Peeved with Pet Peeves

I wanted to title this post with some cool twist on words but I couldn't think of anything witty. Maybe it's this massive headache I have. Of course my Tylenol is in the kids bag in the back of the van. That's a safe place for it to be.
So back to the point of this post. I've got to stop thinking about other randomness.
I couldn't resist complaining about the English language today. I did not take honors English in high school. I attempted to. It was fast paced. I couldn't keep up. I transferred back to regular English. I excelled. All four years.
What I don't understand is how any one can pass high school English, even elementary English without knowing how to spell correctly? The misuse of words drive me crazy!!
What makes it more entertaining is when people post it on public social networks. My favorites today are the incorrect use of their, there and they're.
More commonly misused then and than. Or today's laughable feature jeans instead of genes. I wanted to comment on the photo that this incorrect word was used but I refrained. I withheld my snarky comment.
The one that makes my skin crawl is your and you're. I want to scream when I see "your welcome". When did some one own welcome? The worst part is that some of the people using these words are college graduates or school teachers. I want to see their degrees to make sure I don't send my children to school there.
I know I'm not the only one who can't believe it.
Windows can recognize when you have misspelled a word but it cannot decipher what context you are using the word. It's not a grammar corrector.
That's just my two cents on that today.

5QF:Summer almost over

It's Friday and I'm looking for a little down time. The first nine weeks of summer have been very busy to say the least and we have three left. I think I'm counting right. Miss K has been in various summer camps for several of the weeks and the last one ended today. As much as I like that she is kept busy doing things she loves, this mama needs a break before school starts. I want this to feel like summer. We need to squeeze in a few more trips to the beach and head to the zoo. We have been so constricted by summer camps that we haven't been able to relax and really enjoy what we used to do when the kids weren't old enough for camps.

I had good intentions of doing my 5QF early this morning, but we headed to the mall after picking up Miss K to get more school clothes. Dillard's is having their fabulous 40% sale and I scored some good deals for my girl.






1. Vow renewal ceremonies-yay or nay? Ok, I was on the fence about this one, but after reading a few other answers I think that an intimate ceremony on a special anniversary on an island like Hawaii would be my idea of a vow renewal. My parents actually had a vow renewal on their 30th wedding anniversary but only because they never had a real wedding. They eloped before my dad had to leave the country while he was in the military. It was a wonderful ceremony and the last time I remember my grandmother being out of her house. Ok, I'm completely going off the question.. sorry.

2. What sound/s annoy you the most? The noises that people make when eating. It's like nails on a chalkboard. Slurping. crunching food with an open mouth. chomping loudly. Gulping for air in between bites of food. NO THANK YOU! I cannot stand it and have taught my kids to eat quietly and even had to train the hubs. It's funny how he never noticed and after showing him he can't stand it either.

3. If you had to pick, would you have only all boys, or only all girls for kids?
I don't think I would pick all of either. I used to want all boys before having kids and I had a girl first. She is such a drama queen about things. It's very trying. My son is a complete polar opposite. He's laid back and goes with the flow. If I have another babe, personally I'm hoping for another boy. We have enough drama here.

4. Do you believe in alternative medicine?
In certain circumstances. Western medicine is a lot about pumping you full of drugs. I'm not saying medicine is a bad thing, because I have been very grateful that I have advanced medical care readily available for me.
BUT..

When I was in a car accident many years ago I went to my family doctor first. (I skipped the ride in the ambulance to the hospital) He prescribed a barrage of drugs to take. I then went to a chiropractor who took xrays and determined my back and neck were under pressure from pinched discs. I went for the chiropractor. Six months later my back and neck were almost back to normal.

5. Would you take a family member's children and raise them if they needed it?

Yes I would. If it meant between my house or under state's care I would take them. I would make sure that the situation would not adversely affect my family and consider the circumstances as to why they need care to make sure.

It makes you think about if you and your spouse were to die unexpectedly, ie car accident. Where would your children go? Do you have a will? Something I haven't done either and have talked about many times. I want to make sure my children go to the right home.


Have a great weekend y'all! I'm heading out this weekend on Sunday again. Tampa bound!

PYHO:Periods between Periods

Before writing this post I went into my archives to link to a previous post about this. But the only one I found was one I never published. It was written back on 02-08-11. So before writing what is on my heart and mind, I want you to see where my mind is.

I have been praying that God will soften my husband's heart about having another child. Last year it was discussed and I actually made an appointment to my OB/GYN to have my birth control removed. But just two days before I was to go, I canceled the appointment. Then my marriage took a turn for the worst and if you've been reading my blog for some time you know what I'm talking about. God was watching out for me and thankfully I listened and didn't go ahead with it. The timing wasn't right and who knows what the outcome could have been. After soul searching and repairing our marriage, changing churches and finding God again in my new church I put aside the thoughts of having another child. My family and marriage were more important that fulfilling my deep personal desire to have a larger family. So just a month ago I spoke to my husband about having number three again. It went better than I thought, at least he didn't flat out say no. Small subtle hints and praying daily and weekly to God has been the only thing quenching my soul. Until recently. If I didn't know any better, I would say that I was pregnant. But unless my birth control failed it's not possible. I know my body and I'm having symptoms that make me think that I could be. Nauseous, moody and my medicine is all wacko. I called my Family Care doctor and made an appointment because if we do want to to start trying I need to adjust my medicine to make my body safer for it. If I have my sure tell sign ( nosebleeds) that I am pregnant. I would say that it is God's will, because only he can make things like that happen despite the fact that I am trying to prevent being pregnant at this time. I know that my husband would not be upset because he getting softer about the idea. My prayers may have been answered. Only time will tell.


So recently I've been thinking about having another baby. It's actually been on my mind for quite some time. After Little E turned three I really started thinking about it. A few times I was supposed to go and have my IUD removed and then I canceled the appointment. My husband got cold feet and my marriage is more important that adding to our family.

Then we got a possible pregnancy scare, despite having birth control in place. I couldn't find my IUD string. If you have one, you know what I'm talking about and you're supposed to check for it monthly. I'm such a scatter brain and I can't remember the last time I checked for it. I was pretty scared and my husband was like, "oh my god, you could be pregnant". I had been having crazy menstrual periods for two months, even twice in one month.

If you can't be sure that your IUD is in place, then you should be using a secondary back up type of birth control. Well when you don't know how long it's been that way, then it's hard to say what might have happened.

I made an appointment for the next day to the OB/GYN. My husband and I discussed the possibility of removing it this time. I figured that when I saw the doctor that she would find it and I would have her remove it and we would be trying for another little one. Well, she couldn't find it either. After trying three different methods of locating it, I was going to have to get an ultrasound. I was really worried now.

What if I'm pregnant with an IUD in there? What do I do?

The doctor didn't seem that concerned and I think because I had a period on the 8th of this month. I explained to her that it was only one day and that is not normal for me. Basing that I had quite a bit of bleeding in the first trimester of Little E's pregnancy, anything was possible.

I've prayed to God. I've asked that if I'm wrong about my desires that he give me an answer, a sign that I should just stop my thoughts. For him to squelch my dreams.

Then I thought maybe this was his answer. That I should go ahead and remove it. That this was his way of getting me there. That this was the push and in my own free will I was to take the plunge.

I got the ultrasound and everything is as it should be. Just an IUD where it's supposed to be. No baby. I was happy and sad all at the same time. It was a bittersweet moment. I did not make another appointment to remove it. I don't know why.

I guess I thought that if it was devine intervention and I did get pregnant with an IUD, that it was not my plan. That it was God's plan.

So here we are and I'm having another period. I'm thinking it's a second chance. I was having second thoughts about not removing it because my husband and I decided to go ahead. I actually got cold feet this time, not my husband.

The Kids Throne

Before starting to write this post, I realized that I must have poop on the brain. Or something like that. You ever heard about dinner conversations always ending up talking about bowel movements or sh!t? For some reason in my family, we always seem to head in that direction. Don't ask me why. I really don't have an answer. Call me crazy.


So this last weekend we were forced to purchase a new toilet seat for the kids bathroom. It's been one of those things on the to do list that just hasn't been important enough to do. But one of the kids broke the hinge on the back and one of the cushions on the lid. I guess that's what I get for removing the toilet seat cover and some small person decided to drop the lid down.

The hubs was going to go to Lowe's and pick the seat himself. I told him to take the old seat with him and he said "they're all the same. Why do I need to take it with me?"
Uh yeah. I went with him anyways. So we schleped both kids into the self improvement store to find a new seat.

I was glad we brought the old seat with us, because there are two sizes. Men! (enough said)

I never realized how many decisions go into buying a new toilet seat! Do I want plastic? What brand? What kind of hinge? Chrome or plastic? Slow shutting? Antimicrobial?

It took me 30 minutes to find one. I went with an expensive $31.00 white, with chrome hinged antimicrobial seat. It is supposed to prevent staining. When you have a little boy in the house, preventing staining in the bathroom is important.

Glad I didn't send the hubs alone. He would have brought back the plastic, slow shutting one. As much as the slow shutting is nice (no dropping of lids) , it takes too long to shut. No thanks.

Of course, like a new toy the kids couldn't wait to try it out. Both kids couldn't wait to use it once we had it installed. The moments in life that make us laugh.

Surprise Surprise

There's nothing like enjoying the afternoon at Sea World with your husband and kids. Even when you forget to pack extra clothes for your four year old. The four year old who has a tendency to forget to tell you that he needs to go potty when he's having fun.

Or when he's having constipation issues again.

Five minutes after walking into the park I needed to head to the restroom. Both kids accompanied me and I let Little E go into a stall by himself. That was my second mistake, after forgetting to pack the spare underpants.

I'm standing outside the door and he tells me his pants are wet. Just great! In a hurry to sit down to try to go poop he forgets to pee first while standing up and just sits down. Now if you are a mom to boys, you know what this means. Inexperienced boys forget to hold down their "noodle" and close their legs and the pee goes straight out to the pants.

I'm frustrated at this point and take off his pants and throw out the underwear that are soaked. It's not like I was going to be able to convince the hubs to put them in his backpack and carry around urine soaked underwear for seven hours.

This was like a flashback to the time at Disney CityWalk back in December '10. When I actually remembered to bring spare clothes, but Little E kept wetting his pants and I ran out of clothes. We spent an hour searching the shops to find him underwear. I was lucky that time but spent a small fortune to buy Disney underwear.

We didn't get as lucky this time. No underwear are marketed by Sea World so they don't sell them. But they do have vending machines that sell diapers and anything else that you might need when traveling with small children. The catch? One pullup will cost ya $4.00.

It was pretty painful to drag the kids from the front of SW all the way back to other side of the park to locate one of the four vending machines in the park. All the while they keep asking to stop and look at this or that.

After getting the pullup on Little E, I told him not to go to the bathroom in it, to think like it was his underwear. Yeah, best laid plans.

While waiting for the Pets Ahoy show to start, Little E loudly calls out "mommy, I need to go poop!" What?!
"Are you sure?" I'm hoping he says no, because I was alone with both kids watching the show while the hubs was riding the Kracken roller coaster. So we would have abandoned our seats for another potty break.
"No. I'm good." he says.
I should have known better.

A couple of hours later I took the kids to the restroom again. It was so hot out and trying to keep the kids hydrated so what goes in, must come out. I was surprised again with a mess in Little E's pullup. Poor guy was having such a time with constipation that everytime he passed gas, it was not a pretty sight.

So we headed out again to locate another vending machine. So $8.00 later, I could've bought a whole package of pullups for what I spent on two!! The price of convenience. It's still a hard to pill to swallow.

Thankfully the second one we bought was the last one. The rest of the evening went well. No more accidents and Little E skipped dinner for a much needed nap.

I'm going to make a mental note for our next trip out and it doesn't matter where we go. I'm packing underwear, shorts, socks, wipes and a ziploc bag. I'm tired of being empty handed. I thought my diaper bag carrying days were over when the little guy was potty trained. I guess not.

Happy Birthday

We had an amazing time today celebrating this little guy's
fourth birthday. After all the guests had packed up and left
for home, we took some time to play
on the playground where we held the party.

Little E is a great subject for photography.

He and his big sister love to pose for the camera.
And he still got to enjoy running to everything
on the playground while I chased him with my camera.

Happy Birthday to my sweet boy.
You are growing up too fast
my little man.

Shame on you

You know the saying hurt me once, shame on you, hurt me twice, shame on me. Well shame on me. I try to overlook the bad things, the stuff that goes on that bothers me. No one is perfect, so you can't always pick people apart. Everyone has their faults.

But I'm tired of always giving in. Being the nice person and not saying what I really feel. I guess I figure if I don't say anything, then I can save the friendship. Because if I tell her how I really feel then the friendship is over. What's the point???

Why does it matter? At this point I'm tired of getting let down.

After telling me that she and her family would be coming to Little E's party and the day before, after I've already bought all the food and gift bags for the kids, she tells me. I knew it was coming.

We were chatting online and she asks me to call her. I had some family visiting so she asked me to call after they left. I had time to mull it over in my head before calling and figured she was bailing.

Sure as the world, she did. And the infamous line I know you're going to be upset with me, and I understand. Bullshit!
Do you really understand?! The same woman who complains about people doing rude things. Inconsiderate things. Well, I'd like to tell her that she falls right into that category.

I thought she was different.

And she came up with this crap excuse that really pissed me off. Saying that they had to go to this function for church and that she really didn't want to go and her son was torn about going because he wanted to go to my son's party. Blah blah blah.

Whatever!

I'm not done with this situation. During the phone call I didn't know what to say. But I can't let this go. It is bothering me enough that if we're as good of friends as I thought, then she needs to hear me out. She really hurt me.

It doesn't matter at this point where the friendship goes. Because if I don't say anything, then I'm going to just push her away. And if I do say something, then I may just push her away. Whatever.

I'm so tired of being crapped on.

Rockin the Baby or Babies

I'm linking up this week with my good friend Shell at Things I Can't Say for her Rockin the Baby link up. It was so hard to choose just one photo of my sweet kiddos when they were just little babes so I picked two of each. That was even pretty hard to do because I could just go crazy linking up photos of my kids.

Miss K at 5 months

Miss K at 9 months

Little E at 1 month

Little E at 6 months

Now that you've enjoyed looking at my little babes, head over to Shell's to check out the blogs who have joined in and maybe you can link up too!

Oil and Water

I survived the weekend. I knew I wasn't looking forward to having extra kids around before they showed up but I was trying to be optimistic. I know, I know, I'm a bad aunt. But speaking from previous experience when my niece came to stay once before, I knew it was going to be rough.

Rough is an understatement. From lying, breaking toys and down right refusal to listen to me was only part of the chaos.

My kids are contented to hang out in the house and play with toys or do arts and crafts. Or play in the yard without issues. Or just watch television quietly while eating mass amounts of popcorn. I don't have to constantly entertain them on rainy days. Which 2 of the 3.5 days that my niece and nephew were there, were rainy.

Oil and water. This was like mixing oil and water. As much as you shake it, it still separates. Every single time. That was us.

I'm walking away from this and taking it as a learning experience. I can honestly say that I will not have both kids come stay together again. It was just too much.


As if I hadn't had enough stress all weekend, as soon as I waved goodbye to my "extra kids" my husband and I tore the house down. Ok, not really. We decided to paint the house a few weeks ago. And this was the week. Crazy I tell you.
It went from painting the living room, to now painting the kitchen and hallways as well. I hope we can finish it by Friday. Little E's birthday party is THIS weekend. Thankfully we are having the party somewhere else.

Here are a few photos to show you. They don't do the color any justice. The lighting was horrible.




More photos to come soon this week. Of course once I find my way to the computers.

Friday Fragments #153

This last week was one of those weeks that I'm glad is over. It was mentally stressful for me and I was carrying around some issues that I finally got off my chest on my PYHO post over at Shell's Thing's I Can't Say. After writing that post and talking to my husband about it, I can breathe a sigh of relief that he understands where I'm coming from.

I decided that my posts need to be a little more light hearted and not so deep all the time. I don't want to depress all of you and have you thinking my life is all sadness and tears. I need to get back on track and start writing more fiction over at the RDC.

My little E's birthday is next Thursday and we're celebrating it on Sunday the 17th. I ordered his invites the last week of June, they still have not arrived. I broke down in desperation and planned the event invites on Facebook. Something I completely and utterly detest.

I've found my new favorite song of the week. Here's the video. I can't get it out of my head. I love the beat and the music. I haven't had a chance to listen to it in my husband's car (his stereo is outta this world) but I'm sure it beats listening to it on my iPhone.

I made a trip to Walmart last night to grab some last minute items to avoid taking 4 kids shopping. As I was passing the stationery section I stopped dead in my tracks. Can you believe they already have school supply lists out already??! There are still six weeks left of summer!

To answer any questions to why I have four kids now. No, I didn't magically have two babies in the past week to give me four kids. (although I am still trying to convince the hubs that one more kid would be great.) I am babysitting my 3 year old nephew and 6 year old niece for 3.5 days this weekend. My husband's stepsister and her husband are taking a cruise, their first vacation together without kids, and I offered to watch them.

PYHO: Stuck in the Middle

Sometimes I find myself standing in my kitchen thinking about how nice things are going on in life. That there is no stress and how well the week is going. No craziness.

Life is smooth. It's like a piece of bliss. Perfect harmony.

I'm feeling self assured that my life is going in the right direction. Spiritually. Financially.

Then the rug gets pulled out from under me again.

I'm not sure who is trying to correct me. Is it Satan rearing his ugly head at me? Laughing that I actually thought life could always go so easy. Or was it God? Is he testing my devotion to him? Making me prove my worth yet again?

I've talked about how my in laws and I have strained relationships. Some days things are good between us. Usually when they keep their distance. Sadly that is the best way to keep a sane relationship with them. For me. I can't let them in too far. Of course when the holidays roll around, or a birthday celebration, it gets messy.

Father's Day was a small train wreck. I had a weak moment and decided to go to dinner with my husband's dad, his stepmom and the kids on Saturday, the night before. There was a long, let me say VERY LONG wait at the restaurant. His step mom starting getting weirded out. She couldn't sit still and we tried to make the best of the moment. Thankfully after an hour we were seated but the weirdness stepped up a bit. She ordered a glass of wine. Big mistake.
The alcohol accelerated her mood and she was loopy. She was giving the waiter a hard time about the menu. Complaining about the service. Loudly complaining about the wait for the salad bar.
She was putting me on the edge. I wanted the evening to end and everyone to finish dinner quickly. It's one thing to be uncomfortable with her at home but when it's in a public place, not so much.
We survived the evening. The only good thing about being in public with her is that when it's over, we go home. No whining that we're leaving her house. No dancing around with the kids because she's had four too many glasses of wine to drink. We just get to walk away and drive home.

Fourth of July weekend came and I thought it was going to be peaceful. We only made plans with my parents and a few friends. Tried to keep it low key. We went to church on Sunday morning before heading to the beach for the rest of the day.

It was nearing the end of the day at the beach and we were planning on going home and enjoying a nice evening with my parents coming over to our house. Then my husband gets a phone call while we're trying to load up the van. I gave him a look like are you really going to answer that now? Call who ever it is back. He quickly brushed off the caller, promising to call them back.

Then his phone chimes that he has a text. You'd think that he would wait until we're leaving to read it. But he just couldn't. It was from his dad. He was telling him that the cops were on their way to his house and that his wife was trying to have him arrested for abuse and holding her against her will. What the hell??!!

My husband turns to me and angrily says " I should have taken that phone call! I can't believe that I listened to you."

"Are you kidding me??! You're blaming me??!" I defended my actions. "As if taking that phone call was going to change anything!"

I was glad that my parents were standing there with us. They sympathized that my husband was upset but defended me as well.

I've had about enough of his family's crisis' and shenanigans. At that moment the thoughts that ran through my mind were, what now? What are we going to be expected to do? What has that crazy woman done THIS time?


Without going into more detail and making this post much longer, I'll briefly summarize the rest of it.

My husband went to his dad's house that evening, ending the rest of our fun for that day. His dad was not arrested. His step mom was arrested after attempting to attack his father in front of the officers and announcing she was going to kill him. She was taken to a mental health treatment center for observation. She was supposed to be held for 72 hours but was released after 12 hours after accepting their recommendations to seek treatment.

Currently, I am fed up with the situation. The relationship between his father and step mom are like when some one is being abused. The abusee thinks it their fault and they love the abuser, despite the crap that they put them through. That is where is dad is, he loves her and he is blaming himself for her problems. I personally believe that nothing will change. She will continue to drink, take her pills and cause problems, even if she goes to a treatment center. I used to have sympathy for his dad when dealing with her. Not anymore. So here we are, seven days away from Little E's birthday and ten from his party. I am going to take a firm stance that she not attend.

I know that my expectations are going to come with repercussions. My husband is not going to agree with me and if his step mom is not welcomed, then his father won't come. She doesn't know that we know what happened. Another issue that bothers me. His father doesn't want her to know that he told his son. Where do I with this? What do I do? I'm stuck in the middle.

Friday Fragments #152

I love Friday Fragments (just a day late) with Mrs. 4444.
I haven't participated in awhile but it feels good to
just jot down snippets of thoughts and call it a day.

*The closer I get to my son's fourth birthday I realize that he's growing up. My little man is exiting toddler hood and will be embracing little boy status. He's going to be more interested in sports, trucks and bicycles than sitting in his mama's lap.


*This past week was one of the best week's so far this summer for the kids and I. After four weeks we finally got ourselves a great routine for the week. Even when we have moments where I can't take much more of their "mom!! she's touching me!!" or "mom, he took my toy!!", we still manage to overcome the trials and pull it together and have a great day.

*It's been so dry for many weeks, that even watering the lawn for 2 hours in each section, it was still dry hours later. Now, it's been raining everyday for over a week. The smell of moisture outside is bugging me. It's so wet and it's great and you'd think that I wouldn't be complaining.

* After getting a chance to sneak away last weekend to buy birthday gifts for Little E, he tells me today that he wants something other than what I purchased. I'm hoping he's only asking for it because he saw it at Target while shopping.

*I stumbled across this awesome blog, momcomm this week and I am so inspired by her tips and information on blogging.

*I don't remember picking on my little bother as much as my two argue, grumble and having sibling rivalry. Boy, it's a tough job getting two small people to learn to get along sometimes. ugh.

*Speaking of little brothers, my younger brother moved back closer to home this week. He was in Pensacola for four years and he and his family moved back on Friday. They will be living only two hours away from us now and I'm so excited. I can't wait to give my littlest nephew hugs and smother him in kisses.