If I Had A Working Phone, Maybe I Would Hear Better

Last night, So had a total melt down. I am talking, count down to self-destruction, melt-down. I assumed she might be tired. Hun and I were out of the house 3 out of five nights this past week and she had not been going to sleep at a decent hour. And I had to wake her up every morning, when she is typically up between 6 and 6:30 on her own.

So is obviously not perfect, and she has her moments from time to time, but last night was different. She was screaming and crying incessantly. I am sure anyone within a five mile radius was able to hear her. She could not be reasoned with. I sent her to her room on two separate occasions, both times I had to drag her up the stairs. I tried to talk to her, but I don't think she could even hear me over her own shrieking. The second time I sent her up, she had her pajamas on, I put her in her bed and told her I could not go through our nightly routine of Shema/prayers and song with her, and I left her crying.

I wondered if this was an after effect to what occurred Monday night, while I was at my organizational dinner. Because it seems since then, she has not really been herself.

Monday, I left the house to the dinner venue at 3 PM. I left the two younger kids in the house with my Mom and Dad and they knew to expect So home from the bus sometime shortly after 4:30. It was a blessing that my cell phone was dead at this point, because if I had a phone, I would have had a heart attack and the dinner would certainly not have been pulled together.

Hun arrived at the dinner venue at 5:30 and began to fill me in on what had taken place. Well, apparently, So never made it home. I live in a complex of homes and the bust stops right at the entrance of the complex. There are a total of 10 or more kids ranging in ages from 12 - 4 who all walk into the complex together, so I am lucky in this regard, because I do not have to wait at the bus stop. We all leave our garage doors open (which my parents did) and the kids just come in through the garages.

However, it was 4:45 and my poor parents were wondering where So was. They called a neighbor who confirmed that her kids already made it home, which only made the situation more dire for my parents, and her kids claimed they didn't even see So on the bus altogether. They tried to call me, but alas, a broken cell phone does not get answered. They tried the school - no answer. They finally called Hun, as he was on his way to the venue, and Hun thought of calling a friend who lives at the next bus stop just across a park from me. She confirmed, So missed her stop and came over with her daughter at the next stop. She actually tried to call my house, but my parents didn't realize this. She also tried my cell phone, but, well you know. But the important thing was, So was safe. She was also fed a snack and had her homework done.

I was grateful that by the time I heard what had happened, So was safe and sound back at our house. The only question that remained, was why she missed her stop to begin with.

So told me later that a certain six year old boy was pulling her hat off and teasing her, and she missed her stop, while looking for her hat. BULLY!!! I can not believe my poor So was the victim of a bully. Of course, then I thought, maybe this boy actually likes her and that is why he bullies her. She accepted this theory, and seemed fine. But then last night...

After I put her in bed, she cried and screamed for another good fifteen minutes, but then it went quiet. And then I heard the footsteps coming down the steps. And walking through the kitchen, she made her way towards me and in the sweetest, softest voice said, "Mommy, can you please say Shema/prayers with me?"

I brought her over, and gave her a hug and told her, "I would love to say Shema with you, but I want to say Shema to the sweet So who is kind and speaks quietly and tells Mommy what is bothering her using words."

I asked her if she was okay, because this was out of character for her and she was not acting herself. And she responded with three more stories about kids bullying her or making her sad. I have to say, she is not the bully victim type. And I don't know how much of her story was blown out of proportion, but she obviously had a bad week. So I used the "they all really like you" excuse. When kids really want to be your friend, but they don't know how to get your attention in a positive way, they end up going about it in a negative way... blah blah blah. I think I should be a child - psychologist.

She bought this for now, and I hope next week is better for her. A bad week for our kids is a bad week for us. And we all know how much guilt a mother harbors. And because this all started when I was at the dinner, I feel terrible guilt. So I have decided to get a new phone after-all. Not because guilt leads to shopping (ok, maybe a little) But as much as I enjoyed not being constantly connected to my family these past couple of weeks, like a mini vacay, the point is, I need to be. These are my babies, and if I am not available to hear them, who is?

Salute!

Here's to the Reich's!!

Whether original, or by marriage -

they seem to be my only brave blog friends.

They know the value of leaving a comment. And so, pretty much, I continue my blog for them.

Here!! Here!!

SURPRISES!!!

Some surprises are great, and some, not so great.

Surprise:
My laptop power cord/adapter has completely stopped working, so my computer can not be recharged.

Surprise:
It is still under warranty.

Surprise:
I need to be on the phone with a Dell technician for over two hours (included in the phone call, testing my devices to find out why my DVD/CD drive door keeps spontaneously popping open).

Surprise:
(After two hours and a crick in my neck), there is nothing wrong with my drive door and we will send a brand new adapter in the mail. (ooh, and I rediscovered my "Katie Melua" CD which I used to test my drive.)

Surprise:
After being on the phone for two hours and failing to use the speaker on my phone, this crick in my neck is now causing muscle spasms in my shoulder blades.

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!
What is this lumpiness over my left booby? OOOH, I found money in the pocket of a maternity shirt that I had not worn in three years AND a card for a massage therapist.

Surprise :(
The money is not enough to cover a massage and the massage therapist is in a hotel about an hour and a half from here.

Surprise:
How was I going to go on for ? amount of days without the use of a recharged laptop. How was I going to live my life for maybe one or two days without blogging about nothingness?

Surprise:
My mom got a laptop a month ago, also a Dell and her laptop, and more importantly, her adapter are in my house sitting idle, just calling out to me. Thanks Mother.

Surprise:
With two hour phone conversations and jumping on that beckoning adapter to blog, I have not peed. And these days, I am no longer the water holding camel I usually pride myself on being. So I gotta go now!

Oh you know what else would be a great surprise? SOME COMMENTS!

Treadmill or Boots?

I really wanted to post earlier, but I knew I was going to be out today, so I left the desperate and pathetic earlier post to fill the void. And I thank Shira and Brie.

Does shopping count as exercise? Because I told myself that when the dinner I was coordinating was over, I would get my lazy no longer too busy, behind back on the treadmill. I mean, being pregnant has its weight gaining advantages, but c'mon. I don't need both the stomach AND the backside.

I went off to the mall with my coupons to scout out the boots and shoes.
The reason: Because I need them. Okay, I have to have them. Alright, I could really use them. Because my feet are two of the only things that have not grown in size. Who cares what the reason is, I went and I conquered.

I got two pair of shoes and boots at Lord and Taylor. (I never feel guilty purchasing there because it's like giving money to G-d and His handyman.) Oh my, that was so sacrilegious.

I then bought two more pairs of boots at Macy's. Seriously, how many feet do I have? But, they were on sale and so comfy and cozy and warm and I HAD COUPONS.

I then began to return to my car, feeling unusually hungry at 11:15 in the morning. It might have something to do with the big, healthy breakfast I did NOT eat this morning. And that, maybe had to do with So's surprising "I don't feel well, I need to stay home today". She was in no way, shape or form - SICK, but she seemed like she needed a day off... from the really strenuous first grade. I picked the wrong time to be a "yes" mom. So has a habit of getting bored and needs to be occupied with the likes of school. So I asked, "Are you sure?" I asked this every five minutes this morning, distracting me from breakfast. At least my babysitter was here today, she would have to deal with So's boredom.

Anyway, I was now on my way back to the car, thinking about all the yummy things I could stop off and get on the way home, when I noticed a man walking parallel to me in the same direction. He was not an odd looking man, nothing really frightening about him. In fact, he opened the door for me on the way out. Yet, I was convinced he was casing me, looking for the most opportune moment to steal my purse or car-jack me.

I had my car keys wedged between my fingers (just like Officer Friendly taught me so many years ago). I was ready to gouge an eye or two out if I had too. And while being hypervigillant about where he was at all times in relationship to me, I was still thinking about pasta, or pizza. And then he went off, to his car which was two cars away from me. So my purse, my car and my life were safe, but my appetite was stirring.

On the way home I stopped off to cure me of the incessant cravings. And wouldn't you know it, the restaurant was only three doors down from the hat store. And funny enough, my head, also has not changed in size. So while my food was cooking, I went, just to visit and take a looksy. Of course there they were, the two colors I really need. And so I left with the brown hat and the grey hat, which don't match any of the boots I got. But they look good.

When I got home with whatever was left of the food that I somehow gravitated towards during my car ride, So greeted me at the door with a very insistent "I wanna go to school".

I knew this would happen. After So spent all morning at home, reading four books to Ate and making three new paintings and something I could only assume is a flower press, she was bored, and still NOT sick. And I couldn't take her now...aaagh. She was crying, who was I punishing by not figuring out how to get her to school now. It was 12:30, school doesn't end until 3:50, she could have a whole afternoon there, but I had to pick up Ro by 1:00 and then the babysitter was leaving....aaagh.

I quickly called my lovely sister-in-law who agreed to pick up Ro and bring her to my house where the babysitter waited for her. I threw a uniform on So, put some snacks in her bag and now my house is quiet, because my "bored out of her mind" So is back in school where she NEEDS to be.

I do think all this running around should be considered exercise. Of course, after unloading carbs, it seems I just reloaded them with my good eats today. So maybe treadmill tomorrow. Maybe I can treadmill in my new boots.

We All Need Our "Fix" Sometime

NO COMMENTARIOS,



NO BLOGARIOS!!!


After 40 some odd visitors yesterday and no comments,

I have to think about it. See ya later.

It's that time of week again -

Terrible Tuesday
or
Tough Tuesday
or
Torturous Tuesday

How many loathing adjectives can I come up with to describe Tuesday.

Tell it to my Mama, Tuesday

Talk to the hand, Tuesday

Take That! Tuesday

Ten (or more) things I hate about Tuesday, Tuesday

Tickle me Elmo, Tuesday (ok, I have no idea what I mean by this one)

Trials and Tribulations, Tuesday

Tension inducing Tuesday

Take a shot of Glenfiddich, Special reserve, Single Malt, Tuesday

As usual, my day of shuffling kids around from place to place did not go off without a hitch. Because last night I was out late and my kids via the babysitters (aka Bobby and Zeidy) did not get to bed until late as well, we all woke late today and it was rush, rush, rush to get out with So for my carpool.

For the third week in a row, one of my carpool parents held up the carpool because she forgot something. This week, as I was buckling her kids into the car, she realized that in Chicago in December, with snow and ice on the ground, she SHOULD put boots on them. Last week she forgot until the last minute that it was picture day and she needed to fill out the order forms. Okay, that was yesterday and someone else was doing carpool. But last week on my carpool day she forgot, well, she and her kids forgot to wake up.... until they heard me honking, that is.

Then I had to deal with the two "mini teens" in my car who have a best friend/not friends relationship. When E. began to talk about her fifth wiggly tooth that was about to fall out, this made my beautiful So very sad. As I mentioned before, So is quite precocious and does not like to be behind on anything. She is six and there is no tooth loss yet, and not even a sign of an impending tooth loss. I tried to appease So by reminding her that E. is actually six months older than her, and it is not surprising that she is therefore losing her teeth first. But then, lovely, adorable, means well E. said, "But I started losing my teeth when I was five and 1/2". At this point I was pulling up to school and So burst out crying and refused to go to school. I needed to get her out of the car, because there were three kids in the row behind her who could not get out until I folded So's seat down. Anyway, threatening to take away privileges does work if one is in a tight bind. She went to school, moping all the way. Poor So. On the bright side, if she has my genes, she definitely won't be behind when puberty hits. Although I can't guarantee she still won't be crying.

On the really, really bright side

Being that it is Tuesday, means that it is no longer Monday and the dinner I had been giving my life to coordinating is HISTORY. We were working up until the last minute and of course there were some snags, but all in all I think it went pretty well, until it was time to go home, that is. I (and a few others) had to stay late to disassemble and pack up everything we had unpacked and assembled just hours earlier. I just couldn't wait to load up and go home. Finally my husband's car was loaded in the alley behind the event location and we were on our way. A truck was in the street at the end of the alley, blocking half of our exit path. The curb on the right was high and I told my hubby he wouldn't clear it, but he told me he got in this way and could get out this way. Really?



Then why did we need this guy?




We are not talking flat tire, we are talking, RIP, pfissssssssssssss.

(By the way Shosh, this is how you change a tire, it's called "AAA")

And even though AAA estimated a 90 minute wait, we don't take for granted the fact that they showed up in five minutes, and Mr. Lovely triple A guy got a hefty tip for it.

What an adventure, but we did make it home, and now I can breathe, well, maybe after Tuesday passes.

Not Me! Monday (And Then Some)

I am not thanking all the new visitors I have had since last weeks "Not me! Monday", that would be obvious big time suck up.

I was not a complete doofus last week when I linked MckMama to the "Not Me! Monday" from two weeks ago. I was not then upset that I hardly received comments. Why would I be upset that I hardly received comments on the current "Not Me! Monday" when everyone was reading the previous weeks "Not Me! Monday" It did not take me four days to discover that I actually received 7 comments on the previous weeks NM Monday.

I do not grovel for comments, pleeeeeeeeeeaaaseeee no, not me.

I did not go to the supermarket every day this week, forgetting the gallons of whole milk and skim milk that I came for. I did not give in to the kids and replace the lacking milk with soda. I did not consider giving my children cereal with soda for breakfast. That would be abhorrent.

I did not laugh hysterically when I heard Ro call So a "penis". That would only encourage her inappropriate word use and I would never encourage such a thing.

I did not follow my plumber around the house with a bottle of disinfectant, and if I did, I did not tell him it was bug spray and I was killing my mutant fruit flies. I did not then learn that these "mutant FRUIT" flies were actually flies that have been feeding on the feces that has been backing up in my ejector pump.

I did not beg my lovely husband to move immediately to a new home because ours is certainly TOXIC.

I did not cry hysterically while watching the movie "Changelings" And if I did cry, I did not let people assume I was crying at the depressing story line when in fact I was certainly not crying because I realized I will never look like Angelina Jolie does after she gives birth to babies, when I G-d willing will give birth to mine. Why would I do that when I don't look like her in the first place.

I am not giving a shout out to A. B. in Chicago. I would not do that when she specifically requested no shout outs.

I have not been secretly enjoying the fact that my cell phone is completely dead, so much so, that when I came home from a friend's birthday party Saturday night, and Hun said he was trying to get in touch with me, I responded that with the way the economy is, it is just not time to make new purchases.

I did not send my husband, yet again, with three kids to swimming lessons so I could do nothing get a lot of necessary things done in the house.

When the co-chairman of my banquet coordinating committee called me, on Sunday to figure out when we would leave to the place our organization's dinner is taking place on Monday, I did not make plans to leave at 3 pm and then say, "Great, I'll see you next week" when the dinner is in fact, TONIGHT.

I certainly, in no way, shape or form, have "pregnant" brain.

What did y'all not do this week?