Five hours of my life

A detailed log of my activities from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, October 28. Like you care. But oh well.

3:00 Leave work
3:25 Pick up Jordan from school
3:31 Take a look at her cranker expander thing that has fallen completely out of her mouth
3:35 Realize I need gas
3:45 Meet Captain at orthodontist and drop Jordan off
3:55 Get gas
4:05 Pick up Cooper from Mom's
4:10 Realize he doesn't have pads for his football pants
4:18 Get call from Jordan telling me orthodontist took cranker expander thing out (Yea!) and put in thicker wire instead (Boo!)
4:20 Go home to get football pads
4:25 Head BACK to school
4:28 Put football pads in pants at every red light
4:30 Confirm that I hate putting those pads in the pants
4:40 Hear a train whistle
4:41 Start to cry that I will be stuck at this train and be late
4:42 Miss the train
4:43 Say YES! out loud
4:52 Arrive at school
4:53 Weep tears of joy and amazement that I made it before 5:00 pm
4:54 Wake Cooper up since he fell asleep in the car
4:55 Tie cleats, tighten pads, snap helmet
5:00 Go get some milk and lunch box staples since marshmallow and Ritz crackers do not a lunch make. Also get some motrin since Jordan's mouth is going to be real sore from the new tight wire
5:34 Arrive back at football practice
5:45 Realize I'm going to freeze to death
5:50 Start freezing to death
6:00 Put my flip flop clad feet (STUPID) in the bag that holds my sport chair.
6:20 Lose all feeling in my feet
7:08 Get excited when the coach starts that group clapping thing which signals the end of practice
7:09 Say I LOVE TO HEAR THE CLAPPING! out loud
7:16 Wonder how long the coach can continue to talk about giving 110% at the game on Saturday
7:18 Leave school
7:20 Turn on heater full blast
7:21 Determine that is a bit selfish since Cooper is sweating.
7:23 Find moderate temperature
7:25 Realize it's hard to drive with frost bitten feet
8:00 Arrive home

Crying. Contraband. Confiscate.

Before we go any farther, let me announce that the high today is 75. Yes, the HIGH. Yippee! Finally. A temp that doesn't start with "hundred" or even "ninety". Fall is finally here.

Now, I will address the heartbreaking Hog loss. I got home from the volleyball tourny in time to watch the second half. And the Hogs were well on their way to a win. We were whipping some crimson tide rear. We had it. We. Had. It. And then we lost it. We. Lost. It. And then I cried like a baby. And went to my room. And sucked my thumb for the rest of the night. The end.

But before all that nonsense took place, I spent the entire morning and half the afternoon at the ol' volleyball tourny. And that's when it happened. I was putting some bobby pins in Jordan's gym bag. And I saw it. I was stunned. Shocked. Speechless. I couldn't believe it. Right there in her bag. She was obviously trying to hide it from me. She knew better. What would I tell the Captain?! We've taught her. We've told her about the pitfalls. Others have told her too. She has seen what happens to people JUST LIKE HER who make the wrong decision and do it. She knows the dangers of using this stuff. She knows right and wrong. She knew better than to give in. Yet, apparently decided to use this. I was so disappointed in her choice. It was a big ol' parenting fail. I wanted to confront her right there. Smell her breath. What was she thinking?!? Would she admit to using it? Would she say something ridiculous like, "Mom, everybody does it!!" or "It's not mine. It belongs to a friend."

So, between matches, I said something.

"Jordan!! I found it in your bag! What were you thinking?!?! Did you think you could hide it from me?!?"

She knew right then that she was busted.

I had found it.

The gum. No chewing gum when you wear braces.

Busted.

I took it. And I showed her. I chewed it all right it front of her.

And sent her spandex booty, wirey mouth, rebellious self back out on the court.

Happy Monday people. Hope everybody has a good week. It's a wild one for us. The usual volleyball and football games and practices - all over town. Plus throw in quarter exams for Jordan. Erg. Bible and French today. Wheee! Or would it be oui?

Au revoir!

Continue the torture

No top braces for Jordan yesterday.

Twenty more days of cranking.

Blah.

We'll both be cranky.

Probably by the time you are reading this, I will be in Mississippi in a cow pasture with one of my physicians doing a live TV morning show about ATV safety. Yes I will be leaving my house at 5:30 am wearing some fashionable polka-dot or camo boots. At least it's not still 157 degrees. Oh the glamorous life of a PR gal....

Speaking of yucky. Jordan got her orthodontic appliance expander cranky thing yesterday. This is NOT her mouth, but it looks kind of like this.They said it shouldn't give her any problems other than when she is talking, swallowing, breathing, eating, and getting food hung all up in there. Okey dokey. She is supposed to put a little pin (that looks like a crochet needle) thing in the middle (between those arrows) and crank it down every day. Erg. Looks like some medieval torture device.

In the meantime, Connie and I are trying to figure out how to do all this tonight.....Jordan and Niece M's volleyball game at 5:00 pm at Location HS, Nephew T's football practice 3:30-600 pm at Location CR, Cooper's football practice 6:00-8:00pm at Location CR, and Cooper's meet the teacher night 7:00 pm at Location CD. *sigh*

That's about it for me. And that's enough.

Hip Hip Hooray people! We've made it to Thursday!!

Proofread please and 6 other things.

1. Cooper survived his first day of school yesterday. So did his mother.

2. My biggest baby starts 8th grade today. Blah.

3. My 96 1/2 year old aunt died yesterday. Ninety-six. And a half. She was born in 1913. Think about all the things that happened in the world in her lifetime and how much change she saw.

4. Jordan went to the orthodontist yesterday to get her appliance cranky expander thing put in. After an hour in the chair, they determined it wouldn't fit. More impressions. Back on Wednesday. It will be our 9th dental appointment since June 1.

5. This volleyball-football practice schedule transportation thing is driving me nuts. Coordinating three different practices at three different times. Jordan and Niece M volleyball. Nephew T football. Cooper football. Drive. Drive. Drive.

6. It was nice to watch some football this weekend. Even if it was NFL preseason.


That is all. The end.

Red alert

My anxiety level is running very high this week and my heart is on overdrive.

The 19 year old daughter of one of my physicians was killed in a car accident yesterday. She had just left her home and was returning to college. They are simply a good family. My heart is heavy with sadness. Please pray for Dr. David L. and his family.

Jordan is having oral surgery today to remove four teeth which is her first step in the Wonderful World of Braces. I'm just ready to get it over with. And I know she is too. I'm having teeeny issues with the anesthesia. Cooper had a pretty bad experience with some surgery when he was a wee one and that is weighing on my mind. I guess our afternoon will be full of ice packs and milkshakes.

And case you didn't know, the creature known as The Teenage Girl is a very mysterious and often volatile being. Because apparently if your volleyball spandex are a size too large, the world is coming to a fast and violent end. Also, apparently missing just one out of 26,209 social events is a catastrophe. Blah.

No news that I'm already fretting over the "getting everybody where they are supposed to be for games and practices every day for the next four months" schedule. A bit exhausted from it this week...and this was one of the "easiest". If you can call sitting in a gym watching a volleyball game at 10pm "easy".

Connie and I were talking about how we are going to make it all happen. And the sisterly convo went something like this....
Connie: This gives me hives.
Me: I need a nerve pill.
Connie: If you take a pill, you can't drive anybody anywhere.
Me: Bingo.
Connie: Wimp.

But Cooper has made it through two of his first nights of football camp. And so did his overprotective smothering mother hen. He did say he felt like he was in jail or military camp. I told him I was proud of the way he stood and listened to the coaches and didn't talk or cut up like some of the other boys. He said, "Well the only reason I did that was because I didn't want to run laps or do push-ups." Well, not really the reason I am teaching my kids to respect adults, but ok. And do I need to remind you that the heat is just brutal?

And no, we haven't made the first step toward getting our school stuff. Which adds about 75 points to my anxiety level. And that's stupid. But I can't help it. I fret. It's what I do.

My emotions and heart and angst and all of that are just a big ol' tangled upset mess right now. Let's throw in some hormones for good measure, want to? Grrrrrrrr.

Tiny prayer for Jordan today ok? But a HUGE prayer for Dr. L. Thank you. And it would probably be in your best interest to just avoid me altogether.

Friday Post - Long Holiday Weekend Edition

1. Nick's surgery went well yesterday. As his mom said, "Round 1 went to Nick. Cancer took a beating." He still has a long road ahead. But good steps were made yesterday. Thanks for praying for him.

2. The Adventure-Having Daughter and Captain come home home tonight. And yes, she leaves AGAIN next week on another trip. She's a vagabond.

3. Cooper and I have had an exceptional week. Camp Cozy Bed has been a most excellent place. And one night, we may or may not have been in bed at 5:45. Maybe. We've watched our share of America's Funniest Home Videos and have laughed our heads off.

4. I'm off today. And we get Monday as the holiday since it falls on a Sunday. Soooo, I'm off work until Tuesday. Say amen people.

5. I had the consultation yesterday for Jordan's braces. Let's just say we can fix her teeth for the same amount we paid for the new air conditioner. Plus, she has a "challenging mouth" and will have to have 4 teeth pulled AND have jaw surgery. There is some major misalignment of her top and bottom jaws -- some sort of measurement thing which should measure 1.0. Hers measures 7.8. The pulling of the teeth and the putting on of the braces will happen this summer; the jaw surgery won't happen until next summer. The DDS also teaches at the dental college here in town and said she would most definitely be a case study for the dental students. So....blah to all that. Stay tuned. And send money.

6. I'm getting my hair cut today. You're welcome.

7. I'm off work until Tuesday. What? I've already said that? Oh sorry. I'm just slightly excited.

8. I continue to remain ever thankful for our freedom and independence.

9. May hot dogs and fireworks abound for you this weekend.

10. And, finally what's Indendence Day without THIS??!!