Almost Wordless Wednesday

Ben came home last week with a book he had written about a friend as a class assignment.  Listed in the back was the about the author page.

"The author's name is BEN VINSON.  He likes to play video games.  He is 6 years old.  His birthday is June 9th.  He lives in Cary, North Carolina.  In his free time he likes to ride his bike."

While his dust jacket self-portrait includes a pig nose, everything about this assignment makes me smile.

My weekend captured by lots of crappy iPhone photos

A gazillion, child-free years ago I had a teacher friend who would take a sick day, not for a mental health day but for a true workday.  She would take her kids to school and grade for the next 8 hours.  I now totally get it. 

Can you pick up the theme of this weekend?

Friday night after I got the boys in bed I'm unpacked my school bag and made a weekend to-do list to prioritize.  I'm also starting the first of 6 loads of laundry.

Friday 8:30 pm

 10:00 pm Matching up tests to essays (this is one class of students)

Go to bed around midnight and luckily Ian stays in bed all night.

Saturday- TAL is on, I'm not freeze ahead cooking today.  Instead I'm sorting an upcoming unit on the Gilded Age and Progressives.

1:00 pm

Bill is gone for the night with Ben to a Y Guides.  I take a non- napped Ian to the grocery and then to pick up dinner.  We have a hot date at my favorite cafeteria for take out.  Ian has an ugly melt down while we are waiting for the 5 mins we are inside.

* Note if I wasn't so hungry I would have walked out.  Instead I put the death grip on him and ask how fast they can sling some collard greens, mac and cheese, and baked chicken in a container.

Once home I get him in bath, books, teeth, and bed where he thankfully stays after only a 1/2 hour of wrangling.  I work until around 1am making a test and grading 2 stacks of essays plus doing housework as a "break."  Sadly I would rather mop a floor then read anything else about Manifest Destiny.  Somewhere in the night I find Ian has left his room and is in bed with me.  A plethora of stuffed animals have joined us.

Sunday-

We hit the early service at church then head down to school which is open on Sundays as the building is used until noon.  I work another two hours copying, entering grades, pulling supplies for the week. Note that I got my lanyard caught in the copier hence the staples.  Fairly sure my cause of death will be MacGyvering a copier with only my wits and a pen. 

10 am

After lunch we head home to realize they have fallen asleep in the car.  I take a 15 min power nap in the car with them then go in the house with all the doors open and clean up the kitchen and do more laundry.

Boys are awake so I taken them over to the jump house place across the street where we stay and I grade.  I really appreciate the mom drive-by from another parent noting that "wow I must be super busy since I'm not playing with the kids, pointing over to my boys playing air hockey near by." She goes on to say she teaches too and tries to save a part of each weekend for her kids.  Thanks Ms. Judgy Judgment. 

3 pm *note other lazy parent just siting and not playing with their kids

Once home I pull together a quick dinner, make lunches, more laundry, go through Ben's backpack, and get the kids to bed.


9 pm

Grading slow down as it's Will Gardner time.  By weekend end I logged around 13 hours of some type of work for school and unfortunately still have one class of essays not finished and sadly more work coming in tomorrow.

Not the most exciting of posts, frankly it sounds SO negative, but a weekend of keeping it real of what sadly what many a weekend looks like around Casa Vinson.

When I hear of 1st year North Carolinas teachers making it through the 6th year of a state-wide salary freeze making the choice between filling their gas tanks or living on cereal and pbj sandwiches until the next payday I want to punch someone.  Or when I hear that instead of editing our contracts to say, "instead of a pay increase, even one matches to inflation (again, what pay increase?) that a portion of our pay, our base pay, is going to now going to be tied to student achievement I again want to punch someone.   

Anyone who wants to criticize that I'm am a lazy overpaid mooch living off their taxes   or those at the helm legislate away any chance to hire good teachers walk a day or better yet weekend in any of our shoes.

My goal for the week is to stay ahead of the work as best I can and to spend any additional time finishing a book, sleeping, maybe making it to the gym, preparing for inlaws decision to make a last minute trip up this weekend.  I would like to actually see them, and not with a red pen in my hand next weekend. 

February wrap up

February 2013

* I posted this picture earlier, but it was my favorite for the month. Indicative that I have to find any moment of sweet/funny/kindness in the day because to not is to start crying.

- Major potty training success
- Watched all of season 1 of Homeland
- On book 4 for the month.  Mudbound was the favorite read in February
- Semester has kicked into high gear with lots of late nights/weekend work, in general paddling to stay afloat
- Big freeze ahead weekend session to last until the end of the semester
- Started the house purge of all baby/toddler items with a spreadsheet of what needs to be donated/sold
- Dr appointments for wellness/screenings
- Brian and Bill's birthdays
- Managed to meet up at least once with each of my groups of friends for dinner
- Volunteered with Ben's class to teach about Presidents
- Several "snow days" i.e. school schedule was wonky, kids played outside just enough to get it out of their system without loosing power or make up days
- Saw a classical concert by myself and loved every minute that I wasn't coughing up a lung
- Transitioned Ian to a big boy bed and paid dearly with lots of nighttime wakings in the wee small hours to find Ian roaming
- Did an art class with each boy with an end result I want to hang in my kitchen to remember that all days were not a wrestle mania/Power Rangers sword fight cry-fest
-Speaking of Power Rangers, can now emulate Yellow Ranger's opening credit dance moves

* Note, only a 2 or 6 year old are impressed with mom abilities.  I'm not so sure that the 6 year old wouldn't disown me if I did them in public.

Not on the wagon. Actually the wagon ran over me.

I am not quite sure where the person who could spend hours a day exercising has gone.  In fact I'm starting to wonder if she has permanently decided to exit the building and moved in with someone else after giving up on me.

You may remember for Christmas that I bought, wrapped up, handed to Bill a gift of 10 personal training sessions and then promptly asked for my gift back. I planned to start redeeming them before the crazy new year resolution people showed up at the gym.  So far I've gone to 3 sessions of the 10 with the plan of going every 2/3 weeks and using the planned workout in a rotation. 

Cue to the other day where I procrastinated going in for a measly 30 minute workout.  I sat and called my insurance company, waiting on hold forever and then took the time to make an long overdue appointment for a mammogram.  All that time wasted over just NOT wanting to get out of the car.  Another day that I got to the gym, upon realizing that I didn't have socks promptly talked myself out staying.  The desire is just not there to make exercise any type of priority. 

I'll be honest, I've put back on about 10 pounds since my 2nd surgery last March and the #1 reason is not exercising.  You would again think weight gain would motivate me and it has on getting a trainer and dragging my butt there 2-3 times a week.  I'm also maximizing my time so that in 30 minutes I can get a decent workout that rivals doing more for the same results.  My diet has relatively stayed the same so this is all about exercise.  

I really can't put my finger on why after years of being happy at the chance to work off stress in a child-less environment hasn't come around again. Aall I can think of is if I am leaving work early to swing by the gym that the time could be better spent on prepping dinner, walking the dog a longer distance, tackling the mountain of errands and chores that I would rather do in joyful silence before pick up starts. 

I'm flat out exhausted by 10 hour days at work, lots of issues with behavior from the kids between pick up and bedtime, finding time to keep us in clean underwear, and then often more work at night to stay ahead of grading. Doing it in the am is not an option as I'm already up daily at 5:15.  Doing it after the boys are in bed is also not an option, as I'm too worn out. My only real time is afternoons that I can carve out time.

Back in January I signed up for a color run to do with Ben later in the spring.  I figured that the training sessions plus a return to regular gym time would have be back to being able to run a 5k. I have added running back, but not to the level that I think need to be at to run the whole race without stopping.  

For that I'm embarrassed that I, 

1.  Could run 5 miles without stopping PRE surgery and now can't even make it a full mile without wanting to stop   

2.  I don't have the desire to want to be back in better shape  

3.  The same old man I see at the gym on the track seems to pass me every time we are sharing a lane. 

I have 6 sessions left that I hope to finish by start of summer.  I'm seriously thinking about signing the boys up at the Y to be able to use the child care option over the summer break.  I fear if I have to schedule super early am time to be there before Bill leaves for work I will find even more excuses not to make the effort. 

Ideas on some type of incentive to get motivation back on track appreciated short of a Jillian-screaming-in- my-face intervention are welcomed.  

Weekend

Friday sucked so, so, so much.  Like stopped by Trader Joes to buy myself flowers in the pouring rain bad.   I walked out with $100 bucks in unplanned groceries.  Note to self:  don't buy groceries when you are pissed off or you will talk yourself into trying everything new.

Friday night we got the boys to bed and watched several weeks worth of backlogged Daily Shows and ate cookies.  Lots of cookies.  Romantic, you bet, especially when I realized I slept in my work clothes Friday night.  Again.

Saturday it was cold and rainy but we had plans with the boys so we tag teamed and sloshed in the rain. Bill did a Lego build and I did an art class with the kids. Bill and I went out for his birthday to Melting Pot. It was super yummy and we had more than .912 seconds to discuss the wrap up from the two parent meetings about Ben and a new med trial starting this week.

I read a book by the fireplace after watching Good Wife which can I say is FINALLY back to being good this season. Seriously who cares about a fight with the trustee guy from the Birdcage week after week.  Give me Will people.

Sunday I did church, the grocery, library, then took the boys solo over to Durham Science and Life.  Sunday was sunny and gorgeous.  I always make a deal that each boy gets to pick 2-3 must do things and then we budget time to make sure hit those activities first.  We wound up staying until they closed and I brought home some wiped out kidos.   Isn't this sweet.  Note that about .912 second later they were engaging in some WWE smackdown behavior.

Later I caught up with some friends for a belated dinner and then headed home to watch the Oscars. Quite a Meh experience. That is unless you love singing.  Good God.  Can we please stop? When did the 2013 Oscars become a tribute to the movie Chicago?  Am I crazy or didn't that movie come out like 10 years ago?

Worst was a toss up between the cast of Les Mis ensemble sing off and Babs performance of "The Way We Were."  I'll note that I was forced to watch all Barbara Streisand movies with my mom.  I can't think of one person who will ever convince me that Les Mis is a good use of 3 hours.  At least some of the movies and actors I was rooting for won.

None involved singing.

Love List February

February-

1.  Teachers who love my kids even when they act like total tools.  Both of Ian's teachers have reported lots of ugly toddler behavior this week. Big positive is he is making progress on potting.  Every time he potties one of his teachers draws a smiley face or a heart on his hand.  Love this and thank them for their literally dirty work.

2. This outfit from White house, Black Market.  I almost didn't buy the dress as I thought it was too short.  I remembered I had bought some super soft black legging from Gap Body so I paired them with the dress (black, white, purple, and khaki) and some cute flats from Nordstrom.  This outfit is the closest thing I have to wearing pajamas to school.  So comfy!

3. OMG these are SO good.  I told Bill that I didn't want anything for Vday but mentioned that I had bought the boys' teachers Ghirardelli salted caramel chocolates but hesitated on these for myself.  Bill came home the next day with a package with a big red bow attached.

4. This new restaurant in Cary.  Can we say brisket burritos with fresh salsa verde + margaritas not an unnatural shade of green.  Throw in the salsa trio our waiter comped us and it is a new favorite.

Taqueria del Sol is now open!  Check this place out if local.  It  is across from Noodles in Crossroads Shopping area. 

5. Upcoming Academy Awards this weekend!!!! For the first time in a while I've actually seen several of the movies in a real movie theater.  Even though Lincoln was like porn for this history teacher, I'm betting on Argo.  This movie had everything:  suspenseful engaging (TRUE) story, dark comedy in unexpected places, and did I mention the super cool late 70s clothes and lamb chop sideburns on the men.  Oh yeah baby, fashion that looks good on no one, even a shirtless Ben Affleck.

Not funny

Yesterday I got a call from one of the nurses to let me know that some of the labwork from a recent visit had come back wonky.  None was indicative of something serious just she had some questions for me including:

ARE YOU PREGNANT?

Drop the phone lady, in fact my actual words to her were as follows:

I can answer that in one word or two, "NO" and "HELL NO"

She laughed.  I didn't.

I went on to have a conversation in which I rambled on about how I lost a pack of birth control pills after picking up a new prescription from the pharmacy last week.  For God knows why I felt the need to tell her on the same day I also lost a Talbots gift card and a student's paper on the War of 1812.

Needless to say she may have wanted me to come in to take a test of my mental capabilities not just for some low iron and B12 levels after my rambling on and on.

I told her no that there was no way I could be pregnant and that despite loosing the pills I knew that replacing them was kinda important.  I also added (much to what I'm sure was "get this crazy lady off my phone") that I was aware of how one gets pregnant and could assure her that I was not.

She asked if I could swing by the office and pick up a bunch of supplements to try and make plans to come by for retesting.

When I got there it was kind of her to put all the supplements in this bag.

Thanks lady for panic as well as the reminder by my children's horrific double meltdown behavior last
night that the answer to are you pregnant will now and forever be, "I can answer that in one word or two."

Tales from the little potty-Book 2, Volume 2

Has it really been 7 months since I posted anything about potty training trials with Ian?  Either I'm super lazy or with child two or instead of thinking I have to meet some great golden schedule in the sky have been so much more relaxing about the end result.

Over the weekend two major things happened with the littlest Vinson

1.  We moved Ian into a toddler bed and out of his crib.  No judgement on the fact I kept in behind bars so long other than there is security in knowing where he is at night. Cue to last week when during quiet time the sound of running led me to find him climbing out.  

2. Ian stayed dry almost all day with minimal accidents.  He is using the potty multiple times throughout the day and waking up in the morning not soaked.

We have been working with his teachers to make sure we are using the same methods as well as being consistent at home.  Ben is also all too happy to show him how to use a big potty and frankly had been a big help in the encouragement department.

Some of the most supportive people have been his wonderful, amazing teachers at his daycare.  One of his teachers makes him paper airplanes for good behavior as well as draws smiley faces and hearts on his hand for potting.  I am beyond grateful knowing that Ian is loved and cared for during the day by incredible people.

*Note Ian loves drawing smiley faces himself, such as this beauty from the driveway. 

So where are we? Still on a long road to ridding ourselves of diapers.  I recall that I erroneously believed that once Ben was pee potty trained that the other would just happen.  18 months later and lots of frustration I know understand that it will all happen in good time. Did I mention I'm not looking forward to age 3?  What a horrible age from Ben. 

Does this mean that I want him heading to kindergarten in diapers?  Obviously not, but unlike Ben who I felt it was some personal mom failure that he was still in diapers closing in on age 4 I'm not seeing this as something to stress me out.

One more pictures of my baby.  In motion, running up the what he calls "Ian way" or whenever he can find a ramp to beat me to the door.  *Note blurriness, as any other mode would not be appropriate.

Check out that smile :)

Yet another reason to love him

Before dawn yesterday my brother was bound for Miami to connect after layover for a flight into the capital of Guatemala.  For the next week he will be working with a medial team partnered with a rural, outpost hospital with the intention of performing just under 200 surgeries.

When Brian told me he was considering joining this team but had major reservations about being out of the country for the first time I told him he HAD to make this happen.  I knew that the chance to be part of something so life changing was worth any hesitancy.

I hope this week my brother stays safe, healthy, and is able to use his talents as a surgical scrub nurse however is best needed. I talked to him last week on his 35th birthday and passed on some thought on last minute items to pack.  My last thoughts to him were how proud I was of him for choosing to give of his time and heart. I am praying that he will return safely with stories and memories to share.

I'm posting one of my favorite pictures of him that makes me smile, from a after college trip to the Rockies.  Everything I love about him is written in his smile.  He is happy and full of life.  I hope that same spirit serves him well this week.

 


 

Project Runway-An Occasional Friday Series, Bag Swag edition

I have a friend who once her youngest was potty trained tossed her giant mom/diaper bag in place of a cute, fashionable purse.  If ever there was a prize for mothers to no longer have to change diapers on nasty bathroom changing table, a new purse is a catalyst.

I thought I would shoot for the same goal and with Ian making progress in the potty department had started looking around at a replacement for my well-loved and well worn Haiku bag. 

Let me tell you a little about the well-worn aspect as this bag was purchased when Ben was weeks old.  It has gotten me through many a stroller ride, zoo visit, multiple 1400 mile Florida road trip solo with the boys, lots of nasty has been cleaned out or on this purse.  I have loved, loved, loved this bag. 

Until...

It started smelling like all the places we've visited with a public bathroom being tops on the smell list. I started only carrying my wallet and phone only to leave both on a store counter leading to a mad dash upon realization. 

While we were in Atlanta I borrowed Bill's Osprey bag that he carries to work. Instant bag love.  So much so that I tossed aside any notion I had of a fancy designer purse and went for a special order to get my favorite lime green shade in a smaller version. 

I cannot rave enough about this bag.  It has pockets galore, a comfortable shoulder strap, a side pocket for a water bottle.  It's deep enough to fit my on the go lunch box for the boys including two more water bottles.  It even a deep pocket perfect for a book or Kindle on the back.  I haven't lost my phone or wallet once since carrying it.

Better yet after walking away from a group of people I'm not leaving behind the lingering fragrance of Chanel Number 5.  More appropriately, Urinal #1. 

A different kind of love story

Happy Valentines Day.  I'm not the biggest fan of this holiday due to spending my daylight hours today at work watching the cruelty of high school play out into two categories:

1.  Someone loves you enough to give you a giant bear, a half dozen balloons, a vase of flowers, and a cookie cake to carry around all day

2.  You are not carrying around public pronouncements of love today for all the world to envy

**Personally I would want to sucker punch anyone making me carry around a state fair-sized bear all day.

Instead I want to share with you a different story about love. 

Back last fall as we drew closer to the holidays I was in a funk.  I couldn't really place the source to anything specific, but the funk had taken up residence in my everyday life. I would attribute some to ongoing difficulty with Ben or having an obstinate two year old in the house that defies sleep. The fullness of my life manifests itself as days that hit the ground running at 5 am and collapse asleep 18 hours later many a night face down on the couch still in my work clothes. 

It is my life and I wouldn't trade a minute to be living another.  I am blessed beyond reason and only have the faces of my boys to remind me that in the grand scheme of things the days may be long but the time short. 

Finally I figured out that part of my funk was heading into the holidays without my family.  I can't tell you how many times I said to someone that I hope they (and their kids) had a great holiday visit with family feeling a giant hole in my own heart.  Don't get me wrong, I think back to 6 hour drives on a Friday afternoon facing a weekend to be spent caretaking to my parents.  I frankly don't know how I took care of my own family during the hardest parts of a 10 year run of living that responsibility other than you just keep moving.

What I wanted and missed was the "me too" of holiday plans that included grandparents enjoying time with grand kids, going to the Messiah with my mom, making favorite meals that would be shared with extended family. After the Sandy Hook shooting I wanted more than anything to curl up with family and not let anyone out of my sight.

Somewhere in there I got a Christmas card that made me smile. From the crazy decorated envelope alone, everything about this card was welcoming.  It was from the teacher across the hall at my first school.  She saved many a day my first year of teaching by simply giving of herself, her files, her listening ear. She has continued to check in on my as I moved from being a new teacher to mentoring the new crop.

I smiled because it made me feel loved and important to someone not because I was just another name on their holiday card list, but because they considered me worthy of their time to continue to pursue a relationship long after I no longer saw them daily. 

I started thinking about how friends from years past to those I am fortunate to have as an adult have become my family in absentia. Somewhere over the new year I heard about Ann Curry's 26 Acts mission to remember the lives lost at Sandy Hook elementary.  Somewhere I read the book 29 Gifts in which the author in dealing with her own life struggles commits to doing 29 acts of kindness.  I decided that in the new year I would make it a resolution to show my appreciation to my friends as well as total strangers by passing on kindness.

I had a couple of ideas of things I wanted to do, but instead of trying to do something each day for a month, I opted just to do whatever felt right as January unfolded with many acts intentionally anonymous. Not knowing the source of a act of kindness seems to somehow change the meaning that the universe is smiling upon you for that brief moment.

So how have I been forwarding on kindness and love in a project that has extended beyond January?

-a basket of school supplies for the new 1st year teacher that I am now sharing my room with this semester.

-dinner for my new neighbors after hearing they were sleeping on the floor awaiting their furniture

-doughnuts for my department during final exams

-a good luck gift of wine and the latest Southern Living for my friend starting a new job

Even a few items that seemed strange, but oddly the right thing to do like mailing back tax documents to our home's previous owner realtor to mail on to them to a new address, sending a nice bottle of wine thanking my amazing surgeon on being a year out, or a card to my high school best friend's mom whose husband was having open heart surgery.

On this manufactured day of love I am reminded that every single day there are multiple opportunities to pay a compliment, thank someone for the smallest of acts, or choose kindness towards others over being self serving. 

It doesn't take a special day to tell someone or show them that you love them.  It takes a heart too full of thanks to be contained. 

Quick check in

Oh hi February, I didn't notice you were 11 days old already.  It's been busy with lots going on both at work and home.  Some good (Ian's made real progress on the potty) and some not so good (lots of negative from Ben at home and from school reports.)

I have a meeting with his counselor alone later this week after multiple conversations with Ben's teacher about some ongoing issues including catching him in a lie that has been going on since early December.

On the work front I'm teaching US History this semester for the first time ever in a 13 year career. I feel like am a "big kid" getting to teach the hardest, most comprehensive subject in our department but the trade off is lots of outside work prepping and frankly relearning a subject that I love, but don't know the ins and outs to teach.

Also on the positive is I've continued on a roll with choosing reading over mindless tv watching at the end of the day minus a couple of series.  I'm closing in on 10 books and it's not even two months into the year.  I picked up Mudbound on a weekend trip with the boys to the library and am already 1/2 finished.   I've been downloading books for walking the dog.  Most recently I finished Behind the Beautiful Forevers- Katherine Boo and am about to start the Dovekeepers-Alice Hoffman.

Here's to possibly being back later in the week with a February love list, pictures of a new mom bag that I should have bought years ago, and whatever is going down of note.

January Wrap Up

January 2013

-Rang in the new year with old friends and illegal SC fireworks

-At the 1/2 point in the school year with an impressive massive reduction in my failure rate after a trying and head-banging semester

-Finished 5 books, a record for me

-Restarted a fitness program with a personal trainer.  While I am way behind where I once was, I'm going several times a week again.  It is a place to start.

-Managed to see a movie involving stadium seating over my couch

-Decision made about traveling to Kenya over the summer
-Was able to volunteer in Ben's classroom

-Kinda had the flu
-Taught Ben the rules of Monopoly and played countless games of Candyland with Ian

-Celebrated a great 38th birthday at the beach

How to turn 38

On Saturday, January 19th I turned 38.  The one thing I wanted more than anything for my birthday was time with Ben and Ian. Like most anyone I know who live crazy, chaotic lives I wanted a pause to play, to be silly, to curl up with the boys under a blanket without an alarm clock to wake us.   I took advantage of a winter sale at a beach resort with an indoor water park and made plans to take the boys over my birthday and MLK holiday weekend.

Bill was suppose to go with us, but after a deadline at work was extended as well as his ongoing cold he opted to stay home.  To his credit I came home to a cleaned out garage.  We started the day by finishing up a parent/child pottery class.  Ben took it upon himself to help clean up not only his work, but also helped the teacher clean the studio and take the potty to the kiln while I finished my pieces.  I could not have asked for a better way to start the day other than with a helpful child proud of his own initiated actions.  

We headed home to do lunch and birthday cake with Bill then headed on the the beach. Of course the drive down was not without incident, including a panicked Ben around the NC/SC state line screaming that Ian had a red marker and was coloring the ceiling of the car along with the back of the leather seats.  I think I careened across all lanes of traffic and happened to pull over in time to strong arm the marker from his hand and attempt damage control.  

For the next 48 hours we never left the resort and spent time at the indoor waterslides, lazy river,  and splash park.  We brought a few groceries with us and ate birthday cake for breakfast, Krispy Kreme doughnuts and popcorn for dinner, and enjoyed  Rice Crispy treats with Perry the Platypus on the balcony.  

Both weekend afternoons it was crazy warm near 70 degrees so we headed outside to play on the beach, played on the hotel playground and mini golf course, made sandcastles, walked in the warm tidepools, and kicked a ball in the surf. 
   

We took a long walk on the beach where the boys chased each other and talked about catching a dolphin that we would name Davey who could live in our bathtub.

*Note* We are not housing a dolphin, much to Ben's sadness. 

It was everything I wanted in a birthday.  It was everything spontaneous and full of life that I love about Ben and Ian.   It was everything I love about being a mom. I hope that one day they will remember that they were my everything as they begin parent their own children.  

They were the best gift I got for my 38th birthday.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Crack-laced awesomeness that is Tamiflu

Twice in the last year the Vinson folk have dodged a bullet.  Last spring when we happened to have taken a spring break vacation the same week that Hand, Foot, and Mouth ran rampant in Ian's daycare and this weekend as I expected to be flat on my back for the duration of this week with the flu.

I'm not.  In fact I'm working today thanks to Tamiflu.  Last week was the change over between semesters with a bunch of deadlines on Tuesday before first day of 2nd semester.  Come Thursday I woke up hot and tired but felt functional enough for work.

By the time we made it home and made dinner I was good as gone.  I think the words, "yes you can watch more horrid circa 1993 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on Netflix streaming until your father gets home" was uttered in the triple digits.

Once home, Bill got them to bed and before 9 pm I fell asleep in my work clothes until morning. I contemplated calling in sick, but hearing we were on a 3 hour early release due to expected bad weather developing figured I could make it until I could get to the doctor.

The crazy thing is I wasn't thinking flu outside of the extreme tiredness, I thought all the other symptoms were just the same as Bill's annual  winter cold.

The doctor thought the same and not until she offered to just be on the safe side and rule out flu did she even mention the test.  Sadly it came back positive.  I managed to get both kids picked up from school and then make it over to the pharmacy inside my local grocery.  Luckily since I had picked up groceries ahead of the storm I was in and out quickly.

We got home and I again parked the kids in front of the tv watching more Power Rangers with snacks with the instructions I was going upstairs and "unless the house was on fire or someone was bleeding" to please leave me alone.

Luckily Bill was able to get home earlier than normal and took them the rest of the night.  By Saturday I was already feeling better and by Sunday I almost felt normal.  Granted I have done nothing but watch tv as well as planned a unit on Jacksonian Democracy for the week.  I also finished a book and started another.

Basically I did exactly what I needed to, rest and get over what I still question was the same nasty strain of this season's newsworthy flu.  Honestly I am beyond thankful that catching it early, getting Bill on preventive Tamiflu and treating both boys for their ongoing colds with rest and lots of liquids was basically our uneventful weekend.

The last time I remember having the flu was Christmas 1995 when we had just gotten engaged.  I sadly remember both Bill and I being sick for what seemed like more than a week, unable to leave the house and feeling like hell.  I vaguely remember driving through the parking lot of a friends apartment complex where they were hosting a New Years eve party and gasping, "we got engaged, and we are sick and going back home" to our friends.

If Tamiflu existed, I didn't know of it.  It is some crack-laced awesomeness of modern medicine and worth every bit of the $100.00 I paid for the two prescriptions.

Stealing from Dan

Tuesday night somewhere during the wee small hours I woke up to Ben standing over me, crying that his legs hurt.  Growing pains are for sure more than the zenith of Kirk Cameron's fame. 

He asked if he could get in bed with me and of course I said yes, rubbed his knees and fortunally he was back asleep quickly.  I woke up to find that Ben had not only brought himself, but a bed full of pillows and stuffed animals with him. 

As I left to start a new semester long before he would be awake I had to pause and watch him sleep.  Life is too short not to drink up every minute you get of child sweetness. 

I finished the book 29 Gifts over the weekend at the beach.  I liked not only the personal story of perservance in the face of true testing but also how finding the smallest of ways to give of yourself.

Yesterday on the popular blog Single Dad Laughing he posted the conclusion of two-day series entitled, "33 Rules to Not be a Crummy Human Being."  Some are laugh out loud funny, others ick filled. Many seem like common sense that as an enlightened socitiey we should be doing WITHOUT having to classify it as "non crummy human behavior."  I'm linking Part 1, and Part 2 of the series.

I pulled a few of my favorites because if taking the 29 Day Challenge, I thought these fit nicely when quietly making this world a little better action by action.

1. When you realize you were originally wrong about someone, and it turns out they’re not really the spawn of Satan, swallow your pride and tell them so. I bet it’ll make their day.
2. When a friend has a get-together, be careful that you don’t overextend your welcome. Pick up on their verbal cues such as, “well, I sure am tired.” Or, “I really wish you’d pack up your crap and go.”
3. Smile at strangers when you make eye contact. Don’t hurry and look away. Somehow, somewhere along the way, we all started treating each other like we’re diseased
4. While at a restaurant, find out if your server has kids. Then tip them an extra buck for each kid.
5. When you see a struggling parent with a screaming child in public, smile at them and say something kind. Make them feel like no one is watching and remind them that we’ve all been there.

Kindness is something we all need everyday.

Holy Awesomeness- Cake Version

Check out what just got delivered!

OMG how awesome is a This American Life birthday cake.  The only thing better would be sharing it with Ira himself. 

So happy. 

Thank you Eileen of Sugar Mama Cakes! 

Hoping for a Mexican wrestler themed confection

I'm not going to lie, I cannot think of a week in the past 6 months that has tested my patience more than the events of this week.  Most dealing with work and not for public forum but also lots of nighttime ick from one if not both of the boys.  Bill has been on a major project at work and when not at work, is collapsing and asleep once he gets home late most nights.  

But... 

In 13 years of teaching I've had lots of upset at times nasty, ugly students.  Many a tense email or conference that needed diffusing with polite but firm professionalism. This week in particular I've made a gazilion parent calls about grades being on the line and passing the class with lots of negativity from everyone involved.  

But not this:

Yesterday as I am walking across the crosswalk from the faculty lot into the main traffic circle, I started across thinking a car was going to allow me to pass.  It did, but down the window comes with a yelled, F-you  from the parent inside.  Note that the student appeared to still be in the car.  Great role model and also use of profanity before 7 am. 

Some days I really don't know if I am going to make it for the long haul or if I even want to make if for the long haul.  This week in particular has me weighing the trade off of doing something I love with such little respect or appreciation.   

On the positive my birthday is Saturday and our family is heading out of time for the long weekend.  Earlier in the week Bill asked me what I wanted and I first said just the weekend with the boys, but then I thought about something I truly want.  I want a new messenger bag to replace the nasty, has picked up every public bathroom germ-bag I've been carrying since Ben was a baby.  

I also wanted a cake.  Not a purchased at midnight, last in the case leftover one at the grocery.  I wanted a  Sugar Mama's cake.  

So I contacted Eileen.  

Below is the email I sent with a reply that she was laughing so hard she almost fell on the floor.  

I can't wait to see what she drops off tomorrow. My guess is it won't be a Mexican wrestler themed confection.  My guess is it will be a highlight of the week to know that despite a truly awful week, I can still find the funny.

Added bonus to be eating yummy cake by the weekend.

Magic 8 Ball predictions

Happy 2 week birthday brand new year!  I decided not to do resolutions this year.  I also figured that I would wait a few weeks into January and combine with upcoming 38th birthday goals. 

Instead of resolutions, here is my list of predictions that come December 31st, I will achieved or tried like hell to accomplish.  

By year end,

-there will have been Kenyan soil on my shoes again

-I will have had reason to wash an extra load of smelly, sweaty gym clothes each week

-re-trained and run a 5k, possibly with Ben

-thought hard about pursuing National Board teaching license renewal and tying myself to teaching for 13 more years

-purged the house of all things for the under 3 crowd

-quietly walked away from commitments as well as relationships that I no longer want to invest time

-realized that I am most likely half-way through this life and consciously worked towards making the best decisions for my health, both physically and psychologically

-have done what I can to ensure Ben is getting the best care and treatment, then not guilt myself into thinking I could have done more

-practiced patience daily with Ian as we travel through the 2-3 year old phase

-seen my brother more than in 2012

-not gone to my 20 year high school reunion since most everyone I want to see, I already keep up with through social media

-spent time with girlfriends in lots of combinations including college, high school, my adult friends

-used my old lady face cream nightly as well as my prescription tooth paste twice a day

-thought before I spoke when I disagreed with Bill

-read some great books among my goal of 30 on GoodReads

-kept a prayer/meditation journal with a weekly entry

-have found, bought, and am currently wearing a killer pair of jeans

-learned how to use the manual settings on our camera

-showed appreciation to those that make my life rich and full in small and not small ways.  Sometimes signed, others anonymously

-said Yes (selectively) when it might have been the default to have said No

52, make that 50 weeks to unfold ahead. 

What do you have in store for me in 2013, Magic 8 Ball?

Rite of Passage

Big night at Casa Vinson as Ben lost his first tooth.  He's been a little worried that he would never lose his teeth and told me the other night that one girl in his 1st grade class had lost 15 at one time.  I assured him that no one looses that many teeth.

*Exception* Hobos

Ben was excited. Mom was excited that he lost it at home and not at school only to likely be lost on the playground by an estatic Ben.

Mom was also super excited that she was able to pass on using the tooth fairy pillow made by my maternal grandmother  Mary-Hall Jobe.  She passed away in 1994 and left behind beautifully created quilts marked for her future grandchildren.  Ben and Ian would have loved her collection of children's books, board games, and her one on one time with her grandchildren called, "an apple and a conversation."

Ben wanted to make sure the tooth fairy would be able to find the pillow among the gazillion Lego creations on his dresser.  I suggested maybe we should put it outside his room, just in case.  Ben opted to also make a sign just in case she didn't see the pillow.

Only a 6 year old :)

Weekend round-up on Tuesday

Since I'm heading into final exams and the end of the semester deadlines it's likely going to be a quiet week in this space.  But before I sign off this week, I wanted to share some awesome that went down this weekend.  

Exhibit A- Unbelievable sunset on the way home from school Friday as I started pick up.  It was so amazing that I pulled the car off the street and the boys and I sat on the hood of the car watching it go down through the beauty of winter trees. 

Exhibit B- No picture, but 2 sessions of 10 into working a personal trainer.  I'm getting exactly what I need.  Lots of 30-45 min workout options that utilize lots of different options.  Saturday I ran sprints in between core work on the indoor track.  I was unbelievably tired and sore. It felt amazing. 

Exhibit C- My friend Laura H. was in Raleigh for a work meeting and came by and deliver the motherload.  That is the last 12 years of her work product in the way of files for my upcoming US History classes in the spring.  Can we say no amount of picking up the tab at dinner or some freezer meals can thank you for the time she are saving me in the spring as I pick up a new class.  She rocks, she is awesome, I wish my kids could have her as their teacher.  There is a reason why she is NC Secondary Social Studies Teacher of the Year 2012.

Exhibit D- A real movie.  In a theater.  Without kids.  Bill and I swapped time with the kids and since I just *had* to go get garbage bags and check out the K-cup selection at Bed, Bath, and Beyond I also saw Silver Linings Playbook.  Not exactly a rom-com that you would say, "hey let's watch this guy trying to get his life together in the face of years undiagnosed schizophrenia with serious relationship issues for two hours as enjoyable," but this movie is wickedly good and definitely worthy of the upcoming awards season.  Plus two hours of Bradley Cooper which was the deal-sealer.

Exhibit E- I finished Tiny, Beautiful Things. Wow. Soul- moving good.  I know what I want for my birthday on the 19th, a paper copy to mark up, pass to friends and come back to as many times as I need. Please read this in 2013.

Exhibit F- Season premiere of Downton Abbey.  Time get my bonnet love on for relationships that I care about in the same way I did Big and Carrie SATC days.  My friend Ellen came over and while I did dress for dinner not in a ball gown, but rather in a kid food stained 1994 sorority party shirt, I did break out the fine china and sterling to serve cupcakes and tea. 

I also took the boys to the library for new weekly books as well as did a family movie night to watch Pete's Dragon.  While we had the average amount of squabbling, they also played well together for a bulk of the time PLUS didn't fight me on cleaning up.