Photo Shoot Gone Awry

Thumbelina and I have some new friends at church - a new mom who just had a baby in January. And this was the outfit that she so generously bought for the Little Miss. Isn't it just the sweetest? So I took some pictures this morning to e-mail to my friend. And I have a question for you; I didn't get anything for this lady's baby, even though I meant to (January and February were a tad stressed with craziness)...and now, if I get something for Thumbelina's new friend, would it look like I just gave her something because she gave us something? Has too much time passed? Should I just leave it alone? That's today's dilemma.

The other day, Husband brought me home a triple chocolate donut - this months feature at Tim's. And it was delicious. And I shared with Thumbelina who thought it was pretty grand as well:


So I've been absent this week and I've missed you all. Really, I have. I've been busy doing my office work in the evenings after Thumbelina has gone to sleep; Husband has been home to hold her, thus my free time. And I've been doing it at night before my assistant comes in the next day to do it, because it needs to be done right. It's not her fault really; more mine. I should have hired someone with experience. Now I'll know better for next time.

Tomorrow our families are having an Open House for us, so I'm sure Thumbelina will have her game-face-scowl on. Stay tuned for pictures!

What Finger Are You?

You Are a Pinky

You are fiercely independent, and possibly downright weird.A great communicator, you can get along with almost anyone.You are kind and sympathetic. You support all your friends - and love them for who they are. You get along well with: The Ring Finger Stay away from: The Thumb

What Finger Are You?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatfingerareyouquiz/

Does anybody know why, since switching to Beta Blogger, the html codes always come up with an error whenever I copy and paste it? Is there something else I should be doing? It's driving me crazy. Short trip, I know.

So which finger are you? And oh yah, it shows up in the preview but not the actual post - in case you couldn't guess, I'm the Pinky Finger.

A Medley of Stuff

Yesterday, Miss Thumbelina decided that our day should start at 4:45. In the morning. Before any human being should ever be allowed up. Oy. As a result, I was crabby. Extremely. So much so that I just didn't want to go home, so I didn't. Thumbelina and I went to my Mom's instead, where I thought for sure we'd stay until she finished her morning nap. Oh what a fool I was. She had other plans that did not include napping of any sort. So then Muther and I decided to go for a drive to put the Little Miss to sleep, and we ended up at Wal Mart. Where we shopped. And Thumbelina had a Farley's cookie for lunch as she was wheeled throughout the store. Then, since we were in the same town as my Grandmuther, we decided to go visit her and Muther's sister - Aunt. We had a nice time with Grandmuther and Aunt and got back home in time to get the boys from school. But no happy nappy for Miss Thumbelina. Oh no. And remember, she'd been up since before 5:00. In the morning. We had take-0ut for supper and I was able to get her asleep by 6:30. In the evening.

But it was a long night. Extremely long. The longest we've experienced yet. So I'm thinking she had way too much stimulation, coupled with being extremely overtired.

Today she was up at her regular 6:15 ish. In the morning. And it was a more normal day with more normal happy nappy's.

*****
So this month the CCAA only sent out 2 days of referrals. 2 days. My heart goes out to everybody who didn't make the cut. It's mind-boggling, really.

*****
My friend, RDC, who was supposed to be in our travel group but was skipped because she was asked a question in the review room, is with her daughter Cassia in China right this moment! And what a sweetheart Cassia is! So precious. Congratulations RDC!!!

*****
I put pig tails in Thumbelina's hair today. She was not impressed. At all. Extremely unimpressed. And I gave her another Farley's after lunch, which, after she put it to her mouth, she threw down on her highchair with disgust. Have you ever seen an 11-month-old look disgusted? It's quite something. But she willingly ate an Arrowroot. Tigger at the Farley's when he came home from school. I know.

*****
We've convinced Thumbelina that it is okay to actually bring food to her mouth by herself. None of the babies in our group would put food in their mouths at first...but finally Thumbelina has overcome. Bring on the mess!

*****
We have had Thumbelina in our arms for exactly one month now, and I had a flowery post all planned out in my head, and there it sits. In my head.

*****
I do believe I'm out of things to talk about, so I'll sign off now.

I am so cute! Like my new shoes??


I can touch my head!


My Daddy is so silly, putting my tights on my head!


I am so embarrassed! My Mom didn't even wash my face!


What on earth did you do to my hair???

Thank God You're Here

Did you all watch that show last night? Thank God You're Here. I laughed so hard I about peed my pants. So funny. But then again, I'm easily amused.



So Beastly is just fine after eating all that chocolate. Stupid dog. He got sick on both couches, on the living room floor, on the office floor which happened to include Shaggy's coat because Shag just left it to drop where he took it off, and in his cage. Too much information, I know. It was just really, really disgusting.



Thumbelina likes Molly now, and even sticks her piggies into Molly's mouth and giggles. I mean her toes. We call them piggies (this little piggy went to market...) . And I'm so excited because this girl loves to shop and loves shoes!!! Today I put a teeny pair of runners on her, and as I was loosening the velcro, Thumbelina stuck her foot into the air toward the shoe. Then once they were on, she kept banging the shoes together to make noise, and she was banging her feet on the floor. It was way cute.



We had a nice Easter spent with Husband's family, except only half of his siblings could be there. Everybody loved Thumbelina and she even smiled. Shocking, I know. Not that she would smile at the family, but that she would smile. At people she doesn't know.



She's still not sleeping unless she's being held. Last night was pretty rough, but she did have a new kind of food, so maybe that was the problem. Tonight she only lasted an hour and a half in the play pen. Right now she's with Husband on the couch. They might even both be asleep. She had a peaceful afternoon nap, so I'm still hoping she'll sleep better tonight and not awaken so much, even if we do have to hold her.

So hang on to your seats and get prepared for cuteness overload:



Conducting business with Grandpa (notice my hairbrush...I like my hairbrush):



Playing with Shaggy:


Almost up on my knees:


Cuteness overload:


Meeting my Auntie (we almost have the same birthday):

Ugh

When your son leaves the closet door open, and the dog goes into said closet and finds hidden chocolate bunnies and eats them, and then is sick for the rest of the evening, even though the vomit is chocolate, it is rather disgusting. Just thought you should know.

Less Sleep Deprived

Wow, it's been a few days since I blogged. I don't blog when my assistant is here working, because she doesn't know I have a blog, and I don't want her to know. It's just our little secret.


So last night, Thumbelina slept pretty good. Husband is feeling better - did I tell you he was sick? I made him start taking the antibiotics that we took to China in case of emergencies, and he's feeling a lot better now. So he's able to help me out more at night with the little Miss. She went to bed last night at 8:00 pm, got up at 11:30 pm but Husband was able to get her back to sleep, then she slept until 2:30 am! In the playpen no-less. She was up again at 5:30, I changed her diaper thinking that we'd be able to appease her with sleepy playtime in our bed, but she fell back to sleep in my arms until 7:20 am. 7:20 am!!! Good thing it was pizza day at school today.


I am having trouble getting her to sleep when I put her to bed. When I lay her down in the playpen, she wakes right up and starts to cry. When Husband lays her down, she stays asleep. So my house is still messy but it is what it is. I'm glad that it's Easter and the boys have a 4 day weekend, because she adores them and they can keep her happy while I get some cleaning and laundry done.


So pictures:

Helping Mom at the office:


I have silly brothers:


Lovin' my bath:


Playing with my food:

Happy April

Tigger has been enjoying April Fools Day - Mom, there's Tweety behind you! April Fools!!! This has been going on all day. He's quite the character.



Alfred's Mom asked how old Thumbelina is - she will be 11 months old on Friday. Her birthday is May 6. The 9 month sleepers that she wore home from China aren't fitting quite as roomily as they were a week ago; this girl has really grown in the 3 weeks since we've had her. As has her hair.



AM also mentioned that she'd like to hear how we are getting along with a little one. I love it! I love having a baby in the house again! I'm not loving the clutter and unswept floors and clothes everywhere, though. Today it's making me crazy. I told Zoomer that he needed to do the dishes for me this afternoon. He asked why. I said because I can't keep up. My dishwasher broke last fall and it hasn't been an issue, being without one, until this week; Husband is going to buy me a new one, hopefully tomorrow. We've started using paper plates, and we've been eating a lot of cereal for supper.



So we are very sleep deprived here at The Funny Farm. Last night Thumbelina went to bed at 8:00 pm, awoke at 11:30 pm and 12:30 am at which time I gave her a bottle, then awoke again at 2:30 am, 3:30 am and 4:30 am, at which time she had another bottle, and then she was up at 6:00 am for the day. Last night the poor little dear was screaming, but she wasn't awake. At least Husband said she wasn't awake. I was rocking her with my eyes closed. She starts out sleeping in the playpen beside our bed, but when she gets up for her bottle, I rock her in our bed and we fall asleep together. I do know this is normal behaviour for babies who have just recently joined their families, but I don't know if it would stop if I were alert and awake enough to put her back in the playpen.



It feels very much like having a newborn in the house, in that we're both getting to know each other and we're trying to figure out sleeping and a schedule.



There are a lot of people who decide not to let anybody (not even grandparents) hold their baby for the first 6 months after they are home, to help promote attachment and bonding. And that's great if that's their choice, but for our family we are letting close family members hold Thumbelina. We are still the only ones who will be doing her basic care, such as feeding, changing, bathing, etc., so she's knowing that the stupid nanny with glasses will change my bum, so I'll complain and hold my arms out to her, and the other stupid nanny tickles my belly and makes me laugh so I'll hold my hands out to him. That's my lame attempt at trying to be funny.



And because Cute One asked to see more pictures, here is a mini photo-shoot I did this morning of Thumbelina all dressed up and ready for her first appearance at church. We lost her bow in the Tran.

Small Miracles and Bizarre Changes

Small Miracles - last night I had 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. That hasn't happened since last spring. Wow. Although, I did say to Husband, 6:30 on a Saturday morning is really an ungodly hour to have to get up. He responded with, She was raised Buddhist.

Bizarre Changes - Before we went to China, I couldn't eat breakfast. All I could handle was my 3 cups of coffee. Lunch was usually a bowl of cereal around 11:00 am, and then supper. While in China, I had breakfast everyday because one never knew what lunch would be. Especially on the days it was MacDonald's - I don't like MacD's here in the Great White North, so I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like it in China. Now after coming home? I'm starving when I first get up, lunch is usually around 2:00 in the afternoon, and I'm not hungry for supper. So I haven't been eating supper. My stomach is still on China time.

Thumbelina has been practicing her crawling skills. She has quite the technique as she pulls with one elbow and pushes with one knee, but it gets here where she wants to be:

Please ignore the shnozzy nose and carrots all over her sleeve. I'm blaming that on Husband.

One Week Home

Our first week home together with Thumbelina has flown by. I guess when you're in a constant state of exhaustion, it's easy to forget what day it really is.

On Monday I had to work; and I was resentful for it. And as a result, Thumbelina slept way too long and was up all night. When you have a family business, you don't have a choice but to work and things needed to be done.

On Tuesday, I had personal space issues. I decided not to work and to spend my day with Thumbelina, playing with her and doing all the stuff I've been dreaming about for the last two years. Except my assistant had other ideas and followed me from room to room asking me questions. Our office is attached to our house which really sucks sometimes. I think she got the hint when she said to me, "You don't mind me following you around, bugging you, do you?" and I didn't answer; I just smiled. I need my personal space, people. Don't enter my personal space.

Or maybe that happened on Wednesday. I really don't know. But yesterday she was mad at me and wouldn't look me in the eye or talk to me. Whatever.

Oh, I remember Wednesday. Wednesday my brother's house caught fire and I looked after my 2 nieces and 2 nephews for the day. Their neighbour saw smoke coming from their garage and banged on the windows, waking them up. Their garage, mudroom and back bedroom were destroyed and they won't be able to go back into the house until the water and smoke damage is cleaned from everything. I'm really thankful nobody was injured.

So today is Friday. I've been having a hard time staying awake past 6:00 pm, but last night I was able to stay up until 8:30 pm. Party on! Thumbelina slept okay in Beijing, but has since regressed. I knew it would happen, but I secretly hoped that we would be part of the chosen few who would come home with a baby that would continue to sleep. Last night she slept in my arms - she had to have her cheek touching my bare arm continuously, and she awoke a few times screaming. The screaming is new.

She adores her brothers and now hollers at them. It is the funniest thing. She just looks at one of them a yells at the top of her lungs. Not because she's angry, just to get their attention. Tigger is feeling a little left out, so I'm trying to give him extra hugs.

Sorry, no pictures this post, the Little Miss is starting to crab and needs some lunch.

We're Still Alive!

We're home! Had a great trip! Are experiencing jet-lag! Thumbelina is awesome! Will write more once I'm coherent!

I just love this picture - it was taken about 30 minutes after Thumbelina met her brothers:


I wasn't going to buy an excersaucer, seeing as how she'll probably be walking soon, but Husband talked me into it. It was only 60 bucks. At least half the cost of when Zoomer was a baby. Who knew. Anyhoo, as you can tell, she loves it:

This Is It!

This is it! It's really happening! This will be my last post until we're home with Thumbelina - March 24th. You can follow along on our journey at The Story of You with our personal page being Kallie. Wish me luck that I don't mess anything up in sending e-mails and pictures to Tina...

So. I'm trying not to be sad about something because I've got better things to do with my time than worry about someone who obviously doesn't like me, but when everybody and their uncle says, Have a great trip! even people I've never met but whom I talk with on the phone because of the business - one girl I've that I've talked to a total of 3 times in my life, including yesterday, is super-excited for us - yet still one of the boys' teachers hasn't even acknowledged our referral or trip. She walked right on by me yesterday as we're both calling our kids at the school snow-hill. Just very hurtful. But that's her problem 'cuz I'M GETTIN MY BABY!!!

Our itinerary, in case some of yous are wondering, we leave the city tomorrow at 7:00 am and arrive in Vancouver at 12:15 pm (9:15 local time). Then we read some books, snack on some snacks and leave Vancouver at 12:35 local time (3:35 home time), arriving in Beijing on March 10 at 4:00 pm local time, which I think is 3:00 am home time.

Sunday, March 11: Fly to Hunan (1:45 - 4:10 pm)

Monday, March 12: Thumbelina Day (Yippeeee!!!)

Saturday, March 17: Fly to Beijing (1:50 - 4:05 pm)

Saturday, March 24: Fly Home, leaving Beijing at 2:40 pm and arriving back to the city at 4:10 the same day. I can handle a 1 1/2 hour flight. Bwahahahahaha.

And now I'm off to pack. Really.

Husband is Funny

He keeps me sane. His saneness cancels out my craziness. We are a good combination.

This morning Zoomer was quite upset with me because I didn't do laundry last night. I told him he didn't ask me to do laundry. Apparently all of his clothes, and I checked each and every drawer in his room, are in the washing machine washed, and he just presumed I was going to put them in the dryer for him last night. I would have if he had asked, but since I didn't know this was his plan, I didn't. He can be frustrating at times, that one. He's stuck wearing church pants to school today.

So Husband informed me this morning that he wants to leave the house tomorrow morning by 9:30 (TO CHINA - OH YAH!) And that's after dropping the dogs off at the vets.

And I told him that I needed to do all the paycheques tomorrow before we go.

And he said I could stay up all night tonight and do them.

Me: But what are we going to do all day if we're only spending the night in the city? (Our flight is Friday morning)

Husband: Shop.

Me: And where are we going to put all our purchases?

Husband: In the Tran.

Me: And where are we going to put all of our luggage and souveniers that we bring home from China?

Husband: Oh, we won't have Zoomer with us. He'll be staying at the orphanage.

Me Laughing: Good one!

We tease Zoomer that we're making an even trade - he's staying at the orphanage and Thumbelina is coming home with us. We're so bad. And this morning was one of those mornings when we're tempted to go through with our idle threat.

Busted!

Can you guess what this is:

1 Browser pay per use @ $30.72/MB x 3.4804 MB, totalling $106.92
161 Text Messages Sent
60 Text Messages Received
1 Download of a Screen Saver

Anybody? Anybody?

Give up?

This is what happens when your 12-year-old sneaks an extra company phone and uses for 2 weeks before getting caught. 2 WEEKS. 2. Totalling $202.96. TWO HUNDRED BUCKS. Yah, he'll be paying that from his own money. It was kind of funny though, as Husband and I were going over the details of the bill with him, I could see Zoomer gulping every now and then. Kids.

Oh, and I'm still at a big fat zippo for R-R-Roll Up The Rim.

Spring is in the Air

Not everywhere I look around, just at Tim Horton's. It is officially R-R-Roll up the Rim time again! I must admit, since having the flu a few weeks ago, my coffee consumption has gone down, but I still do average 1 a day from Tim's (instead of 3), and that's not including my morning coffee. So Husband has already won a free coffee - with his first rim even. AND he was the first customer to get a R-R-Roll up the Rim cup because he stopped in just after midnight on the day it started. Me? Zippity-doo. This is giving me a feeling of de-ja-vu. Last year I think I won a donut. For the entire contest.

So yesterday was a snow day and the boys enjoyed being lazy. Tigger wanted me to draw him a spider-man, and while I'm no artist, anything I draw is wonderful in the eyes of my 7-year-old. He drew Doc Oc, I drew a web, he drew a spider and he cut everything out. I cut the spider out for him because it was tricky around all those legs. He spent hours playing with his paper super-hero and villian. Hours. It was way cute.

I did some more painting in Thumbelina's room. I love the colour I chose, but I just wasn't happy with how it looked. It was boring. And I needed more paint anyway for touch-ups, so I bought some a shade darker, and some glaze. My idea was to just kind of rub the paint on the wall for interest. But I didn't like it. So before I finished, I decided to sponge over top of it. When I did the last wall of the rubbing, I used a lot more water than I had been using, and when it dried I loved it. Except I had already started the sponging...which was looking hideous. So I re-did the rubbing over top of the sponging, using extra water. I think I like it. I haven't actually looked at it today but my arm feels like it is literally going to fall off so I'm leaving it. I'm also going to paint a vine with leaves and small pink daisies around the edges where the paint technique meets up with the flat paint on the ceiling. I hope it turns out.

But today I need to shop and clean but I think Muther and Sylvie (my SIL) are coming on Monday to help me paint.

Teetering on the Edge

I'm teetering on the edge of meltdowns. Not quite insanity. Maybe, though. You know it's bad when you have to fight back tears in the bank. The Bank, people.

One of the requirements for our adoption is to give the orphanage a donation. We are glad to do this. They've taken great care of Thumbelina for all these months, it's the least we can do. The donation has to be in brand new US 100 dollar bills. Brand-spanking new. A year and a half ago, I asked our bank for the required monies. The girl at the bank, when she gave me the money, gave it to me in 50's and 20's - some of it was new, most of it was not. Her statement when she gave me the money was We do this for a lot of people, it doesn't have to be in 100's. Um, excuse me, but yes it does. So we just held onto it and decided we would exchange it for the new 100's when it got closer for us to go to China.

Which brings us to yesterday. We are now with a new bank, I have very bad feelings towards our old bank, very bad, our new bank treats us wonderfully. Except for yesterday. Our account manager is awesome and gets things done for us. We requested the brand new 100's and he said Mr. Branch Manager will have them tomorrow. Husband talked to the Mr. Branch Manager the next day and Mr. Branch Manager said Why don't I hold on to this for you and you can come in to get it when it gets closer to your trip. Awesome.

So yesterday I walked in to the bank and said Is Mr. Bank Manager here? He has some money for me.

Crabby Bank Lady: No, he doesn't. Mr. Bank Manager doesn't have any money.

Me: Yes, he does. He had brand new US 100's for me. I was told to come in and see him about it.

Crabby Bank Lady: Well he doesn't. I'll have to order it in for you. You can pick it up tomorrow.

Me (Trying not to cry): But what if it's a snow day?

Perky Lady at the Help Desk sitting beside Crabby Lady: Oh, well we'll still be open!

Me (Thinking to myself): You don't have kids, do you.

Perky Lady: Where are you going?

Me: China

Perky Lady: Oh how exciting! You know, my husband goes to China every so often, and he's taken US money, but it's never had to be brand new before.

Me: This is for an adoption.

Perky Lady: Congratulations! That's wonderful! Girl or boy?

Me: Girl.

Crabby Lady (getting a little less crabby): My cousin adopted two girls from China. They're sweet.

So the bank people said they could hold my money for two days, since I wasn't sure I could make it in today to pick it up. And today is a snow day. We had freezing rain last night.

When I got home, I told Husband my tail of woe. He said The money is at the bank. They just don't know what they're talking about. So he talked to Mr. Bank Manager this morning, who is cancelling my second order for brand new US 100's because he already has my money. Which he's not really supposed to do (hold money like that), but for us, he did it.

So a warning to you - don't push me because I will break.

I e-mailed my agency yesterday because I just need clarification and reassurance on some paperwork, and I have yet to hear back from them. Which is not helping my state of mind. I think I've figured out the answer to my questions on my own, but still. And honestly, if we do another adoption (which Husband said isn't going to happen), I will pick a different agency. Because there have been a few things now that haven't sat well with me.

In other news, Lola, our friend Trix, and I went to Buffalo and picked up Fil from the airport. And we had such a normal trip. Completely normal. Boring, almost. So different from our last trip to Buffalo.

I picked up some more clothes for Thumbelina, a princess chair, and doll-shaped bookshelf. I'm so so so excited. Lola and Trix both think I'm spoiling her. I just stuck my tongue out at them and said I've waited a long time for this.

Don't push me. I will break.

Speaking of Hillbillies

My Hillbilly Name:

Your Hillbilly Name Is...

Sandra Dee Hogg

Hillbilly Name Generator

So what's yours?

And as always, for some reason when I do these silly blog-quizzes and copy the html code, it never works out for me. It used to before super-blogger took over, but now not so much. So here it is: http://www.blogthings.com/hillbillynamegenerator/

I Am Raising Hill-Billies

It's true. My children are Hill-Billies. Husband said they're beyond being Hill-Billies.

On Saturday, Fil called from Florida to talk to the boys. Shaggy decided to put him on speaker phone in the kitchen, Husband and I were in the office doing work. Yes, on Saturday. It's never-ending. So since Fil was on speaker phone we could hear most of the conversation. And then I heard Tigger say, Just a minute Grampa, I have to go to the washroom. And then silence because Shaggy had wandered off to watch TV by this time. And I looked at Husband and incredulously asked, Did Tigger just leave your Dad on speaker phone to go to the washroom?? That's disgusting! We could hear noises, so we knew Tigger had left the bathroom door open. He left the bathroom door open while he was talking on speaker phone. And it's so embarrassing I don't even know why I'm telling you all. I just looked at Husband and said, Oh my Gosh. We are raising Hill-Billies.

Yesterday morning after church, a little kid was eating a tart, but got crumbs everywhere on the floor. So Tigger squatted down and started eating crumbs. Off of the floor. Crumbs.

Hill-Billy.

Shaggy is now all of a sudden, somewhat aware of his appearance. As of yesterday, he's started parting his hair down the middle. Looks really cute, too. And he doesn't like it when I set out his clothes for him in the morning. If he doesn't have a clean shirt in his closet, he goes down to the laundry room in search of one. And puts on a dirty shirt that Zoomer wore the day before. A dirty shirt. That his brother has already worn.

Hill-Billy.

Better Today

I forgot to post a picture of the sweater and sockies that Alfred's Mom sent to Thumbelina. Don't you just love them? She's going to look so cute in that sweater:
And I bought this in Banff:

Thanks for indulging me yesterday in my pity party. Nothing like a little retail therapy to lift a girl's spirits.

So we went to the Chinese Consulate yesterday to apply for our visas, forgetting until we were ready to go that we needed passport-sized photos to include with the application. We were told that photo-booth photos were fine, but where in our small town are there any photo booths? No where, that's where. So we decided to throw caution to the wind and just hope for the best and stop at a mall along the way. And it paid off. So 8 bucks later, we ended up with 8 hideous pictures of ourselves that really don't even resemble us...

Side note - if you decide to take a school picture with you of your son - passport size - because he's in school and you have no other pictures of him with which to bring, the consulate will not accept it. They will be kind enough, however, to accept the application if you promise to bring in an actual passport picture (or photo booth somewhat likeness) when you come back to pick up the visas. Didn't know that, did you.

So the retail therapy. We stopped at a mall on the way home because we had to buy more luggage, and I wanted to get something for Thumbelina to wear for her first Sunday to church. I went into a few stores and wandered around; Husband asked me if I knew what I was looking for and I said, I'll know it when I see it. And then in the next store I saw it:

Isn't it just darling? It's a onesie with a sweater and skirt:

Don't you just love the skirt?
And lookey the tulle and fabric underneath:
And since my To Do list is quite long, I best get a move on it and start something.

A Little Miffed

Ever wake up 1/2 hour late, only to have a headache and be in a bad mood, and then to find your kids in a bad mood as well? Me too.

We leave in two weeks. Thumbelina's room is not anywhere near ready for her to habitate. And I'm angry at myself for letting it slide for this long. There is still old bedroom furniture that needs to be moved out, and physically, I can't carry it down the stairs by myself. And it's all probably too heavy for me to help with anyway. So it sits. One of my childs opened the lid on the paint can...the paint that I am slowly doing the touch-ups with...and now it's dried hard as a rock. We could probably make some sort of art from it but now I have to go buy another can of paint. The carpet. Makes me angry. It has been sitting in Shaggy & Tigger's room since December 24, 2005. Yes, 2005. Because our carpet guy didn't have time to lay it that day. Which was fine, he said he'd come back in September and do it. Which was fine as well because we obviously didn't need it done before then. But now? Now he doesn't lay carpet anymore because his knees can't take it. And I don't begrudge him that - why didn't he squeeze us in when his knees could take it? But he wants to take care of us, so leave it with him. I'VE GOT A BABY COMING IN TWO WEEKS, BUDDY. I CAN'T JUST LEAVE IT WITH YOU! And I've been bugging Husband and telling him that I'm just going to call somebody locally to lay it. But he wants to talk to our guy first. SO TALK TO HIM ALREADY!

I'm a wee bit stressed this morning.

And I want to re-paint the crib - a very soft, soft pink.

Sylvie, my sister-in-law, is coming next week for a sewing party and we're going to finish up the curtains for Thumbelina's room.

I did have a bit of a pity party this morning. Oh, you thought this was the pity party? Silly. You're so wrong - this is the aftermath. You get stuck listening to me gripe about all of this. The pity party involved tears and children suddenly behaving and being helpful...most of the children, not quite all of them.

So today, if the Chinese Consulate is open, we're heading off to the city to apply for our VISAS.

You know how stupid I am? I told you I bought the highchair and carseat the other day, right? I was looking at so many carseats and I thought for sure the box I picked up said it was rear facing and front facing. It isn't. It's only front facing. Thumbelina has to be 20 lbs and a year old before she can be in a front facing carseat. Right now, if her reports are correct, she's 17 lbs and 9 months old, 10 months when we get her. And I'm not in the mood to exchange it, and I'm not buying a rear-facing-only-carseat for 2 measly months. So Sylvie is going to check - she thinks Pudge's carseat is both (his little one is already lent out to another relative) and we'll trade carseats until Thumbelina is big enough for her new one.

Anyway.

Aren't you glad you're not working with me today?

The Acorn Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree

This morning, Shaggy told me he made up a Valentine's Poem:

If you were a booger,

I'd pick you first!

Happy Valentine's Day

It told him he was disgusting. And then I broke out in laughter. Why oh why oh why did I end up with the grossest child? Seriously. He does keep us on our toes.

So the House of Flu is no more. Mostly. Although I still can't quite drink coffee yet. Shocked, aren't you. And the smell of food makes me leave the room. I can't handle it. I can drink coke, and that's about it. My teeth aren't really liking all the syropy sweetness left behind on them, but at this point, I don't have any other choice. And thank you all for your get-well wishes, except for AB. I think that was uncalled for. You know what I mean. The rest of the Funny Farm seems to be on the mend as well.

Did you realize that we leave for China in 15 days??? Fifteen. FIFTEEN. There is currently an explosion of pink in my dining room. I'm getting sleepers and onesies ready to wash. And clothes ready to be packed. I have a lot of denim for Thumbelina.

I bought the highchair and carseat yesterday. I was holding out for cutesie-cutesie-girlie, but couldn't find anything in my stupidly small town, so I just went with generic ones from Zellers. This way I can use my Zellers points to buy a kitchen playset for Thumbelina for Christmas...I'm thinking she'll be too little to enjoy it for her first birthday in May.

And because I haven't posted her picture in ages, I thought I'd leave you with the sight that melts my heart every day:

The House of Flu

Enter At Your Own Risk.

That's what should be posted on our front door.

We are sick. Some of us are better, some of us not so much. Me, I'm on the mend. Yesterday was horrible and I wanted to die, but hey, I've lost 5 lbs. Zoomer has it now, and Husband is just getting it. Shaggy and Tigger had it over the weekend. Although Shaggy never had anything other than a stomach-ache and a fever...although he didn't eat anything for two days...

Anyway.

That's what's happening here.

Happy Chinese New Year!

It's the year of the pig, in case you were wondering. Husband thought that was pretty fitting, since we have pigs coming out of our ears. Not literally, don't be a silly. But the pigs are popping piglets like pez dispensers. I'm giggling. I humor myself.

So today, instead of celebrating CNY by going to my favourite Chinese restaurant, I'm doing laundry. And lots of it. Tigger is sick, and Shaggy has a fever and a headache. Shaggy didn't eat anything yesterday except for a banana, so you know the poor boy is ill. Tigger has emptied all the contents of his tummy - thank God for tile floors - and he's gone through 5 pajama bottoms since 5 am - it's currently just after 9 am. So, fun times happening here on The Funny Farm. Fun times.

I went to a PartyLite Candle party last night and spent a small fortune.

Husband called Star*Choice about our DVR not working. They're sending us a brand-spanking new one. All we have to do is send the old one back and pay like 13 bucks for shipping. So obviously there is something malfunctioning in their DVR's...and we've been without TV for a month now. I told Husband we're too easy-going and we should start complaining more. I know, I know, you're thinking - that's all you do on this blog is complain - but this is my place to let it all out. So thank you for listening to me while I vent.

And now, there's a washing machine with my name on it.

Before and After

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

This is what 13" looks like:

Please excuse the messy before pictures - I had just walked through a windstorm.

Tigger says my new do is soft. Shaggy hates it and wants my old hair back. Zoomer said I look like Lola. Husband said Holy Cow!

Fooey

I had a post all written up and blogger disconnected itself and lost it on me. So the jist of my first attempt was to say that I had to apologized to Husband for our Anniversary turning into a Crapaversary. Because I was sick. Boo hoo me. We had Chinese take-out for supper, I bought a heart-shaped black forest cake for dessert (can you feel the love) and then I went to bed at 8:00. Before my children. And then Tigger was up the next morning at 5:00 bowing down to the porcelain throne, but he's better today and back to school. Me, not so much. Coffee is burning my stomach. Not good not good not good. It's almost noon and I don't feel awake yet. But I did get my roses. 15 of them. One for each year we've been married. They are beautiful, but I don't have the energy to take a picture of them yet.

So today is the day. Friday. The 16th. Of February. I'm getting my hair cut. Oooooo. I'm all excited and nervous at the same time. I'm donating my hair to Locks of Love and I've been growing it out for over 3 years just for this reason. It's time. But I'm all nervous and excited. Did I mention that? I'll be sure to take before and after pictures so that you can all laugh at me.

That's about it.

Did you hear about the Michael Waltrip Scandal??? I'm so disappointed I can't even talk about it right now. I was going to give him one more year of loyalty, but now? I just don't know.

Anyway, back to work you two.

Happy Valentine's Day

So many great things are happening today. It's Valentine's Day. What better day is there? Even if you don't have a significant other to share it with, you can gorge yourself on chocolate and not feel guilty!!!

It's a snow day. Didn't I tell you it'd be snow day today? Yay! I got to sleep in until 7:30!!! Woohoo! I didn't have to make lunches!!! Woohoo! Check back in here at 10:00, I'm sure by then my Woohoos! will be Woos. Zoomer is working in the barn today with Husband, Shaggy is outside playing, and Tigger just got up and is watching cartoons and eating breakfast. Life is good. AND, I'm having vanilla cream in my coffee this morning. We're out of regular cream. But vanilla is special and it's a special day. So Woohoo!

But you know what else? Today is my anniversary. 15 years ago we were married. I look back at our pictures and think My Gosh we were just children. Children! What were our parents thinking, letting us get married so young! At the time we were like What's the big deal? But now? Now we have a child who is only 8 years away from the age his Father was when he got married. I shiver just thinking about it and it makes me nausious.



So I will leave you with some wedding pictures. I loved my dress.




Not ever thinking I'd have a daughter, I didn't keep my dress. I donated it to a company in Toronto that sells them and/or re-uses the material; all the proceeds go to help send children with cancer to summer camp.

It's all good.

Breaking News

Not so much Breaking News...more of just an update of news here at The Funny Farm.

• Tigger has new glasses. He looks moocho cuto in them. And they have a shade clip, which he is thrilled about.


• The pigs have started having their babies. Known as Farrowing in the industry. I took Shaggy to the barn after supper last night to see them and there were a few in labour who had farrowed overnight. He so wanted to see the little critters pop out. Our Pal had me smell one. I was skeptical, but they did smell sweet. He said they only smell sweet for the first day or two, and after that they smell like pigs. The smell of money he said. He's comical. Everybody knows there's no money in farming. We just do it to keep from getting bored.


• Our tickets to China arrived yesterday. Panic is starting to set in because there is still so much to do to prepare. I have a corner in my dining room of bags full of supplies that I've bought that need to be sorted through and arranged and organized and stuffed into suitcases.


• Muther was over yesterday and I gave her all my unfinished Thumbelina Projects to finish for me. The blanket for her crib is finished - I seriously have no recollection of finishing it - but it has a million pieces of yarn that need to be woven throughout the back and hidden. It is a very pretty pattern, but it's a plaid, so multiples balls of yarn were used. There is also a sweater that needs buttons and a matching hat made to go with it, and another sweater that needs to be sewn together and the front ribbing done on it. Both of these sweaters are coming to China with us.


• I tripped over my iron last night as I was ironing and it fell off of the ironing board and put two gouges in my wood floor. And now my iron is not working.


• Husband and I are both sick. We feel really lousy in the mornings until we get up and get moving, and then after that, just lousy throughout the day.


• We are supposed to be getting a snowstorm today and today, so tomorrow might be a snowday! Woohoo.

Feelin' the Sting

Oh.My.Arm. I have never really felt anything quite like that before in all my life. And no, I'm not talking about getting a tattoo, I'm talking about immunizations. Needles. Shots. The aftermath.

Husband and I went to the travel clinic in London on Wednesday; I knew we both needed our tetanus updated and we wanted to talk with them about what else we should get. I really just wanted them to tell me over the phone and save us a trip, but they wouldn't do that. So we ended up getting the typhoid shot as well. Husband said he would rather get typhoid fever than the needle we got. Holy Moly. The nurse who administered it said the tetanus would hurt worse and said we should get it in the opposite arm that we use most, which we did. She was so wrong. So very very wrong. And I'm not trying to sound like a wimp or anything, but Ouch. Seriously, Ouch. Obviously I couldn't cook supper Wednesday night, and I couldn't really clean up the kitchen from our take-out. Zoomer did it for me. It was hard putting the boys to bed, and I almost slept with my clothes on. Almost.

We were also given malaria drugs, which incidently are the same drugs I took when my arthritis was at its worst 10 years ago. Long story, I'll tell you about it someday if you're interested. So I'm actually kind of excited about taking them again, even if it is just for 8 weeks, because I'm hoping my hip will give me no trouble on our trip. We also have an emergency 3 day supply (1 pill/day) of tummy medicine for severe tummy troubles, in case immodium or something over the counter does not work. Oy. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? My friend in our travel group who is a doctor told me not to bother taking Dukoral, which is a preventative medicine, and the travel clinic told me the same thing. Dukoral is for one specific type of bug only. So if you take it, and you don't end up getting that bug, great, but there are a lot more bugs out there that will give you the same sorts of trouble. I say squash all the bugs. Down with the bugs! Oh, I crack myself up sometimes.

So Zoomer had his meningitis shot at school; the travel clinic said he will be up-to-date on his tetanus but recommended he get his typhoid and the malaria pills and something more suited for kids for the tummy stuff. Except he starts his Twin-Rix regimine on Monday and I really don't want him to have to have the typhoid if he doesn't need it. I know other people who have gone over to China without having the typhoid shots...

I have a question for you all. This is about school. I am trying my best to get along with Shaggy's teacher, I really really am. And no, I wasn't being sarcastic. Shaggy, if you will remember, missed 4 days of school last week. School policy is that the kids get however many days they missed plus one to make up their school work. So Shaggy would get 5 days to make up his work. But his teacher is saying that all his work is due today. Which is day 5, so he really only got 4 days to make it up. In my mind, he still has today to make up his work and it would be due on the next school day, which is Monday. We have all his work done (I hope) but I wrote a note asking for clarification. Husband thinks the work would be due today as well. And he wasn't happy with me that I wrote a note about it. But I promise you, it wasn't snotty in any way. And I even wrote, "Have a good day". And I meant it. So reading what I just wrote, is your interpretation of the policy on missed days that his school work is due today, or am I really just out of my mind like I'm beginning to wonder thinking that it's due on Monday.

Why? why? Why?

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough money?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what colour bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right?" Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That hurts, you stupid idiot?"

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Frigid

It's cold out. Extremely cold. Frostbite cold. Quite cold. I'm not a fan of the cold.

I've got nothing to blog about today.

Really.

I can't think of anything.

Other than the cold.

We leave for China in 4 1/2 weeks. That's exciting. I need to organize what I've already bought and start crossing things off of my lists. The lists. Goodness the lists. I had no idea how many lists were actually out there. Pages and pages and pages of necessities needed to spend two weeks in China. It makes my head spin.

Time for more coffee.

So I guess I had something to blog about after all besides the cold.

Updates All Around

• Our agency called yesterday with an update on Thumbelina! As of February 1st, she had gained 3 pounds and has 3 teeth. How exciting is that! I can't wait to see her with teeth! Heck, I can't wait to see her!
• My baby is back and I'm loving it. I had to drive home last night from a church banquet in an almost blizzard and I was feeling quite secure with my heated seats and four-wheel drive. Cozy, even.
• We happened upon Shaggy's teacher and her family Friday night at a restaurant. They were leaving as we were coming. His teacher didn't even make eye contact with us, let alone say hi. Not even to Shaggy. Not even after he missed a whole week of school because of sickness. No Hello. No How are you feeling. No nuthin. So I'm trying sooooo hard not to be petty. It's something I really have to work on. Last night my feelings were If you can't even make eye contact, why should I bother to try to be nice to you. Today my feelings are that I should smother her with kindness. Go out of my way to be friendly. Just to make her uncomfortable. But then, there's that pettiness again. Obviously, I'm not thinking like a rational adult would - so thoughts? How would you all handle this?
• Tigger has yellow goo oozing forth from his nose, so I've stayed home from church with him today.

I think that's about it for updates at the moment. Shaggy has a pile of homework to catch up on, so that's how we'll be spending our afternoon.

I Feel Out of Touch

I miss blogging every day. But until I can figure out how to make everything work, I'm afraid it will be hit and miss. My assistant is doing well. I've started teaching her the accounting program. My office is clean and organized. The file room is clean and organized. My desk is messy. I'm going to try harder to have a clean desk to match the rest of the office.

I feel bad about blogging during the day while my assistant is working. Actually not so much the feeling bad part as the keeping my blog a secret part. I don't even read anybody else's blogs during the day because I just don't want to start the whole blog conversation. So instead I sit and pine away and wonder what everybody is up to.

Okay, enough blathering.

Husband's ring has been found! Yay!!! Apparently it was 'found' on the floor by one of the shower doors, leaning up against the baseboard. Which means after it 'fell' off of the fridge, it had to roll around two corners, up two steps, and across 40 feet of open floor. That is one impressive ring! And since I bought an 18 carat ring, it is soft and isn't a circle any more - more of an egg shaped (I should have stuck with 10 carat gold). Wanna guess who found it? The newest guy of whom everybody is suspicious. I almost ended that sentence in a preposition. That wouldn't have been very good. We're pretty sure somebody took it and then felt guilty and brought it back. Who knows if it was the newest guy or not. I'm still sad that it was taken, but I'm really, really glad that it's back!

Shaggy is still sick. I took him to the doctors yesterday thinking he had bronchitis, but he has an infection of his pharynx. It was bright, bright red. Poor guy. I feel bad that he's missed so much school, and I've been busy working during the day instead of making him do homework...he seems to be perky for part of the morning and then after lunch, he's wiped out and exhausted and lays on the couch for the rest of the day. I may have been a tad too hasty in my perceptions of his teacher because she called him yesterday at lunch time to see how he was feeling. I'm just confused by it all, really. At one time I thought we were friends but her actions these last few weeks have told me otherwise.

So. On with something new.

My Tran is ready!!! And I can't pick it up until this afternoon!!! The anticipation...the excitement...the joy! It's a good thing.