I am Michelle D. Carter

Sunday afternoon, we had lunch with Uncle Dave and Aunt Leslie. Afterwards, we decided to go to the mall to let the kids run off some energy. It was either that or we could go home and let them drive us crazy.

We made our entrance into the mall through Dillards. Alyssa wanted to look around a little bit at the clothes. WHAT?!! You want to look at clothes. Oh my, its starting isn’t it? She found a couple things and wanted to try them on.

About that time, the boys were returning from the rest room. Tim found the belts and began looking at them for Andy. Andy wears a belt EVERY DAY. His Target one was in sad shape.

Alex began looking around as well. He found an Iron Man shirt that he had to have. The right shoulder lights up when you move. He thought that was the coolest thing and asked if he could have it. It was on sale for $4.80 and since Alyssa and Andy were getting something, we told him he could have it.

When we got home, Alex asked if I would wash it so he could wear it to school on Monday. I told him to go get the rest of his laundry and I would. He wrote a note to remind me to get it out of the dryer Monday morning so he could wear it to school. It was done in plenty of time so he was happy.

After school on Tuesday, the weather was somewhat warm so I told the kids to go outside and play. They were having fun until Andy comes running in the house screaming. I can see Alex darting away with a huge stick in his hands. He has been told SEVERAL times not to hit people with sticks (or anything else for that matter).

Tim asks: “Alex, how many times have you been told not to hit people with sticks?”

Alex: “A lot.” At least he’s honest.

Tim: “You can go to your room until dinner is ready.”

Alex: “But Andy and Will were doing it too.”

Tim: “I don’t care. Right now you are going to your room.”

Usually when they go to their room, the first thing we hear is “can we come out?” However, this time, we didn’t hear anything from Alex.

Supper was ready and we hollered at Alex to come down. Moments later, still no Alex. We yelled again and again.

Finally here he comes with laundry in tow. He wants me to wash his Iron Man shirt AGAIN so he can wear it to school on Wednesday.

Wednesday morning the first thing Alex asks, “Is my Iron Man shirt done?”

It was. He wore it to school on Wednesday. At least it was clean and he didn’t dig it out of the hamper.

It started at Grandma and Grandpa’s house last Thanksgiving. Alex wanted a drink or something. I was tired and didn’t want to get up and do it myself so I told Alex to ask Grandma to get it. I told him to say please and thank you and most importantly to bat his eyes at her. If you bat your eyes, she will always do what you want her to. Of course, Grandma heard the whole conversation and got him what he wanted.

Little did I know at that very moment, I had created a couple little monsters when it comes to the eye batting technique. There have been several instances where the kids have used this technique to get what they want.

Here’s how it happened last night:

Andy: “Mom, can I mail this to Jake?”

Me: “Andy, I don’t know.”

Andy: “But Mom, look at my eyes.”

I look up at him and he’s batting his big beautiful blue eyes at me. How can I say no to that?!

This technique also works on Dad:

Alyssa: “Dad, will you cut my pancakes for me?”

Tim: “Can’t you cut them?”

Alyssa: “Please, Dad.”

Tim: “Look at me and bat your eyes.”

I’ll admit I’m also guilty of asking them to bat their eyes. It’s just so cute and always brings a smile to my face.

I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed these days. OK, a LOT overwhelmed. Every time I think I get a little ahead, I get pushed down to the ground.

I’m frustrated that I haven’t been able to find a job that I enjoy and is flexible with my family. My husband thinks it’s the economy. I feel that it’s me. The positions I’m interested in are not in my educational background, strike one. I’m old, strike two. I took time off to be with my babies, strike three.

Saturday night we were having problems with our furnace. We called a repair man to come out. He was able to get it running. We were told that we really needed to have it serviced and that he’d rather see us spend our money on the service than what he did. Yep, he didn’t charge us for coming out on a Saturday night. Wow, that’s great!

Monday, the service guy comes out. Bottom line, ours is the worst furnace he’s worked on all month. We can dump a minimum of $1500 to attempt to fix it. In 2010, they are going to quit using the type of Freon that our current furnace/heat pump takes. The typical life of a furnace is 15 years. Ours is 13 ½ years old. The best option is to replace it. However, replacement is not cheap!

So, what’s next? Will it end?

This past Saturday was a bit of a busy day. We had the pleasure of helping our friend, Kathy, by babysitting her daughter. Ana will be three in April and was such a sweet happy girl. The kids all enjoyed having Ana here. They all played with her and kept her entertained.

We also had our last two soccer games in the afternoon. You could tell both the parents and the boys were ready for this league to be over. None of the boys really had their head in the game. Alex and Andy both had more fun swinging from the goal than actually playing. In fact, Alex actually kicked a goal in for the other team by swinging from the goal.

After arriving home, we decided to just take it easy. The boys had received their birthday cards from Grandma and Grandpa so I told them they needed to call and tell them thank you.

The kids had finished talking and I was talking to Mom when Alex comes downstairs yelling, “Alyssa, you pooped in our bathroom, didn’t you?”

Tim: “Alex, how do you know it was Alyssa?”

Alex: “Because it smells like her.”

Grandma got to hear just some of the joys we experience these days… Those kids never cease to amaze me.

A few months ago my neighbor told me about Jillian Michaels book called Making the Cut. It is suppose to help you drop those last stubborn pounds. I had been working out pretty regularly but felt I had hit a plateau and needed a little assistance to take it to the next level. I purchased the book and was on my way to a sleeker body. I could feel the intensity in the workout and knew I was doing the right things for me.

Then life hit and I wasn’t able to work out like I had. I could feel the hard work I put in disappear.

Frustrated, I began working out again. My mood improved and I could feel the difference. Two days ago I decide to just jump right into Jillian’s workout. I’ll be on my way to the bikini body in no time.

Holy crap! My body is in PAIN!! My butt, my legs and my arms ache just to move them. Going up and down stairs have been kept to a minimum because of the pain I’m in. It kind of reminds me of volleyball practice in high school. In practice, the coach made us stay on the balls of our feet. My calves would hurt so bad that the only way I could go downstairs was to turn around and walk backwards down them. Twenty years later, I still haven’t learned that you just can’t go full force.

Today I’ll rest. Tomorrow I’ll be back at it. I need to get this body in better shape…

Remember the theme song to Cheers? It’s the premise for the show. It goes like this: Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn’t you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same. You wanna be where everybody knows your name. You wanna go where people know, people are all the same. You wanna go where everybody knows your name.

This is my husband. However, instead of a bar, it’s the pharmacy. We pull up in the drive-thru lane last night and Tim says, “Watch this, he’ll see it’s me and then go grab my prescription.”

And that is EXACTLY what happened! Now granted we were just there an hour ago dropping it off. Tim is also the one who will drop off and pick up the prescriptions for the whole family. I just think its funny Tim has his only little version of Cheers going on at the pharmacy.

I begin today with my heart a little bit lighter… and a little bit heavier. On Friday, I was relieved of my working duties outside the home. Obviously, the loss of my income has me in a panic. I know I need to hit the ground running and need to find something soon. Add in the economy to this and YIKES!

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

After a very long hectic day at work, I arrive home. The message on the answering machine was, “Hello, this is the doctor’s office following up on Alex. Please give us a call as soon as you can.”

WHAT?!! How much more cryptic can you get? I assume the worst because I’m thinking if it was good news, they would have said so in the message.

I immediately pick up the phone and dialed their number.

Nurse: “This is the nurse.”

Me: “Yes, this is Michelle Carter and I’m following up on my son, Alex.”

Nurse: “Did we call you?”

Me: “Yes.”

Nurse: “Amy…”

Me: “What?”

Nurse: “Oh, sorry about that, I need to talk to her and she just walked by.”

Me: “Oh.” What I’m really thinking is why in the hell are you talking to her? I’m worried about my son and you want to chit chat with your girlfriend. Are you kidding me?!!

Nurse: “Oh, here’s his file.”

Me to myself: FOR THE LOVE OF PETE!!

Nurse: “OK, it came back negative for MRSA.”

Me: “GREAT!”

Nurse: “The strain it did test positive for is treated by the antibiotic that he is already on. Just finish it as directed and he’s good to go.”

Me: “WONDERFUL!”

My sweetie doesn’t have MRSA. YEAH! I’m so thrilled. I was doing home health sales when MRSA emerged. I know just how awful it can be. Thank goodness there have been advancements in detection and treatment. Both key to a successful recovery!

Saturday, Alex kept complaining about his finger hurting. I would look at it but couldn’t see anything wrong. He kept saying it hurt. I kept telling him I didn’t know what to do because it looked fine to me. He asked if he could have a Band-Aid. Sure, that should keep him quiet for a while. And it did. I never heard another thing about it.

Sunday; however, he comes running to show me his finger again. OMG! Where did that come from? It looked like a big blister. The skin around it was inflamed. We decided that he was going to go to the doctor as soon as their emergency clinic opened.

Tim took him. This is his story of the visit:

The nurse came in asking about cold symptoms. Tim said he did have an upper respiratory thing going on but we are here today about his finger. She looks at it, and is shocked. She says the doctor will be right in and runs out of the room. Literally seconds later the doctor comes in. He, too, is a little taken back by his finger.

The doctor decides to drain it. Tim is supposed to hang onto his hand but because it is so sore, Alex gets it loose. Some of the infection splatters across the room. Dr. G. says in little panicky voice, “Did any get on you?”

Ten years ago they would have just given Alex antibiotics but with all the “stuff” out there now, you can’t be too careful. He takes a sample to send to the lab and prescribes antibiotics for Alex.

They don’t think that it is MRSA but we need to keep a close eye on it. If it doesn’t clear up in a couple days, back he goes.

Scary stuff!