Alone at last, but for how long?

The Lad has been moved out.

Not far, but into his own room... sort of.  In any event, he's out of our room, which means 1) DH and I can get ready for bed with the lights on, and 2) it's less likely we'll wake him up in the morning.

This is a wonderful thing.

Sunday cleaning/family dinner

I decided to host a family dinner tonight, and of course the house is still a mess.  I wish I were more of a domestic goddess, but that's just not how it's meant to be, I guess.

Cleared the house of everyone but DH and the Lad, and started scrubbing.  DH did a dump run, and the recyclables are all sorted and ready for drop-off for tomorrow.  Living room is vacuumed, and somewhat organized.  Kitchen floor is washed, dishes mostly done, and now I'm just relaxing with a cup of coffee... I should have just enough time to finish it before I start making dinner.

Ugh...

Been up since 5:30am... the Lad awaken...

...not functioning on all cylenders yet, need coffee.  But... must... find... energy...

I was going to make a nice family breakfast this morning; you know, eggs, fried potatoes, coffee, fresh fruit.

But now... it just feels too early.  Oh, what to do?

I would love to climb back into bed with DH, but it's my day to rise early (his was yesterday).

So... here... I... am...

In brighter news, I threw together a new blog for a friend of mine, who's regular blog is private due to 'ex-wife' issues.  She got a bit tired of missing out on the linkys and memes, so we quickly colaborated, and voila!  3rd Times The Charm!

Blog design, anyone?

Fact of the matter is, things are tight around this household.  Add an upcoming baby to the mix, and things get all that much tighter.

I'd like to do what I can to generate a few bucks.  I'll work for donation.  Seriously.  The exception being the use of other artists graphics - cost and useage varies depending on the individual terms of service.

Any interest?  Please visit Devylish Blog Design for a rough idea of what I can do, and if there's anything I can do for you, just let me know.

More toilet adventures

This is going to be totally TMI for most.  It involves the toilet.  It involves poo.  And for those who have delicate sensibilities, I'll hide the bulk of this post.

So, as many of you moms know, being pregnant can have the challenges of constipation.  And this is a challenge I know oh-so-well. [for the rest of this post, hit control + 'A']  WARNING: NOT FOR THE SENSITIVE VIEWER!

5am.  The Lad awakens.  I get up, change him, give him a bottle.  He settles.  But... I have to go.

So, I settle myself on the porcelain throne, and hope that the tight feeling in my gut that I've had for about 36 hours resolves itself.  A little bit of effort, and suddenly my bowels are startlingly empty.

Gross, yes, but true.

So empty, that I then have a gut-ache, and there is a monster poo in the toilet bowl.

So large and so hard, that it challenges DH's fantastic toilet repair.  To the point, in fact, that it resurfaces 14 hours later, and the plunger has to come out again.

But, with a little persistent plunging, it vanishes down the sewer, and suddenly the sluggish toilet flushes with an enthusiasm that hasn't been seen in weeks!  Seriously.  This is wonderful.  With any luck, there will be no more toilet issues!

And that is my poo story.  I hoped you enjoyed.

[we now return to regular broadcasting]

A fantastic investment for all couples with children



Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


 I don't know about you, but I dread the mornings where the day starts bright and sunny... before 6am.  Yes, the joys of the long days of summer - love them, but wish they didn't start so early!  Especially when you have little ones who awake at first light. 

Sure, black out curtains are a sure-fire fix, but they are also costly, and if you're a renter, you may not wish to make the investment if you're not looking at long-term tenancy.

Dream Essentials Snooz Silky Soft Eye Mask - Black

The answer is as simple as a sleep mask - something that until a few weeks ago, I had scoffed.  But now, I am a believer.  Because when the Lad wakes up before 6am (seriously!), DH and I will take turns getting up and taking care of him, leaving the other to go back to sleep.  However, sleep does not always return swiftly, especially when the days are exceedingly bright.  But, with a sleep mask, it's 'lights out' - both figuratively and literally, leaving the lucky one able to catch more sleep before attempting to take on the day.

And the super-simple sleep mask pictured to the left?  Currently on sale from amazon.com for $1.98.  Much, much cheaper than the black-out curtains that would cause the unlucky early-riser to trip and stumble as they gather up the baby and head out of the bedroom at 6am...

Yesterday's aspirations...

I got a portion of the house cleaned yesterday.  Heck (1), it was Saturday, and I have the right to relax somewhat.

photo by niningmilo

Basically, the mountain of laundry that was threatening to taking over the bedroom was folded and put away, giving an amazing amount of floor space.  The collection of diaper boxes that I've been saving for the  next time we move was put into storage.  And I think I know where I can find a hammer so I can hang new photos of the family on the walls, so it doesn't look like we're only visiting (I hadn't committed to stay here yet, but it looks like we may be here for a while).

Image: Louisa Stokes / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The living room is still strewn with toys, and I'm ok with that.  The sink has dishes in it, but I'll deal with that shortly, after I get chicken stew going in the crock pot for dinner tonight (2).  And I won't be walking anywhere soon, as I'm so darn sore through my hips and pelvis from all the exercise I have been getting (3).  Not to mention, being awakened in the middle of the night by a very amorous DH (4).

The sun is shining.  The crows are cawing.  And though it hasn't gotten overly hot outside yet, I suspect I should water my tomatoes and squash... they aren't ready yet, but when they are, they will be delicious.  That is, if I can stop them from being destroyed by pests (5).

On the very bright side, the toilet is working again!  Yay DH. you are my hero!

1) I'm so proud of myself for controlling my cursing!
2) We ate a fantastic homegrown chicken last night, and the leftovers will feed the family again tonight.
3) Being 6 months pregnant only 16 months after giving birth really stinks at times.
4) Like I'm going to turn down that kind of fun!
5) Aphids are my current mortal enemy.  I could really do without them.

Good Morning, World!

I'm up, and I feel good.

So maybe I've actually been up for about 90 minutes, and ok, I haven't gotten dressed yet... but I think today is going to be a fantastic day.

DH fixed the toilet... I think.  So maybe the ceiling got sprayed with water (clean from the tank, not the bowl), but it does not appear to have plugged up since.  I'm good with that.

The sun is shining - another plus.  And in about 45 minutes, I'll start making the family breakfast (so far, only Lad and Munchkin are up, and I've plied both with fresh fruit).

Bonus: I'm not dying for coffee... yet.  I'll put a pot on in a bit.

Today... I'm going to try to clean the house.  I have clean laundry I need to fold and put away, before it takes over my bedroom.  Dishes from last night that still need to be done (I'm not a big fan, and we don't have a dishwasher... can't wait for the Sprogs to be older).  Vacuuming, but that's DH's department.

Other than that... I think we can relax and enjoy the weekend.

I'm so tired

I'm so tired, I'm going to puke.

No word of a lie.  It's barely 6:30am, the Lad has been up since just before 6.

He's had a bottle, been changed, and yet here I am, with him up, feeding him breakfast.

On mornings like this, I feel like there's no justice in this world.

Just sayin'.

I'm sure I'll have better things to say once I'm more coherent.

Sundays are good too!

Ok, so I'm the one who's up early this morning, but that's ok.  I slept pretty good last night, so since DH didn't, the least I could do was return the favour for yesterday's awesome sleep-in.

Oh yes, I know I'm spoiled.  But the way I look at it, if we take turns, we get the breaks we need, and neither of us resents the other.  Granted, DH was tired to the point of tears this morning (he did not sleep well), but bless his heart, he still wanted me to stay in bed at 7am when the Lad began his high-pitched squealing.

He actually felt bad that I had to get up.  Sure, I was tired; mornings are not my strong suite.  But at the same time, I felt ok, and I know that getting up first will give me a little 'me' time until the other Sprogs rise, with just the Lad to keep busy.

I don't know how long I'll let him sleep - it depends on the noise level here.  And the weather; if it turns out nice today, I want to take the Sprogs to the park, and Munchkin needs to see if she can ride her new bike.

And, if it rains again today, maybe we'll take the entire crew to the indoor pool.

I LOVE Saturdays!

Why, do you ask?

Because it's the day DH gets up with the Sprogs and I get to sleep in!

This morning was awesome - the Lad awoke at 7am, and I got out of bed to get him a bottle.  Easy peasy, takes only a few minutes, then I can fall back into a blissful sleep.

When he had finished, and had tired of playing in his crib, he started to yell (this is normal, his vocabulary ranges from "mumumum" to "bababababa"), and at that point, I moaned about being exhausted (so sore in the pelvis, it makes it hard to sleep), so DH got him up, fed him and the other Sprogs, and I got to sleep until 10:30.

That, in a word, is bliss.

I don't take DH for granted, he is awesome, and tomorrow I may even try to return the favour.

Wordless Wednesday

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Herp-ba-derp!

Toilet's still acting up, but I've mostly stayed on top of it.  Worst accident has been the Lad standing at the edge of the tub and hosing everything down (must be time to start potty training).  I'm wondering what exactly was flushed to be causing these issues, but I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet.

Then again, perhaps one of the Sprogs flushed a towel?  I wouldn't be surprised.

Pretty much a perfect day here - took the Sprogs out to fly kites, enjoyed the sun, and now DH and I are kicked back and relaxing, knowing that pretty soon everyone will be in bed.

Damn you, toilet bowl!

We spent a couple days away from home, and all managed to survive.

Shortly after we returned home, a new issue came to light...

Now, I don't know if it's the result of one too many goldfish heading south, DH's missing key fob, or perhaps the fact that what was previously a full box of q-tips is now startingly empty, but...

The toilet is not flushing.

It tries, honestly, it does, but then the water level gets higher, and whatever random floaties that were just deposited come fearfully close to flooding onto the floor...

Why? Why me? DH is often too busy to deal with these kinds of household issues during the day (when toilet useage is at an all time high), so I'm often the one scrambling to grab the plunger to err, get things moving again.

I'm just waiting for the moment when I hear someone yell "Mo-om!" accompanied by the random splashing of sewage water...

I'll keep at it for another day, then I'll head to the hardward store for a new wax seal, and heft that baby out of the floor, stick my hand in, and find out what the issue is...

Not my favourite thing to do, that's for sure.

Ok, is it for real?

Oh glorious day... the earliest Sprog woke up at 8:15am, which was so nice. I didn't have to start prepping breakfast until almost 9am (because in all honesty, if the Lad wakes up first, I just throw toys into his crib to buy me an extra 15 minutes).

Let me make it clear - I am not complaining... the night before, DH got up three times during the night to settle the Lad... and I slept through 2 of them.  Yay me!

Currently, the Lad is sleeping, and the other Sprogs are doing crafts in the kitchen.  Once the Lad is up, we're headed outside... burn off all that extra energy!  I made no guarantees on the water park, but we will probably at least go to the playground.  That'll get them good and tired and hungry before dinner.

I love nice summer days!

After the weekend

The weekend was much better than how we had ended the week.  The kids got to run around outside and play, because a couple of times, there was actually enough sunshine to do so.

And active kids are much better behaved kids.

(Your kids are brats?  Make them run around outside!  Make them play!  No tv!  No video games!  ACTIVITY IS THE KEY (and the secret to regular bowel movements.)

But I digress.

Yesterday did end with a horrendous storm, and because we were hauling Sprogs out to an event, we all got soaked.  Not cool.

Plan for this week?  Survival.  I don't know what the weather is going to be like.  I want, nay, I need sunshine.  And lots of it.  I want the Sprogs to be able to burn around at the park, and have fun!

Isn't that what summer is supposed to be all about?

What does everyone else do for the summer?

No vacations planned for this family this summer... but we'll do lots at home.  We'll pull out the 9-man tent, pack up two vehicles (dependent on how many Sprogs we have that day), and head out camping.  Or we'll go to the lake, if the mosquitoes aren't too bad.  Even little things, like "lets go to the creek and find pretty rocks" can be fun.

Mostly, we'll play it by ear, and carry on.  Avoid bug bites and sunburn to the best of our abilities.  And, prep the older Sprogs for returning to school... reading stories, practising math (yes, these things do happen in my house from time to time!), and even do a few art projects while the weather is bad (which I suspect will not be a rarity this summer).

One project I have planned?  Make a 'craft box'.  I have random crafting items all over the house, and they need a home... so I'm going to have the Sprogs help decorate a box to contain them.  It's a big enough project to fill an afternoon, and I should have enough random supplies to get it done!  Plus, it'll let me figure out what else we need to refill in our supply box!

WIN/WIN --- woot!

Little arsewipes

I'm trying really, really hard to curb my language, but the Sprogs were little arseholes today.  The Lad was overtired and wanted to be packed everywhere.  Farmer was being destructive and hitting.  Sunshine was 'starving', but only picked at what I fed her.  And Munchkin was 'bored'.  Rainy summers suck.

In any event, because everyone (myself included), was so miserable, it was a 'low sugar' day... I don't know if there was a sugar issue that made everything suck, but in any event, it was something I cut out today... all healthy eats, no exceptions.

It does not help that I've got some sort of funky sludge building up in my chest.  I hate being sick.  I'm so looking forward to the last Sprog being in bed for the night.  I need 'me' time.

FML

Of course, the doorbell had to ring before 7am this morning.  The reason was legit, but still woke up the Lad, which meant DH and I were up.

Granted, I love the fact that I can roll over in bed and say "Doorbell, go answer it"... because really, I'm just a girl, and why would I answer it?  Not really a safe thing to do at unconventional hours.

Anyway, the Lad was up, and DH volunteered to take first shift with him, since there was no way he's was going back to sleep.  So I got to crawl back into bed and attempt to go back to sleep.  It didn't really work, but I got to be lazy in bed until 9am.  And when we switched, half the Sprogs were fed, and coffee was waiting for me.  I really can't complain about that.

Anyway, I'm still tired, but at least I'm up.  And the Munchkin has been puke-free for 2 days, so I'm not going to complain about that either.

Bad parenting

Everywhere I look the last few days, I see comments about the Casey Anthony trial.

I'll be honest, it's not something I've followed outside of what I've seen on the covers of the supermarket tabloids... being a 'foreigner' and all, I get to deal with the delights of my own country (such as how Quebec snubbed Prince William and his new bride).

The snippets I have read, though, have horrified me.

I'll plead my ignorance right here, I haven't researched anything I'm about to repeat, so if I'm way off, I apologise.

What I've heard (in a nutshell):

Casey waited 31 days before reporting her daughter missing.   WTF?  I'm not going to wait 31 minutes if I can't track down one of the Sprogs!

That she blamed her father for disposing of her child's body.  Again, WTF??

That she went out dancing, got a tattoo that translates to "life is good", and other inappropriate life choices for someone who's own flesh and blood is missing...

I do not comprehend this in the least.  This goes beyond bad parenting... it makes me question the humanity of Casey Anthony.

Wordless Wednesday

Bliss.

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Late night musings

Sure, the kids are in bed, and it's beyond late, but...

It's these moments that DH and I get to spend quality time together.

And so it'll hurt in the morning, but...

Isn't it his turn to make the coffee?

What a way to wake up

I'm pretty sure we've established that I don't do well in the morning.

So why is it that when I get up, that I suddenly become responsible for cleaning up the puke that Munchkin has sprayed across the carpet in her bedroom?  Like I'm the only responsible adult in this house?

Right in the doorway is a pile of puke, very dilute, and who knows how long it's been there.  Munchkin is independent enough that she figures she can hold her own running to the bathroom.  She just didn't quite make it last night.

Is this the beginning of a household epidemic?  I sure as hell hope not.  The last thing I need is for the whole brood to be destroying the carpets.  Luckily for me, I was able to pull out the carpet cleaner to remove the offending mess, but not without offending my delicate sensibilities.

Puke is just gross.

After assuring us she was completely fine, Munchkin quickly ended a family outing to the swimming pool by spraying vomit all over the lobby.

Did I clean it up?  Hell no.  When I left, they were still searching for a mop bucket.  In my defence, though, I did warn several individuals and prevented further issues.  Munchkin was pretty upset, both she and Sunshine were looking forward to the outing, but hell, we have all summer.

DH and I packed everyone up back into the car, headed home, and are happy to spend the afternoon just chillin'.

Monday Mingle - All About Parenting

Today's post is brought to you by:

Visit Eighty MPH Mom for her Monday Mingle Blog Hop



1.  What do you do when your child refuses to eat what you made for dinner?

It depends on the severity of their dislike; if it's so bad that they're likely to vomit all over their plate, fine, they can skip it.  But... no whining that they're still hungry after (because there are always other options at my dinner table).  If it's just that they're being picky, they have to suck it up... no desert, and nothing later if they're just irritating me.  Luckily, most of my kids are pretty good, and I try not to be too unreasonable... yes, I will slice up and peel apples, even remove crusts from bread.

2.  How do you handle a grumpy kid in the store?

You're going out to the car - now.  And if it's in the middle of grocery shopping, chances are, no one is going to be happy if someone forces the whole trip to end.  We all want to be able to eat in our house.

3.  Why is being a mom (or dad) the best thing ever?

Because my kids love me, and I love them (most of the time)... it's really cute when they make me cards that say "you're my favourite", etc.  I love knowing that despite being a less-than-perfect person, my kids think I rock, and I love them despite how much they can irritate me at times.

Why

Why am I up so effing early (this is my attempt of controlling my language)?



Watch this video.  If it offends you, go suck it.  This is life in my house.

Weather

Why does the weather always suck ass when I have things to do?  Especially when it's important shit, that may or may not require to drag little people around with me.  I don't want to be dragging one or multiple Sprogs around town when it's pissing outside.

That shit ain't cool.

Note to self: curb language.

National Holiday!

Canada Day (Dominion Day) today, and do you think I got up early?  Hell, no!  The little Sprog slept in until 8:30, then we wrestled until his Dad woke up.  At which point I get to pawn him off, and head to the bathroom on my own.

The lad isn't really a Sprog, but it's always entertaining to see which nickname rolls off the tongue the quickest when he wakes me up in the morning.

It's July- summer, to be precise.  Where is the hot weather?  Rain yesterday, rain today.  Last year, it was unbearably hot.  This year... it's become a intolerable breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Dump your standing water, people; do us all a favour and reduce the amount of blood I'm forced to donate each year.  It's much appreciated.

Obviously, this is a new blog.  First post, in fact.  While I'm not new to blogging, this is going to be a bit of an adventure for me... fewer restraints, and hopefully out from under the shadow of those who would condemn me.

Who are those who would condemn me?

Well, they would include a few select individuals whom I've had the displeasure of dealing with in the past, who have felt the superiority to not only judge me, but also lie to me, and spread lies about me.

I'm a big believer in truth.  You'll find that about me.

With the exception of using my real name here, of course... you can call me Devyn.  It suits me more than you could know.

Who am I?

I'm Canadian, fall under the catagory of being married, have kids (some of which are technically mine, others that I just claim as mine, and still others that I just provide care for... I don't diferentiate between them).  I don't think I'm going to work any more... kids are enough work.  And I seem to be incredibly fertile, despite the miracles of modern medicine (ie. contraception).

In a perfect world, I would have a job that consisted of mindless labour, that required me to work graveyard shift.

No early mornings.

But it's not a perfect world.  And I'm certainly not perfect.

It's generally good enough for me.