Mama Blog

*cough*cough*cough*

I'm sure she's still around somewhere. At least I hope. No email, no phone, no blog. Yoohoo!!!!!! Where is Christy??

Generalizations

I think after the episodes of the last few days, I should reevaluate my time spent. Just sayin. There may be few and far between entries here for a while. A lot of pictures to share I hope and a story now and again. But the only time I should be online is when the girls are asleep or Steven's home and awake. The events of late have proved I can't leave her alone for any length of time.

Some pictures to tide you over until we get some new ones from our visit! (I CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOME!!)

(Click thumbnail for larger)

Must Get Off Butt

Making a list so I'll see the enormity of the task before me and get off my butt and get busy. Ahem.

-Laundry (wash, dry, fold, put away or pack)
-Pack clothes for four of the five family members
-Pack gates and door knob covers
-Clean house (bare minimum of keeping things at dull roar and making certain to sweep and mop before leaving)
-Pack bathroom bag
-Pack recipe books
-Remember cats' food when taking them to board
-Purchase feeder for fish
-Remain calm

Ugh

Let's just put it this way:

-Not a stellar day
-Crayons
-Eggs
-Apparently in need of duct tape, leashes and electric fencing after all
-No nap (again)
-Tomato staking

Early preschool anyone?

Conundrum

"Um, hon, wake up. I need help" he said.

I grumble something akin to "Uh huh" and roll out of bed, oblivious to the magnitude of the situation.

"Um, babe, Lizzy doesn't have on a diaper. She's been in our bed for a while now."

WHAT!?!

2:30 this morning I'm stumbling around in the darkness trying to get a new diaper on my 2 1/2 year old monkey while trying to figure out where the old one is and why it isn't on her butt.

Didn't find it and was too tired to care too much. Went back to bed. This morning, I found it in the trash in the girls' bathroom. Also found evidence that someone had used the potty. See, when we take Lizzy potty the dirty pull up goes in the garbage there beside the toilet and she does her business. I wonder if she got up and used the potty?

I cringe at the thought of what mess "might have been" had he not noticed her lack of booty cover all night.

Yuck.

She does that a lot though, getting out of bed in the middle of the night and wandering the house. Scares me half to death. And honestly, I have no idea what to do about it.

Finished

Finished the race. Not in the time I wanted but not far off either. Couldn't help having the cold from heck but it wasn't too bad. I had to hit my inhaler three times. First time, before the race, I forgot to hold my breath once I took it. Heh. Yeah, that doesn't help much. When I used it after the race I got light headed. So much so that I had to sit down on the ground. Felt all weird. That feeling wore off quickly though. I have some pictures to show. A few of them (the ones Lynn needs approve) are still pending. I'll show those as soon as she gives me the go ahead. I think she looks great but it's her choice. (Update-She gave me the go ahead)

Here's what I can show you for now. (Taken by Pam and Steven)
(click for larger)

It figures

Whoever makes smoke detectors and 9V batteries has obviously got a grudge against middle class America. Why would I say such an inflammatory thing? I'll tell you why.

I have never in my whole life had a battery in a smoke detector go bad in the daytime. Every single time we've been woken from a dead sleep by a loud and disturbing BLLLLEEEEEP! In this house there are five smoke detectors. This morning around 5:00, which admittedly is about the time we normally get up, we heard one. Now, this morning we weren't up. Steven had gotten up about 20 minutes before to put his uniforms in the dryer and I had coughed so much last night that I went to sleep much later than I would've liked. We were snuggled up in bed, half awake and half still dreamy and cozy. BLLLLEEEEP! Took two batteries and three tries to figure out which particular detector was in need of a new energy source.

When all was said and done I climbed back in bed (5:27) and planned to just lay down a few more minutes. Not necessarily go back to sleep but lay down a bit longer since I was still so tired. No dice. I couldn't lay there. After being awake so long (with a purpose) my brain was already running a million miles a minute.

Gratuituous Subject Change!

Pam and Charles arrive some time this evening. They'll be here for the walk, helping with the girls and cheering us on. Then Emily is going to get to go back with them for a few days. She earned a special one on one visit since she has done so well adjusting to going to school. *Cough*Bribery*Cough* Ahem. So, I'll meet them halfway on Wednesday to pick her back.

Can you believe that child will be five in just a four and a half weeks!!! Where does the time go?

Photos: (click for larger)
All of these pictures are from Emily's Preschool Trike-A-Thon

Update after Dr. Visit

Turns out I have a viral something or other in my chest. I was ok'ed for the walk Saturday. However, I was instructed to stay hydrated and if I started to feel light headed, I was to immediately stop. I was given an Albuterol inhaler for use just before I walk (practice or race) and just after. I wasn't even able to take a full breath (for the 'deep breaths while i put this cold stethescope on your skin' bit) without coughing. She said that my voice will stay this way until the drainage stops and my lungs clear up. Yippee. Ref's whistle is now my new best friend.

Froggy went a-croakin'

I am sick.

While Lizzy seems to be getting better and never sounded like a frog, I have lapsed into the "no voice, croaky whisper, hacking up a lung" stage. I made an appointment for this afternoon to get it checked. My chest feels all tight and my voice is essentially gone. Other than the cough (and the resulting sore throat from said cough) I feel ok, not great or perky, but still ok. No fever, no aches, nothing else. I really want to walk in that 5k on Saturday, just not sure if I should. Will find out today.

Random tidbits heard around our house lately:
2 1/2 yr old - "Oh man! It's dark out here!" & "Awesome!" & "Pick a' aminal! EIEIOOOOOO!"
almost 5 yr old - "You know that boy that sits across from me? Ya know, next to beside me?" & "At school, a long time ago...."
7 1/2 yr old - (sung to the tune of She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain) "She's gonna help me with my homework when she coooooooomes"

Ketchup

November. Already. I know, everybody says it, but still. Where has this year gone???

When we moved here the time for the assignment seemed to stretch on forever. Now, with 14 months left things seem to be just flying along. Gosh, three weeks until Thanksgiving vacation. I can't wait!

Saturday is the big day, the 5k. Steven and I are both participating since Pam and Charles will be here to help with the girls. Lynn is participating as well! Wish us luck!!

The girls and I have passed around the stomach cooties all week. Lizzy and I seem to be the only ones effected by the allergy/coughing/ick though. She actually slept all night last night though. Hasn't done that in a few days so I hope she feels at least more rested.

Mentally going over my Christmas list and as far as the five of us goes, the girls are pretty much covered. I think a few small things are left but that's it. Shopping for Steven is difficult. First obstacle is storage. Where do I store a gift for him that he won't find it?! Still trying to figure what to get other family members. Since we'll be here for Christmas we'll have to get that shopping done by the first of December so I can ship the stuff out in time for the big day.

If you notice the lack of blogging don't fret that I don't love you anymore. I'm merely trying to regain my focus. My efforts to blog and/or be on the internet will be confined to the time left after I wake up but before the girls get up, as well as, after they've gone to bed. I just need to get my priorities straightened out again.

Father, help me to remember what my purpose is. Keep me in focus on the gifts that you've given me. My relationship with you, my husband, my children, my home, may family, each of these should far outshine my interests elsewhere. I thank you for those gifts. None of us is worthy of all you offer and yet, you offer it willingly. Thank you for loving me when I am unlovable.
Amen.