Oh, and I just got back from an expensive trip to the vet. Believe it or not, our cat, who hasn't been doing so well lately, has a yeast infection in her ears of all places. She's a young cat (not even 2), and I was treating her for ear mites, and it wasn't doing anything good for her, so I bit the bullet and brought her into the vet. Kind of like going to the dentist. Try putting it off until it can't wait, and then go after most of the damage has been done. A yeast infection. Go figure. But I guess it can't be all that uncommon, because they have medication for it! Let me tell you, having 2 young children try to remain calm for 1/2 an hour when there's no television and nothing for them to get into except what they shouldn't is really a picnic (NOT!!!) Within the space of the 1/2 hour, while I was trying to talk with the vet while the exam was going on, the little one crayoned all over their chairs, they ran back and forth between the cat & dog waiting area at least 5 times, and managed to almost get bitten by the canines who were waiting for their appointments. All this while the cat is flailing around like a windmill with claws, the vet is trying to show me how to give the cat the medication, and I'm trying to keep the boys from tripping the vet because they've decided it's the newest and best game to run between the waiting room and the exam room, between the legs and around the table at breakneck speed.

ok, now the little ones are into mischief again. Must go and separate the warring factions.

Ok, so now I've somehow misplaced my cell phone. Or my kids have misplaced it for me. I hate when that happens. That, and the remote controls (of course, it doesn't help that there are like 10 remote controls in the house and I need a mini-catalog just to keep track of which remote works what device.) But my kids (and the cats too, I'm sure) love to knock things off of surfaces and shove them under couches, or behind or under the cushions, or just carry them off to the most unlikely places imaginable, especially the boys. And you know what's even worse? I can't even call my phone to have it ring because the darn thing is out of charge. Man, we really need a bigger house. And some organization. OH, and like a million bucks would be really nice too.

But seriously, all kidding aside. I was reflecting today how lucky we really are. Even though our bank balance is usually hovering right near zero, and it's a struggle a lot of the time to not have it go under (God knows those banks love their overdraft fees!!!), we have a roof over our heads, clothes, food and transportation. And we have our health. And health insurance. And even though sometimes it seems like everyone else must have it better, it's all relative. They say that even millionaires have their problems, and sometimes they're even bigger than the ones we have (though I wouldn't mind the opportunity to find out, hey what.) I guess that comparatively speaking, we're pretty darn well off.

Well, I'm off to get ready for the weekend. You have a good one. I'll try to, too.

Ok, I have to lay off the bad words. My 7 year old is imitating me.
Just read that now they think the chemical in hot dogs that makes them so bad for you (sodium nitrite), may actually be really good for people in oxygen-deprived situations, like sickle-cell or after a stroke. Something about the nitrite makes the blood more oxygen saturated. Neat.
And now coffee is supposed to be good for you too. How great is that? It's supposed to have like 4x the antioxidants found in green tea or dried beans, which if you keep track of stuff like that, were like the top antioxidant-rich foods before coffee was tested. Of course, in a short while, they will be found to be really bad for you in some way or another, but it's interesting to see how medical research keeps uncovering new information about all the stuff in our world.

I find it amazing how much of a stinker a 2 year old can be. I've forgotten since the last one. This little guy is crazy. Drawing all over himself and the house with markers as soon as his brother abandons one; jumping from the back of the couch onto his sister's head while she's reading; deliberately trying to harass his brother. I mean, this little guy can't really talk yet, but man is he ever a character. And what makes it even worse is that he's just about the cutest little guy you could ever see. Almost as cute as the baby on the Quizno's commercials. I wonder what it's going to be like when he gets a little older and Really figures out what buttons to push to get people mad at him. Seems to me that he doesn't care even now, and I could imagine it's only going to get worse.

Ok, so now I'm officially a member of the blogging community. How neat! And to think I got here thanks to LazyTown. That's a tortuous route I won't go over with you. And now I've got stage fright. This is going to be read by HOW MANY PEOPLE???? (probably none, actually. I feel better now.)
Specifics:
the name says it all. I'm the 'mom' in this household of 3 kids (7, almost 5, and almost 2), 2 cats, 1 guinea pig & 'HIM', the all great and almighty 'HUSBAND', otherwise known as the breadwinner of the house, though not necessarily the one who wears the pants. Actually, life for me isn't all that bad. It's just not what I envisioned for myself 15 years ago while still in college with unlimited vistas for my future.

What a 'never saw this one coming' life. I thought I would be a famous medical researcher who would discover the cure for cancer, or a professional musician, or a great psychologist, or almost anything else but a 'mother & homemaker'. I guess it's why I never became any of them; I had too many options & couldn't decide, which makes it pretty hard to graduate with a Bachelor's in nothing. Well, that and not having enough money to pay for rent without working 30+ hours a week on top of the full time college schedule. But that's water under the bridge. The road not taken...

But enough self-flogging, oh whoops, I mean Blogging! Ha ha ha.

I just told my husband that I'm officially a blogger. He was pretty impressed, but didn't understand the mechanics of it. I don't really myself yet either. Only time will tell. That's a great song by Asia, BTW. I'm not as hip on the abbreviations as most, but I guess that will come with practice and experience, as does anything, right?

So the newest gizmo for kids on the brain sucker is some kind of car that chases after a line drawn on a mat with a special pen. Didn't they have something like that years and years ago? The concept seems familiar.

My day is spent with 2 little boys who watch Nick Jr. & PBSKids & Noggin every day. I'm trying to now turn the tv off during the day a few hours. Which is fine and what I should do, except then my time is spent breaking up their fights and rescuing them from somewhat hazardous situations instead of TRYING to keep the house reasonably neat & making meals for them and getting some time to do what I really like to do once in a while. Six one way, half-a-dozen the other.

Well, dishes are singing their siren song. Later.
Wow, I just remembered that this is a very important and tragic day for my husband and his family. Will have to get in touch with some of them.