My Addiction

I have a new addiction.

It is a TV show about addiction. Intervention on A&E. Have you seen it? It totally sucks me in. I get so absorbed in these people's lives. It is amazing to me.

Here was the summary for tonight's episode:

She sits in her garage every day, popping painkillers, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and sleeping pills. Sandra's pill use is so bad that her two sons, 17 and 11, have left the house. Her best friend, Julie, moved in with her, and although Julie suffers from multiple sclerosis, she takes care of all the housework. Julie and Sandra's husband, Dan, ration Sandra's pills so she doesn't overdose. They know they're enabling her, but they're afraid of what will happen if they stop. Sandra's family is ready to try an intervention, but they're not sure she'll ever choose her family over her addiction.

This new episode that was on tonight caught my attention even more since this lady, Sandra, is addicted to prescription medications. Something I deal with every day in my line of work. As a pharmacist, you are constantly trying to determine which patients are legitimate and which ones are just simply abusing. It is hard. You don't want to think that everyone who gets pain medications are abusing them, but the few that do ruin it for those that don't.

I have unfortunately seen those affected by addiction to prescription medications. I have seen the people who are desperate...and the families that are hurt by it. I have had to tell people that I will not fill their prescriptions. I have been screamed at, cursed at, threatened. I have been told that it isn't my job to monitor what prescriptions people get.

Actually, that is my job. My primary job.

Pay it Forward

I am sure most of you have seen this movie.

You know...with Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt...and the "I see dead people" kid. It was a heartwarming movie with a lot of optimism in it.

However, I am not here to discuss the movie. I am here to offer up a contest. A "Pay it Forward" Contest.

What is a Pay if Forward contest? It is simple. I tell you I am hosting the contest. To enter, all you need to do is comment. I will ask you a question at the bottom of this post (don't worry--it will be easy. No degrees in rocket science needed) and you hit comment and tell me the answer to the question. Once you have commented, your part is DONE!

At the end of the contest I will use a random number generator to select the winner. The order of your comment gives you your number. If your number matches mine, you WIN! WOO HOO! How much easier can it get? What can you win? That is the best part, I haven't decided yet. But, I always look for excuses to go shopping!

The reason that is is called Pay it Forward is because the winner then hosts their own "Pay it Forward" contest on their blog. If you don't have a blog, don't worry! Please feel free to enter as I will host a contest in your name on my blog if you win. Then the winner of that contest hosts their own contest, etc. Get it? Should be fun! Hope you join in!

The contest on my blog will end at noon on July 4th so make sure you get your comments in before then! If you would like to enter more Pay it Forward contests, check out Swistle as she is hosting this GROUP EFFORT Pay it Forward contest and promises to have a link of all blogs that are a part of this movement. ENJOY!

Question: Hard or soft?

Cade Speak

Remember when I was afraid because Cade wasn't really talking?

It was an unnecessary worry. Of course, not all of his words are understandable. But, they sure are cute. Here are a few examples:

• "Simmin" is swimming
• "Oc-pus" is octopus
• "Ja-ma" is Grandma
• "Jam-pa" is Grandpa
• "Chock-it" is chocolate.
• "Bonkey" is the monkey blanket
• "Munch" is lunch...or dinner...or whenever he wants to eat.

Cade is even putting words together. We are not forming complex sentences, but still...

• "My turn" (amazingly it is ALWAYS Cade's turn)
• "I wan sum" (meaning give me whatever you have)
• "I drop it" (meaning I threw it on the floor)
• "I fall" (accidentally or on purpose)

Some of his favorite shows:

• "Hot Dog" is the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
• "Ill Bear" is Little Bear
• "Bops" is the Doodlebops
• "Fish" is Finding Nemo
• "Pops" is Pop Goes the Wiggles
• "Tots" is Top of the Tots (Wiggles)
• "Boat" is Big Red Boat (Wiggles)
• "Baby" is Praise Baby

There. now, you should be able to decipher some of what Cade says. The important things anyway!

Who's that knocking?

I woke up to the sound of someone knocking. On my door? At 6:40 in the morning?

It was one of those rare, glorious mornings where Cade decided to sleep in a little bit. Which means I get to sleep in a little bit. Usually I awake to the sound of the music box attached to Cade's crib. But not today.

I heard what sounded like knocking. I reached over to turn on the video baby monitor to see what Cade was up to. He was asleep. I looked at the clock. Only 6:40 in the morning. Couldn't be Alba, who cleans our house...she doesn't come before 8:00am. A burglar? Who knocks? Yeah right. Not hearing anything else, and seeing that Cade was okay, I laid back down and closed my eyes.

As I started to drift back into unconsciousness, I heard it again. This time, I kind of freaked out. It sounded like someone was in our house. I smacked my sleeping husband, who stumbled out of bed and down the stairs to make sure we were not being invaded. I stood at the top of the stairs guarding Cade's room.

Then I saw the shadows. Moving across the window on the landing on the stairs. I walked down to the landing, and carefully peeked out between two slats of the blinds. I was fully expecting to see some scary man who looked like a cross between a sharpei and a pterodactyl. But, I didn't.

Apparently, our next door neighbors were having some work done on their roof. And since we live on the surface of the sun, workers start early to avoid as much of the heat as they can.

The knocking I heard? Must have been their hammering. They were working right outside our window basically...and it was coming in on the monitor as well. What a way to start the day.

Jim, Cade, and I went to the Pottery Barn Kids store. Cade had a fun time exploring...playing with trucks, moving sale signs, pushing a little stroller--right out of the store. It was great. Meanwhile, we saw the bed set I really want to get for Cade. But, when Jim added up the pieces I wanted...lets just say it was WAYYYYY more than we wanted (or will for that matter) to spend. Bummer. It is really cool. What we decided was that Jim and Dad (shhhh..don't tell Dad until we butter him up first) could build the bed frame and the hutch. That would save a lot of money. Check out the set here.

Random Ramblings

• I went to JoAnns (a craft store) for storage containers. Came out with so much more. Including wooden letters and things for Caden's "big boy" room. Not that he is ready for it yet, but it is fun to decorate.
• We are leaving to drive to WI on the 4th of July. Is that sad that I am looking forward to it? Yes, a LONG drive, but time with the hubby--without the boykid.
• I should not get the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. I want, want, want! And I am very intensely working on convincing Jim that Cade needs the bed set in the catalog.
• I love the show Intervention on A&E. I get so sucked into people's lives.
• Cade is alternately a sweetheart and a demon. And he is so cute he gets away with a lot.
• My parents are in NY sorting through my Grandmother's house. I don't envy their job...but I do the weather. It is 113 plus here...it was 72 in NY.
• The quote of the day: "The black baby with the furry hair made me turn the TV down low." WHAT?

Dry Drowning?

Just another thing to add to my list of things that I worry about as far as my son goes.

I know. Worrying solves nothing. But, I can't help it. I'm a Mom. A little neurotic, quite possibly a little over protective, but even thought Cade is two, I am still a first time Mom. I just can't shut it off, even though I know I should.

My Mom was telling me about a boy who "dry drowned". If you are interested, read the article here. Basically, the boy who was ten years old, inhaled some water into his lungs and over an hour later--when he was out of the pool and home, he died.

That story is scary. Cade loves water. He loves to be in the pool. He is also fearless when it comes to being in the pool. So, more often than not, he will inhale water. He generally will cough it right back up, but...

Great. Something else to freak out about.

It Started With a Song

Pacifier update:

Day FOUR of no pacifier outside of the crib. We are doing good! Who was less ready to give up the pacifier? Cade or mommy? MOMMY!

As I was playing an on-line scrabble-like game with a girlfriend tonight, over and over again in my head was the Doodlebops. Cade and I had watched the "Bird is the Word" episode before he went to bed last night. Yes, since last night I have had this song running through my head. Wanting to torment my friend (why keep all the pain to myself?) I did a Google search for the lyrics to the song so I could put them in the conversation box in the game.

This is part of the song:

Tweet tweet, polly wanna quack quack

Hoot hoot, cock a doodle do do

Bock bock coo coo a tick tock

Bird is the word

I couldn't find a good video to link so you can understand how sickeningly scary and catchy that song is. So, I am offering that if you want to hear the song, you can call me and I will sing it for you.

So...I found the song lyrics. Harassed my friend with them. Then, I saw the pictures. The Doodlebops unmasked. How totally strange to see these people without their make-up. Looking normal? Is that possible? My cousin told me I wouldn't believe what they looked like a long time ago...but wow!

I am sure I have lost most of you at the beginning of this post. Welcome to my world. Cade LOVES the "BopBops" and since he rules the world....

Bye-bye Binky (Kind of)

Cade is very much attached to his pacifier.

Starting in the hospital, he had one of the green Soothie pacifiers. He loves his pacifiers. We called it his Nuk (after the Gerber Nuk pacifiers--that he wouldn't take) since that is what I called it growing up.

Cade always has a Nuk with him...well, he did. Two weeks ago when he got sick, the doctor really emphasized that it is time to get rid of the pacifier. It is contributing to the fluid in his ears and he is almost two. Just time.

I have been avoiding this for months. The doctor first told me to take it away when he was one. But I wasn't ready and I was sure Cade wasn't. I think it was really helpful through the majority of his teething. But, you reach a point when you know something has to change. I didn't want to end up sending my ten year old to school with a pacifier.

So, I decided to go with the two step plan. First, eliminate Nuk usage outside the crib. Then, eliminate the use at nap time and bed time. The only problem with my plan is getting Cade to leave the Nuk in his crib when he gets out. That usually leads to Cade screaming, "NUK! NUK" and crying hysterically for several minutes. Once we get out of his room and distracted by food or something, he is usually okay. Then he really doesn't think about it unless he gets put in time out. He just isn't sure how to comfort himself with out the Nuk.

So, we have survived our second day.

And this too shall pass.

A Story from Nana

Since I had to work today, Mom baby-sat Cade. Here is the story that I heard from Mom:

After dinner Cade went to play. He took out his pull-along puppy and was walking it around. Then, I am not sure what puppy did wrong but Cade put it in time out! He put the toy on the blue love seat and said: "Sit! Sit!" Then he sat down in his little chair for five seconds, tapping his foot. Then he stood up and went to the puppy and said: "Sorry? Sorry? Sorry?"

Then he took puppy down and almost immediately he had puppy back on the sofa in time out. "Sit! Sit." Caden would sit in his little chair for five seconds..... Over and over.

When I first heard this story, I cracked up. Then I was kind of concerned. Do I put him in time-out too much? No. I don't. He just knows the drill.

At least he isn't beating his puppy as a form of punishment!

In The Night Kitchen

At the baby shower for Cade, each guest was asked to bring a book to begin Cade's own library.

He got such wonderful books and most of them have something written in the front by the person who gave him the book. It is so special and meaningful. To this day, books are one of Cade's most favorite things.

One of the books he got was "In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak. It came from a neighbor and friend of the family who is an English major and was a professor at a local college. I figured with all of her expertise (and having had three kids of her own) this must be a great book.

To be honest, this book was a little strange to me. The story is well, different? Okay, a little weird in my mind. But, the thing that really distracted me was the illustrations of the naked Mickey. And his little penis.

I guess I was shocked. I am not really that much of a prude, I don't think anyway, but seeing how this was a children's book, I wasn't expecting to see Mickey's peepee (as Cade calls it).

Here are some of the pages from the book. This is not the whole story, but you get the idea. I know...you just want to see the pictures.


This is where Mickey almost gets baked into a cake...and has to fly to the Milky Way to get milk.
Hmmmm...strange? Yes!








I had almost forgotten about this book. Cade has a selection of books that we read over and over and over and over and...you get the point. This one was buried in the book shelf. I hadn't thought of it until I saw on a website:
Oh. My. God. Why_are_there_tiny_penises_in_My_child's book?

The post is about a different book, but reading that post cracked me up and reminded me about "Into the Night Kitchen."

Anyone else even just a little disturbed?????

What I Love Most About Retail Pharmacy

I can honestly say that most days I like my job.

I like the people I work with and most of my customers. That makes my work easier. However, it is still work. And, of course, it is still retail. You can sugar coat it all you want, but retail is retail. Retail is stupid people with unbelievable demands and unattainable expectations. It is great!

I have comprised my top ten list of things I love (very sarcastically) about retail pharmacy. Even if you have never worked pharmacy before, you can understand general retail frustrations.

1. "Can you spell that, please?" I love people with crazy names who don't think they need to spell them. I had a customer today with a last name comprise of 11 letters and I swear only like 2 vowels and consonants that don't normally follow each other. He had a thick accent which made it hard to understand him--and I couldn't read what the doctor had written on the script. So, I asked him how to spell his last name and he just repeated the name. I had to ask him again to s-p-e-l-l it. And he looked at me like I was the one being difficult.

2. "Just a minute, please!" I love people who talk on their cell phone...while standing at my counter for me to help them. And tell me to hang on one minute while they continue their call, or whisper to me so they don't interrupt the person they are on the phone with. That makes me want to ask in a loud voice if they are picking up their VIAGRA!

3. "Thanks for your help, but..." I love people who ask me if I can suggest something over-the-counter for them to take for (whatever illness/ailment they are currently experiencing). So, I go out to the aisle and help the person pick a medication that will address their needs and not interact with any other medications or health conditions they might have. After spending five minutes with them, they tell me, "Thanks for your help, but I think I will just take this one" meaning the medication that I recommended they not take. Why ask for my help if you didn't really want it?

4. "Don't kill the messenger! " I know I have entered into a profession where I am made to be the middle man between your insurance company and you, but seriously....I am not trying to withhold your medication or charge you a high co-pay. All I do is submit it on-line and tell you what the insurance company tells me. I make no decisions regarding formularies and/or co-pays. I promise. I want you to get your meds and get out of my pharmacy!

5." Don't call me, I'll call you." Seriously. I told you I would call when the prescription was ready. And I meant it. Calling me twelve times in four hours to see if your pain medication is ready does not speed anything up. In fact, it may land you in the "penalty box." See below for explanation.

6. "A watched pot never boils." And a watched pharmacist moves slower. I love patients who drop a prescription off, hear you tell them that it will be 15 minutes, then walk to the pick-up window and stare at you until you are done filling their prescription. That sends people right into the penalty box. Yes, their prescription then gets a time out while I continue to look busy and make them wait longer. Evil, I know.

7. "Can't you just look it up?" Whether it is a prescription from a competitor, your insurance information, or your spouse's birth date, the answer is a resounding NO! Do you go into a restaurant and tell the waiter that you have a visa card..can't they just look the number up? NO! That would be ridiculous. It is equally ridiculous to expect your pharmacy to have your insurance information if you have never given it to them. And no, all pharmacies are NOT linked. If you filled your prescription at Walgreen's, we will have to have at least their phone number to contact them to transfer the prescription. You don't have it? Ever heard of a phone book? 411? Please, help us help you!

8. "What do you mean its not ready?" What I mean is, its not ready. I am sorry that your doctor's office said that they would call your prescription in and they haven't. I am sorry that the insurance doesn't cover this drug and we are trying to get your doctor to get it covered or switched. I am sorry that the prescription your brought in dated three months ago (but decided today you needed it immediately) is on order for tomorrow.

9. "Great planning!" I love the people who call in their prescriptions that have no refills AFTER they have run out of pills. The girls...on Sunday, when they are supposed to start their new pack of birth control...and have no refills and are angry when they try to refill it and they can't. And NO, I will not fill it without the doctor's okay. I am sorry you are leaving for vacation tomorrow--out of the country--for six weeks. But, I will not advance you your narcotic medication. Come on, people. Figure it out. Take responsibility of your own medications.

10. "You're the pharmacist?" you ask in a skeptical voice. Yes, I am female. Yes, I am young. And yes, I am the pharmacist.

A Battle of Wills and a Trip to the Park

Cade woke up from his nap in a fit.

Not normal for him. We are still getting over his upper respiratory thing and I think he woke up because he was coughing. I think that made him mad. So, my sweet little angel baby was kicking his crib, throwing his stuffed animals out, smacking his crib attachment that plays music...then he threw his pacifiers out. He was really mad then and couldn't calm himself down. Not that he really appeared like he wanted to calm down. I watched all of this on the video monitor. I was a little angry (mainly because I expected him to sleep for another hour and had just laid down on the bed to take a nap) that he was throwing his stuff and having a fit. I went in there and pulled the crib attachment off and took what was left in his crib out.

That made him more mad. I was hoping he would settle back down and sleep some more, but I was wrong. He screamed louder.

I went back in and told him that he makes me angry when he throws his things and that he needed to calm down and pick up his toys and put them back in the crib. I lifted him out of his crib and stood him on the floor and sat down in the rocker in his room. He stood there--facing away from me holding his blanket over his face. He stood like that for like 5 minutes. Finally, I got up and told him to pick up his stuff one more time and walked out of the room.

Back to the video monitor. I think he was pretty unsure what to do with himself. He sat down on the floor for a few minutes...laid down. Got back up...and finally put all the stuff back in his crib. Score one for mommy...

After that, Cade and I went downstairs for a snack and to watch some Noggin. We like Noggin and usually Little Bear is on when he wakes up. But, since he was up earlier, we had to watch Yo Gabba Gabba. Actually, we watched about ten minutes of this insane show before I made Cade go to the park. Outside in 108 degree weather was a better option than watching this show. Watch the clip. Even though this is not the episode we saw, you will get the point. You will understand.

A Letter Filled with Love

Dear Joshua,

You have recently criticized the lack of length and substance in my blog. And although "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" rings true in my head, I feel I must address some of the issues you have brought forth.

You pointed out that your blog posts have almost four times the volume compared to mine. I would agree that is true. However, to defend myself, I would like to point out that I am just clear and concise. I wish not to waste my readers time by rambling on unnecessarily when a short paragraph will get the same message across.

You also imply that my blog posts may lack some of the important topics as compared to yours. I know that I sometimes include excuses of why I haven't posted, but most of those are just to keep my curious readers updated on my whereabouts. I know that I don't cover as deep of topics as you (ie Rambo and the Chipmunks or PIMP) but I think I give just enough to keep people coming back.

I may not include the videos in every post like you do. Goodness knows where people would be if they never saw the video that talks about Mucklucks and Blubber...or the MILF song. Thank you for posting that one by the way since then our Mother asked me to explain what a MILF was. I do, however, try my best to include lots of pictures and when I can, videos of my son.

I apologize for my failings, and will try harder to have longer posts more frequently. But, I must point out that maybe you age gives you more life experience to write about. I am soooo much younger than you . Just thought I should make you aware of that.

I would also like to tell you that I didn't write the poem about you being a slacker. I simply posted it since our dear Mother wrote it and wanted to share it with those who would enjoy it. Apparently, you are not one of those people.

In closing, I would like to make the key points again for you. No, I don't think I will. That would just make this post unnecessarily longer.

With lots of love,
Courtney

PS. I love you, Josh. And I miss you. Even when you are picking on me...Can't wait to see you!

I Get a Gold Star!

I think Mom needs her own blog...what do you think?

Here is her latest poem:

Ode to a NON Slacker!

A slacker you say?
A slacker you’re not!
I looked and I check
And its not what you are.

You get the gold star!
The high five! The prize!
You are the ONLY one blogging
Right before my eyes!

I checked in with Jeremy
Jenn, Jenae, and Josh, too.
And ‘though they are busy,
Their blogs show nothing NEW.

All the “J’s” may be working hard.
Is a job a reason not to say
All the important and funny things
That happen each day?

I look forward to blogs
You all have me hooked
Your life is written and shared
Like a continuous chapter book.

So hooray to you, Courtney
Keep up the stories to read
And to all of you “J’s”
An update, please!

How I Felt on Monday Morning

After trying to give a screaming, back-arching, hands-flying, feet-kicking almost two-year-old Monkey a breathing treatment, I feel the same as I did yesterday.

Any offers?

How I Felt On Sunday

Cade has been sick. It has been bad.

A Real "Ode" to a Slacker

I got an email from my mom today. Apparently she thinks I don't post enough.

Of course, I do have a sick child. We survived the Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease...we weathered through 11 days of vomiting and diarrhea...only to face plant into an upper respiratory viral infection. Sooooo...back on the steroids and breathing treatments.

Of course, I have been working a lot, too. I will have 34 hours this week--so much for "part" time employment. But, the money is good and we are trying to get ahead a little bit. Thank goodness my wonderful Mom is willing to baby-sit extra every now and then! Luckily, her overtime charges are less than mine!

So, even though my mom knows I have been working--and has been the one mainly taking care of my sick kid--she sends me this:

Oh slacker, oh slacker
We sit and we wait.
Oh slacker, oh slacker
Why are you late?

We love to be current.
We love to know.
We love to be current.
You are so slow!

Oh slacker, oh slacker
Your blog must be new.
Oh slacker, oh slacker
What should we do?

We love to be current
To know what you think.
We love to be current.
Your blog is our link.

Oh slacker, oh slacker
Reform your ways!
Oh slacker, oh slacker
Please start today!

We love to be current.
What can Caden do?
We love to be current.
We are counting on you!

So slacker, oh slacker
We beg you today!
Oh slacker, oh slacker
Please change your ways!

Thanks, Mom!

Ode to a Slacker

Yeah....you will really not be getting a poem.

However, I could give you a list of excuses why I haven't posted but most of them would be boring. Two of the more exciting reasons are:

• drank 99 Banana's with Mom Friday night


• went to the Kenny Chesney concert on Saturday night

Both events were very fun...but very exhausting. I think several days later I am still recovering.

Cade had his last class of the semester at Little Gym today. Mom came along to take pictures and see what Cade has learned. It is amazing how far he has come in less than a year. Enjoy the pics!