FIRE

i had another fire accident.  would you like to hear about it?  well, read on my dear friend...

yesterday was a FULL day!  we had one thing after another after another and then packed with several on top of each other to end it off. 

jones' last t-ball game was from 5:30ish to 7:30ish.  wolfie had martial arts at 7 to 8.  middle school mayhem (a big end-of-the-year party) was also yesterday from after school until 5:30.m  i also had to make and serve dinner somewhere in there... before the sports because there's NO WAY these kids of mine could wait 'till after 8 to eat!  plus, 8:00 is bed time.  it was a school night. 

so, here's how i had it planned.  i would make dinner and have it ready by 5.  serve it to the littles at 5, jump in the car at 5:20 with a plate of dinner for wolfie.  we'd fly to drop off wolfie (early) and make it to jones' warm up for his game.  aren't i good?!  see... i'm getting the hang of it!!!

anyway, i turned on the oven to 425 to preheat while i whipped up the meal (mexican lasagna).  i had the skillet on top of the stove top, which isn't normal, but it was a clear work space, so i used it.  as i was whipping, i noticed the smoke coming from the oven, and i cursed at myself for not cleaning up that mess in there... AGAIN!  it's been smoking gross smelling aroma for the past two months it seems!!!  i kept working and it kept getting more extreme.  so i glanced down at the window and saw some flames...
oh crap!  so i opend it to see how bad they were... or something.  i'm not sure why i opened the door.  to see if they were real???  and they got higher.  so i shut it.  and i told the kids there was a fire in the kitchen. 
binkins went around and opened all the windows/doors and rallied the little ones.
i opened up the other doors and windows.
jones continued to fight with his shoe.  he was trying to get his cleats on. 
i tried to decide what i should do.  if i open the door again, the flames will be fed more oxygen.  if i don't take care of it, it might just ruin the oven.  what other options do i have???
so i flipped on the fan for the _____ (loss of word) option and then opened the door.  woops.  lots of smoke.  bigger flames now.  i turned around to see what the kids were doing in binkins "rally the little ones" emergency evacuation.  binkins, boo, and starboy were all gathered together in the middle of the living room with their fingers in their ears.  totally ready for what they knew was next.  (yes, it's embarrassing that they know what's to come -fire alarm- when mom starts a fire!)
i told binkins to take them all outside instead. 
jones continued to fight with his cleats.
the smoke started to get really bad.  it was getting heavy in the kitchen.  that's when i noticed my sweet sleeping babe in her bouncer on the counter.  so, i picked her up and placed the bouncer outside too and told binkins that she was gonna have to watch her for a bit.  no opposition there!!!
then i rushed back inside.  i knew i could figure out what to do.  even though every decision thus far was stupid... i'm not stupid!
so i got the fire extinguisher.  and i blew out the fire with it. 
and then jones came up to me with his shoe and asked me to untie the knot.  it was just too tight for him.
and we all lived happily ever after.  except wolfie didn't go to martial arts.  and nobody attended jones' game except for buttercup and me.  and then the aftermath of the game... well, that'll have to wait for another post!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

what's this "mother's day" thing???

i wonder why God didn't liken himself to a mom... aren't they like the best things ever???  that's just my thought today on mother's day.
i have, hands down, the absolute best and perfect mother for me in whole entire universe.  hands all the way down.  no contest. 
let me tell you 30 reasons (for each year of my life) why she's the best:

1. she's patient
2. she's kind
3. she does not boast
4. she is not self-seeking
5. she is not easily angered
6. she is truthful
7. she always protects
8. she always perseveres
9. she always loves
10. she's a nurse
11. she loves my dad
12. she loves my kids
13. she's full of help
14. she's my biggest cheerleader
15. she believes in me
16. she has great faith in the one true God
17. she's the best prayer warrior... she really prays without ceasing
18. she's athletic
19. she pushed out 4 wonderful babies and raised them with my father
20. she never gave up on marriage
21. she's optimistic
22. she's stubborn
23. she's a good role model
24. she's really encouraging
25. she's a great cook and baker
26. she is a nice grandmommy
27. she loves babies.  she's a baby-hog.
28. she's healthy
29. she always knows the right thing to say
30. she knows how to pinch a penny!

something else:  HER mother!  my granny is so wonderful and great.  i could almost duplicate the list above for my granny.  my mom definately IS her mother's daughter!!!  my granny is not a nurse though.  instead she is a great wife and mother as her career.  my papa, her husband, died at an early age and my granny's self-sufficient nature blossomed as she became a widow.  she was forced to be independant and strong even though it seemed like the odds were stacked against her.  papa was a business-owner.  granny was his right-hand man.  together they ran their store like a well oiled machine.  after he passed, she didn't have his income, but since she's so practically minded, i don't think she had too hard of a time making things last, wasting not and wanting not.  she's great like that!  the other unique strong characteristic of granny is her competitive nature.  she, like my mom, is another biggest cheerleader.  she wants, more than anything, for her children and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to WIN (unless she's playing a game against them, that is)!  and boy does she like to play a game!!!  any game!!!  her favorites are card games (like pineochle) and word games (like scrabble). 

i can't put into words how extremely grateful i am to have these two women as mom-models for me.  i can't even begin to express how thankful i am that i have both of them in my life right now.  what is this "mother's day" thing???  it's a day to express this sort of gratitude.  to reflect on the mothers in your life.  to take a little time to tell them "thank you".  so go ahead... give a little shout out!


Don't "like" me on facebook... you can't find me there.
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : frozen meals

well tonight i finally made a meal for my family... from scratch... for the first time (i'm pretty sure) since buttercup was born.  oh my holy giminy moses!  i am SO SO SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO thankful for the friends and family and strangers that brought us meals!!!!  and i am also so very thankful that i was smart enough to fill our freezer with meals for me to pull out and make with one swift movement. 
i can't tell you how frustrating it was for me to make dinner with a baby that seems like all of a sudden needs held ---because it's dinner-makin' time.  and that same baby also will need fed right when there's 3 things boiling on the stove and a beeper beeping because the bread's ready to come out of the oven. 
freezer meals are so wonderful!  so are friends that bring meals.  THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH if you were a dear friend that did that!!!  and thank you Lord, for helping me plan ahead. 
now though the freezer's empty and i need to have the strategy of a supermom.  please pray for me in the days ahead that i might perform miracles and make dinner nightly like i used to.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : music

i love music.  of all sorts.  it's so uplifting.  i'm thankful that it's important to God.  He made us musical.  He created us to enjoy and participate in music, i'm sure of it.  i even picture Him creating us to music... way back when. 
i love to watch little ones around music.  my little ones can't control their hips around music, and if they recognize the tune or lyrics they can't control their lips either. 
thank you, Lord for MUSIC!


Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows

i love the sunshine.  i love the way it warms the air.  i love the way it makes your skin feel.  i love the way it makes my heart happy.  i am so thankful to have it's appearance every few days especially lately as it's really been warming up the season.  thank you, God for making such a bright and warm star just close enough to do a perfect job at what the sun does, but just far enough away to still do a perfect job at what it does. 
i love my kids and boy do they ever love lollipops!  so i'm thankful for such an easy sweet treat to give my kiddos to perk them up and let them know i love them.  of course they know that if i never gave them another lollipop that i'd still love them too... 
and rainbows... how could someone NOT love rainbows.  they are one of God's prettiest creations and then above that, they remind us of His promise... all of his promises, and his faithfulness.  because he is, in fact faithful!
so, thank you Lord, for: sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows!!!!  i am so grateful.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : raging hormones

this would be a "praising God through the storm" kind of gratituesday post.  i had forgotten what it's like to have a hormone-coaster ride.  when i was pregnant i felt like i couldn't contain my emotions... but post pregnancy. . . holy samoley! 
an example:  here's my laid back personality going for a stress attack...  just because the baby's crying and i'm trying to load the kids up in the car...  and no one has their shoes and socks on...  and we might be a little late...  and that baby's SAD!  (that's the trigger.)
i AM thankful that my body works properly and that after i have a baby everything races around trying to find normalcy.  God designed me just the way He wanted and it was right.  and it was good.  it IS good.  God is good.
i'm grateful to have grace given to me (from my husband.  and my kids.)  i am asking forgiveness a lot these days. 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

41 week 1 day ... buttercup is here!

whether stripping my membranes did it or not, no one will ever know, but buttercup has arrived.  let me tell you about my part in bringing her into this world:
after my dr's appointment on thursday i was having contractions and cramps on and off, but really painful.  i went to bed that night hoping to simmer them down.  it didn't work.  i woke up at 12:26 with horrible cramping (i say cramping because that's the feeling.  what i was experiencing was contractions.  they were faithfully waving every 3 minutes.)  i jolted awake because beyond the pain, i was wet.  it felt like the pillow i stuck between my legs was soaked.  i jerked out of bed like i hadn't been able to do in approximately 4 months.  i put my hand down to feel the bed and sure enough it was soaked too.  i hobbled quickly to the bathroom.  i peed and peed and peed, but it all felt like pee, so i waited for my pee to stop to see if i'd keep leaking out...  i finally stopped peeing, and nothing else was dripping out. 
hmmm... i hollered to wake my hubby a bit so he could tell me if the bed was really wet or not.  --i've "soaked" the bed in sweat before, where it feels soaking wet to me, but then when i go to lay back down, everything was bone dry.  anyway, he roused enough to answer my question that the bed wasn't wet at all.  so, maybe i was wrong.  praise God.  i was really ticked at the dr. for stripping my membranes at this point!!!  but, good.  maybe my water didn't break.  phew. 
now, stop here if you don't want TMI.  skip to the end.
so, i wiped... and came out with a TON of cervical fluid.  i'm talking my "mucus plug" or my "bloody show".  it was disgusting... that is what had soaked my panties and apparently was running down my legs on the way to the potty.  gross.  but as soon as i started cleaning it up, i remember it happening when i was in the hospital trying to naturally labor with starboy.  so what did this mean?  it meant that those cramps i was having were indeed dilating my cervix and now it was dilated enough that my mucus plug had unplugged. 
it also told me that i was experiencing stage one labor. 
i knew this because my birth coach, otter pop, and i have been reading and studying dr. bradley's book "the husband-coached childbirth" (or something like that).  what i should do, to be as natural as possible during stage one, is pretty much fake-sleep.  fake-sleep is my vocab for 6 steps in the bradley method, but it pretty much completely describes what it entails.  (lay down on the side as one would naturally in the deepest most relaxing part of sleep -also called the running position-.  mouth breathing through the abdomen.  eyes closed.  and 2 more i can't think of.)  anyway, this fake-sleep should help to relax my body so that the contractions can do what they're supposed to do. 
so, i cleaned myself up and then went back to bed.  or i tried.  i was too excited though.  i couldn't sleep at all, and after an hour and a half decided that maybe i was in the put-put stage of phase one.  so, i put-putted around... got on facebook, and posted my status, " today MIGHT be the day... we're still waiting to see. but i have been awake (and WIDE AWAKE) for the past hour and a half... and i don't feel "normal" anymore! --although i still could say i do feel "fine" this minute."  i dinked off for another thirty minutes and then went back to bed.  i fell asleep at about 2:30 or 40.  kinda.
i kept contracting fairly regularly -although not every 3 minutes anymore- all morning long.  as the kids got up around 6:30, they had spread out to every 10 minutes.  my husband told the kids to pretend like everything was normal, but to go on throughout the morning without me because i was in labor.  binkins came back to me and said, "i hope your day gets better mommy and that you stop hurting so bad.  daddy said you were in labor."  i asked her if she knew what labor meant.  she looked at me, kinda puzzled and replied, "yeah.  it means you're working really hard!"  :)  (of course she knew what labor meant!!!)  i love her.  i love my kids.  i love my husband. 
we called otter's mom early so that she wouldn't even have to go into work, she could just come right over.  but she couldn't.  but she was still over before the big kids left for school... so that worked out.  she even brought doughnuts, which totally helped the kids get their chores done lightning fast! 
otter pop drove them all (sophie included) to school to help explain the picking up of jones (that'd have to be done at noon) at the same time.  i had written down the instructions... but hands-on learning is always more helpful. 
before they left he drew me a bath, so i soaked while they were gone and when they returned, sophie just took the littles to her house so that i could labor in peace.  we stuck in a movie, or turned on the tv... i'm not sure which because it really was just a background distraction...  i fake-slept while the contractions got harder and more painful by the minute.  around 11 they were painful enough that i really really had to concentrate on relaxing through them and by about 11:30 or 45 even through the relaxation they were bringing me to tears. 
at 12:15 otter pop had a dental appointment to take measurements and pick up his new partial.  it was supposed to only take about 10 minutes -at most- so he rushed off (at 12:14).  at about 12:30 a wonderful God-sent neighbor-friend dropped in on me.  i had had 3 contractions between 12:14, when pops left, and 12:30, when she arrived.  she asked how they were progressing and i told her they were only every 10 minutes, but were really picking up intensity.  she asked how long they were lasting and i told her i wasn't paying attention to that as much as i was just trying to get through them, so she said she'd start keeping track.  well, all of a sudden they started rushing in.  12:36, 12:38, 12:41, 12:44...  they were very intense!  my friend was rather concerned as she was watching me die right before her eyes.  it was about 12:45 when otter pop arrived back home and said friend and i told him that we'd better head to the hospital. 
he packed the car and i called the birth photographer.  i was really scared because what i had realized in the past about 3 hours, that when i got up (like, to go to the bathroom), or even just sit upright, the contractions would not only intensify by 100%, but also would speed up by 100%.  in between the 11-12 o'clock hour, the speed -when i was sitting up- was pretty much piggy-backed to where it was just one contraction on top the other on top the other... 
i sat up to get ready to get out to the car, and told otter pop that i'd better go potty first.  i hobbled to the pot and tried to relax myself when i felt the urge to push...  i got really scared and told otter that we needed to go, NOW.  of course he was waiting on me... so i wiped and got up (with my hubby's help) and went another few steps before i decided i should stop at the other bathroom and empty myself again before the car ride.  did i mention that i was scared?  because i wasn't.  i was petrified! 
we made it out to the car, back up, and drove about 50 ft. before i reminded him that i'd need my purse.  so we backed up, got the purse, and then sped off to the hospital. 
my wonderful loving husband pushed on his hazard lights and sped all the way to the hospital, passing [at least] 2 cops, and running only one red light.  we arrived and got rushed up and admitted to labor & delivery at 1:36.  at that time i was dilated to a 7.  i informed me that my birth plan was just a joke and that if they really wanted to save my life, they'd have to give me an epidural as quick as possible.  well, someone must've been listening because by some miracle the anesthesisist (sp?) was in my room waiting for the nurses to put in hep-lock iv.  then, the other miracle, was that he was able to administer the epidural while i was in the laying position!  (the miracle in that act is that if he couldn't have done that, i'm sure that i would be paralyzed or dead from trying to get it inserted while sitting up with those contractions piggy-backing with the highest intensity possible!)  anyway, the epidural was administered by 2pm and by 2:12 i felt tremendous relief.  sigh.  i COULD do this!  i didn't have to die. 
my water broke during a check of my cervix and a light green color was detected.  :(  this meant that i might not be able to hold my sweet blessing right away.  however, my husband was catching... so i wasn't devastated...  :)
at about 3:45 we got notice that my dr was on her way over.  at 3:52 my dr checked me and confirmed that i was complete (at 10 cm dilated and 100% effaced and at station 0) and ready to start pushing.  as they tore down the bed, i started to feel the urges.  i had 3-4 contractions, pushed 3 times each contraction, and had my sweet buttercup on my tummy at 4:08pm. 
am i disappointed that i chose to not have this baby naturally?  absolutely not.  i didn't choose meds... i chose life!
buttercup was born, friday, march 23, 2012 at 4:08pm, weighed in at a mere 9 pounds and 5.2 ounces.  her head circumference was 14 inches.  she looks balder than a q-ball... but she has a thick head of short, fine, blond hair.  her nose is great big, smashed all fat, and long.  she has fingers and toes of a 2-year-old, but placed on newborn hands and feet.  they're not at all fat... but they're SURE long!  when she was born, her little cheeks were so chunky and pinch-able... but 24 hours later, she's all unswollen and back down to normal.  no fat rolls on her arms or legs anymore.  :(   she's a beautiful little gal!  i'm completely blessed to introduce you to her:



Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

41 weeks

How far along? 41 Weeks

Total weight gain: i lost 2 pounds from last week.  bringing me up to approximately 21-31 lbs gained (since the beginning of this pregnancy) and up to about 51-56lbs over what i should be as a normal healthy 30-y-o woman (that isn't pregnant). 

Maternity clothes:  these questions are silly!  so, i'll tell you what i've decided to wear today:  my olive green maternity shirt with some denim capri's.  slip on shoes. 

Stretch marks:  i believe they're coming in.  it's hard for me to tell you for sure that they're "new" stretch marks, but again this week my belly was all itchy, so i think i gained some new ones above my belly button around the front of my abdomen.  

Sleep:  i had a great night of sleep last night!  so i'd have to say, again, just fine.  i sleep.  i love our new down comforter.  it's perfect hot/cold-wise.    
Best moment this week:  i loved being able to watch my big miss perform in her drama production last saturday... 2 days after my due date.  God is good!!!!!

Miss anything:  yes, yes i miss some things.
Movement:  she had a huge moving party yesterday after quiet time.  it created QUITE uncomfortableness to me.  as in, i was groaning and moaning in pain.  i hope she didn't flip up-side-down, but it felt like she did... about 3 times, as well as 2 sets of 10 jumping jacks and 2 sets of 5 push-ups!
Food craving:  nope.  nothing.  not much of an appetite either.  but don't worry, i'm still eating.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  notta.
Gender: girl 
Labor Signs:  lots of contractions each day, but still sporadic and completely irregular.    

Symptoms:  no more heartburn, contractions every day, a large and heavy pregnant belly, sore back from the large and heavy belly, cervix pain with the contractions if i'm up on my feet, energy loss, butt-hook, shortness of breath, and complete lack of motivation almost all of the time, swollen ankles and feet some days... but nothin' worth complaining about.
Belly Button in or out?  i don't know.  i can't see it.
Wedding rings on or off? on. 

Happy or Moody most of the time:  happy, but with twinges of unexpected and unpredictable grumps throughout each day.   
Looking forward to:  meeting my little sweet growing buttercup!!!!

and here are the dr's stats:

i'm dilated to about 4cm, still 75% effaced and soft/ready.  the little one is stationed at a -2.  her heart rate was ranging from 120-150 today as they monitered me for about 10 minutes.  she guessed i'll naturally go into labor within the next couple days and as she was walking out the door informed me that she stripped my membranes.  i'm trying not to be irate, and just trust in God that He made my body well enought that even when people jerk around with me (stripping my membranes and whatnot), He'll keep preparing my body to deliver her naturally in His time and in her due time.  we'll just wait and see.   
i got to see a little sneak peek of her chubby little cheeks today.  i'll tell you what, she's no 7 pounder!  but, i'll keep whispering that she is, in my ear, to raise my confidence level in myself.  i can do it.  i CAN do it.  i CAN DO IT!!!!!!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : contractions

in case you didn't know, "A uterine contraction is a muscle contraction of the uterine smooth muscle."  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uterine_contraction).

during the woman's menstrual cycle, "The uterus frequently contracts throughout the entire menstrual cycle, and these contractions have been termed endometrial waves or contractile waves.^[1] These appear to involve only the sub-endometrial layer of the myometrium.^[1] In the early follicular phase, these contractions occur once or twice per minute and last 10–15 seconds with a low amplitude of usually 30 mmHg.^[1] The frequency increases to 3–4 per minute towards ovulation. During the luteal phase, the frequency and amplitude decrease, possibly to facilitate any implantation.
If implantation does not occur, the frequency remains low, but the amplitude increases dramatically to between 50 and 200 mmHg producing labor-like contractions at the time of menstruation.^[1] These contractions are sometimes termed menstrual cramps,^[2] although that term is often used for menstrual pain in general. These contractions may be uncomfortable or even painful, but they are generally significantly less painful than contractions during labour. A hot water bottle or exercising has been found to help.
A shift in the myosin expression of the uterine smooth muscle has been hypothesized to avail for changes in the directions of uterine contractions that are seen during the menstrual cycle.^" 
during pregnancy and "In obstetrics, a contraction may refer specifically to the motion of the uterus^[3] as part of the process of childbirth. Contractions, and labour in general, is one condition that releases the hormone oxytocin into the body. Contractions become longer as labour intensifies.
Prior to actual labour, women may experience Braxton Hicks contractions, sometimes known as "false labour."
and lastly, in intercourse, "The uterus and vagina contract during female orgasm to encourage male semen to reach the fallopian tubes. These contractions may not be noticed by all women; pregnant women are more likely to notice these contractions by late 2nd and 3rd trimesters."

being female, i'm thankful for all three different types of contractions women experience.  lately though, i'm thankful for the second type listed most of all.  my uterus is doing what God designed it to do during this stage of my pregnancy.  they may hurt, but i know they're for the good.  i'm so glad my body is following His order...

(all information in quotes comes from the wikipedia site, sited at the top of this page)
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : teachers

teaching is a gift.  not only is it a gift to those who learn from the teacher, but it is a gift that the teacher possesses.  teaching is a spiritual gift.  if you don't know about spiritual gifts, here are some passages in the Bible you can read:  we find gifts addressed specifically in four major portions of Scripture: 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14; Romans chapter 12; Ephesians chapter 4; and 1 Peter chapter 4. 
today, i am grateful for those who use their spiritual gift of teaching.  i am thankful for teachers! 
recently, i met with some teachers to discuss my boy: jones. 
we had some issues with jones when he started kindergarten, but i could back up and say that we've always had issues with jones.  he is a wonderful and unique little boy.  he has been a handful to say the least.  he's also been so much FUN! 
here's a brief overview on jones:

• he's so loving.  he loves.  he's very compassionate.
• he's very sensitive.  i mean this emotionally, but also sensory.  he's sweet to think of others and their feelings.  he CARES with he sees others hurting or crying.  but also, he's very sensitive to sensory things like light, sound, feelings (different fabrics and such)...
• he likes attention, whether it be positive or negative.
• he respects his daddy a lot.  he has a pretty good level of respect for men in general.  he knows he's a boy and he looks up to men because he knows that's who he's supposed to be some day.
• he likes things to go one of two ways:  either as planned, or as HE'S expecting.  those might coincide, but not always.
• he has an issue with anger.  he gets angry. 
• he gets obsessed with things.  he always has.  when he was really little (around starboys age) he LOVED sticks and balls.  for his 2nd birthday we gave him a giant gift bag full of an assortment of balls.  he was SO HAPPY!  he also LOVED and still really prefers the color orange.  when he was littler it wouldn't matter what it was, but if it was orange he would be drawn to it.  he would take it, hold it, observe it, and then carry it around for however long.  he would always dress in orange.  he just LOVED orange.  after balls, he became completely enthralled with dinosaurs.  he LOVED anything and everything to do with dinosaurs.  then it was tools.  now, he's expanded his love for things to more broad spectrum and i don't know if i could label his current "love"... but the connection of all these obsessions is that when he's obsessed with something he's very easily distracted by them or anything that is associated with them.  when he's in his little trance it's very difficult to "bring him back" to reality. 
• he's aggressive.  he's so much "all boy".  he's rough and tough.  he loves sports.
• he doesn't really like to try new things. 
• jones' personality is kinda an oxymoron.  [he's totally this... but on the other hand, he's really that...]

anyway, all this to say...  what we've found out by meeting with the teachers and such is that he's a good kid.  he's "normal".  he's very smart.  very friendly.  he interacts well with others but also plays independently very well.  he's got a lot of aggression, but in the past few months he's been able to channel that aggression in the right way by himself.  his anger is simmering down and he's becoming a very adapted young man.  i'm so proud of my boy for the growth he's had in the past 6 months.  he's such a fun kid to parent.  i love him so much!  he's the boy any dad would love to call his, and such a loving sweet cuddling mama's boy as well.  all that, AND he's so darn CUTE!!!!!

but anyway, what i wanted to make this post about was my gratitude for teachers and specifically those teachers that took the time to meet with us and talk with us and spend time with him and get to know him.  mostly though, i'm so thankful for his kindergarten teacher who cares and loves on jones every monday through friday all morning long.  she really does care for him and she really does love him.  i love that and can't appreciate her more!
thank you jones' teacher!!!!!!

jones gets wrapped up in things and has very "good" selective listening.  he'll focus in on something so "well"

in december our issues became flaring and we (otter pop and myself) got worried.  we continued to trust in God, but we scheduled an appointment with his teacher, the school counselor, the school psychologist, and the principal to talk with them about what THEY thought about our boy. 
it was a great meeting. 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : snow

after two days of tempatures of 60+ degrees, we woke up to snow on the ground this morning.  instead of griping and complaining and moaning and weeping, i chose to be thankful.  i love snow.  i love changing temperatures.  i love seasons.  i think God is really wonderful to bless us with weather of ALL kinds. 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : time together

i don't know how i missed yesterday was tuesday.  i don't know how it's already wednesday!  oh!  yes, i do... it's 'cause otter pop had sunday monday off, but actually took monday off too.  usually his mondays are scheduled full with appointments, classes, and other work. 
i love time together.  especially with him.
today though, i have binkins and jones home from school hanging out with boo, starboy, and i.  they're sick... but i sure love our time together. 
i love each of our kiddos and their different personalities.  really... i LOVE them!  they're so unique and sweet and fun and it's great to spend time with them. 
i'm thankful for this time together, even if it's 'cause of sick germs!  thank you, Lord, for blessing me with 5 wonderful children.  thank you for giving me this precious time with them.  cuddling, taking care of, and nursing them to well health...

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : sleep

for the past ... 3 or 4 nights, i have had restful sleep.  i am grateful.  i am so very grateful.  i can't emphasize enough how important sleep is.  ...and how good it feels!

more pillows.

yep, that's it.
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : godparents

not everyone has godparents.  it's kinda a religious thing, i think.  i like the idea, but lots of churches nowadays don't "appoint" them.  anyway, actually, not even nowadays... always i guess.  the catholic church does... because they have an infant baptism ceremony.  lots of the churches that perform a ceremony at shortly-after-birth (like a REAL ceremony... a religious one, not just a generic), will also appoint godparents at that time.  some don't though. 
anyway, when i was born, my family was going through a transition of churches.  they were moving from the presbyterian church, to the episcopal church.  i'm fairly certain that both of my older brothers were baptized as infants in the presbyterian church and, i believe they both have godparents. 
i could be wrong, because honestly i can't even imagine who they are... but anyway, on to my imaginative story that i might be making up:
i was baptized in the new church, the episcopal church, and was not appointed any godparents (to my later life dismay).  and then, for whatever reason in this possibly made up story, my little sister WAS appointed godparents at her infant baptism. 
so, at about age... i dunno... 7, or 8 (it's my story, i could just pull any number out)... i found this information out and felt REALLY LEFT OUT!  i mean, if my parents were to die and i was left an orphan, ALL of my siblings would have godparents to look after them and take them in, and i would be left out on the street to fend for myself!!! 
so, at that time, i found out who got picked for each of my siblings, and i asked my mom if i could pick out a set of godparents for myself... since she and my father had neglected to do so 7 or 8 years ago when they should have.  it was then that she told me this story (above stated) that i vaguely remember and might be making up and asked me who i would like to have as godparents. 
well, it wasn't a horribly hard decision because i think three of my aunts and uncles were already taken... (and this lead me to believe that a god parent must be an aunt/uncle).  but, i had a favorite aunt/uncle.  (sh... don't tell anyone though.  because that just wouldn't be fair for all the others!)  my large family was fairly spread out.  i didn't know all of them equally, but i did pick favorites nevertheless. 
i told my mom, that i wanted ---hm, what should i call them on this blog, to protect their innocence?  how about "aunt connie" and "uncle john"--- to be my godparents.  i'm sure it was to her delight, because "aunt connie" (as we'll call her) was her only sister.  and, since now i'm an adult with kiddos, and have an only sister, i know how special they are! 
anyway, my mom encouraged me to write "aunt connie" and "uncle john" a letter and ask them if they'd be interested in adopting me as their godchild.  and i did.  and ironically enough, we saw them the next weekend and i handed them the envelope and was very very embarrassed about it.  i was embarrassed that i had to pick up the slack -as a 7/8-y-o, where my parents had fell short.  i was also embarrassed though because i was such a shy little twirp.  i actually chickened out and asked my mom to give it to "aunt connie" for me.  and then, she (my mom) told "aunt connie" the WHOLE story, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME...  i was super humiliated because they kept looking at me and smiling like, "oh isn't she just so cute and/or precious!!!"  like i was some sort of baby... 
anyway, "aunt connie" and "uncle john" opened up my little letter and read it, while i ran off to the other room because i just couldn't take any more humiliation.  then, "aunt connie" came and found me and hugged me and told me she'd be de-LIGH-ted to be my godmother and that "uncle john" would also be de-LIGH-ted as well.  and then she told me how much they loved me and hoped that nothing would happen to my parents, but now, just in case, they would make sure that i was taken care of. 
i felt SO relieved.  and SO happy that they didn't deny my request (talk about embarrassing... how embarrassing would THAT be?!)
anyway, since then, i've always felt a little closer to "aunt connie" and "uncle john"... and i'm thankful for that special bond.  i suppose their godparent roles have pretty much come to a close since i'm all old and stuff, but i'm so grateful that they were willing to protect me and take care of me. 
thank you, "aunt connie" and "uncle john"!  thank you, God, for placing such a wonderful couple into my family and into my life. 
now, since none of my kiddos have been baptized religiously as infants, and we don't belong to a traditional religious denomination that appoints godparents... i suppose i should look into that for my kids.  so they don't have to be traumatized at age 7/8 to where they make up some fantasy story in their heads that would leave them orphans out on the street...  perhaps i'll look into it.  but for right now, i'll just take the gratitude approach and be everly thankful for God's placement of people at the right time and right place.  always.  He's so good!!!  his love endures forever!!!!!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

4 years ago today...

i've recently posted about my birthing story with my boo.  it was a "BOO!" story!!!  :( 

this was the day after boo was born.  binkins came to meet her.

so, i'll tell you a little about my recent 4-year-old.

boo today, in her birthday dress.

1. she's gorgeous!  
2. she's super sweet.  sweet smile.  sweet disposition.  and sweet tooth!
3. she LOVES to laugh.  she has a very unique sense of humor, especially for a 3/4-year-old.  she has the absolute most adorable laugh ever too!
4. she messes up her r-sounds.  but we're sure working haRd on it!
5. she likes hot dogs, corn dogs, and maccaroni and cheese.
6. she also likes fruit and candy and snack foods.  when i asked what she wanted for her birthday dinner, after about an hour of brainstorming, all she could think of was cake (link to the cake recipe i'm making), candybars, suckers, and frosting.  FINALLY today i got her to list out some "healthy" things too.  we get to have raisins, watermelon, strawberries, chocolate flavored berries (???  yeah, not havin' those for dinner), with mac 'n' cheese. 
7. she LOVES to wear dresses!  she'll deal with skirts, but only with a happy face if they're full of lace and toole. 
8. her favorite color is purple and pink.
9. her favorite animals are cats, but she also likes alligators.

and now, a life-pictorial of her:

boo with her aunt, that lived with us at that time.

boo with her little sweet family (minus mom)

boo with her eldest sibling

boo with her other two adoring siblings

boo at 1-year-old

boo at 2-years-old

 boo at 3-years-old

now, i'll end with a fun test that i've given to 2 other 4-y-o's and enjoyed.  it can be found on facebook, but this one i'll post here:

a test with my 4-year-old 2/8/12

1. What is something I always say to you?
birthday bash

2. What makes me happy?
loving

3. What makes me sad?
killing

4. How do I make you laugh?
um, um, you say funny jokes

5. What do you think I was like as a child?
you will laugh, and you will pet a cat.  i love you so much.

6. How old am I?
50 pounds

7. How tall am I?
(she holds up her two fingers like you would if someone asked you how big an inch is)

8. What is my favorite thing to do?
like to help

9. What do I do when you're not around?
i'm the birthday girl and you love me.

10. If I become famous, what will it be for?
it will be for, um, um, a cat.

11. What am I really good at?
doing the dishes

 12. What am I not really good at?
fighting the devil

13. What is my job?
combing my hair and like to brush my teeth.  and brush your teeth.

14. What is my favorite food?
salad

 15. What makes you proud of me?
proud of kissing.

16. If I were a cartoon character, who would I be?
in a movie.  a cartoon movie. 

17. What do you and I do together?
the dishes. 

18. How are we the same?
like eachother.  we love eachother.

19. How are you and I different?
like to do, because we love eachother.

20. How do you know that I love you?
i love you so much.  we hug each other.

 21. Where is my favorite place to go?
the zoo.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOO!  I DO LOVE YOU!!!!!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : quiet time

in two different ways, i'm thankful for quiet time.
1. ) in the morning, i have been faithful (for the past 6 months at least) in spending some quiet time with God every day.  i take some time and write in my prayer journal, and then take some more time to read a chapter of His word.  currently i'm cruising through exodus.  i finished james last month.  i'm trying to read every book, but i'm reading them randomly so that i don't get burned out when i reach leviticus or numbers.  when i feel like i'm at a rut, i'll go back to proverbs...  i like that proverbs ends with proverbs 31 (my favorite chapter in the bible).  i love taking some time (especially morning time), while the kids are quietly going about their morning chores, or eating breakfast... to spend it with my Lord.  i enjoy talking with Him, listening to Him, asking Him questions and favors, casting my cares upon Him...  ahhhhh!  it makes me smile just thinking about how blessed i am in this morning quietness.
2.) in the afternoon, i have been faithful in having the kids lay down and do quiet time.  they are to lay down, lay still, and be quiet.  ("toes up" time, is what we started calling it in the beginning.  the kids like that better than nap time.  but it wasn't as quiet.  now, it's QUIET time... with the q-word emphasized)  sometimes they choose a toy or two to play with, but if they make noise with it (or because of it) i take that away.  sometimes they choose a book or two to look at or read, but if they make noise with it (or because of it) i take that away.  sometimes they curl up with a pillow and blanket and sleep, and i don't ever take that away!  sometimes they just lay still...  either way, i've had them doing quiet time -like this- for several years now and i'm so thankful.  we do it at the same time every day.  no matter what.  1:00 - 3:00 (and sometimes we start earlier).  i do it when i have one kid home, or all 5.  i don't discriminate quiet time with age... we all need it.  sometimes i need to shut my eyes and rest my body.  i can, BECAUSE of this quiet time.  i am SO SO SOOOOOOOO thankful for this time each day to rest my body and my mind and clear my head. 
you can call me lazy because i get to take 2-3 hours each day in quietness... but i know better.  i'm not lazy, i'm sane. 
thank you, God, for your many blessings you give me.  today i want to give you a shout out for giving me two quiet times each day that help me in so many different areas.  thank you for helping me be a better wife and mom...  keep it up.  i love your perseverance in me.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

happy birthday girls!

yesterday, the whole day was spent cleaning and celebrating.  my parents came up and we celebrated binkins' 7th birthday, my 30th birthday, and boo's upcoming 4th birthday.  my brother and sister popped in to join us because they just happened to be in town as well. 
at about 7, otter pop and i then headed out on the town to celebrate my 30th birthday along with a good friend's 30-somethingth birthday with dinner, arcade, and a movie. 
it was an awesome day, as it was mostly revolved around ME!  (just being real, folks!)
here are a few pix so i can use less words:

my daddy getting his hair combed by my sweet and cute niece
(i grabbed the camera when i saw she was doing his arm hair at first!)

boo got one of the three dimes in the birthday cake.

binkins got another one of the three dimes...

and i got one of the three dimes!  all three birthday girls are 10 cents richer!!!!!  happy birthday!

 perhaps someone else got a picture of the beautifully lit birthday cake...  i'm pretty sure we were taking pictures of us blowing it out, but i guess since i was one of the blowers, my camera wasn't being used (shoot!).  i didn't think of that until i downloaded these pictures.  :(

boo received a rapunzel dress and wig!  (how perfect for my little tangled doll.)

this is my party-sharer and party giver.  <3  great gals!  great fun!!!

and these are our extra awesome hubbies who strive to please us women in all they do.  personally, i like mine the best!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

gratituesday : friendships that work

at each stage in our life we have friends... hopefully.  when we're young they're just a good play buddy.  as we get older, our friendship needs blossom.  they turn from someone who is fun to play compatibly with to someone who we like to talk and listen to.  then that blooms into someone who can set aside their time to be there for you, while you're willing to set aside time for to be there for them.  as we mature and grow, our friendship skills do too. 
at this stage in my life, i am blessed to have several friends that understand and put up with me.  these, to me, are friendships that work.
i am a mom and my first priority, after my relationship with God, of course, is my family.  i am so thankful to have friends that understand and respect that. 
i am so thankful that God gave me these friends because i need them.  and i love them.  and... i think i just did a post on this not too long ago.

well, my husband and i also have some friends.  currently we are praying for a few of them because of difficult times they are going through.  i'm not going to share anything personal, but will you please pray for our friends?  two families specifically that are really struggling.  you can pray however you want, because God knows ALL ABOUT IT (trust me, i talk to him daily about it)...  i'm currently praying for strength and faithfulness, love, and encouragement for these friends. 

thank you, God, for giving me friends to help and lift me up in prayer.  thank you for giving me people to friend who also can use my prayer and support.  God, you give us such a good example of friendship in your Son that came to earth to teach us as no greater friend.  please be with all of my friends... 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

years gone by

i found a great blog (a friend of a friend through a friend, or something like that) and loved the idea.  i'm modeling this one after that one, but it won't be the same because i don't even know the girl, so don't worry about plagiarism.
also, i'll see what i can do as far as pictures go...  *note to self, this post would rock-a-diddle if it had pictures!*

last year:  i turned the age that every woman wants to be for the rest of her life.  29.  it was a great year, but i'm looking forward to my 30s... i mean, everyone else has been in their 30s for YEARS it seems!!!

2 years ago: i had a new (3-mo-old is still new, right?) baby boy to snuggle with.  he wasn't very little, but he was such a sweet snuggler.

3 years ago: i helped my little sister plan her wedding.  attended that wedding and witnessed a wonderful thing.

4 years ago:  i was about to have a precious bundle of girl born to me!  she looked different than the others and had a head full of dark beautiful hair! 

the birth though, isn't one of my favorite memories... 
i wanted to go natural but we lived two hours away from my ob.  a week early, one of the drs talked us into being induced because it was february in northwester usa.  weather's unpredictable.  roads are unpredictable.  babies are even more unpredictable in regards to their arrivals!  so, knowing i was going to be induced i decided i'd be firm in everything else.  no breaking water.  no epidural.  etc. 
two hours after arriving, i tell the dr. that was working that day (different than the one i had discussed my induction with the day before) my decisions and he says firmly, "do you want to have this baby or not?!"  well, that should have given me a clue as to what i was going to be dealing with [him] all day. 
it was NOT my birth plan, it was all HIS.  and when it came down to the baby being pushed out he had just laid down to take a nap... so, needless to say, he was NOT HAPPY when i decided to have the baby that day!  after delivering my sweet bundle of goodness he immediately started stitching me up.  and then i decided to deliver the placenta (because it was time).  well, unfortunately he had stitched enough up that the placenta "popped" out.  it busted blood and gore and grossness ALL OVER HIM (and most of the room)!!!!  i felt horrible.  he looked like he could've killed me if there wouldn't have been so many witnesses.  i apologized all over myself.  i was so embarrassed. 

as i look back, i should have replied, "nope, i'd like to keep this baby IN ME!" to his first question of the morning.  if that didn't work out for me, i really should've kicked him at some point or the other and demanded a dr that had some either compassion or sleep catch my baby!

but anyway, off of that memory and on to the next year.  5 years ago we lived in a lovely little two-bedroom/one bathroom duplex in a tree-infested side of town.  there was shade galore and parks scattered on every corner.  our backyard was this forest-kid-wonderland.  it was small, but an amazing imagination-growing chapel!  almost all of our neighbors had kids and dogs.  and kids and dogs ran amuck in our little circle/culdesac.  it was a great home.  ... i miss a lot about it!

6 years ago, my hubby was nearing the end of his academics in aircraft and propulsion.  i was pregnant and expecing my first son.  later in that year, he was born.  he was cute.  he looked just like the first one, except with different parts.  my smart hubby had his final exam (of some sort, i think it may have been an oral test or something like that.  anyway, it was a huge deal) the same day the little dude was born.  he had to stay in school for another week so that he could reschedule.  we lived in a teeny tiny town in idaho.  it was one of those towns where everyone knows everyone else and their business.  however, it was also amazingly refreshing in a nice-ness.  there was a reservoir just about a mile from where we called home.  there were trains that came through every hour (day and night).  the tracks were in between us and the reservoir.  the trains would literally shake our windows (again i'll reiterate day and night).  again we were surrounded by others with kids.  lots and lots of kids.  if i could give one complaint, it would be those kids.  but i won't.  i'll just leave it as an amazing refreshing in a nice-ness town. 

7 years ago... well, i just posted that post earlier this month.

8 years ago we lived in a different town.  in a different situation.  on a different street.  i had 3 grandparents living.  i had a great job that had just changed owners.  i was a newly wed.  life was good.  really really good.  simple.  steady.  and good.  very very different that the life i have now (not that the life i have now is bad.  no, it's great!  just very different in 8 short years.)

9 years ago i got engaged.  i also got married and became a mom (all in two small words) and pregnant.  that was a big year! 

10 years ago is when i met my mr.  it was march/april 10.  i also graduated from college.

i'm skipping year ten because although it was a great year in a great town with an awesome roommate and millions of changes happening, it's worth skipping.

11 years ago was that tenth year i was just referring about, so i'll forgo it too. 

12 years ago i was getting ready to graduate from high school.  i had a great school and a great time doing it.  but i was soooooo ready to get out and away.  i graduated and was out within a month.  i moved to a camp in paradise and learned a whole new way of life.  i grew up.  all in one summer.

about 13 years ago, i had my first "real" boyfriend.  the kind that takes you out on dates and stuff.  that was a big deal back then. 

and about 16 years ago, my first kiss.  it's stupid now, but it wasn't so stupid then.  (*yeah, i don't have a picture of that!)

18 years ago i made my first team.  in 7th grade, i made the girl's basketball team.  it was awesome.  it was what i wanted to spend the rest of my schooling doing (playing sports).  unfortunately, it was also the last team i ever made.  apparently size does matter.  :(  that still breaks my heart to this day.  it also really irks me that we now live in a big enough town that they start kids trying out for some sports as young as 2nd and 3rd grade. 

20 years ago, there was a huge snow storm where i lived with my two older brothers and one younger sister.  my parents lived with us.  my father farmed and my mom worked a town away as a nurse.  the snow was so deep on our road, that we had to park down at the corner mile-road and walk home (uphill both ways).  the snow drifts were so high, one could only see the snowplow coming through from the huge blast of snow he'd throw above and out into the snow fields.  it wasn't the regular snowplow either.  we had to have the national state of emergency snowplow guy.  we missed so many days of school that year, that they had to lengthen the school day for the rest of the year (once school resumed).  it was worth it though.  we had so much fun sliding down snowdrifts out in our yard/field/driveway.  it was like there was a ski hill just outside our door!  ---only we didn't ski.  it didn't have any lifts.  no one paid us to use it.  etc. etc. etc.---

so that means that about 25 years ago i started school.  i remember riding the bus and being so nervous.  i remember practicing my teacher's name over and over, so if something happened i could just say i was supposed to go to mrs. ostermeier's class.  nothing happened.  everything was fine. 

i met my best friend and did well in school.  recess was filled with running from boys.  25 years is a really long time ago... but i still can remember some things and my emotions fairly well. 

30 years ago, i was born.  happy birthday!


Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."