Sick kids strike again. My kids have never had back to back illnesses like this... it's horrible. I feel so drained from dealing with all this. I will spare you the completely gross details but I issue a quick warning. If you are easily grossed out skip the rest of this paragraph. My 3.5 year old has a stomach bug... she's never had once since she's been potty-trained and does not grasp the concept of running to the potty if you think you need to fart. Therefore let's just say I've had to change her clothes about 5 times over the weekend and had to completely clean her chair at the kitchen table, the floor, and the toilet last night. YUCK! Can you say "liqui-shit"?? What a complete mess. Oh, and the baby had it first so her poor little butt is just raw. I've been slathering on the butt cream on both of them. I feel like all I've done for a week is clean up shit.

Okay, done with all the grossness, just had to vent for a minute about it. Oh, and of course I just feel so sorry for both my babies-they're so pitiful when they don't feel well. The part of me filled with mommy instinct does kind of enjoy the fact that my older DD will actually cuddle with me when she isn't feeling well. I know, that sounds kind of pathetic but hey, I enjoy cuddle time and if the only time I get it is when she's sick then I'll take advantage of it and hang out on the couch with her all day-housework be damned. Of course then my DH gets a little bent out of shape because quite frankly our house looks like thieves have broken into it and trashed it. Our living room is impossible to even walk through without stepping on toys or papers (that the baby decided didn't need to be in the trash can, btw.) Our bedroom is overflowing with laundry-both clean and dirty... the clean has been in baskets so long I will probably have to rewash it to bring it back to a normal unwrinkled state-UGH! I try to bite my tongue but really, it's been TWO WEEKS that I've been dealing with sick children, I'm pregnant, exhausted, and not feeling so damn great myself so maybe he could get off his damn computer and help. Whew! I do feel better just getting that out of my system.

Hey, if anyone out there watches Nanny 911 I swear they had my DH's clone on there the other night. The episode with the Morris family really hit home with me. I actually had to turn it off because I was getting upset for that poor woman-I know where she's coming from. Basically (for those of you who didn't see it) the husband works really long hours and when he does come home ignores his kids and wife and talks on his cell phone, uses his PDA or computer and continues to work the rest of the evening. He does nothing with his kids and acts like his wife should handle EVERYTHING because she is a SAHM. This dickhead stands outside in the yard yakking away about work on his cell while his 18 mos DD cries at the door for him-it's so heartbreaking. I feel like this a lot. My DH comes home and says he needs a break from working all day (which I do understand) but his 1/2 hour break turns into 2 hours on his laptop or attempting to watch something on TV while getting frustrated while our DDs make noise. Why he can't record it (like I do) and watch it after 9 p when they go to bed... anyhow, I feel very resentful and angry about the computer in particular. I've had dreams where I chuck the computer out the window or flip the circuit breaker off for the evening just to have some family time with him. I truly feel like he likes the computer more than us. It's sad. Well, gotta run... baby is waking up. Thanks readers for letting me vent a minute.

Beth

My wonderful DH just took Sport on an outing!

I know that doesn't sound like something to get so excited about but the baby is sleeping, the house is quiet... so I'm surfing the 'net and drinking my coffee. It's just so relaxing to have time to myself. (Of course I am crossing my fingers and praying that Spud doesn't wake up early from her nap!) There is a nagging voice in my head telling me that there are piles of laundry sitting in front of the washer and dirty dishes in the sink but for now I will try to ignore that voice.

Anyhow, when last I wrote I was in the middle of crazy sick kids week. I absolutely HATE it when the kids are sick. Luckily they are better now, although little Spud still has a bit of a cough. She never got too crabby, thank God, just slightly more snuggly than usual and she woke up a couple of times in the night. Sorry, are you guys out in cyber land falling asleep yet?

I'll change the subject for you. Let's talk about identity. Have you noticed (if you're a woman, that is) that your identity is tied to being a spouse or a mom? I am known in playgroup circles as "Sport's Mommy" not as my own name. It's really not a big deal when kids call me that, as they are all around my DD's age-3 years... BUT when other mommies do it you kind of want to smack them. Not that I normally refer to myself as a feminist but I do believe that a woman retains her own identity, even after marriage and kids. I mean, come on, we aren't all Stepford Wives or anything, are we? My DH married me because I have strong ideas and opinions and even though sometimes we disagree and tend to argue back and forth he'd rather have someone who will debate him on issues than someone who instantly agrees with him all the time. Personally I think he'd be bored if I agreed with him all the time! There are a few things we have had to learn to agree to disagree on and while we do sometimes get a little heated in our discussions it's because we are both rather passionate about our ideas. We (most of the time) manage to argue in a respectful manner (or table the discussion until the kids are in bed).

I think my biggest problems with relationships with other people-friends and family-are that I tend to have strong opinions and I'm not afraid to honestly state my opinions. I do try for the sake of family harmony to not blurt out an opinion to someone who is overly sensitive but I'm also not going to completely sugar coat something if I believe that someone needs a rude awakening. I also don't believe it's polite to be brutally honest with someone JUST to hurt their feelings or get a reaction out of them. But, if you flat out ask me for an honest opinion then you had better expect to get one!

Okay, enough ranting... that laundry seems to have gotten louder so I really should do something about it now.

Beth