WW: My "Office" - AKA: Why I Avoid Going Upstairs

Wordless Wednesday: Balloon

Did you Vote?

This morning we went to our local polling place and puppy did his civic duty and cast his vote!!

(Sorry for the bad picture quality, some nice guy stopped when I was taking Zack's picture and offered to take one of the both of us so I can't argue about quality when he was doing us a favor)

Just remember... no matter who you vote for the important thing is....

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Tomorrow the political ads will all be gone and we can get back to our regularly scheduled programing!!!

Mercury or No Mercury

Zack was scheduled to have his flu shot at daycare. We have new health insurance and the prospect of him getting a shot for $25 instead of $125 seemed too good to pass up. Mercury free shots, same as the doctor's office. No need for me to take off work to take him.

Then they called.

Hi, this is the daycare. We wanted to let you know that the traveling doctor we are using said that since it is so late in the season the only flu shots that they have left are the ones with Mercury. Do you still want him to get the shot here?

My first, gut reaction, sure. It is a shot. There is no proven link between Autism and the mercury in flu shots.

Then I started to panic a little. I thought of one choice. One single selfish choice and never being able to talk to my son again and suddenly I couldn't breathe. I called the doctors office. They told me what I already knew. There is no proven link between the Mercury in shots and Autism but if I felt more comfortable they could give him the shot there and their shots were Mercury free.

I told her thank you. I would think about it. And then I thought about it, and how I would never forgive myself if something happened and I could have prevented it. However small and minuscule that chance may be. So I called the doctors office and scheduled his shot and then called the daycare and lied through my teeth because I feel bad telling people no. So I just told them the Doctor's office wanted him to have the Mercury free one. And now, my heart is beating a little slower and the weight is not so heavy on my chest.

Whew...this being a parent and making life altering choices is hard work.

What would you have done?

Cutest Cowboy on the Block

Last Thursday was beggars night here and we took Zack around to all of our friends and family's houses. It was kind of hectic, in the car, out of the car, in the car out of the car.... but he didn't seem to mind as long as there was candy provided at each stop.

I was going to post these on Friday but there was an unfortunate incident with a training class I was supposed to be at but forgot about until 8:30 requiring me to sprint out the door to this class and not allowing me any time to post pictures. :-)

Wordless Wednesday

Voting Help

A Request from my friend Jess....

As the election approaches I am getting more and more desperate to find a website that states the facts. Does anyone know of one? I am still torn about which candidate to vote for and like many others I feel like this election is even more important for people to vote and make an educated vote. So my two questions are….

1. Is there a website I can go to that lists each candidates views factually?

2. Is there somewhere I can go to get a ballet just as I will see it that day?

In years prior I have stepped into the voting booth to find I had only heard of two or three categories of names. I would like to go in that voting booth educated and voting for what I believe in rather than: eny, meeny, minny, moe.

HELP….PLEASE!!

**Jess

Misc Stuff

Today while driving to work I saw a woman driving an HHR. She had custom license plates that said "THE HHR" How much creativity did it take to think that one up? More importantly she seriously paid extra for that...

Ok, your turn... what's the strangest/dumbest custom license plate you've seen recently?

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This morning when I got up it was 24 degrees outside. On Thursday for beggars night it is supposed to be 62 degrees. Can it make up it's mind already? Really... no wonder everyone in my family is sick. My nose is running like a faucet.

Cold, hot... cold hot... pick a temperature already. I feel like I'm in one of those old sitcoms where the little kid is running in and out, in and out and the mom finally screams at him, "Jimmy, for the love of God... in or out!!"

So what's it like in your neck of the woods??

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Gas prices... can we say OMG I'm in love?? The economy might be failing but this morning when I came to work gas was at $1.99. I think I formally need to take back this entry....

As of right now we are only at a about a 30% jump since 2003. 30% is a much more manageable number. It even cost me less than $30 to fill up my car this week and that was at $2.06.

I am loving, loving, loving these prices.

How about you?

Wow!!

As much as I usually shy away from controversy I should write about that stuff more often!! You people really came out of the woodwork!! And not a single comment that I felt was inappropriate. Yeah for good manners!!

Now, moving on. I'm home today with Zack. He had bad diaper rash all day Wednesday, and I had to pick him up at 11:00. Yesterday I took him back and just prayed. The call came at 4:30 (they couldn't have just waited until I came to get him at 5:30??). He had a messy diaper. I had to come pick him up and he had to stay away until he was symptom free for 24 hours.

I'm thinking about taking him back at 4:30.......

My first (and probably my last) post on politics

I don't want this to turn into a comment war, and I will delete any that I need to if I feel it becomes as inappropriate here, as it did over at Dooce but I must just write a couple of things.

There are a couple of very wonderful bloggers out in the bloggosphere who have said, with far more elegance than I could ever muster, what has been running through my head for awhile.

For purposes of what I'm referencing, it doesn't matter how you feel about either candidate. (Although I'm guessing you will be able to tell which way I feel.) However, forget your own feelings for a moment and focus, instead on the bigger picture.

The absolute disregard, and even disrespect that John McCain seems to have for women. And since most of you who read here are women I point you two a couple of good reads:

Julie from A Little Pregnant wrote this...

Alexa from Flotsam wrote this....

While they didn't change my vote they certainly helped to solidify it.

Cousins

Is it Wednesday already? Where has my week gone? This weekend I finished up my 70 hour work week and then piled in the car on Sunday to go visit Landen & my sister and Tim too... :-)

It was nice to see them but it made me think about how sad it is that Zack will not get to play with his cousins all the time. I wish they lived closer so we could see them more. Jake's sister also lives far away. Far, FAR away... like Alaska far so we do not get to see her or her boys very often either and we miss them.

It's funny because growing up I only saw my cousins on holiday's and other special occasions like mother's day, father's day, etc. and I didn't know any different. But for some reason, I had just hoped it would be different for Zack.

So that settles it, Lindsay, Tim, Molly, Marshall, you must promptly quit your jobs and move right back here so we can see you more. You get right on that... k?

On the Mend

Thank you all for your thoughts and well wishes. My sister is doing MUCH better. I got to talk to her last night and she sounded exactly how a person should sound after having a baby. Running on adrenaline and head over heals in love with her little guy.

They said the combination of the D & C and the pitocin has gotten her bleeding down to what they consider "normal" but because of her ordeal she has earned herself a free pass to at least one, if not two, extra days in the hospital.

It's funny, people have babies all the time and you just think of it as, oh she had a baby. You forget that people used to DIE while giving birth, and some still do. Life is truly a miracle.

Now bring on the road trip. My project at work is winding to a close, and I need me some baby squishing!!

Update

My sister continues to bleed.

The did a D&C to try to figure out if perhaps she had some remaining parts of the placenta still inside her.

They gave her two units of blood during surgery and she is now back in her room trying to rest.

They still have no idea why she is bleeding.

They put her back on pitocin to try to get her uterus to contract down and stop the bleeding. They think perhaps her contractions were not strong enough to do that on their own.

They said they are going to monitor her for the next 12 hours and make a decision then as to whether she is getting better or a hysterectomy is necessary.

My heart hurts for her. I am sick with worry and want to jump in my car and go to her but I know that will not help her. She just needs to rest now.

I'll keep you updated.

Struggling

Please send prayers, good thoughts, good wishes to my sister.

She is struggling right now.

They are having trouble controlling her bleeding and they are talking about taking her for a D&C.

I'm sad for her that she is missing out on the wonderful first moments of her son's life because she is in so much pain right now.

Please send your thoughts and prayers that she will feel better quickly and get to hold and love on her son like she should be able to!!

The Baby Has Arrived!!

The Baby is here!!

Born on October 16, 2008

At 12:46 AM

Weighing in at 7 lbs 6oz

And 20 inches long.

The
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Baby
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Is
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A
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BOY!!!

Landen Kenneth!!

Congratualations Lindsay and Tim!! We love you and can't wait to squish the little one!!

Baby Watch 2008

My sister's baby is due on Friday. Last Wednesday her blood pressure was kind of high so they stripped her membranes to try to get labor going.

The baby laughed....

So she went back to work and she walked and walked and walked....

The baby laughed....

So Sunday night she bounced on the exercise ball hoping to get things moving along.....

The baby got pissed off and punched her in the back starting about 3:00 AM. She contracted every 25 minutes or so and the back pain was pretty constant. Just enough to keep her awake but not enough to actually be considered labor.

So she got up and went to run errands and do more walking...

The contractions stopped and the baby laughed....

So this morning she had a doctor's appointment. 3 cm dialated and they stripped her membranes again. If nothing happens she will be induced on Thursday....

EEEeee!! Baby by this weekend!!

Public Service Announcement

We interrupt this week of blogging about nothing because I have a tax deadline tomorrow and a software conversion deadline of Monday to bring you this special announcement...

Wal-mart now carries Lofthouse Cookies...

Oh yes, there was much rejoicing in my house as well as MUCH cookie eating. Last night after Zack was in bed, this morning before he got up...

What? I should SHARE my cookies with him?? Well I suppose, maybe just one....

We now return you to your normally scheduled programing of a whole lot about nothing, at least until Monday.

Translation Guide

"NaKaLikeit" = I don't like it.

(Or perhaps I do like it but I feel like saying something as I'm eating this and then I'm going to spit it out. But if you like it and YOU are eating it I might be persuaded to put it back into my mouth....)

Yeah = Yes

(Unless of course it means no, in which case when you do whatever it is he said yes to there will be much screaming and throwing of ones body in convulsions to the floor.)

No = No

(See above explanation for in case no meant yes and you got it wrong....)

Tactor = Tractor

(Unless of course it is prefaced by BIG in which case that little old gator will NOT suffice. NO, there must be a tractor of a MUCH larger size to mitigate any damages caused to his psyche....)

Neighs = Horses

(Unless of course you say horses and he is repeating you ... in which case horses means horses. DUH mommy!!)

Puppy = Beloved treasure that must be carted EVERYWHERE and NEVER touched by anyone other than Zackary.

See Also.... Bunny, blanket and perhaps MINE!!

Scuse me... = Excuse me

(Said to everyone from the couch, when the footrest is in his way, to the people in the grocery store. Has magical powers to melt your heart even when you are having the worst of days....)

See Also - Scuse me pillow, scuse me puppies... beep beep

Not working...

The last few times we have put Zack into the bathtub he has started to pee once we turned the water on.

Last night I was stripping him down to get into the tub.

I just took his diaper off and he was standing there looking at me.

He looked at me and then he looked down.

Then he looked at me and then he looked down.

Suddenly it dawned on me. Oh no... he's going to pee on me.

Before I could say a thing he looked down again and grabbed himself.

"No workin....."

Wordless Wednesday

He got a JOB!!

I'm SWAMPED right now but I just wanted to pop in and say that he GOT A JOB!! Woo Hoo!! YEAH!!

More details to follow.....

Job Interview

Well, things are starting slowly. VERY. SLOWLY....

We (Jake has limited computer skills so I have been doing the e-mailing) have submitted his resume to about 5 - 6 places but only one place has contacted him back. That place did a phone interview with him today and have now scheduled a second interview for Tuesday.

WOO HOO!! Can I get a YEAH!!

Cross your fingers people. Since this is the ONLY lead we have I'm hoping that maybe it will be the only one we need.

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On a totally unrelated note: Ramon Noodles... where have you been all my life??

And we all fall down...

You know how some times you are just going along thinking you are on top of the world and then BAM!! Something happens and the whole world falls down around your feet?

That is my today.

Jake called me today and told me he has been downsized. (i.e. the market sucks, we can pay your helper a lot less than we pay you so nice knowing you, have a good life)

He called the manager and the owner of the park, none of them would give him an answer other than they wanted to make some changes and so they are eliminating his position.

Not wanting to fall for the same old lies once again I called the girl he worked with and the manager in California myself. Same story. Jake didn't do anything wrong they are just making some changes and his position is being eliminated.

On the 12th of September he had been there a year, which was the longest he had ever been anywhere in the last 5 years. Back in June they gave him a promotion to co-manager of the park. Apparently all of that makes no difference when the economy is tanking.

So for now, we have filed for unemployment and he is frantically searching the papers for any kind of opportunity. Keep your fingers crossed that this turns out to be for the best for all parties involved because I REALLY, REALLY didn't think would ever have to do this again!!

Middle of the Night Shower

It is 1:15am. I hear Jake coming up the stairs. He had fallen asleep on the couch and I in the bed. As I'm drifting back off I hear thunder.

Damn!! I asked him twice to bring in the four wheeler, I bet it's still outside.

I jump out of bed, run down the stairs and onto the back porch. The rain is REALLY coming down. Adjust contacts, ADJUST!! Yup, there it is, out in the rain.

I open the door and almost turn back. The gutter must be clogged because in front of the door is a wall of water. I step out, I am wet, like just got out of the shower wet. No turning back now.

I run down the sidewalk into the yard, grab up the miniature 4 wheeler that my son loves so much and head back in under the waterfall thereby assuring that there is not a dry spot on my body.

I head into the bathroom, strip down to my undies and grab a towel. I head up stairs and turn on the closet light in an effort to find something new to wear back to bed.

1:28 I climb back into bed.

"Next time.... Please. Bring. In. The. 4. Wheeler.... !!" (Said through clenched teeth)

"Did you go out and get it? I didn't even know you were gone."

Grrr.....

Make Room for Baby

My sister's baby is due in three weeks. Three weeks.... EEEEeeee!!! (Squeal of excitement)

Anyhow, when I sent her a text message a couple of weeks ago I got the impression that they were not quite ready for the arrival of the little bundle of joy. So, Saturday my big sister, niece and I all piled into my mom's Tahoe and headed the two and a half hours to her place. (Yeah... that's right it's a good thing we love you... FIVE hours in the car!!)

When we arrived we could immediately see why they were a little overwhelmed. They had a rocking chair and a cabinet for the baby's room kind of hanging out in their living room and while the crib and changing table were put together, they were also filled to the gills with baby stuff.

We started in the living room, shampooed the carpet and moved things around, I didn't get before pictures because I forgot my camera, while they went to the fire station to learn proper car seat installation. When we were done in the living room they now had room for the baby swing and the treadmill (which had to be relocated from the baby room/office.

Since they only live in a two bedroom apartment the baby room has to do double duty as an office too. I think she was kind of worried that it wouldn't be cute but in the end one side is all baby, and one side is all office. I think it turned out really cute and we hope that she is now able to relax and know that baby can come any day now and all of it's stuff will be ready.

(Sorry for the blurriness of the pictures. I used my camera phone because I couldn't figure out the flash on her camera and I forgot mine.)

Zack's Website

For those of you who stopped reading because I stopped updating, ok, lets face it. That's all of you. I've seen the hit counter. I wanted to let you know that I have begun updating again. I will try to put something up there every day so I don't loose track of the cute moments that make me remember why I don't want to give him away when he is SCREAMING at me!! :-)

I will probably cross post some things but leave most of the daily stuff just over there. Adorable daily stuff none the less. Like this little thing from this morning:

"Cup..."


Jake heads into the kitchen with Zack right behind him and gets his cup out of the fridge. He turns to walk back into the living room and notices that Zack is not following him.

J: "What do you need buddy?"


Z: "Coffee...."

J: "What?"


Z: "Coffee...."

H: "Does Daddy need Coffee?"


(Grinning and shaking his head up and down...) "Yeah..."

Even at this age he knows that daddy is much happier after coffee!! :-)

So, head on over if you want to see what he's up to on a daily basis. Yes mom, that means you!!

HELP!!

I was doing some fall cleaning on my blog and I accidentally erased my cute slogan over there to your right. I tried to re-create it but I know it is not the same. Does anyone have my slogan... the one from this morning, hiding somewhere? Or can you remember it because I think it was phrased MUCH cuter than that....

Thank you!!

Wordless Wednesday

5 years

Five years ago last Saturday I walked down the isle and said I do...

So much has happened in five years.

We bought a house...

We remodeled a house....

We had a baby....

And then the last year and a half happened. On Sunday Jake celebrated his 18 month sobriety birthday. Things aren't perfect. It's the part they gloss over in "How to celebrate recovery 101." When people get sober things do not get perfect.

They get better in some areas but they also get worse in others. For 18 months Jake and I have been re-learning who we are. Together and apart. And I won't lie to you, it hasn't been easy. The road has been long, hard, and filled with a million pot holes.

Hopefully, when we make it to the end of this road we will find one that is paved and smooth. We are both committed to trying to make it there. In the mean time, I would like to say Happy Anniversary to a man who is my son's hero. Who has worked so hard to turn his life around and who is doing better every single day.

I love you, and I hope to meet you at the end of this road for another 5 years on a much smoother journey.

Cupcake Fun

Well, 5 hours and four frosting colors later... the cupcakes were done. (Next time I'm thinking Hy-vee...)

I started by making the cupcake tree that I wanted to put them on. I had found some pre-made ones at the store but I didn't think they were "quite" as cute as I wanted them to be. So I set out to make my own. I started at M!chael's but couldn't find what I wanted. So I moved on to a local little arts and crafts store.

Four cake plates, three styrofoam cake dummies, and 9 yards of ribbon later this is what I ended up with.

Then it was on to the cupcakes. The plan was to bake them all Saturday morning and then to decorate them Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, things often don't go according to plan. Friday night Jake informed me that he had to work on Saturday for at least part of the day so I would have little to no help.

So I started with the easy stuff. I had decided to make at least part of the cupcakes into rattles. (I know, I know... just bake and frost... lesson learned.) So, I started on Saturday morning making the rattle sticks. I thought this would be easy. A little dab of superglue on the end of the stick, pop on a lifes@ver and boyola. I was wrong. (As I so often seem to be.) Superglue does, in fact, bond instantly to everything. Fingers, tables, paper, foil, but not, apparently, to lifesavers. No it just sits there and wiggles about aimlessly.

So I had to prop the lifesaver and stick up and wait for them to dry (about 10 minutes) Then I CAREFULLY had to pick them up and add another layer of superglue to solidify the bond. When that was done I added ribbons. This is what I ended up with....

After nap time (for both of us) it was time to start with the baking. Jake showed up just in time to sit on the couch and nap while I tried to simultaneously bake and watch Zack. Good times. (Oh, did I mention it was our five year wedding anniversary?)

After I got the cupcakes baked, Zack helped me clean up a bit

In fact, he got it so clean I didn't' even have to wash it later. Note to self, when at my house do not use the wooden spatula. (Kidding people... just kidding...)

After cleanup it was on to decorating. I had this grand idea in my head that I would make green, yellow, pink and blue frosting. (Mental note to self, white will suffice next time) In the end, I think they turned out really well, but they were a lot of work and we have a LOT of them left over. (I tell myself it was because they were too pretty to eat.....)

Creativity

On Sunday we are having a baby shower for my little sister. Yes, that's right, my baby sister the one whom I'm not even sure is old enough to be doing things that LEAD to babies, let alone old enough to be married and having a baby of her own is, in fact, having a baby.

And I, along with my aunts and mom and other sister, are hosting this baby shower. Oh and did I mention that somewhere in all of this I got the idea that I was Martha Stewart. I'm not. In fact, I'm not even CLOSE.

When the idea of getting a cake was brought up I thought oh, why don't we do cupcakes and then I could make them into this adorable little cupcake tree like you see at so many of the fashionable showers. Umm... yeah. So guess who has managed to attempt to build her very own cupcake tree on which to put these cupcakes? Yeah... that would be me, the creatively challenged one.

I found a pattern on-line, but I have to tell you the finished product does not look so much like the pattern as perhaps a kindergartners attempt at the pattern. Ok, perhaps it's not that bad, maybe there will be older people at this shower and they will have failing eyesight and THEY will think it's adorable!!

Also, somewhere along the way I also got the idea that rather than buy these cupcakes I should make them. And not just make regular cupcakes. No, no. Make cupcakes and then try to DECORATE them. I see a possible emergency trip to Hy-Vee tomorrow afternoon trying to beg someone behind the pastry counter to PLEASE, PLEASE make me two or three dozen beautiful cupcakes before Sunday at 2:00. But, perhaps I will surprise myself.

I only need about 30 - 35 cupcakes and the two boxes I bought say they will make 24 each so I figure I have a few to practice on before I decide if I need to scrap the idea entirely.

Hey, if I get really ambitious perhaps I will try to dye the frosting on the cupcakes to match the shower theme. (I'm remembering a time my grandma tried to make a cookie monster cake and he turned out green. Green is not really a becoming color on cookie monster...) Perhaps, that's not such a good idea!! :-)

I'll post pictures next week for your viewing pleasure.

My morning

I step out of the shower, wrap the towel around me and head upstairs to get dressed. I pass Jake on my way, and as I enter the living room I see Zack sitting in his PJ's on the couch. I sit down to say good morning to him.

Z: Cup?

Jake hears him and starts pouring milk into a cup.

Cat: Meow... meow.... meow.... meow.... meow.... meow....

Finally I can't take it anymore. I get up, go into the dinning room and tell him to knock it off!!

I head upstairs.

Cat: Meow... meow... meow... meow... meow...

H: Seriously cat what is your deal??

Z: Deal? Deal??

I need to clean the litter box. It's only 6:55 I think I can squeeze it in before I need to leave. I get dressed. Go to the bathroom plug in the curling iron and head into the living room to put my socks and shoes on. (You've seen the pictures of our basement you wouldn't venture down there without footwear either....)

I sit on the couch. There sits Jake in his underwear and Zack in his PJ's. I put on my socks and shoes. It's now 7:00 and he is showing NO signs of moving. I go upstairs to get clothes for Zack. Heaven forbid HE do it......

I bring them down and drop them in his lap and head into the dryer to try to find some socks.

J: What? No socks?

H: I'm working on it!!

No luck with the dryer. I head back upstairs to look in the laundry basket. I'm pulling out sock after sock. Are you kidding me? I have six socks and NONE of them match. SIX!! Do you think they would notice if his socks didn't match? Oh wait... there's another one... whew, it works. I go downstairs and give it to Jake.

J: You know this is kind of small.

H: (yelling from other room) WHAT is kind of small?

J: The socks...

H: Then YOU go and try and find another pair!!!

J: I was just telling you...

H: Well next time, don't tell me.... ok??

It's now 7:10. So much for being on time....

Save My Place

So, work is crazy. There is a 9/15 deadline and on top of that we are working on converting our time and billing software and we basically have to redo a lot of things to work with the new software. And I... well, I get to help. :-)

So please, save my place here for me will ya? Don't delete me from your list of things you read and don't go away for too terribly long. I'll be back, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Until then, please save my place in line!!

Daycare Conversations

M: We have to get ready so we can go to daycare.

Z: No

M: But you like daycare. You will get to play with all of your friends.

Z: Play?

M: Yes you will get to play at daycare.

Z: Eat?

M: Yes, I'm sure they will let you eat at daycare.

Z: Toast?

M: Yes, I'm sure they will let you have toast at daycare.

Z: Go. Eat Toast.... (Pulling my finger leading me out the door....)

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Daycare Lady: Oh Heather, I wanted to let you know that we will be moving Zack up this month.

H: But he's only 20 months. Isn't that the two year old room?

DL: Yeah, but he's bored in the 1 year old room. He's starting to be naughty because he's bored.

H: But isn't he still kind of young?

DL: No, he's pretty smart. It gives him a good challenge and he's been playing in there really well when we let him visit this week. He's ready.

H: But I'm not ready!

DL: I don't think you ever get ready.

Wordless Wednesday - Man on a Mission