I cried today. (a lot)
Right after I told my mother in law that I hate to cry and rarely do because my face breaks out into this mass of broken blood vessels and swollen eyes.
It doesn't really matter what I cried about or why. What I learned is that after the kind of stress I've been feeling..which several previous posts have given you glimpses of...sometimes you just gotta let it out.
On Tuesday the surgeon called to say that the lump wasn't cancer-or any other horrible thing- and this was the last "big" thing stressing me out. After the call I expected to feel this immediate relief from all things stress. This great weight lifted off my shoulder. A weight of stress that started in the beginning of November (really, earlier if I'm to be completely honest) and just built from what seemed like all sides. But I didn't feel it. I expected to have all this uncontrollable energy, boundless smiles, and carefree thoughts. When I got the call, yah, i smiled, and yah i was excited...but then I was just exhausted. I didn't feel any different.
Now, to be fair, not all the stress in my life was "bad" stress. Like the scrapbook and deadline. That was really fun to do, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But, still stress. Some of the other stress of relationships (family and friends), illness/tests (for 3 out of 4 of us) and money were unavoidable, and bad stress. Still other parts of my stress level were avoidable and totally my own fault. I kept a lot to myself to "deal with" on my own. My fears, mostly. I prayed a lot and thought that should be enough. I even told myself that I shouldn't be stressed about it (mostly the medical) and to buck up. If I had it to do over again I would be more open to share-not just the facts-but the fears and feelings. Still not maybe with the whole world. but at least with my own family.
I've learned something about either myself or stress. I'm guessing both. If it takes 2 months to go up...it will probably take more than a few moments (or a phone call) to go back down. My expectations were, literally, quite rediculous. and I cracked. I think I cracked because on top of how I'd been feeling for 2 months, I felt like it should all be DONE now. I should be carefree and energetic. And when I wasn't, I wondered what was wrong-and my unmet expectations stopped me from "detoxing".
In the past, I've dealt with a lot of stress. This is definitely not the first time of my life I've felt a load of stress. (For example, when we graduated, moved to WY, had a baby, had $0 to our name, and didn't have a single friend in town....) I think the biggest difference is this stress affected my KIDS. And my family. Not just me. And on top of that most of it had potential to be life changing-in a bad way.
What I'm saying is- i learned a lot. I have grown a lot. and I needed a great big cry to get my attention. Now I can let myself detox in a healthy way.
And I CAN'T wait to get home and get back to "normal" life. And when I say that, don't get me wrong. My kids are still sick, and not everything's perfect back home. But, I do have a lot less on my mind than when we left home!
I just reread this blog-and it isn't saying what I mean at all. I think because I can't put it into words. So i keep starting a new paragraph to try again. I get it now though. That's all that matters. And I feel like now a great weight HAS been lifted...
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
I Said A Little Prayer
Today I went shopping in Great Falls...ALL BY MYSELF.
I've never liked shopping alone, but after the craziness of the last month it was just what I needed. As I was driving to Ross I got to thinking about the lump I had removed a week ago. I didn't think about it a whole lot until all the festivities were over and I didn't have distraction. Then every time I moved my arm and felt the incision I wondered. The surgeon had told me NOT to expect results before Wednesday because of the holidays, and his surgery days. So I prayed. During that prayer at some point I said something to the effect of "God, I really just want to know. Could you maybe have the surgeon call me today instead of tomorrow?" It was 4pm.
I went into Ross and as I was trying on some clothes my phone rang. It was the surgeon on his cell phone. He said "Hi Bethany?" "Yes" "I usually don't call on surgery days, but I thought I should call you." slight pause: (Heart fluttering...good news? bad news???? is it GOOD if the surgeon is doing something he normally wouldn't? Or is that bad???? AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!) "I have some good news....."
What an awesome God we serve! He answered my little teeny tiny prayer from way down here among millions of prayers...
Now, one thing you need to know is that at my appointment I asked "So I'll find out if I have cancer or not?" and the surgeon said "Yes, but you will also be given a name for exactly what it is." Cool. So...he says to me "I know I told you there would be a name for what you have...but it's pretty rare, and there really isn't a name for it." Then he rattled off the medically-confusing-not-really-a-name-term for it. He said it's basically where the connecting ligaments/tissues form lumps. This explains why they were so confused as to the location of the lump. Not in the breast. Not in the lymph nodes. Not really anywhere normal.
So there you go. It's almost a new year and my new year's hope is that we won't have to meet a deductible. (However, Kaden's tonsils aren't exactly cooperating with that hope...which is why it isn't a resolution.) :)
I've never liked shopping alone, but after the craziness of the last month it was just what I needed. As I was driving to Ross I got to thinking about the lump I had removed a week ago. I didn't think about it a whole lot until all the festivities were over and I didn't have distraction. Then every time I moved my arm and felt the incision I wondered. The surgeon had told me NOT to expect results before Wednesday because of the holidays, and his surgery days. So I prayed. During that prayer at some point I said something to the effect of "God, I really just want to know. Could you maybe have the surgeon call me today instead of tomorrow?" It was 4pm.
I went into Ross and as I was trying on some clothes my phone rang. It was the surgeon on his cell phone. He said "Hi Bethany?" "Yes" "I usually don't call on surgery days, but I thought I should call you." slight pause: (Heart fluttering...good news? bad news???? is it GOOD if the surgeon is doing something he normally wouldn't? Or is that bad???? AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!) "I have some good news....."
What an awesome God we serve! He answered my little teeny tiny prayer from way down here among millions of prayers...
Now, one thing you need to know is that at my appointment I asked "So I'll find out if I have cancer or not?" and the surgeon said "Yes, but you will also be given a name for exactly what it is." Cool. So...he says to me "I know I told you there would be a name for what you have...but it's pretty rare, and there really isn't a name for it." Then he rattled off the medically-confusing-not-really-a-name-term for it. He said it's basically where the connecting ligaments/tissues form lumps. This explains why they were so confused as to the location of the lump. Not in the breast. Not in the lymph nodes. Not really anywhere normal.
So there you go. It's almost a new year and my new year's hope is that we won't have to meet a deductible. (However, Kaden's tonsils aren't exactly cooperating with that hope...which is why it isn't a resolution.) :)
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Today I am having a lump removed from my shoulder area. The doctors are saying they don't think it's a high risk thing since it's not in the lymph nodes or breast, but the fact that after thinking he didn't want to take it out, to changing his mind RIGHT after feeling/seeing it makes me nervous. I'm nervous. It's not very easy for me to admit that normally. Lately, after so many doctors/tests/etc..I've gotten good at waiting for results. But it seems like the results keep getting more and more "iffy" and the waiting gets longer and longer. God has really been teaching me patience. But most of all He's been teaching me to trust. Not just Him either. Actually, through everything I feel like I've trusted God and His sovereignty easier than I've trusted doctor's and their tests. And more than I've trusted my friends/family with even the knowledge of what we've been facing. I talked to my brother who's here, and who watched my kids for the appointment this morning, and he didn't even know what my appointment was for. For all he knew it was just a yearly physical, or a sore throat....until someone asked him if I'd had my "surgery" yet. He thought they were asking about my gallbladder back in July. In fact, besides Luke's parents (which have only known for a day or 2) I don't know if any of his family knows, and my parents are the only ones in my family. After that discussion I started realizing that in uncertain circumstances it's important to trust in our almighty God....but there is a lot to be said for allowing people into my life to pray for me. Sure, I've let a few people know. a VERY few. and even they didn't know right away. I want to be someone who trusts God and people enough to share my struggles, even though it's hard to be transparent like that. Especially with my own family who would be more than happy to pray for me.
Also, I'll know the results next week sometime. I'll post as soon as I know, so you don't have to wonder if I have cancer!!!
Also, I'll know the results next week sometime. I'll post as soon as I know, so you don't have to wonder if I have cancer!!!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
This Post Does Not Have a Title.
I literally just sat here for 2 minutes with my fingers positioned and....nothin'. (Annnnnd...it just happened again.) There's been so much going on in our "neck of the woods" and it seems like I'd have so much to write...it's just that I don't feel like it. Not at all.
I can't wait until January 1. Some days I think it's going to be like this magical day. One where all our bills vanish. (HA!) Where we are suddenly well. And where time slows down and the "to do" list shrinks. And I let myself believe it.
Other days I tell myself I better quit living in that dreamland and SOON. Sometimes life is just tough. Lately, I've felt ganged up on in many areas. Mostly health-wise and financially. I feel like we no sooner get one doctor to clear us and we start the next. While I'm on the subject, you can say a little prayer for us on Wednesday-which happens to be the next Dr. appointment-this time with my surgeon. I'll blog more about that later. For now, you can just pray that it'll all work out-preferrably before Jan 1.
When I start feeling ganged up on I have options. Sometimes I choose to look back and think "Yep, I'm right. First it was sick and pregnant. Then it was gallbladder surgery. then it was 9 weeks of sickness for Kaden with bouts of us in there too. Then it was me again with MRI's EKG's etc..., then it was Kate and her ER trips and testing mingled with the flu and colds circulating again, then it was me again. and I haven't even mentioned the relationship struggles, church struggles, and our hail damage..." And then I feel really depressed and defeated. Other times I choose to think about how much I've grown. I've seen God's provision-in finances, timing, etc. I've seen God's mercy and love. And I would say my close relationships have been strengthened. I wouldn't take that back for anything.
This all came to me as I've been pondering my Christmas Letter. The one that's actually a New Years letter because I never get it done til we go to my parents house for vacation. I wondered how to write about a year of struggles, sickness, hurt, and frustration. I pondered writing in "top 10" style..and part of me doesn't want to because it just wouldn't be fair to "act" like life has been so good, when i feel so beat down. But the more I think about it, the more I want to. I want to focus on the good. I want to focus on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy..." that's what I want to think about. I want to tell about my year in a way that God will be exalted.
so. be expecting that. It'll be posted on here sometime in January.
I can't wait until January 1. Some days I think it's going to be like this magical day. One where all our bills vanish. (HA!) Where we are suddenly well. And where time slows down and the "to do" list shrinks. And I let myself believe it.
Other days I tell myself I better quit living in that dreamland and SOON. Sometimes life is just tough. Lately, I've felt ganged up on in many areas. Mostly health-wise and financially. I feel like we no sooner get one doctor to clear us and we start the next. While I'm on the subject, you can say a little prayer for us on Wednesday-which happens to be the next Dr. appointment-this time with my surgeon. I'll blog more about that later. For now, you can just pray that it'll all work out-preferrably before Jan 1.
When I start feeling ganged up on I have options. Sometimes I choose to look back and think "Yep, I'm right. First it was sick and pregnant. Then it was gallbladder surgery. then it was 9 weeks of sickness for Kaden with bouts of us in there too. Then it was me again with MRI's EKG's etc..., then it was Kate and her ER trips and testing mingled with the flu and colds circulating again, then it was me again. and I haven't even mentioned the relationship struggles, church struggles, and our hail damage..." And then I feel really depressed and defeated. Other times I choose to think about how much I've grown. I've seen God's provision-in finances, timing, etc. I've seen God's mercy and love. And I would say my close relationships have been strengthened. I wouldn't take that back for anything.
This all came to me as I've been pondering my Christmas Letter. The one that's actually a New Years letter because I never get it done til we go to my parents house for vacation. I wondered how to write about a year of struggles, sickness, hurt, and frustration. I pondered writing in "top 10" style..and part of me doesn't want to because it just wouldn't be fair to "act" like life has been so good, when i feel so beat down. But the more I think about it, the more I want to. I want to focus on the good. I want to focus on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy..." that's what I want to think about. I want to tell about my year in a way that God will be exalted.
so. be expecting that. It'll be posted on here sometime in January.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Pee On The Table, Please!
If you want to see a brief update on Kate and her tests you can read the previous post. This one is more the thoughts that came from her testing.
For one of Kate's tests they filled her bladder with fluid/dye and watched through a big scary machine to see how her bladder and kidneys worked and if there was anything wrong. The very end of the test is that when they take out the catheter they ask the person to
"Pee on the table please." There is no option. Whether you are 7 months old or 55 years old. You must pee on the table. This is so they can watch your bladder expel fluid and whether does that properly, and whether it empties all the way.
Talking to the nurses beforehand they told me it's really hard to do this test on 2-3 year olds because they don't understand. They KNOW they get in trouble for peeing anywhere but there diaper or the toilet. They also know that it's embarrassing to pee on the table. But the mom has to keep them there until they just do what they are told.
I wonder how many times God asks us to do something that we feel is absurd and downright outlandish. How often does God ask us to "Pee on the table, please?" and we say "No, I know that's not what I should do." or we think we know what the consequences of such an action woudl be. How often do we think we know better than God? How often does he keep us in a situation until we just can't "hold it" anymore and break down and "pee"?
I don't really have a good example of this in my life. But part of me wonders if I do. I wish it were as simple as Him just telling me to pee!
Do YOU need to go ahead and just pee on the table? It's just a thought.
For one of Kate's tests they filled her bladder with fluid/dye and watched through a big scary machine to see how her bladder and kidneys worked and if there was anything wrong. The very end of the test is that when they take out the catheter they ask the person to
"Pee on the table please." There is no option. Whether you are 7 months old or 55 years old. You must pee on the table. This is so they can watch your bladder expel fluid and whether does that properly, and whether it empties all the way.
Talking to the nurses beforehand they told me it's really hard to do this test on 2-3 year olds because they don't understand. They KNOW they get in trouble for peeing anywhere but there diaper or the toilet. They also know that it's embarrassing to pee on the table. But the mom has to keep them there until they just do what they are told.
I wonder how many times God asks us to do something that we feel is absurd and downright outlandish. How often does God ask us to "Pee on the table, please?" and we say "No, I know that's not what I should do." or we think we know what the consequences of such an action woudl be. How often do we think we know better than God? How often does he keep us in a situation until we just can't "hold it" anymore and break down and "pee"?
I don't really have a good example of this in my life. But part of me wonders if I do. I wish it were as simple as Him just telling me to pee!
Do YOU need to go ahead and just pee on the table? It's just a thought.
A quick update
It's been a while since I last posted. It has been a really busy last couple weeks. I've been working on a secret scrapbook (which I will post pictures of when it is no longer a secret!), keeping up with the Holidays and getting ready for Christmas, and having one sickie after another. A few ER visits, more than our share of doctor visits, tylenol, antibiotics, and tests we are now 2 weeks from Christmas and feeling like we might survive-and maybe even survive well.
For Katelyn's first Thanksgiving she was on antibiotics that made her not feel very well. But we managed to celebrate with 3 other couples until one o'clock in the morning! Around 7pm that evening Katelyn came down with the stomach "flu" on top of all her other sicknesses/medicines...and I just felt so bad for my girl!
A couple days ago-finally of the antibiotics-we had a check up to make sure her UTI infection (and cause of 2 ER trips and numerous Dr visits) was gone. It WAS! But we were reccomended to go to Rapid City to have testing to make sure her kidneys and bladder were working properly. At first we were not going to do it, but then the very next day her fever came back AND I remembered that while I was pregnant, on ultrasound it showed something that made the doctors nervous then that her bladder had some blockage or some other problem. Eventually, after another ultrasound 10 weeks later, they decided it was probably okay, but told me to be aware of it. Between those 2 things we decided to take her to have the tests done. Why not? I mean, we almost met her deductible for a second time this year!!!
The first test was an ultrasound, which she thought was weird...and slightly irritating. The second test they put in a catheter and filled her bladder with fluid and dye and watched through a machine to see how her bladder/kidneys/etc responded. That test was a booger. It took an hour, 2 nurses, and 4 different catheters to get it in. All the while Kate screamed, and mommy wanted to! It was the worst thing I could think of doing to my little girl, and I kept praying that God would just let them get it in. I had decided that if the 4th try didn't work I would say we weren't going to try again. At one point it was as if Kate gave up and said "do what you will" and stopped fighting. I told her, NO you keep fighting baby girl! You never give up! It's heartbreaking to see your baby "give up" like that. She wasn't "down" long though before she started fighting again. At the end of the test the doctor said "well that's what we like to see!" and it was definitely a relief. We are very hopeful that the tests showed that she is fine!!! We will find out later this week.
Let's just say the last few weeks have been stressful and hard. But we have a lot to be thankful for- it could be MUCH worse than little sicknesses and good reports on all our tests in the last 2 months (MRI, EKG, etc for me!) Sometimes I wonder if I should have done the tests on Katelyn, but I constantly come back to the peace of mind we have, and that I couldn't live with myself if there was something wrong and we didn't check it out!
For Katelyn's first Thanksgiving she was on antibiotics that made her not feel very well. But we managed to celebrate with 3 other couples until one o'clock in the morning! Around 7pm that evening Katelyn came down with the stomach "flu" on top of all her other sicknesses/medicines...and I just felt so bad for my girl!
A couple days ago-finally of the antibiotics-we had a check up to make sure her UTI infection (and cause of 2 ER trips and numerous Dr visits) was gone. It WAS! But we were reccomended to go to Rapid City to have testing to make sure her kidneys and bladder were working properly. At first we were not going to do it, but then the very next day her fever came back AND I remembered that while I was pregnant, on ultrasound it showed something that made the doctors nervous then that her bladder had some blockage or some other problem. Eventually, after another ultrasound 10 weeks later, they decided it was probably okay, but told me to be aware of it. Between those 2 things we decided to take her to have the tests done. Why not? I mean, we almost met her deductible for a second time this year!!!
The first test was an ultrasound, which she thought was weird...and slightly irritating. The second test they put in a catheter and filled her bladder with fluid and dye and watched through a machine to see how her bladder/kidneys/etc responded. That test was a booger. It took an hour, 2 nurses, and 4 different catheters to get it in. All the while Kate screamed, and mommy wanted to! It was the worst thing I could think of doing to my little girl, and I kept praying that God would just let them get it in. I had decided that if the 4th try didn't work I would say we weren't going to try again. At one point it was as if Kate gave up and said "do what you will" and stopped fighting. I told her, NO you keep fighting baby girl! You never give up! It's heartbreaking to see your baby "give up" like that. She wasn't "down" long though before she started fighting again. At the end of the test the doctor said "well that's what we like to see!" and it was definitely a relief. We are very hopeful that the tests showed that she is fine!!! We will find out later this week.
Let's just say the last few weeks have been stressful and hard. But we have a lot to be thankful for- it could be MUCH worse than little sicknesses and good reports on all our tests in the last 2 months (MRI, EKG, etc for me!) Sometimes I wonder if I should have done the tests on Katelyn, but I constantly come back to the peace of mind we have, and that I couldn't live with myself if there was something wrong and we didn't check it out!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
It's Darken Out!
As Luke was putting Kaden to bed tonight he followed the same routine as always. Get his "jammas" on, last drinks, goodnight hugs, and finally turning off the light and singing to him (err...with him). Tonight after they were done singing Kaden said to Luke "It's darken in here, Daddy! I can't see my eyes!"
No Kaden. You can't see your eyes. But we knew what you meant.
Speaking of his bedtime routine. He knows the words to Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves the Little Children (AKA "All the World"), and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. However, he is incredibly off on the tune. Messes me up big time. Luke seems to do okay with it! His words to Hush Little Baby are "Mommas gonna buy you a mockin' bird" over and over and over.
Also. He loves to tell us when it's "darken out" and we can't convince him it's just DARK. This year, though, he believes us that the ornaments on the tree really are ornaments-not balls.
As he gets older, he gets more frustrating. A LOT more frustrating. But-he does get funnier too. (I was gonna say cuter, but I'm not sure that's possible...he's always been pretty cute!)
He's my favorite little boy ever. EVER.
No Kaden. You can't see your eyes. But we knew what you meant.
Speaking of his bedtime routine. He knows the words to Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves the Little Children (AKA "All the World"), and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. However, he is incredibly off on the tune. Messes me up big time. Luke seems to do okay with it! His words to Hush Little Baby are "Mommas gonna buy you a mockin' bird" over and over and over.
Also. He loves to tell us when it's "darken out" and we can't convince him it's just DARK. This year, though, he believes us that the ornaments on the tree really are ornaments-not balls.
As he gets older, he gets more frustrating. A LOT more frustrating. But-he does get funnier too. (I was gonna say cuter, but I'm not sure that's possible...he's always been pretty cute!)
He's my favorite little boy ever. EVER.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thankful!
A-The Antonichs-ALL of them ♥
B-My Kaden Boy
C-my Cricut -and Christmas-and coffee.
D-My Dad and my dishwasher
E-Eating Out
F-Family, Friends, and mostly Forgiveness
G-my Katelyn Girl and my Grandparents-the Gehmans
H-My Handsome Husband and my Home
I-Internet, Insurance and Ice water
J-Jesus Christ, my Savior
K-my 2 K's-they deserve to be mentioned twice!
L-true Love, Luke, and Laughing til i Cry
M-My Mom
N-Neverending Grace and Mercy of God (also, netflix and naptimes)
O- olives! (they add so much to subway sandwhiches)
P-PCA (and Pizza..for sure)(also, pickles, which are also amazing for those subway sandwhiches)
Q-Quiet moments
R-Relaxing
S-Subway. Sleep. Soda
T-Trees (it is Christmastime afterall)
U- being Understood
V- vacation time! (and Verizon;s free minutes)
W-Warm baths and WBC
X-"X marks the spot" especially on huge maps (or in the mall when I'm looking for a bathroom)
Y- every Year with Luke and my kids
Z- the Zoo?
B-My Kaden Boy
C-my Cricut -and Christmas-and coffee.
D-My Dad and my dishwasher
E-Eating Out
F-Family, Friends, and mostly Forgiveness
G-my Katelyn Girl and my Grandparents-the Gehmans
H-My Handsome Husband and my Home
I-Internet, Insurance and Ice water
J-Jesus Christ, my Savior
K-my 2 K's-they deserve to be mentioned twice!
L-true Love, Luke, and Laughing til i Cry
M-My Mom
N-Neverending Grace and Mercy of God (also, netflix and naptimes)
O- olives! (they add so much to subway sandwhiches)
P-PCA (and Pizza..for sure)(also, pickles, which are also amazing for those subway sandwhiches)
Q-Quiet moments
R-Relaxing
S-Subway. Sleep. Soda
T-Trees (it is Christmastime afterall)
U- being Understood
V- vacation time! (and Verizon;s free minutes)
W-Warm baths and WBC
X-"X marks the spot" especially on huge maps (or in the mall when I'm looking for a bathroom)
Y- every Year with Luke and my kids
Z- the Zoo?
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Katelyn
Well...Katelyn has had a fever since early Thursday. On Friday, since i'd been almost 48 hours of fever between 101.5-104 even with tylenol, we decided to try to get her in to see a doctor. Unfortunately, her pediatrician's office had no openings, so we had to go to the walk-in clinic. And wait. Finally, we saw the doctor and he ordered blood tests at the hospital. We went there, got her blood drawn, took Kaden to some friends (THANK YOU SHANNONS!!!!) and headed back to the clinic. We were there just a few minutes when they told us her white blood cell count was through the roof (meaning infection) and that we had to take her to the ER. We spent the next few hours at the ER getting tests and finally coming to the conclusion that it was mostly likely a UTI. (Not all of the tests have come back yet, including that one, but it's looking the most positive.) They gave her an antibiotic shot and we came home. (They wanted to keep her, but said we could try bringing her home.) This morning her fever was "gone" and she ate well, but around noon she started going downhill again. Her fever came back, and she's barely eaten a thing all afternoon. We did get 2 doses of antibiotic into her and her fever was gone again for a while. Until around 11pm...she's now on her way to the hospital to get IV antibiotics and fluids. At only 6 months old a UTI can turn fairly dangerous very quickly, especially if she gets dehydrated.
To top it all off, the rest of us are all feeling pretty lousy. Kaden was sick Monday night and hasn't seemed "well" since...and today was feeling worse. I woke up last night feeling crummy and haven't felt great all day. Luke started feeling it later this afternoon. Needless to say, we are feeling beat up on all sides. It's been a sleepless and stressful week, and this weekend has topped it off.
Luke will stay the night with Kate at the hospital, and I am going to try to get some sleep and then I'll go see her in the morning. We figured it'd be best this way since I am the only "bottle" she'll take during the day, so I need to be able to be around for her.
We appreciate your prayers!
To top it all off, the rest of us are all feeling pretty lousy. Kaden was sick Monday night and hasn't seemed "well" since...and today was feeling worse. I woke up last night feeling crummy and haven't felt great all day. Luke started feeling it later this afternoon. Needless to say, we are feeling beat up on all sides. It's been a sleepless and stressful week, and this weekend has topped it off.
Luke will stay the night with Kate at the hospital, and I am going to try to get some sleep and then I'll go see her in the morning. We figured it'd be best this way since I am the only "bottle" she'll take during the day, so I need to be able to be around for her.
We appreciate your prayers!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Whew
It's hunting season. (translated: No such thing as a "Saturday" anymore.)
Luke's on 2 committees at church. (Translated: evenings away a lot, and even home a lot of time spent focused on that.)
Kids have been sick with both stomach bugs and some virus that causes fever, of course always on different days. (Translated: sleepless nights)
I have been sick and having tests done (translated: I get to find a lot of babysitters so I can do a lot of stressful tests.)
I'm worn out.
I am making a decision to have a good attitude and give thanks in every circumstance. I'm glad that attitude is a choice and not something that just happens to us. And I'm thankful that it at least SEEMS like these things have got to be coming to an end soon.
Luke's on 2 committees at church. (Translated: evenings away a lot, and even home a lot of time spent focused on that.)
Kids have been sick with both stomach bugs and some virus that causes fever, of course always on different days. (Translated: sleepless nights)
I have been sick and having tests done (translated: I get to find a lot of babysitters so I can do a lot of stressful tests.)
I'm worn out.
I am making a decision to have a good attitude and give thanks in every circumstance. I'm glad that attitude is a choice and not something that just happens to us. And I'm thankful that it at least SEEMS like these things have got to be coming to an end soon.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Boot Shopping
I took Kaden boot shopping today.
Just me, Kaden, and Kate. Oh...and that's a "me-without-my-coffee" version of me. Let's just say that's the last time we go boot shopping without a back-up adult.
Also, I didn't even KNOW that Walmart workers knew how to offer help...until today. THEY WOULDN"T STOP. I mean, seriously, Lady...my kid is running through your store and you are talking my ear off trying to convince me to buy him a $30 pair of boots? Since when did you work on commission? First. I would like to catch my kid. Second. I'm sweating like a crazy mama cuz I wore my (apparently very WARM) snowboots and a coat (Why didn't I realize boot shopping requires shorts and tennis shoes, even on the coldest of days?) Third. You realizing my kid ran off and then trying to WOO him back is only making matters worse-he thinks it's a hilarious scene. Fourth. I AM NOT PAYING $30 TO WALMART FOR BOOTS FOR A 2 YEAR OLD!!!! If I wanted to pay that much I'd go to Payless and at least get a second pair half price just to make myself feel better.
Moving On. Dear Kmart. Your store associates were slightly better. At least they tried to convince my 2 year old BOY to want a BOY pair of boots. Unfortunately, your store training needs improvement in that area. I think it may have actually convinced him that the Tinkerbell boots were the only ones allowed to touch his toes. At least they are blue Tinkerbells. Also, your associate may be the only stranger EVER to actually calm down my screaming Kate. For that, I am forever thankful. Lastly, I'd have appreciated it if the boots could have been on sale the TEENIEST bit. I mean your winter coats were 40% off. Was that just to make me feel bad that the boots were NOT. If the boots go on sale this Sunday I swear....
All in all, I learned some very important lessons. 1. NEVER EVER FORGET YOU COFFEE ON A MONDAY MORNING. 2. Boot shopping for a 2 year old is never a good idea alone. 3. Boot shopping with a 2 year old and no coffee is nearly fatal. 4. Just stay home on Mondays. Just stay home.
I know you are all dying to see his new boots. Luke says they're "gross." I don't know if I've ever heard Luke use that word before. So, here they are. They aren't as bad as they could be-let's all just keep that in mind.
Since we are on the subject of boots- I was told once that if you go boot shopping with a guy, you are destined for marriage. That was about 3 weeks before Luke asked me to go shopping for boots with him. I knew we were meant to be. (Thankfully, I knew that before, so I will never question it..but still.) Whatever girl is destined to boot shop with my boy---I pray for patience and lots of love.
Just me, Kaden, and Kate. Oh...and that's a "me-without-my-coffee" version of me. Let's just say that's the last time we go boot shopping without a back-up adult.
Also, I didn't even KNOW that Walmart workers knew how to offer help...until today. THEY WOULDN"T STOP. I mean, seriously, Lady...my kid is running through your store and you are talking my ear off trying to convince me to buy him a $30 pair of boots? Since when did you work on commission? First. I would like to catch my kid. Second. I'm sweating like a crazy mama cuz I wore my (apparently very WARM) snowboots and a coat (Why didn't I realize boot shopping requires shorts and tennis shoes, even on the coldest of days?) Third. You realizing my kid ran off and then trying to WOO him back is only making matters worse-he thinks it's a hilarious scene. Fourth. I AM NOT PAYING $30 TO WALMART FOR BOOTS FOR A 2 YEAR OLD!!!! If I wanted to pay that much I'd go to Payless and at least get a second pair half price just to make myself feel better.
Moving On. Dear Kmart. Your store associates were slightly better. At least they tried to convince my 2 year old BOY to want a BOY pair of boots. Unfortunately, your store training needs improvement in that area. I think it may have actually convinced him that the Tinkerbell boots were the only ones allowed to touch his toes. At least they are blue Tinkerbells. Also, your associate may be the only stranger EVER to actually calm down my screaming Kate. For that, I am forever thankful. Lastly, I'd have appreciated it if the boots could have been on sale the TEENIEST bit. I mean your winter coats were 40% off. Was that just to make me feel bad that the boots were NOT. If the boots go on sale this Sunday I swear....
All in all, I learned some very important lessons. 1. NEVER EVER FORGET YOU COFFEE ON A MONDAY MORNING. 2. Boot shopping for a 2 year old is never a good idea alone. 3. Boot shopping with a 2 year old and no coffee is nearly fatal. 4. Just stay home on Mondays. Just stay home.
I know you are all dying to see his new boots. Luke says they're "gross." I don't know if I've ever heard Luke use that word before. So, here they are. They aren't as bad as they could be-let's all just keep that in mind.
Since we are on the subject of boots- I was told once that if you go boot shopping with a guy, you are destined for marriage. That was about 3 weeks before Luke asked me to go shopping for boots with him. I knew we were meant to be. (Thankfully, I knew that before, so I will never question it..but still.) Whatever girl is destined to boot shop with my boy---I pray for patience and lots of love.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Snowdirt
It snowed the other day. Kaden calls it snowdirt. That's just what it is. Don't argue with him!
Well, the other day he was sitting eating his breakfast and he suddenly says "OH NO!" I said "What's wrong?" and he pointed at the park out our backyard and said "Park dirty!"
No, Kaden. It's snow.
Today he played in the snow for 45 minutes before I had to make him come into to let his ankles/feet warm up. Poor kid doesn't have boots. Guess what we will be looking for tomorrow? The first thing he did was plop down in the middle of the snow and say "I CAN EAT IT!" Why does that not surprise me?
Well, the other day he was sitting eating his breakfast and he suddenly says "OH NO!" I said "What's wrong?" and he pointed at the park out our backyard and said "Park dirty!"
No, Kaden. It's snow.
Today he played in the snow for 45 minutes before I had to make him come into to let his ankles/feet warm up. Poor kid doesn't have boots. Guess what we will be looking for tomorrow? The first thing he did was plop down in the middle of the snow and say "I CAN EAT IT!" Why does that not surprise me?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Daddy, Break My Toes!
The other day Luke was rubbing my feet and when he's done he always pops my toes...just like my dad always used to do. Well, Kaden was watching, and as Luke is finishing up one foot I see Kaden start taking off his socks. Pretty soon he has his foot on Luke's lap, "Daddy! Break MY toes!!"
hilarious.
So the next day I had a babysitter, and she told me that while they were sitting, watching a movie, he was pulling on her finger saying, "Kaden break your finger!"
Um. WHAT 2 year old says that? After she knew the story she found it as funny as I did! :)
hilarious.
So the next day I had a babysitter, and she told me that while they were sitting, watching a movie, he was pulling on her finger saying, "Kaden break your finger!"
Um. WHAT 2 year old says that? After she knew the story she found it as funny as I did! :)
Thursday, November 4, 2010
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
I don't remember the last time I watered my plants. (they don't either, I'm guessing, by the looks of their curled up dry leaves).
My kitchen floor is half chipboard, half plywood, and it will be like that indefinitely.
My kitchen sink is stuffed with dirty dishes. (we won't talk about the countertops)
my kitchen table didn't get wiped down after dinner last night. (Or breakfast, or lunch, for that matter.)
my bathroom shower has been in the process of being cleaned for 24 hours now, thanks to my children and their amazing ability to need me right when I'm back at it.
my laundry has been in the process of being done for 3 days. It's not looking good for getting done today.
We (luke and I) have been challenged to think through the most important issues in life, church, and relationships...and are reminded that it's iron that sharpens iron...not anything soft and cuddly.
my yard needs raked (AGAIN).
We've had 3 dr. appointments this week, and more in the near future, with no conclusions found. (lets don't even talk about the money that goes along with that)
my son has decided the mom's voice is un-hearable, and therefore, he can do as he pleases.
and the rest of my house isn't much better than the previous list.
And I don't know when my inlaws are getting here. (hopefully after I get done procrastinating, and get this place back in order!)
However. I will remember what Pastor Gary preached about on Sunday and CHOOSE to "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Amen. I'm so thankful to have a God that tells us to be joyful, give thanks, etc...instead of telling us to look to ourselves for our strength, look out for #1, and bask in our own woes and worries... I'd be so miserable.
My kitchen floor is half chipboard, half plywood, and it will be like that indefinitely.
My kitchen sink is stuffed with dirty dishes. (we won't talk about the countertops)
my kitchen table didn't get wiped down after dinner last night. (Or breakfast, or lunch, for that matter.)
my bathroom shower has been in the process of being cleaned for 24 hours now, thanks to my children and their amazing ability to need me right when I'm back at it.
my laundry has been in the process of being done for 3 days. It's not looking good for getting done today.
We (luke and I) have been challenged to think through the most important issues in life, church, and relationships...and are reminded that it's iron that sharpens iron...not anything soft and cuddly.
my yard needs raked (AGAIN).
We've had 3 dr. appointments this week, and more in the near future, with no conclusions found. (lets don't even talk about the money that goes along with that)
my son has decided the mom's voice is un-hearable, and therefore, he can do as he pleases.
and the rest of my house isn't much better than the previous list.
And I don't know when my inlaws are getting here. (hopefully after I get done procrastinating, and get this place back in order!)
However. I will remember what Pastor Gary preached about on Sunday and CHOOSE to "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Amen. I'm so thankful to have a God that tells us to be joyful, give thanks, etc...instead of telling us to look to ourselves for our strength, look out for #1, and bask in our own woes and worries... I'd be so miserable.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Katelyn Joy is 6 months old...
(sob)(sob)
This momma is TOO sentimental with this baby. I hereby resolve to be excited about her growing up!
{resolve FAIL}
Ok, nevermind. Here are some pictures of my baby girl with her bear. I just love her easy going and sweet personality. She really is the easiest baby I've ever known.
This momma is TOO sentimental with this baby. I hereby resolve to be excited about her growing up!
{resolve FAIL}
Ok, nevermind. Here are some pictures of my baby girl with her bear. I just love her easy going and sweet personality. She really is the easiest baby I've ever known.
My Little Monster is Baaaaaaack!
Kaden's had a cough and runny nose for 9 weeks. I was just sure it was allergies, because he never had any other symptoms. He never complained of anything. He got more and more cuddly and laid back, but I figured anyone with allergies would feel more and more miserable the longer the season went. Finally he got to the point where I decided even if it is allergies I need to get him on some allergy meds to help him feel like a human being again.
(this is kaden "playing naptime" which he "played" a lot. Any excuse to lay down whithout actually going to bed, really.)
Instead the Dr. put him on antibiotics. And within 24 hours that child was back to running around our island, climbing on everything, using his voice excessively (I had forgotten how loud that boy is!) etc...
I feel like a bad mom. And I feel even worse as I think to myself (as he's climbing on Theresa's coffee table for the millionth time) "I think I liked him better sick."
Also, in the last 9 weeks he's been so laid back that I've hardly had to discipline him. I mean, you can't get them in trouble when they aren't doing it. So, I think he forgot the rules...which is why he was even climbing on the coffee table, putting the dog food in the water, etc...he forgot that rules aren't there just to be broken. Now I have to remind him. Unfortunately.
Theresa, thanks for putting up with him (and us!) today, and hopefully next time the coffee table will be more respected. OR i could bring a leash. Either way. I regress...
Now I know better than to wait 9 weeks. Maybe 3-4 is more reasonable. I don't want to be the mom who runs her kid to the doctor for every twitch, sneeze and itch. But, I don't want my kids to suffer longer than needed either. And Kaden is such a fun-loving little guy that he never complains!
I still think he may have some allergies, but am hoping this is really the cure.
(this is kaden "playing naptime" which he "played" a lot. Any excuse to lay down whithout actually going to bed, really.)
Instead the Dr. put him on antibiotics. And within 24 hours that child was back to running around our island, climbing on everything, using his voice excessively (I had forgotten how loud that boy is!) etc...
I feel like a bad mom. And I feel even worse as I think to myself (as he's climbing on Theresa's coffee table for the millionth time) "I think I liked him better sick."
Also, in the last 9 weeks he's been so laid back that I've hardly had to discipline him. I mean, you can't get them in trouble when they aren't doing it. So, I think he forgot the rules...which is why he was even climbing on the coffee table, putting the dog food in the water, etc...he forgot that rules aren't there just to be broken. Now I have to remind him. Unfortunately.
Theresa, thanks for putting up with him (and us!) today, and hopefully next time the coffee table will be more respected. OR i could bring a leash. Either way. I regress...
Now I know better than to wait 9 weeks. Maybe 3-4 is more reasonable. I don't want to be the mom who runs her kid to the doctor for every twitch, sneeze and itch. But, I don't want my kids to suffer longer than needed either. And Kaden is such a fun-loving little guy that he never complains!
I still think he may have some allergies, but am hoping this is really the cure.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Kisses for Momma
My Katelyn-girl gave me kisses tonight.
Over, and over again.
And my heart melted.
I would say, "Can I have a kiss, Kate?" and she'd look at me and lean in and lick my cheek really quick and lean away. Then I'd say "Oh! Thank you, Kate!" and she'd giggle.
And then we start over.
She's 6 months old today-that girl of mine. She just keeps growing...against my will. I want time to stand still, I want to enjoy her (and Kaden) to the fullest..and it seems impossible when time flies so quickly!
She's no chubby girl (at this moment, anyway). She's mostly happy. More and more she wants to do what we are doing and be where we are. She adores her brother. He can do almost anything to her and she just plays along. The other day he found it hilarious to put a stocking hat over her head...and her face. And she just sat there, playing along. Eventually she screamed at him and he quit (with a little help from mom).
She might not smile as much as Kaden, but she is quite literally my pure joy.
Over, and over again.
And my heart melted.
I would say, "Can I have a kiss, Kate?" and she'd look at me and lean in and lick my cheek really quick and lean away. Then I'd say "Oh! Thank you, Kate!" and she'd giggle.
And then we start over.
She's 6 months old today-that girl of mine. She just keeps growing...against my will. I want time to stand still, I want to enjoy her (and Kaden) to the fullest..and it seems impossible when time flies so quickly!
She's no chubby girl (at this moment, anyway). She's mostly happy. More and more she wants to do what we are doing and be where we are. She adores her brother. He can do almost anything to her and she just plays along. The other day he found it hilarious to put a stocking hat over her head...and her face. And she just sat there, playing along. Eventually she screamed at him and he quit (with a little help from mom).
She might not smile as much as Kaden, but she is quite literally my pure joy.
"No, Just Happy"
Lately, Kaden has been saying a phrase that I just find... what's the word.... uplifting. A phrase I've decided I need to add to my list of "frequently used phrases." Even greater would be to add it to my list of "subconsciously and frequently used phrases." So get ready..it will blow your mind. (or not. but you'll at least find it cute if nothing else!)
Mom: "Kaden, are you sleepy?"
Kaden: "Nope. Just happy."
Mom: "Kaden, are you full yet?"
Kaden: "No, just happy."
Mom: "Kaden, are you silly?"
Kaden: "Nope, just happy."
He says it nonchalantly. He says it contently. I think what he means is to say "no, just content."
Mom: "Kaden, are you sleepy?"
Kaden: "Nope. Just happy."
Mom: "Kaden, are you full yet?"
Kaden: "No, just happy."
Mom: "Kaden, are you silly?"
Kaden: "Nope, just happy."
He says it nonchalantly. He says it contently. I think what he means is to say "no, just content."
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Kitchen Floor
The other day Luke started tearing out the flooring in the kitchen. And by tearing, I mean that literally. Kaden LOVED it. Isn't that a little boys dream? To destroy. And to be helped in destroying by none other than Daddy.
So far "we" (that's a he-we, big time) have one layer of linolium off, 1 layer of plywood off, and 2 layers of linolium to go. Possibly another layer of plywood depending on what we find. I am feeling bad for Luke and will be buying him a BIG SCREEN TV as a thank you with my Pampered Chef money. I know he could have lived with the flooring that was in for years and years, so he's doing this project just for me.
ANYWAY, so the morning after the first layer got torn off Kaden was walking into the kitchen. Right as he was about to step in he stopped-one foot in the air-and exclaimed "OH NO!! Floor BROKEN!"
For how good of a memory he normally has, I was surprised he didn't remember. It was adorable though.
Once again, the floor has turned into more work than we hoped. Yet, again, not more than we probably expected. We've learned that, at least in this house, probably nothing was done to our standards and will be a pain to redo! It's going to get harder and harder to convince Luke to do projects! THAT, or the thank you's will have to get better and better...maybe i shouldn't be starting out with a TV! I'll be posting many before-during-and after pictures as this project progresses. Stay tuned!
So far "we" (that's a he-we, big time) have one layer of linolium off, 1 layer of plywood off, and 2 layers of linolium to go. Possibly another layer of plywood depending on what we find. I am feeling bad for Luke and will be buying him a BIG SCREEN TV as a thank you with my Pampered Chef money. I know he could have lived with the flooring that was in for years and years, so he's doing this project just for me.
ANYWAY, so the morning after the first layer got torn off Kaden was walking into the kitchen. Right as he was about to step in he stopped-one foot in the air-and exclaimed "OH NO!! Floor BROKEN!"
For how good of a memory he normally has, I was surprised he didn't remember. It was adorable though.
Once again, the floor has turned into more work than we hoped. Yet, again, not more than we probably expected. We've learned that, at least in this house, probably nothing was done to our standards and will be a pain to redo! It's going to get harder and harder to convince Luke to do projects! THAT, or the thank you's will have to get better and better...maybe i shouldn't be starting out with a TV! I'll be posting many before-during-and after pictures as this project progresses. Stay tuned!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Hair
Last night we were at our church's business meeting and Kaden went to sit with Earl Byrd. He got up on his lap...and immediately asked about his necklace and his nose and then his mustache...
Kaden: "what's this?"
Earl: "that's my mustache"
Kaden: Kinda pulling on the mustache then pointing to Earl's head "That go on THERE"
Yes, Kaden...he should have hair on his head.
Kaden: "what's this?"
Earl: "that's my mustache"
Kaden: Kinda pulling on the mustache then pointing to Earl's head "That go on THERE"
Yes, Kaden...he should have hair on his head.
Water Bottle (part 2)
A few days after we went to Rapid City, Rachel and I decided to brave another restaurant with the kids. This time Sanfords (Humphreys) here in town. It was tasty, and relatively uneventful. Until I put Kaden's recently rescued, and dearly treasured by it's owner, orange water bottle on the roof of the car to put Kaden into the car.
Forgot it there.
And drove off.
Classic? Right? Thankfully, it was unharmed even though it really should have been backed over and then run over. We rescued it again..and are wondering still if it should be allowed to leave this house.
He still loves that water bottle.
(Just a side note: Luke and I took the kids to Rapid this last weekend and guess what we forgot. Something for Kaden to drink out of. This time we did not buy him anything. We simply ordered a kid's water when we went out to eat!)
Forgot it there.
And drove off.
Classic? Right? Thankfully, it was unharmed even though it really should have been backed over and then run over. We rescued it again..and are wondering still if it should be allowed to leave this house.
He still loves that water bottle.
(Just a side note: Luke and I took the kids to Rapid this last weekend and guess what we forgot. Something for Kaden to drink out of. This time we did not buy him anything. We simply ordered a kid's water when we went out to eat!)
Friday, October 15, 2010
Water Bottle
Rachel and I decided to make a trip to Rapid City while she was here...mostly for the good eatin' but also for some shopping (mostly me!) First store: Gordmans! Where they have this awesome TV area for kids. Rachel, Kaden, and Kate hung out there while I shopped...and finally got myself the promised "when I'm done being pregnant" pajama pants. You can see them in the back of the cart in the picture below. Kaden had decided that he needed to hold Kate and it was too cute to not take a picture! Kate didn't hate it the whole time...just by the time I got a picture of her face...hence the "happy" picture that avoids her upset face.
After Gordmans we realized I had not brought Kaden a sippy cup to use for the day. So, since we were going to Scheels anyway I figured I'd just get him a water bottle like Luke and I have. He's always swiping ours anyway. So I let him pick one. Much to NO ONE's surprise, he picked an orange one, and wanted to hold onto it from then on.
Next we went to lunch downtown to a place called the FireHouse Grill and Brewery- a favorite of Rachel's that she was wanting me to experience (definitely good if you're every in the Rapid City area!) I think she likes it mostly for the beer....mustard.
It was a busy day downtown with some kind of parades and construction all around. We managed to find a parking spot only about a block away and headed in. As we walked Kaden held to his new water bottle proudly. Then he dropped it. And it rolled into the street. No big deal...we'd send him to get it once it rolled to the curb. Except that the curb was a gutter drain...without a metal cover! It rolled right down into the ground about 6 feet down. I COULD SEE THE STUPID $12 water bottle that hadn't even been washed yet, much less used!!!! But I could not reach it.
What to do? I was sick. Would I go back and buy another one? Or would i just go find the cheapest sippy I could find and cut my losses? We got into the Firehouse and ordered and I just could not get that water bottle out of my head. So, I left Rachel with both kids...and headed back to my car to see if there was a clothes hanger I could try to snag it out with. No such luck. So, I looked to see if there was ANYTHING...and much to my surprise I found a tow rope with a nice little (ok, it's big) hook. I walked back to the hotel with a stupid little grin on my face...the thought going through my head was "I sure hope I can get it, and I wonder how dumb I will look...oh no! A car is in front of the drain!"
I didn't let that car stop me. I am sure I looked quite hilarious swining a tow rope down a gutter drain...but after only 2 tries i hooked the bottle and hoisted it up.
Then i walked dumbly with a huge grin on my face into the restaurant...with my huge tow rope and my newly saved water bottle. It was a happy moment.
(Here is a picture of where it rolled down the "drain."
The rest of the day was relatively uneventful, I will say that I kept better hold of that bottle. When we got ready to leave we stopped at a convenience store to get some drinks and left Kaden in the car for a minute and when we got back out he was already asleep just like this:
It was a cute ending to a fun day.
After Gordmans we realized I had not brought Kaden a sippy cup to use for the day. So, since we were going to Scheels anyway I figured I'd just get him a water bottle like Luke and I have. He's always swiping ours anyway. So I let him pick one. Much to NO ONE's surprise, he picked an orange one, and wanted to hold onto it from then on.
Next we went to lunch downtown to a place called the FireHouse Grill and Brewery- a favorite of Rachel's that she was wanting me to experience (definitely good if you're every in the Rapid City area!) I think she likes it mostly for the beer....mustard.
It was a busy day downtown with some kind of parades and construction all around. We managed to find a parking spot only about a block away and headed in. As we walked Kaden held to his new water bottle proudly. Then he dropped it. And it rolled into the street. No big deal...we'd send him to get it once it rolled to the curb. Except that the curb was a gutter drain...without a metal cover! It rolled right down into the ground about 6 feet down. I COULD SEE THE STUPID $12 water bottle that hadn't even been washed yet, much less used!!!! But I could not reach it.
What to do? I was sick. Would I go back and buy another one? Or would i just go find the cheapest sippy I could find and cut my losses? We got into the Firehouse and ordered and I just could not get that water bottle out of my head. So, I left Rachel with both kids...and headed back to my car to see if there was a clothes hanger I could try to snag it out with. No such luck. So, I looked to see if there was ANYTHING...and much to my surprise I found a tow rope with a nice little (ok, it's big) hook. I walked back to the hotel with a stupid little grin on my face...the thought going through my head was "I sure hope I can get it, and I wonder how dumb I will look...oh no! A car is in front of the drain!"
I didn't let that car stop me. I am sure I looked quite hilarious swining a tow rope down a gutter drain...but after only 2 tries i hooked the bottle and hoisted it up.
Then i walked dumbly with a huge grin on my face into the restaurant...with my huge tow rope and my newly saved water bottle. It was a happy moment.
(Here is a picture of where it rolled down the "drain."
The rest of the day was relatively uneventful, I will say that I kept better hold of that bottle. When we got ready to leave we stopped at a convenience store to get some drinks and left Kaden in the car for a minute and when we got back out he was already asleep just like this:
It was a cute ending to a fun day.
Our Okie/Arkie Friends
A couple weeks ago we had some friends here. My friend Rachel from college, her brother Nate (also from Grace), and their dad Bill.
This morning Kaden asked for "Boppa Bill" again. The kid has a memory, and LOVED Boppa Bill. (And Nate and Rach too!)
Nate could get Katelyn to grin and giggle like a pro. She wasn't scared of him at all, which is amazing because most people she doesn't know bring her straight to tears.
Rachel was a hit with both kids! I had so much fun watching them with her. If she left the room Kaden was lost without her. Completely lost. Although, for some reason he couldn't remember to call her Rachel. Instead it was "Lori" or "Terri". We're gonna work on that one for the next time!
Here is the new version of peanut butter pie that I made for them while they were here. I have to make peanut butter pie when I see Bill...it just seems like tradtion by now. This one was utterly amazing.
Mostly Rachel and I and the kids hung out, cooked, ate out, and tried to avoid the butchering process. (Rachel = successful, Bethany = unsuccessful). Luke got an antelope so I did wrap our packages of meat.
In the evenings, when the guys were home, we hung out with them and had some meaningful conversations that were super encouraging.
It was such a fun visit and flew by way too quickly.
This morning Kaden asked for "Boppa Bill" again. The kid has a memory, and LOVED Boppa Bill. (And Nate and Rach too!)
Nate could get Katelyn to grin and giggle like a pro. She wasn't scared of him at all, which is amazing because most people she doesn't know bring her straight to tears.
Rachel was a hit with both kids! I had so much fun watching them with her. If she left the room Kaden was lost without her. Completely lost. Although, for some reason he couldn't remember to call her Rachel. Instead it was "Lori" or "Terri". We're gonna work on that one for the next time!
Here is the new version of peanut butter pie that I made for them while they were here. I have to make peanut butter pie when I see Bill...it just seems like tradtion by now. This one was utterly amazing.
Mostly Rachel and I and the kids hung out, cooked, ate out, and tried to avoid the butchering process. (Rachel = successful, Bethany = unsuccessful). Luke got an antelope so I did wrap our packages of meat.
In the evenings, when the guys were home, we hung out with them and had some meaningful conversations that were super encouraging.
It was such a fun visit and flew by way too quickly.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Jumperoo
Today we got out the Jumperoo for Katelyn. Kaden used it some when he was a baby, but it just didn't seem to tickle his fancy. However, Katelyn loves it. She bounces, and bounces, and bounces...throwing in a laugh or few. It is so fun to watch. Kaden loves watching her bounce and so they laugh together.
Two kids is just so much fun!
When we got out the Jumperoo we also said goodbye to the swing! Really?! Is she really past the swing stage?! This is killing me! She's growing up soo fast! And I have purposely stopped almost everyday just to enjoy her babyhood...and it's STILL speeding by. Tomorrow I intend to start her on peas and later in the week carrots, green beans, pears, squash, peaches...etc... BUT it is all against my will.
I am still in denial. Surely she is still just the newborn we hoped would sleep through the night soon.
I am one of those moms. The ones that gets all sentimental, i guess.
Please...please don't tell my former self.
Two kids is just so much fun!
When we got out the Jumperoo we also said goodbye to the swing! Really?! Is she really past the swing stage?! This is killing me! She's growing up soo fast! And I have purposely stopped almost everyday just to enjoy her babyhood...and it's STILL speeding by. Tomorrow I intend to start her on peas and later in the week carrots, green beans, pears, squash, peaches...etc... BUT it is all against my will.
I am still in denial. Surely she is still just the newborn we hoped would sleep through the night soon.
I am one of those moms. The ones that gets all sentimental, i guess.
Please...please don't tell my former self.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
At 5 months and 1 week...
...my baby girl can sit.
Already.
Wasn't she just born?
Also, just a couple weeks ago I was telling my mom I was thinking she may not be sitting by Christmas because she's just to content with laying. Apparently she just doesn't have to practice, I just sat her down, and there she sat.
She loves to sit on rocking chairs and throw herself forward and backward to rock. Then I move her to the couch and it really confuses her.
Even though she can sit, she just doesn't care whether she's sitting, laying, rocking, or bouncing. She's good with whatever. I couldn't have gotten an easier, more laid back baby.
Already.
Wasn't she just born?
Also, just a couple weeks ago I was telling my mom I was thinking she may not be sitting by Christmas because she's just to content with laying. Apparently she just doesn't have to practice, I just sat her down, and there she sat.
She loves to sit on rocking chairs and throw herself forward and backward to rock. Then I move her to the couch and it really confuses her.
Even though she can sit, she just doesn't care whether she's sitting, laying, rocking, or bouncing. She's good with whatever. I couldn't have gotten an easier, more laid back baby.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Sucker Parties Abound!
Well, the kiddos are sick, but that hasn't stopped Kaden from his potty training madness!
The kid stayed DRY on our trip to Rapid City yesterday, and I didn't even remind him once. Also, he has pooped in the potty with 100% success the last 5 days and not had one accident even with company here this weekend.
Do I declare him potty trained? Or wait 28 days so I know it's a habit? I am really proud of the little man.
When he poops in the potty he gets to have a "poop on the potty sucker party" and pick out a new matchbox car. He is eating the last sucker as I type, then he will move on to get the last car! So, I either need to go to Walmart and restock, or declare him trained and hope he'll have no accidents without the motivation.
I think I'll go to Walmart.
The kid stayed DRY on our trip to Rapid City yesterday, and I didn't even remind him once. Also, he has pooped in the potty with 100% success the last 5 days and not had one accident even with company here this weekend.
Do I declare him potty trained? Or wait 28 days so I know it's a habit? I am really proud of the little man.
When he poops in the potty he gets to have a "poop on the potty sucker party" and pick out a new matchbox car. He is eating the last sucker as I type, then he will move on to get the last car! So, I either need to go to Walmart and restock, or declare him trained and hope he'll have no accidents without the motivation.
I think I'll go to Walmart.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Kaden's "Needs"
Top 5 " Kaden needs to want..." (as Kaden puts it.)
1. to watch Dora
2. a chocolate chip, please
3. lunch
4. to go to church
5. to go to park
When asked "you NEED to?" He just gets closer to your face and repeats: "NEEDS TO WANT TO WATCH DORA!" or whatever it is he thinks he wants and needs.
1. to watch Dora
2. a chocolate chip, please
3. lunch
4. to go to church
5. to go to park
When asked "you NEED to?" He just gets closer to your face and repeats: "NEEDS TO WANT TO WATCH DORA!" or whatever it is he thinks he wants and needs.
Guest Bathroom "Improvements"
This week has been quite eventful. For the past month or so we've been working on tearing off wallpaper, patching walls, texturing, and painting. In the process, we've had to move our fridge at least 9 zillion times. (At least.) Turns out, the LAST time we moved our fridge back into place we forgot to check to make sure it was All Systems Go.
Apparently, it was not.
Guest bathroom before:
Thankfully, Luke was in the guest bathroom about 4 days later and noticed a dripping sound. Earlier in the week I had noticed that it smelled wet, but kept trying to find out why to no avail. He was able to trace the dripping sound up to our refrigerator-specifically-the pipe that connects to our ice maker.
Fantastic.
In the process of trying to find out the extend of the damage the sheetrock on the bathroom side of the wall collapsed. Had we touched the other side (our downstairs family room side) it also would have collapsed.
Right now we have fans blowing, and the toilet out...hoping to have it "workable" (if you don't mind a whole in the sheetrock behind you) for our company who is coming on Thursday.
These mishaps never occur at "convenient" times, do they? We are just thanking God that the damage wasn't worse, there is no mold, and we found it in time to fix it ourselves. Also, about 18 months ago I had torn off all the wallpaper in hopes of painting, and that project got put on hold indefinitely. I am so thankful I hadn't painted/redecorated only to find this mess!
Also. We have decided that we may never have gotten back to the project that is the guest bath (for various reasons, mainly that it was done as horribly as the dining room, and who wants to face that? AND out of sight, out of mind, right?) This will encourage us to tackle that project. Unfortunately, our dining room is on hold as well. I'd truly love to finish that before we switch our attention!
So, this post has a label called "home improvement"...in realization that it gets worse before it gets better....
Guest Bathroom after:
Apparently, it was not.
Guest bathroom before:
Thankfully, Luke was in the guest bathroom about 4 days later and noticed a dripping sound. Earlier in the week I had noticed that it smelled wet, but kept trying to find out why to no avail. He was able to trace the dripping sound up to our refrigerator-specifically-the pipe that connects to our ice maker.
Fantastic.
In the process of trying to find out the extend of the damage the sheetrock on the bathroom side of the wall collapsed. Had we touched the other side (our downstairs family room side) it also would have collapsed.
Right now we have fans blowing, and the toilet out...hoping to have it "workable" (if you don't mind a whole in the sheetrock behind you) for our company who is coming on Thursday.
These mishaps never occur at "convenient" times, do they? We are just thanking God that the damage wasn't worse, there is no mold, and we found it in time to fix it ourselves. Also, about 18 months ago I had torn off all the wallpaper in hopes of painting, and that project got put on hold indefinitely. I am so thankful I hadn't painted/redecorated only to find this mess!
Also. We have decided that we may never have gotten back to the project that is the guest bath (for various reasons, mainly that it was done as horribly as the dining room, and who wants to face that? AND out of sight, out of mind, right?) This will encourage us to tackle that project. Unfortunately, our dining room is on hold as well. I'd truly love to finish that before we switch our attention!
So, this post has a label called "home improvement"...in realization that it gets worse before it gets better....
Guest Bathroom after:
Sunday, September 26, 2010
A Boy and His Boppa
A couple weeks ago Kaden and I were in the kitchen and I hear, "OH NOOO!!!" and I turned, expecting to find an overturned garbage can, broken window, or huge mess. Instead, I found my boy pointing to an empty part of the fridge, where a picture had been: "wheerrreee's Boppa?" I was impressed. Not even I could have told you the missing picture was THAT picture. So, he started marching around the house "Boppa! Where are you?" and eventually found himself back where he started, at the fridge, opening it. I told him. "Kaden, close the fridge. I don't think Boppa is in the fridge!" At that moment, the missing picture of Boppa fell out of the fridge. Kaden looked at me with accusing eyes (I HAD just lied to him, right?) and said "Boppa!!! THERE you are!" and as he tried to put it up on the fridge, commanded "Boppa. Stay on fridge."
And his world was once again all okay.
I was remembering this last night and wanted to get in on the blog, because, knowing me, it is the only chance I have of remembering again!
And his world was once again all okay.
I was remembering this last night and wanted to get in on the blog, because, knowing me, it is the only chance I have of remembering again!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
You Can't Trust Monday (or Tuesday apparently)
This week I feel like I've had two Mondays. And it's only Tuesday. I'm a little nervous to see what tomorrow brings.
Thinking back, I couldn't tell you specifically what was so bad. It was just a mix of a little bit of everything, and a bad mood.
Tomorrow WILL be a good day.
Thinking back, I couldn't tell you specifically what was so bad. It was just a mix of a little bit of everything, and a bad mood.
Tomorrow WILL be a good day.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
High on Paint?
I ♥ my orange dining room!
and it doesn't even have trim on yet!!!! (here are some views of the work in progress. YOu have to wait to the end to see the paint!)
This is an old pic from right after we moved in. Looks like an innocent wall, doesn't it???? No, it was textured paint over very awfully done wallpaper. It was an eyesore up close.
The worse areas were behind the fridge (pic will show later) beside the patio door, and between the light switches (there was just nothing between them. Kind of weird looking...) Not the greatest pic...
The end of this wall (the part that is discouragingly HORRIBLE...)is behind the fridge. Eventually that wall, and the wall behind my counters and stove will be covered by beadboard and white paint. BUT, it does give you a taste of what we were facing for the rest of the walls! (its truly amazing what wallpaper can hide!!!)Also, you will notice, in this picture the area between light switches now has sheetrock/tape/mud/texture/primer!
This picture just shows some more areas of new sheetrock. I wish I'd taken more pictures, but that's how it goes with 2 little kids and a full camera card.
We have put a lot more work into this dining room than we'd hoped. But, honestly, probably not more than was expected. My previous blog with the label "home improvement" tells of the....difficulties we experienced. Unfortunately, I didn't get good pictures of HOW bad it was, and I don't want to go into it here. I'll just say, the pictures you see where we had to patch and add whole new sheetrock were un-salvage-able. The other areas, Luke (with some help from his brother Justin) were able to patch, and retexture.
This is us choosing colors. I chose the one on the right!
Then Luke painted: 3 coats of orange, 2 coats of Polar Bear white.
It looks like NEW!
...well...new without trim...I guess. (there will be a chair rail where the paint meets (obviously) and crown moulding, and floor trim...and hopefully laminate wood flooring!!!!
AND NOW (drumroll, please!) here are the long awaited, still not finished pictures of the dining room!
UM. Can I just LIVE in my dining room now?
and it doesn't even have trim on yet!!!! (here are some views of the work in progress. YOu have to wait to the end to see the paint!)
This is an old pic from right after we moved in. Looks like an innocent wall, doesn't it???? No, it was textured paint over very awfully done wallpaper. It was an eyesore up close.
The worse areas were behind the fridge (pic will show later) beside the patio door, and between the light switches (there was just nothing between them. Kind of weird looking...) Not the greatest pic...
The end of this wall (the part that is discouragingly HORRIBLE...)is behind the fridge. Eventually that wall, and the wall behind my counters and stove will be covered by beadboard and white paint. BUT, it does give you a taste of what we were facing for the rest of the walls! (its truly amazing what wallpaper can hide!!!)Also, you will notice, in this picture the area between light switches now has sheetrock/tape/mud/texture/primer!
This picture just shows some more areas of new sheetrock. I wish I'd taken more pictures, but that's how it goes with 2 little kids and a full camera card.We have put a lot more work into this dining room than we'd hoped. But, honestly, probably not more than was expected. My previous blog with the label "home improvement" tells of the....difficulties we experienced. Unfortunately, I didn't get good pictures of HOW bad it was, and I don't want to go into it here. I'll just say, the pictures you see where we had to patch and add whole new sheetrock were un-salvage-able. The other areas, Luke (with some help from his brother Justin) were able to patch, and retexture.
This is us choosing colors. I chose the one on the right!
Then Luke painted: 3 coats of orange, 2 coats of Polar Bear white.
It looks like NEW!
...well...new without trim...I guess. (there will be a chair rail where the paint meets (obviously) and crown moulding, and floor trim...and hopefully laminate wood flooring!!!!
AND NOW (drumroll, please!) here are the long awaited, still not finished pictures of the dining room!
UM. Can I just LIVE in my dining room now?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Happenings in the Antonich Household
This week we are watching my nephews Collin and Warren. It has been fun and Kaden has thoroughly enjoyed the company! Even Kate has loved the extra action! Their parents, Justin and Rose, stayed through the weekend with us. Justin and Luke were able to finish mudding the new sheetrock and all the places that needed patches, retextured, primed, and now are dining room has 2 big orange wall tester blobs on it.
AM I REALLY GOING TO DO ORANGE?!
Justin and Rose left Monday, during the kids' naptime, to head over to Rapid City to attend an AMF Missionary Conference. I had cooking club that night, so I spent the afternoon cleaning up from all the mudding/texturing/extra dishes from company mess. The kids played and played and it was actually easier than if I'd just had Kaden and Kate!
Today I have another cooking club, but I'm hoping to get the kitchen/dining room clean before it gets warm out. Then when it's nice I hope to take the kids out to play in the pool!
Justin and Rose will be back tomorrow afternoon, and the time with the kids will be all to short :(
Back to the walls...I will post pictures soon of the progress and colors!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Roseola
Well, my baby girl seems to have Roseola. Have you heard of it? It seems that it's easier to diagnose after the sickness has pretty much run it's course. I didn't know what Roseola was until she started getting little red rash looking dots alllll over her body. I didn't know if it was an allergic reaction, heat, or what! I quickly took some pictures and sent them to my might-as-well-have-been-a-doctor mom. I then called to implore her to please check her email as soon as she could. She, however, was not even in town and could not. I said "But! Katelyn has a rash!" (Like that can change whether mom has access to her email!) and mom replied "Is it on the trunk of her body, not hot, and not very raised?" Me, confused: "Um, yah pretty much." Mom: "It's Roseola." JUST.LIKE.THAT. No, "It's ok honey, your baby's gonna be fine it's just...." Nope. Just this is what it is. So, I asked "Is that...like...a good thing? A not good thing? A slightly OK thing? Or should I be hanging up and calling an ambulance?" (Fairly certain it wasn't that last option.) It turns out it's not really good, but definitely not bad...since the rash part means its over.
SO. For those of you unexperienced like me. Roseola starts with a (usually) high fever (102-105*) that lasts 3-5 days. It can be accompanied by runny nose, cough, and diahrea. Needless to say, this is why it is hard to diagnose! When the fever breaks the rash appears and can last from 1-3ish days. We all hope for the 1 day. That's when you know what it was. It is highly contagious as well, until 24 hours after the rash appears.
Thankfully, I cancelled all playdates this week, did not attend church, and did not attend MOPS on Thursday. I am glad I made that decision. So as of tomorrow morning we should be contagious free and on the upside! WHEW. I'm getting sick of having sickies.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Ghost Gallbladder
Today is 6 weeks post surgery. How do I feel? FANTASTIC. Energetic. A whole new person. And a little surprised that it was so easy.
I had a little back pain for a few weeks after surgery. I also had what I've now, affectionately, come to call my lack-of-gallbladder-feeling: ghost gallbladder pain. You know, when someone has something amputated, I've heard that they have a hard time convincing their brain that it's gone. Really gone. I think that was my brain and it's tramatic parting with my gallbladder. Every day, sometimes several times a day, I would have a burny-stretchy-knifey pain where my gallbladder used to be. I actually thought it was kind of neat. However, that ghost gallbladder has also taken leave of my body. I will miss you, my fair ghost- at least a little.
The hardest part about surgery was getting back on my diet. Which I didn't. Yet. Tomorrow, I expect that to change. I wanted to try a lot of different foods right after surgery so I would know if I had any adverse affects to talk to my surgeon about. (Yes, my surgeon. I now have a surgeon to call my very own.) I tried all the yummiest, fattiest, sinfulest foods I could imagine. And I had absolutely NO problems. However, 6 weeks later, I'm afraid I can no longer use the excuse "I need to see how this affects me without a gallbladder" excuse any longer.
SAD day.
I am, however, happy to report: I gained no weight while trying all those greasy, sinful, yummy meals/desserts/snacks/etc... Which leads me to wonder-was my gallbladder hoarding calories? Or is it just coincidance that I didn't gain.
I don't actually wonder. I know. But it sure would be nice if it could have been a "got rid of my gallbladder and now I'll never gain weight again" kind of miracle.
Only 10 more pounds to lose tho!
I had a little back pain for a few weeks after surgery. I also had what I've now, affectionately, come to call my lack-of-gallbladder-feeling: ghost gallbladder pain. You know, when someone has something amputated, I've heard that they have a hard time convincing their brain that it's gone. Really gone. I think that was my brain and it's tramatic parting with my gallbladder. Every day, sometimes several times a day, I would have a burny-stretchy-knifey pain where my gallbladder used to be. I actually thought it was kind of neat. However, that ghost gallbladder has also taken leave of my body. I will miss you, my fair ghost- at least a little.
The hardest part about surgery was getting back on my diet. Which I didn't. Yet. Tomorrow, I expect that to change. I wanted to try a lot of different foods right after surgery so I would know if I had any adverse affects to talk to my surgeon about. (Yes, my surgeon. I now have a surgeon to call my very own.) I tried all the yummiest, fattiest, sinfulest foods I could imagine. And I had absolutely NO problems. However, 6 weeks later, I'm afraid I can no longer use the excuse "I need to see how this affects me without a gallbladder" excuse any longer.
SAD day.
I am, however, happy to report: I gained no weight while trying all those greasy, sinful, yummy meals/desserts/snacks/etc... Which leads me to wonder-was my gallbladder hoarding calories? Or is it just coincidance that I didn't gain.
I don't actually wonder. I know. But it sure would be nice if it could have been a "got rid of my gallbladder and now I'll never gain weight again" kind of miracle.
Only 10 more pounds to lose tho!
Monday, August 30, 2010
"No Gingin'!"
Lately, my hilarious little boy has been begging "no gingin'!" (NO SINGING!) anytime we so much as threaten to sing/hum/whistle or otherwise. It's kinda cute, and sometimes, I'll admit, I even do it to get him to say it. :) Today, however, I was trying to sing to Katelyn as I attempted to rock her to sleep. She looooves me to sing to her and will calm down immediately. So. Picture me, singing-in my not so lovely singing voice-to Kate. Kaden standing about 10 feet away "NO gingin'! NO GINGIN'!!!" and I was ignoring him. Finally, i looked up to see him almost in tears, "NO GINGIN'!" and plugging his ears! PLUGGING.HIS.EARS.
I had to stop singing.
I had to stop singing.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Home Depot Broke My Wallet
Yes, you read right. Figuratively speaking, Home Depot broke my wallet. It was unkind to us today as we purchased many tools, supplies, and gadgets for the near future. We are still working on the wallpaper removal project. There are moments when I wonder what I've gotten myself into, and moments where I am just so, SO excited to finish. I has become almost monumental. We have now taken down all the trim around windows, doors, and floor, since the wallpaper was on, under, or otherwise hindered by it. Most of it is junk because between wallpaper and paint it would be more work than it's worth to try to clean up. Thankfully, I had already decided i wanted to put up crown molding, so when it became a must at least I wasn't irritated. The previous owners painted all over the ceilings (and by all over, I guess I don't really mean ALL OVER. but at least an inch into the ceiling..with lovely TEXTURED gray/tan paint.) The only other option would be to paint the ceiling which reaches over the stairs, into the living room, and beyond. I ♥ crown molding.
SINCE we have the trim off....I am *hesitantly* trying to convince Luke to go ahead and do the flooring as well. I would LOVE to have laminate wood-looking flooring in the kitchen and dining room. It would require pulling up carpet to certain point in the entry, and pulling up the kitchen linolium..which, SURPRISE, is also painted all over. (And by all over I DO mean all over. Its like they flung paint...)
I think I have decided that instead of repainting the parts behind my counters, I want to do beadboard. I {think}. I am still going to browse the world wide web for more inspiration. I decided to do something other than paint when I realized that both behind the fridge and my counters IS wallpaper after all. Not only that, but it's been impossible to get more than a millimeter of wallpaper off at a time. Also, the paint over the wallpaper is peeling terribly. I'm sorry, I don't want to face it. Let's cover it.
I am very excited though. I just can't wait to see the finished project. And even if it isn't perfect, it can't be worse, and I KNOW it will be better by a long shot If you haven't seen, here is the photo that inspired this whole project...Its the one I keep going back to -daily- to remind me how great it's going to be!!!!
SINCE we have the trim off....I am *hesitantly* trying to convince Luke to go ahead and do the flooring as well. I would LOVE to have laminate wood-looking flooring in the kitchen and dining room. It would require pulling up carpet to certain point in the entry, and pulling up the kitchen linolium..which, SURPRISE, is also painted all over. (And by all over I DO mean all over. Its like they flung paint...)
I think I have decided that instead of repainting the parts behind my counters, I want to do beadboard. I {think}. I am still going to browse the world wide web for more inspiration. I decided to do something other than paint when I realized that both behind the fridge and my counters IS wallpaper after all. Not only that, but it's been impossible to get more than a millimeter of wallpaper off at a time. Also, the paint over the wallpaper is peeling terribly. I'm sorry, I don't want to face it. Let's cover it.
I am very excited though. I just can't wait to see the finished project. And even if it isn't perfect, it can't be worse, and I KNOW it will be better by a long shot If you haven't seen, here is the photo that inspired this whole project...Its the one I keep going back to -daily- to remind me how great it's going to be!!!!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Making My House Into My Home. (It's not as easy as it sounds!)
Today a friend helped me tear off wallpaper in our dining room. It was fun to do with someone else, but it was work. I'm finding that I'm (already) sore. I'm not sure if it's worse just that I'm sore, or that I was feeling it within an hour of being done.
We ran into some interesting problems...which, sadly, I knew we would. It seems as though whoever owned this house before us had to have purposely done everything wrong. There is no way you could accidentally do things SO horrible. First, wallpapering walls. REALLY, PEOPLE????? No offense...actually..yes, take offense...really? WALLPAPER?!?? Second, while wallpapering, not bothering to make it the same length as your wall, and then sticking it to both the ceiling and trim randomly as it's too long? SERIOUSLY! Third, taking off just enough wallpaper to fix part of the wall, then painting OVER wallpaper the rest of the wallpaper to hide the problem???? really, people? REALLY??? Fourth, using textured paint. TEXTURED!? to "hide" (which it did a very poor job of) your wallpaper missing, putty filled (and not sanded or made even)wall? Fifth, painting OVER the wallpaper onto both the trim and the ceiling further more looking terrible and making it even more difficult to get off. Sixth, rolling on the TEXTURED paint so fast that it splatters not ONLY on the baseboards and trim, but also the floors. COULD WE DO THIS JOB ANY WORSE?
I rest my case: one must TRY to do this terrible of a job.
and to fix it....I don't want to think about it anymore.
Anyway, all that to say, we've got the wallpaper of 2 of the 3 walls (granted, one wall is VERY small...but still...a wall), and the 3rd wall will be the doozy. Going around a window, patio door and back behind the fridge means there's much more trim that they *most likely* decided to seal more with paint.
I have no words.
We ran into some interesting problems...which, sadly, I knew we would. It seems as though whoever owned this house before us had to have purposely done everything wrong. There is no way you could accidentally do things SO horrible. First, wallpapering walls. REALLY, PEOPLE????? No offense...actually..yes, take offense...really? WALLPAPER?!?? Second, while wallpapering, not bothering to make it the same length as your wall, and then sticking it to both the ceiling and trim randomly as it's too long? SERIOUSLY! Third, taking off just enough wallpaper to fix part of the wall, then painting OVER wallpaper the rest of the wallpaper to hide the problem???? really, people? REALLY??? Fourth, using textured paint. TEXTURED!? to "hide" (which it did a very poor job of) your wallpaper missing, putty filled (and not sanded or made even)wall? Fifth, painting OVER the wallpaper onto both the trim and the ceiling further more looking terrible and making it even more difficult to get off. Sixth, rolling on the TEXTURED paint so fast that it splatters not ONLY on the baseboards and trim, but also the floors. COULD WE DO THIS JOB ANY WORSE?
I rest my case: one must TRY to do this terrible of a job.
and to fix it....I don't want to think about it anymore.
Anyway, all that to say, we've got the wallpaper of 2 of the 3 walls (granted, one wall is VERY small...but still...a wall), and the 3rd wall will be the doozy. Going around a window, patio door and back behind the fridge means there's much more trim that they *most likely* decided to seal more with paint.
I have no words.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Somewhat Stressed
I have people coming over for dinner tonight, my house is a disaster, I need to be ready to take wallpaper off my dining room by Thursday, heading to Rapid on the weekend and have people coming on Friday night. As well as, Bible study, softball, committee meeting, hair cut, and 3 shows to close.
Why does it seem that in the summer things take twice as long as they would have in the winter??? Or it is just the 2 kids versus 1. Or have days grown shorter? Or am I slower?
Also, I feel much more stressed in the summer when it's nice and sunny and beautiful. I'm much more relaxed in the winter when its grey and cold and drab. Does this say bad things about my personality? Or is it the grey and drab that causes one to feel the need to be cozy and stress free?
I think summer makes me think I am superwoman. It's always in the nicest part of summer that I get these crazy ideas to paint and rip down wallpaper and have bbq's and play softball and join Bible Studies, and get my hair cut and have company over a LOT more often....etc...
I know this is almost heresy, but I {almost} can't wait for winter. Then I can bake without waiting for a "cool" day, find solace in the fact that I didn't make it out of the house that day, and drink coffee without ice.
My conclusions: I AM busier in the summer, and therefore more stressed. However, I'm not TOO busy, it's just that when I'm busy I still take the time to play outside with Kaden, and that gives me a few less hours each day. In the winter, I could be the same amount of busy, but easily fore-go outside playtime and not feel so stressed. But I'm not giving up my outside time!
Why does it seem that in the summer things take twice as long as they would have in the winter??? Or it is just the 2 kids versus 1. Or have days grown shorter? Or am I slower?
Also, I feel much more stressed in the summer when it's nice and sunny and beautiful. I'm much more relaxed in the winter when its grey and cold and drab. Does this say bad things about my personality? Or is it the grey and drab that causes one to feel the need to be cozy and stress free?
I think summer makes me think I am superwoman. It's always in the nicest part of summer that I get these crazy ideas to paint and rip down wallpaper and have bbq's and play softball and join Bible Studies, and get my hair cut and have company over a LOT more often....etc...
I know this is almost heresy, but I {almost} can't wait for winter. Then I can bake without waiting for a "cool" day, find solace in the fact that I didn't make it out of the house that day, and drink coffee without ice.
My conclusions: I AM busier in the summer, and therefore more stressed. However, I'm not TOO busy, it's just that when I'm busy I still take the time to play outside with Kaden, and that gives me a few less hours each day. In the winter, I could be the same amount of busy, but easily fore-go outside playtime and not feel so stressed. But I'm not giving up my outside time!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Developmental Screaming...errr..I mean, Screening
Today I took the kids in for a developmental screening since it was free and I had some questions about Kate. For Kaden they tested his eyes, ears, teeth, and general development (like vocab, physical abilities, etc...) He was so funny. First of all, every time we would walk past the front desk (about 12 times in all) he would point at it and say "HOT!!" and keep going. Also, whenever we would be heading to another area for more testing he would think he knew just where to go. Usually he was wrong, but he was at least very confident-ally wrong!
He HATED the hearing screening. Oooooh BOY! I've never heard him scream bloody murder like that before! Needless to say, his hearing screening got postponed til he's a little older and more mature.
He was ok with the eye check...they basically just took a picture of his eyes to send off to be checked. It was a very bright flash but since they did it first he was pretty cooperative!
For his teeth, he looooved brushing the freakishly large denture looking teeth with a large toothbrush. And insisting that it was hat. When it came time for brushing his own teeth he was pretty sure that lady should not be poking inside his mouth! I was afraid he was going to bite her. He didn't, but she didn't get to look at all his teeth either.
He loved the playing part of the testing. What could be better than the FULL attention of a stranger? He was a little goof for most of it. If she wanted to know what color things were, he would tell her what they were. ("shoes!" "Boy!"...) but as soon as she decided to give up on colors and ask what things were called he was more than happy to tell her what color they were. She asked him to jump and he had to put a block on the floor and jump OVER it. It just isn't jumping unless you jump OVER something, right? He was a little irritated that I was preoccupied with Katelyn's part (they did both at once) and would ignore the lady working with him to come over and get our attention.
Then he found the hoop. And not a ball. And it was the end of the world. Until we subsitituted the duck. Crisis averted, barely.
Also, he told the lady who played with him that she was cute.
Pretty much the ladies were in love with him. I don't blame them. They said he's above average on everything they tested him on, so the only thing I needed to work with him on was treating him like he's 2 and not older. It is hard to remember sometimes that he's only 2 and just because he talks and jumps like an older kid, he still understands his "world" like a 2 year old!
Kate just hung out with us for most of it, but she did get to get out and "play" in the play room. She passed all of her "tests" with flying colors. To pass, a 3 1/2 month old has to get 18 points. She got 38. I think she passed.
The reason I had taken them in was that I had a concern about Katelyn's development. I had noticed right around 2 1/2 months old that she pretty much never looked to her right. I had begun to hang toys on just the right side of her and help her sleep on her right side. I wondered if I was crazy or if it was something to worry about.
Today they verified that she has a mild version of Tortocollis. They could tell that she had been much worse, because of the way her head is shaped, but because I caught it so young, her head will go back to normal (I can't even tell it's mis-shaped if that tells you how little it is!) as long as I keep doing excersizes with her. Basically, tortocollis just means that the muscle on that side of her neck is tight and so it is needing to be stretched out. Once it is good and stretched out she will be able to turn her head easily both ways. They told me tummy time and a certain way of holding her are the best ways to help it. As well as putting toys on her right side and a stretching her shoulder. If it goes unchecked, the pressure of always having her head to the left can deform her head and be a problem. Since we caught it early it is no big deal! I was happy to know I was not crazy, and that it is such a common and treatable thing! They think it is due to how she was inside the womb, and that even then her muscle wasn't stretched out.
Who knew?
I highly recommend going to have your kids checked if you can do it in your community. It is a lot of fun to see how they do, and how smart they really are! I learned a lot of neat tricks of how to get Kaden to brush his teeth better, and things like that. Plus, who doesn't love to show off their kids!
He HATED the hearing screening. Oooooh BOY! I've never heard him scream bloody murder like that before! Needless to say, his hearing screening got postponed til he's a little older and more mature.
He was ok with the eye check...they basically just took a picture of his eyes to send off to be checked. It was a very bright flash but since they did it first he was pretty cooperative!
For his teeth, he looooved brushing the freakishly large denture looking teeth with a large toothbrush. And insisting that it was hat. When it came time for brushing his own teeth he was pretty sure that lady should not be poking inside his mouth! I was afraid he was going to bite her. He didn't, but she didn't get to look at all his teeth either.
He loved the playing part of the testing. What could be better than the FULL attention of a stranger? He was a little goof for most of it. If she wanted to know what color things were, he would tell her what they were. ("shoes!" "Boy!"...) but as soon as she decided to give up on colors and ask what things were called he was more than happy to tell her what color they were. She asked him to jump and he had to put a block on the floor and jump OVER it. It just isn't jumping unless you jump OVER something, right? He was a little irritated that I was preoccupied with Katelyn's part (they did both at once) and would ignore the lady working with him to come over and get our attention.
Then he found the hoop. And not a ball. And it was the end of the world. Until we subsitituted the duck. Crisis averted, barely.
Also, he told the lady who played with him that she was cute.
Pretty much the ladies were in love with him. I don't blame them. They said he's above average on everything they tested him on, so the only thing I needed to work with him on was treating him like he's 2 and not older. It is hard to remember sometimes that he's only 2 and just because he talks and jumps like an older kid, he still understands his "world" like a 2 year old!
Kate just hung out with us for most of it, but she did get to get out and "play" in the play room. She passed all of her "tests" with flying colors. To pass, a 3 1/2 month old has to get 18 points. She got 38. I think she passed.
The reason I had taken them in was that I had a concern about Katelyn's development. I had noticed right around 2 1/2 months old that she pretty much never looked to her right. I had begun to hang toys on just the right side of her and help her sleep on her right side. I wondered if I was crazy or if it was something to worry about.
Today they verified that she has a mild version of Tortocollis. They could tell that she had been much worse, because of the way her head is shaped, but because I caught it so young, her head will go back to normal (I can't even tell it's mis-shaped if that tells you how little it is!) as long as I keep doing excersizes with her. Basically, tortocollis just means that the muscle on that side of her neck is tight and so it is needing to be stretched out. Once it is good and stretched out she will be able to turn her head easily both ways. They told me tummy time and a certain way of holding her are the best ways to help it. As well as putting toys on her right side and a stretching her shoulder. If it goes unchecked, the pressure of always having her head to the left can deform her head and be a problem. Since we caught it early it is no big deal! I was happy to know I was not crazy, and that it is such a common and treatable thing! They think it is due to how she was inside the womb, and that even then her muscle wasn't stretched out.
Who knew?
I highly recommend going to have your kids checked if you can do it in your community. It is a lot of fun to see how they do, and how smart they really are! I learned a lot of neat tricks of how to get Kaden to brush his teeth better, and things like that. Plus, who doesn't love to show off their kids!
Monday, August 9, 2010
All Things Sleep
*Every time I go into Kate's room there is a new toy in her crib. I didn't put it there, and I'm pretty sure Kate didn't either...just now, it was a block.
*Katelyn's new idea of sleep is the longer it can be avoided the better. Also, it is mom's job to HELP her avoid sleep. This includes things like helping her sit, bouncing and anything else that will keep her awake. If she starts to fall asleep she will scream...at me...as if it's MY fault.
*Kaden's favorite sleep position is his feet against the wall and his head against the rail. In his sleep, in this position, he likes to bang the wall with his foot. A lot. In the middle of the night. Loud enough to wake mom up.
*Kaden has also learned to avoid sleep. Scratch that, he's always avoided sleep. What I mean is that he's learned a new tactic to avoid sleep. This includes running around the island in the kitchen until he's so tired he falls down, then, when daddy tells him to come get his milk, he will walk EVER SO SLOWLY, while lifting his feet almost as high as his head, walking backwards, or other such (comical) weirdnesses. Sometimes it's hard not to laugh.
*Katelyn has decided that 4am is an appropriate time to remind us that she is, indeed, alive. VERY alive. Every night.
*Kaden has decided that he will just kick the wall in his sleep constantly throughout the night to remind that he, also, is alive.
Between those two I may never see a full night of undisturbed sleep again. I've known this a long time, I just keep wondering how many new ways 2 BABIES can come up with to do it.
Also. I have yet to figure out how they sleep through each other.
*Katelyn's new idea of sleep is the longer it can be avoided the better. Also, it is mom's job to HELP her avoid sleep. This includes things like helping her sit, bouncing and anything else that will keep her awake. If she starts to fall asleep she will scream...at me...as if it's MY fault.
*Kaden's favorite sleep position is his feet against the wall and his head against the rail. In his sleep, in this position, he likes to bang the wall with his foot. A lot. In the middle of the night. Loud enough to wake mom up.
*Kaden has also learned to avoid sleep. Scratch that, he's always avoided sleep. What I mean is that he's learned a new tactic to avoid sleep. This includes running around the island in the kitchen until he's so tired he falls down, then, when daddy tells him to come get his milk, he will walk EVER SO SLOWLY, while lifting his feet almost as high as his head, walking backwards, or other such (comical) weirdnesses. Sometimes it's hard not to laugh.
*Katelyn has decided that 4am is an appropriate time to remind us that she is, indeed, alive. VERY alive. Every night.
*Kaden has decided that he will just kick the wall in his sleep constantly throughout the night to remind that he, also, is alive.
Between those two I may never see a full night of undisturbed sleep again. I've known this a long time, I just keep wondering how many new ways 2 BABIES can come up with to do it.
Also. I have yet to figure out how they sleep through each other.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Good for a Laugh
Have you ever just had one of "those" days? Not so much the ones that are terrible, horrible, no good, or very bad. Just that kind of day that makes you confused as to whether it was more frustrating or more hilarious. One of those "I think I should maybe stay home and not move or it could get worse" kind of day, where you are SOOO tempted to go out and tempt fate just to see if it could maybe get more hilarious.
That was my morning. from 8:23am when I first discovered the rotten milk, to 11:01am when I finally returned from Walmart...where I'd gone to purchase new, not-rotten milk. Let me start at the beginning...and try to make it short.
Wednesday AM: Luke drinks a big glass of milk.
Wednesday PM: Bethany gets a gallon of milk out of the freezer, realizing if she doesn't she will have to go to the store and get milk on Thursday. She doesn't want to go til Friday when she can combine it with other errands.
Thursday:
8am: Kaden wakes up, "wet, pants, cold." Sure enough, he'd peed through. Changed him and all was well again.
8:23am: Pour Kaden his milk (from jug that had thawed overnight) and see lumps. Could be frozen lumps, or is it bad???? Bethany tastes to see.
8:23am: Bethany spits and spits and spits..milk is BAD. Eats cookie to make taste go away. (so much for weight watchers today.)
8:46am-11:01am: Bethany heads out on unplanned trip to Walmart for milk.
Has gift card for starbucks, but starbucks line is out to the road.
Heads for Smiths instead.
Gets ad, buys milk on sale for $2 a gallon.
Gets charged $2.30 a gallon but realizes too late and isn't going to drag kids back in for 30 cents.
Heads back to Starbucks. This time makes it through the line and gets an iced white chocolate mocha.
YUM.
Comes home to put milk in fridge...wouldn't want to risk it going bad. should have stayed home. instead, decides that since kids are loaded, might as well run errands.
Heads to Kmart, since we're out anyway.
Forgets Mocha in the car, and doesn't want to drag both kids back out of store to get it.
Finds many many girl shoes on clearance, no boy shoes. of course.
Buys desk organizer and heads out to car.
Finds that Kaden has peed through.
Changes Kaden in front seat of car, which, he does NOT fit well in. Kaden gets grumpy.
Heads to Walmart since we're out.
forgets mocha in car again.
Finds the planter she wants and heads to get potting soil.
Then goes to get groceries.
Picks up "thin buns" (100 cal buns...awesome!) and random lady says "NO" and takes them from me.
AWKWARD.
Sell by date seemed fine...Aug 14th...but she shows me it is completely moldy.
THanks lady and moves on, deciding not...NOT...to buy anything fresh..it just seems risky after the milk and buns....
Finishes shopping and goes to pay.
Debit card won't go.
3 times.
Cashier says it is expired. Dang it! I thought i'd replaced it with the new card. Must have cut up the new card.
PRAYS she has credit card. Does. and pays.
after paying realizes she has just purchased "garden soil" not potting soil.
GRRR.
Returns "garden soil" and goes to "potting soil aisle" again.
among 16 stands of "potting soil" i chose the ONE "garden soil" bag. At least I caught it right?
gets POTTING SOIL and pays.
Realizes she never got cash back from returning "garden soil"
heads back to customer service.
Realizes it was on credit card and probably just credited back.
WHEW. glad I didn't talk to the customer service lady.
heads out to car.
backing out...car races around the corner and tries to hit me.
narrow miss.
WHEW.
refuses to drink remaining 1/3 of mocha...after this day, who knows, it could have gone bad that fast.
decides she must call friend to tell her about her day.
can't find phone.
ANYWHERE.
pulls into parking lot at ACE.
SEARCHES.
finally finds phone in pot she just bought.
just glad she didn't have to go back to the "potting soil" aisle to look. that was where she had seen it last...
calls friend.
Makes it home safely (she was beginning to wonder!)
hubby calls to say he can't make it home for lunch.
figures.
He will come home to grab a sandwhich tho.
Kaden throws fit since we didn't go to the park
kate is crying for a feeding.
Bethany realizes she forgot to buy lunch meat.
there are no leftovers.
quickly feeds Kate.
Makes peanut butter and jelly sandwhichs for Hubby.
POOR HUBBY!
Checks Mail.
The Kohls 30% off offer ends 2 days before she's going to Rapid.
Heads back out to second hand store where she'd seen the same pot as at walmart for $13 cheaper.
Not there anymore.
Comes home to eat.
Feeds Kaden.
Is just about to eat left over mashed potatoes when she discovers mold.
THey are only 3 days old!
Feels mold growing on her teeth just from SEEING so much rotten food.
End time: 12:01pm.
If Luke hadn't drank that milk......
He says i can make everything his fault. I'm just presenting facts.
It's now 1:15pm and I hear my boy talking to himself...avoiding sleep for his nap. It's ok, at least he's in bed and not time out. and we are home. Soda is in the freezer (lets just admit, this is a soda kind of day) Hope I don't forget it and let it explode!
Luke says he MIGHT get off early. Not hanging on to hope on this kind of day!!!!
All in all I just keep laughing. Really? I think I better just take it easy this afternoon...I think i'll do some looking on internet at room decor...I'm leaning in the burnt orange, espresso, and cream colors. Ideas accepted.
That was my morning. from 8:23am when I first discovered the rotten milk, to 11:01am when I finally returned from Walmart...where I'd gone to purchase new, not-rotten milk. Let me start at the beginning...and try to make it short.
Wednesday AM: Luke drinks a big glass of milk.
Wednesday PM: Bethany gets a gallon of milk out of the freezer, realizing if she doesn't she will have to go to the store and get milk on Thursday. She doesn't want to go til Friday when she can combine it with other errands.
Thursday:
8am: Kaden wakes up, "wet, pants, cold." Sure enough, he'd peed through. Changed him and all was well again.
8:23am: Pour Kaden his milk (from jug that had thawed overnight) and see lumps. Could be frozen lumps, or is it bad???? Bethany tastes to see.
8:23am: Bethany spits and spits and spits..milk is BAD. Eats cookie to make taste go away. (so much for weight watchers today.)
8:46am-11:01am: Bethany heads out on unplanned trip to Walmart for milk.
Has gift card for starbucks, but starbucks line is out to the road.
Heads for Smiths instead.
Gets ad, buys milk on sale for $2 a gallon.
Gets charged $2.30 a gallon but realizes too late and isn't going to drag kids back in for 30 cents.
Heads back to Starbucks. This time makes it through the line and gets an iced white chocolate mocha.
YUM.
Comes home to put milk in fridge...wouldn't want to risk it going bad. should have stayed home. instead, decides that since kids are loaded, might as well run errands.
Heads to Kmart, since we're out anyway.
Forgets Mocha in the car, and doesn't want to drag both kids back out of store to get it.
Finds many many girl shoes on clearance, no boy shoes. of course.
Buys desk organizer and heads out to car.
Finds that Kaden has peed through.
Changes Kaden in front seat of car, which, he does NOT fit well in. Kaden gets grumpy.
Heads to Walmart since we're out.
forgets mocha in car again.
Finds the planter she wants and heads to get potting soil.
Then goes to get groceries.
Picks up "thin buns" (100 cal buns...awesome!) and random lady says "NO" and takes them from me.
AWKWARD.
Sell by date seemed fine...Aug 14th...but she shows me it is completely moldy.
THanks lady and moves on, deciding not...NOT...to buy anything fresh..it just seems risky after the milk and buns....
Finishes shopping and goes to pay.
Debit card won't go.
3 times.
Cashier says it is expired. Dang it! I thought i'd replaced it with the new card. Must have cut up the new card.
PRAYS she has credit card. Does. and pays.
after paying realizes she has just purchased "garden soil" not potting soil.
GRRR.
Returns "garden soil" and goes to "potting soil aisle" again.
among 16 stands of "potting soil" i chose the ONE "garden soil" bag. At least I caught it right?
gets POTTING SOIL and pays.
Realizes she never got cash back from returning "garden soil"
heads back to customer service.
Realizes it was on credit card and probably just credited back.
WHEW. glad I didn't talk to the customer service lady.
heads out to car.
backing out...car races around the corner and tries to hit me.
narrow miss.
WHEW.
refuses to drink remaining 1/3 of mocha...after this day, who knows, it could have gone bad that fast.
decides she must call friend to tell her about her day.
can't find phone.
ANYWHERE.
pulls into parking lot at ACE.
SEARCHES.
finally finds phone in pot she just bought.
just glad she didn't have to go back to the "potting soil" aisle to look. that was where she had seen it last...
calls friend.
Makes it home safely (she was beginning to wonder!)
hubby calls to say he can't make it home for lunch.
figures.
He will come home to grab a sandwhich tho.
Kaden throws fit since we didn't go to the park
kate is crying for a feeding.
Bethany realizes she forgot to buy lunch meat.
there are no leftovers.
quickly feeds Kate.
Makes peanut butter and jelly sandwhichs for Hubby.
POOR HUBBY!
Checks Mail.
The Kohls 30% off offer ends 2 days before she's going to Rapid.
Heads back out to second hand store where she'd seen the same pot as at walmart for $13 cheaper.
Not there anymore.
Comes home to eat.
Feeds Kaden.
Is just about to eat left over mashed potatoes when she discovers mold.
THey are only 3 days old!
Feels mold growing on her teeth just from SEEING so much rotten food.
End time: 12:01pm.
If Luke hadn't drank that milk......
He says i can make everything his fault. I'm just presenting facts.
It's now 1:15pm and I hear my boy talking to himself...avoiding sleep for his nap. It's ok, at least he's in bed and not time out. and we are home. Soda is in the freezer (lets just admit, this is a soda kind of day) Hope I don't forget it and let it explode!
Luke says he MIGHT get off early. Not hanging on to hope on this kind of day!!!!
All in all I just keep laughing. Really? I think I better just take it easy this afternoon...I think i'll do some looking on internet at room decor...I'm leaning in the burnt orange, espresso, and cream colors. Ideas accepted.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Kids say the darndest things.
Monday (yesterday) I had to go in to the Dr. to talk to the nurse for a minute. Since it was nothing big, and I didn't have to see the doctor or do any tests I decided to just take the kids with me instead of finding a sitter and going through that rig-a-ma-role....I told Luke I was taking them and that I'd soon find out whether it was a bad idea (and would never do it again!)...
We walk in and there's this 18ish month old running, no RUNNING, around like a crazy kid. His parents were trying to stop him and it was just totally egging him on. Kaden was enthralled. Absolutely couldn't take his eyes of this wild boy, and when he did it was to look at me as if to plead with me "PLEASE, let me run?" So, the parents are acting like they can't figure out why he's being a terror and Kaden is pointing at him going "running!" "LOUD!" and all sorts of descriptions when the mom says to the boy "You are being so bad!" Well, that struck a chord in Kaden and suddenly as loud as he could he says "NOT OBEY! SPANKINGS!" and from then until we got called back he kept pointing and repeating..."spankings! not obey! loud! LOUD! NOT obey! Spankings!!!"
On one side, it was very cute and adorable and innocent, and hey, now I know he understands me when I tell him he's not obeying...
On the other hand, couldn't he have yelled "not obey! TIME OUT!" ???? I mean, he ALWAYS gets sent to time out first...always. Spankings are not his first punishment! Did he have to announce to the (full) office that he gets spankings for not obeying?
Then he saw the toilet as we were going back...and he decided to talk about poop, and things of that nature. It was awesome. His mouth literally never stops, and I think I'm in trouble...
I call him Oliver the Parrot. Oliver (as in Twist...) because he's always asking for more food as if he is absolutely STARVED. "Please, sir, may I have summore??" (Can't you see it?) And the parrot because he is constantly repeating everything I say. Constantly. Everything.
At least he mostly repeats after me in a very cheerful tone...
We walk in and there's this 18ish month old running, no RUNNING, around like a crazy kid. His parents were trying to stop him and it was just totally egging him on. Kaden was enthralled. Absolutely couldn't take his eyes of this wild boy, and when he did it was to look at me as if to plead with me "PLEASE, let me run?" So, the parents are acting like they can't figure out why he's being a terror and Kaden is pointing at him going "running!" "LOUD!" and all sorts of descriptions when the mom says to the boy "You are being so bad!" Well, that struck a chord in Kaden and suddenly as loud as he could he says "NOT OBEY! SPANKINGS!" and from then until we got called back he kept pointing and repeating..."spankings! not obey! loud! LOUD! NOT obey! Spankings!!!"
On one side, it was very cute and adorable and innocent, and hey, now I know he understands me when I tell him he's not obeying...
On the other hand, couldn't he have yelled "not obey! TIME OUT!" ???? I mean, he ALWAYS gets sent to time out first...always. Spankings are not his first punishment! Did he have to announce to the (full) office that he gets spankings for not obeying?
Then he saw the toilet as we were going back...and he decided to talk about poop, and things of that nature. It was awesome. His mouth literally never stops, and I think I'm in trouble...
I call him Oliver the Parrot. Oliver (as in Twist...) because he's always asking for more food as if he is absolutely STARVED. "Please, sir, may I have summore??" (Can't you see it?) And the parrot because he is constantly repeating everything I say. Constantly. Everything.
At least he mostly repeats after me in a very cheerful tone...
Monday, August 2, 2010
Potty Training
Never, in my life, did I expect to be blogging about potty training. Please, no one tell my younger self what I grow up to be....
In the last few months, we have been encouraging, but not forcing, Kaden to use the potty. He recently has become very aware (and will even tell us) of when he SHOULD be using the potty, but is, in fact, using his diaper. We have given him responsibilities to try to encourage him to want to use the toilet...things like: going and getting a diaper, going and getting the wipes, throwing away his (and Kate's) old diapers, etc... He still refuses, but is curious about this potty idea. He likes to flush the toilet, watch others go potty (unfortunately, he can open doors!) and will *almost* get his guts up to sit on the toilet.
In the past week Kaden has begun potty training!
....his horse. (which he calls his cow.) Every time I go to the bathroom I find his "cow" sitting on the toilet. Sometimes he will run out with it, "Cow..poop!" and run back and put his cow on the potty. Now, sometimes (rarely), he will even let me sit him on the potty, but only...ONLY...if "cow" can sit with him.
Hey, it's good for a laugh right?
kinda gross. but maaaaybe we are getting closer? I'm not getting out the underwears quite yet.
In the last few months, we have been encouraging, but not forcing, Kaden to use the potty. He recently has become very aware (and will even tell us) of when he SHOULD be using the potty, but is, in fact, using his diaper. We have given him responsibilities to try to encourage him to want to use the toilet...things like: going and getting a diaper, going and getting the wipes, throwing away his (and Kate's) old diapers, etc... He still refuses, but is curious about this potty idea. He likes to flush the toilet, watch others go potty (unfortunately, he can open doors!) and will *almost* get his guts up to sit on the toilet.
In the past week Kaden has begun potty training!
....his horse. (which he calls his cow.) Every time I go to the bathroom I find his "cow" sitting on the toilet. Sometimes he will run out with it, "Cow..poop!" and run back and put his cow on the potty. Now, sometimes (rarely), he will even let me sit him on the potty, but only...ONLY...if "cow" can sit with him.
Hey, it's good for a laugh right?
kinda gross. but maaaaybe we are getting closer? I'm not getting out the underwears quite yet.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
My Little 3 Month Old
Today Katelyn Joy turned 3 months old (as in, right now, as I type...) Part of me is loving her being older and more "social" but part of me is mourning the loss of my newborn! I can't believe how fast it has gone! She has TRULY been my "pure joy". She is a very laid back and easy-going baby. When she was born I kept saying "We'll see...I'll believe it when she's 2 weeks old and still laid back..." then I thought we'll see...maybe after 1 month old...it's hard to believe a baby can be so easy to please!
She has found both hands and likes to clasp them together to suck on them. She LOVES to lay under toys and reach for them. Her mobile in her crib is a BIG source of smiles, and for the last 2-3 weeks she's been rolling onto her side a lot. Tonight she rolled all the way over onto her belly, and if she could have gotten her shoulder turned it would have gotten her stuck on her belly! I can't remember when Kaden started rolling, but it just seems CRAZY to me that she's doing this already! And she never cries about it...just works and works at it.
She coos and smiles more and more and really loves her "face time" as we call it. She doesn't coo much unless you get down and really talk to her and pay attention. Then she'll talk your ear off! A typical girl...if you listen she'll talk!
She ADORES Kaden (and he adores her!) and when he is around she watches him and smiles and coos. Two nights ago we put her in the crib to sleep for the night (she had been in the bassinet until then) and it was in the same room as Kaden. The next morning I heard Kaden start jabbering about 7:15am then around 7:30am I heard Kate sneeze. Instantly, Kaden's jabbering stopped for a moment, then "BaayyyBeee!" and back to jabbering he went, this time with "baby" thrown in there just so we knew who he was talking to! She started cooing just as much as I've ever heard her coo and they just had a lovely little conversation. It melted this mom's heart. I think I could have stood there forever listening. Last night we put her in his room again, and they both slept til 8am!!!! (With one pacifier "plugging" at 6:45am.)
She has grown out of most of her 0-3 month onsies and sleepers (I just realized it today, actually!) Her dresses and 2 piece outfits still fit ok, although the long sleeved ones are short on the arms. I went ahead and put away a lot of her 0-3 month clothes and got out some 3-6 month. All of those are pretty big. It was hard for me! It's weird for these things to be sad for me because it was always so exciting when I did it with Kaden. I think a lot of it is that I'm not sure that we are going to have any more babies and I want to enjoy this time and remember every single moment. Plus, when you've got such and angel, it's hard to want them to get older (and risk them talking back and not being so angelic)!! Kaden wasn't so easy and wouldn't be satisfied until he could walk, so it was nice to see him grow up!
I just love my Katelyn Girl...
She has found both hands and likes to clasp them together to suck on them. She LOVES to lay under toys and reach for them. Her mobile in her crib is a BIG source of smiles, and for the last 2-3 weeks she's been rolling onto her side a lot. Tonight she rolled all the way over onto her belly, and if she could have gotten her shoulder turned it would have gotten her stuck on her belly! I can't remember when Kaden started rolling, but it just seems CRAZY to me that she's doing this already! And she never cries about it...just works and works at it.
She coos and smiles more and more and really loves her "face time" as we call it. She doesn't coo much unless you get down and really talk to her and pay attention. Then she'll talk your ear off! A typical girl...if you listen she'll talk!
She ADORES Kaden (and he adores her!) and when he is around she watches him and smiles and coos. Two nights ago we put her in the crib to sleep for the night (she had been in the bassinet until then) and it was in the same room as Kaden. The next morning I heard Kaden start jabbering about 7:15am then around 7:30am I heard Kate sneeze. Instantly, Kaden's jabbering stopped for a moment, then "BaayyyBeee!" and back to jabbering he went, this time with "baby" thrown in there just so we knew who he was talking to! She started cooing just as much as I've ever heard her coo and they just had a lovely little conversation. It melted this mom's heart. I think I could have stood there forever listening. Last night we put her in his room again, and they both slept til 8am!!!! (With one pacifier "plugging" at 6:45am.)
She has grown out of most of her 0-3 month onsies and sleepers (I just realized it today, actually!) Her dresses and 2 piece outfits still fit ok, although the long sleeved ones are short on the arms. I went ahead and put away a lot of her 0-3 month clothes and got out some 3-6 month. All of those are pretty big. It was hard for me! It's weird for these things to be sad for me because it was always so exciting when I did it with Kaden. I think a lot of it is that I'm not sure that we are going to have any more babies and I want to enjoy this time and remember every single moment. Plus, when you've got such and angel, it's hard to want them to get older (and risk them talking back and not being so angelic)!! Kaden wasn't so easy and wouldn't be satisfied until he could walk, so it was nice to see him grow up!
I just love my Katelyn Girl...
Monday, July 26, 2010
Movie Monday
Mondays around here are generally called "Movie Monday" because it's the day I put on a movie for Kaden (HOW is he not sick of "Clifford" yet???) and do laundry. I sort the laundry, I wash and dry the laundry (well, my machines do), and I fold the laundry...all without the help of my not-so-helpful 2 year old! I implemented Movie Monday one day when I decided I would do laundry on Mondays, and do it ALL (as opposed to having laundry going all week as I rememnbered). I tried that, and Kaden and I fought all day long. He wanted to resort my piles, unfold my laundry, get into my soap, and open the dryer while it was going. Now he gets to watch a movie, and I get to do laundry in peace. His movie generally lasts almost all day because we only turn it on while I'm sorting/loading/unloading/folding clothes.
I like Movie Monday.
...and if Monday is a holiday, and we don't get to have our movie, we still honor it on Tuesday.
I have a friend who has Mt Dew Monday. I think that would be a pretty good Monday thing too. I'm wondering how many names for Monday can I have?
I like Movie Monday.
...and if Monday is a holiday, and we don't get to have our movie, we still honor it on Tuesday.
I have a friend who has Mt Dew Monday. I think that would be a pretty good Monday thing too. I'm wondering how many names for Monday can I have?
Saturday, July 24, 2010
A Sad Goodbye!
Well...today is the last day Luke's mom will be here. Kaden has absolutely adored her. She reads to him, takes him for walks (maybe it is more like HIM taking her for the walk), spends hours watching him play outside, sits with him the WHOLE time he eats, talks to him constantly, lets him cook with her, and feeds him whenEVER he begs. What more could a boy ask for?
Probably just for her to live a little closer.
We have been spoiled for the last 2 weeks since my surgery to first have my parents then have Luke's mom here. I don't know what I'm going to do when I don't have someone here to entertain my boy while I piddle around getting things done. Kaden thinks he needs to live outside...and that mom should have nothing more important to do than that.
Katelyn has also been spoiled by Grandma. Rocked to sleep EVERY time, extra face to face time because of Grandma being out with Kaden therefore giving mom more time to spend with just her, and, of course, lots of cuddles and kisses and a few bottle feedings!
We sure do wish we could live closer to the grandparents but are super grateful for the time we do get to spend with them!
Probably just for her to live a little closer.
We have been spoiled for the last 2 weeks since my surgery to first have my parents then have Luke's mom here. I don't know what I'm going to do when I don't have someone here to entertain my boy while I piddle around getting things done. Kaden thinks he needs to live outside...and that mom should have nothing more important to do than that.
Katelyn has also been spoiled by Grandma. Rocked to sleep EVERY time, extra face to face time because of Grandma being out with Kaden therefore giving mom more time to spend with just her, and, of course, lots of cuddles and kisses and a few bottle feedings!
We sure do wish we could live closer to the grandparents but are super grateful for the time we do get to spend with them!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Burp...
Today Kaden decided he needed burped, because he is constantly seeing Grandma burping Kate (and it is just not okay that Grandma would be so attentive to her and not him!) He dug out a burp cloth, put it to his mouth and made a big 'ole "BURRRRP" sound.
So I asked him if I should burp my Kaden boy and he said yes. We burped him and he "burped" over and over. He then declared that the goings-ons were "cute!"
I agree. Very, very cute.
So I asked him if I should burp my Kaden boy and he said yes. We burped him and he "burped" over and over. He then declared that the goings-ons were "cute!"
I agree. Very, very cute.
My Katelyn Girl
I just love having a daughter.
Really, the biggest reason right now is that I can still call Kaden my favorite boy ever, and Katelyn my favorite girl ever. :) How can I even consider having another when I'd have to give up that????
My Katelyn girl can roll up on to both sides already. She has been doing it for over a week, and seems quite content to just roll to a side and stay there. She doesn't realize that one push would send her over to her belly. Or maybe she does realize it and doesn't on purpose...this girl hates tummy time!
I'm realizing as I post more since Kate's birth, that it's almost impossible to post about one of my babies without going and talking about the other. So I'm attempting to keep this post about my Katelyn girl.
Kate has started cooing a lot. Like a typical girl, she talks best when she has face-to-face time! She doesn't do the whole "wasting a coo on thin air" thing like her brother did. Nope. She only coos when you are focused on her. What a smart girl she is already!
She seems to prefer looking to her left and playing with her left hand. We are trying to help her be more comfortable with her right side too. It isn't good for babies to favor one side this early on. She can be rather stubborn, I'm learning.
She's growing so fast and I just can't believe she's gonna be 3 months old in 8 days! Where has the time gone??
She's still the easiest baby I can imagine!
Really, the biggest reason right now is that I can still call Kaden my favorite boy ever, and Katelyn my favorite girl ever. :) How can I even consider having another when I'd have to give up that????
My Katelyn girl can roll up on to both sides already. She has been doing it for over a week, and seems quite content to just roll to a side and stay there. She doesn't realize that one push would send her over to her belly. Or maybe she does realize it and doesn't on purpose...this girl hates tummy time!
I'm realizing as I post more since Kate's birth, that it's almost impossible to post about one of my babies without going and talking about the other. So I'm attempting to keep this post about my Katelyn girl.
Kate has started cooing a lot. Like a typical girl, she talks best when she has face-to-face time! She doesn't do the whole "wasting a coo on thin air" thing like her brother did. Nope. She only coos when you are focused on her. What a smart girl she is already!
She seems to prefer looking to her left and playing with her left hand. We are trying to help her be more comfortable with her right side too. It isn't good for babies to favor one side this early on. She can be rather stubborn, I'm learning.
She's growing so fast and I just can't believe she's gonna be 3 months old in 8 days! Where has the time gone??
She's still the easiest baby I can imagine!
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