It's like freakin' Animal Planet around here.....

Observe, as the wiley deer stealthily work their way through the wooded area behind 857 Woodland Drive, driving the man of the house insane as he begs his wife to use the kids treehouse as a deer stand......

Seriously, folks, picture Glynn sitting before the big window in our bedroom in his underwear with a pair of binoculars, hearing the occasional "They're in the draw!" or "Look, Jodie, there's another one!" or "We should get a salt lick to draw them closer!" As Jodie slowly backs out of the room and logs onto the computer to document this day in the life of her hunting-starved husband.

Only when the deer fade from sight does Glynn emerge, victorious, having watched those deer and mentally slayed them fifty times over.

And cue the T.V. being tuned to hunting channels for the rest of the day.

And so ensues the argument that the children do NOT need to see Bambi being shot on television as just a "part of life", or Brady's "hunter education."

Brady just brought me the DVD of "You Don't Mess With the Zohan" and told me he wanted to watch it.

*sigh*

He's more like his Daddy every day......

Awwww.....

Look what's sitting next to me on the couch. If it's possible, he's even cuter when he's sleeping.

I'm a proud mama, what can I say. Just had to share!

Day 5? I've lost track!

I know y'all have nothing better to do than sit and read the inane ramblings of a stir-crazy, bedridden bored career mom-turned-housewife, but I honestly need to vent somewhere. So lucky you.

I'm actually not bored today because I kept Brady home again. He woke up sounding kinda croupy so I made the case that he needed to stay with me. Glynn agreed, but only on the condition that Maddie goes to school today. He thinks just one while I am laid up is doable, but when they outnumber me, resting is impossible. He's right. Damn. Why is he always right?

Anyway, since Brady is feeling a little puny today too, we've got a full day of snuggling on the couch and watching movies planned. He came over to me this morning already and said, "I want snuggle Mommy". {{{warm fuzzy feelings}}} How could I send him to school after that?

Confession time again: I got sucked into watching Dr. Phil yesterday. (I know, I know, I'm turning into Peggy Bundy, just shut up about it). He had the octopulet mom on there. That woman has been on EVERY show this week. And you know the funny thing is, people will donate to her to support her brood and she'll end up very well off because of it. And those of us who COULD afford to have children and support them on our own are struggling. (When I say us, I mean the regular old folk who went to school, got a degree, a good job, and are supporting our families based on our hard work and the sweat from OUR brows). It's not that I think these children should suffer. Far from it. They are the innocent pawns in her psychotic game. I think that the octoplets should be at least placed in foster care until that woman proves she can provide a stable home and enough resources to support them. On her OWN. Not from handouts.

And since that will NEVER happen, then those children should be adopted into loving homes.

As for the older six, they can continue to live with her and her parents for as long as the state allows. Her poor parents. They've gotta be in their late 60's and have worked their whole lives to have some relaxation, now they're still working to support HER children while her lazy ass goes and has coffee and gets her nails done.

Whatever.

I'm just a LITTLE opinionated on this subject, can you tell?

Anyway. Enough rambling for now, I haven't even had my coffee yet. More later when I am fully caffeinated and even MORE opinionated.

Another weigh in

And I'm down another .8 lbs! WOO HOO!

As long as those numbers are going down I don't care WHAT they are. It feels great.

Brady's home sick today since he threw up at school yesterday. He's not really SICK, he just threw up yesterday because he tends to eat too fast, gag, and puke all over the place. Ahh, the joys of being a mommy.....

So I made Glynn leave Maddie at home with me too. I hate to separate them. They really do depend on each other and need each other. I know I'm supposed to be "resting" and "off my feet" but I think Megan's home today so maybe I can get a little help from her when she gets up.

So right now, the kids are having their yogurt and cereal. Then we're gonna watch Madagascar 2 before some art project time. I got some posterboard at the store last night and I figured we'd make a big mural. They LOVE to color, paint, and generally just get messy. Imagine that. In fact, I'm pretty sure Brady is finger painting with his yogurt right now, I'm just not going to turn around and look just yet.

Oh, who am I kidding. Off to mop up the kids.....

I love being a mommy!

Last night, Maddie woke up after having a bad dream. I ran upstairs because I heard her crying and she reached up for me and said, "I want Mommy snuggle with me."

So I curled up with her in her princess bed, she cuddled up with me and her pink blankie and her doggy and went back to sleep.

I had a hard time getting out of that bed to go back downstairs. She's such a sweet girl and we are so lucky to have her.

That's gonna keep me going all day with the warm fuzzies.

I was looking at some pictures yesterday from this past summer and I can't get over how much they've grown since then. See above.

Don't you just love 'em?

Sitting, sitting, and more sitting.

As begins day 2 of my forced bedrest.

And what am I doing? Watching Oprah, of course.

The father of the octopulet mom is on right now. That poor man looks lost.

I cannot describe the disgust I feel with that woman. What kind of irresponsible woman and doctor DOES that? Those poor children. She has 14, count 'em, FOURTEEN, children, and no job, no income, no house, no transport, and no way to support them.

She's living with her parents in their 3 bedroom house which is now in foreclosure. Someone needs to take those children away from her and adopt them out to loving families that have the means to care for them.

I mean, for God's sake, I have a hard time keeping up with four, I can't even imagine fourteen. And all infants. And no husband. Donald freakin' TRUMP couldn't afford those children, what makes her think that she can, even with welfare? It just makes me SICK.

Enough of my opinionated ranting. Moving on....

I was able to stay off my feet for most of yesterday. I watched a movie, downloaded a ton of pictures from our camera, and tinkered around on the internet. I was feeling okay as long as I stayed still.

Confession time: I did get up and clean the kitchen yesterday and pick up some toys. But that's it. Trust me, that was as much as I could contain myself. I am really wanting to do some deep cleaning, mopping the floors and rearranging furniture, etc. etc. etc. I am just like my mother, I hate to sit still.

That's about it for now, I'm getting sucked into this Oprah episode and I feel the need to start yelling at the T.V.

And here I sit....

On forced bedrest. This blows.

Anyone who know me (or my mother, for that matter) KNOWS that it is a physical impossibility that I can sit still for any extended length of time. Call it ADHD, call it excessive energy*snort*, call it what you will, but this is going to be the hardest 2 weeks of my life.

I know MANY people, unfortunately, that would view this as a gift from God who would LOVE to sit on their asses for two weeks.

It's going to drive me mad.

So here I am, in Brady's corner of the couch, surrounded by pillows, magazines, books, and entirely too many remote controls. (Seriously, do we really need all of those?) Daisy is on her blanket at my feet (don't tell Glynn) so she is thrilled with this recent turn of events.

To make a long story even longer, the pain in my ovary turned out to be a pain in my inguinal ring and nerve bundle. That's doctor-talk for hernia. Big fat hernia. That's pressing on some nerves and making me a very pleasant person to be around these days. (Just ask Glynn).

My surgeon would like for me to, and I quote, "stay off my feet as much as possible" and "don't lift anything" for two weeks to see if the nerve settles down. If it doesn't, he'll have to go in to repair the hernia with an open incision instead of laparoscopically, so he can sever the nerve that's causing me pain.

Right.


I'm a mother, for crying out loud. How am I supposed to stay off my feet and not lift anything? Like my little sweet babies that LOVE for mommy to hold them?

I will do my best but I'm not making any promises.

Meanwhile, I am going to try and fill my time with all sorts of things. Magazines, books, movies, FINALLY downloading some pictures to send to family, working on this blog, and hanging out with my WW buddies on our message board.

What I would LIKE to be doing is organizing the basement, finishing the girls rooms, decorating, cooking, shopping, any host of events that would require heavy lifting and being on my feet.

*sigh*

So there will be entirely too many entries in the blog in the next few weeks, with my ever-so-insightful insights into convalescent leave and gassy dogs. Seriously, Daisy, do you need some Gas-X? Whew!

Until my next epiphany, sayanora for now.

I'm damn glad I'm not an orthopedic surgeon....

or I would have a bone sticking out of my leg right now.

Glynn and I had a date last weekend. We were at the movies, I was happily eating my treat (movie popcorn.....yummmmy) and I bit down HARD on one of those little unpopped "old maids".

*CRUNCH*

I split my tooth right down the middle. OUCH!!!

This sucks. Of course, the dentist breaks her tooth. Ugh.


Like I said, I'm glad I'm not an orthopedic surgeon, who knows what kind of injury I would have?

Thank God Glynn is a dentist and can fix it for me.

Who knew? Weight watchers actually WORKS!!

I'm down another 4.6 lbs in the past 3 weeks!

It feels AWESOME. I think I have just finally "surrendered to the program" and let it work. It's funny how a little bit of planning can go a long way. I find myself not obsessing over food like I used to and not really missing it at all. I've even been able to cut out the nighttime snacking and obviously it's working!

I feel fantastic about this. I'm finally on my weigh (hee hee) to a healthy, slimmer me! And it feels good.

Now, on the other hand, this ovary business is out of control. I'm STILL having pain and they don't know what's wrong with me. Ultrasound and CAT scans were normal but the pain is still there. My doc finally referred me to OB/GYN and GI docs, but the soonest I can get in to see OB is next Tuesday. As my friend Arnie would say, "What's the hurry?" So I've been living on pain medication and heating pads. Pray for a resolution soon.

The kiddos and Glynn are doing great. Glynn just got back on Friday from a business trip to San Antonio and was supposed to go on another one next week but he's cancelled that. (holy run-on sentence, batman!) He wants to stay home to make sure I'm taken care of. I have the most wonderful hubby in the world. He really takes care of me. And I need it. *smooches* to my hubby, I love him!!!

Maddie is doing very well at school without any potty accidents at all this week. Still having poopy accidents at home but we're getting there. Her hair is getting so long and is just beautiful. A pain in the ass to take care of, but well worth it. We did pigtails one day this week and she just looked like a little doll. Her teachers love her, especially Ms. Vicki. She calls Maddie her "little doll" and tells us how sweet she is on a daily basis.

Brady is just Brady. Sweet, funny little Brady. He's so cute I could just eat him up. He usually brings a "lovey" to school with him, and lately it's been his Hanukkah stuffed bear that the Delfiners gave him. He calls it "Hanka bear" and carries it with him all day long. His teachers think we're Jewish. Oy!

Glynn and I have a lunch today with the AEGD staff and this "fabulous" restaurant about an hour away from base. Jury is out on that one until we actually eat there. But I will be ordering something reasonable. I'm doing really well with portion control lately too. Go me!!
Anyway, even though we are going with a group it will be fun to have a little "date" today before we go pick up the kiddos.

Until later....I'm off to save the world one tooth at a time.


I seriously should wear a cape.

I NEVER thought I'd say this, but....

I'm homesick for Japan.

Wow.

Really? I guess it had to do with my newest People magazine showing the Jolie-Pitts arriving at Narita International with their brood.

As hard as it was to be there and be separated from the girls and our family, it was one of the best times I could've ever asked for. Glynn and I had each other and that was it. It was really special. We got a lot of good time there together and I miss the little things.

Like traveling with the kids. I know, I know, it was a nightmare at the time but it was also fun and exciting. And we loved having sushi with them at those little sushi-go-rounds. And getting chu-hi's for the airplane. And settling in for a long flight with our little sweeties, even when the weren't being little sweeties. And as frustrated and bitchy (on my part) as we would get with each other and the kids during those times, it was still pretty special. And I can (almost) look back and laugh at some of it now.

But I do miss other things. Our weekend excursions, or "field trips" as I liked to call them. Our beach in Miura-kaigon. Our izakaya nights. Karaoke. Lunch dates.

Even walking to the exchange with the kids in the stroller, just for something to do.

The weather when it was beautiful, was just beautiful. Being able to go for a run or a walk with the kids and seeing the ocean and the big ships. (Even though Yokohama bay is kind of a toxic dump).

Forming such great friendships over there. We got to talk to Erica and Luke this weekend, it was great. I miss our "extended family" that we had formed over there.

Don't get me wrong, it's great to be back home in the land of the free and the home of the brave, but I wouldn't trade our time and experiences in Japan for anything. I do miss is. And I would like to go back to visit sometime. But NEVER to live again.

Just feeling a little pensive this morning. Who would've thought that People magazine would've done that to me. I must have a little case of the winter blahs here in the frozen arctic tundra of Northern Illinois. I'm ready for spring.