Brusha, Brusha, Brusha! Puka, Puka, Puka!

Today was Wyatt's 1st official visit to the dentist. Finally. This is a different dentist than the one he visited on his field trip back in February. It is a pediatric dentist and they are totally up my alley. They have a younger child's play area, an older child/teen waiting area, and an adults only coffee corner waiting area. The staff are super nice and very experienced with working with children. They do everything they can do to make a visit to the dentist as pleasant as possible for a child. Well, almost everything, but I will get to that later.

Now I have to mention that the talk of the town is the swine flu as there are two probable cases in the area. All the schools were closed today and will be tomorrow as well. One mom in the waiting area told her little girl at least 12 times "don't touch your face." It was making me paranoid. I was about to whip out the hand sanitizer myself when they called us back.

The first thing they did was take his picture - score - which they then turned into a cute "My First Dental Visit" magnet.




Here he is waiting for his cleaning.




Jeremy was so embarrassed that I had brought my camera. Then I switched it over to video and he was even more embarrassed.

Everything was great with his teeth - no cavities and no cross bite. They were just going to do the exam today and not push the cleaning but I told her that we had been practicing. :) So, she cleaned his teeth with cookie dough flavored paste - eww. He really didn't get excited about it either. While cleaning his teeth, after she would rinse, she would instruct him to swallow. That seemed odd to me b/c I thought they would just suction all that out. But I figured it must be some kind of toddler safe paste and didn't think anything else about it.

So we get out of the dentist with a bag of goodies: a new magnet, a t-shirt, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a prize (tacky plastic snake - typical boy) and we head across the street to lunch. Did I mention that we were starving? Fortunately, the restaurant wasn't crowded at all b/c all the good parents were at home with their children shielding them from any unneccesary risk of being exposed.

So, the waitress brought us our food and before I even had time to open up my silverware, Wyatt began to gag. At first I thought we was just choking on his drink, but then I quickly realized that wasn't the case. He was sick and he threw up directly onto his plate of food. Multiple times. It seems the empty tummy, the nerves from the event, and the swallowing of the nasty cookie dough paste was more than his little tummy could handle.

Here's the classic part, especially if you know me and my obsession with following "the rules." **

I immediately looked at J and said "Oh no - they are going to think he has the swine flu!"

He just looked at me like I was crazy. My child is sick and I am worried about what other people will think. Guilty as charged.

I covered up the vomit with napkins, told the waitress we needed to go boxes, instructed J to pay with cash (I don't want them to know our name!) and high tailed it out of there before the news media descended upon the place.

Of course he was totally fine after he got it out of his system. And I was totally thankful for the goody bag as it provided me with what I needed to get us home - a clean t-shirt and an empty bag :)


** Once upon a time, I rented a SUV to take a group of us to FL and there were only 2 rental agency approved drivers: myself and my friend Leslie. Well, we weren't driving fast enough so we let Leslie's husband Mark drive part of the way. He gets pulled over for speeding and the first thing out of my mouth is: "Oh Mark! I hope the policeman doesn't notify the rental car company you were driving!" I was stressing out about that the whole trip. They will never let me live that one down.

You Ain't Seen Crazy...

...until you see this!

(Notice how I used the word "ain't" in my title in an attempt to embrace my current culture.)

OK - This. Makes. Me. Laugh. Out. Loud...

...which is cheaper than therapy.

I want you to realize that this is serious. These people are serious. They may be nutso, but they are tee-totally serious. And they are truly devastated.

Why, you might ask. Did they lose their home? Their job? A family member?

NO - nothing that trivial, people.

They are in a circle, in the woods, DEVASTATED because...

a
tree
was
cut
down.

Yep - a tree. Some mean ole meanie cut down the OAK GROVE. And because of this, there are actual tears being shed. The word bawling would be an appropriate fit. MEN (and I use that term loosely) are so broken hearted that they are curled up in the fetal position while being comforted by fellow, perhaps more seasoned, tree hugging hippies.

AND I don't care who you are - IT'S FUNNY.





Thank goodness Rainbow Rose had her wits about her (even though she was about 2 breaths away from hyperventilating) to let the TREES know that they are loved and that they should not worry because there are people who care and don't want them to DIE. Whew, what a relief for those trees.

And what about that last little baby, wannabe tree hugger? Her brave little monologue sends me into a fit of giggles every time.

Watch it again - I know you are still in disbelief that people could be so completely out of touch with reality. SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE - GET A GRIP. Or don't - and post more videos to humor me.

And if some of you wicked, industrialized people could please clear your calendars of all that superficial stuff like jobs and family, according to EarthFirst's website, they are still in desperate need of people to protect the spotted owl habitat in the McKay Tract of Humboldt County.

PEACE :)

Ruh-Row Raggy

It's been a week since my last post...which means I have survived yet another week living the Simple Life.

The good news...it is getting better. Well, nothing has really changed so I guess I should say I am just coping better.

I have had time to get things organized and I have found, if organized, I can handle just about anything.

It seems like the furry friend I found DEAD in the washing machine may have been the only one hanging out here. There has not been any new evidence, no bodies in the traps, and Phoebe, a rodent hunter by nature, has not given me any indication that we have any unwelcome guests. That alone makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER.

Now, if we could just have a Sunday night without storms, all will be well. I can't believe we "chose" the height of the storm season to move into a trailer. I can see why the poor things don't stand a chance. I have literally felt the entire thing move from the winds alone that we have had the past few Sundays.

Oh, and now for something totally random, I had no idea that Shaggy and the Gang were big in Winchester, TN. Of course, I shouldn't be surprised, since I can't make a trip through Wal-Mart without seeing at least 3 people wearing Tweety Bird t-shirts. Ewww - I think cartoons belong on TV - not on clothing...and definitely not on vehicles.

Anyway, I had to use some mad driving skills to allow said "vehicle" to pass me and take pics while remaining incognito.



Now you see why I suffer.

Go ahead, click on it to get the full effect.

And why was I the only one staring in disbelief at this atrocity? You'll have to trust me on this next part because I couldn't get a picture of the front dash without giving the occupants a heads up - and I didn't want to have any interaction whatsoever with Thelma and Shaggy. The entire front dash was covered in orange, shaggy carpet and there were 3 - count them, 3 - stuffed Scooby Doo dogs along for the ride. Ewww, ewww, ewww.

And I guarantee you - we, the tax payers of this great nation, covered the cost of this 'Pimp My Ride' creation. This has "sponsored by 3 months of unemployment checks" written all over it.

In fact, that overtime you put in last week, allowed Thelma to spring for the GREEN & ORANGE RIMS!!! You missed that on the first glance, huh? Couldn't get past "The Mystery Machine" emblazoned on the side? Scroll back and take a good look. Only in America...

So, let's purge that awful image from your mind and replace it with these cutie pie pics of my little guy - who, in case you can't tell, I think is darn cute.

He's fair-skinned like me so I insist on a hat and sunscreen when playing outside.




Happy living the Simple Life...

Mission Accomplished

Friday was a great day. The weather was gorgeous, which was key for my mission: to spend the entire day away from our new dwelling as that seems to be the trick to keeping me sane.


We went to Monte Sano State Park where Wyatt got to play with YouYou...




and with Jack...




Here they are working on their lumberjack skills...




Wyatt and YouYou both enjoyed the swings...






Then Wyatt and I had a picnic sponsored by McDonald's at Big Spring Park....




I am thinking about sending this one to their advertising execs - he'll be the new "face" for the chicken mcnugget...




So you're thinking I'm done with the outings? Oh no - I still had another 3 hours to fill so we headed to the Train Depot to see what that was all about. Wyatt enjoyed their playroom, riding the trolley, and playing in the sand area...




We left there around 3 and headed to the land to see how the house was coming along. The framers are almost finished - they still have another few days worth of work to do. Here are some outside pics.

Front view:




Back view: I was too close to get the entire back in one shot






I am already trying to get next Friday's plans in place so let me know if you want to get together!

The Simple Life - Week 1

Really, had I known things would have gone the way they have, I would contacted a major network and gotten a reality TV show out of the deal.

As you know, J and I are building a house that won't be ready until probably July. We were living in a "rental" that J's dad owned but he sold it so we are in the process of moving. I briefly mentioned in a past blog that we had found a temporary housing solution.

If you are reading this blog, then you most likely know me - at least a little bit. Enough to know that I like nice things. Enough to know that I have certain standards, a certain way of living that is comfortable for me. Enough to know that the house we have been living in the past year was somewhat of a stretch for me as it was a very small, older home and only had 1 bathroom. And because I think my brothers read this, I will even admit that I am somewhat, just a tiny bit, spoiled. There, I said it.

And you probably also know that I tend to keep things to myself. I don't love to share about me. So, it hit me, as I was going through all the drama of the week, that most of my friends and family didn't know the scoop.

So are you ready?

Our temporary housing is a 900 square foot trailer.

(imagine sound of needle screeching across a record)

And I can think of at least 3 of my friends who laughed out loud when they read that. Not because there is anything wrong with living in a trailer but because they are picturing me living in one. But I figured I could handle anything as long as I knew it was temporary. Well, this week has already shown me "not so much." I HATE IT HERE. Why? Not because it is a trailer per se but because...

- I found evidence while moving in that we aren't the only tenants. That's right...mice. They TERRIFY me. The first night we were here, I decided to do a load of laundry. When I opened the washer to move the clothes to the dryer, I thought I got a whiff of something awful smelling. At first I thought it must be because we are on WELL water here. But then I got another whiff. So I am sticking the clothes up to my face, literally touching my nose to them and smelling thinking "what is that smell?" And as I turned to get another piece of clothing out, I saw it - little Mickey Mouse mashed up against the inside of the washing machine. Oh, you know I freaked out. I stomped right outside to where my true love was and threw the first of many fits I have thrown this week.

- my geriatric dog doesn't deal well with stress, like the stress of moving into a new place. Perhaps she is spoiled as well because the first night here, she proceeded to throw up. Then, a day later, the illness moved to the other end. I had to take her outside every two hours all night long. I hated her by morning.

- my 3 year old son loved his other house and doesn't understand why we moved. I used to sugar coat it but now I just say "because your Poppy sold it." I am so tired of trying to explain all this to him. And tired of not being able to enjoy him at all because I am constantly packing, loading, unpacking, etc. He is not a big fan of the new digs - guess he gets that from me.

- I had NO Internet connection for 5 days. Another reason it has taken me so long to post.

- the first night we were here, I turned the TV on to find that I had 4 channels to choose from. 19, 25, 31, and 54 (LOCAL) which meant no "Diego" or any of the other heavily relied upon shows to entertain the Prince.

- we have well water and I don't even know what that means.

- when the wind blows, it sounds like a herd of horses trampling on the roof. J and I got up and turned on the weather because we thought there must be severe weather - nope, just a flimsy excuse for a roof.

- we had lumber stolen from our property which put the framers behind half a day because the material they needed to lay the floor was stolen. J had to file a police report and order more lumber to replace what was stolen. Talk about unneeded added stress. That doesn't have anything to do with living in a trailer but it happened this week, so it is relevant.

- we have had to obtain a 3rd storage unit (we have our own wing) to store all of our stuff. And I threw so much away and gave away bags and bags to Goodwill.

- my husband refuses to ask anyone to help us move so it makes it even more stressful. He and I have come close to some scuffles. But then we make jokes about how it will be awesome to go ahead and get our first domestic dispute on the record while living in the trailer. Seriously, if it wasn't for the jokes, I would have cried. Oh, wait a minute, I did, but I will save that for another post.

So, if you are still with me, you have a better idea of what I have been up to this past week. Only 15 more to go!

Little Known Side Effect: Two Hour Pain Delay

Even tough Wyatt turned 3 in February, he just had his 3 year old check up today. Apparently, if you don't call a good 3 months in advance, you aren't going to get your appointment in a timely fashion. I was somewhat apprehensive about taking him because you just never know what this little guy is going to do or say. Just as we prepped for the dentist, we prepped for the doctor visit. Last night I read him The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor. Of course in that story, Sister and Brother Bear get booster shots. I assured him that he would not be getting any shots at this visit. In an effort to increase my chances of a pleasant child versus a nightmare, I reminded him that I would take him to the "Train Store" (Southerland's) if he was a good little boy...also known as bribing - but that has such a negative connotation, doesn't it?

I am happy to report that he was very well behaved and did not balk at any of the requests of the nurses or the doctor. He was a little shy when the doctor checked him out but he listened to everything she asked him to do. Just when I thought we were in the free and clear, my honesty had to get the best of us. She asked if he was a picky eater. Instead of lying and telling her he eats everything I put in front of him, I fessed up that he was rather picky. This led to her deciding that she wanted to make sure he was not anemic which required him getting his finger pricked. Bless his heart - he didn't even see it coming.

He was laying on his tummy on the table when the lab dude came in with his little kit. Wyatt just followed instructions and put that precious little finger out. I decided it was best to let the element of surprise aid us in the process for fear he would hide under the table if he knew what was coming. He was so surprised to see his blood being squeezed into a container that he didn't even realize that it was something that kind of hurt. He didn't cry but was not happy that "that guy didn't even give me back my bwud." He did get a rather bright, large yellow band-aid though. And we did find out that he is NOT anemic so I guess that was worth the trauma.

Here are a few pics from our celebration visit to the Train Store.


He is wearing his super cute Lucky Brand jeans I got him ON SALE for 50% off in Vegas.




Wyatt showing me his band-aid without taking his eyes off the train. Don't you agree that the band-aid was little much for a finger prick? It looks like a splint!




Finally giving in at my request to please look at the camera and smile...



Oh, and even though he didn't make a peep at the time of pricking, when he talked to his Ditda (J's mom) on the phone a full 2 hours later, he threw in numerous "ows" and held his finger as though the pain was just hitting him. You can imagine the eye rolling it produced from Moi' - such a little "drama king."

Wyatt's Busy Day = Lots of Pictures

Wyatt and I met my friend Sarah and her little girl Addison at Early Works museum on Friday. They have a 6 and under play area that encourages pretend or imaginative play. Wyatt is at the perfect age for this and had a great time...

...collecting fish in his net,


playing in the garden,


hanging out in the doghouse,


and riding on the cow.


After lunch I took Wyatt to Southerland Station which is a great toy store that also has an elaborate train display. We stayed there for about an hour before heading home. We met J at the land and he played some more there. His energy is amazing. I was exhausted and he was literally running circles around me while playing in the gravel.

"Doing Construction"





Love that dimple...


...and those freckles.



Why Dada is "funner"