Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Ash Wednesday

Just got back from Ash Wednesday Mass and dinner.  Got lots of fun looks (since my head was "dirty"!)..and we even went out to Tontitown, that is nearly all Catholic, ha!

Our family and the squirmy talkative one made it through the extremely packed service..and Clay stayed for Disciples in Action.  He's a soldier in the skit they are practicing for Easter..well, Good Friday! : )  It's all from Peter's perspective.  I think it'll be awesome.  One of our most creative, musical families wrote it.  : )

Three things on my mind..1.) My amazing huge seashell dish (bowl?) busted today.  A plate fell off the wall in the dining room, hit a hanging bowl, and they both fell down, and busted the massive sea shell dish that was full of white sand and some shells.  It went everywhere, and I vacuumed for an entire hour.  After sweeping it up with a brush and a toothbrush.  Fun times.  I was surprisingly calm.  (I was really focusing on not letting it rob my joy!)  I was sitting giving thanks (Eucharisteo) in advance for it being cleaned up, finding a replacement dish, us making it to church on time after picking up an extra child, and..my sweet friend brought us some Valentine's treats! : )

God was watching over me.

2.) My baby is growing faster than I realize.  Mary Claire played a video she recorded on her iPad a YEAR ago..and he was such a cutie!  I have just watched him grow before my eyes and didn't even see the changes.

His favorite books are I Love Trains by Philemon Sturges, and Chugga Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis.  We go to the library almost every week, get new books, and he still wants to read both of them every naptime and every bedtime.  With or without the new books.  I could recite them to you..does that sound fun?! : )  I think he only lets me read the library books (or other books from home) just for my benefit!

3.) My girlie has decided to tryout for cheer at school this year.  She's excited.  She ordered a gymnastics/cheer mat a couple months ago and practices most days.  And on the trampoline.  She has filled out the forms, paid for a shirt, got a "cheer" bow (can I say they look dorky?  Does that word make me old?  Their ponytail has to be high, and bow facing forward..they're like..old fashioned Nelly Olsen flat bows.  What happened to big loopy cute bows?!), has a clinic this weekend, her doctor is completing her physical form, got new shoes today, and is picking out new shorts.

My biggest concern is whether or not the physical form can play against her.  She has diabetes (strike 1), takes insulin (strike 2..believe it or not, it was two questions!), has broken a bone (strike 3), and had xrays for the broken bone (seriously, double questions again?  How would you know you broke it if you didn't xray it?  If it was sticking out?) (strike 4).  I had to explain all of these.  Most of the questions asked if she'd had to miss practices for health reasons, how many times, been hospitalized (oh yeah, that one time in 2004, so strike 5?), etc.

Oh and there's a bonus!  4.) I returned our last four Redbox movies for which we paid at least double. Redbox is totally on to something.  Sure, I'd love one more movie for 50 cents!  Snow Day, Snow Day, That'll be $17, please!  No worries, we'll just add it to the credit card on file!  Eeeekkk!

Are you giving up something for Lent this year?  Last year at our family meeting, my fam decided I should give up Pinterest.  It was a rough Lent.  And then I was hitting it hard on Sundays.  So this year, no family meeting.  Haha!

Ches and I gave up chocolate.  We loaded up a box last night from all our hiding spots (our kids are sneakers and awesome finders), so we suggested the kids give up chocolate too.  (Since they won't find any!)  Nope.  Mary Claire (said school-ha!! then) gave up soda, Clay said water (ha!), then soda (bigger Ha! since he hardly ever drinks it!) but he's still deciding.  Ethan can't decide either.  Tough stuff to say goodbye to your loves.  We still offer the extra service or prayer options!  No one ever takes us up on it though.

Remember it's Lent.  It's supposed to hurt.  You'll be even more thankful when Easter comes. : )  Hugs, y'all!

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.  Genesis 3:19  

Monday, February 9, 2015

Can I have a time out?

It's so easy to get out of the habit.  Of recording memories, of describing days.  It's just a season. : )

My friend, Heidi, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and I've been sad for her.  She's on my mind daily.  Prayers are going up.  She started her third round of chemo today.  My mom was diagnosed with CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia), and she was very worried, but she's being brave now.  She needs a bone marrow aspiration, but she's putting it off.  My friend, Hawley, has breast cancer, and is starting her second round of chemo tomorrow.  There's a lot going on, and we're in prayer.  Prayer for healing and prayers for understanding.  God is a big God, and we know He's can see through to the other side.  We're all just walking in faith for now.


My sweet little baby is no longer a baby.  He's almost three.  Hard to believe.  He potty trained, and every now and then makes it through a nap dry.  He still doesn't want a big boy bed.  I already have a bed, bedding, and some new decor for his room (he likes stars right now and asks for the Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star song often), so I got him all stars.  I know he'll change, but it'll remind me of these days. ; )
 
They both entered a building contest at Legoland when we were there on Ethan's birthday.

Ethan is a big eight.  Tonight I got so angry at him.  He ran a huge tub of water (he's overflowed the tub before, often runs the hot water tank out of hot water-tough when there are other kids needing baths), and then let the water out..and sat and watched tv upstairs the entire time.  He never even got undressed, much less got in the tub.  I have to say I was mean.  I made him get a bath, clean up his room, brush his teeth, and go to bed.  I even sat in his desk chair while he read.  I just couldn't read to/with him.  (I sat and prayed the entire time for my anger to go away.  Boohoo.)  I did kiss him goodnight though.

I bet God gets mad at us like that sometimes too.  When I go through the motions and don't really hear people.  ..I really despise night time.  I hate making lunches and lunch notes, checking blood sugars, making basal changes, doing site changes, and staying on everyone to brush their teeth, take medicine, read, no ipads, do homework, it goes on and on.  I am so tired at the end of the day.  And I still have mommy stuff to do.  My job is never-ending, just like everyone else's.


I've had a good month of being super thankful for the normal, everyday routine.  Just thankful for the health to do it all.  In the midst of all the sickness, we've been healthy.  I can NOT take that for granted.  This is just a reminder for me to keep at it.  Keep plugging away.
She did her own bun and wanted a picture so she could see how it actually looked from behind.  Growing up.
Mary Claire has been taking a semi-private cheer class with three of her friends.  She's decided to try out for cheer at school this year.  She's been in and out of gymnastics and dance since she was eighteen months.  When she decided to quit, I let her.  Now she is so upset that I let her. (ha!)  She regrets the time she missed and how behind she got.  I hope even if she doesn't make the team that she'll stick with it.  It's been awesome for her blood sugars!  Her basals are down, and her numbers are still good/low.  Just that extra hour or so a day has allowed her a little more freedom in eating, and reduced level of insulin.  So healthy.
Clay actually won his age division building contest with his rattlesnake head that opened.  They sent him this huge Lego kit from the Lego Movie and four tickets to Legoland as his prize. : )  He was very excited since he said he'd never won anything in his life.
Clay is better.  He had some bad grades, and he's back up to all A's.  I've had to sit with him daily to make sure things are done, and his grades are posted online.  He admitted he just didn't want to do the homework.  He missed a couple days for high blood sugars and didn't get his make up work.  The teachers in junior high do NOT chase you down to give you homework..it's the student's job.  That's been hard for him. 


His face is better.  He was really plagued with pimples, and was picking his skin.  His pediatrician was rather alarmed at what damage he'd done.  He wanted his nails cut to the quick and filed every three days.  He sees a dermatologist and a psychologist, and we've all been on top of it..but it was a new wake-up call.  It was getting infected.  He's on a twice daily antibiotic now..and it's helped tremendously.

My goal has been to give Ches three tagged gifts a day..even little things like socks (You knock my socks off!) or an army man (I can't fight this feeling anymore!)..in our two weeks of Valentine's.  The kids are helping me..especially with the army men. ; )
I think just trying to keep so many things balanced for everyone else can be really difficult.  Of course I get overwhelmed and stressed.  I learned this great technique..when you are feeling sorry for yourself and your hard life, it helps to go find someone to serve.  A friend, child, neighbor, husband, whoever needs help.  It really takes my eyes off myself, and helps me refocus.  It's saved me a few times. : )  Maybe that's why I'm not so diabetes focused..

..and I just found out we missed Ethan's school conference today.  Another tally mark against the Mom-of-the-Year award.  We covered JDRF Mom's Lunch, play date, band sectionals, boy scouts, cheer and open gym..but missed a conference.  I just can't keep up.  I'm totally calling for a time out.  Can I do that?

In the multitude of anxieties within me, your comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94:19

Hugs, y'all!  Thinking of you and lifting up prayers daily.  We are in this together! : )