Can I have a time out?

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

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

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

They both entered a building contest at Legoland when we were there on Ethan's birthday.

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

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

I've had a good month of being super thankful for the normal, everyday routine.  Just thankful for the health to do it all.  In the midst of all the sickness, we've been healthy.  I can NOT take that for granted.  This is just a reminder for me to keep at it.  Keep plugging away.

She did her own bun and wanted a picture so she could see how it actually looked from behind.  Growing up.

Mary Claire has been taking a semi-private cheer class with three of her friends.  She's decided to try out for cheer at school this year.  She's been in and out of gymnastics and dance since she was eighteen months.  When she decided to quit, I let her.  Now she is so upset that I let her. (ha!)  She regrets the time she missed and how behind she got.  I hope even if she doesn't make the team that she'll stick with it.  It's been awesome for her blood sugars!  Her basals are down, and her numbers are still good/low.  Just that extra hour or so a day has allowed her a little more freedom in eating, and reduced level of insulin.  So healthy.

Clay actually won his age division building contest with his rattlesnake head that opened.  They sent him this huge Lego kit from the Lego Movie and four tickets to Legoland as his prize. : )  He was very excited since he said he'd never won anything in his life.

Clay is better.  He had some bad grades, and he's back up to all A's.  I've had to sit with him daily to make sure things are done, and his grades are posted online.  He admitted he just didn't want to do the homework.  He missed a couple days for high blood sugars and didn't get his make up work.  The teachers in junior high do NOT chase you down to give you homework..it's the student's job.  That's been hard for him. 

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

My goal has been to give Ches three tagged gifts a day..even little things like socks (You knock my socks off!) or an army man (I can't fight this feeling anymore!)..in our two weeks of Valentine's.  The kids are helping me..especially with the army men. ; )

I think just trying to keep so many things balanced for everyone else can be really difficult.  Of course I get overwhelmed and stressed.  I learned this great technique..when you are feeling sorry for yourself and your hard life, it helps to go find someone to serve.  A friend, child, neighbor, husband, whoever needs help.  It really takes my eyes off myself, and helps me refocus.  It's saved me a few times. : )  Maybe that's why I'm not so diabetes focused..

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

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

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

 

Cookies and Books

Only two days till Walk day! : ) How exciting!

Today I drove all around delivering shirts-I love to get to see my friends!  I made three new bows for a friends, and found a birthday present for Clay's friend for a party this weekend (he just adores this sweet friend!), and I got some games for our Bunko's contribution to the Silent Auction/International Dinner on Saturday night-I never just have one thing going on!

Clay had a great day too-he got to eat lunch with Gigi and Papa, and he got to sell tickets to all the grandparents!  His teacher asked who should sell tickets-and one of his friends suggested him and said he was good with math and money (!).  Awww, so sweet!  (After his math last year, I was surprised!)  He did fine, and sold for the other grades too.  He was so proud of himself.  He needed a self-esteem boost. : )

Ches took the kids swimming this afternoon while I worked on bows.  He's good to take over when I need it sometimes. : )  He'd been home all day mowing and riding and sleeping-and I needed some quiet.  It was perfect, and I'm thankful!

Ches was gone again tonight for a training, and we took it easy.  (I'm so tired!)  We had a smorgasbord for dinner (chicken nuggets, salad, fruit, leftover lasagna, sugar snap peas, etc.), then we read aloud for over an hour.  I made some oatmeal raisin cookies, and they got jammied and brushed their teeth.  It was good, except Ethan kept bouncing out of bed, and sneaking into my room. I finally let him get on the bed, and he just talked non-stop.  He's a sweetie.  Ches got home a little after ten, and took him to bed.  He's finally asleep!

I just remembered that I forgot (does that sound funny?) to give the kids baths and wash their hair!  In the summer when we swim every day, I skip days, and don't worry about stinky stiff pool hair-but NOT for school!  I'll have to wake them up early tomorrow.  I just can't do it all-I sure try though.  Some things give me guilt, but not all of them.  I did read lots and lots of books.  Doesn't that make up for it!? :)

ps-and can I say I'm SO excited that we are still having people register for the JDRF Walk to Cure this Saturday?  Yay!  Come on out to Mary Claire's Party!  (and wear turquoise or zebra stripes-we are out of shirts!)  I pledge to buy extras to sell or use last-minute next year-I'm still getting requests, and I hate not having more!

From Jersey to NY

I *heart* New York!

We left the sunny Jersey Shore this morning, to head north on Garden State Parkway to New York.  I was up at 6:30, but no one else was as excited as me?  I got everyone’s clothes ready for the next two days, and narrowed us down to two small carry-on size suitcases for our New York hotel.  I’ve schlepped in big suitcases, jumpy things, laundry baskets, etc. into big city fancy hotels, and I even have to admit I get a little embarrassed!  We are big kids, and we can make due with a little less.

Yesterday was totally unplanned, but still a great day.  We got ready for the day *in our swimsuits and coverups* and headed out.  We’d planned to spend another day at the beach, then showers at the beach house, then dinner was at Rita’s to celebrate David’s birthday.  Well.  That’s not how our day turned out!

First, we got to the beach house, and it was sprinkling.  We asked Rita if we could help, and we split up.  Ches walked to the grocery store for a few groceries, and she asked me to go get ice cream and cokes at CVS.  Mary Claire and I went-then it started raining!  We tried to swing by and pick up Ches, but he was already at the corner by the house-he’s so fast!

Then more people showed up, we made hot dogs, then finally walked to the beach.  When we got there, we played in the sand-then they closed the beach!  We’d heard thunder, but apparently it had started lightning.  They got everyone out of the water, but few people were leaving. We hung around, took some pictures, collected sand and shells (to decorate with!), and Ethan found someone else’s dumptruck to play with!  Clay got sand in his trunks, and was not happy.  He cried and wanted to go back.  He couldn’t go in the ocean to rinse out the sand, so it was sad business.

Our really impromptu (read: not matching, in swimsuits!) Beach Picture:

Then the lifguards came along and told us we had to leave the BEACH.  We packed up, found some extra shoes (Joseff’s!), and left.  We all stood around on the boardwalk and decided to go for some pizza to see if the storm passed.  It was a good Italian place, and Clay ordered mussels!

They were in marinara sauce, and he really liked them-he ate the whole bowl!  We ordered mozzarella sticks and some pizza too.  Then we went out since John got a text from a lifeguard he knows that the beach was open!  When we got out there, they were closing it again!  (Yes, I know-crazy!)  So. We did some more standing around, and decided to go down to the Castaway Cove (boardwalk with games, rides) to spend the rest of the tickets Ches had bought.  The girls and Clay rode the Double Shot (I’ll try to get my video to load!)-it shot them straight up in the air, then down, and repeated the whole rode again.

Ugh-scary.  I rode nothing there.  They were all spinning, going high, just not for me.

Then as the kids were spending the last of the tickets, it was raining lightly, and all the workers left their stations, and sat at the entrance to the arcade.  We went on through and headed towards home.  When we got halfway, it started pouring!!  We RAN (I had borrowed a stroller), and I got a towel caught in the stroller wheels, and had to stop to pull it out-it was awful!  So, since John and Camille’s house was closer, we ran there.  All drenched, we ran in, and soaked their carpet, I’m sure.  We borrowed towels, and dried off, but…not before Ethan stripped down, walked in their bathroom (you know how he likes to takes baths everywhere we go?), and wanted a bath!  Well, John’s dad, Jack, was in there!  He was in a towel, and didn’t seem to mind, but I was so embarrassed!  Ethan played in the dry bathtub with their rubber duckies for the longest time, then Jack came out and asked me if I was going to run him some water!  I did, and Ches went home for the van.  We stayed a while (Ches was showering at Rita’s), then he came to get us. We went to the hotel and all had showers, then went back for dinner.

I can’t say in words how nice his family is, and how welcome they made us feel.  They are all so sweet-and we had fun.  I’m so glad we got to go this year.  We’d waffled, not knowing if we should go or not, but we never regret it. : )

Now, we are seeing the NY skyline..we are here!

Pretzels for Dinner

I'm sick of being sick.  I feel awful.  It is worst in the afternoons, so I better start eating more in the morning.  I'm missing dinner, Ches fed the kids-leftover pizza.  I can't even stand to smell it, much less see it.  I've taken a Protonix to work on acid reflux if that's playing a part in my nausea.  I'm enjoying a pile of pretzels for dinner.  It's the only thing that doesn't make me want to barf.  (Sorry.)  I really enjoy the part where I put them in my mouth and just enjoy the salt. : )

I'm taking this to mean that it's a healthy pregnancy, which is my utmost goal.  Think Positive, think positive.

**I'm back-what an evening!**
Ches had a coach's meeting, I gave the kids baths (after they disposed of dinner..), then Ethan ran into the bedpost in Clay's room, screamed/cried, bruised the bridge of his nose and his nose!  We put ice on it, and because his face/eyes were covered, he fell asleep, I texted Ches, he came home, we called the doctor, and there were no more appointments!  By the time the nurse called back, he was awake, fine (but still swollen), and they told us to come in tomorrow if it's not better.  We have to wake him up tonight to make sure he's okay.  I don't swear, but if I did, I swear it couldn't get any crazier.  At the same time he was sleeping on me, I was getting Mary Claire's reservoir ready to change her pump site-hard.  Mary Claire really wanted her site changed so she could have a surprise (her new book order books came in yesterday, and I hold them ransom for prizes!)!

Ok, all settled down now, and I'm exhausted.  Oh, and confessions make me sleep better: I was late to pick the kids up at school-I slept through my phone alarm when I laid down to rest!  Crazy.  Mary Claire had gymnastics at 3:30, so we had to hurry, and then I took them to Sonic for ice cream-Guilt Snack.  I couldn't apologize enough, but no one seemed alarmed.  I even called the school, and they said the kids don't come to the office till 3:30-I guess lots of parents come late?  Even crazier.

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! : ) 

Floating Away

Let's make a to-do list that I can't scratch off (and exists only in computer world..).
I need to:
__ Send thank you's to the precious people who care so much and
who've sent donations to JDRF!!
__ Clean my desk
__ Go to bed early
__ Smash the *gosh!#DaRn¿!* fly that keeps buzzing around my
desk!
__ Read all my magazines that keep filling my mailbox (that I
keep on tap even though I never have the time to read)
__ Empty the dishwasher
__ Renew my driver's license in the next eleven days
__ Reschedule Clay's ENT appointment
__ Sign Clay up for fall baseball league
__ Consider baby names
__ Schedule Mary Claire's eye exam (to have eyes dialated)
(NeVeR fun)

And I'll get all this done after I get lunches made, Monday Folders signed and filled out, order school t-shirts, check my email, check Facebook, check FB messages, clean the black beans off of Ethan's booster chair (spilled his plate in his lap at dinner), wash his clothes, and water the plants.

Yep, one of those days!
It was fun-I got to plan for a better deck with my dad-he spent most of the day working on it (and shopping for it...), then I had lunch with two great friends, made it to my (not-the) doctor's appointment, had blood drawn (and was a Big Girl), then we played at Kendra's, then I tried to give the kids popsicles while I made dinner (but they ate them too quickly), then Ethan stripped naked, so I thought a bath would contain his little monkey body for 20 minutes. Well. Therein was my mistake.

It created another big, fat job (and thus another cyber checkmark) for me to work on. He decided "turn the water off when it covers the thighs" (my rule) was not sufficient. In all his baths (three today) (a billion elsewhere), he has learned to work the faucet. Or at least one side of it. Too bad it was the hot side. (well, only the cold would have been equally awful) He had filled it to the very tip top. And I don't mean, Ya Know, This High, I mean FULLLL! With the little helper drain at the top working it's heart out to empty the thing!

Yes, I did the dutiful panic-scream-get mad-panic-pull him out-get mad-try to get him to stop swirling around/splashing out-take off jewelry-pull up sleeve-pull the drain stopper up-get mad some more-dry the crying baby off-cause he was having fun-dry some more of the sides-dry him-ran to get my camera-cause when will there EVER be this much water in here again???

I came back to the kitchen to find sweet Mary Claire stirring the black beans I'd been making (cause they were bubbling/burning?), and the quesadilla was rather brown too. Ahh, motherhood. Conjures up some thoughts. Thankful for some of them, wondering if I'll stuff some of them... He should've known he was writing his own Early Bedtime Ticket. He'll learn. (I hope.)

So now they are all tucked safely in their beds, and I can't wait to do the same. They are all wearing me out! : O

ps-the doctor/nurse visit went well. They were very interested in my jewelry/dress/hair, and not so interested in my pregnancy. They kept saying, "well, this is all old news to you", "you already know all this", and "you should know all about this by now", etc. Umm. Can I just say that any time you have a LIFE growing inside you-it isn't Old Hat? All those old neuroses, and fears, and questions just pop right back up? Yes, you already know the questions, but you want all the reassurances Again? How to make that clear?

ps-Clay was an angel today, Mary Claire was good, but sleepy, tired, didn't feel good, and hungry; and Ethan was..well, you know the story.

ps-I smashed the fly!! : D

Bath at Acambaro, Anyone?

A funny story about why Ethan had to sit in the car with Ches at Acambaro... Yum, first of all. We got out of Ice Age (#2?) after 7pm, and we'd not really eaten dinner. Ches said he was hungry for chips and salsa, and we were in Lowell, so I suggested Acambaro. He'd seen a story/ad in the paper about kids eating for free at the Acambaro in Springdale. So we drove there, all got out, hit the door, and there was a big sign that said Kids Eat Free Monday-Wednesday (yeah, it was Thursday). So that's why he sat in the car. Just kidding. : ) heehee I looked at Ches and the tired kids, and asked if he was still in the mood to eat chips and salsa, and of course he was. Bad Sign: when they seat you away from everyone else, 3 inches from the door to the kitchen. I kid you not. So, there was a huge three-layer water fountain about a foot from our table. (Yes, must be the table they reserve for big families-8 chairs-with little kids. Maybe the water disguises the kid noises?) So, Ethan ran over, and tried to strip. Yep, he was yelling, "Bath!" and trying to climb in because (1) he's never seen a fountain in a restaurant, (2) it was bubbling over since some crazy person put dish detergent in it (3) he loves water/baths, (4) why should we get to have a nice restaurant experience? So, screaming and crying ensued, and Ches ordered, then took him to the car. They came back a few minutes later when the food came, I held Ethan (restrained his screaming self while Ches swallowed his food), then Ches took him back out to the van. Lots'o'fun. Ask me if I'll go back there. Not.

Ask me if a two-and-a-half year old is ready to sit through a movie-even one with roars and dinosaurs? Not. Ask me if I've gotten my 6 new beautiful drapes hung up in the breakfast room yet. Not.

But. I HaVe been busy! I got all in the mood to have the house even more organized and easier to move around in, so I made a list. Of all the things I wish were done, the ones that have to be done, and the ones that maybe will still be on the list in a year. : ) 'Cause that's my life. Just keepin' it real.

Yesterday, I went to Lowe's (to Shop the List), and got to work. Last night while Clay watched fireworks outside the house (till too late, 11:30ish), I put up more shelves in the garage, organized the junk (just outside-the-door junk), moved stuff (including the painting stuff-spackling, brushes, tape, caulking, the hand tools, and the screws/nails/pads/Command hooks/drapery clips/rings/etc.) from the laundry room out to the shelves (in precious little boxes with lids and labels!). Then I transfered stuff from the laundry room closet (not dreamy-very shallow) to the cabinets, then put the kids' laundry baskets in the closet, and therefore, Da-Da! *I have cleaned off the laundry room counter!* Lots of work, to say I cleaned and shuffled stuff. Felt like a lot of work, but it's definitely cleaner! I'll tackle the entire garage if I get a chance.

Oh, I haven't written in so long. I'd let the guilt get to me, but I haven't got time for one more thing. : ) I had the best time Wednesday! I went shopping with my friend Kendra in Branson! She'd never been without her kids, so we had to do it up right! : ) I had to show her around to all my favorite stores (and hers too!), and show her how I shop the sales, and use my coupon booklet to save about half off on all the clothes I stock up on for the kids! She got to meet Dina and Sara, my pals at Gymboree. They are so sweet, and always helpful! We hit an awesome sale at Banana Republic (EnTiRe store 40% off!), and then I had a coupon for 20% off of your total. WooHoo! We did really well everywhere, and of course ran out of time. : ( We just can't do it all in a day. I don't think she understood the work that goes into shopping! We didn't eat dinner till the outlets closed at 9. We made up for our gum-for-dinner by going to Olive Garden, and really enjoying it. It tastes sooo much better when you are StArViNg! : )

Thursday was back to work. We went to story time at the library (in which Ethan showed the teacher/reader his Thomas train-in her face, while she was reading, then roared and walked like a T-Rex for her. All during a story about hats.) Then we went by Ches' office to bug him (I had left my cell phone at home and had to ask a ticket person-yes, he was writing tickets for expired meters-to use his phone.) then take him out to lunch to celebrate his Last Day of Summer School class!! Yay! : ) I'm SO Happy!

Then to Chick-Fil-A to let the kids run in and out of the play area, eat a tiny bit, and I got to see Kathleen! and tell her about my crazy hot pink room, that's still in the works... and see her Absolutely Adorable Baby!! Oh, is he precious. Anyway, when Ches could take no more running to make sure Ethan didn't get his fingers in the door, we left, dropped him at work, then went home to get Ethan a nap! The kids bugged me all afternoon, then we went to the movies (see first paragraph!).

Today was July fourth, Independence Day! We sang Happy Birthday to America (and to Ethan, and to the whole world...) on the way home from lunch at Gigi's house. Clay wanted to stay there, so I'll go back and get him when Ethan wakes up. For now, MC and Ethan are presumably asleep, and I think I could catch a nap too.

Wish your precious country a Happy Birthday, and I'll talk to you tomorrow, post-fireworks!

Three Baths, Two Games, and One Busy Week Ahead

Whew, what a day.
I can't write much, as I think I'll be going to bed very early tonight. Ethan was up at 6:10 this morning (before the sun is too early in my book), and he woke up the kids (unless it was the other way around...). He'd had two baths by 9, and then was so cranky. I laid him down at 9:20a, and he went right to sleep! He even slept through me banging around making lunch. Wow. I was sure I'd wake him up, so I made his lunch. It got gross, and he didn't even eat it.

It seemed like we had lots of time today (guess getting up early does that for you!). We played outside, I cleaned off the deck of branchy bits, leaves, swept behind and around furniture and pots (full of dead and alive plants). I called Lowe's, Barbara's Gardens, and Westwood Gardens, finally WM, and NoNe of them had pansies (well, the middle two were closed). I was so sad. My pots needed sprucing up, and I had an extra hour and a half to fill (ha!) and I couldn't get flowers. It was so nice and warm today! I'll plan to get some tomorrow.

Then I came in (in my non-planty time) and made a pump pouch for a little girl that goes to another school where Mary Claire's nurse works. She doesn't have one, and she just got a pump. She only lives with her dad, and I don't know if dads socialize about where to get a pump pouch. I hope she likes it-Mary Claire has one like it, and she picked out the fabric. I put her name on it, it has flowers on it! : )

Then gave Ethan his real wash-up-for-the-night-bath, made dinner, cleaned up, played two games of Pretty Pretty Princess with Mary Claire (we each won once), gave the kids baths, and read (Calvin & Hobbes-almost a nightly affair and The English Roses by Madonna-good story!). They are up in their beds, maybe not quite asleep. I'm so tired, did I mention that?

I feel like my desk is so clean and I'm organized! It's such a happy feeling! I feel like I will sleep well. : ) I caught up on bills, mail, my calendar (I just keep saving little bits of paper and reminders and never seem to write them in...), and now I know this is going to be a busy week!
Monday: PTA Mtg, Clay's play
Tuesday: Mother's Day Out for Ethan (maybe), Conferences for kids, Clay's First Reconciliation (Confession)! and he has a Boy Scout pack meeting (he'll probably miss for reconciliation)
Wednesday: Ethan's MDO Valentine's Party
Thursday: Ethan's ENT Dr's Appt., Kids Valentine's Parties
Friday: No School, take the kids to see Coraline, maybe Ches and I going out or maybe Saturday
Saturday: Father/Daughter Valentine's Dance (heehee)

and not to mention that I have to gather BIDS for repairs! Painting, sheetrock, deck, we found someone for the fence. Work! And I just hate to have them come when I'm alone. I'm having Mom come over one day when they can bid the jobs. It's scary when they come in, and I'm alone! Even with Ethan, it's creepy! : O

Other things are in the making, I'll see how they go, and let you know later in the week. A reason to check back in! : )

Oh, and I have to try new paint! Remember when I mentioned the Remodel mag with the green island? I'm trying their lime green (kinda apple-y). Adorable! So tomorrow is flowers and paint. and bids. and find out what I owe for roof repair. And the play. Yeah, I think I'm organized (but that makes me overwhelmed). Whew, what a day.

Comment Challenge on Crazy Morning

Ok, so this morning-a Little Stressful! So, first I get Ethan who's yelling, "Momma! Da-ee!" He's pottied, and stinks! I get him changed, and then to Clay's room...Don't try to paper train your dog. Lexi is sooo small, and hates Outside, so the breeder told us to paper train her inside (and it'd keep her white fur cleaner...). She's pottied in TWO places in Clay's room (he's trying to get her to sleep on the floor so he can get back to the top bunk soon-since I said No Lexi On The Top Bunk!). I tell Clay to take her downstairs to the laundry room to see if she needs to go more. So I get my pet oxygen cleaner stuff and get to work on the spots upstairs, then tell him to look for pee (and yes, he found some). Then to MC's room to wake her up. She's all warm and cuddly. She is slowwwwly getting dressed. Then we all head down to the sound of whining/barking downstairs. All our arms are full-laundry (that's where it comes from!) child, her glucose meter, my oj glass, hangers, etc. The to the laundry room where there are TWO poops AGAin! and a pee. So, Mary Claire is starving looking for food, decides on Rice Krispies (which I have to measure-she can count out Mini-Wheats), so she starts looking for the measuring cups, I'm on the floor picking up poop with tissues, depositing them into the toilet (not in my trash can, no Way!) Cleaning the floor underneath them (steamy, gross), clean up all the pee paper, clean the floor some more, while Ethan climbs on my back and wants a horsey ride. He's so sweet, and he's hugging my neck. I could get crazy, or stop and love on him. I made the right decision! : ) Yay, me! Then back to work...Cereal, Clay decided on a pomegranate (but I only let him have half-other half for lunch as it's not filling and takes eternity to dig for your little seeds. He was using a toothpick-it's why he's so skinny). So I had to add mini-wheats to his breakfast, comb hair, add icepacks to lunch boxes (meanwhile Ethan is balancing-standing up-on a barstool eating messy Rice Krispies-Ches came in and I asked him to man the 'Krispies and Child)-ahhh! So, in the craziness, Mary Claire forgot her meter. I got back from taking them to school (sans makeup and cuteness for that extra bit of sleep), and there was her meter on the counter!!! I sat with Ethan a little (huggy thing) and watched Curious George, then got to the makeup/hair stuff, then the phone rang-8:45 (she doesn't get checked till 9am, so I was taking my time, thinking it wasn't even missed..) and she was in the nurse's office feeling LOW! More guilt, heaped on. I raced to the car, raced to the school, getting the meter ready on the way, parked, ran into the school, bypassed the sign-in in the office, checked her, and she was 236. High. AAhhhh! again. Gave her more insulin, left, back to the house.

New paragraph, finally. (Don't think I don't know they run on. I do.) So, now I'm readying 3 bday gifts for children, finding gift bags, tissue, now I was on to the card-making. But, Ethan got into my paints, so we took a side street and he painted a beautiful canvas for his bedroom. I'll post a slideshow of the Ar-Teest. Messy, but fun. I needed the artful diversion. I have had a few canvasses just waiting! I want to paint, but haven't had so much time... But I left some out, just in case... Now, I'm back to the cards. I printed them, and now I'll stamp, add embellishments, etc. to make them cuter. I'll try to post pix of these also. You know, in my free time.

Ethan is off to take one of his daily baths. He'll be in there for ever! He loves water. He likes 2-3 baths a day-Not Kidding. (If he comes to your house, makes a beeline for your bathroom, and tries to pull his clothes off, cries, etc. You'll Know Why.) And it's good Water Play for him. We are well-rounding him today. Painting, water play, dry play with cars (heehee), tv, snack, story time, classical music at nap... Okay, so it happens rarely. But the stars are lining up today!

Must go make new slidshows for my TWO fabulous readers. I'd like to issue a CHALLENGE! If you've Never left a comment, let's Practice today. Hit the pencil (or the word comment) at the bottom of my post, write a tiny little, "Hi! this is a Challenge Met" or "Love Your Blog!", or advice for the wildly crazy mom, etc. Then choose Name/Url: and just pick a name-any name. Cinderella, Dora the Explorer, Beyonce, whatever-it doesn't verify. Just leave Something (nothing to lower my self-esteem, please). So I can get feedback. Sick of hearing about Poop? No more messy house pictures? You have to say so (not that I will necessarily comply, but there's hope!). I will give you a Hershey's Miniature if you comment (the Krispy, Mr. Goodbar, or Hersheys's plain only, Darks seem to have mysteriously disappeared!). I can be bribed with chocolate, can YOU!?

Woo-hoo! My house is dusted, and I'm going to Target!

I've been taking down my Christmas decorations since yesterday afternoon. It's a lot of work, but I dusted and vacuumed (all the millions of faux pine needles!-my tree will be naked next year!) as I went and so it feels good to have it clean now! Last night Ethan helped me take off ornaments, and he checked them each to see if they were really breakable, or if they could come apart. They thankfully all survived his testing.
This morning, I finished taking down garland, and worked on dusting-it took forever! I dust (usually..) as I put up the garland, lights, ornaments, Santas, reindeer, angels, etc. so I haven't dusted since. It was gross. Sequin-y bits, hard faux-ice (think hard candy-looking stuff), real dust, feather-y pieces (obviously plucked out), and more of the pine needle things. I had to vacuum the top of my dining room table carefully before I could even dust it. I just knew I'd rub in the sequins and hard candy bits and scratch up the table. I did okay. It is very clean and feels fresh like January should. ..Except that my table looks lonely and empty, as does my mantle. I may need a shopping excursion to find the perfect things to finish it.
..I tried taking a shopping trip into my yard this afternoon, but it ended badly. I took our huge loppers (don't really know how to spell it, but rhymes with coppers) out along with the huge glass vase I wanted to fill. It's about (was about) 16 inches high and about 8 or 9 inches wide. I have (had) a pair, and I love (loved!) them! I gathered a huge Magnolia branch-just beautiful! and some huge bush-branches (can't get Ches to think of the name at the moment-ok-Manhattan Euonymus), and it was filling up rather nicely. Until. the big gust of wind. It fell to the north onto the metal edging of the bed, and broke. Yep, it's gone. I scooped up my branches (why waste all that work?) and headed in. I found another much-less-perfect-too-skinny vase, and filled it with river stones and put in the branches. It looks ok. I'm not so happy with just okay, that's why I'm in need of the 'excursion. I still have the other vase, but it's in the living room filled with branches of curly willow, and fake snow hard-candy thingies, so I don't want to move it.
Do I have a big accident every day? Well, not quite, just most days. Last night's adventure was almost falling off the ladder at about 9 or 10 feet up. I pulled the tree toward me to take off the top ornaments, and I thought we were both headed south! Turns out, maybe my Wii balance games helped! : )
Back to the important things! ..What should I put in the center of my dining room table? I don't really want to put on live, growing plants since they could leave water rings. (Although that was my first idea.) So, another big arrangement? Big candle holders? Right now, I have a rectangle "dish" of pears in a row, an architectural pointy thing, and chocolate sequined flowers on there too. The table is set in lime and chocolate. Help??
The kids are all bathed and beautiful (and smell so sweet!), as I am getting ready to take them to Target to spend the gift cards their aunt and uncle sent them! They are sooo excited! The options are endless...
We're off to shop, I hope you have a great Saturday! : ) We have a fresh new year waiting (do you have a new calendar yet? My wall calendar is Mary Engelbreit!) so what are you going to do with yourself this year? My goal is to be in shape for my annual dr's appt on January 19th. Beyond that, no plans. Hmm...maybe to help Mary Claire learn to ride a bike with no training wheels, help Clay get better at tying his shoes (so we can skip the Crocs he's become addicted to..), keep up my exercise on the Wii, and allow myself to forget or not do one thing a day that I feel is imperative, read more with Ethan... Maybe that's it. I'll let you know in December how I did.
Ok, off to Target! Toodles!