I Gave Birth to an Octopus

Sorry about the last post. I went to publish and Baby AL started hitting keys and lost half of it then lost the title. I tried to restore most of it. All the while fighting the little octoman. You got what you got. Enjoy it, Damn it!
So far this has been a busy week. Although, I did just have a birthday! I got older and with that I got presents. I love presents but hate surprises. So I knew everything I was getting before I got it. I was very happy to get the growing light thingy for flowers. My house gets no light so I need something like it to grow any plants. I also got a replacement pizza stone. There is a story here.
So a while back, Sean broke my pizza stone. he put it on the stove and accidentally turned on the stove top eye. Broke the stone. So when I went to a Pampered Chef party. He got one of my good friends to get me one to replace it. I was not privy to this. I totally screwed up their plan. It was a good plan. Well, it was a loving plan. Although, there were a few holes in it. First, I went to the party a little pissed with Sean. I was trying to talk to him and he would just walk off. Turns out, he was calling Ms. J and she was calling him to get details. I find out, that the stone is on sale and I could get it for $20. I decide to get it. Not knowing My wonderful hubby was already planning on getting it. So, Ms. J decides to go outside to her car to call Sean at the house. Well, I have the forward to my cell, so I pick up. Ms. J got very flustered with that. I ended up finding out about the stone.
The little one just got up. I will have to blog more later.
~niffer

! !

I can not believe my birthday is tomorrow. I feel old today. I have been dealing with sick children for the past 2 weekends. Ms. G had strep this past weekend. SO for the last 2 days Mr. A and I have been feeling off. Tired, headaches, and stomach hurting. Now, it is not quite enough to go to the doctor. No fever, no swore throat. It's not keeping us from doing stuff, just feeling blaaa. :P
So that is why I am starting to feel old tonight.
I have a ton and a half to do this week. We have testing this weekend. I will test on Thursday but everyone else will test on Saturday. This means we need to go to all classes. This is hard for many reasons. Frits because Sean is out of town today. And because of birthday cake with the whole family on Tuesday. This leaves only Wednesday for us to get to TKD class. Sucks!
It really sucks because in my family birthdays are big deals. But they are getting out of hand. When we were Little it worked well. Now that we are getting older we have so much to do and the family is getting much bigger. We have gone from 5 people to 12 in a few short years. This makes getting together on the actual day very hard and unfair. We need to sit down and work out a way to do birthdays together. For example 3 birthdays in one week, we need to celebrate on one day. My Dad and I can share a birthday. Our birthdays are 5 days apart.

Sparring In TKD

I know as a green belt sparring is hard. I do not understand how to watch for the hits, punches, and kicks. I also don't know how to throw these things. Although, I know this logically, I want to be able to do this. It is driving me nuts. I want to be able to the crap out of people. I can throw the stupid kicks and get them near where the should be. It like I just don't want to hit anyone. So the result is my butt keeps getting kicked. ok really, every place but my butt. That is below the belt and off limits.
Testing is in a week. I feel I am not ready. It's going to hard and I am not sure I am going to pass. I think my form looks ok. I still want to work out one little part and make my punches stronger. But for the most part it looks good. I know it is good enough to move on to senor green. If I were a senor green I might be in trouble.
For the most part my kids are ready. Well, Ms. G is. Mr. A is working hard to be ready. I think he will make it. The nut is taking them to testing in NC. He will have them that weekend. He better take them or Mr. and Mrs. Scott might hurt him. Ms. G will be too bored to stay a green for another 4 months. It might so Mr. A some good but then again 4 more months knowing you could have moved on is a long time.
Sean is trying to get his classes in so he can test. I think he'll make it. If not he can become purple belt with me. It really is a win, win for him.
That is about all the everyday news at my house. The Nut is being an asshole as usual and there is nothing I can do about it right now. It is going to have to be taken to court at this rate. I just hope that will help.
Baby AL has become a toddler over night. Wow! He is amazing. I had forgotten how much fun this age can be. I think it is so nice I get to see this and stay home with him. I need to find him some play dates. He needs to play with some other kids. He really needs to be left with someone other than me or Sean.
~niffer

First Birthday!

Can you believe it?! Baby AL is one! I have some good pictures. We tried to get a family picture but it was more like a skit from a comedy show. I think we will have to get help with this feat. I have no real good stories from the night. We had every one here in my house. It was fun. I think the favorite gift was a steering wheel that says the cutest things. Including when you hit the button with the police car, it says "slow down little fella." When you hit the horn it says "out of the way!' in a kids voice.
I made some cupcakes that were wheat free, egg free, milk free, and nut free. They were not too bad. He loved them. That being said, he would not know what "real" cupcakes taste like. We also had a "real" cake for everyone else. Baby AL and I got the cupcakes all to ourselves. No one wanted to adventure out and try one.
All in all, a good time was had.
~ niffer

The Five Categories for People

So I have this theory on people you meet. They go into one of five categories. The first is friends. Most people go into this one. The second is the tricky one. If you are single it is the potential category. Potential boyfriend/girlfriend/ hubby/wife. If you have a significant other, it is the boy/girlfriend or hubby/wife category. There should only be one in this category if you have a significant other. The next Category is the fun one. It is the fling category. You know those people you put in there, sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. When you are married, not many people get to this category. IF they do, trouble is coming and coming fast! Hell, I think that even when I was single I only had 2 people ever make it to this category. The Fourth is the exes. These are the exes you can not be friends with. You know the ones with the really bad break ups and the one that are just really not good for you. The last category is the "no way in hell" aka the ax murders category. You know those people who just give you the creeps and you don't know why. This is their place.
Now there are a few rules for these categories. Most people can move in and out of the first 3. Depending on life. BUT once a person is in the last 2, they stay there. There is not getting out of the last 2. The nest rule is people can be in more than one category. Again depending on life. For example. My hubby is in the first 3 categories. (we are still in that honeymoon stage) You can and should be friends with the ones in category 3.
So next time you meet someone think about which category they belong in. It makes life easier when you do this. I know I have gotten wise in my old age.
And that is the random thought for today.
~niffer

Measuring time

I was thinking as I was raking the yard yesterday. I measure time in nonstadard units. When I was a kid Summer was forever long. It felt like months almost a whole year. Then school started and I waited for Thanksgiving break. Then next block of time was always my birthday and then Christmas. After that it was Frank's b-day and as I got older Valentines day. The next big thing was Spring braek and it all came around to summer again. That is how I measured a year. With little things just happening inbetween the time markers.
As I got older and was working as a teacher my time makers changed a little bit. My year always started the begining of the school year. My makers where the 1st nine weeks and one feild trip always landed in there for Halloween. Then it was the birthday Seasons. November- Febuary. During this time, it was broken into 3 parts; Thanksgiving, Christmas and the longest blaa time winter. As Febuary came to a close I started to look forward to march and april. Have to have the lepercauns and spring break. Not to mention Ms. G's birthday. Then in no time it was crunch time for "the test" and then 2 weeks of fun teaching and summer was here. The year always ended with my son's birthday.
Now that I am not teaching anymore I am not marking time the same way. There seems to be a lot of just normal days nothing special. My makers are further apart and seem to be based on my family. My year does start with the school year or there abouts. A few weeks before we start to get ready for school and start getting into a routine. Then there is Halloween. The best week for cake is the week of baby AL's birthday because Kevin and Ashley have their birthday that week too. Thanksgiving starts the crazy time call Christmas. During this time, my Dad and I have our birthday. Mom and Dad have their anniversary. School gets out for 2 weeks and Christmas is thrown in the middle of all that. It ends on January 6, you have to have 12 days of Christmas. Then comes the long winter. January, February, March. These long mundane time has a few shinny moments, Mom's, Frank's, and Jill's b-day. Then there is Ms. G's birthday along with Spring Break. Summer is right around the corner with vacations to the beach, Sean's birthday, and of course Our Anniversary. Then my year ends at Mr. A's birthday.
It was jsut random thoughts I had while working my ass off. I thought I would share.
~ Niffer

Cold Beer, Warm Fire, Old Movies, Great Neighbors, Moon Bounce, And Trick-or-Treating

WOW! What a day. We got Ms. G's vest sewn. She did most of it. Although, I did get very pissed with my mom's sewing machine. It mostly did not work. I think It only worked going backward and doing a zig zag stitch. All said and done, she was Nancy Drew for Halloween and she made her own outfit. I am very proud of her.
Mr. A was a "rich millionaire." He was too cute. He had a homemade costume too. I came across a tux just his size for $12 at this used kid store. It was perfect. We added a little briefcase,fake money, and a plastic hat. He was dressed to the T's.
Baby AL wore the same outfit from trunk-or-treat. He was cute but did not like just walking door to door. He went to about 5 houses, got no candy, and then went to hang out with dad and the over achiever neighbors.
Oh yeah! I was the wicked witch of the west. I did not color my face green because I was afraid it would scare the littlest love bug.
I have to say, we have the coolest neighbors around. Our neighborhood is the place to be on Halloween night. We went to about 10 houses got so much candy about 1/3 of a pillowcase full. We have these neighbors that are on the other street that really do up the decorations. There yard is full of creepy stuff. Very neat.
Then you go down the street a few houses and they have a moon bounce and an inflatable maze for the kids. They do smores for everyone. The parents just hang out at the street for a bit.
Then we head back to our street and head over to a few houses to sit by the fire and enjoy some beer, all the while watching black and white silent movies on their gragage door. The kids LOVED it. They watched "Phantom of the Opera" until about 9:30. Then they joined the adults around the fire and just talked. Beleive me when I say, a good time was had by all.
This where Sean and Baby AL hung out all night. I got to take the kids around this year.
Overall, it was a great night. We will have to do it again next year.

Here are pictures from Trunk-or-treat

I have these really cute pictures. This is just of Baby AL and me. The big kids were not here for this one. And yes that is my real uniform. I did get that green belt. I will have to find a picture of me with my medals for later.
Love ya guys!
~nif

So Much To Tell, So LIttle Time

Oh my goodness! I have had a busy week. Ok, really a busy last 3 days. We have had to deal with ER visits, child study crap with the nut, and everyday running around.
So the big one is the ER visit. It all started with the last post. You saw I was eating wheat and going out to dinner. The kids ordered salads with their hamburgers. Needless to say, the adults did not! Anyway, Mr. A put ranch dressing on his salad and put the empty cup next to his plate. Baby AL grabbed it and tried to eat/drink it. Both Sean and Andrew grabbed the cup. However, Baby AL did get some in his mouth. He did not seem to be having any reaction so we finished dinner and headed home. When we got to the house, we notice he was getting red and slpotchy. So we gave him some medicine. That was not helping. He face was swelling. His eyes where almost swollen shut. His face was getting worst. And it was moving down his throat and on to his chest. We, well I, ended up giving him an epi-pen and calling 911. Wow! The epi-pen has a huge needle in it. I did use it correctly. Within 5 minutes his face was not swollen. The emt wanted to take him in to be checked out. So did Sean and I. He went into the er and was given more meds, a scrip, and sent home. We go into the doctor today to make sure he is still doing well. It turns out, the egg can stay in his system for 3 days. So anytime during those 3 days he can have another reaction. He has not had anymore reactions yet. Thank God!
The nut really pissed me off this week. He is really pissed Mr. A is on meds for ADHD. The nut is upset because he doesn't want Mr. A on "happy pills". What an asshole. Sorry but he is. He has no clue and will not listen to anyone to try to get a clue about what is going on with Mr. A. The nut will not hear that he is the cause or even the leading cause to why Mr. A is having problems. Instead, he writes a letter to the school to have Mr. A tested. Well, we had a child study meeting last month. We came up with some areas we wanted to work on and ways to do that. We were to meet again next month. Now we have to come together in another meeting to discus testing. It is bull shit! The nut has no idea how things work within the school system.
Well, the nut was 40 minutes late to the meeting. I was not happy to waste most of my morning waiting on him to show up for the meeting he called. During the meeting, the nut did not listen to anyone. He was slouching and very hostile toward me. When he did speak he just kept saying he wanted the school to use these certain test to see if Mr. A really had ADHD or dylexia. Because all he hears is Mr. A is unfocused and not doing well. He was not listening, no one said this year that Mr. A was unfocused. His teacher told everyone he is doing great this year. A big different from last year. But all the nut wanted to do is yell at me and tell the school they need to test his son. When Sean tried to say something the nut yelled at him that he was not a father and needed to stay out of it. When I tried to say anything, the nut would talk over me and yell at me. He never let me speak. I tried to stay calm and waited for him to stop talking but whenever I would speak he would start yelling over me again. He wanted the school to force me to sign disclosers to them for the doctors so that they could have the information on Mr. A's ADHD. Hello, he has ADHD. He is taking meds for it. He is doing better this year than last. The school doesn't need any more information then I have already provided. The nut wants more information. But he will not tell me what information he wants. I tried to say it was like strep throat. When you go to the doctor and he tells you have strep. He gives you a scrip you take the meds and you get better. You do not ask for the throat culture he used to diagnose you.
When the school said they could not force me to do that then he just said that I was "unable to handle Mr. A" and that if you "hound a doctor enough he will just give in" and medicate the child. Bull Shit!!! A) no doctor will just give into a parent and give them a highly restricted drug to to get the parent off their back. B) we are seeing a psychologist every week to help. C) we are also doing at home interventions. D) the psychologist says that the nut is aggravating the situation with Mr.A. And I truly believe if the nut finds that out, he will take it out on Mr. A and tell him he better not talk to Dr. E. That would not help Mr. A out at all.
So basically it was a wasted meeting that got nothing done. The nut got to yell at me and try to bully me. But really, nothing else came out of the meeting.
one last thought on this whole ADHD crap with the nut. If he really is upset over the diagnoses then he can spend his own money and get a second opinion. But he will not. Or he could try to go back to court. But he can not until he starts to get caught up on child support. He is over $15,000 behind. So he is just going to try to have
Overall, it's been a crappy ass week!
Next week should be better!! I have nothing planned this weekend. The kids are going to the nut's. Sean and I are doing nothing but relaxing.
~Nif

I Get To Eat Wheat! Well, At Least Tonight I Do

Hey! I am so excited. Tonight, I get to go out and have a hamburger with a bun!!!
The doc wants to challenge Baby AL's allergy! It started out with 1/8 piece of bread; then I got to double it everyday. So tonight I am up to 2 pieces 2x's a day. He has had no reaction so far. Well, not any to really note. Because he is off Zyrtec, he is having some reactions to some things. The fire in the oven the other night caused a reaction. I even thought about giving him the epi-pen. But the meds had it pretty clam down in about 45mins. By the way, it was not in my oven and I was not cooking.
I get to call the doc tomorrow and see what else he wants to do. I do not think we are going to get to challenge the milk allergy anytime soon and the egg allergy is pretty much all his life. The peanut allergy is something I do not mind challenging. However, I will not be eating any peanuts. I do not care how small they are. I hate nuts (of all kinds)! The doc will just have to find another way to challenge that one. Besides, in a few weeks his nursing is going to go down. I will not be nursing all the time.
I am not so sure how or when this going to happen. I know starting at one Baby AL will be going on rice milk. I wanted to start by giving him formula at meals from 11 months on. But the doc kindda put those plans on hold. By me eating the wheat to challenge, I sorta need to nurse the baby. Or it won't work. I still want to nurse at night for a while. This will be just quiet time for him and me. I really like that idea. I think he is more than ready to give up nursing during the day. He is way too busy. Although, when he is tired he wants to nurse.
I have a video of him walking. (on my phone) He can walk he just won't. He gets the older two to pick him up and take him places. He is doing that sorta of thing with the talking too. He will point to whatever he wants and he gets it. No one will make him "use his words" except for me. (and half the time I give in too) I do have to day, he will use his signs. I love it!
oh! I just got the call. DINNER TIME! gatta go!
~NIFFER

I Think I Have The Flu!

My head hurts; my body aches; my stomach HURTS; I feel like I going to throw up; I am so tired!!!! UUUGGGG! I hate being sick!!
Being sick with 3 kids is hard. Everyone is trying to help out. They just are not helping. They are trying and that counts! I just want to sleep. I won't get any. The kids just don't understand that sleep is what adults want when they are sick. Kids just don't want to go to school. Although, one of the best days I ever had with Mr.A was when he was sick. He cuddled on the couch with me for most of the day. We watched movies, read books, and slept. It was a neat day. I don't get to spend too much time one on one with my kids.
Otherwise, life is good. I was thinking the other day. This is a neat life. I have my kids, a nice house, a great hubby, and a wonderful life. It's very nice. I am glad that I am in this good spot right now. It was not too long ago I was not doing as well. But that was then; this is now.
I have a few pictures of my little ones.
~niffer

Crazy is the Word of the Day

Wow! I do not think I will ever go on another adventure with my family again. They are all crazy! Yes that includes me. So when we all get together we are even crazier then most. The wedding of my cousin was beautiful. I even got to stick to my crazy diet. I danced with my hubby and my father. I enjoyed myself.
Getting up there was crazy. Trying to coordinate too many people, and get to the wedding on time when the hotel was 2 hours late getting our rooms ready. I am telling you it was crazy but we were on time.
Leaving was crazy too. Why is that when the kids do not have to be up early they are! So no sleeping in for us. Although, the plan was to get up and out to see the Washington Monument. You have to get up early and stand in line to get tickets. We did not do that. Instead we tried to go to the Zoo. One of Sean's and my first dates was to the zoo. So this sounded like fun. Fun until the crazies started. Going the wrong way, running 3 lights, almost hitting 2 people, and one major temper tantrum later we found our way to the zoo. Guess what?! There was no parking. So we ended up driving through the zoo and round and around for parking. After 3 hours of the crazies, we left to go home. We never saw any animals but we did get in a driving tour of the city. Only in the crazy was I can do it!
All and all one very crazy weekend!
~niffer

Life Goes On...

Wow! I can not believe baby A is almost one. OK, it is still over a month away until his birthday but...
In this last year we have been learning and dealing with some major food allergies. He is having a hard time with milk, wheat, peanuts, and egg. So over the 6 months I have taken all of that out of my diet. He is still nursing so I can not have any of that stuff. It is amazing to see the difference it has made. He is still having some allergy problems. So much so we were given an epipen-jr.
Well, I am not one for the "woe-is-me" stuff. Although it has been hard I have found ways to eat. I have also done a good job of finding things for him to eat. Now I can tell you I miss milk. I can not stand soy or rice milk! And I can tell you to stay far way from soy cheese. YUCK! However, rice milk it a good substitute in cook with, It doesn't flavor the food as much. I am loving the fact I get to eat potatoes more.
This morning we had to take baby A in to see an allergist to do the back pick and arm skin test. (my baby had to get 6 shots and 15 picks! ) It basically told us the same stuff we already knew from the blood work we did 6+ months ago. We also had to do more blood work. The doctor is hoping we will be able to challenge his wheat and maybe his milk allergy. Which means we will give him orally small amounts of the wheat (and maybe milk) in the office over the course of 4 hours. Part of me wants to say, "that is ok. We have a diet that is mostly working." Yes, I am afraid it will not work and he will have a major reaction. The other part of me thinks, "If this works I can have pasta!" The wimp in me will let it happen and pray he will be find. Afterall, the doctor knows what he is doing. Right?!
So that brings me around to some of my family. They have tried to be supportive. They will make things for me to eat (salad) when we eat together. But they do not quite get it. A) You can get very sick of salad when you can not eat cheese, any kind of nuts, or wheat (ie. the crutons and such). B) It's not very fair to watch other people eat things like pasta, pancakes, steak, or really anything I can not have but really like. C) Going and not being able to eat anything and watching everyone else eat sucks! I have to get ingredient list before we go out to eat. I am not really complaining. I know it sounds like it. I am just make a point. My family tries but doesn't see all that goes into planning a very strange diet. So when my cousin's baby is showing signs of some allergies. (they are testing her this week) My mom in particular makes it sound harder than it has to be. My cousin C. is upset and afraid that she will not be able to eat or be able to feed her baby. So I need to talk to the ever busy C. to tell her it is possible and at first the effort seems great but as with all things it becomes much easier. We just have to jump in with both feet and never look back.
ok I need to go. I am looking at my son who is covered in his lunch and making a huge mess.
~Nif

Kick Ass Weekend

So I went to Gatlinburg, TN. Not to get married this time but for a Teakwondo Tournament. I had a blast. I drove up with Ms L. We just hit it off. We talked and laughed and told stories. She is the type of person I would love to get to know better. She is the type of person I would feel luck to consider as a friend.
We both got medals. She got a medal in Sparring. She was good. Really good. I got a medal in both forms and sparring. (4th in forms and 2nd in sparring!) I will post pictures later. my camera broke up there and I will have to wait until one of my nice teakwondo friends emails me with some.
Check out the new link to Richmond's Teakwondo America web site. I love the Scotts. They do a great job with the kids as well as with the adults.
I will have to tell you guys later about the trip Sean and baby A took. They had a good time. I just wish I could have gone too.
~Nif

The Kids Are Back In School

Yes we had a great summer! I love summer. I love the hot weather. I love to go to the beach and swim. It is just relaxing and fun.
With the cold weather and the sun setting earlier and earlier; we are getting back into the swing of things. It's the third week of school. Everyone is starting to get up on time (with out to much of a hassle)! I can not believe Ms. G is in fourth grade and Mr. A is in second. Wow! I am getting old.
This year I am helping out the Scotts. I am going to work with the preschoolers 2 days a week. I am actually looking forward to this. I enjoyed going to the different schools and showing them taekwondo. That me tell you I really only like to use the pool noodles. It's my "part time job"!
We are going to be keeping busy of the first part of fall at least. I have camp training for girl scouts, taekwondo tournament, a final cookout, and then boy scouts camping. That will bring us to mid-October. Busy every weekend.
I have not heard from the nut in over a month. I am starting to worry about that. We have a meeting at school for Mr. A. The nut told school he was not going to show up. he felt "it was not his place." and would be "awkward." But I have a feeling he will still show up, just to be an ass. If he would show up and be there to do the best thing for Mr. A then I would not be worried about it. But, I have a letter from a psychologist saying the nut is the reason why he is having such a hard time in life.
That is about it around here. For the most part we are heading into the fall full speed ahead. Without too much of a head wind.
~nif

TeaKwonDo

So yes we have become the TeaKwonDO family. The kids are doing great. It really is helping Mr.A. Sean is even having fun with it. Ok so am I. I did not get to go to this tornament. but here are pictures of the ones who did. I will get to go the next one next month. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with my family. Who betweem them all got a gold (1st), silver (2nd), bronze (3rd), and copper (4th) medal. Mr. A got a 1st place in sparing. Sean got a 2nd place in sparing and a 3rd in forms. Ms. G got a 4th place in forms. I am very proud of them.

Baby A's First Trip to the Beach.

Isn't he just too cute!

They Are Back

The kidos came back. Mostly unharmed. Ms. G should have gone to the doctor. She had an ear infection for a week. But the nut would not take her in because that cost money. Mr. A got a nasty sunburn. Other than those two things they came back physically ok. Mentally however is a different story. The nut keeps telling them they are going to get to pick who they live with. And they better pick him. I hate to tell him this but he can not pay child support, take them to the doctor, or provide them their own bed to sleep in. I do not think he has a strong case for primary custody. Hello, you actually have to take care of the kids. DUH! He is just killing me. He let Ms. G and Mr. A watch The Sixth Sense. Ms. G did not want to watch it at all. tried not to but he made her. He wanted her not to be afraid of ghost anymore. Guess what? It did not work. She has had nightmares every night. He did not do this the first week there. NO, he did this the very last day. right before they came home. Thanks *&^%$#@!
Sorry that was the last of the bitching. Really, life here is fine. Mr. A has been seeing a psychologist. He has been diagnosed as ADHD. I have to say, it's no surprise. We start meds next week. It should be an interesting week. I am hoping this along with seeing Dr. E every week for a while will help him deal with life. Although I did find it rather interesting that Dr. E is saying Mr. A condition is aggravated by the nut. That no sort of order or schedule is not good for Mr. A.
Ms. G is a little nervous about being in 4th grade. She is worried because she doesn't know any of the teachers. She is also worried about her hair. Everyone keeps asking her about it and it is embarrassing her.
Baby A is doing great. Although he is having a very hard time when people leave him. He can not be left alone or he starts to really cry. I can understand this. In the past month, the kids were gone for 3 weeks and Dad was gone for a week then 3 days more. I totally understand ehat he is feeling. He did scare the nurse at teh new Dr's office. When he cries hard he ends up holding his breath and turning blue. When we told them that he did this, they though we were exaturating. Guess what?! We were not.
We ended up having to get a new doctor because our old Doc's office lost their lease. And I think when Dr. C wanted to become a partner she was told no. (something she said without saying it) So Dr. C left. She went back to be an ER doc. Damn! We all loved her. She knew all of us. TO the point when we had to call her after hours she called us and Sean said, "Hi Dr. C. This is Sean. Baby A is having another reaction...." she knew who Sean was and who baby A was. So we are going to a new Doc. We are trying really hard to get her caught up on all of Baby A's stuff, Mr. A's problems, and of course Ms. G in all her aliments. It's tough when after 2 hours in a doc's office you give little details here and there but they still won't have the whole picture for a while. I miss Dr. Conrad!
I will post some pictures for earlier in the summer.
~nif

My Wonderful Daughter

Yes, this is the before....



And after







She donated 10 inches of her hair. She cut almost a foot off. I am so proud of her. She is missing her hair but she knows it will grow back.
~nif

She's Back

It's been a rough few months. It turns out Baby A has a few allergies. He is allergic to wheat, milk, peanuts, and eggs. Especially eggs. The doctors think he will out grow the wheat and milk allergy. However, he will always have the egg and peanut allergy.
What does this mean for me? Well, I am still nursing. So I need to avoid these foods. Do you know how much wheat and milk is in the foods we eat?! It has taken me months to be able to figure out how to eat on this diet. So I am basically a gluten free vegan who eats meat. Yeah, it sucks.
Although I am finding more and more stuff to eat everyday. This diet has gotten me out of my comfort zone and I am willing to try new foods. Although, between you and me, I am craving a big Mac right now.
So the bottom line is I eat this crazy diet. I force my family to eat this crazy diet. (We are eating much better.) And Baby A is doing so much better. no more hives, no more red splotches, and no more exama. He is gaining weight(up to 19lbs.) and has 3 teeth. He is crawling. He is even trying to walk. (yes right on track with the other 2) He loves his older brother and sister. They swear he is saying their names. He is not, he only knows mom and up. Which is funny. He uses "muma" for food and me; and up when we are not picking him up and he wants to be.
Ms. G is mostly doing good. She had all A's on her report card. She is loving reading Nancy Drew. She is totally board this summer. Although, she has been playing with the new boy down the street a lot. I wonder if that is because we are good friends with his parents or if she still has a crush on him.
She has been having a time with her stomach. She keeps complaing that it hurts. The doctors can not find anything wrong with her. The have tried meralax, tums, and an Rx for stomach acid. So far nothing is working. I do not know how much of this is drama lama and how much is the real thing. Two ER visits and MRI's later, I am hoping they figure somthing out quickly.
Mr. A is doing wonderful in summer school. He is really starting to read up a storm. His teacher is really good. She makes him enjoy reading again. His teacher last year really was not good for him. He is even letting me help him with reading. (no small feat there)I am proud of him. He is having a rough time emotionally. Issues with his father. We are trying to get him help. We seem to have hit a smooth spot. Until you factor in they leave for 3 weeks this Friday.
The nut is more of an ass then ever. He ended up going to school the second to last week of school (but not seeing the kids) because "he's involved with his kids education and I do not give him any information about his kids." Hello! What do you think you can do in the last 8 days of school?! He was just pissed that I told him he need to learn to count to 10 so that he can give me notices on time for his weekend visitations. And that Mr. A needed to go to summer school. His answer to that was, "if you were a good teacher, he wouldn't need to go to sumer school and I could have them whenever I wanted for the summer." He showed up to school bad mouth me and made such a fuss, I ended up having to get lawyers involved. And to top it off, He has not bothered once to call in the last month+. He has no idea how Mr. A is doing in summer school. Has no clue how the kids are doing. He won't even return my calls about taking the kids to Teakwondo. The Asshole. Yeah I believe he cares, don't you?!
Anyway, the nut gets the kids for 3 weeks starting this Friday. I am not looking forward to it. I never do. I miss them so much and worry about them. Hell, they have no bed of their own at his house. They sleep with him. He has no clue how to take care of them. He even tries to use Sean's name when he takes them to see a doctor. So he will not be responsible financially.(long story)
The last time the Nut picked them up for the weekend. I had the kids ask him to take them to a birthday party for the new boy down the street. It was Friday night at Mad Science. (not down the st.) Anyway, he did. I was so thankful he did. They were the only two families who came. The Nut locked his keys in the car and had to paid $100 to get into his car. Then he took 295 all the way around to 95 south. (laugh, this is funny, he went almost in a complete circle around the city) He called as Sean and I are eating dinner saying he was 45 minutes past Petersburg and Ms. G's eye was swelling shut. It started before they left but now it is really hurting her and she wants to come home. So I tell him he can bring her home or take her to the Doctor. We gave him directions to a patient first. He gets there before we do. And is calling me asking for Sean's information because he was filling out the paper work. He had given them Sean's name. Not his own as Ms. G's father. And the billing information was for our address. Then he made a big show about paying the $10 copay. And he needed to keep that receipt to have for always in her baby book on how he takes care of his baby girl. Then he pulled the same bull shit he did in the hospital when we thought she had appendicitis. How everything will be ok because she is beautiful. Hello just because she is pretty doesn't mean she will be fine. One has nothing to do with the other. So the moral of this story is he is an asshole that tries to play the "I care about my children and take care of them." The sad part is I believe he cares about them in his own way. It is just not the way the kids need him to care. By the way, Ms. G's eye was not that swollen. She ended up with a bug bite under her eye that she was rubbing and that is why her eye was red. So she did not need to go to the Doctor. So we are down $100. Yes because our health insurance doesn't do Patient First.
So they leave for 3 weeks this Friday. Pray for them, I know I will.
I do have some cute pictures I need to post. As soon as I get them off the camera I will.
Love ya guys!
~niffer

Diane Degrange

This is a picture of my aunt with baby A when she came to visit around Christmas time.
I remember my aunt as a fun-loving lady with a piano in her family room and all that neat stuff from McDonald's. She was a lawyer for McDonald's so she got all this neat stuff. We had sheets and hamburgers in the freezer. She had two children both of whom I looked up too. I played the flute because my cousin did. As a matter of fact, that same cousin is now expecting a girl in about 6 weeks. She has the same nickname as baby A.
Well, my aunt has been fairly sick for a while. She tried to hide it as long as she could. the last 2 weeks has been the worst. In and out of the hospital 5 times. She could not hold on any longer. She died this morning. She was loved by many and will be missed by all.
~Nif

hello world

Yes, the world has been kicking ass lately. However, I am starting to kick back. I will post details soon.
~Nif

The power of Boodoo & the little voodoo guy

You reminded me of the babe.
What babe?
The babe with the power.
What power?
The power of voodoo.
Who do?
You do.
Remind me of the babe.

This is how it is supposed to be unless of course you are my son. Then you would substitute voodoo for boodoo. Then after about 5 times going round and round. Ms. G says a matter-of-factly, "We need to stop. We just keep saying it."
All this is going on at breakfast this morning. As Sean and I are trying so hard not to laugh at them. But as we got up to clear the dishes, Ms. G ask Sean to tell the story about the "little voodoo guy". She meant the "little Buddha guy".
We lost it then. The kids must think we are crazy. We seem to e always snickering at them. We can not help it, they are too cute!
I just had to share. We are heading out early this morning. Mr. A has testing for his orange belt at Taekwondo. After taking a week to sew on his patches and punching about 15 holes in my figures. I don't have a sewing machine so I did it by hand. He better pass. If he does, he will get his fighting gear. This will include a cup. I will then have to post the conversation I have with him about a sports cup. It will surly be funny.
~nif

New Year, Same Old Stuff

I just spent the last hour or so going over my blog. I found a helluva lot of misspelled words. Sorry about that. I get so excited when I type I just start hitting keys. I have notice, that I do not post every month. I am going to try to change that. I will try to post at least one thing a month. Hopefully more than one time. BUT, this is me so we will see.
Mom is not doing well again. The cancer is giving her problems again. She had to have the port put back in. Her vains are way to hard to prick. Dad was in the hospital again for another heart attack. Although, he is not saying that is what it was. I know better. He called mom from the office to say he was having chest pain and he wanted her to come pick him up. He did not know I was there at the house with her. I told him to cal 911. He refused. I think it is b/c he did not want to make a sean. After taking an asprin he felt better. So he was not thinking it was a heart attack. BS I called my brother in-law. Who not only is a police officer but is also an EMT. He said the same thing I did, "Call 911!!" He called my mom. She told him what was going on and he told her dad needed to get checked out. Mom said she would bring him to the ER. After 10 minutes talking to me. Kevin called mom back. When he found out they had not left yet, he told them if he knew dad's address at work he would have called 911 for them. That is when Dad agreed to have Mom take him in. He ended up being admitted. He got a stint put in and a blockage removed. And he is trying to say he was fine and did not need to go to the hospital.
I am so glad that Sean's parents are not sick. I think it would be very hard to deal with both of our parents being sick. The sad part is his parents are both older than mine. I do not think it is going to be very long before we end up with a funeral. The sad part is I think Dad is going to take it very hard, if and when it happens.
On the good side of life,
the kids are doing pretty good. Mr. A made his derby car a pritate ship. And is taking tykwondo classes. He is loving it! and I think it is good for him.
Ms. G is doing great is school. Straight A's. She is also taking a yoga class. Damn, she is more flexible then I am. I am still so sore from my class.
Baby A is eating, sleeping, growing like a weed (13lbs), and starting to really coo and smile at people. Not quite sleeping through the night. But we are working on that. Both Ms. G and Mr. A were by 6 weeks. I must be slacking on this one.
We got a pretty dusting of snow 2 days ago. We might get some more today! I am hoping for a snowday!!
ok that is all the boring stuff going on in my life. I miss you guys!
~nif