Changing My Attitude Towards Pregnancy

The kids and I were dancing around the living room on Valentines evening to a silly song Ice, Ice Baby.  We were running around in circles, jumping off the couch, dancing, and giggling. It was so fun.  I looked down and remembered that I have a little one growing inside of me.  I'm not worried about the dancing because the doctor says just to be as active as you always are before pregnancy.  At about 10pm we started to settle everyone down and get them to bed.  Charles says I don't know how to settle kids down, only how to make them more hyper.  So true.  When Charles wants the kids to settle down he talks softly to them, reads them a story, or prays with them quietly to help calm them.  Well, when I want to wear the kids down, this is what it looks like.....

Crazy, wild kids on Valentines day wrestling and
dancing to music.  Chaz is off playing games somewhere.

After I knew they were "settled" I went into my room to pick up.  I talked with a friend on the phone that just got out of surgery.  Her son is staying with us for a few days.  After I hung up the phone I realized how out of breath I was.  My husband was laughing about it.  He knows I go, go, go all day till I drop.  We got into the discussion of pregnancy and how much my thoughts and attitudes have changed towards it.

My first two Ryan and Chaz in 2002

10 years later....

Chaz and Ryan just baptized

My first 4 pregnancies I would tend to rush them on by.  I did a countdown of how many weeks and days left.  I would stare at the calendar in hopes that somehow staring at it hard enough would make them go by faster.  I absolutely loathed the beginning because it was mostly just morning sickness.  The middle felt like we were getting nowhere and then the end felt like the clock was laughing at me.  By 36 weeks I would walk the treadmill hoping to get baby moving and ready by the 38th week.  It was a rough 9 months with that type of attitude.   I often forget I'm even pregnant now because I just take each day as they come and cherish it. I've stopped dwelling on the uncomfortableness of pregnancy and embrace the miracle of it all instead. 

Holding Ivy, our fourth, in 2005

Something started to change when I saw how fast the older ones were growing up.  They weren't mixing up their words and saying "battabies" instead of "batteries".  They would wave goodbye on the school bus and there were no more sticky kisses.  Only clean and fast ones.  Then I was pregnant with my 5th child.  Something started to change in my heart.  I began to appreciate each day a little bit more carrying them inside of me.  Even more with my 6th.  Now, I feel like I'm trying to hold onto water.  Each pregnancy week keeps slipping through my fingers faster and faster.  What happened to my 1st trimester?  My 2nd trimester is almost gone now that I'm 26 weeks pregnant.  The "morning sickness" all day long isn't so bad.  My husband knows that when he offers me coffee in the morning I just need to go throw up first.  It's no problem and just feels like another routine of the day. 

Pregnant with my 7th now

I realize now that by wishing each pregnancy day away to make it to the finish was basically wishing away 9 months of my life.  In those 9 months lots and lots of wonderful things were happening, I was just too focused on hurrying the pregnancy to realize it.  In 9 months my kids outside my tummy were putting on weight, growing teeth, losing teeth, learning to walk, learning to ride a bike, learning to read, learning to add, saying their first words, and so much more.  The baby inside me growing is having her special time too.  She can hear mommy and daddy talk to each other. She is 14 inches long and weighs 1 1/2 lbs.  She may be a mellow one but when I'm laying down at night, she picks up her routine a little bit.  Her little thumps and rolls in my tummy should never be wished away and rushed.  Someday I'll get to hold her but this is the only time I'll get to feel her beautiful movements inside of me.  Nope.  I'm not wasting and wishing the days away anymore.  Each day is a gift and every night I feel that the day just went by way too fast.

Making Valentines Day Special for Everyone

Someone getting ready for Valentines?

Last night I headed off in the early evening to do some "grocery shopping" alone.  I did do some because I wanted to make a special dinner for Valentines day.  My husband has a favorite meal, Chicken Tikka Masala, and I needed to get the ingredients.  I asked where to find sparkling apple cider and they left me looking in the long wine aisle.  I felt very lost and odd standing there because I've never been in that aisle before.  Well, it wasn't there.  Of course.  It was in the regular juice aisle.  I got a Barbie for each daughter and and iTunes gift card for the boys.  Then a Lightening McQueen car for baby Caleb.  After leaving the grocery store I headed over to Ross to hopefully find something for my husband. There clearly was nothing good there and I wasn't gonna settle so I headed to a clothing department store.  It took me two hours before I finally settled on some really nice clothes I knew he would want and love.  By then my husband thought my grocery shopping was taking way too long.  When he called I told him I was Valentines shopping.  Then he reminded me that I already got him a really nice gift for Valentines a couple of days ago.  Oh..... Um... oh well.  Happy Valentines!

My husband opened his gift at 5:30am and immediately put his new clothes on.  He loved it!  Ivy came in to tell her daddy Happy Valentines Day and that she loved him so much.  When he came back home later that morning of course he had his roses, card, and balloons waiting for me.  He's so traditionally cute and it's so sweet every time.  I tell him that I never feel like he has to go overboard on Valentines because he makes me feel special all year long.  Yeah, don't worry, I never take that for granted.

Ashley with her rose from daddy
and Barbie from mommy

Charles also had a single rose for each of his daughters and a pink sparkle donut.  They were surprised! I thought that was amazingly sweet.  Wow, what a dad!  Then the kids all opened their gifts.  This year we really all wanted to go to dinner for Valentines but since our van is broken down we are stuck at home.  So I'll be making the secret dinner and desert tonight with candles and flowers on the table.  So excited to make Valentines special for all the loves in my life!

What If My Husband Doesn't Fit Into My Mold?

This picture made me scratch my head....

Till I read this...

The night before the burial of her husband 2nd Lt. James Cathey of the United States Marine Corps, killed in Iraq, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of him, and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it" she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted".
-Not sure what is more honorable: Being married to this faithful wife to the end or the Marine standing next to the casket watching over them both.

Gosh, this picture breaks my heart.  I can't imagine what that would be like, the pain... What would it be like thinking that there is another day to say goodbye, another day to say I Love You?  Yet, that next day never came for her.  

******************

One of my favorite pictures of all time

With Valentines coming up I've been thinking a lot about unconditional love.  What is love?  Is love wishing my spouse would change habits that drive me crazy?  Dumb ones that don't matter a whole lot?  I look back and my expectations of my husband were of a fairy tale sort the first years of our marriage.  I figured I could tweak a few things that I didn't like eventually and would just worry about it later.  As time went on, I started to wonder what was taking him so long to change those things.  Then came annoyance, frustration, anger, hostility...  Till a year ago I realize that those annoying things may never go away.  Can I love him anyway?  Could I stay quiet about it and just let it go INCLUDING not harboring bad feelings about it?  Yep.  Because I'm pretty sure (100% sure) I have plenty of annoying things that he just lets slip on by.  Even if he didn't...  I'm learning LOVE is loving someone regardless if they never fit into the mold we want them in.  I married him just as he was.  I didn't marry Gumby who I could shape into whatever I wanted.  Women are so funny that way.  So what if he walks out of the house in an outfit we think isn't so nice?  If he likes it, isn't that what matters?  I'm learning all those little dumb battles aren't so worth fighting and I've let them go loooong ago.  Instead, I count the good.... and there are lots.  

Men marry thinking their pretty little (sweet) brides will never change and women marry figuring they'll change the guy.  Ha.  

heh heh.... this cracks me up

When Life Happens and Exhaustion Hits

Fridays are normally a great day for me but today has been completely exhausting. Well, it started last night with having to get up out of bed so many times.  First, one of my sons who has Aspergers Syndrome was doing his poking routine where he just can't seem to leave anyone alone to let them rest.  He already has difficulty falling asleep at night and his way of getting close to another kid or trying to relate is different and comes off as annoying to others.  We go through this a lot with him and he just does better having his own bed or a seat further away from kids in the van.  Generally, the other kids are pretty patient but sometimes they just get tired of it.  Plus, when he can't sleep I generally can't.  I have to make sure he's not wandering around in the dark and that he is letting the other kids sleep.

This happens to me all the time

I must have gotten so many times last night I lost count.  Another reason is I'm always worried about my dog peeing on the carpet so if I hear his nails clacking down the hallway, I'll just out of bed and go let him outside.  I had to wait awhile for him so once I laid back in bed I couldn't fall back asleep for an hour. If I have to get up in the middle of the night I always have a hard time falling back to sleep. 

No matter how bad my day is, this picture always cracks me up

Well, I had an extra kid last night and he was spending the night with my son since he was going to be going to their school for the first time.  He wanted to go with someone he knew.  I had Charles set my alarm extra early this morning so I had extra time for bad bouts of morning sickness once I wake up.  I dragged the 7 kids out of bed, helped them dress their tired bodies, and feed breakfast, and we finally headed out for school.  I wave goodbye from the van and put my van in reverse to leave.  Well, we weren't moving.  The van would NOT back up.  I revved and revved but got nothing.  Sigh.  I sat there for a half hour not knowing what to do.  My daughter had to potty really bad and we were stuck.  I finally pulled out the emergency kid toilet from the bed, layered it with half a diaper on the bottom and let her go. Right then my son pooped his diaper and for some reason I happened to forget the wipes this morning.  After I change him I look down and see a huge foot print right on my newly cleaned shirt.  How...?  It couldn't of been from my little kids.  Then I remembered that earlier my son had put his foot up on my lap so I could double knot it.  Now I have this nice big designer print on my pregnant belly.

I called my husband to tell him I was stuck.  A lady gets out of her van next to me and offers help.  I already had help coming so we just talked.  Being this is a school just for homeschooled kids I had a fun time talking with her since we had something in common.  It was so great meeting you, Jennifer!  The tow truck wasn't gonna come for a bit so Charles and I went in his car to a restaurant.  The service was terrible and we could never find our waitress.  It took 45 minutes to get the food so we had little time to eat.  Phooey, just a nice little topper to the stress.

Following the tow truck

Turns out our transmission locked up and that's why I couldn't reverse and my husband couldn't even pushed it.  I'm finally home now and utterly exhausted.  Our van is towed home and safe and sound.  This will complicate things but thankfully I don't have to drive my van very often.  I really don't have any energy for cleaning of any sort and just want to crash.  Fridays are such a great day for me to either run errands or clean but this is just not one of those days.  

What Sunday Mornings Are Like for Large Families Going to Church

Well, I was really excited about revival week at church and especially because I really love the evangelist that came in.  His preaching and teaching really ministers and is always right on the money.  (We have hardly been able to make it this week because everyone came down with a bad cold and I can't put my baby in the nursery.)  I don't know about you but even though others think church 3 times a week is excessive, I need it.  My vessel empties quickly and I look forward to those times.  I always leave church with a bounce in my step but if you saw me walking in... well, I barely make it sometimes.

I stare at this picture often to remember that the 6.5 kids I have is nothing in comparison.  Heh heh.

It is NOT easy to get a large family ready and looking decent for every church service.  It's such a different dynamic in the level of energy it takes to get there.  No joke.  It take much more time and careful coordinating.  I almost always underestimate the time I need to get so many ready in the morning.  For me it starts the day before getting everything prepared and ready.  By Sunday morning (for example), just getting up early enough to feed everyone, pull the blankets off the kids, sing the song "Rise and Shine" a few hundred times while opening the shades, reminding the kids over and over to get in the bathroom and brush their teeth.  

They usually shower the night before but there are always a few that didn't get the hot water so they had to wait till morning.  It always takes showing them proof they stink and need a shower to get boys in there. Pulling them out of that nice hot stream of water, finding a towel that someone forgot to put back the night before, is a challenge.  I turn on the steamer to get all the wrinkles out of everyone's clothes while longingly looking over at my coffee maker.  Hopefully I'll get a cup.

If my boys could get away with this 

they would go out like this all the time.

As soon as I finally get the girls ready and send the boys on a shoe hunt, I'll take them over to the bathroom to do their hair.  Oh man, Charles just hopped in the shower.  The girls will have to wait on their hair getting done.  Then I check the boys over to make sure they didn't put on something weird or try to wear white socks with their black pants and black shoes.  I send them off to comb and gel their hair.  Since they think the only part of their hair that needs to get done is the very top and front, I usually end up taking over and showing them how to do it.  The ones that hadn't brush their teeth yet insist their breath smells fabulous and so I convince them to just be obedience and to please not try to do the Dragon Breath Test on mommy to prove it.  Just brush your teeth!  Once Charles finally gets out of shower I gather up my girls to do their hair and put some pretty bows in.  I look over at the clock, we have 15 minutes till we leave and I still am in my pajamas.  Argh.  Trying to look fabulous in 15 minutes I'm sure takes super hero work.  As I'm putting on the final desperate touches, Charles yells out we have to go.  We all run to the van while one of us searches for the missing kid who didn't hear the call and we load up. Just as we pull out I remember I never got that cup of coffee and the dog needed to be let out to potty.

Why didn't I just wake up earlier to have more time?  Usually with getting preparations done the night before I'll be falling into bed pretty late.  Then once I wake up I'm majorly battling morning sickness.  Partiers might hug the toilet because they drank too much the night before but pregnant mommies have their reason too.  It's not because of alcohol, we're brewing a baby.

So if you see a Mom of Many rushing into church at any time and maybe even a few minutes late, don't comment on her lateness, just say, "I'm glad you made it!" with a smile.  I will always say back.... "Me too!"  (Flowers and a congratulations card is even better).  Every single time I happily sit in my chair at church so grateful we really did make it.  No kids were even left behind.  I think.

You know how everyone is all excited for Fridays?  My favorite day of the week is Monday.  Weekends represent busyness, rushing, coordinating, organizing, and going here and there.   It's not too bad with a few kids but start adding to the numbers and it gets a little bit tougher.  Imagine a mama duck trying to get all of her ducklings across the road.  I'm sure the Duggar mama would need a stop light for her ducklings to get across.  Mondays represent a normalcy in a routine and calmness.  Back to our scheduled daily chores, homeschooling, and reliable routines.  Weird, I know.  I just know there are moms out there who understand.

Raising My Very Own Calvin and Hobbes

Caleb crashing the
girls' bath party

Caleb is 2 1/2 and BOY does he act like it.  He's the first one to wake up and he always, always poops right when he wakes up.  A really bad one. Then he walks up to my bed, climbs up, and sits right next to my face.  He makes sure to bring all his cars, the ones that make very loud noises, and plays cars on my body.  Do I need an alarm clock?  Noooooo...... I don't get to wake up to Folgers in my cup, instead, I wake up to poop smells in my face an loud firetruck engine sounds.  He talks and talks at the same time. Finally, I'll pull my tired, pregnant body out of the bed and shuffle in to the kitchen to get coffee.  Almost always I never make it and have to get sick in the toilet.  I look at my coffee maker that I have a love and hate relationship with, then I look at Caleb.  I love my coffee but just thinking the word "coffee" aggravates my morning sickness and changing Caleb does the same.  Sigh.  Then I wonder if Charles is going to be home soon because often he'll rescue me and take care of Caleb so I can have my coffee.  This morning he didn't come home early enough so I gathered the courage to change his toxic smelling diaper and somehow made it through with getting sick.

Charles thinks its funny
when I have to do this to
avoid smells

I then shuffled my tired body over to my coffee maker and was happy to not get sick just trying to make it.  It's not the smell of coffee that makes me sick, it's the word "coffee" that does.  When I'm pregnant, sometimes smells make me sick but so do word associations.  When I was pregnant with Ashley I couldn't say the word "IKEA" and I didn't step foot in that store till I gave birth.  Actually, this only happens when I'm pregnant with girls. 

 Growing up my favorite cartoon has always been Calvin and Hobbes.  Does this look familiar?

Calvin and Hobbes?

He is constantly getting into everything, climbing, escaping, is just as hyper, and is getting into my purse as I am writing this.  Better go....

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

I now have five computers in the house!  My two older boys do their schooling on laptops but my other two only do half of their schooling online, the other half is book work.  Sharing two computers with one of them always going bad was just really difficult.  I had really long days and sometimes I couldn't fit everyone in.  Well, it's no longer a problem.  However, I tend to have to sit with my older kids during their work because it's getting so much more complicated.  The best part of helping them is with the math.  Math has always been my favorite subject.  Isn't it weird how much we forget from when we were in school?  I remember only the basics.  I've heard of that show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader and I can see why it's a challenge.  When you try to go back and remember all that stuff, it's not so easy.  My son is in fifth now and I'm really enjoying learning right along with him.  He thinks it's weird that I get so excited about it.  I'll read something and then want to expound on it or research it more online.  Ashley will be joining us next school season so it'll be great to get just one more laptop.  Five kids schooling at home and two babies.  Whooooaa.... I better step up my game.

Right now Chaz and Ryan are learning about fractions and this is how I was feeling for awhile.

The kids praising Jesus during bible study time

My days have never, ever been busier than they are now.  Often I'll go an entire day with only a lunch break and finally getting some cleaning in towards the afternoon.  I rarely ever answer my phone during this time because I can't take distractions.  My children's education comes absolutely first.  Sometimes people get really offended because they think since I'm home all day I have plenty of time to talk.  I even get upset messages and I really don't know how to deal with that.  I'll keep thinking, "I will call them as soon as I'm done homeschooling...well, maybe once I wash these dishes, oh, maybe once dinner is done, or maybe once I lay the kids down, but ohhhh, it's way too late to call."  Sigh.  I hate those guilty feelings and don't want to seem like an insensitive friend or relative.  I wish more people understood the life of a large homeschooling family. 

How Do You Pull Your Kids Teeth?

Ivy's had a loose tooth for awhile and she's been really crying about it.  She would go to eat something and it would start bleeding.  She didn't want me to pull it and would scream if I tried.  Finally, last night I said enough was enough and we were gonna pull it.  I tried pulling it out but it seemed a little stuck.  Then I remembered what my dad did with a string and made a knot around the tooth.  I gave it a tug and it came right out!  She started screaming because of the blood and ran to the bathroom.

Once she saw she wasn't going to bleed to death and could actually eat food she started laughing with relief.  She literally talked about her lost tooth for two hours straight.  She had never lost a tooth before so she keeps looking in the mirror she's so excited.  My dad used all kinds of creative ways to pull teeth.  Usually I'd be screaming hysterically and then laugh crazily in relief when it was over.  Haha.  

One day my kids asked me what the tooth fairy does with all the teeth.  One of them piped up and said that it was because the tooth fairy had no teeth and needed some.  Heh heh. Yep, tooth fairies are flying around with no teeth and looking for some.

Church Shopping and People Judging

Lately I've been noticing something and it got me thinking yesterday about it a lot.  There are sooooo many churches out there. In America you can find them everywhere.  I at least have 10 within one mile of my house.  There are all kinds of churches with all kinds of people.  The same theme I've been hearing is "I don't go there because of THOSE people.

I've been guilty of thinking like that.  Although, I've been to the same church for 12 years I've definitely had negative thoughts here and there.  I think everyone has in mind their favorite type of church. Some look for the programs, others the style of preaching, the beauty of the building, style of worship, sports offered, etc.  Some want it ALL.  Well, I grew up in church so I've heard a ton of reasons why.  The only one I've been guilty of thinking is negativity about the people.  I had been majorly hurt in the past (who hasn't?) and so for many years I would go to church and just try to keep to myself.  Often, while sitting in my seat, I'd look around and just watch all the interactions around me while getting my kids settled for the service.  Once the service was over I would pick up my kid from nursery, get my kids together, maybe say hello to a couple of people and just head out.  I did this for over a decade as a way of protecting myself, never giving thought to how it might look to other people.  Keeping to myself could of come off as snobby or disinterested.  

Ashley playing over the floor vent

Recently, I decided to turn look in the mirror at my hesitancy.  I hadn't gotten close to many people while trying to protect myself.  In the process, I even managed to become shy and really had to push myself just to go up and shake someone's hand.  Even worse, I began to make judgments in my mind towards others.  I had enough of my excuses and decided it was time to reach out again.  No more listening to the negative whether from myself or from cynical people. I have never been shy and always extremely outgoing in the past.  I started to say hi to people I made silent judgments about and spent at least 5 minutes asking about their day.  In the last few weeks I've been shocked at the transformation not only in my attitudes but in seeing my horrible perceptions of people slowly melt away. 

Kyle and Ivy (Right) playing with their friends after church

First off, no church is perfect.  No church has it ALL.  Some might be mega and give you everything you can ever dream of in a church but the preaching or teaching is lacking big time.  That's top on my list above all else.  Does what he preach line up with the bible?  Is there a comprising just to keep the numbers up? There will always be mean, nosy, annoying, and even downright obnoxious people (at least a couple).  Pastors can make mistakes in a judgement call or a rebuke, people can make mistakes in how they treat someone, and I've made plenty. If there is a perfect church, I would ruin it as soon as I walk in. There is just no such thing.  Sure I've been offended but there is a BIG chance I've offended others at some point.  Sometimes without even realizing it.  

I've  been looking forward to service more than ever since I decide to lay all my dumb judgments aside and give people a chance.  If anything I had to repent of my attitudes.  It's been a blessing to be more involved and get to know people better. The church is like a family.  You can't choose who's in it, only how your attitude responds to them.  How has my attitude been affecting my kids?  It definitely rubs off on them.  I've been really encouraging the ones old enough to walk around by themselves (8 and up) to get to know other kids and make friends.  It's been a joy seeing them more excited also.  I absolutely love our pastor and his teaching which is most important to me.  Sure our kids have Sunday School and Children's Church but after that there really are not many other programs.  However, that's at the bottom of what's important to me so that's not a big deal.  As far as people problems?  Well, it happens.  Just like in a family.  You just forgive and move on.  I would hope people would do the same for me.

Buying New Doesn't Always Make Cents

A few months ago I learned another hard lesson about wasting money and how buying new doesn't always work best for us.  I had been buying used for the kids or shopping clearances for several years now.  I was shopping in the mall a few months ago and decided to do something nice for Ashley and get her a brand new pair of shoes for $20.  The new look lasted all of two weeks and then it looked like they had been thrown under a truck.  I've gone to a thrift store and bought nicer shoes than that for $2. 

$20 new shoes after 2-3 weeks

These shoes were super embarrassing to today I took her to a thrift store and found her several pairs of shoes.  Okay, so it's shocking to know these shoes were used yet they obviously have faired way better that the new pair I had bought.

Shoes already used $2

Guess which ones I kept and which ones I threw out?  I used to be picky but then I realized kids grow soooo fast and I've learned how to be extremely picky instead in the thrift store.  Sure, there are people that just grab anything off the rack but you don't have to shop that way.  Just think, either it looks fantastic or not.  It should look new or pretty darn close to it.  If you try something on and have to talk yourself into buying it, DON'T BUY IT.  That just creates more clutter in your closet because you'll never wear it.  I found Ivy two pairs of shoes and Ashley five pairs.  I'm going through their outgrown shoes tonight and quickly getting rid of them so nothing piles up that we don't need.  As soon as I got home I dumped those pink shoes in the garbage.  Here I bought those pink shoes for $20 new yet I just bought seven new looking pairs from Goodwill for less than that.  Fashion does not have to be sacrificed for the sake of saving money.  

In fact, last night I bought myself two maternity shirts from Ross (a discount store).  I went into the dressing room with six shirts yet only came out with two.  The reason is that four of them I liked but since I stood there trying to talk myself into it, I knew I shouldn't get them.  Two that I tried on made me say "Wow!" so I bought them. I am in need of nothing else so I just checked out and left.  When I got home, I got rid of two items in my closet.  Shirts I didn't like but kept because I didn't have many maternity shirts.  I'm keeping my rules about whatever is brought into the house, that many items need to be taken out. I love my home so I need to keep it clutter free! 

Feeling Like a Loser Mom Today

My kids school at home but every Friday they go to a school just for homeschooled kids.  It's actually a public school and they get to go and take part in P.E., Art, Music, and take some basic classes on Math and Language Arts.  They really love going on Fridays.  First off, my alarm doesn't go off today and just by chance I wake up at 7:55am.  We have to leave literally in 10 minutes.  Well, I couldn't stop getting sick from morning sickness so I had to hope the kids were getting ready like I told them to.  I tried doing Ivy's hair and then got really sick again.  I couldn't even get the words out, "Everyone get in the van."  So on our way there Ryan remembers that he didn't get his backpack.  He begs and begs me to turn around but I knew we'd be late if I did.  He said one of his teachers can be really mean about it. I felt so bad because I remember how that felt.  Finally we make it there, I still can't find Ivy's library book they keep asking for, and I notice that all the kids at school are dressed in pajamas.  Ohhh!  It's pajama day!  Now my kids are really sad and longingly looking towards all the kids in their pj's.  :(  Why can't I remember anything?  They only go to school once a week so it's not like they got a reminder the day before.  After they went to their classrooms I just sat in the van for a bit with a sad heart.  I guess they'll have to wait another year in hopes mommy remembers pajama day.  It's times like this I get frustrated at myself for having a poor memory and not having it all together.  Or even close.

Finally we get home and I'm happy at least to not have to homeschool all day and just get housework done.  It's cute seeing Ashley and Caleb play together.  Ashley got the bubbles out and entertained Caleb.  Caleb was clapping and laughing saying, "bubbles!" over and over.  When she grew tired of it he picked up the bubbles and was trying to figure it out.  He would blow raspberries but would only get one bubble out here and there.  When I took this picture he was saying, "Help, Mommy.  Mommy, help."

How to Restore Deleted Files on Your Computer

Do you ever neglect to do something that you know is SO important but figure nothing bad will ever happen?  That is so me.  My two older sons school on the computer through Switched On Schoolhouse.  Every single time they are done homeschooling it asked me if I would like to back their work up onto a disk.  I always just back it up onto the computer because I wouldn't know where the blank CD's were.  I knew I just needed to do it one day.

Well, the other day when the laptop pooped out on me I did a scan to delete any viruses.  Guess what got deleted?  Chaz's SOS and work!  Aghhhhhh!  I was so excited to have 3 computers again to work on and this had to happen. I spent the entire day yesterday trying to figure out what happened and see if it can be fixed.  I cried not knowing what I was gonna do.  Sure, I could reinstall the program but I had not created backup disks.  Oh my.  I literally spent the entire day searching for deleted files using a program.  Most cost money and even with the scans I did I wasn't finding anything.  I finally had to quit so I could get everyone ready for church but I was soooooo vexed.  I tried to be a good mood when I got there but I was just sooo sad.  

Once we got home I decided to try and do a system restore for 3 days ago rather than 2 days ago that I tried before.  I told Charles I would stay up all night if I had to till it was fixed.  Around 12:30am the system restore was finished so I tried to pull up Chaz's homeschool and WOW, it worked!!!!  I checked and even his backup was there on the computer so I immediately backed it up onto disk like I should have looong ago.  Then I started the process up uploading all my pictures onto Picasa online just in case something like this happens again and stuff is lost.  Wow, lesson learned!

Since I got the black laptop fixed, which meant all 3 computer were working again for homeschool, do you think anything else went wrong? Of course.  The next morning the power cord on my silver laptop broke.  We are back down to two working computers.  Phooey.


If system restore doesn't work there is a program you can use that find things you did not mean to delete and can't be found.  Here is the video of how to do it and what program you can use.

http://www.recovering-deleted-files.net/

Does Anyone Else Find Patience More of a Challenge When Tired?

Yesterday was a crazy day but then ended well.  Just as soon as I finished blogging my laptop pooped out on me.  Everything went bad and even the mouse driver stopped working.  Instead of doing my chores I spent the entire day doing system scans and trying to figure out what happened.  Finally I just had to wait on it to get ready for company coming to my house.  Luckily my house is super easy to clean and it only took an hour to get everything back into shape and even the bathrooms sanitized.  (Boys can quickly unsanitize a bathroom.  Especially when five live in the house).

My friend and I wanted to make something super yummy so I made a Better Homes and Gardens meatloaf and she tried out a new recipe for making delicious mash potatoes.  Then I cooked some chopped onions in butter and added some green beens.  We made a ton of food.  About 6lbs of beef !  Wowee!  Don't be fooled by the picture.  It's taste so much better than I can take a picture of.  Alsooo, I ate way more than that.  Tee hee....  My husband woke up the next day and didn't want breakfast.  He wanted leftovers.  

I think my biggest struggle with patience is at night time when I'm super tired.  I LIKE to read books to my kids but often by the time I clean up the kitchen from dinner, get everyone's teeth brushed and ready for bed, I just want to collapse in my own.  Sometimes I just fight that feeling and read to them and other times I just say I can't.  Mommy needs some quiet time and I need it bad.  Just a half hour alone, even better an hour, makes me feel back together again and rested.  I feel so guilty though.  

I have to say that I give them my full attention all day long, even outside of homeschooling.  However, I feel guilty for just wanting that last hour of the day before I fall asleep to have it in quiet.  Maybe I just need to start laying them down earlier.  I think if I had them in school all day I would force myself to always have that time with them.  I checked on them 15 minutes later after I laid them down and was happy to see they were all quietly reading books.  After I knew they were settled I did scans on the computer that lasted all night long so it can be working again. Thank goodness!