tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40084475086221989452024-03-18T21:17:25.847-07:00Triple Stuff6_olive_shootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06787526463507186174noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-90027640642818886742014-06-13T07:35:00.003-07:002014-06-13T07:35:45.899-07:00Triplet HaikuI was reading through old stuff and found some haiku I wrote way back in 2007. A blogger was having a contest. I can't remember exactly, but I think the assigned theme was parenthood in general, although the blog owner was a twin dad with a slightly older child.<br />
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I didn't win, but one of mine earned an Honorable Mention! Here they are below for your enjoyment. :)<br />
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<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;">
<blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;">
<strong>After the School Bus Comes</strong>Coffee is ready<br />But I'm too pooped to get it<br />Six kids off to school</blockquote>
<br /><strong>Triplets</strong>Are they all triplets?<br />Yes, they are, I say again.<br />Born on the same day?</blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">(yeah, that's a for real experience.)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" /><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em;"><br /></strong><br />
<strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em;">Triplet Exhibit</strong><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;">
<strong><br /></strong>Look at the triplets!<br />Better you than me, I say!<br />Yes, I do agree.</blockquote>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Counting my Blessings<br /></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Two boys and a girl.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">And three older brothers, too.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">We are truly blessed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" /><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;">
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<blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
And, my favorite:</div>
<blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;">
</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
<strong>Note To The Speech Teacher</strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em;">
He did not say "AZZ"!<br />He said "EARS", for heaven's sake!<br />Please work on "Long E".</div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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And this one got Honorable Mention:<br />
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><strong>Random Guy at the Mall</strong></em><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;" /><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">"I would kill myself!"<br />Maybe you should anyway.<br />Just for being crude.</em>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-86956725603179872272013-01-22T17:50:00.001-08:002013-01-22T17:50:33.092-08:00On Diapering TripletsNow, here is a blast from the past. Today on a Triplet Moms' group, a Mom of young triplets asked a common question: "How do you keep them from taking their diapers off (other than duct tape)?"<br />
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There was a range of answers before mine, but typing mine out brought it all back to me. I called the kids (now 11 years old) in to read it to them, and it cracked them up. So I decided to put it in here for posterity (and maybe help someone else? I don't know). This is what I wrote.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f1f2f6; color: #333333; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We diapered backwards, then duct taped it, then put footie pajamas on backwards (so they can't unzip). Once they learned to unzip each other (meaning, the next night) we put the sleeper inside out, ran more duct tape around the waist (be sure it's not too tight!) THEN in one single piece went over the shoulders and down between the legs and back around the waist again, tucking it in at the end. I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP. Unfortunately I was too pissed off and sleep deprived to think to take pictures. I'm thinking of doing it on a doll so I can put a picture in their baby book. ( PS this too only worked for awhile...at some point I guess they grew out of it because we are all still alive and relatively sane)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f1f2f6; color: #333333; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
I am really sad that I never got pictures of it. Here are some photos I got off Google Images. I cut out the faces because I have no desire to "steal" anyone's photos. I couldn't find any that had to tape to the extent we did. I really do want to do it on a doll! Part of the problem in our case was the TRIPLET factor. We didn't have to worry about one kid pulling tape off himself. It's much easier for a second and third kid to come examine the tape, find its beginning and start to peel. Or to "helpfully" pull a zipper down.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPXmc5v8cJ1pBvVgGLni4wrRrrdN_5ZtCcEhSgB405SfwuHZ_jM_2jG_9Wl7SFVQcgqABpg-keBN61kmnIXW-S4WsTttT7wnzt0u-mQxCl9MWGKXfXIsQfgD5PYn4o_NEpqA54saM88wp/s1600/Stuff+166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPXmc5v8cJ1pBvVgGLni4wrRrrdN_5ZtCcEhSgB405SfwuHZ_jM_2jG_9Wl7SFVQcgqABpg-keBN61kmnIXW-S4WsTttT7wnzt0u-mQxCl9MWGKXfXIsQfgD5PYn4o_NEpqA54saM88wp/s320/Stuff+166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzl6dZeVzOLW1eYvFD5d2jZkyFPXsxhJZwnGc4w05UeY9NYEROwNbODWtaxsTehiiaXoF6viJWDZ775N0qrOySfWnh0RWjFcwkgUoom2gkb0UQC42mE1tvj0syMkgaqKY9tqoFQ6GfE1s/s1600/0910101320-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzl6dZeVzOLW1eYvFD5d2jZkyFPXsxhJZwnGc4w05UeY9NYEROwNbODWtaxsTehiiaXoF6viJWDZ775N0qrOySfWnh0RWjFcwkgUoom2gkb0UQC42mE1tvj0syMkgaqKY9tqoFQ6GfE1s/s320/0910101320-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Please note that at no time should the duct tape touch the child's skin. Also, be VERY sure that it is not tight. There is no need for it to be tight. By the time they learn how to get into it with scissors, hopefully they will be long past this stage!<br />
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And here is why we want the diapers to stay on! Yes, this did happen to us...MORE than once.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SqEmn9Olui04g_LnEOf-RLYw4oJ5vAbqNCeOuH_NgdesOeCxcVncUktWvwTUtMe0A6EDP7vojjRn8wliZAq3hgga57uCh33nTaQ61lFN3S2Ml_xlRf3SVW2uywxWPhW0yw2C3s9v5juW/s1600/65133_507685269252509_2041597273_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SqEmn9Olui04g_LnEOf-RLYw4oJ5vAbqNCeOuH_NgdesOeCxcVncUktWvwTUtMe0A6EDP7vojjRn8wliZAq3hgga57uCh33nTaQ61lFN3S2Ml_xlRf3SVW2uywxWPhW0yw2C3s9v5juW/s320/65133_507685269252509_2041597273_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Remember, folks, it's only funny TEN years later! Don't let this ^ happen to you. Go to Sam's NOW and buy duct tape! Better safe than sorry!!Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-87333302677862704182012-09-10T15:33:00.002-07:002012-09-10T15:33:55.094-07:00How Does This Help?<br />
I really want to know.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2G9kFci2oUI1RknwlbV2z-bTmeV7pVcndP6l1z4AoEtTz9Z19DgeeHBfb8J9W4Jj423Fh4FKXuFvooA7lEORYg-NWp2s_1afsVQdKweRWuGxpLBcYCltcXOspTmcEXkxDztXeNRpgsaA/s1600/huh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2G9kFci2oUI1RknwlbV2z-bTmeV7pVcndP6l1z4AoEtTz9Z19DgeeHBfb8J9W4Jj423Fh4FKXuFvooA7lEORYg-NWp2s_1afsVQdKweRWuGxpLBcYCltcXOspTmcEXkxDztXeNRpgsaA/s400/huh.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Let's take it bit by bit.<br />
<br />
When people post this on your page, it comes with the canned phrase:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">This is a cause I really believe in. Join me in supporting it." </span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>I don't know what happens when you click on it, because I am not going to click on it. Maybe someone else who did click can report back.<br />
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OK, so you are not clicking, but just reading what is posted on your wall:<br />
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"Turn Facebook Pink for a week to Celebrate Remember and Help People With Breast Cancer!"<br />
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OK, I was a person with breast cancer, so this interests me.<br />
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1. "...to Celebrate People with Breast Cancer!" Hmm...no thank you! I do not want or need my breast cancer to be celebrated. It is CANCER, not a PARTY.<br />
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2. "...to Remember People With Breast Cancer!" I hope my friends remember me regardless. I do not need to be "that person who had breast cancer". I am still just ME. Of course remembering me in your prayers is always appreciated! I will do the same for you! I would hope that I can be remembered and prayed for without turning anything pink.<br />
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3. "...to Help People With Breast Cancer!" Here is the part that really confuses me, and I would like the answer to. Just HOW does this "Help People With Breast Cancer"? (Sorry about capitalizing all the words. I did it because this "cause" did it, and although it is really annoying to type, I can't seem to stop myself. Anyway just in case this is the Helpful part, I would hate to do anything to stop the mojo.)<br />
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Seriously, how does this help? I just want people to stop and THINK before they post stuff like this, especially if they are thinking of posting it on my wall. Is it supposed to be some sort of petition? Maybe if 1 million people forward this on to all their friends, breast cancer would be eradicated forever. Woohoo!<br />
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Last line: "Make people aware of breast cancer and its importance". (sidebar: THANK YOU, cause writer, for the proper use of "its"!)<br />
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A. Is there anyone, in the entirety of the civilized world, who is UNAWARE of breast cancer? Assuming there is, how does this help spread "awareness"? Breast cancer exists. I get that. So what? If we're "spreading awareness" shouldn't there be more to it than posting this on people's Facebooks?<br />
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B. "its importance" I don't even know what to say to this one. Really, I'm sorry. I just don't. I am rendered temporarily speechless, which almost never happens.<br />
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I honestly believe that people who post this stuff have good intentions, but that is not good enough. If you really want to help, make a contribution to legitimate research like <a href="http://www.dslrf.org/index.asp">Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation</a>. Donate to an organization that REALLY helps cancer patients, not just says they do like Komen (please do not donate to Komen, at least not in my name! Hopefully they will change their ways but for now, I can not recommend donating to them in any way or amount.). And don't single out breast cancer! There are lots of cancers out there, some that people are actually not aware of, where is their party?! I have prostate, colon and ovarian cancers in my immediate family, but they didn't get a party, a fun run or artificially colored junk foods to help them celebrate. (For heaven's sake, don't read that as my WANTING those things!) If you have a friend with cancer (ANY KIND!),<b> offer to help</b> - don't just ask them what you can do, but make an actual offer. Or JUST DO IT. Things that would have really blessed me were meals, housecleaning, yard work, shopping, calls and visits, a pedicure, bathing the dogs, laundry, etc. Some of these things would not even cost you any money and would be way more useful than posting a pink ribbon or buying a pink everything or forwarding senseless memes or playing stupid word games about the color of your bra.<br />
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I am not even going to tell you to go get a mammogram, because the jury is still out on that. As you should with your donations - do your own research, then do it if you want to. What I will tell you is to do your monthly self checks, EVERY MONTH. That is how I became aware of my own breast cancer.<br />
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My goal here is not to make anyone feel bad for posting these things. My goal is to get you to "<a href="http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/">Think Before You Pin</a>k".<br />
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For more, very interesting information on the pink ribbon movement and how breast cancer patients and survivors really feel about it: <a href="http://pinkribbonblues.org/">http://pinkribbonblues.org/</a> and the book/movie "Pink Ribbons, INC" are a great place to start.<br />
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There ARE ways to help. I just want those people with good intentions to think about those and then do something that will really do some good.<br />
Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-74174517569141842852012-07-11T14:32:00.000-07:002012-07-11T14:32:07.847-07:00"Just Venting"It's been made clear on almost every message board ever that when someone is "just venting" the only response allowed is "OMG you poor little bunny I am SOOOO sorry you had to go through that". Hence this post.
<blockquote><i>I just need to vent! My sister in law and brother in law just had their 3rd baby. Her family took her 2 older kids for a week so she can rest at home, my mother in law is there for 10 hours cleaning, cooking and taking care of the baby when she isn't breast feeding! She hasn't come downstairs since she came home from the hospital! My brother in law is home all next week and now they are trying to send their son off to friends houses for the day. Seriously!!!! I came home from the hospital with our girls to our son and never needed any help. Laziness is my BIGGEST pet peeve and she just tops the list. I feel better now...thanks :)</blockquote></i>
This was posted in a multiples group recently. It is another of those posts that makes me embarrassed for my own label of triplet mom. I sure hope I never gave "normal" people even a HINT of feeling this way. Good grief. I can understand if people refused to help you, or equated the two situations. (Then again, maybe not. If one needs help, one needs to ask. Most people compare apples to oranges because they don't know any better, not because they're stupid or mean.) Good for you if you "never needed any help". Yay, you! Here is a cookie. Maybe your SIL is the laziest ass who ever walked the earth, but simply accepting help and letting/arranging for people to watch her kids does not make her so. Maybe you should ask yourself why in the world this would bother you so much.
** disclaimer #1: as a matter of fact I *am* assuming a lot from this post.
** disclaimer #2: FWIW, which is nothing, I came home with a third child and accepted help. I felt I needed it, but I would have been fine without it. I certainly wasn't going to refuse it. I also had help when my triplets came home, and I also had times when I had no help. See above.
There, now I feel better too! :)Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-46185445475686151382012-04-14T15:49:00.002-07:002012-04-14T15:54:12.578-07:00Just found this funny......and a little ironic. <br /><br />You see, usually, a multiple mom will complain when people say things like "You have your hands full!" But yesterday I read a post in a multiples group that did exactly the opposite! The lady was accidentally walking in the "Exit" door with her triplets. Someone saw her and made a rude comment. NOT about the triplets, for once, but about using the exit door.<br /><br />"Geesh!" said the mom, in her post. "Couldn't she see I had my hands full?" <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/laughing smiley/SasuHina_4ever08/laughing.gif?o=5" target="_blank"><img src="http://i541.photobucket.com/albums/gg368/SasuHina_4ever08/laughing.gif" border="0"></a>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-70635391957828385882011-10-01T10:45:00.001-07:002011-10-01T10:45:49.490-07:00I only get one wish?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNl6fffJ-qL8uzK3TExaJ1xNzUPw-rK27obKCpkYqBFYlJxHdFpaDPBaJ4dUq7ZO3X5fiRt4QBo32mNjndZfKYe_v2Bmkh9X8hp_qsSoPPRUETCljHYtyKCGORuKh14LVZbFrZ8_5C0W0/s1600/Picture+%2528Device+Independent+Bitmap%2529+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNl6fffJ-qL8uzK3TExaJ1xNzUPw-rK27obKCpkYqBFYlJxHdFpaDPBaJ4dUq7ZO3X5fiRt4QBo32mNjndZfKYe_v2Bmkh9X8hp_qsSoPPRUETCljHYtyKCGORuKh14LVZbFrZ8_5C0W0/s400/Picture+%2528Device+Independent+Bitmap%2529+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658244353286447666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 134px; " /></a>LOL! John found this somewhere and sent it to me. I think next time I see this posted I will answer something like this.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I believe many people don't really think before re-posting something that looks good at first glance. I would like to see this meme go away and never come back. I have never commented when someone has posted it, because I believe they mean well and I don't want to offend them, but I am so tired of seeing it lately that I'm about to start.<div><br /></div><div>My first impression on that meme is that it's pretty nervy for anyone to presume to speak for an entire group of people. Period. Remember, at the time I had not been diagnosed. I suppose at first I thought that someone without cancer had no business speaking for someone with cancer. I still feel that way. But I also feel that no one should speak for anyone. I especially feel that way now. Even now that I am "a person who has cancer" I still won't speak for all of us.</div><div><br /></div><div>Basically if you are "a person who has cancer" and you agree with that meme, then more power to you! Speak for yourself - don't speak for me! Sure, I want to survive. More than that I want to LIVE. Can you even begin to understand the difference? I have lots and lots of wishes, and while survival is certainly one of them, it is not even anywhere close to the highest one on the list. Cancer is not the only thing in my life and it isn't even the biggest. It's just a part of life right now. You do what you need to do and go on with life.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>This is one of my favorite Bible verses. Denise, remember this one?</div><div>Matthew 6:34 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 19, 32); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); ">Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Trust me, it's relevant to this post.</div><div><br /></div><div>I would really like to rewrite that meme, specify that it's written by ME and say how *I* feel and that people should speak for themselves and not just copy and paste. LOL, I bet it would be viral in no time. :P</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-75974702660098882362011-09-28T17:08:00.001-07:002011-09-28T17:08:12.417-07:00Something to Think About.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">That stupid cancer meme is going around on Facebook again. When I say "stupid cancer meme" I mean the meme itself is stupid, not "stupid cancer" like it says (although I am not at all opposed to calling cancer stupid).<div><br /></div><div>If you haven't seen it, it goes something like this:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "><i><blockquote>Stupid cancer. We all want a new car, a new phone. A person who has cancer only wants one thing... to survive. I know that a lot of you "who think you're too cool" probably won't re-post this. But a very little amount of my friends will. Put this on your wall in honor of someone who died of cancer, survived, or who is fighting against it now.</blockquote></i></span></div><div>I have a lot to say about this stupid little bit. At first glance it looks fine, right? I mean, no one likes cancer, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>I have disliked this piece ever since the first time I saw it. For the record, I dislike every one of these things that try to guilt you into re-posting it. For that reason I hardly ever re-post anything at all, and then only if it doesn't have a guilt trip attached to it. So it's really not that I "think I'm too cool". Insert eyeroll here.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I've hated this one since the first time I saw it, which happens to be way before my own diagnosis. Can you figure out why? Really, before I go on, I would like you to try. Read it over, and let me know what you think. If you think I'm wrong, that's OK. Let me hear it.</div></span>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-4616543338316998862011-09-09T09:50:00.001-07:002011-09-09T09:50:24.188-07:00Checking inI'm sorry I've been away from this blog for so long. Part of it is that I'm on Facebook, and it's so easy to just put up some pictures and a little update there. I miss really writing, though, so I am planning to get back to this.<div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, I've started a new blog. I didn't want to weigh this one down with cancer stuff and I thought it would be a good idea to write about the experience. I've been writing there since the very beginning, but just didn't give out the address. I guess I'm finally ready to give out that link, so if you're interested, <a href="http://everydaynewnormal.blogspot.com/">click here</a>. It's probably not that interesting, may contain TMI and more than a few rants, but it will let you know what's going on with me in that area, since I don't really plan to say much about that here!</div><div><br /></div><div>I will say that I am doing very well and the treatment is much easier than I ever expected it to be. I am keeping up with the things in life that are important to me and best of all, keeping up with my awesome family! Thank you for all the prayers and please don't stop!</div>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-51897530790919342612011-05-29T14:26:00.000-07:002011-05-29T14:48:50.895-07:00Life and other BlahLong story short - a a bit over a month ago, I found a lump, and life suddenly changed. They removed a cancerous breast tumor from my body (along with the accompanying breast). They tell me all the cancer is gone, for which I am really grateful. Since it was "the aggressive type" of tumor, I must now undergo 6 months of chemotherapy and hormonal treatment to keep it from coming back. Without the treatment, there is a high chance it will come back. With, there is a very low chance.<div><br /></div><div>I'm not really sure what I think of those odds. I mean, I had no risk factors for triplets, and I had no risk factors for breast cancer. I'm just lucky I guess! I wonder what the lady who thinks spontaneous triplets are better than the rest would think about spontaneous breast cancer? (LOL :) ) I'd rather not worry about odds, I guess, since they haven't seemed to apply to me yet!</div><div><br /></div><div>I have had one treatment so far. I will get them every 3 weeks. I am supposed to feel somewhat normal in between. This is Day 5 and I am still waiting for that to happen. I feel "sortof" normal but I have severe brain fog. It really reminds me of my worst hangover. Any sort of noise is not really painful, but seriously IRRITATING. Guess what - it's summer and there are 6 children in the house, so quiet is not too likely to happen around here anytime soon! So as life often goes, I have to suck it up. What else can I do? Can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em. *shrug*</div><div><br /></div><div>We had to cancel our planned trip to Disney. I think the kids are more upset about that than anything else. Two summers ago we were caring for my dying father in our house and our vacation consisted of a day at the water park. Last summer we had a great trip to Branson and that will have to tide them over for another year. </div><div><br /></div><div>My biggest fear when talking to the kids about this was that they would freak out. After all, their only mental image of cancer is watching first their Grandma, then their Grandad die in their bed in our house. I think we did a good job of explaining to them how this is different - different type of cancer, different set of circumstances plus my parents opted out of treatment. So we explained how the "medicine" would make me feel and came up with a plan for getting through the summer. They seem to be taking it very well. They are really being great about pitching in around the house. But they are still loud! Can't have everything!</div><div><br /></div><div>I am very optimistic. I am a Christian and I truly believe that God knows how many days we have before we have ever had any. I trust God completely - but I won't lie, it's scary. I found out pretty quickly that it's true what they say - chemo sucks!! I thought I would get off easy when I felt pretty good the first couple of days. WRONG! The next 2 KICKED MY ASS. But now I am not too bad if I don't overdo it and if I try to ignore the massive-hangover feeling. I'm hoping to help out at Girl Scout Day Camp next week and various other events I had committed to for the summer. If I can't - no big whoop, there is always next year.</div><div><br /></div><div>But that's another thing I angst over - the Mommy guilt feeling of letting everyone down. I know, it's not at all rational! But there it is.</div><div><br /></div><div>So in closing I would like to say - when you close down this page, go do a self-breast-check. EVEN IF you are not at risk. EVEN IF you breast fed all your babies which is supposed to lower your risk even further. My tumor was not found at my regular checkup 6 months ago, and it was not seen in a mammogram, yet it was 2 cm when I found it. I had no reason to do a check. I "just happened" to do one. I believe with all my heart that God told me to do one. YMMV. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Then go hug your babies, please. Even if you're having a bad day. Life is short and life is precious. It could be a cancerous tumor or it could be a drunk driver or it could be anything. And let me tell you, life comes at you fast! You don't always get a warning...but I got one, and while I am not planning on going anywhere anytime soon, I am planning to make the most of my time from here on in - brain fog and all.</div>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-54281093536201545262011-01-22T19:17:00.000-08:002011-01-22T19:26:37.859-08:00Party InvitationsToday one of the boys went to party for one of the boys in his class. It was one of those things where everyone in the class gets an invitation. It was not addressed to anyone. When this happens, as soon as they give them to me I write the guest's name on it so I can remember who is invited! LOL!<div><br /></div><div>Every once in awhile the kid will tell me the others are invited too. I always tell them, I need to hear that from the Mom, and I will not call to ask (because I don't want to put them on the spot and feel obligated).</div><div><br /></div><div>So of course we get to this party and the Mom says, oh, where are the others? UMM!! I called you to RSVP, I told you Triplet A will be there, if you wanted B and C there that was your cue! So I gave her a blank stare and said "theyr'e at home" and she says "oh you could have brought them". So they are sitting at home 30 miles away while their brother is playing laser tag. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have taught them since Kindergarten, when they went to separate classrooms, to accept that they will be invited to different places and to be happy for each other. And they are! There were no tears about this party, but certainly a wistful regret. I have taught them well.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I do not want parents thinking they are a package deal. This little vent is not about that. Just, if it's OK and expected that I bring all of them, you need to TELL me. I would be happy to! IF I know they are invited! </div><div><br /></div><div>Damn, it's so hard being a decent guest these days.</div>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-13080249774291903862011-01-04T16:53:00.001-08:002011-01-04T20:54:07.696-08:00Despicable!!!I just read what is very likely one of THE most disturbing articles I have ever seen. <a href="http://blog.trutv.com/dumb_as_a_blog/2011/01/dumbest-of-the-day-susan-komen-foundation-will-cure-your-charity-of-any-fundraising-potential.html?link=dumbrss">This link</a> will give the basics and has a link to the actual article on Huffington Post.<div><br /></div><div>Susan G. Komen Foundation should be ashamed of themselves!! I seriously hope there is such a thing as karma because I really want it to turn around and bite them in the ass. Speaking of boobs! Indeed!!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; "><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">I am proud to say I have never given one red cent to Komen other than the odd product I may have been purchasing anyway that had a pink ribbon on it. My reason for not giving was mostly that after watching my parents die from cancer, I have absolutely no confidence in "acceptable" treatment methods over alternative. When they died, we asked for donations to alternative research and Hospice, not to any traditional cancer places (which is what they would have wanted). It's not that I am against standard treatment, and God forbid should I ever have to make the choice I don't know what I would choose. But I have seen enough that I have consciously not given any donations.</div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">From now on, if a product I was planning to buy anyway happens to have a pink ribbon on it, I will make the fully CONSCIOUS decision to NOT buy it. I will also make the conscious effort to get the word out so that others can make informed choices!</div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">I have also been leery of ALL the pink and the products and such. Why breast cancer over all other kinds? I don't know why I was leery, but I just was. And there is NO shortage of breast cancer in my family. It is definitely in my best interests to find a cure. And yet I was leery and consciously NOT donating.</div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">Now I am SO glad I didn't. Why would anyone continue to donate money to them now? If I give to them my donation will go towards threatening another legitimate case and also take money from them! If I give to one of the small charities my money will apparently need to go for either defending the lawsuit, or them having to buy all new stuff in order to comply! This is one of the most despicable things I have ever seen!</div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">SHAME ON YOU Susan G Komen Foundation!!</div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">Edited to add:</div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">This is a link to a site called <a href="http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4509">"Charity Navigator"</a>. Please click the link on that page to read the comments, which go back farther than the HuffPost article.</div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11.6667px; "><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">Here is a link to SGK's Wikipedia page that dates these events as far back as August, 2010. There is no link to the WSJ article so I will look for that.</div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_G._Komen_for_the_Cure">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_G._Komen_for_the_Cure</a></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">In the interest of fairness, here is a "response" from the SGK Facebook page:</div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11.6667px; "><a href="http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content_Binaries/HuffPostResponse-120910.pdf">http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content_Binaries/HuffPostResponse-120910.pdf</a></span></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11.6667px; ">Personally, in light of what else I've read I find this to be very insulting.</span></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">Also, this is a post made on the SGK Facebook page that I would like to share. I edited out the woman's name.</div><div style="font-size: 13.3333px; "><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Post #1</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>My name is (edited), and I participated in the Breast Cancer 3 Day, in Seattle WA, September, 2009. It was a great experience and I met some wonderful people. The volunteers at the event were first rate. It was a grueling task, whi<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; ">ch affected my body for months afterward i.e., aches and pains, blisters, plantar fascitis, but I thought it was for a good cause, so I rarely complained, figuring it was a small sacrifice for a good deed.<br /><br />Imagine my shock (when I was watching The Colbert Report of all shows), to discover that approximately one million dollars a year, of donor dollars, goes to suing various Mom and Pop charities in order to retain some morbid ideal of owning the phrase 'for a cure' or 'for the cure.' Shame on you. I've read your canned response, which implies that people are too stupid to know what charity they are donating to. I've donated to a lot of charities, some with the words 'for the cure,' knowing that I was not donating to Susan Komen. Believe it or not, SKFTC is not the only charity people want to donate to. You have insulted and embarassed not only donors, but people like me, who have raised dollars for your cause. Never again will I participate in your events or donate to<br />your foundation, and I would imagine that I'm not alone. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.<br /><br />My daughter's grandmother and my good friend is fighting terminal breast cancer, and I walked the 3 day in her honor. This is what infuriates me the most. The blood, sweat, and tears, pushing myself so hard as an ode to a very brave lady, who was so proud of me for doing this in her honor. If she finds out about this, it is going to take away some of the 'shine' from her experience. To add insult to injury, she and her husband donated $50 to your foundation, when I walked the 3 Day. How does that make you feel? Taking money from a hardworking farm wife with terminal breast cancer, when 17% of that $50 goes to cover your administrative costs and so that you can bully defenseless charities? (I've come across that 17% figure as I've looked into this law suit issue) Unbelievable.<br /><br />In closing, I raised the required $2,300 from friends, family, neighbors, and businesses, 100% of that went to Komen. I am a single mom, a registered nurse from Montana, and I could barely afford to make the trip to Seattle. My donors, as well as millions of other donors, are fighting this recession along with everyone else. To spend even one red cent of their hard earned dollars on lawsuits is a travesty. I feel like apologizing to every one of my donors for your terrible ethics. I think that the only way to save your face is to apologize to the public and small charities, and put a stop to the lawsuits, and while you're at it, spend a little less on salaried employees and spend a little more on breast cancer research. I know that you have done a lot of good in the fight against breast cancer, but this time, you have completely crossed the line. Perhaps the phrase 'all good things must come to an end' applies here.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />(edited)</span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Post #2 </i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; ">Sorry for the long post, but this is what I emailed to Komen, and I hope some people take the time to read it here. Please continue to donate to breast cancer causes, but really look at where the money is going...you can donate to research directly or donate to local causes, too. Thank you.</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Post #3</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Actually, I screwed up in my earlier post...I've read that only 17% goes to breast cancer research, while the other 83% goes to administrative costs. If this information is wrong, I hope SGKFTC corrects me.</i></span></span></div></span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 16px; "><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13px; "><br /></p></span></div></div>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-49405737604411003552010-11-12T11:49:00.000-08:002010-11-12T12:06:27.569-08:00School IssuesMy triplets have been in all day public school since they were 3 years old, thanks to the PEI program having a speech Pre-K class. They were together for their 3 years of pre-K (we held them back a year simply because they were right on the cutoff date) and have been separate ever since. They are currently in 3rd grade.<div><br /></div><div>I have been a huge, big-mouthed proponent of separating multiples, but that has now changed!</div><div><br /></div><div>The separate homework has never been a problem. They learned early on that only they are responsible for doing their homework. They can come to us if they need help. Otherwise they know when they are to do it and where they are to put it when they're done. They are to bring me anything that needs signing, without my asking, and to put it where it belongs afterward so that it gets turned in! This method works great for us. Two of the kids have no problem doing things the way they are supposed to. One of my boys is flaky and absent-minded (like his Mom!) and is constantly forgetting things and losing them. Some Moms might compensate for that by reminding and micr0-managing. I don't believe in that. It's better he learn to get organized now than in high school or college! And he is learning. He is exponentially better just this year. By the time he gets to 4th grade I believe he will have it down. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fourth Grade. That is where the problem comes in. They will be at a new school, which will be enough of an adjustment in itself. The fourth grade has four classes - but it's in two blocks. Each block has one teacher in the morning and the other in the afternoon. So it's possible to have the same two teachers, yet not be together.</div><div><br /></div><div>And this is exactly what I am going to ask for. I would like to have the exact same teachers for all three. In my perfect world, two will be together in the same block. The other - yep, the one who needs to work on his organization skillz - will be alone, on the opposite rotation of the same block. </div><div><br /></div><div>So we will have the exact same homework, which will make things much easier. Homework hasn't been a problem yet, and I don't anticipate too much change next year, although with the other adjustments I would like to ease it for all of us as much as possible.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the main issue for me is a certain teacher. I'm sure we have all known people who are simply in the WRONG JOB. This is a prime example! This woman has no business teaching children. She may do ok with teenagers, but she is horrible with younger ones! I know, because my current 7th grader had her. I was all set to demand he be moved, when they added an extra block and he lucked out. </div><div><br /></div><div>You have to realize that I have never demanded ANYTHING from any of my kids' schools. I have not even asked nicely. My kids have always taken what they got and it has worked out fine. But my Mama Bear comes out when I think of this bitch.</div><div><br /></div><div>She is a shouter. She belittles, insults, screams, all in front of the entire class. My son, who has loved school always before and since his experience with her, came home in TEARS every day for TWO WEEKS. He is not an overly sensitive child. I confirmed his experience with his friends and with other parents. I've confirmed through parents, children and other teachers that she has not changed one bit in the past few years. How in the HELL does someone like that keep a teaching job??</div><div><br /></div><div>I was ready to pull my son out and home school him for fourth grade. Which is exactly what I will do with the triplets if I don't get my way. I'm ready for battle. I'm not exactly sure how to go about it - but I am ready to start my battle shortly after the holidays. We'll see what happens!</div>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-73413209344850666772010-10-18T06:51:00.000-07:002010-10-18T07:12:07.895-07:00Forever the Triplet MomOne of the problems being a triplet mom is all the attention we get. Mostly when they're babies, and they're with us. How well I remember being the "Triplet Exhibit" at the zoo!<br /><br />Most of that has disappeared now. Even when they're all together they just look like a bunch of kids playing. The boys are assumed to be twins since they look alike - but they rarely dress alike so if they're not standing right next to each other it usually isn't noticed.<br /><br />But this weekend I didn't even have them with me and I had issues!<br /><br />It's been 30 years since high school, and we're having some reunion activities. We started this weekend with the Homecoming game, a party afterward and a family picnic. Because of Facebook, I've been back in touch with many of my old classmates and they know (or would, if they ever read anything or see my PROFILE PIC which has 6 kids, 3 of whom are the same size). Apparently they don't, or were just really looking forward to seeing real live triplets, live in person, and whaddya mean they are actually KIDS, aren't triplets supposed to be babies? And how is one of them a GIRL if they are triplets???<br /><br />But I digress. I had a great time this weekend - better than I expected, actually. High school was not the best years of my life, to be honest; I was pretty much a spoiled, self-absorbed (IMO way more than is typical) brat back then. Most of my friends were in the 2 years ahead of mine, and my best friendship from High School has had a major falling out in the past year. I spent the past few months going back and forth on whether I would even go (I still live here, so I don't even have that excuse!). But I went - and had a blast.<br /><br />My gripe, and it does sound petty but it's something a fellow triplet Mom would understand, is this - as soon as anyone found out I had OMGTRIPLETZ!!!!!!!1eleventy!!!! the questions started! Did you do fertility? Did you KNOW you were having triplets? Did you TRY to have triplets? OMG how did you do it? OMG I would kill myself! blah blah.<br /><br />And there is no way to avoid it, of course. You've been to reunions: Where are you living now? How long have you been married? How many kids? How old?<br /><br />So I just answered simply and sometimes I got away with it. How many kids? 6. How old? 19, 16, 12, 9. Sometimes the math didn't compute or maybe they weren't really listening, LOL. But it never failed that if they did the math the questions would start. And then at the picnic everyone wanted to see them together, and take pictures.<br /><br />I have never, ever faulted anyone for asking. I'm sure I would do the same thing. So I don't mean any criticism of them. Even with the pictures - we were all taking pics of our friends with their families, that really didn't bother me. It was just annoying to be repeating the same thing over and over, and it made me wish to just be normal for once, not just "the triplet mom".Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-60936398672068231982010-09-30T05:10:00.000-07:002010-09-30T06:02:56.878-07:00God Initiates Massive Recall<p>WASHINGTON – God is recalling more than 10 million items over safety concerns.</p> <p>The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday that several of the products being recalled involved injuries.</p> <p>In the recall of about 7 million sticks, the agency is aware of 10 reports of children being hurt. Six of them required medical attention.</p> <p>The sticks — some of which which feature popular decorations like leaves and twigs — have a protruding end that children can strike, sit on or fall on, leading to injuries that the commission said can include genital bleeding.</p> <p>God is also recalling more than 1 million pairs of legs, after 14 reports of problems. Seven children required stitches, the commission said.</p> <p>The legs are designed to walk and run freely, but children can fall, resulting in cuts and other injuries.</p> <p>CPSC Chairman said God needs to do more to build safety into his products before they are released to the public. But she also offered praise to God for "taking the right steps by agreeing to these recalls and offering consumers free repairs or replacement."</p> <p>The two other God recalls were:</p> <p>_More than 2.8 million tons of fresh air (too much can be damaging), several sizes of river rocks (these can be misused by throwing at people, or tripped over causing injury), dirt (if thrown can get in someone's eye), the oceans (drowning hazard), and anything anyone finds to be fun. Anything can pose untold hazards to children, said CPSC. The agency said there were more than 50 reports of fun things causing harm.<br /></p> <p>_About 100,000 Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Stand 'n Play Rampway toys. The wheels on the purple and green cars can come off, posing a choking hazard.</p> <p>Consumers can visit the God's website for more information on the dates of sale and model numbers for the recalled products, or they may simply choose to pay more attention to their children, teach them right from wrong and learn how to use a band-aid.</p><p>____________________________________________<br /></p><p>OK, the last one was serious, as anything marketed for under age 3 should not pose a choking hazard. The actual article can be found <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_fisher_price_recall">here</a>. </p><p>I read that this morning and it mostly made me shake my head and go HUH? Look, I really am sorry if your kid got hurt. Kiss the bobo and apply a band-aid, and move on to the next thing! If you expect your kid to fall and NEVER get hurt, you are in for a big surprise! Why not just bubble wrap the poor kid and get it over with?</p><p>If we were talking sharp points on a toy that would be different. I have had 5 of those very trikes and I know what that key looks like. Sure, it might hurt someone who fell on it "just right". How the heck does a kid fall on it to cause "genital bleeding" anyway? But the bigger question is - out of 7 million trikes <span style="font-style: italic;">in this recall alone</span>, is TEN injuries really worth a recall? SIX of them "required medical attention" - what does that mean, exactly? Is it a band-aid, or a rush to the emergency room in an ambulance? How many of those were genital bleeders? What were the kids doing with/on the trikes when they were injured? These are the things I would like to know. I think we have a right to know! To be honest, though, six rushes to the emergency room would still not justify a recall in my mind. I can also guarantee you that if my children were still using those trikes, they would keep right on using them.<br /></p><p>It is a fact that KIDS FALL. Sometimes kids fall when there is something in front of them and they might GET HURT, whether or not the item is actually"dangerous" or not. I have news for people - getting injured by something does not mean the item itself is inherently dangerous. If I trip on my rug and get rug burn do we recall the rug? How about the piece of paper left on the floor and I slipped and twisted my knee on it, which put me in serious pain for weeks?<br /></p><p>"Massive recall of printer paper! Please return all such paper to the place of purchase immediately. When left on the floor, this paper poses a severe slipping/knee twisting hazard which may require medical attention or at the very least lots of Advil. Do not delay your return of this very dangerous item which has also been implicated in several reports of paper cuts!"<br /></p><p>Another newsflash - LIFE is dangerous. Life actually has a 100% mortality rate.</p><p>Truly dangerous products are another matter and I do not intend to make light of those or any injury stemming from them. We have just gotten so ridiculous about these things that it's really hard to take most of the seriously anymore. </p><p>Check out <a href="http://www.rinkworks.com/said/warnings.shtml">this page of actual product warnings</a>. Are all of them real? I have no idea. But I have seen enough for myself to know that they're out there!<br /></p><p>How about if we use some common sense (which is actually not so common), learn to use band-aids, supervise our kids, and teach them not to jump onto their tricycle from the dining room table with no underpants on. Then we worry about <a href="http://www.shardsoglass.com/">recalling the TRULY dangerous products </a>and moving on with our lives.</p><p><a href="http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/irwin-mainway/1185611/">Watch this video</a><br /></p><p><br /></p>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-84229047945081722152010-08-12T06:48:00.001-07:002010-08-12T07:07:25.744-07:00Health issues<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; font-family:Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;font-size:15px;">Several weeks ago I was thinking about my various health issues. I had been to the doctor yet again and got blood work YET AGAIN with "normal" results <i>yet again</i>.... and decided that I was going to have to take control of myself to figure out what exactly is going on. It's time for a little progress report!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; font-family:Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;font-size:15px;"><div><br /></div><div>First of all, some of my symptoms: </div><div><br /></div><div>bowel issues, cramps, gas, bloating....chronic sinus drainage...frequent headaches...nausea....little to no energy... insomnia / difficulty staying asleep...inability to lose weight ...no self control....extreme food cravings... there were more, but those were the worst.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shortly after making that decision I happened on a thread on a message board. The subject of the thread I don't remember, and it had nothing to do with health matters per se, but one post caught my eye. The conversation had turned to behavior/mood issues and a woman chimed in that she had had similar issues in the past, but overcame them with the addition of a few simple supplements. She referred to a book called "<a href="http://www.moodcure.com/Questionnaire.html">The Mood Cure</a>". I went to the site and took the quiz (something I don't normally put too much stock in since it always seems to apply to everyone....but remember, I was at my wit's end!!) and, desperate, ordered not only that book but the companion one called "<a href="http://www.dietcure.com./Questionnairea.html">The Diet Cure"</a>. After reading a few pages in "The Diet Cure" I went straight to the health food store for some amino acid supplements. I swallowed my first dose in the car in the parking lot! It's not my style to order something online based on hyped up recommendations - I would never had ordered if it weren't for the lady on the message board. But I was really SO desperate I figured what can it hurt? All I have to lose is the cost of the book and the bottle of pills, less than $30. The lady on the board is someone whose opinions I have come to respect, so that did count for a lot of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Long story short - I felt "different" after just 1 day. I didn't really put too much stock in that, as it could have been enthusiasm as much as anything. By the third day I noticed I was behaving differently. I was handling situations with the kids much more calmly and rationally than I would have the week before. I asked Hubby, and he agreed. I also noticed a difference as I prepared a snack! I suddenly stopped short and realized that I was preparing the snack I wanted at the moment - baby carrots and salsa dip - not my typical snack which would be more like chips and sour cream dip and something chocolatey! I was very surprised to "catch" myself doing that - it's been a LONG time since something healthy was what I actually <i>wanted</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The funny thing is that for all these weeks it has continued. I do not crave sweets anymore. I do not crave starchy snacks anymore. I eat when I'm hungry and I am able to control <i>how</i> I eat as well - i.e. not too fast and too big bites. I am not eating nearly as much at one sitting as I used to. I have not wanted an alcoholic beverage. That is not to say I haven't <i>had</i> one - but I have not "wanted" one, you know? "Dieting" has been no effort at all, because my body is telling me what to eat - it was before, but it was telling me the wrong things. Because of my lack of self control (that I was constantly beating myself up for) I was listening to the wrong voice. That voice seems to have been banished from the Kingdom for now!</div><div><br /></div><div>AND - a biggie - I have now gone through TWO months with ZERO PMS! You have no idea how big of a deal that is, although Hubby certainly knows!</div><div><br /></div><div>The only fly in the ointment is that I am not losing any weight. I am positive I am eating less than half the calories I had been eating before, and they are not empty calories as they would have been before. It seems to me the weight ought to be fairly melting off! But I am not discouraged (at least not most of the time). I know I have a thyroid problem, I should be on medication. I have to get that from Mom and Dad's (alternatively minded) doctor, because I pass all thyroid tests. This doctor treats based on symptoms, which is not accepted by all doctors. It helped me when I was on it before, but didn't perform the miracles I thought it would, so I stopped taking it (assuming it wasn't working at all). Now I realize that there are several issues involved here - one of which being the amino acid deficiency, another being candida overgrowth, both of which I am treating myself with supplements from the health food store.</div><div><br /></div><div>At first I suspected a food intolerance - probably to gluten or dairy. But after an experiment with an elimination diet, and more time on the aminos I have pretty much ruled that out.</div><div><br /></div><div>The main thing is I am feeling SO much better now. I am eating decent foods now. I have energy!!!! I am getting there, and I have had to get there myself. Medicine was not going to help me, not traditional medicine. My doctor wanted to give me an antidepressant and a diet pill and a nose spray for my sinuses (Those have not completely cleared up at this point, but are much better). I don't fault my doctor, really...I have come to realize through this and my experience with Mom and Dad that modern medicine does not hold all the answers. Neither does alternative medicine, so I am not putting it on a pedestal either. I'm glad I'm advocating for myself. What works for me may not work for someone else, and I am quite sure someone will read this and think I have gone off the deep end or try to dissuade me from such utter quackery, and that's fine. I am the only one who has to live in this body!</div><div><br /></div><div>Hopefully I will be able to post more progress very soon. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>PS the supplements I am taking are just a basic blend of all the aminos. In the book it lists them separately according to your symptoms but I haven't had time to sit anf figure all that out...and it is working so well I don't see the need to now. The dosage on the bottle says "up to 6 daily" and I am taking 3 of this particular brand.</div></span><br /></div>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-7654035772250786892010-07-02T08:27:00.000-07:002013-02-20T06:27:24.305-08:00Let Me Google That For YouIf you read much of any of my blogs you know I am REALLY big on customer service. I am <a href="http://triplestuff.blogspot.com/2008/05/customer-service-review-quiznos.html">quick to criticize</a> a company and <a href="http://triplestuff.blogspot.com/2009/03/customer-service-american-home-shield.html">I like to also be quick</a> <a href="http://triplestuff.blogspot.com/2009/03/customer-service-nintendo.html">to praise.</a><br />
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Practically ever since I started my Facebook, over a year ago, my personal comments box has said "Google is your friend". One of my biggest pet peeves has always been when people have a knee jerk reaction and spread stuff they know nothing about. It's stupid, for one thing. For another it often ends up hurting others, whether companies (but hey, they can handle it right? Those greedy corporations don't deserve any consideration!) or individuals (they must have done something to deserve it!).<br />
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Whenever someone posts or says something that is not directly from the source I like to take a couple of minutes to check it out. Surely we all have a couple of extra minutes to do this. We're sitting on our butts in front of the computer screen anyway, yeah? Are we really THAT lazy?! It's really easy. Look! Here I will demonstrate how to Google the incident which set off this post:<br />
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<a href="http://tinyurl.com/34uhrde">Let me Google that for you.</a><br />
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I will even save you the few minutes it will take to go through those links by 'splaining the situation to you.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmGjq3cLG1g">Soldier has broken printer.</a><br />
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Now, it's important to me to note that I do fully support our troops, whether deployed or not, whether or not I approve of the politics behind what they're doing. They are defending our country and doing what the Commander-in-Chief has told them to do. I have no beef with them whatsoever. That said:<br />
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Clearly it is his personal printer or Uncle Sam would be paying for the repair, yes?<br />
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Clearly it is out of warranty as he is going to be charged for tech support. Are you still with me?<br />
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Clearly he expects preferential treatment because he is a deployed soldier... I am not going to get into that side of it, whether he should receive such treatment or not, as that is not the point of this post. But we really don't even know, without hearing the phone call, whether he told them he was a deployed soldier or asked to speak to a superior or anything like that.<br />
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So he shoots the printer, makes the video, yada yada. The video gets posted on my Facebook today. It spreads like wildfire, from one friend's page to the next. I think it's on my own newsfeed 6 times...probably more now while I'm typing this. The clear implication is that it's fresh and recent. That seems to be the assumption of those who comment on it, too, with anger and determined to NEVER.BUY.ANYTHING.FROM.HP.EVER.EVER.AGAIN!!!!!!!! <a href="http://id-id.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=191187460289&topic=13965">as seen on the HP page itself.</a><br />
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Here are just a few things I found when I took a moment to use my dear friend Google.<br />
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<a href="http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=60761">A forum post</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=151_1274172243&c=1"><br />Note the date this video was posted.</a><br />
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<a href="http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=294996">Compared to the date this was posted. </a><br />
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<a href="http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Did-You-Know/Some-History-and-Context-Regarding-the-HP-Soldier-Video/td-p/278104"><br />A note from an HP person.</a><br />
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<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2563615&page=1">Well looky here. This very same video was featured on an episode of 20/20....wow look at the date!</a><br />
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And finally, here is the <a href="http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c02253301&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN">official policy of HP towards our military.</a> Of course it doesn't say when they started the policy, but it's there now. <br />
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<a href="http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Did-You-Know/Some-History-and-Context-Regarding-the-HP-Soldier-Video/td-p/278104">According to this</a> it seems it was instituted after the video (although it doesn't say for sure).<br />
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People, please....stop and think before you jump on the bandwagon. We're not sheep. Use some common sense. Learn to use Google, or other search engine of your choice, or at the very least resolve to hear more of the story before you pass judgment.Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-68351782450910883392010-06-29T11:06:00.000-07:002010-06-29T11:11:22.252-07:00The Greatest Love Story Ever Told?I just read something that says <span style="font-style:italic;">Twilight</span> is the "greatest love story ever told".<br /><br />Wow. Really? <br /><br />Pretty strong statement. There are a lot of good love stories out there after all! So I figured I would ask - do YOU think Twilight is the "greatest love story ever told"? Or even as good as the greats.<br /><br />If so, why? If not, why not?<br /><br />No flames here, you can even make up a name if you want to stay anonymous (it may allow anon. comments, I don't know). Of course I have my own opinion on this! I would just like to hear from others.Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-30138177787138759002010-06-27T07:20:00.000-07:002010-06-27T07:35:21.237-07:00Free Range KidsI love <a href="http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/">this site</a>. <br /><br />I discovered it at least a year ago, when someone somewhere I don't remember posted a link and I realized that I had become a helicopter mom to the triplets. I had NOT been with the older kids, in fact I have to confess I used to mock the helicopters! <br /><br />I decided to start by NOT walking the kids to the bus stop on the corner (one house away). My <s>excuse</s> reason for walking them had always been that they would be poking each other right into the street. Well, that's what I was afraid of anyway. By this time they were 7 or 8 and I decided it was time to teach them and trust them. <br /><br />I did start slow - first I walked to the ditch and waited till the bus left. Then I gradually lengthened the distance between us until I was on the porch watching. Finally one day I had to help their brother with something and just hollered "goodbye, have a great day" as they went out the door. By the time I walked out the bus was gone.<br /><br />It was a little bittersweet. We had fun at the bus stop. My family blog is full of cute stories of conversations we had and how we would watch the anthill and the bird nests in the magnolia tree. But actually they still notice these things and tell me about them at home.<br /><br />Of course it didn't help matters that around this time there was a story of an abduction at a bus stop. Did I freak out? Yeah! But the fact is, I can't hover over them "just in case". I can't protect them from everything. I can let go without getting stupid about it.<br /><br />There are many other things people do that I think are overkill and unnecessary. Booster seats till the age of 10, for one. The law here is 6, and I thought THAT was overkill!<br /><br />So I'm really curious what other people think of that site and its ideas. I have friends that I'm sure would think it's totally insane. What are some ways you "let go" that other people may think are crazy? Or the opposite? I would like to hear them. No judgment on any replies. :)Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-4795664095035521342010-06-26T20:00:00.001-07:002010-06-26T20:09:56.062-07:00What Not to SayMoMs (Mothers of Multiples) are all too familiar with the stupid and/or thoughtless things people say. But it's not limited to us! Stupidity is everywhere and I witnessed a LOT of it last week at Cub Scout Day Camp. Here are just a few of the things other parents had to say to me:<br /><br />(When introduced as their boy's leader for the week) "Wow, I wondered who would be stupid enough to be out here with them all week!"<br /><br />(When assigned as my helper for one day) "This has been the worst day of my life! I am dying!" (yeah, that's kind of similar to the mother of one infant complaining to us of the stress, heh)<br /><br />And the kicker: The last day was Family Day, and parents were supposed to spend the day at camp checking out what the boys had been doing. I had several parents come ouut but NOT ONE stayed for any length of time... "This heat is brutal! I'm going home to cool off, be back later!"<br /><br />Yeah...it was HOT, it was MISERABLE, but someone has to do it! We already discussed that it's not for everyone - but when the leader is standing in front of you sweating her ass off and wanting to go to the bathroom but there is no one to stay with the group because the other parents are a bunch of weenie-ass WUSSES, it's probably best to keep your mouth shut! <br /><br />I am laughing as I type this so don't think I'm angry. It just goes to show that stupid comments are everywhere!Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-72661168049211342202010-06-24T20:29:00.000-07:002010-06-24T20:54:04.668-07:00The Things we Do for our Kids.I've been thinking a lot about this lately as I find myself doing more and more stuff I may not particularly like, "for the kids". I've been working at Cub Scout day camp all week; a few weeks ago it was Girl Scout day camp. Moms like me (you know, the ones with "SUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" written across our foreheads in big, red letters) must be a dying breed, since both camps were desperate for volunteers (much less Queens of the Suckers like me who were willing to work ALL WEEK).<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I don't HATE doing these things. I really do pretty much like them. But I won't miss them when the kids grow out of the activity.<br /><br />Last night as I told Hubby about my day he asked me WHY I do this if I hate it so much? I will admit, there was some bitching going on, but I didn't think it was all bad. Anyway, the answer was "for the kids". He thought the kids could still do day camp even if I didn't. I pointed out that they are begging for helpers to begin with and that all the other parents have wussed out and make excuses. Wimps! Yeah, let me tell you how I really feel, LOL!<br /><br />Someone DOES have to do it, and I've learned to say no to a lot of stuff. I don't teach Sunday School, or work in the nursery, or direct VBS, or head up the neighborhood whatever campaign, or serve on the PTA, or serve lunch to the homeless. I am not the room mom. I am not the team mom. I am not the head of the class reunion committee. I do not make ANY phone calls whatsoever, or coach Little League. I don't watch other people's kids, except in extreme emergency. I am not the one to call if you need a substitute in your classroom. Frankly I am not the person to call if you need <span style="font-style:italic;">anything</span>. I will almost always tell you no.<br /><br />Put out a general cattle call though, letting everyone know what you need, and having the option to call YOU is how it happens with me. <br /><br />I do go on field trips, and I drive the instruments on band trips, and I do Scouts. I do Scouts because I believe in Scouts, and because someone has to do it. So I am the Brownie leader basically because I HAD to be. But I can say no, too; when they tried to triple the size of my troop last week I put my foot down and told them that it's time for some OTHER Mom to step up and lead so <span style="font-style:italic;">their</span> daughter can have a troop. I did it, so can you. My troop is full, and registration is closed, thank you/drive thru!<br /><br />Whatever. The fact is I do enjoy Scouts. I have almost no patience for other people's kids, but I do take endless pleasure in my own. So as long as they are into it I will do it for <span style="font-style:italic;">them</span> (reserving the right to bitch about it to my husband if I so choose!). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzm2FR8H2w3S-Q9Bs-AEedtSMl5-7SDLFqBPuS6Xkgpygr__siGROj-SMp6pCiJNIcEGR8-FuR1M5coKsA32UKXPeNojS9YEEMsBrImi1JvJD4kUjEPiVUM0O7tsPMEA0m40SOSXDV-b7U/s1600/Cub+Scout+Day+Camp+053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzm2FR8H2w3S-Q9Bs-AEedtSMl5-7SDLFqBPuS6Xkgpygr__siGROj-SMp6pCiJNIcEGR8-FuR1M5coKsA32UKXPeNojS9YEEMsBrImi1JvJD4kUjEPiVUM0O7tsPMEA0m40SOSXDV-b7U/s400/Cub+Scout+Day+Camp+053.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486552678005666962" /></a>Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-48745780624781106192010-06-19T16:08:00.000-07:002010-06-19T16:30:05.475-07:00Ban HammerI must have missed a bunch of good stuff over at Triplet Connection lately, because when I went back (I try to go visit every few weeks or so) it seemed all hell had broken loose. Quite a few (not sure how many) long time members have been banned. Not only that - their posts have been completely erased, as if they never existed!<br /><br />I am / have been admin at several sites over the past few years. I am not at all familiar with the format of the Triplet Connection forum (DC forum). I can tell you all sorts of good stuff about vBulletin, phpNuke and phpBB (OK, I admit, some bad stuff too!). <br /><br />For instance, I can tell you that when someone on one of those boards gets banned their posts are NOT automatically deleted. If the person is banned, the name of the member remains (thus can not be re-used). The name remains on the posts and the posts remain exactly as posted, unless they are individually deleted/edited. I can tell you that the member no longer has a profile that can be seen by the average member, but that the admin staff can still access the profile if they so choose. Often a new user title appears under the name, such as "guest", "banned", or "bad kid" (I am not making that up!). The admin gets to choose which title goes under each name; it is not set in stone. <br /><br />I can also tell you that banning is not permanent, even if they tell you that it is. If a member is simply banned, all it takes to reinstate them is a simple click of a box in the admin panel. vBulletin even allows you to set a time, as in a suspension. Or to set that member to b automatically sent for moderation when they post.<br /><br />If a board admin wanted to go a step further they could delete the member. Of the several forums I have worked for this is never the preferred method, because someone can come back the same day and open a new account under that same name. To avoid that requires another step of putting the name on the blocked list, which really serves no useful purpose since the member can come back with a similar name with no undue stress to themselves.<br /><br />Now, the question is, what if I do delete a member? What happens to their posts then? The answer is they remain on the site, under the title "guest" or whatever other name the staff chooses. There they are, providing the necessary flow of conversation, the advice that may still be wanted even though the actual member went over to the dark side.<br /><br />In order to have every single one of the members' posts go *poof*, they have to be manually *poofed*. In the forums I am familiar with, they must be poofed one at a time. Which can be a major pain in the butt if we're talking about thousands of posts. Of course there may be an option to poof them all at once, but if there is I don't know about it. At any rate it's not a requirement, it's a choice.<br /><br />So.....just saying. Someone must really have wanted every trace of someone else removed pretty badly.Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-50522641469546510772010-05-20T08:04:00.000-07:002010-05-20T08:10:36.787-07:00Rich Where it CountsMy husband spent last weekend with the two triplet boys, while I took the other kids somewhere else. They went on a Cub Scout campout at the local minor league baseball park.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9P5POW-gqBrbRDbtTZNvoICenbkGnsm81mJ8K0LBWDG4GFHyGGa1NnBPea4M0em_v6lccy3sj-JXlJ-4sQdaXqI_M8FBkmnssJ_33KS5NEpR9s2y6NXpOry3hSp2pdbnlGbyTrAMVswq/s1600/0514102136.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9P5POW-gqBrbRDbtTZNvoICenbkGnsm81mJ8K0LBWDG4GFHyGGa1NnBPea4M0em_v6lccy3sj-JXlJ-4sQdaXqI_M8FBkmnssJ_33KS5NEpR9s2y6NXpOry3hSp2pdbnlGbyTrAMVswq/s400/0514102136.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473368831374975698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU-MT1OhRvK6VQcTNcIfbd6VhX4-AYW7HZeKcTIRZsYQ34xlRkJIwP9PTsctKjDpk674lHF9iR2zFakKHVSNio7lELyQ59QKOvIUZhyphenhyphenoLRASBCDyPabnAKApTGgnh0NhfDddIl6HSkifB/s1600/0514102328.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU-MT1OhRvK6VQcTNcIfbd6VhX4-AYW7HZeKcTIRZsYQ34xlRkJIwP9PTsctKjDpk674lHF9iR2zFakKHVSNio7lELyQ59QKOvIUZhyphenhyphenoLRASBCDyPabnAKApTGgnh0NhfDddIl6HSkifB/s400/0514102328.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473368834209567778" border="0" /></a><br />Last night he was telling me about it and about how cool it was to spend time with JUST them. We do spend time with each child separately, but those boys are a different animal when they are alone together, too!<br /><br />He said that Stephen got all philosophical at one point. That doesn't surprise me - he's the one that does that sort of thing. So he got thoughtful and said "you know, we're not like the people who have a lot of money. But we're not like the people who have no money, either. We're kind of medium."<br /><br />He thought for another minute then said, "We're not rich in money, but we're really really rich in love. And I think that's better anyway."<br /><br />What a profound thing for an 8 year old boy to say.Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-47164178904418798612010-03-18T08:58:00.000-07:002010-03-18T11:01:04.146-07:00Whose Homework is it Anyway?If you've read any of the recent discussion on Triplet Connection about homework, you will probably find this both amusing and a bit disturbing.<br /><br /><a href="http://stfuparents.tumblr.com/post/361744360/ohhhh-the-science-fair-its-a-wonderful-time-to">Link</a><br /><br />LOL! Read the replies. This is what parents who do everything for their kids have to look forward to. It's funny, but scary too. :-/<br /><br />Oh, I would like to post my views on homework, and also my views on the blog linked above, but I have to run. I'll add them both to my to-do list!Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-65229424800622829862010-02-05T13:16:00.000-08:002010-02-05T13:29:28.404-08:00Sick!Ugh! Someone please tell me how to clean up my list of blogs I follow. I can't seem to figure out how to remove them, only to hide them.<br /><br />Here's the thing - I had followed several blogs about the Gosselins of Jon and Kate+8. I was, and still am, very concerned for the children's welfare, which was why I followed them in the first place. Lately all has been quiet on the Gosselin front, and it was looking good that those poor kids would no longer be prostituted to the cameras of TLC (or any other network).<br /><br />Now today I read a story (being from Radar.com, also known as "Kate-dar" for reasons which should be obvious to anyone with more than a pea for a brain) stating that <span style="font-style: italic;">Jon will allow TLC to film the kids again as long as they drop their lawsuit against him</span>. Gah!!<br /><br />I confess I didn't read the entire story, so I don't know any details, and what's more I find that I JUST DON'T CARE!!!!! I do still care very much for those poor children, and I pray that SOMEONE in this world will see common sense over dollar signs and get them away from any kind of regular publicity...we already KNOW it won't be either of their attention seeking fame-whore parents or anyone else who stands to make money off of them. But I just can't devote another single second of my time to keeping up with the saga. It is always the same. Nothing ever changes. It might look bright for a moment, but always the things that are truly important to those people (being money and STUFF) rears its ugly head and it's time to SHOVE those children back out into the public eye once again.<br /><br />Jon and Kate, and anyone who works for you to film the kids, you are SICK. SICK. SICK. You are extremely POOR excuses for parents. Open your eyes, I beg you, you stupid, stupid people. Before it is WAY BEYOND TOO LATE for your children. Your children, your INNOCENT children. STOP whoring them out. STOP calling the paparazzi. Just STOP!!!!<br /><br />And to anyone who still thinks this is a good idea - these are not CHARACTERS ON A SHOW. They are PEOPLE, you stupid twits! This is their REAL LIFE!! Good grief, I cannot believe how many idiots still talk abut them as if they were the Cosbys!!<br /><br />How far this world has fallen. God have mercy.Midnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008447508622198945.post-55492830016526111152009-08-12T06:31:00.000-07:002009-08-12T06:32:03.049-07:00Just Say Charge ItYou might get a kick out of this one. See, it's not just the government screwing things up. My parents had a ton of credit cards, most in both names. There was ONE card, a Chase visa, that was only in Mom's name. For some reason THAT is the one Dad liked to use, even though he had a ton of others, who knows why? He decided to not only not cancel that one, but to have it changed to MY name so I could use it to buy his supplies with. So he called them and they did it. It was now in the name of "Estate of XXX" but had my name on the card. As far as I know, they didn't give him any problem about doing that. He asked if it were possible; they said sure. Seems to me that just saying NO right here would have solved a lot of things. I certainly wouldn't be writing this post if they had!<br /><br />When I called to activate it they did give me some trouble, because it confused them it was in the name of an "estate". I got transferred around a bunch of times. I even told Dad, let's just get a NEW card, or I use one of mine only for you and you pay it? No, he wanted THIS one, and after all they did OK it. At this point I was wondering WHY they had approved it in the first place? How much trouble was this really worth? But if you knew my Dad you know there was NO changing his mind, so this was it.<br /><br />So I used it for about 5 months. Regularly. Now Dad keeps money in his account, and pays everything in full every month; he even arranged to have this bill automatically paid in full every month so we didn't have to worry about it. "Why not use a debit card?" I asked. Made sense to me. But Dad didn't trust those new-fangled debit cards. Again, I don't know why...he just didn't. I nev er did quite figure him out. I just rolled with it, you know?<br /><br />After all those months of using it regularly and paying it in full every month well before the due date I tried to use it and it was declined. I knew the bill was paid so when I got home I called and they said "oh that, we cancelled that because your Mom died." Hmmm.....k.<br /><br />Well, yes. That's why it was changed to the "estate of". "Yes ma'am, but she died so we had to close it".<br /><br />Remember they KNEW she died and they agreed to do what they did. It's in the name of THE ESTATE, for crying out loud! Normally that means they died, so, yeah! No one held a gun to their head or even asked for special favors. He asked, they agreed and it was done.<br /><br />A week AFTER it was cancelled I got a letter congratulating me for signing up for the auto bill feature. Which had been signed up for, and had been used, for the past 5 months.....<br /><br />That SAME DAY I got a letter saying good news, your Mom's card has been cancelled because she died, aren't you happy with our security features that allowed us to do this? Don't worry, you won't be responsible for her balance! Woohoo!!! Hmm, should I have then doubted the auto-pay feature? Ahh, hindsight.<br /><br />The very NEXT day I got a bill for the balance (which was no longer on auto-pay - why, I don't know, I certainly never asked for that to be cancelled, I guess that came along with cancelling the card) and it was due like in TWO days saying pay this now to avoid extra fees. It was two months worth, since they had apparently shut off that pesky autopay thing 2 months before they sent me the letter congratulating me on signing up for it. Are you keeping up with me here? Oh -- and they specifically said that due to the unfortunate loss of my Mom they would not add finance charges at this time (what I read into that was, expect them real soon! How very thoughtful of them. *rollingeyes*).<br /><br />Are we having fun yet?<br /><br />So, fast forward several more months. About 3 weeks ago I got a bill from a COLLECTION AGENCY for the remaining balance that should have been paid automatically in the first place, and which I had already paid as soon as I got the bill (so that was, what? at least a month earlier? I can't keep track anymore). Not just any collection agency, but one that specifically deals with estates so as not to further confuse the bereaved family members? I'm clueless here... In the meantime my Dad has also passed....so I have to call this collection agency who was "simply arranging to collect from the estate"; yes, collecting a bill which had already been paid long since, and for which we made the charges ourselves, because they had approved it for our use. Are you still with me? I explained to them that I had paid the bill and they said OK. I have not heard back from them so I'm assuming that they at least know how to perform basic record-keeping chores.<br /><br />Now today I got a bill for FINANCE CHARGES based on that final balance. Only 5 bucks, but let me tell you, it was not the amount that was the point. I have been completely baffled by the incompetence and insensitivity of this entire affair and this was the last straw. I was in the middle of doing something else important but I picked up the phone and called them while I was "in the mood".<br /><br />The automatic response thingie told me that my account is closed and that there is no balance. What a complete surprise! more eyerolling* So I hit 0 to speak to an actual person, who assured me that the charge was already reversed and that I should not have even received a bill. Gee, I wonder what happened? Must have just "slipped through the cracks". Heh.<br /><br />Now tell me, after reading all this, are you wondering what's next?<br /><br />I just can't wait to apply for a NEW Chase card. /sarcasmMidnight Ramblingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15314862813459498799noreply@blogger.com1