I Should Be Folding Laundry

A Monster in the house?

Racecar has always had a vivid imagination at night.  Every so often he'll wake up in the middle of the night screaming hysterically, we'll run in and hold him and try to call him down, in the meantime, he just stares at a certain part of the room as if whatever scared is still staring at him.

It's very freaky.

Back in July, while Brian was in New York for business, it was approaching bedtime, I was in my bathroom washing my face and the kids were watching TV, when all of a sudden Racecar begin screaming and running towards my room, when he found me, he literally climbed up my body and began clutching me and screaming about the monster in the backyard, he pointed repeatedly at one of the windows that led to the backyard.  It was so dark you couldn't see a thing.  His fear made me fearful, but, being his Mom, I had to be brave.  I really wanted to go under my covers and hide.

I closed the curtains to the backyard and told him everything was fine, that there is no such thing as a monster.  After awhile he calmed down and went to bed.  Unfortunately for me, the sprinklers were on in the backyard and I had to go out there and shut them off.  Let's just say I was scared and running, okay?

The following day I was taking pictures of Racecar on the couch, I downloaded the pictures a few days later and saw this.  (click on the picture for a closer look.)

I then crapped my pants.  See the image in the window?  That is THE window he was pointing at when he saw the alleged Monster.

Happy Halloween.

The Costume

I'm a little embarrassed that this picture is on my blog - BUT a promise, is a promise.

And Steph is the winner, congrats Steph!  It's ALL Steph's fault that this picture is on my blog with socks in my bra while wearing knee high boots.  I normally keep this attire private.  Oh no, wait, all of this is new.  Never been worn.  So, I'm Britney Spears.  or according to the girls at my Mommy's Group, I'm just some random hooker.  whatever.

The most interesting thing about this get-up is that the frappucino I'm holding was the most expensive part of the costume.  Those shorts cost less than that drink. 

Here were some of the other ideas submitted to me to help me come up with a clever costume:

A Black Eyed Pea - Wear a black t-shirt or sweatshirt on which you have painted, ironed-on, duct taped, whatever the letter “P."  Paint one or both eyes black with makeup  (THREE people sent me this idea!)

A Q-tip! - Put on a long light blue dress if you can find one…maybe check the thrift stores. Not a poofy dress. Top with a tall white hat, preferably fuzzy, and white boots. (I LOVE IT!)

Laundry! - If you have some old empty laundry boxes, cut them up as well as some fabric softener boxes, etc. and get an old t-shirt that you don't want to wear anymore, and some old sweatpants. Hot Glue the box pieces to your shirt and pants. If you have any socks (or other items) that are missing their mates, glue or safety pin those. Use fabric pens to write phrases related to doing laundry or laundry products in spare spaces, and you could go as laundry.  (HOW APPROPRIATE!)

Spring Forward/Fall Back - Wear black pants and a black shirt and get brightly colored silk flowers and put on the front of your clothes, all falls leaves and twiggy stuff for the back.   Spring forward/Fall back… (CLEVER!)

A ceiling fan - Write "Go Ceilings!" on the front of your shirt. Add other gear if you want (pom poms, big foam finger, etc.) And don't forget to cheer!  (This was a  close second!)

A Three Hole Punch - Have you seen the 1st season of The Office? Jim shows up as "3-hole-punch Jim." I say you dress up as "3-hole-punch Beth." In case you haven't seen said episode, here's a picture to give you an idea: http://flonkerton.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/random-poll-dunder-mifflin-halloween/ Scroll down a bit to the 3rd picture. The guy with the black dots? That's 3-hole-punch Jim. So, just take your favorite outfit, and tape 3 black circles in a vertical row on the right side of the front of your shirt. Voila! "3-hole-punch Beth" is born!  (A three whole punch - I LOVE The Office!)

There were many, many more suggestions, but maybe I want to keep some of them to myself, you know, for next year!  Thanks again for the all of the great ideas, you all were a great help.

To think, all of this creativity and I chose Britney Spears.   Must be the fishnets.

I didn't win the money,but that's okay.  Here is a group shot, the winner was "Girls Gone Wild" on the right:

Updates are Good

-My laptop is feeling better.  No doubt she's getting tired in her old age, but she's still trucking along. 

-That dog is not my dog.  It's my niece's dog.  Here's a picture of my niece,  she's the one with the "dirty" chin, as Arianne so eloquently called it:

-Today, I'm going to turn my computer off and make Halloween cookies and carve pumpkins with my pumpkins.  We may even eat some Kit and Kats and clean the bathrooms, if we are really lucky.

-After we clean the bathrooms, eat Kit Kats, make cookies and carve pumpkins, I'm going to get dressed up in my Halloween costume for Mommy's Group tonight.  The costume I picked from one of your suggestions, which means someone will be the winner of a $15 Amazon gift card.  Thanks to everyone for your ideas, some of them were soooooooo funny and creative.  Oh and I'll be posting a picture late tonight of me wearing the winning costume idea, along with some of the ideas that were suggested.   Thanks for playing along.

-Come back tomorrow for a Halloween Ghost Story, it's a true story, the best kind.

Reboots Gone Wild

All of a sudden today, my laptop lost it's wireless connection.  I was all like "what is going on?  I can't go five minutes without internet on my laptop."  So, I closed some programs and did a reboot on my computer and well, let's just say that was the last time I saw it breathing.

Luckily, Brian did a back up yesterday, good guy that he his, but now I sit here at his desktop, a desktop of all things, trying to blog.  It's just so uncomfortable, I have to sit up straight and my legs are all on the floor and my back is to the TV, it's not right.  Not fair.  Honestly, I'm just not used to using a desktop, I've been using a laptop for over seven years.  When I'm sitting here at the desk I feel like I'm at work.  I feel like I should be gossiping with my co-workers, or trying to figure out which internet sites are blocked and most of all, I'm trying to figure out when I get a break. 

So, while Brian is swearing at my laptop, I guess I'll tell you about my new camera.  It's luscious and amazing and I slept it with it, or at least I was going to, but Brian pointed out that it's bad enough that I sleep with a stuffed animal let alone a camera and a stuffed animal. 

On Saturday, I bought the Nikon D40x.  I've had my eyes and heart set on it since I drooled over Crooked Eyebrow's Nikon D40 back on September 1.  After I left my make out session with her Nikon D40, I began doing internet searches on it and everything turned up with "BEST CAMERA EVER; GO BUY IT; WHO CARES WHAT YOUR HUSBAND SAYS."  or at least that is what I thought my searches came up with. Then Chris bought one and started to post pictures taken with her new Nikon and I almost couldn't take it any longer.   The problem?  First, big bucks, sister.  Second problem, I had just purchased a Brand New Sony H9 on August 1.  That's right - one month prior to meeting the D40.  It's like a bad love story. 

But I finangled and saved and made promises of "this will be my Christmas gift and my birthday gift" (from Brian, not from you, you are not off the hook.) and here I am, the proud Mama of a Nikon D40x.  It's fast and the pictures are amazing.  And it sleeps through the night.

Here's a picture of Ariel in her Jasmine costume yesterday:

and one of Buzz Lightyear:

and here's a dog.  It's a real dog, not someone in a costume.

I'm pleased, real pleased.

Of course, maybe I should have purchased a new laptop instead.

Don't ever say that again.

okay, fine.  One more picture.

It's Fall, Y'all

That's right, it's fall, which this week means the whole blogosphere has gone crazy with giveaways.  Shannon is organizing an ENORMOUS giveaway - and I've decided to play along.  (for more, go here)

I've blogged about this before, it's the greatest mascara secret ever.  The Clinique Lash Building Mascara.  And I'm going to give it away to one VERY LUCKY winner!  Why did I choose this as my giveaway?  Because I love this stuff, I have very thin, flat lashes (sounds attractive, right?) and this product does wonders.  Secondly, it's one of those products that as a Mom, we would tend to choose to live without such a thing, it's just not high on our list of priorities, therefore, I want to treat one of you to this amazing product!  (don't worry, if you're not a Mom, you still deserve it!)  Please note, this is not mascara, it's a mascara primer, it's to be used before applying mascara.

From their website: "Lash-conditioning undercoat boosts the benefits of mascaras. Unique polymer combination holds mascara to lashes for a longer, fuller look and extended wear. Moisturizing formula helps condition and mend dry lashes." 

I love this stuff, you will, too.

Just leave your comment here and Happy Fall to You! 

US and Canada residents only.  One comment per person.  Contest deadline is Friday, November 2nd - 5 p.m. cst., please make sure e-mail address is valid.

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee Winners!

It was 4:50 a.m., I was lying in bed when I realized I hadn't posted the winners for the coffee, yet.  I picked the winners on Friday night, but they just sat in a lowly word document all day yesterday.

How rude of me.  But now, I'm awake at 4:55 a.m., not able to sleep, which is my worst nightmare and I figured - Hey!  How About Some Blogging!?  By the way, I've been awake for a VERY.LONG.TIME.

so here i am.  very thrilled, very excited to be here, not missing my warm, soft bed.  at all.

THE WINNERS of a 12 oz. bag of Dunkin' Donuts coffee are:

Susan (who was #1, if you ever thought that the number one never wins, well, it does!)
Say Anything
Heather P. (Snows In April)
Jessica (no blog - aol e-mail)
CanCan

I received my 12 oz bag on Saturday, it's divine!

If you find yourself a winner, please send me your shipping address at foldinglaundry AT gmail DOT com.    Congrats to the luck & caffeinated winners!  If you didn't win, remember, you can get a free sample by clicking here.  Thank you to Dunkin' Donuts for the very fun and delicious giveaway!

And since I'm still awake and still not going to be able to fall asleep, apparently, if you are looking for some good blog reads, visit Lisa at Take 90 West or Sarah at Milk and Honey.  They're good, good people.

I guess I'll go read the manual for my new camera that we bought on Saturday...Why yes I did say new camera...And yes I did just buy a new camera in August...Yes I am a little crazy. 

But I'll tell you all about the crazy later.  You know I will.

People in my computer...I need your help!

I'm feeling much better today, I've already showered and washed and folded three loads of laundry.

Okay, I'm lying.  I have showered, but the laundry?  Not so much.

I need you.  Next week, my Mommy's Group is meeting, we meet every month and have been doing so for over three years.  Well, we are shaking things up a big by having a costume contest on Tuesday.  Everyone who attends must dress up and bring $3.  The person with the most creative costume wins all of the money.

And folks, I am not ashamed to tell you that I love money.  Therefore, I'd like to win.  I also love to win.  So, it's a win - win.

But I can't think of anything creative, well, I did think of something creative, but the costume would be too close to my neck and I just can't have anything close to my neck.  So, with that, I'm having a little costume idea contest.  Please send me your ideas!  The person who sends me the winning idea, which means, I wear that costume, will receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card.  Think of what you could do with FIFTEEN WHOLE DOLLARS!  You could buy this book by Clinton Kelly or you can stock up on some Charmin Toilet Seat covers.  The possibilities are endless.

I do have a few requirements -

1.  Please only send me your costume ideas via e-mail.  Many Moms from Mommy's Group read my blog, they are a nosey bunch, so leaving your idea in the comment section would be pure evil, so just send me your idea via e-mail at foldinglaundry AT gmail DOT com.  (change the at to the @ symbol and the DOT to a period, okay?)

2.  When thinking of your idea, please remember that I can not have anything close to my neck.  I will die.  Which may be a little fun because it's halloween and all, but the next day it would totally suck.

3.  I have to be honest, the more simple the costume, the more I may like it.  I'm lazy like that.

oh, I'm in hurry, it's in five days, so I'll need time to shop and prep so please send me your AWESOME, MOST CREATIVE, MOST MIND BLOWING ideas to me by Sunday.

please?
hurry?
I love you and good luck.  Dress me up real good now.

maybe the most random post ever. or since last week.

Hi Kids.  I actually did not have a good day today.  I woke up with a terrible, awful migraine and wound up getting sick and after my Mom came over and Brian taking off early,  I went to bed at 2:45 and woke up at 5 and I still have a headache. 

Right now I'm sitting on my couch in my pajamas.   The same pajamas I put on last night.  There are two things that rarely happen in my life.  The first, I stay in my pajamas past 8 am and the second, I don't make my bed.

Both occurred today.  I'm sure you can imagine the delightful scents being emitted from my body.  It's like I'm being followed around by roses and vanilla.

I did want to tell you about what Everyday Mommy has done.  For just about the past year, I have had the Moms for Modesty button displayed in my sidebar, well, EM has moved Moms for Modesty to it's very own site.  I encourage you to visit this site, don't delay.  It's my opinion, and you probably agree, that the clothing girls wear these days is something that should not be overlooked, it's something that retailers should start to care about.  Retailers need to hear the voice of concerned Mothers, Aunts, Grandmothers, etc., just signing the petition makes that happen. 

So go.  Sign the petition and and feel free to post about it on your blog, too.

And finally, if you haven't entered to win a free bag of Dunkin' Donuts coffee, you better hurry, Friday, 10/26 at 9 pm is the deadline.  Go here to enter.

I better go back to my unmade bed, as I'm not feeling too productive right now.  Maybe tomorrow I'll invest in a second set of pajamas.  Yes, I have only one pair. 

31 Minutes

I left my house in Indiana to head to my doctor's appointment at 12:29 p.m., I arrived in Chicago 31 minutes later.
It took me 31 minutes to see this:

I love it when there is no traffic. and oh how I love this city.

My appointment went well.  I ended up taking the kids with me, I met Brian, who works downtown, and he took the kids to the park while I was with the doctor.  The kids loooove Chicago and The Bean.  Who doesn't enjoy the bean?

After much discussion with my new endocrinologist, she feels that my current doctor has done a really good job of diagnosing and medicating me.  which is really great news.

Unfortunately, we do not have a solid answer as to why my body is going crazy.  Both my doctors feel I have thyroiditis.  The thyroiditis is what is causing the very high pulse, the high blood pressure, fevers, extreme hair loss and a host of other symptoms.

I have to have a radioactive scan done on my thyroid, which will tell us if I do, in fact, have thyroiditis.  If I do have thyroiditis, there is nothing that  can be done, aside from taking large doses of ibuprofen to keep the swelling of my thyroid down, I could have it for many months.  If I do not have thyroiditis, there is a possibility that there are some some nodules on my thyroid or in the vicinity that is causing the choking sensation and increased levels. 

My current doctor faxed over my blood test results from two weeks ago to my new thyroid doctor.  My T3  levels were extremely high and my TSH levels were "severely depressed."  "No wonder you don't feel well," my doctor said. Thank you doctor for the validation, I thought.  If the scan shows nothing, which is my fear, then my current thyroid dose will be dropped.

My scan isn't until November 5th!!  But that's okay, if the ibuprofen doesn't bring down the swelling of my thyroid then my doctor has already written me a prescription for steroids, in case I need it.

I'm very glad I went.  I'm glad to have the second opinion and I'm glad both doctors agreed on my current situation.  I really love my current doctor and would have been heart broken if he had things all wrong.  But he didn't.

However, I will continue to see my endocrinologist because I feel my G.P. has done everything he can and it's time to go to someone who has more expertise.

So, there you have it.  We wait.  and wait.  Which just means another 4,329 blogs posts about my thyroid over the next few weeks.

Hey.  I hear you groaning, you better watch out, there will be a pop quiz.

Okay, fine.  Here's another picture of the kids at the bean.

ALRIGHT!  ONE MORE.  pushy readers.

In all seriousness, thank you ALL for you kind words, advice, thoughts & prayers.  Truly, thank you.

What my scale says...

I have not gained or lost, I am the exact same weight as last week.  162.4, which is pretty good considering the thyroid roller coaster I have been on.

That and the pizza.

and the Taco Bell.

and the homemade toffee cookies.

Pretty good, I say.  Maybe next week I'll eliminate the CRAP and see a loss.

For more weight loss tales, visit my other blog!

Go here to enter my Dunkin' Donuts coffee giveaway!