Raise my girls to be independent, loving and empowered women

I spent my day off at my hospital. Not as an employee, but as a CONSUMER!

My eldest, The Girl, has been complaining of bellyache pain for about 2 weeks. I don’t know what’s the matter, go to the bathroom I say.

I got home from work on Monday night and she had made grilled cheeses for everyone, hadn’t touched hers and was balled up on the sofa complaining that her belly hurt. She showed me where, and it was in the right lower quadrant (think appendix area). Huh, I thought, I wonder if it will hurt if I do this. push into that area deeply and abruptly let go OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Well that solves it.

I decide NOT to go to the emergency room (read: coldest night of the year thus far, going in to ER complaining of belly pain…YIKES!) and hold out until morning. We go to our pediatrician and he confirms what I suspect, probable appendicitis. and OFF we go to the ER. At least this time our ped. has called ahead and warned them we are coming.

Going in this way does 2 things. One, we get dr. to dr. information, instead of waiting forever for the dr. to come and evaluate what we are saying. For two, we get to CHOOSE our surgeon. I chose Doug. he’s a great dr. Hell, he fixed me up fairly nicely and put up with my lip, I figure he can fix up my girl.

So, with some waiting, of course, she heads off to the OR for an appendectomy. We wait. And wait. oh and we wait.

About 8pm last night I get to see her post-op. She looks good. Doped up (thank god) but good. She and I spend the night in the hospital on the pediatric unit. She takes very little pain medicine. I want her on oral pain meds, but the nurses, even after my requesting oral pain meds, are only offering IV stuff.
So, when DOUG E FRESH (that’s what I call him now, either that or Opie) shows he wants to know why she isn’t using the T3’s.
“THEY WON’T GIVE THEM TO HER!” I am sorta frustrated with the pediatric unit process, however, I KNOW how to play the political game…I get her home and manage her pain myself.

Doug agrees. He orders a T3 for NOW and discharges us to home.

We are home now. She still has a pretty good amount of pain, which is to be expected. I think she is much more comfortable on our sofa than in a hospital bed. hell, I am more comfortable here than in that sleep chair.

So, that’s my story. I’m stickin’ to.
^{I gotta go get a shower…i feel so, hospital like}

is sitting here this morning, apparently enjoying the opportunity to completely control the television without regard to the other 2 kids. It’s a rare treat for her. She enjoys this with the same zest as she has enjoyed eating cold pizza for breakfast.

I’m glad it doesn’t take all that much to make her happy.

My Girl is like most girlie-girls. She is a clothes horse and a fashion diva. She has a particular style. She dresses modestly enough, her jeans cover her ass (mostly). She doesn’t wear tartsy shoes or whore-like earrings. I am pleased.

She is a pretty smart girl. In some subjects, she has to work for the grade, like math, that one always kills her.

This year, she’s in 7th grade. Where has the time gone oh lord? Anyway, apparently they do a geography bee at this school. It’s sponsored by National Geographic, of which I am a long standing and proud member.
So, this bee starts with all 500 kids in the school participating. In this round, the contestants are whittled down to 39. The Girl is still in. That’s nice dear I say.
The next round, they cut all but 10. The Girl is still in. VERY NICE—I didn’t know she was a geography buff.
Then Friday came round…it was the do or die round. I figured I hear about it when she got home.

We get a call around 10:15—it’s the girl (are you okay? I ask) MOM I WON THE GEOGRAPHY BEE!!!! HOLY TOMATO BATMAN!
My girl won the bee for our entire middle school. She won a gift card to our local mall, a teeshirt, a medallion and a chance to participate in the state finals. Hell, just to make it this far is fantastic!

So, we won’t hear anything until about March. It’s wonderful never the less. I am so happy for her!

fight like cats and dogs. In fact, my cat and dogs get along better than them. The eldest is so critical of the younger one. I get on her all the time about that. The younger one gets all sad faced and down in the dumps when she can’t do what the older one can.

ugh, I need a referee.

My oldest is suffering. Hell, I am suffering right along side of her. She’s suffering from “pre-teen” syndrome. Don’t they make pills for that sort of stuff….bet they do.

She is now very lazy. Won’t take care of her stuff or her dog. Won’t do ANYTHING. Had to get with her again twice today. I hate doing that. I always end up feeling like a nagging bitch. BUT FOR GOD”S SAKE CHILD…get with the program…any program.

UGH…I need a vacation. Or a wife.

is one of the most ingenious kids I have ever met. She didn’t get that from me, lemme tell ya. So, I scrapbook and have alot of the geegaws that go along with said hobby. They are allowed to plow through that stuff with a few restrictions (put everything back, no scissors, ask me before you start chopping crap up).

Abby found these cute little buttons hanging out and decided she’d find a better use for them than scrapbook stuff.

I have to agree..this is HYSTERICAL!

are like opposite ends of the spectrum.

The eldest is very maternal and caring. She’s decided she loves Pooh and little dogs and is okay with helping old folks. She is very much the clothes maven and tends to dress according to style rather than comfort or the weather. She is a gift. Today we got the computer hooked up in her room. She’s now online…she loves that.

The next one, my “mini-me” is a powerhouse. She has more personality than most adults I know and more enthusiasm for alot of children I know. This child is not the atypical “middle child”-she doesn’t suffer from middle child syndrome, lemme tell ya!- she is bold, brassy, loud, funny, artistic and tender. Her soul is so very old.

has required a kick in the pants to jump start her. She doesn’t want to help me around the house. I get so sick of waiting on HELP…so I had to get with her. I think she got the clue. She’s so mean and hard on the next one….I’ve asked her to take a look at her behaviour. She’s a good, smart, pretty girl that I am so proud of. I want her to be the best human she can be…so we gotta tweak the raw product right now.

My Middle Child….is now wearing glasses to correct…amylidopia (is that right?)...her eyes are formed correctly, but the left eye is weaker than the right. She’s pretty good about wearing them. She is also 6 yrs old and needs to be reminded about how important they are.

These girls are the reason the sun shines, the reason why God made butterflies and icecream. They are my life.

The girls are growing up too!

My girls, I have 2 are phenomenal young women. They are each so unique. The eldest is nurturing, smart, style concious, attentive, intuitive. The youngest is brilliant, creative, funny, athletic, and limber. They are both so so much more. I want them to be the best of all they can be.