Reality Bites

Today, my youngest daughter came home with a new pen pal. She is from Uganda, Africa and lives in a school without her parents. This got us all to thinking about how much we really have....way too much. I look back at my previous posts about how we are working on the floor and then look at the picture that came with the letter and see the dirt floor that this girl lives on. I think about how materialistic we are as a country in general. I want to take this time to do a before and after on my thinking:

Before: My Z71 Suburban has 43,000 miles on it, I think it is time for an '07.
After: There are many people in the world that have to walk to work/school, if they even have a place to work or a place to go to school.

Before: I vacuum my new wood floors and gripe about all the pet hair along the baseboards.
After: They sweep their dirt floor and don't have the luxury of having a pet that can also be a best friend.

Before: I look at the stack of laundry in my laundry hamper and think, I have 2 weeks worth of clothes that need to be washed.
After: There are people in the world that beat their clothes on a rock in a river to wash them after wearing them for 2 weeks.

Before: I smell the odor from the oven cleaning in the kitchen and think about how bad it smells.
After: There are people in the world that don't have an oven to cook in, much less have one that cleans itself.

Before: I look at my kids and think about how much better they could be doing in school or how much less tv they could watch or how much cleaner they could keep their rooms.
After: There are people in the world that send their kids to another country to give them the things that my kids have, such as a good school or tv to watch.

When I look back at all the things that I have, I have so much more than many others. I have a good solid roof over my head, plenty of food in my fridge, a place to cook that food, a wonderful family, and the ability to do the things that I want to do. Will things change because of my realizations? Probably not, but I at least hope that my kids understand that not everyone in the world lives as we do and we should do what we can to help those with less.

Remembering When

There are a few things that have happened in my kids life that I have not documented anywhere and I am afraid that I will eventually forget them. What better place to have them here, right?

Push Da Buddon
When Mr. Fixit was about a year or two old, he used to sneak up behind us and crawl under the desk. We would be typing away and all of a sudden see wierd characters coming up on the screen. It took a little time, but we finally figured out that he was sitting under the keyboard tray and would reach up and push the keys. If there was a button to be pushed, he would push it and then exclaim "I push da buddon!".

I'm Never Having Babies
One year for Christmas the Debate Team received a Wuv Luv from Santa. The Wuv Luv would "give birth" to an egg with a little Wuv Luv inside. When it came time for the Debate Team's Wuv Luv to "give birth" she absolutely could not watch it. She was horrified and declared at the age of two that she would not ever have children. She is still adamant to this day that she is never going to have babies. She insists that she will adopt.

Here's Your Sign
Just this past Christmas, One of the Favorite Cousins and I took all the girls to see the Rockettes. We stopped to eat lunch close to the venue and as we were leaving One of the Favorite Cousins stated that we were a minority in that part of town. The Avid Reader quickly excaimed, "Yeah, your car is silver and everyone elses is white". She didn't even realize that we were the only white people within a one block radius!

These are the Rockettes? aka, Here's Your Sign II
Another Rockettes story. We sat down in our seats and were looking through the program. The Debate Team came across the Board of Directors for the theatre and asked me "Are THESE the Rockettes?".

The Big Dog
One day, Mr. Fixit was riding his bike up and down the street. I heard blood curdling screams coming from him and ran around to the front of the house the see what was going on. When I got around there, I almost fell down laughing. What I saw was a miniature daschund nipping at the tires of his bike. No matter where he went, the dog was there.

It's the End of the World as We Know It...and I Feel Fine!

The world has gone under some massive changes the last couple of days. We have been snowed in twice in one week and Mr. Fixit and the Debate Team are playing. Together. That's right, they are playing civally. Together. This is a moment in a mother's life that just makes her want to cry.

Everything started on Friday. I left for work and it was 61 degrees outside. I left for lunch at 1:00 and it was 40 and raining. When I picked the kids up from school, it was 30...and raining. When we woke up on Saturday, everything was covered in ice. We were stuck in the house Saturday and Sunday. Do it Yourself Guy went to work on Monday and we all went back to normal schedules Tuesday. We got up this morning and got ready for work/school and Mr. Fixit went out to start the Burb. He came back in and said that it was snowing and I honestly didn't believe him. I checked the school closings and found that school in Work/School town was going to be opened so we headed out the door. We got a couple miles out of Home Town and decided to turn around and head back home.

By about 11 the roads were clear, but I just didn't feel like going to Work/School Town, so we are playing hookie. I am feeling a little guilty about it, but as The Avid Reader says "Guilt is just an emotion and emotions can be overcome". Besides, if we had gone to work/school, Mr. Fixit and The Debate Team would not be bonding.

A Time to Remember

Looking back 9 years ago, I remember this day well. It was at this exact moment that I had nurses frantically trying to track down my doctor. Do it Yourself Guy was miserably sitting in a chair next to me and I was oblivious to it all. You see, 9 years ago, I gave birth to The Entire Debate Team in One.

I remember how everything started. Do It Yourself Guy had just gotten back from taking his two daughters back to Iowa after Christmas and was sick as sick could be with the flu. (One) of the Favorite Cousins and her friend Jessica came over to check up on the pregnant one and watch the kids so that I could go to the grocery store. The Helpful Aunt and The (Other) Favorite Cousin were in Dallas at a convention. I was feeling great! I went to Dollar General first and got about half way through my shopping when I felt a really sharp pain. I remember the lady that was working that day asking if I was ok. The answer was sure, but I think I am going to have a baby today. It made her a little nervous, I could tell. When I left there, I decided not to go grocery shopping and chose to just go home. You see, labor with my other two kids did not last long and being in the sticks, I had a 35 minute drive to the hospital. I knew that Do It Yourself Guy was not feeling well and would need time to make himself right.

The plan had been for The Helpful Aunt and The (Other) Favorite Cousin to take care of Mr. Fixit and The Avid Reader, but if you remember, they were in Dallas! I stayed home for a couple of hours with (One) of the Favorite Cousins and Jessica while Do It Yourself Guy slept and then it was time to go. The drive to the hospital was a tense one. I was nervous (and in pain), he was sick. This was the first birth that Mom and Big Sis were not going to be there for. We got to the hospital and I was immediately put into a birthing room. No biggie, I had been in one twice before, only this time I was kind of by myself. The nurses were not even sure if Do It Yourself Guy was going to be able to stay in there with me. Thankfully, they let him stay. (One) Of the Favorite Cousins and Jessica took the other two kids out the Helpful Aunt and Favorite Uncles house, so I didn't have to worry about them. About 8:00 Helpful Aunt and The (Other) Favorite Cousin came into the room. Of course, I had gotten an epidural by then and I was feeling no pain. About an hour later (One) of the Favorite Cousins and Jessica came to the hospital. It was about this time that the nurses started to panic because they could not find my doctor. They paged and paged him to no avail. They were just about to go out and look for him when he finally called. He didn't even have time to shower after his run before she decided to show her pretty face to the world. Do It Yourself Guy was sent home by the hospital staff right after the birth and was not allowed back in the Maternity Ward.

I didn't get much of a chance to hold her, much less get to know her before the nurse took her away because her oxygen level was low. I was disappointed, but also ok with it because I knew she was in good hands. I was starving and tired. (One) of the Favorite Cousins and Jessica had gone out for pizza during the final moments of delivery and brought me back a couple of slices. Not exactly the kind that I would have ordered myself, but at that point, it didn't matter. I was starving. I was moved to a regular room and got a good nights sleep. I was finally able to spend a little time with her about noon the next day. Mom drove up the next day and spent a couple of hours with us and Dad and my grandfather came over that afternoon, too. We went home on Monday and Do It Yourself Guy had to go to Tulsa to work. It gave me a chance to settle in with her and I loved every minute of it. Now that I think of it, she has had the last say in things since day one. I love you Nut!

THE Letter

It came in the mail today. When I first saw it, I wasn't sure what to think. I was saddened in a way, but then again, if it was true, it means that my freedom level has been raised considerably. I don't feel any different. I don't think I look any different (and if I am what they say, I think I look damn good).

The letter came from the AARP. It said that I could have been taking advantage of their benefits for years now and should act now. I am 34 years old. Has the national standard for retirement gotten that low? If so, I want to know where everyone is getting their money. With 3 kids still at home (for a long time) I am no where close to the "Retired Persons" position.

Anyway, I remember doing a google for myself a few months ago and finding someone with the exact same name as me (I have a VERY uncommon name), hopefully that is who they meant to send the letter to. Sorry Mrs. Other Me, you are way to old for the Girl Scouts!

The Norm

As usual, there is nothing new and exciting going on in the sticks. Big Sis is looking at moving down here but she is looking at (what I would consider) the unattainable. She is looking for 15 acres with a nice house and really nice horse barn for the affordable price of $100,000. If I could find that, I would not be remodeling the house that we have. We really want them to move down here. Hell, it would make my life much easier for the following reasons:

1. Dad would not be asking what happened to her. (She calls no one and no one calls her except me. I think it is all a pride issue. Hell, I'm not proud, I want to talk to you, I'm going to call you. Get over it.)

2. My kids go to see her every summer. If they lived here, they could go see her and we would not have to meet in Ok City in a seedy motel room to exchange kids. When I say seedy, I mean seedy. The first year, we found moldy fettucine in the fridge and someones thong in the microwave. No Kidding. The second year, we didn't look. The third year, we saw gang tags under the fresh paint. I tried to get her to stay somewhere else, but noooo. This last year, I took video of the room that we stayed in and made sure that Do It Yourself Guy and Big Brother In Law saw it and they both said that there is no way we are staying there again.

3. We all love them. Big Sis and I did not get along at all when we were growing up. We had our tiffs when we were kids and competed in a lot of things. I remember starting school (elementary) and following in her footsteps. I remember all the teachers and the principal saying "Oh, you're Big Sis's sister". Maybe that is why it made it easier for me to send Mr. Fixit to a new school. I know exactly how he feels. Actually, when I was 16, she tried to kill me. Literally. She had me pinned down and was choking me. Mom jumped in and broke things up and we have been the best of friends since then.

Anyway, all we want is for them to be here. I am curious to see how it goes though. When we first moved here, we had all the family support that one could ever ask for. After a couple of years, it all just disappeared. The aunt and uncle that live here in the sticks, we see only when there is a big family gathering versus everyday when we first moved here. The cousin that lives in the sticks, I see here even less often. We'll see.

Welcome to the New, New Year

We made it past the holidays and now it is time for everything to get back to a normal (if there is such thing as normal) routine. The presents have all been opened, the gift cards have all been spent, and the family is all safe at home. Tomorrow the kids go back to school and Mr. Fixit starts into public school for the first time since kindergarten. He is excited and a little nervous but I think he will be just fine. As a matter of fact, I think he will do better than he did in following in his sisters footsteps. Everything comes as second nature for his sisters, but he struggles for everything, which, given his nature is a good thing. He is his father's son.

2007 means changes for us all. Do It Yourself Guy and I are in a new bedroom, Mr. Fixit starts a new school, The Entire Debate Team in One has a new hairstyle, The Avid Reader is getting used to sleeping on the top bunk and the dogs are trying to deal with us having a bed that is too high for them to jump up on. Whittle shit is having an exceptionally hard time with this! I think I am kind of liking this since he is the biggest bed hog I have ever seen. Keep in mind that I slept with 2 children on a hide-a -bed last weekend. I don't forget that easily!

We are trying really hard to get Big Sis and Big Brother-in-Law to move down here and I think they are getting close. Today, when they were getting ready to leave, they came up to Only Neice and said it was time for them to go. Her response was to give them each a hug and kiss and tell them that she would miss them and to be careful. Out of the mouths of babes, I tell ya. If that doesn't want to make them move closer to family, I don't know what will. I can't wait to have them here....

As far as resolutions go, I haven't really made any new ones. There are the usual, get the house finished, be a better mother, etc. Maybe at least one of them will happen this year......we'll see. Happy New Year!