My Fat Dog

Good girl, Morgan.  Good girl.

Miss Morgan has always been a petite thing of a lab.  At 65 lbs. she was lean and healthy.  Well, she is still healthy, according to the vet who gave Morgan first 'senior' visit.  Teeth couldn't be cleaner, eyes and hips in good shape, blood work (all $300 worth)...perfect.  Then Morgan got on the scale.  Much like her human mom, she hesitated, sighed and slowly stepped on the scale...one paw at a time.  The numbers went up.  And up.  And up.  They crept up to 65 and kept going. 70...75...78 pounds. Morgan turned her head and looked up at me with eyes that could turn the devil into a baby angel.  I looked back at her...knowing her pain of getting older...and a little more fluffy.  I turned 30.  She turned 7.  I don't think either of us feel older, but somehow our love of eating good things is taking more effort to conceal.  And if no effort is made there is absolutely no concealing.  Crap.

She gained over 10 pounds.  Not surprising.  This dog likes  sneaking a bite of her siblings food like a homeless man likes a McDonald's dumpster.  At one point we estimate that she was probably downing almost 4 cups of food at breakfast.  She is now getting a little less food in her bowl and then quarantined from the others while they graze.  

I told her that if she had to lose the weight then I would, too.  We are in this together.  Two best friends...having each others backs as we grow up and older together... and navigating all that goes along with that.  

As a reminder of our goals I put a picture of a Victoria's Secret model on the fridge...and got an obvious smile on Steve's face...and Morgan got a picture of a sexy show-dog of an English Lab above her bowl...and a big smile on Moose's face.

Neither of us have a lot to lose, but it's nice to know we can face it together...just like everything else we do.

Clean Well

As soon as I get all geared up with lots to blog about...she got sick, I got sick, he got sick...we all got sick!

Wondering who was the culprit and how the germs spread will drive me crazy...so I have decided that it does not matter.  We are all sick and there is nothing we can do now but wait it out.  Sometimes we cannot predict or prevent these things, try as we might.  Apparently there was a stomach bug going around at Turtle's school.  Bonding over the porcelain throne is a great experience, isn't it?!

I always make the kids use sanitizer before eating since it's 99% guaranteed that little hands have something gross.  I actually switched from the alcohol based dissolving gel stuff to a kid-friendly, all-natural hand sanitizer made by Clean Well.  Before I switched over I would have to take Boo's hands and rub in the sanitizer quickly before she stuck that glob of alcohol in her mouth.  I was at the grocery store and walked past a display of this 'Clean Well' stuff...and took it for a test drive.  It is made of essential plant oils that are proven to kill 99.9% of germs...just like the good 'ol alcohol stuff...and it's safe for kids.  The essential oil is, of course, a sustainable solution and it is not tested on animals...what more could we want?!  I then discovered they had a travel size spray and wipes for the grocery cart and things in public places you don't want to touch without cleaning.  So, although I do not want Boo to drink the stuff, I don't panic if it's not completely rubbed in.  One less thing to worry about...isn't that what life is all about?!  Best part...it's at the grocery store...not the expensive, all organic grocery store...the regular grocery store that sells Cheerios and Goldfish.  I am all about it; www.CleanWellToday.com.

Now I'm on the hunt for the best, natural household cleaning solution.  My biggest concern is the carpet cleaner.  With 12 paws running around my house I know that the chemicals I use in the steam cleaner cannot be good.  

Ready, Set, Go

I didn't have a New Year's resolution.  If I did it would have been to actually get out my laptop and write all the crazy things that I want to share.  By the time I get home, kiss everyone hello, make dinner, clean up and breath, I make up some excuse to not get back up and write.  I think I will be stealing the iPad from Steve and taking it to work...at least to draft.  No more excuses.

The holidays went off without a hitch and we made it home from the northeast after being snowed in for an extra two days at my brothers house with his family, taking a trip to Vermont with friends and spending New Year's in Connecticut playing Catch Phrase (which, if you have not played this handheld electronic game...you must...with a drink in your hand...hilarious!).  

Getting back into a routine, as much as it was needed, was hard.  It was definitely hard for the kids I watch, too.  After almost two weeks off we started Monday, January 3, 2011 with 8 am carpool; beginning with drop-offs at two schools and then back around town to do grocery shopping and run a few errands, including getting mitten clips to avoid those losing those little hand warmers...and then off to the other side of town for Music Together class.  Our favorite.

'Music Together' is our weekly fun and dance class with a dozen other ladies with children in tow.  We have an amazing teacher that can somehow make moms/nannys and kids get up and smile AND be energetic on a Monday morning...thank goodness.  This 45-minute class which is a mixed aged for 0-5 years, is all about early childhood music education.  Little Boo and I love it and listen to the CD that comes with enrollment every single day.  It has really helped her as she explores the world of talking...and singing.  The most amazing thing is that classes are held all over the world and all their teachers and programs are phenomenal.  Their web-site is www.musictogether.com . Definitely check it out if you have time with a little one!  It is B and Boo approved!  Although I am sure the fees vary, we only paid $38 for 12 classes at the local rec center, two CDs (one for the car and for home...how thoughtful!), a song book and one excited 2-year old.

If only they could teach the secrets of disarming 2-year-old defiance and temper tantrums...the first adolescence...and getting a sassy 7-year-old to sit still for 2 minutes at one time.

Characters at Home

There are so many important people in my life, but the most important heartbeats wake up with me every morning.

There is Steve...the guy that makes my heart smile and my stomach feel like there are butterflies in it every single day.  So much more to be said...I will have to spread it out over time, but here is a little insight into my Mr. Perfect.  An Irish-Italian comedian at home and a computer guy by day.  He is sweet and generous, smart and protective, caring and so much fun to hang out with.  All of which makes up for all the WWII stuff he loves to collect.

Meet Rita...she is a 5-year-old blond cocker spaniel.  Twenty pounds of licks and love.  She was rescued from an abusive home and never looked back.  Steve adopted her about 2 years ago.  She barks and goes pee in the house, just because she can.  She loves to cuddle and walk around most of the time with a tennis ball in her tiny mouth.  She loves tennis balls so much that Steve decided he would order a couple hundred...enough to fill the tub...and put Rita right in the middle.  We now have more tennis balls than any sane person would have, Wimbledon champion or not.  She has this little nub of a tail which goes a mile-a-minute.  She wears a little, red, hooded sweatshirt because I cut all her hair off at the Do-It-Yourself doggie groomer.  Sometimes I giggle in sweetness when I see Steve carrying her around in his arms...a 6-foot-tall guy loving on this cute, little, blond thing-of-a-pup...with a red sweatshirt on.  I don't think she could be loved more.

Moose is, well, a Moose.  He was so small when I brought him home...7 pounds.  One round ball of fuzz.  He got the nick-name 'Nugget' and stole my heart.  He celebrated his first birthday this October in style.  He is now 90 pounds of pure wiggle, love and laughs, which landed him the nick-name 'Mr. Mans'.  He is a full-bred Chocolate English Labrador.  He grunts, as if to speak, when he wants something or when  someone is looking at him.  He usually has a tennis ball or toy in his mouth.  He wears Doggles when he travels in the car so he can hang his head waaaay out the window and not get bugs in his eyes while his ears go flopping and his jowls look like he's blowing a raspberry on a glass window.  Whatever name I am calling him, he makes me laugh and smile and giggle every single day...even when I'm just plain pissed at the world.

Miss Morgan.  World's Most Perfect Dog.  She is technically Moose's aunt...his father's sister.  So she is, of course, a chocolate lab.  She is 7 years-old and pretty much perfect in every way and every sense of the word.  She is alpha in our little pack of paws.  Quiet and peaceful...she eats before the other pups, takes the toys when she wants them and does not feel the need to participate in the shenanigans of sibling rivalry that Rita and Moose do 23 hours a day.  She curls up on the couch or the man chair by the fireplace and sleeps during the day.  She doesn't pull on her leash.  She is amazing with children of all ages, even when they are putting yogurt covered fingers near her eye balls and sitting on her back.  She jumps in bed to snuggle under the covers until I fall asleep and then she hops down to the floor...only to jump back up and curl tightly next to me with a 'good morning' nuzzle when the alarm goes off in the morning.  She loves the water, especially floating on a raft for hours in the pool.  Loyal and loving.  Amazing.  So amazing.  She did eat an entire pepperoni pizza once.

Steve and I decided to share a home just a couple months ago.  Five heartbeats...most of the time sharing one bed...and one silly, happy family.

The Characters

The main characters in the play I call 'My Life' are the three children I spend most of my waking hours corralling. For entertainment sake I will be going by their nicknames.

The youngest, Little Boo, just turned 2 years old.  She is a platinum blond firecracker of a toddler.  She gives the best hugs, can sing along to her favorite CD and can scream louder than a pissed off hyena.   She is my buddy...we spend all day, everyday together.  She is also potty-training.

The middle child, a quiet boy I call Turtle, is placed in between his two intense sisters.  He never moves very fast...taking his time to do everything, especially when we're in a hurry.  He is 5-years-old, sweet and easy-going.  I am always trying to figure out ways to make sure he doesn't get lost in the middle.  He spends his mornings in pre-school and the rest of his day with me.

The oldest is a 7-year-old determined, confident, sassy young lady.  She is sympathetic and loving.  She is also whinny and emotional...just like the best of us.  She is in 2nd grade, learning what the wrath of homework is.  Our afternoons are spent working and crafting in between taking the Sharpies out of Boo's hand before the wall gets a new paint job.

Their parents are hard-working co-owners of a fast-growing company.  The better their business gets the harder we all work.  I keep some of the details going at home:  laundry, grocery shopping, getting kids to and from school and activities...and lots of random details.  I drive a mini-van, which I have backed into a pole and carry tiny princess underwear in my purse, along with granola bars and wet wipes.

Discipline, routine, love, cuddles, crafts, cooking, cleaning, reading, teaching, listening and learning...just some of the things I practice everyday.  I learn from my mistakes and take in advice to from all over the place to better myself.  Sometimes I feel like super-woman and somedays I drive home in tears.  This is my job and life...and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

why I want to Blog

I'm a nanny to three children.   Let me break down my job description:  A caregiver, a nurturer, a teacher, a disaplinarian, a therapist, an eye-roller, a nurse, a translator, a chauffer, a dishwasher, a maid, a chef, a personal assistant - my day job -  a mother and housewife for hire.

I am also a girlfriend and mother to three dogs who are my 'kids'.  My duties of chef and maid continue at home.  I get to give and receive love in every sense of the word, to the greatest capacity...it's my greatest joy.

I love kids, I love taking care of people.  I love organizing and finding creative solutions.  Doing these things is what makes me happiest and it's what I do best.  Would I be a successful executive running a big company...I have no idea.  It probably wouldn't give me the satisfaction I get when I see that mayonaise stain gone!  

I practiced nursing before I decided that the crazy hours and paperwork didn't exactly fulfill my vision of what I wanted in a career.  I wasn't getting what I wanted out of it...but I sure did learn a lot!  

My transition in nanny-hood came at  a time when my life was changing in every aspect.   With the support of my family, friends and two loyal chocolate labs, I had just packed up and left my job and a man, both of which were not fulfilling what I needed.  I was approaching 30 and I had been feeling like a gerbil on a wheel - just running to keep the thing I called life spinning - even though I was going nowhere.  One girl, two dogs, a U-Haul and 300 miles later, I had moved on from a relationship and had started a new career.  All of a sudden I felt like that wheel I was running on was finally going somewhere...and so was I.  Not long after I met the man of my dreams...talk about icing on the cake.  I took some chances, invisioned what I wanted my life to be and made it happen.

With that vision, dedication and hard work I put together my nursing background and I experience I had starting my undergrad in education, along with my knack for all things domestic and landed where I am now.