Where's Donald Trump?

We have been finishing our basement. We started around the end of November and tomorrow it will be March. The sheet rock is up, but they won't come to "mud n' tape" until Monday. Jeff's brother has been doing most of the work and things have been going pretty well. That is until yesterday. We had another company come in and help out with the last bit of the sheet rocking (is that even a word??). Anyway, yesterday the two fellows who came over to do the work were really odd. They poured a bunch of water into the cat food, drank some of the soda from the food storage, and used some of our equipment without asking first...it really freaked me out so I made Jeff call their boss. They will not be coming back. Thank goodness. Despite that, I barely slept last night because I kept wondering if they had been wandering through my house while I was gone--aauuggh. I am creeped out. I just got that feeling from them that if I hadn't been home yesterday they would have helped themselves to whatever was in the fridge. It sounds crazy, but it's true. Oh, and the cats were totally put out that their food was floating in some guys old drink--so gross!!

In other news, Lachlan said the word cow. She used to only identify animals by their sounds, but we broke through a language barrier last week with, "cow". Just all of a sudden- I didn't even have to prompt her. She also now identifies all clothing as "tights". Apparently, pantyhose have made a huge impression. I think all women at some point can refer to some of their clothing as "tights". ha.ha.ha. I have some pants that I used to wear before Jack and I'm confident that if I put them on they would look like "tights". She also offered up one of my most humiliating moments this week. I went to the pharmacy to pick up some medications. While standing at the counter giving my info for the insurance company she grabbed onto the counter and lifted her chin over the top. When she made eye contact with the clerk she stated loud and clear, "Fries, Fries, Fries". What? Auuggh? I couldn't believe it! I was instantly one of those parents whose children spent so much time eating fast food that they just assumed that you can get fries at any service counter. Does this make me a complete hypocrite?

Jack ate a handful of last fall's Box Elder Beetles that died in the windowsill. I was totally grossed out, but then I discovered that he had shoved an orange crayon (bright orange) into the slots of Lachlan's space heater and turned it on high. By the time Jeff fished out the crayon the only thing left was the wrapper. The color contents had melted into a giant drippy orange mess on the carpet. It was bad. Real bad. I considered just cutting out an entire section of carpet, but then remembered that I had read in a Martha Stewart Magazine about how she got candle wax off her linen tablecloths. I got out the paper towels and an iron and pressed the iron on top of the towels (which were on top of the crayon). A half roll of paper towels later the wax was gone, BUT the orange stain had grown to the size of a basketball on the carpet. AND IT WAS ORANGE! So I did what every parent does when faced with a stain like that...I sprayed it with so much stain remover that I had to open a window to keep from getting poisoned. Okay, here's a product plug. I used that Oxy stain remover and I just kept blotting it out with an old towel and it worked! There is a slight tinge of orange left on that spot of carpet, but I think that once I get my carpet cleaner on it it will disappear forever. I don't know whether it was a miracle, luck or just elbow grease--what I do know is that Jack will not hold another crayon until he gets to elementary school. Oh, and Jack also got a big boy haircut. It looks really cute except that it is spiky on top and he doesn't look like an angelic baby anymore, he looks like the mischievous little bug eating, crayon melter, "i'm going to crawl down these stairs", kind of kid that he has become. Jeff said that it made him look like a different kid. I had to agree. It made me kind of sad that I did it so short

(5 minutes later) Um, nevermind that. I just caught him eating cat food at the bottom of the stairs holding a handful of sheet rock screws.

I'm Ready...

It is snowing again today. I want you to know that I can believe it--I just wish that I didn't have to. I literally still have at least 41/2 feet of snow in my yard. The driveway got shoveled kind of narrow this year and so every time I back out I get nervous that I am going to back into the frozen wall. I'm not saying that I don't know how to back up, I'm saying that I forget that it is so stinkin' narrow that I will do it because I am not thinking about how there is still a 6 foot wall of crusty debris piled out front. I know that the realists will be saying, "get over it, it is still February"...but honestly, this year it really feels like we will be frozen forever. The sun, well, it's gone, and the air is very thick with pollution. It is seriously depressing in this valley lately.

As for the kids, I told Lachlan that we were going to run some errands and she said, "Oh, yeah!" Like her little kid self was just ready to curl up and pass away with the ordinariness of our days. We haven't been going out much because of the pollution and Jack's asthma so it has been pretty dull to say the least. She did say something fairly prophetic though, she was reading Dr. Seuss' "The Foot Book", which basically recites the following text: Left foot, right foot, feet, feet, feet. How many, many feet you meet. Up foot, down foot, wet foot, dry foot...you get the general gist of the material. There is the greatest page with this big hairy creature and the text reads: Fuzzy, fuzzy fur feet. When she got to that page she looked up at me and said with all seriousness said, "Oh, (pause) dad" and pointed to the hairy creature. And then she nodded with her own acknowledgement. Now I'm not saying that a complete dolt couldn't tell that Jeff has his own fur suit, but to make the connection with a book? That has got to account for some level of increased intelligence.

Oh, and before I forget. A big congratulations to our friends, Bret and Lisa Holman. They had their triplets on Tuesday. Everyone is doing well. Jeff and I laughed because Bret said that they haven't had time to even eat! I can't even imagine. They have to be fed every three hours and then it takes and hour and a half to feed them and change them and then they have to pump and get ready for the next feeding...holy crap, it is so hard with just one baby (or two). I has to be a huge relief that they will be at the hospital for another couple of weeks--at least there you can tell a nurse to fill in while you take a nap. Wow. I can't wait to see them.

A Full Recovery

Jack is doing much better. He has finished the antibiotics and one of his steriod treatments. I actually didn't even get him up in the night for one of his asthma treatments--he was sleeping so soundly that I just couldn't do it. Yeah, I'm not going to mention that to Dr. V, but it didn't seem to hurt him. He is back to running around, head-butting his sister. He does sit down and have a breather when he gets too wound up. It makes him tired and winded pretty quickly. I think that this will continue to improve over the next week. If we can get through this week, we'll be in the clear. He still has a pretty good cough and runny nose and I really want to see that go for good.

Okay, so I never thought that I would say this, but I joined the Disney Movie Club. aauuggh. Yeah, it's basically a throwback to the old Columbia House and BMG that we all belonged to in the early 90s. I got 5 Disney movies for $30! That is a screamin' deal. I can't believe what they usually cost--even at Wal-Star. We don't own any because I can't bring myself to pay $20 for a DVD??!! Come on, already. Also, my kids don't watch television. They won't...I've tried to get them to watch the basics, Sesame Street, Barney, Wiggles, WonderPets--there was a time when we first got L that she liked to watch the Baby Einstein animal series, but it was short-lived.

Now, when the kids go to Aunt Susie's house they catch glimpses of Dora and Diego and Disney movies...the TV is always on because Sierra loves it as much as her mother. I watch Suz accomplish major tasks while her daughter sits nearly comatose on the couch watching a talking backpack...hum, there is a fine line here...I like that my children would rather read a book than watch TV, BUT oh, holy lovely day, if they would just watch a 30-minute show while I got something finished! So, I am plugging in Cinderella and just having L and J watch the songs and the dancing. Jeff and I really play it up and have them dance along to the music. They dig it, but as soon as the songs are over they want to "Get down" and then they run away. Oh, and L told me that the Sea Witch in Little Mermaid was too scary. You win some, and you lose some.

The good news is that I only order the movies that I like and it has been fun to watch them again. I generally don't do cartoons, but how can you not love Blackbeard's Ghost? At any rate, the marketing people at Disney will be wondering what a 30-something lady is doing with her life when she is continually ordering hits like, "The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit," "Flubber," "Snowball Express," and "Thomasina." Oh, and P.S. there will be no Old Yeller in this house, oh, and no Bambi either. Two of the worst animal movies ever made--I really don't need to explain why Yeller doesn't come back from the corn crib and Bambi's mom's head is hanging in some living room. Yeah, we're going to stick to mice that sew dresses and cats that sing the blues in this house.

Some Animals Sleep Standing Up

I'm tired. It has been a long week. I thought that Jack's infection was getting better, but on Monday morning he had another runny/stuffy nose. Monday night he coughed all night long. Tuesday morning he was very congested and I knew that he didn't feel well so I stayed home from work in the morning. By the afternoon, he seemed tired so I laid him down for his nap and called a neighbor over to watch the kids while I ran to the office for a couple of hours. When I returned, he was still asleep. I could tell that he was getting worse and he also started running a fever. He wouldn't eat any dinner and he didn't want a bath so I knew that he was very sick. Jeff and I finally took him to the ER around 7PM.

They immediately put him on oxygen and put in an IV for some antibiotics and hydration. They retested for RSV and pneumonia, which meant more sinus flushings and chest X-Rays. The initial tests showed that he had pneumonia in his right lung and fluid in his left, probably caused by asthmatic inflamation. They admitted us and started to run some blood work to see if he had another specific bacterial infection. It was so scary because by this point he was just listless and he just laid there- it was all I could do to keep from bawling in front of the hospital staff. Once we got up to his room in Pediatrics it was a little bit easier because they have some great nurses who really slow everything down and help you to feel like everything will be alright. I stayed overnight with him and Jeff went home to get some rest. A MILLION thanks to Shari for taking Lachlan. At least half of those thank yous are from L directly because it is her dream to come and live permanently at your house (the Land of Oz).

These are some pictures of him on Wednesday morning. He looked so much better. He was still very wheezy and congested, but he was hungry and ate a whole yogurt and some Fruit Loops. The hardest part of being in a hospital with a young child is trying to get them to understand that they can't get down and move around. So you hold them, you rock them, you walk them around in a circle and then you both take a nap...except that you only sleep for a few moments until they set off an alarm and you sit up to make sure that they are still okay.

By Wednesday night, Jeff comes to stay and Jack is feeling better (and he is glad to see his daddy!) I went home to get some sleep and Jeff took the night shift. It was a long night for him because they took Jack off of the oxygen and came in to check on him every hour, which is great, except that Jeff had a really long night and he looked pretty rough when I got there on Thursday morning. Dr. V let us go home on Thursday morning. Jack has to be treated with antibiotics and steriods for the next three days, including his twice a day respiratory treatments and a supplemental asthma treatment every six hours. The asthma treatments will probably continue until spring....sigh....spring?? What's that? Winter is just getting started.

So now here we are, celebrating another holiday weekend inside the house. Jeff took the day off work. It's mostly because I had a complete meltdown last night. I don't do very well when I am tired and stressed out. Fortunately, we have great friends who have been taking care of us with meals and shoveling our driveway and such....

We are missing the big Chinese New Year Celebration tonight. (One of the things I cried about yesterday) I had planned to get Lachlan all dressed up--Next Year! Family members you better get ready because you are all going next year--no excuses.

Thanks, Becca

Okay, so I harassed you enough...seriously, it was worth it because Bruce already had one started! I love you for finally asking for the password. (Check out the new link to Hatch Adventures) I can't believe how much Kiki has grown! I'm sorry that you have suffered from the Rubella syndrome- we dodged that bullet, but ended up with RSV/Pneumonia/Undiagnosed Respiratory Illness/Possible Asthma Problems with Jack for the last 10 days. I took him to the doctor when I thought that he wasn't getting any oxygen and he couldn't stop coughing. I thought that maybe I could score on some cough syrup with Codeine. Well, they didn't want to give me that, but they sent me home with a respirator and some "open-up your airways" medication. It actually worked really well. I'm hoping that he isn't a lifelong asthmatic (thank you to the Logan Valley with the worst winter air in the nation). The only bad part is that you have to put a mask on him and have him breathe in the medication which takes about 15-20 minutes. I'm not going to kid you, holding him still, not always as easy as it sounds. Lachlan was totally distraught while he cried with that mask on-she thought I was trying to kill him. She cried and pointed to him and tried to pull the mask out of my hand. I finally let her wear the mask so that she could see that I wasn't performing some kind of George Bush "define torture" maneuver. At any rate, we are making a fine recovery. Oh, and I know that I look terrible in this picture, sick kids...it's a bad deal.



The cats are off to the vet today. They are getting their teeth cleaned. Tabby cats (and apparently fat gray hybrids) are prone to dental disease. The vet tells me that the $$$ I spend now will pay off later because I won't have to buy canned food for them after their teeth rot and fall out. Yeah, I'm doing my part, but I'm telling you folks-even this animal lover has her limits. I will not be spooning soft noodles into these ungrateful mouths anytime soon. I'm afraid that these boys will have to learn to gum their food or starve. And in all seriousness, if you have ever seen how my mother's cats survive in their desolate condition you will know that these spoiled paws will probably outlive Jeff and I.

Here are some pictures from the rest of the week's activities:
Pushing Ernie in the grocery cart sounds like a good idea, unfortunately chaos and heartbreak were the only remains of this adventure. Jack got a turn first because he thought of the idea, but Lachlan bawled when Ernie decided that he had had enough and wouldn't get back in when she wanted to push it. Honestly, I feel that Ernie was getting some direct revelation concerning the status of his immediate health. Lachlan has a tendency to ram the cart into stuff to change direction. It can be quite a case of whiplash for the dolls and other unlucky passengers.

Okay, despite what I just said, I figured if I helped her turn the cart...why not let her push her brother??

Jack's a good passenger. I should have given Lachlan a weight belt so that she doesn't get a hernia. It was like watching an ant carry its own body weight.

Yeah, I dressed the kids like this on purpose. This is what they wore to church on Sunday. The older folks and people who shop at Christopher and Banks thought it was "so dang cute!" I got these outfits from a few good friends in the South. I figured that they must have cost a fortune and that I better get some use out of them before they won't fit.

I went to put this on Lola and she said, "Quack, Quack,"- yup, mama's making you wear ducks.

Anybody else sick of shoveling snow?? Our piles along the driveway are over 5 feet tall-I can't throw the snow anymore so this is a picture of the kids watching Jeff shovel before he goes to work. Yeah, it's very dark outside.

Remember the prunes I bought...oh, boy, kids love 'em.

Fritz takes a bath in the "Thunder Tube"
Lachlan yells, "No, no, no, " "MINE!"

A trip night skiing at Beaver Mountain. We didn't actually get to ski because Jeff shoved Lachlan off the hill on the Thunder Tube and she bounced on her head....so much for that.

A Mom's Night Out

Suz and I visit Maceys while Jeff watches the kids.

Me: Oh, man, kidney beans are on sale. I better get a case.

Suz: What?

Me: Oh, look and black beans too, better get a case of both.

Suz: Sheesh, look here, stewed tomatoes. Sweet.

Suz: Oh, Rose, these are individually wrapped prunes. They are awesome!

Me: You've got to be kidding me.

Suz: Seriously, they taste just like a piece of candy!

Me: Well, shoot, they're on sale. I'll get two of them.

Suz: Open one of them now and try it.

Me: No way, we're in Maceys.

Suz: I want to see the look on your face when you eat it.

Me: (laughing) Isn't that a line from a movie?

Suz: Yeah, but we are talking about eating a prune and pretending that it is candy. And you have two cases of beans in your cart.

Working On It...

Just before noon on Friday:

I was in checking on my web shmuck (he will remain nameless for now), but essentially I work with this dude. Let's just say things have not been getting done. Jack was asleep. Lachlan playing with her toys (which means she was taking the pants off her doll). I am concentrating on diplomacy and efficiency with the dude. I have been working for about 20 minutes when L comes running into the room and says, "Mama, wa wa....me shoo, too be" Translation: Mom, look I have been doing my hair! I notice that indeed, the girl has been in there working on it. It is wetted down, make that, heavily wetted down. And combed down flat to her head (think Mr. Gilson 7th grade science teacher style). She is so proud of this that I say, "Wow, you have been in there working on it--and you even used the water from your sippy cup to help!"

I pat myself on the back for being supportive.

Fast Forward

Late Afternoon on Tuesday:

I am trying to get the dishes done, dinner fixed. Jack is in his high chair, whining for more food. Lachlan is playing in the living room (taking pants off of her doll). I have been absorbed in crisis management, but I sense disaster..."Lachlan, where are you?" no answer. I find her out on the ledge of our stairway. She has the cat's water bowl in her hands and it appears that she is pouring it on the stairs below. "What the hell? Immediate time out!" She promptly rushes to her room. I follow behind and close the door. Five minutes later I head in there to talk about how dangerous it is for her to be out on that ledge (think: do you want to fall and break your neck??)

Following all of the good discipline techniques I crouch down and look into her eyes, "L, you can't get out there on that ledge with the cat's water.....?" pause, silence and I notice that her hair has "been worked on" in the course of about two seconds my mind drafts together the realization that she has been "doing" her hair by dipping her head in the cat's water. She wasn't out on the ledge pouring the water onto the stairs, she was "workin' on her hair."

Still silence in the room, until I have to stand up slowly without saying anything else and walk out of the room to laugh out loud.

Note to self:

1) At least she wasn't drinking it.

2) It could have been worse (i.e., toilet water)

3) Own hygiene is not what it used to be- personal hairdo maybe looks similar.

Truer Words Were Ne'er Spoken...

Andy Rooney generally gets it right, but this time he knocked it out of the park!
The following is his latest excerpt from 60 Minutes.

60 Minutes Correspondent Andy Rooney (CBS)

As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.
If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.
Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated. Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.
Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart. Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off that you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year oldwaitress.
Ladies, I apologize.
For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?", here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!

From Scratch...

I took the time to make Jack's birthday cake from scratch. Oh, I had forgotten why it can be worth the effort. It was a beautiful three-layer yellow and dark chocolate delicacy (if I do say so myself...and I do because I ate two pieces). Jack climbed up on the counter while I was finishing the dishes and ate part of his 3-layer "baby cake" before it was even frosted. I created a cute slideshow of his party so make sure to check it out.

We had such a good time celebrating. I finally made something that everyone liked (hard to please this crowd)...philly cheese steak sandwiches. I was inspired by Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I am addicted to that show. It makes me salivate before I've even clicked on the new episodes. The only thing I will do differently with this menu is to add homemade onion rings next time...I can hardly wait.