Knock, Knock!

I'm too lazy to upload all the cute pictures of my sweet boys playing ball this weekend..and tball tonight.  I'm tired!

And I got a message while we were at the ball field...  Someone rang my neighbor's doorbell, and when he went to answer it (he was right by the door), they took off running, threw a beer bottle at the street light (missed!), and ran into the "woods" (vacant lots between us).  Then, when our neighbor attempted to follow them into the woods, they started throwing big rocks and branches out!  So..they called the police.

She wanted to make sure it wasn't one of our kids (ha!), before she called the police (well..I've called the police on her sister's car once..so now we call each other first! haha!).  When we got home, there were police cars here, and we all went out to "conference". ; )  The policemen went out into the woods with flashlights, but no sign of the guy(s).  At the bottom of the hill/woods, there is a drainage ditch (the reason no one has built on that lot!), so they probably made it to the ditch and took off out of the neighborhood.  Scary!  We used to have lots of break-ins, but it's been a while.  Now, we have our guard up again. (should I thank 15 to 22-year-old-scary-guy?)

And?  I went to the doctor today!  And...the heart is still beating! : )  Another week under my belt.  So thankful.  Super thankful for weekly ultrasounds and peace of mind.  Thankful for prayers for our tiny life growing.  Thankful for today, and the chance to do it "right" this time.  (I know, I know, but I have to think I have some control! ; )  If I wasn't so exhausted I'd show you an ultrasound picture of the tiny bean and its halo.  (it's really the yolk sack, but it looks like a big halo over the head. ; )  I promise I'll get it on..

Praying for you and your tiny lives too.  For another day of accomplishment. : )  We forget what a victory it is to make it through with our family for another day!  I am not taking it for granted. ; )  Hugs, ya'll!


ps- T minus 12 days till our Northwest Arkansas Arkansas Walk to Cure Type 1 Diabetes!  Not too late to join us or donate!  Here is our link!! : )

Picture Perfect

The big news isn't decorating or Bible study, or even the Hoedown...the biggest news is that I got my bottom taken care of (kinda!).  It was driving me bananas to go tinkle!  I was itching, hurting, etc!  I went in to my regular doctor's office, and they did a urinalysis.  BUT-there were no white blood cells in my urine, so No.  Then they gave me some dye for my urine (seriously-it's dark Kool-Aid orange! and they told me my sweat would be that color too! Eww..!)  So, then they gave me some steroid cream.

So..hours later, still bugging me! What the heck is it??  My specialist in Little Rock was also recruited. : ) It may be the progesterone tablets (Prometrium) they are giving me.  Hmm..they are switching me to oral progesterone, but I have to take twice as much-400mg a night.  Apparently not as effective this way?  She also said that it'd make me feel sleepy and drunkish-so I am supposed to take them right before bed.  Can you imagine?

So..Play-Doh makes me happier! (love/hate relationship over??) I had an idea..Outside Play-Doh!  And it soo worked.

I think he even enjoys it, what do you think? : ) (he loves the "factory" and the horse-he makes her grow green hair and a green mane, cuts it off and does it again!)
(I'll let you know what happens when you don't clean it up...)


I did a tiny bit more decorating-a mantle, my mirror, cleaned up some tubs, spread leaves around-still not done.  I need more summer tubs! : )

Try this at home:

Easiest decorating ever: Dry Erase Marker on Mirror. : )  I had to turn on the dining room lights to light it up a little, otherwise you see right through it.  Fun! I did another mirror, the front door-total overkill!


I'm thankful for friends, for perseverance, fun work (counting tickets with Danielle and letting the boys play-totally fun!), for great schools for the kids, dry-erase markers, music, and sweet kids (even though they had picture day today, and I totally forgot-and they were not so cute today-they have all these new clothes, and looked so . . what's the word? . .not dressed up!).  Still thankful for the clothes they have to wear! : )

Life as we know it

Sorry it's been so long..it's been busy! : )  Mary Claire had a friend spend the night on Thursday since they had no school on Friday!  We got up and had plans to meet some friends at the Fayetteville library for story time, and they were all so excited!  We got around, then went to Fayetteville (where they were having Bikes, Blues, and BBQ-VERY BUSY and noisy!), and then it kinda fell apart.  We went the back way by Wilson Park, and we went over a few speed tables (bumpy), and Ethan had just had half a bottle of water, and right before we got to the library, he threw up water!  Mary Claire thought he had sneezed-his shirt was wet.  But no.  He did it a couple more times-just water-then we pulled over.  He was crying, and so sad.  We dried him, and he wanted to go to the library.  I drove into the parking garage, and got a Premier (right by the elevator!) spot. : )  But, alas, more water coming up.  : (  We had to leave, and Ethan said he was sleepy.  It really worried me, and I thought maybe he had an ear infection, and the bumps messed up his balance.

I called the Pediatric Clinic and made an appointment.  We drove back home, got him fresh clothes (while he slept in his seat with a blanket!), and went to the doctor.  He was all happy when he woke up, the kids all played in the waiting area, then we saw the doctor.  Mary Claire decided she wanted to be checked too, so we checker her in-my kids love the doctor!

So..they both had ear infections, got antibiotics, and we asked about the flu shots.  They had them!  The kids were not excited.  Ches came and met me up there (yay!), and so we all got the flu mist, but Clay decided at the last minute to get the shot-he said he preferred it to the mist.  (I think he was being brave for Natalie Grace!) : )

Then we went to Tim's Pizza for a late lunch while we waited on our prescriptions to be ready, picked them up, and headed home.  I was so tired!  They all wanted to go back to the library, but I'd had it.  Whew-four good kids, but tired.

Then Friday night I think Ethan had a reaction to his first Flu Mist-he had a fever!  We gave him medicine, and by Saturday morning it was gone.  He's been fine ever since (except he hates his antibiotic!!).  We have this new medicine trick, which only kinda works.  We give him the tiny amount-only 1 teaspoon! and then he gets a teaspoon of mini chocolate chips:

I'd say it's a good deal for him-especially since the medicine is yummy and tastes like bubble gum-I tried it!), but he whines.  I guess this way, he gets the chocolate!  (does he get this from me?)


So Saturday I got to sleep in!  Yahoo!  Then we had two baseball games, and a DATE! : )  We saw the sneak preview of Life As We Know It (Very good!)-I'd been waiting for it.  I'm so glad we heard about the sneak preview! : )  We went to Rogers to avoid the bike traffic in Fayetteville, but it was Homecoming!  There was a long wait at the restaurant, but it was okay-I had to run home and change Mary Claire's site!  Her blood sugar was in the 300's, and rose to 400, so I made quick trip home while Ches waited for the table.  They were having macaroni and cheese (full of carbs!), so we couldn't wait it out.
I made it just fine, and my hot tea was ready-I always order the Citrus Spice-it's delish!
So... then Today. (it's October, People!!)  We did the usual (church, eat out), and then I had to get Clay new shoes for church.  Last week he wore his too-small shoes, and I pledged to get him new ones.  (and forgot.)  So, today, he wore rolled up khakis, and flip flops!  (yes, it was cold here!), so after church we went to the mall, and got him new shoes, dress socks, and underwear!  (I'm sure he'd love me sharing that!)  Then we went to Sam's to check out new Christmas trees since I gave away two a couple weeks ago.  We no longer have a 12 ft. tree, but we need a new skinny one.  I want another 9ft for the living room-they are so much easier to decorate!  And then-I saw a new wreath-a good deal too!  I just remembered it's still in my trunk..but it's a good wreath.  I have a HUGE one, but I'm realizing it might just be too big.  Every year I just add to it, and it's quite large, and covered in glitter and leaves and pumpkins-and I am downsizing.  (Need an old fall wreath??)  So, next on my list (since it's really FALL Now!) is Fall Decorating.  I will have Ches get down all my stuff this week, and get started.  Beachy summer stuff is going, and fall pumpkins are coming.  I hate to say goodbye to summer, but it's really October now.  (and we have to inform my family-they are still swimming every day!!)
The kids know it too-it's costume time.  At school they are supposed to choose book characters.  Clay has picked Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes, and wants to wear a red shirt, have his hair stick up, and wear a newspaper hat that says, "G.R.O.S.S." (for Calvin's club: Get Rid Of Slimy girlS).  We are looking for a Hobbes-ish tiger online, but here is the closest I can find: tiger on eBay (it'll only show up till Tuesday morning!).  Clay likes it, and it kinda looks like Hobbes when he's *alive*.  I know, I know, it's Tigger, but there's nothing closer.  Can you find one?  ..I read that Bill Watterson "..stated something along the lines that he thought it would "cheapen the purity of his work" to have a stuffed animal created to sell.  (but oh, I wish he would allow it!  My kids *love* Calvin and Hobbes!!)
Mary Claire wants to be Fancy Nancy, so..we looked up costumes.  They are just fancy dresses and accessories, and she wanted a new dog (like Frency!) so..I made a deal.  I'd get her a new dog:

if she would be happy with me making her a costume from a tutu and tons of fancy things she already has-she agreed!  I got her silver glittery shoes this summer to wear for Halloween, and she has tutus, skirts with flowers, etc.  I'll bling her up and add sunglasses-she'll be beautiful!  The dog is ordered, and this may be the funnest costume ever! : )
And then..there's Ethan!  He still wants to be a dragon.  It's Clay's old Halloween costume, but he loves it, and he dresses up in it all the time! (sure makes it easy for me!)

Getting Away

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Memories

I finally got my Disney picture cd in the mail today!  Yay!  I will post a few pictures, even though the trip was about a month ago now.  Happy Memories.  I'm still glad we went, it changed some yuck into good. : )  Here's my favorite:

So sweet..makes me remember that night.. the night we got rained on running back to the car, and we smelled.  Ahh..good times!  heehee  That's what family is made of (not bad smells, just shared memories!).
Oh, and tinkerbell!  She was so cute!

And let's not forget the Buzz Lightyear Experience:

If you totally forgot the story (or didn't hear about it..) you can read it here.
Ok, so on with the show.  Today we were up early again, and had to hit the ground running.  It's going to be a busy week, and today I had to fit in grocery shopping and laundry.  Ethan and I also stopped by a couple houses..just for fun.  I really like one of them, but I'd probably want it rebuilt on a different lot.  It looks out into chicken houses and some barn/lean-to/horse stall things.  I love the house (smaller kid rooms and smaller garage size), but good.  Ches likes the idea of less yard to take care of, and I could clean less (maybe).  It's just a thought.  We always toy with the idea, and we are thinking.  I think if you aren't always conscious of what's going on in life, you aren't living.  I don't want to just coast along-I want to be actively involved.  That may involve downsizing!  We'll see how things go.
Tomorrow, another doctor's appointment for me.  I am going back to see my ob/gyn again.  We'd made an appointment to talk after the specialist appointment, but I already know my blood work was all fine.  Now, I guess we talk about what happens next.  Ches and I talked last night, and I decided (more me than him) that I could only do this one more time.  I can't take an endless stream of disappointment, so there has to be an end in sight if it continues to be devastation.  I have to know I can move on with my life.  I can live either way, and I'll be okay; I just want to know.  The not knowing what will be in a year is hard.  I'd like to plan for the future, whatever it is. I'd planned to go back to school before we decided to try again (and it became a passion-who knew!).  So, I'm psyching up for my morning appointment, and I'd like to go alone.  I have to discuss real options and what will happen.  I can't tell Ches to stay home, but I might if he asks.  If it's pregnancy, it's our decision, if it's my body, I think it's mine.  So pray for me!
Tomorrow is also Bunco (and we don't know where yet!), and Clay's baseball game.  Mom is watching Mary Claire and Ethan in the overlap, it's just crazy.  Wednesday gets worse with Girl Scout ceremony, JDRF ambassador event at Gator Golf (I'll have to take Ethan too), and another baseball game.  Summer will be a welcome calm after the storm!  We can't wait-although then the camps start..
Genevieve is still doing well.  Now, we can set her out the door, she'll do her business and come back to the door and bark!  She's so good.  She eats her meals, poops (sorry, but if you have a pet you understand) afterward, and takes a couple naps a day-we're kinda on a schedule!  I like a routine so we both know what to expect!  The only thing she's doing not-so-great is some chewing.  She's chewed my nice Pottery Barn bath mat, my wicker cubes & hamper, and some shoes. Mostly we've caught her before she's caused major problems.  She kinda chews/bites at the kids' heels/pants, and that makes them crazy.  Ethan is actually the bravest.  I think it might be since he's with her the most.  He'll play with her, run with her, and isn't afraid to pet her.  It seems like Mary Claire is still skittish (can you spell it better?) around her, and Clay will jump up on the couch to avoid her snappy playfulness.  They call her Nipper since she nips their heels.  Her bites don't hurt, but their fear makes them hurt.  Mary Claire cries.  Hope it gets better.
Ok, I should go to bed...Just one more picture: our day in Hollywood Studios!

Notice anything familiar?  Look closely... Yes, these were the same clothes we wore to Magic Kingdom in the very first picture!  We'd spent the day at Hollywood Studios, but I had to go back for the Wishes Fireworks-I just love going back at night-it's a whole other spirit being so close to so many people, and hearing Jiminy Cricket talk to you about dreams and wishes, and seeing Tinkerbell fly across the sky-so magical.  It's always worth going back, even the fifth and sixth times...
Take some time with the ones you love, even if it's a puzzle, game, a walk outside, or a vacation!  It helps you see the world in a whole new way.

Glad we kept the other van!

I just have to blog, cause I can't Facebook, and I'm all nerves!!  I have some exciting news to share...yep, pregnancy is going well.  We had the ultrasound today, and it's TWINS! : O  We were shocked, shaky, nervous, and generally anxious.  We had thought there was a small possibility (more than four pregnancies, twins in my family, over 35 years old, etc.), but we were still shocked to hear it!  I think we were more excited than anything, but still.  When the doctor left the room, I hugged Ches, and he said he thought we'd have five kids.  When was he going to tell me?

The doctor had showed us the heartbeat, then changed it a little, then said, "Can you see it here, can you see it now, can you see it now?" I kept saying yes, and he said, there are two! and he was switching back and forth. Then he put them on the screen at the same time, and snapped some pictures for us to share.  It was all surreal.  We'd thought a big maybe, but to hear it is something totally different.  I mean after losing two, we were just so anxious to see a viable, healthy heartbeat.  Just seeing it was so reassuring.  More was unreal.  I'll calm down in a little bit, but for now, I'm a little hyper!  ~~Oh-and my doctor actually said, hold on, I have to look for More... as in babies!


Oh--and there are two sacs, which is good.  He tried to check my ovaries for corpus luteum cysts (if there were two, they'd be fraternal), but he couldn't see very well.  He'll check again next time.  There is a better chance for them if it's two sacs.  Ches remembers him saying one placenta, but I heard placentas, so we'll ask next time.  There will be 80 more questions to write down...

Ches drove right to work (we drove separately) to tell his department head.  He'd really like to teach his fall classes online, and he wanted to discuss it some more with her.  I've talked to him twice since he left the office, but I didn't even ask him how it went!  We have a date tonight (thank you, forethought!), so we'll talk more later.  There's so much!


We asked all the very real questions too, we didn't totally lose our minds.  We asked what the chances are of them both making it all the way.  With one (after seeing a heartbeat on ultrasound), it's about 92% chance.  With twins, he said there's an upper 80's percent of them making it.  Us-ever practical.  We just didn't want to tell the kids, then it change.

We also asked him when we should tell the kids.  He said if it was him, he'd go ahead and tell them.  We have another ultrasound to check the progress in 10 days, and he said we could always wait until then.  We had decided to tell them tomorrow -Saturday- since we were going out tonight, but I went ahead and told them after calling Ches.  They were so excited!  I told them that we were going to have a baby, and...there are two!  They both yelled, "Twins!"  I didn't really realize that word was in their vocabulary, or that they'd come up with it on their own, but they are pretty smart.  I'm glad they are excited.  They'd like a boy and a girl..I'll just place that order...  I told them we'll be happy with whatever God chooses for us. : )

Mary Claire did say she hopes I don't get "sick" like I did last time (she doesn't even know about the last time) and lose the baby.  I told her I have waited a while to tell her about this pregnancy and the chances of that happening are pretty small, but my prayer warriors can keep praying!!  Clay piped up and said he's praying for a girl, and I know Mary Claire prays with me -daily- for a girl.  I just want them to know their prayers are answered, no matter what.


Now I know why I've been so tired!  I'll try to rest more, maybe eat more calories? and take better care of myself, although I have been working on it since January.  Mom has requested I stop picking up Ethan so much!  I'll try to come down to his level more.  Is there data for harm?


When I called Ches at work this afternoon, he was on the computer looking up twin stuff.  He's so cute.  I'm glad he's excited, and interested.  I can't imagine a husband not being excited-it'd be sooo hard.


Alright, I must mosey on, and get ready to go on a date!  Keep saying your prayers, as my friend's hcg didn't quite double (but totally went up!), but I want us pregnant together, and I love her dearly.  I want her big and pregnant (hahaha), and I want a baby for her just as much as I do for me!  Extra time on your hands?  Say your prayers! : )  Hugs!

Buzz Lightyear is Singing!

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

Anger and Respect

The doctor's appointment.
Well, I went. It was okay. I didn't have to donate more blood for testing (Yay!), just some urine for a test. We had a talk, and I was fine. Some of it was medical-related, some was not-so-much, for which I was thankful. (Whew, almost ended that with a preposition!)

Clay is mad/angry/upset/sad with me today. I had to be at the doctor's office at 8:!5, so I took them to school not long before 8:00 this morning. First, I quizzed him on where his homework sheet was, and it was nowhere to be found. He was upset that he'd miss all of his recess tomorrow for not having it (so I wrote out a note to the teacher explaining we may have lost it, but he read every night). Then he got mad that we were later than usual and he wouldn't have time to finish his morning work (and therefore would have to do it at recess today!). I'm wondering...what about the kid who eat breakfast at school? What about the kids who get there at 7:55 every day? What about the kids who ride a bus and have no control over what time they get there? Do they miss recess every day? I told him to just do it quickly when recess started and he'd still have some time to play, but he insisted that it took a long time!

I shall stop here, since I have opinions (like that kids NEED to run around to get out all their energy at recess, and are there better "punishments"?). My kid is good, sweet, and super smart (I know, I'm biased). He read a book last week, took his AR (Accelerated Reader) test, and made 100%, and made 11 points! He's already met his AR goal for the nine weeks. He loves to read, and I just don't want him to have poor grades. We have respect for the teacher and her homework sheets, we just can't keep up with them till the following Monday!! We must have issues.

I sucked up my anger/pride?/issues and went back to the girl scout store. I had to buy the Try-It book for Mary Claire since she has a *habitat* due on Wednesday! I've been putting off a return trip (for previously aired reasons). I took cash, but they still required a name and troop number, which is how the woman actually recognized me. She apologized, and we had some very small talk. I told her it wasn't the first time that killed me, but the second time. It was okay, and she thanked me for not writing them off completely. Don't think I didn't think about it. I totally weighed my options, and really had to decide what was best. It was super hard, but I think girl scouting is good for her.

Rudolph and the new License Picture

Procrastination is kicking my butt again. I work well under pressure, but not this much. I waited to get my new driver's license till it's almost too late (10 days or so?), and now I have a cold/allergies that have erupted, and my nose looks like Rudolph's! : P What now?

And. I have an appointment to get the oil changed in my van tomorrow at 9am, and Clay has his ENT recheck/post-surgery appointment at 9:20, and I SO can't be in two places at once. I put off rescheduling his appt (mainly because I hadn't a clue when it was), and my van is yelling at me that I'm over (now 61 miles past my 0% oil life left) (like oil dies). I'm trying to be calm and handle it all. Really. But now I'm sick. I can dodge the balls really well when I'm on top of my game, but now I'm getting hit with the panda heads and shoes (you just have to play Wii to get it).

Anyway, I'm hoping a solution will materialize by morning. A miracle, if you will. Virawan and little Natalie came for a visit this morning and we totally talked about miracles vs. luck. I believe in miracles. I guess faith is choosing to believe in miracles. And I believe a solution will present itself really soon (maybe before I hit the pillow in the next 20 minutes?). Miracles are all around us, and God blesses us with them daily. The more amazed we are at His goodness, the more He throws at us (unlike panda heads).

I have another list, but it just made it into file 13. I'm tired, and need some rest. I'm not sleeping so well right now. Night time is hard (last night it was guilt over changing MC's pump site), and today I couldn't nap for illness (difficulty breathing) and that ringing invention. Handy, but unhandy.

I saw Sunshine Cleaning was out on DVD, and it's supposed to be really good (never made it here on the big screen). Let me know if you like it! : ) I'm planning to get it at Redbox in the next week (when I feel like I can stay up two hours to watch it!)

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

Endocrinology and Emotion

I just threw up in my throat. Again! It has to stop. I have run out of my Protonix (remember my reflux problem that was causing my sore throat and missing voice?), and my problem seems to have intensified. It burns and really aggravates me! I have eaten three Tums-maybe it'll tone down my acid? I know. A call to my doctor is the only solution. : )

The reason I didn't blog on Thursday (and maybe Friday...) was because of Mary Claire's endocrinology appointment at Children's Hospital. It was an emotional visit, which I didn't expect, and one for which I wasn't prepared.

We made the long drive Thursday morning (which took me longer than I'd allowed!), and had a great lunch with our friends Junko and Emily. It was a wonderful visit-the girls just played and we got to talk diabetes. I don't have that many friends who have kids with diabetes, and we can always learn something from one another (and I think the girls do too!).

We went into the doctor, and everything was going well. But then it all came crashing down. Dr. Morales has insisted that Mary Claire use alternate pump sites (the location where her pump tubing clicks into a site/port that goes under her skin and gets changed every three days). Anyway, we've had some high blood sugars, and she thinks our sites might be part of the problem. After you've used the same location(s) over and over and over (five years to be exact), you build up scar tissue. Her doctors have been telling us this for years. She needed to try other site locations: tummy, back of her arm, front of her thigh, etc. She wouldn't hear of it, and I just blindy believed that if we kept the sites healthy, changed, moved them around, that she'd be okay. I didn't think she'd build up scar tissue. I just didn't. It was my baby, and I wanted to do whatever would make her most comfortable (second in line after not having it at all). So, now she actually has scar tissue. That's why we've seen some highs in the last couple of weeks.

Long(er) story short, I changed her site this morning (after another high), and she was still 246 this morning! I tried her tummy for a site after much bribing (two new outfits from Gymboree-watermelons and cakes/dots), dinner out, time with Gigi, etc.). She cried the entire time, wanted medicine, needed loving and hugs, and was generally pathetic. Now I'm the Bad Guy. I hate that. I don't have a choice. I have to do what works to keep her alive, and moving her sites around is that option. If she goes back to shots (uh, no thanks!), she could give her bottom a rest, but that's not really an option either. I'm between a rock and a hard place here. So, give me a break, say some prayers, and give me some suggestions?

The other thing that the doctor said we had to do was drop two snack times and add more protein to her meals. That is tough since MY BABY LOVES HER FOOD! Especially her snacks. It's about the only joy she gets right now. So, this week as school gets ready to start (another even crashing into our schedule!), we are having to wean her rather quickly. She's going to drop her morning snack, and her 1:30 school snack. She's used to having them (especially all summer!), but they have to go. Her doctor said, and I quote, "She isn't a baby, and she has to stop eating like one! She is a big girl, and doesn't need all those snacks!" This comes after they (Arkansas Children's Hospital) taught me to care for her, set up our meal plan, and I dutifully obeyed. Well. Now the dietician (precious Lisa who helped us at diagnosis five years ago), says they don't teach all the snacks and frequent eating to maintain blood sugars anymore. They've had tons of kids have real trouble breaking the habit, so they've ceased the teachings. Fine time to tell me.

At first it was mucho difficulto. It has gotten easier, as she's eating larger meals. Like breakfast today was oatmeal (33 grams), scrambled eggs (good protein, no carbs), and two slices of toast (24 grams), and fit right into her 40-60 gram breakfast recommended by Lisa. She used to just eat one thing, but we are having to play with protein (such fun!). She can also combine yogurt, but no bread then. It's working, but requiring me to CoOk in the morning hours! : O Can I keep it up? and for how long?

So call me the Emotional Bad Guy (Girl?) who gets to take it from both sides. It's never easy being a parent. And where's that manual I requested?

Any good suggestions for breakfasts or lunches with protein? (that are not loaded down with fat?)