Have You Been Waiting For This?

This Week The Plan

Last week was kind of crazy what with all the lice interruptions. I was really wanting to get all the summer clothes put away and all the fall clothes washed and put in drawers. That is a LOT of processing. You've got clothes that are grown out of to store or get rid of, clothes that *might* fit next year to store, fall clothes that fit to put away and those that don't to store or get rid of. It is a MAJOR job. Well, the constant laundry & vacuuming & head checks (up to 2 hours a day!!!), kind of put a damper on my progress. As of today I still have fall clothes spread out on the couch. I did manage to process all the summer clothes and they are binned up and ready for the basement. Now all the fall stuff is clean and I just need to force myself to put it away and not continue to dress the kids off the couch. I even changed my own clothes over... but... they are clean and piled on the floor in front of my dresser. (I know how fascinating this is)

I've reworked our budget... and.... YIKES... we're pretty much negative unless I get my babysitting hours. Unfortunately my situation is all over the place. Ideally I'd like 3 full days... but some weeks (last week for one) I only pull in 10 hours and that's the minimum we need to meet our monthly financial output. Any little thing would put us over. We'll just try and toe the line and hope we don't have any medical expenses in the near future. As soon as we know what's going down in the near-ish future (still don't) I'll be able to recruit another kid or two (hopefully). If I had one steady full time kid we'd be doing alright... for the immediate term anyway.

I've also decided that I'm going to go for my body fat goal. Which means... since I can't control anything else... maybe it would be therapeutic to put in some solid effort and reap some solid results every week. You know? I kind of need that right now. In that effort I'm taking a 20 day challenge. I'm changing up my routine and giving a new one 20 days to sink in. I'm also going to go back to food journaling. I really don't want to calorie count unless I have to. I mostly just want to stay focused and accountable.

Okay yada yada...

Menu:

Sunday - black bean & turkey quesadillas

Monday - baked ziti & peas

Tuesday - cheap takeout/eatout for kids (read Mc D's or Cici's ... that's what we're down to) as I'm getting my haircut during dinner

Wednesday - molasses & sweet potato beef stew (batch cooking)

Thursday - potato & leek soup (this got bumped) (batch cooking)

Friday - pizza night

Saturday - crockpot chicken w/ roasted root vegetables

I'm feeling good about my freezer stock ups. I've got 4 beef stroganoff, egg mcmuffins, gingerbread waffles, chicken soup, italian sausage meat sauce for 2 dinners, sauce for 2 pizzas, rolls for 3 dinners. This week I'm doing the potato & leek soup and beef stew. It is a huge relief to know that I've been able to get so much put up. It is absolutely a pain in the ass to do.... but it really does make a difference... do it!

Today Is The Day

We're pumpkinizing our house today.

Stay tuned.








Damn labels are still down. I've been reusing when applicable but today I got nada.

Next Stop

Colorado City


Kid didn't get why Mr F and I thought this particular hairstyle and outfit choice was so funny.

I'm betting some of you will.

Today

I really wanted to put up a *good* post. Let you all know that this is really not getting me down. It's hard when I use this as a daily outlet to give the full picture. The news day to day has tended toward the bad... crisis management. But we're not breaking down. The good news is that crisis management is my skill set.

So in some perverse way I'm stimulated and functioning at my best.

Overall our house is a happy one.

Happier than most.

Mr F and I like each other. And we are in a really good place in our marriage. We're not letting outside stress turn into inside resentments.

And that is saying something.

We're on the same page. And we're making plans.

A lot of things have sucked in the past few years. But in someways they've freed us up... some literally and some mentally.

Having taken this chance to come here... and having it bomb out underneath us... but having it (surprisingly) strengthen us instead of weaken us... I think it has given us the courage to risk even more.

If that makes sense.

So maybe things will all fall into place. Maybe they won't.

And that's okay. Because maybe that's what we need to take the chance on making our own happiness.

Maybe what we need is to step up and choose for ourselves.

Maybe.

In time.

For now I'm making cookie dough for the girls to roll out.

I promised.

And they're holding me to it.

And The Universe Answered

A few days ago after enduring in a week and a half...

- discovering mold all over a basement & garage (and all over our stored belongings ruining many items)

- getting food poisoning

- having Putty die

- taking Baby to ER for severe allergic reaction

- Kid catching lice


I asked WHAT NEXT?


And in answer came the reply...

"10% paycut"


If you've been reading long you know that after all the cuts Mr F has taken at his current job in the last 10 months we are now at a 25% paycut.

That means our mortgage is now just about 60% of our take home pay.

That's not a good ratio.



I didn't panic when he told me. Instead I went to the kitchen to stir the soup and started laughing.

Because what else can I do?

I feel like I've been cast in a movie.

And I'm really hoping it's a comedy and not a tragedy.



We're still waiting on "Project Operation Change".

So there is still a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

But it seems that we are most likely a month or two from knowing how that will turn out.



If it doesn't...

we're selling our house (because we'll have to).

And we're buying an RV.



And you can't stop me.

Footsie

This Week The Plan

Alright so I'm running a bit behind what with all the delousing and all.
Good news is that I haven't had any babysitting the early part of this week and I've been able to just focus on taking care of business. I think I've got a good handle on the lice for now.
I've also gotten started on my batch cooking and have been putting up one thing each day this week.
We also got the basement and garage pretty squared away mold-wise and I've been able to get back to my workouts. So this week has been a veritable pleasure compared to last week... even with the nit picking (literal) I put in 3 times a day.


Menu:
Sunday - Sausage & Onion Quiche w/ Tomato Soup
Monday - Beef Stroganoff w/ buttered egg noodles & peas (batch cooking)
Tuesday - Asian glazed salmon, fried rice w/ broccoli & peas
Wednesday - Chicken Soup & rolls (batch cooking)
Thursday - Tomato & Meatball Soup
Friday - pizza
Saturday - Potato & Leek Soup (batch cooking)


When I'm making a batch meal I try and make enough for 5 dinners. I serve one and then freeze the others.

The beef stroganoff was pretty good. Kid said "I hate to say this but the meat doesn't taste very good and is dry." But then she ate two servings. And Baby only ate the meat... so.... mixed review. The taste was good... I think we're just not all about the crockpot meat cooking... it does sometimes leave you with over cooked meat. I wish I had used a cut of beef with more fat & connective tissue. This is sounding like a bad review... it's not... we'll happily eat it 4 more times. I just like my old traditional recipe (Joy of Cooking) that just calls for sauteing the meat better than slow cooking it.

I'm making my own chicken soup and potato leek recipes... so I know they're good. I'm also going to make a big batch of rolls and shape them and freeze them so they're ready to get baked the day I want them.

I also made a big batch of Gingerbread Waffles. These are really good. VERY gingery. Next time I might take that down a notch but that is just a personal preference. This recipe made 18 waffles at about 200 calories each.

I'm also going to make a dozen egg & english muffin sandwiches and wrap them and freeze them this week. Mr F & I both really appreciate having a quick on the go breakfast. On days when I'm sitting it is very hard for me to eat breakfast let alone make it. I've just got too many people coming in and out at the same time.



Off to the library... more to come!

Oy. Spoke too soon. Kid is back home with lice. Not actual lice. But they found another nit which sent her home... along with half her class. Ridiculous. So I'm keeping her home the rest of the week. I can't have her continue to get reinfected everyday... and I don't want her to have to keep getting sent home (talk about shaming). The kids aren't even having lunch time they are all (the entire school) standing in line and getting their heads checked at noon. This is obviously not working since almost every kid in her class has been sent home twice this week already... and they've all been medicated (which we can't repeat for 10 days... and which I'd prefer not to repeat if possible) and nit picked several times a day.

I'm Just Going To Cut To The Chase Here

And tell you...

"I HAVE LICE!"

Yes you read that right.

Just when I thought there was no feasible way that my bad week filled with random crap could be followed by another bad week filled with random crap...

Boom.

Lice.

Everywhere.

I knew that for the last week there had been a lice outbreak at Kid's school... but... like everyone else I really didn't think too much about it.

Then this morning her school called to report that she had nits and needed to be picked up. I was met in the parking lot by another classroom parent there for the same reason. It appears they do twice daily head checks... that's how bad it is.

So instead of having a fairly easy Monday... a day I had hoped I'd get to use catching up on things from last week and recovering from the weekend's 2000 loads of laundry from Project Mold Removal... I ended up spending 8 straight hours stripping beds, vacuuming mattresses and pillows, couch cushions and carpets. Washing heads with toxic POISON (redundant? sue me) and then painstakingly picking eggs out of Kid's 3 feet of ultra fine hair (too fine for the comb!). I spent 3 hours on her hair alone. And then I did 8 loads of laundry. EIGHT PEOPLE.

Meanwhile my head was itching like MAD. I assumed it was psychosomatic since it started as soon as I heard the word lice.

Nope.

I've got them.

I can't begin to tell you the level of awesomeness I'm now feeling.

Before today I had absolutely no idea what went into delousing. It is no fucking joke.

And now on top of everything else I need to strip my bed AGAIN since I just laid down to read to Kid before bed. I've just recontaminated my own pillows!!! And tomorrow I'll have to do it all over again!

Seriously people... what next?!

WHAT NEXT?!!!!!!

Your Life Sucks Here's Ten Bucks Giveaway

If you were diligently reading ALL THE WAY through my weekend post then you know I've decided to give away four $10 giftcards over the next 6 weeks.

The thought is that while I can't change the world, and I can't change your life, heck I can't even change my own right now... I can make you (okay only 4 of you!) smile and hopefully feel a little Furious love.

The problem is that how much your life sucks is completely subjective. And I'm not sure how I'll go about choosing winners. I mean I'd hate to take someone who is already hurting and then say "Oh you thought you're life sucked before... guess what You Lose". That seems somewhat horrific. So I'm still thinking about it.

And I have time because I've already picked today's winner.

Me, Only Better you are the first winner! Email me (mrsfurious at hotmail dot com)!

Last week I put up a post asking people to share their own "my life sucks and is falling apart" stories and Me, Only Better left a comment that really stuck with me. I could feel her level of despair and I wanted to be able to do something... just a little something... to make her day brighter.

It was that comment that inspired me to do this series of giveaways to begin with, so it's only fitting that she be the first recipient.

Since she's Canadian (yes giveaway is open internationally!) and there are no Targets (how can you survive?!!) I've thought of two other options: iTunes & Gap Options card (good at Old Navy, Gap & BR). Let me know which one you'd like!

THE NEXT GIVEAWAY WILL BE OCTOBER 19TH!!!!!!
So if you're thinking "But Mrs F if only you knew how miserable I am... I would have won this" Hang tight... you'll have three more chances!

Never before has having your life suck felt so good.

Morning Pleasantries

Mrs F holds Kid by the shoulders and says...

"You need to sit down and eat breakfast.

You are acting like this because you didn't get enough sleep. Tonight you'll be going to bed much earlier.

Now sit down and eat.

If you keep acting like this you are going to... (desperately thinking of consequences)... regret it."




As Kid walked out the door this morning, I kissed her and said "It's been a real pleasure". Mr F snorted.





P.S. My labels are broken. In case you were wondering. I usually use them as a continuation of my post. Well it turns out you can only do that 2000 times. I'm trying to think of how to handle that. Until then I'll either be label-less or reuse some.

I'm Really Going To Miss This

Sorry... can't get it to upload vertically. Turn your head.

Translation:
"I will not go to Home Depot Dad."


You and me both Kid.

Randomness Of The Day... PLUS... future giveaway information

Last night I had two separate nightmares about being with Baby in an armed robbery. Hands down being in an armed robbery was one of the scariest situations of my real life. It completely altered my perception of my daily safety. And it taught me I'm a runner. As in I'll choose flight. In my 2nd dream I was getting away with Baby in my arms. I still woke up feeling stressed.


This week I made a whopping $150 babysitting. Which sounds and feels impressive until I divide it out by the hour. And then... well... it's less than minimum wage. It also leaves me feeling like all the bone marrow was drained out of my body by the end of the day. I'm watching for LONG days. 9-10 hours. And yesterday I had both extra kids... plus... my own. And with kids ranging from 5 months to 7 years (some of you may know exactly what that is like) I never get a chance to sit down. I'm meeting needs THE WHOLE DAY. And since I haven't worn Baby in a sling in almost 2 years and the little baby goes down in it... my back is killing me. I need to build those particular arm and back muscles that get tweaked while carrying a little one around... and... trying to cut apples, wipe butts, build towers, etc.... because I woke up today and something is pinched and I feel like I can barely breathe.


I need to get back to meal planning and batch cooking. Especially on sitting days when I'm watching kids right up until dinner time I just don't have time to make dinner. That will get easier as the baby gets older... and sometimes he sleeps at the right time and I can still get stuff done on time. But this week several times I wasn't able to get dinner on the table on time and we were eating about an hour later. The problem with that means I then don't have time to workout... and Kid is practically eating and then going to bed. If I could get some freezer meals stocked up I'd be able to pull something together a lot more easily. So this weekend I'm going to focus on finding some good things to cook up and stock the freezer with. If you've got a tried and true big batch recipe that freezes well please send me a link!


This weekend we are also going to work more on eradicating the mold that is in both our basement and garage. Unfortunately that is also where all my workout equipment is... and I haven't been able to workout because of the mold. My eyes immediately start burning and itching when I'm down there. That is another frustrating set back. I'm going to need to make myself do the 30 Day Shred until I can get things cleaned up down there. The problem with that is that I just don't get the same level of stress relief from that as I do from working out on the treadmill.


In other random news I'm starting to think about Christmas (12 weeks away!) and this years gift boxes. I'll be giving away 4 boxes this year... so... get ready. Oreo truffles anyone?! Yeah that's what I thought.


I also just ordered THIS BOOK for myself last week. I found it on Amazon for $3. You may recall that I recommended this book a few years back after my good friend lent me her copy to read. I like this book enough that I'm thinking of including it in the gift boxes this year or doing a separate giveaway. I highly recommend it to all mothers... and the title is a misnomer... it is not a religious book. It is a book about simplifying. And this is the perfect time of year to read it. Before we get all caught up in the stress of holiday time.


That's what I've got for you today. After I have my coffee and my back starts to feel a bit more pliable I need to put away the girls summer clothes and put the huge piles of winter clothes that have been washed and dumped on the couch away. I'd also like to go to Barnes & Noble this weekend and spend a couple of bucks on a mocha and a slice of lemon cake and let the girls listen to the story time. I've decided that I can take $5 a week of my babysitting money and spend it on something frivolous JUST FOR ME. I think that's fair.


I've also decided to give away a $10 Target giftcard (or iTunes, or Gap Options card) to someone whose life is falling apart on October 5th, October 19th, November 2nd, and November 16th (four separate giveaways). I know what it's like to have a shitty ass week and I know what it is like to have so tight a budget that you can't afford a single luxury. I know it's not a lot but it is enough to get yourself a bag of candy and a people magazine, or a pumpkin scented candle, or a tee shirt. And sometimes that is what you need to make your life a little more bearable. I was going to give myself $10 a week for luxuries but then I thought I'd go halfsies with you. For every $5 dollars I give myself I want to be able to give the same to someone else. SO stay tuned for that. I'm not entirely sure how I'll choose the winners... that will probably be the hardest part.

Who Am I To Say No?

My friend Torey suggested I start "Bitch Fest Friday"... and I was like... well... I was probably going to do it anyway why not share the joy?!


So here you go...

Today is Bitch Fest Friday.

That means that YOU are free to bitch about your life in the comments.

Cause lets face it... sometimes you just need to get things off your chest and stop being such a big person about your problems. Sometimes you need to whine about them for a bit and cry like a little baby.

I hear you.

You know I hear you.

The rest of your day you can pull yourself together and put on a happy face... but here... you can be a basket case.

That might be my new motto.

Feeling Tried

Lately I feel like I spend all my time just trying to get back up.
When I let myself dwell on it I can sometimes think we have a lot of bad luck.
It just doesn't seem like everyone else goes through all this.... all the time.
I wonder what it would be like to have a couple of months of just regular life.
A life where things unfold without crisis.
I wonder what it would be like to actually live life instead of react to it.
I feel like I am always reacting.
And it is exhausting.

ER Follow Up

She most likely has Erythema Multiforme. What started out as hives turned into a more severe allergic reaction (so not stress related... I had wondered that too). In retrospect I do know when it changed... so next time I'll be quicker on the uptake.

She's on steroids now. Since she's had hives in the past we'll have her tested for allergies. This could be an allergic reaction to food, etc. or it can be an allergic reaction to a virus... which is what we're assuming right now. Just to be sure we're discontinuing the foods she's had in the last couple of days (of course with Putty dying I wasn't exactly paying 100% attention to that). She goes in for a follow up tomorrow.

We are now supposed to look out for the symptoms of THIS. Cause you know if it's my kids they can't just get the regular version of something they have to get the crazy ridiculous life threatening one. Awesome. Two year olds are super complaint with mucus membrane checks... they love it.

On the positive side I did the right thing. I didn't overreact or under react. They said I followed it perfectly and brought her in just in time.

Well, I suppose that means I should have brought her in last night but whatever... close enough.

I absolutely love it when doctors tell you that things are okay UNLESS they aren't and then you need to RUSH BACK HERE because this can become a medical emergency.

I love that.

I haven't had enough of that in my seven years of parenting.

Good News Bad News

Well the bad news is MY DOG IS DEAD.

The good news is that it has completely taken my mind off of "project change" (or lack thereof... whichever it may ultimately be).


As far as the grieving goes... it's still going. I am shocked at how grief stricken I am. I never really appreciated what the loss of a pet was like for someone before this. I really feel like what I would up until now only have thought you could only feel for a person. I said to Mr F that I have to rank this right below losing either him or the kids. Not just because I have spent everyday all day for over a decade with him (or... yes... maybe that is it) but also because dogs are so dependent on you. They need you. And that is where the guilt comes in. As I said to Kid "unfortunately Putty didn't speak English and he couldn't tell us if something was wrong." And, right now, that is killing me. The what ifs. I'm working really hard to let them go as they come up... but they do come up about every 5 minutes.


I'd love to have something else to write about... but other than watching the horrifyingly large hives that have taken over Baby's body... I've got nothing but tears.

This week has been one of those weeks where I just want to turn my grownup badge back in.

I just want to get one of those beer helmets and pop some cold cans of cherry coke in them and watch 12 straight hours of real estate shows on HGTV.

But Baby just woke up. The hives are now around her eyes. We're off to the ER.

Heartbroken

My chest literally aches. I just keep seeing all his puppy days running through my mind. Then I see his bone left under my desk. His food bowl still filled waiting for him to come home and eat it. His basket of toys overturned in the living room.

I'm devastated.

Just completely devastated.

You can read Mr F's eulogy HERE.

Rest In Peace

We are both grief stricken and shocked to report that today at 12:30 PM our dog passed away of sudden heart failure. This was unexpected and we are having a hard time processing such devastating news.

Putty

March 1st, 1999 - September 28th, 2009

Down For The Count

We had a fabulous time this weekend (really we did... pictures, etc. to come)

Except for that pesky food poisoning...

Should've listened to Barry and gone to Taco Boy!