"L" is for...

Loud = neon green blog screens. I couldn't look at the computer for more than three seconds without feeling my breakfast attempt to make a reappearance. Whoever was visiting from Peru yesterday afternoon and spent two hours cruising the archives, you might want to get checked for radiation exposure.

Laughable or Lame? = my attempt at drawing lurkers out and telling me how they arrived here. I suspected that people would come out of the woodwork if for no other reason than to shout "GET RID OF THE GREEN!!!" Sorry. I know that was terribly obnoxious. But in a funny kind of way. No?

Layout = as in blog. It's something I'm still working on. Darn that there are so many options - this is why it took me so long to convert to the new template. I think I like the earth tones best. Although I'm not sure if I want a light page color background - or simply white.

Lovable = the only thing better than one Henry is two.


Lifestyle = Charlie picked up a box of chocolate peanut butter cups at Trader Joe's. I love Reese's and these are even better than those. Yesterday afternoon Charlie asked "You know what goes really well with a cup of coffee?" since I'm not a coffee drinker, I shrugged and suggested "A breath mint?" he shook his head and said "No, a chocolate peanut butter cup!" A moment later, after seeing Charlie dig in to the stash, I asked "Hey. You know what goes really well with air?"

Lipitor = something I will need to take soon if my diet continues to include high amounts of milk chocolate. And butter - which was spread all over chocolate pancakes, this morning.

Leg = as in cramps. The kind that I'm surely going to suffer when I start training for a 10K run that I'm going to complete later this summer. There is only so much nonstop chocolate eating that one can do before the repercussions become extremely noticeable on one's hips, thighs and buttock region.

Leave = as in, of absence. I'm due to return to work, part-time, May 1.

Link = this clip reminds me of what may be in store once I return to the work force. These are probably staged, but even so, I especially love the guy that throws his monitor OVER the cubicle and then keeps on typing. (Thanks, cousin Regina!!)

Lost = one hour from the day because of day light savings time. Also, part of my sanity in trying to get four children to bed while the sun is still up.

Leaks = particularly those that occur at 2 AM from the diaper of a three-year-old and flood the bed on which she sleeps with her sister.

Lunacy = the variety that occurs at 2 AM when a three-year-old wakes up screaming that she is "WET! OH NO I WET! I WET! I WET!!!!" and in doing so, wakes up her three-year-old sister that screams "OH NO! I WET! I WET! I WET!!!"

Loss = as in patience. Initiated by three-year-old lunacy at 2 AM, and results in parental hissing through clenched teeth that they need to "STOP! TALKING! FOR! PETE'S! SAKE!!"

Libido = Um. Still not ready to write about that.

Lift off = less than 24 hours from now.

Legacy = as in, Writer. Although I completed my Will six months ago, I am finally having it notarized today. Charlie finished his Will last night. We cried the whole time it was printing out - just imagining our children with out us. Then, we ate ice cream and felt much better.

Lists = for clothes to pack, for supplies to purchase, for things to do before I leave, for things for Charlie to do after I leave.

Laundry = the loads and loads to do before packing for a trip. The conclusion, on behalf of my husband, that he does not like ALL detergent because it doesn't suds up enough. And also, the realization that inadvertently washing a diaper makes a real mess. Particularly when you find a chunk of poop that made it through the final rinse but was luckily spotted before being tossed in to the dryer.

Letting = as in, go of control. I'm definitely struggling with this. Evidenced by the fact that not only did I pack a suitcase for Henry, Elizabeth and myself ... but I also completely packed suitcases (and carry-on bags) for William and Carolyn and Charlie - who won't be leaving until four days after us. When Charlie said he was planning to pack "A bunch of shorts and t-shirts" for the children - for a long weekend in NORTHERN California, I almost canceled the whole trip.

Logistics = I am absolutely, positively, completely unable to leave a house for an extended trip without it being thoroughly cleaned. It is nearly impossible to clean a house, pack for two separate trips - to two completely different climates - with four children underfoot.

Loony = the place you go when you're trying to pack for two separate vacations, clean the house, wash an untold amount of laundry with four small children underfoot, three of whom are desperately trying to UNPACK the bags that are finished.

Lb = as in pounds. Making sure that the one suitcase that I'm packing for Elizabeth, Henry and myself doesn't exceed 50.

Limit = the number of clothes and shoes that I'm packing because anything over 50 pounds will result in an additional charge and/or a whole lot of hassle moving stuff to my carry-on bags.

Latch = something I'm really hoping my mother's car has in Florida. Installing carseats with seat belts is a real hassle.

License = as in drivers. Definitely not something I want to forget when I leave on Tuesday.

Lactating = something I'm really glad that I am doing, because it means I don't have to haul formula and bottles on my trip.

Liquor = something I really wish I could drink a lot of before I get on the plane on Tuesday. However, refer to item, above. And - the fact that I'll be the only adult with two small children. Probably not a good idea to get completely smashed before boarding.

Luggage = I'll write about everything I packed once I get back. I'm running out of time at the moment.

Last = as in minute, doctor visit, first thing this morning to have the ears of all four children checked to confirm that they are clear and there are no brewing infections. All were clear. But this was definitely necessary since at last count, there are still three stuffed up noses. Not counting mine.


Lady 1 = the one that shared the elevator down with us from the doctor's office while William was screaming "KISS IT! KISS IT!!" about a microscopic cut on his finger, Elizabeth was trying to trigger the emergency call switch, Carolyn was laying on the floor pretending to be sleeping, and Henry was pulling my shirt up with both hands - while he was nursing. She tapped me on the shoulder (this is 100% pure honesty) to tell me that at least I have it easy because the triplets were born at the same time. She had two children and they were born 11 months apart. It seldom happens that I'm completely speechless, but today all I could say was "Wow." Then I added "You actually had sex within a year of giving birth?"

Lady 2 = the other lady that shared the elevator down with us in the neck brace that started laughing so hard she began to cry.

Lapse = as in, memory tied to the fact that you no longer wear diapers during the day. It's what happened today while shopping for special new airplane toys on aisle 5 at Target.


Longfellow Serenade = my favorite Neil Diamond song. Followed closely by Forever in Blue Jeans. Just in case you were wondering.

Life = that thing you must constantly seize. Even if it means putting all your fears aside and climbing on a plane for a visit with people you love.

Later = as in 'gator. As in, all of you. I'll be incommunicado for the next week, but (God willing) we'll be back next Wednesday with pictures and stories. Hopefully, all good.

Thank you so very much for leaving me a note and telling me how you have stumbled upon this blog. I'm so glad that you are here, sharing in our amazing trip of life.