After Michelle's AWESOME post, with which I couldn't agree more, I had to share:
Me: Ella, you can wear these shoes if you'd like.
Ella: I love these ones! I just wore them yesterlater!
Huh? Looks like Daddy and I have more work to do.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Minor Adujstments.
Okay, I'm back. I have missed you all! Have you noticed my absence? Steve even asked me the other day if, in fact, I still had a blog.
So here it is. We are officially and completely into our *cute* rental. I say cute because it's quaint, charming, quirky, and utterly too small. So, it seems that *cute* is a suitable word.
So far, we have learned some things since having lived here over a week now:
1) It is altogether possible to wash your hands in the sink, sit on the toilet AND wash your feet in the bathtub all at the same time.
2) In order that the toilet may flush all the way, one simply has to hold the handle down for a count of 4. 1...2...3....4. Not 3. Not 5. 3 is not long enough. 5 is too long. 4 guarantees a perfect flush almost every time.
3) Living in town is louder. One may hear two trains, mating cats, barking dogs, sirens, cars backfiring and church bells ringing all in a matter of one hour; specifically, the hour between 3am and 4am.
4) It is not possible to fit our entire family in our kitchen at the same time. Seriously. I mean, I guess it's possible, but certainly not productive or comfortable in any way. With about 4ft x 5ft in which to work, I have become adept at washing the dishes, putting them away, answering the phone, and doing some light sweeping all in one full rotation. If you want to know where I keep my cutting boards, they're under the sink near the cleaning supplies. And where do I keep my pots and pans? Well..some under the stove of course but, yes, I do use that all-too-convenient space IN the stove as well.
5) You always have an audience. With neighbors just over 10 feet to our left and our right and a porch-sitting chain smoker across the street, we never get lonely. NEVER.
6) If you go to plug in a lamp and sparks fly out of the socket, don't panic. Don't continue to try to plug in the lamp either.
7) Smoke alarms placed RIGHT above the stove are a bad idea. Whoever came up with this particular *safety* precaution should be fired. In the name of sleeping toddlers and pregnant mothers who cook multiple times a day, this person should be shot. This house is 700 square feet on each level. There are about NINE smoke alarms.
8) One does not necessarily NEED faucet handles on the outdoor water spickets. Those are for high maintenence sorts of people. No, all one really needs is a metal stump and a wrench. And here I was, always thinking we needed handles.
9) If, before you move into a new place, there has been a *cute* spider's nest full of tiny baby spiders about to hatch, placed by some loving mother spider right at the bottom of the stairs, those babies WILL indeed find their way to the top of the stairs and out the back door. Don't worry. They will. It might just take a week or so. Just be willing to THANK GOD EVERY DAY that they are so tiny.
10) Children are happy in dirt. They love getting to count when they flush, the closeness of the colorful neighbors, the funny spiders going out the door, the *cute* kitchen (which spells very easy access to the fridge any time of day or night), and the sounds of town living. They don't care about sparks, or small bathrooms, or faucet handles. They are happy and content to be wherever our family is. And so am I.
Steve and I moved on Saturday and Sunday, laid sod in the entire backyard on Monday, moved more and cleaned more on Tuesday and Wednesday, had visits from Noni, Popi, some family friends, and Grandma, signed closing papers last night, and Steve just moved into his new office downtown (aka about three blocks away right on the main strip of town) this morning.
Tonight is Friday Night Family Movie and Pizza Night. I couldn't be more thrilled. Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins and a little cheese and olive pizza are in our near future. This family is blessed beyond words and constantly given things to make us laugh and to make us grow stronger. We just have to remember that last part. Trials which are meant to strengthen us.
God bless and keep you all as well.
So here it is. We are officially and completely into our *cute* rental. I say cute because it's quaint, charming, quirky, and utterly too small. So, it seems that *cute* is a suitable word.
So far, we have learned some things since having lived here over a week now:
1) It is altogether possible to wash your hands in the sink, sit on the toilet AND wash your feet in the bathtub all at the same time.
2) In order that the toilet may flush all the way, one simply has to hold the handle down for a count of 4. 1...2...3....4. Not 3. Not 5. 3 is not long enough. 5 is too long. 4 guarantees a perfect flush almost every time.
3) Living in town is louder. One may hear two trains, mating cats, barking dogs, sirens, cars backfiring and church bells ringing all in a matter of one hour; specifically, the hour between 3am and 4am.
4) It is not possible to fit our entire family in our kitchen at the same time. Seriously. I mean, I guess it's possible, but certainly not productive or comfortable in any way. With about 4ft x 5ft in which to work, I have become adept at washing the dishes, putting them away, answering the phone, and doing some light sweeping all in one full rotation. If you want to know where I keep my cutting boards, they're under the sink near the cleaning supplies. And where do I keep my pots and pans? Well..some under the stove of course but, yes, I do use that all-too-convenient space IN the stove as well.
5) You always have an audience. With neighbors just over 10 feet to our left and our right and a porch-sitting chain smoker across the street, we never get lonely. NEVER.
6) If you go to plug in a lamp and sparks fly out of the socket, don't panic. Don't continue to try to plug in the lamp either.
7) Smoke alarms placed RIGHT above the stove are a bad idea. Whoever came up with this particular *safety* precaution should be fired. In the name of sleeping toddlers and pregnant mothers who cook multiple times a day, this person should be shot. This house is 700 square feet on each level. There are about NINE smoke alarms.
8) One does not necessarily NEED faucet handles on the outdoor water spickets. Those are for high maintenence sorts of people. No, all one really needs is a metal stump and a wrench. And here I was, always thinking we needed handles.
9) If, before you move into a new place, there has been a *cute* spider's nest full of tiny baby spiders about to hatch, placed by some loving mother spider right at the bottom of the stairs, those babies WILL indeed find their way to the top of the stairs and out the back door. Don't worry. They will. It might just take a week or so. Just be willing to THANK GOD EVERY DAY that they are so tiny.
10) Children are happy in dirt. They love getting to count when they flush, the closeness of the colorful neighbors, the funny spiders going out the door, the *cute* kitchen (which spells very easy access to the fridge any time of day or night), and the sounds of town living. They don't care about sparks, or small bathrooms, or faucet handles. They are happy and content to be wherever our family is. And so am I.
Steve and I moved on Saturday and Sunday, laid sod in the entire backyard on Monday, moved more and cleaned more on Tuesday and Wednesday, had visits from Noni, Popi, some family friends, and Grandma, signed closing papers last night, and Steve just moved into his new office downtown (aka about three blocks away right on the main strip of town) this morning.
Tonight is Friday Night Family Movie and Pizza Night. I couldn't be more thrilled. Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins and a little cheese and olive pizza are in our near future. This family is blessed beyond words and constantly given things to make us laugh and to make us grow stronger. We just have to remember that last part. Trials which are meant to strengthen us.
God bless and keep you all as well.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Remind me...
why I don't let my children play with empty boxes more often again?
This might be the cheapest entertainment known to man.
This might be the cheapest entertainment known to man.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
I know, I know.
It's been far too long since I've made a decent blog entry. It's only going to get worse.
We are MOVING! Yay. So...this means that I might be out of commission for the next week or more. When I come back, I am sure I'll have lots of stories to share about the five of us, our big dog, my midsized pregnant belly, our little rental and the inevitable humor that will have to accompany us.
Many blessings to you, friends!
We are MOVING! Yay. So...this means that I might be out of commission for the next week or more. When I come back, I am sure I'll have lots of stories to share about the five of us, our big dog, my midsized pregnant belly, our little rental and the inevitable humor that will have to accompany us.
Many blessings to you, friends!
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Today, we wait.
Luke 24:1-12
But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day." And they remembered his words. Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.
We wait in silence, or as much as there can be in a house full of spirit-filled children, and enjoy this one last fast today. A fast from too much busy-ness, too much chatter, too much bickering, from too much indulgence. We wait and we fast because we shall feast very soon.
My faith journey has taken me deeper than I ever knew existed and yet, I can say in complete confidence, I am still just scraping the surface. I cannot believe that just three short years ago I had left our beautifully rich faith. I did not know. I had not appreciated. I wanted Jesus, oh yes, but just not that hard, painful cross that always seems to go along.
I am grateful to be back and I am grateful to see that cross again. Yes, grateful. I am grateful for the indescribably gifts and graces it has brought to my life--to share an ever-deepening faith WITH my husband and my children. I am grateful God didn't give up on me. Not for one moment. He kept putting people in my life who would challenge my reasons for "taking a step back" and "trying out other things". I could name them, but there really is no need. All along, it was just Christ speaking to me through them. Christ saying, "Nicole, my child, I love you. Now turn around and face me. Stop running."
He'll always find a way to talk to our hearts. Always.
Today, I am going to listen and wait. Though we dyed Easter eggs, stocked plenty of goodies for tomorrow and have been inundated with lots of fun bunny dot-to-dots, we will still wait. Easter, I have learned, is about so much more than pretty dresses and egg hunts. That is just the beginning--an opening. A gift. The "gift" is that, through our children's excitement about the "bunny", the "eggs" and the "candy", we are able to relate it all back for them to the One True Gift. That which is Him.
We will wait. We wait for the hands and arms softer than even the softest bunny's fur, the Life that is even greater, brighter, and whiter than those eggs, and sweetness greater than any candy we have ever tasted.
Holy Saturday, indeed.
But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day." And they remembered his words. Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.
We wait in silence, or as much as there can be in a house full of spirit-filled children, and enjoy this one last fast today. A fast from too much busy-ness, too much chatter, too much bickering, from too much indulgence. We wait and we fast because we shall feast very soon.
My faith journey has taken me deeper than I ever knew existed and yet, I can say in complete confidence, I am still just scraping the surface. I cannot believe that just three short years ago I had left our beautifully rich faith. I did not know. I had not appreciated. I wanted Jesus, oh yes, but just not that hard, painful cross that always seems to go along.
I am grateful to be back and I am grateful to see that cross again. Yes, grateful. I am grateful for the indescribably gifts and graces it has brought to my life--to share an ever-deepening faith WITH my husband and my children. I am grateful God didn't give up on me. Not for one moment. He kept putting people in my life who would challenge my reasons for "taking a step back" and "trying out other things". I could name them, but there really is no need. All along, it was just Christ speaking to me through them. Christ saying, "Nicole, my child, I love you. Now turn around and face me. Stop running."
He'll always find a way to talk to our hearts. Always.
Today, I am going to listen and wait. Though we dyed Easter eggs, stocked plenty of goodies for tomorrow and have been inundated with lots of fun bunny dot-to-dots, we will still wait. Easter, I have learned, is about so much more than pretty dresses and egg hunts. That is just the beginning--an opening. A gift. The "gift" is that, through our children's excitement about the "bunny", the "eggs" and the "candy", we are able to relate it all back for them to the One True Gift. That which is Him.
We will wait. We wait for the hands and arms softer than even the softest bunny's fur, the Life that is even greater, brighter, and whiter than those eggs, and sweetness greater than any candy we have ever tasted.
Holy Saturday, indeed.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
How to truly embrace the "Passion" of Passion Sunday.
This day is interchangeably called Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. Passion, referring to Christ's passion, or suffering.
How did we experience The Passion today--aside from the profound Gospel and blessed palms?
As we're entering the church for Mass: Casual Acquaintance walks up to Paxton, who tells her that it's his birthday tomorrow. He's going to be five. Then he tells her that he is going to start wiping his own bottom tomorrow. Lesson one: Humility.
At Chuck E. Cheese for his birthday party this afternoon: Well, that's all. Just enduring that whole place for longer than 5 minutes feels like "passion". Lesson two: Mortification
At home: walking into house and realizing that you left it a disaster this morning before church and you still have to clean up AND pack for the trip to Seattle you're taking tomorrow for a couple days. But first? First you really should call and thank all those sweet and precious people who endured "the passion" at Chuck E. Cheese, all for your son's 5th birthday-- at least giving back verbally. Lesson three: Charity.
Ah, what a day. Paxton is growing faster than I thought he would, faster than I hoped he would. But I am also so amazed by him almost every day that I'll take the sad with the amazing. I love him so much, my five-year-old, hand-holding, McQueen- drawing, airplane and train-loving, spelling and vowel-discerning, taller-than-most-every-other-child-his-age, bottom-wiping boy.
How did we experience The Passion today--aside from the profound Gospel and blessed palms?
As we're entering the church for Mass: Casual Acquaintance walks up to Paxton, who tells her that it's his birthday tomorrow. He's going to be five. Then he tells her that he is going to start wiping his own bottom tomorrow. Lesson one: Humility.
At Chuck E. Cheese for his birthday party this afternoon: Well, that's all. Just enduring that whole place for longer than 5 minutes feels like "passion". Lesson two: Mortification
At home: walking into house and realizing that you left it a disaster this morning before church and you still have to clean up AND pack for the trip to Seattle you're taking tomorrow for a couple days. But first? First you really should call and thank all those sweet and precious people who endured "the passion" at Chuck E. Cheese, all for your son's 5th birthday-- at least giving back verbally. Lesson three: Charity.
Ah, what a day. Paxton is growing faster than I thought he would, faster than I hoped he would. But I am also so amazed by him almost every day that I'll take the sad with the amazing. I love him so much, my five-year-old, hand-holding, McQueen- drawing, airplane and train-loving, spelling and vowel-discerning, taller-than-most-every-other-child-his-age, bottom-wiping boy.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Contingencies and Faith; Birthdays and Change.
We have been quite busy these last few weeks, and especiallly these last few days. We sold our house. Again. To different people. While it should be really exciting for us to have some closure, to not be 'in limbo' with a "contingency", I am having such a hard time feeling as enthused as I should. The original buyers, the ones who made us a great, albeit contingent offer, had to have their hearts broken. By whom? Yeah, that'd be us.
Shocking as it may be, I do not like breaking peoples' hearts. Steve and I, after talking a lot and praying even more, almost had to resort to using the 'Rock, Paper, Scissor' method to decide who was going to have to make the call. The call in which one of us gets to say, "Hi, um, so....this is a hard call to make...blah, blah, blah.....we'll give you five days......waive your contingency.....sell your house....buy ours now....blah blah blah...talk it over....let us know." Their response? "Well....we're leaving for a week vacation in two days." Thud. That's the sound your heart makes when it sinks down into the very bottom of your stomach.
All in all, I know that God is working here. I really do. The new buyers are acquaintances of ours, they belong to our parish and they are wanting to enroll BOTH of their kids into our school this next school year. They could afford our house (right now) and they were even willing to let us live here until our new house was done being built (which we probably won't do because of that adorable rental I talked about a few months back that we secured and have been renting since we put our house on the market. We might as well move into it now since that's where we'll be when the baby's born anyway.) I think we just needed some closure and, while a contigent offer is better than no offer, it's not exactly better than a 'no strings attached' offer. Pragmatically, I know it makes sense and it's the prudent thing to do. Emotionally? It's horrible.
Paxton's birthday is on Monday. I had no idea. I mean, I knew and have been making plans for him and some family and friends to go to Chuck E Cheese tomorrow after Mass, but I had no idea how quickly it would sneak up on me. It really has snuck up on me. My son is going to be FIVE YEARS OLD already. How is that possible? He's just going to keep getting older. I had no idea the mixed emotion I would have over such an exciting thing as a child having a birthday. Our family is growing, my first borne is growing up, spelling words, writing letters to people, and making his own 1/2 cup peanut butter and 5 cracker snacks.
Tomorrow I will be 28 weeks pregnant. That's seven months. That's unbelievable. My first pregnancy seemed to drag on and on. This one? This one feels like it has flown by at warped speed. Steve and I looked at each other the other night and said, "Whoa. What are we doing? We're gonna have a other baby in like 3 months! We're not ready!" Not ready? Well, okay, so that's not really accurate. We will always be ready for another life in a certain sense. But this whole not knowing where you are going to live when you bring that new life home is a whole other deal. That's another reason this change in the buyers of our home is a blessing. I don't care if we we live in a tent. I just want it to be OUR tent. You know? God loves us so much. I really know that. He knows our hearts.
Tomorrow, Palm Sunday, will be a big day indeed. This marks the beginning of Holy Week. The beginning of the time when we step up our sacrifice a bit, where we re-focus. Why are we here? What is our job on this earth? What is God asking of us? In what way is He calling us to be better people--more charitable, more forgiving, more selfless, more devoted people? And, are we hearing what we want to hear or are we hearing what He's telling us?
I know this Lent I have waivered, had moments of weakness. I could have been more disciplined. I could have been more charitable. I could have done more for others. I also know God knows. He knows our hearts. He knows what we are trying to do and he knows that we are weaker than He. He loves us anyway and He wants only that we are constantly seeking true happiness. A blogger that I read daily just posted that a spritual mentor of hers said it's okay if we "back into" heaven. I like that.
I also like what St. Augustine said--"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe."
Shocking as it may be, I do not like breaking peoples' hearts. Steve and I, after talking a lot and praying even more, almost had to resort to using the 'Rock, Paper, Scissor' method to decide who was going to have to make the call. The call in which one of us gets to say, "Hi, um, so....this is a hard call to make...blah, blah, blah.....we'll give you five days......waive your contingency.....sell your house....buy ours now....blah blah blah...talk it over....let us know." Their response? "Well....we're leaving for a week vacation in two days." Thud. That's the sound your heart makes when it sinks down into the very bottom of your stomach.
All in all, I know that God is working here. I really do. The new buyers are acquaintances of ours, they belong to our parish and they are wanting to enroll BOTH of their kids into our school this next school year. They could afford our house (right now) and they were even willing to let us live here until our new house was done being built (which we probably won't do because of that adorable rental I talked about a few months back that we secured and have been renting since we put our house on the market. We might as well move into it now since that's where we'll be when the baby's born anyway.) I think we just needed some closure and, while a contigent offer is better than no offer, it's not exactly better than a 'no strings attached' offer. Pragmatically, I know it makes sense and it's the prudent thing to do. Emotionally? It's horrible.
Paxton's birthday is on Monday. I had no idea. I mean, I knew and have been making plans for him and some family and friends to go to Chuck E Cheese tomorrow after Mass, but I had no idea how quickly it would sneak up on me. It really has snuck up on me. My son is going to be FIVE YEARS OLD already. How is that possible? He's just going to keep getting older. I had no idea the mixed emotion I would have over such an exciting thing as a child having a birthday. Our family is growing, my first borne is growing up, spelling words, writing letters to people, and making his own 1/2 cup peanut butter and 5 cracker snacks.
Tomorrow I will be 28 weeks pregnant. That's seven months. That's unbelievable. My first pregnancy seemed to drag on and on. This one? This one feels like it has flown by at warped speed. Steve and I looked at each other the other night and said, "Whoa. What are we doing? We're gonna have a other baby in like 3 months! We're not ready!" Not ready? Well, okay, so that's not really accurate. We will always be ready for another life in a certain sense. But this whole not knowing where you are going to live when you bring that new life home is a whole other deal. That's another reason this change in the buyers of our home is a blessing. I don't care if we we live in a tent. I just want it to be OUR tent. You know? God loves us so much. I really know that. He knows our hearts.
Tomorrow, Palm Sunday, will be a big day indeed. This marks the beginning of Holy Week. The beginning of the time when we step up our sacrifice a bit, where we re-focus. Why are we here? What is our job on this earth? What is God asking of us? In what way is He calling us to be better people--more charitable, more forgiving, more selfless, more devoted people? And, are we hearing what we want to hear or are we hearing what He's telling us?
I know this Lent I have waivered, had moments of weakness. I could have been more disciplined. I could have been more charitable. I could have done more for others. I also know God knows. He knows our hearts. He knows what we are trying to do and he knows that we are weaker than He. He loves us anyway and He wants only that we are constantly seeking true happiness. A blogger that I read daily just posted that a spritual mentor of hers said it's okay if we "back into" heaven. I like that.
I also like what St. Augustine said--"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe."
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Observation of the day.
On our walk just a minute ago....
Ella: Mom! It's so beautiful out! The birds are singing, the sun is shining, the mailboxes are all standing up....
I love that girl.
Ella: Mom! It's so beautiful out! The birds are singing, the sun is shining, the mailboxes are all standing up....
I love that girl.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Why?
Why do Easter maternity fashions either make you look like you are a 12 year old school girl who should be sporting braids and a lollipop or some 85 year-old Floridian's living room drapes?
Thursday, March 22, 2007
The best snack in the world.
While Ella and Shepherd were resting, Paxton asked me if he could make himself a snack "very quietly". I thought this might be a wonderful opportunity for him to exert some independence and for me to see just what that might look like.
It looked something like this:
Paxton working very quietly in the kitchen. Then, Paxton sitting very quietly at the dining room table, leaning over a plate filled with about a half of a cup of Adams creamy peanut butter next to about five small crackers used for "dipping".
My Grandpa Harry would have been proud.
It looked something like this:
Paxton working very quietly in the kitchen. Then, Paxton sitting very quietly at the dining room table, leaning over a plate filled with about a half of a cup of Adams creamy peanut butter next to about five small crackers used for "dipping".
My Grandpa Harry would have been proud.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
It's beginning to look a lot like springtime!
God is good!
Today is such a beautiful day and the kids and I have already been on one long walk, about to go on another. Paxton picks up sticks, Ella talks about where the birds live and why our dog finds it fun to chase them and Shepherd just kicks back and relaxes next to his sister.
I am taking a good friend's advice and trying to get in little walks here and there. I must say, it feels quite different than working out at Curves at 5:30am. Something about breathing fresh air and not worrying about keeping my heart rate up is doing this body good. Curves and I must still meet three times a week, but this walking stuff feels so good! In my past pregnancies I tried to do it an hour a day but this poor baby has just been being neglected!
Come home soon, Daddy. It's not THAT fun without you. Really. Two more days....two more days....
Today is such a beautiful day and the kids and I have already been on one long walk, about to go on another. Paxton picks up sticks, Ella talks about where the birds live and why our dog finds it fun to chase them and Shepherd just kicks back and relaxes next to his sister.
I am taking a good friend's advice and trying to get in little walks here and there. I must say, it feels quite different than working out at Curves at 5:30am. Something about breathing fresh air and not worrying about keeping my heart rate up is doing this body good. Curves and I must still meet three times a week, but this walking stuff feels so good! In my past pregnancies I tried to do it an hour a day but this poor baby has just been being neglected!
Come home soon, Daddy. It's not THAT fun without you. Really. Two more days....two more days....
Monday, March 19, 2007
Candy.
Paxton: Mom, can Ella and I have some candy?
Me: (remembering the St. Patrick's Day candy that Noni sent and remembering that I told the kids they should save it until Sunday since it was Lent--also remembering that I forgot to give it to them on Sunday) Um.....let me think about it, okay?
Paxton: Okay but, Mom? When you think about it, can you just think 'Hmm, maybe I should give my kids some candy' ?
Good one, Pax. Good one.
Me: (remembering the St. Patrick's Day candy that Noni sent and remembering that I told the kids they should save it until Sunday since it was Lent--also remembering that I forgot to give it to them on Sunday) Um.....let me think about it, okay?
Paxton: Okay but, Mom? When you think about it, can you just think 'Hmm, maybe I should give my kids some candy' ?
Good one, Pax. Good one.
Ah ha!
Apparently, Lenten fasting (three meals vs. my usual five to six small meals throughout the day), less water intake, and focusing on getting in as much lean protein (equalling a whole lot less fiber than is in my normal diet) has spelled disaster for this pregnant person. I seem to be full of a lot more than just baby. I know, I know.
Thank you, Melissa. You know bloated symptoms when you hear them! ;)
Now, I think I'll lighten up on the fasting throughout the weekdays (still limiting all the excesses), and increase my water intake. Dang. I really thought I was an excellent water drinker. I have a feeling it's subconscious since I have been limiting mealtimes. It's probably pretty natural for people to get dehydrated during Lent. That's my story. I'm sticking to it.
Thanks for the prayers, friends. My appointment went well. Great blood pressure, one pound weight gain, no swelling, good strong heartbeat, measuring right on target at 25. I do have another ultrasound scheduled for three weeks from now to check the baby's kidneys which were a little enlarged in my last ultrasound. Nothing to be alarmed about, just double checking.
You would think that this, being my FOURTH pregnancy in five years, would be routine. It just goes to show that every person is unique and wonderfully made. That means that every pregnancy is unique, too, then. Right?
Steve left for San Jose for a week. I am going to miss him terribly. It seems to be getting harder and harder to have him away for longer than a day. Not because I feel overwhelmed or because I am scared but because our family is just starting to feel more and more incomplete when part of the team is missing. It feels like more work and less reward. We all play such important parts. I have such compassion for military families. How do they do it? Amazing.
On to our day. Just thought I'd come back in and let you all know how it went. Thanks for the well wishes Celeste and Melissa!
Thank you, Melissa. You know bloated symptoms when you hear them! ;)
Now, I think I'll lighten up on the fasting throughout the weekdays (still limiting all the excesses), and increase my water intake. Dang. I really thought I was an excellent water drinker. I have a feeling it's subconscious since I have been limiting mealtimes. It's probably pretty natural for people to get dehydrated during Lent. That's my story. I'm sticking to it.
Thanks for the prayers, friends. My appointment went well. Great blood pressure, one pound weight gain, no swelling, good strong heartbeat, measuring right on target at 25. I do have another ultrasound scheduled for three weeks from now to check the baby's kidneys which were a little enlarged in my last ultrasound. Nothing to be alarmed about, just double checking.
You would think that this, being my FOURTH pregnancy in five years, would be routine. It just goes to show that every person is unique and wonderfully made. That means that every pregnancy is unique, too, then. Right?
Steve left for San Jose for a week. I am going to miss him terribly. It seems to be getting harder and harder to have him away for longer than a day. Not because I feel overwhelmed or because I am scared but because our family is just starting to feel more and more incomplete when part of the team is missing. It feels like more work and less reward. We all play such important parts. I have such compassion for military families. How do they do it? Amazing.
On to our day. Just thought I'd come back in and let you all know how it went. Thanks for the well wishes Celeste and Melissa!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Seeking advice from seasoned moms.
I have a midwife appointment tomorrow morning, which I am really grateful for.
Something has been bothering me and I wanted to see if any of you other moms had any advice for me. I am 25 weeks now and have this overwhelming "full" feeling. When I wake up in the morning I feel as though I have just eaten a HUGE meal. Uncomfortable full. It lasts all day long.
I don't have much swelling, vision problems, or many headaches, and my blood pressure is and always has been low/normal. So far, I have gained 5 pounds total. So, I am inclined to think that it's not toxemia or preeclampsia.
Hydramnios?
Any input would be SO appreciated. ;) And, since I know that one of you happens to be a nurse, I know I'll be getting some GREAT feedback.
Happy fourth Sunday of Lent.
Something has been bothering me and I wanted to see if any of you other moms had any advice for me. I am 25 weeks now and have this overwhelming "full" feeling. When I wake up in the morning I feel as though I have just eaten a HUGE meal. Uncomfortable full. It lasts all day long.
I don't have much swelling, vision problems, or many headaches, and my blood pressure is and always has been low/normal. So far, I have gained 5 pounds total. So, I am inclined to think that it's not toxemia or preeclampsia.
Hydramnios?
Any input would be SO appreciated. ;) And, since I know that one of you happens to be a nurse, I know I'll be getting some GREAT feedback.
Happy fourth Sunday of Lent.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
St. Patrick.
After some green waffles and shamrocks made from frosting....
Let us pray St. Patrick's prayer:
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
Let us pray St. Patrick's prayer:
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Just what the doctor ordered.
Stations of the cross and a simply soup supper up at the school tonight. After letting two teachers go today, it's just what the doctor ordered. We could use a little community building and the principal and priest could use a warm hug.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Do you hear what I hear?
Is that sound wearing on anyone else's nerves? You know, the sound of four people coughing at the same time, all day long, in one house? No? Just the nerves of one tired mom talking? Okay then, that's what I thought. Sorry for the whining.
We are all getting better. I promise. Steve's fever of 103 for three days has finally seemed to subside this evening. Praise the Lord. Ella is the last hold out. Hopefully tomorrow will be a new day for her. Fingers crossed.
Oh, one more thing. We sold our house! Yay! Ah, God always has a way of putting a nice shiny silver lining around clouds. We just have to make sure to look up often and say thanks regularly.
We are all getting better. I promise. Steve's fever of 103 for three days has finally seemed to subside this evening. Praise the Lord. Ella is the last hold out. Hopefully tomorrow will be a new day for her. Fingers crossed.
Oh, one more thing. We sold our house! Yay! Ah, God always has a way of putting a nice shiny silver lining around clouds. We just have to make sure to look up often and say thanks regularly.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
It's all my fault.
We did it. We got through the Mediterranean dinner we donated to the auction--like a well-oiled machine. But, not without the help of some amazing friends who were willing to take six hours and come help us serve, some amazing Grandparents who watched/ nursed our children for over two days, and some serious prayers.
I was in bed all day on Thursday with a fever and the flu. Friday, Steve helped me prepare as much as he could and even did grocery shopping for me. I felt so weak and was so worried about getting through the dinner. The kids spent the day with Grandma and Grandpa and two ended up spending the night.
...then down came the rain.
We called Friday afternoon to check in and Paxton was throwing up. Ella had a fever all day yesterday (as did Steve) and then she was up throwing up last night. Shepherd seems to be the lone hold-out. Steve graciously waited to suffer the throbbing headache and severe fever until about 3/4 the way through the dinner last night. Poor guy. Today is just no good. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's darn right pitiful around here. The good news? I got all the dished done in about two hours! It's amazing what you can do when every family member is sufficiently plopped on a couch or chair slumped over waiting to die.
...now it's just a matter of time.
I am giving Grandma and Grandpa two days until I deliver some homemade chicken noodle soup and apologize yet again for exposing them to this wretchedness that has consumed us all.
I am finally feeling much better--just in time to take care of the entire rest of my family. It feels so good to feel needed AND up for the task!
Thank you Grandma and Grandpa. You saved our bacon. Er...our moroccan chicken.
I was in bed all day on Thursday with a fever and the flu. Friday, Steve helped me prepare as much as he could and even did grocery shopping for me. I felt so weak and was so worried about getting through the dinner. The kids spent the day with Grandma and Grandpa and two ended up spending the night.
...then down came the rain.
We called Friday afternoon to check in and Paxton was throwing up. Ella had a fever all day yesterday (as did Steve) and then she was up throwing up last night. Shepherd seems to be the lone hold-out. Steve graciously waited to suffer the throbbing headache and severe fever until about 3/4 the way through the dinner last night. Poor guy. Today is just no good. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's darn right pitiful around here. The good news? I got all the dished done in about two hours! It's amazing what you can do when every family member is sufficiently plopped on a couch or chair slumped over waiting to die.
...now it's just a matter of time.
I am giving Grandma and Grandpa two days until I deliver some homemade chicken noodle soup and apologize yet again for exposing them to this wretchedness that has consumed us all.
I am finally feeling much better--just in time to take care of the entire rest of my family. It feels so good to feel needed AND up for the task!
Thank you Grandma and Grandpa. You saved our bacon. Er...our moroccan chicken.
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