The Zoo and high prices

Yesterday I took the kids to the Rainforest and Zoo. After all we bought a membership might as well use it and we all could use a fun day. It was fun and the kids behaved well. The killer was when we got home I changed the sleeping kids diapers who then woke up. I gently placed them into bed and said "night night". They must have laid there for a few minutes and decided the 1/2 hour nap on the way home was enough because they were all up! No rest for me and I was exhausted! Oh well it worked out because John had t-ball at 5pm and we needed to eat a little early anyways.

Can't believe how high the gas prices are. I guess it is the price of oil plus all the taxes the government adds on to it that makes it so high. Can't wait until they all fall down again or we get new politicians that will relieve some of the taxes. I better not hold my breath on the latter.

Fees - a lot of places have them to protect themselves but I think in the long run it loses business. For example MCI was my long distance carrier. I probably used them once in the last 6 years because of my cell phone is now more my long distance choice. Well they decided to institute a minimum usage fee in February. I haven't had a balance so I haven't opened up my bill. Then I received a phone call asking me to pay $25.84. I said come again I haven't used your service why do I owe you this amount? The "financial" person couldn't tell me so I had to call back on Monday to the Customer Service center. Then on Monday when I got my monthly bill from them I saw what they were talking about and oh yea - the 99 cents they were charging for a paper statement was now going up the $1.99. No thank you. I fee for the people who don't have access to a computer. Maybe our government should be handing out those along with the food stamps.

Random Thoughts

As I went through my day today I had a few things come to mind.

1. Wii is good and bad. It is good because anybody can play it (fairly easily) and it doesn't matter if you are young or old the competition level is even. For example I crushed John in baseball today 8-0 that we only played one inning. Then we changed to golf and he crushed me by 11 strokes. In my mind I think it is better because you are not just standing there although I think it truly is all in your wrist and how you flick the controller. It keeps the children occupied for a while and only a fight breaks out when James has had enough and turns the TV off on John. The bad - John is totally obsessed with it that he has cried when he has turned it off or becomes mean after he is done playing. He has controlled this much better lately so it has been easier to deal with. I always hear "I want to play Wii" from my children rather than "Let's go out and play"

2. Toy magazine's are evil. We got a Lego magazine today in the mail and without thinking much of it I let John look at it. Little did I know how much he was going to obsess about wanting the $80 toys in it. I gently reminded him that his birthday has past and he has no money to purchase which immediately turns on the water works. I then began to ponder about going on ebay and looking for an inexpensive set to purchase that he could play during nap time only and it would be an alternative to Wii.

3. Oh my gosh the 2nd game of the Indians double header is a good one. I missed the triple play because Dancing with the Stars.

4. Thomas is really heavy in the car seat carrier. I took the head support out today and Tom did just fine. I guess I'm going to have to learn pretty soon how to keep track of Patrick and hold Tom at the same time. In the mean time its not worth it right now and I will just have to look at it as a toning opportunity.

5. I wish I could train a 1 year old how to clean up the toys he threw all over the floor.

I think I had a few more things I wanted to mention but the Indians game is really good right now and I'm getting tired.

Mother's Day Reflections

I was thinking this morning as I was looking at my boys what makes them so special and I decided to share:

John - He is very smart and sensitive. I love how he likes to read the Sports page every morning to see who won the baseball scores. I love how I can get him to behave and help me by promising him some time to play Wii. I love how gentle and kind he is to his brothers. He has the best laugh. I love how he keeps trying things - like pronouncing Progressive Field or Pacific Ocean. I love how he makes up songs and teaches them to his brothers.

James - I love how he always makes me laugh. Now that he is talking I know what he is thinking. I love his voice how it can be so sweet. I love how when he is eating and he is hungry he says "yummy yummy hippo mommy" or "Delicious". I love how he likes to wear his camouflage rain boots everywhere rain or shine and he calls them "army boots". I love how he sings. He is very photogenic and is ready with the goofiest faces.

Patrick - I love his loving eyes. Although, if he doesn't know you he can stare at you where it looks like he is looking right through you. I love that he tries to do everything his big brothers do even if it isn't always nice. I love how snuggly he can be when he wants held. I love how he will back into you with a book when he wants a story read. I love how when I'm making breakfast, lunch, or dinner he is the first one in the room climbing up at the table even though the meal is not ready. I love how he is the last one to leave eating the scraps the others left behind. I love how he doesn't care who's sippy cup he is drinking from. I love how well he goes to sleep at nap and at night. I love how he sings.

Thomas - I love that he is sleeping through the night more times than not. I love how he smiles everytime I talk to him. I love how well he is eating prunes because the one formula bottle a day (the rest is breast milk) is messing up his bowels. I love how strong and alert he is. I love that he is turning on his side.

I love that I have had the opportunity to spend time with them this maternity leave. I love being their mother and enjoy taking them out to the store or other special places. I love being a mother!

Finally a break!

It seems like a long time since I had some quiet time to myself after the 1 o'clock hour. I am making John rest for at least a half hour today. I would prefer an hour but I'll take 30 minutes. I made James lay down by staying upstairs until he fell asleep - thank you Tom for cooperating. He and Patrick have been in a combative mood today. Patrick was up since 5:30 am and who knows what James' problem is. Hopefully they will both wake up from their nap ready to listen to instructions and be nice to others - yea right ;-)

Tonight is a big night - John and James have dentist appointments and we were invited to the Lake County Captains ballgame in a suite. I'm pretty sure the boys will do well. I hope they do not force an issue and take x-rays on either one of them. Then after that off to the ball game! The game was originally scheduled for 7:05 but because of a rainout they will play at 5:05 and then 20 minutes after that. Hopefully we will get to see a little baseball if not enjoy the food and company! John is to have t-ball today at 5pm but I was not running all the kids to 3 places that is to much stress for me. It will be enough stress having Matt come home in time to get everyone to the dentist appointment by 6pm.

I hope to have more resolve on the job share issue with my work. My boss asked me to call his last Wednesday but apparently he had to leave the office unexpectedly and won't be back until Thursday. There was a part time position that is open in Mentor but I need to apply by Friday. So hopefully I will get this resolved soon - not to mention I need to find a sitter!

Ok - time to surf and relax some more. Yea - me time - what a treat!

Relief!

Yesterday I had the Essure Procedure performed so we wouldn't have any more surprises. I went with this route when the doctor said it was very easy and the recovery was easy. That is all true. The hard part for me was no food or drink from midnight before the procedure. Well my time slot was almost 3pm! I did fine the only part was killing me was not drinking water. I was knocked out which I wasn't sure about but it turns out it was a great rest for me without having to really know what was going on. I have to "pump and dump" today but I have been very lucky as Tom has been sleeping through the night for about a week now. It has been wonderful!

I got all the summer clothes out of storage and the winter clothes put away. I took advantage of Matt being home in the morning to get the storage unit organized. Now I'm looking at the temps for next week and they are going to be cold! I did reserve a few long sleeve t-shirts and jeans for just in case but it may not be enough. Oh well - I'll be doing an extra load of laundry.

I hope the weather stays nice today - they are calling for rain but I'm actually considering taking the boys to watch some high school baseball at the minor league park in town.

I better go pump before everyone wakes up although it sounds like Patrick is already awake!

Things are looking up

The kids and I are feeling better. Last week was rough. Thank goodness Tom was awesome at night for me. He is slightly under the weather but hasn't had it as bad as the rest of us.

Saturday is Tom's baptism. On Sunday we had to go to the 11:30 am to present him to the community and officially name him. As we walked out the door the Deacon told Matt and I we had enough children. Nothing like being pro-life! If I was quick to think in my state of shock I would have said we aren't stopping until we get a girl ;-)

Thursday I have to go to the hospital for a preadmission check before I get "fixed". I will be relieved when this is all over.

Waiting to hear about a possible job-share at my current job. I heard from my boss today that it should be mid next week before I hear something. I was hoping it would be sooner so I can make other arrangements in the job situation but maybe something else will fall into place if the Chick-fil-a thing doesn't work out.

Sick Kids :-(

I started and I thought finished this entry yesterday but something happened and it got deleted so here goes again.

John and James are sick. John had a fever most of this week now has just a cough. James is in the fever just getting the cough stage. Patrick keeps drinking and eating their food so its a matter of time before he gets it. Tom seems to be doing ok. He is sneezing a lot but he kind of has since he has been born.

Today was a bit frustrating. John and James were pretty good minus the I don't want to clean up the toys I just dumped mom - you do it. At least they were entertained by 101 Dalmations. Patrick was the boy that almost put me over the edge. He was not into the movie unless I was in the room. Of course it is Friday and I would like to get the house cleaned up for the weekend. So if he wasn't whining when I was cleaning, he was whining when I was feeding Tom. I feel bad - I think I have a guilty Mom complex - I know he needs more attention but when I pick him up he continues to cry and pushes off of me like he wants down then when I go to put him down he becomes dead weight and wants back up. Ughh!!

I talked to my mom today. That was very helpful for a few reasons - 1) to vent 2) to reconfirm I'm not crazy and 3) to share the good news about my cousin who had her first baby early this morning.

The good news - everyone is napping, I got a nap and I also just found a good recipe for dinner next week. Something different but not difficult and the main thing - it contains all the ingredients I like.

John's birthday is Monday. I hope we get to celebrate it on Sunday with family - pending which kid still has a fever. Matt just has to find time to put the "Cars" bike together. I hope he likes it!

I wish I could get this "me" time everyday. It is nice just to surf and not have to worry about anything. I should check my email for my virtual assistant job to see if there is anything I need to respond to. I also found out that things are in process to see if I can go back to my old job part time / time share. I think that would be best. Ideally I would only like to work 2 days a week, but I think I need to work 3 to make it worth while. 2 days would be perfect because I could still feel like a stay at home mom but get out at the same time. The only hard part next is finding someone who is reasonable that can watch the kids and then I will need to see if our friends will be will to shuttle the kids around for school and swim lessons. Chick-fil-a is opening up in Willoughby. I was considering working for them as they have Sunday's off. I hope that window doesn't close before I get an answer from Pfizer. God is taking care of me so far - I have to continue to have faith.