This Full House Archive

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  • Blogging Under the Influence of Teenagers; It’s Constipated!

    If you were to ask me, as a social media enthusiast and OG blogger (never mind, just exactly HOW old gangstuh, you whippuh-snappuh, you!), hey Liz (psssst, that's me!), what IS the MOST difficult part of blogging…wait, I KNOW THIS!…for me, it's typing out this introductory sentence. This first paragraph is crucial, as it serves as a mini-outline for the blog post: It tells the reader what the blog post is about — the hook, if you will.

    Here's mine: Life with teenage/adult kids does NOT get any less complicated, in fact, I haven't performed THIS many face-palms in the history of This Full House and I've been blogging for…wait, WHAT YEAR IS IT?!?….holy Hannah Montana…I've been over-sharing for 13 years!?!?!

    13466288_10153632846060808_581779520024350054_n

    The kid formerly known as Mini-me — she's MUCH prettier and smarter all growed up and everything, if you haven't already figured that out!

    GAWD, I'm old. But I still look good, yo. Anyhow. These last six months have been…what's the word…hang on, there was a tried and true old blogging adage we used to use…wait…I KNOW THIS!!!…oh yeah, nucking futs!!!…okay, fine…technically, it's two pretend words…unless I type it like…NUCKINGFUTS…yeah, works for me, how about you?!?!

    [blows bangs out of eyes, scratches at underground zit on chin]

    Aaaaaanyway. Life is moving REAL fast, like in…wait, what do you MEAN you're a senior in high school…sort of crazy, and, well, I have a funny story to tell you.


    But first, here's a picture of the newest high school senior in da house. Cute. Right?!?! He's also working part-time at the fast food restaurant that shall not be named (that one is for Melisa's husband!) and "making bank" <— not sure if that is even a relevant term any more, but whatevs —> and, for the folks who are JUST catching up, Glen has been preparing to join the military, since the age of 3, BUT he's made a final decision about exactly which branch of the military. 

     

    Soooooo, this is happening. Researching his choices, I'm holding it together pretty well (sort of), you guys.

    A photo posted by Liz Thompson (@thisfullhouse) on

    It's not the Air Force (although, they did have the prettiest recruitment center and I realize that pretty recruitment centers should NOT have anything to do with his decision, but it was nice to be able to visit a pretty recruitment center, just saying), or the Navy (visited them on an off day, I think), or the Army (like his Uncle Bud).

    This week, my husband and I will sign the early-entry papers, allowing my son to enlist as a Marine — which probably should have been the first sentence of this blog post and welcome to my brain, lately.

    I have sooooo many thoughts and opinions about my son's imminent enlistment into the Marine Corps., but I'm actually saving those for another blog post…or twenty…along with my transition into working full-time and becoming the sole-breadwinner…although, my husband makes a real pretty Mr. Mom…also blog-worthy, for another time….you're welcome!!!

    Glen: How could you joke about something like this?!?

    I don't remember EXACTLY what we were talking about…because, I am the mother of two teenagers and two twenty-somethings…brain cells are at a premium…but, I was cracking an inappropriate joke about it, so it must have been pretty heavy.

    Me: Because it's either laugh or cry, my son.

    [blank stare]

    Me: Sometimes the only thing you CAN do is to laugh, to keep yourself from crying, my son.

    [BLUB,BLUB, BLUB, GRRRRBLUB] 

    Garth(NHRN) [hollering while running out the front door]: GAH!!! Friggin' house is constipated, AGAIN!!! 

    Moral of the Story: Maaaaaan, boot camp is going to seem like a sabbatical (okay, not really) and is this boy going to miss us, or what?!?

    May the road rise to meet you, may your backflow be nominal and may you NEVER run out of toilet paper, my son. In the meantime, if anyone needs me, I'll be right here, trying NOT to cry and pretending like this blog post ACTUALLY made SOME sort of sense to you, yo!

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  • I Just Texted, To Saaaaaaaaay, I Looooooooove You! I Just Texted, To Remiiiiiiiiind You, Take Your Meds, DUMBASS!

    I've always been a big fan of Fridays. In fact, my first published article (outside of this blog) from October 16, 2003 (forever ago, in Internet years) is entitled, "TGIF" and dedicated to all my fellow full-time stay-at-home Moms, who also looked forward to Fridays, as I did, at the time.

    Eleventy-three years later, I'm now a full-time working-outside-the-home-type Mom, while my husband plays the role of the stay-at-home parent (way better than I ever did, btw!) who's grown to truly appreciate the magic of three-day weekends, too!

    Last week, I was able to take off the Thursday AND Friday before President's Day (our office was closed, yesterday) and, well, I was looking forward to spending my mini-vacation of doing absolutely nothing of real importance, with my clan.

    Thumbs Up

    Had fun hanging out with the night shift, but hoping to go home sometime later today. And this is where you tell me just how much of a dumbass I am, for not keeping up with filling my bp meds, and I'm all thumbs up in agreement. #dontbelikemekids

    Until, my being admitted into the hospital at midnight, this past Friday and, well, there's a reason why my husband and I don't really exert very much effort into scheduling to do stuff — for us, life almost always has other plans – although, when it comes to resting up, some people would argue that my being in the hospital sort of forces one's hand, and to those people I would say…NAAAAAAAH, BRUH!!!…and I would also feel it safe to say…one does not simply rest or relax…in a hospital.

    Get Well

    My middle girl came by to sit with me and she brought me presents. She knows her mama, well 🙂

    Especially, now that my kids are old enough to recognize when their mother or father (but, mostly their mother) is being a total dumbass, especially about not taking better care of her/himself (again, mostly me) and my BIGGEST takeaway from this latest episode of…DON'T BE LIKE ME, KIDS…is that my kids will call me out, for being a dumbass, in a heartbeat.

    Me: So, they're not letting me go home for another 24 hours.

    Middle Girl: Aaaaaand, whose fault is that?

    Here's the thing, the thing is — I haven't been taking very good care of myself and, although I did have my blood pressure medication refilled AND re-scheduled a follow-up with my cardiologist regarding the same exact issues that caused this latest hospital stay, I realized it a little too late.

    Instinct tells me to insert something really ironically funny about my spending Valentine's Day in the hospital, but heart disease is no joke – my Dad is fighting for his life, as we speak! It did, however, give me an opportunity to think about the last few months…A LOT…and played a HUGE part in holding myself accountable for being THAT dumbass, because I do NOT want to cause my kids any additional heartache, when taking care of a sick parent…not if I can help it…I mean. 

    I Heart You

    26 years, 5 cars, 4 kids, 3 cats, 2 many fish to count and 1 doofus dawg since our blind first date, this truly IS the best Valentine's Day gift EVER: Receiving a heartfelt text from GarthNHRN, before being wheeled down for my echocardiogram…priceless 🙂

    And, honestly, I can't think of a better way to spend a Valentine's Day, can you?

    [the sound of crickets, chirping]

    Fiiiiiiiiine, dinner and a movie would have been pretty awesome.

    Text

    Getting texted by my 14yo, reminding me to NOT be a dumbass, isn't too bad, either.

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  • The Book Thief

    My husband and I have always been avid readers. I'm not sure exactly how many books (hardcover and paperbacks) we've collected over the 25 years we've been married, because that would involve digging them out, dusting them off and actually counting them and, well, ain't nobody got time for that, but I'm pretty sure the number is in the hundreds.

    And I have a confession to make. Ready? Okay! Here it is: I am a historical romance novel addict, from way back. 

    My love affair…ahem…with historical romance novels…siiiiiiiigh…runs deep…heh, I said deep…and long…oh my gosh, fiiiiiine, I'll stop, right now…and I'm pretty sure I've read (and re-read) every Lisa Kleypas novel in the house, because my oldest daughter also happens to be a big fan of Ms. Kelypas (seriously, Lisa, you write good!) and the kid buys way more books than I do, which works out very well in my favor.

    Aaaaaand, if you happen to be a newbie parent…WELCOME ABOARD!!!!…this is where you should be thinking to yourself…heyyyyyy…you know what?!?…I can't wait until my babies grow up, start making their own money and buy books that I happen to like to read, too…not a bad gig, you guys!

    Until.

    My in-laws have been married for 60-something years and have collected probably close to eleventy-trillion books, which they have started sending over to our house, because we only have a couple hundred and…HEY!!!…what's eleventy-trillion more, right?!?

    Actually, they sent over a box or two to donate to our local library and, as I was going through the boxes, I realized many of them were really old (and musty) books. I love really old (and musty) books!

    A5f9ccea-d0e7-4744-8eeb-8df538e34648

    I took a bunch of my favorites and organized them by the color of their spines…okay, it was my youngest's idea to color-coordinate the darn things and NO she did NOT get her OCD from me…anyway…I think these books add to the vintage-y feel of our house.

    83caffd5-e5dc-43d4-8683-9fa8e07b47c5

    I also found an inscription in one of the books gifted to my Father-in-Law from his sister on Christmas 1945 and, well, Aunt Jeanne passed away last spring and I'm not even sure my Father-in-Law even realizes we have this book, because he's still not over the fact that he and my Mother-in-Law were not well enough to travel up to Massachusetts for her memorial, so I'm keeping it.

    14yo: Oh…my…gosh..would…you…guys…just…LOOK AT THIS!!!!

    Our youngest also loves books.

    Hope Books

    Except her taste runs a little darker (and scarier) and it must have been all the Stephen King I read while pregnant with her.

    14yo: This book says it belongs to the library!!!

    [one beat, two beats]

    14yo: Which means Grandpa never returned this book to the library!!!

    [eyes go wide]

    14yo: GRANDPA STOLE THIS BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY?!?

    Me: Actually, Grandpa probably bought that particular one during a book sale at the library.

    Grandpa: Nooooo, I stole it.

    I'm a little scared of what we'll find out during next week's Sunday supper (or Sunday Suppuh, if you're from New England) yah!

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  • If Wonder Woman & Mr. Mom Had A Baby

    GarthNHRN and I have been married for 25 years (and YES, it totally does sound like a lot of years to be married and IT IS a very long time to be married, to the same person!) and we've been parents for 22 years (wut?!?!) and I've been a full-time mom (while working part-time from home as a professional blogger, writer and content producer) ever since.

    Until this past April: When I accepted a full-time position at my current job.

    And then my husband lost his job, in October.

    This is the first time I'm speaking of it in a public forum, because my husband is much more private about his thoughts and feelings, while I'm more of a better out than in type of over-sharer.

    You guys have lived through some of the best and possibly THE WORST times in my life, most recently with my Father recovering from heart failure AND kidney failure.

     

    Watching a new day unfold from my parents' kitchen window and hoping for a better day for Dad. His recovery has been a…

    Posted by Liz Katkics Thompson on Saturday, January 2, 2016

    I can honestly say, without hesitation AND with complete confidence that GarthNHRN would also agree, these last 5 months have been absolutely dreadful AND have offered up some of the MOST stressful periods of our ENTIRE marriage, EVER.

    On the OTHER hand!

    We've experienced some of the BEST stop, drop, laugh your ass off, snort-worthy funniest moments…EVER!…as a family…and, oh YES…there is the food!

     

    My husband made us lunch. And my first thought was…WOW!!!…he really needs to lower the bar, a little. And then I ate it in like four bites. Carry on, Garth(NHRN)!

    Posted by Liz Katkics Thompson on Monday, November 2, 2015

    Now that I am working full-time and commuting into the city (a.k.a. New York City, if you're NOT from Jersey) my husband and I have gone through a sort of Freaky Friday role reversal kind of thing. For example, GarthNHRN does ALL the:

    • Cleaning
    • Cooking
    • Driving kids to school
    • Food Shopping
    • Laundry
    • Picking kids up from school

    And then, he does a whole lot more:

    • Drives my Dad to (and from) dialysis every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
    • Does the food shopping for my mom, while Dad is at dialysis 
    • Because dialysis takes about 3 – 4 hours
    • Each time
    • Has met with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and pretty much every "ist" there is to make sure that "my" parents are getting the best care possible
    • Without going bankrupt
    • That last bullet is ongoing

    Aaaaaaand yet, the man still manages to make the rest of us feel pretty gosh-darned thankful he's around.

     

    GarthNHRN (singing from the kitchen): Tiiiiiiny bubbles, in the wine…Me (singing along): Maaaaaakes me happy…GarthNHRN: All the time…I love it when my husband ad libs 🙂

    Posted by Liz Katkics Thompson on Thursday, January 14, 2016

    Long story short: If Wonder Woman and Mr. Mom had a baby, he or she wouldn't be even half as awesome as GarthNHRN, however, I imagine it would look a lot like this:

    Have you seen Channing Tatum & Beyonce's "Run The World (Girls)" vs. Jenna Dewan-Tatum's "Pony" lip sync battle?!? It. Is. EPIC!

    Aaaaaaand, before you get your boxers all in a bunch, honey (not YOU, I'm talking to GarthNHRN, but feel free to hang around, Queen Tatum Bey, honey) this post is meant to be a reminder…for the times when…you know…you are feeling most un-awesome…or whenever we're having a bad day…but not today.

    Okay? Okay. Now YOU do me (TWSS!)

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  • TFH Partnerships

    Sand-and-sneakers I love sharing information on products and services that perhaps help make life for larger families (like mine) a little easier, or give back to the community, by partnering with brands, networking with writers and connecting with REAL families (ditto) online.

    [takes a deep breath]

    Here are a few of my favorite projects I’ve worked on and…yes…I do this AND more, ALL from my kitchen table, mostly:

     

  • I’m Not Just A Member of #BlogHer, I’m An Original Gangstuh (Sort Of!)

    Me and Carson
    Yep, that’s me (uh, on the right) hanging out with Carson Kressley at the Nikon Event (no, he probably doesn’t remember me, I know, still, you believe me, right?) along with about a thousand other women who attended the BlogHer Conference 2009 in Chicago.

    Have you heard of BlogHer?  I’ve been a member for…um…what year is it, anyway?  All kidding aside (mostly) BlogHer is populated by a great community of women (like me) who happen to enjoy sharing stuff on the Internet AND, more importantly, are inspired by women helping women. Long story short: we make it a habit of supporting each other…both online and IRL.

    I missed out on the #BlogHer OG (original Gangstuh) by two years, but I have attended: BlogHer 2007, 2008, 2009 and, along with my dear friend @BusyMom,  risked riding in a NYC ambulance in order to save a fellow blogger at BlogHer 2010 (seriously, you just can’t make some of this stuff up!) oh, and I left my heart in San Deigo during BlogHer 2012; began working with the Events Team as a contractor for BlogHer 2013 and BlogHer 2014; attended BlogHer 2015 as a full-time SheKnows employee!

    In 2016 and 2017, I’ve had the EXTREME pleasure of working once again with the fabulous BlogHer Events Team, as the Senior Sponsor Experience Manager for ‪#‎BlogHer‬, ‪#‎BlogHerFood‬!

    I know, right?!?! Full circle!!!! I have been a member of the #BlogHer community since the very beginning. Fun fact: This Full House is a charter member of their ad network, true story! Sooooo, I am so very proud and thrilled to continue my work in helping to promote our blogging community, one that I have grown to love AND adopt as family, because what’s one more, right?!?! 

     

  • Hot Off The Press!

    I attended my first blogging event in October 2007 as a guest speaker for the Disney Corporate Alliance Conference in Anaheim, CA which also gave me the opportunity to meet a longtime blogger friend, IRL.

    Me and SocalMom

    Me and Donna (a.k.a. SocalMom)

    Although I have since attended many, many, and oh so many more blogging events over the years, connecting with like-minded individuals (i.e. real parents, doing the best they can) never gets old. Here are a few events where the organizers actually asked me to say something…on purpose:

    SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

    Brands and Bloggers Summit 2012 (#BBSummit12)
                Speaker: Blogger Panel

    Guest on Brands and Bloggers Radio show 3/21/12 (#BBRadio)

    Johnson & Johnson – Skillman, NJ

    Guest Speaker: Consumer Day – Mom Blog Panel

    Bulldog Reporter – Audio Conference Speaker

    Pitching Mommy Bloggers: Top Women Online Influencers Reveal Best PR Pitches and Strategies to Drive 42 Million Consumers to Your Product or Service 

    Johnson & Johnson – Skillman, NJ
    Guest Speaker:  21st Century Moms Panel

    M2Moms: The Marketing to Moms Conference (Chicago, IL) Guest Speaker: Moms 2.0 – How Moms are Using the Web for All Aspects of Their Life

    PERSONAL APPEARANCES

    Featured on CVS/Minute Clinic Tips for Dealing with Back-to-School Ailments video during BlogHer 2011 in San Diego, CA (http://www.thisfullhouse.com/reviews/2011/08/spending-time-with-the-minuteclinic-at-blogher.html)

    Featured on Kmart’s Playdate Tips from Experts video during Kmart’s first Playdate Picnic 07/16/11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZIOGrnNKWY&feature=share)

    Featured on video introducing Kmart’s PlaydatePlace.com Parents (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f72ha3-M710)

    This Full House partnered with the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) in promoting their new online search tool — the kids and I are featured on their b-roll and official press release dated 11/12/08:

    Official Press Release:  ESRB Announces New Video Game Rating Summaries

    Official Press Release:  ESRB Announces New Video Game Rating Summaries [pdf]

    Video on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFUHOc1r4wo)

    Do You Know What Video Games Your Kids Are Playing?http://www.thisfullhouse.com/this_full_house/2008/11/do-you-know-wha.html)

    Press Release: This Full House Partners with the ESRB in Helping Parents Make a Choice – Because, we are all, by any practical definition of the words, fallible and capable of error. (http://www.thisfullhouse.com/this_full_house/2008/11/press-release-t.html

    This is where I share some really cool stuff  folks have said and/or written about me (yes, ME!) and, well, everyone could use a little linky love byte, every now and again, thankyouverymuch!

    FEATURED BLOGGER: via SheSpeaks.com

    Featured Blogger on SheSpeaks

    FEATURED IN UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION NEWS & MEDIA

    TOP BLOGGERS LEND THEIR VOICES TO FEBRUARY CELEBRATION OF THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL VACCINES

    WE_DID_IT #blogust12

    So honored to have been a part of the #Blogust12 campaign:  31 bloggers reached their goal of 10,000 comments in 31 days to protect 10,000 children from diarrhea, pneumonia, polio and measles.  Enough said!

    FEATURED BLOG: via Everything Typepad

    This Full House Featured with Typepad

    Named by 4KidsorMore.com as their first and inaugurial Mom of the Week!

    This Full House named “Top 75 Blog Parents of Teens Should Read!” via Bold Earth Teen Adventures — click here to view press release.

    FEATURED BLOGGER: on Bloggers.com – my profile.

      Bloggers dot com Editor Pick of the Day

    Interviewed and quoted in a Media Post Publication on Engaging Moms:  Link to article,  Brand Loyalty, Moms and the Web.

    Listed as Trop 50 Fab Five at Veep Veep,  Dishin’ with Dawndi and The Adventures of the Headless Family — I am so, SO honored to be able to call these awesome bloggers, my friends.

    Celebrate Do Good Day at Garden State Discovery Museum on July 14th

    77kids Do Good Day:  Team Captain, New Jersey — event coverage picked up by pingg.com and Operation Gratitude!



    Babble BadgeThis Full House chosen as one of Babble’s Best 50 Mommy Bloggers at Babble.com (Of course, I asked them if, you know, they had the right blog!)

    UpTake thinks I'm a Gem

    Travel posts featured on UpTake.com (direct links, below):

    http://attractions.uptake.com/massachusetts/cape_cod/938633507.html

    Link to post on This Full House Blog: http://bit.ly/aDFb0c

    http://attractions.uptake.com/landmarks/massachusetts/fall_river/battleship_cove_20390343.html

    Link to post on This Full House Blog: http://bit.ly/a9h7TF

    http://attractions.uptake.com/national_state_parks/pennsylvania/gettysburg/gettysburg_national_military_park_8017756.html

    Link to post on This Full House Blog: http://bit.ly/9Df9Yv

    Life360

    Featured Blogger at Life360.com: direct link to my interview with Life360.com

     

    This Full House named as Trop50 (Tropicana Juice) Top 100 Bloggers

    Featured as a 2009 “Glambassador” for Glamour Magazine


    Interviewed for inaugurial launch of Mom Market Trends first in a series of monthly profiles of Mom Bloggers:  http://childsplaypr.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/mom-blogger-profile-liz-thompson-of-this-full-house/ 

    TOP 10 PRODUCT REVIEW MOM BLOGS: This Full House Reviews is listed on Top 10 Product Review Mom Blogs on Blogs.com

    Featured blogger for the Parent Bloggers Network and interviewed for their June Newsletter

    Interviewed and quoted on ABC News in article, “Mom-nesia:  When Mothers Forget Babies”

    [Excerpt:  Forgetting Your Kids]

    Liz Thompson, a mom of four, told ABCNEWS.com that she “can’t remember a darn thing anymore.” “When I take the kids to the doctor and they ask how old they are or when their birthdays are, I have to ask the kids,” said Thompson, who writes for the New Jersey Moms’ Blog. “The more children you have the less brain cells you’re left with at the end of the day.”

    Interviewed and quoted in newspaper article, “Mommy Blogs Are Gaining Visibility” on NorthJersey.com.

    [Excerpt]

    Liz Thompson, a five-year veteran of the New Jersey mom-blogging scene, will be among the contributors. The Monmouth County mother of four has a blog, thisfullhouse.com, to share her thoughts and observations on parenting, product reviews, and teaching kids how to blog.

    Her 100-plus visitors a day can compete for product giveaways – this month, a video camera. And as professional as her blog has become, the income she makes from sponsorship and other traditional advertisements is hardly enough to pay for groceries and gas, Thompson said.

    “If I’m able to get a little bit out of it, that’s great,” Thompson said. “That’s not why I do it, though. I just love to write, and I love that a blog gives you the chance to have a different discussion with different people every day.”

    OTHER MENTIONS

    “Hip Hop and Lemon Drops” was picked up for syndication by The Chicago Sun Times.

    “Smile You’re on Candid Karma” was picked up for syndication by The Chicago Sun Times.

    This Full House listed as one of the “Mom” sites on Alltop.com

    Mommy & Daughters’Interview with Woody Winfree, author and creator of the “I Am Beautiful Project,” about body image.

    Mention inBlogHer’s Mommy and Family.

    Guest Blogger forThe Dana Files.

    Mentioned inThe Mommybloggers

    This Full House is named in a list ofTop 100 Mom Blogsat Mother’s Day Central.

    Featured asWondertime Magazine “Real Parent.”

    Featured as one ofDisney’s Family Bloggers on Family.com.

    Disney’s Family.com Parent Team Advisory Board Member.

    Mentioned in Guy Kawasaki’sThe Ultimate Mommy Blog List.

    Valentine’s Day essay posted with Mommybloggers – it was about my Doofus-dog.

    Best Parenting Blog Finalist in the 2005 Weblog Awards, sponsored by Wizbang.

    Article, “Death Viewed from a Minivan,” published in Nurturing Magazine.

    Please feel free to visit my Credentials Page, or  if you’d like to learn a little more about my work, check out my Writing Page, Speaking Page, Blogging Events Page, as well, when you have time, of course.

     
     

  • NaBloPoMo 2015: Wordless Wednesday, Infinity

    Image

  • NaBloPoMo 2015: Happy ThanksgivingChristmasNewYearsValentinesEaster!

    I used to be a planner, also super-organized (and this is the part where my husband would insist otherwise and I would end any possibility of a long, drawn out debate, by insisting back "WAS SO!" Because I am a great debater, like that!), but those days seem so long ago.

    Holidaze

    I knew if I just held out long enough, mismatched plates and glasses would become a thing (are so!).

    In our house, the holidays were my Olympics! I researched recipes, collected odds and ends for binge-crafting sessions with the kids and made lists for ALL things holi"daze". 

    This year? I'm lucky if I remember to wear matching earrings, and leaving the house with shoes on, and I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself wondering if I had remembered to use shampoo after already having gotten out of the shower.

    My mommybrain is all grown up and waiting for someone to strain my carrots, dammit.

    Now with Dad in and out of hospitals and rehab centers, since the end of August, I can't seem to think past remembering to eat lunch. Our parents play a large part of our celebrations and, now that our kids are getting older, (us too!) I keep reminding myself that every day we spend together is a gift.

    "What's gonna happen on Thanksgiving?"

    Thanksgiving has ALWAYS been my son's favorite holiday and now that he's turning 17 (ugh, really?!?) and has the appetite of a 17yo (a.k.a. never NOT hungry) he's taken over the menu-planning 🙂

    "I haven't even thought about it, so don't know what we're doing, Bud!"

    Truth be told, I'm still trying to figure out where September went.

    "Well, if Papa is still in the hospital, we'll just have to bring Thanksgiving to him, that's all!"

    [one beat, two beats]

    "I mean, it doesn't matter where we have it, or if we cop a squat in the corner and eat off of trays, as long as we are together, right?!?"

    I'm still trying to clear the massive goober that has formed in my throat, so I have yet to get back to him on that one, but I think maybe he already knows the answer and it was more of a rhetorical question, because these kids are way smarter than me. 

    "Wait, is that Christmas music you're playing?"

    My oldest daughter, on the other hand…

    "YUP! Don't judge!"

    Gahdfuhbid, it's like she doesn't EVEN know me!!!!

  • NaBloPoMo 2015: Under Pressure

    Image

    Our youngest daughter is not a fan of hospitals. Not that anyone we know is all…yay, we’re going to the hospital!!!!…or anything…but if she were to measure up with her three siblings, when it comes to being squeamish, Hope has succesfully unlocked the “Holy Crap, I’mma Throw Up!” achievement medal at the age of 8.

    If it is associated in any way, shape or form to the medical profession, she will work herself into a full blown anxiety attack and then projectile vomit all over your nice, crisp, white medical lab coat — you’re welcome!

    At fourteen, it bothers her to no end whenever someone suggests she is simply being dramatic and clearly that someone has never witnessed anyone projectile vomit…like a boss.

    Long story short: I’ve been taking medication for hypertension and monitor my blood pressure, regularly. And Hope had a breakthrough while visiting my Dad at the rehab center, where she actually walked inside, passed all the medical equipment and headed straight into my Dad’s room, without throwing up.

    Hope: Can you take my blood pressure?

    It’s the little moments, when your child opens herself up and attempts to control her fears, that make me agree to do things without thinking on it, too much.

    Me: Sure, pull up a seat!

    I gently wrapped the blood pressure machine’s cuff around her arm and reminded her that it would slowly inflate.

    [turning machine on]

    It began to inflate and my precious, beautiful and ever so brave daughter began to lose her shit.

    Hope: It’s not stopping…it’s NOT stopping…MOM…IT’S NOT STOPPING…AHHHHHH…MAKE IT STOP…GAAAAAAAH!!!!!

    10 seconds later, it stopped.

    Hope: Huh, that wasn’t soooo bad, how’d I do?

    [leaning over the machine]

    Me: All things considered, your blood pressure isn’t too bad at all.

    Hope: GRIN!

    Me: You’re heart rate, on the other hand, is 128.

    Hope: Yeah, BUT I didn’t throw up!

    End scene.