Sunday, February 27, 2011

Playing the game of catch up.

Okay it has been quite a while since I have blogged -- probably due to the fact that every time, yes every time that the twins are awake, two little monkeys are trying to climb in my lap and help.
Of course, the fact that we skype with Daddy on the computer now doesn't help either. Their daddy now lives in a computer in their world. The computer is a thing of both mystery and joy to them. And as fascinating it is for them, it becomes very frustrating for me to do anything with their help.
Alot has gone on since last blog. The garbage disposer stopped working but one of the grandfathers from the bus stop Mr. Paul helped me to get that working. Last Tuesday, the exterminator discovered termites had moved in. I had to have a few of Chris' friends help move boxes and wood and  leaves and pine straw from out of the shed and by the shed so the exterminator can get to the house exterior wall. They hauled away two trucks of garbage. Thank God for Chris and Don.
The day before my dad and stepmom left last week the hall light blew out. We did check the lightbulb but it was not the culprit. I think I have done enough maintenance since Chris has been gone and that one will have to remain on his honey do list.
I feel like my life is always in catch up mode as of say the last 2 years. About the time, I get one thing finished it is time to start again. For example, MOPS. Our mothers of preschoolers group meets every two weeks. I have one week off and then it is time to start gearing up for the next meeting. I suppose if I didn't have something to do, I would be so bored. But I sure would like to know what boredom feels like for a few hours.
My mother in law gave me a plaque for Valentine's Day. It says the following

LAUNDRY
Sort........Tomorrow
Wash......Later
Fold........Next Week
Iron.........Get Real

There has never been anything that has pegged me so accurately. Word of wisdom -- if you don't like to do laundry, don't have 4 kids.

The biggest thing that I feel I need to catch up on is sleep however. I am years in the deficit as far as that one is concerned. Last night, Sydney was at a spend the night party and the twins were in bed by 8pm and asleep. Of course, it was preceded by 45 minutes of ear piercing screaming before the silence started. I don't know where she gets her screeching ability from but I feel sorry for the neighbors.
Sarah and I were bathed and in bed by 8:45. I took a pain pill to try and attack the headache that I have had for a solid week now. Grandma was coming to spend the night so help with the babies would be here if reinforcement was needed.
I laid down very proud of the fact that I was in bed before 11pm. Of course, then the post nasal drip started the coughing. It has been a whole week since we have been off antibiotics so we are all due to start with the cough and congestion again. I decided unwisely to take a dose of nighttime cough syrup.
After all, I could use the sleep.
11pm comes and Susannah starts the crying. 30 minutes later still crying and I give up and go get her out of the crib. Well lo and behold, guess who else is up? That's right. Seems I let Susannah wail too long and now Christopher had joined the party.
Susannah only screamed about 20 minutes this time before getting out of my lap to go wrestle her brother. I let them play on the floor to wear themselves down. Remember all the drugs I took?
All of a sudden, I get woke up when something hit my head. I had fallen asleep and Christopher was beating me on the head with a small tin pail. That was my clue they were going back to bed.
Anyhow, did I mention I already had a headache? They cried for about 20 more minutes and thankfully Grandma got up with them the rest of the night. I found all 3 of them on the floor this morning when I got up for church.
I will forever be playing catch up-- especially with the laundry-- for at least for the next 18 years. I wouldn't trade it for anything. How blessed I am to be here to play the game of catch up and not just to be in the stands.
God bless and batter up!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Never a quiet moment

I love the quiet. I never get that anymore but I absolutely crave it even more than the carbohydrates that I am trying to give up.
I am the type of person who will go on a long road trip and won't even turn the radio on. 4 or 5 hours without music just the sound of the road. But, my car trips now consist of screaming and yelling and being pegged by toys in the head by my son who is trying to develop his pitching arm. And I wouldn't trade it in for anything in the world.
My house is never quiet. Right this second, there is an extra little one over here and I truly now believe that after 4 it doesn't matter how many you have because it can't get any more crazy and they truly do play with each other.
The twins' nap time is usually my down time. Actually, it is when I try to keep up with my new hobby, couponing. I wish I could enjoy my old hobby, napping, but Sarah doesn't share the same love for afternoon naps as I do.
Anyhow, the other day I heard babbling in the cribs after nap time. No, crying just back and forth babble between the 2 cribs. I figured I'd let them entertain each other for a little bit and do a little more work.
Well, that was a big mistake. I walk in the nursery after 15 minutes or so and swell the foulest smell. It smelled like the diaper pail had exploded.
I look at the babies and notice that Christopher is no longer wearing a diaper. You all know where this is going right? I looked in the crib and he had peed in it of course but I assumed that the culprit of the smell was Susannah, the child still fully dressed. Not her. Then it was discovered that he had pooped but where in the world was it. I moved blankets and checked his sister's crib which is in throwing distance of his. After no discovery in the beds, I proceed to move the cribs and there it was lying at the head of the crib just like a dog had come by and did his business.
I got through 2 children without the first incidence of this. I guess it was bound to happen. I will just add this to the list of firsts and lessons learned. Christopher will never go to bed again without pants on again.
So, in my house, if it is quiet it means that someone is doing something that they shouldn't and some days I am quicker than others to go survey the damage and clean up the aftermath.
At least, none of my children have flushed anything down the toilet. Of course, there's always next week. Oh, gotta go get Susannah down off the dinner table.
God bless.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Happy birthday!

Today or actually yesterday in his time zone was my husband's 37th birthday. Crazy to think that we are gonna be in our 40's in a couple of years. My blood pressure goes up a little everytime I have to fill out a questionnaire online that has age brackets. I keep getting bumped up and I think now I am in the 35-47 year old age bracket according to the last poll I took. Yikes!
Okay, so happy birthday Chris. Glad you got some cake and icecream. It seems like we have celebrated more birthdays apart than we have had together. That's okay when we are old and gray and nothing better to do we can have a birthday each day to celebrate the fact that we woke up that morning. That sounds fun. Cake and icecream every day.
I am so lucky to have a great supportive man in my life. I truly am blessed. What more could I ask for? Three beautifuls daughters, a fantastic husband, and an incredibly handsome little boy.
And to think I was scared to death about raising a boy. But, that little guy has wrapped me all around his finger. All Christopher has to do is smile and all becomes right with the world.
The other day, I was in the kitchen trying to cook and he had a toy car that he was running up and down my leg as he tried to make the "vroom" sound. Priceless. I am so glad that God blessed me with that.
A son for me was definately one of those things that you didn't know you were misssing until you had one. It truly has become a blessing (most days) to trip over toy cars now. Looking very much forward to the days of t-ball and soccer and basketball.
Thanks Chris for sharing these precious children with me and allowing me to be their mother even though most days I am just trying to keep my head above water. And thank you God for knowing what we truly need in our lives and not listening to what we think we want.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

A new journey

Okay guys so as I sit here eating from a big bag of Reese's pieces I am a little saddened but mainly hopeful about my new journey. A week ago, a doctor from the holistic health center came to visit our MOPS group. She has spoke at all the area MOPS groups and came very highly recommended. I made an appointment for a consultation and had my urine and saliva tested at her office today.
The results were astounding. I feel validated actually that all the fatigue and exhaustion I have dealt with (even before breast cancer and children) is actually a condition that she feels can be turned around with some simple minerals and dietary changes.
So, no more binging on icecream and reese's pieces after the kids have gone to bed. People with blood type O do not handle carbs well. Therefore, the only starches I am allowed is rice and sweet potatoes. She is allowing me to keep my 2 Dr. Peppers a day because she feels my pain and I can drink coffee. So, I will gladly give up my sweets for the Dr. Pepper.
I will take a probiotic, mineral drops and some vitamins that will return full function to my thyroid which is operating at maximum capacity and doing a poor job. She remains hopeful that I will see improvement in as little as 3 days.
I pray that this will be the answer to many lost years. Sydney, age 7, has never known a mom who feels like running around and playing catch and jumping rope and riding bikes and all the fun things that moms and daughters do. I have just sat by and watch her and her dad share all this high energy activities. She doesn't know a mom who is not always taking medicine for headaches and muscle pains. She has seen a mom brought home from the hospital more times than I would like. She cries for me and worries about me when I don't feel good.
And I am tired of it. I am tired of being tired and not being the mom that she deserves or not being able to be the mom that I want to be or the wife that is kayaking or bike riding with her husband or the one who doesn't have to lie down to nap most days. I want to have energy left at the end of the day to be able to give my kids a bath or cook a nice dinner. I want my life back.
So pray for my ability to stick with this and pray for tangible results that I can feel and that my children and husband can see.
I am optimistic. I know that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" but I pray that this is one of the vessels He will use to give me some of that strength and the life that He wants for me back. Not necessarily for me but for my kids.
So to those of you who have called me "super mom" before, I am just as worn out, stressed and sleep deprived as you all. So at least I know the reasons now for the years of aches and pain and memory fogginess and fatigue.
I will let you all know in 3 days what things are like. Remember me in your prayers and please pray that the lack of sugar doesn't make me moodier than I already am. My children especially will appreciate that prayer. And I know that Chris is very thankful that he won't be here to see that train if it derails.
It is a little astounding to think that my husband could come back to a whole different woman than he married. Being able to do the things that I have always wanted to do but just didn't have the energy to do, well that in itself would truly be a miracle.
Stay tuned..........