The Creation of a Germaphobe

Generally, I am pretty relaxed about germs and my kids. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely HATE when they are sick-for two reasons. First, it makes me so sad to see them battling and suffering the common ailments of cold and flu. Medicine only goes so far to making them comfortable, and it does make me nervous to dose them up. Secondly, having sick children is so much work! Especially when they are BOTH sick. They make messes, are emotionally needy and grumpy, and no one gets any sleep, even though they need it more than ever!

Lately though I feel a change. This stupid Swine Flu! I worry about sending my sweets out inthe big bad world of nasty germs. We always wash up after shopping and being out and about, Now I wonder if that is even enough. I look at people with the Mean Mama Bear Look if I see them coughing. I walk a wide circle around them to avoid sharing whatever contagious illness they may have.

Schools are closing because of reported cases. It makes me second guess sending Elly to school....

We have a doctor's appt for Bri today-just a standard well baby check since she is now 2. I will be extra suspicious of the other patients waiting. It is hard to contain a 2 year old in the waiting room, and I will just have to hope she doesn't pick anything up.

Jose is a delivery guy and imagine ALL of the germs he comes into contact with as he passes the signing board to a person, or a box gets passed to him.

I mean come on people! This is me, a person who passes on the flu shots because well, the flu always happens shot or not....I survived having the chicken pox, why have a shot for it? Runny nose? Just make sure it gets wiped into a tissue-no need to protect us.....

I hope it gets resolved soon. I understand there are always new icky bugs and there will always be that 1 in so many chances and that sometimes there are horrible reactions....But in the meantime, we will be extra cautious and cross our fingers we can not participate in this disease.

Oh My Goodness I Was Bursting With Pride!

Today I took my loves to JCPenney for our yearly photo shoot.

Right, I know, remind me that I am late and that their birthdays have past already...BUT I got there, ok?

Not only did I get there, I was there with 2 outfits for each of them (matching of course!).

Can I just tell you all how wonderfully awesome the shots were? I wanted almost all of them! Thankfully, I am no newbie at this and I was able to be controlled in my purchases!

The girls were hamming it up with wonderful spirit and smiles! There were so beautiful and my heart was bursting with "Oh yeah, they are mine! You can look and appreciate my sweet peas, but nope-all mine!"

I get the pictures in a few weeks, and hopefully before that the email proofs. Then I can share...until that happens though, you will have to wonder-and of course, agree with me even without the proof! :-)

And Not a Tweet I Tweeted

So I signed onto Twitter the other day, thinking I wanted to check it all out. Apparently you have to be a Twitter-er to roam the Twitter World. So I started a Twitter Id. I cruised it a bit, didn't see the BIG THING, and sighned out. I planned to foh-get all about it. Then, an email came to me....

"_______" is following you on Twitter.

Then another one....

Ironically I have a following (of 2!). I have yet to Tweet a profound thought. I figure I have my brain wrapped up in Facebook and my blog, not sure how to divide it into yet another social networking website.

This could be dangerous if I allow myself to succomb into it. I will have to step up my learning curve. Hey since I already think in terms of Facebook Status Updates (Hanna is.....sitting on her fat ass watching stupid tv while eating bon bons-As an EXAMPLE) I might as well utilize those to entertain my followers.

Do you Tweet on Twitter? Any pointers?

Earth Day Report Card

Last year in May I blogged about our commitment to becoming a more environmentally conscience family. I think it's a good time to see how we have done in almost a year.

This is last year's checklist of what accomplishments:

1. We compost
2. We have a very large garden
3. We water our garden with a very conservative but effective drip system
4. We use Eco friendly laundry soap (ECO from Costco)
5. Jose commutes to work in a beater car that gets GREAT gas mileage
6. We recycle almost everything possible (I "sell" my cans and bottles to the local recycle place, and everything from toilet paper rolls to cereal boxes go out in the bin for garbage day)
7. We have unplugged all electrical plugs that are not being used
8. I hang a good portion of my laundry to dry-especially in the summer
9. We have replaced most of our light bulbs with the cfl bulbs
10. We have reduced our lawn watering to once a week

This year we can add:

1. We are using green cleaners throughout the house. I use Bon Ami instead of Comet and other abrasive scrubbers. I use a combination of vinegar and rubbing alcohol for the glass and mirrors. I use the Green Works line and Method as well. We now can add Kirkland's Green Dishwasher Detergent too.
2. Our garden is organic and we rarely fertilize our lawn.
3. We recently found an AWESOME source for horse poop-to use in our compost and in our garden.
4. This year we have purchased so many more organic foods. Since Bri has shown food dye allergies, our choices are so much more limited, thus forcing us to look for better options. This tends to apply to the whole family.
5. I almost always bring my reusable bags to my shopping trips. On the off day that I forget I try to minimize my bag usage and ask the bagger to "over-pack" the bags and get as few as possible.
6. As often as possible I do my shopping at Costco and get more at once, so I drive less and my purchases are in larger quantities-making less packaging.
7. We used less AC less summer and less heat during the winter. Our bill showed we did decrease our gas usage (but not the electricity...it's a fine line I tell ya!)
8. I am active in a program with TerraCycle to recycle Capri Sun and other juice pouches. I also have shared this program with dozens of my friends and some have taken up the cause as well.
9. My 4 year old daughter can now point out items she sees discarded on our walks that should be recycled. She also has become a light and water sentry-making sure excessive usage is not happening.
10. Our household is becoming known for re-purposing "garbage" into new and innovative items. I have been making homemade toys utilizing odds and ends that would have been in our landfills. Jose has made THE MOST AMAZING barbecue trailer that will be a mean-ass tool for competitions and mass cookings. It comes from an old compressor tank. Almost all of it comes from various scrap metals and even the heat shield from our old oven we had replaced.

I feel pretty successful in our attempt. I hope that next year we can say that more of our purchases will be organic and "green" from the grocery store (the cost is so prohibitive!). I also hope that we can continue to educate our friends and family in the quest. Any of our next major appliance purchases (the dishwasher and clothes washer are both limping along) will be energy savers. I try to not succumb to the technology temptations and keeping up with the Joneses. As much as I would love to upgrade the computer, the camera, the cell phone, the radios etc I will not until these items NEED to be changed out. The e-waste problem is sickening to me, and I really try to not be a big part of it.

So that's my report in...any ideas are welcome! What are you doing that I am not? What can I do to move forward in my quest?

The Perfect Birth Control!

There's a catchy title eh?

I have mentioned that I am watching a friend's baby. She is the daughter of a lady that teaches near us and is also friends with another mama from my group. The peanut will be unnamed as an effort to maintain her privacy and the respects of her family...

Today's post is definitely inspired from this new job. I have thus far watched Peanut for 6 days earlier this month and then again starting this week. The 1st part was only partially difficult and I chalked it up to adjustment. This week so far (yup, 2 days in...) has been HARD!

Yesterday, I decided to lump us together into the Bjorn and the double stroller. I must've looked like a real fertile myrtle...either that or a crazy mad lady.... We have had some killer heat these past days and so Peanut, being only 3 months old must be protected from the sun. I had her in some lightweight pants and a short sleeved onesie. She had a hat on, and in the Bjorn she sat. I tried to use a receiving blanket to drape over her arms and legs, tucked into the straps of the front pack. With Elly in the front and Bri in the back, I figured I could trek around the my 2 mile loop. Uhm...yeah...not so much. I would get a few steps, and then the paci would be spit out. I would stop and fix that and head on. Then the hat fell off. Then the receiving blanket repeatedly fell off. Trust me, stopping every couple of feet would a happy experience make. I decided to cut our route off a bit to make it home in time for Peanut's Mama to meet us at the house for a nursing session. At one point a 911 emergency call was heading right by us. Usually I cover my youngest's ears, but being that she is not so tiny and delicate as Peanut, she lost on that protection. Luckily, I think the fire fighters saw me and cut the siren for the moment and just ran the lights.

Well we made it home, Peanut sacking out for a snooze and much to my surprise, Bri did too! She never does this....and when she does she wakes up when we stop. Well, not this time. I kept us outside since it was still shady and fresh, and Elly played with her sidewalk chalk. Peanut woke up and had some floor (grass) blanket time. Nothing like tummy time under a shady tree! Bri Bri slept on. Finally I decided to wake her and begin our usual lunch and nap procedures. Well that went to hell in a a hand basket! Lunch was rejected, so I assumed we should take it into naptime. Peanut's mom headed back to school and i had 3 kidlets to slumber into dreamland. Uhm....no nap..no rest for the weary (me). Bri flat out refused to sleep, and when I tried she screeched waking Peanut. Elly only slept an hour of her usual 2.5 hour nap, and by pickup time, I had 3 tired kids and a bald spot-no kidding...but I really wanted to pull my hair out!

Today, was a TON better, but still had it's severe weak spots. We started out horribly. I had to ready the 3 girls, and myself for outing to dance class. I got Peanut fed and asleep for a hopefully long enough morning nap. Got myself looking FLY! (lmao!) Seriously...I was feeling it! Then Bri laughed a bit too loud and woke up the not so sleeping Peanut-who was outraged that she wasn't allowed to continue her catnap. At this point I hobbled through dressing all 3, doing hair on the 2, and grabbing snacks and bottles and diapers all the while to the sweet serenade of Angry Peanut. Elly kept trying to shove the paci in her mouth and Bri kept rocking the carseat...

As I searched unsuccessfully for my sunglasses I found Elly curled up on the couch with her hands covering her ears and Bri was following me with her own wails asking me to hug her (how she says she wants to be picked up). I decided my best course of action was to plunk my girls into carseats and seatbelts grab the baby, forget about the glasses and start the truck. 2 blocks into our 5 minute ride Peanut fell asleep. Dance class was quiet and relatively happy due to an awesome mocha and a cookie for my Bri.

Coming home was equally fine and the rest of the day went better.

Let's just say that I am ABSOLUTELY sure that our family is Spot On Perfect with 2 kids. I have no interest in going backwards. I like that my life is relatively calm and certainly so much more predictable. I will get my snuggles and baby smells while I am watching Peanut and feel content watching my daughters evolve, and my life as a parent take shape.

Bri Bri is a Birthday Girl!

Today we celebrated a birthday! Baby Briana is not a baby anymore. She is 2 years old! As I did for Elly, I will do a quick then and now. You can see for yourelves how she has changed.

Awesome!

Today I called for the eye appointment that is WAY overdue. I probably only did it because my last pair of contacts officially died yesterday. I can handle my glasses-except when the sun is out. Since we are having nice weather come our way, it became obvious that I needed to me take initiative. Crossing my fingers I dialed the number. the cheery receptionist answered and I began my quest.

Since they were already booked for the week (Imagine that! People actually think ahead?), she looked for a cancelation. Uhmmmm, yes! 1 opening! Sadly, their one available spot did not jive with our Zoo plans. So, I apologized and thanked her for trying and we made the apppointment for 2 weeks from now. (Probably like MOST people do.)

Then I embarked on the secondary plan. Obtain contacts! I asked politely if the dr would be open to letting me try some samples until my appointment. She checked and AWESOME! I now have in my possession 1 more set of contacts. That will get me to my officialy check up and then I can order them like a good rule following non-procrastinating patient.

The Golden Scale

I have this scale, located in the bathroom. It is a digital scale, originally purchased to follow the snail like growth of my Elly.

Now, I use it keep myself on track. It champions me and it hides nothing. I can instantly tell if that extra piece of pizza was detrimental or not. These past 2 weeks I have been so off the wagon, it's not even funny. I haven't exercised because the mole biopsy was taken from my lower left back (or as I tell people from the Back Fat). I was given no restrictions by my doctor, but it is in such a location the every move, waist up, pulls at the bandage. I haven't wanted to pull out the stitch or interfere with healing.

So I figure, if there is no exercise, why should I eat with a conscience? (Yeah, no logic there...but it reveals typical thinking on my part)

So just to make sure I am not so far off my path, I check in with my friendly scale every few days.

1st time: 1?1.8 lbs (numbers are hidden to maintain some semblance of personal pride). My reaction? Ok! I am not so far off!

2nd time 1?1.8 lbs My reaction? Wow same number as before-looks like my body is doing pretty good!

3rd time 1?1.8 lbs. My reaction? Look at Lil Ole Me! I am able to eat like a slob and my weight stays the same. Oh...the exact same...oh as the past few days..down to the decimal...Uhmmm yeah, something is not right.

So I change the battery. Yup, confirmed, fuzzy numbers.

After the battery was changed out, my weight was attempted again for a REAL check in.

1?2.4 lbs. My reaction? Ah ok, so still not so bad, but I have inched upwards again. Time to reel it all back in.

My biopsy site has been un-bandgaged and un steri-stripped for a few days. Looks like my hesitation was right as I did pull it back open reaching for something. It is currently re-bandaged and under a neosporin protective shield. Hopefully as the weather gets nicer again next week and we have no school and dance I can work some calories off and get back on the track to a svelte and total babe bod! (lol, well ok maybe not quite that, but at least 7 lbs down before summer clothes come out).

People

I have been meaning to write this for a while now. We all know how diligent a blogger I am....

In my short career as a Preschool Mom, I have observed some things. It all revolves around the way people drive...

1st of all, it is amazing how quickly people drive past the school and in and out of the parking lot. Apparently that the motivation behind this is only about themselves and their kid. Can you imagine how it would be if that same parent (flooring it into the lot and scraping chassis as they do the speed bumps) slammed into someone-just to get THE parking spot and avoid the tardy slip? I somehow missed this part of the school scene when I was teaching. I certainly passed my share of tardy slips out....but never saw the parking lot scene. It is jaw dropping to me, even several months in. I am there twice a day for dropoff and pick up and the scene is the same.

2nd, there is a certain grandparent that drives me completely bonkers. I just smile and nod....not worth saying anything and making waves. He is one of those guys that ekes total machismo swagger. How obnoxious...I am thankful I am not married to him for that many years of his marriage. He drives in BACKWARDS into the lot, waiting even on the side for the cars with right of way to pass and give him room. Parks in the handicap spaces-which is awful considering our preschool is integrated with special ed kids whose parents probably DO have placards. He leaves the MAN car (yes it's some version of a quasi cop american made sedate sedan) running in the middle of the lot, blocking in others. When someone says anything he puffs up his sagging ex weightlifter's chest over his paunchy belly and replies, "Well tell them to come talk to me, heh heh heh". He lingers after drop off to chat with my friend and I, as if he is one of the girls, but the convo is condescending and centralized on him. We now have taken to walking to one of our cars (not parked in the lot and usually not close to the front) to get away from him. Creepy it is that he HAS to watch the kids enter completely in the building. He cannot accept that the teachers can and will get the class (particularily his grandbaby) without failure.

I figure we have a few more weeks of this year's preschool experience and then come August we will start up again. Take a break and then come back ready to smile and nod and scream inside my head. These types make me crazy-I am typically a rule follower except when I feel obstinate-often...lol. I do follow the rules that are basic and logical, the ones that allow for order of the people and whatnot. The complete disregard for others is what rubs badly to me. I really try to make my circle wide enough to not cause problems for others, to not make waves in their lives. I teach this to my girls, and I had to teach enough ill prepared children in my career that th world DOES NOT revolve solely around them. The fact that he is so blatant about it and then talks himself up like the king of all is vomit inducing....

Just smile and nod...make small talk and run along....thus is the introduction to my life with school aged children.

The Story of A Scary Mole

Once upon a time, there was a Fair Maiden. She was not sun shy and approximately once a year, obtained a sunburn. Much to her dismay, she saw a mark. It was a black mark, similar to a tattoo located on her lower back. Over the course of the next year, she observed it...noting its size, color and changes. At some point she deemed it necessary to seek the advice of a medical professional....

She went in for her appointment, and went away missing a part of her body. The scary mole was taken off of her and kept for further studying.

A week went by...as her back healed her brain kept thinking up the possibilities.

Finally, with her courage bolstered, she put in a call for the results. Much to her delight, the results proved to be heart lifting!

Yes, folks I am the fair maiden and my scary mole is for naught. I can be thankful that the biopsy came back with a benign result. Apparently, they think it is a birth mark that has begun changing hormonally. It had its own blood source and was growing cells and pushing outward. The nurse today told me that I was free and clear-no Melanoma. YAY!

Lesson learned? I can be doing more to prevent situations like this. There are so many unpreventable illnesses and diseases, and for melanoma (skin cancer), all I need to do is wear my sunscreen and prevent sunburns. Hopefully, I can get through this upcoming summer season without a sunburn. AND I can commit to keeping my daughters protected.

Ain't no idle hands here...

At least I can say I have been busy. No mental ruts, no hormonal emotional outbursts, just plain ole busy.

After Elly's Tinkerbell party, we were again gearing up. We have had the arrival of my newest responsibility, Baby Girl R. I will be watching her for a few days a month while Mommy teaches nearby and Daddy works out of state. That in itself has been an adjustment for all of us. Next, we were setting up for the girls' double birthday party. Jose and I thought it would be kind to our friends and family to only put on one party for the both, since their birthdays are about 3 weeks apart. That was Saturday. Now, a 1/2 week later, I have a minute to post on the blog!

Next we have some Easter celebrations and 1 more birthday party! Whew!