Down Time

Whew! Everyone's gone home; Thanksgiving dinner is over and every thing cleaned up and put away; Itty Bitty's baptism went smoothly - the left over cake stuffed into the frig with the rest of the left overs. We all slept into today until about 8:45 a.m. I can't remember the last time I slept that late. Even the kiddos stayed in bed. Itty Bitty was very worn out from having extra family at the house, then the baptism and party yesterday. She slept through the night from about 11:30 p.m. until 8:30; she didn't even really wake up during the night to nurse. When I looked at the clock this morning, I started even worrying a little bit. But as soon as she woke up enough, she ate like a champ. And has been making up for it with nursing a lot during the day today. She's still worn out - sleeping a lot, but we all are. Unfortunately, hubby worked today to make up for the days off with the holiday. But Bug, Itty Bitty and I have been bums today. I've been catching up on laundry and putting the extra table and chairs away but other than that we've been dozing off and re-energizing ourselves for another full week of school for Bug, and volunteering, working and shopping for Mommy, and being dragged along for Itty Bitty. I'm not even going to the grocery store today. Just the thought of taking both kiddos into the grocery store is making me tired. I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving!

Wordless Wednesday

Where did the time go?

Has it really been almost a week since I last posted? Itty Bitty has has the sniffles and it's been a busy week at Bug's school. Next week will be busy, too. Short school week but lots of activities - modified schedule on Monday; Thanksgiving Feast with the kindergarten and fourth graders on Tuesday; mini-concert and prayer service, then early dismissal on Wednesday. That's just Bug's schedule. Then we have company coming for the holiday so I cleaning to do not only in the house, but need to double check the camper since some people are staying out there. Then there's the cooking to start doing for Thanksgiving itself, not to mention making sure everyone has a nice outfit to wear for Itty Bitty's christening on Saturday. Then, of course, there's making time to do some freelance work, too.

I thought giving thanks each day for something would be easy. It's not. The truth of the matter is I'm very thankful overall. I know even on my worst days that things really aren't that bad. I'm fortunate enough to be able to stay home and care for my children, work with my husband, and do freelance work from home. We're all in relatively good health. Our parents and my siblings are in good health. This time last year we were dealing with my dad's cancer and treatment; the year before my father-in-laws. This year - knock on wood - every thing seem to be going well. We have a rough over our heads; food on the table every week. There are no debt collectors calling at all hours. My husband's business is going well; and that's a double blessing going into the holiday season not to mention the winter. I may be stressed out and not in a good mood all the time, but deep down I know things could be much worse. I'm very thankful for my life right now!

The Man in My Life

I don't talk about him much but I do have a husband. He works very hard - he has his own business. So we - Itty Bitty (our 2 month old baby girl) and Bug (our 5 1/2 year old son) - don't really get to see him much. I guess that's the sacrifice so that I can stay home with Itty Bitty and volunteer at Bug's school. The Hubby and I have had trouble re-connecting since the Little Bitty joined the family. It feels like neither one of us has had time to breath since she was born. He's been working so much both on client projects and on our own construction project. I've been trying to keep some semblance of order in the house, taking care of the kiddos and coordinating various school and social events. Unfortunately, that doesn't allow for much one on one time. And right now date nights are hard because Itty Bitty is still nursing round the clock every 3 hours or so. And although she'll take a bottle if push came to shove, that still doesn't do much for me. I mean come on- how come they can make a diaper that lasts overnight but they can't make a nursing pad that can last an extra hour or two? Any way I digress. Even though we really need a date night, I decided to take some advice posted on other blog I read and the blogger happens to be an on-line buddy, and I got Hubby something he really likes - an appointment for a massage. Now you may think - yeah that's really a guy thing! But when you work your body as hard as Hubby does doing construction it's really therapeautic to have a professional massage. (Besides I've found that when I make the appointment for him, he comes home relaxed, not as stressed, and then suggests that I go the following weekend.)

Owe 2 days of giving thanks - my new garage (thanks Hubby), with winter coming this is a blessing; garage door openers - a frivolous feature but very much appreciated especially since the garage has nine foot doors on it!

Days 9 & 10 Giving Thanks

There are just not enough hours in one day for a busy mom! So I owe 2 days of what I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for friends. Friends that I see everyday; friends that are only on-line; and friends that I have known for 20+ years. Friends have laughed with me, cried with me. Friends have supported me and argued with me. Friends have kept me sane and been crazy with me. Thank you for my friends!

As a busy mom, I'm thankful for cell phone technology. Unlike my husband, my cell phone is not my "business" phone. But I am glad to have one. Most times it's just my safety net. You know the "just in case" something bad happens scenario. But there are times, with the running around that I just can't do everything. The cell phone allows me to keep in touch with people and multi-task with the various errands I have to do each day for my kids, myself, and my husband's business.

I just got finished snuggling with both my kids, and we watched a video. Not just any video but a video from my wedding. It's not a professionally done video. One of my husband's aunts did the filming. And after transferring it from the European format to VHS, and nine years of age, it's grainy, but it's still a beautiful reminder of a beautiful day. I endured the numerous questions from my son and inquiries into "who's that" and "I don't know that person". I love his curiosity. I hope and pray he never loses that. And I hope my daughter is just as inquisitive. It was a short video and after it ended, my son said "Oh, it's over. I was getting into it." He then rolled over and fell fast asleep. And then I looked down and my little daughter was fast asleep snuggled into my neck. God - thank you for my beautiful family and life. May I never forget moments like this.

My Baby Sister

Today I'm thankful for my sister, Claudia. She called me today - just to say "Hi" - she does that alot. And I probably don't tell her often enough that I do enjoy that someone calls me just to say "Hi" and not complain about something or tell me about a problem. There's something you have to know about me and Claudia - we're 15 years apart. When she was born, I was a freshman in high school. Now she's preparing to graduate from college! Our conversations are usually long, sometimes about nothing at all and sometimes about everything. We share a lot of the same views about life, love and family. And even though we're 15 years apart (please don't do the math), she has a lot of good insights and offers a fresh perspective on things. She reminds me a lot of what I was like at her age. I'm proud of her and thankful to have her as my "baby" sister.

Day Seven Giving Thanks

I did mean to post yesterday really I did. But something about working all morning, then taking 2 kids out to lunch and then shopping really did me in. I did mentally give thanks even though I didn't post it. But yesterday during our lunch/shopping adventure - my 5 year old is really making taking him any where these days an adventure! - I had the pleasure of crossing paths with some very nice people. I don't know their names but they were the men and women who took pity on me. I'm usually the type of person who says "no problem" and "I've got it; I can manage". Well, I guess right now I don't have it all that together or just look really, really tired, but these kind souls really helped me in their own little ways. The gentleman who stopped traffic so we could cross the parking lot at McDonald's; the women with their own kids in tow who kept an eye on my 5 year old while I went to the counter to order his lunch; the numerous customers and associates at Wal-Mart who told me where he was hiding every 5 minutes; and the associate who helped "talk him down" when he threw a fit because I wouldn't buy him Aqua Dots. So thank you to all the anonymous people who in their own ways perform good deeds every day.

About that Aqua Dots thing. I am so glad I didn't buy it and the associate did say something about a possible recall coming. I saw the news last night and heard about the recall. http://www.wfsb.com/family/14536526/detail.html What's up with all these toy recalls? Isn't there someone that overseas these toys and games that are imported into this country for our kids? I was thinking about getting that toy for him for Christmas, too. But no way now. What ever we end up getting the kids for Christmas, you'd better believe that I'm going to research and review toys like never before, especially now with an infant in the house again!

Thankful for. . .

I'm on the fence some days about doctors and the whole health care system. But I am thankful for the marvels of modern medicine. Both my father and my father-in-law are cancer survivors. My daughter was a preemie. We've had our fair share of experiences with doctors and hospitals just within the past 3 years. When I think about things that have transpired in the past - 15, 20 years ago - I'm amazed at the advances in medicine. Some of what we've been through these last couple of years probably would not have had such good outcomes 15, 20 years ago. Watching the tiniest of tiny babies in the NICU for a week while my daughter was there, I felt truly blessed and thankful for the doctors, nurses and technology available these days.

On the 5th Day of Giving Thanks

Today I want to say "thanks" to a particular worker at the post office in my town. I didn't plan things very well, and walked into the post office Saturday with 5 packages to mail, with my newborn and 5 year old in tow. My 5 year old was being his usual 5 year old self, and my newborn was wailing at the top of her lungs. I'm trying to juggle holding onto the baby in the car seat, wrangle my 5 year old from taking all the packaging materials off the display shelves, and hold onto the items that I have to mail out. We finally made it to the front of the line and all I did was put everything on the counter, even the items that weren't yet in a box, with the labels, and before I could say, "Luke, put the Mickey Mouse mailing box away" for the twelve time, the worker had everything packaged for me, labeled, and postage printing away. So "thank you" to "Joe" and the other postal workers who don't run and hide when they see me coming in with my son, baby and miscellaneous stuff in tow, but then breath of sigh of relief (I know they do) when we leave.

Bow to the Coffee Gods

I can't remember the last time I got more than 3 hours of sleep at a time. So my "thanks" for the day goes to coffee, java, café, kaffee. Pretty lame thing to be thankful for I know, but I don't know how I get through some days without it. Since having kids I've cut back dramatically. It used to be I'd drink anywhere between 3 and 4 huge mugs (not cups) a day. Now I'm down to 1 mug. I tried cutting it out completely while nursing, but the headaches and falling asleep while driving my son to school in the morning really weren't worth it. I have a whole month worth of being "deep" in giving thanks, so for today thanks goes to coffee.

Day Three of Giving Thanks

I'm thankful for my husband. Although I may complain sometimes, and I may not always show him, I do love him and I'm thankful that he is part of my life. It's because of him that I'm able to be a WAHM. He has an extreme work ethic and provides very well for us. If it wasn't for his hard work with his business, I wouldn't be able to be home with my children. I've known Adrian for almost 12 years; we've been married for 9 years. Neither one of us is perfect (though we think we are sometimes) and we butt heads quite often, but if/when push comes to shove we would move heaven and earth for each other. The only time I've seen him somewhat speechless and even near tears was during the births of our children, and even more so with our daugther who was 6 weeks early and needed to be in the NICU for a week after her birth. Both deliveries were c-sections, and both times he was there with me stroking my hair and keeping me calm during the surgery. Both times he went with the nurses and counted all the fingers and toes. And then both times he showed up in my recovery room with food for himself, even though I needed to wait to eat solid food. As much as he does things that can irritate me, I know I do just as many to irritate him. I don't like to think of my life without him in it, and I hope I won't have to for a very, very long time.

Out of the Mouthes of Babe

Day Two of giving thanks. I'm thankful for my children. And here's why. Last night during dinner, I was talking to my 5 year old son, Luke, how his day was at school. He goes to a Catholic school so we were talking about his religion class. In particular we were going over the prayers he's learned so far. He's learned how to say grace before a meal, the Our Father, and in his own words, the "Harry Mail". I asked "Did you mean Hail Mary?" He said, "Yeah, the Harry Mail." At which point, the water I was drinking came out of my nose and I started having a coughing fit.
So even though I basically have to rant and rave to get to go to the bathroom alone, I do love and am very thankful for my kids because, well, they keep life interesting and entertaining!