RIP Petey Fast Fish

Okay, so Zach has had this betta fish for like a year and a half or so. It's been a good fish- biting the heads off of other fish, swimming in his little aquarium, doing the fish things fish are suppose to do. About 2 weeks ago, Petey stopped eating and wasn't quite as Red as he had once been. We knew the end was in sight. For literally the past 10 days this fish has been lying on the bottom of the aquarium willing itself to live. It refused to die. It was starting to get to the point where I thought the blasted thing wasn't going to die- ever. It was doomed to just lie on the bottom of the tank.
A friend of mine told me to put the thing out of its misery, but I started to think about having the conversation with the kids about euthanasia. I decided we're not ready for that yet. And, I cannot lie and just do it. I've been stuck with this 98% dead fish in my kitchen for the past few days.
Well, last night, Petey finally bit it- I mean he died. He was lying in his favorite spot in the aquarium and looked as peaceful as a fish should (???).
So now since Brian has school tonight, I get to fish the thing out of the corner of the aquarium and then bury it in the yard- because fish deserve the same dignity as any other pet.
Zach is doing well and informed me today that he would like a gekko. I told him to start saving.

Big Ahh-Ahh Poop

I made a quick jaunt to the zoo today to buy some cheap tulips ($5 for like 40 tulips) to replenish my poor ravaged flowers today and we stopped by a few animals. I need to say I don't understand Hannah. Hannah for those of you who don't know is DEATHLY fearful of ants. This is the same girl that is willing to jump off anything, hug any strange dog and will probably lead us to have a farm before it's all said and done full of homeless animals. Anyway, Hannah wanted to see the snakes of all things- and the more venomous the better.

Then Elizabeth wanted to see the gorillas aka big ahh-ahh's. So as we are watching them, there is one that is hiding and there are some that are playing. The funniest was that she saw the tailbone of one of them and started yelling Big Ahh-Ahh poo!
They aren't really doing anything spectacular, but for whatever reason, from the time we left (2:00) until she went to bed 9:30 (she was a bit stubborn) all she would talk about was the big Ahh-Ahh's. Bigg Ahh-Ahh's hiding. Big Ahh-Ahh's poo NON-STOP.
At one point we were getting ready for a bath and she said Bigg Ahh-Ahh poo I poo too. She then took off her diaper, sat on her potty and pushed so that her face was all red. Nothing came, but God bless her- she tried.

Breakfast discussion

The kids were up early this morning (as usual for a Saturday). Zach had made toast for everyone before I got down, but at least waited for me to help with the butter and jelly. We had some blackberry jam which Zach was trying to explain to Hannah tastes good. Somehow we got on the subject of blueberries to which Hannah replied, "Blueberries are my favorite. I like them even more than hummus and salami."

It just struck me kind of funny. Other than that I am off to Baltimore tomorrow for a certification for work. I'll be back on Tuesday night.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips...

I love my tulips. It verges on not healthy. It is my favorite part of spring to see the tulips that I have planted along the side of the house in full bloom. Each year after the zoo finishes their zoo bloom, I buy a bag of bulbs and plant more. I cannot get enough. It makes me happy every time I pull into my driveway.

The kids and I have been weeding and watering around them and getting the garden ready and planted and it has been wonderful. I love it. Everything but the pollen, but that's soon to end...

So, back to my tulips. As I was lying on the couch after dinner, my mom got a curious look on her face and said "uh, miss, aren't those your tulips that just went by your house?" I jumped up to the window to see a little boy about 5 holding 10 of my precious tulips in assorted disarray and about another 6 in various forms of carnage near the yard and driveway.

I did what anyone would have done, I went after him- barefoot and pregnant. I caught up with him and learned that his sister had wanted to put the flowers in her hair. She had taken off to let her brother deal with the consequences (typical older sibling). I found their older sister and eventually got to their house. The little girls mom was embarrassed as I told her what had happened. As angry as I was about my flowers being ruined, I couldn't help but soften a bit to think that this little girl couldn't help herself. When she finally appeared at the end of the driveway, I told her I wasn't angry with her, just disappointed. I pointed out that not only had she taken flowers that hadn't belonged to her, but she RIPPED OUT THE BULBS and those flowers couldn't grow back. She felt bad and apologized. I told her if she had asked, I would have cut flowers for her to take, she didn't have to steal. I then gave her mom the flowers and left.

The sad thing is that up until the moment the words left my mouth, I'm not sure what I would have done if she had asked if she could have one of my flowers. Yes. I am that selfish.

I'm blaming it all on the earthquake

I just need a second to vent and then I'll feel better. It's just been one of those days. My dad says that if an earthquake in Cincinnati wakes you up, it's a strange day If I weren't pregnant, I'd have had a beer by now, heck, I just might go ahead anyway....

First off, at 5:40ish this morning I was awakened from a dead sleep to my bed moving, the windows shaking and this strange sound outside. I thought I was completely going insane. I asked B if he felt it and he said yeah. It made me feel better. What did not though, was Zach being awakened by it and Hannah being awakened by it and starting the day off at predawn hours. That just isn't right.

So anyways....

Tuesday, I was taking Elizabeth to the Y for a gymnastics class and THOUGHT I was out of the school zone. I got a ticket because I was literally 10-15 feet away from where it ended. Mind you, there are NO SIGNS telling you where it ends. Luckily, I wasn't even going the regular speed limit, but it's just the principle of the thing... So then yesterday, I was at an intersection and there was a bus that was trying to turn so I had to back up so it could make the turn. I checked the mirrors and all I could see was a truck slowing down so I put the van in reverse and my foot off the brake and a second later BAM I hit a very SMALL vehicle that was pulled up too close to me so I couldn't see it out the mirrors. Luckily the guy was really nice about it and no harm no foul. Today, as I was taking Zach home from school (remember- Hannah is still sick) our tire blew up as someone cut me off in my lane and I nicked a curb to avoid the accident. So, Brian, my knight in shining armor, came and put on the spare (could you picture me doing that? I'd have needed the beer for sure). I then had to take it to Sam's where if it had been one of the other 3 new tires I put on 4 months ago would have been replaced for free/very cheap, and pay to have the rouge thing replaced. It's just not been a good car week. I give up.

my favorite thing about being mom...not.

Okay, so that title is from the 80's. Sorry. Today, Hannah was sick. She's been coughing a bit, but last night she burst out with a massive fever and it wouldn't break and her throat hurt, so I figured strep. Seems reasonable.... sooo, I put her (and she is PITIFUL when she's sick) and E in the car to go to the doctor's office. We are half way there when Hannah starts to throw up mucus. I have nothing to give the poor child. I am on a 4 lane road and was finally able to pull down a side street, haul Hannah to the side door of the van and allow her to puke more mucus up... all over herself.

So, we finally make it to the doctor's office to find out she just has a virus. I hate throw up. As we're getting ready to leave the doctor's office, she has more to get rid of. It has to be one of the most hopeless feelings (not to mention crushing experiences realizing you have to clean it up) to watch your child be sick and not be able to do a single thing about it. She slept most of the day away and hopefully will be fine tomorrow.

The shocker of the day is that Zach not only told her goodnight, but told her he hopes she feels better. I almost fell off the couch- almost.

Sometimes life just creeps by and other times it seems to be going so fast that it seems like it's never going to stop to let you off to smell the stinky diapers, I mean Roses.

I feel like we've got about a zillion (okay, so that is really impossible, but it can still feel like it) things to do around the house before the baby comes. I am a planner and so having this looming list is driving me crazy and I need to vent, and since you're reading....

Brian has multiple projects in 80% done phase (some of which have been in 80% done phase for 9-12 months) and that is what happens when you have a wife, three kids, a job and grad school. Duh... ANYWHOOOO.... right now I am trying to convince the kiddos that we have too much stuff in general (yes, all of us) and that we need to give some of it away. Zach, being the ever financial conscience youngster (aka Alex P Keaton for those of you who remember Family Ties) keeps telling me that we should sell it on EBAY. Hannah, the compassionate one who wouldn't hurt a fly (unless it tried to fly too close to her) keeps saying we should give stuff to boys and girls who don't have anything so that they'll feel good. Talk about polar opposites- no wonder they fight so much. Yet again, I digress...

So, I've got it in my head that we need to declutter this month so that next month we can make a full on attack at tearing out wallpaper, paint rooms,buy furniture and move bedrooms around so that we aren't doing it the week before the baby comes. That would suck. Then we have the wonderful world of landscaping. It's the mulching, the fence that needs 5 posts replaced, the deck that needs to be power-washed and restained, the mulch (we have a lot), the garage is looking bad and the concrete on the back of porch is falling off in random chunks (and I'm waiting for it to conk one of the unsuspecting kiddos in the head at some ordained time when we're trying to get out the door to go to church or someplace where it would be really inconvenient for it to happen) and I can't forget about the steps and the sidewalk- although Brian has friends that are excited at the opportunity to smash up concrete- well, so is Zach for that matter- it must be a boy thing.

On the upside, I went today to get an ultrasound for my kidneys (as I have a propensity for kidney stones during pregnancy) and it looks all clear right now. That's super good because the boogers can't form and be passed overnight, although, just for me that might begin to do so.

Well, tomorrow is E's birthday and I just realized I have NO TAPE TO USE TO WRAP HER PRESENTS WITH because one of the other lovely souls decided a tapeball was more important. Yes, I am saying bad words. I need chocolate. I'll post pics of the kiddos tomorrow.

Sibling Rivalry

As most know, I was an only child, so this whole brother/sister fighting thing is still new to me and I'm not sure where all those boundaries are- obviously, physical harm to a certain level isn't good.
Zach has really seemed to have a lot of animosity towards Hannah and it seems he can't help himself. He picks on her continuously. He does anything and says anything to get her fired up. It is driving me to the brink and I don't know how to help either of them. I keep hoping that it will get better and I've been doing a lot of praying that one day,yes, they will like each other, but it's hard to see that right now.

All's Quiet In The Western Front

No, we don't live on the west side, I just couldn't think of anything else humorous ( minus Hannah Ruth telling me that she was the smartest kid in all our universe and Zach too- and not because she's not smart... oh, I'm digging a hole). Things in the Kershner household is quiet (as it is midnight, it better be quiet). Spring fever is setting in and Zach doesn't really see the need to do homework or practice cello or do much of anything other than eat, play soccer, play outside, bring earthworms into the house... Hannah is happy to be wherever she is. Yesterday, while they were all playing outside and I was making dinner, I heard Hannah say "mom... come to the door". When I got there, Hannah is standing there soaking wet from head to toe, as is Elizabeth from where Zach had decided to hose them down. Needless to say, trying to get dinner ready before the sitter, this isn't what was needed. So, after stripping them naked and letting Hannah TRY to put a diaper on Elizabeth, I had a talk with Zach while reeling up the hose. During the conversation, I was really trying to keep my cool, but I was pretty hot, well, I was until I unloaded the hose on Zach. I felt better. Then, I went to the basement and turned off the water source from inside. He hasn't figured that out yet.
Today, I took E and Hannah to the zoo. Okay. There is a difference between going to the Cincihilly Zoo not pregnant and going when you're caring an extra 20+ pounds because you're knocked up. It was a long walk up the hill by the bears, complete with whining from one of the girls who can talk (hint.hint) about having to walk but not being able to because her back hurt and so did the bottom of her feet b/c she was having a baby. I could have done without that.

Think Pink

Well, it looks as though we're having another girl. I think simultaneously we both thought- dear God- 3 weddings...

Zach is okay with this- he is content with having his own room and not having to share it. Hannah is so excited she can barely get words out of her mouth in a coherent thought. The idea of a baby is just her heart's delight. E, well, she's just along for the ride. As long as we're singing The Wheels on the Bus, she's a happy camper.

This week has been trying. The kids didn't have school on Monday, Tuesday afternoon after finding out that Brian may not be able to go to Hilton Head with us because of school, I realized Zach had a project due on Thursday- not Friday like I originally thought. And of course, it couldn't be something small. He had to prepare a minute to two minute speech on someone from America's history that fought for freedom and dress like them and then present the speech to the class along with a timeline complete with sketches(which I failed to notice until 7pm Wednesday night). He is only in first grade. Not cool. So, between finding a costume of a Navy Commander from the War of 1812 (he was James Lawrence- they guy who coined "Don't give up the ship") keeping the house from falling apart, keeping Hannah and Zach from killing each other, I'm pooped and need a chocolate shake. I think I'll send Brian.