The map… was a disappointment

Too depressed to write much of anything right now, as the Red Sox have somehow managed to hog-tie my beloved Cardinals.

Oh, sure, it’s cool to root for the Red Sox now. But, hey, we got a whole lotta New Yorkers rooting for our clean-cut Midwestern boys right now, and that’s pretty cool.

Auggie’s fever rollercoaster made a stop at Mommy and Daddy’s doorsteps this past week, which is why you were stuck wondering the same thing my friend Jane was, ‘What happened with the dog pee?!’ (Let’s just say that we’re back to the drawing board with that situation.)

Tim was at Game 7 of the NLCS while I was at home with at 103 degree fever, playing “banana picnic in Mommy’s bed” with Auggie and Elliott, as my teeth chattered from chills. Whenever he called to see how I was doing, I asked, ‘Do you really want to know?’ Not pretty.

I am excited at the prospect of being in bed before 11 for once this month…

Please tell me I am not this dense

On the way to the pet store to bring Booker home (Yes, I know that is one of the worst ways to get a pet. Yes, I also know that Missouri is one of the worst states in the Union for puppy mills. I learned all these things after bringing the cute little [and unbelievably expensive] wiener dog home as an incredibly indulgent graduation gift to myself.), we stopped at Wal-Mart and bought two baby blankets (more of a loose-knit blanket than the flannel receiving blanket kind you’re thinking of) to put in his kennel. Since that time (nearly seven and a half years ago now), I can’t remember a day when I didn’t have to put those blankets back into his kennel at night because he had drug them out at some point during the day. (And the blankets have held up remarkably well, only a few largish holes, after serving as makeshift tugs during this entire time.) Could it be that Booker hates the blankets, and he and I have been locked in some sort of blanket back-and-forth for years, with me none the wiser? Until today?

I posited this theory with Tim a minute ago and he laughed, saying, ‘Maybe that’s why Booker pees on everything. Maybe he’s like, ‘Lady, if you would just get rid of the damn blankets, I wouldn’t have to pee on everything!’

It’s worth a try, I guess, but now I’m kind of attached to the blankets…

I dunno, what do you want for supper?

So today I finally feel like I’m starting to shake off the cobwebs. Because, you know, the first day you declare “Pajama Day” is pretty fun and novel and all, but the next day, when you still aren’t dressed, it’s not “Pajama Day” anymore. And your toddler is starting to smell a little funny.

It was weird, though, because I really do feel like I walked around in a daze for most of this week. I didn’t clean, I barely kept up with the laundry (baby’s diapers don’t wash themselves, you know) and it’s really hard to remember the last meal I actually cooked. On the stove. With ingredients and stuff.

When I pushed “send” for the last time today, I totally breathed a sigh of relief. I mean, yes, I still have a ton of work to finish this weekend, but no more today. Even though it was 15 minutes until Auggie’s naptime, we hit the road for Bread Company and the bank. Good times. Even the sheets got changed!

Tim and I got to take Elliott out to the NLCS game Wednesday night, which was a ton of fun, but didn’t help the fatigue factor much. I had been feeling really guilty about not taking Auggie with us, but he chose to stay home with Grandma Libby and play. And then, when we got home that night, Tim took his temperature and he had a 103 degree fever. (You were right, Grandma! He was warm! I should listen to Grandmas more often. Especially when they’ve raised five boys.)

We’ve been riding the fever rollercoaster ever since. Give him some Motrin when the temp goes up, and watch Auggie perk up as the fever goes down. About six or eight hours later as the Motrin wears off, watch Auggie’s eyes go glassy and be prepared to start carrying him around like a baby again. In typical Beth-fashion, I couldn’t decide if his symptoms (high fever, runny nose (mostly just cloudy, not green or anything), oozy eye) were enough to warrant a trip to the pediatrician’s today. And now it’s the weekend, so I’m sure that he’ll wake up with a full-blown sinus infection tomorrow.

But, hey, at least I got dressed today.

Darn babies

You know the part where the blogger makes the lame excuse that they are so tired that their eyes are crossing? That’s me. Only it’s not sounding like such a lame excuse anymore.

I have been very busy with work, work and more work. But what about all this time I’ve got with Auggie in preschool, you ask? Well, it’s time that I spend making calls, answering emails and listening to the Dave Ramsey show. I’m finding it nearly impossible to focus enough to actually sit down and compose articles. I totally forgot how distracting darn babies can be! Of course, Elliott is distracting in the cutest ways possible. He wrinkles up his nose when he smiles! And he laughs now, too! I spend at least two hours a day actively trying to make him laugh. Which never works, of course.

Auggie came out of preschool today wearing the cutest Christopher Columbus ship hat. Was it the Nina, the Pinta or the Santa Maria, you think?

Next action: blog!

Not only am I slightly obsessed with our finances, I’m also currently obsessed with this book called Getting Things Done. I read about it on the Internet!

OK, so I’m a huge geek. I’ve also confessed here many times that I’m a sucker for self-help books. (Not enough to get suckered in by Dr. Phil’s new book, however. I have some standards.) After spending two exhausting days “processing” my stuff, I feel a lot better. Since Elliott has been here, hell, since I was about 16, I’ve often felt as though I’m running around in circles, never getting anything really done. It’s especially unsettling when I’ve got a ton to do for other people. For money! The approach in Getting Things Done is very logical and has me feeling more confident that I’m not forgetting anything.

In other obsession news: We paid off our first debt this week! Woo hoo! Sure, it was only $55.56, but it’s something! One down, four to go! (This does not include the house, of course, although it will be paid off early.) Next up, Tim’s student loan. I cannot wait to kick that thing out the door…

Anyway, did I mention that you can listen to Dave Ramsey’s show online? Friday is my very favorite day to listen, because people call in and get to scream, “I’m debt-free!” And their stories are usually completely amazing. A couple of weeks ago, a woman called in who had paid off over $90,000 in debt in under 2 years! Unreal. Those calls also make you feel really good when you don’t have anywhere near $90,000 in debt. I think, ‘Dude, we can totally do this!’

But I’m the squarest square in Squaresville.

On the edge

I think I’m getting a little obsessed. I mean, when you’re making the customer service people at the bank look at you funny because you want to have a dozen or so special savings accounts (“mini-accounts” if you will) tied to your checking account (at no charge, natch) just so you can use them to budget your finances down to the last damn dollar, you might think that that would send up a red flag, no?

And, no, my little local credit union does not have such a thing. They do have a Christmas Club and a Vacation Club, though, which do me no good whatsoever. Thanks!

Sigh.

So I’m trying to make do with a way-too-detailed (is that possible, considering my obsession? no, there’s no “dental floss” file. Honey, how much do we spend on dental floss each fiscal year?) Excel spreadsheet budget and a firm grip on my self-control. Maybe I should freeze my debit card in a bowl of ice water. Except that would get really old, waiting for it to thaw at the gas pump.

How many of you just pushed your chairs back from your computer and let out a low whistle, like ‘Dude, Beth has officially lost it.’ I wonder sometimes myself.

Elliott tidbit: I weighed him yesterday (fully clothed, to his relief as we were in Kangaroo Kids) and he was up to 15 pounds, 10 ounces. I totally need to unearth Auggie’s stats. I bet he didn’t hit 15 pounds until 7 or 8 months. Not that I’m comparing… Ok, I’m totally comparing.

Auggie tidbit: Today before church, a gaggle of ladies had gathered around Tim to ooh and ah over Elliott. Auggie chose that moment to reach out to me, give me a big hug and say, ‘Mommy, I love you so much,’ eliciting a chorus of ‘Awww!’ from the ladies. Good boy.

My boys

Auggie started preschool almost two weeks ago. He goes three days a week, two of which he stays for six hours, one day he stays two and a half hours.

Every day, I drop him off and try to get a kiss and a hug before he runs off to play with his new friends. Every day, I pick up a filthy, sweaty, excited little boy. He is having the best time.

His teacher: “Not to offend you or anything, but he doesn’t miss you at all.”

So I guess all that “spoiling” I did of him when he was a baby didn’t make him dependent after all, hm?

Meanwhile, Elliott and I get to go home, take a shower, get some actual work done, and obsess over becoming debt-free. Occasionally, we even get to smile and laugh at each other.

I am incredibly blessed…

BTW, Tim is much better. He’s even considering mowing again. But not tonight.

The goods

Before I go any further, let’s make good on that promise I made in my last entry:

Auggie was 33 pounds, 37 inches tall at 3 years and 1 month of age.

Elliott was 14 pounds, 3 ounces (!) and 24 and 1/4 inches long at 9 weeks. (For those of you keeping score at home, that 96th and 90th percentile, respectively.)

Holy cannoli. I knew this guy was big, but wow! And it still didn’t sink in just how big he was until I was talking to another mom this week. Her daughter was 8 pounds, 7 ounces at birth, and at 14 weeks, is 12 and a half pounds.

So the pediatrician was impressed with both of our boys. I was impressed with the pediatrician. This was Auggie’s first official visit with him, and the doctor was amazing. As soon as he turned his attention to Auggie, he was instantly transformed from professional doctor man into childlike non threatening-guy. Auggie wasn’t intimidated by him in the least, let him look in all the necessary orifices and piped right up with answers for all of his questions.

Anyway, the last day has been a bit hairy. Last night after supper, I suggested that Tim mow the front yard, as I imagined the neighbors looking askance at our untidy lawn. Tim, being the trooper that he is, agreed and set out. In his enthusiasm, he finished the front yard and headed to the back, even though dusk was upon him. Somehow, while mowing around the bushes, a branch bypassed his glasses and scratched his eye. I’m totally grossing out as I’m writing this. Something about eyeballs just turns my stomach. So let’s just get this over with and say that he scratched his cornea, he was tortured all night long with unbearable irritation and refused my offers to take him to the hospital. I took him to the ophthalmologist this morning who provided instant relief in the form of numbing eyedrops, a contact bandage thingie and reassurance that his eye would be much better by tomorrow.

Yuck. I’m glad that’s over with.

Tim reminded me of something tonight that I want to document here before I forget and Auggie stops doing it: Most of the time when Auggie has a tantrum or meltdown now, he’ll cry and wail for a few minutes and whenever he decides he’s had enough or we adequately placate him, he’ll turn off the crying in an instant and say, ‘Mommy, I not crying!’ while wiping the tears matter-of-factly from his cheeks. Very cute.

Send Tylenol

I got a glimpse of what my brother’s life is like this weekend. At some point, all four of us were sick. Auggie woke up with a cold last Monday. Elliott’s nose got all stuffy in the wee hours of early Wednesday. Tim started feeling poorly on Thursday afternoon. Saturday, I got mastitis (a breast infection). Super fun!

Of course, all of this coincided with us traveling to my dad’s house on Kentucky Lake, so you have the added fun of sick people in a car! For hours!

I can hardly wait for our next trip, which will have us in the car for almost seven hours straight.

We’re all feeling much better now, although the snot faucet is back on in Auggie Land. Elliott also kept me up quite a bit last night with his snorting and snuffling. Poor little guy. OK, so only Tim and I are feeling better. Mostly, we’re just glad to be back home.

Why is it that so often, when traveling with kids, you spend more time wishing you were back at home instead of where you planned to travel to for so long? Did that make sense? If not, I blame it on my fever (yesterday). Scrambled the old eggs a bit.

In better news, I lost another two pounds last week. And we ran twice! Of course, the three workouts I prided myself on last week could’ve been a big factor in my bout with mastitis, but I’m just going to blame it on a too-firm bed and sub-par nursing Friday night.

Tomorrow, I take the boys in for their checkups, which should be fun. Auggie is getting so tall now! And I couldn’t even hazard a guess as to how much Elliott weighs now. The kid’s knocking on the door of six-month sizes, and he’s only two months old (today! Happy 1/6th birthday, Elliott!).

I’ll report in soon with all the vital stats…