Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Roller Coaster Tuesday

My brother-in-law and his wife officially lost their baby today. They said it was a boy and named him Ryan Neal. He was so small he could fit in one hand. They will be having a memorial service soon, but not sure about details yet. I want to send flowers, and hopefully my husband can attend, but I'm afraid I'll have to stay here with the girls. They live in Tennessee, about 3 hours from us.

Megan and Zoe are both sick. Zoe has croup, Megan has the same thing, but with a fever and severe congestion, just not the seal-like bark that Zoe has. Made a trip to the doctor today for both of them (kill two birds with one stone, right?) Doc says basically to just keep an eye on them, Tylenol, decongestants, etc. I figured that would be the prognosis. I told her we just like to visit and give her $15/kid at least once a month :) I'm glad they don't need antibiotics right now, but sometimes, you just wish you'd get a prescription for something to justify the visit. Maybe some Prozac for mom at least? Valium, anyone? *sigh*

So, Zoe is napping in her crib with her humidifier turned up on high, drugged with Benadryl and Tylenol. Meg is actually sound asleep on the couch (she NEVER does that, so I KNOW she's sick!) , drugged with Ibruprofen and a multi-symptom cold medicine.

The cats are confined today to the basement, and we have decided that they are getting their own apartment. Today was the last straw. I walked into my bedroom this morning to find the big one bowed up, pooping on MY BED!!! I beat the tar out of him (yes, call ASPCA--maybe they can take them to a better home--please???), and banished him and the smaller one to the basement (he had also pooped in a bedroom down there). It was a bit my fault, because I had not gotten around to changing their litter boxes for a while, and cats get to a point eventually when they won't use it if it's too dirty. I wouldn't use a filthy toilet either, so I can't blame him---much. However, they shed and puke all over the place and I'm tired of cleaning up their mess all the time. So, we're going to put them in a back room in our garage. We're going to put heat in there and they'll have some furniture, scratching posts, and all their kitty comforts down there without us having to live in their mess. I would just put them outside, but I've spent too much money on those cats to just have them run over--that would be irresponsible on my part.

This afternoon, hubby just walked in--yay! Trying to finish laundry and clean up for a small group meeting tomorrow night--not sure that will happen, but I'm just kind of on auto pilot right now, praying for God to help me handle each situation that comes my way. And if you've made it this far through my ramblings, God bless your heart!

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Life is not fair

Well, that's no big news, right? But we had news today that makes me keep saying it over and over. My husband's brother and his wife lost their second baby, this one at 16 weeks. Actually, she is now in the hospital being induced to deliver after no heartbeat was found at her checkup today. I can't stand the ups and downs sometimes. Just over the Thanksgiving weekend, we were all talking about the baby, excited that it was due on my anniversary. They were nervous, but were excited and so hopeful. I know they must be devastated, but I can't say I know how they feel. We have been blessed with our two beautiful girls, no problems with pregnancy or getting pregnant. I just can't understand how sometimes such good people can't have kids, when so many others have kids and don't even want them or care about them.

I guess I was mad at God today. We all have been praying and hoping that they could have this baby. I don't understand His plan, and I don't know if I ever will, but I'm praying that His glory and goodness can eventually be seen by all of us. Keep us in your prayers.

Monday, November 28, 2005

Praise for the Wiggles!

The Wiggles, yes, though annoying for most adults, is having a great Christmas special right now on Playhouse Disney! I am thrilled that they are actually singing CHRISTMAS songs! About Jesus!!! Woohoo! With so many public businesses, media, etc. replacing Christmas with "Holidays", it's so great to see Jesus actually being acknowledged for children! Just a heads up that Christmas is not dead on every public forum! Maybe we can e-mail them and let them know we appreciate this kind of programming and to keep it coming!

Thankful for Thanksgiving

I've been absent from my blog for too long. Sorry all. A cold, Christmas shopping, Thanksgiving preparations, and my computer game addiction have kept me from recording my pursuits here.

I hope all you readers had a great Thanksgiving and I hope you each have many things to be thankful for. I am so thankful that we were able to travel back home and visit our family. We had such a great time with everyone--and of course there was the food :) I'm trying to get out of the habit of eating every hour like I did over the weekend.

I loved watching my girls enjoying and being enjoyed by their grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. We had a great dinner at my dad's house, and I have kinda picked up my mom's role in our family get-togethers. I brought some turkey, stuffing, cranberry salad like mom used to make, and a pumpkin pie. My sister-in-law and I got it all warmed up and we got the kids' food fixed and set them up in the living room and we big folks ate in the kitchen. It brought back memories of how we kids all had to eat in the living room and how we used to wish we could eat at the table ;) Three of my neices were there, so five little girls giggled and squealed and played until they were wore out. We laughed so hard just watching them. I cleaned up the dishes and my brother pointed out how I sounded like our mom when I reprimanded the kids with, "You all are getting too rough!" I had to laugh at that--I could just hear her saying that too.

Even though we missed her, our second Thanksgiving without her was still full of good memories. I am thankful to have had her for 27 years of my life. I'm thankful that she was one of the few people who was brave enough to try a bite of every new recipe I tried, even if she didn't care for it. I'm thankful for teaching me unselfishness, sacrifice, and love for family. I hope I can keep learning and improving on those qualities as time goes on.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Living in the rut...

My friend posted about being in a rut a few days ago. I've been stuck in one since Meg was born and have decided to just live here. Make it cozy. Decorate it a bit. Add my own themes. I was on the fitness jag a few weeks ago--that was as close to being out of the rut as I've come. It was kinda like going out of town for day trips on business, then back home to the rut of course.

Well, now I've been home in my rut for some time. The fitness hasn't picked back up since Fall Break, then the nursing strike that happened the next week. I did manage to do 8-minute abs yesterday, then took the girls for a walk after lunch. Walking with a 3 year old in tow is just not that aerobically challenging however. And she falls a lot. Been walking since 14 months, but she still trips over her own two feet. I'm afraid she inherited my natural lack of gracefulness. Had to cut the walk shorter than I liked after she fell face first on the pavement and scratched her nose, forehead, and knees. Not badly, mind you. But I think the screaming that ensued probably made the neighbors call 911. She definitely has a flair for the dramatic--glad she's going to be in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" soon. Just not sure I can keep up with her and make her listen to directions.

Remember the nursing strike? I bring it up again to illustrate how babies can totally turn around. I think Zoe is having a growth spurt now. So every day, she nurses about every 3-4 hours, then she's been up at least once or twice a night for the past 3-4 nights. She's my good eater. I got what I prayed for--sometimes you have to watch what you pray for--you just might get it! :) No, really, I'm glad she likes to eat. She's now into table foods. She loves pinto beans and cornbread, mac n cheese, and boy, can she put away the Fruit Loops! Whole ones! Has two teeth, but she grabs them with both little chubby hands and gums them up and cries for more.

I love those girls! We had a girl night last night while daddy was out. We watched Shrek 2 for the hundredth time and ate popcorn (Zoe had Fruit Loops). I love to curl up with Meg under the afghan and watch movies. She is like her dad. She memorizes the lines in the movie and says them along with the characters.

Sorry I haven't posted much in a while. Our internet access was down for 2 days, and I've been back into my computer game, The Elder Scrolls III, Morrowind. So, that takes up much of naptime. That's my rut--decorated with computer games, unwashed dishes, unfolded laundry, scattered toys, and a messy basement. Come on over to my rut--I'll make some coffee and we'll play a computer game :)

Monday, November 07, 2005

Why did God make Mondays?

Hmmm, I feel like the Garfield comic picture that says, "I hate Mondays". The fun-ness of the weekend is over and the hectic-ness of the work week begins again. Today, my Meg has pink-eye (we think), so we missed preschool and went to the doctor instead. Seems like we've been there a lot in the last month. Anyway, after 24 hours of some eyedrops and no runny eyes, she can go back. So, looks like she'll be home tomorrow too. There goes the exercise I had planned for the first two days of the week. Maybe I'll get around to it Wednesday. We'll see.

Got a great pic for ya. My hubby was playing around with our camera last night and got a good shot of the girls--so typical of them, really. They love each other. Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Halloween pics and fun!





Meg's preschool class visited the local nursing home and handed out candy to the residents. Zoe even found a friend too! I love this shot. Young and old, finding a precious moment together.

My girls--little Dora the Explorer and and Baby Pumpkin. Can it get any sweeter?

Why, yes it can! Zoe's first swing ride!

Now, where's that leftover candy? Mmmmmmm.....