Another update

Life has been so busy lately. I've been working full time since February 1. I really like my job and the people I work with. I'm a legal assistant at a small law firm, it's only me, the lawyer and his paralegal, but there are two other lawyers (plus their assistants) in the office so there are plenty of people to talk to. Even though I like my job, I do HATE working full time. I hate being away from the kids all day, but I think that will get better once they start school/daycare in August.

In other news, I'm pregnant with baby #3! Complete surprise and a blessing. I'm due December 19, 2010 (same as Aidan's due date) and it is another GIRL! My sister is also due in December, just a few days before me. And her sister in law is due a few weeks after her in December.

I'm excited, of course. I'm not excited about having to return to work after maternity leave though. But I HAVE to, we really have no choice, so I'll learn to deal with it.

Kaitlyn starts KINDERGARTEN in August!! I can't believe how big my little girl is. She is such a sassy little thing.

Aidan is also very big and is so verbal. Just last night he told me "When I get older I wanna be a policeman." Now it's been a while since I've had a 2.5 year old, but that sounds pretty advanced for his age. He saw a policeman directing traffic after Storytime Live! and made the connection that he would do that when he got older. Amazing to me.

They both astonish me everyday with what they say or do. Watching children grow into their own little person is so cool.

Matt also starts school in August. He'll be going to Loyola for his BA in Finance and Accounting.

Another post to come soon....

Recap

So let us recap today's events...which began early this morning

1 am- Dogs are pacing....get up to let them out.

3 am- Dog are anxious...get up & let them out (contemplate leaving them out in the very cold weather...don't)

4 am- Get up to let dogs out AGAIN.

6 am- Get up for the day...let canine's out...

7 30am- Get kids out of the house...into car...car doesn't start...keep trying for 10 minutes while contemplating how I'm going to fix this and get the kids to school/daycare & myself to work....Praying for help....

7 45am- Give up....get out of car...lovely neighbor across the street offers to jump my car (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!)...and we're off....better late than not at all....

............work, etc. goes well.............

3pm- Get off work early (yay!)...head to a friend's house to drop off something....head to pick up Peanut....takes an HOUR, when it normally should take 20mins....

5 15pm- Pick up Bugga....

5 30pm - 7 30pm - Hubs calls (highlight of my day)....whilst trying to prepare dinner for two SCREAMING/WHINING/BADGERING (you get the idea) kids....all while on the phone...give them a snack of fruit and pumpkin pie to hold them over while I cook....head to closet to change....find the stupid DOG had pooped in there....want to scream....abandon cooking....forgot to defrost chicken anyway...order pizza....clean up closet.....make cookies while waiting for pizza....pizza arrives, eat, wash up, put Bugs to bed...Kaitlyn to bed (though she refuses to sleep....still)...wine for me...

/end day/ i.e. vegging out on the sofa

Day started out pretty rough....got better....got rough again....but is ending nicely.

Seriously....everyday around 5-6pm the kids have major meltdowns. I seriously have to have dinner prepared or it's total freak-out. I really need to start having dinner in the slow cooker on days that I work. Seriously.

That...or just get a housewife ;-)

So....how was your day?

So Little Time

So much has been going on lately. I've been feeling swamped and in bed usually by 9 pm (or earlier!). We are preparing for a trial at work, so I've been super busy there. And by the time I get home, it's dinner, bath, read to the kids and bedtime. I'm so excited that it is Saturday, so I have have sometime to myself. I love having a full schedule though. It certainly helps this deployment go by a little more quickly.

I've also been catching up on housework and preparing for Halloween. We are heading to New Orleans for about a week to spend Halloween with family.

Hopefully I will have some time for an update with some pictures later tonight.

Mumbo Jumbo

I feel that there is so much to be updated. I also feel like I have so much to do. I'm still adjusting to this part time working mom stuff. It's not bad on the days I get off at 2 or 3 or even 4, but day's like today, where I don't get off until 5....ugh!
Seriously....?
Anyway, I do love my job.
Most days when I leave the office, I'm floating on air....until I get stuck in the traffic....blah! Kaitlyn loves her PreK. Aidan's adjusting to day care ;-) I'll hopefully have some more time this weekend to update on each topic with some more detail.
I do love that I'm keeping busy one way or another while Matt is outta town.
I feel like writing more tonight. I could use the catharsis that comes with writing right now, but I have more important things to tend to.
*gasp*
I know... what could be more important than blogging?! Well, my dear listeners.....I mean readers....I have to prepare for tomorrow and I need to read me some Crazy Love (check it out, I love it and I'm only done with the first chapter).

Home Again

The kids & I got back late Thursday night. The drive was OK until we hit about 75 miles outside of our home. It started raining and hailing super hard. I was so surprised with the hailing. I've never been in a hail storm. But it was only like that for about 5 minutes. I thought the people who were pulling over to sit out the hail were cRaZy! I wouldn't want to sit there on the side of the road and let my car get pummeled with hail! Matt left Saturday for some training, so our time was short, but sweet.

We've been dealing with some stuff lately, and we are finally at a place where we are working through and growing stronger. From what I've read, what we are going through is not uncommon. Just usual marriage & parenting woes. At times it felt overwhelming and like we were not going to get through. Like we didn't even want to get through. But we do. We love each other and our children and honestly, it's not like we were/are facing serious problems like adultery, addictions, etc. That being said, sometiems it does feel like what we are dealing with is the end. I'm glad for the time we spent apart while I was out of town. It gave each of us time to reflect and think about where we want this thing called marriage to go. I even think that the next few weeks that we'll spend apart will stregnthen us and our desire to make it work.

Of course, I have also been praying for strength and guidance. I've also been praying for Matt. I finally saw my prayers working when he texted me last night after landing saying he is not going to fight with me anymore. At times, I felt like all he wanted to do was fight and actually talk about it and resolve. I no longer feel that pain, and yes it hurt. Is everything perfect and resolved? No, of course not. Is it ever?! Marriage, ours included, is an ongoing process. It is a commitment to learn and grow with each other. Marriage is getting through those difficult times and knowing that hard times will return. I'm happy that we are on the mend, that we are willing to work for our love and know that no, it does not always come easy. I have no doubt that we will face some more fights, espeically in the months leading up to his trip. But knowing this will prepare me to handle them a little more gracefully (I pray).

^4"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸Love never fails." 1Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

He led me to a place of safety

I really promise that today/tonight I will post an update!  Lol!  But for now I want to post this Psalm.  Two days ago as I was feeling overwhelmed, tired and a little sick I asked the Lord to direct me to something to help me out.  I opened my One Year Bible on 

Psalm 18:16-36:

 ¹⁶ He reached down from heaven and rescued me;

      he drew me out of deep waters.

 ¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemies,

      from those who hated me and were too strong for me.

 ¹⁸ They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,

      but the Lord supported me.

 ¹⁹ He led me to a place of safety;

      he rescued me because he delights in me.

 ²⁰ The Lord rewarded me for doing right;

      he restored me because of my innocence.

 ²¹ For I have kept the ways of the Lord;

      I have not turned from my God to follow evil.

 ²² I have followed all his regulations;

      I have never abandoned his decrees.

 ²³ I am blameless before God;

      I have kept myself from sin.

 ²⁴ The Lord rewarded me for doing right.

      He has seen my innocence.

 ²⁵ To the faithful you show yourself faithful;

      to those with integrity you show integrity.

 ²⁶ To the pure you show yourself pure,

      but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.

 ²⁷ You rescue the humble,

      but you humiliate the proud.

 ²⁸ You light a lamp for me.

      The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.

 ²⁹ In your strength I can crush an army;

      with my God I can scale any wall.

 ³⁰ God’s way is perfect.

      All the Lord’s promises prove true.

      He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

 ³¹ For who is God except the Lord?

      Who but our God is a solid rock?

 ³² God arms me with strength,

      and he makes my way perfect.

 ³³ He makes me as surefooted as a deer,

      enabling me to stand on mountain heights.

 ³⁴ He trains my hands for battle;

      he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.

 ³⁵ You have given me your shield of victory.

      Your right hand supports me;

      your help has made me great.

 ³⁶ You have made a wide path for my feet

      to keep them from slipping.

(NLT)

It really helped.  Now back to homework while A is napping and my mom is entertaining K.

I've been working on a new post for about 2 days now.  It's just an update.  I'm out of town and a lot is going on.  I'm hoping to have sometime to update later today when my mom will *hopefully* keep an eye on the kiddos.  I started classes on Monday, so that's been my main priority while online.  Much going on, but not sure I'm ready to talk about all of it in such a public forum.  Anyway, we are about to be off to the Audubon Insectarium.

Should be fun!  I'll post pictures later. 

Peace Out,

:-)

So I changed my layout again...I'm really, extra happy with it this time.  I'm learning more how to using my free editing software (paint.net) and I like being able to create things with it.  I've only learned how to use layers and make my header & picture look like one.  I did not create the header, only added the text & picture.  Can't wait to learn how to make more things.  I keep trying to downoload Photoshop Elements, but everytime I try, there is a problem. Oh well.

I had a great Arbonne party and I'll update about that later.

Lucy, I'm Home!

We are home from the Great Smoky Mountains!  We got in at about 2am Monday morning.  So Memorial Day was spent unpacking and re-packing for Matt's business trip.  We had a blast camping even though we got rained on.  We are already planning a trip to Gatlinburg because we didn't have time to visit the city.  We can't wait!! 

We didn't have our camera, but used our cell phones, so I'll upload some of those pictures with a detailed update later.  It was nice to be home in our super comfy bed!  

Where Does the Time Go?

Wow, so life has been crazy this past weekend.  

Friday night we babysat for some friends.  That was fun for Kaitlyn.  She got to have her friend *A* over and they played and had fun!  The girls got into some finger paints (not sure how) and decided to create a mural on the closet wall.  Not cool!  At least I can just paint over it, so it's not that big of a deal.  I felt bad when Kaitlyn told Matt not to tell *A's* dad "cause he spanks her really hard."  It really just broke my heart.  I suppose each family deals with discipline in their own way, but for Kaitlyn to have an understanding about it, I don't know, I just feel bad.  I know it's not an abusive family.  That's about all for Friday.

Saturday we had a Rockstar Party for one of Kaitlyn's friend's.  The kids had a blast rockin' out!  Aidan had his first taste of Twizzlers and it was love.  I let him indulge in a few too many, but hey it was a birthday party!  After the party we headed home to pick up Daddy and make a run to Sam's Club.  We stocked up on ground beef, steaks, roasts & chicken.  We like to buy our meat in bulk so we can make two week menu plans.  Anyway, I digress, Saturday ended with just some hanging out at home and relaxin.  

Then Sunday, the fun begins!!  Well, no, not really fun.  We all woke up about the same time, and in the same bed of course...all was good.  Aidan had a diaper change and K was laying at the foot of the bed.  Then she, just laying there, begins throwing up!  YAY!  NOT!  Anyway, this continued for the better part of the day.  She napped around 10 am & I was beginning to not feel well.  My wonderful husband, took Aidan & went grocery shopping. By the time he got home, K was feeling much, much better.  She had about a 12 hr stomach bug.  When he got home, Aidan was napping.  That did not last long, and he woke up throwing up.  Poor baby.  It was so hard for him since he didn't really know what was going on.  He just cried & cried while throwing up :-(  Meanwhile,  I was spending a bit of time with the stomach bug.  Aidan finally finished throwing up around 5 am, and felt much better yesterday.  I still had some lingering nausea yesterday and hardly ate anything.  I feel much better today.

Last night, Matt decided it would be fun for him to get the stomach bug!  Yay!  He got some meds from sick call and has been sleeping since about 11am.  He hasn't thrown up since early this morning, and I'm hoping it continues to stay that way.  All of this sick is no fun!

I'm still a bit tired and not really hungry.  I've been taking today easy, but i really feel much, much better.  Of course, you would have never known the kids were ever sick!

This week is going to be busy. Today K had preschool, tomorrow is End of the School Year Performance practice as is Thursday.  Thursday evening is the actual performance and Friday we head up to the Rockies Smokey Mountains (duh, Thanks Stacy!) for some family camping!!  So exciting!!

I need to find my memory card for my camera to capture these upcoming events.

Lack of Sleep, Plenty of Sick

Whew!

Our life has been a bit crazed lately. Three of four of us are sick (me and the kids). Matt has a reverse schedule at work (working nights, sleeping ALL day). Preschool, soccer, doctor's appointments....and still trying to keep the house somewhat in order. I've hardly had time to relax, though this illness (flu or severe cold) has forced me to slow down a bit. But really, how much downtime can I really get with a 4 year old and a 16 month old. Ha!

Aidan has not been sleeping well at all. I took him in to the Dr. on Monday for a rash that won't go away on his boy parts. I already knew just what it was, I just need a Rx for the cream. Dr. confirmed what I knew was (is) a yeast rash. Poor guy. Well, it doesn't bother him at all, thankfully. So I got the cream, some Boudreaux's Butt Paste (All Natural) for every other diaper change and some new green diapers. I've always wanted to cloth diaper, and I did for a bit when Aidan was younger. It just didn't stick. I went out of town, he out grew the diapers....whole list of excuses....well I'd still like to, but ya know....Anyway, I found Nature Babycare Diapers at Target and LOVE them. Within one diaper change (with diaper cream not Rx cream) he was already less red. And I had been applying tons of cream/Vaseline with his other (Target Brand) diapers. I think the lack of chemicals in these natural diapers are helping his rash heal more quickly. It's only been 2.5 days and it's clearing up nicely.

Another bonus to these dipes is that they are Eco Friendly!! How cool is that?! I love knowing that I'm not contributing more diapers to the landfills. They are more expensive, but if they keep my baby's bottom healthy and my kid's world cleaner, how can I put a price on that? At the very least, I'm going to alternate between these diapers and others, but hopefully I can just stick to these.

Anyway, back to Aidan's less than favorable sleeping patterns. He's been waking up a lot at night and is not wanting to be soothed back to sleep by anything other than nursing. And honestly, I'm spent. I've nursed him for 16+ months and I'm ready to end this lovely relationship. I KNOW I'll miss it and I'm sure he will as well, but it's really affecting my sleep. Since he is sick right now (congested, fluid in his ears, cough), I'm not going to wean him just yet. I'm waiting until he's well. I'm planning in the next week or two to begin and also transtion him into his crib (again). While he has been sick we've scrapped the trying to get him to sleep all night in his own bed. We'll put him down for the night in it, and when he wake (and he always does) it's into the bed with us. It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't want to be attached to me ALL night. So that's on the agenda for Bugga's life.

This cold/flu whatever it is that I have is horrible. It's been around since Thursday. I was feeling SOO much better on Monday, but then Aidan had some bad sleep Monday night and the sick got to me again and I'm back to feeling like crud. So weird, I know.

Kaitlyn has not been well either. She is better than I am though. She really only has a slight cough at night and a runny nose. I swear, since starting school she has been sick so many times. She was NEVER sick as a baby. She got her first ear infection when she was 2.5, just a month or two after starting preschool. Aidan has already had 3 or 4 ear infections and if this fluid in his ear turns into one (please pray it does not), we'll be reffered out to an ENT.
I've been giving them vitamins and cooking healthy foods. I'm about to make a menu for dinner for the rest of the week and next week. I'm also going to look up immune boosting foods. Any suggestions?

I still have so much I'd like to write about. I want to talk about Kaitlyn's two soccer practices (AWESOME!) and Easter (Matt planned & executed an egg/scavenger hunt all on his own).

But I've got to figure out what's for dinner and make it fast. Ugh, so do not want to fix food right now....

I never know what to write. I love reading others blogs. I just don't know what to say :-)

Sunday was nice. We went to Sunday School & church with the L family. K absolutely loved Sunday School and was so excited to tell me what she learned about. Baby A was good, and the ladies who watched him in nursery fell in love with my little man. That's not hard to do!

I liked how what we talked about in Sunday School and what the preacher talked about fit into life. We talked about not repaying evil with evil and rejoicing with others, specifically when you do not want to. I like the church and am planning on continuing to go. I only wish that Matt was open enough to the idea of going with me once he returns. I get that it might not be his thing, but I would like him to compromise with me and go at least one time. We'll see...

This has been a rough week for our home. Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday nights Baby A was very restless and kept us (K & I) up for part of the night (well, early morning really). Turns out that he has his first ear infection :-( K slept late Tuesday, so she didn't make it to school. We did enjoy a nice day together though.

Tuesday night we went to Prayer group. No-one else showed up, so it was only me & A. It went nicely, and it was my second time praying aloud in front of another person. It went easier this time than last (which was last Thursday). I've learned how to just let go and not think about what I am going to say. It's been refreshing and freeing.

After Prayer Group, the kids & I went to a Pampered Chef party. It was fun. I got to meet some new ladies and eat some yummy food. I ended up buying (this evening) a bamboo bowl, bamboo cooking utensils & bamboo serving utensils. They are pretty cool and weren't expensive. I can't wait to get them!

Wednesday I went to Bible/Book study at A's. We are reading "Finishing Strong" by Steve Farrar. The book was written for fathers, but can be applied to any one's life. I'm finding it very enjoyable & educational.

From Barnes & Noble's website:
Bestselling author Steve Farrar has good news for the average man: it doesn't matter if you've had a great start in the Christian life, or a rough one. It doesn't matter if you've stumbled time and again, or even fallen flat on your face. What matters most in this all-important race of life is how you finish. According to Farrar, the man who hangs in there for the long haul with his wife, his kids, and his Lord is an exception these days. Finishing Strong, now in trade paperback, offers lively use of Scripture, contemporary illustrations, and study questions to equip every reader to be that exception. For the man who wants to climb the character ladder more than the corporate one, this is an essential tool.

I've only read the first 2.5 chapters but would definitely recommend it to anyone.

We discussed the first two chapters. Well, I mostly listened as the leader talked & A referenced things from her life. I'm looking forward to next week. I need to finish chapter 3 & move on to the next part of the book.

Then, Wednesday night, we all went to church. Baby A to the nursery & K to children choir (though she says they didn't sing). She then went to Mission Friends, where the kids help do things for missions. A & I went up to the Youth Church & prayed with some older women. It was nice. K was talking about how thankful she was for certain things on the ride home. It was cute. She was thankful for America and our Flag, Grandma & Papa, Daddy, her toys, etc. Very sweet.

Thursday Baby A was screaming upset while dropping K off at preschool. So I decided to take him in to the DR. Verdict: Ear Infection. But I caught it early, so he's doing fine. He slept much better last night and has some good naps today. We got some groceries and headed home after preschool & the Dr.

Today I had a coffee meeting with some other key callers of E Co. I met a nice new wife and the kids got to play in the area at the mall. It was nice to talk to the wives and let the kids play. We left when Baby A started getting cranky for his nap. He was soo good. I can't believe he is going to be 11 months in 2 days!! WOW! He's always disliked Tylenol, and he never had to take it much. Well, he was prescribed an antibiotic for his ear infection, and you'd think I was feeding him poision! I've tried three ways so far to give it to him. In the morning, I am going to try to put it in his yogurt. K always took (and liked a little too much) her medicine, so this strong will against the meds is new to me. Ah well, we'll get past it.

Tomorrow, if the kids are feeling OK, we are goign to head to the park for the local book festival. I also have laundry & homework to get done.

Matt is doing well. I haven't heard from him today though :-( I've talked with him most everyday since he's been gone, so I guess I shouldn't complain!