Paula: The Good Times, The Bad Times, and the Body that Hates Her

Last week Andy called me from work and told me that he had been called into a meeting with his team leader, supervisor, and the plant supervisor. It was a spontaneous meeting And the conversation went something like this...

Supervisor: We want to have a meeting with the plant supervisor, the team leader, you and I.
Andy: Alright...when?
Supervisor: Right now.
Andy: Okay...

He must have gotten that look on his face because his supervisor told him that it wasn't anything bad.

Andy went into the room and sat down, still nervous. It is at this point that they started telling him how much they appreciate everything that he has been doing. For several months now he has been coming in 2 hours early several times a week (some entire weeks) and learning part of the team leader's job. He has also been cross trained in many of the other ares of the plant in the past year. Andy has also done most of the team leader's job when she is not at work.
In the meeting, they said that some people would have quit or complained by now because of the extra work load and the expectations that have been placed on him. The supervisor and plant supervisor commended him on his attitude and his willingness to learn. They told Andy that he absorbs new information like a sponge and is then ready for new challenges.

And then...he was given a promotion. And a raise. I'm so unbelievably proud of him. His hours are changing some too. He was working 7-3:30, but now he will have to go in earlier so he will be working 5-1:30. While I have to admit that it has got to suck getting up so early in the morning. Is there really a A.M. version of 3:30? Seriously?? However, he is enjoying the being done at 1:30 and I am loving having him home earlier.
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Last week was the girls' Spring Break from school and while we didn't do too much extraordinary, we did have a nice week. The girls played in the basement a lot, showing me that they can get along and solve their own problems.

On Friday, the last day of Break, I took the girls to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and games. However, before heading there for fun and excitement we stopped off at our local salons and Cassie got her eye brows waxed for the first time. As of late it seems that some of the hair on her face is starting to darken. Mainly eye brows and a little bit on the upper lip. We started with eye brows as well...honestly, I come from a family of uni-brows. Cassie inherited this wonderful trait as well.

Before: Uni-brow and hairy

She was very nervous going in and cried some, but after they did it the first pull she said that "it felt like pulling off a bandaid. Or like pulling the tape off when I tape her mouth shut." Huh???? Yes this is what she said in front of the ladies that were doing her and my waxes. So I had to clarify before Child Services was called. Every now and again when Cassie is talking up a storm and driving me insane I will use scotch tape and 'tape her mouth shut'. Cassie, however, made it sound like I duct taped her mouth on a daily basis...which by the way would eliminate the upper lip problem.

After all was said and done, Cassie loved it. She kept saying that she was so pretty now. And I kept correcting her by saying that she was always pretty...this just makes her eye brows look that little bit more defined and clean. And it is very true.

After: cleaned up and looking fairly good.
Next time I will have them round the insides a little more so it looks less treky looking.

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So, we've talked in the past about how my body hates me, right? And about how I'm very coordinated? Well...I have a story to show just how true these things are.

Sunday morning we were walking dogs and I rolled my ankle. Of course my ankle rolling and then giving out completely caused me to fall on the gravel road. I stopped my face from hitting the ground with my hands and surprisingly never lost the dog. As I was laying on the ground the dog, Emily, came back and looked at me as if to say, "why are you on the ground?"

Andy was a little ways in front of me and turned back to see me completing my fall to the ground and then rushed to see if I was okay. (fortunately he was the only one to see my embarrassment) I said that I was okay and I tried to get up and walk off the pain in my ankle. It wasn't really helping, but I was hoping. I then mentioned how my knee was really hurting and that I was sure it was scrapped up and that I'd have another bruise. I told Andy that I didn't want to look, but should. I pulled up my pants leg and what I saw made my stomach flip and Andy say "oh my God". It wasn't pretty. I had gouge in my knee and it looked like a flap of skin was hanging there some. I pulled my pant leg back down and thought about trying to walk this off as well, but I gave up and went back to the house.

Before: Open, fleshy looking boo-boo. This picture actually doesn't show how bad it really was.

Long story short...this was the end of my walking dogs for the day, I felt like a dork, and once we were back in town Andy and I headed for the ER. It was a blast and I came out with an air brace for my right ankle, 10 stitches in my left knee, a tetanus shot in my left arm, and antibiotics to be on for the next several days. Seriously, not that good of a time.

After: Bruises setting in now, the girls say my stitches make my skin look like they are lips.
It hurts to move my knee and just thinking about bumping it makes me cringe.

And now for the question of the evening. When you have an injured ankle/leg they tell you that when you are going up the stairs to lead with the good leg and when you are doing down the stairs to lead with the bad. Up with the good, Down with the bad. However, how do you do stairs when both legs are bad?? Yeah, I haven't figured it out yet either. For now I just do my best with as little moaning as possible and hope that I am not sweating by the time I get to the other end of the stairs. Yes, it is a sad life that I have here. I'm thinking of making a sitcom out of it. I'll just simply call it "Paula: Good Times, Bad Times, and the Body that Hates Her". Has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?
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I feel like I have so much more to post about, but sleep is a little more important and it is almost 11:00pm. I'll work on it tomorrow, if time presents itself. ;)

NaBloPoMo - Day 17

It has begun. And it scares the living daylights out of me.

Today while we were out for dinner my cell phone rang. I answered and a little girl said, "this is *little girl from Kalli's class*, is Kalli there? I handed the phone across the table to Kalli and said that it's *little girl from your class*.

Kalli took the phone and had about a 5 minute conversation with *little girl from Kalli's class". Andy and I sat staring at each other too dumb founded to really say much. However, I can say that our look to each other sorta said 'What the hey?' Kalli then said good-bye, handed the phone back to me, and went back to eating.

She nonchalantly informed us that she had given *little girl in her class* her phone number during play time.

Huh? Kalli is giving my phone number out to her friends? And they are calling? She is FIVE! Seriously, whoever taught her my number is in big trouble. And today at school she learned our new address. Great! I'm just waiting for little 5 year olds to show up at my door now.

At the beginning of the year she would come home with papers that she had written our number on that she wanted to give to her friends to invite them to her birthday party, but she didn't know our address. Thank goodness. Mind you that her birthday is in May. Six months from now. I haven't even planned Cassie's birthday which is next month.

As we finished our meal, I looked at Andy and said,"And it begins".

I have to say that I'm scared. I mean, I love that she has friends, but seriously...calls already in kindergarten? Crazy.

Add to that fact that Kalli then went on to talk about how she has such a hard time because she wants to play with girl 1 and girl 2 wants her to play with her, but then girl 3 wants to do stuff with her. I suggested that she take turns playing with the girls. She then informed me that she wants to play with them all. Again I give a suggestion...play something with them all together. That doesn't work for Kalli either. Finally I look to Andy and say, "being popular is just so difficult."

I have a feeling, oh who am I kidding? It is not just a feeling. I know that Kalli is going to be challenging as she grows. She wants to already talk on the phone...which we haven't talked to her about yet because we were completely blindsided by this. And I'm not sure what to say. Cassie isn't that interested in talking on the phone yet at almost 9, but Kalli at 5 is....what do you say to that??
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Today I also got two new tires on the van. Tomorrow I am taking the van to get an alignment. Then hopefully all my van issues will be done for say....5 year or so. Here's to hoping!
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Lastly, I would like to point out that today is November 17 and that I have posted everyday. GO ME!

October 20, 2009

So I'm considering doing NaBloPoMo this year again. For anyone who doesn't remember what that is....it stands for National Blog Posting Month and it takes place during November. This means that I would try very hard to put up a post every day for the entire month. It takes a lot of devotion on my part because seriously...sometimes I don't know if the things that happen around here are noteworthy.

On another note we've had both the girls school conferences now. Both of them are doing extremely well. Cassie who is in the beginning of her 3rd grade year is reading like a end of the year 3rd grader. The teacher expects that by the end of the year she will be reading as a 4th grader pretty far into the year. Yeah Cassie! Cassie also is adapting to her new school extremely well, has several friends, and the teacher has no complaints or areas that Cassie really needs to work on.

Kalli is, as I found out tonight, doing the best in her class for numbers, letters, and overall reading. Yeah Kalli!! The teacher doesn't see any issue with Kalli and loves having her in class. She figures that by the end of the year Kalli will be counting to 100 by 5's and 10's and reading at a 1st grade level. That's MY girl!

Well...so is Cassie. They are both MINE! Until the become exasperating and then they are Andy's. Until they are good again.

Speaking of exasperating. Cassie, recently, has gone to answering with one word answers.

How was school today?
Fine
What did you do today?
nothin
Do you have any homework?
no
Anything happen?
Idunno

Sound like fun? It's not...she is Andy's child.

Today the girls got their flu shots. Cassie went first and cried...as I expected she would. Kalli just said oww and sat there looking at me with big eyes. She never cried though, which kind of surprised me. Then, while at the school for Kalli's conference, Kalli found it necessary to tell everyone that she saw that they had gotten their flu shots and that she didn't cry, but Cassie did. Poor Cassie. I told Cassie a couple times that everyone is different and therefore feels pain different and that crying when you get a shot is not a big deal. She agreed, but I still felt bad that her little sister seemed to be rubbing it in. I did talk to Kalli also though and after that she just said that they had gotten their flu shots, but didn't go into reactions.

I'm pretty proud of my girlies. They are doing well is school and with each other. This growing up stuff is hard. Both of the girls are growing up so quickly lately that I feel like I'm just along for the ride. I'm just trying to find the slow down button so that I can enjoy it a little more...minus the one word answer parts. That I could do without.

Graceful....she is not

Second post of the day. Look how I spoil you!

Yesterday Kalli went into my room where Cassie was on the computer. Cassie made a face at Kalli and Kalli turned and ran from the room. I was in the kitchen when Kalli went running by and ran straight into the corner of the wall. She bounced ever so gracefully off the wall and landed in a heap on the floor. This is when the crying began. I scooped her up and tended to her. Other then scared and a little sore she was fine. (As fine as you can be after running face first into a wall)

Tonight Kalli is sitting on my bed watching Cassie who is on the laptop. All of a sudden Kalli is on the floor and again is crying. Somehow, she slid off the bed and landed on her butt on the floor. I ask her what happened and she isn't quite sure. About 10 minutes later it happens again. I'm in the bathroom washing my face and getting ready for bed and Kalli starts crying. I come into the bedroom to find her on the floor again. This is becoming a trend with Kalli.

I find her falling, tripping, and running into things quite often. I am not sure if it is the fact that she is all limbs right now and doesn't know how to put one in front of the other without getting entangled or if she was just born with 2 left feet. There was once a time when she was younger that she walked into a sign at Pizza Hut. She had been following us until she started crying. I looked back to find her standing in front of a sign. As we sat down to eat a red line appeared down the length of her face.

I find myself thinking today the same thing I did back then. I should have given her the middle name of 'Grace'. At least then she would have some grace then.

My baby is 8

Look at that hair. It is getting so long.

My baby is 8. How crazy is that? I don't feel old enough to have an eight year old and though sometimes it feels like I've been a mom forever it doesn't feel like eight years either.

She sure has grown up though. All of a sudden she seems taller and closer to a teen then I appreciate. The rolling of eyes almost makes me dizzy. The "MOM" in the annoyed voice makes the hair on the back of neck stand up. And I can already see a few of the things that we will battle over as she does reach those dreaded teen years.

Some of the pictures I take of her shock me. My baby is gone. I'm proud of the young lady that she is becoming. She is very caring and has a wonderful sense of humor. She is so smart that I worry about being able to help with homework when she gets to middle school and she has what seems like a hoard of friends.

Cassie is so much like me in some ways that it literally scares me. She is super emotional, has quirks that only I understand, and needs her mommy over anyone else. We're working on the irrational fears and the tears that take over sometimes, but she is growing up so much quicker then I thought possible.

Here is a story that I'm sure she'll love me sharing when she looks back. I'll add some money into her "therapy fund" tonight. See...it's all good. :)

Today we made a necessary trip to the store to purchase her first bras. I can't believe that she is already needs a bra, but that is me being a mom. Well, that and the fact that she is the first of her friends to get a bra. At least that I've noticed. I've also noticed though that she already has started with hormones. There have been times that she has gone from crying to laughing and back to crying. Andy and I just look at each other. Honestly, we're both scared shitless. I'm waiting for her head to spin 360 degrees and for pea soup to come shooting from her mouth. I know that every parent of a girl goes through this, but again...she is only 8. The hardest for me is when she cries and doesn't know why she is crying. I know this feeling well. I just hold her and tell her how sorry I am. She doesn't understand why I'm apologizing at this point, but she will. Being a girl sucks sometimes.

There is also a darker pink bra that she is currently wearing.

Tonight when we put her first bra on we were talking about it. Kalli stayed at my parents' and we were in the living room when we put one on. She was modeling for us (Andy and I) and wanted to change to a different kind. She had trouble getting the bra off and I said, "Welcome to being a girl". I told her how boys don't have to worry about bras. or shaving. or stray facial hair (she has a little bit of a unibrow that we'll deal with as she gets older). or nylons. She agreed that boys have it easy. And to feel better about it, we tickled Andy. He took it well.

And to think. I didn't even tell her yet about periods and cramping. Andy might want to book a trip out of town before I tell her about those things.

November 23, 2008

Tonight the four of us cuddled up on the couch and watched a movie. What movie did we watch, you ask? We watched a movie that we haven't sat down to watch since last year around this time. A movie that starts off our holiday season and a movie that, tonight, had me a little sad.


The Polar Express, while a very cute movie about a boy that is questioning the realness of Santa and Christmas magic, brings up a lot of issues for me. Like the fact that my girls are growing up. I know that it happens. Kids grow, break parents' hearts, and then get good jobs to support said parents. Right?

It was about a month ago when Cassie brought up the tooth fairy. She told me that some of the kids at her school think that there is no tooth fairy and that parents are really the tooth fairy. She then said that she knows that the tooth fairy is real. Right??

I agreed, because I wasn't sure what else to say/do. I'm not ready for the magic to be over. I'm not ready for Cassie to move onto that next stage. She isn't even eight yet. I feel like we didn't have very long with the magic and the fun. How can it be over already?

I know that she has to grow up. I know that she needs to learn these things so that she doesn't get made fun of at school and such. And as hard as it will be if she does figure it out, I am ready for her to come home and ask about Santa. I think that if she asks now, I won't feel as side-swiped by the question. Though, I will have to get her away from Kalli in case she does figure things out.

My plan is to do like my mom did with me. She asked me what I thought. This is the point at which I screamed "NO" and ran upstairs sobbing. I was an easy child. :) I expect the same type of response from Cassie as I had. She is so much like me, it is frightening. Though I turned out alright... Okay, stop laughing!

After calming her I plan to let her be part of Kalli's magical Christmas, the way I was able to be part of my brother's. This really let me still feel like Christmas wasn't taken away and I am hoping to have the same results with Cassie.

We can hope.