Palm Sunday!!

Gotta love singing that 70s musical "Godspell" tune "Prepare Ye The Way of The Lord" and waving Palms and marching into church!!

Friday Five - in pics

Ok fine - more than 5 pics. Here is Valiant in her new bathingsuit. I'm trying to find a matching one for Lovely in her size....Lovely would LOVE the skirt this suit has!!

And just look at my walker!! I'm biased, but I think my girls have the BEST smiles lol!! :)

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday

It's been another quiet week around here, but I've been trying to get things done - with some interesting events in between - but then they lead to some successes too I guess.

1. We had a bit of a toilet issue this past weekend that flooded the downstairs bathroom, entry way and a little of our den. Thanks to the help of friends with offers of advice or equipment, we've been cleaning up. Hopefully by Friday the den can be all dry and straight again.

2. I've been working on 40 bags/40 days. Not every day is a big bag, or even a bag - but I'll get a catch up day and make more. I think when this is said and done, I'll have reached the goal!

3. I've put health and sleep back on my list this week. I've done more resting or napping in the morning than laundry, but my body needs it (another sinus infection). My house will just have to wait for the weekend!

How are YOU doing this week?

*** Edited to add, I've been doing the daily Lenten Meditations on F&FL. Today's Fast is turning off the computer after major morning internet tasks are done. So, as much as I'd love to read other posts - today isn't the day for me. Can't wait to read up later on!!! Much love!!***



Thankful Thursday
This week I'm SO thankful for...

1. Friends willing to help out when we've needed them!!
2. good health!
3. an active baby boy kicking in my stomach!
4. a forgiving God.
5. Lent.
6. NAPS!!
7. time with my girls and husband.
8. a husband who is tackling his "to do" list.

Blessings!!!

Wordless Wednesday: "Swimming Edition!"

Personal Disclaimer

Hey All! I just need some therapy release posting. So, I'm making a disclaimer for my past week and weekend. Blogging is such a HELP.

You know how I KNOW when pregnancy hormones (coupled with my daily anxiety issues that happen any time lol) are afoot?

When I've had:

~ a great week, with wonderful friends and time with my family.
~ a wonderful friend and her kids come stay the weekend with my family. A friend who, like my friends here, really understands me and accepts me - even when I'm "losing it" lol.
~ a fabulous husband who is such a help.
~ quality time to read, nap, pray, and reflect when I feel stressed and hormonal....
~ a wonderful time with my parents and family - and know deep down how blessed I am by them even when things can be tough.
~ a BLAST at the local indoor water park!
~ a great girlie movie night and fun family moments with our friends this weekend.

And I STILL end up feeling:

~ scatterbrained.
~ slow to act on things I need to do (like I'm slow processing things).
~ over-talkative to EVERYONE.
~ down.
~ tired no matter what time of day it is.
~ an inconsistent parent on display.
~ ANXIOUS (about my house, my actions, my words, my "am I enough" voices in my head).
~ insecure.
~ wondering if I'm only feeling this way because of hormones, lack of rest, my "usual personal issues" - or if people ARE noticing these things that see me daily. Or, do they not notice, but my running mouth (or apologies, etc) calls their attention to it. I promise, I'm working on it if you have.

So, it has to be pregnancy related to feel this burdened currently. So much is pumping through my body now. I'm also more emotional when nursing too. It's like all my feelings are put under a magnifying glass and I feel them even more. It's frustrating.

Anyways....

I feel I never could relax myself with family and friends this week and with my incredible friend C while she was here. I was on edge, anxious, and insecure. I just want to relax, but can't seem too. I have this HUGE urge to both nest, nest, nest, clean, clean, clean, and then....nap, nap, nap. Napping wins, so I feel behind, and then I just feel my week goes kaput. I just wanted a good weekend for my friends too - and I hope they did get it.

Anyhow - not sure how to word it. But I haven't really been "all there" or I have had my emotional moments. I regret them, and am trying to regain my footing. It just is my week, and I wanted to just toss it out there. It helps to blog it here and release it. Really.

So, for what it is worth - thanks for reading it and playing along. Gotta love these last emotional weeks of pregnancy! So exciting, confusing, and magnifying at the same time!!

Much love (and thanks)!

Gotta love Rachel...

So, I got two gems this evening. Both from a cool writer :) Well, I have to happily report that one of these gems would not have happened without my pal Kris surprising me with it (THANK YOU!). I have been anticipating the publishing of this book about the raising of boys - it's called How Do You Tuck In a Super Hero And Other Delightful Mysteries of Raising Boys by Rachel Balducci, and from what I've read already, I'm hooked and can't wait to start my own boy adventures in 8 weeks. She's so funny! In her intro alone, she talks about how she, in the early years, gave up having a nice lawn in favor if getting 30 mins of alone time while her boys dug and dug. Already I relate - I send my eldest daughter outside constantly for the same thing!!! I don't even have a boy yet! I can't wait to read this. Kris, thank you - and I'm paying it forward - I already have some ladies in mind who could enjoy copies of this book too!

So, we got home this evening, and Lovely had been looking at the cover of the book in the car as we drove. I had her practice reading me the title. She LOVED the cover. She wanted to read more of the book and wished it had pictures lol. When we walked in the door - she immediately ran upstairs to get dressed up like this:


Gotta love the bow in the hair LOL! She later traded the bow for this as she RAN ALL OVER THE HOUSE:


(yes, that is a plastic bag on her head. please ignore that fantastic example of safe parenting....)

Rachel - if you end up seeing this - never listen to those comments from people who think you've missed out on having a daughter. I think creativity, fun, sweetness, and craziness exist in the souls of all "adults in training"....and if your little baby due in a few weeks ends up being a girl - then take a good look at the above pictures lol!

I almost forgot the other gem. I haven't had the BEST week. I've been impatient, tired, grumpy, etc. I know I can say I'm hormonally pregnant at 32 weeks along - but still. I read Rachel's new column and while I have had my "lost it" moments with my 6 (can we put a "1" in front of that 6 please?") year old, and yes, my 20 month old who is showing those terrible two moments already - I have also had them with my husband. A LOT. I read Rachel's article AFTER he came home from the store where he was to buy supplies for our fun weekend with out of town friends. I wanted to get some special bakery bread for some veggie panini's - you know, like focaccia, or bakery sourdough, or egg bread. Somehow, that request (along with some french bread for dinner Saturday) turned into the below picture:


Umm, yes, that would be more loaves ON the toaster. How many guests are coming into town and is the packaged bread to the far right (Petridge Farm Sourdough - apparently the name "Petridge Farm" is what makes it "bakery" to him apparently) really supposed to count for some fancy panini bread? Really? Cause we could have just stuck to one of the other regular loaves he came home with. Ummmm.....

Yes, I'm laughing now, but I was not when he came home and I unpacked all this. It was icing on my exhausted cake for some reason. I even said to save the receipt and return some of this because it was too much to freeze. I wasn't so nice about it all. I just wondered how the heck he thought we needed all this bread AND seemed to ignore my requests. ARGH!! Then, I sat down and read some blogs, including Rachel's article on finding moments of grace, and thought of how I had reacted to Hubby. I went to apologize and tell him about what I read. He nodded thoughtfully at the article's subject matter, and ended up joking about how appropriate this all was with Jesus being the Bread of Life and multiplying the loaves too....grrrreat....not sure if that was where Rachel wanted to go with these moment of grace, but I'll take what I can get...

Sons, Husbands, Saviors inside each of us....really, Rachel is right..."How DO You Tuck In a Superhero?" Goodness.

Can't wait to dive in - oh wait...I'm already pretty drenched with the family I've got. And I'm thrilled. Here's to the upcoming boyish chapter! Plus, a great read too!! Thanks Rachel!!

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday

Another rushed write up of my week - but how I enjoy finding successes somehow. This week has not been a great blogging week - I've slapped some pics down. I've either been too busy, too tired, or just not really here. It's one of those weeks.

1. This past weekend found us getting a lot tossed out, or packed up for donating and selling for 40 bags/40 days. Our bedroom's corner is full of items boxed, bagged, and stacked for a upcoming yard sale. I hate that "clutter" is there in our bedroom corners, but it will be gone after Spring Break. Just don't look in our bedroom.

2. Cleaned up our guest room. It was a chaotic mess of clothes to be sorted, the bedding stripped for days, stacking and storage for 40 bags/40 days, and tons of baby boy clothes from friends to sort. I got it cleaned up and the extra stuff OUT. The boy clothes are all folded and boxed - but I'm not sure where to put them when our guests arrive this weekend. Maybe they'll come to our room too LOL. I wish I had time to get so much clutter from the closets before our friends come, but I can't until next week. Our house is just so full, it is sad. Our friends coming have such a clutter free house (meaning, they just don't have the corners, under beds, closets, etc we have because she decided to purge years ago) and I want that too!!! LOL.

3. I'm enjoying my 32nd week of pregnancy! I feel these final weeks are going by too fast for me to just enjoy them. Any tips for savoring this time of baby movements inside, time with family before the new addition comes, and preparing. When do I pack my bags? LOL!!

Bonus 4th Success! This past Monday was SO productive!! I ran a lot of errands, and I got this baby boy's baptism scheduled (which meant calling about 9 people to coordinate the date lol), finalized plans for a monthly Family Adoration in the main sanctuary so kids of all ages can come and "learn" and be "still" in their little kid ways with other families and kids in Adoration, and finding a place for my violin to get an overhaul done (I'm way behind!). It's there now, getting all cleaned up. YEAH!

Thankful Thursday
This week I am thankful for....

1. a forgiving Lent. I've been sick again with a cold, and feel drained, tired, distracted. I haven't been "on it" this time. Is it being pregnant? I don't know. But I'm glad every day is a fresh start and attempt.
2. a forgiving family.
3. forgiving friends.
4. Valiant really walking more - so cute, and yes, even though I never minded the extended "scooting" she did - I did wonder if I would be carrying 2 babies around in May lol!
5. Lovely and I sharing time together.
6. for the hints of spring popping up - it's cold again, but some days are warmer, and flowers are starting to bloom. I can't wait to get outside more!

Wordless Wednesday: "Seeing MORE Green" Edition

more from our St. Patty's Day celebration (see below post as well)...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

Lovely wishing us all a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick’s Blessing

May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door,
and happiness be guided to your home.

May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings,
slow to make enemies and quick to make friends
May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
a full moon on a dark night and a smooth road all the way to your door.
May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.

May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load.
May the mist of Irish magic shorten every road.

Always remember to forget
the troubles that passed away
but never forget to remember
the blessings that come each day.

May the face of every good news and the back of
every bad news be towards us.

May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been,
the foresight to know where you are going,
and the insight to know when you have gone too far.

And may God who blesses us with so many gifts grant us the
peace for ourselves and the nations of the world.

My Blue Eyed Blessing

Valiantisms, & a Lovelyism

I need to capture some things before I forget!!!

Valiant-isms:

~ Valiant has started this week to say "TA-DAAAA" when she does something. She's especially cute with it when she scoots down the den stairs, or standing on our bed looking in the big mirror and raising her hands over her head.

~ As I said below, she has started to try and say Lovely's real name.

~ Today (though Mommy is soooooo tired and sick) all she's wanted to do is walk - either on her own in just the den, or taking my hand and going all over the house! It's so cute and great for her. She'll still pick scooting, but today the walking is really capturing her attention.

Lovelyisms:

~ This may sound rather small, but I'm starting to notice her use stairs one foot per step. She used to do 2 feet per step because she was small in stride and age. I didn't realize the pang I'd get seeing her do this....but it's another sign she's growing up - whether she has my permission or not. :)

Ok - now, to see why Val woke up from her nap she just started taking, because I wanted one too. Darn colds for both of us. time to snuggle....

Friday Five "Rhinos and Greyhounds Edition"

Howdy There!

If I was not waiting on Lovely to get ready (who is being a T-rex and therefore only using 2 fingers per hand, so it slows EVERYTHING down - but I'm letting her do it) to drive her to school in the rain, I doubt I'd be here. But it helps me pass the time, as I'm now sick with a head cold. Soooo fun....

1. Yes, even with all the hand washing, Lysoling, etc - I could not prevent Valiant (who has had the bad cold since the weekend) from sneezing in my face as I was talking earlier this week, so I knew I was a goner with those germs. And last night I succumbed. I can't believe how fast I got sick though, and bad sick. Oh well.

2. This obviously is the work of a Rhino visiting our house. From the species - Rhino virusessess. Have I ever mentioned how much I detest this type of Rhino? Oh wait, I have? Then I won't complain anymore lol.

3. Yesterday, when I was starting to feel badly (and was tempted not to drop Lovely off at her Good Shepherd Montessori class - but did mostly because of the "energetic" walk to school I got yesterday) the weather was ok enough to walk to get Lovely from her school. So I loaded up Val in the stroller, got our rain gear on just in case, and started off. As we left the house, I heard moaning and wailing and a name being called from somewhere down the street. I was nervous I was about to encounter a 911 situation with someone in their driveway very ill or unconscious. Then I see this poor, distraught older neighbor with a walker calling this name over and over. I then saw her older daughter come out with a collar and leash and figured out they had a lost dog. I then realized I had seen this woman walk greyhounds in our neighborhood - and sure enough "Herald" was missing, and collarless (he slipped out of it). She was very worried this would make it hard to track him down. I said I'd be happy to keep and eye out on our walk. I really didn't think I'd see him where I was going. I joined my friend to walk to get our kids, and as we entered the BUSY street near our house, I see a flash up by the school - it was a dog, and alone, and even in the distance I could tell it was....a GREYHOUND! No way...he went that far? Poor thing was very confused and scared and kept jumping into the busy street in front of cars, trucks, etc. It scared my friend and I!!!! We finally called his name and got him to run (wow...he's FAST!) to us on our side of the road. My friend tried to fashion a leash, but when he saw it, he took off and slipped in the street. Poor dog! We "herded" him to the correct street and in a split second decision, we decided I'd make sure he found home (or his master knew where he was headed) and she would get the kids since I knew what they looked like. We both joked later that a 31 week pregnant woman with a stroller trailing a running greyhound was not the SMARTEST idea LOL! He was FAST. I was glad we wanted him trailed because he did go to his house, but when no one was there immediately, he about took off again in his nervousness to get lost again. I called his name and got him to come to me around the time the daughter found us. She got him back in the yard and collared. WHEW!!! I boogied my way back to meet my friend with the kids and the kids were happy to hear the story he was ok! Though, Lovely did ask if we could start keeping lost dogs - HA! About that time I realized I had moved REALLY fast all that time, forgetting I was pregnant, and realized how hot, tired, and what a workout I had gotten LOL! But, seeing an animal almost get hit makes you forget a lot of things! I'm glad everyone is safe again, poor doggie!

4. Valiant, in her own way - but I knew what she said, said Lovely's real name yesterday when it was time to go. I said "Let's go bye bye" and she clearly knew why we were leaving and who we were getting. She has said it occasionally since. It's hard to tell, but we know she's trying...so CUTE!

5. I'm SO glad it is FRIDAY!! If one is to get sick, it's a good thing it is on a weekend with time to rest, and have help with the kids! I hope for a restful weekend - next weekend we have dear friends visiting and I want to be well and party!! hehe!

Ok....I'm ready to rest. I had to leave this post and take Lovely to school and then come back and finish it, so I'm bushed! Much love. TGIF!!!!!! I hope Lent is being fruitful to all. It's been nice here!

Need something wonderful to read?

Then look no further than here, and gear up for this mommy blogger's CNN debut here.

I can't remember if I posted Nella's birth story here 5 weeks ago here, but I found my way there right after her birth, and it is amazing to follow every day since. This young mom is basically my age, a stunning photographer, uplifted spirit, has 2 gorgeous daughters, husband, step sons, and is now redefining her new journey of motherhood the second time around with honesty, love, laughter, appreciation, and courage.

Nella's birth story is here. Settle in for the read. The pictures make it come alive, and well..just TRY not to fall in love with this family!

And...watch CNN March 16th for the story. I think the online video will be posted, and I'll repost it here too!

Here's to life's surprises....and how to find the beauty and perfection in them while not being afraid to be honest along the way!

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday

Yawn! I'm TRYING to wake up before getting the house up for breakfast. I'm so tired. Val slept better, but I had some insomnia and then some sinus issues that kept me from sleeping. Oh the bags under my eyes. Can I count a morning nap around 9:30am-10am a success in a few hours? LOL. Let's pray Val agrees to let me, by napping herself (she can't really take an afternoon nap today with a busy afternoon/evening, ao I may get her to switch easily!).

But, I must have some successes somewhere...


1. Aside from our guest room being a catch all for some reorganizing - we've had a great week for both the 40 bags/40 days Lenten practice, as well as I've been keeping up with the house a bit better this week. the main areas have stayed cleaner and straighter longer. Lovely is also getting better about picking up toys for me (and in her room) so she helps Val put things back in the den too. It's been nice to have this help.

2. The laundry is still caught up as well. I do a small load a day, and either I, or Lovely and I, or even hubby and I, fold it later in the day and talk to each other. It is a nice routine. I hope we don't get behind again...I hate mountains of laundry!

3. Last week and this week I got back to a meal plan. Yesterday I made Arwen's Spaghetti which this time turned out REALLY well (Hey S - I think it did rival someone's after all....I won't say a word though - but, he still wins as this was not MY recipe!!), really well! So good. It will also feed us tonight (part of my PLAN!). I was so excited I took a picture HAHAH! I do this with food. Does anyone else? I guess because for so long, I never cooked - now I do, and I like to capture the moment. I ate too much though....



How was your week?

Thankful Thursday
This week I am Thankful for...

1. a thoughtful Lent thus far, and time with Lovely. We made pretzels on Tuesday - so nice. We'll make them again! I needed more flour to actually make the pretzel shape, so these were just circles, but so good, and great discussion for Lovely and I!
2. the soft rain falling yesterday and this morning - I think it will fall tomorrow too.
3. the great family day we had Monday - I hope to post more pics soon, but I got a couple up I played around with. It was a sunshiny day, which makes darker, wet weather more tolerable and a bit relaxing.
4. an incredible, patient God.
5. hidden blessings in rough patches.
6. my hubby.
7. the rosary - we're working on saying it together more - well, Lovely and I.
8. my incredible girls!
9. this wonderful pregnancy!! I'm turning to 31 weeks! WOW!!
10. incredible friends!!!!!
11. the view from here while pregnant....see below. It's a great view!


much love!!!!!!

perfect for a soft rainy day

The sounds* and smells of my house are so nice today.

Outside my cracked window....a light rainstorm. It's calling me to nap - I think I will after this. Val has been sick (or teething?), and between her and "preggo belly sleeping issues" I'm running on a lack of energy too. Plus I had to clean up the kitchen post dinner prep this morning. Ah yes - that explains the nice smell wafting in my house - "homemade" (still used some canned tomatoes) meaty spaghetti sauce (Thanks Arwen!).

Goodness...I didn't think prepping it to simmer all day would take most of my morning - but it did. Mostly because little Val was out of sorts. Poor baby! But my meal plan for tonight and tomorrow called for it, so I wanted to get it made. So I had to stir, snuggle, pour in, snuggle, chop up, DISTRACT, heat up, cuddle....and so on. I almost singed some of it too! ACK! Valiant was sadly screaming at times because I just could not hold her the whole time. So, bad meal planning with germs and or teething in the mix on mommy's part.

So, I'm ready for a nap. But wow, what a morning. Oh - let me share Arwen's recipe. I've made it before - VERY good (and I've made it with veggie crumbles too, skipping the real meat - but using faux meat and faux sausage). Our neighbor friend makes AMAZING homemade sauce - and uses wine. Any tips for how much wine to use? Maybe wine helps the taste become richer? Not sure. Anyways...this is good.

Arwen’s Family’s Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
makes enough to serve eight-ish

1 lb ground beef
1 lb pork sausage
2-3 medium onions, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
12oz can tomato paste
2 Tbsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
2 bay leaves
28oz can diced tomatoes
28oz can crushed tomatoes
28oz can tomato sauce
salt to taste

1. In a 4-quart (or larger) pot over medium heat, cook meat with onions, breaking it up with a spoon, until the meat is browned through and the onions are soft and translucent. Drain fat.

2. Stir in garlic; cook one minute. Add tomato paste and stir until meat is coated; cook several minutes or until paste starts to darken slightly. Stir in oregano, basil, and crushed red pepper; cook one minute or until fragrant.

3. Add bay leaves, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Stir until thoroughly combined. Bring to a slow simmer and reduce heat to low. Simmer at least one hour.

4. Before serving, salt to taste.

5. Serve over hot spaghetti. Enjoy!

I also have veggies to steam up later, and whole grain french bread to turn into some garlic bread for dinner. It should feed us the next two days, and then we'll save some for the weekend.

Here are some pics - the longest I kept Val happy was opening the kitchen window so she could sit and watch the rain and listen to the raindrops. Whew! (I also had to transfer the sauce to the crockpot since we'll be in and out today, so stove simmering all day wouldn't be safe). I had to snap some pics. Otherwise she screamed a lot, and I'm sure our neighbors were wondering if she was being served up as the meal instead!

crossed arms...she wasn't too happy - but the distraction gave me .3 seconds more to chop or cook.

The mess of my kitchen I tackled. I couldn't get all my counters in the pic - they were covered.

Now I think I'll try a nap. Val woke up once during this post, I got her back to sleep. I hope working out later on actually works out LOL!! At least dinner is planned! I can cuddle then instead of cook!

* use of the word sound - sound meaning OUTSIDE the house with the rain...not the sad sounds of my little one when my cooking got in the way of her getting loved.

Messing around with the camera

I love playing with my camera. I wish I had a "real" camera to take pics with - until then, I just play (it might help if I actually knew what I was doing lol - I just love taking pics of my girls, kids, anyone!). We had a fabulous picnic today, and I loved taking some pics. I need to post the rest later. It was such a great family day!!!

Daybook Monday: "Great Weather" Edition

Outside my window... sunny, warm, birds singing - FABULOUS!

I am thinking…what a great day this is becoming. And, our plan is to make it even better!

I am thankful for…our friends coming back in town safe, my goddaughter being ok, and overall health for my family.

From the kitchen…no cooking tonight! We're going on a picnic for dinner!

I am wearing…socks, PJ pants, t-shirt.

I am going...to join my family this evening for some fun in this glorious weather!!! I need to charge my camera battery...

I am reading...daily Lenten Meditations, favorite blogs, Lisa Hendey's new book, and listening to my book club book till I can get a paper copy :)

I am hoping…I can keep up with the great weekend momentum we've been having with our 40 bags in 40 days. We got so much done this weekend! I found things I've been needing, things that are not mine and need to be returned lol, and lots to donate, sell, and TRASH!

I am hearing...the birds chirping through the open window and my wind chimes making tranquil sounds.

I am creating…a cleaner house, more positive energy for a good week, and a meal plan for the week.

I am praying…to stay focused on Lent, continued health for me and my family, and the prayer intentions of dear friends and family.

Around the house…getting a ton done! Need to tackle the guest room since things have gotten placed in there in our decluttering, but I can see progress - even under MY BED!

One of my favorite things…waking up to birds chirping again...it's been a LONG winter.

I am pondering...a great Lenten quote thanks to Elizabeth Foss - from St. John of the Cross:

"Wisdom enters through love, silence, and mortification. It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others."

A few plans for the rest of the week…focus on our family today - Hubby really is looking forward (and made the plans for this afternoon) to our plans today after he gets home from work, tomorrow I have our woman's prayer group, and the rest of the week will fall as it may. I hope to carve out some good personal time too. I like that we're not over scheduled this week!


A “picture thought” I’m sharing…

This was taken 30 weeks 3 days (maybe 4 days). I LOVE being pregnant!!!!! Love it!!!!

Grateful

Nothing like sharing the feeling of thanksgiving...

I was preparing to go with the girls to my mom's when J calls. I could tell something was wrong when I heard her voice, and she was calling from the children's hospital. My Goddaughter E had a febrile seizure because of a quick spiking fever. I've read about these in all the baby/toddler books, yet have never seen one in my kids or heard about them with any of our family and friends - till now. How scary. She seized about 1 minute, and J was home alone and called 911. Her husband arrived home as they were loading E into the ambulance to get her checked out as a precaution - and both said having to ride with your child, and follow the ambulance with your child, is the worst thing ever as a parent and hard to hold yourself together for. I can't imagine. I was heartsick when J called me.

Thankfully, she checked out fine, it appears she's getting another ear infection which is the reason for the fever (so she could be getting ear tubes because she ALWAYS gets ear infections) and her fever came down fast in the hospital and she seemed "back to normal" and all happy and bubbly in her baby self. I checked in with them again this afternoon and E was still happy, back to normal, and all them home safe though EXHAUSTED (E, not so much. She wants to PLAY lol - yeah!).

So, GRATEFUL is the word of the day. I just ached so much for them all though. I'm so thankful everyone is home and fine once again!!!

Valiant and Lovely will be so happy :) Val especially...she loves E so much!

Godsisters and BFF's :)

AMEN AMEN!!!!

(makes you want to hug your kids even more closely when you hear of these things...)

Makeup Tips?

Oh - in addition to my pregnancy post below - I forgot to add I got some pampering in this week. I went to a local MOPS meeting, and they had a makeover session (or, in my case...learn how to apply makeup in the first place lol). It was fun. I even got my brows done! And Val got to play in the nursery for 3 hours. It was a win/win for everyone!

I'm not sure if I can do this every day, or ever again, but here is fancy ViolinMama :)




TA DAAAA!! :)

30 Week Pregnancy Check Up

image from Google images - 30 weeks development w/ anterior placenta placement

Well, today I got to see my boy! It was a neat surprise, but I was so glad to have the opportunity to see him AND be listened to so nicely by my midwife to some concerns I had that lead to me seeing him on ultrasound today. He's looking so beautiful, even in the usual black and white images! What. a. gift.

I had been noticing that lately I don't feel him move much - just like his sisters were so quiet inside. I had such "quiet" pregnancies with them. Hubby barely ever gets to feel them move, including this boy. Of course, the books tell you they "slow down" in the womb the last few weeks, etc - and my girls never seemed to move much (Back-stories - Lovely came after my water broke at 38 weeks - I was induced as my body would not go into labor. It all went well, aside from some breathing issues with her - one night in Special Care helped her. Then, Valiant was sorta induced because of "barely moving drama" at 40 weeks 1 day - I went into labor with her in the hospital being prepped for pitocin to get labor going because when I reported she was barely moving - but with a "that's normal, right? All the books say so and her sister never moved!" they gave me a NST and I failed that, and we had an ultrasound and they apparently look for 10 things to see if a baby is healthy and she failed all 10 so it was time to get her out - all because my placenta was shutting down, I was low in my fluid - etc. Blessedly, she was born fine, but when I delivered my placenta, it was gray and lifeless - we got her out just in time!) but I learned with little Val that apparently it IS hard to tell the difference between normal light movements and fetal distress and one should bring it up.

So, going back to this boy - basically with him I still only feel the occasional flutter, or roll, or poke - and a dull one at that. Hubby barely gets to enjoy any movements. I don't have the jabs, etc that other moms complain about. I've been having dreams of knots in cords, etc (in our neighborhood and in our town we've known of 2 fetal cord deaths before 40 weeks and it has been weighing on me) and while I know our kids have all been quiet in utero - the whole "Val birth experience" affects me, and I decided to bring it up today at my appt while risking me looking over protective or over concerned.

My midwife was SO nice today and said it was a legit concern that I barely feel anything and with Val's birth issues, it was worth us watching him more carefully these last few weeks. She took me right back to the ultrasound room and I got to see him for a bit (no pics - sorry!). He's head down...for now. He's a cutie!!!

My fluids look great, and he looks very healthy. He was really quiet though - she had to jab him a lot. She agreed that maybe we make calm kids lol (well, they seem calm till age 4 HAHA) but when he did make some big movements, I still barely felt them. She did some more checking and discovered my placenta is large and "anterior" meaning it is attached to the FRONT of my stomach and he is behind it, and the placenta is acting like a cushion/pillow and masking all his major movements most moms complain about lol. The google image above shows this position.

She said maybe this is how it was with Val too and maybe even Lovely, but that doesn't explain how it shuts down, my fluid drops, the baby gets distressed etc. as it did with Val at 40 weeks and leading up to 40 weeks with the lack of movement. So....because of Valiant, they'll check me and my fluid levels and movements at my now standard every 2 weeks visit (wow! I'm going every 2 weeks now? hehe!) and I'm having a full imaging scan at 34 weeks and probably week 38-39 in their radiology dept. for movement, fluid levels, placenta viability, etc to make sure I'm not having a scary delivery again.

I feel so well taken care of, and I'm glad I mentioned my worries. I was worried I'd seem like a over protective/worried mom bringing this up, etc. My midwife was so generous in listening to me and really made me feel like I was being pro-active and was glad to know this medical background of Val's birth.

And bonus ~ with all these checks - I'll get to see him more before birth! COOL!

So....that was my morning...he looks so big in there - perfect little head too, so well defined compared to 20 weeks! He looked like he was fattening up nicely too. He could end up being my biggest baby!

I'm getting so excited! I pray God grants us a safe delivery and a chance to get to know him for a long time. I do have those fears of the opposite happening...you know? I'm sure things will be great!


** Oh - to add - when we discovered Val's issues and the need to deliver immediately, the midwife was stern in asking me why I did not report the lack of movements sooner, since they had been less and less. I told her it was because of what I read, and I'm not an alarmist - but I did learn my lesson that even if the books say something, trust your gut OR bring up what you feel (or describe in greater detail - like - "I feel her move, but it isn't all the time...") to help your care provider help you. Books are not always correct! DUH on me!***

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday "Onwards!" Edition

1. I've been able to keep up with a load of laundry a day and folding said load, and it has helped me stay in control of it! YEAH!!!

2. I've taken more time for rest this week than last. I've tried to get a nap every day, AND go to bed earlier. Yesterday, evening dinner time just blew up in my face with a screaming baby, incessant 6 year old talk, and a hubby who forgot to tell me he had to work (I understand!) so I was a single mom in the evening, but I went to bed early, took tylenol PM, and awoke to a new, fresh day, feeling fresh! I will, though, take a morning nap around 9:30am LOL!

3. We've been chugging along at Lent. I've tried to keep my bag a day (or catch up bags every few days) and I have really enjoyed the Lenten Meditations each day giving me sacrifices or additions in my day. Holy Heroes is great for Lovely, and Hubby is surviving without soda and is doing the 40 bag thing as well - sometimes better than I am! One of the days this week I used the link on my sidebar to do some catch up 3 min retreats when we had to do 5 mins a day, 3 x's a day for our Lenten Meditation goal, and this one really spoke to me (links to all of them are posted if you follow that link). Some days I feel I'm more connected than others, but I love what I'm learning in this process.

How was your week?

Thankful Thursday
This week I am thankful for...

1. graces from God.
2. prayer time with Lovely at night - it saves the day if we've been had a rough one.
3. my Hubby and girls!
4. This pregnancy, the son inside, and turning 30 WEEKS TODAY!!!! WOW!
5. Wonderful friends.
6. being reminded how blessed I am, and not taking my life for granted.

Much love!

Wordless Wednesday - "Childhood Slumber Party Moment" Edition

A Work in Progress

Yo Yo! :)

So, this evening, I was catching up on some reflection time. If you notice on my sidebar, I have a link to "3 Minute Retreats" which are really amazing, and calming - and I highly recommend them. Yes, they are from a Catholic source, but for my friends of different walks - its focus is NOT theology and unites us in scripture and God, and I've heard from a few friends how wonderful they have found them to be. If you have a need for some calm and a short escape from chaos, maybe you could give it a try? It has soothing music and images to help one focus. Maybe if you feel like you are searching for something, you may find it there.

That said - I'm SO bad at remembering to check it and when I do, I totally regret my forgetfulness and find myself going through each of the archives which goes back a few weeks. That is what I did tonight, as I ended my day with a 5 minute reflection (today's "pray" sacrifice, 3 X's today). Today's was WONDERFUL, but one of the past ones really caught my attention. It was titled "A Work in Progress". Since I've linked up to it in the previous sentence, I feel I can quote it below as well.

It really moved me. I am TOTALLY a work in progress. This blog came about as a way for me to process that progress. I use this blog to capture what I feel I do accomplish with my family and my life, when I feel so often I come up short. I use it to capture and convey positive thoughts, energy, and outlook - and so often for me (and a theme in my writing here) that comes back to faith. It's not that my life is all 'rosey' and perfect, or my faith never falters...I just choose to cling to the good moments and record them here to look back on. Sometimes it is more helpful than pure venting...but I do that as well. I fall often, and fall hard....and I need a place to remember my purpose here on earth for the BRIEF time I'm here, and writing out "loud" here on a blog others can read is such a release for me. It's not trapped inside me anymore.

So, that leads to this particular retreat. It's scripture verse was Philippians 1:6 - I am confidant in this, that the one who begun good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. I read that and I wondered....am I really a good work? When I feel I'm 'seeking' in all the wrong places sometimes, struggle too much, can't change in myself what I trip over the most, etc. I seek affirmation in many of my relationships when really there is only One that is suppose to affirm me. I also wonder what good got done in my day. How many of us feel that way? We may wonder as our day passes "what have I REALLY accomplished today? I don't see an end in sight in my home, marriage, job, family relationships, etc." It can bring the spirit down.

I go on to read in the scripture reflection:

These...words offer great hope. The confidence conveyed can bolster drooping spirits. We are each a work in progress, NEVER a finished product. As long as we cooperate with God's plan, the good work continues in us until the day we meet God face to face. We may feel stuck, or our life lacks purpose. Maybe we think we are too old to change our thinking, or too young to take on responsibility. But there is more to life than the present moment. We can be confidant God is at work in and through us and desires - and will bring about - so much more for us.

The bolded words are what spoke to me this evening. I believe in them, REJOICE in them, even when I know I've had, and will have again, even tomorrow, doubts about there being so much more to my life. I am NEVER a finished product. I need to love myself as I grow and progress forward. I need to look for the hidden or small blessings in my life that add up, and if I let them, enrich me. It really isn't God that lets things happen that seem against us, it is how we CHOOSE to view them, or live through the experience that can oppose us. We're never done, we're never finished, well...on earth. So we need to feel the peace in that. I need to, anyways.

The reflection goes on with questions for us to ponder:

Do I truly believe God is continuously at work in me?

and this one really stuck out at me:

What changes do I notice in my thinking when I remember other people are also works in progress ? (Hmm, that is one to blog about, or reflect on. Would I have more patience if I remember we all are progressing to something better than the moment we find ourselves in? I might find myself in a more positive frame of mind. I can tell you I let people get to me all the time, and wow...I need to work on seeing them as journeying as well, a work in progress - not perfect, or completed, and take comfort in that when I feel failed or let down. I also need to remember this when I feel I constantly let others down, and therefore feel the need to apologize a bit too much - though I feel so much better when I do.)

It ends with this prayer (or you can choose to say your own):

God of hopefulness and surprises, thank you for the good work you have begun in me. Grant me the grace to be patient with all that feels incomplete with me. Amen.

What hope I feel in my heart as I head to bed! I'm never going to be finished while on earth, so I need to do the best I can as I progress. I also need to forgive myself a little more while still trying to grow. I can't wallow, nor make excuses and stand still - but try again and grow closer to completion that will only happen when I leave this world. I need to love myself as I am loved, and help others feel loved as well in what they feel incomplete in.

So, goodnight - and I treasure the work in progress that is you. Be patient tomorrow with yourself, and like me...remember how special you are - keep progressing!

Sweet, sweet dreams!

Kooky Weather!

So I posted pics last weekend of our picnic day - you saw how nice it was - well we are now back to the above. I don't think you can see the pretty snowflakes falling, but it is pretty.

Man - our weather here is like a woman - changes it's mind on a dime! :P


We are doing well here. I haven't had a lot of energy to post, and have been rather quiet by choice too. But I have a bunch to post about....cooking projects, craft projects, 40 days/40 bags, our Lent - but safe to say we are enjoying it. Some days I feel more connected with Lent than others, but I'm enjoying good books, the Lenten Meditations, and taking breaks from online reading etc (sorry for my MIA-ness). We've had GREAT family moments as well, a sleepover, etc. So when I feel more rested and less pressured for time - I'll get caught up.

Until then...I'm savoring the forced quiet snow brings. Much love!