In like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb for May 04 Mamas! - Page 3

[Mama Faery]

For some reason I feel the need to validate (if only to myself!) the coming Waldorf experience by saying that the ONLY way we're gonna be able to afford it is with HELP--whether that help comes by IL's or financial aid...I am so hyperaware of how "priveleged" we might sound... : I know, I am a dork.

But yeah, I am really excited about it. And for the preschool we won't even have to change the rest of our routines...much. It should work out well. We finished filling out the application tonight so we just have to send it in and then get the other forms (financial stuff)...wish us luck!

Now, I gotta go to bed. Love you all!

[fiddlefern]

Renae- the Waldorf preschool sounds so exciting! And just so you know, L backtracked on the potty learning this winter, and we've been too lazy to work on it, so we're still in dipes. We never really got brave enough to put him in undies (well, dh did once and he pooped all over the coffee shop rug, which scared us into waiting). So hey, R's still ahead of the game!

Lisa- I am sorry you're feeling poorly in body and spirit, and glad that you are seeking healing for both.

Nuggets- Despite the job whining, March is going much better for my family. Less sickies! Don't worry about responding to our chatter- just let us know what's up.

Jstar- ugh- the er trip sounds like it was no fun at all. I hate those baby head bumps.

Juice- hope your babe gets better soon, and the message finally happens.

Heather- I remember the advice nurse telling me last month that a fever is ok at long as tylenol brings it down under 104, and as long as babes are still willing to eat. Sounds like it was good for you to go in, as HJ wasn't feeling like eating anymore. Poor babe! Let us know how he is.

Danile- I can't imagine how busy you must be! As I used to remind myself during finals, one way or another it will all be done soon. I'm excited that you'll be in the neighborhood of pdx.

Meesa- I also totally need to get that book.

Claudia- thinking of you.

I'm so tired I feel about to drop off to sleep at the keyboard, so I'd better go soon. Dh and I had a lovely date tonight, during which I consumed almost half a beer, making me quite tipsy, and now, very sleepy. ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz.....

[elsanne]

Renae, mega "eyesroll" about the need to validate, or invalidate, the prosperity thing. It is never a good idea to have the "poverty mentality" and I only say it because I need to hear my own advice. I do the same thing, and need to remind myself that I'm not going to "jinx" myself by being okay with whatever is rolling in my way. Thanking providence, and wishing it triple back to those who sent it to me...

Meg, I was thinking about what a disappointment about that tax return that wasn't. Speaking of money. How are you and yours?

Fern, you are a cheap date. And I thought I was! Half a beer?

Danile, best of luck with the home search. You are a trooper, lady! Living in a hotel with 3 kids! I'm thinking about you. Glad you and TC got together.

TC, just warm thoughts if you're reading along here.

Jstar, what a total drag about that horrible experience with the full cart. UGHG UGH AND DOUBLE UGH. I am so sorry that happened. Hope your boys are on the mend.

[mamameg]

jess, so sad about the boys and the cart. The same thing happened to Mia a while ago at TJs, but the cart was empty, so it wasn't that surprising. You would think it would have curbed her habit of stepping up on the side of carts, but no.

I will echo Elsanne's sentiments about poverty and feeling compelled to wallow in. No no no!!! Renae, feel blessed for what you have, grateful and gracious for what is bestowed upon you, and no apologies! Dude, you are talking about sending your child to preschool at 4.5 yrs old! That's hardly luxurious or indulgent. And I sense some self loathing in there, like you or Rowan somehow does not deserve a good education and nothing could be father from the truth. Be kind to yourself, girl. We all should be able to accept the help we need, because people like to help. They wouldn't do it if was a burden.

On that note, we are working through our financial carp. My parents will be helping us out and I am so very, deeply grateful for it. They did VERY well on the sales of their house and a rental property when they retired and moved up here, so I know they have the resources to help us. We are finally back on track with John's career and job situation. They love him there, he got his promotion, will get another raise in June and his boss has told him he's already got him fast-tracked for another big promotion next year. So things are working themselves out, but we need a little time to get there.

Thinking of everyone who is sick, feeling down, needing a new home, needing a new job, needing anything they feel like they don't have right now.

[DucetteMama21842]

Renae- DON'T apologize for being able to send Rowan to waldorf. Hey- any way you can swing it- SWING IT. I am just envious of the experience. Maybe I should have worded my response better. I definitely don't see you as a snooty mcsnooterton when you talked about it. You weren't bragging- just sharing your excitement. And you deserve that.

Nuggets- I also agree with not minding our chatting- just let us know how it's all going for you.

TJ is gone on another business trip and forgot to take the garbage out. Let's hope I have better luck this time than last time and don't lock myself out of the house. :

Gotta go... way too far behind in anthropology and I have six more boxes to pack this morning before I pick more boxes up tonight. Bleh. Moving sucks. Still waiting to hear about that house. *Hmph*. If I DO get it... we'll have to have a housewarming BBQ with all you MMF PDX'ers.

Any of you in the PDX API group? Is it as comfortable as this group here? Or are they really hardcore? And wondering if LLL has a Camas group... or if it is just Vancouver.

[Mama Faery]

Aww, you guys!!! NO ONE said anything here that made me feel like I had to validate myself to YOU! Like Elsanne and others mentioned--Megan always has a way of kicking my butt to see that I need to be kinder to myself, so THANK YOU. Anyway, it's ME, and I need to stop worrying about this and just enjoy it for what it is; an AWESOME opportunity. I am SO very excited to be able to do this, and yes, I wish good things threefold on everyone around me. Haha.

Hold on, I need a cookie. :

Yum, cookie. So, our Whole Foods had these vanilla sandwich cookies by 365 (I think) out for sampling the last time we went there and we all ate one (I handed it to Rowan nad he took and bite and exclaimed, "Mmm!" It was cute) and I looked at DH and said "Why is it that right now these taste like the MOST DELICIOUS COOKIES IN THE UNIVERSE?!?!" And he was like, "DUDE, they TOTALLY do and we need to buy a box RIGHT NOW!"
And that is how I broke my own rule about buyng storebought cookies when I can easily make my own!
I can't make vanilla sandwich cookies that taste like the best cookies in the universe! So there ya go.
(written because we all need fun segues every so often! )

Danile, good luck with the moving! And SO JEALOUS that you will probably be joining the awesome PDX MMF's out there! So cool. I REALLY need to find a way to visit.

Heather, you mentioned possibly coming to CT? Let me know if you want to find a way to meet up! That would be so much awesome.

Megan, I am so glad you are finding some help with the financial stuff. My IL's have helped us so many times, in so many ways, and they are STLL helping, and I am so grateful. I cannot even describe. So good luck getting that stuff sorted out!
(and thanks for the buttkicking! I needed it. I always do--but self-loathing? Not exactly...I don't think. : Well, okay, maybe you're right. : Haha. I'm workin' on it.)

Lisa, somehow I missed your post and had to go back, but Take good care of yourself, sweet mama. :

Elsanne! Because I love ya, mama!

I love you all! I hope everyone has a good day. Sorry for the spotty replying, I am getting ready to go to work, eating lunch and periodically running upstairs while Rowan plays to see if he needs to go potty.
Have a great day everyone!

Oh yeah, so I went to the worship committee meeting at church last night, and it went pretty well. I was warmly welcomed back and it was nice to be back. I always get that way when I am gone from something for ages...this apprehension about returning. So anyway, I think we're going to church this Sunday. I think.

Okay, later mamas!

[KKmama]

Re preschool: MF, I definitely got that your justifying was to yourself, not us, so . I really love preschool, and I love preschool that's a good fit, and I love preschool that is affordable (I really mean it; I had a preschool board meeting last night). *Everyone* should have preschool if they want it. My friend Laura was a Waldorf preschool teacher, and she was very about it. So all I have to say is good for you!

(Did I report that we had our parent-teacher preschool conf. yesterday re Z and got a glowing report? )

Very also about anyone and everyone working through financial carp (Meg spec., but also for anyone else to whom this applies).

Very impressed with Jess' insightful response to Lisa, and very to you, Lisa...

How are the sick kids? Check in, please. (HJ?)

The MG meeting was *all* women (mostly older) except one of the ext. staff (very hippie/burly/jovial Portland transplant: can you PDXers visualize him?). I'll be working a lot with him on the zero waste side of things, plus compost, compost bins, etc! It's very exciting to sit in a meeting with little old ladies and drool about plants when it's blah outside (snowed last night). (Will this winter never end?)

[orangecanoe]

HJ on the mend very slowly. Still way fussy, not eating well, some ear crustiness and a lovely croupy cough. Fever hanging on, but not so bad as yesterday so all in all, we're kicking the sickies to the curb.

The rain has stopped, the sun is out and methinks we all need a walk outside after naps (or theroretical naps).

I had something else to say, but totally haven't a clue what it was. I'm such a flake.

[A&L+1]

Thanks for the hugs and thoughts, everymama.

Originally Posted by jstar

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!

My therapist basically said the same thing about the thought patterns needing be reset to something cheerier. It is hard to just DO though and while I am an anti-meds kind of gal it frustrated me to not have her say “take this magic pill and all will be well again”. She suggested meditation, exercise, and just talking myself down when I get anxious. I didn't talk to my FP about it because I am chicken. I have a prescription drug abuse history (barbiturates) so that is a serious consideration with xanax being similar but not the same type of drug. Anyway, thanks for your thoughts and consideration. I am trying the other stuff first, I guess.

Thanks to everyone. Today is looking up in general although I am still feeling run down and dizzy. I started antibiotics last night because my FP thinks this is all a low-level sinus infection.

Waldorf pre-school sounds great, Renae! I love the Waldorf toys but there are some things that have weirded me out about the philosophy (mostly the way it is done here locally). I want to like it, so I hope you will share your perspective on it when the time comes. I hope it is a good fit for Rowan.

Danile – I am sending you all the strength I can muster because I cannot imagine all that you have on your plate.

Megan – I appreciate you talking about money. It is so important and valuable to hear that everyone else doesn’t have it all worked out all the time either. I live in a very affluent area and it always seems that no one struggles. We recently had to borrow some cash from my mom because of the timing of bills versus the timing of the paychecks. Sucks. Thanks for reminding me that all that matters is that I show my gratitude and give it time.

Okay, I have to scoot. Thanks again all for your support and for being here. It matters.

[A&L+1]

Oh Heather, I meant to send you healing thoughts for HJ. SO glad to hear that it is improving. Kick it to the curb!

[Jacqueline]

Whew! I didn't get my daily MDC update last night, so I was waaaayyyy behind with you all. But, I just now got caught up, I think.

Jess-oh my gosh! I'm glad they're both okay, but that would have been awful. G does the same thing with the cart in the grocery store...must watch out next time. I also have a major sweets thing. If I make cookies or whatever, I can totally down them all by myself. Luckily, I'm still breastfeeding, but I think I do have a prob.

Heather-glad HJ is better. "hot little rock" made me laugh because that's exactly how they feel, isn't it?

renae-Waldorf sounds so awesome. There is one about 45 minutes from here that I'd love G to attend, but since we'll probably be moving, it doesn't seem to be in the cards. We attended those parent/child classes when G was littler, too, and they just felt so good. Also, totally loved your cookie segue. LOL

juice-hoping you're all finally on the mend. sorry about the massage, but understandable.

lisa-I'm glad you're taking care of yourself. I hope the "other" options do work. You're in my thoughts

danile-wow! I hear ya on the pacifier bruise. Isn't it amazing how flexible you can become in order to keep a baby quiet in the car? We should invent "mom yoga" or something. I hope the house works out. And, here's a hug for you, cause, lady, you need it

meesa-great mei tei. And the brownies sound so good!

KK-MG classes sound kinda fun. I hope you enjoy being involved in that group. I imagine your involvement does skew their age bracket down a hair Also hoping post-birthday days have been looking up

And, Megan, hugs on the $$ sitch. Glad your family can help. But, it sounds like things are on an upward swing. Maybe you feel like we do...if nothing big happens in the next year, we'll be okay financially! Then, we can breath.

elsanne-glad the car trip was fun. I enjoy them sans kiddos.

DH is flying home as we speak (might even be right above our house right about now!) We have mostly made it. Except that he has to go back to work tonight for a meeting and Lenten class. It went much better than last time. G wasn't nearly as upset by daddy being gone, which was huge. Oh, and A got her second tooth this week! That's the second one in as many weeks. She's a much earlier teether than G.

The search committee from the church in Kansas is coming to visit dh and the church here over the weekend. They're bringing 6 people! Dude, they will totally double the size of the early church service! So, no more hiding the job search. DH had to come clean with the Sr. Warden (kinda like the COO of the local church) and the Bishop (the CEO of the statewide church). It will be an awkward weekend with 6 mysterious visitors from out of state. The 2nd church service is about 30-40 people, so they will stick out. They have one other candidate besides dh and they said he/she is visiting them for some reason. I think dh just got them so excited about him during their phone interview that they wanted to take a road trip! Plus, it's easy to talk people into visiting our area. It's awfully purty right now (in the mountains afar...not in our yucky, brown, dirty-snowed yard).

so, yeah, it would be lovely to just come to church and BE (to echo what HF and Renae have said). Not gonna happen to me anytime soon....maybe ever. Though, I do quite well at saying no. Having two small kids really helps. I just end up knowing so much more about church than I really want to by the nature of what dh does.

okay, I did a little AAM and AAEE (lisa, love those titles!) Now I better DDS (do something else). TTFN! (somebody, please stop me....)

[Miss Juice]

Somehow, when I think of words I'd use to describe Heather, 'flake' doesn't even make the list.

I dreamed about you last night, Heather! It was one of those crazy lots of things going on dreams, but I met you and it was like meeting my sister. And even in a dream I knew it was odd, so I asked why were were both there (where? who knows) and you said, matter of factly - "We have lyrics to write."

And there you have it. Carry on.

[Miss Juice]

Of course, somehow I missed a whole heck of a bunch of posts!

Lisa, ugh on the sinus infection (and all the rest of it, too). I hope you find some peacefulness.

Jacqueline, hooray for a successful go-round sans DH! So glad it was easier (though trust me, I know that doesn't mean "easy"!)

[jstar]

well xanax is definitely high on the abuse list. as are most drugs that just make everything "ok." i think therapy can do a lot to help if you're going to hold off on meds. getting to the root of the stress will help. talking yourself down is easier said than done. and i think for that type of problem it can exacerbate it. the more you worry about "how" you're worrying, the more you can get worked up. i've read a few books about anxiety and approaches for the obsessive thoughts thing. one thing is to let them play out in your mind rather than trying to deny them. this removes the 'fear' part. go ahead and visualize the worst case scenario and then your mind can let it go. by far the most natural and easiest thing you can do is totally decaffienate! (do you drink caffeine?)

and my time is up. i'm totally scared i've permanently damaged my poor baby's head i'm not sure it is going back to what it was before. still lumpy.

[Mama Faery]

Lisa, thank you for the update! I was nodding my head furiously with the "everyone here seems affluent and never seems to have problems" I am here to say that I have MANY friends in that area (remember, I grew up there) and though many of them ACT as if they are affluent, they are decidedly NOT. So I hear you.
I am also glad to know I'm not the only one who have these money worries/issues.

Oh, Waldorf. Yeah, you know, I asked the woman giving me the tour "um, it's okay that we aren't (I MEAN ARE NOT!! Like whoah!) a 'Waldorf Family', right??" Because I won't read the books/propaganda (they gave us a folder with all sorts of info, including a nice article about THE EVILS OF TV!! ) and I won't rid my house of plastic and I let my kid wear what he wants even if it's "distracting" (they like PLAIN clothes at the school! Yup. My kid is so going to be the one all in black there. ) and well, I live to be the voice of dissent. (said very tongue in cheek but um, yeah) and she assured me it was okay to be middle-of-the-road. We'll see.

I know no school will be perfect, but I think this will be a good fit overall. OF COURSE I will keep y'all updated on how it goes! You's my Mamas!

Okay, I didn't mean to make this an "allaboutme"! But Rowan is waking up (finally! Well, I think he woke up earlier but he wanted to be left alone to REALLY wake up...and he's in underwear and hasn't peed yet ) so I better run.

Oh! HF, and hope HJ continues to be on the mend!

Jstar, honey. I don't think you ruined your child's head! But if you really are worried I would give your doc a call. If only for your peace of mind. I think people's heads are just lumpy. I shaved my head once and WHOAH.

Anyway, love love love to you all! It has been ridiculously lovely here the past couple days, even with rain, but I think we are back to cold. WTF? Oh well.
Have a great day, everyone.

[mcsarahb]

Good morning, lovelies-

You are all an amazing bunch of mamas. I'm thinking of each and every one of you. Hugs for sick kiddos, sick mamas, missed massages, absent DHs, annoying DPs, lumpy-headed babies, money worries, and anxiety issues. I'm glad HJ is feeling better and I hope this is the end of winter sickness for the MMamas. Sheesh.

I am doing well and too busy, as usual. No birth action last night, which I honestly didn't mind. This quarter is coming to a close and I am ready for the next step. I'm getting emails about ordering graduation regalia and paying library fees and it's all...starting...to...get...exciting! I still have 3 months, of course, but Spring (and then Summer! And then graduation!) is in the air. Starting looking at jobs near and far, hoping for a near one.

I love the idea of Waldorf, too. I will be interested to hear about Rowan's experience, Renae. We just signed Lily up for a week-long daycamp at the Zoo in June; she is excited already. I think our unschooling plans are being reconsidered for this child - the freeschool is looking more and more likely, 'cause it's a good fit for her personality (social, outgoing, loves stimulation).

Have a great day everymama!
S.

[DucetteMama21842]

Sarah, I totally understand the revamping the school plans. I had planned to homeschool Dom, and while I'd like to structure more WHAT school he goes to (he's picked up some bad habits/sayings from his present school)- I've been pleasantly surprised by how much he LOVES preschool. He's incredibly social and SUCH A TALKER. He's having a blast and picking up on things that I'd been practicing with him- but he preferred presented in a funner fashion. And I get to have a couple hours of him talking at me : for a couple hours of conversation of what fun he had, later on in the day. I hope Lily enjoys whatever you decide. I haven't been to a birth in six months and I am DYING. I wish it was possible to go to one... but Jaz is so little and needs me and I'm still enjoying my time off.... but man do I miss it. That high- that endorphin rush of watching/helping a baby be born just can't be beat. I can't wait for the day I at least start doula'ing again. Hope there's a good market in Vancouver.

Oh- Jaz is fussy... gotta check her temp she had a fever last night and had her first dose of tylenol!

Gotta go!

[jstar]

i think the waldorf school sounds neat-O. i like the plain clothes thing. isaac's spiderman shoes would not be kosher and that's a good thing

speaking of which. we were looking at shoes and he goes 'OOOOOH PRINCESS SHOES!!!!' 'I want THESE!!!'' they were disney princess lightup shoes. pink and silver. very pretty!!

isaac is very outgoing and social so he's definitely going to be a 'school' kid. i just don't know what type of school yet. we have so many options here it is actually amazing!

our kids are getting older :sniff: isaac moved to a new cubby yesterday with the 4 year olds and now has a floor mat instead of a cot. he's growing up!

he's also going on a sleepover on saturday night with my former boss and her 4 wild nephews. he is totally excited. if only she would take ebin too

ebin is a complete peril to himself right now with the pulling up and attempting to walk. he *thinks* he can walk. or at least he's trying with zero success. he steps away from the couch and falls like a plank. he's already got another bruise on his forehead from a baseboard


i hope the sickies will be gone! that's the out like a lamb thing right?

[Mama Faery]

"This is my line, this is eternal; how did I ever end up here?!"

Sorry, listening to an extra-special version of an AFI album I bought for myself a couple of weeks ago. : I LOVE THIS BAND OMG.

Okay, I am the queen of segues lately! I came on to mention that I, too, changed my schooling ideas for Rowan when I really started to pay attention to his personality--I mean, I HAVE been, but realizing that I can't FORCE him to participate when he'd rather sit in my lap; I can't make him play with the other kids at our library story hour, when he'd rather sit and observe, and he's very quiet/shy when he's around people he doesn't know...takes after DH in that.

So anyway, we HAD been planning on homeschooling, way back when, but then I realized he REALLY needed SOME other social interaction, if only a few days a week...and then I realized that there was no way *I* would be able to homeschool him, for many reasons, and so we were like "okay, we can't afford private school, so it's gonna have to be public school"...and then BACK to realizing that Rowan needs something different than that, and the Waldorf school would be PERFECT for him. Yeah.

I like that they don't want logos and Spiderman all over everything...but Rowan has some cute/quirky clothes that I don't see a problem with, KWIM? I know what they're trying to stay away from and we don't have any clothing like that (the Thomas backpack, however, is another story. ) but I guess I personally balk at dress codes. 'Cause I am a rebel like that.

and at the wanting of Princess shoes! I would totally get them for him. In that vein, a friend of Rowan's at the library saw his pink Hello Kitty socks and said, with authority, "You can't wear socks like that because you're a BOY!" (this from a girl wearing ALLLLLLL PINK! )
Rowan just looked at her and said "I wanted to wear them so I did!"

With that, I am off to see if Rowan's awake from his nap yet, and to try and decide whether I will wake him or let him sleep till he wakes up because wow, this free time RULES. :

[jstar]

i told him i thought they were very pretty but i didn't think his dad would like them very much yeah. he is very into figuring out who is a 'gorl' and who is a boy lately though.

and i was really laughing this morning because he came running into my room buck naked when he woke up. he decided he wanted to sleep on the floor in his room last night. so, naked, on the carpet, with a duvet. and our carpet is NOT soft!!