I don't have much time to write today as I spent my lunch emailing someone that I felt needed a smile. I hope she got it!
We finally got some good news last night, Tricare, our military insurance is going back and reinstating our insurance from the day we were originally eligible from when my husband seperated from active duty and became eligible for Tricare Reserve Select... It's complicated, however, this was an answered prayer for sure... If they wouldn't have reconsidered, we would be facing $30K in out of pocket expenses. Now we are only responsible for around $4K-$5K... And hopefully we can raise that at her fundraiser in the next month or so. PRAISE THE LORD
We are still waiting to hear whether Josh got selected for FTS or not... patiently we wait, knowing it is in HIS time... Still praying
Here are some fun photos of my girlies:
Playing Photographer: Merry Christmas from the Nihiser Girls!
Miss Lil T thinks she needs to crawl.. she won't sit up, but she crawls... REALLY! Slow down little miss!
Standing on her toes... Where does the time go?
And a funny one of our family photo shoot, God love our photographer and her patience with us!
In an effort to obtain more followers so that I can start having giveaways I have linked up with the Military Monday Blog hop. For every 100 followers I reach I will be having a giveaway. The first giveaway will be from the Faith Bebe Boutique Collection.
OH, CAN ANY OF MY FOLLOWERS HELP ME? I'VE BEEN ASKED BY A FEW OF MY FOLLOWERS FOR MY BUTTON TO PUT ON THEIR PAGE... ANYONE KNOW HOW I DO THAT??? I AM HAVING ISSUES!
I decided that I was going to do something "outside" the box. Traditionally folks send Christmas cards and letters around Christmas, this year I'm sending a New Year's letter! So for those of you in the blog-o-sphere here is this year's letter, you can pretend that you just went to the mailbox and retrieved it!
Dear Family and Friends,
I hope this finds you well! Boy have we been busy! A recap of our year, I was offered a promotion within my company. I couldn't be happier. I have successfully now worked in all of the claims departments throughout State Farm. (I don't know if that is a good thing or not. :) Josey turned 2 and I can hardly believe she's almost 3!!! Where does the time go? Josh and I attended : "A Weekend to Remember" which is a Family Life Marriage Retreat! It was amazing... There are still things that I reflect on from that weekend, so much that Josh and I have decided to attend once again. When we first arrived and they pooled the audience and there were couples there that had been attending for thirty odd years, I'll be honest, I thought they were crazy. I couldn't see how people could use this more than once... Boy was I wrong!
In March Josh was laid off from his job which made us realize the effects of the economy, but we've made do. Shortly after his lay off he took off to Great Lakes, IL for additional military training. I stayed back and ran the ship at home only to be put on bedrest in May. The big girls finished Kindergarten and Second Grade. We also decided in April that for the following school year that we were going to switch school districts, ours was going through a lot of financial ruin based on our state legislature cuts and we just wanted to ensure the BEST education for our girls. We considered homeschooling full time, however if Josh ended up going back to work then we didn't know if we could keep it up.
Sera bug turned 4... which also meant that my grandpa had been gone for 4 years (he passed 11 days after Sera was born) My family often thinks that Sera channels my grandpas spirit, and while we really don't believe in all that, there are definitely things she says and does that make us question... for example the time that she said grandpa was out in the back yard watching us... While I know its her vivid imagination, it still lightens your heart to know that she is so pure an free!
In July we welcomed Baby Lybertei (Liberty) into our family. She is such a joy. I can't believe that she's almost 6 months old already! Where does the time go? Josh wasn't able to be home for the birth so my mom was in the OR with me. "Lil T" as daddy calls her is definitely her daddy's girl (they all are really)! She looks just like her dad and grins ear to ear when she sees him!
August brought the girls back to school, in a new school, making new friends. They have adjusted really well, and while we don't necessarily agree with all of the teaching practices, we have faith in the teachers!
September brought a roller coaster of emotion. Drea began getting really ill after Labor Day. After several days with a 104 fever that wouldn't quit, nausea, vomitting and what not it was time to take action. I loaded her up and took her to the ER... much to our disliking they ran no tests and did nothing. They told us she was having migraines...now I'm no doctor, but I do know that migraines do not cause a fever that high for 5 days. We left and the following morning made an appt with our doc who diagnosed her with a sinus infection, while I wasn't completely satisfied I took the RX and hoped that maybe she would get better... She got worse so we decided to take her to Children's Hospital, while the wait was long, the quality of care was amazing! She went through extensive testing, IV's, meds, XRays, spinal taps, and on and on and on... Final diagnosis was Lacrosse Encephalitis and Aeseptic Menengitis... Thank you local hospital for dismissing my childs symptoms in which she nearly died, not from the encephalitis, but from the extreme dehydration that she was experiencing. (sorry about the rant, just stating a point!) After spending nearly a week in the hospital with no insurance (TRICARE has been a mess!) our jubilent 8 year old was back to normal! Sadly enough she spent her 8th birthday in the hospital. She was a real trooper!
September also meant that I would be leaving my babies for the first time in 5 months. It was the hardest day ever! With that being said, if all works out hopefully soon I can become a stay a home mommy!
November has brought Josh the opportunity to work on temporary orders at the reserve center, it also opened the opportunity to work as full-time support... He filed his paperwork, and as with anything with the military, now we wait! :) (PRAYERS REQUESTED!) This has reminded me PRAY HARD, ALL things in HIS time!
Finally December hit, who knew it could come so fast?!?!?! Payge turned 7, and we celebrated at the zoo. The three oldest girls have been taking Tae Kwon Do for the past several months, Drea has advanced so well that she tested for her yellow belt and earned, she also earned the 2010 Spirit Award! We are so proud of her. The oldest three are also dancing, and we inherited a violin and piano which we hope to start lessons here soon.
We've seen a couple moderate snow storms and frigid temps for the past month. It is sad that 2K10 has come and gone so quickly, but that means that 2K11 is here and it's time to face it and all of it's glory!
So with that we say to you: DEU 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul ,
and with all your strength.
My mother is finally getting around after her recent back surgery, now we just wait to see if it worked.
The kids had yet another amazing Christmas, as did mommy and daddy! There is nothing more that I love than being surrounded by family and friends. Isn't it sad that it has to be a holiday before we all find time in our busy schedules for each other. We have one more celebration with my family on New Year's day. My aunt and uncle live away and won't be "home" until Friday evening. I LOVE spending time with them, I wish I could spend more time with them.
Now that we are through the holidays it is time for me to get to organizing, school work, and craft projects!
Looking forward to following my followers and gaining more... For every 100 followers I will be drawing for prizes! Tell your friends to Hop on Board!
I've been thinking about this post for some time, so here we go: These are the minimum numbers for our day,everyday...
*14 socks
*7 pr of underroos
*7 shirts, pants, and coats (in theory)
*14 shoes
*9 towels, at least
*21 plates, 21 forks, and 21 spoons
*if each person left 5 things "laying around" in a day, that's 35 extra items for me to put away.
*a minimum of 8 bags leaving and returning to the house
*5 hats and 12 gloves
*2 boxes of macaroni and cheese
*one loaf of bread
*half gallon of milk,at least
This is sort of a large post, so I decided to increase the size for point and emphasis, maybe it's overkill! :)
Anywho, what is the point of this post? Well... the point being these are just a few of the numbers. How is a mother of a large family supposed to function with all these "things"?!?!?! Well I finally, about a month ago, have came to realize that I am not super woman... I can't do it all. The biggest part of that is accepting this fact. So as a part of my realization came some new rules and practices at our home, which have been quite effective I might add. We inherited clothing racks from our church when the clothes closet shut down a few weeks ago, now that I have them I need more. I recently purchased more than 200 hangers and truthfully I need more... My goal by February 1, 2011 is to have all of our clothes hung minus undergarments and socks!. I have a system that my husband still isn't too keen on, but hey it works so I'm going with it. All of the shirts are on one side of the rack, by size. Pants, sweaters, dresses, and OSU garb are all the same as well. My exception to this is Lybertei's... her's are on a rack of their own. I am hoping to get a few more racks for my husband and I. The kids find it amusing and say it looks like a store.
Beyond clothes I have instituted a few more small activities that the kids are responsible for. First, my husband had the opportunity to spend a few weeks working at the local Navy Operational Support Center so that has left me to get all 7 of us ready and out of the house by 0700 daily. So, everyone (but the baby) is responsible for getting themselves ready, once you are ready you are then responsible for getting your buddy ready. I have matched Drea and Josey together because they are most alike, Payge has been paired with the baby, and Sera is responsible for herself. I start by laying out all 7 complete outfits, although my husband has kind of been on his own lately, but he is managing well. (insert snicker here) All they have to do is get dressed, this also entails, shoes on, teeth and hair brushed, coats and bags ready, and THEN and only then you help your buddy. The system has worked pretty well.
Secondly in the evenings my kiddos have been leaving things lay lately... and the room(s) I absolutely HATE to clean is the kitchen/dining room... The clutter that arrives in that area so quickly frankly annoys me! I even bought a plaque at the local thrift store yesterday that makes reference to the clutter... I will hang it in our new home. I have been making them do the floor clean up plan... What ever is on the floor pick it up, I DON'T CARE IF YOU DIDN'T PUT IT THERE! I asked you to pick it up so please do so.
Payge has been so willing to help and do dishes, I remember when I was so eager to do the same... hehehe, oh well she likes to do it and does a good job at it, so occasionally I allow her to help with that as well.
Slowly my brood is learning what teamwork can mean when it comes to cleaning so hopefully we can keep up this momentum. And hopefully in early 2011 we'll be moving!
Here I was thinking that I was doing well, only a few more weeks away from being able to file my application with BlogHer and the others to actually get my webpage featured. I have been, err, or I thought I had been posting from my Blackberry... Much I guess the journey to becoming a "professional blogger" of sorts resumes today.
*If you were looking, which most of you aren't, you'd find me in a very busy hospital waiting area. My mother, who is 47 years young, is having decompression and fusion back surgery. Lybertei and I are waiting patiently for word from her doctor that she is in recovery and what the status of her surgery/recovery will be. Our hope is that this will greatly improve her quality of life, because I will be frank, she has none at this point.
*I am diligently dredging through my way through school. The first class was a breeze and the next few will be fine... my current one, however, is killing me. Why? It's English... no worries right?, wrong! I love to write, obviously or I wouldn't be a blogger! BUT, when you want me to break apart my work, highlight here, underline there, yada yada yada I emotionally freak out. Finally after struggling for like three weeks my husband, oh the wise one, said something that resignated with me... JUST WRITE, then go back and do all that fussy stuff... you know what? I did and I managed all 8 assignments in one night. I am in the finishing stages of editing them so that I can submit them.
*We are eerily approaching Christmas, which I love, but I'll be honest... I am really under prepared! I still have gifts to buy, everything to wrap, gifts to make, and on and on and on! For me it's not about the gifts, but about the family! I love being with family... I truly believe this is why I have so many beautiful children, as I get older they'll be here to spread the joy.
*In a few upcoming posts, most of which will probably will come today I'll be writing about my little Ninjas and one big accomplishment of one of them! My final plans for Christmas gifts,etc. And a whole lot more! :)
God Bless,
Amanda
.....
OH, CAN ANY OF MY FOLLOWERS HELP ME? I'VE BEEN ASKED BY A FEW OF MY FOLLOWERS FOR MY BUTTON TO PUT ON THEIR PAGE... ANYONE KNOW HOW I DO THAT??? I AM HAVING ISSUES!
I have been MIA for a week or so, I'll catch up soon. Things have just been crazy busy. I started school three weeks ago and really wanted to hit the first class hard, because I just wanted it over with. Now that it is done I am back... I will blog more later.
Today's Monday Meal is: Chicken Pot Pie
This is a quick and hearty meal that can easily be a one dish meal. Nights like tonight when my DH is away, I can zip home, whip up dinner and have it piping hot on the table when the brood comes home. This is also an easy make ahead meal... however I didn't tonight.
Chicken Pot Pie
2 C- Chicken Breast- cooked and chopped
1 can of cream of chicken
1 can of cream of celery
2 bags of frozen veggies, thawed
1 can of cream of corn
salt and pepper to taste
10-bisquits
Mix all the ingredients together and top with bisquits. I make my own bisquits, but you can definitely use canned. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes and viola!
I am excited that the Jeub Family is spreading the love and once again offering another free offer! I am happy to spread the love here! Check out http://www.jeubfamily.com/ for all of their offers!
As many mommy bloggers do, I follow others and learn what works, what doesn't and so on. I share tips that I have as well as those that I pick up along the way. In addition to tips, etc. we learn to pray for others for their concerns and trials. Today Amanda and her family are at a crossroads. They are another quiverfull believing family, they recently (this past Tuesday) welcomed another bundle of joy into their lives. Baby Jeremiah.
The family is elated, however, Jeremiah is in the NICU on a ventilator. He is having trouble breathing. They are not allowed to touch or hold him at this time as the increased stimulation could result in further complications.
As a new mom once again, I understand how difficult this can be for her and her family. So I ask as you say your prayers tonight, please include baby Jeremiah and his parents and siblings in your prayers.
Well I've decided that I am going back to school... It really was inevitable, I've really wanted to for a long time, but now if I want to progress in my job much further I really need a degree. I've longed to go to nursing school, however I really can't justify leaving a perfectly good job making $45,000 a year to follow a dream. If I did I'd be giving up a retirement plan that I've been vested in for 8 of my 9 years here.
I have decided a degree in Marketing is my best bet. I've been "recruitted" a couple of times by various recruiters for the Navy, I even took my asfab, however I told them the only way I would join is if I could enlist APG (Advance Pay Grade) bypassing boot camp... What I've learned... They hate when you know the lingo!
There are several jobs here in our Marketing department, and I know that I can do really well in those type of jobs.
So now I fill out our FASFA and wait... I'll keep writing about the process.
For years my darling husband and I have talked about running a business. The drive is there, the ideas are there... the problem, financial availability. We have savings (not a lot, but a modest amount), we have investments, but neither is enough to get a new large business off the ground. I found this article http://jeubfamily.com/2010/10/29/living-life-to-the-fullest-in-a-family-business/ over at http://www.jeubfamily.com/
I'm hoping that it can guide us.
That being said, I am working on my children's products. I've got cloth diapers, blankets, burp rags, cloth wipes, infant leg warmers, a few dresses, and t-shirts galore. While this could definitely take off well, my partner and I were recently offered retail space, I don't know if it would be enough to replace the income that I am making now. That being said, there is another post coming later...
My weekend is full of family fun! Tonight I am cleaning my little heart out to ensure lots of family time this weekend!!!
Drea and I will be working on her diorama for science class… Her and daddy decided that it was going to be made from food… Yippee.J
We are all trick or treating again on Sunday. That should be lots of fun, and it sticks with our frugal lifestyle getting multiple uses out of our costumes! We are meeting two close friends and their significant others. They both have babies born a few weeks before Lybertei.
My aunt, uncle, and cousin are in from Tennessee. I am so excited. We are having a bon fire Saturday to celebrate my grandmas birthday. I miss seeing them so much. I guess you take for granted them living next door for most of my life until they are gone!
Sunday I am spending three hours of mommy time sewing away for my business, in exchange daddy is going hunting tomorrow morning.We’ll also be spending Saturday evening cheering on the Buckeyes with family and friends.
I believe tomorrow morning I am getting up early and making Rainbow pancakes for breakfast. It will be mommies little secret as to what is really in them!~
Well I suppose that’s enough randomness for today.
In a rare turn of events, I have had to quickly learn humility. I remember way back when, several years ago I competed in numerous, too many to count, Miss Ohio preliminaries, in an interview I was asked, er we all were asked to define what humility was. That to me was a lesson learned. It definitely wasn’t what I thought it was!Dictionary.com defines humility as: the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.
I probably should explain where I am going with this. In previous posts I explained my frustration with others criticizing my our choice to raise a large family. In almost an instant I am finding myself learning to accept things from the other side of the fence. There are the naysayers, but there are also those, who it is not necessarily their choice, commend me for our choice. It’s amazing. HE really does answer prayers!
Recently I have had the privilege to be on the receiving end of some very humbling comments. Two gentlemen and a handful of others recently made several positive comments with regard to our choice to “repopulate the earth” with many beautiful young spirits. These words were encouraging. It’s nice to hear these things once in a while.
While their comments definitely make me smile, I have had to politely correct them on a few things. I am not super mom, nor do I claim to be, I am simply a mom, a military wife, a claim adjuster, and a DIY connoisseur.
Proverbs 22:19 reads:
I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the Lord.
This verse resignated with me today.I have gone to the Lord for guidance on this very issue, and He provided response. The response isn’t what I expected, but it definitely made a point. The point that, whether we are wanting help and guidance in dealing with the naysayers or on the other end of the spectrum those who praise us. He is teaching us today, teaching us always. Humility is something that one learns, today I have learned this.
So I decided to check out my own blog today, I even googled it to see where it was in the list... It's #4 when you google search Frugal Navy Wife, YAY! Wow I need to find something more useful to do with my down time.
Anyway in looking at my page it appears all of my side bar information has disappeared.... I am working on fixing this. Anyone have any clue on how to do this? I am not sure but I may have to change my background.
Stick around this could be fun, a new look, hmm :)
I started a post earlier this week for Monday's meals... I subsequently never got finish, thus here we are at Wednesday. I have been extremely tired lately and trying to function is just too much. I really need to get out of this funk.
I have to complete one more halloween costume tonight... I know, nothing like waiting until the last minute right! :) Trick or treat is tomorrow. I'll get it done, thankfully Drea selected a fairly easy witch costume, a couple seams and viola, done! This really has been a fairly inexpensive Halloween.
My husband decided to start cleaning out the toy room... OH my! The laundry that he discovered, what a mess!
I am pretty sure life is going to get more exciting here in the near future, more to come on that later.
We are starting Lybertei on infant cereal TODAY!!!! Her deciding to wake every two hours to eat last night set that in stone! She has been a solid sleeper since she was born so I really can't handle this up and down all night :)
I am trying to get everything together for my new store. I have decided that I am going to set aside three solid hours Sunday afternoon to shut myself in a room and sew away! Completing 1 or 2 items a night is not going to cut it and I have a preview show November 10th so I would like to have a jump on my stock so that my custom orders don't completely consume me.
It’s time to inevitably either force my husband into another stint away with the Navy or suck up the cost of additional medical bills on our own until the military can figure out our insurance “issue”. About three months ago, er well it might be longer, three months ago is when I noticed it anyway, I found a large bruise to the left of my spine on my back. It simply isn’t getting better and I feel that it is probably time to talk to the doctor about it. While it could easily be nothing at all, in my experiences, it could be “something”. I simply couldn’t stand the thought of it being something that I never took care of, thus compromising my ability to care for my our children.
I guess what really made me think about this is that I have been reading a book over the past few days while I’m pumping at work. The book is written by Kelly Corrigan and is titled “The Middle Place”. She defines the middle place as that endless, irresistible, often exasperating comparison between your family of origin and the family that you have made. Kelly was diagnosed with breast cancer while having 2 small children at home. I’m not through the book, I’m only on chapter 8, but it is definitely one of those books that you hate to put down. It is very encouraging and definitely a tear jerker! It is words that we as women, and we as mothers, hope we never hear, but in the same moment, know that there is hope and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It’s nice to hear the perspective from another woman on your own terms.
It’s time that we are heading into a full fledge busy family weekend. I am hoping to get my cleaning done tonight as I am having a business meeting tomorrow at 2 with my new business partner. I am also thinking that I am going to call Sheana and see if she would shoot some of our products for a catalog. This would help with sales. I am really hoping this takes off, I’d love to be a WAHM!!!
I had the opportunity to have lunch with the Vice President of Operations today for my company. I work for the largest Auto insurer in the country… Like a good neighbor… Do you know where? He is such an interesting man. I also had the opportunity to meet and network with one of the marketing directors. I believe marketing is my niche… we shall see!
Well that’s about enough randomness for one post I suppose.
I want to write about this in the best way possible… I may have even touched on this before, but once again I find myself at a crossroads with people, in which I have to always reflect upon myself and respond in a Christian manner. Recently I’ve gone to the Lord and asked for guidance on how to handle situations like this. And even more recently He has led me to ways to answer when in this situation.
It’s no secret that I have long been a fan of the Duggar’s, the Jeub’s, and the Bates families. They all have many children and believe that it is God who ultimately decides how many children you should have. My husband and I have the same belief, we are fortunate to have five small children and would love if we were blessed with five more… Ultimately, birthing one more seems to be our only option per the medical advice we have received, for my safety and that of an unborn child, one more of our own is really the only option, so we will take that with a grain of salt and know that there are other options in order to have additional children which if it is in His plan we will seek. There are many children seeking adoption who need a good home just as mine do, and if that is the plan then we will walk that road.
Two statements from Chris Jeub and Jim Bob Duggar really helped bring me to peace with this. (These may be slightly paraphrased)
Jim Bob said: “You will never regret spending too much time with your family and your kids!”
Chris tweeted: “When asked if we know what causes that, we reply: Yes! And we’re really good at it!”
These two statements remind me A.) growing a family is worth all the rewards, and it’s the memories you make with the people you love that matter, NOT that of others around you that simply don’t understand. B.) Take peoples comments with a grain of salt and remember a little dose of humor goes a long way. There will never be a time that everyone understands your reasoning or your ways, but live firm in your beliefs and know that with God all things are possible.
Remember my 101 in 1001 post?, I decided that I should update it... I am actually getting somewhere with it! That is such a sense of accomplishment. If you can mark off even one a week or so, you'll accomplish your list in no time.
On a completely different note, I walked to my car, er my husbands car at lunch as I rushed out of the house this morning and completely forgot my breast pump. He was so kind to deliver it to me!~ It was greatly needed! :) I can honestly say we've officially (Well Friday) exclusively breastfed our fifth born for three whole months. With the other girls we've had to supplement by now!
Boy do I love that man! Simple gestures like that just remind me why I married him... Anyway I stray, thats not what I wanted to share... In fact it might have been TMI, sorry.
When I returned to my office, I had a voicemail on my phone, I didn't show any missed calls, but where I sit that doesn't mean anything because I miss calls all the time. I figured it was a telemarketer or a bill collector from the hospital, apparently when you rack up more than $20,000 in medical bills they don't give you any time to pay or workout arrangements. Ah, again I digress. I was wrong, it was a sweet lady from our church, her name is Shirley, she called just to say what a joy it was to have all 7 of us in church this past week and that she hoped we had a good week! It was so sweet! I should explain, having so much family around us, we are fortunate that most of them are participatory in our girls lives, it seems that almost every weekend someone has one or more of our girls for a night, so for all of us to make it to church, together is a blessing.
On Tuesday's, A love worth waiting for, hosts How may we pray for you. As we have been falling to God more and more, opening ourselves and believing that everything that happens is for His reason, I truly believe that we have people praying for us... and I want to pray for them, and you! So what do you need?
Today I am praying for our church, I am praying that God leads more believers to our doors so that we can show them fellowship.
I am praying for my mother, who is experiencing several chronic health conditions, internal bleeding, spinal stenosis, and diabetes to name a few. I am praying that doctors heal her so that she can be a more vibrant and young grandma like she is!
I am praying for our friends, all of them. Whatever they need, God knows, but I am praying that they get what they need.
I am praying for my family, I am praying that whatever God has in store for us, that we can be stewards of his mission. And I'm praying for you.
The last few days I can't help but find myself reciting Psalm 118:24, or a variation of it... It get's me through the day, what verse gets you through?
This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24
Please link up if you wish, and I will pray for you!
I’ve always wondered if I should address this in my blog or not. I don’t want sympathy, but it’s just so nice for others to know what I face each and every day. While I am such a strong person, daily I fight with something. About seven years ago, wow I can’t believe that it has been that long, after extensive testing I was diagnosed with Chronic Fibromyalgia. At that time it seemed that I was the only person that knew about the disease, er condition, hmmm I really don’t know what to call it. Come to find out there are many people living with the same condition or know someone else that is.
There are days I just simply struggle. I truly believe that it is the reason I am who I am. I believe that I consume myself in to so many projects so that I don’t focus on the pain. A few years back I saw a doctor about becoming a part of a research drug trial… He has focused on Fibromyalgia for more than twenty years, and at the end of my consultation I was told that he has NEVER seen a patient with a case as severe as mine. While that is not a good thing, it is nice to know that someone understands what I am going through. It’s one of those until you experience it, or study it you really can’t grasp what is going on. I still don’t think my husband understands the extent of what I am going through, but at the same time I can’t expect him to, nor would I want him to. While most people are affected and have flare ups when it’s cold I simply cannot function when I am overly hot. Even in the dead of winter I sleep with the fan on high so that I don’t get so hot. I guess I should back up, incase you don’t know what Fibromyalgia is:
Fibromyalgia:
You hurt all over, and you frequently feel exhausted. Even after numerous tests, your doctor can't find anything specifically wrong with you. If this sounds familiar, you may have fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain.
Fibromyalgia occurs in about 2 percent of the population in the United States. Women are much more likely to develop the disorder than are men, and the risk of fibromyalgia increases with age. Fibromyalgia symptoms often begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there appears to be no triggering event.
My husband found this poem for me and it spells it out so well…
WHEN YOU SEE ME ON A "GOOD DAY" I MAY LOOK AS IF NOTHING'S WRONG,
BUT I, MYSELF, AM VERY AWARE THAT THE ENERGY WON'T LAST LONG.
YOU MAY THINK THAT I AM LAZY, OR JUST DON'T LIKE TO TRY,
OR MAYBE I AM JUST DEPRESSED, WHEN SOMETIMES YOU SEE ME CRY.
YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND ME, IT'S NOT EASY TO EXPLAIN,
THE STRUGGLES THAT I SO OFTEN ENDURE, AS I LIVE EACH DAY WITH PAIN.
PEOPLE MAY OFFER THEIR OPINIONS, THINKING THAT I JUST NEED SOME ADVISE,
YET THEY DON'T REALLY COMPREHAND, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE TRYING TO BE NICE.
WHAT FOR SOME MAY BE SO EASY, IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ME.
BUT BECAUSE I MAY LOOK HEALTHY, MANY AROUND ME FAIL TO SEE.
PERHAPS IT SEEMS THAT I'M SLOPPY, IF I WOULD ONLY TAKE MORE PRIDE,
IT'S SAD THAT MANY DON'T STOP TO SEE THE PERSON WHO IS INSIDE.
PLANNING THINGS IS SO HARD TO DO, WITH EACH DAY UNCERTAIN FATE,
THE BEST THAT I CAN DO IS TRY, AND OFTENTIMES I HAVE TO WAIT,
LIFE CAN BE SO STRESSFUL. EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH,
MANY PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE GIVING UP THEIR DREAMS AND WEALTH.
WHILE SOME PEOPLE MAY WORRY HOW TO FIT EVERYTHING INTO EACH DAY
OTHERS OF US MUST STRUGGLE TO EVEN FIND A WAY.
SO OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD, SOME SAY THAT IT MUST BE IN MY HEAD,
YET THERE ARE DAYS THAT IS TAKES ALL I HAVE TO EVEN GET OUT OF BED,
YOU'D THINK THAT IF ONE IS WEARY, THEN WHY NOT JUST TAKE A NAP,
BUT THE FATIGUE AT TIMES IS SO SEVERE, THAT NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP.
IF EXERCISE WERE THE ANSWER, I WOULD JUST MOVE INTO A GYM,
BUT INTOLERANCE AND UNBEARABLE PAIN MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STAY TRIM.
THAT'S ALRIGHT JUST TAKE A PILL, MEDS CAN ALWAYS DO SOME GOOD,
HOWEVER, SOMETIMES THE EFFECTS ARE FAR WORSE, OH, BUT HOW WONDERFUL IT WOULD BE IF I COULD!
LIVING EACH DAY FIGHTING DEFEAT, KNOWING THAT YOU CAN'T GIVE UP AND QUIT,
EVEN THOUGH IT GETS HARD TO DO, JUST TO FIND WAYS OF ACCEPTING IT,
I GUESS IT WOULD BE A BETTER THING, IF THERE WERE A LITTLE MORE SUPPORT,
EVERYONE LONGS FOR ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE AS THEY KEEP THEIR LIFE IN SORT.
IF I COULD MAKE THE WORLD AWARE, HELP THEM TO SEE THINGS IN A NEW LIGHT,
BE CAREFUL ON WHAT THEY BASE THEIR VIEW, THAT THEY MAY RECEIVE A NEW INSIGHT.
THEN MAYBE WHEN SOMEONE ELSE COMES ALONG WHO IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING UNKNOWN,
THEY MAY NOT FEEL SO HOPELESS AND SCARED AND WILL KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE.
WHETHER IT BE A TERMINAL THING OR SOMETHING CHRONIC WITH NO KNOWN CURE,
THERE ARE MANY PROCESSES THAT WILL BE FACED IN THIS WE CAN REST ASSURED.
THE GRIEVING OVER LOSS IS HARD, WHATEVER THE LOSS MAY BE,
WHAT MAY BE JUST A BUMP FOR YOU, COULD SEEM LIKE A MOUNTAIN TO ME.
EVERYONE RESPONDS SO DIFFERENTLY, WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN WAYS TO COPE,
BUT THE ONE THING THAT WE MUST NEVER DO IS BELIEVE THERE'S NO HOPE
Well that’s a little known fact about me… I’m not a super mom or anything, I just keep busy so that I can enjoy every moment with my family… They are my world!
I have to say when I stumbled across Lyndsie's blog I was thrilled with her post on the "same" menu over and over. She is blog friends with another blogger that I follow Ashley. So visit their sites and tell me what you think. Lyndsie started Monday's Meals to share meal ideas to get out of the same routine day after day. Here is my Monday Meal.
In our house, regardless of the day, once a week is a Mexican style meal. I don't claim it to be "authentic" or anything, because it's not, but it's the inspiration that matters. Here you go!
TACO MONDAY
12- 6" corn tortillas
Oil for frying
1 Can Refried beans
1# ground beef
1/4 C taco seasoning
1/4C water
1 small onion, divided and chopped
1 small can of green chilles (can be ommited if you don't like spicy)
Lettuce, tomato, sour cream, shredded cheddar for topping
Heat oil in a large pan.
In a seperate pan, carmelized 1/4 of your onion and hamburger, drain excess grease.
Add in taco seasoning ,1/4 C of water, and chilles. Cover.
In the meantime, fry corn tortillas in hot oil.
Heat beans in another pan until warmed through.
To top:
Place taco shell on plate, spread beans onto taco shell.
Add meat mixture. Top with all your favorites.
I serve with the rice mixture below.
Mexi-Rice
1 bag of Minute rice-Cooked according to package
1 can- Black beans, rinsed
1/4 C Taco seasoning +1/4 C water
1 C frozen or canned corn
Mix all ingredients, heat through and serve.
If you like spice, I throw in jalepenos after the kids serving are plated.
I had an amazing weekend with my girls. It was so beautiful. Fall in Ohio is always so random, one day it's hot, one day it's cold. Either way it's a great time.
I spent the weekend with my family, now that I'm back to work I find it even more important to plan these excursions... This weekend we attended the fair, you know the one I entered an obscene amount of baked goods in... I ended on a high note, I placed second in a couple categories! Our oldest daughter rode the kiddie rides with her little sister and then decided that she wanted to ride some of the big rides... She scared the crap out of me... I HATE rides... she loves them.
Saturday I packed them up and headed to the pumpkin patch where they played on the slides, played with goats and rabbits and had an all-around good time. Later I took Josey to get her ears pierced. She looks so cute! :) My husband took off to watch our beloved Buckeyes...who neglected to show up for the game and I stayed home to sew, sew, sew... I am getting excited for my new business venture with a good friend. More coming soon on this.
You know I find it interesting how there are people in your life that you can loose touch with and then they come back into your life and you pick up right where you left off. That's exactly what happened with a couple of people from school. Sheena and Rickell they just sort of fell back into my life over the last few years and I'll be quite honest I am so glad that they did. They are people that I can talk to and our lives are very similar.
I makes knowing that "real firends" do exsist!
Sunday we did the morning scrammble to get to church on time... We were actually early for once... it was nice! Then we took the girls to the local high school to run around the track. My girls LOVE running!!!! (They get that from their father, who went to college on a track scholarship) Our oldest is definitely our runner! She ran a 400 in 1:37... she's 8! Woo Hoo, maybe she'll get a track scholarship too! We then headed over to the diner across the street, a little mom and pop diner. It is super cute and they were super nice as we were the only customers at that time. After that we headed home to drop daddy off and the girls and I headed to the Country Fair... one of the final outdoor fall craft fairs in our area. It made me really yearn for our own place again. I got some great ideas. I even found another house for us until the BIG military move in about a year or so. The house is cheap enough that we could keep it and rent it out while we are gone. It sits on a beautiful piece of land, 6 acres big for our brood to run and play... praying for a way to buy it. After the country fair I fired up the grill and made dinner... Then back to sewing I went. I didn't get nearly enough done though...
This morning I awoke with a migraine... Oh happy Monday.
Anyway, I hope you all are enjoying fall as much as we are.
I have to admit, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. It's my own fault, but it's still wearing on me. I really need to let myself fall into God's hands and accept that this is what HE has planned for me, easy or not, there is a method to his madness. I mean I can tell people over and over and over to believe that the Lord has a plan for you, but why am I not taking my own advice?
I also manage the website for our church, I've posted twice.
God’s Love says that I will protect you if: You know me, you walk with me , you trust me. If you do these things I will give you everything you need. 1 Peter 1:13-14.
The thing that gets me is that I feel so guilty for working all day and spend roughly 3 hours an evening with my kids, most of which is spent making dinner, homework, baths, cleaning, and preparing for tomorrow... There is such a lack of QUALITY time. In the same moment, as I've said before I love my job and I'm really good at it. There are things that reaffirm that daily.
I'm putting a lot on my plate and I know that, but that is my type A personality I suppose.
Financially things are a MESS... $20,000 in medical bills because the federal government can't get their crap together with our insurance, my husband who is jobless...which is getting to me a lot, the fact that I feel guilty for working because at least I have a job, the fact that I am blessed that I have so many kids when there are so many people out there that just want one.
I know what I need to do, I need to open my arms, open my heart, ask for forgiveness, ask for prayers, ask for guidance... and KNOW that through the loving Lord, HE will give me all that I need.
On another note, I heard something very disturbing today... a aquaitance of mine is getting ready to get a divorce. This after she turned her life around, became a devout Christian... Her words were so devastating. Really is this what "modern" churches are preaching?... She said: " It's ok for me to get a divorce, it's a way to fix a mistake I made..." Who is this person and where is she getting her knowledge of God's laws from? Anyway, please pray for her, and her husband...
I missed Monday's meals yesterday with so much chaos going on so I thought I would post our Monday meal here today. This recipe was inspired by a recent Olive Garden commercial. My husband kept saying man those look good, so rather than load up our brood and file into OG I decided I was going to make my own version.
Stuffed Meatballs and Spaghetti
1# ground beef (turkey, venison, chicken all could be substituted)
1/2 C of real mozzerella, you know the kind that is still in ball form
1 egg
1/2 C dry bread crumbs
1 T Oregeno
1 T Pepper (I like white, but black is just as yummy)
1 t Kosher salt
1 t parsley flakes
1t garlic powder
1 # of spaghetti noodles
1 jar of spaghetti sauce (or on occasion I make my own)
Mix meat, egg, bread crumbs, and spices. Cut mozzerella into small cubes, wrap cheese with meat.
Saute meatballs in olive oil until cooked, remove from pan. Prepare sauce, add meatballs to sauce, simmer for 15 minutes. Add to cooked Spaghteei noodles and serve with garlic bread.
Ok I know what you are thinking... How can she be talking about Christmas already? Well, there is good reason! There is 78 days until Christmas. I have decided that our kids need to learn more what Christmas is "really" about and not the materialistic things that society has made it to be. I have decided that each child is going to receive one purchased gift other than clothing which I have already purchased from my recent Thrift store trip. I am not very confident in clothes yet so I will stick to repairs and fun things.
In addition to what Christmas is really about, there is always the reality that my husband lost his job to failing economic times, our insurance is a big MESS due to the military and their inability to communicate with each other, the mountain of medical bills that are coming in quite rapidly exceeding $15000 so far from when Drea was hospitalized, our Christmas club fund went to car repairs, and life in general, extravigant gifts just aren't in the mix... Which is OK!
So I picked up some fabric from a fellow Free-cycler today. I am on a mission to make as many items as I can over the next weeks in order to fill the tree. I think it will make Christmas extra special and fun!
Previously I participated in Not Me Monday's... however, A.) MckMama hasn't been doing them lately, and B.) I can't seem to remember what I didn't do come Monday, SO over at A Love Worth Waiting For Lyndsie started Monday's Meals. I decided I would join, as I love food AND I'm always looking for something different to cook.
Today's Monday Meal will be somewhat simple because later this week I will be delivering 20 entries off at the fair in hopes that I might see a good return.
Creamy Hamburger Pie: When I asked my husband what he wanted for dinner one evening he said smartly: "Hamburger Pie" I decided to respond with "Hamburger Pie". It is a variation of a Shepards Pie, but is super YUMMY! :)
2-3 pounds of potatoes, peeled, diced, and mashed
4 oz cream cheese
4 oz of sour cream
4 oz of cheddar cheese, shredded
2 pounds of ground meat, we prefer beef, but you could definitely mix in some turkey or chicken if you would like
8 oz of heavy cream
4-6 white mushrooms, sliced
1/2 small onion, diced
1/2 pkg of bacon, diced
reserved bacon grease
1/2 C chicken or beef broth
1t cornstarch and water mixed until smooth
Make mashed potatoes mixing cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar cheese into potatoes. Set aside
Brown Bacon, reserve fat. Crumble and set aside.
Brown hamburger, season as you wish. I use kosher salt, pepper, and garlic. Toss in onion to carmelize with the meat. Drain and set aside.
Sauce:
Pour 1/2 of your reserved bacon renderings into pan, add mushroom, cook for 2-3 minutes. Add 3/4 of the bacon back into pan. Pour broth and cream into pan, bring to a boil and simmer for another minute. Add cornstarch mixture to thicken.
Now it's time to assemble.
I spray a 9X13 baking dish with Pam. Add hamburger, pour sauce over meat, top with mashed potatoes, sprinkle remaining bacon on top. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees... ENJOY!
I served with roasted carrots.
Peel fresh carrots, sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes... DELISH!
Wednesday I had the opportunity to spend time with my husband's family. As you know I love to thrift shop... In the words of Jim Bob Duggar: "Buy used, Save the difference." While there isn't much saving going on right now with my darling husband being laid off, buying used is still the way to go especially with kids! I have to say I found some AMAZING deals!
When I was asked to go I was thrilled! I LOVE thrift stores. Josh's grandma said I needed to be at her house by 7:45am... She lives 45 minutes away! So I proceeded to get up (er, earlier than I do for work) and head to Logan. I met up with his grandma and two aunts. We traveled to Columbus. WOW... Not only do these ladies mean business, but so do the customers. We got there a little after 9... like 9:03, they were already out of carts... People were WAY rude, but in their defense there were a couple hundred people in this store! I should mention on this particular day EVERYTHING in the store was at least 50% off the already low thrift price...
I acquired some really good deals so here you go:
At the first location:
1.) King size quilt. I bought it because I LOVE quilts and because this fabric was Toile...
2.) Two King sized fitted sheets for the new business
3.) 10 towels, these are going to be used to make bath dresses for the kids
4.) tap shoes for Payge
5.) about 15 outfits for the kids
6.) multiple baby blankets for the new business
7.) a knock-off coach purse
8.) several other items for the business
9.) Ann Taylor Dress jacket
10.) Saddle shoes for Josey's halloween costume
11.) Oodles of pillow cases for pillow case dresses
12.) Super cute fur boots
All in all 4 Extra large shopping bags FULL! $40.00
At the second location:
1.) Full size quilt for the girls
2.) Sheets to make the girls some curtains
3.) Ann Taylor jeans for me
4.) Michael Kors top for me new with tags
5.) Banana Republic shirt for me NWT
6.) Numerous Tank tops for me.
7.)10 outfits for Lybertei
8.)tennis shoes for payge
9.) stride rite shoes for josey
10.)abercrombie belt for me
All for less than $30.00
At the final location:
1.)more pillow cases
2.) TONS of clothes for Josey (all of our 2T and 3T clothes were ruined when our basement
flooded this summer)
3.) OSU jersey
4.)4 bread pans
5.)cookie sheets
6.) 4 more outfits for me
7.) and 10 prs of knee socks for babylegs... for the business.
All for less than $20
Theres plenty more, I just can't remember it all, and its still in the trunk most of the kids stuff is for Christmas.
Remember just because your are shopping at a thrift store doesn't mean you don't need to be causious. The rule of thumb I use is what ever tags are on sale that day is what we are shopping for!
***It has literally taken 4 days to write this post!***
Finally, I'm back to reality. LIFE got in the way for a while "PHEW"
So much has happened and so much is going on... I have so many blog posts brewing in my head right now!
I don't even know where to start. First, do you like the "new" look? I am trying to learn how to create and modify templates... Bear with me!
The last few weeks have been a real blur. I was scheduled to return to work on the 20th, but as I said "LIFE" got in the way. All was good with the world, I was dreading coming back to work. Let me explain. While there was a point in my life I said I could never be a stay at home mom... That was then, and this is now! I spent 4 amazing months home with my kids... I LOVED EVERY minute of it! (Even the, er 110 degree days, 9 months pregnant with no a/c) I was even searching the internet for ways to be a WAHM... I just couldn't see leaving my babies (er, girls) we had so much amazing time together. Then, just after Labor Day our eldest began to get sick... little did we know what was in store for us. (Preface, while her illness was serious, so serious she could have died, I don't want anyone to think for one minute that I'm trying to make this bigger than what it was) Ahem, moving on (or rewinding back to September 10,2010) Drea came home from school with a headache, infact she was in tears it was that bad. (This is the child who has such the high pain tolerance that at three she was asking the doc for a Rocephen shot so she didn't have to take Amoxil)
We gave her the usual dose of Motrin and on we went... minutes later she was vomiting.The next 5 days she continue to have this dibilitating headache, vomiting, and a fever in upwards of 104. On the 5th day I took her to our local ER.... MISTAKE BIG MISTAKE!!! Although their claim to fame is that they are a Top 100 Hospital, I think not! After a lengthy (insert sarcasm here) 12 minute visit, she was diagnosed with Migranes and sent home on anti-nausea meds... REALLY? Even I know that migranes don't bring on 104 fevers for 5 days! The next day I took her to our family doc... She said sinus infection, I wasn't convinced, but it was something and we were on an antibiotic so I was a little at ease. Three doses of meds and 48 hours later her fever kept getting higher so we elected to go to Children's Hospital, THANK GOD! Literally, I have been on my knees thanking God daily, sometimes hourly! To think we were literally hours from loosing our first born just days before her 8th birthday. After a battery of tests the ER doc didn't know what was wrong, but wasn't sending her home either, so they admitted her. Another few hours and we had a diagnosis: Encephalitis and Aeseptic Menegitis.... While there isn't treatment for either, had they not provided supportive care through IV fluids, IV pain medications, and IV anti-nausea medications our 44 pound 8 year old would've slipped away from us... Like I said, definitely not terminal, but a few more hours and I'd be writing a totally different post. We have our little love back to normal and quite frankly that's all that matters now!
I am now back to work and actually loving it. While working from home would definitely be my preference. I have to say I love my job, and you know what I am really good at it! I have always had drive and that need for success... In whatever I do. That's just who I am. It's nice to walk into my office where everyone knows your name, and not because they "know" you, but they "know" who you are from the things that you accomplish.
The kids have returned to public school... a new public school and they are really advancing. This was definitely the right decision. Until my husband or I can knowingly be home full-time homeschool just simply isn't an option.
I have many upcoming posts. Please stick around because there is going to be a lot of information coming your way!
Yesterday I had the opportunity to head off to the grocery store with one sleeping infant...and that was it. It was crazy. I made my list, packed up my tiny little bundle of joy, and off we went. I have a sad obsession for the grocery store. There are a few reasons, the first being that I love, love, love to cook and secondly I love to find a good deal. Normally a trip to the grocery is somewhat of a three ring circus and usually ends with the desire to drink a glass of wine by the time I reach the check out. Let me be clear, I love that I have 5 daughters, and I own the fact that I have 5 beautiful children, the chaos that we create in the grocery however does wear a person down. Drea and Payge like to touch things and really want everything, Sera roams and in the off chance that I can get her in the cart she tends to climb out. She is almost 5 so I don't expect her to sit in the cart forever. Josey, well lets see she has to be "in the mood". I've started to collect creative ways for her to get through the grocery without incident...
I had the privilege to explore the produce section. I got some beautiful greens to make a nice salad, I located shallots and shitake mushrooms that I didn't even know that were in our store... simply because I would make my list, stick to the list and b-line to the next department. From produce we headed to the meat department, I viewed the fresh meat case. I am really wanting to get some fresh sea scallops. I still can't bring myself to pay $12.99 per pound for anything, maybe when they go on sale. :) I strolled through the store marking things off my list and it was so relaxing.
I often forget what it was like to have one child... I wouldn't go back to that, but realizing that spending time with one was just crazy to me. I guess it is something that I need to be more cognizant of.
On another note, Payge, our pretty pretty princess has taken a liking to pageantry like her mother. We have been working on her routines, boy people are right, other peoples kids are way easier. :) When I was coaching I simply said, do this or that and they did it... With Payge she doesn't seem to want to listen. The competitive fire has gotten into me I may have to get a coach for her.
Typically on Monday's I like to participate in the Not Me Monday blog carnival, however this Monday was a bit special and I honestly needed to share... Warning, if you thought you had a bad day continue reading... You will definitely get a little chuckle out of our Monday.
With a brood of 7 our house ALWAYS has some sort of chaos... some may be organized, other not so much.
Today started like a typical day. Alarm at 6:30, snooze twice, feed the baby, shower, get dressed, pack lunches, get kids clothes ready, wake kids, dress kids, feed kids, hair and teeth... awake hubby to let him know that I am leaving to take the big girls to the bus and that the little girls were in his chair watching Sprout. I loaded the oldest two and Lybertei into the van and away we went... Here is where it begins to get interesting.
Friday I called the bus garage of the new district to make busing arrangements, we were all set... WRONG! As we waited anxiously for the bus we watched as the bus flew down the hill like a bat outta haitis, completely missing my girls, so I loaded the three of them back up and took them to the school. While waiting a received a text from my husband that said: "Grrrrrr can we trade them in?" I laughed and figured they were being rambunctious like usual.
Off to my 6 week check up we went... Yay, NOT! First off we all hate that appointment, and secondly that just reaffirms that in a few short weeks I will be returning to work. I love my job, I'm just really going to miss being home with my kids. Good news is Doc gave me a clean bill of health and said after Lybei turns 1 we are free to have one more baby! (I know you think I am crazy! It's ok most people do!)As I was leaving my husband sent me a text stating that the bathroom had been mopped...So I decided I better call home. Apparently my husband dozed back to sleep when
I left, Sera our 4 year old came to wake him and said the bathroom floor was wet, he told her to get a towel and dry it up, she replied, "I've been trying there is too much." Abruptly he jumped from our bed and... the bathroom and hall were completely flooded. Our darling 2 yr old decided to flush her pull up. (hehehe glad it was him and not me)
I decided that since I was in Zanesville I would venture to the Health dept and see if they had Lybertei's birth certificate ready yet... That's another story. "Nancy" you know the cell phone GPS Nazi... got me lost in Zanesville, she wanted me to turn onto roads that weren't there and turn the wrong way up one way streets. Err I finally found where I was going. I walked into the nice complex and was next in line... yes I'll be in and out in no time... WRONG it took an hour, REALLY?!?!?!?!? To print a piece of paper! I guess I got my $22 worth. While I sat there, oh the "things" that I saw...
I ran to the BMV and into work... both were uneventful. When I got home Josh and I worked outside while the kids napped. I loaded the three little girls into the car to pick up the big girls, who were supposed to be on the bus... Oh yea I called the bus garage again and they said they would make sure they were on the bus home and picked up in the mornings... I was holding my breath... Yay they got off the bus! I took all the kids to let my husband unwind even though he was running this evening.
Once home we prepared dinner, did homework, etc.... After I folded 9 loads of laundry, twice, thank you Josey! It was time to clean out the bathtub where my husband threw everything while tackling the earlier bathroom mess. I left the bathroom to grab a towel and cleaner.... I returned to Josey (are we seeing a pattern here?:)) I came back to her sitting on the potty and she said I peed, YAY... except, she said no mommy I peed and pointed to the huge puddle on the floor, so I sent her to bed and cleaned up the mess and remopped the floor, while doing this she then proceeded to pee on her floor... Seriously! Ugh
After giving all 5 baths, I ran to my grandmas to fix her air conditioning and then came home to finish the dinner dishes... Now here we are. I hope these allows for some laughs, because truly if you can't laugh it makes for very long days! :)
I am frequently asked, “How do you do it? How do you stay so calm with young children? I would go crazy with five so little!”
The answer? I’m not entirely sure.I think part of it is just how God made me. I have always felt that I was fashioned to be a mother. The Lord knew before the dawn of time that my husband and I would be blessed with many children. And while I certainly have my faults, I will say that I tend to be calm with our children. Patience is something the Lord has blessed me with, and I am so thankful. And in a rarity as needed a fine wine to relax never hurt anyone. Even though that is true, there are also times in my mothering when I stay calm in the midst of chaos because, frankly, it’s better than the alternative. You know, the whole I’m laughing just to keep myself from crying thing. Yeah, that. A shrieking mama going ballistic over a slammed door, spilled milk or baby woken from his nap by an older sibling is not going to make an already stressful situation any better for anyone concerned. So, for the most part, I stay calm, trying not to escalate any already challenging moments. And believe me, our family has plenty of them. For some time now, my focus has been on attempting to be in the moment with my children as much as I can. I don’t always succeed, yet that is always my goal.
As I said, a beautiful bit of inspiration descended upon me a little over three years ago. Right during bathtime. It was an inspiration which changed my parenting from that day forward. I’m not exaggerating or being facetious.
In times like those, I can stay calm, being grateful for my children even when things are stressful, because I remember that I’m gonna miss this!
Let me begin by setting the scene. My husband was away at boot camp. (I HEART MY SAILOR!) I had three toddlers 4,3, and 18 months... and we were expecting number 4. My house was in disarray, DFAS (Defense Finance Accounting System) had messed up my husbands pay, did I mention I had three toddlers and was expecting number 4?! :) I quickly learned that stressing myself only stressed my children and a stressed momma + 3 stressed toddlers= one unhappy household in an already stressful situation.
Working full-time in addition to running a household alone became a reality. While I was taking care of some basic daily chores I thought it was a good idea to allow my children to have a pre-bath snack in the kitchen watching a classic SpongeBob episode... I could hear them giggling so I continued to pick up... little did I know what I was going to find... Two children COVERED in a jar of peanut butter... Our last jar of peanut butter. I immediately began to stress, I just wanted to cry. I can't possibly do this I thought, and then as I stripped them down and plopped them into the tub and viola it hit me... If I stress about this, these weeks being a single mom are going to drag on, I'm not going to enjoy my children and before I know it they are going to be all grown up. It was that revelation that made me a better mom... That revelation that in it's own way made me grow. Everyday that goes by I grow along with my children. Everyday I watch them grow and I realize that they are getting older and albeit that truly I'm going to miss this. (So the day that they had the food fight with Cheerios on my hardwood floors... Piece of cake! :))
I've taken a new perspective, my house may not be the cleanest...C'mon there are 7 of us, we have clutter! , I may spoil my children with unnecessary items (eg: a bag of silly bandz for my eldest today because I drug her through store after store shopping today) , or I may hold and wear my infant 90% of the time and more if time would allow it... but that's just fine, because soon enough, I'm going to miss this.
Another reality that has made some of this set in... My oldest child is in third grade in a new school... while I was allowed to walk her to her room for the first week... She looked at me and said "Mom, I know where I'm going, I'll be fine..." (insert tear drop here)
Truly I'm going to miss this! So remember momma's... when you are overly stressed looking at the mountain of laundry and the valleys of dishes... relax, pour a nice glass of wine, and reflect because truly you are going to miss this...
