Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Ahhhhhhh...

Breathing is good.
But, for the past two days its been a major struggle.

I went to the chiropractor today and I am breathing easy again.

Of the many things he adjusted, one was my rib cage - apparently it was quite off - never had that done before - never care to have that done again.

But I feel great now!!!! :)

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Paint

It sounds like with any luck we will spend this weekend painting the new walls! I cant wait. We have 4 rooms to paint, kitchen cabinets and 2 closet doors. SO, if anybody's bored this weekend - come on over! :)

Monday, April 28, 2008

Breakdown?

You see that little baby ticker off to the right?
It reads 10 weeks remaining! What?!?!?! 10 weeks!!!

I could have a serious breakdown today but I am not going to. I'm just going to have to start checking things off my list in a much faster fashion!

Friday, April 25, 2008

He's mine...

There are days when truly question why God chose to bless me with the husband that I have. Today was one of those days.

In the book Sacred Marriage Gary Thomas says that we should be a type of 'God meter' for our spouse. That we should see them becoming more like Christ and because of that see our own faults and weaknesses more clearly - ultimately helping us to become more like Christ in our daily walk.

Today was one of those days too.

I called Jordan shortly after 8 am to let him know we had water in our basement and he should probably come home and take a look. He was in a meeting till almost 10:30 but came home as soon as he had the chance to call me.
He immedietly changed clothes, started moving things in the basement, got 2 shop vacs going (the only thing I could help with), was hauling water and our posessions and in the mean time - making it fun for the kids and having a good time laughing at how cute they were being.

Once we finally said, "thats the best its gonna get" in our own basement he headed to his parents who were both at work. I watched him shopvac their entire basement carpet area at least 3 times and haul things again.
Then he took me and the kids home - told ME to sit down, not get up and stop bending over - and he went back.
He came home at 5:45, showered and we went to a short birthday celebration for him at my mom's. At 8 he headed to his grandparents to begin shopvacing and hauling for them. This afternoon he said that he felt so bad for all the people in town as he drove past their homes and saw all their things strewn in yards and cleaning crews continuing to work, "I wish I could help them," he said.

Jordan is truly my 'god meter'. He is so selfless and at times it seems tireless. While I feel sorry for my neighbors and family - I'm consumed with my own house, my own worries and my attitude is to feel sorry for myself and lose my patience...God gave me a little shot today - in the form of my giving husband.

His comments have been - I feel so good when there is finally something I can do for my dad and my grandpa who do so much for me and seem impossible to repay.

I wonder if he knows that's the way I feel about him?

And by the way, no, you cant have him he's mine. I think I'm allowed to be selfish about that one! :)

Rain, Rain, GO AWAY!

Well like our entire town and I think maybe much of the state we woke up to water in our basement.
So I'm listing the things I'm thankful for:
a. when we first started trying to figure out how we were going to create more living space in our house we really wanted to remodel the basement. I'm glad we didnt.
b. I'm glad that when we cleaned out the den for the renovation Jordan moved just everything to the basemnet and put it UP on bookshelves. We only found one book that got wet.
c. It hasn't rained yet today and its supposed to be dry all day tomorrow - and windy
d. All the toys that we moved to the basement for storage during the renovation are UP. Not ruined.
e. We've lived here for 5 years and this is the first time we've had even a hint of water down there.
f. Jordan and I packed up the kids and headed to his parents house to try and help them out while they are at work. They have a completely finished basement so their problems make ours seems like a puddle. While we were there Avery and Sullivan really wanted to help. So we gave them buckets and had them hauling water to the drain and dumping it. They had a blast and were SO cute. Sully wanted to do anything he could to help his Daddy - I LOVE how he says Daddy - major emphasis on all the D's. They were both soaking wet afterwards and so we came home for baths and naps.

g. I'm pregnant and really not expected to help out much. (OK that one is a joke but I had to throw it in!)

Many people have it pretty bad around here; sewers not working, very deep water in basements, water seaping in through the walls, bridges and roads washed out. Its a mess.
Praying hard for all the families who are working hard today to keep on top of it.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Mother pig

Today we attended Lauren's kindergarten operetta. They put on The Three Little Pigs and Lauren was the Mother pig. She had a solo and did great! She sang out and knew her lines perfectly. So proud.
We had a lot of fun watching her and her classmates. The little boy who played the Big Bad Wolf was priceless.
Someday when I get my computer back I will put up pictures!

I passed!

I recently discovered that I had forgotten to renew my driver's license within the 60 day requirement.
So I had to take the test. I was seriously nervous. I got the book and read the first four pages of seventy-six and gave up...too boring.
But I missed four and could have missed seven so I am once again a legal driver.

Phew!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

The big 3-1...

Today Jordan turned 31. I have been a horrible wife and have done close to nothing to let him know how wonderful I think he is. I blame it on pregnancy, the renovation, work and having Awana tonight. We will be celebrating at Cindy's on Friday and hopefully he will forgive me.

Seriously though, I am so blessed by this man. Looking back on the day we were married I had many dreams of what our life would be like. He has not disappointed me.

Jordan when it boils right down to it you have surpassed all my expectations on what marriage would be. There is no one else who I can laugh, cry, argue, & compete with, and love & dream with like I do you. You are my best friend and my greatest love. You make me happier, more secure and more alive than I could have ever imagined after 8 years of marriage and 12 years together. What more could a girl ever ask for? Thank you for all your hard work and your 100% dedication to your Savior, our family and to me. My greatest gift this side of heaven - is you.
Happy Birthday!

And...

we have walls. Sheetrock is done and mudding is almost done. I dont think it will be long before we can do some painting. Which I hate, but am excited to have done.
We have a lot to paint:
closet doors for new bedroom, new bedroom ceiling and walls and trim.
kitchen walls, cabinets, woodwork
bathroom walls
den walls

Now doesnt that sound fun?

Monday, April 21, 2008

Thunder?

I forgot to mention that we experienced our first earthquake while in St. Louis at my brother's on our first night.

I was sleeping soundly when suddenly Jordan woke me up and was saying, "Becky! The house is shaking!" I sweetly told him that he was crazy and to go back to sleep, it was just thunder.

He was quite proud of himself when we woke up a few hours later and found out there really had been an earthquake.

A break...

Jordan and I headed down to MO this past Thursday for a long weekend with Jason and Melanie. The boys played golf while Melanie and I shopped. We all visited a winery and ate great food. I must admit my favorite part might have been sleeping in!! It was nice to know I could just lay there and no one was pounding on the door asking if it was time to get up yet.

We stayed at a great resort and each had our own suite with full kitchens and living areas - thanks to my brother. It was perfect! And - the girls beat the boys, badly at cards. Very fun!

Unfortunetly I cant post any pictures due to construction at our house. Maybe by the end of the week we'll have the den back. That is my hope anyway!

Many thanks to our mom's and Roberta for watching the kids.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Progress

We came home last night to find that we could stand in the playroom and see all the way through to the living room.

Since I am without a computer I can't download any pictures but basically that means that there is a wall missing in our house.

The kids were beyond excited. You would have thought it was Christmas.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Disheveled

I am not good at living in chaos. Im not good at living in a state of unrest and unsettlement. I am not good at waiting on other people to make things happen.
So...
it seemed like a really good idea for us to start a renovation of our house at 28 weeks pregnant. Tonight I lost my playroom. Melanie came over and helped me decide which toys would be moved to my dining room (cringe) and which find a temporary home in the basement. I also lost my den...I cant even talk about it.

In the long run - hopefully not too long - this is going to be great. We are getting much needed extra space and making things more organized and functional...but the short run might just do me in. Or my husband. We'll see who lasts the longest!

Avery and Preschool

Tonight we attended Avery's preschool open house. She has been anticipating this night for approximately 2 years. She wants to be a big girl like Lauren and have a teacher and do special things. She wants to have friends to talk about. When I filled out the enrollment forms a couple of weeks ago she sat beside me and had the biggest smile on her face and proudly told Sullivan that mommy was signing her up for school and that he was too little to go.

Tonight she was beaming when we walked in the door. She loved meeting Miss Kruger and Mrs. Ruskusky, her teachers and exploring through the toys. She loved having Lauren show her where she would hang her coat and which hallway she would take to the bathroom. She loved knowing that Grandma Cindy's classroom would be right across the hall.

I have watched all this with an anxious heart. When Lauren went to preschool I was sad because she was growing up but I knew that she would love every second and excel beyond our wildest dreams. With Avery I am wary. Will she really love it like she thinks? Will the structure be Avery's thing? Likely not. Will she get her feelings hurt by her friends like she so easily tends to do? And mostly will her teacher - GET HER? Will they understand her ways and her moods? Will they see the Avery that we see? Oh my heart is beating fast as I think about this one growing up. I dont want her to turn 4 this summer. I want to keep her by my side where I can protect and shelter. But then again, Avery has never really let me do that. Maybe that is why Im struggling?

Letting go is hard. Even when its just for preschool.


Sunday, April 13, 2008

Another Avery story

Tonight Jordan and Lauren were watching the end of the Masters and Jordan was telling her about the 'green jacket'.
They got to the presentation ceremony and Zach Johnson was going to put the coat on the new winner.
Jordan told Lauren that he knew Zach because they had played golf together in college.

Lauren was less than impressed.

Avery was listening from the sidelines and gasped, "How did he get out of the TV?!?!?!?!?"

We laughed and tried to explain but that's not an easy concept to grasp at 3!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Can you handle that?

This morning Avery said she wanted to talk about her birthday. I said ok and she let it all out:
She wants a Giselle birthday, with a pink cake and lots of candy on the table. She wants Gabriella and Troy, and Lauren cant touch them. She wants Giselle the Barbie and no one can touch her presents.
She wants the prince and the horse and the castle, and they are hers.

When she was done she put her hands on her hips and said, "Now, do you think you can handle that?"

She said it in a horrible sassy way but if you'd seen those tiny hands firmly planted on those little hips and that beautiful head of curls cocked to the side with the dark blue eyes narrowed, I am sure you would have reacted the same way I did...hysterical laughter and a few tears along with a prayer that she NEVER grows up.

What three year old talks that way?!?!??!?

Im pretty sure I am not equipped to handle this child as a teenager!

wiped

Im so tired today. I've been trying to deny it but I think that this pregnancy is starting to really affect every part of my being! My hips are starting to hurt. hurt like none other. Although, this happened approx. 10 weeks early with my last pregnancy so I still feel pretty lucky.

Today Im just lazy, tired and wanting a nap.
I think what's so hard about motherhood to me is knowing that tomorrow, it just starts over again. The fighting, the laundry, making meals, going to appointments and cleaning up. And next week will promise the same difficulties.

Fortunetly, the kisses, hugs, smiles, laughter and rewards will also start over tomorrow and next week. I can handle it when I look at it that way!

Two years

How can two years have passed so quickly? It seems like yesterday.








Jail bird

Sullivan really loves to spot Police Cars around town. Recently we saw one and I told Jordan that we should try to get one of the local cops to let him sit in their car.
Avery was adamantly against this, "No! Then they'll take us to jail!"
I assured her that only naughty people have to go to jail, like people who steal.

She thought about this and said, "Yeah, like people who steal toys. Like Jalen!"

Sorry Mel and Jason, looks like he's already got a black mark against him! :)

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Adding to the list...

Reason # 4,655 why I am still so in love with my husband:
He cries when he watches One Shining Moment after every Final Four game I have ever watched with him.

Something about it is so sweet and just makes me melt.

Monday, April 07, 2008

A boy and his Barbie trike

It was a great weekend for playing outside and digging out all those outdoor toys we've been missing.
We are having so much fun watching Sully. Last year he wasn't able to walk or do the things that most kids his age would be doing. He had to crawl everywhere, couldnt ride on bikes or ride on toys without close supervision and really didnt like being outside too much because he couldnt do what he wanted.

This year we have a different boy. No longer content to sit on the sidelines and watch his sisters. He loves helping Jordan. He loves racing to claim his favorite bike/trike and heading around the corner on it before I am even out the door. A couple of times we actually found Sully in the yard when we thought he was inside with us! He has figured out not only how to open the door but to unlock it!

Last night Jordan had him outside and when it was time to come in, Sully just wasn't ready. He didn't complain - just compromised. He picked up his trike and carried it in with him. I'm sure he was thinking, "Fine, I'll come in, but you'll have to pry this thing from my kung fu grip, because I am not giving it up." So we let him bring it in and he rode it around the house for awhile...great habit to start I am sure!





Jalen

Jalen and Sully are so cute together lately. When they see each other they squeal and bounce with excitement. There are some rough moments where Sully uses his wrestling moves, taught to him by his sisters, and scares Jalen but Jalen can dish it out right back. They are so fun to watch!






We love you Jalen!

A few pictures

Cindy sent me some great pictures of Sullivan and the girls. I am REALLY struggling to get any decent pictures of Sully lately due to his obsession with the camera...
These are mostly from cousin Aaron and Alexa's birthday party a couple of weeks ago.


Such a daddy's boy


And a grandma's boy


I just love how sweet Sully looks in this picture. He was actually holding up a cell phone to Cindy's ear but it looks like he is caressing her cheek!


Lauren and Aunt Kylie and Zeus. Lauren wants a dog SO badly. Thankfully all her aunts and uncles have them so she can get her fix that way.
Sometimes I'm just amazed by how much Lauren looks like Trina and Kylie...


Alexa's party theme was The Wizard of Oz so Avery dressed up like Dorothy!

Friday, April 04, 2008

Lunch


Avery and Jordan had a little lunch time baseball game going while Jordan was home for lunch. I'm so happy its spring!!!


He's just cute.

Wow.

Last night I asked Jordan how much weight he though I had gained so far in this pregnancy. (stupid)

Without even the smallest pause he said, "40 pounds."

I think I screamed.

I yelled something about having 3 full months left and did I really look like I had already gained 40 pounds?!?!?

I was hysterical.

Then I started laughing.

The poor guy. And come on, I should know better...ask a stupid question - get a stupid answer.

For the record, I have gained no where near 40 pounds. yet. I stress - yet.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

HELP!

This morning I was all showered, dressed and ready to go except for my socks. I sat down on my bed and realized that suddenly I am too big to put my own socks on my feet. I could have cried. Im only 26 weeks!

In my past 3 pregnancies I was just getting into maternity clothes at about 20 weeks, with this one I've been in since the baby was about the size of a pea. And now I'm the size of a whale - WAY TOO EARLY!
What am I going to look like in 14 weeks!?!??!?!!?

Luckily for me I have Avery. She ever so sweetly sat down and helped me put on my socks. She made me laugh so hard through this process that it was worth it. Almost. :)