I Don't Appreciate Your Non-Enthusiasm

This is it... the official step to start this baby making fiesta = IUD removal. I have been working closely with my Obstetrician to prepare for this big day. This was one of the e-mails i had sent her in May "...This may sound silly but we have a special annual trip we take every July and would like to kick off our "Conception Party" there July 16 - July 22. So, when would be the best time to remove the IUD to try to get prime ovulation during that time?" Well according to her calculations the last week in June, mid-week would be ideal. So here i am, Wednesday, June 27th at Kaiser, glowing and wanting to shout from the elevator doors "I'm GETTING MY IUD REMOVED". It took all my might not tell everyone i passed my exciting news. Once i was checked in the Dr. Assistant called me into the room and asked the reason for my appointment; FINALLY i can legitimately tell someone without sounding crazy. So i told her. She then proceeded to ask what birth control method i will be using. Ok, another reason to proclaim this exciting adventure i am about to embark on. Not a smile, no congrats, no excitement, nothing. Ok, well she's young, i'm sure that the Nurse Practitioner will express a different sentiment. So the NP comes in and i tell her my regular OB is not in the office this week so i'm seeing her today and informed her about the above e-mail interaction suggesting i get the IUD removed today. She asked if i will be seeing an infertility doctor to get on infertility drugs; WHAT?!?! that was a heart stopping PARTY FOUL... NO, NO, NO! Just want to be ovulating a specific week, if at all possible. She responds "oh, well prime ovulation is a term used for couples who are infertile. STOP SAYING THAT NEAR MY OVARIES LADY! JUST STOP! I really don't appreciate your non-enthusiasm

Annual Camping Trip

In preparing for our annual camping trip, i was reminiscing about last year's camping adventures:

CAMPING: Our family enjoys an annual week camping trip up in the mountains of El Dorado National Forest and always have an incredible time. Vacations can either be jammed packed with sights to see, agendas to keep and experiences to experience; or they can be relaxing and refreshing with a slowed down pace spent together next to some water. My ultimate favorite past time is to sun-bathe / stock up on my Vitamin D. Kayaking, swimming, exloring, 4 wheeling, fishing and splashing in the water are some of our favorite things to do at the lake. Camping is our favorite way use our vacation time. My husband has been camping there with friends since high school and we have taken our boy every year thus far and plan to keep the annual tradition alive throughout our life. This year we borrowed my father in law’s 26’ motor-home and “roughed it” right next to the beautiful Loon Lake. Let me tell you, that may have been a toxic decision as I don’t think I can go back to tent camping. Initially I was only excited about the bathroom and thought the motor-home was “a little too much, I’m not going to use the shower & only limited use of the other appliances” but who was I kidding? It was perfect, comfy, convenient and I’m now officially spoiled!

HIGHLIGHTS: playing all day! It’s quite magical to experience nature (and life for that matter) through the eyes of a child. Things are so spectacular and exciting to youngens. He lead me to “the great valley” while searching for the “perfect fighting stick” to keep me safe and “fight all the bears”. He was on the lookout for lizards and overturned their sacred havens just to try to poke them with a stick (and then promptly yelled and jumped away). Camping with children can be fun, exhausting and also scary at times. My boy is now pretending to be “Spider-Man” and was climbing up and jumping off boulders, jumping from rock to rock, which was a constant reminder for me to let him grow, explore live and learn. Interesting concept for a mother, considering our natural instincts is to protect our children and keep them safe BUT allowing them to test their skills, develop new abilities and strengthen their confidence is a part of growing up (hoping this growing process does not include broken bones and MORE trips to the ER resulting in stitches). Some activities we do with our boy to keep busy during those (sometimes) loooooooooooooong camping days are play games, such as : I spy, scavenger hunt, marbles, and my boy’s favorite is “cover yourself with dirt then wipe it off with a stick”, he did this for about an hour. We took him for his first 4 wheeling ride on part of the infamous Rubicon trial. Best part about that experience is that HE FEEL ASLEEP! Like a little bobblehead in his car seat I had to climb in the back seat and hold his little head his back…it was hilarious!   

HUMILATION: What's a family adventure without a little parent humiliation? I have to say the most humiliating part of the camping trip was when our boy continued to push limits, test boundaries and we had to discipline him. Back story = we use the time-out method which usually works these days, but in the past our SPIRITED independent boy had given us a run for our money, rarely responded to set consequences and required us to test various methods for about 2 years, which also included spanking. We are not completely opposed to it but learned that it is not effective for our family. WELL upon putting him on time out (on his chair away from the camping fun) he continued to prod and push so I threatened him “if you continue, you will be in big trouble”. He then starts screaming and yelling “don’t spank me! No mommy please don’t spank me!” which echoed throughout the entire campground. Well, maybe spanking was more effective that we had given it credit.

Daddy Day 2012

Wishing all those deserving daddies a wonderful day today! Here is a a Father's Day tribute to the best Daddy that i have the pleasure to share my life with. Thank you for all the fun, love and patience!

Life Lesson #1

While playing Legos with Lil Rev this weekend celebrating his last day of preschool, I gave him his 1^st life lesson. Of course that’s our job as parents; teach our children good values and morals, how to be independent, strong, intelligent, creative, positive contributors to society. We’ve been doing it all along with daily lessons, such as “Don’t pick your nose. Don’t eat it. Don’t point at people and say things about others that may hurt their feelings. Listen to and respect adults. Share. Be nice to your friends. The Golden Rule.  Flatulence Etiquette 101…” and on and on and on.  

This Sunday full of playing, cleaning, errands and movies, Lil Rev was playing Legos while I was cleaning up. Right in the middle of doing laundry I hear a shrieking, whining little voice coming from the living room “Moooooooommy!!! I need you. Can you come here please?  I need your help!” I encouraged him to keep trying and figure it out as I was right in the middle of switching a load of laundry.  He requested help for the next few minutes as I hear him shuffling through all his Legos in his tray looking for a specific piece (he has probably 500 pieces that make for some great creating and frustrating searching). As i finish up and head over to help him he excitedly yells “YESSSSS!!! I found it! It was so tricky to find but I kept looking and finally found it!!!” I couldn't pass up this moment so Life Lesson #1 was created… the perfect time to attentively teach my son about the bigger things in life. 

Life Lesson #1 = When you feel frustrated, or like you want to give up; keep going, keep trying,  because you can always figure it out. You can do it!

I sat him in my lap, made sure his ‘listening ears’ were turned on (which he promptly simulated turning up of the volume of his ears) then I explained this 1^st Life Lesson and related to this specific experience he just overcame. “If you keep trying, have some focus, concentration and patience you can always figure it out. You were searching for a piece, became really frustrated and started whining for help, BUT you kept at it and found the piece you were looking for all by yourself! Sometimes you may need to take a break, think about it differently or even try again later… but you can always do it!"

Parenthood Job Description

A little summary about Parenthood that was e-mailed to me years ago

~ author unknown (but brilliant)

POSITION:
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma / Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organize skills and will be willing to workers variable house, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The rest of your life.
• Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
• Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
• Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysterious sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
• Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
• Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
• Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, and embarrassment the next.
• Must handle assembly and product safety testing on half a million cheap, plastic toys and battery operated devices.
• Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
• Must assume final complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
• Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and daily janitorial work throughout the facility.

ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
NONE.
Your job is to remain in the same position for decades, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately. On-the job trainings offered on a continual exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
Get this… YOU PAY THEM!!! While offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing is about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:
While no health or dental, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

NO RETIREMENT BENEFITS EVER.

{WAIT... WHAT WERE WE SIGNING UP FOR AGAIN? THERE ALSO WAS NO MENTION ABOUT ALLLLLL THAT LAUNDRY...}