Blog Redo

Ok, so I totally let this blog go a long time ago but shortly after that last post my life got turned upside down so here is the story of my life since then!

Well......baby #3!!  Shortly after Christmas 2009 we got the surprise of our lives...I was pregnant!  Though completely unplanned he is such a joy in our life and I couldn't imagine my life without him. 

It was a huge adjustment for me.  I was so settled into being a mom of 2, I had lots of plans that didn't involve a third baby!  Plus my "current" baby wasn't walking yet and was still nursing twice a day!  Then there was the realization that....I had no idea how far along I was.  I had gotten bad about keeping track of stuff and just knew that it had been quite awhile! Then there was the funny part....I had just a week earlier called my doctor for a change in birth control because I had planned to stop nursing my daughter by the end of January, so when I called to get an appointment they all got a good laugh!  But as I soon realized this was the perfect plan set in place by God.  A few weeks later a good friend and I, our daughters are the same age, were having a playdate and I had decided to share my news with her.  After I blurted out my news she looked at me in disbelief and just sputtered out "So am I!"  We then laughed and figured out we were due within a week of eachother.  The next few months were pretty typical.  The summer was spent hanging out at the pool, working a temporary position at a local home improvment retailer and biggest of all.....finishing the basement.  Oh and in the middle of this....just right at a year ago.....hubby had emergency surgery to remove his gall bladder!  Then on September 3rd our 3rd blessing, a second boy was born.  We have a had great last year or so.  We are so blessed!  We have had our ups and downs but we are blessed.

White Christmas

How often do we wish for a white Christmas? I think every year as a child you wish for a beautiful coat of snow on the ground to go out and play in! Well.......this year we are getting that childhood wish and then some! My area has a blizzard warning for the first time in almost 30 years! I am sitting here, sporting some awesome Santa Footie PJ's ( thanks Dad!) trying to make sense of this strange Christmas Eve.

1.) This year my husband has to work, for the first time with kids. We had both worked Christmas in the past when we didn't have kids but this year is different, we have had to alter our plans to work with his schedule. This schedule includes him having to be at work at 2am, in a blizzard!
2.) Due to this crazy weather we missed Christmas Eve service. I don't remember ever missing Christmas Eve service, ever! We missed due to hubby's long trek home from work and not really wanting to get the kids out in the nasty weather.
3.) No family on Christmas Eve, this is another first! The weather kept mom, her husband and brother in Lawrence.

So I have spent my evening watching movies and reading books with the kids. Once I got the kids in bed I started cooking. Not that I will be pressed for time tomorrow but more so because I have had all this extra time tonight. So as I have finished my "duties" for tonight I pray for all those working in this weather. I am thankful for those who sacrifice time with their families to do the jobs many don't want to do. I will be nervous as my husband heads out in about an hour to work for 12 hours in this weather and I am glad I am tucked safely away, in my house, wearing these crazy Santa footie PJ's!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Goodnight!

How Blessed we Really Are...

So during this whole soul searching time in my life I have come to realize how blessed I really am. Though things have been tough I am very blessed in my life. I have been working hard on my marriage, my faith and many other things. Money is tight but it is worth it to be home and raise my children. So during my Thursday morning bible study we did a service project to benefit our local multi-service center. For the first 5 weeks we collected diapers, formula and all things related to baby. Then the last 5 weeks we collected items for birthday bags they hand out to the families so the kids can have a birthday party. I have been in charge of this project and it has been very eye opening!
There are so many things not covered by public assistance that are very needed. One of the things that stuck out was diapers. What happens if the money just isn't there to get diapers for your child...you ask for assistance....what happens when those who provide assistance can't help. This happens quite often at our local service center. When they run low they severely limit the number of diapers someone can get on a given day. Today they were down to one package when we arrived. The family in there at the time got 6 diapers. Now we all know that will not last very long and they can only hope when they run out the service center will have more. Witnessing this is a reminder of how blessed my family and I really are. I have the money to buy diapers and wipes. I don't have to worry about where my next meal will come from. We are able to provide our family with basic hygiene items like soap and toliet paper. Many times we forget what are really needs compared to wants.
So next time you are at the store pick up that extra package of soap, toliet paper, diapers, wipes, non-perishable food item or many other items and donate it to your local food pantry or service center.

Crazy Weekend/Week

So we have made it to Friday again. It seems as though the week has flown by. Monday my baby boy turned 3, I can't believe it has been three years already. We had a party for him on Sunday. Also on Sunday we had our little girl baptized. The crazy weather on Saturday prevented some family from making it but overall it was a great day. We spent the rest of the week hanging out with the family. My frozen meals really came in handy this week. We used some the meals for quick easy meals! My mom was very impressed! So we have spent the last two days getting back on track and organized again. I getting ready to plan my next cooking day in the next week or two.

Kudos to the Hubby!

So about 6 months ago or so I started the adventure of cloth diapering. It has been a learning process that my husband was not interested in at all. I was fine with that since I am home with the kids most of the time. I do not have much of a "stash" actually I have to do diaper laundry every night right now. I am ok with that because I love the cloth and it is so much better on my daughter's sensitive skin. So last night I pulled the pail out my daughter's room when she went to bed with the intention of starting laundry right away. I got distracted and forgot. By 11pm I was very tired but then realized I didn't have my diapers washing. I was bummed but went to put them in for their first soak. Then surprisingly hubby asked what else needed to be done. He was going to stay up so he offered to finish the diapers for me!! I gave him the instructions and woke up to nice clean diapers. That is a big step for him! He also "changed" a cloth diaper last night. He took the cloth off and put a disposable on for night time. He left the cloth for me to take care of but I was happy with that! I might convert him yet!

A Good Monday!

In some ways you could look at my Monday and think I got nothing accomplished but in another way you could think I accomplished a lot! I had bigger plans for my Monday, like getting further ahead in my school work but when the day was done I didn't even touch it! I spent most of the morning on the phone making many phone calls, waiting for the trash truck to come, then immediately running outside (before it rained) to chase trashcan lids down the street. Then finally getting Miss "G" down for a nap! Yea!! I get to shower! By this time it is 11:30!! Fix Tristan lunch and play with him. Get Tristan down for a nap, feed "G." Now what to do??? I called my friend Kim. Kim is a great friend I met during the hiring process for the Sheriff's Deparment. We never thought we would be close friends! Now 6 years later we are still friends!! She moved to Texas a couple of years ago but we have managed to stay in touch and squeeze in a few visits here and there. She is the type of person who always makes you feel good about yourself. She is one of the best Christians I know and miss having her nearby....badly miss her! She is one of the least judgemental people I know! She is also a supermom...at least in my opinion. She had her son about 6 months before Tristan was born...she was the second person I told when I found out I was pregnant. She is the one who encouraged me to at least give breastfeeding a shot, she is the one who encouraged me to keep pumping at work eventhough I wanted to give up and last but not least she has been there for me through many ups and downs over the last six years. Sometimes I know the important people in my life don't know how really important they are. Well Kim...this is for you!! Our conversations are precious to me!