Update, Update, Update

I realize I have left everyone on the edge of their seats on several issues in the last week or so. So, here are the updates!

First and foremost we got Lauren's test results back. Here chest X-rays came back clear, her sinus X-ray showed a little fluid and her blood test showed elevated white cells. The doctor thinks the reason for the elevated white cells and the fluid on the sinus X-ray is a mild sinus infection. So, hopefully the antibiotic will do the trick. I have to say that I am not completely satisfied with the diagnosis, but I am thankful that they didn't find signs of cancer! What a relief, thanks for the prayers!

I am sure you all remember the amoxicillin incident. I know this has been a burning question for many of you. After I showered and bathed the kids the smell was still there. I realized later that day the reason for the nagging smell was that I also got the nasty medicine on my pajama pants. I know, I am gross, after I got out of the shower I put my pajama pants back on because we were just going to be hanging around the house all day. The moral of the story: If you take a shower, don't put dirty clothes on afterwards even if you don't have any plans!

Lastly, the gift exchange update. I got the nerve and Travis' permission to send an email to his cousin that organizes the exchange every year.

Hey D!

I don't know if you hang on to the Christmas exchange list or not, but I am
curious if you know who had Travis' name. He didn't receive a gift this
year. This has happened to others in our family in the past and I am just
wondering if there is someone in the exchange that doesn't want to be...

Kelli

Her response:

Kelli -

I did not get anything either. Let me see if I can find the list.

D

This went down yesterday and I haven't heard anything else from her. My question is this, why are we doing this if there are TWO out of the 10 people in the exchange that are not even playing by the 'rules'. I know Travis and I are only doing this out of obligation, how many others out of the remaining 6 feel the same way we do? Based on this information I think it is safe to say at least 40% of the family would like to see this thing die. I will keep you posted!

I Need To Spice It Up!

Go to Ultrasound technician schools

I found this cool site that rates the content of your blog based on movie criteria. The reason I am rated PG-13 is that I say "pissed" and I have a bloggy friend that uses the word "sexy" in her title...you know who you are! So in attempts to spice up my rating...

Fuck
Shit
Damn

I can't think of any others...maybe I really am just PG-13?

That's My Boy!

Today was a beautiful day in the high 70s. Do I miss Nebraska? NO!!!

Jack: I have an idea?
Me: What's that?
Jack: Let's have my friends over for dinner!
Me: (knowing we already had plans with Trisha's family) Good idea!
Jack: The daddies can grill and watch us while we play outside and the mommies can sit on the couch and drink wine,
Me: That's my boy!

Thank You Notes

My husband read my post about his family rarely thanking us for the gifts that I send them and he thought he was calling me out by saying that I don't send thank yous either. Wrong! Does he think that I was raised by wolves? My mommy taught me better than that! Growing up my sister and I weren't allowed to play with our new toys until we had written a thank you note for the gift. I must admit, I am not that strict, but I am making Jack sign his name to each of his cards. He has had to take several breaks because "his hand hurts", but I know he will get it done. I told him that if he didn't want to sign his name we could just give the gifts back. For each card he asks me who the card is for and wants me to remind him what they gave him. There hasn't been a card yet that he didn't think was worth signing! I guess I just haven't been keeping Travis up-to-date on what I do from day to day. I have been sending thank you notes to everyone who sends us a gift for the last 10 years! Now that we have kids I make thank you notes a 'table time' activity. Here is a picture of all 33 thank you notes the kids and I did today! This is the proof Travis!!

The Sweet Smell Of Amoxicillin In The Morning...

Last night my wonderful husband helped me out by administering Lauren's amoxicillin. While I put Ben and Lauren to bed Travis put the medicine back in the fridge.

As anyone who has ever been sentenced to 10 days of amoxicillin knows you must 'shake well' before pulling the medicine up into the syringe and holding the child down to cram the medicine down her gullet. Unfortunately, I didn't get past the 'shake well' this morning. Ben and Lauren were under-foot as usual when I pulled the medicine out of the fridge. I will admit I hadn't cracked open my Diet Mountain Dew so I was in a bit of a daze because I was caffeine deficient. Without inspecting the bottle I began shaking. Travis hadn't gotten the lid on tight. The lid went flying the medicine went everywhere. On my pajamas. In my hair. Down the refrigerator door. On Ben's pajamas. In Ben's hair. On Lauren's dress. In Lauren's hair. On the floor. On the counter. On the toy I had to step over to get to the fridge.

Lauren: You made a mess mama!
Ben: I'm wet.
Lauren: You trashed the kitchen mom.
Ben: What happened?
Lauren: I'm wet too.
Ben: What are you doing mommy?
Me: (in my head @#$@!@@$#%) ENOUGH!

I took off my soiled pajamas and used them to wipe up the bulk of the mess as my fat rolls hung out for any golfer going by my kitchen window to see. I have showered and given baths, but I can still smell the stench of amoxicillin.

And, that is not the only mess I will clean up today. The ticking time bomb has decided to wear her Dora panties today after a much needed potty hiatus over the holidays.

Poor Baby

Like I said yesterday, Lauren is sick again. I decided to be Dr. Mom and type her symptoms into google. Fever. Leg Pain. Stomachache. Answer: Leukemia. Note to self: Never attempt to be Dr. Mom again. So, I called the doctor and explained the symptoms and the nurse told me to come in at 9am, mind you it was already 8:30.

Breakfast for the kids: Check!
Breakfast for mom: Negative.
Caffeine for mom: Negative.
Zoloft for mom: Negative.
Coat and hat times three: Check! Check! Check!
Coat for mom: Negative.

We arrived at the doctor just in time.

Strep test: Check.
Result: Negative.
Flu test: Check.
Result: Negative.
Catheter for urine test: Check.
Result: Negative.

As if that wasn't enough we were then sent to the hospital for blood work and a chest X-ray. Needless to say Lauren was already pretty pissed off by the time we got there. The boys were bored, hungry and bouncing off the walls. I could feel my blood beginning to boil as we waited and waited. Finally they called us so Lauren could get pricked, as we rounded the corner I noticed that the gaseous cranky old nurse would be drawing Lauren's blood. I know she could never forget the train wreck I affectionately call my family, but thank goodness she didn't mention our previously meeting. After the blood work we were shuttled off to radiology. When the tech saw that I had Ben and Jack with me she broke the news that she would have to take Lauren into X-ray by herself. I could hear Lauren crying all the way down the hall. Poor baby. When they brought her back to me she stopped crying, but she continued with the deep sobbing breathing for several minutes. I attempted to win my children back by taking them to McDonalds. The boys were easy, but Lauren refused to eat any of her nuggets and even threw her Strawberry Shortcake prize on the floor!

Now, we just wait. The Doctor said "The blood test is to check for the 'C' word" and the chest X-ray was to make sure her lungs are clear. We should have the results of the X-ray in a couple hours, but we have to wait until next week for the results of the blood test. I am trying not to freak out. My logical side knows there is a cure for many childhood cancers now, but I can't help to think of my dad's brother who died from Leukemia when he was 2-years-old. Please pray for my baby.

Bah Humbug!

About the time Travis and I got married (10 years ago) some of his female cousins decided to start a secret Santa gift exchange. We all draw a name then purchase a gift for about $30. The exchange is made up of Travis' 4 cousins, their spouses and his sister and brother-in-law. When everyone started having kids they threw them in the mix too with a $15 gift. So, so do the math 2 $30 gifts and 3 $20 gifts for a total of $120. I love giving gifts to people I actually know, but I can count on one hand how many times I have actually met these people. So, the joy of giving is out since I don't know what to get them, nor do I know if they like it because I rarely receive a thank you note. I would much prefer to spend an extra $120 on my kids. But, that isn't the worst part, more times than not someone in our family is shorted. That's right, someone doesn't get a gift. That means there is someone in Travis' family that receives a gift but doesn't give one. From the first time this happened I have asked Travis to politely opt out of the gift exchange for the following year. But, he doesn't because he doesn't want to ruffle any feathers. It really gets my goat when it is one of my kids that gets screwed. I don't know why because my kids certainly don't need any more toys. This year Travis drew the short straw. At which point do we assume the gift isn't coming? We know who didn't have his name because we received gifts from two of his cousins so that narrows it down, but doesn't pin point it. Do we ask the keeper of 'the list' who had Travis' name? But if we ask, then what? Do we confront the Grinch? What would you do?