If You Give a Mom a Fish Bowl

Diesel, Blaze and Elvis in their honky tonk saloon.

Here's proof that we're a family that loves to take on more responsibility! We just got each child their own guppie - one blue, yellow and orange. (This is in addition to our cat and our gentle giant dog as well as our full time jobs outside the home.)

 
I picked up this cute honky tonk aquarium for $1 at a garage sale - which was the inspiration for buying the fish. So, in going with the wild west theme, the fish's names are Diesel, Blaze and Elvis. I'm glad the kids finally came around to see things my way with their naming.

With the addition of these new fish and my new victory garden, I have no clue how we are ever going to go on a vacation again without paying a housesitter. Even a little trip seems complicated with the potential for loss of life for fish and plant life.

I told the kids that we'll watch and see whose fish is alive longest. Of course we had to review the basic, seemingly-obvious guidelines: 

• Fish don't like to be pet like a cat
• Fish don't breathe our air
• You can't overfeed them

Of course, Day 1, they attempted all three fatal missteps. I think we properly educated them now though, so it hasn't happened again.

It probably is a little crazy to have so many pet responsibilities for such a busy family like ours. Both our adjacent neighbors are bachelors who keep their lives so simple and unencumbered. For me though, having living things to take care of and watch grow is really living. I want my children to have the companionship of childhood pets and the memories that go along with it. I couldn't imagine not having pets. But then again, it does make it harder to live spontaneously sometimes - very much like the effect kids have on your life. At least fish are easy to part with when they die (in my opinion). I cried at my first fish's funeral when I was a girl, but I recovered easily. Now I have a cold heart and wouldn't cry if any pet died. Kidding. 

It's funny though how fast the novelty wears off for the children. I am sensing their gradual disinterest in fish caretaking; I'll be the sole care provider in no time. How much you wanna bet? Which means the fish may die sooner than expected... But at least we'll have a beautiful fishbowl filled with colorful rocks and structure.

See Mom Play on Mother's Day!

I had an awesome Mother's Day filled with sun, fun, food, family and adventure!

Daddy-O let me sleep in an extra hour - until 7:00 am - which was not much, but much appreciated. We then hurried ourselves down to Dana Point Harbor for breakfast before every restaurant filled up. We didn't have reservations, because we're 'spontaneous' like that. We were lucky to get seated right by the window on the patio of the Wind and Sea restaurant and had a delicious buffet complete with bottomless mimosas; hell yeah! I loved looking at all of my homemade cards, drawings and poems the kids created at school and home. 

Dana Point Harbor, California

After walking around the harbor and looking at cute, beachy art exhibits, we hopped on a whale watching tour with Dana Wharf, with free champagne for moms; hell yeah! We saw a fin whale, some California sea lions and one 'Naughty Yachty' on our two hour tour. It was relaxing and beautiful and I questioned why we never do things like that more often; it's so close to home and so fun! It's uncanny that my day-to-day routine revolves around either being cooped up indoors at home or in the office as well as on the road between home, schools and work. Very unsatisfying. 

Fin Whale Sighting; Dana Point, California

Bottomless Champagne for Mother's Day!

California Sea Lions; Dana Point, California

After our tour, we went to Green Thumb Nursery to pick up stuff to start a vegetable garden in our backyard - as if we need to take on more responsibility. But, I'm discouraged with the state of our backyard and I thought we could put the space of dead grass for a higher purpose before we have to resort to a rock garden. I am a little unclear at what all it will require to maintain our new garden, but I'm hoping to make a few salads out of it by the end of the summer. I'm concerned that we spent more than we'll get out of it, but I have faith that it's going to be a rewarding experience regardless of the trouble. We planted a raspberry bush, blueberry bush, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, basil and cilantro. We got the seedlings so we don't have to fuss with growing them from seeds. Cross your fingers for us! 

My little Victory Garden. I will not succumb to defeat!

I ended the day surrounded by piles of laundry as usual, but all in all, it was an excellent Mother's Day and I feel loved and cherished. How was your Mother's Day? 

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Gladiator in Training

My intent to go to the gym after work for once actually worked tonight! Daddy-O left work early to pick up all three kids which allowed me to go to the gym solo and unencumbered - what a novelty!

I did 15 minutes on the elliptical machine, 10 minutes on the treadmill (without peeing my pants - yay) and then I did a 60 minute Body Pump class (weight lifting with lots of reps set to music in a group setting). I am very proud of myself and I know I'm going to be sore tomorrow. I'm on a mission to tone my office ass and get my flat, tone stomach back. I say no to plumpness!

My friends and I signed up for the Gladiator Rock and Run race at the Irvine Great Park on June 8th, so I really need to be building my endurance and strength. Otherwise I may just be hanging out at the beer garden at the finish line instead of tackling the obstacles like a stud.  But really, I'm having buyer's remorse; I should have just signed up to be a cheerleader on the sidelines. I'm not quitting now though.

All this in the name of recreation and work life balance!

Bloody Hell

Help! I'm bleeding to death!

Do I need plastic underpants?!

My periods have been extremely heavy and unbearable for over a year and I can't take it anymore. I'm talking changing out Super Plus tampons every 1-2 hours with a big pad for back up and everything is overflowing. It can't be healthy for me. I've even tried the Diva Cup with limited success during the heavy days. I've considered wearing three tampons at once or installing some external drainage system that will catch it all in a big bag attached to my leg. Sounds gross and it is. It's DISGUSTING to be bleeding so much.

I've been taking tons of vitamins and iron and some herbal pills for heavy periods, and it isn't helping. I will not go on the pill or any hormone therapy unless I absolutely have to. I made an acupuncture appointment for tomorrow, so I'm hopeful that will help too.  The acupuncturist may even recommend some Chinese herbs to help. I can't live like this anymore.

Any other suggestions to combat this bloody nuisance?!

Just Call Me Yuck Mouth

Here's some fun news to report - I went to the dentist yesterday for my six month check up, and they found a cavity!! This is a trend for me this year. I had one six months ago too.

"Can I have another piece of Laffy Taffy?"

I blame my candy eating, not flossing regularly, wearing a unclean retainer at night and having too large of a gap between some molars because of my orthodontic braces a few years ago. Either way, it sucks. I wonder at what point I will resort to having a set of fake teeth implanted. ?

I told my chickadees (7 and 5) about the cavity and about needing to have a needle in my gums to numb me up, and they were a little scared for me. They asked if it hurt and I honestly could say, "No, that pain doesn't bother me and I couldn't really feel it." It's true. I would much rather have a cavity filled than give birth to a 9+ pound baby boy without an epidural again (not by choice).

So I then scared the chickadees into flossing tonight. But of course I had to do it for them because they think their only teeth are the ones in the front. I had to sit on the toilet seat, stand them in front of me facing away from me, lean them back with their heads on my lap (improvised gymnastics) and try to fidget away in their mouths with contortionist tricks to get between all the teeth while they were uncooperative throughout. I don't know how dentists do it! I'm very impatient and clumsy.

In other happy news, I learned that my colleague is accidentally pregnant with her third child and I'm glad that another person gets to experience the chaos (and joy) of raising three kids! Plus, it will give us new topics to talk about and distract us at work.

In all honesty, despite all my cavity fillings, I have very nice, straight teeth and a super bright white smile - I paid plenty for it to look so good! And I smile and laugh a lot so it's important to me. I also tend to assess everyone else's teeth too in an obsessive/judgmental sort of way. :)

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This looks like something that would benefit my 'Yuck Mouth.'
Could I spray my kids' mouths with it while they're doing their homework to multitask?