Hellllooo! : )

Hey, ya'll!  It has been busy, so I've been neglecting my little spot on the internet. ; )

Everything is good-I'm still healthy, baby Carter is still healthy..and we're at 26.5 weeks now!  Almost third trimester..a few days to go.  I'm feeling bigger and a little more awkward, but still trying to finish up his baby room.  I'm almost done. : )  I hung some stuff on the walls, painted an end table to go by the rocker, bought a box of diapers (!), and got more new burp rags (cloth diapers) washed so I can monogram them. ; )


Last weekend I went to Branson with my friend, Angie, and we shopped for baby clothes.  She'd just had surgery about two weeks before, so we both took it easy.  We'd never gone that slow or finished that early!  It was wonderful to have t-i-m-e.  We chalked it up to us both not trying on clothes.  I guess buying for ourselves really takes up a lot of time.  Huh.  I got the kids some spring/summer clothes, and a little bit for next winter (the sales were amazing!  I got Clay and Ethan Tommy Hilfiger jeans for 8.49 each!), plus some baby clothes and jammies for Carter.

And...I found a diaper bag!  I'd been looking for one online (since that is the most comfortable way to shop lately!), and had narrowed it down to a Petunia Picklebottom (Afternoon in Amsterdam) bag I'd found on Pottery Barn Kid's website.  I was pretty decided (and in possession of another 15% off coupon!), until this weekend.  I found a bag with -get this!- NiNE pockets!  I absolutely love to be organized, and this bag was calling my name.  It even matches the stroller, car seat (and his room, if that counts!) so much better than the PB taupe/gold I was loving on.  So, I got it.  It's all blue/turquoise/navy/silvery bronze, and totally goes with my bronze purse & wallet I'm carrying for winter.  So, I can slip in my wallet and still be all matchy for spring. ; )  Oh, and it was on sale, of course.  Cheaper than 'ole Petunia!  Wanna see a picture?

While I was gone, Ches registered both boys for spring baseball.  I know we'll be a little busy, but I hate for Clay to miss a season, if that is the sport he's liking the most.  He really enjoyed playing catcher, and as they get older, they have to narrow it to a sport (well, that's my requirement!  We can't do it all.)  And Ethan?  Wants to be like his brother, and Ches wants to coach his team again.  I think they are done with playoffs by the first of June, so we'll still have our summer free.

We are trying to decide if we can plan a summer vacation or not.  I keep getting the sale flights from Allegiant (our favorite for Orlando!) and AirTran-and there are some mighty good deals right now!  (We like to fly to Orlando when they have tickets $39 each way for each person..that's the best!)  But..we have no idea about Carter's temperment, or if we can drive to Ocean City, or if we'll need to fly.  I hate to miss a great deal, but I think it may be a last minute decision this year.  Or some place really close?

Ok, I should get these kiddos to bed!  Mary Claire is having a friend over, and all the kids are still up.  They have been watching High School Musical 3-even the boys! and mama is about to declare Bedtime.  I'm tired!

Hope you have a great weekend (and find some great sales too? Even today I got two pair of jammy pants at Target for $4.48 for Mary Claire, woohoo!)! ; )

Hollister, right outside Branson

Let's see..where did I leave off?  I had an amazing time in Branson, spent a day at the outlets, then a day down on the Landing. : )  Excellent girl-bonding time!  We adopted some friends a few years ago, and they live in Branson.  So..whenever we are there, we call them up and spend some time together!  We took Dina to lunch and did some shopping at a little purse/wallet/watch/jewelry boutique next door.  (It was overwhelming...even to me!)  It was full of stuff wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling!  And the colors..turquoise, orange, red, black and white, purple, leopard, and tons of silver.  A real girly-girl place...and they were getting ready for Christmas!  Ornaments and MORE color.

Down at the Landing we went to a bunch of stores that aren't at the Outlets (some of them are though, strangely enough).  And I checked out another "cool" store, at Dina's request.  Her son shops there, so she's in-the-know!  It was Hollister (please ignore the kissing couple on the website).  I know a million people already shop there, but I'd never been in.  I thought it was just a man's store, or for teens.  After all, the shopping bags look like Abercrombie, all chesty guys with low pants!  How on Earth could that be for ME?

But, aloha!! It was for me. ; )  It was first of all, Dark.  Second, it was 9 or 12 little rooms..trying to remember.  The employees (guys leaning on tables with no name tags looking "cool") couldn't leave their Rooms.  (hahaha!)  So, when I wanted to try a shirt that was on a mannequin, first he told me to check the back room (Sale).  Then, when nothing resembling the shirt I wanted was back there, I went back to His Room.  He yelled to the next room (over the super-loud music!) to ask someone else (Manager, maybe?) if he knew where a shirt was.  Let me tell you, it was a creamy white shirt with some ruffles and buttons.  They had a table full of about 8 designs of creamy white shirts.

Mangager Man came, and they looked all over.  (kinda funny that they work there, and don't know where stuff is!  Maybe it's because they aren't actually looking at the stuff in Other Rooms?  Or they are too busy looking cool to actually work?)  (And I have to tell you..there are two young guys parked in the big leather chairs in the entryway.  They.  Never.  Moved.  There when we went in, there when we came out.  Are they paid employees too?)

So..back to my shirt.  I finally found it..Myself!  (Yes, they are only paid to look like they are hanging out there.)  It was cute, and I found some shorts to go with it.  BUT you can't take accessories into the dressing area.  I had to come out, try on the belt (Braided is Back, BTW!!  Do you remember it from the late 80's, early 90's?  I had a homecoming date wear the matching braided Polo belt and braided suspenders in the Fall of 1988!)  Crazy!  Anyway, I took it off, went and tried another pair of shorts, and retried on the belt.  Weird rules.

Then.  The checkout.  We had gotten in a hurry since Angie's husband called to say that her dog had fallen down the stairs, and he might have broken his hip!  She had to get home fast (it was already 7pm!)  We found a Manager Man, and he came to ring us up.  I loved the smell in there so much...I bought the perfume at the counter.  It's very light, smells store-y, and very fresh.  Not musky, not too floral, but perfect.  I also got the little old-fashioned squeezy ball that mixes the perfume with air as it comes out.  It even wheezes a little. ; )  Very Audrey Hepburn.

I have to thank my friend, Leigh, for keeping me in the game.  I've had some really Off days lately.  Mary Claire is now in the school choir, and has to be at school at 7:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Ethan has to be in Rogers by 7:55am (25 minutes north of here), and my van is getting the hail damage repaired, so we are sharing a van till Friday.  It means everyone leaves at the same time, so we are getting up really early!  We've also had boy and girl scouts, and the boys' baseball/t-ball teams are just starting up.  Overwhelmed yet?  Add to that the JDRF Walk (and tshirts!), planning a baby shower, I'm teaching PRE this year (helping my friend Tiffany with the First Communion class!), getting ready for our school's Husky Hoedown, and finish our Bible study's book group book (Come Be My Light, by Mother Teresa..she's SO humble, and begging to help the poor, and they won't let her yet-it's slow, but good reading)..none of it is too big, but all together = A Lot!  Trying to Keep Calm and Carry On.

And Mary Claire gets her braces off Thursday! and we see our endocrinologist on Friday! : )  Pray for a great a1c! : )

I have some other stuff brewing...but it's not time to talk about it yet. : )  We'll get there, slowly but surely.  God is good, and He hears my heart.  He knows I'm trying to take it day-by-day, and I'll make it.  I just have to keep my expectations lower (like Homer Simpson) so I can reach them easier ; ) haha!  ..I'm a virgo, it'll never happen.  Oh!  And my birthday is coming up, and it's a dilemma!  I have about 4 choices of what to do over Labor Day weekend, and do I:
a.) grow up and do what they want me to do on my day/weekend?
or
b.) enjoy my day and do what I want to do?

Growing up sux.
And to answer your question: Hollister is a real city just south of Branson, in Missouri!  So, I always thought it was stuff from Missouri, didn't know it was a Store. ; )
And to answer your other question: 38.


Sending you hugs!  (and S.W.A.K. mail!)  Hoping to get caught up on thank you notes today!! : )

Yelling and Whispering

Hey ya'll!  I'm coming to you L-i-V-E from...Branson, Missouri! : )

We've shopped till we dropped, and we've dropped at the hotel for the night.  We always take a shopping trip around my birthday..woohoo! : )  We found some good deals (Polo was 30% off the entire store, and then I had a coupon for 20% off my purchase ; )  Good thing..since Ches asked for 4 white polo shirts!!  What?...Yep.)  It's been a great day.  We also got to see our friends Dina and Sara who live here! : )


I've accepted that my kiddos are growing up..I made my maiden voyage into...Aeropostale!  The music was sooo loud-it was like being at a concert.  I actually had to yell at the employee and lean my ear to listen.  I wanted a size chart, and they didn't have one.  I had NEVER been in there, but heard from the "cousins" at the shore that it's a cool place to shop.  And it was, but there was a learning curve.  (for my fellow unexperienced Aero-shoppers, they only carry juniors sizes!) (so..your young child, 9 or 10-ish, will wear an X-Small, FYI).  I was totally asking if a Medium was 7-8 or 8-10.  They couldn't figure out what I was talking about...now I know why. ; ) haha, what an experience.

And tonight we went to the IMAX to see Tornado Alley.  It was not as emotional as I thought it'd be (especially seeing it with Angie, my friend from Joplin).  It brought up so many memories, both of tornadoes we've lived through, and the ones that have taken lives in ou lifetime.  They are still doing research to give us a 15-20 minute lead time to take shelter.  I'm thankful for the time and energy the TIV and VORTEX2 group has put in for our safety.  And thankful for the National Science Foundation for giving them a grant to continue their research.

and Tomorrow, more shopping! : )  I'm so thankful for our families, and the time they gift us with each year.  It's a restful, recharging, verbal catch-up : )  I love it, and need it.  I'm praying for you to have a recharging weekend too!  Call, visit, or email a friend and talk about your life.  Sometimes we have to share a whispered secret. ; )  ..maybe I'll share one with you?  heehee  Sending you big hugs! ; )

Prescription for Quiet

I don't like to use OMGosh, so I won't ...but what a couple days we've had!

On Friday, we were going in all directions.  I had an appointment at the new Premier Dermatology and spa (ahh-mazing decor..very beachy with silver!) for some treatment (we already had the talk, so I won't go there.  Second verse, same as the first!), and I got a new piece of furniture delivered!  Just beautiful.  I'll try to take a picture. ; )  It's the one I showed you a picture of back in early June I think?  Love it.  Very big though..I totally visualized inaccurately!  And now?  I need other new furniture..it's a cascading effect. : )


This weekend in Missouri and Arkansas it's Tax-Free Weekend on school supplies, clothes, and computers.  I was really going to skip out, but yesterday around noon...I decided I really should take advantage. ; )  A girl can't miss a sale.  We loaded up in the van, and went to Branson!  It's only a couple hours away, and it gave the stores a chance to thin out (along with the sizes..but that's another story).  Ches and the boys went to the movies, and Mary Claire and I went to shop!  We went so quickly through the stores.  (and I called my sweet friend, Dina, and we got to see her too!)  We got some new clothes for the kids, some shoes, and me a jacket (super cute with a neck ruffle..you'd have to see it!)

I've been so worn out-can't imagine why-and now I've lost my voice.  I was supposed to teach Children's Liturgy in church, but I had to tell the priest I couldn't talk. (and I couldn't talk to tell him.  Irony.)  I was really hoping to trade days with someone, but no one emailed me back! : (  I guess three hours before is not enough.  I wish I'd known yesterday that my voice was about to vanish.  The hardest?  Not being able to freak out when Ethan was using his bean-y napkin to wipe his face, to be able to talk at lunch, or explain things.  Apparently I talk a l-o-t...I'm really missing it!

And the next worst thing?  I went to the store to buy some Advil Cold and Sinus (since it clears up drainage after you forgot your Zyrtec for a few days..), and Get This.  You can't buy it without a prescription now!  That Sux.  I hate that we have all these meth makers that have ruined everyday life for the rest of us.  Now it requires a trip to your doctor, an extra copay, and my valuable time.  Pfffftth.

Glad I can type about it since I can't rail on about it aloud!!  Haha!

Saving Money and Tooth Fairy Money

Can I just say 18 times that I *love* my friends (and family and husband)? : ) 

Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends!
heehee, I think I like the number 18-my old post office box when I was growing up, my old phone number growing up (ended with 1818), the number of times I got parking tickets...just kidding! : )


Anyway, yesterday I was sitting in the floor folding clothes telling Ches that the kids needed spring clothes-you know, those clothes you wear between winter and summer (seriously-not sweaters, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes, but not spaghetti straps and short shorts with sandals)  Like..capris that fold up and button, and short sleeves and little sweaters and stuff.  And..guess what my magical, perfect, God-chose-him-for-me-husband said?  Ok..guess!


"I think you need a trip to Branson."  (the most wonderful words he speaks..besides I love you, heehee)  I looked at him, and wholeheartedly agreed. ; )  He said I should go tomorrow (today!).  I said that sounded great! (Yipee!)


I cleaned the kids' closets all day yesterday pulling too-small clothes, and making Mary Claire try on scads of clothes to see if they'd make it another year.  She has a love/hate relationship with clothes (where I'm concerned)-she loves them, she hates to try them on.  Anyway, I made a list of what they needed, printed coupons, gathered mailed sale ads, and set my alarm.  I had to shower early, get the copies at the school made early, and head east (well, northeast!), since it's a two-hour drive.


I made great time, and got started.  I met a friend for lunch (the manager at Gymboree-we met years ago at Gap-literally, like maybe 8 or 9 years ago?  I don't even remember.  Anyway, she had this superbly awesome pen-a Bic fine point accountant pen..they used to have blue lids and a little silver clip, I'm assuming to clip to your shirt, haha!  Ok, so anyway, I made over her pen, and she gave it to me-so sweet! and helped me find my new favorite jeans that lasted almost five years.  She also sent me to find my next favorites..Lucky's! : )  We've been friends-and sharing our fave pens and clothes-ever since!)  Anyway, I shopped the day away, didn't bathroom break from 10:30am till 10pm, so I think I was busy. : )


They had AMAZiNG sales.  Really, I caught store sales, and I had printed out coupons for all of them, so in some stores I got 30-40% off the entire store, and then I had 20% off my entire purchase (Cha-ching!).  Really...in Tommy Hilfiger, Coach, Gap-it was awesome!


I guess you have to be flexible and plan around the sales.  And, I'm pretty flexible.  I can apparently plan and leave in a day's notice.  I did plan to be home by 4 or 4:30, but I move into a time machine in Gymboree, and it takes me hours to plan matching outfits, and if they don't have all my matching sizes, we have to call other stores to get stuff shipped to my house.  Fun stuff.


Okay, so I get home, the kids jump all over the bags, open and sort clothes, tell me what they like the best, we read bedtime stories (so glad I made it!) and then Clay tells me he's lost a tooth again! (I think this is the 14th)  Ches tells him it's his last, that the tooth fairy quits coming when you're ten.  He gets all sad (yes, I think he fully understands the Process), and I feel so sorry for him, give Ches the eye (but he did let me go shopping today..), and I tell Clay that he should just try it.


He asks to write the tooth fairy a letter, and disappears into my bedroom with the computer.  The next time I see him, he has a mistake-free (spell-proofed!) letter, edges scalloped with a punch, and the letter is so grown up.  When did he go and grow up on me?  In the last 20 minutes?


I took a picture, since sometimes the tooth fairy takes the tooth/letters since she was told to remove things a couple years ago. ; ) He went to bed with hope that she'd leave either a $5 or an Easter egg hunt help (umm..what?) for him.  I sure hope she doesn't let him down-he has big expectations.

Here is the text if you can't read it (since I am so tech-saavy I can copy from Word!):

Dear Tooth Fairy,

         This is my last tooth that I will have you handle. I am sincerely sorry, but your job is done for me. I wish you luck on your never-ending journey of taking children’s teeth, while giving them money. All Tooth Fairys started out in Europe, then came to America somehow. When I grow up, I may not believe in you. I will pass you on to my children and my grandchildren. I will always remember the  magic, and fun of the Tooth Fairy, meaning….. You!!

Sincerely,

                                                  Clay Jones

What to do.  What to do.  And he wants her to write him back. Cough, cough.

Getting Away

Branson for my birthday shopping trip!  I’ve been in Branson all weekend for a girls’ weekend away-mostly shopping for our families! : )  But, since I’ve gotten a little bigger (no blame, no shame..just bigger), I shopped some for me.  After all, it was a birthday trip!  We go every year for my birthday (thank you, my BFF Angie!), and shop ‘til we drop.  This year we stayed two nights-it’s always different.  It always depends on the kids’ schedules, and our husbands!  God bless them for letting us get away and shop.  We recharge our batteries, and refill our closets! Heehee I even got candles and some Harry & David soup mixes this time, so it’s not all clothes.

Dad got out of the hospital on Friday, thank goodness.  He has to take it easy for a while.  We learned that having a blood transfusion causes iron, potassium, and calcium to drop to nothing.  He’s got to load up on those, and Mom is doing what she can to get those down his throat.  He’s not a big guy, so he’s not eating that much.  I told her to supplement with vitamins-he needs so much, it’d just be too much food!  And she thinks it’s tough to eat what he’s eating: chicken-fried steak, and banana splits!  He’s got it rough.  : )

I had a doctors appointment in Little Rock today, so we had to get the kids to school early to head out of town!  When I walked Ethan in this morning, he was fine, then when I hugged him bye, he got all whiny, and wouldn’t let go.  He hid behind my legs, kept mumbling that he didn’t want me to leave, and then grabbed me, and didn’t let go of my neck.  He had his legs wrapped around me (it really does make me feel loved and needed, so I can’t get mad!), and the teachers had to pull him off after I told them I was supposed to be in Little Rock at 11:30.  I felt so bad.  I would have almost taken him with me, but during the procedure, I don’t know what he’d do.  The trip would be no big deal-he’s a great traveler!  I just feel bad (does a mother ever not?).  I miss my little munchkins.

So I had my next appointment at the specialist clinic in Little Rock today. I didn’t get in to see the doctor till 12:30 (it was Dr. Batres, and he was nice), but it was for a hydrosonogram instead of a hysterosalpingogram.  It was just saline water-but they had to use a huge speculum to get the syringe/catheter in, then get the speculum back out.  Not nice.  I did okay, but it was awful.  The good thing is I learned.  I saw Dr. Miller after lunch, and he explained the situation.  I have two adhesions (also called Asherman’s Syndrome) across my uterus, and they were either caused by my c-section when Ethan was born or by the d&c in April.

They have scheduled for the adhesions to be taken out on Thursday.  Dr. Miller said that the miscarriages can cause the adhesions, but the adhesions could’ve caused the miscarriages.  It depends on when they were formed, and there’s no way to know for sure when.  The yucky part is that our health insurance pays for NO infertility, so it won’t pay anything to repair fertility.

They will do the surgery as an outpatient procedure next door to the fertility office.  I won’t be completely out, just “conscious sedation”-asleep, but wake-able.  I’m not excited (Understatement of the Year).  To keep the adhesions from growing back, they will put in a balloon to hold the walls of the uterus apart.  I’ll go back in about a week to have the balloon deflated and taken out.  Yes, it can be painful, and yes, I might whine. : )  I’m a teensy bit relieved that they’ve found something I can cure.  It might not solve all problems, but it explains a lot.  I can’t believe it took so long, and why didn’t the first specialist in Little Rock do the hydrosonography?  This would have been the last thing I thought it was. I did ask my doctor in May if I should be on Estrogen or Progesterone to prevent adhesions after my d&c, but he said no.  Hmm..the things I’ve learned.  I think you have to be an advocate for yourself-no one else is going to do it for you!

Say prayers for my uterus and my kiddos that used to call it home! : )

Faux Pix and Trips

Here's our pretend first day of school picture.  It only matters this year..next year I will have forgotten! : )  At least we got one.  The kids were even rushed this morning, and Clay didn't even want to get one.  ha!  Does he even know me after 10 years? : )

Dad's hemoglobin dropped again today. Back down to 9.1 (at 8.5, he got two pints of blood).  I don't know what they'll do.  It seems like he's not regenerating new blood cells.  I think he needs a colonoscopy just in case there's a leak down below.  Just in case.  I know they aren't any fun, but you can't mess around with no blood!

Tomorrow Angie and I are meeting in Branson, Missouri.  I have told the school, and now you, so everyone is hereby informed.  heehee  I can be reached by cell phone, and I'll be deep in Nike, Gap, or Gymboree!


Here's something to do while I'm gone..shop Two Peas In a Bucket-one of my FAVORITE sites!  You can shop like me and shop the things I love.  Which reminds me of my birthday, which is coming up!  Aren't they anti-climactic?  I think it stems from childhood when we counted down the days till our birthdays, then got a present or a party!  Now, they come and go.  Much less hoorah.  I still like them since I feel special on my day, but I have to make them come alive (with Rick's Bakery and some Brighton!)!  (Does my life revolve around chocolate and jewelry?)  (is that sad?)

Research and Forms

Laundry Observations:
*I'm doing lots more doll clothes lately..reason?

*If you wash a child's sheets, the chance of them having an accident in the bed that night is increased by at least 30%.  (Of course I've done the research!)

*Our towels take wayyy too long to dry.  What looks sumptuous (and organic!) in the store will take at least three times as long to dry.  But, boy are they absorbent!


I had to go digging for lost treasure last night.  Monday folder night always gives me lots of work.  I had to fill out lots and lots of forms: PTA membership forms, t-shirt order forms, Mary Claire's health update/504 Plan, classroom teacher Student Information forms (with our goals for our children-and getting to school on time and having breakfast isn't a teacher-approved goal) with how they learn best, three words to describe them..signing the back of the Student Handbook, cutting it out, sending it back, Spelling Word List Theory (10 assigned pattern words, five new pattern words-that are Surprise! on Friday morning, five Challenge words, and five words (called High Frequency on the front of the Contract, and Sight Words on the back of the Contract-yep, had to sign and return the bottom portion!), when we could come and be Secret Readers (read to the class as a surprise), when we could help in the classroom, and that might be it...  Whew, I'm really glad Ches is home on Monday nights now-it makes for a lot of extra work on folder night! : )


Ok, so I never got to the point: the Treasure Hunt.  So, back on track.  I had to fill out papers for Ethan too : ) and I hadn't turned in copies of his birth certificate and social security card!  I looked all over the place!  I looked through baby books (I just tried to take a picture, but my Battery Is Exhausted-ha! Me too!), the kids tubs of art I save, the basket of unorganized stuff yet to be filed in the Tubs of Art/School Stuff, the Important Stuff file (yeah, that's really its name!) and found his birth certificate and the application for his Social Security card (yeah, I save things..), and on and on...until I had the Oprah Aha! Moment!  I checked the Social Security file, and by-golly, I found his social security card!  Unsigned and everything (you know, since he's three)!  I'd already gotten desperate, and copied his social security card number from our 2008 Tax forms (since our accountant has our ss numbers, but I can't find them!)  I thought it'd show I was really trying to make progress towards finding it. : )


So, my latest dilemma is getting Mary Claire's "Orders" signed.  We just had her last endocrinology appointment around July 7, and her doctor moved to Louisiana.  We already have her next appointment made (January was the next available!), so we are technically between doctors.  I forgot that the school needs her bolus and correction ratio charts signed by her doctor, or I'd have taken them with me to Little Rock in July!  (Will someone please remind me of this next summer?)  So.  I've been calling Arkansas Children's Hospital clinic (old doctor's office) since we've seen all the doctors there, and left messages and faxes.  Finally, they called back today, but said they didn't get the fax.  I had to send it again today-I am really working on it-everything is such a job.  Sometimes I think Ches wonders what I do all day-I'm so busy I forget to eat lunch till it's time to get Ethan!


We are back in school mode-today is boy scouts, Wednesday Ches has a training from 6-10pm (booooo!), Thursday is gymnastics for Ethan and MC to dance, Friday is ME GOING TO BRANSON-HOOO-RAH! and Mary Claire to a dance party! and me to church and making copies at the school, and Sunday is girl scouts, Monday is back to LR for test...and need I go on?  Never, I know.


I'm really bummed about this Training he is going to on Wednesday. I'm trying to be Supportive Wife, but it's hard.  He got some of his classes at the UA online, so he got to drop his Monday night 6-9 class, but now he's got this yucky old training class-thing on Wednesday nights from 6-10 (I'm available for dinner, Mom!), so back to me parenting alone on that night. : (  I can handle it all, just knowing he'll be here for back-up soon (when I get to that 4 o'clock crazy hour), but that's putting them to bed alone...boo.


Ok, gotta get back to work on JDRF Walk stuff-I turned in my "art" for the shirt-now just waiting for it to look BETTER (with MaryAnn's help..)!  I hope to get the proof by Friday-be watching! : )  I'll post it when I get it, I'm excited! : )

Late Nights

Hey, ya'll!  Did you miss me?  I've been to another planet and back!  heehee What fun traveling is. (and shopping!)
*Ok, go get a drink-this is a long one!*
Mary Claire and I went to Branson on Friday, and we went to White Water with Angie and Andalynn until after 10pm!

It is surprising that when you are having fun, you don't get sleepy.  We thought the girls would get tired...but No!  This picture was at about 9:35pm, and they were still going strong.  We'd been to the wave pool, the Water Works:

Lazy River, the rides down in the tubes (Ohana Falls and Raging River Rapids), and to the play area (Raintree Island), then they chose to go back to the Raging River at 9:45!  We let them go down it by themselves-we took turns walking the double raft up the concrete walk and stairs, then helped them get it, hold on, and push it slowly to the starting line, then the other mom would wait at the bottom to help them out.  We figured out that we couldn't do both, and beat them down the chute!  They were so light they just skimmed the little pool at the bottom, and glided right over to the stairs.  By then, it was really dark and getting cooler.  I didn't want to get wet anymore, so it worked for us.  Our last stop was the gift shop-they had the best shells-and some were less expensive than Hobby Lobby!  I got the most beautiful flat-ended shiny conch shells:

Then, our girls have learned: they get some fun, then WE get some fun!  We shop till we drop (or our feet hurt really bad, and we have to change shoes..am I getting old when I take cushy shoes to change into around 6pm?  Don't answer that.)!  We got around late, since we went to bed so late (and had baths and ordered Pizza Hut at 11pm..), so it was a late start shopping.  We met our favorite friends at Gymboree,

(this is Dina hugging a crying-not anymore-baby while the momma shopped!  Isn't she sweet?) we ordered lunch and ate in the back room (while shopping the shelves-the girls shopped the cake-purses!), and then we were back on our way again. Thank you, Dina, Sara, and Dawn, for your hospitality!  We love you guys! (and thanks for letting us park behind you!!)
Then we had to speed-shop to get the girls to Justice (the new fave).  Mary Claire had a little melt-down over the dolls, Zhu-Zhu pets, and eraser sets.  I mean, Really!  She said no to all the clothes I picked (what?), since I'd said no to her toys.  We'd already had a talk (to prevent all this drama).  She had a pad of paper and a pen.  She was supposed to write down her favorite thing in each store, and at the end of the day, we'd go back to get the REAL favorite.  Thing is..she couldn't wait!  It was driving her mad!
We got back on track, and we did go back to Justice (after some Krispy Kreme *and they were Hot Now!*to clear our heads) to get a baby Zhu-Zhu.  So, don't feel sorry for her.  : )  Not that it was likely.


Ok, so in the next missing post...
We had a great July fourth!  We had church, went to Tim's for pizza, swam,

and got ready to have company.  We had mom and dad, and John (my brother), and some friends Angie and Tony(a different Angie!) and their kids over.  We had fajitas and dessert with fruit, and then drove to see fireworks at the Naturals ball park.

But-so did the rest of Northwest Arkansas!  It was so packed with cars everywhere!  We made it for the last couple minutes, but then drove around to see lots of fireworks, even a great show at a house by JB Hunt park!  We got to bed late, so we skipped baths.  Don't smell my kids! : )


Today we played with friends, sewed a tiny bit (didn't finish anything!), and then took naps. I'm absolutely wiped out!  I haven't even put away the stuff I bought in Branson!  Sad.  I just piled it in the laundry room, and it'll have to wait.  I still have Bible study tomorrow, and MUST do the homework tonight!  then more to come (playdates on Thursday and Friday! woo-hoo!). I have the trip to Little Rock to see her doctor on Wednesday, and I am not sure when I'll catch up.  I think I have a house-full of company coming on Saturday, so I have to figure out how to fit in some cleaning (or hiding stuff?  ..maybe that's faster!).


I am making this (ultra-long post, huh!) book I already told you about, and I was looking up stuff on prayer for others and compassion.  It is suffering with, or bearing the burden with.  It just touched my heart.  I feel for all you moms in the thick of it.  I mean, I am in the thick too, but I'm feeling for you with smaller children.  It is REALLY hard to have a baby and older kids.  It's a hard balancing act, and I know all about it.  So, I have compassion for you.  I understand all that monotony of doing those selfless acts (over and over and over again) for your husband and kids, and many times we are alone in the day when we have lots of work that goes unnoticed (for the most part).  Just know you aren't really alone-I'm doing laundry at my house too, thinking of you!
As God's chosen ones (this is us!), holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  Colossians 3:12

I don't know EVERYthing

Have you ever cracked a coconut?  I took another pre-dinner trip to the grocery store ('cause I'm a slow learner), and guess what we came home with?  Yep, a coconut!  I have never bought one, so I couldn't say no.  (I had a friend over this weekend, and she'd never cut a watermelon or cantaloupe!  I think she's used her good looks to get out of it!! heehee)  When I have the kids asking for anything in the produce section, my rule is yes.  (Rule 34: Say yes to any produce, FYI)  I always admit when I've never had something (well, not fresh).  I had to tell them I had no idea how to get it open!  They just begged, and said to google it!  How do they know these terms?  And how do they know to use it as a verb?  I agreed, so tonight I googled, and learned.

We tried method #1, but Ha! that was hard.  So we combined method 2 and 4: we poked a hole in the weakest eye, drained the "milk" (really just clear dirty water), then after the taps with the knife on the "equator" didn't work, we put it in a big ziploc, went out front, and thumped it's equator on the brick steps,then on the corner of the house.  When the top popped off, out came the juice-I was not prepared!  It filled the bag, and came out the hole (they forget to mention that the brick smashing against the bag and hard, hairy nut (made myself laugh!) rips holes in the bag.  So, Mary Claire ran to get a big bowl, we drained off the fluid, and progress!

Then, you either scrape hard, or you bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  We chose the latter, and then you use a spoon to pop the meat off the skin!

Only thing is...it tastes gross.  I'm all prepared for a big bunch of that stuff you buy in a bag or can..Mmmm..or get inside Mounds bars.  Well, get your ugly face ready...it's nothing like that.  And: why do they call it coconut milk?  Yep, that's a manufactured product-creamed coconut and SuGaR!  So, Clay googled how to sweeten it.  I was so tired by then, I called it quits.  I'll let you know how it goes (or if it improves the taste).


In other exciting news..we had a friend to play (forgot to take a picture-I cleaned more today!), and while we were eating lunch, we had a visitor...

What do we call him?  Well, sometimes I admit I'm not-so-good at (coconut opening or) naming brown furry strange animals!  I think it's a ground hog-we had one last year, but it was much bigger.  So this is either a small groundhog-only about 12" tall-or a gopher.  I'm too tired to google it (heehee), I'll save it for the kids to examine.  (But did you notice my totally cool ferns-growing in the ground!?  They were even green in the icy winter!  I know-cool!)  So he put his super-long toes/nails up on the window and looked in a couple of windows, he checked out the deck (tried to climb the cedar siding on the back), crawled up under the grill cover to explore the grill (eat drippings out of it), and made sure to keep the kids coming back for more!  I don't know who would win in a free-for-all: all the wild cats around here, or the long-toed-brown-thing.  That could be quite a show!  I'll save it for July Fourth action.  To go with the super-yummy smores I'm planning! : )


P.S.  Because I am just not tired yet, or need to pour out EVERY thing in my head: I did (re)apply to grad school, and they waived the $40 since I've already been, but I found out that my hours I completed 10+ years ago will not count towards a degree.  So, I'd have to take those very same classes again.  Yes, seriously.  I also got all into it, and signed up for the Miller Analogy Test, bought a ($30) practice test online (and already started taking it!) before I found out about the hours.  Not all areas of study require the MAT, so I wasted some time and money.  I've totally done worse before, so I'm okay.  Now, I guess it frees me up to get a different degree.  Hmm..what to study.. Or is this God's way of telling me maybe I should wait?
P.P.S.  I'm going to Branson tomorrow and Saturday!  Shopping, night-time swimming, and sun!  ('cause I love alliteration)

Teensy Vacation

I know it's been a long time...
We're grieving in our own way.  It involves being busy to take our minds off things.  Clay has baseball about 4-5 times a week (not exaggeration), we have the other usual things, we're avoiding people (sorry), and I went to Branson yesterday, and we leave for Florida tomorrow.
We'd planned this Disney trip for the kids Summer Vacation since we wouldn't be able to travel in their real summer.  Problem is, now we could go this summer, but this is already booked.  We already paid for the airfare and hotel, so we can go and enjoy, or stay home and think about what we could be doing.  We are choosing to go.  We'll have fun with the kids I'm sure.  They are excited, and I can't imagine letting them down (again).
I went to Branson to pick up her First Communion dress, and to do a little shopping.  I took Ethan, which turned out to be a good day.  He threw a couple fits, but it was still a good trip.  He made me laugh out loud so many times, and I needed that.  He walked around picking up tons of clothes saying, "Sissy needs this!" and hanging them on the stoller handle (our portable clothing rack).  He found a shirt he liked (that I didn't like), and he wanted it.  I hung it on the "rack" and we kept walking.  When he wasn't looking, I put it back.  Then a few minutes later, I heard him saying, "Mommy, I'm so mad at you.  You put my shirt back!"  Ha!  He caught me.  I got it down, and did the same thing again.  Heehee
The other laugh-out-loud thing was when he saw a big long-sleeve shirt hanging alone down low.  While I wasn't looking, he got inside it, put his arms inside the sleeves, and starting waving the arms saying, "Wooo-ooo" all ghosty-like.  So funny.  I took a picture, and had to tell him to be still, since the camera couldn't catch the arms moving!  The neck on the shirt was too high for his head, so it looked like the headless horseman.  Eventually the hanger snapped (not-so-funny), and he fell down.  He was upset, and it scared us both, but it was still funny.  I sooo needed the laugh.  He was great-very lovable and pretty agreeable except around five-o'clock: the normal tantrum time if he hasn't had a nap (which he didn't).

I'm doing okay.  Better with the medication.  I didn't choose to be on it, or want to be, but it's helping me day-to-day.  I don't know how long I'll be on it, and it's an issue with me.  I feel different than the person I was a week ago.  It's weird.  I feel like it was all a dream, and I'm not that person, like I wan't really pregnant.  I'm not sure if that's the meds talking, or if it's just very surreal, and I'm still in unbelief.
We are making it, and just now Ches is telling me about how he feels and what people have said to him at work.  It's hard to get outside yourself and think about someone else when you are hurting, but I've kinda expected him to care about me, so it's his turn.  He's not got it easy either.
I'm almost finished reading one of the miscarriage books I bought, and I feel more educated and a little hopeful.  I'm pinning a lot of hope on my May 3rd appointment with the specialist, so I hope I learn something.  I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor next Friday, so maybe he can tell me if he got news back on my babies, and if he has a theory about what happened.  I have questions for him, and I'll tell him we are seeing a specialist.  I'd like him to keep my original file, and just send copies.  I don't know what standard procedure is with patient files, but I'll request just the same.
I'm just about done packing (clothes are in there), so we are almost ready to go.  I have to call Disney to add more days to our passes, and I'll call my doctor on Monday to see if I can ride the roller coasters with Clay (they make Ches ultra-sick).  We'll have fun, and bond with each other some more.  We need some fun time away, just us.  I hate that they are missing some school, but we do need a diversion.  Hug your kids, and love your family-I'm learning that not everything is a sure thing.
 
I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hand.  ..Isaiah 49:15-16

Oh, and I forgot to tell you about allll the things he rode on..quite a fun, coin-filled day!

A Future and a Hope

It's been busy.  Well, not that it's ever not.
Saturday was a long day, and I slept on and off.  I got up to make baked potato soup that morning, to fill the crock pot.  There was pain, and I started bleeding a lot more by afternoon.  I stressed out and went to bed.  I got up around 3:30, as Easter doesn't wait on me to feel better, and we started our little rituals.  I boiled a couple dozen eggs-maybe 28? and then we cooled them, made the dye and laid out stickers.  Clay was at baseball practice, and we didn't want to start without him.  While we waited, we made 4 dozen sugar cookies to frost.  About the time they came out, Clay came in and they started coloring eggs.  I was hurting worse, so I asked Ches to help out.  I got dinner ready, we ate, then I finished frosting/sprinkling cookies-the kids took off outside-it was so nice.
I got up Sunday with more blood, and called the hospital, then paged the nurse on call at my doctor's office.  I was really getting worried.  It'd been going so well, then downhill.  I was in pain (even on my medicine), and was scared to be up too long.  We didn't end up going to church, and the kids just played.  I missed going.  I knew it'd be a hard day when we saw our church friends again, as they'd either not know, and I'd have to tell them, or they would, and I'd cry.  It was probably better we didn't go.  I didn't know if I'd make it physically, or emotionally.  I'd planned to wear this toile maternity dress, and it would've made me cry too.  Mary Claire was disappointed about not wearing her new dress we got in Dallas, but there was nothing I could do.
We went to Mom's for lunch, and the kids played and hid eggs all afternoon.  I came home, got ready for bed, and was asleep by 7:45.  What a day!  It's the most I've been awake since last Wednesday. : )
Today, I have been up-someone had to sort all those clothes in the dining room to get them cleared out-what a mess!  Tomorrow, I have to get to packing.  We leave for Disney on Sunday, and it's kinda been on the back burner.  It's time to pack up-laundry's done, but my sweet girl is growing out of her clothes!  I have to find at least 6 or 7 outfits to get us through.
I am planning to make a run to Branson to get the kids some clothes on Friday.  My goal had been to go in late April/early May when we found out what the babies were, so I was waiting..well, she needs clothes now.  The boys need some shorts too.  And..I have to pick up her first communion dress at Strasburg.  They've been holding in since the first of January, and I haven't had it shipped yet, since there was a tiny chance I'd be up there.  Even if it's a quick trip, it'll work.  I'm planning to take Ethan.  He has such fits when he's not with me, so I feel bad leaving me.  It might not go quite as smoothly, but he's a sweetie.  I think he'll be fine.  As long as I get some kid clothes and her dress, it'll be okay.  I can save shopping for me till another day.
Ok, getting sleepy...I'm still going, so everything is okay.
I have scheduled an appointment with a high-risk specialty doctor in Little Rock for May 3rd.  I am hoping he can give us some insight into what might be happening, and what our chances are for a successful pregnancy in the future.  We need more input.  Please pray for some answers, our discernment, and healing for all of us.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11 (yes, again-emphasis on future tonight)

Shopping, Stealing, and Sadness

Well, some tummy troubles have me momentarily delayed...I ordered food to go from Chili's-and think I grabbed a virus to go too! ugh. Can't get in the hot tub till I feel better.

We've shopped, and almost dropped! We've NeVeR stopped this early-by 6:30!-to go eat and get back to the hotel. We've been going since yesterday after lunch in Branson (with one of my old friends from junior high-Becky!). We made it till the stores closed, ate at Pizza Hut late, then closed Target-literally at 10pm. Today we started late, got some good deals-on both winter closeout stuff and early spring/summer clothes. I'm buying mainly for this spring/summer, and only for next winter if the deals are too amazing to pass up.

I found the cutest stuff for Mary Claire, but some of it is older-glittery butterflies, "skinny" pants, etc. and I'm wondering if she's too young. I've tried so hard to keep her really youthful-my baby in bows and cutesy dresses-so letting her grow up is hard, but it might be time.

Today marks a new phase in my parenthood. I'd like to erase it, but it's impossible. Mary Claire took Ches' debit card-from his wallet in the kitchen-and tried to buy *points* online to buy a Nintendo DSi game. You can only use points (I guess to keep kids from just buying directly online, and in hopes that they'd only use points their parents bought them?), so she worked at it. When Ches discovered it was missing (at the Boy Scout store), he panicked. He called the last place he'd used it, Chick-Fil-A in Rogers, and they didn't have it. He went home, looked everywhere, and remembered Mary Claire asking if he'd buy her some points. He went up, looked in her room, and found his debit card under one of her DSi game boxes. He was so mad! He told her to stay in her room, and he came downstairs and called me. We conferenced, I told him she had to write 50 sentences, extra math problems, to take her DSi away (and all equipment so she had no reason to think she'd ever get it back), and she had to stay in her room for two days, and be grounded for two weeks. I felt so bad I wasn't there!

He did, and she finished the sentences (that she even finished them was the most surprising!), and then he was frustrated that her being naughty was going to ruin everyone else's day. He wanted to go back to Chick-Fil-A to let the boys play-since it's still only 12 degrees out-wind chill of -6 degrees. I told him to just have her take a book and sit and read while they played. Maybe she'd see what she was missing out on. What a rough day. It gets harder and harder for me to leave. I feel like it's good for me mentally (it's a good workout too!), but I don't know how to make it easier. They'd even been to Jump Zone, Chick-Fil-A, and I'd told them they had each earned $4 in allowance (for chores) that they could spend (which they'd already spent by the time she did it!). I mean they'd had a good day, and she had to push for more. I'm so disappointed in her.

Ok, back to being a little sick, then maybe swim? and more shopping tomorrow! I'm all DONE shopping for Mary Claire. The boys got about four matching outfits each, and Ches got a few things. Maybe I'll be quick tomorrow? : )

Just the Best!

An absolutely great day! : ) Lunch with a friend (I hadn't seen in maybe 18 years? we were trying to remember. . ), shopping with a friend-a great time! We ate dinner late and will meet up with another friend for lunch tomorrow. Branson is turning out to be our second home. Heehee

I was so worried about the roads, but God was watching over me. They were so dry and perfect. It even snowed these big massive flakes all day-beautiful, but absolutely no accumulation. And because it was sooo cold (the high was 14 degrees), the car would get cold, we'd get back in, and you could see the perfect flakes on the windshield-awe-some. You cannot look at all the individual flakes and think there isn't a God orchestrating our world. Impossible. Just so perfect.

On another note, I've pigged out at Pizza Hut, then tried on clothes-Not a Good Idea. Makes your wobbly bits a teensy bit more noticeable!! (or tons more so) I found a beautiful white jacket (looks like softened leather, but it's not, so no animal died for me), it has zippers on the sleeves, that I am going to have hemmed, so the zips may go. I'm sure alterations will cost as much as the jacket, but it's rockin'! And I was needing a new jacket...

We are winding down, getting ready for bed-we have a long day tomorrow! We are dressing warm, and our hearts are pumping with fun, so we'll be fine. Keep your babies in, and stay warm!

Buzz Lightyear is Singing!

Sometimes I read my old posts and think I could be my friend (you know, hypothetically, if I wasn't me). Heehee She has feelings like me! and is experiencing things I've experienced! If only it was that easy. Very few people have walked the road I'm on (or maybe they have, but haven't told me). I didn't want to be an expert at these things.
I found this tiny piece of pinkish red skin/tissue/stuff on my finger today after my shower, and I have to say (crazy as it sounds, don't think I haven't dismissed my own thoughts thirty-two times) it looks like a teensy baby. Albeit, the size of two poppy seeds squished together. I kept rolling it in my fingers thinking it would spread out or break up, but it didn't. I saved it in alcohol, and if I get up the nerve, I'll ask my doctor to send it for lab work. I'd just love to know what happened. Even if it was bad. Well, even though it was bad.
Ches did not dismiss me as totally psychotic, so that's good. He's great that way. He allows me to be creative or imaginative, or just to believe God put it in my hand.
So, today I had a horrible headache (and the receptionist did not think I was funny when she asked what was wrong and I told her about the noisy kids home from school and my splitting headache), made it through the snow-packed roads (and some cleared ones!), and got some antibiotics for my sinus infection (contributing equally with the noisy kids towards the headache). Ches drove me, and the kids watched Toy Story in the van and played with their cool new toys (that I've begun to understand!).
We went to eat at Olive Garden, and it was really nice. We sat in the big round booth (good), and the kids could see the hostesses reading a big book with the name in bold print, including the word ASS (bad) (It was The Big Ass Book of something-or-other Recipes), then giggled constantly until I asked our waitress if she could move the book. I sampled the wine (good), and got a buzz instantly from the teensy bit I had so decided not to order a glass. We played with the kids' DSi's and chatted back and forth until our salad came, and Ethan yelled out, "Awesome" when he saw the salad full of cheese and croutons! (made the waitress laugh!) Then we all loved dinner (and I turned my head as Mary Claire ate over a hundred grams of carbs). We even ordered dessert-the little pillow-looking doughnut things with the chocolate and raspberry sauces. They were amazing, really. Ethan looked at us all (as in unbelief), and shouted, "Buzz Lightyear is singing!" That was the funniest! It was totally Frank Sinatra (who I love!), and he thought it was his hero. Silly thing, he is. Anyway, after Mary Claire licked the chocolate sauce cup clean (with a knife, no less) and Clay licked the raspberry one till I shouted, we all took turns washing (all the sugary stuff off our fingers), then made a trip to Wal-Mart to get ready for our next big snowfall.
We already know there's no school tomorrow, and the snow is tomorrow night. I'm planning to go to Branson this weekend, so we got groceries for Ches this weekend too (including easy dinners).
I have debated the merits of shopping in single-degree temps at an outdoor shopping area, but the draw is just too strong. Although I'm totally considering looking up some flights out of here (LA maybe?) for the weekend. We find these great $39 each way flights, and how fun to shed a coat for a couple days?
I didn't resolve to work out this year, but I did pull out the Wii, and it was so happy to see me! He jumped up and down, and told me it'd been over 300 days since he'd seen me last. Heap on the guilt, old friend. He also told me I'd gained 4.9 pounds, but on the upside, I'd dropped my Wii Fit age! Now, I'm only 30.
After my third visit up to see Ethan (at his screaming requests), I think I'll settle down for bed. He stays in his bed, with his door open, but it's always something. I think it's just a phase. He's been doing well for the past couple months or so, but I just cleaned his room, and took out the pack-n-play that had been in there for the past month! (He loves hotels and pack-n-plays!)
What are we resolving, really? I think I'm headed towards health-less caffeine, more fruits and veggies (notice my non-use of measurable goals?), maybe (big and fat maybe) more exercise (just in case, I stopped tonight before I got tired-so I would want to come back tomorrow), and cleaning out the house (still the "dusty" goal).

Guess what? Nap Over.

Well, Mickey Mouse invited us back to his place, and what could we say but, “Sure!” We just love this place, and? We LoVE all the tiny Mickey rhinestone and silver jewelry (sterling!).

Last night, we’d decided to go on to Branson, stay the night (do a tiny bit of outlet shopping!), spend the night, and not have to get up too early to drive to the airport (in Springfield, MO). Well, after all the storms and all the last minute things (kids’ toothbrushes, everyone’s vitamins and Zyrtec, sippy cups, shorts, one more set of clothes for everyone….), we didn’t leave till 7pm! So, we weren’t going to make it to Branson till 9-after the kids’ bedtime, and no time to outlet shop! : ( So, we cancelled the reservation (another story altogether), and went home. Bathed the kids, got them to bed, I did last minute cleaning up, and went to bed about 12:30.

Cancelling: When you call (AFTER *key word here* making the reservation), and report that you no longer need the room. Our reservation for our hotel in Branson, made at 4:30pm on Tuesday (ok, a little last minute) said our card would be charged unless we cancelled the reservation by Monday, May 11 at 9pm. Umm..okay. So, I’ll cancel before I make it next time, and in some alternate universe (with a time warp!) it’ll work itself out just fine. On Earth, where I live, we do things in OrDeR! So, I explained, and she promised not to charge us (for being freaks canceling 2.5 hours after the reservation was made). Bonus? The kids heard us on the phone, thought we weren’t going at all, and totally Yes Ma’am’ed us all the way home, and straightened themselves right up! Cha-ching! : ) (and now feeling $110 on the positive side of the trip!)

We (I ) got up at 5, showered, got everything ready (AND made my bed!!), then got the kids up, ate and hit the road.

Let’s skip the plane ride since there was lots of wanting to get up, snacks, cheese-y fingers (Ches brought Cheetos for Ethan. How sweet.), ordering of the snack packs (which included color-on cookies), and general loud talking.

Here, got rental car/SUV, managed to wrangle the kids inside, and off on a hunt for food! By the time we’d pulled into Chili’s parking lot, Ethan had just fallen asleep! Clay jumped out, started his Loud Talking, and SlaMMeD the door! Guess what? Nap over.

We ate with the usual: Ethan standing (no, really.) at the booth, not eating much, climbing over the booth seat (we didn’t know anyone there, so it didn’t go on our record officially) and therefore getting a naughty chair timeout, Clay “not hungry”, Mary Claire needing to go to the bathroom, Clay needing to go to the bathroom, Ches shoveling his food in an effort to finish to take Ethan to the car so I could eat, finishing alone, getting to-go cups, paying, Ches texting to get in the car very quietly since Ethan was already asleep (poor baby, missing his nap!), the kids kinda listening to me, me losing a straw for my drink, finding it in the parking lot (and using it-hey! It had the wrapper on it!), and driving on. If we paid for it, it counts as a meal, or I’d swear I didn’t eat.

We made it to the hotel, and got her insulin pump (guess you missed out on that one!).
*Ok, I was so panicked, freaked out, and crazed, I didn’t have time to blog/catch up yesterday. We had a big scare-Mary Claire’s pump got a #21 Error which is bad: it cleared all of our data off: her bolus ratios for eating, her basal (the constant infusion of insulin she gets), her correction ratios (for when she’s high), everything!!!
So, panicked, I checked her out, took Ethan up to nap, got all her info and started to reprogram the pump by hand. I called back in to the helpline, and they got a loaner pump in the mail to us. Bad news: we were leaving for Florida at 6am! So, I gave them our resort address, and they shipped it there (hindsight: 20/20-it worked out fine, and it was here before we were). But, they said once you get this error, it’ll continue to happen, and it had to be destroyed. Umm, okay, so I’ll wear it another whole DAY till the other one gets here. Aarrgh.

So, THEN, we find out that the warranty is up (knew this was coming),and that our insurance pays for one every five years (this coming August), so we have to petition the insurance company, and when the agree, we meet our deductible ($750) and pay 80% of the pump. But (tiny Good News!), they now have PINK! So, when she gets it in a couple weeks or so, she’ll be on cloud nine! : ) It couldn’t cost that much more to make pink plastic, but it’ll be priceless on all the little girls I know! : )

Ok, tired, there’s more, but later.
Wal-Mart for groceries, loads of police cars, ambulances, sheriff’s cars. Downtown Disney: shopping, Lego store, princess stuff, bracelets and charms, Ches-no cell phone on his body, and the AweSoMe T-Rex store/restaurant!!

I’ll post a few pictures, but obviously, I’ll have a billion, so I’ll try to limit it…
From WDW, Holly (ok, that sounds very reporterly. and official.)

*added later:
Ok, I guess I should comment on the strange photos in the slide show below.
Kids eagerly watching the plane being cleaned before we board.
Ethan calm
Ethan sticking tic-tacs up his nose
(then getting one stuck, screaming, me digging it out-sorry, no photo)
More plane photos
Our AMaZiNG hotel (resort?) room!! Three floors of entry, living, kitchen, dining, our room and big bath, kids' room and big bath, full laundry (I should say full-size washer and dryer!), and another flight of stairs to another living area/game room with foozball (can't spell this one) and air hockey! Suh-weet! : )
Pictures at TRex restaurant/store
Pix with red Lego T-Rex (again-we'll see how much he's grown?)
France (if it were made of Legos)
and Ethan, "PLaY!"
and I've been trying out a new Bath & Body Clean Well product: No Alcohol-All Natural Germ Killer. It uses plant extracts and I chose Spearmint Lime scent (just smells cleaner), and the kids don't scream when it burns their boo-boos. It's a spray and it's tiny, but has about 250 sprays inside (hiding and compacted, of course).

Didn't Plan Well-Shop (Feast on Desserts) All Weekend and Dr. on Monday?

Goodness-what a weekend! I've officially Dropped from Shopping. Even this morning I was starting to seriously slow down-I was really getting tired! I drove back this afternoon just in time to work on the Daisies' scrapbooks-well, get them ready. I cut paper for the backgrounds (they are making 6x6 books), make page titles, journaling spots with lines (they are in K and 1st grade!), and some added details... I didn't get all the pictures cut before I went, so I had to work on those a little at our meeting. The girls did an awesome job! I just gave them the stuff and told them to put it together, and it was amazing! They cut on the pictures (which I don't do too much), but they made all the pictures fit, and it was so personal. I was excited. We only did two layouts, but we'll keep working on it! : )

Well, WhAT a weekend! It was so much fun!! We definitely got amazing deals. On one of our receipts, it said we'd saved $319. Ha! With all the 70% off sales at Nautica, the 50% off clearance prices, 30% off new stuff at Gap (plus our 10% off coupon from the booklet), etc. We did well! We were getting shirts for $2-$5! Well, winter stuff. We found winter coats at Osh Kosh, Gap, and Nautica for $21. Crocs were buy one, get one half price (yes, they are ugly and awful, but my kids like them and they are fast). I got jewelry at Old Navy for $1.75 each (originally $14!). Okay, so I got tons of stuff for spring that WaSN't on sale (except for my Tanger coupons)... I got a lot at Gymboree (they have a coupon in the booklet now!!), did I say a lot!? I got tons of stuff for spring, but not so much on sale. They are lines we've already had, last year, but I got different stuff. The sweetest manager, Dena, wasn't there Friday night when we marathon-shopped, but we ran into her the next night at Gap!! So we still got to see her, and we made a new friend at Gap too! We've gotten to be regulars. We even know the lady at the Tanger office now. (She's going to Florida on Tuesday!!) It may be crazy, but we love it. I even got some stuff for me-adorable new capris, pinstriped pants (navy/white), a hot navy/cream silky top-for dress-up (don't know when I'll wear it, but you gotta be ready for anything!). I can tell you that navy and yellow are the Colors Of The Year!! They are everywhere-Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Gap, Nautica, and right on down to Old Navy and Target! I mean LOTS of Navy, LoTS of Bright Yellow. Get Ready. Do you have the must-have colors of the season? I'm not a style-watcher, but I do like to have a few things (okay, twenty) that are current. My style is pretty classic, but I can update each season with a few of the new colors or new jewelry. I love white, black, pink, and blue (and red..). I just throw in other colors each season. Denim? My fave! I always have plenty of denim-from dark trouser pants to long, cut off, frayed favorite jeans (mainly because it's faster than getting them hemmed!).

Extra Info:
We stayed in the hotel that was hosting most of the ice carvers (yep, you heard right) for the big competition this weekend outside the Titanic attraction. We first saw a massive (frozen) anchor with rope on Friday night, and as we got closer we could see a quarter moon wearing a stocking cap. That night we ran into lots of over-dressed, friendly, bearded men in the lobby jof our hotel. We were just being polite, but when we saw their Plans (!) and big boots, and then Machinery!! we had to ask what was going down! We learned of the big competition, and it became the conversation-what're you making?, are you amateur or pro? (pros had to be done by 2:30-we're good listeners), etc. Then on Saturday when we stopped for our lunch break at 2:50, we drove over to see how it was going. There were so many people there to watch the amateurs finish up, and to see the judges making the rounds. When we stopped back by about 10:20pm (on the way to dinner), some were melting, but others surprisingly made it! (Friday the high was about 23 degrees, but Saturday it got up to 50.) They were all just amazing-the most astonishing to me was that these people do all that work, then their statues melt, and their art is gone. We saw the marlin and lizard on a tree (from our hotel friends), a boy, a beta fish, a dragon sitting on a ball, a big phallic symbol of some sort, and a Marilyn Monroe. It was very neat, but we never got to tell them 'good job'. I guess it goes with Disappearing Art.

At dinner tonight the kids asked me why I never call them names anymore, like sweetie pea, honeybun, cutie pie, cutie patootie, etc. I didn't realize I'd stopped. I made it a point to call them lots of names this evening (heehee). I'm so glad they felt confident enough to ask me why. I guess I just phased it out as we had Ethan, and I thought they were too old for little names. I was wrong. They want cutie names just like a little kid. Just as much as I don't want them to grow up, they don't want to grow up. Precious. Yeah, I don't want to grow up either. : )

We've begun the planning for our summer vacation. We plan to go up to Philadelphia, over to Ocean City, NJ, and down to DC for a couple days. We've decided to drive (gas, van, time, and all) so that we can let the kids watch videos, stop off at the Indianapolis Children's Museum (been there-about 5 or 6 stories of pure *learning* fun!), then we can take our time, stay at the beach, then let Clay see the Museum of Natural History in DC, take in the sights, and make our way back home. We've never taken Ethan on a big trip, so it'll be interesting. We're making a practice run at the end of March. We're driving to Nashville for a Lifesavers Conference (not candy, real Life Saving Safety), and some entertainment. We'll see how the drive goes! : ) Say a prayer for us!

Just mopped the bathroom, wood floor, and part of the kitchen. Seems Lexi only partially understands about peeing ON the papers, not just near them (and in other rooms if the need arises). Oh, and the orange juice accident in the kitchen. I actually made dinner (absolutely wonderful pork chops-from Sam's, peas, and Twice the Blueberries muffins). It counted as cooking, so I was feeling pretty good! I'm worn out now after all my magic-making. It's very hard and tiring to be a (try to) do-it-all person. And tomorrow is the big Yearly Doctors Appointment. Scary. I used to cry every year, I hated it. I like my ob/gyn now, so it's not so bad. I can't say I don't cry at least sometimes, but less so. I'm getting back to normal, hormonally speaking, after last week so maybe I'll be sane tomorrow. The receptionist at the doctor's office wanted to make my appointment last week-Can I say, "Gag me with a spoon?" And I said, "ABsolutely NOt!!", and she said, "Why? It doesn't bother him." Ok, creepy. Creepy that he doesn't care, creepy that she doesn't. I'd never schedule someone that week! The week of the blood bath? Are they crazy¿ (hey-how'd I make that?) Not only would it be Gross, but also I'd weigh more, feel self-concious, be unreasonable, irritable, angry if he was running late (delivering a baby downstairs!), and be quite tender. No. Way. José. Ok, must work out, lighten up (yes, literally), and get some sleep (Angie woke me at 8:30am to get to the outlets by their 10am opening time!).

Must begin the Unpacking of the Van-it seems to be littered with shopping bags. Let you know how the dr. goes tomorrow. (Thinking of Light Clothes to wear...)

ps-Krispy Kreme in Branson only has Hot Now from 6:15-9:15am and 7-9pm. Just FYI.