Bypass, and Other "B" Words

I should have known better than to make an actual list of blog posts I wanted to get done.  What happened immediately after making an official "list"?

Barfing.

Lots and lots of barfing. 

I can't even keep track of all the sanitary loads I did over the last week as Bug transformed into Linda Blair, and projectile vomited over anything and everything within a 3 foot radius. 

He's better now, but last night Bubble thought it looked like fun, and could tell that I was bored, so he joined in the puking party. 

Needless to say, blogging has been the furthest thing from my mind.

To top it all off, my dad has been very sick lately.  In and out of the hospital regularly for the past year.  It was finally decided that the only way to improve his quality of life was for him to have bypass surgery.

On Tuesday, he underwent a double bypass surgery, and as someone who knows what's it's like to have their chest "cracked", I have volunteered to go help him once he gets out of the hospital. 

To prepare for a week long trip away from Roon and the kids, I have been working like a crazy person to get the house in pristine condition before I leave.  Partly, because I don't want Roon to have to stress about cleaning on top of working and childing rearing, but it's also for selfish reasons.
Truth be told, I don't want to come home to a HUGE mess and lose all my momentum. 

Bottom line, I hope y'all forgive me for not being around much for the next couple of weeks.  I still love ya.  I promise...

Remember Me?

I know, I know.  I've been missing for quite some time, and you all are just DYING to know what I've been up to. 
I'll keep it brief, I promise.

Last week was quite the week for weather around these parts.  My kids went to school on Monday, and then followed that up with a SIX day weekend.  Yes, SIX.  If anything were going to drive me to start drinking, 4 snowdays in a row would have done it. 

In addition to the kids having no school, Roon was also confined to the house due to icy roads.  This really isn't a HUGE deal, because he is lucky enough to be able to work from home.  However, this means that my precious laptop was commandeered for this purpose, leaving me with little to no computer time.  I currently have 199 unread posts in my Google Reader.  That makes me sick.

I am so close to "going postal" on the USPS.  Last Monday, I shipped off 2 packages containing the Quince Quote prizes for both December and January.  On Thursday, I received word that BOTH packages had been received COMPLETELY SHATTERED.  The packages were insured, so all is right with the world.  Once we sell our souls to the devil, and perform some sort of ritual sacrifice, we MIGHT be reimbursed for the things we can provide proof of value for. 

As if that weren't enough, on Saturday I shipped off my "PINKTASTIC" swap package to my amazing parter Leah.  Before doing so, I thoroughly wrapped a specially made glass pitcher in bubble wrap, just to make sure it arrived in one piece.

It didn't. 

Yesterday, I found out that the pitcher had also arrived at it's destination in several pieces.

Looks like I'll be using FedEx from now on.  Take that, USPS!

I'm sure there's more that has gone on around here, but I seem to have chosen to block it out.  I have several posts planned out in my head, so with any luck, I'll be out of my bloggy rut, and back up to normal speed soon.

*Fingers crossed*

Can I Have your Attention Please!

I have a couple items of business to attend to today, so I'll just jump right in...



 

FIRST:  I'm joining the revolution!  There is nothing I hate worse than getting a fabulously witty comment on my blog, writing a fabulously witty response, and right before I hit "send" I notice that the address linked to their profile is the dreaded "no reply blogger".  Come on!  Doesn't anybody care how witty I am?!  Kind of anti-climactic, wouldn't you say?  So, I say "down with 'no reply blogger'!  If you want to join the revolution, go visit Mamarazzi, and put the button on your sidebar too!  Together, we can make the blog world a better place!

SECOND:  You may have noticed my little link list on my left sidebar.  This is my group of SUPER SECRET SWAPPERS.  My seriously fabulous friend, Shawn, brought it to my attention that just because the whole thing is "hush hush", doesn't mean that everyone wouldn't want to know who's playing along...hence the list.  This'll give all the swap participants a chance to get to know each other, and it will give those not in the "know" a chance to get to know some pretty awesome ladies.  In a few weeks, I will be announcing something fun to go along with the list, so stay tuned!   

Well, that about does it for me, today.  I will be catching up (again) on all my blog reading and commenting.  Slowly but surely...I will do it! 

OH!  And just in case you didn't see it before, it's time for the very first QUINCE QUOTE of the new year!  It's an incredibly HILARIOUS movie, so I hope you'll all play along...

 

Catching Up

Hey all!
Well, I'm finally back at it. 

Let's just say that as a new blogger, I was extremely naive as to the amount of free time I would have around the Holiday season.  So, I'm behind. 

BUT, I intend to finish every post I intended to post over the break, and post them this week.  In an effort not to confuse myself, I am going to date them the days I meant to post them.  I apologize in advance to all your Google Readers, which will now be inundated with several weeks worth of posts from me.  You can go ahead and mark them all as read if you want...

I have missed you all, and am so excited for things to start returning to "normal". 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hey Sanka...You Dead?

Ya man!
Did you guys miss me?
I missed you!
I don't know why I end up taking impromptu hiatuses from blogging, but I assure you that it is never intentional. 
I wish I could say that I was jet setting off to somewhere spectacular, but that would be a big fat lie. 
On Friday, we mini-van setted off to Mississippi to visit my brothers, their wives, and my two little nephews.  It was a BLAST! 
The best part of the weekend, bar none, was when my brother, Bawty, showed me this:

I'm going to be an aunt again!!!  The most thrilling part about this, and the part that makes me want to cry, is that they have been trying for 3 years to have a baby.  After one miscarriage, several surgeries, and fertility treatments, their family can finally begin in early April (the BEST month to be born, by the way...).  I hope it's a girl.  We need a bit more pink in the extended family.
Congratulations Auntie Em and Uncle Bawty!
We got home from our trip late Sunday night.  Monday I spent the day preparing for a whirlwind visit from my dad and Grandpa. 
Early Tuesday morning, our houseguests bid us adieu for a few days (they'll be back on Friday) while Roon and I headed to Dallas for my yearly cardiac MRI and semi-annual check up. 
You know what I thought about while I was in an MRI machine for 2 hours?
How I wished I had a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. 
Seriously.
You try not to think about whether the smear above your head is a booger, or blood, but you can't help but wish you had something (and could move your arms) to wipe it off. 
After the MRI, I went upstairs to get checked out by the big cheese.  While she wasn't impressed with my laryngitis, and was even less impressed with the fact that I had gained back all the weight I had previously lost, she did not have any bad news to report...which is always nice.  We're praying that once the MRI is analyzed, nothing will change her assessment that my heart looks "happy". 
Yesterday I was in a blah mood.  A sinus headache made me opt to catch up on DVR'd shows rather than do anything productive.  That's going to bite me in the butt later on today when it hits me that my Dad and Grandpa will be back here tomorrow.  I anticipate that will not be fun.
Are you sorry you asked where I was?
Oh wait!  You didn't!  In that case, I apologize for this lame post.

I did think of one thing I wanted to share about our trip this weekend...
On Friday night, as we're driving to Mississippi, the kids noticed a business establishment out in the distance.  Noting that it was lit up by Christmas lights, including the sign that said "Shop", Bug asked in confusion "Is it Cwissmas?"
To which Roon replied:
"Nope!  It's not Christmas...it's Arkansas!"
I probably laughed entirely too hard at that, but at 8:30 at night, after 6 hours in the car, with children who reached their breaking points at least an hour before...it was hilarious!

A Quick Hello

Hello!
I am desperately missing my bloggy friends right now, but I feel weird blogging while I have company.  My Sister in Law is in town to keep me company while Roon is away on business this week.


Stupid Florida!  I hope you know what an awesome guy you stole from me! 


-On the bright side, since we've had company, Roon taught our Primary class by himself on Sunday so I could attend the adult classes with my SIL.  It had been a long time.  I really enjoyed myself. 


-Before Roon left, we were working like crazy to get a large vinyl order done.  And, we did!

I love marking stuff off my to do list!


-I am pretty sure I broke my toe when I went out to get the recycling bin this morning.  Turns out, a rain slicked driveway, and flip flops are not a good mix. 


-It has been raining here for 2 days, with no end in sight.  I'm beginning to wonder if I should build an arc. 

-I've decided that I adore unlimited texting.  My sister and I communicate via text to avoid using our minutes, and I have recently begun texting some of my bloggy friends.  It makes me happy.  I love it!

Wow!  This sure turned into a bit of a lame-o post about nothing.  Sorry about that!  I feel all muddled and out of my normal routine.  I shall be back to my normal self in a few days.  Until then, have you decided what you're going to do with TOOTSIE ROLLS this month?  I think I've figured out a prize for each monthly creative genius...maybe.
Happy Hump Day All!!!

I'm Pretty Sure...

...I won't get everything crossed off my to do list today.
...I might make a dent in it though.

...The hamburger meat will NOT be thawed by the time Roon gets home.
...This means we will have pancakes for dinner.

...I left the meat in the freezer on purpose, because pancakes sounded better.

...At least one of my packages from Amazon will not arrive before we leave.
...It will almost certainly be the one that would prevent the most fights.

...We will inevitably be forced to bring home a HUGE tub of cheese balls.
...And at least one toy that annoys the crud out of me.

...I need to get off the couch and go do the laundry.
...Or I'll be naked the duration of the trip.

...Roon would like that

By the way, for some reason, my email isn't working on my computer today, so I will be much slower in responding to comments and emails.  Turns out, emailing from my phone...not so speedy.

Some Randomness

So much stuff is going on around here!

• Our trip west is less than a month away...YIKES!  I've started making a list of mini posts I'm going to schedule, so you can't miss me too badly. 
• Between Quince Quote, my "Our Jouney to Forever" posts, and the regular memes I participate in, I think I've forgotten how to blog.  As in, coming up with something to write about.  Hence, this discombobulated post.  You're welcome!
• I have a to do list that is about a mile long right now.  Topping the list is finishing up a few custom orders, which should have been done FOREVER ago.  Mopping the kitchen floor, vaccuuming, and laundry are also on the list.  Getting dressed in real clothes and taking a shower, didn't make the cut...
• I found out who my partner for Mamarazzi's Red, White, and Blue Swap is!  I would tell you who she is, but I think I'll just say that if my luck continues at this rate, I may be tempted to buy a lottery ticket!  Seriously...awesome! 
• Speaking of Mamarazzi... Right now she is having an awesome GAME GIVEAWAY!  I want to win, so I'm using this time for shameless self-promotion.  If you want to go against me, head on over to enter yourself.  Or don't because that means I have a better chance of winning! 

Well, I guess I'm off!  If I make a dent in my to do list, I will celebrate with a little down time.  Now, if I could only remember what "down time" looks like...

Don'tcha Know...

I am finally over my two day long horrible headache.  Not quite a migraine, but bad enough that I didn't want to do anything.  This is my explanation for why I was MIA the last two days, and why it might take me a while to get caught up with my besties.  Looking at the screen made me ill.  I still love you all though!  Give me a day or two, and I'll be all caught up on the goings on.   

Since I was not feeling up to par the last two days, I watched movies all afternoon.  I kinda like days like that, if only I could have one without feeling less than human, it would be complete bliss!  One of the movies I watched yesterday, is my copy of what I have decided will be June's Quince Quote selection.  When popping it in the DVD player, I realized something.  I am completely idiotic about certain things.  For example...two-sided DVDs.  You know what I'm talking about, right?  The discs that have "fullscreen" on one side and "widescreen" on the other...
Well, when you are putting the disc in, which side is which?  Do you put it in so that the side labeled what you want to watch is up, or down?  I have no idea.  These discs drive me crazy.  The Sandlot DVD I have is like that too, and it's obviously too complex for the mind of a simpleton.  I wonder if they do it to confuse people like me, so we will throw the disc at the wall, scratch it up, and have to buy another one. 
Nice one, disc-maker people.  Nice one. 

-Boo is in the process of potty-training.  She came in yesterday morning saying something about being sad.  It took my headache plagued brain a while to process what she was saying.  Apparently, Roon's most recent tactic to get Boo to use the potty, is to tell her that when she pees in her pull-up (which is actually a Pamper's easy up), she makes Dora sad.  Yes, her pull ups have Dora the Explorer on them.  I'm not sure whether it will help her train, or if it will just traumatize her.  Early test results show it doesn't make a bit of difference, though!

-After watching the season finale of Lost, Roon tried to explain to me what exactly just happened.  My main question that he wasn't able to answer was...if none of them knew, then how could they build the church together?  And, how could there be a church, in a place where there is no "here"?  He couldn't answer me.  Well, he could, but the answers made no sense.  Again, probably a concept that's too complex for me. 

-Monday night was the premier of "The Bachelorette".  To hear my thoughts on that, click