Who knew? I mean, I was always under the impression that punishment was like taking a trip to Disney World. (I would put my sarcastic smiley here, but they aren't working)

A few days ago we had a situation that reached crisis level with one of the kids. In all honesty, it had been at this level for some time, but M and I finally reached an agreement that something had to be done. Grades were an issue as well as serious backtalking and general disrespect. In an effort to once and for all end this; we decided to lay down the law.

The child in question was scheduled for a class trip to an amusement park on Wednesday. School was out for the holiday and the school had arranged the tour bus and a day up in LA. It was decided that due to the recent behavior, J was not making the trip. We had to do something to make our point, and other punishments just weren't working.

The problem was, we had already paid for the trip and it wasn't cheap. The ticket was non refundable and non transferable. I would also be the parent left to tend to the child while his step sister went on the trip. M was working and this was a nightmare just waiting to happen. After much discussing back and forth a compromise was worked out. We would allow the trip, BUT, he would be made to give up all things electronics for one week as a result of his behavioral issues. This meant, no cell phone, no video games, no radio, no ipod, no computer, and no television. Well, Mr. Ten Feet Tall and I Don't Give a Damn, thought he was getting off easy and agreed immediately.

It is now Friday and due to ongoing behavior issues, we are up to two weeks without electronics with a third week under debate at the moment. The third week came into play this morning. I came into the kitchen and discovered a clock radio sitting on the table. I asked oldest child why it was there. Well, I guess I had forgotten to unplug it in J's room and he had it hidden on his bed last night listening to music. A direct violation of the "no electronics" rule.

When I asked him why he thought he could violate the terms of the deal his answer was; "It is all your fault. I am so flipping bored because there is nothing to do. You aren't fair. This punishment isn't easy and I didn't do anything but turn on the radio for three flipping seconds." My reply; "I hope it was worth it because now we have to discuss adding on another week."

Apparently in J's mind punishment should be milk and cookies. He is in for a long hard lesson.

Years ago when I was the mother of only two children, still married to my first husband, and living a very conservative lifestyle, I was known to hit the Black Friday sales. I would even head out with my sister on Thanksgiving night to the few stores that were open. We caught the sales, fought the crowds, and felt smug about the ten cents we saved on Christmas ornaments.

I have not participated in Black Friday madness since I moved to California. I am unsure if it is the fact that I am now the mother of eight children and my second husband is always at work on that day, leaving me without that all important childcare; or if I have just outgrown the madness. Do I really want to stand in line for five or more hours so that I can save a few dollars on a DSi that will  most likely be sold out by the time I get there? Or the even worst scenario; another store will put it on sale days later at an even better price and I will be stuck either knowing I got screwed or fighting that return line.

I think that my lack of participation most likely stems from my time spent in retail sales during the holiday season. I have never in my life seen more people act a fool than I witnessed my two years on the front lines of retail. Customers that I would see on an almost daily basis suddenly lost their damn minds all in the pursuit of a perceived "great deal". I saw my fellow workers gearing up for that holiday nightmare with the same preparation one would expect a soldier heading to war undergoes.

List of "black" items? Check

Radio to call for backup? Check

Scanner gun for price checking? Check

Advil for the headache you know you are going to get? Check

Pepper spray when you are forced to tell people the item is out of stock? Check (okay I made that one up)

Plans for after work at the bar? Check

It was a nightmare that we dreaded for those weeks between Halloween and Thanksgiving. People were rude, they were pushy, they didn't want to wait and wanted you to know exactly how many items that were available back in electronics even though you had never set foot in electronics in your life.

I mourned the day that Wal-Mart did away with their lay away policy, but I have to say that on some level I understand. The only thing worse than working the front lines on Black Friday was working in the Lay Away department on Black Friday. Lines literally ran through the entire store all the way out to the parking lot. For reasons that still make no sense to me, there were only about four people in the entire store that were "qualified" for lay away. This meant that only two people actually worked the front while the other two worked the back getting the boxes put into place. It was like putting a kitten in front of a stampede of elephants and expecting it to hold them off. Can you say impossible?

The actual picking up of said lay away was almost as bad. Again, two people working the front while two searched the hundred or so trailers brought in to store merchandize. Seasoned shoppers knew to pack a lunch and arrange for the day off because it was going to take you all day.

So, this has taken a completely different turn than when I started. How does that always happen to me?

Do you plan on taking part in the Black Friday madness or are you going to just wait and see what happens the weeks leading up to Christmas? I think I will take the sit back and watch approach.

The other day I was asked if I ever considered pursuing a case against the hospital where Emily's two ultrasound were done. For those that have never heard the "ultrasound from hell" story; I will give you a brief synopsis.

Matt and I went in for our first ultrasound. It was just a routine thing, more to find out the sex of the baby and to make sure he/she was growing normally. I was an "advanced age" pregnancy, so they felt it was necessary. We went in and had the ultrasound done. We were told we were having a girl and we went on our way. It took no more time than normal and I put it far from my mind.

Almost a month later I received a call from a doctor at the hospital. Due to some measurement issues with one of Emily's kidney's, they wanted to do a follow up ultrasound. He told me that it could quite possibly prove to be nothing, but that we would need another ultrasound at 30 weeks just to be sure. I was terrified, but knew there wasn't much we could do but wait the other 8 or so weeks.

The next ultrasound is now known as the "ultrasound from hell". It lasted well over two hours with me almost passing out more than once. The technician couldn't find the kidney issue, then she couldn't locate the fourth chamber of Emily's heart. By this time, Matt and I had come to the conclusion that this woman couldn't find her nose on her face and were just ready to end the entire thing. After more than half an hour of her searching for the fourth chamber, she called in her supervisor.

He spent less than five minutes looking and declared the fourth chamber in place. Again, Matt and I had been through the ringer with the first tech, so we just assumed her inept. It would prove to be the worse assumption we have ever made.

As you all now know, Emily was only born with technically three chambers. The two very large holes between the third and fourth chamber made for just one very large one. We discovered that about day six or seven. It all blends together now.

I was more than angry that it hadn't been discovered, but I never thought about pursuing anything with the courts. It wasn't going to change the fact that Emily needed heart surgery. It wasn't suddenly going to close those holes and make her heart perfect. Matt and I knew that the best thing that we could do was focus on getting Emily healthy.

It is a decision that to this day I do not regret.

Emily had her heart surgery and has done wonderfully. I have come together with other parents of children with heart issues and have witnessed amazing progress in educating those in the medical field about the importance of catching heart issues in utero.

I think our time has been better spent focusing on how to prevent this from happening to other families as opposed to trying to right a supposed wrong for our family.

It wouldn't have changed our outcome, but perhaps through the work of organizations like Its My Heart we can make sure it changes the outcome for other families.

It is the flu talking so if this makes no sense, blame that.

I woke up feeling sick. I promised myself a day of rest. Of course I had to clean first. Jake is home sick too, so together we hit the living room hard and then I proceeded to begin the three loads of laundry.

I put up a quick blog to let you guys know I was down for the count and then I hit the couch. I think I stayed there five minutes before Caleb needed juice. It was on the way to the fridge that I noticed that I hadn't washed the morning dishes.

Dishes done, Caleb given a fresh cup of juice; back to the couch I go. It was Emily's turn for juice. Back I go to  the kitchen; oh my, is that crumbs on the floor?

Kitchen floor swept, Emily with a fresh cup of juice; back to the couch I go. Damn, was that the dryer going off?

Dryer empty, clothes folded; back to the couch I go. Oh hell, who is calling me now?

Phone answered, appointment scheduled for Emily; back to the couch I go. Caleb needs lunch.

Lunch made, wrists slit; back to the couch I go. I dare them to try and get me up again.

Okay, not really. My mother would be far too happy if I offed myself and I make it my lifes work to never make that woman happy.

My day has been busy, that much is true. Caleb seems to be on the mend. Emily is still battling this, so she is cranky at times. Jake and I both wish that we could just take our noses off and throw them somewhere.

Matt did call with potential good news. Nope, not sharing it until I am positive. Don't want to jinx it.

With Jake home I can leave the kids while I go make the rounds to the schools for the other kids. I am hoping that we can keep Emily from taking a nap and I can go to bed at a decent hour tonight.

I am off to make the rounds and hopefully find a cure for what ails me. I am thinking tequila because tequila cures everything.

Later!

Put this one under the the "you can't make this stuff up" file.

Apparently Fox News fans are in a slight uproar over what they view as a diss to Fox News. Link

According to the article, Oscar the Grouch is playing the part of a newscaster. His girlfriend gets disgusted over some outpouring of positives and threatens to change the channel to "Pox News" further saying; "Now there's a trashy news show".

It seems that some fans of Fox misunderstood and felt that the show was being unfair to Fox News. Surprisingly, the PBS Ombudsmen Michael Gelter agreed and said that while broadcasters had the right to tell parents how they felt about Fox News, it was inappropriate to use the kids for that message. (I am paraphrasing his statement). Now, as my son pointed out, "trashy" in grouch terms is actually a good thing. Perhaps the Fox fans missed that subtle clue.

I say, have you not been watching other "children's" shows lately? Parodies are done from Spongebob to Rugrats. Does anyone else remember the Shrek movies? The underlying adult themes they placed throughout were what kept me watching and laughing.

So, do you guys think that Sesame Street crossed the line with their "Pox News" comment, or are there some people that just need to get over themselves?