I must have done too good of a job of making Kevin think I had it all together.
Because today he signed not only Olivia up for T-ball, but Nate as well.
· Which means two children playing with two practice schedules with two game schedules.
· Nate’s games will be in one place.
· Olivia will travel.
· With a baby due early May.
· Via c-section.
· And a toddler.
· And a husband who works Saturdays and will pretty much be absent for getting them to/from practices.
· And probably practices on the same nights as her gymnastics and my work.
· And church on the other nights.
I have one month until the coaches draft teams to figure all of this out.
As I watch nap schedules, dinner schedules, pretty much any schedule just fly right out the window, I remind myself that my mother did it with three (albeit MUCH older) w/o her husband around as well. And it's not all about me (b/c I had my time already). But I should definitely complain more if this is what being happy gets me. Ha!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Pioneer Women...Stronger Than I
January 20, 2008 - Sunday
Friday night I discovered a puddle in front of the washer. Do the paper towel test to check for dog urine.Negative. So I tell hubby the washer is leaking. He puts it on "blocks" to look under. Can't find anything. Goes on for the evening, no changes. Hmmm. Must be nothing. Saturday morning, puddle is back. More investigating. Discover a small leak on top of the water heater. Our water heater is ancient, but we think, "maybe we can make it last a little longer." So hubby goes to Home Depot and gets some kind of epoxy putty that sounds like rector stop. Pretty funny. Applies it as directed. Works like a charm. We do a load of cloth diapers and start the dishwasher. Uh-oh. Now it's leaking out of the other pipe area. Turn off the water heater, unplug the fuses. More epoxy putty (turns to steel in no time). Great work. Patting ourselves on the back for this relatively low-cost treatment. We both get showers and the boys get a bath. During their bath, another leak pops up. We decide we're going to have to replace the water heater anyway. But plug the leak so Olivia can get a bath before church in the morning. I used water from a pot on the stove to warm her water, b/c there just wasn't enough left for her. She gets bathed, I start cutting Nate's hair, and hear Kevin hollering and carrying on. Our water heater decided that if we were going to keep pluggin the leaks, it was going to give us one that couldn't be plugged. So now we have water covering the floor...and it's not a little bit. We ran out of towels (we couldn't do laundry all day, remember?) and are in a big mess. By this time it is 8:15. So Kevin gets dressed and makes a mad dash to Home Depot for a water heater before they close (we're 30 minutes away). While there, the store closes b/f he gets to purchase one. AND he's told that it'll be at least Tuesday (yes, 3 days away) before a new one can be installed due to the holiday. So he goes to buy some more towels and comes home. Hmmmm...what now?
We decide to mop the floor with the towels, disconnect the water heater fuse, and go to bed. No church today b/c no showers. I had a load of dishes in dishwasher that never got finished, dishes filling both sides of the sink, and pans and stuff on the counter. Laundry is piled up. Olivia has NO more pants, so we can't go anywhere. A little pity party later and I decided that enough was enough. I was NOT about to let a little cold water defeat me. I am woman, right?! Women used to lug water in from the creek. I could do this. Just tell me that I can't!
So, I boiled water on the stove in the only pot left clean and started washing dishes. After five pots of water (meaning five cycles of washes, rinses, drains, refills), I finally had all the dishes from the sink and counter clean. And it was time for lunch before I had a chance to wash the ones already in the dishwasher. Which means the lunch dishes just got piled in the sink again for me to start over.
And I haven't figured out how I'm going to get those pants washed. Perhaps a "load" in the bathtub will do it. Won't that be a sight?
Yes, I know running water was not standard in the "olden" days. Neither were cars, daily showers, or two loads of laundry a day. But call me spoiled...I like hot water and I'm ready to have it back. Sure, I'll "pioneer it" for the next few days (perhaps slipping next door for a shower or two), but after that, I want my luxury back! And just WHAT am I supposed to do all day without toilets to scrub, laundry to fold, dishes to wash, children to bathe...guess I'll just have to kick back and do some puzzles, read some books, and play some games with my little angels.
Because once we get our hot water back, this place will be scrubbed!
I am pretty stubborn...but it can only take me so far
November 16, 2007 - Friday
If you know me, you know that I am a pretty stubborn person. I don't think I'm overly bull-headed or just one of those people who can't admit that I'm wrong. Just that when I set my mind to something, I'm pretty determined to see it to completion. Through tough times and easy times, I have a goal and I'm going to see it through. We have three children and my stubbornness has seen us through two bouts of "the terrific twos", two life-stopping potty trainings, and five years of one "phase" after another. In my line of work, we know that we have to persevere to see progress. To date, I can only remember every truly giving into one child: My middle one went many hours w/o food b/c he refused to take a bottle when he suddenly chose to stop nursing at 9 1/2 months. "He'll eat when he's hungry enough" eventually became, "Okay, sweetie, you win. Here's some food." But one thing I learned today: My stubborness can only go so far. It doesn't matter how stubborn you are - sometimes a body is just not physically ready.
At work, we know that after ten sessions or so, if we see limited progress, we put that skill on hold and work on something else. Well, today marked 10 1/2 days of potty training (think 60+ "sessions") and I realized that we're really no further along than when we began. He's gotten really good at sitting on the potty. He just has no clue as to what we get so excited about. So after a week and a half, rather than being at least trained to go on a schedule, we have instead created a "Booze-Booze" (Blues Clues) addict and have regressed to having a paci pretty much most of the time (we had previously gotten to just having it in bed). We have shortened meals b/c of increased snacks. I haven't used the highchair this entire time b/c he has eaten every meal on the potty seat. He thinks that to watch TV, you first have to drop your drawers and sit on the seat.
Sooo...I threw in the towel today. Called it quits. Me. Kristyn. Giving up. My husband can't believe it. He's not used to seeing this side of me. I'm not either. I think that's probably b/c we don't see this side of me very often. But there comes a time when you realize that no matter how smart the child, sometimes biology wins. At least for now.
It felt so good to just slap a diaper on his bum and send him outside for an hour with Kevin and the others.
We'll try again early February. I just soooo do not want two in diapers. But again, I learned something today...my stubbornness can only take me so far.
Potty Training and Poop
November 13, 2007 - Tuesday
Okay. So potty training isn't going as smoothly this time around. Same age as the other two (perhaps younger by a week or two). And I've trained a girl and boy before. So what's going on this time around? Well, I can attribute much of it to the aforementioned boy and girl. It's difficult to catch the tinkling as it's happening when Booze-Booze (Blues Clues) is on, the older two are either laughing, talking, fighting, singing, or just making noises just for the sake of being noisy. But I have caught it several times, usually about 1-2 a day "in the process." The other times I peek in and see the potty in the seat. The connection has still not been made. He knows that when Mommy looks in and gets excited, he gets marshmallows. Not clear about what Mommy's looking at, but hey, it's marshmallows - who's complaining? I know he can go about an hour and then needs to sit. Great for home, not so great for stores! So, what to do? Continue on as we have been doing, and hope it's just taking a little longer, but he'll eventually catch on? Or throw in the towel and try again in January? He just has to get it before #4 arrives!
Okay. So potty training isn't going as smoothly this time around. Same age as the other two (perhaps younger by a week or two). And I've trained a girl and boy before. So what's going on this time around? Well, I can attribute much of it to the aforementioned boy and girl. It's difficult to catch the tinkling as it's happening when Booze-Booze (Blues Clues) is on, the older two are either laughing, talking, fighting, singing, or just making noises just for the sake of being noisy. But I have caught it several times, usually about 1-2 a day "in the process." The other times I peek in and see the potty in the seat. The connection has still not been made. He knows that when Mommy looks in and gets excited, he gets marshmallows. Not clear about what Mommy's looking at, but hey, it's marshmallows - who's complaining? I know he can go about an hour and then needs to sit. Great for home, not so great for stores! So, what to do? Continue on as we have been doing, and hope it's just taking a little longer, but he'll eventually catch on? Or throw in the towel and try again in January? He just has to get it before #4 arrives!
While I ponder the problem, I have poop on a wall and a puddle of potty to clean.
Parenting
October 15, 2007 - Monday
Parenting
Sooooo...parenting is wonderful. Glorious. Spectacular. So much better than I ever thought it would be. I knew I wanted to be a mom, but actually becoming one was, and is, awesome.
But there are some days that you wonder, "What have I gotten myself into?" Some days where you wonder if the child(ren) you see actually are the same ones you kissed only hours before.
On those days, you realize the power of a mom. How being a mom who stays home and spends time with her children can train them in the ways of the Lord. Train them right from wrong, requesting from whining. And when you miss too many of those days, or when the days you do have at home are spent on other pursuits, it all starts to unravel.
Parenting
Sooooo...parenting is wonderful. Glorious. Spectacular. So much better than I ever thought it would be. I knew I wanted to be a mom, but actually becoming one was, and is, awesome.
But there are some days that you wonder, "What have I gotten myself into?" Some days where you wonder if the child(ren) you see actually are the same ones you kissed only hours before.
On those days, you realize the power of a mom. How being a mom who stays home and spends time with her children can train them in the ways of the Lord. Train them right from wrong, requesting from whining. And when you miss too many of those days, or when the days you do have at home are spent on other pursuits, it all starts to unravel.
What a precarious line we walk. Helping them to become independent while at the same time respecting authority, whomever it shall be. Teaching them that you obey, and with a smile...Fast Obey With A Happy Face. Teaching them that not only will they comply, but they will do so quickly, with a smile...and before they know it, they're having fun.
That's the challenge of a mom. To instill values and character while making it fun. And to do it with everyone making it to the other side in one piece.
Some days are fairly easy.
Some days you put them in bed, turn off the light, close the door and exhale. And realize that you get to do it all again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next.
But that's where the love comes in...and the hope and belief that tomorrow will be a better day. That tomorrow will come with anewed patience and brilliant training ideas and joy overflowing. That tomorrow you will like them and they will like each other and everyone will be happy.
The promise of tomorrow...
Nate and Jack the Bear
October 8, 2007 - Monday
Nate and Jack the Bear
Well, Nathanael quite a night Saturday night!
We went to visit with friends and watch the AL/Arkansas game. Good evening, came home and caught the end (and win for AL!) of the game. We got the children ready for bed and all was well. We tidied up a little and retired to try to catch replays on the news. All children in bed, right? Well, Nate comes in to our room and says, "Daddy! Jack the Bear too hot!" What? OH!!! JACK THE BEAR TOO HOT! We take off running to the kitchen.
A little prelude…for Christmas we purchased an aromatherapy bear for Nate. It's 3 lbs b/c it's filled with buckwheat and lavender. I think the weight has been perfect for him and he has been his sleeping/play companion ever since. He's gone a few naps (at other places) without him, but otherwise he has been by Nate's side. Nate tucks him in at night, making sure Jack the Bear is well-covered. It's been a very sweet thing to watch. Sometimes Nate likes us to warm Jack the Bear (note: it's never just "Jack", but always "Jack the Bear") in the microwave. We warm one minute, then turn him around and warm another minute. Never ever more than two minutes, per instructions.
Back to Friday night (you see where this is going)…we rush to the kitchen and smell him before we see him. The microwave door is open and Jack the Bear is smoking. Honestly – a trail of smoke is coming out of him. And he is glowing a little. Kevin backs everyone up and pulls him out of the microwave while I try to remember where the fire extinguisher is (jic). Kevin puts Jack the Bear in the sink and we notice that Jack the Bear has a large black hole under his arm. Buckwheat and lavender are spilling out in burnt pieces everywhere and he's still smoking. So we discuss for a moment (remembering the time we used a tsp of water to put out a wax candle and saw it explode to the ceiling, where we STILL have soot damage), then he douses Jack the Bear with water. Nate then begins wailing, "Jack the Bear can't be in water. He'll be ruined!!!" (yes, he has wanted to take him swimming and bathing, and yes, that's what I told him). So we have to explain that Jack the Bear is already ruined…that he was on fire and we had to use water to put out the fire. That Jack the Bear couldn't sleep with him anymore. That microwaves are for Mommies and Daddies only. Nate begins to sob, heartbroken at the loss of one of his closest friends.
Catastrophe averted. No fire. Smoke is everywhere, but we opened some windows and it got better. Lincoln slept through the whole thing. Now back to bed. Without Jack the Bear. Without the friend he's slept with every single night since Christmas. No, it wasn't going over too well. And here I am, trying to maintain MY composure and not break down at the heartbreak he's enduring. Yes, it's *only* a stuffed animal. But it was HIS stuffed animal and HIS friend. And he's experiencing the first real loss he's ever had. So I start digging through the basket of other stuffed animals, trying to find something else he can sleep with. We come up with Donald Duck and it seems that the crisis is averted. He asks to sleep with me and I remind him that it's not his birthday (we only have a full-size bed). More tears. I talk with him a little more, getting his attention on to other things and decide, hey! He just suffered a trauma! So I brought my pillows in and laid down with him in his bed. He then proceeded to smile and talk, and be the sweet, adorable Nate that I love and adore. Then, "But I MISS my Jack the Bear!" and the tears started again. Another time he said, "But he de ONLY Beah dat I have!" And then, "Four is TOO MANY!" (minutes). This cycle continued off and on for another twenty minutes. Very heart-wrenching. If I could have gone out and purchased another one to bring home, I would have, even though it was past ten o'clock at this point. Then he calmed down again. He was lying on his side, stroking my hair (and I'm trying to not drift off to sleep…), and said, "Mommy? Know what?" "What, dear?" "You look like a bear." "Hmmm. Really?" "Yeah, you look like my TEDDY BEAR!" with a big hug to me. Wow! I guess I can look like a teddy bear if it means that he can cope and finally get some sleep.
So, Nate finally drifted off to sleep and I climbed back into my bed, grateful that no one was hurt, that the microwave still worked, and that a lesson was learned (never ever use the microwave by yourself).
So what did I do as soon as I woke up Sunday morning? Why, I got online and found another Jack the Bear to be delivered within the week! I thought about the situation and how when we lose someone we love, we can't bring them back via an online shopping cart. Then I thought some more and decided that I'd teach that lesson when the time came, but since I could bring back his loved one, I would! And the hope of another Jack the Bear got us through a few nights until the replacement came...and oh, was Nate thrilled!
I just thought I'd share what a tough little guy I have.
Nate and Jack the Bear
Well, Nathanael quite a night Saturday night!
We went to visit with friends and watch the AL/Arkansas game. Good evening, came home and caught the end (and win for AL!) of the game. We got the children ready for bed and all was well. We tidied up a little and retired to try to catch replays on the news. All children in bed, right? Well, Nate comes in to our room and says, "Daddy! Jack the Bear too hot!" What? OH!!! JACK THE BEAR TOO HOT! We take off running to the kitchen.
A little prelude…for Christmas we purchased an aromatherapy bear for Nate. It's 3 lbs b/c it's filled with buckwheat and lavender. I think the weight has been perfect for him and he has been his sleeping/play companion ever since. He's gone a few naps (at other places) without him, but otherwise he has been by Nate's side. Nate tucks him in at night, making sure Jack the Bear is well-covered. It's been a very sweet thing to watch. Sometimes Nate likes us to warm Jack the Bear (note: it's never just "Jack", but always "Jack the Bear") in the microwave. We warm one minute, then turn him around and warm another minute. Never ever more than two minutes, per instructions.
Back to Friday night (you see where this is going)…we rush to the kitchen and smell him before we see him. The microwave door is open and Jack the Bear is smoking. Honestly – a trail of smoke is coming out of him. And he is glowing a little. Kevin backs everyone up and pulls him out of the microwave while I try to remember where the fire extinguisher is (jic). Kevin puts Jack the Bear in the sink and we notice that Jack the Bear has a large black hole under his arm. Buckwheat and lavender are spilling out in burnt pieces everywhere and he's still smoking. So we discuss for a moment (remembering the time we used a tsp of water to put out a wax candle and saw it explode to the ceiling, where we STILL have soot damage), then he douses Jack the Bear with water. Nate then begins wailing, "Jack the Bear can't be in water. He'll be ruined!!!" (yes, he has wanted to take him swimming and bathing, and yes, that's what I told him). So we have to explain that Jack the Bear is already ruined…that he was on fire and we had to use water to put out the fire. That Jack the Bear couldn't sleep with him anymore. That microwaves are for Mommies and Daddies only. Nate begins to sob, heartbroken at the loss of one of his closest friends.
Catastrophe averted. No fire. Smoke is everywhere, but we opened some windows and it got better. Lincoln slept through the whole thing. Now back to bed. Without Jack the Bear. Without the friend he's slept with every single night since Christmas. No, it wasn't going over too well. And here I am, trying to maintain MY composure and not break down at the heartbreak he's enduring. Yes, it's *only* a stuffed animal. But it was HIS stuffed animal and HIS friend. And he's experiencing the first real loss he's ever had. So I start digging through the basket of other stuffed animals, trying to find something else he can sleep with. We come up with Donald Duck and it seems that the crisis is averted. He asks to sleep with me and I remind him that it's not his birthday (we only have a full-size bed). More tears. I talk with him a little more, getting his attention on to other things and decide, hey! He just suffered a trauma! So I brought my pillows in and laid down with him in his bed. He then proceeded to smile and talk, and be the sweet, adorable Nate that I love and adore. Then, "But I MISS my Jack the Bear!" and the tears started again. Another time he said, "But he de ONLY Beah dat I have!" And then, "Four is TOO MANY!" (minutes). This cycle continued off and on for another twenty minutes. Very heart-wrenching. If I could have gone out and purchased another one to bring home, I would have, even though it was past ten o'clock at this point. Then he calmed down again. He was lying on his side, stroking my hair (and I'm trying to not drift off to sleep…), and said, "Mommy? Know what?" "What, dear?" "You look like a bear." "Hmmm. Really?" "Yeah, you look like my TEDDY BEAR!" with a big hug to me. Wow! I guess I can look like a teddy bear if it means that he can cope and finally get some sleep.
So, Nate finally drifted off to sleep and I climbed back into my bed, grateful that no one was hurt, that the microwave still worked, and that a lesson was learned (never ever use the microwave by yourself).
So what did I do as soon as I woke up Sunday morning? Why, I got online and found another Jack the Bear to be delivered within the week! I thought about the situation and how when we lose someone we love, we can't bring them back via an online shopping cart. Then I thought some more and decided that I'd teach that lesson when the time came, but since I could bring back his loved one, I would! And the hope of another Jack the Bear got us through a few nights until the replacement came...and oh, was Nate thrilled!
I just thought I'd share what a tough little guy I have.
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