Thursday, August 19, 2010

How the heck did that happen?

And how did I go so long without realizing? The computer I've been using... Dell Optiplex 210 has been running like crap for the last month or so. It's so frustrating! I've been tempted to throw it out the window. It's made buying a new computer very tempting.

First it was constant virtual memory too low messages. Then all operations on it slowed to a snail's pace. I've been fiddling with it constantly ever since. I've defragged it, ran msconfig and turned off everything I possibly could. I deleted microsoft essentials security because I read that it could bog things down and installed another security system that was supposedly faster...still no change (but lots of tweaking of the new firewall though). Then it hit me...the memory!

I wondered if something was up with the RAM. I have 1g of RAM so there shouldn't be a problem. Imagine my shock when I looked at the system's info and see it listing my RAM as 258mb. HUH?!? How could I possibly be working with that amount? My first thought was to order new memory but then I decided to see if it was something I could fix internally (stick not in the slot right, slot dirty, etc). So I crack open the case, take out the stick, clear the slot of dust and go to reinstall the stick. But wait! I need to know the speed and whatnot so I can order the new sticks of memory. Then I see it.... 258mb listed on the memory stick's sticker. NO WAY! Someone stole/replaced my 1g memory card!?! Who would do that? Why would they do that?

I ran down to the library and take the 512mg memory card out of Michelle's emachine that she's no longer using. Installed it so there is now 760mb of RAM and taaadaaaa! Computer running like new again! YAY!!!

On the way home from driving Michelle to work I was stuck in some traffic and got to thinking....really, who would have taken my memory. It's not like memory is expensive or rare. So I decided to look up the system I have and sure enough it's listed as being sold with only 258mb of RAM. HOW did I manage to not get bogged down before this? All those times that Drew kept telling me I needed more memory and I told him...I have 1gig, it's working fine, no I don't. Guess I have to give kudos to the motherboard.

Hmmmmm I'm not sure what's happening outside but Sean just came in yelling behind him...YOU SUCK! Oh such lovely kids. And the joy of having older ones to teach the younger ones all the wonderful language they do. But hey, I have it easier because I have older kids *dripping in sarcasm*. At least according to someone I know. I always wonder if she's eating her words now that her kids are older. Give me a bunch of little ones anyday! I LOVE my older kids to pieces but things were so much simpler/easier when they didn't have a life of their own. lol

Last Saturday I got my Meghan fix in!!!! Drew and Allison came by in the evening. I told them...I'll babysit so you can go out to the fire and they took me up on the offer. She fussed and cried but she's still adorable. Sean was ecstatic to get to hold her since he couldn't the week before due to his cold.

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Olivia was all over it too....following me around, begging me to let her hold her. She's growing like a weed! She's gained back a pound in the week since her first doctor's visit....so obviously nursing is going well. Can I be greedy and wish I could see her everyday?

My sister's youngest, Emily is here for a few days. I exchanged her for Carrie who is now done with summer school so is free to socialize. Emily brought her kids' recipe books and Tracy bought her ingredients to bring. We're being treated to lots of treats. This morning they made fruit kabobs with yogurt dip. This afternoon it was pasta salad and cooling down now are chocolate chip cookie bars. YUM! I have to make dinner early since I'll be leaving for a meeting at 6. It's getting to be that time of year again....college sports events and working at the dome. We're running a concession stand for the football season....Go Syracuse! The better they do, the bigger the crowds, the more we sell, the more we earn.

This week has been a little rough. So far we've had...Tom hurting his back pretty bad on Sunday (he's moving around a lot better today). Carrie pouring huge hot cup of tea on her lap (luckily no major burns). Me with a major headache that's on it's second day but no where near like it was yesterday. So to say that I'm excited that Tom is on vacation as of Friday night is an understatement. We want to do a bunch of day trips but not sure where and when. I'm just glad he gets to take some time off and relax for a few days.

Well, dinner isn't making itself and I don't hear the dinner fairy knocking on the door (she's probably out partying with the dishes fairy who's been MIA for a while). So I guess it's up to me to feed this group which requires me to get my bottom out of this chair! BOOOOO!

Monday, August 09, 2010

Hot and humid again

It's that time of the year again....one where I start looking around and seeing all the things that need to be done around here...painting, new cabinets, floors, etc. It can get downright depressing if I let it. Right now my main thing is our sectional. Drew got it off the side of the road and at the time...it wasn't bad. Yeah the feet of the recliners were hard to use and didn't go down easily. But what we had before that made this one look brand new. Now the recliner feet are permanently stuck out, the front panel keeps falling off the non recliner/sleeper section and with the muggy air...it smells a bit sour. I saw a sectional at Big Lots that I liked and would be perfect in here. The pieces were $250 each. I could buy one with cash and the other...well I would have to use plastic. Tom's thing lately has been to get everything paid off and he just can't agree to me using a card. I understand. BUT it would look SO much better in here!!!! We'd have more room and more sitting area. It would be easier to clean in here, etc, etc. It's enough to make me want to throw a pity party for myself...but I won't. In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing. Especially compared to what others are dealing with on a daily basis.

With my mind a whirl of plans, you'd think my body would jump on the bandwagon and decide it needed to get things done around here. But NOOOO! It's sitting in the corner like a bag of bricks, daring my brain...just try and make me get up and go. I feel a billion years old at times. Will someone please send me my 20something self that used to whip through the housework with nary a creak nor groan. I could really use her right now.

I am down to a few kids right now. Jake, Eileen and Olivia went home with my sister and Emily. Why Jake went, we have no clue. I think he just wanted something new to do. I realized at 4am though that it meant there was no one here in the morning when I had to drive the kids to school and Michelle to work. So Danielle and Sean had to go out the door with us at 6:45. Poor things. I scare myself when I do that...not think through things and then get slammed with a huge...OH NO!!

Allison and Meghan were here on Saturday so I got my grandbaby fix in. (Drew came later, he had band practice...they have a decent paying gig soon! wooohoo!) I was more then happy enough to hold Meghan while Allison had some dinner. Then I felt like a traitor asking for a volunteer to take her after everyone else was done eating and I was sitting there starving. Of course everyone jumped at the chance to take her for me. Danielle and Sean weren't very happy campers though. They weren't allowed near Meghan all day. They started with an occasional clear running nose on Friday night and it turned into colds with a cough by midday Saturday. I just hope Meghan doesn't come down with it.

This is the last week of summer school! Woohoo! Carrie is done on Thursday. Luke is done next Monday. His finals are done by Friday so he'll be skipping on Monday. Tom is on call this week. It's a little less bothersome now that Michelle is working new hours. I can't rely on him doing any driving anyways. He's hoping for tons of rain this week so he can get some overtime in. lol I'm pretty sure he won't be getting it. The exciting thing is that once his oncall week is over...he's on vacation until after Labor Day!

The not exciting thing is that means that Labor Day is almost here and summer vacation is almost over. I have nothing ready for them to go back to school yet. Normally I've been in Walmart a few times a week and picked up a bunch of stuff....not this year. Can we just skip it this year? I didn't think so. For the first time in 21 years I will not have anyone in elementary school or riding the 2nd trip bus. It is so weird to think that once 7:30 hits, everyone that is suppose to be out the door, should be out the door. It also means there's going to have to be some major organization if they're going to do it successfully. But that's a thought for another day. Anyways, I have to go out the door soon to pick up school kids. So enough rambling for now.

Saturday, August 07, 2010

I forgot to post this picture

During the summer conference I was either too busy or forgot that I had my camera...except once. It was during children's day and Liz had taken Sean to get his face painted.

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I'm not sure how I missed this the other day but I did. A precious Meghan watching Daddy sleep picture. :o)

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The kids were playing with my camera while waiting for me to get in the van.

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It's a much nicer day today...My feet are finally back to normal and my headache is barely there. It's less humid and a reasonable temperature. While I managed to get some things done. I didn't do nearly what I'd hoped to do. Most of the day was spent trying to clean up this computer so it ran a little faster then a snail. Funny how much time I can waste on the machines that are suppose to make life easier and save us time.

I'm looking forward to this weekend. There's not much planned. Michelle needs to go to work at 7am. I'll drive her in and then do a bit of grocery shopping. I need to get some things for Jake's birthday. His choice for dinner....steak, pasta salad and salt potatoes.

Hmmm I guess I need to get up and take Sean to bed

And again with the not publishing like I thought I did!

Good Morning! Jake is now 14yo! Where does the time go? Seems like it was just yesterday that I was coming home from the hospital and heading the summer conference. Michelle is now at work and I've run to the store for a few things. I have more to get but none of the stores I needed to run to were open yet. I even ran through the drive thru at dunkin donuts and got coffee for Tom and I. When I walked in the door it was barely 8am and no one was awake yet. Right now it's just me, Tom, Sean and Danielle up. I'm about ready to go and get everyone else up! There are things to do.

Jake had mentioned having strawberry shortcake for his birthday and then changed it to regular cake. While shopping I decided we could have the shortcake for breakfast....now it's waiting for the sleepyheads. When I walked in the door this morning it stunk in here. I went into the kitchen and found one of the burners opened a quarter of the way!! YIKES! I'm not sure how long it'd been on but thankfully windows were open and nothing happened.

I'm really needing a Meghan fix!! I haven't seen her since they brought her to church the other day. I was hoping they'd come here today for Jake's birthday but Drew didn't answer his phone nor did he call me back last night. Hopefully I can get a hold of him in a little while. I hate calling someone with a new baby...what if they're sleeping!?! Hopefully Allison remembers to turn off her phone when she takes a nap.

Ok...the phone is ringing and the little ones are trying to use me as a jungle gym. Time to get out of my chair.

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Pictures from Saturday

I'd left my camera at the hospital when I was visiting Drew, Allison and Meghan on Thursday. I got it back on Saturday when we met up at my parents. I found some coming home pictures on it.

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Drew being a goof with Meghan in her going home outfit
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Carrie holding Meghan with Danielle chomping at the bit to get her turn. She was so patient, especially when my sister took her from Carrie after Danielle had been told it was her turn next.
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Finally getting her turn
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Sean had fallen asleep in the car on the way into my parents' and was out cold. So I told everyone to let him sleep until he woke up or everyone had had a chance to hold Meghan. As soon as he woke up everyone was in his face about getting to see and hold the baby.
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After seeing her he made it a point to tell people she was this big (holding his cupped hands inches apart). At one point he also mentioned...but she's heavy.

Drew and Allison came out to church on Sunday to show off Meghan and let his aunts get their baby fixes in. They stayed for a good bit of time and had dinner at the grill (my treat). I had them buy a rib dinner to bring home for Tom which he said was DELICIOUS! Jake got his nose out of joint that I wouldn't let him hold the baby. I knew he'd been out in the woods setting up for an endurance competition. He hadn't showered or changed his clothes so I didn't want to risk the baby getting poison ivy...which Jake now has.

The conference was an exhausting whirl of fun. I could barely walk Monday night but suddenly was full of energy to walk the grounds when it seemed that Sean was missing. He wasn't, Liz had him at the beach volleyball finals, I just didn't know it. But by then (at least 20 mins of searching) I was an exhausted emotional mess. Fighting tears I took Sean and Danielle home early and promptly fell asleep with them on the couch. I woke up to the phone ringing and my heart jumping out of my chest. I thought it was 2am and I'd forgotten the kids. It was 11:30 and they were looking for a ride home early...they were also exhausted, Carrie had school the next day and Jake had a headache (he eventually ended up with the fever, muscle ache illness that's been going around here since the end of JUNE...one or two at a time...5 to 7 days between cases...ugh!)

Tuesday was children's day...the funnest of all fun days!!! There were bouncy houses, cotton candy, tons of activities. I helped Della do her famous cookie decorating station. The little ones love it, the moms probably not so much. Especially this year since Della found red and blue frosting for the kids to wear...I mean spread. lol I was tired Tuesday night that in my sleep I started nursing Sean! We'd fallen asleep on the couch again and when he started crying I lifted my shirt and let him go at it. He probably thought he hit the jackpot until a minute later I realized what I was doing and stopped him. Then he was just totally ticked off. Poor guy.

Yesterday was a total "waste" of a day, but every once in a while you have to have one of those. I was out the door early to take Michelle to work and the kids to school. I promptly fell back to sleep after getting home and slept on and off for a couple of hours. I'm not really sure what I did between 11ish and 1:30...pretty much sitting around being lazy and melting in the heat and humidity. Then it was back out the door to get the kids I'd dropped off in the morning. By the time I got home I was exhausted again and with a major caffeine headache. I forgot/was too lazy to get myself a cup all day and was paying for it. I asked Eileen to make me cup and get me some ibuprofen and then jumped into bed. After chugging the coffee I slept for most of the afternoon. My head still hurt but not as bad...again not doing much of anything for the rest of the night.

This morning I still have remnants of the headache and an irritated eye. It started itching last night and now the white of my eye is swollen and red. I'm pretty sure it's allergy related. Please don't let it be pink eye! Since I'm not sure which it is, I'll have to keep my distance from Meghan :o(.

It is another hot and humid day. I don't want to do anything but this place is falling apart since I have hardly been here in almost 2 weeks. Not to mention that Emily, my sister's youngest, is coming today and staying until Sunday night. This makes it hard to get the girls to help around here. Plus I want to have some fun with them...although I'm not sure what we'll do. Oh yeah! Saturday is Jake's birthday...he's turning 14! We should probably do something for that, but again not sure what. I should probably get off my tukus now. Where's that dynamite?

Allllll done

Hmmm...wrote this Sunday morning. Thought I posted it before running out the door but guess I never did. So here it is now.

Sean isn't nursing anymore. It's official...my nursing days are absolutely done. :o( Sean isn't liking this new chapter yet. He's still trying to get me to nurse him whenever he goes to bed or first wakes up. He scooches down and tries to lift up my shirt. When I hold it down so he can't lift it, he usually insists... "OPEN IT!" The first morning he was crying after I refused to let him nurse. I told him it was ok to which he responded...NO! It's NOT OK! After shopping on Friday he told me he was tired (his cue to me that he wants to lay down and nurse). We went to lay on the bed and he says...I two now, not free. He wasn't happy when I told him, "I don't care how old you are...you're not nursing anymore".

I really didn't want to wean him around his birthday. (didn't want him to think turning 3 stunk). But I couldn't give up the opportunity that presented itself....3 days of no nursing and he survived! All along I've been saying... all I need to wean him is to go on an extended vacation. It wasn't the vacation I had in mind but it works.

So the phone rang at 8am this morning. I looked at the caller ID to see what insane person was calling so early and see it's Drew. My heart dropped into my stomach, immediately thinking the worst. He was calling to let me know that Meghan is NURSING! It's her favorite thing to do now. WOOOOHOOOO! He told me he really wanted to call me in the middle of the night to tell me but didn't....thanks Drew!

I'm already sucking at the Grandma gig. Seems I've been spelling Meghan's name wrong. Allison said...Megan with an "h" and I just assumed she meant Meaghan. I tried to fix it around here but if I missed something....sorry sweetie!

Yesterday was very busy and fun. I was up at 6am and started working like a madman. I did 5 loads of laundry (kind of day where I get jealous of the express wash cycle on Della's frontloader), cooked bacon, teryaki chicken, taco meat and shredded the pulled pork that had cooked in the crockpot all night....dinners for the conference are now done. We were out the door by noon and got to my mom's by 1. Drew, Allison and Meghan were right behind us. The kids got to love on that cutie for 2 hours before we had to leave. My sister and two of her girls came by to get their baby fix in too. I made a salad and my dad grilled the kielbasa and burgers I brought for lunch. We were back on the road by 3:30. Luke had to work at the grill at 4:15...he was right on time. I left, gathered things together and was back at the summer conference an hour later...Sean, Danielle and I stayed there until 11pm. Then I ran back and picked up Carrie, Eileen and Olivia at 12:30. Now were due to be back there at 10.