While I type away on the interweb, Matt is busy building this family a second bathroom.  What can I say, he is a go-getter.  When it comes to tearing down a wall or ripping up a floor, Matt has no fear.  He has what I like to call the "Let's get this **** done" mentality, which I find extremely sexy.  I wonder if he thinks my "This **** can wait" mentality is sexy.  Probably not.  The new bathroom will consist of a toilet and a pedestal sink.  We were hoping that maybe we could squeeze a small shower into the corner, but no luck there.  The space is just too small.  I have been dreaming about an extra bathroom since we moved in 5 years ago.  At the time, creating that space didn't seem so urgent, but now each morning our bathroom becomes an episode of "Survivor."  Those that get voted off have to spit their mouthwash into the kitchen sink, while the winner triumphantly swishes and spits into the bathroom sink and then for spite, swishes and spits one more time.  Okay, I'll admit it, I'm exaggerating slightly.  Although I do occasionally brush my teeth in the kitchen, only so as not to elbow a child in the face.  This half bath could quite possibly revolutionize the morning interactions between the Bergen clan.  No more Hurry Ups and door slamming.  No more shoulder bumping to get a glimpse of yourself in the mirror.  No more on purpose, I mean accidental elbows to the ribs.  I'm talking about a John Lennon sized revolution.  Who knew a half bath could be so life changing?  I guess I'm not even sure yet.  But really people, how could it not?

OMG.  All three kids are sick.  Super sick.  Flu sick.  Matt and I haven't slept in two nights, so we are beyond delirious.  On the bright side, at least all three kids are sick at the same time so we can get this done in one big shabang.  Oh, did I forget to mention, my dad is HOME!!!!  He was in ICU for quite some time, but his 13 year old transplanted kidney held up to the strain of bypass heart surgery.  The doctors bypassed two large arteries but left a blockage in a smaller artery.  The risk outweighed the benefit of bypassing it.  I can't say that I wasn't completely freaked by my dad's appearance after the surgery, and I did stress about the complications that followed, but I remained optimistic.  I felt the love that friends and family were sending, so thank you everyone.  The power of kind words is incredible. 

Enough about health problems, let's talk about something else.  Halloween is OVER!!! YEE-HAW!  I know what you are thinking But you were so excited about Halloween, and that is true, but I sort of ruined it for myself by decorating way too early.  The spiderwebs that covered every inch of my living and dining room were removed by 10:00AM on October 31st.  The remaining decor was placed inside a Rubbermaid container by noon.  A few fall leaves still grace the mantel, but the claustrophobic feeling has left the building.  I've come to the conclusion that my house is just too small for so much holiday cheer.  Come December 1st this realization my very well be forgotten or suppressed, so please feel free to remind me Katy, your house is 5 square feet larger than a playhouse, so go easy on the garland.  I promise I won't be offended, and if I am, I won't tell you to your face, I'll just talk about you behind your back and plot your demise during the wee hours of the morning.

I'm sitting here listening to "Airplanes" by Local Natives-thanks Marsha B.- and I am feeling surprisingly RELAXED.  I am fearful of using that word to describe my mood because undoubtedly a child will soon shriek for some unknown reason and the tension that has plagued my body will return and transform me back into a plus sized mannequin. I've been tense people.  My indecisive body doesn't know how it wants to manifest the stress- back acne, bladder infection, yeast infection, migraine, diarrhea?  It has been teasing me for weeks with varying degrees of all the above mentioned symptoms. Kudos to all the optimist in the world. Maybe I'm feeling better today because my face looks less like a slice of pepperoni pizza and more like the crescent-moon shaped corn chip I'm accustomed to seeing.  Maybe I'm feeling better because the family enjoyed a fun evening in the back yard-fire pit, chill in the air, rope swing, light saber battles, and marshmallows.  Or maybe I'm feeling better because I am choosing to feel better.  I often roll my eyes when folks say You are as happy as you choose to be.  Maybe that is true sometimes.  I can't always blame everything on my DNA, except for maybe my impressive abundance of armpit hair.  With my dad's upcoming triple bypass, I have no choice but to be optimistic.  I may have to Google "optimism"  and do a little research on the topic, but I've got time- my dad is worth it:)

10.   "Stop wrestling!"

9.     "Just eat one more bite."

8.     "Watch out for my dirt pile."

7.     "Did you brush your teeth?"

6.     "Did you brush them GOOD?"

5.     "Chill out!"

4.     "Knock it off!"

3.     "In a little while."

2.     "In a minute."

1.     "I love you."

My children are obsessed with the song "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz.  Hayden was the first to start singing the song 24/7.  Now everyone is singing and/or humming it.  Dang Earworm!  Amazingly, the kids have found a new way to make this song more annoying (can you believe that is even possible?).  They wrinkle up their faces and sing "Dynamite" in the most nasal voice you can imagine.  Here is a quick video of Lucas singing "Dynamite", dancing, and battling Hayden with a lightsaber- He is a TRIPLE THREAT!!!! Justin Bieber better watch out!

I have discovered that when I place the scale on one particular 12 x 12 ceramic tile in my bathroom, I weigh 2-3 pounds less. There will always be a special place in my heart for that tile.