Tuesday, May 30, 2006

The dog days are here...

and my boys will be barking up a storm at the Montessori Summer program.

Yes indeedy, my parents suggested I enroll the twins in the five week Montessori Enrichment Program, which is specially designed to help the toddler transition from one classroom to another. With a name like “Enrichment” I had an idea the program was designed to improve their white blood cell count and fatten them up a bit at the same time, but no...

There was a little saga about their enrollment, because, as y’all know, nothing in my life can ever be simple and streamlined. In April, when the signs advertising the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) went up all over the school, I looked at the price, winced, and didn’t look again. The deadline for enrollment was May 12, and the tuition was due, in full, on May 26. My parents came over on Saturday, the 27th, and my father asked about our summer plans.

Daddy: Hey, what are the twins going to be doing this summer?

MOT: Driving me crazy full time, me thinks.

Daddy: Why not enroll them in a summer program somewhere?

MOT: Well, there is one at their school, but it seemed kind of pricey.

Daddy: Oh, we can take care of that for you...OUCH! (My mother kicked him under the table)

MOT: Well, guys, I’ll look into it, and if there’s room, I’ll enroll them.

Mummy and Daddy together: Oh yes, we can help you with the tuition, no problem.

MOT: You do realize we’ll have to pay up front, because I missed the deadline?

M and D: Oh, yes, we can blah, blah, demur, demur.

Therefore, when I dropped off the fellas today I asked the administrator if there room in the SEP. She said there was, and I filled out the application on the spot. She told me I needed to get a check to the school Ay-Sap, andI said I would.

While I was at Stop and Shop after school, I called my mother:

MOT: Hi Mummy, I was able to get the boys into the Summer program, so now we need to cough up the tuition. Here’s how much we need...

Mummy: I don’t know how you expect me to pay all that, I am re-doing the kitchen, you know.

MOT: (keeping her cool AND her head) Mummy, I didn’t tell you guys about the program because, as I said before, I thought it was too much money. The DH and I can’t afford the full tuition on our own, as I said before. This was Daddy's idea. I was ready for them to be home- really. It’s fine; they don’t have to go. Will I see you this weekend?

Mummy: Now wait! I didn’t say I COULDN’T help you a bit, I think I might be able to stretch it to $1,000. Will that help?

MOT: That’s great, and yes, it will help. Would you mail the check to the school?

Mummy: (deep sigh) Yes, I will.

I think my sessions with Dr. Tell me About It helped me in that situation. I was all grouchy and shaky for a few hours afterwards – why does she make me jump through hoops all the time? Why can’t she fulfill her promises without trying to torture me? And if I refuse to be tortured, why do I feel guilty? Do I fell like I have deprived her of some fun? Or does she need to make me know how difficult it is for her? Or does she just want to me really, really appreciate her? Or does she simply like to belittle me and get me to beg?

I’m glad the boys will be in a program; I don’t know if I’d be able to have them 24/7 for 3 long hot months without a break. I don’t handle humidity very well. I only wish I didn’t have to feel as if I had done something wrong. The SEP was my parents’ idea; my father offered to pay, without any hint from me, but still the resistance. As infinitesimal as it was, it still takes a lot out of me.

I regret to report I cried a teensy bit, and was sensitive all afternoon. The boys are napping now, and I hope a snack and a nap work will work wonders for Mommy just like they do for babies.

I think I'll have some graham crackers and apple juice...YUM! Better already!

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Out of the minds of Babes

You know how it is when you are a bit tipsy, or a bit sleepy and you unintentionally say something that comes across as hilarious? Well, the other day, Baby B was just up from a nap, and at the yawn-y, heavy in my arms stage of waking up. I carried him outside, to where his brother was frisking and gamboling. We sat for a moment on the lawn as he woke up and looked around. He focused on the garden, pointed and said, “Thass a wheelbarrow.” My little Obvious Man.

Baby A is Obvious Man too at times. He was banging the plastic hammer from his tool chest on the table. Wham, wham, what fun! He paused, looked up at me and said, “This hammer really loud!” Hey, you are right. I wouldn’t have noticed.

Like many little boys, my two have a fondness for wheeled things, construction equipment and farm machinery. They have a small fleet of tractors and trucks at home, and they like to know the specific names for each vehicle; track excavator, mobile crane, front loader with digger, tractor and so on. Nowadays, before we go for a drive, each boy will request a particular toy. Baby A likes his “yellow fork-a leeeft” and Baby B like to play with this red combine harvester. Guess what he calls it? Yep, he’s two and a half and says, “Combine, please.” My boy is a genius - call Yale.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Miss Malaprop is SOOOO funny!

My dear friend, whose husband calls Miss Malaprop, said just the funniest things recently.

Last night we all stood by our cars, saying "Bye, Bye" and "See you soon" and "What a nice time". I went from person to person, saying “Mwah, Mwah” and kissing both cheeks. This lady’s husband missed the second kiss I dished out, because he wasn’t expecting two kisses. Miss Malaprop said, “Oh Honey, The MOT swings both cheeks.”

What, when I walk?

A few weeks ago, at a playgroup, all the children were running around and doing this and that, and the parents were sitting and chatting. One of the children needed help dressing a Jessie doll. You know, Jessie? Woody’s girlfriends from Toy Story Part Two? A few of the parents started dressing these dolls and I saw that the family had three Woody dolls, of various sizes and materials. I commented on this, and asked why the dolls weren’t more consistent. Miss Malaprop said, “Well, you know, all Woodies are different.”

So I have heard. So I have heard.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

A Half Assed post

A quick update

Since I have been so busy lately with my one-hour nap boys (grr) and the siren song of the great outdoors and my flower garden, I have not been updating this blog that often. Recently I have had requests to do so, hence, this half-assed post.

I saw my new endocrinologist last week and my TSH went from 2.80 to .75 in one month, just by following her advice: take my meds at the same time every day, on an empty stomach. By empty, she means, don't eat anything at all for one half hour after taking the meds. Not even juice. I also added another pill once a week, so I am taking eight tablets a week; I take two on Wednesdays . I definitely feel less moody, but I still get pissed off when the babies throw all their clean clothes out the second story window onto the muddy grass. D’ja think that makes me unbalanced? Ha.

I had a nice lunch with my parents over the weekend. I expected nothing therefore was happily surprised. I didn’t ask for a lot and as a result got more than I had expected. My Dad did tell me I looked like kinda chunky, but since I won the Scrabble game, he might have been “getting even.” Ho.

I have been going to the gym a bit more lately; somehow I am able to squeeze it in and still do other crucial stuff, like scrub my bathroom, take the boys to the playground and eat and sleep. This week I went to a spin class on Monday at 9:30, worked out with my trainer from 10:30 to 11:30, then went back for another class that night – kickboxing. I took the spin class today and plan on going tomorrow as well. I meet my trainer on Thursday at 7:30, and then I have an appointment to have more blood sucked for another doctor. Then I am going to a friend’s house to help her prepare an impressive dinner for her in-laws before I collect the boys from school. I will take the yoga class that night. I plan on taking Friday off, because I meet with my Dr. Tell Me at 7:30 on Saturday (just for a few weeks, then we are back to 8:00 am), so I can take the 9:30 Saturday Pilates class at the gym. I need to get a schedule worked out for the summer - I will so miss those three hours three days a week of me/gym time...

So, as y’all can see, I am busy. In a happy way. It feels nice.