Christmas

It's taken me this long to find the computer, okay not really but it feels like it. My house is still a disater. The tree came down Friday and I have been attempting to restore order since. I am still recovering. It is hard work finding a place for everything when you are already way past out of space, lol.

My children are both spoiled rotten, and so are we. Rob got his GPS and he uses it EVERYWHERE, it's starting to drive me nuts. In the five minutes it takes him to screw around and try to find the directions to the store in the darn thing- we could already be there- we KNOW where it is. I hate all things electronic though, they confuse me. Case and point I finally broke down and bought myself my very first mp3 player for Christmas and needed Rob to make it work. He also got his band saw, I'm happy he will stop whining for it, but fear what the "need" will be to take it's place :) I got a freezer that I have already filled with free veggies from Walmart, it already has stuff piled on top.

There is not much that the kids did not get. Rylan didn't quite grasp it yet and after a handful from his stocking he about had his fill for the day. (Poor Saige when he does finally want to open his own presents) favorites are the little Tinkerbell table and chairs (just his size) and Saige's rose petal cottage- they both LOVE it. Saige is loving her new boots, the doctor play set, baby chou chou, a baby fur real bear and all of her brothers toys. I didn't take many pictures, the camera was forgotten about in all the excitement.
Saige, Dominick and Kayden
Rylan posing at my moms, it's a good picture and he is still so I am guessing someone else took it

my mom's house

Rylan is going through a phase, he will not stay still for a picture at all, if you tried he whined and ran off. However if you try to take a picture of Saige he positions himself with a goofy grin right smack in front.

I hope everyone else had a great Holiday as well.

From Chelle

2 names you go by
Tara
Mom

2 things you are wearing right now
Jammies
socks

2 of your favorite things to do
Read
Sleep

2 things you want badly at the moment
A bigger house (I know wishful thinking)
coffee

2 pets you have/had
Dekan... he was my baby
Nala, currently curled up with Lola the terrorist (as my dad calls her- it fits) in the chair

2 things I did last night
watched the stupidest movie with Rob, Tropic Thunder
cleaned my house, not that you would know it now

2 things you ate today
I'm still sipping my first cup of coffee

2 people you last talked to
Saige
Rylan
the two before that also live here, I live an exciting life, lol

2 things you plan to do tomorrow
Robby has the day off so no doubt I will be cleaning up after him
Run out in one last attempt to use a couple of my thousands of coupons expiring tomorrow.

2 trips taken in last five years
Myrtle Beach
Long Island
(one was my honeymoon and it just made the 5 yr cut, the other was to see Roger Waters- great show, I don't get out much either, lol)

2 favorite holidays
Halloween
Halloween, I love Halloween. I have to throw Christmas and New Years in there too because it's the only two times a year we are guaranteed Rob gets two days off in row.

2 favorite beverages
Pepsi, specifically diet pepsi but I like it all as long as it comes with caffeine.
Coffee- again need the caffeine. There are days when I think I should cut back but truth is I think it's the only thing keeping me going.

I'll do a Christmas post later

clear as day

Rylan does not call us anything, occasionally Rob will get a dada sound and he says mamamamam all the time, just not directed at me. Saige and the kitty are the only ones he address by any constant name. My parents took the kids to see Santa Sunday, when they came home yesterday I asked Rylan if he saw Santa, he got up pointed at the door and said Poppa clear as day. So I spent most of yesterday saying momma, he wasn't having it..... someday he will call me some form of mom, right?

Friday was suppose to be my day to sleep in. Not all too long ago everyday was my day to sleep in. Yet more and more I find myself the one rolling out of bed with the kids or just not being able to fall back asleep and getting up anyway. They called for a big storm Friday afternoon but when the alarm went off it was nice out, I rolled over and went back to sleep- Rob got the kids up and Saige on the school bus. He came and woke me up at 8:50 to tell me he had to go get Saige-her teahcer called and wanted to know why shewas there- she didn't have school. They canceled pre-k and planned early dismissals for the rest. Apparently we are the only ones who do not watch tv in the mornings when it's not nasty out, and the bus driver had no idea either, she took her. In Rob's defense no tv is my rule because he turns on PBS for them (no closings listed) and Saige watches TV instead of getting ready for school.

Approx. 36 kids and mine was the only one who had parents that don't pay attention. On the plus side her teacher was there, with the baby. Saige was excited to get to meet him and I am the only parent who got my ornament and Christmas projects to hang up. The rest wont get theirs until January :( I have been so looking forward to my first ornament, I hung it on the wall, safe from Rylan.

The happiest boy in the world

Saige had her Christmas party at school today, they exchanged ornaments. She got a really neat snowman made from bells. I just realized I still haven't changed the day on my camera, I probably never will.

Last night I gave Rylan his first haircut. It was finally getting long, in spots. The top is so soft and silky, the kind of hair you just want to touch. The back on the other hand, was a frizzy, knotty, coarse mess. It felt like the fake fur on Saige's fur real cat. We waited SO long for him to get hair at all, I didn't want to cut it. He looks older.

He is saying a couple more words that he use to say like ball and wow. He tries to copy me too, well when he feels like it. We went back and forth on tree, I say tree he says dee I say tree, T and so on. I know that probably sounds dumb but that is a first for him, I am thrilled. He sat with his dad this morning with a sippy cup in his ear listening to the air leaking out, he was laughing and amazed. I am amazed at the difference I already see in him.

Christmas came early for Rylan. We got a new cell phone, Robby had the service switched and he gave Rylan the old phone. Santa might as well return everything else, there is nothing I can fathom that could make that boy happier than his own phone that is real. He 'talked' in it and took pictures of his fingers all day long and only parted with it at bed time because I made him. I don't see it losing it's appeal anytime soon.

It's done

Rylan got his tubes this morning, it really did take less than 5 minutes and we were on our way home 45 minutes later. He doesn't seem to be bothered in the slightest, he was whiny at the hospital but that was because he was EXTREMELY unhappy with the name band they made him wear on his leg. He screamed and reached for us the whole way down the hall when they took him, by the time we got seated in the waiting room they called and said it was over and to go back to his room. We heard him coming back as soon as he reached the floor, lol.

We were given drops for his ears and warned they were painful and he would scream cry and possibly bleed from his ears. I was not looking forward to putting them in but I did. He didn't like it but came back and laid his head down for the other side, I bribed him with his amoxicillin, he likes that stuff. Thankfully there was no blood. He also has to wear ear plugs in the tub for the foreseeable future. I skipped his bath tonight, while he seemed fine I didn't want to put plugs in, they have to be a little sore and I was scared. He was such a good boy for the entire day, even went to bed happy a couple minutes ago. I know better than get my hopes too far up on an attitude change but maybe just maybe.........

I know it's most likely a coincidence or perhaps my imagination, but he was talking clearer already. Nothing major but he played peek a boo with me and was yelling boo- instead of his usual ah.... the phone rang he usually screams ahh at that too, he did and I said the phone is ringing.... he said pone? pone? This one I have heard before but not lately. Oh and too (toe). He was eager to read his books and kept pointing at the pictures wanting me to tell him what things were, he usually has no interest in anyone talking while he looks at them. I'm probably reading too much into it, after all it's only been 12 hours but so far I am thrilled with the results.

As suspected, I have thought of another 100 things about me far more interesting than what I came up with for a post. I'll save them so I can forget them all on the spot next time. On a good note.... there are at least a few people out there who keep up on my madness. I was going to tag Chelle too but I wasn't sure if she'd do it or not. Karen got her though, so we'll see. BTW If you don't read her blog you should, and if you don't laugh, you don't have a sense of humor.

Saige has been showing off her creative side this week. This is her coloring contest picture from the paper, I think she did a terrific job (bias aside, lol) I went to mail it in and realized it said all entries must be received by Dec, 4th....... it was the Sun Dec 7th paper????


Yesterday I went to school for the gingerbread house project. I wish I had brought the camera, I did not realize I was allowed to take pictures in the classroom. I got a few fuzzy ones on the cellphone, but I have no cord to transfer them off and my mother would probably murder me if I sent them all to myself. If it wasn't for her we would have no cell phone at all- I hate phones, especially ones that cut out every other word but it has come in handy more than a few times. Sooner or later I will have to figure something out, there are over a 150 pictures on there that I want and the phone itself has seen better days. It had crappy reception to begin with but now the antenna is broken and the phone itself rattles if you shake it. I can't complain though, we have had it for like three years and 99.9% of the time it is in Rob's possession so I am just amazed it works at all, heck, I am amazed he hasn't lost it. Well, he has lost it a million times but not permanently, yet.

Anyway.... back to the gingerbread houses, it was so much fun. She had a blast, and I had a blast too. I helped with the frosting but let her do all the decorating. I think she was decorating from an eating standpoint as opposed to design but there were no bad ones. All the kids loved it.... I can't wait for Rylan's turn. I gave her the option of taking me, daddy or gramma (but I crossed my fingers it would be me) but now that I have done it... I wont be telling Rylan he has a choice of helpers, lol.

I've gone on walks to the library with her class a couple times too, it is always fun. Before school started I dreaded having to do this kind of thing, I am SO glad I did it anyway though. The thought of being really outnumbered by eighteen 4 year olds was a bit intimidating but it's great, plus it is nice to see how she interacts with her friends. She has two best friends, Caitlyn and Jacob but says she still like Rylan best......I wonder how much longer that will last. Here's the finished product at home before too much was picked off, there isn't much left today.

On to the little guy. Tuesday we went to the doctor, turns out he HAS an ear infection.... I am feeling like the worse mom in the world. I had NO idea, and wonder how many he has had that I have not noticed or shrugged off as teething. My poor baby. He is teething though, the top two molars have finally poked through and one bottom one has broken the surface. We got a referral to an ENT... who gave us an appointment the week after Christmas. I called, explained the insurance situation and begged them to make it sooner, I was willing to go on short notice if there was a cancellation. It was a no go because the doc is already on vacation and has a full surgery schedule well into January.

I know the Ped suggested him because he was close by but we currently have a PPO so I do not need a referral. I found another that saw us this morning, he comes highly recommended and Rylan actually seemed to like him. Although that could have something to do with the lollipop he gave him- his first. He said there was still definitely fluid build up on both sides, Rylan will getting tubes put in Tuesday. He says we will be out of the hospital in less than an hour.... it takes longer than that to get there.

When we got home there was a message from another hospital... the Ped referred him for a speech evaluation. That is the last week of Feb, that's a long drive too, I was hoping we could manage to get it the same day as his hearing eval (same hospital) after the tubes, but I imagine the dr will want him to have that sooner than the end of Feb. For now I am choosing optimism and maybe the speech evaluation wont be necessary. We will take him anyway but I hope this helps and he starts talking again. Not that he doesn't talk but it's hit and miss.... I have learned not to correct him, I think it confuses him. If he calls the puppy a yuppie and I say puppy he will stop saying it at all, if I say nothing he will scream yuppie yuppie yuppie. He says yuppie, yowgie (doggy) Saige (hage) and dink (drink), I have not heard any of his previous words at all and his pronunciation of those four varies at times too. Saige and I are the only ones who can interrupt him at all.

On a lighter note, isn't he such a pretty princess? Before you shake your heads or send me nasty emails.... he did it himself, it took a while but he did it. But, in all honesty I am fine with him playing princess dress up, or with dollies and daddy is okay with it too. I have a great husband in that regard (and most others), if the clothes were big enough I would not be in the least surprised to see dad playing princess right along with them.

7 things about me

I've been tagged by Amnesty, and this time I know what that means, lol.

1- My favorite movie is the Sword in the Stone, followed closely by Shrek.
2- I was hopelessly addicted to my dvr but have proven that it IS possible to not only survive but thrive without one, lol.
3- I hate to shop, hate it. I love a good deal but I would rather have a root canal than go to the mall.
4- I like bees, I think they are fascinating wonderful creatures.
5- I love to mow the lawn, I love the loud silence, I love the smell of fresh cut grass, and most of all I love that when I am finished there is nothing Rob or the kids can do to undo it. It is the one and only thing that I can do, finish, and be done with. Which brings me too
6- I like doing laundry, granted I get annoyed that it never ends but I find it relaxing to fold clothes.
7- I don't particularly like chocolate

That was hard, although I know as soon as I hit publish I will think of at least 50 much more interesting things about me. I'll tag Audrey, Karen, and Laura.

It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye

We got our Christmas tree up, Rob and Saige picked it out yesterday before he went to work. That means I had approximately 8 straight hours of moooom can we pleeeease decorate the tree now? The tree was outside, the stand nowhere to be found. I am allergic and touching them gives me an itchy blistery rash, so there was NO way I was bringing it in. I explained at least 12,000 times that we would do it tomorrow together, with daddy and when the tree was indoors. Shortly after 6 this morning I rolled over and opened my eyes to see her standing inches from my face "mom can we decorate the tree now?" We held her off until 7:30 and then got up. Robby brought it in and we told her we were leaving but we decorate as soon as we got home, it needed a chance to warm up before we could do anything.

While we were gone she got a fever, no doubt being tired made her feel worse, but she still begged to go home and decorate the tree. So we did. I was suppose to do my drugstore shopping but the roads were bad, I crossed my fingers that we had tylenol at home (we did, so I saved 6 bucks). Unfortunately around here if you don't shop on Sunday the good deals will be all gone. Rite Aid is the worst, I swear they have big sales and order two of product for the week. They may stash more in the back, but ask someone to check for you and you'd think you asked them to move the Earth.

On to the tree, first thing I figured we needed was to put a blanket under it so if the bulbs fell they wouldn't shatter on the hard floor. I don't have to explain how I know this will happen, my dwindling collection says it all. I grabbed the blanket, bent down to put it under the tree and shoved my eye right into the tip of a branch. OUCH. It still hurts hours later. SO I hopped around whining about my poor eye for a good half hour.

Finally I recovered enough to get the tote with the ornaments. Rylan was so excited, as soon as the top came off he picked up Robby's favorite childhood ornament and threw it at the floor and squealed with delight as it broke in pieces. He takes such delight in being naughty. We skipped the lights after debating on whether or not Lola chewing through them while plugged in might teach her a lesson on chewing anything and everything. BUT we did get it done, by that time Saige was feeling worse so it got done in spurts while she rested between. Poor kid can't catch a break but she is determined. There is a large concentration of ornaments at waist level.

The last few hours of the night were/are being spent keeping the duo of destruction (Rylan and Lola) away from the tree. Is it Dec 26th yet?

update on destructo-dog

It's been two and half weeks, Lola has more than doubled in size already. It doesn't show in the pictures, but she kinda looks like a frog. her hind legs are enormous compared to the rest of her. She's doing pretty good on the housebreaking, as long as you don't take your eye off her for a half second. She chews anything and everything. Both the kids are learning they can not leave anything unattended on the floor (NOT a bad thing).
I admit there are some things I see her run off with and I take my time getting to it (oh no, this darn toy I have stepped on and nearly killed myself on a 100 times is ruined, we will have to throw it away). Yesterday Robby sorted out the Christmas lights, took a load outside to hang up- in an instant she chewed through the last three strands. He has not yet learned not to leave anything on the floor, she's quick and determined.
Nala seems to like her and even Evil (the feline spawn of satan) has come around a little and plays with her for a minute before attacking her. The kids both adore her and Robby and I still think she is pretty cute.

Saige's fall decorations

I'm still loving the projects and presents.

waiting

Rylan had his hearing evaluation yesterday. She said he has significant fluid build up on both ears. They put us in a little room with speakers in the corners, she went into another booth and talked in varying tones into the speakers. Now I am not qualified to say but it seemed to ME that he hears much better on his right side than on his left, I think a couple of times she mistook him looking for her sound on the left when he was just twisting to get out of my lap, he did not appear to hear anything at all.

All in all she said his hearing is elevated, which despite the sounding better than normal, is worse than normal, lol. She said he falls in the normal range but at the very very very very tip of it and that the test can really only tell them how bad it is in the good ear. I was surprised she told me anything at all- a nice change from waiting weeks to get results from the ped.

I'm relieved- kinda. I'm glad we know, so we can go from here. The woman also told us that it's up his doctor who will either send up straight to the ENT doctor, or she may try allergy meds to drain the fluids first. We had an appointment this afternoon but the dr is sick and they just called and rescheduled us for Tues. I don't want to wait that long. I know it seems awful but I want to hurry. It seems unlikely we could push to have it done by the end of the year. I have a pretty good feeling that the doctor will want to try drugs first but we will end at tubes anyway. January 1st our insurance changes for the worse and I have no idea how we will afford that right of the bat, while we still need to heat the house.

Sad, we will still be paying an arm and a leg but the shitty coverage will get worse. Basically we will have a HUGE deductible per person, and more co-insurance, on average our OOP expense with be 15 times higher than this year. Ouch. I am however not willing to go without. I will continue to sign up for BCBS to rape us weekly because I have learned that what can go wrong, will go wrong. If I were cancel it, no doubt 3 days later one of us would require serious medical attention that would cost us everything. Just not a risk I am willing to take with me and mine as long as I have that option.

My brother has been in the hospital since Saturday, his insurance apparently covers ALL of it, my hubby is in the wrong line of work. One of us should be working for a school. Teachers are underpaid and under appreciated BUT they have good insurance, lol. Hopefully he will be home tomorrow, at least I'm hoping. It's hard to visit him, Rylan does NOT like riding the elevator- not at all. Little spaces, closed doors, unhappy Rylan.... the results are not good for the rest of our hearing. Thankfully it's only two floors and it goes quick, lol.