THIS picture sparked rumors that Eva Longoria-Parker is PREGNANT?! WTF? I cannot form a coherent, non-f-bomb laced sentence.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
"That's Annoying" #462
THIS picture sparked rumors that Eva Longoria-Parker is PREGNANT?! WTF? I cannot form a coherent, non-f-bomb laced sentence.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Do You Read?
I love books. If you don't believe me, you should see all the filled to overflowing bookcases in my house.
As I typed that I had a flashback of the bookcases in my parents' house growing up. They built bookcases to attempt to hold everything. In the house where they live now, they had built-ins with tons of shelves put in, and they still can't hold everything. Growing up there were shelves and shelves of National Geographics next to the shelves and shelves of Reader's Digest Condensed books. I know they still have the condensed books, I'm not sure about the National Geographics. (Note to grade school self - the National Geographics are NOT to be used when cutting out pictures for school projects. Yow.)
Anyway, back from that tangent...all of my adult life I have loved to read. I loved to read as a child, too, but I've heard myself say this phrase one too many times lately - "I was supposed to read ____ in high school/college, but I didn't." I guess the classroom discussions were enough to do well on the tests.
I have read all of the Harry Potter books at least 2 if not 3 times. I have a friend who just does not get reading a book more than once. After you know how it ends, why read it again? I've stopped trying to explain.
Since having children, especially the toddler now running around, it has become more difficult to just sit down and read a book. I had all but given up. Not that that stopped me from BUYING books. Mr. S once gave me grief for buying so many books. I told him to be glad that my vice was books and not crack. I could go to the library I suppose, but I've never gotten into that habit. Maybe I'll have to put some serious effort to that in the future - once I read all of the purchased, yet unread books.
I, like my dad, have trouble getting rid of books as well. I'm getting better about not holding on to paperbacks forever. Thank God there is somewhere like Half Price Books that will take them off my hands. I couldn't bear to drop them in the recycle bin. It may be time for another trip there.
Just recently, though it took me at least a month and a half, I read Crime and Punishment. One of those "I was supposed to read"s. Wow. I said to Mr. S, "This is a REALLY good book." Of course, you know what he said. "Um, maybe that's why it's a classic?" Duh. Having just finished it, I wish I could go back to that college class that assigned it and participate in the discussion that I just sat through at 20.
I've just cracked open another Dostoevsky - The Idiot. When I bought it, I also bought a book with 5 or 6 Oscar Wilde stories in it (not condensed). That should be fun. I'm truly excited to be spending more time reading, again. I grab minutes here and there whenever I can. Slowly but surely, I'll make it through these books and look forward to more.
One of these days, maybe I will keep a list on the side of my blog keeping up with what I've read. MB does that, and astounds me at the amount of text she has gone through so far this year. How do you DO that?! She knows she reads freakishly fast and readily admits that, but yeeshk. Just take a peek at her list.
I'm thrilled to have Crime and Punishment in/as my list of books read in '08. Maybe I'll finish another book or two by '09.
As I typed that I had a flashback of the bookcases in my parents' house growing up. They built bookcases to attempt to hold everything. In the house where they live now, they had built-ins with tons of shelves put in, and they still can't hold everything. Growing up there were shelves and shelves of National Geographics next to the shelves and shelves of Reader's Digest Condensed books. I know they still have the condensed books, I'm not sure about the National Geographics. (Note to grade school self - the National Geographics are NOT to be used when cutting out pictures for school projects. Yow.)
Anyway, back from that tangent...all of my adult life I have loved to read. I loved to read as a child, too, but I've heard myself say this phrase one too many times lately - "I was supposed to read ____ in high school/college, but I didn't." I guess the classroom discussions were enough to do well on the tests.
I have read all of the Harry Potter books at least 2 if not 3 times. I have a friend who just does not get reading a book more than once. After you know how it ends, why read it again? I've stopped trying to explain.
Since having children, especially the toddler now running around, it has become more difficult to just sit down and read a book. I had all but given up. Not that that stopped me from BUYING books. Mr. S once gave me grief for buying so many books. I told him to be glad that my vice was books and not crack. I could go to the library I suppose, but I've never gotten into that habit. Maybe I'll have to put some serious effort to that in the future - once I read all of the purchased, yet unread books.
I, like my dad, have trouble getting rid of books as well. I'm getting better about not holding on to paperbacks forever. Thank God there is somewhere like Half Price Books that will take them off my hands. I couldn't bear to drop them in the recycle bin. It may be time for another trip there.
Just recently, though it took me at least a month and a half, I read Crime and Punishment. One of those "I was supposed to read"s. Wow. I said to Mr. S, "This is a REALLY good book." Of course, you know what he said. "Um, maybe that's why it's a classic?" Duh. Having just finished it, I wish I could go back to that college class that assigned it and participate in the discussion that I just sat through at 20.
I've just cracked open another Dostoevsky - The Idiot. When I bought it, I also bought a book with 5 or 6 Oscar Wilde stories in it (not condensed). That should be fun. I'm truly excited to be spending more time reading, again. I grab minutes here and there whenever I can. Slowly but surely, I'll make it through these books and look forward to more.
One of these days, maybe I will keep a list on the side of my blog keeping up with what I've read. MB does that, and astounds me at the amount of text she has gone through so far this year. How do you DO that?! She knows she reads freakishly fast and readily admits that, but yeeshk. Just take a peek at her list.
I'm thrilled to have Crime and Punishment in/as my list of books read in '08. Maybe I'll finish another book or two by '09.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Out of the Mouth of Twinkle
Anxiously waiting to get out of the van at a birthday party:
"[exasperated sound]! You're going to drive me to Greek!"
I don't recall ever telling her, "You're going to drive me to drink", but it's entirely possible.
"[exasperated sound]! You're going to drive me to Greek!"
I don't recall ever telling her, "You're going to drive me to drink", but it's entirely possible.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
I'm Feeling Much Better Now
OK. I may break one promise. This post isn't going to be as "Grrr" as I thought it would be.
Last week, the girls and I went to visit my parents. It was a great visit. Oddly, it's always hard for me to leave. Even with all of my parents' little idiosyncrasies, I really enjoy spending so much time with them.
It's a pretty good time of year to visit my parents. Every year Mr. S takes part in a production put on by the Bar of the Big City. Last week while I was visiting my parents, he was having rehearsals every night and not getting home until 10. Saturday and Sunday he had rehearsals all day. This week he has rehearsals until late at night and the show starting tonight and ending Saturday night. All of that means we see him for breakfast each day and that's about it.
We headed for my parents' house after lunch on Monday. With it being close to a 3 hour drive, I was a little concerned about how Sparkle would be on the trip. The girl really doesn't like to be in the car for more than about 30-45 minutes. Whether it was luck, divine intervention or good timing, she slept for almost 2 hours of the drive. Hooray!
Sleeping at my parents' house was a different matter. Sparkle does not like the pack 'n play. Really. Really. Also, since she's so limber and quite the little monkey, she climbed out of it in no time. When she demonstrated her ability, I decided I needed to stay in the room with her to keep her from climbing out until she fell asleep. Ugh. The first night, this was a 2 hour task. She just stood in the pack 'n play wanting out and crying.
The second night, it was only a 30 minute job. I thought, "All right! I can do that." Then she woke up twice that night which meant that I had to repeat the process to get her back to sleep each time. I napped the next day.
The rest of the time, she continued to require close to 30 minutes at bed time and woke up at least once a night as well as not napping during the day. Now, there are those out there who can testify to how cranky I get when I'm tired. I must get my 8 hours. Night after night, of interrupted sleep only builds the crankiness.
We returned home on Saturday afternoon. It WAS nice to be in my own bed and to have Sparkle back in her bed. I slept really well. Sunday afternoon, Sparkle decided that it was just as easy to climb out of her crib as it was to climb out of the pack 'n play. The only difference is that the crib is a 3 foot drop. Sunday night, Mr. S got to follow the routine I did at my parents' house and stayed in Sparkle's room until she fell asleep. Again, in the middle of the night, Sparkle woke up and was awake for a couple of hours. All told, I got about 5 hours of sleep Sunday night.
Monday morning, Mr. S converted the crib to a toddler bed. I felt so unready. I was NOT looking forward to being the only one putting her down for naps and night times every night this week with her freshly in a toddler bed. UGH! That's actually quite tame compared to what I said.
Monday night, she climbed into her bed. We read a couple of books and turned out the light. Then I sat in her floor for an hour to keep her from climbing out. After that hour, when she was still awake, I thought "What is wrong with me? Poor Twinkle has been sitting by herself for an hour. That's so unfair to her." I got up and left Sparkle's room. She cried for about 3 minutes and stopped and slept all night.
I also slept all night. Tuesday I was thinking much more clearly. I decided that her room is baby-proofed, what does it matter if she gets out of her bed? The reason for keeping her in her bed was to keep her from falling 3 feet from the side of her crib. At this point, I'm thinking of her entire room as her bed.
Tuesday at nap time, we read a couple of stories and I left her in her bed. I realized it's OK if she gets out of her bed. Why should I worry about her getting up? She can't get out of her room. It's OK! (This is a sure sign that the meds are working) She did get up and play in her room for about 30 minutes, but then she got quiet. I couldn't resist checking on her. I peeked in and she was indeed asleep. Not in her bed, but in her rocking chair. Hey, whatever works.
Tuesday night, I don't know if she got out of her bed, I don't know where she slept, but she slept all night. And I slept all night.
I'm crossing my fingers that this will continue. It would be quite nice. Mr. S and I were talking on Monday trying to remember what we did with Twinkle when we switched her to the toddler bed. I still can't remember, but this seems to be working for Sparkle...for now.
Last week, the girls and I went to visit my parents. It was a great visit. Oddly, it's always hard for me to leave. Even with all of my parents' little idiosyncrasies, I really enjoy spending so much time with them.
It's a pretty good time of year to visit my parents. Every year Mr. S takes part in a production put on by the Bar of the Big City. Last week while I was visiting my parents, he was having rehearsals every night and not getting home until 10. Saturday and Sunday he had rehearsals all day. This week he has rehearsals until late at night and the show starting tonight and ending Saturday night. All of that means we see him for breakfast each day and that's about it.
We headed for my parents' house after lunch on Monday. With it being close to a 3 hour drive, I was a little concerned about how Sparkle would be on the trip. The girl really doesn't like to be in the car for more than about 30-45 minutes. Whether it was luck, divine intervention or good timing, she slept for almost 2 hours of the drive. Hooray!
Sleeping at my parents' house was a different matter. Sparkle does not like the pack 'n play. Really. Really. Also, since she's so limber and quite the little monkey, she climbed out of it in no time. When she demonstrated her ability, I decided I needed to stay in the room with her to keep her from climbing out until she fell asleep. Ugh. The first night, this was a 2 hour task. She just stood in the pack 'n play wanting out and crying.
The second night, it was only a 30 minute job. I thought, "All right! I can do that." Then she woke up twice that night which meant that I had to repeat the process to get her back to sleep each time. I napped the next day.
The rest of the time, she continued to require close to 30 minutes at bed time and woke up at least once a night as well as not napping during the day. Now, there are those out there who can testify to how cranky I get when I'm tired. I must get my 8 hours. Night after night, of interrupted sleep only builds the crankiness.
We returned home on Saturday afternoon. It WAS nice to be in my own bed and to have Sparkle back in her bed. I slept really well. Sunday afternoon, Sparkle decided that it was just as easy to climb out of her crib as it was to climb out of the pack 'n play. The only difference is that the crib is a 3 foot drop. Sunday night, Mr. S got to follow the routine I did at my parents' house and stayed in Sparkle's room until she fell asleep. Again, in the middle of the night, Sparkle woke up and was awake for a couple of hours. All told, I got about 5 hours of sleep Sunday night.
Monday morning, Mr. S converted the crib to a toddler bed. I felt so unready. I was NOT looking forward to being the only one putting her down for naps and night times every night this week with her freshly in a toddler bed. UGH! That's actually quite tame compared to what I said.
Monday night, she climbed into her bed. We read a couple of books and turned out the light. Then I sat in her floor for an hour to keep her from climbing out. After that hour, when she was still awake, I thought "What is wrong with me? Poor Twinkle has been sitting by herself for an hour. That's so unfair to her." I got up and left Sparkle's room. She cried for about 3 minutes and stopped and slept all night.
I also slept all night. Tuesday I was thinking much more clearly. I decided that her room is baby-proofed, what does it matter if she gets out of her bed? The reason for keeping her in her bed was to keep her from falling 3 feet from the side of her crib. At this point, I'm thinking of her entire room as her bed.
Tuesday at nap time, we read a couple of stories and I left her in her bed. I realized it's OK if she gets out of her bed. Why should I worry about her getting up? She can't get out of her room. It's OK! (This is a sure sign that the meds are working) She did get up and play in her room for about 30 minutes, but then she got quiet. I couldn't resist checking on her. I peeked in and she was indeed asleep. Not in her bed, but in her rocking chair. Hey, whatever works.
Tuesday night, I don't know if she got out of her bed, I don't know where she slept, but she slept all night. And I slept all night.
I'm crossing my fingers that this will continue. It would be quite nice. Mr. S and I were talking on Monday trying to remember what we did with Twinkle when we switched her to the toddler bed. I still can't remember, but this seems to be working for Sparkle...for now.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Promises, Promises
I promise I'm still alive.
I promise I will participate in Elastigirl's meme tag.
I promise I am going to post within the next day or two.
I promise that post will be a bit "GRRRR."
I promise I appreciate each and every person who visits me here. Even if it is just the one.
Back soon. Promise.
Mrs. S
I promise I will participate in Elastigirl's meme tag.
I promise I am going to post within the next day or two.
I promise that post will be a bit "GRRRR."
I promise I appreciate each and every person who visits me here. Even if it is just the one.
Back soon. Promise.
Mrs. S
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
I've Been a Mother of Two for a Year
Today marks the one year anniversary of Sparkle being given to us in China. I think in years to come we'll celebrate the day in some special way, but this year I don't think she'd notice. We've played a lot today and I've taken lots of pictures, but that isn't so different from any other day.
It's been quite a year. Memories of that day are just like memories of giving birth. The sights and sounds in the room. Other families being formed at the same time. Being anxious all morning leading up to the moment. Heck, being anxious for the 2 years prior.
I expected to feel a little bit like I was babysitting someone else's child at first. After all, there's a bit of a difference between having a newborn, and being handed at 9.5 month old. I really prepared myself for not feeling connected or wondering when this kid's parents were going to come get her. (I did wonder that after giving birth to Twinkle). But from the moment I saw her, I knew she was mine. I'd seen a picture of her and stared at it for 2 months, but that was nothing compared to seeing her across the room.
I remember saying to Mr. S when they brought her out, "That's her!" I can't remember if he looked at me like was crazy or said something like, "Yeah" like I was crazy, but I'm sure he thought the heat was affecting my brain. I mean we were standing in line and we were next and they were bringing babies out of the other room - of course it was her. I can't explain it, but to me, it was HER. SHE was the reason I was on the other side of the planet. Getting her was like getting a piece of my heart returned to me.
I don't know why, but she has been mine from the beginning. I've never doubted it for a minute.
If you'd like to take a peek at my non-anonymous side and see video of "the moment" you can do that here.
It's been quite a year. Memories of that day are just like memories of giving birth. The sights and sounds in the room. Other families being formed at the same time. Being anxious all morning leading up to the moment. Heck, being anxious for the 2 years prior.
I expected to feel a little bit like I was babysitting someone else's child at first. After all, there's a bit of a difference between having a newborn, and being handed at 9.5 month old. I really prepared myself for not feeling connected or wondering when this kid's parents were going to come get her. (I did wonder that after giving birth to Twinkle). But from the moment I saw her, I knew she was mine. I'd seen a picture of her and stared at it for 2 months, but that was nothing compared to seeing her across the room.
I remember saying to Mr. S when they brought her out, "That's her!" I can't remember if he looked at me like was crazy or said something like, "Yeah" like I was crazy, but I'm sure he thought the heat was affecting my brain. I mean we were standing in line and we were next and they were bringing babies out of the other room - of course it was her. I can't explain it, but to me, it was HER. SHE was the reason I was on the other side of the planet. Getting her was like getting a piece of my heart returned to me.
I don't know why, but she has been mine from the beginning. I've never doubted it for a minute.
If you'd like to take a peek at my non-anonymous side and see video of "the moment" you can do that here.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Here's to Cocktails
I had an appointment with my doctor on Friday to get my happy pills refilled. I have to go in every 6 months for them to make sure everything is working OK. I told my doctor that for the most part I am feeling better than before. I know I've accomplished some things that I wouldn't have otherwise.
I also told my doctor that some days I wonder if they sent me sugar pills. On those days, I've mentioned many times on here, I feel annoyed by the smallest thing and once I'm annoyed with one thing, it snowballs all day. They are things that, as am ranting about them, I know are not things that I should be annoyed by. The children's laughter getting louder and louder, for example. My doctor suggested adding a "tiny, baby dose of Prozac" to my Welbutrin. Apparently Prozac has many uses these days ranging from the kind of irritability I'm experiencing to irritable bowel syndrome. Seeing it written out like that makes me wonder what I'm saying about myself.
Anyway, I know many of you commented before that I should talk to my doctor and that some kind of combination may be helpful. I just waited until now to do it. I'm 2 days on the Prozac and have to go back in about a month and a half to report back. I have my fingers and toes crossed that it will do the things she said it could.
Enjoying being with my children AND not screaming? Sweet.
I also told my doctor that some days I wonder if they sent me sugar pills. On those days, I've mentioned many times on here, I feel annoyed by the smallest thing and once I'm annoyed with one thing, it snowballs all day. They are things that, as am ranting about them, I know are not things that I should be annoyed by. The children's laughter getting louder and louder, for example. My doctor suggested adding a "tiny, baby dose of Prozac" to my Welbutrin. Apparently Prozac has many uses these days ranging from the kind of irritability I'm experiencing to irritable bowel syndrome. Seeing it written out like that makes me wonder what I'm saying about myself.
Anyway, I know many of you commented before that I should talk to my doctor and that some kind of combination may be helpful. I just waited until now to do it. I'm 2 days on the Prozac and have to go back in about a month and a half to report back. I have my fingers and toes crossed that it will do the things she said it could.
Enjoying being with my children AND not screaming? Sweet.
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