Gatlinburg 2008

We just returned from a family trip to Gatlinburg. Our family of 4 went, along with hubby's parents and brother. So 7 people all together. For some reason, my mother-in-law thought it would be sufficient to get a two bedroom, one bath "chalet", which turned out to be more of a basement apartment. It was somewhat challenging. On the plus side, we stayed out as much as we could. And when we were in, there were no exploded bladders from waiting for the bathroom (nor accidents). Between us, we went to Blackwood Breakfast Show, Dixie Stampede, Black Bear Jamboree Dinner Show, Tony Romas, Calhouns, the Old Mill, TGIFridays, Flapjacks Pancake House, Wonder Works, Ripley's Aquarium, Ripley's Mirror Maze, Lost Treasure Golf, go karts, and some outlet stores and souvenir shops. We also did a driving tour in the National Park (Roaring Fork). (I'm sure I missed something.) We were there from Saturday night through Wednesday morning. So, I need a t-shirt that says "I survived..." I'm still winding down, catching up, switching back over, and generally trying to get into the swing of things.

Potty trained!

The moms in my audience will appreciate this: At 4 years and 4+ months, my daughter is now potty trained. She wears pull-ups when she sleeps, but has not had an accident in weeks (and is usually dry overnight). We even went on vacation for a couple days with NO accidents!

As a reward for "dry days" (20 of them, not in a row), she got a trip to the "beauty parlor", where she got a nice little hair cut. It's sort of a bob, but her hair is so thin that it doesn't really look like much. Just more even at the bottom.

I am SO mean.

I was reading a friend's blog and it reminded me of an incident from a while back.

The kids and I were shopping at Wally World. Shane had asked me to pick up a For Sale sign for the lawnmower he had fixed up. We were nearly finished and I remembered, so I said "OH, I forgot to get a For Sale sign for your Dad." B says "You're going to sale Dad??" So of course I say, "Well, I've had him for a long time..." We went back and forth for a bit, when it finally came out from C "If we're going to sell someone, it should be YOU." Huh? "Daddy is teaching me to play chess, and he plays hide and seek with us." Oh, well, sure, that makes him indispensable.

Labor Day

In honor of Labor Day, some questions about MY labors. :)

How long were your labors?

C: 7 AM- 1:45 AM the following day. So... 18:45?

B: is a bit more subjective. I was IN LABOR for sure at about 3 AM, we got to the hospital about 4 AM, and she was born at 7:28 AM. But I was pretty sure she'd be coming that weekend at about noon the previous day. I just wasn't sure how quickly.

How did you know you were in labor?

C: They induced at 7AM, but I wouldn't say I "labored" until early afternoon, 2 PM or so? That's when it got bad enough that I needed an epidural.

B: See previous. We went to bed at midnight, after sending C to grandmother's house. I woke up at 3-ish with contractions that were about 5 minutes apart.

Where did you deliver?

Dr. Shali Scott delivered both of them at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. It was a great experience both times. The delivery nurses were superb, and the genuine caring for the patients was obvious in just about everyone. And I got an upgraded room with B, because they ran out of space in the regular rooms! (My doctor has since left practice, at least for now, to be a stay at home Mom. How cool is that?)

Drugs?

Yes, with both. C, I waited until it hurt too badly for me to do anything but cry. B, I had an epidural right away because we knew she was coming. They bumped a C-section anesthesia to get me first. :)

C-section?

Nope. They both had some heart rate dropping issues, that caused a C-section to be considered, but it was not necessary in either case.

Baby Weights?

C: 9lb 1/2 oz

B: 8lb even.

Cheap Birthday Fun!

The kids and I went to town today for C's birthday. He's 7. :) We went to Sonic (free wacky pack), Chuck E. Cheese (20 birthday tokens and buy 60 get 40 free coupon, also a free ice cream) to play, then Toys R Us (free birthday paper crown, we've gotten a free balloon, but got a sash today, since they were out of balloons. they announce his name & play a song on the intercom, and I had a $3 off card for his birthday), then O'Charley's (split an entree 3 ways, had a coupon for a dessert, and a birthday dessert). Overall, ended up spending under $30, and $5 of birthday money since he wanted a transformer that was $8.

Most of these things I got from being signed up with their online clubs. Also, I have a Coldstone Creamery free ice cream for C, but we didn't make it there.

Accomplishments

My son figured out how to snap, and whistle! Not to be left out, daughter figured out how to snap also. (but still isn't potty trained. grr)

I made a blanket! A friend has given me TONS of clothes from her son for C. So, I took 12 of the t-shirts, chopped them up, added some back and edging, and made them a blanket. In progress...
And finished product. Not bad for my first try at a blanket!!

Coupon Whiz

Yes, my friend Crystal has been blogging about coupons and savings at CVS, and I've been faithfully reading. (Haven't done anything beyond read...)

I got hit from another side. Another friend of mine (from HS) was interviewed on channel 3 about her couponing. Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFFvNbPNADw

Who knows, maybe I'll decide to clip a few. One of these days...