Rightly Superstitious or just plain stupid?

I got caught this week. By my doctor. I lied and he caught me. Good doctor...bad patient.

I had a blood draw this week - my hemoglobin was at 8.2. Quite anemic. Pretty soon, the lab tech called the nurse, who called the resident, who called the doctor. Pretty soon, there I was, still in the lab chair, bright lights shining down on me as this group crowded around me asking questions. Sweat ran down my face as I tried to plan my getaway.

The big question..."You ARE taking your prenatal vitamin daily aren't you...well aren't you...well aren't you TRACY...ARE YOU taking your prenatal vitamin, your chart says you ARE, but you really AREN'T, right Tracy????"

Who would think that one lousy little pill would cause such a commotion and fuel so much fire in ones belief.

Truth is - I am NOT taking a prenatal vitamin, and I WON'T take a prenatal vitamin and YOU cannot make me! So there, Doctor "know-it-all!!!"

Okay, now you are thinking of me as some kind of idiot for not taking a prenatal vitamin...but here is my story....

When I was pregnant with Eloise, I lived in Amsterdam, only saw a midwife, never a doctor, and the mention of a prenatal vitamin never came up during my whole prenatal course of care. Healthy, albeit small and early baby came.

When I got pregnant with Esther, I lived in Minnesota and on my first ob/gyn visit my doctor asked "are you taking a prenatal vitamin?" I asked what the hell that was? She told me and I just never got to the store to purchase said vitamin. Healthy, happy baby came.

We decided to have baby number 3 and through pressure of friends and my doctor I started taking a prenatal vitamin before we even got pregnant. During the next 2 1/2 years I took a prenatal vitamin daily and lost numerous babies during this time.

This past August during my "last" visit with my fertility specialist, I was told that it would be impossible for me to have a baby with my eggs. Egg donation or adoption was the only hope for us for baby #3. When I returned home from that visit, the first thing I did was toss the half full bottle of prenatal vitamins in the garbage. Two months later I was pregnant - and still am 7 months later with currently a healthy and happy and seemingly impossible pregnancy. ..and for the record, I am still NOT taking a prenatal vitamin.

Now I KNOW perhaps the 2 have nothing to do with each other - but at this point, there is no way in hell I am taking a prenatal vitamin. You can yell at me all you want. At this point you can even call me just plain stupid, as I am standing my ground as rightly superstitious.

What do you think?
xoxo,t

In case you were wondering....

...yes, of course the girls and I are watching American Idol these season. Duh.

I mean, I wasn't going to talk about it - as I am much older and wiser now, I do spend most of my T.V. time tuned into Masterpiece Theater and Antiques Roadshow...but it's good to have a few guilty pleasures...

...like Desperate Housewives, Dancing with the Stars, Rachel Ray, The Amazing Race, Countdown with my hot buddy Keith, and of course American Idol. It is when I start making this list that I am very grateful that we do not have cable...as I know I would be sucked into Project Runway and probably Big Love too. whew. I love being wholesome and none the wiser of cable television.

Last season, I blogged about my obsession with David Cook and Esther's obsession with David "enchilada". We don't have a clear favorite this year - and it's down to 4...what to do?

Esther pretty much hates everyone. Eloise calls her "Simon" because as each contestant ends their songs, Esther yells "that was awful - I don't like them."

So here is our current opinion of the top 4:

Kris - our dreamy boy next-door contestant - cute, hot, sexy with a voice and eyes that, well, oh my...does he deserve to win..perhaps...but we just enjoy looking at him. He can sing for as long as he likes - or just standing there is fine too - for a long time.

Danny - he was our first favorite..but now his teeth bug me. Call me shallow, but they really really bug me and most people can't sing with their mouths closed. sorry.

Adam. Oh Adam. I have to admit I have a bit of a thang for him too, but mainly just because of the eyeliner. I have a thing for guys in eyeliner dating back to Boy George in 1982. I am seeking counseling for my obsession. I really have no idea how he sings or performs - but I have heard he is good - I just can't get past obsessing about his eyeliner. Sorry.

Alison. Even with my closet lesbian tendencies and obsession over my Gwen, Alison doesn't do it for me. Every song sounds the same. Sorry. Esther really likes her hair though. I think Esther will have pink hair when she is 16 - and probably a pierced nose too. Don't tell Jed though as I know he will go into cardiac arrest.

Anyone else watching this season? Am I boring you yet? Hello, anyone out there, anyone care?
xoxo,t

This little piggy...

What I like the best about putting piggies in my girls hair, is that I don't care if their part is straight....

...and they don't care if their part is straight...

..as long as they have piggies in their hair, they are happy, even with my imperfect ones...

..well, most of the time they are happy.
xoxo,t

Mermaids

All I ever wanted to be was a mermaid
floating through the water
kicking my tail
my long hair flowing behind me as I swim faster and faster
I am friends with all fish
I am happy and light
I am beautiful

...for 20 minutes every night
I am a mermaid
with my best friend, my sister
together we are the most beautiful mermaids in the sea.

Appreciating their Differences...

Sometimes I wonder how two sisters can be so different. Different hair, eyes, bodies, faces, teeth, eating preferences, temperament, likes, dislikes, moods...

Sometimes these differences lead to comparisons that are so hard to avoid, but necessary for a mom to avoid. Every one is an individual and shouldn't be compared to others. Every one should be appreciated for who they are.

Sometimes I have a hard time doing that - and I only have 2 kids - think of the differences to appreciate with 6 or even more.

If I can have a bad mommy moment for just "once" and compare my children on one point....

Esther had her kindergarten screening this week. Oh my - good thing Eloise wasn't there, she would've been so angry at her. I just sat and tried to stifle my giggles. When Eloise took this "test" 2 years ago, she aced it - 48/48 and was so proud. Eloise is a pleaser - she does EXACTLY what the teacher says and pretty much what we say. We don't even think about discipline or consequences, or even planned positive reinforcements with Eloise. She is just a good kid and likes rules, schedules, expectations and wants to please you and others. Eloise has a hard time with the fact that Esther just doesn't care that much about pleasing others. She is in it more for herself.

Esther missed the first 6 questions on her kindergarten readiness test - on purpose.

Question 1.
Teacher: "Esther - here are 6 orange blocks - I have 6 orange blocks and have built a tower - can you build a tower that looks just like mine?"
Esther builds her tower.
Teacher: "Does your tower look like mine?"
Esther: "No"
Teacher"Do you want to try again?"
Esther "No, mine looks much better than yours, why would I want my tower to look like that?"
TEST POINTS ZERO

Questions 2.
Teacher: "Esther - here are 6 blocks - 2 black, 2 white and 2 orange - and I will put them in a pattern, can you copy my pattern with your 6 blocks of the same colors"
Esther makes her pattern
Teacher: "Does your pattern look like mine?"
Esther: "No"
Teacher "Do you want to try again?"
Esther "No, I didn't want to do black, white, orange, black, white, orange - I think it looks better black, black, white, white, orange, orange so I am keeping it this way."
TEST POINTS ZERO

Question 3.
Teacher: "Esther can you draw this letter "E" to look like the letter "E" above it"
Esther draws the letter "E"
Teacher: " Is that the letter "E"?"
Esther: "No, it's the letter "F" - I can make an "E" - I just would rather make "F's" today as I make E's everyday since my name has 2 of them."
TEST POINTS ZERO

...and it went on like this for the next several questions....as I silently wondered if they would let her in to school... ;)

Many times during the school year - when we drop Eloise off, Sister Sara will always make a point to say hi to Esther and tell her how excited she is for when Esther is in her classroom soon. Esther always boldly says back to her "no, I don't think you will be my teacher, I would rather have Mrs. Lange" as she turns and walks away from her. Sister Sara is probably secretly very very happy about that.

xoxo, t

Parental Influences...

Homework. Eloise and I spend a bit of time each week with her Kindergarten homework. Usually she just does it and I sit and nod and say "yep - that is right" occasionally while on-line shopping, reading blogs and making MJC calls.

Last week - homework was more in depth. Each student had to make a shoebox/cardboard building for their class town. Eloise wanted to make a pet shop, which seemed strange to me as she dislikes animals. Also - 9 other kids were already making pet shops. I told her that in this economy, we needed to differentiate. With 10 pet shops in a town of 24 buildings, most of us were bound to go out of business! I also told her that we shouldn't do luxury - like restaurants or movie theaters or jewelry stores. We need a solid business that will thrive in this economy and support green efforts for our planet.

(Donut cat planning Barbie's quick demise)

Eloise stared at me and wondered why she didn't have a normal mom who just let her build a pet shop like the lucky other 9 kids in her class who were sitting at home right now gluing Little Pet Shop guys to cardboard.

I suggested a clothing consignment shop. Eloise agreed, but only if she could use Barbies - even if they are not politically correct(or anatomically correct) in many circles. A compromise was reached and the planning and building began.

We used my Barbies - with 1966 still engraved on their butts, and the clothing circa 1966-1972. So, it is more of a retro consignment shop - but fabulous just the same. Eloise and I carefully picked out and attached wallpaper, carpet and curtains inside...and took great effort into choosing the best dresses for display. Eloise made a shoe display - with go-go boots proudly shown. Eloise was most proud of her garden and vines that she drew on the outside walls.

I have to say that it is an original in the town they made. And no, nothing you see here is actually for sale, so paws off ebay crazies.

xoxo,t