Were The Fruit Squeezies Worth It?

I had a blog worthy trip to Big Lots yesterday . . .

Looking back at my mistakes, my first error was having the thought "I could actually get something done today!" I might as well have hollered out the redneck battle cry "Hey, Y'all, watch this" before leaping to some bodily-injuring accident. Oh, none of us actually got hurt on our trip to town. At least, not physically. I'm sure I emotionally damaged us all and I sure as heck felt like passing out some spankings. 

Crybaby had slept 2 hours late and I thought it would be the perfect day to go to town because we wouldn't have to get back early for her nap. In my daydreaming state, I must have overlooked the fact that it takes us hours to even dress to go anywhere. So, we were behind before we even left for town. But I just knew it was going to be fabulous to run to Lowe's for paint samples and to Big Lots for a deal on squeezable fruit pouches! Knock two off my list, right?

Well, we knocked 'em off all right with alot tears and embarrassment along the way. 
The first five minutes in Lowe's were pretty good.  But I had made another mistake of taking a fleece blanket to line the seat in the buggy for the Babe (my 7 mo. old baby girl). Crybaby, who was in the big part of the buggy, just couldn't handle it. She kept saying that she was cold. It was like 80 degrees in the store. I kept saying you're not cold. You're fine. Then she saw a bag of honey bbq Fritos. From that point on, our Lowe's experience consisted of Crybaby screaming at the top of her lungs "I want noodle chips!" with an occasional "I AM cold!" thrown in for good measure while I hoofed it red-faced and sweating pushing a buggy with at least 60 lbs of children and a gallon of paint while holding 40 paint samples trying to look at a couple of things on mega-fast speed and buy one plant. I didn't even know what noodle chips were at the time. All I knew was that she was NOT getting them. Once I had said, "We don't get things by yelling," I knew I couldn't back down. 

After spending 30 minutes loading everyone up, driving to Big Lots, then another 30 minutes of unloading everyone, we were finally ready to buy more squeezable fruit pouches!!! I was so excited! I had stumbled upon them a couple of days before. Big Lots had the Beechnut brand for 33 cents each!!! I usually pay $1.00 to $1.25 for these on sale! Then, I get mad when the kids actually eat them because they cost so much! LOL! So, I decided the 60 I had bought 2 days earlier was just not enough cause I could use these for baby food too! Yippee! These pouches were really the reason we had come to town at all because I knew they would get gone if I didn't make a run for them. And my friend had told me they had Mom's Best cereal for $1 so I was going to grab those too. I made sure to line the buggy for Crybaby with our fleece blanket we use for soccer because I was determined not to hear her say she was cold. I left the Babe in her infant seat hoping she would fall asleep as I perused the pouches.

I kid you not, the second we enter the store, the Babe starts wailing, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!" It's not an I'm a little fussy cry. It is a someone call DCS, I have the worst mommy in the world cry. Fear and panic struck my heart. Crap! I just couldn't bear loading and unloading everyone in the car again and of course, I didn't bring any formula because this was going to be the best trip to town ever and we were supposed to be home by now. I also couldn't bear to forgo the fruit pouches! Crap. So, I did what any deal-loving mama would do--I tried to run and grab the fruit pouches as fast as I could praying she would pass out asleep or calm down. Um, no. By the time I grabbed 40 fruit pouches, she was absolutely out of control! I couldn't even pay and leave. She was screaming that bad! Plus, 40 pouches would take a while to scan. I had mixed them all up in my hurry. What's a gal to do? I was NOT going to leave those fruit pouches!
So, instead I ran through the cereal aisle (mistake #457) giving Crybaby just enough time to see a box of Lucky Charms and made a beeline for the furniture department. I found a recliner in a corner, unloaded everyone, sat down, covered me and the Babe with the soccer blanket and nursed her. I was so embarrassed. I am just still not comfortable whipping it out in public. So, there I am in 80 degrees in a recliner in Big Lots nursing with a double layer fleece blanket over me. Meanwhile, Crybaby is playing musical chairs with all the other recliners jumping from chair to chair. Of course, we were positioned next to a glass dining room table. BFG and I were nervous wrecks. I might could have nursed unnoticed if Crybaby wasn't so loud and jumping everywhere. Add the fact that she started begging for "Yucky" Charms. "They have the Yucky Charms I want, Mom. I want those Yucky Charms, not the ones that turn me into Hulk Hogan." (Uh, long story for another day.) "I want those Yucky Charms!"

Of course, the Babe fell asleep nursing or passed out from the heat under the blanket. Hard to tell. But we just could not sit there and torture the employees and customers of Big Lots any longer so I attempted to put her in her seat. She woke up and started the wailing again. But at least I knew she was fed. The other customers didn't though. We were such a spectacle. We went back to the cereal aisle. I was determined by golly. "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!" 
" I want the Yucky Charms that don't turn me into Hulk Hogan!!!"
Me: "Oh my gosh! Get the Yucky Charms! Get the Yucky Charms!!!! BFG, pick you something out" (So much for the You  don't get things by yelling for them speech at Lowe's.)
BFG: "Like what?"
Me: " Oh my gosh! Are you kidding me? Get anything!!!!! Cookies, whatever!!!!"
BFG: " I don't want cookies!" 
Of course, she didn't because that's what we were standing by. 
She finally picked chocolate Poptarts. 
We finally make it to the check out. I set my four boxes of squeezable fruit pouches on the counter. 
The cashier says, "So, you are one of the ones! Every time we get these, they go so fast!"
What did she mean? Every. Time. They. Get. Them.
I thought this was a once in a lifetime deal!
Me: "Oh, do you get these alot?"
Cashier: "Oh, yeah! They've been on our regular inventory list for . . . oh, I don't know how long."
Are you kidding me? I made this special disastrous trip for something they carry all the time. All. The. Time. This was so not the best trip to town ever. 
So, I piled my three sick, crying kids into the van with my so-called deals. 
Ironic, isn't it? We went for deals on healthy food--fruit squeezies and organic cereal---that turned out not to be deals and drove home eating full-priced Lucky Charms and chocolate Poptarts. And the best part is we spilled half of the box of Lucky Charms in the floor of the van. 
Yup, so not worth it. 



 

Chasing Rainbows

I've been totally MIA because I am an idiot. My friend told me that she earned $101 selling her kids clothes to a used-clothing store. I spent weeks trying to do the same. Did you read that? Trying. As in, unsuccessful. Apparently, her kids' clothes have golden thread or something 'cause that store sure did not want to shell out big bucks for mine. So, then I became determined to sell it for the highest price possible and jumped in on a consignment sale. Still I did not match the dollar amount. Nope, but I did spent probably quadruple the amount of time dealing with mountains of clothes. So. Not. Worth. It. I don't have time to use the restroom. Why would I think taking two complete weekends to tag clothes was a good idea? It's not like my house is a complete wreck or anything. I mean, we don't have so much junk lying around that we trip on something every time we walk through a room. Heck, no. And we are certainly not tripping over the 6 garbage bags of clothes I have lying around that I am now GIVING AWAY (aka Not getting one measly penny for them). Why didn't I just give them away to begin with instead of putting so much work into this? And why the heck do I buy so many darn clothes to begin with? Crazy, I tell ya'! Mama Said

The Cry It Out Diet

I'm not sure if I'm an idiot or a genius. I decided to Ferberize Crybaby (aka cry it out in the crib) on the same day I started the 17 Day Diet. Pretty tough day, which supports the "I'm an idiot" point of view.

But, when she was crying, I didn't think about being hungry. And when I was starving, I didn't think about her crying. So, could be genius, don't cha think? And, hey, why not have one super tough day instead of two separate tough days?

Of course, I did win Worst Mommy Award again. I win every week. I try to not win, but I'm just excel in that category.

To add another dimension to my day, I decided to try Crybaby on her Prilosec again. I had tried it for 5 days and quit for reasons I could no longer remember. So, I gave her a dose and before long, I remembered the reasons. She puked even more and had diarrhea and was fussy.

Well, later in the day, I decided I would look up the side effects of that medicine in infants. Oh, get this! A side effect is restlessness and sleeplessness! Even headaches! And I had been making her cry it out all day! Bless her bones! May the Lord watch over and protect her. I'm not doing so hot.

BTW, I will never give her another dose of this medicine. The side effects are absolutely horrible. Major stuff like messing up their white blood cell count and making them more susceptible to infection and screwing up the lining of their intestines! It's crazy! Um, I think I'd rather just clean up puke all day than put may baby through all the side effects.

Gotta go before I pass out from hunger,
Mama Said

It Finally Happened!!!

I just knew it would.

I've been dreading it for months and months.

Ever since I was pregnant in fact.

I handled it better than I thought I would.

I didn't scream and run for Rhett like I used to.

But it was still sickeningly horrible.

During a middle of the night feeding last night . . .

You won't believe it!

Have you guessed yet?

A real live mouse walked by!!!!!

Aaaaaagh!!!!! I swear it will be the mice that drive me away from this house. I can't take critters in my home! Yuck!

Throwing out poison packets right and left just as fast as I can,
Mama Said

She's Out!

My sis is finally out of the hospital today. Haven't gotten to talk to her yet. But she's obviously doing some better.
Thanks for your prayers!
Mama Said

C-R-A-Z-Y Weekend!!!!

and I don't mean like whoo-hoo party crazy. Wish I did.

My uncle passed away Thursday after battling stomach cancer the past 6 months. I'm very sad about that. He was an awesome warrior for Christ. And although I am sad, I know he's in Heaven and I'll see him again.

But that led us to plan a weekend out of state for his funeral. However, our trip never happened.

At the same exact time, my dad and my sister went to the emergency room. Different hospitals, but literally at the same time.

My dad had been having alot of abdominal pain all week and the walk-in clinic said to get to the hospital. But his turned out to just be his ulcers (Praise the Lord!) probably due to the stress of his brother dying.

My sister, however, had appendicitis and had to have an emergency appendectomy in the middle of the night. And this is just a month after having her gall bladder removed. Makes you wonder, huh? Anyway, she is still in the hospital because she still has a fever and for some reason, her body is not coughing up stuff or something after having the tube down her throat. So, she's at risk for pneumonia. Is this not insane?

Blessedly, her mom-in-law is on spring break this week and can take care of my niece and nephews. We gave her a break this afternoon and kept them. Wow, 5 kids at once is a hoot! Esp. two babies.

Anyway, prayerfully, she's be out tomorrow.
Mama Said

Spring Weekend

This weekend was actually pretty productive. Yay!

Took BFG to a Daisy Scouts function and met a possible new friend for me. Check.

Cleaned out my car so we are no longer climbing over piles of trash to get in. Check.

Transferred Crybaby from our bed to the bassinet. Check with a Whoo-hoo!

Went back to church. Check.

Survived the time change, barely. Check.

Yup, purty good.

Mama Said

My Latest Love Affair

Well, just let me tell ya' . . .

that Nutella commercial lies like a dog!!!

BFG hated the stuff. Will not eat it at all.

And of course, I love it!!! It's so, so yummy!

The problem is I sure don't see how it is one bit healthy.

Here's a breakdown of the love affair:

1) Nutella on toast---Pretty tasty.

2) Nutella on fresh, white bread---Whoa, this is pretty darn good.

3) Nutella on fresh, white bread with peanut butter and bananas---Oh my! This is really, really yummy. Delicious, in fact.

4) Pretzels dipped in Nutella---Divine! This seems sinful! (Checking the label.) Yup, 11 fat grams later, this is definitely a sin!

Sigh! It's so, so good! But who can eat 11 fat grams just to get 2% of your daily calcium and 4% of your iron? Plus, the first ingredient is sugar! How can they market this as healthy?

Farewell, Nutella my love! We must find a way to live apart.

At least til the baby weight is off.

Good thing it has a long shelf life. Whew! I paid full price for that unhealthy mess of tasty delight.

Mama Said

Remember when . . .

McDonald's tasted good.

Think back far.

Yup, before your oldest child could eat table food.

BFG made up a song in the car last night singing that McDonald's had the best food ever.

I laughed out loud because thanks to her the thought of Micky D's turns my stomach!

Blech!
Mama Said

Hence the Name: HOT Cocoa!

Yup, earned me another Worst Mom of the Year Awards. And right after I spent two hours freezing my toes off for BFG to sell Girl Scout Cookies, too. That kind of just doesn't seem fair.

It all started at the cookie booth really. My mom came to buy cookies and, of course, gave me money to buy BFG hot cocoa because I'm obviously to incompetent to care for my own child. Although, by the time the whole hot cocoa incident was over, I think she may be right.

For whatever dumb reason, the girls are not allowed to eat or drink at the booth. So, we had to wait until we were thoroughly frozen and our two hours were over before we could get our cocoa. Being the cheapskate that I am, I decided that the bookstore coffee shop's (where we had the booth) prices were too high and that we would go to the gas station to get cocoa for her and coffee for me.

So, off we go to the Golden Gallon! I fill hers up first so it can be cooling while I'm fixing mine. It sat for a looong time with no lid while I went all Starbucks on my coffee. Of course, I now know I would never qualify for a job at Starbucks because I totally ruined my coffee. I finally finished and put cold half and half in BFG's cocoa and stirred it, blew on it, tasted it, and everything to ensure it was drinkable. I slap a lid on it, hand it to her, and tell her to be careful because it may still be a little too hot for her, but I think it's okay.

We are walking up to the register to pay. I turn around and realize BFG has taken a drink and it is burning her mouth! She is holding it in her mouth because she doesn't want to spit it out on the floor! The girl at the register was getting ready to wipe down the counter because the people before us had spilt their coffee. I thought fast and screamed, "Give me your paper towel" and grabbed the paper towel out of her hand and held it up to BFG's mouth for her to spit out the cocoa.

We're in rare form by that point. BFG's is squalling and in pain. The salesclerk has no idea what is going on and cannot keep up with our madness. I scream out Water! and run for the bottled water dragging a wailing BFG behind me. I grab a bottle of water (after noting the cheapest one I might add) and shove it into BFG's mouth.

We make it back to the counter to pay for our drinks and the clerk starts talking about my Vera Bradley purse and showing me hers and her wallet and telling me how much she spent on them and who got her into them, yada yada. I'm thinking 1) I only have this purse because my mom bought it for me, 2) I just burned my child who is still standing here crying which translates into this is not the time to discuss the merits of Vera Bradley purses!!!! and 3) you obviously have no kids because another mother would not be having this conversation with me right now!!! Are you kidding me?

She did offer BFG a cup of ice which made her pretty happy. As we are getting in the car, I realize that I don't think she charged me for the water. Crap! But fortunately for me, she is a smoker and had already stepped outside for a smoke. The unfortunate part was that the only thing between me and her was a policeman in his car. Still, I went ahead and yelled out, Did I pay for the water? She blanched and said she wasn't sure. Then, she said yeah, yeah, you did. You did. Don't worry about it. Y'all, I really don't think I did. Unless the coffee was on sale. I looked around for a sign and didn't see one. So, I'm trying to tell myself it was really like I got a free coffee because for some reason that makes me feel better about the whole thing. Oh, and the cop was too busy on his cell phone to notice that I possibly walked off with a "free" water.

So, I left the gas station with a burned child, a ruined coffee, a bottle of water with one drink out of it, a cup of ice, and a hot chocolate the she finally drank cold. Oh, and all the hubbub made me forget to pick up my thyroid meds at the pharmacy. So, that will cost us another $5.00 and hour's time to drive back to town to get those. I'm kinda wishing I'd just shelled out the extra few dollars for drinks at the bookstore because I ended up spending way more. When will I learn?
Mama Said

Missing My Blog

Oh, Blog, Sweet Blog! Oh, how I miss you!

I miss my blog so bad! I'm hoping to crank back up again now that we are on the backside of Crybaby's colic. The thing I hate the most is that I missed blogging through my long-awaited pregnancy and the first few month's of Crybaby's life. My blog is how I journal our events and memories. Now, there is a big hole. But, c'est la vie! I just don't have much time.

And I have to admit, Facebook just about ruined me. It's quick and easy and you get immediate feedback. But, I think I'm about over it. I can't ever post anything because so-and-so might get offended or so-and-so knows so-and-so who might tell so-and-so and that would hurt their feelings, etc. It's to convoluted to enjoy. Here, I am free to be me!

I've got some good stories stackin' up around here. I hope, hope, hope I get to write them out!
Mama Said

Eat Your Wheaties!

You definitely have to eat your Wheaties to live in this ol' house! In fact, I've been through so much lately with the house that I've decided to nominate myself for the cover of the Wheaties box. I really think it's warranted. To go through the mental, physical, and emotional anguish (all while pregnant may I remind you) of living in a run-down 140 year old house and still be standing is quite the accomplishment! Oh, yes, we are constantly shelling out cash faster than Rhett can earn it and there have been more than a few psychotic screaming/crying episodes and poor BFG didn't get to sleep in her room for weeks because it was all of 90 degrees upstairs. But we are still standing. I'd like to see if Kobe, or Favre, or Peyton could live like this!


And what brings on this conquering attitude you ask? I'd be glad to tell you all about how I killed a baby snake INSIDE my house last week. Who knew I had it in me? But don't tell General Mills about how I called Rhett right afterward (still holding the bloody knife) crying hysterically screaming at him that "I was so done with this house." Yeah, that might blow my chances at the Wheaties cover shot.

Trying to remember if I have ever in my life eaten a bowl of Wheaties,
Mama Said

My Sweet Baby

My sweet baby two weeks ago. I wish I could see her every week!
Now if only we had a name . . .

Now THAT Was A Bad Idea!

Seriously, I wonder about myself. I think I could possibly be certified as an idiot.

Night before last, I heard our 100th mouse in the corner of our bedroom. Yes, the corner right by my head where we always hear the mice first, which stands to reason this may be where they are getting in but we have yet to do anything about it. The mouse was eating something very loudly in the wee hours of the morning but alas, it was not the poison packet lying under the dresser.

So, I get one of my fabulous ideas. I could tell the mouse had not found the kitchen yet. I suggested to Rhett that we put peanut butter on a fresh poison packet and put it right in the corner for the night last night and I'd make sure it was cleaned up before we let the dog out the next morning. I knew hearing it eat the poison would keep us up, but as long as it ate it we were golden. Ingenious, right?

At 1:30 in the morning when the nibbling started, I still thought I was extraordinarily smart. The mouse (or mice, I've heard they run in pairs) spent the whole night coming to the peanut-butter poison packet. I got almost zero sleep, but I didn't care. With every rustle and munch I heard, I knew their time was short and was filled with glee that my plan had worked! {Insert wicked laugh here.}

Fast forward to 6:00 am when Rhett was leaving for work, my plan failed! We checked the poison packet. Apparently, just a smear of peanut butter is enough for a mouse or two to party on all night long! They had licked up half the peanut butter and had not bitten into the poison at all! I stayed up all night for nothing listening to their peanut-butter-p*opin-party. Yeah, that's right. Just enough peanut butter to leave me plenty of pellets to clean up. Yay.

Sorry if there are typos in this. I'm pretty doggone tired! Stupid mice! I hate them! If I had one, I seriously would wear an "I Hate Mice!" t-shirt.
Mama Said

Note: Later, I did find where the mouse found our kitchen last night and ate an entire poison packet under the sink. I'm very, very grateful! I still stayed up for nothing and had even more "gifts" to clean up, but at least this one's taken care of!

Bad Kitty!

I found this in our bed this morning.

As anger toward my cat was rising to my eyeballs,

I realized what had happened.

Rhett slept all night on a chocolate covered raisin!

Whew!

Are You Kidding Me?

This is my life in this old house . . .

Yup, taking a shower and the whole thing collapses on me. Luckily, I wasn't hurt. But this is the kind of crap that happens daily around here. I am going battycakes!!!

And, of course, this happened the day after I vowed to stop saying "I hate this house" 100 times a day and try to appreciate its good qualities. I've having a really hard time thinking of any right now.

Here's to one more repair on the list!

Mama Said

Rhett's Big Night Out

So, Ol' Rhett and I went out to eat last night. Kinda for his birthday and kinda because BFG was at the grandparents. Every place in town was crowded of course even at 7:45. So, we ended up at a little Chinese bistro that was not overly full.

I was excited to be out and eating good food. I had even worn a cute sundress for Pete's sake. And about 5 minutes after we sat down, a blast from the past sat down right next to us. Yup, this crazy psycho and his entire family including like his entire family from out of state. We know this guy through someone else. And although I did associate with his wife some years ago, I had a feeling (okay, I was praying) they wouldn't recognize us. I can't really explain, but this is a family we want NO contact with.

So, basically, Rhett's big night out was ruined. We kept our chins down, made no eye contact with them, refused to turn our heads in that direction. We talked in code. Of course, when I was saying grace, I kept accidentally saying Rhett's name to the point that I'm laughing hysterically and Rhett yells out "You're done!" I feel bad that I never finished saying grace. But at least they didn't hear us or the Lord answered the very first thing we prayed for.

After we escaped unnoticed, we came home (despite my attempts to get Rhett to go look at baby stuff with me.) Rhett had me pull around to the chicken coop so he could close it up. Well, unfortunately, a hen and the four guinea hens had roosted on top of the door. When Rhett tried to get them down, one of them po*ped on his head. The door came slamming down after that. Ooooh, Rhett was so mad! And, yes, I rolled down the car windows so that he could hear me laughing at him. It was funny in itself, but funnier because he doesn't lose his cool too often.

Still giggling,
Mama Said

So Long!!!!

I was cleaning out my purse and found an old appointment card for the fertility clinic. It was for the very last time I was there when I saw this baby's heartbeat.

The emotions I felt seeing that card were weird! That clinic represents alot of ups and downs of hope and despair. Going there began as a hopeful thing that led to a hate of having to go. I started out not liking my doctor very much at all to him becoming one of my favorite doctors I've had (and that was before I got pg). A place I dreaded to go with a vengeance became a lifeline as they ran all the tests to ensure my baby was alive those first few weeks of pregnancy. The place that was to be our last step in this trying-to-conceive battle became a place where we saw the beginning of a new life to be added to our family.

I know all those trips to the fertility clinic were stepping stones God placed in our life and I thank Him for our journey.

But one feeling about the clinic rings out above all the other----

So Long, Clinic! Praise the Lord I'm done with you!!!

Making a joyful noise unto my Saviour,
Mama Said

Exhausted!

I am worn out! It's been a loooong week starting with last Friday when Rhett had his wisdom teeth cut out. We've been eating instant mashed potatoes and boxed mac & cheese all week long! I'm sick of it, but I sure wasn't cooking if he wasn't eating!

Rhett's grandmother went to the emergency room again with her blood pressure. She's okay, still the same really. So, I'm worried about her. That also meant his parents brought BFG home early so I only got half of her room cleaned out. I got to clean out the rest with her "helping" me. Translate that into I didn't get to throw much away andit took me twice as long! Her room looks good though. I'll post pics sometime soon. Her room really took us all week.

We lost a chicken (I'll tell that story later!) and a belt on our lawn mower broke.

I made my back-to-school deals errands run and hosted a playdate. Luckily, my friend brought the food! Yay! It was yummy!

I am just so tired and it is sooooo hot here! I just want to curl up and sleep the rest of the day!

Trying to get a nap in,
Mama Said

Pass The Salt!

My OB visit went well. Oh, except for the fact I think this was the visit I exposed to the doc just how crazy I am. (He's a new dr. to me 'cause my OB quit delivering.) I try to keep that under wraps as long as possible. But when you're this crazy, it's hard to keep quiet for long. Of course, I'm sure it's marked in my file anyway like Elaine from Seinfeld.

So, I go into this huge dissertation to him about my IBS symptoms coming back, can I take calcium supplements, and how I just couldn't figure out how many Flintstones to take and what kind because I was sure my iron was low because I was on the verge of passing out all day every day.

After I finish, he says, "Well, I'm pretty sure you're almost passing out because your blood pressure is too low."

Oh. Well, that just makes too much sense! When will I learn to keep my mouth shut and glean what I need to know from the people I'm paying to tell me?

So, now I'm having to increase fluids. That is just too much fun when you are already in the bathroom every five minutes. I'm thinking of moving the TV in there and just living there for the next 6 months. And I'm increasing my salt intake. By the end of the day yesterday, I had retained so much fluid that my belly was double the size it was the day before! And I still felt faint. Aaaaaagh!

Gulp, gulp, gulp,
Mama Said