My life on the "M" list

one of those weeks...

2012-01-30T19:30:00.002-05:00

...or months, maybe. Do you ever just feel like you are in a big rut and miserably failing in every aspect of your life? I am having a month like that. It seems like my world is falling apart around me. Seems, is the key word here. I know I am not a failure, that God loves me and my world is, in fact, very stable. I guess I am just down in the dumps and for the first time I did what any Christian should do. I amped up the Bible time and prayer time around here. So far it seems things.are still on the downhill side but I am praising God in my trials bc I know I will be stronger bc of them.
Ok, Lord, ready to send me to the up side yet? The ruts are no fun!

defaced scout

2012-01-27T19:52:00.002-05:00

In my last post I mentioned defacing Abigail's scout dog she got for Christmas. Here is the whole story, for those wondering.

Scout does all kinds of things like sing different songs with Abigail's name in them, play music for a certain amount of time before bed, play games and so on. It was one of Abigail's favorite christmas gifts. Within weeks, maybe a month, no matter what button we pushed on him, he would do this crazy half bark over and over again and we couldn't get it to stop without turning it off by the battery or banging on it. I was so upset bc it is not a cheap toy and she loved him! After a week or so I decided to email the company and complain, nicely, about my daughter's favorite toy. I might have made it sound alittle heartwrenching also.
The response I received from them was amazing. They said all I needed to do was "deface" him and write a code that they gave me across him in permanent marker, send them a picture and then they would get a replacement one in the mail to us. I couldn't bare to actually deface him, like rip his face open so I just wrote on him like they wanted and hoped they wouldn't request a picture with his face ripped off. And they didn't! The same day I sent the picture, I received an email saying a replacement was already in the mail! Now that's customer service!! And to think I almost didn't even bother mentioning it to them.

today

2012-01-25T18:27:00.002-05:00

Some things I loved about today:

The company of my semi-sick son, even tho he was up and rowdy as ever by noon.

His compliment, "You are good at soccer." Yes, we were playing in the house.

My sweet little Abigail who is too much like her brother. Once she was choking on a gum wrapper, once she was trying to eat...Ummm...everything.

After I hesitantly defaced Abigail's Scout that she received as a Christmas gift, I sent a picture to the company and they very graciously informed me that we will be getting a new one in the mail within a week. Hopefully this one won't be possessed!

I spent most of my free time organizing my clothes for the kids consignment sale that comes to our area twice a year. I have so much just looking at everything and putting them on hangers. How come regular laundry can't be that fun?!

Ryan got stung by a wasp on his way in for the evening. I guess that is the only bad thing about all the warm weather we have had.

Now the girls are playing happily in the tub while Ryan is deer hunting on daddy's phone. :)

2012-01-23T16:05:00.001-05:00

Sunny, 65* and windy. I am not sure it is January anymore but I'll take it! That is all.

Change of plans

2012-01-12T11:39:00.002-05:00

Do you ever have those days when you wake up with big plans for the day? You are feeling refreshed and extra energized and just want to get some things done? But then "life" happens....the baby won't nap, you suddenly remember you have to go out after something, there are no dog towels to use after you bathe the dogs, etc. I do! Today was one of those days for me. I realize that it isn't even lunchtime (for most) and I am saying that my day is done. For me, the best time to get things done is when the older kids are at school and the baby is playing happily in her playpin. Those occasions are rare, so I guess I don't ever get much done! That being said, since I get Ryan in an hour, my day is about done! Once he comes home all I get done is feeding him. That boy is a bottomless pit! Anyway, while I was sitting in the recliner reading books to grouchy baby who was refusing to sleep, I started thinking about our plans. My plans often are changed or interrupted by the children. And that is ok. That is part of staying home and raising them. SOmetimes you just have to do what they want you to do, or not do. =)

Isn't it the same way with God's plans? But are we always as willing to just change things and do it His way? I know I'm not. Sometimes we don't even recognize that he is putting a stop to our plans for his own glory. It is easy to get wrapped up in the fact that things aren't going the way we planned when they are going the way HE planned.

So one of my goals this year is to pay attention to God's plans and recognize the good that he wants for us even when things aren't going my way! We have big plans this year of selling our house and buying a house on property out in the country. All the while, staying close so we aren't changing school or church. High hopes or His plan for us? We will see!

And now the monster is awake so my plans are about to change, once again! The dogs' baths have been rescheduled for tomorrow! =)

happens every time part 2

2012-01-03T08:48:00.004-05:00

Last time I posted, Abigail and Ryan had been bitten by the stomach bug. The bug did not stop there! Hannah ended up getting it also. That was on Friday. Saturday we were supposed to all go to my parents' house for the weekend to celebrate christmas. We decided to push it back a few days to give us time to de-germ. On Monday, after trading my favorite truck in for a great van, the kids and I made the trip down. We were last to arrive. We had a great time and no one got sick! We took all the kids (cousins) and had professional pics made, which turned out great! On Wednesday, a week after Ryan got sick and the day everyone was going home, I found out Brad, who did not go to NC with us, had not gone to work because he had been up all night sick and was still sick. Now, if you will recall, just a few short months ago I had the stomach virus for the first time in like 15 yrs. I did not want to go there again. I told him to make sure he lysoled everything before we got home!! So far I have been blessed not to get it. My neice in MD had it a few days after going home and my sister in OH had it after going home!

We finished out the week of no school and today the kids were supposed to go back. Then it finally decided to snow and snow and snow. So our Christmas break has been extended at least one day.

happens every time

2011-12-22T03:42:00.002-05:00

I promise you, my kids only get sick the week that we are supposed to get together with the whole family! Abigail had the stomach bug on Monday and now has diarrhea. Ryan had diarrhea all day yesterday and now he is vomiting! Brad had diarrhea yesterday also.

Please dear Lord keep me sane through this process and help us all be germ-free by Saturday! Otherwise, I am going to miss Christmas with my whole family!

9 years and counting

2011-12-05T19:05:00.003-05:00

I was really hoping I would have a picture of Brad and I readily available on my computer to put with this post but I don't.

Today we celebrate 9 years of marriage. We are both 28. You do the math. We were practically babies when we got married! On top of that, we dated over 3 years before that! Yeah, it was totally meant to be.

I remember the night like it was yesterday. Cold, about 6 inches of snow on the ground, Thursday night, just the two of us and my parents. I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't wait to tell the kids the story of our wedding when they are older and it means something to them. I am hoping I will have Brad convinced that we should renew our vows by this time next year!

When I worked at the animal hospital in Charleston, during the first year or so of marriage, I rememeber having a conversation with everyone working that day about whether we would get married again if we could do it all over again. Needless to say, I was the only one who said I would do it again!! They claimed it was only because we were still in the "honeymoon phase." Let me just say, we are long past the honeymoon phase and I would still do it again! I just can't help but wonder how many people out there wouldn't want to do it again. I can't imagine not marrying Brad, where I would be without him by my side who would have replaced him.

So in honor of 9 years, I wanted to share a list of 9 reasons I would do the whole marriage thing again (with Brad).

1. He is a Godly man.
2. He loves his wife (ME!).
3. He loves his kids.
4. He supports us without complaining. Ever.
5. He is the most selfless person I know, which can be annoying sometimes but it is a good quality to have.
6. He needs me and I need him.
7. He asks if he can use "my" truck even tho he pays for it and bought it.
8. He is the only father example I want my kids to have in their lives.

And here's to 9 more!

Real or not?

2011-11-26T21:57:00.002-05:00

This year Ryan turns 5 a week before Christmas. Wow! But this post is not about my amazement that my boy is about to be half a decade old. He has never been one to take my word for anything. He has to see it, feel it, experience it for himself. On our way to visit grandma and grandpa by church last weekend he asked me at least 5 times if Santa is real. Well, yesterday he told me he doesn't believe me. He thinks Santa is real. I said ok! Tonight, him and Hannah were bickering and from the other room I heard him tell Hannah that she had better stop or he was going to tell Santa to put her on the naughty list. I about died!! It was the funniest, cutest thing ever!

Brad also told me earlier that while they were out today Ryan told him that he saw God in his room one day and He looked like a shepherd...I told Brad that I didn't really know I'd that was funny or not!

Have I ever said that I love that boy!? Well, I do!

2011-11-23T09:03:00.002-05:00

My poor little Abigail has has a rough month so far! I am praying we can finish it out with nothing else happening to her! Long story short: she had a nasty cold for a week when she started coughing. A trip to the Dr got us no where. The coughing only got worse so I took her back to the Dr because I didn't want to let it go through the weekend. That was when We found the ear infection, which required meds. After every dose of antibiotic she would throw up. It only took twice for me to stop that med and call the Dr. so we tried a different antibiotic that was half the amount and only once a day. That seemed to work fine. Well, now her poop must be super potent because she has a bad diaper rash. I mean sitting in the bath tub hurts, a diaper touching it hurts. I think I have it under control this morning. Lots of diaper changes and cream seem to be helping.

Happy thanksgiving!

vacation starts.....

2011-11-18T17:38:00.002-05:00

NOW!

The kids are out of school for the next week so it is time to relax! I think we finally got Abigail straightened out so it really is doubly time to relax. She has an ear infection so we started antibiotics which should also clear up her snotty nose and cough that has been making her...and me....miserable this week. I am ready for my happy baby to come back!

Tomorrow we head south to my mom's for several days. Pray for safe and smooth travels. I will try not to forget all of Abigail's food, cups and the like this trip. =)

Have I already said that I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving?! I think it comes quicker and quicker every year! I have to say that this year I am more excited than I was last year and I am even more excited to get out the Christmas decor. Happy Holidays!!

Not much

2011-11-13T18:46:00.003-05:00

It has been a few weeks since I wrote last and I have been busy since. Nothing out of the ordinary, just every day life. I think we all know how that is.

I got to meet my new nephew, Thaddeus. He is precious. I can't wait to watch him grow and see who he becomes.

Ryan brought home a cold and his reactive airways disease showed its ugly face. I was praying this would be the winter that he outgrew it and we didn't have to use the inhaler. I guess we'll try again for that next year.

It didn't take Abigail long to catch the cold. It is her first one and it's a doozy. Let's just say the past couple of nights have ended with her in our bed and not much sleep happening for anyone. Today she is 7 months old and she is not having fun celebrating it.

Tomorrow mom goes back home for a week of peace before we go down there and bug her for a few more days! =)

I am so glad that's over!!!!

2011-10-29T21:44:00.002-04:00

The party, the day, the week...I'm glad it's all over!! I will give you the short version:
Monday....I don't even remember Monday but I am pretty sure that was the day I went grocery shopping. I'm sure you have heard me say that is an all morning event for me and it ruins the rest of the day!

Tuesday...I had to check Hannah and Ryan out of school to take them for their flu shot/mist. Ryan can't have the mist because of his reactive airway disease. He handled that shot like a man! He was nervous about it but wouldn't tell me so and then didn't even flinch when he got it.

Wednesday...I went with Ryan and his class to the pumpkin patch to pick a classroom pumpkin and each kid got their own small pumpkin to decorate in the class. Within a half hour it was raining so they cut the fieldtrip short and went back to school. It continued to rain all day.

Thursday....my day was turned upside down by the arrival of the vomit bug. I have been saying it all week but do you know it has been at least 15 yrs since I threw up?! Now that I think about it, probably upwards of 18 yrs. First of all, I can't believe I am old enough to say it's been at least 18 yrs and second of all I was trying to think of when exactly the last time was. Here's what I came up with: we were at church camp for the week. I would say I was about 10. I remember getting up in the middle of the night and going to that nasty bathroom (some of you know what I'm talking about) and again and again. Come morning time I was still sick so I stayed in the cabin all day while all the other kids played games, sang, swam and so on. Mrs. Isles (sp?) came down several time to check on me and give me lemonade which I was dumping out the screen window from my top bunk. I think I spent two days in the cabin. Not one of me best camp memories....
Since it has been quite a few years since I experienced this, I didn't know what I was going to do. For some reason I thought I would still be able to take care of Abigail. But after #7, I called Brad crying saying he either had to come home or call his mom to come get the baby. It was the latter that happened. I didn't throw up anymore after that I was fine the next day.

Friday....I spent a couple hours in the morning getting ready for the church halloween party. I was in charge of a lot more than normal this year. Friday evening the two older kids spent the night with mamaw. I went back up to the church after dark to do some more things for the party.

Saturday (today)....I was up bright and early at 6 to shower before the baby woke up. I made my dirt pudding for the party, took Abigail to get her pictures made at JCPenney ($40 for 12 sheets!), came home and spent 2 hours making 3 dozen cookies for the party. The party was a huge sucess. The kids are so easy to please but it was a lot of work! The tear down process takes longer than the party itself!

Tomorrow I get at least part of a day of rest! I really want to go to Kmart where they have all their summer clothes marked down to $.99 and see if I can get anything for the big kids for next summer.

Monday is trunk or treat before trick or treat. This will be my first year doing a truck or treat. I'm really excited. I have a great theme picked out. Too hard to explain but maybe next week I'll put a picture of it on here.

I will happy when it is all over and I can focus on my normal things again! The house, laundry and everything else has been neglected this week!

That's all folks!

Finding beauty in the simple things

2011-10-11T10:37:00.002-04:00

I am a naturalist, indeed. Being outside, surrounded by our marvelous God's handywork, just fills my soul with joy. Here are a few simple pictures I took recently.

Brad and I often drive out through the country when we don't have anything better to do. Actually, I think we should make time for it more often. Most of the roads we revisit are ones that bring back lots of memories from our early years together. Places where we used to fish, cows we used to stop and pet and many, many 4 wheeler trips taken on these back roads. These deer and just a few of many we saw that evening.

Rocks at Babcock State Park

I was trying to capture the leaves covering the road and the path being untouched

Who doesn't love flowers?!

My favorite. The Mill at Babcock State Park. The kids were upset when they found out we came here without them. They love this type of thing as much as Brad and I.

I think if we would all look more closely, we would be surprised how much beauty is in the simple things. =)

Yet another business update

2011-09-27T08:10:00.002-04:00

We decided to put the business dream on hold and do everything possible to sell our house this spring. That means we are spending the winter (and extra money that I need for the business) getting this house in excellent shape. I'm upset that I can't work on my business but I really want to get out of this house. The neighbor kids are taking over.

business update

2011-09-22T11:25:00.002-04:00

I have decided to try to open up a booth at our local flea market next spring to sell the clothing I am buying off clearance racks now. I have to do more research on the licenses and things needed but so far the flea market website says all I need is a vendors license. I have several reasons for starting at a flea market:

Around here everyone goes to the flea market
I can test the waters
Renting a booth for a weekend is reasonably priced ($50)
It's only on the weekend (I haven't decided it this is good or bad)
I don't have to deal with websites and shipping and stuff like that
I might be able to enlist the help of my husband, either here or at work. =)

I'm really excited about trying this. I went to JC Penney and Khols yesterday and bought 44 items and spent $79. My total savings were like $500 some. I put pics on fb. That is less than $2 per item and I will be able to sell them again for more and still keep the prices considerably cheaper than what anyone would pay full price or even on sale!

Now I just have to find a way to make more money right now so I can buy more clothes!

starting a business

2011-09-20T12:06:00.003-04:00

Every once in awhile I get on a start-my-own-business kick. That first "kick" came many years ago, probably when Hannah was little, or maybe even before she was born. I can't recall now, as she is a whopping 7 yrs old. =) Anyway, back then I was working and wanted to start my own walmart for pets. I was going to call it Everything Pets.

Since then the "kick" has come and gone many a time and I had many a reason not to let the "kick" push me over the edge to my own business. I was working, I had kids, Brad wasn't fully on board, I didn't know even the first step, didn't want to risk taking the first step. I could go on.

If you haven't already gotten the drift of this post....I'm feeling like I want to start my own business again. Only this time, it has nothing to do with animals. It all started when I decided to put some of the kids nicer clothes in a consignment sale that comes through the area a couple times a year. At the same time I was doing some end of season clothes shopping for my kids for next summer.

I rarely ever buy any of my kids' clothes at full price. Everything comes off clearnace racks. So I was thinking, I can't be the only one who is looking for nice clothes at a fraction of the price, especially in this economy. So what if I bought tons of reaaly cute stuff for super cheap and then turned around and sold it for a profit all the while keeping it cheaper than you would pay elsewhere? My sister and I have talked about this before but now I'm really considering all my options.

Brad does not want to invest a lot into this until he knows it will be profitable. I can't say that I blame him! This is when i really wish my s.i.l lived closer! I could really use her brain, time, and organization for this project!!

Since I need to start small and convince my husband (and myself) this could work, I am thinking I should buy a bunch of stuff and then see how much a local consignment shop would give me for it or doing the traveling one again with all new items, or maybe even renting a booth at the flea market. I'm also considering starting an online business or just going through ebay.

All I know is that it has been on my mind a lot lately and I'm really going to look into it.

Opinions, please!!

Worry

2011-09-15T21:25:00.002-04:00

Isn't it funny how in an hour you can go from worry-free to stressed out and worrying about everything? I have those days. All the sudden I'm there. I feel like I am worrying about so many things right now and I'm having trouble handing them over to God and trusting him. Isn't it also funny that we know exactly what we need to do with our worry but we just can't seem to do it? I'm also there. I just need all my fellow bloggers to say a prayer for me. I know you are wondering what in the world I have to be worried about so I'll go into it briefly.

One of my dogs, Patches, has been acting weird for quite some time now, since I had the baby, to be exact. She is progressively getting worse but we just don't have the extra money to spend on vet bills. I hate not knowing if she is suffering or in pain.

Remember when I had mastitis not long after having the baby? I would put a link to that post here but i don't know how to do it so if you want to read about it you'll just have to go back to my blog posts at the end of May to find it. Anyway, I have a feeling I'm getting it again. I think it's odd to get it now after 5 months but I definitely have a tender spot in the same place it occured the first time. So far I'm not feeling sick like I did the first time so I'm just waiting on something to happen.

Hannah has been bringing home some bad grades from school and I don't really know what to do. She has math homework almost every single night and she just can't get it. Same with spelling. She writes her spelling words every single night and we do practice tests and everything and she still gets bad grades on the tests at school. They are working on the different parts of a sentence (the subject, predicate, etc) she is doing horrible in that as well. I know I wasn't working on that stuff in second grade but that's a different subject.

Abigail was supposed to have a third ultrasound on her belly button in Aug and I canceled it because we are still paying on the $1300 for the first two she had. She needs to have the other one done soon. Our $5000 deductible (hence part of the reason we don't have extra money to take Patches to the vet) is about paid for now so we need to do it before the new year but I do not want to find out that she needs surgery!

Those are just a few of the worries I have right now. Sorry I have bored you with my problems but say a prayer for me please! =)

changes

2011-09-13T15:09:00.002-04:00

I always said I wanted to do things differently with this child. Not that I did anything bad the first two times. It just seems like a lot of things have changed since I had Hannah and Ryan. The biggest difference was that I would be staying at home this time.

I wanted to use that as an opportunity to do some other things that I hadn't done, long anyway, with the other two. Breastfeeding was high on my list this time. I also did lots of research on the "how, what, when" of feeding a baby.

My plan was not to feed any solids until Abigail was at least six months old. There are lots of reasons for that. Comment me if you want me to expound on all the reasons. And then I didn't want to feed the commercial baby cereal. I had decided to start with avacado.

And then Abigail got to the age where she was watching us eat and showing interest in what we were doing at the table. I started getting the urge to feed her something. It didn't take me long to give in and buy the avacado. She didn't love it the first couple times but now she is an old pro and I have just introduced sweet potatoes. She is still deciding if she likes them.

I have moved on to my next attempt at difference by making as much of her food as I can myself. So far its been pretty easy and I was sticking with it until I happened upon a bunch or green bean baby food for cheap at Big Lots. If you know me, you know I loathe even the smell of green beans so this was actually a blessing to me. I don't have to cook any myself! =)

Much to say

2011-09-01T21:12:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow is the last day that I will ever have one child in school. Monday is a holiday and then Tuesday is Ryan's first day of preschool. He will have the same teachers that Hannah had, which is good. I'm going to miss my little boy! He keeps me on my toes.

Speaking of the devil, I told Ryan I wanted to wash him off while he was in the shower tonight because he had dirt in the cracks of his neck and armpits. When he took off his shirt I saw a big bruise and scrap on this shoulder. He is always getting banged up but this was a big, fresh place that he hadn't told me about. Upon further inspection I found scrapes on the back of his head and elbow also! Come to find out, he was doing flips on the trampoline (not unusual) and flipped off!! He never came in crying or hurt or holding his head or anything! Before you say anything, we used to have a net arouond the trampoline but it didn't last one season with my kids and I could buy a new trampoline for just about the same price as a net alone. So we've been taking our chances and this is the first injury.

Also, someone out there did their good deed for the day (not that I believe in that or anything). A man pulled in our driveway this afternoon and yelled "Are you Elisabeth?" Of course I said yes! He held up my phone and asked if I was missing anything. I hadn't noticed it gone before then but apparently when I went to get Hannah from school I left it on the truck. He said he saw it in the road down the street, in several pieces, and stopped and got it. He looked thru my contacts and called "dad". My father gave him directions to my house and the man returned my phone to me! It's alittle beat up now but at least I have it! I took that as an opportunity to make sure the kids knew he didn't have to return it but he was nice and made a good decision and so on.

That's all folks!

why didn't I learn this sooner?!

2011-08-26T08:02:00.000-04:00

Mother, O' Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek - peekaboo.

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

So next time you come to my house, overlook the mess! ;)

Conversations with God...from a 4 yr old

2011-08-23T18:08:00.002-04:00

Ryan is our little prayer. Every time we eat he wants to be the one to pray. I actually have to tell him no sometimes! I heard a saying once: "What if you woke up with today only what you thanked God for yesterday?" Let me just tell you that Ryan would still have EVERYTHING including, but not limited to, his plate and the truck. During his rather lengthy list of thank you's last night he added "...and thank you for the roof so we don't get pooped on by birds and..." Just one more reason why I love that boy!! He always keeps me guessing!

schedule change

2011-08-22T15:58:00.002-04:00

School is in full swing around here. With that comes a new schedule, homework, fall weather, and a quieter house! So far Hannah is loving her teacher, Mrs. Cobb, and 2nd grade in general. I am praying that it stays this way the whole year! Last year she didn't like school and had a hard time with just about every aspect of school, even tho she got good grades.
She is not in class with her best friend from last year, (the daughter of my best friend in high school!) or a lot of the other kids she went to 1st grade with. But she has already made a new best friend.
This school year is different for us in more than one way. I'm still trying to find a good schedule for us with a new baby in the house. Right now we are just doing what gets us by because after Labor Day Ryan will be going off to school and the schedule with change a little more. The main things will be the same but I won't be just rushing one pokey child around, it will be two!! I often wonder what I would be doing this year if God hadn't allowed me to have another baby. I think that is one thing that made me really want another baby to begin with. I felt like my job as a mom was ending with the year both kids went to school quickly approaching. I know that isn't true, but that's how I felt. I have always said I want to go back to work (I still really miss my job at the animal hosp) when everyone is in school but I would really like to wait until they are older and the chances of them needing me during the day aren't as high. Hannah was sick a lot her preschool year. I bet she had the stomach bug half a dozen times that year. So I had to go pick her up a lot. I'm praying Ryan doesn't have the same problem but I guess we'll see!
I'll let you know how it goes when Ryan goes off to school for the first time. At open house he refused to get down and look around the room or talk to his teachers. Since then, he has been excited to go pick up Hannah because we always see his teacher and he now says he's ready to go. I really hope so! I told him that if he isn't sad to go, I won't be sad that he is going! I will miss my little boy but I know he will have fun at school and he's ready.

Birthday girl

2011-08-17T20:00:00.001-04:00

My life was forever changed seven yrs ago with the birth of my first child. Hannah has been the guinea pig in many instances during her life. Not only was she the first child but I was only 20! Brad and I still had some growing up to do. Nonetheless, it's been an amazing 7 yrs. I'm thanking God for giving me seven yrs with her and praying selfishly for many seven mores.

We are having more of a party tomorrow evening (after the first day of school, I might add) but she wanted chicken alfredo and blueberry muffins for her birthday dinner. We got her an mp3 player, which she loves!

Happy birthday, Hannah. You've been a wonderful guinea pig and we love you more than you'll ever know!

Uh Oh!

2011-08-15T21:24:00.002-04:00

Today the weather was unseasonably cool so I had to break out my jeans and Abigail's fall-type clothes. I know I just had a baby 4 months ago but I have got to get on the ball and loose the last 10lb of my baby weight our I will only have one pair of jeans that fit me this winter!! But what is this beside me?! A kitkat wrapper....sigh. I'm having a bit of trouble giving up my indulgences!! =)

I was going to do a seperate post for this next part but I decided just to put it all together. I neglected to mention Abigail's 4 month birthday over the weekend and I also forgot to mention that it has been a year since I found out I was pregnant!! Wow, I can not believe it!! Seems like just yesterday the dr was telling me I was probably going to miscarry. I am so glad the Lord had other plans! I couldn't imagine my life without that sweet baby girl. In case you are wondering, here are a few of the things she can do as of late:

Roll from belly to back (usually accidental but she did it twice today so I'm thinking she is getting the hang of it).

Grab her toes.

Hold her head up while she is on her belly.

Sqeal with delight when we talk to her and tickle her.

Hold toys, only briefly but she does it!

What I've learned

2011-08-12T18:12:00.000-04:00

Hannah and Ryan spent this week at grandma by church's house. I have learned a few things in their absence.

A clean bathroom stays clean longer! Lets just face it-a clean house stays clean longer!

Abigail knew I was hoping for an "easy" week and she took that as a sign to add extra work! I think she made it her objective this week to poop more and spit up on herself or whoever was close by as often as possible.

I miss my dog feeder and mail getter a.k.a. Hannah.

I miss Ryan's growling...ok, not really...but I do miss his constant "I love you and Abigail and Hannah and daddy."

Dishes are still appearing in the sink and clothes are still appearing in the laundry. It's not all their fault after all! =)

I don't really miss having 5 neighbor kids around all day long.

I miss them helping me with the baby (if you can call it that) and I miss seeing her smile at them when they talk to her.

It's rather boring around here without them and a little too quiet! I'm not meant to only have one child. I love my life as mom of 3!

Makings for a great day

2011-08-10T22:28:00.002-04:00

One happy baby

Lunch with daddy

Four hours of shopping

Great buys made even greater by using a gift card!! (I recc going to Kohl's to stock up on clothes for next summer)

Great message at church

Finishing it off with rocky road ice cream

Does it get any better than that?!

so proud

2011-07-28T23:12:00.002-04:00

Our VBS is coming up next week. Being gone over the weekend is really putting a strain on all the last minute preparations I should be working on (decorating my room, making sure I have everything ready for crafts, studying my lessons, etc). We are headed to NC for one last visit before summer ends and the real world...school...comes knocking. =(

Anyway, I took it upon myself (not patting myself on the back but this is another post in itself) to make some nice flyers to pass around town and hang in area businesses. This evening the two older kids and I walked...I walked, they rode their bikes...around our end of town handing out flyers and inviting people. I was expecting to have to do lots of 'forcing' with the kids. Not only was it like 90* still at 7pm but passing out flyers isn't much fun for anyone. But I am so proud of Hannah and Ryan. They were actually arguing about who was going to go to the next house or talk to the next person. They were so happy to do it and didn't complain once. Hannah even said, "this is more fun than I thought it would be." Ryan was running up to people yelling (not very clearly), "vacation bible school flyer!"

Living in a place like Buffalo also makes this task not so bad. Hannah knew just about every kid we saw from school and all the adults were nice and directed us to houses around them where we would find more kids.

Pray for us as we try to reach our community this up-coming week!

2011-07-21T19:00:00.002-04:00

I feel like today I have spent too much time cleaning up after the kids!

Abigail woke me up at around 8 this morning, yes, I said 8. That's almost 10 hours of sleep for us! Her diaper was soaked all the way thru and so was her clothes and bed. First load of laundry went in the wash a few minutes later. After I fed her and was burping her, she spit up all over the front of me and rubbed her head in if before I could move her out of the way. I wiped her up and sat her on the couch so I could go do something. When I came back to get her, she had poop coming out every opening in her diaper. Second load of laundry was started here.
After a bath she was ready to go back to bed!

Fast forward to lunchtime...

Ryan dropped his watermelon on the floor. Seeds and juiced went everywhere!! These are the days when I am most thankful for hardwood floors!! I cleaned all that up and went into the other room to fix my lunch. On the way out of the kitchen Ryan walks by me and says, "I need a towel." I already knew what that meant!! I asked him what he spilled and he said nothing. When I went into the other room I found grape juice all over the floor, soaked into a brand new pad of construction paper and a book. Aahhhhh! We don't make it one day around here without cleaning up a mess made by Ryan.

I don't think there was anything else. When Abigail laid down for her next nap I had to fold all that laundry that I washed because of her!

I love staying at home but some days it's just too much! Needless to say, I treated myself to a few oreos and two glasses of mountain dew! I'll let you know what Abigail thinks of that later! {wink}

Whole again

2011-07-06T08:46:00.002-04:00

My house has been unusually quiet and boring for the past nine days. I've missed everything about Hannah while she was gone. But my heart, and our family, is whole again! And even tho she won't admit it, I know she missed it around here!

When we came into Charleston, where everything starts becoming familiar to her, I asked if she was glad to be home. She said yes, then after a pause she added that she missed all the trees!

Later, while swimming with Ryan, she told him with much excitement that they (aunt Jessica) have stairs! And she was allowed to run up and down them!

We gave her money to spend and she bought us all gifts. The plan was to wait until daddy got home so we could all open our gifts together but she just couldn't wait! Ryan LOVES his "water pistol" and I love my B&BW foaming soap. Daddy's chocolate is about gone and Abigail will enjoy her stuffed giraffe more when she's a bit bigger! =)

When she came in the house for the first time she said she was glad to be in her own home and sleep in her own room.

She was already missing Kara, too. If she had it her way, she said she would want to come home for a few days and then go back, then home for a few days and go back!

I can't say thanks enough to Michael, Jessica and Kara for everything. Not only did they entertain her with lots of fun things but I really feel like they treat her as one of their own children and it's nice to know that your child is safe so far away!

Made with love

2011-07-02T16:22:00.002-04:00

Now that grandma is hours away from all the grandkids, I think it is unfair for us to call her the crazy camera lady.

I think her name should rightfully be the crazy crochet lady. But I'm ok with that because I have a very cute model who just loves the clothes she is getting out of the deal!

This is the latest outfit, headband down to the shoes.

It's a beautiful outfit but very delicate. It snags and stretches easily. I think this will be reserved for church and special ocassions!

This was the last pose and by this time she was done acting cute.The shoes just barely fit and her big toe pokes out one of the holes. Thanks grandma for a pretty outfit for a pretty girl to make some pretty pictures!

schedules

2011-06-16T13:38:00.003-04:00

I am one who loves a schedule. The same schedule. Every day. I like knowing what to expect so I can better plan my day. This is not be confused with organization or anything of the sort. If you know me or have come to my house, you know what I am talking about.

I have a certain child, a baby, not to mention any names, who does not know the meaning of a good schedule. THe only thing I know about her is that she will eat and poop. A lot. Some days she will sleep most of the day, only waking to eat and say hi to the world for a few minutes. Other days she only sleeps a couple hours the entire day. Some evenings she doesn't cry a lick and others she cries for hours.

I'm learning to deal with her antics. It's actually kind of nice to not have a pacifier to misuse. When she is crying or fussy I actually have to deal with the problem instead of "plug the hole." So far I don't have to wake up countless times during the night to find her paci. In fact, this week she has been sleeping from about 9:30pm to 6:30am. I love it!! My "milkers," they don't love it so much!! I'm hoping they will adjust and slow down production during the night. By the way, isn't it amazing how God made our bodies?!

Summertime fun!

2011-06-15T10:28:00.005-04:00

Summer only officially started at the Palmer house this week but it's already been full of fun! Some of the things happening around here:

The kids have been trying to catch a rabbit that has taken up residence in our yard somewhere. We have been seeing it when we come home late at night or are out early. They put some watermelon in a dog crate that we had out in the yard and propped open the door with a stick that had a string attached and were waiting on the porch to pull the stick out and catch the rabbit when it went in the crate. It was a good plan but, of course, the rabbit didn't come while they were out there. When I went to let the dogs out this morning, there it was in the yard! I always check around before letting the dogs out because more often than not there is a critter in the yard or around and the dogs will run off if given the chance. I checked the "trap" and the door was down and the watermelon was eaten but no rabbit! Anyway, it's been fun to watch them come up with a plan on their own, work together to make it happen and then sit for hours waiting!

Daddy spent lots of time with them outside last night playing soccer, watching them jump on the trampoline and catching lightning bugs. It was about 10pm when they finally came in!

Daily walks/bike rides have been a must, especially this week with the cooler weather.

Hannah has been doing worksheets so she doesn't forget all the things she learned this summer and Ryan has been doing them so he has some idea of what is going on when he gets to preschool this fall. So far neither of them mind doing it that much.

We went to the park with friends.

Once the weather heats back up, I'm sure there will be plenty of trips to mamaw's pool.

I have a hard time readjusting when we start a new schedule. I really miss the 7pm bedtime of the school year but I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying the sleeping in that has been going on around here!

Can't wait to see what else happens this summer!

Conversations with a 4 yr old...among other things

2011-06-08T08:13:00.002-04:00

Today has not been dull, already! Here's a run-down of my morning so far (it's only 8:15am):

Abigail didn't wake up until 5:30am to eat after being put in bed around 10:30 last night!

Hannah woke up in a better mood than she has all school year! It must mean today is the last day of school!!

We heard a loud noise in the playroom and Hannah went to investigate. She found Ryan sitting in the floor after trying to sit in her babydoll chair to eat his cereal.

Daddy knocked over Hannah's cup of orange juice right before he was ready to leave for work. It's a good thing every day is laundry day!

And now for a converstaion Ryan and I had on the way home from taking Hannah to school:

Ryan: Why does God want us to die someday?

Me: (after much deliberation) So we can go to Heaven if we love Jesus.

Ryan: I don't want to go to Heaven.

Me: (shocked) Why not?!

Ryan: I like it at home.

Me: (heart melting and smiling big) Well, in Heaven you'll never be sad or hungry or hurt...

Ryan: (interrupting me) I don't want to go, I like it at home.

Have I said that I love that boy?!

Summertime

2011-06-01T21:33:00.002-04:00

If you can't find me this summer, make sure you go to mamaw's and look here.

We've already enjoyed a few evenings lounging around the pool and I am looking forward to many more!

And I just had to throw in a recent picture of my Little Stinker. I can't tell by looking at her but in her pictures I can tell she is changing and growing so much already!!

Tomorrow we consult with the pediatric surgeon and will hopefully leave knowing whether she has to have surgery on her belly button or not. Say a prayer for us!

pity party for me

2011-05-26T15:27:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I had a headache that just got worse and worse as the morning went on. By 11 I had already taken 5 ibuprofen and was getting no relief. I started feeling sick to my stomach and had a fever. It was 75* in our house and I just couldn't get warm. My whole body was aching. Sounds like I have the flu, huh? I slept for 2 hours on the couch and eventually felt some better. It's a good thing, too, because I had volunteered to take a meal to a family in the church who just had a baby. I didn't feel too bad the rest of the evening. I think all those ibuprofens started working at the same time! Around 10:00 the baby and I went to bed. I tossed and turned all night because when I would roll onto my side, it hurt my "milkers" as my sister lovingly called them whenI texted her at 4:45am! I got up around 3:45 because Abigail normally wakes up at 4am to eat and I could tell I had a fever so I got out the ear thermometer and it read 103.3*. Yeah, I felt that bad. Then it hit me all the sudden...tender milkers, red blotches, fever...it had to be mastitis or something. So I got out my nursing book and read about it. That was my diagnosis. Who knew something like that could make you feel so horrible?! Every joint and not joint on my body has been super achy all day. The dr called in an antibiotic that I have to take 4 times a day. I hope it doesn't take long to kick in.

Also, after I read what I could do for it at home, I got out the breast pump that my sister let me borrow. I was using it in the dark and I started hearing a weird noise. Turns out the milk was being sucked thru the tubing and back into the pump. Not good, I know! That's why I was texting her so early. I just wanted to cry. I'm glad she is the best sister in the world!

So all day I've been trying to nap when the baby naps but it is always time for something (lunch) or someone needs me. I did finally get an hour nap right before time to get Hannah but that has already wore off and I need another one!

Daddy is working late tonight so I will have to do everything....cook, baths, read...normal it's no problem but today I just feel up to it.

Thanks for listening to me complain!

I'm back....again!

2011-05-23T12:54:00.003-04:00

My computer decided I wasn't allowed to blog anymore so I've been away for awhile but I finally got one by the goofy computer! =)

Over the weekend we went on our first camping trip of the year, also Abigail's first trip. We were all alittle nervous about how it would go but she did really well! We found out that she does not like 2 hour truck rides or doing it more than once a day!

This incident occured on Saturday when we went to the Columbus Zoo. We had planned on the trip there being about an hour long. We finally got into the parking lot 3 hours after leaving the campground! Traffic was horrible. We were all pretty cranky after that! Brad said he'll never go back to the zoo on a Saturday but I think it was just so crazy because it was the first good day for it and the water park right next door was opening for the first time this season. The day started our pretty rotten but ended pretty well because my sister and her crew came to the camp site that evening and we all roasted hotdogs and all the fixins' and, of course, smores!

Mother

2011-05-09T16:55:00.002-04:00

I've realized more than ever just how much I love and need to be a mother in the past month. On Wednesday that is how old Abigail will be. I can't believe it. I often think of something I read on one of my blogger-friend's posts: The days are long but years are short. That is soooo true and I hate the way that works!! Why can't the days, nights and years all be short? Anyway, when Abigail first came home from the hospital, I spent a lot of time sleeping, feeding the baby, and crying. I had the baby blues bad. Every time I was alone, all I wanted to do was cry. About anything. Since daddy was home the first week and my mom was here a week and a half after that, I didn't do many of my regular "mom" jobs. I didn't take Hannah to school every morning, I didn't even see her before she left. I didn't help her with homework. I didn't make Ryan his lunch every day. All the jobs that I just do, sometimes not even wanting to do them. I started missing those things. Now that I'm back to work, I'm trying to enjoy these jobs every day. I haven't figured out how to enjoy doing the laundry or dishes, but for the most part, I'm enjoying my new life as mom of three. It can be hard at times. Abigail and I are still trying to figure each other out. SOmetimes she likes to be up at night and I really like my sleep. Or she likes to start crying when it's time to fix supper. Either way, I make do. I try to work or play with Ryan while she's sleeping so that when she's awake and wanting to eat, I'm available. Also, I have to say how great Brad has been the past month. When I am all done with the crying baby, need a break, or have something I need to do, he willingly takes over. He has done more than his share of the housework. I'm completely convinced that he is the best husband ever!

Things I love...

2011-05-04T10:34:00.002-04:00

While standing in the shower this morning I started thinking about all the things I love. Don't ask me why! Here are just a few things on my list:

The smell of Pampers diapers

Hearing daddy say, "Listen to your mother." or "Don't talk to your mother that way." Most usually directed towards our son!

The smell of fresh cut grass

Hearing the kids play and laugh happily together

The smell of a baby, as long as there isn't a dirty diaper involved

Walking in the woods

When Brad runs his hands thru my hair...or Hannah

Seeing daddy interact with his kids

A hot shower

Sleep, which has been hard to come by these days

So what do you love?

here we go....

2011-04-29T22:02:00.002-04:00

Today it has been two weeks since we brought our sweet baby Abigail home from the hospital. So much has changed in these two weeks! The first week I had Brad here with me. The second week I had my mom and for the past couple days I've had my mom and sister in law here. Tomorrow all the company will be gone and then on Monday Brad will go to work and Hannah will go to school. I'm nervous to get our new normal figured out.
I'm really going to miss my mom. I could never thank her enough for all her help this week and a half. I know it has been exhausting entertaining Hannah and Ryan non-stop plus all the other things she did. I hope I can be as good a mother as her. I am still learning things from her, even as an adult.

new beginnings

2011-04-15T19:53:00.003-04:00

This has been an amazing week of new beginnings in the Palmer house. It started on Tuesday with my 38 wk dr appt. My blood pressure had been going up steadily so my dr surprised me with news that I would be induced the next day. I had been hoping for good news but that was too good! I got the call Wed at 3:30am to be at the hosp at 5am. By 6 I was in bed and ready to go. I had tested positive for the group B strep so I needed to be on antibiotics at least 4 hours before Abigail's birth or they would have to do bloodwork on her to see if she has any infection from the bacteria. With my history of quick delivery (is it really a history if it happened with 1 child? IDK) my dr recommended that I not wait long to get the epidural if I really want one. I was nervous about having to make my labor last 4 hours. I needed to be pregnant until 10am. I got the epidural at 7 and was feeling pretty good. Around 9 I started feeling my contractions in one spot on my lower stomach. The pain got really intense like menstral cramps. Soon it was unbareable. I was ready to push but it wasn't 10 yet and, on top of that, my dr was at the office seeing patients and wanted to get a few more in before coming back to the hospital! He has obviously never had a baby! =) My nurse happened to be someone Brad and I went to high school with so it was a really relaxed atmosphere. At one point she told me to keep my legs shut! She put the resident dr on hold just in case. I told her I didn't care who delivered, someone needed to hurry up and get in there! My dr made it in just in time. I think I pushed about 6 times and out she came, at 10:13am. She was 8lb 2oz, 20" long. I kept saying "she's so small!" The nurses kept saying that she isn't really that small. I said she was small to me! We just barely made it, thank the Lord. She didn't have to have any additional bloodwork done but we did have to stay in the hospital for 48 hours so she could me monitored for signs of infection. There wasn't much "monitoring" going on, if you ask me. Anyway, we were prepared for a very long discharge process come Friday morning because that has been the way it worked every other time we've been waiting to get out of the hospital (that includes the time Hannah was hospitalized for dehydration when she had a bad stomach virus). Around 8 or 9 the pediatrician came in and told us Abigail had to pee before she could be sent home. It had been over 24 hours since her last wet diaper. She has no problem giving us dirty diapers. He said it was just from her nursing and not getting much since my milk hadn't really come in yet. So her next feeding lastedlike an hour! Right at 10, when she was 2 days old and we could be discharged, she filled her diaper with pee!! That was the best pee I've ever seen! I called the nurse in to show her and she called the pediatrician to tell him and within 2 hours we were out of there!! Some girls that I used to work with were going planning on coming to see us while they were on lunch but we left a few minutes before that so we stopped by and saw them on our way home. Last night was our first night at home. I was really nervous about how it was going to go. It actually went pretty well. We have some things we need to iron out but for the most part, it was what you should expect with a newborn! She was up every 2 or 3 hours to eat. At 7 am I put her down for the last time, expecting to hear from Ryan at any minute. He is normally up not long before or after 7. Then I woke up and it was 8:30!! So far the kids love her and are so willing to help me. Hannah wants to hold her constantly, Ryan loves to rub her head and give her kisses. Daddy is totally in love. If you know him, you know Brad is your typical man. Not emotional or lovey about much. But I can see his heart melt every time he looks at her. We're all so blessed to have him in our lives!

I'm back!

2011-04-11T20:23:00.003-04:00

We've been having lots of problems with our laptop as of late (not even 2 yrs old). The monitor was giving us fits so we had been hooking it up to our desktop monitor and using it that way off and on for months and then one day that stopped working too. Brad refused to pay someone to just look at it so I suffered thru using my phone and the 6 yr old desktop computer, neither of which would let me blog, for weeks until he found someone who would tell him what they thought was wrong for free and only charge us to fix it. (there are still people like that out there!) Turns out a wire inside that hooks the monitor to the rest of the computer was cut in half and it could be fixed but would probably just do it again within a year or two. The guy said it is common with hp's because of the way they wire things inside. So instead of fixing it we broke down and bought a new laptop. Dell, same as our ancient desktop that has been very good to us since we bought it back in 04 or 05. Not as nice as the almost $800 laptop we had but hopefully it will do the trick. I had forgot how blessed I was to have a laptop while I was without. I couldn't do anything with my pictures, videos, blog, I could hardly fb! I'm thankful to be back! =)

i'm still here. laptop is broken, phone wont blog...

2011-03-31T21:07:00.002-04:00

i'm still here

2011-03-31T21:07:00.000-04:00

busy, busy

2011-03-15T13:39:00.005-04:00

Brad was finally motivated enough...or nagged enough...to get the elliptical machine/clothes rack out of our bedroom and to the guy he works with.
Therefore, I was able to spend time organizing and rearranging things in our bedroom to make room for the bassinet. It's funny how we are always getting rid of things only to make room for something else in it's place.
The organization/rearranging has been non-stop ever since. I was blessed with 4 trashbags full of baby clothes from a friend and my sister in law. She also gave me a baby swing. I had no idea how hard it would be to go thru all those clothes, wash things and find somewhere to put them.
I have spent the past few days getting the house ready for family to come in for my baby shower. I forsee a lot more organizing after that!
Now if I could only find a used dresser that can be the changing table on top. Yes, I have no dresser for all the clothes I've been washing and going thru.
Hannah is continuing to struggle in school. She seems to have good days and bad days. One day she can do her math work with no problem and the next she has no idea again. Her teacher says she still has to be redirected back to the task at hand quite often.
Report cards come out next week and I'm kinda nervous to see if her grades are still as good as they were. Actually, I know they won't be as good. I'm more nervous to see what they are!
In baby news, as of tomorrow I will only have 4 weeks to go!! We are all getting so excited for her to be here!
We put the car seat and base in the truck just to make sure everything was functioning. It's finally becoming real!!
The warm weather we've been having-until today-has allowed Ryan to spend a lot of time outside. I love my tired, happy boy in the evenings!
Brad ordered a tonneau cover for the bed of the truck and a bike rack for the back of the camper. He received both this week. It's just one more way we are making room for baby #3! Now her stroller and other stuff will be dry and safe when we travel and we will have somewhere else to put the bikes when we camp.

That's been my story for the past two weeks!!

funny things....

2011-03-14T22:28:00.002-04:00

I just have a few goofy things to share tonight.

Over the weekend Brad and I went grocery shopping while the kids spent the day at his mom's house. On the way out to the truck we started talking about how old we are. I had told him I knew what I was going to get him for his birthday that is coming up in April and he said something about turning 29. I told him that he wasn't turning 29, he's only turning 28. He argued that he is already 28. We seriously stopped what we were doing and did the math. I was indeed right. I said, "isn't it funny that we already have to stop and count out how old we are?!"

This afternoon I was painting Hannah's fingernails and toenails (a miracle in itself b/c she normally refuses to let me do it) and we were talking about school. I try to casually bring up the subject so she'll tell me everything when she doesn't think I'm mad at her about it or something. One thing she told me is that in her journal today all she wrote was that mommy and daddy love each other. My heart just melted. Not only because of the fact that that is oh so true but because my 6 yr old sees it! I'm not saying we are perfect. She has asked me before why we fight all the time but that was only once and it was awhile ago.

what happened to my girl?!

2011-03-09T18:15:00.002-05:00

Until recently Hannah had been doing very well in school. Then suddenly she started having problems with her work and spending a lot of time in work hall. That is where you go during recess if you don't finish your work in class. That wasn't horrible. I understand that sometimes you don't get your work done in class if it is harder for you or something. But then she started going to work hall and still not getting her work done after half an hour of extra time, sometimes not even doing anything!

Math has always been hard for her. Just like it was for me. I always hated math. I never could get it, no matter how hard I tried. I just didn't understand. And my dad was a math teacher! So I was hoping my kids would excel in it so I don't have to go through it all over again with them.....not gonna be the case with my girl.

So when it was time for parent/teacher conferences a few weeks ago, of course, I was not going to miss it! The teacher and I had been writing notes back and forth already but we needed to sit down and talk. Hannah and I are both very lucky that she has such a good teacher who tries to spend extra time with her (as much as she can with a class of 20 rambunctious first graders) and gives me extra papers for Hannah to do at home. We were both very confused about what happened all the sudden. It seems that she can't focus in class. Her teacher says she sits there and stares off into space while she is teaching the class and often has to be directed to where they are on a page. She doens't get in trouble for talking, which I thought would be a big problem for her. Her teacher has tried moving her to a table by herself so she doesn't have the distraction of all the other kids. She still acts like she has no idea what is going on a lot of the time. Teacher seems to think that she is just "immature" for her age and hasn't figured out how to focus and pay attention and that she should grow out of it. It's just now becoming an issue because now the work isn't easy and she actually has to think about things. I don't know. I'm in no way a teacher. We also both noticed that she has no confidence in herself so she always doubts her answers. So we do extra math homework every night on top of her spelling words that we have to practice every night and she reads to me. I hate that she spends all day in school and then has lots to do in the evening. I'm praying this isn't going to be the way it is her whole school career. And I'm praying for an answer to her problem, patience on my part when we are doing work here, and that she will become confident in herself!

Just like grandpa

2011-03-06T13:19:00.002-05:00

When my parents moved to North Carolina, almost 3 yrs ago now, I knew a very important part of my kids' childhood was going with them. When we would go to church they would run in yelling, "Papaw!!" There was always lots of hugs and kisses for grandma and grandpa. He always had candy on his desk that Hannah had to have a piece of. Ryan was too young.

It was grandpa who intoduced and dedicated both of them to the church when they were newborns. I'm so sad that I won't have that picture of baby Abigail.

It was grandma who let Hannah come out of the nursery before she was of age and sit in Bible Club with the older kids on Wednesdays.

For months after they were gone, Hannah and Ryan would still run in the church from time to time and look for grandma and grandpa. Ocassionally I still get the question, "why did they move so far away?" It's hard to know exactly what to say to that but there is one thing I know for sure: God has a reason for everything and his ways are perfect!! Even when we don't like what He does or understand it.

This morning Ryan dressed in "full papaw gear" for church. Tie, "papaw shoes", pen and pad in pocket. Grandpa isn't lucky enough to own a Cars notepad and pen, tho.

more conversations with a 4 yr old...

2011-03-01T13:44:00.002-05:00

On the way home from taking Hannah to school this morning, the sun was so bright and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, something we haven't seen much of the past few days. Ryan pointed at the sun and said, "look, there's God." I have no idea where he got the idea that the sun is God but he has referenced the sun being God more than once. He would have no part of my explaination that God is not the sun. He asked, "then why is it so bright?"

By lunchtime he had asked me at least a dozen times if he could go outside. It is very beautiful out but still quite chilly. I finally gave in and let him out. I walked down to the mailbox while he was riding his bike. He has a new favorite spot where he likes to ride. The corner where grandma's driveway meets our road gets very muddy and gross. He discovered that last week and after riding his bike through it a million times I made him stop because he was making a big hole and grandma is very peticular about her yard. What's the conversation, you might be thinking....It's coming, give me a minut to describe the situation. =) So today I told him very clearly, again, that if I saw him riding his bike through the now mud hole that he creatd last week, he would be going in. I didn't even mae it back to our yard before I caught him trying to get as close as he could to that hole. His training wheel went thru it so, you guessed it, he had to come with me. Now comes the conversation. While he was taking his shoes off he told me that if I kept yelling at him he was going to run away. I asked him where he would go and who would feed him? He said he'd go to grandma and Max's (that is Brad's mom and her dog). I told him how long of a walk that would be and he quickly forgot about that.

different kind of day

2011-02-26T20:41:00.002-05:00

Normally we spend all weekend, every weekend running around, eating out, and just trying to do fun things with the kids. Daddy works long hard hours during the week and sometimes goes several days without seeing the kids. It always seems like the best way to give dad back to them is to take them somewhere and do some fun family activity with them.

Recently we have been thinking about our finances and how we could better spend...or save...our money. The only logical thing we could think of was to stop doing so much stuff on the weekend. Or, for us, just do everything in one evening so we don't have to leave the house on Friday and then again on Saturday or Sunday after church.

This is the first Saturday in I-don't-even-know-how-long that we did not leave the house all day. I have to say it didn't go all that bad. The kids still got enjoy their dad and we didn't have to spend any money!

Last night daddy, Ryan and I (Hannah wanted to stay with Brad's g-ma, who happens to live right next door to us) went on the hunt for a new bike for Hannah. A few months ago her poor bike was run over by her uncle and her daddy all in the same week! So she had been without a bike for awhile. Earlier this week she learned how to ride one of Ryan's bikes that doesn't have training wheels. So we wanted to get her a new bike without training wheels.

Anyway, I told you that last paragraph just to tell you that the first thing Hannah wanted to do this morning was ride her bike. It was still pretty chilly out so we didn't let her go out right away. After several hours of constant pleading and lunch we let them go out. Daddy got out his bike and rode around with them.

Staying home also gave us time to play our first family game of pictionary. I wrote a bunch of objects (chair, sun, dog, etc) on pieces of paper and folded them up and put them in a bowl. We took turns drawing. It was girls against boys. Right now teams are even. =) I think it ending up being a tie. I thought it was really fun. Hannah said it was boring but she played and seemed to be enjoying herself.

Then we all headed back outside for awhile (my "for awhile" is shorter than their "for awhile") and daddy made cheeseburgers on the grill. After the kids took showers we put down their sleeping bags in the livingroom so we could watch a movie and eat ice cream. They were then in bed before 8!

Great day! I foresee many more weekends spent together at home.....until it is warm enough to spend them camping! We get to bring home our new camper tomorrow after church. It is not much bigger than the one we had but our old one was proving to be a money pit of it's own so we traded it in for a new one.

The things they learn...

2011-02-23T15:19:00.003-05:00

I am always very quick to say that I can't teach Ryan anything. Today I said that and then was thinking about what he has, in fact, learned. His most recent accomplishment has been drawing stick people. Until this week we were just potato-looking heads with arms and legs everywhere. Sound familiar, mom?! Seems that type of person is quite normal, in my family, anyway! =) If you look at the picture he was so proud of today, you should be able to figure out with person is me. And daddy is the only one with hair....

So just to give Ryan some credit for learning a few things, however, not his letters or the ABC song, I have come up with a short list:

Ryan is an exceptionally good rollerblader.
He has mastered just about everything about the wii.
He showed me last night that he can swallow corn without even chewing it (once again, sound familiar mom?!) This boy really is my son!!
He can do a pretty mean front flip on the trampoline.
Whenever he sees any sign, he is quick to tell me which letters are in his name. If only I could get him to write it!

I could probably go on but I have other things to do!

conversations with a 4 yr old

2011-02-16T18:46:00.002-05:00

On our way home from grocery shopping this morning, Ryan asked me if a train can go on the road. I told him that trains need to be on the railroad tracks to go. His response was more than funny! "I don't believe you." And after a short pause, he added, "but don't worry, I still love you."

It's times like this that make all the unbearable times, bearable. I love that boy!

baby dr appt

2011-02-14T18:43:00.002-05:00

Today started my two week appts. Everything is still going pretty well. I gained two pounds. Not bad, really, but if I gain two pounds every two weeks for the next ten weeks......well, you can do the math!! My blood pressure was elevated some, 130/90. No biggie right now but if it continues to go up then I'll be having labs done. Also, he said I am starting to measure big. Honestly, I have been expecting that at the last few visits because I am huge so I don't know what will happen if I continue to measure big. Other than that, I am still pretty smooth sailing! I can't believe I only have ten more weeks. I remember in Aug thinking that I can't imagine when I will be this far. Now here it is! Right now I am over being pregnant but then when I think that this is the last time I'll do this, I decide I am happy to deal with it for the next 2 1/2 months.

In other news, today is the big V. Day. Brad got us a DQ ice cream cake and you know that was just perfect! I'm wondering if he wants me to gain more than 2 lbs before my next dr appt! =)

One of our neighbors, the Hulls (for those of you who know them), who I am just aquaintances with, surprised me with a baby gift yesterday. More cute clothes and some super cute socks that are made to look like shoes with little bows on them. I'm going to have one stylin' little girl!

The warmer weather has allowed me to release the beast outside some during the day today. I'm not sure who has been looking forward to this day longer, me or him! He wanted me to sit out there and watch him but I wanted to get some things done.

I guess that's all folks. I can hear daddy reading to the kids so I better go assist.

Guilty

2011-02-07T18:07:00.002-05:00

Do you ever just feel like maybe you aren't doing as much as you could for your kids?

Maybe you don't spend all day reading books to them or playing games with them. Maybe you have let them sit for one too many hours in front of the tv before or asked them to make their own sandwich at lunchtime because you'd really like to sit just a few more minutes. Will it really hurt them to go to public school? Sometimes it is really nice just to send them to grandma and grandpa for the day, or night. Is that really bad? Maybe your kids will never eat only organic foods. What if you let them sit at their own little table in front of a movie, instead of eating at the table with you. Will they really turn out wrong for that?

Can you tell what I've been thinking about today? Honestly, I'm guilty of all the above. I've done all those things one time or another. Sometimes I just feel like I've read one too many blogs about moms who are coupon crazy or save and make use of everything or don't do any cleaning in a day because they've spent every waking hour doing wonderful things with their kids but their house is still spotless.

I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE MOMS!!

3D ultrasound pictures

2011-02-04T13:56:00.003-05:00

This first picture is actually Hannah many. many. many years ago. And for the record, the lines on top that look like hair, aren't really hair. I was 29 wks pregnant.

This is baby Abigail. I don't think she looks like Hannah or Ryan. Her nose seems oddly big. The US tech said the nose always appears bigger than it really is. She had one foot beside her face the whole time, the other leg was stretched out. That's what has been jabbing me in the ribs! I will be 29 wks tomorrow.

Sad face. Again, I see no resemblence to Hannah. I wish I had a 3D pic of Ryan but I can't find any and I don't recall having it done.

Nothing like baby toes!!

Her little arm in front of her face.

There's that foot again, poking her in the eye. Ryan was trying to get in the same position as her during this part of the US. He can still do it but barely.

The tech estimated her weight to be around 3 1/2 pounds. We saw her opening her mouth in real time 4D (basically 3D but alive, not a picture). I might get that brown, curly hair baby who doesn't look like her siblings after all! What do you think??

Also, I was kinda disappointed with todays visit. I feel like Hannah's 3D pics are better and that was almost 7 years ago! Tech snapped a lot of pictures but we didn't watch her in real time all that much and she focused on her face way too much. I wanted to see more of her. I wouldn't pay to have it done again.

long day

2011-02-02T19:11:00.003-05:00

Today has been a really, really, really long day. It started with a really long night. I was up and down several times for various reasons. I was way hot, had to go potty, was soooo hungry and just couldn't sleep, oh and I had to potty again.

I got up feeling sick to my stomach and listened to my intestines girgle for several hours. A couple trips to the bathroom and I was feeling better. Sorry if that is TMI!

Ryan was super attached today. He always is but today seemed really bad. It might just be because I wasn't feeling well and was super tired all day and didn't handle it as well. He refused to do anything but stand at my feet and ask if it was lunchtime. It started at 9. So we spent some time doing his new favorite thing-cutting and gluing. We made a birthday card for grandma, next door. He helped me with a load of laundry and then I sent him to his room to play with his toys. That's the only way I can get him to do anything alone. I really just needed like half an hour. Besides that, I think it's good for him to use his imagination and play alone. I don't feel like I always have to be right next to him playing with him.

We finally made it to lunchtime and then I let him watch a movie while I cleaned the kids' bathroom and sewed a button on a pair of Brad's work pants. Yes, you read that right. I did sew a button back on pants for Brad. That's all the sewing I know how to do. I can't remember what else I did and then I blew up a punch ball for Ryan and we played don't let it hit the ground until it was time to get Hannah from school. That's easy for me cuz I can sit on the couch and let him chase it around and hit it to me without me having to get up. Yes, I'm pretty lazy these pregnancy days. But I have noticed that my feet are not swollen like they were the last two pregnancies when I was working and on my feet all day. I'm really thankful that I've been able to stay home this time around and relax more. Working didn't seem to bother me while I was doing it the first two times but now I don't think I'd be able to do it!

Anyway, shortly after getting Hannah from school my stomach started hurting sooooo bad. Everywhere. Pain. I was miserable. I took a short nap in the recliner and still was not feeling well when it was time to make supper.

Now Brad and Hannah are at church. I kept Ryan because there is no class for his age so he either stays out in the service with us on Wed or I do a lesson of my own with him. Brad doesn't handle them staying out in church with him alone so I kept him here with me. I took some tums earlier and the pain is subsiding now so I'm getting ready to read some books to Ryan and be done for the day.

I was thinking last night that I should start reading a new book so I picked Abigail, by Lois T. Henderson, off the self. It's based on the life of Abigail in the Bible. I thought that was appropriate. Now lets just hope I can finish it! =)

baby dr appt

2011-01-31T13:39:00.002-05:00

I did end up getting up at 5 this morning to eat. I chose cereal, Special K fruit and yogurt bites, with half a banana cut up on it. When I got to the dr at 9 I still wasn't hungry, thank God!! By 9:45 I was drinking the orange drink. It actually tasted just like orange pop so I just swigged it all down! Abigail got the hiccups shortly after that, which I thought was funny! I never did feel sick. One poke and hour later, I was done.

Among other news, I only gained 2 pounds this month!! It must have been the two weeks I was sick and just not feeling well. My blood pressure is still fine. I start going in every two weeks now. That will hopefully make the last 12 wks go by super fast. And best of all, I go back on Friday for my 3d/4d US! I can't wait to see her again!!

Thank God for another great appt and that we are both still healthy!!

the things I do for food...

2011-01-30T20:44:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is my dreaded 1 hour glucose test and I can't eat for like 4 hours before my appt, which happens to be at 9:15am.

You might be wondering what the problem is. I can assure you it isn't the blood draws, I'd rather have my blood drawn than get a shot any day. It's not the nasty stuff I have to drink. It never bothered me before and I'm praying it is the same this time around, altho a lot has been different this pregnancy. It's not that I have a guaranteed 1 hour wait, it wouldn't be the first time and I have acsess to facebook. What bothers me is the fact that I either have to get up before 5 to eat my breakfast (I normally get up at about 6:45) or I just have to not eat til after my appt.

Last week I tested out my different options on how I could handle this upcoming appt. Brad doesn't see why I can't just not eat until after my appt. Even when I'm not pregnant, I can not go without breakfast. Not only does it ruin my whole day, but it also makes me feel quite sick. So, that didn't work for me. I gave in and ate by 8:30. Maybe I could handle that if I was going to be done by 9:15 but that is just the beginning of it all!

I stayed up later than normal to eat a midnight snack or a 10pm snack to see if the next morning I was still full from it. Nope, just as hungry as every other morning.

I thought about getting up at 5 to eat breakfast but I just didn't do it.

Normally when I eat breakfast, after we take Hannah to school at 7:35, I am hungry by 11. SOmetimes that changes depending on what I eat (cereal, toast, bagel, different drinks, banana in my cereal, waffles). I ate all those different things lsat week and nothing kept me full past 11. What can I say, I'm feeding two humans!

Brad thinks I'm crazy to put so much thought into a silly dr appt and I'm beginning to wonder that myself!! I have decided to get up at 5 to eat and I'll let you know tomorrow how everything goes!

It's 9pm and I have got to go to bed now!!

stubborn, like her dad....

2011-01-25T12:39:00.003-05:00

That may be a matter of opinion. Since becoming pregnant with baby #3, I think a lot about what she is going to be like. We already have one child like me and one child like daddy. I'll let you decide who is like who. How can this one be different, or will she be the same as one of the other two?

I love it when I'm sitting on the couch and I feel Abigail doing her usual gymnastics insde me. In the middle of the night, that's not so cute. For weeks I have been trying to catch her on video as my stomach makes weird movements. I promise you, as soon as I lift my shirt or turn on the camera she stops! It's the same when I'm trying to get someone else to feel her move. And then as soon as we stop paying attention to her, she starts again! Daddy was lucky enough to feel her kicking the other night in bed, finally. He was amazed at how active and forceful she was! She can really do some crazy things in there. And it is non-stop. I don't remember the other two being nearly as active.

Anyay, since we are planning on this being our last child, I really want to get it on video so I can never forget. Seems she wants me to forget, tho!

Chores

2011-01-23T18:02:00.002-05:00

Did I just say the dreaded "c" word?! I think I did! All my life I've waited for the day I could torture my kids with the same torture I recieved as a child. Doing dishes, helping with laundry, picking up after themselves. That day has been coming for the 6 yr old of the house for quite some time but I couldn't decide just exactly how to go about doing it. I said that this past summer she was going to have some chores while she was out of school and then my brother and his wife and big german shepherd came to live with us for the summer. They took her room and most opportunity to torture.
I think I snuck it up on her by gradually asking her to do small things for me ocassionally and by calling it "helping mommy." She has no idea when she's doing chores and there has been no mention of wages so for the time she is willing to work for free. =)

Todays "helping mommy" list consisted of:

She willingly took everyone's plates to the sink after lunch.
I had a basket full of nothing but socks that needed matched and folded. That is one of the jobs I hate the most. After I matched hers I handed her a huge pile of similar socks and she went to work putting them together in pairs and putting them away, along with all her other laundry that I had folded.
Her and Ryan, together, took clothes out of the dryer and put them on my bed to be folded and then took the clothes out of the washer and put them in the dryer for me.
I'm sure there were other jobs done but I can't remember them now.

And then she said something that I'm sure she'll regret one day, hopefully along time from now. "Do you have any other jobs you want me to do?"

Did this pregnant mom mention that she loves having a 6 yr old girl who, for now, enjoys helping mommy?! I added the word girl because the 4 yr old boy is a different story and post altogether. His jobs are much easier and fewer for a reason.

What. A. Trip.

2011-01-17T13:42:00.003-05:00

We spent a fun, relaxing weekend in NC celebrating Christmas with my parents and siblings. The whole weekend was a great time but here are the highlights of our trip home. Just so you know, if you can do a post just on the trip home, somthings not right!!

The 4 yr old wild man fell asleep within minutes of leaving. That is unusual but I'll take whatever I can get!
An hour later the boy woke up, kinda groggy and not looking so good. One drink of gatorade later and every single thing he had eaten earlier that day came back up. Not once but twice!
We were within minutes from our stopping point to eat but made an emergency stop on the side of the road to remove all soiled clothing, pillows and car seat cover and to scrap what chunks we could out of the truck seat and floor.
Naked boy sat on my lap up to McDonalds. After carrying him to the bathroom in his undies (it was 35* outside) to get cleaned up he said, "those people were looking at me cuz I don't have clothes on." Poor guy.
GPS/wife in a box/crazy lady took us on a 2 mile trip thru the country to do a U turn to take us to the nearest Kmart to buy supplies to clean out the truck.
All the while Ryan was on my lap in the front seat, buckled in with Abigail and I.
Thankfully we didn't see any cops on the 6 mile trip up the interstate.
Hannah serenaded (sp?) us with a song she made up about the wife in a box and added a few lines about Jesus and his wings. Don't know where that came from but I got a laugh.
Half an hour later and one partially clean truck and kid later, we could still smell the chunkage (lots of pineapple--it could have been worse) but we were on our way, again.
There was NO traffic the entire trip. Unusual but, again, I'll take what I can get!
Another emergency stop on the side of the road to remove a vomit filled kmart bag from sick boy's lap and to replace it with a trash bag and we were on our way, again.
The rest of the trip was peaceful while the kids watched a movie.
McDonalds messed up our food when we finally felt like eating something but what else is new.
We got back to Charleston and Ryan announced he had to go #2 so we stopped at a gas station.
10 minutes later and no BM, we were on our way, again. Thankfully with just half an hour to go!
Our 4 hr trip turned into about 6 hrs but we made it, safe and sound!

snow day!

2011-01-12T20:07:00.003-05:00

Patches

Sammy

Ryan has been begging me for days to let him go play in the snow but I hadn't been letting him because he's sick and I'm trying to get us all well before going to NC this weekend to finally celebrate Christmas with my family. With all the fresh snow we had today, I just couldn't say no anymore!

Things have gone surprisingly smooth today. Usually when Hannah doesn't have school they play great together for awhile and then she gets tired of him and they end up fighting all evening.

I'm suspecting there will no school again tomorrow but I haven't gotten the call yet. They like to call at 5:20am and tell us. It's been snowing basically all day. So far we have at least 6 inches, probably more.

Providence 365

2011-01-07T09:28:00.005-05:00

Eph 1:11,"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

The other day I wrote about being thankful for my inheritance that awaits me in heaven. I couldn't think of anything to say about the second half of the verse until I started thinking about his will. I can't help but think of all the things in my life that have happened because of His Will, not mine. So I went back thru some of the pics I have on my computer right now to get a few that represent his will in my life.

Our house. This pic was taken from the railroad tracks so it isn't a very good one b/c of all the weeds and stuff growing. Brad bought our house a few months before we got married from his great uncle and I know it isn't fancy or great but it holds all of the memories we've made siince the very beginning and I love it for no other reason that that! Since everything happens for a reason, I'm assuming it was God's Will for us to have this house.

Family. It was God's Will for me to have the parents I have and the siblings I have. I'm so thankful for every one of them.

My husband. I know I've said it before but I completely believe God moved us both to WV within a year of each other so we could meet in school and spend the rest of our lives together.

I shouldn't even have to say anything about this. I love this unborn child as much as the two children I've cared for for the past 6 and 4 yrs. I'm so thankful God saw fit to let me do it again one more time.

I'm so thankful that God is in charge and knows what he's doing in my life. I know that my will is nothing compared to His Will. Even in situations that I don't understand or when I think he doesn't know what he is doing, I always look back and thank him for what he did!

Providence 365

2011-01-05T21:49:00.003-05:00

The verse for this week is Ephesians 1:11, "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:" This week I have been focusing on my inheritance.

Since I can't actually take a picture of the inheritance that awaits me in Heaven, I took a picture of the next best thing! I'm so thankful that I was chosen long ago to have a place in heaven!

baby dr appt

2011-01-03T19:25:00.002-05:00

Another month down, only about 4 left! Everything went great today, except that I'm gaining too much weight! The dr didn't tell me that but 20lb is too much when you still have 4 months left! My blood pressure has remained good, baby's HR is still fine, she's kicking me like crazy. Mr dr did say that if everyone was as easy as me, he wouldn't get so behind all the time. (I waited an hour to see him today) I'm so thankful to God that I have had very easy, smooth sailing pregnancies. I have another appt in a month, when I'll have to do the glucose test where you have blood drawn, drink that nasty stuff and then have blood drawn an hour later. Then at the end of that week I have my 3D US and after that my appts go to every 2 wks for about 3 visits and then I'll finally be to every week, when he'll start checking me. It sounds like things are going very fast when you break it down by appts!

A new year

2011-01-01T00:28:00.003-05:00

I have so many things going thru my head right now. I just can't believe another year has come and gone already. The Lord has chosen to bless my family with so much. We are all so underserving of everything we have. I often wonder why he is so gracious to us. We continually fail him, yet he continues to love us and give us things we don't deserve. I am so thankful to serve such as amazing God. I hope this year I can pass on the same favors to others around me.

I can remember 10 yrs ago, all the hype about what's going to happen with the world in Y2K. I remember watching the fireworks with Brad. We were only dating then. I remember thinking that I can't imagine 10 yrs from then. What will life be like. And now it's happening. It's been a great 10 yrs. Now I'm thinking I can't imagine what it will be like 10 yrs from now. And before I know it, I'll be there, thinking I can remember 10 yrs ago sitting on the couch, typing this blog and thinking about this minute. Don't know if that makes sense to you but it does me!

I'm looking forward to so many things this year. Of course, the birth of my third child is pretty high on the list. I also want to think of birthdays this year in a posiitive light. I usually hate thinking that my kids are a year older or that myself or Brad are getting older. I want to view it differently this year. I should be thankful for the years that God has given us, not hating the fact that we are getting another year together.

I'm looking forward to living out the next chapter that God wrote in the Palmer book long, long ago.

What's it gonna be?!

2010-12-27T20:17:00.002-05:00

Today has been a day of ups and downs. The day started off great when Ryan didn't get up early and I woke up at 8:20. That is sleeping in at our house! Ryan had a dr appt that we had to leave for about an hour and 20 min later. So we rushed around, showering, eating and whatever pretty quickly. We had been getting snow off and on all day yesterday and I imagine thru the night so I wanted to give us plenty of time to get to the dr for Ryan's 4 yr check up.

Brad had been waiting on a call from work to see if he had to go in today. He was supposed to have this week off b/c he still has like 72 hrs of vaca to take before the year is iup or he looses it. Well, his boss needed him to work so they were going to be nice and let it roll over this time. Turns out he didn't have to go in, which became the second up for the day.

We got to the dr at 10:10, with 5 minutes to spare. An hour later, we were STILL sitting in the lobby and I noticed that people who came in later than us were being called back and we weren't. First down... So I went and asked the receptionist and she had just noticed we were still out there. She said there was something wrong with the computers so the girls in the back didn't know we were there. She said we'd be going back soon.

FINALLY, we got back there. It was still some time before the dr came in. The kids were getting restless and then both had to go the bathroom. I was just annoyed all the way around. But Ryan did great. He is 37lb and 42 1/2 in tall. He didn't do great on the eye test. He couldn't see the line that the nurse wanted him to read. She had to go up a line so I'll be making him an eye dr appt sometime. I hope he has his dad's eyes and not mine and he was just nervous today. I asked to have his inhaler refilled b/c we're getting low on "puffs" for the one he has now. I knew I'd need a new one before the winter is over so she called it in while we were there. He got 2 shots. He doesn't have to get anymore until he's like 11. Except the flu shot he gets every year. He was so brave. I feel more bad for him getting shots than I do for Hannah. She acts insane when it comes to shots. Last time she was screaming like crazy and rolling around on the floor and running from me!! So by the time we get her on the table and under control, I feel like I could give it to her myself! My poor Ryan just layed there so still. He gets so embarrassed when they pull his pants down. I hate the look on his face. He wants to fight but doesn't. He didn't cry or anything. It was 12:45 when we left. You do the math about how long we were there.....WAY. TOO. LONG. Second down for the day.

Daddy had texted me at some point to let me know he didn't have to go to work so we met him for lunch at Pizza Hut. Another up for the day.

We had planned on going to walmart together to get groceries but after the morning I had at the dr I said I didn't want to go. He said he'd go while we went home. Major UP!! I gave him a short list and we went our seperate ways.

I stopped by the pharmacy on the way home to get Ryan's inhaler. They said the insurance wouldn't approve it and wanted us to try something different. Even tho that's the same inhaler he's been on. I had forgot until then that we had trouble last year getting the inhaler too. Major DOWN!! By this time I was all done with everything. They said I should call the dr to see what to do next. Here we go again. So when we got home after 2 I put the kids down for a nap and called the dr. I had to leave a message with the nurse. Of course, she didnt call me back. I didn't even bother calling again. It's a good thing we didn't need that inhaler today, that's all I can say about it. Ughh. It makes me mad just to think about it all. I am so irritated with the system. I don't see why the ins has to put up such a fight about a $27 inhaler. We pay them enough every single month for them to pay for a measly inhaler once a year. DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.

We spent the rest of the afternoon, early evening lounging around and playing the Wii. UP! I love watching Ryan play it. He's good at the sword fighting and cycling. Hannah isn't that into it.

I made a later supper of shepherd's pie. Then we played a game of pick up sticks, which was one of my favorite childhood games. I was so excited when Hannah got it for christmas! Of course, I won. UP!! =) Then we played several games of UNO. Hannah didn't want to play anymore after the first game but Ryan played 3 more games of it with us! It was a lot of fun. UP!

Now we are watching the movie The Velveteen Rabbit. Then it will be shower time for the kids and off to bed so we can go to my sister's house in Cols tomorrow.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T21:29:00.002-05:00

Another Christmas has come and gone. I have to say I'm kinda bummed about it. It seems like we spend so much time buying stuff, decorating, going to tons of parties and then the big day comes and it's all over in like half an hour! Now all we have left is a big mess and toys that don't fit anywhere! Don't get me wrong, I love everything about Christmas. I guess that's why I wish it would last longer! I was telling Brad earlier that it will be next Christmas before we can even blink. Ok, I know it won't be here that quick but it will be here before we know it! Well, we had a good time while it lasted. Now I'm ready for Monday so I can get this house cleaned up and get into the kids' rooms and get rid of some old toys. Hopefully with Hannah being home this week, I'll be able to do all the things I want. We'll see......

Santa, baby!

2010-12-20T19:17:00.003-05:00

I must have been real good this year. Santa brought me a Wii and an air purifier! I've always been anti-gaming systems because I feel like it's too easy to get addicted to that stuff and start putting it ahead of other things. But I do see the Wii being a good source of family fun for us! Especially now that it is winter and we can't go camping or do any of the other stuff we like to do. We just have to work hard to keep it down low on the priority list!

So now, I can breathe easy when I'm beating Brad at table tennis, literally! Basketball and all the other action stuff will have to wait a few months. And I can't wait to bring it to family gatherings in NC. I'm dying to see my dad and brother duking it out over ping pong! They get into it when it's the real deal so this ought to be interesting!

I've been wanting an air purifier for quite some time. We all have allergies during the summer and with two inside dogs, I'm sure our air could use some purifying! I hate when I'm sitting on the couch and the sun is shining just right thru the window and I can see every single particle of dust and whatever else floating around. Hopefully I'll be seeing less of that now!

Hannah has two more days of school left before she's done for the christmas break. We are doing christmas with Brad's family on the 24th and will do it at home on christmas morning, if I can make it that long! I already asked Brad if we could let them open gifts tonight! We won't be seeing my side of the family until the middle of January. It's kinda a bummer but I guess that will make the holidays extra long this year.

birthday boys

2010-12-18T14:04:00.003-05:00

At 9:18 this morning my baby boy turned 4 years old. I remember it like it was yesterday. He has made these past 4 yrs amazing! I don't know what I'd do without him. He is sweet, smart (not book smart, the other smart), adventurous and will always be my baby boy!

Also, today is my dad's birthday. I'm so thankful for the upbringing that I had and tho I doubted him many times along the way, I think he did alright by me! =) Happy birthday, dad, I love you!

Snow Day!!

2010-12-16T16:31:00.002-05:00

I think my truck looks pretty good with white trim!

Hannah pulling Ryan. Even tho we live in the mountains of WV, we don't have any around us so the kids have to do other things with the sled unless I feel like taking them down to the church for real sled riding.

Our back porch steps. I'd say we had 6 inches easily when I took this pic early in the day.

Brad's coveralls don't fit me this winter!!

I love how everything is blurry but Ryan. It makes him look like he's going super fast but the scooter doesn't really go that fast!! I'd say mamaw picked a good gift for his b-day!

So there ya have it. Hannah didn't have school today so we spent the day playing in the snow (I only lasted about half an hour), drinking hot chocolate, playing games and play doh, and just goofing off. I did manage to get a few loads of laundry washed. I won't see them again until bedtime when I have to clean the bed off so I can collapse on it!

I'm not a very fun snow player this winter. Abigail keeps me tired as it is, let alone trudging thru 6 inches of snow pulling both kids on a sled! I couldn't even pull thru for them and make a snowman! Oh well. That gives me a good excuse to stay indoors! If only daddy was home more...

We've had a good day but the kids are getting tired of each other's games of school, puppy and whatever else they do back there!! I'm ready to settle in for the night and read them some books and get them in the bath for bed!!

good day...so far

2010-12-14T15:47:00.002-05:00

Today has been one of those days that you wish you had more often!! I got the call last night that there was a 2 hr delay at the school today so I knew in advance that we could sleep in some. I was nervous about how well the kids, and I, were going to sleep since we all took a three hour nap yesterday. After I knew there was a delay I let the kids stay up until daddy got home from work, which was after 8. No one woke me up during the night for any reason so at 7 am when I rolled over and heard Hannah coughing in her room, I was not upset that I was awake at 7 even tho Hannah didn't have to be at school until 9:45. I laid in bed for quite some time thinking that Hannah would be in any minute but she never came in so I got up around 7:45 and went in her room. Ryan slept til alittle after 8. That's unusual for him!

Ryan ended up over at grandma's house close to 11 and I walked around the house wondering what I was going to do. That doesn't happen very often! I had already done tons of laundry the other day, the kitchen was clean, I swept the floors but they weren't bad either so I did some of the chores that I put off like match and fold socks and address christmas cards. Then it was lunchtime and Ryan came back from grandma's. I wandered around the house alittle more until it was time to get Hannah from school and here I am now. I talked myself out of going to the mall with the kids. I think Ryan and I will do that tomorrow, if the weather is fine.

The kids have been painting, riding Ryan's scooter, and they took grandma's mail to her. Now they are playing baby puppy in Hannah's room. They are feeling 100% better from the stomach bug they had over the weekend.

Now the evening activities begin. Hannah has spelling words to practice, it's about time to start supper, then it will be time for the kids to shower, read some books and go to bed!

it's here...

2010-12-13T08:49:00.002-05:00

Well, looks like the stomach bug finally reached our house! Hannah has had a cold over the weekend so when she came out of her room to vomit last night, I was hoping it was just from lots of mucus in her stomach. She made it to the bathroom but didn't completely make it to the toilet! Within half an hour or so, Ryan woke up vomiting too. He was fast asleep so he just threw up all over his bed and himself. This is only the second time he's had the stomach bug in his 4 years. Actually it won't be 4 years until next weekend. Hannah had it a lot her preschool year and even spent a night in the hospital getting IV fluids because she vomited for 2 days straight and was really dehydrated. Anyway, after Ryan woke up vomiting, I knew it wasn't just the mucus so we all moved out to the livingroom where we have hardwood floors. So both kids continued to vomit all night. It's been a couple hours since Hannah vomited and probably 4 or 5 hours for Ryan and they are both holding down some sprite and trying to liven up so I'm hoping we're in the clear now. This isn't a fun way to spend a snow day but at least it won't be counted against Hannah!

In other news, mom and dad debated on going back home or still going to Cincy to see dad's parents with the bad weather. They did decide to go on to Cincy so I'm praying for safe travels for them today and tomorrow!

We had a great weekend together. We had a family birthday party for Ryan on Saturday. It was also nice to hear dad preach on Sunday.

Time to go switch vomit laundry! Happy Monday everyone!

baby dr appt

2010-12-06T16:42:00.002-05:00

Meet Abigail. She finally showed us her profile at my dr appt this morning! I got out Hannah's US pictures and her profile looked exactly the same in utero. I couldn't find Ryan's to compare them. =( I'll have to dig deeper for them.....eventually.

I am continually amazed by the ultrasounds. I love being able to see her move and feel it in my stomach at the same time. It's such a wonderful thing. She was stretching out her neck (you can tell in the picture that she looks like she's looking up) and arching her back. Then she would turn her head to the side so all we could see what the back of her head. I also saw her open her mouth. I wish Brad had been able to come to this appt as well. Right now I can't imagine her any other way than this and I wish I could see her everyday! Soon (but not soon enough) I'll be holding her in my arms and won't be able to imagine her any other way. Then in a couple years, when she's toddling around the house, I won't be able to imagine her any other way. God is good!!!

In other news, I wrote last week about Ryan's coughing problems flaring up. I was concerned that the inhaler wasn't going to be enough this time around and that I was going to have to take him to the dr to get him on a steriod for wheezing. The Lord saw fit to answer prayers and he has actually been improving! His coughing is getting better just by doing the inhaler several times a day. And I'm actually only doing in when he wakes up and before he goes to bed. God is good!!

Redneck Wedding

2010-12-05T16:40:00.006-05:00

Eight years ago on a cold, snowy Thursday, Brad and I decided we were tired of waiting around to get married. No, I wasn't pregnant, no I didn't think I was pregnant. Aafter dating over 3 1/2 years we just didn't feel like planning the wedding anymore. Brad never wanted a big wedding where he had to stand in front of people. I always did but gave it up for him. =) So we met at K Mart after work and bought his $70 wedding band (neither one of us knows where it is now), then went to the court house and got our license and then went home to have dad marry us. Mom and dad knew what was going on because I had to call from the court house several times to find out where mom and dad were born and things like that. I know the ladies there thought we were crazy and expected us back within a few months wanting a divorce (is that even where you go when you want a divorce?). We were only 19, I would probably think the same thing. When we got back to my parents' house, I just wanted dad to sign the paper that said we were married but he insisted that we go over to the church and say our vows. I'll never forget that night. I decided I might as well put my wedding dress on, I had had it almost a year by then, and Brad borrowed a suit from my dad.

Eight years later I have never regretted marrying that man. I only regret doing it in December!! I love him more every day. I am fully convinced that it was God's Will for us to meet in WV and get married. If there is such a thing as a soul mate for every person, he's definently mine! I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him. I'm looking forward to all the chapters that we have left in our book. I'm so excited to experience them with him!

Not gonna win this time.

2010-12-02T19:56:00.002-05:00

Since the dr put Ryan on an inhaler instead of having to rent that stupid nebulizer all winter long, I've done pretty well with controlling his "reactive airways" issue. (similar to asthma but not...I know, don't ask) I basically know that whenever he gets a slight cold (tis the season), which is just a very mild runny nose, he is going to start the coughing so I automatically start giving him puffs of his inhaler once or twice a day. Well, it isn't working very well this time around! His cough has been getting progressively worse every night for the past two or three nights, even with doing the inhaler 3 times a day. When the inhaler doesn't work, we have to put him on a steriod which clears it up within days. But the steriod has it's side effects....grouchiness being the main one! Increased hunger and thirst being the next one. Both are worth dealing with for 5 days to get us all sleeping well again. I feel so sorry for the poor guy. He rarely coughs during the day but then spends all night long coughing and gagging. We've tried everything--raising his mattress, humidifier, cough meds, drink mixtures (honey and lemon juice is not good!) and anything else we can try. Anyway, I was hoping to avoid a trip to the dr since he has his 4 yr check up later this month but this is one thing that can't be cleared up on it's own once it gets to the point of wheezing. We'll see how it goes over the next few days. Just pray for my little guy! He always has lots of wheezing issues during the winter.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2010-12-01T17:16:00.002-05:00

It's kind of hard to see in my pictures but we had our first snow today....all day. Ryan kept saying he wants it to snow every day. I kept saying is it summertime yet?!

I'm so ready for this day to be done!!

2010-11-30T17:55:00.002-05:00

It has been raining non stop all. day. long. Like any other rainy day, it was perfect for curling up on the couch and watching tv all day and reading to my boy. That isn't what happened in this house!! I did read several books to him but not because I had nothing else to do!

I decided yesterday that I wasn't leaving the house today, except to take Hannah to school and pick her up. I picked the perfect day. But the rain didn't motivate me to get much of my work done. I started with transfering our books from our old bookshelf to a new one I brought home from my sister's house last weekend when we helped her move. I just knew this bookshelf would be big enough to get all our books on. Wrong! It's a good thing I brought home two bookshelves from her house. =) I have one filled up and the other about half full. I don't know how much room I saved by eliminating one short, long shelf and two small ones on either side of it and replacing it with two tall, skinny shelves but it'll work. I have a weakness for children's books. I have been resisting the urge to buy more everytime I'm at a thrift store because I just can't keep bringing home more books! I'm also trying to get into the habit of taking Ryan to the library but if you have seen our library, you'd know why it's not that exciting. When we lived in Ohio, the librabries were huge. Our library now is a trailer about 400 sq ft, I'd guess. They are building a new one out back which might encourage us to go more. I stopped several times to read to Ryan or change the laundry.

In other news, we got our tree up over the weekend. The kids had more fun decorating this year than I can remember in years past.

We also bought a recliner so Brad would leave me alone on the couch. =) We had to change the whole livingroom around to get it to fit. That same night we picked up the mini crib that will be Abigail's. It fits perfectly in her "area." Things are coming together slowly!

the news....

2010-11-25T11:37:00.002-05:00

Most of you who read this already know the news I'm talking about. I know I was the one who was determined NOT to know the sex of this child o' mine but I just coulnd't help it!! I really just don't know what I was thinking. I know one thing, my brain is suffering lots during this pregnancy, so I'm blaming it all on that!! For those of you reading this who don't know, the Lord has chosen to bless us with another...........GIRL!!! Brad came to his first ever appt with me. I think seeing the ultrasound, hearing her heart beat and seeing her wiggle on the screen was really good for him. He's your typical manly man. He doesn't get excited or emotional about anything. But I know he thought that ultrasound was pretty amazing. How can you not?! So now the hard part, picking a name. At least we have it narrowed down to one sex! That takes away half the work. We called mom to tell the kids they were having a sister and Ryan's exact words were, "oh poohy." It was priceless, the way he said it. I just love that boy. Now he'll have two sisters to protect in school. I also told him he will have to teach her how to play hot wheels. I'm now sure how the age gap will affect things but I'm excited for the next chapter of our lives to start!!

God's promise

2010-11-16T19:07:00.002-05:00

I love being reminded of God's promises to us! The fact that he always keeps his promises will never change! It rained all day and then right before dark, the sun came out just for a minute, before going below the horizon, to show us this lovely scene.

2010-11-15T18:30:00.002-05:00

I got this book called The Preschooler's Busy Book which has all kinds of creative activities and things to do with bored, misheivious kids who can't go outside, like my son. I decided today was the day we would spend time doing some of those activites.

We started with the hole puncher. He had fun with that for, oh, 5 minutes. After that he didn't want to do anything else in that book. So we turned to something that always entertains for hours:

Playdoh. We made toast and eggs and a big mess in general. After that, he was all done with any activities. So I gave up and went about getting some of my work done.

He loves helping me with laundry. I always let it fill up with water and then throw him things while he sits on the dryer and puts them in the washer. Then he uses a hanger to push the clothes down into the water. He found his spiderman hat that I had washed previously. By now it was around 10, he was already begging for lunch and I hadn't taken a shower yet so he settled on the couch with a rented Scooby Doo movie while I took a shower. I told him when the little hand on the clock gets back up to the 12, it will be time to eat (11:00).

He wanted to have a picnic outside but I told him that wouldn 't be happening until spring so we settl;ed for a picnic on the livingroom floor.

Then I decided I wanted to run to the store and get the few things I needed for the week, and some things I didn't need. We didn't run all the way to walmart since I only needed a few necessities (milk, bread, cereal, OJ, stuff like that). He always likes the quick trips because he can get his own buggy. He also had to take his teddy that he found at the bottom of the toybox.

By the time we got home, it was time to get Hannah. They painted and played for awhile. I fixed supper while they watches a few cartoons. After we ate it was time to do Hannah's spelling words, shower and read. I read 5 books but we were done by 6:15 so I said they could play for awhile but if they got crazy, I was making them go to bed. Soooo, things started smoothly and then they knocked the hamster's tunnels off his cage, the cage just barely made it, so I made them go to bed.

I'm exhausted. Brad is just now on his way home from work so I'm going to go reheat supper for him.

Week in review

2010-11-12T14:49:00.002-05:00

This has been one of the longer weeks I've had lately. Ryan and I spend MUCH of our time at home during the week, only leaving to take and pick Hannah up from school and grocery shop. I try to do all my running on grocery day so I don't have to leave the house everyday. That saves us gas money and money in general cuz I'm not shopping or eating out every day. This week, however, I left the house about every day and had an extra dog around so I have been feeling a bit behind on my normal stuff.

Monday-I had my regular monthly baby appt. My dr is about 45 min away so it's an all morning event when I go to the dr. Everything went great. I had bloodwork done to test for downsyndrome and I think some other things, all of which came back normal. Praise God! I also had to stop at the store to get something for grandma next door. She also had Ryan which makes getting him very easy. =) By the time I got home and got settled, it was time to pick Hannah up from school, do homework and start supper.

Tuesday-Ryan and I went grocery shopping. That also is an all morning event. I have to give Ryan lots of praise in this area because he is such a good boy when I drag him from store to store all morning. And he knows it. He frequently points out the fact that he's being such a good boy and is a good helper while we are grocery shopping. I don't know what changes when we get home, tho. =) Once agian, by the time we got home it was time to get Hannah, do homework and start supper.

Wed-I don't think Ryan and I went anywhere. A couple from church dropped off their little dog for me to petsit until Fri sometime. I tried to spend the day cleaning up our much neglected house. Oh yeah, I do remember playing soccer with Ryan outside, too. Of course, church in the evening. Then ice cream afterwards because Hannah didn't have school on Thur.

Thur- I had a lunch date with a couple of friends. One of which is a week more pregnant than I. So I took the kids to mamaw's before that and then had to go get them afterwards. Then more "trying" to get the house cleaned up.

Friday (today)-Brad was supposed to be off work but he was on call last night and until 8 am. He got called out at 5 this morning so I didn't know when I'd see him again! Ryan and I did our normal take Hannah to school and clean up. By now I have figured out the dog I'm petsitting and can get a few things done. Then Brad came home and started his work outside. We had an ins guy come out today to look at the camper. It was damaged by some big tree limbs during a storm this summer and now the whole floor is rotting out on the inside! We didn't know any damage had been done until much later. I'm praying they will total the camper so we can be done with it. We LOVE camping but the camper has been a lot of trouble for us over the past two years. Anyway, so Ryan hung out with daddy outside or grandma next door most of the morning. Then daddy took him and Hannah out to mamaw's with him while he goes down in the woods to "scope out" a spot near the deer cam where they have been getting pictures of a big buck at 9 or 9:30 every morning . I might also add that Brad hasn't got home from work before the kids went to bed once in the past 2 weeks. They love doing things with daddy, even if it's going down in the woods to look for a spot for him to sit while he hunts tomorrow. Any time they get with him is special. So hopefully the little dog will be going home this evening and we'll get to do something as a family.

Baby Bump

2010-11-05T10:45:00.001-04:00

I figure if one person is curious, I'm sure a lot of other people are too! I'll be 16 wks tomorrow.

Just like mom used to make

2010-11-02T18:43:00.002-04:00

Hannah didn't have school today so we were all looking forward to sleeping in alittle. We started out bedtime with Hannah and Ryan both in Hannah's bed (it's full size, thanks Jill and Adam). They had been begging to sleep together for quite sometime but it was always a school night or we all forgot or whatever. So I thought last night would be the perfect opportunity. They laughed and played for awhile and then things started to get quiet. I heard Ryan cough a few times. Then he yelled for me. When I went in, Hannah was asleep and he wanted in his own bed. Which was fine with me because I knew they'd be up early if they slept together! I was willing to suffer thru getting up early so the kids could have a sleep over. =) Oh the thingsus mothers do!

At 6:45 this morning, Hannah came and woke me up saying that the sheet was messed up on her bed and she couldn't fix it because we had pushed her bed up against the wall so Ryan wouldn't fall out last night. Sooooo I went and fixed it. I figured she would want to stay up but she didn't, as far as I know. Then at about 7:45 Ryan came and woke me up saying he had went potty. I said, "good, now go get back in bed." I knew that I was up for good that time. I heard him playing thru the monitor and then I heard Hannah join him and I dozed until about 8:30 when they came and wanted something to eat.

When Hannah doesn't have school I like to do special things together with them because we don't get tp spend the whole day together much anymore. I wanted to make some cinnamon rolls, from the can, for breakfast but didn't have any. I spotted a can of "garlic bread" biscuits I had bought awhile back. I had another can I had already used but i was very disappointed in them because the label was very misleading. I thought I was getting garlic bread but they were just plain biscuits only long and skinny, not round. So I decided homemade donuts just like mom used to make them would be perfect for us to do together. I let them form the dough into whatever shape they wanted and then I cooked them in the oil and then I let them shake them in the cinnamon/sugar mixture or the powdered sugar mixture. They loved it and were eating them as we went. They turned out really good.

If you look closely at Ryan's hair in the last picture, you can see that it looks longer right thru the middle than down the sides. It has been doing that ever since I gave him a mohawk last summer! Now that strip that I left stands straight up all the time! I don't know how to get it to lay flat anymore! It's so annoying to me. I stare at it all the time. I just wanted to point that out so you can all stare at it in every picture like I do! =)

Anyway, after a sugar-filled breakfast, late in the morning (Ryan and I are normally eating lunch at 11 because we eat breakfast so early in the morning), the kids played happily while I folded some laundry and loaded the dishwasher. I don't even know what all they were doing. I did open some playdoh containers for them and the crayon tub so I know of a few things. That's another thing I like about Hannah being home. Her and Ryan usually play well together so it's nice to have her around to entertain him for me. He has never been one to play well by himself. We talked to my mom on the phone for awhile and I think I might of read a few books.....pregnancy brain....I don't really remember. Around noon I sent them down to the mailbox and we all ended up next door at grandma's because they came back with her mail too.

After lunch they played outside for awhile while grandma was raking leaves and chopping them up with the lawn mower and I went and voted. While there a lady came in and somehow it came about that she is pregnant. Everyone was shocked because, altho her t-shirt was a little baggy, you could not tell she was pregnant! She said she is 19 wks. While she was talking to the ladies I was over behind a booth. I stepped out and, showing my belly, (not my naked belly) said that I am only 15 wks. They were all surprised how much bigger my "bump" is than hers!! I envy the girls who are half way there and don't look pregnant at all! I went home and hung out outside with the kids for awhile and then we went in because it was getting cold.

We went to McD's for supper and then by the time we got home it was bathtime, book time and bedtime!

Pretty awesome day.

Determined

2010-11-01T11:39:00.002-04:00

Is it really November already? It seems like just yesterday we were trick or treating last year, getting ready for the holidays last year. And here we are again. Getting ready to do it again. I've already seen half a dozen black Friday and now pre-black Friday commercials!

Ugghhhh! I hate to feel so annoyed that it is already this time of year again. It has become more of a chore, to me anyway, to get thru the last two months of the year than it should be. This is supposed to be such a fun, joyful, family-filled time. Why do we make it so hard on ourselves? The past few years I feel like I haven't really stood still long enough to enjoy the real reason for the season (Thanksgiving included). There are parties for school, church, ladies group, friends, family and everything else you can think of. Ryan's birthday has to be thrown in there somewhere (a week before Chirstmas, obviously I didn't plan that)! Brad and I's anniversary is the beginning of Dec. We NEVER do anything to celebrate because there is always a party or get together about every weekend in Dec. Don't forget the dr appts for flu shots, yearly check ups, and the winter sicknesses. On top of that I have added dr appts for this baby! Now that my side of the family is all in different states (with the exception of my little brother) there is lots of traveling to be done too!

So I have already determined that this holiday season is going to be different for us. I want to be sure that we focus on the things that are most important. There are going to be lots of things I can't avoid or change but I'm going to take every opportunity I have to do nothing this year!!

Halloween

2010-10-29T10:08:00.002-04:00

Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!

My little spiderman and skeleton princess!

*Ryan's really not as "thick" as he looks here, he just has more clothes underneath to keep him warm. =)

Monday

2010-10-25T19:01:00.002-04:00

This is my day:

Ryan had a low grade fever and was feeling puny, complaining of a headache again. He sounded stuffed up to me so I'm thinking he might be getting a sinus infection or something. I hope not but I wouldn't be surprised. Motrin has proven to solve the problem quite nicely.
I wanted to give the dogs a bath before I took a bath because, well, it only makes sense! So I cleaned the laundry room, where they sleep. There's no point in cleaning them if I don't clean where they sleep and what they sleep on. That involves hands and knees on the floor with a washrag and bowl of hot, soapy water and a load of laundry. After bathing the dogs in the tub, I had to clean the tub.

On a side note, have you ever read the books If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If you Give a Moose a Muffin and If You Give a Pig a Pancake? There are others in the series that we have but I can't think of them right now. I think my dog bathing sounds a bit like those stories. It's a never ending cycle!

After my own bath, Ryan and I cleaned his room and swept it. He tried to get out of it at first by saying he didn't feel good and needed to rest so I gave him the option of taking a nap or helping me and, of course, he didn't want to take a nap so he helped me. =)
I forget what exactly I did next but I know I loaded the dishwasher, did a couple loads of laundry, ate lunch and filed some bills.
Oh yeah, I also received a package in the mail from my dear s.i.l which contained some things for Hannah and Ryan from Kara and some goodies for me! Thanks again Jess!
After I got Hannah from school we worked on her spelling words for the week. She brought home a bunch of work from last week, including her spelling test from last week. She got a 67 on it!! We practiced those words every single night but I knew she wasn't going to do well. She couldn't get several of them right. Who gives a first grades the words "them" "then" and "thin" on the same test?! Well, Hannah couldn't keep them straight. Anyway, I clearly expressed that I was not happy with that grade and that we would have to work harder this week if I saw she was having just as much trouble as she did last week. When we started working on this weeks words, she had a meltdown. First of all she thought I was mad at her because of the grade, which I never said, and I made sure she knew after that that I wasn't mad at her. She was crying that she is not a good speller and can't do it and so on. Finally we got thru the words. Shew!
Then I had to make her mad again when I reminded her that daddy said she had to clean her room this evening. That caused another meltdown and lots more crying.
By suppertime I had a headache and had to send the kids outside to play so they'd quit bickering. It rained a lot this morning but the sun did eventually make an appearance and it was about 70 degrees. They ended up next door at grandma's but I just didn't care.
I let them play in the bathtub for a change, since I just cleaned it! Then we read a few books and it was bedtime at 7 on the dot.
I have a feeling I won't be far behind.
Brad is on his way home, finally.

Sunday

2010-10-24T18:50:00.003-04:00

I wish I could say I sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather God blessed us with today but I just didn't.

I did open the windows so I guess I enjoyed it alittle.

Ryan was being super whiny all thru church and after church he was yawning like crazy so I knew something was up. I thot maybe he was just extra tired because we were out late last night and then he was up early this morning like always. He was complaining of a headache and chose to take a nap instead of eat lunch so I immediately felt his head and he was indeed warm! SO I gave him some tylenol, chewables (oh how I love you!), and sent him to bed. An hour and a half later and he was up and feeling tons better. He still didn't want to eat and didn't eat all afternoon. Him and Hannah played outside all afternoon while daddy worked out there. I was in the house working all day. Boo!! We got the computer and desk out of baby's room and into the playroom so I wanted to get everything back in it's place and get that corner of the baby's room dusted and swept. Then I cleaned out some more junk of from under my sink and out of the medicine cabinet. I started another goodwill bag and filled the trash can up! I really am getting serious about decluttering this house! I did a load of towels and hung them out on the line and cleaned up the kitchen. Almost 4 hours exactly after I gave Ryan the tylenol he started acting cranky again and getting warm. We finally got him to eat some mac n cheese and smokies for supper so he could have a piece of candy. We watched some tv and then daddy gave them a shower. Him and Hannah got ready and went to church and I just put Ryan in bed. Hopefully he'll feel better in the morning!

baby, baby, baby

2010-10-22T16:07:00.002-04:00

Why does it have to be so hard to pick names for a baby?! I have been picking a new name that I love every two weeks! I have been thru a lot of girls names but have only settled on one boys name that I like. And just over the past few days, I don't really like that name either! It has been this way every time. After I say the name in my head for a week, it suddenly doesn't sound right for my child. I wish my children could come with a name. It would be so much easier for me. So I currently like the name Ava Joy. I just thought of that while sitting here. That's what made me think to do this post.

In other baby news, I'm counting down to my next ultrasound. I go for my 16 wk check up on Nov 8 and then 2 wks after that I go for the us. That's when I could find out what I'm having. I've gotta say, I'm changing my mind about that every 2 weeks too!! I'm so undecided now. One day I know for sure I don't want to know. The next day maybe it would be fine to find out.

Another thing I keep changing is where the baby's room is going to be. Most of you know we don't have another bedroom for this baby to call it's own. For awhile we were going to put it in the playroom (Brad didn't like the idea but I did) now we are putting it in the other half of our closet/hallway/old bedroom. I don't really know what the room is called. Before we built on (after I had Ryan) this room was our bedroom. We built on a new master bedroom, which connects to this room because our bathroom connects to this room. We put a wall up to split the room in half and made half a big walk in closet and the other half houses our desktop computer, file cabinets and other misc stuff. So I've been throwing out lots of stuff and we are in the process of getting that area into a small baby's room. We gave our big sectional couch to Brad's brother and moved the basically new couch we bought several years ago that we never use out of the playroom and into the place of the sectional. Now there is room in the playroom for the computer desk. Shew! That's a lot to think about, I know!

I wonder what I'll change next?!

I love my boys of fall!!

2010-10-19T17:07:00.004-04:00

Looking just like his daddy!!

If you listen to country music I'm sure you've heard the song "The Boys of Fall." I don't know who sings it but he is talking about high school football. Around here we have a different type of "fall boys." I'm sure the pictures say it all! Ryan is going to be a hunter just like his daddy. They enjoyed an evening alone last night while Hannah and I enjoyed an evening alone at home. While we were playing barbies and coloring and reading books, they were sitting out in the woods. I know how important these times are for both the kids.

So tonight we are switching kids. Hannah has been so excited all day about getting to go out with daddy alone tonight. They are going to McD's and to get Hannah a halloween costume. Ryan isn't too excited about spending the evening alone with me since we spend every day alone together! So he's playing on the computer while his corndog cooks. Who knows what the rest of the evening will hold for us. Maybe a movie or just playing outside.

A day of firsts

2010-10-18T18:44:00.003-04:00

I did several things today that I've never done before. I must say, I'm glad this day is over, the hard part, anyway!

I made homemade applesauce for the first time. It was really good warm over vanilla ice cream.

I made an apple pie for the first time. I haven't tried it but I sent Hannah over to grandma's with a piece and some ice cream and later this evening she told me my only fault with the pie is that I don't make it often enough! I take that as a compliment! I'll try it later. =)

I made Bob Evan's cheddar baked potato soup for the first time. I don't know what went wrong but something didn't turn out right. It tasted good but the soup part didn't mix up right. It was good enough to eat.

As you can see, I spent all afternoon in the kitchen. If you know me, you know that's NOT where I like to be!! And my feelings didn't change any after today.

Brad took Ryan hunting with him for the first time this evening. I took a pic but honestly just don't feel like getting up to get my camera and wire so I can put the pic on here. They look so cute in their camo.

I'd really love to say I was going to sit here all evening and do nothing but my boys need socks and undies! The laundry is done, I just have to get it out of the basket and in their drawers. That's the worst part of the job! I hate matching socks!!

We finally got the huge computer desk out of our bedroom and to Nat and Cheryl. So I spent a couple hours this morning throwing things away and starting a goodwill bag in our bedroom. I don't know how we accumulate so much stuff. I didn't get much done but I think we finally have a place picked out for this baby. I'm sure it will change again before it actually gets here but we are making a start!

good news

2010-10-16T13:09:00.002-04:00

Turns out I was right about Patches. She has an abcessed anal gland. If you don't know about anal glands, you should look it up, even tho I know you won't! =) We are going to try antibiotics and see if that will take care of the problem and if not I'll have to take her back and do what they wanted to do today, which is sedate her and express the anal glands and get them cleaned out. I'm glad she's not dying! I knew it all along but I get a little worked up sometimes. Don't we all over things we love?! Thanks for the prayers!

I'm dying here!!!

2010-10-15T15:43:00.002-04:00

Ok, most of you won't care about this or even understand why it bothers me so but I found a spot on my dog's rear this afternoon that is definently not normal!! (I'm hoping for an abcessed anal gland and not cancer or anything crazy) Pray for my Patches!! I've been feeling sick to my stomach ever since and I will until I get her checked out. You all know how I am about my animals. Especially my dogs!! Not only is Patches a really good girl who was one of my first "kids" but we don't have so much extra money these days with a baby on the way. I have a feeling I might need some of that $300 I paid my dr on Moday back!! She has an appt tomorrow so if you think about us between now and then, say a prayer for her! =) Thank you!

my thought for the day

2010-10-12T19:03:00.002-04:00

I spend a lot of time thinking about this baby, obviously. I don't know any expecting mother who doesn't think about the baby and wonder the person it will become. Since I don't want to know what I'm having, I've been focusing on the fact that God will give us the exact child that is perfect for us. You've heard the saying that you are the exact mother your child needs. I think it goes both ways! That has really helped my decision of not finding out a lot easier. I don't need to know. I've got no control over it anyway. Sure, it would be easier to plan for and buy for. God is going to give me who he wants us to have. So anyway, I've been wondering lots of things about baby like will it look like Hannah or Ryan...Maybe it won't look like either...Of course, does God think we need another boy or another girl...what is it's personality going to be...Who will this child become one day...There are so many different things going thru my head.

I'm just so glad that I am not the one in charge of all those decisions. I'm so glad that God already had it figured out before the beginning of the world. Every day I'm amazed that our Creator could think of such an amazing way for us to come into the world. Why don't we come from eggs? Why doesn't a stork bring us to our parents? Why aren't we born as adults? I'll never know but I do know I love that God has it all figured out and all I have to do is his will.

And another thought that just came to mind: The purpose of everything, every single thing, in the world is to glorify God. So the child you birthed 1 yr ago, 5 yrs ago, 10 yrs ago or whenever, that you love so much, was created the way he or she is for God's glory. He didn't make her beautiful or smart so she'd have an easy life or have lots of boyfriends. It was for his glory. He didn't make him mishievious just to drive you crazy for the first 4 years (hopefully only 4) of his life. It was for God's glory.

Thank you God for knowing exactly what I need in my life. I hope I can find the different reasons why I need each of my children and appreciate it every day!

today

2010-10-11T16:34:00.003-04:00

Dr appt went great. I'm 12 wks, 3 days. I've only gained 6lb. I've been working hard on the fact that I really only need like 300 extra calories a day. Quality not quantity. Baby's heartrate was 150 and we heard it moving around while they were listening to it. I am now convinced I have felt it more than once.
I'm petsitting until Wed noonish. So far, so good.
Hannah didn't have school today but there was parent teacher conferences. I usually am first on the list but not today.
I've been going none stop since we got back from Cols yesterday so the house is a disaster.
I've been having sinus headaches since over the weekend. Not much pressure around my nose and eyes. It's more my teeth and ears. It's annoying.
I found pumpkin ice cream at walmart today. I'm excited to eat some later!
My poor Ryan is sooo afraid to be outside if he sees a bee or wasp near. He was screaming just like he did the day he got stung all those times so I ran to the door and there was a wasp up on the roof. I went out alittle later with some spray to kill them and he said he didn't want me to get stung. Poor guy.

memories

2010-10-10T18:10:00.004-04:00

The kids standing on top of this huge mound of dirt

Ryan picked this pumpkin just for me. Love that boy!

Daddy carrying the pumpkins the kids picked. Love that man!

Posing with our pumpkins

All of us on a hayride around the fruit farm

My sister and I. Love her!

Sawyer is always looking at me like this.

And this is my favorite. I love how Hannah's hair is blowing in the wind. I love these kids!

Often when I am sitting next door with grandm she tells me how her kids' (Brad's mom and uncle) father never did anything with them. She appreciates the fact that Brad and I try so hard to spend quality time with our family and do so much together. Recently she said we are so different from most familes. Well, this weekend was no different. We did my favorite tradition. I don't know why I love going to Cols so pick apples and pumpkins so much. I think it is just a combination of many things. I get tons of great pics, we get off our rears and get outside, we spend the day with my sister and her wonderful family, and we make sooo many memories. I want my kids to know that we care about them enough to do things with them, make time for them. I know they won't truely appreciate any of the things we do until they are much older and have kids of their own. But one day, even if Brad and I have already gone home, I want them to look back at these years and be so thankful for what they had and more importantly, if the Lord hasn't come back by then, I want them to do the same things with their kids and families. So I guess I should say thanks mom and dad for everything!! Love you guys!

As you can tell by my pics, we had a great time this weekend! We got to stay at a hotel for $30 a night. It was really only worth about that much but that's another story! Jess and her fam stayed at the hotel Fri night also and everyone went swimming. I held the baby. =) We called it an early night. Saturday was spent at the fruit farm. We had plans to go to the zoo after we went to the fruit farm but we just never got that far! By the time we ate lunch/supper at 3 there just wasn't much time for anything else. So we went back to the hotel and Brad took the kids swimming while I napped, or tried to. Did I already say I love that man?! We kept Michael with us that night. After that we went back out and walked a few blocks up, we were staying downtown, to see if the Dunkin Donuts was open to buy breakfast for the next morning. Turns out they weren't so we walked back to the truck and went out to buy donuts and find a DQ. By the time we got back it was bedtime for the kids, and me, and Brad and Michael went down to the fitness room and then went swimming. They weren't ready for bed by 9! This morning we got up and went to church with Jess and then had lunch and hung out at her house for awhile and then came home!

Need to ramble...

2010-10-06T19:08:00.002-04:00

Today was a pretty good day, nothing interesting happened. Now I'm just feeling the need to ramble. As you can tell, I'm feeling pink tonight. =)

I decided first thing this morning that Ryan and I were going to go to the mall today. I knew the sun was supposed to finally come out and I just wanted to get out of the house. This week has been especially rough for Ryan and I in the house. He's been unusually mishievious, shall we say. And I didn't want to spend another day yelling at him! I think this winter is going to be a long one for us. But I also had a few things that I needed to here first. So as soon as we got back from taking Hannah to school, I gave the dogs a bath, cleaned up the laundry room and washed their blankets and towels. Then I took a shower and by 9:30 we were out the door!

We went to Gabriel Bro's first. I don't go there often but when I do, I usually find some good deals. We all know I'm the queen of good deals! =) Todays deals came in the form of a neutral swaddler for $1! The package was all ripped up so I was able to take the swaddler out and inspect it. It's in perfect condition. So thanks to someone's inconsideration, I got a good deal! I didn't have one with the other two so I really want to give it a try this time. I also got a pack of 4 nice baby wash clothes for $2.99, neutral, I might add. I'm finding that a lot of neutral baby things look more boyish but I don't care! I don't want to know what I'm having. It's the last thing I can do for myself before I never get to do it again. I bought a few other things there and then went to Target. All I needed was my chewy prenatal vitamins that I can't find anywhere else. I told Ryan I only needed one thing and then we could go to lunch. Of course., after I got in there I had to say, "can we just go look at one more thing?" He said yes. What a gentleman. Hopefully I'm teaching him to be a patient man while his wife spends hours saying, "I need to look at one more thing." =) I'll have you know I didn't buy anything else except a box of Boo Berry marshmallow cereal that was sitting right at the end of the register. Sneaky people! Ryan has been obsessed with ghosts and stuff, that's the main reason I got them but I'm excited to try them later. We went to Steak and Shake for lunch. Then we went to the mall. Ryan thinks that when we go to the mall the only thing we are going to do is play in the play area. I told him I had a store I wanted to go in first and if he was good, then we'd go to the play area. I didn't find anything good in Old Navy, where they are having an extra 50% off already reduced summer clothes. So we went to the play area. By this time it was already a few minutes after one so I knew we'd be having to leave to go get Hannah soon.

After getting Hannah, the kids played outside for awhile and then daddy came home. On time, for a change! We all ate supper together around the table. It was nice for a change. Usually daddy isn't home so I sometimes let the kids sit in front of the tv.

In school news, Hannah has been having an off week. Her teacher called me one evening and said that Hannah was coming to class late every morning so she needed to be there earlier so she'd have time to eat breakfast. I was surprised because I feed Hannah at home and take her to school with just barely enough time before the bell rings! So I found out that she has been going in and eating breakfast again! I had to get onto her about that last year too!

Also, for the past two days she has forgot to bring home her folder! For those who don't know, they have a folder with a keep and return pocket in it. That is how her homework and papers and other stuff gets back and forth. So for the past two days I haven't gotten anything. I do know she had homeowrk yesterday. So I dont' know what's going on there! I told her if she forgot it tomorrow she would be grounded. I don't know if she's doing it on purpose.

What is the world coming to?

2010-10-04T18:56:00.002-04:00

I just put the kids in bed and Hannah came out to me and said, "there are two little kids on the trampoline. I mean little." I went out there to tell them they can't jump on the trampoline if we aren't out there. There was only one girl on then but she jumped off immediately when she saw me and took off to the house behind us. Meaning she already knew she shouldn't be on it. We've had to get on them before. Her two sisters, one older and one younger, came around the corner. They live down the street. The oldest one is in kindergarten and the youngest one is maybe two, probably not that old because last summer she wasn't walking yet. The oldest one was the only one dressed in clothes warm enough to be outside and even on a day like today, especially at 7 when the sun is down and temps are dropping, she should have had a coat on. The two younger girls were wearing only t-shirts. The baby didn't have undies or a diaper on. She was practically naked, no shoes or anything. These are the girls I have been giving Hannah's old clothes to since Kara outgrew Hannah. I just feel so bad for them. How can a parent just let their kids run around like that. I've seen the cops down there by their house more than once. Sad, sad situation.

Yard sales

2010-10-02T19:33:00.002-04:00

I went yard saling with Brad's mom and grandma while Brad watched the kids this morning. I actually did pretty well! I have more stuff but I already put some of it away before Jess J had asked me what all I bot and I told her I'd put pics of it on here for her.

I found the kids a couple games for their V Smile (Spongbob and Kung Fu Panda) for $4 each. I also found Ryan a few TMNT men for 10 cents each. They are soking in bleach right now. I got the walkie talkies for $3 and the boots for Ryan for $1!

A few of the clothing items I got were these snow bibs for Ryan for $1. They are like brand new. The superman costume was only a quarter. Brad's mom and I got a bag full of neutral baby clothes and a few things for baby Acelynn for $3. I didn't put all the baby clothes on the floor cuz I knew you wouldn't be able to tell what they all were.

I think this was my favorite buy for only $2. At the same yard sale I got a boppy for $1.

So I think it was a pretty good day!

worthless

2010-09-30T15:39:00.003-04:00

I am pretty sure I have been as worthless today as I have been in along time! After taking Hannah to school this morning I sat on the couch with a bowl of cereal and just couldn't make myself get back up for quite some time after that! I read a magazine and played on the computer. Finally around 9:30 I decided I should at least get up and take a shower. Then I managed to start a load of Brad's work clothes and I am pretty sure I was sitting down again when Brad's g-ma called to ask me if today was trash day. It was. Before I was pregnant I took care of getting the trash down to the road in the mornings but my husband has been nice enough to take over the task for me while I'm with child. It's the little things...Anyway, she noticed we didn't have any trash down by the road so she didn't know if we forgot or they switched days or whatever. I told her that Brad put all the bags in the back of his truck to take down and then drove right by without dropping off the trash. So he went to work with several bags of trash in the bed of the truck! =) She got a good laugh out of that. But her calling also reminded me that I had cleaned out the frig first thing and sat a bag of trash out on the porch that I needed to take down. So at least one bag made it. Of course, Ryan ended up at her house after we went outside to clean out the fish tank that my tadpoles were in. (I'm realizing that maybe I wasn't quite as worthless this morning as I had thot!) After lunch we sat out on the porch until it was time to get Hannah. Then they ate their snack over there and we came home because grandma was falling asleep in her chair. =) Now it's time to think about supper. I'm pretty sure the rest of the evening won't be that interesting.