Friday, December 29, 2006

Carpet Cleaner

I have come to realize over the past 10 days that the best investment that we have made since we moved to the new house was to purchase our own Carpet Cleaner. It makes cleaning up vomit and diarrhea so easy. Had I know how much I would have used one when I registered for my baby shower, I would have registered for that. :)

Day 10. Vomiting....Diarrhea....YUCK YUCK YUCK! It may never go away and I might have at least 1 child that pukes a day. NICE!

I got my new glasses and I CAN SEE AGAIN! My script barely changed though my astigmatism "moved" and just my that adjustment holy cow! I am so excited.

Back to the World of Vomit and Diarrhea....Maybe see you in the New Year with healthy kids. :)

Thursday, December 28, 2006

LAST Christmas Get Together...

Christmas is now officially over as of today. We visited with my MIL, SIL and BIL Jeff. Jeff has not seen the kids since January 2004. It was a really nice visit. I gave MIL her gift and she was so thrilled. If you want to see a pic email me. Kim (SIL) is good as always and gave me a link to a new site for the kids. She also bought Gabe a book of mazes, he sat down and did it right then and there. Next time harder mazes aunt kim. Maybe it will keep him busy for longer than 15 minutes. LOL BIL Jeff was very nice. Things were awkward there are some hurt feelings on all of our part and I will give him a snap on trying to move things forward in a positive note. He and his wife was expecting a baby 2/14 (their first) and it is a boy. I am happy that they are having a healthy baby, but it appears that he is a girl baby daddy. Fayeth let him hold her for a good long time.

Also, there is a new member to the family. Darren's other Brother (Eric) and his darling (not sarcastic she is a love) Kelly eloped and got married 12/26. We got the call yesterday. We are so excited. They are good for each other. Well, he is REALLY lucky to have her ;). :) Eric did inform me that they were not pregnant. I did not ask and was horrified that he even said that. I could careless if she is pregnant...You married her! THAT I am THRILLED about!

And who can resist a pic like this?
The sickies have not left us yet.. Lindsay-becca was puking today. *UGH*

Sunday, December 24, 2006

My Favorite Christmas Memory...

This time of the year is always sad for me now that my Gramma is gone. My Gramma LOVED Christmas and she embodied the meaning. When I was growing up my grandparents owned the local hardware store (A TRUE VALUE). Come November 1st my Gramma would bring out the Christmas trees to decorate at the store. She took her time making each tree uniquely decorated and special and perfect. Our store (it was family owned, operated and staffed) was a part of the local Chamber of Com merce. Every year the hardware store sponsored the "Angel Tree" for the area families in need. When she and my mom delivered all the gifts they would take the food baskets that local (and only) grocery store donated. This could take anywhere from 1-2 days (12 hours each day) to deliver.

Every year my Grampa would dress up as Santa and go to the 3 local elementary school in the Northern end of our county and he would pass out candy canes, have lunch with the kids, and let each and every child sit on his lap for as long as the child wanted to. He also went to Head Start dressed up as Santa and would take "goodie bags" filled with coloring books, crayons, candy, small toys, and whatever else suited my Gramma's fancy the day that she went to buy the stuff. We used plain large brown paper bags and we would decorate the bags with glitter, pictures and whatever else we had. We put everything in the bags with love and care. I can always remember WANTING to do this. Wanting to help out others.

There are 2 particular Christmas memories that I can now remember as being my favorite. The first one was of my Grampa. There was a little girl named "Michelle" that went to the local elementary school. She was deaf. The Newspaper took the most awesome picture of the 2 of them. This little girl melted my grampa's heart. Whenever she came into the store my Grampa would talk to her, give her a treat there was just something special about her. Her smile lit up the room. THe Newspaper recognized what a special picture this was a had the photo mounted and gave it too my Grampa with a nice plaque for all that he and my gramma gave to the community.

My favorite memory of my gramma was as she was delivering the Angel Tree items the very last house they went to to deliver did not have a tree. The mom was so very gracious when she received the food basket and gifts. She honestly told my Gramma that if it was not for that food basket they would have no food until her next pay check (10 days away). They had no Christmas Tree and she told my gramma they could not afford one.

My Gramma marched into the hardware store (5 minutes before closing) and yelled "FATHER COME HERE I NEED YOUR HELP!" She always called my Grampa, Father. My Grampa came out of the office and he stood by the register (where I was) and told him what she found out. We closed the store and my Gramma went back and picked the tree. My mom and I started carefully removing ornaments, bows, lights and disassembling the tree. My Gramma told us that she would be right back and she marched out of the hardware store. Now my Gramma was just a little lady, but when she was on a mission NO ONE told her no and she MARCHED with authority to get her mission accomplished.

We were finishing wrapping each ornament up when she returned. She told us that she had to go back to grocery store when the tree and ornaments were loaded into the truck. We loaded everything into the truck and she and my mom left for the grocery store.

When she left the hardware store she marched right into the grocery store and spoke with Tim the manager (and owner) and told him what the last family had told her. Tim had told her to give him 30 minutes and come back he would have something for her. When they got back there, Tim and his wife had gathered probably close to $500 in grocery and gift certificates for milk and bread.

Tim helped her load everything into the truck and she went to deliver the items. When she knocked on the door the lady was confused and my Gramma told her that she had forgotten to delivery a few items and could she do it now. When my gramma started bringing in more and more items and told the family that they had a christmas tree and food the lady cried. She offered to return the tree after Christmas and my Gramma told her that every tree needed a family and THIS tree belonged to THIS family now.

These are the things that my Grandparents did. These are the type of people that they are. I AM SO PROUD to be their granddaughter. Christmas is when I miss them the most. I miss their giving and generous hearts. They were wonderful people and the world is a little less wonderful without them in it.

I love you and MISS YOU!

Thursday, December 21, 2006

NUTCRACKER 2006

I am pleased to say that the Nutcracker 2006 is now over. My life can now resume a semi-normal pace. Okay...well after the holidays. :)

Tuesday 12/12/2006
This started the marathon. We were to be at the Holiday Star early to get make-up on the kids, get their costumes on them and take the cast photo. Of course....the photo was nearly an hour late. But the end result will be awesome. The orchestra left a little, okay A LOT to be desired. Someone in the string section was flat....VERY FLAT! They allowed the kids to sit out in the audience and watch the performance. I was the room mom for the boys (small boys) so I only had one child, my sweet Gabe. He sat with Aria and watched the ballet intently. While he was on stage he hit every cue that he needed to for the acting part. (For the kids their age acting is 99% of the scene) He did amazing, as did Aria (6) and Nadia (7). Lind say-becca did awesome. The bon bons were so excited that they were FINALLY going to get to dance our from under Mother Ginger's Skirt. (they have never gotten to come out from under the skirt) Well, no one warned them and the first girl tripped over the Pole at the bottom of Mother Ginger's skirt and literally ALL of the bon bon's piled ontop of each other. *I* was in hysterics. It was priceless. Second time a little girl in the middle came down and the rest came. I was again laughing. It was really quite cute, third time was a charm. By the time we got home the Twins were SO wound up Darren decided to cuddle with them on the couch while I went to my mom's to nurse Fa yet h. (Fa y eth was staying at gramma's as was Hann ah)

Wednesday 12/13/06
First show 10am. Be there at 8am. Doors locked until 8:30am. I sat in the car and did the Tw ins make up. They looked so funny with make up on. Get in. Take Lin dsay-to her dressing room, dressed her, got her settled. Headed out to get Ga be ready. We were completely ready to go by 9:ooam. So, Ga be and I ventured out to explore back stage. We found out way to the window where we could see the parking lot. Ga be was counting school buses. We found our way to the mezzanine. We decided to come back and watch the show from the mezzanine. LOL 9:45am headed down the the green room to get his scarf for the begining of the scene. 9:50am waiting...... 10am rolls around we are waiting for 1 last bus to be seated. there were around 2700 people there. Mainly school kids. Asked Ga be if he was nervous, he asked me, "No, should I be?" Nope buddy you are all good. We went over his "cues" and before I could even ask he told me in order what the cues were. Kara and I decided to watch from the back of the audience. So we gave our children to their "Party Parents" and off we went. They did Awesome!!!!!
Ga be and I snuck out the the mezzanine to watch the Mother Ginger scene. It went off without a hitch. The kids did SOOO good. They were so cute and best of all they just had fun! What more can you ask for.

I loaded the kids up into the car after the show and we headed home. The twins slept for about 2 hours in the car. Thank goodness it was a nice day and I could leave the doors open to the car at my moms house. (They live in a cornfield)

The 7pm show went well. There was a crew there. Gra mma, Gra mpa, Han nah,, Fay e th, Da ddy, Aunt Bec ca, Aunt Shel ley, Uncle Jo hn, Za ne, Oli via, Dar en (our friend) and Gran dma Ha rt man. It was an awesome show. Everyone did great and had fun. When it was over Ga be wanted to go out and do it again.

Thursday 12/14/06
Getting out of bed was rough this morning. LB and G wanted 5 more minutes. Of course as we were walking out the door we got the call that the small party kids could come in a bit later. Too late for us. We hung around the house. Ga be was complaining of a headache.

10am show was the best of the 4. Heidi got the crowd very pumped up and their cheer for the dancers and the energy was awesome. After the show we decided to head home, have lunch and take a rest. Gramma was going to do the evening show. Gramma picked the kids up at 4:30pm and they were on their way. G abe continued to complain of a headache and of being hot. (These are 2 of his major signs of increased ICP) He got ready and headed onto the stage. Lets say about 4 minutes into the performance Gabe went to sit on the couch during the party scene. ***From here on out I am retelling what I have been told as I have been spared witnessing this event first hand*** Ga be leans over the back of the couch and proceeds to vomit on the stage. Luckily it was close enough to the stage right curtains that they were able to continue with the show while cleaning it up and most people did not notice. I immediately noticed that he was no longer on stage and I flew backstage. I was not suppose to be able to go back stage but I went anyways. He at first did not want to go back out and when I asked him if he wanted to participate in the finale he said yes and he wanted to finish the scene. We busted butt to get him changed but did not do it in time to go back on for the scene. He did however take his final bow during the finale. He is such a strong amazing little boy. He had a severe headache and had been incontinent 2 times in the past 24 hours so I think his pressure was up too much.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

I AM MOMMA!!!!!

Back when Fay eth was an itty bitty little one she would say MAAAAAAAAAAAAA, MAAAAAAAAAAAA like a little sheep. Then around 9 months she just stopped. Stopped babbling/talking at all. (ear infections)

Recently she started really trying to talk again. She said, "dada", "Bubble", "food". Today she came waddling in here and said, "MOMMA!!!" and handed me a Dora gardening glove to put on her hand. I said, "Fa y eth what is my name?" She replied "Momma". The sweet sounds of hearing your baby say your name again is amazing.

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

The Difference between a MAN and A WOMAN...

Tonight while I was working (and chatting online to 2 of my many favorite gals) I hear Darren say something. I could not hear him over my machine so I stopped the machine.

Me: "What did you say?"
Darren: "You plugged up the toilet?"
Me: "YOU were in YOUR bathroom last"
Darren: "Well I just peed and the toilet is plugged up. Where is the plunger?"
Me: "Upstairs"
Darren: "OMG!" *Said in a panicked voice*
Me: "WHAT?" *Said in a VERY ANNOYED VOICE"
Darren: "The toilet it over flowing!!!!!"
Me: "GET THE DAMN PLUNGER!!!!!"
He JUST STANDS THERE
Me: "NOW DAMMIT!!!! MOVE MOVE MOVE!"
He runs up the stairs. I grab towels put them on the ceramic tile. Start bailing water with the garbage can. He tried to plunge the toilet. But HE has taken his contacts out.
Me: "Give this to me"
Darren: "I can plunge a toilet"
Me: "Wanna try to cover the HOLE then"
Darren: "Well, I cant see!"
Me: "THAT IS WHY I SAID GIVE IT TO ME"
I plunge the toilet the water level drops and he says..."I'll give you something alright Baby!" To which I replied. Clean up the floor. THAT you can GIVE ME.

I later said to him. "What the hell took you so long. 'OMG! THE TOILET IS OVERFLOWING" and you just STAND THERE!!!" He answered...."I had to think". *ROLLS EYES*

LESSON: Men cannot think while moving. They have to be standing completely still. This is why men cannot multitask.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Oh HOLY CRAP!!!!

I made a HUGE math error. Maybe it was denial but.. my earlier post should say 20 years ago. Yes T.W.E.N.T.Y!!!!! Oh my HOLY CRAP!!!! I am really 32. When the hell did that happen. LOL

The crazy things that you remember...

This morning I woke up. Took a mental inventory. Head...Check, arms, hands, fingers...Check. Chest...Stabbing pain in ribs, what is the pain...Ah! Barbie dolls. Legs...CHeck. What is today's date. Friday December 1st. I know something happened this day...THINKING THINKING THINKING....

*LIGHT BULB GOES OFF*

10 years ago today I broke my nose. I being a SILLY 7th grader was SICK with a 103 degree temp but I wanted to go to school. I got up and headed to the shower. I remember it being particullary cold. I turned the shower on VERY HOT. I step into the shower/tub combo and I try to warm up. I lather up my hair. I so to rinse it, I tilt my head back, close my eyes and the next thing I remember is my mom pulling me out of the floor of the tub.

I PASSED OUT COLD. My nose was bleeding profusely. My mom gets that to stop. Gets me cleaned up. I was completely dazed and confused. I told her, But I want to go to school. Yeah well, that did not happen. What did happen was me staying in bed until my mom took me to the dr to get my nose checked out. Which resulted in a trip to the ER. Which then resulted in the Social worker and police coming down to "interview" me. Asking if my mother ever beat me. How did my injury occur. I was freaking livid and got very pissy with them and will all the energy I could muster I put them in their place. When I went back and told my mom, she laughed and took it all in stride. It's their job, blah blah blah.

By the next morning my eyes were completely swelled shut. I was black and blue and looked like I HAD been beaten.

It is crazy what you remember. I told the kids the story and they all laughed.

Nice of the kids to make fun of their mommy

Leah, YES I wanted to go to school to see "KENNY" the guy that me, Janet, Jean, you all thought was amazing. I remember jean saying, "I wish I could be the mouth piece on his trumpet". LOL I wonder whatever happened to him.