Top 10 things I do EVERY DAY.....

The following in NO WAY insinuates my husband's attitude towards me or anything I do. I have a wonderful husband who enjoys his wife staying at home with our children and who wants nothing more than what we have now (except maybe a few extra dollars in our checking account). But, the way things are these days, people have a different attitude of mother's who prefer to stay home during the day than they did 50 years ago. Yes, I work inside my home AND outside of my home (part-time), so I do have the best of both worlds. But, I certainly am not even close to being a breadwinner.

-1. As a mother who stays at home most of the week, I DO NOT sit around all day eating junk food and catching up on any "stories" (soap operas) or talk shows OR ordering the latest fashion on QVC, OR playing on Facebook (as tempting as it is).

-2. No, I don't sleep late. EVER. There are some nights I'm lucky if I sleep at all, never mind the fact that my alarm goes off before the sun even rises so that I can be my husband's personal alarm clock. Well, that only takes 30 minutes of pushing and nagging and hitting. By then, yes, I'm wide awake. But, it works out for the best because I have a kid asleep in his bed that needs to be woken up in time to eat a "leisurely" breakfast, brush his teeth, comb his hair, and manage to get his clothes on without too much whining and complaining. This doesn't include the lunches that need to be made for both my husband AND my kindergartner (and the days I actually leave the house for my "real job", it includes MY lunch, too.) On top of making sure my 5 year old has all his papers in his folder that he needs for the day, his morning snack and beverage, and my signature on yesterday's note from the teacher. Oh, and making sure he doesn't forget said lunch and backpack on his way out the door.

-3. I don't "do lunch" with any of my friends. Most of my friends have jobs outside of the home. So, we don't go kick back somewhere with a dirty martini and our husband's credit cards, shooting the breeze, and wearing our new tennis outfits. (Which, by the way, I don't even own a tennis outfit....) Also, I'm lucky if lunch consists of a grilled cheese OR PB&J sandwich. I'm also lucky if I can manage to get any lunch down my 1 year old without most of it going on the floor to the dog first.

-4. I don't shop all day. If I shopped on a regular basis, we would not have a roof over our heads. I felt guilty enough going to Wal-Mart today and buying a $9 tablecloth for my dining room table. But I did. My outing to Wal-Mart was my first shopping "spree" since I went to Kroger last week to buy groceries so that we could eat dinner.

-5. I clip coupons. No, I'm not fanatic about it, but yes, I try and save a dime here and there. It takes time and it takes concentration while in the store. It's pretty much a pain in the you-know-what.

-6. I clean toilets. I also clean tubs, wash and change sheets, dust, vacuum, sweep, mop, ect., ect. Should I continue????

-7. I sit in a car-rider line for 40 minutes, sometimes in the blazing hot sun, so that my son does not have to ride on the dreaded "cheese wagon". This 40 minutes also includes the fact that I have to try and entertain my OTHER son to keep him from screaming his head off because he gets bored, or because it's his nap time.

-8. Dinner. At our house, it's a zoo. When I cook, that means I have two kids under my feet- one in every cabinet and nook and cranny he can find, and the other hollering "Mama, Mama, I'm hungry! When are we going to eat? Mama, what are we having for supper? Mama, I'm soooooooooooo hungry!!!! Mama, Mama, MAMA!!!!!". I never understood growing up why my mother would get so irritated when one of us asked "what's for supper?". I thought it was an innocent enough question. But now, I totally understand. Sheesh. I'm becoming MY MOTHER...........

-9. Bath time. It's another zoo. End of that story.

-10. Bed time. Making sure everyone has had their milk, brushing teeth, using the potty, saying prayers. Bed time alone is tiresome.

So yes. I stay home with my kids most of the week. I DO NOT sit around and stare at the television, go shopping, "do lunch" or take naps. Fortunately, I have a husband who still helps out in a BIG way. He cooks dinner from time to time, let's me have a girl's night out occasionally, and -OOPS- if I forgot a thing or two from my last visit to Kroger or Wal- Mart (because one or both of the kids is screaming or begging or just making noise in general, so that I lose my train of thought) he is always willing to make an extra trip. And balancing the checkbook and managing our money? Well, he takes care of that, too. If I balanced our checkbook, we'd ALWAYS be "a day late and a dollar short". Literally.

I also have a wonderful mother who helps out, too. Not only does she keep both of my children while I'm actually earning my REAL paycheck, but she does ALL my laundry. Not only does she wash and fold, but she puts our clothes away, too. WOW. What a woman she is. I love her enough, but that just adds to it.

June Cleaver is my role model. No, I'm nothing like her, but in some ways I wish I was. Wearing pearls and high heels while keeping a spotless house with two boys, and having dinner cooked to perfection before Ward makes it through the door AND staying calm and collected without the use of drugs or alcohol. Wow. What a woman.

The list is actually longer, but I don't have time for all that drama. I think you get the point. For any single parent, or parents who both work out of the home every day out of necessity, my hat is off to you. I would be such a weenie.

Innocence...

I'm beginning to wonder how a lot of families these days get by without having family dinner together. That seems to be when all of our most interesting conversations come about. I know I have shared a couple of stories of Brennan and some funny things he has said while we are eating dinner. Well, tonight we were sitting at the dinner table (eating yummy burgers cooked on the grill by Chad) and I started telling Chad how yet another patient of ours had passed away, and how we had signed a total of three sympathy cards today at work to send to patient's families who had passed away. So, Brennan said, "Mama, why aren't you and Daddy in Heaven?" And I looked at him, and said, "What are you talking about, what do you mean by that?" And he said, "Well, if you're a grown up, and you have God in your heart, aren't you and Daddy supposed to be in Heaven to live with God forever?"

From the mouths of babes..........

I try so hard not to get all emotional and sappy with my blogs, and keep it light- I know it bores people, but I really feel the need to share my heart. Just a few minutes ago I received a text message from someone in our church. A longtime member of our congregation was just given the news that they had cancer. Cancer in their bones and spine. The prognosis isn't known yet, but they have asked to be alone with their family this weekend. So, I'm pretty sure that's not a good sign. My heart is SO heavy.

What a devastating year this has been. In January, when I found out my identity had been stolen, I literally grieved for myself- as selfish as that was. I thought my world had been turned upside down and my life would never be the same again. In some ways that is true. But, compared to the other things I've experienced since then, I realize my problem is fixable. About 2 weeks (give or take a few days) after I found out about my identity theft, a friend I had recently gotten in touch with after not seeing him for a few years, found out his 3 month old had a malignant brain tumor. Wow. That totally blew me away. And broke my heart. And made me realize how selfish I was.

Two months later a childhood friend died suddenly in a car accident. Someone I had just seen for the first time in YEARS the day before she died. A wife. A mother. A daughter. A sister. A friend. So many lives touched by her.

Without dragging this out before my laptop battery dies, to sum it all up- I've been directly and indirectly affected by a total of 15 deaths this year. That doesn't include the people around me who are dealing with illnesses such as cancer or other things. I try to tell Chad all the time how good we have it. Whether I'm saying that for his sake or mine, it's so true.

I won't ever try and hide the fact that Chad and I live from paycheck to paycheck. We do. That's just the way it is. That's how we choose for it to be. Sure, I could go and find a job that pays double to triple what I'm making, and I had that previously. But, I am doing what's important to me. I'm taking care of my family. I'm watching my boys grow and learn and laugh. I am raising my children from 8 to 5 everyday instead of going out and earning a paycheck to buy "things". There are some days Chad and I wonder how we will buy groceries and pay our next bill. But, the bottom line is, we do. The money always "magically" appears and we buy our groceries and pay our bills, and even though there may be nothing left at the end of the week, we move on and do the best we can. I can look back one day and know that I had what was most important to me. My family.

Tomorrow, our lives could change in the blink of an eye. As morbid and depressing as it sounds, it's reality. I could lose my children. I could lose my husband. I could lose my parents. Or my family could lose me. Each moment should be cherished for what it is. My kids wear me out and drive me crazy, but I have those memories and so do they. What my life is now, I wouldn't change it for anything. But, this has been such a devastating year and my heart is grieving and heavy and hurting for so many. I feel like things are so unsteady and that could be God's way of getting my attention on certain matters of my life. It could also be a way of getting me on my knees and on my face seeking Him. One thing I have learned this year, above all else, is how powerful prayer is. I only wish I felt worthy enough to worship such an incredible God. But, I guess that's the beauty of Christ and what He did for us.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Hug your children and spouse a little tighter from now on. Kiss them. Tell them how much they mean to you. And if you say it with tears in your eyes, well, that doesn't make you the weaker sex.

I can brag, can't I?

Well, after stressing and worrying, I am a very PROUD mother of a kindergartner. Brennan had his first progress report two weeks ago. In kindergarten, at his school, they give him the "grades" of : "S" (satisfactory), "N"(needs improvement), or "U"(unsatisfactory). Let's just say Brennan's progress report had very few "S"'s and a WHOLE lot of "N"'s. And one "U". I flipped out. I immediately got in touch with his teacher and was adamant about scheduling a meeting. I was so upset!

After a few minutes of talking on the phone, she reassured me that a meeting was not necessary unless I absolutely wanted a meeting. She tried to ease my stress level by saying how sharp Brennan was, but it was also only the first 4 weeks of school for him EVER. Considering he had not been to kindergarten ever his teacher said she was very impressed with his learning ability, how hard of a worker he is, and how eager he is to learn. So, I breathed a little sigh of relief after hearing her say that about Brennan, and we started working extra hard at home.

So, today I get a note from the teacher. But, it was a note that was GOOD! She said Brennan has really improved on his letter writing and reading and that he was a very hard worker! And the thing that has totally blown my mind??? He has become a total bookworm. All he wants to do is sit down and read and look at books. I am amazed. Before school, he had no interest in books. Now, he loves writing and reading. Does my heart good to know how much he's taken off in the past few weeks of kindergarten. I just hope he keeps it up! I'm a proud Mama!

More pleasant dinner conversation.....

Dinner talk at my house tonight consisted of "Where do babies come from?" (OH YES, he asked how babies got in all the Mama's bellies) to being born and living. Then, we started discussing living in Heaven if you're not living on earth. So I said, you have to ask God in your heart to live in Heaven with God forever. So Brennan said, "God will you come live in my heart please?" Few seconds later: "MOM, God is NOT answering me!!!!"

Insomnia and nightmares......

So, my husband went to Wal-Mart to buy me a nightlight. Yes, ME. Not my boys. I've been having a serious issue with insomnia and really horrific dreams lately. I had to get up with Ethan at 3 this morning (not that I was asleep anyway) and I had to turn on every light in the house to get to his room on the other side of the house without having a panic attack. I think it's becoming a big problem for me. ALL of it. Between not sleeping EVER and being afraid of the dark lately, I'm going to pull my hair out.....

This is what my Sunday evening consisted of: NOT going to church (shame) and having a strange desire to cook spaghetti. Cooking dinner involved pressure washing the high chair OUTSIDE, a plant being turned over and breaking the pot it was in, a kitchen that looked like it was involved in an explosion, and kids hanging from the chandelier, making a SECOND trip to the store for the main ingredient - SPAGHETTI SAUCE- and a supposedly dead spider being stepped on and giving birth to gazillions of baby spiders. DEAR GOD, I promise..... next time I decide to skip Sunday School AND evening worship, both in the same day, I just want you to strike me down with lightening. . It would be so much easier for all parties involved. I am DONE for the entire WEEK. Don't bother me. I need religion.

I am getting SO bored......

The illness is causing these walls to close in on me! I am getting so BORED. So, thought I'd share a newly found favorite song of mine. I have listened to this guy for a few years, and just bought his newest CD. He is played on K-Love quite often, but is not considered an official contemporary christian artist and this song is not exactly a contemporary christian song, either. I consider myself to have good taste in music- although some people would beg to differ, but this is a GREAT song!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPSxd2h_mEw

Another reason teeth are SO great!

This is SUCH a great story!!!!


http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090919/NEWS/909190346/1002/news01/Tooth-enables-woman-to-see

Dinner conversation.......

Brennan had cheese pizza for supper tonight, and didn't eat it all, so when I asked him why he didn't finish it, he said, "Mama, this pizza is WEARING ME OUT! All this cheese is just going to make me poop!" And Chad and I cracked up..... and I said, "Brennan, you better be glad you are so cute!" And then he replied, "I am NOT cute, either. I'm just a kid!" He is so funny.

Sick again..........

I am SO tired of germs and the possibility of being contaminated with them!!! I have worked everyday this week and have been extra paranoid with getting hit with the swine flu or ANY other disease running rampant out there.

With that being said, after Brennan being sick with strep a few weeks ago, and then again last week with fever and an ear infection, AND having a coworker with a sick child thanks to the swine flu (which is why I worked all week) I started feeling bad yesterday. I started feeling a little funny yesterday morning, but thought maybe I just needed to eat. So, even with no appetite, I ate my lunch and felt better for about an hour. Then it just started going downhill. All I could think about was finding somewhere, ANYWHERE to lie down. Late in the afternoon my head just started pounding and I was feeling so nauseated I finally started praying that I could make it to five o'clock. I really didn't think I would make it. I didn't want my boss to know because the latter part of our afternoon was full, and I didn't have the heart to bail out on him no matter how bad I felt. I finally got in the car after suffering through our last couple of patients and just cried. Got home, made it to bed, slept some, and woke up feeling bad this morning. It was all I could do to keep from puking while making Brennan's lunch this morning.

Hopefully, it's just a small stomach virus. I haven't had one in about 3 years, but I remember having a terrible headache before becoming sick with a stomach virus. Fortunately they usually only last 24 hours. No time for Mom's to be sick. I have a wonderful husband to help with the kids, but that doesn't mean that the house is going to be clean. I just got done with a sink full of dishes a little while ago.......

I think I'm to the point I might turn into a Michael Jackson look-alike..... going in public with a mask and gloves. I hate germs. I really do.......

What a day. 9/11: The anniversary of those horrific terrorist attacks, my youngest baby's birthday, my sweet cousin giving birth to a beautiful baby girl, my close friend giving birth to another beautiful baby girl, and the death of a sweet, sweet man-- Heaven now has gained a wonderful, magnificent angel.

Happy Birthday, Ethan James!

One year ago today, I gave birth to a sweet 6 pound, 15 ounce baby boy!

Time sure flies!

Ethan's birthday party an Labor Day weekend....

MiMi and Brennan

Steven and Brent

Cake!!!

It matches Ethan's nursery.

His very own cake to dig into.

Opening presents.

Looking at each other in puzzlement.

MiMi's birthday card HANDmade by Brennan and Ethan

Blowing out the candle.

Not too sure about this......

Everyone is watching......

Okay, that's all the fun we can stand.

My grandfather and my brothers and me

My mom-in-law and boys.

My mom and her kids.

The ice cream man paid a visit to our neighborhood....


As you can see, we had a very busy weekend. Both my brothers came into town, and Brent brought a fellow Marine home, Steven.

We had a good time with Steven. He is from the north. Illinois to be exact. He wanted to pay a visit to Mississippi to see what our state is all about. He must have heard we're all a bunch of backwoods rednecks who can't afford shoes and don't know how to read and write. So of course, we had to show him that all the things you see in the movies aren't true. The first big meal we had was the day after him and Brent arrived in Jackson. It was pure southern comfort food: homemade mac and cheese, black eyed peas, fried okra, peach cobbler.... all the good stuff. Steven had never had okra or black eyed peas. He cleaned his plate!

We quizzed Steven on everything about the north. They don't eat okra, some have never even heard of okra. It's NOT a myth that northerners don't eat grits. They really don't. If you try to order a sweet tea in the northern states, people look at you crazy, because they don't have sweet tea. Steven found out he loves sweet tea, and so my brother took him to McCallister's Deli (which they don't have up north, either) to get him the best sweet tea around. His religion is Lutheran, which is obviously a very popular religion/church in the north. Almost anyone I have ever met from northern states was at one time part of the Lutheran church. We really enjoyed having Steven. I hope he enjoyed his visit as much as we liked having him. He came to church with us and celebrated Labor Day and my mom's birthday and Ethan's birthday with us.

So Ethan turns one on Friday. My, where has this past year gone? It has just flown by so quickly!

My boss arrived safely back in the states from his trip, so our first day back to work was yesterday. Which was good, because I didn't want to have to fill in for the other dentist anymore. I had enough of that place. Although the paycheck was nice.....

So, I just had someone enlighten me on this whole speech thing. Wow. Not that I was defending Obama by a long shot, but all I will say is this: It's way past time to be in prayer for this country and those who are "leading" us.

Education and speeches....

Okay, so most anyone who knows anything about me, knows that I am about as conservative as one may get when it comes to politics. I am NOT, repeat NOT and Obama fan, nor is there much I like to hear him say, if anything. However, I feel like I must have missed something here....

Every time I turn on the news, there is controversy surrounding this whole education speech he plans on giving this week. Again, I don't agree with anything Obama says or does, but I don't really understand the drama surrounding this speech. So, feeling like I was being a big dummy, I asked Chad about it, who usually keeps up really well with things going on in the political world. He being just as conservative as I, didn't even really fully understand the controversy surrounding it.

So, I just saw yet another story about the whole speech and how outraged conservative parents are. I watched the whole story thinking maybe they would bring me up to par on something I must have missed, but yet, I heard nothing to think that Obama might be "brainwashing" our children of America, like some conservatives are claiming. Now, if he were presenting a speech about the pros of being an Obama lover, well, then I might have a problem with that.

Mississippi is not showing the speech on television when it airs to students. I don't feel one way or the other about that necessarily, but I still don't get all the controversy. He's telling people to get an education!!!! Maybe people who NEED to listen will listen. Especially people who are Obama supporters.

Still, I feel like I am missing something?????

Ain't she a beauty?

So here it is! My "new" van. I love it! I've only had it less than a couple of days now, but I already wonder how I lived so long without one of these! It's so nice to have all that extra room!!!

Happy dance!!!

I am so excited!!! Chad and I are getting a new, used car this week. It is a little overdue.... One of our cars is 10 years old and has 200,000 miles on it. Our other car is 11 years old and has 150,000 miles on it, and it's a small car. Our Toyota Camry has been our main car since we bought it 7 years ago, and BOTH of our cars have been very reliable and faithful. But, it gets harder and harder to get these kids in and out with all of their stuff. So, my grandmother, who randomly likes to go on spending sprees because she can, decided to buy herself a new van. Instead of trading in her current van, she is giving it to us! I am so happy. It's an older van and has 125,000 miles on it, but it's been a good car and she, of course, has taken exceptional care of it. It will be SO nice to have the extra room!!!! I am already daydreaming about how awesome it will be to have all that extra SPACE!!!! Of course, I guess that means the more space you have, the more junk that will accumulate, like a house, but, right now you can't even put your feet in the floorboard of our Camry...it's pitiful. And we don't like taking the boys around in our other car because it's so small, and feels unsafe with them in there.