Aimee (http://myjunebugbabe.blogspot.com/) tagged me and here are my answers...
Here are the rules:1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
1. I'm Catholic.
2. I can only live in the country, and have realized over time that I would be unable to ever live in the suburbs or the city again, unless for a limited time only. I love having no neighbors right outside my front door, and taking long walks by our creek in the pasture, the sunsets, and country life.
3. I'm claustrophobic and cannot handle crowds. (maybe this is related to the statement above?)
4. I used to be a nude model for the art department at the local University. This was B.C. (before children) in my early 20s. I had no problems standing in front of a classroom of people drawing me in the nude in many poses, in fact a couple of times I actually fell asleep while lying on my side on the floor.
5. I'm a bookworm to the core and a snob about reading material as well. I could spend whole days reading, it's my favorite thing in the world. As a child I used to hide out at family gatherings and read so I didn't have to socialize and could just read. I've read hundreds of novels and if I were to win Powerball I'd probably enroll in PhD courses just so I could discuss literature with other bookophiles.
6. I loathe sports of any kind. I can almost feel brain cells evaporating just hearing a game somewhere. I just don't see the point of sports other than to participate for fun. Maybe it's too many memories of gym class as a kid? Sports are all about money and dumb people earning too much of it. I've never been to a Nebraska football game even though I lived walking distance from the stadium. The one thing I can handle is baseball and have enjoyed going to a few games. No doubt my boys will be signing up for every sport under the sun!! If so, I'll be warming the bench at every one of their games, cheering them on (...still I have a secret hope they will prefer something like music or art though!).
7. I'm a tight wad.
4/29/08
4/23/08
My Outdoorsmen
The weather has been beautiful for the first time in months. Which is great because I have 2 outdoorsmen on my hands. They love to be outside!
Lm is waiting for his brother to come down the ramp.
Lk tries to get into my car.
Foiled, he returns to the lawn.
My guys enjoy wandering around the vast lawn.
And rides in the red wagon.
A determined little guy on the loose.
Uh-oh. Lm has found Grandma's clothes pins.
Lk found some rocks that are cemented down, but a few are loose. I just hope he doesn't try to eat them, but he probably will.
They're wearing their jean jackets from great aunt Nancy in Arizona! Showing off their true farm boy spirit.
Lm is waiting for his brother to come down the ramp.
Lk tries to get into my car.
Foiled, he returns to the lawn.
My guys enjoy wandering around the vast lawn.
And rides in the red wagon.
A determined little guy on the loose.
Uh-oh. Lm has found Grandma's clothes pins.
Lk found some rocks that are cemented down, but a few are loose. I just hope he doesn't try to eat them, but he probably will.
They're wearing their jean jackets from great aunt Nancy in Arizona! Showing off their true farm boy spirit.
4/15/08
HOUSTON Days 3-4
On Sunday we went to the zoo. The weather was perfect. Sadly, Tobey did not join us. I did not blame him. At his age, I liked to have the house to myself and just chill (which is also still the case, actually). Lm wore his Elmo shirt and was raring to go!
First we went to the petting zoo.
Lm enjoyed petting the goat's ears.
First we went to the petting zoo.
Lm enjoyed petting the goat's ears.
Brennyn was not sure what to make of it either.
We took the kids on a carousel ride and they did great.
We’ve read about a lot of these animals, but so far all he’d seen were cattle, dogs and cats. At the zoo he got to see elephants...
...and giraffes.
We enjoyed cotton candy.
Tylor is so mature for his age! I’ve never met a more responsible and caring kid at his age. He was so helpful and good with the little ones. I can only hope my boys grow to be half as nice and mature as he is. What a great role model for the little ones!
Lm ran amok. He had been cooped up in the car, and was ready to roll.
Toward the end, he pooped out. My tired boy...
That night, Jenn took us to Swampees, a great Cajun restaurant. The food was great but more importantly, they have the best bloody marys I’ve ever had! I want the recipe!
Next morning we had to leave :( My only regret about the trip (other than trusting Mapquest) was that we couldn’t stay one more day. It was obviously too short. We could have gone to the aquarium the next day or the space center. Jenn was wonderful and so were her kids, I would’ve liked to spend more time with them.
Forunately there were really no mishaps on the way back, other than we got pulled over in Kansas for going 81 in a 70. When the cop approached, I said, “Sir, can we ask for mercy here? My son is crying and he has a dirty diaper.” Lm promptly burst into tears when the officer looked at him, thankfully. We got off with a warning because of it. Lam when he cries can inspire pathos in anyone.
Turned out he did not have a dirty diaper as I thought! I guess it must have been fertilizer we smelled. At the next gas station when I changed him, I was happily surprised. However, after he was freshly changed and we bought some snacks and headed out the door…you guessed it…he made me NOT a liar, and I had to change his diaper once more.
This morning Lk was so glad to see me. My heart just melted. I thought he would be mad at me like last time, but this morning he just threw his arms around me and I held him for a long time. He wanted to cling to me until I really did have to go to work. I’m so lucky to have my sweet boys.
We took the kids on a carousel ride and they did great.
We’ve read about a lot of these animals, but so far all he’d seen were cattle, dogs and cats. At the zoo he got to see elephants...
...and giraffes.
We enjoyed cotton candy.
Tylor is so mature for his age! I’ve never met a more responsible and caring kid at his age. He was so helpful and good with the little ones. I can only hope my boys grow to be half as nice and mature as he is. What a great role model for the little ones!
Lm ran amok. He had been cooped up in the car, and was ready to roll.
Toward the end, he pooped out. My tired boy...
That night, Jenn took us to Swampees, a great Cajun restaurant. The food was great but more importantly, they have the best bloody marys I’ve ever had! I want the recipe!Next morning we had to leave :( My only regret about the trip (other than trusting Mapquest) was that we couldn’t stay one more day. It was obviously too short. We could have gone to the aquarium the next day or the space center. Jenn was wonderful and so were her kids, I would’ve liked to spend more time with them.
Forunately there were really no mishaps on the way back, other than we got pulled over in Kansas for going 81 in a 70. When the cop approached, I said, “Sir, can we ask for mercy here? My son is crying and he has a dirty diaper.” Lm promptly burst into tears when the officer looked at him, thankfully. We got off with a warning because of it. Lam when he cries can inspire pathos in anyone.
Turned out he did not have a dirty diaper as I thought! I guess it must have been fertilizer we smelled. At the next gas station when I changed him, I was happily surprised. However, after he was freshly changed and we bought some snacks and headed out the door…you guessed it…he made me NOT a liar, and I had to change his diaper once more.
This morning Lk was so glad to see me. My heart just melted. I thought he would be mad at me like last time, but this morning he just threw his arms around me and I held him for a long time. He wanted to cling to me until I really did have to go to work. I’m so lucky to have my sweet boys.
HOUSTON Day 2
Saturday morning we headed down to Houston. I won’t go into the other troubles we had getting there but suffice it to say we didn’t get to Jenn’s until 4pm. After that, things went much smoother. We went to the park with all 7 kids. Lm and Brennyn truly do look like twins. As you can see from these pics. They even have the same laugh and mannerisms—it’s uncanny! And Lm was such a flirt with little Baylee. It was so nice and warm out, weather like I hadn’t seen for months. The kids played on the swings and slides while we sat and chatted. Tylor was able to get Lm and Brennyn to laugh, and it was very cute.
Do they look like twins or what?
Tylor and Tobey on the swings.
Little Baylee...I wanted to bring that little girl home! She just gives the best hugs and is such a cute little sweetie. Lm was a shameless flirt with her!
That little girl stole my heart!
That night Jenn came sans kids and the 4 of us went out for margaritas and dinner (make that THREE of us drank, as Lm was only there to eat chips and hang with the gang). These margaritas were strong enough to fell a horse—so I had two. Just what I needed to unwind after the trip out.
Do they look like twins or what?
Tylor and Tobey on the swings.
Little Baylee...I wanted to bring that little girl home! She just gives the best hugs and is such a cute little sweetie. Lm was a shameless flirt with her!
That little girl stole my heart!
That night Jenn came sans kids and the 4 of us went out for margaritas and dinner (make that THREE of us drank, as Lm was only there to eat chips and hang with the gang). These margaritas were strong enough to fell a horse—so I had two. Just what I needed to unwind after the trip out.
HOUSTON Day 1
The SMC friend of mine from the old board who started the new one (see the “Why are women so catty?” post from 4/2) lives in Houston with her beautiful brood of 5. She has triplets AND a set of twins. Her twins were born about 6 months after mine, and her son looks a lot like Lm—we call them their “other twin.” Jenn lost her mom in Feb, and I thought about visiting at some point. I tried to get a business trip out for June but they are sending me back to Cali.
This weekend the weather was again brutal here. Snow was predicted. I couldn’t take it anymore. Instead of waiting until the fall for the bad weather here again, I decided on Thursday night, hell, why not go down there now? First I called a friend of mine to go down with me, then I called Jenn and asked what she was doing this weekend. Then I asked my mom if she could watch Lk, as he would not be a good traveler and would have a miserable time. Finally, when it all looked like it would actually happen, I called my boss and told him I’d be out Fri and Monday.
Next morning we were off, just like that! It was 33 out the morning we left and 70 near Houston. I say near Houston because we had a little problem once we hit Dallas. That is, we drove 3 hours out of our way. (Don’t trust Mapquest.)
I called Jenn at 10:45pm and she goes, “So, are y’all in my driveway?”
“No, we decided to take a little side trip to Arkansas.”
She thought I was joking.
Sadly, I was not. So instead of getting to Jenn’s that night, we stopped at a hotel south of Dallas in Ennis, the Comfort Suites. Poor Lm was really crying at this point. He was an angel the entire trip. He’d fallen asleep around 9:30 in the car and I crawled in the back and held his head at a comfortable angle for two hours because his car seat does not allow for a comfy sleeping position and his head flopped to the front so he couldn’t sleep well otherwise.
At midnight we found a Comfort Suites and pulled over. They ran K’s credit card and I unpacked the entire car and loaded it on a hotel cart—which was A LOT of stuff, as Lm had his pack and play to sleep, a foam mattress, etc. I took Lm out, rolled the cart in…and the woman rudely tells me she can’t check us in, that she isn’t able to run the magnetic strip machine to get us cards. She said she wasn't used to being there alone to check people in. We asked if she would open our room with the master key so I could put Lm to sleep and she said “I can’t do that.” (She then said she refunded K’s credit card, but it’s now Tue and this morning I’m told there is a charge!)
I became unhinged at that point, Lm screaming in my ear and the cart full of stuff falling all over the lobby floor. I was actually shaking and felt some sort of panic attack coming on. She wouldn’t even tell us where another hotel was!
We found another one further along I-45 where the personnel was MUCH more competent and friendly, and stayed there, but Lm was inconsolable and I had to try to present the illusion that everything was alright, and I sang to him and soothed him off to sleep. Then I took 3 sleeping pills to fall asleep myself.
(End of Day 1…to continue with Day 2 and pictures later…don’t worry, it DOES get better!)
This weekend the weather was again brutal here. Snow was predicted. I couldn’t take it anymore. Instead of waiting until the fall for the bad weather here again, I decided on Thursday night, hell, why not go down there now? First I called a friend of mine to go down with me, then I called Jenn and asked what she was doing this weekend. Then I asked my mom if she could watch Lk, as he would not be a good traveler and would have a miserable time. Finally, when it all looked like it would actually happen, I called my boss and told him I’d be out Fri and Monday.
Next morning we were off, just like that! It was 33 out the morning we left and 70 near Houston. I say near Houston because we had a little problem once we hit Dallas. That is, we drove 3 hours out of our way. (Don’t trust Mapquest.)
I called Jenn at 10:45pm and she goes, “So, are y’all in my driveway?”
“No, we decided to take a little side trip to Arkansas.”
She thought I was joking.
Sadly, I was not. So instead of getting to Jenn’s that night, we stopped at a hotel south of Dallas in Ennis, the Comfort Suites. Poor Lm was really crying at this point. He was an angel the entire trip. He’d fallen asleep around 9:30 in the car and I crawled in the back and held his head at a comfortable angle for two hours because his car seat does not allow for a comfy sleeping position and his head flopped to the front so he couldn’t sleep well otherwise.
At midnight we found a Comfort Suites and pulled over. They ran K’s credit card and I unpacked the entire car and loaded it on a hotel cart—which was A LOT of stuff, as Lm had his pack and play to sleep, a foam mattress, etc. I took Lm out, rolled the cart in…and the woman rudely tells me she can’t check us in, that she isn’t able to run the magnetic strip machine to get us cards. She said she wasn't used to being there alone to check people in. We asked if she would open our room with the master key so I could put Lm to sleep and she said “I can’t do that.” (She then said she refunded K’s credit card, but it’s now Tue and this morning I’m told there is a charge!)
I became unhinged at that point, Lm screaming in my ear and the cart full of stuff falling all over the lobby floor. I was actually shaking and felt some sort of panic attack coming on. She wouldn’t even tell us where another hotel was!
We found another one further along I-45 where the personnel was MUCH more competent and friendly, and stayed there, but Lm was inconsolable and I had to try to present the illusion that everything was alright, and I sang to him and soothed him off to sleep. Then I took 3 sleeping pills to fall asleep myself.
(End of Day 1…to continue with Day 2 and pictures later…don’t worry, it DOES get better!)
4/10/08
How to tell what a baby's cry means--a comprehensive guide!
Before I had two boys, I had heard girls were whinier. If that is true, then moms of girls must be going crazy, as my boys can whine like the best of them. Of course, when I think about my guys I usually picture them laughing--and they do laugh a lot. But at times they also whine, and I have learned to decipher the crying and whining before I even look up at them. Here is a comprehensive guide:Initial whimper followed by an upward crescendo of tears, red face and loud sobbing: This one is usually the real deal. It means they have either had a hand shut in a door, hit their head on a piece of furniture or some other boo-boo. Pain takes a moment to reach the brain receptors, which is why it starts out with a small cry leading into full-on wailing.
Native howling: (A continuous whine that, with drums and dancing, could otherwise be incorporated into a traditional ritual.) This one means they've just seen me take out the jug of milk and they cannot wait for me to pour it into their bottles/sippies. Perhaps they spotted someone holding a cookie a mile away. Or, when they've just been put into their high chairs, this howling ensues until food is granted. And yet again between bites if I'm not fast enough with the spoon. Anytime Mom's just not fast enough providing immediate gratification.
High pitched shrieks: My brother just stole my toy! (even if I originally stole it from him)
Squeals combined with thrashing: I will not take that medicine and you can't make me! Includes nasal sprays, eyedrops, thermometers, nose wipes, and more.
Sobbing, shaking, tears, screaming, thrashing, clinging to me like a tree in a tsunami: This means we've just arrived at the pediatrician and they've recognized the building. Yes, indeed, this show starts from the moment we approach the outside glass double doors until we've safely exited and they spot our car. I won't even go into what happens when the nurse reaches for the needle! I'm already dreading their 2 year checkup, and it's not until July.
4/7/08
Red Wagon Rides and Mr. Messy
This weekend was adventuresome for my boys because it was the first time since September that it has been warm enough for them to be outside. It actually hit 60 degrees this weekend!! (Yes, this is the longest winter we've ever had.) So Grandma and I took them outside for some wagon rides and their tree swing after lunch.
Speaking of lunch, Lk now will not eat unless he feeds himself. One day he just quit allowing me to spoon feed him and became very stubborn. I thought maybe he was sick but really he just wants to feed himself, no matter how messy! Though he's eating yogurt in these photos, you can still see the vestiges of his first course (ravioli) on his hands and face.
When he's "done" he just turns the bowl over, even if it's still full.
Then he'll chew on the spoon.
If he gets food in his hair and all over himself, the tray, my shirt, and walls, all the better, he thinks.
Next, it was outside for wagon fun!
Lm has an appointment tomorrow to get the fluid in his ears looked at by his ped. That's why the boys are wearing wool hats in warm weather.
They love their tree swing that Grandma got at a garage sale last year.
He smiles at her...
Then it's time to switch and Lm gets the swing for awhile.
And Lk gets a wagon ride.
Then they ran around on the grass for awhile until naptime!
Speaking of lunch, Lk now will not eat unless he feeds himself. One day he just quit allowing me to spoon feed him and became very stubborn. I thought maybe he was sick but really he just wants to feed himself, no matter how messy! Though he's eating yogurt in these photos, you can still see the vestiges of his first course (ravioli) on his hands and face.
When he's "done" he just turns the bowl over, even if it's still full.
Then he'll chew on the spoon.
If he gets food in his hair and all over himself, the tray, my shirt, and walls, all the better, he thinks.
Next, it was outside for wagon fun!
Lm has an appointment tomorrow to get the fluid in his ears looked at by his ped. That's why the boys are wearing wool hats in warm weather.
They love their tree swing that Grandma got at a garage sale last year.
Grandma takes Lm for a spin...
He smiles at her...
Then it's time to switch and Lm gets the swing for awhile.
And Lk gets a wagon ride.
Then they ran around on the grass for awhile until naptime!
4/2/08
Why Are Women So Catty?
A couple of years ago when I was pregnant with the twins I joined a single moms internet board. Since I know very few moms who've had kids without at least starting out married or living with the father, I wanted to find a group of gals in a similar situation to get advice from, talk about single mom issues with and so forth.
It became obvious over the course of a few months that, while we all had that common denominator, it wasn’t quite common enough, as there were two groups with differing situations which basically boiled down to: having bio kids versus not, having kids earlier rather than later (i.e., below age 40 vs. 40+), income ratio, whether you were new to the board or in the current clique that’s been there forever, amount of education (i.e., Master’s degrees vs. PhD’s), etc.
Maybe it’s a case of too much estrogen all in one place, combined with overanalyzing, overeducated people who grew up on shows like Dynasty and Falcon Crest. But, there’s been a lot of mudslinging and cat fighting over such deep, philosophical debates as:
--If you say Chinese kids are smart, is that racist?
--Is it anti-Semitic to support Obama due to his connection with Rev. Wright?
--Will so-and-so have time to go running once she has a baby?
--Is it better to take embryos to day 5 or day 3?
--Is it appropriate to diss people’s blogs on the board?
--Is so-and-so’s blog too cheery?
--Can she really afford to have another?
--Isn’t it insensitive to post a positive subject directly above the thread of someone’s bad news, even if both recent posts were accidently posted simultaneously?
--Did so-and-so lie about taking fertility meds?
--Shouldn’t we shout details of our conceptions from the rooftops, in order to “educate” the greater public?
--And why in the world would former members still lurk on the board?
This last one I think I can answer. It’s for the same reason that ya’ll are reading this blog: free voyeuristic entertainment in a post-Springer, post-Joan Collins world.
My point is, the “second” group, for lack of a better term, has started a new forum, and it’s honestly not to be snarky or back-biting, it’s because there are simply differences and tensions and cliques that sometimes can’t be assimilated, yet we single moms still would like a forum for ourselves—that’s all. And it’s members-only, which I would highly recommend for anyone who doesn’t want lurkers reading their internet posts. I could make this blog members-only and maybe will at some point but for now, when our TV options are no better than American Idol and CSI, it's free entertainment. Enjoy!
ETA: I mean for people to laugh at this, not get mad, really I do!
COMMENTS:
From Aimee: LMAO!!! Amen!! The drama, pettiness, hypocritical statements, & negative attacks were just too much and I'm so happy we found our new forum of freedom.
I was literally floored over the attacks against me from what were merely innocent posts of support and updates. The post about my latest U/S is what really did it! Can I not post about my worrisome high amniotic fluid levels? No one pregnancy is the same and I believe this contributed to my HELLP syndrome, according to my Dr.
What's being taken place on that board is a thing called "bullying" and I find it quite sad that others will conform to the bullies. This allows the bullies to continue with their power trips by verbally abusing another board member. It was basically a "no win situation" and having an opposing opinion to "certain board members", you will get slammed!
Thanks for this post! I love it!! :o)
Love, Peace & Happiness!!!
April 2, 2008 10:05 AM
From Jenn: Boards should be a place where people go for support in regards to the things that are thrown their way in life...Don't get me wrong, I think constructive criticism is healthy, but there is a CLEAR difference between criticism and flogging. The bulleying and abuse of others was so prevalent it was just sad. After a while, I felt guilty just for ignoring it and not standing up for the person whom they were attacking. When I was attacked on a personal and professional level just because I held a view on something that differed, I was hurt. I guess there is no freedom of speech and opinion on that board. When that treatment was allowed and not reprimanded as inappropriate, I was ready to move on.Our new board is great and is just what all of us needed!
April 2, 2008 5:21 PM
From Heather:
Isn't a sad statement when we look for support, etc and it gets twisted into something ugly and mean? It's one thing to be devil's advocate but to make actual personal attacks and judgements when a person hasn't walked in that woman's shoes is just pathetic. So, what's the new single mom user forum? lol
4/1/08
Let us out! PLUS, new blog recommendation!
Today is just another January day in April. It's 32 degrees out. I'm to the point I can't take it anymore. If Liam does not have to have tubes put in (and with my luck he will!) then I am possibly taking a trip down south with one of the boys to an undisclosed location in 3 weeks. Only if I travel down south will the weather here warm up. The day I leave, I predict it will hit 70 here, but if that's what it takes, that's what it takes.
My boys are just itching to go outside and play. Below you can see them pounding on the door to get out. They have their swing and a big yard in the summer. Usually by now they could've been out for almost a month. I can't remember a winter as hard as this one, not for the snow but just the everlasting gray sky and cold. It makes me all the more determined in a few years to get an apartment for 2-3 months a year in a warm weather area.
Also I'm going to recommend a new blog today! It's http://www.winningstartups.com/. The woman who runs it has a brilliant take on "other people's businesses." Great for the entrepreneur or just for your reading pleasure. Very entertaining with clear, crisp photos and a clear wit to match!
My boys are just itching to go outside and play. Below you can see them pounding on the door to get out. They have their swing and a big yard in the summer. Usually by now they could've been out for almost a month. I can't remember a winter as hard as this one, not for the snow but just the everlasting gray sky and cold. It makes me all the more determined in a few years to get an apartment for 2-3 months a year in a warm weather area.
Also I'm going to recommend a new blog today! It's http://www.winningstartups.com/. The woman who runs it has a brilliant take on "other people's businesses." Great for the entrepreneur or just for your reading pleasure. Very entertaining with clear, crisp photos and a clear wit to match!
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