MIA with a TBI

Soooooooo slowly  but surely I have been recovering from my Traumatic Brain Injury.  I'm back to work, and back to taking care of my own children and (lucky for you) back to bloggin'.  A lot has happened while I've been gone, so let me catch you up.

 

 

We celebrated Valentine's Day with some love notes:

 

 

 

And Saint Patrick's Day with some rainbows:

 

 

 (1200 yards of yarn is actually quite a bit, FYI)

 

 

 

 We celebrated Easter by hunting for eggs:

 

 

 and hanging out with our cousins (have you ever tried to get 9 kids in one picture?  Here's my best effort):

 

 

Ben found some 2x4's and used his tools to build something:

 

And Abby finally ordered a cast and crutches for McKenna.  (We still don't have the full story on how she broke her leg but she seems to be on the mend...):

 We played in the mud (and had to get hosed off!):

 

 

 

And with help from my awesome dad and husband, I finally got  the disaster that is our garage ship shape:

 

 

 

 I can't even believe I showed you those pictures!!!!

 

I started by taking everything out of the garage

 

And added some shelves: 

 

 

 

 

Then I put it all back in and I couldn't be happier!!!

 

 

 

I love me a nice clean space!!

 

 

We have also been lucky enough to have good weather for three baseball games.  (We had rain outs this weekend but that works just as well for me!):

 

 

And I got to go on a rainy farm field trip with Ben and Abby's kindergarten class:

 

 

We have been super busy and have had tons of fun!  And I'm back, so stay tuned!

Winning at Life

I always tease that Abby trips over air multiple times a day.  I swear, she will be walking and everything is going fine and then, BAM, she's on the ground.  I laugh about it, but if I'm being honest, she may come by it honestly.  What's that saying about the apple and the tree?

Here's a little background on me:

By the time I was five, I had had stitches IN MY HEAD 3 different times.  (I know some of your are thinking that this explains a lot, you're probably right).  Two of the "incidents" were from what could be considered normal, little kid incidents.  Once, I fell off a stool and the other time I bumped into a wall.  (Those are normal, right?)  The third time, well that was the beginning of the end for me.  Long story short, a swing set fell on my head.  Yep, weird things happen to me. 

A short list of things that have happened since then:

Stitches in my knee (kind of normal), surgery to remove cysts on my tailbone (not at all normal),and too many sprained ankles to count (most happened during track, one happened on a walk to my car...).  This summer, I stepped on a pitchfork while I was mowing the lawn and it fractured my second toe and my entire foot blew up to the size of a watermelon.  That doesn't happen to just anyone.  And I thought, at the time, that it was the weirdest injury I could come up with.  Ha!  Little did I know, the best (worst?) was yet to come.

Fast forward to the weekend before last.   Robbie and I were on a double date with some friends of his from work.  We'd gone shooting (don't ask), we'd had dinner, and we were on our way back to the car when I challenged him to a foot race.  We saw an empty parking lot, and off we went.  That's about all I know...I vaguely remember that we drifted toward each other but after that, all I know is that I was flat on my back and I couldn't talk, or move.  I was pretty sure I was a vegetable.  Yep.  My talent at it's best.  Somehow, while I was running forward, I had fallen and hit the BACK of my head.  I knocked my self out, sustained a concussion and put a pretty decent gash in the back of my head.  Not to mention the road rash and cut on my backside.  Awesome.

By the time I realized I wasn't paralyzed, I started freaking out about the blood.  I hate blood.  (And eyeballs and snakes but they weren't really issues at that point).  So off we headed to hospital.  At 10 pm.  On a Saturday.  On Hill Top.  Once there, I got the privilege of spending 2 and a half hours with Tacoma's finest citizens.  That is an experience I don't need to repeat.  Once I finally was moved to my room (and by room I mean chair in the very back hallway of the ER) I got to listen to the guy in behind me complain how "they charge you for everything at this place...even the cups you use!"  (Not sure who he expected to pay for his cups?)  and the girl in front of me who was sure that "Obama's kids would never have to wait this long" and that she definitely wasn't pregnant...."unless it was immaculate consumption".  I can't make this up, people!!!

Once the doctor finally saw me (after 45 minutes with my new friends in the hallway) and decided that I needed to have my head scanned and stitched up (oh, and the cut on my cheek-the other cheek- super glued) it was only a short 2 hours before was on my way home with my head wrapped up like a mummy.  Double awesome.

At that point, I figured I might have a headache the next day and I knew I wouldn't be able to work on Monday... because I couldn't wash my blood crusted hair until Monday night.  Little did I know that 12 days later, I would still be off work and on the couch.  I sleep, I watch Bravo, and that is about it.  Yesterday, I slept for 20 out of 24 hours.  On Monday, as I was headed to the doctor to get my stitches out and my brain checked, I followed this bus for miles:

Talk about rubbing in in.  Also, as it turns out, March is Brain Injury Awareness month.  Do I know how to celebrate, or what?

But guess what?!? Today I feel better than I have in weeks!  I still spent most of my day on the couch (after a trip to Target, the happiest place on Earth) but I didn't sleep all day!  And I didn't cry!  And I put the laundry in the dryer all by myself!!!  It is amazing how low your standards get after a week and a half of doing nothing.  But yay for feeling better!

So now I have vowed to myself not to laugh when Abby trips over nothing.  Instead, I will say a little prayer that she escapes the curse of one-of-a-kind injuries that seems to follow me.

And after all of this, I am confident that we made the right decision to stop with two children.  They say once you have twins you have a 25 percent chance of having them again and that is obviously the kind of thing that would happen to me.  Except I'd get three or four next time.  Because that's how I roll.

#winning



 

Tuesday Night Randomness

Want to know the quickest way to make Abby go crazy?  Make her sit and listen to her brother read.  She can't stand it.  While she is breezing through chapter books, Ben is still struggling to sound out simple words.  And that makes her skin crawl.  While he is blending together words like "s-eeeee-mmmm-sssss", she sits next to him saying, "seems, Ben.  The word is seems."  It is frustrating for her because reading comes so easily for her.  And it is frustrating for him, because reading comes so easily for her.

And then tonight, Ben was reading to me and I told him I needed to go put the clean sheets on his bed and he was bummed because he wanted to keep reading and Abby said, "I'll read with you, Ben".  And so she did.  And she listened to him sound out words, and she helped him when he didn't know a word...

 And when he finished the whole book she tackled him and yelled, "You did it!!!"  He didn't really like that she was touching him, but he was super proud (don't mind the photo bomb in the bottom corner) and so were we.

PS Look what Ben made for me yesterday:

Totally made my day.

PPS  I was half way to Portland this weekend when I looked down and realized I was wearing two different color shoes...the only ones I packed.

I rock.

PPPS Today is Tuesday and it totally feels like a Monday, which is AWESOME!

Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle

2 months.  That's how long Ben's tooth has been loose.  It was December 3rd when he came home from school with a wiggler.  (I could tell you how I remember that but I would then have to admit to becoming everything that I make fun of my mom for.)  We thought for sure he would lose it before we went to Disneyland.  But he didn't.  When he boarded the plane with all of his teeth we figured there was no way he was coming home with the same smile.  But he did.  And so we thought maybe the Tooth Fairy might get to visit the same night as Santa.  But she didn't.  And when he started the new year with a full set of chompers, I figured that he would just be taking his baby teeth to college with him.  Because who has a wiggly tooth for 6 weeks?!?!  By the time his birthday rolled around, he had another one and I was shocked every time he got through a meal.  His teeth were not connected at the bottom and I kind of thought a sneeze or a stiff breeze might be all it took to get them out.

But still, they stayed in his mouth.  And to be honest, I was a little scared of what would happen when they did come out.  Ben is traumatized by hang nails.  And small splinters.  And getting his nails trimmed.  And, well, pretty much anything.  I figured a bleeding mouth (quite possibly the most serious issue he's had to date) would push him over the edge.

But guess what?  On Saturday during "quiet time", while he lay in bed after "resting his eyes" he wiggled it right out!  And there was no blood.  And there were no tears.  And he came down stairs with a big ol' smile.

 He decided that he had held onto his tooth for so long that he wanted to keep it for a little longer so he rushed upstairs to write a note:

 (Can I have my tooth, Tooth Fairy, please?!?!)

 

Of course, the Tooth Fairy obliged,

And left him 2 Gold Doubloons for his effort.  (Side note:  the Tooth Fairy wanted to give out two dollar bills for first lost teeth but the bank didn't have any, so Gold Doubloon's it is...)

 
When he woke up, he couldn't be happier.  And his lone front tooth couldn't be crookeder.  (I'm pretty sure that's a word).

So now, we wait again.  He keeps telling me how if you lose a tooth at school you get to put it in a necklace shaped like a tooth so I thought maybe he was just waiting for a chance at that.  But no.  He came home today and still had the snaggle tooth.  I'm sure it will only be a matter of months...

Our biggest issues now are one, that Abby's teeth are all as firm as can be.  And we don't do well with the whole one-kid-gets-something-the-other-one-doesn't in this house.  Everyday she announces that she has a loose tooth and everyday I have to tell her she's crazy.  (I try not to phrase it like that but I can only take so many phantom loose teeth).  Our second problem is that Robbie mentioned something about the Tooth Fairy keeping all your teeth until your last one falls out and then giving them all back to your parents.  WHAT?!?!?  I don't keep things.  Especially not teeth.  Except I guess I do now.  Awesome.

So here's hoping that Ben's smile straightens out, Abby's teeth start wiggling and no one finds out that I am hoarding teeth.  Because that could really ruin my reputation.

Six? Already?

Exciting news, people.  I'm sitting down.  Finally.  You see, tomorrow my babies are turning six (unbelievable, I know...more on that later) and so today we had a birthday party.  And for me, birthday party planning is kind of like a decathlon.  It is a multi event process that takes days.

This year, we moved from our traditional birthday blowout, to a calmer, kids only party.  By calmer, I mean 21 five year olds, but that is a big change from the 65 or so people we had last year.  Hey, at least I only have to do this once a year, right?  We decided to invite their whole class, so first things first, we had to make invitations.  For the first time, the kids decided that they wanted different themes (actually, I just wasn't able to brainwash them in to the kind of birthday party I wanted) so we went with a Minnie Mouse/Ninjago party.  Abby invited all of the girls and Ben invited the boys.  They were very excited to help me make the invitations.

 Now, to many people, inviting an entire kindergarten class to your house might be a bit overwhelming but I figured I could handle it.  My biggest fear was that no one would come.  In fact I might have had a little panic attack about it last Friday.  I mean they had had their invitations for over 24 hours and NO ONE had RSVP'd.  No one.  And I kept picturing me sitting here with tons of food and two devastated kids with no one at their party.  I might have Googled to find out if that ever happened.  Don't do that.  People have horror stories, I tell you.  Turns out that just because I like to RSVP as soon as I open an invitation (because otherwise you forget, right?) not everyone else does.  Go figure.  Luckily, I worried for nothing because by Monday the RSVPs were coming in fast and furious.  Phew.

Once the invitations were done, I moved on to making accessories for the party goers.  I had planned to make Minnie ear headbands for the girls.  I bought some headbands, but I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to pull it off.  Then I remembered that I do Disney Day at school every year and make Mickey hats for everyone.  I just added a bow and wah la!  Minnie!

 For the boys, of course I made nun chucks...

 Then I made everything we would need for our games, Pin the Nun Chucks on the Ninja

(Robbie made the Ninja)

And pin the Bow on the Minnie...

Don't laugh at my Minnie.  It took me a long time.

Ben had a plan to wear one of the ninja outfits that Santa brought him, so of course Abby needed a little something too...

We made cookies (Ninjas and Minnies, of course) to go in with the favors...

 And salt dough for a painting project...

The final step was to make the cakes.

We didn't make the huge cakes that we have in the past but I was really happy with how they turned out.  I had one little issue with the ears on Abby's cake, but Robbie made some pancakes and problem solved!  He can be so smart sometimes.  Please don't tell him I said that.  It will come back to haunt me.

By this morning, the craft room was full of everything we needed...

 We got everything all set up

Got dressed

 And then all there was to do was wait for everyone to show up.

And show up they did.  Twenty one of them.  The parents looked a little worried for me as they dropped their kids off and the first 15 minutes were a little bit crazy as the kids all saw each other for the first time in two days and were doing some sort of "boys against girls" game upstairs but as soon as we got started with the organized activities, things couldn't have gone better.

First up?  Painting salt dough ninjas and Minnies.  Some paint, glitter and googly eyes and everyone was happy.

And they turned out so cute!

When it was time for the "Pin the" games, everyone sat and watched quietly.

 And by that I mean they screamed like crazy people at their blindfolded friends...

 We followed up the games with a snack (no quicker way to quiet a room full of kids), presents, and cake.

The kids had fun, I had fun and it was an all around great day!

Tonight, I kissed my five year olds for the last time and I am preparing for my annual meltdown as I cry myself to sleep over the fact that five has left this house for good.  And while I know that six will be fun, I can't believe all that has happened in the last year.  They learned to read and ride bikes, they started kindergarten, we took our first real family vacation and so much more.  I will never forget watching them swim this summer as they jumped off the dock for 9 straight hours and how exciting it was when they started skiing.  I am constantly amazed at what they are capable of and the things they say never cease to surprise me.  I have no clue where the last six years have gone.  I can't believe we are one third of the way through this crazy adventure.  I love the little people they are.  I love how at times they are so so different and at other times they are eerily the same (I can't for the life of me figure out how in the middle of the night, in different rooms, they always roll over at the same time...so weird).  I love that even though they both plan to go to college, they think they will still live here because the evenings are the time we get to spend together.  I love that I still get snuggles and that they still cry when they are sad or scared or hurt or tired or...I love that they still need me even though they are getting more independent each day.  I am so thankful that I was chosen to be their mama.

And tomorrow, I will have six year olds!!!!!!

Mother of the Year

2012 is winding up in about 24 hours and it occurred to me today that I have yet to receive my Mother of the Year Award.  Seriously? Where could it be?  I thought about blaming the post office (thieves!!!) but I've seen our mailman and I don't think he would be fooling anyone with my stolen award.  So then I figured there must have been some sort of glitch at the Awards Office.  Maybe they are late notifying the winner this year.  That seems likely.  I mean they are probably busy.  And they can't be that organized or they'd be winning the award. 

But then I got to thinking.  And who am I kidding?  I will NEVER be Mother of the Year.  I just don't have it in me.  I saw one of those "I might lose some friends over this" posts on Facebook yesterday about "perfect mothers" and while I don't feel guilty that I don't make cakepops for my kids' class (if they'd seen my attempt at that they would thank me) or that I never made my own organic baby food (my life was so crazy busy those kids were just lucky to get fed!), I do realize there are some basic parenting tasks that I'm really really bad at.  So without further ado, I give you

THE TOP 3 PARENTING JOBS I SUCK AT:

1. Bathing.  I am really bad at it.  I hate it.  I have hated it from the beginning when I had to try and keep two slippery little bodies from slipping out of my soapy hands to their death in an inch of water.  It didn't get any better when they were bigger.  It just got messier.  And I hate messes.  Once they learned to splash it was all over.  Water everywhere.  Ugh.  And once they got a little bit older, it was messy and a fight because they didn't want to do it.  This, my friends, is why my kids go to swimming lessons.  Not only are they learning to swim, they are guaranteed at least two showers a week.  Talk about a win win.  It works out well for me. Until there is no swimming lessons (darn the winter break!) and I can't really pinpoint the last time my kids were bathed.  But I can't find it in me to actually do it.  So unless there is a wedding, clean underwear is as good as it gets.
2. Allowance.  Yes my kids get allowance...when I remember to put it out.  We don't give allowance based on chores (theoretically, they get it whether or not they do their chores) but still.  I should be able to remember to slap eight quarters on the table once a week.  But I can't.  The good news is that I have a TON of quarters.  The bad news is that my kids know I suck at passing out allowance.  "Mom, you haven't paid us for like, 5 weeks.  Again."
3. Playing.  I love kids but I hate playing.  I like to blame my lack of imagination but I think it might also have to do with the fact that when kids ask you to play they don't actually want you to play or touch anything, they just want you to sit next to them and watch (and comment on) their every move.  Me (with my ADD) can't just sit there so I try to drive a car or dress a Barbie.  And then I get in trouble and we have to start all over.  It really is excruciating.  I love to be with my kids.  Doing anything but "playing".

 

There are more.  Plenty more.  Like Baby Books (I started...) and Legos (no clue how to do those things) and the list could go on.  But guess what?  I'm okay with all of it.  Because I know I can't do everything so I do what is most important to me and my family.  So I probably won't be getting any awards anytime soon (I mean, most of the time when my kids cry I stop to take a picture before I figure out what is wrong) and I'm okay with that too.