An Iowa Mom

Smart Enough For Her Own Good

Molly is sick.

She has been since Friday. Down and out. Like on the couch for the ENTIRE day with a fever. Took her to the doctor yesterday. It's viral. Of course it is. After I hand over my co-pay, she came home and felt miraculously better. How does that happen?

Anyway, I had already called the school yesterday and told them she would not be there this morning. So after dropping the boys off and then Emily off, Molly inquired why we weren't pulling into her building. (Yes, my children go to three different schools on the same campus.) I explained that she was sick and couldn't attend.

She cried. Of course. Because there is nothing she enjoys more than acting excited about school and then clinging to my legs, screaming at the top of her lungs while she begs me not to leave once we enter the classroom. And then flail about recklessly as I ignore her cries and walk out the door, leaving her behind. Molly loves to make me feel good, can't you see that?

So, we are on our way back home and she hears a Burger King commercial on the radio.

"They have the round things. (hashbrowns)." she informed me. "Can we get some?"

"No." is the obvious response from me.

"Can we get them 'cause I love them." she persisted.

"No."

"Can we get them 'cause you love me?"

Damn, she's good.

Just A Little Heads Up

If you have a little pond ...

and it needs a tad bit of water ...

so you turn on the hose and place it into the pond ...

and you forget about it for ... say ... I don't know ...

OVERNIGHT ...

your fish will die.

And make your grass squishy around the pond.

So, now you know.

Well, Yippeee!

GUESS WHAT?

I've been nominated for an award!!

And I don't mean Mother Of The Year either.  A REAL award.

I have no idea who nominated me.  If it was you, please let me know ... because some one has to be recognized for making me happier than a pig in shit.

Okay guys ... now you have to go vote for me.  I took a peek over there and many people have LOTS of votes already, so we have some ground to make up.

If you love me as much as I know you do ... GO VOTE!  I've never been nominated for anything like this before ... so it's a big deal for me.

And, I don't want to be one of those blogs who get like 2 votes (Big Daddy and my mother) the entire two months polling is open.   So, it's up to you.   Everyone who visits.  I know you won't disappoint me, will you?

Another Last First

Okay.  We all know that I should be nominated for "Mother Of The Year", right?

Shoot ... not nominated, the title should be held soley by me.

That's right.

Because what other mother out there is as thoughtful, caring, selfless or kind as I am?

What one?  Tell me.

You can't.  I told you so.

When did Molly start preschool?  My baby.  My last.  The final "first day of school" ...  That took place ... WHEN?

Oh yeah ... that's right ... AUGUST. 

August 25.

And what's today?  SEPTEMBER 24. 

So, what's my point?  Well, while I was so tied up filling my obligations as "Mother of the Year", I put the post about Molly and her first day of school on the back burner.

However, before you all get your panties in a bunch (your briefs for those few readers of the opposite gender) ... I want you to know there is a grace period for this type of thing. 

Yup.  How do I know this, you ask?  Because I said so, that's why!

And the grace period is ONE MONTH.

So, there is really no issue here.  Let's get to it ...

GUESS WHAT? 

Molly started preschool!  Doesn't she look happy and excited?  Yeah well, that only lasted until we walked through the door of her classroom.  Then she dug her overgrown fingernails into my ankle and held on for dear life as I tried to escape, I mean leave.

An upside of waiting one day shy of a month after this event has actually happened to tell you about it, I'm thrilled to report she got over her ridiculousness and now LOVES to go to school.  I think she finally figured out that her teachers are much nicer than I am and she can enjoy 3 hours playing, coloring, painting, singing and dancing ... without getting yelled at.

Hey, whatever works.

There ya have it.  My post about Molly's first day at preschool. 

Just in time.

Whew!

I Finally Accomplished Something

Can you believe it?  I did.  Well, sort of.

Today will be another busy day, but I wanted to pop in and fill you all in on life around here.  Because, you know that I know that you need updates.  <wink>

Emily = Healthy
Molly = Healthy
Jake = Healthy
Drew = Healthy
Big Daddy = Healthy
Me = Take A Guess

Regardless, I'm not letting a little cold slow me down.  No way.  I'm on a roll.

Okay ...

All you Iowans ... get over to IowaMoms.net and check it out.  Become a part of it.  OR ELSE! And just ask my kids, you don't want to know what OR ELSE is. 

Just do it.

I love talking tough.

So anyway, that's what I've been up to ... and there is still lots more to do.  I just couldn't let you all go more than three days without word from me. 

That would be just rude.

And I know you all would be panic stricken worried about us.

The last thing you all needed was to have to figure out what happened to little ol' me.

So, now you know ... I crankin' through my to do list and feeling pretty darned skippy about it.

It's Like A Merry-Go-Round!

Just a quick update from us over here in good ol' Iowa ... because I know your day would not be complete without one.

Right?

RIGHT?

So, let's go back to yesterday.  A sick Emily.  Poor little girl ... but she was fever free, driving me insane  and ready to play by mid-afternoon.  I didn't want her out running around like she wanted to do, so we compromised (Oh ... yes we did!) on sidewalk chalk in the driveway.

Molly can never be too far behind her big sister, usually just to irritate the hell out of her, but sometimes just to spend some fun time together.  Today was one of those days.

So she went out to scribble draw on the driveway with Emily.

Do you see that? 

Here ... take a closer look ...

Why do you think she is laying down?  Any guesses?

Let me just tell you ...

SHE IS FREAKIN' SICK.

Yup, she is.  Good times ... I told you so.  We are nothing but fun around here.  You should come visit sometime.

Okay ...

Let's fast forward to this morning.  Everyone rises, everyone slept through the night, everyone is happy.  Everyone is healthy.  Everyone eats.  Everyone gets dressed.  Everyone brushes their teeth ...

TWO, of them left for school.  Yes TWO!

The other TWO of them stayed home.  With me.   Of course.

Would you like me to explain?  Sure you do.

After getting ready for school and glancing at the clock realizing that we only had about 10 minutes until the bus would arrive and Emily's ride ... I asked Emily to come and get her hair done.

She did.  (Should have been my first clue ... she actually listened and did what I asked)

After I started brushing.  She started crying.  Thinking I was a little rough with the brush in my haste to get the piggy tails in and boot her butt out the door, I gave her a hug to apologize.

With that hug I discovered she was burning up again.  The heat radiating off of her was CRAZY.  Crazy I tell you.  Thermometer was fetched ... 102.7.   Fever out of no where.  45 minutes earlier she was cool as a cucumber.  Really.  I checked.  Honestly.  I did.

So, that's it.  End of story.

I hope. 

Usually when Emily gets a fever like that it just rises and rises ... like this time and that time.  And we end up staying in the hospital a few days.

So ... anyways (that's just for you Karly) ... let's hope these girls get better soon, because if they don't ... I'll be the one in a hospital. 

A mental hospital. 

Crossing The Line?

Being the nice mom that I am, a trip to Casey's was in order this morning to retrieve a 7Up for Miss Puker.  The first few sips came back up, and I felt so sorry for her.  There is nothing worse than vomit ... for everyone involved.

A few minutes ago, Emily took another swig of her drink ... and gargled it.

I smiled and sweetly said, "Please don't do that sweetheart."  Ya know, because we're always nice when they're sick, right?

Then, she did it again.

"Emily!  Do not do that." I told her in a tone with that was slightly more authoritative.

"Yeah," she smiled, "I bet that is REALLY annoying."

"It REALLY is!"  I assured her.

AND THEN ... SHE DID IT AGAIN.

Would it be wrong to beat a sick child?