Monday, July 03, 2006
Update
I have an induction date of July 14! Yeah!!! The end is in sight. I have had terrible sciatica, and am really looking forward to NOT being pregnant anymore. My feet and legs and hands are so swollen that I hurt most of the time. I can't walk very well either. BUT... the end is in sight and soon, very soon, I'll have my little cat and it will all be worth it.
Friday, June 09, 2006
MIA
I've been MIA for a while. The end of my pregnancies are the hardest. I start having complications. I was on bed rest with punkin for almost 10 weeks. I'm not on bedrest yet, but I have the beginnings of pre-eclampsia. I also have two kids to chase around! I just don't have the time to sit at the computer, and it hurts my legs to sit for very long when I do get a minute. SO... as much as I love blogging, I am taking a sabatical...LOL. I'm going to wait till after my little cat is born and then I'll be back. I have another 5 weeks or so. I'll miss my Thursday Thirteen group, but I'm going to do it again when I can.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Thursday Thirteen 05/18
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First off... sorry I didn't post last week. I actually got a little trip away with my hubby. No computer... but I thoroughly enjoyed myself!! 1... I'm pregnant with child #5 (6th pregnancy though)It is another girl. 2... I have one son and will have four daughters. 3... I love being a mommy 4... I recently quit my job so I could stay home with my girls 5... I live in Utah. 6... I love the mountains, but I miss the beach. I wish I could find somewhere that has lots of green trees, mountains to explore, beach to play in during summer, and snow in the winter. That would have everything!! LOL 7... I love to cook. I have a ton of cookbooks, and am always trying new food on my family. They don't seem to mind, thank goodness. 8... I love being married to my husband. He is a wonderful man, and I feel lucky that we are together forever. 9... I've been married twice. My first marriage didn't last long, because he was very abusive. It was long enough, though! Everyone makes mistakes. 10.. I love to read. Books have always been an escape for me. I have 5 bookcases filled to the brim, and boxes of books in storage. I love reading to my kids, too. 11.. I was born in Michigan, and have lived in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Nevada, Texas & Utah. 12.. I went to Seattle on my honeymoon. We were there over the 4th of July and we watched fireworks from a ship over the water. It was incredible. We took a ferry to Victoria, BC and stayed overnight there, too. It was one of the best trips we have taken, and I would love to go back. 13.. My religion is really important to me. My relationship with my Heavenly Father is the most important thing. I try every day to be a good example to my children and teach them to choose the right. Each day I try to show kindness and be a good christian by living the gospel that I believe in with all my heart and soul. |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Thursday Thirteen 05/04
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1... The smiles of my kids. There is nothing that warms my soul more than to see my children smiling.  2... Hugs and kisses. My three year old, Boo, loves to give hugs and kisses. She says we can't leave the house without hugs, kisses and signs I love you. 3... Laughter. There is so much more to laugh at when you have kids.  4... Rediscovering the world. How often as adults do we forget to stop and watch a bug, or look for pretty rocks as we walk down the sidewalk?? 5... Enjoying the simple pleasures. Boo has to stop and smell the flowers EVERY time we leave the house. I can't remember the last time I did that... 6... Teaching and Learning. I love when Boo learns a new song, or recognizes a letter on a billboard and yells A "B" mom! I saw a "B" on that sign!! 7... Achievements. When my children succeed at something they have worked hard for, it makes my heart swell.  8... Playing games. I forgot what it was like to play pretend store, or hide and seek till I had kids again. We stop playing and don't realize how fun it can be as an adult... at least I did. I think all adults should stop and play games once in a while. 9... Tucking my kids into bed at night. After a full day, there is such a simple pleasure in tucking my kids into bed after reading a book and that feeling of completeness.  10... Story time. I have discovered so many great stories that weren't around when I was a kid. I love reading to my kids and watching them obtain a love for books. 11... Watching them grow. I can't believe my son is 19 years old. It seems like I was holding him as a little baby just yesterday. I know that I'll blink and my little Punkin will be graduating high school.  12... Pretending. My daughter Boo loves to pretend. We make up stories and we make up songs and we pretend we are princesses. We pretend to go the store, and we pretend that we are on a boat. The possibilities are endless and life is so much more incredible when I'm pretending and imagining with my children. 13... Pure joy. I can't imagine my life without my kids. It would be so empty. They bring such joy to my life. There aren't words to explain the feelings. My heart is so full it is near bursting, and with each new child, it just expands and life becomes better. |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Thursday Thirteen 04/27
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We have about 90 DVDs and a few hundred VHS movies... I don't watch a lot of TV, but I do like to watch a movie once in a while. My husband definitely watches more than I do, but I do have the ones I watch over and over again. There are more than 13 for sure, but here are 13 worth noting... 1…A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. - Ok... odd that this is at #1, but I love this movie! It is one of those that gives warm fuzzies every time you watch it. I took it to the delivery room to watch while having Boo and Punkin. I watch it when I'm feeling down and it always gives me a pick-me-up. It's great... and not just for Thanksgiving time. 2... While You Were Sleeping - I can probably recite this movie. Great feel good chick-flick, although my husband loves it as much as I do. 3... The Last of the Dogmen - If you have never seen this movie... WATCH IT!! Fabulous scenery, great story line, well acted... I love it. 4... The Last Starfighter - Old and cheesy, I still love it. 5... The Last of the Mohicans - Another great movie with fabulous scenery. I also love the soundtrack. 6... My Big Fat Greek Wedding - Windex anyone?? 7... So I Married An Axe Murderer - Always good for a laugh. "We have a piper DOWN!!" 8... Bed of Roses - Christian Slater is great in this movie. 9... Young Frankenstien - You can't go wrong with Gene Wilder, this movie is hysterically funny. 10. Back to the Future - How can you NOT like this trilogy?? 11. Only You - I love Robert Downy Jr., but this is a great story, too. 12. Galaxy Quest - Funny 13. Star Wars - I love the 4-5-6 trilogy better than then the newer 1-2-3. I remember waiting so impatiently to find out what happened to Han Solo. I still enjoy watching these. |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Friday, April 21, 2006
Tagged
I've been tagged by Chilady. In fact, I was tagged several days ago, but I haven't had two minutes to myself to respond. I'm lucky I got my T13 up. SO....
6 weird things about myself.....
1. I hate shoes with a passion. I will go barefoot in the winter. I take them off to drive, I take them off once I'm at work, and they are off my feet the second I am in the house.
2. When I'm tired, angry, or excited, I speak with a Texas accent. I lived there for 13 years! I can hold my diction most of the time, but it sneaks out when I least expect it.
3. I have a 19 year old son, and I'm pregnant with my 5th child at the same time.
4. I don't like watching TV.
5. I don't like to wear make-up. I wear it for special occasions only. My husband likes it that way though. I actually had a little lipstick on today and when he kissed me he said my lips were sticky... LOL
6. I went to 6 different high schools. It was hard to make and keep friends, but we moved around a lot.
And... I have to tag 6 people. I was going to tag my husband and other family members... but HE got tagged by someone else. Coincidence??? He has more time than I do, so he already tagged the people I would have. That's okay though, I read a lot of blogs. SO... here are my 6 victims.. err... tagees.
1. TigerSue
2. Surrender Dorothy
3. Jen's Horde
4. Island Queen
5. Lisa
6. Treasure of Jewels
6 weird things about myself.....
1. I hate shoes with a passion. I will go barefoot in the winter. I take them off to drive, I take them off once I'm at work, and they are off my feet the second I am in the house.
2. When I'm tired, angry, or excited, I speak with a Texas accent. I lived there for 13 years! I can hold my diction most of the time, but it sneaks out when I least expect it.
3. I have a 19 year old son, and I'm pregnant with my 5th child at the same time.
4. I don't like watching TV.
5. I don't like to wear make-up. I wear it for special occasions only. My husband likes it that way though. I actually had a little lipstick on today and when he kissed me he said my lips were sticky... LOL
6. I went to 6 different high schools. It was hard to make and keep friends, but we moved around a lot.
And... I have to tag 6 people. I was going to tag my husband and other family members... but HE got tagged by someone else. Coincidence??? He has more time than I do, so he already tagged the people I would have. That's okay though, I read a lot of blogs. SO... here are my 6 victims.. err... tagees.
1. TigerSue
2. Surrender Dorothy
3. Jen's Horde
4. Island Queen
5. Lisa
6. Treasure of Jewels
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Thursday Thirteen 04/20
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1…. I went to my OB appt, only to find out it was LAST Wednesday, not yesterday. 2.... When I picked her up, Boo was complaining that her ears hurt. 3.... After 2 calls to the pediatrician, I was told they couldn't see her till tomorrow. 4.... Boo started running a fever, so we decided to go to the Kids Care after-hours clinic. 5... After an hour wait, a doctor with a serious attitude and a nurse that had the bedside manner of a stick... Boo has an ear infection. 6... Did I mention she just had an ear infection??? She only finished the antibiotics Monday night. 7.... My son, the Goober, lost his keys... at a gas station of all places, so we have to run the spare set across town to him. 8.... He decided he couldn't wait for us so he decided to PICK THE IGNITION!!! ???? 9.... I have a son with no brain. 10. Once we had the spare set to him, the ignition was BROKEN so the keys don't work anymore. 11. Somehow he also managed to break the spring on the trunk and now it won't close, either. 12. After trying to get it to work for 3 hours, we called a towtruck at 1am, and $110 and another hour later, we have the car home. I didn't really have an extra $110 just laying around doing nothing. 13. It is now almost 2:30 in the morning and I haven't been to bed yet. I have to get up for work at 5:30!! That is in 3 hours!! |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Finally Spring!!
It was so beautiful out today! I loved it. It was warm and sunshine and my kids were chomping at the bit to play outside. Punkin loves being outside. 
We even ate our dinner outside in the sunshine. A pair of ducks came waddling up, (we live by a river) and Boo threw them some old bread. She was so excited that they came right up to the wrought-iron rail around our patio. I love warm spring, early summer days when the weather is warm enough to play outside and have picnics, and go for walks without be so warm that you get heat stroke. The trees are in blossom, the tulips and daffodils are out... it was a beautiful day.
We even ate our dinner outside in the sunshine. A pair of ducks came waddling up, (we live by a river) and Boo threw them some old bread. She was so excited that they came right up to the wrought-iron rail around our patio. I love warm spring, early summer days when the weather is warm enough to play outside and have picnics, and go for walks without be so warm that you get heat stroke. The trees are in blossom, the tulips and daffodils are out... it was a beautiful day.
Thursday Thirteen 04/13
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I LOVE cookbooks. I'm always collecting them and have an entire bookshelf in my kitchen devoted to them. I love to cook, and am always looking for something new to try. My husband and family are more than willing to try new dishes. Some of them aren't ever repeated, and some of them become family favorites. Here are a few of my favorites. 1…. Pillsbury One-Dish Meals Cookbook - This is a fabulous cookbook that has page after page of wonderful recipes that are quick and easy, along with nutrition information. 2.... Cooking with the Groundhog - This cookbook used to belong to my grandmother, who is from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania... the home of the groundhog. I know I've found them for sale on E-bay. Good old-fashioned recipes from the Adrian hospital Auxillary, printed between 1958 and 1967... a great classic. (And there is not a single recipe that calls for groundhog!) 3.... The Cake Doctor - Lots of great ideas using a cake mix... and not just for making cakes. 4.... The Betty Crocker Cookbook - A reliable stand-by. I like that it has cuts of meat and how to cook fresh vegetables, as well as substitute charts and basic recipes. 5.... Better Homes and Gardens Potato Favorites - I picked this up at the grocery store check-out line and I love it. Wonderful side dishes instead of the same old mashed potatoes. 6.... Pillsbury Hamburger - Another great cookbook(let) I picked up in the grocery line. When I want something quick and I have hamburger on hand, this is the book I turn to. 7... Fix-It and Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook - This book has great slow cooker recipes that are healthy and tasty, with nutrition information. 8.... The Five Ingredients or Less Cookbook - I bought this from a high school fundraiser and LOVE it. From appitizers to main dishes, vegetables to desserts, this book has quick and easy recipes that my family likes. 9.... Lion House Classics - The most wonderful, best tasting dinner rolls you will ever eat in your entire life. The other recipes are good too, but I would have bought the book just for the dinner rolls. They are in a class by themselves. 10. Star Trek Cookbook - My husband didn't believe me when I told him I wanted this cookbook. He is a Trek fan, and I thought it would be fun to have this book. I love the recipes, and even if I don't cook many of them, it is fun to own. 11. Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook - Another reliable standby with classic recipes and simple, easy to follow instructions. 12. Betty Crocker Casseroles & Slow Cooker Meals - Contains good ideas for after-work dinners that the family will eat. Most are fast and use only basic ingredients. 13. My Cookbook - Probably my most used... my husband bought me a specially designed three ring binder for 5x8 paper. This cookbook is designed with a flap in the back that makes it stand upright, and dividers for different recipe categories. Specifically printed 5x8 paper lets me write down my favorite recipes and keep them in one place. If I find a recipe on the 'net, I can print it and hole punch it and add it to this book. I love the unique design. He found it at a store called Consider the Kitchen, and I've looked online but can't find one that looks like it. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 3. Lazy Daisy 5. Karen's blog 6. Sheri's blog 8. Lifecruiser |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
More birthdays & holidays
April and May are always hectic. My son turned 19 April 2, and then we have Easter, and coming in May I have Sunflower's 18th birthday on the 1st, which needs to be really special, and Punkin's 1st birthday on the 10th, which needs to be really special. It occured to me yesterday, as I was thinking about Easter, that I have 3 weeks till Sunflower's birthday and only a month till Punkin's. I haven't thought about either one yet. I'm still trying to figure out Easter... and I have 5 days left.
We do Easter a bit differently at our house. I don't like all the candy holidays. Starting in the fall... there is Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter. Why does each holiday have to have its own candy? I also think religious holidays, like Christmas and Easter, tend to stray to far away from the religious message. So, for Easter, we try to stay clear of the Easter bunny and focus instead on what Easter really is. Easter is a celebration of the greatest gift from God... His son. The sacrifice that Jesus Christ went through, and the resurrection, are the greatest gifts given to man. We celebrate the great and wonderful gifts of God at Easter. We talk about what Christ did for us, and the reason for the holiday. My children also get one gift that celebrates a gift from God. This can be almost anything. When they were little, they got books, coloring books, art sets, craft kits, cross-stitching kits, anything that helped them develop their talents. Our talents are gifts from God. One year we focused on animals, one year they got those inexpensive recorders (flute like instruments) with the music book, one year they got cds of their favorite church/primary music. Everything we have comes from God, and we use this holiday to recognize that, and work at developing the talents and gifts that God has given us. I'm still not sure what we are going to do this year. I'll figure it out in the next day or so. I have a few ideas.
There are a few milestone birthdays that require an extra effort... 1, 5, 8, 12, 16 & 18 specifically. I want to make Sunflower's 18th birthday special. I have no ideas. None. Punkin's 1st birthday will be a little easier. Hopefully it will be warm and we can go to a park and have a picnic, and let her eat her cake. I don't even know what to get Sunflower for her birthday!!! She loves clothes... what teenager doesn't. I just always do that. I want something different... something unique. I'm completely blank... and I'm running out of time.
We do Easter a bit differently at our house. I don't like all the candy holidays. Starting in the fall... there is Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter. Why does each holiday have to have its own candy? I also think religious holidays, like Christmas and Easter, tend to stray to far away from the religious message. So, for Easter, we try to stay clear of the Easter bunny and focus instead on what Easter really is. Easter is a celebration of the greatest gift from God... His son. The sacrifice that Jesus Christ went through, and the resurrection, are the greatest gifts given to man. We celebrate the great and wonderful gifts of God at Easter. We talk about what Christ did for us, and the reason for the holiday. My children also get one gift that celebrates a gift from God. This can be almost anything. When they were little, they got books, coloring books, art sets, craft kits, cross-stitching kits, anything that helped them develop their talents. Our talents are gifts from God. One year we focused on animals, one year they got those inexpensive recorders (flute like instruments) with the music book, one year they got cds of their favorite church/primary music. Everything we have comes from God, and we use this holiday to recognize that, and work at developing the talents and gifts that God has given us. I'm still not sure what we are going to do this year. I'll figure it out in the next day or so. I have a few ideas.
There are a few milestone birthdays that require an extra effort... 1, 5, 8, 12, 16 & 18 specifically. I want to make Sunflower's 18th birthday special. I have no ideas. None. Punkin's 1st birthday will be a little easier. Hopefully it will be warm and we can go to a park and have a picnic, and let her eat her cake. I don't even know what to get Sunflower for her birthday!!! She loves clothes... what teenager doesn't. I just always do that. I want something different... something unique. I'm completely blank... and I'm running out of time.
Friday, April 07, 2006
My last day...
I turned in my notice to quit working in February. I gave my boss 7 weeks notice, not the normal 2. My last day to work was to be March 31. So... why am I still working?? I have never seen anyone drag their feet so much in hiring. We would interview people who were totally qualified, and there would be just something that didn't connect. I reviewed 253 resumes, and singled out over 70 for interviews. We actually interviewed less than 10. Finally, though, we have extended an offer and a new person will start on Monday... 10 days AFTER my "last day." I agreed to stay and train this person, so I will probably work through this month.
I arranged to quit working while I still had some time before the Little Cat is born because I wanted to spend some time with my two little girls, and get them into a routine at home before we bring home a new little baby. I think of Spring Break, coming up next weekend at the high school, and how Sunflower will have some time off school... but I'll still be working. I think of the things I wanted to be doing right now, and accounting isn't one of them, and I get a little frustrated that my employer assumed and pressured me into staying another month. I'm trying not to let it eat at me, because that will only make me miserable and won't solve anything.
So, I'm looking forward to the day when I can walk out the door and know that I won't have to walk back into it... and yet I know when that day finally comes, it will probably be accompanied by tears. I have worked with this family owned company for five years. They treat me so well, and think of me as family. I love each of them, and it is breaking my heart to leave. I would call my husband in a panic every time we interviewed someone... "are you sure I'm doing the right thing to quit?? I don't want someone to take my job!!" I would always calm down, because I know in my heart I am doing the right thing.
I've never had such a clear example of mixed emotions. How can I be filled with joy and dread at the same time? I am so excited to be home with my girls, and yet I am sad about leaving my job. I've worked for the last 23 years. I've wanted to be a stay at home mom since Goober was born... and he just turned 19. I'm finally getting a chance to do something I've always wanted, and never thought I could do. I just have to come to grips with the ache of leaving something familiar to go into the unkown world of a stay at home mommy.
I'm plagued with questions... Am I going to go crazy without adult conversation? Am I going to get a shower or any alone time? Am I going to go stir crazy being in the house all the time? How are we going to make it financially? What if something happens to DH's job and we have NO income? There are no answers. The only answer I have is the look on the face of my sweet little girls when I pick them up each day and the promise in my heart that I will never regret the decision to stay at home with them.
The most important thing a mother can do is raise her own children. My job is to teach them what they will need to be successful adults. There isn't enough time in the world to do that on a part time basis. They can learn math and social studies in school. They learn tolerance, love, sharing, honesty, & charity at home. The home is a haven, a safe place away from the outside world. What better place to be than that?? Watching my little Punkin try to walk, watching Boo learn a new letter, those are rewards that are unmatched. Having them reach for me after nap time, and cuddling on the couch with a story. That is what moms are for. That is my chosen profession. It makes the other questions seem not as important. It makes the leaving easier. The panic goes away.
So, I look forward to soon having picnics in the park and walks along the river... pointing out ducks and birds and caterpillars... talking about clouds and leaves... learning to skip, learning to walk, learning about life. I'll be where I want to be, and in some ways it will be a dream come true.
I arranged to quit working while I still had some time before the Little Cat is born because I wanted to spend some time with my two little girls, and get them into a routine at home before we bring home a new little baby. I think of Spring Break, coming up next weekend at the high school, and how Sunflower will have some time off school... but I'll still be working. I think of the things I wanted to be doing right now, and accounting isn't one of them, and I get a little frustrated that my employer assumed and pressured me into staying another month. I'm trying not to let it eat at me, because that will only make me miserable and won't solve anything.
So, I'm looking forward to the day when I can walk out the door and know that I won't have to walk back into it... and yet I know when that day finally comes, it will probably be accompanied by tears. I have worked with this family owned company for five years. They treat me so well, and think of me as family. I love each of them, and it is breaking my heart to leave. I would call my husband in a panic every time we interviewed someone... "are you sure I'm doing the right thing to quit?? I don't want someone to take my job!!" I would always calm down, because I know in my heart I am doing the right thing.
I've never had such a clear example of mixed emotions. How can I be filled with joy and dread at the same time? I am so excited to be home with my girls, and yet I am sad about leaving my job. I've worked for the last 23 years. I've wanted to be a stay at home mom since Goober was born... and he just turned 19. I'm finally getting a chance to do something I've always wanted, and never thought I could do. I just have to come to grips with the ache of leaving something familiar to go into the unkown world of a stay at home mommy.
I'm plagued with questions... Am I going to go crazy without adult conversation? Am I going to get a shower or any alone time? Am I going to go stir crazy being in the house all the time? How are we going to make it financially? What if something happens to DH's job and we have NO income? There are no answers. The only answer I have is the look on the face of my sweet little girls when I pick them up each day and the promise in my heart that I will never regret the decision to stay at home with them.
The most important thing a mother can do is raise her own children. My job is to teach them what they will need to be successful adults. There isn't enough time in the world to do that on a part time basis. They can learn math and social studies in school. They learn tolerance, love, sharing, honesty, & charity at home. The home is a haven, a safe place away from the outside world. What better place to be than that?? Watching my little Punkin try to walk, watching Boo learn a new letter, those are rewards that are unmatched. Having them reach for me after nap time, and cuddling on the couch with a story. That is what moms are for. That is my chosen profession. It makes the other questions seem not as important. It makes the leaving easier. The panic goes away.
So, I look forward to soon having picnics in the park and walks along the river... pointing out ducks and birds and caterpillars... talking about clouds and leaves... learning to skip, learning to walk, learning about life. I'll be where I want to be, and in some ways it will be a dream come true.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Thursday Thirteen 04/06
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1…. They only get one childhood 7.... More hugs and kisses. 8.... I can work in my pjs. 9.... Dancing in the living room is more fun with a three year old. 10.. Nap time. 11.. I don't have to take vacation time when one of my kids gets sick. 12.. Story time. 13.. The most important job I can ever have is being a mom. Nothing can ever take its place and nothing should ever be more important. |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Thursday Thirteen
1…. My husband's shoes - In my husband's defense, he puts his shoes just under the edge of the bed each night... he just keeps two pair there.
2... An old used dryer sheet - at least everything will smell nice.
3... An odd sock - I'm surprised the dryer didn't take it.
4... A hanger
5... Dust bunnies - no surprise
6... The Little Golden Book "The Night Before Christmas" I guess it has been a while since I cleaned under my bed!
7... 2 Q-tips - they obviously missed the trash.
8... a piece of popcorn okay... who's been eating popcorn in my bed???
9... a soft, cuddly, stuffed leopard - I bet Punkin has been looking for this!
10... Sunflower's 2001 - 2002 Jr. High school ID card - ???
11... A hand towel
12... A Winnie the Pooh movie - Now I know who has been eating popcorn in my bed!!
13... A dry cleaner tag
All in all, I was surprised it was as clean under there as it was... however my side of the bed definitely had more stuff under it than did hubby's!!!
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
How does your garden grow?
Forget talking to your plants... it is staring at them that does the trick.
We are ready for spring at my house. Unfortunately, the weather says otherwise. It has snowed several times last week, and the temperature hints at being warmer - high forties - but then it always dips below freezing at night. Everything is wet, as it either rains or snows or both at the same time.
Since we dont' have a place outside to plant flowers or have a garden, I decided that Boo might like to plant some flowers inside. We could get a jump start on spring this way. I bought a rectangular flower box and a packet of flower seeds designed to attract humingbirds and butterflies. They are different varieties in bright pretty colors. About 10 days ago, on a Saturday morning, Boo and I got out the potting soil and I showed her how to plant flowers. She was so excited! She helped me carefully pour the soil into the planter. Then I sprinkled a few seeds into the palm of my hand and showed her the different seeds. "See, Boo? This one is small, round and black, while this one is sort of shaped like a banana. Each seed will make a flower grow. The different seeds will make different flowers." Trying to remember she is only 3, I was still excited to share this knowledge of nature with her, hoping she would understand. I sprinkled the seeds across our box of soil. "My turn!" she cried. I sprinkled a few seeds in her hand. She held it out to me. "Now look, mom. This seed is round, and this seed is like a shape thing-y, and this one is... well it looks like a... well it's just weird." I had to bite the inside of my cheek not to laugh. Sometimes she is just too darn cute! We sprinkled the seeds until the whole packet was gone. Then we carefully sprinkled a little potting soil on top and watered them. Boo was so excited! "When do the flowers come?" I told her in about a week, we would see little green stems, and it would take longer to actually have flowers. (50 - 84 days according to the package). She went with me to put the flower box on the patio, hoping for a little sunlight through the rainy day.
Every day Boo would come home and check on the flowers. She helped me water them and would sit and stare at them. Saturday morning, after being watered, Boo asked if she could stay on the patio on watch them. I tried to explain that she wouldn't actually see the flowers growing, but she was not to be deterred. She wanted to watch them. I agreed, as our patio is fenced, and fully expecting her 3 year old attention to wander after staring at a pot of dirt for more than 30 seconds. After a few minutes, she screamed "MOM!!! A GREEN THING!!!" I went out to the patio, and lo and behold, a little sprout had pushed it's head above the soil. "I TOLD YOU I HAD TO WATCH THEM!!" Well, leave it to nature to make a liar out of mom. I smiled and we talked about how they would keep growing, until the whole pot was full of pretty flowers. She was so excited! She kept going to check on the flowers all day Saturday, and by the end of the day we has sixteen sprouts. By Sunday we had about 30 and this morning, as I put the flower box outside for some sun (doubtful, it is raining again) we had more than 60 sprouts, some of them 2" already!! I'm surprised... Boo is ecstatic!
Now, I'm no gardening expert... in fact I usually kill potted plants, but I'm convinced they grew because they knew they were being watched and decided to show off for an excited three year old little girl.
We are ready for spring at my house. Unfortunately, the weather says otherwise. It has snowed several times last week, and the temperature hints at being warmer - high forties - but then it always dips below freezing at night. Everything is wet, as it either rains or snows or both at the same time.
Since we dont' have a place outside to plant flowers or have a garden, I decided that Boo might like to plant some flowers inside. We could get a jump start on spring this way. I bought a rectangular flower box and a packet of flower seeds designed to attract humingbirds and butterflies. They are different varieties in bright pretty colors. About 10 days ago, on a Saturday morning, Boo and I got out the potting soil and I showed her how to plant flowers. She was so excited! She helped me carefully pour the soil into the planter. Then I sprinkled a few seeds into the palm of my hand and showed her the different seeds. "See, Boo? This one is small, round and black, while this one is sort of shaped like a banana. Each seed will make a flower grow. The different seeds will make different flowers." Trying to remember she is only 3, I was still excited to share this knowledge of nature with her, hoping she would understand. I sprinkled the seeds across our box of soil. "My turn!" she cried. I sprinkled a few seeds in her hand. She held it out to me. "Now look, mom. This seed is round, and this seed is like a shape thing-y, and this one is... well it looks like a... well it's just weird." I had to bite the inside of my cheek not to laugh. Sometimes she is just too darn cute! We sprinkled the seeds until the whole packet was gone. Then we carefully sprinkled a little potting soil on top and watered them. Boo was so excited! "When do the flowers come?" I told her in about a week, we would see little green stems, and it would take longer to actually have flowers. (50 - 84 days according to the package). She went with me to put the flower box on the patio, hoping for a little sunlight through the rainy day.
Every day Boo would come home and check on the flowers. She helped me water them and would sit and stare at them. Saturday morning, after being watered, Boo asked if she could stay on the patio on watch them. I tried to explain that she wouldn't actually see the flowers growing, but she was not to be deterred. She wanted to watch them. I agreed, as our patio is fenced, and fully expecting her 3 year old attention to wander after staring at a pot of dirt for more than 30 seconds. After a few minutes, she screamed "MOM!!! A GREEN THING!!!" I went out to the patio, and lo and behold, a little sprout had pushed it's head above the soil. "I TOLD YOU I HAD TO WATCH THEM!!" Well, leave it to nature to make a liar out of mom. I smiled and we talked about how they would keep growing, until the whole pot was full of pretty flowers. She was so excited! She kept going to check on the flowers all day Saturday, and by the end of the day we has sixteen sprouts. By Sunday we had about 30 and this morning, as I put the flower box outside for some sun (doubtful, it is raining again) we had more than 60 sprouts, some of them 2" already!! I'm surprised... Boo is ecstatic!
Now, I'm no gardening expert... in fact I usually kill potted plants, but I'm convinced they grew because they knew they were being watched and decided to show off for an excited three year old little girl.
Friday, March 24, 2006
SHE PASSED!!
When a mom is powerless...
Sunflower is in a CNA class. This is a wonderful career field for her. She has the personality, she is genuinely caring, has wonderful compassion, loves helping people, and is obsessed with becoming a doctor. The problem? Combine dyslexia with short-term memory problems. When she was 6 weeks old, she ran a fever of 105 - 106 for 5 days. It was 5 days of pacing in a children's hospital watching your newborn get poked and prodded till her feet were black and blue... listening to her scream as they did spinal tap after spinal tap, all in search of the elusive diagnosis of why she has this fever, and why can't we make it go down?? After the fever finally broke, and a day later when she was considered "normal", she was discharged with "fever of unknown origin", which to me, was frustrating as I wanted to know what was wrong. We will never know. However, I'm reminded of this experience daily as Sunflower has deficits in her short term memory, attributed to possible brain damage suffered during the period of high fever. She simply doesn't retain things. In 4th grade, she studied and studied her times tables, knew them by heart... for 5 minutes. She can't follow complicated directions that involve remembering several steps with details. She forgets where she puts things, she forgets what she is supposed to be doing. It is really frustrating for me as a mom. She has developed the habit of writing things down when she needs to remember them, and has worked over the years to develop ways of putting information into her long term memory. Now, enter dyslexia. Writing has always been a problem for her, as has reading. She has struggled her whole life to master those two skills. Her spelling is worse than awful, and her handwriting isn't much better. To her credit, she tries hard and has improved more in the last two years than in the five before. She will push herself to be in mainstream classes rather than stay in a resource class. She may not make A's, but she tries harder to earn a C.
There is SO MUCH terminology and memorization in her CNA class. She will spend hours and hours going over medical terminology, trying to put it in long term memory so that she can take her tests. I will quiz her (or her dad most of the time as he can pronounce those words) and she knows her stuff! The next day, she will have forgotten most of it, so she studies again. After quizzing, she knows what she is talking about and a few hours later at least half of it is gone. BUT... days of this and she can actually retain enough to pass her classes.
She had to take a CPR test. She can't pass the written test. Her teacher, I think, is equally frustrated. She told Heather, "I've seen you do it! You know what you are doing... you just have to pass this part of it." Heather has failed it 4 times. Her final attempt is today. Her teacher is actually going to read the test to her. Heather was crying yesterday when she called to tell me she had failed again. She only misses passing it by 3 questions. If she can't pass today, she can't retake the test. She is doing her clinicals at a local hospital, and if she can't pass, she can't continue to go to the hospital. I understand why, but at the same time, my heart is aching for my daughter. I want so much for her to succeed! She is so good at nursing and would make an excellent nurse. She loves it! She also has to try 10 times harder than the average student to be half as good on paper. As a mom, I want to just shake her and say "PASS THIS TEST!!!! NOW!"
As much as I want to rescue her, I can't. This is something only she can do. I'm sitting here with butterflies in my stomach, knowing at this moment, she is going through the torture of testing AGAIN, and wondering how she is doing. I pray that she can just pass this class and pass the state licensing test to be a CNA. I know that she will be a stronger person for going through this, but she can't see that. She just sees that she is different, and often times she labels herself as a failure or stupid. She isn't stupid, I know her IQ. Does she listen to me when I tell her she is not stupid? No, of course not. My heart aches when she tries so hard, and fails. I hear of other parents who are exicted that their son/daughter is on the honor roll for the 5th straight year. I want to jump up and down when my daughter gets a C+ on her history test. She still can't remember her times tables, but she is an incredible person.
As a mom, I wish I could somehow guarantee the sucess of my children so that I knew they would grow up to be happy, successful people. I am glad though, that I am there to celebrate the successes and I have a shoulder to cry on when things don't go quite as well. We can't, afterall, save them from life.
There is SO MUCH terminology and memorization in her CNA class. She will spend hours and hours going over medical terminology, trying to put it in long term memory so that she can take her tests. I will quiz her (or her dad most of the time as he can pronounce those words) and she knows her stuff! The next day, she will have forgotten most of it, so she studies again. After quizzing, she knows what she is talking about and a few hours later at least half of it is gone. BUT... days of this and she can actually retain enough to pass her classes.
She had to take a CPR test. She can't pass the written test. Her teacher, I think, is equally frustrated. She told Heather, "I've seen you do it! You know what you are doing... you just have to pass this part of it." Heather has failed it 4 times. Her final attempt is today. Her teacher is actually going to read the test to her. Heather was crying yesterday when she called to tell me she had failed again. She only misses passing it by 3 questions. If she can't pass today, she can't retake the test. She is doing her clinicals at a local hospital, and if she can't pass, she can't continue to go to the hospital. I understand why, but at the same time, my heart is aching for my daughter. I want so much for her to succeed! She is so good at nursing and would make an excellent nurse. She loves it! She also has to try 10 times harder than the average student to be half as good on paper. As a mom, I want to just shake her and say "PASS THIS TEST!!!! NOW!"
As much as I want to rescue her, I can't. This is something only she can do. I'm sitting here with butterflies in my stomach, knowing at this moment, she is going through the torture of testing AGAIN, and wondering how she is doing. I pray that she can just pass this class and pass the state licensing test to be a CNA. I know that she will be a stronger person for going through this, but she can't see that. She just sees that she is different, and often times she labels herself as a failure or stupid. She isn't stupid, I know her IQ. Does she listen to me when I tell her she is not stupid? No, of course not. My heart aches when she tries so hard, and fails. I hear of other parents who are exicted that their son/daughter is on the honor roll for the 5th straight year. I want to jump up and down when my daughter gets a C+ on her history test. She still can't remember her times tables, but she is an incredible person.
As a mom, I wish I could somehow guarantee the sucess of my children so that I knew they would grow up to be happy, successful people. I am glad though, that I am there to celebrate the successes and I have a shoulder to cry on when things don't go quite as well. We can't, afterall, save them from life.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Say again??
Inigo Montoya: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. "
Our daughter, Boo, got Alice in Wonderland for Valentine's Day. She loves it. When she saw it, she exclaimed, "This is my favorite movie!! I've never seen it before!" She watches it at least weekly. There is a scene where the Mad Hatter explains that everyone has one birthday a year. That leaves 364 days that are un-birthdays. The Mad Hatter is having a party for his un-birthday, and everyone is singing a silly little song... "A happy un-birthday to you". Boo loves this song, but gets a little confused. She goes around the house singing "A unhappy birthday to you!"
Our daughter, Boo, got Alice in Wonderland for Valentine's Day. She loves it. When she saw it, she exclaimed, "This is my favorite movie!! I've never seen it before!" She watches it at least weekly. There is a scene where the Mad Hatter explains that everyone has one birthday a year. That leaves 364 days that are un-birthdays. The Mad Hatter is having a party for his un-birthday, and everyone is singing a silly little song... "A happy un-birthday to you". Boo loves this song, but gets a little confused. She goes around the house singing "A unhappy birthday to you!"
Friday, March 17, 2006
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Birthdays
I took my three year old, Boo, to a birthday party yesterday. Her friend was turning 3, and the party was held at Gymboree. I've never been there, although I've heard of it. It was a wonderful party and the kids had so much fun! The Gymboree employee was wonderful with the group of kids, whose ages ranged from almost 2 to 6 or so. They had toddler sized gym equipment and they climbed and slid and crawled through tubes and had a marvelous time in self play. Then she had them make a circle around a huge parachute and they filled the middle with blow-up beach balls. The kids "made waves" by shaking the parachute up and down and of course the beach balls went up even higher. They were all laughing and even I was when the beach balls came down all over the kids. She had them play where they walked in a circle, stepping in and out of hoops she had placed on the floor. Each time the music stopped, they had to be standing inside a hoop, but she removed a hoop each time. The kids were never "out", they simply tried to stand two in a hoop, which was hilarious, and just as fun for them. They had color games and ball games, and so many original ways to have the kids be active and they totally enjoyed it. For over an hour, my child ran, jumped, slid, climbed, crawled, and laughed and I bet she didn't even know she was exercising. We then had cake and ice cream while the birthday girl opened presents. It was a wonderful party, and I'm going to remember it next party I have to plan!On the way home, Boo said she wanted one. One what? I questioned. I want another birthday, she said. "You just had a birthday a few months ago. You can't have another birthday till December." "Well," she replied thoughtfully, "I think we should each get two." I had to smile at that thought.
If I'd had two birthdays from the time I was three, I'd be pushing a lot more than 40! I'd be pregnant and 70! (Which is a thought too scary to even think about) And I thought I was tired now at 38... So I thought about it. When you are three, you want more than one birthday a year, but then it tapers off so that when you are in your thirties, you almost don't want one at all. So, when you are three, you have two birthdays a year until your 21 and then they go back to once a year until they are 35 and then you get one every other year until you are 62, and then you can have a birthday only when you feel like it.Is that a good idea? Well, actually not. Having two birthdays from three to 21 would make you 40 right off the bat. And besides, think of everything we would miss in raising our children! We would only have them at home for 9 or 10 years and then they would be gone! My oldest son is turning 19 this year, in about 2 weeks. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. I still remember him as an infant, and sometimes I wonder where the time went. It was so fast! One minute you are trying to help him with spelling words in 3rd grade, and you blink and you're buying a cap and gown. Now he's deciding what he wants to do in college. Gone are the days of playing matchbox cars on the floor, and arm wrestling him to get him to do what I want. No, I tell Boo, one birthday a year is MORE than enough. You'll have to wait for December to turn 4, and don't you dare try to grow up any faster!!!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Private Taxi Service
It is amazing how many places there are to go. We drive our two little girls to the sitter in the morning, drive our teenage daughter to school and drive to work. After work we pick everyone up. Then there is a stop at the bank, library, grocery store and chiropractor on a weekly basis, if not more often. Every Saturday morning, the teenager goes to clinicals for a nursing assistant class. At 6:45am, I load the sleeping little girls into carseats and drive her about 10 miles each direction, returning at noon to retrieve her. Then there is the "can you take me to the movie theater/mall/friend's house" during the week. Yesterday we drove an hour to pick up our son who wanted to come home for a visit. The first question he asked was could he use our car during the day to visit friends. On a typical day, I get off work at 4pm, and I'm really lucky if I get in my front door before 6... and I only work 3 miles away. I've considered asking my oldest daughter to ride the public bus, as we have a wonderful transit system, but she is adamantly opposed to the idea. I don't blame her, really. My son on the other hand loves riding the bus and will often use that option when he can't borrow the car.
I could take all this taxi service and get frustrated, but some of our great conversations happen in the car. Boo will look out the window and count basketball hoops. "Everybody gots a basketball hoop mom!" As we drive back home Saturday mornings, we count flags. Boo loves flags and is always on the lookout. "A flag! A flag! LOOK A FLAG!!". Sometimes we pretend to be the Gnome Mobile, and sometimes we just pretend. The other day Boo wanted daddy to be a dog. When he started talking, she reminded him that dogs don't talk. He then answered her questions by barking, but she couldn't understand what he was saying, so she told him to quit talking doggy. We have spent hours and miles singing songs and laughing.
My older children and I have had wonderful conversations in the car. I've made midnight runs to my husband's work to bring him dinner or something he forgot. My oldest son would always go with me. The best heartfelt conversations were had in the car. He would open up and talk about things I never could have got him to talk about if we had been at home, like girlfriends, sex, smoking, school, and his future. My teenage daughter will even ask, "Can we go for a ride? I need to talk to you."
When I think of how much gas we use in a week, and the miles we put on the car each month, I tend to get a little frustrated that I am always on the go. There are times I wish I could come straight home from work and just stay home. The moments I spend in the car add up to hours a day, but those hours can be priceless.
I could take all this taxi service and get frustrated, but some of our great conversations happen in the car. Boo will look out the window and count basketball hoops. "Everybody gots a basketball hoop mom!" As we drive back home Saturday mornings, we count flags. Boo loves flags and is always on the lookout. "A flag! A flag! LOOK A FLAG!!". Sometimes we pretend to be the Gnome Mobile, and sometimes we just pretend. The other day Boo wanted daddy to be a dog. When he started talking, she reminded him that dogs don't talk. He then answered her questions by barking, but she couldn't understand what he was saying, so she told him to quit talking doggy. We have spent hours and miles singing songs and laughing.
My older children and I have had wonderful conversations in the car. I've made midnight runs to my husband's work to bring him dinner or something he forgot. My oldest son would always go with me. The best heartfelt conversations were had in the car. He would open up and talk about things I never could have got him to talk about if we had been at home, like girlfriends, sex, smoking, school, and his future. My teenage daughter will even ask, "Can we go for a ride? I need to talk to you."
When I think of how much gas we use in a week, and the miles we put on the car each month, I tend to get a little frustrated that I am always on the go. There are times I wish I could come straight home from work and just stay home. The moments I spend in the car add up to hours a day, but those hours can be priceless.
Friday, March 03, 2006
When it all began
I remember when I was pregnant with my third child. It was 3am, and I was going to the hospital at 7 to be induced. My other two children, ages 15 and 14 were sleeping soundly, as was my husband. I was sitting on the edge of my bed with tears running down my face wondering what I was doing having another child. I paced the floor and asked myself... what are you going to do??? Your kids are almost grown! In four years they will both be out of high school. They can feed themselves, do their own laundry, clean their own room and help out with dishes. They can stay home by themselves if I want to go to the movie or on a drive with my husband. What possessed me to want another baby? Then I put my hand on my soon to be born daughter and felt her kick me. I guess I needed to be kicked. I knew why I wanted another child. I've always wanted a big family. I knew that I had waited years and years to have another child and I was finally getting what I had always wanted. My children were equally excited to have a new sister. Looking back, I can't imagine my life without that little girl. Now age three, my little bug is total joy in my life. She makes me smile on a daily basis. She is giving, kind and loving. She has a wild imagination and I love to just get on the floor and play with her. Two and a half years after she was born we had a playmate for her. Punkin may be only 10 months old now, but she too brings joy to my life on a daily basis. I love watching her face light up in a smile when I walk in the room. Yes, my oldest will be 19 next month, but I wouldn't change a thing. I get no sleep between being a full time mom and working a full time job. Punkin has decided she no longer needs to sleep all night, and frequently wakes up at 1am wanting only mommy, so what little sleep I manage to get is broken up throughout the night. My day starts at 5:30am and ends at 11, sometimes later. I run here and there and sometimes there are not enough hours in the day. But, I love my life and I love my family. Still, now pregnant with #5, I ask myself the same question. What am I going to do???
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