I had so many things planned this week for More Cowbell and not a one of them has happened! What has happened?
Well…
- RWA12 is going on right now in Anaheim with lots of partying and hooplah.
- Kristen Lamb is staying with me (and had a minor head gash on my trunk the other night (yes, photos are on her Facebook) – now her blood’s on my hands and my trunk!
- Baby Girl is an upchucking fiend. We’re swimming in…you don’t want to know. It’s dreadful and I want it to stop already.
- There’s a WANA Party happening here on Sunday!!! Who’s coming?
What has been the biggest surprise? Besides how amazing the RWA-Women’s Fiction Mini-Conference was? Besides how fun all the WANAs are? (Because that didn’t surprise me.)
How freaking gorgeous Jami Gold and Janice Hardy are!!
I knew I admired both these ladies as bloggers, but who knew they had sassy color streaks in their hair and were SO FUN. Not me, that’s for sure. Trust me, they are. 🙂
So, I’m going back to the upchucking portion of the program now. I just missed y’all and wanted to check in. We’ll see whether I get a ROW80 post up or not.
In the meantime, be well and have a great weekend! And if you’re a WANA pal attending the RWA12 conference, I think you need to come party at my house on Sunday at 11 am. I’m just sayin….
Have you been to a writing conference? What was your biggest surprise? Are there things I need to know about how to deal with a vomiting kid? (Because I’m clueless, people…CLUELESS!!!)
Jenny
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
Jenny, what do you expect, you have two massive blogging stars in one city, of course there are going to be cosmic repercussions. I only wish I was there to join the fun (and not for the blood or the puke) have a great time, send more photos.
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LOL…I think Baby Girl just ate something funky. She’s on the mend now, and currently sleeping. (Whew!) We’re gathering tons of photos. Kristen said she put her head wound up on Facebook – is nothing sacred???!!
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Gaah, Jenny! I pictured you and Kristen and everyone else in the romance and WANA universe partying and cavorting at RWA12 while Sherry and I had our own party happening here in Toronto.
Your post leaves me snark-less. Poor Kristen. Poor baby girl. Poor Mama Jenny.
I just did the math–if I start now, wear astronaut diapers, and drive a sedate 77.2142 MPH, I can be there in time for the WANA party. This assumes they don’t detain me at the border for all the U’s pilfered here in The Land of The U Hogs.
p.s. to Jami Gold and Janice Hardy: Cobalt blue? You had to pick cobalt blue? It’s my favoUrite coloUr and I doubt Sherry will drive me to a salon so I can accessorize my hair to match my wardrobe. AAARGH!
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Oh, we’ve been partying, don’t get me wrong. Wed and Thursday were a huge party time. But then late Wed, we had the “trunk moment” and last night we had exorcist baby. Kristen is speaking today to the RWA PRO members and I can’t wait to hear how it goes. 🙂
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Yikes, a head gash–ouch! Hope Kristen’s fully recovered, and Baby Girl is over her upchuck–ew (but we’ve all been there) Would be so much fun to meet fellow wanaites! California was a bit too far, but next year, hope to meet you all in Atlanta. Have a fabulous conference!
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Thanks, Sharon! Honestly, Hubby and I have never been there before. We’ve been riding the “no puke ever” record into the sunset. I guess God thought we were getting a bit big for our parenting britches… Blurg….
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Poor Baby Girl and you. All I can say is just hang in there and make sure she drinks a lot. I hope she gets well real soon. And ouch for Kristen hitting her head so hard.
Despite everything, have a blast at the WANA party 🙂 All the wonderful ladies (and possibly gents) together is a rare event. Take a lot of photos for us!
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We are all loving the time together – I know we’ll see me, Kristen, Tameri Etherton, Kate Wood, Karen McFarland, Lynn Kelly and Ingrid Schaffenburg. If that’s not a party already, I don’t know what is. 🙂 The bounce house is already ordered!!!
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Just not awake yet! I saw “Lamb’s Blood” and “Sick Babies” and went right to a very strange place! Need coffee!! Be back soon!!!!
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I understand the feeling perfectly, Mona… 🙂
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Oh, Jenny, how awful! With three boys (one of whom had chronic, repeat strep infections – and his first symptom was ALWAYS throwing up), I’ve had a lot of experience with upchucking kids.
Wait 30 min after the last vomiting episode before even trying to give her liquids. Keep the liquids cool, but not cold (that can aggravate a touchy tummy), and small amounts at a time, every ten minutes. We use a medicine dropper or a plunger syringe, which my youngest always gets a kick out of doing himself, drawing it up out of a cup of apple juice. You can even dip a straw in a cup of water/juice, put your finger over the top, lift it out, and release it into her mouth (she might have fun doing that herself). NO GATORADE. It’s tough on little tummies (too much salt). One of my boys was a big fan of lemon water.
Watch for signs of deyhdration, and take her to after hours care if you have to for IV fluids. Little ones dehydrate FAST. I’ve spent many an hour with our oldest at after hours care, when he was little, but sometimes the IV was the only thing that could turn things around for him.
Signs of dehydration: sunken eyes, no tears, dry mouth and tongue, little or no urine for 8 hours, skin that doesn’t bounce back when pinched, extreme dizziness when moving from lying down to sitting up, rapid breathing, sleepiness, difficulty awakening, listlessness.
Call me if you’d like; I’m here until 4pm EDT, then I’m back around 7pm EDT. Good luck, and hang in there!
Hugs, Kathy
P.S. – Hope Kristen is feeling better, too!
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See, now this is a fantastic and extremely helpful comment! I read this to hubby this morning and we looked our wild woman over (she was running around the house with his phone, laughing her guts out). We both immediately felt terrific because she was just fine.
THANK YOU! I wish you were gonna be at the party tomorrow…
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Isn’t that the way it goes?…kids get sick at the worst times. Bless their little hearts! This has been super-stressful week in my world, but we look for those silver linings, enjoy the moments with family and friends, and keep ringing our cowbells. Enjoy! And give Kristen a hug for me.
Oh yes, and the writer’s conference that rocked my world was DFWCon. I think you remember that one…faintly.
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I remember that conference plenty well, Missy! It rocked my world too. 🙂
I’m so sorry life has been challenging this week. I’ll talk about “Harvey the Horse Show Zucchini” on Monday and it will distract you, I PROMISE.
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LOL. “Minor head gash on my trunk.” Yeah, I had that problem when I last disposed of a body. Clorox or similar will help get rid of the DNA.
Hope you have a great time 🙂
Cheers!
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Clorox… *taking notes*
Yes, not only did she have a run in with my trunk, she broke a glass the next morning. I looked at her and said, “You’re planning to disappear, right? You’re just laying out the DNA trail. I NEED COFFEE!”
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LOL! If she has any Hitchcock in her bags then I’d start to worry and make sure you keep plenty of witnesses on hand!
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My heart goes out to you, Jenny, and your poor little girl. That’s the worst part of being a parent, when they’re sick or injured and you worry yourself to death. Kathy gave great advice. I always kept a bottle of Pedialyte on hand for times like this. If you can get her to take sips, it will help hydrate her.
And poor Kristen getting a gash on her head. Those trunk injuries suck. We had a hatchback that was deadly. Nailed a few people before we sold it. I hope Kristen’s doing better.
Karen McFarland and I are coming tomorrow. Just need your address (and phone number). I hope baby girl is feeling better.
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We’ve got Pedialyte but she’s onto us now that she’s well. I even put it in a bottle and it was a no-go. I’m going to have to mix it with milk or juice to trick her (which kind of defeats the purpose).
I put my address out on the WANA Tribe RWA loop.
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Hey Jenny! Glad to hear you’re having fun despite the puke and Kristen’s DNA spill on your property.Hope both gals are feeling much better.
I attended RWA11 last June and it was life-changing for me. I finally realized I was a serious writer, and that I would keep honing my craft and querying until I succeed. I even enjoyed pitching! 🙂
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I felt that way after my first writing conference too, Jolyse. It’s a wonderful feeling to go to the seminars and get all pumped up meeting other writers. 🙂
That being said, I’m completely impressed that you enjoyed pitching. It is one of my most hated activities of all time.
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Jenny, I didn’t realize you were a local! I am, too – well, Simi Valley. Can’t join the WANA gathering, unfortunately – I am not master of my own time tomorrow. Hope you all have a wonderful time!
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I’m down in the OC! I’m bummed you can’t come, but this gives me hope that we’ll get together soon. 🙂
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I loved crashing RWA-land and meeting you. Leaving was tough! Conferences are so awesome, especially for writers who spend much of their time in dark, electronic caves. 😉 Gives us chance to brush our hair, mingle and SQUEEE in person and, in my case the other day, laugh at your hilariousness. (You and Kristen could totally do a standup act.) Hope her head’s healing well. Lordy. Colorful hair is groovy, but bloody red? Not so much… Youch.
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August, our breakfast was one of the highlights of this week for me. What is better than a hug from you. I mean, really…
I’m glad you had fun too, and we’re still going to the Library Bar. We just HAVE to!!
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Regarding your baby, give her Gatorade, but not colored Gatorade. It won’t come out of the carpet. As for the rest, life is what happens when we’re making plans. Good luck, and you folks have a great time tomorrow. Please say hello to everyone for me. 🙂
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It won’t come out of the carpet… LOL. I’m finding out just how important THAT is. I’ve washed down the couch three times (so far).
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Blood and vomit. Sounds like a dangerous time. I’m very sad that I missed out on RWA this year. I hope to attend next time!
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I’m telling you, Brinda, it’s been nothing but excitement around here this week. 🙂
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Hope Baby Girl feels better soon. It’s so hard when the wee ones get sick.
Man, a party at your house. It’s almost worth the 3-4 hour drive. Can’t wait to hear the details and the pictures…that’s Monday’s post right? Have a blast!!
BTW, I awarded you a prize over on my blog 🙂
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OMG, I’d have loved it if you popped in!! I’ve got to get over to your place (in between the parties and the bodily functions, you know. 🙂
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Yeah, I’ll have to plan it better so I can sponge a place to sleep at BIL’s house in Chino 😀
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Yes, PLEASE!
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Yeah….hold the puke and the blood and I’d totally love to be there. I’m the squeamish type myself. Sounds like an otherwise good time. Ouch with the gash though!
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LOL…none of those things were in evidence during the party. 🙂
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Sorry Baby Girl was sick. That is never any fun. I forgot to ask Kristen how her head gash is healing up, I hope better than Baby Girl’s pukiness. Poor Jenny!
It was way too much fun to see you at RWA and then to party at your house yesterday. What will you do now that the insanity is over?
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Kristen’s head gash healed up great! No stitches required. But Baby Girl actually had a stomach bug, which she nicely shared with her parents. We both got hit between Sunday night and Monday morning. Good times!
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AHH! I am so happy for you that you got to meet Jami and Janice in person–they are my favorite people! And yikes for Kristen…I hope she’s okay. I guess the head gash was to balance out the foot gash from awhile back. LOL
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Yep, she’s pretty much a walking, talking DNA trail. Just add funny and brilliant, and you’ve got The Lambo!
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Jenny, I LOVE your writing voice. Can’t wait to pick up a copy of a book by you. Meanwhile, you have blood on your hands, the blood of a person you so admire, and puke God knows where, but you, my dear, are entirely LOVELY in that photo with Jami and Janice.
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Okay. I’m so jealous…except for the barfing and blood part. LOL
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