I have the worst head cold! It's the kind where I can't breathe, my eyes feel like they are swollen shut, and my head is like a balloon ready to pop! I am so miserable. I suppose what makes it even more unbearable is the fact that I can not take a darn thing for it. Although, in my experience, taking meds doesn't seem to make much of a difference!
Last night, I was thinking that maybe, just maybe I'd make it through this one without the cough and sore throat, but this morning, low and behold, I can barely talk! This is miserable. Not that I want anyone to feel bad for me, but you all have had these kinds of colds before! Aren't they just the worst!
That's about all I can manage on this! Maybe next time I post it will be celebrating the fact that this cold is gone! But then, I suppose, it will have recycled back to the kids - a never ending cold :)
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
"Parenthood"
Have you all seen "Parenthood" with Steve Martin? There is a great analogy in there about a ferris wheel and a roller coaster. At one point, Mary Steenburgen says - "I happen to like the roller coaster." I agree.
It has been a long time since I have blogged and life has moved at such an amazingly fast yet slow pace. We have too much going on, not enough time to do any of it, and just enough time to drive each other nuts! Poor Jeff, and me too I suppose, but I am not the one trying to analyze a hormonal woman all the time, so I'll leave it at "Poor Jeff!"
We are both busy with school, Jeff's work, and I have commitments at church so between the three things, we see each other about 10 minutes a day! It's crazy. Remind me in the future not to over commit. I sometimes need to learn to say no!
Despite the busy life we lead, I am finding that I have really started to notice the little things the boys are doing that make me smile. I think that because there is so much rush, rush, rush, I am aware of the small moments and am trying to take them all in. Of course it could also be that I realize in 2-4 weeks our family dynamic is going to change, so I am savoring the little times with the boys as much as possible - I remember feeling like that when Alex was almost here - I spent lots of time just eating up Lucas!
So some high points with the kiddos, despite all of the craziness -
1) I was so emotional yesterday, feeling like a whale, huge, cranky, tired, and crying. My precious 3 year old came up to me, grabbed my face in his hands and said "You are so beautiful, mommy." Then I REALLY started to cry :) This guy is a charmer, and he just was what I needed at the time. Last night, I went into his room for a long time and just stared at him thanking God for the precious boy.
2) Alex has become our little clown. Anything he does makes me smile - he's always out for a laugh. A few days ago, he brought all of his cars to me and started driving them over my 35 week belly. I am sure the baby inside appreciated that! Well, if you have to be huge, you might as well be a mountain for you little child's imagination and adventures!
3) Alex wants to go to bed with a ball every night. I think some sports are in his future!
4) Lucas used blue crayon to "make tracks"for his trains all over our carpet - that had just been cleaned (and cost $230!!! But you know what, they are only little once, and if his imagination said he needed tracks, then I guess thats what we'll have!
5) Alex decided to help me clean today. I guess he thought the bathroom floor was dirty, because I came upstairs and all of the water that had been in the toilet, was all over the floor and sweet as he is, he was using a towel to clean!
I savor my little boys and realize how fleeting these precious moments are, so despite the craziness of our lives, I am so glad God is able to remind me to step back, take it all in and enjoy the ride.
It has been a long time since I have blogged and life has moved at such an amazingly fast yet slow pace. We have too much going on, not enough time to do any of it, and just enough time to drive each other nuts! Poor Jeff, and me too I suppose, but I am not the one trying to analyze a hormonal woman all the time, so I'll leave it at "Poor Jeff!"
We are both busy with school, Jeff's work, and I have commitments at church so between the three things, we see each other about 10 minutes a day! It's crazy. Remind me in the future not to over commit. I sometimes need to learn to say no!
Despite the busy life we lead, I am finding that I have really started to notice the little things the boys are doing that make me smile. I think that because there is so much rush, rush, rush, I am aware of the small moments and am trying to take them all in. Of course it could also be that I realize in 2-4 weeks our family dynamic is going to change, so I am savoring the little times with the boys as much as possible - I remember feeling like that when Alex was almost here - I spent lots of time just eating up Lucas!
So some high points with the kiddos, despite all of the craziness -
1) I was so emotional yesterday, feeling like a whale, huge, cranky, tired, and crying. My precious 3 year old came up to me, grabbed my face in his hands and said "You are so beautiful, mommy." Then I REALLY started to cry :) This guy is a charmer, and he just was what I needed at the time. Last night, I went into his room for a long time and just stared at him thanking God for the precious boy.
2) Alex has become our little clown. Anything he does makes me smile - he's always out for a laugh. A few days ago, he brought all of his cars to me and started driving them over my 35 week belly. I am sure the baby inside appreciated that! Well, if you have to be huge, you might as well be a mountain for you little child's imagination and adventures!
3) Alex wants to go to bed with a ball every night. I think some sports are in his future!
4) Lucas used blue crayon to "make tracks"for his trains all over our carpet - that had just been cleaned (and cost $230!!! But you know what, they are only little once, and if his imagination said he needed tracks, then I guess thats what we'll have!
5) Alex decided to help me clean today. I guess he thought the bathroom floor was dirty, because I came upstairs and all of the water that had been in the toilet, was all over the floor and sweet as he is, he was using a towel to clean!
I savor my little boys and realize how fleeting these precious moments are, so despite the craziness of our lives, I am so glad God is able to remind me to step back, take it all in and enjoy the ride.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Moving -
Last night, I was laying in bed, watching "House" when I noticed the baby starting to make a very slow, yet strong movement. I think she was turning over, and getting into a head down position. It was a strange sensation, in that I have felt her kick, punch and hiccup now for over 13 weeks, but this slow "roll" indicated to me that she's getting ready, positioning herself for her move into the world. I can't believe that in 8 - 9 weeks, we will have a new baby here. How the time has flown by.
The way and direction in which life moves us is very interesting to me. The fact that we really have no control or no knowledge of what is ahead is even more so. Tonight, I was over at my sister in law's. Her family is in the process of moving into their new home and we got to talking about how 3 years ago, they were going to stay in their present home for 10 years - but life changes, things happen, good and bad, and plans change. The direction and velocity of life moves us in directions we can not predict or be ready for. It was interesting tonight, because when they moved into that house 3 years ago, I first came over late in the evening, much like tonight, and it made me think that time is a cycle -
I have no way of knowing where our lives will move us in in the future - but I like to think (or at least hope) that I am always in a ready position.
The way and direction in which life moves us is very interesting to me. The fact that we really have no control or no knowledge of what is ahead is even more so. Tonight, I was over at my sister in law's. Her family is in the process of moving into their new home and we got to talking about how 3 years ago, they were going to stay in their present home for 10 years - but life changes, things happen, good and bad, and plans change. The direction and velocity of life moves us in directions we can not predict or be ready for. It was interesting tonight, because when they moved into that house 3 years ago, I first came over late in the evening, much like tonight, and it made me think that time is a cycle -
I have no way of knowing where our lives will move us in in the future - but I like to think (or at least hope) that I am always in a ready position.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Preschool
Today was a big day for us. Lucas started preschool this morning. Wow! I managed not to cry, which in itself was quite a feat. We got there, he went into his class and started playing right away.
I have so many worries about him in school. I worry that he may not be old enough, that he'll be teased, that he'll have an accident. I worry that he won't be quiet enough, calm enough. He is so busy and talkative and those qualities that we love so much about him are exactly the ones that make teachers a little crazy. When we picked him up from school, I asked how his day went and one of his teachers said "he was busy."
This makes me nervous, because I was like that, my brothers were like that, my mom was... and all of us turned out fine. None of us have ADD , but in school society today, it's so easy to label a kid, medicate them, so that the school day goes better - I hope and pray that his teachers will see his busy-ness as a blessing and not as a hindrance. I know that it takes a lot to get him to sit down and listen, but I also know that he JUST turned 3 a month ago. I will be praying very hard that his teachers are willing to accept these qualities about him and work with him, rather than become frustrated by him.
Erin wrote on her blog that she respects primary teachers because they have to teach kindergarten kids how to "be" in school. I am glad she wrote that and I was able to read that today, because that means that part of a pre-k teacher's role is to teach students how to "be" in school too, so maybe, just maybe, Lucas will be fine...
Actually, I know he will - I am just his mommy, and that's what mommy's do - worry.
I have so many worries about him in school. I worry that he may not be old enough, that he'll be teased, that he'll have an accident. I worry that he won't be quiet enough, calm enough. He is so busy and talkative and those qualities that we love so much about him are exactly the ones that make teachers a little crazy. When we picked him up from school, I asked how his day went and one of his teachers said "he was busy."
This makes me nervous, because I was like that, my brothers were like that, my mom was... and all of us turned out fine. None of us have ADD , but in school society today, it's so easy to label a kid, medicate them, so that the school day goes better - I hope and pray that his teachers will see his busy-ness as a blessing and not as a hindrance. I know that it takes a lot to get him to sit down and listen, but I also know that he JUST turned 3 a month ago. I will be praying very hard that his teachers are willing to accept these qualities about him and work with him, rather than become frustrated by him.
Erin wrote on her blog that she respects primary teachers because they have to teach kindergarten kids how to "be" in school. I am glad she wrote that and I was able to read that today, because that means that part of a pre-k teacher's role is to teach students how to "be" in school too, so maybe, just maybe, Lucas will be fine...
Actually, I know he will - I am just his mommy, and that's what mommy's do - worry.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Life Change!
Hello! Well it has been a crazy, wonderful up and down week and a half. Here's the story -
The day before we left for DC, Jeff received a call from a headhunter, inquiring if he would be interested in a position the h.h. had available. Jeff told him at the time that yes, he was interested, but because we were leaving the next day, he couldn't really do anything until he got back, but he agreed to send the guy a resume. Fast forward two weeks - Jeff had an interview with the new bank. It went very, very well. Last week Monday, they called and made him an offer and he accepted. He resigned from Wells today.
This is really great news for us. The position, while it doesn't mean much of a pay increase, is only 7 minutes from home. Right now, he has an hour-long commute both ways - so he'll be much closer. He also will be doing something a little different, that meshes better with his personality type. He'll be able to structure his own hours to some extent, and be home about 15 hours more a week - we figured with his drive time and commitments related to Wells, he is away from home about 60 hours a week! So this has been great news! Now, all we can do is pray that when I am done with school, something - SOMETHING! - comes along for me.
The day before we left for DC, Jeff received a call from a headhunter, inquiring if he would be interested in a position the h.h. had available. Jeff told him at the time that yes, he was interested, but because we were leaving the next day, he couldn't really do anything until he got back, but he agreed to send the guy a resume. Fast forward two weeks - Jeff had an interview with the new bank. It went very, very well. Last week Monday, they called and made him an offer and he accepted. He resigned from Wells today.
This is really great news for us. The position, while it doesn't mean much of a pay increase, is only 7 minutes from home. Right now, he has an hour-long commute both ways - so he'll be much closer. He also will be doing something a little different, that meshes better with his personality type. He'll be able to structure his own hours to some extent, and be home about 15 hours more a week - we figured with his drive time and commitments related to Wells, he is away from home about 60 hours a week! So this has been great news! Now, all we can do is pray that when I am done with school, something - SOMETHING! - comes along for me.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
An ode to Fall!
Oh how I dislike the end of summer, for a reason very different from why most people don't like the end. Most people do not want summer to end. They dread August because it is the end of summer. I on the other hand, dislike the end of summer, because I can not wait for fall to start. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE fall! And waiting for September to finally get here is awful for me.
Aren't I strange? My whole life, I've always been a fall person, but have yet to clearly pin point a reason...there are too many! I love the colors, warm and homey! I love the scents - dusty, and burning, apples and cinnamon! I love that I can put away the shorts and hide behind jeans and sweaters again - funny but true! I love "back to school" - I am always reminded of a line from You've Got Mail - "I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils." I love a football game on a cool crisp night. I love to cozy up to the fireplace and hear it crackle. I love pumpkins and jack-o- lanterns, and scarecrows. I love that fall, in my mind, means slowing down, reconnecting with friends and family after a busy summer, and just taking it easy... summer always seems to be such a whirlwind. And, I love getting ready for the holiday festivities...Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas - all come to quickly with such anticipation.
There is no doubt in my mind that that the next few months will come quickly and fly by. My classes begin in two weeks. Lucas starts preschool in three. Back to the church schedule, music team, etc. in two weeks. And, before we know it, baby will be arriving. I had my 26 week appt. on Monday and the NP and I were talking about how fast fall babies seem to arrive. I still can't believe that baby will be here in less than 14 weeks!
While I look forward to this fall, I do rejoice that our family had a wonderful summer. We got our puppy, and spent a lot of time as a family, outside. We were able to spend time at the lake, swimming and enjoying boat and jet ski rides. Jeff and I got to take a vacation, we had a great family reunion with my Dad's side and just really enjoyed summer.
So here's to the dog days - we hope summer has been good for you and that we can look forward to seeing all of our friends and family as fall approaches.
Aren't I strange? My whole life, I've always been a fall person, but have yet to clearly pin point a reason...there are too many! I love the colors, warm and homey! I love the scents - dusty, and burning, apples and cinnamon! I love that I can put away the shorts and hide behind jeans and sweaters again - funny but true! I love "back to school" - I am always reminded of a line from You've Got Mail - "I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils." I love a football game on a cool crisp night. I love to cozy up to the fireplace and hear it crackle. I love pumpkins and jack-o- lanterns, and scarecrows. I love that fall, in my mind, means slowing down, reconnecting with friends and family after a busy summer, and just taking it easy... summer always seems to be such a whirlwind. And, I love getting ready for the holiday festivities...Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas - all come to quickly with such anticipation.
There is no doubt in my mind that that the next few months will come quickly and fly by. My classes begin in two weeks. Lucas starts preschool in three. Back to the church schedule, music team, etc. in two weeks. And, before we know it, baby will be arriving. I had my 26 week appt. on Monday and the NP and I were talking about how fast fall babies seem to arrive. I still can't believe that baby will be here in less than 14 weeks!
While I look forward to this fall, I do rejoice that our family had a wonderful summer. We got our puppy, and spent a lot of time as a family, outside. We were able to spend time at the lake, swimming and enjoying boat and jet ski rides. Jeff and I got to take a vacation, we had a great family reunion with my Dad's side and just really enjoyed summer.
So here's to the dog days - we hope summer has been good for you and that we can look forward to seeing all of our friends and family as fall approaches.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Three
Lucas at 6 months - February 2005
Today, another milestone in our house. It is Lucas' birthday, and our little guy is three. It's amazing to us how fast the years are going. He is such a wonderful little guy, with so much to say and so much he wants to do. He has a big year coming up - starting preschool and Sunday School, working on potty training, giving up the pacifier and becoming a big brother again!
It's so much fun to sit and listen to him talk and play. He is so creative and when he plays with his trains (which are his favorite!) he has stories and information about each train that is amazing. He is growing so fast, but is still my little boy. He loves his independence, but savors cuddling at night as he drifts off to sleep. He wants to do things himself, but still is very aware that mommy and daddy will be there to help him. What a guy.
Of course, on his birthday, my thoughts go back to the day he was born. Unlike Alex, Lucas' labor was a horrible, scary experience. He was in such distress that at one point my Dr. was ready to take me back for an emergency C-section. I still remember the panic as I could hear his heart rate dropping (into the 40's ) during each contraction, and my mom, Jeff and the nurses trying desperately to keep me calm. But oh, the joy when he was born, when I finally, finally held my first baby - I never will forget how long we waited for him, and how close we came to losing him (a few times) during my pregnancy and labor. Though his immediate two weeks were tough, he is worth all of the pain and suffering of the losses, the long weeks of bed rest and prayers, and even the worst days of tantrums!
Lucas on July 4 - 2007 - almost three
These toddler days are swift and fleeting and it is with so much love and admiration for my Lucas that I savor these precious moments and celebrate his birthday.
Today, another milestone in our house. It is Lucas' birthday, and our little guy is three. It's amazing to us how fast the years are going. He is such a wonderful little guy, with so much to say and so much he wants to do. He has a big year coming up - starting preschool and Sunday School, working on potty training, giving up the pacifier and becoming a big brother again!
It's so much fun to sit and listen to him talk and play. He is so creative and when he plays with his trains (which are his favorite!) he has stories and information about each train that is amazing. He is growing so fast, but is still my little boy. He loves his independence, but savors cuddling at night as he drifts off to sleep. He wants to do things himself, but still is very aware that mommy and daddy will be there to help him. What a guy.
Of course, on his birthday, my thoughts go back to the day he was born. Unlike Alex, Lucas' labor was a horrible, scary experience. He was in such distress that at one point my Dr. was ready to take me back for an emergency C-section. I still remember the panic as I could hear his heart rate dropping (into the 40's ) during each contraction, and my mom, Jeff and the nurses trying desperately to keep me calm. But oh, the joy when he was born, when I finally, finally held my first baby - I never will forget how long we waited for him, and how close we came to losing him (a few times) during my pregnancy and labor. Though his immediate two weeks were tough, he is worth all of the pain and suffering of the losses, the long weeks of bed rest and prayers, and even the worst days of tantrums!
Lucas on July 4 - 2007 - almost three
These toddler days are swift and fleeting and it is with so much love and admiration for my Lucas that I savor these precious moments and celebrate his birthday.
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