Erika

Today was a long one, being that every one seems to finally be over the cold/flu/anthrax/plague here I decided to spend the day detoxifying my house. There is not a flat surface ( walls included ) that has not met a bleach covered rag today.

I have dusted, wiped, scrubbed, and swept every square inch of my home. In short…I am tired. Jarod is currently in the dog house as I almost blew up my sweeper thanks to the collection of miniture lightsabers that belong to his Star Wars action figures hidden under his bed.

While I was on my cleaning binge I decided to explore Logan’s closet…pulling anything and everything out for inspection and possible donation to GoodWill. It was then that I found a banana peel ( black and petrified ) covered in Spider-Man Band-Aids. I shit you not Buddies, that is what I found buried under his Shutes and Ladders game this afternoon.

Logan is not a man of many words, when I questioned him on the reason for such a find, his response was simply…. ‘Cause’. I didn’t push the issue because quite frankly I was afraid of what the true reasoning might be.

So I am now in the process of hauling 3…count them 3 contractor bags full of broken/way-ward pieces of plastic and eye-less/stuffing deficeint stuffed animals to the curb.

I must leave you know as Jarod has informed me that the new show, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader is about to start. Let’s hope for the purpose of saving face I am able to recall the atomic weight of dryer lint.

OK…I’m screwed, the first question was in what month do we observe Columbus Day.

Be well Buddies and wish me luck in the mind war that is happening in my living room.

PS  Jarod got it right, it was October, and he’s only in 2nd grade!

So we are standing at the bus stop this morning and Jarod turns to me and says, “ I am really in the mood for one of your great rib dinners Mom, with the little baby potatoes OK? “  To which all the other kids give a collective ” Yeah ! “  ( Everybody eats here Monday nights )  I agree and the bus pulls up. Jarod, as he is half way on the bus, stops and runs back to me. Here I am very flattered thinking that I was going to get a hug in front of all of his friends… I was wrong. What did my little man want? He runs up to me, puts his hand on my arm and says, ” Don’t forget the cornbread.”

My boys are as bad as their father.

 I start to broil the ribs before putting them in the crockpot, like I do every other time I make them. For whatever reason one of those mothers caught fire in the oven. My house filled up with smoke like you would not believe. Every smoke detector was screaming, Logan’s crying, the baby is freaking out, and I’m running around like a fool trying to open every available window and door while wildly waving a dish towel around the detectors.

My house still smells like a BBQ pit and is still smokey. It’s also freezing in here, as all the windows are still wide open. Luckily I had more ribs in the deep freeze, I wouldn’t want to run the risk of those hungry children staging a riot.

I did really well yesterday, I stayed under 1200 calories, only had 3 cigarettes, and did 30 min of toning. I already got a good walk in today, I had some errands to run in town so we walked. By the time we got home my pedometer was over 5000 steps, so that’s a good start.

If I decide that I can be trusted to not burn the house down, I’m off to bake his magesty his corn bread. You know I don’t know where my family got the idea that they should get good home cooked meals every night and then have the nerve to ask for dessert.

I am starting over yet again. I weighed myself this morning and I have gained 10 lbs. I actually expected it to be a bit worse than that, I guess having that flu helped out.

I am so angry, disappointed, depressed, ect.  I know that the gain came from my struggle with not smoking. I have gone from an average of a  pack and a half a day to less than five a day. Yesterday I had only two. I also have all but quit drinking as well.

 In the evening I would usually have a couple glasses of wine or cocktails. I noticed that after a glass or two of wine I wasn’t hungry, so eating wasn’t an issue for me in the evening. Boy has that changed!

 I don’t want to give anyone the wrong impression here, drinking was never a problem for me. I know that, because not having that wine in the evening is as easy as not having brussel sprouts, it’s not something I sit and think about…unlike the cigarettes. I just figured that it was extra calories that I didn’t need so I cut it out.

So I am writing this 10 lbs heavier and I can feel it. Actually, I haven’t felt well in about a month. Between fighting every germ and virus known to man, withdrawl from nicotine, eating garbage, and now carring that added weight, I feel like crap.

The low carb thing is no longer working for me. My body is actually craving fruit and milk, and my energy is in the toilet. So I’m thinking that a low fat, low calorie thing might be in order. Maybe I’ll give that whole ‘points’ deal a shot, although I’m not quite sure what that is.

So I reset my ticker ( man that pissed me off ), and I am back to weighing in weekly. I have exactly one month until Jarod’s big party. My first goal is to stay on my diet until then, no brakes, no cheats. My second is to do some form of exercise 5 days a week, without fail.

Here we go again, wish me luck Buddies.

I think that the Health Department is going to board up my house soon. Now everyone appears to have the flu.

It started with Jarod Monday night, then Logan, then Ethan, now me. The neighbor walked in with the baby this morning who promptly threw up all over himself. I am seriously considering burning the house down and starting all over.

It could be worse though, did you see the news about the contaminated peanut butter? We had one of the jars with that serial number and expiration date. It was unopened, so thankfully no one ate it.

On the bright side, I think I may have lost a few pounds. Maybe that’s the trick…. if I can keep myself infected for the next six months or so I’ll lose the weight with ease.

Hey all, my brother’s party went well. He was very pleased with all his gifts and food. That beverage fountain is quite possibly the coolest thing I have ever seen.

Dawnie, you should seriously consider getting one for your 80’s party. It’s lit so it gives what every drink you put in it a neon glow.

I said yesterday that I was making little stuffing balls for my brother’s party. Well Ethan took that concept and ran with it. He came home from shopping yesterday with twice as much bread as I would have needed and smiled as he presented me with a turkey that was not on the shopping list. He said that since I was making stuffing anyway, maybe I could make extra and we could have Thanksgiving today.

He looked like a little kid asking for a piece of candy. Once I agreed he ran out to the car and brought in 2 more bags filled with fresh cranberries, potatoes, green bean casserole fixings, pumpkin puree, ect….It’s a good thing I said yes.

 I’m off to read up on you guys, and then I’ll make a pie and stuff a bird. The kids are excited and wanted to know if we can watch the Charlie Brown special as well.

Hello all…remember how I said there wouldn’t be anymore parties here until Jarod’s in late March? Well I was wrong, I forgot about my brothers were turning 19 this week. So there is yet another birthday party here today. He’s really into lacross, so I took the picture of him in his uniform and had a picture cake made that reads, “Matt scores 19!”  Brent is still in Boston, so his birthday cake will have to wait until spring break.

As usual, he has requested a rolling buffet of munchies, specifically Buffalo Chicken Dip. The chicken is boiling as we speak. He also asked if I could make my Grandmother’s stuffing, the kid would live on those two items if we let him. So I decided to make little tiny stuffing balls, toothpick-able and serve them with gravy kept warm in a baby crock pot. Everyone is coming an 5:30pm, so I will be cooking from now until then.

I am also going to try out my Valentine’s gift from Ethan today. He bought me a lighted beverage fountain. I know it doesn’t sound like a typical V-Day gift, but we do so much entertaining, and I really wanted one. It holds over 2 gallons of your favorite drink, I’m so excited to set it up. Ethan just laughed when he gave it to me, and said, “Yes dear, your the coolest party host who ever lived.” 

He also got me my favorite Barry Manilow CD, one that I used to listen to when I was a kid. It has the Very Strange Medley on it, that’s where he sings all the jingles he wrote….Dr Pepper, McDonalds, KFC, ect…I know I’m a dork but I love it!

Rod Stewart was incredible lastnight, we had rediculously good seats. Now I love him, don’t get me wrong, but some of these women were losing their minds. There is nothing funnier than a bunch of menopausal women in fanny packs and Mom Jeans rushing the stage to try and touch Rod.

On the babysitting front, I have not spoken to her since last Monday. Her husband usually drops off and picks up the kids on Thursdays, but she hasn’t even called me since Monday. She lives 3 doors away, and usually calls at least twice a day over the weekend to chat, so she is definately avoiding me. She’s going to have to deal with me tomorrow, and we are going to have us a nice long chat.

Bottom line, she would be completely screwed without me. So if she wants our relationship to be buisness only, then she is going to find herself on the buisness end of a lot of changes. Thank you for all your advise on that one. The sad part is that she seems to be relating to me like I am her mother. Taking advantage and avoiding a confrontation seems to be part of her MO, well no more.

I’m off to cook, clean, hang streamers and blow up balloons. Which should be much easier now that I am down to only 3 to 4 cigs a day! I’ve been eating like a crazed beast, but I’m hardly smoking. My clothes may no longer fit, but they don’t smell like smoke.

Good morning Buddies, I am happy to report that Jarod is doing much better. I am also starting to feel human again.

I could really use some advise here, I have mentioned before some of the problems I’ve been having with one of the families I babysit for. When I started watching these kids, it was for about 7 to 8 hours a day. Because of a job change on the mother’s part, that became anywhere from 10 to 12 hours a day.

There was no discussion of changing my pay, I have only been charging her $30 a day for 2 children. I have the 2 yr old all day, and the older one before and after school. Keep in mind that at least 2 days a week both kids eat breakfast and dinner here. I do all of this without asking for more money due to the friendship I have with their mother. Well, that’s all changing.

Since the new year, her pay changed from every other week to the 1st and 15th of the month. Not that big of a deal, except that I have had to chase her down over the last 3 paydays, to get paid myself, the last one being 4 days late, because she didn’t have time to go to the bank.

Monday, when she called to tell me that she would be an hour late, I told her about Jarod having pnuemonia. Her was reaction was what I would have expected if I had told her he stubbed his toe. When she finally got here to collect her children, she walked past Jarod laying on the couch coughing his head off, and then only on the way out the door did she ask how he was feeling.

Because of the snow here, she has had the last two days off work, so I haven’t had her kids. I am honestly shocked that in those two days she hasn’t called to see if Jarod was alright.

I treat her kids like family, what my kids get, they get. When I do the grocery shopping I always make sure that their favorites are here, and allow them to choose dinner one night a week. Did I mention that she kicks in $20 a month for groceries? That $20 doesn’t really even cover what her kids eat here in a week.

So what do you all think I should do here? I’m so tired of waking up angry every morning that the kids come here. I love their kids, it’s not them I’m angry at, it the parents. I would really like your honest opinions here, because I’m about ready to snap.

The good news is that Jarod does not have the flu, the bad news is that he has pneumonia. I don’t know if I spelled that right, but he has it. The doctor said that he thought it was in the very beginning stages and sent us to the hospital for a chest x-ray to confirm it. I knew something was wrong, trust your instincts Moms!

Anyway, he’s on antibiotics now. He was so upset about missing school this week. Today was the Jump-A-Thon for the Heart Assc. and then the Valentines party. Thankfully Mother Nature stepped up and snowed us all in, snow day! There’s a good chance there will be no school tomorrow either. They are calling for up to 9 inches over today and into this evening.

I’m on duty for cupcakes for Jarod’s class tomorrow. Wheter or not he’s there I still need to send them in for the party. I’m debating on when to make them though because of the possible cancelation.

I completely blew my diet lastnight. Pizza, ice cream, wine….the works! I know it was just being scared for Jarod. Like my ass getting bigger will help his lungs. Today’s another day.

Just so you all know I am trying to comment on your blogs, but for some reason the site won’t always let me, but I’m reading them.  

Hello from the sick ward. Jarod was up all night coughing his little head off, his fever finally broke at 2am. The earliest the doctor can see him is at 1pm, so we’re waiting…tissue in hand.

Today the Thomas the Tank Engine tickets went on sale. I rock! I scored Orchestra pit seats, stage right, on the isle! The on the isle part is the most important you see, because when the characters come dancing through the theater, and they always do, Logan will be able to shake their hands. I probably should bring smelling salts for him.

Once when I took Jarod to see Toy Story 2 on Ice for his 5th birthday, we had rink side seats. Big Al sat in my lap and Jarod  actually got to touch Buzz and Woody, he nearly fainted. I mean he looked like one of those women from the footage of a Beatles concert, so now it’s Logan’s turn.

Hopefully, provided they don’t get me sicker, I will be up and running by Saturday. I have a date with Rod Stewart you know. So that’s all from here, I’m off to strip and disinfect all the beds. Thank God for Lysol and bleach!

Hello all, sorry I’ve been missing this weekend but I’ve not been feeling very well. The kids are sick, more than likely the flu.

So I drug myself to the grocery store and stocked up on popsicles, Jello, ginger ale, honey, ect…and a gallon of Purell and disinfecting wipes.

I really hope Jarod rebounds by Wednesday, I’d hate for him to miss the Valentine’s party at school. I’m taking them both to the doctor tomorrow.

I’m off to make Jello parfaits and egg noodles. In case anyone else wants a great, easy to digest food for when your sick, make egg noodles. 

 Boil the noodles as usual, when they are done put them in a frying pan with some butter, salt and a couple wisked up eggs. Just keep stirring them until the egg is cooked, it will stick to the noodles. We swear by them, on an upset belly they are really easy to keep down.

Take care all, I’ll try and check in on you all later.