Just a note

You all know by now that I am as slow as sin and disorganized to boot, right?

I have every intention of making all the box albums and altered clipboards. I have already done Joy's box (and may even send it today!) and last night started working on the clipboard for That Chick's daughter. I took a picture yesterday of just why I haven't been able to do any crafting, my desk is an absolute mess and has become home to every lonely piece of paper in the house, along with assorted other things. I am going to get it cleaned up today and will post before and after pictures. Plus you know I blog and stuff. Sometimes I clean house and do laundry. I read, I watch TV, crap like that. Although I did discover yesterday it is super easy to do the clipboards while sititng on the sofa watching TV. Did anyone else see that new show The Riches? Minnie Driver in corn braids (is that what they are called?) and no makeup? Not so pretty. But the show was very good.

So I will get everything done, I'm going to try and do one project a day, and eventually they will make their way to you. I do still need some addresses and desired themes/colours, so if that's you I'm talking about send me an email.

The post about nothing

I have nothing to say, nothing at all. And yet, since I have nothing else to do I am writing drivel. Bear with me.

Yesterday I weighed myself for this May weight loss thing that I had not yet officially signed up for, but had every intent to do so. Until I stepped on the scale. I had gained 1.9 lbs IN A WEEK for a grand total of 9 lbs over the last few months. Holy fucking frightening. I ended up really sick yesterday, and was 3.7lbs lighter today, not just one time, but everytime I weighed myself. See what not eating along with a lot of bathroom time will do for you?

I think I might have a cyst. There is a hardness and I am very uncomfortable and crampy. I'd go to the doctor but do I really want my weight pointed out to me? This is probably why fat people die of horrible things, they avoid the doctor and the whole you are too fat issue until it is far too late and what could have been cured is too far gone.

Yeah, yeah, stop my whinging, you've heard it all before and until I do something about it just tell me to shut up.

William was at work today (unofficially, of course) and one of the guys he was working with felt sick and threw up. Tom, the boss, brought him home. When Tom and William came home two hours later they found out he had had a heart attack. Crazy. I haven't heard back yet how bad it is, I just know that he is in hospital. And not the one down the road that doesn't take any Level 1's.

I think I'm going to go do a meme that Rachel (it won't let me link- WTF?- but there she is in the sidebar as Crazy is as crazy does) had up, this post is entirely too depressing.

Out of the mouth of a babe (literally)

I hear Saoirse go into the washroom, climb on to the toilet, and then onto the counter top.

She is obviously looking into the mirror because this is what I hear:

"Boy, am I cute!"

More pictures

You guys are going to be sooo sick of pictures of my kids! And yeah, I do have 4. You'd just never know it by the camera. Taylor and Liam come off as the occassional visitor. That's what happens as they age I guess. Though Terri proves my theory wrong.


Hanging out in the laundry basket on St. Patrick's Day.


Saoirse loves any excuse to play in the yard, and a warm yet snowy day was the perfect chance to get out.


Sophie's first time playing in the snow. Not that she played and not that she lasted long.


Sophie's grin.


"Back off bitch!" I printed this picture off when I went away on the girls weekend. I came back to the table and there was a yellow post it with that quote over Sophie's head. We joked about a competition over some random baby boy in his swimmer diaper. Though she looks quite pissed off, really she was just terrified because I walked away and left her sitting there. So I could get the picture, not to leave her sitting by the L'il Dolphin pool. This was at the waterpark in the mall.

Cards

A few cards I have made. The frog one is one of my favourites that we have done in my monthly stamping club, all of us thought it was adorable. The frog is made out of oval and circle punches, with half a flower punch for each foot. That card was sent to Catwoman, whose Little Man loves frogs. The bottom card, made the same night, was sent to Julie.

Happy Days! It's a picture post!

For months I have been blaming Kodak for my inability to download pictures, when really the culprit was me. And William. I'm not entirely blameless here. All I had to do was take the USB cord from the no longer working dock and put in the camera.
Let's all shake our heads at my stupidity, shall we? Can you believe I made the blogosphere miss out on the yumminess that is these two girls? At least I think they are yummy.


Saoirse at the park yesterday. I love the static going on there.


Sophie in the tub, working on her Santa beard.


Sharing cookies.


Sophie.


Black and white always makes a dirty face picture more appealing.

The Retreat

Yesterday I spent 6 hours in church. This is a very, very long time for someone as lapsed as myself. And oddly enough, the time did not drag. I did think longingly of the book sitting in my bag, but only once or twice. I enjoyed the time I spent with Taylor on this confirmation retreat. Granted, shopping with someone else's money would have been much better, but this wasn't half bad.

Taylor is due to be confirmed on the 22nd of this month, and this retreat was the second to last step in a loooong process. First, the parents attended two 2 hour sessions and then the children attended another two. The retreat was supposed to be sponsors and the children, but as Taylor's sponsor is her godmother Janine, the gal who just had twins who are still in the ICN , and as sponsors are supposed to be Catholic it fell to me to go. Apparently I know very few Catholics. And the ones I do know- not so keen on hanging out in church for 6 hours.

The retreat was sort of fun. Fun isn't a word I'd ever use to describe church, especially not this parish which is downright boring and extremely right wing somewhat stodgy. But it was good. We played a few games, did a few quizzes and meditated.

And let me tell you- I could use some meditation on a regular basis. I couldn't even tell you what the girl was saying during it because I totally tuned her and everything else out. I even felt all tingly at one point, like I had just let the weight of the world fall off my shoulders. It was fantastic. I felt good for the rest of the day. I didn't even get mad at Liam and his friend Josh who came into the house later that evening covered in mud, and saying that a group of teenage boys pushed them. Little liars. I did get sort of annoyed this morning that they both completely stained their shirts, obviously I needed more meditation. Or medication, perhaps.

After the meditation we went to the church service. That was pretty good because it was the Monseigneur, not the Father whose views are often shouted from the pulpit. If the church doesn't want to perform gay marriage ceremonies that's fine and dandy, but don't ask me to sign a petition stating that the government shouldn't allow it at all. That's not so fine and dandy. Also, 4 o'clock Saturday mass? Not crowded at all. I think it's the way to go really. No getting up early, no far away parking spot, no worries about not getting my favourite pew. Yes, if I actually attended church, it would be on Saturdays.

On Wednesday, Taylor will do Reconciliation and then the Confirmation in a few weeks. I was really hoping that the retired Archbishop would be the one to confirm Taylor as he did mine and I really adored him, but they named a new Archbishop last week and he will be doing it. It would have been nice to have pictures of Taylor and I both with the same man.

And that's me done with Sacrements for at least 5 years now, as Liam refuses to do any and William doesn't want Sophie baptised. But that is a whole other post.

More stuff I'm trying to give away

Ages and ages ago I bought a bunch of clipboards from Staples. I made 4 as year end gifts for teachers (that's one of them, I didn't steal from splitcoast this time) and never did anything else with them again. Until tonight, when I decided to make one as a gift for a 12 year old to put her class picture on. Since, I'm making one, I might as well as make the others, or at least get them started.

Do you want one?

A trip to the ER

Saoirse and Sophie have both had colds since Monday, the third for both since mid- March. Saoirse started getting a bit wheezy yesterday evening and by 12.30 this morning was crying in bed constantly, looking for Daddy (who was right next to her), coughing and hacking, wheezing and sweating. This meant, of course, that William and I were up also. She tossed and turned all night, and we were lucky if any of us got an hour's sleep in total.

This morning she lay on the couch with me, and when she had a glass of milk she immediately threw it up, all over herself and the couch. Poor baby. I tried to give her some medicine and she cried "No way! I don't like it, Mummy!" On and off she slept and wheezes, hacked and coughed. It was something else watching her breathe, I'd never seen a chest move up and down so quickly.

I needed to take her to the doctor, but there was absolutely no one to watch Sophie, so I had to wait until Taylor came home at 12.30. Off we went, and she was so wheezy the whole way over. She went to play while we waited and didn't even have the energy, less than a minute after standing on her own for the first time all day she was in tears.

Into the doctor's we go. Her first question is "Does she have asthma?" I say that the pediatrician's office had said she probably did and then said no, she probably doesn't. She had me take off her shirt and said "That is asthma."

Saoirse was given a little fish mask and received a ventilin treatment. I was told NEVER to let it go so long again and was told to go to the Stoll.ery, which is the children's hospital at the U of A, because she did not respond to the treatment.

I ended up taking her to the Mis, because it is my hospital, where I work and my mum works, and because it is closer to home than the U. My mum tells me that if she is really bad, the Mis will transfer her anyway. By the time we get there she is sounding a lot better, definitely a bit laboured but nowhere near what she has been. The ER is operating at full capacity, so I'm a bit worried that I will have a long wait. She is assessed by the nurse, RT is called and she is put into a resus room before she is even admitted. He triaged her as a 2, so I think that helped. If she had been a 3 we probably wouldn't have been seen for ages.

Her oxygen is at 94% so they put her on ventilin treatments with the oxygen at 5. She had 3 ventilin treatments over an hour and a half, and one dose of predisolone. We were given an inhaler for her and a couple of prescriptions. We were seen and out in 2 hours. Yay, Mis! Very impressive!

She's better tonight, still laboured, but so tired from the lack of sleep last night, that she was down for the count just after 8. Here's hoping she sleeps through the night and that it rains early enough tomorrow that William gets the day off. If he gets the day off, I have lunch plans with 2 friends. One can always hope.

The box album

So since a couple of people asked what box albums are andsince I can't upload pictures because either Kodak Easy Share or I am complete and total losers I stole a picture of one from splitcoaststampers. Which I think is a big no no. But who's going to tell really? And should some splitcoast person wander over here, I'm sorry I really am. Apparently they are actually called explosion boxes, which sounds way better.



So this is 3 pieces of paper, 2 12X12 and one 81/2X11, cut and scored into cross like shapes and then glued together in the centre. You would then place your picturesinside. The lid is just another 81/2X11 piece of paper cut to size.

What I'll do for those of you who want one is theme it how you'd like (Christmas, girl, etc.), assemble it flat and sent it on its way. All you'll have to do is stick the brads in to assemble the lid and cut your pictures.

Don't expect yours to be so fancy. Beyond my talents!

Finally!

It may take me ages but eventually I do get things done. Today, I finally got around to sorting out the cards and mailing them out. They went out to 13 people and I there were a few others who said they would like some but never sent their addresses.(It's never too late!) I couldn't find my camera so I have to ask that someone take a picture of the blue friend card and email it to me. That is the one card that everyone got, and is one of my favourites that I have come up with on my own. Okay, stolen from the winter mini catalogue, but slightly modified. Of course, as soon as I got home from the post office what did I see but my freaking camera. Typical.

Oh, and those bubble envelopes are a tight fit and I am somewhat skimpy with the tape runner, so a few pieces may or may not fall off. Hopefully, it will be easy to figure out where they are supposed to go.

Many thanks to Frannie, Angie, Alissa, CPA Mom, Julie, Emily, Debbie, Beccy, Catwoman, Sam, Rachel, scrapbooking princess and Terri for saying they'd like a few cards. And in advance, thanks for not making fun of my sometimes tipsy attempts at card making.

I think my next harrass-you-to-let-me-send-you-something project is going to be box albums. Because they are easy peasy. So let me know if you want one.

Speaking of mailing things out, Frannie has come up with a fantastic idea for a secret swap spectacular. Leave her a comment and she will give you the address of someone to send something to - it doesn't have to be crafty, it can be something from where you live, or whatever. I think it's a great idea and i am so excited about it. There's nothing I love more than mail that doesn't tell me I owe money.

Why 2 year olds should never join you in the bathroom

Today I was sitting on the toilet (I know! You were dying for that kind of info about me!) and Saoirse walked in. She looks down at my underwear, where there just happens to be a pad (again, I know!!) and this is what she says:

"EWWWW...that is nasty!"

I was unaware that I had a second daughter on the throes of teenagedom. Never one to back down from an opportunity to talk about the joys of all things womanly I say "It's just blood."

"Blood?"

"Yes. Sort of like when you scraped your leg skateboarding." That was her most recent bleeding injury, and one soon not to be forgotten apparently, since I now have to hold her hand whenever she gets on the skateboard. "When you are a teenager it will happen to you too, once a month."

"Blood? Once a month?"

"Yep. Lucky aren't you?"

And of course this adventure in bathroom breaks reminded me of when she wandered in while William was drying off after a shower and pointing at his boy most manly of parts said "Oh Daddy, look at your poop!"

It's a lucky thing that I have never related penises to poop, because really? Had I, one of those things never would have made it anywhere near my lips.

The Way Starbucks* Sees It

Every once in awhile the very talented With Love, Fat Girl quotes her Starbucks cups. I am so unaware of the world around me that I didn't even realize Starbucks had writing on their cups until I started reading her. And even then I still didn't read my cup. Today I was on my way to Taylor's first soccer game (a 5-0 loss) and I just happened to glance down at my large cup of Awake tea with lots of cream, which really seemed to disturb the Starbucks chicky.

And this is what it said:

The Way I See It #175

The world would be a boring place if everyone wore a size 2. I love being a size 22, just like I love a giant cup of hot chocolate with extra whipped cream. F.A.T (Fabulous and Thick) folks know that it's the extras in life- like pounds, cash and love- that give us character. Embrace the extras, baby.

It wasn't until I removed the sleeve once I was home that I saw who the author was, the comedienne Mo'Nique. And then there is this disclaimer "This is the author's opinion, not necessarily that of Starbucks."

Which means what? That Starbucks is not willing to admit that drinking hot chocolate with extra whipping cream is quite likely to help you pack on the pounds? That being fat does not add character?

I'm not a size 22- yet, but keep gaining 8 lbs a month and I might be- and I'm certainly never going to be a size 2, and nor would I want to be. I do wish I had the ability to embrace my reality- I am never going to be a skinny girl. Instead every time I look at myself in the mirror I say "Who the fagoozy are you? When did you get so FAT?" Because in my head, I'm still okay. Not fat, not thin. Just right. It's just that when I see myself that I get a bit of a shock. It's when my Granny says to me "You're such a pretty girl, but you really need to lose some weight", or when two men call me a fat pig for defending some man and that man does not defend me back, or when some guy who is not thin himself calls me a fat bitch for telling his son that he better leave my child alone or else (okay maybe I deserved that one) that I realize that not only am I fat, but that other people see it too.

And while I liked this quote I don't completely agree with it. I don't believe being fat adds character. I think it takes away from who you are, all the while defining who you are, if that makes any sense at all. I think that in general most fat people are very self depreciating- you have to make fun of yourself before someone does it for you. So while I want to embrace my reality I don't want to embrace that fat a reality.

I wouldn't mind embracing some extra cash though.

Tradesies anyone? My fat for your moola?

More randomness

Today is April 30th. A year ago William and Saoirse came back from Australia. It is the longest period of time William and I have been together in our 4 year relationship. Officially we are now considered common law. Except for the minor fact that I am still legally married. Details, details. Today I discovered that his residency application is still 6 weeks away from even being looked at.

I cried. I can't handle this. I am so tired of living in limbo. Are we going to stay here or are we going to go to England or Australia? I just don't know. And because I don't know I can't really make other plans. I want to go back to school. But what can I do here that will be recognized in either of those other countries? Blah.

My cousin called me tonight- the one who was arrested the other week. She wants to know if she can stay with me. I said yes, what else could I say? Where does she sleep? I'd put her in Liam's room, but he hasn't bothered to clean it even though he has been threatened with the loss of soccer if it doesn't get it done.

I love my cousin dearly, but can I live with her? Not a chance. I haven't gotten a straight story out of her about what happened with her husband, about why he has emergency custody of her son, a child that is not his. There's something up there. I mean, they just don't take a child away from his mother. Something had to have happened. I worry about bringing her unstability into my home, when I am already of pretty precarious sanity myself these days.

I called my mum to see if she could stay there. My mum had offered when all this first happened but my cousin decided to stay with a friend. So tonight she says to me "I'd rather not get involved." She did end up saying she could, but I don't think she is very happy about it.

I sent my taxes in today, nothing like waiting until the last minute. I get back enough that we will be able to buy a new computer, which is fantastic because this one is hardly working anymore.

To continue with the randomness of this post is it not amazing how much kids cost? Taylor received the bulk of my money this last 2 weeks. Soccer- $135. Women's cleats, size 8 1/2 (bigger than me!)- $60 ($25 more than the boys junior for half a size difference, exactly the same shoe.) Shin pads- $20. Cheapest baseball glove at the store since she is only going to use it for 6 games and can not find her own- $50. Clothes from La Senza and Old Navy- $60. I'm sure I spent more on her. The little girls have new summer clothes too, I realized I hadn't gotten Saoirse a single pair of shorts for Easter and Sophie had no capris. I bought Saoirse a pair each of jeans, capris and shorts at Gymboree for $55. And that was the clearance rack! Freaking Gymboree. Then we went to Old Navy where I finished them off for $120. I had better not buy another summery thing. Except for the matching striped dresses. Those are too cute to pass up. They'll probably be gone by the time I get back though.

Today William came home early so we went over to the mall to pick up a few things (forgot to get a microwave- mine packed it in today) and we saw the filming of the Christmas movie. Chris Kattan is some short! But better looking than he appears on TV. When we came out of where the filming was taking place there was a sign that said something like "By entering this area you consent to your image and sound belonging to this movie, blah, blah, blah." So you could see me and my might have been greasy hair on the big screen! Yikes. Frightening.

I've never seen a movie being filmed before. I never realized how slow it is. All those extras standing around in their winter coats. I really should have went into the casting call, there were tons of mums and babies. I wouldn't have minded making $575 or whatever it is for standing around doing nothing. And if the girls were paid that would be over $1600. For nothing. Crazy. It will be a bit odd though- all the paid extras in their winter gear and then all the people that just happen to be caught on film in tank tops and shorts.

Is this random and boring enough? It has bored me into sleepiness anyway, so maybe it had its good points.

The movie itself doesn't sound that great. Actually, it sounds like shite.

Do me a favour...

...and go over to A Kid Called Emma and read it.

And then leave a comment.

Because she's a bit pissed off that the majority of comments come from her mum, her mother in law and her sister.

Yeah, she lets all her family read her blog. I think that's just plain crazy, because it makes it hard to bitch about your husband when his mother could read what you have to say.

And yet, she definitely says things I could never say knowing my mum and MIL were reading. And she's extremely funny in a totally sarcastic sort of way.

So go read her. Go now. NOW.