It worked! I can barely contain myself. Yippee! Woo-Hoo! Yeah!
Now Mike will be able to spend a little time with my family, and me and Gryffin.
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Last night a development came about that could give Mike a few days to spend with me and Gryffin at my folks in the desert over Easter. This development is not a definate yet so my tummy is in knots. I want Mike to be at my parents and not have to wait six days to see his son. That and my folks are kind of partial to him and vice versa.
If you have a spare prayer, could you use it on us?
PS- its not easy to type with crossed fingers, hee hee hee.
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Here comes Peter Cottontail...

Easter time again. I wasn't planning on getting Gryffin's picture today when we went to the mall but kind of had too when he took off running to the Easter Bunny and jumped in his lap. It was fine though. Gryffin had a good time with it and the Bunny was left with a dry lap. They gave him these really cute paper ears to wear on this head. He luuuuved those, mostly when they would fall off and he would scream at the top of his lungs for them. Yeah, that only happed 3or 8 dozen times. I lost track along the way. After the shopping was done, more like after Mommy was exhausted, he wanted to ride the train on the way out. Ok, cool. He had never done that before and he had been as good as a two year old can be when he's about 3 hours late for his nap. He climbed in, rang the bell and was all happy smiley, until the train started to move. He started crying the 'I'm not going to breath until you make it stop' cry. The conductor stopped the train and Grandma Dianne hopped in the car with him. Now mind you, this is a child size train so Grandma didn't fit real well, but she would do anything for him. That calmed him down and after a couple times around the track he began to enjoy it. Right now, he is sleeping off the experience- Thank You God! I'm inventorying all the clothes we, scratch that, Grandma bought him. Not to mention all the toys he suckered her out of too. Little devil.

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Hmmm, what shall I do today?

The sun is shining after a late night rain shower. My son is in a good mood. Who wouldn't be when they aren't wearing pee-pee soaked jammies anymore? Other than a quick dust/vacuum and a swish & swipe on the loo, the housework is done. I got the laundry caught up yesterday. I could go play, take Gryffin to the bookstore and let him pick a new book and build houses for dinosaurs out of MegaBlocks. HOLY CRAP! What am I thinking! Gryffin and I are flying to Phoenix Tuesday to see my Mom & Dad and I haven't even thought about what we need to pack. We need to buy a few things too, Gryffin needs sandals, we both need T-shirts and super-duper, ultra high powered, suitable for vampires sunscreen. Ah the joys of being so pale you are practically transparent. I know I'm kidding myself on this one, but a new book to read while Gryffin is (God, I need your help on this one!) sleeping on the flight. Who knows what is living in the BIG suitcase in the basement- so I have to play mean landlord and evict some spiders. I won't feel too bad, they haven't paid rent. AHHHhhhhh! Sorry, tension breaker. Shew, ok, calm down, deep breaths, count to ten do all those crazy little things that don't really work but I always try them anyway. Heart back in chest- check. Adrenaline levels lowered- check. List making supplies ready- check. Mind concentrated- as much as it can concentrate on anything so a partial check. Now, dive in and don't drown! This will help, it is a prayer I wrote that gets me through the day. Maybe you can get some use out of it.

God, thank you for giving me the energy and frame of mind to do this. Thank you for keeping my mind focused on the result instead of what it will take to get there. Thank you for blessing me with this wonderful life so that now I can pass Your blessings on. I release all that I am and all that I have to You so that I can fulfill the potential You have given me.
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The return of Fat Naked Guy

Tonight we enjoyed a nice dinner. Mike had chicken & dumplings with carrots and green beans. I had salisbury steak with the same veggies and Gryffin had a little of both. You guessed it, we walked up to the little Mom & Pop grocery store with the hot deli in the back. Its a life saver! Anyway I digress. We enjoyed a nice dinner right up until Mike said "Turn around, Honey" I did and I did regret it. Fat Naked Guy was walking his dog sans beer. Must be right before government payday. The best thing about it turning cold is that Fat Naked Guy will wear a shirt once in a while. Now that its warm, well we are lucky when he wears shorts that cover the neccesities. He is usually seen walking his dog on a tow chain instead of a leash, stumbling along as he drinks his beer and letting his Dunlaps Disease make us all feel ill. One of these days I will have to snap his picture, it would be great for anyone dieting. No one in their right mind would want to eat after seeing it.
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Things I now appreciate-

Having a garage so I don't have to scrape snow and ice even though my Jeep barely fits in it.
Having a home that is the nicest one I've ever lived in even though it has bad floors.
Having a house that is too small so the love doesn't have to travel far.
Having Mojo and Java (our dogs) even though they shed, slobber and muck up my floors.
Having toys strewn everywhere so that I know my son is playing.
Having to change poopy diapers because at least they aren't diarhea diapers.
Having to hear my husband snore so that I know he is safe at home.
Having to do laundry everday so we can have nice, clean clothes to wear.
Having older vehicles but at least I know they are reliable.
Having a husband who doesn't mind walking into chaos after a hard days work because he understands that Gryffin comes before cleaning and cooking dinner.
Having a family even though they are the strangest bunch of crazies I've ever met but they love me unconditionaly and sometimes inspite of myself.
Having a huge power bill because it lets me know I have a working furnace and air conditioner.
Having a big back yard even though it takes Mike a full day to do all the yard work so Gryffin can run and play on his swingset.
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Gryffin has officially graduated.

He has been bumped up to the big boy class of 2-3 year olds. Previously he was in the 1-2. As I'm sure you are aware there is a BIG difference between 1 and 2. I think his late onset of separation anxiety was a result of him being in a class where he just didn't fit in. He wasn't challenged by it and the kids really didn't play together.
When I took him this morning he didn't scream or put me in a choke hold. He looked around at the new classroom and then headed to the gym. His bottom lip quivered slightly but quickly vanished after he saw all the 'bikes', to him thats anything you can ride on. When I picked him up this afternoon he was sitting in the playhouse chillin' with his buds. Apparently he has made a friend because they were sitting there with an arm draped over the other's shoulders and talking in only a language a toddler can understand. He just didn't want to leave, but finally agreed when I told him that we had to get home before Daddy so he wouldn't be scared. A PB&J with some Goldfish and the kid was happy. Yup, he is his father's child.

Mr Brown Can Moo, Can You?

Gryffin LOVES Dr Seuss. He loves to have it read to him or to just flip through the pages and look at the pictures. I must say, I never enjoyed reading until I was out of college, living on own and couldn't afford cable. Funny how deprivation can lead to good things. Gryffin already has a pretty extensive library started and if I have anything to do with it it will only grow with him. Mike is already looking forward to reading the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings to him. Me? Well, Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland ( the original and only good version, Disney ruined it ).

What a beautiferous morning!

Yesterday after a breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast we headed out to Home Depot. I wanted some flowers for a few hanging pots on the front of the house and Mike needed fertilizer for the lawn. Riddle me this Batman, why would you fertilize something that you already have to cut once a week? I asked Mike the same question and all he said was, "That is why I handle the lawn, Dear".
We came home, had lunch and put Gryffin down for his nap. We took the opportunity to do, what else, yard work. Thats was ok with me because the weather was perfect! After Gryffin woke up he and I headed outside to play on his swingset while Mike finished picking up sticks.
When all was said and done Mike fixed steaks on the grill with baked taters, corn and salad for dinner. Yummy! Its been a long time since we had steak, even longer since we used the grill. That will change though, especially since we have about 20 lbs of various cuts of steak in the deep freeze and I hate heating up the oven when its warm.
This morning I woke up and made cinnamon rolls for breakfast, plenty left if you're in the neighborhood. And now Mike and Gryffin are out mowing the back yard while I sit and enjoy my coffee. Other than that there aren't any plans for the day and that sounds like a good plan to me!

Must read for Husbands...

Finally, a cure for PMS has been found. You know, other than hiding in the garage or basement for a week. This recent discovery was made by a husband at his wits end with having to deal with his PMS'ing wife. This cure relieves the symptoms of: irritability, mood swings and intense cravings. There are no dangerous drugs with unpleasant side effects. No prescriptions needed. Its painless and relatively inexpensive.
And HERE IT IS- Yes men, it's a bouquet of your wife's favorite flowers and Ben & Jerry's Dublin Mudslide.
I may have to get PMS more often. Just kidding, Honey!

Cheap Labor

He does windows, dusting and floors. I'm working on getting him to use the Magic Eraser on the tub but the little guy just doesn't have the elbow grease yet. After getting him a new spray bottle yesterday he went to town today. After watching me do a couple he was all about doing it himself. The only downfall is that anything over three foot still has to be done by me. Thats ok, its fun helping him clean the house! hee hee hee

I got this from my Mom this morning...

Watch your thoughts: They become your words.
Watch your words: They become your actions.
Watch your actions: They become your habits.
Watch your habits: They become your character.
Watch your character: It becomes your destiny.

So true.

Today is going to be a little rainy. Thats cool since yesterday there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Thanks for being wrong, Mr Weatherman! If the rain clears, Gryffin and I will go for a walk. If not we will just have to play inside. Maybe build another house for his dinosaurs out of MegaBlocks- for the umpteenth time or have a pillow fight. They are both his favorite.

At least I know that once a month my house gets scrubbed down. Good thing #1. This usually coincides with a certain someones visit. It wasn't too bad, Mike and I barely got a 'hi' and Gryffin kept her occupied. She did show up 20 minutes early, but still only stayed an hour. I can handle that.
Today's forcast upper 60's to lower 70's and rainy. Good thing #2. I don't mind the rain. I'm hoping it will make our yellow yard green again. Otherwise instead of losing Mike to football or basketball, I lose him to yard work. He takes pride in the yard and it gives him exercise. Me? Heck, if the weeds are green, isn't higher than my ankles and doesn't have a car up on blocks in it- I'm cool.
I have massive amounts of laundry to fold today. Yaaaaay- clean clothes! Good thing #3. And if the rain does let up I am taking Gryffin to the hardware store to get him another spray bottle. The kid loves to help me clean. Good thing #4. He was really ticked yesterday when I only gave him a cloth to clean with. He used to have this little spray bottle that I put water in but it broke. He kept reaching for my spray bottle but I just don't think he's ready for real Lysol yet.

Food, what a concept!

We are finally to the point where we can eat without hearing those evil gurgling sounds from our innards. Apparently though, Mike got his boss sick. Yeah! He deserves it. Not really, just my bitterness springing up like the flowers in our front yard.
I'm just taking a break from cleaning the house for the impending visit of my egg donor and incubator. I don't know why I bother, even at its worst it is still thousands better than hers at its best. Besides, she is the one that ALWAYS wears black pants when she comes over just so she can complain about the dog hair.
Anyway, it looks as if Spring has sprung- finally. Rain and mild temperatures in the forcast for the whole week. And some of our favorite relatives on Mike's side are going to be in town this weekend. Yippee! Hmm, what to cook for them, what to cook?
Well my lunch of saltines and flat Diet Coke are gone and the timer is down to four minutes, so rather than rambling on I will sign off.

Ebola and the Energizer Bunny...

So last week was close to 80, this weekend snow. What the @%*$?! Our house is down with the Ebola virus, or maybe just what feels like it. All these changes in weather won't kill off these viruses and make my allergies go nuts! Like I need anything more about me going nuts! But all this sickness has accomplished something, I've lost more weight. So much so that the jeans I got back from the tailor Tuesday are too big again. Oh man, when I first tried them on they fit like a glove and made my tushy look great! Now, I'm saggy in the butt and need a belt. I've never been saggy in the butt and I don't like it.
Despite Mike and I knowing better, we went to a birthday party for a friend turning 30. We only stayed about an hour before having to excuse ourselves and speed home. But, at least, Grandma Dianne wasn't put off by keeping a pukey slush butt of a kid overnight. It's nice having a mother-in-law who's a nurse. After being thrown up on the past few nights I need a break. What is so weird is that before you even get a chance to clean him up he's wanting to run around and play. I tell you, nothing stops this kid!
Its eight o'clock on a Saturday night and we are sitting home like a couple of incontinent old fuddies afraid to get too far from the throne. Next, I'll be doing the crosswords and reading romance novels while Mike, well Mike, keeps doing what he's doing, reading a book while watching basketball. Hey, at least he's got the head of grey hair to justify it!

Toes, they're not just for breakfast anymore!

Yesterday was perfect. P-E-R-F-E-C-T! Gryffin woke up happy, the weather was mid 70's and sunny. In the morning he and I played, colored and watched a cartoon or two together. He took a marvelously long nap, 2 1/2 hours! Then we walked the neighborhood until his little chubby legs just couldn't hoof it anymore. We came home, got a snack and played some more. Mike came home and we walked yet again, to the market for salad fixin's. I have a hard time eating hot comfort food when its not cold outside. A little sliced ham, turkey, cheese, hardboiled egg and veggies and we were hooked up. More playing, a bath, couple of books and bed time for Gryffin. I thank God for days like that. They are the ones that get me through the days when Gryffin has turned into a finicky, tempermental toddler. Lets just say, his horns hold up his halo.

Another miracle...Wow!

This week Mike took my Jeep to the shop because the brakes felt funny. I was sure I needed new ones and possibly even new rotors because they squeaked. Preparing for a $300 bill, Mike called me to say that the bill was around $16. SIXTEEN DOLLARS! The shop didn't find ANYTHING wrong with them. They did make a small adjustment to the rear ones but other than that they were fine. A shop that is honest? No way. Holy crap folks, I am so blessed. Thanks to the Big Guy upstairs.
And if you live in the St Louis area, take your car to Terpin's- they are awesome!

Thanks Uncle Sam

Well, I don't have to worry with being audited this year, my biggest fear. We received both state and federal returns this week. We are once again a debt free family. Except for the house of course. No more hospital griping about how much I send them, no more credit card or payments on mattress hanging over my head. I think I've grown two inches just by paying off bills! Heck, there might even be enough to take Gryffin to the St Louis Zoo (its free by the way). That is ok because as long as it was enough to pay stuff off, I'm happy. Extatic even.
I hope the accusatory Uncle was nice to all of you too. Now I think I will point my finger back and say Ha Ha!

Latest piece of kid clutter...

Yesterday I bought (and put together myself) a table and chair set for Gryffin. Now he has a place to sit and color! Unfortunately, he doesn't like to color alone so I get to sit on that little chair too. Ah well- he's worth it!

THE most pathetic thing EVER

Yesterday after Gryffin woke from his nap we bundled him up, strapped him in and headed to the toy store. YEAH! We took him out of the car and on the way in he damanded that I hold him, so I did. We walked in and blaaaaaack! He threw up all over him and me and the floor. We rushed him out and I stood on the sidewalk with him waiting while Mike told someone there was a cleanup on isle 1 and to grab some napkins from the car. He puked again. He was crying and puking and all upset. I tried to calm him down as best I could but nothing was working. I didn't know if he was crying because he was sick or because he didn't get to look at the toys. Either way, they are valid reasons. We cleaned him (and I) up as best we could and rushed home where clothes were changed and he napped on the couch while Mike watched the Suns beat the Lakers. He was mad, but I bet my Dad was happy. No more barfing but the little guy is running a fever. But nothing is stopping him from playing so he must not be too bad off.