People of Wal-Mart

Since shopping for food with young children in tow can prove to be challenging I try to wait until after the youngest of our kids go to sleep and then I head out to the Super Wal-Mart. For one I hate the size of this store and trying to navigate my way around it and for two dodging the other shoppers who try to run me down with their over flowing cart. But add to that the nincompoops who want to shop with their toddlers at ten o'clock at night and it really is too much to handle.

So last night was no different. As soon as I enter the store and the produce section there is a late twenties couple with a toddler who is probably almost 3 and a baby who looks to be about 9 months old. Mom is laying someone low on the phone because really isn't the produce section the perfect place to do that? Dad is sporting a dirty mullet and a bad attitude.

(example photo)

I move on my merry way but come across them in the frozen food section later on. The toddler is beginning a melt down and the poor baby is so tired she can't stand it anymore and starts crying and waving her arms, obviously wanting to be picked up so she can go to sleep (likely). It is 10 pm so why aren’t she and brother at home asleep with Dad watching over the house while Mom does the shopping? Dad was doing a whole lot of nothing including refusing to pick up the tired baby as if she was to learn some lesson from this experience.

It takes a whole lot of restraint for me not to say, "Hey! Pick that baby up and give her a cuddle so she can go to sleep and why you are at it head to the car so that you can drive her home and put her to bed where she belongs Mr. Mullet sir!" I do use restraint and I don't say anything but I did nearly burn a hole through that Mullet with my glares of disapproval (okay so I was behind him and he never actually saw the glare but I knew I was glaring).

Where were all the older ladies who want to give me advise in the Wal-Mart about my kid/kids when I needed them?

Speaking of advise, when we took the walk the other day to calm down one of my neighbors was outside with his dog Susie the Poodle.  She is the cutest sweetest little thing and wiggles her way up to us for the kids to pet her.  She was a great diversion.  Her owner proceeded to reprimand us and advised we be careful not to let the kids in/near the street while walking.  I just smile and say thanks but I was thinking - one Mom, one Nan, and 4 kids walking down our neighborhood street = visibility from a far I believe.  And secondly these kids have some size on them by this point in time and we haven't lost one yet to a traffic situation.  But apparently I command advise just by my very presence.  Go figure.  It must be that look of confusion which I wear so well. 

The Run Around

This week the Loo-Loos went to Mr. C's orthopedic appointment. Dr. Ortho was delayed in surgery for an hour. The staff thought it might be a good idea for us to go and play over with the toys, for an hour. Before the real waiting for the doctor began. I thought not, so we left and ate breakfast instead.

So we had arrived at 8:10 AM, which was 10 minutes later than our original appointment. Then we went and ate breakfast and watched the video in the van until 9:15 AM. We waited in the holding area for 30 minutes and then we were able to go and wait in the spacious 6 X 6 foot room with the twirly whirly stool that no one is supposed use but the Dr. Try telling a board 3 year old boy who loves all things dangerous and dirty not to spin on that super cool spinning stool. It goes a little something like

1. tell boy no and put boy down

2. second verse same as the first.

We moved on to making balloon glove people.

That held their attention for 2 minutes. Then they commenced beating each other over the head with the balloon glove people. Another 2 minutes of entertainment.  All total this adventure to doctorland lasted from 7:30 AM when we headed off in the van to 11 AM when we finally left the doctor's office.

Dr. Ortho wanted more x-rays of Mr. C's legs to verify a leg length discrepancy. Sure enough his right leg is a 1/4 shorter than his left and he needs a shoe life done at the shoe repair shop. Insurance won't cover that but it is only $15 allegedly so I am told.

By the time we were shuffled off to x-ray the staff had assigned a student nurse to Lil Bro to try to wrangle him in. Apparently they had observed the failed balloon glove people attempt and felt it was time for backup before we went traipsing around radio active x-ray machines that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. It was a good plan on their part and yeah that has already been added to the list of embarrassing occurrences in my life, #472,000 I believe.

I sent the memo out to Dad already too that from now until pre-K starts he will need to attend all doctor appointments to do the 3 year old wrangling. He memo'd back that he would need to get back to me on the logistics of that request. I know 'the run around' when I hear it.

Turbo

Did you know that Burger King Turbo coffee has 40% more caffeine than the regular coffee?  I did not.  But about 5 sips in and I was beginning to get a clue.

I began to realize that the coffee cup lid was smiling at me.

The exhaustion was still there but I was all jumpy and had to pee a lot.

A few hours later it was as if the turbo kicked it up a notch. I made a great dinner, bathed all the kids, snacks, teeth brush, to bed, spend time with Big Sis, her teeth brushed, her to bed and I was still doing laundry like a mad woman. I hardly noticed when it was midnight. By 1:30 am I though man I should try to go to sleep because this is going to bite me in the morning.

I settle in and try to sleep. As I battle feet pain and fidget trying to get it just right for sleep the darn dogs start asking to go out to pee. Great. I have to do that dance of the little ones out first followed by the lummox. Then everyone with fur back in the kitchen in their beds. I settle back down into my bed and 5 minutes later Lil Bro comes knockin. Why not? Mr. C had already entered into our bed. Mr. C was happy with his spot cuddled next to Mama and was not going to be giving that up. Lil Bro was going to have his spot next to Mama or no one would sleep. So I end up crammed between the two of them. Dad happy as a lark on his side with no cuddlers.

Now I have feet pain and I am crammed between two kids. Sleep is not going to happen. I sneak out to the boys room and climb in that bed (since no one was there). Ahh sleep. What time is it by now? I have no idea, no clock in the boys room. At 5:30 am Lil Bro realizes that I am not in my bed and sounds off. Miss M ends up in the living room startled. I put her back to bed and snuggle her in with her bear. Me and Lil Bro back to bed, sleep.

7am Miss M sounds off that she is not getting up and not going to school. Her sleep was interupted and that is not good. Dad went in and gave her some direction and she was able to get it together. We were all on pins and needles because it seemed it could go bad really quickly.

My recomendation is to drink Turbo coffee with care.

I'll Cry If I Want To

Today Lil Bro and I met Dad for lunch.  I saw a family that I happen to know because their children go to school with my children.  One of their daughters has some special needs and was in Mr. C's pre-school class.  She was not able to be mainstreamed and is in the special education program at the school.  One of their older kids is in the same homeroom class as Big Sis.  They had 6 children the last that I knew of and today I saw them with their 7th, I'm guessing.  I love big families and this is not about big families.

They were meeting with another woman and they did not see me and so I did not see fit to interrupt their conversation.  The baby started crying.  First it was a little whimper kind of cry that turned into flat out baby rage I need some help here. 

When they left I mentioned to hubby, "Did you want to go over and pick that baby up?"  He said that he did.  I commented that it seemed as if everyone in the restaurant wanted to pick the baby up accept for the parents who never removed the baby from the bucket car seat.  In fact they took raging baby out to the car and put the bucket seat and baby into the car.

I am not a fan of letting babies cry.  Big Sis was not left to cry and Lil Bro was not left to cry.  Even though he was not with us from day one his foster family in Guatemala were phenomenal.  We remain in contact with them and other families they fostered for.  All of those children went on to attach to their adoptive parents and adjusted quickly and positively.  They were not left to cry. 

I could tell when I visited with Lil Bro during our process, I visited him at 5 months, 8 months, 10 months, 12 months and then our pick up trip was 14 months of age.  As a young infant he didn't even seem to feel the need to really cry.  He would kind of huh huh hey there come get me signal kind of a thing.  He never flat out whaled.  True he is a more easy going person than some, just by DNA.  But it was obvious that he was used to his needs getting met quickly and lovingly. 

Of all 4 kids Big Sis and Lil Bro are by far the most well adjusted, confident, happy, loving, snuggly people.  Lil Bro regularly says to me, "Gimmee a kiss a mooch a hug."  Big Sis is a hugger too, always has been.

I have no real point here other than it's my blog and I'll cry if I want to.  I say pick those babies up! 

Back In The Saddle...Again

Well folks we are up and running. Miss M is doing BEAUTIFUL! She used her words to say that she was "nervous" at school. I inquired as to which part and she further explained "when I was in the building." Did beautifully at home when she got in from aftercare. The CBA was here, she did well with him.

The school sent home some testing scores done at the end of last year and Miss M scored "low intermediate and high intermediate" across all areas - reading, writing, comprehension, etc. I have always advocated that Miss M has some kind of learning delay. She just does not process what goes on around her fully, she misunderstands a lot of things. "Perceptual problems" is what her psychiatrist calls it. They lead to rage. Since this child was 3 I have begged for her to attend a special pre-school program for extra help. Could not get it done. Whole room full of people looking at me like "relax lady". I said in that meeting that Miss M would end up getting by and by the time she was in 1st or 2nd grade she was going to start falling behind. But her darn test scores then were low but not low enough to warrant additional help, other than speech help.

These recent test indicated that she did not do as well as average with either visual or auditory instruction. Something I have also always said. Professionals ask "does she learn best visually or by hearing?" I would say, "neither is her strength, she seems to struggle equally in both areas." As anyway I have a feeling we will be needing additional help for Miss M this year in first grade.

Big Sis Viv had a great 1st day back. She loves who is in her class this year, loves the teacher and additionally her other teachers for math, science and social studies. However, today she woke up with stomach pain. She made it through most of the day but then started throwing up. So I picked her up early and she is resting. I hope this does not mess up her weekend with the Bear Family!

Mr. C is not doing as well. The 1st day back was VERY difficult for him. Way too much change and new routine and new everything. Another student acted up in class regularly and that really bothered him. He has a favorite student in his class and that was good news, they were together in grade K.

Mr. C had a major tantrum with the CBA. The CBA is calm and never raises his voice at all. He gives directives and stands firm with Mr. C. Mr. C was verbal insulting the CBA and even called him "that big dumb fool!" :-0 I was shocked! The stuff that came out of his mouth. This is all new. He was also physically assaulting all of us but more minor than in the past. Today has been better for Mr. C so far. 2:45 pm and counting. So here's hoping we are over the first day hump.

We just can not believe how well Miss M is doing right now. I back and look at the good stuff when things go south. As this is a cycling disorder the negative stuff is likely to return. But we hope for the best. This med combo really seems to be the ticket. Her appetite is normal, she has better bounce back than she has ever had before, she has some nights that she struggles to get to sleep but they aren't problematic. YES WE ARE ALL PROUD OF MISS M!!! You go girl!

Dishwasher - Magic Box, or ...

an appliance which must be loaded correctly?

Does this look a little full to you? There are 3 adults in this home. Let's just say I did not load this dishwasher and neither did any child who resides in this home. Does anyone else have this problem? I love both of the other adults dearly but honestly how are dishes going to get clean like this? The dishwasher is NOT a magic box which sprinkles fairy dust around in order to clean dirty dishes.

Any who...


Big Sis and her friend took some photos of Jasmine the chihuahua yesterday. Jazz insisted on hanging out with the girls!