the cheerleaders. Mashed potatoes. Turkey gravy (with bits of turkey in it, not just flavored). Green beans. Diced pears. Roll. Pumpkin cake. Chocolate Milk. It sounds better and tasted better than it looks in the picture. I was pleasantly surprised, even Naissa ate some turkey gravy!!

Zack's friend Chase, whose Grandma lives on our street, ate with us. Zack tried to get us all to give him our pumpkin cakes...I think because it was a little like carrot cake and he loves carrot cake. Go figure. We took a family picture, that probably should have been taken before we ate, seeing how Isaac used the back of his shirt to wipe his hands, and then he sat on Jim's lap! Ha!!

Another LAME sighting

Our elementary school is having their Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, where parents (and siblings) can come to school and eat a "Hot Turkey Meal" with their kid. We did this when Leesha was in elementary school at Lincoln. It was fun and the food was actually really good (and it cost the same as buying a hot lunch in the cafeteria...the same cost for everybody). Here we are paying more for siblings and even more for adults than a hot lunch AND my sons teacher went and planned a pizza party for the kids who were turning in all their work and being responsible AT THE SAME TIME as her class would be eating with their families! So Zack has to miss out on one of them...and I'm guessing he won't be eating pizza for lunch! AND my Kindergartner is supposed to be in her class 5 minutes before the Luncheon time, so we are having to pull her out of class to eat with her family...which I thought was the whole point of having the stupid Luncheon?!?!
In my pissy mood I want to tell them that we adults better have more food on our trays than the students, since we are paying more...but I know that's just petty and I probably wouldn't eat it anyway. I'm just huffing and puffing my frustrations and the LAMENESS of things. It might be different if they announced this as a fundraiser.

What's One Crocodile's Tooth More or Less

As I sat in the waiting room of the dentist office this morning, my two boys were watching “Dunston Checks In” and my youngest daughter was in the chair. She had come back in for a tiny filling. I had watched only a moment earlier as they put the “silly gas” mask over her nose and mouth. Not wanting to watch or HEAR the dentist work, I returned to the waiting room only a few feet away. I tried to pay attention to the TV but frankly, the movie was lame and not holding my attention (maybe in a different setting it would be cute). I got out a piece of paper and began to make my “list” for our upcoming trip, when I heard Naissa cry out, a scared sounding cry, a sad cry. My body tensed and began to fight the urge to run in and save my daughter from the pain and fear….sitting frozen, just listening for the cue to go to her…but knowing she needed to have the filling done. After a moment, maybe two….the assistant came to the door and called me back. They weren’t sure if they should continue. Naissa still wore the “silly gas” mask, but she wasn’t handling all the equipment they were trying to put in her tiny mouth. They were concerned that even if they got through this filling, she would need to come back for the other 3 fillings! FOUR CAVITIES!!! She’s only 5 for goodness sake!! We talked about the options and decided that it would be easiest and probably best to have her sleep while all 4 were done. So now I will have to make an appointment with the oral surgeon. While we were there they did X-rays on Zack’s mouth because his filling had fallen out two nights ago while eating a snickers. Turns out he needs to have FOUR teeth removed…..another oral surgery appointment. His baby teeth (molars) have decided not to come out on their own and the permanent teeth are trying to push them out but becoming infected in the effort. One of them is trying to come out way above where it should be. Oral surgery. I did that with Leesha twice. It’s not easy to let strangers take your child back into a room, knock them out and yank out their teeth!

Zack's Birthday

We celebrated Zack's 10th birthday today. He had friends from school and church come and play Flag Football. Jim headed up one team and our neighbor Eddie headed up the other! They had a lot of fun! There were 16 boys not counting Jim and Eddie...lol!

They did an old fashion Egg Toss with a few Jim Loper Twists. Besides squished eggs in their hands and on the grass, I think only two kids got it good on their clothes and one egg got our house. Good Times!!Big Bubble Blowing Contest!

What's a Birthday with out a little cake on your face?

Happy Birthday Zack! Love You Bud!

And the Award Goes To........

Last week Zack was awarded with his Big Four and Perfect Attendance.

This week Zack was awarded the Coach’s Award for Cross Country. The Principal also shared that she had received an e-mail from a parent from another school, saying that her son had been knocked down by one of our runners. Seeing how there can be anywhere from 20-60 4th graders running at the same time it’s easy to see how this could happen. The woman said that her son assured her it was an accident. She shared that she’s as competitive as anybody and she would’ve left the kid in the dust but our runner gave up his chance to win and helped her child up and made sure he was alright, apologizing to him as well. She said that our runner showed great sportsmanship and character and wanted to thank him for being the exception.
Jim and I were both a little teary eyed because we knew who our runner was. We knew because it was our son! When Zack ran in that day he was farther back than we expected and he was visible upset. Holding back the tears he told us how he had accidentally knocked a kid down and how he had to go back and help him up and that was why he was towards the end. We talked about him doing the right thing and how that was more important than winning.
The principal didn’t know who it was and asked. One kid stood up and said it was him and everyone clapped. At the same time other kids from the Cross Country team were whispering and pointing at Zack. Jim and I were some what perplexed but shrugged it off knowing that Zack had done the same thing.
After school I talked to Zack about the Coach’s Award. He didn’t know what it was until AFTER he was given it. The Coaches told him it was the highest award you could get etc…. His friend Jordan got the MVP award. Zack shared that the kid who stood up hadn’t knocked anybody over or helped anybody up, he just wanted the attention. The other kids on the Cross Country team all knew it was Zack. The Coaches knew it was Zack. That may have been one of the reasons he received the Coach’s Award. But Zack just said, “Let him have the attention, I know I did it. My friends and Coaches know I did it.”
I am so proud. It almost makes up for him flipping me off!

Isaac, the sweater vest and Carson

Did I mention that Isaac wears the same sweater vest every day he can find it? He had to wear it on Halloween with his Batman mask/cape thing.....though I ended up carrying the Batman mask/cape thing all night while he played. He usually wears this sweater vest by itself! He was looking for it today...

Ice: "Where's my sweater?"

Me: "What sweater?"

Ice: "My bwack one like Batman." (not a typo bwack = black)

Me: "What?"

Ice: "Like Batman"

Me: "Batman?"

Ice: "I weared it on Hawoween" (again, not a typo)

Me: "Oh. The vest? The one that Andrew gave you?"

Ice: "YES! Where is it?"

When I told him it was in the laundry he crossed his arms and dropped to his knees and put his head on the ground. Not happy. I guess I need to do some laundry today.

True to his name...he keeps me laughing! Love that boy!

Leesha and Carson at Leesha's Halloween party. Leesha was a Candy Corn Witch and Carson was a pinata...he made it himself! LOL!! Creative guy! Last year he dressed as the Easter bunny and he left candy treats for Leesha on the front lawn! Too Cute. He's a real good guy, very genuine and he loves the Lord!! Isaac loves him!

Proud moment (yes, I'm being sarcastic!! And I know some of your kids say sh** too so Back Off!)

Ice - "Mom, is sh** a bad word?"

Me - "Yes, it is."

Ice - "I won't say sh** K mom, cuz sh** is a bad word"

Me - "Okay, but you're saying it...don't say it"

Ice - "Sh** is a bad word, I won't say sh** cuz it's bad huh mom?"

Me - "Okay Isaac, don't say it"

A moment of silence.

Ice - "I won't flip you off eeder mom" (not a typo...and he said it with his middle finger up)

Me - "Why don't you use your pointer finger instead" (I show him how)

Ice - "Like that mom?"

Me - "Yes much better"

Ice - "Sh** is a bad word"

Me - BIG SIGH.........

Colors of my day

Is RED the color for STRESS? I know it is sometimes used to express ANGER. Either way it is appropriate for my emotions today. RED or maybe BLACK....that feels right too. Of course there's always the BLUE in DEPRESSION. Though I think that comes back to ANGER turned inward......some of those "experts" say. RED would also describe our FINANCES...which are causing the STRESS and the DEPRESSION.

Would that make BROWN the color of MESSES? The other cause of my STRESS and DEPRESSION. Or GREEN the color of my GRUMPY mood...because GREEN is the color of Oscar the Grouch.

BLACK would also be for DEATH....because that is the sentence I have given these FLIES who are harassing me in my house!!

I pull out the Depeche Mode....Black Celebration...and enjoy the escape!

Thanksgiving is a comin'

Leesha

Yesterday was Leesha's 18th birthday! Tonight was senior night at the BHS football game. I got to walk with Leesha in front of the crowd and be given a rose and take a picture with her in front of the big Bears Helmet car. The band director was in the picture too. Seems funny to celebrate senior night in November, with 6 1/2 months to go till graduation. But that's OK, because I got a "moment". It was just me and her down there......well, and the other 38 seniors in the band and their parents....but I mean...it was just me...not Jim, not my parents or my brother, no other kids....just ME! :)
I feel old, though I was probably one of the youngest mom's down there tonight.

18 years ago....(the condensed version)

So Leesha is 18 today! We had a mini family party at my parents. Her boyfriend Carson was there too. We ate dinner and gave her some presents and shared “Leesha” stories. I gave myself a headache from laughing so much. But it was good to laugh! I can’t believe it’s been 18 years! And yet it seems like forever ago that I was in labor with her. (*WARNING* LABOR/BIRTH STORY TO FOLLOW)
It was Halloween and my water had “sprung a leak” and I was starting to have contractions…but wasn’t sure it was the real deal because I wasn’t due for three more weeks. So I continued to answer the door to the Trick or Treaters and give them candy as I held my breath during contractions. My mom didn’t come home until 8pm or so and when she got home we headed for the hospital. Sure enough, it was the real deal. You know the tune…….hooked up to a gazillion monitors, poked and prodded, violated during contractions by one particular nurse bitch and finally given some meds to ease the pain and get a little sleep (in a chair at the end of the bed) I’ve had the same lower back pain ever since…I think there was some kind of nerve damage or something. I’ve always heard other mom’s, almost brag, at how many hours they were in labor…as if it would win them extra jewels for their crown in Heaven…but I was thinking about this today because I’ve always just counted the time I was in the hospital…not the fact that I was having painful contractions for 8-9 hours before going to the hospital. So that would mean I was in labor for 20-21 hours before having to have an emergency c-section. Crazy.
Anyway…I remember praying, “Please God I don’t wanna push…please don’t let me have to push” etc… I’m not sure I gave any thought to how else the baby would come out if I didn’t push, but then again, I was a bit distracted by the PAIN!
My body had gone into shock and I couldn’t stop shaking, they were trying to put the epidural in and I could not control my body…I kept apologizing. I remember thinking and wondering who was going to clean up all the amniotic fluid that had burst all over the floor with a nice splash. The doctor while “checking me” at one point mentioned that she felt a nose…when Leesha was born, she had a scratch on her nose!
Leesha had turned and was coming down face first…but she wasn’t going to budge…the doctor had said that was why I was having extremely painful back labor.
I had gained 66lbs and was huge! They had ordered an extra ultra sound to make sure I wasn’t having twins! It turned out to be excess amniotic fluid…though I can’t think of the term for it right now. Leesha weighed only 5lbs 15oz.
I remember someone asking me if I wanted to see my baby, but I was shaking and crying and my arms were strapped down so I think I said no I can’t… but Dr. Sanchez brought her over and held her so I could see her…she had been cleaned up thankfully…that might of scared me to see her all bloody and cheesy…. Anyway…it was hard. It was painful. I was 19 and scared…it was all uncharted territory. But she was beautiful.

Halloween

We ended up going to our church for Halloween night. The kids had fun! Jade was a gypsy, Zack wore his Tae Kwon Do gear, Naissa was Tinkerbell and Isaac wore red sweat pants, and orange baseball style shirt with a black sweater vest, on top of that he wore his Batman cape and mask...the old school version with Michael Keaton as Batman on the back of his cape. My mom found it in China Town in San Fransisco. lol!

Jade helped with one of the booths and Zack spent his time at the dunk tank...dunking the "leaders" in the church...and at the dime toss...where he tossed coins and won odd dishes and such! Naissa and Isaac made their rounds and ate cotton candy and did their share of bouncing in the bounce house. They also won those "common goldfish" as the coupon says. Oh Joy!

Distraction is good.

It's nice to be distracted. I am so used to Zeke following me around and being by my side through out my day, just like Isaac....though it does hurt a little less today. Harley, Zeke's mom has been hanging out with me. I woke up this morning with a cat on my feet and for a second forgot Zeke was gone. It was Harley. Shandee has been hanging a little closer too. I wonder if they know. I wonder if they are able to understand that he is gone forever. Or if they just see it as an opportunity to get more attention, or a better spot on the bed, or a chance to lick the last of the milk in the cereal bowl. It doesn't matter really...I'm glad for the attention they are giving me.

The kids are doing better today. I think it was good to be able to just cry and let them cry. They drew pictures, wrote about it and prayed about it too. Harley is here with me now. Sweet girl.

Last night we went to my parent's house to Trick or Treat at their house. They have 10 doors around their house and game room and they set up each door with candy. It gives the kids another place to wear their costumes...or try them out to see what is missing etc...
We had pizza and our friend Winnie brought over her grandson Stone, who came as the HULK! The kids had fun. A nice distraction.

So tomorrow the kindergartners are going trick or treating at the district office. Naissa is going to be either Tinkerbell or Jane from Tarzan...because those are the costumes we have that I don't have to think about. The 1st through 6th graders get to dress up according to their class theme. Zack came home TODAY and told us what the theme was/is......are you ready for this....The fourth graders are supposed to dress up...........in an orange or black shirt. Yes, you read that right! An Orange or Black Shirt!! They are not allowed to wear their Halloween costumes that most parents paid a small fortune for, to school. They can only dress up in the "Theme"! I have but one word.........LAME!!But I'm beginning to get the hang of LAME...at this school. I'm sure it wouldn't be so bad if we didn't come from other Clovis Schools that aren't so...LAME!!!

I still don't know what all my kids are going to wear tomorrow night. I think we are going to go to our church.....though I really have no desire to go there.

I am in one of those FUNKS, the kind where you don't want to do anything, go anywhere, see anyone, showers make you weary, you eat and feed your kids only already made/instant types of foods, having to do anything at all causes you stress...I am overwhelmed with the STUFF in our house. I've been getting rid of stuff just about everyday for the last 2 months. You'd think our house would be empty by now....but no, the kids keep un-boxing what I box up and I feel like I am giving the same stuff away all the time. (Except we've had 2 big yard sales in the last 2 months...so I know we are getting rid of stuff) I haven't been shopping in months...not even yard sales! Well, I've been to Costco twice in the last 3 months for food, TP, batteries and baby wipes. No fun stuff! And I went to Target yesterday for more non-fun items! So that doesn't really count as SHOPPING!

Well, I think I've put myself to sleep with this overly exciting blog, so I'm going to bed.