18 months of terror

Glynn and I had a very productive Midwest Dental Conference. We were able to take time and scout locations in Lee's Summit for our dental practice, meet with bankers, commercial real estate agents, supply companies, designers, etc. etc. etc.


It is THRILLING. And terrifying. I think that we will have a hard time sleeping for the next 18 months as the process evolves. We've both been in the comfort zone of the military for so long now that striking out on our own is scary. I know it seems funny that active duty service is a "comfort zone" what with the threat of deployment always hanging over our head, but we are one of the few people these days that have a steady job and paycheck. It doesn't matter if our patients show up or not, we still get paid.


For 18 more months.


Then we have to start caring.


We've been discussing practice name and logo, design concept, and location, location, location recently. We've absolutely settled on Lee's Summit to open up, but our exact location is still to be determined. It depends on what our real estate agent can find for us and what we want to be located by. We were also scoping out houses and found an area we really liked. I think it's called Lakewood. (You know Glynn, anything near the water, right?)


On another note, I got the kids school pictures this morning, and they are absolutely beautiful! (naturally) I cannot believe that they are 3 and 2 and this is the first real set of professional pictures we've ever had of them. There just wasn't opportunity in Japan to do such a thing. I am trying to figure out how to show them to you from the Lifetouch link but I can't figure it out. Oh well, I'll be sending them in the mail anyway. We got individual pictures as well as some with them together. Those kids are the cutest things EVER! I can't even begin to describe how great these pictures are, except that their school director told me they should both be models for the photography company.


Yes, I'm bragging. I have officially become that mom. I've been shoving them in people's faces all day. I don't care. I have to share their beauty with the world. It's my obligation.


6 days and counting down until my surgery! I will be so relieved to have this over and done with. I just have to keep the kids from jumping on me while I recover. That's where the grandmas come in. :) It's okay, because they will be so excited to see Grandma and Nana that I won't exist anyway. At least that's what I'm counting on.

Mom is coming up this Saturday to help me prepare. Freezing meals, cleaning house, etc. I hate hate HATE having a messy house so if we start off with it clean, it should be easier to maintain while I am out of commission. I may have to start making "please help me" lists for Megan too.
While we were out of town, she followed my to-do list very well so I think we'll start making it a habit now. Poor girl has no idea what's coming. :)


Well, I'm about out of deep thoughts for this morning and I really should get back to this report I have due at work. Deadlines, to me, are just more of a suggestion, really. But tell that to my boss. He doesn't quite see it that way. (I'm sure I won't either, in 18 more months. Ugh).

Off to bury my head in bureaucratic bullshit.....

When did I get so OLD?

We've been at the Midwest Dental Conference for the past few days. It's been a very productive meeting and a lot of fun, partially due to the fact that it was Glynn's TEN YEAR REUNION.

So in addition to building a ton of contacts and beginning our long journey towards pediatric dentistry world domination, there were several social events that we attended with Glynn's class.

I'd not met most of the people in his class due to the fact that they all graduated the year before I started dental school. I was pleasantly surprised that most of them were really nice, interesting people and I feel like I made a few new friends.

Our last night of the conference, Glynn's class was having a reunion dinner, to be followed by a "concert" at the neighboring bar. One of Glynn's classmates has been playing in a band since the mid-80's, and they were playing a gig in a small bar that evening.


Dinner was fantastic. Excellent food, engaging conversation, entertainment and laughs. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and Glynn was in hog heaven. After wrapping up dinner, we all headed across the street to watch Andrew and his band play.


It was packed, wall-to-wall, standing room only, drunk 20-somethings all over the place. My first thought was, "How did I EVER do this?" followed quickly by an "I'm WAY too old for this f-ing shit."


10 years ago, great. I would have drank cheap beer and danced with the best of them.

Now? I stifled a yawn and looked around in disdain at all of the young, stupid people that had nothing better to do than go out and get hammered and act like assholes. Shortly after that thought, someone bumped into me and dumped half of their drink down my back.

Maybe I just needed to drink more. Who knows.

But now I'm wondering: Have I just grown up? Or have I grown old?


I don't think I want to know the answer.

Posting hiatus

Okay, y'all, so Glynn and I are leaving for our conference tomorrow morning, so my posts will not be quite so regular for about a week or so.

We're driving to K.C. tomorrow morning for the Midwest Dental Conference and we're really looking forward to it. I personally cannot WAIT to show off my hubby and kiddos to my friends from dental school. I'm the luckiest wife and mommy in the world and it's fun to brag. I mean, just look at them! Could any of them GET any cuter? I have a handsome, smart, successful, loving husband, first of all. How many people can really say that?


Take today, for example. I usually pack our breakfasts/lunches/snacks for both of us the night before, but yesterday, I was feeling so awful (see F-bombs below....sorry for that, by the way) that I didn't get it done. Glynn got up early this morning and made me an awesome lunch, even better than I normally take time to make for myself. He was so thoughtful! He knows exactly what I like and what I eat, and he even added some extras: he made me a spinach salad with sliced yellow peppers, tuna, and carrots. I usually just throw some lettuce in a bag and call it good, but he took the time to make it extra tasty and delicious.


See what I mean? I'm a lucky girl. Yes, I'm bragging but I have the right. He takes such good care of me.


I went and saw my surgeon this morning. He gave me another nerve block and a different pain prescription. I can't wait to have this thing repaired. Only two weeks until surgery, and then I'll be good as new. I hope.

My mom and Shirley are both going to come help me afterwards. It will be so nice to have them around, because I really will need the help. I won't be able to do any of the normal stuff that I do, and taking care of the kids and the house is a huge job in itself. Not to mention cooking for the whole family too. I'm hoping to get some meals cooked and frozen beforehand.


I've got to stop worrying about this. It's just that I'm not used to having extra help and I feel kind of bad having to ask for it. But how nice will it be to have someone else take care of stuff for a change? I need to look at it from that point of view, I suppose.


Okay, enough rambling. Off to finish this mountain of paperwork.....

WARNING.....F Bombs Ahead!

OW OW OW OW FUCKITY OW!


I'm having intense hernia pain right now and it SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS!!!!


It's like a labor pain that's shooting down my leg and around my back. I'm waiting and praying for pain medication to kick in. I just thought bitching about it would make me feel better.


I was wrong.



I will be SO glad to have this damn thing fixed!!!


(Sorry for the F-bombs, but damnit, I'm a sailor!)

Back at work. Not happy about it, either.

This sucks too.


I hate going back to work after time off, it makes everything seem so much harder. And I miss the girls. The little ones kept asking for them all day yesterday, it was heartbreaking. They just don't understand.


The good news is that we are leaving on Wednesday for the Midwest Dental Conference in K.C. Time to start wheeling and dealing! And it's also Glynn's 10 year reunion from dental school. Wow. It doesn't seem like we've really been out that long. My 5 year was last year but we didn't get to go (Japan kinda complicates things).


So Mom and Dad are going to come down and watch the kids while we go to some courses and meet up with friends. God bless grandparents. It's so nice to actually be close enough where they can come and see us and the kids and to get a little help once in a while. We've been by ourselves for so long that it's still such an oddity for us to be able to go do things without the kids. I miss them when we're away from them, of course, but it does make things much easier. It would be kinda hard to talk to some of the exhibitors about dental lights with Brady screaming for milk. Just doesn't look very professional.

I don't have much interesting or witty to say this morning, so I guess that's about it. I need to wade through the email inbox now and get some coffee. And then onto yuckmouths all day long.


I miss working on kids.

So when you let your kids choose what's for dinner

....you get hot dogs, mac and cheese, and edemame (Japanese steamed soybeans). Oh, and Brady wants "banamas" too.


Who needs gourmet shit when you've got SpongeBob mac-n-cheese. Beef Wellington it is not, but it makes my kids happy.



And that's all that matters.

This sucks. *sniff*

The girls just left for the airport. I miss them so much already. The house seems so much emptier after they leave. It's a sad day for us.


I told them before they left that even with all the chaos and fighting and door-to-door rock salesmanship, they're still great kids and we love them more than anything in the world. I had them both snuggled in my lap (GREAT for the hernia) and we got some good hugs in before they left. Sarah, in particular, really needs that.


I packed them some of their cupcakes to take along. Hey, nothin' like a sugar rush at 10,000 feet, right?


Glynn has already said that there will be a supreme-o Spencer Family Naptime today when he gets back. I have no problem with this. In fact, it's one of my favorite things to do as a family. There's absolutely NOTHING like a good snuggle to get the warm fuzzies going. And we need a lot of them today because we're gonna be missing the girls so much. Maddie and Brady won't know what hit 'em. They'll be snuggled all day long (and hate every minute of it, I'm sure *snort*).


On the downside, this hernia is really kickin' this morning. Ouch. I think I may have overdid it this week. Potentially the cartwheels in the backyard weren't the best idea. Or holding an 8 and 9-year old on my lap. Or dancing with Brady. Or trying to carry the girls' suitcase upstairs (Megan stopped me, thank God). My surgeon would probably have a heart attack if he knew all the things I have been doing. I just figured, hey it can't get any WORSE, right? I already have to have an open repair, I might as well get my money's worth. I didn't want this stupid thing to hold me back this week so I just ignored it as best possible and took my pain medication when I needed it. (Like, round the clock) But I think some down time today is in order.


Off to hit the bottle (of pain pills) and coffee. And then get weepy every time I come across a stray sock the girls left behind. This sucks. I miss my girls. But damnit, our nails look fantastic!

Cupcakes and Neighbor Harrasment. Read on.

On our last day together, we decided to bake and decorate cupcakes. Behold, the finished masterpieces. I think the objective was to get as much icing on each cupcake as humanly possible. And they succeeded!

The sugar rush that followed was of epic proportions. It was legendary, resulting in a "wagon ride" around the neighborhood in which the girls proceeded to go around the neighborhood knocking on doors asking the neighbors if the rocks in their driveway belonged to them.

Don't ask.

Okay, do.

The story behind this (which we FINALLY figured out after much digging) was that the girls had found ziplock bags in each house's driveway with a piece of lava rock and a business card inside. The business card was for a local landscaping company. Apparently this was a cheap way to advertise.

So the girls thought it would be a good idea to go around the neighborhood, pick these bags up, open them, remove the business card, and collect them in the wagon. Then they proceeded to knock on doors with the rock in the bag, asking the good people of Woodland Drive if the rocks belonged to them.

This was what they were doing when they had asked to "pull each other along the sidewalk in the wagon." Glorified Ding-Dong Ditch.

Go ahead. Laugh. I did. Much later, of course, after I got over being horrified wondering what our neighbors must think of us now.

To defend themselves, Annie said, "We weren't trying to SELL them or anything."

Ahhh, parenthood. It's glorious, isn't it?

Gymnastics freak-outs!

The little ones had their first gymnastics lesson today.


Let's start with the positive:


Brady LOVED it. He was so funny! Bouncing all around the baby gym, zooming this way and that. He's a natural! And he loves the balance beam! He actually got on several of them and was able to make it from one end to the other without falling off. I was so proud.

I can just see him on the rings or pommel horse at the olympics, bringing home the gold for momma. I'm already mentally planning my outfit for sitting in the stands so when the camera pans to me, I can look good. The proud mama, (kinda like Mrs. Phelps, but better-looking) who sits in the stands and cheers on her baby boy, clapping and wiping away the stray tear of pride.....


So I'm getting ahead of myself. Sue me. I KNOW it's only tumble tots, but even Tiger Woods started with a plastic freakin' golf club. My kids will rule the world someday, mark my words.


Maddie, on the other hand, didn't have such a good experience. She's the type of kid who needs a little bit of time and coaxing to adjust to new situations. We got there a little bit later than we had planned and had to rush right in. She started crying and was inconsolable so we had to cut her lesson short. In fact, it never really started. We've decided to enroll her in a mom and tots class too, to start. She will be fine once she gets used to it, but the sheer volume of people there today, all strangers, and being in class without a parent, was just a bit too much for my little princess.


The girls are currently in the penalty box for trashing the basement. They are cleaning up downstairs with Daddy. (Little ones are napping). We have had such a good time this week but they have to realize that just because we're having fun doesn't mean there are no rules or consequences. So when Glynn saw the Hazmat area that has become the basement, he put them straight to work, with no T.V., treehouse, or fun until it's done. He's a good Dad. Strict but fair.


I'm being called to the basement so I'd better go. Time to check out the progress! The upstairs looks fabulous, if I do say so myself.

Manicures and daddy shirts

Okay, so here are the little ones in Mommy and Daddy's shirts for night-nights. They've both been asking for "Daddy shirts" to sleep in. Aren't they cute?

Brady's being tickled beyond belief in this picture, it was such a look of joy that I had to capture it on camera.

And here are the famous manicures from yesterday! Megan had painted Maddie's nails the day before and even Brady had pretty nails....little man doesn't like being left out at all.

We had so much fun yesterday. We started our big girl date with lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe. We sat right by the gorillas, and I have to say, those things are a little bit freaky. I can totally understand why Maddie and Brady don't like them. Anyway, the one right behind Sarah kept moving its head and blinking its eyes like it was really listening, so she had fun "talking" to it while it responded with head movements and such. She giggled so much she almost fell off of her chair. We decided to splurge and share a "volcano" dessert....a three-brownie tower with ice cream and chocolate and carmel sauce....with a sparkler sticking out the top! The girls thought that was awesome.

Then we hoofed it to the other side of the mall to see the Jonas Brothers 3-D concert experience. We were the only ones in the theater! It was cool to have it all to ourselves. While I suffered silently, ahem, I mean, enjoyed myself thoroughly, the girls were all gaga over the "cute" Jonas Brothers on the big screen. I have to admit, the 3-D effects were pretty cool but I don't get the hype over these kids. But then I'm an old lady and I suppose I can think back to when I loved the New Kids on the Block. Ahhh, the old days of teen angst.

On our way to the manicure place, we found a new store that had just opened. It was called Fun Fins and it was tanks full of "doctor fish" that chew away your dead skin and callouses on your feet and hands. Megan and I just had to try it. So we rolled up our pants and stuck our feet right in these tanks. It was AWESOME! Even me, with my extreme ticklish feet, didn't mind it. It felt tingly, kind of like that pins and needles sensation you get when your legs fall asleep. The girls thought it was hilarious. We've planned to go back on another day when we have more time and all of us stick our feet in. We decided to take Daddy too, and tell him we're going "fishing" so he'll come along.

Then we went to my normal nail salon and we all got manicures. We are going to do our feet later this week....we were running out of time and had to go pick up the babies.

A very successful day! With only one major screaming match between the big girls, and that happened after we got home. Ahhh, sisters...... the love between them is unparallelled.

Today, we have an even better treat.....Daddy stayed home from work! We're so excited. I don't know what we're doing yet, but it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that we're all together. Like one big Brady bunch. I love it.

Turns out you CAN sled without snow.....

All you need is a steep hill and a big pile of leaves. We had SO much fun yesterday. We discovered that snow is optional for sledding. We had races down the hill for about an hour yesterday.

This was AFTER decorating the treehouse, cheerleading camp in the backyard (apparently I can still do a cartwheel), and playing ball with Daisy.

Glynn rigged up a pulley and bucket system for the girls' treehouse yesterday. He even got a winch to run it so the girls have a little crank handle for their bucket. I will just have to keep reminding them that it's not for carrying each other up to the treehouse. (Sarah will undoubtedly try this if I don't).

Last night we made turkey tacos for dinner and we all had green drinks for St. Patty's day: green beer for Mom and Dad; green virgin pina colada for Annie; green Sprite for Sarah; and green Red Bull and vodka for Megan. Maddie and Brady just had their milk because I was a little afraid to get the phone call from daycare: "Ummmm, your kid just pooped something green."

The bathtub turned absolutely black after scrubbing all the kids last night. Seriously, it looked like a soil sample. I LOVE it. That's a sign that we've been outside having fun instead of glued to a T.V. And it's long overdue. This winter has been rough for us, we had cabin fever so badly! Brady and Maddie are loving being able to go outside and play with their outdoor toys too. Even Daisy just sits in the grass in the sunshine and smiles. (Yes, shut up, dogs CAN smile, I don't care what you say).

I reluctantly took the little ones into school this morning even though it broke my heart. I promised the big girls some one-on-one time today and we're going to have a blast, but I hate dropping the little guys off when I'm not working. I just feel like I don't get enough time with them as it is. But, it's only one day and the big girls have been dying for a special date. So, we are going to go to the Rain Forest Cafe for lunch, then go see the dreamy Jonas Brothers movie (in 3-D!), and finish off with a mani/pedi date. In whatever color they want. The girls often tell me that they can't paint their nails anything too dark or wild (I guess it's their mom's request) but it's spring break and it's time for some fun.

Then we'll go get Maddie and Brady and come back home for some of Momma's special homemade baked mac-n-cheese and trees (broccoli). Hey, my kids have to eat their veggies.

Off to get caffeinated and ready for our day.......

Dance Party USA!!

We had "dance night" last night, as you can see. Daddy turns on music videos and we just rock out. Brady is more of a fan of the slow-dancing with momma. He gets very serious and grooves with the music. He even holds his little hands in the right positions. Most of the time I let him lead.

Yesterday, we made cookie bars, played outside, and made our own pizzas for dinner. The girls have really been fixing up their treehouse. They have very elaborate plans. Even a pulley system and bucket is being installed. (Daddy's gonna help with this part).

Maddie and Brady helped me dig in the garden yesterday. I was throwing all the dead weeds over the fence and they decided to just throw dirt in the air instead. Needless to say, I found dirt in all SORTS of places that I didn't know it could get into.

I had my pre-operative appointment today at the hospital. We're all good to go for the 6th.

The original plan for today was for me to take the little ones into school and have a "big girl" date after I got back from my appointment. But when we Glynn went out to the garage this morning we had a flat tire on the Expedition. So he had to stay home and fix that while I went to my appointment (needless to say, the little ones did NOT get taken into school today -- yay!) and he just went to work now.

So TOMORROW is big girl date day. We're going to see the Jonas Brothers 3-D movie, get our nails done, and have lunch. They're really looking forward to it.

Consequently, today is up in the air. Except for it being St. Patrick's day and all, we have no definite plans. I'm going to attempt to make green beer and ginger ale to have with dinner tonight. Maybe we'll do some St. Patrick's day crafts. I think I can figure out how to make a four-leaf clover. (Good moms Google, that's all I'm sayin')

Brady just pinched his little finger SO badly in the baby stroller so now I've got him settled with a movie and a Tylenol cocktail (and one for me!). Poor baby. It always just kills me to see my kids hurt. Sarah just came in the door crying right after that because she had fallen out of the treehouse. She's got a good scratch and is gonna have a good bruise too.

Who's next?

Maddie's getting her fingernails painted by Aunt Megan right now (hey, it's the only way we keep her still) but Brady's starting to clamor for attention so I'd better get moving. Duty calls! I would have it no other way.

Spring break, day 1!

The kids were all up by 6:45 this morning. Yes, ALL of them, even sleepyhead Annie. I was shocked. I actually took this picture yesterday before Annie got up but she's on the other side of Brady right now.

Right now they're all snuggled up on the couch, watching Barnyard and waiting for mom to make breakfast. Mom is sucking down her first cup of coffee and waiting for the caffeine to kick in before attacking the day.

I love this. I wish they could be here all the time. In fact, Annie keeps asking if she and Sarah can just live with us and visit their mom. I don't really know what to say to that except, "Well, honey, that's something we may talk about someday" and leave it at that. You know, kind of like the vague answer to the question, "Where do babies come from?" My answer to that is, "Babies are a gift from God." Pretty good, huh?

Glynn had to go to work today (hey, SOMEBODY's gotta work around here *snort*) but he's taking off Thursday and Friday. I don't know what we've got planned yet and it doesn't really matter. Glynn and I had the revelation awhile ago that we don't have to spend a ton of money on the girls to let them know how much we love them. In fact, when we ask them what they want to do, they usually say, "Let's just hang around the house." or maybe "Can we visit David and Ira?" or "I wanna make cookies with Jodie." or "Can we have dance night?"

I think that when we were overseas we used to feel so guilty about not seeing them that we would just go all out when we DID have them. But those girls just want to be loved. They don't care what we do as long as we're together. Sure, the big trips are still fun and we'll still do that stuff, but it doesn't have to be an everyday event anymore.

Take today, for example. We will probably have makeover time (and yes, Brady WILL get his toenails painted ...hey, the boy's got 3 big sisters, it's bound to happen) and plenty of outdoor time (it's BEAUTIFUL today). We've also planned to bake cookies and I'm gonna have the girls make dinner with me. I've promised them that I'll teach them to cook and they love it.

I never thought that I would love being a stay-at-home-mom so much. (I know it's only for a week right now but bear with me, I'm going somewhere with this). Before I had kids, I was always like, "I don't understand those women that go to school for so long and work so hard to get their degrees and just give it all up." Now I'm one of those women. Funny how life works that way, huh? I'm not saying I would give it up completely, but I would love to only work part time and have much more time with the kids. At least until the little ones start school full time.

Hmmm.

Who'dve thunk it? Jodie, the domestic goddess. HA! (Just don't look under my sofa).

The kids are clamoring for breakfast so I'd better get back to my job that I love. More updates to come!

They're heeeeeeeeere!

Annie and Sarah got in last night!!!

So far today, we've taken a nature walk, climbed the treehouse, and played football with daddy outside. Oh, and also put up salt licks for the deer outside our back fence. That should make the dog happy.

The kids and Glynn were so cute on their nature walk. Cue Crocodile Hunter Glynn Spencer narrating as we walked.

Glynn: "Kids, do you see that tree? What do you think happened to it?"

Annie: "It fell down."

Glynn: "No, do you see the scratches on it?"

Annie: "Oh yeah! It's from the tusks!" (She's not much for outdoorsy-type activities).

Walking along a little further, Glynn the animal tracker points out yet another clue.

"Kids, look at that!"

Sarah: "Um, it's poop."

"Yeah, but what KIND of poop?"

Both girls: "Deer?" (It was the size of jelly beans, by the way)

Glynn: "Now do you think a deer makes a poop that small?"

And so continued the girls' animal tracking education. They had a lot of fun, and so did the little ones. Maddie kept asking where the deer food was and Brady was just trying to stay upright.

It's naptime now, so I'm trying to talk B-boy into settling down while I attempt Uncle Ken's famous homemade rolls. The dough is rising as I type, let's hope it turns out. I've never done this before but I thought it sounded good with the beef stew I'm making for dinner.

I know, I'm June freakin' Cleaver, right?

Saturday routines

Cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry. You know, typical weekend stuff.

I always have SO much help unloading groceries. Maddie and Brady LOVE to help carry things in from the car.

Now I get to add tower-making to Brady's list of abilities.

I turned around from putting up the cold stuff in the refrigerator and he was meticulously building a tower of canned goods. I snapped this picture right before it fell.

How cute!

The girls are coming tonight for a week, it's their spring break. I'm so excited to have them! I ran out this morning and did the grocery shopping, making sure to add chocolate chips to the cart. Annie and Sarah LOVE to make cookies with me, it's one of our traditions, like manicure dates and dance nights. I can't wait until they get here.

It's supposed to be nice this weekend so hopefully we'll all be able to get outside some. The cabin fever has reached a new level in the Spencer household. We are DEFINITELY ready for spring.

I even planted a window herb garden this morning just to get my hands in some dirt. I'm turning more and more into my mother each day too. That's a good thing. Glynn says he won't mind a bit if I turn out like Mama Ruth.

After the kids wake up from their nap we're planning on making a quick trip to Bass Pro Shops to get a salt lick for the deer. Most people want to keep them away, but here in the Wild Kingdom Spencer, we try to lure them closer. If I can just keep Glynn out of the "deer stand" (aka kids' treehouse), then I'll consider operation No Dead Deer In Our Backyard a success.

At least that one is a little bit more fun than Operation Pick Up Dog Shit Out of the Backyard.

*sigh*

Hoping for a better day today!

Yesterday just sucked. Plain out sucked.

I started the day by oversleeping. You know how that can go, it sets up your whole day for suckage. So, due to that little problem, Glynn and I again had to drive separately to work, because he had to be in earlier than I did. So I loaded up our (gorgeous, ready-to-take-school-pictures) children and headed over to drop them off.

It was COLD yesterday morning. I got out of the car and got Maddie out first. Because it was so cold, I held her and hurried around the back of the car to the other side to go get Brady-bug.

Black ice patch behind the car. I slipped, fell to the ground with Maddie in my arms, and proceeded to rip the knee out of my jeans and skin my knee badly. I also caught myself with my wrist and jammed it pretty well. I was able to pull some Matrix-like superhero mom contortions and Maddie was not injured at all. She didn't even touch the ground. In fact, she thought Mommy was just being funny.

So I got up, limped over and got Brady out. We went inside and I checked out the injuries. Not good. My favorite jeans now had a big 'ole rip in the knee and the skin underneath it looked nasty, all packed with dirt and bloody.

So I dropped the kiddos off and went into work. When I got there, one of the oral surgeons I work with cleaned out the wound and bandaged it up. Ouch. He's a fan of peroxide and betadine. But, it's clean and there's no WAY that thing will get infected!

The rest of my morning was busy busy busy. Everyone had a toothache yesterday, it seemed. By lunchtime, I was RAVENOUS (I had forgotten to pack breakfast). So I chowed down on my salad and tuna, not thinking about anything but getting food into my belly.

About 10 minutes later, the throbbing pain started from my broken tooth (see previous post). I apparently chewed on it and irritated the hell out of it. I tried to lay down on my couch and will it to go away but it was really painful. So I asked the other oral surgeon I work with if he would just numb me up so I could get on with my day.

My mistake. I forgot about the oral surgeon-type injections. But, after the most painful dental injections I've ever had IN MY LIFE, my mouth was numb and the pain was gone. But I was scared that I had broken the tooth further and it would have to come out that day. I got really upset and emotional and cried in my office for about 20 minutes, both from pain and hormones, I suppose (it sucks to be a girl, by the way). I of course needed Glynn and couldn't get ahold of him. He was having a really busy day yesterday too. So that just made me more upset.

I know I was getting all emotional and irrational over little things but that's my right as a woman! So to make a long story even longer, we went home, had dinner, and I was able to get a little bit more sleep last night.

Today my tooth doesn't hurt (thank GOD) so I'm out of the woods with it for today. But something's gonna have to be done sooner or later, I just wanted to get the hernia surgery out of the way first.

Glynn asked me if I was falling apart on him. I think I am! I don't want him to have to trade me in for a newer model that's not broken :(

So here's hoping and praying that I can get through today without hurting myself of having an emotional breakdown.

I think I need a mental health day.

Picture day!

Tomorrow Maddie and Brady have their first school pictures! I'm so excited! That's one thing we have never had, being stationed in Japan -- professional pictures.

I've got them scheduled for sibling pictures as well as individual pictures. I think they'll be so cute. Maddie's gonna wear her little gold dress and tights and boots and Brady will be wearing his bear sweater and slacks with his little loafers! They will be adorable, no matter what.

I've laid out their clothes for tomorrow. I'll just have to get up a little earlier to make sure I have extra time for Maddie's hair. It's beautiful, but it takes time. And Brady will have the crazy surfer hair, I can't do anything with it. But it will be cute anyway.

That's about it for now, I need to get some sleep to be able to get up ON TIME tomorrow. (This morning didn't go so well).

Stay tuned! I'll post pictures when they are available.

Back at work!

Today's my first day back in 2 weeks. It was HARD to get going this morning with the time change and everything. You wouldn't think one hour would make that much of a difference but it does!

Last night Maddie fell out of bed. :( Poor little angel. I ran upstairs and she was in a heap next to her princess bed, just crying her little eyes out. What a rude awakening! I snuggled her and tucked her back in and she was fine after that. She hasn't fallen out of bed in ages! Must've been a wicked dream.

Anyway, I came into work in terrible pain (pain meds ran out yesterday) and the pharmacy didn't open until 8:00. I'm okay now, just got them refilled and I've got my heating pad going, but I will be SOOOOO glad when this thing is fixed.

My email inbox was scary. Something like 200+ emails to go through. Luckily most of it was not urgent and didn't pertain to me too much. I always like that.

I just got news that my department head here at the hospital is going to be deployed to Afghanistan for 8 months, and he wants ME to take over for him in his absence. Which is a huge honor for me. And also keeps me out of a different position that I was about to be forced into (which I didn't want). So I'm pretty happy about that.

Anyway, my phone just rang and some damn patient showed up. What, like I need to WORK while I'm here? So duty calls.

Off again, saving the world one tooth at a time. I need a cape. A pink one.

I had a date last night!

With my handsome hubby. He took me out to a romantic candlelit dinner at Johnny's Chophouse.

It was WONDERFUL. The food was fantastic and the company speaks for itself, no? It was nice to get out as a couple with no crayons on the table.

We ended our night with a trip to Wal-Mart to pick up milk and pancake mix. It was fun. A little segway back into parenthood after a night on the town. :) The kids were in wonderful hands with Megan and Jenni.

Glynn is currently in the kitchen making Hello Kitty waffles for the family. He's the waffle and pancake KING around here. I always screw them up. Hell, he's the go-to breakfast guy. Doesn't matter what it is, if it's breakfast, he's got it under control. Or the grill.

I have to go back to work tomorrow. Yuck. But, at least I'll be back to my normal eating patterns so I can get back on track with my weight loss quest. Can't be fat forever!

*stretches and yawns*

We all just woke up from an infamous Spencer Family Nap.

It's cold and rainy out, what do you expect?

It was AWESOME.

What have I done that is at ALL productive today, you may be asking?

Ab-so-freaking-lutely NOTHING. And you know what? I'm okay with that. Usually Saturdays are spent in a Jodie-tornado of housecleaning but today was just a day to snuggle and nap.

Although I did enroll the kids in gymnastics. Yes, both of them. They need a place (other than my couch) to release all of that energy. It's gonna be so fun! Brady's in a parent and tumble-tot class and Maddie is by herself if a big girls class.

That's all for now, folks!

It was 65 yesterday!

And time to break out some springtime jammies. Here are the kids in their gymbaes....a Japanese style kimono top and shorts, very popular in the summertime. Kind of like a summer leisure suit.

Anyway, after we had them dressed Maddie and Brady BOTH started posing and Maddie said, "take pictures, Mom." Glynn made the comment that she's a lot like me. I of course have NO idea what he's talking about.

Anyway, it's supposed to rain and be cold all weekend so I guess the jammies will go back into storage for a little while. But it was a cute little break from the footie jammies.

Brady's whining now, "Read me, Mommy, read me!" So Glynn is distracting them with more Animal Planet/National Geographic narration from the window. "Do you see birds? Do you see trees? How about rocks?" It's so cute and the kids are DYING to get outside and play. I think we've all got a bit of cabin fever.

Of course it would rain all weekend after a beautiful day. We were all hoping to get some outdoor nature time this weekend so we'll have to settle for window time.

Glynn just pointed out the dog shit in the backyard to the kids. I think it's time I step in before the kids learn any MORE choice words to repeat at school.

Update

I had my appointment with my wonderful surgeon, Dr. Kamdar, this afternoon.


The prognosis:

Surgery. Open. With a 6 week recovery time.

We've scheduled it for April 6th.


Hey, if I can recover from a C-section, I can recover from this, easy. No biggie!


Remind me that I said that in a few weeks when I'm bitching and moaning about how bad it hurts.

Oh well, that's what God made Percocet for, right?

My last day

Today I have my follow-up with my surgeon to determine what type of surgery I will need for this hernia.

Thus ending my two weeks of "bedrest". Out of those 14 days, I think I had 3 that I was actually able to sit back with my feet up and do nothing.

This morning, I actually went back to bed after getting the kids ready for school. That's a first. So I did get a few extra hours of sleep today. The kids kept me up last night so I was super tired. Brady got up twice and Maddie got up once with a bad dream. :( But she was so cute and cuddly when I went up to tuck her back in. I've said it once I'll say it a thousand times: I LOVE being a mommy!

I made a buttload of chocolate chip cookies yesterday (courtesy of Momma Ruth's recipie via the old Better Homes and Gardens cookbook) and they are YUMMY. I'm taking the majority of them into work today when I go for my appointment. I have to have SOMETHING (other than a hot mess of red hair) to show for myself after two weeks off.

I have glitter paint in my hair after a project yesterday (don't ask) so I better go wash it out before my appointment. I don't want to look like a BRATZ doll.

Animal Planet, part 2

The deer came back last night. They were in our neighbors' backyard, just enjoying their meal of suburbian grass while the Spencers stood in their bedroom window ogling them.



Glynn, of course, was in full-on Crocodile Hunter mode as he narrated from the window.



"Jodie! Take Brady to the playroom! They're gonna be coming up between the houses!"



So, dutiful wife that I am, I brought Brady to the playroom and we stared out the window, watching for the deer to come sauntering by. Maddie had already lost interest and was back to coloring (she's a little like her momma that way).



5 minutes.



Nothing.



10 minutes.



Nothing.



Cue Brady and I giving up and going back into the bedroom to find Daddy.



He's standing in the bathtub with the window cranked open, watching the deer walk in the opposite direction.



It's better than a zoo around here, and I'm not talking about outside the window.


That's all I've got for this morning.

I sent the kids to school with Maddie's hair up in the tightest braided bun possible, shellacked with hairspray (apparently lice can't get through hairspray) and trash bags to put their coats in on their hooks. I guess those little buggers hope from coat to coat so putting them in trashbags eliminates that chance.

Glynn looked at me like I was crazy but took the trashbags anyway. He's such a good husband.

Even though he dreams of hunting from the bathtub. :)

Infestation!

Yesterday I got the worst phone call ever. My own personal hell.

The kids daycare had a lice breakout and guess who they found nits on? You got it, blondie #1 and blondie #2.

Oh. My. God.

This is a f-ing NIGHTMARE.

We spent all day yesterday treating the kids and Megan, and washing and sterilizing EVERYTHING: bedding, pillows, clothes, toys, mattresses.

Thank God we were able to rally as a team. We got it all done and kicked those little bugs' asses.

But I'm STILL exhausted. And I decided to keep the kids home today to give the daycare time to de-bug all of THEIR stuff.

I'll be damned if I spent 2 hours saving my kids' hair only to have them re-infested.

So now we're watching "princess movie" (Enchanted) and snuggling on the couch.

The only thing missing is Daddy. :(

So we had an E.R. visit last night....

For Daisy.

Yep, that's right, folks, even the 4-legged Spencer is not without her share of drama. Daisy had started whimpering and yelped when I picked her up last night. She looked like she was having trouble going up the stairs from the yard and was shivering like she was scared or in pain.


Cue Jodie rushing her furry baby to the animal hospital, where Daisy thoughtfully provided a urine and stool sample for the doctor in the exam room.


Diagnosis? Gastritis. Decoded: doggy ate something she shouldn't have and now her tummy is upset. Treatment: pills, special food, and bedrest.

So Daisy is now sitting at my feet watching Animal Planet on her fuzzy blanket. (Yes, I turned on her favorite channel. Laugh all you want.)

Hey, at least I have company.


On a side note, I got my red hair color-corrected yesterday and now it looks great. I'll try to post a picture later of my new 'do.

I should NOT be left to my own devices...

And a box of red hair dye.

Do you see what happens when I get stuck at home and boredom becomes almost pathologic?

On the positive side, Glynn seems to love it. On the other hand, Maddie asked me this morning if my hair was hurt.

Laugh all you want, suckers. I like it. I've always wondered what it would be like to not have the excuse, "I'm blonde."

On second thought, I may have just given up my catch-all for all of the ditzy things I do.

I think I'm in trouble now......

I could just squeeze them to PIECES!!

This morning Glynn woke me up and told me to come out to the living room and "be quiet!"

So we tiptoed out and saw this cute little monkey just sitting at the bottom of the stairs waiting for his sister to get up and come down to play with him.

No crying or whining, just sitting patiently, waiting for his beloved big sister.

I'll give you a minute to get over the "Awwwww"s............

And yes, the reason he was downstairs is because he's been sleeping on the couch. It's his chosen bed and I've learned that you have to pick your battles. Shut up about it already. I know that someday he will get over it but fighting him every night to stay in his room is frankly not worth it to me right now. I choose sleep. So sue me. :)

Now for a cute Maddie story:

Yesterday Maddie was having her snack (a banana) and Daisy was hovering at her feet just waiting for something to drop. (She's kinda my substitute for a Swiffer). Maddie said, "Go away, Daisy!" and then turned to me and said, "Daisy's not my best friend."

Me: "Who is your best friend, Maddie?"

Maddie: "Brady's my best friend.....and Mommy."

I'll wait for the second round of "Awwwwww"s to die down..................

And Brady just came up to me, wrinkled up his nose and pointed at it, saying, "I got a burger, Mommy." By the smell of it, he's got another surprise for me as well.

Off to wipes some noses and butts....

I love being a mommy. I can't say it enough.