Morning sickness
This is depressing, especially given that the mom-to-be wasn’t told there was anything that could be done to help her extreme morning sickness, also known as hyperemesis gravidarum. I went through this with Mikaela and I spent 3 months on a drug called Zofran, and it worked wonders.
Thunderstorm
I took a shower this morning while a storm was raging outside. And contrary to what my mother always told me, I did not die.
Seriously, while I was growing up, every time it stormed, my mother acted like I had a 95% chance of dying if I used water or the phone. I guess that’s what moms do, exaggerate danger so your kids will take it seriously.
Politics
Jay and I watched “Man of the Year” tonight through movies on demand (on behalf of all lazy people, I’d like to thank the creator of on-demand programming …)
It was a great movie, and it got me to thinking: why can’t we have a serious, viable, I’m-not-playing-by-the-rules independent presidential candidate? I mean, really, American politics at the federal and state level have turned into a mockery.
For one thing, why are we not demanding campaign finance reform? Does any of us really think that a politician can take campaign donations and then not owe that person or organization special favors or considerations?
I’m ready for a major change, and that doesn’t necessarily mean I want to vote a democrat in. I wish we could just wipe the slate clean, send all current Washington pols to an early retirement, and start over with a group of people who are uncorrupted by money and power.
Lofty notions, I know.
Today
The Legislature adjourned sine die tonight, and I took Jay out to celebrate all his hard work. We (and the kids) went to an Austin-area restaurant for dinner. We sat on the patio and very soon after our order was placed, it started to rain. So, we moved inside. We asked our server where we could sit and he said “in the bar.” Okay, sure, let me just plop my two-year-old up there on a barstool. Yeah, she’ll have a jack and coke – and can you put a lid on that?
Obviously, I wasn’t happy with sitting in the bar with my kids, so I went to the hostess’ stand and explained the situation briefly. She looked at me like I was speaking Chinese. You’d think someone sometime had asked to move to another table at that restaurant? Anyway, we finally got seated and had a nice meal.
After working late nights last week, all weekend and today (Memorial Day), Jay has tomorrow off. I’m so excited. I really hope we can get out and do something fun.
Long weekend
… But it’s not what you think. This weekend has seemed awful long because my husband has been working long hours all weekend up at the TX capitol, as this year’s legislative session grinds to a close.
Jay even has to work tomorrow, on Memorial Day. The good thing is he’s racking up “comp” time, so sometime later this summer, he’ll have plenty of time to take off.
Anyway, Jay’s up there and I’m here with the kids, and bored out of my mind. We’re down to one car and he has it. I considered dropping him off at work, but that would just be a waste of gas, and I’d have to drag the kids out of bed when it’s time to go pick him up … so, I’m sitting here and twiddling. I guess I should get on one of my several half-finished knitting projects. Or I could clean the house (snort).
Cars, Weather
We sold the car. Not for as much as I wanted, but at least it’s gone.
The NOAA weather radio sitting about two feet away just went off for yet another flash flood warning. I think they’re a little over-zealous with flood warnings. They issue one almost every time it rains. I’ve lived here 2 years and I’ve yet to see a flash flood.
Wish me luck
Someone’s coming to look at my “broken” car today. I hope I can get $1000 out of it.
I’ve been working most of the day vacuuming it out, dusting all the surfaces, steam-cleaning the carpets and seats, and washing the exterior. I am officially old and out of shape. I think I might not be able to move tomorrow.
Anyway, hope the guy buys it for what I want to sell it for …
Cute update
The other day, Mikaela and I were in the kitchen. Suddenly, she darted off towards her room. Halfway there, she ran back to tell me “I be wite back!” Before running off again.
I carried Mikaela outside the other night to show her one of the little lizards living on our back porch. She pointed to it and exclaimed “fwog!” (Frog) Close, but not quite. 
Today, Gabriel and I were in the car, headed to the library. When I told him where we were going, he said, “I no wan’ go bi-brary, mama! I wan’ go read book!”
Also on the way to the library, I overheard him singing “If you’re happy and you know it.” The lyrics were mostly unintelligible, but the tune was pretty dead-on. That kid’s going to be a musician.
Tonight while he was lying in bed, trying to think of an excuse to not sleep, he called me and said, “Mama, I tur-sty (thirsty). I have a cough” Followed by a very fake-sounding cough.
Well, bribery has paid off … Gabriel is doing VERY well with the potty training. Now if I could get him to do something other than peepee in the potty, we’d be golden.
Confession
I read Reader’s Digest. I have since I was a child, back when I’d read “Laughter, the Best Medicine” and puzzle at the punchlines (because, you know, they’re so deep).
I guess I’m in denial, though, because I can’t bring myself to get a subscription. Yet, every time I see the new issue on the magazine stand, I think “ooh!” like a kid in a candy store.
Okay, I’m officially old and boring.
Aaaaaahhhhh
It feels so refreshing to be finished with a big project.
I still have some ongoing work to do, but I’m finished with the biggest part of it – what a relief.
So, this work was due Monday, and I didn’t finish it until 3 am Monday morning. After getting the equivalent of a nap, I got up and went to my friend Christin’s house to run her in-home daycare for the day while she was traveling. Besides my kids, I was watching a 2 1/2-year-old girl and 2-year-old twin boys. The twins were only there part of the day. So, I had 4 2-year-olds and a 3-year-old. You know what I discovered? I don’t think I’m cut out for childcare. I mean, everything went fairly okay, but naptime was extremely difficult – for a whole hour, I had to keep telling the kids to lay down and close their eyes.
So after a long day, I came home and went to sleep when my kids went to bed at 9 pm. I had a very strange dream last night. I dreamt that I was in my car, speeding along on the highway, and the police started to follow me. I quickly turned into a crowded restaurant and went inside. I sat down at a table with some complete strangers and tried to blend in, but the police found me and hauled me off. They took me to some kind of a jail for women, and I was told I couldn’t get my paperwork processed to get out for two weeks. I kept crying because I wanted to go home and see my kids. It was such a vivid dream, when I woke up this morning, I said, “Oh, thank God!”
I feel like I should be working. I guess I’ll go clean the house or something.
I finished
I finally finished my *THUNK* (sound of head hitting keyboard)
zzzzzzz …..
Ew
Gabriel had just finished going potty today and ran off before I could get his pants back on him (yes, he still needs help getting dressed. Yes, I know he’s behind.)
So, he ran around half-dressed while I helped Mikaela on the potty. While I was in the bathroom with her, Gabriel walked by the door, scratching his butt with a plastic dinosaur. Kids think of interesting uses for everyday objects, don’t they?
That made me think – there’s no telling what they’ve done with those toys while I’ve had my head turned. I think I’ll go Lysol them now.
Cry for help
I’ve had an obscene amount of Dr Pepper today. Let me count … 99 ounces. Seriously.
I feel sick and my heart is fluttering. WHY do I do this to myself?
I need an intervention or something.
Evil
Yesterday we got about a dozen calls on our digital phone. We get nothing but sales calls on that line, since I haven’t given that number out to anyone.
So the last time that phone rang, I picked the phone up and handed it directly to Mikaela. She jabbered happily while the exasperated sales person asked her to give the phone to her mommy.
I think I’m going to let Mikaela answer all my sales calls from now on. Let’s see how fast they stop calling.
Thankful
I’m too tired to write, so I’ll blog. 
As I said in an earlier blog, I went to the oncologist yesterday for a checkup. I took Mikaela with me.
On my way to the exam room, I walked past a long row of patients in recliners receiving chemo treatments there in the office. That always creeps me out, I guess because I know that if they hadn’t caught my cancer early, that would have been me. Chemo seems like a fate worse than death, but then again, I don’t know that from firsthand experience. Point is, they all looked really frail and it made me sad, yet thankful that I am not having to go through that myself.
When I got into the exam room, I realized Mikaela had pooped, and I didn’t have a diaper with me (I almost always bring diapers). Murphy’s law. So, I flag down a nurse and ask her if they happened to have a diaper stashed anywhere. They had an adult one. We cut it down, but it still wrapped around her almost twice. That was interesting, but it did the trick. That’ll teach me to forget diapers!
When my doctor came in, she was quite wonderful – the most personable oncologist I’ve ever met. She was very nice and understanding, and spent about 30 minutes talking with me. (I’ll bet my bill is going to be ungodly.) While we talked, Mikaela busied herself scribbling on the leather stool with a pen (that the doctor gave her). When the doctor saw what she’d done, she told me not to worry – the only thing they ever stress over is chemo spills.
Next I went to the lab. Several nurses came by, saying “we hear there’s a little one here!” The nurses entertained her while I had my blood drawn. Honestly, between the nurses and the other patients there, I’ll bet 20 different people told me that she was “so adorable.” Amidst all the praise, she just smirked and cocked her head, like “I know.”
I am glad I took her and that she could brighten someone’s day. Oncology offices are not usually happy places.
While I was getting checked out, I overheard a conversation between a mom and her very frail-looking teenage son: “Just think! Six WHOLE months until your next doctor’s appointment!”
Talk about gut-wrenching.
So, our car broke down several days ago and we just found out yesterday that it was a blown head gasket. On top of about $2000 in other repairs that need to be made. The car is old and not worth fixing, so now we’re down to one car.
But you know what? Our family is relatively healthy, we have a house, food and clothes … and many, many blessings that we don’t really even “need.” So, I’m not going to complain.
So long, farewell …
The end of the Texas legislative session, otherwise known as sine die (Pronounced ’round these parts like ‘SIGH-nee-dye’) approacheth.
I want to amend the Wikipedia page to include this definition: “Day on which Texas Legislature Adjourns, Everyone Throws a Huge Party and Gets Drunk.”
Your tax dollars at work.
Pet Peeve #643
I don’t like it when people use the word “plethora.” It just sounds like they’re trying too hard.
Deadline Hell
… I’m in it. I need the work badly, but I could do without the stress. I guess that’s self-imposed, though.
I am longing to blog – I have so much to say, but I have a HUGE freelance project due Friday, then I’m running a friend’s home daycare center all day on Friday and again on Monday. I’m in a near state of hysteria over my deadline, so I’ll have to wait until I’m done to blog at length.
One piece of good news warrants this post: I went to the Oncologist (Cancer doctor) for my yearly follow-up checkup yesterday. The bloodwork is already back and it is “excellent,” according to my doc. That’s always great news.
More soon, if my head doesn’t explode.
A futile exercise
I’ve been struggling to work (I’m doing a freelance writing project for a magazine publisher) today, trying hard to coax a college-level vocabulary out of my tired brain. I really do think having kids makes your IQ drop. Not that I regret it in the least …
But I guess all those hours of kiddie TV have finally caught up with me. I could be a poster child for a new PSA-type commercial: This is your brain …. this is your brain on ELMO!
Today
Today is both mother’s day and our 7th wedding anniversary. Jay made me a very nice breakfast this morning, and got the kids to tell me ‘happy mother’s day.’ Very sweet.
Jay is at church right now with the kids and I’m about to pass out from lack of sleep. I really wish I could take Lunesta or something (sleeping pills), because I frequently have major trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. But, I don’t really want to take anything that would incapacitate me if the kids needed me in the middle of the night. Man, people who sleep well don’t realize how sleep problems can affect your quality of life. Some days I walk around feeling like I’m in a fog. Caffiene helps, but it can only do so much.
Speaking of lack of sleep, I just talked to my sister-in-law, to wish her happy mother’s day (her baby will be 1 week old tomorrow). I can hardly remember those days with my kids … it’s all such a blur. For those first few weeks, you just stagger around and hope you’re slapping the diaper on the right end. Those days seem long when you’re going through them, but oh, how time flies. My kids’ innocent baby days are long gone.
I often wonder if we’ll ever have another baby. I regret pressuring Jay into getting things … uh … ‘taken care of’ when Mikaela was just a few months old. I guess if God wants us to have another one, somehow, He’ll make a way.
Boston Pops Brawl
Re: the fight that broke out at a performance by the Boston Pops this week:
I know this is old news by now, but I haven’t commented on it because I’ve been so busy this week with freelance work.
But, does it concern anyone else that the high society crowd is looking like an episode of the Jerry Springer show? That can’t be a good sign for our society, as a whole.
Early mother’s day present
We’re giving the kids prizes when they go potty now. I always said I’d never resort to bribery, but at this point, I’ll try it! Gabriel will be four in October, and it’s high time that child learned. (we’ve tried to potty train him repeatedly, but he hasn’t been ready yet. I’ve wondered if this is something to be really concerned about, developmentally speaking. But, that’s another post.)
Augh!
My children continue to give me gray hair with their mispronounciations that sound like bad words.
Today, Mikaela tried to say clock. Let’s just say I’m not going to be talking about time again any time soon!
Gabriel made me laugh today. After he got out of preschool, I headed for the library so the kids could get some books. As we passed the local supermarket, Gabriel said “Goba – chew!” repeatedly.
At first, I had no idea what he was saying – Garbage Truck?
Then, I figured it out from the context, since we were driving right by it.
“Oh, GROCERY STORE?”
“Yeah, Goba-chew!” He replied.
I said, “baby, why do you want to go to the grocery store?”
“Because I firsty (thirsty)!”
That’s an odd thing I’ve recognized about his speech. He tends to end things he can’t pronounce with a “jew” or a “chew” sound, even if it’s not even remotely close to the way the word is supposed to sound. Helicopter is “ha-chew-chew.” Tricycle is “Tri-jew.” I’m sure there’s more, but those are the first things that come to mind.
I feel like a detective trying to figure out what he’s saying to me every day. Oh, I hope he’s “caught up” by the time he starts first grade.
Why you should definitely have kids
I was in the car with the kids yesterday, when a Stone Temple Pilots song came on the radio.
Gabriel piped up from the backseat, “wock and woll, mama, wock and woll!”
Okay, I lied
Well, not completely. I don’t mentally edit e-mails, but if your craigslist post looks like THIS:
figerator needs repair , imagin your self in the most cofetable rv in the world built to last with aluminum shell high quality new tires , this is steal for this price its a 1980 traver trailer that has beutiful wood design, if u come to look im scared you will fall in love, if a fix me up but at a resonable price pics tell all
…… need I say more?
Spelling and grammar
I am an editor. I’ve been working on a mostly freelance basis (when I’ve worked at all) since having kids, but this is my profession.
I’ve noticed that friends and family members have remarked about their emails not being spell-checked or gramatically correct. Please let me assure you, I don’t mentally grade emails. I don’t even really make much of an effort myself when I email or even when I write in this blog. It’s informal, and I don’t want it to sound stiff and scripted. Sometimes bad grammar just “flows” better.
For the Birds
Some finches have built a nest above our garage. When I went out to the driveway earlier to put the kids in the van, one finch stood sentry atop the garage, chirping at me with its feathers puffed out. I guess it was trying to look ferocious to scare me off.
She’s here!
My niece was born about 30 minutes ago, a healthy baby girl. Her name is Lucille Joy (Lucy). I know she’s 7 lbs., 5 oz., but I don’t know any other stats yet.
Congrats Tracy and Glen!!!
I want a pony! No, wait …
I want one of these. This is a Scottish Highland Cow. Isn’t it cuuuuute?!?! I want to jump into the picture and pet it on it’s scraggly little head!
It’s late and I’m caffienated
Too much Dr. Pepper too late.
So, I know I’m being totally ridiculous, but I’ve been thinking about baby names. If Mikaela had been a boy, she would have been Elijah McWhorter (my maiden name as a middle name … would’ve been a way to pay homage to my Scotch/Irish heritage.)
I guess we’d keep that one if we ever had another boy. As far as girl names, I like Janel, Lilly, Eva and Hannah. I like Emma, too, but that one’s a little too popular for me to choose it. It’s like the “Jennifer” of this generation.
Girl stuff
I’ve never been an overly girly girl. Especially ever since becoming a mother, any semblance of a “beauty” routine has fallen by the wayside.
Babies
My pregnant sister-in-law and her husband are going to the hospital to be induced tomorrow morning. Say a prayer for a safe birth and a healthy baby! I’ll keep you posted on her stats and her name, which hasn’t been revealed to us yet. I’m so excited!
Speaking of babies, I have the ongoing baby bug myself. I asked Gabriel today if he wanted a baby brother and he said “no, no baby bruddaw.”
I really shouldn’t bring another child into the world, because that would make Mikaela a middle child. Not a pretty thought. Also, for the theoretical new baby’s sake, it wouldn’t be good, because I guarantee that Mikaela would make his/her life miserable. At least until Jay and I can convince her she’s NOT a princess.
I’m old
Something just occured to me. My oldest niece is about to turn 21. She’ll probably marry her longtime boyfriend in the next couple of years. And I’m assuming they’ll have kids at some point … and you know what that will make me? A GREAT AUNT!
I’m going to go start pricing walkers and dentures now.
Sick and twisted
So today’s a big weather day in the plains. There are two tornadoes on the ground as I type this, according to NOAA.
I’m a complete weather dork. I’m always checking weather.com, noaa.gov and weatherbug.com. I’m not exactly a meterologist, but I know enough about it to carry on an intelligent conversation.
I would love to be a trained weather spotter. But, here’s what’s strange: I am terrified of tornadoes. At the same time, they’re exciting. I like it when they get close - but not too close.
I guess that sums up my personality. I like risk until it gets too close for comfort!
Smarty pants, part II
Today, Gabriel came up to Mikaela and pointed to a purple flower embroidered on her jeans, correctly identifying it as “purple.” Mikaela looked at him with an exasperated expression, saying, “no, Gay-bul dat PANTS.”
I have a feeling we’re in for more of the same …
Political woes
So, I recently took a quiz meant to match me up with my perfect 2008 Presidential candidate. What it told me is what I really already knew: I am a political misfit. I don’t really fit in anywhere. I feel so negatively about certain issues in both of the major parties’ platforms, I can’t bring myself to declare allegiance to either one. And as much as I believe in principal, I can’t bring myself to get behind an independent either, because – really, who are they kidding?
I’ve never voted, but I really feel like I need to in the 2008 election. I guess I need to do some real soul-searching before then.
If you want to give the quiz a whack: 2008 Presidential Candidate Picker
Not as easy as it looks
I’m working on a big freelance project for a magazine publisher that I used to work for (on a full-time basis, I mean). I am going through dozens of their web sites and making their story headlines more SEO-friendly. (That last sentence used technically incorrect grammar, I know … sorry.)
Headlines were always one of the hardest things about writing stories, in my opinion. Different publications go by different rules, but I am having to keep these things in mind for every headline I write:
- Length – the webmaster tells me these headlines are also serving as file names and can’t be too long
- How many keywords I can cram in to help optimize the site for effective web searching
- Correct grammar
- Catchiness, if possible
Anyway, it doesn’t take long to get writer’s block doing this project, especially since many of the stories convey very similar messages, and I can’t make the headlines redundant.
I am so glad to have this work, though. Hopefully I can clear the cobwebs out of my brain and do a good job with it.
Gabriel
A few days ago, Gabriel came running in the room wearing a plastic replica of a medieval soldier’s helmet. He pointed to it and said, “I have football hat!”
Earlier this morning, Mikaela was running around with a blanket on her head, which Gabriel thought was hilarious. “Mikaela’s funny, mama!” he said.
Cute only gets you so far
My daughter is currently trying to charm her way out of bed. She’s pulling every cute trick out of the bag, and every time I look at her she smiles angelically and says “up!” (Get me up.)
I’m not falling for it this time. No matter how much I want to.
How does a 2-year-old know how to be so manipulative?
No, I don’t swear in front of my children
My son has been pronouncing ’sit’ VERY clearly like “sh*t” recently. Eeeek. My mother suggested I try to get him to change “sit” to “sit down” so people won’t think he’s cursing. Sigh.
And Mikaela’s apparently jumped on the let’s-turn-mom’s-hair-gray bandwagon as well: she mispronounced “frog” in the worst imaginable way a few days ago.
I think we’ll just avoid talking about sitting and frogs for now!
Video
So, I’ve discovered that my digital camera records sound along with videos. I guess I should’ve read the instruction manual.
I’ve been super-busy the last few days with freelance work. And that’s a good thing. It’s been quite some time since I’ve had so much work on my plate. Now, if I could just get the kids to stop dismantling the house every time I sit down to this computer …
Mikaela brushing doggie
If you can’t understand her, she’s saying “brush, brush … I hurt doggie!”
I guess it’s my fault that she associates hairbrushing with pain. I can’t even get the hairbrush out without her saying “ouch!”
