goings on

This has been a fun week, and yes, today is "just" Wednesday! Monday was pretty chill, catching up from the weekend, highlight was dinner. Amelia prayed , thanking Jesus for dying on the cross and always being in our family. Super sweet. Then the girls somehow ended up in a "I love Momma more" competition. It went something like this...

Amelia: I love momma eight!
Abigail: I love momma ten!
Amelia: I love momma twenty!
Abigail: I love momma fifty!
Amelia: I love momma eighty!
Abigail: I love momma one hundred!

Of course it proceeded into the hundreds, thousands, million billions, then infinity and so on. It sure did make my heart swell to see my girls laughing and saying how much they loved me! :-)

Tuesday was Abigail's first day of TAKS testing and she feels pretty good about it. We won't have results for awhile but I am confident my super smart kiddo did her best and what more can I ask for!

Later that night we went back to the school for the Pre-K round up. We will have to wait and see if Amelia gets in, and wether it will be half or full day, depending on what the board decides about the budget. We had fun running to the car in the rain as a torrential down pour hit right as we were finishing up. Then right before bed, the tornado sirens started going off! Fun stuff!!!

Today Abigail had the reading portion of her TAKS, as she got out of the car I told her, "take your time babe, do your best!" She was very proud to come home and tell me that she was not the last one finished, but that she took her time and was the second to last! LOL, I love that girl!

I also took my glucose test this morning~ not my favorite Wednesday morning activity! Oh well. Now I'm just praying that the reason I crashed so hard after I got home was due to the reoccurring charlie horse that kept me up last night and not a problem with my blood sugar!

In other news I (finally) made a dinner that Ryan approved of and actually thanked me for this week! Small steps and I'll take them, hahaha!

Due to the crazy weather we've had this week there has been no soccer practice but thats ok since she had TAKS. It worked out pretty well in my opinion, hehe! :-)

I'm feeling pretty funky overall. Tired, cranky, uncomfortable, stressed out. But its all good, can't wait to meet this little man who is already turning my world upside down! :-)

Happy Easter

Quick recap of the last week...

My super fly brothers came to my rescue and made the trip from S'ville to come mow the jungle that was my yard, Thanks fellas!

Then after a few crazy days of, "I might be coming tomorrow" then "not today, tomorrow", Ryan finally made it home late on Thursday afternoon. Welcome Home Babe!

This weekend was a whirlwind of family festivities! On Saturday, we had a colorful, painting party for cousin, Gus-gus. Little kids painting and hopped up on sugar-coated marshmallows is always fun!

Today we had our traditional Gaither Easter at Alexander! I love my family. We were missing our Nea-bea though :-(

I didn't quite accomplish the 30 days of thankfulness. Well, the documentation part of it anyhow. Regardless, I am very blessed, and very loved and very thankful for all of the craziness that makes up my life.

Monday madness

Fresh back from a uber chill weekend near Galveston, spent with dear friends celebrating a certain someone's 30 years of a fabulous life (no, not mine :-P)!

I am so thankful for these girls and the opportunity to commiserate over motherhood and the joyful pain it brings, our marriages and the annoyingly, endearing things that strengthen our hearts and then cutting loose, reenacting our youthful days of freedom. It was exactly what my soul needed.

Thankful I got to pick up my babies last night and bring their whiny behinds home. Choosing to see the interaction with my ex as comical...I love being told my children are "just tired". (Ya know, because it's not like I'm the one with them most of the time and I would be unable to decipher their behavior as tired.) Actually it was a product of something else, and again I am choosing not to address said issue, instead I will trust God to deal with them. I am thankful that I have the option to turn them over to God and KNOW that at some point in time they WILL be dealt with. God is merciful on both ends...

I am thankful for a sister who can quickly diffuse my irritation with a sense of humor and get me thru the snotty text I received this morning. The strength (wisdom) to rise above the situation and the clarity to see the situation for what it is and not succumb to the temptation to react.

Now, that I have some what documented my gratitude (although perhaps sarcastically) and vented a miniscule amount of my annoyance, I have to do list a mile long and so I bid you adieu.

Beach or bust!

I'm wrapping things up around here and about to head out to South Texas to enjoy some much needed chill time on the beach! Looking forward to sitting on the sand with a few close friends and letting all my stress float away on the waves :-)

Amelia woke me up last night about an hour after I (finally) stumbled into bed talking alot of nonsense and burning holes in my sheets. Poor baby was running 102 (on meds) and hallucinating most of the night. After a quick trip to see Dr. Barry, we have a prescription that will hopefully get this little girl perked up quick fast and in a hurry! She can't be sickly for her baby sister's first birthday! :-) After the stress of the past few weeks with her heart/liver adventures, I am so, so, so grateful to have a simple ear infection diagnoses! Her little croupy cough is a small reminder that it could be so much worse!

Ok then, I'm off to cross off the last few things on my list and get this show on the road! :-)

Wesnesday

While searching for something insightful to write about, I have the overwhelming urge to let loose. To embrace the freedom I desire and write the about the feelings in my heart at this moment.

However, I will not do that. Today I will be grateful for my "gate" and I will employ it.

There are so many things threatening to overwhelm me right now...and I wanna unleash the nasty thoughts in my mind, but I won't. Instead I will say I am thankful for cell phones, sisters and friends and for the ability to edit/censor myself.

Jahna and Jubilee came to visit yesterday, it was a quick, chill visit but even those few hours make me feel not quite so alone. Today I am thankful that gas has not yet hit $4.00 a gallon.

I am thankful that I had the money in my account to pay my outrageous bill at W*M yesterday, that my fridge, pantry and gas tank are not longer barren.

I am thankful for the moment of freedom I have in today~there are no deadlines to meet, places to go or people to please. Today I can rest.

I am going to try and actively enjoy today instead of dwelling on the stress and possible complications in life.

I am thankful for today.

Sacrifices

I am thankful for my brother, Josiah. Today he once again said "see you later" to his wife and children to go overseas and serve our country.

For many Americans, they don't even think about the soldiers away from their families any more. Yes, they are still over there and we are still sending them.

My brother is willing to sacrifice time away from his family, and seeing the birth of his 2nd son to serve his country. He is sacrificing precious summer days spent floating the river and working in the garden with his son and daughter. He is sacrificing his anniversary with his wife. He does this willingly~he was not forced. He saw a need and he stepped up.

What he is doing is so very generous, today I am proud and thankful that my brother is a soldier in the United States Army!

Can I just be...

I promise I will end this post on a positive note, but first I have to get some of this out.

We began the weekend on a great note, Headed up to Dallas for a McCormick wedding and left in enough time to stop at Braums, for burgers and ice cream. YUM! Then it began to go down hill...Traffic was stressful and by the time we got up there the girls and I were already on edge. There were things said in tones, that just didn't set well with my pregnant self. I understand people were trying to help, but I am going to find a way to inform them that when I want help, I will ask for it and there are certain subjects/areas of my life that are off limits.

Saturday was too incredibly hectic and weddings are not kid friendly, I know this and I should have listened to my gut and stocked my bag with snacks and books etc. I know how to entertain my children and I should have just stood my ground through out the whole weekend. By trying to cater to others I subjected my baby sister to having a break down, the girls to extra time in the car and myself to far more stress/hurt feelings/panic attacks than I care to admit. I know I didn't break her car, or harm my children in any way ...but I should have listened to my gut and sent her home instead of trying to find a way to take care of my kids and follow others advice for how to handle certain aspects of the weekend. Anyway...whats done is done and I am thankful for the review...apparently I haven't quite learned my lesson.

I am capable and just because others might handle situations differently does not mean that I have to take their suggestions, especially when it goes against my gut!

Back to the spirit of thanksgiving~I am thankful that this weekend is over. I am thankful that next weekend I get to go relax and be myself with my dear friends. I am thankful for Ryan and that he had a good birthday, even though he had to fly back to Az for the next 3 weeks, I am grateful he has a job and provides for our family so well.

I am thankful for extended family and the lessons they teach us. I may be offended and grouchy (hormonal) but family loves you regardless.

I am thankful to kiss my baby girls goodnight tonight. I was reminded again this weekend of those who do not get the chance to do that, so tonight I kiss them over and over again with a renewed appreciation of their physical presence on this earth. And I got some super cute pic sof Axel!

Hehehe, I am thankful for Picnik.com and the unique touches it allows me to put on all my photos, even sono shots! :-)

I am thankful for comfy hotel comforters, for cars that run, and that doughnuts and orange crush makes up for missed wedding cake!

I am thankful for the knowledge that this too shall pass...all too quickly these days will be but a memory.

blogging and lent

My youngest sister Jubilee is the most amazing girl I have ever met. No, really! She is this extremely rare jewel...she is so good, but not a fake goody two shoes so you can't hate her. She is pure and serene and oh so talented you really wish you could hate her but you can't. The more time I spend with her , the more I love her. I remember when she was a baby she would cry and it would bother me because she had been fed and changed and still she cried. I didn't know what to do with her...until one day I wrapped her up tight, burrito style and took her outside. This may not seem peculiar until I explain that she was as summer baby, so I was taking her outside, wrapped in a blanket in JULY, in TEXAS. She needed to be in the sunshine and she liked being HOT. Go figure :-)

So now, here she is, closing in on 18 and committed to sacrificing her Orbit cinnamint gum and Starbucks coffee for Lent. Not one, but two things she relied on daily. She has the self discipline of a Monk! A few weekends ago, we were in S'ville and she took Abigail to get a chai tea latte and me a frappucino and did not waver one bit! She is a rock!

I am not. I can't even blog for 30 consecutive days about the blessings in my life. My mom says the purpose of lent is to point out our imperfection in that only Christ could make, and follow through with such an extreme sacrifice, and that He needed to to because we are such failures. That seems a little harsh, however...true.

But today, I am thankful for this incredible girl and the fact that she is not only my sister, but my friend. Jubilee, you are a rock star. I hate, umm, I mean, I love you :-p

And with that I'm off to finish my math homework and pack so we can go to Dallas this weekend for a wedding.

Craziness

This is the resounding theme of my life.

I work on Tuesdays and those days are always the hardest. Yesterday was no exception to that rule. Work was not a fun day...I love working with children, but as with any job there are days that just suck. Yesterday absolutely sucked! I am getting too pregnant to chase hyper, rambunctious 2 year olds around. End of story I was very thankful for 3:00.

While Ryan has been away, I've been trying to "fix" my kids. Last night we had a girl date, went to Hobby Lobby to get supplies for our charts, then Cavenders to get some fancy jeans for Abigail and ended our night with pizza rolls and a movie :-) Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE.LOVE.LOVE my gals?! They bother me beyond belief, but every night as I kiss their sleeping foreheads, it NEVER fails to make me tear up at another day gone...

I'm chugging along with school. Its been rough, but I'll get it done, One way or another!

I'll be back to write more later today, but these are my thoughts for now~Thanks for reading :-)

running on E

Today is Monday and I am low on motivation, on give a darn, on appreciation, on inspiration...or maybe just on sleep.

Apparently our yard is infested with ticks. We have picked and picked and picked off ticks, and today I faced the ugly realization that no matter how many I pick off, until the yard gets treated our poor Maelei will have no peace. Thankful for Bugsdot.com

Today I went to the Dr and got a good report. I am grateful to have only gained 6lbs this past month. I can't be upset or self-conscious. Thankful that a big, fat belly means a healthy baby.

I am grateful, but I am also tired. I am lonely. I am tired of drama. I need a vacation, hopefully that will be arranged sooner rather than later!

Weekend wonders

Jubi came to visit and we were able to take some pics of the girls in the bluebonnets.

Slowly but surely making progress in this class.

Little kids who make me laugh daily.

Brothers who are helpful.

Sisters who are my best friends.

Best friends who are my sisters.

Highway patrol officers who change tires :-)

Assorted foods...this week, healthy and delicious options such as egg, turkey bacon, spinach and mushroom on wheat, as well as fig newtons, cheetos, 7up and donut holes.

I am also eternally grateful that so many of today's "styles" are belly friendly and that I can still but some clothes that are not maternity.

Civil interactions with Brent

Abigail's soccer games

Amelia's independence

The fact that my husband does not feel threatened by, but accepts that I have an ex-husband who is a part of my life.

Prayer for this week is the same...with an addition. That Mary would get over herself. She married Brent. He had children with me. There is no way around that. That's the price you pay when you get involved with a married man, friendship or otherwise. If they could apologize it would make things so much for the girls...but I'd settle for not being blatantly ignored.

Yes, I am still praying for miracles.