Secular Confessions

[daylilies]

Sorry Lydia hope you have a better night tonight.
Yay Savana!
It seems to help when Josh has something to visualize, like the ball of yarn you use.
When we were at swim class one day I was trying to tell him that I would like to stay for the whole class (he sometimes wants to leave early) because if we left early that would be like paying for a whole cheeseburger and only getting half. That made him laugh.

In other swim news we went down the street to his friend's house today who has a pool and he didn't really get in but he did get on one of her inflatable toys and sat on it in the pool.

[missychrissy]

Lydia. Those sleepless nights with a fussy baby are the worse. Add AF on top of it and it surely sounds like hell to me. I hope he feels better already and rests throughout the night tonight for you.

[AmeriBrit]

Myles, yay for working from home! DH had one of those tokens with his old job but they just expected him to work extra hours for no over time, so I grew to hate that little token!

Bridget, that is so great about S going to dance class. I'll remember that technique; it sounds very useful!

Oh, Lydia, I'm sorry you're having a rough time. I hope baby S feels better for the plane trip. I was worried about our recent plane journey because of Travis' snoring. He usually snores so loud but thankfully, he didn't snore too loud on the flight.

Travis was so moody yesterday. I took him in to town to get out of the house and that was a mistake because he kept shouting that he didn't want to be there. During one of his rants, my SIL said loudly so that the people around us could hear, "he's not mine!" I was a little annoyed but to be fair, I think she was just relieved it wasn't one of her kids for once since her 2 boys are very spirited usually.

[AmeriBrit]

Myles, yay for working from home! DH had one of those tokens with his old job but they just expected him to work extra hours for no over time, so I grew to hate that little token!

Bridget, that is so great about S going to dance class. I'll remember that technique; it sounds very useful!

Oh, Lydia, I'm sorry you're having a rough time. I hope baby S feels better for the plane trip. I was worried about our recent plane journey because of Travis' snoring. He usually snores so loud but thankfully, he didn't snore too loud on the flight.

Travis was so moody yesterday. I took him in to town to get out of the house and that was a mistake because he kept shouting that he didn't want to be there. During one of his rants, my SIL said loudly so that the people around us could hear, "he's not mine!" I was a little annoyed but to be fair, I think she was just relieved it wasn't one of her kids for once since her 2 boys are very spirited usually.

[missychrissy]

What a hurtful thing for your sister to say. It's hard to know what's gonna work and what isn't when they're moody. Other times I'm sure taking him out would have done the trick.

[Smplyme89]

Myles glad your enjoying the new job so far!! I would LOVE to be able to telecommute if I could ever find that sort of job I would be in heaven!
Bridget that is wonderful that she went to her dance class I love the story with the wool prop, how sweet! You are an awesome mommy

Lydia I am sorry S had such a bad night I hope last night was better!

Ash that is really mean of your SIL to say

[Smplyme89]

Nolan had his appointment with the GI Specialist. They diagnosed him with Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Severe Reflux, and Failure to Thrive. They are putting him on Erythromyocin and Prilosec. We go back in 2 weeks for a follow up to see if he's improved. If not we'll be trying a different course of medications. I really hope this works, so my little man can stop being in so much pain

[girlwonder]

I'm sorry about baby Nolan. I hope the doctors can help him in a speedy recovery.

[daylilies]

I'm sorry about Nolan I hope everything is resolved soon!

We had another difficult swim class, but he did try a couple new things. Near the end he was really upset and just wanted to go home and all of a sudden he had to pee, so we went to the bathroom and when we got back he was much happier and tried a couple new things. He doesn't realize it but he's getting better. But at the same time he's regressing and not doing things he did in the previous class. It's frustrating!

On top of it I had a scary dream last night that we were in a pool with Josh and all of a sudden we couldn't find him. I looked under the water and saw him, swam down and pulled him out. He was fine. But it was not a great thing to have to go to a pool after that dream

[missychrissy]

Christina. I really hope those medications work for him.

to you too Kate. I hate those dreams!! Something like that did happen to Jessica when she was 2 or 3. My brother was on an air mattress thing and it was less than a foot from the edge of the pool. She fell in and when she went under it sucked the bed over top of her. Do you know how hard it is to shove an airbed with a 200 lb + guy in water out of the way? I had to do the Heimlich on her and water sprayed out of her mouth like it was coming from a hydrant.

[demigraf]

Hey guys. Sorry to post-and-run yesterday. On the train for Day 2 now. I have the most random assortment if things with me, ranging from noise-canceling headphones to kale salad.

Gosh, Christina, Nolan's symptoms must he so stressful. I hate that phrase "failure to thrive". It sounds so dismal. I hope he starts to FEEL better more than anything else. And I also hope you get to stop worrying.

kate, that sounds really positive towards the end w/ J's swim lesson. I think kids get confidence from the times they realize they're actually doing something they say they fear. I think it teaches them about themselves and how they don't have to get in their own way. I mean what a great thing it is to be wrong about - the fact that you can't do something.

My sentences are convoluted today, but since I'm typing on my phone, I just try to work with what I've already typed. Help, AmeriAsh!

chrissy, I forgot to give you a high five for the water heater yesterday. And ETA: the tokens are the standard issue RSA ones that go on your keychain and generate random # every 30 secs. So you have to log into a secure site using your work-issued laptop w/ id, pin and the RSA # to get into the VPN. It looks exactly like the one I had w/ my last company.

gwenn, did you go to the party? If so, how was it?

bridget, hooray for S's dance class!!! I love Molly. That's a great tip she gave, and nice work with the wooly puppet. Which reminds me, I wen to the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend. So many cool things made out of felted wool, but I sneezed the whole because I'm allergic to it.

lydia, your poor baby. and poor you too. Did you make it ok thru work? Soren's cold gotta be progressing, so I hope things are already better!

Good day, ladies!

[Smplyme89]

Thanks ladies! It's been a battle! Now the pharmacy is saying they don't have his prescriptions and of course I call the doctors office no one answers and I have to leave a voicemail Why does everything always have to be SO difficult

Christina. I really hope those medications work for him.

to you too Kate. I hate those dreams!! Something like that did happen to Jessica when she was 2 or 3. My brother was on an air mattress thing and it was less than a foot from the edge of the pool. She fell in and when she went under it sucked the bed over top of her. Do you know how hard it is to shove an airbed with a 200 lb + guy in water out of the way? I had to do the Heimlich on her and water sprayed out of her mouth like it was coming from a hydrant.

Just reading that made my heart drop! I think I would've completely freaked out!

[daylilies]

The funny thing was, when he was doing things like floating on his back or kicking his legs he was insisting that he wasn't doing it. That the water was making his legs move.

That sounds so scary Chrissy! I think about that kind of situation a lot. I have this fear that I'd freeze up and not be able to help him.

[missychrissy]

The funny thing was, when he was doing things like floating on his back or kicking his legs he was insisting that he wasn't doing it. That the water was making his legs move.

That sounds so scary Chrissy! I think about that kind of situation a lot. I have this fear that I'd freeze up and not be able to help him.

He'll get it Kate. At least you're continuing on.

And I always feel like I'd be the one freaking out and not knowing what to do, but when stuff really happens something overtakes me and I manage. I always fall apart after though. I had one choke and had to do the Heimlich then too. As soon as the food came out, I got dizzy and went to my knees.

[missychrissy]

the tokens are the standard issue RSA ones that go on your keychain and generate random # every 30 secs. So you have to log into a secure site using your work-issued laptop w/ id, pin and the RSA # to get into the VPN. It looks exactly like the one I had w/ my last company.

der der der at me. I was aware there was that technology, but I've never actually seen anything like it, even though I did have a job where I worked from home. Cornell's vpn doesn't utilize them either. Maybe I shouldn't 'say' that 'out loud'

[AmeriBrit]

My sentences are convoluted today, but since I'm typing on my phone, I just try to work with what I've already typed. Help, AmeriAsh!

You don't need my help! That was quite an eloquent post for one that was typed from a phone. I'm getting better at posting from my phone these days since that's mostly how I log on and lurk at everybody!

I just got back from zumba...it was good! I tried to get my Rich to teach me to shimmy since he can do it, but I am useless at the shimmying. I'm jealous at how much rhythm he has.

[Gwenn]

Chrissy, that's absolutely terrifying. But I have no doubt in my mind that you would deal with an emergency situation and get everyone through safely.

Kate, sounds like Josh is slowly gaining confidence whether he wants to admit it or not. He may just be the type of kid who needs a lot of practice before he feels like he's learned a new skill.

Christina, I really hope Nolan starts to do better once you get these new meds. That's so strange about the pharmacy not having them!

Myles, the party actually isn't for another month. For some odd reason they're sending out email invites a month in advance. Probably because they're expecting a lot of out of town guests. Ugh again. And I won't even get into the family drama aspect involving some of those out of town guests.

[daylilies]

You know, Mandy, that's a good point. I keep forgetting that Josh doesn't like to show people he can do something until he's really good at it. He was like that with his speech and a lot of other things. Maybe that's the case here.
It's just hard not to be worried about it at the time.

[AmeriBrit]

I forgot to tell y'all that today was my last day of volunteering at school since they're about to break up for the 6 week holidays. And guess what lesson was being taught today that I had to observe....sex ed! This is a class of 10 and 11 year olds. They watched a DVD and asked questions at the end and I was really surprised at how graphic the video was! When I was in school, we never had any sex ed classes; we just talked about reproductive stuff in Biology, so I was quite shocked today that they showed a cartoon mister and lady doing the deed! And they showed a woman giving birth to a baby (full frontal baby's head coming out and everything). Some of the looks on the kids' faces were priceless.

[Gwenn]

Wow! We had sex ed in 7th grade and again in high school but I don't remember visuals. The teachers described stuff pretty explicitly, though.

DH and I are trying to decide where to go out to dinner for our anniversary (this Friday!). We have one really nice restaurant that we really love and we tend to go there for most if not all of our celebrations, Valentine's Day, sometimes birthdays, etc. We went there for a welcome home dinner when he returned from deployment. It's actually a seafood restaurant and I don't like seafood, but they always have 2-3 other options on the menu (the menu changes every few weeks) and even if I wouldn't have picked those options, they are always good. Like, really, really good. And DH loves seafood so he can order anything. We've never had a bad meal or bad service there (and you know I've ranted in the past about restaurant service in this town). But part of me wonders if we don't keep going there because it's "safe" and I'd like to have another good restaurant I enjoy ... but I don't want to have a bad experience on our anniversary. It's our 5th, and the last two years he's been doing military stuff so we missed sharing the last two anniversaries. Don't want to try out a new restaurant and not like it. So I'm trying to decide if we should go with our standby or try something new. And if something new, where that should be. Help me out here, girls.

[Smplyme89]

I remember that video Ash! I think the woman giving birth really gave a few of the girls I know some serious thought about using condoms

[daylilies]

I think you should go to the safe restaurant for your anniversary and try something new on a night when you're not celebrating anything. That way you won't care as much if it sucks.

OMG, the sex ed! I don't remember much about my experiences but I remember a lot of it was pretty awkward. I think our first sex ed was in 7th grade? Does that seem right? The health teacher was cute, which made it even more embarassing!

The UU church also has a sex ed thing and I remember some scandal going around the year I was in it, that the material was too graphic, but I didn't think it was at at the time.

[demigraf]

Aw, Mandy, personally I'd probably try out a new restaurant, but I know I'd be really disappointed if it wasn't a good meal. Not to the point that I'd feel like the night was ruined, but just let down. The truth is, though, I'm not a very discriminate eater. Most of the time, when I'm at a restaurant (as long as it's not outrageously gross or greasy) I'm just happy to be eating something. So don't listen to me if you're not that way. LOL.

Oh, and feel free to talk about the other invited guests at that party if you feel like it. It sounds like there are stories there.

I made this kale salad last night, and I brought the leftovers with me, and it was so good, that all I think about is making another one tonight. Too bad I'm the only one in my family that eats raw kale. I'm on a quest to convert my DH's palate. I've already converted him to brown rice, whole grain pastas and other high-fiber things (it helped that his MD told him he had high cholesterol), but so far he hasn't budged on the greens. His idea of a vegetable dish is pasta sauce ("there's tomato in it!") or sweet potato fries.

kate, oh mah gah! I don't remember being shown anything graphic as part of my sex ed. For me, the most informative imagery I saw, but wasn't suppose to, were the shows after hours on cable - softcore stuff that didnt' really show any real penetration, but definitely lots of nudity and simulation. My parents just weren't very vigilant, and my sister & I were curious. I was less than 10 years old then, so it makes me have to wonder how that affected my development. Hmmmm.

[Gwenn]

Well, we decided we're going to try a new place. DH wants to go here.

My mother actually recommended that I read the Clan of the Cave Bear when I was about 12. Don't know if any of you have read it, but the main character is rather graphically and repeatedly raped throughout the book (my mother said later she forgot how graphic it was). I actually really liked the book and then I saw the sequel on her dresser and read that too. That one just was frankly porn. No rape, but probably 30% of the book involved explicit sex scenes. She knew I was reading it, too, and she didn't stop me. I don't think I'd let a pre-teen read those books no matter how open minded I was.

[daylilies]

Nom! Now that's my kind of restaurant!
DH would hate it--if he doesn't know what everything on the menu is, he gets overwhelmed.

The name of that book sounds familiar but I don't remember anything else about it.

[Gwenn]

I sympathize. I like eating at high end places, but it scares me if I don't know what I'm eating. So I have to do my research!

[Gwenn]

You know ... I don't see a dessert menu! That could be a catastrophe with my sweet tooth!

[Gwenn]

Well, that's out. They're closed for a summer vacation. Would have been nice if they put that on their website.

[missychrissy]

I forgot to tell y'all that today was my last day of volunteering at school since they're about to break up for the 6 week holidays. And guess what lesson was being taught today that I had to observe....sex ed! This is a class of 10 and 11 year olds. They watched a DVD and asked questions at the end and I was really surprised at how graphic the video was! When I was in school, we never had any sex ed classes; we just talked about reproductive stuff in Biology, so I was quite shocked today that they showed a cartoon mister and lady doing the deed! And they showed a woman giving birth to a baby (full frontal baby's head coming out and everything). Some of the looks on the kids' faces were priceless.

I can't remember what grade that is...5th? I remember 6th grade sex ed was absolutely graphic. We even watched the Nova how a baby is made and born movie.

I think you should go to the safe restaurant for your anniversary and try something new on a night when you're not celebrating anything. That way you won't care as much if it sucks.

I was going to agree with Kate but I see you decided to try somewhere new.

Oh, and feel free to talk about the other invited guests at that party if you feel like it. It sounds like there are stories there.

Yes!!! Do tell!

She knew I was reading it, too, and she didn't stop me. I don't think I'd let a pre-teen read those books no matter how open minded I was.

I let my kids read anything they want. Some of it is graphic but *shrug* I really don't think it makes any difference in when they decide to have sex.

[missychrissy]

Conner is seriously having an awful night. I'm nearly ready to cry and Rich just threatened to spank him. He's throwing stuff and messing and demanding and hitting and screaming and kicking and we just cannot get him to listen at all. It's been going on for hours now. We're supposed to be packing but instead we're tag-teaming Conner trying to redirect and then taking 5-10 minute time outs ourselves.