And All I Got Was This Stinkin' Picture

Let's take a look at this picture:

-I believe it is the first time my husband has taken a picture with me and the kids at the same time.

-Pay no attention to the animal that I am passing off as hair

-Lael was drugged and it took 10 minutes just to get that smile

-She also refused to let me do her hair so she wore that hat the entire night

-My hair appears to be eating half of D's face.  I promise it didn't.  At least not that much.

We really had a great Thanksgiving.  Lael was able to bounce back for a little while and managed to nibble on a bit of food.

I hope each and everyone of you was able to enjoy your family time even if you got a horrible picture out of it.

Smiling Through the Pain

We made it through the Tonsillectomy yesterday.

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but still nerve racking.

We got to bed a little after 11 and I was up at 3.  It was more of a tease then sleep. Especially if you have a baby that woke up at 2.

Here is Lael at 4am.  Smiling.

She is my hero.

We made it to the hospital and checked in by 5. We spent about an hour in the Peds wait room where we made various buildings out of wood sticks.

By 6:30 we were taken into the operating room.  They allowed her to keep her pjs on and take her stuffed animal Rainbow Monkey.



We played Angry Birds and other silly games.  Hubby and Kobi waited in the OR wait room.

The doctors were great.  They came in and joked around with her.  They explained everything that would happen.

She made the nurses laugh.  She's awesome like that.  She wasn't nervous AT ALL. (can't say the same for myself)

At 7:25 I had to say my goodbyes.  I was sooo nervous.  They tell you there is a small percentage of people who don't wake up from surgery.  I prayed my baby wasn't in that percentage.  I prayed and prayed.

I walked down to the wait room and distracted myself with the cuteness of Kobi.  It was the shortest and longest hour ever.

At 8:30 the surgeon came in smiling and told me they were done and everything went perfect.

My hubby decided to go see her first since I saw her off (that pissed me off but I understood).  He showed up a few minutes later telling me to go back because she was still sleep.

I went back and there she was, knocked out.

5 minutes passed.  Then 10, 15, 20.  I watched the little boy who came out after Lael wake up and cuddle with his mom.

I began to get nervous.  Right when I started asking questions she woke up.  She looked at me and started to cry.  Not a sobbing cry but the silent tears down your cheek type.

I hushed her not to cry and of course she cried more which of course made me cry.

She was awake.  A little high, but awake.

After a Popsicle and a few minutes of Shrek we were moved our own private room.

We spent about 3hrs there and then it was time to go home.

Pain or no pain. She still smiles.

There will be nothing but JELLO, Popsicle's and juice for the next few days. But I don't hear her complaining.

The Pre-Op Appointment

Most of you know that Lael is scheduled to have a Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy on Monday.

Wednesday was her Pre-Op appointment.

It was a long day. Long. Very long.

Originally hubby was going to go with me.

Then we decided to leave him and Kobi home.

That morning I somehow ended up taking them both with me. Alone. (Still not sure how he got that one past me.)

Here is a glimpse of our day…….


In the car on the way to the hospital:

Her: “So let me get this straight, I will not be sleeping in the hospital on Monday, right?”

Me: giggle giggle “…..right….” giggle giggle

In the room with the first doctor:

Doc: “So, do you have any more questions?”

Me: “I think that’s it for me, Lael do you have any questions?”

Her: “Yeah, when can we eat.”

In the Pediatric Waiting Room:

Her: “I’m hungry.”

Me: “I know, it shouldn’t be much longer.”

In the room with the 2nd doctor:

Doc: (whispering to me) “Did they tell you she had to have blood taken?”

Me: (panicking and trying to whisper) “NO…..”

Doc: “How does she do with that?”

Me: “I can’t say, she never had to have that done.”

Doc: “How do you think she’ll do?”

Me: “As well as you would expect a 7yr old drama queen.”

Me: “Lael, sit down, and let them take your blood…..pressure.”

Doc: “Ok, now I will take your temperature, I’m just going to rub this thing across your forehead.”

Lael: “Didn’t they just do that in the other room?”

Me: “Ok, great job honey. Now listen. The doctors need to take a teeny bit of blood out of your arm.”

Lael: “……………”

(At this point we negotiated for 10 minutes why this had to be done and which arm and how it wasn’t going to hurt at all)

Lael: “They are going to need a smaller one if they thing they are going to stick that in my arm.”

(The doc then stuck himself and drew his own blood to show her how easy it was.)

Raise your hand if you think she bought it.

Yeah.

After 10 more minutes:

Me: “You have two choices. You give him your arm or we will go downstairs to the Pediatric Clinic where the nurses will hold you down.”

Lael: “How about I just go home.”

I then had to do what any other mother in my position would do (or not).

I sat on her. I held her legs between my legs. I held her arm.

She then proceeded to lose her fucking mind.

She screamed. She hit. She cried. I cried.

They were able to draw the blood.

At one point she told me she was walking home.

In the Pediatric Waiting Room (again):

Her: “I’m hungry.”

Me: “I know, it shouldn’t be much longer.”

3rd Doc: “Is there a Lael here?”

Lael: “I’m not letting anyone else give me shots. I’m not going.”

Me: “You’re not getting any more shots.”

Lael: “I don’t believe you.”

Me to Doc: “Can you please ensure her that she will not be getting any shots or stuck with any needles.”

Doc: “No more shots, I promise.”

In the room with the 3rd doctor:

Doc: “I’m just going to rub this across your head to get your temperature.”

Lael: “Seriously?!”

In the Pediatric Waiting Room (3rd time):

Her: “I’m hungry.”

Me: “I know, it shouldn’t be much longer.”

Her: “Yeah, right.”

Finally the nurse came and got us and went over the patient procedures for Monday.

I took Lael to the cafeteria and got her a burger and apple pie.

I then took her to the store to get her a toy.

Best believe I ensured that they will be putting her ass to sleep BEFORE they put the IV in her arm on Monday.

6 Months

Half a year.

Already gone.

It can't be.

You are still brand new.

Soft.

Innocent.

So many changes have occured in the last few weeks.

You cry out for me when I walk in a room.

You reach your arms up when you want to be picked up.

You love to tap your right foot. It's pretty hilarious.


You got your first stuffy nose and I learned you don't care to have it cleaned. At. All.

Daddy is your BFF. I'm not sad about this. I'm glad you have him.


Peek-a-Boo rocks the party. No matter how cranky you are.

Not only do you have your first tooth, you have a second one on the way.

You're not crawling yet but you've learned to combine your back and stomach rolls to get you to your destination. Problem solving at it's finest.


I still cannot have you in the car longer than 30 minutes without all hell breaking loose. I pray you grow out of this soon but TKW has informed me otherwise.

You love the outdoors. When you get cranky I walk you out the front door and you take in the scenery.

Today I bought your first sippy cup. You grabbed it and then tossed it across the kitchen.


I'm sure you'll grow fond of it. Just like I've grown fond of you.

Happy 6th months baby boy.

Weekend Recap~Veteran’s Weekend

It was a nice long weekend. We had off Thursday for Veteran’s Day and my office gave us off Friday as well.

My hubby’s BFF came in town from Kentucky so I spent Wednesday night and Thursday scrubbing my house down.

I’m not really sure why since they spent the whole weekend in the “man-cave”.

Friday I went to breakfast with my boss and then had a doctors appointment. Afterwards I took a nap and spent the rest of the day lounging in my pj’s.

Because that was so much fun I did the same thing on Saturday.

I finally got to watch Avatar. That took me the whole night to watch. I don’t think I’ve ever paused a movie so much in my life.

Yesterday Kobi turned 6 months. (I’ll put up his 6 mth post tomorrow) I am happy and sad at the same time.

You guys have been there from the beginning. How is this possible?

We had D this weekend so me and the MIL took the kids to see Tops and Blue.

It was pretty cool.

The kids loved a Lady Gaga bit they did.

The car ride was pretty much horrible.

Kobi does NOT do well in the car.

I don’t know what it is. I feed him, change him, make sure he’s dressed properly but he screams.

Suggestions?

I spent last night indulging in my favorite shows. I tried to watch Palin’s new show on TLC because Marinka felt it was our duty as Americans.

I didn’t get past the first 15 minutes. I mean seriously. Who can sit that close to a bear and not shit themselves?

Happy Monday peeps!

The Veteran

He is the homeless guy living under the bridge.

He is the grandfather that tells his war stories.

She is the great aunt who served as a nurse.

They are the teenagers you see missing limbs.

She is the single mother you walk past in Wal-Mart.

They are the parents of the little boy at the park. The one who is with his grandma while BOTH his parents are deployed.

She is that white girl, that black girl, that Asian boy.

He is her nephew.

She is my mother-in-law.

He is my husband.

He is my brother. The Marine currently in Afghanistan.

She is me.

Happy Veteran's Day to all the heroes.

Past, Present, and Future.

Wordless Wednesday

Guess who has their first tooth?

I know. I can't believe it either.

Weekend Recap~A Baby Shower

I have a friend who has 2 boys. One is 12 and the other is 9. She is now pregnant with a little girl.
My hubby is friends with her hubby. This is the only couple we have in common.

This may be weird to some of you but most of my husband’s friends are single and most of my friends, well, I don’t have any other friends in the area.

So when my friend was around 5 mths pregnant, I asked her if anyone was throwing her a baby shower.

That is how I became the host of her baby shower on Saturday.

I had everything planned out but being the perfect procrastinator that I am, I still had tons to do.

Friday I left work a little early and headed to the store. I had to buy food and drinks for the party.

Once I got back home, I recruited Lael to help me put the gift boxes together.

I rewarded her with candy. She easy like that.

Saturday was a marathon.

It was the Super Sonics last soccer game.

It was also in the 30s.

We froze but we won.

Lael didn’t score a goal but played good defense.

After the game we walked across the field and the kids were given cupcakes and their trophies.

It was the ghettoest awards ceremony I’ve ever seen.

Usually we have a big ceremony at the youth center with all of the teams and we have pizza and cake.

(Apparently now that the Navy has taken over our base things are done differently.)

After the “ceremony” we headed back home but not before stopping at a community yard sale.

I scored brand new baby walking shoes for $2 and a few brand new baby toys for Kobi. Lael was able to get some stick thing for free.

We then made it home where I proceeded to make lasagna, green beans, fruit salad and Carlota’s Perfect Punch minus a few things.

Me and Lael gathered all of our games and headed down the street to set up.

The baby shower was a success.

We played “Guess What’s In The Diaper” and “Dress the Baby (with a partner using 1 hand each)”.

Fun was had by all.

I didn’t get out of there until after 8pm.

I went home and collapsed in bed.

I woke up yesterday with the mother of all headaches.

That was an excuse for me to stay in my pjs and on the couch catching up on my DVR.

I’m thankful that this is a short week, though I’m a little disappointed that the holiday in on a Thursday rather than Friday.

I mean what’s the point?

Happy Monday

Creepy Guy

I originally planned to write a post about how tired I am, but then realized no one cares.

Instead I’m going to tell you about a phone call I just got.

So in the Air Force we have to have an annual physical. It’s called a PHA (Physical Health Assessment).

You make an appointment and when you get there they make you fill out a bunch of forms. You give some blood to be used for standard tests and then they send you on your way until the next year.

I am due for my PHA.

I received and email saying that I qualified to take my PHA online.

I can only imagine that means that I’m healthy enough that I don’t actually have to go in to see a doctor.

So I proceed with logging on the website and filling out the questionnaire.

I asked if I drink regularly. If I have thoughts of suicide. If I eat healthy and exercise.

You know, the usual.

So I finish up and it says to send an email to a particular address when complete.

So I did.

I get an email back saying that I will be contacted by someone.

That was last month.

Then I get a phone call at my desk this morning.

I’m a little freaked out because there is this creepy guy on the other end asking for me.

When I say creepy I mean his voice sounded like he was a smoker, who had just rolled out of bed, robbed a bank, and was using me as his one call from jail.

I had already answered the phone with my last name so I can’t pretend it’s not me.

Apparently he was from the clinic and wanted to know if I had a few minutes to answer a few questions.

As much as I wanted to scream and throw the phone, I said yes.

The first thing he asked for was my social. Ugh.

I gave it to him. I mean shit, if he can get any type of credit by taking my social, I’d have a heart attack.

So then he asks me when the last time I had an HIV test.

Um? Not sure.

Most likely when I was pregnant and they took so much blood it makes you queasy.

But the thing that worried me is if he pulled up my file with my social, why couldn’t he see all of this information?

So he says that he put in a ticket for me to go to the Lab to have blood taken and that I need to fast for 12 hrs before.

Ok. I can do that.

He then schedules me for an appointment with my doctor.

On November 11th.

I’m not genius but isn’t that Veteran’s Day?

So let me get this straight.

I have a military clinic trying to schedule a military person for an appointment of an Federal Holdiay honoring military?

What’s wrong with this picture?

Needless to say, I pointed that out and he scheduled me for the 12th.

Creepy idiot.

Wordless Wednesday

Scenes From The Weekend:

The Halloween Ball

The Birthday Party

Halloween Night

His Story

I am surrounded by other mothers on a daily basis.

Every one of us has our own story.

Some of us have had it easy.

The fairytale story. Great family, great schools, college, marriage, kids, etc.

Not necessarily in that order.

Some of us have had a more bumpy road.

When I sit on the sidelines at soccer with the other moms I sometimes wonder what happened in each of their lives.

Lives that landed us in the same place at the same time.

I look at the one little boy who can sometimes be OUT OF CONTROL but his parents love him some terrible. I look at them. An older couple.

The lady petite and quiet. The husband large and loud.

They seem so opposite yet so happy. What’s their story I wonder.

There’s the one little blonde girl who is clueless on the field. Her mother doesn’t yell from the sidelines for her to “kick the damn ball already”, but instead has her water bottle ready when it’s break time. She gives her a big hug and tells her how she’s doing such a great job.

Then there the brother and sister. Lael has taken to the sister. They were in Cheerleading together so they are like magnets to one another.

But the brother. There is something a little different about him.

He’s quieter than the others. He runs a little different.

I talk to the mom at every practice but I don’t dare ask.

But yesterday she shared her story with me.

Her story of how her precious baby was born when she had already had a 1 and 3 year old. How she couldn’t get her baby to eat.

How her baby threw up lime green. Stomach acid.

Her baby slept all day.

She took him in at 3 weeks and tried to have her committed for abuse.

They soon learned that her precious boy was allergic to food. Her milk. Formula.

He pretty much starved for the first 6 weeks of his life.

Until they figure it out.

Because of that he has complications.

Things that will be with him always.

My heart hurt for this mom. But I was also proud of her.

Even though he ran with a limp, she didn’t exclude him.

The kids tend to back off when he has the ball, to give him a chance.

I noticed the coach held Lael back yesterday when her boy had the ball.

I didn’t mind.

I knew there was something special about this little boy.

And now I know why we all cheer just a little bit louder when he scores a goal.

Because this is part of his story.

Weekend Recap~Birthday/Halloween Edition

It’s Monday and I am exhausted. I got no rest this weekend. Big surprise.

I took off of work Thursday and Friday so I started my weekend early.

Thursday I got up and headed to Lael’s school. We went on a field trip to a local bookstore where a children’s book author came to read a few of his bat books to them.

After the trip we headed back to the school where Lael shared cupcakes with all her friends to celebrate her birthday.

Friday (Lael’s actual birthday) we got up early for a 7am dentist appointment. I know. I’m an AWESOME mother. Hey, she was out of school that day so I had to take advantage of it.

The original plan was for her to get sealants on her molars. However, after she gagged a few times while they were trying to get x-rays, they decided a cleaning and flouride would do it for the day.

Later that evening we headed to Lael's school for the Annual Halloween Ball. Oh the cute. I mean, come on. It was almost too much for me to handle. And you wouldn’t believe the squeals that I heard when the DJ played Justin Beiber’s “Baby”. Hilarious.

Saturday morning we got up early again and headed to Lael’s soccer game. Her games were usually at 10 but this one was at 9. I don’t know if it was because of the time change or the fact that it was only 40 degrees out but the kids sucked. I mean we kick ass in every game but they sucked bad.

Lael got a bloody lip in the first 10 mins and hit in the eye with the ball in the last 10. And the 20 in between were just horrible. The kids couldn’t wait for their turn to be benched so they could put their coats back on.

Right after the game we headed home to get ready for Lael’s costume bowling party. Fun. Fun. I’m so tired, but oh the Fun! The kids bowled, told scary stories, ate pizza and cake and I sent their cute little asses home.

Grandma took the girls with her after the party so me, hubby and Kobi went home and crashed.

Yesterday I woke up and ate leftover cake for breakfast. It was really that kind of weekend.

I headed out to the store with a friend to get some baby shower decorations. We spend most of our time driving around letting the GPS get us lost and then being stuck in traffic.

By the time we got home, there was just enough time to get Lael to Burger King, come home to eat it and get ready for Trick or Treating.

I got Kobi and her ready and we were out. It was freezing! Wind and all. After about an hour and a half we called it quits.

We were home by 7:30 and I had Lael in the bed with teeth brushed by 9. And then she was up crying about ghost at 9:30. And then she was up again at 10:30. And again at 11.

And here I sit at my computer at work. Just glad to be sitting.

Happy Monday!