The Sneaky Hate Spiral Starts

My favorite post on hyperbole and a half (a super funny comic blog) is the sneaky hate spiral. It discusses how a person can basically wake up with things going wrong, and that as they keep going wrong throughout the day it leads you to erupt into a violent rage. I think I'm having one of those days.

The day started out like any other, until I went into the bathroom to shower and smashed my pinky-toe so hard into the wall that I wanted to crawl into the fetal position, cry, and curse all at the same time.

The day moved forward.

I needed to go to walmart to pick up some school supplies for Corbin. School starts next Tuesday, so I really need to get this done. I proceeded to dress the children, brush Ivy's hair, pack up the diaper bag, and buckle Echo into the car-seat. Just then Echo exploded with poop up the back of her onsie. I unbuckled her, cleaned the poop, got her some more clothes and buckled her up once again. Then I sent the kids to the van to get in their seats.

I suddenly realized that I didn't know where my wallet was. I started searching in the usual places. In between the seats of the van, in the glove compartment, under the seats, in the diaper bag, in the pockets of all my pants, on my dresser, on my nightstand etc. It wasn't there. Meanwhile the kids are not getting in their seats and are instead fighting over who gets to open the garage door. It starts opening and closing 8 million times. I start searching the not so usual places for my wallet. The garbage, the dishwasher, the fridge, between couch cushions etc. Also not there.

I decide the store isn't going to happen if my wallet has vanished so I force the kids to close the garage and come back in the house. By this time Echo is screaming. I turn on a movie for the kids, unbuckle Echo, sit in the rocking chair and start nursing her. As I was sitting I started wracking my brain to figure out when I last had my wallet. I realized the last time I used it was last wednesday when I went to walmart to buy supplies for our trip to Bear Lake. I immediately called them up, and they indeed had my wallet! I was so relieved, and so mad at myself for leaving it at the cash register. I'm such an idiot.

I finished nursing. Told the kids walmart was back on, stopped the movie, rebuckled poor Echo, and got everyone successfully into the van. Things went smoothly for a few minutes. We stopped at customer service to get my wallet, which still contained all my stuff, and headed to the school supply section. I realized I left the school provided supply list in the van. Bad words came to mind thinking I would have to go all the way back out to the car. Just then I spotted a Meridian School District School Supply List Center. And in that little center sat a lovely list for Corbin's elementary school. I sent a little thank you to walmart telepathically and started shopping.

Things went south fast. I quickly realized that the school must have an awful sense of humor. The list called for things like, an 8 oz bottle of Elmers white glue all, 8 oz bottles of Elmers white glue all don't exist from what I can see. I got two 4 oz bottles. 1 box 12 large water-based colored markers. 12!!! Are you kidding me? There are packs of 10, packs of 18, packs of 30 and packs of 60. No packs of 12!! I bought the 10 pack. I discovered both of these problems within the first two minutes, and it only got worse. The post it notes were in a different section, I made a mental note to get them after everything else. The list then called for specific colors for pocket folders-red, green, yellow and blue. I had to search for like 10 minutes to find the one and only blue pocket folder in existence. By the time I got to the 12 oz bottle of hand santizer and they only had 2 oz or 40 oz containers I gave up. I crumpled the list in my hands, clenched my teeth and fought the intense urge to swear loudly.

While we were checking out Ivy and Dexter decided it was the perfect time to fight over the stupid 10 pack of markers until they were both crying out loud and the box was ripped. Corbin quickly announced that he needed to go poop. I told Corbin to hold it, threatened the other kids with death if they didn't stop fighting and crying, and finally stomped out of that store. After buckling the kids in the car I realized I forgot the damn post it notes.

I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Bear Lake Friend Reunion 2011

This last weekend was our annual trip to bear lake with our friends. We don't always have everyone come, but we always have a great time. This year we had three other families join us, and it was seriously so fun. Possibly one of the best years ever. We hiked, went swimming, jet-skied, played games, stayed up too late, talked, laughed, cooked and ate together. We are so glad that Marde and Ross are generous enough to let us use their stuff every year. We can't thank them enough. Here are some random pics of everybody.

The Bollwinkels-Brad, Lisa, Anna, and Jonas

The Brunsons-Scott, Rochelle, Corbin, Dexter, Ivy, and Echo

The Swinks-Phil and Nichole (Their children aren't born yet! HA HA!)

From left to right: Katie and Ruby, Van and Theo, Nichole, Phil, Rochelle and Echo, Dexter, Scott and Ivy, Corbin, Lisa and Jonas, Anna, and Brad

Um.....Brad.....you're creeping me out in the background there!

The Hoovers-Van, Katie, Theo (who is apparently playing elsewhere), and Ruby

There's Theo, playing with Ivers. Theo is just 8 days younger than Ivy.

Here are Ruby and Echo. Ruby is just 10 days younger than Echo.

A Letter

Dear White Blood Cells:

Do your job!!!! I can't believe you can't fight off things that are coming your way. This ear infection is ridiculous. Adults aren't supposed to get ear infections! Especially not ones that stick around for 10 days. I need to hear!! What the crap are you doing in there? Quit sitting around and fight this ear infection!! Come on!! I'm on my second round of antibiotics, they are there to help you, please accept help from them and get the job done!

That is all,

Rochelle

Germs/Church/School/Tiny butts....Lots to discuss

I think the germs of our house are in the process of packing up and moving out. Which is good because I was about ready to do the same. (I got some antibiotics on Monday, I don't think there has ever been someone so happy to get antibiotics as I was!)

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We haven't been to church since Ivy threw up in nursery (3 weeks ago). One of the counselors in the Bishop Brick called to set up a meeting with us this Sunday. Either he thinks we've become inactive and wants to fellowship us or Scott's getting a calling....I don't know which to root for.

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School starts in 20 days. I'm really excited for the kids to get back into that routine. Although I think it will probably be hard for Dexter to adjust with Corbin being gone so long, I only see good things coming from it. I need a little "me time" these days also.

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When is the best time to potty train girls? I did each of the boys at about three (Corbin may have been 3 1/2). Ivy will turn three in November, and I think she's ready to actually do it now (we tried several months ago, but gave up after a while). She tells me when she's going and asks to sit on the potty at random times now, but she's also extremely petite, and the toilet situation is going to be a difficult milestone to pass (we can get a seat cover for home, so she doesn't fall in, but then what if she needs to go at Walmart, I don't want her falling into a walmart toilet!), plus she has constipation issues from her meds (by issues I mean most of the time she can't go without lying on the floor and me pushing her legs up, much like a woman in labor)....Should I start the struggle now or wait til she's three? Give me your opinions please.

Because I want you to be disgusted....

WARNING:

THIS IMAGE IS DISTURBING. SCOTT ALMOST LOST HIS BREAKFAST UPON VIEWING SUCH HORRIBLENESS. YE BE WARNED!!!

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This is what Tonsillitis looks like:

And if that's what it looks like, just imagine what it feels like!

anniversaries, mucus, and sleeping cuteness

Last Sunday (the 31st) was our anniversary. Eight years. It doesn't seem long since we know we will be together for eternity, but its still an accomplishment.

Anniversaries are supposed to be full of romance, roses, and making out (and more). Ours was full of coughing, mucus, and if we tried to make out we'd suffocate. We didn't get much sleep that night, but not because of late night anniversary shenanagans (wink, wink), but because all the kids were sick and couldn't sleep, and Scott was coming down with a serious sinus infection and snored like a mofo!

Since July 17th (while we were in Bear Lake) we have not had one day of every person in our family being well. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Someone has been sick, most of us more than once. That's 18 days. It is miserable.

Here's a list of illnesses we've been unfortunate enough to have:

~Fevers (Dex and Ivy tied for the highest on record of 104, but at some point every last one of us has had one).

~Throwing up (Dex wins for quantity, Ivy wins for most embarrassing (in nursery at church), and Echo wins for grossness, since she threw up on me 3 times).

~Coughing (nights are filled with everyone hacking away. Its fabulous)

~Runny noses (I'm starting to think they will never go away).

~Goopy eyes, the kind that crust over while sleeping and glue your eye shut (everyone excluding me has or is suffering from this disgusting symptom, even Scott).

~Sore throats (I think we've all had this one too, I am dealing with mine now, and it is most unpleasant).

~Sinus infection (Scott has had one for several days now, and I'm pretty sure Ivy had one for a while, but hers is better now).

I had a theory that our house must be sick, so yesterday I scrubbed and sanitized every square inch of it. Everyone has fresh sheets, clothes, and towels just in case they were carrying the viruses. I opened all the windows in the house (despite the 96 degree temperature outside) all day, and carried around my clorox wipes and cleaned every door handle, light switch, wii remote, hard toy, and hard surface in existence. Then at about 4pm I started to feel sick, by 10:00 I was freezing under 3 blankets, and had a roaring headache, and as it turns out had quite a fever (which doesn't make sense to me since I was teeth-chattering cold). So much for my theory.

At the moment, everyone is sick except for Ivy. How am I supposed to care for 3 out of 4 kids, when I can't really even care for myself. I hate this. But I still want to say Happy Anniversary to the man of my dreams, and celebrate by posting these adorable pictures (Scott is incapable of holding a sleeping baby without falling asleep too. All these pics were taken in the last 4 days).

Ivy Does Drugs / A World Famous Bra

First up today, Ivy went to see her cardiologist and get an echo-cardiogram. She hates getting her echoes and usually cries for the entire thing, so last year we tried giving her drugs (the legal kind of course), and it didn't really work, she still cried the whole time. We decided to try it again this year, so again, they gave her drugs to make her more cooperative. This time was much more successful. Almost immediately she chilled out and relaxed. She even let the doctor pick her up and put her on the table, AND take her shirt off to perform the exam (I was busy holding a baby girl). She didn't even squirm or anything! She just lay still and let him get a great view of her heart. It was awesome. Afterward we headed to Scott's work to pick up the boys who were hanging out there until the echo was done, and she put on a little show for everyone. She was still pretty drugged up and acting silly. She couldn't walk very well because she was so out of it, and seemed drunk. She giggled like crazy and everyone got a big kick out of her silliness. Adorable. Anyway, everything on her echo looked great, and we should be okay to wait until next summer before she needs more surgery. Yay!

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Now on a completely different note. Many of you may recall me mentioning on the blog a few times, a crocheted bra. It was an inside joke from when I used to live with my sister and her family, and I'm sure everyone thinks we are weirdo's and that's okay....Anyway, if you don't remember, I offered to crochet one for her as payment for coming to my house to help with the baby. Well I did, and I was dying to post pictures of it, but didn't want to weird her out because, well, its a bra. But she was kind enough to give her permission for me to post it, so for your viewing pleasure.....the world famous crocheted bra.....

I think its a little kinky and looks more like a bikini top than a bra, but I don't care. IT'S AWESOME! I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

Here's a close-up of the texture, in case you can't tell that its fuzzy.

Poobah models the bra...none of the kids wanted to be the model, I can't imagine why not! (ps, I am in no way comparing Maxine to a chubby panda! He was simply the only willing participant!)