Wordless Wednesday: Family Pictures

I can't pic just ONE. 

These were so incredibly stress free and they came out fabulous...

(if you're reading in Reader don't forget to click to read the rest)

Snuggles bring smiles

It's been forever or so it seems since I updated. 

Honestly I've had nothing positive to say and just didn't want to write long redundant posts of me bitching about how much I hate the Army and how they are screwing with not just mine but my kids hearts. 

Let alone that they are screwing Dirt Diver's chances at getting promoted and his faith in the military is dwindling so low that he can't find a single positive thing to say about it anymore.

But it's things like this morning that make every thing so minimal...

Wordless Wednesday: Fun time for the dogs

If you haven't noticed then well I choose to stay with Blogger for now at least 

and 

took the dive to buy 

It's a Hooah Life I've been wanting to for a while but always put it off. 

Now I just need to budget cause I really want a new look. 

I love my layout but it's been a year and it's time for something new! 

So be on the lookout for that as well. On to my favorite part of Wednesday!

Wordless Wednesday

Yesterday we picked up Dirt Diver. It was an experience to remember that hopefully I can find time to write out. My kids never cease to entertain me daily with their antics. 

I'm so incredibly proud of Dirt Diver for making the sacrifice of giving up 3 weeks of being with us so close to deployment for the opportunity to advance. Unfortunately in his unit, no one gets promoted unless they have the Warriors Leader Course completed.

It's about time you reared your head homesick bug

Yesterday I hit the point of being “homesick”, add in stress, and the family dramas here in town; I cracked. I have often wondered the last 10 months if it was ever going to show it's ugly head. I went to bed early last night with a stress headache that has followed with me into today. My cough is echoing off my lungs, and my nose is training for a marathon. With that I am taking today off from packing, sorting, I will pick up and clean but I am going to keep my carcass planted right here on the couch and watch tv with the kids.  I thought about popping my Imitrex but the side effects lay me out like a junkie shooting heroin; and with kids around that’s a no go.

Back in 2001, I moved from SoCal to Camp Lejeune, NC with my first husband. I went through a horrible bout of depression due a wide range of things but one of them was being homesick. I couldn’t adjust to life in NC. The first year was the worse; while I enjoyed and loved North Carolina, I missed SoCal so much it made me cry almost every day. When I left North Carolina right before the divorce; I cried, not because of the marriage ending, not because I was starting a new life, but because I didn’t want to leave North Carolina. I fell in love. My whole time back in San Diego, while I enjoyed the weather, smells and things to do; I swore I would get out of there one way or another. I didn’t want my kids growing up in a city that pushes you to grow up faster than you are ready for. I didn’t want them thinking the name on a label of a shirt or shoes defined who you were. We moved up here to Oregon and from day one I’ve loved it. I love the beautiful sunsets on the bay, the smell of the crisp air on chilly days. I love that we have the dunes to ride in and places to camp all within 10 minutes from the house. Or how I can step outside, close my eyes and hear the ocean beat against the rocks on the other side of the road and trees from me.

San Diego in April 2009 

Sadly my love for California came creeping back yesterday when the sun shone and I went to embrace it in a tank top and capris only to be greeted by a wind chill that stopped me dead in my tracks. That’s when I cried for the first real time since moving here 10 months ago. Miss the high 70’s, the Santa Ana’s, the smell of summer in the air all year round. Miss having to wear sun glasses every day, and being able to wear flip flops without fear of losing a toe to frost bite. I also miss all the things to do, the sports the kids were into, the hundreds of children around us in housing, our neighbors that became our family. I keep telling myself that I will feel the same way when I leave Oregon, just like I felt when I left North Carolina.

As the saying goes… “The grass is greener on the other side”

‘Tater’s last season of softball before moving to Oregon

Every place I move to has reasons to fall in love with them, no one place is my perfect euphoria of harmonious weather, although North Carolina does seem to be the #1 contender; I just have to keep focused on the reasons why I love that state and not compare them to others. With that I hope I don’t put too many expectations on our new place. I am eager to get the kids back in sports, we’ve all been miserable without it, back into scouts, swim lessons again, and have the kids have other kids on the same street not a 30 minute drive through the woods anymore. I hope we make friends like we did in San Diego for summer BBQ’s and Friday night darts and fire pit hang outs. I want to not feel lonely anymore.

And there is my whine for the week. In the end though, it won’t matter where we live as long as we are together. As long as there is laughter in our lives, and love in our hearts we are rich and life is great. 

Oh no Mr. Elliptical you won't win this battle

Last week I finally hit 155lbs. I was SOOO excited, finally back to my normal weight range that’s been for the last 8 years or so. Twelve pounds down in 2.5 months and I didn’t even have to cut out my beer. Sadly I think I gained it all back by my snacking lately. I am back to 158lbs, but it could be the mountain of sweet tea I’ve been drinking today.

Most woman I know around this time of year are hitting the gyms hard, dieting, not straying; me on the other hand I love my food and snacks well too much to give them up. I even have an elliptical in the living room facing the TV and yet it serves as a coat rack. I hate to say it but I am also lazy to a point. I like to exercise but if I don’t see immediate results then I give up after the 3^rd day. Besides those reasons, I have to be honest for the most part I love the way I look. Yes I would love for my stomach (hold on as I was typing one of my cats just jumped off my bed towards to open door and instead of running out of the room he jumped right into the door and bounced back. Funniest thing today. True story.) to not stick out so far, but really only by 2.5 inches. I would love for my thighs to not rub together all the time but I like having semi-big thighs, they are sexy in a skirt my husband says. I would DIE (yes really I would commit murder) to get rid of the arm pit fat I have so I could wear strapless shirts and not feel self conscious. I wouldn’t mind not having back fat, but it’s really not huge so hmm scratch that. And of course I would kill for a breast lift but no matter how much weight I loose and muscles I gain, I will still have lost my perky girls to breastfeeding and pregnancy. But that’s okay too because I can say with pride that I have carried healthy beautiful children into this world and gave them the nutrients they needed from me.

It truly helps that while my husband pushes for me to eat healthier and work out more, it’s not because he wants me to lose weight. He likes my curves and I think he would die if I lost them. He just wants to see me firmer, which I admit I would love to see too. Unfortunately the Peanut Butter Reese’s cookies that Wal-mart’s bakery sells disagrees; and fortunately for the cookies my love for peanut butter and cookies over powered the urge to lose those dreaded 2.5 inches.

With that said, I have to share last night’s dinner. It was the best in the world, better than any restaurant I’ve been too but maybe that’s because I didn’t have to send it back two or three times reminding them to take that nasty horrible disgusting sauerkraut off it.

First marinate a brisket in a can of beer and water. (don’t mind the mess on the cooker another causality of the children’s FABULOUS washing skills) I prefer to cook my meats in a slow cooker frozen, therefore as it thaws the water keeps it moist. Depending on how big your brisket is you can use one or two cans. Cook on high for 2 hours then turn to low on for the remainder till dinner time.

Once ready, take out and cut into thin slices or shred it, your choice. Heat up a skillet, butter 1 side of two pieces of rye bread. Place 1 slice in skillet, pour some 1000 island dressing, Swiss cheese, corn beef, Swiss, 1000 island, and top with the other slice. Toast on either side. Serve with a side dish of 1000 island if you like to dip ‘em.  And for the kids made cheesy garlic mashed ‘taters since we couldn’t find ‘tots in the freezer.

It’s okay to drool, just don’t let it hit the keyboard. And this my friends is why I can’t go on a diet. Food is pure love.

The move has allowed for a hijack of my immunity

It’s safe to say I am over this move; completely over it. If I could I would pack up the truck right now and get on the road. I really only less than 2 weeks now but it’s killing me. I took down all the pictures, calendars, posters, etc off the walls yesterday. Sitting here staring at the blank walls I wish I hadn’t. I should have waited till the night before the movers came. The blank walls are harassing me, almost teasing me to a point.

My “trailer”. It’s okay you can laugh. I couldn’t comprehend how big a 4’ x 8’ trailer was and how much I could fit into it. So I made my own.

I even had a wonderful helper. Although she was a tad bit lazy making me move all the boxes while she yelled and growled directions.

I spent more than a better part of yesterday playing phone tag. The Man said finance in KY told him that TMO at Ft. Lewis would start the advance. I called TMO. To start with the girl was rude as can be. Kept telling me to contact my CO. Hmmm news flash sweetheart I don’t have one and if you stopped cutting me off you’d know that. Finally told to call finance at Ft. Lewis, so I did. The guy there said he can’t help call TMO back. I called, and called, and called some more. Spoke to 2 different people who gave me 2 completely different answers. I finally gave up for the day because my head was starting to spin. I will be tackling this again today. I NEED that advance to get the u-haul and get hotel rooms on the way out there.

Which reminds me; I still need to plot our drive. On paper and in my head it should take me 3.5 days. Realistically driving with a 1 year old, potty training 3 yr old, pea size bladder 8 yr old, miss know it all who will be texting nonstop 11 yr old, a neurotic dog, and 2 paranoid cats it will be more like 10 years. As much as I’d love to make stops and visit, I have this terrible image of being broadcasted on CNN.com’s Nancy Grace as she tears me to shreds for leaving a kid behind. Therefore I’ve crossed off seeing the “Biggest Ball of Yarn” or “The largest collection of toe jam”. I know you are all just as devastated as the kids; actually I think ‘Tater may have given herself whip lash when I kept moping about it.

This cold that Princess and Monkey have sent my way is slowly creeping into my body and killing me. I feel my insides turning to mush, my brain is slowly being devoured. I can’t remember where I put things, or even if I am supposed to get out of bed. My sinuses resemble the little alien guy in the chestbuster scene from Aliens. The throat is on fire worse than Southern California fire season. Okay MINOR over exaggeration but still I’m sick with no one to take care of me. Wait rewind, Princess did but she rubs her snot bubbles on me as she growls when leaning in for a kiss.

I honestly had one more paragraph I wanted to ramble about. BUT I got caught up into watching Behind the Rose on 20/20 about the behind the scenes of The Bachelor. It was 2 hours, 2 hours too long and yet I couldn’t turn it off no matter how hard I tried.


Okay it's bugging me, I need to know. What's the proper way to respond to comments? I normally just respond to them via email. But then I wondered, am I being intrusive to people's inboxes and invading their privacy?

No drugs where used to get the desired affect

Did you know that 850 peanuts go into making 1 18oz. jar of peanut butter?

Normally I write my posts the night before and was in the process of writing one. I woke up sometime around 11 with a bunch of different letters and numbers on the screen. I tried my hardest to decipher what I wrote but it was a no go.

Last night I did something I have never done with my kids in almost 6 years. ‘Tater came home with yet another round of straight A’s. I didn’t feel like cooking so I got us all ready and we went to Sizzler. I think I’ve eaten there once in 10 years and really couldn’t remember if I liked it or not so off we went. Now I do not take these kidlets anywhere by myself except for Wal-Mart because it’s the one place that when they have their attitudes they blend in and aren’t the 2 o’clock showing for lookie-loo know it alls. It’s not that the kidlets are horrible heathen monsters that are straight descendants of Hades. It’s just that they seem to think at times that they can do what they want when dad’s not around. Normally Princess squirms and runs in one direction, Monkey takes off in the other. While I’m debating on whom to chase after ‘Tater and Lil t’ attack each other with no gloves. The bickering and trying to one up each other starts small, like who had more homework then the other and it grows and grows till I have blown my lid and everyone is grounded till they are 90.

It wasn’t like that though. The kids all sat down, they ate, they didn’t argue. Even Monkey remembered that we didn’t pray and he said prayer for us. Maybe it was because of the stern lecture I gave in the truck on the way there. Who knows but it worked!  I have to admit at one point I wondered if the food was drugged because they were just too nice, quiet, and helpful. I kept waiting for the hammer to fall from one of them. But it didn't happen! The kids wanted to check out the waves since the wind had been blowing like crazy so off we went. The beach is literally a 10 minute drive from my our house, well when you don’t get stuck behind the super slow old folks who Flintstone their way along the road.  Sadly though we don’t go often since even during the summer the water is WAY too cold for the kids.

The road right before it opens to the beach

Viola! We’ve hit the beach. You can take your trucks out on the sand as long as you have 4x4 but I refuse to off road alone with the kids.

There is still a lot to be done, unfortunately with it raining it makes it hard to go outside to the shed to and start pulling things out. I did however was able to get rid of 3 boxes of clothes, 1 box of books, and a box of misc household items! I figure if I can get rid of some more, the beer fridge, and the 3 window AC’s that hopefully I’ll get us under our weight limit and won’t have to get a trailer. I am on a mission. I do NOT want to take a trailer.

The Man did something completely surprising yesterday. I knew he was going to the shop but had no clue what he was going to get. Let me just say prior to him going to the shop was a huge fight. I have been DYING to get back under the needle for a while. I have all these ideas plus a coverup I want done. I do NOT spend a dime on myself and when I do it’s after searching high and low for the cheapest item possible. I will blow money on the kids and him like crazy but I just don’t for myself. I mean shoot I NEED a new camera and still haven’t convinced myself to spend the money and get one. So we had a rough couple hours of communication. 

I then got this picture…

The flag represents him being in service, the Stargazer lily represents me, and the dog tag has our last name and wedding anniversary on it. I told him he’s stuck with me forever and ever now. His response was that was fine with him. I cried when he wrote me the email that went with the picture. We have had our ups and downs, we have come so close to divorce that it literally only took a signature for it to be done. We have come back and become stronger than before. As soon as money permits, which who in the heck knows again, I’m going to get the same one on my shoulder blade. I am so incredibly in love with it. 

One day Panda Express I will figure you out!

Since we moved to this redneck town, we only get Panda Express when we drive to the big city. Which honestly is about every 3 or 4 months. I went from having them right down the road to being 4 hours away. It was a heart breaking divorce with them. We tested a new recipe out on the kids and it was a hit. I personally think I can do more with it but they both said they loved it and Monkey had 2 helpings of “chicken” until I got him to understand it was pork. Once he realized it wasn't "chicken", he freaked out yelling he hates pork. *sideeye* Hmmm no he doesn’t, he didn’t the other week when we had it as shake it bake with applesauce.  I tried to photograph my cooking but kept forgetting shots as I was trying to shoo Princess from the trashcan and Monkey from the back of the couch. Lol Oh well, it still turned out awesome and I'm sure someone else will enjoy it.

ORANGE PORK

1lb pork chops

1tsp garlic

1 c. Orange Juice

¼ c. Soy Sauce

2 tblsp. Brown Sugar packed

2 tsp cornstarch

4 tsp water

A ton of dashes Red Pepper Flakes

Steamed Broccoli

Steamed Sugar Snap Peas

Water Chestnuts

Cut up your chops into cubes.

Don’t pay attention to how bad my pan is, I love it and can’t part with it. A tsp, or a tablespoon or more of garlic.

Toss in the pork and sizzle the piggy up.

Brown the pork all the way through and remove.

Mix up orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and flakes and add to pan. Bring to boil and reduce for a minute or two. Mix up cornstarch and whisk it into the pan. Now I can’t say this enough WHISK IT!! Don’t be afraid to WHISK IT! I am always too shy about it and end up with lumps, then I’m stuck trying to whisk the lumps out and that’s just more work while you are throwing F-bombs under your tongue praying the kids don’t hear you and the beads of sweat building on your forehead don’t drop into the food. Let thicken.

Add in the pork

Then the veggies. Stir it around to evenly distribute the sauce.

Serve over rice and enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

This week Princess has discovered a forbidden cabinet. I honestly would put locks up on the doors but we’re almost out of here. Until then I will just accept that she is trying to help me make dinner every night.

Don’t think she liked the taste of them too much.

I can’t stop giggling looking at this shot of her. Seriously she’s pulling the “What?! What did I do now mom?” look. And then when I said her name out loud, she did…

Yes that is right, she crawled away as fast as she could.

The results of when older kids do not put away their beads from craft time and their baby sister finds the bag on the kitchen table. Took us an hour to get all the beads up.

For more Wordless Wednesdays, visit 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday

Another milestone in his military career

Today my best friend and love of my life graduates his AIT class.

It’s bittersweet for me really. We have been together for 5 and a half years while we have been friends for 6 years. During those 6 years I have missed every single major thing in his career. I missed when he left on deployment and came back (in my defense he was trying to date me, I wanted nothing to do with him, and it wasn’t supposed to evolve into a relationship); I missed when he graduated A school as an MA (Master at Arms in the Navy; in plain English “cop”) because I was 38 weeks pregnant with Monkey in San Diego and he was at Lackland AFB. I missed his promotion; that was at A school as well. I missed him swearing into the Army; I was working and couldn’t get the day off to drive to MEPS that was 4.5 hours away. I missed him graduating the Army’s WTC (Warrior Transition Course); because it was on December 16^th and he was coming home the next day for Christmas Exodus so with it being so close to Christmas we decided I’d stay home with the kids and use the money on presents. And now here we are at AIT, he’s there and I’m here. We just couldn’t swing it since the Army messed up the pay in January by counting him AWOL (absent without leave) while he was there in class. I just love how they are quick to yank that money away but will move slower than a turtle in molasses to give it back.

A part is jealous that his aunt and uncle will be there to witness it but I have to remind myself of the bigger picture. Getting the kids and myself to him as fast as possible and putting this family back together again. If I miss another moment in his career I am going to keel over and push the daisies up. He tells me all the time it’s okay, he understands; but I worry that he doesn’t feel a bit let down when other wives and family are there. All I can do is constantly remind him how proud I am, how much I love him, and how fast I’m working on us getting to him. 

Move on over KFC, there's been small discoveries today

I wish there was a fabulous update on my scheme but there's not. I don’t THINK the kids know about this blog and even if they did they haven’t been allowed online in over a week so there is no way they could have found out my plan. Besides everyone reading this, I've only discussed, okay more ranted and raved, this in great detail with our dog as I was busy washing dishes by hand because they were yet dirty again. They have been washing the dishes pretty good. But I don’t think it will last. They are never consistent with anything that remotely close to chores, so it’s just a waiting game. I have to admit though, I’ve been feeling almost let down by the lack of dirty clean dishes. I was so excited to put my plan in action and now it’s just stalled. C'est la vie.

Now that I’m not having a nervous breakdown and walking around like the Grim Reaper is following me, I have officially hit the “I’m done waiting let’s get this show on the road and get to Kentucky” mode. I learned something new today about the Army vs. the Navy; you can apply for housing online before you even check into the duty station. How cool is that? I know we won’t be put on the waiting list right this minute but next week we’ll be placed on it and thus starts the constant watch of our place for a house. If I’m not watching out for one thing then I’m watching out for something else. I really need to stop obsessing over things. I am a little disappointed by the PPV (Public Private Ventures the company’s that run and maintain military housing) website. It was a little difficult to locate what housing was for what rank, I felt like I was almost trying to navigate a puzzle with all the same pieces. Along with their lack of floor plans to view and really horrible pictures that were taken at some wrong angles. I know I shouldn’t expect much, but I just feel that things should be simple and easy to help lessen the millions of questions people have when moving. Besides how can you pick a housing area’s wait list if the pictures are crappy and you can’t get a feel of the communities?

Side note: my tush hurts from this falling apart recliner but I refuse to move since it reclines for my footsies. That’s a tossup, feet or tush?

Back to the move; I would love to say we’re packing up and leaving on such and such date. Unfortunately my ex-husband is dodging me phone calls and even dodged Wednesday’s phone call visitation. It would be nice if he would just say yes, no, or I want to discuss this more. It’s frustrating that deep down I know he is going to drag his feet on this, he is going to play hard ball just to spite me. Never mind that this move will benefit him by putting us closer to him so he can have more visitation and not have to worry about plane tickets. I don’t understand why people do this once the marriage or relationship end. Why do they feel that they have to do everything possible to make things continue down the nasty road? I try VERY hard to keep having hope that he is changing and that what he says is true, but each time he goes back on his word, continues to irritate, and just gets me to the point of wondering if he’ll ever be abducted by aliens. There should be a preview before you decide to commit to someone to see what they will be like if on the off set you go separate ways. I would have ran so far in the opposite direction I would have put Jackie Joyner to shame.

I’ve been in a cooking slump this week. Haven’t really felt the urge to stand and cook thanks to the rain but today I REALLY wanted KFC.

Lack of funds + Savy cooking skills = 

Homemade Chicken Bowl

• Boneless chicken breasts (my rule is 1 breast per person, anyone under 4 splits a breast)
• Ritz Crackers (if out, use saltines)
• Garlic Powder
• Egg
• A couple large baking ‘taters (or if you’re lazy like I was tonight some instant ‘taters)
• Corn
• Shredded cheese
• Country Gravy (another laziness of me mix up a packet that is kept hidden for lazy times like this)

Chicken:

1. Heat up oil in large skillet or a fry daddy if you have one. In the meantime, crush up crackers and add as much garlic salt as you love. For this family it means to the point of almost burning our nostrils, in a shallow dish. Mix up eggs in a separate dish. Cut chicken into small strips.
2. Once oil is ready, dip egg in the egg, then coat with cracker crumbs before placing into the oil. Fry until golden brown, flip. Remove and drain.

During the chicken, I make up the mashed ‘taters, gravy and corn. We like frozen corn because if I don’t heat it fully, it’ll have a crisp bite to it. Once it’s all ready, pile it up in your bowl… ‘taters, chicken, corn, gravy, and some shredded cheese. Goes perfect with some cornbread too. It’s not a fancy recipe but it is definitely comfort food that keeps you from spending a fortune at KFC.

Wordless Wednesday

After a week of rain, the sun came out to shine last week. We hit up the park and had a blast. Sadly my camera crapped out on me within 20 minutes of our 3 hours there. 

He kept giving me a heart attack. Monkey has absolutely NO fear whatsoever. He'd get right up on the bricks and try to lean to touch his "friends". I wish he'd have some kind of fear, he'd give me some peace at times. 

Wordless Wednesday

She's been stubborn and refusing.

That is until yesterday.

Between 'Tater, Monkey and I, Princess was tag teamed and it was caught on video for daddy.

Too bad he won't find out for a week or so.

For more Wordless Wednesdays, visit 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday

Can't go wrong w/ Chicken Stroganoff and Eco-Friendly furniture Polish

I love it when I find a recipe that I’m hesitant to make but still try it and I fall madly in love with it. A couple weeks ago I made Chicken Stroganoff and it was to die for. We’re running low on groceries and I’m lagging on going to the store since it’s been raining cats and dogs. It’s super quick to make, uses my crock pot, and makes the house smell absolutely delicious too.

Chicken Stroganoff

• 4 skinless boneless chicken halves
• 1/8 C. butter
• 1 package of dry Italian salad dressing mix
• 1 package of cream cheese
• 1 can of condensed cream of chicken soup (Have found that all the cream of soups can work great with this)

1. 1.       Cut chicken into strips and place in crock pot along with butter and Italian dressing mix. (Normally I just place the chicken in, then cut the butter into small pieces and scatter it around, then sprinkle the mix over both) Cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. (if your chicken is thawed or half way thawed you can cook on high for about 3 hours)
2. Cut cream cheese into pieces, place cream cheese and soup in crock pot, mix.  Cook on high for another ½ hour. (Depending on if you have let the cream cheese warm up, it will melt faster and actually a little bit easier) Mix well.

After the chicken is cooked you can leave it in strips or as my kids like it; I just chop it up with a spoon till it hits shredded chicken. Now I normally serve this with no yolk egg noodles BUT we were out of them today and went with Penne Pasta, a much bigger hit with the penne pasta. As ‘Tater said, “you get a extra burst of sauce when you bite on the penne’s”. ‘Tater made homemade drop biscuits and brushed them with her concoction of melted butter and garlic salt. I was going to add some veggies into the mix but honestly I forgot until we were half way through. Oh well.

Yesterday I attacked Drop Zone #1. Took longer than I thought because I have a short attention span and kept getting side tracked with watching TV, playing video games, and the lovely FB games. Afterwards I polished it with a homemade eco-friendly polish. Works great, no strong odors, and I don’t even mind throwing the polishing rag into the washer with the regular laundry. I haven't dived straight into going green but I have noticed the kids are a lot more receptive to small changes along the way.

I really need to find some old shoelaces to tie up those cables but until then they will just have to sit there.

The furniture polish recipe:

• 4 TBSP Lemon Juice
• 2 TSP Olive Oil (I just used EVOO)
• 3 TBSP water

If you have a spray bottle, add all together, shake and spray. I don’t so I use an old Rubbermaid container, pop on lid, shake, and then just dip my cloth into the mixture. If you have left-overs just rinse it out as oil can go rancid after sometime.

Wordless Wednesday

Birthday Girl opening her present sent from Grandma. I still can’t get over the fact that she’s a year now.

And just for fun, Monkey HATES when I take pictures when he’s playing. He mumbles something about blocking the TV. Don’t mind the nasty couch, the cover was in the washer.

See more Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Yes FlyLady I have Drop Zones

I don't do Fly Lady very much because really she kills my inbox, but one thing I have learned from her is that I have 4 drop zones in my house at any given moment. Most of the time all 4 are past the point of danger zone and require hazard pay to approach. I hate dealing with drop zones. I’m far from an organized person, that’s actually one of the characteristics I wish I had. Until the heavenly cleaning fairies sprinkle me with fairy dust, I will trudge through a drop zone on my own. Here it is; my entertainment center. This is my pride and joy and yet it always looks like the house threw up on it. While the Princess is sleeping I will attack it and hopefully make some kind of dent.

Okay I am getting off my kiester and attacking it while shamelessly enjoying trash tv: Frank the Entertainer.

P.S. Dear Army it would be REALLY nice if you would hurry up give out orders. Waiting and waiting and waiting is not my strong suit, especially when I am trying to work out a deal with the ex-husband that would keep us out of court thus allowing us to move sooner rather then later. PLEASE?! I won't even complain anymore about the fact that you screwed up our pay on the 15th and haven't fixed it yet if you give him his orders like yesterday.

She was ripping me from inside

One year ago today a very small beautiful and very eager to enter the world Princess entered our lives. After the last couple of days of dealing with her being sick; I'm holding the tears back as I acknowledge my baby girl, is a year old. She weighs a whole whopping 16lbs, still fits in 9 month clothes, and still has her daddy's beautiful blue eyes. Here's her birth story.



♥ The Princess ♥
27 Jan 09 5 lbs 18.9 in. 0206

I had my midwife appointment at 1310 on Monday, January 26 to follow up on the inversion the Friday before. (Can I just say that actually hurt worse than labor itself) Nancy, my midwife stripped me since I was still at 3.5 cm dilated and even offered to set me up for induction for this week. I turned her down though and told her I wanted to wait it out and see how she does since I was only 38+3 days.


**1 day old being swallowed up by her car seat**

After my appointment I ran to Sears, picked up family pics, then stopped at a gas station and got gas. For some unknown reason I had let the truck get below the need fuel line and it was threatening to cut out on me. Yeah just great, a preggo stuck on the side of the road at the end of a work day with no gas. LOL Paid an arm and a leg for it too. Stopped at the Commy and grabbed some stuff for dinner then headed home. I was home by 3pm. Switched out the laundry, and then just hung out in The Man’s recliner while he made dinner, Potato Soup. It wasn't too bad as I remember. We watched the Unit's first disc and just hung out. Put the kids to bed at 2030 and then to bed at 9 ourselves. We cuddled, laughed like dorks and of course enjoyed the last couple days of sex that we could. Fell asleep around 2300.


**1 yrs old sick with a viral infection rash**

2330 I woke up to a couple contractions but went back to sleep. By 0000/0015 I was doubled over in our bed, on the verge of tears. I couldn't really see the clock to time them so I just got up, peed, and then went down stairs to get some ice water. I wasn't downstairs for more than 5 minutes before I was doubled over on the kitchen floor in pain. The sensible person I am, decided it was time to start packing our bags. LOL I spent about 15 minutes trying to get things together (please read curled into a ball on the floor in the living room) before I made it half way up the stairs and then yelled bloody murder for The Man. In the span of a couple minutes on the stairs, I had 3 MAJOR contractions that had me in tears and doubled over. He jolted out bed saying we're going.

I went upstairs, changed clothes, brushed my teeth the whole dang time I'm on the floor doubled over. This wasn’t like with Monkey where I could actually take a shower and shave before leaving the house. It hurt sooooo bad. Called my mom, she came over and got the kids in her car, we got in the truck (thank goodness I got gas earlier in the day), and headed out to the hospital. Looking back on it now, there was a reason why I let the truck get that low and HAD to put gas in it.

The Man started calling his mom when we hit the 8 West on ramp, maybe a little bit sooner. We got to the hospital, walked to L&D. They put me in the intake room, before they could hook me up to monitor me, the nurse checked me I was already 8 cm dilated. They quickly, well as quickly as they can move me to an actual delivery room. Now mind you this move took all of 5 minutes, including the stopping for me to throw up. I get into the bed, they check me while I'm BEGGING for the epidural and I'm already a full 10 cm. They hook me up, get my IV started, and I’m just begging for the epidural. I had one natural birth and that was 8 almost 9 years ago, funny how the mind fails to remember the specifics of certain events. I would say about 5 minutes later I was on my right side doubled up, gripping The Man's hand, screamed that I needed to push, actually screamed it 2xs. The first time the nurse blew me off because she was still tryign to get my information into the system. The second time, the nurse casually rolled me to my back, spread my legs and I could feel her head was already out. I didn't push or anything. She just popped out, did a somersault as The Man describes her grand entrance, and BAM there she is!!!

So from the time we pulled out of our driveway to the time she was born there was 39 minutes in between. THIRTY NINE MINUTES! She is my smallest baby by far!!! 5lbs 0.02ounces, 18.9 inches long. She was absolutely my smallest most ridiculously beautiful baby.