life with WE

Purple cast part deux.

So the orthopedist yesterday - well it was something.  I've sent out a gazillion emails, updated facebook and whatnot, so I don't want to get into it all again.  I'll just tell you this...

They had to set her bones while I was in the room.  (May you NEVER have to go through that.)

The cast goes from her thumb to her armpit.

The cast is not waterproof.  (Based on her type of break.  SUCK SUCK SUCK!)

And thus ends my summer.  True story. 

Here's a pic I took of her in the office (with my cell phone) after they were all done with her and I had promised her everything short of a pony while they were setting her bones.

She got a purple cast because could you even guess based on the outfit that she likes purple?

Last night I gave her a bath with a trashbag on her arm.  By the sound of her screams, you would have thought I was stabbing her with pins.  She is upset by the weight of the cast, and the itchiness of the cast, and she "needs me to snuggle her".  I know the smile in the picture above does not equate, but just ask Mike and Warren, they'll back me up.  The whines, complaints and tears, they runneth over.  And they are justified, by all means, but still, they are many in number.

No estimate on when we'll be done with this cast.  We have our next appointment July 24th.  Until then, you'll find me either:
1 - running away screaming from my house
2 - rocking in the corner, speaking in gibberish
3 - drunk in the daytime.

Hooray for summer indoors!

Well here's something unexpected.

Um yeah, so today I'll be at the orthopedist.  That's right.  Elaine has broken both bones in her lower arm. 

We found that out at urgent care last night.  Where she then received a temporary cast and sling that we can't take off until we get the real cast.  I'll know more later what color she chooses and HOW LONG THIS WILL BE ON ALL DURING SUMMER FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

Wondering how it happened? 

Just a usual child game.  I used to call it airplane, the kids these days call it carnival.  You lie on the ground on your back.  You put your feet on the flyer's belly and then lift their entire body in the air, using your legs and feet.  You know.

Well, she fell off while she was up in the air, and landed badly on her arm.  She wouldn't quit crying and couldn't move her arm quite right.

Oy.

Happy Monday to Elaine, eh?

**We've got an appointment for 1:45 this afternoon.  Surely I can provide you pictures by tomorrow.  Because an arm break is nothing if not a photo op, am I right?

Liar liar, pants on fire.

People, I absolutely lied to you yesterday.  Unintentionally, but I did.  When I wrote my post, I wasn't into my full pity party yet.  But within an hour of posting, I realized I was having a pity party day.  Which was only worsened by the annoying heat and the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.

But in my world, you are allowed to have a pity party for only 24 hours, so today, I'm fine!  And by the way, I think the 24 hour rule is a good one and I highly recommend it.  If you indulge yourself for a just a bit, you can get over it faster.  And also, if your pity party for being fat involves eating Fritz's frozen custard while your husband tells you that are you in fact drop dead sexy then that my dears is a recipe for SUCCESS!

Now for your entertainment I give you pictures of the kids swimming on Father's day.  I'm sure we'll have to hit the pool again this weekend - this heat doesn't plan on letting up anytime soon!

 

surfing and raft jumping - new pool olympic sports

Contrary to what I say next, I am not having a pity party for myself. Just thinking out loud.

I had one of those moments yesterday.

I was waiting in line for the bathroom with Elaine, and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.  I almost had a heart attack.  When did I start looking like this?  Like I've given up and accepted this particular body?  When did I get so large, so thick and ohmygawdwhenamievergoingtodosomethingaboutit?

At this point I should mention that I KNOW, I know, it's what is on the inside that counts.  And I feel great on the inside.  I am proud of who I am, who I've become.  I knew I was overweight and out of shape, I knew that.  But somehow, I didn't realize how bad it was.  Clothes not fitting, I had chalked up to PMS bloating.  But all the time?  What is my period an entire month long?  It's not.

Have I given up?  I don't want to be that mom that can't keep up with her kids.  I want to be healthier.  I want to be thinner, knowing full well I won't be thin, thin.  I just want to be healthy.  I want to be fit.  I want to be in shape.

Why don't I want to work for it?

Is this like getting help when you are an alcoholic?  Do I need to hit rock bottom?  And what is rock bottom for me?  Am I there, yet?  I fooking hope so.

I know better than to think that shortcuts work.  I know it requires a lifestyle change. 

When will I make it?

I want my outside to match my inside.  Because inside, I am a sexy bitch.  Inside I am strong, confident, and healthy.  Outside though...

Yesterday was a good day. WOO HOO!

It's working!

I've heard Warren talking to himself and his toys just like he used to.  Screen time limits rule! 

And, I never ruined his life once!  AND one of the neighbor kids came over and was all, "I want to play the wii" and I was all "mkay but W or E will have to use some of their screen time for that" and they were all "no" and that kid was bummed and left shortly thereafter.  You see, he can only wii on the weekends, so he uses my house as a wii refuge to play during the week.  No more sucka!

HOWEVER, I think next week I'm going to have to institute a no "banking or carrying over" minutes rule.  Because today, Warren is up to 190 minutes.  Whoopsy.  That sort of defeats the purpose.

Whatever, you learn as you go, right?

So, I'll have to cut this entry short - I am being watched you know.  Perhaps I'll try to blog tomorrow while they are still sleeping.

Oooh, and Elaine and I are off to the Muny tonight to see Annie.  I know she's gonna love it.  I know we are going to drip sweat for hours.  Awesome.  Really though, in all honestly, the Muny rocks.  If you come to the Lou in the summer, you should try to see a show there.  Unless you hate musicals, then you should stay away.  But who, WHO hates musicals?

Screen time and in between time.

Well, I'm giving in.

To the screen time rule.

That's right.  I used to think it was silly when people monitored their kids tv/computer/wii use.  Until I saw Warren go to the dark side.  The dark side where he is FURIOUS with me the moment I tell him he's done with the wii.  The dark side where when left to his own devices to entertain himself, he just follows me around telling me how bored he is, and occasionally tosses in a "you're ruining my life".  And you know what?  That's just not fun parenting.

So today we've begun.  I was going to go for one hour a day, but Mike and others suggested I start with 2 hours seeing as our kids are junkies.  And in order to be a good role model, I'm making the screen rule apply to me as well.

OUCH.  Mainly in the computer department.

But, I see progress already - the kids are coloring at the kitchen table while timing me as I check my email and type this post.  I'm going outside next to mow the lawn and likely pass out in it.  I hope to force them outside for a bit while it's just 85 and muggier than snot rather than the 95 and muggier than snot we're headed for today.

Screen time rules.  Not such a bad idea afterall.  I needed to get away from the dark side sooner I think.

Same old same old

I'm still boring myself, so guess what?  No real post today.  I do have pictures of swimming and whatnot to edit, so perhaps later I can at least entertain you with photos.  But no promises.  Maybe after coffee...

Don't sleep until Broccoli

otherwise known as No Sleep Till Brooklyn.

We recently aquired Guitar Hero for the wii.  And by we, of course I mean Mike.  He played it at our neighbor's house and was instantly hooked.  Music and video games in one?  What's not to love.

So of course, we spend part of our hot summer nights playing this game.  Mike plays gigs, trying to master multiple songs in a row.  Warren and I play a song or two at a time - he on beginner, me on easy.  And then there's Elaine.

She thinks the whole game is her personal jukebox (if she knew what that was).  She gets boo'd off the stage half of the time, because she's so busy singing, she can't be bothered to play.  And when she's not singing, she's trying to play the guitar behind her back or over her head.

Many of these songs she has never heard before.  But, much like her father, she pretends she has, and immediately starts making up the words she feels are right.  Once she sings the wrong words enough, she's convinced she's right and the rest of us are well, idiots.

"It's the eye of the tiger its the frill of the night"

"Don't sleep until broccoli"

"One way, or annuder, I'll get you"

The post where I get real long winded trying to remember a memory...

First order of business, a disclaimer.
You can expect this summer that my blogs will not be posted promptly in the AM like they are during the school year.  I'm just too lazy and too tired.  I let my kids stay up late, I stay up later, and then BAM, next thing you know it's morning and I have to pour like 5 cups of coffee before I can utter complete sentences.  Well, sentences other than, "no you cannot play wii yet" and "no you cannot have candy for breakfast" and "seriously if you two don't quit whining"...

Now.  Second order of business, post for today.
For some reason, I've become worried lately that I'm going to forget things.  Little things that perhaps I have not documented.  One of these things came to me yesterday - while in the shower of course - where all good thinking is done.  And that my friends is the story of my engagement.  Have you ever heard it?  If not, you should.  If you have, well here's a refresher.  And if I forget something, please leave it in the comments, would you?

Mike and I began dating my freshman year of college; fall 1992.  I'll save you the long story of how it all started, but the important details are these:
1 - I dated one of his friends in high school.  At that time, I despised Mike, and for that matter his BFF Jason.  And clearly, I now adore them both.
2 - The summer before college, my high school friends and I went to the Lake of the Ozarks where Mike and former boyfriend were working.  We met up with them and suddenly, Mike didn't seem that bad.  (Translation, he was gooooooood lookin' and not a punk teenager anymore.)
3 - Mike gave me two important details - he would be sophomore at Northeast Missouri State University and he was in a fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma.
4 - Freshman week at Northeast Missouri State University, I looked up Sigma Tau Gamma, called their house phone and asked for Mike.  When he came to the phone, I asked him to take me and my roommate to a party.  He bought us Michelob Light.  And the rest, as they say is history.
5 - Mike will say that he agreed to this bringing to the party business solely because I had a large chest and blond hair.  Lovely.

The dating continued and progressed through our college years.  We had a bump or two, but it was just a good fit.  The summer before my senior year (1995) of college and Mike's last semester (yeah it took him 4 1/2 years, what of it?), we went to Dallas, Texas for a vacation and to meet his first niece, Megan.  We stayed with Wendy and Jeff and as a side note, it was during our stay that Jeff decided to move Megan from their room to her own room while Wendy sat on the steps crying.  Jeff and Wendy worked that week, so Mike and I explored Dallas during the day using their car.  We toured the book depository, the grassy knoll, a conspiracy museum and whatnot.  One day I was a total crab (aka BEOTCH from HELL) so Mike said, "why don't you just read and chill out and I'll be back."  So I did.  And he told me he had made dinner reservations for us.

We went to dinner at Il Sorrento.  It was fooking fantastic.  We ordered appetizers, dinner, dessert and wine.  I was impressed that Mike would agree to spend that much money because already we were functioning like a married couple on a budget.  We walked around afterward (I think) and then he blindfolded me in the car.  I wasn't sure where we were going and he wouldn't give me a clue.  I still did not suspect a thing.  We parked the car and went in somewhere. 

At this point, I'm still clueless but wondering what in the world he is up to.  He kneels beside me, still holding my hand.  He tells me how much he loves me and that when he gave me his lavaliere, he asked that I take it as a promise to one day marry him.  He said, "so now I'm asking you" and he took off my blindfold.

As my eyes adjusted, I realized we were in a hotel room.  And on the bed spelled out in rose petals were the words "will you marry me?"  At the bottom of the question mark was the ring.

People, I flipped out!  I said yes, of course, and we hugged and kissed and them Mike slammed some more wine, grateful the hard part was over.  I immediately asked if I could call my mom.  (And remember this was before cell phones were mainstream, so we had to use a calling card on the hotel phone - I mean so old school!)  We told my mom and dad, my sisters, Mike called his sister (who already knew what was happening), and we told his mom when she arrived in Dallas the next day.  When we got back in town, I told all of my friends who were ecstatic.  I mean I was 20 years old, had one more year of college and I was engaged.  What could be cooler?

Mike graduated in December of 1995.  I graduated in May of 1996.  We were married in November of 1996 at the ripe ages of 22 and 23.  This fall we will be married for 13 years.

And now you know the engagement story.  Whether you wanted to, or not!

High fived by a stingray

Dude, on Friday, I touched this:

And not just this one.  Many of them.  Didn't think I would, did you?  Yeah, neither did I.  But it's hard to ask your kid to try something if you aren't willing to try it yourself.  (And that circle on him?  That is just a reflection from my flash on the water.  I'm not that great a photographer, m'kay?)

If you have a chance to go to the St. Louis Zoo this summer, you ABSOLUTELY SHOULD TOUCH THE STINGRAYS.  It is so worth it.

And also, you can giggle at this sign, because it makes my kids laugh every time. 

"We can say ASS mom, it says it on the sign!"