Pediatric Purgatory

The Bug's 6 month check up was supposed to be yesterday, but we got stuck in what I call Pediatric Purgatory. At our pediatrician's office you check in from your car at a call box and if you're lucky they will tell you which room to go to (all room doors are on the outside of the building). If you're unlucky, you will sit in your car with a screaming, sometimes sick baby until they call your cellphone to send you to a room.

All was going well when I pulled up and was sent directly into a room. Sweet! We'd be out of there in no time! And then we entered Pediatric Purgatory...

I proceeded to spend the next hour and a half in a room the size of a jail cell with an impatient toddler and an infant. Oh, and did I mention that she hadn't napped? After about 45 minutes, I'd given my Monkey a full on lesson on the solar system that decorated the room, and we'd exhausted the snacks and entertainment I'd brought along. I enlisted him to help me entertain the Bug who was beyond irritable, just wanting to nap which also means wanting to nurse.

I think I nursed her 3 or 4 times while I was there. She'd be drifting off to sleep and in would come the nurse who I would realize later was trying to fill the time before she had to tell me that the doctor wasn't coming. We weighed her, measured her head, measured her length, and filled out a developmental survey. After about an hour and 20 minutes they said the doctor was called to the hospital and wouldn't be coming back. I every so politely inquired about the 6 other providers (3 of which are newly hired to specifically prevent this from happening because it has been a complaint of patients for a while)and not one was available to see her. Not even for 5 minutes to do a once over and give the go ahead for her vaccinations.

I was told I had to reschedule...for 2 weeks from now. So I (not so politely) told them that this was unacceptable and now we're going back tomorrow. I'm sure this isn't the most interesting story, but it's one that I've experienced too many times. I think I'll be looking for a new doctor and leave Pediatric Purgatory behind!

In My Kitchen

There are a few things that you will always find in my kitchen. They are some of my favorite things, yet simple things.

1.Chocolate Syrup--My absolute favorite! I love it on icecream, to dip fruit in, and the best...chocolate milk.

2.Butter--I feel like I'm buying butter all the time, especially this time of year when I do a lot of comfort food cooking. Margarine may be just as good, but I don't want to know. Butter is southern and so am I.

3.Goldfish--Yeah I know, not very interesting. But I'm a Mama and if you're a Mama then you have goldfish in your kitchen.

4.Frozen Fruit--I don't always have fresh fruit (I'm terrible about letting bananas go bad) but I do keep frozen fruit. Peaches and berries are my favorite and they are a great snack.

5.Standard Baking Ingredients--I have only recently seen the benefits of having these ingredients on hand, but they have saved the day when my Monkey is bored and we want something to do. We just look up a sweet recipe and then we have something fun to do together. Warning: None of them are healthy and you may have to deal with a sugar high and crash as a result of using them!

My list includes: Butter (already mentioned)
Flour, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Confectioners sugar, Heavy Cream, Vanilla extract, Baking Powder, and Baking Soda. There's so many things you can make with these ingredients.

What's always in your kitchen?

Halloween Cuties

Babies dressed up in cute costumes is just too much, I love it! Yeah I know they're uncomfortable, but they just look like scrumptious little bugs, animals and punkins! The Bug was in and out of her costume for the car ride which was very fun for a 6 month old(real thoughtful Gymboree for making a costume for an infant that you can't buckle in a carseat!) but she was very gracious about it.
Just look at the preciousness!


It took us 2.5 hours to visit 5 family members! Don't worry, they made up for the lack of houses visited by giving my Monkey lots of goodies. The kid got candy, a glow stick, money, apples, raisins, cards, and a milkshake coupon. Infinitely better than the old candy we would have gotten at some houses.


We then went to a friends Halloween party and the kids had fun and stayed up extra late (in hopes that the time change wouldn't have them up at 5:30am). It was a Happy Halloween!

Costume Contemplation

I thought the other day how much my idea of celebrating Halloween has changed since I've had children. I remember when I could rock a sexy fairy costume, or when a group of friends and I dressed up as Girl Scouts in college. But since having the babes no costume has been even slightly sexy.

This saddens me.
I kinda wanna be a hot mom. Fluffy yes, but still hot.

I wonder how well received a fluffy french maid would be in our neighborhood as I tote around a three year old and six month old (because no one is having an "adult" party this year because everyone I know is knocked up and alcohol is half the fun).

Oh well, maybe next year I won't be fluffy...or knocked up. And I can be a hot french maid.

Tell me again why I'm not paid to do this?

I love being a Mommy...I REALLY love being a Mommy. I want it to be my full time job (and it is for this year) but the problem is that it doesn't pay. I know women have said this for years, it's just now I am faced with this as my reality and I'm a little frustrated that it's not a paying job. I know people say to make sacrifices, cut back, and whatnot, but to be financially responsible in raising our children and preparing for their future I will most likely have to go back to work next year.

And then there's the fact that I'm not entirely sold on going back to my previous job. I was a teacher and I love teaching, however...that is only a tiny part of the job. If that's all it were I'd go back in a heartbeat. But it's politics, and micromanagement, and uncompensated duties that often end up leaving my own children with the short end of the stick. If anyone has any suggestions for jobs where I can utilize my degree in elementary education or a job where I can work from home, please share.

I'm ready to scratch my eyes out from looking at careerbuilder and monster.

Ramblings

This is just a run down of what's been on my mind this week:
-Remember not to even "jokingly" show your 3 year old son a cheerleader costume on the off chance that he will decide right then that he will be nothing other than a cheerleader for Halloween rather than the agreed upon firefighter. He's since offered 3 other options; a buzzy bee, candy corn(my mama's suggestion), or a cowboy(my last ditch suggestion since he has to dress up in western wear for his preschool fall festival anyway). Cowboy it is.

-I'm rereading The Party by Sally Quinn...one of my favorite books!

-Bug has absolutely no interest in sleeping through the night and I have absolutely no interest in letting her cry it out (...yet).

-I am excited about joining the church we have been visiting for the last few months.

-I have been to two covered dish dinners in two days and cooked for the RedHead's office covered dish...I'm cooked out for the week. Except I've already bought all the stuff to make Cinnamon Bun popcorn for Monkey's preschool teachers as their Halloween treat. Guess I'll keep on cookin'.

-I am ready for a day; pack the kids up and hand deliver them to their grandparents so I can sleep for 12 hours or go get a massage or finally get my house clean. I'm leaning towards A or B, C can wait.

-I'm wondering if no one reads your blog if it's like talking to yourself? Like in the way crazy people talk to themselves like someone is there listening to them...

-I like elipsis and I can't stop using them...even if I wanted to!

My Little Punkins'

I have a real thing for putting my kids in pumpkins. I just think it's so darn cute, and I'm sure I'll put every babe I have in a pumpkin. I don't feel the same way about staging photos with them in a stocking or present box or Easter basket or anything else...I just love a kid in a pumpkin (did I mention that already?) Here's the Bug in her punkin'.


And here's my Monkey in his punkin' circa 2006.


Couldn't ya just take em' out and bake em' up in a pumpkin pie?!