Second Hand Addict

I decided that Courtney's room, which is still decorated in the same motif (jungle animals) as it was for Luke, needed a little more actual decor, especially since the two of them are starting to play back and forth in both of the kids rooms. So I managed to find a dollhouse bookshelf on Craigslist for $50. If you recall, I bought Luke's car bed for $150 off Ebay. (Note the shipping charges associated with the item to understand what it REALLY costs).

Pottery Barn Kids has great, cool, beautiful products. But they are so horribly overpriced I can't imagine walking into that store and buying anything. Kids use and a abuse everything, so second hand is best. I assume that I'll be able to get 75% - 100% of what I paid for these items second hand back when I go to sell them third hand, and that's just cool.

Not Getting the Point

After four days straight of big events with the kids, I was really happy to just be home on the day after Christmas and putz around the house. I covered the usual bases - laundry, cleaning, filing - and was energetic enough at the end of the day to run to Kohl's to exchange a few items.

I ended up finding new gym shoes and a Halloween sleeper on deep clearance. And then I tried to check out.

Of course today is one of the busiest 'return' days and the store was staffed up to help out - and of course my cashier must have been holiday help AND in her late 70's.

And she tried to scan my item - REPEATEDLY - over the discoloration on the counter rather than the scanner that was 6 inches to the left. I stood there debating how I was supposed to tell her that she was trying to scan using a spot when she finally figured it out. Oy!

And trying to be green, I requested no bag, to which she replied that it was 'easier' for me if I had a bag because otherwise I'd have to CARRY the items. Good Lord No! Carry a shoe box and a 18 month sleeper!?!? You mean, IN MY HANDS!?!? It's weird little things like that that make it harder to go green.

The Best Thing

Cats that do this make me so so happy! I finally have cats that snuggle with each other.

A Deeper, Richer Experience

Christ on a biscuit! I'm casually reading my email and something starts TALKING from the computer. Apparently I rolled over some ad thing. My internets should not talk to me unless I specifically request that you talk to me! I hate when I click on a website and noise starts blaring at me. GAH!

Selling Out

My mom saved a lot of our childhood toys. Some Luke has enjoyed again and they're fun to play with. But some are just clutter in my house, so I am selling out on Ebay. I'm very curious to see what I can make off this, as well as get these random items to someone who actually wants them (rather than being non-green and just tossing them in the landfills, these things can clutter up someones home as they lovingly dust them.)

Care to watch it all with me for the next week? You can bid, too :)

Childhood for Sale

Transition Issues

Luke transitions poorly. When we go to a new class or a new situation, or even a familiar situation but not exactly the same, Luke has issues. He screams, he runs, he wants to leave. He hits, he doesn't want to play. I don't like that he has these issues, I don't like that when we go to a playgroup with kids he knows and likes at a house he's been to numerous times before that I have to hold him and bring him to a quiet corner until he feels comfortable and safe. Who would like issues like that? Don't we all want our children to go forth boldly and happily?

But Luke has issues.

I try to talk him through it, tell him what he will do and who he will play with. Who's house we're going to, or in the case of PDO now, that Mommy will come back after the movie. Because we walk through the whole day step by step.

And it's been bugging me, these transition issues, they don't seem to be going away very quickly, or lessening. And somedays are much worse than others. Somedays he just wants to stay home.

He hasn't been diagnosed with any of the many sensory issues that are being diagnosed, he communicates well and hits all his developmental milestones, but new and different places are hard for him. They always have been. That's the type of kid he is.

I thought about this last night as I lay awake preparing for Courtney's surgery today. As I worried about whether they had all the paperwork and if she would be okay and what time we had to leave in the morning and waking up to feed her in the middle of the night so she wouldn't be too hungry in to morning.

As I lay awake. All night. Worrying.

Because I didn't have control of the situation. Just like Luke doesn't have control of play groups or school or other kids.

So I have some transition issues, too. And he'll get better with age, I guess, or be laying awake just like me.

Heart, Ripped Out

I'm a pretty even keel mom. I can't believe how fast they grow and turn into people, but I don't cry about it. I let my kid take risks and try not to give him too much sympathy for his every hurt or give into his every plea. But this morning, dropping him off at PDO, while he screamed and sobbed that he wanted me to stay or he wanted to go home... well, that was hard. So, only 50 minutes left of PDO today.

And Courtney's kidneys are just fine, but do you know how difficult it is to hold a half naked nine month old still for an ultrasound?

Hello 3:30

I am a stress insomniac. The first hint of stress and I'm up at stupid hours of the night with two choices - 1) Drug myself or 2) Get up and do something. At 3:30 this morning I decided to get up and do something because drugging myself for 2-3 hours wasn't a good option.

When I was in school, stress was about tests and projects. When I was at work, stress was typically about deadlines and 'Oh Dear! Would I meet them!?!?' and yet, no one ever really cared whether I did or not, so why did I stress? Note to self: work on finding fulfilling career.

Tonight's stress components are:
1. Ice storm
2. Ultrasound on baby kidneys
3. Potential cancellation of Parents Day Out for toddler due to #1
4. Potential of being forced to bring toddler to baby kidney ultrasound

Obviously, there is NOTHING I can do about what is going to happen. It is going to happen or not happen and if I were, say, Esposo, I would sleep a deep, happy sleep because I am confident that the world will continue to turn no matter what happens, and you know, it'll all work out.

Instead, I'm me and I have to think about it. What toys will I bring? Will the roads be awful? I wonder if the ice is as bad as they were predicting?

The kitchen's a mess.

Has anyone bid more on my Ebay items? God, I hope I sell some of this stuff because I don't want to hold onto it until the garage sale in April. When do we get our tax refund?

I have to wash the diapers first thing in the morning.

The free shipping deal on the photo book I'm making that I don't have enough pictures for expires tomorrow (or is it today) and I have to get it done by tomorrow or it won't get here for Christmas and then all my work is for NAUGHT.

I hope this ice isn't as bad as they predicted.

Note Re: Baby Kidney Ultrasound - Courtney had enlarged kidneys in utero and they ultrasounded the crap out of us. Then they did a test after she was born and it was all good. And she hasn't had any infections. But they like follow ups to be sure and she was supposed to have this at 6 months, but I was all, meh. And I finally scheduled it for two weeks before the end of the year because deductible has been hit! Get all medical procedures completed by December 31st! Everything is fine with her kidneys. We just have to appease the drs and waste all our time. And money. Just so the drs don't keep ASKING everytime I bring Courtney in. There's a problem with this whole thing, but I'm not going there.

Meme

I just got tagged (well, a few days ago) by a meme so since it's my first and I have a couple drinks in me I figured I'd do it! (Tagger is Lynne - see links)

Name one person who made you laugh last night.
Last night... er, Luke, I'm sure... kid is funny!

What were you doing at 0800?
AM? Getting Courtney out of bed and getting her a bottle.

What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Talking with 'the moms' are finishing a drink.

What happened to you in 2006?
Quit my job, got pregnant...

What was the last thing you said out loud?
Told Esposo to get out of the chair so I could get on the 'puter

How many beverages did you have today?
12? 15? Why would I keep track of this?

What color is your hairbrush?
Brown (wood) with a burnt end (bored in collug)

What was the last thing you paid for?
Dinner about an hour ago!

Where were you last night?
Luke had gymnastics class and then Esposo and I watched Heroes.

What color is your front door?
White

Where do you keep your change?
In Luke's 'money bank' (his words)

What’s the weather like today?
Cold and snowy

What’s the best ice-cream flavor?
The ice cream kind.

What excites you?
The idea of taking a vacation without the kids in May next year.

Do you want to cut your hair?
All the time

Are you over the age of 25?
Yup

Do you talk a lot?
Nope

Do you watch the O.C.?
Isn't that cancelled?

Do you know anyone named Steven?
... Not that I can think of...

Do you make up your own words?
A little bit

Are you a jealous person?
Sorta, depends on what it is. I can talk myself out of being jealous though.

Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’.
Andrea

Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’.
Kristen

Who’s the first person on your received call list?
Wendy

What does the last text message you received say?
I don't usually receive text messages. I'm old skool.

Do you chew on your straw?
Sometimes

Do you have curly hair?
Gawd no.

Where’s the next place you’re going to?
Bed!

Who’s the rudest person in your life?
Luke.

What was the last thing you ate?
Cheesecake with chocolate fondue on it

Will you get married in the future?
I don't think so, hoping this one sticks (I do kinda like him)

What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks?
Movie? Two weeks? We saw Invincible so I guess that's it.

Is there anyone you like right now?
Am I in high school? I like like Esposo. He's dreeeeeeeeeeeeeammmy

When was the last time you did the dishes?
This morning.

Are you currently depressed?
No

Did you cry today?
I teared up to some sentimental song about childhood going too fast.

Why did you answer and post this?
I was tagged and I had two martinis tonight.

Tag 5 people who would do this survey.
No.

Best So Far

ALONE! ALONE! Oh yeah, with a baby...

Parent's Day Out was everything I dreamed it could be... with the shopping and the buying (a camera) and I swear I got in and out of Sam's Club in twenty minutes flat. I forgot milk, but who cares! I was alone! And I even cleaned the hell out of two rooms on the first floor. So my house is very schizo, half of it is clean, half of it is disasterous. WHEEE!

Since I organize this mom's group thing, there are issues always. Any group, issues. It's the nature of many people together. But one of the worst issues is meeting women that I would never ever in a million years hang out with and then having to see them over and over and over again. Which is worse after they're removed from the group because they're WEIRD and no one wants to hang out with them and they can't even use the internet which is a problem on an INTERNET BASED GROUP.

Obviously, one of the women that has been booted from my mom's group has her son in the PDO program Luke is in. And her son, to be very politically incorrect here, is WEIRD too.

ugh