Tuesday randomness

This made me laugh out loud. Doctor Who + Big Bang Theory = awesomesauce

It's Tuesday. Is it just me, or are Tuesdays usually "blah" days for everyone? My husband left this morning for another trip, E was late for school, and it's rainy. Glee isn't on for another month, and I have no idea what is for dinner tonight. Yes, I realize it's only lunchtime, but still.

I downloaded a new game app for my phone over the weekend. Draw Something. When it works properly, it's lots of fun. Unfortunately, it is lacking a few features - like updating. I'll get notifications that someone has played their turn, but when I open the game... nothing. That is very frustrating. Also with the free version, I was very frustrated that the word choices to draw (you pick from three things to draw for your opponent to guess) were repeating frequently, or just made no sense. It wasn't the freedom from ads that enticed me to upgrade, it was the promise of "over 2000 words to draw!" that got me to tap that link. And for only 99 cents, why not? A surprise bonus was the gift of "coins" (you earn as you play) to allow me to add more colors to my drawing choices. I don't like that there is no chat feature like on the "with Friends" games, but that's okay. We work around it.

Pinterest is really making me impatient for the next season of Doctor Who to begin! And nostalgic for the Ninth Doctor. Thank goodness for Netflix instant! What they say is true - your first doctor is always your favorite.

Our weather this week is gorgeous, temperature wise. High sixties to high seventies all week long! I love these temperatures. Last night while dinner was cooking I went outside and raked the fall and winter's accumuation of leaves out of my flower bed. I also had a close look at my "experiment" - which potted plants survived the winter? This year I had no desire to bring them all into the house - we have nowhere to keep them, and I knew Sophie wouldn't stay out of them! My cactus is definitely gone, and two other plants I've had since I began college. One, the giant, we'll have to wait and see. The leaves are dead, but the branches are still strong and flexible. I'll just wait and see how it does. If it comes back, that is great. I'll have to cut it down quite a bit but it needs that already. If not, then I'm ok with that also. I'd been keeping these around more as an obligation anyway, since I'd had them so long. I did find that many of the bulbs I had are sprouting again!

Grateful

I am grateful today.

For health

Medication

New medicine syringes from the pharmacy

Sick pay

Comfy beds

New pillow

Wi-fi

Flexible employers

Pediatricians

Grandparents

Spring Break

V8 Splash

Tea

Mio orange flavor

DVR and Netflix

PBSKids app with full episodes for middle of the night wakings

Sleep

Toddler squeals of joy

Laughter

Kleenex

Afrin

Hugs

Love

Tornados

As I mentioned earlier in the week, last Friday our area suffered horrible weather and tornadoes. On Wednesday an area to the west of us was devastated by a tornado, with two losing their lives. Then on Friday, my hometown was hit by an F2 tornado.

This was the same storm system that struck when Emma and I were on our way home from watching the movie. Here is what happened to the roof of a store right next to the theater we had just left. We were very lucky in many ways - this was the only real damage to our home area (we live an hour away from my hometown), and Emma and I made it home safely. (All photos in this post are from the Facebook pages of various area news sources - television, newspaper, and community sites.None of them were taken by me.)

Earlier in the afternoon, when the storm system was moving into Tellico Plains, I called my parents to warn them. They were not home, though, but actually closer to my workplace. My mom had just gotten a new car the day before and they had come to pick it up. When the storms were striking their town, they were in the town where I live filling up with gas. They missed the storms completely, and luckily the tornado was nowhere near their house. It did, however, go right through downtown.

Here is a video of the tornado forming.

and here is a video of the aftermath

There are other videos in the "related videos" sidebar on YouTube if you're interested.

This picture has been circulating Facebook, also. It must have been taken near the time the first video was beginning, but from a different angle. Across the highway the vehicle being driven in the first video turns left onto is a shopping center, and behind that is the high school. This photo is another angle, showing the school.

Many families lost their homes, either to outright destruction or to condemnation. The high school was set up as first an overnight shelter, then a serving location to feed the many volunteers who have been working all week to clean up the town. My parents' church escaped with minimal destruction. An ancient tree fell, missing the building. One downstairs kitchen window was blown out, and many shingles were blown off the roof. Half the sanctuary was wet, but they had power, so on Sunday everyone sat on the left side and church was held. Phone service was out for several days. This was the phone company:

Also? That was directly across the street from their church.

These two links have more photos and information about the tornado. It's almost surreal to see, having grown up there.
Guide to Tellico Plains
Monroe County Buzz

The townspeople are so inspiring, too. Instead of "why did this happen to us?" all you see is people coming together to help each other out in times of need. Volunteers are flocking to the area to do manual cleanup or just to take food and water to the workers. Serving schedules are being shared on Facebook like funny photos usually are. I was blessed to grow up in such a strong, loving community.

Sick day

I know, yesterday I promised a post about the weather. Exciting, right? Terrifying is more like it. A tornado devastated my hometown, going right through the downtown area.  Thankfully my parents were fine, no damage to their area at all, but many families lost their homes and businesses. Later that night, right after the movie anyway, as Emma and I were driving home, another supercell came through where we were and we were caught in it.

But, it will still have to wait.

Last week my husband was on a business trip to Orlando. His roomate had a sick daughter. My husband comes home, he gets sick. He's been at home since Friday. Then last night, Emma was up at 3:30 with a fever, chills, sore throat, and headache. Then at 4:30, Sophie had her turn. She had a lower fever and was coughing and crying. During all this I started coughing. Today, I'm coughing, hot, cold, and dizzy. Lots of dizzy. Soon I'll be at home and in bed. If I follow their pattern, it won't be long until I have the fever and chills and body aches and everything else along with it. So if you don't here from me for a couple days, that's why.

Stay healthy!

Movie night - The Vow

Emma and I were needing some fun mom-daughter time, so Friday after work I picked her up and we went out just the two of us. We did a little shopping, a little eating, a lot of ice cream-ing, and then went to a movie. She had been dying to see The Vow. Me, not so much. I'm not a fan of that kind of movie and from the commercials it looked ridiculous. But, it's what she wanted to see, so we went.

It actually wasn't bad.

I won't say it's the best movie ever, but she really enjoyed it. "How did you NOT cry, mom?!" (Honestly I was a little too worried about the weather to cry, but that's my next post.) The movie is loosely based on a true story (by loosely, I mean there really is a couple who had a car accident and the wife lost her memory. There's even a nice little update on the real couple at the end. But that's as far as "true" as the story goes.) The movie begins with the accident, and the couple's meeting and romance is told in flashbacks. I was really surprised that it wasn't over the top, annoyingly mushy and ridiculous. I didn't roll my eyes once. I loved the flashback of their wedding, it was such a sweet scene. I was glad the movie showed a (slightly) more realistic version instead of going all Notebook-y with the sappyness. Is sappyness a word? It should be. I was afraid at one point that the writers were going to "borrow" a scene from Ghost (Rachel McAdams' character is a sculptor) and was all prepared to be snarky, but thankfully they didn't go that route at all. She and Channing Tatum just play a cute, fun, loveable couple.

Overall, it's a nice movie. Definitely a girl's night movie - I'd never subject my husband to this. It doesn't have quite the Hollywood cookie-cutter ending, either, which gives it extra points in my mind. It would make a better Netflix night selection that date-night choice, though. And if you have teenage daughters, stock up on tissues before watching.

My eldest daughter

Last week I posted about the difficult part of parenting. It's not all bad, though. In fact, my husband and I are blessed with an amazing older daughter. We are very lucky to have her. So this post is all about the good in her.

She is full of sass and spirit.
She is quick-witted and funny.
She is very adventurous. 
She is thoughtful.
She is creative.
She is talented.
She is intelligent.
She loves her family.
She is empathetic.
She is a great big sister.
She loves to play.
She looks out for Sophie and stands up for her.



I remember one Christmas when she was young, about six or seven years old. She had the usual pile of gifts under the tree, and mid-opening noticed that I only had two. She had given me a necklace that year, and my husband gave me a beautiful ring that I love dearly. I was very happy with my gifts, but she was concerned that I might feel bad not opening as many boxes as she did. So she started bringing me her own gifts to open. That's the kind of person she is.

She is finishing her middle school years this year, and preparing for high school. I was worried a couple years ago, but this year she's really taking ownership of her academics. She'll ask to stay after school during tutoring hours to finish a project, or to get extra help in a class. Even though she has a good grade in her algebra class, she is retaking it next year so that she will understand it better. She's in honors classes and I predict that will continue as she goes through school. She wants to be a journalist, and I know she will be a good one. She is fearless.

Baby meme

I can't believe it's been a week since I blogged! I've thought about it, but I just haven't taken the time to sit down and write anything. Here's to getting over the writing hump!

Today, I'm using a fun little meme I found here - the "Oh Baby!" meme.

1. When your kids were babies, did you ever use cloth diapers? No. I wanted to for Sophie, and if I could have been at home with her I probably would have used them. But since she goes to an in-home daycare, I just couldn't ask someone else to take that on.

2. Are you guilty of spoiling your children or grandchildren?Maybe. But not badly.

3. If you could give one piece of advice to your own children about how to raise their children, what would you say?Trust yourself. Whether you think something is wrong and the doctor doesn't, or well-meaning people are undermining your confidence offering advice, listen to your heart. You know more than you think you do, and you definitely know your child better than anyone else does.

4. Do you believe in spanking?
At times, if needed. I don't do a lot of it, but I'm not opposed to it.

5. Babies need pacifiers! They cry and carry on sometimes. Can you think of one adult person in your life who could also use a pacifier?Oh yes, without a doubt. I'm sure not going to name names here, though.

6. Have you ever been present for the birth of a child other than your own pregnancy and delivery?I have not.

7. Why are boy things blue and girl things pink?
Ancient, brilliant marketing that is further perpetuated today.

Learning as I go

This week, I feel like a failure at parenting. Between toddler defiance and teenage attitude I just want to hide. Em and I argue regularly because I feel like she doesn't help out enough and she feels like Sophie gets away with everything.

Yesterday I picked her up from school for a doctor appointment. We were having a great time, she was being chatty and talking to me all about the previous day (and I totally let it go when in her chatting she revealed I was right in our big blowup the night before). After her appointment we had a little retail therapy before picking up Sophie, and in our chatting in the store she said something about becoming the favorite child again. I honestly have never felt like that. But she wouldn't believe me. That breaks my heart, because for almost twelve years, she was my only child. We did everything together. I cried with her when she was hurt. It killed me when we had to punish her. We are so much alike that I know her as well as I know myself. I still see the little girl who came running to hug me when I look at her. But, she's not. She's getting ready for high school, sharing secrets with her best friend, and acting like a normal teenage girl. She'd rather be in her room texting or on her tablet, or in our room watching tv, than spend time with us. I know it's part of growing up and becoming independent.

Then we have Sophie. She is very "two" right now. She is still pretty laid back, but she is still learning how to act. Of course we don't have the same expectations of her as we do Emma. We do put her in time-out chair when she does something like hit one of us, or kick the dog, things like that. She doesn't really get away with everything.

I'm still learning, also. I am learning about parenting a teenager, and at the same time learning how to parent two children. I don't have a clue what I'm doing most of the time. I'm just trying my best to teach them what is important and hope they won't need therapy when they are adults.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

One million dollars

I found this prompt on Plinky, a site I discovered through Pinterest.
How would you give away one million dollars?

Believe it or not, I've actually thought about this. Whenever I dream of a lottery win (why do I do that when I don't even play?) I have a "give" category. The amounts will differ, since one million is much less than 200 million or whatever billboard proclaimation sparks flights of fancy, but the list would be the same.

Equal amounts to my parents and my husband's mother
Some to my husband's sister
College funds in the girls' names
My church
My college alma mater
My husband's alma mater if he desires
Local women's shelter

It's easy to say how we'd spend that much money. But what about you? How would YOU give it away?

It's never okay

There has been a lot of uproar about Chris Brown performing at the Grammy's this weekend and winning an award. I didn't watch them, and I really have no comment on whether or not he should have performed or won. That is not the subject of this post.

The tweets below from Grammy night are (images from buzzfeed.com).
The average age of the girls who made the tweets is sixteen. Many people are excusing the tweets, saying it's okay because he's famous/rich/an entertainer/whatever and will never be in a relationship with everyday girls. But you know who will? That cute guy in math class who may have a bit of a temper, but he always says he's sorry. He doesn't mean it. Or the friendly upperclassman who shows them around campus when they begin college - isn't it sweet how he wants to spend so much time with her? I'm sure her family will understand why she can't come home over the holiday break. Excusing this kind of behavior is telling the girls that domestic violence is okay. It's teaching them that they should put up with it when their boyfriends hit them.

In case you've forgotten what exactly Brown did that is being brushed off as no big deal, here are transcripts from the police report that night. Read all of it. I dare you.

If he had shown any remorse for that night, or had given any indication that he has been working on change, or had even stayed out of the spotlight for violent behavior, it might be easier to forgive and get past it. But he hasn't. In fact, he has shown further violence when questioned about that night. Even this weekend, he posted the following tweet in response to the outcry against him:

Humility? No. Remorse? No. Instead, his message is more along the lines of 'I beat the crap out of my girlfriend and put her in the hospital, but it's okay. I won a Grammy so it's all good."

Please, learn from this situation. Learn the signs of domestic violence and abuse. Educate yourselves, so that if you notice the signs in a friend's relationship (or your own) you will not excuse the behavior but get help. There are always ways to get out, even if it seems hopeless.

Domestic violence is never okay.

Love letter to my husband

Since it's Valentine's Day, I thought I'd do something I don't usually - get all romantical and mushy. I feel it, but I don't like to talk about it publicly. It was awkward enough for me repeating the standard wedding vows in front of other people, I would have fainted if we had tried writing our own vows.

If I had to describe my feelings of our marriage in one word, it would be happy. I am always thankful that we are married. I have no doubt that many of our friends (and probably family if we're honest) thought we wouldn't last long, since we barely knew each other. But like my favorite song from the soundtrack from my favorite movie says, "Who's got the last laugh now?" It took me all of a week to know I didn't want to be without you. Then four months after our first meeting, I didn't have to. I have never wished for anything different.

I love how we are together. I love that we still find thinsg to talk about. I love that we can still make each other laugh. I love that we know each other so well. I love how you understand me when I have a totally random, out of nowhere thought - and that many times you're having the same random thought. I love how we're a team. I love that our daughters love you so much. I love your hugs. I love it when you kiss me on the forehead for no reason other than you wanted to. I love that you love when my heels make me taller than you. I love falling asleep with your arm around me. I love when you make breakfast. I especially love when you make dinner. I love that we enjoy many of the same things, but are fine with having our own seperate interests as well.

Most of all, I love you. I'm grateful every day that we are together. The past 14 years have seemed like no time at all.

Happy Valentine's day.

Ten confessions

Nothing at all like Usher's, but this song always gets stuck in my head when I think of the word confessions.

1. I have never been drunk. In fact, I've never had more than two drinks, and that's rare. Usually it's only one. I'm terrified to ever get even tipsy. The loss of control scares the crap out of me.
2. Movies I don't like: Dirty Dancing, Steel Magnolias, Grease. I am pretty sure someone is going to demand a recall of my girl card.
3. I haven't written anything other than blog posts in months. I can't even say it's writer's block- I haven't even thought about it!
4. There is one house in our town that I am completely in love with. I've decided that if my husband ever wins the lottery (I never buy tickets myself) I'm going to offer the owners an obscene amount of money for it. I know how much it sold for, since I daydreamed over the listing for weeks, so I am pretty sure I can make them a great offer. They can even keep the horse farm part of it! All I want is the house and surrounding yard. If only...
5. I like Adele, but that's it. Like. Not love, not tearing up with her songs, not buying them... but I do like her voice.
6. I may live in Tennessee, but I do not "bleed orange." In fact, I think the UT orange color is hideous. I also don't care about sports at all.
7. If the temperature is below freezing, good luck getting me out of the house unless it's absolutely necessary. I hate the cold!
8. I don't really identify with either political party. There are positions I agree with on each side, but I feel strongly about each issue and can't compromise. Makes election time more difficult, but instead of voting "party line" I'm checking out each candidate and seeing where they stand on the issues that are important to me.
9. I'm forgetful.
10. For some reason, I feel guilty when I win at games. I'll even change how I play to let the other person win more. Why can't I just embrace it? I have no idea.

The end is near

I have a confession.

Sophie still nurses.

The fact that I feel the need to word that as a "confession" bothers me a little, but it is what it is. America hasn't caught up with the rest of the world in many ways, breastfeeding is yet another. Anyway...

Now that Babygirl is two, I've noticed she doesn't want to nurse as much. For a long time she had a three-times-a-day routine: first thing in the morning, after work, and at bedtime. Then the after work session went away. Then mornings got a little busier, and less often. Now she doens't even ask in the mornings. She is down to a very few minutes at night.

It's a strange feeling. It's easier this way than the sudden, cold-turkey method I used with Emma. Neither one of us was ready yet, and I'll always regret giving in to the pressure I was feeling from everyone I knew. Every part of me knew it was wrong, but I was young and uneducated in all things baby (I was definitely learning as I went), and lacked the confidence to stand up for myself. I caved, and lots of tears were invovled from both myself and Emma, who just did not understand at all. It was physically painful, too, as a sudden weaning usually is. The gradual process is much nicer. No pain, physically or emotionally. She lets go as she's ready, and she's getting more and more ready every day.

Luckily, she's still a snuggler right now. I love how she cuddles up when she nurses. She plays with my face, with my shirt, with her feet. She'll pat me, or rub her hands on me. Sometimes she'll pull my face down to hers. It's our quiet time. That part, I'm sad about losing.

I've been lucky so far to have supportive (or at least quiet if not supportive) readers, but just in case anyone feels the need to disparage breastfeeding past the first year, read this first. It's a link to the World Health Organization's breastfeeding page. Then read this post. Only then may you argue with me.

A fragment of a story

My desk space at work is literally in a closet. It's a large closet, but still a closet. Donated clothing for homeless patients, or patients whose clothing is destroyed, is kept here. This morning when I came in, I saw that someone had thrown away a lot of items into my garbage can, without a bag. Annoying, right? As I was putting the stuff in a bag to take to the trash room, I found a journal among the toiletries and empty wallet. It is inscribed "To Brian from Mom" and has entries faithfully covering a two month period last summer.

It is the story of an addict trying to stay clean. He wrote every day, telling of his struggles to stay off drugs, remorse for mistakes he had made, sadness for relationships ruined because of his drug use, and the strong desire to get clean and stay clean. He spoke of friends and family members, new friends at the treatment facility where he was staying, and his faith in God. He had two relapses, and went back to the treatment facility for a few days. His last week's entries are all about a plan he had. The handwriting was jerkier that week, and he wrote on staying focused on his plan. Then, nothing. The entries just stopped.

I am haunted by his brief story, and curious as to what happened to him. How did his journal, and what I would assume are his other possessions - a wallet, toothpaste, deodorant, vitamins, shampoo, a toothbrush - end up in a garbage can in an emergency room closet? Were they found in some donated bags? Did something happen to him?

The back of the journal contains three full pages of names and phone numbers. Treatment houses, government programs, AA hotlines, AA friends, an entry for "mom," other family members, job leads. I could call someone, I suppose, and see if they want the journal returned to them. But I'm afraid of what I might learn. At this point, in my head, he stayed clean, found a job, and is still exorcising his demons. He wrote of wanting simply a normal life: to be drug-free, find a job and a home, and a wife to love. I can imagine he is on is way there. Even though I have no idea who he is, I think it would break my heart if I called and found out he relapsed, is back in prison, or dead. His entries are so full of hope and determination.

I returned the journal to the garbage can at last. Here's hoping Brian, whoever he may be, is still collecting his sobriety chips and living his dreamed-of normal life.

Project Birthday Party is complete

Today was Sophie's birthday party! I had been planning the party using Pinterest for a while now. That is where I found the theme and many of the ideas. Some turned out better than expected, some... not so much and I had to improvise.
Here are the results! Idea source links will follow.

The cake

Elmo Oreos

Gift table

Favor bag table

Blowing out the candles

Cake ready for cutting, and ice cream cups

Birthday girl!

Banner

Closeup of cake

Closeup of tissue paper pompoms and favor bags

The menu:
Funfetti vanilla cake with colored vanilla icing
Chocolate chip ice cream
Goldfish (Elmo loves his goldfish!)
Fruit platter
Elmo Oreos
Strawberry lemonade
Soda for grown-ups

Links:
Ice cream idea
Tissue poms
Elmo printables - used for cup stickers, banner clouds, lettering, and decorations
Original inspiration behind the cake. I improvised.
Cookies - The sticks kept making the Oreos come apart so I improvised again.
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Favor bags and tablewear from Party City