Officially, my blog has now moved.

You will find me over at http://greenapplemartini.net.

I am still fumbling through WordPress and learning the ropes over there, so bear with me.

Those of you who have emailed me for passwords will be getting an email with the instructions/password to read the private posts. And if in doing so, I manage to over look someone, shoot me an email and remind my ass. It's not personal, promise. But ... give a littttttttttttle bit of time to get that sorted out ...

I'm also NOT deleting this blog - per advised from Elle. Apparently she deleted hers, and it's now a porn site. No thanks!

See you over at the new place, kids! Stop in and say hi (Like, tell me my comment function works).

xoxo

I've got a few kinks to work out on switching over to the private blog - so it'll be happening, just not tonight like I thought. Um, ie: paging Howard to the HDW Courtesy Phone.

And I have gotten all of your emails and have been trying to reply to them. I honestly didn't expect as many as I got!

In the meantime, Bug and I went to the doctor's office for me this time. That completely threw him. He was totally puzzled as to why we weren't going to his pediatrician's office (they have a bright purple door and lots of cool stuff to play with), and why instead we were at a boring office building with boring things to do (like, you know, READ).

He insisted on getting weighed and having his blood pressure taken, as well. He dutifully held my hand and assured me I'd be okay, and "don't be scared, mommy" when the nurse practitioner was checking my heart and lungs.

I thought I was going in for a sinus infection. I have been sick since the first part of November with pain under my eyes, my nose, hacking up gross stuff, and a stuffy ear. I've lived, albeit not comfortably. I finally got an appointment that didn't conflict with my grandma visiting or what have you.

She said I have an ear infection, and said, "It's one of the worst I've seen!". And promptly scolded me for not coming in sooner. I only had stuffiness in that ear, not any pain persay.

She also gave me the example of, "You know, does it feel like little men are tapdancing on your ear drums?". My son now wants to know about "those mens in your ear, mommy!" - and looks quite puzzled by the whole thing.

So, here's to 10 days of antibiotics in the form of a pill that's meant for a horse.

While eating a grilled chicken salad from a local Chinese joint, that - yet, again - forgot the salad dressing ...

HDW: this salad tastes like ass

Mr Vholes: So one could say you're rimming your dinner

edit: And it should be noted, drinking wine after taking a bite of cucmber isn't advisable.

Labels: IM conversation, mr vholes and hdw

PS And still going private next week. Thanks for everyone sending me their email addresses so I can add you to 'the list'. I'm not weeding out the lurkers, promise. You want to still lurk? Send me your email and continue lurking. I'm happy you stop by to read, even if you don't feel like commenting. Or if you're like Mr Vholes who refuses to comment. He's the Anti-Commenter. Always rebelling against The Establishment, that one.

Labels: other random shit

EDIT:
NEW BLOG POSTS BELOW

After some thought, I'm going to make this blog private.

And I know there are many of you who read on a regular basis who do and don't post comments. I'd love to include you on my 'approved' list to read the blog ... so if you'd like to be added, then send me an email at:

hotdoctorwife at yahoo dot com

I will leave it public until a week from tomorrow (Wednesday, the 28th).

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!!

Labels: announcement, going private on the blog

We've had HDH's dad and stepmom in town this week - and as always, they are very easy to have around and the week has gone really well. The Bug has been thrilled to no end to have his Papa and MeMaw around full-time, and they've certainly enjoyed having him climb all over them, insisting they play with this toy and that.

Last night, I was starting to run out of gas a little. I think I'm still battling something sinus-related, so I've a little less energetic than normal. I was sitting down and my son asked me why I was so tired, prompting the following exchange:

Bug: Why you tired, Mommy?
Me: Mommy has a cold and doesn't feel so good.
Bug: Aw. Maybe you need new batteries?

Maybe so!! And if it were only that easy.

PS And thanks to all of you who have sent me an email, asking to be added to the read-only list. I'm happy to add the lurkers, really! So don't be worried I'm sorting those I know from those I don't.

Labels: bug says the darndest things, family, thanksgiving

You know those goofy Myspace surveys? My brother filled one out with me in mind, and I figured I'd share with all of you:

Who knows me best? the race is on......this is funny. YOU fill in the blanks about ME ... even if you don't have any idea....and send it back to me. But first post a blank one out to all your friends so they can return the favor to you. Be honest and make sure you repost a blank in your own bulletin so I can do it for you!

Where did we meet?
You dropped me you jerk. lol (true story - I dropped him at the adoption agency)

Summarize me in one sentence:
Smart ass!!! hahahahahahaha

Take a stab at my middle name?
easy, Linn

How long have you known me?
almost 28 years, unfortuanetly

When is the last time that we saw each other?
can't remember

Do I drink?
only in days that end in Y, kidding, not much

Am I happy?
I hope

Am I a good person?
not really, YES

What was your first impression of upon meeting me/seeing me?
thats MY sister, SHIT

What's one of my favorite things to do?
Hang with The Bug

Who Do I love more than my life?
The Bug, and maybe HotDoctorHusband (I like how he added 'maybe')

Am I funny?
looking

Have you ever made me smile..if so when?
lots of times, I am a smart ass

What's my favorite type of music?
Crappy 80-90s music, I think

Have you ever seen me cry?
I don't think so

Can I sing?
yes

What is the best feature about me?
Your brother

Am I shy or outgoing?
outgoing

Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules?
both

Do I have any special talents?
Piano

Would you call me preppy, average, sporty, punk, hippie, glam, nerdy, snobby, or something else (what)?
normal

Have you ever hugged me?
yes

Kissed me?
a long time ago

What is my favorite food?
lasagna, I think

Am i a good cook?
not sure

Am I dating anyone?
Hope not, you're married

If there was one good nickname for me, what would it be?
blondie

What's your favorite memory of me:
all of them, except when you moved out (this one actually made me tear up)

What is my worst habit:
chewing tabacco (as if)

Do I like corn dogs?
probably

Have you ever had a dream about me?
can't remember

If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what is the one thing I would say?
FUCK, not my brother

Whats my religion?
Heavens Gate

Am I family oriented?
yes

Who is my best friend?
ElJefe, i think

Labels: vholes hates the word meme

I met with my son's preschool teacher this week. She had some concerns about The Bug. She feels he's behind in his language skills, and mentioned some concern about motor skills, as well as his attention span and interest in things. I had to sign a consent form to have someone 'observe' him in class in a week.

My son has had twenty-two ear infections from August of 2004 until, well, just a few weeks ago. And I'm not sure the last round really went away, courtesy Bug refuses any medicine (I got a bunch of pink goo in my eye the last time). And because of those, it would make sense that his hearing his garbled. If you've been listening to someone talk and it sounds like you're underwater, it'd make sense.

Truthfully, it's the motor skills and attention span thing that scare me. And the fear that the person observing him will couple all of that together and make a jump to something.

(And here is probably a good place to say that yes, I know he's three-and-a-half. And yes, what three-year-old has a long attention span? I will say, though, that his teacher is VERY GOOD. And she wouldn't mention it without some real cause for concern. She works with three to five year-old children for a living, and has for some time.)

With all of that said, I sat in the library talking to her, and she kept saying, "Don't stress out over it; let's just figure out what the issue is! Maybe he just needs me to do something different for him in the classroom." And while she was smiling and talking and asking me the if I'd be attending the "Mom's Night Out" that week (and that's another post), all I could think of was my baby brother.

When my (now 28-year-old brother) was little, he was diagnosed with Sensory Integration Dysfunction and hyperactivity. My parents were tossed into this world of "What can we do to help him?" and they lost complete track of everything else. Our spare room became a library for the self-help books. Our downstairs basement because an "occupational therapy room" with a hammock attached to the ceiling and a big giant ball we were supposed to roll over him, I guess. All of the soda and candy got tossed from the house because "your brother has a reaction to it".



My mom was forcing Ritalin down his throat every day, and every day it was a battle from hell. Once when he was about twelve, she mixed up his Ritalin with her Estrogen supplement. He took her pill. My mom caught the mistake, had to explain to him what he'd just taken. My dad then told him he'd grow boobs. My brother yelled and cried and tried to make himself gag, while my dad and I were rolling on the floor, laughing.


We spent one summer in Denver so he could attend a 'special preschool' where one little boy wore a blue helmut and drooled. My brother just didn't like to be touched. That was it. If you didn't touch him, you were good. So, we'd come to Denver on Sunday night, stay through Friday, and come home on the weekends to see dad. I was forced into a pyschologist's office to talk about my 'feelings'. I had to show her how I felt with puppets, because my mom and dad started to realize they were giving my brother all the attention, and I was getting shoved aside. Kids at our Elementary School would taunt him for needing to go into the "Special Education Room". I once hit a girl on our school bus who said my brother was different and stupid, never mind the fact that she looked like she'd been born of a she-goat and a manatee on crack.

I realize I'm jumping ahead. But you see, all of this went through my mind last Tuesday. Probably before I left the school parking lot. I remembered all of this, and I got scared. I still am scared. And so I have talked to a few friends who have kept my head from head-tripping too far.

I realize all of this could be as simple as an assload of ear infections causing havoc. It could be that my child is three, but is as tall (or taller) than the five-year-old's in his class. And he just might still coming into his own body-wise.

And of course, I know if it's something else entirely, I'll handle that, too.

Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see. ~John W. Whitehead, The Stealing of America, 1983

Labels: detours, preschool, the bug and mommy

Babysitter to My Son, Age 3.5: Do you like school? Do you have a lot of friends? Tell me about school, Bug!

(pause)

My Bug: Mommy and Daddy have nipples.

(aaaaaaaaand, scene)

Labels: bug says the darndest things

I had a good friend get a breast cancer diagnosis in early October. She is in her early 50's, and hadn't had a mammogram in six years. The doctors were saying they wouldn't know if it had spread further in her breast or to her lymph nodes until they operated.

She had her operation on Wednesday. And we waited. The doctor said "hopefully on Friday, but maybe not until after the weekend". I sent flowers. I talked to her sister-in-law. I had a nice message from her husband, letting me know her surgery had gone fine.

And we waited some more.

Yesterday afternoon, he called me again. He said that the results had come back, and the cancer had stayed put - not going anywhere else. And I burst out crying. I'm so very thankful. He said, "She hasn't stopped smiling since the news, and wow, have I missed that smile".

I met her in 1999. I was dating a guy who happened to be her husband's nephew. My boyfriend at the time had just found his biological father, and when we started dating, he was still getting to know everyone. On one of the first occasions over at his bio-dad's house, I met the woman I just spoke of. All of the 'sisters', as they call themselves, welcomed me, cautioning often, "You are just too good for him, believe us!".

Not long after, that was pretty stinking clear and my relationship with Idiot was over. But, my relationship with all of them stayed put. They all came to my wedding and celebrated with me. And now and then, my girlfriend lets me know how, yet again, The Idiot has fucked up. It's a train wreck I'm certainly lucky I missed.

But --- the one good thing to have come of it all was my friendship with her. If I suffered through eight months of Idiot to have a lifetime of wonderful friendship with her, I'd do it ALL AGAIN in a heartbeat.

Labels: cancer sucks, finally, good news

We are still waiting on replacement credit cards. What a freaking fiasco. I'm waiting on Fed Ex now, who hopefully will deliver the new cards in time for my husband to fly out this evening for a weekend with the guys.

I've got dinner tonight at a girlfriend's house (provided I'm not still sitting here waiting for those damn cards), a baby shower tomorrow (did I plan ahead and buy the gift? nooo!) and a fun night out tomorrow with ClizBiz (and I can't wait for that!).

Yay for the weekend!!

Labels: chase visa can blow me, what a week

Let's start with the GOOD!

I had a fabulous Saturday and Sunday with my friend, Kath. And if are you interested in the synopsis of our 24 hours at the Ritz, then by all means, you should head on over to her blog and check out the story, plus pictures.

In the story, she eludes to the trouble with my car.

You see, I knew I was coming up for an oil change, but I really thought I had some time (and I did!). My car was smoking from under the hood when I showed up on Saturday at the hotel, and smoking when I got home the next day.

Turns out, I have something-something-something wrong with it, it's at the auto body shop, and it's going to cost some bucks.

Late last week, there were charges on our credit card we didn't make, so we had to cancel the card. The replacement card should be here any day.

But of course ... not in time for securing a rental car, and so far, not for paying for my car. I hope the card is in the mail tomorrow. Otherwise, I hope they take "payment in preschool child".

On top of all of that - we had a break-in in the neighborhood again today. Someone tried kicking a front door in. Also, a neighbor in his early 40's had a major heart attack today, now has three stent's and is in ICU. The major arterty to his heart was blocked. His wife is my age, kids 4 & 2. He's very lucky.

What a damn day.

Labels: what a week