To whom it may concern (specifically owners of a front-load washing machine). They are a ticking time bomb.
Came home from doing some grocery shopping Saturday early afternoon and found our place flooded around the laundry closest, around a wall to the kitchen, pooling behind-infront of the fridge and again over a cabinet and behind the oven pooling again. A LOT OF WATER. Tom called the apartment ppl immediately. They came.
They said it had to be from the washing machine. I said this was from one load? I think not! IF there is a problem with the water there HAS to be another issues too. They went upstairs and checked the neighbors place, no issues. They came back went to our bathroom and opened the wall, no signs of water leakage or broken pipe. They opened another wall in the bathroom- same results. Then the wall behind the fridge (we'd THINK that's where they would have started!) There was water behind the wall but it was fresh and smelled of laundry soap.....??? I started a load of laundry (standing on layers upon layers of towels) seemed fine, then wait...what the??? Water pouring out from the detergent tray! Some water was getting into the washer itself but not much. MEANING: The water had ran and ran and ran trying to get into the washer but couldn't! SEVERAL bath tubs worth.
During all this Tom was running over to a baptism at the church, coming home again, dismantling the washer machine and then threw on his Apple shirt, downed some dinner and left for work. Ben was crazy- (side note: he's our bi-polar baby lately. Each day brings:YOU NEVER KNOW! Some days, calm, cool, collected. others, Judgement Day. But mostly, each day brings a combination of each. Yesterday was Dooms-Day-NEEDY-NESS as I'm in freak out mode and trying to clean up poisonis fridge free-on and watching the washer, making Tom dinner, talking to the maintenance guy, etc. Anyway, SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY clogging the rubber drain that connects from the detergent collection down the drain (designed just like a sink, toilet drain, weird question mark thing and into the wash tub. I get to the drain thing (Tom's at work and I've taken apart the washer as much as I can to get to the tube- I squeeze the rubber drain- immediately unclogs and is good to go BUT my guts says its NOT fixed....I start the load again, water is getting in, go weird spilling, okay maybe I DID fix it.
NOPE. When the rinse came on flooding again. CRAP. Something is in there. Something I can't feel in the tub- I had squeeze every inch of it. At this point I'm freakin for sure. The drain thing connects to the wash and where it empties into the washer isn't round but a slit. You can't get a finger, a pen in there maybe only a letter opener but that's sharp and I don't want to poke a hole in the rubber.
Tom calls from work to check on me around 8ish. I'm a disaster. There is a VERY loud floor fan going, a dehumidifier going, Ben is still waking up every 2 hrs and I wanted nothing more than to get the errands done the day before so we had Saturday morning and early afternoon together before he worked, but with my car in the shop till Friday afternoon and only getting to half my errands they had to be done Saturday morning which meant another weekend NOT getting enough family time, feeling stretched emotionally, needing a nap like you wouldn't believe and instead getting a major 9 hr adrenaline rush. Tom was able to get off work early came home and lovingly said- I will take care of everything, no more fretting.
Today, that is tonight Tom took the machine apart and you will be so shocked as to WHAT had clogged the machine! You know when you buy a bottle of bleach and it has that paper-y/plastic seal that isn't really a seal, not the kind you brake through, just an extra lid thingy? IT WAS THAT. I remember I was on the phone, last week? I had poured from the new bottle into the wash, Ben was freaking out and I was so distracted so I remember seeing it fall into the bleach section and not making everything wait to just take it out (cause I'd get bleach on my hands) but now...because I didn't want to get bleach-y fingers it would be a SHOCK if the apartment doesn't charge us for opening 3 walls and for the 5 hours the guy was here working. And all because of bleach.
Exhales.
Reality? Its just walls, its just stuff. Another bill really that we'll pay and move on. No one was hurt or worse, nothing was destroyed, and really it only brought us closer as a couple and family as I haven't heard one harsh word or gotten one questionable look of annoyance, frustration, being ignored, scolded, chewed-out, NOTHING. In fact, it was HIM comforting ME the whole time. All my husband wanted was some sweet, female recognition to her HERO man that he fixed the problem and boy, I mean MAN, you bet I'm oooing and ahhhing over him! (again see: Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus)
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Jealous
Update from last blog:
1.) Effective February 28th I will be done with my Gresham store (unless something happens and they need to to cover here or there).
2.) I feel good about it. Relieved actually.
3.) I had a second round of injections on Thursday afternoon. Tom went with me which is always best. On the way home he said, "Well he (Dr. M) didn't creep me out that time." LOL I am feeling better. I can feel this round was much more effective. Not "back" to normal but the closest I've been to it in months! =) It's all a warming reminder how happy and grateful I am to be alive in this day and age of narcotics. God Bless America.
4.) Car- we'll be taking it in this next week. Again, I'm not worried about it anymore- it is what it is. PLUS due to our budgeting we have funds! yeah!
5.) Can't really do to much other than be SUPER verbal and appreciative towards my parents.
6.) Still waiting back from the Air Force Reserve recruiter guy- been waiting for several months actually but no decision(s) will be made on a whim, we just aren't those kind of people. I will say, I am MORE open to the idea of Tom doing it than ever before. I don't want to even THINK about the idea of Tom being gone for 4 months straight, not including annual 1-3 month long training things. Not sure how Charlotte did/does it. But if women can be husbandless for years at a time....no I don't think I'm gonna finish that sentence, I'm not gonna pretend I could handle it. I can't handle Tom taking 10 extra minutes to pick up some books/movies from the library on his way home from work if that gives you any kind of insight. LOL I sound so co-dependent. I promise I'm really not. Between his two jobs and my job, and Mr. Concernicus still teedering with colic I count down the minutes he comes through the door and I get relief (emotionally, physically, etc).
7.) Ok I'm jealous, I TOTALLY am. (I'm rolling my eyes at myself) because having envy for anything is stupid. Such a waste of energy, and it's negative and pathetic. I believe me own words. So I admit I'm being so selfish when I'm about to (folded arms and pouting) complain how "this and that person" have everything and I don't! LOL Gosh, when I put it like that I'm NO different than the whinny Occupy-lameos. Dang it...I don't think I can even really go into WHAT I think I'm jealous about anymore. Because the reality is whatever I want I will eventually have and I have no right to say "When I/we have it we will be MORE grateful and appreciative too!" Cause I have no way of ever knowing that and even if I was right and I did turn out to be MORE grateful or "worthy" or something, how on earth would that benefit my life??? It totally wouldn't. So being envious is a waste of time. (tho) I still do it DANG It) For crying out loud I know all of you envy me in some way...come on, you SO want my extra love handle (not the main one, thee EXTRA one....) OR my size 10 feet. SEXY-HOT, don't be hate'n.
And really. I love Tom's and my dates; they are pretty fantastic! They start with strappling an unwilling, screaming baby into his hated car seat where he continues crying until he falls asleep moments before we are ready to take him out where the crying is only heightened due to the combination of carseat hatred and unrested baby! The date gets steamy as we take a romantic walk through the massive, tall and tamed isles of Costco where we usually purchase a single item (usually peanut butter...I eat 99.9% of it's 8lb gerth in less time than it takes a liberal to get mad about something). Then we exchange suggestive glances over the flirty topic price per diaper at at one store compared to another as we indulge in decedent, luxurious combination pizza cooked hours before and left to the warming stage for who knows how long for him and for the lady, 2 sausage dogs without buns, with krut, mustard, onion and ketup ...PERRRFFFECCTTT for the kissing to come. I would say we spend the evening cuddled but garlic burps aren't as attractive as they sound.
All things considered, I LOVE our $4.99 (not including the extra chunky peanut butter purchase $8.99 on sale, otherwise $10.99 and then it's too rich for my blood) dates! So while I may not have that persons this or that I have my extremely hardworking, and loving and willing husband who has yet to come through the door at the end of the day without a smile for me. And I have a healthy, super happy baby who loves his mommy and daddy. Who could ask for anything more? (well maybe a refill of of diet Pepsi before I leave Costco...I'm gonna get my 1.50's worth, thank you very much! ;)
This was taken at Multnomah Falls the weekend Ben was blessed- Beginning of November
1.) Effective February 28th I will be done with my Gresham store (unless something happens and they need to to cover here or there).
2.) I feel good about it. Relieved actually.
3.) I had a second round of injections on Thursday afternoon. Tom went with me which is always best. On the way home he said, "Well he (Dr. M) didn't creep me out that time." LOL I am feeling better. I can feel this round was much more effective. Not "back" to normal but the closest I've been to it in months! =) It's all a warming reminder how happy and grateful I am to be alive in this day and age of narcotics. God Bless America.
4.) Car- we'll be taking it in this next week. Again, I'm not worried about it anymore- it is what it is. PLUS due to our budgeting we have funds! yeah!
5.) Can't really do to much other than be SUPER verbal and appreciative towards my parents.
6.) Still waiting back from the Air Force Reserve recruiter guy- been waiting for several months actually but no decision(s) will be made on a whim, we just aren't those kind of people. I will say, I am MORE open to the idea of Tom doing it than ever before. I don't want to even THINK about the idea of Tom being gone for 4 months straight, not including annual 1-3 month long training things. Not sure how Charlotte did/does it. But if women can be husbandless for years at a time....no I don't think I'm gonna finish that sentence, I'm not gonna pretend I could handle it. I can't handle Tom taking 10 extra minutes to pick up some books/movies from the library on his way home from work if that gives you any kind of insight. LOL I sound so co-dependent. I promise I'm really not. Between his two jobs and my job, and Mr. Concernicus still teedering with colic I count down the minutes he comes through the door and I get relief (emotionally, physically, etc).
7.) Ok I'm jealous, I TOTALLY am. (I'm rolling my eyes at myself) because having envy for anything is stupid. Such a waste of energy, and it's negative and pathetic. I believe me own words. So I admit I'm being so selfish when I'm about to (folded arms and pouting) complain how "this and that person" have everything and I don't! LOL Gosh, when I put it like that I'm NO different than the whinny Occupy-lameos. Dang it...I don't think I can even really go into WHAT I think I'm jealous about anymore. Because the reality is whatever I want I will eventually have and I have no right to say "When I/we have it we will be MORE grateful and appreciative too!" Cause I have no way of ever knowing that and even if I was right and I did turn out to be MORE grateful or "worthy" or something, how on earth would that benefit my life??? It totally wouldn't. So being envious is a waste of time. (tho) I still do it DANG It) For crying out loud I know all of you envy me in some way...come on, you SO want my extra love handle (not the main one, thee EXTRA one....) OR my size 10 feet. SEXY-HOT, don't be hate'n.
And really. I love Tom's and my dates; they are pretty fantastic! They start with strappling an unwilling, screaming baby into his hated car seat where he continues crying until he falls asleep moments before we are ready to take him out where the crying is only heightened due to the combination of carseat hatred and unrested baby! The date gets steamy as we take a romantic walk through the massive, tall and tamed isles of Costco where we usually purchase a single item (usually peanut butter...I eat 99.9% of it's 8lb gerth in less time than it takes a liberal to get mad about something). Then we exchange suggestive glances over the flirty topic price per diaper at at one store compared to another as we indulge in decedent, luxurious combination pizza cooked hours before and left to the warming stage for who knows how long for him and for the lady, 2 sausage dogs without buns, with krut, mustard, onion and ketup ...PERRRFFFECCTTT for the kissing to come. I would say we spend the evening cuddled but garlic burps aren't as attractive as they sound.
All things considered, I LOVE our $4.99 (not including the extra chunky peanut butter purchase $8.99 on sale, otherwise $10.99 and then it's too rich for my blood) dates! So while I may not have that persons this or that I have my extremely hardworking, and loving and willing husband who has yet to come through the door at the end of the day without a smile for me. And I have a healthy, super happy baby who loves his mommy and daddy. Who could ask for anything more? (well maybe a refill of of diet Pepsi before I leave Costco...I'm gonna get my 1.50's worth, thank you very much! ;)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Two Steps Forward, One Step back
And Sometimes it feels like One step forward, Two steps back. I apologize for my Debbie-Downerness at present. Because at present I feel like I have a serving size dish in front of me, replacing a dinner plate, and it's piled really high. Loaded with one heavy obstacle on top of another. I will say this, BECAUSE I feel it very strongly, even now I feel an overwhelming sense of calm and EVERYTHING will not only work out but work out for the better...That makes all the difference. However, I'm still a female and as such I'm gonna complain to lift the burdens just a tad.
#1.) February is a BIG, LONG work month. Funny, it's the shortest month. It's a Graphic Change Out (GCO) event for all my Adidas locations including Eugene. I have to be at my stores at 8am to make meet the snap-framers whom show up 50% of the time. Do you know how freakin annoying that is to drive to my parents the night before, get up at 6am and be in Eugene by 8am JUST so the guy doesn't show up? There are worse things, I know. On top of the GCO's I also do a full rotation. Some stores are harder than others.
#2.) I am 85% sure I'm going to be giving up my Gresham store at the end of February. I need to fully make up my mind so I can let my boss get someone else lined up. I know they have hired others and its won't be a problem and actually my boss let me know right before I went back to work that IF I needed to scale back any of my stores just say so, that they understand. So what's holding me back? Giving up one store is also giving up 1/3 of my monthly take home. It means giving up a little over 3400 a year. But on the other hand Ben will NOT take a bottle. He's had moments is all since he was born but won't do it and thus when I'm working 40 min one way he starves on those days. It stressed me like no other- not to mention the patience and endurance my mom practices when she is trying to soothe his screaming self for those 8 hrs. And back to the first hand, I had so much anxiety and guilt over my student loans which I work so hard to pay off. No one brings them up but me. I treat them like...like they're a debt we have 3 months left on and thus I have all this energy and anxiousness over them day to day when they are gonna be around for a few years (unless a miracle of miracle happens but I'm not counting on it). I've never been afraid of hard work so I am NOT unwilling to work BUT I have a baby who depends on me and whom I promised before he was ever conceived I wouldn't work while being entrusted on Earth with him.
#3.) I threw out my back AGAIN. I did it on Jan 2nd and I did it again last night. It wasn't from any one single event it really just never got HELD from the first time. This HAS happened before years ago. I was living with Emily and for the life of me I can't remember if it was my back or my neck that I had to have 2 injection appointment just a few days apart cause one wasn't enough and the pain was that bad. So I'm there again. I wouldn't really mention it but I feel my back is part of a bigger whole that I'm worried about. For the past few months I have been so lethargic and can't seem to get on top of it. I'm not feeling depression with it- simply exhausted. I had my thyroid checked and my levels were more than "normally off" so my Dr. wants me to see a Endocrinologist and since Dr. M has talked at lenght about my thyroid in conjunction with my PCOS, Diabetes and my back breaking down again- I'm gonna go see him tomorrow to discuss my lab results AND get more injections cause if I don't I will not be able to do my 8am Adidas stuff come Monday. I'll let you know what I find out. PS- I'm waiting to hear back if Tom can get off work to go with me for reasons we ALL know why! ughhh
#3.) My car is needing repairs again. It's not enough reason to jump ship but its enough for me to want to scream. I'm glad its not soooo big. But it's enough that its coming out of the budget that I SO badly wanted to use against my lowest student loan to which is SOOO close to being DEAD forever. Not Voltimort dead in part 1 but Voltimort dead in part 7.2. DEAD FOREVERRRRR.
#4.) The mold is back in the room. Just THAT quick. I swear to gosh we haven't brought in some much as a sis of liquid into the room. I have left the windows open all day- today will be #3 of that and just letting things air out. I turned over my night stand on Monday and you all would have puked! It was covered sooo badly with mold I was amazed we all aren't hospitalized from it. Okay I'm being dramatic...what's new. BUT It WAS BAD!!! Before I leave the place today I'm gonna put down a box worth of baking soda on the carpet. Seems the wall we share with our neighbor is bowing in and there's wetness....?
#5.) I have guilt. I have such overwhelming guilt. I so want to give back to my parents what has been given and what they are still giving today; ie paying on one of my Parent Plus loans. I wish soooo badly to be able to surprise them with everything I owe back and more and lift their burdens. I fear to the point of nervousness that they will both pass years before we will be in a place to give back. I understand the pay it forward but I desire so greatly to do both.
#6.) I think, analyze like crazy how to get Tom through school faster. It all leads me back to why I'm working and why its scary for me to give up a huge chunk of income (well HUGE to us that is).
Okay I'm feeling better...here are the latest photos of my family whom I'd give up ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for!
PS- I love how Mr. Concernicus is either in Friar-prayer mode or Black Panther's revolt mode while sleeping! heeh
#1.) February is a BIG, LONG work month. Funny, it's the shortest month. It's a Graphic Change Out (GCO) event for all my Adidas locations including Eugene. I have to be at my stores at 8am to make meet the snap-framers whom show up 50% of the time. Do you know how freakin annoying that is to drive to my parents the night before, get up at 6am and be in Eugene by 8am JUST so the guy doesn't show up? There are worse things, I know. On top of the GCO's I also do a full rotation. Some stores are harder than others.
#2.) I am 85% sure I'm going to be giving up my Gresham store at the end of February. I need to fully make up my mind so I can let my boss get someone else lined up. I know they have hired others and its won't be a problem and actually my boss let me know right before I went back to work that IF I needed to scale back any of my stores just say so, that they understand. So what's holding me back? Giving up one store is also giving up 1/3 of my monthly take home. It means giving up a little over 3400 a year. But on the other hand Ben will NOT take a bottle. He's had moments is all since he was born but won't do it and thus when I'm working 40 min one way he starves on those days. It stressed me like no other- not to mention the patience and endurance my mom practices when she is trying to soothe his screaming self for those 8 hrs. And back to the first hand, I had so much anxiety and guilt over my student loans which I work so hard to pay off. No one brings them up but me. I treat them like...like they're a debt we have 3 months left on and thus I have all this energy and anxiousness over them day to day when they are gonna be around for a few years (unless a miracle of miracle happens but I'm not counting on it). I've never been afraid of hard work so I am NOT unwilling to work BUT I have a baby who depends on me and whom I promised before he was ever conceived I wouldn't work while being entrusted on Earth with him.
#3.) I threw out my back AGAIN. I did it on Jan 2nd and I did it again last night. It wasn't from any one single event it really just never got HELD from the first time. This HAS happened before years ago. I was living with Emily and for the life of me I can't remember if it was my back or my neck that I had to have 2 injection appointment just a few days apart cause one wasn't enough and the pain was that bad. So I'm there again. I wouldn't really mention it but I feel my back is part of a bigger whole that I'm worried about. For the past few months I have been so lethargic and can't seem to get on top of it. I'm not feeling depression with it- simply exhausted. I had my thyroid checked and my levels were more than "normally off" so my Dr. wants me to see a Endocrinologist and since Dr. M has talked at lenght about my thyroid in conjunction with my PCOS, Diabetes and my back breaking down again- I'm gonna go see him tomorrow to discuss my lab results AND get more injections cause if I don't I will not be able to do my 8am Adidas stuff come Monday. I'll let you know what I find out. PS- I'm waiting to hear back if Tom can get off work to go with me for reasons we ALL know why! ughhh
#3.) My car is needing repairs again. It's not enough reason to jump ship but its enough for me to want to scream. I'm glad its not soooo big. But it's enough that its coming out of the budget that I SO badly wanted to use against my lowest student loan to which is SOOO close to being DEAD forever. Not Voltimort dead in part 1 but Voltimort dead in part 7.2. DEAD FOREVERRRRR.
#4.) The mold is back in the room. Just THAT quick. I swear to gosh we haven't brought in some much as a sis of liquid into the room. I have left the windows open all day- today will be #3 of that and just letting things air out. I turned over my night stand on Monday and you all would have puked! It was covered sooo badly with mold I was amazed we all aren't hospitalized from it. Okay I'm being dramatic...what's new. BUT It WAS BAD!!! Before I leave the place today I'm gonna put down a box worth of baking soda on the carpet. Seems the wall we share with our neighbor is bowing in and there's wetness....?
#5.) I have guilt. I have such overwhelming guilt. I so want to give back to my parents what has been given and what they are still giving today; ie paying on one of my Parent Plus loans. I wish soooo badly to be able to surprise them with everything I owe back and more and lift their burdens. I fear to the point of nervousness that they will both pass years before we will be in a place to give back. I understand the pay it forward but I desire so greatly to do both.
#6.) I think, analyze like crazy how to get Tom through school faster. It all leads me back to why I'm working and why its scary for me to give up a huge chunk of income (well HUGE to us that is).
Okay I'm feeling better...here are the latest photos of my family whom I'd give up ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for!
PS- I love how Mr. Concernicus is either in Friar-prayer mode or Black Panther's revolt mode while sleeping! heeh
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Saturday Is a Special Day
First off- today marks one year ago we found out we were pregnant. Only Bek and my husband really will know the truth how I handled it. But more importantly only I and Lord will ever know how very much I love my Baby Ben and am SO glad he was given to us! =)
So not too long ago Amanda gave me a heads up about hair loss post pardon. How did I react? I doubled-up on prenatal and thought, "Wah haha I'll beat THAT!" A month and a half later now, I have thin hair again. LOL
So months and months ago Tom and I were meticulously crib shopping. I mean we looked and looked for the best buy, best quality, best! Not because we are snobs- I promise but because we simply came to the conclusion we wanted to buy ONE bed for our kids that they will sleep in from birth to adult instead of us buying a crib, toddler bed, twin, full... THUS if a bed is going to withstand all those years it HAS to built solid! Ya know? At the same time, Ben's personal Santa Claus offered to purchase whatever crib we picked out. I mean AGAIN it was a miracle and blessed year for us.
After talking to Morgan, those many moons ago, she led us to the brand Munire. I went to the website, clicked around and saw Ben's crib! I emailed Tom with the message "THIS IS IT!" He looked at it and replied, "YES!"
Fast forward. We ordered it. It was on back order. Over a month later it came in but it was the wrong one. We re-ordered the crib. It was also on back order. Over a month later it came in and that was this last Saturday.
Now, I need to back-tract for a moment. We live in Oregon. It's super damp and wet and thus a non-friendly visitor of the name MOLD lives with us. We've lived in this apartment almost our entire marriage and its a nice, quiet place and the apartment itself is cute and fine. But this last fall brought even more mold than ever PLUS a horrible, dank smell was going on in our bedroom at the same time. I was finding mold growing on my furniture, my NICE bedroom set and I was freakin out. SOOOOoo when the crib came in I was like WE ARE NOT putting a $700 crib in a room where there is funk going on without zapping the problem FIRST!
Tom and I DID figure out the problem (don-don-don-donnn). Long story short, due to there being stuff under our bed there was no air flow and thus moisture was trapped. Long story long. We disassembled our bed COMPLETELY and wiped it down several times with a couple different brain-cell-killing cleaners. There was mold ALL over the rails and boards that hold up the box-springs, behind the head-board, foot-boards, etc. But Tom and I being the people we are kinda TOTALLY enjoyed the full cleaning! Its sooo what's the word....therapeutic! I wiped down the bedroom walls, re-cleaned the windows (it happens umpteen times a week) and vacuumed, vacuumed, vacuumed! I'm sure if we had the extra cash we would have rented I carpet cleaner too. But I have to say after a few hours the smell was GONE! And because the "stuff" under the bed was the crib mattress, and another re-called crib given to us but we never used cause...its recalled- under the bed is clear!!! (growing up I never had things under the bed, I felt it was a sign on something subconscious if/when people did! lol)
Tom put together the crib immediately. Along with both of us doing tons of laundry ALL day. I'm talking like 10 loads+ during the weekend, washing every sheet, blanket, bed quilt, pillow, everything that was in the room that could go into the washer.
I think the only hic-up with the crib was the stain. We were hoping that it would have turned out closer to a dark cherry but its a medium cherry. But I mean pleaseeee its still great! I think the thing we love most about it. Is it's a SOLID, wuality piece of furniture! =) The lady at the store we ordered it from said Munire is the Cadillac of cribs!
So not too long ago Amanda gave me a heads up about hair loss post pardon. How did I react? I doubled-up on prenatal and thought, "Wah haha I'll beat THAT!" A month and a half later now, I have thin hair again. LOL
So months and months ago Tom and I were meticulously crib shopping. I mean we looked and looked for the best buy, best quality, best! Not because we are snobs- I promise but because we simply came to the conclusion we wanted to buy ONE bed for our kids that they will sleep in from birth to adult instead of us buying a crib, toddler bed, twin, full... THUS if a bed is going to withstand all those years it HAS to built solid! Ya know? At the same time, Ben's personal Santa Claus offered to purchase whatever crib we picked out. I mean AGAIN it was a miracle and blessed year for us.
After talking to Morgan, those many moons ago, she led us to the brand Munire. I went to the website, clicked around and saw Ben's crib! I emailed Tom with the message "THIS IS IT!" He looked at it and replied, "YES!"
Fast forward. We ordered it. It was on back order. Over a month later it came in but it was the wrong one. We re-ordered the crib. It was also on back order. Over a month later it came in and that was this last Saturday.
Now, I need to back-tract for a moment. We live in Oregon. It's super damp and wet and thus a non-friendly visitor of the name MOLD lives with us. We've lived in this apartment almost our entire marriage and its a nice, quiet place and the apartment itself is cute and fine. But this last fall brought even more mold than ever PLUS a horrible, dank smell was going on in our bedroom at the same time. I was finding mold growing on my furniture, my NICE bedroom set and I was freakin out. SOOOOoo when the crib came in I was like WE ARE NOT putting a $700 crib in a room where there is funk going on without zapping the problem FIRST!
Tom and I DID figure out the problem (don-don-don-donnn). Long story short, due to there being stuff under our bed there was no air flow and thus moisture was trapped. Long story long. We disassembled our bed COMPLETELY and wiped it down several times with a couple different brain-cell-killing cleaners. There was mold ALL over the rails and boards that hold up the box-springs, behind the head-board, foot-boards, etc. But Tom and I being the people we are kinda TOTALLY enjoyed the full cleaning! Its sooo what's the word....therapeutic! I wiped down the bedroom walls, re-cleaned the windows (it happens umpteen times a week) and vacuumed, vacuumed, vacuumed! I'm sure if we had the extra cash we would have rented I carpet cleaner too. But I have to say after a few hours the smell was GONE! And because the "stuff" under the bed was the crib mattress, and another re-called crib given to us but we never used cause...its recalled- under the bed is clear!!! (growing up I never had things under the bed, I felt it was a sign on something subconscious if/when people did! lol)
Tom put together the crib immediately. Along with both of us doing tons of laundry ALL day. I'm talking like 10 loads+ during the weekend, washing every sheet, blanket, bed quilt, pillow, everything that was in the room that could go into the washer.
I think the only hic-up with the crib was the stain. We were hoping that it would have turned out closer to a dark cherry but its a medium cherry. But I mean pleaseeee its still great! I think the thing we love most about it. Is it's a SOLID, wuality piece of furniture! =) The lady at the store we ordered it from said Munire is the Cadillac of cribs!
And this is Ben a couple hours ago!
Thee End (for now)
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Awakening
I THINK Ben has come out of colick. (Looks around with squinted eyes and flenches for impact). It's been about a week of old mild storms, no hurricanes or tornado's, or hell fire damnation. Mostly just typical "I'm tired and I'm gonna let everyone know about it!"-cries WHICH I can live with!
At present its after 2pm. I have Sense & Sensibility going in the living room, Ben is asleep, I haven't showered, I worked yesterday and I'm sore, I'm without my chocolate chips for too many days to count, well no...only 10 days, I feel like I'm going to kill if I only had the strength to do so. I'm kinda an emotional basket case the last couple days because Ben has been up at every hour throughout the night the past 3-4 nights and completely awake at 4am which is new and not like him- not sure what that's all about AND on top of feeling pms-ie (I mean its been a week and a half so its TIME for another period I guess!) Plus, I am no different than a life long smoker going 10 days without being in favor country. Ya, so I want to kill. Kill people? Not really. I'm don't have any beef with anyone I can think of.In fact, Tom texted me a few minutes ago saying if we had the money if would have flowers sent to me today. It made me cry. Just hearing that he cares and thinks about those indearing, sweet things makes me feel like I DO have flowers in a vase in front of me!
I would get into HOW I am feeling, where its coming from with this latest separation from chocolate but I'm too much in the thick of it PLUS I'm at the stage of wanting to just scream every swear word I've never said, grab my car keys, run to the store wearing just my pj's and greasy hair pulled back and be back before Ben wakes up. I KNOW ME..NOT take every opportunity to spill my most personal guts into cyber space but that's how it is today.
I will say this. Chocolate is not the enemy. Never has been. Neither is carmel or anything that makes me want it so much I hid it so I don't have to share and have less of it, hide the large quantity I eat, hide period. So please for the love of gosh, please don't give the "woman on day 10" any lectures on how I need to change my "relationship with chocolate so its not in enemy" because like I said- It's not ITS fault its the best thing next to...YOU KNOW WHAT. It's my mixed-up perception. I think I need to take JFK's advice with a creamy, smooth, deep twist..."Ask not what chocolate can do for you but what you can do for chocolate." IF I take that advice I will do what one very BEST friend suggested I do many moons ago and have a bloody funeral for chocolate (though she didn't say the bloody part- I think that was the pms part coming out).
BEN:
Ben Is adorable period, no- EXCLAMATION MARK, with italics, bolded, underlined, AND quoted.
I think Ben has a hundred looks. Some times he looks like me, sometimes he looks like Tom's side and I see Julius, Jackson, Kaija, etc. And for the rest, he looks like Ben!
He's been finding his thumb lately but hasn't quite worked out how it suck it. He LOVES bath time- always has and just kicks and kicks and throws those arms around wildly mostly when I sing to him, it just gets him going. And there's water everywhere afterwards but its totally worth it.
I told Tom the other night, its so fun/wonderful to be a baby's favorite person. I mean I'm Tom's favorite person of course but to have a little guy want you more than anyone else is so sweet. (Maybe not at 1,2,3,4,5am but its still worth it). I can't wait for a another baby. I don't even care if I have 3 boys before I have a girl.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
What's On the Tube
Okay I’m moody so brace yourselves….
Tom had yesterday off from both jobs- it was a big treat so I had lots of help with Ben plus he fixed some broken break lights on his own cause that’s how he is!
Here’s the white trash part. For Christmas Tom and I got the newest version of rabbit ears called Mohu Leaf Plus for our tv (that Bek and Billy gave us- thank you again!!!) It looks like a laminated piece of printer paper with a cord connecting to the tv- it’s designed to be hung, hiding behind picture frames or whatever and can pick up over a hundred channels.
Before we got it Tom did a ton of research and was aware that due to our particular back of the worst signal-picking-up-hill we were most likely not going to get reception. Basically, we got it for the next place we live but anyway- Tom hooked it up and only one channel comes in half decent- Fox!
So..from morning to midnight its Divorce Court, Cheaters, Judge EVERYONE AND THEIR DOG, Cops, Family Feud, The Simpson’s, The Big Bang Theory, Law & Order SVU, King of Queens. Truthfully, when I was able to watch The Simpson’s again I was sooo excited and immediately felt the expense was totally worth it! Ah Blessed be the Simps’. Side note. I am a huge Simpson fan! COMPLETELY. I always roll my eyes at persons who arrogantly state they weren’t allowed to watch the show as kids because it’s not good. “Oh really?” I’d ask, “So what were you allowed to watch?” Then I’d hear a list of complete ridiculousness “Oh, you know…Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, MTV, etc”
Let’s just look at the Simpson’s for a moment! Emily- I’m channeling you here. The Simpson’s go to church every week. Eat breakfast together and eat dinner at the dinner table every night. No matter what mistakes any of them make they always make things right. Homer would and does everything for his family including taking on extra jobs. Marge is a stay-at-home Mom. Homer and Marge have never had affairs though tempted. The show as a whole is a fantastic satire on everything! Poor teaching in public schools, corrupt government officials, how old people tell the same stories..the list goes on. So if you have a problem with The Simpson’s- tell me ONE show on tv where the main family does all the above?
I wouldn’t say I like Big Bang but it’s something on. Law & Order SVU? Ahhh There’s only so many times I can hear the words “rape, discharge, semen, ejaculations, etc” you know? The show is kinda like Linkin Park or Cold Play- every song/episode sounds the same. And interestingly enough (here comes the trashy part) I find People’s Court kinda interesting! Who knew? Lol I know I KNOW! I told Tom if we EVER have to go to court for ANYTHING to take every bit of proof and copy of whatever with us! Oh and DON’T be retarded to BE summons to court or have to take someone to court for whatever reason in the first place. Mostly, I think I have some tolerance for the “real life” court shows people it’s the closest to Dr. Laura Schlessinger I’ve got. Gosh she’s been off public radio for…2 years now? Not cool. I need to get an HD radio or whatever they are called.
BEN:
Ben got his 4 month shots on Friday and will be 4 months TOMORROW. He weighed in at 12lbs 7oz.
which makes him in the 10% tile 25 inches long at 50% tile. The doctor told me the difference between 10% and 50% tiles is like a pound which gave a great perspective.
Tom had yesterday off from both jobs- it was a big treat so I had lots of help with Ben plus he fixed some broken break lights on his own cause that’s how he is!
Here’s the white trash part. For Christmas Tom and I got the newest version of rabbit ears called Mohu Leaf Plus for our tv (that Bek and Billy gave us- thank you again!!!) It looks like a laminated piece of printer paper with a cord connecting to the tv- it’s designed to be hung, hiding behind picture frames or whatever and can pick up over a hundred channels.
Before we got it Tom did a ton of research and was aware that due to our particular back of the worst signal-picking-up-hill we were most likely not going to get reception. Basically, we got it for the next place we live but anyway- Tom hooked it up and only one channel comes in half decent- Fox!
So..from morning to midnight its Divorce Court, Cheaters, Judge EVERYONE AND THEIR DOG, Cops, Family Feud, The Simpson’s, The Big Bang Theory, Law & Order SVU, King of Queens. Truthfully, when I was able to watch The Simpson’s again I was sooo excited and immediately felt the expense was totally worth it! Ah Blessed be the Simps’. Side note. I am a huge Simpson fan! COMPLETELY. I always roll my eyes at persons who arrogantly state they weren’t allowed to watch the show as kids because it’s not good. “Oh really?” I’d ask, “So what were you allowed to watch?” Then I’d hear a list of complete ridiculousness “Oh, you know…Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, MTV, etc”
Let’s just look at the Simpson’s for a moment! Emily- I’m channeling you here. The Simpson’s go to church every week. Eat breakfast together and eat dinner at the dinner table every night. No matter what mistakes any of them make they always make things right. Homer would and does everything for his family including taking on extra jobs. Marge is a stay-at-home Mom. Homer and Marge have never had affairs though tempted. The show as a whole is a fantastic satire on everything! Poor teaching in public schools, corrupt government officials, how old people tell the same stories..the list goes on. So if you have a problem with The Simpson’s- tell me ONE show on tv where the main family does all the above?
I wouldn’t say I like Big Bang but it’s something on. Law & Order SVU? Ahhh There’s only so many times I can hear the words “rape, discharge, semen, ejaculations, etc” you know? The show is kinda like Linkin Park or Cold Play- every song/episode sounds the same. And interestingly enough (here comes the trashy part) I find People’s Court kinda interesting! Who knew? Lol I know I KNOW! I told Tom if we EVER have to go to court for ANYTHING to take every bit of proof and copy of whatever with us! Oh and DON’T be retarded to BE summons to court or have to take someone to court for whatever reason in the first place. Mostly, I think I have some tolerance for the “real life” court shows people it’s the closest to Dr. Laura Schlessinger I’ve got. Gosh she’s been off public radio for…2 years now? Not cool. I need to get an HD radio or whatever they are called.
BEN:
Ben got his 4 month shots on Friday and will be 4 months TOMORROW. He weighed in at 12lbs 7oz.
which makes him in the 10% tile 25 inches long at 50% tile. The doctor told me the difference between 10% and 50% tiles is like a pound which gave a great perspective.
He’s been reaching more and more and from 7am till when I finally get up in the morning he’s touching my face and just kicking, kicking, kicking. He’s such a kicker. It won’t be any surprise when he’s a soccer star!
TOM:
Tom is now full time with RV Kuhn's downtown thus (drum roll) we have AWESOME medical insurance WHICH doesn't come out of our paycheck either, including dental and vision. Can I get a Hallelujah?! He's still working for Apple for a couple reasons- it pays off in our cell bills. Because he's an Apple employee he only pays 12 bucks a month TOTAL. plus my bill is 20% discounted. The other reason he's staying? He loves it- its fun for him. Well maybe its not "fun" working all day, every Saturday and working a few days a week after he's already worked 9 hrs but...we're gazelle intense what can I say?
This picture was taken at his RVK Christmas party and the first night we left Ben to go down without me- needless to say I cried as we were leaving the apartment. haha Tom and I had a great time and sat with an other couple whom the lady was the office HR rep and gave us the ins and outs of their policies- sounds boring but it wasn't we found out lots of awesome things like Tom gets 20 days of vacation a year! That's insane- not including sick or holidays either. The other reason we had such a great time was because we had a sweet missionary experience. When Tom and I were dating Tom use to give an analogy that went like this: "Its like someone asking you for the time and instead you explaining how the watch was made. Just give them the time and let them come to ask more questions instead of giving a lecture."
Overall, it was SO apparent the HR lady's husband specifically wanted to sincerely ask tons of stuff but you could tell he didn't want to "offend". If I had it to do over again I would have said something to the effect of "ask away, what would you like to know?!!!" Either way, Tom and I had a fun date!
Overall, it was SO apparent the HR lady's husband specifically wanted to sincerely ask tons of stuff but you could tell he didn't want to "offend". If I had it to do over again I would have said something to the effect of "ask away, what would you like to know?!!!" Either way, Tom and I had a fun date!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Few of my Favorite things
ahh I'm remembering Charlotte's wedding now. "Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes" =)
I thought I would write down a few highlights of Christmas for posterity and when Ben comes asking why he can't do long division... oh and excuse the fuzzy photos my camera is a half step above free-hand sketching.
This is Grandpa White letting Ben help put the puzzle together.
This is Baby Ben showing more interest in the tv.
This is Grandpa forgetting Ben is 3 1/2 months, got sucked into the tv, let go of Ben who was remarkably standing with little assistance- me not knowing Grandpa let go but trying to get an up-close shot and instead caught the moment of Ben TIM-BERRR-ing to the ground.....
This is the future President making those hard decisions! Not hard like the one's THIS administration feels are hard "This is one of the toughest decisions I've had to make while in office, should I leave early to join my family in Hawaii or stay until the tax resolution is resolved?" Seriously. I WISH I was mis-quoting!
No...Benjamin B. Clark dreams of an American flowing once more with MORE milk and honey!
So I came home from work one day and Tom had some of our first love letters and card to each other on our Christmas Tree- I LOVED IT! so every time we got a card we added it to our tree. Can everyone see theirs? Oh and Yesss..we really need to get an angel or star and retire our impromptu wedding bears! Though if you look close you can see there's a little ornament of "baby's first Christmas" hanging in-between us!
Tom's mom made each one of their stockings and growing up his was the Baby Jesus, as he was/is the only boy in his family. Well when we got married his mom made me one and I have Mary. Then when Ben was born we sent back Tom's and she took out Thomas and put on Benjamin and then made Tom into Joseph! So next baby (girl ;) will just have to an angel! And then we're done! hehe
And lastly this is Ben saying HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody!
I thought I would write down a few highlights of Christmas for posterity and when Ben comes asking why he can't do long division... oh and excuse the fuzzy photos my camera is a half step above free-hand sketching.
This is Baby Ben showing more interest in the tv.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)