Wanted: Pediatrician

Since our move a year ago, we have been through 4 pediatricians, not counting the Instacare Dr.'s. There have been at least 3 of those.

I am seeking a Pediatrician who:

1. knows what the hell he/she is talking about.

2. schedules appointments in advance. One Dr.'s office would only schedule for that day. If I didn't call at 5 am I was SOL.

3. tells me what immunizations my child is receiving, before sending the nurse in to jab needles into my kid's leg. I would also appreciate a run through of possible side effects. Is that too much to ask?

4. does not chew gum with an open mouth.

5. does not talk baby talk. Grown men talking baby talk is ridiculous no matter what their profession is. My kid thinks you're ridiculous too, by the way.

6. does not talk to the 2 week old baby about his "guys" while fondling the baby's testes.

7. has a clean office. I do not want to wonder what the stain is on the seat I am sitting on.

8. employs individuals to run the front desk who have at least 2 braincells to rub together.

9. does not make me wait in a little tiny exam room with 3 kids for longer than 15 minutes. My time is important too.

10. does not wear tight fitting scrubs. I also do not want to see chest hair curling out of your V-neck. You are not a 70's porn star.

I Surrender

My love of all things culinary got the better of me. I went to the store for butter and Doritos and returned with all the fixin's for a Thanksgiving dinner. So much for my wallowing and baa humbug attitude.

Thanksgiving Pizza

This is our first and hopefully our last Thanksgiving with no family. Many nice friends have given us invites to their Thanksgiving feasts. I prefer to wallow in my self pity at home, thanks. For some reason, crashing someone else's family festivities, eating with mostly strangers, seems worse than being home and pretending it is not Thanksgiving at all.

So, we are home. There is a take and bake pizza in the fridge ready to go. The kids are outside playing in the warm Arizona sun. It doesn't feel like Thanksgiving at all. I just wish the announcers for the Football game would stop bringing up food and family.

That said, I do feel the need to write my thankful list, though there is no ceramic turkey to put it in.

I am thankful for caffeinated beverages and Sonic coupons to buy them with. Thanks Brisday, the drive-thu girl, for giving me stacks of coupons every day!

I am thankful for Craigslist and Freecycle, because I have developed my husband's family's love of scrounging for free stuff, in hopes I can turn it into something amazing. Best finds this year: 60" rear projection TV, bags and bags of knit fabric, a kiddie pool, and a coffee table.

I am thankful for PBS kids. I love that it can keep my kids occupied for a good share of the morning while I put the house back together from the previous day. And it is educational, so I feel less guilty about letting them watch it for hours.

I am thankful for the his and hers corners in our house. One for Drama Queen and one for Monkey Boy.

I am thankful for cereal, PB and J, Mac 'n Cheese, and hotdogs. Without them my children would probably starve.

I am thankful for our home.

I am thankful for unexpected blessings popping into our lives when we need them most. A check in the mail, bags of boy clothes from a friend, a scholarship for Kate's preschool.

Thankful for my parents for all their help, flour, corn and potatoes from home. My mom for talking to me everyday and being my friend.

Thankful for my hubby's parents too. They have helped us tons over years. Just finished off the last of the frozen meals his mom put together for us when the baby came and still have a pantry full of good food. Amazingly helpful as I have adjusted to life with 3.

I am thankful for perfect, wee toes, fingers, ears and big, happy, toothless grins.

I love unexpected bear hugs and slobbery kisses from a sometimes tender and sweet Monkey Boy.

I am grateful for Drama Queen's unique perspective and wisdom.

I am really, really, really thankful for my kind and patient husband, because we all know I am sometimes not that kind and definitly not that patient. He does his best to make me happy, and mostly I am.

I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and his tender mercies. For his guidance in my life and the comfort it gives me to know everything will be all right in the end; I just need to hang on.

Cuz Peeing you Pants is Cool!

I have reached new heights in womanhood. After having 3 kids I can now pee my pants not only when sneezing, but when I cough or blow my nose. Since I am currently battling a sinus infection, ahh, good times, good times.

Yesterday, I had just finished peeing (not in my pants). I thought I was safe. I took a chance. I blew my nose and I peed my pants. WTH (What the Hell)!!!!!!!!

Monkey Turd

That Monkey Boy is killin' me. These are some of the highlights of my day.

During breakfast MB threw handfuls of egg and toast onto the just mopped floor.

I came out of my bedroom from putting some laundry away to find Angel Baby laying on the floor in the hallway by his car seat. "Huh, I swear I remember laying him on the couch, but yet here he is kicking and staring in the middle of the floor." MB had picked him up, carried him across the room and tried to put him in the car seat. When reprimanded (screamed at and shot at with flaming darts out of my eyes) for picking up the baby he said, "Bonk head!" and pointed to the handle of the car seat which was in the up position. "Did you bonk Baby's head on the car seat?" I asked. "Ya!" He proudly replied. Somehow through all this Angel Baby was A-okay and not crying.

Then we went to a store that shall not be named, and the little turd ran away from me in the parking lot. It was really hard not to beat him.

While in the store I am too embarrassed to name, he wouldn't sit in the cart. We fought, he screamed and cried, and I gave in, letting him walk. In the electronics department, Soccer was playing on all the big beautiful TVs. He bolted away from me shouting "Bay-ball, Bay-ball" (all sports are baseball).

When I caught him I yanked him up as roughly as I dared in public and shoved him into the cart. He screamed and screamed and screamed and screamed. For those of you who don't know what Monkey Boy looks like when he screams here is a picture.



It's not pretty. I think he could fit a Volleyball in his mouth.

We headed over to the fabric dept. where he continued his display of displeasure. I spied several women including the Fabric Cutter giving me, "Good hell, that kid is out of contol," and "Why can't that mom shut that brat up" and "She must be a horrid mother," looks. Mighty judgmental for shoppers of "The Store that Must not be Named" if you ask me.

Out at the car he ran away again so I pinned him with my leg against the back of the 4-runner while I loaded my purchases in the car.

He tormented Drama Queen all the way home.

Now he is napping and, thank the Lord, by the time we got home all that screaming had made him tired enough he went down without a fight.

I dread waking him up, but it must be done. I have to pick up Drama Queen from pre-school. I love being a stay-at-home mom! *hint of sarcasm*

Chronicles Chapter 2: Fav Fold and Anybody Want Diapers?

I *heart* flat fold diapers. Reasons: They wash so nice and easy. There aren't a bunch of layers to make sure and get all the pee out of. There aren't a bunch of layers to take 2 hours in the the dryer to dry.

The Gerber flat folds I bought were awful! They are so small they barely fit Angel Baby's little bottom. The fabric they are made out of is a step up from gauze. I tossed those in my scrap pile and made my own. It is simple, just a square of flannel hemmed.

If you can't make your own, I was thinking about making them for people. I need to find out the price of the fabric, so I don't know how much I would need to charge. If you are interested let me know and I will find out the details.


This is the fold I use for my flat fold cloth diapers. I think it is cool.


Step 1

Take the bottom left corner up to the top right corner.

Step 2

Take that same corner you just had and drag it over to the left top corner. It will look like this:


Step 3


Take the bottom corner up and join it with the rest on the top left.

At this point I pick it up, hanging on to all the corners, making sure all the layers stay even on the top and then I shake it so everything straightens out.

Step 4


Fold the top layer 2 times so it looks like this:


Bonus Step


I turn the edges in a little so there is a little less bulk between Angel Baby's wee thighs.

And Wahla!

Promises Made to be Boken

Dancing Queen and I had to have a little "heart 2 heart" last night after she got a "GO TO BED WITH NO STORIES!!!!" from her dad. Ahhh, parenting. I have so much respect for moms who have to go it alone. It would be hard to be Good Cop and Bad Cop at the same time.


So, back to the H2H. During this little moment she made a promise to listen. This is how well she is accomplishing that goal.

10 min after H2H - "Dancing Queen stop singing and go to sleep"

12 min after H2H - "DQ stop singing and go to sleep! Remember your promise?" DQ - "Oh sorry, I forgot.

13 min after H2H - Mom bursts into room, "STOP SINGING AND GO TO SLEEP!!!" Mom takes toy she has been singing to.

Next day- preparing to go out and of course we are late

Mom - Go get dressed.
Mom - Go get dressed.
Mom - GO GET DRESSED!!! Remember your promise?
DQ - Sorry I forgot.

Mom- Get your shoes on.
Mom - Get your shoes on.
Mom - GET YOUR SHOES ON NOW OR I WILL LEAVE YOU!!! (We all know we are not supposed to make empty threats, but I'd bet a million dollars everyone of you has done it!)

Mom - Get in the car.
Go around other side to put screaming Monkey Boy in.
Mom - Kate, get in the car and get in your seat.
Forgot something in the house.
Mom- You better be in that seat when I get back! Remember your promise.
DQ - Oh yeah! I almost forgot!
Come back.
DQ is in the driveway getting the paper.
Mom - "GETINTHECAR!!!GETINTHECAR!!!GETINTHECAR!!!GETINTHECAR!!

Neighbor moving in across the street wonders if he can back out after closing on the sale.

Question for the Ladies

So, if you don't want to read about "The Pill", IUD's and other female related topics you may not want to read this post. This one is for the Ladies.

I want some feedback from real people and not just various pamphlets put out by the drug companies to push their products. I am at the choose your birth control stage of postpartum.

I want the scoop on IUD's Hormone and non, nuva rings, or whatever BC you love.