Thanksgiving, photo fail, and friends.

The day started out well enough. Owen was very VERY excited about going to Uncle Roger’s for Thanksgiving…and kept asking me how many minutes how many minutes how many minutes. I told him it wouldn’t be until after Katie’s nap, so then he started asking how many minutes until her nap. Over and over and over. At 9am. 🙂 He told me he was going to go get in the car. I told him no, it wasn’t time yet. I finally told him it would be a few hours, and I would let him know when it was time…I wouldn’t let him miss it.

Fast forward until after Katie’s nap. I had the mashed potatoes going on the stove and their nice outfits all ready…and of course she woke up too early. Fine, no problem. I got them both dressed for pictures. Katie wasn’t terribly happy (she’s got a cold—as does Owen—and her nap wasn’t long enough) so it was challenging to say the least. And she was really REALLY cute, too, so I was disappointed. But I was snapping away and hoping I’d at least get one decent shot.

Then it was off to finish the potatoes. And take breaks every minute or so to wipe Katie’s nose. And try to get Owen to RELAX about getting his shoes and coat on and wanting to get in the car. And then I decided to take more pictures…AND DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO MEMORY CARD IN THE CAMERA SO I DIDN’T HAVE ANY PICTURES. I wasn’t in a great mood before that, so that just pushed me over the edge. (It’s the little things, I swear.)

So I was rushing to get everything packed to leave the house (changes of clothes for both kids because it was Owen’s Clean Out Weekend and because Katie accidentally got some of Owen’s “poop juice”, diapers, pull-ups, snacks, etc.), get the potatoes finished and in the crock pot, stack all the dirty dishes, let the dog out, and then—since I’m apparently a masochist—TRY TO TAKE MORE PICTURES WITH UNCOOPERATIVE KIDS… Needless to say I didn’t get one good picture.

The best picture of the super cute hand-me-down dress:

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The best of the awful sibling pics:

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The good thing about the day was going to our friend’s house—my babysitter’s house—so she took over Katie duty while her younger sister played with Owen. This became Katie’s favorite new activity:

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The kids were having a great time playing (Owen even asked to play on the big outdoor trampoline!), I was drinking wine and visiting, and all seemed well. Until Owen came over to me asking where the bathroom was, so I went with him to show him—and watched as he puked in the toilet. Twice. Oh lovely. I told him he might be going home—if he was sick, we really couldn’t stay. He immediately started whining that he didn’t want go…he wanted to keep playing. So I told him we had to take his temperature and if he had a temp, we had to go. He didn’t have a temp, so we stayed.

The dinner was nice and it was good to be with friends—it helped not to miss Tom quite as much. But of course Owen was frustrating. He had told me he would try all the new foods…but come time, he didn’t touch anything. He claims he ate a bite of mashed potatoes but he didn’t. He didn’t even want his yogurt. Sigh. Then he had to go potty—and I went to check on him (I don’t trust him when we’re not at our house)—and it’s a good thing I did because he had peed all over the toilet, floor, and waste basket. SERIOUSLY?! Breathe. Breathe. I know where the cleaning supplies are, so off I went. It wasn’t a big deal (and they didn’t care) but still, it was like WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO HAPPEN?! Then we called it an early night because Katie was getting tired and I really just wanted to get into jammies and relax.

Once we got home, I tried pictures again…and didn’t have much more luck.

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Both kids were in bed by 7 and then I got to relax…

An unnatural sight.

I hate cleaning the floors because everything has to come off the floor. I usually put the chairs on the table so I have to clean off the table first—which is actually the worst part of the dining room. Today, however, I could have gotten away with not cleaning off the table (because I just put all the chairs in the foyer) but the table REALLY needed it. And the floor was awful since it has been a good month since I’ve cleaned it—and then Owen spilled apple juice all over the other day.

I had to take a picture because it was just so…clean…and…pretty.

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Of course 10 minutes later at dinner there was strawberry, ham, and yogurt on the floor… 🙂

Feeding his sister

I let Owen eat breakfast watching TV this morning. Of course it was impossible to keep Katie away after she was done with her food…so eventually this happened.

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And then I took a video without moving from my spot so they wouldn’t stop what they were doing. I should have zoomed in but I was too intent on making sure I caught it. 🙂

Owenisms 30

As he’s getting into the car after school.
Owen: Hi Katie! How was your day? I missed you!

On the way home, Owen asked me how many minutes until we got home. I said two. As I slowed down to turn in the driveway:
Owen: Is this our house?
Me: Ohmygosh?! I stop the car in the street before pulling in the driveway. Is this our house?
Owen: Blue windows and blue door. Yep, 108. Our house.

Owen wanted to play with my Doctor Who sonic screwdriver so I begrudgingly let him—specifically telling him to BE CAREFUL and not lose any of the parts. Less than three minutes later…
Owen: Mama, I lost the end.
Me: I JUST HANDED IT TO YOU. HOW COULD YOU LOSE IT?
Owen: I don’t know.

Owen: Mama? Want to hear a joke?
Me: Sure.
Owen: Apple juice corn!

Owen: What’s that brown thing?
Me: The avocado pit.
Owen: Why?
Me: Because that’s how it grows.
Owen: Why?

He’s taken to asking what every song on the radio is.
Owen: Mama, what’s this song?
Me: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Owen: Why?
…
Owen: Mama, what’s this song?
Me: Winter Wonderland
Owen: Why?
Me: Because that’s what it’s called.
Owen: Why?

Owen came in while I was showering. This happens about twice a week. Long story short, he ended up taking a shower with me this time.
Owen: Bending over and looking at my pubic area. Where’s your penis?
Me: I don’t have a penis.
Owen: You don’t?
Me: Thinking “Oh crap, what have I started?” Boys have penises. Girls don’t.
Owen: No. Where is it?
Me: I told you, only boys have penises.
And then I changed the subject and he was off on how tickly the bubbles were. So, a conversation for another day…

How much do you think a well-visit costs?

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Really? Eight line items ranging from $26-$200 for a total of $962…FOR A 15-MONTH WELL VISIT?! Of course the allowed amount is half that and we pay nothing, but that’s still $&#% INSANE.

I couldn’t even remember all the things they did to warrant that many line items so I had to look them up (in order, as seen above).

  1. 99392—Periodic preventive medicine re-evaluation (Birth-24 months)
  2. 96110—Developmental testing, limited (e.g., Developmental Screening Test II, Early Language Milestone Screen), with interpretation and report (I think this was asking ME questions. Or maybe reading my answer on the questionnaire?)
  3. 90657—Influenza virus vaccine, split virus, 6-35 months dosage, for intramuscular or jet injection use
  4. 90670—Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 13 valent, for intramuscular use
  5. 90647—Hemophilus influenza b vaccine (Hib), PRP-OMP conjugate (3 dose schedule), for intramuscular use
  6. 90700—Diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTap) when administered to individuals younger than 7 years, for intramuscular use
  7. 90460—Immunization administration through 18 years of age via any route of administration, with counseling by physician or other qualified health care professional; first vaccine/toxoid component (New 01/01/2011)
  8. 90461—Immunization administration through 18 years of age via any route of administration, with counseling by physician or other qualified health care professional; each additional vaccine/toxoid component (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure.) (New 01/01/2011)

So, if I’m understanding 7 and 8, they charged $260 for administering the immunizations?! For less than five minutes. What a racket.

Owen noticed what was wrong!

I can’t believe I’ve read this book 5-6 times and never saw it…but in my defense, it’s just a graphic and there’s technically nothing to read on it. And I’m usually reading fast so I don’t start crying.

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But then, after he noticed the 7 was missing…I noticed Wednesday was spelled wrong! TWO MISTAKES!

I contacted the company and they couldn’t believe in over 200 printings no one noticed! They thanked me and said they’d send a replacement book (which I declined, though maybe I should have accepted it so each kid could have one as a memento).

(Daddy’s Deployed is a completely customized children’s book for those with a parent deploying. The book features the name, gender, and physical attributes of, not only the child, but the parents as well!)