Children get sick. It's a fact of life. Inevitably, if you have multiple children, the law of motherhood says that they cannot all be sick at the same time. They feel it their childhood duty to be sick consecutively, so it seems that Dr. Mom is continuously taking care of someone. Then, of course, Dad has to put in his two cents and get sick too.
But what happens when Mom gets sick?
The little family world goes you-know-where in a handbasket.
Yep. I'm sick.
I have been laid flat by that great equalizer, strep throat.
The good news is that I have so much penicillin coursing through my body that I'll be untouchable for the next 10 days.
The bad news is that I not only had to take two unexpected days off of work, but my dear husband had to step in with soccer mom duties. Not that he doesn't enjoy watching son #1 play soccer, but, honestly, it's just not the same.
It was cold here on soccer night. The game was at 5:30 pm and the temps hovered around 45 degrees, with a slight damp breeze. When they got back at 7, he was complaining about how cold and dark it was. Now, on his behalf, this was a makeup game. Typically, games take place on Saturday mornings. Temps have been chilly, but are usually rising instead of falling. Also, with the fall time change scheduled to take place this weekend, it's getting dark earlier.
Still.
As a kid, I played soccer, was in marching band, was a cheerleader. Kids practice/play in cold weather. Sometimes even in dim light. It was just what we did. The parents brought coffee. Lots of coffee. Blankets, scarves. Whatever it took.
My husband wants to bring a propane heater.
I can only imagine if all of the soccer moms got sick at the same time. The dads would coordinate small "heating centers" right here in suburbia soccer central.
Fortunately, there's only one game left in the fall season. Maybe he'll forget about the propane heater until next year...
Cheers!
10.25.2006
10.19.2006
Going to the Dogs
I had a deprived childhood.
I never had a "real" pet. Oh, sure, we had the occasional fish, turtle, and once, I even convinced my parents to let us have a gerbil. The fish died within a week. I barely remember the turtle, so, honestly, he could've been a figment of my imagination. The gerbil lasted until winter. My mother would not let him live in the house (he was, after all, a rodent), so off he went to live with a friend of mine.
I'm sure there are those of you out there who feel that animals of the cold-blooded variety and rodent family are fine pets. I am not one of them. In my opinion (and since this is my blog, that's really what counts), you have to be able to cuddle a real pet. A real pet is one that cares when you are there or not there, and I'm not just referring to whether or not they get fed.
A few years back, hubby got me a kitten for my birthday (at my request). She was a sweet kitty, a black domestic shorthair (read "common housecat") that we rescued from a shelter. She was, as I understand it, very personable for a cat. When we would come home from work, she was waiting for us at the top of the stairs, and she loved to sleep at the foot of our bed. She graciously tolerated, and even pretended to like, my then-toddler son.
Unfortunately, we moved, and, due to circumstances beyond my control (read "my mother-in-law lives with us and hates cats"), we had to find a new home for my sweet kitty. As an aside, she's very happy in her new home and has established herself as Queen of the Household, with four humans, a dog, and another cat as her obedient, if not always willing, servants.
Dear hubby has always been a dog person. Grew up with them and has very specific ideas about what kind of dog makes a good pet. I like dogs, and have a few ideas of my own. We had decided to hold off until after baby son #2 was born and we had established a household routine before adding a canine to our busy home.
A few weeks back, the subject of a dog came up with son #1. The conversation went something like this:
Son #1: "Mommy, can we get a dog?"
Me: "Well, we might get a dog sometime, but not right now."
S#1: "What about a cat?"
Me: "No, sweetie, Grandma is afraid of cats."
S#1: "Oh yeah. What about a bird?"
Me: "Uhm. No."
S#1: (hopefully) "A rabbit?"
At this point I decided I'd better at least consider the possibility of a dog, or I might end up with a son who felt his childhood was deprived.
I'm the type to research things thoroughly before acting, so that's where I am. Researching German Shepherds, because, as my big dog-loving hubby says "they're loyal and good family dogs." I'm not opposed to big dogs as a general rule, but I have a few other breeds I'd like to check out. You'll be the first to know when a decision is reached.
Cheers!
I never had a "real" pet. Oh, sure, we had the occasional fish, turtle, and once, I even convinced my parents to let us have a gerbil. The fish died within a week. I barely remember the turtle, so, honestly, he could've been a figment of my imagination. The gerbil lasted until winter. My mother would not let him live in the house (he was, after all, a rodent), so off he went to live with a friend of mine.
I'm sure there are those of you out there who feel that animals of the cold-blooded variety and rodent family are fine pets. I am not one of them. In my opinion (and since this is my blog, that's really what counts), you have to be able to cuddle a real pet. A real pet is one that cares when you are there or not there, and I'm not just referring to whether or not they get fed.
A few years back, hubby got me a kitten for my birthday (at my request). She was a sweet kitty, a black domestic shorthair (read "common housecat") that we rescued from a shelter. She was, as I understand it, very personable for a cat. When we would come home from work, she was waiting for us at the top of the stairs, and she loved to sleep at the foot of our bed. She graciously tolerated, and even pretended to like, my then-toddler son.
Unfortunately, we moved, and, due to circumstances beyond my control (read "my mother-in-law lives with us and hates cats"), we had to find a new home for my sweet kitty. As an aside, she's very happy in her new home and has established herself as Queen of the Household, with four humans, a dog, and another cat as her obedient, if not always willing, servants.
Dear hubby has always been a dog person. Grew up with them and has very specific ideas about what kind of dog makes a good pet. I like dogs, and have a few ideas of my own. We had decided to hold off until after baby son #2 was born and we had established a household routine before adding a canine to our busy home.
A few weeks back, the subject of a dog came up with son #1. The conversation went something like this:
Son #1: "Mommy, can we get a dog?"
Me: "Well, we might get a dog sometime, but not right now."
S#1: "What about a cat?"
Me: "No, sweetie, Grandma is afraid of cats."
S#1: "Oh yeah. What about a bird?"
Me: "Uhm. No."
S#1: (hopefully) "A rabbit?"
At this point I decided I'd better at least consider the possibility of a dog, or I might end up with a son who felt his childhood was deprived.
I'm the type to research things thoroughly before acting, so that's where I am. Researching German Shepherds, because, as my big dog-loving hubby says "they're loyal and good family dogs." I'm not opposed to big dogs as a general rule, but I have a few other breeds I'd like to check out. You'll be the first to know when a decision is reached.
Cheers!
10.18.2006
These are a few of my favorite things...
I've always considered myself fairly technologically-savvy. I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a "techie", but I can navigate fairly well. This blogging thing being so new, though, I was bound to run into trouble soon!
This morning I'd created my entry and pressed the "publish post" button, thinking "ah, one more entry up".
It disappeared.
Of course, I hadn't saved it anywhere else, and I didn't have time to recreate, so on to Plan B.
Oprah has her "O" List. While my opinion on things carries nowhere near the weight of Oprah's, here are my widely varied recommendations:
1. Ice Cream: Being a semi-native Buckeye (the Ohioan, not the nut), I'll have to go with Oprah on this one. Graeter's Ice Cream is amazing. If you're ever in the Chicago area, Oberweis Dairy is excellent, as well.
2. Tea: I love the smell of coffee, but the acidity wreaks havoc on my insides. I do, however, enjoy a good cuppa. Tea, that is. A fellow blogger (see below) recommended Adagio Tea. Their selection is amazing, prices are reasonable, customer service is excellent, and their tea is top-notch. An all around A+!
3. Baby Bottle: Upon recommendation from my sister-in-law, I tried Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Bottles for my second child. They look like a normal bottle, but have this tube-thingy (there's that technical knowledge showing again!) inside that somehow eliminates additional air. I'm telling you, the kid can be sucking on a dry bottle and be getting NO GAS. This, as any mother will tell you, is a beautiful thing.
4. Diaper: Variations on a theme, I realize. Huggies makes an overnight diaper in size four and up. Both of my children tended to be big, ahem, pee-ers at night. I got tired of washing sheets every day. I was so excited when my little guy hit size four diapers, I nearly cried.
5. Book: Because I am a self-proclaimed bibliophile, this could become quite lengthy. I will, however spare you my extensive list and give you what is currently on my bedside table. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson. A great true story about events surrounding the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It tells the story of Daniel Burnham, renowned architect and the man responsible for the Fair's construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a doctor. If you're into something lighter, I've read each and every one of the Harry Potter series multiple times. Or for some great "chick lit", check out any of Sophie Kinsella's books, particularly the Shopaholic series or The Undomestic Goddess.
6. Joke: We've already established that I have children. Hence, I have heard knock-knock jokes ad nauseum. My favorite little joke goes like this: "Where does the king keep his armies? In his sleevies!" Go ahead, try it out on a friend and see if you don't at least get a little giggle.
7. Blogs: I've only recently been introduced to the world of blogs, but I have a couple of faves. http://qcreport.blogspot.com. Quinn Cummings was a child actress who starred in The Goodbye Girl and Family. Now she's all grown up with a family of her own and a successful business. She's a talented and fun writer. Check her out. http://www.melissacmorris.com. I found this blog through the previous one and am hooked. Mel is a smart, preppy working woman with a handsome hubby and a sweet little doggy. She also knows good tea! (see above)
Well, that's all for now. It was a good backup plan, I think.
Cheers!
This morning I'd created my entry and pressed the "publish post" button, thinking "ah, one more entry up".
It disappeared.
Of course, I hadn't saved it anywhere else, and I didn't have time to recreate, so on to Plan B.
Oprah has her "O" List. While my opinion on things carries nowhere near the weight of Oprah's, here are my widely varied recommendations:
1. Ice Cream: Being a semi-native Buckeye (the Ohioan, not the nut), I'll have to go with Oprah on this one. Graeter's Ice Cream is amazing. If you're ever in the Chicago area, Oberweis Dairy is excellent, as well.
2. Tea: I love the smell of coffee, but the acidity wreaks havoc on my insides. I do, however, enjoy a good cuppa. Tea, that is. A fellow blogger (see below) recommended Adagio Tea. Their selection is amazing, prices are reasonable, customer service is excellent, and their tea is top-notch. An all around A+!
3. Baby Bottle: Upon recommendation from my sister-in-law, I tried Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Bottles for my second child. They look like a normal bottle, but have this tube-thingy (there's that technical knowledge showing again!) inside that somehow eliminates additional air. I'm telling you, the kid can be sucking on a dry bottle and be getting NO GAS. This, as any mother will tell you, is a beautiful thing.
4. Diaper: Variations on a theme, I realize. Huggies makes an overnight diaper in size four and up. Both of my children tended to be big, ahem, pee-ers at night. I got tired of washing sheets every day. I was so excited when my little guy hit size four diapers, I nearly cried.
5. Book: Because I am a self-proclaimed bibliophile, this could become quite lengthy. I will, however spare you my extensive list and give you what is currently on my bedside table. The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson. A great true story about events surrounding the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It tells the story of Daniel Burnham, renowned architect and the man responsible for the Fair's construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a doctor. If you're into something lighter, I've read each and every one of the Harry Potter series multiple times. Or for some great "chick lit", check out any of Sophie Kinsella's books, particularly the Shopaholic series or The Undomestic Goddess.
6. Joke: We've already established that I have children. Hence, I have heard knock-knock jokes ad nauseum. My favorite little joke goes like this: "Where does the king keep his armies? In his sleevies!" Go ahead, try it out on a friend and see if you don't at least get a little giggle.
7. Blogs: I've only recently been introduced to the world of blogs, but I have a couple of faves. http://qcreport.blogspot.com. Quinn Cummings was a child actress who starred in The Goodbye Girl and Family. Now she's all grown up with a family of her own and a successful business. She's a talented and fun writer. Check her out. http://www.melissacmorris.com. I found this blog through the previous one and am hooked. Mel is a smart, preppy working woman with a handsome hubby and a sweet little doggy. She also knows good tea! (see above)
Well, that's all for now. It was a good backup plan, I think.
Cheers!
10.14.2006
Male Pattern Blindness
So, like many of you, I have several males in my life. After many hours of painstaking observation, I wanted to share an amazing discovery I have made. All males, regardless of age, share an affliction. Male Pattern Blindness. There is no other logical explanation for what goes on in my home, and others like it across the country.
Allow me to share.
My darling husband, on his days off, has been known to grab the cordless phone, stand in front of the refrigerator, and ring me at work to ask me where the ketchup is. And I, being the person who put it away each and every time prior (another male syndrome to be addressed at a later date), can tell him with compass-like accuracy the exact coordinates where the ketchup is currently residing.
I know this is consistent throughout the gender. My sweet son #1 cannot, as a general policy, find his gym shoes in the morning even though we have a firm rule in our house that the gym shoes, backpack, and jacket go by the door before he goes to bed. This in, in part, because "by the front door" is such a vague term. In my mind, "by the front door" is a specific location, limited to approximately two square feet of space near the coat hook.
His interpretation is a bit broader, of course, and extends to the entire 24 square feet of the entryway, including underneath the hall table. He also doesn't share my seemingly logical assumption that said gym shoes should be placed together. So, of course, when he goes to look for the shoes, they may be under a table or separated in some fashion. Needless to say, this arrangement, in combination with his gender bias toward Male Pattern Blindness sets him up for almost certain failure in his search for shoes.
I hold little hope for baby son #2.
Cheers!
Allow me to share.
My darling husband, on his days off, has been known to grab the cordless phone, stand in front of the refrigerator, and ring me at work to ask me where the ketchup is. And I, being the person who put it away each and every time prior (another male syndrome to be addressed at a later date), can tell him with compass-like accuracy the exact coordinates where the ketchup is currently residing.
I know this is consistent throughout the gender. My sweet son #1 cannot, as a general policy, find his gym shoes in the morning even though we have a firm rule in our house that the gym shoes, backpack, and jacket go by the door before he goes to bed. This in, in part, because "by the front door" is such a vague term. In my mind, "by the front door" is a specific location, limited to approximately two square feet of space near the coat hook.
His interpretation is a bit broader, of course, and extends to the entire 24 square feet of the entryway, including underneath the hall table. He also doesn't share my seemingly logical assumption that said gym shoes should be placed together. So, of course, when he goes to look for the shoes, they may be under a table or separated in some fashion. Needless to say, this arrangement, in combination with his gender bias toward Male Pattern Blindness sets him up for almost certain failure in his search for shoes.
I hold little hope for baby son #2.
Cheers!
10.13.2006
Up and Running!
I feel as though I have stepped into grown-up land (or at least the 21st century!). I have a Blog! Nothing fancy for the moment (or maybe ever!), but I am live.
Cheers!
Cheers!
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