MM:  You look really cute in that dress.  Why do you only wear cute dresses when you’re pregnant?

Me:  They don’t make “cute” dresses in my size when I’m not pregnant.

As some of you know, we have been experiencing a refrigerator saga.  Our refrigerator died on May 10.  The sealant system (compressor, evaporator and other related things) was still covered by the factory warranty because we bought the refrigerator in August 2004.  (In case anyone reading this ever needs this information: these systems are usually covered for five years, not the standard one year.)  Anyway, after seven visits from the repair guy and corresponding time off from work (not including one day when the repair guy didn’t show up for his 11-2 timeslot until 4:55 p.m. and we weren’t at the house to let him in), replacement of two compressors and one evaporator, today (visit number eight) the repair guy calls the tech people, who say to try replacing the “jazz board.”  I have no idea what this is, nor do I want to know.  What I do care about, though, is that after a month of “hunt and peck” repairs, the manufacturer is trying something completely different that isn’t covered under warranty.  Not only does this entail spending money, which infuriates me after a month without a refrigerator, it also means yet another day waiting for the refrigerator repair guy.  (The repair guy’s name is Sal, his mother had surgery a week and a half ago, and is doing well, by  the way.)  Sal is kind enough to get the customer 800 number for me to call to explain the situation and why I don’t think I should need to pay for this.

I called the repair line.  The first person was the entry level person/directory, who passed me on to whatever department it is that should be called “problem customers – handle with care.”  I was actually being very direct, but not yelling/swearing or anything, just explaining the situation.  She passed me on to someone who had clearly dealt with people who were really upset on a regular basis.  There was an obvious “I’ve heard this all before” tone to her voice.  As I explained the situation, she said the part wasn’t under warranty, there was nothing she could do except offer us a $50 gift certificate to take our family out to dinner (because taking a 4 1/2 year old and an almost-2-year old out to dinner is so much less stressful than just dealing with the lack of refrigerator).  Finally, I asked to speak to someone else who might be able to help me.  After about four minutes on hold, getting more frustrated the longer I waited, I was connected to Lenicia, in management.

Lenicia asked me to review the situation.  I started off calmly enough, but as I got to the end of the story, the frustration and hormones kicked in and I just started crying.  I explained about the time off work, the fact that, after a month I’m now being asked to pay for a repair I have no hope will actually fix the problem, that my children haven’t had fresh fruit since all of this started (not exactly true, but it has been a royal pain keeping apples for the boys) and that I was tired of going to the grocery store every day because we can’t store any food in our house (again, technically, MM has been going to the grocery store almost every day, but hey, I was on a roll.)  Magically, Lenicia agreed with my assessment of the situation.  The part is being sent to the house from wherever it is and should be here Monday or Tuesday.  More importantly, Lenicia agreed that, if this repair does not fix the problem, the repair history will be forwarded to be reviewed and the company will probably do some kind of buy back or pro rated coverage of a replacement refrigerator.

So, sometimes it’s good to cry.  Those of you who know me well know that I must have been really frustrated and very hormonal.  Both are true.  I’ll be sure to thank Duckling for this if it ever gets resolved.

MM was at home today waiting for the refrigerator repairman (this is visit number six).  Unlike me, who actually works from home, when he’s home waiting for the refrigerator guy, he’s off work.  So, to make the most of his time off, MM picked up the toys around the living room, cleaned up in general, loaded and ran the dishwasher and found the kitchen island.  A man who cleans… wouldn’t trade him for anything (not just for his cleaning skills, but they certainly don’t hurt)!!!!

LBoaM has discovered board books and Dr. Seuss (and friends) and Eric Carle and Goodnight Moon.  Currently we’re rotating through six books, all hand-me-downs from Chatterer.  So far, his favorite is “Are You My Mother?”  He especially likes the “snort” pages because I make funny noises when I say “snort.”    He also likes the “jump” parts because I bounce him up and down on my lap during those pages.  It’s good to see him loving reading as much as his big brother does.

Today was Chatterer’s first swimming lesson of the summer.  C’s school has been really good about getting him into his clothes for after school activities (until now, gymnastics) before I get there.  So, since it was the first day, I arrived a little early to pick him up and, sure enough, he’s already in his swimsuit.  We loaded into the car and went to the house where swim lessons are held.  As we are getting out of the car, I look around and realize I have C’s dry shorts that he changed out of and a towel, but no underwear.  The conversation goes like this:

Me:  C, I think we left  your underwear at school, so I don’t know what we’re going to do after swim lessons.

C: [Silence.]

Me: C, I didn’t see your underwear in your cubby, are you still wearing them?

C: Um… yes.

Me: C, you’re still wearing your underwear under your swimsuit?  But then it will get all wet during swimming lessons!  Did you forget to take them off?

C: Yes.

Me: C, you’re silly!!!  You know we don’t wear underwear in the water because then it will get all wet!

C: I forgot!

[Giggles and laughter all around.]  I held up a towel and he fixed the problem, amid much giggling.

As many of you know (many of you were actually there at the time), MM and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary on Friday.  Rather than try to do something in the evening, we went to a local restaurant (with tablecloths!!!) for lunch.  It’s been a fun filled 10 years, highlighted by our two boys’ births and multiple other milestones.  I remain incredibly happy that I found MM when I did and that he continues to put up with me and my eccentricities.  Here’s to another lifetime of laughs and love.

The weekend has been something interesting.  Some new ideas:

1.  Taking two small boys to visit model houses nearby was more fun for them than running around the playground at McDonald’s.  Completely exhausting.

2.  Taking two small boys to the park for an hour and a half to run around and get dirty is also completely exhausting to all involved.

3.  After several hours of work over the past week, six big trash bags to Goodwill and much gnashing of teeth, MM and I have traded closets in an attempt to get our bedroom in order to eventually sell our house (yes, in this market) to move into a new/different/bigger house.  Who knew trading closets could be so difficult?  Maybe soon we’ll be able to find the rest of the furniture in our bedroom.

Hope your weekend has been as successful as ours!

“Mommy look!” (as he bounces down on to the foam rubber Elmo chair, repeatedly.)

The ultrasound was yesterday.  It’s amazing how much technology has changed since I was first pregnant with Chatterer.  The sonographer person takes the same pictures and measurements, it’s just so much clearer when you go to the place where they’re really checking everything twice for defects and such because you’re of “advanced maternal age” and everyone is so concerned about everything.  Anyway, the pictures are all good.  The doctor said everything looks fine, and the little duckling probably weighs about 11 ounces right now.  Chatterer is looking forward to when the baby “pops out of Mommy’s tummy” in October.

I think in about five years it’s going to be time to take some girlfriends up to Oregon for the Shakespeare Festival (or something similar) while MM takes the boys camping.  We’re open to suggestions for Irish boys’ names, since we already used two of them and need a third.  Maybe this one will look like I contributed more than living space for 40 weeks, but I doubt it.  It is going to be fun to watch MM lead three boys around who all look the same, though.