Sam's To the Rescue

Sam's Wholesale Club - my hero! I decided on the way there (to buy diapers) that if they have Eclipse and it is less than $14, I'd buy it. They had it and it was $12.06...so I bought it. I started it last night. So far, it is ok - nothing much happening, but at least I'm not angry!

My Twilight Agony - as it unfolded SPOILER ALERT

If you have not read the first two books in the Twilight series and you think you might want to one day - don't read this...if you want to be surprised by the books!

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Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 - (nap time)

Ok, here is my emotional and cognitive experience with these books thus far. Through most of Twilight, I was slightly amused by the love story - I could totally see why teenage girls would like it. I was most interested in the vampire parts. Then, it got super-interesting for me when James entered the picture and I got to know Alice, Jasper, Emmett, etc. I liked it and I was excited to start New Moon. I was majorly peeved at the beginning of New Moon. I did not like Edward leaving - just going away.The.End. Leaving Bella like that. I was pretty mad. I mean come on - from where I stand - he was Mr. Confident and pretty much making her emotionally dependent on him and then BAM. Gone. Then I had to read through (and it was starting to drone) Bella's agony at having to get past Edward. All the while I was pretty mad at the author. Then, I realized that I have to hand it to the author because I think she did a great job of making ME, the reader, feel the agony that Bella was feeling. I mean, I was mad because I feel like I go to know Alice, Carlisle, etc. now I am alone and isolated and I don't know what they are doing - and I have to get to know some new people...it is like I'm having to start all over again and that feels so frustrating to me.

At this point, I was only half-way through New Moon - Jacob and Bella are driving to ride the motorcycles for the first time...and I'm sure I'm being set-up (by the author) to like Jacob as he will help me get over the Cullens. I'm sure that just as soon as I feel like I can live with Jacob and forget about the Cullens...the Cullens will re-enter my life and I'll have turmoil again!

My problem is this - I just don't think that the Edward that the author created would just up and leave Bella. That is the problem I'm having and why I think I'm so crazy-obsessed with figuring out my emotion!

I'm not sure if I'll be Team Edward or Team Jacob yet. I'm pretty angry at Edward and I don't know if I can forgive him for leaving. So far, Jacob is a likable guy, but I don't know if he is charismatic enough for me to rally around. We'll see.


Saturday, December 20, 2008 (end of nap time)

I've finished New Moon and somehow the author made me love Edward again. Kudos to her because I thought it not possible for me to forgive him for leaving. I feel silly at how my heart aches with the descriptions - I absolutely cannot believe that this author can tug at my emotions. So, for now - I'm Team Edward. It seems you have to pick a team - as a topic of conversation, if nothing else.

For the record, I totally knew that Jacob was going to be "something"...AND I figured it would be whatever was the natural enemy of vampires...now I know what he is, but I saw that one coming. But, I also predicted that Edward would get some destruction started in Italy and that he would get into some kind of fight that would leave him drained and needing to eat - and Bella would be there, so she would turn into a vampire to save Edward. That didn't happen - so, I'm 1 for 1 in my predictions. Predicting what will happen is the only way I can detach myself enough (emotionally) so as not to get so mad/sad/forlorn, etc....yesterday and today were tough days for me! I have book #4 (on loan from Jfer), but not #3, so I'm off to the library to check it out just as soon as the kids are up from their nap. I am relieved to know there are only 4 books in the series, so I will have ultimate resolution to this saga.


Saturday, December 20, 2008 (bedtime)

Oh no! So I went to the library (the college library, mind you - because the city library has #3 checked out for the next decade)...the online card cat. said they have it...and It.Wasn't.On.The.Shelf. Horror. (Not unusual though...how many times was I confronted with the message "at the binder" when I finally found the perfect reference in college???) So, we head to 1/2 Price Books. Finding a specific book in that place is impossible...and I admit - I did not want to ask because I am sure I would blush a thousand capillaries to ask for a Young Adult book...although I could play it off that I was buying it as a gift, but I couldn't do it. So, we went to B&N where I discovered Eclipse is only in hardback and I could not bring myself to spend $20. I came home and e-requested it from the library (let them track it down/recall it from some other addict) and I'm waiting to be told that is is being held for me at the circulation desk. How will I survive???

2 Days Away

RJ and I were supposed to go to Memphis with M and B on Monday and come home on Thursday, but B had a family emergency and they were unable to go. RJ and I decided to go away for Monday night since Jfer was all lined up to stay with the kids. So, I booked a hotel room - at a new "aloft" hotel - that just opened 10 days earlier - and we headed out around 10 on Monday morning. It was cold everywhere - and I mean in the 20s and 30s cold...which is cold for us! We got to our hotel, checked in and headed to the super mall right nearby. We shopped a little, ate lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, and settled on seeing Four Christmases (don't bother), then met up with some friends for dinner. Meanwhile, it started sleeting.

We woke up Tuesday morning to school closings and reports of ice and accidents. So, we decided it not worth it to try to drive home in these conditions - with all of the overpasses on the interstate and all. We called Jfer and she said she could stay one more night. Since we are one of like 4 people staying at the hotel - no problem getting another night. We went to Dunkin Donuts because we don't have one at home and I LOVE their coffee... Then, we went in search of a fiber optic Christmas tree to put in LJ's room because I knew he'd love it. I figure CVS is probably the best place to get it, so we go in search of one. We do, indeed, find one at CVS, but we head to Target to look too. At Target we finish up shopping for the kids, but decide to buy the tree at CVS. Then, we head to La Madeline for mushroom soup and quiche for lunch. After an hour and a half browsing Ikea we head to the mall to read magazines at Barnes and Noble before our 5:20 showing of Quantum of Solace (don't bother). I also ran down to Gymboree to buy some tractor socks and into the Disney store to buy a t-shirt (for $5). After the movie, we went to Buca di Beppo for dinner...Chicken Saltimboca - soooo goooood! And back to the hotel room where we watched a House re-run.

Tuesday, we got out of bed and headed back to Dunkin Donuts for some coffee and to get the cutest little donuts decorated like snowmen to take to the kids and then head home. We stopped to visit some family on the way home.

We were happy to see the kids and I think Jfer was happy we got home. LJ has been a bit of a menace since we got home. Lots of talking back and saying NO. He is currently in behavior boot camp.


Yesterday, we got the Christmas cards in the mail (if you don't get one and you are reading this - it is because I don't have your address!) and RJ put the lights on the house.

Today has been gym, grocery store, random cleaning and reading...I'm on book #2 of the Twilight series...I can see why teenage girls would like it.

December Catch Up...

LJ...

...is a fiend for Starfall.com - I am too amazed at how quickly he took to using the computer.

...is in sass-pot mode...which means it is time for boot camp!

...has taken to "sleeping like daddy" - which means in his underwear...no pajamas. This is fine except he doesn't like to sleep under the covers in his bed...so he is probably very cold. When I go to bed, I put a blanket over him, but I now he'd be more comfortable if he'd actually get in his bed!

PJ...

...was waking up from his naps crying his head off...and nothing would make him stop. I'm decided to put him down earlier and see if that helps...it had been like 2 weeks of this and I got tired of it.

...had been napping for an hour and a half...that, plus 10-11 hours at night is only 11.5 - 12.5 hours of sleep and Ferber and I agree that he should be getting 13.5 - 14. So, we decided to move lunch up to 11:30 and put him down for his nap at noon instead of 1:00...worked perfectly...he began napping for 3 hours and ceased to wake up in a terrible mood, BUT...he began waking FOR THE DAY at 4:40 AM. This was completely unacceptable.

...on day 2 of waking in the 4:00 am hour, we let him cry for 3 minutes, then RJ went in and patted him on the back, cry 4 minutes, patting, etc...and he went back to sleep until 7:30. According to Ferber - he is in an "early sleep cycle"...which means we keep his daytime routine the way we adjusted it and just treat the 4:40 wake up the way we would treat a night waking and do the cry/pat and it should work itself out within a week or two...amazing we knew what to do - pretty much.

...a couple of nights ago - PJ woke up crying at 11:30 -RJ went in there and patted him on the back and left. 10 minutes later - crying. After a couple of minutes, RJ went in, patted him and left. After 10 minutes - crying. (Each time, when RJ opened the door - PJ would stop crying) RJ went in and told him to lay down and go to sleep...PJ stopped crying and laid down. I was amazed that this worked...but, alas - 15 minutes later - crying. This cycle continued until 12:40. RJ never got him out of the crib and never stayed in his room for more than 15 seconds...it was actually kind of interesting. Then, PJ slept until 7:00. All in all, it was a pretty good night - compared to what had been the norm this week.

...did not take a very long nap yesterday - about and hour and a half, but he wasn't cranky when he woke up or up until bed time, so I was not too miffed about it. And - get this...he did not cry out AT ALL last night...and slept until 7:00. Hooray! Of course, I'll need a couple of nights to feel like all is right again.

...has grown 5" since March...oh my.

RJ...

...has concrete on the brain.

I...

...am a loser. I got out of my routine and I must get back into it. Since classes are over, I felt that I could "sleep-in" and go to the gym when I wake up...around 6 or 7, instead of 5. Clearly, I cannot do this or I don't end up going at all. Oddly, when I do go later - I feel kind of out of it because it isn't the regular people around...it is the 7:00 am people and I don't recognize them.

...went to the gym this morning - as a part of my fresh start.

...am addressing Christmas cards and making peanut brittle.

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving 2008 - major enjoyment and major success.

Everyone (my brother and his family - including his son and his wife who live in London, my sister and her family and my mom - total of 19 people) began arriving Wednesday night - we went to Pei Wei for dinner. I had the Asian Chop Chicken Salad and it was sooo good, but I had odd dreams that night…one which involved a tornado that lifted the house up, spun it around and set it back down in the original place…but I remember thinking that the electricity would not work.

My alarm went off at 5:30 and I got up to meet my trainer at 6:00…yes, I worked out with my trainer at 6:00. There were about 5 people at the gym at that time. We worked arms and abs. I took my shower and got dressed and ready for the day – and home by 8:15. I consulted my very well-planned and very structured “to-do” list and schedule and got started on the day’s preparations.

Family began arriving around 10:00 am. Kids began playing and I was able to visit until 11:00 when my SIL and I headed to the store to pick up the deli trays (for a light lunch), drinks, ice and various other miscellaneous items. Once we got it all set up, it was buffet style for the light lunch of deli meats and cheeses, veggies and dip, chips and dip, cheese ball and super-yummy brownies and bar cookies that my niece brought. This year we set up to rented round tables in the living room and one kids’ table on the play porch – this allowed everyone to have a comfortable seat.

After lunch, PJ went down for his nap, but LJ stayed up and played with his cousins for a little while. Everyone just played so nicely and enjoyed each other’s company. I started the Thanksgiving dinner preparations and my sister and SIL pretty much did whatever I asked them to do. We made sweet potato casserole, dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and croissants. RJ “cooked” the turkeys on the grill…they were pre-cooked turkeys, so we just had to warm them up for about 3 hours. Having them on the grill is such a great thing because it leaves my oven open! Much less to coordinate.

My plan was to have the croissants rising at 3:30 so we could play Turkey Bowl 2008 from 3:30 – 4:30. I ran about 20 minutes behind, so the game started late. For 5 years, we have played a family football game on Thanksgiving Day. The teams get divided up with people with my maiden name vs. people without my maiden name. This works because my brother has 6 kids; however, we have one of his kids and her husband on my team now! This year, in true fashion, was more elaborate than the year before…this is what happens every year. We now have a field painted on the grass, cones to mark the end-zones and team t-shirts. It was a hard-fought game – with much running back into the house to check the things in the oven, but for the first time, my team did not win. I have to hand it to my brother’s family – they really brought their A game (and their son and his wife from London).

After team photos, it was back to getting dinner on the table – which was planned for 5:00, but happened at 5:40…which is totally within tolerances for such a big feast! Everything was super-delicious (if I do say so myself)…we ate a leisurely dinner and then cleaned up (with lots of help) and prepared the home-made whipped cream to slather on our pumpkin and pecan pies – which my SIL brought. The kids continued to play, while the adults watched football and visited. Everyone was out the door to their respective sleeping locations (somehow, we ended up with no overnight house guests) and RJ and I watched a House on the DVR.

Friday morning, everyone arrived for brunch at 9:30 – yummy egg casserole, bacon (lots of bacon) and butter braids (my sister brought). We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and visiting as family began departing for home or other adventures for the day. We put the kids down for an early nap so that we could meet up with people for lunch at 2:00 and I put on the turkey remains to make stock.

We’ve pretty much been relaxing, cleaning up, and doing laundry ever since. All-in-all, I think this Thanksgiving has been the best yet! The food was good and I felt very organized…no new recipes…this menu is THE Thanksgiving Menu – this is what Thanksgiving at our house will be…food-wise. I enjoyed seeing everyone and I know LJ and PJ had a TERRIFIC time playing with their cousins.

Driveway Update

As of 7:45 Monday morning - no cement has been poured. Due to over-estimation of what could be accomplished by when, a bit of rain, etc. things have not gone according to plan (I, for one, am not surprised!). The hope is to get this one section formed up and level so that one truck can show up today and the workers can see how it goes. You know - how long it takes, how much attention the concrete needs, how often the concrete needs attention, etc. An experiment, really. This will only have a hope of happening if it doesn't rain anymore.

Driveway

So, you might remember that this time last year, RJ put a new garage in our backyard. Now, he is pouring the new driveway and parking area. This will be fantastic when it is finished, but RJ is doing this himself (with help this weekend from Grandpa and Uncle Bobby). Most people would hire someone to pour concrete - which I somehow convinced RJ to do with the slab for the garage. Watching that process only solidified RJ's conviction that he can sooo do this himself...and, of course, do a better job. Which, I have to admit - he probably can, but it makes everything take soooo muuuuch looooonger. It is MUCH less expensive though.

I now know more about concrete than I care to know. The hideous and tedious part of this process, from my perspective, is building the forms and laying the rebar...but, RJ has decided to use fiber reinforced concrete which means he does not have to use rebar - he can just build the forms out of wood. His main concern is...he has never worked with cement on such a large scale (it will take 6 cement trucks to carry all of the cement needed), so his is unsure if 3 people (RJ, Grandpa and Uncle Bobby) will be enough to work with everything in the time-sensitive time that things need to be done.

He is gathering supplies, renting tools, and rigging up tools (I think there is something being fashioned with the motor to the power washer), etc. They are going to finish the tractor work - leveling the base - and build and set-up the forms today and tomorrow (40% chance of rain tomorrow, but we're ignoring that) and pour the cement on Monday. RJ has even decided he is going to stamp a pattern into the driveway portion (not the parking portion - it will be smooth for basketball, bikes, remote-control cars, etc) and will apply a stain after it is all dried (a charcoal color) - fancy!

Here is the pattern we've decided to use (we were somewhat limited with which patterns the store has to rent). It is a slate pattern, which is kind of weird because you'd never use slate on something you were going to drive on - it isn't strong enough, but...

Happy Birthday LJ!

By this time 4 years ago - LJ had arrived!

Today has been a fun day. The boys went to Chick-fil-a for breakfast and then played in the Tahoe until I got home from work. I put LJ's birthday surprise together while the kids busied themselves with something. Then, we led LJ into his room to see his surprise...the queen-sized bed in his room is now HIS bed and it has a quilt with different kinds of trucks on it - with pillow shams to match. He is pretty excited about it. He was happy to open the birthday mail he received yesterday while sitting on his new bed.

After lunch, he wanted to help me make his cupcakes and then he was excited to get to take a nap in his new bed.

We are meeting up with Jfer and Mawmaw at 5:00 to celebrate Jfer getting her ring and then LJ and I are going to help 2 of his babysitters celebrate getting their rings. LJ gets to stay up late for this - he is most excited.

Tomorrow is a big day as we prepare for his party. We also have a tailgate party to attend before his birthday party, so tomorrow will be another fun-filled day for LJ.

Preparing

We are preparing for LJ's birthday - I can't believe my baby is going to be 4 this Friday. How is this possible? He requested a Mickey Mouse theme and when I've asked again, just to be sure he doesn't think he said something else, he says, "I already told you, Mickey Mouse". So, there you go. (He does seem to have a bit of an attitude lately - I can only begin to imagine what 7th grade will be like if this is the attitude he's giving at age "almost 4")

It is not as easy to find Mickey Mouse party supplies as you might think. Minnie Mouse - not so much of a problem, but Mickey - a bit on the tough side. For example, the bakery has no Mickey Mouse cake themes, so we are going to have to do it on our own. RJ and I settled on cupcakes with some frosted in chocolate and some in cream cheese so we can arrange theme into a Mickey face. I did find plates, napkins, and goody bags in a Mickey theme and the kids can wear their Mickey Mouse ears from Disney World. There are just a few family members coming over, which is all LJ needs to have the time on his life.

Every commercial he sees and every circular that comes in the mail - if it advertises a toy, LJ asks if he can have it for his birthday...to which I reply, we already have something for you for your birthday. I think he'll like it too - I'll wait until after his birthday to tell you about it - that way, I can include his reaction.

PJ is talking more and more. When he falls down he says, "I ok" - if he doesn't say it, we ask, "are you ok?" to which he replies, "Yase" (he says yes, with a bit of a long "a" sound). He is very interested in pointing out your nose, eyes, hair, and teeth. If he does not want something he shakes his head and says "No". He opens the refrigerator and gets things out - usually his milk cup, but sometimes salad dressing or jello. He and LJ love to chase each other around the house - and this gets very noisy. I am trying to let them have fun without getting onto them all the time, but that is a struggle for me...I prefer less acting crazy, but they are kids and they are playing nicely.

Three Evil Words

Daylight
Saving(s)
Time

I think it has ended and we are back on Standard Time? - whatever, it doesn't really matter if we are on it or off of it...either way has evil issues. Clearly, Benjamin Franklin did not have young children when he conceived this idea. Needless to say, there is early morning rising and it is not making RJ happy. I am out of the house by 5:20, so I'm not bothered by the waking, but I find that I am ready for bed at 7:30 - yet LJ seems to never tire.

I.Don't.Like.It.

Halloween Recap

Wednesday night, there was a Halloween party on campus, so we dressed the kids in their costumes. LJ was a cowboy and PJ was a train engineer. They were so cute and so excited about the party. Of course, parking was a bear, but we found a spot and saw tons of kids in costumes on our way to the building. LJ demanded to be held because there was a skeleton costume that scared him.

He is just like his mother - I can remember screaming and screaming and crying because of this one kid in a scary mask who was trick-or-treating on our block...I was probably about 4. The thing I did not realize is that *I* was wearing that same mask! One of my sisters took great joy in torturing me by placing that mask around the house for weeks after Halloween. I'd innocently walk into the living room and look up to see the mask sitting on top of the lamp - and scream my head off. I still do not like scary movies or costumes. Who knew it was genetic?

We were at the party for about 10 minutes when the fire alarm went off and we had to leave the building. This happens frequently - enough that no one ever really thinks there is a fire. You know, students have exams and they can get out of it by pulling the alarm. Or, a balloon gets in front of the sensor, so the alarm goes off. So, the party was over for us, but we got to see a fire truck! Thursday night we had 10 students over for dinner. I dreaded it, but I as always ended up enjoying it. Plus, we got a clean house out of the deal. It seems impossible to keep up with everything one wants to keep up with in life.

Friday, once again, we dressed the kids in their costumes and went to campus as there are several residence halls (dorms, but the university doesn't want to call them that anymore) that were hosting trick-or-treaters. The best was a dorm that RJ lived in during college. If a room was participating, there was an orange paper on the door - the kids knocked and a student answered and said, "Ohhhh - they are so cute." - If they were girls, they would make these remarks. And students give tons of candy - good candy too. Add that to the candy I bought for trick-or-treaters (not thinking that we wouldn't be home to answer the door) and we have way more candy than is possible to eat.

I went to the gym 5 days last week...thank goodness.

Back to Normal?

This week, we are hoping to be back to normal. I am going to resume my 5:00 am daily trip to the gym and the boys are going to resume their nap schedules...today they were quiet (and asleep, I think) from 1:00 - 4:00, so this is a good start.

This past weekend, LJ and I went on a little trip all by ourselves - to visit with my message board moms. One mom, who lives in Australia, came over on "holiday" with her family. She and her family have spent almost 3 weeks in various parts of the country - mostly staying with moms from the board. This past weekend - we had a play date and LJ and I picked up one mom at the airport and then stayed at a hotel. LJ had a blast and it was great fun to have a special trip together. He was super well-behaved and had so much fun playing with the other 15 or so kids.

I think we are all at the tail-end of sickness. LJ still coughs as do I, but PJ seems cured. RJ is at the start of his coughing, but he doesn't seem to have been as hard hit as I was.

October

October has been a rough month at the J house. It started with such positive energy as I bit the bullet and joined a gym. My master plan is to get up at 5:00 am and get to the gym by 5:30 - work out for an hour and then shower and head to work. This worked super-well on T Sept 30 and W Oct 1. Throughout the day on W Oct 1 - I developed a sore throat and started to feel worse and worse. Oh, and DOMS set in - delayed onset muscle soreness. So, I felt I should take is easy and not workout on R Oct 2. I figured I just has a cold and it would pass quickly if I gave myself some rest.

F Oct 3 - S Oct 5 was the annual Pokerpalooza and, while I was sick, I had a great time. I really enjoyed that people brought their kids - it was nice to interact as families. I had a babysitter both nights, so RJ and I could play poker and hang out until 1:00 - which was not good for my resting plan. I developed a cough...no congestion, no runny nose - just a cough.

M Oct 6 - now I had congestion and a hacking cough. I was not feeling better, so I stuck with the resting. Plus, I had a workout with my personal trainer on Tuesday (3 sessions came with the fee to join) and I wanted to be rested for that. I was not feeling particularly well, but I went to meet Brandi Tuesday afternoon anyway. She worked me out pretty hard - I felt like throwing up...she told me this is actually normal and that many men actually do throw up during her sessions. Who knew this was normal? I suppose people who work out know this.

As the week progressed - I kept getting a little more sick and not much better...and now the kids are sick.

So, this has been October at the J house.

Ross "Chest"

When I got home from work this morning, LJ and RJ had the checkers/chess/backgammon box out. RJ had been trying - with some success - to teach LJ how to play checkers. So, I sat down with LJ while RJ went to get ready for work. LJ wanted to play "the other game" - which I discovered is chess and not backgammon. LJ told me, "Ross likes to play chest" and that he wanted to play "chest" too. I showed him how to set up the pieces, but I told him that I think chess is a bit complicated for a 3-year-old...maybe we could play "LJ chess"? He said, "no, I want to play "Ross 'Chest'". So, I attempted to show him how the difference pieces are allowed to move and then LJ agreed 'chest' is too much for a 3-year old, "but maybe I can play 'chest' when I'm 4"?!

Weekend Recap:

Saturday night: I’ll spare you the details, but I left the garage door open. When RJ went to "lock down the house" and checked to make sure the garage door was down, well…he opened the door from the kitchen to the garage to find a possum in our garage. Sick out. Our garage is FULL of stuff - no car could park there, so this possum has plenty of places to hide without leaving. RJ tried to chase him out, but the possum crawled behind some stuff. In the end, RJ opened the garage door just a bit, to give the possum a way to get out and that was that. Let me just say that I will not be going in the garage EVER again.

Sunday: I decided that I'm fairly certain that it is time to start moving PJ toward 1 nap a day. He takes the morning nap with zero problems, but the afternoon nap is becoming a rarity - I'd say he's taken one for me about 25% of the time in the past 2 weeks. So, I'm ready to intervene and start moving his morning nap back by 10-15 minutes every couple of days until he's napping at around 11:30. He'll probably need an earlier bedtime too, but he has been getting that lately - considering he has been up from about 11:30 am until bedtime for the past 2 weeks. Of course, Sunday morning, he woke up at 6:15 and was a crank-pot all morning. In his defense, he is sprouting his bottom molars, so I suppose that is a reason for crankiness. I thought, "There is no way we were even going to make it to his normal nap time of between 9:30 and 10:00, but we went outside and helped RJ clean up his garage. PJ was covered in dirt and chalk, so I gave him a bath before I put him down at 10:15. He slept until noon and did not take an afternoon nap. I still tried, but he didn’t sleep.

We bought the kids new shoes for the colder months. LJ's are a size 12 and they look so big. This is the part that is hard for me...seeing the shoes get bigger. It is just such a sign they are growing up. PJ’s are a size 8 super-wide…for reference, LJ wore a 6.5 at PJ’s age. They do both seem to love their new shoes.

After shoe shopping, we went out to lunch and the boys got haircuts before their naps. Neither of them slept. RJ then took LJ to the hardware store and LJ fell asleep in the car. So, RJ drove around for about 20 minutes to let LJ get a little cat-nap in. The boys went to bed at 7:30.

The Aftermath

Since the school was closed over the weekend - RJ and I did not have our Sunday evening meetings - but I asked Jfer to come over earlier in the day and RJ and I went to see The Dark Knight (we are probably the last 10% of people who haven't seen it) and went out to eat. That was nice...I liked the movie, but I kept thinking it was about to end and I could wait to go to the bathroom. I was wrong many times, but I made it to the end.

I admit that I did not want to go to work today. We had Friday off - in today's society, I guess the school decided it needed to allow people to go somewhere without missing class or work so that if it were really bad here - they wouldn't be so liable? I don't know, but we got the day off due to Hurricane Ike! It did give me time to clean the house in preparation for our evacuees (Grandma and Grandpa) and it gave RJ time to stake our trees...the trees we transplanted in the spring. But, that one day off got me out of my routine and now I just want to say "I'm finished with this semester" - which of course, I can't!

LJ has been being a menace lately - mostly due to lack of sleep. I can make him stay in bed (kind of), but I can't make him sleep and he's been exercising his free will on this one. He's gotten in the habit of getting up to tell us his tummy hurts. Oddly, it only hurts when he's supposed to be sleeping...of course, we are suspicious. It had gotten to where he'd come in at 5:30 AM to tell us his tummy hurts. Then, he'd be awake in his room, talking to himself - or he'd have made enough noise to wake up PJ. It was really getting frustrating...so, I "called the dr." yesterday and "the dr." told me that "if LJ's tummy hurt in the night, he shouldn't go swimming the next day". Wouldn't you know it - LJ did not get out of bed once last night and his tummy did not hurt. Amazing. Hopefully, he won't be too jaded if he ever realizes what has happened.

P.S. I've been told my spelling has not been good as of late. I'll do my best to correct this, but I'm usually typing while children are hanging off of my arm or banging on the key board. I suppose I could write while they are napping, but I chose to use that time to read my book or catch up on some tv and I don't see that changing anytime soon!

Random Catch Up - I'm a Horrible Blogger These Days!

LJ and PJ are in a nice phase right now...everyone is sleeping well (knocking on wood) and in a rather good and happy mood most of the time. They are playing fairly well together and PJ has seemed to tire of running to the bathroom, throwing the door open and trying to get in the potty. Or getting up onto the table. Or pulling the card out of the DVR.

Speaking of DVR - ours started deleting shows - like 10 hours worth last week. Not cool. I called Dish Network - with zero questions asked...the sent a new one. Of course, they want to keep us on the dish, so I'm sure the hardware is like nothing to them...just replace it and keep them paying the monthly fee - LOL. I was pleased to see that our new DVR has a 60 hour capacity as our old one had only 35.

One afternoon last week, I realized we would not make it through the rest of the day without buying some milk. I did NOT want to go to the grocery store at 4:30 in the afternoon - that is an exercise in madness. So, I texted RJ and told him that when he got home, we'd go to Sam's and buy some milk. Milk is not as cheap at Sam's as it is at the grocery store, but we also use a trip to Sam's as our entertainment. Walking up and down the aisles and seeing what's new, sizing up prices on things we've had our eye on, - this is family fun. One such item we keep our eye on - The Canon Rebel XTi. Holy Cow - they only had the display model left and it was $220.00 cheaper then the last price it was. Without a question - we bought it!!! We have been looking at this camera for 2 years. When my niece (SH) got married and asked RJ to consider taking the pictures - we thought about buying one then...that would have cost a ton of money and we decided not to do it AND not to take the wedding pictures (hers turned out fantastic without us!). We had considered a Nikon since we have a few really good, old, Nikon manual focus lenses, but in doing some research - it turns out we can actually uses those lenses on the Canon (with a step ring) and still use the light meter, etc. and I cannot use them on the Nikon. Whacked out, but true.

Finally, I got my hair colored (thank goodness) and I actually got a new style. My hair is not my friend. It has gotten wavier over the years (and with each pregnancy), but only underneath...the top layer of hair is straight as a board. I also have rather thick hair and it is also fairly coarse (as it is really just dyed gray hair). So, I'm tired of trying to make it bend under...I don't have the patience or desire to spend time with the round brush. At any rate, my directions were..."I want to keep the length in general, but if you need to take a little off - that is ok. If you can cut it where it won't matter if it is all perfectly styled - that would be terrific." It is shorter than I'd like, but not so short I'm upset (I think stylists tend to do shorter than you'd like most of the time) and it is rather "free", so I'm fairly happy. It feels like I have so little hair when I wash it!

The Comedian

LJ is fond of telling knock knock jokes. He's finally mastered the orange/banana knock knock. Whenever he starts to tell one - PJ starts yelling - "KNOCK KNOCK - KNOCK KNOCK"

I taught LJ the Boo Hoo knock knock joke and he's a pro now. I asked him if he thinks it is funny and he said yes, so I asked him what is funny about it and he said, "it is a knock knock joke!" - as if they are all funny. Hilarious!

PJ is on a hunger strike. The only things he'll eat are fruits. Oh, and he will drink milk. I'm not worried - he's clearly not malnourished and when he's hungry, I suppose he'll eat. I am getting tired of preparing something for him and then throwing it away. He also has two bottom teeth that broke through.

PJ slept until 8 this morning. Great, but now is whole day is running an hour late. I'm rolling with it.

Cast Off!

I got my cast off last Thursday (Aug 21) - !!!!! It was supposed to be an "x-ray only" visit, but the dr. decided I have healed enough and it is time to get on with the rest of it. I have a soft brace to wear for 2 weeks. This first week, I'm supposed to take it easy and still not use my arm, but I'm supposed to do some movements that will rebuild my muscles and flexibility. Next week, I can use my arm and continue with the exercises, but I'm to be more aggressive with them. I'm thrilled to have the cast off! The amount of dead skin I sloughed off is better left unmentioned other than this mentioning.

The dr. gave me a brace, but I didn't like it, so I bought another. This leaves the original brace as a pretend costume for LJ. He likes to put it on and then say to me, "I'm sorry you have a broken-ed arm" - which he's been saying for 5 weeks...to which I'm supposed to say, "Thank you, I'm sorry you have a broken arm". If I don't say this - I'm reminded. I overheard LJ telling PJ how he broke his arm on some stairs - complete with falling down demonstrations. He also told the lady at Blockbuster that he broke his arm...I think she saw me mouth "we're pretending", but I'm not sure.

PJ's 15-Month Stats

We finally got around to taking PJ in for his well-visit. Since he wasn't getting the MMR or the Varicella vaccine and I broke my wrist - we were pretty lax about the 12 month visit, so now - at almost 16 months...he's getting his 15 month visit.

Weight - 33 pounds
Height - 33 1/2 inches

The dr. brought us a list of his vaccines still to get and asked us which of them we wanted him to have today! I was beaming and so happy! Without us saying anything - they were ready for us. We told him that PJ would get Pc and Hib today and that was perfectly fine. The dr. also said he's read the introduction to The Vaccine Book that we gave him when we had our consultation. He remarked that he felt the book was going to be just fine as the introduction seemed like Dr. Sears is logical and not responding to any one issue or non-issue, but is rather being very pragmatic. I suppose our Dr. read the introduction this morning when he saw we were coming in - so he could say he's read some of it, but I don't care - at least he cares enough to want us to think he's read the book we gave him!

Yet Another Wrist Update

Went to the orthopedist for x-rays. It was super-crowded...turns out he was backed up because he is on call today and got called in for a surgery. The radiologist took my x-rays and had the dr. come in and look at them. He thinks it all looks good and I have to go back in a week for more check-up x-rays. I really appreciate that he is being so thorough. He asked how it feels and I told him that my arm has been bothering me the last few days. This cast has my wrist really immobilized, which I think is good, but I feel a lot of pressure and there just isn't much give. He was very contemplative and said, "well, you have a very high pain threshold - so do you think we should put on a new cast? Is there any burning?" I was honored! *I* have a "very high pain threshold" - what a compliment (am I sick or what?). I told him I don't feel burning, but it does feel like I have pressure in certain spots and that I think this cast is fine for another week. He told me to call if I feel burning because that is a sign of pressure sores. He instructed the radiologist nurse to put some mole skin in a couple of places and I followed her. I asked her how he could tell my pain threshold and she said, "because you are not a wimp - most people scream out and cry and you never have -the dr. can read people." I assume it is less hectic for the dr. if you aren't writhing in pain - I just never really thought about it before. I don't think I have a high pain threshold - I think I feel it - I just don't complain about it.

PJ Bilingual?

PJ has started telling us when he's ready to eat in the morning. He goes to his high chair, starts to climb up and in, and says, "NANA"...which LJ says is Spanish for banana. This morning PJ pointed at the tv, which he likes to turn on and off (which really bothers LJ), and said, "NAY NAY"...which LJ says is Spanish for no.

So, in LJ's mind - PJ speaks Spanish.

Mystery Solved

We didn't really know it was solvable, but PJ has been waking up at 5:30 on the dot every morning for the past 10 days...and that, combined with LJ's waking up and talking to himself, has made me and RJ a bit cranky. RJ would go in PJ's room and his white noise sounds would be off, so he'd turn them back on and PJ would go back to sleep (sometimes) for 15 minutes to an hour. 2 nights ago, RJ said he thought he heard a loud beeping sound before PJ cried out, so after some investigation I determined there was an alarm of some sort on...and I pushed some sequence of buttons to make a little bell on the display go away. Yesterday, PJ slept until 6:15 and this morning he slept until 6:30 - I, however, have been waking up at 5:40, so it will take me a bit longer to un-adjust from waking up at 5:30, but we are pleased!

We had a lovely visit from the S family over the weekend. LJ *loved* playing with his cousins, S, L, and C...they swam in the pool with him for 2 hours and he was in Heaven with the attention his "sisters" were showing him. Amazingly, LJ was on his best behaviour and was nothing short of a lovable and happy 3 year old boy. We are secretly hoping S and L will have loved their campus tour so much that they will come to school here in next fall...we would LOVE to have the chance to get to know them better!

Wrist Report

I had an appointment yesterday and Dr. is happy with the lack of compression - the bone still the right length. He drew some lines on my x-rays with a straight-edge and they intersected...then he used a protractor-like device to compute what I found out is the degree of dorsal radial tilt. Right now, I've lost 3 degrees of dorsal radial tilt and that is nothing I would notice mobility-wise, but he wants to watch that very closely, so I have an appointment on Thursday. He put a new cast on - this one is TIGHT. I think he wants my wrist completely immobilized. He hung me in traction so that everything would be lined up perfectly...I took 2 Vicodin when I got home...! I think this Dr. is pretty good and pretty thorough. He is a tough cookie to crack though - he is rather dry and all-business, so I was happy at my first appointment when I finally got him to smile! Today, I actually got him to smile and chuckle and as he left the room, he patted me on the shoulder...I figure if you can get them to interact with you - they are more invested in your care.

What's Inside...

LJ's newest obsession is knowing what is inside of everything. If my answer doesn't satisfy him, he'll say, "no, what's REALLY inside?" For example, this morning he asked "Momma, what's inside of toast?" to which I replied, "bread". He said, "No Momma, toast IS bread - what's REALLY inside of toast?" - and then it is hard to decide how to answer. Yesterday, he wanted to know what is inside of cheese enchiladas - the answer = cheese. Once again, he wanted to know what is REALLY inside of cheese enchiladas.

The trend this week has been that PJ cries at 5:15 am. RJ get his back to sleep - LJ gets up to go to the bathroom. He stays in there for a long time - RJ gets up to tell him to go back to bed. PJ wake up again around 6:00, LJ is talking to himself in his room. PJ does or doesn't go back to sleep/stay quiet for 20 more minutes. I get up with PJ and then let LJ get up at 7:00. It is like Grand Central Station starting WAY too early at our house.

Haircuts, Found Items, PJ News

RJ found LJ's pacifier and we did give it back to him. LJ wasn't crying about not having it (too much) and he was going to bed fine, but he was not sleeping fine. After a week, he was becoming sleep deprived and it was noticeable. In fact, in many ways, he was acting as I think a teenager would act. My opinion is that he only has it for sleeping, it stays in his room (granted, sometimes he tries to see if he can get away with bringing it out), and I think he'll give it up sooner rather than later...it almost has a hole in it...a crack that is almost all the way through. I remember my own pacifier, so I have a soft spot for this one. Plus, he near about came unglued when I was going to wash his blanket and would only allow it if he could put an old Diego shirt in with it...as if Diego would make sure his blanket didn't disappear like his pacifier.

DH gave the kids haircuts last night...it was long over due.

PJ's current routine:
Up anywhere from 5-7 in the morning. If the first number is 5, DH tries to make him go back to bed...this can usually stall him off until 6 something.

He eats all solid food and is on whole milk. He only drinks milk and water and he does not like chicken the way LJ did.

Morning nap between 9:30 and 10:00 - sleeps about an hour and a half. If you say, "are you ready to go night-night?" He'll say "NIGHT-NIGHT" and head for his room. Put him in bed with his blanket and pacifier and that is usually all it takes.

Afternoon nap between 2:00 and 2:30 - sleeps about an hour and a half.

Bedtime between 7:30 and 8:00.

PJ's Teeth:
He has the two bottom and two top teeth - and has for several months. Next, according to the charts, should be the one tooth on either side of the teeth he currently has. PJ did not get the memo as he does not have those teeth, but is sprouting 2 molars (1 on each side) on the top.

PJ's Words:
Momma
Dada
Hello
Mmm = milk
Nana = banana
Door (which he can open)
Dan Yee = thank you
No
Dora
Diego
Pinky Doo (another TV show)
Blue (Blue's Clues)
Night Night
Cast
Arm

What PJ Understands:
Pretty much every command we give him! Some he follows more willingly than others.

Which One to Tell?

Let's see, which story is most typical of our days lately...?

The one where the friendly-city-employee came over to inspect RJ's plumbing work in the "barn" and while waiting for RJ to get home - LJ pulled down his pants to show friendly-city-employee what color his underwear is...

or

The one where LJ woke up from his nap in a bad mood (typical lately...I don't think he's sleeping well - probably adjusting to losing his comfort item), so he laid in my lap and I smoothed his hair...but realize I haven't heard a peep from PJ who has left the room...so I get up and find him sitting IN the toilet bowl...like a little weeble-wobble - just sitting there.

Catching Up

A funny LJ story...the day before I left for my trip, we went to buy a piece of luggage...we are probably the last people on earth who do not have luggage with wheels. RJ (aka, Dear Husband) was driving and every time he'd turn on the blinker, LJ would say, "no, daddy - turn your blinker off...I've got it." Without looking back, one of us would so, "oh, ok" or "we have to tell the other cars that we want to turn" or something of the sort. LJ would insist that he was telling the cars what we were going to do. Finally, I look back at him and he is holding up a part of a toy he got in a Whataburger Kid's Meal at Christmas-time. This toy is part of a train car that is carrying a "Whataburger store" on a flatbed car...the store is triangle-shaped like this:


And, LJ is holding it side-ways pointing the direction he knows we are going to turn and making a clicking noise with his mouth. I laughed so hard! So imaginative!

While I was gone, LJ lost his pacifier. He and PJ both only use them for sleeping and we just hadn't gotten around to getting LJ to give it up. PJ was born - big change. Potty training - big change. Just waiting for big changes to end! We keep telling him we'll look for it and we have, but we haven't found it AND, he really hasn't been too upset about it. He hasn't been putting up a fight at sleep times. He's cried about it a couple of times, but is satisfied and comforted that we are looking for it. I think this will be the end of the pacifier, even if we find it...unless he finds it...

Washington D.C.

M, Mawmaw and I attempted to leave for DC at 7:39 on Thursday, July 24th, but on Wednesday, July 23rd I got a call that one leg of our trip - the flight had been cancelled and were now booked on a 12:45 flight and this made all of the trip delayed. Then, that 12:45 flight didn't leave until 3:00, so we got booked on an even later flight the next leg. By the time we flew, picked up our rental car and got to the hotel, it was 10:00 pm. My arm was killing me, but the day was finally over.

This morning, we ate breakfast and went to see Mawmaw's brother - which is the reason we are here. We visited with him - talked to him while he listened as he's not well and doesn't talk much. Then we went by Mawmaw's old house and took pictures of the remodel and the new construction on either side. A young lady was walking her dog and we explained what we were doing...turns out she lives in Mawmaw's house now and invited us in to see it. It is just beautiful inside. Nice hardwood floors and new kitchen cabinets and granite counter tops. Just beautiful. She didn't offer for us to go upstairs, so we didn't.

We ate lunch - pizza at a local place, went to the bookstore so M and Mawmaw could buy a new book, and then went to meet with the lawyer who is handling my uncle's "stuff". Then, we drove to the Metro station and took the train to Union Station where we had planned to take a moonlight tour of the monuments, but it was sold out. So, we made plans to do this on Sunday and ate dinner, window shopped, and came back to the hotel.

Now we are reading and relaxing...and that's all I can do with my wrist!

This Cast Looks Crazy

Met with the orthopedist today. It took 3 hours. I gad to send someone (DH) to cancel my classes. I think the dr. was very thorough, so that is good. He was concerned that, while the 2 bone pieces are aligned fine, they seem compressed. He ordered an x-ray of my right arm to compare and then was satisfied that surgery could likely be avoided. He shot my wrist up with local anesthetic and put me in traction for about 30 minutes - to pull apart the break. Then, as he was putting on the cast, he manipulated the bone to be properly aligned and molded the cast in that position. It was uncomfortable and my cast is rather misshapen. Finally, he ordered an x-ray to determine if he was successful - and he was. I left with a new Vicodin prescription and an appointment for Aug. 8th - more x-rays to make sure it is healing correctly and is still aligned...so surgery is still possible. The local wore off and it is much more painful after all that manipulation than it was after I broke it. I've had to take 2 Vicodin every 4 hours to maintain comfort...I'm tired and a bit loopy. I'm so happy to be in the cast instead of the splint. I have a Gore-tex liner, so it can get wet - not soaking, but wet is ok...so I will swim once I'm not loopy.

Last Few Days

Friday, July 18th
Got my hair washed and dried yesterday. Gave a test in class, so that was an easy day. Today I have to catch up on grading. Gave RJ a grocery list and he and the kids went. When RJ is at work, LJ has been my little helper as I try to go about my normal routine.

PJ's schedule went WHACK the last 2 days. On his own, he slept until 8:15 yesterday - and the only took 1 nap at 1:30. He went to bed at his usual time, but last night was up crying for about an hour. He's still asleep at 8:40, so I don't think he's going to be taking a morning nap between 9:30 and 10:00 - which is the norm. I suppose he might be dropping his AM nap, but we had to work with LJ to drop his at 18 months - so this is odd to me?????

Saturday, July 19th
Yesterday was fairly good. My relationship with PJ has already changed. I used to pick him up all the time and carry him around the house with me...now, I only pick him up to put him in the high chair or to change his diaper. This has me pretty sad.

DH got a babysitter and took me out to a movie and then dinner - to try to get me out of my depression. We left when the kids woke up from their naps & got home in time to put them to bed. They napped well, so all that combined meant I had a relaxing day!

PJ's sleeping is better, but still not optimal.

Sunday, July 20th
I hate this splint. It keeps kind of shifting and slipping, so I find myself gripping with my hand and tensing my arm. I'm sure I won't like the cast either, but I'm ready to ditch this splint. I find my wrist more painful now than I did a few days ago. It is almost like I can feel the bone. I think the swelling has gone down and I'm just able to feel more. I'm trying not to be surly, but I'm not really happy with this new routine over which I have little control!

I Broke My Wrist - Details

I was running a bit late to class because some students in my previous class had stayed after to ask some questions…so I was kind of in a hurry. The steps in front of this building are not so great…I could say all the ways they are deficient, but I only have one hand. I hit one step too low and stumbled…and put my left hand down to catch my fall. I heard a snap and my arm felt weak. I walked into class, sat down, used my right hand to lift my left hand up on the desk and started taking my watch off. I figured there would be swelling, so I wanted to get my watch off. My students started asking me if I was ok and I told them I wasn’t sure, but I think I might have broken my wrist. I told them that we wouldn’t have class, but I needed to borrow a cell phone. RJ’s cell phone battery doesn’t work – it hasn’t for like 3 weeks, but he’s getting a Blackberry and service through work, so he’s just been using my battery instead of buying a new one…this leaves me without a phone, but that’s a different story. I called RJ and he loaded up the kids to come pick me up. Meanwhile, my students were so sweet. One guy ran down the street to a campus dining place to get me some ice. Another kept asking me questions to make sure I wasn’t in shock. Another had me use her hard-backed folder to support my wrist, etc. They stayed with me until RJ arrived and then planned how they would get word to my next class that class was cancelled. This all happened at 1:00 and I was in the emergency room by 1:20.

RJ dropped me off at the ER and then took the kids home to meet up with our boss and a co-worker. We had called co-worker, but gotten her voice mail, so we called boss…she came and then co-worker showed up too. Then RJ came back to me at the ER.

I hate the ER. But, I won’t go unto that because everyone hates the ER. I waited about an hour before being called back. After that, things moved pretty quickly. I don’t know what you have to do to get pain meds, but none were offered and my request for Tylenol was acknowledged and promised to be met, but never was. Anyway, I had like 6 x-rays taken, then I waited for the dr., then the dr. said it is broken…distal radial fracture…so I broke my radius down in my wrist. It is a clean-break…all the way through…and is not displaced at all, so he doesn’t think I’ll need surgery. Thank goodness…I do not want to have surgery. Hr wrapped me in a splint…that he wet and then molded to my arm…it has dried pretty darn hard. I have a sling, Vicodin, and an appointment with the orthopedist on Monday morning. The orthopedist will look at the x-rays, take more to see how healing is going, decide about surgery, and put a cast on. They wait for the cast until the swelling has gone down so that the cast won’t be a bad fit. 4-6 weeks in the cast.

The Vicodin works well and I’ve not been in too much pain, but it is painful. Having 1 hand is NOT convenient in the least. Try doing things with only one hand and I think you’ll get the picture rather quickly. RJ has to help me get dressed…can’t put a bra on with one hand. Changing diapers is difficult. Can’t wash my face, pick up my kids easily, etc. RJ has been super-terrific, but 4-6 weeks is a long time. I assume I’ll be able to grip things with my left hand sooner than that? I plan to go to work today, but I can’t pass out papers! The students will help – they are so compassionate!

Since this happened on the job – workman’s comp will pay for it. Another guy in our office broke his ankle on stairs in this same building and workman’s comp. went into effect for him. I don’t know how it works, but a report has already been made by my office…I think it is on my employer to comply, so they have all these rules to follow.

I haven’t even gotten to swim in our pool yet :-(

This took 30 minutes to type, so I won’t be typing too much for a while!

I Broke My Wrist

I fell going up the stairs on the way to class. That's all I can type for now.

Spelling

LJ is kind of into spelling - aka - reading the letters and saying what something spells. Sometimes he's right about what the letters spell, but mostly he's wrong.

Sunday, we were at Walmart and as we were leaving he said..."W-A-L-star-M-A-R-T, that spells Walmart" - I cracked up...and told him he is right and Sam Walton would be proud.

Ok, really - the NEXT post will be about PJ's routine...lest I forget one day.

Pool! Almost...

Pool set-up was S-L-O-W. First, Uncle B was going to arrive Friday evening...they were going to do some work that night and then get started again Saturday morning. Uncle B was not able to come until 11:00 Saturday morning. Then they had to go buy some top soil so they can get everything level. Then it was lunch time...RJ's family has the market cornered on "leisurely lunch", so around 2:00 they finally got out there and got started leveling the ground. At 4:20 - they left to get a pipe for a pump/drain thingy that RJ wanted to put in. If the wimpy pump that came with the pool isn't able to do the job, we are now set-up to use a good pump since they installed this pump/drain thingy. At this point, I believe the ground was level and once they got this pipe they got the pump/drain thingy in the ground...and the pool frame went up. The directions state that it is not complicated, but you will need 4 adults. Little do they know that RJ has gotten very good at figuring out how to not have help...and I think he thinks he is more than one person...as is Uncle B. Turns out, they do not have the hands of more than 2 people, but never fear, they rigged it up with tie downs and various objects to attach the tie downs to...instant hands.

This morning, the pool is about 1/3 full! "We" filled it enough to hold itself up - as I've alluded, the construction process is very interesting - and then shut it down after dark last night. This morning, PJ and I got up around 6:15 and I turned the water back on. I plan a trip to Walmart today to buy some pool necessities...like chlorine tablets, a skimmer, goggles, floats, etc.

LJ General Routine and Cute Things

LJ is 3 years and 7 months old and his day goes something like this:

6:30ish - wakes up and plays/read in bed...might get up to go to the bathroom, but goes back to his room after. He opens and closes doors kind of loudly and he always closes the door behind him, so getting up to go to the bathroom means he opens his bedroom door, closes it, closes the bathroom door, opens it, closes it, opens his bedroom door and closes it. No one can sleep through that.

7:00ish - I go in and say "good morning" and he gets up.

8:00ish - he eats breakfast. His favorites are peanut butter toast, cinnamon toast or peanut butter waffle. He still LOVES milk.

9:00ish - he and PJ play until PJ's nap time.

10:00ish - PJ's nap time - LJ gets to eat gummy fruit snacks and watch Little Einsteins while PJ is sleeping. He never forgets about these gummy snacks.

12:30ish - lunch time. One of his favorites is "trios" - turkey meatball, cheese, and goldfish. He likes bananas, mandarin oranges, pears, peaches, grapes, etc. He tends to like most fruit.

1:00ish - nap time. He plays/reads in his bed for quite a while and probably only takes a 1-2 hour nap during his 1:00 - 4:00 nap time. But, he's usually quiet, so we are all happy.

4:00ish - Snack. Right now, LJ likes Teddy Grahams (chocolate) mini-marshmallows, and chocolate chips. Oh, and MILK.

6:00ish - Dinner. He's pretty good about eating what he's served. Sometimes we have to tell him how many bites he has to eat. Whatever vegetables we are having - he will usually say, "Oh, I love __________", but the love fades and we have to tell him how many bites he has to eat. He's not so good about chewing meat. He'll keep in his mouth for a long time. We have to tell him, "swallow your food." This starts to get frustrating, so it almost always turns into, "SWALLOW your FOOOOD." Sometimes, we make it all the way to bed time and when brushing his teeth, we discover he still hasn't swallowed all of his food. This causes steam to come out of my ears.

After dinner is usually spent playing in the kiddie pool.

7:30ish - get ready for bed and go to sleep. Ha. He usually plays/reads for a while. He was in the habit of getting up to tell us his tummy hurts. We are pretty sure it doesn't hurt as often as he claims - it is as if he knows it is unverifiable.

I think he wakes up in the middle of the night and plays in his bed. I also think he's kind of tired during the day some days (due to his playing at 2:00 am)...on these days he has more trouble staying out of trouble.

LJ seems to like his brother. He often says to us, "I love my brother PR" and we always say we are glad and how nice it is to have a brother.

LJ sometimes tells me, "be happy Momma - let's turn that frown upside down" - which always makes me laugh.

LJ is pretty good at counting and can count things and subtract things up to 10 with no problem. He's trying to learn the days of the week and we are still trying to get him to realize that it is not a new day when he wakes up from his nap. This is very bothersome sometimes...if we tell him so-in-so is coming today and they haven't shown up by nap time...there is a big fit about how we said so-in-so was coming today and they didn't come. Never mind that it is only 1:00 and they will be here when LJ wakes up...in LJ's mind that is not today - it is tomorrow.

Next post - PJ's routine.

YES!

I'm sorry my faithful blog readers - YESSSS!!!! All 3 boxes have arrived and are in our possession. YIPPEE! That means pool construction commences this weekend. Today, our shutters arrived. I've convinced RJ that he is never going to get around to constructing the perfect shutters, so let's go with some pre-made...he agreed and now they are here and will be put up after work this evening. These shutters are really going to spruce up the curb appeal. I've even washed the windows in preparation...of course, it rained yesterday afternoon, but we need the rain so badly I can't complain.

Out for Delivery

All 3 boxes - out for delivery today! Hopefully they will all 3 show up TODAY. Then it is a matter of prepping the ground, constructing the pool, and filling it up...with lots of water...which we will likely notice in our water bill. Oh and all of the maintenance. We'll have to buy flotation devices...and floatie-type things. LJ has requested goggles. Sunscreen - lots of sunscreen. But, I cannot wait - this is going to be such a great thing...I think.

Pool #2 - Tracking

Pool #2 has departed from Secaucus, NJ (decided to look up where this is and it is right up the rode form Weehawken, which is where we stayed when we went to NYC before LJ was born)...and is "on time" to arrive at our house July 9 - all three boxes (or so it seems)! We may be getting really close to getting this pool - finally. And, it has been HOT here...with next-to-no rain, so we are certainly looking forward to "a pool that mommy and daddy can fit in".

PS - I need to write about our ride on the steam train last weekend...

Pool Update

So, here it is July 1 and no box #3 of 3. I decided that this box is just not coming, so I called Walmart. This is not so easy as it seems. Try to find a phone number to call on the Walmart website. I went to my online credit card statement to verify that we had paid for the pool - and my credit card company had a clickable link for Walmart - and that link provided a phone number. THAT is how I got a phone number to call.

After choosing the menu option I thought best fit my predicament - and saying YES 3 times before it understood me...I had to back out of that route and pick something else so I could talk to a PERSON. I choose "billing problems" and finally got to Barb. Barb was very friendly and helpful. It probably helped that when she asked how I was doing I said, "Barb, I'm frustrated" - she was nice to me. After a lot of computer-looking-up Barb determined she needed to initiate a tracking for the package with UPS. Then she told me UPS has 10 business days to find the package before they can get the manufacture to send another. She suggested that, if I'm financially able, I could order another pool as it would probably get here before the last box of my original order would. Keep the original order until we've put our 2nd pool together - to make sure we have all the parts we need...otherwise, get those parts from our original pool. Then, we can return the original pool to the store for instant refund of our money OR they can send a truck to pick it up from our house. Oh - and she refunded our shipping on the original pool and did not charge us shipping on our 2nd pool. I ordered the 2nd pool and it (ALL 3 BOXES - I'm keeping my fingers crossed) will be here between July 10 and July 24. The original pool (2 of 3 boxes) got here within 7 days of ordering, so we are hoping for closer to the 10th.

:-(

Box # of 3 did *NOT* arrive today. And, the tracking information is no different today than it was all of the days before. Needless to say, we are BUMMED and I did send *another* e-mail to customer service today.

The Vaccination Saga Continues

Yesterday, after weeks of not hearing back from the dr.'s nurse regarding her ability to get the mumps vaccine, I called. Of course, I have to leave a message for her to call back. I give RJ's cell phone as the call back number - I thought I was giving mine at the time, but I call his all the time and never call mine, so I just mindlessly said a cell number. Anyway, she left a voice-mail saying, "we tried to order the mumps vaccine, but we couldn't - call if you have any questions". Whatever. Seriously. Sure, if she called Merck and asked if they could order 1 mumps vaccine - the answer was no and we told the dr. the answer would be no. We told him you have to order a batch of 10. We discussed how his practice would have to decide if they want to do that. So, for the nurse to say they tried to order it but couldn't is really non-information and indicates a real lack of willingness to work on this, in my opinion at the time.

So, now I decide to call around to different pharmacies in town to see if they stock it or will order a batch. If I find one, then I have to get the dr. to write a prescription. Maddening. I called around and finally called a locally-owned compounding pharmacy. The person who answered was relaying my questions to the pharmacist and the answer came back - we can only order the combination vaccine. So, I asked if I could talk to the pharmacist. She got on the phone and I said, "I'm trying to get the individual mumps vaccine and I'm having trouble - can you tell me what the problem is". So she says, "well it says that the single-dose is drop-ship only and that usually means only a dr.'s office can order it, but call back tomorrow and ask to talk to Melissa. Tell her that I told you to call her and that she should call Merck and ask if they can order a single-dose of Mumpsvax." - GREAT! At *least* someone explained the problem AND at *least* someone is willing to call Merck and ask some questions! I *think* drop-ship means a Merck rep will drop it off - and they may only do that for a dr.'s office. But, we'll see. I have hope.

Today, I decide to call Merck while I'm waiting for my pharmacy contact's pharmacy to open...Merck is on the East coast. I figure *maybe* they'll tell me what, if any, local health care people have ordered Mumpsvax recently - so I can call those people. No, they don't really know that. Merck pretty much sells to wholesalers and the drs. and pharmacies order from the wholesalers. Ok, fine. So, I call Melissa at the pharmacy. She was super-nice and told me she would make some calls and call me back. She called back within 10 minutes. She said that Mumpsvax is only available in units of 10 and that would cost about $300.00. Ok, so we would have to decide if we want to spend $300.00. BUT, she says that Mumpsvax is on back order from the manufacturer (Merck) until early 2009. So, she can't get it. She says there are other wholesalers, but she would imagine that Mumpsvax is something they don't keep in stock (due to lack of demand compared to the combo, that it requires refrigeration, and it expires) - the wholesalers likely order it from Merck when they get a request. Basically, she thinks the only way we'd be able to get it is from a dr. or pharmacy that has it in their inventory right now...they wouldn't have to order it. So, maybe the nurse wasn't so off after all...she checked and they couldn't get it. She could have said it is on back order!

I haven't checked for measles or rubella - since mumps is first on my list. At this point, I have to talk to RJ, who I'm sure will not want to give up the quest yet, but I'm seriously leaning to just forgetting about the mumps for a while. I'm fine with the MMR when PJ is older (like 4) and I'm really not concerned with him getting the mumps. I doubt he will, but if he does - I think he'll be ok.

Later, in doing some research I found a 2002 Medicaid newsletter from Alabama where they talk about the monovalent injections being in short supply as Merck is using those in their prioritized MMR combo vaccine. So, in short, it seems like the manufacturer is focused on the combo and is not using its resources to manufacture the singles. I'm sure, in general, it is more cost effective as the vast majority of people get the combo vaccine - and they now have a MMRV - that includes varicella, as well. I'll go with the cost effective part because it is *almost* like they are trying to FORCE the combo on us so we'll "get over" being concerned about the combo...but I really think it is an economic decision. Well, for me - it is just going to keep me from getting the vaccine at all. The one that seems most easy to get - not from my experience, but from my research, is Rubella...which is the one I'm really most concerned about. So, if I can get Rubella, I will, but if not - I won't.

So then, I decide I'm going to write a question about it to Dr. Bob Sears on his thevaccinebook.com website. I didn't have to ask a question...Here is what Dr. Bob says and Maybe I should read his website more often?!?!

Plain Mumps Vaccine Shortage - Should Babies Just Get the Full MMR?
Friday, June 20, 2008
Some parents are choosing to split the 1 year MMR vaccine into three separate shots. Although we don't know if this precaution is necessary, some worried parents prefer the choice of getting plain Mumps vaccine at 1 year, Rubella at 2 years, and Measles at 3 years.With a shortage of the plain Mumps vaccine expected to last the rest of 2008, parents may not be able to get the Mumps vaccine for their babies for a while. I would suggest getting a rubella vaccine at 1 year, and then Mumps at 2 years (by the time any current one-year-olds are two, the shortage will hopefully be over).Some parents are wondering if they should get the full MMR vaccine at age 1, not just to get coverage for mumps now, but also to get measles coverage in light of the recent increase in measles outbreaks. I think that this is a very valid choice to consider, especially for infants who are entering childcare or early preschool. For children who are not going to be in daycare or school until age 3 or 4, delaying the measles vaccine is less of a worry

So, RJ comes home and I relay all of the above to him. We decide to delay MMR until age 4. That's it. If school requires 2 at entry - we'll do the blood titer to show immunity and I'm pretty sure PJ will have the anti-bodies because he'll have just gotten the vaccine a year earlier. I'll probably blog next week about PJ's case of mumps, but we'll see!

Interesting note: When I called Merck's, I called the main number and talked to a lady who told me to call customer service...the original lady said "we get this question all the time and someone in customer service can help you" - which they couldn't, but...I would imagine they do get this all the time...and they will be getting it more and more.

Patience is Wearing Thin...

WHERE IS BOX #3 FOR OUR POOL??? I've been told (via e-mail) that is will be here on or before June 30th...remember? We are hoping for BEFORE, but so far our hopes have been dashed.

LJ got an expansion pack of train track and I have secretly been enjoying helping him make groovy layouts. I was almost more disappointed than he when his trains had to go in toy time-out for a day because a certain 3 year-old exhibited atrocious behaviour during church on Sunday. It wasn't sooo bad - the behaviour - but he was exhibiting willful disobedience...in church, no less.

We are going to ride a steam train on Sunday!

Goodbye Longest Day of the Year!

Whew - the longest (meaning the most daylight) day of the year is over. As any mother of small children knows - the kids going to bed while it is still so insanely light outside can be an issue. I can't count how many times LJ has said, "it isn't bedtime - it is still day outside"...or the like. Thankfully, from here on out, the day light will be getting shorter! Yippee!

PJ is certainly coming into his personality. He is saying more and more words, but also babbling with inflection...as he knows what he's saying, but we aren't getting it. He knows when he's doing something we might not like and he now runs away from us if he has something he wants to hold onto, but we are coming to get it from him.

Yesterday, LJ was walking around with RJ's work gloves, eye protection, and ear protection on...saying, "after dinner, we are going to TEAR DOWN THIS HOUSE!" It was hilarious, but we asked him why he wanted to tear down the house? He said, "because this house is too old and we need to build a new house." Then RJ would try to tell him that it would take a long time to tear down this house...how long did LJ think it would take? LJ thinks it would take 7 years. But, he also thinks that is the amount of time between dinner time and bed time. But, he is ready to TEAR DOWN THIS HOUSE! Another funny LJ-ism...he came in the house to get some water and he told me, "I'm going to get 3 bottles of water because I'm 3 thirsty." I thought this was very funny.

Augh - just AUGH!

I'm trying to remind myself that the first week of school is always an adjustment because I have not enjoyed this week! The students have been fine - although I've had to tell each section that text messaging during class is not going to fly. HELLO? Our class has 30 people in it...the farthest anyone is from the front of the room is 5 desks...I can see you AND it is just rude. I'm thinking about a little adjustment to my behavior...when a student asks a question in class or comes up after class to ask a question, I'm just going to get out my cell phone and start texting...(all in a joking manner, of course) - perhaps then, they'll get that, while they aren't intending to be rude, it *is* rude. I was good-natured in telling them something I don't think I should need to tell them. Otherwise, they've been fine...I like some classes more than others, but they are all fine. 10 minutes between classes is a quick turn-around time. I can make it, but I don't get there early and I can't hang back after class to talk too students - they have to walk with me if they want to talk to me. When I was in college, we only had 10 minutes between classes (now, it is 20, but this summer is odd for my class) and I thought it was plenty of time...but now I have to wonder if I was late a lot?

This summer schedule has me at work during afternoon naps, so when I'm home the kids are up...always. This means I really don't have any downtime...I *need* some downtime. When am I supposed to watch the shows that I record in the middle of the night...that RJ won't want to watch and kids shouldn't watch...like Tori and Dean in Hollywood?

My groovy new laptop (Dell Latitude D830) is not cool. The keyboard isn't working right. The E, O, I, P keys are not reliable...sometimes I have to push them multiple times to get the letter to show up. Then the R sometimes shows up more than once. Very annoying. I really noticed it last night when I typed a 2 page document. So, I e-mailed the IT guy (sad because I bet the computer will have to be returned) and he said it might be a loose connection, so don't be too sad yet. I'm not getting my hopes up.

AND - I *HATE* and I mean *HATE* Office 2007. What in the world made them do this? I open a document that I need to edit with dates for this semester...I want to save and print it really quickly so I can run to class. Ok, I edit it and want to "save as..." I look up (with just "save" I'd have done CTRL S) to go to the File menu...and Um...there is no File menu. In fact, none of the drop down menus have the same name or contain the same things as Word 2003. And, the "toolbars" have all kinds of junk that I either don't know what it is or I really don't need it like I might need...oh, say..SAVE AS. So, something I could have done in 1 second took me close to a minute to find. Unacceptable. I'm going to give it a chance...see if I can get those toolbars reconfigured and perhaps find some "old school" setting that will make it all look like something I can use. If I can't - I'm getting 2003 reinstalled.