truck update

This is the very dramatic version of what happened.  Dave decided to dig farther into the engine to see what really happened, and find out if it was fixable.  Turns out that a piston blew, which then in turn ruined the entire inside the motor.  good times, huh?  verdict: unfixable.

What is really annoying about this?  This should've never happened.  Pistons do not blow up unless you are drag racing, basically.  Come to find out, this brand new motor was built with CHEAP pistons.  Described in internet reviews as "Budget Friendly."  CHEAP CRAP pistons.  

Very frustrating.

poop

"go poop! go poop! go poop!"  I hear these words from my recently potty trained 2 year old.  

"Ok!  let's go potty!"

I set him all up on the potty, and instruct him to tell me when he's done.  

"i'm doooone!"

"ok, stay on the potty---"  

too late.

I walk in, and he is standing next to the toilet.  This is not always a big deal, but sometimes.... it can be.  Today was one of those times.  

POOP was smeared across the potty seat and toilet seat and his butt where he had scooted himself off of the toilet.  He then very quickly placed his hand in the poop smear.  And, let me tell you--it was a substantial amount of "smear."  I arrive at the scene, and the tiny poop hand automatically wipes itself off on my jeans.

I am now in sweat pants and my poopy child is in the bath tub.  I will go sanitize the toilet now.

kids are gross.  

Truck

I drove dave's truck yesterday to take david to school.  It ran just fine--not a single tap or rattle.  (just so we're all clear, his truck always runs just fine--has not had any problems)  Noah and I hopped in to leave, and I started the truck like normal and let it idle while I strapped in Noah.  Stall, die.  Wait, what just happened?  It stalled.  This truck never stalls.  Start it back up--the entire vehicle begins shaking and the engine is loudly "RAP RAP RAP RAP"--ing.  Aw crap.  I turn it off and call Husband.

Husband gets on phone, asks me to check oil pressure (normal).  As soon as he hears the noise he starts yelling, "turn it off!  turn it off!"  So, my father in law comes to pick me up.  dave comes home from work (cuz, "this could be a really big problem).  The truck is towed back to our house (praise God that David's preschool is within the "free 5 miles" of towing!).  After talking to the tow guy, it is determined that the fly wheel has broke and needs to be replaced.  OK.  Good--something fixable.

After HOURS of running around getting the parts and tools they need and HOURS of pulling apart this motor---it's not the fly wheel.

I would like to make it known that dave is very mechanically inclined.  he is our mechanic unless there is a huge problem.  It is now his best guess that it is the MOTOR.  the motor was brand new when we bought the truck a year and a half ago.  His guess is that is something to do with a valve getting bent which then caused this, and that caused that, and this caused that.  In order to fix it he would need to literally tear apart the motor take everything out (pistons and such) and replace basically everything.  A complete motor re-build.

He looked online at the prices of motors, $1400 --$1800.  Holy crap.

And so, he has made the decision to sell his beloved Harley and hopefully sell the truck for whatever he can get, and buy a new vehicle.  He had a very rough day yesterday, and is obviously very stressed about it today, and will be stressed until the matter is resolved.  And all this just days away from HUNTING SEASON!!  This is his HUNTING TRUCK!  And told him he could use my durango, but the deer must be strapped to the roof.

So, for those of you who pray, please pray that this matter will be resolved quickly, and God will provide the vehicle that dave needs.  Thank you.

What was I thinking?!

Got 10 min before I have to rinse, so i gotta make this fast.

Oh. My. Word.  I have lost it.  I was in desperate need of getting my hair dyed.  Lately I have been doing it myself, but I know i do not do the most professional job--think streaky, gaps, you know.  well, i wanted to go HAVE it done by a licensed professional, but....  didnt want to pay for it.  And so the fateful words were spoken, "I'll do it." --Dave.  Oh, yes.  I know.  Even better--I said "Okay....."

So I try to explain the directions to him.  divide hair into sections, saturate each section, blah, blah, blah.  Nope.  He doesnt do directions.  He begins to do all of the roots first and work it into my SCALP!  (imagine the pain if you would).  He then squirts the bottle through, like, 3 layers of hair ("wow, you have a lot of hair."  um, no shit.)

The best part is the SOUND EFFECTS and ghetto speak he does the entire time.
"annnd, YOINK!"
"Dang guuurl, where you get yo hair did?"
"All da gurls gonna be comin ta dave shell!"

oh--and he spelled out his name in dye on the top of my head.

"I dont know why you act like this is so hard.  It's gonna look just like you paid someone."
paid someone to ruin my hair and burn/dye my scalp.

Time to rinse!  Keep your fingers crossed!

What is wrong with this child?

(This pic is from a year ago, but I've seen this face a LOT recently.)

Noah is being a nightmare today.  I do not know what is wrong with him, but he has been uh...  fussy (ahem) the past few days.

My cousin and her son were over today, and she said that she says never seen him act this way.  Wouldn't eat, threw a fit and cried about EVERYTHING.  She suggested maybe he's getting molars or coming down with something.

I hope there is a good explanation for his behavior, and that this is not his new "normal."  (I would have to put myself on medication or take up drinking.)  I really hope he is a bit better after taking a nap.  He is finally getting over his cold, so getting sick AGAIN would be awful.  It could very well be molars.  He has two, so maybe the other two are breaking through.

Regardless, pray that this is short lived, and he returns to his normal slightly high-maintenance self--before I lose my mind.

funny story

david (very excited--all smiles): "mom, can i tell you a funny story?"
me: "sure!"
david: "there was a new girl at school and she was afraid to sing the song..."
me (smiling, anticipating my sweet child giving me a recap of the heart-warming encouragement he bestowed upon the scared new girl): "uh huh"
david: "and i said 'hey, you're a fraidy cat!'"
my face instantly darkened.  black clouds rolled in over my head.  lightning sparked from my eyes.
his face changed from smiling glee to "oh crap!" fear in seconds.  let me just say--david is the SWEET child.  he hugs, he loves, he encourages--and apparently he makes little new girls feel like crap when they are scared to sing a song.
me: "you do not call people names!"
david: "im sorry..."
me: "when you're scared do you want someone to make fun of you?"
david: "no..."
me: "if someone is scared you tell them they do not need to be afraid and be nice to them!"
david: "ok. im sorry, mom"

GRRRRRR..........

holy sheet!

i would like to start out by saying--i do not know how this happens.  

   so we bought a lovely new sheet set.  6 months later it had developed an enormous shredded HOLE at my husbands feet.  now i know his feet are a bit calloused, but...  they should not have caused this amount of destruction.  so he sewed it up (manly), slept on it for a few nights, and the hole came back with a vengeance.  so, needless to say, lovely sheet was thrown into the lovely garbage can.  

   we dug out our former jersey sheet. stretched it out on the mattress and behold---tons of little holes are dotted all over MY side.  the holes were not there when we stuck it in the top of our cedar closet.  a few of the holes were a couple inches big (when first placed on bed).  this is ridiculous.  after a few nights of sleeping on this holey mess, the holes have stretched to gargantuan sizes (think 6-12 inches).  there are now 2 by my feet that i get my foot caught in every night and rip it just a little bit more every time.  

  Anyone who would visit our house and checked our sheets (some guests are weird and creepy) they would assume that we slept with knives.  all the time.  or maybe an angry cat. or moths from hell. what is going on and WHY is this happening?!  we clip our toenails and refuse to sleep with sharp objects and animals.  and yet--it appears we sleep with raptors.

  It is glaringly obvious that we need a new sheet.  that was "sheet" singular.  I do not need a new sheet set--which cost $60 - $90.  no thank you.  just need one measly sheet.  apparently that simple task should be part of pilgrimage back to the old country.  Turns out it is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to buy a single fitted sheet.  You know, I would even accept a set of fitted sheets.  but, nope.  fitted sheets are available only in sheet sets containing a whole bed's worth of sheets and pillow cases.  

   i finally found a fitted sheet (unicorn sings to rainbow, and the fairies rejoice) at bed, bath & beyond for....  $60.  SIXTY FREAKING DOLLARS.  the cost of an entire bedding set.  are you kidding me?  i feel that i need to point out that they are sold individually at walmart for $12.50, however they are 200 thread count--think "sand paper," people.  i couldnt put us through that.  (200 thread count at bb&b is $40.  ahem.  out of their minds)  e-bay has given me a few better options, but not not much-- we may get 1 fitted sheet for (gasp) $30.  

    I just want a sheet!!!

 

noah's regression and david's progression

the monster is potty trained.  has been for a couple weeks now.  past 2 days---he disagrees.  pretty sure he peed his pants 2 or 3 times yesterday and once, so far, today.  What is going on, little man??  potty good!!!

David started preschool this week.  he is doing great and loves it.  I knew he would--he has ASKED to go to DAYCARE.  ahem.  no--mommy does not have a job so she can stay HOME with you guys.  eh, whatever.  either way he LOVES school.  Never a whimper--barely even a "good bye" when he is dropped off.  His teacher says he is doing great and has "acclimated" quickly to the class room. He has friends, he does what he's told.  good kid.

Noah and I usually do something after i drop david off.  Today was not so special--buying little boy underwear at walmart.  he looked at the fish, every single toy, and tons of kid movies--and underwear.

Looking forward to the weekend!