How long before I panic?

You know how people say if your kids act up in public, just keep walking- they'll follow you because they're afraid of being left?

Not so much.

When we dropped Daniel off at the childcare before swimming lessons, Joel took off.  He often stands outside the classroom and just watches through the window, so I wasn't too worried, until he wasn't at the window.  But he'd just gone out to the lobby and was standing with Hope and Naomi.

After swimming lessons when we went to pick up Daniel, he took off again.  I figured he'd be out front, but he wasn't.  After looking all over and not finding him, I put the other three in the car and went back in to look for him.  Finally, I saw him walking out of the building, and when I asked him where he'd been, he said, "Looking fowa you, and dat wath WUDE of you to leave me!"

Little boy, you were the one who left, I don't see how I was rude.

And yes, I had a talk with him about not leaving a building if he ever gets lost again.

But from now on, he goes into the childcare center with me. 

Seriously, I don't see how shock collars for children is a bad idea.  But David keeps telling me I won't get away with putting one on him.  We'll just see......

Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:

Had to spend some RR, otherwise I wouldn't have gone this week.
Spent today: $0
Spent ytd: $132.22
Saved ytd: $452.02
Have $ 2 RR

RiteAid:

Spent today: $23.89
Spent ytd: $137.32
Saved ytd: $ 250.62
Have: $10 UP+

Attitude Adjustment......along with Sunday Shopping

I was in a MOOD when I left this morning. Mad. As. Heck. But at both stores, in addition to having everything I wanted in stock, something happened to bring my total down even further than planned. I was actually smiling by the time I drove home! Walgreens:

Spent today: $ .09
Spent ytd: $ 132.22
Saved ytd: $448.57
Have: $3.50 in RRs

RiteAid:

Spent today: $1.20
Spent ytd: $113.43
Saved ytd: $232.19
Have: $11 in UP+, plus will get a $3 rebate

Get Sleepy

At Joel's visit to the bad kid doc, we were advised to help him get more sleep.  The doctor said we could try drugging him with Benadryl, or chamomile tea.  The Benadryl really didn't seem to help much- some nights he'd be tired, others he'd still be awake for two hours after bedtime.  So I got some tea and told him he'd get to drink some before bed.  We tried it twice and he didn't like it either time- he'd only drink a sip or two.

So I put him to bed the other night and didn't bother giving him any.  After an hour or two, he showed up downstairs and said "You forgot to get me my coffee."  So the past couple nights, David and Joel have sat down at the table before bed and had their cups of "coffee".  I still don't think it helps, but he enjoys coffee time with his dad.

Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:

Spent today: $6.08
Spent ytd: $132.13
Saved ytd: $432.55
Have: $3 RR

RiteAid:

Spent today: $12.89
Spent ytd: $112.23
Saved ytd: $212.16
Have: $13 UP+

Rewarding Obedience

Daniel has figured out that he can open the doors on the buffet, and occasionally I catch him playing in there.  Tonight was one of those times.

I told him to shut the door.  He did, and I clapped and told him good job.

Fast forward five minutes, and he's into the cabinet again.  So I went over there to get him out of it.  As soon as he saw me, he grabbed my glasses that he'd taken out, put them back, and shut the door.  And waited........and then started clapping for himself when I didn't do it. 

I'll clap once for obeying.  But after that, I'm not going to reward you for being disobedient just so you can obey again.  Sorry kiddo, you're going to have to be your own cheering section for that one.

How to convince the new employee that her cash register is broken...aka, Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:
New Girl couldn't figure out why her register wouldn't total.  She called Grouchy Boy to look at it, who said "That is the total."  "All that!?!  For only three bucks??"  "Yep."

Spent today: $3.70
Spent ytd: $126.05
Saved ytd: $426.72

RiteAid:
What can I say- it was free.

Spent today: $3.00
Spent ytd: $99.34
Saved ytd: $191.26
Have: $8 UP+

Sunday Shopping

RiteAid:
So, what's better than a free FatHair product after coupons and UP+?  Free FatHair that's packaged in a Buy 1 Get 1 Free two-pack!  Two FatHair shampoos for free!!
P.S.- all those Reeses- they're for David. I figured he'd be a bit happier with some chocolate.

Spent today: $1.86
Spent ytd: $96.34
Saved ytd:$182.34
Have: $5 UP+

Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:

Spent today: $14.56
Spent ytd: $122.35
Saved ytd: $ 405.11
Have: $7 in RR, and will get a $3 rebate from today's purchase.

RiteAid:

I bought two packs of diapers, but one got opened before the pic got taken.
Spent today: $14.15
Spent ytd: $94.48
Saved ytd: $166.23
Have: $2 UP+, and will get a $3 rebate from today's purchase.

Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:

I wouldn't have gone this week, but I had a $10RR I had to spend, so I bought some Easter candy and found a few good clearance things.
Spent today: $4.39
Spent ytd: $107.79
Saved ytd: $376.52

RiteAid:

After I got home, I realized that only $4 of my $6 UP+ rewards were used because one thing I bought was on sale and I hadn't spent as much as I'd planned. So I went back later and bought 7 Russell Stover coconut cream eggs- yum! The total is for everything, even though the eggs aren't pictured.
Spent today:$ 1.50
Spent ytd: $80.33
Saved ytd: $160.20
Have: $1.99 UP+

Questions

I'll admit it. I watch 19 Kids and Counting. I started watching it more as a "how-to" because I do not know how someone takes care of that many small children. I've realized, of course, that the older kids take care of the younger kids. What I needed was 6 Kids and Counting. That was when I actually would've gotten some pointers. But I've come to really like the show.

Tonight was the episode when their 20th child died. Technically, it was really just a miscarriage; did we need a full-fledged funeral? But, considering that the civilized world knew she was prego, they probably had to do things a bit differently than us normal folk. And as I watched said funeral, I started thinking about my younger brother.

I really don't know how far along mom was when he died; I think it was about five months, but I was six- what did I know. I don't know how far along she was when she found out he was dead- I think she thought he'd been dead a couple weeks by the time she found out. I don't know what labor was like, just that she was induced. I do remember asking her once how big he was, and she said he was tiny and fit in the palm of her hand. I never asked why she didn't name him. I wonder, if grandpa hadn't just died and had a cemetary plot, would he even have been buried? I never asked why she didn't take a single picture of her only son.

As I sat here and cried over this little girl half a continent away, from a family I've never even met, I realize how many questions I never bothered to ask about my own flesh and blood. So many things that I can't ask now; the only person who knew the answers is gone. And I wonder- what other questions am I not asking? I know there aren't many years left with several people; I fully expect to lose the remaining grandparents and parent within the next ten years. And I hope that I don't have nearly as many unasked questions when they're gone.

New Words

Daniel has started saying two new words this week- Doo-a and Gee-go. That's Dora and Deigo for people who don't speak his dialect. I will be extremely glad when all of my children are past the stage of adventuring with young hispanic explorers who always seem to be yelling.

I love the moment when I realize that one of my children has actually listened to the stuff I say. Today I asked Joel to put away the chairs to his little table. He picked up both of them and started back to the table. I said, "Wow- both at once?" He replied, "God gave us two hands, so I can carry two things."

Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:

Spent today: $1.38
Spent ytd: $103.40
Saved ytd: $353.04
Have: $10RR

RiteAid:

Because I returned something that was supposed to trigger an UP+ but didn't, I had a negative total balance today.
Spent today: - $1.15
Spent ytd: $78.83
Saved ytd: $146.20
Have: $6 UP+

Morbid Fascination

Naomi was asking today what I liked best in the world, besides the munchkins. I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to her, but she kept hounding me, so I finally asked why she wanted to know. "Well, we have to figure out what to put on that stone thing we put over your head when you die." I told her we didn't need to worry about it quite yet and we'd talk about it later. "Ok, we can talk about it tomorrow; you'll be a little bit closer to dying then."

Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:This was all they had...I made Grouchy Boy check.

Spent today: $21.72
Spent ytd: $102.02
Saved ytd: $318.23
Have: $10 RR


RiteAid:

Observant persons might notice that there are only 3 Gardettos in this photo. I bought 4; one just didn't make it to photo time.
Spent today: $5.45
Spent ytd: $79.98
Saved ytd: $113.20
Have: $16 UP+

Sunday Shopping

And I thought I was done with RiteAid...I don't like how they're not printing out the UP+ rewards anymore, but when they have such a good sale on diapers, I can't help but go. And tomorrow, I'm dragging David to a different RiteAid to sign him up for a rewards card so I can buy more diapers. He'll do just about anything for Reeses!

Spent today: $29.23
Spent ytd: $45.30
Saved ytd: $52.26
Have $15 UP+

ETA: I did this same transaction the next day with another card so I could get another $15 UP+. So the new totals are:
Spent ytd: $74.53
Saved ytd: $69.65
Have: $30 UP+

Delay

This week, my Walgreens excursion was very delayed, thanks to a trip to visit the old folks on Sunday. Had I had my stuff together, I would've gone on the way there, and I don't even remember why last Saturday was busy enough that I didn't go through the sales. Boring week anyway, so it didn't make a difference.

Spent today: $ .39
Spent ytd: $80.30
Saved ytd: $305.48

Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:

Spent today:$ 3.04
Spent ytd: $79.91
Saved ytd: $295.49
Have $2RR

RiteAid:
Here's the problem with utilizing Register Rewards and UP+ Rewards: they expire. RiteAid hasn't had much lately that I need, and I had to use my $2UP, so today was 'stock up for Valentine's Day and David's birthday with candy' day.

Spent today: $1.96
Spent ytd: $16.07
Saved ytd: $ 34.87

The things you find at work!

That title sounded more exciting than Tuesday Shopping. This morning one of the assistants gave me a bunch of coupons that had been in some package she was unloading. One was a Listerine one that we have a million of, but the other was a $2 Reach coupon......and I remembered that Walgreens had Reach floss on sale, because I couldn't find my coupon that would've make it free after RR and I wasn't going to pay for floss! Ta-da: now I make a dollar on each pack I buy this week. Granted, it gives me a bunch of rewards I have to roll, but there's always an 8/$1 item around holidays- pencils or cups or something easy to use the rewards with.

So, off to Walgreens I went at lunch, and since they were very well-stocked on floss and toothbrushes, I'll be going there every day at lunch to buy my two packs of floss and make my two dollars. Depending on how nice the cashier is, I may make four or five dollars each day!


Spent today: $2.50
Spent ytd: $70.62
Saved ytd: $242.32
Have: $4 RR from today, and $5RR from Sunday

Edited to add: I did a few more trips, so by the end of the week these were the new totals:
Spent ytd: $76.87
Saved ytd: $257.74
Have: $19 RR

Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:

Spent today: Subtotal was $0, after tax, $2.15
Spent ytd: $ 68.12
Saved ytd: $ 236.15
Have: $5RR, also will get $4 rebate for VitD

Validation

Dr. Jan is not a friendly person. She's a nice person, but not friendly. It took about a year before she'd even really talk to me much. The Thursday hygienist has been at our office for two years and is still scared of Jan. But I really like her and we chat most of the days she's there. Not heart-to-heart talks, but fun conversations that she often initiates. She doesn't really have many friends because she's a pretty private person, and I feel sorry for her because her husband is the biggest liability and source of stress in her life. Sound like anyone else we knew?

For a week or two after I told Todd I was going to be leaving, Jan didn't really talk to me. I expected that, I suppose. I knew she wouldn't be happy, if only because it was just one more thing to deal with. Lord knows she has plenty already. But eventually she warmed back up.

Today we were both standing in the hall- she was stretching her arms and I was putting photos in the computer- and she said "I've been meaning to tell you how much I appreciate that you've stuck around and helped out while we look for just the right person, and for helping out with Lori's schedule." That shocked me enough, but she went on to say that she was really happy for me, that it took a lot of courage to make that kind of change, and she hoped I enjoyed being home with the kids.

I don't care much what Todd thinks or if he's ok with my leaving, but I really didn't want to disappoint Jan. It's nice to know that, even if it is disappointing to have to start over, she understands why I'm making this choice and is happy for me.

If You're Worried and You Can't Sleep.....

Just count your blessings instead of sheep. Some people will have no idea what that is in reference to. Some people should watch more classic movies.

The other night Hope climbed into my bed, crying, because it was after 10:00pm and she couldn't fall asleep. She'd read for awhile, laid there, read some more, tried everything she could think of, but couldn't sleep.

More to give her something different to think about, I sang her that song and told her to try it. We snuggled for a couple of minutes and thought of things to be thankful for, and then she went back to bed.

The next morning she was amazed that it worked! She told me she'd been in the middle of thanking God for all of her cousins and listing as many as she could think of. That's all she remembers- trying to think of cousins. And now she has a wonderful new way to go to sleep- focusing on the myriad of things in her life to give thanks for.

Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:

I bought some Valentine's stuff that was on sale in addition to the other stuff I was going to spend my RRs on. And I might go back and spend my new $4RR on as many Coconut Creme Hearts as they'll let me buy.

Spent today: $6.72
Spent ytd: $65.97
Saved ytd: $199.49
Have: $14 in RR

RiteAid:

Spent today: $3.69
Spent ytd: $14.11
Saved ytd: $30.89
Have: $2 UP+

Who Loves You

As I was putting Joel to bed, I asked him who loved him the mostest in the whole wide world. His first guess was me; then he said God. And who loves him the mostest after God? Mom, and then Hank, then dad, and then Grant.

Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:

Spent today: $17.83
Spent ytd: $59.25
Saved ytd: $153.86
Have: $20 in RR

Snow snow snow snow snow!

I succumbed. I wimped out. I called work and told them I was snowed in.

Sunday and Monday, driving was stressful but not bad. Yesterday I had to take the van, which, although it is supposed to be AWD, I don't like nearly as much as the Subaru. Maybe it's just more top-heavy? But I feel like I slide around more in the van. I slid past the turn for daycare- not a big deal since I just took another way up the hill. I slid trying to turn into our driveway, and slid again trying to back out of the driveway. But going to pick the kids up from daycare, I got halfway up a hill and got stuck. Sliding backwards, brakes locked, no steering- tons of fun. Did a 23-point turn, got back down, and tried another hill that is more of a main road. I really did wonder if they'd just have to spend the night at Priscilla's house. My four were the only ones who showed up- nobody else was brave/dumb enough to be out in the snow.

A bunch of other stuff went wrong last night, as always happens when David is gone, and I was frustrated and upset that Todd is such a....I don't even know what he is.....but when everything else around is closed and state patrol is telling people to just stay home unless they absolutely have to drive, he won't close the office. Ok, I understand that you're from Michigan and Utah. You're used to snow. So am I. But you live half a mile from the office. Without any hills. I don't. I live five miles and six closed roads from the office. And yet the world might end if I don't clean a few peoples' teeth today.

So I decided to act like a West Sider. I could've gotten out if I really had to. The roads are icy, but there's snow and traction. But what about lunchtime when I have to come home to let Hank out. What about 5 o'clock when I have to go get the kids. Will the roads be an ice rink? I don't know, and I don't want to find out.

I'm already researching Subaru options for my next car.

Sunday Shopping

Walgreens:
I bought these pills because they were free after RR and I have a bunch of money to roll. Buying these bought me an extra week in trying to spend my RR money.

Spent today: $1.72 (just the tax on these items)
Spent ytd: $41.42
Saved ytd: $118.10
Have: $22 in RR

RiteAid:

Spent today: $5.82
Spent ytd: $10.42
Saved ytd: $23.09
Have: $1 UP+

Monday Shopping Just Doesn't Have the Same Ring To It...

But that's what it was. I found a current coupon for floss so it was free after RR, and I had to buy the 39¢ Crunch bars as fillers. One disappeared on the drive home- that's why there's only one in the picture.

Spent today: $7.75
Spent ytd: $39.70
Saved ytd: $54.68
Have $22 RR

Sunday Shopping

I only went to Walgreens today. RiteAid didn't have much that looked very good. The dilemma, though, is that I have a bunch of UP+ rewards that expire next week, so I just have to hope that next week has better sales than this week, or I'm going to be buying something I don't need just to use up the rewards.

Walgreens:

Spent today:$27.09
Spent ytd: $31.95
Saved ydt: $32.07
Have: $23 RR

I'm really contemplating doing the Prevacid deal again. After the RR, it's only $6 for a month's supply. But Grouchy Boy was the only checker there this morning, and the coupon wouldn't scan. I could wait until tonight and go when some of the smilier employees are there...

Notice

Today I told Todd that I intended to quit. He was shocked, to say the least. I told him to stop talking and listen to me so I could explain. I'm being very nice; I simply told him I wanted to be a mom. I didn't tell him that I was sick of his mood swings, condescending attitude, lectures, negativity, micromanaging.....

Some of this is bad timing on my part, since Lori has been out since October with a hurt arm and currently isn't coming back until at least the start of Feb, but instead of just having temps fill in for her, we can have working interviews, and if they do find someone to replace me, I can just transition to filling in for her until she's back to working all her normal days. I tried to focus on the positive side of the situation.

There will be several awkward days as he works through his shock and stress, but I told him I'd stick around for awhile to help- I'm not just going to drop everyone in the middle of the mess and leave. Although some days I'd like to, if it only affected Todd. But it doesn't. It affects the rest of my coworkers, Dr. Jan, the patients, and my future. Todd is outspoken and opinionated, and since I'll have to list him as a reference, I'd better make sure he'll say something nice.

Bad side of giving him my notice: now David is backtracking and saying he doesn't think it's a good idea for me to quit. After he flat-out told me to quit my job in Sept. After I've talked about it and planned for it since he said I could quit. After he knew I told Priscilla that we'd be leaving the daycare, and after he knew that all my coworkers knew I was planning to leave. Now he doesn't think it's a good idea. I'm chooing to ignore that comment.

Sunday Shopping

New year, new plans, old idea.....I've wanted to track how much I save vs spend for a long time, to see which store is actually more of a $$ saver and how much I really save. And it will force me to blog, which I always want to do and never get around to. So, Sunday #1:
Walgreens:
Spent: $4.86
Saved: $10.32
Have: $5 RR


RiteAid:
Spent: $4.60
Saved: $6.89
Have: $2 UP+

Wonder what's on sale next week that I need? :)

Halloween

Ah, darkness, masks, and candy... is there a more perfect combo?

My poor children do not get to decide what they want to be for halloween and go pick out a costume like normal kids. They get whatever was 75% off at Target last year, or whatever leftover costume is in the halloween tub. None of them wanted to be what they were, except Joel, and that was just because I wanted him to be something different.

Hope was Supergirl. Target special from last year. Almost too small. But for one night, she can wear it. She wanted to be a ninja or a zombie. Vetoed on both counts. But I did tell her I'd look for a ninja costume for next year. (didn't find one, although with some black clothing and some sort of mask, it might be pretty easily faked.)

Naomi was supposed to be an angel. She even had a costume party two weeks ago and wore the angel outfit. But for some reason she saw Hope's old dance outfit and wanted to be a ballerina instead. The sleeveless shirt was much too cold, so we added an ultra-classy black teeshirt underneath. Hey, she stayed warm, or at least didn't complain about being cold.

Joel just had to be Darth Vader as soon as he saw the costume. It was way too big but I bought it because it was a pretty nice costume to still be on the 75% off rack. I just wanted to see if he would fit into it next year or if he had two more years before it would fit. But no. He had to be Darth NOW. So, some creative tucking and safety-pinning and a hunt for a red light saber, and he was maskless Darth. For some reason he'd never leave the mask on for more than ten seconds. I figured a basic costume and red light saber- even star-wars-illiterate me could figure out who he was dressed up as.
And Daniel the skunk. Every kid has worn this outfit, so I had to make him wear it too. But he was less than pleased about it. I got him dressed and he lasted about 10 minutes before the fit-throwing began. So we took him out of the skunk suit. The only problem was we hadn't done pictures yet, so after a few-minute break, he had to get dressed again. No trick or treating for him; after the outfit was off the second time, he got a bottle and some quality time in his bed. My last little skunk. Maybe I'll use it again next year for him. One last baby skunk...

Zach said he wanted to take the kids trick or treating this year. I intended to go, but I figured Joel might be better without me, so Zach took all three of the munchkins by himself. I think he just wanted first dibs on their candy.

Pirate's Baby

The last time we went to Arizona, Linda's dog Pirate just about had a heart attack from having so many kids around. He's used to just Linda and Keith, and he has one other dog buddy that comes over some to visit. He stayed hidden under a bed most of the time we were there.

Last summer when we were in Oregon with David's family, we reminded the kids that Pirate doesn't want to be bugged or petted or disturbed. He took off as soon as we walked in. Even when the kids were on the beach and it was just adults, he didn't want to be messed with. Until he discovered Daniel.

Once he figured out that Daniel couldn't do anything to him, he followed that baby around wherever we took him. He slept by Daniel's blanket. He laid next to Daniel's bouncy chair. When Daniel started to cry, Pirate would run to whatever adult was nearest to make sure you knew his baby was crying and needed some attention.





This weekend when we got to David's aunt's house, Pirate was already asleep. But the next morning when all the kids were playing in the backyard, Pirate made sure to keep his distance. Even when I tried to pet him, he backed away. His spot was directly under Linda's feet or in the house. Until Daniel came outside.

I really think he remembered Daniel's smell or something. As soon as that little boy started toddling around, Pirate started following him. Daniel played in the dogs' water dish, and instead of hiding, Pirate sat there and watched him. We got Daniel a bunch of ice cubes to play with, and he and Pie sat on the porch for half an hour and just played with the ice. Daniel would feed a cube to Pirate, and the dog would actually take it from him. It was amazing how that dog remembered that this little boy used to be his baby.

History Lesson

Hope tripped while walking to the bathroom Sunday while we were camping. Her knees were pretty skinned up and one was bleeding quite a bit. She isn't the bravest of souls and was milking her injury for all it was worth. We were in the motorhome putting a bandaid on her knee, and instead of really sympathizing with her, I said, "Ya know, Uncle Ron got shot with a gun. Maybe you should ask him if that hurt worse than scraping your knee."

Ron and Cindy had come for the afternoon, hence my comment about him getting shot. As we got out of the motorhome, I asked her if she wanted to ask him about it. She said she wanted to know, but wanted me to ask. So when we got over to their campsite, I said, "Uncle Ron, Hope wants you to tell her about getting shot." Perhaps I should've been more clear: she wanted to know if it hurt. But with Ron, you never get one-word answers.

He told her all about it, more than I've ever heard:
-who all was in the boat
-he was supposed to be delivering the boat and then leaving the country for a week of R&R- obviously that didn't happen
-he was driving the boat
-he initially didn't realize he'd been more than grazed
-he was hurt worse than anyone else in the boat
-it took almost three hours after he was shot before he was even evacuated
-it took a couple more hours to get to the hospital
-he nearly bled to death before he got into surgery
-it was almost a week before anyone here knew

He never did really answer her 'did it hurt' question. It was typical Ron story-telling, and this morning Hope asked me if he really got shot; she didn't even know whether or not to believe him. But I hope, years from now, when she learns about VietNam in history class, she'll remember that hour, and that what he told her will make the war a little more real and a little more personal. I wish history classes could be taught by people who helped make the history.