Seeking Sunshine

Were off for a few days to warm our bones and find some magic - more next week.
Heather

And The Baby Is...

First, I am happy to report the baby in the widget appears to be gaining weight. Now it's a healthy dizzy baby.

Second, I had my big ultrasound today and our baby is also healthy with everything where it is supposed to be and the right number of everything.

Okay, are you tired of waiting? The baby is a BOY!

This is the "Candy Cane" pattern from Susan B. Anderson's Itty-Bitty Hats book. It was knit in cotton for the preemie project back in September, but it looks like I will be making another one.

The Diatribe

Sorry all, no pretty pictures to accompany this post, no happy words, just pure negativity and hatred for one furnace repair man. Buckle your seat belt folks because I am about to take you on a rant. Ready?

The $6,500 furnace we had installed 5 years ago by the "best in town" is not working. The thing was turning on and off intermittently and was not blowing hot air. Given that it is February in Michigan, I ran right to the phone and called the repair man. He arrived very quickly and was pleasant enough, but as he walked though the door he asked me "to describe what is going on in my own words". My own words? Whose words was I using before? Jerk!

Next he told me that he was going to "educate me about my furnace", which meant he wanted to show me the red flashing light behind a panel - never mind that once I saw the flashing light I would have to call him to repair the thing because it was a "fail to ignite". Ass.

He was down in the basement for a while, so I went to check on his progress. I am never sure if I should stand there and watch or go about my business. What do you do? Anyway, it was then that he told me there was a problem with the gas meter, not the dirty burners as he originally told me. Not to worry, he would run some diagnostic tests just to be sure, but if it was the meter I would have to call the gas company to get them out here to replace it. Well, I have dealt with the gas company and I have even dealt with the gas company concerning malfunctioning meters before and they don't just come out and replace them. I asked what could cause the gas to come through the line, as his meter said it was, but not power up the furnace. Would you like to hear his response? "Heather, I am not going to even attempt to explain it to you because it’s far to complicated". Lout.

What I should have said at this point was: Mister repair man, just because I am a woman and just because I choose to stay home and take care of my children does not mean I am an idiot, so why don't you just try. But, he was a strange man in my house and I would rather not make the 10 o'clock news, so as hard as it was I bit my tongue. At this point, I think my face was about the same color as my hair - red. I explained to him that I would need something to tell the gas company - his response was "just tell them that I was here and it needs to be replaced". Male chauvinist boob!

Well, it turns out it was not the burners, the gas meter, nor the next explanation of the gas valve, but finally it was the electronic panel, oh wait, it was actually the gas valve. So after 5 diagnoses, 3 1/2 hours and a $405 bill, we have steady hot air from an expensive 5 year old furnace. Bonehead.

The Brat Pack

C'mon Spencer I want to take your picture before we go.

I realize you guys want to get to the dance, but I would like to take your picture.

Look at me and smile please.

Hey, Spencer, you little punk, smile.

Gotcha.

The Reluctant Seamstress

Last Friday was the annual Sock Hop at Spencer's school. It is a fun event with kids of all ages running around in costumes - from 80's punks to poodle skirts, it's all there. Just as they did last year, the boys put on their saddle shoes, slicked back their hair, put on white t-shirts and a pair of jeans and they were ready to go. This year we had Laney to consider and she really didn't have anything to wear. The bad news was I did not come to this realization until late in the afternoon Friday. The good news was I remembered I had bought some felt for a Halloween project that I never completed. Okay, I never really started it, but it's a lucky thing because I needed it - a poodle skirt awaited.

My Idea: Make a big circle, cut a slit in the middle and sew in some elastic.

The Problem: I hate sewing - hate it. Probably I hate it because I am so lousy at it, but this project was easy enough right? I mean, how hard can it be to made a toddler a poodle skirt? Oh yeah, I only had 2 hours and did I mention that I am a moron when it comes to sewing?

Attempt #1:

I made a giant compass to mark the circle. Lookin' good.

I cut the slit in the middle and pinned in the elastic. I even stretched it so it would contract and make the opening smaller. Good thinking right? I held it up to check my handiwork and realized what I had done. Apparently, when a slit is cut in a circle, the circle is no longer a circle - it is now shorter on the sides. Great!

Attempt #2:

Okay, I have more felt and 1 1/2 hours, I'll just start again. I cut, pinned, sat down at the sewing machine and scrolled though the stitch options. I found one that had "elastic" in it - perfect. I put my foot on the presser foot and away I went. But, something didn't look right. The elastic was all stretched out. Poop. The stitch was so tight and abundant there was no ripping it out. This time I was out of felt and running low on time, so there was only one thing left to do - cut it out.

Attempt #3:

It seems the third time was the charm because it was not until then that the bright idea hit me - I told you I was a sewing deficient - sew a channel and shove the elastic through. So, that is just what I did. I used a bamboo skewer to push the elastic through and, hallelujah, it worked. Not wanting to go anywhere near that beast of a machine again, I stitched on the poodle by hand. Looking at it now, the poodle sort of resembles a bird, but Laney didn't seem to care. She was just happy to be part of the pack - the brat pack that is.

Paper Hearts

As Owen would say, hope you have a great "Happy I Love You Day".

I made these Valentine's a while back - before the kids could make their own. I bought some plain white cards from the craft store and used a one of Spencer's paintings to make heart collages on the fronts. A bit time consuming, but fun to do.

How Long?

Here is a question for you seasoned mothers out there - how long do you have to wear these treasures?

Don't get me wrong, it is very sweet that Owen makes things for me, but I keep seeing that big purple heart in my peripheral vision and the whole thing is lopsided because he put more beads on one side than the other. I never had this dilemma with Spencer because he gave everything he made to his friends. In fact, last year he gave the Mother's Day card he made in class to his friend John (I am still waiting for John come over and do his laundry, make his bed and cook his meals).

So, seriously, how long?

Easy Valentine Ideas For The Classroom

For the past two years, the kids and I have made little heart shaped crayons for Valentine's Day. They are easy to make and the kids love unwrapping the crayons and breaking them.

I use this pan (used my 40% off coupon off at Michael's), old crayons (Crayolas work the best), a low temp oven, lollipop bags, ribbon, and print outs the following poem (this is just what I came up with):

Dear Friend,

This is a crayon once old and now new
with swirls of colors - red, pink, green and blue

In the shape of a heart for Valentine's Day
So draw, draw, draw whatever you may

This year we decided to do something different. I found some cute pencils at the dollar store (12 for $1) and with a paper heart, some heart stamps, stickers and a pipe cleaner, they became butterflies.

These are great cold weather projects because they do take a while to make, but they are low mess and the kids like doing them - two key elements in my book.

Happy crafting.

Spring Dreams

A belated thank you to Mary over at Little Red House for this award: The intent of Splaneyo was to keep our scattered family and friends abreast of the goings on here in Michigan. The idea that someone other than family actually reads it (for them it is required reading with quizzes every Friday) and, hopefully, gets a laugh or two from the chaos that is my life is fantastic. Thanks Mary for reading and the recognition - it means a lot coming from the author of such an all around beautiful blog.

Mary's post today is about spring fever and, just having bundled up three children to combat the 7 degree weather outside, I have to say I am right there with you Mary. Here is my spring dream for the day - what's yours?

Doctor's Orders

So, I had a baby check-up appointment yesterday. The nurse was very friendly and we were talking about my infuriating stroller with one crazy shopping cart like wheel. She was telling me about her stroller nightmares as she was taking my blood pressure and then she suddenly stopped talking. She scrunched up her face and took it again, this time silent. Perplexed, she took it one more time. I then felt the need to tell her that whatever was wrong, it was me. She looked at me like I was going to tell her I had some medical problem, but what I really needed to tell her was this kind of stuff always happens to me and the things around me. I can't tell you the number of times I have heard, "I have been doing this for ____ (fill in appropriate number of years) and I have NEVER seen anything like this before". Well, she agreed, she had never seen a blood pressure so low. 82/20 to be exact. She called in another nurse to take it again and she came up with the same thing.

I wasn't that worried at the time (I usually have low blood pressure and my mom had low blood pressure) and I was actually glad to hear that there might be a medical reason for the EXTREME fatigue I have been feeling. We have had so many illnesses go though our house this winter that it is hard to know what symptom goes to what condition. I get dizzy every now and then, but I thought it was because of the head colds. There have been several times I have told Sam that I really didn't feel well and I needed to eat something right away, but he always looked at me like I was kind of rude when I had to start eating without him (he does tend to dilly dally - sorry Sam but you do). After talking to the doctor and hearing that a drop in blood pressure is common, I may be anemic and that I was probably dehydrated, I thought okay and went on my way. By the way, baby is fine with a heart rate of 150 - maybe the rumor is true and it's a girl?

Out of curiosity, I called my mom to find out what her numbers were and when I told her mine I thought she was going to pass out. I called the nurse back and explained that during the last 3 pregnancies nothing like this happened and didn't they think that 82/20 was a bit too low. She said that the only REAL symptom of clinical low blood pressure was dizziness and blacking out. Can you just imagine me passed out? Laney would head straight for the cabinet and start stuffing her face with marshmallows and Owen would probably toss powdered sugar over my limp body. Unfortunately, that is just the way it goes and they cannot do anything to prevent it other than instructing me to change my diet. Thanks lady! Anyway, her medical advice: drink a soda and eat some salty chips. She said that sugar and salt were good for retaining fluid and increasing blood pressure. Being the rule-follower that I am I decided to stop by Zingerman's this morning and get myself some "medicine".

A decaf coffee and, my favorite, a sugar crisp muffin. By the way, I think the French Breakfast Puffs the Pioneer Woman Cooks whipped up are the same thing - I am both excited and scared to death because they are really good, but not too good for you (note the 2/3 c shortening and 2 sticks of butter). I think the only thing that puffs when you make these is your bottom.

Anyway, the "medicine" seems to be working because my blood pressure is up to 90/56. So, by the end of this pregnancy my blood pressure should be just fine, but I will probably weigh 400 pounds, have clogged arteries and diabetes...

By the way, I added a widget to my sidebar that counts down the days until your due date, but I have to say, it is really starting to creep me out. Have you seen how fast that skinny little baby spins? That is probably an accurate picture of my kids who all have superhuman energy, but still kind of strange.

Bittersweet

It's no secret I have a love affair with Meyer lemons. Friends and family aside, Kumquats and Meyer lemons are two things I truly miss about California - well, at this time of year, I would be a liar if I were not to include the weather, but that one was really just a given. Unfortunately, you're not going to find them around this part of the country, unless you hit Trader Joe's at just the right time, or you come to my house.

For our anniversary two years ago my mom got us some Meyer lemon trees so I would no longer have to do without. I have to admit I was a bit worried about the growing part because I am not much of a plant person. Let's just say their lives would be a lot richer if they could water themselves, or talk so they could nag me like my kids...anyway, for some reason the Meyer lemons love my abuse. After living through the Indoor Bloom of 07 when I thought my head was going to explode from all of the sweet pollen, and after holding my breath every time one of the children would brush against one of the branches and make those bittersweet beauties bob, I have ripe Meyer lemons.

Which brings me to the problem part. I have waited so long for these lemons I now don't know what to do with them. Oh sure, I could make some lemon bars, or a lemon meringue pie, but do those things really seem worthy of fresh lemon juice from homegrown Meyer lemons? Plus, there is the whole flop factor. You know how it is - those movies that you have heard so much about that you eagerly await the release and when you go to see it you quickly realize they showed every single funny part in the previews, oh, and you are only 20 minutes into the thing - a flop. What if these much anticipated lemons are 80% pith? You know it can happen.

Well, as you can see, things have improved from my last post because today I am worrying about lemons - it is always moment-to-moment around here and sometimes just a little bittersweet.