Pediatrician accused of molesting as many as 100 victims

I mean really? This disgusts me. I have so many things to worry about besides worrying about this.

Pediatrician accused of molesting as many as 100 victims

Posted using ShareThis

I wish I could close this with my normal happymommy, but instead, I will close this with whatthehellmommy

Still working...

I have tried to organize my thoughts and write pretend blogs in my mind about Saturday night, but I can't do it. Maybe it will never be written for all of my three readers to experience. Maybe this is for the best.

In the meantime, here are pictures that just make me smile!

Jeff wearing Lilly's number one Santa's gift, a pink Snuggie.

Trent & Deni renewing their vows in beautiful Hawaii.

As we move on with life and love, remember Carter and what he was for all of us, especially his mom & dad!

Charles Dicken's words, and my true feelings about 2009:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going directly to Heaven, we were all going the other way." - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Cousins...

This has been quite the week/weekend. I am beyond exhausted and need to blog tons about Saturday night with all the crazies. But, that will have to wait. Jeff's cousin came to town this evening with her two kids. And really, this is what it makes it all worthwhile.

The cousins playing cards.

We continue to be blessed with family and love. Hope your year is the same!

happymommy

Oh my....

And this is what happens... My father-in-law... Getting ready for the day!

We had the greatest Christmas! Lilly was just fabulous and J Raz, well he was himself. He didn't knock the tree over, so we are happy!

They read the best book ever written!


They And they went ice skating!


happymommy

PS: I have looked at every picture of myself from today and I need to be on a diet. A face lift, a tummy tuck and a realigning of my neck is necessary! HELP! What the hell? When did I become so old and fat?

The reason...

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

ISAIAH 9:6

It's hard to remember that this is the reason for the season in between the festivities, the celebrations and the craziness of holiday cheer. I am trying. Now where's my egg nog?

Merry Christmas!

happymommy

Denver, so far.

We have had quite the time already. We have laughed and we have cried (only because I stuck my mascara wand in my eyeball by accident). We have played in the sun and the snow. Ok, the kids played in the snow because I hate being cold and complained the whole time, but whatever, they had fun. Except for the fact that I didn't pack snow appropriate mittens for either child. James ended up having to wear my SIL's gloves, which was pretty funny and Lilly ended up being so cold that she started bawling. Only later did we find out that grandma, of course, had a whole basket of mittens. Not sure why we didn't realize this as grandma has everything.

Here is an example of how together my mother in law is and she claims it because she is a product of her mother who was a product of the depression. She can't stand to not have something she needs on hand at all times. I am cooking Christmas Eve dinner and made of a list of the things I need. Random things, like 1/2 & 1/2 and Lawry's Seasoning Salt. As soon as she walks in the door from work, she goes over the list and marks all thirty or so things off the list because she has them all. CRAZY!

And here are the kids playing in the snow as I complain about being cold. Please note the sad state of affairs known as their gloves. Bad happymommy!

Merry Christmas Blogworld!

happymommy

Just like soup...

After my half day today, the work crew and I went to lunch. We ordered chips and salsa with some extra dip, some drinks and then our food. I ordered a crunchy taco and some tortilla soup. My soup arrived and I started to dig in with vigor. Um, to quote my co-worker, "You must really like Queso Dip if you are eating it with a spoon." Good Lord help me, yes, I did try to eat the table's appetizer of cheese dip with a spoon. I even went as far as removing the tomatoes from the top because, well, I don't like tomatoes. I will forever be known as the crazy chick who tries to eat molten cheese with a spoon. Please tell me you see the difference between these two!

I don't understand why I was so confused. help, I am still blushing.

happymommy

Day One...

So, I had to work all day today. My corporate office is here in Denver and I went to work at 9am and came home at 4 pm. My feet were a hurtin'.

I mean the difference between my regular shoes
, and these are huge.

It has been quite the day. We are expecting a huge snow tomorrow, and let me tell you, I know one litte girl that can't wait.

A photo montage of the day...

It was dark, early and I was on the verge...

Here is what happened...

It was dark, and we had way too much stuff.


Who in the hell are all these people and where are they going?


Oh and by the way, it is still dark outside.



It is important to be prepared...


The mountains....


Oh look, there is only five minutes left in the flight, I think I will...

And we arrived and we are happy!


happymommy

6 am... Help....

Packed! Kids down. Mama getting ready to go down as well. I will have many thoughts on this adventure of ours from Denver.

Wish us luck!

happymommy

TOP 50 Mom Blogs....

I am still trying to avoid getting ready for this trip, so once again, I am trolling the blogworld for interesting stuff to read. I am a pretty avid visitor to Babble.com, and they published their top 50 mommy bloggers today. Turns out I have a ton of reading to do!

Lilly had her Christmas Sing-a-long at her wonderful preschool today. Jeff got a ton of video but I don't feel like dealing with it right now since I have tons of blogs to peruse. Here is the one lousy picture I managed to get in between wrangling James and trying not to cry. How did my baby grow up so fast?

happymommy

Say what you want....

I am a huge Clinton fan!

How fun is this picture?**
**Thank you for sharing this.

Getting ready...

Packing for a trip with the kids makes me want to take a nap. The end result is wonderful, but just getting there is so very hard. Since I am avoiding all that packing stuff and getting ready nonsense, I have, of course, been trolling the blogworld for funny stuff. I have been reading this blog for a while and have decided to post my first move review using his movie review. He is funny and open and I wish he was my best friend!

I never get to go to the movies, and watch very few at home. I love John Cusack, my favorite movie of his being Grosse Pointe Blank. I would never go see an action movie like 2012 anyway, so I couldn't do a review even if I wanted. So here is Sven's podcast review. He hated it by the way, but his review will win rewards! Scroll down to the podcast after you read his witty words!

Happy Thursday!

HappyMommy

Thoughts for the day...

• I feel extremely sorry for Elin Nordegren, even though I think she will be richer than most everyone alive when all is said and done.
• If I hear one more word about Octo-Mom I will octo-off on someone.
• Courtney Love is crazier than everyone else in the entire world.
• I read way too much celebrity gossip on any given day!
  
• I wish there was such a thing as a transporter to get you from one state to another without having to catch a 6am flight with two children and all their equipment plus your own. How sad is it that there is even this guide to help.
  
• Dogs bark.
• I am obsessed with the Golden Girls and I am proud.
  
• Life is good. Really good. Need any stickers to prove it?
  
• I am lucky to have my family, my friends and my life. I have no link for this.
  

Happy Wednesday!

happymommy

Trader Joe's...

I love Trader Joe's. They have good food at reasonable prices. However, taking my two children to TJ's at 4pm in the afternoon makes me want to take organic salami slices and put them in my eyeballs.

Today's quotes:

• Mom, your shoes look like boy shoes.
• Gaah, blah blah blah bubba yo!
• Mom, do you ever wear your hair band in your hair? Why is it always on your wrist?
• Mama. Mama. Mama. Mama. Mama.
• I love you. You are the best mommy in the world.

And THAT was my day...

And THIS was Lilly's day with her Opa. Please appreciate the irony.

I escaped...

I escaped the boogers, the construction and the night. It was spectacular. My buddy and I went to this place, and then had a wonderful night of great conversation, drinks and fun! I wrote awhile ago about figuring it all out with friends and tonight was an example of full circle friendship. I value my friends and appreciate the sacrifices they make to spend a little time with me. I mean who else actually will listen to my stories and nod their head and remember what I said. Few people. She does, and I think she will do it until she grows tired of me. Maybe in fifty years she will finally come to her senses and tell me to get a clue.

A mother who gets it.... a friend for life...

OH YEAH, and this is what happened at my house today. The kids are sick and all I wanted was to have a relaxing day. Well, I forgot that we were renovating our basement. No rest was to be found here....

A Celebration....

Tonight we celebrated my dad's 70th birthday and his book's launch. It was a crazy mixture of family and friends of old and new. His "girlfriends" were there, a cancer survivor who looks better than ever, neighbors and our family of neices and daughters and sons!

My father is an inspiration. A true man who walks to the beat of his own drummer and never looks back and rarely regrets. I still think my dad hangs the moon. The man has changed lives. He takes a stranger, turns him into a friend and then treats him like a brother.

My sister and her family and I and mine love this man without boundaries and limits. He tends to our families with few questions and can be counted on no matter what. He runs from here to there, literally runs as he thinks this is great exercise, to pick up this child to take her to that place before he has to get the other child on his walk or he will drive his grandma crazy and then still will pick up the other one and take her on an adventure because that is what she loves.

We are all blessed to have my dad. He is our gift. He loves unconditionally and for that, we are all eternally grateful!

We celebrate my dad with a poem composed by his oldest granddaughter, and aren't we proud!

Once again....

I am a single parent again for the past three days, and most likely through the weekend. I can't complain since Jeff is in Denver representing our family at the sadness that is Carter Brotherton's memorial service. I have written about this a lot, and sadness abounds, but to quote his mother whom I spoke with tonight, "we are at peace." This wonderful little baby is at home and he left a mark on the world that is immeasurable.

I will leave you with this quote from Donna at the Quiet Life.

"Enjoy every moment. Be there. Love them. Spoil them. Teach them. Kiss Them. Feed Them. What happens matters. Encourage one another and be always coming home."

And just so you have something to make you smile...

Thank you once again to Donna at the Quiet Life.!

Just plain freaked out...

I have to make a very short presentation tomorrow about my skills and my aptitude to be council member. This is so very important to my job and to my company. I have been practicing my "lines" in front of my mirror, my child and my computer. My child was even less interested than my computer. But to make up for it she gave me this. With a little help with the spelling, I am destined for greatness.

Sadness...

Tomorrow is the memorial service for this sweet little boy, Carter Brotherton. His life was short, hard and a testament of greatness. If you are able, please donate to his cause and if you can't donate, please take some time out today (and everyday) to pray or spread good thoughts or meditate in his honor. Grief such as this is unimaginable to me. I continue to be sad.

Jeff has the privilege to be there to be part of the family and part of those whom will celebrate in Carter's honor. James Raz, Lilly and I will remember him from here and hope for strength and love for his parents.

And this is what happens...

When you try to read....


You concentrate, and then you smile and then you just give up.

The loss of a child...

I write this with tears rolling down my face and a heartbreak that is unimaginable to me. Jeff and I have dear friends who lost their baby tonight. He has had a struggle since birth but his death this December night was unexpected. His father was putting him down to sleep like he does every night when Carter isn't in the hospital and Carter gave a gasp, and then was gone. Trent tried CPR to no avail and it was done. The journey of life, over. I am beyond sad. I can not imagine having a child and then losing him. Sadness prevails tonight, but in my wonderful daughter's words, I have some solace. "Mom, Jesus will have a present for him." With that, I find some peace.

Here he is having a big ol' time with his 3-D Glasses

Oh Sonoma, How I love thee..

Jeff's company had their annual Christmas event in Sonoma this year. We were privileged enough to stay at the Eldorado Hotel.

We hauled ourselves into this very small car to visit a few wineries and then had a fabulous dinner at the Eldorado Kitchen. Not only was it a day and night away from the kids, but I had the opportunity to bond with all the people that have made my life possible these past few years. Jeff and I are beyond blessed to be a part of a company that not only survived these down times, but maintained a degree of excellence that continues to awe and inspire all of us who are lucky enough to be included.

None of this would have been possible without my parents. Once again, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness that my mom and dad are willing and able to keep the kids for us. I had no worries except for the fact that Lilly and James Raz would find us immensely boring once we got home. I did however manage to let Jeff watch the kids while I cooked a pot roast, my first, along with mashed potatoes, carrots and onions. Somehow, I also continue to amaze myself. :)

Off to watch the series finale of Monk and am desperately worried that either Monk dies, or Trudy is really alive or the entire series has been a dream. Oh the perils of living vicariously through tv.

When I am old...

I have recently gone back to work. October 1, actually, and it has been quite the comedy in making. I only work about twenty hours a week, and sometimes even less. My parents (God Bless Them) are in charge of my child care and it has helped immensely. I never feel scared or worried, but I often wonder if my kids might want to live at Opa and Grandma's house instead of home. They do WAY more than we ever do. :)

This past week has been extra busy, since my boss was in town. Not only was he here to motivate me, but he was here to visit my family. He is a family friend, my husband and my dear friend. It was hard to differentiate the family/co-worker aspect of our relationship. I think we did well. We survived at least.

Needless to say, this has been quite the odd week for the kiddos. I have been in big girl clothes and shoes all week, working eight hours a day with meetings, phone calls and constant checking of the phone and laptop. It is a hard thing for my four year old to get. But, if this quote doesn't say it all, I don't know what will.

Lilly, "Mom, when I get to be about eighteen can I have business cards too? Oh, and a phone."

Yes Lilly, when you are eighteen you can have a phone and business cards. My child continues to amaze me and keep me in the giggles.

My Budding Musician, James Raz (not to be confused with Jason MRaz)

Forget the wise men....

FORGET THE WISE MEN

"Three wise women would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, brought practical gifts, and there would be Peace On Earth."

LOVE IT!

My Favorite Things...

Today has been just great! I worked like a dog in my big girl clothes. Made cold calls, emailed everyone under the sun that might want to use my company and enjoyed my children beyond belief. I am blessed to continually have support from my parents with the kids, which gives me the ability to work and feel stress free (not to mention financially free from child care). So I thought about the many things in my life that are my favorite. And here they are in no particular order other than I love all of them and are thankful to have them in my life, back in my life, and ALWAYS in my life...

***
***This last picture is a special amendment. She found me and I am honored that she cared so much! And now, I can't imagine not knowing her.

Oh yeah, another one of my favorite things.... I love love love love this show and watch it every morning and every night. (Sad I know...)

Enjoy these bloopers which cracked me up! All of these, and many more are my favorite things.

Not a single picture....

I don't have a single thing to share today except I am tired. I know, that is weird. On October 1, 2009 I went back to work part-time. I have managed to wheel and deal and do a whole lot of nothing until today. My boss is in town. I mean, is there any bigger inspiration to get out of your sweat pants and into big girl clothes and shoes (and boy are my feet unhappy)? We emailed, called and worried about the kids. Not sure why I worried about the kids as they were at Grandma and Opa's but still, this is an unusual day.

Kid #1 was in crazy, mean mood on way home, and even more so once we got home. She even called me a poop. Needless to say, dinner and bed was done by 6:15 and for some reason I am still working. Taking a quick blog break and then folding clothes and crashing. Monday night tv never looked so good!

What we ate today....

We had the best Sunday. It was full of food and love and family. Life doesn't get any better than good food, time with family and then home for a nap!

The high point was kimchee with my dad and my kids. Happy doesn't cover it!

(Check out Lilly's face. She is quite irritated because we interrupted her mrs. pacman game on her Opa's phone.)

Friends and Family....

There are times that I look back on my life and I remember those who were important to me. Now, I look at my life and I think about those who love my children. These people continue to be the most important, because my children are the most important. This being said, there are those from my past, and my family's past, that are just friends. They have been around a lifetime, but they don't know us anymore, and we don't know them. However, they are our friends. They are our past and our present. We don't owe them a thing, and they don't owe us. But they are our friends. They have just always been here. And we love them.

Thanksgiving....

What a time we had.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! We had a great day. I cooked for a year, and it took about three minutes for everyone to eat.

Today, our dear friend arrived to spend six days with our family. He is also my new boss. We will be working and figuring out how I am supposed to work amongst the craziness that is my life. In the meantime, he is wooing my kid and playing like a jungle gym.

I am thankful for my family, my friends and my life. Every day, not just yesterday!

And then they played....

Thank you Amazon...

Look what arrived today. There are no words to describe how proud I am of my dad, and of my family. This is our history; who we are and why we are. What a wonderful and inspiring story!

So tired...

I am so tired. But I have so much to do. But I don't want to do anything. NOTHING! That's it for today.

Except... I have 126 pictures on my iphone. Every single one of them is a picture Lilly took while hanging out in the car or buying time while I figure out how to get out of the house. Here are a few.

Playing for Change....

PBS has been showing episodes of Playing for Change, Peace through Music all weekend, and I have been entranced. It is amazing to see how music, spirituality of all kinds and human perseverance overcomes all. We should feel privileged to just be here.

Experience this!

What a wonderful Christmas/Hannukah/Kwannza gift this would make. You would also be giving back.**

**I am in no way affiliated with this, just think it is quite amazing!

Sunday....

While trying to avoid going to sleep this evening, Lilly asked me how many time-outs I had when I was a little girl. She hadn't been in trouble, or even in a time-out all day so I just thought it was a way to get out of going to bed. I told her that when I was a little girl, mommies and daddies usually gave spankings and not time-outs. After thirty more questions about spankings and how very old I was, I started thinking. Did I really get spankings? I am positive that I didn't get time-outs, but what did my parents do?

Although I like to express to anyone that will listen that I was a near perfect child that never did any wrong, the truth is I am sure I didn't behave at all times. In the past, a call to the parental units would be in order. It being 2009, I texted my dad. Turns out, I got a few swats, but mostly "deprivation." They took away priviledges and things that mattered to me. I don't remember this, but I find it interesting that this is exactly the way Jeff and I parent Lilly. It works about 90% of the time. The other 10% usually involves stomping of the feet and wailing of the arms. (By Lilly, not by me.)

"Discipline is different from punishment. Discipline is when a child has a choice." - Jerry Autry, aka Daddy, aka Opa.

Turns out this is actually a parenting theory derived from William Glasser. Who knew? My mom and dad, obviously, but not me. There are things that I remember specifically from my "rearing" that I will never repeat with my children. However, these are few and far between and I am really in awe of the circle. What my parents did with me, I do with mine. And so far, it seems to be working.

Cleaning....

Not so much cleaning as clearing. We are in the process of building a basement under our very high house. We have twenty years of stuff, minus about ten years of stuff parent's moved last year, that needed to be cleared out before we could continue. We found a treasure trove of things that we can't get rid of, but we don't want. What do we do? We just keep the things we love, or think we love because it has something to do with our past. Life goes by so fast and all we have is our history.And this cracks me up!

Dinner...

I cooked my first meal from my new favorite blogger, ThePioneerWoman, and the meal turned out pretty well. I made the meatloaf WAY too big and the middle was a tad underdone but the mashed potatoes were spectacular! And this was the end of my Friday...The Pioneer Woman's Cookbook is not only a cookbook with beautiful photos, it is a wonderful story about her life. I read it cover to cover and enjoyed every minute of it. I know, I gush, but if you like such things, buy it!

What have you done today?

What have you done today?

Try and come up with one thing that you did today to make yourself proud! Write it down! Do it again tomorrow!

Crazy weekend, glad it is almost Tuesday....

This past week and weekend was CRAZY. I will not go into details, but lets just say that I am glad it is over. It was a quite disruptive to my little family and I am ready to settle back into a holiday focused mode. Since I am still reeling, somewhat, from the events and I don't have it in me to blog much. This is what makes me feel better and happy!