In like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb for May 04 Mamas! - Page 2

[Mama Faery]

Oh yeah, its March...!

I am at work with a baby and Rowan, so I have .0000005 seconds of time but I wanted to subscribe!
So this is me subscribin'!

No worries on any of the potty stuff. Rowan pooped all kinds of times at Gramma's house this weekend. And the potty adventure is doing well! I think...I guess.

Oh, and more soon about THIS, because it's HUGE...Rowan will be attending the Waldorf school starting in SEPTEMBER...if all goes well. OMFG!

Like I said, i will elaborate soon! I am SO : about it!

Love and xoxoxoxoxo's to each and every one of you!

[elsanne]

Elsanne in the hizz-ouse!

My time alone was blessedly beautimous. Loved it. One of the best parts was the drive there--2.5 hrs alone, rockin' out in the car, feelin' all road-trip-free. Totally great. The workshop was great, made great money, everyone was happy, life is good. Viet and I are okay now, he had a real wakeup call in terms of the work of having both by himself, and he's being relatively helpful.

Renae, coolness about the waldorf school! You are inspiring me to maybe sign Sol up for next year. Not sure yet.

Juice how did the day go? Is it flowin'?

Oh Heath, please tell me you got some sleep???? And that he is okay? This is just getting out of hand. You needs you some rest.

Fern--paying more for your sitter than you are earning? That's just wrong!!! Would you rather be at work? Why even bother? *here's me, not getting it*...so sorry about the changes at work.

Jacquie how goes the time alone? Thinking of you.

[fiddlefern]

Els- must work 30 hrs to have health insurance- dh can't cover all my hrs, so we have a sitter for 8 of 'em. Old schedule just needed 5 hrs sitter coverage.

Your road trip sounds wonderful.

Claudia- I'm so sorry

[orangecanoe]

Claudia---just wishing I could give you a huge, warm hug---you know the kind where you get your hair stroked too....that kind. a line from a song that is my refrain at times like these ... "let your clarity define you" You are kind and warm and compassionate and have an innate ability to reach out to those (including me!) when they most need it.

els---woot! I get small doses of alone time these days and I cherish it. I am totally a car singer when alone. Hope there's more for you in the future!

ff---thinking of you guys as you get this family/work/sitter sitch sorted out.


HJ is a puzzle. His fever is lower (good), but the cough is worse and gaggy at times. I have almost no kid cold experience (insert ducking smilie) so I'm just letting it play out. He has been happy and playing when not whimpering and gag coughing and is eating like a champ and pooping like one too. His first up the back, outfit destroying poo. First of my three kids to do that. Could have something to do w/ the pampers that he had on for out of the house. Um, yeah, huggies flex are better (insert bag smilie) S'ok...we still use cloth at home and the vegan nuns absolve me from guilt for ruining the earth on account of the thousands of cloth diaper changes I've accrued in the last almost 4 years.

I'm just babbling....should be taking this quiet time to get going on my online digital scrapbooking class I signed up for. SO EXCITED! I've never scrapped before and I loves me some Photoshop so this will be great! It has online screenshot video tutorials and everything! Okay...off to play!

[jstar]

mmm. fun day for us. isaac stepped up on the side of the FULL shopping cart at TJs and it fell over on top of him. flying groceries and severe screaming ensued. ebin has like a 4-egg goose egg on his head and we will now call him lumpy. ironically the goose-egg is on the opposite side of his head from his flat spot so i think it looks even more pronounced. it might not have even been noticeable if he had hit the flat side. but he's ok. (well i'm sure he has a headache). i abandoned the groceries and headed to the ER. no CAT scan required. and i made doug go get the groceries because by golly i was done shopping and there was no way i was going through the shopping exercise again tomorrow!!! isaac has a few bruises and was stuck to me like glue after i got home (he was obviously a little shaken).

i really hope we don't contract anything super nasty from sitting in the ER for several hours. this one kid who was sitting by isaac watching a cartoon went in for the screening and then came out with a mask on. and then he didn't want to keep it on (because he's a kid) but his dad kept reminding him to put it on when he coughed. and there were several other people flopped on chairs and looking extremely ill. they should make inflatable bubbles which could be carried in diaper bags.

so i feel like stellar mother of the year at the moment. totally scary. one minute you're looking at eggs and the next second all hell is breaking loose where's the waaahhhh smilie. i wanted to cry too.

i think i will head to bed. oddly enough isaac is in his own bed. i sent him back up there alone after he had his toast (*begged* for toast after the whole storytime routine). he's been sleeping in my bed almost all the time lately. strange!

the good news is that ebin's ears are all clear! now i can cancel that appt. for wednesday

renae - that is totally cool about the waldorf school

elsanne - driving alone on the open road sounds like fun

[Miss Juice]

Ack, Jess, that's a lot of carp! I'm so sorry, and so glad everyone's OK. LOL at "lumpy" though, that's totally something we'd call him. Hopefully today is more peaceful.

An amazing thing happened last night - Ethan slept from 8:00 straight through until 4:30 this morning! And then got up for the day. Poor bug is going to be pretty tired by naptime (actually he's pretty tired already, but I can't do anything about that for him right now).

Remember that massage I was supposed to have, what, two weeks ago? Well, we rescheduled it for last week and then I was sick as a dog, so we rescheduled for this afternoon. Fingers crossed we get to keep the appointment!

Have a beautiful day, everymama.

(ETA - yesterday went more smoothly than I would have hoped. All in all, difficult but manageable. Kudos to DH for stepping up and helping where he could.)

[orangecanoe]

juice--hope you get your massage in today! glad yesterday went!

jstar--oh no! That's awful. C loves to jump on the side of the cart. Did the manager say anything? I mean...eek....unsafe carts! Hows the egghead this morning??

Sleep was a little better last night thank goddess. But cold is still getting worse. Still not sure what to make of it or if I should call the peds. He's snoozing now, but I'll have to take his temp when he wakes. He felt warmy through the night.

Crazy warm weather here today so we're heading outside at some point!

[meesa143]

I wrote this big beautiful post last night and it got lost, so I said screw it, went to bed and now I'm trying again.

I have to say that I'm totally jealous of the new deck. I want one reaaalllly bad and I'm not sure why exactly...

Juice~ Enjoy your massage! I need one of those. I'm glad yesterday went ok and that you were able to figure out where everyone was, because I didn't have a clue

jstar~ That is like one of my nightmares come true! Saige always does that, now I'm freaked out. I'm glad everyone is ok. I wish Kade slept that long, he was up last night for an hour at 1 am screaming.


Heather~ Keeping my fingers crossed that the scale stays away and that you were able to get some sleep last night.

Els~ I'm glad you had a good time, you totally deserve it

Renae~ That's awesome about the waldorf school. I bet he will totally love it.

I've been spring cleaning around here like a mad woman I took a break yesterday and made a mei tai. It came out of nowhere. One minute I was looking at them online, the next I was in the fabric store picking out fabric. For my first try, I think it turned out pretty nice. Here are some pics:

Saige

Tired and spaghetti faced

Kade

I know I talked with someone about The Sneaky Chef cookbook and something similar, but I can't remember who. I made the brownies the other day, which have spinach, blueberries, wheat germ and oats in them, and omg they were good! I ate most of them by myself, some of them were considered breakfast :
I'm off to work, have a great day!

[elsanne]

Meesa, those brownies sound NUMMY! What a great idea. I need to think about things like that especially because the CSA is catching up with me--I have greens from last week and today is delivery day.
Also want to say the mei tai looks great! Yay for crafty projects.

Last night some friends arrived, so they are making breakfast this morning, yay!

Juice I am *this* close to flying you down here in exchange for daily adjustments. I am so tired of this neck o mine, and my doc isn't in town for some time yet. Also want to say, that the person you recommended in Albuquerque, is great! And costs less than my doc down here--!!! Her last name, Riekeman, she shares with her brother, who is president (or whatever) of Life University! Get that!
Also totally thrilled for you that you might, just might, get a massage today!

more to say but internet time has just been kiboshed.

[KKmama]

Wow, Jess. So sorry! (I'm a little amused that you made Doug get the groceries, though--smart thinking!). Glad everyone's okay, and I hope you don't pick up the ER bug.

Woot on dhs stepping up when they should (fingers crossed on the massage).

I should try the Sneaky Chef... (and I can't get the pix to load).

Renae, I want to hear about preschool!

TC, thinking of you.

Just aiming to have a better day today. I have a MG meeting tonight that I am strangely looking forward to... it's for our big annual plant sale (am I getting involved so I can prebuy all the plants for myself? hmm...). My proposed role is to help make it a zero waste event. And one of our biggest local env. organizations subsidizes collections of xeric plants every year, and the order form came out yesterday. Definitely gonna buy some, because the price is just too good. (Yeah, I've got gardening on my mind, even if there's snow on the ground.)

[DucetteMama21842]

I'm BAAAAAACCKKK!!!


First off... thanks to TC for instigating the only nice part of a VERY LONG weekend. Your recommendations of the Heathman Lodge were absolutely the best part of the trip. We went down with like 60 some places... dwindled it down to three... and the final one we want and only one that will honestly work... the lady said she'd call us back to do the application- NO CALL. : We got back at 1 in the am and I'm exhausted. What's with people from craigslist not keeping their appts? We sat and waited at so many houses for people to just NOT show. : And traveling with a baby was not so fun. I have a bruise on my arm from helping hold her binky in her mouth over her carseat. Bleh.

Hoping and praying things work out. Two weeks behind in one of my classes.. and way behind in the others also.. I can't read in the car.. I get carsick. So no studying was accomplished. Have one week left of school and one week left to move. :

[orangecanoe]

meesa--love the mei tai!! you crafty thing, you!

danile--ack! hope something works out sooner rather than later.

cuddling a feverish and miserable babe. The thing I hate the worst about having sick kids is the lack of options/helping hands at times like these. dude, I need to borrow Elsanne's wife or something. I can't stomach another ER trip, but that's where we're going to be headed of this fever doesn't come down. blah.

I need a clone!

[Miss Juice]

meesa, I can't get your pics to load either. I'd love to read the Sneaky Chef as well. Might look for it at the library.

els, so glad the chiro in ABQ worked out! I didn't even catch the connection - if I'd known she was Guy's sister I wouldn't have given you any other names. And I wish I could fix ya up good, too.

KK, just and maybe a little : for you too.

danile, wow mama I hope things slow down soon. I mean, obviously they will but it's a lot in the next two weeks! Sending peace and boundless energy your way.

Heath, I think I'm destined to be cuddling a fevery babe with you this afternoon. I just want everyone in my family to be healthy for 24 consecutive hours, please. Please?

My massage therapist called in tears earlier, apologizing for 'flaking' on me. Her grandma is actively passing away today, and I was like, "Um, please go be with your family. Please don't worry about me. REALLY." She's feeling bad because it's 3 reschedules in a row but man, it's not her fault! There will be another time, another day, another week. No biggie.

[jstar]

juice that is some terrible karmic massage postponement for you! your poor therapist.

heath - can you go to the ped instead? i am way too fresh from the ER looong waiting experience to even allow you to consider that have you given him tylenol to bring down the fever? or is it the raspy breathing worry? they might use the nebulizer on him at the ped. poor little sick babe. and you do need a clone. was your potential road trip to portland btw???? (we could hope, right?)

lumpy is ok this morning. i realllllllly hope the lump isn't permanent. it looks the same as it did last night. he was pretty perky though even though he woke a bazillion times last night. i'm : because doug said the TJs lady said 'oh it happens all the time'. a SIGN might be nice!!!!!!! it is obvious in hindsight but if i had known by looking at the cart that the center of gravity was too high i would have told isaac to stay off. i almost encourage him to ride on carts because then he is out of the way. it hasn't been an issue with any normal ones.

meesa - that was a quick little sewing project! it looks great. i have to try the spinach brownies. doug thinks i have a serious 'sweets' problem. maybe i do : right now i am single-handedly making my way through a pan of lemon bars. but it's a small pan!!!

danile - i was wondering how your trip went. it sounds frustrating!

hey pdx mamas. i'm going to throw out the 19th or the 26th? do either of those work? :::

kk - the MG stuff sounds like a lot of fun. i did get out in the rain and work in the yard yesterday. i didn't plant the lilys but i did seed the lawn. and then i hung up a scarecrow so the birdies would not have a feeding frenzy. i bet my neighbors think i'm loco

[A&L+1]

Today is Get Lisa Healthy Day, so this post is AAM (all about me).
First, I am seeing my therapist to discuss the anxiety problem that I seem to be having (anyone else care to talk about treatment options? I am thinking about vitamins or holistic options or something, please. My therapist seems to think that it is “natural” that I am anxious since I experienced so much fear/loss this year with my dad’s death. I feel like that is all well and good but I would really rather not be inundated with intrusive and scary thoughts at inopportune moments. Call me crazy.) Second, I am seeing my family physician to discuss why the flu two/three weeks ago means that I still have sore throat, ear pain, chest congestion/cough, dizziness – you name it, I got it – ever since. I should be all fixed up by 5:00 p.m.

I will make it back to post AAEE (all about everyone else). In the meantime, :

[Mama Faery]

SO jealous of you PDX mamas who get to get together! I have been talking to my best friend from high school who lives out there, and I haven't seen her since a mutual friend was married in '03. I was thinking of going out there with Rowan sometime in the next year. I HOPE this can happen! And OF COURSE I'd let y'all know.

jstar, that is SCARY! I also send : about keeping clear of any ER bugs. Yikes. I was at the doctor today (for myself--I have warts on my foot! : And I have to see a dermatologist. UGH.) and I swear, as soon as I walked into the office I was freaking out about catching SOMEthing...like, I could FEEL my body feeling weaker. Especially since we just got over this nasty bug last week. Luckily DH came home to stay with the sleeping Rowan while I went. But then just because he had to take a lunch that was a TEENY bit longer than usual, he's gonna stay late at work. : If I knew he was gonna pull that bullsh*t, I would have just brought Rowan with me. Grr. And they have music class tonight, AND I have a church meeting. Blah.

I'm getting really burnt out about my church right now...I just wanna GO to church with my family, enjoy it, and GO HOME. I don't want to constantly have to DO for the church...occasional things, services, etc, fine, but it's CONSTANT. Oh well. I am currently on the worship committee and the choir so I guess I'd better step up to at least that. It's also been well, Winter, so I just don't like to do ANYTHING. Oh, sorry, allaboutme.

Meesa, what great pictures and WHAT a great project! You're all lovely!

Elsanne, dude, road-tripping is SO my favorite thing to do! Next weekend (the 15th-16th) I am going to NY to see a friend for her 40th birthday, and I have to leave at 4am or something to get there by late-morning. Heehee. I am more excited about the drive, I think. SO happy you got some time to yourself! You deserve it, mama.

Okay, I wanted to respond to more but Rowan is starting to wake up I think (we've been going back to the naps again lately! He needs it for now again, I think) so I gotta go.

No, false alarm. Okay, I have a second for telling you quickly about the potty and Waldorf! Hee. Potty stuff is fine, he's getting the hang of it, and this morning, even though he was awake and playing in his crib (yeah. We haven't changed it to a toddler bed yet! he was dry until I got him to the toilet to pee! Awesome.
Pooping, well, I think he's okay with it but it doesn't happen as often as I'd like. Goodness, I can't believe I am thinking about bodily functions so much.
Waldorf! Yeah, we went to an open house at the school we once did a parent-child program at back when Rowan was much younger and the location has changed, the school is bigger and GORGEOUS. Basically, it was wonderful and not as expensive as we thought, plus there's a financial aid program to help, hopefully. We're thinking three days a week, starting in September, in the morning. Long drive, but doable.

Of course, I am a little nervous about leaving my sweet baby alone at school for the first time (especially since every time we talk about him going to school he says something like "only if YOU come with me, Mama!" Uh-oh) but well, milestones! He'll also be almost 4 1/2 by then, you know? Oh GOD.

Okay, that's enough out of me, I am off to wash some dishes and try not to be annoyed at DH anymore.

s Claudia, before I forget. Love to you, mama.

to everyone. Have a great day! The weather here was glorious but it got REAL dark (but still warm!) real fast. I think it's gonna POUR soon.

[DucetteMama21842]

Alright mamas! Here's some good news for March!

The lady called back... she emailed me the app and I faxed it back. Just crossing our fingers and waiting now... Hoping this is it. Then I could be moving straight into a place rather than living in a hotel with the kids.

Meesa- SUPER talented and what a CUTE mei tai.

MF- SO glad that Rowan is doing fantastically with the potty training. And Waldorf! HOW FUN! I wish I could afford it.

Lisa- Please get better. Hoping it all fixes itself.

EmmaLola- Really thinking of you lately. Hoping all is well.

Everybody else- s:

[orangecanoe]

jstar....hmmm...I'm feeling cranky and litigious. I'd fire off a letter. How hard would it be to but those line through the pictures signs on the carts??

danile---yaaaaaay!

lisa---vitamins have their place. Z gets me through the day....just sayin' **hugs** your AAM/AAEE distinction made me smile.

jess--his fever went up 2 degrees after the first dose of Tyl. but thankfully down a little after the second. He is super fussy and doesn't want to eat much. Luckily. DH has the girls now and I can let him sleep on me in peace. He's a hot rock for sure. Cough still nasty. Just bummed about the late appt though because I won't be able to take him over for a chest xray at the outpatient place now.

enough about me!

renae cool about the school!! I'm a chronic avoider at church. I've said no to many things because I want what you want---to go. to leave. I'd love to teach RE, but for now we only have one service and I need that more.

[jstar]

i should send a letter. the cart only has the strap-in-the-baby pics. and i DID thankfully wrestle 2 carts so i could get one with a functioning strap. so he was strapped in.

aww poor sick baby HJ. having just had a nasty fever i can commiserate how bad he probably feels.


lisa - obtrusive thoughts are a drag. it's considered ocd (you probably know this). because the more you don't want them (because they're freaky), the more they happen. my experience was this: i never had any issues with bad thoughts but i had a super depression spell ("nervous breakdown") and went on paxil. you know how they have warnings that you shouldn't give paxil (or ssris) to teenagers because of a high risk of suicidal thoughts? well that totally happened to me. i started paxil and got inundated with suicidal thoughts. and i have never had that before. and even at the time i didn't FEEL suicidal...i just had obsessive thoughts about dying. i believe it totally changed my brain chemistry and just did something wierd to me. they then gave me xanax to quell the insane thoughts problems. and the xanax worked for the WHOLE problem i was having (which was panic attack anxiety). i have been prone to obtrusive thoughts ever since when i get in a low spot though unfortunately.

SO that said. i would try a benzodiazapiene (sp?) first and see if it can quell your mind. they work to slow down your thoughts and can control anxious thoughts. they're habit forming but i was only given 30 (really small...0.25 mg) and it got me through the period. the thing i learned from the therapist i saw at the time was that your brain learns response 'patterns'. and it will take the path of least resistance. so right now your brain is liking this pattern and anything you can do to 'reset' that or give it new (preferred!) pathways will help you get past it. so xanax can do that. or vitamins. i'd go with z. avoid paxil like the plague!

[nuggetsmom]

OK,
I am checking in here even though I will soon be without email for about a week since my mom is coming.
Seems like a lot is happening and I am out of the loop. I keep up over yonder even though I don't always respond.
I hope March is generally OK for everyone but it sounds like it may not be.