The Thing About My Ring

My husband lost his wedding ring while swimming in Lake Mead. He really shouldn't have been wearing it but I honestly don't think he should have been swimming in that nasty disease filled lake in the first place. This was back in 2009 or something though. I wasn't really mad about it. We were going to replace it and move on.

Then in late 2010 I lost my wedding ring. I had bloated with my pregnancy and had placed it in a non-safe place on the TV tray next to our couch. Which is when we got swept up in the excitement of packing to move. We moved the tray, my ring disappeared and I was saddened. I was upset that both of us had lost our rings but it was kind of funny. I mean, how many happily married couples both lose their rings?

There were several times that we were going to buy new replacement rings but things kept happening to stop us. We had to use the money to fix his car. The company couldn't find the record of our first purchase. We couldn't find the website. We have specialized engraved rings so our choices were limited as to where to get them. We made it a goal to get our rings by our fifth wedding anniversary (we still have a year and a half).

Then on Sunday I lost my engagement ring! I have lost it quite a few times since Chunko was born but this time I was sure it was gone forever (which is what I think every time, of course). The last time we saw it, Chunko was trying to eat it. I thought that he had managed to swallow it and I was trying to figure out if I was going to have to sift his poo to get it back. Then I thought that we had thrown it out with the trash. What if I had left it at Denny's when we out to eat? I was freaking out to say the least...

I was so desperate I messaged a mommy friend of mine to see if she might have any intuitions on where it might be (she's been spot on with other questions in the past). I didn't think anything would come of it but I figured it would make me feel better to ask...

She immediately wrote back and said that she saw Chunko taking it from a bedside table and to look under the bed/ couch... I spazzed out. Who has a couch in their bedroom? Um, we do and we just put it there 2 weeks ago. Also, the last time we remember seeing the ring was on my bedside table. I rushed upstairs and made my husband check the couch. When we tilted it, we heard a rattle!!

I kept getting the feeling it was my ring but not that it was my engagement ring. We ended up cutting into the bottom of the couch but still found nothing. I was ready to tear the stupid thing into pieces but my dad wanted us to exhaust all our options before we tore it apart. He kept going back to the dryer and so we looked under it... Nothing. Since we were there, we lifted the washer... and there it was!!!! My engagement ring all shiny and clean!!

It looks like Chunko took it off my nightstand and was playing with it when he either dropped it or threw it under the washer.

I still had a nagging feeling that whatever was rattling in the couch was important. I made my husband shake, rattle and roll the couch all over our room (it's good to know how sturdy that thing really is). I finally clasped on something and pulled out a black washer ring... I was so pissed. I did not just go through all that for a stupid crappy toy! I picked up the couch and kind of threw it in a slight tantrum.

Something rattled in the couch again! I begged my love to have patience with me for another search and he sighed and shrugged. After a bit more struggling I grabbed something small.... My wedding ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found my wedding ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am in total awe over my MMM friend and if she hadn't mentioned the couch I would have never looked there and never would have found it.
The funny "things happen for a reason" part is that we almost got rid of the couch so many times (like 6 separate times) and ended up just keeping it. We have moved that couch from old house to new house and from one room to another, up and down stairs and never once did something rattle in it. Why would it suddenly start last night?
And what about all the times we almost bought new rings and things kept happening to stop us?

I honestly don't care. I am on cloud 9 and dancing jigs to celebrate my rings being back.
I keep looking down and staring at them like I am a newlywed again.
I love my unique rings and I am so frickin happy!!!

Hallelujah!!!

Frickity Frack

^I just love my Baby Bug!!! He's so sweet and handsome!!

This is our sixth Christmas together and in these past years I never thought that the holiday season could be so easy and so peaceful. I keep waiting for the next disaster but hoping for the best, too. I'm very confused. We're still procrastinating on our Christmas shopping but that's just how we are. We've decided that this year we're celebrating Christmas the good old fashioned way with crafts and cookies. We won't be letting presents and the kids tendency to be greedy get in our way. I have never so unstressed in December since I was a teen ager.

Chunko is ruling the house no matter how much we try to stop him. He's speaking more often and surprising us with more words. His new favorite phase is "Uh, yeah" said as sarcastically as a person can. He obsessively plugs our electronics in still and has figured out how to break the child proof plugs so they no longer work. Apparently being able to take the plug out wasn't good enough for him, he felt he had to completely destroy his adversary. Chunko also hates wearing diapers now. He has peed and than sat on his potty so he's getting closer to training. He keeps stripping all his clothes off and then running around until we finally catch him and fight his clothes back on. He doesn't use his binky during the day as much anymore, so I'm not as worried as I was before about weaning. He does still go to bed with 3 of them... hmmm...

Fart Bone's grades are progressively getting back to straight "A's" and we're working on his aversion to homework. He really likes school and doing certain projects but he would rather spend the day playing Bey Bladez battles with his friends. I get that. I wanted to read all day. It's a challenge finding ways for him to expend his excess energy after we get home in evening, especially with it being so darn cold now, but we're trying to be more lenient with his nightly gymnastics. Both boys enjoy taking off the couch cushions and then leaping on them.

Ham-Da is turning 15 this weekend!!! That means only 3 years and 6 more days of child support! Okay, so I'm joking... Mostly... Okay, totally. I'm going to really hate when she's 18 and ready for the world. She's like one of my own and I'm nowhere near ready for that yet! (yeah, she was 8 when I met her... this sucks)
We have a very fun weekend planned and hopefully everything goes well for her. She planned it all for the most part, so it's how she wants it. Friday is the "teen" party and Saturday is the "family" party, just as she asked. Ever since we've restricted her from almost everything, her grades are exceptional and her attitude is far better. She still has her moments but sheesh, so do I. I really wish she'd stop growing though, cause all we ever do is buy her new clothes!

I didn't get the job I thought I wanted. I liked the title but once I realized what the position entailed, I realized it wasn't for me. I need to be up front greeting people, helping our families directly every day. I need to continue working closely with our directors on our files. I was a bit down on myself and my job for a few weeks but I'm baaaacccckk. A position opened up and several members of our staff assumed that I would not only apply, but easily receive it. That made me feel so wonderful with their kindness. I didn't understand how much confidence they put in my work and what I do. I've stopped throwing my tantrum and will take on this new year with the gusto and heart only I can offer. I have many mentors in my office and I am going to take their knowledge and run with it.
(that just puts a creepy zombie-like image in my mind of someone stealing another's brain and running with it... eeewww, weird).

I cannot help but feel truly blessed at this point in our life. We are being granted a chance to fix our credit so that we can have the things we want (our own house, a new car for me, cars for the kids (ugh, that's coming)). My boys are not only healthy and strong but incredibly smart. My sisters live close to me and we all get to see each other often (like every weekend!!). I'm building a positive relationship with my mother, something we haven't allowed for years. My step girl still likes me and we are creating a trusting relationship of honesty and fun. I call her on her bullcrap and she calls me on mine. We miss her terribly on the weekends she's not here.

Watching the latest Modern Family episode made my heart so full and hurt so much, too. They are a blended family that has come together so well and are so happy even with their oddities. I can't help but hurt, though. I am so happy that our family has also overcome being blended with steps and half siblings. I just wish... well, we all know what I wish. Moving on. We all are one big happy family and are on pretty good standing with my love's ex (which I seriously never thought could happen) where we are working together for the best future. That sounds so lame like some Hallmark card or something. But it's true. It's been so hard and I feel so sentimental and happy that we're not celebrating the holidays with the annual fight over who gets who when.

Oh and I bought our first Harajuku outfit for Snack Cake!!! She looks too adorable for words!!! I cannot wait to buy the next outfit!! I am so glad I have an adorable baby girl to buy outfits for!!!

And now I must go and try to put a diaper on our naked, peeing as he's running baby... Feeling so blessed right now.