My First New Furniture Ever!!!

Behold, a milestone in my adult life. For the first time ever I have picked out my own furniture! I have purchased my own furniture! With cash! Everything that came before was handed down to me from my Mom. For the first time, I got to pick out something that called to me. I love it. I can't stop clapping when I think about it. Yay us. What do you think?

Wordless Wednesday - Sleepies and Stitches

Stitches

Super Z has 5 stitches above his eye. He was run over by a little girl on a bike Sunday evening. I am going to do my best to get a pic up here as soon as possible. He has a need to show off his injury. "Mom, did you put it on the computer so people can see it yet???"
He scared Randy, who was with him at the time, half to death. One minute he was in the dirt with a friend looking for rollie pollies and the next second half of his face was covered in blood and he was screaming like a maniac . According to Randy, his heart almost stopped at the sight.
All I saw was Randy in the van with Super Z in his lap yelling for a shirt. It took me a minute to register that his shirt was pressed against my son's bleeding head.
There is something so scary about the sight of your child injured. Even when you are pretty sure that it is nothing that a few stitches can't fix. I always think the worst. I always break into ten pieces on the inside. I can't even fathom how parents make it through the loss of a child. How do you not just curl up and die? I just don't know if I could be that strong.
Speaking of strong, Super Z did not cry at all when getting his stitches. I could not be more impressed. Even at 12 years old, I flat out panicked and refused to cooperate when I needed stitches. I am sure that my Mom wanted to kill me. Especially since she had to pay the ER bill anyway. I am glad that Super Z is not a baby like his Mom.

Single Parents Rock - My Mom Rocks

Amanda made an excellent point in her comment on my suckiness post. How do single parents do it? How did my own Mom do it? Even before she was single, my Dad was always gone. As a boiler maker he was away far more often than he was home. She was a stay at home Mom. She managed to raise us up pretty decently (in my humble opinion), keep a clean house, and put a fantastic dinner on the table every night.
I don't think that I have ever appreciated her enough for that. Being a parent is a lot of work. And when you are doing it alone...it almost seems thankless sometimes. Because I assure you that after I tackle Princess H and manage to finagle a pony tail into her head she doesn't say, " Thanks Mom." No, not at all. I am sure that I never did either.
I think I am going to do a random act of kindness for my Mom today. Just to say thanks. I will think of something.
So to all of you single parents or stay at home parents or parents who feel like they are doing it all alone even when they aren't or heck, ALL parents (especially parents who are still waking up in the middle of the night to feed their babies and parents that are having their 3rd baby!!).
You rock. Keep up the good work. It is all worth it. One day they will appreciate everything that you are doing now.

Side note:
The kids have seen Randy once since Sunday evening. He made it home by 8:30 on Wednesday and got to see them for 30 minutes. We miss him.

Wordless Wednesday

Super Z, The Builder

Suckiness

Randy worked 24 hours this weekend. The kids and I went to my sister's Saturday to avoid missing him. Travelling without him is a challenge. Every Super Z bathroom break requires dragging both kids out of the car. I am not sure if I ever appreciated how much having 2 adults in the car helps.
We had a pretty good time hanging out with our peeps. The kids got plenty of sunshine, exercise, and laughter. Three essentials for the weekend.
We got back last night before Randy got home. Princess H was insistent that she must see her Daddy. Thankfully, he got home before too late...today that is not the case. It is 9:21 and still no sign of Daddy. What can I say? Today sucks. They miss him a lot. They miss him more than I ever imagined. It breaks my heart a bit.
Things have been rocky all day. The Princess is feverish and snotty and Super Z is getting that way fast. She refuses to eat anything or take medicine without a fight. They both had a fit when I told them it was time for bed. Apparently going to bed without Daddy is akin to stripping the skin off of ones body. I am tired. I really am.
I made doctors appointments for them both for 8:15 in the morning. I have to get them well. That will smooth out daily like a bit. I will get up and take them to the doctor. I'll then get them over to the babysitter and head to the office for a litle fun and relaxation.
I hope that they will be a little cheerier once they feel better. If only I could get Daddy home before bed time... I guess things will settle down eventually. This makes a total of 37 hours that he has worked in three days. I know he is exhausted.
His supper is in the microwave. The clothes are laid out for tomorrow, the kids are clean and asleep, there is a load of laundry ready to go in the dryer, and I am going to work for another hour or so. I just wanted to whine a bit. Doing it all takes a lot of effort.

How Creative Am I?

Micheal Johns

My sweet love Micheal Johns was voted off of American Idol. I am so upset. What the crap?? How will I go on?
I hope he gets a record deal. I must have his album.
I am so upset.
Sorry, I try not to be a dork...but I loved him so much.
BOOO American Idol voters. BOOOO!!!

Thursday 13

13 Things that you might not know about my life because I have never blogged about them

1. I have an Ipod shuffle. Not only that, but I buy all of the songs that Micheal Johns on American Idol does. Because I love him and would like to spend time alone with him with minimal clothing. :) Just kidding, hon. ...maybe.
2. I hate raw onions. It is the texture. They have the texture of alien eggs. Gag.
3. I sit on my feet a lot. I am not a small girl, so I am sure that this is not comfortable for my feet.
4. Zane has had his first Tee ball game. He is doing awesome. He is hitting the coach's pitches so he doesn't have to use the Tee.
5. My Mom and sister say that I never call them. They like to talk on the phone and I never have time.
6. Randy traded in his truck for a mini van a few weeks ago. We got a DVD player for the kids put in. Travel has become much less stressful.
7. I got a splinter in my foot Monday. I pulled it out, but it left behind shrapnel. As of today there are still pieces in there. I am thinking of leaving them. I am a big baby.
8. I have officially stated Weight Watchers. I was following the diet before, but NOW I am going to meetings to. My second meeting (public flogging) is tomorrow. I am hoping for big results.
9. I absolutely abhor talk about the end of the world, nuclear war, so forth and so on. I know that these thing may (will) happen some day. But WHY do we have to talk about it? Why do we have to watch The Day After eighteen times...Randy? I may have Armegeddonaphobia.
10. I like green apples, but not red ones.
11. My car desperately needs new tires. I also need a tag. Mine has been expired for..ever? I can't even tell you why. I am living on the edge I guess. Walking on the wild side. Or wait..Randy hasn't gotten me one since we realized it was expired..that is right.
12. Super Z and Princess H are currently OBSESSED with Alvin and the Chipmunks. The tell me daily that pants are essential. Why? Because they are all about repeating obscure lines from movies.
13. I am appalled by the thought of sleeping on or even touching a mattress without a sheet. I accused Randy of child abuse when I found out that he made Super Z nap on a sheetless bed one day. I have baremattressaphobia as well.

That is pretty boring stuff, but I don't think that i have mentioned any of it here. I hope that everyone feels enlightened by these new discoveries. Have a great Thursday!

Wordless Wednesday - 3 goofs + 1pink hat + 1 pair of shoes + pajama pants * after midnight =

Day 1

Today was the first day of the new life. It doesn't really count though, because I took the day off. Super Z had a field trip to the zoo today. The first ripple of life without the ever present Dad was felt.
I didn't mind in the least. I will take the zoo and sunshine over the office any day of the week. It was a great field trip, but guess what? I ran off without my camera!! Gah!
After the zoo, the errand running began. First we hit McDonald's for a little lunch and play. Then we had to register for Kindergarten and get black baseball pants. His first game is tomorrow night. Woot. After the umpteenth (second) errand, Princess H announced "I'm sleepy."
Knowing which side my bread is buttered on and when to say when we called it a day, and thus avoided running headlong into the screecher that the Princess can sometimes become.
It was a great day. I even had supper ready and the house (mostly) clean when my hard working (training) husband got home.
I will never ceased to be amazed by how much work a day off can be. I hope you all had a great Monday!

Haiku Friday

My very best friend

was born with the same last name,

the same pointy nose.

*

Her Dad, Uncle Jim,

jokes that I led her astray...

We led each other.

*

We were almost one

"Hey, Becky and Serina!"

Serina and Beck.

*

So many ideas,

dreams and memories we share.

One thousand good nights.

*

Our lives share a path.

Our friendship is forever,

my other sister.

*

I hope you know, Beck

that miles and hours apart

don't change anything.

*

Serina and Beck,

As real now as it was then,

If only to us.

They Want Him

Of course they do. He is awesome. I want him from time to time myself.

So Randy was offered a full time position. Life as I know it will soon come to a screeching halt!!!

I am just kidding...I think.

We aren't sure when the planets will shift and full time work will begin..but begin it will. His old boss had talked Randy up so much that they pretty much offered him the position as soon as he walked in the door. Yay Randy! Yay for your awesomeness.

Now on to the details...

Would it be fair to still make him cook supper most of the time?
Can I still expect him to wash my clothes? Can I still work from kiddo bed time until almost midnight when Randy has to get up at 5 am? Does this mean that I don't get my long weekend romantic getaway for my 9th anniversary in June? Should I put the kids in a daycare with activities and schedules or should we stick with the friendly neighborhood babysitter?

AND THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS OF ALL...

Can I actually get out of bed more than an hour earlier every single day? Can I actually wrestle two children into clothes and out the door (all by my lonesome self) by 8 AM? Can I drop children off at two different destinations and still get to work on time? Can I keep my sanity?

Sure I can. I am the coolest person in the room after all...or so I say.

Change?

In December of 2005, when Princess H was two months old, Randy made the decision to be a stay at home Dad. This whole experience hasn't exactly been a walk in the park, but it has worked.
Randy had Super Z potty trained within three weeks of beginning the stay a home journey. He was there through each agonizing moment as Princess H cut her teeth two at a time, each set seeming to be more hellish than the last. He taught the kids to love rock and roll. Super Z can even throw out a little head banging to Guitar Hero on occasion.
He was the only Dad at the park on more days than I can count, and also the only Dad at every class party. He knows what Moms talk about on field trips to the Science Museam. He knows the cadence of Super Z's stories and Princess H's sleepy pre nap breathing as well as he knows the inner workings of a motor in a '78 Firebird.
He knows my kids from the inside out. He gained my special power of distinguishing a pain cry from an irritated cry after about five months on duty. He emailed me pictures of the kids at work, when I missed them so bad that I could feel my heart breaking.
He went back to work part time last November. But he still calls me evryday after he picks Super Z up from school to give me a daily report. He still sprays Shout on all the bad stains and cooks supper 9 nights out of 10.
Tomorrow Randy has to reinterview for his job. His company was bought out by a bigger company. It is very possible that he will be hired on to a better paying full time position (with benefits). It is very possible that they will know a good thing when they see it and he will be essintially rebiginning his carreer.
If that happens, I know that it will be good in so many ways. I will be thrilled for him, but I will also be little bit sad. I am always sad when an era of my life comes to end. This was my favorite era, so it might make me a little sadder than previous era changes. I will miss my stay at home Dad. I hope he knows that if it doesn't work out, he always has a job with me.