Tuesdays Typifications

Spencer has to be reminded 500 gatrillion times a day lately how to ask for things.    He's SUPER good at demanding things.  ie.  "mom, get me a drink"  "mom get me a spoon"  "mom put the bottle down and come out of the closet"  (ok, I was just checking to see if you were awake :)
Each and every day it's the SAME THING...."Spencer, how do we ask for things in our house ?"  Usually at this point he blurts out, "drink please"  We've taught him to say please like it's the magic word.   Like demanding with the word please attached is the key to getting what you want.
"Please don't demand from me Spencer, you need to ask.  Mom, will you get me a drink.  May I have a spoon."
He always complies and we start all over again.
J gets fed up and will say, "Spencer, if you don't ask nice the first time....you aint gettin it"

Sunday he asked me for a drink.  "Mom, Get Me Milk !"
I completely ignored him.  He said it again...only with more attitude and 'a look'.
I ignored him again...come on dude...you're smarter than this.   If we haven't gone over this for the last 6 months I'd help ya out...but please....now you're just wastin' both of our time.
He then chooses to walk closer and yell it in my personal space....because Obviously I didn't hear him the first 2 times.
I responded with, "No Spencer.   We don't ask for things this way.   And you Certainly don't talk to me that way."
He huffed and let out a frustrated growl and then walked toward the hall.    Which leads to the bedroom.   Where J and the babies were trying to nap.   Which then put me in the position of tackling him and wrestling him to the floor, hog tying him and slapping some duct tape over his mouth.
buuuuuuuut, I decided to see where it went.
He circled back around and was pacing.    Finally he says, "MOM! you either Get Me a Drink....or I'm going to go wake up Ryan!"  (see he is smart, he knows Ryan is the light sleeper of the two)  he continues, "What's it gonna be mom.  What's your choice gonna be ?  Get a drink or me go wake Ryan up ?"
SURELY you don't think I taught him that line.    Oh but Mother of Pearl I did.   friggity frack fargumsnogit.  I HATE IT when they say what I say and with the attitude and 'the look' and 'the eyes'  because FIRST of all....you are too small to be using such big words and screw you I don't look or sound Anything Like That When I Talk To You !    Makin  me sound all crazy .

20 minutes later Spencer was able to free himself from the rope and duct tape....and asked for the drink using the words, mom, will and please.
ugh !

A very dear friend of mine has a nephew who went the drug route in life.    During one of the family counseling sessions they learned that.....kids who are bigger risk takers...dare devils, are more likely to become drug addicts.   Or was it, try drugs ?   Either way.....I feel blessed that I finally land on the right side of the fence as far as those statistics go.

 

and to answer your question.  cuz I know you are wondering now.   yes.   J is a drug addict.


WHILE I was video taping the kids on the stairs I was able to capture Nathan stripping off his unders.   Something I deal with EVERY STINKING DAY.   Only to my surprise something magical and almost hopeful happened.

 

I like to think that he is SO confident in his masculinity that sporting heels is no big deal.

I hernia..you know, like, I heard ya ! :) ok, FINE it's not cute or funny.

Syd had hernia surgery today.      I didn't tell her last night that she was going to be having it because she has stressed about the surgery since finding out about it last Tuesday.    She's even asked me in the middle of the night if we can cancel it.  
We missed the class they hold for scared kids at the hospital...but they do such a good job of explaining it before hand that it was ok.
I have to say that I could TOTALLY go Munchhausen by proxy.   It was so nice to be 1 on 1 with Syd.   It was also nice to be in a temperature controlled room with a plethora of fresh bagels and juices to eat during my stay.   All of the nurses and doctors coming up one at a time to explain and comfort us...offer mom a warm blanket and sprite or slushy.     And childrens hospitals rock...especially new ones.   New toys that have all of their parts.    New books.  PLUS.   It wasn't busy....there wasn't anybody else playing with all of the new toys and books. 
I suppose it would be nice for me...but constantly being poked and cut open might not be fun for my kids.   Maybe I could just go and hang out there sometimes after J gets off work.  :)  

Up until the point to go back she had held it together.   She was nervous but was playing and checking stuff out.    One of the nurses came up and said, "Hi are you Sydney Blanchard"  again...we were the only one's there....Syd said evasively, "nope." and kept playing.     Like that was going to get her out of surgery. ha ha
Syd cried when we had to say our goodbyes at the red line.   She was so scared.
She clutched my side and the tears started welling up in her eyes.    We explained to her how I couldn't go back because I didn't have scrubs on.  I hugged her and told her she'd do great.    She let out a quiet cry as she headed off with the anesthesiologist and nurse and so did my heart.     I knew she was fine and after the cotton candy gas I guess she was GREAT.
A lot of good people suggested anti nausea medication.    I made sure to mention it when we met with the anesthesiologist.   He gave her plenty and it seemed to help.    It also kept her from waking up :)    3 different times she opened her eyes, looked at me  and said, "mama....I didn't know you were here!....I feel funny....I'm dizzy."  ha ha ha
As they wheeled her down to the car....I said to the nurse, "if she asks where I came from again when we get home, I'm going to get that anesthesiologists address to send him a Christmas card."   She didn't ask....and also ate a ton, which they said she probably wouldn't because her stomach had been put to sleep and she received so much fluid while she was there.
She ate though.   4 celery stocks with peanut butter, 2 pieces of cheese cut up into sticks and crackers.    Once we realized she was tolerating food we fed her chicken noodle soup ala dora style... an apple, 4 gummy worms and 3 more crackers.    2 hours later she ate a PB and J, 2 glasses of milk and some smarty's.
She drank most of her bright red raspberry slushy that she got at the hospital.   The babies spilled the rest on my nightstand and the floor.   of course.   She had a cheese sandwich for dinner and Grandma and Papa brought her a goody bag with a rose, some candy and cheetos.   I guess the anti nausea meds maybe worked too good.

As we sat and sifted sand in the sand box this afternoon Syd yelled while listening to the "Eye of the Tiger" full blast and on repeat, on Mommy J's mp3 player that she downloaded songs to for Syd's surgery day...."I WANT TO HAVE SURGERY MORE OFTEN."
After pulling her ear piece out I asked her why.  She responded with, "because you get to just relax"
So much for her fear of "the gas"
She told Grandma and Papa that this was the "BEST" day ever.   And listed off all of the great things.   :)

Syd holding the hospital pager from express check in.  We were the only ones there...but she wanted to type on the computer so I let her.    She was disappointed that it never buzzed though.

Playing a cars video game while we waited.

Drug induced

Her IV and blinking thumb

Face Painter extraordinaire

Sydney has become quite the little face painter.   I now present.....Nathan.....her Cheetah.
All 4 of her brothers, Mommy J and her fiance Nate have fallen victim. 
Not too shabby really.

My big boys went to pre school yesterday.    They graduated from the speech/pre school program at the local elementary school.   Well, Spencer still qualifies for just speech but I haven't heard when he will go.

Their new pre school is just down the street.   Maybe a 4 minute walk.   Sydney rode her bike and I pushed the babies in the double stroller pulling both boys 2 and from class.    They loved it.   Cameron informed me that, "Mrs. Angela is really nice.   I like her a lot."  
I was thrilled because Cameron was a little hesitant to go in by himself and said, "mama, you'll wait outside the whole time for me ?"

We were on our way home, Syd clear ahead of us and around the corner and almost home.    I saw a huge fat cat run across the road to a house just ahead of us.    Cameron said it was a dog.    I didn't argue and figured we'd see it soon enough when we came up to the house.   Sure enough.   Big Fat Cat laying on the lawn basking in the sun already.    Spencer walked up to it and it ran around a landscaped area.   I explained that he needed to crouch down as to not scare it and call kitty kitty kitty....before I had even finished he walked up to it again scarring it around and in to the street....where a car just happened to be....didn't even slow down and we watched the cats head roll under the big front tires....fur flew...it's body rolled under the rest of the car.
It's hind legs continued a running motion as it laid on its back with it's head cocked back towards the road.  
My babies started crying, mainly Ryan.   It's as if  they knew what had happened.    I covered my ears....because that's what I do.    I looked down the road at the car wondering if he would stop....if he would come back ?   Who was going to help this cat ?  Is there help for the cat ?  He's still moving his legs?   He needs to be put out of his misery ?  Was it a female cat ?  Was she pregnant ?   Was it somebody's pet ?  Somebody who loved it so much that it was all fat and happy ?  Is it going to die ?   Why won't it stop moving ? 
I didn't want to walk over to it because I didn't know what to expect and I didn't want my kids to come with me.    I didn't know if it was a stray cat with diseases....if it's guts were out on the other side.....I felt helpless and just stood there with my hands over my ears.
Right then a man emerged from the garage of the house we were standing in front of.     I asked him if it was his cat ?   Is this your cat ?   he just looked at me.  he wouldn't answer.   Did he not see the cat in the street ?   Did he hear me ? 
"Was that your cat ?" I asked again.   He shook his head no and continued on to the mail box.   Not looking at the cat and I wondered if he was nodding his head at me standing there with my hands over my ears or if he was answering me.
I said to myself, "it's still alive"
He finally spoke and said, "you better get your kids out of here."
Now I just felt like a bad mother.   Here I am standing here not moving while a cat is dying in the street.   Probably the brain injury that it sustained is causing it's legs to run.  And my kids are confused and watching the whole thing unfold.
I started walking and repeated, "oh no.  oh no.  that poor cat" 
My mind jumped to Spencer's role in all of this.   I certainly didn't blame him but I did feel like he had an innocent part in it.   Will he realize it ?  Will he feel bad ?  Should I talk to him about it ?

The boys haven't mentioned the incident since.
The babies however keep bringing it up. 
Ryan : "cat, car, head"
Nathan : "car ah bonk ah kitty"
Ryan : "bonk.  head."
Nathan : "cat. ah broken"

I did mention to the boys as we walked away....that's why you don't play in the street.  Cars are dangerous.  They can hit and hurt or kill you.
Right after saying this it was time for us to cross the street.  There was a car clear down the street.  Spencer screamed and ran across the street ahead of us, "car ! car ! a car is coming !" 
I suppose it was a good lesson.

I'm still sick.   I just don't handle things like this very well.  
When I was little my mom was driving late one night and hit a rabbit.   She went back to check on it and it was still moving.   She circled around and hit it again.   She bawled the whole time.   I was shocked and wondered why she ran over it the 2nd time ?  Didn't she see it....AGAIN ?  clearly she knew where it was ?
She told me that she had to put it out of it's misery.    That it was hurting.
The strength and compassion she showed was painted on my brain that night.
I think of it almost every time I see a dead animal on the road or an animal who just escaped a near death experience.  And I remind the heavens that I don't have the strength that my mother had that night....and beg to not be put in that situation.   Luckily....I have not.
  
Today though, if I had a car.....I would have hit that kitty again.  and I would have cried the whole time doing it.

Speaking of a car.   Right now I'm carless :)
Baverly was sold and we are downsizing to a 8 passenger Odyssey.  
We go to pick one up tonight.    I hope it's a good car.

Again...a reason to use a trained professional.   Here are some more of the pictures we took in California.

Argyle Family Reunion

Bear Lake August 2010

Glass 1/2 empty :
-Syd slammed her head in to the railing at the condo causing a bump to raise 2 inches off of her head immediately following said slammage.   oh and she cried for a long time after.  including days 2 and 3. 
-Spencer falling not once but TWICE on the same knee on the same day.   he cried a little on day 2 and then again at breakfast day 3. 
-Nathan and his hivey, pustule like rash all over his face.   Oh and remember that time at camp when Nathan's lips and ears started to swell up. he didn't cry at the hospital while we waited for his shot, steroids and benedryl to kick in...however they all cried when we got home at 11:30pm.  And then they woke up early and cried the next day too.
-Forgetting the bug spray and heavier clothes the first day.
-Forgetting the sunscreen the second day.
-Spilling the steroids the first night.
-Having to go back to the hospital to get more the second day.
-because he needed it.

Glass 1/2 full :
-The drive up was beautiful
-The condo ROCKED
-Having the most kids finally paid off and we got the big master bedroom.   WITH the master bath which included a jetted garden tub that fit all of my kids.
-Eating everything and anything all weekend long
-Meeting for the first time some of the newest 2nd cousins.  Well I suppose Emma is 2 1/2.  Still we had never met before this weekend.
-Family AND Friends. it's nice that it's both.
-Catching up.
-The lake.  SO GORGEOUS. I WILL find out how it stays such a beautiful color.
-The sandy beach that went on forever.
-The wave runners.
-The weather.
-The laughter.
-The cards.
-Mostly just Ron on drugs.
-Everyone's health.
-Jake's campfire
-The springs just up the trail from camp

-The love.

1/2 full wins for sure.

I want to take a moment to remember those that left us while on this trip.   The mouse or was it mice?  I think one was already dead and then Ron and his trusty sidekick killed the sweet little helpless baby one.
And then there was that bird we hit.   He darted out in front of us and there was nothing we could do....being that we were practically driving on cobble stone.   I also want to point out that it was a magpie chasing a smaller bird to probably kill and eat.    That's what I keep telling myself to make it through of course.

Spencer said he was sick that last day.   He drove home with a pan that Grandma let us borrow to hurl in, if needed.  Only a couple of times did we think we were going to need it.  but didn't end up needing it at all :)  woo hoo.
Syd said she had a headache when we got home.  Both now have a temperature of 100.5.  
I suppose this may have contributed to a lot of the whining that took place this weekend.

I would like to apologize to anyone who's child(ren) came in contact with my children.  Not just because they were probably hit, kicked or had sand thrown at them....but because they may now be carrying this terrible horrible no good very bad virus.
I heard they even get it in Australia. 

PICTURES !
I can't not post all of them because it was fun to see everyone and I don't want to exclude anyone...except for Steph and Sherry but ONLY because they didn't come to the lake when I had my camera out and then they left that night and I brought it BACK out the next morning.    Sorry girls. :-(   I'm sorry if you aren't pictured.  I tried really hard to catch everyone.


Some liked the Sand.

Hollywood !

Some REALLY liked the sand

so much that they just wanted to kiss it

Love this picture.

Some liked the water

I really wanted a Jesus/Jake splitting the seas or walking on water picture and I never did get it.  but more importantly, what the hell is Ron doing with that dog ?

There he is again dragging that dog out to sea....on a leash....in his full length swimming suit. :) hee hee hee

Some were more social

And some were not so social

Yes, his shirt does say, "I'm bringing Grumpy Back" and obviously the gorilla look too.  DUDE you've got growth.  

Some were jealous of Matt and tried to get his man-do going with the sand.  Sorry buddy...you'll need to figure out how to get more length than that if you want to be like him.    Or.  have Uncle Ron as your dad works too :) Note : these gentlemen do not fall into the non social catagory.  They are only pictured because of the desire to have post pubescent hair growth like their cousin Matt.

Some liked the wedding that took place right next to us.

And some just wished we'd all stop talking about it.

Some were there to relax and hang out

SERIOUSLY thiiiis close to being in the not so social club...buuuut I figured Matt was the only one who really deserved to be there, so social you are.  :)

and then there were those just..hanging out

Word to the wise Jeff.  ALWAYS be friends with me. 

What are you...marching out to sea ? ya girlie girl. :)

Some were about sweet moments with your best friend

LOVE this picture.  Such a handsome kid

What an awesome big sister Court has.

Some were younger than others

Yes, she is in fact saying cheese and eating cheese at the same time :)

and some just a little older

but you wouldn't know it by looking at her

The Most important thing of all...it was spent together.  oh...and that we had a super sweet condo with plumbing and clean hot water. The end.

So much happens and changes each year, it's nice to have an excuse to get to know each other again.    Here's to next year.

Paris Springs Idaho August 2010