An Iowa Mom

Calling All Iowa Moms?

Need to lose a few pounds, but a little motivation to do so would be a big help?

Well, there is a weight loss group starting up this Monday over at IowaMoms.com.  It's called THE GREATEST LOSER and this week you can win a $15 Target Gift Card if you're the lucky (and hardest working) gal who loses the most.

Check it out over at the IowaMoms.com Message Board and then tell all your Iowa friends about it.

A Proud Day

Drew left with his head held high yesterday morning as he waved his excuse to be dismissed early from school for all the kids at the bus stop to see.  It's funny how it brought back the memories and the feelings I had when I knew my mother would be retrieving me from school many many a few years ago.  I smiled as I watched him skip along the sidewalk, finding myself excited for his excitement.

A couple hours later, the same smiling boy was peering out of the office window anxiously awaiting my arrival.  Of course, I was late.  Ever since I had the girls, I'm always late ... and I must admit, I don't like that at all.  It's all the girls fault.  I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact I stopped to talk to the neighbor for 10 minutes.  I had to.  She was outside when I was leaving.  It's in the "How To Be A Good Neighbor Handbook!"  Hello!

Once Drew was buckled into the car, fidgeting beyond control, unable to control himself because HE WAS SO GOING TO THE DOCTOR AND WOULD PROBABLY GET A SHOT AND I JUST COULDN'T DRIVE FAST ENOUGH TO GET HIM THERE BECAUSE HE WAS SO EXCITED.  I know, you don't have to tell me.  The kid is mental.  He looks forward to going to the doctor, but only because he might get a shot.  Is there anything better in this world of ours?

Anyway, we arrived at the doctor and we weren't late.  Do you want to know why?  Because I dropped the girls off at the sitter.  What did I tell you?  No girls = On time.  Every time.  It's true!

Drew found Shrek playing on the waiting room television and I could tell that he was thinking this day just COULDNOTGETANYBETTER.  He was glancing around the room and I know he was trying to find a good place to put his bed.  When he moved in.

After being called back to the examination room, we only waited 2 minutes before our doctor entered the room.  Drew gazed at him like he was a movie star.  But only for a second before he blurted out, "I said a bad word.  I learned it from my Dad.  I learned all the bad words I know from my Dad.  Even the middle finger word.  My Dad said that a long time ago.  He knows all the bad words.  All of them.  ALL.OF.THEM."  (Mental Note:  Schedule the next appointment for evening, so hubby can escort him.)

"Hi Doctor.  How are you today?"  I smiled, as I tried to crawl under my chair, but it wasn't big enough so I attempted to sneak into the cabinet under the sink.  Why was it full of urine sample containers?  For children.  Didn't they know I was coming and would need a place to HIDE?

So, the appointment continued and I was forced to sit in my seat and pretend to be a mature adult.  As Drew informed the doctor of everything we've done wrong in the last 7 years we have been his parents, I found I could turn my head to examine the child abuse poster hanging on the back of the door to disguise the deep shade of red my face was turning.  Hey, even at the pediatrician's office I can multi-task.  I was taking notes as to what NOT to do to Drew when we got home ... so that I wouldn't be reported to DHS for child abuse.

Once Drew said everything he had to say and the doctor and I were discussing where we should go from here ... Drew managed to weigh himself 27 times, ask the doctor to measure how tall he was, open and close the door 18 times, grab all the tongue pressers out of the jar and play the drums with them on the counter, tell the doctor 3 times that the toys and books he supplied for their entertainment were for babies, raise and lower the examination table 8 times before the doctor unplugged it, informed us that we were talking too much and he was missing PE 32 times, lay on the floor 93 times pretending to fall asleep because it was so boring and then laugh hysterically at himself and asked 47 times when he was going to get his shot.

GOOD TIMES.  Such a proud moment for Mom.

While all this was taking place, we determined from the assessments and determining the behavior he was displaying in the office was not out of the ordinary, that he was indeed ADHD. 

He recommended altering his diet and placing him on meds to get him started.  Also to start implementing some of the parenting techniques we've learned with Jake.

I suggested a tranquilizer shot. 

What? 

He wanted a shot. 

Brain Fart

I need help.  We are attending a surprise birthday party tomorrow evening and I haven't yet purchased a gift.

Why, you ask?

Well, maybe because I've been sick.  Or dealing with an unruly child.  Or because I didn't have any room left on my TO DO List to write it down.

Or ... maybe because I don't know what to get him.  We don't know him really well.  Just well enough to know he has everything.

Ideas?  What should I get?  I'm budgeting about $50.

Help!

Just In Case You Ever Need To Know!

In the event you ever go to the doctor and he tells you that you are suffering from Gastroenteritis ...

Don't drink pop. 

Of any kind. 

It will only make you feel worse.

A lot worse.

Trust me.

I've tested the theory. 

And it's true.

WFMW: Free Day Off For SAHM's

I don't know about you all, but as a SAHM, I know that sometimes I just need a break.  I love my children and want to be with them ... which is why I choose to stay home with them.  However, I am indeed human and need a little time to myself every now and then.

A friend of mine, who lives in my neighborhood and also has a little boy the same exact age as Molly, felt the same way as I did.  That is when we decided that we would do a child swap every week. 

Every Monday I have her son over for 4 hours.  It's every single Monday.  Always the same time, for us it's 9:30am to 1:30pm.  We've found it to be the perfect time frame for us, because then when we return home, it's nap time, giving us another 2 hours.

Then, she takes my girls every single Friday.  Same time.  Always.  We don't have to call and confirm.  We just count on it.  It is absolutely wonderful to have a day to look forward to that's MINE every week.

No paying a babysitter.  Always able to schedule doctor, dentist, hair appointments, knowing the day and time I'll be able to go without my children tagging along.  Lunch dates with my husband, which is always enjoyable.  A movie and nap.  Whatever I want.  It's MY day.

Try it.

Find a SAHM friend with children around the same age as yours.  The kids absolutely LOVE it.  And I honestly think the Mom's LOVE IT EVEN MORE!

Works For Me (And My Friend) ... and I hope it works for you too!

For more great ideas head on over to Rocks In My Dryer.

Tackle It Tuesday: The Craft Room

This Tackle It Tuesday was long overdo.  When we moved into this house, my craft room was painted BLUE.  While I like blue ... I don't like "baby blue" walls in my basement craft room.  It was already dark and cold feeling ... so the blue was a bit irritating.

Did I mention I didn't like the blue?  Okay, just checking.

Because of the walls and the overall feeling I got from the room, I didn't spend much time in there.  I wanted to, but didn't.  Before long, it was a catch all for all things crafts.  I would buy things, because I'm always buying things, and I would open the door and just throw it in.  There were bins upon bins full of fabric, paper, notions, embroidery threads, embellishments, etc ...  No organization at all, most of it still in the sacks that they came in when I purchased the stuff.

I know.  It's ridiculous.

My friends always made fun of me because they said I had a craft store in my basement, but I never did crafts.  Shoot, how could I?  I didn't know where anything was.

But now I can.  Check it out.

A lot of stuff is still in bins in the storage closet, because I have doubles and triples of many things ... but for the most part ... I now have easy access to anything I'll need to make whatever it is I'm wanting.  I spent my morning organizing and labeling and I'm so excited.  As for the paint, hubby did that for me over the weekend.  It's a lot warmer and inviting.  I just need to make a few wall hangings and such for the walls.  They are looking rather bare.

So, I'm sorry to blog and run ... but I really want to get to makin' somethin'.

If you want ... you can go check what others are tackling over at 5 Minutes For Mom!

Are You Ticked Off?

I just wanted to share!  Ya know ... in the event you're really ticked off about something.  Not that any of you level headed, even keeled, open minded readers out there ever get ticked off ... but ... in the unlikely event that you do ...

Go here ...  Ticked Off Tuesday

Next time you find your blood pressure rising, write a post and save it until Tuesday and then participate in the fun!  And if nothing is bothering you ... then go read about what is ticking off the rest of Bloggityville.

You're Welcome!  ;)