I've admitted before that this third pregnancy (Baby Trois) is kicking my ever-expanding ass. Months of nausea that seemed endless through the gray winter months nearly did me in. I gratefully accepted a pass into the second trimester and now at 27 weeks we begin a new journey, even if it is for just a day.What's that song about "twenty-four little hours"? Right, Dinah Washington, 'What a Difference a Day Makes." Well, we shall soon see.Today I begin a 24-hour urinalysis. TMI? Too bad. It's my blog. Check the labels. From this morning until I wake up tomorrow I have to pee into a bright biohazard orange jug. A jug o' pee, if you will. Tomorrow after dropping TD off at school I will head to the lab, give them my jug and have some blood drawn … [Read more...]
If Life Was a Movie It Would Be Funny
If it was a movie it would be funny. You would watch it play out on the screen and think, "Oh my God! What more could happen to this family in such a short period of time?" The on-screen family would bumble through the mess and we would all laugh as we munch our salty, sweet snacks and guzzle gallons of soda. As it is I just tell myself, "It could be worse. Just roll with it." It started with the car being totaled and the need to replace it with another car payment, er car. At this point we were all atwtitter with the money I would be making from last month's work and how this would help with new things for the baby (it's a girl!), paying bills and saving. Ah, relief and answered prayers had come just in time. Then the water heater died and flooded our basement. We laughed a bit … [Read more...]
You’re a Bad Mommy
Scene: In the girls bathroom, brushing TD's hair. We are in get ready for school mode.TD: (frowning at her reflection in the mirror. A permanent scowl has been on her face all morning.) "Mommy, you are a bad mommy."Me: (Stifling a sigh and the urge to rip through her hair because all morning has been this way. The frowns. The whines. The cries. The dissatisfaction.) "I'm a bad mommy? Hm..." I wait a beat as she nods in confirmation.Me: "TD, if I was a bad mommy I wouldn't care that you said that. It hurt my feelings. If I was a bad mommy I wouldn't be combing your hair or helping you get dressed or feeding you breakfast. Would you like it if I said you were a bad daughter?" TD: "Nooo...."Me: (Feeling overwhelmed by sadness and … [Read more...]
My Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
You put on the dress, ripping off the tags and feel brand new. Your heels click importantly as you wheel your suitcase out to the car and you breathe a sigh of relief. Aaah, I feel ready to work and professional.Then you stop for gas before getting on the road and your GPS feels cranky. It clearly isn't feeling professional today and doesn't want to play either. After twenty minutes of fiddling with it, cursing at it, downloading apps to your phone and calling your spouse you have directions. You are now late. The feelings of professionalism begin to recede as anxiety carves a pit into your stomach. You glance at the clock and think, "There is still time. I'm fine." You coast down the highway in your new car, getting used to its feel and briefly … [Read more...]
Two Kids, One Mom and a Junk Yard
"Um..yeah, if you could just pick up the plates and EZ-pass at the collision place tomorrow that would be great....." I have now succeeded in making H sound like Lumbergh. I asked him if there were any other items in the car and he said, "Maybe a box. That's it." So I went to the collision place that offers cash for junk cars today- eesh. On top of going to the grocery store, trying to get some work done- blogging and otherwise, building a volcano, calling the cable company, insurance company, doing laundry, calling garage cleanout in san diego county and cleaning the house. I'm leaving this week for a business trip and there is loads to do before I head out on Wednesday. I feel like I'm forgetting something. Right! The kids. I also made sure they didn't run in traffic, burn … [Read more...]
Spring Break
TD has been on spring break this week and for some reason I thought I would get the same amount of work done and do fun projects with her. How ridiculous is that? Between everyday life, enjoying the weather, searching for an NTU (new to us) car and work I realize I was in a fantasy world.Instead of tweeting like mad, posting contests at MPR or even keeping up with this blog we have taken walks, picked flowers, gone to the playground, baked, researched cars and gone on play dates. I feel like I haven't accomplished very much when it comes to the world inside my computer but having my kids sufficiently worn out each day from so much outdoor activity has been yes, a lot of work, but more in line with spring break. Besides, work is always there. The … [Read more...]
Overheards- Totaled
Scene: I'm cooking dinner, sipping grapefruit juice and fielding complaints from the peanut gallery. Spaghetti frittata isn't a gallery favorite. Then the phone rings.H: "Sooo... what kind of new car do you want?"Me: "What?! Why?" Thoughts drift towards our earlier emails regarding his car's prowess. As in, it has none. It's a '98 Corolla. H: "The Corolla just got totaled."Me: "WHAT?! Are you OK?" Inwardly I am screaming and thinking in short circuits of, "FUCK!" "DAMN!" "Whew!" "Crap... we just got rid of our only car payment in December...FUCK!"H: "Can you pick me up? Or wait. I'll call you when the tow truck gets here."Me: "Ok... I'm so confused. What happened? Was it your fault?"H: "No. The other … [Read more...]
Giving Number Three Some Attention
I've been in Florida this past week. I should be soaking up the rays from the sun but the windy temps have kept me working away at my laptop in the confines of my hotel room. I've ventured out for meals and post-dinner exploring with H, but not much else. If it sounds like a drag it isn't. I'm reveling in the fact that I can get this much work done. I'm booked for trips through April now and I feel alive again. I feel like Vicky and not a drone. I've accomplished tasks and feel like my brain is no longer mush. On my jaunts out for lunch and dinner I've tasted some amazing food at local venues (quiche to die for and a chocolate cake that made me smile for almost an hour straight) and enjoyed the warmer temps and ability to wear wedge heels without chasing a tiny being around and … [Read more...]
The Beliefs Behind the Work at Home Mother
Dog food. Dog food all over the floor. Dog food in the dog's water dish. It happened in about six seconds. One minute the dog was happily eating her breakfast. The next, destruction in the form of The Comedian crossed her path. To the right of the dog food disaster is a bathroom. A lid to a pot is now in the toilet. Directly behind the dog food mess is a trail of cereal bits and Matzo cracker crumbs that goes all the way down the stairs to the den and litters the floor in various spots in there. Go back up the stairs and there is a Matzo cracker massacre littering the living room floor. The dog, Lex, exacted her revenge on The Comedian in this crumbly spot. Look up and you will see the staircase leading … [Read more...]
You read. You comment.
I wrote a post last week about media pressures on women to look hot. It went out into the internet and all I got back was the sound of crickets chirping. I said to H, "I really thought that would generate some discussion, some comments of some sort at least and it was like, nothing." He replied, "Look, you are an intelligent writer but you are very moderate. You write something like that and it is as if the reader reads it and thinks, "Right. I can agree with that point of view." There is no controversery, nothing inflammatory to get people riled up. That is what generates comments most of the time." So basically I need to start saying stuff like this to get comments?People who own cats are dirty, filthy beings.orAmerican Idol is for losers.orWomen who … [Read more...]