This 'n That

Lately my sleep habits have been awful. Absolutely awful. I sleep REALLY good for one night, and then the next 3-5 nights I can't sleep til well after the morning has arrived. Guess which night tonight is???

For those of you who might not stalk me on facebook. Or who do stalk me on facebook and just aren't very good at stalking... I have a lot of big things going on in life right now!

Last week I agreed to be the Gillette MOPS Co-Coordinator. Yes. Me. I'm the one who (should I post this on internet for all to see?) has always said I'm not even that IN to MOPS. But, when it ended abrubtly last year it troubled me greatly. I had even considered stepping up to coordinate when I knew the position was open, but really thought someone else would step up. Then when no one did it was shut down, to my surprise. All I heard from all my MOPS friends was shock, dissapointment, and sadness. So then all summer I prayed hard about starting a Women's Bible study or a Mom's group that was not MOPS at my church. Something that could start out small so I could start my leadership skills on a smaller scale...but I never felt peace.

Part of that is because I am already the nursery directer. I coordinate the baby showers at church (and just recently have HELP, thank goodness!!!), have my Pampered Chef cooking clubs and babysit a 3 month old 14ish hours a week. But really, I think it was just that it wasn't God's timing. In fact, I know it wasn't.

A couple weeks ago at a Bible Study I almost didn't join, at a church I don't go to, on an evening I was supposed to have cooking club, I met Stacey. Stacey moved from Cheyanne and has coordinated MOPS before. To make a long story short- here we are getting MOPS restarted and it's awesome. I am so excited. No, really, I AM! I found out that coordinating is something I just enjoy. But only if it's right. And only if I can bounce ideas off someone else. So, all in all, this week's been a busy one trying to get MOPS started in a month instead of months and months which is normal.

Speaking of babysitting. Did you all know I was doing that? (Oh, yes, all you facebook stalkers did, how 'bout the rest of you?) Anyway, I've been babysitting a (then 2 month old, now 3 month old) for a month. It's.been.awesome. I was nervous at first. But so far Katelyn and Kaden totally love her. And she sleeps 90% of the time and even then half the time I wake her up to feed her. And when she is awake she just adores watching my kids play. So far, so good. And the extra money is nice too! It keeps me home Tues-Thurs afternoons, but I always have at least an hour of ME time still. Does it get better than that?

Let's see...what else is new? Kate has been a teething monster baby. But just tonight we felt one bottom right tooth. If that's the only tooth that comes from this teething disaster I'm gonna be depressed. But at least there's one, right? Katelyn is getting bigger and smarter and cuter and sneakier as the days go by. She loves nothing more than to scream at brother for touching HER STUFF. (Which is really his stuff.) Also, she thinks his trains are an awesome way to get his attention. Mommy is about to go crazy with it.

Kaden has had a cold/allergies/something problem since Labor Day. I keep saying "If he's not better by Friday..." but really I just don't want him on antibiotics! I don't know if he's ever gotten over something without them! We've been feeding him allergy meds but wondering if he's going to need some asthma treatments. But I don't want to talk about it anymore. This week I changed all his clothes to 4T. I expected them to all be huge. Um, nope. They look great on him and this mommy's in denial. He cannot be growing up so fast. Speaking of growing up, he started Cubbies last week. He's been there twice and loves, loves, loves, LOVES it. And it's a nice break for us too. He was given his book, vest and bag last night and first thing this morning he was asking to look at his book. He's so quick at memorizing the verses, but won't say them to anyone but me. And even then only if no one else is around, or listening, or COULD BE around or listening. He suddenly thinks he's shy. Weird. Also, he's been testing my patience lately. My prayer is that I will be a mom like God wants me to be. Not yelling, or going crazy on him. Boy oh boy...it's been hard. But I sure do love that kid.

This weekend I have a Craft Day all day Saturday and a Baby Shower on Sunday. Crazy me decided it would be "FUN" to make cake pops for this baby shower. Which-it would be- if I were confident that I could make them, have them turn out, AND be cute. I did practice once...and learned what not to do. Needless to say, after a busy week of MOPS planning, Cooking Clubs, Awana, babysitting, etc...I'm worn out going into a crazy busy weekend. And coming out next week isn't looking any calmer! But I'm not complaining- I feel so blessed in all I have and do. My friends. My appointments. My leadership (which I've grown so much in!) and my kids. I love it all. (Oh and you too, Luke!! Even if I haven't seen you lately! Date soon?)

Yes, I did just ask my hubby for a date on my blog. And I bet it works too.

Worry

Last night I was awake from 2-4am. I hate being awake in the night-especially during busy weeks like this one. AND it's the 3rd night in a row, on top of several previous nights of little sleep from being up for sickies. Anyway, that wasn't the point of this blog. The point was, while I've been awake I've had a lot of time to think. Now, I wouldn't say I'm a "worry-wort" or anything like that...but I do have my moments. Last night:...about the bridal shower I have coming up (I always stress about these things, and after they are done I always wonder why! Specifically this time-that I'll get what my family has and not be able to do it!) About Kaden's appointment with the ENT Specialist today...and while thinking about that Kaden would cough and I'd be reminded that his fever was still going strong and his Pediatrician told me if it went 48 more hours we needed to do more testing (we are now down to 6 hours...it's not looking hopeful!) and I just started to worry. I thought about the what-ifs. What if they want to do surgery right away... what if they can't do surgery til he's well (HE'S NEVER WELL!)...what if's about surgery...And then I would stop myself. I'd start praying (if you've been in contact with me within the last 6 months in anyway there's a good chance you got prayed for!) And it's kinda neat, God's brought several songs to my mind that I didn't even know I knew the words to! But all of that reminded me of one thing...

Matthew 6:25-34. Specifically vs 27 and 34 which read "Who of you by worry can add a single hour to his life?.....But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness..."
So many times we are told don't worry. It's wrong to worry. Just stop worrying. But how? By seeking Christ. It works. I'm here to tell you! And it's amazing how it doesn't just stop the worry...it reaps many more blessings and answered prayers. Because instead of wasting time worrying you are praying-thus having prayers to be answered! Or you're singing...and God gets to pop that song in your head that you never thought you knew (it's a blessing!) It's just so cool. The annoying thing is that the devil doesn't stop giving you something to worry about...so it's a constant battle.
This has been my constant challenge for about a year. When the gallbladder pain started and it felt like I was going to die-and no answers! Then surgery! Then tests on my heart and brain, then a lump removed-where we hoped it wasn't cancer and worried that it was. When Kate was tested for a problem with her bladder-which they had expected since I was 20 weeks pregnant. And now with all this sickness and facing yet another surgery-this time for Kaden and his tonsils. It's minor. But I tend to worry. He's my little boy-it's so hard not to! But I keep going back to these verses...

♥ Luke ♥

I love my husband ♥ I realized I post all about my kids...but...I love my husband so so much and I just wanted everyone to know that!

I ♥ his name.
I ♥ his easy going personality.
I ♥ (LOVE) that it's hard to make him mad!
I ♥ watching him play with our kids.
I ♥ that he can order my favorite subway sandwich from memory, and get it right every time.
I ♥ his fabulous looks!
I ♥ that he knows exactly how to tick me off instantly because it means he knows me so well.
I ♥ how stinkin' smart he is!
I ♥ that he likes to cook with me.
I ♥ that he has complete intergrity.
I ♥ that he knows my biggest weaknesses (like my grande, decaf, nonfat, white chocolate pumpkin latte, no foam, please.)
I ♥ that he is athletic (and looks like it!)
I could go on and on...I just love everything about that man.

Meet: My Family. The People You Never Knew You Needed to Know

I'm sitting here thoroughly enjoying the kids' naptime. I don't really have a lot to say, but it just seemed appropriate to blog while the kids were down! So, I think I'll post some pictures to inspire me!

Picture #1
These are my amazing Grandparents. They "adopted" our family the same time I was born and have loved on us ever since. In some ways they are the "realest" grandparents I've known! I just love them. They celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in June and that was what I was making the scrapbook for. We had a surprise party for them on December 26th and it was a complete hit. AND every family member (all 28 of us) was able to be there for the special party. At the end we gave them money to buy some recliners and we could tell it had meant a lot to them. Its memories I'll never 0forget.

Picture #2
This is My immediate family with Grandma and Gramps...my how we've grown. Wish I had an old pic for comparison. But I am just to lazy to ever scan in pictures!

Picture #3
This is my Grandparents with their real family...kids and grandkids. There's a lot of them too...it's fun to look back and pictures of their girls with us as babies, then of us with their kids as babies, and now their kids with my babies...

Picture #4
Meet my twin brother Brandon. Yes. My twin. But older by 5 minutes. I show you his picture first because I want you to notice how we look the least alike of anyone in my family. We are as different as Kaden and Katelyn are different. I like having a twin now. I didn't think much of it growing up. Would I want to have twins? Never. Anyway, for all you single ladies reading-he is 26 and single. Great catch if you ask me...just sayin'!

Picture #5
Meet my brother Jeremy. (He's the one ON the rocking horse.)He's the middle child. He's also the one I blame Kaden on! A talker and debate-master. A pro at both, really. It was fun to see how much Kaden is like him (and how much he will deny that) while we were together at Christmas. Jeremy tries to live in Never Never Land and never wants to grow up (if you couldn't tell by the picture), His wife Allison is good for him.

Picture #6
Meet Andrew. He's my 2nd to oldest brother. He was too busy playing with my kids to get a picture of just him. Andrew's the dare-devil, fearless one. He says I'm just a worry wort. I think he's crazy. I guess we're even. Also a great catch....

Picture #7
And finally...Meet Aaron. He's my oldest brother. (Yes...4 if you counted right...all older.) He's the engineer. The level head. The thinker of the family. He has some pretty cute little boys too... This is a self portrait. Let's just say he's better at scenery. Also, yes, that is me in the background. Blerg.

Picture #8
I guess I shouldn't leave off my parents. So here they are...my mom and dad. They are pretty cool grandparents and adore all 4 grandchildren. Mom cooks up a storm whenever we're all home and I feel bad that she works so hard. Dad's usually found in his garage or with his stereo sytsem with one of "the boys." (they hate when I call them that.) THey keep saying they are going to retire...but I'll believe it when I see it.

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.) :)

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?

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.

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!

Surgery Update (by the victim herself)

I can honestly say I wasn't expecting it to be this easy.

I hope I didn't speak too soon.

I was pretty nervous for my gallbladder surgery yesterday. I think I can honestly say I felt that people were praying for me even last night (the waiting game is almost the worst part!) and by evening I was relaxed completely! I slept WELL last night and that shocked me!

We got to the hospital around 6:45am to have them draw blood to test liver functions. Those turned out good, which meant the surgery would be less complicated. Praise the Lord! Then they did the whole rig-a-ma-role of getting me situated and telling me I could die and those things. I don't enjoy that part. I've kind of decided I'm a wimp about things...and I'm blaming that fact on the fact that I've never had a cavity/filling. Maybe if I'd had to endure minor things, these major wouldn't seem SO terrible? They gave me some anti-nausea meds because, they informed me, I am the right age and gender to be most likely to be sick after anetheisia. (Wonderful.) During that time my pastor came to visit. That was a surprise, and a nice visit to take my mind off things! Then they gave me the sedatives. YAY.FOR.SEDATIVES. I don't think I remember everything after that! And it doesn't bother me one bit! I do remember Gary praying with us :) (I had wondered if I would) and them taking me back to the OR...I don't know if I remember the whole trip there, but I do remember them moving me to the bed, and looking around thinking "I want to remember this, since, hopefully, it will be the only chance I get to be in an OR." So I looked at all the lights and felt how skinny the table was (they told me to make sure I was centered, lol...it was like just as wide as me!) Then thy told me to breathe in some oxygen. Now when I had my wisdom teeth removed they TOLD me when they were putting me to sleep. This time, either they tricked me, or I am not remembering them telling me. I took to deep breaths and the next thing I remember is waking up to the nurses talking about the fact that I was breastfeeding, as if that changed some med they were going to give me. They then made a call. My first thought was "did they not know that? Second thought: I sure hope they didn't find out because I leaked all over!" (TMI??? Gotta love the loopy drugs...at least I said nothing out loud.) So I asked for water, about 16 times. Until they finally told me I needed to take it slow in case I got sick.

Sooo tired. That's how I felt. No pain. No nausea, no nothing. They kept asking how my pain was and I kept saying I felt fine. I didn't want vicadin (sp?) but they acted like I was crazy and wasn't leaving unless I had some. So we compromised and I had half the dose. The nurse was great. She was very attentive and maybe thought I was being a martyr (painwise). I think she finally believed me after I went to the bathroom and asked to change into my clothes. She kept saying how I looked great and she surprised at how fast I was recovering from all the drugs. The vicadin (just half) did make me feel drunk...good thing I only had half! I haven't filled that prescription and am hoping Advil will do the trick. Thats what I've always done after having babies, which I realize is different, but still a major thing.

I got home around 11:30am...starving. So I ate and watched Chuck, and facebooked, etc. I haven't slept yet...I've felt like it sometimes, but not enough to think I actually would sleep well. I've even held my baby girl (on the left side!) and fed my baby boy some of my food (surprise.) :) It's 4pm now and I've taken more Advil, even though I wasn't feeling pain (yet?)...and I really feel great (considering the circumstances....)

Dr. says the first 3 days are the hardest, then just don't lift for 14 days. A little difficult with 2 little ones, but I have my mom and Luke's mom here to help!

Thank you to all who have been praying for me up until today and through today. I appreciate it, and like I said before, I know it was those prayers that calmed my nerves and spirit, and that are helping my recovery to be so uneventful! It is a blessing to have you all praying and caring!

My Favorite Boy is 2!

I can't believe that it was already 2 years ago that my baby boy was born! What a cone-headed little cutie he was! He came out a social butterfly, and sure to make his wishes known! I just love my little 2 year old!
My newborn Kaden!
My One year Old Kaden!
My TWO year old Kaden!!
We had his birthday party yesterday, and it was a lot of fun! We had sub-sandwhiches, pasta salad, watermelon, chips and dip (Luke says it's not a party without dip...I tried to tell him he does a fine job being the dip...he disagrees.) and, of course, cake and ice cream! It was a fun challenge to make his cake, and it took 2 tries to get it to bake to perfection, thanks to my less than perfect oven. Frosting it stressed me out! People-you would LAUGH if you could be a fly on the wall during my "creative moments"! EEK! It turned out very cute and all the food was yummy, even if I do say so myself. We had about 8 people over and partied it up!






Luke built him a big sandbox for his birthday. Sadly, he only had time to get one load of sand before the company closed, but at least it was enough to let the boy play in! The first time he saw the sandbox he RAN to it...looked in...then RAN back to the garage to get my garden tools. So we came in and had him eat some cake and open presents...which we gave him some sand toys. THen it was a quick change into sandbox clothes, and back out to the sandbox til the thunder storm rolled in! He loves it! We made it big...so even when he's 10 he'll fit with a couple friends!

Blessings, Blessings, and more Blessings!

Last Sunday Luke and I got our socks blessed off! ...and I wanted to tell you about it through pictures...

While at church a family asked us if we'd like a few new outside toys for Kaden...

(He played in this for HOURS while we stained the pastor's deck the same day. Notice he still has his trusty sidekick, a ball.)
(imagine this into the pool when he's a little bigger!!!)
They also gave us a tub of random things, shoes, and a Columbia snowsuit that I think will fit this winter!

The same day, Luke's boss called to say he was cleaning out his garage and would like us to come take some toys off his hands...

(and this wasn't everything! We got some training wheels, a scooter, and a few other little things. He wanted to give us a(nother) jogging stroller, and about 6 more outdoor cars/scooter/bikes, and a drawing desk for indoors. We had to draw the line somewhere! If he can find the charger, we'll also be getting a battery operated four wheeler!)

I came home feeling blessed beyond words...checked my facebook and found an offer for some baby girl clothes for Kate...WOW. wow wow wow. I hope someday I can be a part of God's blessing like this in someone else's life! I'm sure these people didn't even know the timing of it all, but it sure encouraged us at this point where we are paying a lot of medical bills and other things. My baby boy can play and play and play! (and yes, i do know he isn't a baby anymore. Some day I will come to terms with that...for now, he's still my baby.)

If you ever want to come play with Kaden just give me a call!!! We have plenty of toys, and we LOVE to have friends over to swim, ride, hollar and hoot!