Updates! (AKA Rambles)

I am slowly starting to feel more human again. I'm pretty sure that I had/have a touch of Bronchitis, but it's better today too, thankfully! I thought I was going to collapse yesterday by the time I made it back home from picking up Jenna from School. I guess I shouldn't have attempted to walk...and pull Mason in his sled. But it was such a nice day, and it was such a good feeling to be outside moving again that I pushed it. Oh well.

I'm getting used to Mason's hair. He still looks different, and I swear he acts a little different now too. Just this morning he actually Tried a New Food!!! BIG news for him! It was a blueberry. He didn't eat it, but the fact that he picked it up and tried to take a bite was enough for me to do a little happy dance :) For the record, the boy has the smallest food repertoire of anyone I know. Drives me a little crazy. Although, he has discovered a love for Peanut Butter, so Yay, a protien finally! And PB&J sandwiches are by far his new favourite food. He would eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner if we let him.

I have made peace with the fact that he is going to grow up whether I like it or not, and that despite the fact that he's my last, and all his last 'firsts' are going to be difficult, I'll make it through. My Mom doesn't understand why I was so sad about his curls. She even told be that he was starting to look like a little girl. Tell me, what kind of mother says that to her daughter when she calls crying? Sometimes I don't understand my mother at all. I'll get over that too though.

Al said something that shocked me last night. In 3.5 years we'll be married 10 years! I know, it's still 3 years away, but man, looking back to the beginning of our relationship, being married 10 years seemed like it would take forever to accomplish! Now, it feels like just the beginning. I'll be 30. That's it! Wow. I feel so incredibly lucky to have found him when I was so young. To have looked into his eyes and known. I still get excited when he gets home at night. Still feel proud when he says something brilliant. Still feel overwhelmed with love everytime he puts his hand in mine. We have so much left to discover about and with each other. And sooo much time to do it in. Lucky, Lucky me.

Jenna has discovered that she likes Clementines. I am so happy about that! She hasn't eaten an orange in about 3 years. No orange juice either. She also discovered this morning that she does not like Blackberries. Making them the ONE fruit she doesn't like :) Both her and Aidan are fruit monsters. Aidan will take an apple over chocolate every time. Jenna is more like me, she'll take the chocolate, but is still thrilled with fruit. I still have hope that Mason will grow to love more than bananas and the occaisional pear.

So, I guess that's about it for around here. Hope all is well with all of you!

~Lisa~

What's done is done...

Mason got his hair cut today. I can't really say I love it. I don't. I miss his curls sooo much more than I really thought I would. But it was so messy, and that lady asked if he was a girl, so I guess it was time. I'm just sad I guess. He looks like a completely different boy. Not as soft anymore. I'm sure that doesn't make sense. But before, he just had this look about him that made smiling at him impossible to fight. Maybe it was that cheruby feel he had about him, with the cheeks, and the curls. I just miss them. I hate to admit it, I'm such a sap, but I'm totally crying. How stupid is that?! It's just hair! Maybe this is one of those last baby, empty nest things? I don't know. I just have to get used to it. He just looks so different. I hardly recognize him. Thanks though Julie for recommending First Choice. It was indeed free, and the girl was very patient with him. So, without further ado, pictures...

Exhibit A...BEFORE(Mad Scientist)

Exhibit B...BEFORE(Curls)

Exhibit C...AFTER(Different)

~Lisa~

Turns out, it's all in my head...mostly...

OR! Sick Watch 2007, installment #34.

I have a sinus infection apparently. I finally went to see my doctor yesterday. And today I feel even sicker. Hacking cough, dizzy(which could be the meds), body aches. Pretty much how all this sickness started. Maybe it's going full circle and will soon be over. HA.

Man, my brain has totally conked out on me... I know there was more for me to blog about, but can I remember it now that I am here? NO!

OH! Except that I am pretty sure we're going to be (whimper) cutting off Mason's curls this weekend. A lady at Wal-Mart asked me yesterday if he was a boy or a girl. I guess it's time. He can take on the look of a mad scientist if I don't splash some water on his hair before going out. But I do so love his curls. (Sob) I promise to post pictures of the big event. I am thinking of asking the hair dresser to save a few of the curls for me. I want to make up a couple keepsake frames for my mom, grandma etc. for mother's day. Although I've never done anything like that, so I have no idea what I really want them to turn out like. There are a few very brief moments like that when I almost wish I was into scrapbooking...almost.

Mason is 18 months old today. Even though I've gone through this twice before, it still doesn't fail to surprise me at how fast his babyhood is slipping away. I can't believe that in 6 short months my last baby will be turning 2! TWO!! Wow. Yikes.

Well. Time to go rest my weary bones before I have to make dinner. Fun!

~Lisa~

Sigh of relief

Jenna had a dentist appointment this afternoon. It went sooo well! After all the struggles we had last year her and I were both dreading it. But, as it was just a cleaning and a check up, it wasn't too bad. She didn't like the flouride, but made it through just fine. She does have two more very small cavities that we have to go back to get filled, and she needs some sealants on her 6-year adult molars that have come in, because her teeth are cavity prone. So we sent away a request to the insurance company to see if they will cover them. (Fingers crossed!) It was really nice to sepnd an hour or so just her and I. We don't get to do that too often. I'm going to try to make a concerted effort to do that more often. I am so proud of her for being so brave this time!!

I on the other hand, blah. My periods are so screwed up. Not that anyone wants to hear this, but whatever! It's my blog! LOL So, I had a period, and then another about 2 weeks later that lasted for 10 days, it was gone for about 3 days, and then came back again last night! What the hell!?

AND! To top it all off, now I have Pink Eye!! I was reading in one of my baby info books about it, and it said that Pink Eye often accompanies a cold, which I STILL have. I was one big cranky pants last night let me tell you!

I just don't understand it. I don't know why we are all getting sick like this? I admit, I am not the world's best housekeeper, but I wouldn't say the house it ever Dirty. I clean often enough to keep away the germys I think!! I understand that Jenna brings home bugs from school, and the boys from the baby-sitters, but no one else I know from those places are sick like this :( It just gets to be a bit much for one person. A bit much.

~Lisa~

When they grow up...

We recently asked the kids what they want to be when they grow up. Here's what we got :)

Jenna wants to be a doctor or a police officer. I am not too surprised by this answer, as she's been saying she wants to be a doctor since she was 2. However...I can't really see her as a doctor. Definitely a teacher though. I'm curious to see who will be more right, her or I. Either way, I'll be thrilled :)

Aidan's is funnier :) He wants to be a Rock Star! And he'll play a red guitar, and go Da da dada DUN! And the latest, most hilarious is that he's going to have a tattoo. A Spiderman Tattoo! Oh! He's also going to marry Sleeping Beauty! He says it All the time! We were all watching America's Funniest Videos last night, as we do every Sunday. And a video shot at Disneyworld came on, featuring the one and only Sleeping Beauty! I thought Aidan was going to die from excitement!! Too funny.

As for Mason, well, I am getting a little concerned. I have a feeling that he's going to become a Male Exotic Dancer. This boy LOVES to dance. He dances to Music, to hammering, to the mixer and to the beat of his own drum. Which is great, however, He also Really LOVES being naked. really. Loves it. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe he'll be a janitor, he also really loves my broom :)

~Lisa~

I know it's a couple days late...

But the good news is, I found my camera cable!!! WOOHOO!!!

So, without further ado! A message from my kids!!

And here are the hearts we made!! I LOVE them!! Aidan didn't want to make a heart, he wanted a circle. :) They look awesome when the sun is shining through them...unfortunately it's been snowing for days here, so we haven't had the pleasure of seeing the sun too often, but trust me, the hearts look even better then!! I used the curtain rod on my side door to string them on. I think they make a pretty cook valance :)

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's day!

~Lisa~

And the day just keeps getting worse.

So, my headache has turned into a mini-migraine. And that's just the start! (In case this doesn't seem like the start...it's not, see the post below this one!!)

Let me give you a brief background...

On Friday Morning, K dropped L off so I could walk him to school. No biggie, we do this all the time. Difference this time is that Thursday I had spent a good part of the day switching the boy's dressers, and getting Aidan's fish tank clean. So, now Aidan has the nicer but lower dresser, thus allowing much easier access to the fish tank. I thought it would be okay, he's a fairly responsible 3 year old. On his own he is apparently. Put him with L and it's a completely different story. The boys asked to play in Aidan's room. No problem. About 15 minutes later Jenna starts screeching like a banshee. All I could decipher on my way up the stairs was "Boys"!!"Fish"!!"Toys"!! Oh man. So, Aidan had thrown in some toys. Not a huge deal. I had a chat about it with the boys, and then proceeded to scoop out the toys. And that's what I noticed that there was quite a bit of fish flakes floating around. Hmm...I knew I didn't feed the fish that much...hmmm..."Boys...." Neither of them had done it of course. Turned out to be L...He thought the fish looked Hungry. hmmm. No, the fish was NOT hungry! I will never admit to being the best fish mommy, but this had been the one day that week that I had remembered to feed the stupid thing! He wasn't hungry!!!! Oh well. I spoke to L about it, K spoke to L about it, all is good and fine.

Until I realize yesterday that L fed the ENTIRE jar of fish food to the fish!!! And it STINKS! Because it is rotting, and wet and OH MY GOD!!

So, I make it mission today to clean the poor fish's tank. UGH. Black water. 5 pails of it!! I'm filling my last pail with this handy dandy water syphon thingy, and realize that it's too quiet downstairs. So, I run down. And see Mason spreading cheezies all over the living room!! As I was vacuuming up That mess, and writing this blog entry in my head it dawned on me. OH MY GOD!!! The fish tank!!! Oh yes. The bucket was over-flowing, all of the carpet, under the dresser, through the mesh hamper of clean sheets I had just washed and dried this morning. I bet there's a couple gallons of water on the floor :(

And to top it all off, when I raced over to K's house to get her carpet cleaner, my shoe fell off in the snow! And K has a dog. So while I am down on the floor soaking up fish water, all I can smell is wet rotten dog water and wet rotten fish water.

No wonder I have a mini-migraine. No wonder.

~Lisa~

Scary!

The kids and I went to The Bulk Barn this morning. I love that place :) Awhile ago I picked up this chocolate mold to do Valentine treats for Jenna's class...

I am doing them with red and Milk chocolate merckins :P they're so cute! However, the first time I bought the chocolate, I didn't get enough, so back we went.

It was a pretty uneventful trip, sobody whining and crying because they didn't get every single candy coated item in the store. We get the the cash, I turn away from the cart to pay, and hear this god-awful crash behind me!! I turned around, and there's Aidan, pinned beneath the cart, with Mason on his side, still trapped in the little front seat! I could't get the cart up fast enough, or figure out who to comfort first! It was awful :( Both boys are okay, I think Aidan's going to have a nice bruise on his leg, but that's all. Aidan had tried to stand on the side of the cart, and pulled it over accidentally. I'm not really sure if he was crying because he was hurt, or if he felt bad about pulling his brother down! Of course there were a few people around, to witness me pulling Mason and the cart up by heaving on the front of Mason's coat, but I couldn't figure out fast enough how esle to get them both up without hurting Mason!

So, that was our excitement this morning. The trip to Walmart was much less uneventful. And totally worth it, since Milk at the grocery store last night was $4.09, and Walmart is selling it for $3.77! I know it's only $.32, but with all the milk we go through, it adds up!

Now I'm off to melt some chocolate and pray that this headache goes away sometime soon :(

~Lisa~

YUM-ME!!

The cookies are AWESOME!! Just the right amount of Earl Grey taste, and just enough shortbread taste! they're light, easy to bake, and Tas-Teee (Or, Tas-TEA! HA!!!) Seriously, you should try them!

I needed to add an extra teaspoon of water, and make sure not to let them chill any longer than 30 minutes, or they will get too cold and crumbly to slice :)

~Lisa~

Trying a new cookie recipe

Al brought home a magazine the other night with a recipe for Earl Grey Tea cookies. With the actual Earl Grey tea in them! I kid you not. I actually had to cut open 6 bags of the tea! I'm not sure at all how they will taste when baked, but so far, the dough is yummy :) Very light and fluffly. They basically are just a shortbread with tea in them. Hopefully they turn out! I'll update in a couple hours!

hey, cool! I found the recipe online...

http://www.recipezaar.com/119032

~Lisa~

The twelth book is waiting for me!!

Twelve Sharp is on hold for me at the library. I want to go get it today. Really really want to. It's snowing here again for the fourth day in a row. We have about 3-4 feet of snow now. And while it is lovely to look at, and the kids are thrilled to play in it, I could do without the cold that comes with it :)

I would Love to go the the library, pick up my book, find a semi-cosy chair (If I win the lottery, I am buying 50 new Lazy Boys for our library!) in a quiet corner and read all day long. Doesn't that sound lovely for a cold and snowy day?! Bliss. I prefer to read on snowy days, and watch movies on rainy days. There you go! Something you probably didn't know about me! Lucky you!

Unfortunately, I'll have to make my own bliss while entertaining and referring three kids :) wish me luck.

~Lisa~

Time goes by, so slowly slowly slowly...

I don’t know what it is about some days. They just seem to creep along. Today is one of those days. Granted, I am still feeling sick, but still! Mason woke up at 6:00, and it’s about 9:30 now. I feel like I should be getting ready to make dinner. I just don’t understand days like this. I haven’t been overly busy. In fact, I should be even busier than I am. Jenna and Aidan have Pinkeye (yes, again) so no school/daycare/work for us today. But all I have done is got every one dressed, a couple loads of laundry and made a couple beds. Also a couple Sudokus. I looked at the clock and couldn’t believe that only 3 ½ hours have gone by since I got up. Maybe I need another coffee?

Maybe it’s Mason’s fault? He’s already napping. Normally he makes it to 10:30 before he’s ready to crash. But this morning, he just laid himself down on the couch and went to sleep. I’m amazed, he’s a total cuddle junkie, so for him to put himself to sleep like that, big news. He’s got the same cold as I do though, so I can understand him wanting to sleep the day away.

But seriously! How am I supposed to get through the day like this!? At this rate, when it really is time for me to make dinner it’s going to feel like the middle of the night! I’m not much of a midnight snacker, so this is going to be an interesting feat!

On another note, the kids and I made the crayon shavings hearts yesterday! They are SO COOL! And SO easy!! I haven’t had a chance to hang them yet, but I can’t wait! Thanks Julie Bo Bolie (www.jaabeemom.blogspot.com) for the awesome link to that idea! Even Jenna suggested doing them for Easter! I think my fingers will have un-cramped by then in order to shave more crayons :)

Well ladies, I guess I’ll go find some ways to fill up this never ending day :)

Ciao bellas!
~Lisa~

Sorry All!

I have got a wicked bad cold. My head feels like it's about to explode from the congestion. My face feels itchy, on the inside(I know! Weird!). And I am sore all over. I've been reading all your blogs, just haven't had the energy to reply. I feel awful, but I wanted you to know that I am thinking about you, and itching to try your recipes.

I have discovered that baking Julie's famous banana bread while sick is a bad idea :( It failed miserably. The middle will not cook! not at all! the top and bottom and edges are all browned to perfection, but the middle? Mush :( I was so disappointed :( I LOVE that Banana Bread :(

Anyway, off to curl up on the couch. Love and hugs to all.

~Lisa~

I gotta slow down!

I'm up to book 11 in the Stephanie Plum series. I can't stop reading!! I've read from 8-11 in less than 2 weeks :) Bad news is, that while I'm only one person away from book 12 in the library que, I am number 7 in line for 13, and 26th for Plum Lovin'! Although, I see that they have more Plum Lovin' on order, so hopefully that will go pretty fast! I just love these books! I will be forever indebted to JulieQ for recommending them!

Even Al knows all about the characters, and while he probably doesn't understand my desire to make Ranger real, and turn him into my personal sex slave, he accepts it. ;) He knows that he's my Morelli, so it's all good :)

But seriously, I have this sinking feeling that I am going to be walking around grumpy and annoyed for a few days when I finish these books :) But, on the good side, my house will probably be cleaner, and my kids will get to play more games, and the laundry might even get put away before it gets to be worn again! But I won't stop dreaming of Ranger, and wishing he would sneak up behind me, and run his fingers down my spine! Yum :)

~Lisa~

I need a good response...

For when I am out alone with my three kids, and a stranger says to me "Wow! Looks like you've got your hands full!"

I get it all the time, and would LOVE to have a witty comeback! Someone on BZ once posted something, and the response to the hands full comment was something about having a heart full too. I love that, think it's very beautiful, and Always think to myself. However, I find that the people that are willing to comment on my brood, are probably the kind of people who would get a kick out of some brilliant witty comment from me instead. Like, "You should see my laundry room." or, "You should see my Visa bill." Just kidding on that one...but I'm sure you get the point.

So, give 'em to me ladies!! I'm sure Helen and JulieQ have heard that comment eleventy billion times...any good responses ladies!? Ask around, I need something great :)

~Lisa~

And seriously dammit!! Where are my paragraph breaks!! I hit Enter! I EXPECT a Break dammit!! grrrr....

Being a teacher is tiring...

But SO much FUN!! I went to school with Jenna yesterday, for the whole day. It was great!! I loved every single minute of it!!! I loved how the kids were sooo excited about everything Mrs. K asked them to do. I Loved how eager most of them were when they put up their hands to answer a question. I Loved how they looked to me to help with their spelling and printing. I loved how they would describe their drawings to me like they were precious pieces of fine art. And man, these kids were SMART!! Even the juniors were stunning me by reading to me! I realize that not every class is going to be as awesome as this one, but wow, for the small moment in time that I spent there, it was awesome.

It was so comfortable there. I am very confident that I have finally stumbled upon my calling. I WILL be a teacher someday. And I can't wait :D

~Lisa~

Mooommmmmeeeeee!!!

YAY! Very exciting weekend here! Mason started calling me Mommy!! It's the cutest freakin' thing EVER! He always draws it out and says it very loudly, but I love love love it! I don't remember when Jenna and Aidan started calling me Mommy (:( ), so this is pretty awesome! He never really called me Mama...not for long anyway. He would stand halfway up the stairs, stick his face up against the posts, and shout MAMA! over and over, until I went to acknowledge that he wasn't supposed to be on the stairs, but that's it really :) He also said Daddy for the first time on Friday night!! Which is even bigger news, since I think in his entire life, he's said Dada exactly 3 times. Poor Al, he keeps trying and trying to get him to say it, but Mason refuses. He's such a determined boy!

Boy. That's really what he is now. He doesn't smell like a baby. He's losing most of his baby fat, looking very lean and muscled. He pushes trucks around, and hammers everything in sight. Even his voice sounds like a boy voice now! Actually, he sounds Exactly like Aidan did :) Should make the boys' daily phone calls home when they're away at college and married interesting at first :) He's certainly got the attitude of a little boy :) The good news is, when he feels like it, he's still a Great cuddly boy. And you should see him dance! He bounces up and down, spins around, throws his arms up and down, and shakes his head from side to side, it's GREAT!

He's gone 4-5 days without his soother now. So that stage of babyhood is over too. No more bottles, no more soother. Next will be the switch to a big boy bed(But not for awhile yet) and then the toilet training, and that's it. He'll be grown up :(

We took the kids tobogganing yesterday. Biggest friggin' hill Ever! But, man, the kids LOVED it. Even Mason, who I wasn't so sure about, but yep, he squealed in delight the entire way down the hill. Until the last run when the boys and I got body slammed by another Mom and her son. It's all good though, no one was hurt, and the kids still want to go again next week. Anyone wanna join us!? Seriously, it'll be good times!

Happy Monday everyone!

~Lisa~

Tag! I'm it!

10 Things..

1.I think everyone who knows me knows I'm a total nerd :) And that I will do Anything for a child :) and Chocolate, I will also do anything for chocolate.

2. I am very sleepy this morning. We played Rummoli(I won!) and then Trivial Pursuit(Al and I Kicked ASS!) with Karen and Jay last night. Good times :)

3. My favorite perfume is the Healing Gardens Green Tea Extract. I love that whole line!

4. I love a good laugh with friends. There's something so freeing about laughing like that.

5. My favorite pastime probably reading.

6. I am most comfortable curled up in bed, reading a good book, on a rainy day.

7. When I am stressed I cry.

8. I don't like rice pudding, applesauce or raisins. Even though I DO like rice, apples and grapes :)

9. I am not a very good singer!! But I do it anyways, especially for my kids.

10. My indulgence is Lindt chocolate!!

TAG! JulieQ is it!!

~Lisa~

Phew!!

Jenny called Leaps and Bounds!! They are going to hire me again!!!! WOOHOO! I am not going to be jobless!! YAY!!!! I am Sooooo relieved! Jenny said she was too. I guess she was pretty worried about losing me :) so that's a huge relief for me, and them.

Now I just need to figure out where to go back to school, and for what. There's so many options for me. DSW, CYW, ABA...lol...so many letters, so little decision-making abilities!

Oh well, I am sure that whatever is meant to be will be. I have faith that the answer will come to me in due time, when it's right.

Thanks for the support though, it means a lot to me.

~Lisa~

oh boy.

When I was at work yesterday, Jenny called me aside. Henry has been picked up by Kinark(Government), and given full funding for his ABA services! Which, for thier family is AMAZING news! they've been on the list to get funding for 4 years now. Unfortunately, no one is really sure where that leaves me. :(

They have two options, Direct Funding, or Direct Services. If they take the Funding, they find their own Qualified therapist, and Psychologist, and pay them accordingly. If they take the services, they get a therapist, senior therapist and Psychologist, all built in to one institution. So it's a tough choice for them to make. Jenny assured me that they really do want to keep me on, but are worried that I won't have enough qualifications to be approved by Kinark. ACK!

I was talking to Karen about it, since she worked for CEPAS(The Kinark Institution that provides ABA) and she was Very adamant that they should NOT go the Direct Services route. There is currently a court case against some people in CEPAS because of the poor quality of care and professionalism there. So hopefully that will help Jenny choose to go the Direct Services route. The other option the have with that is to see if I can get hired on again by Leaps and Bounds, who I briefly worked for before when I was working with one of the triplets. I'm hopeful about that.

The Good news for me is that I have a chance to get a slew more hours. Henry has been approved for 40 hours a week. I'm not too sure that I am willing to take that, but Jenny mentioned splitting the day with another therapist, giving me the mornings like normal, and allowing me to work 5 days a week, logging 20 hours! Right now the very most I get is 12. Man, I hope that works. I still want to be here when Jenna gets home from school. Selfish maybe, but that's what is best for my family.

Man, I hate the big decisions like this. Especially since they are mostly out of my hands! Jenny has to decide what is best for Henry, not me. I just have to wait, and hope that what is best for him is best for me too. Wish me luck.

~Lisa~