Lucky Cracker

Happy New Year (A Little Late)

2011-02-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

So FINALLY I am back on here, but anyone who reads this knows by now it is usually few and far between. Baby is getting older so maybe I will be able to get on here more. It is hard to believe that Julia is will be 7 weeks already. I am now half way done with m maternity leave. She is a beautiful and sweet baby. I can't help but think that someone in heaven put in a special request. Up until I delivered I don't know why, but I was extremely nervous as to how I would handle being the mom of 4. I think just because this was a surprise for us it just threw me. I just didn't know how I would do it and have time for everyone. Right after she was born though all my worry went out the window. Holding that little baby in my arms I couldn't help but say to Paul, "How could anyone think this could be an accident." We have made our way and I think rather smoothly. George has really not been bothered about sharing his time and has been patient. Something I did not expect. Lydia had a rough start. She missed the long snuggly time before bed. Reading stories and playing, but now that Julia is older we are able to get back to that a bit. All the kids are eager to help when Julia is crying. George at times a little too eager, but he's a good boy. She just started smiling at 5 1/2 weeks and now is cooing right along. She is much more entertaining now and it amazes me how fast that happens. I believe she is going to wake up soon so I will go ahead and post this. Maybe next time she'll give me a little longer.

Things...

2010-11-09T16:43:00.000-08:00

So I have yet to make it a full week of work within in a months time. Since Mayme was sick with pneumonia, the following week was short due to MEA which I guess I made those two days, but then Lydia got hit with the 24 hour flu bug again, then the following she got pink eye and yesterday I was home sick. I wonder if we will ever get out of this.

I also find myself up late at night thinking about baby things and getting ready. I am trying to figure out if I want to try to move George into a bed now or wait until a few months after the baby. We have yet to get another infant seat since our other is out of date that we used for Lydia and George. I had a check up last week and have to preregister for the room and make out our birthing plan. So it turns out that this baby will actually be coming and that alone sometimes keeps me up. Baby is very active at night too so I have a reminder. : )

Monthly Update

2010-10-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

So the last month has just flown by and we've been keeping busy.

There were a couple of rough weeks at work where we had the ambulance called three days in a row for three different events and that caused everyone I think to be in a stressful mood. Plus building up to our big Freaky Friday where the parents come and spend the whole day with their kids going through their classes the whole day. Now that, that is out of the way and MEA is almost here I feel like I can breathe.

So here is an overview in no particular order:

Lydia was sick with a stomach bug a for a few days a couple of weeks ago, but made a quick recovery.

Mayme was sick starting a week and a half ago with a nasty cough and headache. Then that progressed into major joint pain and a fever. So we took her into the doctor on Monday and they thought possibly she could have Lyme's disease or Fifths disease. They did blood work for both. Mayme has never had blood drawn so she was quite concerned about that part and just thought it was a strange experience when all said and done. (Normally they don't test for fifth's since it's a viral bug, but with me being pregnant it can go to the baby). Both tests came back negative and Wednesday night she was still running a fever so we took her back Thursday where they did a chest x-ray (another new experience for her) and they found she had pneumonia. So now after four days on antibiotics I feel like I have my girl back. It was a struggle. It was hard to keep her home almost a full week before finding out she had pneumonia, but working in a school and knowing the expectations that if your child has a fever not to send them I knew there was a reason why, but still it was tempting to want to send her because I was afraid of all that she would miss. But we got three days of work and got it finished while she was home and she can work on the rest over MEA.

We had flooding back at the end of September and our basement got three inches of water in it and we had to throw a lot of stuff. Lost all of Mayme's kindergarten stuff, notebooks of drawings far back as I can remember, her baby book (which I am trying to save pieces of). All of Lydia's preschool stuff. Those were the tough things. Thank God most of the photo albums were salvaged. When my grandmother passed away I had the albums out looking for pictures to use at the funeral and I never put them back in the boxes and just left them on top of a dresser. Diaper boxes are so handy for packing, but plastic tubs is where we are going. At least to set the diaper boxes on. We threw I think almost 800 pounds of garbage. I was sad I had to throw all my records too. : ( We live on a hill and don't expect to get flooded, but for some reason our sump pump quit working. I had a doctor's appointment that day and on the way home we called the girls because they got out of school early due to the flooding in our area and I for some reason thought I should have them take a look so Mayme went down and she said "Well, my flip flops are floating. " So I have missed days due to kids being sick, flooding, and appointments. Trying to save as many days as I have to put towards maternity leave, but so far it's been off to a rough start.

In good news, Lydia lost another tooth on Monday. She was so excited and I think even more so because she lost it as school so she had the little treasure chest that they put it in. Also the girls got a bunk bed from their cousins and so the girls are loving that!

So that's kind of it. My doctor appointment went well and all is going good with baby. Can't believe I am at 28 weeks and have the feeling the last bit of time is going to fly by.

This week we have conferences and Mayme starts band. The idea of a quiet house is still out of a reach for awhile. : )

Week 2

2010-09-19T16:08:00.000-07:00

Well we started off the week fairly well. Still with the weather being nice it's hard to believe we are only at the beginning of the year and not closer to the end. By Wednesday both Mayme and Lydia were in tears coming off the bus. May was upset because all the girls that are around May's age were sitting at the front of the bus my Lydia. Mayme just feels that Lydia is so popular and Lydia was afraid Mayme was going to hate her for whatever it was she did so that's why she was in tears. Mayme very much just likes her quiet time on the bus to look outside or read and I don't think she realizes how much more outgoing Lydia is. All I know is that Mayme doesn't want her to be that way. May also is not a big fan of "silly bands" and apparently all these girls were giving them to Lydia. When I asked if that made Mayme feel bad she said no and that she thinks they are stupid and just didn't think Lydia needed to have them. Thankfully the weekend came when it did. Mayme was crying again. Lydia came home with a big gecko connected to her backpack made out of beads that one of the girls had made for her. While Mayme on the other hand had asked this girl previously if she would make something for her. It's a tough position to be in to have to explain each side to the other. Neither one is upset truly at the other, but it's hard to be referee especially when I'm exhausted.

On a happier note Lydia lost her first tooth on Friday night. After a couple weeks of it wiggling she was looking the in the mirror playing with it and all of the sudden it came out. Her expression was priceless. On to week 3!

First Days

2010-09-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

Wow two posts in one day! Mayme started school on Tuesday and was all ready and knew the drill. She was a little nervous about what the year would bring, but I told her we all go through that. She was glad to know that none of the "mean" girls were in her class. I reminded her that a lot can happen over the summer and who knows what changes those people have gone through or what new people she will run across this year. She just has never really found a niche. I really don't know how much that bothers her, but I think for as much as she says it doesn't it kind of does. That's the hard thing about not being there to see what's going on. I ask her who she plays with at recess or who she sits by and she never really says a whole lot. I know what a sweet girl she is and wish that others would see that too. She has some really sweet kids in her grade too, but she just doesn't seem to want to be with them as much as the others that don't seem to care that much about her. For the last few years I have been concerned about her reading and kind of put it on the back burner because at conference time her teachers would say how good she was doing in it and grade wise as well. When she reads at home to me though she struggles and I wonder if she has some dyslexia. So now I have been trying to figure out what steps to take to get that looked at. I guess I should have gone with my gut instead of being worried about people thinking I was being a paranoid parent. She is really enjoying school so far and that is the best thing.

Lydia started school Thursday and for the last month she has been quite worried about school. I knew she would be until she could actually get going and see what her days would be like. She had a hard time falling asleep the night before because she was so excited. In the morning she was up and ready to go. I took pictures on the deck and then Paul and I walked down and waited with girls for the bus. I started to give Mayme the talk about looking out for Lydia for the billionth time and she stopped me and said "Mom, I'll take care of her". It's amazing to me that I was so worried about Lydia and poor Mayme when she was in kindergarten had to go off on the bus all alone and find her way with no help. Lydia was in good hands. The bus came and Lydia grabbed me and hugged me then went off with Mayme and got on the bus. I of course start crying once she starts for the bus and that was okay. My goal was going to be not to cry in front of her because I didn't want her to think I was sad. Because really I wasn't it was just that I was so nervous and excited for her. This little person going off on her own little adventure and I wouldn't be there with her to help her if she needed anything. But soon I looked up at the bus and there was her little face looking out at the window at us grinning from ear to ear and waving. I knew it would be okay. When she got home she had so much to tell me. They got to hear stories and went to music. Her favorite part was going into the gym at recess. She likes all her teachers. She said "My teacher is so nice! I can't remember her name, but she's so nice!" She was very excited that she was going to get to go back the next day.

So now we get to me. I don't know if I was ready to get back to work, but I was ready for a change. It was good to get out and about. I always remind myself at the beginning of the year that for as fast as it seems summer comes and goes so too will the school year. So it was very busy, but that was great. Made the days fly by and here it is Saturday already. It was strange to come home Thursday while George was napping and the girls gone at school. It was so quiet and I was waiting anxiously for the bus to arrive to see how all went. Very soon though after the girls got home all the kids were wrestling and screaming on the living room floor. So much for the quiet. : )

And for George he seems to be coping well. I do enjoy the excitement from him when I get home as he says "Mommy's home!" and runs over the hug me. Thursday when I went to get him after he woke up from his nap I asked him if he had a good day and he said yes. I asked him he went to get groceries with daddy and he said yes and then I was trying to tidy the room up a little and he just says out of the blue "I missed you." (tears) I have never heard him ever say anything about missing anybody or anything so it was a really sweet moment.

So all in all it's been a good first week. Hoping next week is even better.

August

2010-09-02T18:04:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me how I think it hasn't been that long since I've posted and then I see it's been over a month. The last month has been crazy with trying to get everything crammed in before heading back to school and work.

We got to go to the fair. It is the one thing we try to save up for because we enjoy it so much. It was a lot of fun because Mayme and Lydia could go on the rides together. Both girls are pretty brave with the rides they chose. Even if I wasn't pregnant I don't think I'd be going on them. Watching Lydia's expression was so much fun as she was going around on the tilt-a-whirl. Poor George didn't really like hanging out with me and having to be in the stroller watching everyone else go on rides so he was much happier when we got to go look at the animals. The kids each went on pony rides and George loved shouting yeehaw!

We surprised the kids by going to the Children's Museum. They had a blast. Mayme loved working in the kitchen pretending she was cooking up something, while George enjoyed driving the bus and delivering mail. Lydia liked shopping at the grocery store. I forgot how much there really is there for kids to do.

We got to meet Mayme and Lydia's teachers. It actually turns out that Mayme's teacher was someone I went to school with, and with Lydia having the same teachers as May did for kindergarten it made for a relaxing week before school started to know that they were in safe hands.

The girls each got in their dentist appointments. Lydia's bottom teeth have been bothering her and it turns out that she has two loose teeth on the bottom. One is almost out, but I am not brave enough to just yank it out of there. I told her she is going to have to wait for an apple to help her out. She is hoping it comes out on the gym floor at school.

I just tried to enjoy as much time with them ass possible and enjoy getting to get George out of his crib every morning. I will however not my George alarm in the morning shouting "Mom, Mommy, Mom!!!!!!"

Faster Then I Planned

2010-08-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

So everything that I thought would be happening down the road seems to happening faster than I was planning on. I just can't keep up. We had planned on putting Mayme in the downstairs bedroom as soon as the baby was born and put the baby in with Lydia. Well now that we have thought about it we've decided that George and Lydia will share a room. Mayme has been telling me she has been a little nervous about sleeping in her own room. (For as much as she wanted her own room I think she was quite happy to have had Lydia in the same room with her.) I told her we would keep our eyes open for some nice sheets she would like and I would buy them so she could have them in her new room to help ease her into the transition. We found some and now she is already sleeping downstairs. Up until now it's been a toy room and I was planning to move all the toys upstairs and move out boxes I have from my Grandma's house that are sitting in there, but I was thinking in a few more months. I did not think it would be so soon she would want to take on the room, so now I'm thinking about where to put everything and trying to get it done before school starts. Lydia is doing fairly well for not having a roomie for the time being. She likes rotating between her bed and May's old one. George is still sleeping in his crib in his room and we plan to keep him there for awhile if he so decides. Then we think he can use the other twin bed, that was Mayme's, when he moves into Lydia's room. Otherwise we would have to buy another mattress for the toddler bed so I think we will look for some kind of railing attachment and be good to go.

In potty news! All of last week George decided he was not going to where a diaper during the day. Once even he took it off at nap time. So this week we are going to go with pull ups that hopefully he will keep on at nap time and night time. I feel like it's too good to be true. It is going to ease the money situation so much by not having to buy two boxes of diapers. So apparently everyone is ahead of the game, but me.

The original title

2010-07-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

So when I started typing this one my original title was "Can it almost be August?" So much for that ... it's here!

July has seemed to have flown by. I can't believe it. Lydia finished up t-ball and the girls are done with swimming lessons.

All is going well. We just had an appointment last week for baby. They just listened to the heart and now I go back in August for the big one. They said to bring along a cd-r for the ultrasound which is really cool. I'm looking forward to that. Since this will most likely be the last pregnancy I'm trying to soak all of it in. (Now that I'm feeling better of course). Finally I am not so nauseous or tired. It has been nice to have the time off over this summer. We have been tossing around baby names, but nothing too much until we found out we are having. That will be nice so I know if I can should pack away George's boxes and dig out girl clothes or just keep his clothes handy.

George has been somewhat working on using his potty chair. He's made it a couple of times and we've had some accidents. I'm not pushing it too much. It would sure be nice to just get him in pull ups at night though and no diapers during the day. I've heard potty training is easier with boys. I guess we'll see. I think he's been teething because he has not been feeling well at all so today was finally the first day he was acting more like himself. So being cooped up inside for three day was enough and I told him I would take him to the playground tomorrow. He is very excited.

Lydia is working on reading. For a couple of weeks now when I've read to her she's wanted me to read the line and then she would repeat it. I finally got out the old Dick and Jane book and she's really flying through it. She gets really excited about it. It's always cool when they finally start reading to you.

So another month down and we will see where August takes us!

Blessings

2010-07-06T20:13:00.000-07:00

Back in April we decided to sell our Suburban( after surprisingly someone made us an offer), because it seemed like we kept putting money into it and always had something going wrong with it so we just figured the kids for now could cram into our Saturn. Little did we know that a month later we would find out that we were expecting baby number four so without being able to afford a car payment right now we decided that we would just have to drive two vehicles. Paul has his Ranger truck that he has been using. We had been praying about it and had faith that something would come along at the right time for us , but little did we know that it would be so fast. Last week my brother and sister-in-law said they were looking to buy a new van and made us an amazing offer for their 1998 Windstar. They said they saw how crammed we were and knew we would need something when baby arrived. Also that they had been blessed with many people that have helped them along the way and that they wanted to help us. We were brought to tears at their act of kindness for we really did need something that was reliable, could fit us all comfortably and was something we could afford. It's something we can never repay. We were blessed and also are blessed with such amazing family.

The cabin 2010

2010-06-28T21:17:00.000-07:00

We had a fabulous time last week up at my sister-in-laws, uncle's, cabin. The kids and I rode up with my mom and step dad on Tuesday and both brothers and families arrived the same day. It was 88 and humid by the time we arrived so the kids and myself were ready for the water. I got into my suit, but wasn't sure what George would think so I walked him over to the steps and the dock, neither of which he wanted to take him to the water. So I went back up and changed again thinking he wouldn't want to get into the water. My sister-in-law managed to convince him so in he went and he enjoyed it so I then got my suit back on and his as well where we got to play. The weather was really great for June. My one brother, Wednesday morning, decided to wait out a fast onset of rain in the lake. We were all waiting for him to get struck by lightning which thankfully did not happen. George did well maintaining his naps and sleeping at night although by the last morning he figured out how to crawl out of the pack n' play. When I heard the loud thump I saw him just sitting on the floor and he looked at me and said "Sorry, mama". So it was a good week with playing games and visiting with one another. I am very blessed as well to have a niece and nephew who loved playing with George and looked after him without me even having to ask. He enjoyed the attention. Lydia caught two fish which she was really excited about. It was different this year for May. She has always been so close with her oldest boy cousin, but this year she spent most of it with her oldest girl cousin. She wants to get together with her and get dressed up and go to a movie or shopping. That does not sound like my tom boy girl, but maybe somethings are changing. It was a fun time, but we were happy to be back at home in our own beds and to have George in his crib which he hasn't figured out how to crawl out of....yet.

2 Fast

2010-06-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

So tonight I had an experience with an all too fast two year old that I don't want to go through again! George was on the couch watching "Curious George" and I was in the kitchen starting to make some taco dip when I realized I had put too much ground up red pepper in so I went to the sink to try to scrape some of it out and when I turned around there was George grabbing the red pepper off the counter and as I went to grab it he dumped it all over his face. He immediately started screaming as he got a huge amount in his right eye. I scooped him up and put him in the sink and started pouring water into his eye trying to get out what I could which only made him scream an fight me more so I tried just getting a washcloth wet to cover his eye and he still was screaming. He couldn't even open his eye and I was freaking out wondering if trying to rinse it out was enough or if he was going to go blind. I started thinking what if he has an allergic reaction and I destroy his vision forever. I got him into the tub and continued to fight him to try and get his eye flushed out. Even though it was a matter of 5-10 minutes after it began he had exhausted himself out and couldn't keep his eyes open. Even as I tried to talk to him and help him he would still say "Thank you mama". We curled up in the bed because I figured at that point him just keeping his eye closed would help the most. He would periodically wake up a bits of pepper would come out of his eye. Finally after a nap his eye was red, but he at least could have it open. I was about ready to douse my eyes with the pepper I felt so bad. By bedtime he was happy and his eye was back to normal.

Make sure you all keep your spices away from the edge of the counter when little ones are around.

The difference between 5 years

2010-06-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

So what's the difference between the 10 year old and 5 year old. When I have my morning sickness the ten year old is sighing and shouting "Can you close the door when you throw up?" and the 5 year old is with me rubbing my back telling me it's okay. She also offered to be my nurse if I have the baby in the car.

What A Strange Moment

2010-01-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

So Mayme and I were on the way home the other day riding in the car listening to one of the pop radio stations. On came a song that I hadn't heard before, but sounded like it may inappropriate so I changed the station. Mayme started telling me that she liked that song and had heard it on the bus. I told her why I had changed the station. She said she didn't pay attention to the words anyway that she just like the beat and I had one of "those moments". I was the parent. I remember saying the same thing to my dad when I was growing up and all of the sudden found myself in his role. I had to try and think of what I should do and knowing what it was like to be in her spot as well. It was very, very strange. I did change it back.

The girl is so much like me it's not even funny, but in so many ways it is.

Yippee!!

2009-12-30T08:04:00.001-08:00

Yippee Skippy I am back to the blog and hopefully got awhile!

I Knew It Was A Matter Of Time

2009-03-05T19:30:00.000-08:00

So tonight I ran over to my mom's first of all because we haven't been there forever and secondly because I had some searching to do on the internet and her computer is way faster. So I go in the den to use the computer and Mayme and Grandpa D are in the living room watching Wheel of Fortune and Grandma is making supper. So I am half listening to May's conversation when out of nowhere I hear Mayme yell "Hey Grandma, why did you and Grandpa Gale get a divorce?" HAY CARAMBA! Talk about uncomfortable. I did not hear my mom's reply, but heard Mayme say something about that it's better if people talk things out. That's when I calmly asked "Mayme Elizabeth" to come and see me. Of course she just looks at me and says, "What?! I was just asking".

I talked to Mayme about this a long time ago in the hopes that questions like that could be avoided. It was just so random I about died.

Kids.

I Never Said I Was A Role Model

2009-02-21T09:54:00.000-08:00

So what a week of things to come. Mayme has become really interested in my life preMayme. What kind of things I did and such. I think it started when I was writing a letter to a friend and she was looking over my shoulder and there were some things from the past that I wanted to write about and tried to tell May that she probably shouldn't read what I was writing. When she asked why I told her because there were just something she didn't need to know about until she's older. She then says "But I want to know ALL your secrets". YIKES!

Then last night Leslie was up here and I walked out of the room and when I cam back in Leslie said Mayme was pretending she was smoking a cigar. I was like "what?!" and she said something to the effect about me pretending to smoke with pretzels or something. Which I am sure I did when I was kid. She then just looked at me and said "Some role model." DOUBLE YIKES! I'm getting lectured by my own child....talk about guilt. Some people (Leslie) found it hillarious. Oh the days before kids....you never think that one day your kids will start asking questions.

Onto another quick subject, this weekend I got to bring home a laptop from work so I could enter census information for work. It's so nice to have a computer that actually loads pages, doesn't freeze up and I can sign up on facebook. I really like it, but now on Monday I will have to return fun laptop and go back to the antinque.

What A Week

2009-02-16T17:39:00.000-08:00

Well it has been one busy week. Last week I had something going on everyday, Mayme had two more teeth removed, Lydia had her preschool screening, and George had his 9 month check up. Mayme did real well this time with her teeth. When we finished with her appointment we went and visited my Grandma in the hospital. She tripped on a sidewalk, fell and broke her nose. I was almost thrown back by seeing my sweet grandma all swollen and black and blue. Mayme did real well. She doesn't like to see anyone hurt, but she was a trooper and did real well. It helped that grandma shared a chocolate shake with her. : ) I think when she heard and saw my grandma moving around like normal she got over what she looked like. She stayed in the hospital a few days and then was in the nursing home and I think going home today. She was ready to get out of there before she even went in.

Work has slowed down at Paul's work place. There have been some layoffs so we just keep hoping he keeps his job. He's a really hard worker, but there are a lot of hard workers out there who are losing jobs simply because. He worked one night last week and then they had everyone take the week off so he at least had the PTO for it and we got to spend time together. We will see how this week goes.

Lydia did real well with her preschool screening. She needed 71 to pass and she had 83. During her speech portion they showed a picture of a girl walking up the stairs and a boy walking down the stairs. When the volunteer asked Lydia what was happening in the picture she replied that the Girl was on the stairs. But what is she doing on the stairs? Lydia said "She's walking up to meet her boyfriend." (YIKES!) Of course when asked what the boy was doing? He was going to meet his girlfriend. It was fun to run across people who know Mayme from school. One of the perks if you have a decent kid and they have a unique name. Oh Mayme, I know her! (or ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, Mayme if they are not so decent). Lydia will have Ms Diana who was Mayme's preschool teacher and we are so excited about that. They just chatted up a storm together and I know she will have a fun time.

George is doing good. The best part was that he didn't even get shots this time. He's almost 19 pounds and I forgot how tall. I am so excited for summer to play outside with all the kids and go swimming!!

Thursday night was my first time playing Bunco. A girl and my work place thought it would be fun to get a group from work and play once a month. We will be known at the Belles of Bunco. (The Elementary are the Babes of Bunco). It was a lot of fun and nice to get out of the workplace and spend time together.

I got to see 2 really good movies this weekend. Gran Torino and Slumdog Millionaire. Both just excellent.

Tomorrow it's back to the grindstone.

WARNING: Not for children almost 4 and under

2009-02-01T19:18:00.000-08:00

So yesterday afternoon we decided to get our groceries. We got all that we needed and went to check out. As the total came up, I opened my billfold, went to grab my debit card only to find it gone. Not just my debit card, but my savings account card, my gas card, my zoo card, my movie card, my library card, my health and dental insurance cards and several other cards. Imagine my surprise! Thank goodness Paul was along or I wouldn't have had any way to pay for the groceries. As Paul paid I started questioning the girls to which I came to find out that Lydia had been playing with them at home earlier in the day. Luckily the pocket my license was in was too tight so she wasn't able to get it out. So we spent three hours when we got home looking for the cards. Some how Lydia forgot where she put them. She would say she was playing with them, tried to put them back in, and when she couldn't, she got scared I would be upset and that's where she offered several scenarios as to what happened:

1) Toonces ate them
2) she put them in the garbage
3) she put them in the heater and they blew away
4) she took them outside and put them on the trees and the birds ate them
5) they flew away in the sky
6) mayme took them
7) they are at grace and ada's house
8) she buried them in the snow
9) she put them in her pillow
10)she put them in a plastic bag

We looked everywhere we could think of and where maybe a 3 year old would put them. Yes the garbage, piece by piece too. We even got out the flashlights and went out looking in the snow. So it's a mystery and I am sure it's going to be in the goofiest place. For now I am claiming them lost and getting new cards.

Teething Blues

2009-01-27T18:17:00.000-08:00

So we have the teething blues at our house. Not just for George, but also for me. The poor guys is working on another tooth I think. He has been drooling like crazy and now continues to bite while I'm nursing. It's a viscious cycle because he's looking for comfort, then he bites, then I scream, then he cries and then it starts all over. Tonight the thing that was hard was that I didn't know if Paul had given him tylenol otherwise I would have given him some before bed. With the girls it only took about one time of me yelping for them to stop biting, but I know for him he's not trying to do it, it's just for relief and what can one do, but get out the teething ring, give the tylenol and hope that it comes soon.

All went well with May's teeth extraction today. They put on a movie, gave her some nitrous oxide and she was done in half an hour. I can see why the teeth had to come out. The roots never dissolved so she had the tooth along with the root pulled out. I guess Paul's teeth were that way also. She was a trooper though. I think she was still a little goofy after we left because she was saying some strange things. He lip was still numb so she thought that was interesting. Then we were waiting in line behind a lady at the self check out line at Wal-Mart when she says REALLY loud. "What is that lady doing?!" I was like "What? Who?" She then says again quite loud. "That lady in front of us!" I about died. Mayme just does not do that. I just looked at her and she says "What? I wasn't pointing". Then walking out to the car she was saying "Look at all this trash, trash all over, it's just trashy. It's trashy!" She also forgot she had done her homework earlier this evening as well. I think it's safe now, but just was strange.

Updates

2009-01-26T16:40:00.000-08:00

Well I spent close to 30 minutes writing on the blog only to find out that my computer fell asleep from being inactive and everything I typed was lost. Very strange considering most of the time I copy what I wrote in case that happens. Well the kids have all been sick. Thankfully not all at the same time. Mayme started with a cold and cough. Then Lydia caught it. Mayme then came down with an outer ear infection. I had a rough few nights that felt like musical beds and little sleep. The girls would come in at separate times throughout the night wanting to crawl in with me because they weren't feeling well. Now George has the cold and cough. He has been actually pretty happy for not being able to breathe through his nose. He doesn't like me coming after him with a keelex. He got his first tooth last Thursday. Just a day past turning 8 1/2 months. It seems like it took him forever to get it. He is busy clapping, waving, standing, walking around the furniture and enjoys pulling all the books off his bookshelf then moving on to the toybox and pulling out all the toys. He helps with laundry too. : ) After two kids I have actually remembered I cannot not set anything to drink on the coffee table unsupervised.
Lydia has her preschool screening here in a couple of weeks. She seems to be excited about it once again. I brought out Mayme's scrapbook that had some of the stuff they did in preschool so Lydia could get an idea of what they will do. She is so silly. The other night Paul was leaving to go to work and he gave me a kiss and I hear Lydia across the room say "Oh look Mayme they're married!!". To think if getting married was just with a kiss. I remember Mayme thinking that too.
Mayme is having two teeth pulled tomorrow. She is a little nervous about it, but after talking about the tooth fairy coming she seemed a little more relaxed. In a couple of weeks she will have two more pulled as well. I believe we are beginning our expensive dental procedures adventure. Lydia was asking about the tooth fairy, what she looks like-how she gets in. Mayme said that the tooth fairy has two other fairies that carry the bags. When Paul asked what was in the bags she replied that one needs to carry the money while the other carries the teeth. Makes sense to me. Mayme is also going to be a flower girl in a wedding in May. Paul's cousin in Oklahoma is getting married. We were planning on attending anyway, but this kind of adds to the excitment. We are excited to go because Paul's family on his dad's side will all be there. (The Kansas/Colorado relatives) So we will get to see his grandma and his great-grandma, aunt and uncle as well as lots of family we never have met.
Over the weekend Paul and I went with some friends up to the IMAX theatre and saw The Dark Knight and on Saturday I went with a friend to play BINGO! I did not win anything, but she won $100! I did not realize it could be so much fun and intense. I'm addicted!

Hope everyone has a good week!!

Goodnight Sweet George Prince

2009-01-14T20:28:00.000-08:00

So the other night Lydia walked over to George and gave him a kiss saying. "Goonight Sweet George Prince". I think I should write a book just so I can use that title. It's cute.

So what a week in Minnesota. We've used two snow days thus far and January is not being very kind. We got out early Monday, started late Tuesday and they've already canceled school for tomorrow due to the expected -50 windchill. Snow days are usualy a welcomed thing, except if we don't go in to work we are required to make it up or go without pay. One day doesn't take to long to make up, but then when you add on another one, and a late start and another closing. Then they start getting to be less enjoyable. At least it's always nice to know eventually we will thaw out and it sounds like 30's next week. I can't imagine the heatwave. : ) I do that last night I woke up though and just thanked God for a good heater.

The kids have been battling colds and I kept May home today so it's nice she will have another day to rest up. I better get some sleep because even though I am off from work tomorrow....I'm really not off from work with the kids.

What A Day!

2009-01-09T21:29:00.000-08:00

So yesterday when I arrived home from work I thought the house smelled really bad. My mother-in-law sometimes cooks some cooky stuff so I thought maybe that was what it was or else George had horrendous diapers. I was not sure. When I went upstairs later in the evening to my room I was overpowered by this smell again. I realized there was a diaper in our garbage can from who knows when, since we don't use it very often. So I set the garbage outside the room because it was so strong. Later in the evening I just felt sick and just not right. I thought I was coming down with a stomach flu. So this morning I got up, emptied all the garbage cans and put the garbage out. I came back in the house and still could smell "something". I grabbed my cup of coffee to warm it up in the microwave and smelled the odor really strong there. I leaned over the stove to see if anything had spilled and my eyes drifted down to the knobs and I saw that one of them was turned on. Then I knew really fast what the smell was. I called Paul to make sure it was okay to turn it off and got the windows open and fans going. I checked on the kids to make sure they were all right. We figured what happened was that yesterday morning my mother-in-law made breakfast for Lydia and some how she turned it off enough that the flame went out, but then had it was set halfway where the gas was leaking out. So we figured about 22 hours it had been like that. I went to work feeling nauseous going to work and actually ended up leaving work early because of that as well. I contacted my doctor who connected me to poison control. They said we did everything right that we could and to just go home and rest and the side effects should wear off. The kids are doing great. Paul and I think maybe it him me since our room is closest to the kitchen. I don't know, but looking back at the things that could have happened it was quite scary.

So tonight I just hug everyone a little bit more.

I'm Not Going To Promise

2009-01-08T19:02:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR! What I'm not going to promise is that I will write any more frequent in 2009, but I sure do hope too. We surrived the holidays quite nicely. Having a 2 week break gave me such a nice glimpse of summer. We had wonderful gatherings with family. Lydia and I went to church with my Grandma Christmas Day and I was so glad we did. My Grandma's church is the same church I went to growing up and it used to be packed, but my grandma has said the numbers have been declining. It's an old, rural church. There may have been 40 of us all together, but Lydia was the only kid so she got to go up for the kids sermon and open a present that had a cross in it. She then got to hang it on the Christmas tree they had in the church. I was so proud of her. Plus I was relieved....those kid sermons make me nervous because you never know what they will say. Especially Lydia. : ) It's was very strange because I remember the church being so huge when I was little. So now as an adult to sit in there and see how small it really is, is really interesting.

George is 8 months as of yesterday and has just had one busy month. He is now sitting alone, crawling, pulling himself up on everything, clapping, waving, grabbing the cat, trying to eat everything off the floor, and attacking my laundry basket and throwing everything out of it. I thought he teeth were FINALLY coming, but nothing yet.

So Mayme and I are back to work. She got to start roller skating in phy ed today. So again we have the "please don't break anything" talk. She at least asked if she could bring her helmet so that was good.

Lydia had a couple of rough days/nights while getting used to us being gone again, but seems better now. At supper now she likes to pretend that Paul and I are Queen and King Daddy while they are the princesses and then Prince George. She is very dramatic and our jokester which is either going to draw a lot of people towards her or get her in HUGE amounts of trouble. We shall have to wait and see.

I WISH ALL OF YOU A WONDERFUL 2009! (Don't give up on my blog)

You Can Do It!

2008-10-30T21:55:00.000-07:00

So I have a few days off of work since my mother-in-law is in Medjugorje. Today was so exciting. George woke up as his happy little self and when I put him on the floor I was amazed to see him get up on his knees and his elbows and instead of crawling he hopped. Like he would move his arms forward and bounce off the floor from his knees and move forward. It was the coolest thing ever! Of course me being amazed, praised the child, then moved the toys as far away as I could to make him go for them and do it again. I was just so thankful to be home to see that. Today we met up with my grandma and a friend for lunch. Now that George eats solids and drinks juice it's a lot easier to be out and about. Of course only for so long, but he and Lydia did real well. We are getting ready for Hallow's Eve. I will have a ninja, a barbie princess and a horse. You most likely can guess who will be who.

I better get some sleep. A month ago I joked with the kids that they could wrap me in toilet paper for Halloween. They haven't forgotten that and I don't think they got that it was joke.....so who knows...they may have a mummy mommy!

If Only We Could All Be Princesses

2008-10-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

So the other day Lydia and I were looking at a picture of a mother and her baby. Lydia says, "Mom, I wanna have a baby." To which I say, "Someday you will get married and have babies." "Um, no.....I wanna be a princess." I wished her good luck with that. It would be fun though if we could all be princesses. We love the show "Jane and the Dragon" so I am thinking Mayme would be a knight in training like Jane. I wouldn't mind living in a castle either.

It's Goes Too Fast

2008-10-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

So MEA wasn't much fun. Plus it always goes by fast. Myself and the kids were all sick with colds. In a way it was nice because I could rest as much as I needed yet at the same time I had plans to get things done around the house. Oh well. In a couple of weeks my mother-in-law is going on a trip so I will be taking off some days of work to watch the kids. Although I doubt I will get anything done then either. We did have some friends over on Friday night though which was fun. Lydia and Ralph just chat, chat, chat. Lydia usually comes downstairs once a night after I put her to sleep and says she has to ask me a question and then just rambles on because she's not ready for bed. Although Friday night she came down and I asked her what she needed and she says "um, I need to ask Ralph a question." They're pals. Lydia is so cute and I don't know where she learned these things. Like tonight she asked me to read her "The 12 Dancing Princesses". I told her it was too late and she says, but mom please, please, it's my absolute favorite! Or the other night she wanted to sleep with me and I told her no. Then she says, but mom you love me!! I told her that I do love her, but told her she still couldn't sleep with me. Then she says, but you got all that space over there!" She just says these things so cute. She still didn't get to sleep with me though.

Mayme told me this morning her top 3 things she wants to be when she grows up are a paleontologist, an artist and a scientist. Then she said that a scientist and paleontologist were close enough so she was adding a horse trainer to that as well. She is always questioning us and is quite the individual thinker, but never rude about it. I can definintely see a little scientist there. Plus she is really into wanting to build inventions and also started building a teepee out in the backyard. My mom got a new karaoke machine so she was kind enough to not only give us hers, but all her discs as well. YIPPEE! I can't wait to get some disney ones so the girls have a bit more fun with familiar songs. Tonight I sang "In My Daughter's Eyes" and Mayme was being all cozy and it sounded like I was crying (which she never fails to give me a hard time about) and I told her that my nose was drippy and that was all. Then I got to the last verse :

In my daughter's eyes, I can see the future.
A reflection of who I am,
And what will be.
And though she'll grow and some day, leave:
Maybe raise a family,
When I'm gone, I hope you'll see,
How happy she made me,
For I'll be there, in my daughter's eyes.

Which of course I always lose it when listening to that song so I start choking up and finish it up. Then Mayme actually complains that she is starting to tear up and then while trying not to cry she was kind of laughing and then burst in to all out tears and says "I don't like that song. Promise me you'll never sing it again". So of course I start crying even more. Lydia just looked at us and was like let's sing another one!

George is about 5 1/2 months now. He's good at getting around. In the last week he's gotten a hold of two magazines that were on the floor and a dryer sheet. So I am starting to REALLY be more aware of what I am leaving around. I can't believe it's Halloween already next week!

And ......GO!

2008-10-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

So seriously the last time I updated this was in August???!?!?!? And here George is almost 5 months old! That is crazy and I sincerely apologize. My computer is so slow that it takes forever to get to where I even need to get to blog. Tonight I am at my mom's house sitting and George for the moment is content on the floor so I will type as much as I can before he is in need of me.
As I said he will be 5 months old next week. The week before he turned for months he started rolling over and since then he rolls to get to where he wants to go. It is so much fun to set him down turn around and then find he is somewhere else. Thank goodness we have a small living room so he's pretty easy to find. He is big on getting on his knees and his toes, but hasn't quite gotten hang of using those arms. He seems content to just push his face in the floor for now. The girls are so good with him and are a HUGE help. Esepcially Mayme. She will pick him up and hold him if he's getting fussy if I'm not able to. He is a sweet little boy. I can't believe how much he is growing and how fast. We have tried some cereal and juice, but he didn't seem to excited about it so this next month we shall try again. This afternoon I laid down with him and I woke up to him hitting me in the face. He loves to grab my glasses and hair. He now sleeps in the crib for most of the night. He will sleep about 7 to 8 hours in there and then I bring him in bed with me. Some mornings he wakse up when I do, which can be hard when Paul is still at work, but we make it work. I try to pump in the morning before I leave for work, pump twice at work, and pump at night. So far I am able to keep up. Another reason that will be nice when he starts eating food...I won't be so worried that we might run out of milk.
Lydia is doing well with us being back at work and school. Enjoys her time with Grandma and George. I hear she is a big help. I know it was hard for the first couple of weeks for her to get used to not having Grandma one on one, but they still are finding time to share. George loves the outdoors and being in his stroller and tries to sit up as straight as he can. He loves to watch Lydia swing.
Mayme is enjoying 3rd grade. The firs week of school we spent one night doing 40 minutes of homework....I think it was getting into the swing of things. Things are going much more smoothly. She says that Science is here favorite subject besides (lunch, recess, and free time). I got to go on a field trip with her and the kids in here class are awesome and lots of fun. They would tell me how much they liked Mayme, or how nice she was and even that she and I look a like. She rides the bus home most days, but I try to pick her up once a week just for old times sake.
As for me. Work is going well. Very busy, but I think we are finally getting over the very busy part of it all. There is always something to do which makes the days go by fast. It's hard to believe that October is here. We have our Halloween costumes ready to go and have out the candy corn. Thoughts of Christmas are floating in and out of our minds. I have a feeling the rest of the year is going to fly by.
George is now calling for me so I will end here. Hope to write more soon.

We Survived!

2008-08-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

Well George turned 3 months today! My grandma has always said once you make it to three months everything seems a little bit easier. I agree.

Please Don't Ask Me

2008-08-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

So please don't ask me why one post of mine is one here 4 times! I blame this ancient computer. Things are going well. George is not sleeping through the night yet, but he is sleeping in the crib very well. Up until last night I could get him to sleep in the crib, but trying to get him back down later after he'd woken up was tricky. Last night though I was able to get him back down real easy with no fuss. It's funny how he can be such a happy baby, but at 7 almost exactly he starts crying and has had enough. So we go upstairs and rock and nurse and soon he's out. I never knew such freedom as I do now and I don't feel so tired. He seems much happier too. It's nice to just put him down and then have some alone time with the girls and tidy up a bit. Plus then I don't feel like I have to do all that while he takes a nap in the daytime. I can take a snooze too.
Yesterday I had an outting with some coworkers and it's the first time that daddy has had to watch him exclusively without me home. I took Lydia along and I just had to laugh because she just talks, talks, and talks. She was asking me if Mary has wings and I said "Mary doesn't have wings, but the angels do. " She replies by saying "Well God has wings". "He does?" i ask. She says "Yep he flies all over". All the way home she was just asking Why this....Why that. Everything I said would get turned around into another why. A future psychiatrist perhaps? : ) I just couldn't stop laughing because it was like "Enough already!" She is wonderful. I love this age. She will walk around. "Mom?" "Yes Lydia?" "I love you". "I love you too" Repeat about 8 million times. Mayme used to do that too. There is nothing more neat I think then having someone say I love you...just to say it.

Tonight Might Not Be The Night

2008-08-01T12:12:00.002-07:00

So I was hoping tonight would be a great night for George and the crib. He woke up about 10:30 and I nursed him and he went back to sleep. About 5 minutes later he was back up. I got him back to sleep and he woke up around 11 and has been crying since then. I've been going in every 15 minutes to reassure him, but I am getting tired. I probably could almost fall asleep and let him cry, but then would feel really guilty so I now will most likely go in and get him. Although he sounds like he's tiring. He's not crying as much, but who knows how long he can go. Thank goodness my girls can sleep through anything. I guess we'll try for tomorrow.

Tonight Might Not Be The Night

2008-08-01T12:12:00.001-07:00

Tonight Might Not Be The Night

2008-08-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

Tonight Is Not The Night

2008-07-31T22:16:00.000-07:00

Back In The Saddle Again...Hopefully longer this time

2008-07-31T19:26:00.000-07:00

So I feel like there are huge chunks of my life missing. Important chunks, but I hope you can all understand. We did have baby George Robert on May 7. Named after his great grandpas. After feeling like he was never going to come he FINALLY did. I thought the more babies you had the shorter labor was. Mine seems to keep getting longer. Maybe this should be the last one. We are so blessed. The last few months have taken a little readjusting, but I think it has been much easier this time around. I hadn't forgotten quite as much as I did between Mayme and Lydia. Mayme and Lydia couldn't help but beam about being the big, big sister and the big sister. It was hard the first few weeks with little sleep, then having to get up to get Mayme fed and off to school only to then have Lydia wake up and have to take care of her needs as well. Things were much easier when May finished school so at least poor mom and baby could sleep in some. Right from the bat though he was a good sleeper and woke on a regular schedule. I was amazed that sometimes he could fall back asleep without having to eat. The girls always were attached it seems. So here he is about a week away from being 3 months old. Up until this point he has been sharing the bed with us, but that last few nights I have been trying to get him to sleep in the crib. After several nights of me putting him down and him crying tonight he went to sleep no problem. Part of that I think is that I made his bedtime a little later? I guess when they are ready they are ready. Or tonight I just got lucky. haha! I just have to get my end of things settled. He woke up once early in the night last night and I nursed him back to sleep, but when he woke up at 12:30 I brought him into bed. It's so much easier that way, but I know not really conducive to trying to get him to sleep in there.
Lydia went through her regression and has come out being such a big girl. I really wish she could go to preschool this year. She is doing great at going potty. There have been times that I was horrifed because I forgot to have her put a pull up on for long trips, but she never had an accident. She and Mayme have really bonded. They spent the first part of summer sleeping in the guest bed. It's nice that they have eachother. Then it wore off a bit and they have their arguments, but that's to be expected. I'm sure they will only get more enjoyable as they get older. : ) Lydia is also being more gentle with George. We had more than one incident when I caught her trying to pick him up. SCARY!
We've had a good summer. Just busy enough. Mayme had basktetball camp which she discovered she does not like. Fine by me...I just wanted her to at least try it. She then went up to the cabin with my mom and stepdad. Instead of our usual August trip we had to do it in June and with George being so little I knew we wouldn't go, but my mom offered to take Mayme so she could play with the cousins. She had a blast and caught a million fish, swam a lot, and got a nasty sun burn. She also played Pee Wee baseball which she is so good at. Unfortunately their games were at 8 in the evening which didn't agree with George so I guess he cheered in his own way. I got to see her play half of the games so that was good. The girls just finished up their swimming lessons. Both passed and can go onto the next level. I was nervous about Lydia because she hasn't been with a group of kids she didn't know and a teacher to listen too, but she did great. I was so proud of her. She had her moments, but so did the other kids so it's nice to know it's an age thing.
So here it is, August, a few hours away, and I think about going back to work. I am ready too yet I'm not. That would be regardless whethe or not if I had a baby or not. I feel George will be fine. I've been pumping milk since we came home from the hospital because I wanted a good stockpile before going back. Our family doctor said we could start him on the rice cereal at 4 months so that will be just around the corner from when I go back to work. It makes me feel good to know that there is another source of food. I will try to pump at work although it's hard to think about. There really isn't a whole lot of places for me to do it and I get so terrified that someone will walk in on me, but I just have to do it once a day for the year. I did it for Lydia so I can do it this time around too. So now that I can get George in the crib I think I actually may have some time to myself to do this blogging thing!!! Let's hope so!

Oh Happy Day!

2008-05-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

Well I had my appointment yesterday and I am 3cm dilated and 70% effaced. I am just feeling really excited though trying not to get too excited. I go back on Monday if no baby by then, then we talk about an induction date. Where I work we can't take off an hour here or there so I had to take a half day of work which turned out to be really nice because I went and surprised Mayme at school and took her along with me. Since I had some time to kill we went out for lunch, went to the appointment, and did some shopping for daddy's birthday. It was such a nice day and I thought this might be the last time for awhile to just spend some time with her and I. We had such a nice time. I think she really like going to the restaurant and the waitress asking "How are you ladies today?" I did too. : )

Tomorrow is my last day of work so after feeling pretty guilty about it, I'm actually feeling okay about it. I made it this far and there aren't too many weeks left. We have been working with Lydia again on potty training and she has been doing great! I knew it wouldn't take long for her to get back into it, but I am impressed that if we do allow her to wear a pull up she will still go use the bathroom. We could never get Mayme to do that so we had her wearing undies all the time except at night. So Lydia is still wearing a diaper at night, but it is already saving us money.

So for now all is well. My cat seems to know something is going to happen. She rarely sleeps with me, but the last three nights has been sleeping right at the foot of the bed.

Where Do I Begin...

2008-04-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

So the last couple of weeks have been busy. Sorry I haven't posted. It seems by the time I get home from work, supper done, things cleaned, house picked up, homework done, reading done, and getting the kids to bed that I am ready for bed. A couple of weeks ago we celebrated my grandma's 90th birthday. She turned 90 back in February, but we decided to have an open house in April since the weather would be a bit more predictable. (or so we thought) The day before and of the party we went from rain, extreme winds, sleet, hail, to snow. It really turned out to be a fun time though. All of our family was there. We haven't all been together in one place since my cousin's wedding in 1999. It was also fun because a lot of my old neighbors were there so I got to catch up with them and some of my grandma's friends too that I haven't seen forever.

I had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday. I am dilated at 1 1/2 right now so not too much going on. Sunday I woke up with a really bad headache and was very nauseous. I slept most of the day which I've been doing a lot of on the weekends and by supper time I wasn't really hungry, but thought it would help if I ate. I started having some braxton hicks and Paul and I were keeping an eye on the time just in case. About an hour later I was nauseous again and started throwing up. All night and into the next day. I was so exhausted and I would crawl into bed and just about fall asleep and my tummy would wake me up. I just kept praying that the girls wouldn't get it, but if they did that it wouldn' t be that night. I was over it by Monday night and the kids never got it so thank goodness for that. Anyway, I go back to the doctor next Wednesday and we'll see what they say. Lydia is especially getting excited. Mayme is excited for it to be over due to the fact that she hates my big hard tummy now and is ready for the baby to come out. It will make hugging a lot more easier I agree. We are down to two names right now.....we think, but have decided we will wait until we meet him to decide. I don't know why it has seemed so much harder to come up with a boy name. I still have a long list of things to get ready...including packing a bag for the hospital. Hopefully things to get to this weekend. We are celebrating my husbands birthday this weekend even though his birthday isn't until the 3rd. That way if baby decides to come early we get to celebrate it.

I hope to hop back on here and write some more soon. Off to tuck the kids in.

I Never Thought I Would Miss This So Much!

2008-04-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

So I tried a new way to get into my blog and thought I would see if I would actually be able to post again. Apparently yes!!! I am so excited yet so upset since it's only been my whole pregnancy and I haven't been able to share it with you all. I just had an appointment yesterday. I am at 36 weeks and all looks good. We are excited and waiting. I sometimes don't know if I am more excited to meet the baby or be done with work. Isn't that horrible?? The girls are doing great!! Lydia is in a big girl bed and the transition was no issue at all. She was ready and I think her and Mayme both enjoy it. There first night together was the night before Easter and their conversation went something like this: "Lydia go to bed!" "Why Mayme?" "Lydia do you want the Easter Bunny to come to our house? Because if you don't go to sleep he will just hop on by. Do you want that?" "Mayme who brings the Easter candy? Santa or the Easter Bunny?" "The Easter Bunny of course. Now go to bed." silence "Mayme, I'm going to bed, but I'm not closing my eyes!" silence and sleep. I think I could have stayed up all night listening if they would have kept talking. Today when I got home from work I sat down on the couch and Lydia said she wanted to give the baby a kiss and kissed my belly. She has really been talking about the baby a lot. Mayme keeps asking every day too, how he is. I am going to keep this short tonight and cross my fingers that it will work again. Happy to be in touch with you all again!!

Testing, testing....again

2008-04-08T18:33:00.000-07:00

Does anyone even check this anymore? Probably not since it hasn't been working. I'm checking to see if I can get it going again.....Here we go!

Um, Excuse Me

2007-09-06T18:31:00.000-07:00

So we are on day three of school and Mayme is still loving it. Last night she was actually pretending to be a teacher. I remember doing that when I was a kid, but I have never seen her do that so it showed me things must be going well. As I've probably mentioned her and Ryan are not in the same class, but apparently their rooms switch for a class so Mayme told me she got to sit in Ryan's desk. When I asked how that happened she said there had been someone sitting there, but she just went over to them and said "Excuse me, this is where my boyfriend sits so can I sit here please?" Apparently it worked. Then she was telling me that she asked a boy on the bus if he liked her backpack and he said "who cares". She said she did nothing and I started to say that older kids tend to think it's cool....and she cut me off and said "Oh, he was just jealous". She cracks me up. When she is hurt she lets it show, but for the most part she is really good at letting things roll off her shoulders.

Onto other news for me. It turns out they are hiring for someone to take my place so I can have the title of secretary along side the main secretary. I knew I would be working in the office somewhat this school year, but had no idea it would turn into this, but I think I will like it. Plus I should be moved up on the pay scale so that would come in very handy too. So it is exciting.

Second Grade

2007-09-04T15:50:00.001-07:00

Well we all hit the sack early last night and were rested up for today. That doesn't mean I didn't cringe just a bit when the alarm went off. I was really surprised at how ready May was to get up and get ready. She hasn't been really sure about if she was ready to go back or not, but today you wouldn't have known. She was already and ready to go to the end of the driveway to wait for the bus all by herself. Paul waited until she got down there and then went and waited with her. I too had a good day and was very excited to hear how her day was. She said she had a great time. "School is so easy!" she said when I picked her up. Every road that we travel on seems to be under construction so it took me an extra half hour to get home. I was so tired and ready to get home. Lydia was so excited to see us both and came running over to the door to greet us. This evening she wanted to play with May's backpack, but instead I got May's backpack from kindergarten so she has been having fun running around talking about going to school and riding the bus. One day down. :)

Our Visitor

2007-08-25T18:38:00.000-07:00

Well we have had an opossum, bird, rabbit, frogs, toads, all in our window well at one time or another, but today we got visited by this little fella!

After many days of rain we got to go outside and run around. Lydia and I went inside while Mayme stayed out. Mayme came running in telling me there was a cat in the window well, but when I got down in the basement to get it out...it turns out it was a little kitty. At first when I saw it, it was meowing and shaking. When I opened the window it started hissing at me and trying to get out so I thought it was wild, but once I got a hold of it and held it close it immediately started purring. I had Mayme get Lydia and they both came down to the basement and we spent a lot of time just petting her. She was rubbing all around my neck and it took all the will power I had not only to reject the kids asking if we could keep it, but also to convince myself we didn't need another cat. After petting her we took her outside where I set out a bowl of food, but the kitty took off running. Lydia started crying and I told her that the baby had to go find it's mama so she couldn't stay. She seemed okay with that. So I guess we will stick to our two kitties.

Toonces went in for her annual shots last week. She is over 16 pounds. She has put on 2 pounds in the last year. Lovey is coming in at 11 so the cats are officially on a diet. No complaints yet.

A Good Day Besides The Rain

2007-08-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

Well another day of rain, but it doesn't seem to be affecting me to bad yet. Sounds like some dry weather might be around the corner. Today I took the girls to see my sister and my nephews. I had a blanket to return to her and a movie to return to my nephew that I've had since April. The bonus was the my other nephew just drove in from KC last night about 12:30 so I got to see him too. I haven't seen him for a little over two years. It was just fun to hang out and just laugh. Especially when we talk about pink bear. :) They just make me laugh so hard.

My sister had surgery back in May and found out she will have to have another surgery. She was in a car accident last year where someone was making a turn and she was driving by and they hit her from the side. So she has been having numbness and middle ear pain. She had cracked a vertebrae in her neck which was causing a nerve to be pinched. They took a cadaver bone and placed it in her neck with some screws, but it seems to be not working so not the will go in through the back of the neck, use some bone off of her hip and place it in her neck with two metal rods. We have had our ups and downs, but I wish she didn't have to go through all this. She has had a lot to deal with.

We left around 2 because Lydia needed a nap and was making sure everyone knew it. She did fall asleep in the car and was good the rest of the night. Potty training has gone good. She had one accident, but the other 4 time she made it. She actually used the potty chair and then while I was cleaning it she told me she had to go again so I just grabbed her and held her over the toilet and she went. I grabbed out the Dora potty seat we have that fits in the regular toilet seat, but she can sit on it and not have to worry about falling in and she went again before bed. She just blows me away. I think it's just because Mayme didn't have any interest in that until she was older so I guess I am not quite prepared for how well she is doing, but I don't mind it one bit. I called my husband and told him all about her night and told him that it doesn't take much to excite me.

Last Week

2007-08-22T15:28:00.000-07:00

I have such a horrible time of coming up with titles to this thing. Sorry I haven't written on here. It's been quite busy and my husband has been home so that makes a difference too. We went up north to the cabin and spent a couple of days with the family. It was more relaxing this year for some reason. Probably because Lydia is older so I could let her run around on her own for a little bit without constant supervision. She did manage to fall into the water off the dock, but cousin, Ben got her out. She was able to stand, but it did give quite the scare. Several times though she would walk out to where the water was up to her neck just to try to get to either Paul or I. We kept telling her she wasn't big enough to do that, but apparently she wanted to be. My brother, his family, my mom and stepdad could only stay one night, but we had a lot of fun and the next day we just played in the lake all day and then played cards at night with my other brother and his wife. No bats this year, but I did happen to use the bathroom and look down in the garbage can and saw a HUGE spider. I called out to my husband and asked him to kill it to which my brother and his wife started to give me a hard time about it, but then all of the sudden we heard my husband say, "WHOA! That really is a big spider!!" They laid off me since Paul acknowledged it was a big one. It just is fun to visit and the kids played and played. The best is when we say goodbye and the kids say, "Auntie Jess can we come to your house soon?" :) We got back Thursday evening and crashed.

Friday we took the girls to a county fair near by. My favorite part was that when we were walking through the animal barns this nice man said we could go in and pet the calves. The girls and I just crawled in and sat right down next to them. I could have stayed there all day. I was so excited because my husband was able to go and he could go on the rides with May, but even he got queasy after a couple of them. We went home, napped, and then woke up just in time to go to my mom's shed party. It was soooooo much fun!!!! We karaoked until midnight. I shouldn't say we. I did one, but everyone else around me were rock stars!!!! We stayed until 3 visiting. It was just a blast.

Saturday we slept in and got groceries. Sunday I went in and met a friend for breakfast. I had to since she had my wallet and my husbands cell phone. :) I wanted to also though. It's fun to get up in the morning and do that once in awhile. It had rained all day Saturday and through the evening. Even pulling up into the parking lot the water was probably 2 - 3 feet from touching the bottom of the bridge. I had parked on the end by the bridge. Leslie eventually told me to go move my car since I kept talking about what I would do if the water came up. I was able to enjoy my meal much better once I moved it.

Monday I called worked since they had left a message for me while I was on vacation. I went in and worked 4 and a half hours and then went in this morning for another two. I think it's settling in that summer is coming to a close, but I plan on enjoying the rest of what is left of it. Lydia has on occasion been using the potty chair. Monday night when I changed her diaper she said she wanted to try and then all of the sudden I hear her say "Mama, I did it!" and I was thinking she was just saying it, but no she actually did it. So Mayme and I made up a potty dance for her.

Potty Dance
Potty Dance
Lydia went potty on the potty chair!

Last night she made it twice on the chair and had one accident. I figured if she wants to do it we'll keep up on it. I am excited she wants to. In other news I am reading a book called "P.S. I Love You" by Cecelia Ahren. It is really good. I love it when I find a book that looks good and for an added bonus it's even enjoyable to read!

Literally!

2007-08-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

How do you pronouce literally? We have some storms going through the cities and the weatherman is determined to break a record for using that word although he keeps pronouncing it litrally. It's phenomenal.

Mark It On Your Calendar!

2007-08-13T18:56:00.000-07:00

The New Mr. Bean movie comes out on th 24th!! YIPPEE!

Dear Frankie

2007-08-11T22:08:00.000-07:00

I just received my first movie after restarting Netflix. The first movie I got was "Dear Frankie" and it is a beautiful movie. RENT IT! Or you can borrow it from me after I buy it. :) It was just really good.

Okay and yeah it had the guy from 300 in it so that didn't hurt things any either.

Oh, my girls!

2007-08-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

Well this morning Lydia woke up and was talking about the cabin and going through the list of everyone that was going to be there and then she said "baby". I said who's baby and then she ran around the house saying "mama have baby! mama have baby!" I took the girls over to my dad's and had to tell my dad that if Lydia said something about a baby not to get excited because there is no baby. Yikes! She hasn't been saying it anymore so I am hoping she has forgotten about it.

The other night Mayme and I watched "Phantom of the Opera" together and she is just a hoot. When she saw the Phantom and Christine kiss she turns to me and says " What?! Now they're married!" She always thinks that if two people kiss that makes them married. Then she went into this long thing about how husbands are real men and guys that aren't married are something else although she could never tell me exactly what that would be.

I'm A Barbie Girl and I Never Knew It

2007-08-10T16:32:00.000-07:00

I have always hated the Barbie Song, except for the German version, just because I thought that was funny, but today it came on the radio and Mayme and I both just started singing it out and moving around. I apparently must have listened to it enough to remember some of the lyrics, but it's pretty repetitive that it didn't take long to learn them anyway. Mayme apparently had heard it in her dance class. She just learned that Ken and Barbie were actually named after the children of the people who started the Mattel company. So she finally made the connection about this being Ken and Barbie.

I didn't do to much today. I went in and grabbed some groceries. It was so hot just walking from the car to the building. It's supposed to rain tomorrow and I pray so. When we got home I walked on the treadmill which was like torture. Walking on the treadmill to music I can do, but I don't have headphones so I just turn the stereo on, but the girls wanted to watch a movie. That will be the last time I try to do that. I just kept looking and looking at the clock.

Mayme got to go swimming tonight with our neighbor girl and she said she had a great time. Lydia and I had our own movie night. I have been going back on forth on whether or not if now is the right time for a baby. Just a lot of factors in both directions and I want to choose the right one, but I don't know what the right one is. I asked Lyida though if she'd like a baby brother or sister and she got so excited and said "yes, yes!" You'd be a good helper too, wouldn't you? I asked. She again said yes, yes and then took off running for the door. "C'mon mama let's go, let's go" I asked her where we were going. "Go have baby mama. Mama have baby." If only it were that simple.

Back To Life, Back To Reality

2007-08-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Man that song is old yet that's what popped into my head. Well it has been a rough week. Both Mayme and Lydia caught colds last week and that put them in some ultra crabby moods. There have been some fun things. Mayme got to sing with my mom at a local bar on Sunday so that was fun to watch. Fun to watch my mom sing. I haven't seen her perform since I was a kid. We headed up to the trailer for a few days, but unfortunately the air decided to quit working so we were cooking in a tin box for most of the time. Maybe that's what made us all a little crabby too. Mayme has been obsessed with 300. After I bought the movie and was talking about how much I loved it she asked if when she was 16 if she could watch it or when she was 20. I noticed her in the back seat on the way to river talking about her T-rex and that there were three hundred, but once the T-rex got them there were only 290. :) I gave her a historical account of what happened since she was so inquisitive. Paul had mentioned wanting to go to Greece. His grandfather was from Crete and he was thinking it would be nice to go. Sounds like fun someday when we have money...Only a 14 hour plane trip for a person who doesn't really enjoy the thought of flying. I would like to see parts of Greece, but also would love visiting Ireland, Scotland, London (some things never change) so dreams for the future I guess.

At the trailer I cooked up some frozen pizzas, but my mom doesn't have any hot pads down there so I was using a towel. Lydia came over while I took the pizza out and she was talking to me and saying something about a fire and all of the sudden I found myself looking around wondering why it smelled like something was on fire. I looked down to find the towel on fire. I dropped it and stomped it out, but geez I could have started myself on fire. Lydia kept talking about the fire the rest of the night.

When we got home there was a message on the answering machine from work and they wanted me to come in for a couple hours to help set up so out I went in. It was actually nice to be back. Back around adults.

Lastly, I actually missed my treadmill while we were gone.

Good

2007-08-04T07:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a really good day. I just felt really good. I tend to have a lot of days where I go through and just feel tired, old and just feel blah, but yesterday was a day I had no complaints and I love those days. I spent most of the day just cleaning and then about 6:30 I started to get ready because I was going out with a friend for dinner and a movie. I felt so good I even curled my hair and put make-up on. I usually wear make-up about twice a year. What made me feel best of all though was that when I was putting on make-up Mayme came in and asked, "Mom, why are you trying to make yourself more beautiful?" Best compliment ever.

I went into town and met my friend. We quick swung by Best Buy so I could buy the 300 soundtrack. :) We then went and had such a relaxing time visiting over supper and went to see the new Harry Potter movie at 10:30. I don't remember the last time I went to a movie that late and I forget how much fun it is. On the ride home I listened to my cd. It was a great way to end the night....or um, early morning.

300

2007-08-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

While the girls and I were away in Virginia my husband saw the movie "300" and loved it. It was released on dvd Tuesday and we watched it last night. I only wish I could have seen it in theatres. It was very brutal, but so very cool and there was a story to it. Normally I don't like in your face violence in movies, but in it was done in such a different way .. the movie was done more artistically. They could not have found anyone better than Gerard Butler to play King Leonidas. (He played the Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera" movie. ) Watching the behind the scenes footage. These guys had to train by flipping over a tractor tire, hopping in and out, run around the outside and then flip it again and repeat. They did a lot of hard training and it shows. : ) So that doesn't hurt the movie any either. I can't wait to watch it again.

One Upon A Time...

2007-07-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

We had such a busy week last week. Mayme started with her swimming lessons and successfully finished them. She will be ready to go on to level 2 next summer. There was so much going and it was so hot that I would drop her off and do errands while she was at lessons, but on Friday, Lydia and I stayed and watched her and I was so amazed and proud. She did such a great job. She indeed did look like a little mermaid.

Wednesday I took Mayme to the dentist and Lydia did very well while we were waiting. We would go back and forth looking at the fish and looking at the books. Every time we sat down by the books, Lydia would open one and start by saying "One Upon A Time". She has also started saying "Ladies and Gentlemen" when she's playing. I'm not sure where that came from. When Mayme was done with her appointment the dentist told me that it's time to make an appointment with an orthodontist. Mayme is finally getting her last molar in, but it is coming down with half of it coming down on the tooth next to it. Also her teeth that came in on the bottom came in behind her baby teeth and it is becoming crowded. So looks like we might need to remove some. We knew it was coming, but weren't expecting it so soon.

I am currently pushing my way through Harry Potter. I think it was my down fall that I didn't reread the 6th book to refresh my mind, but I was so eager to start this last one. I have been so paranoid about finding out happens before I got a chance to read it. I am now more than halfway and now the book is starting to pick up the pace and my mind is racing with the possibilities. I have been tired so that is why I haven't gotten through it very fast, but maybe it's partly because I don't want it to end too.

Some of funny Lydia things: She fell down the other day and said "Mama, I falled." It made me laugh because it made me think of "The Land Before Time". Also one day last week when we dropped of Mayme at swimming lessons "Proud Mary" came on the radio. Lydia kept asking "Where is it mama?" Where's Roddy?" The song is played at the end of "Flushed Away" and she was wondering where was the movie if she was hearing the song. When we got home I still had the song in my head so I started singing it while getting her out of the car. I sung "Took a big job in the city" to my surprise I hear Lydia say "working for the man." She makes me giggle.

More Random Activites

2007-07-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

Well sorry for the delay. I always have little things happen throughout the day, but I sit down to write and then I just don't feel like writing. Lydia has been growing up quite a bit lately or else maybe we are finally getting into a summer routine with each other. The other day out of the blue she came and asked me "Mama? Where's my toilet mama?" I tried potty training with her months ago, but it never did evolve so a couple of days ago I put it away thinking I would wait awhile. So now we have it out again. It is supposed to play music when it is used, but I haven't had any batteries in it. I thought since she was showing interest again I would try the batteries and see if the music made her more apt to give it a try, but it actually frightened her. "I don't like it Mama, don't like it" she said. So the batteries are out again. She sat on it once today, but not long enough for anything to happen and I just don't feel like letting her run around without a diaper on to try and see what happens....maybe I should though. We did have a milestone though. She has been deathly afraid of having her hair washed and last night was the first night we made it through with minimal tears and no screaming. I don't even wash it that much, but it gets to a point where it has to be done. She hates having her hair brushed also. Mayme-straight hair never cared. Lydia and curls...of course she is the one that hates it. But if I can keep her distracted long enough looking at my shirt or something it can be achieved.

Mayme is signed up for swimming lessons starting tomorrow. She seems to be pretty excited about it. She had her 1 month check up with her otorhinolaryngologist. I have loved saying that since we first had to see her doctor. After waiting half an hour to be seen we were in for about 2 minutes and out. He said everything looked good and that he would see her back in 6 months. She was so excited to tell him about all the things she can hear now. She says to me "I can even hear you and dad whispering mom".

Lydia has started to repeat a lot of what we say now. She was trying to talk to my husband yesterday and he kept telling he I don't understand what you are saying. So now she walks around saying "Do you understand mama?" On her time out today too she said "I understand mama." She seems to constantly ask why. I must say because a lot because now when I ask her why she says "Um, because...." but she never finishes it. It is cute. I think having Mayme gone a few nights made me realize that Lydia and I need time together too and not just the three of us all the time. She is a lot more cuddly with me and we are working to understand each other more. But she still throws herself down or screams like a good two year old.

Onto out of the blue things, my husband and I have discussed having more children and when I asked Mayme what she thought about having a baby brother or sister she said "yeah, i'd really like a little brother though". I said, a little sister would be great though too. "yeah, but I'd like a brother". I told her we wouldn't have a say in the matter. We know it would be hard to progress in that direction unless we get a different vehicle, but I think after about 6 months of deliberation we have decided on a Hyundai Sonata. We have to go look at one on the lot to see if it is as spacious as we hear, but it's about the largest thing we can afford. An SUV with the fuel alone would be tough and forget a Hybrid since those are quite out of our price range. So who knows what will transpire. Like I said....random activites.

It's Just A Little More Quiet

2007-07-17T19:59:00.001-07:00

Well tonight it's been just a little more quiet. Mayme is spending a couple of nights at her grandma's house and the house is so quiet. Lydia came with me today to take the cat to the vet for her yearly vaccinations and she was such a good girl. (The cat too) The kitty would meow and meow and Lydia would say "It's okay kitty, it's okay. You're doing a good job, good job." We got to the appt. on time, but unfortunately a surgery was taking longer than expected and so they had called in the other doctor so they asked if I could wait. It was fine since I didn't have anything else planned for the day, but it did take 45 minutes to have the cat looked at. Lydia and I occupied our time by talking to the cat and then I let her dig through my billfold and I was spinning change on the floor which she just giggled at. Who knew it was such a big hit. When we got home it was time to make my husband dinner before he had to leave for work and once he left Lydia and I made some cookies. I set her on the counter and she helped pour in ingredients. It was really fun. When May is home I usually let her do it all, but I sometimes forget that Lydia can help with these things too. So we ate some cookie dough while waiting for the cookies to bake. Then of course we had to have a cookie after it was baked too. Then we just kind of hung out together playing. I think it is good for Lydia and Mayme to have their time apart. I was so happy that Mayme gave me a call not too long ago. She told me all about her day. She sounds so grown up on the phone. Tomorrow I sign her up for swimming lessons and then I am going over to my dad's to attempt to clean. I have soooooo much stuff there it is not even funny. I have to go through it though. My grandma is going to come and just watch Lydia while I am upstairs. It is so funny how many times I've gone up and down the stairs in that house without thinking about it, but when you don't do it on a daily basis. Those stairs are kind of scary. No wonder I fell down them all the time as a kid.

Lydia requested to go to bed a half an hour earlier than her bed time so I have been just hanging out. I am in the process of rereading Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix. Since the husband is working 16 nights in the next 2 and half weeks I know I won't get there to see the movie so I thought at least I can refresh my memory. The books are always better than the movies, but I heard this movie was pretty good.

Lucky Number 7-7-7-7

2007-07-08T21:10:00.003-07:00

Well yesterday Miss May turned 7 on 7-07-07 also on the seventh day of the week. It was a really special day for a really special girl and I think everyone knew we had to celebrate. The last week or so May has been trying to figure out what we were getting her which of course I wasn't going to tell her. Friday night she helped me clean and get ready and before bed I told her about the night she was born. We had watched some older videos of her earlier in the evening and it's funny that I don't realize how much she changes. Even from her when she was 5 she is just so different and continuing to grow up....(against my wishes. ) No, she really is a wonderful girl and I am eager to see who she turns out to be, but.....not too eager. She is just so special and it seems everyone we've met has always said that too. That there is just something about her. You can tell I'm a proud mom. Saturday morning I woke up and May was up already visited with her dad. She told me that they were talking about what time of day we had all been born at and then said "I'm 7 already now!" It was sweet. The day was going to be a hot one. It reminded of me of the day she was born. We baked May's cake in the morning while it wasn't too hot yet and then went in to get last minute supplies, as well as lottery tickets. I had to hope I might get a little bit of luck. After spending 31 dollars on tickets we actually did get back 27 dollars. I didn't realize that lottery tickets we picked out were 5 dollars a piece, but I thought what the hey. I never buy them and with 42 chances I figured I better win something. I told May whatever we won we would split. Unless it was 77,777 then I would give her 100 dollars and she was really excited by that. It was cute. We had our party later in the day which was nice because we didn't feel so rushed. Our kitchen sink decided to give us issues so that was a pain while guests were arriving, but we got it to work thank goodness. The grandparents made it, my aunt, my best friend and her sister (my other best friend) who was home from Virginia. I was so excited that they were here for the party. They are really good aunties to my girls. My brother, his wife and family came too. Everything went really smooth and I think that's because we've done this enough now ... or something. (As I am typing this I am listening to the US Army Band playing Army Strong. The music that plays on the Army Strong ads in the movie theatres. Man those ads make me want to join the army. (No offense to Marines or the Navy!) or Air Force or Coast Guard. Did I get it all covered? Anyway I really like the music...that was a by the by) Anyway, May got really nice things and she just said she LOVED everything. She is a very blessed girl to have so many people that love her.

Today my husband and I got to see Transformers and that movie was AWESOME! I really liked it. It was just a great summer movie.

4th of July

2007-07-08T20:48:00.000-07:00

Well the last few days have been kind of busy. We kicked things really off with the Fourth of July. It was a steamy morning and so we knew it was going to be hot! We had to hike about 4 blocks once we got in my hometown for the parade, but luckily we were able to sit with a friend and her family otherwise it's a pain to try and figure out where to sit. So it was really nice to have some people set up and we could sit by them. It was just a lot of fun even though it was indeed hot. The parade didn't last that long, but May sure got a lot of candy. I couldn't believe it. It seems the last few parades we've gone too that each vehicle may throw out 1 or 2 pieces of candy, but they were throwing them out by the handful. The girls had a good time. After the parade we hiked back to the car and tried to drive to the other side which normally would take about a minute and a half, but it took us close to half an hour due to traffic. We stopped in at my grandma's because my aunt and uncle were down for the parade. It was nice to visit with them. I don't think I've seen them since their anniversary party last August. My dad was there too. It was funny because we were sitting outside and May was just talking up a storm with my aunt and my dad reached over and said "You can see the change in her already" referring to her hearing. It's true. She has just been talking nonstop and I think that is because she has the tubes in that now she can hear so she actually join in the conversation. It was pretty neat. We left close to 6 and came home. Lyd fell asleep right away in the car. When we got home I put her on the bed and both my husband and I caught a little nap as well. Lyd woke up at 8 which was great because we wanted to head back into town for fireworks. It's always special to go in for fireworks basically because it's tradition. I go to my best friends parents house and even through all her college years and moving in several different states over the last 11 years that has almost always been the guarantee when I am going to see her. It was special this time because she, her husband, and daughter left yesterday for New York. They are off on a new adventure and I am so happy for them although I am going to miss them dearly since they have been a mere three hours away. I have been blessed that I live near by the grandparents so I have been able to visit with her when she has come to visit. It's just a new chapter for them and I am excited for them. It was nice to visit with them before they headed out. She is pregnant and it hit me when we left that the next time I see them there will be one more. It was one of the best Fourth of July's ever.

Too Funny!

2007-07-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

Well I haven't been writing because there hasn't been much going on, but I have been keeping track of a few cute things the girls have been doing. We have been working on Lydia not yelling so much. The other morning she yelled "Get out!" at Mayme and when I reminded her not to yell, she looked at May and said "Get out.....please!" It's a work in progress. We went over to my dad's yesterday. As soon as we pulled in the driveway Lydia yells "Yeah, papa's house!" then quietly says. "I like him." Mayme got to ride the lawn mower. She came over to me with this sad look, gave a heavy sigh and said "Mom, I just wish I could ride the lawn mower again." When I told her that sometime she would be able to, 5 minutes later she was over at Grandpa repeating the same thing. Little actress that one. Grandpa let her mow and once again I had to chase her down from the barn bridge so he wouldn't go off the edge. sigh. While we were there Lydia had a glass of pop and she spilled. I just shook my head, sighed, and said "Oh, Lydia" and Lydia looks at me and says "Lydia Jane". Apparently she knows she gets called that if it's something serious.

Today a friend from high school came by for a visit. I haven't seen her for about 6 years although we've stayed in touch through e-mail. It was nice to catch up on her and her family. After that Lydia and I headed off into town for some birthday shopping. While Mayme has been recuperating we went to the Toys R Us website to look for birthday ideas. I was hoping that because we found things online that we would also find them in the store. Since the last time I was there they have remodeled and everything was easy to find. I found all the items within minutes. Lydia and looked around and she did well. I didn't know how she would do going into a toy store. While we were there we ran across a Woody and Jessie pull string doll set. May had said she wanted them as well. So I decided I would get them for both of them. After about 20 mintutes trying to get each doll out of the box I handed them to Lydia to play with on the ride home. All of the sudden I heard Lydia making kissing sounds. Apparently Woody and Jessie have a romance going on. At one point I asked "What are they doing back there? Playing?" Lydia replied "No, mama, holding hands!". Another romantic in the family it seems.

I Have To Be Fair

2007-06-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

If I have a picture of one I have to have a picture of the other right??

On The Mend

2007-06-26T20:57:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of Miss May recuperating. I am so excited at this point because for the longest time I have not been able to put photos on here, but I thought I would try it again since at the end of the year our computers were updated. Yeah it works!!

The Reason Why...

2007-06-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

So I realize now why I can't sleep at night. I came to this realization after a two hour nap this afternoon. I have been doing that lately since I am up throughout the night to give Mayme her medicine, but I can see how the nap might, just might, be part of the problem. I am tired of giving May her medicine at night because she is so out of it. It takes a good couple of minutes for her to if realize what is going on. Last night I told her she had to take her medicine and she kept rolling away from me. Finally she said all right and she rolled over like she was going to go off the bed and she picked up two dinosaurs off the floor and handed them to me. I then told her, again, that she needed to take her medicine and she rolled off the bed, got another dinosaur, went into the bathroom and sat down on the toilet lid. She then stood up and drank the medicine and went back to bed. She doesn't remember any of it. A couple of weeks ago it was really hot so I came down to sleep and by morning both the husband and Mayme were downstairs as well. Mayme came to me in the morning and asked her who brought her downstairs and it hadn't been either one of us. I find it fascinating yet scary at times that she can not remember that. I wonder if Lydia will be that way too. She already is talking in her sleep too. My husband said he heard her in the middle of the night saying "No, Mayme! MINE! MINE!" This early this morning Mayme woke me up and was crying. She had a nightmare about me being in jail. So I tucked her in and laid with her until she fell back asleep.

Today it was extremely HOT! I had to run over to my dad's so the girls came with. I asked Mayme if she would ever want to live there and she said "Yeah, but we'd have to paint it first." She said that someday she wants to live there and take care of cows. Yup, she's mine. :-)
We all took naps when we got home and then before we knew it the evening was here. It did rain, but nothing feels any cooler.

In other news, a friend of mine accidentally left her YAHTZEE hand held game here and she said I could hold on to it until we meet up again. I'm addicted. I've come within 11 points of breaking the highest score. Probably another reason for my lack of sleep.

Amazing!

2007-06-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

So I just woke up and can tell where my sense of humor is going to be. I stayed up late AGAIN last night watching The Nativity Story.

Anyway, I went to check my e-mail and for some reason I get a daily PEOPLE magazine e-mail that gives the big headline. I looked and it said "Paris walks out of jail". Okay....am I missing something?? was she supposed to be carried or go out on roller skates? Lots of people walk. Is it a huge deal at she walked? :)

One Week Down, One To Go

2007-06-25T20:33:00.000-07:00

So I am so ready for the next week to come and go. Then, I will really feel like my summer will have started. A lot of worrying about May and about making sure she gets her meds on time and making sure she is eating what she should. I will be so happy when two weeks are up and I can say "EAT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING!" "RUN AROUND LIKE CRAZY!" Today was a good day though. She was feeling good all day and said she felt like she had never been sick. Her appetite is back too which I was happy to see. I know she has been disappointed in her options of food at this point, but today I went grocery shopping and bought her a wide variety of macaroni and cheese. She was happy about it so I was satisfied.

We spent most of the morning outside. The girls for the most part can play real well and Mayme is very good about watching Lydia if I need to run in to switch laundry or get caught up on folding laundry. I love doing laundry (for the most part), but we put up a laundry line now so I am doing laundry all the time just because I love drying them on the line.

At lunchtime Mayme was asking me all kinds of questions about fun things I used to do when I was kid. So I was having fun telling her about the fact that for the longest time we didn't have a remote control and actually had to get up to change the channel and that we didn't have a microwave. I told her that we just played outside all the time and that I was such a mama's girl that I would get up at 3 in the morning with my mom and follow her down to the barn and then would sleep in the milk room while she milked the cows. That we would occasionally try to ride the calves and try to find where the new batches of kittens were. That we would go to the neighbors and play, go to the bookmobile that would come to the end of the gravel road and that we would go to the store for ice cream or grape pop at the end of that same road. It was fun that she was so interested. I keep waiting for her to pick up that Grandpa and Grandma G were married at one time. I tell her about how Grandpa farmed and then they weren't making so much money so he had to get a job off the farm and Grandma G then farmed during the day. I kept thinking she would ask about Grandpa D, but she didn't which I am thankful for. I am not sure how I would explain it, but I know she would probably not have a hard time comprehending it I just would hate for her to bring it up to them....I don't know.

Lydia and I have been spending some alone time. We had a late birthday celebration for my dad with my brother and his family yesterday. I left May at home with daddy so she could rest. Today Lydia and I went to get groceries together. She is such a helper. Unfortunately she missed her nap and by the time we got home she wasn't real excited about waiting for supper, but she did and afterwards she came up to me and asked "Mama, sleep?" I asked if she was tired and she said yes. So she went to bed early. I keep thinking I am going to bed early, but still find myself up at 1 or 2 in the morning. Maybe tonight will be the night.

Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed?

2007-06-22T11:03:00.001-07:00

Well since Tuesday it's been like musical beds. I have been sleeping with May in our spare bedroom at night and Lydia has been sleeping in her crib, but during the day my husband comes home and sleeps in our bed, while May moves to the couch, Lydia naps in the spare room and I found myself sleeping in May's bed in her room just to be alone. It is funny too think we don't have enough space. Or feel like there isn't. I have now navigated to the couch at night while May sleeps in the spare bed. I can only handle so many nights on it.

Lydia let me take 3-4 pictures of her today where she actually stood still and smile. I was so excited....maybe there is hope yet that we will have some pictures of her as a toddler. She seems to be mellowing out with each day plus the fact that she is taking naps helps. She is very quick to see my reaction if it is positive out negative. If it's negative she tends to say she is sorry right away or she says "Come 'er you" while going in for a hug. She knows it's completely adorable. She still is very possesive of me or anything. She will just randomly pick up a toy and ask "mine, mama?" or just say "mine!". I just try and be as patient as I can with her. She has for the last week at the table singing "That's Elmo's World". Just at eating time. I am not sure why.

First thing this morning she wanted to watch Toy Story. Mama, I love Woody she would say. I felt like a crabby mom today because for the first time Mayme was full of energy all day and she was being quite naughty. I walked into the toyroom to find her in there and she makes it soooo obvious when she does something she knows she shouldn't be doing. I should try to not point things out to her because eventually she will catch on to what not to do, but Lydia got a wand for her birthday and Mayme peeled of the glittery paper and broke it two. I then told her I didn't think she needed any presents since she doesn't take care of anything she has....to which she replied. Well, it's Lydia's toy not mine. I calmly walked out and about twenty minutes later she figured it out and apologized. I also just got tired of telling her to slow down and rest. I am glad she is feeling better though. It's been hard with my husband working and now he is finishing up his regular shift tonight, taking on the next 4 in OT and then will have his scheduled three to work. I am paranoid about taking May anywhere because I don't want her to get a cold or sick. So I feel a bit trapped, but tomorrow my friend Leslie is going to come and visit, and I think Sunday, Lydia and I will go over to my dad's to celebrate his birthday with my brother and his family. Plus it won't be forever! I am now going to get some rest. May gets her meds every four hours so I have to be up at 1. The couch calls to me!

What Day Is It??

2007-06-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Boy it seems like a whirlwind since I last wrote and her I am with only a few days left of June! School is over with and I was so happy to have it be the end. I just hope summer drags on for awhile. I am in no rush. I am really enjoying my time home with the girls.

I had a wedding I was in last weekend and it was really a beautiful wedding. Unfortunately it was a hot and humid day and the wedding was outside. I felt so bad for the guys in their tuxes because they were all just sweating. It was fun spending some time together beforehand with the girls, having a little wine and champagne while we all got our hair done and make up done. I don't feel like any of my friends have changed even though the numbers keep going up. Seeing the way the bride and groom were looking at each other, anyone could tell they were love. I was honored to be a part of it considering there were just about a total of 18 of us all together. After the ceremony and pictures we all followed each other to a couple of bars before the reception. At one of the bars a couple of guys bought all of us a shot. That was pretty neat. When we got the reception I met up with my husband, my oldest, and my dad. Mayme danced from the time the dance started to about 11 before tiring out. The only time she sat down was when they had the dollar dance. It was a really fun night, but man did my feet hurt by the end of it.

Sunday we made breakfast for my husband for Father's Day and then went to visit his mom. She lives in a townhouse and they have a pool. So we all went swimming and just relaxed. Monday morning we too my dad out for breakfast for his birthday. We came home for a bit and then decided to take the girls to see "Surfs Up" to kind of distract us all really and to let Mayme have her last McDonalds' meal for awhile. We called the hospital Monday night and they told us our report time was 11:30 which was surprised about because I thought she would be in earlier. I felt bad for her having to go so long without eating, but she didn't complain. My husband said in the morning May said she didn't know if she could go through with it or not. :( We got to the hospital on time, but she didn't get taken in until 1. Beforehand I got to hold had while talking with the nurse and we watched a video about what was going to happen and then then anesthesiologist came and talked with her explained he would put this mask over her mouth and nose and would be like magic and she would fall asleep like sleeping beauty, but that she would just wake up on her own sine he was fresh out of princes. He also reminded her that in that movie time stopped still for everyone, but in this case time would stand still for her, but not for mom and dad....that that time from her would go to us so it would feel like it would be extra long waiting for her. I felt really comfortable with the guy. He offered to walk her back or else give her a piggyback ride which she of course took him up on. I got to dress up in some scrubs and go back with her until the fell asleep. I felt just reassured and relaxed about it all. My husband and I quick went to grab lunch and brought it back and in about 35 minutes the surgeon called us and told us all went well and that they had taken her adenoids as well. We were told she was waking up and that in a little bit we would be brought back to be with her. We were brought back pretty soon as the nurse said she was getting restless and wanted us. I walked in to see her sitting up with two nurses helping to hold her up and her just crying and saying "I want my mommy". They let me hold her while she was coming out of the anesthesia. She woke up once while I was holding her saying she wanted me while I was trying to tell her I was right there. They took pictures of her tonsils and gave them to us to keep. I was trying to look at them while Mayme was coming out of things and she saw it and started crying saying she didn't like pictures and that it was disgusting. After about 4 hours we were able to leave. Mayme had watched a movie and had 4 freeze pops. We headed home and by the end of the night she was feeling pretty good. I have been sleeping with her downstairs in the spare bedroom. Her moods go up and down...it just goes by how she is feeling. This morning she was throwing up, but it was only a couple of times. She wanted to ride her bike and I am constantly reminding her she needs to take it easy. She also so badly wishes she could eat regular food. Last night she scolded me for eating pizza. Poor kid. Lydia has been doing pretty well staying away from her and being gentle. I also have been getting her down for naps so that helps with the moods. She is such a helper. Toy Story and Monsters Inc have been her favorite movies and I'm glad we hung onto some of our toys from that era. (Like it was that long ago). Right now Lydia is on a time out yelling at me, but I am just calmly and quietly typing and knowing that soon she will be going to be helps too.

So it took me a bit to figure out what day it is, but now hopefully the rest of the summer will go smoothly.

One More Week Down

2007-05-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

So I believe we are down to 14 to 15 days. Yippee!! I didn't do much over the weekend. Saturday I went out with a friend for lunch and got groceries. Sunday, Paul made breakfast for me, and then Mayme and I went with my mom to the flower place to get some flowers and bushes. I came home and planted while trying not to fly away. It has been so terribly windy and today out on the blacktop during recess the sand would just hit a persons legs and sting. The oldest group of kids I worked with when I started my job at the school are seniors this year and I got my first invite for a graduation. It's pretty neat to have that happen. Lydia is finally growing up a bit more I notice. Not so many tantrums or mood swings so that is making me feel very relieved. Mayme seems to be asking a lot of questions about her surgery so it must be weighing on her mind. Poor girl. Today went by really fast and it feels like the end is in reach....and also like it will never get here. Tomorrow is the last time this school year they will have pretzels for lunch. Nice and healthy pretzels with cheese. It is one of my favorite treats. I can't wait.

Whew!

2007-05-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

Well the days went by really fast this week. Oh, thank goodness. I just was monkeying around with my space. I started an account there last fall, but didn't check it very often, but I thought tonight I should and I am so glad. I found a friend I have been looking for since a year after we graduated. She sent me a message and I was just so happy to hear she is alive for one thing and that she is doing good. We plan to stay in touch now.

Mayme had her choir concert last night and it was really fun to see her so animated. At her Christmas concert she kind of just stood there and didn't really do the actions, but she was really having fun with it last night. I didn't like the fact that the music teacher just had music playing in the background on tape. I guess I prefer the piano playing, but it still was fun although hot in a high school gym with no a/c. I don't have big plans for the weekend. Lunch with a friend, grocery shopping, and housework. The hubby has to work his long week so the only night he has off is Saturday, but after tonight he will have worked three nights and Sunday he goes back and works three more in a row. So not much of break for Mother's Day, but at the same time it's not really Mother's Day if you aren't with the kids anyway. At school the kids made presents and May was so excited to give me hers. It was a picture taken at school with a frame around it that she decorated and it had magnets on the back so it is proudly placed on my refrigerator. I ordered magnets for all the mothers in my life. I went through zazzle which is where I ordered stamps with the girls' pictures on them and I really liked how they turned out so I thought I would try the magnets. I had one of each girl and then had typed on it "I love you Grandma!" and they turned out really nice. I will definently get some more for me.

18 Days!

2007-05-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

Well we are under the 20 day mark for work. This week has been going really fast which is a blessing considering last week seemed like it last forever. It amazes me at how many kids I have asked how many days are left and they don't know. That just seems like odd behavior. Yesterday I had my first real mommy freak out. I pick up May everyday after school and she meets me in the lunchroom. Her class is usually the last one to be excused so I am used to waiting for her. I waited and waited and waited and I actually had a teacher ask me where she was and I told her I was wondering the same thing. I walked to her classroom and her class was gone. My main concern was that maybe she had been put on the bus or of course you think maybe kidnapped (although that's way in the back of my head). Her teacher is on maternity leave right now and I was afraid maybe she was told to go on the bus. That would have not been the worst thing in the world, but it was thought of not knowing where she was that was startling me. I walked to the office to have the radio the bus to see if she was on there, but before I got to ask , Mayme and Ryan came running in and laughing and I just stopped her and said "Where have you been?!" Mayme looked me and smiled and said they had been playing. I said "It's not funny! I didn't know where you were!" then I proceeded to grab her hand and walk her out to the car. Mayme was crying and Ryan knew I meant business because he walked out quite quietly. I did not yell I just asked May to get into the car and then she could explain to me what happened. What happened was that her sub took the kids outside at the end of the day and then she decided to put everyone on the bus first and then let the others go. So I found out it was no ones fault which made me happy , but also I was glad that I heard here out before I started into her. I just was also relieved that I knew where she was. Tonight Lydia told me her first lie. I got her started on brushing her teeth and I left the water running while I ran upstairs to get her p.j.'s. When I came back down her hair was all wet and I went to take away her toothbrush and she started screaming "No, brush teeth, brush teeth!" and I said "You were not. How come you hair is all wet then" and without a pause she looks at me and said "I don't know". I so wish I would have had a video camera because it was so cute. Otherwise things are going good here. I think we have the house issues all figured out and we seem on track again. Tomorrow we have grandparents day at Mayme's school and her choir concert. I always loved grandparent's day and am excited all of May's grandparents will be there. May will be over before we know it!!

Well It Started Off Good

2007-05-04T17:56:00.000-07:00

The weekend was so wonderful and was fun! The weather was so nice and just having that taste of summer made it hard to go back to work. Saturday my friend and her daughter came over. I enjoy so much visiting with her and watching the girls play together. I thought it funny that Lydia all of the sudden become interested in toys she hadn't played with in months. But I like that the girls all know their names now and you can say "so and so is coming to play" and they know. I also learned that my friend and her husband are expecting a baby in November and I couldn't be more happy for them!! I spent the rest of the weekend cleaning the garage and the backyard. We have had a couple piles of misc. from working on the house just sitting in the back there. It was funny to have Paul help we were through cleaning it in about 10 minutes....so why we never did it before I don't know. We also went to my dad's and played baseball with a tennis ball and tennis racket and then also played a lot of frisbee. We have been very excited because we have been making plans to buy our house. I just wrote a whole lot of angry things so I am just going to spare you from it, but let's just say things were going good and now they aren't so good and I don't know what God is trying to tell us when it comes to buying this house. I won't even get started at work. I was almost in tears yesterday. So it's just been a tough week. Mayme and Lydia have been so good though. I showed Lydia a picture of a watch and asked her what it was and she called it a "daddy clock" since Paul wears one. Another good thing was that we celebrated Paul's birthday this week. We went out for dinner on Monday and ran across a friend of my nephew, Isaac. It is very awkward to have someone ask where you are from and you don't recognize the person. I was like...do I want to remember this person or not. Then when he said "You're Isaac's aunt".....that narrowed down people. He just reminded me I need to have a summer get together. We skipped a couple of years, but my nephew, Jake offered to make it a "real" party this year, but I prefer the more laid back style. I just have such a different group of friends. I have friends that are my age and my coworkers who are around 40, so I haven't been sure if merging the two would be fun, but I think so. I can't believe it's almost 9 on a Saturday morning and Mayme is still sleeping. Last night she started asking about where babies come from. I tried to turn the conversation, but we talked a little bit about it. Earlier this week Mayme missed the bus or I should say the bus missed her. She was late getting down there, but he didn't even stop. Just drove by so after school I said "So, I heard you missed the bus" and she replies "Yeah and dad was FREAKIN' mad." I was caught off guard so I said "What did you say?" "Dad was FREAKIN' mad" to which I replied "Yeah, let's not say that." "Oh, sorry mom. Dad was REALLY mad". She has decided she wants to marry Ryan again. She was so cute too because she asked me "What if I never get married....how would I have a baby?" She was very concerned she might not meet someone. Does this really start at 6? I think she is going to be like me in every way sometimes. I told her not to worry. She will find someone. Okay, I am done venting....I mean blogging for now. Looks like the weather is going to fit my mood this weekend. Dark and cloudy.

Do We Ever Grow Up?

2007-04-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

This has been one of the longest weeks of the whole school year I think. We are growing weary of the children and them of us, but not only us there are some issues going on amongst coworkers and it just made me wonder.....do we ever grow up? We have a couple of people who I work with that absolutely do not get along and they are to the point that they don't even care who knows and are complaining to anyone and everyone about what they hate about the other. Now so far I have been able to stay out of it, but I hear from everyone else what is being said. Well, yesterday was just a rough day in general. During testing I had some kids from special ed. and they just couldn't settle down and pay attention and then it was wet so trying to keep the kids out of the mud was a chore. I had one kid who just would not walk around the mud and got in my face about it and I lost it and gave him the what for. He did walk around and so did several others who knew I had reached my limit. I am normally very laid back and patient with the kids so they know if they've pushed me too far. Then I get back to my room and overhear two of my coworkers putting down another coworker, behind their back. This person they were making fun of, they have never liked and she actually was told she was being cut from her position so of course these ladies were happy about that. I just sat at my desk wishing I could say something, but not daring enough to do so and I just thought.....these were the girls I hated in high school.....and I am out of high school right?? How did they follow me into adulthood?? Then I stayed late to work and one of these ladies caught me and immediately started telling me all that she hated about the other one and what she couldn't stand and what she couldn't do right. I had had enough! I just walked away. I was so glad today was Friday. God must have known I had enough because today went very smooth.

Tonight was Mayme's last dance performance. I was a little sad, but I can see she isn't excited about dancing. She enjoys it, but it's not her thing. We found our spots to sit down in the gym and she was running around with the girls and then I hear this boy calling her name. It was one of her classmates. Then I see her run over to this other boy who is older. Maybe 3rd or 4th grade? I can't see what he looks like, but he has long shaggy hair and a plaid shirt. She goes over and visits and then runs off and does some cartwheels. Soon enough she is back over talking with him. Who is he? Paul thinks I'm crazy trying to see who it is, but also we see her little face light up talking to this boy and we know she will be a heart-breaker. So after her performance I asked her who she was talking to. She told me he was the penny boy. Now I have heard this name come up several times because she has seen him when she leaves school. I asked her once what his name was and she said "i don't know his name i just call him "penny boy" because he took a penny from me once", but it's a joke thing because they will talk and wave to each other. Anyway, am I nosy? Yep!

Where to begin

2007-04-20T20:10:00.001-07:00

I don't even know where to start it has been so long and so much has happened. I guess I will start with our trip to Virginia. First of all I must give a big thank you to the inventor of the portable dvd player. Without that I think I would have been left behind on the trip or Lydia. We tried to go as far as we could on the first day with out using it. That was 4 hours so not too bad, but after using it we wondered why we didn't just use it right away. We watched Curious George 2 times on the way to Virginia, a couple of times on the trips to destinations while we were there and 3 times on the way home. We had plenty of other movies that the girls watched too, but George was the favorite. Surprisingly we didn't get sick of it either. The first day we drove as far a Greenburg, Indiana. Lydia had a rough day, but it wasn't horrible, but she made it clear every time we stopped that she did not want to get back in. We were able to swim for awhile at the hotel, but Lydia decided she wanted to dive in with no help and mom was tired so I took her back to the room and fell asleep. Unfortunately she woke up around 1 and was saying she wanted to get down and have french fries. I tried to nurse her, but she couldn't calm down so I tried to get her to fall asleep without nursing and eventually around 3 I surrendered and let her nurse. I fell asleep and when I woke up in the morning I had Mayme sleeping by me and Lydia on the other side of Mayme with her head by our feet. Day two went much better traveling. Both days were depressing due to the rain, but we knew at least we would be at our destination by night fall. We arrived about 8 in the evening. 9 hours the first day and 12 hours the second day. Leslie drove the whole way. She told me she did want to be in my spot since I was constantly handing things back to the kids. When we got to Virginia Beach we went to Nicky's and went out to eat at a place called "Friendly's". It was a nice place, but the service was a bit slow so it was hard to keep Lydia happy when she has seriously had enough of the car. When we got back to Nicky's, Lydia was ready for the pack n play. I was so thankful. She slept through the night and so did I. On Monday we got together with Nicky's friend Gabbie and her 2 year old son Andrew. We drove over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel. All of my fears in one place. Water, heights, tunnels. The bridge is 23 miles and it goes over the water and there is no land to be seen. Then there are three tunnels you go through so the naval ships can cross over. It is a very strange feeling first of all to be on a bridge and see no land. Then to go in a tunnel knowing there is water above you is absurd. I did all right as we went along until traffic stopped because they were trying to get traffic through the tunnel. Once on the other side we went to a national park, had a picnic , and went to the beach. We figured it would be cold by the ocean, but it was so warm. We didn't bring swimsuits for the girls so we let May play in the water in her undies and Lydia in her diaper. It was nice to get sunburned. I could have stayed there all day. When we got back that night we just relaxed at Nicky's house. Tuesday we went to the USS Wisconsin to look around and Nauticus. It was hard not to think of my husband while we were there because I know how much he would have loved being there. Lydia decided to have a tantrum in the gift store and nearly knocked down an expensive piece of glass. That was not funny. That night we went to see "Meet the Robinsons" which I really enjoyed and the girls too. Lydia was quiet the whole time. Wednesday we went to Williamsburg and went to some stores. There was actually a Christmas store that it snowed in and a make your own animal store so Mayme made a unicorn. It was so much fun. Since this was our last night in town Nicky treated us to Chuck E Cheese. Mayme has never been there, but we had set it aside as a reward for the end of the school year, but to surprise her was great and if you asked her about Virginia she would probably tell you that was her favorite part. It was really fun to spend time with Leslie and Nicky. Day 1 on the way home went by really fast and day 2 did too until we got in Wisconsin and then it seemed like forever just because we knew it was so close. We left 75 degrees in VA and ended up home in the teens and blowing wind. Brrrrrr.....
So since the trip. Mayme has seen the doctor and will be having tubes put in and tonsils taken out this summer, Lydia has to see her surgeon on Tuesday to check her head since her soft spot is not closed, Lydia got sick with an ear infection and strep, but the amoxicillan didn't work so she is on zithromax and today Mayme got hit in the face with a football at recess and it knocked out her two front teeth. So between getting settled being back, work, and doctors appointments....oh and testing for the kids at work there has been hardly any time to write. I hope you understand.

Today Was A Good Day

2007-03-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

Today was a really good day. I love how great the kids at work make me feel. The other day I was talking to a group of girls and they all give me hugs everyday and say hi. They are 6th graders and I enjoy every bit I get to talk with them because usually when they become seventh graders they don't want to talk to you as much if at all. I was talking about my girls and one of the girls there asked "You have kids?" and I said yes and said I had two. she said "You don't look old enough to have kids." TOTALLY made my day since any fifth grader will guess I am in my 40's. I just remember being that way as a kid too. Everyone was just old. Today I walked into the library and the class in there all started shouting "Mrs. S..." and waving. The teacher was said "Wow it's like you are a celebrity." It just makes me feel great that they acknowledge me since as we deal with seventh and eigth graders they don't seem to want to acknowledge anyone. I am trying to learn more names of fifth graders and that seems to be going well. Today I guessed one kid and immediately everyone at the table said "What's my name?" So I told them to sit in the same spots and they'd have to quiz me tomorrow. Plus I love when I feel like I am getting through to someone. One the boys was giving another boy a hard time because he wanted to read the same book the other boy was. He was saying that he was copying him and when I got the boy alone I told him he should take it easy and realize that the boy wanting to read the same book as him is not copying and that in fact he should feel honored that this other kid looks up to because he wants to do the same things and that he should be a leader. I think he really heard me, but I guess I'll see how that worked tomorrow.
I right now am eagerly awaiting to hear if our basketball team made it to state!!! They are playing tonight and if they win they will play next Thursday and rumor is we won't have school. I already am taking a half day Friday to take Lydia for her 2 year appt. and get some birthday supplies and cleaning done before the birthday party. I looked at her tonight and I said you only have one more day of being one forever. :( She was such a good girl for me tonight, but I think she is getting sick. She had a low temp this evening so she was pretty mellow. Odd not to see her running around all over the place. Mayme had the book fair and so we had plenty to read tonight. I am such a sucker for books.

Tomorrow is Friday-yippee!

To Everything Turn, Turn, Turn

2007-03-14T17:33:00.000-07:00

So my first post back on here was going to be a bit different, but I think I needed to vent on the issues at hand. By the way WD-40 works well on cleaning up crayon.

So the last few days have really been about reflection. I guess when you get older and move away or on from things in the past you may not be thinking about them, but then all of the sudden something brings you back and you remember that you will never forget where you came from and the life you had as a child. The loss of a friends mother over the weekend really reminded me of a lot of things. How blessed and lucky I am to still have both my parents. How blessed and lucky I was to have the friends I did growing up and their parents. All the fun times we got to share. The friendships that I do have now with those who know me from so long ago. Those people you think didn't mean a whole lot you suddenly realize they do. My teachers in school the neighbors I grew up with. I recognized that I do need to enjoy every moment because no one knows when there time here on earth is going to end or when anyone else's time will end. I was pretty religious up until the time my friend Joy died. I couldn't understand why someone who knew what they wanted to do with their life wouldn't be able to have that opportunity and why someone like me who had no idea what I wanted to do with my life would be here. I noticed from that point on I don't pray as much as I used too and I feel like I am just sleeping sometimes when it come to religion. I do believe in God, but I just find myself doubting sometimes. This whole weekend I just couldn't understand why my friend has had to go through so much and it just seems so cruel that one person would have to endure what she has. I still don't understand and I try to remind myself that it's not for me to understand. Plus I feel incredibly guilty that I wasn't a better friend to her over the last 10 years. But I am trying to leave that and just know that today and everyday I have a new opportunity to be a better person, a better friend, a better mom, a better wife, and be a more open person, a loving person, and forgiving. It's time also to forgive some people and just start new or move on and leave it behind. It's also time I think to visit my bible and spend some time reading all those scriptures I used to know so well.

Maybe The Spray Bottle Wouldn't Have Been So Bad

2007-03-14T16:57:00.000-07:00

I made the mistake of leaving the bathroom door open, but just when I think there is nothing Lydia can get into she proves me wrong. She came out to me and was telling me something about water and I followed her into the bathroom and she had gotten a hold of the spray bottle we use for the cats if they are scratching on the couch. She had bee spraying it all over the bathroom so I tightened it up so it wouldn't spray and told her she would just have to pretend. So mistake number two was walking out of the bathroom and leaving her alone again. I went back to check on her and she had a soaking wet washcloth and was cleaning the sink and there was water all over the floor. I know she can't reach the faucet so I was puzzled as to where she got the water from and then noticed the toilet lid up. And then halfway through writing this blog I went to our spare bedroom to see crayon decorated all over the wall. Ugh.

Snow days and weekends!

2007-03-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

Well let's start with the exciting news! I got a four day weekend. We were all so thankful at work with a possible winter storm coming. First of all because we've only had one snow day this year and second of all we have a loooooooooong stretch until Easter break so it was nice to have a shortened week. We did get a lot of snow, but today the sun is shining and now I think I am okay with the thought of spring. I have been craving snow so badly. I almost went out and bought some snowpants for me because I wanted to go play in it. I actually went in to town Tuesday night and rented some more movies in case it snowed.

I have had such a hard time the last couple of weeks getting motivated to write or to find the time. Hard to believe Lydia is going to be turning 2 in a couple of weeks. Also hard to believe that today is my anniversary. My husband and I have been married seven years. Hard to believe a few years ago we were going through the divorce process. I wonder where I would have been now if that had happened....and to think we wouldn't have had Lydia makes me sad. Marriage is hard work and it's worth working at and I think this is where I am meant to be.

Mayme divulged to me last night that she is now "falling in love with Hunter". Another boy in her class and then she also told me she's been sneaking kisses to him during class when her teacher is not looking. So we had to have a talk about that. I asked her if he's kissed her and she said yes. She said she told him to kiss her in gym class and so he kissed her head. Oh, geez. It was funny because when we were leaving her school on Wednesday, Hunter was outside and he yelled way across the parking lot, "Hey May!" and when we got closer he threw a snowball at her. She just stood there staring at him and didn't want to leave. I had to drag her away. Now I guess I know why. (He is the first person outside of our family that I have ever heard call her May. It was quite cute.) So I asked her what about Ryan and she said he was still her bestest friend. Mayme last night drew a picture of her and Hunter getting married and she pointed out the sun was crying because it was so happy. It said on it" To: Hunter From:Mayme Your best wife. " Today she wanted to put make up on to look like the girls on tv.....so we had another talk about that as well. Growing up tooooooo fast!

Lydia is so good at going to sleep now....most of the time she is laying down saying Night to me before I even get a chance to say good night. That's a good thing too. She has known the colors for awhile, but was unable to match them with the actual color if I pointed to something, but she knows red, yellow, and green now. Her numbers also go 1,2,3,4,8,7,9,10. I think this is mostly because we have been playing hide and seek so she likes to pretend she is counting. She has the "ready or not here I come" part down. Right now we are watching "Walking with Dinosuars" and Lydia is calling all the dinosaurs "goofy guys". This is when I love my job. Snow days and weekends off!

Well I am Awake Now!

2007-02-28T16:06:00.000-08:00

I have been about ready to die with my life flashing before my eyes. Well maybe not quite that extreme, but it was pretty bad. At noon time I am supposed to hand out messages to students so it lessens the number of kids that need to come down to the office at the end of school. Well I forgot to give a message and then I e-mailed the teacher asking her to deliver the message and to let me know she had gotten the e-mail or else I was planning to stop in before I went home. I got home and was messing around-had a snack and reached into my pocket and saw the note. I forgot to check my e-mail before I left because I was so busy and here it was after 4!!! Our main office at work closes at 4 and so I tried to call the teacher at home, but her husband said it would be an hour before she got home. So here I was literally shaking that this child hadn't gotten the message to go to a certain place after school and was stranded somewhere. I had checked e-mail and there were two messages, but not one from her. I thought I was going to lose my job and what if something happened to the kid so after praying for an hour and calling the teacher again she told me the girl had talked to her mom and everything was okay. I will never, ever do that again!!!!!!! I will always call right when I am thinking of something instead of e-mailing. Whew!h

What Happened to My Baby?

2007-02-17T18:18:00.000-08:00

I feel like writing in purple today. I don't know if that will be how it comes across. If only I could get pictures to come up then I would put up Lydia's new haircut. We have been putting it off for awhile now. She was okay with us putting hair clips in, but they never seemed to stay in for long. Do to her scarring and how her hair grew back after he surgery there was no way I would have tried to cut it on my own. I am happy with how it turned out, but I was amazed to see how much she changed just with a hair cut. She just looks like a little girl. I also see that she looks a lot more like Mayme than I thought. They were sitting on the couch by eachother facing the same way and it was just crazy how much they looked alike. The week went by really slow it seems, but it was nice to have Valentine's in the middle of it. I have never gotten so many Valentine's from the kids. It made me feel like they don't all think I'm an ogre. haha! Paul bought me a necklace that has the letter J on it. I had one about 7 years ago and it was my favorite, but it broke off and I never found it and I couldn't order it from the place I had before. He also came to my work bringing me flowers. I am pretty sure this is the first Valentine's he's given me flowers. It was funny because I try not to get into the whole thing. Flowers will just die anyway, but walking into the office throughout the morning and seeing all the flowers I have to admit there was a part of me that was hoping I would walk in and there would be something there for me. So it was a real nice surprise. We didn't celebrate until Thursday night with the girls. Thought it would be less busy. Plus they got the added bonus of getting their flu shots. With a few cases of children dying from the flu we thought that it was stupid to not get them the shot. Lydia was not too happy with us. I was hoping they would give Mayme the shot first so Lyd could see it, but they wanted to do Lydia first. She had fallen asleep on the drive in and then it was freezing cold outside so not only did I have to wake her up from a nap, then I had to carry her in through the cold, and then she gets a shot on top of that. She was very happy when we went to eat afterwards and got out of the doctors office. Now I have a three day weekend which is already going by too fast. We don't have any big plans. Paul is working mandatory OT again tonight, but then is free until Wednesday night so I am ready for that. He deserves a break too.

Look Out! Here Comes the Spiderman

2007-02-13T16:08:00.000-08:00

Well it all started last week when Mayme asked me if she could watch Spider-Man 2. She has always liked Spider-Man, but we continue to edit it where there are parts she doesn't need to see. I was thinking of Lydia and thought we better not, but then I thought maybe we could and I would censor a lot of it and we would just watch Peter Parker or Spiderman parts without any violence going on. Lydia was up and around me while I was doing housework for the most part, but I still remember like later that night or the next day Lydia saying "spider scare". I asked her if she was scared of Spiderman and she said yes. Sunday night I took Lydia upstairs and was going to rock her and sing her songs as I normally do. Mayme wanted to sit in the room and she was helping me think of somgs we could sing together. We sang Old McDonald, Twinkle Twinkle and the Itsy Bitsy Spider. We were all doing the hand motions and having a fun time. I asked Mayme to go downstairs so I could put Lyd to bed and when I put Lyd in the crib and was going to leave the room she screamed like I had never heard her scream before.....and if you've read the previous blog you know I've been hearing her scream. I went downstairs thinking she might settle down, but she didn't. I went back to her room and she had tears going down her face and she grabbed on to me and just kept saying "Spider scared, spider scared". I just felt horrible. I thought that the itsy bitsy spider must have somehow made her think of spider man. So what I did was ask her if she wanted me to spray the spiders and she said yes. I pretended I took out a spray can and made the shhhhhhhhh sound. She didn't really go for it, but I kept trying and told her I got them all. I told her that she had a spray bottle too and so I told her to spray, but she only did it for a second. I knew it was going to be a long time to get her to fall asleep. So I took her out and rocked her almost to sleep. She wanted to nurse when we first sat down, but I wanted her to be comforted without that so eventually she settled down, but the minute I tried to put her in the crib it started all over again. Then I decided to go downstairs and get a night light that we use down there. I thought maybe that would help. She finally settled down enough for me to leave the room and I had told her I would come back and sleep in her room, but she fell asleep so I just let her be. Poor girl. I came downstairs and told Mayme we were not going to watch and more Spider-Man, talk about Spider-Man or sing itsy bitsy for a looooooooooong time. Last night things went better. She mentioned being scared only once and I completely attacked the room with my pretend spray and when I was done she asked "Got em?" and I told her that I thought I got them all, but she should use her spray too just in case and she did pretend for awhile too. We left the night light on and I gave her some books and suggested she read to her animals and she was happy to do so. I am not sure if I like the night light idea or not. Mayme never had one, but when she got older then she wanted a light on and now she finally back to sleeping in the dark. It's not a big thing with the night light, BUT it's almost two hours past her bedtime and she is still up talking so I am thinking tomorrow night I might tell her that the light doesn't work anymore and we will see what happens.

Oh The Joys of Motherhood

2007-02-10T07:56:00.000-08:00

Well we have finished another week of keeping the kids in at school during noon due to the cold weather. We have still all managed to keep our sanity as well, but I do notice this cold weather is making me a bit crabby. (Mayme could probably tell you that.) Work went well. We had bagels for breakfast and then it was pretzel for lunch....my favorite. Paul and Lydia came in and had lunch with me which was nice. Paul has been working extra hours so he went and did some errands when he left after lunch and then came back to drop off Lydia so he could go right to work. It works out real nice sometimes that we work in the same town. It still was so cold though and I think Lydia is getting sick of it too. We got to May's school and went inside and when it was time to go Lydia decided she wanted to walk and not be carried. I told her she could walk, but she'd have to hold my hand or else she'd be carried. Then she wanted to walk in the snow, but didn't have her boots on and so I told her no. She then came to a complete stop. Did I mention it was freezing?? So I told her I was going to carry her and I picked he up and I am surprised her screams and shrieks did not shatter the glass of the school and all the cars in the parking lot. By the time we got to the car she decided she was going to scream because it was too cold and she didn't want to get in her car seat. She sticks her belly out and straightens her legs when I am trying to get her in so I really have to try and push hard to get her in. Normally I am not embarrassed. Maybe it's different when I have someone else with me so I don't feel like I am dealing with a banchee alone. Then we went into town for groceries and both the girls did real well until we got out to the parking lot and the same battle over the car seat. So I am sure people thought I was either beating her or kidnapping her. (Maybe I"m being too hard on myself) So I am trying to get her in her seat and all I can think about is the lady who was caught on tape in the parking lot beating her kid in the backseat.....even though I am not doing that I am trying to be forceful to get her in her seat and plus she's screaming. I was about done for the day, but then Mayme wanted to get some food and I thought that wouldn't be a bad idea. When we got in the restaurant immediately Lydia wanted to run so I had Mayme keeping an eye on her and helping to keep her close to me. When we were trying to find a place to sit I was leading the way and holding the drinks so I asked Mayme to grab Lydia's hand. Well Mayme walked and Lydia didn't want to be led so she fell to the floor-sprawled out and screamed. It was quite fantastic. Literally all eyes were on me. I just told May to go sit and I picked up Lydia and carried her to our table. She was great the rest of the night, but boy oh boy what an evening.

I was real excited when we got home to see Mayme pick up the newspaper and try reading it. She was doing real well too and asking me for help when she needed it which for a long time she wouldn't do. Then she read me a story and it was one that had some harder words in and she was doing a great job of trying to sound them out or look at the picture to see if that would help her with the word.

I think it is going to be another weekend of hibernation.

At Least She Can Try

2007-02-08T18:50:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks have been cold and so I haven't been letting May outside to play. I feel bad because she is inside all day at school and then in right away at home although I rather like having her have ten fingers and toes that I don't feel too bad for her. Everyday it seems on the drive home that she asks if she can play outside. Yesterday was no different. Back and forth we went. She told me she had all her "supplies" so she woul be okay outside and I said no. I told her that arguing with me wasn't going to change my mind and she just nonchalantly says "I can try at least". It just made me giggle and I agreed. At least she could try. That kid I tell you. After supper I took Lydia's high chair tray off and she has some food on her pants and she replied with "Ewwww gross." Too funny, but I was impressed that when she got down she brushed off the food, grabbed the washcloth, and then wiped her pants where the food had been. For some reason tonight she kept saying "of course". We went to the library tonight (and I remembered the things I had to return) and then I thought I would cruise through the A+W and then we would head out to my dad's. I ordered up the food and got to the window and found out they don't take checks. I don't have a credit card or debit card and so we had to drive off without any supper. I felt so bad, but the girls were so good about it and Mayme was my supportor and making me feel good by telling me they should have put a bigger sign up or taken checks. :) Probably the best moment of the night was when Lydia was sitting on my dad's lap and she looked at him and said "Papa" and he looked at her and said "Lydia" and she just laid her head down on his chest. So sweet.

I just wanted to mention in her to that if you have a chance to check out my cousin's wife's page. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in August, but she wrote down her story and it is something to think about. Not just about cancer, but just about anything. If you ever feel something isn't right don't be afraid to push your doctor. http://www.tojenshealth.com/

Snowy Days

2007-02-06T17:44:00.000-08:00

This morning I was very surprised not to see a two hour delay or closing. The snow was coming down like crazy. I headed out early and visibility was so bad and the road was covered so I couldn't see the lines. It was vary strange because for the most part of my drive I was the only one on the road. I usually pass several school buses on the way, but did not see one. I called Paul to see if Mayme got on the bus okay, but after waiting outside for 20 minutes and no bus they went back into the house. Paul called the school and they said the bus had gone in the ditch. Once the bus got out the school called back Paul to let him know, but by the time he hung up the bus was at the end of the driveway and just slowed down and drove by. Never stopped. So we kept Mayme home. Paul was waiting for his mom (Who gets very nervous in bad weather) because she was coming to watch Lydia and Lydia was still sleeping so he didn't want to head out. By 11 they had changed our snow totals from 1-3 to 3-6. I bet if they would have said that at the beginning that we wouldn't have had school. Oh well. The kids were all hoping for an early out, but the snow lightened up and the sun came out.

Right now we are watching Raffi Live video I got at the library. Lydia doesn't really care for it, but Mayme is really liking it. I am going to go and enjoy it with the girls.

It was so cold that.............

2007-02-05T17:44:00.000-08:00

It was quite chilly this morning. -19 was what we started the day with. I was hoping for a late start. There were quite a few schools that were in areas where the temp was actually warmer and they were closed. Oh well. It made me feel like a true Minnesotan dealing with the cold. It was a good Monday. Always nice when it goes fast. I had to laugh because I got a paper cut on my hand and then made the mistake of putting hand sanitizer. I loved telling the kids that story because all of the sudden they all made the "Ooooh ouch" sound. After work I went and picked up Mayme and we were driving home and all of the sudden she said "So how was your day today mom?" I thought that was so sweet. Then she started copying me (this is when she reminds me she's a first grader). I had fun though trying to trick her. I would say "I want to go to bed early tonight mom with no games or stories." , then she would say it and I would say "You want to go to bed early tonight?" and she would get goofed up. Who's the adult??

My grandma celebrated her 89th birthday today. She mentioned that it's been a long life, but she sure doesn't know where it has gone. I guess that doesn't change. I am very thankful all that she has done for me, taught me, the influence she has been and how big a part of my life she has been. I love her dearly.

Tonight when I put Lydia to bed she didn't want to go so I asked her if she wanted an animal with her. She wanted her penguin and a garfield. Once I handed them to her she said "Okay, na night."

I'm Impressed

2007-02-04T17:16:00.000-08:00

Well Prince certainly entertained!!! I was quite impressed!

I Can't Come To The Phone Right Now I'm Busy Hibernating

2007-02-04T16:47:00.000-08:00

Well the big joke has been that everyone was just going to stay in and hibernate this weekend. Last Thursday I was glad I went out and got groceries taken care of. I hate to take the girls out in the cold. There has been talk on the news of several abduction attempts in Rochester which has me on my toes too. After we got groceries we came home and then had to go to the library which is about 20 minutes to get too. We loaded up and pulled into the parking lot and then I discovered I had forgotten all of our books and movies at home. So back around we went and back. Overall it took an hour to drive the first time and then to go and come back again. It was such a long day Thursday too because I was just tired and not feeling well. Friday morning I woke up early and made some cheesy hashbrowns for work. Every Friday morning we sign up for treats and a coworker and I always make the hashbrowns and eggbake. I was so excited that I made two pans and came home with none. After work I came home and was just exhausted again. May and I attempted a movie night and I fell asleep. Saturday my energy level was back. We had rented some movies including Little Miss Sunshine which I really enjoyed. Today I went in and met a couple of friends to celebrate January/February birthdays. It was cold, but not horrible although I did see crazy people wearing sweatshirts. Only in Minnesota. Mayme is feeling better and full of energy. Her nose has cleared up too and so I have stopped giving her the flonase. We'll see what happens. I hadn't been giving it to her because when she was sick I simply forgot, but the fact that it cleared up is good I think. Now we are watching the commercials from the super bowl. The Super Bowl is not so entertaining when there's not one team you are hoping to win plus Prince doesn't really excited me either. Anyway, I am excited that Brett Farve has decided to return in the fall again!!

It Was Good While It Lasted

2007-01-30T16:12:00.001-08:00

So it's been about three weeks since I've used a sick day. May hadn't been feeling quite right since Sunday, but nothing, but tired and a fever. Monday morning she didn't complain of everything and I just gave her some tylenol to help her through the school day in case her fever came back. Yesterday when I picked her up from school she was so tired and just came home and slept so I called and was able to get a strep test appt for her this morning so I was going to take a half day of work off. Then this morning when I woke up May she told me her ears were hurting too. So then I had to make an appt with a doctor, but couldn't get in until the afternoon so it ended up being a whole day off for me. Poor Mayme has a double ear infection and most likely strep. Since they put her on antibiotics for the ears there was no point in doing the strep test, but she said it looked like that's what she had. I just don't know what to do to keep her healthy!!

I forgot to mention that on Saturday when we went to the zoo Lydia was so tired near the end that when she was walking by me holding my hand she was resting her head on my arm. I loved that.

It Was Good While It Lasted

2007-01-30T16:12:00.000-08:00

I Did It Mama!

2007-01-28T17:26:00.000-08:00

Well Lydia refuses to act like she's 1 and is in such a hurry to grow up. I have never heard "I did it Mama" or "Let me try Mama" so much as this weekend. It was a great weekend I must start off by saying. Friday I got to have a playdate with a friend and her daughter. I put playdate in bold because it was such a fun, fun, thing! It made my day. It was quite fun to watch the girls play and also see my friend and visit. It was a gorgeous day on Friday and after the playdate I had to run into town and get groceries and quick race home before my husband had to leave for work. Later on in the day the girls and I went over to my dad's which was real nice because we haven't been there hardly at all. Mayme decided to take a flashlight and look under my dad's stove in the back room. She found a marble, two bouncy balls...one of which was mine when I was a kid, a bulb from an old camera, and an old pixie stick wrapper. She was so excited to find these "discoveries". I told her there is a lot to discover at grandpa's house. It was pretty cute. From the moment we got to my dad's though Lydia was into everything. My dad said "Mayme is pretty trick, but I think Lydia is going to be a bit more tricky." Indeed. :) Saturday we bundled up and decided to go to the zoo. We have a membership so everything is free as long as we eat well before we go and don't give in to buying food there. We did well. We didn't buy any food or anything from the gift store. It was so cold! We were lucky that we got there an hour after it opened so we got a parking spot nearby, but still us and others going to the zoo were running to the door because the wind was just brutal. We spent all the time inside. It was so much fun because Lydia actually knew what some of the animals were and enjoyed looking at them. She really was into the monkeys. We went by the fishercat and Lydia didn't understand it was glassed and in and couldn't get her. She started backing away from the glass and was saying "Scared, scared." After she realized it couldn't come through the glass things went better. We ended with the monorail which Lydia almost had a meltdown on, but thankfully we kept her distracted enough until we were able to escape. haha! Her and Mayme were out like a light in the car. We spent the night watching a few movies we got at the library. Today has been cleaning, cleaning, cleaning!! Mayme and Lydia were ready little helpers to take the sheets off the bed, vaccum, dust, pick up and other things. It made things a lot easier for me and they had fun which is perfect. Lydia surprised me by being able to get up on our rocking horse by herself. All of the sudden I heard her say "Look Mama, I did it" She then got off and repeated it again. Then tonight when I got her out of the tub and I was drying her off she started going potty and I was amazed she went over to the potty and sat down. She got a little in her potty chair, but mostly it was just on the floor, but she was so excited for that tiny bit in her chair and frankly so was I. Maybe she is capable of figuring it out so young??

I cannot believe February is almost here!!

Okra Winfrey

2007-01-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

Every night Mayme and I play the alphabet game and we will do one with things we would take on a picnic and one of animals. Last night I got O on the picnic and I said Okra...to which May says "Mom, Okra is a woman not a food!!!" I laughed so hard.

A Touch of Gray

2007-01-23T18:50:00.001-08:00

Well the house is finally up to it's normal temperature. YEAH! I just had to report that it has been a week now that Lydia has gone to bed without whimpering or crying when I walk out of the room. We rock and she nurses. Tonight she told me she was ready for na night. I put her down and said night and she said night and I closed the door. What a weight to not have to wonder if she's going to whimper or scream when I leave the room. Another hurdle overcome. How many to go?? :)

Oh and by the way about two weeks ago I found my first gray hair. I am more wiser and sophisticated than I knew apparently.

A Touch of Gray

2007-01-23T18:34:00.002-08:00

Is it warm yet??

2007-01-23T16:18:00.000-08:00

Well we survived the monster truck show and we all still have our hearing. We almost didn't make it for the fact that a couple hours before we were to leave Mayme pulled on Lydia's arm so hard that Lydia screamed everytime she tried to move it. Lydia fell asleep on top of me and when Paul's mom came to watch her so we could go she woke up and started screaming all over again and her arm was a bit swollen. We put some ice on it, but it seemed that there was no stopping it. So Paul and I decided to take her to the ER. I figured I would sit in the backseat with her while Paul drove, but the minute we got to the stop sign at the end of our road she was waving it around happy as can be. We called the ER to see what they said and they said as long as she was moving it around not to worry about it. So we turned back around and exchanged Lydia for Mayme and headed to the cities. (The only thing we can think of is that when Lydia fell asleep her arm stiffened from where it hurt...maybe that's why it hurt so bad right away??) All that matters is that it was nothing serious. Oh the joys of having more than one child. Reminds me of the time my brother broke my arm. haha!

We did have a good time Saturday night and got home around midnight. We all slept in Sunday morning, Lydia was battling her cold still and she slept in until 10. Today I was just rushing all day it seems. I rushed to work and after work I had to rush and pick up Mayme so I could take her to dance class and help her get into her uniform. Class is usually at 3:15 and that's what time pictures were set for, but every year it seems people think they can just show up whenever. It wouldn't have been so bad except along with individual photos they take a group photo. So even though May was done at 3:20 we didn't get everyone for the group photo until ten to 4. Oh well. Then I had to run to my mom's and pick up some stuff. During this time Paul called to tell me the furnace wasn't working. Our furnace is old and so it seems when we get done with a cold, cold snap it quits working. Of course it's still cold though so I thought I was going to have to take the girls and spend the night at my dad's, but the furnace guy came and fixed it so now the heat is a-going, but it still is chilly. I think we have finally reached 60 degrees. I am so excited we don't have school Friday, but I am completely spoiled by these 4 day weeks. It's will be a bit longer until the next one now. I dont know where January has gone.

I'm back

2007-01-20T08:12:00.000-08:00

So I seem to be keeping up the organizational things, but of course haven't kept up on this. Here it is Saturday already. Last week was para week and yesterday we were treated to breakfast by our boss, cookies and hot chocolate for a mid morning snack from the kids that we work with closely and subway subs for lunch. Not a bad day. It was quite nice and relaxing. Lydia and I have come down with colds again. sigh. Tonight Paul, Mayme, and I head to Monster Jam. I am trying to feel up to it, but it's hard when I ache so bad and can hardly breathe because my nose it so congested. Mayme's nose seeems to be getting some relief from the flonase, but unfortunately it's not helping with her hearing. She finished up her roller skating yesterday. She was telling us yesterday she was even attempting lifting one leg off the ground while rolling. She said she fell a few times trying it, but I was pretty proud of her for continuing to try it. She also told me that her teacher is going to have a baby. When I asked her how she knew she said she asked her. I asked Mayme why she asked her teacher if she was pregnant. And she said "Because her tummy is getting big". So I had to ask her and ask again that her teacher did say yes and also tell Mayme that just because someones tummy is getting big doesn't always mean they have a baby in it. Thank goodness in this case it happened to be true. She is due at the beginning of May. whew! Lydia is now counting 1,2,3,4,8. She just said from across the room "I need help." She needed help getting open a polly pocket box. She surprises me when she does that. Right now we are watching veggie tales and the name of the story this week is "The Asparagus of La Mancha", so my concentration isn't all on this. Next up will be Jane and the Dragon which both the girls love and me too. So I am going to have to continue this. I am sure I will have a lot to write about in the morning.

Come On Jess

2007-01-14T06:20:00.000-08:00

Well our January weather seems to be back or at least visiting. Friday I had to stand outside with the kids for half an hour and that was long enough. I felt like my forehead was going to explode it was so cold and that's not good. At the end of the day we got to have an ice cream party though so that's always nice. May and I had another movie night. Some friends of mine came up to join as well. We let Lydia join this time and she kept refilling my bowl of popcorn which was nice, but then decided to dump the ice cream pail full of popcorn all over the floor. So once again our floor was quite the sight. After the movie we played a game of Yahtzee and Mayme took us all to the cleaners. It was fun though. Now that she's getting older I can see she wants to be part of the girls with us. Like the part when it was my turn to roll and I hear her say "Come on Jess....you can do it!!" I just looked at her and she then says "um, Come on Mommy, you can do it!!!"

Saturday morning I took the girls in to get groceries and they were both real well and May helped me a lot. She had her winter dance show last night and she did so well. She is so cute to watch, but she looks so grown up. Afterwards we went with Grandpa for a treat at the Dairy Queen. When we got home it was time for the girls to go to bed. Mayme usually talks in her sleep, but last night she was screaming and sounded like she was crying. I went in to check on her and her eyes were closed. No tears. I just woke her and asked her if she was having a bad dream and she said that she wasn't. It was really strange. Right now I am eagerly awaiting everyone waking up so we can have our Sunday morning breakfast!! :)

(static) Houston (static) We Have Lift Off

2007-01-11T04:27:00.000-08:00

At 2:01 a.m. central standard time a bright light shown as the Space Shuttle Mayme traveled to the planet known as Bathroom where she pottied. This is the first lift off that she has traveled to this place on her own at night. There were many previously scheduled launches, but she failed to launch or had issues with wet "weather".

May this be the first of many travels in the wee hours to this planet.

(static) That's one small step from her bed and one giant leap over this hurdle!! (static)

Nothin' Better

2007-01-10T19:21:00.000-08:00

I swear there is nothing better than walking through the house and hearing Mayme say "Mom? I love you." I was just walking by her and she just said that which I am so blessed she does so often. Not for any reason other than just to say it. I've really tried to say it a lot so she knows a lot how much I love her. Lydia tonight too surprised me. I rocked her and then when I get up to put her in the crib I will sometime just swing with her a bit. Tonight she gave me a big kiss on the cheek. I put her in her crib and she wanted her "meow meow" that she like sto sleep with. I went an found it for her and when I brought it in I tucked her in and said "ok, na night" and she said "i lub you". That's the first time I have heard her say that. It's just been lootoo. I think it helps one of our cats name is Lovey and she always calls her lubby. So I told her I love her too and we went back and forth for a bit and then she said ok when she was ready to go to bed. I just wish every night was like that. Some nights she is just ready to go and others she wants to hang on. At least she let me sing to her. She was going through a streak for awhile when I would rock her and she would say "no sing" every time I started. Sometimes I would stop and other times I would basically tell her too bad. Tonight I asked "Can I sing to you tonight?" and she said mhmm.

sidenote: I am desperately trying to avoid cleaning the cat box, but to no avail I cannot avoid it any longer. ergh!

It's nice to be remembered

2007-01-10T15:48:00.000-08:00

Today was another good day. It seems the colder it is the harder it is for me to want to get out of bed though. I think I could have slept in until noon if I was allowed. I am thankful for the cold if it kills all the germies going around. Although I wish it would get cold the week I am inside at work. It's not much fun standing outside for a little over an hour when it's cold. It's not that it's that cold right now either, but man the wind is wicked. I had a student with me all day today that was in suspension so that left me pretty much in my room the full time. At least I had things to occupy my time so it worked out nicely. After my fitting last night I have decided next week to go back on the Special K diet. I lost a few pounds when I did it about a year ago, but I am hoping to add in some regular exercise as well. After work I picked up May and we headed home. I grabbed the mail and saw a letter addressed to me. There was no return address which is sometimes fun because if you don't recognize the handwriting then it's like a little surprise. I opened it to find out it was from a girl that I knew from the first year I started at my job. She was a 5th grader than. The fifth graders that were there the first year are the ones I really remember because they were new to building and I to the school so we learned together. Anyway, her mom had battled cancer on and off three years . The night before she was to graduate from 7th grade her mom died. This girl was so special and could always make me laugh and my heart just broke for her. I had the chance to meet her mom about 6 months before she died and she was such a happy person and I could see where this girl got all laughter and love from. She would always tell me jokes her mom would make about her cancer or the chemo. She just never had a down attitude. This girls parents had been divorced and her dad lived in another town so when her mom died she moved away and we wrote a few letters back and forth and then we both stopped writing. I mainly because Lydia was born and I just got busy and her I am sure because her life was moving forward. Long story long I got a letter from her telling me how well things were going in her life. Her dad was going to remarry. School was going well and she was out for a lot of activities. She has great teachers and friends. She also sent me a school picture. She's in tenth grade now and it just really meant the world to me that she still remembered me after all this time and that she took the time to write me a letter. The kids I meet at my job are incredible individuals and it is so exciting to see who they become as they get older. I am really lucky.

Hi Ho Hi Ho...it's back to work I go

2007-01-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

So I returned to work today. While at work Paul took Mayme to her doctors appt.. Our doctor said that she is quite convinced that Mayme has an allergy of some sort going on. Her ears have filled up with fluid again, but because of the congestion and continuous sore throat she is fairly sure we should try Flonase antihistamine for the next 4-6 weeks and then we will stop her from taking it and see what happens. I am just so thankful that there was something we could try. Paul and Lydia also got checked out while they were there and it's just viral. So once again it will pass. Work went by really fast. I stayed until 4 to make up for our snow day. It's great having snow days, but we have to make them up which stinks, but since we've only had one so far it's not like I have piles of hours to make up. After work I went in to get measured for my bridesmaid dress. Yikes. It went smoothly and the lady was really nice, but she had to remind me that the other girl in the wedding party is a size 2, which I am DEFINENTLY not, but I still have a few months to trim down a bit.

Tonight and supper Mayme took her drink and said "Mom, do you know what this? A fluid!" So I said well what is an ice cube ? and She thought for a second and said "A solid." Then Paul blew air in her hair and he said well, what's that? And she thought for a little bit longer and said "a gas". I seriously do not remember learning this in 1st grade. It was crazy. So all night we've been pointing to things and discussing which category it fits in. It was a really good day and now I am looking forward to going to bed. I am sleepy tonight.

I'm Not It!

2007-01-08T07:33:00.000-08:00

Well I am home today and for once it's not me. Paul and Lydia are both sick so I am home nursemaiding today. The sun is shining and I must admit sometimes it's nice to stay home and take care of the ones I love. It's when they are throwing up that I would much rather be at work since it's harder to be at home seeing them go through all the pain and cleaning up the mess. Yesterday we went into town to get Mayme a new bookcase. She has so many books and I allot so much money a month for her to gets book from scholastic. The bookcase she has now is filled and overflowing with books on top, books in front of... I saw a good deal on a 71 in. tall bookshelf and told her that instead of books this month that I wanted to get her a bookshelf because I want her to take care of her books and I didn't want to buy her anymore if she didn't have a place for them. She was all for it. We also went into town to get her bangs cut and find her a lamp. She had a lamp in her room and then we put that in Lydia's room, but have found that Mayme really needs one back in her room too. It was a good quick trip and I think she thought it was fun that it was kind of an "all about her" trip. We were so excited to get home and put together the bookshelf, but unfortunately the guy who loaded it in the truck failed to noticed or noticed and did not care that there was a piece of the box ripped off on one side and the wood was chipped. We didn't look it over side to side when they set it in. Ergh! So we are going to have to take it back. Yesterday Lydia was so tired and I thought it was because she didn't get a nap, but she started with a nasty cough now on Saturday. She fell asleep around 5 and most times when she falls asleep at that time she will sleep through the night, but nope. She woke up around 9 and was just hot. Her temp was close to 102 and everytime she coughed she cried and she told me her neck hurt. So I think she had a sore throat. I gave her some tylenol. All she wanted to do was breastfeed. After a couple hours though of her wanting to nurse and then not and then again. Well...it was time to try and get her back to bed. I laid her down and she started to whimper and I just told her that I just needed her to try and sleep. She said na night and was quiet. I called in thinking it would be a long night and she would be up a lot, but she ended up sleeping through the night. Her temp isn't as high today, but you can tell she still doesn't feel up to par. Paul is sick too though so I guess it helps him out too by me being home. I am VERY fortunate to have a job that is so understanding about taking sick days not just for me but my family as well.

Sunday, Sunday. So Good To Me.

2007-01-07T05:41:00.000-08:00

I love Sunday mornings. I always have. Things just seem quieter on a Sunday morning. More still and peaceful. (Helps that I live out in the country). I find myself getting up early just for the reason that everyone else tends to sleep in. I did my sleeping in yesterday so now is when I find my alone time. My perfect Sunday morning used to consist of going and getting a paper and smoking the whole drive. Then just sitting on the deck, reading the paper, drinking coffee and smoking. Well it's too chilly to sit out on the deck. I don't want to use the fuel to go get a paper and I quit smoking so it's just me and my coffee. I also enjoy watching the CBS Sunday Morning Show. aka The Sun Show. May's hates it so she cringes when she wakes up and wants to watch something and I tell her nope...it's the sun show. I gave up the smoking in June 2004 and am happy to say I have only faltered once when a friend (who also gave up smoking) and I broke down and bought a pack and split it in an evening of sitting outside just chatting and listening to music. I decided to give it up for the fact that okay first of all I had found out I was pregnant and second of all, yes I know it will improve my life, my health and there is not just me to think about anymore. Also because Mayme is older and not stupid at all. I don't want her to see me doing it and pick up on it. I didn't want to be a mom that has to sneak out of the house at 2 a.m. for a cigarette in the backyard either. For awhile there Mayme was copying her Grandpa with pens or other things to pretend she was smoking. I remember doing that too. I would roll up a piece of paper and pretend to smoke. Oooh and those bubble gums that had the powder on them and when you blew it, it looked like smoke. I really should try those when I am having a stressful moment. Oh how the times have changed. I was very proud of Mayme because on the way home from my uncle and aunt's anniversary party last year we stopped at a gas station and we got out of the truck and my dad decided to have a smoke. Mayme said to him that he needed to stop or else he would die. Then of course I feel bad for my dad because I know he's tried and tried and tried........After 50 years I'm know it's hard. I know I don't like to hear that I am going to die though.

Which reminds me that Mayme and I had another conversation about that that left us both crying. When Gerald Ford died we were watching the news and Mayme asked why he died. I told him that he was 93 and when you get old your body gets older and tired and your heart eventually stops. If only it was that way for everyone. So she starts crying and telling me she doesn't want me to get older and that she doesn't want anyone we know to die and I start crying because I start thinking how I don't want anyone to die yet I am trying to tell her it's a good thing when you die because of what happens in the next life. Then we mutually decided to stop talking about it. But for some reason lately I have been trying to tell her that if I were to die that I would want Paul to get married again and be happy. That I would want her to have someone to watch her in my place even though I would still be watching her too. That was a fun little story wasn't it? Over Christmas I had a dream about a friend of mine that died 10 years ago. She was with me and it was like we were watching our lives in high school on tape and at the end of the dream she had been dead for awhile and I went to visit her family and was tears because I felt so bad that I had visited them or even sent a card. They told me they understood and I just tried to tell them I wanted them to know I care, but didn't want them to be reminded of what happened if I tried to contact them. It was really weird and really sad. I don't think I've dreamt about her since a day ot two after she died.

I didn't get anything done that I thought I was going to yesterday. The main thing was go in and get May's bangs cut. She has her winter dance show next weekend and pictures the week after that. The girls and I ended up napping in the afternoon and then Grace came over to play. By the time she went home the hair place we closed so I just ended up watching Tommy Boy. Holy Schnikes I love that movie!!

Nana in the Shoe and Elep-hants

2007-01-06T13:51:00.000-08:00

So I am enjoying this being organized deal. I am going with it for as long as I can. So far I have been able to be caught up....at least on the things I want to be caught up on. haha! I find I do all the main things around the house and then find I have nothing left that , okay, nothing left that I want to do and then I find I get bored and lazy. So I am tyring to keep the momentum going. I am at least feeling good that I am able to find time to write on here.

Last night Lydia asked me for a banana and I gave her a piece. The next thing I heard coming from the other room was "Mama, come look!" I went into the bedroom and Lydia pointed and said "Nanas in the shoe". Yes, she had stuffed her banana in her shoe. I am remembering old memories of such things happening with Mayme and I should know better than to let my 1 year old run around with any kind of food, especially into another room...Yet I still finding myself doing it. I find it gives us a continuing reason to destroy the carpet so we can get new carpet 15 years from now. I swear.

Mayme was reading a book about Noah's Ark last night and I've been trying to tell her that when she has trouble sounding out a word to look at the picture. Well one page had a picture of 2 elephants and that's what it said on the page. "Two elephants" yet it was so interesting to hear her say Elep-hants. I corrected her and she looked at me like I was crazy and said "but there's no f in there". So that was pretty cute. After Lyd went down Mayme and I had our movie night. We watched Pirates of the Caribbean 2. We have watched this movie before. I keep it quite edited for her. Last night she was truly a six year old. She just kept asking question upon question up question. It was a lot of fun though. Except for the fact that we had popcorn and our floor looked like the bottom of movie theatre floor by the time we were finished.

Today has been much laughter. The girls wrestling with eachother. I can see Mayme looking at Lydia more like someone to have fun with now than a pain...which I think she felt for awhile. It makes me long for more of that. We were hoping to try for a another baby this year, but after much deliberation it seems like now would not be the right time. So it looks like another couple of years. Lydia is a lot more needy I find than Mayme ever was. I have discussed with Paul that I just don't know if having another one right now would help her calm down on some of her emotional stuff or make her more irritated. I grew up with a crazy brother who is fine now, but always wanted kill me (and my friends) as we were growing up. I just get visions of that for some reason. So I think she needs some more mommy-daddy time to secure her. Plus we don't have a vehicle that would fit three car seats so after my previous blog you see that is another thing to start saving for. I think it makes me feel more comfortable too. Just for the fact that by that time Lydia will be 4 and starting preschool in the fall and so she will be able to be out and about without a baby at home all the time. And Paul will get a break too. 3 will probably be it for us. I have probably mentioned before that I always wanted to have 4 by the time I was 30....not going to happen. (Unless it's twins and I were to get pregnant next Jan or Feb..) I am kind of excited about waiting to because I am going to turn 30 in December and really want to be able to celebrate. Basically drink, yes. It's funny how I always thought 4 kids for sure, but at one time thought 6. Then I had one and that number for sure stayed at 4. Then we had Lydia and then I thought for awhile two was good. :) I do want another one though and if it happens then I want that easy labor they say that happens the second time around that I never got.

A Light at the End of a Long Tunnel

2007-01-05T16:19:00.000-08:00

So along with it being a new year comes the relief of knowing that our BIG loan should be paid off sometime this year. We knew four years would go by really fast yet at the same time it has seemed to last forever. We are hoping to get money back from taxes and pay it off sooner. We have a few family members to pay back and a few other bills to pay down, but to know we will be done with it going to one place every month will be nice and then when everything is squared away being able to save will be the best. We look forward to being able to have a savings for us and the girls. Extra money for groceries even!! I don't want to go crazy when we have extra money, but I really am looking forward to being able to go get groceries and splurge on a 12 pack of pop if I want. Not that I haven't, but every time I get groceries we really have had to try and stick to a strict budget to pull ourselves out of a deep hole and bad spending habits. I give most of the credit to my mom. She has been supportive of us through this all. Borrowed money if she had too, took time to talk it out with use and offered ideas, but never once did she lecture me. She knew I felt bad enough about our situation and she just wanted to help. Her biggest help has been the "BILL BOOK". At one time or another she has sat down with all the kids and started us on them. Unfortunately it was when we all started having money issues that she taught us instead of when we were teenagers, but I am just thankful for the lesson. I know where we've been and know I don't want to go back there. I was so excited to receive a new bill book for Christmas. I have the first half of the year planned out...although things always come up. Now I am calculating numbers all the time....Paul can see me starting to turn into my mom. Always trying to save money and budget. I see a lot of people I work with spending money they don't have and that's exactly where we were. It's been helpful for me that I grew up with not a lot of money so there isn't really anything I miss or find I need to have. I guess either I knew it wasn't what I had that was important, but who I was ...or I knew we were so poor there was no point in asking for things. I wouldn't say we were poor either. We had a roof, heat, clothes and food, but we didn't have a ton beyond that. I have to admit through this time it has been hard to sit by and watch my coworkers get take out for lunch everyday or friends wanting to go do things and me not being able too because I couldn't afford to spend the money. Sure I have also had those moments where I wanted to go spend money (even if I didn't have it) just to make myself feel normal. Oh who am I kidding. To make myself feel good. I have had those moments and acted on them too, but then felt guilty and taken things back, but it felt good to by them even if I didn't keep them. I do find myself taking more time to look into seeing what I really "NEED". That's what so funny with Paul. He's an only child and has usually gotten what he wants and he also has expensive taste. Mayme and him are so much alike. You can show them two identical things and without knowing the price they will choose the more expensive. I am more like "whatever gets the job done and is cheap." That's thanks to my parents. So Paul usually hates when he says "We need to get such and such..." He usually cringes as he know what I am going to say..."Do we really NEED it?" We are learning to find happy mediums. :)

So that was a lot there. It has been a really good week. Maybe it was because it was short. Maybe it was because the sun has actually been shining. I don't know, but I really like it. It definently makes work a lot more enjoyable and life in general. May the rest of the year go this way, may I share those happy moments with those I love and perfect strangers and may I always remember what is truly important in this life: To give, live, and love....oh wait that motto has already been taken, but it's a good one...I'll go with that. Cheers!