TWERKs / DDOTs 4/2

[covergirl82]

Any updates or something that doesn't need a separate thread?

[waverly]

We decided to foster a dog during this time since we are home anyway. The cat is not a fan. She is a rescue Australian cattle dog. I know the breed tends to try to herd and nip children, but we haven’t seen that behavior from her, so maybe she was raised around kids. She is about 1 year old, and hasn’t been spayed. So she goes next week for that- poor thing, but has to be done. We have the option to adopt but I am kind of glad we started as only a foster not because we don’t like her- she is really sweet, but just puts less pressure on the situation when the news is tense enough. Thank goodness the weather is warming up for long walks.

[covergirl82]

We sent the payment to pay off our travel trailer yesterday. Hopefully that was the right decision financially... We had used most of DH's bonus to pay it off, but we still have quite a bit of money in savings and our e-fund if need be. But that gives us back $200 in our budget each month. We were going to use that to pay down the mortgage faster, but we'll put it in savings for now (unless DH's pay is reduced).

Spring break starts today, and I just don't have the will to make the kids get off screens, so that may be a "let it go" until April 13.

[phdmomma]

Something about me being on any sort of call sends signal to my children that it is time to fight and scream and cry. I was talking to a potential graduate student for my research group this morning, and they decided to scream at each other, or yesterday I was on a call with my European colleagues and they decided to keep chasing each other and someone fell and got hurt. I only have like 1 call per day, so this isn't a ton of the day. And I try to do them while the kids have a craft or are playing outside. But seriously......I'm not going to survive this.

[xctsclrx]

I have lost just shy of 30 lbs. Still about 30 to go but I am proud of myself today. I even posted a full body picture to Facebook. Haven't done that in years

[mae0111]

DH is in a dark place with this stuff. His billables were lower than usual for last month, but still awesome, so I don’t get it. And he received requests to scope out 7 new projects yesterday. He is in an industry that is absolutely going to explode after things settle down a bit. He thought he wouldn’t be ready to hire his next employee for 2 years. After this, I’m predicting he will need someone in 6-9 months.

The kitchen is really coming together. New window went in this week, and the roofer came to punch through to install the vent. Cabinets will be installed by the end of the week, and the counter people started working earlier than we thought, so they will be here to template on Monday. It feels feasible that I might have a functioning kitchen in 2-3 weeks. I feel like we e been living in a disorganized, dusty mess forever!

[twinmomma]

phdmomma, I'm with you. Thankfully I'm only video calling with people from my office, so when kids pop in on anyone at this point we're all just like "whatever... keep going" and rolling with it. We had a three year old on half of our senior leadership call yesterday.

mae0111, the like is for the kitchen, not DH. So glad you're almost back to normal!

[sandandsea]

phdmomma you are not alone. The world ends when I’m on a call. And ds2 has been consistently taking off his pants and running around downstairs with no bottoms. (We are working upstairs). Whenever the doorbell rings he opens the door to see what was delivered (even though we tell him to ignore it a million times he just can’t not check it out). I know he’s going to answer the door naked at some point.

I’ve never said these phrases so often in my life:
Put on your pants
Stop wrestling
Leave your brother alone
Do your work
I’m a broken record, all day every day.

[mae0111]

My kids all need snacks when I get on the phone. NEED. SNACKS. Because I don’t feed them ever, and they will die if I don’t end my phone call IMMEDIATELY and produce snacks.

SNACKS!!!

[supertrooper1]

It's snowing for the second day in a row! It's April in the PNW, it's supposed to be rainy! It isn't sticking and I have no where to go, but it's strange to see snow now.

[sdlaura]

We have an elliptical in our garage - a used Precor gym machine - that's getting way more daily use than normal now from DH, my Dad, and me. My Dad is the fittest 71-year-old ever and uses it way harder than DH or I do, so it started squeaking really loudly. DH took it apart a bit and discovered some stuff had worn out, and it wasn't just a lubrication issue. I was worried that it was going to cost me a ton to fix, and also wondered if repair places were still open, and how we'd have it serviced safely. But I called a place with good yelp reviews Tuesday, and the guys came yesterday and fixed everything for 200 bucks. I just left the garage open for them, communicated with them by phone, and wiped the machine down multiple times afterward. I'm excited that we can use the machine again and it was quick, smooth, and relatively cheap. I'll take a very small victory these days

Today is our second morning having DS2's closed daycare provider babysit. We're now having my parents for a few hours on M/W/F morning and daycare provider T/Th morning. Then DH and I are able to stagger commitments the rest of the day. Things are working pretty well for now, but I'm worried about whenever my parents go back to Maryland. They're currently scheduled to fly back Easter weekend, but I'm hoping they stay longer. Hopefully whenever they do leave, either daycare provider will be willing to do every weekday morning, or she will decide to reopen her in-home daycare for the few kids she watches. If DS2 were with her all day, I think we'd be able to handle the two older kids while working if we have to. Then I just have to worry about when the new baby comes and what kind of childcare is available then. Ugh, so many unknowns. DH stresses about the markets and I stress about our day to day lives. Because of course it always falls to me to figure all this stuff out.

The trampoline is doing its job of wearing out the kids at home. But it also has involved lots of new rule development, screaming, and (so far quite minor, luckily) injuries.

[k3am]

DDOT: All this government bailout is a complete cluster. The government announces a new program, sends out applications, and... provides no guidance. And our company distributes even less. We sent out applications yesterday. We've already had to suspend the program and are no longer accepting applications.

[186momx]

This week has been really hard. I'm mentally loosing it. I can't be accountant/tax preparer, mom, teacher, gymnastics instructor, cook, and deal with freaking out clients all at the same time anymore. I just can't. Then I go home and DH needs me and the dog needs and DD needs me and I'm just loosing it. I sobbed all over the dog last night after DD went to bed and DH was in the shower. She gave me lots of kisses but I felt even worse afterwards because I always do after crying.

k3am,I agree with you that the government bailout is a complete cluster F$ck and is changing so much there is no way I can help anyone because it changes hourly. Yesterday I got an email from our IRS Liaison saying that you needed to file a 2018 or 2019 tax return to get the stimulus which has always been the case in past years when we got a stimulus. This morning I see that no you don't need to file; anyone on SS or SSD will get a check automatically. Ugh...

[phdmomma]

sandandsea, sdlaura, I have all sorts of new rules that I repeat all day long, that I never thought I would have.
-No, you may not wrestle each other on the concrete
-We need to not hurt ourselves to the point where we need to go to urgent care
-Yes, we must wear at least underpants always
....and the list goes on and on and on......My new punishment for fighting is cleaning. Like, okay if you and your brother try to kill each other while I am on a call, you will go clean the playroom, unload the dishwasher, etc. Yesterday they kept trying to catch each other in their butterfly nets. Which dissolved into screaming.

[k3am]

I am going to get a lock for our side of house gate. Lock the garage door that opens to the outside. And lock the sliding doors that open to the back yard and just throw my kids back there and let them fend for themselves. Forget learning.

Sure, the neighbors might call CPS, but I think they'd understand.

[mommyatty]

I posted a pattern on FB for cloth masks that can be donated to nursing homes and other facilities as well as worn by regular folks out and about. I got a call from a friend who runs a rehab for elderly people. They have enough masks to get through a day or two, and she wanted to know if I could make 55 for her BY THIS WEEKEND. Omg. Not 55, but I’ll do what I can.

I’m going to have to go buy more fabric. And Joann’s curbside ordering SUCKS. So I’m trying to figure out how not to go in.

[waverly]

mommyatty , I don't know if it works, but I just saw a video that was no sew mask w/ bandana and hair ties. Probably can use other fabric than bandanas.

[sdlaura]

Good for you mommyatty! I ordered some homemade masks on Etsy. I figure it would cost me more to sew my own since I don’t have any supplies already. The Los Angeles mayor just told everyone to cover their faces while in public. I figure it can’t hurt to have a mask for when I go to the grocery store.

[traveltheworld]

So I'm the worst mom ever - I was working and DS asked me if he can have a cracker. I grabbed a random box of crackers from the pantry and handed it to him. Then I heard my 4 year old DD telling DS that he can't eat that cracker because it has nuts (DS is severely allergic to nuts). I thought that's not possible given we wouldn't have stored crackers with nuts in the house, so ignored it. Went out 20 minutes later and DS was complaining that his tongue was itchy. Looked closely at the crackers that I gave him, and it was from my stash that I took back from the office - there were nuts in them!!!! DS said he spit out all the big nut parts, but you know, he's 7. I gave him antihistamine and ugly cried. His lips were a bit swollen, but so far it hasn't gotten any worst. I'm now so stressed out that I'm hiding in the office while I make DH watch DS like a hawk. I feel like I'm going to throw up.

[mae0111]

traveltheworld - your DS is ok. Please don’t beat yourself up. Your head is spinning and you’re doing your very best with everything.

This is so hard. All of it. Every day. There are no easy days. It’s just that some days are harder than others.

[AdaraMarie]

Apr 2, 2020 15:56:04 GMT -5 traveltheworld said:

So I'm the worst mom ever - I was working and DS asked me if he can have a cracker. I grabbed a random box of crackers from the pantry and handed it to him. Then I heard my 4 year old DD telling DS that he can't eat that cracker because it has nuts (DS is severely allergic to nuts). I thought that's not possible given we wouldn't have stored crackers with nuts in the house, so ignored it. Went out 20 minutes later and DS was complaining that his tongue was itchy. Looked closely at the crackers that I gave him, and it was from my stash that I took back from the office - there were nuts in them!!!! DS said he spit out all the big nut parts, but you know, he's 7. I gave him antihistamine and ugly cried. His lips were a bit swollen, but so far it hasn't gotten any worst. I'm now so stressed out that I'm hiding in the office while I make DH watch DS like a hawk. I feel like I'm going to throw up.

I'm so sorry, my 7 yo is also nut allergic and I can totally see how that happened. I hope he doesn't have a further reaction.

[phdmomma]

traveltheworld, I totally get how that can happen. And I know that you feel bad about it, but when folks are already stretched in a situation like this things like that happen. I wouldn't beat yourself up about it. I would hide the crackers somewhere else though.

[mellym]

traveltheworld, thinking of you and sending lots of hugs from a fellow allergy mom. I have been there before (mistakes happen and we are human) and it's not easy, but you did exactly the right thing when it came down to it. You went and checked on him, recognized the reaction, acted quickly and gave his medicine, continued monitoring. Did the reaction stop? How is he and how are you today?

[traveltheworld]

Thanks everyone, DS is ok. I guess he did end up not eating any of the nut parts. I'm very proud of my 4 year old!

[k3am]

DS is constipated like a kid has never been constipated before. He's actually never been constipated before. I feel so bad for him. I spent the last 30 minutes working as a poop doula, and now need to go pick up some Miralax for him. In public. Ugh.

[mae0111]

I had to go to the grocery store earlier today since we were out of everything fresh and some pantry staples. While I was there I had some sort of... episode. I started to sweat profusely and got really nauseous. I started to make my way to the bathroom and I started to black out - I got the “curtain” that had happened when I’m getting a migraine. I managed to get into a stall and I texted DH that he might have to come and get me.

I started to feel better and told DH I was ok. I grabbed my last couple of things and headed to check out. While I was waiting it started all over again. I stayed up and held onto the cart. I got out and crawled into bed for a while when I got home. I felt better later in afternoon, but started to feel poorly again.

I reeeeaaaaalllly don’t want to go to the doctor for this. It was really scary, but going to get this check out right now seems scarier.

[campermom]

Apr 3, 2020 22:29:34 GMT -5 mae0111 said:

I had to go to the grocery store earlier today since we were out of everything fresh and some pantry staples. While I was there I had some sort of... episode. I started to sweat profusely and got really nauseous. I started to make my way to the bathroom and I started to black out - I got the “curtain” that had happened when I’m getting a migraine. I managed to get into a stall and I texted DH that he might have to come and get me.

I started to feel better and told DH I was ok. I grabbed my last couple of things and headed to check out. While I was waiting it started all over again. I stayed up and held onto the cart. I got out and crawled into bed for a while when I got home. I felt better later in afternoon, but started to feel poorly again.

I reeeeaaaaalllly don’t want to go to the doctor for this. It was really scary, but going to get this check out right now seems scarier.

It sounds like a panic attack. The grocery store is where a lot of people are having their first attack, lately. I hope you are feeling better.

[twinmomma]

mae0111 oh no!
Take it easy the next day or so, as much as you can. Keep super hydrated. And do a telemed call instead of going in, it could help ease your mind.

[waverly]

I agree you can totally do telemedicine. I don't have experience with that. I’ve had it where my blood pressure drops and I start to see white. It’s a precursor to fainting, but if I sit down and get some water I haven’t fainted yet. I hope they have some answers for you.

[186momx]

mae0111, that is exactly what happens before I have a panic attack. I've gotten really good and finding a spot on the floor and laying down and just trying to breathe. Now my panic attacks tend to hit me middle of the night. I get up and go pee or get a glass of water and bam it hits me and I don't make it to the laying down stage so end up blacking out or passing out and hit the worst possible objects with my body.