Really crazy morning, although I knew it would be and was as prepared as possible. I slept only a few hours last night due to my lovely insomnia and got up early since the girls have an activity before school starts. Got them up and ready, then Gray and Teagan up and ready with enough time to get myself showered and dressed! The best part about having older kids and the baby is that they were happy to bring her downstairs and sit her in her high chair with Cheerios and her milk and watch her while I showered, such a gift that was since otherwise I would have had to shower with her in the bathroom with me, with the curtain open begging her not to play in the toilet.
Our neighbor picked the girls up and then Gray and I straightened the house until it was time to drop him at school. Drove him up, chatted with one of the teacher's whose little girl is a friend of Brittan's then ran to the grocery store. Teagan and I rushed through the store and I planned to come home and unload, but we had just enough time to take the trek down to the farm to get the milk, so away we went! Got the milk and dropped the deposit check for the meat order, got back in the car and hightailed it back to town so I could make my OB appointment. Now I knew my appointment was at 11, and that Teagan would be getting hungry for lunch, so I had planned ahead and packed her cup and a container with cheerios, raisins, turkey and cheese. Well.....we had to wait, a LONG time, and she lost it. She was a wailing sobbing thrashing throwing screaming mess of a baby girl in the waiting room. There were a few people there with new babies and she wanted to touch the babies. She wanted to climb the magazine racks. She wanted to open the door and leave. She was a wreck. There was actually a teenage girl in the room who I am pretty sure will never have sex again after seeing Teagan today. Thankfully the receptionist knows us and checked when we were due to head back, and right around the point we could take no more, we got into our room. Once in the room, she was happy to sit on my lap and look at magazines, which certainly helped my blood pressure stay down.
In other news, we got our date for the c-section and it was just when I wanted it, although I fear he still may try to sneak out early. The doc was a bit concerned that he was measuring so big, so I am off to another sonogram in two weeks to check size. Thankfully we make big babies so it is not a real concern for us, but he just wants to double check everything to be sure he is doing ok in there since I am just about out of room.
Now I just need to work and then hopefully get to bed early tonight, I couldn't break it to poor Teagan, but we have a bunch of errands to run tomorrow morning!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
If you are the betting type....
we can play, "Guess when Finn comes"
I will share some information and if you care to, you can venture a guess when our fifth child, second son, will makes his arrival. Sadly no prizes if you are correct, but I can email you a pic of a gold star if you like :)
Info:
Finn will be a scheduled c-section no later than December 3rd, due date is the 11th...so no guesses after the 3rd.
My other kids were born 1 at full term, 1 at 38 weeks (induction then c-sec), 1 at 38 weeks (c-sec) 1 at 37 weeks (c-sec)
I have had labor concerns with all kids except #3, preterm with #1 and 2 at 28 and 32 weeks, preterm with #4 at 33 weeks and again just before 37 weeks.
Finn is VERY big, measuring at least 2.5 weeks ahead and has been settled head down for a number of weeks already. I have dropped more in the last few weeks and have had regular, strong, real contractions.
So..venture a guess if you will, I am 33 weeks right now, turning 34 weeks over the weekend. Oh, and feel free to guess his size too
For reference Haven-9lbs 6 oz 23", Britt-8lbs 2oz-19 1/2", Gray 8 lbs 4 ozs-19 1/2", Teagan 7 lbs 6 ozs-19"
I will share some information and if you care to, you can venture a guess when our fifth child, second son, will makes his arrival. Sadly no prizes if you are correct, but I can email you a pic of a gold star if you like :)
Info:
Finn will be a scheduled c-section no later than December 3rd, due date is the 11th...so no guesses after the 3rd.
My other kids were born 1 at full term, 1 at 38 weeks (induction then c-sec), 1 at 38 weeks (c-sec) 1 at 37 weeks (c-sec)
I have had labor concerns with all kids except #3, preterm with #1 and 2 at 28 and 32 weeks, preterm with #4 at 33 weeks and again just before 37 weeks.
Finn is VERY big, measuring at least 2.5 weeks ahead and has been settled head down for a number of weeks already. I have dropped more in the last few weeks and have had regular, strong, real contractions.
So..venture a guess if you will, I am 33 weeks right now, turning 34 weeks over the weekend. Oh, and feel free to guess his size too
For reference Haven-9lbs 6 oz 23", Britt-8lbs 2oz-19 1/2", Gray 8 lbs 4 ozs-19 1/2", Teagan 7 lbs 6 ozs-19"
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Making headway
We have been busy here, I have enlisted the rest of the family in my hormonal nesting and it is slowly paying off. Ryan has finished painting the playroom trim and we will get to putting the room back together so my parents can sleep in there when the baby comes. I still need to get new curtains and bedding, but other than that, it is ready...well until we put the carpet in, but that is not happening until after the holidays!
I washed all the baby gear and reassembled. We will store everything upstairs in our room for the next few weeks except the car seat base that will go into the car in the next week or so. I plan to do a big car cleanout to prep for the kid shuffle. We have an extended Trailblazer that we bought with only three kids. Right now I have Brittan and Grayson in the way back, Haven and Teagan in the middle seats with Teagan rear facing. When we make the move, Grayson will stay in the way back and Teagan will join him, Finn will take Teagan's spot and Britt and Haven will share the other two seats in the middle. When the whole family is together, we will fill every seat in the car! Thankfully the truck is paid off in less than a year, so we plan to tough it out for two more years and then buy an airport shuttle....like this one although we will look for one that is used :)
I have also gone through the last of the baby clothes, scrubbed the bathroom, straightened the house and washed a million loads of laundry. I still need to organize my room to make space for the bassinet and make sure Grayson's room is spotless since my mom will sleep there when we are at the hospital. I am hoping I can get the baby's room painted, but it may not happen and I am ok with that, it is the big things we need to work on right now that are important. Hopefully by the end of Ryan's days off next week we will have the house back in order and be ready for the new baby...hooray!
I washed all the baby gear and reassembled. We will store everything upstairs in our room for the next few weeks except the car seat base that will go into the car in the next week or so. I plan to do a big car cleanout to prep for the kid shuffle. We have an extended Trailblazer that we bought with only three kids. Right now I have Brittan and Grayson in the way back, Haven and Teagan in the middle seats with Teagan rear facing. When we make the move, Grayson will stay in the way back and Teagan will join him, Finn will take Teagan's spot and Britt and Haven will share the other two seats in the middle. When the whole family is together, we will fill every seat in the car! Thankfully the truck is paid off in less than a year, so we plan to tough it out for two more years and then buy an airport shuttle....like this one although we will look for one that is used :)
I have also gone through the last of the baby clothes, scrubbed the bathroom, straightened the house and washed a million loads of laundry. I still need to organize my room to make space for the bassinet and make sure Grayson's room is spotless since my mom will sleep there when we are at the hospital. I am hoping I can get the baby's room painted, but it may not happen and I am ok with that, it is the big things we need to work on right now that are important. Hopefully by the end of Ryan's days off next week we will have the house back in order and be ready for the new baby...hooray!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
If you are the praying type, the loving type, the goodwill type or the human type
please send good thoughts, prayers and love to this family. Their oldest son, a mere two years old, is dying from a very aggressive cancer and they have already had to bury one of his brothers (a twin) who was born prematurely.
While it is hard to read what these poor parents and children are living through, it in no way can compare to what they are dealing with day to day. Just keep them in your thoughts, and be thankful for the moments you have with those you love, I am sure they would love to be badgered with questions, have to clean up a mess or deal with a temper tantrum with their son right now.
http://thematthewsstory.com
While it is hard to read what these poor parents and children are living through, it in no way can compare to what they are dealing with day to day. Just keep them in your thoughts, and be thankful for the moments you have with those you love, I am sure they would love to be badgered with questions, have to clean up a mess or deal with a temper tantrum with their son right now.
http://thematthewsstory.com
Sleep is SO not overrated!
I actually woke up this morning feeling good! Yesterday I was so sore, every single step made me ache and by the time Ryan woke up, I was in tears from the pain. It was awful. When the kids and I headed up last night, I was able to muscle through a ton of grading and get to sleep by 11, which is a pretty big deal for me...then Teagan slept until 7:30. It was pure bliss.
I think we have turned the corner with Teagie, she was cutting a tooth (#8) and I believe that was what was causing the nap/sleep issues. The tooth is through and we are back to taking a decent nap and sleeping through the night...I hope!
After getting some actual sleep, I was able to get up this morning and get some things done. The sugar cookie dough I made yesterday has been cut, baked and packed to be frozen. My work-work is done for FT job, dishes are done and laundry switched. The kids and I played this morning and they are enjoying lunch, after which I will put Teagan down for her nap and make the chocolate chip cookies (triple batch!) and work on Britt's reading project with her. Ry committed to getting up at 3 to help out and he is getting the baby gear down today so I can wash it all and get it ready for Finn's immanent arrival in the next few weeks and I am making grilled chicken for make your own salad tonight (last night all I could muster was eggs, English muffins and grapes). I also have some more grading for PT school tonight, but will do that tucked into my comfy bed. Such a difference sleep can make!
I think we have turned the corner with Teagie, she was cutting a tooth (#8) and I believe that was what was causing the nap/sleep issues. The tooth is through and we are back to taking a decent nap and sleeping through the night...I hope!
After getting some actual sleep, I was able to get up this morning and get some things done. The sugar cookie dough I made yesterday has been cut, baked and packed to be frozen. My work-work is done for FT job, dishes are done and laundry switched. The kids and I played this morning and they are enjoying lunch, after which I will put Teagan down for her nap and make the chocolate chip cookies (triple batch!) and work on Britt's reading project with her. Ry committed to getting up at 3 to help out and he is getting the baby gear down today so I can wash it all and get it ready for Finn's immanent arrival in the next few weeks and I am making grilled chicken for make your own salad tonight (last night all I could muster was eggs, English muffins and grapes). I also have some more grading for PT school tonight, but will do that tucked into my comfy bed. Such a difference sleep can make!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Mid-morning update...it ain't pretty
Well.......not even 11 am and I have cried. Seems Haven felt she needed to put a notebook on the shelf over the island where I keep my precious coffee roaster. I went to quickly move said roaster since the stove was on and I was worried about it getting too much heat, ran into the notebook and the roaster fell to the floor. One piece of the top is broken off, and while it fits together and when I tried it out it works....it smokes more than it should. This roaster is my one prized possession. I waited about a year to buy it, they are expensive and I love being able to roast my own beans. The fact that it is now broken is devastating and while I can "just buy another" I NEVER spend that kind of money on myself and don't want to have to do it to replace something I had that worked :(
Anyway...right now soup is bubbling on the stove. I boiled and soaked about a cup and a half of navy beans for a few hours. Poured the beans and liquid out and saved, then removed the casing from two sweet Italian sausage and chopped into bite sized hunks, browned with some onion and carrots. Then I added the beans and liquid back, along with some chicken stock and it is cooking on the stove. I will add in some diced fresh tomato, basil, orzo and fresh spinach before the day is done, along with salt and pepper, red pepper flakes and oregano. This soup is hearty and tasty and will hopefully make the hubby feel better.
Currently making no promises on the meatballs, I am feeling the effects of the baby's early waking, so they may need to wait until tomorrow. I can always grill some chicken tenders up and do the "make your own salad" night.
Sugar cookie dough is in the fridge and the cookie cutters are ready to go. It took me years to find a sugar cookie recipe I liked and that froze well. I now use the first one listed here http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/sugar_cookies/ I cut the butter in by hand and add an extra tablespoon of cream (actually we use half and half) and the cookies always come out soft and crisp. We freeze them before decorating and they freeze like a dream, just don't be afraid, the dough is very crumbly before you chill it, but it will come together. Off to make lunches so the crabby baby can take a nap and the equally crabby mama can join her.
***EDITED TO ADD-Found the replacement part for the roaster! Only 13 bucks shipped and YES I am making the kid pay for it (I provided her a discount)! She has mucho dinero and it will be a good lesson not to leave stuff everywhere! Thirteen bucks beats having to pay $150 for a whole new roaster. ***
Anyway...right now soup is bubbling on the stove. I boiled and soaked about a cup and a half of navy beans for a few hours. Poured the beans and liquid out and saved, then removed the casing from two sweet Italian sausage and chopped into bite sized hunks, browned with some onion and carrots. Then I added the beans and liquid back, along with some chicken stock and it is cooking on the stove. I will add in some diced fresh tomato, basil, orzo and fresh spinach before the day is done, along with salt and pepper, red pepper flakes and oregano. This soup is hearty and tasty and will hopefully make the hubby feel better.
Currently making no promises on the meatballs, I am feeling the effects of the baby's early waking, so they may need to wait until tomorrow. I can always grill some chicken tenders up and do the "make your own salad" night.
Sugar cookie dough is in the fridge and the cookie cutters are ready to go. It took me years to find a sugar cookie recipe I liked and that froze well. I now use the first one listed here http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/sugar_cookies/ I cut the butter in by hand and add an extra tablespoon of cream (actually we use half and half) and the cookies always come out soft and crisp. We freeze them before decorating and they freeze like a dream, just don't be afraid, the dough is very crumbly before you chill it, but it will come together. Off to make lunches so the crabby baby can take a nap and the equally crabby mama can join her.
***EDITED TO ADD-Found the replacement part for the roaster! Only 13 bucks shipped and YES I am making the kid pay for it (I provided her a discount)! She has mucho dinero and it will be a good lesson not to leave stuff everywhere! Thirteen bucks beats having to pay $150 for a whole new roaster. ***
Making an agenda
Well.....hubby has to work tonight which changed our plans a bit. Add to that the fact he is not feeling well, and I really feel bad for him! Thankfully he will get home soon and head to bed and I have a few things up my sleeve to hopefully help him feel better!
On our agenda today:
1. Make soup for the hubby...I am making an Italian sausage and bean soup, it is a little spicy and filled with good veggies to soothe his throat.
2. Make meatballs for dinner for the rest of us.
3. Have the kids start switching out summer clothes to make room for winter, even though it will be in the high 70's this week.
4. Ironically...start making Christmas cookies. I am hoping to get a few dozen in the freezer by the end of the weekend. I usually make between 10 and 12 kinds, so I need to get a jump start. This weekend I will make the chocolate chip and the sugar cut outs (we decorate closer to Christmas).
5. Grade a bunch of papers....need to stay on top of these, there are a bunch left!
6. Laundry. We made a big dent yesterday, my goal today is to wash at least three loads.
7. Try to relax. Tomorrow we will clean the house, it is becoming a weekly ritual that the kids and I (and Ryan if home) clean the house together each weekend. I clean all week, but the extra help on weekends helps get bigger projects done and keeps things manageable.
On our agenda today:
1. Make soup for the hubby...I am making an Italian sausage and bean soup, it is a little spicy and filled with good veggies to soothe his throat.
2. Make meatballs for dinner for the rest of us.
3. Have the kids start switching out summer clothes to make room for winter, even though it will be in the high 70's this week.
4. Ironically...start making Christmas cookies. I am hoping to get a few dozen in the freezer by the end of the weekend. I usually make between 10 and 12 kinds, so I need to get a jump start. This weekend I will make the chocolate chip and the sugar cut outs (we decorate closer to Christmas).
5. Grade a bunch of papers....need to stay on top of these, there are a bunch left!
6. Laundry. We made a big dent yesterday, my goal today is to wash at least three loads.
7. Try to relax. Tomorrow we will clean the house, it is becoming a weekly ritual that the kids and I (and Ryan if home) clean the house together each weekend. I clean all week, but the extra help on weekends helps get bigger projects done and keeps things manageable.
Friday, October 22, 2010
The Bare Minimum
Sometimes all you can do is what you have to do. Here is the last few days in a nutshell:
- Work crazy crazy
- Home busy busy
- Laundry is taking us over
- Teagan not napping and waking at ridiculous times (5:15 am today!)
- Husband working only three shifts but it feels like 300
- Farm and Wegmans today with a baby up since 5:15 was interesting..she was good, I was tired and realized that lugging the milk and groceries are no longer a good idea....lots of contractions.
- Finn is low low low and it hurts hurts hurts...seriously, he is a big boy and walking is painful.
- The kids have been super about helping out
- I have pregnancy insomnia, get it every time, can't fall asleep until 1 or 2 am...coupled with Teagans early wakings=TIRED
- When exhausted, homemade stromboli is an easy dinner and the troops are happy
- When making Halloween cupcakes, always make extra and freeze them...they go too fast!
- Hubby is off tomorrow-YEAH
- First draft of Chapter 1 of dissertation is completed and sent off for judging, um, feedback
- I have a call at 7:30 tonight and then I plan to pass out.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Holy Hormones Batman
I am over 32 weeks pregnant now and it blows my mind that Teagan was born a mere 5 weeks from where I am now. I am not ready for Finn, well not mentally anyway. I have all the clothes ready, they just need a wash. I have the gear, including the warm car seat cover that we never needed with the other kids. I have just four or five Christmas gifts left to purchase. I know he is coming soon, really soon, but I am still so immersed in work, school, kids, etc. that I just cannot get my head around how quickly it is coming, and it is throwing me for a loop.
The last two days have been hormonal meltdown days. Work is crazy, PT job is keeping me busy since I am trying to stay on top of everything "just in case" I am finalizing Chapter 1 of my dissertation which is proving impossible since I am so tired, I am rushing to write the last three weeks of lectures for the course I am developing and I am trying to maintain the household so it is ready for when Finn comes. Ryan's car was in the shop today getting tires and an alignment, and when we picked it up they told us the brake lights don't work, so tomorrow the car will go to the dealership to get the sensor fixed. Add to that the playroom is still being worked on, my bathroom is a wreck, the baby gear needs to be washed, I need to move the car seats around, the bassinet needs to be put in my room, and so on and so forth...I am a wreck!
I melted down to the husband today and I think we have a plan. The playroom trim needs to get done ASAP so we can put the room back together. He is setting up our bathroom so I can use everything but the shower, which will help after the c-section. A few other key tasks will get done as well, and as long as I get Chapter 1 sent over to my chair on Thursday and the lectures written by Sunday, I will have two big concerns off my list. In five to six weeks, we will have a whole new set of challenges, of adventures, or happiness and stress, and I am trying to calm myself enough to get through these last weeks, get my ducks in a row, and be able to enjoy my new son when he comes.
The last two days have been hormonal meltdown days. Work is crazy, PT job is keeping me busy since I am trying to stay on top of everything "just in case" I am finalizing Chapter 1 of my dissertation which is proving impossible since I am so tired, I am rushing to write the last three weeks of lectures for the course I am developing and I am trying to maintain the household so it is ready for when Finn comes. Ryan's car was in the shop today getting tires and an alignment, and when we picked it up they told us the brake lights don't work, so tomorrow the car will go to the dealership to get the sensor fixed. Add to that the playroom is still being worked on, my bathroom is a wreck, the baby gear needs to be washed, I need to move the car seats around, the bassinet needs to be put in my room, and so on and so forth...I am a wreck!
I melted down to the husband today and I think we have a plan. The playroom trim needs to get done ASAP so we can put the room back together. He is setting up our bathroom so I can use everything but the shower, which will help after the c-section. A few other key tasks will get done as well, and as long as I get Chapter 1 sent over to my chair on Thursday and the lectures written by Sunday, I will have two big concerns off my list. In five to six weeks, we will have a whole new set of challenges, of adventures, or happiness and stress, and I am trying to calm myself enough to get through these last weeks, get my ducks in a row, and be able to enjoy my new son when he comes.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
It is all about the highs...trust me
Life with a houseful of kids, crazy jobs, school, chores, etc. can make for a lot of highs and lows throughout a day, hell throughout an hour! Last week was tough, but it is over. Haven is on the mend, the hubs is working again tonight (OT) but will be home tomorrow, and we are all getting what needs to get done, done and have plans to celebrate with a night out tomorrow!
Grayson has a birthday party to attend this afternoon, and usually I go out during the week to get the present so I don't have to drag everyone with me on the weekend. Sadly that just didn't happen, Haven was just feeling too sick for me to take her around town. So first thing this morning I loaded everyone up, along with my cup of coffee that the husband brought home for me, and we headed out to Target. Well the kids were like a bunch of cats high on catnip...seriously a crazy bunch of buggers, so much so that we almost had to get right back in the car when we got there! In the parking lot the kids were briefed on the expectations at Target, and away we went! Thankfully it was not crowded, so my roaming and distracted children were not too much of a menace, and we managed to secure the much needed birthday gift, four new sets of PJs for Teagan, wipes and a ridiculous amount of Halloween candy...I think I was weakened by the crazy children. So, mission accomplished, although it was not the smoothest of adventures. However we did discuss the important topic of Halloween dinner on our way home and the children decided on the following menu: Witches Toes (homemade chicken nuggets), Monster Brains (Rotini with pesto and mozzarella cheese thrown in for ick and slime factor), beetles and slugs salad (black grapes and bananas sliced longways with a yogurt dip) and of course, Ghost Punch (blue lemonade). Yummy!
Came home and decided to attack the mail pile. Since our bills are all paid online, usually mail is the least of my concerns and ends up in recycling or trash pretty quickly. Today as I was sorting, I noticed a weird envelope and opened it...and inside was a certificate from my FT gig. I have been there 5 years and as a reward for the insanity that can be caused by the job (just kidding, it is a pretty good job) they sent me this 50 dollar card with a code for a website. Curious, I logged on and was super freakin excited....I could trade that 50 bucks in for gift cards of varying amounts at a million different stores! Seriously, they had everything from LobsterGram to Amazon to Outback to CVS! Needless to say, I got picking and secured cards to Target, CVS, Amazon and Toys R Us...I see the last few Christmas purchases within my evil grasp.
Now I must gather the ingredients for lunch, while in a state of gift card euphoria, I promised the kids they could have make your own pizza bagels for lunch...and promised a million toppings, I better get chopping!
Grayson has a birthday party to attend this afternoon, and usually I go out during the week to get the present so I don't have to drag everyone with me on the weekend. Sadly that just didn't happen, Haven was just feeling too sick for me to take her around town. So first thing this morning I loaded everyone up, along with my cup of coffee that the husband brought home for me, and we headed out to Target. Well the kids were like a bunch of cats high on catnip...seriously a crazy bunch of buggers, so much so that we almost had to get right back in the car when we got there! In the parking lot the kids were briefed on the expectations at Target, and away we went! Thankfully it was not crowded, so my roaming and distracted children were not too much of a menace, and we managed to secure the much needed birthday gift, four new sets of PJs for Teagan, wipes and a ridiculous amount of Halloween candy...I think I was weakened by the crazy children. So, mission accomplished, although it was not the smoothest of adventures. However we did discuss the important topic of Halloween dinner on our way home and the children decided on the following menu: Witches Toes (homemade chicken nuggets), Monster Brains (Rotini with pesto and mozzarella cheese thrown in for ick and slime factor), beetles and slugs salad (black grapes and bananas sliced longways with a yogurt dip) and of course, Ghost Punch (blue lemonade). Yummy!
Came home and decided to attack the mail pile. Since our bills are all paid online, usually mail is the least of my concerns and ends up in recycling or trash pretty quickly. Today as I was sorting, I noticed a weird envelope and opened it...and inside was a certificate from my FT gig. I have been there 5 years and as a reward for the insanity that can be caused by the job (just kidding, it is a pretty good job) they sent me this 50 dollar card with a code for a website. Curious, I logged on and was super freakin excited....I could trade that 50 bucks in for gift cards of varying amounts at a million different stores! Seriously, they had everything from LobsterGram to Amazon to Outback to CVS! Needless to say, I got picking and secured cards to Target, CVS, Amazon and Toys R Us...I see the last few Christmas purchases within my evil grasp.
Now I must gather the ingredients for lunch, while in a state of gift card euphoria, I promised the kids they could have make your own pizza bagels for lunch...and promised a million toppings, I better get chopping!
Friday, October 15, 2010
The forest for the trees
It has been a long week, a long, exhausting week. Haven has been home the entire week, and thankfully she slept fairly well last night which meant I slept fairly well last night, getting up at 5 am today instead of 3 am. She is also feeling better, much less whiny and more like herself, and she is eating a bit more which is a huge relief since she is tiny to begin with, a week of not eating is not a good idea.
In addition to the illness and lack of sleep, we have also been dealing with an issue at school. Basically we want Haven moved to a different class, the current teacher is simply not a good match, she is a yeller and Haven feels she is embarrassing her, and has had a lot of anxiety about school and is having a hard time getting what she needs. I am NOT judging the teacher, I really don't know what happens in the classroom, but my kid is perceiving it in a poor way, and it is affecting her learning. We have been trying to talk to the school about it and we were not getting very far, but finally today I talked to the Assistant Principal who knows Haven and our family well and who we have worked with in the past when Haven was getting her Epilepsy diagnosis done and dealt with. She agreed that Haven is very bright and needs to be challenged, and that she needs to be in a positive learning environment. We will meet with the AP, the Principal and the teacher Tuesday and I am not backing down on moving her, she needs it and it has to happen for her to be able to achieve at her highest potential. We know that next year they begin placing the students, and in most subjects she is advanced, so we need to make sure she is placed where she will best fit academically. These are the hard parenting moments, when you want to see the right thing happen quickly for your child, but you need to wait, and meet, and talk, and wait, and talk, etc. I am hopeful that Tuesday we will all come to the conclusion that she cannot stay in the current class, and if the school does not agree, I will have no choice but to pull her out so that she continues to move forward in her studies.
So this is where we are at, trying to see the forest for the trees. We are all together, healthy, happy, content and very, very fortunate.
In addition to the illness and lack of sleep, we have also been dealing with an issue at school. Basically we want Haven moved to a different class, the current teacher is simply not a good match, she is a yeller and Haven feels she is embarrassing her, and has had a lot of anxiety about school and is having a hard time getting what she needs. I am NOT judging the teacher, I really don't know what happens in the classroom, but my kid is perceiving it in a poor way, and it is affecting her learning. We have been trying to talk to the school about it and we were not getting very far, but finally today I talked to the Assistant Principal who knows Haven and our family well and who we have worked with in the past when Haven was getting her Epilepsy diagnosis done and dealt with. She agreed that Haven is very bright and needs to be challenged, and that she needs to be in a positive learning environment. We will meet with the AP, the Principal and the teacher Tuesday and I am not backing down on moving her, she needs it and it has to happen for her to be able to achieve at her highest potential. We know that next year they begin placing the students, and in most subjects she is advanced, so we need to make sure she is placed where she will best fit academically. These are the hard parenting moments, when you want to see the right thing happen quickly for your child, but you need to wait, and meet, and talk, and wait, and talk, etc. I am hopeful that Tuesday we will all come to the conclusion that she cannot stay in the current class, and if the school does not agree, I will have no choice but to pull her out so that she continues to move forward in her studies.
So this is where we are at, trying to see the forest for the trees. We are all together, healthy, happy, content and very, very fortunate.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Time to buck up
Last night was another adventure in no sleep. Ryan worked from home and was wise enough not to be on calls, so when Haven came down to annoy him 8 million times, he was simply annoyed and not fired :) In between annoying her father, she managed to whine and moan all night long which kept me up from about 3 am. I really wish I could sleep like my husband, dead to the world, but I am a super light sleeper and hear everything.
Of course I finally dozed back off at 6:30 and work in a panic around 7:30. Brittan has a program before school and was getting picked up at 7:50...eek! Thankfully she is a trooper, ate breakfast while I packed her backpack and got herself dressed and ready to go super quick. I then got Teagan, Grayson, Haven and myself ready, dropped Grayson at school since it was pouring and I don't like him to be alone at the bus stop and took Haven to the doctor.
Turns out the kid has an ear infection and strep, so she isn't feeling well which we knew and acknowledged, although I am still not sure she needed to keep me up two nights in a row! After the doc, the rain had ended just enough that I decided to run to the grocery store which is next door. I was craving eggplant and wanted to make some for lunch, so we ran in and grabbed a few quick items, then dropped of Haven's prescription and came home.
Thankfully today is our quiet day. Held Teagan's morning nap off until after lunch and I am hoping she takes a good long sleep. Haven is upstairs resting and I will run and grab her script when Ryan wakes at 4. The other kids are at school, I made roasted eggplant with ricotta, basil, parm cheese and fresh sliced tomatoes for lunch which appeased my eggplant craving. Dinner tonight is pretty simple, we are having angel hair with pesto and Caesar salad with bread. Most of my work work is done, so now I am planning to relax before the evening rush and hope that Haven sleeps tonight.
Of course I finally dozed back off at 6:30 and work in a panic around 7:30. Brittan has a program before school and was getting picked up at 7:50...eek! Thankfully she is a trooper, ate breakfast while I packed her backpack and got herself dressed and ready to go super quick. I then got Teagan, Grayson, Haven and myself ready, dropped Grayson at school since it was pouring and I don't like him to be alone at the bus stop and took Haven to the doctor.
Turns out the kid has an ear infection and strep, so she isn't feeling well which we knew and acknowledged, although I am still not sure she needed to keep me up two nights in a row! After the doc, the rain had ended just enough that I decided to run to the grocery store which is next door. I was craving eggplant and wanted to make some for lunch, so we ran in and grabbed a few quick items, then dropped of Haven's prescription and came home.
Thankfully today is our quiet day. Held Teagan's morning nap off until after lunch and I am hoping she takes a good long sleep. Haven is upstairs resting and I will run and grab her script when Ryan wakes at 4. The other kids are at school, I made roasted eggplant with ricotta, basil, parm cheese and fresh sliced tomatoes for lunch which appeased my eggplant craving. Dinner tonight is pretty simple, we are having angel hair with pesto and Caesar salad with bread. Most of my work work is done, so now I am planning to relax before the evening rush and hope that Haven sleeps tonight.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
All about my heart
It was a long and tiring day. After no sleep last night, I headed out early to go see my cardiologist for my echocardiogram. I had planned to have the hubby along since cardio visits stress me out, but with Haven home sick and no one sleeping the night before, I went alone after whining and crying like a baby about it. I can do a lot, handle a lot, juggle a lot and deal with a lot, but there are a select few things that really throw me, and the cardiologist is one of them.
Now I really *like* my current cardio, and that is saying a whole lot since I usually despise or barely tolerate them. I got ths guy when pregnant with Teagan since my old cardio had a sh*t fit when he heard I was pregnant again, not the approach I like in a doctor. I like the new cardio because he is very positive, he listens to me and he is the first cardiologist I have ever had who has looked at my situation and not my condition. All the prior doctors pushed me to get surgery, a very invasive open heart surgery, even though there was no reason, I have no symptoms and my condition is causing no problems for me.
Anywho, went for my echo and the tech let me know my gradient (which is how they measure the pressure in my heart) was lower than when pregnant with Teagan-which was good news. We know the gradient goes really high when I am pregnant, and drops right back down after I deliver which shocked my doctor last time as it was 35 points lower just one week after delivering. Today my gradient was about 11 points lower than when pregnant with Teagan, so we anticipate the next few weeks of pregnancy to progress smoothly and I don't need to worry about cardiac issues unless something changes drastically.
The cardio also had some really great news for me. One of the things we watch, due to my condition, is for the heart to show signs of strain, usually evident by some enlargement of the heart due to it having to work harder. At my age, it is normal for any woman who has had multiple pregnancies to have some enlargement of the heart, nothing serious or significant, but as that muscle pumps all the extra blood we have when preggers, it works harder. Surprisingly, my heart shows NO enlargement, even within what would be "normal" for a woman my age! In addition, my heart function is absolutely perfect, no concerns at all! For someone with a heart issue who has been waiting her whole life to find out when surgery would have to happen, when heart failure might start, when symptoms will show, this is such great news! The doctor thinks there is no reason that I will not make it well into my forties or fifties before we even need to consider surgery, and being that we expected surgery to happen in my twenties, this is incredible. He says he is impressed that my body simply compensated for the heart condition and has adapted and allowed me to maintain a healthy heart! Such a sweet relief to hear today, to know that I can rest easy and that everything looks good. Being that I live a stressful and busy life, and have many little people depending on me and my health, knowing that I am healthy and strong and able to care for them is so calming.
Now I really *like* my current cardio, and that is saying a whole lot since I usually despise or barely tolerate them. I got ths guy when pregnant with Teagan since my old cardio had a sh*t fit when he heard I was pregnant again, not the approach I like in a doctor. I like the new cardio because he is very positive, he listens to me and he is the first cardiologist I have ever had who has looked at my situation and not my condition. All the prior doctors pushed me to get surgery, a very invasive open heart surgery, even though there was no reason, I have no symptoms and my condition is causing no problems for me.
Anywho, went for my echo and the tech let me know my gradient (which is how they measure the pressure in my heart) was lower than when pregnant with Teagan-which was good news. We know the gradient goes really high when I am pregnant, and drops right back down after I deliver which shocked my doctor last time as it was 35 points lower just one week after delivering. Today my gradient was about 11 points lower than when pregnant with Teagan, so we anticipate the next few weeks of pregnancy to progress smoothly and I don't need to worry about cardiac issues unless something changes drastically.
The cardio also had some really great news for me. One of the things we watch, due to my condition, is for the heart to show signs of strain, usually evident by some enlargement of the heart due to it having to work harder. At my age, it is normal for any woman who has had multiple pregnancies to have some enlargement of the heart, nothing serious or significant, but as that muscle pumps all the extra blood we have when preggers, it works harder. Surprisingly, my heart shows NO enlargement, even within what would be "normal" for a woman my age! In addition, my heart function is absolutely perfect, no concerns at all! For someone with a heart issue who has been waiting her whole life to find out when surgery would have to happen, when heart failure might start, when symptoms will show, this is such great news! The doctor thinks there is no reason that I will not make it well into my forties or fifties before we even need to consider surgery, and being that we expected surgery to happen in my twenties, this is incredible. He says he is impressed that my body simply compensated for the heart condition and has adapted and allowed me to maintain a healthy heart! Such a sweet relief to hear today, to know that I can rest easy and that everything looks good. Being that I live a stressful and busy life, and have many little people depending on me and my health, knowing that I am healthy and strong and able to care for them is so calming.
A short post
I am tired. Tired of sick kids. Tired of being uncomfortable. And today, just TIRED since Haven has a cold and decided that keeping me up all night long, even though I don't feel well either, was a grand idea. Add to that that I have a doctor's appointment this morning, followed by work, then I am alone with the kids tonight...yeah, outside the house from 9-5 on no sleep, feeling crappy, preggo and exhausted. Did I mention that the hubby was supposed to come with me to the doctors but now can't because the sleep stealing child is being a pain. Yeah, I am freakin tired.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Shaking things up
We are in the midst of making some BIG decisions right now and I am not sure how they will all turn out. We have decided (we think!) where we intend to move in the next few years and have laid out the tentative plan and timeline. We know what type of home we want and size land, and have talked about the level of sustainability we are looking for, i.e. animals, solar power, etc. I am in the process of looking at and soliciting some non-paying speaking gigs while I complete my dissertation so I can get picked up for some paying engagements in the next few years. We are making decisions about schooling for one of our children. and we are considering what kind of schooling we will use with all the kids once the big move happens.
We are shaking things up, getting adventurous and making plans. I am getting excited about all the changes the next two years will bring, and cannot wait to see how it all plays out.
We are shaking things up, getting adventurous and making plans. I am getting excited about all the changes the next two years will bring, and cannot wait to see how it all plays out.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Weekend Update
Whew, it was a busy few days!
Parents came in late Friday, then Saturday we went and had lunch at the park and the kids enjoyed the beautiful warm weather. Came home to put the baby down for a nap and the three big kids went swimming at the hotel pool. After a nice dinner, my parents went back to the hotel and the kids and I shuffled to bed.
Sunday we met my sister and her crew at a local pumpkin farm for their Fall Festival. It was HOT! Kids had fun on the big slide, zip line, hay swing, feeding farm animals, doing the corn maze and riding the hayride to get pumpkins. It was a great afternoon, just too warm for "fall" and the poor mama and littlest baby were really wiped out. My parents dropped us at the house so the kids could get some down time, and Ryan got up and ready so we could head to dinner. Dinner turned out to be a nightmare, the food took forever to come out, the baby drank too fast and yakked down my back, the kids were too tired to eat when the food finally came, but they were so good even though they were restless, which was the best part of the evening :)
Came home and bathed and shower the troops, did some work and tried to sleep, but poor little Teagan was so overtired she was having a rough night. Normally she is a champion sleeper, but if she is sick or overtired, she really struggles. She was up from about midnight until after 2, and I spent most of that time rocking her in the chair in her room. While I was tired and I wanted to crawl into my own bed, I relish those moments of quiet when she has her little arms wrapped tight around my neck, her face nuzzled into me while she breathes quietly in her sleep. Babies grow so quickly, and while I still adore the hugs and snuggles from the big kids, those moments when they still fit into your arms so perfectly, they are fleeting, and disappear when we are not looking. So I sat and rocked and nuzzled and kissed that baby girl.
We were up and moving early, my parents came just before 9 am so we could head to an ultrasound. While we were waiting, we were watching my belly jump and dance and I told Ryan that Finn was head down and stretching his legs but that the tech would confirm. I was also pretty sure he was about 4 1/2 - 5 lbs (average at this gestation is 3.3 lbs) and the tech confirmed he is measuring about 5 lbs! He is also measuring 2.5 weeks ahead on length, and is head down as we suspected. All these things mean I need to be on high alert in the coming weeks since I have a tendency towards preterm labor and it seems like Finn is getting ready to go. Hopefully he will hang in until at least 36 weeks, which is only 4 1/2 weeks away, but knowing my babies, we will evict him on his scheduled c-section date.
Cute kid pics and a really cool video of Finn to come....
Parents came in late Friday, then Saturday we went and had lunch at the park and the kids enjoyed the beautiful warm weather. Came home to put the baby down for a nap and the three big kids went swimming at the hotel pool. After a nice dinner, my parents went back to the hotel and the kids and I shuffled to bed.
Sunday we met my sister and her crew at a local pumpkin farm for their Fall Festival. It was HOT! Kids had fun on the big slide, zip line, hay swing, feeding farm animals, doing the corn maze and riding the hayride to get pumpkins. It was a great afternoon, just too warm for "fall" and the poor mama and littlest baby were really wiped out. My parents dropped us at the house so the kids could get some down time, and Ryan got up and ready so we could head to dinner. Dinner turned out to be a nightmare, the food took forever to come out, the baby drank too fast and yakked down my back, the kids were too tired to eat when the food finally came, but they were so good even though they were restless, which was the best part of the evening :)
Came home and bathed and shower the troops, did some work and tried to sleep, but poor little Teagan was so overtired she was having a rough night. Normally she is a champion sleeper, but if she is sick or overtired, she really struggles. She was up from about midnight until after 2, and I spent most of that time rocking her in the chair in her room. While I was tired and I wanted to crawl into my own bed, I relish those moments of quiet when she has her little arms wrapped tight around my neck, her face nuzzled into me while she breathes quietly in her sleep. Babies grow so quickly, and while I still adore the hugs and snuggles from the big kids, those moments when they still fit into your arms so perfectly, they are fleeting, and disappear when we are not looking. So I sat and rocked and nuzzled and kissed that baby girl.
We were up and moving early, my parents came just before 9 am so we could head to an ultrasound. While we were waiting, we were watching my belly jump and dance and I told Ryan that Finn was head down and stretching his legs but that the tech would confirm. I was also pretty sure he was about 4 1/2 - 5 lbs (average at this gestation is 3.3 lbs) and the tech confirmed he is measuring about 5 lbs! He is also measuring 2.5 weeks ahead on length, and is head down as we suspected. All these things mean I need to be on high alert in the coming weeks since I have a tendency towards preterm labor and it seems like Finn is getting ready to go. Hopefully he will hang in until at least 36 weeks, which is only 4 1/2 weeks away, but knowing my babies, we will evict him on his scheduled c-section date.
Cute kid pics and a really cool video of Finn to come....
Saturday, October 9, 2010
P is for Pumpkins (and Papa & Nana)
My parents rolled into town last night and came bearing gifts from their recent trip. They were in Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Russia and England and got the kids some awesome presents. The girls got gorgeous stacking dolls and Grayson got some legos straight from the source :) All the kids were given stuffed Beefeaters and my parents bought Ryan and two Christmas ornaments, one that is designed like a stacking doll but is a tree, Santa and snowman :) I also got my chocolate covered biscuits from Harrods as request, nummy!
Today we will probably have a park day and the kids want to build the Halloween Haunted Gingerbread house. Tomorrow we will meet up with my sister's crew at a local farm to pumpkin pick, see animals, do the corn maze and enjoy the festivities! Now if only it wasn't in the 80's :(
Today we will probably have a park day and the kids want to build the Halloween Haunted Gingerbread house. Tomorrow we will meet up with my sister's crew at a local farm to pumpkin pick, see animals, do the corn maze and enjoy the festivities! Now if only it wasn't in the 80's :(
Thursday, October 7, 2010
The Little Miss
As I sit here, Teagan Jayne is happily running amok in the dining room pulling papers down, dumping out boxes of band aids and dragging toys about. As the fourth child with older kids in the house, we confine her to a "safe" area during the times when I can not watch her like a hawk since the bigger kids often leave small items about that could hurt her. During the day, I always free her from that area and let her have at it while I am watching her. She runs the loop from the dining room to the foyer to the kitchen and back. She plays with the magnets on the fridge. She pulls out everyone's shoes and tries them on. It is a big adventure for her as she explores different parts of her world and it is so much fun watching her stop by the window to check out a squirrel or lay on the floor next to Rosie for a hug.
Things will be crazy soon as we will find a new routine that will work. It will be a new adventure for all of us, but for today I am enjoying watching my baby girl throw band aids and playdoh containers about. The mess can always wait.
Things will be crazy soon as we will find a new routine that will work. It will be a new adventure for all of us, but for today I am enjoying watching my baby girl throw band aids and playdoh containers about. The mess can always wait.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
I am issuing a Public Service Announcement
I would like to provide the following important message to my loyal reader(s) who may be considering adding to their family.
I DO NOT recommend that you get pregnant with your fifth child when your youngest current child is 8 months old, you are creeping up on/and have your 35th birthday, have two jobs, are writing your dissertation and your husband works a cracked out 12 hour schedule.
Seriously. Don't do it. You will be tired and crabby and just want to curl in a ball and nap every afternoon from 1-4 and blow off work and cleaning and cooking. But you won't take that warm cozy nap because you need to work to earn a living to pay for all those kids who make the messes that need to be cleaned and who want to eat "good" dinners, and you love the little buggers so you keep truckin'.
OK, fine, if you are creeping up on 35 or *gasp* ARE 35, and love your babies to the ends of the earth and back, and have pesky jobs and annoying schedules and decide (or have it decided for you-whoops!) that you will be blessed with a fifth little one...go for it with gusto and love and joy. But I warn you, you will be tired.... and it will be worth it.
I DO NOT recommend that you get pregnant with your fifth child when your youngest current child is 8 months old, you are creeping up on/and have your 35th birthday, have two jobs, are writing your dissertation and your husband works a cracked out 12 hour schedule.
Seriously. Don't do it. You will be tired and crabby and just want to curl in a ball and nap every afternoon from 1-4 and blow off work and cleaning and cooking. But you won't take that warm cozy nap because you need to work to earn a living to pay for all those kids who make the messes that need to be cleaned and who want to eat "good" dinners, and you love the little buggers so you keep truckin'.
OK, fine, if you are creeping up on 35 or *gasp* ARE 35, and love your babies to the ends of the earth and back, and have pesky jobs and annoying schedules and decide (or have it decided for you-whoops!) that you will be blessed with a fifth little one...go for it with gusto and love and joy. But I warn you, you will be tired.... and it will be worth it.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
I am an insurance company's nightmare
I am so tired of going to the doctor! I have been at the OB for four weeks in a row, it should be every other week, but one week I needed to get bloodwork done and this week I need a shot in my ass (Rhogam) and of course these HAD to happen on the weeks I didn't have an appointment! I was supposed to have another OB appointment next week but they gave me a reprieve, sort of, and instead scheduled me an ultrasound. So next week I get to have two ultrasounds. One will check Finn's size, they suspect he is big, although I have no clue why that would concern them. He has always been big, all my kids are big and I am having a c-section so he could be 12 lbs at 38 weeks and it wouldn't matter (he won't be THAT big, I am guessing 8-9 lbs at 38 weeks). Then I get to have an ultrasound of my heart, aka echocardiogram. Just call me Sono-Woman...wonder what my superpowers might be?
Thankfully I get to see Finn on the ultrasound on Monday, and the double bonus is my parents will be here and can watch the other four kids so Ryan can come with me :)
Thankfully I get to see Finn on the ultrasound on Monday, and the double bonus is my parents will be here and can watch the other four kids so Ryan can come with me :)
Monday, October 4, 2010
This week I will be a single mom to many
We have had a busy few days, yesterday we cleaned the house and Ryan finished priming the playroom. As we were planning to head out as a family to have dinner and get some new Halloween decorations, Brittan spiked a 102.5 fever. Since she had no symptoms except a little headache and being cold, we Motrined her and waited a half hour until she felt better, and away we went.
Got to the store and found candy corn that Haven can actually eat, so we loaded up on bags of candy corn and bunches of Halloween decorations that I will put up tomorrow. Went to Chili's for dinner since we had 30 bucks in gift certificates and then home in the chilly rain to shuffle kids to bed. Last night I worked upstairs with the window open and the rain trickling down-it was perfect while Ryan spent his evening painting the first coat in the playroom. He stayed up really late, but got the while first coat done and it looks so, so good, I love the color we chose!
Today we have Britty home and I was hoping the fever would break since she has a field trip tomorrow, but she is looking pretty harsh. I managed to get to the grocery store and home by 9:15 this morning, we had a water/juice box emergency :) Now I am snuggled in my comfy clothes, Britt is resting, Teagan is napping and Ryan is sleeping since he works tonight, albeit from home. I will have to put on "real" clothes later since I have to go to class and give an exam :(
This week will be a crazy one. Ryan works through Saturday night, that is six 12 hour shifts in a row! I work tonight, then tomorrow shuffle kids to school and then have to run to the OB for a shot, then Wednesday I have a cardio appointment in the morning and need to pick up a fundraiser at the kid's school at 7 that night with all the kiddos in tow, Thursday I need to drop the girls off early then pick up Quail Cove then drop Gray off then farm then dance, and Friday kids have a half day and my parents come. Whew.
On an unrelated side note, I have seen a lot of visitors from a number of countries show up on my new ticker, so cool! I also think it is funny that people who want nothing to do with me and my family keep reading here, wonder what they are looking for....
Got to the store and found candy corn that Haven can actually eat, so we loaded up on bags of candy corn and bunches of Halloween decorations that I will put up tomorrow. Went to Chili's for dinner since we had 30 bucks in gift certificates and then home in the chilly rain to shuffle kids to bed. Last night I worked upstairs with the window open and the rain trickling down-it was perfect while Ryan spent his evening painting the first coat in the playroom. He stayed up really late, but got the while first coat done and it looks so, so good, I love the color we chose!
Today we have Britty home and I was hoping the fever would break since she has a field trip tomorrow, but she is looking pretty harsh. I managed to get to the grocery store and home by 9:15 this morning, we had a water/juice box emergency :) Now I am snuggled in my comfy clothes, Britt is resting, Teagan is napping and Ryan is sleeping since he works tonight, albeit from home. I will have to put on "real" clothes later since I have to go to class and give an exam :(
This week will be a crazy one. Ryan works through Saturday night, that is six 12 hour shifts in a row! I work tonight, then tomorrow shuffle kids to school and then have to run to the OB for a shot, then Wednesday I have a cardio appointment in the morning and need to pick up a fundraiser at the kid's school at 7 that night with all the kiddos in tow, Thursday I need to drop the girls off early then pick up Quail Cove then drop Gray off then farm then dance, and Friday kids have a half day and my parents come. Whew.
On an unrelated side note, I have seen a lot of visitors from a number of countries show up on my new ticker, so cool! I also think it is funny that people who want nothing to do with me and my family keep reading here, wonder what they are looking for....
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Ah, my friend, you are here
Fall has arrived here in VA. Looks to be gorgeous this week, mostly highs in the 60's and low 70's with a few high 50's tossed in for fun. I am excited to break out the striped and polka dotted tights for Teagan and the snuggly clothes for me, especially since I only have to teach one day this week at the PT gig :)
Hubby is off tonight which I am SO looking forward to! I was down a kid last night since Haven was at a sleepover, so this morning the other three and I went and finally got the paint for the playroom, looked at and I think chose carpet for in there and then did a run to CVS. I had a bunch of coupons that I wanted to use, including some BOGOF Glade Plug Ins and they had my favorite apple cinnamon scent! Grabbed Haven from her friends house then came home, opened all the windows wide, plugged in the smellies, lit the candles and started dinner. Tonight I am making a beef minestrone soup with loads of fresh veggies and thyme and some maple corn muffins on the side (made with VA Maple syrup!). I am going to try to post the recipe on my other blog since I have gotten lazy about keeping it up, and because sometimes I will want to remake something and cannot remember what I did the first time. I rarely use a recipe when cooking (baking I do!), I mean I read them all the time as inspiration, but them always go about it in my own way to match our tastes.
Oh, and just to jump subjects, I have a HUGE list of Christmas cookies I want to make this year. I am not sure how I will accomplish it since I will be having a baby just after Thanksgiving, but I am bound and determined. I promised the kids that after Columbus Day Weekend, we would start baking at least one kind of cookie a weekend and then freezing them so we have them come December. I always start with traditional chocolate chip, and will again this year, but hope to make the dozen or so kinds we are drooling over :) I also plan to make four trays of cinnamon rolls that I will freeze before baking. These are a favorite of the kids, and if I make them and freeze them, we just need to take them out and bake them off for an easy, hot breakfast when it is chilly outside. I am really hoping to be prepped for Christmas and the early parts of Winter by mid November so we are all ready when little Finn makes his appearance!
Hubby is off tonight which I am SO looking forward to! I was down a kid last night since Haven was at a sleepover, so this morning the other three and I went and finally got the paint for the playroom, looked at and I think chose carpet for in there and then did a run to CVS. I had a bunch of coupons that I wanted to use, including some BOGOF Glade Plug Ins and they had my favorite apple cinnamon scent! Grabbed Haven from her friends house then came home, opened all the windows wide, plugged in the smellies, lit the candles and started dinner. Tonight I am making a beef minestrone soup with loads of fresh veggies and thyme and some maple corn muffins on the side (made with VA Maple syrup!). I am going to try to post the recipe on my other blog since I have gotten lazy about keeping it up, and because sometimes I will want to remake something and cannot remember what I did the first time. I rarely use a recipe when cooking (baking I do!), I mean I read them all the time as inspiration, but them always go about it in my own way to match our tastes.
Oh, and just to jump subjects, I have a HUGE list of Christmas cookies I want to make this year. I am not sure how I will accomplish it since I will be having a baby just after Thanksgiving, but I am bound and determined. I promised the kids that after Columbus Day Weekend, we would start baking at least one kind of cookie a weekend and then freezing them so we have them come December. I always start with traditional chocolate chip, and will again this year, but hope to make the dozen or so kinds we are drooling over :) I also plan to make four trays of cinnamon rolls that I will freeze before baking. These are a favorite of the kids, and if I make them and freeze them, we just need to take them out and bake them off for an easy, hot breakfast when it is chilly outside. I am really hoping to be prepped for Christmas and the early parts of Winter by mid November so we are all ready when little Finn makes his appearance!
Friday, October 1, 2010
If you give a pregnant lady a jalapeno popper
it will be all she thinks about all day long. Seriously, I stopped at Sonic today to get a drink on my way to the farm and saw jalapeno poppers on the menu and thought I would give 'em a whirl at 10 am...they were so damn tasty and now I cannot have them again for a week since Sonic is so far away and so not something we would normally eat.
Today was our "busy" day, although I am beginning to believe that all days are busy in some way. Teagie and I shuffled the olders to the bus stop just as Ryan pulled in the driveway which meant we could make an early escape since he would be home just in case something happened before the bus arrived. Hightailed it out of the house and loaded Teagan and the crate of milk bottles into the car to begin our early morning adventures. Of course, just as I arrived at the exit we needed to get off at, a horrific thought crossed my mind......my debit card is at home. Ugh. Called Ryan who confirmed that yes, the debit card was still at home. Thankfully I have been this foolish before and keep a check stashed in my car just in case, whew.
First stop was to pick up the car seat I order a month ago. Kmart had an Evenflo car seat clearanced for like 20 bucks, seriously a car seat that usually costs almost 200 bucks was clearanced for 20 bucks and it was rated really well! I of course ordered it since the only reason it was clearanced was because it was an "old" color and pattern which didn't matter worth a damn to me since it was neutral and fine for a spare seat for now and Finn's big seat for later. Got to the store and customer service had no clue what I was talking about when I showed them the email that the car seat had arrived and even told me they don't do ship to store. They then sent me to the netherworld of the layaway department who REALLY had no clue. Called a manager who said to come to customer service!? Got there, they located the seat and when I got it, the box was banged up pretty badly. Looked inside, seat was a-ok, but one of the cup holder thingies was missing. Well, no skin off my teeth since we don't use them anyway in our car, we are too smooshed in as it is, so the last thing we need is something to make a car seat wider! However the manager offered to refund me 5 bucks...on my 20 dollar purchase....of a 200 dollar car seat, well yes ma'am and thanks for the awesome deal, you just paid for my poppers :)
Finally got out of that store and finagled the seat into my car which was a comedy of errors, went to the bank and cashed my own check (sigh). Headed to the farm to pick up our 3 gallons of milk and quart of half and half that we use each week. Soon we will need 3 1/2 gallons, and once Finn starts on milk, it will be at least 4 a week...the plan is to get a cow as soon as we can move! Got the milk and some eggs, headed to Wegman's for the groceries and pondered the sheer cost of feeding my crew, and then rejoiced since the free stuff this week was all on my list. Finally made it home, lugged all the food and overfull milk crate into the house, fed the baby who was frantically signing "eat" and got her down for a nap. Then made eggplant and chicken parm to appease the family who have grown tired of my quick and easy meals of late.
Damn...every time I see that title I want a popper~
Today was our "busy" day, although I am beginning to believe that all days are busy in some way. Teagie and I shuffled the olders to the bus stop just as Ryan pulled in the driveway which meant we could make an early escape since he would be home just in case something happened before the bus arrived. Hightailed it out of the house and loaded Teagan and the crate of milk bottles into the car to begin our early morning adventures. Of course, just as I arrived at the exit we needed to get off at, a horrific thought crossed my mind......my debit card is at home. Ugh. Called Ryan who confirmed that yes, the debit card was still at home. Thankfully I have been this foolish before and keep a check stashed in my car just in case, whew.
First stop was to pick up the car seat I order a month ago. Kmart had an Evenflo car seat clearanced for like 20 bucks, seriously a car seat that usually costs almost 200 bucks was clearanced for 20 bucks and it was rated really well! I of course ordered it since the only reason it was clearanced was because it was an "old" color and pattern which didn't matter worth a damn to me since it was neutral and fine for a spare seat for now and Finn's big seat for later. Got to the store and customer service had no clue what I was talking about when I showed them the email that the car seat had arrived and even told me they don't do ship to store. They then sent me to the netherworld of the layaway department who REALLY had no clue. Called a manager who said to come to customer service!? Got there, they located the seat and when I got it, the box was banged up pretty badly. Looked inside, seat was a-ok, but one of the cup holder thingies was missing. Well, no skin off my teeth since we don't use them anyway in our car, we are too smooshed in as it is, so the last thing we need is something to make a car seat wider! However the manager offered to refund me 5 bucks...on my 20 dollar purchase....of a 200 dollar car seat, well yes ma'am and thanks for the awesome deal, you just paid for my poppers :)
Finally got out of that store and finagled the seat into my car which was a comedy of errors, went to the bank and cashed my own check (sigh). Headed to the farm to pick up our 3 gallons of milk and quart of half and half that we use each week. Soon we will need 3 1/2 gallons, and once Finn starts on milk, it will be at least 4 a week...the plan is to get a cow as soon as we can move! Got the milk and some eggs, headed to Wegman's for the groceries and pondered the sheer cost of feeding my crew, and then rejoiced since the free stuff this week was all on my list. Finally made it home, lugged all the food and overfull milk crate into the house, fed the baby who was frantically signing "eat" and got her down for a nap. Then made eggplant and chicken parm to appease the family who have grown tired of my quick and easy meals of late.
Damn...every time I see that title I want a popper~
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sleep Deprivation
I am not sleeping. I am REALLY not sleeping. Many nights I can't fall asleep until after midnight, and I keep waking around 3 am and then I can't go back to sleep, well I probably could sometime around 7 am when it is time to get the kids ready for school and when Teagan wakes up. Last night I slept from 11:30-2:45 am...yep, that was it and given I was really tired from getting up at 3 am the morning before, it is amazing that I STILL had the weirdo insomnia.
It is really common for women to have insomnia or frequent waking at the end of their pregnancies, folks even say that it helps "prepare" the mom for the night waking needed to feed a newborn. I, however, get more sleep after having a baby then I do the last two to three months of my pregnancy due to my crazy sleep issues. I remember coming home with Teagan and getting up with her every three hours and being excited that I went back to sleep each time! Being that my kids still wake me at night a few times, the big kids that is, I have no need to be "prepared" yet here I am, waking at 3 am and feeling like I will die somewhere around noon. Then the sun sets, the kids go to sleep and I lay there trying so hard to find dreamland, it is terrible.
Thankfully there are a few special nights that visit where I pass the heck out at like 8 pm and sleep until 7 am and I believe I am creeping up on one of these since I am so danged tired and this has been going on over a week. I really hope I get the big sleep tonight because I have a bunch of errands to run tomorrow, and we need to deep clean the house this weekend and work on painting, so sleep is a big need right now.
Since I have no work to do, well not work work anyway, I am going to snuggle with Teagan on the couch, listen to the rain falling and hope that when she naps today I doze off too :)
It is really common for women to have insomnia or frequent waking at the end of their pregnancies, folks even say that it helps "prepare" the mom for the night waking needed to feed a newborn. I, however, get more sleep after having a baby then I do the last two to three months of my pregnancy due to my crazy sleep issues. I remember coming home with Teagan and getting up with her every three hours and being excited that I went back to sleep each time! Being that my kids still wake me at night a few times, the big kids that is, I have no need to be "prepared" yet here I am, waking at 3 am and feeling like I will die somewhere around noon. Then the sun sets, the kids go to sleep and I lay there trying so hard to find dreamland, it is terrible.
Thankfully there are a few special nights that visit where I pass the heck out at like 8 pm and sleep until 7 am and I believe I am creeping up on one of these since I am so danged tired and this has been going on over a week. I really hope I get the big sleep tonight because I have a bunch of errands to run tomorrow, and we need to deep clean the house this weekend and work on painting, so sleep is a big need right now.
Since I have no work to do, well not work work anyway, I am going to snuggle with Teagan on the couch, listen to the rain falling and hope that when she naps today I doze off too :)
Monday, September 27, 2010
Survival of the fittest
We made it to the end of Ryan's 5 12-hour days. We never really saw him, except in passing, and it made for some long days and nights especially with kids feeling under the weather, no one sleeping well and general the general busy schedule. Today he will sleep until about 4, get up and I will leave for class and hopefully be home by 10:30 where I will fall into bed until 7 am tomorrow. Tomorrow is the only other day he is off this week, so in the morning I will take Teagan with me to the OB and the farm so he can work on the playroom a bit, then I am vying for a nap in the afternoon and the whole crew is going out to dinner.
Then come Wednesday, we are back in the thick of it, he sleeps, I work, then he works through Friday night, off Saturday and Sunday then works Monday through Saturday. Now THAT will be pure hell for all of us, but we will make it and it will be worth it in the end. Needless to say, I am looking forward to maternity leave in December and January and Ryan has already committed to taking two weeks off, although we may push that to three after these OT days!
Then come Wednesday, we are back in the thick of it, he sleeps, I work, then he works through Friday night, off Saturday and Sunday then works Monday through Saturday. Now THAT will be pure hell for all of us, but we will make it and it will be worth it in the end. Needless to say, I am looking forward to maternity leave in December and January and Ryan has already committed to taking two weeks off, although we may push that to three after these OT days!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday...seems a little like every other day this week
Well, we were supposed to go to a mile race for Britt, but she seems to have caught Gray's illness and spiked a fever last night. Thankfully that saved us the 6:30 am wake up call, but it meant that she was up and down all night. Haven and Britt FINALLY fell asleep at 11:30, Britt was up again at 2, Gray was up coughing at 2:30 and Teagan woke at 3. Got them all back to bed and I got to sleep around 4, then Teagan was up for the day just before 7...*yawn*
Ryan is working OT tonight, so I have to survive the night and get the kids off to school tomorrow. Then I have to teach tomorrow night, then I have him home tomorrow night and Tuesday. The OT weeks are really hard, especially when he works five 12-hour days, since I am juggling kids and housework all day while also trying to work. It would be so much easier if I didn't have a pesky job to do, but I do and somehow it is all getting done.
It cooled down some today, so we are celebrating with a roast beef for dinner. It is one of Haven's favorites, so I am happy we are making it tonight. Now if only I can get through lunch and get Teagie down for a nap, I might get my work done before midnight tonight!
Ryan is working OT tonight, so I have to survive the night and get the kids off to school tomorrow. Then I have to teach tomorrow night, then I have him home tomorrow night and Tuesday. The OT weeks are really hard, especially when he works five 12-hour days, since I am juggling kids and housework all day while also trying to work. It would be so much easier if I didn't have a pesky job to do, but I do and somehow it is all getting done.
It cooled down some today, so we are celebrating with a roast beef for dinner. It is one of Haven's favorites, so I am happy we are making it tonight. Now if only I can get through lunch and get Teagie down for a nap, I might get my work done before midnight tonight!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Always end the day on a (sugar) high note
It was a rough morning, a reflective afternoon and a quiet evening. Ryan had to head to work, so right after he left, I gathered the kiddos up and explained that sometimes rough mornings need to end with sweet nights. They thought we were going to bed extra early since we got up early and have to be up SUPER early tomorrow, but then I shared we were going for ice cream.
Loaded them up and we headed out to get ice cream for the whole crew :) It was worth it, every minute, every cent, every moment lugging them to and from. They are happy kids, we are all calm, and soon we will all go to bed to rest up for tomorrow when hopefully the sweetness will prevail.
Loaded them up and we headed out to get ice cream for the whole crew :) It was worth it, every minute, every cent, every moment lugging them to and from. They are happy kids, we are all calm, and soon we will all go to bed to rest up for tomorrow when hopefully the sweetness will prevail.
A very honest post on parenting
Sometimes being a parent straight up sucks. At different stages in a child's life, there are opportunities for things to be unnerving, upsetting, frustrating, disgusting, annoying, etc. Babies can spit up AND poo on you all at once, really they can, and then, ten minutes later, they can do it again. They can also keep you up all night for many, many nights in a row...not really an example of parenting bliss. I have had a lot of days when parenting sucks, I have had two different kids vomit on my bare legs within two minutes of each other...yuck. I have been up for over 7 nights in a row with only and hour or so of sleep each night...painful. I have had kids diagnosed with things, we have adjusted lifestyles, I have been called names and I have cried many, many times. I have disappointed my kids, I have pushed them too hard and not hard enough, I have been tough and lenient at the wrong times for each and I have made so many mistakes, I am still learning and growing.
Today, parenting sucked. Grayson does not want to play football anymore and to be honest, I don't blame him. He has never fit in well, he doesn't have the skills and since he has this trait of not trying when he isn't good at something, he simply won't get better. We have watched him, week after week, simply not do his best, which is all I ever asked, and it blows my mind since I really try hard at everything I do and don't understand giving up. I never have been one who understood giving up or just not doing...but sadly, my son does. He screwed around in practice yesterday and got hit good and hard, and it hurt, but if he did what they asked, he wouldn't have been hit. I am not a fan of the football atmosphere, they are little kids and it doesnt seem to be about fun at all...and I have a hard time making him go when he is not having fun. We were discouraged from day one, and it looks like Gray has felt that he was not worthy of their time either, which may contribute to thge desire to not do anything anymore. He has felt less than the rest of the boys, he has felt that he was not as good and therefore not as important, and truly, at six, that shouldn't happen.
Final straw...we got up and ready for his game today and when we got there he REFUSED to go with his team and ignored what I asked. Yeah, that sucked, and it was embarassing, and we left and he will no longer play. I hate allowing him to quit, I hate that he disobeyed, but he is six and he was really unhappy and really felt like they were always upset with him, and for him, that meant he simply wouldn't try anymore, instead of try harder. I am frustrated that we didn't equip him with the "do your very best at everything" skill, but I can understand that he was feeling beat down and that he was making everyone else upset and he simply shut down. This was a very bad first sports experience for him, and I just couldn't let it get in the way of his progress at school where he is excelling and making a bunch of new friends. This is not a good fit for him, and maybe we will try to put him in soccer in the spring, it is less competitive and a milder sport for a kid that may not be athletic. Maybe there he will have fun and learn about a team and how everyone on the team is important, not a lesson he learned at football.
Today...today being a parent sucked. Today I felt like I failed him by not pulling him at the start of the season. Today I feel like I failed him by not finding a way to overcome his desire to regress rather than push through something difficult. Today I felt like a bad parent for trying to push him when he was unhappy. Today it sucked, but Gray and I both learned from this and tomorrow will be better.
Today, parenting sucked. Grayson does not want to play football anymore and to be honest, I don't blame him. He has never fit in well, he doesn't have the skills and since he has this trait of not trying when he isn't good at something, he simply won't get better. We have watched him, week after week, simply not do his best, which is all I ever asked, and it blows my mind since I really try hard at everything I do and don't understand giving up. I never have been one who understood giving up or just not doing...but sadly, my son does. He screwed around in practice yesterday and got hit good and hard, and it hurt, but if he did what they asked, he wouldn't have been hit. I am not a fan of the football atmosphere, they are little kids and it doesnt seem to be about fun at all...and I have a hard time making him go when he is not having fun. We were discouraged from day one, and it looks like Gray has felt that he was not worthy of their time either, which may contribute to thge desire to not do anything anymore. He has felt less than the rest of the boys, he has felt that he was not as good and therefore not as important, and truly, at six, that shouldn't happen.
Final straw...we got up and ready for his game today and when we got there he REFUSED to go with his team and ignored what I asked. Yeah, that sucked, and it was embarassing, and we left and he will no longer play. I hate allowing him to quit, I hate that he disobeyed, but he is six and he was really unhappy and really felt like they were always upset with him, and for him, that meant he simply wouldn't try anymore, instead of try harder. I am frustrated that we didn't equip him with the "do your very best at everything" skill, but I can understand that he was feeling beat down and that he was making everyone else upset and he simply shut down. This was a very bad first sports experience for him, and I just couldn't let it get in the way of his progress at school where he is excelling and making a bunch of new friends. This is not a good fit for him, and maybe we will try to put him in soccer in the spring, it is less competitive and a milder sport for a kid that may not be athletic. Maybe there he will have fun and learn about a team and how everyone on the team is important, not a lesson he learned at football.
Today...today being a parent sucked. Today I felt like I failed him by not pulling him at the start of the season. Today I feel like I failed him by not finding a way to overcome his desire to regress rather than push through something difficult. Today I felt like a bad parent for trying to push him when he was unhappy. Today it sucked, but Gray and I both learned from this and tomorrow will be better.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
They're coming to take me away....
Last night the hubby headed into work just a little while after I got home, I hate not seeing him Wednesday, but we do what we have to. Kids and I finished homework and dinner, cleaned up and put the exhausted baby to bed. Once the hubs got in, he sent me a message asking about working some overtime. He is already working an extra shift this week, which is his long week to start, so I was hesitant. It actually worked out ok, he will work a VERY long week of 6 12-hour days, but it is a week that I am off from PT school and my parents come that weekend to visit, so I may even be able to sneak in a nap. He will basically work, drive home, sleep, work...but almost all the days are weekdays so the kids won't miss out on seeing him. Between now and October 16th, he will work 4 OT shifts, which is a lot given his current schedule already includes OT each week plus a crazy commute. It is well worth it though, the money will be great with Christmas coming, his car needs tires, mine needs brakes, we need to put some more money in savings and there are a few "wants" that we will finally get :) However, I am aware that I may lose my mind sometime between now and 10/16 :)
Today is our quiet day. Got all my work work done, Teagan is watching a baby counting video, I am about to switch the laundry again and then she and I will make some cinnamon rolls and granola bars (cranberry with white chips). Tonight is dance, so the littles will be tired, tomorrow Teagie and I need to go out first thing so I can get some bloodwork done, then home for house stuff, then football followed by a game on Saturday and a race for Brittan on Sunday...whew!
Today is our quiet day. Got all my work work done, Teagan is watching a baby counting video, I am about to switch the laundry again and then she and I will make some cinnamon rolls and granola bars (cranberry with white chips). Tonight is dance, so the littles will be tired, tomorrow Teagie and I need to go out first thing so I can get some bloodwork done, then home for house stuff, then football followed by a game on Saturday and a race for Brittan on Sunday...whew!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
And you and me are Free to Be...
I have been pondering a few things lately. There were a few blogs I used to read that I no longer do anymore, and the main reason I don't read them is that the people presented themselves in a way that was untrue. I am not saying they are liars, but that they felt this weird need to post things in a light that was unrealistic and not a real representation of their life. One blog, the women claims to be all super crunchy, cloth diapers, organic food, etc...but the kids are always eating fast food and wearing disposables. See, I don't give a rat's arse if you want to feed them fast food breakfast, lunch and dinner, and let them wear paper towels as diapers, it is really not my business, but then don't misrepresent your self as a crunchy organic cloth diaper-er. The people that should matter, that see you every day, they know if you really keep your house clean and if you really feed your family the food you say you do and if you really are so super stinkin duper.
Now, I am not saying that I am not guilty of this sometimes, I am sure I have done it. I do have cloth diapers for Teagan, and she does wear them...however in the last month, she has not...did I tell you guys that? I have been tired and really just did not want to deal with the laundry...so, well, I didn't. Food wise, we really do try to eat well here, and I do try to cook for the family. Do my kids eat junk, why yes they do sometimes. Do they eat fast food, honestly, not really. Occasionally is where we are at with the dreaded fast food, I believe the last time was on our way home from RI at the end of August when we stopped at a rest area that had a Mc D's...and yes, they ate it, even Teagan scarfed down some nuggets and fries. I wouldn't anticipate them eating it again anytime soon, it is just not something we think to get and I would rather stop and get a meal at a restaurant for them, even though we don't do that much either. Am I a perfect mom...um, absolutely not, and I hope that comes across in my blog posts. I screw up...a lot, and I apologize, a LOT. I am also not the perfect wife, trust me the hubby would be first to dispel that rumor :) I can be super nasty and critical, I can be overbearing and controlling and I run things my way and my way only, something I also think you may have concluded in reading here. My husband and I fight, in fact yesterday we had a real blowout, but hey, we are human, and I hope that comes across too. I am not the perfect employee either, although I would say that I come closer there than anywhere else since I am a workaholic.
So....drop all the BS and illusions, really why do you care? Who cares if you really sat on your butt all day and watched TV and ate chips, tell us about it, we can all relate, it happens. Why tell stories? Why be so fake? Be you!
Now, I am not saying that I am not guilty of this sometimes, I am sure I have done it. I do have cloth diapers for Teagan, and she does wear them...however in the last month, she has not...did I tell you guys that? I have been tired and really just did not want to deal with the laundry...so, well, I didn't. Food wise, we really do try to eat well here, and I do try to cook for the family. Do my kids eat junk, why yes they do sometimes. Do they eat fast food, honestly, not really. Occasionally is where we are at with the dreaded fast food, I believe the last time was on our way home from RI at the end of August when we stopped at a rest area that had a Mc D's...and yes, they ate it, even Teagan scarfed down some nuggets and fries. I wouldn't anticipate them eating it again anytime soon, it is just not something we think to get and I would rather stop and get a meal at a restaurant for them, even though we don't do that much either. Am I a perfect mom...um, absolutely not, and I hope that comes across in my blog posts. I screw up...a lot, and I apologize, a LOT. I am also not the perfect wife, trust me the hubby would be first to dispel that rumor :) I can be super nasty and critical, I can be overbearing and controlling and I run things my way and my way only, something I also think you may have concluded in reading here. My husband and I fight, in fact yesterday we had a real blowout, but hey, we are human, and I hope that comes across too. I am not the perfect employee either, although I would say that I come closer there than anywhere else since I am a workaholic.
So....drop all the BS and illusions, really why do you care? Who cares if you really sat on your butt all day and watched TV and ate chips, tell us about it, we can all relate, it happens. Why tell stories? Why be so fake? Be you!
Wednesdays are like Fridays with a crazy busy weekend ahead!
It has been an interesting few days. Gray is finally back at school today, after having everyone home yesterday I was thrilled to see all the big kids off this morning! Whatever Grayson had, he was sick but with weird symptoms. It started with the wicked fever that lasted until Monday night, he complained of a headache and body aches, Monday the cough started and he broke out in a horrible itchy rash all over his little body :( Thankfully yesterday he felt well all day, no fever or rash and just a little cough left, so he was raring to go this morning! Me, on the other hand, not so excited to get moving. Three nights in a row now with just a few hours sleep and I am wiped out. Very thankful that today is presentation day for my class, that will take at least an hour of time and then I just need to review one more chapter, go over the next presentation, review for the exam and we will be done! My classes are off a week, since we had Labor Day off for the Monday class, so it is weird that the Wednesday class is a "week ahead" of the Monday class and confuses me most weeks. They won't get caught up until the week of Thanksgiving, so I hope I get used to the strange schedule.
I am VERY excited that next Wednesday my class has an exam, this will give me some time to work on Chapter 1 of the dissertation :) Monday's class the following week will have their exam and I will grade Wednesday's exam from the week prior, then Wednesday there is no class for their site visit. I am looking forward to the day off mid-week, it will be a welcomed break to recharge for the final few weeks before the baby is born and the semester ends.
Cleaned Grayson's room yesterday and put his clothes in his new dresser. Ryan moved the old dresser, that has the changing table on top, into the room the babies will be sharing and I was able to get Finn's clothes and blankets put away. Looks like we have enough room for both dressers and two cribs in there, as well as the rocking chair, which is a huge relief since I was afraid we would need to move a dresser out. Now all I need to do is paint the room and get new curtains and we are ready for the new boy!
I guess I need to shower and get dressed for work, such a tough life :)
I am VERY excited that next Wednesday my class has an exam, this will give me some time to work on Chapter 1 of the dissertation :) Monday's class the following week will have their exam and I will grade Wednesday's exam from the week prior, then Wednesday there is no class for their site visit. I am looking forward to the day off mid-week, it will be a welcomed break to recharge for the final few weeks before the baby is born and the semester ends.
Cleaned Grayson's room yesterday and put his clothes in his new dresser. Ryan moved the old dresser, that has the changing table on top, into the room the babies will be sharing and I was able to get Finn's clothes and blankets put away. Looks like we have enough room for both dressers and two cribs in there, as well as the rocking chair, which is a huge relief since I was afraid we would need to move a dresser out. Now all I need to do is paint the room and get new curtains and we are ready for the new boy!
I guess I need to shower and get dressed for work, such a tough life :)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Another Sunday where we pretend it is not 85 degrees outside
I want Fall to come, real Fall, but sadly it has not showed up so hot weather be damned, I am cooking like it is Fall!
Today I figured we needed some comfort foods, Grayson is still sick and running a fever, but other than that and being achy and tired, he is doing OK. Teagan seems better today but we will see what the afternoon holds, that is always her crash point. Haven is STILL melting down...sigh...always a precursor to getting sick so I expect her to hit the wall today or tomorrow. Britt is swell :)
We have an abundance of apples, they were really cheap at the store and are an easy snack that all the kids like, so I have a crisper drawer full. I decided that we should have a Fall meal day, so I just made the dough for cinnamon rolls and it is rising in the kitchen. I cannot think of a smell I love more than a good yeast dough, it is sweet and delicious and just makes the house feel homey. Once the dough is ready, I will be making apple cinnamon rolls with a caramel glaze in place of the usual cream cheese icing. My batch is a double batch, so the second load will be left in the fridge and Tuesday I will have chocolate orange sweet rolls for the kids after school :)
Dinner will be one of my all time Fall favorites. I am making a maple glazed roasted pork loan with an apple and raisin stuffing and roasted acorn squash...how good does that sound?? Oh how I wish the windows were open and there was a crisp breeze blowing, maybe I should just turn up the AC so we can really get the feeling of Fall!
Today I figured we needed some comfort foods, Grayson is still sick and running a fever, but other than that and being achy and tired, he is doing OK. Teagan seems better today but we will see what the afternoon holds, that is always her crash point. Haven is STILL melting down...sigh...always a precursor to getting sick so I expect her to hit the wall today or tomorrow. Britt is swell :)
We have an abundance of apples, they were really cheap at the store and are an easy snack that all the kids like, so I have a crisper drawer full. I decided that we should have a Fall meal day, so I just made the dough for cinnamon rolls and it is rising in the kitchen. I cannot think of a smell I love more than a good yeast dough, it is sweet and delicious and just makes the house feel homey. Once the dough is ready, I will be making apple cinnamon rolls with a caramel glaze in place of the usual cream cheese icing. My batch is a double batch, so the second load will be left in the fridge and Tuesday I will have chocolate orange sweet rolls for the kids after school :)
Dinner will be one of my all time Fall favorites. I am making a maple glazed roasted pork loan with an apple and raisin stuffing and roasted acorn squash...how good does that sound?? Oh how I wish the windows were open and there was a crisp breeze blowing, maybe I should just turn up the AC so we can really get the feeling of Fall!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
The best laid plans
So today the entire tribe was very excited to see my HS friends and their kids, have lunch and go to Gray's game. We woke and started getting ready and about an hour before we were to leave, Gray came in saying he didn't feel well, he was achy and had a headache. He looked a little off, but he was also tired, so I gave him some motrin and sent him to lay down for a half hour. A half hour later, he was good to go, but i had emailed his coach just as an FYI. We left and drove the hour to meet my friends for lunch. The kids were all so good and had fun with the other kids, and Gray was feeling great and ate a ton! We all loaded up for the game.
Got to the game, got Gray ready and I noticed he looked a little off again. Mentioned to his coach that he has been OK, but just keep an eye on him. He went off and was put in early in the 1st quarter, played three of four plays and then came off the field, straight to me. One look at him, he burst into tears and said he felt like he was going to be sick...needless to say I pulled the helmet off and his jersey pretty quick! Walked him around the field, poured some water on him and got him calmed down. Ryan was helping keep track of the other team's players and was required to be there until the end of 3rd quarter, so I knew we were in for a long wait. Poor Gray, he was feeling pretty terrible, but we got his clothes changed and he sat in a chair and tried to rest. Once we finally left, he was still feeling really rough and fell promptly asleep in the car, came home and went to bed for a few hours and opted out of dinner. Last check, he was still running a 101 on meds poor kid! Thankfully he never got sick to his stomach, which was much appreciated on the long ride home, and he is resting comfortably. He was so sad that they didn't get to see him really play and that he was feeling so awful, but he was such a trooper and my girls were so sweet with him, getting him a drink, his clothes, etc.
I am just happy we got to see my friends, and that Gray doesn't seem to be too sick, probably just a back to school virus. It does look like Teagan may have it too, she was running warm earlier and Haven was pitching a royal fit that often means she is feeling unwell, but we can handle the viruses that cross our threshold. Thankfully tomorrow I planned only to wash lots of laundry and go through the baby and Grayson's clothes, so the kids can lounge downstairs and snuggle on the couch with Ryan and I can work on what needs to be done. Such is life with kids!
Got to the game, got Gray ready and I noticed he looked a little off again. Mentioned to his coach that he has been OK, but just keep an eye on him. He went off and was put in early in the 1st quarter, played three of four plays and then came off the field, straight to me. One look at him, he burst into tears and said he felt like he was going to be sick...needless to say I pulled the helmet off and his jersey pretty quick! Walked him around the field, poured some water on him and got him calmed down. Ryan was helping keep track of the other team's players and was required to be there until the end of 3rd quarter, so I knew we were in for a long wait. Poor Gray, he was feeling pretty terrible, but we got his clothes changed and he sat in a chair and tried to rest. Once we finally left, he was still feeling really rough and fell promptly asleep in the car, came home and went to bed for a few hours and opted out of dinner. Last check, he was still running a 101 on meds poor kid! Thankfully he never got sick to his stomach, which was much appreciated on the long ride home, and he is resting comfortably. He was so sad that they didn't get to see him really play and that he was feeling so awful, but he was such a trooper and my girls were so sweet with him, getting him a drink, his clothes, etc.
I am just happy we got to see my friends, and that Gray doesn't seem to be too sick, probably just a back to school virus. It does look like Teagan may have it too, she was running warm earlier and Haven was pitching a royal fit that often means she is feeling unwell, but we can handle the viruses that cross our threshold. Thankfully tomorrow I planned only to wash lots of laundry and go through the baby and Grayson's clothes, so the kids can lounge downstairs and snuggle on the couch with Ryan and I can work on what needs to be done. Such is life with kids!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Taste the processed cheese food
Hello, my name is Tribemama and I am making a meal with Velvetta. I don't think I have ever, EVER, made anything with Velvetta, I am not sure I have ever even bought it before, but I saw a recipe that had it in it and it looked yummy and I had a million ways to make the original recipe into something I think the family will enjoy. The recipe was also for a casserole and I really don't make any casseroles and feel I need to up my skills in this area to be prepared for when I have five big kids eating, casseroles once in a while might save my rear :)
So basically what I am making is a rice and chicken thing. I boiled a bunch of chicken breasts, they are all natural no hormone-y chicks does that help me today??? I then used the water, added some Sazon seasoning and salt and pepper and cooked up some rice (also organic...better yet?) and transferred rice to a casserole dish. Made a quick roux, added some milk (from the farm..??) and the Velvetta..... Let the cheese food melt down, added a can of Rotel and some random seasonings and it tasted pretty yummy, kind of like a rich queso. Chopped the chicken breasts, threw them on top of the rice and then dumped the sauce over the top. I will top with real cheddar cheese and some fresh diced tomatoes and I am really wishing I had some cilantro to throw in the mix, maybe next time if I can bring myself to buy the Velvetta again. Big spinach salad will be served on the side to help alleviate this mama's guilt. BTW, it looks really yummy, like really super, cheesy, spicy yummy. *sigh*
So basically what I am making is a rice and chicken thing. I boiled a bunch of chicken breasts, they are all natural no hormone-y chicks does that help me today??? I then used the water, added some Sazon seasoning and salt and pepper and cooked up some rice (also organic...better yet?) and transferred rice to a casserole dish. Made a quick roux, added some milk (from the farm..??) and the Velvetta..... Let the cheese food melt down, added a can of Rotel and some random seasonings and it tasted pretty yummy, kind of like a rich queso. Chopped the chicken breasts, threw them on top of the rice and then dumped the sauce over the top. I will top with real cheddar cheese and some fresh diced tomatoes and I am really wishing I had some cilantro to throw in the mix, maybe next time if I can bring myself to buy the Velvetta again. Big spinach salad will be served on the side to help alleviate this mama's guilt. BTW, it looks really yummy, like really super, cheesy, spicy yummy. *sigh*
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Fall in Virginia
I love Fall. I love back to school. I love the crisp breezes. I love watching the leaves change color and fall gently to the ground.
However....here in VA in our house, there is one thing about fall I hate, well actually two....SPIDERS AND CRICKETS!!!
We live on a wooded lot, and since we moved in almost 7 years ago, Fall has been laden with these two pests. Some years are spider years where they seem to be everywhere, everyday for about a month and a half. Other years have been the cricket years, chirping and jumping out from corners...bleck. Then we have had one or two years where the bugs have stayed away, I hope out of sheer fear of death by vacuum and shrill screaming!
This year is looking like a spider year, we have had four enormous spiders in the last four days including one upstairs which is pretty rare. Ugh. Needless to say, I am on the hunt for a good product to get rid of these horrid little beasts. We have used Home Defense, and it is OK and we will put it on the exterior tomorrow, but we really try not to use it in the house. I also researched a bunch of spider trap things, all pesticide free, and ordered some to try. I am really hoping they work, but I am also pretty sure I won't be the one checking the traps since spiders freak me the hell out. I am guessing that will be Ryan's job, or maybe Brittan's since she has no fear.
So...look for an upcoming review of the effectiveness of the spider traps, cause I want to help you guys out, especially those of you who are terrified of spiders and scream like a little girl while trying to suck them up with the vacuum...or whatever :)
However....here in VA in our house, there is one thing about fall I hate, well actually two....SPIDERS AND CRICKETS!!!
We live on a wooded lot, and since we moved in almost 7 years ago, Fall has been laden with these two pests. Some years are spider years where they seem to be everywhere, everyday for about a month and a half. Other years have been the cricket years, chirping and jumping out from corners...bleck. Then we have had one or two years where the bugs have stayed away, I hope out of sheer fear of death by vacuum and shrill screaming!
This year is looking like a spider year, we have had four enormous spiders in the last four days including one upstairs which is pretty rare. Ugh. Needless to say, I am on the hunt for a good product to get rid of these horrid little beasts. We have used Home Defense, and it is OK and we will put it on the exterior tomorrow, but we really try not to use it in the house. I also researched a bunch of spider trap things, all pesticide free, and ordered some to try. I am really hoping they work, but I am also pretty sure I won't be the one checking the traps since spiders freak me the hell out. I am guessing that will be Ryan's job, or maybe Brittan's since she has no fear.
So...look for an upcoming review of the effectiveness of the spider traps, cause I want to help you guys out, especially those of you who are terrified of spiders and scream like a little girl while trying to suck them up with the vacuum...or whatever :)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Crazy days
Whew, it has been a crazy few days!
Yesterday we got the kids off to school, Ryan walked them again, and then I headed out with Teagan to meet a friend and her little girl for breakfast and a Target run. It was lots of fun and the little girls were so good, but poor Teagie passed out on the way home :) Got home, started stew for dinner then grabbed a quick nap before class time. Woke up and asked Ryan if the kids were home since it was pushing 4, they were not. Needless to say they did not walk in the door until after 5! Their bus had clipped a mailbox just after leaving the school and needed to stay on site, so the poor kids were stuck two blocks away waiting for a new bus to come get them! When we called the school about the bus, they hadn't been notified, and by the time they got through to transportation and called parents back, the kids were on the new bus. Then the new driver took them the wrong way, so our kids who should have been home in 5 minutes were on the bus an extra 45! Ugh, the whole thing was a pain in the rear, and the kids came home crabby and tired. Needless to say, Gray missed practice last night since he walked in the door the time we needed to leave!
Then I headed off to class and didn't leave campus until 10, made it home and into sweet bed!
This morning I thought I had a cardiologist appointment, but actually had an OB appointment! Thankfully this was figured out in time for me to make the OB appointment :) Good appointment, got excused from the glucose test (yeah!), scheduled some blood work and started the process of scheduling my c-section. If all goes as planned, this little guy will arrive on December 2nd or 3rd unless he chooses to come earlier on his own. Baby looked great, my stuff looked great and we also confirmed that I can leave 48 hours after the c-section if all goes well, just like with Teagan and Grayson...yippee!
Then I came and got Ryan and Teagan and grabbed some lunch. Now just working a bit, and then off to nap when I put Teagan down. Good days.
Yesterday we got the kids off to school, Ryan walked them again, and then I headed out with Teagan to meet a friend and her little girl for breakfast and a Target run. It was lots of fun and the little girls were so good, but poor Teagie passed out on the way home :) Got home, started stew for dinner then grabbed a quick nap before class time. Woke up and asked Ryan if the kids were home since it was pushing 4, they were not. Needless to say they did not walk in the door until after 5! Their bus had clipped a mailbox just after leaving the school and needed to stay on site, so the poor kids were stuck two blocks away waiting for a new bus to come get them! When we called the school about the bus, they hadn't been notified, and by the time they got through to transportation and called parents back, the kids were on the new bus. Then the new driver took them the wrong way, so our kids who should have been home in 5 minutes were on the bus an extra 45! Ugh, the whole thing was a pain in the rear, and the kids came home crabby and tired. Needless to say, Gray missed practice last night since he walked in the door the time we needed to leave!
Then I headed off to class and didn't leave campus until 10, made it home and into sweet bed!
This morning I thought I had a cardiologist appointment, but actually had an OB appointment! Thankfully this was figured out in time for me to make the OB appointment :) Good appointment, got excused from the glucose test (yeah!), scheduled some blood work and started the process of scheduling my c-section. If all goes as planned, this little guy will arrive on December 2nd or 3rd unless he chooses to come earlier on his own. Baby looked great, my stuff looked great and we also confirmed that I can leave 48 hours after the c-section if all goes well, just like with Teagan and Grayson...yippee!
Then I came and got Ryan and Teagan and grabbed some lunch. Now just working a bit, and then off to nap when I put Teagan down. Good days.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sniffle sniffle
I fear we may be getting colds here or our allergies are in full swing, as my house is filled with sounds of sniffles, sneezes and coughs! No one seems sick, so it very well may be allergies, but I better get the tissue supply restocked! I was super productive today getting some cleaning done and work out of the way, and I managed to find good deals on three things for Gray and four for Teagan for Christmas. I also scoped a bunch of stuff for my big girls and will acquiring those this week as well. By the end of the week, Teagan is half done and everyone else about a third of the way done, not too shabby for September!
Looking forward to the week ahead. Tomorrow Teagan and I are heading out to breakfast, then home to get some work done and then off to work. Ryan is wrangling kids at football while I am at work, which is a change in schedule, but probably for the best. Tuesday I have to see the cardiologist, oh joy, then lunch with the hubby and baby, then home to work on laundry and the standard chores. Wednesday is crazy day, but is followed by fun Thursday where I am hoping to meet a friend for lunch and get some Christmas shopping done. Teagie will be with me, but I am pretty sure she won't spill the beans! Then we are off to dance in the evening :) Friday is house work and football practice and Saturday is football and friends!
We are adjusting to the new schedule pretty well, but the kids are very tired by Saturday afternoon! I am thankful that we don't need to be up at the crack of dawn this week, it will be a nice reprieve.
Looking forward to the week ahead. Tomorrow Teagan and I are heading out to breakfast, then home to get some work done and then off to work. Ryan is wrangling kids at football while I am at work, which is a change in schedule, but probably for the best. Tuesday I have to see the cardiologist, oh joy, then lunch with the hubby and baby, then home to work on laundry and the standard chores. Wednesday is crazy day, but is followed by fun Thursday where I am hoping to meet a friend for lunch and get some Christmas shopping done. Teagie will be with me, but I am pretty sure she won't spill the beans! Then we are off to dance in the evening :) Friday is house work and football practice and Saturday is football and friends!
We are adjusting to the new schedule pretty well, but the kids are very tired by Saturday afternoon! I am thankful that we don't need to be up at the crack of dawn this week, it will be a nice reprieve.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
So.Freakin.Excited
I just got the best email ever.....like EVER, and I needed it after the last few weeks.
My bestest friend since 6th grade will be in town next weekend! We missed seeing them last January when they were here because two of my kids had pink eye and Teagan had pneumonia, and I was so sad because the meanie up and moved to California a few years ago, got hitched and became a step mama and I MISS HER!
Then today I found out they were headed our way! Grayson has a football game next weekend and it sounds like they are all trying to come, and by all I mean Chelle and her crew, her twin sister, her baby sister and all the associated spouse/partners/kids! Wheee! I haven't seen Diane in a year and a half either so this will be so much fun. Oh, did I mention that Diane lives up by my sister....maybe we can convince Chelle to move back to VA and then my crew can move that way and we can all be in the same area, now that would be a fun town!
My bestest friend since 6th grade will be in town next weekend! We missed seeing them last January when they were here because two of my kids had pink eye and Teagan had pneumonia, and I was so sad because the meanie up and moved to California a few years ago, got hitched and became a step mama and I MISS HER!
Then today I found out they were headed our way! Grayson has a football game next weekend and it sounds like they are all trying to come, and by all I mean Chelle and her crew, her twin sister, her baby sister and all the associated spouse/partners/kids! Wheee! I haven't seen Diane in a year and a half either so this will be so much fun. Oh, did I mention that Diane lives up by my sister....maybe we can convince Chelle to move back to VA and then my crew can move that way and we can all be in the same area, now that would be a fun town!
We interrupt this ridiculous schedule to bring you this blog post
Wow. That is what I have to say, wow I am swamped.
To say I hate the weeks my husband works the 4 12-hour shifts is a sincere understatement. These weeks are long and hard and being we added school in, I am very tired. We must push on however!
Up early...like 6:45 early...to go to football this morning. Hubby set the crockpot up with steel cut oats for the kiddos before going to work last night, so we awoke to the yummy smells and a hot and hearty breakfast. Got the four littles dressed and myself ready, and we dressed warm since it was in the low 50's when we left...however in the sun at the game, it was sweltering!
Managed to grab a pumpkin spice latte on our way, thinking I may need an intervention soon, and we got to the game on time :) Game was great, there are a few really fast boys on the team and they scored a bunch of touchdowns making this week 2 in a row with a win. Now my boy...well, he did what he was told and tried, and for his first year, I can see how much he is learning and that is what matters to me.
After football, I always try to combine being out with stuff we need to do, it just makes it easier. Since we were down near one of the bigger towns, and we needed groceries, we decided to make a Wegman's run. The kids did great, even though they were tired and getting hungry, so we got all our groceries and then got some lunch while we were there. I have to say, the amount of prepared food they have from the real pizza to the salad bar to the Indian and Thai selections, it makes it easy to feed my crew. Fed the kiddos, loaded groceries, got home and unloaded groceries and put the baby down for a nap. Then I attacked some of the grading I have to do and prepped for dinner.
Ah yes, dinner. I've realized that I got lazy through the summer with meals. I mean, we ate, and we ate fairly healthy, but nothing really exciting was cooked here. That is changing BIG TIME! I am back on track with the menu this week, and it includes some of my favorite things from fall. Tonight we are having sliders, blue cheese sliders for most of the family except Brittan and I who will have some other kind, probably mushroom for me and Cheddar cheese for Britt. I just made some coleslaw up to go along side, plus lettuce and gorgeous yellow tomatoes, yummy! Tomorrow we are having orecchitte with sundried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, basil and fresh mozzarella..oh and I am making foccacia. Monday I teach, and Gray now has football, so beef stew with white and sweet potatoes and carrots and biscuits to soak up the gravy, Tuesday will be maple glazed pork roast with oven roasted acorn squash and a nice big spinach salad. Tasty tasty things are happening here.
OK, back to the crazy schedule, I need to finish working!
To say I hate the weeks my husband works the 4 12-hour shifts is a sincere understatement. These weeks are long and hard and being we added school in, I am very tired. We must push on however!
Up early...like 6:45 early...to go to football this morning. Hubby set the crockpot up with steel cut oats for the kiddos before going to work last night, so we awoke to the yummy smells and a hot and hearty breakfast. Got the four littles dressed and myself ready, and we dressed warm since it was in the low 50's when we left...however in the sun at the game, it was sweltering!
Managed to grab a pumpkin spice latte on our way, thinking I may need an intervention soon, and we got to the game on time :) Game was great, there are a few really fast boys on the team and they scored a bunch of touchdowns making this week 2 in a row with a win. Now my boy...well, he did what he was told and tried, and for his first year, I can see how much he is learning and that is what matters to me.
After football, I always try to combine being out with stuff we need to do, it just makes it easier. Since we were down near one of the bigger towns, and we needed groceries, we decided to make a Wegman's run. The kids did great, even though they were tired and getting hungry, so we got all our groceries and then got some lunch while we were there. I have to say, the amount of prepared food they have from the real pizza to the salad bar to the Indian and Thai selections, it makes it easy to feed my crew. Fed the kiddos, loaded groceries, got home and unloaded groceries and put the baby down for a nap. Then I attacked some of the grading I have to do and prepped for dinner.
Ah yes, dinner. I've realized that I got lazy through the summer with meals. I mean, we ate, and we ate fairly healthy, but nothing really exciting was cooked here. That is changing BIG TIME! I am back on track with the menu this week, and it includes some of my favorite things from fall. Tonight we are having sliders, blue cheese sliders for most of the family except Brittan and I who will have some other kind, probably mushroom for me and Cheddar cheese for Britt. I just made some coleslaw up to go along side, plus lettuce and gorgeous yellow tomatoes, yummy! Tomorrow we are having orecchitte with sundried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, basil and fresh mozzarella..oh and I am making foccacia. Monday I teach, and Gray now has football, so beef stew with white and sweet potatoes and carrots and biscuits to soak up the gravy, Tuesday will be maple glazed pork roast with oven roasted acorn squash and a nice big spinach salad. Tasty tasty things are happening here.
OK, back to the crazy schedule, I need to finish working!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Dropping weight
I have to say, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders lately, and it is simply due to a change in my attitude and a choice not to allow the negative anymore.
I wake up happy lately, really happy. I get stressed during the day, I mean who wouldn't when dealing with kids, hormones, work, money, house stuff, but I see past it now. I see what has been in front of me all along, what is really important, and I appreciate it so very much! For too many years, I had too many negative things around me, people constantly complaining, whining, and trying to take me to that side, but no more. I have NOTHING to complain about. The small issues in my life are passing. They have always been passing. The everyday is so, so good.
This weight that was lifted is helping me reach out to other people, to make new connections, to find new paths. I have things to do and people to see, and I am excited about getting involved more. Work is still work, outside the downer people are still there, but here at home, that is what matters. My kids, my husband, my family, those are the people I care about and I only wish I had seen it sooner, that I had stepped back and realized that all the bad came from outside, that home is all the good!
I am sure the hormones will catch up with me, or something will explode and I will whine and complain, but this time I think I will continue to see that the bad situation is temporary and the permanent is still good. Happy to be home, safe in my warm bed with four sleepy babes tucked in tight :)
I wake up happy lately, really happy. I get stressed during the day, I mean who wouldn't when dealing with kids, hormones, work, money, house stuff, but I see past it now. I see what has been in front of me all along, what is really important, and I appreciate it so very much! For too many years, I had too many negative things around me, people constantly complaining, whining, and trying to take me to that side, but no more. I have NOTHING to complain about. The small issues in my life are passing. They have always been passing. The everyday is so, so good.
This weight that was lifted is helping me reach out to other people, to make new connections, to find new paths. I have things to do and people to see, and I am excited about getting involved more. Work is still work, outside the downer people are still there, but here at home, that is what matters. My kids, my husband, my family, those are the people I care about and I only wish I had seen it sooner, that I had stepped back and realized that all the bad came from outside, that home is all the good!
I am sure the hormones will catch up with me, or something will explode and I will whine and complain, but this time I think I will continue to see that the bad situation is temporary and the permanent is still good. Happy to be home, safe in my warm bed with four sleepy babes tucked in tight :)
Keep it comin"
Another awesome morning! Weather is beautiful, sun is shining and we are off and running!
Teagan and I needed to run to Target this morning, and thankfully the big kids were ready early enough that they kindly watched the baby while I showered. I broke out some of Teagan's new Fall clothes and she looked smashing, and as soon as the kids boarded the bus, we headed out.
Our Target has a Starbucks, and I had some money left on my birthday Starbucks card, so I treated myself to a pumpkin spice latte...OMG, these are fantastic! Then Teagan and I went exploring. I found a bunch of clearanced shirts for Grayson, a few cute outfits for Teagan and the most adorable striped sweater outfit for Finn. We tried to get some Fall shoes for Teagan and another pair of Converse for Gray, but all the shoes were missing! Guess they are redoing the section and were moving things around :)
Grabbed some more sippy straw cups for Teagan and stocked up on some healthy snacks for the big kids for school, and ran into my neighbor and babysitter and had a nice chat. Finished up, came home, and put the baby down for a nap sans pacifier!
Finished cleaning up and worked, and now just need to do the dishes and make homemade mac and cheese for dinner tonight since we have football.
Keep the good days coming!
Teagan and I needed to run to Target this morning, and thankfully the big kids were ready early enough that they kindly watched the baby while I showered. I broke out some of Teagan's new Fall clothes and she looked smashing, and as soon as the kids boarded the bus, we headed out.
Our Target has a Starbucks, and I had some money left on my birthday Starbucks card, so I treated myself to a pumpkin spice latte...OMG, these are fantastic! Then Teagan and I went exploring. I found a bunch of clearanced shirts for Grayson, a few cute outfits for Teagan and the most adorable striped sweater outfit for Finn. We tried to get some Fall shoes for Teagan and another pair of Converse for Gray, but all the shoes were missing! Guess they are redoing the section and were moving things around :)
Grabbed some more sippy straw cups for Teagan and stocked up on some healthy snacks for the big kids for school, and ran into my neighbor and babysitter and had a nice chat. Finished up, came home, and put the baby down for a nap sans pacifier!
Finished cleaning up and worked, and now just need to do the dishes and make homemade mac and cheese for dinner tonight since we have football.
Keep the good days coming!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The grand plan
Lucky you, two posts in one day :) See what happens when the big kids are at school and I get work done early...did I mention I already have a good, healthy dinner cooking, wheee!
I always have a plan, usually a grand plan that is years away and often unattainable. Sometimes these plans happen much to everyone's surprise, such as my MBA, getting an online teaching job and pursuing my doctorate. Other plans have been thrown out, back burnered and changed.
We have been trying to move for years for many. many reasons. For me, the biggest reason is space, both inside and out. Our current house is large enough for our family, but the layout is not the best and we desperately need bigger bathrooms and a better kitchen. Outside we need more too. We want to plant more, grow more, raise animals, and this lot is just not set up to do any of that, so we are looking for a minimum of 5 acres or closer to 10 so we can grow much more food and raise some animals.
The housing market has been a big issue for us, so was me being in school and some debt we have been carrying. About a year ago, we decided we had enough of the debt and began getting rid of it, and while it has been a long and slow process, we are really making headway! We anticipate being out of debt in just over 2 years time. When that happens, we won't even need to sell this house, we should be able to rent it and buy land and build our dream home. I see that plan, this dream coming true, and it is all I can think about! It seems far, two years, but still so very close! I am hoping that this summer we will begin scouting land, and maybe purchase in December 2011. We can then, if the market is not conducive to selling, start reviewing building plans in spring and investigating renting this house to cover the costs. If all goes well, we will be moved no later than Haven's 13th birthday! So flippin excited!
I always have a plan, usually a grand plan that is years away and often unattainable. Sometimes these plans happen much to everyone's surprise, such as my MBA, getting an online teaching job and pursuing my doctorate. Other plans have been thrown out, back burnered and changed.
We have been trying to move for years for many. many reasons. For me, the biggest reason is space, both inside and out. Our current house is large enough for our family, but the layout is not the best and we desperately need bigger bathrooms and a better kitchen. Outside we need more too. We want to plant more, grow more, raise animals, and this lot is just not set up to do any of that, so we are looking for a minimum of 5 acres or closer to 10 so we can grow much more food and raise some animals.
The housing market has been a big issue for us, so was me being in school and some debt we have been carrying. About a year ago, we decided we had enough of the debt and began getting rid of it, and while it has been a long and slow process, we are really making headway! We anticipate being out of debt in just over 2 years time. When that happens, we won't even need to sell this house, we should be able to rent it and buy land and build our dream home. I see that plan, this dream coming true, and it is all I can think about! It seems far, two years, but still so very close! I am hoping that this summer we will begin scouting land, and maybe purchase in December 2011. We can then, if the market is not conducive to selling, start reviewing building plans in spring and investigating renting this house to cover the costs. If all goes well, we will be moved no later than Haven's 13th birthday! So flippin excited!
Schedules rock!
We are now in Day 3 of school, and I can already see that this will be a good fall for us!
Yesterday was the real test, I have a call in the mornings which I complete on my way to PT gig. Teach at PT gig then need to get home to help feed kids and then off to football practice. Yesterday was the first day with the sitter in the afternoon, me working, Ryan working, school and football, and it went well! We even got home, got the big kids showered and everything packed up to go with kids in bed at a reasonable time. Thankfully the coach is talking about moving the Wednesday practice day, which would be awesome since it would mean the girls and I would only need to be at practice once a week and games once a week.
Right now it is 10 am and so much has been done! We were up early, ran to pick up our chicken/eggs/bacon order, back home for breakfast and to get ready for school. Kids got off without a hitch and I was able to get the kitchen cleaned, dishes done, vacuuming completed, laundry switched and all of my course checks done! Now I still have some things that I can work on today, but technically I am done with my work work, and it is such a good feeling! Teagan is napping and I am considering joining her :)
The kids are thriving at school, I am feeling like I have the ability to get my jobs done and still take care of the house, and Teagan is getting some deserved one on one time.
I love schedules!!!
Yesterday was the real test, I have a call in the mornings which I complete on my way to PT gig. Teach at PT gig then need to get home to help feed kids and then off to football practice. Yesterday was the first day with the sitter in the afternoon, me working, Ryan working, school and football, and it went well! We even got home, got the big kids showered and everything packed up to go with kids in bed at a reasonable time. Thankfully the coach is talking about moving the Wednesday practice day, which would be awesome since it would mean the girls and I would only need to be at practice once a week and games once a week.
Right now it is 10 am and so much has been done! We were up early, ran to pick up our chicken/eggs/bacon order, back home for breakfast and to get ready for school. Kids got off without a hitch and I was able to get the kitchen cleaned, dishes done, vacuuming completed, laundry switched and all of my course checks done! Now I still have some things that I can work on today, but technically I am done with my work work, and it is such a good feeling! Teagan is napping and I am considering joining her :)
The kids are thriving at school, I am feeling like I have the ability to get my jobs done and still take care of the house, and Teagan is getting some deserved one on one time.
I love schedules!!!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Good Life
Too often I get caught up in the moment, the stress, the inevitable chaos and I forget how fortunate we are. Yeah days are long, loud and crazy. Yep, messes big and small happen every single day. Sure money can be tight, things break at the worst time, and feeding and clothing our little tribe is a full time job. But every day, every single day, I get to be with the people I love more than anything in the world. I have a husband who is more than happy to jump in and do things for the kids and I, make dinner in a pinch and who regularly (especially lately) sends me to bed to rest. He walked to school today to meet Gray's bus because Gray wanted him there, Ryan made sure Gray was settled, walked home and then came to pick Teagan up from me so I could spend some time with friends. Not only did he do that, but he then took Teagan for a walk, brought her home and put her down for her nap and texted me to let me know they were a-ok and to enjoy myself and have fun. So many husbands would complain about having to do things like this, but mine did it all willingly and on his own because he wanted to, because it made him happy and allowed me to have fun.
My big kids had great first days at school. They came home bubbling with excitement and stories and news from their adventures today. I was met with hugs and smiles and excited little faces, and Teagan was scooped up by her siblings, hugged and kissed and loved on. Even Finn was included in the joy as Brittan hugged me and whispered a hello to her baby brother. I cannot tell you how that makes me feel. To see my children love each other, care for each other and show their joy is always amazing to me. I saw Brittan carefully put her hand on Grayson's back getting off the bus, a gentle guide away from the road, a loving but not overbearing symbol of her concern for him. Grayson told me all morning how Haven and ONLY HAVEN could walk him to class today, and tomorrow it would be Brittan, because he loves them both. The girls assured him that they would show him their classrooms again so if he needed them, he knew where to go. That means so much to me, it means we are fostering good and strong bonds between the kids, and I love seeing those relationships grow and change.
Sure my kids fight, Ryan and I argue, the kids make me angry, we are human! We are not a perfect family, in fact we are perfectly flawed, each and every one of us. I love us, I love our family unit. I think we are an interesting mix of people, some easy going, some uptight, some prone to happiness, others more reserved, joyous and silly, loud and active, we are one crazy bunch of people thrown together in this house. My children have learned to love each other in spite of their differences and flaws. They have also learned that we, their parents, are not perfect, that we make mistakes and need to apologize when we are wrong. This group, this tribe, this family of mine, I have never in my life imagined how much I could need them and love them.
Soon we will change again. So soon Finnian will come into our lives and we will examine him, his fingers, toes, eyes and ears. We will watch him the first few months to see who he looks like, acts like, if he is content, fussy, sweet or strong willed. We will learn who he is, what he likes, what he needs and he will etch his spot in this family, making himself a permanent part of our world, and leaving us to wonder how we ever existed without him. In less than 12 weeks, we will change again as a family, we will grow together one last time, and we will again be thankful for this good life.
My big kids had great first days at school. They came home bubbling with excitement and stories and news from their adventures today. I was met with hugs and smiles and excited little faces, and Teagan was scooped up by her siblings, hugged and kissed and loved on. Even Finn was included in the joy as Brittan hugged me and whispered a hello to her baby brother. I cannot tell you how that makes me feel. To see my children love each other, care for each other and show their joy is always amazing to me. I saw Brittan carefully put her hand on Grayson's back getting off the bus, a gentle guide away from the road, a loving but not overbearing symbol of her concern for him. Grayson told me all morning how Haven and ONLY HAVEN could walk him to class today, and tomorrow it would be Brittan, because he loves them both. The girls assured him that they would show him their classrooms again so if he needed them, he knew where to go. That means so much to me, it means we are fostering good and strong bonds between the kids, and I love seeing those relationships grow and change.
Sure my kids fight, Ryan and I argue, the kids make me angry, we are human! We are not a perfect family, in fact we are perfectly flawed, each and every one of us. I love us, I love our family unit. I think we are an interesting mix of people, some easy going, some uptight, some prone to happiness, others more reserved, joyous and silly, loud and active, we are one crazy bunch of people thrown together in this house. My children have learned to love each other in spite of their differences and flaws. They have also learned that we, their parents, are not perfect, that we make mistakes and need to apologize when we are wrong. This group, this tribe, this family of mine, I have never in my life imagined how much I could need them and love them.
Soon we will change again. So soon Finnian will come into our lives and we will examine him, his fingers, toes, eyes and ears. We will watch him the first few months to see who he looks like, acts like, if he is content, fussy, sweet or strong willed. We will learn who he is, what he likes, what he needs and he will etch his spot in this family, making himself a permanent part of our world, and leaving us to wonder how we ever existed without him. In less than 12 weeks, we will change again as a family, we will grow together one last time, and we will again be thankful for this good life.
Monday, September 6, 2010
And away we go....
Tomorrow is the first day of school and I tucked in three very happy and excited kids tonight. Gray is a little nervous and asked that his dad come up to the school and make sure he is settled in his class, so I will put him on the bus with his sisters and Ryan will run up and meet him and make sure he is good to go.
I am happy we held Gray the year, he was too young last year and it would have made the transition too hard. Now he is ready, and I am excited to see him enter this new world of school, and activities and growth.
Tomorrow I will head out for coffee, then the hubby and I may have a lunch date and a run to the farm. Tuesdays are now "our" days together, well with Teagan too, and I am looking forward to some time with the hubby.
Now off to bed, tomorrow is a big day!
I am happy we held Gray the year, he was too young last year and it would have made the transition too hard. Now he is ready, and I am excited to see him enter this new world of school, and activities and growth.
Tomorrow I will head out for coffee, then the hubby and I may have a lunch date and a run to the farm. Tuesdays are now "our" days together, well with Teagan too, and I am looking forward to some time with the hubby.
Now off to bed, tomorrow is a big day!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Teamwork
I am not sure how we'd survive if we did not use teamwork around here. My job is super busy, Ryan works crazy odd hours, the kids have activities, and there are a whole lot of us. Chaos and mess happens easily around here, one or two days without a good cleanup and things get piled, but thankfully we work well as a team.
This morning the baby woke at 6:30 and I was dead tired, so Ryan stayed up with her and fed her and the other kids as they roused. There was a syrup mishap that required laundry, which he simply handled, and when I came down at 8:30 everything was calm and he even started my coffee. I knew he was sleepy too, so when Teagan went for her nap at 9:30, I sent him up to bed as well and kicked the kids into gear. Together, the three big kids and I got the entire downstairs spic and span. The dining room had been cluttered with back to school stuff, now it is neat and clean, dusted and scrubbed. The foyer has been organized and dusted, the kitchen scrubbed from top to bottom, bathroom cleaned and the family room organized and cleaned. We even sorted the changing table area we have in the family room (trust me, with one going on two babies, it is a necessity) and organized all of the cloth diapers for Finn, Teagan's gear and packed up anything we no longer needed. Toys were wiped down, the desk organized and the floors given a good once over. Now I sit here and know our house is clean, and for an OCD person, that is a calming feeling.
When Ryan gets up, he will then put his side of the team to work. He is on laundry duty today, and he needs to clean the glass on the kitchen lights (I can't reach them). I will run to the store for the last few items for back to school and for our lunch of croque-monsieurs, then home to make a roast chicken dinner with all the fixins, complete with a pie for dessert. Order, quality time together and teamwork make the crazy days calm and easy. Kids are happy, Ryan and I are prepared to snuggle on the couch tonight and relax and tomorrow I am taking the whole day off work...wheeeee!
This morning the baby woke at 6:30 and I was dead tired, so Ryan stayed up with her and fed her and the other kids as they roused. There was a syrup mishap that required laundry, which he simply handled, and when I came down at 8:30 everything was calm and he even started my coffee. I knew he was sleepy too, so when Teagan went for her nap at 9:30, I sent him up to bed as well and kicked the kids into gear. Together, the three big kids and I got the entire downstairs spic and span. The dining room had been cluttered with back to school stuff, now it is neat and clean, dusted and scrubbed. The foyer has been organized and dusted, the kitchen scrubbed from top to bottom, bathroom cleaned and the family room organized and cleaned. We even sorted the changing table area we have in the family room (trust me, with one going on two babies, it is a necessity) and organized all of the cloth diapers for Finn, Teagan's gear and packed up anything we no longer needed. Toys were wiped down, the desk organized and the floors given a good once over. Now I sit here and know our house is clean, and for an OCD person, that is a calming feeling.
When Ryan gets up, he will then put his side of the team to work. He is on laundry duty today, and he needs to clean the glass on the kitchen lights (I can't reach them). I will run to the store for the last few items for back to school and for our lunch of croque-monsieurs, then home to make a roast chicken dinner with all the fixins, complete with a pie for dessert. Order, quality time together and teamwork make the crazy days calm and easy. Kids are happy, Ryan and I are prepared to snuggle on the couch tonight and relax and tomorrow I am taking the whole day off work...wheeeee!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Joy and excitement
Today was an exciting day, it was Grayson's first football game and his team won! Now my boy is by no means "good" but he has improved so much just since practices began, and as many know, the season start was not a pleasant one. He may not run fast or be able to catch the ball well, but put him in front of people and he will block. On one play it took two boys much bigger than him to bring him down. He isn't powering through anyone, but being this is his first season, we are happy with what he is doing, and the coach seems pleased that he has no fear on the field :)
He is loving it, so we really want to see his skills expand. We are placing him in flag football this spring if we can so he can work on the running and catching skills, but his place may be defense since he is happy to stand there and push on people.
On another note, my kids have been so good lately, especially when out and about. After the game we needed to go to the Verizon store since my Blackberry died the other day, and they were super well behaved while we waited for my new phone. Then we headed off to Panera for a quick lunch, and again, awesome kids, sitting quietly, listening, being patient. It makes it so nice to go out with all of them when they are good! Now at home has been a different story, but I will take good behavior out and about any day.
Now we are gearing up for the start of school. We have to grab first day of school clothes for the girlies and stock up on food for lunches. We then have a super family feast planned for Monday night, and off they head on Tuesday. Thankfully I have plans for Tuesday morning as well and will be able to leave Teagie with Ryan so I can head off for some "girl talk" with friends. Life is good!
The week ahead is busy, with outings, work, school, football and dance, but we are all getting so excited for Fall to get here. Apple picking trips are being made, and the freezer is getting stocked this week with chicken and beef to hold us through the season. Wood will be order in the next few weeks for the fireplace and we will soon be into my favorite time of the year. Bring on the fall leaves, crisp breezes, apple pies and hoodies, we are ready!
He is loving it, so we really want to see his skills expand. We are placing him in flag football this spring if we can so he can work on the running and catching skills, but his place may be defense since he is happy to stand there and push on people.
On another note, my kids have been so good lately, especially when out and about. After the game we needed to go to the Verizon store since my Blackberry died the other day, and they were super well behaved while we waited for my new phone. Then we headed off to Panera for a quick lunch, and again, awesome kids, sitting quietly, listening, being patient. It makes it so nice to go out with all of them when they are good! Now at home has been a different story, but I will take good behavior out and about any day.
Now we are gearing up for the start of school. We have to grab first day of school clothes for the girlies and stock up on food for lunches. We then have a super family feast planned for Monday night, and off they head on Tuesday. Thankfully I have plans for Tuesday morning as well and will be able to leave Teagie with Ryan so I can head off for some "girl talk" with friends. Life is good!
The week ahead is busy, with outings, work, school, football and dance, but we are all getting so excited for Fall to get here. Apple picking trips are being made, and the freezer is getting stocked this week with chicken and beef to hold us through the season. Wood will be order in the next few weeks for the fireplace and we will soon be into my favorite time of the year. Bring on the fall leaves, crisp breezes, apple pies and hoodies, we are ready!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Observations
I was playing with Teagan today, just making her laugh and having fun with her, and I realized how differently I approach things with her than when the big kids were her age. When Haven was up all night screaming, I would get frustrated, but this week Teagie has been up two nights for most of the night, so I rocked her and sang to her and cuddled her. I was tired, and wished she would sleep, but I wasn't frustrated. When Brittan was a baby, she was not into playing. She liked to observe, which is how she is now, but I would try to engage her and she would not want to play. Teagan is pretty outgoing, but I see a lot of Britt in her, and when she doesn't want to engage, I work to encourage it. When Britt was little, I would let her just sit and watch, and I wish I had tried to work with her more, since she was very shy in her early years (she is NOT shy now so I guess it worked out). With Gray, I remember wishing some of the hard toddler days away, waiting for the nap or bedtime, and I find that with Teag, I miss her after bedtime and I look forward to getting her up from her nap, soaking up the strong hold she gets on my arm, the sweet smile she gives when I come to get her, and holding her warm, sweet little sleepy body close.
It isn't that I like or love Teagan any more than I did or do the big kids, it is not that she is not difficult sometimes, that she doesn't get crabby and cranky and throw fits, because she does. The difference is in ME. I am older than when I had Haven, Brittan and Grayson. I am more experienced. I see now that babies grow up into kids, and I see how that process happens each and every day. I look at those big kids and I am so proud of who they are in spite of me and my mistakes, and I know when I look at Teagan (and Finn when he comes) that I will make different mistakes with them, but I will do my best, every day. I understand now why many people wait until they are older to have children as their approach is so different, and I am thankful that I have had a chance to be a young parent to babies and an older parent to babies, because it lends a new perspective.
I am so very proud of my kids, all of my kids. I love that Ryan and I are on the same page with them, that we know what is important to us and what we hope for the kids. I am at peace with how we raise them, and believe that we are going to raise good adults, which was our intention. The process of raising children is one of evolution and growth, there are always new hurdles and changes and paths that must be chosen, but I never question that my children will grow into good, strong, ethical people who treat others as they want to be treated. I see great potential in the kids, I believe that they know right from wrong, and they that will not end up as many kids today do, self involved and full of a sense of entitlement that is only justified by their parents indulgence. I hope we keep them on this path, that they become all we hope for them, and we will fight for whatever is necessary to protect, educate and encourage them in their lives. Parenting is a huge responsibility, and one that should not ever be taken lightly, and I am so happy that we have been fortunate enough to be able to have five little souls to teach and love.
It isn't that I like or love Teagan any more than I did or do the big kids, it is not that she is not difficult sometimes, that she doesn't get crabby and cranky and throw fits, because she does. The difference is in ME. I am older than when I had Haven, Brittan and Grayson. I am more experienced. I see now that babies grow up into kids, and I see how that process happens each and every day. I look at those big kids and I am so proud of who they are in spite of me and my mistakes, and I know when I look at Teagan (and Finn when he comes) that I will make different mistakes with them, but I will do my best, every day. I understand now why many people wait until they are older to have children as their approach is so different, and I am thankful that I have had a chance to be a young parent to babies and an older parent to babies, because it lends a new perspective.
I am so very proud of my kids, all of my kids. I love that Ryan and I are on the same page with them, that we know what is important to us and what we hope for the kids. I am at peace with how we raise them, and believe that we are going to raise good adults, which was our intention. The process of raising children is one of evolution and growth, there are always new hurdles and changes and paths that must be chosen, but I never question that my children will grow into good, strong, ethical people who treat others as they want to be treated. I see great potential in the kids, I believe that they know right from wrong, and they that will not end up as many kids today do, self involved and full of a sense of entitlement that is only justified by their parents indulgence. I hope we keep them on this path, that they become all we hope for them, and we will fight for whatever is necessary to protect, educate and encourage them in their lives. Parenting is a huge responsibility, and one that should not ever be taken lightly, and I am so happy that we have been fortunate enough to be able to have five little souls to teach and love.
Clarity comes in waves....sometimes BIG CRASHING ones
Ah yesterday...this one will go down in the books as one of the days when the skies become clear and you find the path that had been there all along, and you simply didn't know it. Yesterday everything changed, and I am so looking forward to all the tomorrows.
One change that happened, albeit a small one, was we went to school to meet the kid's teachers. Ryan had work, so I fed the kids some baked ziti and breadsticks I made from our leftover pizza dough and off we traipsed to the elementary school. The teacher list was posted, and the kids checked it out, and everyone was really happy with their assignments and each kid had other kids they knew in their classes...whew!
We stood in the heat until they opened the doors for my third kindergarten orientation, and we tried very hard to listen even though Teagan really just wanted to talk to us over the speakers :)
Then off to visit the kindergarten room where my big girls went on the tour with the little kids to help the grownups out. They knew the two teachers running the tour and the girls were so excited they were asked to come along and help with the kinderkids. This was great, but left me with Teagan alone in the room while trying to listen to the teacher. Somehow we made it through and Grayson came back very excited about the tour and all they saw! We said goodbye to our friends in that room, and moved on to Haven's fifth grade room. From what I could gather, her teacher is really on top of things and seems to be really nice. I am hoping that this will be a good year for Haven, she has friends in the class and seems excited to head back next week. Finally, the last stop was Brittan's room. Her teacher was super sweet and the room was just what Brittan loves...organized to a "t"! She had some good friends in her class and was very excited to see them and find out how third grade will work this year. Last stop was the PTO table to sign up and the school gear table to get some new stuff for the kiddos, plus a few short breaks to chat with friends.
Came home and fed everyone again since they were STARVED. Also got really great news about a friend of ours...seems her plans to come live closer to us is happening, and soon! She has been in Florida and will be moving to West Virginia, which means we will get to see a lot more of her! The kids LOVE her, and so do we, and I can't wait to have her closer. Her move here means that I may be able to get the hubby to move near my sister, which will make my sister happy, make me happy, make my kids SO happy and make Ryan happy since his friend will be living up that way too. Hmm, Apple Country sounds like a good fit for our crazy brood, and if the housing market doesn't want to work with us, we will rent this place out and get the heck out of dodge!
One change that happened, albeit a small one, was we went to school to meet the kid's teachers. Ryan had work, so I fed the kids some baked ziti and breadsticks I made from our leftover pizza dough and off we traipsed to the elementary school. The teacher list was posted, and the kids checked it out, and everyone was really happy with their assignments and each kid had other kids they knew in their classes...whew!
We stood in the heat until they opened the doors for my third kindergarten orientation, and we tried very hard to listen even though Teagan really just wanted to talk to us over the speakers :)
Then off to visit the kindergarten room where my big girls went on the tour with the little kids to help the grownups out. They knew the two teachers running the tour and the girls were so excited they were asked to come along and help with the kinderkids. This was great, but left me with Teagan alone in the room while trying to listen to the teacher. Somehow we made it through and Grayson came back very excited about the tour and all they saw! We said goodbye to our friends in that room, and moved on to Haven's fifth grade room. From what I could gather, her teacher is really on top of things and seems to be really nice. I am hoping that this will be a good year for Haven, she has friends in the class and seems excited to head back next week. Finally, the last stop was Brittan's room. Her teacher was super sweet and the room was just what Brittan loves...organized to a "t"! She had some good friends in her class and was very excited to see them and find out how third grade will work this year. Last stop was the PTO table to sign up and the school gear table to get some new stuff for the kiddos, plus a few short breaks to chat with friends.
Came home and fed everyone again since they were STARVED. Also got really great news about a friend of ours...seems her plans to come live closer to us is happening, and soon! She has been in Florida and will be moving to West Virginia, which means we will get to see a lot more of her! The kids LOVE her, and so do we, and I can't wait to have her closer. Her move here means that I may be able to get the hubby to move near my sister, which will make my sister happy, make me happy, make my kids SO happy and make Ryan happy since his friend will be living up that way too. Hmm, Apple Country sounds like a good fit for our crazy brood, and if the housing market doesn't want to work with us, we will rent this place out and get the heck out of dodge!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Thinking thoughts of thoughts to write
So...I am debating taking things private or by invite only, but I hate censorship, even self censorship.
Ugh, so what to do? I have things to say that I am happy to put out in the world for all to see and I have things that would be better only shared with part of the world. Such a dilemma.
Well, I guess for now I will think about things, and decided if I want to put it ALL out there, world be damned, or if I need to censor myself a bit.
Ugh, so what to do? I have things to say that I am happy to put out in the world for all to see and I have things that would be better only shared with part of the world. Such a dilemma.
Well, I guess for now I will think about things, and decided if I want to put it ALL out there, world be damned, or if I need to censor myself a bit.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
A new path
I had a post that I was going to put up, and it dealt with a very real situation at hand, but it is so negative and not in line with what I want to focus on in my life at this moment. The situation will resolve itself as we have begin the appropriate process and reached out to folks with expertise to serve as counsel, and I will just let them handle it from this point forward.
So...changing paths.
The kids have their Open House tomorrow and they are so excited to find out who their teachers are, who is in the class, etc. Grayson starts kindergarten, and I know he is a little nervous, but he also keeps telling us that he can't wait to go and see everything the girls have been telling him about for years. I will be juggling all four kids alone as Ryan has work, so it will be an adventure I am sure, but it will also be nice to see all the other parents and the kid's friends again.
I am also excited for when the kids head off next week as I have some big plans for Teagan and I. I only have a few short months when it is just she and I, and I have some ideas of fun things we can do. I can't wait to see the kids enter a new school year, watch them learn and grow and to have an opportunity to explore the world through the eyes of a one year old for awhile.
I may complain about the hard moments, but I do get how lucky I am that I get to spend these days with my kids. I am sure that before I know it, or I am ready, all the kids, even little Finn, will be off and running and our life will be very different. I am so fortunate that I can build my career and complete my degrees while being home with my kids. When Finn is older, I will be able to go back to a more traditional work schedule, probably teaching on campus somewhere. If I had to choose between raising my kids or working, I would be terribly unhappy, so I am so very thankful that I am here for all their firsts, that I get to hold sleepy little babies after naps and be the first to welcome the kids off the bus, so many are not so fortunate. I love my jobs, all of them, and they are all hard work, but I know that it is all worth it when I see my kids and the people they are growing into.
So...changing paths.
The kids have their Open House tomorrow and they are so excited to find out who their teachers are, who is in the class, etc. Grayson starts kindergarten, and I know he is a little nervous, but he also keeps telling us that he can't wait to go and see everything the girls have been telling him about for years. I will be juggling all four kids alone as Ryan has work, so it will be an adventure I am sure, but it will also be nice to see all the other parents and the kid's friends again.
I am also excited for when the kids head off next week as I have some big plans for Teagan and I. I only have a few short months when it is just she and I, and I have some ideas of fun things we can do. I can't wait to see the kids enter a new school year, watch them learn and grow and to have an opportunity to explore the world through the eyes of a one year old for awhile.
I may complain about the hard moments, but I do get how lucky I am that I get to spend these days with my kids. I am sure that before I know it, or I am ready, all the kids, even little Finn, will be off and running and our life will be very different. I am so fortunate that I can build my career and complete my degrees while being home with my kids. When Finn is older, I will be able to go back to a more traditional work schedule, probably teaching on campus somewhere. If I had to choose between raising my kids or working, I would be terribly unhappy, so I am so very thankful that I am here for all their firsts, that I get to hold sleepy little babies after naps and be the first to welcome the kids off the bus, so many are not so fortunate. I love my jobs, all of them, and they are all hard work, but I know that it is all worth it when I see my kids and the people they are growing into.
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