Quest for Invitations in Small Town America

So I mentioned that I was in search of pirate themed invitations for B's birthday party. A little background first... because some of you that have only come to know me in the last year or so likely are unaware of this... I am an invitation snob.

There!
I said it.

It was one of the most difficult things I've ever done to send out "fill-in-the-blank" invites for J's party last year. (ick! okay... deep breath) Focus! Back to my point...

So, B is very much into pirates. Seriously, he'll be 4, this is NOT unusual. It simply does not occur to me to think that the task before me is a difficult one.

My first stop was the local (aka "only") party supply store. I am happy to find an assortment of pirate theme party items, like hats, banners, loot bags, horns, table decorations, etc). But no invites (not even the yucky ones). So I ask the owner what's up. I mean, seriously, you've got everything else... did you just miss that line on the order slip? She says she doesn't carry many invitations because most people just print them up themselves on the computer now. Ah... brilliant!! If only there were a freakin' stationary store in town!! And NO... Hallmark doesn't count!

Stop number 2 - the Hallmark store. Shut up! Because I was right and just had to stop in and prove it. They had nothing helpful.

Stop number 3 - Target (with two kids in tow that I had to bribe with popcorn). I did find some blank card stock, although it was about twice the size as I would like. But I bought it anyway because I was getting seriously desperate.

Stop number 4 - Walmart - just in case... but ICK!

Stop number 5 - the locally owned scrap booking and rubber stamp store. Yes, you heard me and yes I stepped foot inside and lived to tell about it. Upon entering the store I found myself in the center of a stamping Mecca. I milled around in a sort of dazed confusion. After an undetermined amount of time, some kind soul found me wandering aimlessly and asked if I needed help. I began by telling her of my desperate need for pirate invites and that I just might have to make them myself which was terribly troubling seeing how I'm severely craft-challenged. I ended my plea with the hope that she might have some simple stamps of ships or some pirate stickers... but she just looked at me blankly. Actually, I think I may have frightened her.

Stop number 6 - this clever little invention called "The Internet". Thanks Al Gore. (um... that's sarcasm, just in case that didn't translate well). A wonderful little site called vistaprint.com. And I get 20% off my next order. Guess where I'm going for J's birthday in March?

Oh my...

I can't believe I haven't posted in four months! How did that happen? It's not even like we've been seriously busy... just normal life and such. Anyway, here's an update...

OCD - hates his job, seriously, would quit in a heartbeat if he even hit 6 out of 7 numbers in the lottery. Unless you're his boss... I mean, he loves working there.... the people are great... especially at District... those guys ROCK!

Big J - Happily enjoying Kindergarden... then he comes home and is arguementative. I think he'd live at school if I let him. He's taking the session off from swimming. I couldn't get a day and time I liked and wasn't willing to screw up my nicely placed routine. He'll likely be back in for Spring... or as we say in Wisconsin - Winter, the Sequel.

Lil' B - He's an odd child. Sometimes he's so cute you can to kiss and squeeze him. And other times... well, you just want to squeeze him. But he's doing well in school, likes his classes at the Y and has FINALLY learned to put on his own shoes! THERE IS A GOD!!!!

C - learning to drive. He'll probably get his license next month. Still dealing with the controlling nature of his mother. I wonder if she'll ever just let things be? No, actually I don't wonder... I already know the unfortuate answer.

Me - well, as of yesterday, I'm offically closer to 40 than 30. I celebrated by getting my hair dyed and looking for invitations for B's birthday next month. J was super excited to be at Mom's birthday "party", even though a friend had warned him that grown up birthday's are "boring". Other than that, work is ramping up, it is official tax season. I won't be working at Blockheads this year, just for myself which is way better.

So if anyone is still reading the blog... there's the update!

J had his surgery

And he's fine. He was upset about missing school but with all that was going on and it being so early in the morning, he didn't even think about missing breakfast. He was also very upset with me for bringing his Elmo to the hospital. See, that's only for babies and he secretly still sleeps with it, but apparently no one outside of our home is ever supposed to see it and know that it belongs to him. So, needless to say, I was in the doghouse with him for a while. Anyway, he was fine going in the OR, he actually kept saying that the hospital bed was his canoe (because of the bedrails) and as they wheeled him away he was all smiles and waving.

About 35 minutes later, it was a whole different scene. He was bawling and crying for me. As I held him he kept up with this horrific cough that they said was normal because he got alot of air. Anyway, there is no way to describe in words what it sounded like but it's the loudest possible cough any human could make, followed by a peircing scream at the end. Oh, and he did this every 42 seconds.

Then the vomit started. And I had prepared myself for some puke, it's not unheard of. I had not however, prepared myself to witness my child puking blood. I tell B to get the nurse (all the while trying not to panic and freak J out more). She comes rushing over saying "oh, this is good, this is good". WHAT???? Freakin' explain lady!! Apparently, they swallow a good bit of blood during the procedure and it's just sitting there in his belly. Combine that with the anesthetic and the crazy man cough and you have a receipe for blood vomit.

It's about this time that Jacob starts crying out to God. Seriously. As in...
Please God help me feel better!!!!!!

This is where I loose it. I'm a mess and I'm trying to hide it from J so that he doesn't get more upset. But my man is the epitomy of calm, cool, and collected. What does he do? He steps over to us, kneels down and starts to pray out loud for J. And J starts to quiet down so that he can hear him. Amazing. After about 10 minutes J said "I think He heard... I'm starting to feel better". God is so good.

Oh, and all of this happened right in front of the nurses station because that's where our bed was.

J is feeling okay as of now. His neck is very sore and stiff. He can't look up toward the ceiling and even some car movement hurts his neck. They said it's normal and by the end of the week should be much better. Anyway, I've been totally consumed. Please forgive me for not coming on and at lease giving you an update. Thanks for your prayers.

Whatever will I do with my time?!?!?

So I was taking J and B to school the other day. And it occurs to J that Mommy will be all alone. He says, "Mom, when you drop me off and take B to school, what are you going to do by yourself?"

Ahhhhh... a deep smile appears on my face and I say, "Oh, I'll think of something!" What a wonderful thought!

My baby started school

It's so strange... B started school. This is the beginning of when I start to loose control over my kids life. He will become more independent. He will make his own choices. He will have his own opinions. In my heart I know this is a good thing, but at the same time, it's just the beginning.

I worry about him holding back. C says he's a "monkey see, monkey do kind of kid" and he's right. He's been with J his whole three years of life and knows no other way. I want this to be his opportunity to learn to be B.... a B without a J.

Mortified Mommy Moment

On Tuesday I took the boys to the doctor to get a scrip for J's epi-pen. We had an appt with his new teacher and the school nurse the next day. Anyway, when you enter the building, you have a short hallway leading to a large lobby for the lab. As we're walking, we pass a man in a wheelchair and he has some obvious disabilities. Then J says (in a very loud voice in a very quiet lobby) "Oh boy, that man sure looks crazy!"

The statement just shocked me and I said "J!" and pulled him around the corner. I tried to explain that God makes everyone different and there's nothing wrong with being different, but when you say something about someone it can hurt their feelings, etc. I could see that he didn't really "get it". But I had him go back to apologize. I'm not sure if he knew what was happening or not, but the nurse with him did and said thank you.

After we were done and in the truck they were both asking questions. They just didn't understand. He wasn't trying to be mean or make fun, he was just speaking what he thought without realizing how it could make someone feel. So I tried to make it more personal and talked to him about how sometimes he sneezes and lots of snot comes out. Well, alot of people might think that's pretty gross and how would he feel if someone at school or the park said something about how yucky that is, even though it's something that he can't help. He said it would make him sad and I said that's how it makes other people feel when you say something about how different they look. At that point he actually got it and started to cry saying "I didn't mean to make him sad". I told him that I knew that and was talking to him about it so that he would learn that sometimes the things we say can hurt people so we have to be careful about our words.

Ugh! How embarassing though!

Look Ma!! No wheels!!

We took the training wheels off of Big J's bike today. I was truly amazed at how quickly he got it. Daddy just held up the bike while J climbed on, then he took off. Just like that! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself. Here's a picture of my proud boy.