I bet it will be a long time before you book a romantic dinner at The Melting Pot.
So, we just had another "experience" and you didn't even have to wait until tomorrow for the next installment. How nice of us!
This time when much smoother as Stella said "I've got poop" and without saying a word I hit PAUSE while Simon Cowell was giving his review of Allison and we both wordlessly got up and headed to the crime scene from earlier.
This time was similar, only worse. It had seeped out of the pull-up and was on the nightgown.
But, oh! We were MUCH more prepared. Leave it to my husband - he had pre-fabbed approximately 7 folded squares of toilet paper for easy access and had refilled the wipes dispenser for the cleaning part.
Now we're a team. We should take this show on the road. Or not.
All humor aside, her little parts are horribly irritated so we had to slather some "coochie get-right" as my husband called it and then I peed my pants laughing. Too many accidents in this house today!!
I am not giving her this antibiotic anymore.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
It was driving me crazy...
...but now I have never been so thankful for a nose that is not working because of a vicious cold. I mean, I can't smell crap. Literally.
Stella has also had a cold/allergies/virus thing going on for about a week or so and is on anti-biotics. I don't know about other children out there but antibiotics make my kid MEAN! There are other fun side effects of antibiotics so we've got her drinking yogurt drinks to avoid the female issues but there is yet another side effect that is unavoidable, unfortunately.
This afternoon has been rather enjoyable. Toby and I are sitting in the living room, enjoying the open windows and the nice weather. He's in his chair studying for his Electrician's Card and I am on the couch browsing Facebook and watching Oprah interview the people on the Yearning for Zion Ranch... totally enjoyable, right?! I hear Stella waking up from her nap so I go to her room and take the gate down (Yes I gate her in. Because if I don't she might sneak out and sit at my vanity and turn on my curling iron and burn her hand. Or whatever.)
So, I go to the kitchen to make my afternoon cup of coffee and I hear her say "I've got poop!" We're doing pull-ups for naps and nighttime so atleast it wasn't underwear.
Thank God it wasn't underwear.
She comes in the kitchen and I tell her to go tell Dada to change her pull-up. She says "No you do it." I say "No go tell Dada" and she says "No you do it" and I say "Go tell Dada!!" So she does.
And of course he doesn't move so finally I say "Come on Stella let's change you." I really wish I had started that spreadsheet I kept threatening... the one to keep track of poop changes and whose turn it is next.
Any new moms reading this? Take that as my first piece of advice.
So anyway, I put her on the changing table and pull down her pants and slowly tear the sides of the pull up and HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD it looked like someone dumped a pot of dark chocolate fondue in my child's diaper.
It was all up the front.
All up the back.
And all in there - if you pick up what I'm puttin down.
I say - calmly - "Toby, could you help please?" And he comes bounding around the corner. With a spring in his step like Johnny On the Spot. He rounds the corner and I swear I wish I had a nanny cam in Stella's room to catch this whole scene. We'd be millionaires.
He stops in his tracks and yells OH. MY. GOD. What is THAT?!?!?!? And before he even finishes that sentence, he is gone.
"I need help!!!" I've got both her legs up in one hand trying to keep her from moving a centimeter because the consequences of that, now that the pull-up is open, is unthinkable.
For the next few seconds, he is in panic mode. Just running in and out of the room. Like he doesn't know which way is up. He's yelling stuff. I do remember hearing "Do you want me to run the tub?!?" but that's it. There was a lot of other words. And gagging. And gasping for air. I heard "yard" and "hose" and several other words but it was all just a blur.
But through all this, I'm just standing there. Watching. He puts on a good show sometimes.
Finally he calms down enough to come in and hold her feet in the air while I try and wipe her...but at this point, there is no wiping...it's just shoveling sh*t from her onto the pull-up into a pile. I didn't care if I used a pack and a half of wipes on this one change. But only 4 wipes in, I am met with an empty box.
Toby and I look at each other and understood what needed to happen. No words were spoken.
I grabbed her feet and he went running to get more supplies. He comes back with a roll of toilet paper.
"Noooo!"
"Yes! Just use this so we don't waste wipes. All you're doing is shoveling right now. Then you can use the wipes to clean."
So he's rolling off toilet paper to hand to me. It's like the grossest assembly line you have ever seen. Somehow we manage to complete the task and get the child cleaned up and re-pull-upped.***
***I am not sure if we'll be doing underwear again until these antibiotics are over. I can not risk that happening in the miniature Tinkerbell undies.
So now I am back on the couch. Watching Ellen now. Still browsing Facebook every few minutes - like something has changed in my social stratosphere.
Toby has taken Stella outside to play in her new baby turtle sandbox and the little Step2 Playhouse that Neh Neh and Bapaw bought her.
All is calm now in the Creekmore house.
Or is it?
Check back tomorrow around this time for the conclusion.... or actually, check back every day for the next 8 days until the prescription runs out.
Stella has also had a cold/allergies/virus thing going on for about a week or so and is on anti-biotics. I don't know about other children out there but antibiotics make my kid MEAN! There are other fun side effects of antibiotics so we've got her drinking yogurt drinks to avoid the female issues but there is yet another side effect that is unavoidable, unfortunately.
This afternoon has been rather enjoyable. Toby and I are sitting in the living room, enjoying the open windows and the nice weather. He's in his chair studying for his Electrician's Card and I am on the couch browsing Facebook and watching Oprah interview the people on the Yearning for Zion Ranch... totally enjoyable, right?! I hear Stella waking up from her nap so I go to her room and take the gate down (Yes I gate her in. Because if I don't she might sneak out and sit at my vanity and turn on my curling iron and burn her hand. Or whatever.)
So, I go to the kitchen to make my afternoon cup of coffee and I hear her say "I've got poop!" We're doing pull-ups for naps and nighttime so atleast it wasn't underwear.
Thank God it wasn't underwear.
She comes in the kitchen and I tell her to go tell Dada to change her pull-up. She says "No you do it." I say "No go tell Dada" and she says "No you do it" and I say "Go tell Dada!!" So she does.
And of course he doesn't move so finally I say "Come on Stella let's change you." I really wish I had started that spreadsheet I kept threatening... the one to keep track of poop changes and whose turn it is next.
Any new moms reading this? Take that as my first piece of advice.
So anyway, I put her on the changing table and pull down her pants and slowly tear the sides of the pull up and HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD it looked like someone dumped a pot of dark chocolate fondue in my child's diaper.
It was all up the front.
All up the back.
And all in there - if you pick up what I'm puttin down.
I say - calmly - "Toby, could you help please?" And he comes bounding around the corner. With a spring in his step like Johnny On the Spot. He rounds the corner and I swear I wish I had a nanny cam in Stella's room to catch this whole scene. We'd be millionaires.
He stops in his tracks and yells OH. MY. GOD. What is THAT?!?!?!? And before he even finishes that sentence, he is gone.
"I need help!!!" I've got both her legs up in one hand trying to keep her from moving a centimeter because the consequences of that, now that the pull-up is open, is unthinkable.
For the next few seconds, he is in panic mode. Just running in and out of the room. Like he doesn't know which way is up. He's yelling stuff. I do remember hearing "Do you want me to run the tub?!?" but that's it. There was a lot of other words. And gagging. And gasping for air. I heard "yard" and "hose" and several other words but it was all just a blur.
But through all this, I'm just standing there. Watching. He puts on a good show sometimes.
Finally he calms down enough to come in and hold her feet in the air while I try and wipe her...but at this point, there is no wiping...it's just shoveling sh*t from her onto the pull-up into a pile. I didn't care if I used a pack and a half of wipes on this one change. But only 4 wipes in, I am met with an empty box.
Toby and I look at each other and understood what needed to happen. No words were spoken.
I grabbed her feet and he went running to get more supplies. He comes back with a roll of toilet paper.
"Noooo!"
"Yes! Just use this so we don't waste wipes. All you're doing is shoveling right now. Then you can use the wipes to clean."
So he's rolling off toilet paper to hand to me. It's like the grossest assembly line you have ever seen. Somehow we manage to complete the task and get the child cleaned up and re-pull-upped.***
***I am not sure if we'll be doing underwear again until these antibiotics are over. I can not risk that happening in the miniature Tinkerbell undies.
So now I am back on the couch. Watching Ellen now. Still browsing Facebook every few minutes - like something has changed in my social stratosphere.
Toby has taken Stella outside to play in her new baby turtle sandbox and the little Step2 Playhouse that Neh Neh and Bapaw bought her.
All is calm now in the Creekmore house.
Or is it?
Check back tomorrow around this time for the conclusion.... or actually, check back every day for the next 8 days until the prescription runs out.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Phyllis
I am just never in the mood to update the blog these days...But I am forcing myself because it's important and I love having this site as documentation of most of my life.
The biggest news is that my Great Aunt Phyllis will not be with us much longer. Probably not past tomorrow. She has had a long 4 months of mystery sicknesses and health scares. Crazy stuff like blood clots, bad reactions to prescribed mediations, circulation issues resulting in her feet turning black, surgeries, physical therapy, body aches and pains, etc. I can't even think of everything. In and out of different doctors offices and hospitals. There were a few mistakes and bad decisions made by doctors. Even through all of this, I don't think any of us REALLY thought she would be gone so soon. But in the end, it was FINALLY determined that she has Multiple Myeloma - thus the extreme bone pain. Her bones are erroding.
Phyllis is my Dad's aunt - my Nanny's sister. Phyllis is in black...
The biggest news is that my Great Aunt Phyllis will not be with us much longer. Probably not past tomorrow. She has had a long 4 months of mystery sicknesses and health scares. Crazy stuff like blood clots, bad reactions to prescribed mediations, circulation issues resulting in her feet turning black, surgeries, physical therapy, body aches and pains, etc. I can't even think of everything. In and out of different doctors offices and hospitals. There were a few mistakes and bad decisions made by doctors. Even through all of this, I don't think any of us REALLY thought she would be gone so soon. But in the end, it was FINALLY determined that she has Multiple Myeloma - thus the extreme bone pain. Her bones are erroding.
Phyllis is my Dad's aunt - my Nanny's sister. Phyllis is in black...
She's also the funniest person I have ever known.
And I am not the only person who would say that.
At my bridal shower, I came REAL close to peeing in my pants laughing at Phyllis - and so did several others. I have pictures.
She is always the life of the party - the center of attention. Especially at Christmas.
It's just not Christmas until Phyllis and Nanny sing their duet as Kenny and Dolly doing "I'll be home with bells on." I have video.
And now I have the song stuck in my head. DANG!! It's tradition to have that song stuck until atleast New Year's Eve.
Proof of the duet:
I wish you could hear it. You'd have it stuck in your head too.
Phyllis and Jimmy have been married for almost 50 years. They have an incredible farm out in Hanover County and just three years ago they opened a Farmer's Market. In the summer, we go atleast twice a week for vegetables (hanover tomatoes!) and flowers...but mostly to see Phyllis.
I can't imagine this summer.
My earliest memory of Phyllis was at Nagshead when ALL of my family used to go to the beach and rent a giant house. And I mean ALL of my family - both sides! (My mom and dad were neighbors as kids so both side of my family know each other.) I do not know how it started, but Phyllis taught me to say "OLAY!" at age two. I think it started with her Oil of Olay...not sure. But she loved to tell people about me running around saying "OLAY!"
I'll always have the memories of Phyllis and Jimmy's incredible parties EVERY Christmas Eve. I mean BIG parties. With giant shrimp and that pineapple centerpiece with pineapple, banana, and cherry skewers.
Phyllis worked at Lowenstein's forever - a really fancy jewelry store in the center of downtown Richmond. She helped Toby pick out my wedding ring.
My Nanny and Phyllis are super-close. I know Nanny will be ok - her faith is strong and deep. But her heart is broken and a BIG piece is missing now. I'm thinking a lot about Jimmy and their children Dennis and Tami. I'm really putting myself in Tami's shoes and then I have to jump out of them really really quick. My mind won't go there.
Life just scares me sometimes.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
My girl wants to POTTY all the time...
Stella is doing really well with potty training. I'm letting her lead the way totally. I got her a lot of toddler underwear and she wears them at home and is great about pee pee on the potty. (Poo poo? Not so much...but we're not worrying about that right now...) We do still wear a diaper (I want to use them up!) or a pull-up for naps, nighttime, and going out. It seems to be working just fine.
The only issue so far is that the big potty is just way too tall for her to get on it by herself; even with a step stool. I want her to be more independent and be able to go potty when she wants to... So I bought her a real little potty today.
It's THIS ONE. It is pink and princess-y and plays music when you pee. She HAD to hold the giant box all the way through Target. I could hardly see to push the cart but she would not let it go.
So we get home and I put it in the bathroom and she immediately sits on it to pee.
But she doesn't have to pee.
So she sits there. For a loooooooooong time.
And will not get up.
So I got her a cup of juice to drink on the potty in hopes it would go right through and she's get to hear some music. (Notice the crossed legs. She really was just chillin on the potty...)
There was still no pee so we're hanging out in the living room, waiting for pee.
It's fun.
In other Stella news - she cracks me up. Constantly.
She's really starting to become her own person and it's shocking to me. She's SO smart. And sometimes she's a smarty-pants.
Example: The new thing for her is when I tell her to stop doing something (going in the office, climbing on stuff, getting in my make-up, etc) she tells me "Oh, I'm ok." and continues to do whatever it was I said to stop. Drives me nutty!!
Example: Sometimes when I call to her to come to me in another room, she'll come in and say "WHAT NOW?!" Ummm, that ain't going to fly, sister.
Example: A lot of times when I talk to her, she looks me directly in the face and sticks her tongue out and blows a raspberry at me. Also not going to fly.
Example: She's now calling me "mom." As in "Thanks, Mom." or "No Thanks, Mom."
But I can't help go in the other room and chuckle. She's TWO. Going on 13.
"Happy Birthday" is still her term of affection. Whoever is with us...it's their birthday. We will be riding down the road with my Mom and it's "Happy Birthday, Neh Neh" about 10 times. Or eating dinner with my Mother in Law - "Happy Birthday, Mimi."
She remembers EVERYTHING.
The other day she busted out with "bad boy bad boys whatcha gonna do?" What the heck!? Toby watches Cops but not THAT much!
Family Guy on the other hand....)
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing
So I'm thinking about finding a talent agency in Richmond for children.
I'm not joking. She's such a ham - she could be in commercials!
I PROMISE I will never be a Toddlers and Tiaras mom...
Let's see....Other Stella-isms:
- When I ask her to do something - anything! - she tells me "I need to do ____ first." That ___ could be anything and is usually different each time. Just now I asked her to do something and she grabbed my calculator and said "I need to check my e-mail first."
- When she wants you to keep doing something, she says "One more times, Mom."
- EVERY night she says "LAY DOWN WITH ME?" when we put her in the bed. Sometimes we do, but we don't want to make a habit of this so most of the time we say "No, your friends (stuffed animals) will lay with you." and she'll say "But Mom, lay with me one more times."
- Instead of "smell" she says "sum." So she'll hand me a candle or a flower and say "Sum it! Sums good...."
- She knows the words to all of the theme songs to all of her shows. It's incredible.
- When I tell her to put something down or not to touch something, she sets it down right where I told her NOT to and says "I'll just set it riiiiiiight here." Or she'll keep holding it and say "I'll just hold it really really tight." Like this is going to convince me to let her do it.
I'll have to come back and add more...there are a ton more little things that I don't want to forget. It's going by TOO fast.
The only issue so far is that the big potty is just way too tall for her to get on it by herself; even with a step stool. I want her to be more independent and be able to go potty when she wants to... So I bought her a real little potty today.
It's THIS ONE. It is pink and princess-y and plays music when you pee. She HAD to hold the giant box all the way through Target. I could hardly see to push the cart but she would not let it go.
So we get home and I put it in the bathroom and she immediately sits on it to pee.
But she doesn't have to pee.
So she sits there. For a loooooooooong time.
And will not get up.
So I got her a cup of juice to drink on the potty in hopes it would go right through and she's get to hear some music. (Notice the crossed legs. She really was just chillin on the potty...)
There was still no pee so we're hanging out in the living room, waiting for pee.
It's fun.
In other Stella news - she cracks me up. Constantly.
She's really starting to become her own person and it's shocking to me. She's SO smart. And sometimes she's a smarty-pants.
Example: The new thing for her is when I tell her to stop doing something (going in the office, climbing on stuff, getting in my make-up, etc) she tells me "Oh, I'm ok." and continues to do whatever it was I said to stop. Drives me nutty!!
Example: Sometimes when I call to her to come to me in another room, she'll come in and say "WHAT NOW?!" Ummm, that ain't going to fly, sister.
Example: A lot of times when I talk to her, she looks me directly in the face and sticks her tongue out and blows a raspberry at me. Also not going to fly.
Example: She's now calling me "mom." As in "Thanks, Mom." or "No Thanks, Mom."
But I can't help go in the other room and chuckle. She's TWO. Going on 13.
"Happy Birthday" is still her term of affection. Whoever is with us...it's their birthday. We will be riding down the road with my Mom and it's "Happy Birthday, Neh Neh" about 10 times. Or eating dinner with my Mother in Law - "Happy Birthday, Mimi."
She remembers EVERYTHING.
The other day she busted out with "bad boy bad boys whatcha gonna do?" What the heck!? Toby watches Cops but not THAT much!
Family Guy on the other hand....)
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing
So I'm thinking about finding a talent agency in Richmond for children.
I'm not joking. She's such a ham - she could be in commercials!
I PROMISE I will never be a Toddlers and Tiaras mom...
Let's see....Other Stella-isms:
- When I ask her to do something - anything! - she tells me "I need to do ____ first." That ___ could be anything and is usually different each time. Just now I asked her to do something and she grabbed my calculator and said "I need to check my e-mail first."
- When she wants you to keep doing something, she says "One more times, Mom."
- EVERY night she says "LAY DOWN WITH ME?" when we put her in the bed. Sometimes we do, but we don't want to make a habit of this so most of the time we say "No, your friends (stuffed animals) will lay with you." and she'll say "But Mom, lay with me one more times."
- Instead of "smell" she says "sum." So she'll hand me a candle or a flower and say "Sum it! Sums good...."
- She knows the words to all of the theme songs to all of her shows. It's incredible.
- When I tell her to put something down or not to touch something, she sets it down right where I told her NOT to and says "I'll just set it riiiiiiight here." Or she'll keep holding it and say "I'll just hold it really really tight." Like this is going to convince me to let her do it.
I'll have to come back and add more...there are a ton more little things that I don't want to forget. It's going by TOO fast.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Saturday, March 07, 2009
My List
So the lapse in posting is NOT my fault, I swear!
Stella came down with the pukes on Monday of the last week in February (AKA my last week of work!) We were up all night with her on Monday night so i was late for work on Tuesday, but I made it. Afterall, I can't stay home during my last week. Toby stayed home with her on Tuesday and Wednesday and she was pretty much over it by Wednesday night.... and this is when I STARTED PUKING. Amongst other things...
SO, in my attempt to not miss any work on my last week, I MISSED MY LAST TWO DAYS!
I'm sorry, but I think that is hysterical... And totally symbolic.
I still had a lot to do and some stuff to bring home, so I dragged my butt in there on Saturday and tied up all of the loose ends. I gave my badge to the security guard on my way out and never looked back.
Hello, new life!!
But then I came home and puked some more and laid in the bed like a zombie until Tuesday morning...when I felt like a MILLION BUCKS!
Now, on Sunday it started snowing and actually accummulated! It was the most snow we have seen in 10 years. Even though I was sick and would not have been working anyway, do you KNOW how good it felt to watch the snow come down and KNOW that my ass did not HAVE to go ANYWHERE!?! The feeling was fabulous.
I didn't even care that the ice and snow crashed in our gazebo on the deck because we were lazy assholes and didn't take down the canvas roof like we should have. I also didn't even care that the ice and snow snapped our Verizon cable in half and we were out a phone, tv, and internet until Thursday. It actually helped me to get stuff done. Since I was feeling much better by Tuesday, I attacked the house and did stuff I had been too busy to even think about before.... I reorganized the laundry room cabinets to be more efficient with the space. Same with my 2 closets and the office. I had to incorporate the boxes of "8 years of work stuff" into the home office...and it went well! I feel a bit organized and on track.
It feels nice. REALLY nice.
Here are some snow pics. Miss Stell's first snow!!
And this is what she looked like when I made her come back inside...
So the other exciting news at our household is that our yard has now become a Van Cemetary. Much like Pet Cemetary - except the vans aren't coming back to life and we WISH they would!!
Toby bought a big ugly white work van a couple months ago. Since being laid off, he has been doing side work to keep himself busy and can not work out of his jeep wrangler...We found a van on Craigslist for $1000 and bought it. He worked out of it for a few weeks but then it started blowing blue smoke and died. Uncle Greg came to the rescue again and helped fix it..but then something else blew up and WHATEVER. It's dead in the backyard.
So, Toby's friend Mark had another van for sale and we bought it for $1000. It's a conversion van that belonged to a gentleman in a wheelchair. NICE van - it really is pretty. It's nicknamed the Shag Wagon because it had carpet, a tv, 2 chairs and a table in the back. Pretty cool. Toby drove it home and then tried to drive it again and BAM. It died!! He's been frantically working on it for days...not finding the problem...and threatening to jump off the roof.
I'm sitting on the couch right now looking out the OPEN windows (because it's 70 degrees today - hard to believe those snow pics were just 4 days ago...) and I can hear the nice purr of the van. Uncle Greg to the rescue again. Luckily, it was something simple and it's running like a top now. Thank you LORD!
Shag Wagon:
And I swear that is not a beer bottle!!
Hmmm...what else is going on?
I'm thoroughly enjoying my time at home. It's been just one week - and most of that was sickness...but I can tell I am going to get TOO used to this. I have applied for a few positions that sound up my alley so I'm just waiting to see if I'll hear from them. I'm not in any rush...and I do want some more time off to be with Stella and to "center myself" again. I want to spend some days at Lewis Ginter doing some walking...I want to do some Byrd Park strolling...I want to do lunch in Tappahannock...I have a list!!
And I am excited to be able to complete it!!!!
Stella came down with the pukes on Monday of the last week in February (AKA my last week of work!) We were up all night with her on Monday night so i was late for work on Tuesday, but I made it. Afterall, I can't stay home during my last week. Toby stayed home with her on Tuesday and Wednesday and she was pretty much over it by Wednesday night.... and this is when I STARTED PUKING. Amongst other things...
SO, in my attempt to not miss any work on my last week, I MISSED MY LAST TWO DAYS!
I'm sorry, but I think that is hysterical... And totally symbolic.
I still had a lot to do and some stuff to bring home, so I dragged my butt in there on Saturday and tied up all of the loose ends. I gave my badge to the security guard on my way out and never looked back.
Hello, new life!!
But then I came home and puked some more and laid in the bed like a zombie until Tuesday morning...when I felt like a MILLION BUCKS!
Now, on Sunday it started snowing and actually accummulated! It was the most snow we have seen in 10 years. Even though I was sick and would not have been working anyway, do you KNOW how good it felt to watch the snow come down and KNOW that my ass did not HAVE to go ANYWHERE!?! The feeling was fabulous.
I didn't even care that the ice and snow crashed in our gazebo on the deck because we were lazy assholes and didn't take down the canvas roof like we should have. I also didn't even care that the ice and snow snapped our Verizon cable in half and we were out a phone, tv, and internet until Thursday. It actually helped me to get stuff done. Since I was feeling much better by Tuesday, I attacked the house and did stuff I had been too busy to even think about before.... I reorganized the laundry room cabinets to be more efficient with the space. Same with my 2 closets and the office. I had to incorporate the boxes of "8 years of work stuff" into the home office...and it went well! I feel a bit organized and on track.
It feels nice. REALLY nice.
Here are some snow pics. Miss Stell's first snow!!
And this is what she looked like when I made her come back inside...
So the other exciting news at our household is that our yard has now become a Van Cemetary. Much like Pet Cemetary - except the vans aren't coming back to life and we WISH they would!!
Toby bought a big ugly white work van a couple months ago. Since being laid off, he has been doing side work to keep himself busy and can not work out of his jeep wrangler...We found a van on Craigslist for $1000 and bought it. He worked out of it for a few weeks but then it started blowing blue smoke and died. Uncle Greg came to the rescue again and helped fix it..but then something else blew up and WHATEVER. It's dead in the backyard.
So, Toby's friend Mark had another van for sale and we bought it for $1000. It's a conversion van that belonged to a gentleman in a wheelchair. NICE van - it really is pretty. It's nicknamed the Shag Wagon because it had carpet, a tv, 2 chairs and a table in the back. Pretty cool. Toby drove it home and then tried to drive it again and BAM. It died!! He's been frantically working on it for days...not finding the problem...and threatening to jump off the roof.
I'm sitting on the couch right now looking out the OPEN windows (because it's 70 degrees today - hard to believe those snow pics were just 4 days ago...) and I can hear the nice purr of the van. Uncle Greg to the rescue again. Luckily, it was something simple and it's running like a top now. Thank you LORD!
Shag Wagon:
And I swear that is not a beer bottle!!
Hmmm...what else is going on?
I'm thoroughly enjoying my time at home. It's been just one week - and most of that was sickness...but I can tell I am going to get TOO used to this. I have applied for a few positions that sound up my alley so I'm just waiting to see if I'll hear from them. I'm not in any rush...and I do want some more time off to be with Stella and to "center myself" again. I want to spend some days at Lewis Ginter doing some walking...I want to do some Byrd Park strolling...I want to do lunch in Tappahannock...I have a list!!
And I am excited to be able to complete it!!!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Here we go again...
Some of you may remember this traumatic experience that I blogged about last year.
Well, today was a repeat performance.
Except instead of a revolving door, it was a slippery fake brick floor.
And instead of getting stuck in a door, it was me slip sliding across the lobby and eventually my a$$ hitting the floor.
And instead of the President of the company helping me, it was about 10 or so people milling about the lobby. NOT helping. (Except the Security Guard CLEAR across the lobby yelling "ARE YOU OK?!?!? DO YOU NEED HELP?!?!?!?!?!!) No. Thanks. GAH!
The scene could have been out of a Christmas Story - with me playing the role of the younger brother Randy...when he falls in the snow in his giant winter suit and rolls around and around hoping to get enough momentum to hoist himself off the ground...however that never happens and he lays there yelling,
"I can't get up. I can't get up. RALPHIE!!!"
That was me. Sort of. I mean, I got up. But not with ease or grace. I felt like I was on ice...so I had to get on my knees first because I am FAT and that's how fat people get up. And the people walking up behind me sure weren't rushing to my aid. I just looked at them and said "GOOD MORNING!!" in my best sarcastic tone as I picked up my belongings...WHICH INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: the laptop bag, the purse, the thermal tote lunch bag (Thirty-One plug!) and a heavy as crap bag with five 33.8oz bottles of wal-mart brand (Sam's Choice Clear American!) sparkling water beverages.
Why the HELL did I pick TODAY to start drinking my water?!?!
Anyone else feeling deja vu?
Lesson: Don't try to do healthy things anymore because they just screw up your day and cause you a great deal of humiliation and pain in the lobby.
Well, today was a repeat performance.
Except instead of a revolving door, it was a slippery fake brick floor.
And instead of getting stuck in a door, it was me slip sliding across the lobby and eventually my a$$ hitting the floor.
And instead of the President of the company helping me, it was about 10 or so people milling about the lobby. NOT helping. (Except the Security Guard CLEAR across the lobby yelling "ARE YOU OK?!?!? DO YOU NEED HELP?!?!?!?!?!!) No. Thanks. GAH!
The scene could have been out of a Christmas Story - with me playing the role of the younger brother Randy...when he falls in the snow in his giant winter suit and rolls around and around hoping to get enough momentum to hoist himself off the ground...however that never happens and he lays there yelling,
"I can't get up. I can't get up. RALPHIE!!!"
That was me. Sort of. I mean, I got up. But not with ease or grace. I felt like I was on ice...so I had to get on my knees first because I am FAT and that's how fat people get up. And the people walking up behind me sure weren't rushing to my aid. I just looked at them and said "GOOD MORNING!!" in my best sarcastic tone as I picked up my belongings...WHICH INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: the laptop bag, the purse, the thermal tote lunch bag (Thirty-One plug!) and a heavy as crap bag with five 33.8oz bottles of wal-mart brand (Sam's Choice Clear American!) sparkling water beverages.
Why the HELL did I pick TODAY to start drinking my water?!?!
Anyone else feeling deja vu?
Lesson: Don't try to do healthy things anymore because they just screw up your day and cause you a great deal of humiliation and pain in the lobby.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Hello. Remember me?
I guess I have been avoiding the blog to a certain extent. I think my issue is that mentally my life is on hold until my job ends. I don't know why I have set my life up like that... Like it really is the end of a book and when it's done, it's done, and I can move on. I didn't mean for that to happen, but it kind of has.
This is a pretty long chapter that is ending for me. I have to tell you - I am EXCITED. I am scared. Well, maybe scared is not the right word. Maybe "fear of the unknown" is a better description...yet I don't feel the typical FEAR either... maybe a little anxious...but not anxious enough to have butterflies or anything... I am ready for the change...a little sad it had to happen this way... a little thankful at the same time....
SEE WHY I HAVE BEEN AVOIDING THE BLOG?!
As far as I know, my last day is February 27. Maybe a little earlier if my replacement comes earlier... That part is out of my control.
So, in other news:
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing
We're not quite fully potty-trained which is just fine with me. I'm taking Stella's lead and she asks to go on the potty a few times a day. It's going really well. I have let HER lead the way through all of her "transitions" and we've done just fine.
She's growing so much and talking so much. I really can carry on a conversation with her - although she doesn't listen worth a crapola. I KNOW she KNOWS what I am saying...but I also have to remember she is two and is going to test me. We try not to sweat the small stuff. If we did, we'd be yelling 24/7.
Like a few mintues ago, she's using my potpourri as "ice" while she was using my yankee candle as a "pot of tea" and was pouring BOTH into my little partylite candle holder. She made a gigantic mess, but she had fun. Nothing the SHARK can't clean up. (BTW, you need a shark. Matt gave us one for Christmas and it has changed my life - and my house.)
Toby is doing well working for himself. :) He's just filling in the gaps with side jobs. I am glad he is doing so well but I really want him to get a job working for someone else. His unorganized ways are KILLING ME. We could never run a business together. Well, *I* could run it. He would work for me. :)
I'm watching the grammy's right now - looking for Toby's sister in the audience. She won an all-expense paid trip to the grammy's from the local radio station. BEOTCH!! Another funny thing - a few weeks ago she was listening to some online radio show (girl likes her radio!) and Corey Haim was the guest on there. She called in and they talked... well, apparently they hit it off and have been calling and e-mailing each other.
COREY. HAIM.
Then a week later, she wins this trip out to LA - where he lives... Hmmmmm.... I guess they are meeting up at some point? Maybe my next post will let you know about my new brother-in-law. LOL!!
Ewwww. Dear Lord I hope not...
So, what is the deal with Katy Perry? I don't see the appeal. HOWEVER, my favorite song is on now - American Boy. I JAM to that in my car.
What's up with Kanye's hair? He looks like one of the Jackson 5 from the 80's. Estelle has on one of the most unflattering dresses I have ever seen in my life.
Who the hell is Adelle?!?!?! I have no idea but I love her now. She's so cute!!!!!
I have a history of "award-show obsession" incase you didn't know. My big one is the MTV Video Music Awards. If my brother is reading this, he knows what's coming next... Let's just say, one day I will attend - and I WON'T have to win it off the radio!!
This is a pretty long chapter that is ending for me. I have to tell you - I am EXCITED. I am scared. Well, maybe scared is not the right word. Maybe "fear of the unknown" is a better description...yet I don't feel the typical FEAR either... maybe a little anxious...but not anxious enough to have butterflies or anything... I am ready for the change...a little sad it had to happen this way... a little thankful at the same time....
SEE WHY I HAVE BEEN AVOIDING THE BLOG?!
As far as I know, my last day is February 27. Maybe a little earlier if my replacement comes earlier... That part is out of my control.
So, in other news:
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing
We're not quite fully potty-trained which is just fine with me. I'm taking Stella's lead and she asks to go on the potty a few times a day. It's going really well. I have let HER lead the way through all of her "transitions" and we've done just fine.
She's growing so much and talking so much. I really can carry on a conversation with her - although she doesn't listen worth a crapola. I KNOW she KNOWS what I am saying...but I also have to remember she is two and is going to test me. We try not to sweat the small stuff. If we did, we'd be yelling 24/7.
Like a few mintues ago, she's using my potpourri as "ice" while she was using my yankee candle as a "pot of tea" and was pouring BOTH into my little partylite candle holder. She made a gigantic mess, but she had fun. Nothing the SHARK can't clean up. (BTW, you need a shark. Matt gave us one for Christmas and it has changed my life - and my house.)
Toby is doing well working for himself. :) He's just filling in the gaps with side jobs. I am glad he is doing so well but I really want him to get a job working for someone else. His unorganized ways are KILLING ME. We could never run a business together. Well, *I* could run it. He would work for me. :)
I'm watching the grammy's right now - looking for Toby's sister in the audience. She won an all-expense paid trip to the grammy's from the local radio station. BEOTCH!! Another funny thing - a few weeks ago she was listening to some online radio show (girl likes her radio!) and Corey Haim was the guest on there. She called in and they talked... well, apparently they hit it off and have been calling and e-mailing each other.
COREY. HAIM.
Then a week later, she wins this trip out to LA - where he lives... Hmmmmm.... I guess they are meeting up at some point? Maybe my next post will let you know about my new brother-in-law. LOL!!
Ewwww. Dear Lord I hope not...
So, what is the deal with Katy Perry? I don't see the appeal. HOWEVER, my favorite song is on now - American Boy. I JAM to that in my car.
What's up with Kanye's hair? He looks like one of the Jackson 5 from the 80's. Estelle has on one of the most unflattering dresses I have ever seen in my life.
Who the hell is Adelle?!?!?! I have no idea but I love her now. She's so cute!!!!!
I have a history of "award-show obsession" incase you didn't know. My big one is the MTV Video Music Awards. If my brother is reading this, he knows what's coming next... Let's just say, one day I will attend - and I WON'T have to win it off the radio!!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Saturday
Hellooooo!
Is everyone cold enough?
I am sitting on the couch in my flannel pants watching TRUE LIFE on MTV because I am 13 years old. Stella is pushing her "doo doo bear"** around in the laundry basket making choo choo sounds. (**It's actually a doodle bear that cousin Jenn gave her for Christmas - but she renamed him.)
Not an hour ago, Toby said the words "I am not doing a damn thing today!" and laid down on the couch under a blanket. Not 5 minutes later, his uncle called and said he needed him to come to his mamaw's house because there was no water and he needed his help to fix it. HA! Talk about jinxing yourself! Poor guy.
Things in the Creekmore household are going ok. Just plugging along...applying for jobs. :)
We are going on a double date night tonight with our friends Heath and Julie at Blackfinn. I got a $50 gift certificate there for $10 at http://www.restaurant.com. I HIGHLY recommend joining this site! I get special deals in my e-mail often. Today, I got one for 60% off the already drastically reduced certificates. And there are some great restaurants on there!!
Toby's Mom is keeping Stella AND Kendall overnight. Everyone say a prayer for her.
ANYWAY. I feel boring today.
In lieu of a ramble from me, here are pictures of Matt and Kristen's Engagement Party which was PERFECT.
Is everyone cold enough?
I am sitting on the couch in my flannel pants watching TRUE LIFE on MTV because I am 13 years old. Stella is pushing her "doo doo bear"** around in the laundry basket making choo choo sounds. (**It's actually a doodle bear that cousin Jenn gave her for Christmas - but she renamed him.)
Not an hour ago, Toby said the words "I am not doing a damn thing today!" and laid down on the couch under a blanket. Not 5 minutes later, his uncle called and said he needed him to come to his mamaw's house because there was no water and he needed his help to fix it. HA! Talk about jinxing yourself! Poor guy.
Things in the Creekmore household are going ok. Just plugging along...applying for jobs. :)
We are going on a double date night tonight with our friends Heath and Julie at Blackfinn. I got a $50 gift certificate there for $10 at http://www.restaurant.com. I HIGHLY recommend joining this site! I get special deals in my e-mail often. Today, I got one for 60% off the already drastically reduced certificates. And there are some great restaurants on there!!
Toby's Mom is keeping Stella AND Kendall overnight. Everyone say a prayer for her.
ANYWAY. I feel boring today.
In lieu of a ramble from me, here are pictures of Matt and Kristen's Engagement Party which was PERFECT.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
It's all going to be fine in 2009.
I am so creative.
But I really do feel all cheeseball about this new year. I am EXCITED. This year is going to be the best in a long time. I can FEEL it.
There are a lot of major changes in the works for my little family. Changes, that a year ago, would have had me at the front desk of a mental facility - registering myself for an extended vacation. This year? I'm enjoying it. I'm looking forward to the changes. I'm not scared. And I know it's going to be OK - actually, better than ok. Bring it on!
This obviously tells me that the changes coming up have needed to happen for a long time... but we were not ready for them. We had to keep putting ourselves through hell because it just "wasn't the time." And I think we get comfortable in our own little personal struggles. Like Dr. Phil says "You're getting something out of it if you keep doing it." No matter how miserable you claim to be...when you are truly ready to change, you'll do it.
Let's get this party started.
Of course the three big topics of transition for us are the usual players:
1. Careers
2. Finances
3. Health/Weight Loss
I do not know when my last day at my current job will be. I know I HAVE to leave by the end of February when this program ends. I requested to leave earlier, but we shall see. I am steadily applying for jobs because I want to work during my severance period. Although, it would not hurt my feelings if my new job did not start for a couple weeks after leaving this one. It might take me a couple weeks to clean out and reorganize the shed! (I should add that as a #4 to the above list.)
I am not stressing out over job hunting. I have applied for a couple positions with the State...Lord knows they take forever to respond to you. I have applied at my dream company, SnagaJob.com. I have also applied (and have been recommended by a current employee and former colleague - so there is more promise with this one) at Wellpoint. I applied for most of these before the holidays, so I expect some responses (either interviews or rejections) in the next few weeks as the new year gets rolling.
I am, however, contemplating getting LASIK surgery between jobs. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to start a new job and then say "Hey, I need a few days off so I can get my eyeballs lasered." (They give you valium. That's the only reason I am even thinking about this.)
Toby is still unemployed, yet continues to find side jobs to fill his days. As crazy as this sounds, he seems happier to be "working" for himself. We have had conversations about him getting his General Contractor's Licence and starting his own business. That is a bit of money to shell out right now so we are just going to see how this side work continues...and if it keeps up, we'll probably go down that route. Shoot, he already has a van! All we'll need to do is spray paint a company name down the side! (Kidding about the spray paint.) But we do need a company name and we're taking suggestions!
I was thinking StelElectric. Like Stella + Electric. No? Ok....
Now on to NUMBER 2.
And that "number 2" description is pretty accurate as to my attitude towards weight and SHIT for awhile now. I work hard for a few days and then BAM - I just feel so OVER IT. I do the whole "why meeee?!?!" pity party and gorge myself on chocolate covered soybeans from Trader Joes.
I'm pretty fired up right now - atleast with the eating part. I just had a beautiful lunch with piles of vegetables. I want to focus on HEATLH more than anything - and I want weight loss to be an awesome benefit. I really don't think I will be successful if I just focus on losing weight to LOOK good...because you know what? In my old age, I could care less about that! Who am I impressing? (lol sorry Toby!)
I would love to be healthy and strong and lean... A machine! Oddly enough, my fitness idol is my favorite pop music star:
But I really do feel all cheeseball about this new year. I am EXCITED. This year is going to be the best in a long time. I can FEEL it.
There are a lot of major changes in the works for my little family. Changes, that a year ago, would have had me at the front desk of a mental facility - registering myself for an extended vacation. This year? I'm enjoying it. I'm looking forward to the changes. I'm not scared. And I know it's going to be OK - actually, better than ok. Bring it on!
This obviously tells me that the changes coming up have needed to happen for a long time... but we were not ready for them. We had to keep putting ourselves through hell because it just "wasn't the time." And I think we get comfortable in our own little personal struggles. Like Dr. Phil says "You're getting something out of it if you keep doing it." No matter how miserable you claim to be...when you are truly ready to change, you'll do it.
Let's get this party started.
Of course the three big topics of transition for us are the usual players:
1. Careers
2. Finances
3. Health/Weight Loss
I do not know when my last day at my current job will be. I know I HAVE to leave by the end of February when this program ends. I requested to leave earlier, but we shall see. I am steadily applying for jobs because I want to work during my severance period. Although, it would not hurt my feelings if my new job did not start for a couple weeks after leaving this one. It might take me a couple weeks to clean out and reorganize the shed! (I should add that as a #4 to the above list.)
I am not stressing out over job hunting. I have applied for a couple positions with the State...Lord knows they take forever to respond to you. I have applied at my dream company, SnagaJob.com. I have also applied (and have been recommended by a current employee and former colleague - so there is more promise with this one) at Wellpoint. I applied for most of these before the holidays, so I expect some responses (either interviews or rejections) in the next few weeks as the new year gets rolling.
I am, however, contemplating getting LASIK surgery between jobs. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to start a new job and then say "Hey, I need a few days off so I can get my eyeballs lasered." (They give you valium. That's the only reason I am even thinking about this.)
Toby is still unemployed, yet continues to find side jobs to fill his days. As crazy as this sounds, he seems happier to be "working" for himself. We have had conversations about him getting his General Contractor's Licence and starting his own business. That is a bit of money to shell out right now so we are just going to see how this side work continues...and if it keeps up, we'll probably go down that route. Shoot, he already has a van! All we'll need to do is spray paint a company name down the side! (Kidding about the spray paint.) But we do need a company name and we're taking suggestions!
I was thinking StelElectric. Like Stella + Electric. No? Ok....
Now on to NUMBER 2.
And that "number 2" description is pretty accurate as to my attitude towards weight and SHIT for awhile now. I work hard for a few days and then BAM - I just feel so OVER IT. I do the whole "why meeee?!?!" pity party and gorge myself on chocolate covered soybeans from Trader Joes.
I'm pretty fired up right now - atleast with the eating part. I just had a beautiful lunch with piles of vegetables. I want to focus on HEATLH more than anything - and I want weight loss to be an awesome benefit. I really don't think I will be successful if I just focus on losing weight to LOOK good...because you know what? In my old age, I could care less about that! Who am I impressing? (lol sorry Toby!)
I would love to be healthy and strong and lean... A machine! Oddly enough, my fitness idol is my favorite pop music star:
I mean, those ARMS! That would probably take more effort than doing some bicep curls with my 5 pounders through commercials during Biggest Loser on Tuesday nights.
See. My big motivation issue is with exercise. I don't particularly like it. I think it stems from my traumatic "RUN A MILE IN FRONT OF YOUR WHOLE CLASS" days in high school gym. Yes, I was always the last one.
I was what I would call a gym regular when I lived with Denny (Hello, Dahling!) in the fan. I was in my early 20s and had never set foot in a gym (other than the aforementioned traumatic PE classes.) We were both doing BODY FOR LIFE and it was like an alien took over my mind/body and I actually worked out EVERY DAY. I never did get that "I love to work out now and if I skip I don't feel complete" feeling that athletes boast about. But I did feel a commitment to go. At first I was a nighttime regular - sometimes at 10pm - which makes me laugh now because these days, I have been in bed for 1.5 hours by that time. Then, my friend Morgen and I started carpooling to the gym BEFORE work at 5:45 am and we did that for months. I felt fabulous.
Then a guy named Toby came along. And it was all she wrote.
I would really like to make the gym a regular part of my life. I do have a fitness center at work but I just can't make myself go there on a regular basis. First, I just can't go at lunch right now - I can barely eat lunch at lunch in my current situation. I can't come in early and go because I have Stella in the mornings until I take her to Mom's at 8am. And I would rather poke my eyes out then stay AFTER work to go down there. I want to get home to see my child after being away from her the entire day.
So, when I get home, my second (more important) job starts. Hang with Toby and Stella, fix and eat dinner, bathtime, play time, personal computer time, and then BED time.
I just need to win the lottery (that I don't play.) Then I'd have all the time in the world to go to the gym.
But there is the problem. I keep saying "go to the gym." You don't HAVE to go to the gym to exercise and that is where I am brainwashed. I feel like if you don't go to a fitness facility and pump iron and sweat your face off, then it's not even worth it to do anything. It's that "all or nothing" mentality that gets me every single time.
I need to come up with a realistic exercise plan for myself. At one point in my life, the all-encompasing BODY FOR LIFE was realistic. Now? Not so much.
I did have a brief love affair with JAZZERCISE earlier this year, but had to abandon it because of the expense. That was the most fun exercise I have ever done. I could totally pretend I was a dancer - and no one laughed at me. It was also nice to be in a big class with the music blasting - the 75 minutes went by so fast! And since it was a long class, I could go just twice a week and feel like that was fine. Although three times was ideal.
When I begin my severance and get a new job to bring in extra income, I think that Jazzercise will be a priority again. It's not like it's totally frivilous. It's for my health. And if it's the only thing that gets me off my butt these days, then it's money well-spent.
And speaking of money well-spent? I didn't do that in 2008.
Infact, I have never really done that, THUS the current financial situation we are in. Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
Seriously folks, we have got to budget and pay off debt PRONTO. Not only because of our job situations being a bit, shall I say, unpredictable - but I just want to be debt free and have a cushion to fall back on, if needed.
I am sick of worrying about money. SICK.OF.IT.
I want to sell Toby's Jeep. He doesn't need it - he has his van now. I want to pay off the loan we took out to put new windows on the house. I want to pay off the credit card which I SWORE would not get out of control again - and it did.
I don't need a mansion on the hill. I just want a clean slate. And some savings.
So, #3 is going to be hard but our current situation was a gift from God regarding a financial plan. I will be getting a job on top of my severance which will bring in extra money to pay those bills. I would love for nearly every cent (minus $45 a month for Jazzercise!) to go straight to paying off debt. I also plan to learn more about Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover and I might even sign up for some classes - I noticed that a church in my neighborhood is offering the course.
When these obligations are paid off, I will never return to this place financially.
And I mean it this time.
2008 was the last time for being utterly-miserable at a job, being this overweight and out of shape, and being this poor.
2009 is different. I know it!
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