How To Get Your Prescriptions Filled Faster at Wal-Mart

What do you do when you get back to the pharmacy counter 10 minutes later than they told you your baby's prescriptions would be filled, only to be told it would be another 20-25 minutes?

You set up camp on the bench directly in front of the counter with your crying eight-month-old, your hungry/mischievous three-year-old, and your ornery-cuss-of-a-six-year-old.  And you let your little devil children do their thing.  And you smile.

You'll get your prescription filled and paid for in less than 10 minutes.  Guaranteed.

p.s.  I've always had really good experiences with this Wal-Mart pharmacy.  This was the first time I've ever had problems with them, and I really do think it was just a random mistake on their part.  That said... desperate times call for desperate measures.  There was NO WAY I was going to walk around the store with them anymore, and going home was NOT an option.

Stupid Valentines

It's as if I live in Opposite World today.  As I type, Josh is quietly playing while six year old Spencer yells, screams, cries, and tantrums in his room.  It's all because of McDonald's.  And Valentine's Day.

I thought I'd be nice and take the boys to McDonald's for lunch today.  It was right next to the repair shop where I needed to pick up our vacuum and steam cleaner.  Plus, it has a huge play area and the boys really needed to run around and get rid of some of their energy.  Unfortunately, after we had already ordered and paid for our food we realized that the play place was closed for maintenance.  Oh, the horror!  The humanity!  Spencer was much put out, and was sure it was all my fault.  He refused to eat his food.  This is generally how Josh behaves, so you can imagine my surprise when Josh acted perfectly at peace with the play place being closed and proceeded to eat his entire meal.  (Cole surreptitiously stole french fries from his brothers during all of this.)

When we got home I announced that we had to work on Valentines, since Spencer has to take his to school by Wednesday and Josh needs to take his to the Toy Room (where he goes while I work out) by Friday.  Josh colored on and glued candy to 20 of his Valentines and was happy in the process.  Spencer, on the other hand, was anything but happy.  He definitely needs to work on his handwriting, so I've been having him write the names on his Valentines, just a few each day.  (There are only 22 kids in his class.)  Oh the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth!  The cries of agony and despair!  It took the child 45 minutes to do five cards.  Then he started a HUGE tantrum because I wouldn't let him have more than one piece of candy.  At that I sent him to bed, with threats of death if he dared to come out before the 20 minutes timer went off.

I am, as you know, and as Spencer repeatedly pointed out, the World's Meanest Mother.

It's tough being the World's Meanest Mother.

New Haircut

My was getting too long, too unruly, and too boring.

So now I have something that I haven't had since 7th grade - bangs!  (Not that you can really see them - I didn't realize I had them pushed out of the way.  Oops.)

Yep, still rockin' those post-baby-fallout hairs that are growing back.  Nice.

I like it.  It's a little shorter than I had intended, but it'll grow back.  No biggie.  What do you think?

How Long 'Til My Cruise?*

Tired.  Crabby.  Dull.

I've been stuck in the house all week with two sick kids.  And now it's snowing.  A lot.

So not a lot to talk about.  But here are some shots of Cole today.

Dang.  Lance and I make cute babies.  I'm just sayin'.

*93 days, baby!

Tolerated Little Brother

Josh and Cole are still sick.  It's almost becoming the new normal.  Is that weird?  (Yes.)

Anywho, I caught Josh and Spencer watching TV this afternoon and decided to perform a little experiment.  I put Cole in the middle, making sure that he wasn't leaning one way or the other.  Within seconds he was on his way to Josh.  (Much to Spencer's dismay.)

I moved him back, and he did it again.

Cole has a new love for Josh.  I'm not quite sure why, since at best Josh only tolerates Cole.  I don't think Josh dislikes him, but I really don't think he'd be too sad if Cole disappeared for a while.  Cole is the little brother that gets all the attention from Momma, who gets what he wants when he whines, who grabs all of Josh's favorite toys, and who eats and slobbers on all of those aforementioned toys.

Cole can't get enough of Josh.  His attention immediately goes to Josh whenever they're in a room together.  He loves to give him 'kisses' (zooming at you with a mouth wide open), loves to hug him, loves to cuddle him, loves to talk to, and loves to do all the other baby tricks he has in his repertoire right now.

Cole loves Josh.

And I'm sure Josh will love Cole, too.  Some day.

Sick of Sick

Josh and Cole are both working on their 5th day of being sick.  While this has calmed Josh down considerably (he spent his morning on the couch watching TV - unheard of) it has made Cole extremely cranky (all he wants to do is be held, preferably so that he can be standing, which means I have to be sitting).  I'm tired of cleaning up their messes, trying to make everyone happy, and doing 5 million loads of laundry a day.

Daddy came home and decided to help Cole sweeten up.  It worked.  (At least for these few seconds.)  Nothing like a good baby belly laugh to brighten everyone's mood!

Things I Have Realized Over the Past Few Days

1. If I had truly known the amount of poop I would have to deal with and clean off of every surface in the house (including myself) I would have thoroughly reconsidered this whole motherhood thing before having started.
2. When Josh says he is all better, he is lying.  Keep him in pull-ups and on a towel until you know for SURE that he is all better.
3. The amount of poop that comes out of a child appears to be inversely proportional to their size.  Seriously, Cole, I'm impressed.
4. Buying Spot Shot (Professional Grade) Carpet Stain Remover in bulk at Sam's Club last week was one of the best purchases I have ever made, especially since my steam cleaner is in the repair shop.
5. Flu season cannot be over soon enough.

****Addendum****

I just talked to the pediatrician and she thinks the boys have the rotavirus.  (I guess vaccines aren't 100%  effective.)  And it generally lasts 7-10 days.  Lucky me!