Living Life...or at least trying too!

Phew!  Life has been crazy!  As I said in my last post (I know, this one is LONG overdue), we recently moved. ugh!  Moving is stinky.  I am surrounded my chaos and clutter and boxes galore!  Things ARE starting to settle down a bit, but not as much as I had hoped.  We have 2 functioning living spaces downstairs (kitchen and living room), well two and a half if you count the office, which is barely functioning.  The upstairs is coming along, except for the fact that my 3 year old stuck her finger through the bathroom sink!!!  It had a rust spot on it and she pushed it and bam! through the sink went her little finger!  Can you believe it?!  I couldn't!  So redoing the guest bath just moved up in priority (which says a lot since it was pretty high up there!)

I guess that in all this chaos and transitions I am just trying to make it through, to survive.  I am not sure what I am trying to make it through too.  I mean, life will always be happening and I am just trying to get to the next point as opposed to enjoying or even tolerating my phase of life right now.  I guess that I had assumed my of my discontentment was related to not having a home, but I am discovering it is more a state of mind, or state of heart that I have been living in.  It is funny how getting exactly what you want and have been asking for is not at ALL what you expected.  Neither is what you learn from it!

Looking Forward

There are so many things that I am looking forward to:

1.  Having a potty trained bug number 2
2.  Having a yard...preferably with a fence
3.  Not living on the 2nd story
4.  Not bringing groceries up a flight of stairs
5.  Not being preggers (especially in this heat! yikes!)
6.  Having a wardrobe that 1. I like 2. Consists of more that 10 pieces
7.  Fall and fall things and cool weather
8.  Going to the bathroom by myself

But the reality is that is not my life right now.  Bug number 2 is struggling with potty training.  I am struggling with patience with him.  We don't have a yard, in fact we have a parking lot.  Lame.  Our outside time consists of chalk and bubbles, and walking to the playground or going somewhere else to play.  Won't it be nice to just walk outside and play.  I think so.  We live in a second story condo that we are renting.  (We were 'supposed' to be here for a year max, just passed 2 years here).  I have to bring the groceries up stairs because you have to go upstairs when you get here.  I am preggers and nothing fits well anymore, and after wearing the same clothes for 3 pregnancies in less than 4 years you really start to hate them...REALLY HATE them!  It is not fall or cool but that is coming soon! Yay!  And I probably will never be able to pee by myself in any amount of foreseeable future.

But that is okay.  Right?!  It is okay.  It is okay that things are a little out of control and not exactly how I would have envisioned them.   God is good and bigger than my list (which could have gone on WAY past 8, but I felt the need to stop at some point).  I guess it comes down to choosing to be content with some of the things that are happening in life and trusting that God's plans are perfect.  That's the hard part huh?  Choosing and trusting.  It is much easier to complain and wallow in yuckiness.  I want to cling to God's promises but it isn't always easy.  God will work things out for the good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

I don't think that I was in Paradise today.  

When it rains, it pours

So this week has not been my favorite.  I have been feeling yucky during this pregnancy (worse than normal) so after a quick call to my doc on Monday, followed by a not so quick visit that night.  I could have some yucky problems.
My options:  1.  preeclampsia  2.  pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) or 3. anemia

Since I am slightly anemic and my levels were low when I had my glucose test, they think that is the cuplrit behind my wonky vision and extreme exhaustion.  Tuesday I had to go in to have blood work done, to test it all.  The lab was closed Monday night, bummer.  So another trip to the doc was needed.  Bug number 1 woke up with PINK EYE on Tuesday morning!  Are you kidding me?!  Thankfully my pediatrician called in a prescription for me.  I just couldn't make it to one more appointment.  Today I had had to say goodbye to Rocket.  Rocket is our van.  Bug number 1 named him.  Rocket got hit a while ago at the Farmer's Market and he is getting fixed!  Yay!  But no van, in fact no vehicle for the day.  Goodness.  It has been a long week and it is only Wednesday!

One of those kind of days...

Just what the doctor ordered.  A special thanks to my MIL for providing this special treat.  It was very needed today. 

Summer Heat

Argh!  This summer has been a hot one!  Yuck and it is just getting started.  I feel like we completely missed spring.  The wonderful time when everything is in bloom and pretty and hanging outdoors is enjoyable versus miserable.  You think that I would be able to handle the heat a wee bit better, since I did live in South Florida for almost 4 year.  But not so much.  Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I am preggers and don't have warm weather clothing that fits right now! 

Our Kids in God's Hands

This article from Focus on the Family goes well with the audio on a Mom's Identity.  Great resources to have as a Mom. 

A Mom's Identity

This is such a great audio about a Mom's Identity from Focus on the Family.   It is only abut 10 minutes, but so worth it.  How often we become all-consumed with our children and quickly spiral into crazy Mama. 

Under the Tough Questions box click on Audio: A Mom's Identity


BontyMama

Man Overboard!

So I thought that my kiddos were playing nicely on the patio while I cooked dinner.  I was a little off the mark as you can see.  What I thought was playing was dumping toys through the railings and watching them fall.  At least they understand gravity! 

Up the stairs

So this is what ONE shopping trip to Costco and Trader Joe's looks like in my house.  It was 8 trips up the stairs, yes up the stairs.  We live on the second story and that means stairs folk.  It was 8 trips up the stairs with groceries and 2 trips up with bugs (one each).  The kids had fallen asleep in the car and hung out there while I unloaded.  I wish I could say that they napped really well when we got home, but they didn't it was more of a rest time than nap time.  Needless to say I got my workout in for the day!

Weekend Celebration

What a busy weekend!  It was one of those non-stop kind of weekends, but a really good kind.  Chris and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary this weekend!  Yay for marriage!  Our actually anniversary (Feb. 5th) didn't go so hot.  Both bugs were sick.  Number 2 had a fever and cut 2 teeth while bug #1 fed off his crankiness resulting in two very tired and cranky kids and a very exhausted mama.  Chris was running late home from work.  Not what I had planned.  But you know, while all this was happening, I became more grateful for a "typical day" anniversary vs. a "special day" anniversary.  I got married for the marriage, not the anniversaries.  Life can either make our marriage stronger or break it down, depending on our choices and responses.  I am so grateful for a husband who is willing to work on our marriage and protects it.  Thanks babe!  Here's to another five!!  Cheers!

 

February 5, 2005

Imaginary Friends

Good Advice

I just received some good advice from bug number one:

Don't eat poop, Mama!

I'll keep that in mind kiddo when the mood strikes!

Holiday Fever!

Do you have it? I know I do. I love, love, LOVE the Holiday Season! I love it all; the craziness, the shopping (not in crazy lines or on black friday), the gifting, the receiving, the eating, the tree, the lights, the snow. Yes, even the snow! I love it all. One of my favorites is Christmas music! Day after Thanksgiving that music is playing and pretty much doesn't stop until Jan 01. One of the neat things about this year is that bug number 1 is really old enough to start 'getting' Christmas. She loves all the "pretty lights." We have been talking about Christmas being a celebration for Jesus' birthday and how much we love Him and how much He loves us! It is so cute to hear her singing happy birthday to Jesus! We have stacking pyramid blocks and she calls those the "birthday candle" and blows it out after singing to Jesus! PRECIOUS!
She has Psalm 100:2 covered!
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

I am so excited for this time of year! I hope that you are really enjoying it as much as I am.

Grace and Peace to you this Holiday Season!

Christ is Born!!

Really?

This morning the bugs were playing in their room while I was getting ready. A pretty normal situation. Lulu was also in the room with the kids. Sometimes this happens sometimes it doesn't. It really depends on it bug number 1 lets her in the room or not. Well, unfortunately for Lulu, bug1 wanted to play this morning. I was packing our bags and getting ready to head our for a massive day of grocery shopping (at least 4 stores!). Everyone was ready, so I thought. I walked in the kids room to get their shoes on and go, and what did I find!!! Bug1 COVERED in Vaseline. I just stood there, I had no idea what to do, and then I just started laughing. And then I looked and Lulu was COVERED in Vaseline. Lulu had this look of "you let me play in here, and do you see what THIS kid did to ME?!" Poor puppy. Of course, I had no idea what to do, so I started laughing even harder. I grab bug1 and Lulu and tossed them in the bathroom. Bug2 managed to stay fairly clean and just had a chunk on his cheek. There was some down the side of our Alligator stuffed animal and that was about it as far as the room. I went back into the bathroom and had forgotten to take the Vaseline away from bug1, so she was putting more on Lulu. Apparently Lulu had a dry coat and bug1 was helping out. Well, needless to say about 100 paper towels later and 2 baths for Lulu we are all nice and clean. Note to self: take the Vaseline OUT of the room BEFORE letting the kids play in there!

Poor Lulu Puppy!