I hope this isn't my last blog post for a while...

but it very well may be.

My computer is dying a very slow, very sad death.

This is sad because I won't be able to e-mail or blog or chat with my friends daily... but this is absolutely, positively horrific because I also won't be able to work. *gasp* No really... *GASP*

I've been near tears all day... because I'm not sure what I'm going to do without my trusty (or not-so-trusty) computer.

In a couple of hours, I'm taking my poor, pitiful computer over to a friend's house... her husband is going to give it a looksie, and I'm afraid he's going to laugh in my face and tell me that it's beyond help. It SOUNDS beyond help, to my untrained ear.

So, if you're the praying type, say a little prayer for my computer. And if you're not, maybe you could start checking your couch cushions for spare change... I might be taking up a collection for the Erin's New Computer Fund in the near future!

Our Thanksgiving in Pictures

So, it's taken me a while to download pics from my camera... but here they are, finally.

Thanksgiving was gorgeous in our neck o' the woods! It was very warm, but super duper windy... perfect for KITE FLYING!!! So, Avery and Grandma took our cheap-o, plastic SpongeBob kite out; Damon watched; and, of course, I took photos!

Here are my two absolutely, postively favorite parts of our Thanksgiving meal: our family's traditional stuffing and Cold Duck (you love the plastic wine glass, don't you? lol). Yumm-o, on both counts.

And, when the kids got antsy an hour before dinner was ready, we drew hand turkeys to keep them busy. Then we proudly displayed our turkeys on the fridge (flanked by some of our State magnets that Daddy brings home to show the kids where he's been):

Last but not least, here is a dirty-faced Avery loading up her plate with cheesy mashed potatoes; her plastic champagne glass (we are soooo fancy) is filled with Cherry 7-Up.

A surprise visit from Daddy!

Nick wasn't really supposed to be here last night, but we were soooo glad that he altered his route a little to stop at home for a visit!! He's been gone for 3 full weeks now, and that is SUCH a long time...

He was only supposed to stay for an hour or so last night, but of course he just couldn't tear himself away from his cutie pie children and adoring wife, so he spent the night with us and left early this morning! (Pictured above is Avery talking her dad's ear off... she does that, ya know.)

The best part is that he'll be back in just a few days, for a much longer visit! YAY!

Still alive!

I can't believe it's been a full week since I've posted! I wanted to wait until I'd uploaded my Thanksgiving pictures and share those, but I figured I'd better just say "hey!" and let everyone know that we didn't die from our illness last week (that I last blogged about).

Although, honestly, it's just been in the past 2 days or so that we've started feeling human again. But human feels great!! I hope we got our "big Winter sickness" over with and that we'll stay relatively healthy now (wishful thinking, I know!).

We had a lovely, quiet Thanksgiving Day here. I cooked... all of my family's traditional favorites... and it was quite scrumptuous (if I do say so myself! My mom agreed, and since she's the one who taught me how to make our family's Thanksgiving feast, I must've done something right!). We're still eating leftovers, of course. It was just the four of us and I cooked a 13-lb bird... so we've been eating LOTS of turkey sandwiches!

Poor Nick drove all day Thursday. But he was lucky enough to get a free, albeit cold, Thanksgiving meal at one of his company's Operating Centers that he drove past. I felt horrible that he was out there on his own for the Holiday, but I was glad that he got a good meal versus the Chef Boyardee that's been sustaining him for the past 2.5 weeks.

Speaking of my dear husband (absence really does make the heart grow fonder... he's almost reached sainthood by now, lol), he should be home by this time next week! It's going to be soooo nice to see his scruffy face again!

Today I'm sitting here staring at the clock... because at approximately 7pm EST I will be freed from my prison for a few hours! weeeeee! I'm meeting some friends for dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant (their California Roll is to die for... I can taste it already!) and then probably drinks and karaoke at our favorite bar. I won't know HOW to act... I seriously can't remember the last time I got out, away from my kids. Seven hours and counting!!

Oh yeah, the Thanksgiving pictures... I took quite a few pics Thursday, but I've been too lazy to get them off of my camera and on here for your viewing pleasure. Hopefully I'll get to that today... it should kill 30 minutes or so and get me closer to 7 o'clock!

Blech!

I'm really tired of blogging about sickness... and I'm sure you're really tired of reading about it, too. But, that's about all that's been going on here lately.

I finally took Avery to the doctor Thursday morning, since she'd been vomiting for a week by then. And, as I suspected, they told me that she was fine... nothing physically wrong with her. So, I wasted an hour at the doctor's office so that the doc could lecture me about giving my daughter "healthy snacks," as opposed to the junk she usually eats.

But, I'm happy to report that she seems to be better now... no vomit in 2 days, yay!!!

So, the kids are feeling better, and I'm feeling worse. I love how they share their germs with me...

Today I was really looking forward to a huge Thanksgiving brunch/Surprise Baby Shower with my Mom's Group. But, I had to back out at the last minute because I've been ill and have spent the majority of the day in bed instead (so unfair).

Hopefully everyone will be 100% healthy again by Thanksgiving, though... that's what I'm aiming for at this point. It seems that my mother is staying with us again, indefinitely, so we're going to cook and eat here for Turkey Day, which suits me just fine (but thanks again to all of my wonderful friends who extended invites to us... you guys are the best, really!).

Two weeks from today, Nick should be home... we're REALLY looking forward to that, of course. I'm hoping the next 2 weeks fly by!!!!

Where should I send my resignation letter?!?!

***Warning: If you have a weak stomach, you might not want to read the following post; the word "vomit" occurs frequently.***

The past 7 years have been a blast and all, but I'm ready to resign from my position as Mom now.

My children have been vomiting for days. Days! This would be really sad if they were feeling rotten and showed any signs at all of being ill... but they aren't and they don't. So, it isn't sad at all... it's frustrating and infuriating, because I'm really, REALLY tired of cleaning up vomit. Sooooooooooooooo incredibly tired of it.

We've all had a case of the sniffles that just seems to come with this time of year (by the way, I'm also ready to change my mind about my favorite season, which used to be this one). But the last time I checked, a few sniffles did not lead to emptying the contents of one's stomach, violently, a few times a day.

Damon went to school today, for the first time in almost a week. Even though he acts like he feels FINE (fine enough to run around my house like the crazy person that he is for at least 12 hours a day), he's been vomiting. And due to my own horrifying vomit-in-school incident when I was in the third grade (which ended with Mr. Kramer wearing my breakfast because I was waiting my turn patiently to ask if I could please go to the restroom), I can't bear the thought of sending my child to school if there's even the slightest chance that he might throw up there.

But today I sent him back to school... because even though my child is only in the first grade, I've been on the school's Black List for 2 years already due to poor attendance. Whenever I have to call the school for any reason, when I identify myself as Mrs. Witschey, Damon Witschey's mother, the secretary says, "ohhh, it's you." Two secretaries, actually. I'm tellin' ya, I'm ON The List.

So, he went to school today. And he was fine all day long. I was actually at the school this afternoon (National Education Week, Book Fair Day, yay!) and Damon's teacher assured me that he was perfectly healthy today and that I made a wise decision to return him to school.

Yet, he came home from school and threw up in the middle of dinner. No warning at all... he was actually enjoying his meal, for once in his life, before he took off running for the bathroom.

And Avery... well, she was pretty much fine all day, too. Until 5 minutes before we left to go to Damon's school this afternoon. She was in the bathroom washing her hands, preparing to leave, and suddenly became violently ill in the bathroom sink. I waited a while to make sure she was "okay" before we went to the school, and she was. Perfectly fine, all smiles.

She was also perfectly fine for the 1.5 hours that we spent at the school. We sat through two lessons in Damon's class, made Indian headbands and rigatoni necklaces, and shopped at the Book Fair. Everyone was smiling and healthy.

Then, on the way home, 1 mile from the house, Avery got violently ill... all over my car, all over her booster seat, all over her new rigatoni necklace. And, of course, she was fine 2 minutes later.

I'm trying to figure out what could possibly be afflicting these kids (I'm fairly certain they aren't pregnant). And, I'm losing my mind.

So, please, someone tell me where to send the resignation. Or, you know, volunteer to step in for me. I promise, ANYONE can fill this post. There is absolutely no secret trick or skill needed to clean up vomit... you can do it, too!!

Cuteness

She's cute... and she knows it.


Her brother isn't too hard on the eyes either...

(More later about why they appear to be sitting in holes in the yard. Hint: because they are.)

Hagatha, Jr.

When I was a kid my mom used to call me Hagatha... because my hair was always a mess and in desperate need of a brush. At least Avery comes by it honestly (I promise she's under there somewhere!)...


And, is it just me or are my children starting to look more and more like the same person?

Three more weeks

Until Nick gets to come home again. And I'm sad... very sad.

Nick put in his home time, which should start December 1st. So he will have been gone for 3.5 weeks by that point, which feels like an eternity right now (only a few days into it!).

I usually look forward to this time of year... Thanksgiving and Christmas... and all of the "family time" that comes along with it. Now, I'm just absolutely dreading the whole Season, for the most part. If it were just me, I think I'd hide under my covers until the first of the New Year... but I know that I can't do that with two kids here, who depend on me to make their lives whole. *sigh*

I knew going into this that Nick would be gone a lot... that he would miss a lot of holidays and birthdays, etc. And I thought I could mentally prepare myself and I'd manage. And manage I suppose I will. But I won't be the least bit happy about it.

In the next few months he'll miss Thanksgiving, his birthday, most of the Christmas "season" (although hopefully he WILL be home for Christmas morning at least), and Avery's 4th birthday. And I'm having a really hard time seeing the "bright side" of any of that right now.

I think I'm going to need an increase in medication before this year is over.

Boredom and a Depressed Dog

I don't know what is wrong with me today. I'm bored to tears. And it's not because I don't HAVE anything in the world to do... I could be editing or cleaning or scrapbooking or editing or reading or playing with my kids or grocery shopping or editing... any number of things. But I'm just having one of those days where everything sounds ehhhhh, not so exciting.

And poor Comet. I told Nick last night that I think Comet is slightly depressed. Seriously. Lizzie has only been gone for a little over 24 hours and Comet doesn't know WHAT to do with himself. I really felt guilty last night, as he wandered sadly around the house, and then stopped by my chair and looked at me like "what now?"

My friend Susan told me that Comet is probably worried, wondering if he's going to be the next one to "disappear." bwahahahahaha. (I'm not that lucky!)

And they're off!

Nick left in his pumpkin truck early this morning... and this time he has company: Queen Lizzie went out on the road with him! lol

I think Lizzie will be a great "truck dog." In fact, she spent the first 9 months or so of her life in a tow truck with Nick every day, and she seemed to enjoy that. And she'll be good company (and security, lol) for Nick out there, too. Not to mention the fact that I'm thrilled to have one less creature HERE to take care of! Although, I'm expecting "issues" out of Comet... he's not going to know what to do without Lizzie here to torture.

Nick also left this time with a new 12-volt cooler/refrigerator that plugs into his cigarette lighter and a whole bunch of food and drinks (hopefully he won't spend a small fortune eating at truck stops now... that will be an improvement!).

Saying goodbye was harder this time than ever. Mostly because we have no idea when they'll be home again. The holidays are affecting everyone's home time for the next couple of months, which is a bummer. So, Nick might be home in a week and a half... or (more likely) he won't be home for another 3.5 weeks, which seems like a lifetime!

Nick opted out of coming home for Thanksgiving this year, because he wants to make sure he's definitely home for Christmas. So, as of right now, the kids and I have no Turkey Day plans. I'm certainly not fixing a huge meal for the three of us (really, the two of us because Damon won't eat turkey anyway).

However, I have the most wonderful friends on the planet... as of this morning, the kids and I have received three different invites for Thanksgiving dinner. I haven't officially accepted any of them yet, mostly because I don't know what most of my extended family has planned (hint, hint, what are your plans, Extended Family?). But it's very heartwarming to know that so many non-family members (with absolutely NO obligation, lol) are willing to open up their homes and share their families with us for the holiday... it gives me huge warm fuzzies!

Well, back to the daily grind... I now have to transform back into Responsible Mom and get my children fed and dressed and off to school this morning. Ho hum.

Proof that Nick is home

My television has been on the Speed Channel for the past 2 hours, and we're having friends over for beer and a Nascar race this afternoon.

It's nice to have him home.

Mental Notes

Note to self: Never, ever volunteer to chaperone a field trip again.

Another note to self: Scrap plans to become a teacher when your kids are both in school full-time and you can have a life again.

I chaperoned a field trip yesterday... a first-grade field trip to our local zoo.

It was, without a doubt, one of the most painful experiences I've had in the past year, at least.

I spend a lot of time wondering if there's something wrong with my 6 year old. He's crazy 99% of the time; he doesn't listen to a word I say, ever; he thinks he's always being "wronged," that people are always blaming him for things when, in fact, he's a perfect angel and never does a thing wrong (uh huh. And I've got some ocean-front property in Arizona); and he's highly emotional and cries if I look at him the wrong way. So, naturally, I worry. I worry that I've done something seriously wrong in the past 6 years, that I've somehow scarred him and made him this INSANE little boy. And I worry about his future... if he's this nutty NOW, I really can't begin to imagine what puberty is going to be like for him. And I'm fairly certain that neither one of us will survive those blessed years!

But, after spending 5 hours in the company of dozens of 6 year olds, I actually felt some relief. Damon appears almost "normal" compared with some of these children. Actually, almost ALL of the boys in Damon's class seemed halfway normal. The girls, on the other hand... Wow. They are little nightmares!!

When Damon pushes me to the edge with his hormonal insanity, I always find comfort in Avery. She's so sweet and always HAPPY. I love that about her.

Today I looked at Avery and shed a tear. Because, after my experiences yesterday with 6-year-old girls, I think it's inevitable that Avery is going to be a little nightmare in just over 2 years.

So, needless to say, chaperoning a field trip is wayyyy at the bottom of my list of things to do in the future. I tried to be a "good mom" and do the Good Mom "thing." And I think Damon was glad to have me along for the field trip from Hell. But it's going to take me a good long time to recover from it.

(And if I never hear another person call me "Mrs. Witschey" ever again, it'll be too soon. My sister-in-law can have all of that glory herself. I found it very creepy...)

Halloween Night

Okay, here are the LAST of the Halloween pics... thank goodness. I'm so tired of this silly holiday after a week of celebrating it (and it was never my favorite to begin with).

Last night the kids went trick or treating with Damon's best school friend, Ian, and Ian's older brother and sister and their friends. Here's the whole crew (Damon was a very miserable soldier all evening... 6-year-old hormones, they do exist!):

I got a half-smile for this pic, showing off the horrible facepaint job (Damon's mom is NOT very artistic... and 6-year-old hormones certainly don't help):

Here's Avery raiding the candy bowl at Ian's house. She didn't last long trick or treating before she asked the big kids to bring her home (wimpy little thing!). But she had a ball handing out candy to all of the other trick or treaters.