AND SPEAKING OF FUNDRAISING....

Please visit http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?pg=personal&fr_id=2871&px=3268595
Ive teamed up with Jen (and our kids and husbands) to do an MS walk on April 22nd. We are walking for my step mother Sue, and in memory of Jen's mother in law Sandi. Both of whom were diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Please sponser me if you are able. Even a few dollars would help us reach our goal of $500.00. Thanks for your support!

Geesh!

I cant believe the project that Zachary just brought home. Let me read to you part of the instruction sheet. Students are required to make the environment better or better our community. Ok that sounds ok so far..let me continue. Students are required to find an adult sponsor with whom to discuss their ideas. Students decide on a goal, plan how to raise money, acquire/buy supplies, schedule and do the actual work, document the entire process in a binder with journal entries, receipts, charts, sketches, a letter from their sponsor and pictures of every step of the project. They have 9 weeks to complete it. WHAT? Receipts? Charts? FUNDRAISING? Sponsors? Don't we have environmentalists for this? This is too much if you ask me. He's in 6th grade! This sounds like a project of a high school senior! Im really pissed, especially about the fundraising part. Kids these days have way too many fundraisers as it is. Sports, explorers, school. A school project should not require fundraising. Zachary's talking of panhandling down at Geisslers! Great. This "Community Service Project" as its called is being done in groups. There are 2 other kids in his group. That sounds good at first, as it lightens his load but you know theres always at least one kid who gets lazy and leaves the other(s) picking up the slack and doing the whole project, or arguing over different ideas and determining who's idea wins out. Luckily we know the kids and hopefully that wont happen. Why cant "community service project" mean cleaning up local parks, or bringing in canned goods and working at a soup kitchen, or singing jingle bells at the nursing homes? I had to sign this paper too! Acknowledging his responsibilities and understanding that he may need adult guidance. Theres the parents getting roped into this. I really didn't want to sign it. I want to say something to the teacher or protest the kids doing this. But of course I cant do that, at least the latter half. I just think its way too much to ask of an 11 yr old. Aside from it being a ton of work for one class, its a huge time commitment. Its not like he gets to work on this at school. This teacher has been a pain in my ass all year. From problems with Zachary's grade, to snotty emails to me (when Ive asked for his homework in advance when I knew he would be out of school when the baby was born) to having projects every damn month. Other teachers have described her as being "set in her ways". That's nicey nice for saying shes a bitch. This lady needs a time out! Dont you think this is over the top?

Ouch!

I stopped pumping 2 days ago. The time I was spending doing it, compared to what I was getting out wasn't worth it anymore. It sometimes would take me 2 or 3 times (1/2 hr each) to make one bottle. He's now eating 6-7 oz at a time. So its taking me longer as he's eating more. Im tired of wearing a bra to bed, tired of being strapped to the pump. I do feel a little guilty and disapointed in myself for not continuing. I didnt think I would be. But I keep telling myself that all the time Im sticking him in his swing because Im pumping, I could be playing with him. The first night my girls were so sore that I went to bed with an ice pack in each pocket of my nursing bra. Ouchhhh! Every time I held the baby, Id hold him away from me like he had the plague so he wouldn't touch them or kick them, or even look at them. When we were going to bed I warned Steve not to come near me. I told him to stay on his own side and don't even spoon me,or put his arm around me or anything. An elbow to the left one might paralyze me. It was that painful. Yesterday it was still pretty bad. They were so full, I bet I coulda filled a 5 gallon bucket. When I fed the baby, Id nuzzle him in my arm pit and burped him sitting up still so he wouldn't touch them. No ice packs, but I took Motrin throughout the day. Today is a little better. Still sore, but defiantly getting better. Thank Goodness!

Zzzzzzzzzzz

Ryan slept all night! He usually sleeps about 5-6 hours and wakes up eats and goes back to bed. Last night he slept from 10 pm till 7am! I woke up a few times to check on him. But I have that video camrea monitor so I didnt have to get out of bed. Yah!

SHE'LL BE COMIN ROUND THE MOUNTAIN WHEN SHE COMES.....

Zachary and I did go skiing. We went to Winding Trails in Farmington. Had a great time. I told him we needed to start off on the easy trail because it was his first time but really it was for my own benefit. Its been almost a year since Ive had any kind of exercise at all. He is so athletic anyway, he could have done the most difficult trail and been fine. For those of you who have never cross country skied before, its not all straight and flat as many people think. Sure there are places like that, but thats too boring for me. I need scenery, hills and woods, bends and curves. And believe me, there are some pretty good size hills even on the easy trail. So we get to the first hill and Zachary falls ( for the 1st time) as he starts to approach it. Its no easy task getting up once you have fallen. Cross country ski's are longer than downhill ski's. So I go to try and help him and by the time I get there, Im traveling at a good pace and am unable to stop. Keep in mind poor Zachary is still lying on the ground ass backwards with his skis up around his neck. Im now screaming things like " Get out the way!" Watch out! Whoaaaaaaa! Move your poles! Zacharrrrryyyy!" I felt like I was going down that hill at 90-mph. And literally at the last millisecond, he manages to roll to the side and missed my path of destruction. Now this hill is shaped like and L, it goes down and then curves around. If you miss the curve than your in the trees. So I did good, I didnt fall all the way down and around the curve. Unfortunately Zachary had to fend for himself getting up and then coming down the hill himself. "Thanks a lot mom, you just left me there and almost ran me over!" he says with a smile on his face. " Well kid, the way I see it, your pretty lucky you don't have ski treads across your forehead!" We had so much fun . We really needed that time by ourselves. He really enjoyed it and cant wait to go back, next time on a harder trail. He was very patient with me taking it slow. I told him he could go up ahead of me a little bit but he didn't. Stayed right with me. Occasionally he would say "C'mon Mama Pajama!" (that's what he calls me sometimes). He did so good. No one would be able to tell it was his first time. I'm so glad he liked it. Now we have that to do together. I used to ski with my mom. And sometimes its hard finding things I have in common with an 11 yr old boy. I do my best, but theres only so many nascar laps I can watch on tv, or listen to endless sports conversations in this house. I'm not into quads and or BB guns. I really do try. And he isn't into soap operas and laundry or grocery shopping. But now we have skiing! Theres a lot of testosterone at 147 Mountain Road. But still, I wouldn't trade my boys for the world. The other night at dinner, the entire meal was spent talking sports. And I finally said to Steve, you know what? I'm going to have an invisible friend from now on. And were going to braid hair and talk about pony's. He just looked at me like I was nuts. But he got my point. I feel left out, include me. So then he says "Whats going on with Zarf?" - ( that would be the transgender lesbian on All My Children who's going to have his winkie cut off so he can be a girl.). "Well he is a she and she goes by Zoey now" I say sarcastically. Score one for Steve. Point taken. Sometimes we have different interests but we all try.

NO HABLA ENGLAIS

Intro to Spanish has begun. So long Philippe, Juan Pablo Buck has moved in.

FINALLY A GOOD SNOW DAY!

Heres my cutie patootie making a snow tunnel. Finally we get some measurable snow that we can actually play in. I'm going to take Zachary cross country skiing tomorrow. We haven't had any good quality time with just me and him since the baby's been born. It will be his first time skiing. Cant wait! Conditions may be a little icy but who knows if or when we will get another snow storm. And I'm looking forward to the exercise. Daddy and Ryan are gonna hang out at home and work on some fantasy baseball homework. Should be a fun day!

2 MONTHS OLD!

I HEART REGIS

Were pulling for ya Reeg!

GREYS HAS ME SEEING RED

Ok fine, we will talk about Greys. Yes, it appears that Izzy and George have done the deed. And I cant say that Im happy about it. There was something that was special about their friendship. Platonic. Protective. BFF. I liked the storyline. Jealous Cali saying "Hey, stand up for me, I'm your wife". I never felt there was sexual tension between Izzy and George or even attraction. Maybe I missed something. But now, they cant ever be what they were. Well, I suppose they can its a tv show, but it wont be believable. In real life, I personally don't believe that's possible. You cant be best friends with someone you have already slept with. Acquaintances, sure. But not BFF. Once you cross that line, it wont ever be the same. Put Izzy with Alex!
I hate that Addison is getting her own show. Mostly because I want to see her on Greys, interacting with those people, not people like Amy Brennaman and Lisa Kudrow. Lisa will always be Phoebe. Amy will always be Judging. I want to see Addison with McSteamy instead! Those two have the sexual tension, not Izzy and George for Pete's sake! That's just silly to me. What do you guys think?

I swear im not joking....

Im so going to get struck by lightning for this one, but Ive had a rough day and it made me laugh (albeit at someone elses expense). I was reading the newspaper tonight and came across an obit for Harry Pitts. Yes thats right folks, Harry Pitts. He also leaves a son, Harry R Pitts! Why on earth would you do that to a child?! We have options here people. Go by Harold at the very least! Perhaps Hank would do. If you have to name your child Harry Pitts, dont give R as a middle name because it really sounds like Harry Arm Pitts!

Ryan did good at the Dr yesterday. Better than I did! He had 3 shots and 1 oral. Good thing Steve was there, Im really bad at watching somebody make my kid cry even when its for his own good. He weighs 13 lbs 12.5 oz. Still in the 90th% for weight. And he is 21 3/4 long. 15% for height. He's still our bowling ball!

Who knew?

I just found out this morning that Anderson Cooper from CNN is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt! Am I the last to know this? He was filling in for Regis this morning and he and Kelly were talking about his mothers fashon sense and she interupts and says "Im sure everyone knows this by now, but Andersons mother is Gloria Vanderbilt". Huh! Who knew?

Happy birthday Ryan!

Wow. We've had a crazy week. Zachary started with the flu on Wednesday and threw up continuously till Friday. Poor kid. Usually when he gets sick, its no more than a cold, or a 24 hour bug at worst. So this came as a surprise that it was lasting this long. Wednesday night I was following him around with a can of Lysol in fear that Ryan would pick up the germs. Unfortunately I soon realized he wasn't done being sick as he kept throwing up on every inch Id just Lysoled!
So what shall we talk about? Hmm. How about my $430.00 electric bill? Yes, that's right the electricity in this state cost more per month than Steve's 2004 Dodge Ram. Isn't that nuts? We only have electric heat in 1 room- Zachary's toy room. And that is only on low on the weekends. Weekdays its off. We have natural gas heat but that bill does include heating our hot water. Our bill used to be mid $200.00. Now these damn rate hikes are killing us! I cant imagine what it will be when its mid summer and we have 4 air conditioners going! Its not like we live in a mansion and have lights on all the time in each "wing". And we get a lot of natural light in here especially with the sky lights, so I don't have lights on during the day when I'm home.We are going to call the electric company and get someone out here to check the meter. I just think there is no way it can really be that much. Its freaking crazy! Last month our bill was about $360. and Steve and I almost blew a gasket. When he saw this months, he immediately thought he must have not paid last months or something and that's why it was so high. Its so frustrating. Its not like we can use a different electric company and take our business elsewhere. Its insane!
In other news, its Ryan's 2 month birthday today! He is going to the Dr today for a checkup. I cant wait to see how much he weights. Were estimating about 13 and a half lbs. He's a bruiser! He has to get his shots today though. I'm gonna hate that! Good thing Steve is going too. I will post some pictures in the next few days. Hes so much fun. Smiling and cooing and stuff! We cant stop kissing his chubby cheeks! I'm loving being home. Wish I didn't have to go back to work ever but I might have to work 6 jobs to pay for the damn electricity! Sorry, I'm not over that yet.
Steve and I got out for a nice dinner ALONE (for the first time) over the weekend thanks to Suzie and Chris who babysat both kids. We went to Outback. It was great. Thanks Suz!Zachary loves playing with his 3 cousins. Its so cute to see him with Joshua - my 2 1/2 yr old nephew. He has already asked me when he can babysit them. Not yet.
Zachary is getting his braces soon. The process is starting in 2 weeks. He will get his spacers on.
He's really bummed. I keep telling him that Suzie and I wanted braces so bad and we never had them. But that doesnt seem to soften the blow. He will only have to have them for 2 years hopefully. His teeth are straight but he has an overbite.
Gotta run, and take the little guy to the Dr. I'll write more later.

Anna Nicole Smith Saga

Im starting to feel bad for Howard K Stern. I think he's a doofis, but I also think the man is just broken. Did any of you catch the episode of Entertainment Tonight on Friday night? So sad. They were the only media allowed at her funeral. Cameras were there from the time the plane landed until after the funeral service. They showed part of Howards speech and most of it was like he was talking to Anna Nicole directly. He said he would carry out her wishes till the day he died no matter who tried to get in his way. And at the very end he said something like once his job was done than he would meet up with her again. Sounded like a suicide plan if I ever heard one. Ive been following this story about as much as anyone. With all the media attention its kinda hard not to. Im glad she is next to Daniel. As a parent I cant even imagine her pain. I would want to curl up and die too if God forbid something happened to one of my children. And its pretty clear that despite Howard being a big doofis he loved her. I watched her show once or twice back when it was on. I remember him being in every episode and following her around like a puppy dog. I dont think that Dannielynn is his. She is either Larrys or someone unknown, and that Howard is really trying to carry out her wishes by trying to protect paternity when he knows she isnt his. And now this business with Daniels father trying to get him exhumed and reburied in the U.S? Thats freaking sick. The unemployed looser is just trying to cash in. I cant believe that could even potentially happen after all that has gone on to get her to be burried next to him. Now there going to move Daniel? Thats so wrong. People are so messed up. Makes you really think about getting a will doesnt it?

Philippe The Goofball

Zachary has been cracking me up lately. Today he told me he no longer goes by Zachary. I thought he was going to tell me to call him Zach like everyone else does. Nope, now its Philippe.
He is taking a 1 month class that is going to introduce French and Spanish so that next year he can choose which language he wants to take. My guess is that today they started with french. Just a hunch. The other day I actually had to yell at him and tell him we do not under any circumstances fill up a cup of snow, pour a coke over it and call it a slushee. I don't care if he were to stick his tongue out in the middle of a snow storm, but we are not eating cup fulls of dirty snow. He is arguing with me that its clean because its white and he isnt eating the brown or yellow snow (Whew!) So the next time it rains (I forgot today) I'm going to stick a cup out in the rain and show him how dirty it really is.
It seems he may have a girlfriend, although he wont fess up. Her name is Hanna, rhymes with Donna, not Hannah as in banana.
Sounds like an uppity name to me. Oh, and her last name is Cheney, as in Dick. Oh lord, this isn't looking good. So I ask him what has to happen to be considered a couple. Do you have to go out on a date or is it just a school thing. He says you have to ask her out, then you get to walk down the hall together. Ok, check. Walk down the hall. I can deal with that, even if she is a republican. I'm so not ready for my baby to start thinking about girls! If he had told me there was smooching involved I just might have passed out. I started to bust his you-know-whats and I asked him if he wanted me to drive them to the movies. :0) He was not laughing. MMOOOMMMMM STOP IT! I kept asking him if she was his girlfriend and he refused to answer. He told me he would answer my question only if I would let him eat my Hershey with almonds bar I had just bought. Um, nobody takes my chocolate. I don't want to know that bad! He is getting very good at negotiating. "Mom, I'll trade you an hour of babysitting, if I can stay up later". Sure! Not that I go anywhere but if he keeps an eye on Ryan (who is sleeping most of the time) than I can do things like take a shower, or laundry ect. I told him pretty much anything he wants will work with babysitting! I did turn down one offer - For him to watch Ryan anytime I want for the next month, if he doesn't have to pay me back the $25.00 he owes me. I said "anytime I want? What if your playing basketball with your friends and I call you in?" He says "Well, you'd have to pick another time" and I said "What if he has a poop when your watching him?" And he reiterates that he doesn't do diapers. No deal.

Adorable!

Ryan started smiling! He's so much fun.! No time to write now. Poopie diapers await my changing. I will write more later (hopefully).