4th Annual Vinson Family Big Summer Fun List

Not quite sure why looking at the calendar that this week kicks off summer in my head. Maybe because our new summer schedule of day camp and summer school section I'm teaching kicks off tomorrow. Maybe because we've been on the road and now home focusing on the summer move. Or maybe it's because it was the first weekend we spent a majority of time at the pool?

Four years ago when I started this blog is was to post an insane list of items to finish off with my then one year old. Since then the summer list focus was on family fun. This year between the house moves we are full on in summer mode.

Ben is on a traditional school schedule so he will not start kindergarten until late August giving us the whole summer to play, travel, swim, and wear flip flops as our official footwear of the season.

1. Stay in a beach house
2. Host a bike/scooter car wash
3. Start a family cooking night
4. Eat S'mores
5. Go camping
6. Plant Ben's all pink container garden
7. Catch a fish
8. Go to a baseball game
9. Walk or wheel to the library each week
10. Go to a farmers market
11. Wash the dog outside weekly
12. Eat Shrimp
13. Go to the zoo
14. Visit the aquarium
15. Participate in a bike parade
16. NC Museum of Art Kids Saturday or puppet show series
17 See an IMAX movie
18. Scrap Exchange Saturday
19. Family game/puzzle night
20. Make ice cream
21. Try gymnastics
22. See an outdoor movie
23. Go to Pullen Park (once reopens) to ride the train, carousel, and picnic
24. NC Railroad at New Hill
25. Try out the Airport Playground
26. Go on a nature hike at Umstead or Eno River State Park
27. Watch fireworks
28. See a car race
29. Take swim lessons
30. Ride go-karts
31. Move into and decorate a NEW BEDROOMs and PLAYROOM!!

Wrapping up a 1600 mile road trip in 1 picture

And your week?

And Five Years Ago Today,

We welcomed Bennett Davis with open hearts and open arms.

Happy 5th birthday to my favorite Ben, my firstborn, my mini-Bill in looks but mini-Heather in attitude. You talk a mile a minute, make me laugh like no one else, have boundless energy, and attempt to befriend everyone. I think you would fit well in any profession where talking is essential. Used car salesman or politician anyone?

In the past year you have moved even further into boyhood as your love of sports, Leggos, any and all reasons to be active outside, and most recently graduating to video gaming with dad.

Your sweetness outweighs your grumpiness 10 to 1. You more than anyone else named Vinson that reminds me that life is way too short not to find a reason to play everyday.

Watching your relationship with your little brother develop has reaffirmed all my reasons that +2 is the right fit for our family. Your love and protection and recent attempts to integrate Ian into your play is goodness indeed. You fill my heart to watch the lifelong bond that is developing between you.
As you move to start kindergarten and a new phase of your life I have to let you go, ever so slightly. Why you are ours, you are also more the Worlds with each passing day.

For now hearing your voice, feeling your arms in a "Ben Monster" hug, catching and pocketing kisses are mine to cherish for this day and for all the others that I will call you my son.

Happy 5th birthday my beautiful blue-eyed boy.

Love-Mom

When Does A House Become a Home?

For the last 10 years this house has been filled with many things: a new-ish marriage, babies into children x 2, many days and nights of decisions about the serious and not so serious.

Last night we signed what seemed like a bazillion papers to make our home someone else's dream. In the past weeks of crazy days trying to get everything market ready is has been easy to forget that I have loved this house for so many reasons. On a hot summer day much like today we rounded the backyard for the first time, saw the porch and knew if was our house.

We have spent many a sundrenched afternoon under the shade of a huge fig tree on that porch, watched the boys play from the swing, and walked to the nearby park nearly every day.

For all the reasons we have called it home it was a good, good run. As someone who would rather do most anything than home improvement, the last weeks have been tiresome and frankly I have been a real joy to be around. The last thing you will most likely hear me say involves a love of products purchased at Home Depot.

I leave this morning with the boys on a week long trip to see my mom for a few days then onto Florida to see my inlaws then back to help with my mom who recently had two minor surgeries. We will stay for a couple more days with her before returning home late next week.

Ben's 5th birthday, the official start to summer, a new daily schedule, new schools for Ben and Ian, con't nightly packing and cleaning, and a transition to a new home will take up our days when we return. But for the next week I will lounging by the pool, taking the boys to the beach, and staying up late with like-minded late-night lovin' family (which is all of them.)

I never imaged that I would spend a decade in one place and I think I underestimated just how much 10 years would look like in a well loved home. As we walked through last night with our agent, he pointed out just how much this house has to offer, esp to someone similar to us a decade ago.

I agreed and I hope the right family is out there waiting to know the same.

May 2011: On like Donkey Kong: Bonus Round or How I figured out how Demi Moore pulled off Striptease.

Back on May 1st I proclaimed this month would leave me either:

1. insanely proud of my ability to deal under lots of stress
2. in a corner crying uncle while sucking my thumb in a fetal position.

While I am equally enamored with to-do lists and the crazy high of 3 am productivity, I know where over scheduled insanity leads. I pulled it off minus a few items and I'm telling you there was some insane work that went down in May 2011.

This list of 17 items was the weekend to-do. Note that only 3 remain including de-greasing a grill. I have skills I never knew I had in all this house prep.

Did I plan to find a new house in the midst of all this insanity? No. Did it up the insanity meter, yes. It also pushed us to list as soon as we could and get this house packed provided everything works out with the closing. And for that, worth it.

Here's the wrap up:

1. Wrap up Spring teaching. Already have turned down extra Summer work commitments in light of maintaining two houses and that during summer the course compresses 18 into 8 weeks. Good Decision and one I'm already not regretting. I SO want there to be pool lounging and good times with the boys to recap our summer.

2. Celebrate mothers day the way I've always wanted, at home. Bill took the kids and I got a boatload of work done. PERFECT.

3. Keep moving with 300 mins or 20 miles/week. Kinda. I logged somewhere around 12-15 most weeks and if I could count all this house prep work I would have killed my goals. I never made it to ONE day of 30 Day Shred. Maybe if the title had been, "30 Minutes More and Jillian will tuck you into Bed"

4. Sleep. Keep a good thing going.. up until last week. Finishing this semester will help immensley get back to the good thing.

5. Get out of the house at least once a week nightly- 3 out of 4 weeks not bad and none of those outings was I sportin' the sun visor that is normally permanently attached to my head.

7. Bust it to get this house market ready by June 1st. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! And I now know how Demi Moore was glistening in Striptease... she stained a deck. Good God Almighty, I'm still finding stain in my hair 48 hours later.

May, you were put on notice for serious productivity and brother I delivered.

Bring it June. I got only one thing on my TO DO list: MOVE!

Friday Gumbo with pics

This is the current state of my garage in progress. All hopes for more organization by Monday including staging area by area of the house.

And to think this time last week we were still waiting to hear if the 2nd counter was accepted. In one week we have moved quickly for our loan, all inspections, getting Ben registered at a new school, checking out daycare options nearby.

We are meeting with our agent to list ours next week with a plan of staging the garage with a whole house pack up by close date.

I took advantage of the few hours of being in the new house to also meet up for carpet measuring and our contractor. We now have estimates on painting and some playroom build-ins including a toy/box windowseat/booknook and walling one of the dormers for a secret hide out for the boys.

I've been checking out ideas for playrooms on line and am IN LOVE with some of the ideas. Esp this from pinterest for book storage

It's been a really busy week but much done. I'm feeling a little better knowing we are going to be gone for a week and that things are in motion. Ben has a friend over tonight for a sleep over and Bill's "camping" as in backyard version in hopes of the real deal next month.

Paired my 60 students down to the 15 with a shot of finishing by Wednesday final, final, deadline and have officially turned down all but one summer section of classes to focus on the houses. Yay to saying NO when I normally would say yes and then complain all summer about being stressed. I've also said no to a leadership role for consideration that I just cannot stretch myself more when I and the kids pay the price.

Bill's taking the kids to Charlotte tomorrow to check out playroom storage ideas while I really try to knock out the last bit of work. Thank you Bill!

The best pic of the lot. I knew this was a great house when I saw the porch, the backyard begging of boys to play, and a fulling blooming hydrangea hedge.

When I got to the house yesterday the current owners had left a very nice note and a bouquet from "our" yard. Really thoughtful and indicative of how despite all the craziness of the past few weeks everything is falling into place.

May. June. Insane in the Brain. Period.

No, not a self portrait. Yet. This will likely be my only post this week and maybe next. It's hell week at school wrapping up the first of 3 deadlines to get my 60 kido to the finish line either Friday, Tuesday or the final, final, final deadline of next Wednesday. Don't ask but it's the mother of multiple chances.

SO why no post other than work...because I signed a contact on a new house on Friday. to close on June 30th and have to have everything inspections done by June 10th.

did I mention that I will be gone from June 1-8th driving to Florida?

The super.awesome.fantastic.bursting at the seams happiness news is that this is our dream house. More to come later including pics once I feel I won't jinx myself by publicly publishing.

Know that when I questioned on Friday if all this stress was worth it.

Yes.

A million times YES.

A wink and a nod from the Universe YES.

2011, the year of YES.

Because Dylan and Brenda can SO pack it up

So this was a post intended for like days ago, but life has just circled (and smothered) any time there was to finish. We are a week out from the home hell repair and I *wish* I could say I had gotten so much done on packing, cleaning, all the fun stuff still to do since Sunday's uber productivity but I haven't. If you find my productivity mojo, please return.

I hope the weekend brings some good tidings to report of where a substantial part of the week went. Really and truly I need to be reminded that it's all worth it. Return thoughts of the upcoming FL trip to their upright position every time I'm feeling stressed.

If EVER I wished to have family close to just take these kids for a few hours and let me get something done it is now. There simply are so many hours in a day to cram the extra insanity on top of the already insane going down in this house.

Enough with my personal whine. Let's see some before and after pictures!!!

So just to recap the great reveal of what farming out the contract work brought.

First up, gone is my late 1990's wallpaper and border.From my lovely and very cluttered with kids stuff/art kitchen. Anyone want the Lenox china spice set seen in the background I traded the surplus of 28 dinner plates in my Christmas china to buy in 1996. Really no takers. Guess what, I never even put real spices in there anyway.



Without the kitsch we are now sportin' a streamlined non cluttered kitchen. Note the Diaper Genie and Pack and Play will be put up before showings or I may just early potty train Ian. Right We also banished all toys downstairs to Ben's room as NOT to look like a Babies/Toys R US exploded.









I bought big portfolios to keep special items each boy. We are drowning in papers that don't need to be packed to move. I for see some midnight trash removal as not to upset Ben that we didn't keep everything.

Our dining room was a lovely red/burgundy that was nice, about 10 years ago when it was trendy, back with 90210 was heading into the geriatric years and Donna Martin still was a virgin.



The room was always really dark, esp in pictures. I like how much lighter everything seems.
I didn't take pictures of the floor repairs, Ben's room, or the porch re screening but they too look refurbished. I also didn't take pictures of the master bath before but due to the layout of the master bedroom into bath, we wanted to try to separate the rooms more. We took down the large mirror and replaced with smaller picture ones. In addition we swapped out fixtures. Both look more updated. I still have to repaint the bathroom which will also help. Nor did I take pics of the deck and porch which as of today are only 1/2 finished with plans somehow to finish this weekend.


It feels like we really didn't change that much, since we left the upstairs alone. Still, everything looks fresh, cleaned, less cluttered.

Well worth it and kinda sad I most likely won't get to enjoy nearly as long as I did Carol Walsh's kitchen set.

The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestickmaker

We survived ripping the band aid off home repairs in a single week. As I literally am the landscaper, the cook, the cleaner, the laundress, the primary child care provider, the organizer, the planner it is no surprise to know that the only way this house is going to be ready by June 1st is because I have made it happen.

Not to brag but I have pulled off some amazing feats in the past 2 weeks. In addition to ongoing cleaning out every closet,drawer, container of toys with Ben's help, my stuff (which is mainly baby/kid related stuff) in the walk out attic I’ve also been farming out the work I literally not physically able to do.

Yes, I agree I *could* have rented ladders and painted our vaulted ceilings, yes I could have borrowed a powerwasher and cleaned grime off the house and roof, yes I could have dug out ginormous bushes and chopped them up. But there is a physical and time limit to what can happen in 24 hours each day.

Given I have 60 students in the final weeks of class to finish or they do not graduate I’m a little busy with daily (or nightly) mounds of grading and school contacts even before the recent decision to push getting the house market ready.

May '11 is going down as a Cluster**** of insanity not seen since our summer of IVF and Bill's simultaneous surgery. I'm really trying to keep it together and just hunkerdown with a daily to do list and keeping my eyes on the prize of just getting to the end of May. Needless to say that the only way I am handling stress is sleeping as a priority and trying to get to the gym or outside to run with the dog. I literally use every single minute from the time I wake up to I finally collapse to get something done.

Yeah, yeah quit complaining, but allow me to detail what has gone down in the last week. Part of me loves this type of (temporary)stress from the high of productivity. Kinda sick, right? The other part is reeling from exhaustion when I stop at the end of the day. Telling you, amazing feats in the past 15 days.

Contractors here the entire week. They were AWESOME and I highly recommend them if local. I got them to beat a bid to re screen my porch as well as powerwash my driveway and outdoor swing for free by bundling jobs. Super Score for some negotiating.

So what happened during the week of home hell renovations:

Stripped my icky 90210 era wallpaper
Repainted the kitchen, dining room, and living room, stairs, hallway
Took down my gaudy brass light fixtures and ginormous mirror in my master bath and replaced with portrait mirrors and new lighting
Rescreened the porch including the damage from the tornado
Fixed siding that I had hit with the weed eater
Reattached the downspout
Replaced boards in the hardwoods
Fixed some cosmetic issues (aka 5 year old fun)in Ben's bedroom and then repainted the wall

Yes it was crazy not having use of most of the downstairs for most of the week, Yes Ian's napping with airguns and powerwashers going off was less than stellar with several days of NO nap at all or an abbreviated version of his already short one nap a day schedule. Yes I got behind with my class and worked late into the night almost the entire week to catch up.

Sunday while Bill was at a birthday party with Ben I took advantage of Ian's crazy long 3 hour nap (all the time he didn't sleep during the week I'm guessing) and mowed the grass, scrubbed down all the porch furniture, and stained the porch.

I had started Sunday by running 3 miles at the gym thinking it was going to rain and I would punt on the outside work so needless to say I am crazy tired and sore today.

On the punch list is ONE item still to complete before month end:

Final contractor to jackhammer out and re pour the front porch.

On my list: buy and plant 3 bushes, annuals and flower pots for the porch. 2nd coat of stain on the porch and also stain the deck that I skipped yesterday due to time. Weed the hosta bed as well at the mailbox planting (note site of the nasty poison ivy), put out mulch, paint the master bathroom, attach new master bath fixtures (Bill's job I hope while we are in Florida, if not I'm calling the contractor again as I have no idea how to do plumbing). In the meantime I am sorting, cleaning, tossing, donating, and in general doing everything I can to move with the least amount of stuff.

Yeah, I'm tired. Crazy, insane tired hence why I've been very MIA to most everyone not named Vinson and under 5 or one my students. Even students I am keeping office hours to manage my time during the day. Things will definitely slow down after the end of my classes on June 1st and hopefully once we get the house listed. Did I mention that I am driving the boys to Florida on June 2nd with absolutly nothing to do but side by the pool, enjoy the extra help from grandma, and if I'm lucky read Rob Lowe's new trashy tell-all book.

All hopes that all this hard work is going to pay off with a house that sells over the summer and in the meantime make it 15 more days.

And On My Mothers Day Weekend,

I busted it out with a 120 min workout on Friday. Barbell Strength + 60 mins of Cardio. Man I was tired and sore come Saturday.

Heard back about my December surgery. I have a date with Dr. Troy, finally.

Had a date night involving 4 house walk throughs (one we both loved and may go back again). Hello playroom and bonus room and TWO, I tell you TWO, kitchen pantries.

Talked over the INSANITY of the upcoming week with contractors here every day over dinner at a new restaurant. Logistics of working from home are going to be ROUGH (add to it a mobile baby to contend with this week.)

One final freeze ahead Session with a friend about to pop with a baby 2. Seeing that my mom lost a bunch of the food I had taken last trip due to a power surge that killed her freezer it looks like my lot is spoken for next trip down.

Went to a surprise baby shower where the only way the mom to be would come into the restaurant was being told they were giving away free gift cards inside. Watching her frantically ask everyone at the hostess station from afar was just next to funny.

Packed up and took down everything downstairs in prep for painting.

Settled on paint colors. Sad to see my dining room color go but this kitchen wallpaper can suck it. It looks like 90210 was filmed in my kitchen it's SO dated.

Bought a haul of mastery bathroom fixtures being replaced including new lights, mirrors, hardware to be installed.

Picked out flooring for the kitchen. Finalized work on the porch.

Whew... tired yet.

But wait....

Working on deadline to get 60+ progress reports and individual make up plans sent to my classes, their schools, and parents.

Getting financial stuff together for a meeting with a mortgage lender tom morrow.

Bought all of Ben's birthday party paper goods and treat bag stuff. Also scoped out soccer goals for my mom to give him.

Watched not one but TWO really crappy movies while working on grades. Do not watch 127 Hours or the HBO doc about Jack Kevorkian. You will wish you had a suicide machine or at least those hours back. Really.

Celebrated mothers day by sleeping in until 8:30am ( granted I HAD stayed up until almost 2am working)

Bill took the kids the bulk of the day so I could work on my classes. YAY. They brought me flowers, cards, and best yet

I'm mom to a bonafide TODDLER... Ian took 6 steps in row right before I put him down so I'm counting it as an awesome mothers day gift.

It was a great mothers day. Better yet the best I think I've had. Minus having to punt on outside plans due to rain, I was with my boys and that was just what I wanted and needed.

Love you Ben, Love you Ian. My Cup Runneth over to be your mom.

I'm Putting Mothers Day on Notice

I am asking for 4 things on this first ever mothers day. I say FIRST because I cannot remember a time since I went away to college that I didn't drive home for mothers day.

I decided to go and pull out all the stops for Easter in SC to have Mother's day to myself, with my own kids, not on the road and frankly so tired once home (and usually frustrated) that the day is chalked up to "next year I'm going to do something different and not feel guilty."

Next year is this year and I'm asking for 4 things:

1. Please let me sleep. Please take the boys anywhere away from the house between the hours of 7-9 am and let me sleep and not awaken to crying/screaming/yelling/running/whining/ TV blaring or any combination of the usual way I wake up the other 364 days of the year.

2. Please don't give me anything (no flowers, no promise of a watch to replace my old that has now been offered up for at least 3 different holidays, not even a loaded up Starbucks card). Other than not minding me spending $ to print some of the recent family photos, I want to spend the day with my family.

3. Please plan some type of Sunday outing with the kids. A picnic, go karts, paddle boats, ice cream, anything that is outside and the only phrase I hear is, "it's planned, the kids/car is packed, just be ready by say 10 am once you have leisurely gotten up and I can stop by the house to pick you up.

4. Please keep these kids entertained when I stain and seal the deck. No plans for Mothers day labor, all bets are on next weekend if the weather holds out. I don't need helpers, I need the time to do it in peace.

Thank you.

Love your spouse, the mother of your children, the good daughter, the really tired mom.

Happy Mothers Day!

Of Baby Chain Smokers and Pint-Sized Hobos

*****Team 317 (Vinson vs. Vinson) are the Meet the Challengers Interview today in the Move It 2011 Competition****** Come check out our story.

Really I needed some more stress this week given we moved up painting the entire interior by 3 weeks to save money. Painters are here Monday-Wednesday. Direct quote from our realtor, "you are not letting any grass grow under your feet." After a day with a professional landscaper I will answer, "and how much would you charge me to cut said grass and get me on the market faster."

But back to the fact by day-end yesterday I had managed to sadden both kids by medical appointments for each.

Kid #1 sounds like a pack a day smoker. Most people almost immediately ask if Ian is sick with a cold after being around him. No, he was diagnosed with tracheomalacia or a "floopy trachea" 2 weeks after birth. At every dr appointment I have asked if we needed to be seen by a specialist. No, by 12-18 month it should disappear, nothing to worry about.

At his one year appointment I brought up that I don't think it's getting better, rather that he frequently begins to choke and gag on just air, even when not eating. At meals it's even more pronounced as he often sucks his thumb to push the food down making the choking worse.

We saw a ENT yesterday and after running a fiber optic scope down into his trachea through his nose he confirmed no structural issues, he looks fine, even good. Luckily I was expecting my super wiggly boy to be super duper wiggly and also crying. I asked Bill to come and help me hold him.

After the initial crying he was ok with hugs and kisses. To our complete surprise nothing is structurally wrong with him and the ENT questioned the original diagnosis. So at this point, he is still gagging and choking with no answer. We are going to evaluate if this is more of an eating issue and consider a swallow study if by his 15 month appointment he is not better. We also are going to reevaluate what he is eating as with only 1 tooth even with smallest bites of cut up food he is swallowing most everything whole. We may move back to a stage 2 soft diet. Overall I am thankful that while they didn't find anything, frustrated wondering what is going on with the choking on simple air. In the scheme of issues this is really not a big one, just one we would like to find the answer for. Believe me this kid is thriving. Just check out my grocery bill.


Kid #2- The pint sized hobo- Prior to both pregnancies I never had a cavity. After Ben I had 9. After Ian 7. The only explanation I have is being post bariatric surgery and missing the ability to metabolize 12 known vitamins, likely more I take a lot of supplements. As in in have two separate pill cases I filled to the brim daily. I should get reward points at Target pharmacy. And you might want to consider buying me a cane for my 37th birthday.

When Ben showed up with two small cavities at his cleaning recently I immediately wanted to die the bad mommy death in that I *think* I do a good job. He brushes every night, uses a fluoride rinse, doesn't drink juice at home, has never had a soda in his life.

Ugh. Super Ugh. We have not been making a big deal about his sick tooth. I mentioned in the morning that we had to go back so his sick tooth could get medicine. He was good with this explanation and not until we were going in did he pull the rarely seen shy Ben mode of standing behind me and tugging on my leg.

Enter shy Ben. I asked if he wanted me to go back. Yes, please Mommy. I had to change Ian and the hygienist came to tell me he agreed to walk back with her and to meet them in exam 8. Good. I was hoping if she could get him settled watching the tv then he would not be scared. When I wheeled back I was standing where he couldn't see me and the hygienist was talking to him in preschool terms about picking a mask for the nitrous (he picked pink, his favorite color)and talking about painting tooth shampoo (the filler) onto his tooth. I gave the thumbs up and wheeled Ian back to the front. The Dentist came to talk to me about 15 mins later and said he was fine just a little confused why he couldn't feel his mouth. We paid, booked the other appointment and headed home with one quick stop.

I had promised Ben a pink sprinkle frosted doughnut if he was brave and let the dentist make his sick tooth better. Don't even comment on the whole Doughnut=Brave at the dentist thing. I know but in desperate times, I will opt for desperate measures. You better believe we were barely in the car before he was asking about his doughnut.

As I was crashing from the stress and late nights this week I had to get some coffee so we stopped. I told him that he could have it for dessert to which he said, "you can have yours too for dessert". Obviously he doesn't understand the immediate need for caffeine. He promptly ate, no inhaled, the doughnut and chewed it on the non numb side.

Not that I wish for him to have a mouth full of cavities and seeing we are remembering to floss every night plus add am brushing he did really, really well. In part because I think we didn't play it up other than in some simple preschool terms and I left the room when the momma bear really wanted to stay.

Glad that the only appointments today are 2 house related events. Mouth of a hobo and my little chain smoker, you bet. Pros at being a big boys(both of them) makes be happy to see them able to handle the an out-of-the ordinary dr appointment without a meltdown.

May 2011 is on like DONKEY KONG!

ok folks, May is rolling and based on the CRAZY productivity over the weekend this month is going to leave me either:

1. insanely proud of my ability to deal under lots of stress
2. in a corner crying uncle while sucking my thumb in a fetal position.

I'll opt for 1.

As I mentioned on Friday in my April wrap up, by month end we are facing end of Ben's preschool, final push to get students to finish my class allowing them to graduate, and oh yeah getting a house we have lived in a decade ready to list.

No stress here. NOPE.

While I am equally enamored with to-do lists, the high of crazy productivity at 2 am, and my overall sense of accomplishment I also know that this could also lead to ever present slippery slope of where lack of sleep and over scheduled insanity leads.

So I'm keeping the list short:

1. Wrap up my spring online sections. Note to self that I kicked my own butt thinking I could pull of 3 full sections and camp mommy at the same time.

2. Celebrate mothers day the way I've always wanted, at home. Hopefully on a Bill planned, organized day out with all my boys. (hint, hoping for a picnic or other outside event.)

3. Keep moving with 300 mins or 20 miles. Adding 30 Day Shred to help on the days I know I will never make it out the house due to insanity. Exercise cannot take a back burner with all this house prep.

4. Sleep. Keep a good thing going, don't be my own worst enemy.

5. Blog posts for Move It 2011 participant interview (done and running this week), Disney guest post, keeping up here at least 3 times a week, and even post a couple on the Freeze Ahead blog (2 already up for May since this is my long lost child.)

6. Get out of the house at least once a week nightly, with earrings and without a sun visor on to be around someone whose name is not "vinson"

7. Bust it to get this house market ready by June 1st. SO much here it's a post unto itself. SO much work, donating, cleaning, purging already happening. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy to see organization out of chaos.

*note to Bill don't ask me should we keep this, my answer will always be NO and why the heck do you have that anyway"

May, you have been put on notice for serious productivity and hopefully not losing my mind in the process.

Bring it April, and I DID!

Monthly round up and baby I was on fire.

1. Keep the good thing going on the whole sleep and work thing. Minus this post SC run/loss of the weekend this week catch up I have been averaging 6... wait for it... sometimes 7 hours a night. I feel awesome.

2. Cary Road Race. DONE! Only folks running with a decked out stroller with balloons and streamers.

3. Celebrate Ian's first birthday. That kid loves some cake I tell you. Simple, family, perfect way to celebrate my now Toddler. Sniff, Sniff. Don't make me regret that we are done and I am letting the 3 in the freezer go end of year. Remind me of the odds and insanity of triplet possibility.

4. Ben's 5th party booked and it doesn't require adults in swimsuits. Score. All bets off for next year in a post surgery body!

5. Family Pictures at Duke Gardens. Jon-jon induced cuteness guaranteed. Be still my heart these pictures are breathtaking. Need to post some favs now that I think about it.

6. Book spa treatments for summer sorority reunion at the Grove Park Inn. DONE and Heatha Hendricks will be breakin' it down all weekend with drink in hand by the pool.

7. Continue logging min 20 miles or 300 mins per week. Minus a big zippo last week between the beach to SC run I'm over 300 miles. Starting 30 Day shred on Monday because I am insane and also on the days I don't make the gym I won't feel as bad (literally)

8. One new date night idea with Ben and one with Bill. NOPE on Bill, plans for Hangover 2 in May with a sitter for the kids. One Ben date night did include the Monster Jam Truck show aka "Can I get those 90 mins of my life back." Actually I admit I loved it and cat called like the SC resident in hiding I am.

9. Another SC run. Done until drive through on the way to Florida next month. I pulled out all the stops for a nice Easter for my mom. Repayment will be spending first ever mothers day with my boys only.

10. Get going on the getting out of the house goal. Realtor on board, landscaper starting monday, waiting on a final estimate between two contractors for the inside work.

May is going to be INSANE. Warning now that you might want to keep your distance as we finish the whole house clean out, deal with interior work, outside work and then list. Oh and it's the end of Ben's school and the final 30 day push for my students who are all under the gun to finish or not graduate.

Not stressful at all I tell you. At least there is a Florida road trip at the end.

A boy mom edition #109759

Mission: Yesterday afternoon dodging rain storms, returning clothes, buying t-ball gear, attempting to buy mother day cards.

Reality: Play it Again Sports is like Hoarders for sports equipment addicts. Could not even push a stroller among all the crap on the floor. Score for taking back Bill's (yes Bill's) sports equipment for store credit. Glove purchased, strike out on pants. This kid needs extra small (how about, "will blow away in a strong wind" size) for Sat am practice.

Then Ben found this: and proceeded to wear it out of the dressing room wearing only his underwear. On backwards as to see the pictures, telling everyone within earshot "Do you like my transformer underwear? I like my transformer underwear. My brother can't wear Transformer underwear, he's too little. He only wears stinky diapers."

Then we hit Marshalls looking for cheap kid's flip flops to replace those Ben destroyed wrestling with Connor at the beach. No interest in flip flops. Instead he wanted to try on girl shoes, and he convinced me to join in. We then made it to Old Navy to make returns. Mid return and I looked over and he was pulling the mannequins pants around her ankles. Then mounting the fake dog. THEN licking, yes licking, the fake dog's head. So wrong and funny all at once. As I was wrapping up and pulled him off the dog the man behind me said, "I have three, I understand."

We never made it to Hallmark to buy cards, I was too wiped out to risk him likely breaking free of my death grip to peruse the cards. My good friend and mom to two elementary boys reminded me last night, "wait until you are shopping for the athletic cup, you will know your status as a boy mom for sure."

11 %, No way.

No way that my little guy is only 11% for weight. At his one year appointment yesterday he was just over 20 lb, 70% for height and 49% head circumference.

Really? The way this kid packs it away I would have guessed at least 30 or maybe 40% after his measly 5% last visit prior to all table food transition.

This from the kid who is a bottomless pit morning, noon and night and eats more than me at most meals. For example his breakfast: 2 pieces of whole wheat toast, a cup of YoBaby, 1/2 cup of cottage cheese with 1 banana, and 1 cup of strawberries mixed in. Add to this 1 of 5 sippy cups of milk by end of day. I need a cow or maybe a home equity loan to pay for his upkeep.

Ben lives on crackers and air, Ian on whatever he can get his hands on. Literally.

His dr didn't see any real concern as according to his chart, he is tracking right where he should be as tall and thin. Given the increased food consumption in the past month all thoughts he will catch up much like his brother. Ben has grown by my count at least 5 inches in the last year.

The whole, "this is the end of the baby train" has really hit hard in the last month. Not that I want to be up multiple times at night or have the new, newborn phase insanity again, I'm just a little sad it's close to over and I will never do it again.

In the past few weeks we have traded all bottles for a sippy he will take after trying the last 3 months to find one he would actually drink from and not fling at the wall, floor, dog, himself.

The only other thing of note was we have a referral to a pediatric ENT for rule out of something more than the tracheomalacia he was diagnosed with at 2 weeks. At every dr appointment this year we have asked if we needed to consider a referral, and at every visit we were told he will grow out of this harmless condition by 12-18 months. Simply put he has a floppy airway that sounds like he continually has a cold, or is a 2 pack a day smoker.

But instead it seems like the wheezing and low gurgle is more pronounced than at 6 or 9 months. In the past weeks we have noticed that sometimes it seems he is gasping to breathe. Luckily he did it in front of the doctor warranting a definite need to be seen by a specialist.

On the side note, the doctor added "my what an active one you have." I added he's only trying to keep with his older brother. I think the source of the 11% may just be his activity level that is through the roof and food doesn't stand a chance before being burned up.

Have Testosterone, Will Travel

Back from the beach, back from Easter weekend at my moms. Back to electricity and a big pile of school work, getting the house on the market in 4 weeks, life in general. I have a feeling my May is going to be a one way ticket to crazy town.

My friend Chrissy and I have been talking about doing a beach trip for the better part of 2 years. Like many ideas we have involving corralling the 4 boys between us it just hasn't happened. Chrissy and I met 10 years ago when our husbands were working at the first of FOUR (yes four) companies they have since worked together. It's a bad joke now that where one goes the other follows.

So after a 4 hour late start (image someone equal to or later than me), a van packed to the gills with beach stuff, boys stuff, baby stuff, mom stuff, snacks, video games, and yes actually children we headed to the beach for a 2 night stint in her mom's rental house.

We took turns driving, taking kids to the bathroom on pit stops, answering work phone calls for both our jobs, talking to husbands who were at one point going to do a guys trip to Kings Dominion amusement park (note this did not happen), making food, feeding kids, bathing kids en masse, collapsing into a margarita haze once said boys were in bed.

Once there we took turns keeping the crazies at bay, convinced children that the beach was more exciting than video games (major glimpse into life with elementary aged boys), walked on the pier, ate seafood, played at the park, and chased Ian who took to the beach like a fish to water.

Seriously this kid was born to live at a beach in cut offs and flip flops in his future life. Nothing phased him, not the sand, the water, the relentless "fun" the older boys had digging a hole and putting him in or covering him in sand, or dragging him on a float. This list goes on that he loved every minute and is telling of our summer plans including 2 beach trips.

By Thursday afternoon we packed up, took the boys on the ferry and headed home. But... what trip wouldn't be without some need for material to write a comedy set.

Enter an hour once on the road with 4 hangry children who all need to go to the bathroom. Enter a pundunk-ville one stop light town, with a Piggy Wiggly supermarket and Family Dollar as the only options in town for clothes.

Enter into Beaulahville, NC. Someone (like me) said let's stop and sit down to eat. Famous last words, "Hey isn't that a Western Sizzlin' steak house?"

Famous last words and I kid you not this was the place of my childhood with a salad bar that contained non-salad bar options, like fried fat back.

Over an hour later after 4 bathroom trips, 2 baskets of rolls, undoubablty some of the worst food ever consumed, and yes a photo of me trying the fat back later we were on the road home.

Just in time for me to head out 12 hours later for the weekend SC run.

Nice to be back, nice to have electricity again, nice that I am not trapped in a van with 4 boys anytime this week. Nice to have friends that only because of our husbands work did we ever meet but when it comes to the phone it in Moms Club we are charter members.

99 Words and We are Road Tripin’

To follow up with on the uber long post of yesterday to one of the SHORTEST ever:

FINALLY got power back last night. Lost my fridge and part of my freezer but STILL so very glad for the extent of our damage.

Pray for us around 8 am. Heading to the beach with long time friends and kids. Think 4 boys under 8, think there will be chocolate and wine consumed to counteract the testosterone overload.

While I do have work each day with power I am caught up from the weekend. I have all any and all reasons to be outside, enjoying the beach, watching the V boys take on the P boys. Simply enjoying a break from the past few weeks of (un)fun. Perfect Timing.

I will be heading on Friday to SC for Easter weekend. Back Monday friends.

Direct Hit or Why I should have gone with Plan C

The bottom line is everyone is ok and save a blown out screened in panel on my porch and lots of sticks in the yard our house was unscathed. Ben and I were very, very lucky during Saturday’s tornado.

This is a long (ok longer than even normal for me, but after a couple of edits I feel compelled to just post it. Read on for how after finally beating 2 weeks of poison ivy, sickness from all 4 of us, I had the best week ever ending in a tornado.)
This is a story of “more moments of (not) great parenting along with I have a major character flaw of snap judgments resulting in not thinking of consequences.”

So to back up mid week I knew that a bad storm was going to hit likely Sat afternoon. We had some plans that started to shift including getting together with friends who have moved to NC from Tulsa.

After talking Friday night and checking the forecast they decided they would go ahead and come. It was the best weekend before their 2nd baby arrives in May and to quote my friend, “uh, we just moved here from Oklahoma, I can do bad weather”. The plan was to meet up with the friends in the am before the storms arrived so that all could get home. Plan B was to ride out bad weather in the museum if it hit with the worst of the storm. I live 20 mins from downtown and know this museum well so we moved ahead with Plans A and B.

I should have made a Plan C. Again, bottom line is that person and property all are ok and minus the lack of power that is expected until Tuesday we are good. Ben’s preschool took a direct hit hence the pictures of the fence and also the house next door to the school. We live about 2 miles from the school and again, minus debris no one had major damage in our neighborhood.

So here in order was the list of why I SHOULD have gone with plan C:

1. I was running a good 30 mins behind from the time I got up, got my hair cut, drove back to drop of Ian, finally found parking, met friends for brunch, got the museum. Not surprising that I am late. I am late everywhere I go no matter what I do to leave sooner. An extra kid has not helped.

2. I lost my watch last fall and have yet to replace. I keep my phone tucked in the bottom of my bag after losing it last summer so I continually ask everyone around me what time it is not to take it out over and over and risk losing it again. I also forget to charge my phone so it usually has little power. Sat was one of those days so I turned it off thinking I would just keep asking Amy what time it was and save my power for the drive home.

3. I should have checked for downtown street closings. At least 2 major events were going on and all parking was gone anywhere close to the museum.

4. The museum was crowded with people on an ick Sat as well as coming in from the downtown events. Being they had never been to Raleigh/museum we wound up staying much later.

5. I kept checking out the weather from the window as my plan was to be home by 2 pm. I even asked a staffer what they do in case of a full on evacuation to shelter.

6. Thinking it was getting close to 2 we parted ways. The kids were crashing so we quickly said good bye and we left. I forgot to ask what time is on the way out and didn’t think to pull out my phone to check. (here is my best reason ever to buy at watch)

7. Get to the car after walking several extra blocks and realize it was not 2. It was 3 pm. I call Bill and get voicemail. Try him again, voicemail. Decide that he is likely asleep so all must me ok at the house. I didn’t think to turn on the radio or check my phone as realizing it’s late think just let’s go (NOTE this is my character flaw in all its glory, a snap decision without thinking or consequences.) I could give you lots of examples including getting poison ivy 3 times in 3 years, kids falling out of Bumbos. The list is endless and as a mom I’m frankly embarrassed that I can’t do better with this part of myself.

8. Start to drive out of downtown and since there are still lots of road closures have to take several detours, all good I know downtown. Only light rain and almost no wind as we get onto the beltline home.

9. When we get about 15 mins from home we hit heavier rain and now wind is starting to push my car into the other lane. I start thinking what businesses are on the next exit that we can get inside and by this point we would have to drive at least 5 more mins once off the exit to a grocery store. I am only one exit away from getting on the last road home so I again think just push it and get home, likely you are ahead of this storm. I later found out the storm was going close to 70 mph and was something like 50 miles wide!

10. I get off and head down the road towards my town as I’m getting closer its starts to look like nighttime as it was black outside and lighting is hitting all around us.

11. Thinking of every big building left on the way home I can’t think of anywhere closer than my own house by now and don’t want to be outside my car with Ben risking us getting hit by lighting. It was so close that there was no time between the struck and the thunder and I think we have to be safer in the car. I gun it and run a red light and pass through town. On the way a tree is blocking the main intersection.

12. I take side streets and avoid branches and huge limbs and see broken power poles/trees/debris everywhere.

13. We are home in the next 5 mins just as the sun is breaking through and the rain stops.
Lucky, damn lucky that I should have gone with my gut (and the Plan c) of getting out of the car and getting into any open business when my car was being blown by the wind. I also should have called Bill again but once home realize that all cell service was knocked out ahead of the storm. He had been trying to reach me to tell me to stay put and ride it out (plan B).

There are few things as scary as thinking how if I had been in that intersection about 10 mins earlier that we would have been directly in the path of the storm.
Yes to a really bad call and yes that I need to scribe to the weather warning on my phone. Yes that I need to buy a watch, yes that when I have a gut feeling I need to act on it. A big resounding YES that I need to work on the “think this through Heather” snap judgment mentality. When my kids’ safety is at stake there is nothing else that should be important.

No need to give me a big old “told you so” you can on what I’m sure will be the next bad snap judgment you see going down you can point out so please do. And maybe buy me a watch and remind me to plug in my phone.

Very glad to have put my kids to bed even in a dark house and to know we dodged a direct hit.

If a picture was worth a thousand words

I *think* he enjoyed his cake.

And by *think* I mean he shoved his entire piece in his mouth.

A wonderful day (minus the no nap may I add), but still under the most perfect of April days to celebrate many years to come.

Thanks for happy birthday wishes for my extra, extra sweet (literally) Ian.

one

And on the day you were born...I kissed the face of God.

Happy birthday my beautiful blue eyed, strawberry-blond boy. You were everything worth waiting for, hoping for, praying for. Re-reading your birth story makes me smile and also a little sad to know that you are quickly transitioning to a (very) active toddler who idolizes his older brother and is quick to laugh as Ben's favorite audience.

Over the last 12 months you have gone from helpless to self reliant, from a baby who didn't want to sleep to a toddler who still thinks sleep if for the weak, from sweet infant coos to full on screeching mama/dada. Watching your relationship with Ben develop makes me smile. Yesterday at the park when Ben was intent on telling everyone that my brother is one and "you should tell him happy birthday."

While you are not walking unassisted, you are so very close as you step in place, realizing you are standing alone before collapsing under your weight. You are fast and sneaky and a common reply from those who are around you, "wow, he's a burst of non stop energy". Yes, over overhead as my common response, "I'm on the two boy weight loss plan."

It's hard to look at a child you wanted so very badly and not carry just a little bit experience with you every day of that child's existence. Not that I am going to be screen printing t-shirts for your first birthday with that sentiment, but I agree that infertility changes your conception of pregnancy and the anticipation of a dream realized.

I am among the moms who understands something they wish they didn't. Those moms who are carrying around a little extra thankfulness to be in the sorority of motherhood after a long process to be there.

So on this first of many, many birthdays to come know how much I/we love you. How much even in the most difficult times of the last year you were always the reason to get up, to make it to the end of the day, to realize that motherhood demands flexibility, and that I was given the 2nd chance to do it all again for a reason. You helped me realize that I needed to slow down, reconsider my priorities, and not miss the best years of my life. Mostly, that I am enough just to be called mom.

Ben and Ian, my sweet boys, you are all my reasons.

Happy 1st birthday most precious Ian,

love mom-

Most Worthy of its own Theme Song

~Heather: The only person I know with her own theme song. Ok, so that was in the sorority days but she's funny enough to deserve one. Heather is another of my sorority sisters whom I have reconnected over a shared love of Disney. She came to it kicking and screaming, but she's a fan now nonetheless. I was delighted when our travel dates overlapped and we were able to meet up for tea at the Grand Floridian.

Such was the intro from my friend's Disney blog earlier this week on the 1 yr anniversary recapping some of the guest posts.

She nailed me to a T I tell you. Yes I really did (still do if you were to read Fb comments from old college friends) have a theme song. Complete with a dance and obnoxious lyrics best belted out room to room in our sorority house by Shon, Stacy, or Amy K.

Those were the days, right. It got me thinking about the evolution of friendships, esp in light of how easy it takes Ben to find a playground playmate. I've been lucky to have had a great group of girlfriends in high school that I literally grew up with from preschool on. We all keep up through Fb and have managed to see on another at least yearly in passing through on the way to SC.

Speed forward to college and I joined a sorority, much to most anyone's surprise. I'm NOT a sorority girl (wait, I do have a 3rd generation silver pattern and do own some monogrammed earrings, does that count?) But, in general I'm not what you would think of as a Delta, Delta, Delta can I help ya kinda girl. I namely joined to make friends. And I did with my pledge class, non-sorority roommates that I later lived off campus with for 2 years, and believe it or not also an ex of Bill's from freshman year.

I am looking forward to a sorority reunion this July at the Grove Park Inn with my old friends for a weekend of spa treatments, good food/drink, sitting by a pool with drink in hand sans kids for 48 hours.

This weekend the above author who so perfectly pegged me is going to be in Raleigh so we are getting our families together. Her family has recently moved to NC about 2 hours away and is making their first trip to Raleigh. Fun to show off my home for the last 12 years.

The evolution of friendships over time to now adult friendships both in person and those we keep up online does take effort. An effort to make sure that the relationships don't get relegated to the back burner in place of kids, spouses, work. All the things that I personally can talk myself into being more important rather than taking the time needed to catch up.

As an ESTJ personally I need to be out and about and around others. I know that when I don't make it a priority, then the walls start to close in. This morning I'm getting together with a friend who I taught with a decade ago, we reconnected at another school be both wound up teaching. We both happened to be off with new babies this past year so things kinda fell into place.

We've been trying to walk at a local park once a week when we can manage to get out of the house. Today, we are heading to Logan's for plants and a midday outside lunch while the babies play. Nice to have a reason to have on earrings and maybe if she's lucky makeup too.

Oh, did I mention that my sweet Ian will be ONE tomorrow. Not possible that a whole year has passed. I actually got a little choked up when someone saw us yesterday and asked me if he was my youngest. Yes the youngest and always my baby, even at 18 when he is most likely going to be 6 feet and all boy. Sniff.. SO not possible tomorrow.

0-60

You might want to remind me that I did willingly ask for what's coming in the next 6 weeks and likely summer when I am stressed out and whining.

As of yesterday morning we have a realtor after the barrage of potential agents in the last week. By Sunday afternoon on the 8th agent I swear I could have recited all the features of our home by heart. It felt like a Christmas pageant with everyone gunning to be Baby Jesus.

We went with an eerily looking agent to Phil Dunphy of Modern Family. He seemed to really know this area, didn't blow sunshine about what we needed to do to list in a crappy market, in general exuded a higher level of professionalism. Please no comparisons to Phil and his words of wisdom or the fact that he plays a freakin' realtor on the show. Something tells me Phil COULD NOT sell a katsup popsicle to a lady in while gloves unlike the perception of our agent.

Bill and I over the weekend came up with our big, ginormous list of room to room decluttering plan. We are taking ownership over zones of the house with a deadline of May 30th to have everything cleaned out, packed up, and extra moved to a rental storage unit.

I'll be honest while we don't live like packrats we do just have a lot of STUFF after 10 years, 2 kids, pets in this house. We also set up a budget for improvements as well as a moratorium on all non necessary spending.

I will be gone later this month for almost a week and then in Florida for another week in late May. My hope is Bill can use the time to tackle some of the bigger jobs sans noise/kids/general level of nuts in the house. Our goal is to knock out the punch list of items to be done to be market ready by June 1st.

So yes to an insane, crazy next 6 weeks. While I hope we can sell by end of summer as well as be moving before Ben starts school or within the first months, I also know that we may be here another 6 months to a year based on the current market.

The reality is we SHOULD have started this in January, but we didn't. To take advantage of the best season of the year to show our house (ie. screened in porch, outside yard, plants in full bloom) we don't want to bypass the summer. At least we finally are moving on this long standing goal instead of complaining that we are on top of each other in this 1400 square paradise (make that 1600 once we get the unfinished bonus permitted).

So help me God if anyone shows up looking like this guy A REAL IMAGE FROM A LOCAL REALTOR's site (luckily, none that we interviewed), I am running scared.

Mini Race and Mac Daddy Race

The pox on the house of Vinson is starting to lift. Laying low did us all good this weekend. As the boys were feeling good by Saturday morning and Bill's cold was better we opted to go ahead and run the 1 mile family fun run as part of the Cary Road Race.

Luckily the rain held off long enough for us set Ian's stroller decked out in balloons, a happy birthday banner, and the birthday boy himself in a cute ONE onsie. It was everything I had hoped for to meet Mondo Goal #32. Ben was overly excited to be racing and we let pull ahead in the last .25 mile so he could cross the finish line first.

He was beside himself to be the winner over the rest of the Vinson clan.

Up next was Bill's first 1/2 marathon. Last year he ran his first race, the Raleigh Rocks 5k, same race this year just the 1/2 option. Wow what a year to now have 4 5ks and now a 1/2 under his belt. Afterwards I arranged for him to use up part of a massage package I had purchased. I took the kids and met up with a friend so he could return to a quiet house and crash.

Last year I was a sobbing mess watching him cross the finish line in what now seems like a million (miles) away. In part due to being 38 weeks prego and also the sheer excitment for him. No tears this year, just a quiet undersanding that this is a new normal for us. The one where we now have a Go Mommy/Daddy Go sign that is traveling from race to race.

Have sign, will travel :)

Somewhere overheard in the last 48 hours how crazy would be be to do Vegas 1/2 marathon for our 40th birthdays together?

Crazy thoughts? Or just the start of something bigger?!?

Phone Photo Friday- A Case of the Mondays times 7

UNCLE Universe. I totally hear you and apologize for ticking you off.

This week has been an example of 7 straight days of SUCK.

As much as I really (no really) try to keep it positive in this space I gotta say this week hands down has been horrible. Just to recap in case you want the litany of Hell.

Sunday- Baby shower is a success minus that I had a full on head cold and sounded like I had been chain smokin' Kools 10 mins before it started. I intentionally tried not to touch any food or stand anywhere around it in hopes of not spreading the misery. I got home and Bill was out the door for a loooong training run for the next 2 1/2 hours.

Took the boys outside, paid Ben $ to pick up sticks and pine cones and Ian played on a blanket. I mistakenly (again) picked up poison ivy after swearing I didn't see if around the same place I got it last year. I tried to stop it Sunday night but alas it was full on by Monday am. Worked until midnight grading and making up the loss of time from LAST weekend in SC. I'm really behind and have been all week. It's midterm, it's push time with 7 weeks left and also spring break for their schools over the next weeks. We don't get a spring break so I feel like I motivating no one.

Monday- Even sicker with the cold and poison ivy. Work all day and make myself go to the gym once I get Ben. As insane as this sounds I take advantage of when I'm sick and not eating much to really work out and bust off weight. I know it's BAD idea. No need to tell me, but I do it every single time because it's always a kick start a plateau. Ian and Ben also have colds but seem to be getting better. Bill is staying far away from all of us to avoid being sick with race day in 6 days.

Tuesday- Repeat of Monday misery, this time with the chore of grocery shopping added after the torrential rain passes. Kids better, my cold is better but poison ivy spreading. I run 3 miles, walk 2 in the afternoon. Feel ok and bail on a nighttime commitment when a work meeting runs way over until almost 9 pm and I feel like crap and not sociable. Realtor visit while Ian was napping so lost time working so I make it up unit 1 am.

Wednesday- Ben had puked in the night, mainly dry heaving and was better by am but keep him home. Ian better, Ben is in time out before 9 am for hitting Ian and talking back to me. Oh brother, looong day ahead. Cold better, but poison ivy is spreading to both arms and to leg. Skip all gym due to kids sickness and walk the neighborhood for the dog. Another 2 Realtors appointments while kids in quiet time. Thought about cancelling but it's late, I give them the upfront about the pox on my house. Loose any work time and work I kid you not until 3 am. SOOOO not a goood plan as I kept falling asleep and having to redo work to get it in by morning deadline.

Thursday- Ben has been puke free 24 hours, seems ok and is jumping off the cough so I take him to school. Another potential realtor dowb, then go see a house in an attempt to start looking at neighborhoods in play. SHOULD have cancelled, but really want to be out of the house as a friend is keeping Ian. Cold almost gone, but poison ivey has now spread to both legs and I'm trying to keep it wrapped up (see pic above). I missed getting Bill's help in wrapping it yesterday and Ben refused when I asked him to hold the end. I wind up using the kitchen counter and it's a mess resulting in more itching all day. NOTE: Ben V will never be a doctor with THAT bedside manner.

Bill comes home early by 5 sick with my cold, pissed about the 1/2 race he's been training for now in jepordory (rightly so). Get the Ben has puked call after lunch. Ian thankfully takes a nap. Ben sleeps then puked all over the couch and floor by 3. Fun. No luck to get an morning Dr appointment for a steroid shot we split the kids and I take the non sick one.

ALSO in the file it under stupid and obstinate, I will do must anything to avoid taking a round of steroids. After having walking pneumonia and packing on a 6 lb weigh gain that SWEAR I still have not lost from steroid treatment, I always try to avoid them. YES I would rather be sick than fat. SO much wrong with that :(

I consider walking the 2 miles to the dr as it's close by and I've now gone 48 hour without exercise and I know the more days I miss the harder it is back. Not a fast walk, but thought I could do it with the jogging stroller. I opt (by some good sense) to drive. We wait 30 mins in which time I run into people I know who are chatty and I am not. Gotta love small town living.

The poison ivy is bad to the point that I am prescribed antibiotics to treat where it got into a cut. The shot really, really hurts. Probably because I was holding a squirming Ian as I forgot the stroller and he was full on wild after all that waiting.

Get home, take the dog out, make something to eat for all concerned. Punt on book club as no one needs to be around me and my walking germ factory self. Grade until after 1am as I missed time again today. We have a front runner on agents and by Monday will be done with this part of the process. Again we are at the point of do this now or wait and miss the window.

Friday- Ben will be home all day, we are staying put, laying on the couch with the puke bucket and Mom working to get caught up. Ian will be Ian into everything. Bill may (I really hope) work from home so he can take a nap and work on getting better and hope upon hope help me with the kids. Uh.. have I had a nap all week, even on the 3 hour of sleep day).Ben puked in his bed about 11 pm, got him cleaned up in time for Ian up near midnight crying but he thankfully is back in bed. He has been sleeping until 6:30 all week. Something positive. Really.

Next week has, has, has to be better. Cary Road race a bust this weekend for me and the boys (very glad this was not my original first race), disappointed but if we can get everyone well by Ian's birthday that is a better goal.

The final realtors and a landscaper coming this weekend. There is a definite post on the intentional speed up but man I tired and going to bed.

Thanks for hanging in there if you are still reading. Give my your address and I'll mail a co pay. Really I will as only someone who really love me or is possibly I would have to pay for the session would hang in there with me.

PS. I love you people for NOT telling me that 1. things can be worse (I know, I don't need the guilt) 2. Working out while really sick is a bad idea 3. not taking a medicine because I fear weight gain is STUPID. Yeah to all so don't say it.

Back Monday with a better attitude, hopful poison ivy free body and no cold/sickness for any family member.

Ugh. UGH times 7

Better Late than Never

So much for a 4/1 month goal post, 6 days late sounds like my MO for life. Always 10 mins late for life. I read that Elizabeth Taylor's funeral started intentionally late per her desire to commemorate her predilection for tardiness. uhm...may have to consider that for my will.

April Goals already in progress, some already accomplished.

1. Keep the good thing going on the whole sleep and work thing.

2. Cary Road Race this weekend. Only running the 1 mile family fun run with Ben and Ian, but what a happy 1st birthday for my sweet boy.

3. Celebrate Ian's first birthday. Mainly a family focus, but in the last days have thought about a small pay it forward as a personal celebration. More to come but just thinking about the possibility is smile inducing.

4. On the birthday front, get Ben's booked for June. Checking out several options. Top contender is a pool party, but want to check on expected parent participation. Can't think of a nice way to say, "expect to be in a swimsuit" in the invite. Our gym has a beach entry and all kids that can't swim are in life jackets. Thinking on this one as the May/June birthday party onslaught is time consuming for parents. Don't want ours to be a dreaded party.

5. Family Pictures at Duke Gardens. Jon-jon induced cuteness guaranteed. I'm from SC so I get a pass for one shot in sweet smocked goodness. Seersucker pants and white bucs on Ben would push it, right? Like I could ever get those clothes on him unless I allowed wind/athletic pants in all the other shots.

6. Book spa treatments for summer sorority reunion at the Grove Park Inn. DONE and now dreaming of 48 hours sans children, sitting by a 5 star spa with drink in hand.

7. Continue logging min 20 miles or 300 mins per week. Have hit a plateau in the weight loss dept, trying to change up cardio and did spin, fartleks, and weight training in place of 2 days of running last week. My knee is acting up again, think I may need to be seen to prevent injury.

8. One new date night idea with Ben and one with Bill. May date night?- Hangover 2 for sure.

9. Most likely another SC run to help out with mom. Brian needs it and on some level I do to to live with myself long run.

10. BIG huge, already rolling plan: Get going on the getting out of the house goal. Interviewing realtors this week and a need get going on the laundry list of repairs. Still most likely no way until much later in the year to actually get it on the market, but Bill and I are ready and together on making this a priority for 2011.

Bring it April, I plan on spending any and all reasons outside loving my 2nd favorite month of the year.

The Man Cold vs. The Mom Cold

Like a 2 pack a day smoker, that's what I sound like as of Friday night. Both boys have colds so likely the fun was spread around.

I'm trying to knock it out early so it doesn't turn into a man cold. Moms are allowed one man cold a season, and I'm all out.

Man Cold: that debilitating sickness of epic proportions defined by complaining,whining and a total lack of parental responsibility.

Mom Cold: defined by no one in the house even noticing the plethora of medicines on the kitchen counter. I woke up the dog coughing last night. Fun times.

In the meantime I owe myself an April goal post, the weekend round up of babyshower hostin' and monster truckin' with Ben. Definitely opposite ends of the spectrum. Luckily the shower co-host did SO much work, food prep, super cute decorations. I felt like I kinda showed up with the cake, mixed some punch, took some pictures. The mom seemed to be was happy with the final product.

The boys and I went to the park and finished up some yard work once home while bill finished a training run for his 1/2 next week. Grass mowed, weeding started, flower beds tilled. The boys played with a ball on a blanket and wore each other down. I had the first realtor out on Friday, two more this week. Hearing the (long but expected) punch list is kicking the desire to get moving into gear in a good kind of way.

I have a feeling things are about to be crazy/busy(ier).