Mr. Fantastic's update

Yesterday we returned home from a fast trip to Omaha.  Popeye and I (along with children 1, 4, & 5) stayed in the fancy-shmancy Hilton Hotel.  It was so nice.  Down comforters (not those polyester things that Days Inn has) and CLEAN sheets, I actually felt fine climbing into bed and sitting on the bedspread.  Granite counters in the bathroom, lovely entertainment center, view, service.  Oh yeah - and the BILL.  Not so lovely.  I now remember why we don't stay at 4 star hotels.  Parking was $9.  No free continental breakfast. To use the gym in the morning cost Popeye $10.  (Had he realized that, he would've gone running outside.)  But the bed was so luxurious!  And the free lotion was really lovely, too. 
Anyway.  I don't think we'll be able to afford to stay there when Mr. Fantastic has his surgery, we'll probably stay at the Ronald Mc Donald house or with family.  But I'm glad we did.

So we went to Omaha for the last round of tests for Mr. Fantastic.  He had a speech/language evaluation, he got his new processor reconfigured and we had an expectations meeting with the head audiologist.  It was a super long day.  And everyone held up famously!  Funny thing.  His new processor is so high tech.  He hears WAY better now.  And when he turns his volume up too loud his eye starts twitching.  It's super funny to see!

So now what?
Well, the cochlear implant team will get together on Wednesday and review Mr. Fantastic's file.  They'll write up their report and submit it to the insurance company.  The insurance company wants to see that he's using his current CI and that he's benefitting from it.  Of course he is, on both counts.  So hopefully, by the end of May, early June, we'll be heading to Omaha for 10 days for surgery. 

Now listen. Don't get all excited thinking he's going to magically hear right away.  That's not the case at all.  His brain doesn't know how to hear from his left ear.  The last time his brain had to deal with those neurological signals was when he was 2.  So his brain is going to have to re-learn all of that information.  He may hear just as well (over time) on the left side as he does on the right.  He might only be able to hear noise on that side.  Only time (and intensive therapy) will tell.

But we are optimistic.  When Mr. Fantastic was in the hospital with meningitis, the blessings he received told him he would be as if he never got sick.  I know he will be able to hear out of his left ear again.  It will take a lot of practice and work, but he wants this.  He'll work at it, I know it.

Anyway.  We're proud of him for making the choice and we're glad he's so excited for it.
I'll keep you all updated as soon as we know more.

(On a side note.  Princess Monkey Eyes taught herself how to ride a two-wheeler on Monday.  No help from Popeye or myself - we just watched as she kept trying and trying.  And now she can't be stopped! - unless she's headed for the neighbor's lawn, then she crashes there.)

busy?

Wow, it's been a while since I posted.  I've enjoyed having Popeye home.  He's a big help.  No, really, he is.  Those first few days were a little rough but we're back on track now.  In fact, he's helped me install the kitchen floor on Tuesday and has been busy trying to help me get the house ready to sell.

Yes, we're going to sell our house.  We live in a home that is just too small for us.  It was too small for us to begin with, but there's nothing we can do about that now - other than sell it and look for something bigger.

So, if you'll look on my side bar there's a LOOONG list of things for me (er, I guess Popeye will help a little, but not as much as I'd like) to do before we list it.  Check it out if you dare.  It might take a good 15 minutes to read, it's so long.  But imagine it being longer, because I got lots done while Popeye was gone.  And those things aren't even listed.

So if anyone's feeling ambitious, you can come help me tackle those things.  If you'll look hard, most of it is painting trim.  Thanks be to Little Sister and my mother for all the new trim in my house.  It was a blessing and my house looks SO pretty with it in.  But now comes the task of painting it and there's lots of it to do.  Lucky me.

Sariqd asked me how I do it all.
Caffiene.  Lots of it.  It is my best friend.  And yes, I know that I'm addicted.  I have a problem.  I don't think I'm strong enough to do all of these things on top of my daily obligations without the help of 2 huge adrenaline rushes during the day.  If someone has a secret, please share.  If not, don't judge me.  You like your diet coke, I like my slim quick. So there.

Anyway.  Keep looking at the sidebar every now and then.  It's gonna get shorter - and fast.  Today's task (after work) was to pick up some 2" wide trim for under the cabinets in the kitchen.  I cut and installed those, installed the heat register and finished off the edge of the step down out of the kitchen onto the landing.  Looks good.
Tomorrow I think I want to finish installing trim.  My friend needs her nail gun back, I'm sure.  And that would be several things off my list.  But with 5 - 11" of snow in the forcast, my better bet would be to install the bathroom floor. 

Ah well.  Wish me luck!  (And pop over to Sariqd's blog, she just had a baby and has posted pics!  He's a doll!!!!)

Tomorrow!!!!

Popeye comes home tomorrow!  I'm just so excited!!!!

That's all.

Tuesday Tip!

Hey.  I've still been busy. More painting and such.  And you know what?  Today's tip has NOTHING to do with home improvement, aside from the fact that I took a break from it yesterday morning.

And during my break, I came across this great tip.

I went to our enrichment activity - UFO (UnFinished Objects, er, Projects).  While I was there amidst the squealing of delight from little girls dressed up like princesses and little boys playing with balls, I was able to get some adult conversation in.  (My project was finishing a hat for Sara's new little boy.)

The Cowgirl walked in with a Gogurt for her daughter.  My kids love Gogurts.  Love them.  Do I buy them?  Rarely.  I'd get mother-of-the-year for sure if I bought them more regularly.  Alas, I do not (they get eaten WAY too quickly).  Anyway.  I love the concept of them.  Yogurt on the go.  You can't beat yummy yogurt anywhere - well, you can.  I dont like it all over my kids' clothes and hands and faces because they can't use a spoon to get it into their mouths.  I don't like that I have to open it for them.  And I'm not particualrly fond of the clean up afterwards.
Do you know how to remedy that?  Huh?  Do you?  I'm sure you do and this was a new concept to only me, but I thought it was genius!
FREEZE THEM. 
That's right peeps.  Put those bad boys in the freezer and you have popsicles - frozen yogurt style.
Now that's what I call cool.

So onto today's adventure.  I'm having The Cowgirl and her munchkins over for a playdate/sanity day.  I'm wanting to finish hanging the trim in the girls' room and the hallway.  The last two rooms aside from the kitchen.  But if I can't get that done, then I'll paint a wall in my bedroom.

So far during this break I've:
scraped ceilings
painted walls
puttied trim
fixed holes
installed light fixtures
refurbished a china cabinet
threw away junk into the dumpster
and all the household chores that demand my attention
(You wouldn't know that I've cleaned my house multiple times, I have 5 kids that think, "Do your chores" is spoken in a foreign language so they ignore it.)

Anyway.  This week's last project will either be to paint my wall or install the trim.  And then I'm done.  The next 3 days will be spent putting it all back together again.  And the "Cleaning Lady" comes on Friday, just before we leave for the airport to pick up Popeye.

I miss him.  Princess Monkey Eyes REALLY misses him.  Grand Duchess gets all kinds of giddy when she hears his ringtone on my phone.  We're ready for him to come home.  And so is he. He has NOT enjoyed his stay in New Orleans at all.  He had a hard time coming home from Seattle last year (Thanks Seattle-ites for showing him a good time)!  This year, he's ready.  And he's been ready since the moment he landed.  Bummer.

Well, it's time to get the kids to school.  I should feed them some breakfast.
Have a great day!

Day two

On day one of Popeye being gone, I:
~ Finished all the laundry.
~ washed all the dishes.
~ shoved everything from the family room into the laundry room.
~ made a list of everything that I want to have done before Popeye gets home.
~ COOKED dinner (not that instant frozen dinner, either. Pork chops with mashed potatoes and salad)
~ installed towel bars in the main bathroom.
~ scraped the cottage cheese off the ceiling in the family room
~ cleaned up the cottage cheese off of EVERYTHING
~ pulled up the baseboards in the downstairs bathroom in preparation of floors and new baseboards
~ stripped the caulk from the shower
~ painted the vanity in the bathroom
~ threw away the futon that has gone the way of most battered furniture after many-a-movie nights with 5 kids.

On day two (you know, today), I (with some help from 2 of my girlies):
~ got kids off to school.
~ did a mini sign language class at Princess Monkey Eyes' school
~ primed the family room ceiling (one and a half gallons gone)
~ re-caulked the shower
~ re-spackled portions of the wall in the basement in preparation for the floors and trim
~ painted the bathroom
~ took Grand Duchess for her 12 month well check visit
~ painted the family room ceiling and primed the walls for painting tomorrow
~ cooked more dinner (even though Pizza Hut sounds SO tempting right now)

I have a lot accomplished already.  Thanks be to Princess Tiana for helping me make my list of priorities.  I'd be lost without it.  And thanks also be to The Cowgirl for coming and helping (and watching the kids while I went to the doctor).  I forsee some major pampering happening for these two ladies!  Without them I'd be going crazy!!!

Stay tuned for more updates.  I'd post pics but my camera is broken and I really don't have it in my budget to go buy another one yet.  Stupid budget.

Anyway.  Someday I'll post pics!  But for now, just know that my bathroom is starting to look so much warmer and inviting!

A little out of sorts

Popeye is gone.  I'm sad.
I made it home from Denver this afternoon with all the kiddos.
I pulled into the driveway.  It was covered in snow.  And not just a light dusting, either.  It was DEEP.
And I immediately started mumbling under my breath about my neighbors.  We've lived here for over 2 years and every time it snows, they start shovelling.  And they stop RIGHT at the property line.  If I have the opportunity to shovel before them, I make it a point to continue on up or down the sidewalk.  I'm cool like that.
I guess I was more torqued that the snow came up to the bottom of my door on my van and ALL my neighbors have clear driveways that have melted throughout the day.
Of course I left the kids in the van until I could shovel them some paths to the door.
Of course I finished the driveway by hand because I had the landfill bring me a dumpster for this weeks' fiasco and it was blocking in the plow. 
Of course I started the plow to get a nice clear path in front of the garage door (behind the dumpster) so I can get in and out of there without mishaps.
Of course the engine was cold so the exhaust from the plow was overpowering and now I stink - Royally.

I know I'm being petty.  I'm always a little overwhelmed the first day that Popeye's gone.  I just wish it didn't snow.  And I wish that it would STOP!  That's right, peeps.  It is STILL SNOWING.

Tomorrow will be better, won't it?  Please tell me it will.  Please say that I'll get tons done tomorrow.  Please reassure me that my children will be angels and not attempt to help me paint.  Or please just come and keep me company so that I don't kill my kids.

Thanks.
(Stupid snow.  Now I'm in a bad mood.)

Tuesday Tip!

I love my bed.  I love my bed even more now that there is a beautiful blanket and coverlet on it.  They're gorgeous.  My mom and dad recently downsized and they gave me this bedding set.  I love it.  And I'm thrilled that they thought of me when they needed to get rid of it!

Moving forward 6 months.

Popeye changed Grand Duchess' diaper!  Hooray!  No, that's not why I'm blogging today.  He's usually pretty good about taking the initiative to change her when she needs it.  And on this certain day, she needed it bad!
So he took her into our room and laid her down on my coverlet.  My beautiful, cream-colored coverlet.  My coverlet that I promised my mother would NOT get stained should she give it to me. 
Anyway.  He laid her down and proceeded to change her diaper (sans protection between her cute, chubby bum and my beautiful coverlet) and got orange poo on it.  Yes, her poo was orange as a result of feeding her carrots and sweet potatoes.  Lovely.
And then (seeing that I was starting to freak out about it) proceeded to wipe it up with some wipees.  And then I freaked some more, until I remembered a tip from my friend.  She told me that her son soils his clothes multiple times a day and she's found the trick to getting those stains out.
Soak them in dishwasher detergent - like Cascade or Electrosol (the powdered stuff, not the gel).  Now, I'm not entirely sure if I make a paste out of it or if I fill the sink with warm water and add the powder that way (but if I remember correctly, that's the way to do it - in the sink).  And then you can launder your clothes and the stain will come out.
I also found a website that says to hang your wet, laundered clothes outside in the sunshine and the UV rays will make the stain disappear.
I have yet to try either of these tips - but I'm giving them to you.  I know quite a few of you have wee ones on the way and all of you have to deal with poo on a regular basis.  So it's a tip we can all benefit from!

Oh I hope the stain comes out.  To my sisters, if Mom finds out about this, I know it's because one of you ratted me out and you will NOT get your Christmas present from me.  Mom doesn't read my blog.  And you better not tip her off to come read it, either.  Okay - PLEASE don't tip her off to come read it!  I'm still just so sick about it!

Anyway.  Um, yeah, that's all. Have a great day!

(Oh yeah, and Popeye has to go to Louisiana for the Navy this weekend.  He'll be gone for 2 weeks.  Let the playing begin!  You remember what I got done the last time he left for Seattle?  I had ripped out carpet, scraped ceilings, finished the bathroom, etc...  Well, this drill is no exception.  Big plans, I tell ya!  BIG plans!  More to come later as he is standing nearby and I don't want to spoil the surprise!)