Peeing, jobless, money down the drain...

I'm so frustrated with myself.  I am still having a hard time finding the motivation to write.
So I'm trying it again, updates style and see where it goes.

1.  I am not working.  The job I started up with was not working out for a couple of reasons.  The biggest problem was the lack of control of my schedule.  I had very little.  The last time I did part time work, I pretty much had complete control over scheduling.  Since I don't have formal childcare in place, this was a problem.  There was also much more driving involved than I realized.  I looked at the mileage for one week and thought to myself-- I'm going to end up losing money, not making money.  Given the fact that gas prices have gone up in recent weeks (8 cents in the past 2 days alone!), I feel like I made the right choice.  Even though this doesn't solve our longterm need for more income.  I'm working on it...

2.  We FINALLY got our tax refund which was a nice chunk of change...and it is all but spent!  Maybe $100-$200 could be defined as "frivolous".  The rest?  Catching up bills, car repairs and next is dental work that needs taken care of.  It didn't take long and we have not addressed ANY of the home improvement projects we were hoping to do.  Oh well, at least everything is up-to-date and we have some breathing room.

3.  Chloe is really into the potty.  She's still got some work to do and WOW- I have no patience for her!  And she is awesome, it's not her.  It seems I quickly forgot the time factor with potty training.  Newbies need TIME to sit on the potty, get into the routine, the wiping, the NOT TOUCHING EVERYTHING.  And this GIRL thing?!  OMG...how does she manage to pee all over the toilet seat, her leg, etc.  Everyone has told me that girls are soooo much easier to potty train.  I disagree!
Any tips?

4.  Speaking of peeing...that brings me to some of my own health concerns that I need to address, namely: 2 cavities that need to be filled, feet that need to be checked out and um, I need to talk to someone about my bladder.  It is not what it used to be...as long as I don't jump, I'm okay.  And if I have a bad cough, that can be troublesome as well.  I guess after 3 kids, I need to figure out what's going on and how to make it better.  It could be worse--and that's what concerns me!

5.  On April 10th, I take Liam for his Kindergarten registration and testing.  How is this even possible?  My baby boy!!  He is excited.  I can't imagine him getting on the bus each day, disappearing from my life for all that time!  I know he will be ready but still!  When I see Michael get off the bus in the afternoon, he looks so small coming down the street.  Michael is of course, the "big kid" in our home but entering the world of school changes him.  He looks like a little guy, walking down the street with the 2nd and 3rd graders.  The older kids look out for Michael and I know they will do the same for Liam.  I just have to wrap my mind around Liam as a Kindergartener.  Luckily I have a few months to adjust to the idea.

6.  I don't know what to think of the presidential race, particularly the republican side of things.  I find it rather dismal overall.  I just really hope Santorum doesn't gain the nomination (or presidency) because while I like that he is pro-life, some of his rhetoric just scares me.

7.  Mike's family drama with his sister has been resolved and things are peaceful for the moment.  We'll see how long that lasts!  I am hopeful that we are in the clear for a while.

8.  Chloe is talking SO much.  One of the cutest things she said recently, "Happy to see you Mommy!" after I had left her with my parents and gone grocery shopping (you would think that I had been gone for months!).  She's a little sweetheart, just like her brothers :)

9.  The boys are going to play lacrosse this spring- their choice (although I think their Daddy has been brainwashing them for a while now). I gave them the choice between that and t-ball. Now I just have to figure out what kind of gear we supply vs. what the program supplies. Finally I get to live up to the minivan image ;)

Uninspired Bullets

• I keep thinking about things that I might like to write about...then I decide it's all just so boring and end up not writing anything.  But I feel the need to update.

• No more lost teeth but we have a wiggler...I think it will be at least a little while before we need to call upon the toothfairy again.

• Mike and I are still struggling with finances (nothing new there).  We recently applied to have our taxes reassessed and are also looking at options for our mortgage.  It's frustrating and depressing and just oh-for-the-love-of-heaven, can we get it together already?!?!?!

• I withdrew my acceptance of that last job.  Not interesting in getting into that in Facebook territory- sometimes it's just nasty over there (that's a whole OTHER item).  Looking into another option.  More on that when I know more.

• The above was 100% the correct decision.  Scheduling would have been a NIGHTMARE.  I have no good babysitter options (it would be way too stressful to rely on my parents for this), Mike's schedule is all over the place, the supervisor changed his message to me multiple times and my instinct was telling me "No, No, NO!".  That feeling had nothing to do with the actual work or taking time away from the kids...it was a feeling that the job was going to be incompatible with our lives at this point.  A feeling that was confirmed several times by the supervisor's attitude.  So I feel nervous from an income perspective but still completely at peace with the decision.

• A rather major factor in the decision-making is Michael and his epic tantrumming.  Adjustment to kindergarten?  I just don't know at this point.  But he is so over-the-top and then Liam and Chloe are just kind of there...having to deal with the disruptions, absorbing all the stress.  It's hard for me to figure it out.  On one hand, Michael really is a great kid and when he's on, he is really ON.  But if he gets worked up over something, I am spending huge amounts of time trying to discipline/soothe him.  Consistency is my goal but I feel like no response ever produces what I hope for.  How long have I gone back and forth about this?  Mike and I discussed the possibility of looking to into counseling- to at least get an outside perspective.   For a system that I've worked in for how long now, I sure feel lost!

• This school stuff is no joke-- I'm trying so hard to stay on top of everything--endless forms, homework, uniforms, field trips, extra activities, fundraisers, etc.  We are staying organized but the paperwork alone is enough to drive a sane person crazy!

• Tantrums aside, Michael is learning so much.  Thank goodness for that!  I did have another phone-call-from-the-teacher day...he was crying at school and refused to go to art class.  Nothing else since then but I'm still on edge about him.

• Liam is doing great at preschool and is enjoying his time as "oldest kid" while Michael is at school.  Liam really is a great companion on store trips/errands.  It's nice to take him with me, have our little chats, no screaming fits along the way....that kid spoils me with his sweetness.

• Chloe is a wild woman but talking more each day and putting together little sentences.  She sings and screams and runs and demands and plays and naps and is just really fun.  A bit of a quick temper at times but she seems to have also absorbed some of Liam's laid back attitude.  And she's still little so even her bad mood is easily resolved.

• So there you have it.  My brain just feels very cluttered these days and even a cute story that I'd like to document gets lost in that shuffle.  I need to stay off of Facebook- it definitely stifles my writing.

What's Up?

I've been reading other blogs and commenting but just cannot get a second to write anything!  So here goes...

Michael

 *After that one rough spot during the first week of school, this past week (4 day week) of school went very smoothly for all of us.  It included a Back To School night for the parents.  His teacher is awesome and experienced and pretty much what I had hoped for.  I couldn't be happier with our school choice.

*Michael is clearly absorbing what is going on during class time.  He told me that he is learning COLLEGE words and then shared this little ditty about "Trace, Analyze, Infer, Evaluate, Formulate"- complete with brief descriptions and hand motions (e.g. Analyze- break it apart, Formulate- build and create).  It was like a finger play of critical thinking skills.

*We also have nightly homework to review letters, numbers, "popcorn words" (sight words) and a little exercise that is for reading prep.  More along the lines of what I would expect at the outset of Kindergarten (those college words took me by surprise).  Other things will be sent home along the way and there is some online work in math and reading as well.  Very well organized.

*One other "bragging" type thing- Michael knows the Pledge of Allegiance...I never taught him this so I can't take any credit for it.

I am just so relieved that he is enjoying it, seems eager to go to school and is learning!  To balance all this, I must confess that Michael is also a bit of a hot mess at home.  Very tired, whining, screaming at me.  As you know, his usual temperament is high maintenance...he has upped the ante.  I know it will get better as he adjusts to the full school day but Wow...he is in rare form.

Liam
*He is adjusting to the time away from Michael.  I think he just has a hard time with feeling jealous because he wants to ride the bus and do homework and see Michael's school.  He wants to be a part of it.  Luckily, Liam also enjoys being solo big brother to Chloe and is so much more patient with her than Michael is...it's great to see them have some bonding time of their own.

*Liam is getting the fact that while Chloe naps in the afternoon, he has me all to himself.  We've painted, played games, colored, worked on speech and really just enjoyed the time.  It is SO freakin' easy to do projects with just one kid...you know, with the boys being so close in age, I've never really gotten to do that.  It's fantastic!

*Liam visits preschool tomorrow and then starts his morning class on Wednesday.  I'm very, very excited for him!  When we started his countdown chart, there were 38 days until preschool...now we are down to 3...why does time pass so quickly?

Chloe
*Chloe is Chloe...trying to pee on the potty at every opportunity (whether she needs to or not), trying to dress the boys or change her own diaper, running the show, cracking skulls when necessary.  As she gains more words, she is very effective at giving orders and making demands.  Luckily, she is also pretty good at using "Peese" and "Kank-koo".

*We are going to do a "mommy and me" type of class at preschool and another class at the library. So that will give us two mornings per week to socialize plus any play dates we happen upon.

Me
*Oh yes, by the way, I have a new job!   Which is really a job I've done at a couple other agencies before so I just need to get my feet wet again.  It is part-time, a position called Mobile Therapy which is just like it sounds- I am a therapist/counselor who travels to the client. 

*I am anxious about scheduling but hopeful that I can work it all out.  It will be mostly evening hours and I am hopeful that I can even schedule on weekends if necessary.  It is my best bet for coordinating with Mike's rotating schedule while still being able to bring in money without paying out for daycare (or at least, keeping it to a minimum).

*I think I've had a pretty good adjustment to Kindergarten...I really do miss Michael but as we settle into the routine, I am making the most of our time before and after school.  It actually makes my day kind of easy by comparison.  Liam and Chloe are both very easy going kids...I don't even really have to raise my voice, no time-outs are necessary.  That part is quite lovely.  I'm trying to ease Michael's afternoon re-entry into the mix because once my job starts up in about 2 weeks, that part of the day is going to get crazy.

So there it is in a nutshell for now...I am sure when the job starts up, I will have my usual stress to process.  Until then, I'm going to enjoy our new normal :)

Day 3

Third day, no issues...a great day all around!

*Michael did well at school (so yesterday was either a fluke or our talk really did help?)

*Liam, Chloe and I had a fantastic play date with our good friends. It helped all of us to not miss Michael quite so much.

*Looking forward to the four day weekend...I know it seems weird but I am HAPPY for it!

*Plan to spend this Labor Day doing the smallest amount of labor possible with 3 children in the house.

August 2011 Updates- Michael Edition

Michael is a mixed bag on any day of the week.

He can demonstrate cooperation, empathy and ring-leadership.  He can also scream, argue, cry, whine, resist and cause general chaos.  He is the one most often sent to a time out on the stairs or in his room.  He takes up ALOT of my time, to be perfectly honest.

(I'm interested to see if our days smooth out a bit once he is in school all day OR if one of his siblings steps up to fill his tantrummy shoes.)

Despite his flair for the dramatic, Michael really is a great little guy.  He just needs to get his emotions in check and not let them get the best of him.  Under non-tantrum conditions, he is so much fun.  I love that we can have a real deal conversation.  I love hearing his ideas, the way his mind puts things together and processes.  I love hearing him recount a story to me or tell me about his dream.

I can't believe he is on the brink of starting kindergarten (in four days!).  I feel nervous, hoping that I've prepared him well enough.  Sometimes when I hear what other kids his age or younger can do, I feel that I've let him down because I haven't practiced certain skills with him.  I hope I haven't done him too much of a disservice.

I know he is ready to do this school thing.  Michael loves structure and schedule and being expected to do things independently.  He also loves tasks and activities.  I think he will love being part of a class- if preschool is any indication.  I think he will miss having so much time with his best playmate Liam but I think that everyone will adjust to the new normal. 

[BTW, Liam is clearly upset with this pending change- worried face, asking lots of questions, a bit mopey.  But I have a feeling once he realizes that we get to have buddy time, it will ease the transition for him.  He also resumes speech therapy and gets to meet his preschool teacher- she comes to our house!- this Tuesday so that will definitely help as well.]

Michael has been a bit overreactive this past week (even by his standards).  I wonder if this is his way of venting some nervous feelings about school.  We've talked it up, have a countdown calendar, got a mailing from his teacher...he knows it's getting close.  There is an orientation this Friday and I think it will help us all feel a little less nervous about that first official day.

It's hard for me to write about Michael outside of kindergarten right now.  I should quickly mention that he did great with swim lessons over the summer, is about ready to try his bike without training wheels and is signed up for t-ball for the first time.  So right now, there is so much anticipation about what is to come.  A new chapter is just beginning...

Standing on the picnic table because....well, why not?

August 2011 Updates- Liam Edition

Liam the lover...he is my sweet, sweet boy.

A little while ago, I wrote about one of the cute things he has said to me.

Liam often says thing that make me think he is wise beyond his years.  A few examples...

When we were at the beach, I was getting the boys settled on an air mattress in their cousins' room.  In the process, Liam accidentally elbowed Michael in the head.  Michael started to fret about it, burying his head in my lap.  I think it just took him by surprise.  I was comforting Michael and trying to figure out if Liam caught his eye or anything like that.  I glanced over at Liam who had his head down and appeared teary-eyed.

I assured Liam that he was not in trouble, I knew he bumped Michael by accident, etc.
Finally figured out that Michael was fine, just tired.  I looked at Liam again who still appeared upset.  I reassured him that he was not in trouble, there was no reason to cry. etc.

Liam responded that he was NOT crying. He then said, "It's just my worry coming out".
I thought that was a pretty insightful response for a 4-year-old.


Then last week, I was tucking Liam in to bed--he is at his sweetest at bedtime.  Our conversation went something like this:

L: Mommy, who named me?
Me: Daddy and I named you.
L: NO, who came up with my name? (I think he has heard us talk about our names choices for him)
Me: Well, I thought of the name "Liam" first because I've loved that named for a long time.  And then I told it to Daddy and he liked it too.
L:Yeah, I thought about that name too, when I was in your belly, before I was borned.
Me: And did you like it?
L: Yes I did.

Is this kid trying to tell me he heard his name in utero?  Possibly just a vivid imagination?

There are little moments like this with Liam that I hope to preserve.  I want to always remember this piece of his personality.

In other news, Liam is a bit agitated that Michael is going to Kindergarten while he is not.  But he is looking forward to being in the "Fours" class at preschool this year.  He and Michael do SO many things together, I don't think Liam fully understands why he has to wait to go to big kid school.  I just keep telling him that you need to be 5 to go to Kindergarten....it's working so far but he's still not happy about it!

I am interested to see what our days feel like with Michael in school for a FULL day!  I plan to enjoy the time with just two kids and especially enjoy my time with Liam during Chloe's nap time.  That is, unless I find a full time job (which is a whole OTHER post).

August 2011 Updates- Chloe edition

Until I figure out how I want to approach the various things that are going on in my head, let's talk about the kids, shall we?  Beginning with the craziest youngest...

Chloe

*Chloe is a wild woman.  She does not want to be left out of anything.  I'm surprised she actually naps but I think she knows she needs to maintain her stamina to get the most out of her evening time.  She runs, jumps, laughs, plays monster, hordes matchbox cars, dances & screams with excitement. She knocks over lego structures in one swipe.  She yells at the boys and gives them a little smack if they don't fall in line...she's a real peach.

*She wants to do everything herself.  I admire her independence, I just wish she'd get a little more coordinated with eating yogurt and oatmeal.  She is by FAR the messiest eater of the bunch.  She also wants to dress herself, sit on the potty (oh and the REAL potty, not the potty chair...also, it doesn't matter if any pee actually comes out).  She gets toilet paper, wipes, washes her hands, the whole routine.  She clearly feels she needs no supervision while on the stairs.  We call her the "milk maid" because when the kids get their milk cups at night, Chloe insists on serving that nightcap.

*We discovered this week that she is beginning to cut her 2 year molars...I suspected an ear infection b/c those teeth were not even on my radar yet.  A visit to the doctor suggested that the top molars are starting to put on the pressure.  All the kids have gone through the various rounds of teething early but I thought this was too early, even in our experience.  This stage of teething makes for one crabby baby!

*Chloe has lots of words now and is doing a great job with saying "peese" and "kank koo".  She likes talking on the phone & is pretty friendly, given her age.  She also likes making animal sounds and blowing kisses. Despite the yelling and smacking, she also showers her big brothers with lots of hugs and kisses.

*She is a bundle of energy!  She has loved the pool this summer, splashing & kicking...and of course jumping in!  In a couple of days, we are hoping to FINALLY make it to the beach.  I can't wait to see her reaction- she loved it last year so I'm hoping that hasn't changed.  I have a feeling we'll have to keep her from charging right into the ocean!

Those are the things that are standing out to me right now but before I close...

On another note:
*I am still waiting to here if I will get called for an interview for a local school district job.  I actually called the HR department on Tuesday to get an idea of where they are in the process.  They are still reviewing resumes so while that doesn't guarantee that I WILL get called for an interview, at least I know I'm not out of the running just yet.

July Updates

1. The biggest news by far is that Mike has a job!!  A good offer with a decent company.We are feeling excited and lucky and blessed...and hoping that it provides Mike with opportunities for advancement.  He is starting out as a department manager, so that's a good starting point.  He just started this past week.

2. There is also a counseling job posted within our local school district.  It is a great position and a friend of mine told me about it.  So I had been watching the district website, waiting for the job to officially post and it finally did.  They should have received my application materials yesterday so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get called for an interview. I have a nervous/excited feeling in my stomach just thinking about it.

3.  If #2 goes well for me and results in a job offer, I'm going to have a whole new list of worries (again).  Daycare, schedules, Michael starting school...I can't even really think about all of it just yet.  I've figured this stuff out before- if you've read here for a while, you know this.  But it never gets easier.  If anything, it gets more difficult. On the upside, this job entails summers off and the schedule is 7:30-2:30 so that's pretty sweet.  I would also have off for school holidays which is great.

4. In other none-work related news, our school decision for Michael has been made- public school to start and then we'll review that decision if needed.  I am feeling good about it.  The Catholic school didn't impress me during the registration process and I can't justify the tuition when we haven't even given public school a chance.

5.  I am trying to figure out where the summer is going...here we are, midway through July! How did this happen?  I feel like we've been enjoying ourselves but I am hoping we can squeeze in some sort of beach trip before the summer is over.

6.  Family drama continues with no resolution in sight.  It's between Mike and his sister...I am peripherally involved.  It's too ridiculous to elaborate on & I hope that somehow, things get worked out soon.

7. Having been totally spoiled by Mike's presence for so long, I am now relearning how to be a single parent...it's kind of like riding a bicycle.

8. I am going to a U2 concert tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Mike was supposed to go also--my brother got us tickets for our birthdays last year--concert was delayed by a year due to Bono injuring his back or something.  Mike can't go due to the new job/schedule :(
I am still excited to go b/c this is my favorite band ever but Mike not going definitely puts a damper on things.  He has been a good sport about it.  I could have sat it out but I'm glad he encouraged me to go.

I need to take the time to work up a better post but I think that catches us up for now :)

What's Going On?

I suppose I should join the ranks of those playing catch up in my little circle of bloggers...

*Birthday photos that had been lost (by me deleting them ALL from the camera in error) have been retrieved and burned to a CD for a mere $30...worth every penny because they were important birthday moments and we have some nice little traditions that I like having snapshots of.

*On the morning of June 15th, Chloe told Mike "Pee" and proceeded to pee on the potty first thing in the morning.  She occasionally likes to repeat that trick. She says "Pee!!! Pee!!!!", she runs to the potty chair, trying to take off her shorts and diaper like a lunatic.  She has been dry overnight and generally pees on the potty 1-3 times each day.  She also pooped on the floor following her bath last week...with no announcement.  I happened to see what was happening and caught the "item" with a wipe before it hit the carpet.  It was interesting and luckily not too gross.  Then Chloe got the #2 in the right spot on Monday...where did this child come from? 

*Related to the above...I'm totally not ready to manage taking another child to a public bathroom but am happy she is so interested and that she gets the basic idea.  If the trend continues, she might be out of dipes far earlier than her brothers.  We'll see, I'm in no rush but I don't want to discourage her either.

*Michael and Liam have been going to Vacation Bible School since Sunday.  In the evening from 6-8pm.  It's pretty cool.  They are learning different bible stories and the timing couldn't be better. It's a nice change of pace for them and a really nice break for us!

*The boys have also been doing swim lessons since late April.  Chloe did one round of "mommy and me" lessons but I opted to skip this session and just practice with her on our own.  I think I will pick up with her again at the end of summer when she is a little older and is more agreeable to the situation.  She LOVES the water but not so much the lesson setting.

*We took the boys to their very first movie theater experience on Monday...we saw Cars 2.  It was definitely entertaining but some of the stuff wasn't so great for 4 and 5 year olds (in my humble opinion). I'm not super-strict about what the kids view but this movie had a bond-like quality to it and there were lots of guns/gadgets and some violence. I don't think any permanent damage was done but I'll be looking at our movie choices a little more carefully for theater experiences.  I know my kids are going to see violence at some point but I wish it wasn't so prominent in the context of a movie that is supposed to be for kids...or is it?  If you're FB friends with me, you saw my review/rant. Lesson learned for me!

*OH wait...and the biggest news of the week is THIS: Mike got a full time job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He starts on Tuesday and we are so excited/relieved/thankful that a great opportunity has finally come through.  Now I've got to work on getting a part time job that will gel with his schedule but at least one of us is back on track & we are hoping that means things are looking up on the financial front for us :)

That's it for now...I am reading "Under the Banner of Heaven" about the history of the Mormon faith...it's a very interesting book, albeit a tough read for me who can cruise through most books in no time. I'm totally sucked into it but it requires my complete attention so I can't sneak in a chapter with the kids around.

Keeping It Simple

Oh no, I don't have time for a real post, silly!
I've been too busy obsessing about this name change thing.

I could obsess about it for months but really, do I have that kind of time?
And should my limited brain power be used for something that isn't exactly life changing?

The obvious answer to both is "no".

After reading suggestions and letting everything marinate, I came up with the title you now see.  And I really like it...and I don't think it would have come to me without outside input so I wanted to also say Thank you for the ideas and thoughts.

Once I got that part, I started obsessing about the tag line/description until I remembered (about 5 minutes ago) that my original title had no tag line-- it was added to include Chloe.

Long story short, I stopped over-thinking the title, went with what I liked & will update my profile-related info. at some point, just to document the name change for my own memory.  And if a fun tag line comes to me later, I will add it--or perhaps it will rotate, who knows?

I love knowing that other people read here but this blog is really a memento for my kids--since heaven knows the baby books are FAR from complete.

Hope you like it :)

Friday Five...just 'cause

Preface: I am not going to comment on my recent interview because I have no formal offer and also because the post will be nothing more than a rehash of every thought I have ever had about working vs. staying home (see fall 2008 posts). Until I have a salary to consider, I'm not running through all those pro/con arguments. Of course, these things are running through my mind many times throughout the day but I'm not going to bore you with my obsessing.

Instead, I bring you FRIDAY FIVE!! Borrowed from an old post on another blog :)

Name five things in your refrigerator
1. Left over ravioli and 'pissketti' from tonight's yummalicious dinner out (thanks Mom and Dad!)
2. Half of an awesome beefsteak tomato from our very own garden
3. 18 eggs (no recall here)
4. A pitcher of homemade iced tea
5. A small vat of raw cookie dough I bought at BJ's...it is almost half gone and not one cookie has been baked

Name five things in your freezer
1. 6 ice cube trays & an ice bin (no ice maker)
2. Frozen homemade waffles
3. Blue Boo Boo Bunny
4. One pound of butter
5. 8 filet mignon steaks

Name five things under your kitchen sink
1. Trash bags
2. Various cleaning sprays
3. Hand sanitizer wipes
4. Rags for cleaning
5. Bucket under drain pipe on the off chance that the pipe will leak- we're not sure Mike actually fixed it so rather than have him work on that, we just keep the bucket there

Name five things around your computer
1. Longaberger basket pen holder with American flag liner- filled with pens/markers/highlighters
2. Chloe's baby book-not much progress made
3. Half a pack of Liam's diapers to be added to the basket I keep them in for easy access
4. Coconut scented candle
5. Broken digital camera :(

Name five things in your medicine cabinet
1. Dinosaur themed disposable bathroom cups
2. Anti wrinkle cream (hint-it isn't Mike's)
3. Tweezers
4. Qtips
5. Dove deodorant (my fave!)

Have a fantastic weekend!! Hope you got some extra days of fun thanks to Labor Day :)

Just a few tidbits...

1. At the beginning of the week, Mike was laid off from his job. Luckily, he is eligible to file for unemployment benefits.

2. UNLUCKILY, it will cost a million dollars for us to maintain our health benefits once they expire at the end of the month. Well, okay, not a MILLION dollars but that's what it feels like. We are exploring our options.

3. I am going to start selling Tupperware as a way to bring in some funds. This was already in the works (to bring in extra funds-ha ha, what are those?) and now I am just thankful I have a plan in motion. Keep your fingers crossed that this goes well! I will pursue other options if necessary.

4. While it sucks for Mike to lose his job, it's so nice to have him around all day. I am much less tired. I didn't even take a nap today- that's unheard of! And I haven't had caffeine in the morning for 3 days now. It makes me think that maybe I don't have chronic fatigue syndrome but maybe it's managing all these kids that wears me out?

5. Chloe is enjoying her adventures in eating solids. Well, they aren't that solid at this point but so far she has tried rice cereal, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, squash, pears and applesauce. The only thing that gave her a little tummy trouble so far was the applesauce- just gas but it was definitely uncomfortable for her. I am thinking about trying bananas next! I love these early feeding experiences, I find it so much fun to see the baby's reactions to different flavors and textures. Chloe already wants to feed herself so that makes it extra fun/messy but I admire her confidence!

6. Michael and Liam are still loving their two mornings of preschool. I am praying that I can afford to pay their May tuition- the last month before summer camp starts. I am not planning to put them into the summer program but I would like them to finish out the year.

7. A nap revolt has begun this week...and we were in such a good groove. I hope that this phase passes quickly because I really can't stand sleep wars.

8. Liam was showing signs of being ready to potty train. That interest was not maintained.

9. Liam also has an ear infection this week, complete with a punctured ear drum. He is such a trooper and I love his courage but I wish he would be more forthcoming when something is hurting him.

10. I am trying not to freak out about #1 but I am really nervous. We just survived a massive financial crisis last year and this lack of income could throw us over the edge again. I am going to do everything I can to prevent that from happening!

I'm still here

Hey! I am still here, the boys have not duct-taped me to anything yet and Chloe is doing very well. I will write a better update shortly...

It's not that I don't have the time, it's just that I'd much rather cuddle my Chloe than write anything (although I am still reading yours while I make like a cow and pump milk for Chloe). We are working on breastfeeding and it's going okay but pumping is helping get my supply up.

More on all of this later- just wanted to let you know that I haven't gone crazy yet.
We'll see what happens next week when the boys are no longer at school all day!!

Odds and Ends Friday

*Took the boys to Barnes and Noble to use some birthday gift cards to pick out books. Then we went to lunch but they were crabby and cranky and it was not all that fun. I finally ate my lunch (at home) around 2:30.

*Michael seems to have a bowel movement every time we are out and about- not sure if he enjoys going in public restrooms. I personally do not but hey, whatever works.

*I completely ignored the piles of laundry lurking in my basement and did other things like: hang with kids, waste time on facebook, struggle thru naptime, attend a Tupperware party and chat with a friend.

*Related to the laundry- I am still not fully unpacked from vacation.

*My appetite is finally kicking in as a true pregnancy appetite. I am craving ice cream, finally able to drink more water and can feel my belly expanding at a more rapid rate....I consider all this to be VERY good.

*Baby is movin' and groovin' often now and I love that feeling so much. On Monday, I realized that I am a mere 4 months away from my due date--which made me feel just a tiny bit nervous but mostly excited.

*We bought the boys bunk beds this week- still need to get at least one mattress for now. I am going to have Liam start out in the toddler bed (since we have it available). I need to move him from the crib, mainly because I need to send back certain parts of the crib as per the recall so we can get the voucher for a new one. Not sure how Liam will handle this change.

*My mood has improved GREATLY over the past 2 weeks. I am sure vacation played a role. I finally feel pleasant and happy and not quite so short-fused. It took me a while to get to the "feeling good" phase this time around but I am grateful to finally be in this place. Little things aren't bothering me, I don't feel so much pressure to do EVERYTHING, I am able to let stuff slide (see the laundry and unpacking mentioned above). It's NICE to feel that weight lifted...I am savoring every moment...nesting instinct will kick in soon enough :)

*Mike left Wawa and started a new job---VERY good move for him (financially and psychologically). I am generally nervous about job changes and this one involves a little bit of risk...but I feel oddly at peace with it and think it is going to end up being one of our best decisions.

*We have fun weekend plans--which is especially good considering that Mike is no longer stuck working most weekends. Birthday party tomorrow, BBQ on Sunday and lots of family time all around.

Hope your weekend is relaxing and fun :)

Beach-bound

In just a few days, we will be heading to the beach in Maryland for some well-deserved family fun. I am very much looking forward to this break from the daily grind. I need the time with my boys (all 3 of them!) and even though travel is alot more work with kids in the mix, it is also alot more fun.

We are going up to Penn State first where I will attend one day of their annual autism conference on Monday...then we make the 6 hour trek (approximation) to Ocean City. I CAN'T WAIT!
I am so excited to be focused on family for the next week...I don't have to go to work again until August 10th :)

In other news, we had a great 20-week ultrasound experience revealing a healthy, on-track baby. NO, we did not find out the sex so you will be waiting until December just like we will :)
I was very relieved to see that lovely profile and to hear that things look good at this point.

I am finally at the point where I can enjoy this pregnancy and get to know this little one growing inside me. Baby is moving around often and asserting him/herself if one of the boys tries to lay against my tummy for too long. I am feeling the best I have so far with my only discomforts being the ongoing TIRED and some mild indigestion. I think I am now actually getting used to just feeling perpetually tired. It's good training for the whole other LEVEL of sleep-deprivation that is a part of life with a newborn, right?

I don't mind that part so much. It's hard but you know that baby will begin to sleep in longer stretches and establish a nap pattern of some sort and it all works itself out. I am hoping to establish successful breastfeeding...I never even attempted it with Michael and ended up pumping for about 6 weeks with Liam. Liam and I just couldn't get the hang of it. I think I have a better gameplan this time and would love to avoid all the bottle washing (at least in the beginning).

In other planning news, I am looking to get Michael into a regular twin bed and introduce Liam to the toddler bed if he is willing. Since vacation will disrupt sleep as we know it anyway, I'm thinking that we might try out those changes upon our return.

It's time for me to finish cleaning up for the day & get some rest (after screwing around on facebook for 20 more minutes). Good Night Friends!

A Minivan!!

So we are now the semi-proud owners of a mini-van. We bought a used Honda Odyssey ('04) over the weekend and I must say, I am already appreciating the convenience factor. The boys already LOVE it...it has the power sliding doors & they are fascinated by them.

Believe it or not, our Ford Explorer could not accommodate 3 car seats so we knew we needed to opt for either an SUV with 3rd row seating or a van. Minivans are a bit more reasonable in price and the storage factor is better so that is what we started to hunt for.

This has been extremely stressful so I am extremely GRATEFUL to have this taken care of. Our credit situation is terrible so I was not looking forward to haggling over price and then worrying about getting approved for financing. Also, I am the negotiator. Mike and I have total role reversal with the car buying-- he would walk in and take their first offer just to get it over with. But we work well together with the decision-making process so that is really all that matters.

Luckily, we chose a good dealership to work with and I actually feel that we ended up with a fair deal. If my laptop were functioning, I could post some pics...for now, just go look one up online and imagine it in red.

Also, I think my bummer mood is lifting so maybe some of these pregnancy hormones are reorganizing and I will get my 2ND trimester energy boost? I know I have had an appetite boost in the past few days.

I am hopeful that things are moving in the right direction!

Quick Takes

I worked an extremely long day, so this will be brief...

--No neighbor updates, they are still remodeling, I am sure you will hear about it when they move in

--No pregnancy updates, I don't see the doc again until July 1st...the belly is growing

--Michael started his transition to the Preschool class this week. He is LOVING it. It's like he is all grown up overnight...is this really my baby? I am proud of him but he loses more and more of his "babyness" each day

--Liam seems to be LOVING his time away from Michael, chatting up a storm at school. He will be 2 on Saturday

--We are having a birthday party for the boys at one of those bounce places on Saturday--keep your fingers crossed that it goes well and is worth the $$

--I don't normally say too much about this type of thing but my husband is on my last nerve (I don't think it's due to pregnancy hormones). I just had to get that out of my system...no gory details...thanks for listening :)

It's Tuesday, March 3rd

There is nothing terribly important about this date, I just couldn't think of another title...

With all of this cold weather and a snow day yesterday, you'd think I could have posted something before now. I am just so UNMOTIVATED! The snow is pretty and the day off was cool but I am DONE with winter. I need warmth ASAP.

On top of that, I also joined Facebook 2 days ago (caved to peer pressure)and am trying to figure out all the bells and whistles that has to offer. While it is cool to reconnect with some people I lost track of, it is also the TIMESUCK I feared it would be...so I am going to make a concerted effort NOT to look at it much. I don't feel that I need to update my status every time I pee--is that what Twitter is like?

Here is what makes Facebook so dangerous-especially in my current slacker mode: Unlike blogging, Facebook doesn't really require any brainpower. When I write a post, I usually put thought into what I am saying & try to have some semblance of organization. Of course, there are always posts that are less cohesive because I am caught up in something. Even then, I proofread what I have written, I use spellcheck most of the time, I try to catch any obvious errors. I am not always 100% successful but the effort is there. Not so with Facebook, you can just make random, useless comments for no reason at all. I find that a bit annoying.

All that aside, I need to get myself back into blogging and sometimes the only way to make something happen is to just do it. I remember a college friend who played basketball had a poster in her room that said something like: "When you're on SHOOT...When you're off, SHOOT till you're ON". Not an athlete myself, but I always found inspiration in that quote.

So bear with me friends, if these upcoming posts aren't all that great. I am a bit confused about my life right now and that confusion has muddled my thoughts. I am going to get back on track with this blog.

Now excuse me, I need to go deal with Michael who is still NOT SLEEPING...How can I get this child to go to sleep?

Oh wait- CHICKEN GAME UPDATE- I have my chicks and two have been placed...I'll let you know when they are found :)

N.B. If you happen to look for me on facebook, I just want to let you know that I plan to keep this blog completely separate from that. Thanks!

Not much new but...

Liam is still having just enough "incidents" during the day to make it impossible for him to attend school- UGH! Michael is fine but he is indeed experiencing some constipation. Not to give TMI, but the same thing happens to me after my stomach has been upset. I think he will be okay by tomorrow with some help from our good friends fruit and juice.

Liam is as happy-go-lucky as ever. He really just takes everything in stride. I love that about him because a)it makes him very easy to please and b)he reminds me to try and roll with the punches.

I am pretty tired today and have a busy day tomorrow so I'm keeping this short. But before I say goodnight, I will add a few things...

*After two arrests on Friday, there was another arson incident on Saturday night. Some wing-nut set fire to several school buses. So the question is, is this a case of a "copycat" or has this all been a group effort?

*How much money have I WASTED this past week on DAYCARE that one or both of my kids could NOT attend? This is just a residual issue that I find very frustrating.

THANKFUL...that my boys are feeling better and that they are currently sleeping peacefully...I think I will go join them!

Ongoing...

Given that yesterday's post was so lengthy, I'll just tell you that Liam continues "the runs". Michael hasn't pooped since yesterday morning which means he is probably now constipated...sigh...

Seriously, I need this week to be exponentially better than this past week...for my own sanity. Tuesday is an evaluation day- which is basically the whole purpose behind my job so it is critical that things go well for me on the home front- at least for that day. Which reminds me, one of these days I would like to explain my job because it is pretty cool.

I am sure there will still be stories to tell--I am hoping they are not all about poop!