Mom's Chat - Spring Days

[MCmom]

Another season is upon us. Unfortunately, it still feels like winter.

The bathroom project is moving along nicely. If all goes well, it will be completed sometime this month. I can't wait to go back to taking showers, baths are just not my thing.

I got a phone call today, about the speech program for Leah. On April 2nd through the 7th, Leah will be going to the school where the program is held, from 9:00am-11:30am, for a complete evaluation. They will try to determine exactly what is the reason for Leah's speech delay. After they decide that, she will get the help that she needs. We were told that Leah could be picked up/dropped off by a bus, but I can't imagine Leah doing that. She's so little! (even though she's one of the biggest kids in her 2 & 3 yr. old Sunday School class).

- It sounds like DH is home for good! Does that mean you guys will be living there for 4 years? How often will you need to move?

(with another c) - Glad to hear about the fence! Even though poor little Jack will be a bit sorry not to see the cows.

It's a variety of things that disturbs my sleep. Usually I have trouble falling to sleep (my DH's snoring doesn't help). Then when I do, it's either one of the children or the dog that wakes me up too early. This morning, it was our dog whining to go outside that forced me out of bed. The kids were sleeping great! It figures. The bathroom project isn't helping either. I feel out of sync at the moment. My DH is feeling the same way.

Heard from the Dr. yet? I can certainly understand why you're concerned! There haven't been any babies lost in our family, but I do know people in our church who have lost a baby/young child. I'm very thankful that our children are so healthy. I pray often for them to stay that way.

I've become a believer in gift cards. It takes all the guesswork out of what to get someone. I have given gifts over the years, that were not what the person wanted (found out later). Besides, I've enjoyed getting gift cards myself. I like going to the store, and picking out exactly what I want. If you want to give your niece a gift, I'd ask her parents exactly what to get her. I've done this also. Kids can be very particular (like adults) in what they like/dislike.

I wish we could have gotten a Honday Odyssey, but those things are expensive! We had to settle for a cheaper American made mini-van. I too dislike buying a new vehicle. You feel like they're trying to cheat you, and you have to stay ahead of the game. Neither my DH or I are good at haggling over the price. We just find something that we feel is a fair price, and we give them what they're asking.

- Hi there hon! How goes it?

- I still haven't given up hearing from you!

[Epi_Doc]

Hi Mary

I was beginning to think I was the thread killer again. And with the week I've been having I could see how that might happen.

So I was wrong about the cows. They were over to visit yesterday morning I just told DH that the very next visit the cows make I am calling the sheriff to come deal with it. I am so so tired of being the nice patient person and letting them handle it because they are not correcting the problem. Making nice did not work and I just cannot handle the stress of it anymore.

And about the car...so on 3/4 we bought this new truck. My husband did all the paperwork and we bring it home. At the end of last week the finance manager from the dealership calls to say that one of the rebates we were given can't be used with the plan we used to buy the car (we used my step-dads discount plan) so we need to give him that $500. And he asks for a credit card number and we were like "no". I am not giving him my credit card number just like that! So we review our paperwork and as far as we see there is a valid contract and we have his signature on a paper approving the rebate. So I call Ford and they say we don't have to pay because it is his error and he'll have to come up with that. Meanwhile he is calling and threatening to come take the truck back and all that. The nerve of that guy He won't acknowledge that it is his error and he doesn't want to honor our contract. Now I know that if I wanted to get out of the contract then that would NEVER happen. But he thinks he can just rework it to his advantage. At least I have Ford on my side. But I need them to make this guy back off. I am just angry about the whole thing No wonder people despise car salesmen.

Mary, I'm glad Leah will be going for her evaluation soon. Maybe if they can identify the exact nature of the problem it will be easily corrected.
And I hear you on the sleep disturbance. Sometimes it is Jack, sometimes it is our cats, sometimes these crazy birds outside that run around our backyard making a racket before dawn...it's hard to get good sleep!!
I have not heard back from the doc yet...I'm wondering if she isn't waiting for my other results before getting back to me. Today I went for a cholesterol screening so I should get those mailed to me soon. I mean for a $10 blood profile you can't beat that! Especially since it would be a lot more at the doctor's office.

I think I will get a gift card for my niece. She is at the point where she likes to shop so I will let her pick out something (and then get my sister to ok her purchase).

Well, I have some chores to do before Jack gets up.

Hope everyone is keeping warm. It's cold here today (again) and snowing.

Hi to Lee and Dawn and Curly!!

Niccole

[MCmom]

Niccole - No, I'm the official threadkiller! (sorry, the job is already taken )

Those crazy cows got loose again!!?? It's definitely time to call in the sheriff. Let me know how that goes.

Car salesman can be the worst! Many years ago, when we bought our Honda Civic, we dealt with one of them. This guy was upset b/c we didn't buy a car from his lot, and he made a few rude phone calls. It was totally uncalled for. Let's just say, we never went back there again. Good for you for sticking to your guns!

Speaking of sleep disturbances, this morning it was my DH's alarm going off that woke me up (he had already gotten up ). Then later on, the dumb dog started barking for no reason. I usually stay up at night to read a few chapters, of my latest novel from the public library. So much for trying to find a quiet time to read! I think I'm going to have to go to bed exactly when the kids do.

Did you ever get your tub fixed? Our nick is very small, about the size of pencil tip. I think I'll just live with it. I have a feeling that house calls for something like that, is on the pricey side.

Still waiting to hear from the Dr.? I can imagine it isn't easy! I'm waiting right along with you! Any news by now???

Thankfully, we recently missed a big snowstorm. Most of the snow went further north than us. I hope that's the last of it this season. I won't be holding my breath though! I can remember it snowing in April.

MaryC

[DarkSiren]

Just a quick hi today. We're in the last days before DH leaves again for his LAST patrol. Then I'll be heading out of town to spread my brother's ashes on his B'day.
I have to say I honestly didn't want to do that. I'd said my goodbyes and made my peace. But my Mom says that she needs me . And my Dad is even flying here to drive down with us so that I don't have to do it alone. I guess I really can't back out of that.

As for us moving and all that. Welllllllllll, we'll more than likely be moving at least once while we're here. You see we're in a 2 bedroom townhouse with 2 kids and planning on being pregnant by the end of this year. So, we'll either buy a house or rent a bigger one for the remainder of the time that we're stationed here.

It's normal to move every 2 to 4yrs in the Coast Guard. We sort of lucked out by getting stuck in the one place that NO ONE wants to be.

But we're trying to make the best of it. And once we leave here he'll have almost 20yrs in. So, we'll have maybe 2 more transfers before he's done. He could retire at 20 but is planning on going to at least 25. We'll see what actually happens.

By the time we do leave here he should have his next promotion and it'll be easier to ask for what we want and we're thinking about Hawaii next. We're actually trying to talk my parents into becoming dependents so that they can go with us. LOL

Anyway, this WAS supposed to be short and now I have to run and get breakfast going before the morning crazies start.

Take Care!!!

[Epi_Doc]

Okay...the good news is that the car thing is FINALLY over with! My husband talked to the GM of the dealership last night and the guy said it was our financial mistake and we'll pay it. He wasn't exactly apologetic about the treatment we received, but it's something. I think once they get our official "negative feedback/dealer complaint" from the home office and the regional sales office then they might see why we were so unhappy with things. I wouldn't hold my breath for an apology, but I do hope they can learn from their mistakes and treat future customers better. I think the worst part is that they tried to put my stepdad in the middle and use his relationship to us to get us to do what they wanted. They kept calling him and saying call them and tell them this or that. I never called him because it wasn't about him. I told him that if he wanted us to pay and have it over we would because I don't want to make it hard for him at work. But he said don't pay it and stick to what is right.

Mary, isn't that the worst when your husband is up and forgets to turn off the alarm I think I've come to the same realization...go to bed at Jack's bedtime!

We still haven't gotten the tub fixed. A woman called 2 days ago from the customer service place and asked if it had been repaired. She seemed surprised that it wasn't fixed yet. She was supposed to call the fiberglass man and have him call...but he still hasn't.

No call yet from the doctor. I'm thinking I should call in and try to find something out.

Dawn - At least you will have your parents with you when you do what you don't want to do You won't be alone.

Hawaii sounds nice...especially since it's freezing cold outside

Well, breakfast time! Talk to you ladies later.

Niccole

[MCmom]

It snowed today. Our bathtub/shower fixtures were put on. Leah was officially signed up for her 5 day diagnostic testing, to determine her speech problem. I got yet another cold (nothing new there).

Good news, when the plumber guy was putting on the fixtures, he noticed the chip in the tub. I acted completely innocent, when he mentioned it. (I felt stupid saying that I did it). He's going to come back and fix it for us.

Dawn - You plan on being PG by the end of the year? I don't remember you mentioning that it was a definite thing. Maybe you did, and I just don't remember. Anyways, that's great! I can see why you're planning on moving again. You'll definitely be needing the extra space.

That's good you're helping your mom, when she needs you. Not everyone would be so willing.

Hawaii sounds wonderful!

Niccole - Glad to hear the "car situation" has been resolved. That's one less dilemma to deal with. How about them cows?

Call the Dr. yet??

MaryC

[Epi_Doc]

Okay...my husband called the farmer about the cows (again). No one was home so he left a message that the fence better be repaired because it cannot happen again. So far...no more cows. I'm not holding my breath on that though!

I called the dr today. They called back to say that nothing strange appeared in my bloodwork so they have requested the records from the pediatrician who cared for Jack at the hospital. It was not our pediatrician because she didn't have privileges at the hospital, but it was a ped. group who is at the same hospital where my ob/gyn is. She is going to review those records when they come to figure out what is going on, if anything. So I wait some more. At least my tests showed nothing strange.

And yesterday I received my cholesterol and bloodwork back. Let's see:
total cholesterol - 201
Triglycerides - 40
HDL - 86
LDL - 107
VLDL - 8.0
Chol/hdl ratio - 2.34
ldl/hdl ratio - 1.24

Overall I am very happy with those. My cholesterol has dropped since the last time I had it done, with the drop being in LDL. And my HDL is great and so are the ratios, so I'm very pleased!

Mary - I'm happy to hear you will be getting your bathtub fixed! That will be one less thing to obsess about. And you won't have to cover it with anything and still know it's under there! And I'm glad Leah is having the evaluation done! You'll have to let us know what they say. It's snowing here right now. I can't see that it being "officially" spring has changed anything with the weather! Sorry about the cold. Hope you feel better.

Well, I'm off to exercise while Jack naps.

Niccole

[DarkSiren]

Not much going on here other than final preperations for DH leaving.

Although we did get some good news. The kids doctors office is opening a location about 5 minutes up the road.

Before we were having to go over a bridge and through a tunnel and horrible traffic to get there.

So, this is a HUGE deal for us.

I'm not doing so well with my WOE or exercise but really am determined to get back on track. I have NOT given up!!

Gotta run for now....time to get some paperwork done and then go and get groceries......


Dawn

[previously Lee A]

...sorry I've been busy....

...turns out DH leg is broke in 2 places and his ankle is smashed up...in 3 weeks he'll get another cast and we'll go from there.Right now he is playing a PS2 game and he likes me to sit and talk with him when I'm not doing my mother/housekeeper stuff but i said I really need to get online it's been a long time.
Dinner is in the oven but no one is complaining they are starving so i'm okay for a minute yet...I had today off and we played at the park for a bit after school.

Hi Mary-yes I've been busy working.Sorry to hear you have another cold.A vicious flu whipped through here this last week but all is well now.
Dayton had a pretty good BDay thanks although 2 of his sisters were throwing up that day.

I'm happy you are getting the bathroom situation fixed.So how is the exercise bike? Do you miss the treadmill? I saw a bike but my kids climbed all over it so I said forget that.I wish I could find time to exercise.I get on my rower and Dayton climbs all over me.

I've been horribly crabby too but I'm in the midst of TOM and some sleepless nights.I also am putting on weight tho' I'm really watching what I'm eating so this is scaring me.Probably because I'm driving instead of walking(running) now.One week I did exercise and I went down 5lbs but now I'm up 10

Good luck with Leah.Hope you can find out something.Is she excited about her big day?

Hi Dawn-that is great news about DH.Things always work out in the long run.You'll find a place and have another baby and it'll all be good. to have your Dr nearby.Ours is across the street.

Hi Niccole-I feel for you.I don't even want to talk about my dealer anymore because it's futile.I phoned GM too and anyone else I could and though he's totally ripped us off,he's allowed to.We need another vehicle down the way too and I don't feel like looking either.

Good luck with the cow problem...what's the matter with their fence?
Maybe Jack will keep you busy enough that you won't worry so much about a new baby.

I just give my niece money too.
Quick hi to Steph
Dayton is on me and squirming and pushing buttons

Back soon I hope
TTFN

[DarkSiren]

Originally Posted by previously Lee A

...turns out DH leg is broke in 2 places and his ankle is smashed up...in 3 weeks he'll get another cast and we'll go from there.Right now he is playing a PS2 game and he likes me to sit and talk with him when I'm not doing my mother/housekeeper stuff but i said I really need to get online it's been a long time.

Wow so sorry to hear about that......I guess I missed something and need to go back and reread.

Having a tired day here today. Just did NOT want to get up. Kids have been rambunctious for the past week so they're wearing me out.

I'm back on plan today and holding steady so far. I'm trying not to let the tiredness make me eat something off plan.

Other than that we had a bit of drama with Kaylee's home school but got that straightened out last night.

Hope everyone is having a great day!!!

[previously Lee A]

...I had to send my sis a Bday email and now I'm off to work...

Dawn that's ok
Actually I'm sorry too I never said anything about your brother's ashes.I mulled on it overnight but can't really convey what I'd like to say in words.
Hope that makes sense

anyway gotta run
see ya soon ladies I promise

[DarkSiren]

Originally Posted by previously Lee A

...I had to send my sis a Bday email and now I'm off to work...

Dawn that's ok
Actually I'm sorry too I never said anything about your brother's ashes.I mulled on it overnight but can't really convey what I'd like to say in words.
Hope that makes sense

anyway gotta run
see ya soon ladies I promise

Happy B'day to your sis!!

And don't worry about saying anything about my brother's ashes. It's just one of those situations where you never truly know what to say.

There's a lot of family drama over it and I didn't want to get caught in the middle but it seems I will be anyway. {{sigh}}

[DarkSiren]

Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah......

I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooo bored today......

Hope everyone is having a great week so far!!!

[MCmom]

Glad to see a few posts since I last visited!

It's been 3 weeks since our bathroom remodeling project started, and it's still not done! It's the dumb plumber guy who's holding us up. All we need at this point is the shower door, and the sink that goes on top of the vanity. My DH and I both agreed that we'll never go through this city run program again. We didn't have nearly as much control as we would have liked. When we remodel our kitchen in a few years, we'll be doing the hiring ourselves.

Moriah's b-day party is this Saturday, and we assumed the bathroom would be done by now. I would have scheduled the party for the following Saturday, if I had had any idea it would take this long. I wanted to show the relatives our completed bathroom. Oh well, I guess they'll see it when they come over for Elijah's b-day party in July. I hope it will be done by then!

The good news is that Spring weather is arriving afterall! We got up into the 50's today, with plenty of sunshine. It felt great. I did alot of running around with the kids, and am ready to get my nightgown on, and watch the "Lost" episode I taped from last night. That's the only show I'm watching regularly right now. I don't know what happened to "House." That show seems to have disappeared.

My DH is on vacation starting Saturday, so I'm giving the kids a week off from school. We all could use the break. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough for us to visit a park. The kids mentioned it once. I don't know what else we'll be doing.

Niccole - What's the latest news with the cows? Any sheriff calling yet??

Glad to hear all the blood tests turned out well! So far so good, with planning baby #2. Let us know what else the Dr. says!

I'm nervous about Leah attending the week long evaluation, but I feel at this point it's needed. As soon as I hear anything, I'll post the results!

Dawn - Sounds like I'm not alone in not doing so well with my WOE! Looks like we'll all have to be inspired by Niccole. I too have not given up!

I have days where I don't want to do anything either. It's SO hard to get going, but I try to get a few things done anyways.

Hope you found a way to ease the boredom! I find that reading novels from the library, helps keep the boredom away. It's one thing I find time to do everyday. I average 2-3 novels a week.

Lee - Is it really you??! Glad to see you back with us!

SO sorry to hear about your DH! Wow, how did he manage to do that? I don't seem to remember reading the story of how that happened.

Glad to hear that everyone is over the flu, and that Dayton had a good birthday party! I still have tons to do, in preparation for Moriah's b-day party this Saturday. I will be working my butt off tomorrow for sure.

To tell the truth, I haven't been using the exercise bike much. I seriously have to get over this problem I have with exercising! At least my DH is using it. That makes me feel like it wasn't a complete waste of money. I will use it eventually though! Stay tuned. (not missing the treadmill, b/c it was a junky one)

I'm scared of the scale right now. I get on it every few days, only to be .

Leah doesn't have any idea that she'll be getting evaluated next week. She wouldn't understand even if I tried to explain it to her. In some ways, she seems much younger than 3 1/2.

MaryC

[DarkSiren]

I'm here today. Dropped off the DH this morning. He's already called saying that he misses me.

I'm back on plan today as well. Hoping to stay that way since I need to relose some weight before heading south in 2wks......

Other than that not much else going on......{{sigh}}


Dawn

[previously Lee A]

...just popped in to turn the PC off.I was falling asleep reading Cody and Dayton a story(11:30pm )...

Hi Mary- to Moriah !
Sorry I thought it was Leah's BDay for some reason.
Hope you all have a happy day celebrating it.
Nice to have a holiday too as a family
sorry about the bathroom
would that life could be easy
The scale is so not my friend either
good luck finding time to exercise

Hi Dawn-I forget what it's like to be bored.
Methinks another baby will fit right in to your life right now
to you missing DH
absence does make the heart grow fonder

gotta run
the older 2 that go to bed early,also get up early (sigh)
TTFN
waves to Niccole and Steph

[DarkSiren]

Originally Posted by previously Lee A

Hi Dawn-I forget what it's like to be bored.
Methinks another baby will fit right in to your life right now
to you missing DH
absence does make the heart grow fonder

You're too funny....LOL

Actually we're hoping to start trying either this summer or in the fall. It depends on how much weight I can get off and how long it takes....

Most days are pretty busy. But every once in a while I have that day where all the housework is caught up on and Kaylee's lessons are actually done before lunch. And then there's nothing else to do.

And usually those days end up being rainy and everyone gets cranky from being cooped up with nothing to do.

I ended up getting bowls of water and putting them on the kitchen floor and letting them just play with wind up water toys and measuring cups and such.

[MCmom]

Moriah's 6th b-day party went well. I was glad that Moriah was healthy, b/c she was sick for her 5th b-day party. She spent the whole time on the couch. We had a house full of relatives, but we managed to squeeze everyone into our little house. They were impressed with the new bathroom, since it was horrible before.

The shower doors were put on early Sat. morning, well before the party started. Now the last thing we need to have done, is the bathroom sink. We got a phone call today, letting us know that it wouldn't be in until the 18th of this month. That means another couple weeks of brushing our teeth, washing our hands and faces, in the kitchen sink. It's only going to be a month and a half, since the whole project started! Honest to goodness, will this ever be completed??!

Leah started her speech evaluation today. She screamed when she knew we were leaving her. She even took off down the hallway, and ran into another room, while one of the teachers chased after her. I listened to her screaming while I headed out the door. My poor baby! It was hard for both my DH and I to leave her. Especially since it was a strange place for her, with strange people. I'm doing it for her though, which is what I keep telling myself. It helps a little.

Dawn - How long is DH gone for? I don't remember if you told us or not.

I hope your doing well with your thinning down! I have to get serious (again) after my DH goes back to work. I've been way too relaxed. I'm too scared to get on the scale right now. Some people wait to lose the weight, after they have their last child. It's very easy to go off plan while PG.

Lee - Wow, your kids stay up late! I thought mine went to bed late (around 9:30pm). They all go to bed around the same time, since I homeschool.

Thanks about Moriah!

MaryC

[previously Lee A]

...kids should be home from school any moment
younger 2 are having a nap
i just made a chicken soup
and will probably go out and do some yardwork later
as it's my day off
i just popped in because DH wanted some info on a Shriner's circus we're going to next month

Hi Mary-glad Moriah was feeling well and had a good day
stuff like that(bathroom repair or truck repair)just drives me crazy
these people don't care about the inconvenience they cause
Poor Leah but yes kids are more resilient than we give them credit for
hope it wasn't too traumatic and maybe even helpful?

HI Dawn-I'm serious LOL
After 3 kids I still had some spare time to exercise etc...so I assumed that I would after the 4th.Wrong!
I'm back on plan today

Okay Ladies we can do it.My scale said the same as it was after I gave birth to Dayton 2 mo's ago
Something about April and Spring that has always motivated me
gotta go

[DarkSiren]

I've had kind of a rough day today. Got news that they're going to probably sell the house we're renting. We already knew that it was a possibility and they even offered us first dibs but that was with the knowledge that it would be next year.
They're wanting an answer now and if they want it NOW then there's no way we can buy it....grrrr
Then I got a phone call right after that one to inform me that my DH's cousin had died yesterday. So, I had to email him that info as well since we don't know when we'll be able to talk again.
This is just a bit too much to be dealing with right before going down into an emotionally charged situation at my moms.....{{sigh}}

[MCmom]

Day #2 of Leah's speech evaluation, and afterwards we found a long, red, scratch on her left leg (approx. 3 " long). She didn't want us touching it, saying, "No,no," when we tried. I called and talked to someone in charge, who said they had no idea how it happened. They said all went well, and the kids appeared to play fine. My DH who was wary about the whole testing thing to begin with, is not happy. I tried to console him by saying that maybe it didn't happen at the school, maybe it happened at home, and we just noticed it today. Who knows?? It's not like Leah can tell us. I'm nervous about sending her back tomorrow, but it's only for 2 more days. I just better not find any more marks on her!

I got the kids 2 Hermit crabs 1 1/2 weeks ago, and they're still alive! After bringing them home and reading about their care on the internet (more involved than I'd realized), I thought they were goners for sure. Thanks to my loving care, they're doing well. I even checked on them at 5 am this morning. What can I say, I'm a caring person.

Lee - The circus sounds fun! I don't know if we'll ever do that, but we're headed to the amusement park & the zoo this summer.

Stay tuned to see if the speech intervention for Leah helps or not. She said her 1st 4 word sentence this month - "Mommy, look at that!" That's a major accomplishment for her. Most of the time though, she still talks jibberish.

You have my deepest sympathies regarding the scale reading! Let's be strong together, and get these pounds off!

Dawn - SO sorry to hear about another death in the family!