The Ramblings of a Stressed-Out Mom

If you've noticed, I have been slacking a bit on the blog entries. Every morning I wake up and think "Today, something profound will happen and I will have a good story to write about." At the end of each day, it's the same thing. A messy house, laundry piling up, running kids to and from practice, a work-a-holic husband whom no one has seen since Sunday, back talking teenagers, a sassy 2 year old who also refuses to poop until I threaten her with an enema (A.K.A. bucket medicine), and a cranky baby who wants to be held all day and has decided that he doesn't like to eat food, which is very bad, since he is already too skinny. Most of the above leave me feeling guilty and inadequate. I should be able to keep up with the laundry, and I should be able to keep my house clean. I should be able to drive to Shaker Heights to watch a track meet in the rain today. My punishments should be consistent when my kids are mouthy and disrespectful. Who knows where I went wrong with the pooping problems, and I attribute Nicholas' underweight body to the fact that I did not breastfeed him.

When my kids have had a bad day, I always tell them that tomorrow will be a better day. This has been a yucky week. I just have to remind myself that next week will be better! In the meantime, here is a glimpse of the growth I have had attached to my leg for the last several days. (Please ignore the sheep pajamas.)

There is Hope......

Tuesday morning Shea informed me that she could not find her Ipod Touch. She was certain that she had put it in her front pocket of her book bag after school but when she got home from Track practice it was gone. Shea is notorious for being POSITIVE about putting something in one place or another, and I always find it somewhere completely different. By yesterday morning, it still had not shown up. I was starting to get more worried and more perturbed. I told her to take everything out of her locker and make sure it wasn't buried at the bottom, and I searched her bedroom to make sure that it wasn't buried under a heap of dirty clothes. This morning we were convinced that it was lost. I told her to check with the office at school to see if maybe someone turned it in. The chances of someone turning in a $300 Ipod are slim, but it was worth a shot. Low and behold - it was in the office waiting for someone to claim it. I was speechless! I just stared at her with my mouth gaping. She couldn't understand why I was so impressed. (That must mean that she is pretty honest too if the thought never crossed her mind that someone would keep it rather than turn it in.) I told her to go back to the office and ask who turned it in, because that kid deserves a medal. At the very least, a very big thank you.

Our New Rasta-Man

Is this adorable?? The girls bought this hat for Nicholas on their cruise. We might start a trend in babybwear.

My Funny Kid

For four years, I have been wishing that we had installed an intercom system in our house. When the girls are upstairs in their rooms, with the music on and their doors closed, they cannot hear me when I call them. I have to stand in the living room and yell their names several times until either they hear me or I am forced to walk upstairs and knock on their doors. Shea is the biggest offender because she plays her music the loudest.

When she got her cell phone, I discovered that all I had to do was send her a quick text and she would come down. It works perfectly!

Last night, I made chocolate chip cookies for dessert so I sent her a text and told her that if she wasn't downstairs in 10 seconds, she was not going to get a cookie. This was her reply:

"Aight dog. Lemme fix mah herr."

I laughed so hard, and it made my night!

Is This Kid a Hillbilly or What!

Last Weekend Birthday Celebrations

We started the weekend by celebrating Nick and Nicholas' birthdays. Nicholas was originally going to have his party on Valentines Day, but it was postponed. So we joined the 2 Nicks together. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law was sick, so they were not able to come. And Paige developed a fever on the way to our house and spent the entire time in our bed sleeping.

My camera was not cooperating with me, so excuse the picture quality. I am not happy with any of the picture that I took all weekend. I chose the best I could find.

Then on Sunday we celebrated Chloe's birthday. The weather was fairly nice, so the kids went outside and decorated Easter eggs.

Happy Birthday Chloe!

Isabella is Potty Trained!!!

SING IT WITH ME PEOPLE!!

Happy Birthday Nick!

I met Nick one month after my divorce was final in 1998. He was the manager of the restaurant that I was interviewing for. That was a very hard time of my life. My opinion on men could not have been any lower. I was mad at life that I had no job, no higher education and had to figure out how to raise my two small children on my own. We sat across the table from each other at the interview and I remember thinking "hmm" there is something about this guy. I was hired for the job, and over the next year and a half we became friends. I had no interest in dating, but I really enjoyed talking to him. I am not really sure when it happened but we started casually dating. I absolutely did not want anything more. But then I found myself thinking about him ALL the time. I wanted to be with him constantly. It was really freaking me out. I finally laid it on the line and said that I wanted more from him, but was prepared to never see him again. Shockingly, he agreed. And 2 1/2 years later, we were married.

When have been through it all in almost 7 years of marriage....the turmoil of a blended family (much harder than you could ever imagine!), miscarriages, building a house, sick parents, and economical ups and downs. We have grown together and each event that comes our way, we tackle it head on and learn from the experience. I can't imagine experiencing life with anyone else.

My Husband! I love you so much!

Shea's First Track Meet

Starting the 400 Yard Run......

And finishing FIRST PLACE in the 400. (Yes I am bragging, but I don't care!)

Less is More (Or Not)

Isabella asked me to do her hair and insisted that I use every clip she could find. Here is the final product. If you look closely you can see my attempt at french braiding her VERY fine, silky hair. Not an easy task!

She reminds me of another girl I know.

Dave's Birthday Party!

Sorry for the delay....After the power outage on Sunday night, our wireless router wasn't working. It's back up and running, so here are a couple pictures of Dave's 42nd birthday celebration.

I am rationing the leftover artichokes from D'Agnese's. (Not sure of the spelling on that)

Happy Birthday Dave!

The Best Souvenir

Of all the souvenirs that we saw in Las Vegas for our kids, I knew that this would be the best one for Isabella. This kid can eat candy like nobody's business. Her eyes were as big as half dollars when she saw the size of this sucker! I have no doubt that she will finish the entire thing like a champ.

Scavenger Hunt

While preparing dinner the other night, I noticed these Cheeto's on the kitchen floor. I thought, uh-oh, someone left the snack cabinet untied again. There is only one culprit in this house that dumps food on the floor, so I knew I had to find him quickly.

As I went to the living room, I found another, larger scattering of Cheeto's, but still no boy. I was starting to worry. I had visions of my Pottery Barn comforter smeared with orange, slobbery powder.

Then I found him with the entire bag, very happy and very proud. I don't let him eat Cheetos because they are so crunchy and I am afraid he will choke. He thought he had found the motherload of all snacks and went on an eating frenzy as quickly as he could, knowing it was only a matter of time before the curly-haired woman would come along and ruin his fun.

I am still finding hand prints around the house where he left his mark.

VIVA LAS VEGAS!!

Nick and I are leaving tomorrow at 12:40PM for a weekend in Las Vegas, sans children. This is the first time we have gone anywhere alone in almost 3 years. This is a much needed trip as this has been a stressful year to say the least. The kids will be at my parents house for the weekend having the time of their lives, and will probably not think of us once.

I am looking forward to beng on my own schedule and not having to worry about who is hungry, sleepy, and crabby; or who has practice, tests or a big project due. I am especially excited to go an entire day without caked-on food on my shoulder and poop on my hands.

We are going to sit at the pool, enjoy nice dinners out that are too fancy for kids, and gamble our life savings away. (Just kidding) And we are going to have normal conversations that will not revolve around kids and work.

To my children, I promise that when I return, I will be less snippy and more patient and ready to handle all the problems and issues that arise with a calm, serene approach.

Taylor's Birthday Party!!

We are the Typical "Hanna Andersson" Family

Don't you love this picture? What are the possibilities of the oldest children wearing this dress and the "Hub" dressing like his 1 year old son so that we could all match? Can't you just see us walking through Harbor Town this summer in our matching outfits; all the children smiling, well mannered and clean?

Or how about this picture?

The 6 of us frolicking in the ocean together in our matching swim suits?

Doesn't this model look remarkably like Nick?

Human Garbage Disposal

Shortly after this picture was taken, I found a chewed up wad of paper, a piece of plastic wrapper to a Capri Sun straw (seen sticking out), and remnants of an M & M (Take note of the chocolate stain on his sweater!)

I should probably vacuum more, huh?

Dress-Up

This morning Isabella asked me if I would play dress-up with her. So we got out the bin, but everything that I proceeded to put on myself, she would take away from me and put it on herself. She ended up with just about everything in the bin. I was allowed to put on the flower headband pictured below. Long after the dress-up game was over, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and noticed that I had been walking around the house for about 2 hours with a big pink flower on top of my head. And what is even more comical is that Isabella and Nicholas did not find it the least bit odd that I had it on.

All I can say is Thank God no one came to my door!

My New HouseKeeper

Happy Birthday Taylor!

FIFTEEN YEARS!!! So hard to believe that 15 years ago last night your Dad and I set out for the hospital in the middle of a blizzard. I had no idea how much my life would change from the moment you were born. Suddenly it all fell into place. At that moment I felt like I had a purpose in life. I was 23 years old and I was suddenly responsible for another human being. Now that I have babies again, I often wonder how I got along back then. I had no idea what I was doing, but somehow, I figured it out. You were my little doll, and I never wanted to be separated from you.

You have always been a bright, creative, inquisitive, complex child, and you always keep us laughing. From your bellowing singing at the most inoportune moments (such as, first thing in the morning, at the dinner table, and when I am trying to get the little kids to bed); your hand stands in the middle of the living room floor, your Riverdancing throught the kitchen, and last but not least your cheerleading routines in front of the hallway mirror.

You are responsible, diligent, and very organized. I am always so impressed by the way you organize things with your lists and your charts. You have been a big help to me around the house with your great tips and ideas.

You have brought me so much joy, and it has been a bittersweet journey to watch to grow into such a wonderful young lady.

We love you very much Taylor Devon! Happy Birthday!!

Two Peas in a Pod

These two have a bond like none I have ever seen. Isabella watches every move Shea makes with pure adoration. 13 is such a difficult age and often times Shea keeps her feelings and her affections well hidden. She never hides them from Isabella. She always has hugs and kisses for her and always tells her that she loves her. It is the coolest thing to see.

I hope that they will always share this bond even when Shea is grown and on her own.

Love/Hate Relationship

I love that these four men have the ability to put Isabella into a trance-like state for 30 minutes so that I can get something done without interuption, but if I have to listen to "Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car" one more time, I am going to hurt myself with a blunt kitchen object.

Happy Birthday Nicholas Joseph!

My sweet little baby boy - 1 year has gone by! In one year since you have arrived, your presence has changed our family dramatically. I never could have imagined having a son, and what a shock it was when you were born. You were supposed to be Francesca! (I am still mildly bitter that I did not get to use that name. And I would secretly call you that if I didn't think it would cause major psychological damage!) I kept calling you "she" for about 6 months because I couldn't get used to the idea of referring to a "he".

In the past year, I have been massively sleep deprived, witnessed some of the most major head trauma's of my life, and run my butt off to stop you from all the dangerous places in our house that before I thought were just household items. The dishwasher, the toilet, chairs, slate floors, all the doors - who knew the hinge side of the door acts as a vice grip on small fingers. And let's not forget Barbie shoes - how many barbie shoes can a baby jam into his mouth before his mother notices?

Mostly in the last year, I have fallen madly in love with the little boy with the heart-melting smile. You are a sweet, funny, happy, mischievous child all wrapped up into one cuddly package. You are the perfect addition to our family, and I feel that we are now complete.

As for Francesca, I see a four-legged creature in our future someday, and I want naming rights.

We love you, precious little man. Happy First Birthday!

I guess this is one way to play with the toys......Climb into the toy basket!

Having Kids a Decade Apart

BENEFITS

I am more mature, wiser, and much more patient in my thirties than I was in my twenties.

Taylor and Shea feel a sense of responsibility and have vastly matured because of their younger siblings.

Our family has been drastically enriched by the addition of Isabella and Nicholas.

DISADVANTAGES

Isabella's vocabulary contains phrases like "That will freak me out", "That's gross", "You're weird", and "Oh -----My ------Ga.....sha!"

I am the only mother at the High School sporting events carrying a diaper bag instead of a trendy bag.

My body did not bounce back to it's bikini ready form as it did in my twenties. (1 year and counting.....still not ready.)

The other moms at the grocery store with babies look like teenagers.

I will be 56 years old when Nicholas leaves for college!

Happy Birthday Dad and Joe!

Saturday night we went to my in-law's to celebrate my father-in-law's and my brother-in-law's birthdays. Tons of appetizers, delicious sandwiches and two different kinds of birthday cake! I was stuffed when we left. Everything was so good, and we all had a great time!