Bathroom Blues

Okay, Here's My Deal...

I became a television and movie cliche today.

We went to a birthday party for my great aunt who just turned 90. It was at an old home that has been fixed up like a bed and breakfast without the breakfast part...people can rent it for parties, meetings or to spend the night in one of three bedrooms. Anyway, we got there before she did and I went to use the restroom.

When I went to close the door, I noticed that there was no door knob on the inside of the door, just the rod that connects the two knobs was sticking out. So, I pull on the rod to close the door and then slid the sliding lock over and did my thing.

When done, I tried to turn the rod to get out and I could not get a good grip, so I repostioned my hand--only to have the rod slip into the door just out of my reach. Now I was stuck. I could not get the door open.

I did not yell because I did not want to cause a commotion right before she got there...so I just kept knocking quietly on the door off and on hoping someone would hear and come investigate. I also figured either my husband or my brother would wonder where I was and come to check.

While waiting, I glanced at the window sill and there was the other knob. I just laughed. After about 10 minutes or so, I heard people whispering to one another, "Here she comes! Get ready!" Then, I heard her enter and everyone yelled, "Happy Birthday!" and sang to her. I joined in...from my hiding place.

In a few minutes, my husband knocked on the door and I told him I was stuck and he asked what I meant by stuck and I said, "I can't get out!" He was able to get the door open and then he fixed the doorknob. Of course, he thought it was terribly funny. Me, too. Now--not right then, however.

A Spoonful of Sugar

Okay, Here's My Deal...

We are treating our oldest for an ear infection and strep throat. Good times.

Actually, it is not too bad except for trying to get him to take the medicine. For parents of toddlers and preschoolers you know exactly what I mean.

He is too old for the syringes and anyway, just the sight of them makes him freak out because he knows what is in them.

And it is a crapshoot as to whether or not he will willingly sip from a dosing cup or if we need to hog tie him to get it down his throat only to have him gag and spit it out.

Sometimes a straw works and he thinks it is a game.

Tonight we tried mixing it in with some milk and that worked except that we gave him too much milk and it was hard for him to drink in one dose.

Someone should invent an antibiotic patch. I know they put ritalin in a patch now.

Just wanted to share our pain.

Sad Sad Life

Okay, Here's My Deal...

A few posts back I wrote about our 3 year old noticing a Wal-Mart was green and not blue like it was "supposed" to be. Well, last week, we were driving through town after paying our rent. No one was talking when out of the back seat we hear, "I want to go to Wal-Mart." My husband said, "It is too late and too far to go tonight." (the closest is 20 miles away and it was already 8 in the evening) "I want to go to Wal-Mart!!" our son cried out so sadly. Your life is sad when your preschooler is upset he can't go to Wal-Mart instead of being upset that he can't have a new toy or ice cream or something like that.

Today, we took him to the pediatrician and then we stopped at Hobby Lobby for my husband to look at chocolatier supplies (that is a whole different post for a different day). It is in the same little shopping center that Carlos O'Kelly's is in...but on a different side of the complex. As we drove in the parking lot, with Carlos sight unseen, our son goes, "I want to eat chips." "What?!" we asked. "I want to eat chips and cheese, please." It is also sad when your preschooler knows what restraunts are where even when he can't see them.

Bumps, Bruises and Bugs

Okay, Here's My Deal...

We went to the park yesterday to take advantage of a really nice fall Iowa day. After all was said and done, our oldest son had had a rough day, but came out fine in the end.

There were two incidents that could have been bad, but actually ended up minor. The first was the realization that sometimes it is not a good thing to go down a slide backwards--because you can simply go flying off of the end and land flat on your back on a pile of wood chips. He got up a little shaken, but fine and after being dusted off went on about playing.

About an hour later, he wanted to swing. He got in one that was a cross between a "real" swing and a "baby" swing...it was like the ones you can put your legs through, but instead of plastic all the way around, it was halfway around with a seatbelt like in grocery carts. He got in and I was pushing and he loved it and I pushed harder and he went higher and then he flew right out of the swing and landed flat on his belly. He got up a little more shaken, but fine and after being dusted off he went on about playing.

Good for him. Me, I am not so stick to it when it comes to sports and stuff. Here is a sample of my fifth grade year, the first year we could play comepetitive sports against other schools:

• Volleyball. I was in the front row and a girl on the other team spiked the ball and it hit me on th head. I never went out for volleyball again.
• Basketball. It was stil 6 on 6 in Iowa then and the girl who was guarding me wanted the ball. When the ref wasn't looking, she punched me in the stomach so I would drop it. I never went out for basketball again.
• Track. I liked the 50 yard dash. At the end of one race as I crossed the finish line, I swallowed a bug. In the mile run, I twisted my ankle. I never ran track again.
• Softball. I liked it and never got hurt, but it was too slow moving for me.

This is why I am to this day a chunky gal. Athletics were never my thing. I hope better for my boys...I hope they take after their father.

God's Hand of Protection

Okay, Here's My Deal...

I am convinced that God's hand of protection was over my family last night.

We were traveling home last night from my parents' house and were not quite half way. We were on an interstate 4 lane highway with my husband driving in the right lane--I specify that because for some odd reason, my husband tends to be a left lane driver most of the time--and I was talking on the phone to my SIL.

Before we knew it there was a car headed in our direction going full speed (we were in a 70 mph zone) the WRONG way down the highway in the LEFT lane!!!!!!!!!!!!

My husband pulled over to check exactly where we were (luckily we were in a spot where the intersections were marked) and we called 911 to alert police.We decided to turn around at the next intersection and go back in case they needed our statement if they caught the driver.

About a mile and half up the road we saw that a deputy sherrif had pulled over the car, so we got off at the next intersection and doubled back. My husband pulled behind the officer and put on his hazards and got out to speak with him and to thank him for stopping the driver so quickly. Turns out the man was elderly and very confused...it was quite sad to see him sitting in his car looking obviously disoriented.

After getting back on the road about 5 to 10 minutes later it really hit us about what had just happened and we were really upset about it. The "what if's" started running through our minds about how very different the whole incident could have been if God's hand had not been protecting us. It was a tense ride home the rest of the way...but we got home and we very relieved to be safe and alive. Praise God for His protection.

All Kinds of Crazy

Okay, Here's My Deal...

This week is homecoming week at our high school. Now, when I was in high school this was a huge thing...note that I said high school. I honestly don't remember anything being done in my middle school or in elementary school to celebrate homecoming.

Well, I teach in a middle school and for the past several years, we have started to be more involved in the homecoming thing. It began innocently enough as some dress up days like Twin Day (remember your motorcycle leather wearing twin, my gifted Ohio friend?!?!) and Pajama Day and Hawaiian Day. Fine, I can deal with that--it was my favorite part during homecoming when I was actually in HIGH school. Next, we moved on to including a pep assembly at the end of the day of the big game...fine. Now, for the second year in a row we have gone completely over the edge, in my opinion, but what do I know?

We run a one hour late start schedule each day so that the cheerleaders and dance team and athletes from the HIGH school can come over for a pep assembly to start the day...then have shortened classes the rest of the day. We do this for the first three days of the week. Then, on Thursday, it is a regualr schedule day but still a dress up one. Finally, we end the week with a pep assembly Friday morning and then spend two hours with our kids (in a homeroom type setting) building graham cracker, frosting and assorted other candies and food structures in a contest against otehr classrooms--it is actually about an hour's too much time, again, in my opinion--then we go to our sacred cow of fourth hour that never ever gets changed because of how our lunch rotation goes and after lunch we return to the auditorium to have the awards for the things we built in the morning. We are then releasedearly from school so that everyone can attend the homecoming parade put on by the HIGH school for the HIGH SCHOOL's homecoming celebration to get pumped up for the HIGH SCHOOL game that night.

I see how all kinds of crazy our kids get by the end of this week and I can not even imagine what it is like to be a teacher in the school this week. God bless them even more than normal!!

Tomorrow...College

Okay, Here's My Deal...

Tonight marked a milestone in our lives. Our almost 6 month old had his first cereal tonight. There is no turning back--our boys are growing up. Tomorrow they will be in college and then raising kids of their own. Sad adn exciting at the same time.

P/T Conf Time

Okay, Here's My Deal...

Yesterday and the day before were parent teacher conferences for me. I have 49 kids in my two math classes...23 in sixth grade and I saw 20 parents & 26 in eighth grade and I saw 16 parents. That is a pretty good turnout, so I was happy. I also do the gifted ed for my building and I saw a big number of those parents as well. Usually, my conferences go well because I have a high caliber of student as my math classes are the accelerated ones and then the gifted kids. But, I remember the days of being a full time regular ed teacher and having some fothe not so pleasant conversations....uugghh.