SO SO TIRED!

Things have not returned to normal since we returned from MS for my dad's surgeries. Friday, Charlie decided to spew vomit (yes, vomit) all over my lovely minivan and himself. It wasn't pretty. So, I went ahead to work and Jonathan took care of the sad sack of vomit and diarrhea that our baby has become. By Saturday afternoon, he will not let me put him down and when I get around to taking his temp, it's 102.8 under his arm. So, I become concerned. I called the pediatrician who MET US AT HER OFFICE AT 7:30 P.M. ON SATURDAY NIGHT! Needless to say, I love her. She sends us over to the hospital to spend the night for some tests and fluid. At 10:30, we have an IV and settle in for the night. Staying in the hospital with a 10 month old SUCKS (mother, there are no other words to describe it). I have literally never been so tired in all my born days. We get home Sunday at 8:00 p.m. All is well until Monday at 6:00 p.m. when we start vomiting again. Back to the doc today - hopefully no hospitalizations - I'll keep you posted.

News from Newton and a Bit of Whining

Okay, so here we are, home from Newton again. We have managed to avoid a trip to the pediatrician this time, so I'm feeling pretty good about that! My daddy had to have two heart caths and three stints put in place this week because he had some major blockages of his arteries. All the more reason for me to forge ahead with Weight Watchers! Other reasons would include that I saw at least 6 people I went to high school with at the hospital and would like to be a more normal looking person when next I meet them. At any rate, Daddy is doing well, and we are back home only to leave tomorrow for Birmingham. We are spending the night to visit with the Mauldins for the day on Sunday. Whew, what a week. I just hope that Bridget and I get some time away from the kids together - I hear there are some nice outlet malls in B'ham.

I interviewed for two more jobs and I'm beginning to get discouraged. Seriously, DO NOT tell me at the interview that all looks well and you'll give me a ring either way if you ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT! I mean, come on, it's ridiculous. Please explain to me why hiring someone whose overqualified for a position is a bad thing - especially if that person WANTS you to hire them. I mean, I'm starting to take it a bit personally here. I also got a letter from Calhoun Community College saying that I wasn't qualified to teach there because I don't have 18 graduate hours in biology or chemistry. Hello, I have 18 graduate hours in a science type subject - does that count for anything???!!!! Apparently not. So, I've decided to stop my whining, put on a happy face, and take myself down to the hospital for work tonight with a good attitude. Hopefully that attitude will last more than 5 minutes. But I must say, why on earth did I not go to school for some tangible job like NURSING or ACCOUNTING. Something for which there is a specific category in the want ads for?

The kids and the husband are great! The husband says I only have to stick out the awful job until his first raise comes in - in JUNE! That's 5 more months - I just don't think it's gonna happen! Charlie has TWO molars in the back and TWO more that are almost through. I mean, the kid has almost as many teeth as his brother and only weighs about 10 lbs less than him too. What is going on here? Jon Thomas has reverted to crawling and talking like a baby anytime he feels he isn't the complete center of attention - any older, wiser mothers out there with any advice? I mean other than locking him in his room! :)

Even though I'm a sad whining sack of drama this week, we really are doing well and enjoying life in Huntsville more and more.

Musings and Molars

Okay, so this job hunting stuff is AWFUL! Really, way down deep (way way down) I want to have a career and do things that are meaningful for humanity and stuff, but right now, I just want to be with my family and take care of them! What's a girl to do? With student loans to pay - I think it's best that she WORK somewhere - forget humanity for the time being - I guess the hospital will have to do.

Anyway, Charlie Spears is now a member of the Spears allergy alliance. He had an ear infection New Year's Day and was given a drug in the penicillan family and VOILA a HUGE rash all over his body! So, no more penicillans for us! After the allergy induction, we changed the antibiotic and took it according to the pediatricians instructions AND he's still pulling on his ear. She assures me that it's fine, but I'm not so sure. SO the other day he's rolling around on the floor, I see something in his mouth - IT'S A MOLAR! He is 10 MONTHS OLD - I don't think there should be a molar ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIS GUMS - AND - I CAN FEEL THE OTHER THREE ALREADY COMING IN! Surely this can't be right - but alas, it is.

All else is well with the world - Buzz Lightyear and Woody are our new best friends! Jon Thomas thinks Buzz says, "To Infinity and Deon" - Deon who? I don't know.

Hallelujah!!!

All I have to say is that BOTH my kids are at "school" today for FOUR hours. I also would like to say how absolutely AWFUL I look when taking them through carpool line. All these mommies in their make up and stuff at 8:30 - I don't think so! I roll out of bed in time to wipe booties, put clothes on those same booties, get out the door. Something must be wrong with me. Oh yeah, it's that I have an awful job from which I don't get home until after midnight!

The New Year!

Okay - the new year has begun! My main resolutions this year - (1) become the real mother of the year (they really have that here in Greater Huntsville, but I don't really know how to get my name in the hat). You know the mother I mean, the one whose voice never goes above that fake calm voice even if her children are causing bodily harm to one another. I'm going to get there eventually. I work on that fake voice at least 1/2 hour each day. Except during todays session, my child proceeded to pull his pants down and urinate off our front steps WHILE our playdate and his mom were putting on their coats to leave our house. I lost the calm voice then. It wasn't pretty! (2) lose 60 pounds - I've ordered Weight Watchers and am starting Monday - that would be after I make fondue for dinner and have several large glasses of wine tonight. (3) get over my obsessions - I am compulsively obsessed with two things - vomit and zits. I cannot stand having a zit on my face that I have not "messed with" at some point. The vomit thing goes without saying around here and you all know this about me! I'm so freaky about it that when my kids are around other kids (to me - potential pukers) I give them both cranberry juice afterward because I read in a magazine that it has antimicrobic properties and can help avoid the stomach flu. This is the same magazine in which it talks about breathing during labor and how it helps with the pain - whatever!

Anyhow, here are my sweet kiddos that are forced to live with my neuroses just because I gave birth to them! Poor guys - just think, they'll have to take care of my zits when I'm in the nursing home! Lucky them!