Blah

I had a post planned for tonight but my ipod died. And we had a bad day. And then coverage on Ferguson.

Instead, let's look at a picture of my favorite roses in my garden.

See? Much nicer.

See you all tomorrow.

Why I Don't Take My Kids to the Beach

So often you hear people that live in wonderful sounding locales say that they never do the thing that makes that place so appealing. Like here. Southern California is known for it's weather and it's beaches. The weather, yes, we rarely hit freezing in the winter, but in the summer it's rarely below 90 during the day. Which for you might mean that it's a "Hit the beach" day. For me? This is what it looks like.

6:45- My alarm goes off. Get coffee. STAT.
7:00- Wake kids up.
7:15- Drink coffee, check facebook.
7:45- Eat yogurt. Wonder why I don't hear the kids.
8:00- Realize kids went back to sleep. Wake them up again with stern warning. Begin to make lunch.
8:05-8:50- Herd children, gather food and drinks.
9:00- Call #2's friend to see if he can go with us.
9:30- Decide to leave. Realize #1's friend isn't ready yet.
9:45- Finally leave house.
10:00- Pick up #1's friend and get on freeway.
11:00- Drive into parking lot of beach.
11:15- Finally settled on the sand, think "That wasn't so bad."
11:20- Pull out Kindle and read. Children do as they wish, especially since we're right next to a lifeguard tower.
12:00- Feed the kids and self. Resume reading.
1:20- Attempt to nap.
1:45- Gather children and stuff. Walk to car. (We have to leave early because #2 starts football practice today. Sigh.)
2:00- Leave beach parking lot.
3:00- Finally get on freeway.
4:00- Finally return home. Collapse. (But only for a short time because we have to be at practice at 5:30)

See what a nice day at the beach got me? An equal amount of time in my car in traffic. THIS is why my kids haven't been to the beach here all summer. And! Why we will not be going again unless their father can drive us and we plan on staying longer than 3 hours.

There are just some things that BEG to be blogged.

Last week I was bummed out. My annual trip to Vegas with my bowling league fell apart before my eyes. It is possibly the first time in 15 years that I haven't gone. I love this weekend. It's a great time for me to unwind, see a movie or a show, hang out with girlfriends (or sometimes my family,) and not have to do dishes. Ahem. This year I couldn't find anyone to go with me, which is a serious bummer, but with a wedding to plan and a kid in a baseball tournament I just let it go. There's always next year, right?

*****

Last night I let the boys have some friends over and after telling them for the millionth time to turn of the Xbox, I wandered upstairs around midnight. Just as I was about to turn off the lights, a sleeping Headless Dad started to moan and make noises that indicated pain. (Understatement. And also: foreshadowing.) By the time I got to the bed he was writhing in pain, shouting about his shoulder. (Back story here, here, and here. Oh, and here. ) I tried to pull the dislocated shoulder to pop it back into place. I tried to get him up. Nothing. Or actually there was a lot more pain so I had to stop. Luckily, the boy's friend's father was still up doing some work so he came over to sit with the boys, (Thanks A&DW!!) and I called 911. The fire/paramedics got here quickly, and thankfully without sirens. Then the ambulance.

You really should have seen the activity in our bedroom. My ohmygodsomessybecausethebathroomisstillnotdone bedroom. (Note to self: CLEAN THE BEDROOM.) There were 3 firemen and 2 paramedics going back and forth around our bed trying to figure out how to move an adult man when his arm was stuck out to the side and in so much pain he couldn't move. Finally, they started an IV and gave him morphine so they could 'splint' his shoulder and get him up and out of the bed, down the stairs, and into the ambulance.

No really. What did you do on Friday night?

I learned that it's way faster to get seen if you've ridden in the ambulance. We got there around 1:30/2 in the morning, and after more pain medication, xrays, more pain meds, and some propofol, the doctors were able to get his shoulder back in place. We've ridden in this rodeo before. I could write the script and direct it by now. We make the best of it with jokes and laughter when we can. Holding hands when we can't. The nurse even commented that we must have a strong marriage by how we were bantering through the evening (morning?).

Around 4 he was discharged, and we were on our way home by way of the 24 hour pharmacy to get more pain medication for the next couple of days. At home we sent our friend on his way and made our way to bed. Just as it was getting light outside.

*****
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,

I know that this is a wee bit out of context, but it still applies. God knew that I needed to be here last night. I can't imagine what the kids would have done had this happened if I had been in Vegas. My plans were obviously not in line with where I needed to be so He changed them. What about Headless Dad's golf tournament today? I don't know. I guess he wasn't supposed to play in it. Or maybe he wasn't supposed to be on the freeway at 6 am go get there. There are a million what-ifs but this is what I know. God knows and I believe that His plans are for us to be safe and taken care of and if He has to cancel trips to Vegas to make sure that I'm here when I'm needed, then I'm ok with that.

Just Earning My Nightly Glass of Wine

Yesterday should have been a nice holiday. A break from the routine. A chance to sleep in, catch up, get ahead of the week before us.

Yeah, not so much.

It started a few weeks ago when my husband had to schedule a tooth extraction for that day. He isn't fond of the BIG dental work. (I mean, who is, right?) It was going to be a simple procedure that shouldn't take long, not require full anesthesia. He wasn't happy about it having to be on a Monday but considering we were having to reschedule from a Thursday (the only other day the doctor is in the office, one Thursday and one Monday a month-UGH!). Whatever. We scheduled so it could be over and done with.

THEN. My #1 got braces and a referral to get 2 more baby teeth pulled. Simple, right? Yes, until you realize this is the kid that H.A.T.E.S. dental work with the heat of a thousand fiery suns. So we went to the dentist who then had to refer us back to the oral surgeon to get them removed. (The irony here is that the ortho and the oral surgeon are in the same office yet cannot refer to one another.) That was last week and guess when the surgery was scheduled for? Yep. Monday.

So off to the surgeon we went yesterday in the morning, since he was being completely put out. No food and all of that. OK. Done. No problem. I had asked for Headless girl to run to the Juice Smoothie place to grab her brother something that he could get down and on her way she witnessed an accident. So she and #2 had to wait for the police and paramedics to arrive before they could get to the smoothie place.

We had a lovely 15 minutes or so until the text came in.

The text was from a friend who's son works with the same private football coach that we do. She was texting me to let me know that their coach had passed away on Sunday evening. What???????!!!!!! We were just with him that afternoon??!! (The cause of death has not been determined yet. So sad. He was a great guy.) Then I had to tell Headless Dad this lovely piece of information just before he was leaving to have his tooth removed.

So this was a great way to pass a holiday afternoon. Then we had to tell HB#2 after dinner.

And also why I had 2 glasses of wine last night. Hmph. So much for a relaxing holiday.

Under the Wire

Today:

• alarm went off at 6
• slept through it until 6:25
• kids up at 6:30
• kids to school
• shower
• drive Headless Girl to LAX
• home
• lunch
• school to help with 4th grade
• kids home
• homework and chores while
• I went to the grocery store
• home
• cook
• drop off invitation to a party
• football practice
• home
• eat dinner
• dishes
• try for 30 minutes to get the kids to get ready for bed
• start yelling
• finally turn off lights
• answer 2 calls from the picky one about lights and music
• go upstairs to turn off said music when picky one is 10 feet from said stereo

Put a fork in me; I'm done.
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