Aunt Dean

These are for you. Bud gets into the whole guy cheerleader character a little too enthusiastically.

We can't wait to see you guys!

-- Sent from my Palm Prē

Go Mizzou!

So.  We lasted through the first quarter.  My boss offered me Mizzou tickets yesterday.  So, on the spur of the moment, we decided to take the kids.  The year I was dating Bud, we didn't miss a game.  We took Hayden to one game, as a baby, and Bud has averaged one game a season, with the guys.  I had my big hurrah for homecoming weekend.  That was my first game in 5 years.  Isn't that nuts?  

Anyhow, we'd never attempted taking the kids to a game.  The boys are still pretty young, and I worried about disrupting the game for those seated around us.  I thought we might end up sitting on the hill... but we stayed in our seats for the 1st quarter.

I think Hayden may be getting over her suntan tights issue, thanks to the Golden Girls.  We were actually in our seats 15 minutes before the game, which hasn't happened since I took my nephew, Chase, to a game about five or six years ago.

Some nice older gentleman seated in front of us gave our kids a box of popcorn to share (or fight over), and Brewer kept guzzling his water.  I think they liked the game.

We keep asking Bomb what he liked best about his first MU football game.  All he talks about is the cupcake he devoured at the tailgate we visited.  My boss, Curtis, always throws a nice tailgate in Lot C.

We had plenty of basement work to do... but instead we goofed off and enjoyed the weather today.

The woman (Pam) from the company doing the French drain, who called to ask my name (and addressed me, on voicemail, as Michelle), left another message telling me that the project won't get started Monday, as planned.

We've narrowed down the flooring choices to either floating vinyl or carpet tiles.  I was set on the vinyl floor.  That's what our friends, Steph and Matt have in their basement, and they've had water issues, and they love it.  But, the second contractor is really pushing carpet tiles.  I still haven't been able to find any, and I'm not convinced.  I think Bud's leaning in that direction, because he's confident he can install them himself.

I was hoping we'd have the flooring finished by Thanksgiving... now I'd say it's 50/50.

Great Day

I'm probably jinxing it... because the baby is fussing in the other room, and I still have to survive Hayden's dance class... but we had a playdate at Presleigh's, with all of our good friends... and I didn't want to strangle any of my kids, and I got to visit with my girlfriends, and was only a little queasy while we were there.

We had a great day!

I haven't talked to Jill yet today, but she sounded great yesterday afternoon... and now we're 99% certain it is the relative of the rival anchor.  How messed up is that?  My poor good friend, Megan.  She's so good and so talented, and if I were her, I'd totally feel like I had to be watching my back all the time.

The whole thing has made me think about my job and myself.  I immediately assumed guilt and deleted the account... then I started looking back at things and realizing, 'Hey, I didn't do a damn thing wrong.'

I wonder why it's my nature to assume I'm wrong.  Now that I'm convinced I'm right, I feel extra-super angry.  I just can't stand things that aren't fair... it's not fair that an evil, jealous, vindictive person could've gotten my friend or me fired!!!  I mean I have a brand new boss, who doesn't know me... what if he'd gotten mad, and believed this email without investigating?

Now I'm just determined to continue living my personal life like a NORMAL person... maintaining friendships, drinking alcohol in moderation (obviously not now, but when I'm not pregnant), and enjoying personal freedoms like everyone else in this country.

Just because I'm on television doesn't mean I'm not a real person, for God's sake!!!

Much Better

Jill is home from the hospital.  I just talked to her.  She sounds great.  She's feeling 100% better.  They're now leaning toward a bacterial infection, but they still don't know.  She's thinking maybe it was a kidney infection, because her back had been killing her, but is feeling better now that she's on antibiotics.

Today the office manager for the people doing the French drain called and left this message (swear to God) on my voicemail:

"Um.  Hi, Michelle.  This is Pam.  I'm just calling because we need your REAL name.  I know your last name is Hodge, but I need your first name."

Seriously?  You just said, "Michelle".  I think you know my name.  She's confused because I emailed her from my work account last Friday.  However, I TALKED to her Monday, and I talked to her (and identified myself by my REAL name) last week.

She might be a little ditzy.

Way Too Much Drama

So... first of all... My best friend, Jill, is in the hospital.  She texted me at 6:15am Tuesday, saying her OB was trying to kill her, and that she'd spent the night in the hospital.

I freaked out.  I knew that she wouldn't leave her 8-day-old babies unless she thought she was dying.  She delivered a week ago, with no complications.  They all left the hospital 2 days after the delivery, and the babies are doing really well.  Jill's OB is very laid-back.  He hasn't taken any of her concerns/complaints very seriously.  She's had SERIOUS swelling, that hasn't gotten much better after delivery, and her blood pressure has been high.  He finally put her on Procardia, last Friday.  She had chest pain Friday and Saturday and she's had a lot of pain in her legs and feet, and some swelling in her hand.

Monday night her fever climbed to 104 degrees.  Marty took her to the ER.  She really thought she was dying.  They doped her up on Morphine that night, and she was shaking and miserable until the fever broke at 6am Tuesday. 

I left work as soon as I could and got to her hospital room around 10am Tuesday.  Thank God for Bud, who stayed home from work with the kids all day.  Jill wasn't feeling well and her fever was going back up.  The nurse caught a potential disaster, with the pharmacy sending the wrong dosage of blood thinner (they were worried she had clots, but a Doplar test ruled that out).  Then, they gave her too high of a dosage of her BP medicine, so that made her feel sick.  Then the nurse forgot to plug the second antibiotic bag into her IV, and her fever started climbing again.

By about 11:45am Tuesday, the fever was breaking and she was feeling better.  By the time I left, around 2pm, the fever was down, two chest x-rays looked good, they ruled out blood clots, and cellulitis, and they weren't sure what was causing the fever and illness, but she was laughing and joking, and the docs said it was responding to antibiotics, so they'd send her home Wednesday.

Then the fever came back last night.  She was feeling really sick again overnight and it looks like she'll have to stay there another day/night.  Her heart is breaking because she misses her babies, and this just SUCKS!

Adding to the drama of my day, someone sent my bosses (both the GM and the News Director) this email:

"I would like to bring something to your attention if no one else has. During my morning commute to work (rider, not driver) I follow several people on Twitter and the past couple of months, I have gotten increasingly disgusted with an anchor from each of your stations. Michelle and Megan Tweet almost every morning and while I don't mind that they obviously have a new friendship, I feel like they Tweet like a couple of 13 year old girls and it's my opinion that it is extremely unprofessional and makes KMIZ and KOMU look silly to have them Tweeting while at work and not hiding who they are. There are methods to communicate privately, but it seems like these two want to be in the public eye.

There are many references (go back the past couple of months) about having playdates with their kids while they are enjoying Trops, a booze fest, etc. Not my business, but it doesn't present them in a positive light especially since Michelle has now announced that she is pregnant. They have called each other bitch and sleezy and make references to how the other isn't fat, but muscled. They really sound like young, insecure teenagers who need attention and reassurance. I found it interesting that MIchelle mentioned earlier this week that one of her colleagues warned her that people may not follow her due to these Tweets, but her response was "What the hell ever!" I have to agree with her colleague.

Thank you for your time."

To FURTHER add to the drama, we're all (my boss, myself, and Megan) certain that this is NOT random follower who is on Twitter during her commute, as she claimed.

When I first saw the email, I immediately felt guilty and deleted my Twitter account.  Then I started thinking about it.  The person knew to email the GM and the ND at each of our stations.  Regular people don't know the chain of command or how to go about getting news anchors in trouble.  Furthermore, our GM is BRAND new.  He's from Boston, NO ONE in town knows him.  This person emailed him directly.

I think, and this is the stuff of which soap operas are made, it's a relative of a rival TV anchor.  How great is that?

Remember when that Texas mom killed her daughter's cheerleader rival?  I'm thinking it's along those lines.

Furthermore, I went back and looked at all of my tweets.  I didn't do anything wrong!  Megan and I joked about taking Trops to the pool.  We never did it.  We talked about boozy playdates.  There have been two occasions, where we've each consumed one cocktail while our kids play.  Big damn deal!!!

I did call Megan "sleazy" on one occasion.  Neither of us called the other a "bitch".

My boss supports me 100%.  How nice is that?  AFTER I'd already deleted my account he told me not to, because I hadn't done anything wrong.  So, I restored it, and changed it to just a professional account where I'll send news tweets, then I set up a personal account for the fun stuff.

I'm not letting this Juni Wells (name used in the email sent to the bosses) win.

Update

The morning sickness has arrived.  Keep telling myself it's a good sign, and hoping it's gone in 6 weeks.

Hoping the French drain project gets started next week, and getting contractors out to bid the basement job this week.

We're going with vinyl, not planks, but in the sheet, so we can pull it up, if we have future water issues.  Our lifesaver friend, Steph, has it in her basement.  She's had water issues and is very happy with it.  I'm working on convincing Bud to replace the ENTIRE basement floor, and recarpeting the steps with less offensive carpet.

I'm sure it will all come down to price.

Hayden says she WON'T be dancing in the Christmas recital.  They're dancing to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".  When I learned her song, I immediately worried that I'd have to manipulate and fight with her over a red nose.  Imagine my relief, when costumes were posted last week.  Her teacher wants them to wear black leotards and suntan tights.  She'll provide a skirt and antlers.

You might think Hayden objects to the antlers.  You'd be wrong.  It's the "suntan" tights.  Seriously?  I can't even predict the stuff she'll freak out about.

I've told her that SHE needs to tell Miss Alissa about her issue, and let her classmates know, so they don't plan the dance around her.  My hope is to embarass her into giving me my way.  It's not working.

I told her then Nana won't come to the recital.  She said, "So, I'll see her at Christmas."

Seriously?  She is a pill.

Happy Halloween

This is the only shot I got!  How ridiculous!

And, this was taken with the "good" camera, not the new phone!

Hayden decided to be a butterfly.  Bomb went as a fisherman.

It's 5:40pm, and we're already home from trick-or-treating.

This was Bomb's first year, and only Hayden's second.

Brewer was still too young to go with us.

I sure am glad that I didn't keep Bomb's $40 dinosaur costume, or invest a lot of money in High School Musical costumes, since no one actually wore one on Halloween... oh well.

Decisions

So... the whole family just went shopping for new flooring for the basement.  It was just as much fun as it sounds.  Actually, Bud stayed in a really good mood.  I think he must think he's getting lucky tonight.

The kids... not so good.  Well, Brewer wasn't bad.  Hayden's been acting as crazy as ever.  Now I'm thinking she has personality disorder instead of Seasonal Affective Disorder, because it's sunny today.  It is still cold.  Does that matter?

We found vinyl laminate floating flooring and inexpensive carpet.  We're trying to decide between the two.  Bud just wants to replace the 13X14'.  I want to replace all of the flooring.  I like both options, and there are pros and cons to both types of flooring.  I'm sure we're doing one of those, as opposed to tile or stained concrete, because they're both softer and warmer.  Bud doesn't want to do carpet, in case we have another flood.  He also thinks we should just do the square "family room" area (because he's confident he could do that himself).  I know how much he doesn't enjoy "projects", and I say if he's going to tackle the floor now, he might as well do the whole thing, instead of having me nag him for the next two years.

Regardless which type of flooring we choose, I've told him we WILL be replacing ALL of the basement flooring (if we just do the small square) in two years, because I won't be able to tolerate the hideous green carpet AND the mismatched carpet/vinyl laminate for any longer than two years.  So, it doesn't seem to make much sense to replace part of the floor now, then tear it up and replace all of the flooring in two years.

But, that's just how I think (rationally).

Details

Here's a great example of how NOT observant Bud is.  A couple of years ago, we had an animated debate about the color of the shutters on his parents' house.  He was insisting they're blue.  His sister had to settle the argument.  She told Bud they're white (just like I said), and they've been white for 15 years.

Bud's mom is getting new furniture.  She's giving us her "old" set.  She's only had it for about 3 years.  She bought it when we moved into our house, and she gave us her "old" leather couch, loveseat, chair, and La-Z-Boy recliner.  It's moss green microsuede.  This set includes two really comfy overstuffed rocker recliners.

I was trying to talk to Bud, last night, about where to put it (upstairs or downstairs).  He told me, completely seriously, that he had ABSOLUTELY no idea what his mom's furniture looks like.  He's serious.  His defense was that she "has new furniture every single time we go there".  That's not exactly true.  She's had this set for 3 1/2 years.  He was being totally honest when he said he didn't know what color it was, how many pieces there are, etc.

So... I guess he's not going to help me decide which room to use it in...

Falling Apart

What's falling apart?  Oh... just the house and the van.  You know, the two most expensive things we own.

So... Thursday was a really shitty day.

9:45am- Hayden being a twerp (Bud seriously thinks she has that Seasonal Affective Disorder). Get the baby up from nap early, get everyone dressed for Halloween Party/playdate at Angelique's house.


Playdate was supposed to be at my house, but I cancelled earlier in the week because of the basement. So, Angelique offers to host, and turns it into a party. All the SAHM (stay-at-home moms) are baking fancy things and bringing a ton of shit. I know my limits, and there's no way I'll have my shit together to do any of that, so I tell them I'll bring pizzas for lunch. My plan is to stop by Little Caesar's and get 4 large pizzas.

10:30am- everyone's finally dressed in some attempt at Halloween costumes. Hayden's "Sharpay", but she's refusing to wear the wig or hold the microphone. Brewer's wig is popping off his head and the bobby pins aren't staying in his hair (don't ask).

10:40am- get in van (it was acting weird Wednesday- doing that thing where you have to hold the key down forever to get it to start, and it was idling hard), check engine light comes on. I drive straight to the dealership, instead of Angelique's, even though they're expecting me (party started at 10am, but they knew I'd be later because the baby would be napping), and I'm supposed to be bringing the food.

11am- get to dealer, he says they can't look at it until 12pm. We can't turn the stupid van off, because the engine light might go off, and since it has no "memory", they won't know what was wrong in the first place. Get service guy to drive us all to Angelique's, in our van, then he takes van to dealership. I'm stuck at Angelique's and her kids nap at 1pm.

11:15am- show up to party w/no food. Kids are all waiting on me for food. Call Dominos and order 4 large pizzas.

12:00pm- pizza driver calls. He went to wrong house and is on the other side of town. I feel like a failure. Kids want their damn pizza

12:30pm- pizza arrives (finally).

12:45pm- call the dealership, they're still looking at van and don't know what's wrong.

1:25pm- we've overstayed our welcome at Angelique's, but she's being gracious. Carla (Presleigh's mom) has an extra car seat, and drives a Suburban, she gives us a ride home. On the way, the dealership calls and my van is magically fixed. It was an oxygen sensor. Carla takes me to the dealership.

1:50pm- I've got all the kids loaded into the van, all the stuff (costumes/props that I've hauled from my van, to Angelique's house, to Carla's car) loaded back in my van. I turn the key in the parking lot. Same shit. Takes forever to start. Think about going back in. Can't even think about it. Can't be stuck at dealership with 3 kids, and have an hour before I have to start getting Hayden dressed for dance.

1:52pm- pull out of car dealership, decide to go to Sonic for a Diet Coke. Kids (Bomber now) are acting like total a-holes. While driving to Sonic, van is acting weird, like it's slipping out of gear.

Meanwhile, Bud has been in a meeting from 1-3pm... so he was texting before the meeting, asking what he needed to do, saying he could skip meeting if it was an emergency. I told him it wasn't an emergency. He was asking what he could do. I said, "Win fucking lotto and buy me a van that works and a house that doesn't leak, please." Not sure if he was amused.

2:15pm- drinking Diet Coke in Sonic parking lot (because if kids are in car seats they're not trashing my house and I'm not surrounded by all the laundry that needs to be folded).

2:20pm- Bud texts. Meeting ended early. I text back, bringing him up to speed on van situation. I tell him I'm having a really shitty day and feel like crying. He offers to come home early. That's sweet, but I tell him I don't need him to.

2:25pm- Jill calls. Yay! I feel so much better. She's totally overwhelmed, and Charley is jaundiced, but she sounds good and I know she's going to be fine. Just talking to her dramatically improves my mood.

2:45pm- I'm back home, trying to get some laundry folded, and start getting Hayden ready for dance. She's still acting like a mental patient. I call the dealership and tell them the van is still acting weird. They make an appointment to look at it at 9am Friday.

3:30pm- Bud's home.

3:35pm- Hayden announces she wants to be Sleeping Beauty at Friday's school party, instead of Sharpay or Hannah Montana (that's the costume we bought two months ago). She's not sure what she wants to be for Trick-or-Treating.

3:45pm- leaving to take Hayden for dance. She's acting so crazy. She wants Carla to do her ponytail, when we get there. Whatever.

4:15pm- dance class starts. I visit with my friends and Hayden does a great job through the entire class. She seems to know the recital dance.

6pm- get home, boys are asleep, Hayden is still acting like a mental patient. Bud doesn't seem mad, and is pretty patient with her nonsense.

Friday- 2am- get into work and have french drain estimate in email. It's $625 (and they offer to do $500 in additional work), but that would cover the drain all the way along the house into the backyard. I forward it to Bud, expecting him to say "no" because he can do it himself.

3am- he emails and says he's okay with spending $625 to get it professionally done. Yay! My mood is improving!

9am- Bud takes van to dealership (a-freaking-gain). 

10am- I head to Hayden's school for her Halloween Party.  It was a piece of cake.  The teachers are awesome, the other moms were great.  Hayden had fun.  I think.  Bud did have the nerve to tell me her "costume" (Sleeping Beauty dress) wasn't very good.  What the hell ever!!!  He NEVER wants me to spend any damn money, and the twerp changes her mind every 2 seconds about what she wants to wear.  How the HELL is she supposed to have a decent costume?

11am- dealership calls.  It's allegedly the fuel pump.  They don't have a fuel pump.  They'll fix it Tuesday.  But, at least, finally they're acknowledging there IS something wrong with my van!  I've known, for 5 months that it's acting goofy.  It takes forever to start, for one thing, and it feels like it hesitates or slips out of gear.  Even Bud (who admittedly is about as observant as a blind and deaf elderly man who's deep in thought) has thought the van problems are in my head.  Or, he's tried to pretend like it, so as not to have to deal with the issue.  I had to send him 3 bitchy emails, while he was dropping the van off, so he'd be in a pissy mood and be gruff enough with the service guy.  He's just too dang nice, and sometimes you have to be a bitch to get shit done.

So... my water problem is being fixed, my van is (allegedly) getting fixed... and now we're fighting over how to fix the basement.  Of course my husband only wants to spend $200 (laugh with me) and replace the small square of carpet that got wet, and leave the rest of the HIDEOUS carpet downstairs.  Won't that look awesome?  A vinyl or stained concrete square, surrounded by awful (circa 1990) green carpet?

He insists I'm nesting prematurely and it's going to be a long 9 months.  I'm NOT nesting, damnit.  I'm fixing the part(s) of my house that are in a state of disrepair.  Not the same thing.

And also... he spent $15 on Halloween candy, and expects that to last tonight for trick-or-treaters.  I had to bite the inside of my cheeks, so as not to laugh.  One Hy-Vee bag, with 4 bags of mini candy bars, and 1 bag of fruit chews.  That's it.  He's done.  I told him we usually buy $50 worth of candy.  He just gave me that look.