I don't understand how that happened exactly. I mean, I know I've been around for the last five years watching her grow up, but somehow it jsut doesn't seem possible that she's 5 and about to start kindergarten.
5 years ago I was one exhausted woman right about now. If memory serves me correctly, we were probably rubbing a cold wash cloth on a beautiful newborn trying to get her to wake up enough to attempt nursing. I have to say, she was stubborn even a few hours after entering the world. (I suppose some things don't really change.) Now it's all I can do to get her to go to sleep at night.
It amazes me to know how much she has grown and developed in the last five years. From being so totally dependent on me (and her daddy and her Graggie) to care for her to this amazingly beuatiful girl that loves fiercly and takes challenge on with zeal. Don't get me wrong, she still has her moments when "I can't" is all she says and she really wants me to do things for her that she is totally capable of herself. But she is just so brave and friendly and flamboyant. (Not sure if I spelled that right, but anyone who hangs out with us knows the word fits!) And soon she's going to the "Big K" where she'll have new friends and new adventures and all new challenges. (Like being quiet and being away from me and her siblings "ALL day")
I guess as I sit here thinking of the last 5 years I realize how blessed I am. I have an amazing family. God has brought us through some major challenges in the last five years. Knowing that and looking out in my backyard this evening watching my hunky hubby push 2 of our three kids on the swingset and hearing our 3rd babble quietly through the baby monitor gives me such tremendous peace. God has brought us to this place. I know we will face all sorts of things in the next 5 years, but I'm not worried. God got us here and I know He has a plan for where we will be in five years. I know He will see us through every trial we face. I know He will be sitting there with Paris on her first day of kindergarten and that He will amazingly be sitting with me at the same moment as I'm sure I will have a "big cry" when I get home from dropping her off. His constant presence is what gets me through my everday and I know He won't ever let me down.
Father, thank you for the last five years. I have no idea what the next 5 will be like, but as long as you're steering the ship, I'm up for the ride. Let's set sail.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Danger Girl Strikes Again!
She's cute. She's tan. She has great hair. She's adventurous and brave...........and she gets hurt.........a lot. Never heard of Danger Girl? Here's her track record:
Age 7 months - attempting to walk a little prematurely and falls, hitting head on a window sill. Results in 3 stitches in the left eyebrow. Mother is left with a major migraine.
Age 12 months - falls down a full flight of stairs head over feet (over head over feet) and escapes unscathed. Her mother had a breakdown as she witnessed the whole thing.
Age 2 1/2 years - in her excitement over her first Christmas at home she flies out of the bathroom and runs into the corner of the wall. Results in another 3 stitches in left eyebrow. Mother and Father and left exhausted, but no migraine ensues. Several days later she hits her stitches at a good friends house and busts the wound open again. Several days after that while letting a cousin's dog literally drag her around the yard by a rope, she busts it open a second time.
Age 4 1/2 - bounding over the ottoman, she takes a little tumble and bounces her head off a wooden chest. Mother, now used to the sight of a bleeding head scoops her up and tells Father to get off the potty so he can take us to the ER. Fearing stitches are in the near future, Danger Girl show a rare moment of fear as she totally FREAKS OUT at the idea of the ER. A quick change in approach calms her as she is convinced they are only going to Scott & White, not the ER. One very large blob of dermabond later she's all better. Mother and Father are a little tired.
And most recently, a mere week and a half from her 5th birthday she attempts scaling the local mall treehouse from the outside. Result? A nasty little scrape and a bruised, possibly hairline fractured, rib. Mother and Father, now used to injuries and somewhat doubtful of her whines and complaints (did I mention she also maquerades as Drama Girl?) let it be over night and take her to the doctor nearly 24 hours after the injury. No real course of treatment other than a few days of Motrin. Mother thinks briefly of feeling guilty for not taking her in sooner, then banishes the thought as she gets lunch ready for Danger/Drama Girl and her little brother Number Man and baby sister The Cuteness.
So, if you spend time with this family..................Keep your eyes open, and your hand on the phone, Danger Girl may strike near you!
Age 7 months - attempting to walk a little prematurely and falls, hitting head on a window sill. Results in 3 stitches in the left eyebrow. Mother is left with a major migraine.
Age 12 months - falls down a full flight of stairs head over feet (over head over feet) and escapes unscathed. Her mother had a breakdown as she witnessed the whole thing.
Age 2 1/2 years - in her excitement over her first Christmas at home she flies out of the bathroom and runs into the corner of the wall. Results in another 3 stitches in left eyebrow. Mother and Father and left exhausted, but no migraine ensues. Several days later she hits her stitches at a good friends house and busts the wound open again. Several days after that while letting a cousin's dog literally drag her around the yard by a rope, she busts it open a second time.
Age 4 1/2 - bounding over the ottoman, she takes a little tumble and bounces her head off a wooden chest. Mother, now used to the sight of a bleeding head scoops her up and tells Father to get off the potty so he can take us to the ER. Fearing stitches are in the near future, Danger Girl show a rare moment of fear as she totally FREAKS OUT at the idea of the ER. A quick change in approach calms her as she is convinced they are only going to Scott & White, not the ER. One very large blob of dermabond later she's all better. Mother and Father are a little tired.
And most recently, a mere week and a half from her 5th birthday she attempts scaling the local mall treehouse from the outside. Result? A nasty little scrape and a bruised, possibly hairline fractured, rib. Mother and Father, now used to injuries and somewhat doubtful of her whines and complaints (did I mention she also maquerades as Drama Girl?) let it be over night and take her to the doctor nearly 24 hours after the injury. No real course of treatment other than a few days of Motrin. Mother thinks briefly of feeling guilty for not taking her in sooner, then banishes the thought as she gets lunch ready for Danger/Drama Girl and her little brother Number Man and baby sister The Cuteness.
So, if you spend time with this family..................Keep your eyes open, and your hand on the phone, Danger Girl may strike near you!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Quite a Surprise!
If you've been following my Temple Remodel (link is in the sidebar) you know that I purchased some workout videos to use on Wednesday afternoons to get another cardio day in my schedule. So, today is Wednesday and I got started. The video I used today I bought at Half Price Books. (actually, I sold them enough books that I didn't have to spend any money out of pocket!) I looked it over in the store. It's call Jazzthetics I think. I thought it was a good buy because it's a 2-sided DVD with 2 workouts on side A and 3 on side B. So, I got the little ones off to rest time and Paris was excited to watch me "dance" in the living room. Trying to decide where to start I thoroughly read the back of the case and see that side A is 2 35 minute jazz workouts hosted by.........Traci Lords?!?!?!? uh-oh. So, I thought to myself that maybe this, um, person actually made a workout video. Afterall, she must have a fabulous body to make her money in that industry she's so famous for. I plug it in and see a few of the pics on the main menu and decide it's probably not the video I'll be using while my almost 5 year old is watching me dance! Good thing there was a side B. It was hokey, but it made me sweat and there were even a few parts I couldn't do so I'm guessing it will do what I need it to do - at least for a while. I find myself very releived that I bought another video brand new at Target - it does NOT have Traci Lords in it.
Oh, and just so you know, once Paris went to rest I plugged in Side A just to see what it was. I suppose you could call it an exercise video, but I won't be using it. All I saw was Traci Lords in a tiny bikini bottom, sports bra, and ballet flats (all in canary yellow) making a kind of serious, stare intently at the camera while pouting a little face while stretching. I watched just long enough to hear the instructor (a voice over) start the work out with.....hip rolls. Than I hear from behind me in Paris' sweet little voice, "Wow Mommy, she's really pretty." That was the end of the video. And to Ms. Traci Lords I say this,"My daughter thinks you are beautiful and that is exactly how God made you. I pray for you today that you allow God to make your entire life as beautiful as He wants it to be. And no mam, I will not be using your video."
Oh, and just so you know, once Paris went to rest I plugged in Side A just to see what it was. I suppose you could call it an exercise video, but I won't be using it. All I saw was Traci Lords in a tiny bikini bottom, sports bra, and ballet flats (all in canary yellow) making a kind of serious, stare intently at the camera while pouting a little face while stretching. I watched just long enough to hear the instructor (a voice over) start the work out with.....hip rolls. Than I hear from behind me in Paris' sweet little voice, "Wow Mommy, she's really pretty." That was the end of the video. And to Ms. Traci Lords I say this,"My daughter thinks you are beautiful and that is exactly how God made you. I pray for you today that you allow God to make your entire life as beautiful as He wants it to be. And no mam, I will not be using your video."
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Relaxing in to Summer
Not much going on around here. I'm settling into our new routine for the summer. We're playing with friends and getting some exercise. You can see a more accurate look at what's going on if your read my other blog. The link is in my sidebar.
Kids are doing well. Paris is having a hard time adjusting to an increase in physical activity. She keep saying she's tired and her legs are sore. When it's time to run in the splash pad or play on the playground however, her body feel sjust fine. She resists structure. Kindergarten will be interesting. I did get her registered for that yesterday so we're good to go come the end of August. Tripp is doing well. He's talking more and more. The potty thing is getting better ins ome areas and staying slow in others. I'm just doing my best to stay patient and not push him too much. He's a sensitive little dude so we just keep praising all the good stuff and being as non-reactive as possible when he has an accident. Vivie is growing and babbling all the time. She is cruising furniture well now. I even saw her stand all by her self for a few seconds the other day. Again, I'm not rushing this process. She'll walk when she's good and ready.
I guess that 's about it. We're just finding our groove for the summer months and really enjoying all the time we're spending with friends. I hope you are all enjoying your summer!
Kids are doing well. Paris is having a hard time adjusting to an increase in physical activity. She keep saying she's tired and her legs are sore. When it's time to run in the splash pad or play on the playground however, her body feel sjust fine. She resists structure. Kindergarten will be interesting. I did get her registered for that yesterday so we're good to go come the end of August. Tripp is doing well. He's talking more and more. The potty thing is getting better ins ome areas and staying slow in others. I'm just doing my best to stay patient and not push him too much. He's a sensitive little dude so we just keep praising all the good stuff and being as non-reactive as possible when he has an accident. Vivie is growing and babbling all the time. She is cruising furniture well now. I even saw her stand all by her self for a few seconds the other day. Again, I'm not rushing this process. She'll walk when she's good and ready.
I guess that 's about it. We're just finding our groove for the summer months and really enjoying all the time we're spending with friends. I hope you are all enjoying your summer!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Snuggle Up!
I've found a new favorite thing. They're called Snuggles. I'm sure your think this is some sort of comfy shoe or blanket or pillow....but it's a food. Snuggles are a whole wheat bread product. Think hot dog bun, but without all the puffy air. They're great for housing sausage or hot dogs. Today I had chicken salad in them. he back of the package suggests trying some cream cheese on your favorite lunchmeat wrapped around a pickle inside. I haven't tried that yet, but it sounds good. Anyway, I'm just excited becasue they taste so good! When I was pregers with Tripp I developed an aversion to wheat bread. Since then I have wanted to replace the white sammie bread I usually use with a healthier option, but had yet to find one that tasted good to me. Snuggles fit the bill! They actually add good flavor to my food. Good and good for you (or at least better for you than white bread). I guess the down side is that like any other specialty item they aren't terribly cost effective. I'm use to paying less than a buck for a whole loaf of bread and Snuggles are $2 for 8. I think I'll keep the Snuggles for Mommy and let the kids eat the "cheap" bread!
Friday, May 25, 2007
No Baptizing
Yesterday I watched a friend's boys for about 5 hours. One of them is Paris' age and if you've been around her much you have surely heard about him. She is, afterall, planning to marry this young man. He and his older brother were here yesterday. The kids were having a blast. I got our little pool set up so they could splash around. Right about the time I got everything set up and they really started having fun, Vivian decided she wanted to go inside and have lunch. So, I opened the back windows and gave the big kids a warning that I would be just inside and that I would be able to see them and hear them while I fed Vivie and got Tripp into some dry clothes. (He was cold so he wanted to go in too.) As I'm getting things ready in the house the big kids start to get a little rambunctious. I listen closing and hear the following:
Young D: No, D----!
Paris: Me either, that's scary!
Young D: D----! I said no!
Older D: Who wants to be baptized!?! (as he tries to shove his little brothers head in the water)
Paris: Let him go!
Older D: Who wants to be baptized!?!
And before I know it I hear myself saying..........
"No baptizing in my pool!!"
I'm not sure if that was appropriate or not. It's definitely one of those sentences that made me laught the minute it came out of my mouth. No one grows up thinking "When I grow up one of my rules will be 'No baptizing in my pool.'" I suppose if my little pool was needed for a baptism I would gladly oblige. It would be important, however, that all participants in the process were willing. Yesterday that was clearly not the case.
Young D: No, D----!
Paris: Me either, that's scary!
Young D: D----! I said no!
Older D: Who wants to be baptized!?! (as he tries to shove his little brothers head in the water)
Paris: Let him go!
Older D: Who wants to be baptized!?!
And before I know it I hear myself saying..........
"No baptizing in my pool!!"
I'm not sure if that was appropriate or not. It's definitely one of those sentences that made me laught the minute it came out of my mouth. No one grows up thinking "When I grow up one of my rules will be 'No baptizing in my pool.'" I suppose if my little pool was needed for a baptism I would gladly oblige. It would be important, however, that all participants in the process were willing. Yesterday that was clearly not the case.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
3F Summer
That's what I'm having this year. It going to be filled with Friendship, Fitness, and Fun! I have 3 girlfriends (Stephanie, Erika, & Kara) who are working with me to create a healthier lifestlye for ourselves and our kids. Our goal is to stay sane, loose a few ( a more than a few) pounds, and have a lot of fun with our children. We will be walking several days a week, having a pool day each week, and going to the movies some. (There's a Summer Movie Clubhouse that show kid movies at 9:30 am for cheap!) More than anything we will hold each other accountable, let each other vent, encourage one another and above all those, love each other as the sisters in Christ we are. I am grateful today for my 3F girlfriends and the plans we have made for the coming months. What ar you doing with your summer?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Update
Just thought I should update. None of the kittens survived. Rufus wouldn't step up and be a mommy and by the time got them to our favorite cousin Karla (the vet) it was really too late. They got to cold and the process of cleaning and warming and feeding them was more than their little systems could handle. Now we're just trying to take care of Rufus - having babies was hard on her body even though it didn't seem to phase her in any other way. Paris says that Driveway, Stroller, Quilt, and Last are all in heaven and God is taking care of them. She also wants to get another cat so it can have kittens and "maybe be a better mommy then Rufus." That's a NO from me and Easy - no more kittens.
Lesson learned - even though I think in principle that it was Easy's job to arrange the surgery to fix the cat (it is, afterall, his cousin that's the vet and he originally told me that Karla was going to come get the cat and take her in for the surgery), in the end my stubbornes cost me, not him. I was the one involved in birthing kittens and tube feeding kittens and making kittens go potty. In hindsight I should have just found a way to handle it myself and get her fixed. I know I will now.
Lesson learned - even though I think in principle that it was Easy's job to arrange the surgery to fix the cat (it is, afterall, his cousin that's the vet and he originally told me that Karla was going to come get the cat and take her in for the surgery), in the end my stubbornes cost me, not him. I was the one involved in birthing kittens and tube feeding kittens and making kittens go potty. In hindsight I should have just found a way to handle it myself and get her fixed. I know I will now.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Our Furry Family
Well, things in our "furry family" have been changing quite a bit. About a week and a half ago my good friend Stephanie helped me do a very difficult thing. We took our big dog, Posum, and let her go to sleep. Easy had Posum before we started dating. I always joked and said that she was "just part of the package." And even thought she drove me bonkers with her barking and digging and her "oh-my-goodness" stinky smell, it was really hard. The plan was to just drop her off at our vet clinic and not stay. That's not what happened though. One our Easy's cousins is a vet and Karla saw on the log that I was bringing Posum in. She called and told me to bring her out to Aunt Pat's and that she would do it herself. In some ways this is good because it saved us some $, but it feels wrong to think about $. Anyway, I wound up sitting in the back of Stephanie's truck holding her as she got her sleepy shot. I lost it. The good new is though, she doesn't hurt any more. Paris took the news as well as could be expected. We're still praying for Posum at night, but last night was the first time she acknowledge in prayer that Posum was dead. Easy has been OK. He had one cry. I think he was just releived that he didn't have to do any of it himself. She was, afterall, his dog. And there is something special between men and their dogs.
On another furry note, I am becoming an expert at birthing kittens! Our garage cat Rufus went into labor. This morning when I went to load the kids in the burb I found what I thought was a kitten that didn't make it in the middle of our driveway! I went and checked on Rufus - she was obviously still in labor so I just loaded up the kids and took them to school. I came back home ready to get Rufus some clean water and food, a box with a towel in it and to "take care" of the kitten in the driveway. When I got home she was having #2 in one of our old strollers. Thank goodnes it's one we don't use and weren't planning to pass on because it's so worn out! I got started preparing things for her and when she heard me get the food she just got up and came looking for me - with a kitten hanging out! As she was walking around she finished birthing it and it just fell on the floor and she walked away. She never even looked at it! So, I grabbed another towel, picked up the poor little thing, rubbed it down with the towel, put it in the box and put Rufus in their with it trying to get her to be a mommy. She would stay until I walked off and then she just got up and left it. I got her back in the box and went out to the driveway to tend to the other kitten only to discover that it was mewing and crawling around! So, I sccoped it up and rubbed it off and brought it in to the box - which Rufus had abandoned again. I put her back in and made her lay down and tried to get the kittens close enought they could latch on and ran for the phone. Yea! Cousin Karla was available at the clinic and told me what I needed to do. I have now removed the placenta from both kittens (that's right folks - I REMOVED THE PLACENTAS!) and brought them all into the utility room. I had to sit there and make Rufus stay in the box until they latched on. I took a while, but she is now staying in the box by herself and letting them nurse. Praise God! I was not interested in tube feeding kittens! I have no idea if there are any more coming or not. She's a very young cat so she just may have the two. I'm currently calling them driveway and stroller. We'll see how the rest of the day goes.....................
A quick update, Rufus had #3 a little while ago, I'm calling it Quilt because she got out of the box and on my quilt that was waiting to be washed to have it. She did better with this one, washing the kitten itself, but I still had to do the removal of the placenta. She wouldn't stay in the box with the kittens until I had done that. I guess she thinks it's gross....I know I do!
Let's add one more, I'm calling it Last. Let's pray that it is.
On another furry note, I am becoming an expert at birthing kittens! Our garage cat Rufus went into labor. This morning when I went to load the kids in the burb I found what I thought was a kitten that didn't make it in the middle of our driveway! I went and checked on Rufus - she was obviously still in labor so I just loaded up the kids and took them to school. I came back home ready to get Rufus some clean water and food, a box with a towel in it and to "take care" of the kitten in the driveway. When I got home she was having #2 in one of our old strollers. Thank goodnes it's one we don't use and weren't planning to pass on because it's so worn out! I got started preparing things for her and when she heard me get the food she just got up and came looking for me - with a kitten hanging out! As she was walking around she finished birthing it and it just fell on the floor and she walked away. She never even looked at it! So, I grabbed another towel, picked up the poor little thing, rubbed it down with the towel, put it in the box and put Rufus in their with it trying to get her to be a mommy. She would stay until I walked off and then she just got up and left it. I got her back in the box and went out to the driveway to tend to the other kitten only to discover that it was mewing and crawling around! So, I sccoped it up and rubbed it off and brought it in to the box - which Rufus had abandoned again. I put her back in and made her lay down and tried to get the kittens close enought they could latch on and ran for the phone. Yea! Cousin Karla was available at the clinic and told me what I needed to do. I have now removed the placenta from both kittens (that's right folks - I REMOVED THE PLACENTAS!) and brought them all into the utility room. I had to sit there and make Rufus stay in the box until they latched on. I took a while, but she is now staying in the box by herself and letting them nurse. Praise God! I was not interested in tube feeding kittens! I have no idea if there are any more coming or not. She's a very young cat so she just may have the two. I'm currently calling them driveway and stroller. We'll see how the rest of the day goes.....................
A quick update, Rufus had #3 a little while ago, I'm calling it Quilt because she got out of the box and on my quilt that was waiting to be washed to have it. She did better with this one, washing the kitten itself, but I still had to do the removal of the placenta. She wouldn't stay in the box with the kittens until I had done that. I guess she thinks it's gross....I know I do!
Let's add one more, I'm calling it Last. Let's pray that it is.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Irritation
Gas prices are going up. That stinks, but I don't really care. I try to be efficient in my gas use anyway, so I just don't look when I fill up and then focus on making my trips around town as efficient as possible. Bottom line is that it takes gas to make my burb move so no matter how much it costs, I'm gonna have to put gas in the car. Here's the irritation. I drive a big vehicle. It has a big gas tank. Gas prices are rising. The last two times I filled up the gas pump cut off at $100. Please note, the pump cut off on it's own - my tank was not full. I realize that is a shocking amount of $ on gas to some of you, but the burb has a 40 gallon tank. It takes a lot of gas. The closer gas prices get to $3/gallon, the less likely I am to be able to fill up my car if all the pumps are set to cut off at $100. I guess I'll just have to start filling up when it gets down to 1/4 tank or something. I'm just thinking that if youre going to raise gas prices, you need to adjust your pump govenors to let people with BIG cars and BIG tanks actually fill them up!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Titles, Shoes, and Scorpions
Titles.........I'm getting a new one. As I type this my big brother and his wife are in labor. I'll be Aunt Sarah tonight. Technically I'm already Aunt Sarah, but that's by marriage only. This time it's blood and I'm excited! Henry David will be making his appearance soon. I can't wait to see him and get to know him. He's blessed with some amazing parents, grandparents, cousins, and I hope a pretty good Aunt as well. I'm thinking I want a cool name though. Aunt Sarah sounds old and stuffy to me. I think I want to be Tia. I think that's Spanish for Aunt. Any other suggestions that are cute and make sense in some way are welcome.
Shoes........the ugly shoes have won. Let me explain, no, let me sum up. (movie reference there.....whoe can name it?) Crocs and croc-like shoes are ugly. I don't care how many people wear them out in public, they are still ugly. Everyone says, just try them on and you'll understand. So I did. And then I bought them and swore they would be only for the house and the yard. (By the way, I bought Airwalks at Payless because I'm WAY to cheap to spend money on the name itself!) Then this weird thing happened. I forgot I had them on.....and I went to the gorcery store. And then I forgot I had them on and I went over to a friends house, and then to church, and then to another friends house, and then to the ER (that story is next). Then this morning when I got out of my burb at the church building to work the nursery for Ladies' Class there they were, like they've just grown on at the end of my legs. That's when I gave up. It really wasn't intentional at any point. I'm sure Stacy and Clinton would really be disappointed in me, but I surrender. It's true. They're so stinking comfortable that at this point, I don't care that they're ugly. Besides, mine are pink and everything is cuter when it's pink.
Scorpions.........grrrrrrrr. As some of you may recall, not too long after moving into our new home I had to kill a scorpion in my house. Since then my bravery has increased. I've killed several others on our property, two in the house the rest outside. I had to kill another one yesterday. It was the biggest one I've killed so far. Guess how I found it........IT STUNG MY BABY!!!! Poor, sweet little Vivie was minding her own business crawling around and got a nice sting thanks to a rude and uninvited arachnid. No one asked him to come crawl around on my carpet (which happens to be the same collor he is). Certainly no one told him it would be fine for him to take his nasty little tail and sink into my baby's skin. Yet, he did it anyway. How rude. So, I freaked out. Vivie let out this blood curdling scream and when I came around the corner she was just sitting there screaming and the little ---beeep--- was crawling away from her. I picked her up and smashed him with my shoe several times. I told Paris to go in the bathroom and stay with Tripp (he was on the potty). I must have looked like a crazy woman because she didn't ask any questions. She just went in the bathroom, shut the door, and stayed there for like 20 minutes while I called the nurse-line and started trying to find where V got stung. In the end the nurse told me to bag the bug and head to the ER just to be safe. Easy got home during the phone call, so I was off to the ER. $100, and a Benedryl-Motrin cocktail later Vivie was fine. Apparently unless you have an allergic reaction to them, the scorpions in Texas aren't too toxic - they just hurt like heck. Needless to say I called the Fabulous Don Hancock this morning and he was here at 2:00 pm to treat our house. Death to arachnids everywhere. That't my motto and I'm sticking to it.
Shoes........the ugly shoes have won. Let me explain, no, let me sum up. (movie reference there.....whoe can name it?) Crocs and croc-like shoes are ugly. I don't care how many people wear them out in public, they are still ugly. Everyone says, just try them on and you'll understand. So I did. And then I bought them and swore they would be only for the house and the yard. (By the way, I bought Airwalks at Payless because I'm WAY to cheap to spend money on the name itself!) Then this weird thing happened. I forgot I had them on.....and I went to the gorcery store. And then I forgot I had them on and I went over to a friends house, and then to church, and then to another friends house, and then to the ER (that story is next). Then this morning when I got out of my burb at the church building to work the nursery for Ladies' Class there they were, like they've just grown on at the end of my legs. That's when I gave up. It really wasn't intentional at any point. I'm sure Stacy and Clinton would really be disappointed in me, but I surrender. It's true. They're so stinking comfortable that at this point, I don't care that they're ugly. Besides, mine are pink and everything is cuter when it's pink.
Scorpions.........grrrrrrrr. As some of you may recall, not too long after moving into our new home I had to kill a scorpion in my house. Since then my bravery has increased. I've killed several others on our property, two in the house the rest outside. I had to kill another one yesterday. It was the biggest one I've killed so far. Guess how I found it........IT STUNG MY BABY!!!! Poor, sweet little Vivie was minding her own business crawling around and got a nice sting thanks to a rude and uninvited arachnid. No one asked him to come crawl around on my carpet (which happens to be the same collor he is). Certainly no one told him it would be fine for him to take his nasty little tail and sink into my baby's skin. Yet, he did it anyway. How rude. So, I freaked out. Vivie let out this blood curdling scream and when I came around the corner she was just sitting there screaming and the little ---beeep--- was crawling away from her. I picked her up and smashed him with my shoe several times. I told Paris to go in the bathroom and stay with Tripp (he was on the potty). I must have looked like a crazy woman because she didn't ask any questions. She just went in the bathroom, shut the door, and stayed there for like 20 minutes while I called the nurse-line and started trying to find where V got stung. In the end the nurse told me to bag the bug and head to the ER just to be safe. Easy got home during the phone call, so I was off to the ER. $100, and a Benedryl-Motrin cocktail later Vivie was fine. Apparently unless you have an allergic reaction to them, the scorpions in Texas aren't too toxic - they just hurt like heck. Needless to say I called the Fabulous Don Hancock this morning and he was here at 2:00 pm to treat our house. Death to arachnids everywhere. That't my motto and I'm sticking to it.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Hey Mom!
This post is for my mother.
Mom,
We had a conversation in the car the other day and I feel compelled to comment further. It was regarding your career in education. You said something about listening to your gut. I'm sure you're with me now. So, here's what I have to say after thinking about that conversation.
You may not have listened to your gut, but I fully believe you listened to God. Had you followed your gut instinct, you could still be "happily" working away in education. Clearly, God had other plans for you. Because you listened to Him and yielded to pressure that may have felt like pushing, you made an impact in MANY children's lives. You started a process that has cleaned up a personnel issue (or two, or three) so that you left education a better place for children. You took care of your mom when she needed you. You took care of me when I needed you. You will take care of Matt & Kara when they need you. And more important than anything, you've started a new part of your journey with God that is amazing. It has impacted me in ways I can not begin to explain. I am so grateful.
So, your gut may have a regret or two, but my prayer for you is that your heart does not. You are an amazing mom, teacher, leader, Graggie, and friend. I am blessed by you every minute of the day. I love you. Now, post something on your blog!!!
Mom,
We had a conversation in the car the other day and I feel compelled to comment further. It was regarding your career in education. You said something about listening to your gut. I'm sure you're with me now. So, here's what I have to say after thinking about that conversation.
You may not have listened to your gut, but I fully believe you listened to God. Had you followed your gut instinct, you could still be "happily" working away in education. Clearly, God had other plans for you. Because you listened to Him and yielded to pressure that may have felt like pushing, you made an impact in MANY children's lives. You started a process that has cleaned up a personnel issue (or two, or three) so that you left education a better place for children. You took care of your mom when she needed you. You took care of me when I needed you. You will take care of Matt & Kara when they need you. And more important than anything, you've started a new part of your journey with God that is amazing. It has impacted me in ways I can not begin to explain. I am so grateful.
So, your gut may have a regret or two, but my prayer for you is that your heart does not. You are an amazing mom, teacher, leader, Graggie, and friend. I am blessed by you every minute of the day. I love you. Now, post something on your blog!!!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Bye Bye Fishie!
We are one less pet today in our house! Paris has had the pretty male beta fish for some time. She was bored with it. I was bored with it. Paris wanted to get some new guppies (go-bees in her language), but you can't do that with a beta. We had willfully been trying to "let Fishie go." Easy told me I couldn't just flush it. Paris thought maybe her Daddy could shoot it, but he said that wasn't a good idea. (can you tell she lives in a hunting family?) So, Paris and I decided we would just not feed it or clean it's tank. He wouldn't die. Seriously, we hadn't fed the guy in two weeks and he was happily swimming around in a very murky tank like nothing was wrong.
So, last night I had my monthly babysitting co-op meeting at my house. My wonderful friend Stephanie was in the kitchen with some of the other ladies and when I walked in she told me that she's given Fishie to Erin! Joy! Glee! Really? You want the fish? Let me me get him out, and here's his food. Oh, I'm so glad he's going to a good home. Bye bye Fishie!
Turns out Fishie will be the first pet at their house. I think he'll make a good one - he certainly is hardy! I did tell her that he hadn't been fed in quite some time so he will probably be hungry. I hope they enjoy the little guy. Now Paris and I just need to clean out the tank and get it set up to put 2 guppies in. (and an o-cat a little later) Wish us luck. We've tried guppies before and lost I think a total of 5. I think we were trying to put too many in our little tank. We did three plus the feeder fish and I think that was too much. Plus I think we overfed them. So, we're going to do just 2 this time and see how it goes. I better go - I need to get everyone dressed and out the door. Have a great day!
So, last night I had my monthly babysitting co-op meeting at my house. My wonderful friend Stephanie was in the kitchen with some of the other ladies and when I walked in she told me that she's given Fishie to Erin! Joy! Glee! Really? You want the fish? Let me me get him out, and here's his food. Oh, I'm so glad he's going to a good home. Bye bye Fishie!
Turns out Fishie will be the first pet at their house. I think he'll make a good one - he certainly is hardy! I did tell her that he hadn't been fed in quite some time so he will probably be hungry. I hope they enjoy the little guy. Now Paris and I just need to clean out the tank and get it set up to put 2 guppies in. (and an o-cat a little later) Wish us luck. We've tried guppies before and lost I think a total of 5. I think we were trying to put too many in our little tank. We did three plus the feeder fish and I think that was too much. Plus I think we overfed them. So, we're going to do just 2 this time and see how it goes. I better go - I need to get everyone dressed and out the door. Have a great day!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Conversation with Paris
Paris: Mom! Come look at my mess!
Mom: (walking towards the hall tentatively with a bit of fear in her step, sees a large pile of stuffed animals surrounded by Little People toys.) Wow, that's some mess!
Paris: neh-ssssssssss-TTTTTTT!
Mom: Oh, I misunderstood. That's a nice nest.
Paris: Why would I show you a mess?
Mom: (not sure how to respond without dripping in sarcasm remains silent and lets the conversation end)
Mom: (walking towards the hall tentatively with a bit of fear in her step, sees a large pile of stuffed animals surrounded by Little People toys.) Wow, that's some mess!
Paris: neh-ssssssssss-TTTTTTT!
Mom: Oh, I misunderstood. That's a nice nest.
Paris: Why would I show you a mess?
Mom: (not sure how to respond without dripping in sarcasm remains silent and lets the conversation end)
Friday, April 06, 2007
Blessings
It's been a rough week. So, I thought today I would focus on blessings. Here are 5 people that have serisouly blessed my life this week.
1. My mommy. She let Paris (and me) call her as many as 4 times a day during this stuck at home illness. It cheered up Paris and it kept me sane.
2. Irene Campbell. If you want to know how Irene has been such a blessing, go read my other blog. The link is in the column on the side.
3. Kelly Garrett. Kelly gave me a big stash of XS Sports Drink that I am absolutely convinced helped stop the fever in my house. Thank you Kelly for the tip and the supply!
4. Stephanie Ray. Stephanie not only handled Ladies' Class for me (along with Erika - also a blessing!), she kept Vivian for me yesterday for a few hours and then let me sit at her table to eat my lunch so I didn't have to drive all the way home before picking up Tripp from school.
5. Sheila Walsh. I'm reading her newest book and this week it has really made me have some revelations about myself and how I stand before God. I can't wait to keep reading. The title, if you're interested, is God has a Dream for your Life.
1. My mommy. She let Paris (and me) call her as many as 4 times a day during this stuck at home illness. It cheered up Paris and it kept me sane.
2. Irene Campbell. If you want to know how Irene has been such a blessing, go read my other blog. The link is in the column on the side.
3. Kelly Garrett. Kelly gave me a big stash of XS Sports Drink that I am absolutely convinced helped stop the fever in my house. Thank you Kelly for the tip and the supply!
4. Stephanie Ray. Stephanie not only handled Ladies' Class for me (along with Erika - also a blessing!), she kept Vivian for me yesterday for a few hours and then let me sit at her table to eat my lunch so I didn't have to drive all the way home before picking up Tripp from school.
5. Sheila Walsh. I'm reading her newest book and this week it has really made me have some revelations about myself and how I stand before God. I can't wait to keep reading. The title, if you're interested, is God has a Dream for your Life.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
And the Fever Goes On
Vivie has been fever free for 24 hours!!! And her spots are fading!! There's hope, there's light, there is an end to this virus. I ran less fever yesterday. Today I'm good so far, but it didn't go up until after lunch yesterday so we will wait and see. Tripp got it yesterday. Paris still has it. They both had nearly 103 yesterday and woke up with 102 this morning. No school. No Easter parties. I have some very sad children. Maybe we'll hide eggs in the house since they can't go to school tomorrow. I did tell Paris that if she is fever free with no medicine from noon today until noon tomorrow that we MIGHT let her go to her party. Not sure how I'll pull that off since Tripp won't be able to go up to school at all. Who knows. All I know right now is that Vivian is better and she is the light at the end of the virus tunnel of doom.
Monday, April 02, 2007
The Saga Continues
So, I thought we were getting better. Vivie got a clean bill of health from the pneumonia, Paris forehead wound is healing up nicely. Life looked great for about 4 days. Friday Vivie spiked a fever and broke out in a weird looking rash. The nurse said it was viral and not to bring her in unless the fever lasted more than 3 days or the red spots turned purple. Sunday, after getting to go to church all by myself, I came home to find Vivie running 102.2 on Motrin and her rash spreading to engulf every inch of skin imaginable. So, off to Urgent Care we went. I'm glad we're going to Nana's next weekend so I'll be able to avoid Scott & White for a whole weekend! The pedi there said it definitely looked like a virus and that her lungs, throat, ears, and nose were perfectly clear. If she's still running a fever on Tuesday we're supposed to call back. Oh, and he said that the spots will probably outlast the fever by several days. It's going to be a beautiful first Easter for her!
And of course, she has learned how to share. Normally sharing is a good thing in our house. It is something to be applauded and praised. Sharing a virus is not to be praised. Paris spiked a fever last night and is still running one. No school for her tomorrow. And then my sweet, sweet daughters shared the virus with me. 101 temp anyone? I'd gladly give mine away. Fortunately, Paris and I don't have the spots so at least we are spared something.
So, today, more than anything I've thought how nice it will be when my Dad retires and my folks move up here. Then at least my mom could come get the one healthy child left and take him to her house. How many days left, Dad?
And of course, she has learned how to share. Normally sharing is a good thing in our house. It is something to be applauded and praised. Sharing a virus is not to be praised. Paris spiked a fever last night and is still running one. No school for her tomorrow. And then my sweet, sweet daughters shared the virus with me. 101 temp anyone? I'd gladly give mine away. Fortunately, Paris and I don't have the spots so at least we are spared something.
So, today, more than anything I've thought how nice it will be when my Dad retires and my folks move up here. Then at least my mom could come get the one healthy child left and take him to her house. How many days left, Dad?
Saturday, March 31, 2007
A New Blog
I started a new blog today. I will be keeping this one too. There's a link to the new one in my side bar under "My New Blog." Original, huh? If you'll recall, in Jauary I posted about this year and my goals. Part of that included a desire to do some temple remodeling. The new blog will be totally dedicated to that journey. I've realized that the remodel could never be purely external. There are lots on interior rooms that need to be re-done as well. Join me there and see how it's going. I'm sure I'll need your support along the way.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Lessons Learned
Today's Friday Five is five things I've learned in the last month.
1. Gluing a wound back together, although much less painful, is not any prettier than having stitches done.
2. Posum is, well, I don't know the right word. Posum is our big dog. Due to her incessant barking at the old house, we had to bring her here a little sooner than we were ready. (the friends that bought the old place were keeping her for us) That meant we had to get our fence built in a hurry. Now she's in the back yard. She barks quite a bit, she eats A LOT, she digs, she smells, she has hearing challenges, she digs, she stares in the back windows at me at night and it creeps me out, did I mention that she digs?, and she makes my husband and my children smile. I wish she mad me smile. She does not make me smile. So, the lesson here is.....absence did not make the heart grow fonder.
3. Apparently painting with poop and then getting a pop on the rear end for it is sufficient lesson learning to get my two year old to go in the potty. He has only had 1 #2 in a pull-up since the artistic episode. Woo Hoo!!!
4. You can travel too much. Being gone as much as I have been in the last month leads to many negative things. Laundry gets backed up, cleaning gets behind, grocery shopping/meal planning don't get done properly, clutter accumulates EVERYWHERE. I've also learned that a cluttered house leads to a cluttered mind which leads to less sleep which leads to a mommy walking around everyday trying to keep her head out of the water and feeling a constant sense that she my drown at any moment. We're staying home this weekend.
5. Having chest x-rays done of a 10 1/2 month old baby is unpleasant. Even more unpleasant is having said baby diagnosed with pneumonia and then having to hold her while a nurse (who Vivie smiled and waved at when she came in the room) sticks her in the leg with a big honkin' shot of antibiotic that will make her leg hurt for several days. However, x-rays are MUCH easier to go through than stitches on a 7 month old (or again on a 2 1/2 year old, or even having the same 4 year old glued back together).
1. Gluing a wound back together, although much less painful, is not any prettier than having stitches done.
2. Posum is, well, I don't know the right word. Posum is our big dog. Due to her incessant barking at the old house, we had to bring her here a little sooner than we were ready. (the friends that bought the old place were keeping her for us) That meant we had to get our fence built in a hurry. Now she's in the back yard. She barks quite a bit, she eats A LOT, she digs, she smells, she has hearing challenges, she digs, she stares in the back windows at me at night and it creeps me out, did I mention that she digs?, and she makes my husband and my children smile. I wish she mad me smile. She does not make me smile. So, the lesson here is.....absence did not make the heart grow fonder.
3. Apparently painting with poop and then getting a pop on the rear end for it is sufficient lesson learning to get my two year old to go in the potty. He has only had 1 #2 in a pull-up since the artistic episode. Woo Hoo!!!
4. You can travel too much. Being gone as much as I have been in the last month leads to many negative things. Laundry gets backed up, cleaning gets behind, grocery shopping/meal planning don't get done properly, clutter accumulates EVERYWHERE. I've also learned that a cluttered house leads to a cluttered mind which leads to less sleep which leads to a mommy walking around everyday trying to keep her head out of the water and feeling a constant sense that she my drown at any moment. We're staying home this weekend.
5. Having chest x-rays done of a 10 1/2 month old baby is unpleasant. Even more unpleasant is having said baby diagnosed with pneumonia and then having to hold her while a nurse (who Vivie smiled and waved at when she came in the room) sticks her in the leg with a big honkin' shot of antibiotic that will make her leg hurt for several days. However, x-rays are MUCH easier to go through than stitches on a 7 month old (or again on a 2 1/2 year old, or even having the same 4 year old glued back together).
Monday, March 26, 2007
Health Update
So........since the last time I wrote things have been pretty crazy around here. I've made two out of town trips. One to the Women of Faith National conference in San Antonio and one quick trip to Baytown so I could go to my sister-in-law's baby shower. Take those into account with the health issues we've had in our house and that leaves you with one pooped mommy! Here's the scoop:
Vivie is all better. She got a clean bill of health at her check-up last Wednesday. Thursday was the first day she was really back to her normal self. If you go back and count the days, that was almost 12 days from when she got sick. That's a long time to have a sick baby! But she's all better now and has even decided that not nursing and having real milk in her cup is OK. I don't think she LOVES it, but she's drinking it so I'm satisfied.
As for Tripp - other than his perpetual snot (which we've just about decided is allergies) he's doing well. We did get a "health alert" (as though we should be alarmed by health in general?) from his school. Apparently someone(s) at school that he comes in contact with has had Pin worms. Don't know what those are? They are little teeny tiny white thread like worms that live in the anus. Yes, I said anus. They are transmitted in a "rectal - oral" fashion. Can we say EEEEWWW! Symptom? Rump scratching, especially at night? How to you confirm them? You get a flashlight and go on a worm hunt at night. As our pedi put it so nicely (imagine hand motions along with this) "Get a flashlight and then spread the (pause) buttock and look for white thread like wigglies." I told Easy that after all the diapers I've changed over the years that clearly worm hunting is a job for Daddy. Fortunately, we've had no rump scratching so that hasn't had to happen. In truth, I was afraid we were perhaps the source. After all, we did have that whole poo painting thing a few weeks back and who know if any of that made it to the mouth......GROSS!!!!!
And then there's my sweet goose. Paris has been doing great. We've been having fun. We've had a few tough days. Apparently mommy being gone two weekend in a row didn't sit well with her so we went through that whole test the limits thing in the midst of Vivie having pneumonia. She redeemed herself this weekend though and went shopping with Graggie and me and even went to the shower with us. She won't call it a shower though. That's just "silly" according to her so we called it a party for Aunt Kara's baby that hasn't come out of her tummy yet. Quite a mouthful, huh? Anyway, she pulled a Sarah. (for those of you unaware, I have an extremely clumsy history!) We brought this little wooden trunk home from my moms house for her to use in her room. It was mine as a kid. I stored all my baby doll clothes in it. We need to clean Paris' room in a bad way so the trunk was just sort of sitting in the entry. Paris, in her typical exuberance, went to sort of roll over one of our ottomans and went a bit too fast. As she went off the other side (the ottoman is being used as a barricade to keep Vivie in the living room) she literally bounced her head off the edge of the trunk! Lots of blood. Not cool. I bundled her up with a damp towel pressed on it. Told Easy to get off the toilet because we needed to go to the ER "now!" We took her to urgent care at Scott & White and thank goodness they were able to glue her back together. It wasn't painless and and it certainly isn't pretty, but it was WAY better than stitches. We've done stitches with her twice already and she remembers the second set. She didn't want to go tot he doctor because she was so freaked that she might have stitches again. In the end she is left with one heck of a headache and a big blob of steri-strips and Dermabond that will flake off on it own. We don't even have to go back to the doctor unless there's a problem. I'm left with a migraine and an extremely sore right bicep. See, once my mom handed her to me I didn't really put her down until we were in the room getting seen by the doctor. I had no idea 39 lbs. was so heavy!
So, there you go - all caught up. Today I'm staying home all day and trying to put my house back in order. There is a TON of laundry to be done and more cleaning than I could possibly do in one day. So I guess I'll just eat the elephant one bite at a time and hope I get through it all before it gets crazy around here again! Have a great day!
Vivie is all better. She got a clean bill of health at her check-up last Wednesday. Thursday was the first day she was really back to her normal self. If you go back and count the days, that was almost 12 days from when she got sick. That's a long time to have a sick baby! But she's all better now and has even decided that not nursing and having real milk in her cup is OK. I don't think she LOVES it, but she's drinking it so I'm satisfied.
As for Tripp - other than his perpetual snot (which we've just about decided is allergies) he's doing well. We did get a "health alert" (as though we should be alarmed by health in general?) from his school. Apparently someone(s) at school that he comes in contact with has had Pin worms. Don't know what those are? They are little teeny tiny white thread like worms that live in the anus. Yes, I said anus. They are transmitted in a "rectal - oral" fashion. Can we say EEEEWWW! Symptom? Rump scratching, especially at night? How to you confirm them? You get a flashlight and go on a worm hunt at night. As our pedi put it so nicely (imagine hand motions along with this) "Get a flashlight and then spread the (pause) buttock and look for white thread like wigglies." I told Easy that after all the diapers I've changed over the years that clearly worm hunting is a job for Daddy. Fortunately, we've had no rump scratching so that hasn't had to happen. In truth, I was afraid we were perhaps the source. After all, we did have that whole poo painting thing a few weeks back and who know if any of that made it to the mouth......GROSS!!!!!
And then there's my sweet goose. Paris has been doing great. We've been having fun. We've had a few tough days. Apparently mommy being gone two weekend in a row didn't sit well with her so we went through that whole test the limits thing in the midst of Vivie having pneumonia. She redeemed herself this weekend though and went shopping with Graggie and me and even went to the shower with us. She won't call it a shower though. That's just "silly" according to her so we called it a party for Aunt Kara's baby that hasn't come out of her tummy yet. Quite a mouthful, huh? Anyway, she pulled a Sarah. (for those of you unaware, I have an extremely clumsy history!) We brought this little wooden trunk home from my moms house for her to use in her room. It was mine as a kid. I stored all my baby doll clothes in it. We need to clean Paris' room in a bad way so the trunk was just sort of sitting in the entry. Paris, in her typical exuberance, went to sort of roll over one of our ottomans and went a bit too fast. As she went off the other side (the ottoman is being used as a barricade to keep Vivie in the living room) she literally bounced her head off the edge of the trunk! Lots of blood. Not cool. I bundled her up with a damp towel pressed on it. Told Easy to get off the toilet because we needed to go to the ER "now!" We took her to urgent care at Scott & White and thank goodness they were able to glue her back together. It wasn't painless and and it certainly isn't pretty, but it was WAY better than stitches. We've done stitches with her twice already and she remembers the second set. She didn't want to go tot he doctor because she was so freaked that she might have stitches again. In the end she is left with one heck of a headache and a big blob of steri-strips and Dermabond that will flake off on it own. We don't even have to go back to the doctor unless there's a problem. I'm left with a migraine and an extremely sore right bicep. See, once my mom handed her to me I didn't really put her down until we were in the room getting seen by the doctor. I had no idea 39 lbs. was so heavy!
So, there you go - all caught up. Today I'm staying home all day and trying to put my house back in order. There is a TON of laundry to be done and more cleaning than I could possibly do in one day. So I guess I'll just eat the elephant one bite at a time and hope I get through it all before it gets crazy around here again! Have a great day!
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