Can I Have A Do Over?

I knew today was going to be a long day. Heck, It's been a long week! Whenever we have these 100% chance of rain days I start off a little gloomy. I think someone needs to check in on my at least every hour to make sure I keep my head out of the oven! We get that little taste of spring then **SLAP** it's winter again. (sigh) This morning I almost forgot to pack Jacob's lunch, didn't have any clean socks, dropped Brady's backpack in a puddle while running into the school in a downpour, and spent 2.5 hours at the dentist. I would like a do over. I had to have a cavity filled this morning. My appointment was at 930am. This is only my 3rd cavity so I'm still a little squeemish when it comes to the giant silver needle-gun-thingy that is supposed to deaden your mouth. After they "shot" me I waited for about 5 minutes for them to start drilling. As soon as the drill hit my tooth pain shot through my mouth. The dentist was completely suprised. She jumped with me and apologized over and over again. They loaded me up with another shot of novocaine...waited....drilled...OUCH! They gave me 10 shots of novocaine. Ten! I could still feel them drilling. It REALLY HURT!! My eyes were tearing up because it was so painful. They put a temporary filling in and I go back in a couple of weeks for round 2 of the tourturous drilling. They told me that some people just do not react to novocaine. Great. Why can't I win the lottery instead being in that minute percentage of people who are immune to novocaine?? It is 345 and I just ate lunch. My face...yep..my entire face has been numb for over 4 hours. I feel like I was punched in the face. I think I would have rather been!

So, I'm calling for a do over. Not that I want to replay my day. I'm just ready for tomorrow to begin. I think I will sit, read, then go buy a Powerball ticket!

Computer Help

On Sunday our computer was acting up. We have two different log on profiles with Windows - one for Tod and I and another for Jacob and Brady. Well we couldn't log on to our profile. It kept saying 'log on failed'. We were able to get into the boys profile and google this problem. I printed out the steps to take and started to clear up our computer issues. An hour later.... I haven't gotten any further on my quest to log on to my profile. I packed up my computer and headed to Best Buy to have Geek Squad help me out. Once I explained to them what was happening they knew exactly what to do. It took about 20 minutes for them to work their magic and clean up my computer. After typing in my password the technician turned the computer toward himself and his Geek Co-worker. I could tell they were trying not to laugh. I said, "What?" The Geek said, "This is the funniest screen saver I've ever seen!" Here's my screen saver... I started laughing too. I wouldn't let them make a copy of the picture. Just couldn't do that to Tod. I do giggle every time I've turned on my computer though.

Lunch With Friends

Well, I know you all have been on pins and needles awaiting the results of my MOMS Club lunch! I went! AND had a wonderful time!

I had forgotten how fantastic these women are. Everything just clicked and we all totally enjoyed each others company. We ate, talked, and laughed for over an hour. It was just a perfect lunch.

My dearest friend Tracy who joined the work force a couple of years ago even worked from home today so she could join us for lunch. Here is a picture of our smiling faces!!



The bully mom was there and we did a great job ignoring each other without awkardness. I have to admit that I was nervous about seeing her for the first time in two years and almost didn't go. I gave myself a pep talk and put on my big girl pants and had a great time. So happy.

Cavity

On Wednesday Brady had his first of four cavities filled. Yep, four cavities. Just when you think you are doing pretty good...you get a little slap in the face. I had been teaching Brady about brushing is own teeth and totally failed. Now after he brushes...I go back and brush again. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to have a back up!

This dentist office has a separate play room for kids. Brady didn't mind the long wait. He was able to create a Lego garbage factory. He's very proud!


They asked me if I wanted Brady to have "laughing gas". Sure! Why not! They explained to him all about the little "nose" that he would have to wear and asked him if he wanted to smell cotton candy or bubble gum. Cotton candy won! Here he is waiting for his dose of cotton candy.



All he could say was, "Mmmm...smells so good!" And kept honking the nose saying, "Hey I'm a clown!"


He was so dopey. He had this constant smile under the laughing gas nose!


As you can tell he was quite relaxed during the filling. Crossed legs...love it.

When it was over they put this little tube of cotton in his mouth so he didn't bite his cheek. It looks like he is having a cigarette!

Brady was a champ through the filling process. He loved that they were using "mighty machines" to work on a hole in his tooth. This kid loves any kind of machine! Now we just have to go back three more times...

Delimma

After the panic set in from quitting my job to be a stay at home Mom, a neighbor introduced me to our local MOMS Club. I instantly fell in love with this group of women. They are fun, funny, and we were all in the same boat. This club showed me this unknown subculture of free things to do for stay at home Moms between 9am-5pm. Amazing!

One thing I loved about this group was each child was in a playgroup with kids their own age. Jacob's playgroup only had four kids in it. After the kids went to Kindergarten the other 3 moms moved away so we disbanded.

Brady's playgroup was completely different. It was HUGE. There were about 13 kids in it. Whenever we got together it was chaos...in a good way. We met each week at someones house and once a month at the park. I so loved this group. After one marathon playdate at my house I found Brady's sheets in his closet and chalk hand prints up the stairwell. You know the kids had a good time!

Well, now that Brady is in preschool I dropped out of MOMS Club. I felt like he didn't need it anymore. I didn't realize that I still needed it! I miss them so much.

I rarely see them. Occasionally I will bump into them at Target or the grocery store. I keep up with them through their blogs and on facebook, but it is just not the same. I miss the weekly playgroups and watching the kids play and chatting with my friends. I truly miss it.

Here is my delimma.

About two years ago both of my boys were bullied. Bullied at one of these treasured playgroups. I confronted the mother of the two boys that were harassing my boys. She said that she thought the whole thing was "kind of funny!" I was shocked that this person (who I thought was a very good friend) thought that it was "funny" that her kids were kicking, hitting, and slamming doors on my kids. Funny? I know that my kids do things that I wish that they wouldn't, but I try and make it clear that their behavior is unacceptable and we leave. Simple as that. On this occasion this mother didn't remove her kids and they kept bulling mine....so WE had to leave. As she rewarded her boys with a Chick-fil-a lunch, mine went home with bruises and tears.

Kids forgive and forget so quickly. I tried. I truly tried. I told myself that this shouldn't ruin a friendship. After a couple of months I realized that the other person didn't feel the same way. The friendship was over. She even told me to "F#@* off at a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. All I could say was, "Really? Here? At Chuck E. Cheese?" I've never been told to F#@* off before. This was totally new territory for me. How do you react to something like that?

Fast forward to today. I was so excited to see a message in my facebook inbox about a get together for all of the Moms in our playgroup! All of the kids are in preschool so it will be just us Moms! They are planning on meeting for lunch and I was literally jumping for joy!! My giddiness faded...quickly. The bully Mom RSVP'd that she will be attending. I almost cried. What do I do? Do I go and ignore her? Do I not go and avoid her evilness? Is it time for me to put on my big girl pants and go? My greatest fear is that she will cause a scene. The last thing I want to do is to be in a restaurant in front of all of the Moms that I adore and have her embarrass me....again. (sigh)

Level of Happiness

I was listening to the radio the other day and a happiness "expert" was talking about when people are the happiest in their lives. Well, first thing I thought was, "This is going to be interesting!"



"Happiness has many different levels throughout our life," the expert said. Yep. Agreed. I totally understand that being a child with no cares or worries would be off-the-charts happy. When you are first in love...again at the peak of happiness. I almost turned off the radio at this point. Seems like I understand this one. Then he said, "Parents of preschoolers are the least happy of all as a couple." What? Really? Well, that's me! That's us! I turned up the volume.


At first I had my defenses up. I'm happy. Who does this guy think he is? Humpf.


He continued, "Parents of preschoolers are at the lowest point of happiness as a couple because this is the time a child's life is the happiest. Parents are trying to provide this utopia for their kids. Sheltering them from the truths of the big bad world. Parents feel the pressure and strain of raising a child to be ready for school, ready to socialize, and prepare them for life after childhood."


Well, this kind of makes sense. When I got home Tod and I actually talked about what I heard on the radio. And we both agreed that some of what he said was true, but some was not the case in our family. We feel like the frustration of raising children (i.e. potty training, sleeping issues, sharing, table manners) makes our happiness level very low, however the strength in the love that we feel for our children overshadows this unhappiness.


I cannot imagine my life without these two boys. Now that would be a life of unhappiness!

Registered!

This morning Brady and I headed to Elementary school. It was his turn to register for Kindergarten. Kindergarten!?!?!?!? I am in total disbelief. AND not ready for him to be big enough to be a Kindergartner!

We were equipped with his birth certificate, proof of residency, proof of immunizations, and our check for the $25.00 registration fee. (It was only $12.00 to register Jacob...) After filling out several forms a very friendly Kindergarten teacher escorted Brady to the library to ask him some very important questions. You know, ABC's, counting and where his nose is...important stuff!

I waited in the school lobby watching all of the other parents and their shy/eager five year olds. You could tell the first timers from the ones who have been through this before. I sat on a bench and chatted with a very nice woman next to me. Her son was also in the "interrogation" room. As we talked we realized that both of our older kids were in the same class. It was so nice to talk to some one who is going through the exact same thing as me. Her son came out smiling and they went on their merry way.

About five minutes later Brady appeared. The teacher went over all of Brady's answers. He was able to identify all of his letters except the lowercase "g". He knew his numbers and was able to skip and hop. He knew all of his body parts except chest. Guess we missed that one! He was glad it was all over. So was I. I had forgotten how involved the registration process is.

On the way home I was a little sad to think that my baby is going to Kindergarten. I didn't think I would be this emotional about it. We stepped in the door and Brady said, "Can you play with me for a little while?" Yes! I have to jump on ever opportunity to play, hug, kiss, or just stare at him for a little longer BEFORE he officially turns into a Kindergartner.

My First Travel Job

It seems like ages ago that I sat down in a cubicle and strapped on the headset and started my day with a friendly, "Thank you for Calling American Express. How may I help you?" I have always worked in the travel industry and I loved it.

I did realize that I wasn't cut out to book leisure travel. I worried about everyone on their personal vacations. I just wanted them to have a wonderful experience. Once, while working for Nouveau Travel in Lexington, KY, I booked a couple on a 14 day trip to Dublin, London, Zurich, and Rome. They only wanted to stay in one place for about 3-4 nights. It was my first International trip. Once the planning and preparations were complete all they had to do was board the plane.

The day they arrived in London I got a call. "My luggage is lost!!" Oh no! Of course this is not my fault and there is truly nothing I can do about it being so far away. BUT I tried. I contacted the airline and arranged for their luggage to be sent to their hotel as soon as it arrives. The traveler was content. The next day when I arrived to work there was a voicemail for me. "We still haven't' received our luggage! YOU have to get it to us ASAP!" Oh no! Well, I spent the entire two weeks of their European vacation tracking down their luggage. And the luggage was one step behind them the entire two weeks.

I was fed all kinds of excuses why their luggage wasn't arriving on time from each airline and unfortunately I had to relay this information back to the client. Each call was a screamer.

The day after they returned from their trip they stormed into the travel office. They yelled at me until they were horse. Being sensitive I almost burst into tears right there on the sales floor. Luckily my boss was a very strong independent woman who took charge of the situation. She told them that this is an issue with the airline and not with the person who booked their travel. They were not satisfied. They handed us a bill. Yep, a bill for all of the clothes that they purchased while on vacation. A bill for two thousand dollars worth of clothing. I don't think I could wear two thousand dollars worth of clothes in two weeks!! My manager told me not to worry about it and threw away the bill right in front of the client and told them that they can no longer do business with us.

Nothing ever came of that clothing bill. Thankfully! But this taught me a valuable lesson in being a customer. I also realized that I was not meant to be a leisure travel agent! My skin just isn't tough enough!