The One-handed Juggler

Last night, my neighborhood had an impromptu block party, or what we refer to as "Beer Friday".  We all gathered in the cul-de-saq to drink and chat while the kids ran around like animals.  Y'know, good times.  My son and the other 3-year old boy (another G name) on the block took off to our backyard, where there is a sandbox, "rock quarry", and swing set.  I stayed up front with the adults, drinking my beer. 

Time passes quickly when you're having fun and so, when the sun set, I thought I would go inside and turn the lights on for the boys, who were still in the backyard.  Or so I thought.  I had not realized how much time had passed and we hadn't heard from them.

I went in through our garage and came into the living room.  Whoa.  WTF happened in here?!  As my eyes began to survey the damage, I could hear the youngsters upstairs in the loft.  I stepped over the toys, sippy cups, boxes of cereal, and loose cereal to start for the steps.  However, the kitchen caught my eye - clean (thank goodness) but for a chair pushed up to the counter and a cupboard open.  I noticed a light from the refrigerator and gave it a shove to close it.

Sighing, I left it behind to find my son heading upstairs carrying a six pack of Pediasure (he thinks it's a drinkable yogurt). 

Me: G?  What are you doing?

G: Don't worry, Mommy!  I got it under control!

Me: But, WHAT are you doing??

G: We we hungry, so I got cereal

<at this time, the other G appears at the top of the stairs, elbow-deep into a box of Lucky Charms>

other G: Hi, Miss B!  G got me food!

I took another look at the mess (easily cleanable), took a look at the boys (happy and apparently full) and thought to myself, "How can I really get mad at my son?"  Sure, there were tons of toys but that happens when friends visit.  I found I was actually quite pleased with: 1) G's self-sustainability; and 2) his hospitality.  He could have gotten hungry and just found stuff for himself but he actually got down 2 boxes of cereal and was trying to hook both of them up with drinks!  (not sure how they would have gotten them open - I did help out and got them some sippy cups of water).

So, I decided to let it go.

Later, I did tell him to find me the next time he and his friends got hungry.  He smiled that darn smile of his, kissed me and said, "But, Mommy.  You were having fun too." 

I guess he he was trying to take care of me too. :)

Since 19 November, G has had an ear infection and a stomach virus.  Now, today, he comes down with a fever, headache, fatigue, and sore throat -- classic flu symptoms.  It's 3am and I've been up since midnight because he running another fever and calls me every hour.  I just changed his shirt because it was sopping wet so maybe his fever is breaking (he felt cooler, anyway) and I can get some sleep.  The plus is that L is home right now for R&R and his mom is here as well.  I might just get to sleep in tomorrow if I play it right. :)

Question:  why are daddies the playmates and mommies the comfort?? 

3-year old + stomach flu x being a "single" mom = sucks

"single" mom + stomach flu x healthy 3-year old =  REALLY sucks

to learn good grooming skills:

FYI -- no, I'm not corrupting my little boy.  It's getting colder and I don't like him going to bed with wet hair.  Especially since he's getting over an ear infection.

It was about 9am this morning and I was sitting in Starbucks.  I had dropped G off at the CDC and I had some studying to do.  I took my normal place - in the corner, next to the window, facing the door - and began to research a paper I'm working on.  It's a little 2-person table that's perfect to fit my stuff on. 

A few minutes later, a girl walked in with her own stack of books.  She ordered and took up residence beside me.  RIGHT beside me on another 2-person table.  It's after 9am.  The place wasn't busy because most people had gone to work.  The place was empty.  Oh well.  Maybe she liked facing the door too.

She proceeded to open her textbook and began to read.  I couldn't help but glance over because she was seriously only a foot away.  Anyway, I look over and...

WHAMO!!!

There it is.  In all its glory, a very detailed drawing of a woman's exterior genitals.  Wowza.  It was graphic.  Had hair and everything.

I am far from being embarrassed by that sort of thing but let me tell you.  I would have had the same reaction if it had been a male.  But, when you're deep into your own online research, have barely had a sip of your latte, and are minding your own business, I bet money that would startle you, too.

It was a biology book, by the way.  Not sure if she was a nursing student or what but I sure was glad when she turned the damn page.  How could I focus with "that" staring me in the face?

I know there comes a day when all kids realize that their parents have other names besides "mom" and "dad".  I just didn't expect G to make the connection so soon.

Tonight at night-night time reading, I was answering a question of his pertaining to a truck in his book.  This is the response I get from my almost-three-year-old:

"Ooooooh!  That's right, Beffany."

I know he was just trying it out but his slow, determined delivery of my name + the surprise of its usage sent me into giggles!  So, of course, he started giggling.  It was a funny way to end the day and I know I'll hear my name again since he got such a response.

My latest scenario:

I'm stuck in a glassed-in shower with a cat soaked in tomato juice.*  I look up to see my (almost) 3-year old grabbing an open box of baking soda and he begins to shake it.

This is my so-called wonderful life.

*no, Spot didn't have another run-in with a skunk.  He still smells!  It's been 3 weeks and 2 hydrogen peroxide + baking soda baths since and I still can smell which room he's in.  Wanna know the kicker??  After this bath, not only does he still smell, now he's black, white, and ORANGE.

This has been a doozy of a week.  G has hit the Angry 3's and I am stressed to the limit with school and whatnot.  Everything is such a struggle with the little man that by the time he's in bed, I'm ready too.  Only, I usually have a ton of reading to do or a paper to write or a test to study for.  Arg.

G is reluctant to do anything that Mommy asks him to.  Tantrums have become commonplace and it's not unusual to have 3 before lunch (1 - wanting to go outside, 2 - having to change into clothes to go outside, 3 - having to wear shoes now that it's getting cooler).  Today was no exception.

However, today was a day that G was signed up to go to the child development center on Post.  The only thing getting me through my day was the thought of dropping him off at 3pm.  Anyway, off we go, in my car.  He's pleasantly sitting in the backseat talking to me about water towers and antenna towers - his favorite roadside objects right now.  We turn toward the Main Gate of Post and as I'm getting my ID out, I just happen to look in the mirror to see G throw up.  Not a retching, heaving mess but a calm little "urp". 

His little eyes got huge and I start my Mommy Reassurance Speech.  He urps again.  And again.  Now, it's all over him but he's still very calm about it.  I get through the gate and find someplace to pull over.  G's now asking me to "get it off, Mommy!" 

Long story short, he didn't go to CDC, obviously.  AND, he's not scheduled again until Monday.  I tried to get him in either tomorrow or Friday and the only time they had available was during the party he's attending on Halloween.

Fast Forward to home.  He's fine.  Must have eaten too fast or something because Vomit Boy is now running around like a madman.  No fever, no nothing.  We, of course, have about 2 more tantrums before dinner.  I was, and still am, frazzled and about to tear my hair out.

We're sitting at dinner and G reaches out to me and pats my hand.  "You okay, Mommy?"  I smile and say, "yes".  He then grabs my hand to hold it and says, "I hold your hand so you not get lost."  And there we sat.  Holding hands and eating.

Last Sunday, I awoke to a skunked Spot.  He had been out all night and showed up at the back door filthy.  My mom, who was in town with my dad, went out to inspect him and immediately came inside holding her nose.  Great.  Not only is he covered in mud, grease, and some yellowish substance I never identified, but he reeks!

I hopped online to see what the experts suggest.  I was ready to go out and buy some tomato juice but was informed by 5 websites that juice would just mask the smell.  The preferred recipe by all websites was a mixture of: 1 quart of Hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1-2 tsp of liquid soap.  Considering one was a vet from Texas A&M and the other source was a groomer, I figured I was in good hands.

2 baths later, Spot is allowed in the house.  The mixture did a great job at cutting the initial odor but he still has a lingering "aroma", if you will.  It's not noticable unless he's sitting on your lap.  In addition, I apparently did not rinse the hydrogen peroxide out of the fur around his face because it bleached!  Now, instead of being black and white, he's black and white with some spots of rusty brown.

What you see in that picture is not the result of faulty lighting.  He's really brown in that area.  Never imagined that I would bleach out my cat!

Bleached out Spot

Rusty brown