Spider Woman

Today I found Lenna in tears after primary. Apparently one of the older boys had called her a spider girl. I am guessing because of her skinny legs and black tights. Anyway, it really hurt her feelings.

I was able to console her by telling her my middle school nickname- spider woman. I also had the same long skinny arms and legs and long blonde braids. I was at least 4 inches taller than all the boys and after a long day of getting their behinds kicked by a girl in field day they dubbed me spider woman.

Lenna got a huge kick out of that story and has since been proud to bear the name spider girl just like her mom.

A New Wrinkle

When Lenna was little (or little-er I guess, she is still little!) I told her each time she learned something new her brain would get a new wrinkle. For months after that she would come and tell me each time her brain got a new wrinkle. She also made the connection that old people were wrinkly because they had lived so long and learned so many new things that the wrinkles spread to the outside. Anyway, I got a new wrinkle in my brain today. After a Sunday with Andrew, probably a new one on my forehead as well, but I hope not!

I discovered a link to BYU radio on a website I visit for primary stuff called Sugardoodle.net. I was happy because it made me feel a little more connected to the western Mormon culture I miss so much way out here in Georgia. Also because I could access "Soft Sunday Sounds" in the morning before church.

I turned it on this evening to a lecture by a visiting scientist who spent an hour talking about string theory, an alternative to Newton's gravity theory and Einstein's theory of relativity and someone else (I was not taking notes) theory of uncertainty in quantum mechanics.

I was listening at first out of convenience, I didn't want to bother with closing the window to the radio player, then out of interest. I found myself following along and actually understanding what he was saying. I felt so smart! Not because I am a brilliant physicist, but because I was listening to an academic talking about something besides parenting and I could follow along. I took physics 10 years ago in high school and found some old bits returning to the surface. My brain is not mushy and void of all pre-pregnancy knowledge! What a relief! And now if I am ever stuck on a plane next to a physics teacher, I will have something to talk about with him or her. A new wrinkle for me- hooray!

Use your imagination I guess

I was just sitting here thinking how I don't have time to pay the bills or update my blog or anything like that because I am so busy with other stuff. Then I realized, on my third game of free cell ( I am getting pretty good by the way) that I could use that time to blog and put the pictures in later. I procrastinate blogging because I think it makes my posts less interesting to not have pictures, but at the same time am too lazy to hunt down the camera and plug it in and download the pictures. Especially this time since we just revived the computer and have to reinstall all the software. Anyway, how will you be able to visualize my children doing all the cute and funny and annoying things I will tell you about if I haven't bothered with the pictures yet? I guess you will just have to use your imagination!

Today was pictures day at our school. The photographer is still in Easter mode I guess because he brought with him a cage full of live bunnies. Cute in theory, bad idea in practicality. Bunnies plus crying two and three year old kids and brand new spring dresses are not a good mix. Most were afraid, others found delight in chasing the animals across the set instead of sitting nicely beside them, while still others began shrieking when they squeezed the bunny too hard and their fancy new dresses were pooped on. Andrew was not afraid to pick it up and move it around and carry it back and forth as he saw fit. The photographer was less than impressed with his helpfulness. Lets just say it was an animal adventure. It took about 15 minutes per kid to get the rabbit, the child, and the parents to all be happy with the pictures.

Yesterday I had a scary experience. I was at the library around 4pm and started feeling dizzy and light headed- unless of course the stacks really were swaying. I herded the kids out the door to the car and had to call Mike just to keep awake enough to drive the 10 minutes home. I felt like if I closed my eyes for even a second, I would fall over. As it was, I had to hold the handrail to the car so I wouldn't stumble.

Somehow we made it home and to the couch, where I promptly collapsed on the couch and passed out for the next two hours. I am so lucky my children were sensible and didn't do anything stupid while left unsupervised all evening. They watched their new videos from the library, got a snack from the fridge, and then were just starting a game of "somersault across the couch" when I returned to consciousness. Lenna said, "When we couldn't wake you up I thought you were just taking a nap. We were starting to get hungry!" Mike called just after that and he came right home to make sure we all made it safely through the night. After a very healthy dinner of Lucky Charms I taught Lenna to use the cell phone just in case she ever needed to call for help in the future.

When I finally got to talk to a nurse this afternoon I was told to keep taking my vitamins and too eat more often and then talk to my doctor at my regular appt next week, because there was just no way they could see me before then. Unless of course I would like to spend the next 10 hrs in the ER waiting to be seen by an unqualified overworked nurse practitioner. Maybe 12 if someone in a uniform wanders in with a hangover headache while I am there and jumps to the front of the line. I would expand but my complaints about the lovely free medical care we receive from the military could fill pages and pages. I will refrain. Let's just say socialized free health care is not the answer!

Well, my time is up! Apparently I am supposed to feed my children dinner every night, not just on Sundays and the kitchen is calling. I will catch up with Easter and such later.

Sick Day

I know I have been very behind in posting lately. I have been feeling pretty wiped out and barely have time to put my children in clean clothes and cook dinner each night, so posting has taken a back seat. Eventually I will catch up with Easter activities and other such things but for now, we wait!

Today and tomorrow however, I am "confined to quarters" you could say, with a sick little boy. Andy started acting odd at church yesterday, running a fever and napping on my lap during primary. He came home and his fever spiked and he slept most of the day. He woke up this morning with a rash. We spent another day at the doctrs office (we were just there Friday for a new allergy mediciine and athsma treatment) and the new diagnosis is scarlet fever! A form of strep that also has a rash. But it is only dangerous if you lived in the 1800s before the invention of penecilin, so no worries.

He is on the lovely pink junk for the next 10 days. I am just praying that we all don't have to take a turn. Anyway, I am off to play nurse some more.

I'll keep you posted, as Lenna has developed a mysterious looking pink itchy rash all over her legs, but only at bedtime the last two nights. Any ideas? I am begining to hate the clinic waiting room. I might have to quit my job just to find the time to keep taking my children to the doctor.

Jannet

Sunday Comics

As I have mentioned in a previous post, my Andy is to the "me do it" stage of life. Our new battle ground in the fight for independence vs. control is the closet. He wants to dress himself completely on his own. I want him to look like he has a mother who provides him with clean, well fitting, coordinating clothes. I usually lose the battle.

Sunday Andrew was determined to dress himself. He hauled in a stool so he could access the closet rod and proceeded to cloth himself in a variety of interesting wardrobe choices. He started off well with a button up shirt and tie and well, things just sort of spiraled out of control from there. Take a fish-print button up shirt, add a navy tie, a blue and lime green speedo swimmer, and some rocket socks and here is what you get:

He was so proud. I was torn between wanting a respectable looking child for church and letting him develop whatever skill it is that is developed when you dress yourself creatively. Fortunately he became very uncomfortable by lunch and opted to remove the bathing suit and tie, I added some pants and he made it out the door looking normal and with his self esteem intact.

I would like to note that I only care what he looks like when he is expected to look nice and it would disrespectful to show up dressed ridiculously. He can wear whatever he wants at home and anything he wants that meets the dress code at school, which just means things he can manage in the bathroom by himself and can run around in safely. That often includes pajamas, superman capes, train hats, and rain boots- sometimes all in the same day.

Lenna made me very happy on Sunday afternoon. She had completely disappeared for about a half hour and I had to go hunting for her. I found her on the bed in the playroom surrounded by toys. I expected to see an elaborate barbie and horse play set up but instead found her exploring a completely different imaginary scenario:

I think this time it was the land of "Frog and Toad" followed by an adventure in Ponyland. I am a pretty avid reader myself and have always hoped that at least one child would share my love of print. Lenna is fitting the bill very nicely. Andrew likes a good story, but can rarely sit through the whole thing, unless it is at bedtime and he is stalling. Either way, I think it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. And note that Lenna is dressed very appropriately for Sunday church.

Gratitude

Just a few days ago I received one of those "answer some silly questions and send it to everyone you know" type emails. One of the questions was "List two things that you want right now really badly". And you know what? I couldn't think of a good answer. I don't need anything really badly. I am a very lucky woman who has just about everything she needs. I had to go with the generic answers of more sleep and more money. Really.

I have a wonderful husband who still loves me and takes good care of me. I have two healthy, happy, smart children. I have a house with a washing machine, dishwasher, Internet connection, and fleas (OK, I could do without the fleas, but we have an excellent exterminator who just came yesterday). My car drives around, my cupboards are full of food. I was just complaining about not having a big enough fridge because there was too much food in there. Now how many people are lucky enough to have that problem? I have a job that I love. My extended family is healthy- too far away, but the possibility of seeing them all again is still high. I have a great support network of friends here that I have never had in my entire life. I have a nice long list of people I can call in a crisis or just to keep the kids for a few hours while I get a make over or date my husband. I just went out to the living room to check on the kids, and they put themselves to sleep on the couch- one more blessing! Up until last week I would have said "have a baby" but guess what, I got that one too!
I just wanted to say how grateful I am for all of my blessings. That is something I definitely don't do enough of, thank the Lord for all he has given me. It isn't that hard once I start looking, though. I am finally beginning to think that it must be true, that the windows of Heaven can open up and pour down blessings so numerous, you can't put your arms around them all. And I am so grateful for that!

May you get rained on, too, and may we all remember to be grateful!

Woo Hoo!!

We are going to have a baby!

Andy is concerned that if I eat too much it will get squished and has reminded me to get a "babysitter" for it to rest in (a swing). Lenna loves having a secret that she has told to everyone she knows and is shopping for a minivan. Mike can't stop smiling. Jannet is grateful that she is not sick (yet), fired from her job, or uninsured (yet). We have been waiting for a pretty long time and were so happy to find out.

It was a very eventful yearly check up at the GYN, resulting in lab tests. The guy at the lab said he had never seen anyone so happy to have their arm jabbed with a needle. As a late birthday present I gave Mike a baby bottle with a congrats card to tell him the news. We are expecting about Halloween, depending on what the ultrasound will say.

Not much else to say on this yet, we are all just very happy!

A lesson in self control

On Sunday Andrew's primary teacher, Lauren, shared with me something he said. (you really have to teach me how to link now Lauren so my posts can be as fancy as yours)

He said "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit! But sometimes, I really want to throw a fit."

I guess the "get what you get" chant is something they use at school to motivate each other (I have never heard a teacher say that, only the kids). It was funny and cute but more than that, it has made me think about how far Andy has come lately.

He probably does want to throw a fit pretty often because it seems the older you get the less you get your way, but he doesn't. I am struggling to remember the last time he really threw a fit. Sometimes he will stamp his foot or poke out his lip in protest of some terrible injustice like not eating dinner on the couch or having to wear clothes to church instead of swimwear (a whole different post, stay tuned), but he does manage to keep it to that instead throwing that fit. I was suddenly proud of him for recognizing that sometimes, even when you really do want to throw a fit, you don't.

If only we all could remember that the world would be a much better place!

Firsts

Today I took Lenna to the dentist for her first (and only, I hope) fillings. All $300 worth. She better not ever say I don't love her..... She did great, thanks to a lovely cocktail of nitrous oxide and demoral sedative. She went under "concious sedation" so she was awake the whole time but not aware of what was happening. Anyway, she now has two very pretty whole and shiny molars. She has spent the day sleeping. I endured a 3 hr waiting room stay with a man who talked way too much, cared way too much about what I was doing, and couldn't take a hint even after I changed seats, burried my nose in a book, ignored him, etc. He just really wanted to talk to someone I guess. Anyway, I was happy when his kid came out and they left me to enjoy my waiting room time in peace. Andy was at school, so I was looking forward to spending a few hours reading and thinking and staring into space, which I don't get to do very often. I think only moms can look forward to waiting room time. Of course, I would have wanted to scream if I had younger children with me, but alone time in the waiting room is golden.

She also went to her first sleepover on Friday. It was a birthday party for a girl in her class that has played here a few times. Her mom is very nice- they strike me as the typical southern family complete with cute accents and four wheelers in the garage. Anyway I mulled over it for a week to make sure I really felt good about it and ended up letting her go. I dropped in just before bed time to give her medicine and one last chance to come home but she was so happy and excited, I knew she was in for the long haul. I was nervous tho and slept with the phone on the nightstand, just so I wouldn't miss a middle of the night phone call to come and rescue my little girl. Alas, I wasn't needed after all.

I wasn't sure if I was glad or not. One more thing to remind me that she is growing up and I have to let go a little bit more. On the plus side, I am feeling better about letting the kids stay for a week with family while Mike and I go to the beach.