Jewelry Keepsakes pendant

Hallie, at Jewelry Keepsakes contacted me before our trip to Thailand to see if I'd be interested in reviewing a keepsake item from their store.  I checked out their website and loved what they provide (memory jewelry, photo necklaces, key chains, etc.) and told her "yes!".  

I loved how many options they have for bereaved family and loved ones.  You can get cremation jewelry of all kinds and keep your loved ones near you.  (I especially love what this can mean for bereaved parents who have lost infants/babies. One of my favorites is this bracelet. )

I chose a photo engraved pendant.  The photo I chose fit best on the diamond shape.  

The picture I chose doesn't show up super sharp, but I kind of like it.  (We think it may be because I used a black and white photo.)  You can't see the image from far away.

I also got the back engraved.  It says "full hands, full heart".  Sort of a play on how often people tell me I have my hands full.  But, also, my heart is full, not just with my children here on earth, but the ones in heaven as well. 

So, how do I like it?  

I love it.  I ordered a long chain to wear with it and I love that length as well (I don't have anything else that length.)  its a little "soft" in terms of metal.  Eliza chewed on it and scratched it already, but that's not really Jewelry Keepsakes fault, know what I mean.  I don't think they likely tested their bereavement jewelry for toddler teeth impressions.  

I wore it several times in Thailand (with the same outfit.  We were there two weeks.  I washed stuff. ;))

You can get a pendant of your own at www.jewelrykeepsakes.com.  They range in price depending on what you're looking for.

 (The one I got is listed at $39.99)

The time I ran a half marathon

So, I ran a half marathon November 9th.  It was sort of a big deal for me.  I mean, I basically flunked out passed out off the track  in high school during a sprint.  I had to quit track because I couldn't run farther than a mile.  This was 13.1 miles, guys.  Seriously.  Thirteen point freaking one miles.

  I hurt my knee a few weeks before the half, so I was forced to take some time off after by my physical therapist and doctor (and, really, my knees.  They hate me.)  What was a month of PT and time off running has now, as of tomorrow, turned into two, and, unfortunately, is extended into the unforeseeable future.  (For those who are interested, I go back to the doctor tomorrow.  Two months of PT fixed one knee, but not the other.)

I didn't post about my half before because I was pouting.  For two months.  I stewed, pretty pissed off that I can't run.  Embarrassed, I guess, that I was posting about my half marathon as a "runner" but was unable to run.  I felt like a fraud.  (Also, spending two months working through my identity in Christ as his daughter, and not as a "runner" or some one who worked really hard at something and achieves a goal.  Tough stuff.)

But, I guess I've come to the conclusion that I DID run a half marathon (ground breaking conclusion, no?)  no matter what I'm doing now.  So, I guess I'll share. 

My friend's husband graciously picked up our packets for us and sent me a picture of my number the day before our race. 

It was a cold morning.  We had mittens, hats, coats, pants.  I almost didn't want to take off my pants for the start, but knew I'd be hot after a few miles.  (I think I gave my coat to E around mile 7.)  

My friends and I started towards the back.  I was anticipating a rather slow finish: me with my knees, my friend T who was 11 weeks postpartum, and a friend who's longest run had been 8 miles.  My goal was to finish and to have fun.

The first few miles, I entertained a few of our group by telling them about a horrendous birth I had just attended.  It was the week prior and the indignities, disrespect, and abuse were fresh on my mind.  I ranted for a good 2-3 miles.  

Mile 3 my knee is starting to stab, so I yank off the tape the PT had put on the night before at a late night appointment (6pm.  she was good to me.) 

Mile 5, and  I'm still hanging with my homies, (there's my friend T who ran the 10k with me)  Still feeling pretty good, though I remember my knee starting to hurt pretty bad. 

After mile 6 or so, my "bad" knee went completely numb.  It was seriously amazing.  When I was running, I felt little to no pain.  Every time I stopped to walk, it was painful.  

Miles 6,7,8, were pretty- most of that time spent on a greenway.  E and the kids stopped and visited, too.

Mile10- My running buddies and I had planned to do walk/run (when I trained I walked after every mile for about a minute), but I ended up breaking off  because it hurt too much to walk. 

Mile 11, I remember thinking/praying that I was actually going to do this thing.  I had 2.1 miles to go.  I was going to finish!

Mile 12, my other knee started to hurt some, but my bad knee was still numb.  I cried from the relief that I was going to finish.

Mile 13, there was a lady in front of me that had been there a while, but was slowing down.  I saw my training girls at the finish line, telling me to kick it into gear and pass her.  So, I sprint it in for the finish.  

I'm in the yellow shirt.  My chip time was something like 2:38:07

Some of my running friends.

My friend T and I. 

I did most of my training with this girl.  She's amazing!  She was such a wonderful partner.  I miss running with her like crazy!

My friend's husband captured this gem right before the finish line.  This is what I actually felt like the last .1.  

There you have it.  My half marathon.  Since it may be my only half marathon I ever run, I'm glad I was able to do it with my friends and not kill myself for a certain "time".

Please and "daint do"

O's growth hormone medicine came on Thursday night.  In two gigantic boxes.  It freaked O (and, to be honest, myself) out a little to see such big boxes. 

Luckily, this is the actual medicine.  Four tiny boxes, to last us a month.  The rest was refrigerant and supplies (needles, sharps box, alcohol wipes, etc.)  

These four tiny boxes?  They cost $1,500. No. Joke.

The home health nurse is coming after school today to teach O, E, and I how to give the injections.  O will have to learn for things like sleep overs eventually, so we're going to have the nurse teach her how to do it tonight.  

O is nervous.  She keeps saying "I like the size I am.  I don't want to grow. " 

Come and Knock on My Door

My local mom's group did a craft swap last week.  I missed the last one they hosted, and was so disappointed!  When they announced this one, I jumped on board immediately. 

I browsed Pinterest for ideas, and finally settled on a burlap wreath.  However, as I've mentioned in the past, I'm a crappy searcher over there and never seem to be able to find *exactly* what I want/need.  (of course, now that I go back and look, I see one that is just about what I did. Hmph.  What.ev.)  So, I modified different tutorials to meet my needs.

Here it is!  I wish, now, that I would've made two!  I love it so much!  (By luck of the draw, my bestie actually got my craft.  So, I have visitation rights and such.  Plus, her door is red, so the colors in the rolled flowers look fab and complimentary and stuff.)

holiday version of a random list

• I'll start the list out right, on a very lovely note: Eliza slept through the night last night! Can I get a "Woot! Woot!" (I'd love to say I'm well rested, but, come on. I have 4 kids. One of them is bound to wake up while on vacation.)
• It seems like O almost always has an asthma attack while we are visiting my parents.  If I count back, she's been on steroids the last 6 visits with my family.  (most of those are when we were visiting Michigan, two of them were when we went to Florida.)
• Poor O has had 1.5 weeks of various steroids in her body.  First with her rescue inhaler for several days, then the nebulizer, then an oral steroid AND the nebulizer. 
• I have introduced E to the world of Swamp People.  That show just makes me laugh a little bit. (while at the same time hiding in a corner since I have a weird fear of Alligators.)
• E and I went to Greek Town in downtown Detroit last night with some friends from college (E's old roommates.)  We left the older 3 kids at home with my parents.  It was SO fun!  The place had a lot of dairy free options for me to eat (which was wonderful) and we had a wonderful time visiting. 
• Speaking of yesterday, I had two wonderful people come visit me during the day at my parents house.  The first was my beautiful cousin, that I've blogged about before, and her baby girl.  We surprisingly didn't get along very well as small kids, but we've grown to love each other as adults.  I SO wish she was closer so we could hang out more. The second person was one of my college roommates, and a childhood friend.  It was so great to catch up.  Facebook is good at keeping some of the major details up to date, but there are some things that are just better learned in person.
• I'm dreading Christmas a little.  I actually LOVE Christmas.  It is one of my favorite holidays.  But, it is on Sunday, and we leave on Tuesday morning.  It just makes me a little bit sad to think about leaving already.
• I haven't run a single time since we've been here.  I forgot my cold weather running clothes and I'm not about to brave 38 degrees in shorts and a t shirt. 
• My momma is making pancakes for me so I'm outie. :)

Stay calm

It's amazing to me how people can be.  All people, really, but especially E and I.  I've had some on-hand experience with this the last few weeks in relation to staying calm or, essentially, being patient.

E hates shopping.  I mean, totally loathes it.  He's the type of person that buys a gift just to "get it over with."  We just bought a gift for his mom that I thought was rather pricey for what it was.  He say to me, "well, it may be bad to think this way, but that's another $20 off what we have to spend on her."  (Obviously, his love language isn't gift giving, folks.  How lucky for me that mine is.)

So, E hates shopping.  Sunday afternoon, we dropped the big kids off to help my MIL put up her tree, and we talk the littles to Target to go shopping.  Target normally isn't the worst place on E's list (that's saved for special little "hells" like Hobby Lobby or Old Time Pottery in his opinion.) but Target on the weekends, in DECEMBER, are pretty crowded.  I had a few things to look at and price.  After the first one, E was getting antsy.  I asked "which color do you think looks better?" he replies: "the first one" with out even glancing over at what I'm holding.  

It only went down hill from there.  We went to the toys, and he is just standing there, staring (maybe going to his happy place?  Lowes or Costco possibly) while Isaac is climbing out of the cart and drinking out of his coffee cup.  The only thing he says "can we get out of here now?" over and over. 

what's my Achilles heel when it comes to patience?  Screaming/crying/whiny children.  Isaac has a sinus infection and he has been very prone to crying jags (well, that sinus infection and he's almost 2).  He cried so much yesterday, I can't even begin to explain how shot my nerves were.  It wasn't just sad, I don't feel good, cries.  It was screaming really.

I'm making dinner rather late in the evening,  (Our original plan was to go out to a local pizza place for kids eat free Monday night, but we decided against it because of Isaac.) and Isaac is throwing a fit about every.single.thing.  He wants the cheese I'm shredding.  He wants the tortilla I'm frying.  He wants the tortilla chips I'm setting out.  I give him a small bite of each, but he's screaming because he wants more.  He's hanging on the fridge because he wants an apple.  All.while.screaming. 

Then there's the bigger kids.  Asking for markers, fighting over who has the best green.  "Mine's dried out!  MoMEEEE!  Mine's dried out!"  "Can you get me some glue?"  "Mommy, I need the crayons!"  "He took my idea!  Look, mommy!  He stole it!"  "She's looking at my paper!"

E's over on the chair, peacefully rocking Eliza.  Completely unaware, or unaffected, by the commotion in the kitchen. 

That's when it hits me.  This is MY Target-on-a-Sunday-in-December.   Let's pay for our stuff and GET ME OUT OF HERE!

Because I can hardly stand to post an entry with out a picture... pictures!

A Quilt, my Belly, and other things

I finally got around to piecing together that quilt I mentioned in this post. I wanted to use up my scraps, as well as make something that went with all of the fabric in the room.  If you know my sewing style, I'm not on much for actual "patterns" or quilt styles.  Its too, um, formal for me.  So I laid out all of my larger scraps on top of my backing piece and my batting and sort of just pieced it all together. 

There was a point where I was about to throw the entire quilt out the window.  That point was towards the end, too.  Isaac kept crawling in my lap while I was sewing and I screwed up an entire line.  That one long stitch took me almost 2 hours to take out.

But, it's finished now.  Whew. 

Part of the quilt.  Not sure if I'm going to regret the satin fabric...

 The binding is half brown and half the brown/white fabric.  This picture has the quilt folded in on the top right corner so you can see the backing, too.

Since I uploaded some pictures from my camera, I found a few belly pictures I thought I'd share. 

This one is 34 weeks, taken right before my baby "sprinkle" that my friend D threw me.

A took this one for us.  We realized later that E's shirt was unbuttoned.  Classy.

 

These are from Monday- 35 weeks.

As a complete and utter unrelated topic, have I mentioned how much I hate staying home all day?  Isaac woke up sick last night, so we've been quarantined today.  I hate it!  I get so restless and have cabin fever!  I made an attempt to leave the house this morning, to get Zeke some medicine for his fever, but he fell asleep in the car before we even left the subdivision.  So, I made a loop and came back home.

Speaking of crazy things.  I am slowly packing my bag for The Girl's birth.  E asked me yesterday if I had packed for him.  I told him no, and he said "oh, never mind.  I'm sure we won't be in a rush to get to the hospital with how long your labors are.  I can pack then."  Thanks for that reminder, babe.

One more update to add to my hodgepodge.  We finally chose a first name for The Girl!  I'm about to bust at the seams!  I want to tell someone in a bad way.  It's probably a super good thing that we choose names late in the game.  Otherwise, I may not be able to keep it a secret. ;)  O keeps asking what her name is.  We'd tell her, but the last time we told the kids a secret (that I was pregnant) they blurted it out to my parents on the phone.  So, we're staying tight lipped.  E keeps telling the big kids that we're going to name her "George".  They think that's nonsense, and laugh hysterically.  Isaac, however, keeps saying "Baby George!"  It may end up her nickname.

You win some, you lose some

Win: Not having to wait long to see the OB because it's glucose tolerance testing day.
Lose: Failing said test and having to wait 3.5 hrs for the 3 hr glucose test.
(ETA: I just got the call that I passed the 3 hr test, so I guess that's a win, too!)

Win: A loves Kindergarten!
Lose: He's been exhausted every day this week.  So much so, we've moved his bedtime up to 6:15.

Win: Isaac's new nap schedule.  He's been sleeping 2+ hrs.

Lose: We've been having to lay down with him to get him to sleep/stay in his bed.  Only for naps, but still not great for October when the new baby arrives.

Lose: E traveling for work again soon.

Win: Lots of time in the evening to sew/craft/work on consignment stuff.

Win: My littlest's love of blueberries.  I love to hear him say it, and I love watching him eat them.

Lose: Blueberry diapers.  Enough said.

Lose: Having a family member say "How many weeks do you have left?" then, after I reply, responding with "wow!  You're just going to get bigger?  I mean, you're already big!"

Win: Having someone ask how many weeks I am, then responding with "wow!  you're so tiny!"

Win: Having an awesome OB who schedules your appointments on Mondays since that's her "day on call" and she knows me and my labor history (went into labor with A and I the same day as my appointments)

Lose: Finding out that Awesome Dr will likely be on vacation when I deliver baby girl.  Possibly not, I suppose, but probably so. (She'll be gone the week I'm 37-38 weeks. O and A were 38 wks, I was 37.)

Win: Having a child who is super creative and smart.

Lose: Having a child who is super creative and smart, thus coming up with a way to stuff 10 pennies into our van's cassette deck.

Win: posting pictures from the first day of school.

Lose: No lose.  This one's win-win.

He said MOMMA Elmo?!?

Isaac has been feeling less than stellar lately.  Last Wednesday night, he started with a croupy sounding cough, and nothing more.  Then, the cough got worse, so I took him into the dr. on Saturday.  He needed steroids, again, for two days. Saturday night, the poor kid started running a fever, and got really sick. Sunday morning, I was ready to take him back in.  Monday, he was sounding croupy still, so we had to give him another day's worth of steroid (which, if you've never had the torture joy of having a child on steroids, you are really missing out on some wildness/crankiness/worst-sleeping-ever-ness.)

Every day since Monday, I keep thinking, "okay, if he gets worse, I'll take him in."  Because, let's face it, I don't really want to drag 3 kids to the doctor's office ever, but especially when 2 of them are healthy. He hasn't gotten any worse, really, just kind of the same.

So, in all of his sick-glory, the kid has been extra snugly and loving (minus the steroid days when he was just mean to me).  Today, he was sitting on my lap while I was, cough, checking facebook on my phone and watching the news.  He keeps saying, what I thought was, "momma" over and over.  Seeing as how he hasn't said this, yet, I was over joyed!  I threw down my phone, looked into his sweet face, and then was immediately disappointed.  He was pointing to the t.v. at Elmo.  Saying "memo, memo", then signing "please". 

thanks, kid.  Apparently it's more important to say a furry, red, annoying puppet's name before mine.  Burn.

A little bit of randomness

• I burnt two fingers on my left hand with the iron yesterday.  I set it directly on my hand.  Pregnancy brain, anyone?
• E thinks I've been "nesting", but really, I'm just trying to prepare as much as I can before I get 1.too uncomfortable and 2. before school starts and I have even less time.
• Baby girl's nursery is almost finished!  My mom is making the crib skirt, and I have plans for a baby blanket/quilt with the scraps.  I think it looks fabulous! I promise to share pictures, soon!  Here's a teaser.

• We've spent very little time at the pool this year with out E.  I just don't feel up to handling watching the bigger 2 kids in the deep end, and keeping track of a wild-totally-has-no-fear toddler in the immense heat.  I promise to do better next summer. (As long as baby girl is not walking...)
• My little brother went and grew up and got engaged!  My brother, D, and my future SIL, R are planning a May wedding as of now.  Aren't they cute?

• We looked, very briefly, into flying all of us out to the wedding (since Mapquest put it at 14 hrs for a drive, with out stops.) Then, we quickly realized that flying 5 people, renting a car, then paying for a hotel, plus 2 dresses and a tux just weren't going to happen.  Maybe there's something fun to do between here and Pennsylvania to make the trip more intersting.
•   My heartburn/acid reflux has gone from controlled to uncontrollable.  I started Prevacid when I was 19 weeks and it worked great!  Until 2 weeks ago.  I've been miserable.  I cut out caffeine, pop, and eating big meals.  I talked to the pharmacist today, and she pretty much said that there isn't much else I can do. *sigh*  Before I complain too much, I would like to say that I am SO grateful that I never had this with my first 3 kids.  1 pregnancy is enough.
• No, we don't have a name for the baby, yet. (Although, if it was up to me, we would. ;))
• A friend's husband died last night after a freak fall that lead to cardiac arrest.  I have never even met him before, but I am so sad and heartbroken for my friend.  Her daughter is O's age, and her son is A's age.  E is at a conference tonight, and I just want to hug him- for a really long time. 

Oh, you *must* coupon!

Dental Hygienist (which, from now on, I will address as H): When is your baby due?

Me: In October

H: How nice!  Is this your first?

Me: No.  It's my fourth.

H: Fourth?!?  Really?  Were they ALL planned?

Me: Um....  I mean, we, um, always wanted four kids.

H: Really?  Four?  That seems like a lot.

Me: Yeah.  My husband and I only have one sibling between the two of us. We wanted a big family.

H: So your done after this one, right?

Me: yes, as far as we know.  We wanted four kids.

H: I could never have that many.  I just don't know how you do it.  Like the Duggars.  They have too many, in my opinion.

Me: well, it would be hard.

H: So, do you stay at home?

Me: Yes.

H: Oh, you must coupon, then!

Me: A little, I guess.  I'm not crazy with it it, but I try.  I have friends who are much better at it than me.  I just don't have time or the energy with 3 kids to run from store to store.
 
H: Oh, I don't do coupons.  I don't have time, either.  But, I do shop at night.

Me: After the kids go to bed is normally when I run/walk.

H: I get up at 4:30 to do that.  Wait.  You still run?  I'd be scared to death something would happen.

Me: I just stopped running around 20 weeks.  I still sneak in a few minutes here during my walks.

H: Here comes the Dr.  (to the dr) Dr. C!  Guess what!  This is her FOURTH baby!  Her FOURTH!

End horrific, uncomfortable scene.

(I can hardly restrain myself from posting the snide remarks I was making in my head.  I'm sure you can imagine them, too.)

$4.25

Garage sales in Michigan, where we are visiting my parents, draw a much different crowd than they do down at home.  At home, it seems as if only those who are vastly interested in things to hoard frequent the sales.  You know the type.  The ones hauling around trucks, completely full of junk, pulling a trailer filled with the same.  (Not that I'm not up for a bargain.  I am.  I just can't possibly understand the need to fill the back of a truck AND a trailer with other people's things.  How can you possibly NEED all of that stuff.)

Back to my point.  Visiting a subdivision garage sale is a little more fun here near my parents.  Lots of kids things, in very good condition.  For $4.25 I got quite a few goodies. 

The breakdown:

$1.25 Addidias warm up outfit for O for the fall. 

$1.00 for four board books for Zeke.  Two of them were ones with sound (and both of them worked!)
                       (not sure what happened to this picture. sorry!)

$2.00 for two pairs of shoes for Zeke.  One for right now- they are a pair from BRU that look brand new!

 

The second pair was a super good deal. Here's a new pair just like them, but in a darker brown for $23.95 plus shipping. I paid $1. Not bad, huh?


O and A also spent a $1 each on various toys.  A's toy probably had $1 worth of batteries in it.

I swore I'd never be that person

"what person?" you ask.

You know, the one who said  "I want to run so bad!" or "I love running." 

I can tell you that I am keeping my promise to myself.  Sort of. 

While I won't go as far to say that I love running, I will say that I'm hating it less and less.  If I'm being completely honest, I'll even go as far in saying that I've enjoyed it a time or two. 

Everyone I ever talked to that enjoyed running has said to me "Oh, I used to hate it to.  But, now I love it."  I also thought those people were crazy.  Like running hippies or something.  I just couldn't imagine ever liking something that made me look so absurd, and made me feel like I was dying.

A few months ago (maybe 4 or so) I started adding some running to my work out routine (mainly because I have a 10 year high school reunion coming up and I wasn't getting the results I wanted from just the weights.)  I'd run 1/2 a mile, do my weights, sit ups, etc. then run another 1/2 mile.  Even after 2 months of that, I still hated running.  I watched the treadmill stats like it was going out of style, and as soon as that little odometer reached .5 I flung the red emergency magnet off.

I would come home and tell E how I loathed running.  How I hated the way it made me feel.  He suggested, gently, that I may be pushing myself too hard.  I was, after all, a new runner.  Maybe I was running too fast and too much at once.  I've never been good at pacing myself, so this made sense.

I knew that a lot of my friends have had wonderful success with the Couch to 5K program.  I decided to give it a try. 

I didn't start on week one, since I had been running some and I wasn't really starting from the "couch".  I started on week two.  At first, I started on the treadmill.  As summer has transitioned into fall, I have started running outside (but, still in the early a.m. or later in the evening since its still quite warm during the day here.)  We started doing some of the running as a family.  Putting some kids in the jogger, some riding bikes.  Those, honestly, are my favorite times.  They keep me entertained. :)

On Wednesday, I hit a major milestone.  (If you're my friend on Facebook or Twitter, I'm sure you've heard all about it.)  I ran 2 full miles, with out stopping.  This is the longest I have ever run straight.  (Except in my days on the track team in high school.  They were short lived. That's a whole different story that I'll have to tell someday.  Its pretty funny.) 

Guess what!  I didn't hate it!  I actually didn't loathe it.  Maybe it was because I knew I could do it that made it not so bad.  Or that I actually did it in a pretty decent time (which, I think I was going a little too fast, though...) Whatever it was, I enjoyed it.

I know, I know.  Enjoying is bordering on liking.  Once you get to liking, its all down hill to love. 

*sigh* I do love to run downhill.

The weather

This is our 7 day forecast.  I wish I could show you the LAST 7 days as well.  You would see that its been HOT.  Really hot. 

People are complaining.  Lots of people.  But, I'm trying not to.

Now, if this was the forecast for early May, I'd be a bit more fussy over seeing this forecast.  Because, it would mean that we have months and months of this weather. 

 But, its not May.  Its the middle of September. 

 Do you see the last two days up there?  With the forecast in the 80s?  That's MY kind of weather.

Seeing how it is September, I can get through yesterday (with a high of 98) and today just looking forward to the slightly cooler temperatures to come.

After all, its all temporary.  I can see the light cooler weather at the end of the tunnel.

Just don't catch me in January.  I might be complaining then.

A day for random updates

• Its raining here.  Finally.  Its been like the desert, (and our water bill reflects trying to water the desert soil to grow grass.)  Sometimes I love a good rain. 

• 
  
  My baby boy turned 4 a week and half ago. We had a small party on friday. It was hot, but it was fun. He had a blast with his friends. E decided to get all of the kids water guns to take home. Not just the cheapies, but the actual Super Soaker brand kind. They had a great time (including all of the dads. Which, thinking back, the water guns may have been for them in the first place.)

• The cake turned out so-so.  I wouldn't put the fruit in the middle again.  It was fine for party day, but I think the fruit has gone bad so there are no leftovers.  Boo.
• The kids are watching Fraggle Rock.  You know, the show from the 80s.  "Dance your cares away.  Worries for another day. Let the music play, down in Fraggle Rock."  Ring a bell?  I love the Wii.  And Netflix.  Best.invention.ever. for people like us who don't have cable.

• Zeke is waking up from his nap right now, and I can guarantee that he's standing up shaking the sides of the crib.  Yes, that's right, I said STANDING!  Its his new trick.  A trick that he likes to do all day, every day, and even sometimes at night.  He'd prefer to stand than sleep, I think.  In fact, today, he was propping himself up on the side so he couldn't fall asleep.
• O starts Kindergarten in 2 weeks.  Two weeks.  Two freaking weeks!! 
• O's kindergarten list says to buy 8 jumbo glue sticks.  Do you know how much those cost?  Around $2 a piece.  That's $16 in glue, folks.  I just want to buy the mini ones and say "take it or leave it", but probably won't since I always do what I'm told.  E wants to check Amazon to see if they have them cheaper (this is just SO him... lol.)
• I rarely order things online.  Mainly because I hate not being able to return it, or paying to return it.  But, I went to TCP last week to try to find some jeans that fit miss O.  The 4s were huge in the waist and the legs were just a tad too short.  I asked if they carried 5 slims.  Which, they don't.  But, she gave me a free shipping code to order them online.  Woot!  I used another code from http://www.retailmenot.com/ and I ended up getting them cheaper than in the store.  Double woot!  Let's just hope they fit now.

• In the spirit of online shopping, I bought a dress at Gap online today.  I think it'll look nice. It was only $9.99 so it might look nice no matter what.  At least for around the house. 
• E got a bonus a few weeks ago.  We planned to do some decorating stuff with it (well, technically, E told me I could "do whatever" I wanted with it.  But, that quickly changed to buying a few things that we need and putting the rest in savings.  Again, so totally E.  but that's why I love him.)  One of the things we were going to buy were these iron chairs for our front patio from Costco.  I went to buy them, and they were all out.  Darn!  They are too expensive elsewhere.  I just need them to look pretty, not be comfy really.  I can't bring myself to pay much for something to just look pretty.  *sigh*
• We did end up buying a pretty picture to hang above our fireplace with the money above, though.  We went to Old Time Pottery and scavenged through all of their stuff.  (E kept making comments like "let's just get out of here!" and "I hate stores like this!".  I think the clutter makes him nervous.)  I love the way it looks with our new paint color.

For a rather abrupt ending to my posting, that's my list for today. :)

throwing babies, stress, and the death of creativity

When O was about 6 months old, E threw her across the room. (He claims he tossed her gently, but my version makes for better story telling.) She was screaming crying loudly and I needed a break from the noise. I sent E in to rock her. As E was headed to the rocking chair, he tripped. As he was falling, O sailed out of his arms, blissfully unaware of her misfortune, and landed with a thud.

E, of course, felt horrible. I came running into the room, not knowing what on earth had happened (all I heard was "thud" and then a "waaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!"). Turns out, she had actually landed onto a large pillow and E was the one who had made the thud, and O's crying was only from the shock of it all.

I had a similar incident today. Except for one little difference. I didn't throw toss accidentally drop the baby. He was unable to be dropped/thrown/projectiled into the air because he was in the sling, snug against my body. (I actually fell into the road, crossing the street to get from one of our church buildings to another.) Zeke didn't even hit the pavement. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the funny ride, and had a big grin on his face after I stood up. (I'll pretend he enjoyed the ride, versus laughing at his mommy's klutzy-ness.)

I, however, didn't walk away unscathed. A few scrapes, and some bruises. Definitely a bruised ego for sure, and probably some physical ones as well. Thank God that Zeke was in the sling and I couldn't drop him. It would've really hurt him if I had...


Which is kind of stressful to think about. Stress, stress, stress. To say that I've been overwhelmed lately is, well, an understatement. I feel like nothing is getting done right/well enough/fast enough and that there is always a to-do list a mile long. A friend wanted me to sew some stuff for her, I's baby food issues (we've now decided to skip purees all together) the kids have taken turns getting sick, thrush, antibiotics, etc, etc, etc.

In efforts to try to lose more weight, I've started running the past two weeks. However, I feel like instead of relieving stress, like everyone claims, its actually causing more. Stress over when to fit it in, where to do it, how long, how far, how to keep the kids entertained, etc. Not to mention it cuts into my kid-free time in the evenings, and my hubby time. I feel like E and I haven't' seen each other much this week. He and I were alternating what evenings to go run/workout. When we get back, its shower then sleep.

I could go on and on and on. But, I won't. I've decided to cut back on some expectations as well as some things. For instance, part of my stress is coming from my creativity. I get excited about ideas of things to make. Particularly, things I can make by sewing. But, I get stressed when it doesn't work the way I want, or it takes longer than expected, or I don't have time/energy/hands to do it. So, the sewing machine is getting put away this afternoon. Back into the master bedroom closet. Away where ideas can't stare me in the face every day while I sit nursing the baby, wishing I had free hands.

I'm not sure what else I am going to cut out right now. I might try to combine my devotions with running and see how that goes. Maybe some sermons on my mp3 player, or some worship music perhaps (but, I need fast music, so I'm not sure what to shoot for there...) Whatever the changes are, it has to change for my peace of mind. It needed to change yesterday.

random thoughts

*I think I have another kidney stone. I think I mentioned that before, but its been worse lately. I've been having lots of lower back pain on my right side. Its only every once in a while, but when it hurts- it hurts!



*I officially have less then 20 weeks to go before we meet this baby.

*I always seem to get into a minor accident when I'm pregnant. When I was pregnant with O, I bumped into one of those yellow posts at the gas station. When I was pregnant with A, I broke the mirror off the car when I backed out of the garage. Today, I hit a post in the parking garage. I blame the kids for that one, really. they're the ones who convinced me to park down there today.

*I'm pretty sure E is going to be PISSED about the car. I've been praying all afternoon that he's in a good mood when he gets home. There's not much damage, but I'm sure the kids will tell him first thing.

*I also swore for the first time in ages. In front of my kids. Lovely. I don't think they heard me though.

*I'm hosting a mom's night out at our club house tomorrow night. I'm secretly hoping that people don't stay too late. Mainly because I might have to go take a nap for a bit...

*We're trying to plan a visit to the beach at the end of this month. We're looking at going to a Hilton resort in Destin. We were going to try to go in October when its a little cooler, but with the MO trip we just took everything got shifted. We were supposed to go to MI in the beginning of September. We really didn't want to take two LOOOOOONG trips right in a row. The Destin trip is only about 1/2 of our MI one.

*If something posted somewhere has a title like "Tracy don't peek", I can't help but peek. I know its probably wrong somehow, but it just drives me batty to see it there day after day.

*I have a dentist appointment on Monday. I really don't want to go. I HATE the dentist. arg.

*I bought the baby new bedding from target yesterday. Now, just trying to convince E to paint the nursery this weekend.

*I just bought my almost 4.5 year old a pair of 2T jeans.

*Every time I go into Gymboree, I leave wanting things. I should probably just avoid it all together.

Verification?

Is it just me, or do these letters from our Alphabet cereal look like blogger's verification words?

Top left: a 'B', maybe?

Is that bottom left letter an 'R' or an 'A'?

E thinks I need to email POST and tell them that our Alphabets are illegible.

Maybe they should retake first grade handwritting...

uh-oh

Um, I didn't realize how expensive contacts AND glasses are. Yikes. E is likely to have a heart attack when he comes home tonight.

Anyone want to have me over, say around 5:30?