Friendly Day

Had some wonderful conversations with a couple friends today-I'm so thankful God has placed them in my life. : )  One is finding themselves in the midst of a miracle (hard to tell in the moment!), and one is cleaning out closets.  So thankful I can assist in any way.

Mary Claire had a friend over today to swim, lunch, and play hide and seek!  I didn't even get a picture.  She's a sweetie though!

Clay left for work, and I found him a wallet online for only $12.99!  Remember he lost it this weekend? :o/  I sent pictures, and he likes it.  Probably the price, haha!

Lots of laundry today after swimming and biking sweat, and thankful I have a washer and dryer I love, and time to do it!  Another good day, no big stress.

Knowing people around me have real hard days, my hard looks easier.  Makes me thankful for the hard I can manage.  High blood sugars?  I got this.  Site changes?  I can do it.  Fund raising for a cure?  Sucks, but I can do keep at it. ; )

Hope your hardest days are manageable.  No?  Compare to others...you might want yours back, ha!

Photo Credit, made with PicMonkey Magic : )

We're doing a book group study on One Thousand Gifts (being thankful for any and all the teensiest things..especially after walking through a hard time). . .and we talked about the fact that when you don't have faith, it's kinda like being a practical atheist.  You don't really believe you can turn over what you are worrying about.  Let's turn it over, and let it go.  Hugs, friends!

Dirty Laundry

Hey ya'll! : )  I, again, have learned something new.  (I'm going to be 85, and still learning..)  Did you know that when you use a benzoyl peroxide it bleaches your washcloth? Yes, I think I've mentioned that my skin has been breaking out for a month?  I've tried everything.  Now, I'm drinking tons of water, and I tried this new face wash with medication-and my washcloth is no longer khaki!! It's kind of orange, but pale.  I was NOT happy.  There should be a warning on the bottle/tube!  It was dark last night (I had my lamp on) and I was trying not to get it in my eyes since it said there'd be a cool tingling telling you it was working-I didn't want Cold Tingle in my eyes.  So, I didn't even watch the washcloth changing colors!  I will use the wash again tonight, and I did laundry, so I can use the bleached one again!  I can't do linens everyday, so tomorrow..maybe no washcloth.  Or a white one! : )
I cleaned today, did laundry, and ran to the school.  Mary Claire stayed high this morning, and by lunch, she'd only gone higher.  I went and changed her site there, and it took until four this afternoon till she came down!  She was only in the two- and three hundreds, but ack-high! : (
Cleaning is sometimes fun for me (I know-weird), but today I cleaned most of Ches' side of the closet.  He has all these baskets on shelves with running shorts, all different levels of tshirts (you know..New, New-but won't wear, Not New-but still wears, I'm Sick of Seeing These-charity, Favorites, Long-Sleeves, Old/Sentimental-and can't give away, etc.), socks, undies, and a huge basket of bike clothes (I don't even fold them-heehee!) (and six new pairs of tennis shoes he hasn't worn yet!  Is he a Saver? or scared of running out?).  He has probably 50 pairs of socks.  He's been asking for new socks, and he's just buried them!  And I found 24 new t-shirts that he hasn't even worn yet!  He keeps asking me to buy more when I go to Branson, but he never wears them.  Tonight I made a very tall pile to give away, but he said they're his comfy sleep shirts.  Ha!  He'll have to make new comfy ones!
He also has this habit of putting things back in his baskets after wearing them for only an hour or so.  I think I used to (ha-probably still do!) complain about all the laundry I do, so he tried to cut down.  So, he would rewear things he hadn't worn very long (he gets dressed, then rides his bike with bike clothes, and runs with running clothes, and then showers again with clean clothes-wash, rinse, repeat!).  It was a good plan as long as he rewore them, and they actually made it to the dirty clothes!  But..sometimes they just pile up in the baskets.
Today I did five loads of clothes, and I found a full load piled in the clean baskets!  But, wow-it looks nice now! : )  I just hope he breaks in those new shirts..
I'm so tired from staying up late every night playing around with Ches-we are having 80's music contests ("Do you remember this one?"), and I'm worn out.  Tonight I plan (ha!-planning) to go to bed early.  I am also working on the Halloween party, but am stumped.  I emailed the teacher to make sure we could make luminaries, but I haven't heard from her, so..I can't ask other parents to send stuff if I'm not positive we are making them-I may have to change things up.  We'll see.  What on Earth will I do when there are no more big events??
Halloween parties, actual Halloween, Clay's birthday party...oh, and Thanksgiving and Christmas, then Ethan's birthday.  January will be relatively calm! : )

(ok..I love my husband-but I sound negative!  He is so precious, and would do whatever I asked-it's just life at my house.  Dirty Laundry and Music-pretty fun stuff-hahaha!)

The Laundry Mountain

Were there extra people here this weekend?  There were enough dirty clothes to cover an army!  I think each person had about 8 or 9 pairs of underwear (hopefully lots of swimming, and not accidents?) They think they get new undies after every dunk/bath/swim/clothing change-yes, I think it's a good thing)!  There were five loads-tons of jammies-I just had ALL the laundry done last Thursday before I left town!  I am all caught up, and (NewsFlash:) they are put away.  Don't get too excited, it only happens if I'm traveling.  Normally, there is laundry in progress ALL the time!


I also had to take Ethan to the grocery store.  We had no cereal (they claim that Cheerios and Special K don't count)!  We only kind-of stuck to the list.  He got this little dino-head juice drink (I think they are Tummy Ticklers-expensive sippy bottles of juice), then Fruit Loops and Rice Krispies, then Chuck E. Cheese cheesesticks (just his picture on the outside-but it works, Advertisers!), and by the time he wanted yogurt-covered raisins (I admit they are yummy, but mostly sugar!), I told him Enough!  He had to trade something-he'd gotten enough Special Foods (since he's the Only One Who Got To Go With Mommy To The Store!).  He ended up trading the cool dino-head drink for the raisins!  Wow.  At least it ended with him hugging a bunch of bananas-his last Special Food! : )


We took Ches to lunch (yes, I enable this bike-rider-to-work), then Ethan fell asleep on the way home.  He just loves his Veggie Tales, and they sang him right to sleep.  It didn't last long, and it powered him back up-enough to glue, and draw, and snack, and help me with laundry (well, he played a good game of Don't Let Mommy Get The Dryer Door Open), then some good ol' Tag!  We ran all over, but I figure it was our workout, so I count it.


Clay had boy scouts, and had to do lots of exercises, kind of like the Fitness Gram at school.  He did great!  He can do tons of sit-ups, he's super fast at running, but the only thing he didn't do too well in was the pull-ups.  Ches told him he'd have to practice since they are retesting next month.  When they pulled in the driveway, he asked if he could go practice! (at 8:15pm!)  What a sweetie.  He tries so hard!

I tested Mary Claire on her spelling words while she was in the tub-what hard words!  Distinct, Instinct, Suggest, Seldom, Tranquil-whew!  She did fairly well, but it means we'll have to do some studying this year!  Last year was a breeze.  Clay's are harder too, but I always think he can do anything.  Now, Mary Claire is in the hard work!  I can't believe she's in third grade.


Ahh, they are all in bed, and sleeping.  I've done a tiny bit of research (tiny for me).  I have a couple of books on miscarriage, and Asherman's Syndrome is not so common.  The outcome is about 80% better with surgery, and the books recommended leaving the "balloon" in for a month!  I'll take the books, and see what Dr. Miller thinks.  He didn't give me an exact time, but it sounded much shorter than that!  I can't imagine crampy-ness for a month!  Ick!


I'm always amazed-do you know that God knew exactly what was wrong with me from the beginning?  I do.  He was just waiting for me to find it-or encouraging me to keep looking.  I found the pages that discussed adhesions, and I'd folded the corner down, asked my doctor about it in May, and had let it go.  Now, I just think, why wasn't it starred and circled for me?  Ha!  God just doesn't work that way.  But I found something, and I'm thankful.  How many more things are laying in front of me that I don't really see?

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! : )

If they get crabby, put them in water!

I watched a wreck today, and no, it was not exciting!  We drove through tons of pouring rain on the way to Little Rock today.  We went down for Mary Claire's endocrinology appointment today, and I had no idea that rain was forecast.  The traffic wasn't too bad, but once it was raining cats and dogs, everyone slowed to a crawl-which did NOT help things!  Then we were all too close together.  The wreck was in the oncoming traffic on highway 430-big, wide lanes, but once a khaki truck got bumped sideways, the cars started stacking up. I hydroplaned on the same bridge (opposite side), but I had seen it coming, and didn't brake or hit the gas, and made sure I wasn't near any cars.  I was fine, but the north-bound traffic?  Not so lucky.  It was the same coming home-pouring rain!  I do better in the left lane, since I can't see the white lines in the rain, but I can see the yellow one down the left side of the lane.  There were trucks close to me, but I couldn't get over since there was a truck barely in front of me in the right lane, and I'd catch his spray (can't think of a better word..splatter, road-splash-up, still thinking..), so I had to wait it out with someone too close on my bumper!  Enough to stress me.

I didn't even think to take pictures of Mary Claire when we were there (I have only taken one that I remember-when she was about three or four), so I don't have one for you.  : (

It was a bittersweet day.  Dr. Lee told us she was moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to be closer to her family, and work down there.  She's being replaced by Annie Wang, but they told us they'd mail us an appointment, since she's not on staff yet.  I think we will switch back to Dr. Maass in Bentonville, since there is no longer a real benefit from driving that far to a specialist (well, a pediatric specialist).  She's eight now, so maybe she is old enough to graduate back to a plain endocrinologist.  Dr. Lee told us that everything looked great (her A1c-three month blood sugar average) and her blood sugars/boluses uploaded from her pump were good, and still appropriate for her age.  She said there was nothing more we could do.  I like that, but I don't.  I'd complain if she gave me a bad grade, but I always feel there is more to learn.  I wish she'd taught me something today.  I'm happy to be kinda done there, as it is so emotional to go back each time (after being there with Clay, and then with Mary Claire), so much comes flooding back, and just taking the exit makes me cry.  I pulled it together (since my kids are fine), then lost it again when we were leaving.  It was kinda goodbye-I hope for a long time.  I took out my camera, and thought to snap a couple pictures (all bad) of the Arkansas Capitol Building.  We've visited before, and took amazing pictures, especially of the stained glass ceiling..but, I don't know where they are!  So, here is my sucky picture:

Remember, I was trying to drive, not take a great picture!  So, here is one I snagged from a google search, and much better!

Then we left, and weren't ready to turn around and drive back quite yet.  We needed to walk around, and I needed to get motivated to drive all the way back! We went to Target, and Mary Claire picked three notebooks for school (yes, they were stocking the school stuff-I just love school supplies!), we looked for Ethan a lunchbox, but decided to let him pick, we got a little bit of clothes, and she picked a Barbie movie to watch on the way home.  Then we went to Chili's for dinner, and checked out the Gold Crown Store (a Hallmark with much more!).  I really liked it, and we'll have to go back!  We got there 14 minutes before they closed, so we did a really fast walk-through.  I bought a picture/canvas that we really liked, and I hung it as soon as we got home.  I usually take a long time to make a decision, but I thought I'd regret not getting it, and I'm not going back anytime soon.

I think you'll be able to read it, I enlarged it just a bit.  It was so sweet, and I was already loving on my girl, missing by boys, and it just seemed appropriate for our last Little Rock trip.  Mary Claire's favorite was: When they're crabby, put them in water!  hahaha  It does help, really!

Well after 11 hours, we are home and in bed.  I'm always super-thankful to make it home safely and to even be home.  It's good for me to miss the laundry.  heehee  Speaking of...I have been fitting laundry in-between things for two days, and I'm almost done, so I have accomplished something...putting it away is another story!

It's my bedtime..night-night!

Motherhood (has) Rocks (and grass stains)

Of course my goal is always to be nice, but ick.  Sometimes it's hard.

I'll start at the beginning (and go till I get tired..).  I went back to the doctor today for another ultrasound (same results).  Then we had another doctor appointment, and he really recommended a d & c.  He said I could do it the other way, but if I lost too much blood, I'd have to have an emergency d&c, and by then, I'd be compromised, causing more possible damage.  Long story short, I go in tomorrow for surgery.  He didn't want to wait too long.  (I read that they don't want to let you go for more than three days, since the depression after becomes more serious.)
So, I went downstairs to the hospital, worked my way through pre-admission, then had bloodwork.  I cried while they were drawing blood (I'm sure partly out of anxiety, partly because it made it seem a little more real).  They told Ches he could come over by me, and he did.
Ches had told me by noon, he had to go (this dragged on for hours).  We left there about 12, and went our separate ways.  The doctor had given me a prescription for Xanax to help me sleep, so I stopped by to get it filled.  I had to get something to eat and pick up Ethan, as my Mother's Day Out was nearly over (never what you envision for your Day Out).
I stopped by MarketPlace, and who do I see running into the movies?  You'd never guess, so I'll tell you.  My husband.  Yep, color me so proud.  I'd been tagged and banded (and have to wear it till after surgery tomorrow), had blood drawn, discussed students watching (no), and the process and recovery.  And he was going to be late for his movie.
I drove over to make sure it was his car, and I wasn't mistaken.  I've learned that you can't know anyone too well.  I called his cell phone, and he didn't answer.  Later he called me, and told me he was "making his way to the University" (by way of Hot Tub Time Machine?).  I told him I'd seen him run in (and he'd changed into shorts! Convenient).  He told me he'd felt guilty that he was at the movies, and he'd left.  I said, no, you didn't answer my call, and the call made you feel guilty, so then you left.  He said that was true.  (First Truth)  He didn't have anything else to say (and there's nothing more at that point for him to say, as nothing would have been good enough).
I picked up Ethan, and went home, and there he was (after I told him not to come home-after he said he could "cancel his schedule and come home to help") (so...cancel the movie plans?).  I just took my Xanax and laid down for a nap.
I know I have to get ready-tomorrow I'll be useless, and so much needs to be done.  I have been working my way through the laundry (maybe only two more loads to go).  Clay was complaining he had no more baseball socks to wear to practice today, and he said I could check the clean laundry.  I said there was no clean laundry to check.  I felt bad.  It's been at least a week (far too long).  I've washed, folded, and hung.  I'm getting there.  And he has baseball socks now.  I'm planning to make some baked potato soup in the crock pot in the morning so we'll have dinner.  I'm trying to think ahead.
Ches was telling me at the doctor today what a crazy, busy day he has tomorrow, so I told him Angie had told me she'd come down and go with me tomorrow (since I can't drive myself).  (Maybe there's another movie tomorrow?  ...I promise to let it go soon.)
Angie will be here in the morning, and I have to be at the hospital by 10:30 or 11 (I have to call to see how the surgery schedule is going, I'm fifth), and my surgery isn't until at least 12:30.  Then they promised me they'd give me something for anxiety (or put me to sleep) before they do my iv, as I want to remember nothing, especially falling asleep.  It only takes about 20 minutes, then I'll be in recovery for a while, then go home within an hour and a half.  The worst is I can't eat after midnight tonight, so I'll be starving by noon tomorrow!  The admissions nurse said I could wake up before midnight and drink a glass of water so I won't be dehydrated by noon tomorrow.  Joy.
Ok, one more thing.  When you send around an email to tell people of the tragedy of another, you should try to ensure that all recipients have good email etiquette.  I received one of these "forwards" today, and it just killed me.  Not only that someone was unintelligent enough to send it on to me, but that there were people talking about me (even if it seemed nice enough).  All email addresses were still in the email, and it was just painful.  May we all take a lesson, (1) don't forward, and if you absolutely must, (2) delete everyone's email addresses, and make sure if it's about someone, (3) that they don't get it.
Ok, one more.  And I'm sure I'm ultra-touchy, but give me a pass this time.  If you are a nurse at an ob/gyn's office, and someone has just had an ultrasound, and looks all red, blotchy, and teary, DON'T ask all perky, "How did your ultrasound go?"  I just stared at her.  So, she asked again, and added, "Didn't you have an ultrasound this morning?"  I said, "Badly".  Her: Oh really?
And I'll end on the tiny happys that happened today, since we all need a break.  We hid and hunted for Easter eggs today (and hid chocolate surprises in some of them, and ate them!), Mary Claire asked all about friendship bracelets (and ordered 8 in pink, purple, baby blue and lime green-then wanted to know if they were done yet?), we got out my old embroidery floss, and we started some.  I called an old (junior high) friend that I used to make them with, and we got to catch up while she coached me over the phone.  I'd made a roast this morning, and left it in the crockpot all day, so I had a good dinner.  Ethan asked for Bible stories again tonight, then he wanted to tell stories!  He kept telling me, "Once upon a time..there was a beautiful man named John (we've been reading in Luke when Zechariah was told he'd have a son, he didn't believe, and was mute till he told what the child's name would be, John the Baptist was born, etc.) and he had a pond, and his brother told him to Stay away from the pond! And he did.  (and he retold the story over and over!)  It was so cute that he was making up a story and using story words.  I almost fell asleep laying there, but it was precious.  I'm working on being thankful for the kids I have here with me.  Well, walking around with me.
I kinda would like to ask to see them tomorrow, but I don't know if that's weird.  Or if it'd make me feel worse.
My doctor did consult with another doctor, and said there is one more panel of tests (of even more rare complications and blood clotting problems), and he will run those in about 4 weeks.  He has one patient who has one of the clotting problems, she had miscarriages, and is still currently pregnant.
Last thing I have learned.  Just because someone is pregnant, doesn't mean there is going to be a baby at the end.  Don't take it for granted.

Pee in a Cup

Wanna be grossed out?  I could probably tell you something new everyday, but here's today's grossest moment (be patient, I have to tell you the back story):
Ethan has started this nasty habit.  When he's in the bathtub, he's too lazy to get out and go peepee, so he pees in a cup, and sets it on the side.  I didn't know he'd started this habit until last night.  I came into the bathroom, and there on the side of the tub was the cup I used to rinse his hair-with pee in it.  I asked what on earth happened, and Mary Claire piped up, since they were taking a bath together.  She said he peed in it, matter-of-factly.  I grossed out, poured it in the toilet, and went to ask Ches if he'd heard of this before.  He said Yes!  Ugh.  It gets grosser.  So today, while I was resting on the bed (a faux-nap, if you will), he told me he had to go peepee, and he needed the cup.  I was yelling no cup, use the toilet!! and I heard pouring into the toilet, then the cup falling on the bathroom floor.  :Oh my gosh.  I jumped up (nap over), and ran in there.  He'd peed in the cup, I just dishwashed last night, and poured it into the toilet (and flushed, yay, him)!  Ok, that's just nasty!  Don't worry, if you come over, the cup lives in my bathroom for only washing hair.  But, alas, it will be in the dishwasher again, with all the other cups we drink out from.  Thank you, God, for the new dishwasher with the sanitize mode!  See? You just think your life is crazy!

So other than that, we grocery shopped (and got me more fiber), did laundry, and washed all the sheets and changed bedding today (yes, it likely wore me out).  Then I cuddled Ethan up with his *clean* blankie, and headed to my room for a nap.  It only lasted till he was ready for a bath (see earlier story) about 2:30.

Now the kids are home, we've snacked, gone through Monday folders, and I'm fending off begging to have green eggs and ham tomorrow for lunch at school.  Mary Claire really wants a tray lunch, and she never gets a tray (imagine it in a whiny voice for more realism).  The lunch is green eggs, ham, waffle sticks, and Dr. Seuss' birthday cake (which I suspect is the real excitement).  Um? Gross.  Maybe I'll send a couple girl scout cookies in her lunchbox, and call it good.  Tomorrow is my Mother's Day Out, and somehow I don't picture me eating green eggs and ham and skipping grocery shopping...again.  (Today was only fiber, fruit, cereals, and whole grain crackers, tomorrow is the Real Deal.)

Since I didn't do any real meal planning for the week (that happens when my brain frees up on Tuesday mornings), we are having quesadillas.  I can do these with my eyes shut, so easy-peasy.  Some tortillas, cheese, black beans, salsa, and fruit.  See? Easy.  Ches is working all day every day this week (well, maybe not Friday..), so it's gotta be easy.  He has a student taking their comps every morning at 9, so it's all business.  (heehee)  It only impacts my life after 3:30pm, so I think we'll be fine.


Our morning routine went absolutely terribly this morning, so we (that means *I*) have got to do something to make it better.  I woke the kids up and rallied the troops, but it was just so yucky: whining, not obeying (like Clay telling me he took all his dirty clothes to the laundry room, me discovering his door locked, locating a key, and then finding his room a mess with clothes all over the floor!), not getting shoes on (preferring to play trains), complete lack of focus (having 25 lbs of books in a backpack and not being able to decide which to ditch-at 7:45!).  Chaos.  And Ches was in the bathroom brushing his teeth, oblivious to our chaos that I'd very much like him to be a part of!  He wakes up in time to take the kids to school, but he has to help-especially on the road to five.


Alrighty, keep praying, and I must go season-like-crazy my black beans so they taste like Chili's black beans-our favorites! : ) 

Movies and Messes

My husband is not perfect, but he is so sweet in so many ways. (He does drip sweat across my floors, and mow really too often, and sometimes yawns when I'm talking...but don't you?) He makes sure that I get to see all the movies that I say, "I really want to see That One!" He bought tickets on Wednesday for the new movie, Julie & Julia that we saw tonight. He even got us there almost 45 minutes early so we'd have great seats. It was a wonderful movie. Maybe you need to like Julia Child, maybe you need to think she's funny and real, and maybe you need to see a person grow. I just needed it, and wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. At the end, Julie finds out that Julia doesn't really like her (in her words), and it crushes her. I felt for her. But her husband is there to say that she doesn't need that Julia, she has the one in her head that IS proud of her, and appreciates what she's doing, and taking it seriously. You just need to see it.
All the way through the movie, you see how Julia's husband just loves her and supports her. It just makes me thankful for my husband, who supports me (except in a business endeavor...), makes sure I see the Good Movies, makes me laugh, watches Jimmy Kimmel with me, brings me water, and keeps me in fun stationery. (I should mention I got the most adorable/beautiful embosser today! I've been waiting on it for a couple weeks! They custom made it-only out of sucky white hard plastic-y stuff instead of the expected MeTaL it should be. Anyway, it embosses my monogram into paper or envelopes, but warns me not to use it on cardstock or note cards-which I'd been planning, and it's So Not Returnable.) Anyway, I'm thankful for him-God knew just what I needed! : )

Tomorrow, Clay is supposed to have a boy scout meeting/bbq/swim party, but he might get to 66% of that. Ches is planning (unless he's still having the erratic bleeding..) to take him to the meeting, eat, then come home. There's just no way he'll be ready to swim. He has another soccer practice on Tuesday, but I doubt he'll be able to practice by then! I can't believe it's taking so long for his nose to stop bleeding. Every time he gets up, moves quickly, or gets excited, it bleeds again. He hates the pain medicine (which I should thank my lucky stars for!), and doesn't want to take it. The thing is, it keeps him down. So, when he's not on it, he is playing around. I had to keep him in his room with a tv today. He did alright when he stayed in there! Keep praying for my baby. He's been so huggy, cuddly, and sweet. It's precious that I'm getting the old Clay back, if even for a week or two! Sometimes he can act so tough and grown up!

Well, do you remember the clean under-the-stairs-closet? Well, it's gone. Vanished. Into thin air. Well, really I guess it disappeared slowly as junk got added to it. It happened right under my nose. It is now stocked with more stuff that shouldn't be in there. It's my Holding Cell. It holds the things until they move on to their right places. Including: Mary Claire's perfumery (which she's used almost all of), my vacuum cleaner (it's his home, really), wrapping paper box, Pottery Barn sale stuff, books on sale at Borders (yes, too amazing to pass up, so I bought 3 bags worth. But they were on sale!), school supplies (on sale too.. and they won't be all year!), books from book orders for kids' surprises, etc. I'm really beginning to see a pattern now that I type it out. It's my Sale Closet. I know, I know. It's not a good deal if I don't need it. But-I might one day!
(I figure it's not a run-on paragraph, but it's not quite a new subject..) And I'm back to the land of piles. I keep meaning to pick them up, but they are breeding. I have piles of art/pictures, piles of medical supplies, piles of magazines (they just keep coming!), piles of books, piles of beach towels, piles of laundry, I should stop now. I am really not a messy person. I don't know how they start or how they don't dissipate. I mean, they just get to be part of the scenery, and just kinda fit in. There's just not time to clear them. That may be my new goal. Mission: Dissolving Piles. Hey! Maybe my sweet husband will help me! : )

My Near 9 Day

Really poopy. That's how his breath smells. I thought I'd throw up in the middle of story time tonight. : P I hate to say negative things, but it is just true. He was eating cabbage (raw. He's a strange eater.) while I was reading. There were three kids around me, so I really had to ask what that awful smell was. I thought maybe it'd been too long since I'd smelled raw cabbage, and maybe it'd turned moldy? Nope. He's just been away from home since yesterday (without a toothbrush), and it's putting a serious cramp in his style! (and breath). Ugh. I can still smell it. I've been telling Ches for ever that he needs to go to an ENT to get checked. He can't hear, sleeps/eats/breathes with his mouth open, and always has allergies/stuffy nose. I KnOw it's a problem. I think since it's not life-threatening like diabetes, I tend to put it on the back burner. He's brushed twice and mouthwashed three times. Yep, can still smell it.

On another note (or is it similar?), my laundry level has been down. Small Cheer! The child who's been away wore the same clothes for two days (and slept in them), so that's half a load less, at least! Then Mary Claire and Ethan have been generally wearing their jammies till 3 or 4 when they switch to swim suits, then afterwards, put on clean jammies. Much less laundry! I can't say that it's super-hygienic, but it's nice to have a small laundry-vacation (Laundracation?) every now and then!

Funny: when I called Mom on her cell phone, she wanted to call me back on her land line so she didn't get cancer in her libido. : ) Heehee, she makes me laugh!
*Sometimes you really can hear a buzzing sound in your ear, and you can feel the radiation coming right into your head!*

I read this good quote, and maybe it sums up why I'm overwhelmed!
"Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense." -Gertrude Stein
I hear so much (books, tv shows, email, facebook, ads, magazines, junk mail, personal recommendations, news on tv or papers), it's real work to filter out the important things. I'm now trying to get enough calcium (since most women only get an average of 868 grams a day, but need 1200), eat more fruits and veggies (and less meat and Coke), treat every opportunity with my kids as super-valuable (lest it be their last), I have added earthquake insurance (just in case, since eastern Arkansas is on a fault line), let my kids play in the kitchen with food, pots, bowls, and spoons as I make dinner (yes, I got this in an email about two-year-olds getting too much tv as moms make dinner). You get the idea, I'm overwhelmed with recommendations! So, I guess I've lost my common sense. I'm going to work on that. I'm adding it to the list. It looks like this so far:
1. Work on memory.
2. Work on common sense.
3. Finish hanging curtains in breakfast room.
4. Stay on task.
5. Find church envelopes. (or call and ask for more)
6. Skip reading for a while?

Ok, need I tell you I had an awesome time in church today? I think I've already told like 6 or 7 people (maybe 3 before I left church even?). Ethan went to the nursery today, and I got to LiStEn in church today! : ) I mean pretty much. Aside from the running commentary on Bella. (the unicorn) She had a nap, then her momma woke her up, and told Bella she could sleep after church. She tried my ring on her horn, tried my bracelet on as a necklace, snuggled with me, had her diaper changed twice, prayed, kneeled, waited on us while we were gone, sang songs, etc. I told MC if Bella didn't reign it in, she couldn't come back to church. (Mean, wasn't I?) I was really trying to hear. Mary Claire just wants to know how many more songs till church is over, and asks at the most crucial parts of Mass. This is why seven year olds aren't old enough to receive (or respect) communion. Ok, so despite all the Bella-action, I still had a great church day! I didn't hear screaming (except from Other People's kids-doesn't bother me!), didn't have to wrestle anyone, had no choo-choo noises, and no potty breaks (except before and after church)! All and all, a near "9" experience. Pretty good in my book. I figure I'll raise my standards when my kids are older.

Mother's Day (and one whoopie cushion)

Ahh, what a great day. Can't say it was anything out of the ordinary-me trying to get the kids to clean their rooms, put away their laundry, cooking and cleaning, it's just that if I take a whole day off, I'm behind! But still fun, and a good day. Just fun to see all the neat stuff the kids got together for me! Art, drawings, cards, playdoh signs (what other word to use here?), and they were so excited! Clay even wanted me to have a seat to look at all his neat stuff for me (I found out it was so I'd sit on his new whoopie cushion!). They had fun with it. Ethan had no clue, and just wanted me up to feed him!!

Mom and Dad got to come over for a super casual lunch! It was fun! We got to eat and play outside and push the kids down the hill in the wagon repeatedly. I took some video of the glides down, maybe I can load them below? If I do, you'll have to press play to get them to run. I've never tried it, so if you don't see them, know it was just too much tonight! : ) Dad installed my nifty magazine holder this afternoon-I just love it!! I'll try to place a pix over to the right. It's polished nickel, and kinda looks like a towel rack. It has five arms that swivel out to you, so you can load it down with heavy (with ads) magazines! It really will clean up that stack of mags on my floor that make it hard to mop (well, when that actually happens!). I'm excited-I love it! Him putting it up was probably the best Mother's Day gift-I sure don't think it would've happened! I was worried about placement-it was going to have to hit a stud to support all that weight! And, that gets complicated.

This afternoon, we all laid down for a nap, then we got everyone up to go to church at 5:15. We redressed (to match of course!), and got out the door on time. When Ches drove up to drop me and the kids off, there was a big sign that said, "No 5:15 Mass". What? So, Ches got a bulletin and we think it's because there was an extra First Communion Mass this afternoon at 2:30. Maybe it's just too many masses this weekend. So, since we were all together and dressed, Ches took us to Chili's to eat. It was ok-it's no longer my favorite place to eat (too many times, I guess?) so I just share fajitas with Ches. I'm not even into their salsa anymore (Sam's is WaY better!), so we tried to keep Ethan with us as long as possible, then Ches took him to the van while I paid. It was average, I tell ya! Story of my days. I missed going to church, and I was just telling Mary Claire about it being my responsibility to make sure Clay makes it every week. And I fell down on the job. (Granted, it really wasn't my fault. We tried.)

I'm into my 4th load of laundry (some of it is prewashing before we head to Disney (on Wednesday!!-new clothes are just scratchy when you are sweating!), and I cleaned up the kitchen and hearth room after the kids went to bed. Lunches are made for tomorrow, and the kids got their baths. I laid out all their clothes (to match each other of course!), shoes, bows, pump pouches, bike shorts (for under dresses), swimsuits, undies, etc. I'm glad I started earlier this time! I felt very behind and rushed before we went to Nashville. I like to have them match so I get great pictures of them while we're there! I'm planning to take a group pix of the kids and either send out Disney cards for Christmas or maybe have some beach pix taken this July/August at the beach. We'll see which ones turn out better! : ) Ethan is also growing up so fast now, he may look different in another couple of months.


I just turned my calendar to next week, and I'm shocked to see my dentist (cleaning) on tomorrow-I had completely forgotten! That means I'll have to miss Baby Bookworms AGAiN! It's been about a month since I've been! I hate that. It's so fun. They still haven't found my Farm book-so I'm not happy! It is not with me, and I'm just sure I turned it in! What to do? I'm sure they'll want me to pay for it. I'll consider it payment for all the fun baby bookworm classes, I guess.

Ok, to put my clean sheets on my bed, and work on reading more of my great Jen Lancaster book!! Ahh, she's so funny! : )

Real Sick Day

Sometimes I expect to open my blog, and see a new post *magically* appear! Yeah, right. It's a weird feeling, to wait to see what comes up! I look at what I wrote, and it seems like a year ago! I do so much living in a day!

Today, we had another kind of sick day. Ethan woke up from his nap crying, and so sad and pathetic. I felt sorry for him, but I didn't know what was wrong, or how to help him. He finally told me "Tummy hurt", so I figured we might be in for quite an evening, and he didn't let me down! He's now thrown up more times than I have fingers, and everything from clothes to my bed sheets, to my furniture slipcovers, to towels, blankets, washcloths, is washing or waiting its turn. I had to do a gross thing: I knew the throw up was coming, and I didn't want it on my freshly steam-cleaned carpet, so I caught it in my lap, and kinda scooped it toward me. I know, gross. I had Mary Claire (she was so ultra-helpful!!) run get a laundry basket and towels, and we stripped down right there, me and my baby. He seemed to feel better for a little while, so I put him in the tub, jumped in the shower, then jammied, and jammied him. We had a short recovery time (time to put stuff in the washer) before it started again. This time, we were on my bed-bad idea, but I was getting sleepy. So, now my sheets are stripped, and I'm waiting on the washer to finish. I've already called the nurse (ACH nurses field the calls this late), and she thinks it's a virus, even though he has no fever. We are to call back if he's not better by morning. It could be an ear infection, but he has tubes in his ears, so I think that's unlikely (tomorrow insert my wrongness here).

In other news, Ethan's gymnastics could've gone better. I think he doesn't like the waiting in line part. That seems to be his downfall. Poor kid: none of us truly like to wait, but it's part of the game of life. (like having to wait to see what's truly wrong with him!)

I have made a decision about which painter to use. I called my insurance company again, called the painter, and they'll have to rendezvous to get the price right (or at least agree on something) before the work shall begin (which I dread). He said it'd take about a week. Not so bad. May have to eat out some since the kitchen will be in scaffolding and plastic for a few days. Hmm..I should see the upside to this! : )

Do you know anyone locally who likes to iron? (I know, ha ha) I have all these clean clothes that are calling out to an iron that just doesn't answer. I know they need to be taken care of, but when? Between throw-up laundry loads? After the hand-washed dinner dishes (since my dishwasher was running the day's dishes)? After watching the fourth Curious George video with Ethan? Yeah, anyway, I need some ironing done. In a smoke-free home, pets okay, just no fur on the clothes, please. Not picky, no sharp creases needed, just flatish.

We went by Mom's today to pick up a paper, and we stayed a while: lunch, playing outside, pruning her crape myrtles and boxwoods.. : ) Ethan had a ball (well, literally and figuratively!). He ran around the house, played with the cars, sticks, and a big dump truck. He was so cute! He did run down the hill and into another yard (by a barbed wire fence!! Yes, she lives in the country) and I panicked. Mom wants him to be tough, but I was so worried! It looked like he was swatting at the barbed wire, so I ran to him. He was fine, maybe it was just a bee? Anyway, I somehow broke my sunglasses as I was hacking at the branches up above my head. They fell, and darn it, they are so cute and rhinestone-y, but they don't have the resolve to stay in one piece! Then it got worse. I was looking up into the sun, trying to cut off the old flower parts (which you can use in homemade potpourri), and then my crazy hair was in my eyes, face, mouth.. It made it so much harder-the wind was awful! But I have to say the warm sun was awful nice-I was glad to not have a jacket on!

Alrighty, washer is calling me. It wants to go for another round, and can I make it happy!

Two shoppers are not better than one!

I heard a knock on the door this morning at 8am-it was the cable guy. I'd been watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with Ethan and Clay, and it'd been coming and going-more going: we watched lots of snow. Anyway, he was in the neighborhood, and he wanted into the backyard. At 8am on a Sunday morning! Only Cox. I mean, who else works on Sunday mornings? Besides WM workers? Anyway, he fixed it, and we had great cable! ps-since we had it on closed captioning, it said the theme song was Hot Dog by They Might Be Giants. I'm going to try to find it to add to my Playlist. It's such a catchy tune-I'm wondering if they added Mickey Mouse to the song, or if it was originally in there!

Then I showered and went to church with Clay. I'd worn an ivory sweater that had really open weaving so I wore a thin ivory tank under it so my skin didn't show thru-you know, it being church and 30 degrees and all. Well, I guess on the way there it hiked it's way up to the smaller area-being above the belly button. I didn't feel it till we were walking in. How embarrassing. I had to stop by the doors, reach under my sweater and pull that crawling tank back down to her rightful, skin-guarding place! Ahh! And I had to keep at it thru church every time I stood up! I must have shrunk it. Or I grew. In the middle area. Hmm. Can't be me.
Well, Clay was very good and we sat by some sweet friends. I got to sing, which I love. Sometimes when we're in a crowded pew, we don't all get songbooks, but today I did. Yay! The singing made up for the rolly shirt.

We reheated the pizza and had leftovers for lunch. It was perfect-I needed hot food after freezing my belly off in the cold! Then Mary Claire and I had a party of pretend food upstairs and we danced to Camp Rock. Ethan even danced with me! Later the kids retreated for a quiet afternoon while Ethan slept, and I got caught up on stuff and laundry-big surprise. Ethan had peed through his diaper on all his bedding this morning: sheet, mattress pad, pillowcases, blanket, jammies. So, I had lots of extra laundry (plus the throw up last night...). On the upside, my new stripey, ruffled cami-shirt and sweater came clean! All the red berry juice came out! Amazing. I think it's 'cause I soaked it and got it washed within an hour or so. Go, me! : )

Mary Claire came down when she was sure she was done being alone upstairs, and we made her a notebook with tabs for all her girly journaling. We made her tabs like, "Fancy Things", "Party Ideas", "Friends", and "Happy Things". She was tickled pink! We stapled them in, and I used up all my staples (we'll get to that). She said she was going to write her plans for her birthday party in there. Just think, if she plans it all, I won't have to do much! : )

Then I remembered girl scouts. I called the other leader, and we chatted too long. Ches was already asking for dinner (and I'd planned to make yummy corn chowder) and I had to make some reminder notes for the parents for the next few events planned-three! this week! So, by the time I got that done, it was 4:45. I had to make dinner and have it eaten by the time we had to leave at 5:30. Ugh-not enough time for corn chowder. So we pulled our latest Save Dinner Plan out. We had paninis. Again. Ok, fun the first time, intriguing the second, alright the third. Fourth time, not so cool. They are tasty-and I'm getting better at them, by the way. But Mary Claire was disappointed. She cried. Sadness at the table. Then I was sad. Was it that pathetic? It was hot. We had chips, salsa, strawberries, everything to make it attractive. But she'd rather have a spoonful of peanut butter or a yogurt. So, I failed, but it tasted pretty good. Then to GS.

We had a new girl-yay! and a speaker. The girls were pretty good. We made valentines for parents, and I made one for Mary Claire. She loved it. Some of the puffy heart stickers were glow-in-the-dark, so she had to check those out! She just loves going. It's always fun. ps-GS cookies are in tomorrow! : )

Then home, jammies, snacks, stories. Tonight was Calvin and Hobbes (Stupendous Man, Tyrannosaurus on the playground) and Ivy + Bean (back to the first book again). They just love to read, and I definitely read too long. I didn't even want to get out of bed (we read in my bed since Ches and Ethan were watching Toy Story on tv).

Ches is out buying more staples as I write. He loves WM almost as much as I do. He just loves to go. I can't let him go too much, as he buys anything and everything. In bulk. 300 new neon straws? He's bought 'em. Last week he bought TWO frozen lasagnas (I guess in case I get too busy?), two cases of drinks, two boxes of Cookie Crisp (?) (he said it was for the cool lego cars inside) (See why I don't let him go often?). He tries new things. Cereals, pizzas, chips, cookies, crackers, ice pops (always two boxes at a time), meats (usually a new variety of salami), cheeses (this week we had Provolone, Pepper Jack, Cheddar, and Cheddar Jack shredded), lunchables for the kids (full of sodium and they only eat the crackers), toilet brushes and toilet plungers (I hate this-he buys things for me to try-gross! I already have a toilet plan). So, it's always much to my chagrin to find out he's headed to the store. I mean, yay! we'll have more bread and bananas and staples, but what will come with them?

Me? Missing Laundry? Can't Be.

Something's up with my background! I'll have to do some mechanical work...
Well, it works on mine, but not Ches' computer. Weird.

We are back in Dallas after a very long day.
We got up early (in Houston), got around, and Mary Claire and I ran to Target-more clothes shopping (undies, socks, clothes..), then back to the room. Ches and the boys had been playing ball outside, so I had to pack up all of our mess. Try fitting twice the stuff into full bags! Work. (but no laundry!)
Ethan was sooo crabby, and really wanted to get into the van, and now we know why! He cuddled up, and went to sleep just while we loaded the van! : ) Sweet boy. We headed south to the Houston Zoo (about 45 minutes maybe?), got out, and guess what? Mary Claire didn't have her meter. We recalled the last place we'd checked her was in Target, back up north. Ugh. I had to go to the bathroom sooo bad, we went on in, had to pay for Ethan (second place after they told us he didn't need a city pass), then had an expensive ($34!) lunch, looked at a very few animals, and back on the road to get the meter!
We got it, and Ethan kept saying, "Get out, down? Get out. Peez?" So we went to Chick-fil-A, grabbed a snack, and got back on the road north to Dallas. Newsflash: There is Nothing between Houston and Dallas, I repeat Nothing. It is vast open land with the Adult Video here and there. That I don't want my kids reading. So it was the video changing time-constant changing of the videos-the new ones we've bought in the last few days: Milo and Otis, Tom and Jerry, Strawberry Shortcake-some princess one, Baby Einstein-Numbers Nursery, and we rewatched Wall-E. I'm tired of videos!!! Livestream tv is GooD!
So, we pulled into an Olive Garden, I ran in and ordered, we made it to the hotel, ate, and all kids are asleep. They couldn't wait for bed-seriously. All of them. Mary Claire is still in her clothes (and that's another story), and Ethan just wanted his bed set up so he could roll over and go to sleep already!!

Biggest Funny Thing, One Sad Thing:
Well, in the vast Nothingness, we decided to pull over at a rest stop (no restrooms), but they could play with their balls (yes, made Ches laugh like no tomorrow!) out on the grassy plain. Mary Claire just HAD to pee. So, I held her up, told her straighten her legs and go. She was freaking out (as all good girls should), and then bent and tucked, and got her socks in it, and got her pants all wet. Insert proper grossing out, and eewww! So, we changed her (to yesterday's clothes all folded in her suitcase) and she's okay. Now she knows why we fold our clothes all nice even after we wear them-you might need them again!!! Lesson learned. The Hard Way.

Bad: Didn't get to see as much of the Zoo as we wanted
Good: Thrilled we located her meter!

Bad: Drove thru Nothingness
Good: Our van led us to an Olive Garden!

Bad: Looked Stupid in dress/leggings from Target with my tennis shoes (I only have brown heels, tennis shoes, and Black Mule-type shoes with me), looked kinda pregnant, like I-don't-care-how-I-look
Good: Got opportunity to go back to return them!

We may get power back tomorrow. We are checking out the power restoration map for our area at home (who can see these? Not people with no power!) and some areas are scheduled to have power by noon tomorrow, some midnight tomorrow, some Sunday noon. Our neighborhood has no color. So are we getting power restored? Did they run out of fun Easter-y colors? Do they not know we have no power? Umm, power please.

We have this room reserved for tomorrow also-I really hope to be home though. It's been a fun week, but even the kids are tired. (Yes, me too.) I kinda miss my ol' pals in the laundry room. I'm sure we'll be reacquainted awful soon! I've got about 6 loads staring at me in these little laundry sorters called suitcases. Ahh, to have my own bed with my warm electric blanket. Ahh, my balance board is probably missing me, and will ask where I've been for the past few days! He'll tell me that to stay in shape I have to use him frequently, and I'll roll my eyes, but then Super Hula and Rhythm Box for an hour! I hope Lexi is missing us too. Mary Claire cried for her two nights ago. We aren't sure if she was just tired or if she really wanted to go home just to see Lexi. Guess what? The kids haven't missed a thing in their rooms. Surprised? Yeah, me neither. It's just all junk. Accoutrements of life. (Or barnacles?)

Tomorrow, we set our sails toward home! Yippee!
I'll see ya on the other side!