Brunch:

I feel like I have accomplished so much today. I woke up, got ready, fed the kids and made brunch for about 1,000. They all really enjoyed it.
Damn ants! Every year they sneak into my house and remind me how bad I need to sweep the floor. Jerks. Christian loves to fill clarks food bowl, and he heaps it up so high that it normally takes Clark about a week to finish all of it. Well, Jason bought the dog food with all of the different little shapes, and Clarkie likes certain ones more that others, so he digs through this huge bowl of food and spills it EVERYWHERE. I went to start a load of laundry this morning and noticed that I had a few hundred little visitors swarmed all around the dog food. I had quite a fun time vacuuming the little bastards up. It reminds me of when I was a little girl and we would get swarms of flying ants in the back yard. They would be so thick that it looked like black carpet all over the patio. It was like a jail sentence for two weeks because they would bite and we didn't want to get near them.
So, if anyone wants to come over and have the leftovers there are plenty.

Feeling better... Yet worse.

I went to the Doctor.. she gave me a couple different steroids and an antibiotic. Within 24 hours I was a new woman. I hate to take stuff, but breathing is so worth it!
SO, I was going to go visit my Dad this weekend, but my parents didn't want me to come up alone. Geez, I'm not 12. Do you know how many times I have made that trip? Maybe if they would move into the house they purchased here it wouldn't be such a problem. But hey... why would they want to do that. I mean, it is only their only living child and grandkids that they can freely see and want to be around them who live here.
So when I was planning on coming up, I called around trying to find someone who would want to go with me, that way I wouldn't have to drug the kids before we left. Nobody could go. Of course. Who the hell wants to go to Farmington?? It is like torture with extra dirt and weeds. But anyway, everyone made their excuses, fine... I didn't expect anyone to want to go anyway. The strange thing... a couple of my aunts drove up there today and guess what... I WASN"T INVITED. I swear. Give me some prozac because I am going to loose it. If you don't want to go with me fine, but don't say you can't go and then go anyway. I HATE dishonest people. I get in trouble quite a bit for telling people the truth, but at least I am reliable. So, I spent an hour unpacking my bags today. Joy. It was like 2 extra loads of laundry.
So, if anyone else is planning on going to visit my Dad, could you kindly either let me know and let me tag along, or let me know and tell me you don't want me to come. Because, I guarantee I miss him more than you will ever know. Oh, and say hello to the dirt.

Still Awake...

Only 5 more days until I go to the doctor. The second Doctor since I have been sick, hopefully this one does more than just listen to my lungs and tell me to take some vitamin C. I swear to you, I am going crazy form lack of sleep. I almost went to the ER a couple nights ago because I was panicking 'cause I couldn't breathe. And, if Christian gets up one more time in the middle of the night and wakes me up I am going to lock him in his room. Once I am up, it takes me a couple of hours to stop coughing. Thankfully, Owen has slept through the night since he was a month old and doesn't wake up when I cough or tell Christian he needs to go back to his room.
So, when I called the doctor (#2) the receptionist told me that it would be 11 days until I could get in. I told her that I was up all night because I can't breathe and asked if she could get me in any sooner. Her response: "That is how everyone feels, that is why we are so booked." So I asked her what year she graduated from bitch school. That is how EVERYONE feels? really? Is that how YOU feel little miss "I work for a doctor, so I rule the world;" because it sounds like you can breathe to me. Oh, I get it! You have stock in Kleenex! Now I know why you want me to be miserable for almost 2 more weeks. Geez lady, just squeeze me in for crying out loud!
Okay, actually I just said. "Oh, okay... I'll take the 11:20 appointment. See you in 11 days."
I am so spineless.
Someone just knock me over the head so that I can get some sleep.

Moooo!

So, I have been pumping almost every morning. You know... the taboo topic... breast milk. Why is it that women can show major cleavage, rock hard nipples through a silk shirt, and wear string bikinis and nobody cares; but the minute a woman starts to breast feed it is like some abomination? It is so odd to me. Whenever the topic is brought up in a group of women there is always at least one person who thinks breastfeeding is "gross" or "weird." How the hell do these people think that little babies survived before bottles? Do you know what is weird.... having a company produce some artificial milk that you add water to and then give to a newborn who doesn't know how to process the foreign material. That is weird. Oh, and do you know what is gross... Asthma, allergies, and bronchitis. All things that can be reduced by breastfeeding. I wasn't able to be breastfed because I was adopted and in those days there wasn't a little pill that my Mom could have taken to start producing milk. (But, if there were, I am sure she would have done it). Anyway, I have all of these wonderful upper respiratory problems that some people are actually choosing to give to their children because they think breast feeding is gross. Hacking up yellow mucus is a lot nastier.
Wow, that was a long tangent... sorry about that This post was actually supposed to about me feeling like a cow. I have over 100 ounces of milk in my freezer already. When Christian was about 18 months and I stopped nursing him, I threw away gallons and gallons of milk that was going bad. I was considering selling the stuff, but looked on the internet and found out that it is mostly perverted men that buy it and drink it themselves. Yuck. I guess they like to have a picture of the... uh, donor to look at while they drink it. Sorry, but I am not going to take something that is for sweet little babies and give it to some perv to get off on. Although while I was researching it, I found out that lot of cancer patients drink it. I let my Dad know that I would be willing to give him as much as he needs. I just don't think he is THAT desperate! So instead, I have signed up to donate my breast milk. I wish I could get paid for it considering that 75% of it goes to a company that makes a ton of money off of it, but oh well. The other 25% will go to orphanages in Africa for babies who have AIDS- and that makes it worth it. I had to fill out a pretty extensive questionnaire, and I will have to get a blood and DNA test too. I hope they hurry up... my freezer is getting pretty full.

Proof that there are still nice people in the world:

About 5 days ago, we received something on our doorstep. I have wanted to blog about it, but do not really know how. I have just been so blown away at the kindness that people can show towards others. For example: I was putting all of the cards Owen has received since he was born in his scrapbook the other day and couldn't believe how many people already love him. I always thought that the first child was the only one who received gifts and cards, but our family and friends have definitely proven me wrong. And do I even need to mention all of the wonderful cards, letters, and kind gestures that my family has received since my Dad found out he was sick. I just can't believe the generosity of people. From home-made pies and bread to entire meals. My parents came home to a completely weeded and planted garden. Many meals have been delivered, miles drive, and time selflessly given to our family in the last few months. Dozens of letters were written to my Dad and put in a beautiful scrapbook that must have taken countless hours to compile. My neighbors who have had a similar experience with cancer mad my dad the most beautiful quilt- it is SO detailed. It must have taken many many days to cut and set and bind and quilt. Geez, I can't even name everything!
So anyway, we have been so touched by all of the big and small things that people have done for us. I don't think I could ever repay even a tenth of the kindness even if I live to be 100.
As for the person who left the anonymous gift on our doorstep, you have not only blown us away with your kindness, but you have both Jason and I treating everyone nicer! We see the goodness in everyone and want to make sure the person who gave it to us knows that we appreciate it.
I must say, it is nice to know that we have no fair-weathered friends.