A good nights rest... what is that?

            I must say I love going to bed on a Friday night just KNOWING I'll get to sleep in late on Saturday morning... I tuck the girls in after letting them stay up a little longer than usual, I read them a story, give them their hugs and kisses and wish them sweet dreams. I also say stuff like "it's OK to sleep in on Saturdays..." just for safe measure. They fall asleep in no time. Then I go into my room a while later when I'm ready to pass out. I fluff my pillow and sprawl out on my side of my soft soothing memory foamed bed, lean over and kiss my husband, then start to wonder what kinds of dreams I will have (if any) as a slowly drift away... The perfect nights sleep.. Not a sound that wakes me.. The fan keeps a cool constant breeze over me.. There's a cold water bottle next to the bed that I don't even need because I'm so far gone into dreamland, there's no need to wake up for a drink... Then I wake up around 9:30 Saturday morning refreshed, rejuvenated and ready for the weekend... That's all good and great, however, sadly that was no where NEAR how my Friday night of sleep went AT ALL!!! How it really happened last night.... After the kids had stayed up an hour later than normal as agreed upon, I had gone in and did the whole tuck in routine. Yes, at least that part was true. Very true except for them falling asleep.. Actually I had gone BACK in there TWICE after the tuck in.. Once to turn off their movie they thought they would get away with and again to turn off a lamp and remove six books, fifteen stuffed animals, a marker, a pencil, and a granola bar from one of their beds... A granola bar! Stashing stuff away for a rainy day..? Anyway.. After that they had gone to sleep. For real. We (my husband and I) watched a movie, grabbed a snack, played some games and eventually it was time for bed. Fluffed the pillow, kissed my husband, got comfy. (Then got thirsty and realized the water I had grabbed out of the fridge to put next to my bed was still in the kitchen on the counter... That could wait, I was tired and ready to shut down.. In other words, I wasn't getting out of my bed for anything! It was a good thought at least..) I have said before that I am four months pregnant.. So if you remembered that little factoid, then you would've questioned my uninterrupted sleep right from the beginning. I went to bed around 11:50pm.. I first realized the bathroom was going to pull me out of my comfort zone at 12:45 (And yes I DID go before I went to bed!) and then again around 2:16... again at 4:31.. And oh yes, AGAIN at 6:07! That's FOUR times in the middle of the night to get up and GO and I swear I didn't even DRINK THAT MUCH! So those were my seemingly constant zombie moments and I guess I'm glad I made it every time because there was one dream where I was actually going to the bathroom IN THE DREAM.. It was kind of like those stumble on the sidewalk in the dream things and you jerk your legs for real... Yeah.. That would've sucked... Thankfully, it didn't happen! My husband had also forgot to turn his alarm off so we both woke up to a guitar playing Iron Man at 7:10am.. To be safe, since I was awake anyway, I got up and took care of the inevitable. If that wasn't enough of a disturbed night, there were a few bonus incidents for me as well.. Somewhere between bathroom breaks two and three, I wake up because I hear the loud clicks and creaks of my very old bedroom swinging open slowly.. With one open eye trying to focus in the dark and my heart going a little faster than I liked, I finally made out the silhouette of my youngest daughter. She walked over to my side right in front of me and says two things that are both very precious and exhausting at the same time.. First thing.. "I had a bad dream" followed by.. "Can I sleep with you?" I look, not really AT her, just kind of at nothing as I think about it.. I KNOW this girl, even for as small as she is, can take up a good 35% of what is considered "my side" which leaves me laying on my side between her and my husband.. And the ONLY reason I think of myself in the middle, is to prevent any kind of rolling over squishing incident! I snap back to her when I see her glancing around the darkness that is my room... Grrrr.... Even though I have a very strong overwhelming feeling that I will regret it, I open my arms to her and help her up on my bed. So now I'm in the middle, on my side, my body pillow moved to just barely between my knees, and my arm around my baby girl.. She falls asleep in no time. I only know this because I did NOT. I fought like hell to get one leg out of my suffocating blanket while still keep her covered just so I didn't totally feel like I was being smothered. Eventually (and I'm talking 25 minutes or so..) I fall asleep.. I'm woken up when I get a tiny balled fist right to the face.. Apparently she can have vivid dreams too! I looked at the clock and amazingly, only 30 minutes had passed since the last time I had looked at it! Seriously? I try to get my husband to scoot over ANY more than he already had just to give me the slightest hint of my own space to be able to sleep... Soon after that was bathroom trip number three I told you about. When I was done, I picked my daughter up and took her back to her room. I laid her down, tucked her in, kissed her and thanked God she was still sleeping as I crept out of the room. My side of the bed never felt bigger! It felt SO GOOD! I made an X with my body as much as I could just because I could! :) I pulled my body pillow up after a few minutes and snuggled up to it while passing out yet again.. It was around 5:30 when I was laying almost on my stomach and realized my husband who was on his side had rolled onto his back.. ON TOP OF ME! Half dead, I reached up to push him off and it was like pushing a FULLY dead person! Finally I rolled up on my side enough to where he was back on his and then I rolled for my life! Still sleeping, he falls on his back and looks peaceful as ever. GIVE ME A BREAK! I saw that he had about two feet of spare room on his side and that was not ok after the night I was enduring. I pushed his arm and side a little until he woke up and looked up at me all dazed. "Could you maybe move over JUST A LITTLE bit honey.. Like now.. Please." He blinked a few times and rolled over without a word. (Tiny choir sings Hallelujah!) I lay my head down and return to my chopped up version of a good nights sleep.. And eventually the bathroom call hit me again. After his alarm went off I hit bathroom trip number five in a course of 8 hours or so..  and instead of going or attempting to go back to sleep, I surrendered to the morning and just got up. I was alone in the living room. My husband.. sleeping. Kids.. sleeping. And me.. I was staring into the blackness of my turned off television wondering what the hell I was doing there! Eventually I turned it on and slumped over onto a pillow. I never did go back to sleep... One day, the first part of this story will TOTALLY happen. I mean it may have to be Nyquil induced... But it would be a good nights rest just the same! One day... Sleep well tonight everyone! I have a feeling that "one day" is nowhere close to being in my reach just yet... -Super Mom

Ahh....Yes...

Ahh... Solicitors..

          Hello and HAPPY FRIDAY!!! It's been a little bit of a week.. Between aggravating bills, crazy cravings and crappy weather... I have just really wanted to CHECK OUT and be done already! And to top it off.. I have had three different days of the same annoying kind of pest bombard me when I least expect it.. The first occurrence happened Monday around 2pm.. I was vacuuming in my living room all dolled up of course (comfy shorts, tank top, messy pony tail and ahh.. no bra!) when I hear a LOUD "knock knock knock knock knock!!" Yes.. five loud, scary, almost made me pee myself bangs on my front door that I'm three feet away from! I turn the vacuum off.. wait a second.. and again.. Another five fist slamming knocks! I go to my room, grab a zip up sweatshirt, throw it on, peek out the window (OF COURSE they are still there ready for round three of knocking..) and then finally open the door. The obvious signs like my clothing, the vacuum beside me or even the look on my face when I stare at this stranger wasn't hint enough that I did NOT want to be disturbed to hear a pitch, sob story or BUY something. No, instead the guy took a small step forward like we went WAY back or something and started with his oh so cheery "Well hello Ma'am! How are you this fine day?" Three things ran through my head at the moment.. One.. Why oh why did I open the door? Two.. Would he walk away if I just continued my blank stare and didn't speak? And three.. I HATE BEING CALLED MA'AM! Before I could say anything, he was pulling out a paper for AT&T U-verse and asking me who my current provider was... To be fair, this particular guy had never been here before.. However.. In the year that I've lived here.. There have been SIX different AT&T reps come to my door with the same papers, asking the same questions and getting the same the same answer. I DON'T WANT IT! DONE! END! PERIOD! (I even spent 25 minutes on the phone with a corporate manager to get the message across.... I DON'T WANT IT!!!!) Apparently, I speak another language because they keep on coming... Anyway, before I let this guy spill his guts on why I should switch and everything, I smile politely and say "I have already had a few people from your business stop out. I've compared the two services and I'm happy with what I have right now. Thanks. Have a good day." Now, if that was ME, I would take that as a polite "No sir, don't bother gearing up to give me your speech. I don't want it, I've heard it all before, please get the hell off my porch. Good day!" But no.. not to this guy.. He took a defensive stance and hit me with a "What's your internet speed? How much do you pay?" WOW! I looked at him for about ten seconds.. But again just as I started to open my mouth.. "I really think you should take a glance at our great packages, I have this one and it's amazing." That did it. I was done. I gave a little hint of a chuckle before I let out with this.. "Ok, honestly, as I said before, I have compared EVERYTHING between yours and mine and in my opinion.. Yours SUCKS! I have told you I'm not interested just like I have told the first five people who have come here before you and a manager on the phone. Here's what you CAN do for me.. Remember this house, this address and this look on my face.. Spread the word and PLEASE let it be known that I DO NOT WANT ANY PART OF YOUR SERVICES. I have a ton of stuff to do and you're kind of making me want to never open the door again so please.. thanks, but no thanks. Have a great day, good bye." And with that, I backed up and closed the door locking the lock and leaving the man on my porch speechless. Now I know that some of you can read that and be like "wow, how rude!" No, no, no.. I have asked to be taken off mailing lists, calling lists and solicitors lists... Obviously I wasn't taken seriously and THAT is rude. I turned the vacuum on and went around to the window to peek at the person leaving.. Only.. HE WASN'T LEAVING! He was on the phone! Just hanging out.. on my porch.. on the phone.. What? Who does that?? :-/ After a minute I turned on my stereo (LOUD) and a few minutes later.. FINALLY.. he started to leave, still on the phone, still glancing over his shoulder back at the house.. Wow... I went on with my day and didn't see him again. That was a doozy for a freaking Monday! Then Tuesday comes.. Like an idiot, I have my front door wide open with the storm door closed just letting in some of the barely there sunshine while I edit some photos and watch a movie with the girls. Relaxing, calm morning.. And then... "knock, knock!" I lean up and look out the storm door... A girl.. maybe 25.. holding a stack of books and papers... Oh my goodness... Here we go again... The mornings relaxing attire consists of a tee, leggings and sports bra (THANK GOD!). I set my computer down, let out my sigh of regret for leaving the door open and go to the door.. I open it and let out a weak "hello.." She started to talk (barely English by the way..) about a learning program for exchange students in college....? Yeah.. This wasn't the first one of these either... I proceeded to tell her that I have already talked to someone about the exact same thing.. That doesn't get through.. Instead of packing up her stuff and moving on to her next stop, she looks at me with a blank smile and repeats what I had said.. "Someone has been HERE talking about THIS? Was that today?" I look at her then reply.."No, not today but it wasn't that long ago at all. I'm not interested I'm sorry, have a good one ok?" I mean.. COME ON! For not wanting ANY part of what they have to offer, I was SO POLITE but they just don't seem to get it!! After a few minutes of her asking me if I was SURE I didn't want to hear it and everything else, I quietly closed the door and she left. Two in one week! Goodness.. I thought I was free and clear until Wednesday afternoon.. Only this time, it was a doorbell ring at my back door.. The only people who use my back door are friends and delivery people (THE PEOPLE I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR!). My first thought was, do I have a shipment coming from somewhere?? No... Hmm... So with three more "DING DONGS".. I went to the back door, opened it up and... The same girl from the day before! I don't know if she was expecting a whole new person to be standing in the whole new door.. But no.. She saw me and just when I thought it registered in her head that we have had the same encounter just ONE day before... NOPE! She pulled out the same papers and books and I had to stop her. She started to spit out the same opening and instead of going over the same rejection I had already used, I looked back over my shoulder and yelled "What? Wait for me, I'll be there in a second!" With that, I looked back at her and gave a quick, "sorry.. kids." I left her with a smile and said good bye as I closed the door and started to hurry to my fake situation with my kids... :) A little low? Well maybe... Good news is that Thursday there was NO RINGING OR KNOCKING!!! Not a one!!! And it was wonderful!!!!! I'm thinking of making a sign to put on my door that reads "UPS and FedEx welcome!! Anyone else... NOT INTERESTED!" I haven't done it yet.. But the thought is very, VERY tempting! I have had people ring my bell trying to sell me books, cleaning spray, vacuum cleaners, cookies, candy, doughnuts, time shares, magazine subscriptions and more.. Then there are those who want to tell me about things like cable, the bible, lawn care, child care, senior care, fundraisers, marathons, colleges, and so on... Some times I answer.. Other times I ignore them until they go away... It just gets exhausting! They are relentless! It's worse than the people who rush up to you outside of a store or IN a store! (A good avoidance tip for THOSE ones.. Pretend you're talking on your phone and it's a VERY important conversation. So important that all you can really do is wave your hand at them whispering "Sorry!" while still moving past them right out the door! Have I used this tactic before... Umm... Maybe...Have I received an ACTUAL phone call while faking a phone call... Yeah... :-/ But other than those FEW times... success! ) ;)  Please let my door go untouched this weekend... Please, please, please! Hoping you have a wonderful rest of your day and a great relaxing weekend free of solicitors!!! -Super Mom