You know you're unlucky....

.... when the ONE day that you (and Ben, for that matter) can sleep in.... is ruined by a 6 year old who loudly opens your door and then forcibly closes it not once, not twice but three times (obviously, waking Ben up) asking you in the loudest whisper known to man,

"Mom, how do you spell 'republic?'"

Seriously... seriously... kid?

UGH.

Happy Friday.

When it rains...

There are lots of cliches for the seasons and experiences you go through in life. For instance, the title to this post "When it rains... it pours." I'm living proof of that right now.


These last two weeks have been just about all I can stand... and to quote Popeye, "... and I can't stands no more!"

What's happened?

Well, you start out with one kid waking you up on Monday with an ear ache so bad he's in tears. Knowing what a high pain tolerance Drew has, I knew it was bad. Ben had been running a fever and started pulling at one ear so I suspected he had one working as well.


Dr. Knapp said that on a scale from 1-10 with 10 being a ruptured ear drum, Drew was an 8 1/2. Ben about a 4. Ben had a double ear infection. Drew was just the one ear. C'est la vie.


However, whatever was going on with Ben was more than his ears. I was having to carry him everywhere. I mean, EVERYWHERE. It really became exhausting. I couldn't even eat lunch without him SCREAMING and CRYING while tugging on my pant legs at the table.


And frankly, I don't know about you but if I'm going to have a meal, I'd like to do so in some peaceful, quiet, enjoyable manner... or while accomplishing something.


So, what's a mom of a screaming toddler to do?


I ate out, of course.

EVERY.

SINGLE.

DAY!


The only way I was able to eat lunch was during Ben's "happy time."


When was his happy time? It was a) when he was asleep, b) when he was being carried, or c) when he was in the car. That's it. That's when he was quiet and so that's what I did. You just do what you gotta do.

So, that's not so bad, right? Couple sick kids. No problem.


Come to find out on Friday night someone had stolen our Visa debit card number and had lovingly charged up $2400 at Lowes... in Louisiana. Thankfully we got that taken care of. I feel badly for the stores that have that happen to them. It really makes me angry for people that are so dishonest and those that steal. I'd like to kick them in the shin... for starters.... while wearing steel-toed boots.


And the whole refrigerator saga. Our side-by-side hasn't been fully functional for a while. I mean, it freezes and it refrigerates (or it did) but the water dispenser wasn't working. We had a repair guy come out and he told us that this particular model, the only way to fix it was to empty the unit, unplug it and keep the doors open so that it'd thaw out. Um.. yeah, not happening.

For some other reason, the ice dispenser kept having a build up which would jam the plastic thingy (it's an industry term) that spins and pulls the ice forward and down into the shoot. Well, it got so jammed, it broke so now the ice maker didn't dispense. No biggie, I can live with opening the freezer to get ice. Whoopie.

However, those are two extra features that aren't necessary. They're nice to have and frankly, who wants to spend money to fix an old fridge just for "fluffy" reasons? Not me, I'm cheap. So when I go to make breakfast and every.single.egg is frozen. That's a problem. All my produce? Yeah, it's frozen too. My milk? It's a block of ice. The refrigerator is freezing all my fresh food. I draw the line there.

I call the repairman. We're scheduled. HE calls me to talk about it and it'll be a $300 piece. So that means in the last 3 years, we would have sunk nearly $800 into a fridge that STILL won't do all it's DESIGNED to do. We'd had enough and so we started looking. That's SO ... so... not fun.

I found one... Andy found one. Everyone said to look at Lowe's. They had a great sale. We got a GE Profile French Door fridge ORDERED.... Yeah, so it's ordered. Has been for a couple weeks. It's not here. Doesn't do a lot of good, huh? Supposedly it's going to be delivered in the next week. Who knows. But there's another ka-ching that we didn't expect. But we did get an excellent deal on it. And now it has a warranty.

Monday, before Drew's baseball practice, Josh needs help on math so I start flipping through his workbook to see where he needed help... LAWDY the grades in there were NOT making me happy. He's making LESS than stellar math grades -- OVER STUFF WE LEARNED LAST YEAR!

OK, "we" didn't learn it. I taught, he learned. He was making 100's when I taught this stuff...he said he "liked" math and that it was his favorite subject and now he's back to saying, "I can't do this" and he "hates math" and the self-esteem thing... yeah, kaput in the math department. I jumped his tail about the attitude. Grrrrr... (and the grades!)

So, he doesn't get finished with his math homework before we have to leave for Drew's baseball practice. Josh has a game starting at 7:45 p.m. (on a school night -- they're stupid -- the planners...that's crazy late for these kids!)

Drew and I get home from his practice. Andy and Josh are at Josh's game. I go to tuck Drew in upstairs and he looks at his alarm clock (it has an internal temperature reader on it). "Mom, it's 90 degrees in here." I was like -- you know, it IS really warm. I go to check. THE FREAKIN AIR CONDITIONER WON'T EVEN TURN ON.

SHOOT ME NOW.

I just tell him to grab his pillow and he can sleep on the couch. It's a major treat for him. I lock up the dogs, put Drew on the couch and I'm just freakin DONE with the day.

I KNEW our bedroom AC has to be replaced ($4200) and I certainly don't want the upstairs to do the same.... can you see all the ka-ching ka-ching ka-chings happening in my life? STRESS MUCH?

But wait, there's more...

Ben is swinging yesterday and I hear the computer fan making a weird noise so I go shut it down before it wakes him up. No biggie, right?

Only to find out later in the day, when I try to turn it back on, it's dead. Oh yeah, you guessed it. NOTHING. This is my tower. My tower with EVERYTHING ON IT! I'm nearly in tears.

Oh, it gets better...

While I'm over there figuring that out, I hear a loud crash and stuff breaking. The stupid dog was jacking around or got tangled up in the electrical cord for my SCENTSY WARMER that was TURNED ON and he got hot cinnamon wax all over the (newly painted) wall and trim and floor and Josh's new Dallas Cowboys shirt and the 5T ski bibs that were going to go in the attic and... yeah..

We had to leave for baseball practice and if I had to go over there to start cleaning it up, I would have burst into tears. My little world is falling apart all around me I fear (it's my pity party... I know that's not true but when everything seems to happen in such a short time span it really, truly, completely sucks.)

I pull out of the drive way and head down the road.

"What's that white stuff?" asks Josh.

"What white stuff?" I ask.

"That stuff on the ground," he says.

I see nothing.

Drew pipes in, "Those are raindrops on the windshield. DUH!" (Sarcasm is genetic.)

I honestly agree with Drew, however.

Then I saw it. One.... then two... then three...

Yeah, hail. I'm thinking... you know.... lets take cover. I pull over into a car wash stall and sit there... and then it hits. Marble sized hail just starts to POUR!

Wouldn't that have just been the stellar ending to this whirlpool of Murphy's Law that I'm drowning in? It stops, I pull out... and think better of it and back in again. Round two comes down harder.

"Smart move, Mom," Josh gives me.

We start for the fields. Andy calls to say we should wait because it's bad over the fields right now. We go to Sonic and get the kids something to eat. The storm passes, it's nice and sticky humid. Head to the feels. Practice is canceled. Ugh!

We go home. I'm done with life for the day. I want to check out.

So, instead of having a diet dinner last night and staying "on plan" I had a pb&j for dinner ... and a big ole piece of chocolate chip cookie pie for dessert after getting home from about an hour at the FWC varsity baseball game.

Habit

Amazing how it's a habit. When you're in the habit of doing it, it's no big deal at all. When you're out of the habit it's like... almost a chore to get back in the habit of doing it. BUT, my crappy memory doesn't serve me well and if I want my memories then, by golly, I've got to get in the habit of doing it! Consider this post one of me being back in the habit! :) As I do this friendly little reminder containing snippits of my day, I'm hearing the lullaby of the electric Fisher-Price swing to and fro and a little whiney, double-ear-infected baby giving a big "MMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmm" moan because he's irritated at being in there. However, this small respite for me is much needed. You see, when he is ill, he wants to be held. ALL.THE.TIME. My arms are SO tired and my patience is SO thin. Today was much better, mind you, but seriously, Mama needs a little break. Today, I was domestic. I:

• cleaned the playroom. This was much needed since everything that seemed to be out belonged in some type of receptacle and those were scattered about on the floor which meant that there were pieces parts everywhere (those of you that even caught that 80s commercial reference... I'm lovin' ya!)


• vacuumed the playroom (isn't it amazing how filthy carpet can get when you've turned a carpeted room into a playroom? I'm contemplating getting it cleaned next week.


• purged more in the refrigerator (see below)


• vacuumed my wonderful new carpet in my bedroom (finally, after two years... we have carpet in the bedroom. It's shag carpet. Funny, they call shag carpet "frieze" to make it sound fancy. However, anyone that grew up in the 70's knows carpet that isn't Berber or "regular" is "shag.")


• cleaned my bedroom (this involves removing everything the children haul in on a daily basis that apparently needs to stay there after they leave (grrr))


• showered before noon (shocker, yes, I know since us stay at home moms tend to do absolutely nothing but watch soaps and eat bon-bons) What exactly is a bon-bon, anyway?


• planned on making an entirely home-cooked comfort meal (chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and biscuits... is your mouth watering yet?) That was, however, until Andy came home and said he'd go pick up dinner because he was taking the boys for a haircut. Truth is, they need it BADLY. They look "shaggy" just like my carpet!


• I lost a friend today. He didn't die. He just decided he couldn't be my friend. C'est la vie.


• I made two new friends today! Does that make me "even Steven" like on Seinfeld?


• I filled out my paperwork for Northwood MOPS for next year!


• I picked out two summer camps for Drew to attend.


• I filled out Josh's summer camp paperwork.


• I reserved the clubhouse for an end-of-school swimming party for the K classes.


• I did more "stuff" but nothing else totally noteworthy.

About the refrigerator... we have this great side-by-side refrigerator. It is black. It works fine AS A REFRIGERATOR and a FREEZER. The ice maker works but the dispenser that is on the door does not. The water dispenser on the door is FROZEN so in order for THAT to work, we'd need to empty the unit, unplug it, let it stand 8+ hours so that it would UNfreeze. That still won't fix the ice dispenser -- it's shot! We've already sunk over $500 into this unit on various repairs so when my milk... eggs... produce and what not started to FREEZE ... in the REFRIGERATOR side, I'd had enough.

It was going to be another $300 to get it repaired this time and we just said NO WAY! That was far more than this hunka junk was worth so we were soon on the hunt for a new fridge (last week).

I spent about 20.6 minutes and realized how NOT FUN this process was. I e-mailed Andy and said that I'd rather have my pubic hairs plucked out one by one while being forced to listen to Nancy Pelosi speeches while eating chocolate covered piees of dog crap.... before I spend another minute of my life looking for a fridge. He could do it OR I'd just use the extra fridge in the garage. He started his search. He is looking at the higher end ones (french doors, etc.) I found one for $800 that was pretty much a duplicate of what we currently have. He said no. We found our new GE Profile at Lowes and got a SWEET deal on it so... supposedly it will be here sometime before the end of the month.

As it stands, in the meantime, I'm just trying to use up all the food in it so that I can stock it with fresh, new and improved food! Ha!

Well, I guess Captain Pampers is done singing me songs with his MMM MMM MMM (I hate that MMM MMM MMM song by the Crash Test Dummies, don't you? "ONCE there was this boy who...") it's official whines, now. Got to go.

Hey blog-o-mine, lets make this a habit now? Kay?

The Ghost in the Water Closet

Anyone that knows me knows that I'm fascinated with ghosts, or more specifically, the idea of ghosts. I have been known to watch Paranormal State, Ghost Hunters, Ghost Lab and the like. I've seen Paranormal Activity. And, for the record, no, I won't see the 2nd... I read the spoiler and it's too much for me with having a little one at home. I say no way, Jose. Thankyouverymuch! But I am also known to come up with a reasonable explanation for just about everything. Hearing the toilet flush upstairs in the middle of the day when no one (but me) is home... leaky toilet. Still can make you get the shivers though! Well, tonight, we had another of those types of experiences. Andy was in the closet changing. I was in the closet changing. Ben was (or had just been) in the closet cleaning out one of the drawers of all the nicely folded boxer shorts (you know they look so much more inviting in a frumpled pile on the floor!). Then we heard it. Splish. Splash. We both heard the water splashing! Then I leaned my head out of the closet... to see Ben, splashing around.... with his hand... in the toilet! UGH! Well, at least it was MY toilet (because I know a) it's clean and b) it was flushed). Then he did the unthinkable... BAM The lid down.. RIGHT.ON.HIS.FINGERS! Luckily, they're still small enough that the bump on the lid caught and didn't cause any damage. Other than scarring me for life and requiring a severe and thorough wipe down. As if I didn't have enough to worry about with the dog sooner or later drinking out of the toilet... Benji is playing in them. Gross!

Psyche!

Yeah, that's what Mother Nature has done to us the last couple of days. We were all hanging out this weekend in our shorts enjoying (somewhat) the sunshine and wind and then BAM, in moves a front and it's been in the 40s and raining. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel... want to know what it is? I saw BLUEBONNETS peaking up on Wildflower Hill in our neighborhood! I can't wait! Hurry up Spring.... my moon-tan is leaving me to look like more like Morticia Addams than a sun kissed Coppertone mama!

The ABC's of Me

I saw this over at a blog I stalk Feels Like Home. She did an entry on the ABC's of Me and I thought, now that's gitchy! I need to do that. So, without further adieu, here are the ABC's of moi! Age: 38 Bed size: King Chore you hate: continually, constantly picking up every little landmine left behind Dogs: One diva Boston, Lola. One sweet mutt, Sadie. One (insert adjective here) puppy, Moose. Essential start to your day: Diet Big Red and smiles from Benji Favorite color: Depends on what it's for... typically black. It just goes with everything. Gold or silver: Silver. Height: 5' 2" Instruments that you can play: None. Job title: Domestic Engineer. Domestic Diva. Taxi driver. Therapist. Nurse. Chef. Chiropractor. Psychologist, Babysitter, Maid, Handy WOman, Teacher, Scientist, Wife, Mom, CEO of Driggers Incorporated... shall I continue? Kids: Josh, Drew, Benji Live: Suburbia-hell, Texas (a.k.a. Keller) Mom’s name: Becky (it's really Rebecca but don't tell her I told you) Nicknames: Ape, Mooooooooooooooooooooom, Mama, Honey Overnight hospital stays: Only with the birth of the kids. Pet peeve: Too many to list. :) People that think Obama is still Mr. Wonderful. When people use your for you're and other simple grammar over-sights that could easily be fixed to make oneself appear more educated. People that expect handouts from anyone rather than doing for themselves (if they are able to...) Quote from a movie: "I'm your Huckleberry." Righty or lefty: Righty Sibling: Well, I guess it depends on how big of an uproar I want to make. You see, I have a half-sister. We have different dads (although my dad adopted her when she was five) but if I SAY that she's my half-sister rather than just "my sister" she tends to get all pissy about it on Facebook and talk about how her family divorced her and all kinds of ridiculousness like that. It's just silly. I wouldn't be offended for her to say that I am her half-sister. ??? Tomato-toe-maaaaah-toe. I also have an ex-step-sister that I still consider family, but I haven't seen her brother (my ex-step-brother) in years. But, along the same lines, my other ex-step-brother (ex-step-dad's son), I don't really consider him "family" anymore. He's more just like an old friend. Weird, huh? Time you wake up: usually about 5:30 a.m. Underwear: Comfortable Vegetables you dislike: Beets, any kind of cooked greens (collard, turnip, spinach--unless it's creamed or in some kind of dip or pasta!) What makes you run late: Life X-rays: I've had my back x-rayed, foot, knee, head (and so yes, I'm one of the few women on the planet that DOES have proof she has a brain!) Yummy food you make: I make all kinds of deliciousness! :) Ask my hubby! Zoo favorite animal: I love the hippos, they're so cute! And the bears... the bears in Abilene were the coolest. And there ya have it! :) Now it's time to sing with me....

Three Hundred and Sixty Five Days

Three Hundred and Sixty Five Days or 525,600 minutes... it seems so insignficant to say "one year" because one seems like such a lonely, small, miniscule number. But to say 365 days... now that sounds more substantial. Whether great or small (though equal) it has flown by.

In 365 days, I have seen this little helpless infant learn to roll over, then to crawl and in the past two days... start taking his first steps toward "real" independence -- walking. He's sustained on my milk... only to wean himself... and now loves regular milk and is hopelessly addicted (as was Drew) to chocolate milk (Yes, I gave him chocolate milk -- it's a rite of passage in our house. Don't judge!)

I've seen him turn his nose to baby mush and Stage 2 and 3 because he wanted "real" food. He started with frozen peaches but now will eat just about anything. He doesn't have an affinity for pasta, however. He loves peaches, plums, pears, banana, blueberries are his favorite. He loves strawberries, honeydew melon, clementines, oranges, tangerines and grapes. HE will, of course, eat any kind of dry cereal and he loves graham crackers and Nilla Wafers. He also really loves plain vanilla yogurt with fruit mixed in.... or really anything else that I'm eating .. he wants a bite of.

He needs and wants his silky blankets to rest... it's comforting for him. I love his attachment to it.

He's grown from 0-3 month clothes, to 6-9 and is now in 12-18 month clothes. I shed a tear with every stage becuase I know that means this is the end of seeing those again. This is the last time I'll have a crawling little man in footie jammies holding onto my ankle wanting to be picked up to see what's going on up on the counter.

He loves the playroom and really enjoys his Melissa and Doug toys. There's somethign to be said for natural wooden products over hard plastic. It's an exciting stage that he is entering the hand-eye coordnation games and is amazingly coordinated already.

We are close to out-growing the swing though he loves it's soothing rhythm to sleep in.

This will be his second Easter this year but the first where he will get an egg... and get to sit in the grass... No candy, but I bet the Easter Bunny will fill those little guys with some goldfish and/or Cheerios!

He had hair at birth but now it's longer and curly.... and blondish-red. He has two bottom teeth and four coming in up on top. He loves his daddy and knows what it means when we say, "Daddy's home" at 6pm every day. He raises his head and tries to figure out what door to look for... front or back.

He delights in seeing his brothers when they come home from school.

We're in 12-18 month clothes, size 4 diapers and no shoes (he won't walk with those on).

He adores the outside and the feel of the grass.

He still sleeps beside me because that's where I want him... and I'm okay with that. Others don't understand that and that's okay. I'm not on this planet to abide by their idea of what is right... I'm doing what's right... FOR ME.

So, tomorrow we celebrate this amazing little person that we are so fortunate to have and that I am so hopelessly in love with. I can't imagine my life without him... and he has blessed me abundantly.

I know the next three hundred and sixty five days will bring about even more amazing changes in his world... so many firsts to experience... and I'm also thankful that I get to stay home with him (what a gift) so that I don't miss a thing!

We will be having a Dr. Seuss party for this little guy... lots of pictures will be posted tomorrow. I just wanted to take a moment while I could to record this snapshot of his life... because it is changing so fast... and I don't want to forget a thing!

So, to you, Benjamin Ryan Driggers... we dedicate this day... may your life be continually blessed beyond measure... I don't hope for you to have an easy life... I want you to know struggles but to ALSO know that you have the power within you to do anything you want! I have had the most amazing three hundred and sixty five days with you so far... and I can't wait to share the rest of your journey with you.

Love,
Mommy