From Doctors to Dresses

My sewing machine needs a nap. It's so tired from all that I've made it do in the last two days. I'm trying to perform miracles and play the Good Mommy game, but I always come in last place (well, sometimes I make it in at 43rd place, when I make the expecially cool outfit, delicious dinner, and manage to clean toilets, all in the SaMe day!)

I took my boy-in-pain-yesterday to the doctor today, thinking he had the same as me: strep throat. Wrong. He only had swimmer's ear. He got an antibiotic (but the doctor said not to fill it *odd?* just to use alcohol since it looked like it was healing), and is absolutely fine. Hmph. So, we slightly overbooked, and I went to my doctor next. I thought I had strep throat (and was busy spreading it all over town). Wrong. I have acid reflux, and got some Protonix to keep my meals down where they belong. Apparently, you have to avoid citrus. Oh, that's where this stupid flare-up came from (let's see..my new Sam's pineapple addiction, new Minute Maid Lite Lemonade *refrigerated section!*, all the fruit, and my newest Crystal Lite drink fix-with citric acid as the number one ingredient!). Now, what will I eat? I seriously left my coke and chocolate addiction at the door, and migrated over to the fruity addiction. Now what? Not Atkins. I shall pout. : P

For fun today, Kendra (and all our kids in their match-y outfits *really wish I'd taken a pix!*) and I ran around town: to Fabric Gallery for fun new fabrics for outfits, then to Chick-Fil-A for a great lunch (minus the kid who "pinned" Clay down inside the slide), then back on the run to Hobby Lobby-more fabrics and trims. I almost finished the second dress (So cute with Tres Chic fabric in pink, hot pink, lime, black and black tulle!) and haven't started matching pants yet. I got the cutest black ravel-y flowers to go along the pant legs-uber cute. Hope they are finished soon!

I'll work on getting a pix of the other outfit posted. What fun! I think I get distracted easily, but it's currently sewing! Tomorrow, who knows?

I'm considering doing a workshop, with proceeds all going to JDRF. I have been praying for God to show me what to do to help, and maybe this is it. I do know I have gifts to share, and I take them for granted, I guess. I don't realize that by sharing the things that come easy to me, that it really does help others. It just seems like they can do it too, since it's so easy! Maybe I'll teach the dress/jumper making, bow making, ribbon-ruffled socks, paci-clip making, changing your son's old jeans into precious ruffle-y capris for your daughter (my fun specialty!), I guess I could monogram their dresses if I knew in advance. Oh, there's so much I could do. I don't want people's money, but I could do it if they wrote checks to JDRF, and they'd get a tax deduction for a bow or a dress to take home! : ) Now there are two people who couldn't be uncheered! : )

So, back to the Good Mommy Game: Two doctors appointments, lunch and shopping with friends, sewing time, dinner with fruits and veggies!, vacummed downstairs (plus stairs!), dusted downstairs, cleaned downstairs bathrooms, blogged a little, caught up on news, (all without much of a voice) and shall drop from exhaustion momentarily. Good dreams of 6th place, as this won't happen again for a month or so...

Decisions, Decisions...

Ever have such a big decision? Like whether to make dinner or make a quick trip to Fabric Gallery? heehee Decisions, decisions... My kids (well, the big ones) have already had a popsicle and two Go-gurts each. Isn't that dinner enough? : ) I just asked Ches when dinner is, and he said, "5, 5:30?" Umm, it's 4:30. And I'm kinda busy. With thoughts of making a run to Fabric Gallery.

I'm planning to make Mary Claire a couple of jumpers and decorated pants/jeans to match. I always plan for summery (jumper only), and winter (jumper, shirt under it, with jeans!). So versatile. I haven't made anything in a while, and my machine is missing me. I'm planning to make some cups tomorrow anyway.

Maybe we could eat out again today? Then I could stop by there on our way out! Kill both birds with one stone! I am SO on top of my game! It's that power nap I got! : )

Update-9:30pm:
I am sad. They were closed. : ( Big, fat, pout-y, sad face. I ran out the door, took MC, ran a late book back by the Springdale Library, then hurried down there. But, they close at 4pm on Saturdays. Boo Hoo. I ran into WM for MORE batteries for a little girl addicted to a small cd player attached to her head, and then to Hobby Lobby for a small tin purse/carrying case (think metal lunch box, but purse-shaped that opens from the top). I didn't want her to see it since I'm making her a little kit (that I'll explain in a minute) that'll be for our trip. My sweet husband spoils our kids. It's tough to limit him, since it's so sweet and all. He already got Clay a new Transformer, level 3, Bumblebee, which is a Camaro (and have you seen the new ones, btw? They are sooo cool!) I remember there was a year where I wanted one, but I got a Mustang. Cool, but it was beige. My parents way of keeping me cool, but not too cool.

Ok, so we were at Pottery Barn again on Friday night (I think we go EvErY Friday night!), and Ches loves to shop too (Closet Shopper, though, unlike me-I'm totally out of the closet!). He found me some cute acrylic straws (only $10 for 12), and I found new deck chair cushions, but they were kinda thin. Anyway, he found a little (kinda cheese-y) kit for Mary Claire for her gift for the trip. (I know, I know, the trip is a big fat gift, but he likes for them to have something new for the plane ride(s). Anyway, it was a kit with gold ink, a stamp alphabet (so not cute), some twine, and some tags to make for place cards, drinks, or whatever. It was on sale for $14, but I just thought it was too much. Afterwards, we had a few minutes to run by Hobby Lobby ('cause I'm a do-it-now person), and since I had a *coupon*, I got her a new stamp alphabet in a tin box, some hot pink ink (So much better!), and then today I got her the little tin purse thing to put it in. I just have to make some tags (super easy with my cool Stampin' Up! punches!), and add some precut twine! See, super easy, and all for (let me do some quick math....) $12. So, not so cool, but it's a way-better set! : ) I'll post a pix when I'm done with it!

And. I got some fabric to make her a quick jumper (never quick in my book), but I'm still more excited about making one with fabric from Fabric Gallery, since it'll be less maintenance (probably non-iron!). Alright, gotta get to work on the cutesy set! : )

Hiring Babysitters, No Hair Cutting Required

Did you miss me yesterday? Cause I can ‘xplain. Cleaned three messy kids’ rooms (took pix, but may be too embarrassed to post), vacuumed all upstairs, stairs, half of downstairs, washed/changed all bedding, reconciled my bank account with Quicken (on the day the statement came-go me!), and Vanessa came to visit us. We ran to Harp’s to get more dinner ingredients, made Philly cheese steaks (Ches is VeRy good at making!), homemade fries, and strawberries. Yum! Then we cleaned up, Vanessa left, and the kids jammied and got ready for bed. I vegged for at least 20 minutes on the couch, before moving to the bedroom to Wii for a little bit, then laid in bed reading my new Storage (I know, but I LoVE it! By Better Homes & Gardens), then knew I was headed south. I brought Lexi down, washed my face, and crashed. I was so very tired. Cleaning is draining. And when I was wii’ing (three i's in a row just look wrong), the Wii lady voice/trainer said, “I bet you’ll sleep well tonight,” and it was Suggestive Psychological Babble (that worked).

So today, guess what? Yep, busy! I had an appointment for the kids’ haircuts at ten, so I got ready, then we pulled it together and left. We were on time, but she was still busy. We waited a minute, and the kids were really very good (small cheer!). Mary Claire was first, and was fine. Clay was second, and was a little fussy-he doesn’t like even ONE hair on him! He had some hair on his face and kept using the(incredibly hairy) cape to wipe his face, thus making it Worse. Ethan was last, and The Worst!! He screamed, yelled (not the same thing), fought me, kicked, snotted up, teared up, swung his arms, yelled some more, and generally wore me out! When he was done (or when we just quit), he looked at me and said, “Night, night”. He was equally tired! On the way home, I called Ches, and my hand was shaking from muscle fatigue! My body was so sore, I can’t even imagine little Ethan’s.

Next was a quick lunch together, then Mary Claire and I were off to Kiersten’s birthday party. It was very cute-a rocker/karaoke/guitar theme. She had fun, got a blow-up guitar, worried about a few things, but thanked me for taking her(!). We didn’t really have time to run home before church so I called Ches, and we Made Plans. Sis and I ran into Fabric Gallery and bought some fabric for new insulin pump pouches (I wanted her to pick some fabrics/colors), then we hurried off to church. Our bishop, Anthony Taylor, was there, so it was CroWdeD! There were lots of extra chairs around the sanctuary, and they were full! It was an extra long Mass. And she complained about her shoes hurting, and her tummy hurt (she was 127, then 220 just 30 minutes later!), and how many more songs…

Afterwards, we went back to the house, picked up Ches and the boys, and went to eat, which I was not looking forward to at all (for good reason-I am psychic). We went to Jose’s, which was an okay choice. We got there, they didn’t take our order for forever (10 minutes with children is toooo long), then Ethan started his “Get Down” stuff. He got out, was screaming, trying to climb over our booth, etc. Ches took him to the car, and I called him when the food came out (only about 4 minutes later). Then before we were done, he started it again. It’s just a big ol’ waste of $45. Yep, it’s not cheap to eat out with 3 ordering kids anymore. We have made a Decision. From now on, we will save the $21 it takes to buy their kid menu items, and use the $21 to pay a babysitter once a week so we can go out alone for 3 hours ($7 an hour-wanna take a turn??) and eat slowly so we can digest our food before we leave (and maybe order dessert and have meaningful conversation?).

So then Ches dropped me off at Hobby Lobby (more fabric pieces), ran to get gas and a Dt. Coke at McDonald’s (his second favorite hobby), and then back to get me. Then home, kids jammied, and into bed. Well, Mary Claire was 336, so I had to change her site really quick. Then I had to prewash the fabrics to start pump pouches (I predict sewing is in my future…).

Now that I’ve had a few minutes to catch you up, I have to get ready for tomorrow! Agenda follows:
11:15am Lunch together, clean up
12pm Ethan down for nap
1-2:30 JDRF Family Event at Fast Lane (bowling & games)
3-4:30 Nora’s Bday Party
4:55-5:05pm Eat dinner together
5:15-6:15pm Ches and Clay to Church
6:30-7:30 Kids bathed and to bed, and we get ready for another day: make lunches, pack backpacks, lay out clothes

My new blog title will henceforth be: So you wanna be a mom?

We had a discussion about only children (no siblings). They must never argue with their siblings, never fight about who got more jell-o with Cool Whip (tonight’s snack), who got to go to a party today/who didn’t, they want sibling (which one changes day-to-day) to get out of their room, someone touched them, they want different crayons (at Jose’s), who drew better, how realistic (or Not) the other person’s drawing was, who got more reading time (just guess). Is it quiet at your house? Then you need more kids! You haven’t experienced full-on parenting! (ok, sometimes we’re jealous)
Maybe you could try rent-a-sibling for a day. Or we do a three-for-one deal for three hours for $21. Have you heard about it?