Today begins the frenzied whipping together of the last of the hand made Christmas gifts. A scarf needs finishing, a dress needs sleeves, mugs need sweaters, pajama pants need sewing, and mittens need cutting and assembling.
The kids are thrilled, because it means Mommy will allow them to rot in front of the TV to keep them from getting trampled underfoot.
I'm thrilled because I have the house cleaned enough that I can hammer away at this all day long. I'm also thrilled that the mittens will be coming from old sweaters (I abhor throwing stuff away when it can be repurposed), that the mug sweaters will put a considerable dent in my yarn stash that has sat idle on my craft desk for far too long, and that my daughter's Christmas dress, which I started last year, will finally be done.
In case this is my last entry until then, Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 20, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Happy Birthday To You!
My second born is 8 years old today. He is a source of intense joy and unadulterated happiness.
Like his namesake, he trusts implicitly in God's plan.
He lights up our world. We are truly blessed.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Shenanigans...
This post will initially be about my kids, but will follow with some "pictures for posterity" of the cleaning we managed to complete.
While in Sunday School after Liturgy last week, Maria (age 6) was asked to draw a picture of how she helps out around the house. She drew an angry little stick figure putting toys into a toy box. Next to her was a taller, angrier stick figure. When asked to explain, she sweetly explained that the smaller figure was her, helping to clean the house even though she hates to do that. The taller stick figure was Mommy, who likes to get mad and say bad words when everyone is cleaning.
Her teacher LOVED it.
Louis (age 2) finally sleeps in his own bed at night. Well, he starts out in his own bed, anyway. A couple of nights ago, I was going to roll over when I felt him wedged up against my back. What's more is that his feet were tucked into the back of my underwear. How he managed to get them there without me waking up is something that truly baffles me.
Being pregnant, my body is doing all kinds of crazy, hopelessly unattractive things. Recently, a long, blonde hair made an appearance on my upper lip. The kids noticed it while I was bathing them, remarking with profound, giggly sympathy, "Everyone is going to laugh at you!" It has since been removed...
While in Liturgy every Sunday lately, Louis has greatly enjoyed trying to visit the pew in front of us by sliding across the floor underneath the pew itself. When caught by his father, who literally has to drag the boy out by his ankles, Louis breaks into a chorus of "HOWP!!! HOWP, MOMMY!!!" (That's how he says "help.") After communion, he's nice enough to ask us, very loudly, "ALL DONE JESUS?! ALL DONE? GO BYE-BYE?" It's one of those times I'm beyond grateful to our Church community for being absolutely amazing about children and their antics. They seem to really enjoy watching the younger families scramble to maintain composure.
On to our cleaning efforts:
I must have a clean house as holidays approach. It is the world's worst distraction to have clutter and disarray when there is so much else that needs to be done. I crank the Mumford and Sons and, recently, the Huey Lewis (nostalgia for road trips with my parents and siblings, and Saturday mornings with my dad making pancakes in his skivvies) while tackling the "snow globe effect" that hits my house almost daily (you know, like someone picked up the house, turned it upside down, and shook it violently before placing it right-side up).
Alas, we have made headway.
Behold, the boys' room:
The "before" panoramic shot.
The "before" shot of shame.
The glorious "after" panoramic.
Fear not, that giant basket laundry has since been resolved as well.
The "before" closet shot.
Heaven help me.
The "after" shot, in which I gleefully mention that a good deal
of the "before" shot ended up in donation bags.
(This one task took me nearly 3 hours to complete.)
The "after" shot of the toys/books area behind their door.
I forgot to take the "before" shot, but just imagine that
a toy store and a library got black-out drunk and threw up in this little area...
and all over the rest of the room...
And on to the girl's room:
The "before" panoramic shot, which doesn't include the Mt. Everest
of dress-up clothes and actual clothes that I had to scale to get into the room.
The "after" of the former home of the Mt. Everest-of-clothes.
The "after" panoramic.
I feel the stress melting away!
The End.
(Courtesy of Louis)
Hopefully, in the next few days, I will have more pre- and post- cleaning pictures, as well of a few snaps of completed Christmas gifts. My current project is a matching scarf for the Hello Kitty hat and some coffee cup "sweaters" for the white elephant gift exchange at the company Christmas party, like so:
Monday, December 9, 2013
When Hardship Rains, Blessings Pour.
Having to tell the kids that we can't get this and that on their wish lists has gone surprisingly well. They know why we're making these kinds of decisions and they've amended their wishes to be more practical. I really could not ask for better companions on this rocky financial road. They are amazing little troopers.
The one decision we made that hit them particularly hard was the decision to forego a Christmas tree. They have favorite ornaments, an evening set aside just for decking halls and having hot chocolate and cookies, and what about that lonely corner in the living room that practically lives to host a tree dripping in colored lights? I told them Christmas was no less Christmas without a tree, and we'd still have so much to do to keep the season festive.
Yesterday after church, we were at the breakfast social when one of the older gentlemen approached my husband and asked if we wanted one of the fake trees in the corner. Totally free of charge.
My jaw totally dropped. I know, it's just a tree, but of all the things my kids were upset about, this lands in our lap out of the blue. I'm feeling overwhelmed by the blessings that have blossomed from something that typically causes so much anxiety and stress!
The one decision we made that hit them particularly hard was the decision to forego a Christmas tree. They have favorite ornaments, an evening set aside just for decking halls and having hot chocolate and cookies, and what about that lonely corner in the living room that practically lives to host a tree dripping in colored lights? I told them Christmas was no less Christmas without a tree, and we'd still have so much to do to keep the season festive.
Yesterday after church, we were at the breakfast social when one of the older gentlemen approached my husband and asked if we wanted one of the fake trees in the corner. Totally free of charge.
My jaw totally dropped. I know, it's just a tree, but of all the things my kids were upset about, this lands in our lap out of the blue. I'm feeling overwhelmed by the blessings that have blossomed from something that typically causes so much anxiety and stress!
The kids are absolutely in love.
Oh, and then it snowed later that morning. I love the snow. It was like God could not contain the blessings yesterday. Tree? You bet. Snow? Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas FOREVER, Meghann!
Kid #2 had the greatest day ever!
Kids #1 and #3 couldn't get enough!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
All Quiet On The Eastern Front
I know, I haven't posted in weeks-ish. Holidays tend to throw my world into a loop, especially in the face of a financial shake-up.
You know how I posted earlier woes about healthcare and such? Well, that was only a partial picture. We've amassed a staggering amount of bills from our son's recent surgery. In the grand scheme of how horrifying hospital bills can be, it isn't too terrible. But when one spouse is earning the money from three jobs to support his family, those bills are a majorly painful kick in the teeth.
But what a blessing in disguise as well!!!
You see, I have had to rework our finances in such a way that uncovered wasteful spending that we weren't even thinking about. It was nothing major like luxury cars or vacation houses, but subtle things like grabbing lunch at a drive through while out with the kids, or flopping in front of Netflix for an evening of mindless entertainment.
When we cut seemingly insignificant things like that, the money began to add up nicely. And after a week of these cuts, we don't even miss those things.
Here's the beauty of it: We can maintain those cuts with little issue. I am sure of it. And once the larger medical bills are out of the way (in January), we can snowball this stuff with tremendous flow into the student loans that my husband still owes. In three glorious months, rather than the 10 months I was initially planning, we will be out from under loan #1. THREE MONTHS!!!
In April, loan #1 will be history!
Snowballing that further, loan #2 will be out of our lives in less than 2 years.
Loan #3 will be eating our dust in about 3 years' time.
Before these medical bills, I was convinced that our dance with these student loans would last another 5-6 years at least! This outcome is much, much better. And I wouldn't have given the 5-6 years a second thought if we weren't hit upside the head with these medical bills.
Blessing abound if I look hard (and smart) enough!
You know how I posted earlier woes about healthcare and such? Well, that was only a partial picture. We've amassed a staggering amount of bills from our son's recent surgery. In the grand scheme of how horrifying hospital bills can be, it isn't too terrible. But when one spouse is earning the money from three jobs to support his family, those bills are a majorly painful kick in the teeth.
But what a blessing in disguise as well!!!
You see, I have had to rework our finances in such a way that uncovered wasteful spending that we weren't even thinking about. It was nothing major like luxury cars or vacation houses, but subtle things like grabbing lunch at a drive through while out with the kids, or flopping in front of Netflix for an evening of mindless entertainment.
When we cut seemingly insignificant things like that, the money began to add up nicely. And after a week of these cuts, we don't even miss those things.
Here's the beauty of it: We can maintain those cuts with little issue. I am sure of it. And once the larger medical bills are out of the way (in January), we can snowball this stuff with tremendous flow into the student loans that my husband still owes. In three glorious months, rather than the 10 months I was initially planning, we will be out from under loan #1. THREE MONTHS!!!
In April, loan #1 will be history!
Snowballing that further, loan #2 will be out of our lives in less than 2 years.
Loan #3 will be eating our dust in about 3 years' time.
Before these medical bills, I was convinced that our dance with these student loans would last another 5-6 years at least! This outcome is much, much better. And I wouldn't have given the 5-6 years a second thought if we weren't hit upside the head with these medical bills.
Blessing abound if I look hard (and smart) enough!
Friday, November 15, 2013
Getting Things Done
I work things out on paper to take much less time than they do. Like yesterday, I had the afternoon set aside to purge the upstairs (three bedrooms and a bathroom) of clutter and mess. I had the evening set aside for any possible overflow from that task, allotting an hour for dinner and clean up.
I got half of one room done.
The results are stellar, and I'm beyond motivated to get the other half (and rest of the house) underway, but it's going to take far more time than I realize.
Even still, I present the unveiling of the boys' closet and toy/book area:
I got half of one room done.
The results are stellar, and I'm beyond motivated to get the other half (and rest of the house) underway, but it's going to take far more time than I realize.
Even still, I present the unveiling of the boys' closet and toy/book area:
The always hideous and shameful "before" picture, complete with
surrounding flotsam in the bedroom itself, preventing me
from even opening the doors all the way.
The "after," a sigh of relief and a picture of gleaming delight.
Half of that first picture is in donation bags and I couldn't be happier about it.
The "after" of the toy bins and bookshelf. I didn't take a "before"
because I completely forgot that I could even take pictures.
Just imagine everything looking like it was throwing up, and everything
that was being thrown up was also throwing up. Half of that is
also in donation bags. Sigh of relief!
The toys will likely have another gleaning today for donations. We like the kids to have Legos and train tracks to sharpen engineering skills and spatial awareness, but I don't care to keep the rest of it. I was unable to get rid of the rest of it because their 6th sense about Mommy getting rid of things kicked in and they descended on me like a plague of locusts, determined to crawl through the donation bags and insist that I allow them to keep the toys they haven't even touched in years. I bravely fought them off and won what is now an entire van load of donations ready to go to Goodwill and Birthright, but they did prevent me from being as thorough as I wanted.
As I finish each room, I'll post the progress. Like I said, it's not for bragging rights, but more for posterity: "Look, kids, we don't HAVE to live in total squalor! Less is more! Mommy once had control over something."
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Every Random Thought
Today, my brain has been hopelessly scattered across the spectrum of rather mundane issues. I'm here to unload them if you care to peek into the bucket o' crazy that is my trainwreck of thoughts...
Maleficent: There is a movie coming out with Angelina Jolie as my favorite villain of all time. I want to see it, but I don't want Jolie to ruin Maleficent for me. I have a sneaking suspicion that she will. Wah wah wah, poor little me.
Pizza: I bought a cheese pizza from our local Wegmans (I trust their ingredients and process) for the kids to eat on Friday. I hate myself for it, but I'm also patting myself on the back. I don't have my husband here to lean on in the evenings so that I can make my kids a decent dinner without completely stressing out and leaving the kitchen a disaster at bedtime. I feel guilty for taking the easy way out of Friday's dinner, but justified in what the iota of spared peace of mind will bring to my evening. I'm not sure the exchange was entirely worth it.
Baby-related illnesses: While I have felt nauseated for weeks now, I didn't actually vomit until today. Immediately after the contents of my stomach vacated my body, I had the overwhelming craving for chips and salsa. I indulged. Gross.
Internal organs are a bear: I suspect my uterus is tilted. I'm going to talk to my doctor about it tomorrow at my check-up, but all signs point to that being the case. It's supposed to correct itself, but I'm not a patient person. It should be good and darn corrected the minute it became difficult for me to pee.
Bills: The bills for Kid #4's teeth keep rolling in. Yet another new charge has showed up in the mail. AND it's marked as 30 days past due. Guess who is getting a hormone-crazed, exhausted, angry call from me today? They originally had him slated to get 6 crowns. Only one of those crowns was necessary, but somehow it's $400 more than what I paid? Medical billing is a complete racket. I'm convinced of it.
Cleaning: My kitchen is getting a total overhaul today. It has to happen. I know the results will only be noticeable for about 20 seconds before the kids descend and turn the place upside down, but it must happen.
There's more, but I hear a kid playing in the sink. Oh, to have a moment's peace!
Maleficent: There is a movie coming out with Angelina Jolie as my favorite villain of all time. I want to see it, but I don't want Jolie to ruin Maleficent for me. I have a sneaking suspicion that she will. Wah wah wah, poor little me.
Pizza: I bought a cheese pizza from our local Wegmans (I trust their ingredients and process) for the kids to eat on Friday. I hate myself for it, but I'm also patting myself on the back. I don't have my husband here to lean on in the evenings so that I can make my kids a decent dinner without completely stressing out and leaving the kitchen a disaster at bedtime. I feel guilty for taking the easy way out of Friday's dinner, but justified in what the iota of spared peace of mind will bring to my evening. I'm not sure the exchange was entirely worth it.
Baby-related illnesses: While I have felt nauseated for weeks now, I didn't actually vomit until today. Immediately after the contents of my stomach vacated my body, I had the overwhelming craving for chips and salsa. I indulged. Gross.
Internal organs are a bear: I suspect my uterus is tilted. I'm going to talk to my doctor about it tomorrow at my check-up, but all signs point to that being the case. It's supposed to correct itself, but I'm not a patient person. It should be good and darn corrected the minute it became difficult for me to pee.
Bills: The bills for Kid #4's teeth keep rolling in. Yet another new charge has showed up in the mail. AND it's marked as 30 days past due. Guess who is getting a hormone-crazed, exhausted, angry call from me today? They originally had him slated to get 6 crowns. Only one of those crowns was necessary, but somehow it's $400 more than what I paid? Medical billing is a complete racket. I'm convinced of it.
Cleaning: My kitchen is getting a total overhaul today. It has to happen. I know the results will only be noticeable for about 20 seconds before the kids descend and turn the place upside down, but it must happen.
There's more, but I hear a kid playing in the sink. Oh, to have a moment's peace!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Giddy Giddy Giddy!
My parents upgraded their phone plan. I'm still on that plan, so my mom called me and told me to hit up the dealer and score a new phone. It's an iPhone!
I'm a kid in a candy store. It's depressing to see me, really. I'm suddenly consumed by all the shiny new things I can do! But if we're going to be totally honest, I'm stoked that it has a camera. I've texted long overdue smoochy shots to my mom, recorded some of the shenanigans that my kids continually pull, and got some delicious shots of some finished projects that I have been dying to post on here.
Let's get to it, shall we?
I'm a kid in a candy store. It's depressing to see me, really. I'm suddenly consumed by all the shiny new things I can do! But if we're going to be totally honest, I'm stoked that it has a camera. I've texted long overdue smoochy shots to my mom, recorded some of the shenanigans that my kids continually pull, and got some delicious shots of some finished projects that I have been dying to post on here.
Let's get to it, shall we?
Kid #1 is less than thrilled that Mommy has a camera.
Hammy McHam is totally ok with Mommy being a camera-wielding psycho.
Kid #2 was pretending to wake up while we were figuring out ringtones.
Obviously, I switched to the camera and snapped away.
The girl, being ever so coy about posing with her toy.
This was after we figured that the camera is on BOTH sides of the phone for optimal selfies.
And then... then there are projects!!! WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
This is a peek at the downstairs bathroom. It'll be a post unto itself in the coming days.
Also, I got one of the girl's Christmas presents cranked out in two evenings.
Step 1: Rejoice that I have bright pink yarn that I can use! Money saved!
Step 2: Run out of the pink yarn before the hat is big enough, but pat self on the back for having a ball of white yarn that makes for a cute accompaniment to the Hello Kitty crocheted embellishment.
Time to cozy up with the vacuum cleaner and get this place whipped into shape so I can spend the evening working on someone else's gift. Don't worry, you'll get pictures of that, too. :-)
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Handmade Christmas
I've been meaning to do handmade Christmas gifts for years. Once in a while, I will crank out one or two handmade gifts, but this year has made it more of a necessity than past years.
I'll admit it: I'm totally stoked about it!
I have a soap making class with some friends that will cost me $20 and make enough soap to gift out to family and neighbors, as well as enough to cover us for the next 6 months. I have ornaments for various Godparents, cotton kitchen towels to crochet for John's coworkers, winter gear for the kids (hats and scarves) to crochet as well, and a few dress shirts to sew for John.
I revisited my Pinterest page for gifts and found a few more things that I'm excited to make:
1. Constellation cards for Kid #1, a major lover of all things galactic.
2. Animal wall busts for the kids, likely in various forms (shark, dinosaur, unicorn, bear).
3. Cute slippers for the whole family.
4. A little something for myself. :-)
I'm also excited to be getting rid of all of this yarn that's been hanging around here. Decluttering and giving gifts... awesome!
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
There Are Many Pregnancies Like It, But This One Is Mine.
Food. I'm obsessed with it lately.
I mean, you'd look at my rather rotund self and think that it's a given, but I'm on a whole different plane of obsession. Rather than eating because everything tastes good, I'm eating to see if anything tastes good.
Thanks, pregnancy. You're a real pal.
A high school friend of mine confided in me that she is also pregnant (her first) and the only saving grace to her lack of appetite is sriracha. I gave that a shot, drowning my morning eggs in it. It made it passable, but that was good enough for me.
Sriracha: 1 point
A college friend announced her second pregnancy just a few days ago. Her go-to food is homemade milkshakes with a pickle chaser. I gave those a try, only to want to murder cows for their contribution of milk and ice cream. Pickles, however, tasted like pure joy.
Pickles: 1 point
John brought home a bag of pretzels for football on Sunday. I ate a small handful, so long as each was smothered with cream cheese. Cream cheese saved the cows on my hit list.
Pretzels and cream cheese: 1 point
While chicken is on deck for dinner, I'm convinced that a steak would hit the spot. Alas, I'm not taking the kids shopping. I will spare myself the anxiety of their public antics.
Inconvenience: 1 point
I suffer the nausea with a martyr complex because crackers taste like ash and I can't force myself to touch them. Soup smells like sewage, no matter the kind and source. Bagels are tolerable, as long as the cream cheese to bagel ratio is inhumanly enormous. Bacon almost makes the cut. How fair is that?! I can't go within 20 feet of the deli and seafood sections of the grocery store, lest I leave the meager contents of my stomach all over the displays.
And the kicker: all of my calories are consumed before 3 p.m. Anything after that makes me want to curl up in a ball and disown my husband and children vocally, and with great volume.
Oh, and my prenatal vitamins make my nausea all the worse.
10 weeks down. 34 weeks to go.
(If you know how my children heed the EDD, you'd find this accurate, if not amusing.)
I know, I am becoming fluent in speaking "Whinese." Truth be told, I'm actually very excited about this baby. It took a couple of weeks, which is not normal for me. I typically lose my face and am instantly in love with the baby, but it took some time this time around. Either way, I'm excited. :-)
I mean, you'd look at my rather rotund self and think that it's a given, but I'm on a whole different plane of obsession. Rather than eating because everything tastes good, I'm eating to see if anything tastes good.
Thanks, pregnancy. You're a real pal.
A high school friend of mine confided in me that she is also pregnant (her first) and the only saving grace to her lack of appetite is sriracha. I gave that a shot, drowning my morning eggs in it. It made it passable, but that was good enough for me.
Sriracha: 1 point
A college friend announced her second pregnancy just a few days ago. Her go-to food is homemade milkshakes with a pickle chaser. I gave those a try, only to want to murder cows for their contribution of milk and ice cream. Pickles, however, tasted like pure joy.
Pickles: 1 point
John brought home a bag of pretzels for football on Sunday. I ate a small handful, so long as each was smothered with cream cheese. Cream cheese saved the cows on my hit list.
Pretzels and cream cheese: 1 point
While chicken is on deck for dinner, I'm convinced that a steak would hit the spot. Alas, I'm not taking the kids shopping. I will spare myself the anxiety of their public antics.
Inconvenience: 1 point
I suffer the nausea with a martyr complex because crackers taste like ash and I can't force myself to touch them. Soup smells like sewage, no matter the kind and source. Bagels are tolerable, as long as the cream cheese to bagel ratio is inhumanly enormous. Bacon almost makes the cut. How fair is that?! I can't go within 20 feet of the deli and seafood sections of the grocery store, lest I leave the meager contents of my stomach all over the displays.
And the kicker: all of my calories are consumed before 3 p.m. Anything after that makes me want to curl up in a ball and disown my husband and children vocally, and with great volume.
Oh, and my prenatal vitamins make my nausea all the worse.
10 weeks down. 34 weeks to go.
(If you know how my children heed the EDD, you'd find this accurate, if not amusing.)
I know, I am becoming fluent in speaking "Whinese." Truth be told, I'm actually very excited about this baby. It took a couple of weeks, which is not normal for me. I typically lose my face and am instantly in love with the baby, but it took some time this time around. Either way, I'm excited. :-)
Monday, October 28, 2013
Peace, Health, and Happiness
Well, I can have peace, health, OR happiness, and it's going to cost me.
Thanks, oh fearless leaders on the Hill, for being a bunch of dirty, filthy words that my mother rightfully taught me were not to be used in polite company. I spare using those words for her sake, NOT for yours.
Under the threat of having our insurance (through my husband's company) made obsolete, our family has been shopping for plans to cover ourselves. We make too much to qualify for things like Medicaid, but too little to pay the monthly premiums that would double if we want anything more than "catastrophic" coverage. We NEED more than catastrophic coverage, especially with Kid #5 planning a debut in the Spring.
So, rather than be a responsible citizen who repays student loans in a diligent manner, pays credit card balances in full and on time, and being meticulous about the dietary needs (needs, not whims) of my children, we're going to be paying for sub-par coverage so that our quality of life can be passable rather than decent.
Yeah, this HHS stuff is really helpful. I'm so glad the government is looking out for me and my family.
No, I have no shortage of sarcasm where this topic is concerned.
I cried about it, I wrung my hands about it, and now I'm just angry.
May God forgive my weak faith, that this is even an issue that consumes my wayward thoughts. It is precisely times like these that beg the passage from Matthew 7: 26-34...
Look at the birds of the sky; they do not sow or reap,
they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not more important than
they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment
to your life span? Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wildflowers grow. They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the
grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown
into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more provide
for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say
"What are we to eat?" or "What are we to drink?" or "What
are we to wear?" All these things the pagans seek. Your
heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek
first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about
tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
The "O you of little faith" bit is especially applicable to me in times like these. God has gotten us through worse, yet I sit here and fume and worry like everything is coming apart at the seams.
Please pray for us and that, in all things, God may be glorified.
Thanks, oh fearless leaders on the Hill, for being a bunch of dirty, filthy words that my mother rightfully taught me were not to be used in polite company. I spare using those words for her sake, NOT for yours.
Under the threat of having our insurance (through my husband's company) made obsolete, our family has been shopping for plans to cover ourselves. We make too much to qualify for things like Medicaid, but too little to pay the monthly premiums that would double if we want anything more than "catastrophic" coverage. We NEED more than catastrophic coverage, especially with Kid #5 planning a debut in the Spring.
So, rather than be a responsible citizen who repays student loans in a diligent manner, pays credit card balances in full and on time, and being meticulous about the dietary needs (needs, not whims) of my children, we're going to be paying for sub-par coverage so that our quality of life can be passable rather than decent.
Yeah, this HHS stuff is really helpful. I'm so glad the government is looking out for me and my family.
No, I have no shortage of sarcasm where this topic is concerned.
I cried about it, I wrung my hands about it, and now I'm just angry.
May God forgive my weak faith, that this is even an issue that consumes my wayward thoughts. It is precisely times like these that beg the passage from Matthew 7: 26-34...
Look at the birds of the sky; they do not sow or reap,
they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not more important than
they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment
to your life span? Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wildflowers grow. They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the
grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown
into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more provide
for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say
"What are we to eat?" or "What are we to drink?" or "What
are we to wear?" All these things the pagans seek. Your
heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek
first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about
tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
The "O you of little faith" bit is especially applicable to me in times like these. God has gotten us through worse, yet I sit here and fume and worry like everything is coming apart at the seams.
Please pray for us and that, in all things, God may be glorified.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig...
Well, we survived Colorado. Rather, Colorado survived us. Mostly.
My mother is missing a camera, her water bill will be astronomical thanks to a toddler who is suspected of turning on the tub and LEAVING IT ON for more than 2 hours, and her dachshund has a gimpy back leg that may or may not have been the result of a certain careless toddler (the same who was kind enough to turn on the tub).
The kids did get to bathe in the joys of having a grandmother who catered to their every emotional, physical, and dietary whim, they got to experience the joy of picking out a soda from their great-grandmother's antique Coke machine, they got to harass gigantic dogs in a gigantic yard, they got to see fossils in Woodland Park, black holes in Denver, zombies in a mall crawl, the triumph of a post-marathon grandmother, and they got some great face time with cousins, uncles, aunts, etc.
I got to sit on my butt and hang out with my folks.
Everybody was a winner!
Except for maybe the water bill... and the dachshund...
Alas, it came to an end and we are back east, where the drivers actually use the left lane for passing and they put far too much cream cheese on bagels. :-)
While the trip was a complete joy to experience, there were a few down points:
1. We saw the burn scars from the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires. They were sobering, sad, and they have changed the landscape in ways I'm still trying to wrap my brain around.
2. Colorado drivers are terrible. Virginia still holds the spot for most terrible place to drive, but my beloved CO is a close second. I was thrilled to be back behind the wheel straight out of the airport where people go 70 mph in a 45 mph zone like normal Americans and the left lane is truly JUST for passing. Well, that is, until someone with NJ plates shows up and acts like a blind, deaf, quadriplegic student driver.
3. I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to see. The upside to this is that I didn't see anyone that I didn't want to see, either. You take the good, you take the bad... ;-)
4. I'm pregnant, so everything from moving from my bed to the couch to sit and do nothing all day took monumental effort.
5. Two weeks goes so much faster when you don't want it to go anywhere. Again, the upside to this is that I'll be hugging and kissing my beloved husband by tomorrow evening, and that is pretty stellar.
Well, I'm off to choke down my prenatal vitamins, lament that nothing tastes good, pop some popcorn, and watch something lame with the kiddos. I'll spend tomorrow morning in total panic while shrieking at my kids to clean up before my husband returns. He left the house in immaculate shape, so I'm feeling the pressure to keep it that way. :-)
My mother is missing a camera, her water bill will be astronomical thanks to a toddler who is suspected of turning on the tub and LEAVING IT ON for more than 2 hours, and her dachshund has a gimpy back leg that may or may not have been the result of a certain careless toddler (the same who was kind enough to turn on the tub).
The kids did get to bathe in the joys of having a grandmother who catered to their every emotional, physical, and dietary whim, they got to experience the joy of picking out a soda from their great-grandmother's antique Coke machine, they got to harass gigantic dogs in a gigantic yard, they got to see fossils in Woodland Park, black holes in Denver, zombies in a mall crawl, the triumph of a post-marathon grandmother, and they got some great face time with cousins, uncles, aunts, etc.
I got to sit on my butt and hang out with my folks.
Everybody was a winner!
Except for maybe the water bill... and the dachshund...
Alas, it came to an end and we are back east, where the drivers actually use the left lane for passing and they put far too much cream cheese on bagels. :-)
While the trip was a complete joy to experience, there were a few down points:
1. We saw the burn scars from the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires. They were sobering, sad, and they have changed the landscape in ways I'm still trying to wrap my brain around.
2. Colorado drivers are terrible. Virginia still holds the spot for most terrible place to drive, but my beloved CO is a close second. I was thrilled to be back behind the wheel straight out of the airport where people go 70 mph in a 45 mph zone like normal Americans and the left lane is truly JUST for passing. Well, that is, until someone with NJ plates shows up and acts like a blind, deaf, quadriplegic student driver.
3. I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to see. The upside to this is that I didn't see anyone that I didn't want to see, either. You take the good, you take the bad... ;-)
4. I'm pregnant, so everything from moving from my bed to the couch to sit and do nothing all day took monumental effort.
5. Two weeks goes so much faster when you don't want it to go anywhere. Again, the upside to this is that I'll be hugging and kissing my beloved husband by tomorrow evening, and that is pretty stellar.
Well, I'm off to choke down my prenatal vitamins, lament that nothing tastes good, pop some popcorn, and watch something lame with the kiddos. I'll spend tomorrow morning in total panic while shrieking at my kids to clean up before my husband returns. He left the house in immaculate shape, so I'm feeling the pressure to keep it that way. :-)
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
All My Bags Are Packed...
I just checked us into our flight. The children are literally vibrating with excitement.
Literally.
I'm not using "literally" as a means of emphasis. I mean they are actually physically vibrating. If you have ever seen my kids get super excited, you know what I mean.
My daughter once got a video game that she desperately wanted for her 5th birthday from my folks. When she pulled it out of the bag, all time stopped and they were frozen with joy. Immediately breaking that was a round of heavy vibrating. It begins in their knees and explodes through their whole body.
Anyway, I have one carry-on bag left to sew (it's assembled and pinned), a few shirts to iron, and lots of house to clean. I'm going to be boiling in anxiety all day. To boot, I have my first prenatal visit at noon.
I'm still mulling over a possible home birth, but I totally dropped the ball on losing the baby weight between pregnancies (for the 5th baby in a row, gaaaaahhhhhhhh), and need to seriously consider whether that is an appropriate move regarding the health and well-being of myself and the baby.
I had my first major crying spell yesterday in the car after a grocery run. I saw a woman going into Chipotle and she had the most adorable pregnant belly. She was tall, slender, a ponytail that was just messy enough to look completely fabulous, and makeup free for a truly glorious mommy glow. I completely lost it at the sight of her, completely ripping myself apart for not ever having a pregnancy that looked even half as cute.
I've pulled off the "Jabba the Hutt" look with flawless precision nearly every time. This time will be the worst of it because I have honestly, truly, literally not lost the baby weight from any of these pregnancies. I'll be kicking my own ass so hard this time around. I've practically threatened my husband with divorce if he doesn't help keep me on my feet and moving. Ok, that's a lie. He's just as adamant as I am and it really feels good to know that he's going to be supportive and awesome and stern when I need it. This baby deserves better from me. All my babies deserve better. I deserve better from me.
Alrighty, this house isn't going to clean itself.
Literally.
I'm not using "literally" as a means of emphasis. I mean they are actually physically vibrating. If you have ever seen my kids get super excited, you know what I mean.
My daughter once got a video game that she desperately wanted for her 5th birthday from my folks. When she pulled it out of the bag, all time stopped and they were frozen with joy. Immediately breaking that was a round of heavy vibrating. It begins in their knees and explodes through their whole body.
Anyway, I have one carry-on bag left to sew (it's assembled and pinned), a few shirts to iron, and lots of house to clean. I'm going to be boiling in anxiety all day. To boot, I have my first prenatal visit at noon.
I'm still mulling over a possible home birth, but I totally dropped the ball on losing the baby weight between pregnancies (for the 5th baby in a row, gaaaaahhhhhhhh), and need to seriously consider whether that is an appropriate move regarding the health and well-being of myself and the baby.
I had my first major crying spell yesterday in the car after a grocery run. I saw a woman going into Chipotle and she had the most adorable pregnant belly. She was tall, slender, a ponytail that was just messy enough to look completely fabulous, and makeup free for a truly glorious mommy glow. I completely lost it at the sight of her, completely ripping myself apart for not ever having a pregnancy that looked even half as cute.
I've pulled off the "Jabba the Hutt" look with flawless precision nearly every time. This time will be the worst of it because I have honestly, truly, literally not lost the baby weight from any of these pregnancies. I'll be kicking my own ass so hard this time around. I've practically threatened my husband with divorce if he doesn't help keep me on my feet and moving. Ok, that's a lie. He's just as adamant as I am and it really feels good to know that he's going to be supportive and awesome and stern when I need it. This baby deserves better from me. All my babies deserve better. I deserve better from me.
Alrighty, this house isn't going to clean itself.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Shakeup, Shakedown...
Just when we find a decent cruising speed, things begin to rattle and vibrate. While we have been in the same place for over three years now (a new record for us!), the winds have brought the scent of change. Our future, while perfectly stable within our family dynamic, has developed a low hum that may develop into a situational earthquake.
I wish I could get more detailed, but I can't. There is so much all at once. Our family has a lot of processing to do before we can even start finding our way through it.
It's not all bad. In fact, hardly any of it is bad. It's new and exciting and adventurous. But there are temporary side effects that really cloud up the fun stuff at first.
Please pray for us all.
In the meantime, I'm happily flitting around the house, cleaning and scrubbing in preparation for our CO trip. Hooray for mountains and clean air and family!
I wish I could get more detailed, but I can't. There is so much all at once. Our family has a lot of processing to do before we can even start finding our way through it.
It's not all bad. In fact, hardly any of it is bad. It's new and exciting and adventurous. But there are temporary side effects that really cloud up the fun stuff at first.
Please pray for us all.
In the meantime, I'm happily flitting around the house, cleaning and scrubbing in preparation for our CO trip. Hooray for mountains and clean air and family!
Monday, September 30, 2013
The Upstairs: An Epic Battle
I suppose I should preface this post with the super-est awesome update: we're spending two weeks in Colorado! In just over a week, we'll be touching down in Denver, climbing into my parents' van, and gleefully giggling the entire way back to Colorado Springs to spend two weeks staring at mountains, stargazing in minimal light pollution, picking apples in FloBabe's backyard, and climbing all over Avia and Ahee's house until they're desperate for us to leave.
That said, I have made it my unwavering mission to leave the house in near-spotless condition before we leave. The Mister will be insanely busy while we're gone, so I want to make sure that the house is in stellar shape so that we can come back to it being in decent condition.
Instead of a list of tasks to complete, which the kids seem to respond to very well as far as chores are concerned, I've turned their list into something of an epic. They will "conquer and imprison the toy army" and "send trash to the cave of no return." Clothes will be "refugees gathered for renewal and relocation" while "captive toys" will be "freed" to the donation bag to find new homes.
I know, it sounds pretty lame, but guess who is upstairs this moment, stomping around like soldiers and wailing with battle cries as they fill up trash and donation bags?
The din is entirely worth it. :-)
That said, I have made it my unwavering mission to leave the house in near-spotless condition before we leave. The Mister will be insanely busy while we're gone, so I want to make sure that the house is in stellar shape so that we can come back to it being in decent condition.
Instead of a list of tasks to complete, which the kids seem to respond to very well as far as chores are concerned, I've turned their list into something of an epic. They will "conquer and imprison the toy army" and "send trash to the cave of no return." Clothes will be "refugees gathered for renewal and relocation" while "captive toys" will be "freed" to the donation bag to find new homes.
I know, it sounds pretty lame, but guess who is upstairs this moment, stomping around like soldiers and wailing with battle cries as they fill up trash and donation bags?
The din is entirely worth it. :-)
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Rebranding...
I should rename this blog into "No, There Isn't Time For A Blog!"
My husband has started traveling season again. After a weekend in KC, he's staring down the barrel of trips to Texas, Israel, England, and possibly even Australia!!! While I'm beyond thrilled that his company is growing, I'm so anxious about all of that traveling. Israel is a hotbed of conflict, but I'm SUPER DUPER STOKED that he will be where Jesus was, see some of the same things Jesus saw, walked where Jesus walked. I'm also a tad jealous that he'll be spending that time with a professor of ours who was rather influential in bringing us both into full realizations of our faith.
But, if we're going to throw around some serious honesty, I'd like most to accompany him to England. It's not a hotbed of conflict, there are family friends dotting the area, it's a boat ride from Ireland, and it's not a steaming haven for poisonous snakes and spiders (looking at you, Australia).
Alas, I will be accompanying him to none of these places. I'll be camping out on the home front for England and Australia, and I'll likely crash in CO for a couple of weeks around time for his Israel jaunt. I think I'm getting the better deal, for sure! The kids can overdose on Grandparents while I drown my nieces and nephew in gifts and attention. :-)
Sweet mercy, it's already dinner time. Gaaaaahhhhhhhhhh...
My husband has started traveling season again. After a weekend in KC, he's staring down the barrel of trips to Texas, Israel, England, and possibly even Australia!!! While I'm beyond thrilled that his company is growing, I'm so anxious about all of that traveling. Israel is a hotbed of conflict, but I'm SUPER DUPER STOKED that he will be where Jesus was, see some of the same things Jesus saw, walked where Jesus walked. I'm also a tad jealous that he'll be spending that time with a professor of ours who was rather influential in bringing us both into full realizations of our faith.
But, if we're going to throw around some serious honesty, I'd like most to accompany him to England. It's not a hotbed of conflict, there are family friends dotting the area, it's a boat ride from Ireland, and it's not a steaming haven for poisonous snakes and spiders (looking at you, Australia).
Alas, I will be accompanying him to none of these places. I'll be camping out on the home front for England and Australia, and I'll likely crash in CO for a couple of weeks around time for his Israel jaunt. I think I'm getting the better deal, for sure! The kids can overdose on Grandparents while I drown my nieces and nephew in gifts and attention. :-)
Sweet mercy, it's already dinner time. Gaaaaahhhhhhhhhh...
Friday, September 13, 2013
I Seriously Can't Believe It Is Friday.
The week has been SUCH a blur! My MIL visited, my youngest had surgery (nothing major, but it was necessary), Scouts started again for the boys, and my sewing machine died (again).
There is more to come, but it's looking like straight-up daisies! Tomorrow, Kids #1 and #2 have an astronomy get together with their Scouts group. I can't WAIT for my astronomy-junkie firstborn to look at actual star clusters and planets through a telescope! Kid #2 will also be so excited, though he tends to gravitate more toward botany and chemistry. Beyond that, we are actually going to a farm to pick out our Thanksgiving turkey from a farm to bring back to our friend's pasture to raise it for slaughter closer to Thanksgiving! SUPER SWEET!!! Shortly after that, those same friends are slaughtering their lambs, which means I need to clear out my freezer to prepare for that!
A trip to Colorado is soon to follow as well. Some of the details on that hinge upon whether or not my husband will still be taking his trip to Israel. With Syria in a violent limbo, it's tough to gauge how that will pan.
Off I go...
There is more to come, but it's looking like straight-up daisies! Tomorrow, Kids #1 and #2 have an astronomy get together with their Scouts group. I can't WAIT for my astronomy-junkie firstborn to look at actual star clusters and planets through a telescope! Kid #2 will also be so excited, though he tends to gravitate more toward botany and chemistry. Beyond that, we are actually going to a farm to pick out our Thanksgiving turkey from a farm to bring back to our friend's pasture to raise it for slaughter closer to Thanksgiving! SUPER SWEET!!! Shortly after that, those same friends are slaughtering their lambs, which means I need to clear out my freezer to prepare for that!
A trip to Colorado is soon to follow as well. Some of the details on that hinge upon whether or not my husband will still be taking his trip to Israel. With Syria in a violent limbo, it's tough to gauge how that will pan.
Off I go...
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Lookin' On Up...
Today will be dedicated to making the house presentable for my MIL, who will arrive around noon on Saturday to help us next week when Kid #4 has surgery (nothing major, but sadly necessary). Tomorrow will also be spent working on this venture. And the last half of Friday... and until we go to pick her up on Saturday. Let's face it: it will probably be necessary.
An inconvenient truth.
We'll be purging all along the way, which will cause the kids to have minor strokes. After all:
And then Mommy has to sneak the stuff out in a donation bag.
I also am working on my eating. I fell off the GF wagon, and I can feel it. I wake up achey and tired, I have been moody and lazy, and I can't seem to shake the mental fog. I'm restarting the GF efforts today, but I'm also cutting carbs in general. I have to fly in a about a month, and one of my biggest not-so-irrational fears is the airline folks telling me I have to buy two seats for the size of my butt. It happened to a college roommate of mine, and I've been terrified of it ever since I put on all the baby weight (from all four kids... combined). Minding my cleaning and watching my eating... all in one day...
True story, y'all!
I plan these things out, and they never work the way I want. I wanted the upstairs to be gleaming and sterile on Monday, the living room to have intense attention on Tuesday, the kitchen to have all of Wednesday, laundry would be knocked out on Thursday, and the bathrooms would be sterilized on Friday alongside a quick pick-up in the house overall.
I managed to put a major dent in the laundry on Monday and Tuesday, and today will be spent getting the upstairs cleaned. We started it yesterday, so hopefully it won't take the rest of the day. I would like to start on the living room, which is in something of a desperate state. If I don't get it done, I can always sit my MIL down in front of an episode of Hoarders and hope it has the same impact on her that it does on me:
Yes and yes, and you're welcome!
Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to clean I go!
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Sweet Jeepers McGee!
I am no good at blogging regularly.
In fact, the only thing that feels "regular" about anything is total, abject insanity.
The saying "crazier than a bag of cats" applies, only the bag has been shaken quite a bit.
Shake shake shake, shake shake shake, shake the crazy...
In fact, the only thing that feels "regular" about anything is total, abject insanity.
The saying "crazier than a bag of cats" applies, only the bag has been shaken quite a bit.
Shake shake shake, shake shake shake, shake the crazy...
Friday, August 16, 2013
I Did Something!
Yes, I finally have a project I can post! This is the second one since I started this blog, which means I'm not doing too well in the Friday's Refashion or whatever I originally planned for Fridays, but things are happening at least, right?
My creativity has been manifesting in really messed up, disorganized, random explosions of doneness. What's hilarious is, since I am still without a proper camera, I have been taking "before" and "after" pictures with my son's Lego camera. Soak in the 3MP awesomeness.
Anyway, halfway through painting my downstairs bathroom (that will be another Friday post in the near future), I decided I needed a smaller project to keep the momentum going. My sights landed on our humble little knife block.
I took "before" pictures and loaded them onto the computer about 3 minutes ago, realized I needed to take "after" pictures, took those, then loaded those onto the computer as well, only to have it save over the "before" pictures. Of course it would happen that way. Ugh.
My creativity has been manifesting in really messed up, disorganized, random explosions of doneness. What's hilarious is, since I am still without a proper camera, I have been taking "before" and "after" pictures with my son's Lego camera. Soak in the 3MP awesomeness.
Anyway, halfway through painting my downstairs bathroom (that will be another Friday post in the near future), I decided I needed a smaller project to keep the momentum going. My sights landed on our humble little knife block.
I took "before" pictures and loaded them onto the computer about 3 minutes ago, realized I needed to take "after" pictures, took those, then loaded those onto the computer as well, only to have it save over the "before" pictures. Of course it would happen that way. Ugh.
Yourblissblog.com had a suitable "before" picture with apt labeling, so I borrowed it.
Two coats of chalkboard paint and some help from the kiddos rendered this:
"No cuts, no butts, no coconuts" is their favorite line from the movie Wreck-it Ralph.
It says: "Winner winner, chicken dinner" and there is a whole chicken on the top level, half-hidden by knife handles.
The beauty about it is we can erase and redecorate it as time and season dictates. Kid #2 wrote "I love you, silly!" on the back of it, while the girl drew a princess somewhere. Before the day is done, amid the cleaning frenzy (we volunteered to have our HOA meeting here tomorrow afternoon, ugh), a no-sew refashion will be posted on the girl's blog.
Happy Friday!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Look! LOOK!!!
Like an illness that starts at the base of the spine and creeps quickly toward the brain, wrapping the body in tendrils of body-seizing anguish, so goes my creative bug today.
Seriously, it's bad.
I thought to myself today, "Hm... The downstairs bathroom needs painting."
And then I painted the bathroom. Well, about 1/3 of the bathroom. Then I decided that the color wasn't quite right. On deck is the quart of free paint I scooped up from Ace Hardware two weekends ago.
What's hilarious about it all is that the kids keep popping their heads into the bathroom to ask, "Is Daddy going to be mad that you're painting the bathroom?" HAHA!!!
Well, while the wrong color dried, I grabbed my knife block and sanded it down before taking it out front and giving it a coat of primer. Now I have to decide what color I want it to be before I have the kids unload the dishwasher.
My creative purge is manifesting spastically. I am anticipating several no-sew refashions for the girl to post on her blog before the evening closes. EDIT: That didn't happen. But it will on 8/16.
Right after I finish painting my bathroom, that is...
Seriously, it's bad.
I thought to myself today, "Hm... The downstairs bathroom needs painting."
And then I painted the bathroom. Well, about 1/3 of the bathroom. Then I decided that the color wasn't quite right. On deck is the quart of free paint I scooped up from Ace Hardware two weekends ago.
What's hilarious about it all is that the kids keep popping their heads into the bathroom to ask, "Is Daddy going to be mad that you're painting the bathroom?" HAHA!!!
Well, while the wrong color dried, I grabbed my knife block and sanded it down before taking it out front and giving it a coat of primer. Now I have to decide what color I want it to be before I have the kids unload the dishwasher.
My creative purge is manifesting spastically. I am anticipating several no-sew refashions for the girl to post on her blog before the evening closes. EDIT: That didn't happen. But it will on 8/16.
Right after I finish painting my bathroom, that is...
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Tasty Tuesday: A Food Review.
I remember once asking my dad what kimchi was. He told me that it was Korean pickled cabbage.
I never thought of it since. Pickled cabbage? Gross.
Well, about a week ago, we were watching "Unwrapped" on Amazon and they showed the King's Kimchi factory mixing up their kimchi. It is marinated and fermented, mixed in small batches by hand, using not one single unrecognizable ingredient.
SOLD!
I went out and found some at our grocery store and tried it over two egg whites for breakfast. I wasn't expecting it to be so tangy, but the follow-up flavors of garlic and chili (think sriracha) had me hooked.
I have been enjoying it on my eggs, over rice noodles, and by itself ever since.
I bought the spicy variety and it hasn't been as spicy as I thought it would be. It's tolerable, even for a spicy-food-wuss like me. :-)
I never thought of it since. Pickled cabbage? Gross.
Well, about a week ago, we were watching "Unwrapped" on Amazon and they showed the King's Kimchi factory mixing up their kimchi. It is marinated and fermented, mixed in small batches by hand, using not one single unrecognizable ingredient.
SOLD!
I went out and found some at our grocery store and tried it over two egg whites for breakfast. I wasn't expecting it to be so tangy, but the follow-up flavors of garlic and chili (think sriracha) had me hooked.
I have been enjoying it on my eggs, over rice noodles, and by itself ever since.
I bought the spicy variety and it hasn't been as spicy as I thought it would be. It's tolerable, even for a spicy-food-wuss like me. :-)
Monday, August 12, 2013
Needed Prayers.
Our priest went to the ER last night with some gastrointestinal issues.
He used to be nearly 400 lbs, but has worked hard with a doctor and nutritionist to lose half of it in about a year's time. But since then, it appears he's had a whole different host of health problems revolving around his digestive system.
Anyway, if you could please spare a prayer or two for him, I know he'd greatly appreciate it.
Please pray for me as well. I'm struggling with some deep physical, spiritual, and emotional shakedown. Everything seems to be coming from a very selfish place, but it has an unusually powerful hold on me to the point where I feel like I can't even put coherent thoughts together about it.
He used to be nearly 400 lbs, but has worked hard with a doctor and nutritionist to lose half of it in about a year's time. But since then, it appears he's had a whole different host of health problems revolving around his digestive system.
Anyway, if you could please spare a prayer or two for him, I know he'd greatly appreciate it.
Please pray for me as well. I'm struggling with some deep physical, spiritual, and emotional shakedown. Everything seems to be coming from a very selfish place, but it has an unusually powerful hold on me to the point where I feel like I can't even put coherent thoughts together about it.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Oh Saturday, You're Here Again!
While the hubs is off giving a talk on NFP, I have big plans to clean. The kids are finishing up breakfast slowly, hoping to squeeze every last moment of freedom from their morning before I begin cracking the whip of motivation.
Though, to be honest, the house isn't in terrible shape. I'm betting that we can be done before lunch if they don't drag themselves around like zombies.
It's SO CUTE how my daughter feigns injustice with the list of things that need to be done. Right now, she's giving me the stink eye because I cleaned the bathroom last night. "I wanted to scrub the tub," she's growling. Well, sweetheart, take that energy and put it into picking up your room. Oh the horrors, right?
If the house is in order in time, I promised to take them out for lunch. It's as much of a reward for me as it is for them because the house will be clean, I won't have to cook, and then I can come home and sew!
Oh, yeah, get this: I have been working slowly-but-surely to get the computer to the sewing desk so that we can get rid of the office desk and arrange the living room in a more pleasing way. Since I wasn't sewing much, I figured it was a good plan. Well, the kids have shown an interest in learning and some minor projects and repairs have been happening. Wouldn't it figure that the machine would get more use once I made major strides to evict it from its home?
Pffft...
Well, time to slay this beast. Though, let's be serious, it'll be back by tomorrow at the very latest.
Though, to be honest, the house isn't in terrible shape. I'm betting that we can be done before lunch if they don't drag themselves around like zombies.
It's SO CUTE how my daughter feigns injustice with the list of things that need to be done. Right now, she's giving me the stink eye because I cleaned the bathroom last night. "I wanted to scrub the tub," she's growling. Well, sweetheart, take that energy and put it into picking up your room. Oh the horrors, right?
If the house is in order in time, I promised to take them out for lunch. It's as much of a reward for me as it is for them because the house will be clean, I won't have to cook, and then I can come home and sew!
Oh, yeah, get this: I have been working slowly-but-surely to get the computer to the sewing desk so that we can get rid of the office desk and arrange the living room in a more pleasing way. Since I wasn't sewing much, I figured it was a good plan. Well, the kids have shown an interest in learning and some minor projects and repairs have been happening. Wouldn't it figure that the machine would get more use once I made major strides to evict it from its home?
Pffft...
Well, time to slay this beast. Though, let's be serious, it'll be back by tomorrow at the very latest.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Calm Down Already!
I sat down here to type out my daughter's adventure in sewing from last night, sip my coffee, catch up on world news and Facebook news, and wait for the kids to finish breakfast before we start school.
Instead, I have a little girl hanging from my elbow and DYING to know when she can do her math games on the computer, a baby boy playing in the kitchen sink, and two older boys arguing over who is allowed to eat which snacks since the grapes are nearly gone (thanks to the baby).
Oh Thursday, why do you hate me so?
I want to stop and throw my hands in the air and just let everything happen until I can't feel feelings anymore. I'm pretty sure that's just because I haven't had my coffee in its entirety though. ;-)
Today is actually set to be a pretty easy day. The kids will do reading, vocabulary, Bible and Catechism in the morning, then math, science, and history in the afternoon. This should leave two hours for house cleaning and dinner prep before the mister is due home.
I suppose that means I should have a plan for dinner.
I know, I laughed too.
Instead, I have a little girl hanging from my elbow and DYING to know when she can do her math games on the computer, a baby boy playing in the kitchen sink, and two older boys arguing over who is allowed to eat which snacks since the grapes are nearly gone (thanks to the baby).
Oh Thursday, why do you hate me so?
I want to stop and throw my hands in the air and just let everything happen until I can't feel feelings anymore. I'm pretty sure that's just because I haven't had my coffee in its entirety though. ;-)
Today is actually set to be a pretty easy day. The kids will do reading, vocabulary, Bible and Catechism in the morning, then math, science, and history in the afternoon. This should leave two hours for house cleaning and dinner prep before the mister is due home.
I suppose that means I should have a plan for dinner.
I know, I laughed too.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Click. Take a Pic.
Stiiiiillllllll nnooooooooooo caaaaamerrrraaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
My birthday is in September. I'm already scouting sales for a DSLR camera. But with the way finances are going, I may opt for a point-and-shoot and put the difference toward more necessary things (oh these first-world problems).
However, things are on the up-and-up. My husband has taken on a teaching position rather last minute at a local Catholic college this fall. It's the same intro course he did before, so his prep work is all done. It's a tremendous blessing, because now he won't be locking himself away from the family two extra nights a week to prep for the classes.
This also means we're pulling in a little more income. I'm thrilled about this. It may put us a little bit ahead of paying off his student loans.
Even more still, his company wants me to make a few Wikipedia pages for some of their authors. I have to read some autobiographies/memoirs and take some notes. Yes, I'm getting paid to read about people I deeply respect, and then prepare a wiki page for the world to read about them. How amazingly awesome is that?!?!
Well, we're late beginning school work. I'd better make it happen so the kids can hit up our friend's pool later!
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
My birthday is in September. I'm already scouting sales for a DSLR camera. But with the way finances are going, I may opt for a point-and-shoot and put the difference toward more necessary things (oh these first-world problems).
However, things are on the up-and-up. My husband has taken on a teaching position rather last minute at a local Catholic college this fall. It's the same intro course he did before, so his prep work is all done. It's a tremendous blessing, because now he won't be locking himself away from the family two extra nights a week to prep for the classes.
This also means we're pulling in a little more income. I'm thrilled about this. It may put us a little bit ahead of paying off his student loans.
Even more still, his company wants me to make a few Wikipedia pages for some of their authors. I have to read some autobiographies/memoirs and take some notes. Yes, I'm getting paid to read about people I deeply respect, and then prepare a wiki page for the world to read about them. How amazingly awesome is that?!?!
Well, we're late beginning school work. I'd better make it happen so the kids can hit up our friend's pool later!
Monday, August 5, 2013
Meme and Musings.
Louis, in the dead quiet of prayer during Mass yesterday, began to holler "Na na na na na BAN-NAM!!!!" That's Louis-speak for "Batman." You're welcome, Jesus.
That's not even the height of his hijinks. I'm "Mommy" when he needs me to lay some discipline on his siblings. Otherwise, my name is "honk honk boobies."
We started school today. We remained on task rather well, I'd say! We may have to see about tinkering through some math worksheets later, but they've adequately gorged on poetry, vocabulary, reading, Bible stories, Catechism, and science. Tomorrow we'll look into history, geography, more poetry, and other things that have required me to completely blank out as I type.
Oh, Louis just got into the coconut flour...
That's not even the height of his hijinks. I'm "Mommy" when he needs me to lay some discipline on his siblings. Otherwise, my name is "honk honk boobies."
We started school today. We remained on task rather well, I'd say! We may have to see about tinkering through some math worksheets later, but they've adequately gorged on poetry, vocabulary, reading, Bible stories, Catechism, and science. Tomorrow we'll look into history, geography, more poetry, and other things that have required me to completely blank out as I type.
Oh, Louis just got into the coconut flour...
For you, Louis. From the bottom of my heart.
Oh, and I tried purging some clothing and shoes that are too small for my kiddos. They are pulling them out of the giveaway bag insisting that they know someone specific who can use what they don't want to relinquish. And thus:
I also shop after bedtime, but they know. They manifest out of thin air when I get home.
Jeepers, a silent bomb exploded in my living room while I was typing! Time to resolve that issue before dinner gets into the works.
It's been a good day today. :-)
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Wellness and Western Medicine.
Concern has been expressed that I am approaching the status of "brainwashed hippie" with my obsession over dietary links to wellness and the use of common household staples as medicine.
But please bear with me while I trace the lines and connect the dots in my train of thought (sigh... again):
I haven't written off Western Medicine. I think it's amazing stuff when and where it is needed and necessary! When Kid #3 was peeing blood, I didn't think it was a job for garlic and whatever else. I got her to a hospital. When Kid #4 had nursemaid's elbow (what I thought was a possibly broken arm at the time), off to the hospital we went. When gall stones attacked, I got my gallbladder yanked (a bit of a rushed decision in hindsight, but there it is). When one kid relentlessly puked for days, we saw a doctor to monitor his fluids in case medical intervention was necessary.
What fries me is this: When I was going to hospitals to have my children, getting epidurals and cytotec doses without questioning their safety or alternatives, I wasn't considered brainwashed. I took advice like a kid at a candy dispenser from people who were educated in their fields WITHOUT seeking balancing and/or seemingly contrary advice. Vaccinations by the truckload found their way into my two oldest sons without so much as a second thought about delay or spacing, the fragility of their immune systems, or the practicality of giving a brand new baby a Hep B shot. But that method of action, doing what I'm told by people who specialized in a particular area without questioning their credentials or seeking alternative advice, somehow makes my decisions educated?
Am I the only one who sees the lunacy here?!
I tossed gluten and I am feeling great. I avoided a 3 day hospital stay by treating my second round of mastitis with garlic cloves and raw cider vinegar (I did spend 3 days in the hospital the first time it hit, years ago, because I trusted that such a move was medically necessary). I treated Kid #2's UTI with garlic and vinegar as well. It tamed his "pee tantrum." :-) All of this is just from the past 6 months. But relying on such brilliantly simple remedies makes me brainwashed. Getting this advice from naturopaths and homeopaths makes it stupid. It costs less, it's easily accessible, and it's been working, so I must be borderline insane, especially when I make this decision in light of the decisions I know will be made (and have been made) by a doctor.
I think I have a decent balance in place. I try to help at home that which can be helped at home. When things are something I'm not willing to take on myself, I bring in those who are better capable of handling things. I rely on what I've researched and what I've experienced to make decisions. And nobody has been put in any real danger through the whole process. If anything, I've acted in a way that gives Western medicine more of my trust than "hippie" remedies.
I'm not stupid. I think that's the implication I resent most from anyone who tosses these kinds of decisions in my face. I'm not so brainwashed or so proud or so bent on one mode of thought that I will not deviate from treating X ailment with Y methods. Anecdotal and empirical evidence go hand-in-hand when I make decisions regarding the health and well-being of my family. But somehow my decisions are blasted because a $1.50 bulb of garlic saved me a $200 hospital bill on more than one occasion?
That makes all kinds of sense.
I suppose I'm a tad sensitive about this lately because the criticisms are coming from people close to me, even some who appeared to support these decisions when I began doing the research and application. I vomit the feelings here because I don't want to run to the more vehemently anti-(natural/western med approach) crowds on various message boards around the internet, further bombarding my wounded sensibilities with propaganda. And garlic. ;-)
Until next time, my current diagnosis:
But please bear with me while I trace the lines and connect the dots in my train of thought (sigh... again):
I haven't written off Western Medicine. I think it's amazing stuff when and where it is needed and necessary! When Kid #3 was peeing blood, I didn't think it was a job for garlic and whatever else. I got her to a hospital. When Kid #4 had nursemaid's elbow (what I thought was a possibly broken arm at the time), off to the hospital we went. When gall stones attacked, I got my gallbladder yanked (a bit of a rushed decision in hindsight, but there it is). When one kid relentlessly puked for days, we saw a doctor to monitor his fluids in case medical intervention was necessary.
What fries me is this: When I was going to hospitals to have my children, getting epidurals and cytotec doses without questioning their safety or alternatives, I wasn't considered brainwashed. I took advice like a kid at a candy dispenser from people who were educated in their fields WITHOUT seeking balancing and/or seemingly contrary advice. Vaccinations by the truckload found their way into my two oldest sons without so much as a second thought about delay or spacing, the fragility of their immune systems, or the practicality of giving a brand new baby a Hep B shot. But that method of action, doing what I'm told by people who specialized in a particular area without questioning their credentials or seeking alternative advice, somehow makes my decisions educated?
Am I the only one who sees the lunacy here?!
I tossed gluten and I am feeling great. I avoided a 3 day hospital stay by treating my second round of mastitis with garlic cloves and raw cider vinegar (I did spend 3 days in the hospital the first time it hit, years ago, because I trusted that such a move was medically necessary). I treated Kid #2's UTI with garlic and vinegar as well. It tamed his "pee tantrum." :-) All of this is just from the past 6 months. But relying on such brilliantly simple remedies makes me brainwashed. Getting this advice from naturopaths and homeopaths makes it stupid. It costs less, it's easily accessible, and it's been working, so I must be borderline insane, especially when I make this decision in light of the decisions I know will be made (and have been made) by a doctor.
I think I have a decent balance in place. I try to help at home that which can be helped at home. When things are something I'm not willing to take on myself, I bring in those who are better capable of handling things. I rely on what I've researched and what I've experienced to make decisions. And nobody has been put in any real danger through the whole process. If anything, I've acted in a way that gives Western medicine more of my trust than "hippie" remedies.
I'm not stupid. I think that's the implication I resent most from anyone who tosses these kinds of decisions in my face. I'm not so brainwashed or so proud or so bent on one mode of thought that I will not deviate from treating X ailment with Y methods. Anecdotal and empirical evidence go hand-in-hand when I make decisions regarding the health and well-being of my family. But somehow my decisions are blasted because a $1.50 bulb of garlic saved me a $200 hospital bill on more than one occasion?
That makes all kinds of sense.
I suppose I'm a tad sensitive about this lately because the criticisms are coming from people close to me, even some who appeared to support these decisions when I began doing the research and application. I vomit the feelings here because I don't want to run to the more vehemently anti-(natural/western med approach) crowds on various message boards around the internet, further bombarding my wounded sensibilities with propaganda. And garlic. ;-)
Until next time, my current diagnosis:
It's an "ailment" from which I hope I never recover. :-)
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
So, Last Night Was An Adventure...
No recipe today. I'm a mess. I didn't sleep much.
John saw a flyer for fishing lessons at Marsh Creek. It's a beautiful lake about 20 minutes from our house, tucked away among some rolling hills and beautiful farm/ranch properties. The class was provided by the fish and boat commission, so it was free and available for all ages. We signed up, learned a lot, and caught 11 fish between the six of us. They were all small bluegills that we tossed right back, but it was still so much fun!
I was helping Kid #2 untangle his line and all of the kids had their toes in the water, but true to his absolute fearlessness, Kid #4 meandered across the rocky bottom further out from the shore. I sternly told him "no," which did little more than slap an impish grin on his face as he turned and tried to run out further, only to trip and go under.
The next thing I knew, I was putting his soaked little self on a picnic table and patting his back while he coughed and gagged a little. The commission official walked over to see if we were ok and the kid just smiled a big smile at him like what just happened was no big deal. Just like him to do such a thing. I could utter little more than "Thank you, Jesus!" the whole way back to the car, where I put him in some of the clothes that were in the donation bag in the back of our car. I just stayed soaked, trying to wrap my head around what happened.
This morning, I did remember more details about the blocked-out part between seeing him disappear under the water and putting him on the picnic table. Sadly, it's images of my son, eyes wide open, submerged and struggling to get his head above water. I haven't had my release about it (usually a good, hard cry or furious tantrum about something stupid), so my neck is all tensed up and I feel like a big, hot stone is sitting on my throat and chest.
He didn't "almost drown" like I blurted to my parents over the phone last night. He couldn't have been under the water for more than two seconds, and likely only a second. He probably could have regained his footing and popped back up above water if I'd given him another second or two, but I wasn't going to wait to find out. Either way, I'm this mess of confusion today, between "stop being a drama queen and get over the what ifs, because he's alive and fine and just be thankful for that" and "oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit, he was under the water and everything could have gone so terribly wrong and he'll still probably get sick from swallowing the water or getting one of those brain-eating amoebas, oh shit oh shit oh shit!!!" My apology for the expletives, but that's how these thoughts are manifesting.
Kid #4, on the other hand, slept like a log, waking up only once to cry about the fastener tape on his diaper coming undone. He's fine. He's in my lap as I type this, trying to push buttons on the printer and get himself into his typical daily rounds of trouble. It's like yesterday didn't happen for him. I want that to be me! I want it to be done so that I don't break down about it while we're out later, notarizing the kids' homeschool papers and shopping for back to school supplies.
I can just see it: the notary asks for my ID and I just lose it, sobbing and laughing at the same time while I insist that nothing is wrong and I'm mentally competent to homeschool my kids, even though one of them could've drowned in a lake last night.
Ugh. I need to throw up or something.
EDIT: I just read yesterday's entry. Can I call it, or what?! So many expletives!!! This kid... Oh my stars and garters...
John saw a flyer for fishing lessons at Marsh Creek. It's a beautiful lake about 20 minutes from our house, tucked away among some rolling hills and beautiful farm/ranch properties. The class was provided by the fish and boat commission, so it was free and available for all ages. We signed up, learned a lot, and caught 11 fish between the six of us. They were all small bluegills that we tossed right back, but it was still so much fun!
I was helping Kid #2 untangle his line and all of the kids had their toes in the water, but true to his absolute fearlessness, Kid #4 meandered across the rocky bottom further out from the shore. I sternly told him "no," which did little more than slap an impish grin on his face as he turned and tried to run out further, only to trip and go under.
The next thing I knew, I was putting his soaked little self on a picnic table and patting his back while he coughed and gagged a little. The commission official walked over to see if we were ok and the kid just smiled a big smile at him like what just happened was no big deal. Just like him to do such a thing. I could utter little more than "Thank you, Jesus!" the whole way back to the car, where I put him in some of the clothes that were in the donation bag in the back of our car. I just stayed soaked, trying to wrap my head around what happened.
This morning, I did remember more details about the blocked-out part between seeing him disappear under the water and putting him on the picnic table. Sadly, it's images of my son, eyes wide open, submerged and struggling to get his head above water. I haven't had my release about it (usually a good, hard cry or furious tantrum about something stupid), so my neck is all tensed up and I feel like a big, hot stone is sitting on my throat and chest.
He didn't "almost drown" like I blurted to my parents over the phone last night. He couldn't have been under the water for more than two seconds, and likely only a second. He probably could have regained his footing and popped back up above water if I'd given him another second or two, but I wasn't going to wait to find out. Either way, I'm this mess of confusion today, between "stop being a drama queen and get over the what ifs, because he's alive and fine and just be thankful for that" and "oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit, he was under the water and everything could have gone so terribly wrong and he'll still probably get sick from swallowing the water or getting one of those brain-eating amoebas, oh shit oh shit oh shit!!!" My apology for the expletives, but that's how these thoughts are manifesting.
Kid #4, on the other hand, slept like a log, waking up only once to cry about the fastener tape on his diaper coming undone. He's fine. He's in my lap as I type this, trying to push buttons on the printer and get himself into his typical daily rounds of trouble. It's like yesterday didn't happen for him. I want that to be me! I want it to be done so that I don't break down about it while we're out later, notarizing the kids' homeschool papers and shopping for back to school supplies.
I can just see it: the notary asks for my ID and I just lose it, sobbing and laughing at the same time while I insist that nothing is wrong and I'm mentally competent to homeschool my kids, even though one of them could've drowned in a lake last night.
Ugh. I need to throw up or something.
EDIT: I just read yesterday's entry. Can I call it, or what?! So many expletives!!! This kid... Oh my stars and garters...
Monday, July 29, 2013
Because It's Monday!
Greatest single educational chart on Earth, right?
Tonight, the kids are taking fishing lessons at Marsh Creek. It's free, it's practical knowledge, and it gets us into the great outdoors.
Time to look up the back hold on a Moby wrap, because Kid #4's human wrecking ball talents probably won't bode well where a giant lake is concerned.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Oh Sweet Mercy, It's Only Thursday?!?!
When I woke up this morning, I was astounded that it was already Thursday. This week is flying!
Then I began to think of things that needed my immediate attention:
Check and see if the mister was paid yet.
Check student loan #3 to see if payment was processed.
Call dentist's office and make another installment for Kid #4's surgery.
Pay water bill.
Pay sewer bill.
Copy the school district tax bill.
Mail original bill to our mortgage company.
... ad infinitum.
You get my point.
Suddenly, "it's already Thursday?!" turned into "it's only Thursday?!?!"
Feeling defeated before I even began, I flopped in front of the computer and opened Pinterest. This is what greeted me, front-and-center:
I don't know why, but it immediately registered the day's pending tasks rather than a particular person. My to-do list gets on my nerves. So make these things sanctifying and every last gray hair they summon from your scalp will be a badge of courage!
Boom! Pinterest and Facebook were closed immediately. The phone's buttons nearly melted under my purpose-driven fingertips. Bills were paid. One bill was negotiated in half! Homeschool papers and forms for the district were filled out, typed up, printed, and ready for notarizing. Some laundry made it into the mix and was resolved. Louis even went down for a nap an hour earlier than usual.
All of this, and it's just now noon. I'm feeling particularly accomplished.
I have a ton left to do, but I have a plan with wiggle room necessary for any kid-tastrophe that might develop.
The icing to this decadent cake is that the weather is immaculate today. Mid-70s temps, a cool breeze, low humidity, and some slight overcast make for rather heavenly surroundings that have bolstered my resolve to make things happen.
Thank you, Jesus, for today's sanctification!
Then I began to think of things that needed my immediate attention:
Check and see if the mister was paid yet.
Check student loan #3 to see if payment was processed.
Call dentist's office and make another installment for Kid #4's surgery.
Pay water bill.
Pay sewer bill.
Copy the school district tax bill.
Mail original bill to our mortgage company.
... ad infinitum.
You get my point.
Suddenly, "it's already Thursday?!" turned into "it's only Thursday?!?!"
Feeling defeated before I even began, I flopped in front of the computer and opened Pinterest. This is what greeted me, front-and-center:
I don't know why, but it immediately registered the day's pending tasks rather than a particular person. My to-do list gets on my nerves. So make these things sanctifying and every last gray hair they summon from your scalp will be a badge of courage!
Boom! Pinterest and Facebook were closed immediately. The phone's buttons nearly melted under my purpose-driven fingertips. Bills were paid. One bill was negotiated in half! Homeschool papers and forms for the district were filled out, typed up, printed, and ready for notarizing. Some laundry made it into the mix and was resolved. Louis even went down for a nap an hour earlier than usual.
All of this, and it's just now noon. I'm feeling particularly accomplished.
I have a ton left to do, but I have a plan with wiggle room necessary for any kid-tastrophe that might develop.
The icing to this decadent cake is that the weather is immaculate today. Mid-70s temps, a cool breeze, low humidity, and some slight overcast make for rather heavenly surroundings that have bolstered my resolve to make things happen.
Thank you, Jesus, for today's sanctification!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Dirty, Dirty Windows...
The house... just... ugh...
I still have a TON of work to do for the mister's company. I'm still incredibly grateful for it.
My house, on the other hand, is not grateful for it.
I have the basics covered: kids are fed and relatively happy, meals are made on time and not ordered from a drive thru, the laundry basics are done (though Mt. Washmore is looking more and more like a pimple compared to the current pile I need to address), and the kitchens remains under control (a shock to all of us, believe me).
What is funny to me about me is that I tend to gear straight towards a solution when a problem arises. My son's autism diagnosis was met with me parked in front of the computer, tearing through information and anecdotes, chat rooms and doctors' listings, therapy forums and at-home options to exhaust myself in how to help my son.
When the husband and I fight (so blissfully rare!), I focus directly on resolving the issue.
When work for the husband's office needs doing, I immediately carve out time to do it.
When our budget needs adjusting, I cut out non-essentials without a second thought.
When the kids are angry, hurt, or fighting, we fix the problem right away.
But when my house needs to be cleaned, I magically think of a million other tedious non-issues that need my immediate attention:
"I'm sorry, I can't fold the mountain of laundry that has consumed our couch because I need to devise a grocery list!"
"I can't organize my eyesore of a sewing desk when the kids' books need to be shelved in a more pleasing manner! I can't, I tell you!"
"The kitchen is a post-apocalyptic scene of destruction and disarray? I'd better make cookies in the midst of it all!"
"The whole house screams to be purged and organized! I'd better hurry to Target and buy back-to-school supplies right away!"
Alas, today I will work to overcome those urges and create a space that will greatly minimize the stress that is slowly squeezing my brain into utter paralysis.
In the mean time:
I still have a TON of work to do for the mister's company. I'm still incredibly grateful for it.
My house, on the other hand, is not grateful for it.
I have the basics covered: kids are fed and relatively happy, meals are made on time and not ordered from a drive thru, the laundry basics are done (though Mt. Washmore is looking more and more like a pimple compared to the current pile I need to address), and the kitchens remains under control (a shock to all of us, believe me).
What is funny to me about me is that I tend to gear straight towards a solution when a problem arises. My son's autism diagnosis was met with me parked in front of the computer, tearing through information and anecdotes, chat rooms and doctors' listings, therapy forums and at-home options to exhaust myself in how to help my son.
When the husband and I fight (so blissfully rare!), I focus directly on resolving the issue.
When work for the husband's office needs doing, I immediately carve out time to do it.
When our budget needs adjusting, I cut out non-essentials without a second thought.
When the kids are angry, hurt, or fighting, we fix the problem right away.
But when my house needs to be cleaned, I magically think of a million other tedious non-issues that need my immediate attention:
"I'm sorry, I can't fold the mountain of laundry that has consumed our couch because I need to devise a grocery list!"
"I can't organize my eyesore of a sewing desk when the kids' books need to be shelved in a more pleasing manner! I can't, I tell you!"
"The kitchen is a post-apocalyptic scene of destruction and disarray? I'd better make cookies in the midst of it all!"
"The whole house screams to be purged and organized! I'd better hurry to Target and buy back-to-school supplies right away!"
Alas, today I will work to overcome those urges and create a space that will greatly minimize the stress that is slowly squeezing my brain into utter paralysis.
In the mean time:
Story of my life as a domestic engineer.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
C is for Cookie
As I mentioned a few entries back, a friend from grade school paid a visit with her family this past Saturday. I don't know why I seem to always do this, but I tried a new recipe just before their arrival. Contrary to what history would suggest, it was a complete success! And the gluten-free goodness of it all had me ready to pump out another batch ASAP.
Sadly, common sense won that battle and I have yet to make another straight-to-my-thighs batch.
Still, it's so very worth a share! And don't let the "vegan" label scare you. They're freakishly good. The coconut oil lends a hint of coconut flavor and the maple syrup gives them a wholesome and robust sweetness that sugar just can't match.
While it negates the "vegan-ness" of the recipe, serving these with a big scoop of vanilla or coffee ice cream makes for a rather glorious way to end the day!
DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT substitute carob chips. Carob chips are hideous. Whomever thought carob chips were a good idea must've spent their childhood snacking on burnt plastic popsicles and raw sewage milkshakes. Carob chips rob the world of true, pure, delicious joy. They are good for absolutely nothing. I wouldn't line a hamster cage with them.
The added bonus is having the kids help without so much as a raised eyebrow about them licking utensils and fingers after the fact.
Ok, I never raised an eyebrow about them licking raw cookie dough before, eggs and all. I'll add it to my list of things that made me a terrible mom when it comes time to reminisce about these days. :-)
Sadly, common sense won that battle and I have yet to make another straight-to-my-thighs batch.
Still, it's so very worth a share! And don't let the "vegan" label scare you. They're freakishly good. The coconut oil lends a hint of coconut flavor and the maple syrup gives them a wholesome and robust sweetness that sugar just can't match.
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
(a variation of a recipe from Elana at elanaspantry.com)
2 1/2 cups of blanched almond flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
(I used Enjoy Life brand because they're nut, dairy, and soy free)
1. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2. In a separate, smaller bowl, stir together wet ingredients.
3. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together.
4. Form 1 inch balls and press into a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Bake at 350 degree for 7-10 minutes.
While it negates the "vegan-ness" of the recipe, serving these with a big scoop of vanilla or coffee ice cream makes for a rather glorious way to end the day!
DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT substitute carob chips. Carob chips are hideous. Whomever thought carob chips were a good idea must've spent their childhood snacking on burnt plastic popsicles and raw sewage milkshakes. Carob chips rob the world of true, pure, delicious joy. They are good for absolutely nothing. I wouldn't line a hamster cage with them.
The added bonus is having the kids help without so much as a raised eyebrow about them licking utensils and fingers after the fact.
Ok, I never raised an eyebrow about them licking raw cookie dough before, eggs and all. I'll add it to my list of things that made me a terrible mom when it comes time to reminisce about these days. :-)
Monday, July 22, 2013
A "Meme Collection Reflection" on Health
I do not like to run. I do not like it, Sam-I-am.
But it's not like I don't work out ever. I like to lift when I'm feeling particularly guilty about last night's intake of gluten free cookies (which are awesome enough to feature as Tasty Tuesday's recipe tomorrow). I like to walk early in the mornings. I like to plank... sometimes...
Through all of this, I like to think I'm becoming more and more health conscious. I've torn through science journals and articles on the effects of the agricultural revolution on overall human health. I'm not anti-agricultural (hello, I'm trying to convert my entire front yard into an edible garden before next season), but I am worried about the widespread dependency on convenience foods and over-processing of otherwise healthy staples. I'm also trying to temper my zealous crusade on all things food-related with practicality and common sense to avoid the yo-yo trap, which has aided my aversion to working out in keeping me sidelined in FatAssville. Well, that, and the translation that is lost somewhere between my eyes and my stomach...
True story, folks!
Luckily for me, some healthy choices have been turned into healthy habits:
It's more like "I came crawling back sobbing after 2 minutes," but you get the idea.
"Top shelf" margs, no less!
And even that would be after careful consideration of the possible pain endured at the hands of what's chasing me vs. the pain and effort of running. Seriously.
Probably your best bet. And mine.
Truth, truth, and still more truth. Ask my fabulously fit, El Salvadoran sister-in-law.
Through all of this, I like to think I'm becoming more and more health conscious. I've torn through science journals and articles on the effects of the agricultural revolution on overall human health. I'm not anti-agricultural (hello, I'm trying to convert my entire front yard into an edible garden before next season), but I am worried about the widespread dependency on convenience foods and over-processing of otherwise healthy staples. I'm also trying to temper my zealous crusade on all things food-related with practicality and common sense to avoid the yo-yo trap, which has aided my aversion to working out in keeping me sidelined in FatAssville. Well, that, and the translation that is lost somewhere between my eyes and my stomach...
Luckily for me, some healthy choices have been turned into healthy habits:
And one more for my spectacular cache of offensive jokes!
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