Riley Strong.. an amazing girl..an amazing family

Everyone has a bad day here and there. Any mother and father knows there are days when we think we will never survive another like this one. Kids screaming and fighting and other things go wrong like the roof leaking, a bill you can't pay, a fight with your spouse, an appliance goes up and we say " God doesn't give you more than you can handle". At that moment we think God must think we can handle a lot. Well...

This is a story about a family dear to my heart. Many years ago a young woman named Wendy started getting her hair done by me. We shared a mutual friend. She got married and had a beautiful baby girl named Rebecca. Like all married people they had a rough patch and then along came another perfect baby girl, Riley. The second of what became three girls. Riley was just as well behaved and easy as the first but over time things just didn't seem right. Turns out after many tests that Riley has Angelmans syndrome. Riley doesn't speak and it was a struggle to learn to walk along with many other things. Thankfully Wendy and her husband Jimmy were just blessed that Riley didn't suffer from the health problems that plagued so many with the same syndrome. Until.. the seizures started and then long stays at the hospital. Finally after trying many things Riley once again was healthy and thriving and more adventurous, even learning to roller skate with assistance. Wendy never let Riley's condition slow her down, never uses it as an excuse to stop enjoying life. She is  definitely the root of the saying " When life throws you lemons, make lemonade. " Always upbeat even when her own health wasn't the greatest. Wendy takes her kids to the beach, they play sports, she takes them in the pool. She is just a great mom with three great kids.

A few days ago while unpacking from a beach trip Riley wandered off and fell in the pool. Wendy found her just a couple minutes later and along with her oldest daughter performed CPR and Riley is on a ventilator at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Imagine how a parent must feel. This was a horrible accident that happened to good people. I am sure this leaves this family wondering... why them??? Haven't they been handed enough to deal with, enough for a lifetime?

I beg you to keep Riley in your prayers. Pray for this family to stay together whole here on earth. And also the next time you have a bad day remember this story. Don't think about it as being luckier than them. Think about the strength, love and courage they have and strive to have the same in your own lives.

God Bless Jimmy, Wendy, Becca, Riley and Mackensie King

Camping and cats

Every day of my life is blog worthy. I just run out of time to write daily. It's actually quite a shame because funny things happen everyday around here.

For the first time in quite awhile Joey and I had 5 days together with the kids camping. We had a great time once he stopped complaining about all the things I do wrong.  See Anal Annie (aka Joey) thinks that the kids shouldn't break anything or dirty up anything. I think that only happens if you have a normal amount of children and I am thinking that only reduces the odds slightly. I am not sure why he thinks that the trailer would fare better than the house and all the broken furniture and clutter around here. However we truly had a great time and I am reminded how much I miss him on a daily basis. The kids hit some milestones and it was nice that Joey got to see them. Violet stopped giving everyone dirty looks and started talking and just telling everyone what she thinks of them. Charlotte is swimming without swim aids. (maybe now she will finally get big enough to give up the ninny) Oh and lets not forget the proud moment once we got home when Violet took off her diaper and pooped in the yard like a dog. I am so glad Joey didn't miss that moment. Also Sadie broke Joey down and he gave in to a new kitten.

We promised the kids a kitten and we made good on that. Yesterday we took all my kids plus 2 extras to animal control. We are quite a loud crew so I am not surprised that a cat got spooked and scratched Aaron. (always Aaron who gets hurt) Poor cat got quarantined and we had to file a report with the county. Really!!! Well we adopted a cute little kitten and then I got myself a discount kitty($16). A nice one eyed older cat with a crooked tail. Joey didn't have to tell me twice that I could go back and save the ugly cat.(He will never say but he wanted him too) I am thinking this is his ninth life so lets hope he doesn't think the needle would've been better than spending his days in this crazy house.

Just for informational purposes.... There are lots of cats needing good homes at animal control. Many are free because the people who gave them up prepaid for them to go to a new home. If you have room in your heart and home try one.. Discount kitties are pretty grateful to have you.

Summer.. here it comes!!

As a child I remember counting the days til summer break.  As an adult and mother to many I no longer count the days until school lets out. I begin counting the days until school starts again.  Let me clarify....  Since I spend all my days at home with the little kids it may not seem like a big deal to have the 2 big kids join them.  However chaos begins daily when the school bus pulls up so I can only imagine what summer will hold. Sure, we spend all of our weekends together now but Monday always comes. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids. I just would like them more if they didn't annoy me so much. Sadie can't utter a word without whining or crying and there is also the door slamming, feet stomping as she's yelling that I am not fair. Oh and the constant need for entertainment. "Can I go here? Can my friend come over? and will you take me to five below."
Now Aaron isn't nearly as annoying. That is probably because he asks for little. However he has this annoying DS game that he has to make loud noises as he plays and after awhile he sounds like he has Turets.
All of this aside I still love summer and it is my favorite time of the year. And this year I am even keeping a few other kids a couple days a week. I figure mine will bother me way less if I have others to focus on. It also helps that I can drink this summer since I am not knocked up. I think beer companies should mail out coupons like baby formula companies do. Or better yet... the baby store should sell beer. Maybe I will add that to the comment card next time.
Happy Summer my friends!!!!

No lunchmeat for you!!

I am pretty sure it would not surprise anyone that the people that work at my grocery store know me. I go at least once a week. I shop at Food Lion which is never busy so I am thinking I am one of their best customers. It is not the fanciest place but the prices are good and the clerks are friendly except...
Lately I have been going to the store in the evening after work so that I don't have to take kids with me. I still know most of the employees, even the rude deli lady. Granted I am sure cutting ham and cheese is not the most fulfilling job but in this economy someone I am sure will take it. This particular lady has screwed my order up on more than one occasion (and I have never complained) and never responds as I say thank you. Well tonight as I suffer from exhaustion and am sick but still need to visit the store the nice deli lady told me she was closed. Well this sucks but okay I can make do. I finish shopping, head to the check out look at the clock to see that it is 8pm. I ask the clerk at the check out "what time does the deli close?" He says "8 pm".
Well isn't that nice. I did say I was done shopping and at the checkout by 8??
I have never complained that she is bitchy or that she screws up my order regularly but tonight she messed with the wrong customer. I complained to mangement. I even went as far as to tell him that now my kids had to eat the shitty processed cheese with the gross film you peel off since lazy deli bitch lied to me. I am pretty sure she won't mess with me again. Oh and btw she didn't even say she was closed nicely. Pretty sure this lady would be the waitress that wipes the mayo on the table.
Listen people.. I cut  hair when I don't feel like it. My husband  serves his customers even if the restaurant is ready to close. Jobs are hard to come by so don't be a jerk!
She will know it was me that complained and I will hold my head high as I order next time and I will make sure it is 7:55 pm. And maybe just for shits and giggles I will order in 1/4lb increments to make up my 3 lb order.

Dreams

I wake up everyday and do the same thing. I straighten up my messy home and attack my list of things to do. I also make myself a promise that I am going to stay organized and when I go to bed the dishes will be done and the house tidied up. I am not sure why i approach everyday this way instead of just realizing that there will be dishes in the sink and toys on the floor when I fall in the bed after a long day and only a partially completed to do list. In a perfect world everything is neat and in its place. I will achieve this goal when all my kids are grown and gone. Until then my basement and garage will remain hideously overflowing with useful and useless stuff.
The problem is that I need to accept that it is okay that I have messes and can't get through my daily lists. What I do have is a lot of little people and a few big ones that love me and make me smile (until 8pm when they all need to get out of my face.)
I guess it is okay to have dreams though... My dreams may be a little different than most though. I just want an orderly,spotlessly clean home. I want to wear a bikini again(not really.. just want to look like I can)I want my husband to lose his love handles but still love mine. (HA) but most of all I want happy kids.(OH I have that) So for shits and giggles.. I would most like to have an endless supply of money. This is why they call them dreams..
Sleep tight!!!

"Daddy dressed me"

How is it that when a kid looks a mess, clothes don't match, shoes don't match, hair isn't combed and they are with thier father people think....aww look at that cute kid, her father must've let her dress herself. 
However if that same cute little child was out with her mother people think....what  in the hell is that mother thinking? She clearly must not care about how her kids look. I hate to see what her house looks like...
How is this fair????
Truth is Char and Vi try to dress themselves all the time but I say "NO you are not wearing that!" This works most of the time for me. Of course the other day when we got to a party Char took her shoes off to reveal Christmas socks. I mean sometimes things do slip by me,  But Joey on the other hand, he doesn't even try to coerce them to wear something else. He took the girls out yesterday and Char was wearing shamrock pants with a ruffled skirt and a flowered shirt. Wish I could give you a visual. Should've taken a picture. Violet's outfit wasn't quite as bad but clearly noone got thier hair brushed. All of this would be fine if he had not brought them by my work for all to see. I would like to say that this is laziness on Joey's part but truth is I believe it is a true inability to understand what matches. There are many times I am sending all members of my home back into thier rooms to change. (Joey included)
I am thinking my wonderful husband chose the right profession. Thank God his cooking is better than his fashion sense.( and let me just say he can serve up a fine looking plate of food!)

Golden Family Kiddie Mobile

I remember when I was young I couldn't wait to start driving and to pick out my first car. I think it is the first thing you get that makes you feel like you are becoming an adult. I was so happy the first time I drove my 1984 Mustang. And like most kids I loved it until... I saw the shiny new cars sitting on the lots up and down Ritchie Hwy  and that's when it all began....
The endless years of car payments and by now I probably couldn't tell you all of the cars that have passed through my life but I can tell you I never had trouble finding one that fit my needs until now.  Once my suburban became a corvette I knew I was in trouble. Weeks of looking for a vehicle bigger than a suburban got many laughs from friends. Years ago big families just bought station wagons and piled in. That was before kids had to ride in car seats until college. Now it is crucial to have enough seats so as to not get arrested for kids sitting on the floor.
I am now the proud owner of the sexiest 12 passenger van in the Dena. I cannot be missed. So now I have plenty of room to drive many kids legally.
 I make sure I park my large intimidating vehicle right next to the jackass ex cop with 1 kid in the sports car at the preschool who called me out for letting my big kids watch my little kids while I walk Char into school. In the church parking lot where everyone has kids of their own and surely don't want mine nor could they even get them all out of the car to steal them by the time I get back! Yep.. I have been parking real close to his little mid life crisis Dodge Charger just to make him nervous..
Sometimes it's the little things...
Thinking I will downsize to a small Suburban in about 7 or 8 yrs!