Friday, March 25, 2011

Crawling, Wrecking Shit, and Caffeine.

Yeah, I really can't keep apologizing for slacking on the posting....sorry, it just happens.  Honestly, lately's been a pretty down time in our household.  Ben's dad passed this time of year, just two years ago, so he's been feeling pretty bad.  Add that to all the wonderful news in the world these days, and it's enough to make us not want to get out of bed.  But that's no way to live life, and now we've got a kid to set a good example for.  I've been known to get into funks and pretty much make it to work and home, and remain incommunicado for a while til I shake myself out of it.  Not really an option anymore.  It's a good thing, how depressed can you really get when you get up in the morning, look in the crib, and your adorable kid is totally delighted to see you, and you don't find out for a few minutes that his look of joy may have been the result of unleashing a mountain of crap, and not necessarily seeing your face?

Whatever, I'll take my smiles where I can get them.

It's something I think about, though-how he's going to see me and how that's going to form the kind of person he turns into.  There were times when I wondered about my parents and the choices they made, but whatever happened, they always just pushed forward.  Wallowing's not really allowed in my house.  And I want Henry to see the same thing, because there's going to be plenty of times in his life when I'm sure he's going to want to say "Fuck it." and not go to work or deal with anything.  Sometimes it's easier to drink a few beers and watch Ghost Hunters marathons.  I maintain that, much like most other things, this sort of behavior is acceptable in moderation.  Very careful moderation.

Update on the Lent progress-have remained alcohol free fairly easily.  When a kid's going to wake you up at six without giving the slightest bit of consideration to when YOU went to bed, it's best to turn in early and forgo your ingrained nighttime traditions (Kids are such selfish jerks!)

The coffee ban met with massive fail, very early on.  I tried, I really did.  But after a two-week long headache and seriously contemplating chucking office supplies at undergrad dental students, I decided it was in everyone's best interest for me to have my morning cup.  Down to one, and no soda or anything like that.  Watching the diet, and got my bloodwork today-hopefully my cholesterol will come back as "on the high side of normal" and not "your heart is going to explode" this year.

And in the last bit of recent news, the 10k I signed up for is in a week!  Snuck up on me.  I think I'll finish, which is my only real goal at this point.  I don't even think you can call my long run pace running, or jogging.  More like slogging.  But hey, my pants are getting looser.  So win.

Henry's going crazy with the crawling.  We did not realize how woefully unprepared we were to have a mobile child.  What is it that makes a kid ignore his toys and head immediately towards anything that has the potential to hurt them?  If anyone wanted to make a serious argument against evolution (and here in Virginia, there's plenty of people who do) that might be a good place to start.  Self-preservation is definitely a skill learned later in life.  Or in Ben's case, never.  If you could see his ER visit history, you'd know why I worry about that gene being passed on to our kid.  God help us when he starts walking.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Does this smell like barf to you?

Got to get more consistent about this posting thing.  I'm working on it.  We've just had a rough few months, with Henry being sick and family drama.  He seemed to be doing better this weekend, but last night I went in to check on him and he and his crib were just hosed with puke.  I mean, it was bad.  Naturally I panicked, but was calmed down by a helpful friend who also happens to be a nurse.  Nurses are good people to know.  They generally give you the information you need in a way that says "Stop freaking the hell out.  Kids puke and have fevers.  It's fine." without making you feel stupid about it.

Somehow a sick kid puts you and your partner into sync, though.  It's definitely a team effort-one goes with the kid to the tub, one goes with everything in barf range to the washer.  (Don't mix those up, by the way).  While Henry was miserable while he was barfing, as we all are, afterwards he would look around, smile at me, and clap.  Clearly he can puke and rally.  He's not going to have ANY issues at college!

Other than that we've had work, I've had school, friends visiting, it's been a busy few weeks.  I also gave up alcohol and coffee for Lent, which has been....interesting.  I'm not particularly religious and am definitely not Catholic anymore, so I think a lot of people think it's odd that I give up anything at all.  I just think that even if you don't believe in the exact theology behind it, Lent provides a good framework for doing some good internally, or in your community.  Since I have no money or time to donate anywhere, I decided to focus on some things I could improve on.  And really, if you're not taking care of yourself, how can you put more of yourself out there?  I like that it coincides with spring, too.  Sort of a renewal thing (not trying to sound all nature worshippy or anything, I promise, no naked dancing in the full moon in my backyard.  Just the front yard.)

Alcohol was kind of a no-brainer, having a beer or glass of wine (or two...or three, if we're being honest) had gotten to be a bit too much of a habit for me, so I decided that could go.  Saves me money, too.  The coffee was trickier.  Lots of people with small children eyed me suspiciously (and blearily) and asked me why the hell I would give up coffee when I have a small child and work.  The headache I've had for a few days would also like an answer to that question.  It hurts to think, but basically the root of that one is that I realized I don't really like coffee all that much, but I drink it every day because I've become dependent on it, and I don't like that.  Honestly, of the two, that's been the harder habit to kick.  Good thing it's spring break and the undergrads are gone.  If some 18 year old walked into my office, and asked me a question without knocking or saying "Excuse me" or even bothering to stop texting, I'm not sure Coffee-Free Megan could really be held responsible for her actions.

"Wait, why did you get fired?"
"Well, there was this kid...and I had this stapler....paramedics had to be involved....you know, I don't really want to talk about it."

Wish me luck.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Hopefully, this link works! Help raise funds for MS research!

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/VABWalkEvents?px=6022093&pg=personal&fr_id=16743


Apologies, I am technologically slow.  Thank you to those who have donated already!  New blog to come soon, once I get somewhat caught up, got some huge work and school projects, and a kid with a double ear infection.

Yes, you CAN do it all, if you don't mind not sleeping and never being totally caught up on anything!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Gimme some money, and I'll dress like a Viking.

So the time of year has come for me to engage in some fundraising.  Back when I was an impressionable college student, I met an awesome girl named Skate, and her equally awesome boyfriend Rob.  I met them through a guy I was dating, and even when that hit the bricks (for about the eleventh time) they stayed friends with me.  They took me to my first Foxfield event, took me out for my 21st birthday, and took me in when my engagement hit the rocks a few years later.  (Their spare bedroom has been occupied by more than one jilted fiance, thus earning it the title "The Non-Honeymoon Suite".

They're just all-around great people, and very, very fun.  Some of my favorite Skatisms involve:

Her breaking a table at my 2001 New Year's Eve party.  I'm not even sure how that came about, but it involved some dance moves, and from what I understand, was intentional.

Her meeting some guys from New Jersey outside of a bar and insisting that they come hang out at her house because her then-boyfriend, now-husband Rob was also from New Jersey.  (He did not go along with this plan, surprisingly).

Her falling down at my bachelorette party, but to be fair, we all did at one point or another.

I'm sure I'll remember more.

Skate also has MS.  And every year, for all she's done for me, I repay her a little bit by raising money for the Charlottesville MS Walk.  I also offer up some motivation by thinking of ways to embarrass myself to get people to donate more money.  Last year I promised to do the walk dressed as a bee if I got to the $1000 mark.  I did, and I did do the walk in my bee suit-seven months pregnant, at that.

This year, if we get to $15,000, all the walkers will be dressing as vikings, and Henry's going as a dragon.  So do some good, and I'll post pictures if we meet our goal.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TRC/Walk/VABWalkEvents?pg=peditor&fr_id=16743&px=6022093