It’s still raining.

The Hubster was sent home from work and instead of taking up a productive chore, he is once again outside in the driving wind and rain PRESSURE WASHING. His capacity for pressing project avoidance is admirable. Never mind we have 1 inspection left and just a few short weeks to pass it in, THE DRIVEWAY must be pressure washed during a tropical storm.. and the play house.. and the swing set.. and the shed… I’m pretty sure I saw him pressure washing the dog earlier when Rocket was out there trying to take a dump.

The only reason I have allowed this to go on (hahahaha you like how i’m all I WEAR THE PANTS AND NO ONE DISAGREESWITH ME I am here?) is because I’m too giddy to take over the position of Captain Bring Down. My chicks are shipping out on Monday. No, not chicks as in wanna date, 5 dolla make you holla chicks but chicks as in bwak bwak I’m covered in feathers andcrap out lay eggs from my egg vent chicks, ie baby chickens!!

I can’t WAIT!

and yes, there will be photos, copious photos of chicken high jinx

Tuesday was a forced life time out. School and work were canceled. This frustrated the hell out of The Hubster because tuesDAY it was a non event for us. Fay was busy to the south so The Hubster went on an ADD home rampage this included

Washing but NOT folding (grumble grumble) mountains of laundry

Mowing the lawn WHILE IT WAS LIGHTENING! Taking a break to start on floor (see below) then going back outside when it was raining harder to do the front lawn

Replacing a gouged spot in the floor.. well taking up the floor, leaving it that way for 7 or 8 hours while he drifted around doing other tasks and then finally replacing the floor boards under extreme duress from me

oh and let us not forget the oddest hurricane home improvement task, pressure washing

At least I had a nice view

Fay is set to dump more rain on us, school is canceled but The Hubster returns to work. It should be an interesting day

I haven’t run in like… um.. yeah let’s just say it’s been awhile.

Producing milk and growing a person is melting my hips and butt clean off my body. Moments after nursing my head swoons and my hearing gets weird. I can not seem to keep up with this double demand. I guess it is for the best. It is making weaning more necessary and it is making me follow through.

It stabs me right in the heart. His watery hazel eyes lock onto mine and he furiously works his wee wittle hand signing “milk milk!” I hand him a cup of formula which he disdainfully flings aside and moans “Anuhnuh! Anuhnuh!!” These breast which were so nourishing, leave him hungry and unsatiated, yet he only has eyes for them.

With my history of preterm labor and now preterm babies, my doctor asked me to wean by 12 weeks. I laughed. I knew that short of leaving the baby at home and hiding out Mexico for 2 months, weaning Levi that fast would be impossible. I’m in my 12th week now and only just this past week gotten him to accept any kind of formula. We have managed to drop one breastfeeding session a day and all other feeds are only after a cup of formula.

These last few weeks my milk was obviously not enough to sustain him as he was waking 5 to 6 times a night starving. Since getting him to take formula he is now waking 1 and on a bad night 2 times a night. And while this all seems like good news, I cry.

Levi is more invested in breastfeeding then any of my other children. Mira weaned herself by now, as did Tessa. They were only in it for survival and once solid food came on the scene it was see ya later lactater! But Levi, dear sweet Levi loves to collapse into my arms and curl around my breast. He pats me lightly and sighs with such contentment that my heart quivers.

Now, instead, it is a frantic time, like he knows that each session might just be the last one. I no longer recognize his scent, it is foreign and changed since adding Carnation Comfort Proteins to his body. Old lefty seems to have nearly stopped producing. Righty is still milkful but her let downs are weak and disappointing. We have come to a point where it is all for comfort. I haven’t quite convinced myself to pry that comfort from his rose bud lips so SHHHHHHHH, please don’t tell my doctor and please tell my uterus to hang in there.

Knitting isn’t going so well. I haven’t figured out how to cast properly. I’m so frustrated I feel like stabbing something with my knitting needles. Instead of further antagonizing myself, I’m going to test out a few gluten free pie crust recipes and try to make a batch of toffee.

The Hubster is attempting to stay off my knitting needle stab worthy list by working on the flooring. So far it’s working.

Apparently I need to take up knitting. Anyone know of exceedingly simplistic how to websites? What supplies do I absolutely need to get started and where can I buy my supplies cheaply AND quickly. My sanity may very well depend on knitting.. hmmm

Yesterday was one of THOSE days. I have spent my week desperately trying to ready myself for Tessa’s impending birthday party and still juggle all the other motherly crap I have to do. I had set yesterday aside specifically to get some stuff done so I would not have to panic at the last minute. Unfortunately. my city decided to thwart me.

I snapped these about 2 minutes after my phone/dsl and power went out.

and stayed out… and out… and out

Yeah. Much was not done.

I guess on the good side of it, the power outage kept me from placing my Christmas toy order which was slated to include Aqua date rape dots.

Later in the day Levi fell victim to his sisters for the first, of what I’m sure will be many, dress up encounters. He was NOT very happy about it, either.

Can you say BLACKMAIL? MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

During the power outage I rewrote my Sequoia review on paper and contemplated being unlazy and sending out Christmas cards this year.

In past years I’ve hand stamped and glittered holiday cards. In past years I my brain was addled with a gluten fog and I thought I actually had time to do such things. HA!

I guess this year I could just use a picture. My hair has been falling out in clumps since the boy was born and recently I discovered a Charlotte’s Web-esq message on my shower wall that would make a perfect non denominational seasonal greeting:

We are in the midst of quite a busy month. Tessa is starting school in just a few shorts days (did I just hear a chorus of angels singing?), Tessa’s birthday puts in an appearance and the very next day me and the kiddos (sans The Hubster) roll out to visit my family (maybe get to meet a blogger).

The “plan” as we shall loosely call it, is for the Hubster is complete some of the little niggling projects like FLOORING and oh ELECTRICAL so we might actually have a shot at closing out our permits this year. I say “plan” because, dude, he’s slated to have 4 days unimpeded by howling children, a nagging wife, and work. Four long lonely days he can fill with beer, power tools, Johnny Cash and sleep. Upon my return I hope to lavish my husband with special favors for all the projects he completes (and I don’t mean finally completing a life sized beer can pyramid).

It is my hope that we can close out October with ungodly amounts of delicious candy and at least one passing inspection. I also hope to plunge full steam ahead into November, cleaning and prepping the house for tea. After last years panicky last minute party
due to pukefest ‘06, I vowed to put together a proper birthday party this year. one with INVITATIONS! and SCHOOL FRIENDS!! Tessa has requested a tea party and now I am scouring the internet looking for CHEAP! tea party food and decor ideas and, really, I need CHEAP! ones.

We’ll be inviting the children in her class, which should be 14. I doubt they will all come but I need to plan just in case there is some cosmic fluke where every single child is inclined to RSVP and show. There will be another 6 to 10 kids on top of that and a boatload of grownups.. why yes, I am insane.

The plan thus far:

Make and send invitations that request everyone comes dressed “fancy” glitter, sequins, bows and top hats are strongly encouraged. Set up several long tables, add lots of chairs. Cover tables with table clothes, accent with contrasting runner. Make tea.

There seems to be a few vital party elements missing. I could use some ideas, CHEAP! ideas.

I’m already scouring the thrift stores for CHEAP! tea cups and saucers (there is thus far a huge void in the used cup and saucer market. What are you people doing with all your tea cups? Give em to me!) I think I will hit the dollar store for a few cheapy vases and maybe fill them with lollipop flowers cause right after Halloween I should be able to score some lollipops for a song. beyond that I’m kind of floundering.

I need a kid friendly, yet gluten free menu, that will also somewhat appease the adults in attendance, maybe a few ideas for organized games (my current plan involves mass chaos and zero activities), and CHEAP! decorating ideas. Also, do I have to do goodie bags? Is it poor children’s party etiquette to just skip em?

Tessa plans on wearing her new Halloween dress, we’ll see if it survives the candy carnage in relatively good condition

This weekend brought about sweeping change regarding the dynamics of our relationship, we hung curtains. While for many, this type of activity would have taken place shortly after moving in, it has taken us over 3 years. Sure we had sheet plastic for awhile but living in a home that resembled the ending of ET was soul sucking.

I know you are probably deeply saddened. Who wouldn’t be? My daily streaking across the house must have provided you with endless hours of amusement. My penchant for dropping trou on my way to the laundry room and then sneaking past the windows on the way to the shower, has probably become a must watch ritual, just like the TGIF line up in the 80s. It was easy to pretend that no one was looking since our home faces a clump of green rather then another home. This head in the sand mentality carried me through for quite sometime, and it probably could have carried me through another year of window-covering-less existence had it not been for one dude.

You see, the final straw came recently when I saw one of you out there ogling me while I sat upon my couch fully clothed. This was no odd accident or cruel coincidence like that time Tessa threw open the bathroom door allowing my bare butt to full moon out the bedroom window where my neighbors, who happened to be chitty chatting, caught sight. No, this was purposeful planned gawking. Window gazing outside of my house must have been a premium activity for you, it was obviously not your first time as you came prepared. In one hand you clutched a can of beer (the other 5 of the pack resting at your feet) and in the other hand a bag of chips. I guess I should be grateful that you only have two hands because I can only guess what the third one would have been holding.

After seeing you, dear neighbor, standing there in the gutter leering into my windows with your can of Natty Ice in hand, I knew the curtains had to go up post-haste. The only problem? Complete lack of curtain rings. Fear not, a solution was close at hand.

Salvation was just a couple of rolls of ribbon away. I like the new look so much that once the room is finished out I may actually purchase ribbon to match the new decor.

As for you dear leering neighbors, you won’t be seeing as much of me (so long as I remember to draw the curtains) but you can still catch me in all my glory. This time I’m giving you permission to watch. On October 10 at 10am I will be broadcasting live on my blog. Not only will you get to once again revel in my smiling face, but you’ll get to see my breasts in action. I’m nursing live as part of The League of Maternal Justice’s Breast Fest. Come see what they’re really for! Maybe it will demystify the entire affair and help bring about some much needed change.

Kindest Regards,

Fidget

I have not abandoned you I’m just on a bit of a wild ride right now. We HAD to pass an inspection this week and have been scrambling. Luckily we passed final mechanical today. Mira is home with a 102 fever, the baby is burning one too (teeth maybe?) and I’m doubled over with girly parts pain. Tessa is the only well one at home right now and is so bored she’s taken to cleaning. Here’s a little Tessa Zen for you