Oh, Pool of Blue Sky

I've known Nurse Gina my entire life.  Ok, so maybe I didn't actually meet her at birth, but our parents were friends so I have very early memories of her.  She was always cool to me.  When I was in elementary school, she was in high school and in the marching band.  The marching band came to our school to perform and I was so envious.  It looked like so much fun.

Gina graduated and moved on.  I heard she became a nurse.  I don't think I saw her for 20 years.  I ran into her once at a football game.  Then, Facebook reconnected us. I learned that she is a nurse AND she works for Medflight.  As luck would have it, she's sometimes stationed at the airport closest to my home.

She invited us to visit the airport to check out the Medflight helicopter. We tried last summer, but there was an emergency and the unit was called away.  We arrived at the airport in time to watch the helicopter take flight.  Just that experience was pretty cool.

Today, we actually got to see the helicopter.  Gina was awesome.  She took time to show things to the children and explained how equipment works.  She described her flight suit and explained how it protects the staff from fires.  She even invited the children to sit in the helicopter!

It was awesome!  Here are some pics.

Showing us how the gurney pulls out. 

Nurse Gina is pretty awesome. 

Jonah didn't want to go and didn't want to leave. 

Mason looks grumpy in this pic, but she wasn't.  She really wanted to sit inside the helicopter. 

The pilot's seat (or as my kids say, "The driver's chair.)

Mason is into posing for pics these days.

Family pic.

More posing. 

The airport staircase was a big hit. It's not every day you see a staircase that goes no where. 

While we were checking out the helicopter, this plane landed.  Bonus!  I'd like to learn to fly.

Thank you, Gina Peterson.  We very much enjoyed our tour today.




***Title song:  Unthought Known-Pearl Jam

Cause Yeah, We're Over

Dear American Whiners,

When did you become so sensitive?  The worst thing anyone in our country can do is offend another person.  Seriously, where have you put your big girl pants?  And why do you make it so easy for me to offend you?

I struggle with understanding this, American Whiners.  I am not easily offended by the general public.  I'm fairly liberal.  You know, the live and let live bullshit. It takes a lot for me to hold onto anger...and usually that is only in regard to my screwed up family.  But you, American Whiners, you're quick to react.  You drama EVERYTHING.  You stand up on your soapboxes and lecture the rest of us over the most mundane of things, finding injustice where none exists.

Why?  What have you accomplished?  Some weaker minded people will be shamed into agreeing with you, but not me.  I will be sitting at home, busy with my loved ones, not giving one minute of thought to you and your latest cause.  How does it feel to wave a flag only you can see?  Not very effective, is it?

So, American Whiners, I dump you.  Piss off.  Hit the road.  Kick rocks.  Delete yourselves from my Facebook and my life (most of you already have...because I'm damn good at being offensive.)

We're through.  It's the getting over it part .  Also, this:

A meme adds class to my post, right? Right???

Regards,

April

A Light that Shines on You will Shine on You Forever

My baby is growing up.  My girl.  My light.  Tonight, I dressed her and sent her on her first date....with her daddy.  It's Father-Daughter Dance night.  Mason has been talking about it since the flyer came home from school.

For awhile, we were unsure whether John could go.  We don't have other male role models in her life, so I would have taken her...the consolation prize for having a Daddy with a lousy work schedule.  BUT, the moon, stars and planets all aligned, God sent us some grace, and Father And Daughter went to the dance.

I've never seen our daughter so excited.  At dinner, she told John, "You'll get to meet some of my friends, Daddy!"  and "Oh, we're going to have so much fun."  She told her brothers, "I have a special date with Daddy, boys!" She told me, "Daddy is a prince and I am a princess."  For a moment, I was jealous.  Tonight, he gets to be a part of her inner circle.

I took a few pictures.  I tear up when I look at them.  All too soon, someone else will be taking her to dances. I hope that poor kid is prepared.  She's one tough cookie.  For now, it's Mason and Daddy.  Half my world. Don't they look great?!!

                          

I Can't Help it, but I'm Going Crazy

This conversation really happened today.

Time:  2:45pm-ish.

Place:  our minivan, on the way home from school.


MASON:  I'm going to marry Tyler.

ME:    No, you're not.

MASON:  Yes, I am.

ME:  Ok, but not until you're 30.

MASON:  29.

ME:  That'll do.

MASON:  I really am going to marry him.  You'll see.  I like him.  I just think about kissing him.  On. The.  Lips.


AND THEN I DIED. I JUST DIED. 


How do you handle things like these?  She's only 6, is not exposed to any risque' television or overtly sexual exchanges between her father and me.  How is this happening?  Why is she so boy crazy?  Is this normal?  It's killing me.

You'll Have the Best

Things are changing in my life.  Rapidly.  I'm scheduled to undergo a Roux-en-Y gastic bypass procedure soon.  While I am definitely a large woman, I am not the size most patients who undergo this procedure are.  I am having the procedure to cure a dangerous acid reflux condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and yes, to lose weight.  Because surgery is close, I am on a liquid diet...rapid weight loss which allows the liver to shrink and move away from the stomach.  It's not pleasant, but it has to be done.

Excuse the shadows.  It's dark in my kitchen.

To you, this may look like a picture of an ordinary homemade blueberry muffin.  Perhaps this means nothing to you.  But, folks, what you're looking at is love.  Pure love.  I made a dozen home-made, 100% from scratch, delicious looking blueberry muffins for my babies today.  I can't even lick the tops.  My mother never once made homemade muffins, even when she could eat them.  Love, I say.  I hope they realize how blessed they are.  (Of course, I'll remind them a million times as they grow.)

So Dramatic

Things I don't like.  (In no particular order.)

1. Subbing in Elementary schools.  Too many duties. No, I do not want to stay beyond my contracted time to walk children across the street in the rain/snow/freezing-ass-cold.  Also, opening a billion milk cartons during lunch duty is shitty.  Elementary teachers deserve better pay.

2. Chevy. The car brand, not the actor.

3. Country music.  The older I get, the less tolerance I have for it.  (However, I still love classics.  I'll listen to Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, and Loretta Lynn any day.)

4. Most men. Except my Daddy. And you, male reader.

5. People who begin a conversation with, "You wanna talk about Abraham Lincoln?"  Seriously, this happened yesterday.

6. One word: Broccoli.

7. Human food troughs. (Buffet = eeewwww.)

8. Picking battles.  I would like to fight every one.  But, I've learned that's pretty stupid. So, now I don't play no game that I can't win.

9. Rap music.  Specifically, rap music full of cursing and hate.  Unnecessary.  Why would anyone want to listen to that? Yet, it's wildly popular in the high schools I work in.  The old stuff was great.  Run DMC.  BEASTIE BOYS! Even Vanilla Ice was better than this crap.

10.  Those folks offended by my list.  Get over it.  It's not about you.  If you like one of more of these things, hooray for you.

11. Small town people with small minds.  I'm surrounded by those people.  In this town, whether you are "from" here is incredibly important.  "From here" requires having gone to the local school. Living here for 10 years apparently does not make someone "from here."

12.  Children sitting in the front seat of cars.

13.  The usual:  starvation, oppression, war.

14.  1AM trains that wake my boys up.

15. Doing the dishes.  It's the worst chore.  And soon, it shall belong to the children.  Maniacal laugh* 


I may be a little grumpy this evening.

Sweet Wonderful You

Yesterday, I received the honor of being crowned the 2014 Tuscarawas County Mothers of Multiples Mother of the Year.  I have a been a member of the club since 2011.  After having the twins, I needed support and friendship from people who understood what was happening in my life.  I found Tuscarawas County Mothers of Multiples in a Google Search, contacted their president, went to a meeting, and then jumped in with both feet.  Incidentally, the first meeting I went to was a Mother of the Year banquet.  Now, I get the honor of holding the title for the next 12 months.

It is customary for the Mother of the Year's family to come to the banquet.  However, we live about 25 minutes from the meeting place and we have evening meetings.  I didn't want my children to miss their bedtime, nor did I want John to have to deal with 3 grumpy wee-people.  So, John sent our chairperson a list of reasons why the children love me.  I expected that.  He wrote some wonderful things about me too.  I didn't expect that.  He blew me away.

Aren't they the sweetest?  Who knew they cared about all the little, every day things?

Thank you, babies.  Thank you, John.  It's so easy to love the four of you.  You make loving fun.