I love my kids.  But the bickering happening in the next room is driving me to the point that I'm going to make one of those countdown tickers to let me know just how soon school will start.

It's not really fighting.  Lord knows I saw enough of that with my two older brothers to recognize it easily.  No, this is that ever-so-special "I'm so annoyed with life so going to pick on you" tone of voice.  The annoyment is cause by the fact they have to do chores.  Collin, being the oldest, feels he is in charge of Sean.  Sean, being Sean, is ignoring him.  Miriam, who is running a slight fever and supposed to be resting, is in the middle, being her general pesky younger sister self.

So there's a lot of "Sean!  Sean!  Sean!  SEAN! Sean would you answer me?  SEAN!" and "No Mim!  I don't want to play dolls!  I said NO!"  And lets not forget the heart-warming eyeroll from the eldest when I asked him to get the plates off the table.  "But I just need cups to fill the dishwasher."  I understand that.  But since you're here at the table, take these with you.

eyeroll.

sigh.

Maura is at school - last week of the summer program for her class.  So she's at least out from underfoot.  She's been on a tear again.  There's crayon marks on my newly painted walls to show for it.

However, the pile of Oxyclean on the laundry room floor?  All me baby!  I knocked that bucket off the dryer and of course, it had to spill all over.  Josh was on a call so I just shoved it all to one side, to be vacuumed up later. 

Oh yes, the fun never ends around here!

Wednesday, August 06, 2008 10:00:22 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

Yes, I've hit that level of crazy - I decided to try my hand at composting this year.  I'm not as dedicated as I could have been, but what I have done has turned out pretty darn decently.  It's not a big pile of moldy nastiness.  It actually smells like compost!

Someone on my diaper making board posted this link which shows you how to make a compost bin out of a garbage can.  Which is what I did...while Josh wasn't at home so I could avoid the "Uh...why are you putting holes in a garbage can?" line of questioning that could have ended up with him calling up my therapist and insisting I have finally lost it. 

But it's turned out well.  I threw in a lot of the weeds and leaves we pulled out from the areas we planted flowers this year.  Then things like leftover salad, strawberry tops, the bunch of bananas that turned bad about a day after we brought them home from the grocery store (I've never seen bananas turn that quickly!) 

Of course, then there was the "Uh...so what do we do with it now?" question.  And then life gave me the answer.  Last year, I tried growing tomatoes...which I was somewhat successful with.  They were planted in the two cement boxes that flank the side door. In the spring, I decided to pull up all the dead plants and put some petunias there instead.  The flowers did okay, but the bed got neglected and then when I went to weed it, I discovered I had tomato plants growing again!  One vine has three little green tomatoes on it this week!

So my new plan is that in the fall, I shall clear out both those boxes and make that a little kitchen garden.  The soil there is awful, so I am going to use the compost there, mix it up well, and hopefully it will do nice things in the spring. 

Monday, August 04, 2008 11:03:35 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

Don't worry, my three blog fans, I'm not giving this up ;)

I'm just debating a site name change and more "me" looking blog.  It seems weird that my site is "Life as Mommy" when none of my kids call me "mommy".  Not even Maura.  I'm Mom or Mama.  Or "Mom...Mom...MooOOOoom..Mom Mom Mom" or "Mama! Mama! Mama!". 

I'll have to discuss this with the tech department (Josh) and also see what the web designer (me) can come up with.  But don't expect changes overnight.  I still have more walls to paint.  Lunch to eat.  Medicine to dispense.  Laundry to do.  And all that jazz. 

Friday, August 01, 2008 12:36:48 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

This is one of those times my Catholicism kicks in, because I have the urge to say "Bless me Father, for I have sinned.  It has been two weeks since my last blog post."

I can't help it.  And I don't care.

But I've been a busy little homemaker.  And I use the term "homemaker" literally.  I've been painting walls. Repeatedly.  The same four walls.  And the new living room is looking very cool and very colorful.  I'd post a picture, but some small child wandered off with my camera.  And I'm researching canning.  Yes, canning.  Like making my own delicious jams and jellies.  Plus, some decorating.  Making the house that home that reflects who I am...or at least, who I imagine I am.

I've always been the gal who loves her stuff.  When we moved from our college town to Arkansas after Josh graduated from college, some of our stuff was left behind with friends to be shipped.  Some items never made it to me, despite messages and making sure they had enough money to ship it.  Books, mixing bowls, all my shoes.  And I mourned those items.  I like my stuff. 

But in the past few years, I went from a stuff-lover to a slight horder.  I not only became attached to my stuff, but the kids stuff - toys, clothes, shoes.  Soon we were wading through stuff.  And because I felt I couldn't decorate until I got a hold of the stuff situation, our house was just a big pile of clutter with plain walls.

And then, a couple months ago, I had a breakthrough.  Searching for pictures my grandfather took during WWII in one of their two storage units, my mother and I came across my grandmother's desk.  The desk that was the first item of furniture she bought as a married woman.  I loved that desk.  I loved how it folded down to reveal all its little compartments, and the little door that I was certain as a child held magical things behind it.  And as I gushed over the desk, my mother informed me she was going to give it to my sister.

I was slightly crushed.  I love that desk.  I love my grandmother.  I didn't say anything to my mother, because she had made up her mind, and I didn't want to seem jealous or greedy...even if I was really both.  But then, as I drove home, I kept thinking about the desk.  And then it occurred to me that I still had my grandmother's love even if I didn't have her desk.  I have the ring she gave me for my 21st birthday - the amethyst ring she always wore when I was a child, that I loved because it reminded me of a flower.  I have the ring, her love, and wonderful memories of time spent with her.  Not having the desk wasn't going to change that.  At the end of the day, the desk was just stuff. 

Oh sure, I'd still love to have the desk.  But I'm not going to be heartbroken about it.  And I don't know how, but that moment made me start looking at everything else in the house.  What's just stuff, and what I really want to keep. 

Suddenly, I was able to go through things ruthlessly - the toys, the clothes, the stuff.  I'd give a sigh over an item or two, and then pack it up.  Some things were donated, some were just trashed (really, who needs 11 year old Duplo blocks?  I think we got our money's worth out of them.)  All those shoes?  Most went.  Kitchen items I just don't use - why save?  Yes, that little pink coat was great, but do I need to save it on the off chance I have another girl someday?  No. 

Now, the two boxes of maternity clothes...those stay.  Because you know, if I get rid of those, I will get pregnant a month later.  Why jinx myself? 

Oh, I'm no where near done with sorting through all the stuff.  But I'm in more control of it all.  And in sorting through all that stuff, I found some of the things I really do love.  Like my little glass bottles that have gone from windowsill to windowsill are now on a shelf in my kitchen.  Right by my Kermit the Frog "Muppet News" mug that my Grandma Gen gave me when I was a child. 

It's very freeing, getting rid of the stuff that's holding me back and getting out the stuff I love.  And painting walls fun bright odd colors.  My home is feeling more me day by day. 

Thursday, July 31, 2008 9:57:07 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

I was about 11 years old when we got cable.  A very big deal in our household to say the least. 

The man came to install it, and once he got the box hooked up, he punched in the number 34.  Channel 34 was Mtv...and it was back when Mtv had VJ's and played actual music videos.  And this was the video that was playing.

I remember jumping on the couch to the song and thinking that the band was really cool.  I also wondered what the heck they were singing about and my mother giving me a version of Bloody Sunday (we're part Irish, if you haven't caught on by now.)  Years laster, I actually got to hear it live, with my college friends - now that was a night.  A few weeks later, my friend Anne and I and her friend Jill stalked them hung around after another concert and actually got to sorta meet Bono and Anne got a kiss on the cheek from him and a couple autographs before collapsing to the ground.  No, I was never jealous of Anne.  She was way more of a fan than I could ever dream of, and I was more excited about being there to watch her finally meet Bono than if I had met him myself.  If there was a soundtrack to my college years, U2 would be it. 

Anyway, now you know my history with this video and song and band..  Now enjoy them, live at Red Rocks, playing "Sunday Bloody Sunday".

Monday, July 14, 2008 6:55:58 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

I saw this quote a couple weeks ago and love it.  It seems so true. 

“"It seems that for success in science and art, a dash of autism is essential." Dr. Hans Asperger

Monday, July 14, 2008 12:34:32 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

Last night, I woke up to the sound of someone leaving their room and heading into the bathroom.  After a while, I realized no one had come out of the bathroom.  Afraid that I hadn't closed the gate properly to the girls room and Maura had wandered out, I got up to check.  Nope, two girls asleep in their beds.  Checked on the boys...one missing.

Then Collin opened up the bathroom door and told me he wasn't feeling well, his stomach hurt...and then ran back into the bathroom to vomit.

ugh.

This morning, he was better, and yet in a sharing mood.  Wanted to give me details of his whole gross night.  Which I did not want to hear.

Meanwhile, the girls got up and Miriam started freaking and yelling for me.  "MOOO-OOOM!  Maura took her pull up off!  And POOPED on the PILLOWS!"

And good morning to you too.

Miriam deemed it all "disgusting", and I have to agree with her.  What's bad is at 2:30 am, as Collin threw up, I thought "Oh dang.  We're out of Lysol spray."  So today, Maura and I ran up to the market and got Lysol and crackers and Sprite.  I'm also kicking myself for not getting the pillow covers on the girls pillows.  I can only take so much, so the pillows are just going to be thrown away.  Sure, I can try washing them, but I have two hundred other things to do...like explain to Mim why she can't scream about every. little. annoying. thing. her brothers do. 

Sunday, July 13, 2008 12:19:34 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

I know you boys have reached the "wrestling and headlock" stage of boyhood.  And it's nice that you have each other to do this with, as you both enjoy it equally.

However, can you also come up with one other hobby that doesn't require sitting on your brother, or grappling his neck, or twisting arms?  Especiallhy when you're sitting next to me on the couch?  I'd REALLY appreciate that. 

Oh, and during the Sign of Peace at Mass is not the time to arm wrestle.  Arm wrestling is not peaceful.  Neither is squeezing your sibling's hand really really hard. 

Saturday, July 12, 2008 6:20:29 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

That's the bill I got today for Maura's orthotics.  $770.  Thank goodness it said "This is just a statement, waiting for insurance to pay".  Or else I might have had a heart attack on the front lawn.

Really.  $770.  For molded plastic that slides into the shoes.  No straps, no velcro, no padding. The AFO's that we got that went up past her ankle, had straps and such, those were $1700.  So by comparison, these are quite the bargain.  Either way, glad insurance covers them. 

Saturday, July 12, 2008 1:13:22 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

If there is such a thing as tech cred, I just went down a couple notches.

Okay, usually, I'm pretty somewhat knowledgeable about computer things.  I figured out Front Page and Publisher myself to build web pages.  I figured out the system to build Wonderpuzzle.  I know what an external hard drive is.  I've heard of Silverlight (but don't ask me exactly what that is...)

But, ask me to explain what I want done to a website of mine to professionals who know what they're talking about and doing, while four kids run amok inside as it's raining outside, and the dog is pacing back and forth, and you've had a fifteen minute warning that this was becoming a reality and no coffee...sigh...I even forgot the words "menu bar".  WTH?  I should know that!

So me, the four kids, the laptop and the cell phone are going up to the coffee shop.  So when these nice professionals who are working on Wonderpuzzle for this weekend's Give Camp call me back to ask more questions, maybe I'll make more sense.

Saturday, July 12, 2008 10:40:58 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

My friend's husband is in a band, that's in a contest to open for Coldplay.  It's whoever gets the most votes, so she's asking for votes.  As this would be really cool!

Here's the blurb - and we thank you :) 

Please go to http://www.coldplayontour.com/wwdc/ and vote for my band, Juniper Lane, to open Coldplay's DC show at the Verizon Center. We should be the 11th video down (or the 5th video from the bottom) - look for a woman in a white top singing into a microphone. And as you can only vote once per IP address, PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS, either through email or on here or MySpace or whatever. Please get them to vote for us.

You all rock. Thanks for showing up!

Friday, July 11, 2008 6:38:12 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

The milk Maura dumped on my laptop didn't damage the hard drive!  It started right up this morning!  Yea!

Of course, the keyboard is all sorts of scewed up, so I can't really use said laptop.  So I'm still on Josh's computer.  Boo.

Maybe God is trying to ensure that I finish decluttering my house like I started.  Guess I should begin with putting all the shoes and stuff back into the coat closet, which I spent yesterday afternoon clearing out.  What I learned from that is 6 people = a ton of shoes!  I can't even donate Maura's old shoes because most have the inner sole ripped out to accomodate her orthotics.

Which reminds me, I need to call the orthotist - Maura just doesn't seem to walk well in her new orthotics. 

Also reminds me I need to call the neurologist and geneticist for appointments (neuro, 6 month check, genetics,  because of the seizure.)  Oh, and Maura never had her 5 yr well kid check up.  Totally blanked on that...probably because she sees so many doctors!  I did however take her glasses up to get replaced, as they're all scratched up, the lenses.

Wow, I can almost hear my therapist saying "You're circling Phoebe..."  I call it mental leap frog.  What was I originally talking about?  Oh yeah, computer.  Josh has said we'll start shopping for a new computer for me.  He said laptop.  Laptops are nice because I can take them out with me.  But desktops have a longer rate of survival.  Really, they need to make a hyrbrid - a desktop that can detach and be taken out as a laptop. 

But enough computer time.  I have doctors to call and children to harrass.  Collin complained that they couldn't clean their room yesterday because they have no storage bins like the girls do. First, they do have storage containers.  Nice portable ones to hold all their Legos and Pokemon cards and such.  But obviously that's not good enough for them to pick up their room.

So I went to Target last night, got them each two baskets to put stuff in.  No excuses!  Bwahahaha! 

Friday, July 11, 2008 10:12:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

Maura snatched my pretty full can of Dr. Pepper today (while I was in the bathroom.  Really.  Will I ever learn?)  By the time I realized it was not on the table where I left it, the can was empty.

Apparently the caffeine high has worn off.  Because she's upstairs screeching about not being let into the boys bedroom.  As the boys have been cleaning their room, and she loves to dump and destroy, I don't blame them for barring her entrance.

However, the combination of her screeching and the dog barking up a storm because I've banished him to the yard on the lead because he keeps needing to poop...well, it's really quite a lot.

wait...all has grown quiet.  This can't be good.  Oh, wait.  The dog is barking and Maura's in her room with Miriam, who has decided to blare her iCarly cd...again...

no wonder the cat spends his days hiding in my closet.  Maybe I should join him.

Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:35:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

"Angel" by The Corrs reminds me of my friend mom, who passed away a few years ago.  She was an amazing, unforgettable person who was full of laughter, and because of organ donors, I was able to know her.  So listen to the song and look into giving up your organs when you don't need them anymore ; ) 

Wednesday, July 09, 2008 10:09:21 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0]