I seriously must be. I have been thinking lately about some of you commenting that I should have a blog dedicated to my cakes. I have done a few new ones lately, and I have several more coming up. So I thought I would add to my little collection of blogs and start one dedicated to my cakes. And of course, decorator related posts. Projects I would like to do...
So that brings my total up to 4. I know, insane right? But anyone that wants to keep tabs on it, there will be a link in my "other" list. Just FYI!
Friday, May 30, 2008
"Whooped" Cream
Oren informed me, in very serious tones, this morning, "Mommy, whooped cream turns into hot whooped cream milk when you melt it." Yes it does, my wise little child, yes it does.
He has really impressed me today. He came and told me as I was doing my hair that William, the evil genius mastermind of messes, had pulled a box of noodles that I had already helped him clean up once this morning, and scattered them around the living room. Ugh. Well, I figured the mess could wait a while while I coaxed my curls into decent submission instead of random frizz. When the blowdryer was done, I could hear the sound of something electronic running in the living room. Oren had gotten out my little floor sweeper, and was cleaning the mess for me! And wouldn't let me help him.
I love that they are getting older!
He has really impressed me today. He came and told me as I was doing my hair that William, the evil genius mastermind of messes, had pulled a box of noodles that I had already helped him clean up once this morning, and scattered them around the living room. Ugh. Well, I figured the mess could wait a while while I coaxed my curls into decent submission instead of random frizz. When the blowdryer was done, I could hear the sound of something electronic running in the living room. Oren had gotten out my little floor sweeper, and was cleaning the mess for me! And wouldn't let me help him.
I love that they are getting older!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Pictures of the Day #42
I was a little bored this morning. So were the kids, they have already made 3 huge messes and it's not even noon yet. We are so used to having places to be! So I took advantage of the beautiful morning and sent the kids outside. Then I realized the light was great, so I ventured out with the camera. These are my some favorite shots of the morning, kids on the move!
William loves the grass. My kids are usually a little tentative at first, it's an odd texture from the carpet. But they soon get used to it, and prefer running around barefoot.
William loves the grass. My kids are usually a little tentative at first, it's an odd texture from the carpet. But they soon get used to it, and prefer running around barefoot.
Mark showed Oren how to jump out of the swing the other day, and he has been perfecting the art. One day, he'll stick the landing!
My little guys are always on the move. At first glance, Nathan looks exactly like Mark, and so one would assume that he is still and quiet like Daddy is. Not so! Maybe when no one else is around, but when stuff is happening, Nathan dashes off to see!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Yet another good day...
I know! I am waiting for something awful to happen and wreck it. Two good days in a row. What happened to my kids? I got some housework done today, although allergies are officially kicking me in the rear end. I am so tired, and the benedryl doesn't help. Plus, today was the first day of my medication. That can cause drowsiness too. We left Oren's last day of school party a little early, because I wasn't feeling very energetic.
Oren is now a first-grader. It's official, we made it through the whole year of kindergarten. I'm a little suprised, but the teacher made it through too! And she still likes us! It was a hard year, we had to make some tough choices. And I think we did it the best we could, for all parties involved.
When I think about it, we really have had a lot going on this school year. Oren was diagnosed with ADHD. We went through a family diet makeover. We put him on medication and watched a huge transformation.
Nathan made a lot of progress with his speech but not quite enough. We did a nasal scope and the doctor couldn't figure out what was wrong. We felt that switching therapists was the right thing to do and ended up with someone with connections to great doctors, with experience in his sort of problem, with an inkling of what the problem might be. The ball is rolling to get another set of nasal scopes and we have high hopes for more answers from further evals.
William turned a year old, and 6 months later, finally hit 20 pounds. Doctors say now that he is just a small guy and have stopped hounding me on his weight. He walked, runs, and says new words every day. He loves nursery, and is so active no matter what. He is the one child who hasn't had a problem required a big, tough decision this year.
Mark made a new rank, went through several weeks of torture (long days of school and study) and I got to stand by him proudly and punch his new stripes on. That was a stressful time on all of us.
And as for myself, this year has brought the biggest challenge I have ever faced. I now have a disorder. I can't do anything to change it. I have been through heck and back with these children. I have been emotionally drained so many times I am suprised there is anything left. I have luckily not been so physically exhausted. I never thought that having a child start school would require so much of me. Every time he had a hard day, I ached with him. I have spent much of the year raising them alone, when Mark has base inspections and school and odd work hours that require him to sleep during the day.
I am so glad this school year is over. And although it leaves me wondering what the summer will bring, I feel like it will be nothing compared to what I have already had to deal with. I'm not complaining, everything the Lord has sent me has been for my own growth and experience. I guess I have just been thinking a lot lately about all the trial the Lord has given me. Each one has given me some sort of life experience. Some little thing to take away and use in some future situation. Like Oren's ADHD. I feel more connected to him now that I know I have the same problems. All the things I have tried to teach him I can use for myself. These trials have taught me who I can really count on for anything, who will be there no matter what.
So I will try and enjoy this summer, and be back at the grind next school year for our whole new set of challenges, hopefully more calm and able to handle them.
Oren is now a first-grader. It's official, we made it through the whole year of kindergarten. I'm a little suprised, but the teacher made it through too! And she still likes us! It was a hard year, we had to make some tough choices. And I think we did it the best we could, for all parties involved.
When I think about it, we really have had a lot going on this school year. Oren was diagnosed with ADHD. We went through a family diet makeover. We put him on medication and watched a huge transformation.
Nathan made a lot of progress with his speech but not quite enough. We did a nasal scope and the doctor couldn't figure out what was wrong. We felt that switching therapists was the right thing to do and ended up with someone with connections to great doctors, with experience in his sort of problem, with an inkling of what the problem might be. The ball is rolling to get another set of nasal scopes and we have high hopes for more answers from further evals.
William turned a year old, and 6 months later, finally hit 20 pounds. Doctors say now that he is just a small guy and have stopped hounding me on his weight. He walked, runs, and says new words every day. He loves nursery, and is so active no matter what. He is the one child who hasn't had a problem required a big, tough decision this year.
Mark made a new rank, went through several weeks of torture (long days of school and study) and I got to stand by him proudly and punch his new stripes on. That was a stressful time on all of us.
And as for myself, this year has brought the biggest challenge I have ever faced. I now have a disorder. I can't do anything to change it. I have been through heck and back with these children. I have been emotionally drained so many times I am suprised there is anything left. I have luckily not been so physically exhausted. I never thought that having a child start school would require so much of me. Every time he had a hard day, I ached with him. I have spent much of the year raising them alone, when Mark has base inspections and school and odd work hours that require him to sleep during the day.
I am so glad this school year is over. And although it leaves me wondering what the summer will bring, I feel like it will be nothing compared to what I have already had to deal with. I'm not complaining, everything the Lord has sent me has been for my own growth and experience. I guess I have just been thinking a lot lately about all the trial the Lord has given me. Each one has given me some sort of life experience. Some little thing to take away and use in some future situation. Like Oren's ADHD. I feel more connected to him now that I know I have the same problems. All the things I have tried to teach him I can use for myself. These trials have taught me who I can really count on for anything, who will be there no matter what.
So I will try and enjoy this summer, and be back at the grind next school year for our whole new set of challenges, hopefully more calm and able to handle them.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Pricky Pokeys
There is little boy hair in the fibers of my shirt. Ouch! It has been poking my skin for the last few hours. But, the boys needed haircuts, and that's what happens!
Today would have been more productive if I hadn't been so exhausted. I ran Oren to school, came home really fast to run the trash to the curb, and then headed over to the hospital. The psychiatrist wanted some labs drawn. For once, the lab guy listened when I told him which vein actually works. Most of the time they ignore me and go for the other arm first, only to go back to exactly where I told them to draw in the first place. DUH! That went really fast though and I went back home.
I attempted to pick up the living room, but ended up sitting on the floor, watching Today show, and VERY slowly putting dirty clothes in a pile. It took an hour to do the living room, I was so tired. Then I spent another hour doing dishes. I sat for a little bit, and enjoyed the quiet when Nathan went to play at a friends house, but couldn't nap because I had to go get Oren.
Daddy came home for lunch and watched the kids while I ran to the school. Oren's teacher was very pleased with his behavior. We gave him an extra 5 mg Ritalin per the doctor's orders, and that seems to have done the trick. The last couple weeks were pretty hard for him at school, so it was nice to have a good day today. I got everyone fed, and William down for a nap. As I was sitting to take one myself, a friend called and tried chatting. That didn't work very well, I was literally falling asleep on the phone, so she let me go. I got about 20 minutes before the phone rang again and woke me up. It seems that was all I needed because I have been a little more energetic the rest of the day.
I journeyed down to Walmart and picked up my prescription this afternoon. The kids did really well, which was nice. Nobody screamed in the middle of the aisle. Nobody threw up, or blew out. Nobody mashed the bread in the cart. It was actually an okay trip. When I walked in the front door, my house smelled so good. I had been cooking a pork roast in the crock pot with barbeque sauce for shredded pork sandwhiches. Yumm! We did an easy dinner tonight, because Oren had T-ball. The kids really liked the sandwhiches. We'll be doing that again. I gotta love Mark though... "These are better than that other pork thingy you did on the grill for my birthday!" Good grief... :-)
Since I had an hour to kill until bedtime after dinner, I sat Nathan down and trimmed his hair. It's been in his eyes lately. He looked so much like Mark! Still had some time, so I sat Oren down. With Nathan's cowlicks, we have to keep it longer, but Oren has such thick straight hair, we buzz cut his. He looks good with it really short though. And I have noticed William's hair has been rather scraggly of late, so in the chair he went. He is much more well behaved for haircuts that his brothers ever were! Probably because he sees his brothers acting like it's no big deal. Whatever the reason, I appreciate the cooperation.
I did, however, get pokey hair all over me, which I do not appreciate. So I am off to take a shower and get it off me. Good night!
Today would have been more productive if I hadn't been so exhausted. I ran Oren to school, came home really fast to run the trash to the curb, and then headed over to the hospital. The psychiatrist wanted some labs drawn. For once, the lab guy listened when I told him which vein actually works. Most of the time they ignore me and go for the other arm first, only to go back to exactly where I told them to draw in the first place. DUH! That went really fast though and I went back home.
I attempted to pick up the living room, but ended up sitting on the floor, watching Today show, and VERY slowly putting dirty clothes in a pile. It took an hour to do the living room, I was so tired. Then I spent another hour doing dishes. I sat for a little bit, and enjoyed the quiet when Nathan went to play at a friends house, but couldn't nap because I had to go get Oren.
Daddy came home for lunch and watched the kids while I ran to the school. Oren's teacher was very pleased with his behavior. We gave him an extra 5 mg Ritalin per the doctor's orders, and that seems to have done the trick. The last couple weeks were pretty hard for him at school, so it was nice to have a good day today. I got everyone fed, and William down for a nap. As I was sitting to take one myself, a friend called and tried chatting. That didn't work very well, I was literally falling asleep on the phone, so she let me go. I got about 20 minutes before the phone rang again and woke me up. It seems that was all I needed because I have been a little more energetic the rest of the day.
I journeyed down to Walmart and picked up my prescription this afternoon. The kids did really well, which was nice. Nobody screamed in the middle of the aisle. Nobody threw up, or blew out. Nobody mashed the bread in the cart. It was actually an okay trip. When I walked in the front door, my house smelled so good. I had been cooking a pork roast in the crock pot with barbeque sauce for shredded pork sandwhiches. Yumm! We did an easy dinner tonight, because Oren had T-ball. The kids really liked the sandwhiches. We'll be doing that again. I gotta love Mark though... "These are better than that other pork thingy you did on the grill for my birthday!" Good grief... :-)
Since I had an hour to kill until bedtime after dinner, I sat Nathan down and trimmed his hair. It's been in his eyes lately. He looked so much like Mark! Still had some time, so I sat Oren down. With Nathan's cowlicks, we have to keep it longer, but Oren has such thick straight hair, we buzz cut his. He looks good with it really short though. And I have noticed William's hair has been rather scraggly of late, so in the chair he went. He is much more well behaved for haircuts that his brothers ever were! Probably because he sees his brothers acting like it's no big deal. Whatever the reason, I appreciate the cooperation.
I did, however, get pokey hair all over me, which I do not appreciate. So I am off to take a shower and get it off me. Good night!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Yuck, I did it Again!
That's right. I stuck my arm up the toilet again.
William stuck some wipes in there a week or so ago, and I thought I pulled them all out. Well, he must have put something else in there that I didn't see, and now it is clogged again.
And that's not the best part!
He got in there earlier today and was playing apperantly, because the whole floor was flooded, and it got into the closet that shares a wall with the boys' room, and soaked through to the carpet in their doorway. Yay!
Today wasn't the best day, I was a bit grumpy for some unknown reason. Mark made a totally harmless comment about cleaning, and I totally flipped and got really angry. Usually I end up cleaning when that happens. When I say clean, I mean throw stuff out of where it shouldn't be and hope it lands where it should. Then scrub and vacumm and dust and induce chemical asphyxiation until the energy and ticked-off-ness expends itself. That way no one gets hurt and something gets done. So today I chose to tackle the bathroom and toilet. Yep, I even stuck my hand in there again and couldn't feel anything. It was a long shot, but hey. Not wanting to give up, I actually pulled the toilet up and tipped it over. Nothing there either. The clog is somewhere in the middle. I gave up, left the toilet on it's side, and locked the door. Housing maintenance will get a call in the morning.
Still fuming and with plenty of energy left I tackled the my bathroom, also a disaster. That is now totally spotless, floor mopped, the whole thing bleached from top to bottom, glass all dusted, shelves cleaned, toilet scrubbed down, bobby pins picked up. It is so nice to have a clean bathroom, I don't usually let it get so bad. What is nice about cleaning bathrooms is that I am totally by myself. Nobody comes in and bothers me, Mark chose to go outside and pull weeds, which was smart. I sat in there and said a lot of stuff to myself, most of which would have been very hurtful if I had said it to him, and most of it was not even true or relevant. I know the stuff I railed about was ridiculous, but that's why I do it while cleaning, under my breath. Because sometimes I can't help what I say, and you can't take back words.
After the bathroom was done, I had worked my way back to normal and fairly decent. The kids got put in bed, I complimented Mark on the weed job he did for me, and he admired how clean and nice smelling the bathroom was. All is well, no harm done. This time. Except for the poor toilet resting on it's side, waiting patiently to put upright and used again.
William stuck some wipes in there a week or so ago, and I thought I pulled them all out. Well, he must have put something else in there that I didn't see, and now it is clogged again.
And that's not the best part!
He got in there earlier today and was playing apperantly, because the whole floor was flooded, and it got into the closet that shares a wall with the boys' room, and soaked through to the carpet in their doorway. Yay!
Today wasn't the best day, I was a bit grumpy for some unknown reason. Mark made a totally harmless comment about cleaning, and I totally flipped and got really angry. Usually I end up cleaning when that happens. When I say clean, I mean throw stuff out of where it shouldn't be and hope it lands where it should. Then scrub and vacumm and dust and induce chemical asphyxiation until the energy and ticked-off-ness expends itself. That way no one gets hurt and something gets done. So today I chose to tackle the bathroom and toilet. Yep, I even stuck my hand in there again and couldn't feel anything. It was a long shot, but hey. Not wanting to give up, I actually pulled the toilet up and tipped it over. Nothing there either. The clog is somewhere in the middle. I gave up, left the toilet on it's side, and locked the door. Housing maintenance will get a call in the morning.
Still fuming and with plenty of energy left I tackled the my bathroom, also a disaster. That is now totally spotless, floor mopped, the whole thing bleached from top to bottom, glass all dusted, shelves cleaned, toilet scrubbed down, bobby pins picked up. It is so nice to have a clean bathroom, I don't usually let it get so bad. What is nice about cleaning bathrooms is that I am totally by myself. Nobody comes in and bothers me, Mark chose to go outside and pull weeds, which was smart. I sat in there and said a lot of stuff to myself, most of which would have been very hurtful if I had said it to him, and most of it was not even true or relevant. I know the stuff I railed about was ridiculous, but that's why I do it while cleaning, under my breath. Because sometimes I can't help what I say, and you can't take back words.
After the bathroom was done, I had worked my way back to normal and fairly decent. The kids got put in bed, I complimented Mark on the weed job he did for me, and he admired how clean and nice smelling the bathroom was. All is well, no harm done. This time. Except for the poor toilet resting on it's side, waiting patiently to put upright and used again.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
I am so Lucky!
I have had a bit of a hard time this weekend. It's one thing to think there might be something wrong with yourself, I have found, and a whole nother thing to have it confirmed. It has seemed very strange to think about the ramifications of that doctors appointment.
1. I will have to take medication for most of the rest of my life. This makes me glad for being military and I hope we can retire as such, for the insurance purposes. This also means constantly readjusting dosages, switching medications until we find what works. The amount I pay for the meds is very low, about $9 a month, and would be free if the base pharmacy carried it.
2. I will have appointments at least once a month to check dosages, side effects, progress... I am lucky again that Tricare will pay for 2 med management appointments a month, and up to 8 therapy appointments a year without a referral, with more if I get authorization. All these are paid by insurance, with no copay.
3. Bipolarism is hereditary. My children have inherited the possibility of having this disorder too. Like how diabetes can run in families, so can this. And it is just as serious and can be just as deadly if not dealt with properly. Will my children have it? How will it affect their lives? How can I have more children knowing that I may pass this on? Plus some medications can affect babies in utero, birth defects and miscarriage. Can I go through that just to try for that little girl I want so much?
4. How is this going to affect my relationship with my husband? He has very patiently put up with my mood swings for a long time, but now that it has a name, can he deal with having an ill wife? Is he going to treat me differently, or look at me differently? He has assured me he won't, but it is still in the back of my mind.
5. I don't know what my personality will be like. It has been so long since I have felt "normal". But was that normal like other people, or normal for me with the ADHD I have had since childhood and didn't know for certain. I like to think I will still be "me": upbeat, friendly, chatty (but not hyper), interested in others, someone people confide in. I like to think that is my normal. I don't want to change, I just want to cool it down a little, be able to control certain things I do, like the talking.
With all these things going through my head, it has been really nice to have people that love me to talk to. Mark, Stephanie, my friend Amanda. And today we asked the bishop and the elder's quorom president, whom we are good friends with, to help give me a blessing. Our bishop deals with troubled teens, half of which are bipolar in the group he works with. And the elder's qorum president confided in me that he is too. So there are good people at church who understand. The blessing was something I really needed, and I am so lucky to be in such a good ward, with people I trust to do that for me. I also spoke about it with some close friends today. My visiting teacher I have known since Japan had felt inspired to talk to me about getting help, and cried with me a little today. I know I can call her anytime.
So these things are still swimming around my head, and if I let myself think about all of it too much it would be so easy to get overwhelmed. (Part of that is my condition I'm sure) But on the whole, I guess I am lucky. I have great friends, a wonderful supportive family, good doctors, good insurance, a blessing to think on and more if I need them, and I am young. It's not too late to have good relationships with my children. It's not too late to learn skills to deal with myself.
1. I will have to take medication for most of the rest of my life. This makes me glad for being military and I hope we can retire as such, for the insurance purposes. This also means constantly readjusting dosages, switching medications until we find what works. The amount I pay for the meds is very low, about $9 a month, and would be free if the base pharmacy carried it.
2. I will have appointments at least once a month to check dosages, side effects, progress... I am lucky again that Tricare will pay for 2 med management appointments a month, and up to 8 therapy appointments a year without a referral, with more if I get authorization. All these are paid by insurance, with no copay.
3. Bipolarism is hereditary. My children have inherited the possibility of having this disorder too. Like how diabetes can run in families, so can this. And it is just as serious and can be just as deadly if not dealt with properly. Will my children have it? How will it affect their lives? How can I have more children knowing that I may pass this on? Plus some medications can affect babies in utero, birth defects and miscarriage. Can I go through that just to try for that little girl I want so much?
4. How is this going to affect my relationship with my husband? He has very patiently put up with my mood swings for a long time, but now that it has a name, can he deal with having an ill wife? Is he going to treat me differently, or look at me differently? He has assured me he won't, but it is still in the back of my mind.
5. I don't know what my personality will be like. It has been so long since I have felt "normal". But was that normal like other people, or normal for me with the ADHD I have had since childhood and didn't know for certain. I like to think I will still be "me": upbeat, friendly, chatty (but not hyper), interested in others, someone people confide in. I like to think that is my normal. I don't want to change, I just want to cool it down a little, be able to control certain things I do, like the talking.
With all these things going through my head, it has been really nice to have people that love me to talk to. Mark, Stephanie, my friend Amanda. And today we asked the bishop and the elder's quorom president, whom we are good friends with, to help give me a blessing. Our bishop deals with troubled teens, half of which are bipolar in the group he works with. And the elder's qorum president confided in me that he is too. So there are good people at church who understand. The blessing was something I really needed, and I am so lucky to be in such a good ward, with people I trust to do that for me. I also spoke about it with some close friends today. My visiting teacher I have known since Japan had felt inspired to talk to me about getting help, and cried with me a little today. I know I can call her anytime.
So these things are still swimming around my head, and if I let myself think about all of it too much it would be so easy to get overwhelmed. (Part of that is my condition I'm sure) But on the whole, I guess I am lucky. I have great friends, a wonderful supportive family, good doctors, good insurance, a blessing to think on and more if I need them, and I am young. It's not too late to have good relationships with my children. It's not too late to learn skills to deal with myself.
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