Insomniac

For several nights I have not been able to get to sleep and I am not certain why. I don't think it's from too much caffeine. My mind has been racing about the bustle of activities coming up but why am I worried? They are all good things and there is nothing to stress about. Please pray I can keep things in perspective and get some Zzzz's. 

Almost Easter

You know it's almost Easter when your kids want jelly beans for breakfast. The Starburst jelly beans are the best!

Back in business

Sometimes I take for granted the blessing of being a stay-at-home mom but not today. My dear friend Kelly had been away from her kiddos for 5 weeks in the hospital warding off pre-term labor. I know she is so ready to get back home and do all the normal Mommy things like getting the kids food, baths, dressed....playing games with them or taking them to the park. Or even just hearing and being a part of their daily learning experience. As I walk around here today feeding lunches, playing outside, giving baths, reading stories, and doing laundry, I am so thankful to be right where I am. Praise God for Kelly and her family too. They are both healthy (baby came Sat at 31 weeks) and they will both be home ASAP. Please continue to pray for their healing and health and that their needs are met as they become a family of five! Oh, and Kelly, take it easy at first! Love to you and the family :-)

Hide-n-go-seek

Last night we played a family game of hide-n-go seek, which turned out to be really fun. First, because Abby likes to hide with Mommy and is always a dead giveaway. She giggles and then jumps out even before they get to the room but boy is she excited. It's also fun to jump out and scare them (the babies) if you are hiding by yourself because they almost never find you. Last night I hid on the couch, under the covers and they must have looked for 10 minutes (Abby getting very upset) and finally when Toby looked under the couch I jumped out and scared him! Yes, we are cruel cruel parents, lol. 

Cindy Winters (Pastor Fred Winters wife)

I watched on interview of her on a morning show and also saw footage of her speaking at her husband's funeral. What a great example of turning to God in times of tragedy. He seemed like such a wonderful person, pastor, and witness for Christ. Please pray for their family and their congregation as they mourn.

Cindy speaking at the funeral:
http://www.bnd.com/ntm/story/689134.html


Cindy on morning show, forgiving killer:

When one doesn't know, ask the other one

We have this recurring dilemma in our house and this is the mystery of the missing sippy cup. I don't know how but we cannot find a sippy cup at least 1-2 times a week. I have (eventually) found them in all sorts of places: the laundry hamper, camouflaged on the toy shelf, in the side pocket of our reading chair, in the bathroom, and many other interesting places that you wouldn't think to look right away. Today Abby wanted water and we had another mystery. She and I walked all around the house looking for her sippy cup and on the third time I was convinced she was toying with me. Finally I asked Toby if he knew where the missing cup was and he said "Yes, I drank some milk from it and put it on the shelf" which was a decorative shelf by the front door with pictures on it, mystery solved, sheesh.

Goodbye Fran

We said goodbye to Fran today and though it was hard it was the most peaceful beautiful day. The skies were blue and sunny and though she wasn't physically there, there was so much of her in the room. Chris spoke about her and his dad told him later he had never been more proud of anyone in his life. I told him "me too" but your dad has 50 years on me! Mainly he talked about her constant love of Christ in her life and love for her family (again especially the grandchildren :-)). He also spoke about how she taught him the joy of giving. She truly knew that the joy of having something is knowing it's not yours to begin with and finding someone who needs it more than you do. There were lots of tears but also lots of love in the room. She was definitely a connector piece to many family members but they (we) all drew closer today and promised to continue to share her love and her memory.  Oh how we will miss her but we are at peace and wondering what she is doing up in heaven!

Funny things I learned about having gall bladder surgery

1. The recovery room is HUGE, weird, and a little scary, especially if you are blind as a bat
2. Emptying a FULL bladder after being on paralyzing anesthesia is tough.....think waterfalls, waterfalls, waterfalls
3. They fill your belly up with gas to do the surgery and don't always get it all out afterwards, like I needed any more
4. You turn from a hare to a tortoise and have to move in slow motion; think old woman crouched and shuffling around her house
5. Two words: DRY MOUTH

Just wanted to thank everyone who is loving and caring for me: Chris, Mom (Renee), Jenny, Michelle, Mindy, Kelly and Jim, Laura, and all of my MOPS sisters, friends, family, and church family for prayers. You all truly radiate God's love and kindness. Also thanks to my beautiful children who are being gentle with mommy because her belly hurts. Love to you all. Now back to my two good buddies Jon and Kate :-)

Gall Bladder

So the scoop is I will be having an outpatient laparoscopic gall bladder removal surgery Wed at 9am. I am a little anxious but it is no big deal. Even so, please say a little prayer for me. 

They said I can resume a normal diet when I am ready and to take it easy for  few days. Even though most people go back to work after two weeks, a stay at home mom should be good after a couple of days, ha! No really though, I should be fine. 

I want to thank my beautiful wonderful mother for watching the babies the day of the surgery, and my loving "best husband in the world" for taking off work for a few days. 

If you need me I will be on the couch. 

Partners in Crime #4

      

Need I say more??

Poor Pumpkin

Well now Toby has had a high fever for two days. I think I may call the doc again today. He has been laying around and saying his leg hurts. He's not eating a ton either. He has some congestion too. Last night after he came into our room to sleep he was snoring so loud it sounded like a little horn was going off. It woke both of us and Chris ended up putting a Breath Right strip on him which helped him breath (and silenced him) immediately. What a wonder those little pieces of tape are. Poor kiddo.

Stay at home Mom

What I like about being a stay at home mom: 1) wearing your PJs a couple of hours in the morning 2) morning workouts (improves my mood a lot) 3) lots of hugs and kisses 4) eating whatever you are in the mood for for lunch (today it was homemade salsa and chips) 5) Reading to the kids

What I dislike about being a stay at home mom: 1) whining 2) fighting 3) cleaning 

The good definitely outweighs the bad. 

This was inspired by my need to have chips and salsa today so here is my mouth watering recipe. 

Mary's Spicy Black Bean Salsa

1/2 can of black beans (more if you like it thick)

1/2 can or one medium to large tomato

1/3 of an onion chopped

2 cloves garlic chopped

a pinch of habanero pepper spice (be careful, just a small pinch will make it spicy, you can always add more)

Puree in food processor and eat with tortilla chips, also good on a burrito. 

Girl Scout Cookies

I think they should change the line on nutrition info that reads "Saturated Fat" to "Heart Attack" because that is all I think when I read it. It is just not fair that all of the girl scout cookies are at least 25% of your daily saturated fat intake for just one serving (two cookies). Come on! One serving?!?

So far I have been pretty good just one thin mint and one tagalong today but I had to put them away, they were just sitting on the counter laughing at me.